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UPDATE, APRIL 30, 10:01 A.M.: About 100 people marched to the gate of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Sunday to demand the facility be shut down.
They were led by Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, who said nuclear power is an unsafe option for communities surrounding such plants.
Video from the rally follows after the jump . . .
ORIGINAL POST, APRIL 27, 7:39 A.M.: Hey, hey, ho, ho, that nuclear power plant has gotta to go!
to hear a lot of that, or some variation of it, Sunday afternoon near
the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), where activists and
concerned folks will hark back to 1970-era "no nukes" rallies.
These are strange days indeed at SONGS. Heading into the power-sucking summer months, the plant is offline until operator Southern California Edison can convince the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) it has addressed and corrected problems with steam-generator tube wear in units 2 and 3. Just as Edison was telling the media SONGS will be good to go for summer, a small fire broke out, with the cause at least initially unknown.
Meanwhile, radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown a year ago was recently detected near SONGS. The city councils of Irvine and Solano Beach have formally come out opposed to the plant's continued operation, citing critical safety concerns. The issue is brought up at just about every San Clemente City Council meeting these days.
"A major
disaster at the plant would put 8.4 million residents at risk and
create a no-mans-land out of Southern California," reads a statement
from organizers of Sunday's "Shut Down San
Onofre" rally, which comes just after the 26th anniversary of
the Chernobyl disaster,
the 33rd anniversary of the Three-Mile Island accident and the first
anniversary of the Fukushima meltdown.
Larry Agran, the Irvine council member who along with other community members met privately with NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko on April 6, and who has consistently led the drive to oppose SONGS, will be among a dozen speakers at the rally endorsed by San Onofre Safety, San Clemente Green, Occupy Escondido, Citizens Oversight Projects, Peace Resource Center of San Diego, Residents Organized for a Safe Environment and San Diego Coalition for Peace and Justice.
Other scheduled speakers include nuclear industry expert Daniel Hirsch, Gene Stone of Residents Organized for a
Safe Environment in San Clemente, Libbe Halevy, who will share her experiences evacuating from the
Three-Mile Island accident, and Suzanne Smith, who lost her mother to cancer five years after the Chernobyl
"At some point, the San Onofre plant must be decommissioned," says Stone in the rally announcement. "We
believe that time is now. While the plant is shut down for
maintenance, we believe this is the right time to start the
decommissioning process for the safety of the workers at the plant and
the community at large. We must do the right thing now and not put the
California economy at risk. Let's not spend one dime more on any more
As was the case at the no nukes rallies of the '70s and '80s, there will be entertainment, only this time it will be provided by Liquid Blue, whose 2009 album Supernova was
awarded Pop Album of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards,
Charlie Imes, whose album from the same year On an Island was a San Diego Music Award nominee for Best
Americana or Country Album.
Rally participants will gather at noon in front of the San Onofre
State Beach gate at Basilone Road and then march about an eighth of a
mile to the SONGS gate. The rally runs there from 1-3 p.m. Parking is available with a $15 day use fee at San Onofre State Beach, and shuttles to the rally site are in the works. Visit http://ShutDownSanOnofre.org or call 619.501.1031 if you have any questions.
Previous coverage:
- Irvine Call for Closure: Tim Carpenter Back to "No Nukes" San Onofre with All His Old Progressive Pals
Follow OC Weekly on Twitter @ocweekly or on Facebook
Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before "graduating" to OC Weekly in 1995 as the paper's first calendar editor. He went on to be managing editor, executive editor and is now senior staff writer.


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Pann: Bringing conspiracy theories of manipulations just because their singers didn't get an award
Comments made by Inspirits:
I'd rather give up the award then paying money to get it. I'm already proud that they got so popular from the bottom
What's the point of getting an award when the award show is known to be unfair? Even though we didn't get the award, Infinite's music is always the highest quality
Instead of winning a daesang at award shows, it's better to win #1 on fair charts like billboard since they're judging only on the musicality
Daesangs on MAMA (is it really unfair?)
SG Wannabe - Partner For Life
Bigbang - Lies
Super Junior - Don't Don
Epik High - Fan
Wonder Girls - Nobody
Bigbang - Haru Haru
TVXQ - Mirotic
2NE1 - I Don't Care
2PM - Again & Again
G-Dragon - Heartbreaker
Psy - Gangnam Style
Bigbang - Fantastic Baby
Super Junior - Sexy Free & Single
Cho Yong Pil - Bounce
1. [+344, -54] Inspirits need to stop with their conspiracy theories of manipulation, money, fandom, and companies. They're always doing this when they don't win an award. Honestly, they're doing this because they're denying the reality and to make themselves reasonable
2. [+307, -44] I don't care what they're doing but I was so mad when they hated EXO when they won a daesang. My kids worked so hard last year and they were ignoring EXO's hardwork
3. [+304, -37] Those that won daesangs are amazing, how is this an unfair award show? If they find it unfair, then they should come up with the total results of voting and sales to argue. The artists obviously deserved daesangs
4. [+80, -9] People would think Infinite is the only group that got popular since the bottom. Inspirits were the ones that called EXO flopped during Mama promotions. I'm speechless. For your information, EXO didn't rise to fame since their debut. They got popular after Mama and Wolf. Stop whining just because you didn't get an award. Do you think the judges are stupid? SM is not even changing the official lightstick because of the lack of money, so why would they even pay for this? So pathetic
5. [+67, -27] Inspirit-roaches are so annoying and arrogant these days
6. [+66, -2] Awards are not only based on the music itself. Musicality is needed but public recognition and voting are also included. For MAMA, they even count the fans' votes. If they wanted to win an award, then they should've voted. If your singer is not even nominated, then it's because you lack one of the criteria. Don't take award shows as a joke

subset: commoncrawl


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"Callie Rogers was just 16 when she won a whopping $3 million in the lottery. Six years later, she reports that she blew untold sums on drugs, partying, exotic cars, and breast implants. A staggering $730,000 went to designer clothes alone, Ms. Rogers explains in an article from AOL. Says Rogers: 'I honestly wish I'd never won the lottery money — and knowing what I know now I should have just given it all back to them.' She's currently left with around $32,000.
In these trying economic times, Ms. Rogers will likely find little sympathy. Still, it's worth noting that she's hardly the first big winner who wished she'd never bought a ticket."
Not exactly what Jensen was talking about when he coined free cash flow problem, but an extreme case of it.


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1-18-14 Hodgepodge
Saturday, January 18, 2014
The Higher Education Bubble, Visualized
Directly pertinent to last week's post is a graph that Glenn Reynolds posts of increasing student loan debt and decreasing earnings for holders of bachelor's degrees over time.
Note that Barack Obama wants to make higher education into a universal entitlement.
Weekend Reading
"When you speak, you're also listening to yourself, and it all starts with the words." -- Michael Hurd, in "Listen to What You're Saying!" at The Delaware Coast Press
"Not acting on your choices can result in feeling depressed or trapped." -- Michael Hurd, in "If You Regret a Major Decision, Consider This" at The Delaware Wave
"Laissez-faire capitalism: the political-economic system of America in the 19th Century which is to blame for the 2008 financial crisis." -- Harry Binswanger, in "A Dictionary of Obamaspeak" at Forbes
My Two Cents
Binswanger definitely saved the best entry for last in his Obamaspeak Dictionary, but you'll need to go there to find out what it is.
Marco Arment offers a succinct explanation of when (and why) a web site should or should not force hyperlinks to open new windows when clicked.
I believe the former [leaving an important activity, like a banking transaction, undisturbed] is justifiable, the latter isn't, and reading a news or blog article does not qualify as an undisturbable session for most people...I agree with him that this is an "argument that should have ended fifteen years ago". Perhaps his title already addresses another issue, but I'll say it again, anyway: Doing this annoys many users who know how to browse the web.
Most people know how to open your article's outbound links in new tabs or windows, ... Modern browsers make multiple-tab/window management very easy for almost everyone who wants them, and the people who don't know how to manage them usually don't want them.


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J has the Calpis Water and I have my stock standard, Iced Green Tea Latte. To date, I think Ichiban Boshi's 'Iced Green Tea Cappuccino' is still the best of them all.
There were actually 9/10 of us for dinner that night but we ended up being split across two tables. Their tables really only fit a maximum of 6 and the option to set up a long table outside the front door hadn't been too enticing - too windy that night. J&I were with P&E - amongst us we ordered 4 mains and 2 entrees; leaving us satisfyingly full and content. They do actually have a very delectable dessert menu which E&I agreed to come back to later for afternoon tea.
Cha-han with Prawn & Garlic.
Cheesy Curry Rice Cake - I can't say I would order this one again.Spaghetti that didn't have a whole lot of filling to it. Still nice though.My choice: Omelette Rice with a Bolognese Sauce. It's humongous! Can easily feed 2. Super tasty with Tabasco Sauce which the waiter/waitress brings to the table.Nanban Chicken - thumbs up to this one, highly recommend ordering.Unagi Cha-han.
Despite the initial kafuffle with seating (the fact that we were such a big group), service is actually quite friendly and food comes out quickly to the table. Prices are very reasonable and we even got a 1o% discount on the bill! I think it was just that week though. It's a shame that they don't really cater for larger groups but for a group up to six, Takeru is definitely a place to visit. And well, for families that have little bubs, the restaurant actually has a play pen with TV which will definitely keep the bubs well occupied whilst you're eating. I'll be back for dessert :P


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Seems like just yesterday when Cathy Doll invited us to their launching here in the Philippines! I can't believe it's already been a year. I can still remember the booths and the happenings that day. It was actually one of the best events I've been invited to because it's super fun and the aura is just lively and colorful.
Last May 25, 2017, Cathy Doll Philippines celebrated their first year anniversary at Spatzle, Shangri-La Mall and I am very happy that I was invited again to one of their special events. Happy anniversary and congratulations, Karmart and LifeStrong Marketing, Inc., for a wonderful and successful first year here in PH! Your products are already loved by many Filipinas and I am actually one of them.
|Ms. Nikki Tiu, top beauty blogger and our ever awesome and bubbly host, surprised the owners of LifeStrong Marketing, Inc., Mr. Lance Lee and Mrs. Marge Lee, with an adorable Cathy Doll-themed cake!


