text:
The Santa Cruz River was the Beagle's first major stop, and thus Darwin's first chance to apply Lyell's ideas. Dr. Austin discovered Darwin had made numerous errors in Argentina as he attempted to interpret the river valley according to uniformity, and mistook major Ice Age flooding for great ages of minor processes.Of course, Dr. Morris does not say what these errors were, just that Darwin made them. You have to go to another article, Darwin's First Wrong Turn, by Steven Austin to get that information. In that article, Austin suggests that Darwin misidentified part of a section of the river bank as a basalt flow. Austin states that it cannot be a basalt flow but must, instead, be the remains of a catastrophic flood channel. Austin writes:
Why was Darwin so wrong concerning his interpretation of the river valley? First, he had expectations about what he would see at Camp Darwin before he arrived. His scientific judgment was tainted by preconceptions. Second, Darwin was reading the wrong book before his journey up the Santa Cruz River valley. He had been reading Charles Lyell's book Principles of Geology (1830) during his trans-Atlantic voyage on the Beagle. That book gave him the idea that the biggest boulders were deposited from melting icebergs.Austin provides no evidence that the deposits were not the remains of a melting glacier. He simply says that there had to have been a colossal flood. Back to Morris. He writes that Darwin observed the finches on the Galapagos Islands and applied natural selection to them. Of this, Morris states:
Evolutionists trumpet the several Galapagos finch "species" as arising by adaptation from one species. Creationists agree, but this did not happen through evolution. Normally the finch types segregate by lifestyle according to their beak shape, but in times of stress they interbreed and combine. No evolution here. The flightless cormorants are recognizably related to other species of cormorant on other continents, but these have lost the use of their wings. Since when is the loss of a useful structure an evolutionary development? The real question is how animals acquire wings in the first place, not how they lose them.Darwin correctly observed that the finches in different islands looked different and that their beaks were different. In other words, they had adapted to their environments. What is this an example of? Evolution. How did flightless cormorants lose the use of their wings? Evolution, that's how. Descent with modification. This could happen any number of different ways. For example, a small population may have broken off in which a mutation for flightless wings was present. In small populations, this trait would have expressed itself. In the presence of no selection in favor of flight, the trait would eventually permeate the population. The fact that flightless cormorants exist at all means that they can survive just fine without wings that fly. There may have been another reason why they retained the wings but not the ability to fly with them. Wings make great insulators. In the Liaoning fossil beds in China, researchers are discovering flightless dinosaurs that had wings. And that, by the way, is how they acquire wings in the first place. Any time you have descent with modification, you have evolution going on. More fiction from the ICR.


text:
Dining Room Re-Do
I love a good project. That's one reason I enjoy SFFS so much...it's an ongoing project. I get to post all kinds of things on here and you all are so patient with my ramblings. So here's another one for you.
After being in this house for a little over 4 years...I decided it was time to change something. I wasn't sure what it was going to be but I knew I was in need of change. The rest of the family had no input. For two reasons. The first reason was because I didn't ask them for their input and the second reason is because I didn't want their input. This was ALL me. I gave some consideration to our bedroom...but overall I'm pretty happy with it. I just redid the office/spare room so that was out. Then it hit me! The dining room! One of the first rooms you see when you walk into our house. That's it!
So off to Lowe's I went in search of paint. I waffled between a couple of colors before I decided on what I wanted. I needed something that would blend with the rest of the house but be bold enough to make a statement. I waited until I had a week with a couple of family members gone (i.e. a 3 year old) and I got to work! I prepped the room and even wrangled my son into wielding a paintbrush for me one day. After just two days of prep, paint and putting things back together...the room was done and it looked great! Just what I wanted! But I wasn't done yet!
The next items on my list were the two long windows in the dining room. I knew I wanted another bold statement and to avoid spending a ton of money, I knew I'd have to make them myself. When we lived in California, every now and then, friends and I would make a trip down to the fabric district in Los Angeles to load up on good fabric at good prices. Since I'm no where near LA now, I settled for the next best thing here in the south…which is Tony's Fabrics. A very fun fabric store close to our house. I dragged IT Guy along with me and off we went. There are aisles and aisles of fabric on huge bolts and I wandered up and down, up and down. I came across one that looked promising but just didn't bowl me over. I wanted it to WOW me. Up and down, around and around…looking for just the right one.
Then..like a beacon in the night, like the mother ship calling me home….I saw something from afar. (Too dramatic?) At first I just saw the colors. The exact colors of my new dining room plus another color that I use in an adjoining room. It looked like it could work. Then I pulled the fabric out for a closer look when I realized that THIS was the one! IT Guy was over an aisle perusing the fabrics when he heard me squeal in delight. (Okay..not really, but I did holler for him.) He found me and I must have had a huge smile on my face because he said something like, "Oh…you found it." It wasn't a question…it was statement of fact. He knew it the minute he saw the grin on my face. He knows me SO well.
I just couldn't believe how perfect this fabric was! I got enough fabric for the windows plus a little extra...just in case. You never know when you need extra perfect fabric. I brought it home and went to work on making the curtains. Measuring, cutting, lining, sewing….and they were finished! Now…how to hang them. I didn't want a plain ole curtain rod. My idea was to use hooks on the walls then hang the curtains from little rings. The problem was, I needed the hooks. So...off I went on a quest for decorative hooks. Lucky for me, I didn't have to go too far. Just down the street to Hobby Lobby. But….and there's always a "but"…I needed 8 and they only had 1.
It took trips to 3 other Hobby Lobby's to find all that I needed. Now I was ready to come home and hang my beautiful new curtains. And guess who got roped into that job this morning? Yep. IT Guy. What a good sport! He's always so good to indulge me. He wouldn't have cared if our dining room stayed the same for the next 50 years…but he knew I cared…so I know he did it FOR ME. So the end of the story is that I have a new dining room and you have something else to read about me and my little life.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Tim Deeter
Tim Deeter is the best hair stylest in Lafayette, Indiana. Possibly even in the world! My sister-in-law just got her first Deeter-cut and loves it! I ended up getting my haircut in Dublin and was not thrilled at all. Tim would have never let me walk out looking like that! So this reminds me, I need to get an appointment to get my hair cut soon after I get home. Tim works at the Design Team. If you decide to go for a new style, let him know I sent you! He should know someone is telling the world how fabulous he is!
Posted by TusaRebecca Pannucci at Wednesday, November 07, 2007
1 comment:
- Annie said...
Yes, yes! Fabulous guy!! Fabulous haircut! Yaaay!!!!
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Halestorm, her first novel.
I had the privilege of interviewing Ms. Akers via email, and I'm delighted to bring our online conversation to the attention of my readers. My questions are bold and in italics. I hope you'll pick up a copy of Halestorm and that you'll enjoy the interview.
"Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview. My blog readers will, I know, appreciate it. So....this is your first novel, correct?"
Thanks so much, Rev. Tubbs. I appreciate the opportunity to chat with you and your readers today.
To answer your question, Halestorm is not only my first novel, but some of my first writing-for-publication ever.
I'd always wanted to write fiction, especially historical novels (my favorite genre!), but I wasn't sure how one makes a living at that. So when I graduated college, I went to work as an editor, figuring that was the next best thing. Boy, was I wrong! Several jobs later, I quit to write full-time, and Halestorm was among my first efforts. Surprise: the publishing world wasn't eagerly awaiting The Next Great American Novel from an unknown writer, so I spent the next years compiling a portfolio, with articles in The Washington Post, The New York Post, the Christian Science Monitor, Barron's, lewrockwell.com, forbes.com, etc.
