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Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightly ratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbers reflect Live and same day (DVR) data.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Ratings For The Week Of May 3rd
Posted by Julie at 5:46 PM
Labels: Ratings At A Glance
10 comments:
When Wolf and John King's demos are higher than your demos for Tuesday, May 11th, than it's time to stop taping your segments on AC 360...and that includes walking to the "magic wall." Viewers like to know the anchor is interested enough in HIS show to acually be there in person and it's not that late to have a few live interviews as well.
360 has always been live in the past and that is one element that made it a good program. Take this away, and you have "Gloria talking to a cardboard cut-out of her son."
The viewers likewise, now have a "cardboard cut-out of an anchor and it's unappealing. It isn't in the moment and it isn't 24/7. Not cool AC.
- May 12, 2010 at 7:02 PM
Not a bad week for CNN with all things considered.
I am wondering what is up with the drop for Keith
& Rachel, that make me wonders what if CNN did
something to tweak it's shows and get back in the
game.It is all about presentation, content and
story telling.If CNN concentrates on these key
components they will be fine. Most importantly
they must not forget that television is a visual
media, more stories please.
- May 12, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Have you guys noticed that they seem to
be changing the format for Campbell Brown.
It seems they are going to interviews right
after each story in the mash up. I think the
opening of shows is a big problem for CNN.
It takes CNN too long to get right into the
news. All of the show need to work on
improving the intro. The only problem is
that people might be already skipping CNN
at 8. Then again I am wondering if this is
a test format for a new show.
- May 12, 2010 at 8:32 PM
Have you noticed that Campbell has "gone missing" for some nites now and John Roberts has filled in plus others?? The demos for John were horrid, but who knows, CNN may be trying to figure out who best fits this position. It certainly isn't Campbell.
You're right about the intros. If you lose the viewer's interest in the first few moments, the show is over.
- May 12, 2010 at 9:53 PM
Well it seems as though CNN is trying to do
something about American Morning.TVN says
they are bringing in Max Kellerman from HBO
to do stories on sports and pop culture. The
problem that I have with American Morning
is that it is in rehash overload.It does not look
like a morning show. The really fix this show,
after all it is the 1st show that people will see
on CNN. People just want to know what is going
on before they head out the door.
- May 13, 2010 at 7:23 AM
I can't believe Am Morning/CNN was nominated for an emmy! John Roberts is plain boring and something is very wrong with his hair. Is he losing it? Now he's showing up in Campbell's place and he's not much better.
Yes, there's no freshness about the show. It is just a rehash of news that went before.
Ted Turner was interviewed by Wolf and he's the one who said he wanted to have SPORTS interjected in some of the shows. He seemed disappointed with where CNN is headed and said that international news must play a more important role, but was undecided about a merger with ABC. He was "old and cranky."
- May 13, 2010 at 5:40 PM
Seems like Ted Turner, the man himself, is not at all in sinc, with Jon Klein's decision to close down environmental series, such as Planet In Peril, according to TVN. So where does that leave Miles O'Brien, a science major with an avid interest in NASA, who was abruptly dismissed by Klein in '08 as almost "irrelevant." Let's hope that Jon Klein is soon dismissed for the very same reason.
- May 13, 2010 at 7:36 PM
Good night for 360 last night because they
go it right this time. Having 2 guests on at
the beginning who had some connection to
the topic was a good move. Even John Roberts
improved on Jon King's numbers. I will be
looking to see if CNN will hire some new media
journalists.I think this would be a gold mine for
CNN. When 360 has interesting news and
good stories people will watch. They expect
news from Anderson and if they feel they
are getting it they will stay turned. I am not
sure what CNN will be doing with the 8 pm
hour but they have to do something before
it is too late. Dan Rather has an interesting
take on Larry King. He thinks the problems
are the programs that are his lead ins.
- May 13, 2010 at 7:48 PM
Dan Rather Not, as Elmo called him when AC interviewed Elmo the puppet, is far from the journalist he once was. He isn't even believable. No one seems to listen or respect his opinions because he chose to be "above it all," when he was in error.
Unfortunately, he did not play his hand smartly, and decide it was time to be respected in another fashion as did Aaron Brown. Brown saw the writing on the wall and bowed out gracefully and now he can call the shots in academia, and teach journalism in any university. I understand there's a "waiting list" at Arizona State just to get into his classes. Unlike Rather, Aaron went away in "style." Rather should do the same.
- May 13, 2010 at 9:38 PM
Looks to me like ALL AC'S fans were standing in line on Thursday nite because his demos and totals were deplorable!! Well, you all can't be two places at once. Get those iphones out and apply your apps!! Set those DVR's on play for Thursday, because things don't look so good. This LIVE thing better be worth the effort.
- May 14, 2010 at 8:47 PM


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I recently went looking for Philly steak sandwiches (read the story here) and kept finding sandwich shops that don't make the cheese-laden steak bombs. Although they were sans steak, I stumbled on two institutions that I really should have had on my radar before now - Viafores in Fircrest and Hal of a Sub in downtown Tacoma. What I found were two neat sandwich shops that made my food in under five minutes. Hellloooo, half-hour lunch break, I found you a partner. Read on.
Viafore's Italian DelicatessanWhere: 604 Regents Blvd., Fircrest, 253-564-2228Hours: 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday and MondayNote: This deli is cash only
This is much more than a sandwich shop, it's a deli and grocery store with an impressive display case of grab-and-go housemade pastas and sauces. Head to the display case for a grab-and-go dinner you can heat at home and you'll find pastas in all shapes and sizes. There's homemade meatballs ($8.95 a bag), foil trays of layered lasagna ($8.95), stuffed cheese shells ($8.35), white clam sauce, red clam sauce or alfredo sauce ($4.89 each). Stuffed manicotti ($8.95) and homemade cheese ravioli, too ($5.95).
At lunch, I appreciate that Viafore's will have you in and out in under 10 minutes. Sandwiches come with a choice of soup or salad. On a recent visit, I stuck with the Viafore Special ($6.95), a sandwich on a French roll piled with what looked like at least four kinds of cured meats (the menu lists salami, sausage and pepperoni), mozzarella, a swipe of mayo and mustard and finished with tomatoes, leaf lettuce and slices of pepperoncini peppers. I ordered mine with chicken soup - tortellini floating in a light chicken broth. A meatball sandwich ($6.95) showcased housemade meatballs with a tender bite and a punchy marinara with peppers and onions. The warmed bread tasted a touch dry, as if it had taken a trip in the microwave. I'd return again and again for the simple, yet tasty, pasta salad that came on the side, dressed with an Italian vinaigrette.
Hal of a SubWhere: 901 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-2933Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday
I've cruised by the downtown Tacoma sandwich shop with the smirk-worthy name more evenings than I care to remember. Hal of a Sub is not a place for dinner, though, it closes daily at 3 p.m. But I was determined to return for lunch after hearing from a reader that it's on her regular rotation for downtown dining. While Hal of a Sub may not seem all that remarkable and has a somewhat gritty atmosphere, it's reliably good and fast - two things that can elevate a sandwich shop into my regular lunch rotation.
I ordered pastrami and was expecting the processed stuff for the $4.99 pricetag, but was pleased to find decent pastrami with a slight chewy tug and a strong beefy flavor - a decent pastrami for that price. Want it grilled? No problem, just ask. Condiments and veggies were generous - Swiss cheese, mayo, mustard and fresh, crisp iceberg lettuce, red onions and tomato slices. Watch the menu for the daily soup offering and they also have a selection of salads.

subset: commoncrawl


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This today 2 Crafty title allows me to remember the day that Flynn stood up all by himself. He was so proud and so cute.
There are so many great 2 Crafty titles and words. I love them all.
Hi, I just love your blog and all your creations. Your layout colors are beautiful. I am new here, Please visit my blog and become a follower, I am now your newest follower. Hugs and god bless!
Great layout & a great photo. Super sweet. Cheers Di xo
Great use of the title Belinda, lovely page and fab photo.


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HEADPHONES AMPLIFIER HPA V280The HPA V280 was developped with the target to enable ultimate transmission quality for low- , medium- and high-impedance headphones. These may also be balanced versions !!Due to its specific, variable, low-noise and low-distortion circuit design especially optimised for dynamic headphones, the HPA V280 fulfils even highest demands.Like his "bigger brother" HPA V281 also HPA V280 uses our famous V200 amp technology to enable the typical uncolored but smooth sound signature.
LOW-NOISE because of low internal gain.Therefore the self generated noise from the amplifer is not audible.HIGH OUTPUT VOLTAGE through balanced amp technology.Therefore best suited for high impedance headphones.Over 95 % of all headphone amplifiers in the market offer not half that voltage !! HIGH OUTPUT POWER because of powerful amplifiers able to deliver much more current a headphone needs.Therefore best suited for low impedance headphones and even magnetostatic cans !!HIGH DAMPING FACTOR through lowest output impedance.Therefore best suited for full control even over critical headphones with the garantee to have flatest possible response.Features:- Balanced inputs with gold-plated Neutrik XLR connectors- Unbalanced inputs with gold-plated ALPS RCA connectors- switchable unbalanced outputs with RCA connectors - optional digital input (USB or Coax or Optical)96 or 192 kHz- PRE-GAIN = switchable input gain in five steps- Independent-channel design- ALPS RK27 High-Grade volume control - High-Quality op-amps in the signal path- High-quality MKP capacitors in the signal path- 0.1 and 1% metal film resistors throughout the unit- 4 amplifiers with V200 technology- 1 balanced headphone output, Neutrik 4-pin, gold plated - 2 single ended silver-plated Neutrik headphone outputs- Relay-based headphone output cutoff- 2 large toroidal transformers- Large filtering capacitors in the power supply- Switchable ground lift- Rugged aluminium case with Nextel coating- Solid, laser-engraved aluminium front panel
The four built-in amplifiers provide balanced operation of headphones !! Connection is made via 4-pin Neutrik XLR connectors. Two "standard" headphones may be connected via 1/4" jacks on the front panel.This amp may be equipped with one of six different digital inputs:Coaxial, Optical or USB with either 24/96 kHz or 24/192 kHzCase and back panel are made of aluminium and are Nextel coated. The 8 mm frontpanel is black or silver anodized. The labeling is laser engraved.
Technical Data
Go back


text: Ellie has had a loose tooth for over a month. At first I didn't believe her, since she has older friends that have been loosing teeth, I thought she was just having some wishful thinking. But it really was loose. When it started hanging crooked I really wanted it out...but it stayed like that for a week or so. It finally came out this week with the help of Papa and some pliers, (so glad I wasn't around to see this) The Tooth Fairy came for a visit, and left a gold coin, a fairy dusted dollar, and a little note for Ellie. I even got a picture of her!