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April 29, 2010
Throwback Thursdays
That's it. Ain't no more to it.
April 26, 2010
T'is Never Dull. T'is My Life.
It's quite possible that I work with the world's biggest Beatles fan of all time. She knows everything there is to know about their recordings, personal lives and a boatload of other trivia that most would never retain. She's given me a knew appreciation for their music. I'm not exaggerating on the biggest fan thing, either. Her license plate reads ABBEY RD. Thanks to her, A Day in the Life is officially my shit.
Guilty Pleasure #328: Overhearing sex or arguments from my neighbors downstairs. Lately, it's either one of the two every other day. Sometimes one directly follows the other on the same day. No lie. It's kinda like catching a double feature at the matinee without having to pay. Mighty entertaining when there's nothing on TV. Don't judge.
I don't know why, but now that every minute of the day is accounted for, more things seem to be adding themselves to my To-do list. The endless running is taking a toll. The clothes I bought to fit because I lost weight are now loose on me. I barely have time to eat and sleep is something I've heard normal people do for at least 7 hours. Right. Meanwhile, if you cut me- I'll bleed Red Bull.
It occurred to me the other day that a new beginning is on the horizon. I have mourned sufficiently even though there will never be another Logan. Bottomline: I'm ready for a new fish. It would be really cool if I could find that bowl above. Like, really. Cool.
Just as I was considering a nice little spa vacation in Arizona, it's looking like Lake Tahoe instead. I'm not going anywhere that Jim Crow laws are being installed only it happens to be Anti-Latino now instead of Anti-Black. At the same time, being harassed and arrested for being a possible 'suspect' is as close to home as it gets in my native New York. Call it what it is. Racial Profiling. Gotta love it. Secure the borders and break out the apple pie.
So here's what I've learned from the side hustle in a few short weeks: The women with the biggest feet try on the ugliest shoes and refuse to put them back. I mean, they will leave a plethora of size 11 boxes strewn all over the place. I know deep down they're just mad because once they get that big ass shoe on, the whole style done changed and it's not even cute anymore but still...It's taking everything in me to not get a running start and clothesline one of those Sasquatch bitches at least twice a week.
Lately I've been running into people who have very different if not unrealistic ideas on how to get rich quick. Far be it from me to knock down any one's dreams- but most of the time I've found that they are quite delusional. Then they sail off to Never Neverland with your good idea when all you did was simply make a suggestion born of common sense. What part of the game is that? Hustle harder and smarter, People.
Pop Tarts are evil. Especially when slathered with peanut butter at 2 a.m. But I just can't stop myself.
Okaaaay...It's been over a month since I called to cancel my landline. I simply don't need it anymore. Here's the thing: I still have a dial tone and can still make calls. And for some odd reason, the bill is correct. You won't catch me complaining, tho. Nuh-uh. Now I know why Verizon's slogan is "We never stop working for you."
Ladies, if he doesn't look at you like this- at least once in a while, he's just not that into you.
What's funnier than catching someone out there looking at inappropriate video sites with supersized headphones on at work? Let's see, the look on his face perhaps? Maybe the fact that he didn't even pick me up in his peripheral vision until I was two feet away because he was so
engorged engrossed in what he was viewing. Or the fact that up until that day, he was a complete and total asshole to me and now he's sweet as pie. He lives in perpetual fear of my mentioning it to someone else...every day. Right place. Right time. And just like that, the universe rights itself. I love my life.
April 22, 2010
Moment of Truth
Righteously violent prone. My words bring winds like cyclones."
This is not a Throwback. And it just happens to be Thursday. And my heart is heavy with the loss of yet another legend. Keith "GURU" Elam is gone from this earth. From Hip-Hop. From us. When I heard the news, I just sat back in my chair and read the words repeatedly, trying to ingest what I was seeing. Numb. I knew he was not well. When I first wrote about his coma scare a month ago, I was hedging my bets and hoping for the best in terms of his recovery. To hear that he passed away as a result of cancer hit home for me. Read: Not close to home. It hit home. Having lost my own mother to the same affliction, I can tell you that no amount of knowing can emotionally prep you for the loss; no matter how eventual you make it out to be in your head.
I grew up with Guru. Granted, I might not have literally come up with him, but I listened to enough Gang Starr coming up to be sincerely shocked and saddened by his death. 1989. Manifest. 1991. Check the Technique. These songs reached me in a way that most didn't. You see, I grew up in a household that emanated jazz from the floorboards and walls. What I heard from them was pure music that just happened to be Hip-Hop. The combination of Guru's lyrical talent and DJ Premier's signature beats was like nothing that ever came before it. And on the real, there's been nothing like it ever since. Think about it. You know a Primo track when you hear one- but none of them sound similar. No small feat. As far as Guru, you'd be hard pressed to find an emcee with such a monotone voice that kept you riveted on his rhymes- and he did it for the most part using little profanity, if any. How many rappers can you say that about? His vocabulary, eloquence and capacity for knowledge could damn near fill the Grand Canyon.
When I was in Chicago a while back, I caught Monie Love's backspin show on Sirius Satellite. She spoke about his illness and kept it a hundred about not knowing all the details but wished him the best. She said she spoke to Premier about his being kept in the dark about Guru and his health. And this is why I love Monie. She asked the burning question that I feel most true heads were asking. Who the hell is Solar and what gives him the right to stage his own lock-out from Guru? When I read the alleged final letter that was penned, singling out Premier to not do any tributes- it just didn't sit well with me. I don't care how much dude defends it. Who knows? Only Primo and Guru really know what caused their fallout and perhaps Solar is just an innocent party trying to do right by a dearly departed friend. But at the end of the day, I'm looking at this new jack like ' Who the eff is you?' To keep family and friends at bay hardly seems like a noble act to me. But that's just my opinion. I know this much- and Mr. Cee echoed my sentiments surrounding this on his show this past Tuesday: Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot love someone and mourn for them how you see fit. It is your birthright to feel a loss and express that in a manner which is conducive to healing.
Love and respect to Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal. To me, you still shine. Bright.
Now, Who's Gonna Take the Weight?
April 15, 2010
Throwback Thursdays
April 12, 2010
This Bug's Handguide to Disappointment
"If I could find a souvenir just to prove the world was here- And here is a red balloon. I think of you and let it go..." - 99 Red Balloons, Nena
Every day, on some scale- we all encounter disappointment. Whether it's minor, like the CD you've been 'jonesing for' being recently sold out or a best laid plan not coming to fruition by the expected deadline, we have all been there. But the important thing is that through disappointment, we can learn how to strengthen our resolve. Undoubtedly, it makes us wiser. At certain times, it causes us to go back and re-examine whether or not what we so hoped for was truly meant for us all. We can explore the possibilities of miscalculations, mistakes and setbacks with 20/20 hindsight.
Sometimes the fulfillment we sought may have be an illusion, while our reality is hard at work- plain as day for us to see. Or sometimes it means we should work even harder towards our endeavors. Ultimately, it is up to the individual and the goal at hand. A colossal disappointment should not diminish hope. Discouragement should never be nurtured to the point of complacency. Every obstacle you overcome brings you that much closer to the person you are constantly evolving into. These lessons should serve as tools to better understand our surroundings and ourselves.
A letdown can be taxing on your spirit. Anyone who ever went in for their dream job and never got a callback can attest to this. But as long as you know where you stand and where you plan to go from there- that same letdown will prove to be the necessary fuel to carry you on to where you are truly meant to be.
That being said, the universe and a greater power will always have a hand in what is happening, what is going to happen and decidedly what may never happen. The key is to respect that power while still handling your business. QB's crowning jewel of emcees once said, "He never planned to fail, he just failed to plan." Nasir Jones understands that without a blueprint, you are more inclined to be at the mercy of these elements and thus meet with your disappointment face to face.
So what can we do? We all like our own way, but think about it... if we each had it our own way, convexly, logic says that some of us would be required to not have it our way. Just think of it like this: When you get your way, there is someone out there enduring the adverse effect of your upswing. It is how the universe balances itself out. One man's failure is another man's success. It's best not to ruminate too long on who is gaining from your loss. It's up to you to decide what you will do from that point on, once faced with your reality. And this goes for any aspect of life. Sometimes conclusions have to be drawn and rationalizations have to be accepted. If you can't be with the one you love; love the one you're with. Sometimes it means the career path chosen may have to take a backseat while your back-up trade takes the wheel. As long as you know where you're headed, in the end you should be alright.
Missed chances and setbacks are a part of our lives. There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love. It is what we do afterward that counts. Forget regrets or life is yours to miss.
That's the official two cents from the Ladybug.
Think Freely. Love Greatly. Live Unrepentantly.
Author's Note: Originally posted 5/6/2007 on Myspace
Photo Credit: Artwork by Banksy
April 8, 2010
The days, I mean.
A change of clothes in the trunk.
The clock set 8 minutes fast. (it helps a little)
Running between where I'm supposed to be
and where I'd rather not be.
My mind is tired.
Apartment hunting. Cold calls. No time. Rushed appointments.
And security deposits that might as well be a million dollars.
Fitful sleep stealing the few hours I have to myself.
Toss, turn, toss, turn. Alarm.
Do it all again.
Every minute of the day accounted for.
So the days have been.
Promising nothing but more of the same.
My bones are tired.
Who said it would be easy? Lie to me some more.
And I'll walk this walk alone.
Weeping is for weaklings.
It shouldn't be this way.
Throwback Thursdays
April 5, 2010
Formerly Known As
The moniker was Lady Lightning Bug. I chose it for two reasons. The first one is obvious. My affinity for all things small, red and dotted. I have always felt a strong pull towards ladybugs. Butterflies are nice but ladybugs are among my favorite of all living creatures. They brighten everything in their tiny, crimson and onyx glory. A stroke of luck, a quiet wisdom. I can relate. There have been so many times in my life where serendipity and luck (if you believe in such things) played a starring role. Certain events caused me to look back and breathe a sigh of relief, count my blessings and thank a nearby ladybug. Sidebar: Once, I was outside on a smoke break at work when I saw a ladybug land on my lapel. It flew away as soon as I laid eyes on it. (Or so I thought.) Minutes later in the ladies room, I brought my skirt and silky unmentionables to my knees to handle my ladylike business. And out flew a ladybug! True story. So, clearly we're connected in some fashion. I don't think they hang out in just anyone's panties.
The lightning component was equally relevant. Lightning is as quick as it is captivating. Anything that beautiful has to be dangerous. It strikes haphazardly. Awkward but deliberate. Like myself, it is prone to random acts of violence. I wish I could say why, but asking me that would be like asking why lightning strikes so indiscriminately. It just does. There is no rhyme to my movements but plenty of reason. It's hard to explain. An odd sensation takes hold when I can no longer sit on my hands, grin and bear it, that sort of thing. There is a need for reckless relief- and usually with seismic after effects . So much so, that I was coined "Erratica" by a close counterpart. I can't lie. I kind of liked the sound of it. It was like my superhero alter ego. "Look! Up and down the street. It's a bird. It's a plane!" No. It's Erratica: Flippin' cars and tippin' buildings with involuntary ease.
Yeah, that pretty much summed it up.
Anyway, nom de plumes withstanding, I will always love the quietness of ladybugs and I may always possess a volatile approach to certain endeavors. The duality makes no sense- but what ever really does? Just about anything or any theory can be plucked apart or cut to ribbons given the proper circumstances. Besides, it's not what you're called. It's what you answer to. Lady Lightning Bug. Jayne. This Bug. What's in a name? Google can say better than I can on some days. And then there are days where it's all crystal clear. Those are the days I share a piece of myself through my words for all to see. Deserving or not. Jay-Z was on to something. I can't see it coming out my eyes, so I gotta make the pen cry. I only write to get it right. Ever changing. Ever striking. One keystroke at a time.
Over and out.