"Why Nathan Hale?"
I have loved Nathan Hale since I was a child of 4 or 5 and first heard or read about him – I can't remember which it was.
My mother's 16-year-old brother died in a car crash two weeks before I was born. So my earliest memories include the agony a family suffers when a young man dies. My uncle's name happened to be Dale; somehow, as little kids will, I conflated that with "Hale" in my mind. Nathan Dale-Hale was more than a mere historical hero to me: he was an absent but utterly beloved brother.
"What lessons can Americans today take from someone like Nathan Hale?"
That liberty is among God's greatest gifts to us, more precious even than life.
Many folks mistake Nathan's sacrifice for nationalism – the "my-country,-right-or-wrong" mentality. And while that's tragic, it's understandable, given the warped version of his speech on the gallows bequeathed to us. That famous line – "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country" – actually originated with Capt. (later Gen.) William Hull, one of Nathan's buddies from college. He heard an account of the execution from an eyewitness, which he included in his memoirs as an old man. And then he paraphrased – inaccurately – the quote from a report on Nathan's death the Boston Chronicle published just six years after the hanging: "I am so satisfied with the cause in which I have engaged, that my only regret is that I have not more lives than one to offer in its service." Obviously, Hull's condensation packs a greater punch, but it also changes "cause [of liberty]" to "country" – an unfortunate and nationalistic rewrite.
"How long did it take you to write Halestorm?"
Not long enough! I loved Nathan even more when I had finished writing the book. In fact, I came up with the idea for my second novel in part because I was so lonely for him and those glorious Revolutionary times – I longed to continue my immersion in both.
"How much research did you do in writing Halestorm?"
Enormous amounts.
Though Nathan has been my hero forever, I didn't really know that much about him. And while I'd always loved the American Revolution, ditto. I majored in Greek and Latin in college (partly because the Founding Fathers were fluent in both), so I hadn't studied American history then either. Ergo, I started from scratch – but that may have been a blessing. Far too many history departments are bastions of Marxism whose professors denigrate or pervert the Revolution.
"In writing historical fiction, how do you balance facts and true events with the need for creative license?"
Nathan is the ideal subject in that respect (and so many others!) because we know enough about his life and death to provide the plot for an incredibly dramatic, exciting novel – far more dramatic and exciting than anything I could invent – yet we know little enough that there's plenty of room for imagination. For example, we know that the Redcoats captured him sometime on Saturday, September 21, 1776 and hanged him the next morning at 11 AM. But how did they capture him? And what happened between his arrest and hanging? My task was to fill those gaps while remaining true to the period, to Nathan's character, and to the general pathos of a 21-year-old boy's confronting certain, shameful death.
"Is the Revolutionary War era your favorite period of American history? If so, why?"
It absolutely is!
I adore the Revolution because of its fierce devotion to human freedom. Now, all three million Americans then weren't anarchists, hating politicians, corporatism, government and bureaucracy, but most of them were pretty close. They understood that government is our direst enemy, not the benefactor that too many of their descendants consider it.
"Tell us what you're working on next."
My second novel follows the adventures of Benedict Arnold (who makes a cameo appearance in Halestorm – and some of Halestorm's characters likewise figure in this next book). I was astonished at what I found while researching his treason: Arnold was in fact a hero, not the greedy, villainous traitor so many historians paint him. While he was military governor of Philadelphia, he tangled constantly with the Radical Patriots – early communists and totalitarians. Arnold fought them valiantly; then, when they seemed about to triumph and hijack the entire Revolution, he turned to the British as a lesser threat and the only agency that could save Americans from the worse tyranny of the Radicals.
Combine that with a tale of espionage, heartbreakingly close calls, and profound betrayal, and again you have a story far more riveting than any novelist could invent.
"I'm sure the novel on Benedict Arnold will provoke lots of discussion. Can't wait to see that. In the meantime, best of luck with Halestorm and, once again, thank you for your time and for bringing such an important hero to life."
Thank you. Like I said, I appreciate the opportunity to chat with you and your readers today as well as all your scholarship on the American Revolution.
The American Revolution and Founding Era blog provides information and commentary on early American history, particularly from the American Revolution through the War of 1812.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Becky Akers Brings Famous Spy Nathan Hale to Life
Posted by Brian Tubbs at 9:31 PM
Labels: Akers Hale, Becky Akers, Halestorm, most famous spy, Nathan Hale
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a YA post-apocalyptic, literary zombie novel by Carrie Ryan.
I know what you're thinking - "literary" zombie novel? Yep, never read anything like it!
Well, that's not exactly true. The whole reason I became obsessed with reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth (beyond the amazing title) is the short story Carrie Ryan wrote in Kiss Me Deadly, a compilation of a bunch of stunning stories written by some of today's best YA paranormal authors. It was called Hare Moon and it took place in the same world, the same village as The Forest of Hands and Teeth - and it was flat out spectacular. So I knew that I absolutely had to read The Forest of Hands and Teeth.
So, lets get to the synopsis, shall we?
Mary lives in a village surrounded by a fence. The fence keeps out the Unconsecrated that live in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, those who have Returned after being Infected - and whose hunger and moans never cease. The Guardians protect the fence, make sure it holds, make sure there won't be a breach. There hasn't been a breach in years. The Sisterhood knows best, and directs the village towards the survival of mankind.
The time is coming when Mary will be claimed and her life of commitment with a husband will begin. After all, in order to survive there must be children. And in a village plagued with miscarriages and barrenness, this is prized above almost anything else.
Yet Mary has never been like other villagers. Her mother has told her of the ocean, a place so many believe is nothing but a ridiculous dream - an impossibility. Mary longs to leave the village, to know of more. To see that they are not the last of mankind, as they've always been told. That there is hope. But secrets begin to reveal themselves to Mary, and what she has always known to be true is thrown into questioning and suspicion.
But then the unthinkable happens. The fence is breached. The Unconsecrated get in. And everything and everyone is in chaos. Mary is faced with unthinkable choices - between the brother she yearns for and the brother she's bound to, between the falling village and the uncertain place the fences old and worn path leads to.
And the Unconsecrated just keep coming.
Oh my. Okay, so my expectations were high from the short story. And my expectations were met - and exceeded. But my, oh my... What an unsettling book! The Forest of Hands and Teeth is horror through and through, written superbly and uniquely - causing a gripping, insanely intriguing, and darkly disturbing result.
I was on pins and needles practically the entire time - totally freaked out by its delicately terrifying, lyrically and deceptively simple prose, and the nonstop shocking turn of events that kept leaving me breathless. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is intense (to put it lightly) and heart-poundingly scary - its horror done almost too well!
Carrie Ryan managed to horrify and sicken me with a world that felt too real to be filled with flesh-eating zombies. She brought it to an entirely different level than any shtick with zombies could be. There was absolutely nothing cartoonish about Mary's story, a heroine flawed but lovely, naive but wise beyond her years, strong and perfect as a main character.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth never ceased to stun me, leaving me with an unforgettably nightmarish experience that was sprinkled with enough humanity, love, hope, and beauty to make it as effectual as it was.
I was heartbroken and exhausted by the end. And ready to see what was going to happen next in the sequel The Dead-Tossed Waves. And all the more wowed by the new implications of the short story Hare Moon, which I now realize to be an incredible prequel, and a must-read to any fan of The Forest of Hands and Teeth!
Have you read it, my fellow bibliophiles? Were you as floored as I was? I'd love to hear your thoughts!