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have read it to find out........
True Meaning of LOVE
- by margaret72229
- Rating:
- Published: 3 Mar 2013
- Updated: 6 Mar 2013
- Status: In Progress
this is like rated r so if you're under 13 i wouldn't read this. just a warning. hope you like it............
Join MovellasFind out what all the buzz is about. Join now to start sharing your creativity and passion
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Last Thursday I was hanging out at The Bike Rack when I started getting text messages asking if the mustache would be back in time, whether I was going to go, and congradulations. It wasn't til someone told me to check the USA Cycling website that I had discovered a wild card invitation to race in the UCI World Cycling Tour (UCWT) World Championship Final in Belgium.
Well... despite the offer to receive a free "Energy Shot of Quick Energy (59 ml)" if I was prepared to spend about $2,000 in airfare, lodging, registration fees, etc... - I quickly realized that I was going to have to sit out the Group Ride World Championship (GRWC). The idea sounds awesome for the sport of cycling in general, but it's not for me. I feel like it's more of a burden than an opportunity because of how ridiculous, yet exciting it all sounds. If I had vacation time and robbed a bank, I would have jumped on it just for an excuse to go to Belgium. I suppose their's always next year! Oh wait, if I decline the invitation I automatically miss out on a chance to compete next year. That negative reinforcement trick won't work this time.
Make some Illinoise!
While my team, XO Communications / Battley Harley-Davidson is stomping the Mid-Atlantic RR Championship this weekend in Page Valley, VA, I'll be getting stomped by the Columbia National Team and Geox-TMC among many other national and international pro teams at the UCI 2.2 Tour of Elk Grove. Igor Voshteyn of Jonathan Adler racing was kind enough to let me race as a guest rider with them. The world-class field and the chance to test my abilities at such a high level are only half as exciting as the fact that my dad is going to be in attendance among the crowd. He hasn't seen me race yet.
Last year my mom saw me race a local crit, The Fort Ritchie Classic Criterium in Maryland. It was the first time she had seen a bike race. I was off the front the entire race with Joe Dombrowski, Curtis Windsor, Russ Langley, and my teammate in the race, Chuck Hutcheson. I won every preme lap and buried myself trying to get Chuck in position to win. Chuck won and my mom was proud and loved watching the race. It'll be hard to pull something off at Elk Grove, but I can't explain how excited I am to try to make him proud.


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Steve adler is a queer heroine addict.When he left Guns N Roses they deinately found a much better sound.His absense is the best thing to happen to the band.Think he is mopping floors somewhere or giving head for heroine.
GNR minus Steve Adler equals Use Your Illusion.
by Adler basher October 24, 2008
buy the domain for your pet vlog


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Here are the notes from the presentation I made at each school. The link is to a note in Evernote which I have made public.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
The New Dashboard
When you opened Stride Academy today, you saw a very different look on your dashboard. LTS will be conducting a free webinar on Wednesday, October 22 at 3:30 to discuss the features.
To register for the webinar, click here. You will receive an email containing information on the URL. and call-in number.
I listened to a short webinar myself and have spent some time exploring the new look. Here are some of my significant take-aways.
- On the previous dashboard, when you saw a certain percentage of students were working "Below Grade Level," you have wanted to know who those students are. Now, clicking on the bar shows the students who make up that percentage.
- On the "Recently Awarded Academic Badges," "recently awarded" is defined as the last five badges. If you are capturing a list of those students weekly (as I have suggested during work with faculties), be sure to click the "See all student details" to see the students who earned badges during the week that you would have otherwise missed.
- Knowing who has not completed PMA just got easier. You will see a blue link in the upper-right portion of the dashboard.
- One piece of information we used to get on the old dashboard is not here. Previously, the left-hand side of the dashboard provided percentage of students answering 70-100% of questions correctly, 50-70% correctly, and less then 50% correctly. The closest parallel I could give you is to run the Growth Report (which I have spoken about in faculty meetings). At the bottom of the report, you will see the percentage of correct answers for the class as whole within the two date ranges you selected. An upcoming post will give you a link to a spreadsheet where you can input those figures and get a nice graph for your students.
LTS has provided this information on the new dashboard:
Friday, October 10, 2014
Scenes from Saks Elementary School
I had a great day working with teachers and walking through the school on Tuesday at Saks Elementary School. I walked in the computer lab to see a group of first graders enjoying working on Stride Academy. Here are few photos:
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Introducing the #StrideCoinMasters Photo Contest!
Introducing the #StrideCoinMasters Photo Contest!
Starting Monday, September 29th, Stride Academy is hosting a #StrideCoinMasters Photo Contest! Post weekly photos of your top 3 coin earners from your classroom on one of the following social media sites: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google+. Follow us and use the hashtag#StrideCoinMasters for your chance to win!
At the end of two weeks, we will choose a winner and the top 3 students in the class will receive a Stride Academy Gym Bag! Winners will be chosen based on top scores and photo creativity. This is a great way to encourage students to participate in Stride Academy!
Submissions are due by 5pm CST on Friday, October 10th. Winners will be announced onMonday, October 13th. They will featured on all LTS social media platforms and in our monthly newsletter! Feel free to post multiple pictures of the week's top coin earners!
Here's How to Enter:
- Must be following us on the medium in which you are posting.
- Must tag us and use #StrideCoinMasters.
- Photos must be of top 3 students; the more creativity the greater the chance to win!
- Must include top 3 scores of the week in the post.
- Prizes will go to the 3 students in the chosen photo.
- All submissions are due by 5:00pm CST on Friday, October 10.
We can't wait to see how your #StrideCoinMasters have excelled! Don't forget to follow us on all social media sites to see what others are posting as well!
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


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In the past year, news reports and academic studies have revealed startling conditions for juveniles at adult and youth detention facilities, systemic hurdles faced by teens whose parents are imprisoned, and institutional biases against students with behavioral issues. But the media has just started covering these troubling subjects.
In an effort to educate journalists on the juvenile justice system twenty-Five U.S. reporters from print, online and broadcast outlets were awarded Reporting Fellowships to attend a conference Oct 6 & 7 2014 at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City on how to report on this topic. The symposium, "Kids, Crime & Justice: Progress or Paralysis?" focused on how law enforcement, school officials and social service practitioners can apply research and best practices to dealing with troubled youth.
The unique fellowships, organized by John Jay's Center on Media, Crime and Justice (CMCJ), are aimed at promoting top-quality journalism on juvenile justice issues. The first juvenile justice reporting fellowship program was organized by CMCJ and Tow in 2012.
Speakers said that a key factor in reducing the number of youths jailed or placed in detention is the recognition that adolescents who misbehave don't necessarily belong in the criminal justice system. Often, incarceration is used as the state-ordered solution for youths who misbehave because they suffer from mental illness, according to Elizabeth Cauffman, a professor of sociology and social behavior, at the University of California Irvine School of Social Ecology. She spoke to journalists alongside other panelists which included Shaena Fazal, National Policy Director of Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.; Laurence Steinberg, Professor, Temple University; Marc Schindler, Executive Director, Justice Policy Institute; and Linda Tucci Teodosio, Judge, Summit County Ohio Juvenile Court. Dr. John Deasy, Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, and Tracie Keesee, co-founder of the Center of Policing Equity, headed the list of speakers.
Fellows also attended two workshops on data visualization and engaging your audience through social media hosted by CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. Workshops were run by Amanda Hickman, director of data mining and visualization instruction at CUNY and Sandeep Junnarkar, director of interactive journalism
For a full agenda click here.
A complete list of fellows that attended the conference can be found here.
Watch Dr. John Deasy, Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, deliver the keynote address below.


