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As most of you know, I am a deeply political person. I am also very politically savvy. Despite my adherence to the Democratic party, I am not one of "those" liberals who Hates the other side. By and large, I am able to remain calm and serene in the face of opposition. Ronald Reagan? An inspirational and kind man. George H Bush. A seasoned veteran who cared deeply about this country. Robert Dole? An elder statesman who you would want to invite for Sunday Dinner. George W. Bush? A man whose simple persona belied a man who married an extremely intelligent woman, and struggled mightily to be taken seriously. While I disagreed with his policies I never once doubted they came from his heart. John McCain? A man of such principal and character, I cried when he admonished one of his supporter for calling then Senator Obama a Muslim and not from this country. Mitt Romney? An elegant man who had truly the best interests of this country and saw the world differently than I, but with no less compassion.
Then we come to this election. At no time in my life have I have ever been gripped with this fierce distaste and dislike of a presidential candidate. I had to look within my heart. What was it, why did I shrink every time he would disparage someone or some group? Couldn't I remain my usual serene and politically savvy self? What was wrong with me? And then the video was released. I watched it and re-watched it. Each time I grew angrier and more physically repulsed.
And then it hit me. Donald Trump's actions remind me of a pain so deep and so much a part of my psyche that I just had blocked them out. As a child with a physical deformity, I was constantly bullied and preyed upon. I was mocked for my face, my voice, and my every motion. Blessed with intelligence, I studied hard (even in grade school) so I could show them. You can imagine what that did. More taunting, more cruel insults. It was a daily occurrence. My best friend Carol Ann tried to help. Even my first crush Steve, stepped in. The teachers tried as did my parents. But bullies know how to get you. A sideways glance. Pushing and shoving you into a wall. Grabbing you. Making certain you know beyond all certainty that you should not be allowed to live. You are worthless. You are beyond help. You are a monster. All those things were said to me in that playground. And I remained standing.
So when I see Donald Trump mocking and making fun of even beautiful girls, making certain they also know that they are worthless, accept for tools for sexual pleasure and self aggrandizement, I cringe. If they can't survive the schoolyard bully what is to become of the rest of us?
It took me a long time to come to Hilary Clinton's side. When I see Hillary Clinton, I see myself. With men who maybe weren't always the best for me. Of choices I have made that meant I had to take second fiddle. Of the relentless sexism that is pervasive in our society. In my early twenties I used to judge her, for staying with Bill. I thought I was so smart. But now decades later, I understand so much more and my heart bleeds for what she had to go through. I have seen so many of my generation have to cope with failed marriages, cheating spouses or worse. We have all chosen different paths, but we remain women and human being trying to be the best we can be.
Maybe because there is a little bit of Hilary in all of us. She is the girl I wanted to be, the one I wished could have swooped into that playground and made the bully stop.


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I'm back at work.
I thought that I might be going to Angola. Ended up in Israel. Not sure how that happenned. Angola actually had some interesting work planned and I have been doing some modeling for it. The idea is run some production tools into a well on wireline. Problem is the well is horizontal so how do you push on a rope? Not to worry these people have a downhole tractor that can push the tools down a horizontal well. My job is just to answer a couple of questions.
For a certain wellhead pressure how heavy will the tool have to be to be able to go down against well pressure?
If the tool were to become stuck at the bottom of the well, what kind of tension can we pull at surface before damage to the cable occurs?
Is it possible to design a weak point at the tool so that the cable can be recovered in the event of the tool sticking?
How much force will the tractor have to exert on the horizontal section to pull the cable along the horizontal section?
There is a whole new field of wireline engineering based upon these kinds of questions known as Deployment Risk Management. As well paths become deeper and more tortuous, the material limits of cables become more and more important in terms of what can be run on the end of them. Twenty years ago or so most oil wells were reasonably straight, nowadays the straight hole is the exception rather than the rule. Several companies now offer deployment risk software and there is some effort to get people trained in the technology.
Problem is that oil companies have not attached a value to this service ie: they expect it for free. Service companies have been reluctant to charge for it as it is only a model - a simulation based on a lot of assumptions very few of which can be empirically verified. The model is only ever valuable if something goes wrong; in which case the most common comment is "well why didn't you model for this problem". Screwed over either way. Sigh!
Besides the deployment modelling the other interesting thing about the Angola work I'm not doing is that it is a production job. For my company its unusual work and much overlooked (in my opinion) by the company management. Production logging is usually done to determine the cause of declining production in a well. Oil companies are very interested to know why a well is suddenly producing water or why the production has dropped by 90% in three months. It directly affects their cash flow. Usually the production log is planned as part of a well intervention designed to improve the producing rate in the well. Because this sort of work is unusual (for us anyway) tools are rare and there are not many people globally who are qualified to run them. The tractor requirement further limits the list of people available. As far as I know I'm the only person who can run this particular service with this particular tractor and is also able to interpret the results. I'm waiting for the bosses to figure this out but so far they are of the opinion that "anyone can do it". Time will tell but I'm guessing that there will be a last minute panic to get me down to Angola in a couple of weeks. Last I checked they still haven't figured out how to get the tools to talk (shaking my head).
I'll keep you posted
Places I've been. Things I've done. People I've met. The occasional thought. That sort of stuff.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Deployment Risk Management and Other Sexy Talk
2 comments:
- schmerly said...
Very interesting pj, I'm looking for a job at the moment, perhaps I could carry your tools for you, and I can make tea!!
- 24/2/09 10:05
- pj said...
Its damm sexy stuff! Up there with double entry accounting and the dewey decimal system. Can't understand why my inbox isn't filled with offers from sexy models...go figure.
The layoffs reign-of-terror is running though my company at the moment. I may be joining the unemployed myself before too long.
Company does have a website. Drop me a mail and I'll send you the link.
- 26/2/09 01:58
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subset: commoncrawl


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Taken near Juneau, Alaska in July 2015. This version of this print is an odd size. If you want this photo please scroll down for another version of this print. If you want this print please contact me so I can remove the watermark for you unless you want this photo printed with the Laura Lyn Photography Watermark.
HumpbackHumpback WhaleWhaleOceanJuneauAlaskaBoat TourAdventureLeap
Petersburg Day 1 (39 of 50)-3
Petersburg Day 2 (14 of 21) 3
Taken near Seward in June 2015
HumpbackHumpback WhaleWhaleOceanSewardKenai FjordAlaskaBoat TourAdventureBubble Netting
Taken near Juneau in July 2015
HumpbackHumpback WhaleWhaleOceanJuneauAlaskaBoat TourAdventureBreachLeap
Taken in Juneau in September 2015
Whale Back Flip
Baby Whale Tail
HumpbackHumpback WhaleWhaleOceanJuneauAlaskaBoat TourAdventureTailTail Flick
Taken near Seward in May 2014
OrcaOrca WhaleWhaleOceanSewardAlaskaBoat TourAdventureTailPodOrca Pod
Seward Denali Day 44 (8 of 12)
Seward Denali Day 44 (9 of 12)
Seward Denali Day 44 (6 of 12)
Seward Denali Day 44 (5 of 12)
Seward Denali Day 44 (2 of 12)
Seward Denali Day 44 (1 of 12)
Seward Denali Day 44 (3 of 12)
Otter (2 of 1)
Taken in Seward in June 2015
Sea OtterOtterAlaskaOceanAdventureSeward
Taken near Homer in June 2015
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Taken near Valdez in June 2015
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Otter Rock Kenai Fjord 5-2015
Sea OtterOtterAlaskaOceanAdventureValdezIceberg
Sea OtterOtterAlaskaOceanAdventureValdezShell
Kodiak Day 3 (24 of 42)
Gustavus Two (26 of 31)
Petersburg Day 1 (25 of 50)-5
Sea Lion Smooch
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Sea Lion Leap
Sea LionAlaskaSewardOceanBoatAdventure
Sea LionAlaskaSewardOceanBoatAdventureMountain