text:
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
(OK, so it's more about the Giants getting cold feet about trading Lincecum, but it's fun to type "wontons.")
Drunk Jays Fans has more. It's too bad. On the bright side, the Jays not getting Paul Lo Duca is welcome news.
28 comments:
- Tyler King said...
How does Sabean's hesitation translate into the Jays not having the 'wontons'? And you'd rather have Fasano as your backup than Lo Duca?
- December 11, 2007 8:54 PM
- sager said...
A choice between Fasano and Lo Duca... why don't you ask me which finger I'd like to have chopped off? That's no choice at all.
Fasano is filler and Lo Duca is, well, more expensive filler. Let's give Robinzon Diaz a shot at $300Gs.
- December 11, 2007 9:05 PM
- Pete Toms said...
I think C is the most difficult position for performance evaluation. A lot of the value in this position is tied up in the confidence that the pitchers have in the C. Calling the game, confidence he'll block the 2 strike pitch in the dirt, rapport with umpires, framing pitches....catching.
All that to say that I thought the Jays pitchers looked pretty confident with Fasano catching.
- December 11, 2007 9:39 PM
- Tyler King said...
You want to waste a good catching prospect like Diaz's future by sticking him in a backup role at the majors when he would benefit massively from further seasoning in the minor leagues?
And since when is overall cost a concern? It's the Rogers Unlimited Payroll.
- December 11, 2007 9:44 PM
- sager said...
That assumes Gregg Zaun can start, which, well, is an awful big assumption... Zaun, Diaz, Fasano, we're chasing a small percentage here.
- December 12, 2007 12:58 AM
- Tyler King said...
Zaun's been a regular or near-regular starter for the past four years! How the heck is that "an awful big assumption"?
And if there was some sort of consensus to that effect (which there isn't), surely that'd have made Lo Duca, as an established starter, more attractive as a signing than a bevy of catchers with no proof of their own ability to start.
- December 12, 2007 10:12 AM
- Tyler King said...
Furthermore, you do realize by suggesting the callup of Diaz you're basically suggesting the direct callup of a AA player, since he's only got 65 career at bats in Syracuse?
- December 12, 2007 10:17 AM
- Tao of Stieb said...
But Diaz looked GOOOOOOD with the Cheifs in August. Smart and athletic behind the plate, and a patient hitter. We saw him adjust mid-swing on a change up and hit it the other way for an two-RBI single. So nice.
We'd love to see him with the big club, but maybe only later in the year. Mike Leiberthal and Damien Miller are still out there as legit backups...and we're sure that there are some half-decent sixth-year free agents as well.
Lo Duca at $5 million is a joke. Especially since the Nats had Brian Schneider at a fraction of that cost.
- December 12, 2007 3:06 PM
- sager said...
Tyler, seriously, 4 comments on a post that's only 3 paragraphs long? None on the Tim Raines post that a lot more thought and time went into?
The larger point is that Zaun is 37next season, which would make him the oldest starting catcher in Jays history (he beats Ernie Whitt in '89 by about a month). It's fair to wonder about him after he and the Jays pitchers struggled to throw out basestgealers last season, and after he was once again a below league-average hitter, as he's been in 3 of his 4 seasons with the Jays (the exception being '06, when Molina was here).
- December 12, 2007 3:35 PM
- Todd Devlin said...
I don't think you're giving Lo Duca enough credit. I'd take him as a starter over Zaun for sure. Having said that, neither are ideal. The Jays will have to make do with a weak catcher and a weak shortstop (at least offensively).
- December 12, 2007 4:26 PM
- Tyler King said...
Ernie Whitt in '89 started 129 games in his best season of his career if you want to go by OPS+. So what's the fear exactly?
Zaun's lack of throwing out baserunners is not much down to him - just check the statistics on SB% when one of the slow pitchers are on the mound versus some of the faster ones.
And anyone who calls OPS+ of 96, 94, and 98 "below average" is nitpicking to a ridiculous degree. Plenty of teams would love to have a catcher that hits (and walks!) that well, and you've made no case that Diaz would be anything resembling better.
- December 12, 2007 5:57 PM
- sager said...
nitpicking to a ridiculous degree...
Pot, meet kettle.
- December 12, 2007 6:01 PM
- sager said...
That was also Whitt's final season as a regular. The Jays also had Pat Borders and Greg Myers in their system and Pat Borders was at the time. You can't always go by OPS+; Whitt's best seasons had probably come in '83 or '85, when he could still throw decently.
Seriously, this has been analyzed to death already.
- December 12, 2007 6:06 PM
- Pete Toms said...
The Royals released Paul Phillips. Would that be any different than having Jason Phillips?
- December 12, 2007 9:40 PM
- sager said...
Arrrrrrrgh! :)
Does Paul Phillips wear glasses?
- December 12, 2007 10:20 PM
- Tyler King said...
If you can't always go by OPS+ then what's your basis for calling Zaun a below-average hitter?
- December 13, 2007 1:47 AM
- Pete Toms said...
Olivo & Estrada were non tendered last nite.
- December 13, 2007 9:57 AM
- sager said...
Tyler, that needed to be worded differently... since it's catchers we're talking about here, defence is a major part of the job as opposed to a corner player, so you can't just look at the guy's offence.
- December 13, 2007 11:58 AM
- Tyler King said...
And Zaun's terrific at blocking the plate, calling a game, and, when there's a pitcher on the mound who doesn't take five minutes to throw the ball, he's fine at throwing out runners too.
- December 13, 2007 12:44 PM
- Tyler King said...
Ah, here's the statistic to back up what I've been saying:
"Among the starters, the bulk of the stolen bases (80 swipes with just eight runners caught) came with Roy Halladay, Dustin McGowan and A.J. Burnett on the hill. On days when Shaun Marcum and Jesse Litsch started, Toronto gave up just 12 stolen bases and threw out five runners."
- December 13, 2007 12:46 PM
- sager said...
We'll see what the projections hold for Zaunie. For argument's sake, let's look at the Most Similar Batters through Age 36, which are all catchers.
Two of them you can throw out right away, since they played so long ago (Val Picinich and Clyde McCullough).
Here's others and what each hit in their age 37 season, which is what Zaun is entering:
John Flaherty: Hit .165/.206/.252 in 138 PA; retired.
Greg Myers: Had only 20 PA in an injury year... this was after a career year at the plate with the Jays in '03.
Pat Borders: Didn't play in the majors at all; had only 250 more PA in the majors, but spread out across five seasons.
Ron Hassey: Hit .213/.288/.299 in 286 PA with the 1990 A's; played one more season as an Expos backup and retired.
Bo Diaz: Retired after his "age 36" season.
Jeff Reed: Had 277 PA but hit .210/.342/.310 (69 OPS+) in his final season.
Damian Miller (who is a free agent, btw): 206 PA, .237/.296/.349 with the Brewers this season. Currently unsigned.
Ernie Whitt: Yes, he's the best of this group -- .262/.349/.416 in 440 PA (career-best OPS+ of 121) with the '89 Jays. It was also his last year as a regular.
I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions what the means... I will point out that back in '03 when the Jays signed Pat Hentgen, using similar players was prescient in a Sportspages post.
Hopefully, I'm wrong on Zaun.
- December 13, 2007 1:28 PM
- Tyler King said...
You've still made zero case as to how Diaz would be an upgrade or even a competent replacement.
And that 'similar hitters' bit on baseball reference and the like is very rarely an accurate predictor of future success. Wow, a bunch of career backups hit poorly when they were age 37 and didn't have starting jobs like Zaun will.
- December 13, 2007 2:47 PM
- sager said...
Let's see what the projections say, okay? Have you made a case against Diaz?
Besides, there's biggest fish to fry today.
- December 13, 2007 3:16 PM
- Tyler King said...
I have made a case against Diaz - he's a AA player with 65 career AAA at-bats, needs more seasoning, and it's dangerous to rush guys up through the system and quite probably waste them sitting them on the bench in a backup role.
So yes, yes I have. You're sounding eerily like those religious types who say God exists because you can't prove he doesn't.
- December 13, 2007 5:09 PM
- sager said...
Bigger fish, Tyler, bigger fish...
By the way, I was working on a flat tax proposal last night and I accidentally proved there's no God. Unfortunately, I showed my proof to Flanders, and he burned it.
- December 13, 2007 5:23 PM
- Tyler King said...
I win.
- December 13, 2007 5:53 PM
- sager said...
What, for needlessly dragging out the comments on a post that was little more than an off-hand, throwaway remark? Yes, you win, Tyler.
This means you can't name your kids Dr. Quinn and Medicine Woman.
- December 13, 2007 6:16 PM
- Tyler King said...
I'll gladly make that tradeoff.
- December 13, 2007 9:11 PM