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Well, here it is. The blog. I avoided it for a long time thinking there is nothing that I do not say on ScrapStreet, so why would I need a blog? Perhaps I can find a little something new to say every day or so. It will certainly be easier for me to keep track of my goals and goodies--or at least that is what I am telling myself. So here I go into the wide world of blogging.
Be gentle with me.
4 days ago


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This week is all about things I've read on the web recently(last month or so) that I've bookmarked to go back and read again!
For all my mom readers, this article is a great reminder that we are all trying our best.
15 Things You Should Give Up to Be Happy. Easier said than done on most of them, but a great place to start.
From "The Clear-Minded Creative" Spring-Clean Your Routine.
Getting + Staying in the Creative Flow. I have gone back and read this one several times already!
Working Through Creative Fear by Ali Edwards. Many of the creative articles I read are because of her.
From the Tiny Twig blog, "100 Golden No's".
Any great articles you've read recently I should know about?


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|Lion shot in Yankton, South Dakota*
|June 14, 2004
|Lion sighted near Big Sioux River in Dell Rapids area 2
|Nov. 7, 2006
|Lion sighted on Big Sioux River north of Sioux Falls 2
|Nov. 3, 2006
|Lion sighted on Big Sioux River north end of Lincoln Co. 2
|Oct.. 27, 2006
|Worthington (Nobles County), Minnesota*
|(Dec. 1991)
|?Lake Park area in Dickinson County, Iowa
|(Dec. 2002)
|Melvin area (Osceola County), Iowa
|(Dec. 2002)
|?Sanborn area (Obrien County), Iowa
|(Feb. 2003)
|Rock County, Minnesota
|(late summer 1999)
|Rural Union County, South Dakota
|(May 1998)
|NW Lyon County, Iowa 1 (see notes)
|(Nov. 18 or 19, 2003)
|Fairview (Lincoln County), South Dakota
|(Winter 1997/1998 and 1998/1999)
|Groth Preserve in Big Sioux River Complex (Sioux County), Iowa
|(Feb. 2002)
|Doon area (Lyon County), Iowa
|(Oct. 1999; Nov. 2005)
|Hawarden area (Sioux County), Iowa
|(Oct./Nov. 2001 & ?Jan./Feb 2002 Dec. 2004)
|Lion shot in rural Sioux County, 9 miles west of Sioux Center and 5 miles north of Ireton *
|(Oct. 23, 2003)
|Prints of bounding cougar (12.5 & 8 ft between bounds)*
|Dec. 10th or 11 2005
|Possible cougar sign (3 or 4) along watershed of 6 Mile Creek west of Sioux Center.
|(Feb. 25th to June 2005)
|Cougar seen scavenging dead pig on farm west of Sioux Center
|Dec. 27, 2005
|Cougar sign (confirmed prints* and 4+ visual sightings) in center of Sioux County.
|November through February 2004
|Kingsley area, Plymouth County
|August 11, 2005
|?Leeds (Woodbury County), Iowa
|(Jan. 2000)
|Across the river from Sioux City
Lion shot in South Sioux City, NE*
|Nov. 23, 2004
|?Rural Monona County, Iowa
|Road Kill near Harlan in Shelby County, Iowa*
|(Aug. 2001)
|Carrol County, Iowa
|(Dec. 2001)
(March or April 2002)
|Reports from other areas.
|Not in NW Iowa but Iowa confirmation.
Lion shot in Wayne County, Iowa*
Jan. 4, 2004
|Lion shot near Marengo in Iowa County*
|Dec. 14, 2009
Nature of the study
I have been investigating several seemingly good reports of mountain lion or cougar in the westernmost area of NW Iowa, easternmost SE South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota. Some of the above reports provide a link with more information, but many of the folks who gave me the information would prefer that their names or details not be publicly linked. The reader should also be aware that not all of my reports are listed on this public web page. I would be happy to provide more information on the reports to researchers or scientists who need the actual reports. Most of these are visual reports but six (including the Shelby County road kill and Wayne County kill [outside our area but in Iowa]) are killed or captured mountain lions. These and two of the prints that were confirmed by outside experts are considered confirmed and marked with an asterisk. The first of these was a cougar that was captured in Worthington, Minnesota 1992 and the second unequivocally confirmed cougar was a road kill near Harlan, Iowa. Next was the cat killed in rural Sioux County on October 23 of 2003 and may have been responsible for some of the above visual sightings. There was also one shot in Wayne County in January of 2004. Another was shot in Yankton in SE South Dakota in June of 2004 and most recently (November 2004) one was shot in South Sioux City across the Missouri River from Iowa. Although visual reports are much less reliable than photographic or print evidence, I have included in the above list visual reports by good observers that have noted characteristics (color, kind of tail, size etc.) consistent with mountain lion. The reports proceeded by a question mark are reports that are not as strong as some of the others but in the author's opinion are likely valid mountain lion sightings. A couple students and I are currently (2004) testing some camera traps to see if we can use them to better document where the lions are. So far I have not caught any cougar on film but have some great shots of some of the local wildlife including deer, raccoon, and turkey, all of which are known from elsewhere to be suitable prey for cougar. We also have some good shots of coyote but so far have not captured cougar on film.
Other areas
While I focus this page on reports from the NW Iowa area, I still appreciate receiving information from other parts of the state and adjacent states and will keep the information on file. I will also pass on information of good sightings to Ron Andrews (of the Iowa DNR). I am aware of good reports from Woodbury and several counties to the south. For several years there have persistent reports from the Cherokee area and in 2004 I have heard of numerous reports of cougar sign along the Little Sioux River suggesting the possibility of cougar using the wooded corridor of that river. See my history page for reports from other parts of Iowa.
If they are not all escaped pets, these cougar could be coming from a known and expanding Black Hills population. See my web page on history for some other possible sources for some of these cats.
Dispersing males
At this point all the captured or killed cats in the area have been male and I have no good evidence for a local breeding population. On the other hand the number and nature of reports from counties south of Sioux City (Monona, Shelby, and Carroll) suggest a remote possibility of a resident or small breeding population.
Good evidence and reporting
I would appreciate hearing of any sightings or prints. A good picture of a print is probably better confirmation that a visual sighting. If you take a picture, if at all possible, include a ruler (or something else if you don't have a ruler) to document the size. Look at my web page on how to tell a mountain lion track from a big dog track. Kim Cabrera has a good page on mountain lion scat and some other common predator scat you may find. If you see something take a moment and write down as many details as you can while it is still fresh in your mind. The kind of tail, color and height all help eliminate things that are not mountain lion. One of the things that can be mistaken for a mountain lion is a bobcat. This page gives a good comparison between a cougar and a bobcat. While black cougars are not known in the US, under poor light conditions a lion could appear almost black. The yowl of the cougar is apparently quite distinctive. This and some other cougar sounds can be heard on the Scottish Big Cat web page or here. The nature of a kill may also suggest cougar. Wade and Brown 1984 provide useful information on the difference between coyote and cougar kills. Coyote tend to scatter fur around the carcass. The cougar usually has an entry hole (sometimes with fur removed around the hole) and eats out the liver and lungs leaving the digestive track. Cougar will often drag the carcass to cover or into a ravine and cache (store ) it covering it with leaves or branches. Since cougar usually jump on deer and kill them with a bite on the back of the neck, examination of the inside of the hide in the neck area may show these puncture marks. In Sioux County a deer skull was found with large puncture marks that fit the dentition of an adult cougar (Pollema 2004).
More information
For more information on these cats go to my new intro page. This page has the url of my earlier public page, which also provided a listing of local sightings. My other pages provide some information about cougar and sightings in other areas.
Pollema, Travis 2004. Report 36 [report on this skull and part of his senior individual studies project]. Available from James F. Mahaffy
Wade, D.A., and J.E. Bowns. 1984. Procedures for evaluating predation
on livestock and wildlife. Texas Agric. Ext. Serv., Texas Agric. Exp. Stn.,
and U.S. Fish & Wildl. Serv. 42 pp. An adapted online (1997) version
can be found at url:
Accessed on December 28, 2004.