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Madonna has written a new song called Hey You for London's Live Earth concert this summer. She will perform the song at Wembley on July 7.
It's her first new release since her Confessions On A Dance Floor album back in 2005. Pharrell Williams is said to be on the track.
The nine Live Earth shows will take place all around the world to highlight the global warming crisis. Word is James Blunt, Genesis and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are also performing.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Madonna has some new material
Posted by Gabs at 1:10 PM
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text:
Welcome Speech by President Raúl Castro to Pope Francis
Your Holiness,
The people and Government of Cuba welcome you with profound affection, respect and hospitality.
We feel particularly honored with your visit. You will see how deeply we love our Homeland, for which we are capable of the greatest sacrifices. We have always followed in the steps of the heroes of Our America, who bestowed on us their honor, courage and generosity. It is from them that we have learned to exercise Marti's axiom that Homeland is Humanity.
The memorable meeting we had last May in Vatican City offered an opportunity to exchange ideas on some of the most important issues related to the world we live in.
The peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean have decided to move forward to integration, in defense of our independence, sovereignty over natural resources and social justice.
However, our region still shows the greatest disparity in wealth distribution. In this continent, legitimate governments working for a better future are facing numerous attempts at destabilization.
We have closely followed your statements. The apostolic exhortation known as "The Joy of Gospel" related to social issues, and the encyclical "Praise Be To You", on the future and care for the planet and Humanity, have moved me to a profound reflection. They shall be references for the next Summit on the Post-2015 Development Agenda to be held at the United Nations this month, and the 21st International Conference on Climate Change scheduled for December in Paris.
An increasing global impact has resulted from your analysis on the causes of these problems and the call to safeguard the planet and the survival of our species; to cease the predatory action of the wealthy nations and the big transnationals; and, to remove the dangers threatening us all due to the depletion of resources and the loss of biodiversity.
As His Holiness has rightly indicated: "Humanity should become aware of the necessity to change life styles as well as production and consumption patterns."
At the UN Conference on Development and the Environment held in Rio de Janeiro in1992, Fidel Castro Ruz, leader of the Cuban Revolution, raised the necessity to save Humanity from self-destruction; to make a better distribution of wealth, knowledge, science and technology in order to attain a sustainable development; and, "to make hunger, and not Man, disappear" he said.
The current international system is unfair and immoral. It has globalized capital and turned money into its idol. It makes people become simple consumers, and instead of disseminating knowledge and culture, it alienates them with behavior patterns and reflexes promoted by means that serve only their owners' interests, that is, the transnational media corporations.
The deep and permanent crisis falls harshly on the Third World countries, albeit in the industrial world it also affects the disenfranchised, the minorities, the young unemployed and the helpless elders as well as those seeking refuge from starvation and conflict. What immigrants and the poor are going through stands as an offense to human conscience. They are the 'outraged' of the world claiming for their rights and the end to such injustice.
Your Holiness,
In your remarks to the world meetings of Popular Movements held in October last year at Vatican City and in July this year at Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia, you reiterated the necessity to practice solidarity and to struggle together against the structural sources of poverty and inequality; for man's dignity and his right to the land and to work; and for a roof to give him shelter.
It was to conquer such rights, among others, that the Cuban Revolution was undertaken. Those were the same rights that Fidel advocated in the historical defense argument known as "History Will Absolve Me."
It is to build a society with more justice and solidarity that we have made extraordinary efforts and taken the greatest risks ever since the revolutionary victory.
And, we have done while blockaded, slandered, and attacked; and paying a high toll in human lives and economic damages. We have founded an equitable society with social justice and extensive access to culture, attached to traditions and to the most advanced ideas of Cuba, Latin America, the Caribbean and the world.
Millions of people have recuperated their health thanks to Cuban cooperation: 325,710 collaborators have provided services in 158 countries; today, 50,281 Cuban healthcare workers are providing services in 68 nations; thanks to the "Yes, I Can" educational program, 9,376,000 people have left illiteracy behind in 30 different countries, while more than 68,000 students from 157 countries have graduated in Cuba.
We keep advancing with determination in the updating of our economic and social model to build a prosperous and sustainable socialism focused on human beings and the family, and with the free, democratic, conscious and creative involvement of the entire society, particularly young people.
Preserving socialism is tantamount to securing independence, sovereignty, development and the wellbeing of our nation. We are firmly determined to face every challenge and build a just and virtuous society with high ethical and spiritual values. As the honorable priest Félix Varela indicated "…we want the future generations to inherit from us the dignity of man, and to remember what it takes to recover it so that they fear losing it…"
Regional unity, identity and integration should be defended. The Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Peace Zone, signed by heads of State and Government at the 2nd Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States held in Havana in January 2014, establishes a set of commitments of crucial importance such as: the peaceful solution of controversial issues in order to definitely remove the use, and the threat of the use, of force in our region; the prevention of direct or indirect interference in the domestic affairs of any other State and respect for the principles of national sovereignty; the equality of rights and free determination of the peoples; the promotion of friendly relations and cooperation among themselves and with other nations; and, full respect for the inalienable right of every State to choose its political, economic, social and cultural system as an essential premise to ensure peaceful coexistence among nations.
Concerning Cuba, the purposes and principles consecrated in the United Nations Charter are fully valid. Only respect for them can ensure international peace and security, which at the moment are increasingly challenged.
We found extremely interesting His Holiness remarks during the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the nuclear strikes on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The existence of nuclear weapons threatens the very survival of human beings and constitutes an affront to the ethical and moral principles that should guide relations among nations. The use of such weapons would bring about the obliteration of human civilization; therefore, advocating disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, is not only the duty but also the right of all peoples in the world.
Your Holiness,
We have expressed our appreciation for your support to the United States-Cuba dialogue. The reestablishment of relations has been a first step in the process toward normalization of the relationship between the two countries, which will demand resolving problems and correcting injustices. The blockade, which causes human damages and privations to the Cuban family, is cruel, immoral and illegal, and it should cease. The territory usurped by the Guantanamo Naval Base should be returned to Cuba and other issues resolved, too. Such fair claims are shared by the peoples and the overwhelming majority of governments in the world.
This year we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of uninterrupted relations between the Apostolic Holy See and Cuba. These relations are good and continue to favorably develop on the basis of mutual respect.
Relations between the Government and the Catholic Church in Cuba are developing in a gratifying atmosphere, the same as with every denomination and religious institution represented in the country that promote moral values recognized and enhanced by our nation. We exercise religious freedom as a right consecrated in our Constitution.
We attach full meaning to the presence of His Holiness in our Homeland. We feel that it will be a transcendental and enriching experience for our Nation that he meets with our industrious and educated people, our selfless and generous people that treasure profound convictions and patriotic values, and are willing to continue their heroic resistance and build a society capable of ensuring the full development of men and women, with dignity and justice.
On behalf of this noble people I offer you the warmest welcome.
Thank you.
Publicado el 19/09/2015 en Cuba, EEUU, Papa Francisco en Cuba y EEUU, Poítica, Religion y etiquetado en blockade, Catholic Church, Cuba, EEUU, Encyclical "Praise Be To You", Guantánamo Naval Base, Latin America, Papa Francisco, Papa Francisco en Cuba, Pope Francis, Raul Castro, The Joy of Gospel. Guarda el enlace permanente. Deja un comentario.