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text: Benefits Park Educational Programs!Saturday, October 11 from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm Tickets on sale now for annual fundraiser for educational programs! Twinkling lights under a canopy of trees and stars, the delightful sounds of live music floating through the air - it's that time of year again! Join us for our 20th Annual Lobster Feed at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park on Saturday, October 11, 2014. Enjoy a full dinner featuring a 1.5 pound fresh Maine lobster served with crisp salad, steaming corn-on-the-cob, warm garlic bread, beverages, and dessert. The bluegrass sounds of Highway One add their own special magic to the evening. General Admission Tickets are $75, VIP Tickets are $100 and advance reservations are necessary and available until sold out. Purchase your tickets online at www.mountainparks.org or call 831-335-3174; Checks, Visa, MC, and Discover accepted. This annual fundraiser for Mountain Parks Foundation supports the educational and cultural programs in Big Basin and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Parks Mountain Parks Foundation funds the nature education and enrichment programs offered at Henry Cowell and Big Basin Redwoods State Parks. We believe an informed public will ensure the preservation of the natural habitats and cultural history of our California State Parks. Interpretive and educational programs funded by Mountain Parks Foundation serve more than 1.7 million park visitors annually, including more than 200 student classes who participate in park curriculum-based educational programs. Events made possible by California State Park Docents, California State Parks and Mountain Parks Foundation Henry Cowell Redwoods SP Event Dates Saturday, October 11, 2014


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Over a 12 week period from March to May I had Mondays off from my day job to devote to writing. Unsurprisingly it became my favourite day of the week.I treated it like a work day, getting up early, making sure I had a some words down before lunch. Never before had I looked forward to working so much on a Monday! Any creative person who works full time I'm sure can identify with the frustration of having to go into the office on days where all you want to do is lose yourself in words or art.
Knowing I only had this luxury for 12 weeks really helped me focus and I completed at least one or two new stories, (sometimes spending some of the time editing old ones), every Monday. Some I'm really happy with, some I'm not, but the important thing is I got words down on paper.
My original aim had been to complete my second YA novel but I realised I wanted to use the time to focus on a different type of writing and experiment a bit.
There were moments where I started to overthink and panic, thinking I might waste the whole day staring at a blank computer screen. If lines weren't flowing for one story, I would simply abandon it and move onto something else.
One weekend in amongst my Mondays when I was feeling a bit demotivated and uninspired, (and probably having a bit of a week where I was doubting my writing, amongst other things), I sat in a café reading through a helpful little booklet which was free with Writing Magazine, called 'Just Write' (7 days of inspiration to unlock your creativity). I liked the NO RULES in bold at the top of the booklet, because really when you start setting yourself strict rules in writing that's when your words stop flowing…
I paid particular attention to the Neil Gaiman quote in the book: 'Life is sometimes hard. Things go wrong, in life and in love and in business and in friendship and in health and in all the other ways that life can go wrong. And when things get tough, this is what you should do. Make good art.' (taken from Neil Gaiman's commencement speech 'Make Good Art' delivered to the University of Arts in 2012).
On leaving the café I stopped in at Waterstones in search of a book I've always meant to read called 'The Artists' Way.' As soon as I walked to the art section a different book caught my eye. It was called 'Make Good Art'. Yup- it was Neil Gaiman's whole speech in a creative book form! So I sat and read the whole speech (you should look it up - you can hear/see him speak it on youtube). Some very encouraging and inspiring words for artists everywhere.
The weekend after this I met up with a friend for a late birthday get together. The photo at the top of this blog post is part of her present to me. The 'Create Happiness' pencils and the blank journal seemed like another sign that I should continue with the making and the creating!
So now my Mondays off are over that's the challenge – to keep making good art and figure out a schedule which works for me to make sure I give myself time to do this.
A friend recently recommended an interesting book called 'Daily Rituals: How Artists Work' by Mason Currey, which documents over one hundred famous writers'/artists'/musicians' working routines. I envy the writers who can get up at 5.30am (some as early as 4am) and function.
I've come to the conclusion that it's probably best I don't try to think too much about a writing 'routine' and instead focus on getting words down anytime, anywhere that I can, and worry about the sentence structure during moments of calm.
So that said, I think it's time we all got off the internet to go and make some good art!