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About 5 miles SW of Cross Plains, there's an amazing spectacle of wild trillium flowers in the woods. It's located on the south side of Moen Valley Rd. Map. I've never seen so many trillium in my life!
The flowers are visible from the road, for several miles.
A few miles further from Madison, you can visit a lovely restored oak savanna and prairie at the Pleasant Valley Conservancy.
Pleasant Valley Conservancy--View from top of the ridge.
Directions to the Conservancy.


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Real Madrid look to equal Barcelona's Spanish record of 39 games unbeaten when lowly Granada visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
Ronaldo was rested as Real showed no signs of rust after a 17-day break since winning the Club World Cup to sweep aside Sevilla 3-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last 16 tie on Wednesday.
The victory endorsed Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane's brave decision to leave Ronaldo out as he capped a dream debut year in charge at the Bernabeu with three trophies and just two defeats in 54 games.
"I won't rest Ronaldo. He will play on Saturday and he will play many games, there is no need to worry," said Zidane.
However, the enigmatic Frenchman has succeeded where former Real coaches have failed in ensuring Ronaldo accepts missing certain games throughout the season to get to the business end of the campaign 100 percent fit.
"There are some players that make the difference like Cristiano because he is a different player, but we will need everyone to win what we want," added Zidane.
With potentially another 20 games to come in the next 10 weeks, Zidane is likely to take the opportunity to rotate his squad once more against a Granada side that has won just once in 16 La Liga games this season.
Gareth Bale, Mateo Kovacic, Lucas Vazquez and Pepe remain sidelined by injury, whilst captain Sergio Ramos is suspended.
However, Isco and Karim Benzema look set to return after being left on the bench against Sevilla.
Another Real win would stretch their lead at the top over Barcelona to six points ahead of the Spanish champions' far trickier trip to Villarreal on Sunday night.


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According to Reporters Without Borders :
Police found Haider's body near his home in Palashnagar, a residential district of Dhaka, on the evening of 15 February. Ibad Ali, a policeman at the scene, said his body bore the marks of machete wounds.Now the uber-conservative Muslims in Bangladesh have taken to the streets, calling for death to all 'atheist' and anti-Islamist bloggers, and as per usual, the protests turned violent. So far four people have been killed in clashes with police, and around 200 have been injured.
[snip] Haider was well known for criticizing Islamic fundamentalism under the blog name of Thaba Baba on Somewhereinblog.net.
He had been covering the street demonstrations being held since 5 February to demand trials and the severest penalties for Islamist leaders guilty of war crimes during Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.
The people of Bangladesh can thank the 12 Islamic religious parties of that country for encouraging Muslims attending Friday prayer services in 500,000 or so mosques to get out and protest all those blaspheming bloggers.
In recent weeks Haider and fellow bloggers had launched huge protests demanding a ban on the largest Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami, and the execution of its leaders for alleged war crimes in the 1971 independence conflict with Pakistan.Protests were raging all over the country, but instead of dealing with the extremist elements in their society, they have warned those critical of Islam to watch their step.
Since Haider's death, Bangladeshi social media has been flooded with his alleged blog posts and with those by other bloggers mocking Islam, triggering protests by a number of Islamic groups and clerics.
At Palashbari at least 4,000 Islamists attacked police with home-made bombs and sticks, prompting officers to respond with live fire, district police chief Nahidul Islam told AFP.
A dozen people were injured including five policemen, Islam added.
The government has warned of tough steps against those who incite social tension, and urged newspapers and blogs not to publish defamatory writings against the Prophet Mohammed.
It has cracked down on anti-Islam blogs and also given police protection to some bloggers in the wake of Haider's murder.
At least the government is trying to ban Jamaat-e-Islami. Whether they can accomplish that is another story. And they also shut down a pro-Jamaat website that was allegedly linked to Haider's murder.


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(Here is a story I wrote that originally appeared at www.hamiltonjustice.ca)
From time to time, we do book reviews.
Well, on reflection, we've only done one that we can remember (http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/blog/?post=Briefs+on+Books+%231&id=151).
Today we thought we'd do something similar. Recently, we attended a Maytree Foundation Lunch and Learn Workshop. We participated in the live stream. Therefore, this will be a Lunch and Learn Workshop Live Stream Review. We have no illusions that we are the first to attempt this.
Armine Yalnizyan was the speaker at this workshop.
Armine is a senior Economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
You've probably seen her on TV or heard her on Tuesdays and Thursdays on CBC Radio One's Metro Morning.
Her presentation dealt with Income Inequality. We won't get into the details.
You'll know that inequality in incomes and wealth is increasing in this country. It is often referred to as the Growing Gap.
There has been a real change in recent years. It used to be that inequality came from recessions and the bottom falling out of the economy. Now, according to Ms. Yalnizyan, "in good times and bad times the rich get richer."
So what to do? Here are some snippets from her five good ideas.
Don't Make Things Worse
Axe some of those bad ideas. The Temporary Foreign Workers Program is one that needs to return to its original purpose.Income splitting - "inequality by policy design" is another. Similarly, those Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs) don't benefit those they were designed to help. We need to stop allowing the demonization of unionized workers and halt the weakening of employment laws as well.
Boost Economy from the Bottom Up
Why not boost the economy from the bottom up? Raising the minimum wage isn't just a poverty reduction strategy. It is good for the bottom line of business. Better wages raise productivity, increase investment and employee retention. There are other methods such as increasing the GST credit that can also be implemented which will help those with the lowest incomes.
Tax is not a four Letter Word
Armine Yalnizyan takes this notion from the book by Alex Himelfarb (http://www.wlupress.wlu.ca/Catalog/himelfarb.shtml). There is lot that can be done with taxes that would help. For example, raising the rate on incomes over $250,000 to 35% (from 29%) generates 2.5 billion dollars. A financial transaction tax, call it an ATM fee for corporations, could net $4 billion. What could $4 billion get you? A national pharmacare program or a $10 a day childcare program or a 50% reduction of the number of poor seniors in the country. Take your pick.
Support the Sagging Middle Class
Many things can be done to help the middle class that will help those at the bottom as well.Ms. Yalnizyan talked about how Canada continues to bring more people into a country that is without a housing plan. We have a housing crisis in regards to affordability but also in the amount of housing. Expanded rental stock and better development codes are imperative.
Shift Happens
Ms. Yalnizyan emphasized the power of journalism; how writers can "shed a little light on (inequalities) and get a bit of shirking away from bad behaviours."One example of this kind of writing is Hugh Mackenzie's annual review of CEO's salaries. (https://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/news-releases/canada%E2%80%99s-ceos-ring-new-year-bang)
Citing the activism of fast food workers in the U.S.A. that is resulting in higher minimum wages, Ms. Yalnizyan challenges us to get involved and make shift happen.You can listen to the presentation at http://maytree.com/fgi/five-good-ideas-tackle-inequality.html


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Tea Beyond Rose Series Juliet Tea Pot 4 of 5 stars.
CSN Stores 4 of 5 stars.
The Tea Beyond Rose Series Juliet Tea Pot is definitely beyond beautiful! It is very elegant and glimmers in the light. However, it is much smaller than I expected. I might should have looked more closely at the measurements online, but I assumed it was a full sized tea pot. It holds about 3 small (6oz.) cups of tea without the strainer in. The lid feels a little wobbly when I put it on as well. It does make a great cup of tea though! Another thing that bothers me about it is that it is hard to clean the spout. I may have to buy something especially tiny to clean it with. After a couple of uses it started to look tea-dingy around the end.
The people at CSN Stores are terribly nice and the selection is amazing. But there was a bit of trouble with the shipping. The billing address and the shipping address were different. The billing was to my grandmother's house and the shipping was to me. Anyway, on my birthday my grandmother gave me a mixed up tea set. The tea pot looked just like this one, and I had shown it to her before. I asked her about it, and she said that she had ordered it off ebay. It turned out later that she hadn't ordered a tea pot and the tea pot was sent to the billing address. I was a bit uncomfortable that the item was shipped to the wrong place, but I'm not exactly sure if that was the store's fault or FedEx.
I wouldn't hesitate to work with CSN Stores again, though. As for the tea pot I do think it is adorable. If you are only going to be making tea for yourself and maybe one other person, it should work fine for you. The rose detailing is precious and the tea it makes is delectable.
To order the Tea Beyond Rose Series Juliet Tea Pot from CSNStores.com, please click here.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Tea Beyond Rose Series Juliet Tea Pot - CSN Stores!
Tea Beyond Rose Series Juliet Tea Pot 4 of 5 stars.
Posted by (Arya) Paige at 10:33:00 AM


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Rebecca Shambaugh is a highly-sought-after and recognized speaker, leadership expert, and author. She is the founder and President of SHAMBAUGH Leadership, a global leadership development organization.
She speaks before thousands of leaders around the world every year, challenging conventional wisdom and overturning assumptions about how to lead in today's business environment. Her compelling and new vision for leadership in the 21st Century has electrified and inspired audiences on six continents.
Rebecca partners with a cross-section of the Fortune 500, including clients such as:
|— Intelsat
|— Cisco
|— Dow Chemical
|— Johnson & Johnson
|— Marriott International
|— Hilton Worldwide
|— MetLife
|— National Grid
Her work focuses on the what and how of organizational and leadership transformation initiatives. Rebecca also provides coaching and consulting to senior executives on personal leadership, team and organizational development, and strategy execution to optimize overall effectiveness.
Prior to starting her own company, Rebecca has worked for such premier organizations as General Motors, Fairchild Industries, and Amax Inc. as a senior executive in the leadership and human capital arena.
Rebecca has presented to over 100,000 leaders within organizations, major conferences, and executive forums regarding the 21st Century Leadership Model and her company's research and best practices for driving innovation and high performing cultures through cross collaboration and inclusion. Rebecca has been showcased on CNBC, TED Talks, Fox News (New York), NPR, Washington Business, ABC, and numerous syndicated radio talk shows. She has been featured in publications such as: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Time Magazine, Fortune Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, and Entrepreneur Magazine.
Rebecca has over 20 years of experience building practical leadership development programs that strengthen under-heard voices and help organizations navigate today's complex and interconnected world. She consults with organizations to shift outdated assumptions, and mindsets while incorporating winning strategies that transform cultures and create inclusive leadership. Rebecca founded Women In Leadership and Learning (WILL), one of the first executive leadership development programs in the country dedicated to the research, advancement, and retention of women leaders and executives. She has coached over 500 executives in how to tap on their collaborative intelligence, build and leverage powerful, cooperative partnerships, transform their teams, and navigate dynamic change.
Rebecca is the author of the bestselling books that illustrate her unconventional and results-focused approach to creating great leaders:
Her unique approach to leadership development has been showcased on National Public Radio and on a two-hour PBS telecast to over 20,000 executives around the United States. Rebecca has also been featured on Fox News (New York), Washington Business (ABC), and numerous syndicated radio talk shows.
Rebecca is a member of the National Press Club, the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., on the Board of Visitors for Marymount University, on the Board of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, and on the Executive Board for the Virginia Women's Center. Rebecca is also the Chairman of the Board of Young Women Lead and an Executive Partner for Bentley University's Center for Women and Business, as well as on the Board of the Red Cross. Other accomplishments include recipient of the Smart CEO Brava! Award, Women Who Mean Business Award, Entrepreneur Organization of the Year Award, and Finalist for the Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Award for Woman-Owned Business of the Year.
Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Relations from Purdue University and a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Development from Marymount University.