text:
World Connect @ USA Libraries
Monday Thru Thursday--Roving Reference, Student Center Breezeway, 11:30-1:00. Need help with your assignments? Face-to-face with a reference librarian--what could be better!
Thursday-- 7 P.M., Library Auditorium, "Ruben's Mobile." Dr. Sue Brannan Walker and Ms Kathryn Seawell.
Kids & Teens Book Drive for USA Chidren's and Women's Hospital--Drop any new or gently-used children's or young adult books at one of our libraries.
Twitter a Book Review--share your bookish experiences @usabaldwin.
Rare Books at the USA Archives on Springhill Ave.
Prize Drawing--draw a quote at any of our Circulation Desks for a chance to win a prize.


text:
It seems that every Ananda community, whether in Assisi, California, Seattle or India, must deal with the problems of government regulations, bureaucratic oversight, difficult neighbors and legal hurdles. Things are no different in Pune although I find the form these take here to be more entertaining (or exasperating) than I've been accustomed to expect.
For the last year we've been working to receive permission to build a community with multiple uses on land that is reserved solely for agriculture. Since the concept of "community" as we use it is not familiar to local planners, we sometimes employ the term "institute," even though all the locals simply say we are building an ashram, a term everyone knows and accepts. We've had to first establish an Ananda Sangha Trust in the state of Maharashtra (no small task), transfer our property ownership into this entity, consolidate our land holdings into one unit, define the official boundaries and then apply to the appropriate commissions for zone changes. It all seems so cut and dry on the surface but it's only now, after one year of work, that we are taking our official submissions. In the meantime, our development has been constrained by local, village requirements, meaning that we can construct no more than 4000 sq. ft. of building space. Anything more must be designed in such a way as to be considered "temporary".
It's amazing what is considered temporary. It's such a loose term that just about anything could potentially qualify. It seems that the primary consideration is whether a building has a standard, permanent foundation dug into the ground with a solid roof over it. This is why the monks have built on concrete posts and pillars. Rammed earth buildings are "temporary" because they can be pushed over if necessary. I imagine a wood frame building on piers like those found in America, whatever its size, would be considered temporary because everyone knows those things won't last beyond a lifetime. It could be argued that everything is ultimately temporary, so why worry about it? That argument might work on the village level, but because we are doing something broader, we have to proceed in a way that also satifies the higher scrutiny of officials in Pune. That's a lot tougher.
You may have heard of Tip O'Neill's quote, "All politics is local." Doing a construction project in a small village in the countryside of India has reminded me of the truth of that statement. You may aim to change the world, but first you need to fix the neighborhood path. The other day I got a call telling me that someone had decided to dig, in protest, a trench across our road so as to block traffic. Road blocking is a familiar, local tactic. If you are upset, you block someone's road and make angry threats in a very loud voice. He was sending a message that "he wasn't going to take it anymore!" Unfortunately, I had no idea what our neighbor was so mad about, but after a little digging, it turned out that he and his wife were angry with the fellows who had originally built the road five years ago. They had failed to pay them for a small corner of their property crossed by the road. The villager had now decided that it was our job to resolve this for him. Did he ask us for help? Did he come and talk to us first? Of course not! He simply dug up the road. That's how things work here.
Since the wife worked as a laborer on Swami's house, I asked to speak with her. I reasoned, I complained, I appealed, I waved my arms and threatened dire consequences. No luck. She and her husband simply said they would continue to dig up the road unless they received satisfaction ($$$). Eventually, a nephew appeared to argue on their behalf. He looked like a Bollywood thug. A crowd gathered to enjoy the scene, multiple phone calls were placed until finally Amol (an Ananda Sangha Trustee in Pune) counter-threatened to stop the entire project and lay everyone off for a month if the road damage continued. This got everyone's attention and brought an end to the argument. Stopping work was serious and the couple could ill afford to be the cause of their neighbors' loss of wages. We soon came to an agreement. We would intercede with the previous owners on the couple's behalf in an attempt to resolve their problem. They, on their part, would cease being a nuisance and repair the road. We had to go through this entire drama to reach an agreement that could have easily been achieved if they had simply come and talked to us first. But, the villagers aren't used to dealing with common problems in any other way.
It wasn't ten minutes after the road issue was resolved that I noticed a bunch of cleanly dressed, mustachioed men with sunglasses talking to our backhoe driver. You can easily spot the Indian politician and government official. This fellow and his henchmen had come from the talathi's office to shut down our construction work because we hadn't received the proper permissions from his office, or so he claimed. (The "talathi" is like the tax collector and registrar of government records. In India, it's a prized post because of the many fees that pass through his office, making wealthy whoever holds the position.) To every assertion by the talathi, Biraj calmly explained in his broken Hindi that we were perfectly within our rights and no such permissions were necessary. "Toddle along, old chap and let us be." The fellow became increasingly frustrated by our lack of submissiveness to his position until he finally puffed himself up and asserted in English, "I AM GOVERNMENT!!"
After fifteen minutes of back and forth dickering (He making demands and we playing non-comprehending simpletons.), we called our attorneys. They quickly pointed out to this fellow that he was totally mistaken and that he should ask his supervisor to show him all the papers we had already submitted. The attorneys knew that no bureaucratic subordinate in his right mind in India would ever ask his boss for such a thing because it was highly likely the supervisor didn't know the legalities or had ever read whatever documents had been submitted. He didn't do such things and that such a request would only cause embarrassment. This was something a subordinate could never do. To save the inspector from having to approach his supervisor, our attorneys volunteered to provide him with photocopies of everything in ten days. In this way, no one would lose face and the inspector would then be in the clear. He was now happy.
All the while this was going on, I could see one of the henchmen making surreptitious gestures toward me. He wanted to convey something, so afterward, when the above negotiations ended, he let me know through our labor foreman that the talathi had visited us at this particular time because was hoping for a "gift", this being the season of Diwali when the giving of gifts is customary. I sent back an inquiry about what type of "gift" the talathi had in mind. "American googles (sunglasses), a baseball cap and some cash would do nicely." After all, it was the day before Diwali.
Two weeks ago, Arjuna Lucki arrived from Italy to offer his help with our construction projects. Arjuna is one of the leaders of our Assisi center with extensive construction experience, he being the driving force behind the creation of our beautiful Temple of Light in Assisi and the temple/dining room/kitchen at the Expanding Light. He came to Pune with the thought of helping us finish Swami Kriyananda's house but quickly realized there is little for him do to directly speed that project along. For now, it's mostly in the hands of our contractor. Knowing of Arjuna's fondness for temples, I suggested he help us erect a simple, temporary mandir (temple) we had been hoping to build before the end of the year. We need something to last us for a few years until we can afford to build a more substantial building and had been thinking of a pandal (tent). It was just the right project to get Arjuna excited and, as suspected, it wasn't long before thoughts of a simple pandal had expanded into a pavilion with a blue mosaic-covered, ferro-cement roof shaped similarly to that of the temple in Assisi. To keep it within our budget, the sides would be open or closed with canvas. (See photo.)
As Arjuna and I were talking over the design with our local architect, a thought kept going through my mind, "How in the world are we going to justify this as a 'temporary' building?" We arranged a meeting with our attorneys and presented them with the dilemma. "Tell me again. What is this building for?" they asked. "It's a place for satsang, puja, meditation and that sort of thing." Hmmm. Thinking. Big smile. "No problem. It's a mandir (temple)! Here's what you do. Make a picture of what the mandir will look like when finished and put it on a big banner. In big letters, have a name for the mandir on the banner, something that clearly identifies it as a religious place. Dhyanmandir, or something like that. Place this at the site, and at the bottom, put our mobile numbers so that if anyone shows up asking questions, they can call us. Don't say anything if officials come. Just have them call us. Oh, and one more thing. Make sure to start the project with a big puja to which all the local people are invited and hand out lots of sweets after. You won't have a problem."
We haven't tried this yet, but maybe this is what we'll do. We're still thinking about it. In India, if you want to build a temple, it's hard for anyone to object. You see temples everywhere and in the most unlikely of places. If someone gets inspired, they erect a temple without bothering with government regulations. That's just how it is.
Arjuna has now returned to Italy for a couple of weeks to take care of personal business before returning in time to start this project in November. I'm hoping he'll have a chance to show the design to Swamiji for his feedback. If everything goes well and we can squeeze enough money out of our limited budget, we hope to finish our "temporary" temple within a couple of months.
As you can tell, we have a lot on our plate. When it will be completed is anyone's guess but we're hoping to have Swami's house habitable by the end of the year. "Habitable" doesn't mean completely finished but we should have the inside working. We won't have the staffs' quarters done and landscaping will still need lots of work, but no doubt we'll be far enough along to begin thinking of what comes next. Retreat? Flats? There will always be something.
Much joy to everyone,
(PS: If you would like to help us manifest our new mandir, you can contact me at my normal email address or at email@example.com for information about how you can contribute.)


text:
sexta-feira, 28 de julho de 2017
Day 6: Albuquerque and a supercharger
A storm was looming (read big, scary, freaking storm) and the photo shoot had to be quick (we got to the hotel with heavy rain already falling).
PS - It was a mighty T-storm. Mighty.
quarta-feira, 26 de julho de 2017
Day 6: Ah, the ranches...
segunda-feira, 24 de julho de 2017
Day 6: Lincoln County and Billy, the Kid (New Mexico)
Pardon my ignorance but I always assumed Billy, the Kid had to do with Texas. No, Sir. It is New Mexico. Since we were in New mexico driving north from the Carlsbad Caverns why not go to Lincoln County, the stage of the Kid's lawlessness?
Mind you, this is no Tesla land so don't expect Teslaness, EVness or any other of that electric mobilityness.
I was curious about the place and, when it was time to get in the car and move on, I couldn't help but think how Lincoln County must have been a dangerous and hard place where to live and how the face of a common 19th-century bandit is now on t-shirts and fridge magnets. Time really has a way of twisting things...
sexta-feira, 21 de julho de 2017
Day 5: Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
It is a very slow climb to the summit of the Guadalupe Mountains where the gate to the netherworld of the caves is. Heavy, heavy rain.
We wanted to be stunned. We were stunned. The cave is epic in size and in the amazing amount of stalactites and stalagmites and all formations possible. One cannot help but feel dwarfed when we think about the eons of Time that it took to shape the caverns. Our jaws drop at every instant, at every footstep that gets us deeper and deeper into the bowls of the Earth. There's so much to marvel at that there comes a point when you just feel overwhelmed and it's as if you cannot process any more visual information. A sense of being out of this world in some alien planet is probably what best describes the experience.
When you resurface from the depths, the sun is out. Down below is the vast expanse of the Chihuahan Desert. Your eyes get accustomed back to light and you wonder if what is below the ground is truly true...
segunda-feira, 17 de julho de 2017
Day 5: Fort Davis, Texas
For the Tesla-geek and geek of all things geek in general, the interpretation center at Fort Davis was full of 19th-century technology. On the age of internet it was fun to see Morse-code in action (to think that my husband knows Morse is actually mind-blowing).
quarta-feira, 12 de julho de 2017
Day 4: The Rio Grande (on the Mexican border)
I still want to see more of this river and of this border...
segunda-feira, 10 de julho de 2017
Day 4: Big Bend National Park, Texas
Big Bend here we are!
quinta-feira, 6 de julho de 2017
Day 3: Mission San Jose, San Antonio, Texas
terça-feira, 4 de julho de 2017
Day 3: The Alamo
This said, after a pit-stop in San Marcos, Texas, so the EV and Tesla-aficionado could check the Super-chargers while the patient Tesla-wife posed for the mandatory pics of said aficionado, we headed to that Texan must-see: The Alamo. No EV talk, just soak in the history and wonder in awe how monumental defeats can be re-written as phenomenal victories. The Alamo stands for nation-building and the courage it takes to face the odds when the ideals of freedom, independence and motherland are at stake. You cannot help but respect what The Alamo stands for...
Subscrever: Mensagens (Atom)


text:
You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'The Zodiac' tag.
Astrology is an ancient language of symbols that has been used by humans for centuries to assist with decision making, planning events, understanding themselves and the world around them; and predicting the future.
My use of Astrology as a Natural Health Professional includes drawing on an individuals' Natal Chart to gauge their current circumstances, as well as past & inner working potentials. I often cast my eye over the current transits for my clients when making appointments for major healing sessions such as Rebirthing/Breathwork.
The dynamics of Fitness Feb include the fact that for most of the month the Sun (symbol of Self in Natal Chart) is in the sign of Aquarius – giving Read the rest of this entry »