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This latest mass murder/atrocity at Ford Hood Army Base seems a bit propitious for an Administration whose Party has been absolute Hell on the U.S. Constitution's 2nd Amendment, and Especially in light of the recent spate of FBI arrests of Politicians, all of the President & Co. own Party, . . . with Anti-Gun California State Senator Leland Yee being the absolute jewel in the their hypocritical crown.
Emperor Obama has promised us that if Congress won't get on board with his anti-2nd Agenda he will personally take Executive Action. (which he does Not have the Constitutional Authority to do.)
So, with Fort Hood stealing the headlines which Should be focusing on the arrest of Leland Yee, we are turning Our attention to this story in how ever many posts/steps it takes.
Step 1
from Guns Magazine;
The Arms Deal That Brought Down Sen. Leland Yee, His Consultant, and A Dentist.
The 137-page affidavit details the FBI's 4-year investigation of a criminal organization in San Francisco, its ties to Yee, and on Yee's corruption. It reads like a crime novel following two undercover agents who immerse themselves in the city's seedy underbelly. One agent poses as a political donor, exploring the depths of Yee's corruption and how it affects state legislation. While the other exposes criminal mischief, i.e. money laundering, drugs, stolen goods and guns, which ultimately leads him to meet with Yee about an arms trafficker.
The latter agent's story began May 2010 when he met Kwok Cheung Chow, aka "Shrimp Boy," the head of the criminal organization Chee Kung Tong in San Francisco. The agent embeds himself with Chow's people and various dealings and meetings, eventually discussing the arms deal with Yee three years later.
Keith Jackson, Yee's political consultant, is the intermediary that brings them together around May 2011, but it isn't until summer 2013 that Yee's gun connection is introduced in the conversation. Over time, Jackson and the agent have various transactions such as money laundering, drug investments, gun sales and campaign contributions. It eventually adds up to meet the probable cause needed for a formal charge.
June 25, 2013 – After an arms sale, Jackson told the agent that he was hoping that he could raise more money for Yee's campaign, suggesting that the state senator is open for business.
Aug. 2, 2013 – The agent met with Jackson to discuss gun sales and identifies the source of the small cache he's already purchased as Rinn Rouen. But Jackson also tosses out the idea that Yee has a connection who could ship large stockpiles of weapons. Jackson explained that Yee met the dealers "a long time ago" and they had been working together.
Aug. 5, 2013 – A few days later, the agent met Jackson to purchase more guns and get more information about Yee's connection. Jackson told the agent that Yee would facilitate a meeting with the arms dealer, but only if he made additional contributions to Yee's California Secretary of State campaign.
Sept. 13, 2013 – Having seen no progress on the meeting, the agent told Jackson that he was skeptical about Yee's ability and desire to introduce him to the arms dealer. Jackson tried to salvage the opportunity, saying that Yee was the one who wanted to do it and explained that the trafficker was "the real deal." They just wanted to move at a slow pace.
Oct. 17, 2013 – The agent met Jackson and another unsavory character, Marlon Sullivan, at a restaurant in San Francisco, to talk shop about their criminal lives.
Jackson and Sullivan were upset with lack of progress regarding a coke deal with the agent's supplier – a fictitious source. The agent explained that his partner had to revamp his cocaine distribution strategy due to a run-in with law enforcement. With money in hand and a Postmaster in Memphis ready and willing, Jackson and Sullivan were disappointed about the loss.
The agent then asked about "Uncle Leland" brokering a meeting with his gun guy. To which Jackson replied that the guy was in the middle of shipping weapons to the Philippines, where the government was fighting a Muslim rebel group.
"That's a good one for us," Jackson said. "I will make it happen."
Still, the agent said that he believed Yee was all about taking money from people and not delivering on his promises.
Dec. 3, 2013 – The agent met with Jackson at a hotel in San Francisco to discuss a possible coke deal. Jackson and his cohorts had enough for 10 kilograms of coke, but still had to work out the finances. You see, Jackson's business partner, and son, owed $9,000 to another guy about a different drug deal. But the agent wouldn't budge: $26,500 per kilogram.
The conversation quickly transitioned to Yee's gun deal. Jackson said he talked to Yee and reaffirmed that the gun trafficker was "the real deal." He said that Yee was actually going to meet with his connection to arrange everything. However, Jackson added that Yee still had reservations about the agent, but was growing to like him since the agent was willing to buy the guns, give him a finder's fee, and would also launder all the cash.
Dec. 13, 2013 - Ten days later, Jackson and his criminal son Brandon met with the agent at Roy's Restaurant in San Francisco for Hawaiian fusion cuisine and to discuss Yee's gun trafficker.
Jackson told the agent that Yee stated he was going to contact the trafficker that day, explaining that Yee had a Filipino associate supplying "heavy" weaponry to the rebel groups in the Philippines.
The agent slipped Jackson $1,000 in a white envelope, and Jackson quickly added that Yee's guy had access to cargo containers full of weapons.
Dec. 17, 2013 – A few days later, the agent met with Jackson and Sullivan at a restaurant in San Francisco, mainly to get closer to the arms dealer. Right off the bat, the agent handed Jackson a check made out to "Leland Yee, Secretary of State" for $5,000.
Understanding that the check was payment for the meeting, Jackson said, "We just talked about that today." And informed the agent that Yee would be meeting the arms dealer in a few days.
Shortly after, Jackson got a phone call from Yee, who wanted to talk to the agent.
The agent told him that he raised $5,000 for the Yee campaign and was looking forward to meeting their "mutual friends."
Jan. 22, 2014 – After months of talking with intermediaries, the agent finally met with the senator himself at a coffee shop in the city.
But before Yee arrived, Jackson told the agent that the gun source was extremely cautious about meeting new people, so he himself had to be involved every step of the way.
Then Yee walked in. He told the agent that he recently talked with the arms dealer, explaining that he and the dealer had developed a close relationship after meeting a number of years ago.
"(He) has things that you guys want," Yee said, but cautioned that doing business with him was not easy. "This was not a business for 'the faint of heart.'"
The arms dealer will work with Jackson because he trusts Jackson, Yee said.
But the agent needed the source. He assured Yee that he understood the importance of remaining safe, but he wasn't sure that Jackson could adequately address his needs.
The arms dealer is "low-key" and has been trafficking weapons for quite a while, Yee explained. "We're interested," he said, but the dealer has to talk to "his folks. He's going to rely on me, because ultimately it's going to be me."
The ability to traffic weapons is based on trust and trust takes time.
The agent continued to push. He told the senator that he would be compensated for brokering the relationship, and he reminded him that he had already put up the cash, so Yee should stay true to his word.
Yee agreed that the agent was right to be suspicious, but assured him that the arms dealer was real and he wasn't sending him on a "wild goose chase."
"I know what he could do. I have seen what he has done in the past on other products and this guy has the relationships," Yee said.
This arms dealer had contacts in Russia, Ukraine, Boston and Southern California.
The agent pushed for a commitment.
"Do I think we can make some money? I think we can make some money. Do I think we can get the goods? I think we can get the goods," Yee said, adding the hurdles were timing and finding the right people. "I'm the man."
Yee then began describing what the agent and Jackson would be getting into after doing business with the international arms dealers.
The last time he visited the Philippines "armed guards with machine guns" surrounded him. "Because I'm getting a little more into this, it's not just Russia; the Muslim countries have sources too. And so, that has brought to my attention recently."
Jackson asked the agent what he wanted.
"Shoulder fired" weapons or missiles, the agent responded.
"Automatic weapons?" Yee asked, as opposed to semi-auto.
Jackson asked how much.
Between $500,000 to $2 million worth of weapons, the agent said.
Talk to Jackson about specifics and quantity, Yee interrupted. He advised on a communications structure: The agent was to talk to Jackson, Jackson talk to Yee, and Yee to talk to the arms dealer.
"I think we ought to focus our attention on developing this relationship," Yee said.
The agent said he appreciated the opportunity with the arms dealer, which is why he contributed to Yee's campaign fund.
Yee agreed, saying he also saw their relationship as beneficial, but make sure money is given directly to Jackson because he didn't want to go to jail.
The agent explained he took care of those who take care of him, and would give both Yee and Jackson "hundreds of thousands of dollars" for their help. But the arms deal needs to go down.
Yee tried to steer the conversation, saying once he was elected California Secretary of State, he would appoint the agent to a Russian delegation.
The agent pressed. He said he needed something more immediate, like an introduction to the arms dealer.
"Look, he knows what I want. I have opened the discussion. What I got to help him understand is that Keith is a conduit to other people," Yee explained.
The agent offered $100,000 for the first deal.
"Alright, take care," Yee said, ending the meeting.
Feb. 12, 2014 – The next meeting was less eventful. After organizing a coke deal, the agent and Jackson attended a sporting event. During the game, they discussed the deal again with Yee's arms dealer.
Jackson explained that the deal was ready, but needed $50,000 for Yee's campaign fund.
The agent complied and said that there'd be more money once the first shipment was complete.
Feb. 25, 2014 – The agent met with Jackson at a restaurant in San Francisco, and they waited together for Yee to arrive.
Jackson had grown concerned with the senator delaying the meeting with the arms dealer because it was hindering the progress of his coke deal. While he remained enthusiastic for the arms deal, the coke deal was still very important to him and he was being pressured to make it happen. Nonetheless, Jackson emphasized that the arms dealer was the "real deal."
When the senator arrived, the agent asked for an update.
Yee was being cautious – extra cautious. He said they needed to be careful because of the recent indictment and conviction of another California state senator for corruption. He added that he thought that other senator was now wearing a wire for the FBI.
The problem, as Yee pointed out, was that that other senator involved too many people in his schemes. That was part of the reason Yee took an "agnostic" stance on the agent's desire for weapons.
"People want to get whatever they want to get. Do I care? No, I don't care. People need certain things," Yee said.
However, Yee advised that the deal probably wouldn't happen until the end of the year. He wanted to wait for everything and everybody to get onboard with the plan.
"What would it take to make you comfortable?" Yee asked.
The agent jumped right to it. To talk to the dealer about logistical issues related to trafficking the guns internationally, the agent said. And to know what the dealer could supply, emphasizing he wanted "mobile, light and powerful" weapons.
Yee explained that the dealer probably won't talk about product during the first meeting, and if he had asked, the dealer would probably think the agent was in fact an "agent."
The agent pushed for the meeting, saying he'd spend $2 million on the first shipment of weapons.
The senator stalled, saying the dealer was "doing stuff" in a foreign country. But ultimately agreed to facilitate a meeting.
"When?" the agent asked, and said he needed Yee to make the meeting happen.
Still, the senator worried. The more people involved in the weapons deal, the greater the chances of getting caught.
The agent assured Yee that he has just as much to lose if they got caught. He told the senator that he had a great life and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that.
Yee said that he was unhappy with his life. "There's a part of me that wants to be like you. You know how I'm going to be like you? Just be a free-agent out there."
Yee said he wanted to escape to the Philippines.
Jackson reiterated the importance of the arms deal.
Yee again expressed worry. He attributed his long career in public office to being careful and cautious. And said if he's caught, the agent may be implicated as well.
The agent asked for the deal and assured the senator he would not talk specifics like "hell-fire missiles" during the meeting.
Yee said he'd find a way to make it happen.
March 4, 2014 – Jackson called the agent, telling him that Yee wanted to shift to another source for the weapons deal, and that the agent would meet with Yee and the source tomorrow.
March 5, 2014 – The next day, the agent met Jackson at a hotel restaurant in San Francisco. Before Yee arrived he had to finish filing the proper documents to officially run for California Secretary of State. In the meantime, Jackson explained to the agent that they're going with a new dealer because the other source was too busy.
Jackson explained that the agent will have a point of contact in the U.S., and one in the Philippines.
The agent learned that the new dealer had associates in the Philippines who needed money to fund their effort to overthrow the Philippine government.
When Yee arrived, he described the depth of his relationship with the arms dealer. Although he wasn't the one Yee originally had in mind, he did trust him – a Daly City dentist and fromer San Mateo County Commissioner named Dr. Wilson Lim.
The two met two years ago when Yee visited Mindanao, where Lim is from, by an invitation from government officials. When he toured the area, armed guards accompanied him all along the way due to the constant threat of attack.
Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines and has a large Muslim population, some of which are fighting the government for control of the area. The senator described it as a "war zone."
"(The Muslim rebels) have no problem kidnapping individuals, killing individuals and extorting them for ransom," Yee said.
Lim's source for the weapons was a Philippine citizen who used to sell guns to clients in Florida, meaning he has ties there. The plan was for Lim's contact to ship weapons from the port of Cagayan de Oro, which is on the north end of Mindanao, to Florida and then off to wherever the agent wants.
"The ideal way of handling it," Yee said.
The weapons need to be shipped to the Port of Newark, New Jersey, the agent said because his family has connections there. From Newark, a portion of the weapons would be shipped to Sicily and then on to North Africa.
Yee told the agent that it would be easier if he picked up the weapons in the Philippines. He then added that Lim was surprised to hear the agent wanted $2 million for the initial purchase – a sum that's quite large and might bring about unwanted attention.
"We can't catch attention to any of this stuff," Yee said, and reiterated that it would be best if the agent picked up the shipment from the port of Cagayan de Oro. Yee then warned that the Philippines are a corrupt place and would have to pay people off at every level in this deal.
The agent replied that he wasn't worried about getting the weapons to the states, and shifted the conversation. He asked about the types of weapons available.
Yee said his dealer has automatic weapons available, those that are equivalent of the M16 service rifle.
What about shoulder-fired missiles and rocket launchers? the agent asked.
"I told (Lim) about rocket launchers and things like that," Yee said, and asked the agent to provide a list of items and how the agent would be submitting payment.
Two million in cash, the agent replied, and asked about artillery.
Mindanao is a "war zone," Yee said, and asked if this was the agent's first weapons deal.
The agent explained that his family used to buy Russian weapons through Canada.
Africa is a largely untapped market, Yee said and explained that when he became California's Secretary of State that he could be an even greater resource for the agent, and even aid in shipping weapons directly to Africa. He then stressed the importance of completing this first transaction.
The agent agreed. He assured the senator that he would pick up the weapons in the Philippines and then ship them back to the U.S. before sending them to North Africa.
There are approximately 100 rifles available, Yee said, adding that the Muslims in Mindanao had access to a lot of money. In fact, Muammar Gaddafi financed them before he died.
The agent asked to have a direct conversation with Lim.
The senator hesitated. He explained that everything he's been saying was true. Lim is a gun lover, he said, with no moral arguments about selling weapons. Yee said he himself even had the chance to shoot some of the rifles he's been talking about in Midanao.
Yee excused himself and the agent and Jackson finished dinner together.
March 11, 2014 – Finally, the agent met with the senator, Jackson and the arms dealer, Lim, at a restaurant in San Francisco.
Yee introduced Lim to the agent, describing him as a highly trusted person. Lim is a kind-looking, older man. Soft eyes with grey in his eyebrows and a quiet smile.
The agent stressed the importance of remaining safe during all aspects of the weapons-trafficking deal.
Lim said that the weapons could be shipped to Manila or to the Port of Cagayan de Oro, but Manila would be the safest option. And explained that he'd contact his nephew – the contact in the Philippines – who would get the weapons from a Captain in the Philippine military.
Can you put a list of together? Lim asked.
But the deal won't happen until after the California Secretary of State election, Yee interrupted.
Both Lim and Yee wanted to deal in smaller amounts of weapons to avoid unwanted attention in the Philippines.
What about the Muslim organizations in Mindanao? the agent asked.
"M.I.L.F" the senator said.
The agent understood the acronym to mean "Moro Islamic Liberation Front."
There are several factions within MILF, the senator explained, with Lim explaining that they are friends, but not personal associates.
What weapons are available? the agent asked.
The Israeli-made Tavor assault rifle is very common in the Philippines, Lim said, describing it as an equivalent to the M16.
Anything bigger? the agent asked.
"All kinds of things, we just have to look for it," Lim answered, and advised no requests over the phone.
The agent asked if Lim would accompany him in the Philippines.
Lim asked if the agent was wanted by law enforcement, because people have to be careful in the Philippines.
Yee agreed, adding that there's a high probability of being kidnapped.
The list will go to Keith Jackson, the agent informed Lim, and directed Lim to hand deliver the letter to his nephew in the Philippines.
But Yee explained that Lim won't go to the Philippines without him, and that he himself wouldn't be ready to go until November. "Once things start to move, it's going to attract attention. We just got to be extra-extra careful."
Yee added, that Manila would be safer, but "we have more control in Cagayan de Oro than Manila."
Yee asked the agent to bring money to the Philippines.
Not a problem, the agent replied.
Lim explained that the agent would meet with a MILF leader.
In turn, the agent inquired about the recent peace treaty signed by the Filipino government and the Muslim rebel groups.
There's a backstory to that, the senator explained. The Philippine government secretly funded some of the Muslim groups to keep the war going in an effort to keep the people distracted from all the corruption within government. Plus, several factions didn't sign the treaty.
The weapons will be provided by the Philippine military, Lim said.
"Light, mobile and devastating," the agent repeated to Lim about the weapons he wanted. He reminded Lim that a list will be ready, and advised Lim to have an associate hand deliver it if he cannot.
Yee explained that Lim needs time to set up the infrastructure necessary for the deal, and then told Lim not to get too involved because he is a U.S. citizen – reminding everyone that he wanted to "protect the entire enterprise."
Yee wanted several layers of protection to shield Lim and anyone else involved from trouble.
Lim asked the agent if he could bring a ship to the Philippines.
The agent reminded Lim that his family controls a large portion of the Port of Newark.
You in the mafia? Lim asked.
Associated with the mafia, the agent said.
March 14, 2014 – The agent met with Yee, Jackson and Jackson's criminal son Brandon at a restaurant in San Francisco. Together they openly discussed how'd they divide the agent's cash into legitimate campaign donations.
There's $6,800 and a list of weapons ready for Lim, the agent told Yee.
Yee said that the cash would go to one of his kids and he'll write a check to the campaign fund.
A short while later the senator and the agent made a Xerox copy of the list.
Lim will mail the letter to his nephew in the Philippines, the senator said.
March 26, 2014 – Sen. Leland Yee, Dr. Wilson Lim and Keith Jackson were arrested for conspiracy to traffic weapons.
More than 20 people were arrested overall as a result of the entire investigation.