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Sunday, November 30, 2008
Oh, my hell! Pat!!
They gots my Mom!
They are in Baker
Two hours down the road.
So much for driving all night.
Not that I would have, either.
Judy says that already, Mike has turned into a saint, as have I.
He was a better driver and I was a better cook. And we never would have stuck her in the back to ride in a cave all by herself.
UPDATE from the Eastern trek:
Gene evidently has the rare talent for finding every pothole in the road.
Judy could not possibly have ever been a nurse, since I took better care of her working full time than she is taking care of her so far. (Of course, Mom is pretty demanding and over wrought.) What she means is that I would turn her over, prop her up with pillows and the wait for an hour, making minute little changes until she was comfortable or asleep.
UPDATE from the wagon trail:
Judy is hoping that they make Provo by nightfall. Provo is only twelve hours from here by the clock we use. Mom is not happy that she can't see out the windows to see what is going on (my guess is because they are moving too slowly.)
Not a complaint, just an observation.
No wonder it takes Judy so long to get anywhere.
Soldier on.
UPDATE from the wagon trail: Judy's boys turn out to greet Mom
at Judy's new house. (I'm sure it's not all that bad. I'm just worried because I DON'T KNOW THESE PEOPLE.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Mom's on her way to Utah
Now when Ben found that this was the plan (at noon), he called Lisi, who called her work and took the day off so she could say goodby. We had NO idea that they were going to leave today. We thought they were going to leave in the morning.
So we got her things packed up and she was able to climb up into the RV and walk down the hallway into the bedroom, although it did just knock her out. She will probably sleep most of the way home and all night long, too.
Once she gets settled, she'll be fine. It's just all this change.
Christmas Parade
We always take the 1924 Dodge Brothers.
We get dressed up; I wear my once a year mink coat and Christmas hat (next year, I'm wearing some opera gloves. my hands got COLD...
We took Christie's kids, who were good as gold and have a standing invitation (Micah asked me if he could come next year...Please, Miss Chloe?, as his little sister poked him in the ribs and whispered "Ask her! I want to come next year!".) It's a big deal here. (6,000 people sitting on the sidewalk this year!) I have a little sleigh heater with a slide out tray with a chunk of soapstone that we heat up in the oven all day so I can rest my cold feet on it during the parade so I don;t get so cold. (it is not only dark, it is chilly, too. Did I mention that?) Some years it is so foggy that you can;t see across the street; this year it was just super dark.And crowded. 6,000 people sitting out in the cold dark night--the only show in town, I guess. Not a lot of vendors out. We were at the very front of the parade (like the first ten minutes) and home by 6:45. We've been way in the back (like entry #295)-I like being in the front better. I don't get so cold. I guess I've mentioned that it gets cold? Not like Canada cold or even Utah cold, but pretty darn cold for here cold. Cold and dark and damp and breezy. I have my coat and scuba diving skins on (sort of a leotard thing you wear under a scuba suit to keep you warm in the COLD water), jeans, a black merino sweater I KNIT MYSELF, socks I KNIT MYSELF and my sheepskin slippers with the toastie toes insert (you snap it open and it heats up for six hours.It's a ski kind of thing. They have them for your pockets, too.)At least we were waiting over in China Alley so I could get a
thermos of tea. I could live on that stuff. We don't do the fake wave..we do the real, look-you-in-the-eye wave..I'm still a kinder teacher at heart. Micah and Mia are first and second graders and waved like crazy people when people in the crowd shouted out their names (they are in soccer and church and what all, so lots of people know them. ) Plus they come from a huge family who didn't We were behind a gymnastics float...the kids would get off and do flips on the street. It was as good as the Olympics!
Friday, November 28, 2008
You just have to laugh when your mother turns into a three year old
She's not paying for physical therapy and she's not DOING any, either. (Yes, she is.)
She is tired, so she is going to rest. (No, she's not. There's a deck. There's a family room. She's going to be part of the damn family, if it kills Judy.)
Good luck with that.
Occupation therapy? Fine motor skills? Phooey! She reads. Turning pages is good enough. (Nope.)
She is too old to monkey with computers. (Not if Judy has her way.)
Good luck with that.
She got on a tear and tried to make me promise a bunch of I don't know what for Ben and for Mike--oh ho! I am too clever for that (been burned before). I can't make promises for other people.
I won't make promises for other people, which just makes her crazy. (She tries crying, sobbing, ugly facing me--none of it works.I am so so stubborn. This is a fight we've have a number of times in the last ten years. It is always the same. Talk to Ben/Lisi/Mike yourself. She doesn't want to because she knows they will say no. She wants to wheedle me, because she thinks I'll say yes for them and then they'll do it. Hasn't worked in ten years. Isn't going to work this weekend.)
Lisi came home last night after working second and third watch, just so she could get some sleep, see Mom and come back home, get more sleep and the go back to to work. She has started leaving clothes here, just in case she decides to stay over.
Adventurers in UHaul
1. We need a 16 foot covered trailer.
2. All that is available is a SIX foot covered trailer.
3. Once again, Judy waited until the very last minute to make the arrangements and blamed it on "that little town you live in". My town is plenty big enough for me, thank you very much.
So what we are going to do is pick out what Mom has to have, put it in this little trailer and then store everything else. Won't make Mom happy, but nothing will.
I had this good idea this morning ---postpone this trip/have me move everything into a storage unit/come out next week.
That won't work because Judy has already made arrangements to borrow this RV. (If she was borrowing it from ME a week wouldn't make any difference, so she can't possibly be borrowing it from people she really knows.) Plus this RV doesn't have running water OR a working bathroom, so this should be a cheery little trip.
THEN I mentioned that we'd be out in a month and I thought she was going to have a a complete meltdown. Was I planing on staying with her? (Was she CRAZY? I wouldn't stay with her if there was a nuclear holocaust and her house was the only house that had bread, water and a working toilet.)
I stayed at her house ten years ago and if Mom wasn't living there, that would have been the last time I ever bothered to knock on her door. When Mom dies, that will be the last time I ever go to her house. When Judy dies, I bet you a bag of nickles no one calls me unless they need money.
To say that we have differing philosophies is putting it gently.
She married Felon Boy.
I not only think OJ did it, I have to boycott Michael Jackson, Woody Allen, Angelina Jolie AND Brad Pitt. God help me if I find out that John Lennon and Paul McCartney were pedophiles. I'll have to stick my fingers in my ears for the rest of my life.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
No Drama and No Guilt
Mom is still in the acute care home and hating every minute of it. I'm going into work at 0300 every morning---that is 3am as in 3 dark thirty because I don't have a classroom (not since my class decided they were going to rape and dismember me)
I have a desk job and a non-contact one at that. I write lessons, run them off, mail them out, correct them and keep track of work---all easily done in the dark, as long as custody knows I'm back there, locked up in the warehouse, with my alarm.
Lisi drops by before she starts her shift and then drops by during her lunch hour. I drop by on my way home at noon and again when Ben gets off work.
I've made arrangements (if Judy can get a 16 foot U-Haul rented via the internet) to have it loaded tomorrow while she and Gene drive down from Provo.
It's a 12 hour trip (Well for me. It takes longer for Judy. Always has.)
Not sure when they are leaving. They are parking in my driveway and I'm having the crew park the U-haul in front of my house so they can drive it off with Mom on Sunday.
Judy is beside herself. All of these plans have been in place for years but I don't think she ever thought they would ever actually happen. The house she was living in wouldn't accommodate Mom (tiny with stairs and a teeny bathroom), so they are moving to another house they own in SLC, which won't be ready until Friday.
They will only be living there a short while, while the house they are building in Park City is being finished. I don't envy her three moves with Mom in tow one bit, Mom being as crazy as she is. (Mom had this great idea-load her in the U-haul in her bed with a cell phone. Forget the fact that she is deaf and can;t hear on a cell phone. She thought that was a good idea. Judy is renting an RV.)
Today, the plans changed hourly until I was as snippy and short as I could be. First it was this way. Then she talked to Judy and it was something else. Then she talked to me and it was totally opposite. If I hadn't had Ben with me, I would have thought maybe I was the crazy one.
She is positive that Judy has to handle all the last minute business herself in person--not so. The address change--fill out the forms and mail them in. Done it a million times. Moving money from one account to another? Simple as writing out a check, filling out a deposit slip and putting it in another bank. Not a big eal at all. The big deal is the way she has her power of attorney worded--it is fine if she is dead, but worthless if she is alive unless she is incompetent, which she would have to be dead before she would agree to being. Makes everything impossible to handle.
With Joe, it was exactly opposite. he thought he had everything taken care of but what he had only worked as long as he was alive. Once he was dead, he had nothing put into place. It pays to have more than one lawyer look at your trust/will/plans. Not all of the attorneys graduate at the tops of the class.
Judy is in for the same very long and contrary road I've been on.
It won't be any fun.
Movie Time...or TV time, whichever
Guess the line, let me know and I'll give you credit here. It's a little heavy on the cop thing.
Well, WE'RE a little heavy on the cop thing. When we're driving together, I'll call shotgun and Lisi'll call nine millimeter (cop humor. We laugh our asses off.) We both have cuff keys on our keychains.
1. "They'll dress you like a flannel sock!" (I laughed myself silly over this one. My only hint is that I don't watch anything on real TV.)
2."I apologize to the people of Los Angeles. My behavior has been improper and I accept the consequences. I ask my fellow Angelinos for their patience and understanding. Life here can be difficult for me. After all, I am the only one of my kind. During my incarceration, I will be participating in alcohol and anger management treatment. You deserve better from me. I can be better. I will be better." (I thought this was such a romantic movie..almost as romantic as the first Terminator.) HANCOCK/NOVEL (Did you like it? I thought it was so off the wall quirky and sweet. And the shove it up your ass--OMG! so literal)
3. "My father taught me one thing above all others; to be sure. And I am. Matt Chambers, Miami is your last stop. If God is in the details and if I believed in God, he's in this room with me. I just wish he had brought an extension cord.""
5."And one and two and three and four and your hands should be light like a birdie on a branch. And one and two and three and four and Wat doesn't lead he follows like a girl."A KNIGHT'S TALE/NOVEL (One of my favorites. So sweet and quirky. Like Jocelyn would really last with living with the pigs; sweet sentiment but unlikely. Even for Heath. She could quit him in a red hot minute.)
6. "Our dad was a cop, you're a cop, I work for the cops... for us, this is brother-sister stuff.
7."Good cop and bad cop have left for the day. I'm a different kind of cop."
8. "Who are you? What are you?" T
9."I could lie to you. But I have far too much respect for you as a person."
10."It's almost as though there's a sign that says 'Give us your tired and poor.' "
11. "Don't look at me, I just know stuff."
12."What's your favorite kind of torture?"
What do you believe? What works in your life?
2. You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script. Still working on this one.
3. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power. This one, too
4. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. (There are felons who are truly bad men. Then there are felons who made a bad mistake. You need to know the difference.)
5. Worrying is wasted time. Use the same energy for doing something about whatever worries you. (Knitting is good for this.)
6. What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for. You become what you believe.
7. If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that will be enough. Even "thank you" for a sunrise will do.
8. The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.
9. Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction. (Lace is not for me.)
10. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.
11. Trust your instincts. Your gut doesn't lie.
12. Love yourself and then learn to extend that love to others. It won;t hurt to look at a name tag and thank the checkers by name or thank the bagger or the waitress. it is such a little thing. Wave to the guy on the corner with the sign selling cell phones. he's not invisible.
13. Let passion drive your profession.
14. Find a way to get paid for doing what you love. Then every paycheck will be a bonus.
15. Love doesn't hurt. It feels really good. It feels just like sitting with your babies in the sun. Hold on to that.
16. Every day brings a chance to start over. (That's why I like Monday's. Haven;t had a true chance to screw up yet.)
17. Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. And it will never stop.
18. Doubt means don't. Don't move. Don't answer. Don't rush forward.
19. When you don't know what to do, get still. The answer will come.
20. Trouble don't last always. You'll get past it.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thank you Harlot, for the kick in the arse
By many standards, I am not a wealthy woman.
I have a great job that will employ me forever, but I am still a working woman; I trot off to work at 0'dark thirty and watch the sun come up on my drive to work.
It is not a thankless job-I get to watch the seasons change; the crops grow and the harvests. I see the jets net the sky with their con trails. I work with some pretty funny characters, so I am endlessly amused all day long.
There has never been a day that I went hungry or wondered where I would put my kids to bed. I pick and choose what I'm going to wear in the morning from my overstuffed walk in closet and at least once a week I toss out food that went bad before we could eat it. I order out Chinese maybe once a week because I'm "too tired" to cook-and that's an easy $50 out the window.
I have never wanted for anything more than "more" of what I already have. I am... to most of the people in the world,obscenely wealthy...
Today, I wrapped up "good" loaves of bread (as opposed to the cheap stuff), wrapped them in handmade aprons, tucked a letter in the pocket and dropped them off at the women's shelter,
along with some starter cash--because I've been there and really? It was little of nothing to me. I had the fabric in my stash and I had the week off. What else was I going to do with my time?
It meant I couldn't get my nails and hair done this week. Imagine, that was the price I paid.
Next week, I'm, "giving" up a silly handbag that I don't need so I can send some goats to Boliva.
I'm skipping a pedicure so I can send some girls some KOTEX for a year so they can go to school AND sending some women a flock of chickens and two ducks. For the price of a pedicure.
And in my family,we live well into our 90's. I have many more years to do good. makes up for all the evil I've done in my life.
Thanks, Steph.
Me Me Me ME (in bold)
1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
4. Visited Hawaii!
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - Still remember "E" Tickets.
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea--I thought the Minnow would be lost
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked. With Marji. As a teenager. In the middle of the night. IN UTAH.
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping--even after I lost my battle with gravity.
27. Run a Marathon--Bay to Breakers and Pioneer Day in SLC-talk about a killer!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (does the one in Vegas count? Guess not.)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (Every day of my life. Makes the day worth it.)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors (Stood in the very house)
35. Seen an Amish community--Yep, spent several summers right near Lancaster, PA
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke (Of course, I sound more like Cameron Diaz in "My Best Friend's Wedding"-pretty terrible)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (I love it more than I can say)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater--set up the lounge chairs in the bed of the pickup
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business---had a coffee shop/catering business for a while; a daycare business for a while. I like a steady paycheck
58. Taken a martial arts class. Wanna see my six broken ribs?
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason. Today, in fact
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving. Hang gliding, too.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle-they are ALL speeding as far as I'm concerned
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person--nothing beats sunrise
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous--Yep, a few people.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant
Mom's Thanksgiving....early so we could all get together
Mom is in an acute care nursing home until she leaves for Provo on Sunday, so we fixed our usual huge Thansgiving dinner, packed it all up in the gazillion picnic baskets (leaving what I usually keep in them in heaps on the carpet) and dragged it all over to the ursing home. We took the good china, silver and crystal because..well, it's the way we do things. . Lots of photos of us on the patio, though. I'm still not in control of this posting of multiple photos.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The one where I make some progress on the house
- Tupperware cupboard-everthing has a lid TaaDaa!
- Rearranged all my casseroles in size order (I have enough to open my own soup kitchen)
- Rearranged my dish cupboard (my everyday dishes, my Thanks giving dishes, my Christmas dishes, my blue willow dishes and my pastel dishes..I entertain a lot and go to A LOT of yard sales)
- Rearranged all the drawers in the kitchen. There is only so many gadgets a person needs. I had too many. Now someone can go to the Salvation Army and think they have struck gold.
- Tidied up my linen closet. Tossed out the ratty towels -sent to the shop. Saved the best of the ratty ones to cover the windscreens of the cars (we cover the cars ar night so they don't ice up.) I got new lavendar stones from here http://www.marrhaven.com/soaps.html#stones \
The one about the dogs
Yes, I am Tank.
I can do anything she says I can.
I am King.
Cock of the walk, except she had them whacked off and left me with a micro chip.
Rocket and Full Metal Jacket got their shots today.
Jacket is scheduled to "get fixed", get his microchip and tattoo next week.
Rocket has a dental appointment, too. (Teeth cleaning! No dog in my life has every had a dental appointment.
I must be getting old and senile.) She has a heart murmur. She weighs ALMOST 3 pounds.That little jaunt was almost $400. I pre-paid all the other stuff so Lisi could do the drop-off and pick ups next week when I'm at work. Easier
that way.
(Tank still lives with me until Ben can afford the final 2 sides of the fence around his house. The people next door have pit bulls. In our law enforcement experience, only people on parole or hoping to be on parole have pit bulls.)
In case you haven't stumbled onto Tana French yet, do. I'm in the middle of The Likeness and I read In the Woods and I'm liking them both. Nice and dark and interesting. Good reads, both.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Going Postal
I usually dash out there because
1) I have clothes on and
2) just in case I bounced a check, I want to keep it to my own self.
Love letters and bounced check notices are very private things, don't you think?
Today in the mail I had the following:
My Smooshy order (this was the bright spot)
One jury summons for the week of, YES WAY, 12/22 (oh, ack) I bet i can get out of that because I don;t want to go. I'll call Becky and ask to go when I'm actually at work. And then maybe I'll get a big honky murder case that goes on for like 18 months. That sounds good. Team Becky.
One bill for $190.76 for a car repair.
One bill for $235.22 for vet bills. Yes, I did take in all three dogs.
No fewer than five desperate pleas for MONEY from assorted charities who are all "feeling the pinch" and who have clients who "need us now more than ever." One of them was Victory outreach. ENOUGH SAID.
The newspaper thinks it is going to be hitting me up for $20
Home owners insurance renewal forms.
Oh look. Holt Lumber wants some money. So does Loewe's, Home Depot, Target, Amazon and Chevron.
Gottschalks, however, who hooked up with China, wants to up my limit. I'm boycotting them. They can keep their limit.
Notice from my personal banking account informing me that,AS OF RIGHT NOW they are going to be putting the required hold on my deposited state check. No more giving me cash because they gave me the check a day early. Yeah, I knew that and all…but still.
Is it National Poke Chloe With A Stick Day today, and nobody told me? I mean, I would have dressed nicer if I'd only known…
Chase has a change in terms…lessee…soooooo, if I were to use their card and have a balance, I'd pay 20.9% interest on it? Memo to me: Tell Chase to go chase their own tails…ha ha ha…
Oh, looky here! It looks like money....from a district I worked at a long time ago! Yesss! Yesss! Could come at a better time!........except I can;t get at it for anothe r ten years so why did they bother to even send it to me?
Holy moley.
That's it.
No more mail. I mean it! I am never going out to that stupid box again. It's nothing but trouble, and I'm sick of it.
From this day forth…no more mail.
I'll just go out and check for those little square love notes from the back and then split.
No news is good news.
Men are Idiots.
It is 6:40 in the morning and I have just gotten back from the grocery story. I ran out of almost $50 worth of cleaning things, which only proves to me that, in fact, I DO clean. I have me a little list for the week and here is today's little bunch of chores
- Make bed
- Clear off night stand
- Laundry-all of it, washed, folded,hung and PUT away (piling it on the kitchen table doesn't count
- Bathrooms-all five-CLEAN like for surgery. Boiling water and bleach
- Kitchen table-Scrub. Oil. Runner,. Centerpiece.
- Counters. Clear and bleached.
- Sinks. Likewise
- Floors. Ditto
- Vaccum.
- Downstairs-dust and oil
- Laundry room and pantry
- Stairs-vac and scrub banister. Scrub and Oil wood.
- Leave bathroom counter EMPTY. Clear out drawers.
- Meeting at 1300 at the nursing home with Mom
He wanted to go to Arizona to see his folks. I'D LIKE TO GO TOO, except I have my hands full here. AND HE NEVER MENTIONED IT TO ME.
We are entered in the Christmas Parade on Friday. Again, he never mentioned it to me.
I came home on Friday and told him that the OCE had offered me overtime for "all" of December and January (I only work 10 days in December (he immediately got sulky whe I told him I'd be working until 10 at night...because who would fix him dinner?) In fact, last night, we went to be after devouring a carton of ice cream and he said he sure hoped he didn;t wake up hungry in the night because
WE HADN'T HAD DINNER. Obviously, famine was snapping at our heels. The end of the world was fast approaching.
WE HAD SNACKED ALL DAY. WE HAD ICE CREAM. BUT I HADN'T ACTUALLY FIXED HIM DINNER. No matter that he was less than ten feet from the kitchen all day long. no matter that he could have ASKED for something at any moment. AND NO MATTER THAT I AM NOT A FUCKING MIND READER.
He just wanted to go to bed all sulky and ill used.
So I let him.
Went to sleep and slept the sleep of the just because I did no wrong. I have xx chromosomes.
I can DO no wrong.
So I am spending my vacation cleaning the house. Because being busy all day is the ONLY revenge.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Great Christmas Site for girlie girls
can order more.
It's a dandy way to find something special. Me, I like single note floral-roses, gardenia, violet and they have lots to chose from.
They have a gaggle of lots more sophisticated scents, as well...but I like something simple and sweet.
My new project..enroute from the Loopy Ewe with photos under control
I'm going to start this
because I have one skein of this SMOOSHY
that Marji gave me. I'm going to make a serious attempt to knit at lunch (as in TAKE a lunch. Jaqui is good at coming in and sitting down. I am not...which might explain why I am no good after 1300.)
I'm not crazy about that ooky brown. Or that pea green. And I'm picking SMOOSHY because it has the most color choices.
So here are my colors..so far. The photos are in no particular order because I can't make them behave.
Visual Purple (Really purple)
Into The Mystic (sort of a purple and blue)
Deep Sea Flower (sort of blue and teal and turquoise) Beach Fog (turquoise with orange and purple bits),
Giant Peach (peach),
Lunar Dazzle (turquoise-y with flecks of purple and green),
Pansy Go Lightly (purple-y and blue-y with green), Summer Sky (Tampa Bay blue),
Yarn A Go Go (greeny bits
This is an Elizabeth Zimmerman "Baby Surprise" Jacket and I might use it for this Smooshy collection. I love the origami way the pattern works out and I love working a Zimmerman pattern. It is always just so clever. It's not like I don't have
plenty of yarn. This one is the surprise before it is seamed up. Looks like a mess of knitting, doesn"t it? I love the little mitered corners and I think it would look realy nice with all the Smooshy colors, especially once I ruled out that ooky gold and icky green.