text:
Get Yourself a Give!Guide
The Willamette Week Give!Guide hits the streets today and features 79 nonprofits participating in this great project in addition to Mercy Corps Northwest. To take part, you can give online through the Give!Guide website anytime between now and December 31st.
Aside from supporting job creation and small-business development in your hometown, there are extra reasons to give through the Give!Guide.
- The Mercy Corps Northwest Board has generously offered to match the first $2000 in donations made through the Give!Guide. This means your gift will have double the impact.
- Willamette Week is giving out cool prizes to all donors who give $50 or more through the guide. These prizes consist of huge coupons to be used at Portland-area business.
- If you aren't sold yet, read the stories of people who have worked with Mercy Corps Northwest and see the impact we are having in the community for yourself.
The Book Party
What. Portland Bottom Line Book Release Party
When. Wednesday, November 10th 5-8pm, Program at 6
Where. Mercy Corps HQ, 45 SW Ankeny St.
How much. Free! (…just buy a book)
Cool Stuff
Serendipity has it that the Give!Guide and The Portland Bottom Line launch on the same day – we're so excited. Be the first to pick up your Give!Guide at the event. In addition, one hundred copies of "The Portland Bottom Line" will be available for sale ($16.95, cash/check only, 2 laptops will be available for online purchases). The contributors to this book have generously selected Mercy Corps Northwest as a beneficiary of book sales. The more books we sell, the bigger the donation, so buy the book!
Also, enjoy some tasty snacks and beverages donated by the book's contributors and other local businesses.
We're in for a treat
The contributors to the book (small business owners striving towards the triple bottom line), will be at the event to share their experiences and forge new relationships. Enjoy a short presentation about the making of the book and the challenge of doing business in a sustainable manner.
About the book
Co-edited by Peter Korchnak and Megan Strand, and organized into 12 sections along the triple bottom line of People, Planet, and Prosperity, "The Portland Bottom Line: Practices for Your Small Business from America's Hotbed of Sustainability" explores how small businesses can effectively and efficiently shift toward sustainability and thrive. In their short essays, 51 Portland small-business people share their experiences with sustainability in their companies.
We made it into the Give!Guide
Willamette Week has chosen us to participate in their annual Give!Guide effort. Last year, this community fundraiser brought in more than $900,000 for 79 local nonprofits.
The Give!Guide's goal — and now ours — is to develop new donors for organizations like ours. Willamette Week puts a special emphasis on identifying new donors under the age of 36 — and provides all sorts of incentives to help bring this about.
The guide and its web site don't go live until November 11, but we need your help to get a jump-start on this great opportunity. In addition, Willamette Week will be providing about $100,000 worth of incentives to people who give.
Keep us in mind when you pick up your own copy of this great publication.


text:
|Don't ask to ask, just ask
Comment on
|( #3333=superdoc: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
Hello Ikegami... Yes..I cannot modify the batch file. It is as it is and I was thinking of doing one of 2 things: 1. Small batch/shell script that first calls the env var batch/shell script and then my perl script - this would ensure that the env variables are set before my perl script is executed. 2. Use the File Open in Perl to read the batch/shell script and execute each line like a perl command....not sure if do-able ?
In reply to Re^2: Issue with env variables set through dos batch
by akrrs7


text:
It's hard to believe that four years ago today, were came into our lives.
You changed my world forever little man.
Today, you are FOUR.
You love to run and jump and dance. You love video games, and race cars, and army men. Swords, and guns, and ninja outfits.
You are smart, and hilarious. You always seem to say things that crack me up.
You love your sister and brother, and work so hard to protect them (when you're not beating them up haha)
My world will never be the same Elijah. You've brought me a joy I didn't know I could have.
You love to help me with things, and you are so loving and snuggly. I just love Elijah hugs. You love to kiss and snuggle anytime you can.
You love tomatoes. And salad. And macaroni and cheese. (well, mostly anything I put in front of you these days)
You love to play outside, bubbles and bikes and skates, and dirt and you love to 'cut' the grass with scissors.
You love to be just like daddy. If you could dress like him all the time you would.
You're growing up right before my eyes. I adore you my sweet boy.
You love to go to church and learn more about Jesus.
You can spell your name, and are learning to recognize and write the letters.
You are so excited about going to preschool in the fall.
I cannot believe how big you are getting.
Happy Birthday Big Boy!!! We love you so much!!


text:
A metal core adds strength and stability, making this trim more durable than standard plastic trim. As you push it into place, its tabs grip the edge to keep it secured. Trim is flexible enough to bend along a curve. Meets FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) 302 flammability requirements.
Inside Width: 1/16 in.
Inside Height: 19/64 in.
Outside Width: 15/64 in.
Outside Height: 3/8 in.
Flexibility: Flexible
Temperature Range, °F: -20° to 150°
For Use Outdoors: Yes
Nonmarking: Yes
Length: 10 ft.
Appearance: Pebbled
Color: Black
Material: Vinyl Plastic


text:
Angela Stanford held of Michelle Wie in Saturday's final round to win the 2009 SBS Open at Turtle Bay by three-strokes.
Wie managed only two birdies on the day which coupled with a double bogey in the par-4 eleventh hole cost her a chance at winning. Stanford shot off three consecutive birdies starting with the thirteenth hole, finishing with four birdies and two bogey's on the day for a 2-under 70 on the day and a 10-under 206 and a three stroke victory.
With the exception of Michelle Wie having pulled off the victory, the start to the 2009 LPGA season couldn't have gotten off to a better start. Wie solid performance will create alot of buzz for the former child prodigy as will the solid performance of LPGA Tour rookies Vicky Hurst and Stacy Lewis.
Although Hurst and Lewis both stumbled on the day's final round, the played well enough through the first two rounds to show why they are so highly regarded coming into their rookie seasons on the tour. Hurst dropped from fifth place through two rounds to finish in fifteenth place after carding five bogey's and finishing at an even-par 216 for the tournament. Lewis dropped from fifth place through two rounds to finish in a four way tie for twentieth place with a 1-over 217 for the tournament. Lewis had four bogeys and a double-bogey on the day.
Yani Tseng, the second highest ranked female golfer in the world behind Lorena Ochoa, finished with a 2-under for the tournament for a fifth place finish.
Natalie Gulbis, starts 2009 season with a top 10 finish, with a 1-under for the tournament finishing in a four way tie for tenth place on the leaderboard.
Paula Creamer finished at an even-par for the tournament for a fifteenth place finish.
With these top names getting off to a strong start, the LPGA change some of the negative momentum leading up to the start of the season after losing several sponsors for tournaments because of the ailing economy.


text:
The Washington Post
September 26, 2010
AP Poll: Many think health overhaul should do more
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Jennifer Agiesta
A new AP poll finds that Americans who think the law should have done more outnumber those who think the government should stay out of health care by 2-to-1.
The poll found that about four in 10 adults think the new law did not go far enough to change the health care system, regardless of whether they support the law, oppose it or remain neutral. On the other side, about one in five say they oppose the law because they think the federal government should not be involved in health care at all.
The Associated Press
2010 Health Care Reform Survey
By Stanford University with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
HC1. In general, do you favor, oppose, or neither favor nor oppose the law changing the health care system that the U.S. Congress passed last March?
9% - Favor strongly
21% - Favor somewhat
30% - Neither favor nor oppose
17% - Oppose somewhat
23% - Oppose strongly
0% - Refused
(Ask if HC1 = oppose strongly, oppose somewhat or neither favor nor oppose):
HC1A. Which of the following best expresses your view of the health care law that Congress passed last March?
28% - I oppose most or all of the changes made by the law
20% - I oppose a few of the changes made by the law
23% - I favor most or all of the changes made by the law, but I think that law doesn't do enough to improve the health care system
28% - I oppose the law because I think the federal government should not be involved in health care at all
1% - Refused
(Ask if HC1 = favor strongly, favor somewhat or neither favor nor oppose):
HC1B. Do you think that the health care law passed last March by Congress should have done more to change the health care system, or do you not think that?
61% - It should have done more
36% - Do not think that
3% - Refused
HC2. How much, if at all, should the health care system in the United States be CHANGED from what it was like in February, 2010, before Congress passed the law to change the system? Would you say it should be changed…
17% - A great deal
22% - A lot
35% - A moderate amount
16% - A little
9% - Not at all
1% - Refused
PR6a. Do you favor, oppose, or neither favor nor oppose a law that would require every American to have health insurance, or pay money to the government as a penalty if they do not, unless the person is very poor?
8% - Strongly favor
17% - Somewhat favor
25% - Neither favor not oppose
16% - Somewhat oppose
33% - Strongly oppose
8% - Refused
Poll results (32 pages):
Comment: Twice as many Americans believe that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act should have done more to change the health care system than those who believe that the government should not be involved in health care at all, according to a release this weekend on the AP/Stanford/RWJ poll. Framed this way the statement would lead you to believe that the majority of Americans want more reform, when, according to this poll, only about two-fifths hold that view, whereas only one-fifth believe that the government should not be involved at all.
Another confusing result stems from the fact that those favoring reform and those opposing reform were asked two different questions (HC1A and HC1B), yet those neither favoring nor opposed were asked both questions. It would not be surprising to learn that those favoring reform would want to see more done, but it would have been helpful to know how many of those opposed were opposed because not near enough was done. The number probably would have been fairly small since only 23 percent of those opposed plus those neutral wanted more done.
There are some conclusions that we can draw from the poll that do seem to be valid:
* Nine-tenths of Americans agree that the health care system should be changed from what it was like before the legislation passed.
* Four-fifths favor "making sure that more Americans get the health care they need."
* Four-fifths favor "reducing the amount of money that patients pay for health care."
* Half are opposed and only one-fourth favor the individual mandate to either buy health insurance or pay a penalty - an essential element of a system based on private health plans.
* Those polled were split on their understanding of various measures that may or may not have been included in the legislation. Thus these are the opinions of a relatively uninformed electorate.
The reassuring findings in this poll are that Americans do support the goals of reform: 1) Americans should have the health care that they need, and 2) Health care should be affordable for patients.
The poll also shows that the public is not well informed on health policy, so we need to do a much better job in showing them how they can achieve the health care reform goals that they want by enacting an improved Medicare program that covers everyone.