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Over the winter, Sam and I decided we were spending too much money on our cable bill. It's weird how it can sneak up on you – we have a satellite dish and over time added a sports package here, a movie station there, until we looked at our bill and realized we would be embarrassed for our parents to know how much we were spending on television. We rarely have time to watch television so the return on investment was nil, and he agreed to cut out his expensive sports packages if I eliminated my (less, cough cough) expensive movie packages.
"We have a deal," I said. "But you have to make the call. If I make the call they'll somehow talk me into keeping HBO, I just know it. I am weak when it comes to Game of Thrones."
Indeed, Game of Thrones and Outlander are the only television shows I really miss, and I won't have to miss them for long – one thousand different ways exist for me to access them once the seasons are complete. I'm actually looking forward to watching Game of Thrones in box set form with my dad next winter. It was, though,one of the only television shows I watched in real time, and in sacrificing it I've eliminated myself from any water cooler conversation I was able to participate in. More than one well-meaning millenial (all male, for some reason) have thought it necessary to fix my predicament…if I just buy this gadget for seven dollars and then get a password to access this site and then connect my ipad to my television…
"Wait right there," I say, to these well-meaning colleagues and friends. "You've just made t.v. work. The whole reason I watch an hour or so an evening is to not be working. I appreciate your efforts but I'm going to just wait for the box sets like I always have and catch up then."
Even in exchange for my life, should such a dire situation occur, I wouldn't be able to explain how hulu, netflix or amazon t.v. work. Logically I know I could save a lot of money by choosing to understand this sort of thing but, meh. Mostly I can't be bothered.
At least, that was the case until Fox decided to cancel one of my most favorite television series of all time: The Mindy Project.. This is probably what I looked like:
I have loved this television show since it began. I don't know all the different places I've read about Mindy Kaling's affinity for romantic comedies, but I knew about it before I started watching the program and expected her series to be an homage to romantic comedies which are not, in fact, not funny every second. That The Mindy Project is often so wickedly funny is a wonderful surprise – I don't think I've laughed harder – as an adult – than I did the night I watched the episode "My Cool Christian Boyfriend." Part of what makes the show so great is, of course, Mindy – but the collaboration of the entire cast is what makes the show work so damn well. Because Mindy's character tends, especially in earlier seasons, toward the more superficial, with passions for clothes, popular culture and brunch, most of the rest of the characters bring some level of gravitas to the show, whether it's straight man Jeremy trying to run a successful clinical practice or serious, Catholic Danny (and Mindy's love interest) trying to excel at everything from cooking to caring for his mother. Don't get me wrong, there is a pretty high level of jack-assery involved in every episode, but the characters create a balance I've rarely seen in other comedies. As the seasons have grown so have the characters, and so have the issues the show has been willing to tackle. Because it's modeled, in some aspects, after a romantic comedy, things do take some time to unfold, and I suppose that might have frustrated some viewers. I've also read criticism claiming every show isn't equally funny, but I'm not really sure how that could be achieved. What I really love about the show is how oddly true to life it can be – Mindy works in a multigenerational office that reflects a lot of current work places, with millenial ideals clashing against Gen-X ideology. There are family issues and race issues and work issues and body image issues – I defy anyone to find a show that more realistically portrays a woman's true feelings about weight gain during pregnancy – especially if she already struggles with her weight – than this one:
All of which is to say, by the time The Mindy Project returns, I have no doubt you'll find me a very loyal Hulu customer and, who knows? I might catch up on Orange is the New Black and House of Cards, for I will be streaming or downloading and attaching cords to cables while, apparently, spending even less money than I am now, which seems incredible. I guess I owe a thanks, after all, to Fox!


text:
having 3 super active sons
(sometimes makes me feel like a circus master)
being so skinny.. those who know me u know..
dealing with a lovely yet childish hubby :P
being the so called smallest big sista in the family
working in a giant company handling over 20 people
dealing with so many types of people everyday - i can end up pulling my hair!
waking up early n sleeping super late
travelling very far and taking all the risk to get new stocks everymonth
dealing with liars, bitches etc everyday... yeah u can consider me one if u wish too aswell..hehe
having great hair loss due to counting all the budgets, earnings and sometimes lossess
and yet
i still wake up every morning
and continued doing this
you know why??? look further below
coz there are much more KIND HEARTED people out there who supports me
you guys are not just customers
but my sisters, my friends...
thank you angie for the new suprising email with the new header
i never had any time to do one
thank you for being so thoughtfull to help me out
without even needing to ask me.. you knew i need 1
(that proves how ugly my current header is .. hehe)
and of course
its for all of you who always are very passionate of opening my blog and viewing the pictures so patiently and buying it most of the time
i apologize if sometimes i am a bit lost or if ur shipment arrives late
or maybe things are not as u expected..
thank you again
God Bless The World
Earth Hour 27th March 2010 - be one!
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God's word has never been more alive and relevant. The name of the study is A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling place.
I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in drawing closer to God. I needed a thank you card for the husband of my growth group leader. He's provided our group with the most amazing pastries and coffee cakes for our 10 week class.
I turned to my favorite place for a sketch: Mojo Monday
Here's the sketch:
Here's my card.
I combined paper from Haberdash and colorbok. Needed it to look manly. Love how it turned out.
BIG thanks & hugs to Michael for providing delicious items for the ladies every week. BIGGER thanks to our leader Jeannine! It's been a fabulous 10 weeks.


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LOVE this idea. I actually found this a while back and could not remember where I saw it - then I lost it! So glad I found it again - might have guessed it was Martha's people.
Paper gift topper from the crafts dept. of Martha Stewart
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Paper Gift Topper
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text:
Only one woman holds the key to ending a Blood Knight's eternal life…
Immortal Kellan Ladd has spent centuries looking for the one woman who can put an end to his immortality. But that woman has no idea of her monumental task. Or how much this rebel knight's attraction to her will complicate his mission.
The leather-clad, Harley-riding stranger was the sexiest man McKenna Randall had ever met. From the minute they touched, she knew they were connected. Now she's about to find out just how tightly bound they are, as they go head-to-head with a nest of deadly vampires whose intent is to keep them apart…
Unable to defend her next move, McKenna stepped closer to him. Rising on tiptoe, she ignored the throb of pain in her injured throat. "Why do you want me, specifically?"
His lips were at eye level, full and closed tight.
"Will you save me from the entire world, Blood Knight? Slay dragons on my behalf, along with more white-faced freaks? I wonder if you will save me from myself?"
She placed a light kiss on his mouth, absorbing the current that kiss produced. He didn't reach for her or devour her, though he could have. He didn't do anything at all, just stared down at her.
"Good night," McKenna said, turning from the man she almost wished would stop her, feeling his heated gaze on her backside as she limped toward the steps.
Turning her back to him was a mistake. If she had expected him to let that kiss go unchallenged, she was wrong. Seconds later, she was backed against the corner of the building with his body pressed to hers.
"You're making this hard," he said.
"Then do something about it."
She watched him blink. She could see his eyes very clearly in the night, despite the lack of light. His bronzed face smoothed to a perfect rendition of managed calmness that McKenna easily saw through. He was fighting to keep from taking what he wanted. In another minute, he'd give in.
She held the gun in her right hand and was ready to use it.
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom is an award-winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance novels and novellas, with books published by Kensington Brava, Amazon Montlake, Harlequin Nocturne, Harlequin Desire, and GothicScapes.
Linda lives in the west, and is a teacher by day and a writer by night. She loves more than anything to write, and hopes you will come along on the wild, wonderful ride with her.
Commenters: There are immortals, and then there are immortals…share your favorite kind of immortal hero—vampire, viking god, fallen angel—in comments for a chance to win an e-copy of Immortal Redeemed. Good luck!


text:
Not much to tell about this day, except that it's nice to be settled in, and I didn't smoke all day. My friends get here and it's good to see some people I really know. We start the SNR, here's a picture of the room before the people fill it.
Here's our bathroom. (With Bidet) Once in France, at my brother-in-law's family's house, one of my parents' friends kept washing his feet in the Bidet!
It's kind of strange here, little things. The key is one of those cards and you have to put it in the wall to activate your room, e.g., have the lights turned on, the t.v., and outlets work.
We've also got a heated swimming pool and sauna, which we fully intend to take advantage of each and every day here.


text:
Anyone wants to try their hand @ hanging @ some of these joints with me, give me a holler. I'll warn you, though, it can seem foreboding @ best. You'll get the old movie greeting when you walk in, especially with a longhaired cat like me. But you see, I have this weird skill. As rednecky as they get, and many wouldn't believe it, but a lot of these NE Queens bars get VERY rednecky, someone always buys me a drink. I remember sitting next to an ex-marine in Bayside, his huge brown arms tattooed with the 2nd amendment, explaining how all the illegal immigrants should be executed. Or the guy in Whitestone, ranting and hollering angrily about Obama, how he wasn't born here (he was born in the same hospital, delivered by the same nurse, as I was). In both these cases, these guys were angry and either brooding or spouting when I walked in, but within 10 minutes of initiating conversation with them, they were buying me drinks. My views tend to be, shall we say, different from theirs. I thought it was something I said after I walked in. But then I walked into a joint on Francis Lewis, with a sticker that says something like "Go to work today. Some welfare recipient is counting on you." Before I could say a fucking word, the loudmouth Italian guy insists on buying me rounds. I have long hair. I look like what many of them consider a hippie. I've tried to figure out why this keeps happening. My best answers are: 1) I'm drinking during the daytime. This is a lost art (one I don't get to practice much lately) but a very spiritual one. The perspective you get from a day buzz is quite different from a night one, when EVERYONE is doing it. 2) I can drink. Any explanation here will sound like bragging for what is in reality pure alcoholism. Fuck it, I love the stuff. 3) I'm a great listener. It's not, as they say, rocket science. Directions for achieving this state? A) Shut the Fuck Up! B) Don't just look engaged, BE engaged. So maybe he/she is a psycho. You'll have some great stories, right? 4) Be Comfortable. I think this is the one that really matters. I love dives, I love drinking in the daytime when I can physically, financially and spiritually afford it, and no matter who is in there I feel @ home with a beer/shot/cocktail/whatever in front of me. I think that's the kicker. Isn't that the science behind the handshake? Let the other person know you bear no weapons, i.e., you're comfortable being around them? We have different ways of expressing our comfort these days, but the sentiment is the same. So on I go. Hey, I hear some crazy shit, but they make for great stories and they just keep buying me drinks!
Tag Archives: philosophy
Precious Fluids
We drink. We live. We fear the end, lamenting the quickness of the passage of time, yet bitch about every petty moment as it goes by. We came from a place very far from here, a corner of the US many don't realize is actually part of it, and now dwell in corner of it's largest city, where "daily grind" is a gross understatement. These folks live to grind, and know precious little else. The fluids help. They give us a momentary respite from our most grievous sin of taking ourselves seriously. They help us to just take it all in, and smile and nod.
Almost 80 years after Volstead's repeal, we've made a few baby steps back and forth. Our relationship with ourselves is as tenuous and ever. And as much as we love the effect of "taking the edge off" and "letting our hair down", the personal face time can be heavy for us.
But we keep walking, breathing, drinking, hanging. And the stories of life unfold. Great stories.