text:
I'm sorry I haven't been able to give you a chance to come into being in awhile. We're having some issues with insurance, so we've had to wait to try for you again. But we should be able to give you a chance sometime in November or December, when insurance kicks in again and can approve our IVF cycle.
I'm missing you. A friend of ours announced that she's going to have a baby in March, and it made me sad because I want *you* so very much. I dreamed about you last night, that you and I were at the hospital, right after you were delivered and we were left alone. I put you to my breast to nurse you and you latched right on! Your Daddy wasn't there, which was weird, so after you went to sleep I tried to call him, but my phone batteries wouldn't stay in. I couldn't tell anyone you were here! The nurses were very nice though, and you had beautiful blue eyes and dark hair.
It makes me partly sad to think about the dream because I want you here still, when I'm awake, and I can't have you yet. But I'm trying to stay strong because one way or another, you're going to be here, someday.
I can't wait to finally hold you in my arms!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
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text:
Danielle earrings in neon pink // Deily earrings in white pearl // Skylar earrings in chalcedony
I'm also loving this neon pink pendant necklace:
That's all for this weeks Friday 5!
I'm linking up with April, Lauren, Jennie, Rebecca and Amanda!
aww love that pic of you and your mom! and i think i like the pink earrings, but they are all gorgeous! and i need to try all of your beauty picks hahaReplyDelete
Your post just reminded me that I need to pick up another lip butter or two-- the sorbet color looks like it would be so pretty for summer! I had never heard of Kendra Scott until a few weeks ago- but I keep seeing such gorgeous jewelry from her! Have a great weekend!ReplyDelete
I just found your blog today and wanted to let you know you have a new daily reader! Can't wait to see your upcoming posts!ReplyDelete
Stopping from the link up! I keep seeing BB cream everywhere but I apparently live under a rock and don't use it or know too much about it. Do you use foundation on top of that?
Ummmmm I need that pendant necklace it is so gorgeous!!!! I was eyeing those lip butters the other day how is their staying power? Thanks so much for linking up girlie!! xoxoReplyDelete
Love the monogrammed necklace - I wear mine almost every day and you're so right -totally goes with everything!! Love the mint green Kendra Scott earrings! Hope you had a great weekend!ReplyDelete