text:
I went with nice American lady to see some theatre last night. It was very good. It reminded me of some of the smaller shows I saw in Adelaide at venues like the Bakehouse Theatre.
It was a series of 3 parts called "Bash", put on by the very cool, and super independent New City Theater. Each part was about a supposedly normal person who had committed murder in spontaneous circumstances: a father who smothered his baby to keep his job, a mormon jock who bashed a fag in Central Park, and a woman who electrocuted her son for cold revenge against his father, who had been her teacher in high school.
The theater group has been around for about 20 years, and they put on lots of interesting plays, having commissioned work from a variety of American playwrights.
I must admit it took me a while to stop thinking that the actors were pretending to do an American accent. I kept waiting for their real accent to shine through... silly.
I'd like to see more of their stuff.


text:
The year was 1994. My parents, my sister and I packed up the car with our camping supplies and started on our way to Saugerties, NY. I was all of 14 and was about to have the craziest weekend of my life (so far). Woodstock '94 was happening and my family was right in the thick of it. It's been over 20 years and I can't remember everything but I do recall that we set up our tent and sleeping bags on the side of a hill, my older sister going off on her own late into the night, being covered in mud from head to toe (thank goodness for those ponchos) and most importantly watching Green Day perform live! You could say that the chance to see this amazing and very entertaining band was the entire reason I went.I forgot which of the "Two More Days of Peace and Music" it was but the stage was a close walk from our home away from home. We got to it as early as possible to get the best view we could, it was early enough that the pervious band playing reggae music were still on the stage. The crowd grew and grew, I don't know when, who or why it started but all of a sudden all those who had gathered were chanting Green Day! Green Day! Green Day! Green Day! Green Day! (Looking back on it I feel sorry for the guys on stage, I mean they were a good band in their own right) but the fans came to see Billie Joe Armstrong, Tre Cool and Mike Drint and they did not let us down.
I don't remember their set list (I'm sure all their hits from Dookie were part of the concert) but what happened while they were preforming was insane and became the best concert I have ever attended.
Again I don't know who threw the first shot but soon mud was flying everywhere on stage and off. The stage became a huge slippery mess but that did not stop people from jumping up on to it to get up close and person with the band. Security stepped in and began throwing them off, my family was so close that those being "gently" tossed off were practically landing on top of us. According to legend one or the guards miss-took Mike as one of those crazy fans and chipped one of the bassist teeth.*
It really was one great and (mostly) unforgettable weekend and for posterity I still have the muddy shoes and back when MTV cared about music they attendant and aired some of the concerts and perhaps somewhere in their vaults there is footage of a tall man with dark hair and a beard just enjoying a nice vacation with his wife and two teenaged daughters.
Congrats and cheers to Billie Joe, Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month (Concert with other inductees Saturday at 8pm on HBO) you guys truly deserve this great honor.
*Woodstock '94 has also been referred to as Mudstock, or Mudstock '94, partly due to Green Day's performance, during which guitarist and lead vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong started a mudfight with the crowd. The situation quickly spiraled out of control, with many fans jumping onstage. This resulted in the security team mistaking bassist Mike Dirnt for a fan and tackling him, resulting in Dirnt requiring emergency orthodontia. (Wikipedia)


text:
About two months ago, we started getting really obsessed with learning about makeup brushes. After going through every palette, kit, and other products with brushes that we had, here was our brush collection:
Hmmm. Not *too* shabby for makeup novices, but it definitely need some brushing up (ha) and rounding out to make it a little bit more functional for us.
There's nothing we love more than reading other beauty blogs to research products/ideas, so we powered up and started reading. Kate over at The Small Things (one of our faves – we want her hair!!) has some great posts about brushes – not only what you need to start out, but what you can add over time to round our your collection. Beautylish and Refinery29 also have some great info on brushes – types, brands and where to start.
Pretty much everything we read recommended two brands above all others – at least in terms of affordable, in-our-range brushes – Sonia Kashuk (Target) and Real Techniques (Walgreens, WalMart).
We picked up a 5 piece kit from Sonia that has a foundation brush (kit no longer online but similar brush can be found here) that – no joke – changed our life. Foundation goes on evenly, lasts longer, and looks like perfection. All 5 brushes are soft beyond belief with fancy printed handles that make us feel like we paid $100 instead of $12 for these.
With our recent Walgreens order, we picked up the Real Techniques Core Collection which is a set of four face brushes. While we wish the foundation brush were a bit bigger, the blush/powder and highlighter brushes (second from right and far right in the pic below) are absolutely fantastic.
All in all, if you haven't jumped on the brush bandwagon, we'd heartily recommend it. It makes sense – if you want your makeup to look good and be long lasting, it helps to have the right tools. Actually, we think if we had figured this out earlier in life, we wouldn't have had such a love/hate relationship with makeup! C'est la vie, though.
What are your favorite brush brands or types? Do tell!


text:
It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
H.R.4842 Latest Title: United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Sponsor: Rep DeLay, Tom [TX-22] (by request) (introduced 7/15/2004)
teaparty.com was registered in 1995 more than 10 years before it became a movement.
Domain Name: FUKUSHIMAMELTDOWN.COM
Registry Domain ID: 1644986019_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.godaddy.com
Registrar URL: www.godaddy.com...
Update Date: 2013-03-12 04:53:33
Creation Date: 2011-03-11 19:26:42
In 2004 Obama gave an empowered speech at the Democratic National Convention.
At that time he wasn't well known at all. I remember watching and being very impressed with him. In fact the post speech commentary was nothing but rave reviews describing how a "star had been born" in the democratic party.
Someone took a chance on the domain name. Simple as that.
I don't know how long Obama had been prepped for his position, but that was his coming out party.
The popefrancis.com thing is spooky. A lot happened between when that site was launched and he became Pope. The dude works with whistle blowers though. I guess its plausible that he had some inside info.
Vasa Croe
Here is an odd one. While it was registered on the same day as the disaster,
Creation Date: 2002-04-07 03:32:20
he was in the Illinois senate from 1997, not many may have see he coming but he was around to have a page


text:
|I made this dress out of a pair of badly-fitting pajama pants. I like the colors. The leggings are from the doll's original outfit. (She is a American Girl Bitty Baby I bought on craigslist for Thea Belle's last birthday.)
|I actually think this skirt is pretty tacky but I thought Thea would enjoy it. And I had this crazy sequin elastic band to add to the bling -- silly!
|I gave it giant snaps to make it easier for Thea Belle's little fingers.
|That is all. And Hooray! (p.s. This post is mostly for my mom who asked to see pictures. Mom, I love you for many, many reasons but I am so very thankful that you taught me to sew. Thank you. *hug*)


text:
Online Banking
Commercial Services
Commercial Lending Services
No matter what your commercial financing need, our experts have the tools to help.
Click here to see a listing of our Commercial Staff.
Term Loan
- Short term and medium term loans can be used for business expansion
- Structure the repayment schedule that matches your cash flow needs
- Finance equipment and fixed assets
- Choose from flexible, short and long term rates
Lines of Credit
- Help support your working capital needs
- Fund seasonal changes in inventory and receivables
- Take advantage of vendor discounts
- Enjoy the convenience of borrowing as you need it
Letters of Credit
- Import / Export letters of credit to support ongoing trade relationships
- "Stand by" letters of credit to support ongoing transactions
Commercial Real Estate
- Purchase commercial property for your business
- Purchase investment property for your business
- SBA 504 Loans available
Small Business Administration Loans
- 504 Loan – Long term loans for land, buildings and machinery with special interest rates
- 7(A) loan and LOWDOC loans to support equipment, fixed assets and working capital needs for businesses
Construction Loans
- Residential Subdivisions
- Land acquisition and development loans
- Construction loans for single family, cluster and condo developments
Multi-Family Housing
- Land and Construction loans for multi-unit property
- Interim financing for completed property
- Financing for rehabilitation properties
Small Business Banking Partnership
- Up to $10 million in state funds available to invest in local businesses
- Designed to help grow small businesses
- Term loans, equipment or real estate financing, commercial lines of credit
As required by the Small Business Banking Partnership program, loans will be granted in sums of no less than $10,000 and no greater than $1,000,000. Since sponsoring this initiative the Bank has generated $58,034,134.41 in loans to the Business Community. As of June 30, 2018, Walpole Co-operative Bank has a total of 164 Small Business Loans with a committed balance of $26,660,216.62.
This is your Bank!
For more information about our products or services, please use our information request form or give us a call at (508) 668-1080.