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Rita Kolsin said her elderly father was left waiting for hours in a hospital operating room because there weren`t any surgeons who trusted his health maintenance organization, International Medical Centers, to pay them.
The doctors demanded $3,000 up front before they would operate.
``It`s a disgrace,`` an angry Kolsin said Tuesday at a congressional hearing at Boynton Beach City Hall.
``Because IMC does not pay its bills, they would not touch my father until I came up with $3,000,`` the Boca Raton-area resident said.
Rep. Dan Mica, D-Lake Worth, called the House Select Committee on Aging subcommittee hearing to find out why his office has been flooded recently with complaints such as Kolsin`s about the poor treatment health maintenance organizations are giving to elderly Medicare patients in South Florida.
Although directed at all HMOs, the hearing before an overflow crowd turned into a thorough lambasting of International Medical Centers, a Miami-based company that has used a seemingly endless series of celebrity television commercials and newspaper advertisements to build itself into the largest HMO in the nation for Medicare recipients.
Government officials, doctors, hospital administrators and the families of patients treated by IMC let loose charges that IMC was an administrative mess: that its bookkeepers failed to pay its bills on time and its doctors delayed treating patients until illnesses became life-threatening.
``IMC stands out as having a very bad track record,`` said George Holland, regional administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, the federal agency that oversees Medicare.
Holland said a team of investigators will scrutinize IMC this month to see whether the organization meets federal standards for quality of care, financial stability and management. He said the company could lose its Medicare contract if it is not in full compliance.
The FBI confiscated records last month from IMC-associated clinics in Davie and Fort Lauderdale to investigate allegations that they billed fraudulently and refused to accept people with serious health problems as members.


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On the 25th of June, 2012 I made a usual flight lesson in the Piper Cub. This time I was in the 65hp Cub, N77500. At the beginning of the lesson, I met with my CFI Joe and we did a short ground school session. He quizzed me on the aerodynamics section of my Jeppesen Private Pilot book. I did pretty well, so we went out to fly.
|Red Stewart Airfield. Not my photo, taken during fly-in in 2008.
On the way back, we were a bit high, so I did a easy forward slip to get down quicker. As we went straight into runway 26, the wind sock moved and we had a little tailwind too. But I decided to keep going on the approach. I touched down a bit long but I handled the crosswind good with a side slip. After the first landing, we taxied down to the other end of the runway and took off the other way. We then did 6 more landings. The first 5 were either a little firm but dead center, or soft but I drifted because of the crosswind.
The last landing was really a great moment. The approach was beautiful and my side slip was perfect. I greased the landing dead center and Joe was very impressed. This was when he said that now I am really "flying." On the way back to the hangar, Joe told me that I should start flying the Cessna 150 instead of the Cub so that I can get the required stuff for my Private out of the way early before my first solo when I'm 16.
Overall, Joe was very impressed with my flying that day. I'm really looking forward to my next lesson!
This Flight: .8 hours, 7 landings, 7 takeoffs, N77500, 40I-40I
Total hours to date: 12.6
|GoPro HD HERO2 Outdoor Edition
I use it for my videos, buy it here!


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Check out the Los Angeles Medical Center Farmers' Market at Barnsdall Art Park (4800 Hollywood Blvd)! This farmers' market is open year-round from noon - 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.
The LAMC Farmers' Market features approximately 20 farmers selling freshly picked, California-grown produce, fresh cut flowers, herbs and spices, seafood and cured meats in addition to 10 prepared-food booths featuring an array of ethnic cuisines.
The Farmers' Market accepts EBT/Foodstamps and WIC/Senior FMNP coupons.
For more information, call 323-463-3171.


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01 July 2010
Thank You, Allid!
4 comments:
Pah. Good to see that the Canadian tradition of treating the Maritimes like a vestigial appendage was solemnly observed even before the country existed. Acadia would have been a perfectly fine name for the country, relevant in exactly as many provinces as "Canada" - more, if PEI had joined as planned.ReplyDelete
That said, I'd much rather be a Hochelagander than a Provincial, whether it be United or Nursing Regional Resentments.
Happy Canada Day!
Acadia would have put us right up there before Afghanistan, leading the parade of nations. Something to consider for anyone working on a new country in their basement. What's more, it's a damn sight more attractive than also-rans Efisga, Tuponia and Borealia. Acadian is such a beautiful word, Borealian would have only invited insults.ReplyDelete
Happy Canada Day! Hell, Happy Dominion Day, too!
So Canada wasn't "Canada" as late as February 1867? How and when was it made official? And what did the CBC have to say?ReplyDelete
I believe the question was settled once and for all during the London Conference. The earliest newspaper report I've been able to find comes courtesy of Toronto's Globe, published four days after ALLID wrote his letter: "The name of the new Confederation is to be Canada! Upper Canada is to be styled the Province of ONTARIO; Lower Canada is to be called QUEBEC; and the other Provinces retain their present designations. We fancy this is as good a selection as could have been made."ReplyDelete
It's always struck me as odd that Ontario and Quebec are in caps, but not Canada.


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LaVern has been busy constructing his greenhouse. When he is finished it will have plastic over it and then straw bales along the outside. Inside will be another covering over the plants and 55 gallon barrels in each corner. He is painting the barrels black and will fill them with water to help heat the greenhouse. Then in the cold, cold weather he may hook up the little wood stove directly to the barrels and heat the water that way. Trial and error is what he said! Those are green beans inside it now. Still producing and I'm canning.
Are you enjoying the moon? Tomorrow night is a full moon................go for a night walk!!!!!


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Writing corner is the little corner of my blog where I talk about writing. If you're interested in the rest of the corner, click here.
Currently I've been working on The Queen's Ransom (or TQR) which I've talked about before. Normally when I sit down to write I have an idea of what's going to happen and if something huge changes in my head I just start over because when it's something that changes the "roots" of the story I have a hard time continuing writing.
Well, that's a bit different this time around and I don't actually know why. I began with a really basic plot and a really basic outline but knew where I wanted to go with the story. While writing each chapter though, I tend to stumble upon an idea that betters the story and absolutely changes the "roots" of it. But, instead of going back and starting over, I just roll with it and let it play out as it's playing out just with these new changes.
For example, at the end of the first chapter I realized that one of the two MCs had to have a different motivation. His motivation is a major plot point in the story (understandably) and changes a lot of what his character means. As I go through, too, I keep streamlining why he does what he does and his character has done a near 180 since he was first spawned into my head.
The quest itself- the driving force of the whole novel- has changed quite a bit as well. It went from being a rather solitary thing to being something where a whole bunch of outsiders can take part of. This was the hardest change to enact because I will have to rewrite most of the first chapter and the prologue but it's also the best change for the story so far.
Smaller things have changed as well. Things I didn't realize I was missing or were weak are now there and are strong.
Every chapter is a new beast when I sit down to write it because right now it feels like each chapter belongs to a different story. I'm looking forward to editing it when it's done because then I get to straighten all the lines out and finally wrangle it into one definitive story.