text:
I had imagined what it would be like to spend an evening with the most genuine, interesting, adored-by-everyone, and seemingly unattainable man I had ever met. I dreamed for six months. He had asked me out nine days prior to our date, and the wait was finally over.
When we spoke on the phone earlier that morning, all nerves left me. I was bubbling over with excitement!
At 7pm, we were ready to go. I hardly remember eating my salmon at Boscos. We sat and talked for four hours in that restaurant, trying to play it cool and not revealing how elated we both were to be with each other. He "missed" the turn back to the Pace's house so we could have an extra three minutes together.
Forty-five days later, I had a ring on my finger. Now, we are about celebrate six months of marriage.
I never dreamed that I would ever love someone so much, and it's crazy to think about how much that love grows every day.
So here's to the man who finishes my sentences, takes care of the two of us, is handy beyond belief, knows about everything, eats the good and bad food I make, and brightens my days.
I'm still starry-eyed.


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We do not live in a vacuum. We do not live in a bubble. What the rest of the planet thinks matters, and they are often right with the difference in perspective.
It should disturb us not only that this horrible person is a presidential candidate, but rather we should be horrified at the Americans who support bad people like Trump.


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1. No matter what blackbird says, I was not that drunk. It is perfectly normal to discuss the pros and cons of circumcision. At the top of your voice. At 1:00 a.m.
2. They've been announcing sponsors/freebies for about an hour. But where are the vibrators?
3. I think we killed twitter.


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Addicted to steel
Hello, my name is Rob and I have an addiction… to shooting steel targets. Some of the most fun I ever have on the range is ringing steel targets. There is just something about that sound that never ceases to put a grin on my face.
One of the biggest advantages to shooting steel is it helps me remember that there is such a thing as "good enough." When shooting at paper I'm always striving for a better grouping. I know that I will never be satisfied with my grouping, no matter how small of a ragged hole I make in the target. Steel can really help my ignore the grouping and just shoot the target. I especially like it for working on drawing from the holster and firing.
I got my first experience with shooting steel targets while visiting my dad in Phoenix. He had gotten a hold of some 3/8″ steel cutouts that were 2″ squares and looked like they would be perfect for spinner targets. A little time with some paper and pencil, a trip to Home Depot, some time welding and we had a homemade steel spinner target.
We took it out to the desert and started shooting it at ~15 yards with .22LR, 9mm, .40SW, and .45ACP. We had no issues what so ever. The targets reacted great, sounded better, and showed no damage at all. Later we moved back to almost 50 yards (if I remembered my pace count correctly) and took some shots with my 1911. I won't lie and say I spun the targets every shot but when I did it was amazing. *BOOM* slight pause *TING*
After a while we couldn't resist and just had to try shooting it with my AR just to see what would happen. I have a 16″ AR and was shooting XM193. We shot from the same position ~50 yards out. I carefully squeezed off one shot and saw the target spin. We walked up and found a good sized hole in the target. It was actually kind of interesting to look at. The hole was big enough to pass a piece of .223 brass through and was blown out on both sides. Guess I won't be doing that again. I ended up leaving that target with my dad so he could have some more fun with it.
More recently my wife and daughter got me a Birchwod-Casey steel resetting target for .22LR. It has 4 hanging circles that are 2.5″ in diameter and then a fifth circle on top that will reset the lower 4 targets after they have been hit. Little did my wife know the only .22LR I have is a Remington 416 which is a single shot bolt action. Not the best thing to use on multiple steel targets. Now I have a good excuse to buy a Ruger 10/22, I can use it on my new target and also have something for my daughter to learn on. One of my favorite things about this target is the fact that it has fold out legs and you don't have to stake it to the ground. Here on the ragged edge of civilization we call Fairbanks the ground is still frozen and hammering in any kind of stake is damn near impossible.
Now I'm looking into getting at least one good steel target for centerfire pistols and maybe even my AR. Right now I'm looking hard at MGM Targets from Mike Gibson. I have heard lots of good things about them. Daniel Shaw from the Gunfighter Cast has one and loves it. He even runs monthly specials and you can even get a 10% discount from them if you order your target unpainted.
So do we have any others out there ready to step out and admit their addiction?
Keep up the good fight