text:
* Raises 2014 capex by 12 pct to C$934 mln
* Average rig count in Canada up by 13 to 53
* Average rig count in U.S. up by 13 to 93 (Adds details from statement, background)
July 24 (Reuters) - Precision Drilling Corp , Canada's largest oil and gas drilling contractor, reported a 25 percent jump in quarterly revenue as its rigs under contract were at their highest level since 2006.
The company also raised its 2014 capital budget by 12 percent to C$934 million ($871 million), citing strong demand for its new rigs.
Precision Drilling, which competes with Ensign Energy Services Inc, Trinidad Drilling Ltd and Savanna Energy Services Corp, also provides well completion and production services.
Precision Drilling said it is expanding its rig-building capacity and expects to deliver three new rigs per month starting October, and four rigs per month starting 2015, if customer demand continued at the current pace.
The average rig count in both Canada and U.S rose by 13 to 53 rigs and 93 rigs, respectively.
Precision Drilling, citing industry sources, said U.S. active land drilling rig count was up about 6 percent from last year. Canadian active land drilling rig count was up about 18 percent.
The company posted a loss of C$7 million, or 2 Canadian cents per share, in the second quarter ended June 30, after it changed its method of calculating depreciation. The change reduced earnings by about 5 Canadian cents per share.
Precision Drilling had reported a profit of C$473,000 a year earlier.
Revenue rose to C$475 million from C$379 million.
The company's stock, which has risen 45 percent in the last 12 months, closed at C$14.74 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. ($1 = 1.0720 Canadian Dollars) (Reporting by Anannya Pramanick and Tanvi Mehta in Bangalore; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)


text:
Doyle directs in the rain-Hey,they won the trophy and got their picture in the paper!
Last week was a busy one here at Hobe Sound. The Singing Tree performed 4 times and we had our annual town parade. I put 49 pictures on Facebook, but decided to put a few on my blog. Lydia waves at the crowd on the school float. It started raining when they were almost done-what a mess!
Our band with the youth group behind them.
Julianna getting ready to march.
Samuel in line with his trumpet.
Joseph was a shepherd on the float.
Lydia was Mary.
Joseph was a cat in the animal song for the Tree performance.
Julianna was an angel in the Hallelujah Chorus.
The Singing Christmas Tree!
Samuel gets ready to go sing with the rest of the kids.
Lydia as an angel.
Doyle plays for the prelude.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Singing Tree and Parade!
Posted by Florida Bozone Bunch at 3:40 PM
2 comments:
- Making Memories 1999 said...
Wow, can't believe your girl is old enough to be an angel for the Hallelujah Chorus! Where does the time go? It wasn't that long ago that your little family had come to visit me in HS, and she was just an infant!!
Great pictures! I really liked the backdrop that they used in the Singing Tree this year! Nice!
Hope you all now have some time to rest! ;-) Trust you all have a very blessed Christmas!
- December 8, 2009 at 10:48 PM
- Ronda said...
Enjoyed your Christmas pics! Happy 2010!(Looking forward to "baby" pictures! :))
- January 4, 2010 at 11:41 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
its new years eve and i figure id make the most of the remaining 2 hours or so to bid 2010 a fond farewell with some of the best spastic party music ever made. kent ohio's armstrong's secret nine played crazy sloppy garagecore in the vein of fellow kentites harriet the spy and (early) party of helicopters..........really really good shit and i suppose its even better when your drunk off your ass, so do yourself a favor and check this shit out!
just wish i had someone to kiss when the ball drops.....oh well.


text:
Die attacks of the new US government on the trade policy of other countries could trigger a new global currency war. Trump is leading the world into a "vicious circle of currency war and protectionism", said the renowned British economic historian Harold James of the "world on Sunday". In the end, a Devaluation would race and protectionism, as least in the 30s.
James teaches at the American Princeton University and is regarded worldwide as one of the best connoisseurs of the transatlantic economic relations. For the first Time since the end of the Second world war, the government in Washington aims to weaken America's trading partners in Europe, said James. "The White house is trying to attack the Euro, or to suggest that the monetary Union breaks up."
For 80 years, did not suggest a U.S. President in such a isolationist sounds like Donald Trump. "The rhetoric may be part of the negotiation strategy. But you will hardly bring positive results."
James believes that trump's strategy goes wrong. Because the more capital because of the uncertainty of the EU in the dollars flee, the more the rate of the US currency increases. The harder going it is, therefore, for American companies to remain competitive.
German companies are alerts
Trump will respond by implementing more tariffs and restrictions on foreign companies wanting to do business in the USA.
This danger, many top managers in Germany see, in the meantime. A majority of German business leaders holds a currency war to be the greatest threat posed by Trump. More than a third of the members of the management Board is alarmed that a survey of the "world on Sunday".


text:
I just followed some people in my clan's session, and i joined a Ground war demolition. 9 on each side, and it was a public match. How did this happen?
I checked the playlist over and over, it says nothing about demolition, and i never join one by myself. Help, I want to know how.
Thanks, TheManUtdFanRead more >
If there was a new DLC for modern warfare 2, what would you like to see.
Name 1:
Gun, Old CoD map, challenge, perk and anything else you would like to see, eg additional special ops missions or a new game mode.Read more >


text:
We have been working on an LP for quite some time now. We are no wherenear finishing it, seeing as though we are still writing the music and outlining the story. We are also trying our best at having this record's lyrics read like a book. The story might make more sense if we include some sort of graphic novel with the record, so we will probablybe working on one of those as well. This is going to be a science fiction epic full of aliens, mutants and space battles. Here is some concept art for the album's story. More info to come...
Swarm On The Swine 7"
Front Cover Of 7"
Back Cover Of 7"
Our third record, which came out towards the tail end of June 2010. This album was recorded in our practice space in San Francisco and is probably the last release for Stress Domain Records (?).
Front Of Insert
Back Of Insert
This record is based off of the stories of King Arthur that were adapted to film in 1981's "Excalibur" by John Boorman. Boorman's vision of Arthur is a bit darker than what was initially written about him in "Le Morte d'Arthur" and we decided to focus on what made his version different. Undertones of incest, cannibalism, insanity, and the devil all made it into the songs on the record. The sound clip in the beginning of "Wind Chimes" comes from the movie "Excalibur".
Front Cover Of 7" (Test Press)
Back Cover Of 7" (Test Press)
-1st Press: 500 w/Black Vinyl
All Black Labels
14 Test Presses
Track List:
Incestuous Insects
He Feeds Me Carrion
Wind Chimes


text:
Of Trees Over ThereUniversity Of Oxford First World War Poetry Digital Archive
Manuscript in pen in Ivor Gurney's hand. From a pink mottled hard-cover exercise book. The inside front cover is inscribed 'Music to Miss C. Rogers...Poetry to Professor Saintsbury / Bath'. The inside back cover is inscribed 'Instead of a home / I require death'.


text:
cool(E)motion presentation for Ambassadors in Des Indes
After all ambassadors told how climate change has it's impact in each country, it showed the need that project cool(E)motion has to continue.
Thanks to the support and hospitality of Des Indes: Pierre-Henri Bosovers & Ben Hardeman, it was a great success.
Live picture from Uummannaq
Neighbour icebergs started their Arctic trip. Exciting!
Ap on the Dutch radio: VPRO, De Avonden
Tonight, in the first hour of VPRO radio, De Avonden, channel 6, at 19:00, an interview with Ap Verheggen - cool(E)motion Project. More info: press here
When do the sculptures start their trip?
That's the question. The iceberg is stuck on a line of rocks under water. It needs high tide and wind to push it over. If I have a look at the tidestable, the best possible answer is: wednesday, the 28th of April. ( see tide calendar ) If you have another prediction: please let it know!