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All through the year, God was guiding and protecting my family and I, every step of the way! It is therefore with great joy that I revisit and share some of those moments as captured by the my photo camera.
What a holiday! Thank you sisters!
|my son and daughter cut the birthday cake
|Son shares his birthday cake with classmates as dad looks on!
|Off to Cameroon!
|Azefor girls and Mom in Nkwen
|my sisters and I, - meeting back home
|Celebrating my nephew's birthday upon arrival home
|My nieces, nephews,kids & I , happy to see each other again
|Kids meet Mbamba- great grandma!
|Celebrating our dad's life!


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A very extremely organized friend of mine scored a table large enough for the group of us. I showed up late for the party thinking it started half an hour later than it did. I know, nobody reading this blog is shocked that I showed up late. We could have wound up sitting on the floor for all my excellent planning! When you walked in, there were tons of festivities for the kids all over the place and there was no being strategic about which place you should visit first. Since Santa and Mrs. Claus had not arrived yet, we sat down and got K some snacks to eat.
She really did like the broccoli, I promise!
While we waited for Santa, we tried to take in some of the other activities. First on our list was the aforementioned balloon animal. The animals were really elaborate though and it took a long time! While we were patiently waiting, Santa arrived. We ditched the balloon animal guy quick and in a hurry! Santa vs a balloon animal and the balloon animal wins every time! The kids were all given personalized gifts (well, as personalized as age and gender would allow), so there was a plan in place for how to meet and greet with Santa. KIC showed no fear and was prepared to give her spiel again, to a sane Santa this time.
Nope, not excited at all!
For the love of God, take the picture already!
We left Santa and went to obtain our balloon animal and get our face painted. By this time, DH and I had the system down. One of us would wait in line with KIC and the other would be a placeholder in another line. It made for a lot of waiting. A lot of waiting. But KIC and the other kids with us were good sports about it, considering it was well past naptime for all three (yup, KIC still takes a nap. I know, I AM a lucky dog!). Everyone got a balloon animal (some got two) and everyone got their faces painted.
Before we left, I had the bright idea to stage some photo shoots with the props around the party location. We got photobombed a LOT by children hyped up on candy canes and snow cones. Seriously, it really was like Candyland up in that piece. We did get some good shots though.
Jordin adopted us for the picture - we are clearly all she wants for Christmas. Who can blame her? We are kind of fab.
Serously, someone needs to give these parents some direction. Must KIC do everything?!?!
Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Shoup and the Shoup Family Zoo to your family. May your days be merry and bright!