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Imagine a situation in which after toiling hard you succeed to secure admission in a university of repute for your education in a medical field. This university has published many papers and books which have revolutionized medical science and had prompted you to apply here. To your chagrin on the very first day you are informed that although the university would provide you with the necessary books there would not be any professor to guide or teach you. How would you feel? Would not you feel cheated? You might not think very highly about the university any more. Let us relate this example in understanding Quran.
In the form of Quran, Allah (SWT) has given us the best and a flawless guidance. Quran is pure and full of wisdom and we have been instructed to contemplate and ponder upon its verses so that we can remain steadfast on the path Allah (SWT) has shown us. But is it possible that without anyone guiding us, we are capable enough to understand Quran and acquire knowledge and wisdom on our own by its mere recitation? The answer would be clearly in the negative. Then would it be fair to think that Allah (SWT) did not create anyone to guide us in understanding Quran in the right perspective?
è Even in order to acquire simple worldly knowledge, we seek the help of a guide. A person pursuing his Ph.D cannot succeed without a knowledgeable guide of his chosen field of research helping him achieve his doctorate. Then how can we expect to understand everything about Islam and its philosophy only by reciting Quran without a guide? Let us make an effort to contemplate in this direction.
We begin with the following ayah, in which Allah (SWT) says that though He quotes simple easy to understand examples; His words are understood by the few learned ones only.
وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَا إِلَّا الْعَالِمُونَ
"(And (as for) these examples, We set them forth for men, and none understand them but the learned)" (Surah-e-Ankabut, ayah 43)
This proves the presence of a few learned men who have a better understanding of Quran than the rest of the mankind. And in the following ayah Allah (SWT) says about Quran:
إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ فِي كِتَابٍ مَّكْنُونٍ لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ
"(Most surely it is an honored Quran. In a book that is protected. None shall touch it save the purified ones.)" (Surah-e-Waq'ia, ayah 77-79)
The above ayahs claim that the Quran is the most honoured scripture which none shall touch but the purified ones. But in Surah-e-Insan (Surah-e-Dahr, no. 76, ayah 2), Allah says that He created mankind from a 'nutfa' (drop of mingled sperm) – an impure substance, it means that a man by birth is not a purified one. And we are instructed to recite Quran and contemplate on the verses and for doing this we 'touch' the book regularly, which is against the claim of above ayahs. Hence the word 'touch' in the above ayah does not hold a literal meaning but it implies that none shall 'grasp' the true meaning except the purified ones.
è Thus the result we might get from the above is that Allah (SWT) has created chosen people who are the true inheritors of Quranic wisdom and knowledge. They are learned and wise and they are pure and flawless like the Quran and thus complement Quran in every aspect.
Let us see the following ayah from Surah-e-Yusuf now:
نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاءُ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ
– (Surah-e-Yusuf, ayah 76)
"(We raise the status of whom We please. Over every man of knowledge there is one more knowing.)"
In the ayah from (Surah-e-Ankabut, ayah 43), which we have already discussed in the previous section, Allah (SWT) has indicated the presence of a few learned people who understand His (SWT) words. The above ayah says that above every man of knowledge there is one more knowing. Thus above every learned man there is one more learned man with a better knowledge than the one below him. The ayah also says that of such learned people Allah (SWT) raises the status of whomsoever He wishes. This chain of learned people would end somewhere and the last name would be that of the most knowledgeable one who has achieved highest status.
Let us understand the above mentioned chain of learned people in the light of the example of the birth of mankind from Adam (as) - the father of mankind created by Allah (SWT) without parents. It is through his loins that mankind developed through a series of father and son. So above every father, there is one more father till this chain reaches Adam (as) at the end. In the same way there is a learned man and above him there is one more learned man with better knowledge. At the end of the chain there would be a most learned man bestowed upon by the knowledge by Allah (SWT) Himself.
In order to further discuss this point let us see the following ayah from Surah-e-Ra'ad:
وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًا قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِاللَّـهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِندَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ
(Surah-e-Ra'ad, ayah 43)
("Yet those who are disbelievers say: "You are not the apostle sent (by God)." Tell them: God is sufficient as witness between me and you, and he who has knowledge of the Book.")
The above ayah instructs the holy Prophet (SAWW) that if the disbelievers don't accept him (SAWW) as prophet, he should tell them that as a witness to his prophethood, Allah (SWT) is sufficient and along with Him (SWT), a person who has the knowledge of the book is sufficient.
Thus Allah (SWT) has appointed His trusted witness to the Prophethood of the holy Prophet (SAWW) and empowered him with the knowledge of His (SWT)'s book. And made him the most knowledgeable person in the learned-more learned chain.
As per the Islamic scholars and historians the witness mentioned in the above ayah with the complete knowledge of the book is Mawla Ali (as). (Ref: Tafseer-e-Suyuti, Vol 4, P 69, Ahteyaj-e-Tabresi, Tafseer-e-Ayashi)
The holy Prophet (SAWW) has further endorsed Mawla Ali (as)'s knowledge and his understanding of Quran in the following words:
· "The Holy Quran has outward and inward meanings and Ali Ibne Abi Talib has the knowledge of both. (Ref: HilyatulAwaliya, Abu Nu'aym, vol 1 P 65)
During his lifetime Mawla Ali (as) had often spoken about his own knowledge and prompted his people to ask him whatever they wished to know till the time he was amongst them. Historians have mentioned Mawla Ali (as) claiming from the pulpit by uttering the words of 'Salooni': ask me whatever you wish before I am no more among you". (Ref: Sawaiq-e-Mohriqa, Ibn-e-Hajar).
· About his knowledge on Quran he has said that: "Ask me about the Book of Allah, because there is no ayah but that I know whether it was revealed at night or in daytime, on the plain or in the mountain." (Ref: History of Khailfa who took the right way, JalaluddinSuyuti, P 194)
è Having mentioned this it can be stated that Mawla Ali (as) is the most knowledgable man created by Allah (SWT) besides the holy Prophet (pbuh) and bestowed upon by Divine Knowledge and Unique Status. The chain of learned-more learned mentioned in the ayah (Surah-e-Yusuf, ayah 76) ends with Mawla Ali (as). Nahjulbalagha is a collection of his teachings, letters and sermons which remains a guiding force for many of his followers. It is not only appreciated by Muslims but has been well received and appreciated by people from different religions worldover.
Going back to the first section in which we discussed the ayah from Surah-e-Waq'ia,( 77-79), which said that only the purified ones can touch the Quran, let us now try to see who are the purified ones? Can a devout Muslim who prays regularly, avoids sins as far as possible and sleeps at night in the state of ablution claim that he is amongst the purified ones? Our answer lies in the following ayah from the holy Quran:
· "(Ae Rasool (SAWW)) kya tum ne unn logon ke haal per nazar nahin ki jo aap bade paak bante hain (magar usse kya hota hai) balke Khuda jise chahta hai paak banata hai." – (Surah-e-Nisa, ayah 49)
"(Have you not seen those who consider themselves pure? It is indeed God who purifies whoever He pleases)"
Allah (SWT) has created mankind from the impure substance – nutfa and hence any claim of purification by a man is wrong unless it is Allah (SWT)'s Wish as confirmed in the above ayah. While in the following ayah Allah (SWT) has addressed those people whom He (SWT) has purified through thorough purification.
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّـهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
(Surah-e-Ahzab, ayah 33 (
"(Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying)"
These people of the House are the purified ones who can 'touch' the Quran and complement it. They are the learned ones who grasp the true meaning of Divine Words and are our true guides.
They are none other than 'Ahlulbait' – the people of the household of our beloved Prophet (SAWW) i.e. the holy Prophet (SAWW) himself, Imam Ali (as), Lady Fatema (sa), Imam Hasan (as), Imam Hussain (as) and rest of the 9 Imams from the lineage of Imam Hussain (as).
The holy Prophet (SAWW) has endorsed their leadership in the following hadith called hadith-e-Saqlain. As per the hadith their status is similar to Quran in our lives and they are the appointed guide and leaders for us to be followed:
· "قام رسول الله يوما فينا خطيبا بماء يدعى خما بين مكة والمدينة ، فحمد الله وأثنى عليه ، ووعظ وذكر ، ثم قال: أما بعد ، ألا أيها الناس ، فإنما أنا بشر ، يوشك أن يأتي رسول ربي فأجيب ، وأنا تارك فيكم ثقلين ، أولهما: كتاب الله ، فيه الهدى والنور ، فخذوا بكتاب الله ، واستمسكوا به ، فحث على كتاب الله ورغب فيه ، ثم قال: وأهل بيتي ، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي ، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي"
Someday (after his last pilgrimage) the Messenger of Allah (S) stood to give us a speech beside a pond which is known as Khum (Ghadir Khum) which is located between Mecca and Medina. Then he praised Allah and remembered Him, and then said: "O' people! Behold! It seems the time approached when I shall be called away (by Allah) and I shall answer that call. Behold! I am leaving for you two precious things. First of them is the book of Allah in which there is light and guidance...The other one is my Ahlul-Bayt. I remind you in the name of Allah about my Ahlul-Bayt. I remind you in the name of Allah about my Ahlul-Bayt. I remind you in the name of Allah about my Ahlul-Bayt. (three times)."
(Ref: Sahih Muslim, Chapter of the virtues of the companions, section of the virtues of 'Ali, 1980 Edition Pub. in Saudi Arabia, Arabic version, v 4, p1873, Tradition #36., Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad and more)
As can be seen in the above hadith that the holy Prophet (pbuh&p) repeated thrice about the Ahlubait while he mentioned the book only once. This shows their status and importance in Islam and in our lives.
The above hadith is mentioned in various books with the similar message. One of the same is mentioned below:
- "I will soon be called away and will have to depart from you, but I leave amongst you two weighty things; the book of the High and Mighty Allah and my progeny. The Book of Allah is like a rope which extends from the heavens to the earth, and my progeny are the people of my house (Ahl-ul-bait). The Subtle and Aware (Allah) tells me that the two shall never part from each other until they come to me at the Pool. So, take care how you treat them after me."
It is well-recorded by Imam Ahmed (Ibn-e-Hambal) from the tradition related by Abu Sa'eed-al-Khudri in (Musnad, Ahmed Ibn-e-Hambal, Part 3, P 26.) and also recorded by Ibn-e-Abi Shaiba, Abu Ya'li and Ibn-e-S'ad from Abu Saeed (Kanz-ul-Ummal, Part 1, P 47).
The same tradition is also mentioned in the books of prominent Islamic historians and commentators. (Ref: Tirmizi, 5:328, Nisai 96:79, Ibn Atiyyah 1:34, Ibn-e-Hajar P 89)
And Mawla Ali (as) says about the leadership, knowledge and wisdom of Ahlulbait in the following sermons in Nah-jul-balagha that:
· Look at the people of the Prophet's family. Adhere to their direction. Follow their footsteps because they would never let you out of guidance, and never throw you into destruction. If they sit down, you sit down, and if they rise up you rise up. Do not go ahead of them, as you would thereby go astray and do not lag behind of them as you would thereby be ruined. (Ref: Sermon 96, Nah julBalagha)
· By Allah, I have knowledge of the conveyance of messages, fulfillment of promises and of entire expressions. We the people of the house (of the Prophet - Ahlu'l-bayt) possess the doors of wisdom and light of governance. Beware that the paths of religion are one and its highways are straight. He who follows them achieves (the aim) and secures (the objective). And he who stood away from it went astray and incurred repentance. (Ref: Sermon 119, Nah julBalagha)
It is because of all these virtues and profound knowledge of our beloved Imam Ali (as) that the holy Prophet (SAWW) said:
"I am
the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate;
so whoever desires knowledge, let him enter the gate."
(Ana madinatu'l-ilmwa Ali babuha; Fa-man arada'l-ilmfal-yatil-bab).
(Ref: Nisaburi, Mustadrak, p. 929, no. 4694 cited in Reza Shah-Kazemi – Justice and Remembrance – Introducing the Spirituality of Imam Ali.)
è Thus we may conclude that the few learned ones who understands Allah (SWT)'s words as mentioned in the ayah 43 of Surah-e-Ankabut, and the purified ones who can grasp the true meaning of Quran as mentioned in the ayahs 77-79 of Surah-e-Wa'qia are the Ahlulbait of the holy Prophet (pbuh & p). They are the door to the wisdom and knowledge of our beloved Prophet (SAWW). They are infallible and have been kept away from all kind of filth. Their status is similar to that of the holy Quran in our lives and they are the true inheritors of Quranic wisdom and knowledge. They complement the book in purity and flawlessness and make us understand Allah's words. They are the true leaders for us and if we follow them we remain guided and become worthy of salvation and hence let us pray to Almighty Allah that may He keep us guided on the path shown by them and increase our love and devotion for them. Aamin.