text:
I've got another project today using the Echo Park Bundle of Joy baby boy line. This time it's a small wooden frame that I adhered to a 12x12 canvas. I love how it turned out! (This is a store sample for Craft Warehouse, you can read more about that here.)
I started by covering the canvas in brown chevron paper using Mod Podge and then I added the green patterened paper on top of that. The wooden frame was also covered with patterned paper/Mod Podge and the edges were painted white to match and then glued down to the canvas using E6000. I decorated the rest of it using the die cuts/stickers/brads that are in the line. Wouldn't this be SO cute hanging in a baby boys room?
I don't normally add "bling" to boy projects but I thought these blue rhinestones by Queen and Co. fit really well.
What do you think? Isn't this line adorable? LOVE the mix of patterns and colors!
I absolutely LOVE this baby boy line, Bundle of Joy from Echo Park. It comes with paper, die cuts, stickers, etc. The images and color scheme are completely adorable and it was so fun creating with it. I'm also obsessed with these unfinished wood frame/shadow box thingies from Craft Warehouse. I've made several for the store and they're one my favorite items to work with. The fun thing is, they're just slightly smaller than 12x12 so it's just like making a scrapbook page but with a cool frame around it. The monograme letters are from Making Memories and are adhered to the front of the box. Funny story - this is actually a picture of my son Matti, but I only had one "t" so I changed it to Max, lol! I figured since it was going up at the store, no one would know and it wouldn't matter. I love the dimension of adding the name in front. (This is a store sample for Craft Warehouse, you can read more about that here.)
Hope you like this little peek at one of the many projects I've made lately. Thank you for stopping by! I appreciate it so much!
Besides adoring my husband and four little boys, I also love all things DIY, sewing, fashion and cupcakes. Life is short, make it cute!


text:
Taking cues from LotFP and from 5stone's comment in my previous post about a reworked Thief, my brain is considering the possibilities of thief skills as "adventuring tasks" or whatever, and restricting them not entirely to thieves. As many of you probably know, latter day iterations of D&D do this with skills; no longer are there "thief skills," but rather the rogue class, which simply has a bigger skill list and gobs more skill points than the other classes. Simply put, they are the class that are good at skills. (Or, if you prefer, skillz) Giving everyone the thief skills/"dungeon tasks", albeit at a lower probability and/or rate of advancement than the thief class, is just taking this approach and fitting it to the older versions of the game. (My idea for Feats of Strength/Skill/Will/Etc is another example of this, I guess.) So, here are a couple of approaches I'm thinking on:
1. The straight-up LotFP approach: every character, regardless of class, has 1-in-6 to do everything, but thieves have higher chances to do some things. There are obviously some restrictions here: you can't pick a lock without lockpicks, you probably can't sneak around in metal armor, etc. Now, I'm not well versed enough in LotFP to know how the skill advancement works exactly, but I see two further possibilities:
a. Only the thief ever gets better at skills. (Much the way that only fighters ever get better at combat in LotFP- a mechanic that I vehemently disagree with, by the way...) Everybody else is stuck at 1-in-6 on everything, forever.
b. As suggested by 5stone, everyone can advance at skills, but nowhere near the speed that the thief does. (He suggested 1 point every other level for magic-users, for instance) Other characters can develop talents as they desire, but nobody will ever out-thief the thief.
2. Certain classes get certain skills formerly attributed only to the thief. What I'm thinking:
Fighters- I'm thinking Climb Walls might be the extent of it. I'd be fine with fighters having no skills.
Clerics- See above.
Magic-Users- Read Languages.
Mystic**- Mystics already get thief skills.I'd also be inclined to turn their acrobatics option into an x-in-6 skill, probably starting at 1-in-6 and improved upon like any other thief skill.
Elf-Hear Noise. Option on Move Silently and Hide in Forests, which works like Hide in Shadows, but...well, you get the idea.
Dwarf-Find/Remove Traps. Feel free to make this limited to stonework traps, but I can see dwarves being able to find and disarm mechanical traps, too. On that note, consider giving them Open Locks.
Halfling- Move Silently, Hide in Shadows. I suppose you could add Pick Pockets if you want your halfling to be more Kender-like, but why god, why would you do that to the rest of the players?! If you want the halflings' hide ability to be replaced by thief skills but still rock out like it does in the Rules As Written, give them 4-in-6 or even 5-in-6, half chance in the dungeon.
All these skills start at 1-in-6. I'm thinking that the Fighter, Cleric, and Magic-User get one point every other level. Mystics get 2 improvement points to start and 2 points every level. Elves, Halflings, and Dwarves get one point every level. You can tweak these to taste. (Cyclopedic characters, for instance, can go to 36th level...so perhaps you want to slow the skill advancement down a little.)
**Yes, I know the mystic is in the Cyclopedia and not B/X D&D, and I know a lot of the old school crowd don't like the mystic, but I do.
...at any rate, you could even write up a quick and dirty skill system for each class, so that nobody feels left out. (Ain't I sweet?) Maybe check this out:
Fighter: Disarming Blow, Stunning Blow, Feat of Incredible Strength, Repair Weapons/Armor, Size Up Opponent
Cleric: Field Medicine, Demon/Undead Lore, Exorcism
Magic-User: Demon/Magic Lore, Herb Lore, Read Languages (Read/Speak Languages, maybe?), Spell Lore, Crazy Ass Forbidden Lore.
Mystic- Most of the fighter skills, plus maybe Zen/Mystical Philosophy (not sure how useful that would be...) Consider cutting back on the thief skills in this case.
Elf- Woodcraft, Track, Magic/Fey Lore
Dwarf- Detect Slopes/Grades/Passages, plus most of the fighter skills.
Halflings- Makeshift Cookery, Herb Lore, Remember Irritating Song That Goes on For a Goddamn Page and a Half.
With this system, we're leaving behind the wonderful simplicity of B/X and headed down a dark, dark road that culminates in there being a difference between "Riding Basic" and "Riding Advanced." Now, I do like a little mechanical complexity to my games now and then, so perhaps this is something I'd consider developing further. That will be another post, I suspect.


text:
High humidity is expected to continue in Kuwait till Friday and may go down on Saturday with the possibility of a temperature increase, said a weather forecast official on Thursday.
Head of Kuwait weather forecast department, Mohammad Karam told KUNA that humidity was at 95 percent in some areas of Kuwait due to southeastern winds.
The current humid and hot weather will continue throughout Friday with high temperatures reaching between 40 to 42 degrees, said Karam, adding humidity will hopefully go down by Saturday; however, the temperature will remain high.
"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed."
"Envy comes from wanting something that isn't yours. But grief comes from losing something you've already had."


text:
- At Antelope Island State Park visitors will find a campground with modern facilities, biking and hiking trails, a historic ranch site, interpretive exhibits, picnicking facilities and a swimming beach.
Recreation - Hiking, biking and wildlife viewing are the highlighted activities at Antelope Island State Park. Camping is permitted on the island year round and group camping and picnicking sites are available. Opportunities for photography, viewing interpretive exhibits and visiting a historic site are also available on Antelope Island.
Climate - Antelope Island ranges in elevation from approximately 4,500 feet to 6,565 feet. It lies within the Great Salt Lake Basin which receives relatively mild winter weather in contrast to the mountains surrounding it. Summer temperatures can soar to 90 degrees F, but the elevation (and afternoon thunderstorms) help to cool the air slightly at night. This region, like the whole state, is generally arid. Most of the precipitation comes in the form of snow, during the winter months, and thunderstorms during the late summer.
Location -
This facility is located on Antelope Island, the largest of eight islands within the Great Salt Lake. It is accessible via the Davis County Causeway from exit 335 on Interstate 15.
Trip Reports:
Add your own trip Report!
Newly re-released feature. One of the most popular features on Wildernet, trip reports allow you to share your experiences with others.
This is an invaluable resource for determining what to expect on your outdoor adventure, so please participate! To prevent spamming, you must be a registered user of Wildernet in order to submit a trip report
No trip reports filed to date. Please be the first one to do so!
No trip reports filed to date. Please be the first one to do so!
Contact Information:
Antelope Island State Park, 4528 West 1700 South
, Syracuse, UT, 84075-6868, Phone: 801-773-2941
Additional Information:
Great Salt Lake Country
- This region of Utah is best known for the excellent skiing terrain in the Wasatch Mountains east of Salt Lake City.
Northern Utah
- This region of the state lies north and northwest of Salt Lake City and includes the Great Salt Lake and most of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
Utah State Parks
- The Utah State Parks system is comprised of 46 properties throughout the state. The properties consist of heritage, recreation and scenic sites that vary in size and amenities.
Utah State Parks & Recreation - This site is a comprehensive listing of the state parks including maps and contact information.


text:
1) This game is played with 2 - unlimited players.
2) It is played with one die.
3) Each player rolls the dice to see who goes first. The highest roll goes first. A 12 is the highest roll. The rest of the order is decided by highest rolls. If a tie, those players roll again.
4) The first player to roll the number 5316 is the winner.
5) The number must be matched in order though. (E.g., you have to roll a 5 first, then a 3, then a 1, then a 6.)
6) After each player rolls the die, the next player goes.
Variation - The game can be played with another four digit number. The number can be selected before the game starts.
Similar Games - The three dight match is played with a three digit number. The five digit match with a five digit number.