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Yes..I am too bitten by the Idiotmania! (Maina ko Mania ho gaya..hehehe) As Sid says, "What an end to the year!" No doubt, kudos to Mr. Aamir Perfectionist Khan and the cast, but I would like to thank two two other guys who made it happen.
Director Rajkumar Hirani for one. The man drove the nation frenzy with "Jaddu ki Jhappi"(Magical hug) earlier and now "All izz well". True, Aamir co-directed "3 idiots", but thanks to Hiranisaab for taking this project. Seriously, Amritsar se Amrica hil gaya!(oops, SRK don't kill me) . I mean who comes out with philosophy like, Jab Life Ho Out of Control, Dil Pe Haath Rakh Ke Bol All Iz Well...(when life goes out of control, put your hand on your heart and say, All is well) . We Indians are very emotional people, and the director did a good job in touching our hearts with some of the best one-liners in the movie. I mean where in world, can you make the entire audience cheer, clap and sing in a movie? Its was definitely the Veni Vidi Vici moment for the entire cast of 3 idiots. Yes, a great end to 2009.
Last but not the least, I like to thank Chetan Bhagat, the mind who conspired and then inspired the creation of 3 idiots. If 5 point someone didn't happen, Bollywood would not have witnessed this Idiotmania. Apparently, the writer was not happy 'coz they didn't mention his name in the movie credits. Agreed, the movie was not a complete adaptation of the book but the storyline was somewhat borrowed. It was really unfair not to mention his name. It was his brainchild afterall. Chetan, koi nai..your fans acknowledge your sheer genius.
With this, I will take a bow and thank Bollywood for giving the nation a reason to laugh, cry,sing and dance together thereby somewhat creating a diversion from the depressing anti-elements news around. India, tussi great ho... for everything!
This being my last post for the year 2009, I would also like to thank all my blog homies for reading my blog and giving their valuable comments. I have/had a great time knowing y'all. Hope "All izz well" with you guys and Have a Rocking 2010! =)
Thursday, December 31
It take 3(idiots) to tango!
Yes..I am too bitten by the Idiotmania! (Maina ko Mania ho gaya..hehehe) As Sid says, "What an end to the year!" No doubt, kudos to Mr. Aamir Perfectionist Khan and the cast, but I would like to thank two two other guys who made it happen.
Saturday, December 12
Follow you into the dark
Tuesday, December 8
What happens when you OD on someone?
...its equally bad as when you OD on drugs. Helen Fisher tells you why . So is there actually a cupid or some kind of Magic, or just plain biology gone astray?
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Sunday, December 6
Last night I had a revelation
Somehow I have to make you pay
It's all about manipulation
And what it takes to get my way
I don't believe in soft solutions
No one makes a fool of me
Without receiving retribution
No one hurts me and goes free
I'll play on your fears, I'll leave you in tears
You'll never be the same, my friend
You're walking a line, it's a matter of time
You'll never rest easy again
I've got the power to bring you down
I've heard it said, to err is human
It's forgiveness that's divine
I thought about forgiving you, but
I want revenge, I want what's mine
I think it's time to settle scores now
It's time to set the record straight
You'll know it's coming, you won't know how
Or when, you'll have to watch and wait
I'll play on your fears, I'll leave you in tears
You'll never be the same, my friend
You're walking a line, it's a matter of time
You'll never rest easy again
I've got the power to bring you down
You know, it feels intoxicating
To be intimidating
It's invigorating
To see you shaking
I've got the power to bring you down
You know something, you see it coming,
You know I will stop at nothing."
Monday, November 23
You know you have too many guy friends when...
1. You've spend many Saturday afternoons playing basketball in the sun instead of getting a pedicure or a manicure.
Friday, October 23
Essential plot twists for bloggers
The moment I start blogging a short fiction, the first thing that strikes me is The Plot..a solid one. I guess the same goes for my fellow homies who write some of the best short-yet-exciting stories. Here are some good tips for that great story you type out next time(But do I hear a, "These are the stories I would like 2 read."instead)
~So long, keep writing...love T-F-L
Monday, September 28
I did it my way
Revolution Renaissance did justify my blog with their song, not to mention the awesome video of Kungfu-Panda I found, showcasing my favorite animated character of all time, Tigress. Its one character I can relate to very well.
Do you see all the things
I want you, you to see?
You're telling me
Sure I know you so well?
But you just act when you are
Back against the wall
What is true, what is fake?
Everything that you make
Or you take, it's plain to see
Image wise, you're okay
But is there anything
Inside of you?
Hear me say:
I don't wanna do the things you say
I don't wanna play the game you play
I just wanna be myself
And walk the road without pretending
I just wanna live my life, be true
So many things there are that I will do
When I'm looking back the road
At least I can say: I did it my way
There you are once again telling
Me how the things all should be
And that I care far too much about
My art, 'cause you know they
Will never understand
I am me, I cannot be
What I'm not, I am real and I feel
But you can never stop, you forgot
'Cause no one's gonna tell
Me what to do
Thursday, September 17
Why do single guys don't mingle?
This seems to be a very serious issue with many of my guy friends and also, my baby brother(well he is 17, but still a kid for me!) Now this post is not about the so called oversexed-players or the 'chadmachine's or the wanna-be 'Joey Tribbaini's, who says no-no to commitment. They are the idiot savants in matters of romance.
Here I am talking about the cute, shy single guys. I have met alot of them. You must have tagged them as the typical geeks or nerds in your class/workplace. But dear girlies, you may just not realize that these shy soft spoken creatures may have deep deep crush on you, whilst you were busy chasing the "bull". But then who is to be blamed? They hardly speak, and you don't realize they actually exist!
In my attempt to train my brother to talk to girls in general, and his CRUSH in particular, I have just told him one thing. Go and talk. The first line, no doubt, is the hardest but still go ahead and talk. I understand that guys have this incurable fear of rejection. What will she think of me? What if her friends make fun of me? What if I say something wrong? What if she knows how I feel about her? So on and so forth. But guys, the truth is, we don't judge you the whole time. Some of us find it difficult to start a conversation. Unlike some chatty girl like me, who can talk any crap, anytime, with anyone, majority of the girls have this kindda inhibition. So dear men take a deep breath, be brave and just talk. Who knows she may even like your goofy jokes. After all, we are also humans with limitations.(We may not show it, but we know it ;) ) And we are definitely not some praying mantis ready to bite your head off!
Now your opening lines may not be outta Mr. Cassanova's handbook(Trust me, weirdest lines make the longest impression ;) ) But don't say something totally weird and disgusting either, to get tagged as the weirdo or the crackhead. There is always the very trusty "hi" or "hello", followed by "how was your day" etc. And of course, her likes and dislikes are always there to talk about.(I am sure you must have done a total background check by now. Thats really a creepy thought though.) Now hold on to your horses, I am not trying to make you sound gay. But then,if you are not much into flirting, make sure you don't try to sound too cheesy. It simply sucks.
Also, you really don't have to be that uber-cool dude your crush is actually crushing on. Just be yourself. It works 98 percent of the time.Quoting my favorite Audioslave song:
"Someone finds salvation in everyone, another only pain
Someone tries to hide himself, down inside himself he prays
Someone swears his true love until the end of time
Another runs away, separate or united, healthy or insane
And to be yourself is all that you can do,yeah."
Last but not the least, if your feelings don't get reciprocated please don't get disheartened. I know its easier said than done. But who said love comes easy. And thats definitely the end of the world.You can go two ways now. Either stick to your guns and pursue your lady love, or go find another hobby! After all, aaj Pooja toh kal dooja. Life is too short and too important to cry over one person,baby! But then that doesn't mean you don't ever take that first step to know her. 'coz sometimes, to find diamonds you need to crawl through the entire desert. All the best!
P.S. Please feel free to add on something extra. Its always a pleasure to learn more, after all I am no certified Love-Guru.
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Monday, August 17
A week that was!!
So I survived my first week in US of A. Not that it was difficult. I mean I am from INDIA, we live there by chance(thousands of diseases, occasional peek-a-bo0 from neighbouring terrorists bhais all set to blow us up, natural calamities, yada yada). Hence we can survive anywhere! =)
Monday, August 10
Traveling riverside(rather, airway) blues!
My 22 hours of flight from Mumbai to Philadelphia couldn't have been more eventful. Lets start with who sits next to me. Well if last time it was old and farty men, this time it upgraded to babies.CRYING BABIES. Before I start off, lemme tell you I am not a baby hater. But this time, things have changed, atleast for now. Not only they( read, babies) cry throughout the whole flight, they even manage 2 puke on the person sitting beside. No matter how much I love those "cute little things", I just can't be happy about getting myself puked on! Lemme be more precise about my "journey". I know you may doze off in the middle of this post, but I NEED TO LET IT OUT. (Btw, you will notice many CAPS in this post. Go figure why!)
Saturday, July 4
Why I "almost" got fired?
Well I have been working as a non-paid trainee in my parents' firm for past few weeks. Parents expectations are always high, and when you are working for them, it shoots off the ceiling! So finally I gathered up my courage and went to my boss(err, dad) to demand my paycheck. I thought a passive-aggressive approach would work out.(And I was damn wrong!) . So I write him something that I read long time ago somewhere(heights of vagueness!). It goes like this:
"When I take a long time, I am slow.
When my boss takes a long time, he is thorough.
When I don't do it, I am lazy.
When my boss doesn't do it, he's too busy.
When I do it without being told, I'm trying to be smart.
When my boss does the same, that is initiative.
When I please my boss, that's brown nosing.
When my boss pleases his boss, that's co-operating.
When I do good, my boss never remembers.
When I do wrong, he never forgets."
And so pay me or I will be my own BOSS.
Here I was expecting a paycheck at this point. But then he gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. Resign from the trainee position, be your own boss and find your own place to live. Or, continue the training till you get your senses back. These Indian parents are crazy! They always catch your bluff. And so I am back to being a cubist again!
Friday, July 3
Right to live and love
A twist in a colonial law opens many a fate. Delhi HC's ruling on Section 377 has finally (atleast by law) liberated my country India and her gay children. For justice is blind and cannot discriminate on the basis of one's sexual orientation. Hence, consensual sex involving two adults of the same sex can no longer be a criminal offence. There is no reason for the hetero India to get paranoid. The ruling is only paving a way for this sexual minority to lead a normal and open life, at the same time get equal legal protection. Justice for all...isn't that whats law is all about??
Thursday, June 25
Who moved my Boards??
So finally an attempt to revive the long-dead education system of India. Jai Ho! CBSE. One country, one education system. But will this reform bring "equality in education" in a severely diverse country like ours? Specially a country, neck deep with self-pitied citizens, who believe their "caste" will make their lives easy. Are we finally getting a fair arena of competition where talent comes forth social standings? If yes, its time for some cool revolution, baby!
Saturday, June 20
An apology
Hello guys! I know its been really long sinceI wrote something..I am so sorry. Call it a lame excuse, but past few weeks I am going through a total body shock- the paid torture called" gym"! Yeah, before this I thought working out was fun. I mean, I was doing it on my own albeit without a trainer. A lil' bit of cardio and weights was no bigga deal. But now, with a super serious instructor who not only sticks with the usual weights, but also yoga and aerobics, things are kindda jittery for me. Plus, when a foodie's diet narrows down to all non-spicy and well-balanced healthy food, the torture heightens. I m even planning to entitle him as "jallad"(read, aamir khan inspired) :P
Saturday, May 23
Head or Tale
"The police found it in the trunk of her car.Neatly wrapped inside a wooden box."
"Did she claim it was hers?Or did they force her to?"
"She admitted it was her husband's gift to her on their first anniversary."
"But, isn't it foolish to keep it there? That proves her guilty of murder."
"She seemed too calm to feel sorry for what she did."
"Then why not dispose it like the rest of the body?"
"She said it was like a souvenir. It was his intelligence that always attracted her. Sadly, it also made her destroy him."
"Thats really creepy. Why would a wife ever do such horrible thing?"
"Strange are the workings of a woman's mind. I hope you won't do that if I cheat on you, right?"
"Evan, its not funny. And why the hell are you laughing?!?!"
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Wednesday, May 13
Before she fainted...
"You bastard! How can you do this to me?"
"I didn't do anything. You are thinking too much."
"I know you are having an affair. Who is she?!?"
"What?!?! Have you lost your mind?"
"C'mon Jason, I know the signs."
"Of course, you do. You've been exhibiting them past few weeks."
"JASON!Stop it!"
"You think I don't know about your affair with Mark? Sad."
"You have no right to say that."
"Really? Oh, I thought it was any husband's right."
"A husband who has no time for his wife. What else do you expect?"
"I expect you to divorce me.I can't live with a woman who slept with my boss."
"Fair enough. So how long you been having the affair?"
"Long before we got married."
"And you've lied to me all these while. Why?"
"There were certain complications."
"Who is she? Do I know her?"
"Yeah. You guys met at the wedding."
"Who is she?? Tell me."
"Its not she. Its a he. Sam, the bestman at our wedding."
Cathy faints.
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Thursday, May 7
A woman should...
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Tuesday, April 28
"Hey kid, whats your name?"
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Wednesday, April 22
Whats in a name?
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Friday, April 17
My most memorable affairs...so far!
4 years in Vellore, and the only places I loved here(read, no other options) are the eating joints. Of course, we also have a fort housing a temple, a mosque and a church inside it, none of which interests me anyway. I even heard that people go for boating in the mosquito-algae infested moat surrounding the fort, a ho-hum affair which strangely, people find romantic in the Vellore heat. Yes, the heat is so terrible that it makes Siberia the best place on earth. Thus, the only good thing about my graduation exile to this uber-boring place are mygastronomical affairs.
China Valley delight:
I love the Chinese invasion in VIT. I really love it. Not only did they flex the University rules, but also brought momos here. Yes, these steamy drops of heaven are well appreciated. Obviously, they can't beat the momos of Momo Ghar in Guwahati.But still,thanks to this really small China Valley resaturant, which my myopic eyes have missed, like, zillion times earlier. And today, I tried the BBQ Chicken there, which was no better than ambrosia for me. The kebab styled chicken was cooked in the perfect Schezwan sauce- spicy and tangy with a hint of honey. It was worth the 45 minutes of waiting in the heat and ducking the thousand makkhis ke attack. Man, I have never seen so many flies at the same time. I guess, they too love chinese.
KFC ishtyle at Amala's:
Uncle makes the best chicken burger here.He did beat the Colonel on this.The chicken is crispy on outside, tender inside. Oh, and the pasta is equally awesome. Uncle, a 60-something returnee from London, is the cook cum owner of Amala. He amuses us not only with his culinary skills but also his gift of gab. The first thing he asks me and my friends, "Which branch you guys are from? And please don't tell you are from Biotech." He gave us a toothy smile when he knew that we are from Chemical. Apparently he finds the Boitechs very arrogant. He sat and chatted with us all the while. Nice Brit humor to go with the funny little Brit accent of his. Amala's is a different experience all together. In the evening the place turns into a coffee shop. You sit around and read some books, play carrom or simply devour the yummy sandwiches with coffee. A very laid back affair!
Afghani @ Darling Residency:
The Afghani Chicken is a hot favorite out here. Covered with a thick layer of cheese and served with mint chutney, this is the only cheesy stuff I adore. I also love the grilled fish and the steaks. Best part is the roof-top restaurant, especially in the evening. In a town that gets over in the blink of an eye, Darling Residency surely stands tall(read, big building)
Quick Bites:
There was not one time that I passed by QB without having the Barbeque roll. Thats the power it has over me. Not to forget the fresh cream cakes, death by chocolate and the caramel cake, an indulgence for my sweet tooth.
Lalit Bihar:
Being a total carnivore, chicken is my vice. But the only place I don't mind being a vegetarian is Lalit Bihar. Pakka home styled Indian food. From lassi to parantha, this is a total desi-ghee cooked madness. The place is always crammed with people and its so small that sometimes you may get a bit claustrophobic inside. But the food can make you forget the world outside.
The list is not complete without a special mention of these: SBR chicken biryani, peking noodles and chicken taronest of China Town, chicken winglet of Punjabi Dhaba( but, at your life's risk. Don't be surprised if you backfire after this spicy treat.). But no meal is complete without a king-size dessert. Ladies and gentlemen, I present GellatoPazo. The generous servings of icecream does a total "Yuppie" to your stomach- DBC, Choca-Moca, icecream with fruit salad etc. Oh, almost forgot the hot jalebis served in the evening at Dhaba Express.They simply melt in your mouth. Try it out with Vanilla icecream.Bon Appetite!
Thursday, April 9
The night that was...
Bob and Sharleen entered the house through the patio. The house was dark in the dead silence of the night.
My new Blog skin
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Sunday, April 5
Will I ever see this again?
Today morning I woke up suddenly at 5. The sight I saw through the two huge windows on the opposite wall, was so outta nature's canvas. Early morning light through the clouds. The hills afar had a bluish tinge with the sky in the horizon adorned a pink glaze. The greens below were greener than usual. For a moment I felt as if I was dreaming. Such a pristine sight. I feared moving just incase it was a dream. Like holding on the beautiful moments to last a lifetime. Such moments hardly come by or simply gets unnoticed in d humdrum routine of life. And I simply stared, quenching my thirst like on a hot day. Didn't realise when I drifted off to sleep. And I still wonder-Was this a dream? Or just my luck with reality?
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Monday, March 30
Calling out to the universe...
The moment I saw The Secret, I seriously didn't believe a word. It sounded too good to be true. I mean you ask the universe, and it gives you your heart's desires. Then I thought a little more. Scarily funny, it happened with me. 6 years ago, I was a dosa-idli loving kid. 'coz I could eat those delicacies at restaurant. Then I made a terrible wish. Since then I am stuck in a place where I get to eat them daily. Daily to the point of making me pukesville. My once "love" has now turned to bad case of taste allergy. So much for a wishful wish!
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Monday, March 23
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One Comment
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Better than Starbucks, easy too!
For the scones: In a small bowl, mix the pumpkin, heavy cream and eggs with a whisk. Set aside.
In mixer bowl, using paddle attachment, mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and spices. Add in cold butter cubes and mix until crumbly. Slowly add in pumpkin mixture and mix until thoroughly combined.
Divide dough in half, and form the dough into a 12×5 inch rectangle. If it's too sticky, using your hands, mix in enough flour so it is easier to shape.
Cut dough into triangles by making three vertical cuts (you should now have 3 rectangles. Cut each of the rectangles by making an X, I use a pizza cutter. Then make ONE horizontal cut across the center. You should have 18 triangles. (See my blog for a picture if you need a visual)
Place each triangle onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a 425 degree F oven for about 13-15 minutes. Repeat with the other half of dough.
Cool on rack. Make sugar glaze by whisking the sugar with heavy cream. Using a brush, paint the tops of each scone with the glaze.
To make the cinnamon glaze, whisk all the ingredients together until smooth. Pour into a Ziploc bag and cut the corner off. Drizzle the glaze over all the scones. Allow to dry (about 15 minutes). Eat and enjoy!
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Attorney and Mediator Victoria Pynchon tells a story of a student who went to study with a guru.
The Master invited the student to have tea. He filled the student's cup.
Then, a bit later, the Master refilled the same cup. As he did so, the cup overflowed.
The student exclaimed, "Why did you overflow my cup?"
The Master replied, "To make room for the new, one must first get rid of the old."
As we enter 2012, what old ideas, preconceived notions, habits, and practices must we get rid of, to make way for the new? Have we even consciously thought about what we would like to take the place of the old status quo? What would we prefer to be the new state of being?
New Year's resolutions have a way of being short lived. Short lived, that is, if they are just poured on top of an old cup. To nurture our newest hopes, dreams, and habits, we must first make room for them.
In his book The Power of a Positive No, William Ury frames the issue in terms of a tree. The roots of the tree are our deepest values, that we tap into to determine our goals and objectives. The trunk of the tree consists of the major decisions we must make in order to focus on our goals. One of the decisions we must make, is to "say no" to the things that don't move us closer to our goal. By saying "no" to some things, we pave the way to say "yes" to the right things for our lives. We create a strong trunk that will support our efforts.
Moving up from that foundation of what we've said "no" to, we reach the point where we can focus on what we say "yes" to. The leaves of the tree are the fruit of our effort, so to speak. The leaves are the results we see after we make the positive decision to say no to the un-important. The power of the positive "no" is that it enables us to focus on the things we truly value. While the book is designed as a text on negotiation, I found this analogy to apply much more broadly in helping me discern what to say "no" to in my life as well as in my negotiations.
In my own life, the past few years have been devoted to developing a law and mediation practice that reflects my unique values. I decided that I wanted to have a peacemaking practice, a practice that enabled people in relationships to address challenging conflict in ways that are healthy, cost effective, and help them stay out of contested litigation. Part of my "learning curve" has been to discern what potential clients to say "no" to.
Because mediation costs approximately 10% the cost of litigation, I've had some potential clients come to me who were only interested in the "cost" aspect of mediation. They had no interest in finding solutions that were fair to their negotiating partner. I've learned to screen out and say "no" to "cheap" clients on the front end. For one thing, their mediation is likely to fall apart whenever they realize that my practice does not cut corners on finding measures of fairness. If a husband earns ten times his wife's income and she is giving up all rights to alimony, that may be a reasonable decision but I will want to know why. If the husband has just been seeking a cheap way to dump his wife, the mediation will fall apart right there. Secondly, a person who is not committed to reasonableness and fairness is just not an enjoyable person to work with. So, I'm better off without them!
I've also turned away potential clients when it appeared they wanted to seek emotional retribution through an abusive court process. My bright line rule is that I won't take a case where the parties want to go to court as a first resort.
Both decisions have cost clients, and that's not always an easy decision to make when one is starting a fledgling practice!
But it has been a good decision. The decision to say "no" to clients who are not committed to fairness has freed me up to devote my best quality energies to the folk who do care about fairness and who are concerned with finding what is "right".
I find that my typical "perfect client" is the person who calls me and says, "I went to see a lawyer, and he told me what to do, and I just can't do that to my spouse." This person – the person who remains concerned what happens to his spouse (or brother or sister, business partner, or fellow parishioner in his church) -- is the person my practice is there to help. My mediation practice gives this person an option that is simply not available to them in the adversarial system. If I had never discerned this – if I had failed to say "no" to the "cheap" clients -- then I could never have focused on the "fair" clients.
And if I had failed to take that step, I would set myself up to be nothing but the "cheap" alternative in a world of cheapness.
That was last year's decision, for me. Now, what will I choose to work on this year? What will you choose to work on?
This is a journey I hope we will share together in the coming year. Please continue to share tea on my blog, and let's see where the journey leads!
Cha Dao!
The two Chinese characters on my little tea table stand for the word "tea" and the word "dao". Cha means tea, and the word "dao" means to arrive. Thus, a literal translation would be, "tea time!"
However, there is more to the meaning than this! My Daoist friends tell me that this character for "dao" is also the word used to connote seeking the correct path, as in "Dao" (or Tao as it is sometimes spelled in English) . Let us be mindful in this upcoming year, and seek a right path for 2012!
P.S. If you're interested in learning more about my law and mediation practice, please visit my web page at http://www.JustMediationLLC.com