text:
Sunday, 29 December 2013
Wednesday, 25 December 2013
Quote / Citação (33)
"It was at night that they came for you, always at night. The proper thing was to kill yourself before they got you. Undoubtedly some people did so. Many of the disappearances were actually suicides. But it needed desperate courage to kill yourself in a world where firearms, or any quick and certain poison, were completely unprocurable. He thought with a kind of astonishment of the biological uselessness of pain and fear, the treachery of the human body which always freezes into inertia at exactly the moment when a special effort is needed. He might have silenced the dark-haired girl if only he had acted quickly enough: but precisely because of the extremity of his danger he had lost the power to act. It struck him that in moments of crisis one is never fighting against an external enemy, but always against one's own body. Even now, in spite of the gin, the dull ache in his belly made consecutive thought impossible. And it is the same, he perceived, in all seemingly heroic or tragic situations. On the battlefield, in the torture chamber, on a sinking ship, the issues that you are fighting for are always forgotten, because the body swells up until it fills the universe, and even when you are not paralysed by fright or screaming with pain, life is a moment-to-moment struggle against hunger or cold or sleeplessness, against a sour stomach or an aching tooth."
George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949)
Monday, 23 December 2013
Quote / Citação (32)
"Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.
They were born, they grew up in the gutters, they went to work at twelve, they passed through a brief blossoming-period of beauty and sexual desire, they married at twenty, they were middle-aged at thirty, they died, for the most part, at sixty. Heavy physical work, the care of home and children, petty quarrels with neighbours, films, football, beer, and above all, gambling, filled up the horizon of their minds. To keep them in control was not difficult. A few agents of the Thought Police moved always among them, spreading false rumours and marking down and eliminating the few individuals who were judged capable of becoming dangerous; but no attempt was made to indoctrinate them with the ideology of the Party. It was not desirable that the proles should have strong political feelings. All that was required of them was a primitive patriotism which could be appealed to whenever it was necessary to make them accept longer working-hours or shorter rations. And even when they became discontented, as they sometimes did, their discontent led nowhere, because being without general ideas, they could only focus it on petty specific grievances. The larger evils invariably escaped their notice."
George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949)
Sunday, 22 December 2013
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Quote / Citação (31)
"Under ground, under ground! Down in the safe soft womb of earth, where there is no getting of jobs or losing of jobs, no relatives or friends to plague you, no hope, fear, ambition, honour, duty — no duns of any kind. That was where he wished to be.
Yet it was not death, actual physical death, that he wished for. It was a queer feeling that he had. It had been with him ever since that morning when he had woken up in the police cell. The evil, mutinous mood that comes after drunkenness seemed to have set into a habit. That drunken night had marked a period in his life. It had dragged him downward with strange suddenness. Before, he had fought against the money-code, and yet he had clung to his wretched remnant of decency. But now it was precisely from decency that he wanted to escape. He wanted to go down, deep down, into some world where decency no longer mattered; to cut the strings of his self-respect, to submerge himself — to sink, as Rosemary had said. It was all bound up in his mind with the thought of being under ground. He liked to think about the lost people, the under-ground people: tramps, beggars, criminals, prostitutes. It is a good world that they inhabit, down there in their frowzy kips and spikes. He liked to think that beneath the world of money there is that great sluttish underworld where failure and success have no meaning; a sort of kingdom of ghosts where all are equal. That was where he wished to be, down in the ghost-kingdom, below ambition. It comforted him somehow to think of the smoke-dim slums of South London sprawling on and on, a huge graceless wilderness where you could lose yourself for ever.
And in a way this job was what he wanted; at any rate, it was something near what he wanted. Down there in Lambeth, in winter, in the murky streets where the sepia-shadowed faces of tea-drunkards drifted through the mist, you had a submerged feeling. Down here you had no contact with money or with culture. No highbrow customers to whom you had to act the highbrow; no one who was capable of asking you, in that prying way that prosperous people have, 'What are you, with your brains and education, doing in a job like this?' You were just part of the slum, and, like all slum-dwellers, taken for granted. The youths and girls and draggled middle-aged women who came to the library scarcely even spotted the fact that Gordon was an educated man. He was just 'the bloke at the library', and practically one of themselves."
George Orwell, Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936)
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Friday, 13 December 2013
London Pleasures by Gordon Comstock [Quote / Citação (30)]
"Sharply the menacing wind sweeps over
The bending poplars, newly bare,
And the dark ribbons of the chimneys
Veer downward; flicked by whips of air,
Torn posters flutter; coldly sound
Torn posters flutter; coldly sound
The boom of trains and the rattle of hooves,
And the clerks who hurry to the station
Look, shuddering, over the eastern rooves,
Thinking, each one, 'Here comes the winter!
Thinking, each one, 'Here comes the winter!
Please God I keep my job this year!'
And bleakly, as the cold strikes through
Their entrails like an icy spear,
They think of rent, rates, season tickets,
They think of rent, rates, season tickets,
Insurance, coal, the skivvy's wages,
Boots, school-bills, and the next instalment
Upon the two twin beds from Drage's.
For if in careless summer days
For if in careless summer days
In groves of Ashtaroth we whored,
Repentant now, when winds blow cold,
We kneel before our rightful lord;
The lord of all, the money-god,
The lord of all, the money-god,
Who rules us blood and hand and brain,
Who gives the roof that stops the wind,
And, giving, takes away again;
Who spies with jealous, watchful care,
Who spies with jealous, watchful care,
Our thoughts, our dreams, our secret ways,
Who picks our words and cuts our clothes,
And maps the pattern of our days;
Who chills our anger, curbs our hope,
Who chills our anger, curbs our hope,
And buys our lives and pays with toys,
Who claims as tribute broken faith,
Accepted insults, muted joys;
Who binds with chains the poet's wit,
Who binds with chains the poet's wit,
The navvy's strength, the soldier's pride,
And lays the sleek, estranging shield
Between the lover and his bride."
George Orwell, Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936)
Wednesday, 11 December 2013
Pela Sua Saúde de Pedro Pita Barros (Ensaios da Fundação #33)
A Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos tem publicado nesta colecção "Ensaios da Fundação" trabalhos sobre temas relevantes para pensar e repensar Portugal de uma forma informada. Fiquei logo com vontade de ler alguns, de várias áreas, com algum destaque para a saúde, a economia e o estado social. A Daniela ofereceu-me o Pela Sua Saúde, pelo que foi por este que comecei a explorar a colecção. O autor - Pedro Pita Barros - é um economista, professor catedrático e investigador nessa área e editor de revistas de Economia da Saúde, pelo que se propõe a olhar para o Serviço Nacional de Saúde analisando os seus problemas, as possíveis melhorias e os caminhos para a sua evolução, tendo particularmente em conta a limitação de recursos do estado português.
A leitura deste pequeno ensaio foi bastante enriquecedora, mesmo tendo em conta que já parti com bastante informação sobre o tema. O autor aborda de forma lúcida e relativamente isenta as principais questões de relevo na discussão da dita "sustentabilidade" de um serviço de saúde financiado pelo estado. O livro começa por uma descrição geral do SNS, segue para a análise directa da sua sustentabilidade financeira, examina a organização e funcionamento do SNS e por fim a relação entre o cidadão e o sistema, terminando com algumas considerações gerais.
Como ensaio curto, este não é um livro em que os temas sejam explorados à exaustão, com bases científicas e ideológicas explicitadas e bem destrinçadas. Um exemplo disto é a sua abordagem das taxas moderadoras, que discute tendo em conta o seu aumento e aplicação diferencial mas nunca analisando as provas (ou ausência delas) da sua eficácia como factor redutor de desperdício em saúde ou da possível criação de desigualdade e potencial impedimento de acesso a cuidados que se querem universais. No entanto, o autor consegue atingir o seu objectivo: fornecer ao leitor as bases e os pontos fulcrais para que possa pensar sobre o assunto, informar-se mais detalhadamente e participar activamente na sua discussão.
A leitura deste pequeno ensaio foi bastante enriquecedora, mesmo tendo em conta que já parti com bastante informação sobre o tema. O autor aborda de forma lúcida e relativamente isenta as principais questões de relevo na discussão da dita "sustentabilidade" de um serviço de saúde financiado pelo estado. O livro começa por uma descrição geral do SNS, segue para a análise directa da sua sustentabilidade financeira, examina a organização e funcionamento do SNS e por fim a relação entre o cidadão e o sistema, terminando com algumas considerações gerais.
Como ensaio curto, este não é um livro em que os temas sejam explorados à exaustão, com bases científicas e ideológicas explicitadas e bem destrinçadas. Um exemplo disto é a sua abordagem das taxas moderadoras, que discute tendo em conta o seu aumento e aplicação diferencial mas nunca analisando as provas (ou ausência delas) da sua eficácia como factor redutor de desperdício em saúde ou da possível criação de desigualdade e potencial impedimento de acesso a cuidados que se querem universais. No entanto, o autor consegue atingir o seu objectivo: fornecer ao leitor as bases e os pontos fulcrais para que possa pensar sobre o assunto, informar-se mais detalhadamente e participar activamente na sua discussão.
Assim sendo, recomendo a leitura de "Pela Sua Saúde" como ponto de partida para quem quer participar activamente na discussão eterna sobre o SNS, sabendo desde já que terão que progredir de seguida para outras leituras no sentido de criar e fundamentar opiniões. Pretendo ler mais livros desta colecção e agradeço recomendações a quem já tenha lido alguns.
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Quote / Citação (29)
Something deep below made the stone street shiver. The tube-train, sliding through middle earth. He had a vision of London, of the western world; he saw a thousand million slaves toiling and grovelling about the throne of money. The earth is ploughed, ships sail, miners sweat in dripping tunnels underground, clerks hurry for the eight-fifteen with the fear of the boss eating at their vitals. And even in bed with their wives they tremble and obey. Obey whom? The money-priesthood, the pink-faced masters of the world. The Upper Crust. A welter of sleek young rabbits in thousand guinea motor cars, of golfing stockbrokers and cosmopolitan financiers, of Chancery lawyers and fashionable Nancy boys, of bankers, newspaper peers, novelists of all four sexes, American pugilists, lady aviators, film stars, bishops, titled poets, and Chicago gorillas.
George Orwell, Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936)
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Friday, 6 December 2013
Quote / Citação (28)
"It was so rarely that he could attain the peace of mind in which poetry, or prose for that matter, has got to be written. The times when he 'could not' work grew commoner and commoner. Of all types of human being, only the artist takes it upon him to say that he 'cannot' work. But it is quite true; there are times when one cannot work. Money again, always money! Lack of money means discomfort, means squalid worries, means shortage of tobacco, means ever-present consciousness of failure — above all, it means loneliness. How can you be anything but lonely on two quid a week? And in loneliness no decent book was ever written. It was quite certain that London Pleasures would never be the poem he had conceived — it was quite certain, indeed, that it would never even be finished. And in the moments when he faced facts Gordon himself was aware of this.
Yet all the same, and all the more for that very reason, he went on with it. It was something to cling to. It was a way of hitting back at his poverty and his loneliness. And after all, there were times when the mood of creation returned, or seemed to return."
George Orwell, Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936)
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
Quote / Citação (27)
"'Oh, leave me alone, for God's sake!' he said irritably, stepping out of Flaxman's reach, and went up the stairs without looking back.
Flaxman settled his hat on his head and made for the front door, mildly offended. Gordon reflected dully that it was always like this nowadays. He was for ever snubbing friendly advances. Of course it was money that was at the bottom of it, always money. You can't be friendly, you can't even be civil, when you have no money in your pocket. A spasm of self-pity went through him. His heart yearned for the saloon bar at the Crichton; the lovely smell of beer, the warmth and bright lights, the cheery voices, the clatter of glasses on the beer-wet bar. Money, money! He went on, up the dark evil-smelling stairs. The thought of his cold lonely bedroom at the top of the house was like a doom before him."
George Orwell, Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936)
Sunday, 1 December 2013
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text:
Senior Management Accountant
- Recruiter
- Optima
- Location
- Salary
- £35,000 per annum
- Posted
- 27 Jul 2017
- Closes
- 20 Aug 2017
- Sector
- Banking & Financial Services
- Contract Type
- Full Time
Optima are exclusively representing a high growth business in Stoke on Trent with the recruitment of a Senior Management Accountant. Working closely with the Finance Director and Senior Management Team you will be responsible for providing all aspects of robust financial control for this manufacturing business.
Based at the UK Head office it is a pivotal role within the finance department. Working as part of a group of companies the finance team provides accurate and reliable financial support. This role requires an individual who is passionate about what they do coupled with a background in manufacturing, cost accounting with the ability to communicate with non finance personnel.
Key Responsibilities include:
- Monthly - Preparation of Management Accounts for both the statutory and trading company.
- Annual - Preparation of Statutory Accounts, forecasts and Budgets.
- Periodically - Preparation and submission of various returns.
- To maintain financial control and report on Manufacturing costs and Inventory.
- To maintain financial control of all balance sheet accounts including stock, provisions and accruals.
- To assist in the preparation of business budgets, forecasts and plans
- To maintain financial control of the business inventory including stocktaking and obsolescence reviews.
- To analyse capital spend and report on overspends
- To assist in the investigation, analysis and explanation of all variances compared with budget and business plan targets.
- To investigate cost discrepancies using various tools
- Preparation of the following years standard costs in line with the budget
This is a fantastic opportunity in a business that has experienced significant growth in the past two years. For this opportunity I am looking to identify a Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with 5 years post qualification experience within a manufacturing setting. In addition you must possess strong analytical skills, with high attention to detail. Able to translate complex data into simple to understand information. Working knowledge of commercial aspects of business. Strong communication skills, with the ability to interact with a wide range of employees across the organisation.
A more detailed specification can be provided upon request. To discuss this opportunity and for a more detailed job specification of the position available please contact Kerri-Ann Hargreaves.


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So I was very busy for the holidays and barely checked my email. After the first of the year, I started to play catchup, and lo and behold, I had an email from Leap, makers of a new interactive motion controller the size of a soap bar.
I signed up as a developer for this device over a year ago, and here it is! So they sent an email saying as soon as i confirm my address, I get a free developer unit and access to the developer forums and SDK. I can't wait to try it out…maybe I'll mount it to a robot and use it as a vision sensor!