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Knowing Waugh, he was probably being a wee bit ironic. Yet he did write "a very beautiful book."
On March 13, 1944, Evelyn Waugh informed his friend Lady Dorothy Lygon: "I am writing a very beautiful book, to bring tears, about very rich people, beautiful, high born people who live in palaces and have no troubles except what they make themselves and those are mainly the demons of sex and drink which after all are easy to bear as troubles go nowadays". This book would be published the following year as Brideshead Revisited, and would portray a family not unlike the Lygons of Madresfield Court in Worcestershire, who were indeed rich, (mostly) beautiful, high born and had more than their fair share of troubles with sex and drink, which they in fact found quite hard to bear. Paula Byrne's object in writing Mad World was "to find the hidden key to Waugh's great novel, to unlock for the first time the full extent to which Brideshead encodes and subtly transforms the author's own experience".


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Veronica Roth
Harper Collins Children's, 2012 (2011)
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Before picking up Divergent, I didn't know much about it, apart from the fact that I might be one of the only people left around here who hasn't read it yet. Luckily for me, the other members of the CatchUpClub were in the same boat, and for October we chose Divergent as our next book.
I haven't read much great dystopian fiction in a while. (I have, sadly, read some less-great dystopian fiction lately.) So I was a little bit apprehensive about picking up Divergent. I started reading on my commute to work, at which point I realised that I was going to miss my stop if I didn't put it down. Roth has created a pretty bleak world, where humans live in one of five factions (Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless or Erudite) according to their dominant traits and the choice they make when they are 16. In a world that is factioned up to the hilt, if you don't survive initiation, you become factionless, which in layman's terms pretty much sucks balls.
Tris (formerly Beatrice) has always felt a little bit out of place in selfless Abnegation, so when her chance comes she ends up picking Dauntless, where bravery and courage are the name of the game. (The moment when her brother makes his choice was unexpected and a little bit wrenching, I have to say.) The rest of the book focuses on Tris' attempts to survive initiation (which is pretty brutal, by all accounts, and what happened to Edward stood out as particularly gruesome), make friends with her fellow initiates, deal with her guilt over her family, and have a minor brainmelt every time Four walks past.
(I don't know if 'brainmelt' is the technical term, but it's a word my friends and I developed when we were at uni, and it's kind of stuck.)
To be fair, Four might be the hottest boy in YA this year (or whatever year I should have been reading Divergent). Part of the 'holy crap' at the beginning of this review was totally for him. He and Tris dance around each other for most of the book, but Roth did a great job of developing their relationship and, particularly, Tris' confused, brainmelty feelings.
The building action at the end (and Roth is apparently not afraid of killing of characters at the drop of a hat) hints at what is to come in the rest of the series, and Insurgent is definitely on my reading list for the not-too-distant future...
Overall rating: 8/10
Book source: Borrowed from the library.


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Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first OregonLive.com user to add photos or videos of Mamma Mia Gelateria
Why oh why did u leave Jacksonville!?
Creamy, yummy goodness...best gelato I've had outside of Italy!
Mamma MIA Gelateria is located at 42 S Central Ave, Medford, OR..


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Color Me Mad: How Colors Impact Productivity and Mood
Your favorite color might not be the best choice for the paint in your home office. Research shows that certain colors are capable of boosting productivity and mood, while other colors have more of a negative impact on disposition. Read on to learn more about how different hues send different cues to your brain and how that affects your every day.