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Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Interesting Detail - 3
My first interesting detail post on trousers features a trouser from Carin Webster. The pleating detail is fantastic but isn't for everyone so that won't be the topic of the post instead it will be the waistband. The two buttons in the front and the two buttons adjustment in the sides (no belt needed but even if it fits perfectly skip the belt show off the details) add flair to a usually boring grey wool trouser (the pleating detail helps a lot too).
Ill leave you with another look featuring the trousers.
5 comments:
- Mat Ahoy - Buckets and Spades said...
those trousers! how interesting are they, not one but two brilliant details. the pleated deatail is just lovely, something new, i haven't actually seen anything like that before. the waistband is great too, those buttons at the sides are for braces aren't they?
where can you buy these?
- October 1, 2008 at 12:17 PM
- Jonas Fred said...
Mat - You can get these at http://www.tresbienshop.net/ , look under Carin Webster
- October 1, 2008 at 8:45 PM
- Terencesambowrites said...
I think those pleats were inspired by ladies skirt's some do have pleats that start tha low! in the artistic sense it's incredible! but i'm not gonna wear that... i love the buttons on the waist, but it wld've been better if there were no belt holes.
Yo jonas i kinda got an idea of a collaborative effort btw mat ,u and i for our blogs??? lemme know if u wanna give it a listen
- October 2, 2008 at 3:17 PM
- Will said...
Interesting trousers. I think they blend the modern (pleats) with the old (the waistband). Similar waistbands can be found on vintage trousers and especially Oxford Bags of the time period.
Very cool, keep it up!
- October 2, 2008 at 8:10 PM
- Jonas Fred said...
terencesambowrites - Sure. I'm always up for a collaboration. Send me the details at firstname.lastname@example.com .
Will - Thanks Will. Do you have any trousers with similar waistband details? If you do I would love to see some pictures of them. I am a huge fan of details in menswear and so if you find any interesting pictures please do let me know. Leave a comment or send me an email at email@example.com . Thanks.
Jonas Fred
- October 3, 2008 at 3:13 AM


text: Hi my new Maxx has arrived, with Chinese as its main language - which I don't speak, so I don't even know if I have started to set the phone up or not, here is what happens if I unlock the screen with the paddock on it I get a big blue heading a line of white text a short line of white text in a grey box the green android man waving a line of white text a short line of blue text but the menu button doesn't work from what I found on the internet, I figured the menu button would take me to settings and so languages all I have found so far is how to take a pic! btw I haven't installed a SIM yet, that is still to arrive as it is smaller than my current one which isn't a cut out model I have asked the Ebay seller and Motorola once, follow up queries have now gone to them, but I bet I get better information here, and faster! thanks! Jan