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An Open Letter to this guy on the Red Line:
I know, I get it, you're an asshole. You felt the need to sit next to me, to lean into me, to turn and repeatedly shove your backpack into my face. But thank you, because otherwise I would not have seen (and snapped a quick pic of) your *really* stupid Scarface-inspired jacket. Let's just say that just because you may like to watch MTV Cribs or find some sort of parallel between your life and that of Tony Montana does not give you the fashion license to "represent" the gang life with a painfully horrible embroidered jacket with Al Pacino's face staring me down as you talk to your baby mama about "all those young girls in class you think they all that," among other fabulous topics. And yes, when I knee your backpack and you turn and look at me, and I look you down, too, that means get straightened up.
Friday, November 21, 2008
An Open Letter to the guy who is not Tony Montana
2 comments:
- G Michael Guy said...
"get straighten up" right back atcha! lol. that part really made me crack up. I'd like to see that face to face! btw, I think its funny that to leave this comment right now I have to type the word "expooti" to verify I am not a bot. that's going to be my word for the day--expooti and if people don't like I'll tell them to get straighten up!
- November 21, 2008 at 9:35 AM
- Local Spice said...
Straightened up, yes. This fella was unbelievable. And I was sitting there 1st, so I didn't walk into the situation. And I'm a daily T-rider, so I've seen my fair share of crap go down on the trains, but I found a peculiar level of entertainment when I saw this guys fancy pancy jacket.
- November 21, 2008 at 9:40 AM
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On March 11, an 8.9 earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan near the city of Sendai. It is the most powerful earthquake they ever experienced. Artists Help Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Fund is responding to the immediate needs of survivors as well as short-term to long-term recovery projects undertaken by the affected communities.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Artists Help Japan Events This Weekend!
1 comment:
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Tuesday, June 09, 2009
The Church of Obama
My name is the Reverend Community Organizer Jim Pestelbane and before I came in touch with the glory of Obama, I was just like one of you. Ignorant, angry, reading the bible and attached to my guns. And then I felt a thrill go up my leg and I was born again into a new man. I am here to tell you now that it can happen for you too.
A year ago I was homeless, a little violent, a little crazy. I was living on the street and stabbing people in the face over crystal meth deals. And then I got paid 20 dollars to vote six times for Barack Obama, under six different names, and I was born again into six different men, one of whom was actually a woman, two of whom were dead, and one of whom was Donald Duck. Amen. Praise be Barack.
Today the glory of Barack Obama fills every corner of my life and it can fill yours too. People ask me all the time, "Jim, How can I be touched by the grace of Obama?" The answer is simple. All you have to do is believe. And pay up. Because Barack Obama needs your money. He can't do anything without your money.
Why should I give Barack Obama my money, you might be asking yourself? Because when you give, you get. You've got to plant a seed in Barack to reap a harvest! Your union gives Barack four million dollars. You get back a fifty billion dollar giant automaker. Listen to that again. You give 4 million, you get a 50 billion dollar auto company. Plant a seed, reap a harvest.
Citigroup gave Obama a mere 1.5 million dollars, and got back 45 billion dollars. Praise Barack. AIG gave only a 100,000 dollars. Only a 100 grand folks. And what did they get back? A whopping 85 billion dollars! Now that's what planting a seed in Barack can do for you, folks. An % 850,000 return. Now no bank on earth can offer you that kind of return. Only the Bank of Barack.
Do you have your eye on a great American corporation? Barack can nationalize it and give it to you too! Do you covet your neighbor's house but can't even pay your own mortgage? Put your trust in Barack, and your mortgage money, and he will raise taxes to take away your neighbor's home and give it to you. What about his wife? Well we're working on that one, sir.
Things like that are happening all around us, but you've got to act fast. Barack has got to know that he can count on you. Because remember, America's assets are finite and they're going fast. If you don't grab your share, someone else will, and then you're gonna be left holding the bag. Remember if you're not getting from Barack, then you're giving to those who are. Because Barack isn't giving away his money, he's giving away your money.
I see miracles all around me from people who were touched by Barack's glory. I saw Barack Obama shake the hand of a perfectly healthy man at a campaign rally. Today that man is on disability for being too fat to work. I saw Barack Obama wave at a rally to a woman who could see just fine. Then she fainted from the heat, got trampled, sued the city that the rally was held in and took home 80 million dollars. That's 80 million dollars, all through the glory of Barack. Amen.
That's right folks, I've seen people who were perfectly healthy be touched by the sickening power of Barack, and be rendered completely helpless and completely well off. With the power of Barack on your side, even if you can't afford to give 10 or 20 million dollars, you can still lie in bed all day and get money from the government.
Let me tell you what Barack Obama can do for you. Do you want to sit home all day while other people work? Do you want to laugh at your neighbor who goes to work every day, while you sit and watch Mexican wrestling, and take home half his paycheck anyway? Believe in Barack and he can make it happen for you too.
Barack Obama wants your love, but more than he wants your money. And whatever you give him, he will repay from the bountiful infinite coffers of the government. I tell everybody, "This is truly a golden age we're living in." The labor of nine generations of Americans is being carved up and their wealth redistributed to the followers of Barack, Praise his Unspoken Middle Name. This is an opportunity that can never be repeated, because once all that wealth is gone, it's never coming back. Not under socialism, it ain't. So grab it now before it's all gone.
Bow your head to Barack and to his teleprompter, to his dead racist white grandmother and his two fathers, to St Jeremiah of Chicago and St. Pfleger of the White Hood, to Bomber Bill and all of Barack's retinue of saints. Forget your old faith, it's time to join the church of Obama. Bow your head and repeat with me, "Hope. Change. Yes we can. Yes we can. Yes we can."
Yes we can, take all your money and freedom away in the name of Barack. Amen.
13 comments:
- doris said...
If this were not so sadly and surrealistically true, I would laugh.
- 10/6/09
- Jack Dwyer said...
Aymen, brother, aymen!!!
You know, Sultan, sometimes I think you should have been a baptist...!
That drawing of Obama makes him look like one of those evil Goa'uld aliens in Stargate. Say, you don't think...?!
- 10/6/09
- Keli Ata said...
ROFL! Love it!
An Obama Bible College will probably open soon, opening the path to a franchise of Obama Bible Colleges and a national and international Obama Bible College television ministry.
All Obama all the time. 24/7.
- 10/6/09
- Anonymous said...
Isn't it unbelievable, the mania that he has generated all over the west? It's not normal to compare him to god or messiah or to have thrills going up your leg in the tv room, but in our empty of soul, superficial post modern society a speech devoid of substance but well delivered will make you the new incarnation of god. He is the Great Deceiver and when people will wake up from the trance it's going to be hell to pay, something like Germany after the war but without American money.
- 10/6/09
- Jew With A View said...
LOL LOL LOL - extremely droll, am chuckling :)
- 10/6/09
- miriam said...
It was such a battle in the black blogosphere. I remember during the voting days, Obamastans insisting that nothing bad be said about Obama vs a group of black bloggers who seemingly shouted for folks to not "drink the kool aid".
- 10/6/09
- Tidbitsof Torah said...
tooooooo funny and soooo true! Your site should be on CNN and all major networks - in fact, this site should be Obama's homepage!
- 10/6/09
- Yochana said...
Jack! You've got it!!!! There's a freaking snake in obama's gut!!! But which goa'uld is it? Anubis?
I'm also thinking he might be a one-eyed Prior!
- 10/6/09
- Keli Ata said...
Nope. He's Dr. Smith from Lost in Space who had an uncanny knack for appearing both evil and vulnerable, the combination of which usually meant people defended and sympathized with him.
Except Major Don West.
- 11/6/09
- Following Him said...
Question ... What does the pictures of Rev. T.G. Jakes have to do with Obama? I would really like to know.
Do you know something I don't?
- 11/6/09
- Sultan Knish said...
Jakes was a close Obama supporter and spiritual adviser
- 11/6/09
- Keli Ata said...
No doubt Jakes with his success in running a mega church offered Obama tactical advice on how to run a mega church and seduce many with promises of wealth and prosperity.
- 12/6/09
- Anonymous said...
Quit beating around the bush. HE IS THE ANTI-CHRIST!!
- 12/6/09


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Sunday, July 31, 2011
you cant possibly know how close i hold you. how often i whisper "mama loves you" while you sleep. how i count the seconds between your sighs. or how i treasure every single second. you are such a blessing. it all seems too good. too wonderful. too much. more than i deserve.
you've started really looking around now - and nothing excites you more than whatever happens to be right.behind.you. you are constantly flinging yourself backwards to see farther up. farther out. and for such a small baby (well, okay - you've grown now into a definitely not-such-a-small one, I admit) you have incredible strength. where is this super power coming from?! how can you possibly be so much stronger than me? i've actually stopped holding you certain ways for fear you'll catapult yourself straight pout of my arms...
but the curiousity is unstoppable. you want to see. you want to touch. you want to be a part. if we're singing (and it happens a lot - you and I sing and dance, and you have regular "jam" sessions with your sister on her guitar, daddy on his harmonica - all of you piled on the bed) your voice raises right along with the rest of us. if there's a conversation across the room, you will strain with everything to be closer...
you are my curious monkey every day you make me thankful i have this time with you.
mama loves you, wylie bear. every second.
3 comments:
- FIFA 15 Coins said...
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- 3:08 AM, February 07, 2015
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- 3:09 AM, February 07, 2015
- Rental apartments said...
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- 5:28 AM, June 29, 2015


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The day after driving from Louisville to Texas I bumped my knee and fell to the floor sobbing.
Granted, I did bump it very hard and there is already a bruise, but I have a feeling the tears were not about the bump.
I barely slept the night before, waiting for my daughter to wake up crying in the night, sweating through my clothes and not knowing where I was.
I never sleep well the first night away from home.
Then I woke up to a very needy and moody preschooler, who was ready for the day long before the sun. And despite this wake up call, I was still managing to run late for our new preschool appointment. It is twenty degrees warmer here than the home we left and thus I have nothing to wear... nothing that isn't packed in random, unlabeled bags and rashly packed boxes.
So, it was sorting through just such a bag or box that I managed to totally abuse my knee and fall into sobs.
Up to the day of our departure I shed nary a tear. I was happy, excited about our new journey. I was confident each of my amazing friends would stay in touch and continue our friendship (and still hope). I was amazed at the opportunities already being presented for us to meet people and get SJ into school. I was too busy to bother with tears. It was obviously the Lord!
However, packing up our truck on that gray day was more sorrow-filled than I was ready for. But even then, in the hustle and bustle I only shed a few quick tears and then was forced to carry on. So, bumping that dreadfully boney knee was my first chance to let the flood gates open.
In those five minutes of tears I mourned not seeing my fellow mom friend every day as we take our daughters to the same quirky preschool class. I mourned our fabulous fridays filled with other moms and their kids and the amazing fall weather of Louisville. I mourned my home with my kitchen and my room and my stuff organized my way. I mourned our amazing community church where we had been served and served.
Then I got up, changed clothes...again, and headed out the door to begin our life for the next two months. Our life in-between two worlds. That weird blank page after the last page of your favorite novel that is between you and your next story.
Despite all the bruises, I am actually relieved to cry and let it out and admit that there is sorrow amidst the joy and excitement. I am praying we fill this blank page with meaning and memories and that there will not be a single page wasted.


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2 Minutes To Make A Difference Final Reflection
In our first and final cut we changed a lot of things in it. We added voice and we changed the music around the climax to make it more interesting.
We were unsuccessful on finding an expert because we thought that our expert would answer back and we did not ask any other expert.
My great success in this 2 minutes to make a difference was learning how to make a video. This was the first video I made.
During the movie project it frustrated me that the windows live movie maker can not have a narration and music at the same time.
The 2 minutes to make a difference project is important to grade 8 students because with this project we learn about how we can help change the world and what is happening to the world
I will make a difference in the future by taking the bus when I have free time to spare


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The second volume of the robot-themed anthology 24seven comes out this summer, and one of the pieces of promo art you see here is from a story that I wrote (betcha can't guess which one). My story is drawn by an amazing new artist named Miguel Alves. Other contributors include Ashley Wood, Gene Ha, Adam Hughes, Dave Johnson and Will Pfeiffer.
24seven Volume 2
Posted by Jason Aaron Labels: 24/seven


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adopted by Wyoming Legislature March 2010
from the book:
by Jim Owen
Just like the winds that blow through Wyoming, the thoughts posted here are varied - some a strong tirade and others merely a whisper.
I love comments!
If you are going to ask a question make sure you have your profile set to allow me to respond back by email or email me directly - my address is in upper right hand column.


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Related Articles
Asus had launched two new smartphones at CES 2017, as reported earlier, one being the Zenfone AR, and the other is Zenfone 3 Zoom. Well, these are not all that the Taiwan-based company brought about. Yes, adding on to its Zenfone series, Asus now unveils yet another smartphone namely, Zenfone Pegasus 3S.
The brand new Zenfone Pegasus 3S by Asus is said to be an upgraded version of the previously launched Zenfone Pegasus 3. The newly launched Asus smartphone comes with an upgraded design and is unique in appearance from its predecessor - Zenfone Pegasus 3. Not only that, in terms of design, the smartphone features all-metal body build along with a front fingerprint sensor placed under the oval home button. Well, the uniqueness of the device is that the fingerprint sensor can store up to five different fingerprints and also supports fingerprint payment.
Let's talk about how different is the new Asus Zenfone Pegasus 3S in terms of specs as compared to that of the Zenfone Pegasus 3. The newly launched Asus smartphone comes packed with a 5.2-inch IPS HD display with 2.5D glass cover on top along with a fingerprint sensor as mentioned above.
SEE ALSO: Asus starts Android 7.0 Nougat update roll out to ZenFone 3
Powered by a MediaTek MT6750 octa-core 64-bit processor, Zenfone Pegasus 3S runs on Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box and also comes with two storage variants - 32GB and 64GB storage capacity, which can be further expanded up to 2TB via microSD. On the connectivity front, this Zenfone model comes with Wi-Fi, VoLTE, 3G as well as high-speed 4G network support.
Besides these, in terms of camera set-up, Zenfone Pegasus 3S bears a 13MP rear camera onboard along with f/2.0 aperture and Phase Detection Autofocus capability and an 8MP front-facing camera. Asus has always been focused on providing the best camera experience and maintaining the same, Zenfone Pegasus 3S comes packed with the PixelMaster technology, which allows for intelligent shooting capability.
SEE ALSO: ASUS Unveils Two New High-end Displays with Unique Features
All these features are backed by a massive 5,000mAh high-density battery under its hood, which is said to be the highlight of the smartphone. The battery as reported is capable of achieving up to 30 days of standby time and 48 hours of intense usage. Not only that, the phone also supports 5V/2A fast charge, and comes packed with five smart power saving modes.
The Asus Zenfone Pegasus 3S 64GB is set for a price tag of Rs. 19,600 approx, and is expected to go on sale soon.


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Colby & PatrickReleased | 10 548 views
A few weeks ago, I got an e-mail from someone I hadn't seen in over a year — Colby! He had been thinking about the videos he did with us a while back and was wanting to explore some more on-camera action.
I have always liked Colby. He's a really nice guy and super easy to work with. And, he seemed more eager than ever to get fucked by a hot cock...
So, he came out a little while later and he'd definitely changed! I always love it when earlier models come back for more because it's neat to see the subtle changes in their looks and personalities. Colby was more lean and muscular than I'd seen him before, but he still had that cute, boyish face and coy smile.
Up until now, Patrick had been mostly a bottom, mainly because he's so good at it! But he wanted a chance to explore the other side, so I went ahead and gave him the chance. He's got that nice thick cock and it's always a shame when well-hung guys only bottom.
Now, to say that I was surprised with Patrick would be an understatement. His cock was rock hard the entire time and he genuinely seemed to enjoy giving Colby a good, thorough fucking!


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Thanks for all you do!
Velonda Thompson, PhD
Nutritionist * Professor * Speaker
Author of "Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Please!"
COMING Spring 2012: Beyond Candied Yams and Sweet Potato Pie
2nd Saturday Food & Film series - March 10, 2012
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This will be our permanent blog for updated information. Our previous one will serve as archive. To subscribe for updates, please CLICK HERE
Monday, January 23, 2012
Upcoming events from Author, Velonda Thompson-PhD
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October 31st. The day for ghosts and goblins, witches and warlocks, vampires and vamps. Little ones dressed as fuzzy little bunnies, pirates, and ninja turtles with their mom or dad in tow to make sure they don't have any problems. Older kids out to get as much candy as they can in the few hours before they have to be home. Then the teens who are too cool to wear a "real" costume, but instead "borrow" a few things from mom and dad's wardrobe.
They are all fantastic and I will give each and every one of them something! The wee ones will usually get 3 or 4 chocolate bars, the older ones 2 or 3, and the teens 1 or more, depending on their attitude when they come to the door. The polite ones get more.
I am not dressing up this year. I usually do but it seems that time got away from me this year and I ran out of time to put a costume together. I suppose I could work on one instead of writing this blog, but I would rather write than sew. And we have company coming for supper so I have a house to clean.
So for now, off to vacuum and wash the floors, clean the bathrooms, and tidy up. Then a bit of a nap, I think. After all, we may actually have a lot of kids daring to trick or treat at our door and I have to be ready...


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Ella is my niece. She has a smile that lights up a room. She is so pretty and cute and adorable and she will be 4 months old in just a few weeks.
Ella was born 2 weeks before Allie died. She was the first grandchild on my side of the family and she was wanted very badly. My brother and his wife waited a long time for her and are truly blessed now that she is here.
The weekend before Allie died, I went to my brother's house and Ella took a nap on my belly. My very pregnant belly. I knew these cousins were going to be so close and I was so excited for Allie to be born so the girls could grow up together and be the best of friends.
In the hospital, I did not want my brother or sister-in-law to come visit me because I wanted them to be home with their daughter. I did not want anything bad to touch them during what was surely the most exciting time in their lives. My brother did not listen and came anyway. I have two brothers and neither listened to me that weekend and I am so very glad.
From the moment we got home from the hospital, Gary and I have made a point of visiting Ella often. We need her to know that she is so loved by us. We feel the same way about Maddy who was born last November, our niece on Gary's side. These little ladies are so very special to us and we are so lucky to have them remind us that there is still good in the world.
Last night, Gary fed Ella dinner. He has done it before, but this was the first time I saw how proud he was. The last two visits, Gary has felt more comfortable with Ella and embraced her even more. When it was time for her to go to sleep, he was the one to put her down. I watched in awe - we were playing family in a way and it stung. We should be home with our baby and not here without her. But life happens and we can't control any of it. What we can do is love the ones that are here and look forward to a year or two from now when we will hopefully have a cousin for Ella to play with.
My brother asked me last night if is was hard for me to see his daughter or Maddy. I sighed, as it is such a loaded question. It's hard because my arms feel more empty than when I am at home, but it's easy as these babies make it so easy to love them.
I wear Allison's name around my neck on a necklace I ordered myself for Mother's Day. Ella grabbed onto it last night and Maddy has grabbed onto it in the past. I know babies grab whatever they can, but I think my nieces are reaching out for their cousin. To know me is to know that this is bizarre for me to say, but I really do believe it.
So yes, it's hard. What is not these days? But girls, your Aunt Sam and Uncle Gary love you so much and are excited to watch you grow. We love you more than you can know.
|Maddy and Me
|Ella and Me


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What Was Once
. . . Is No MoreLess than a mile down the road from me, the rabid clear-cutting so popular lately in Franklin County has revealed what used to be the Wright Farm. The cemetery and what's left of the house and barn are now exposed—and their remains now expose a way of life that's gone.
Only a few graves are in the little cemetery. This was the easiest to read:
I'm not sure what kin Ina J. Dudley was to the Wrights. A daughter, perhaps? The parents graves are side by side. The father's stone is leaning.
On the stone inscribed "Father," most of the information has worn smooth.
The mother's stone is only slightly more readable.
Outside the iron fence is a small plot.
Little Nelson Wright was born sometime in 1922 and died in either 1923 or 1928.
It looks like someone has been removing lumber from the farmhouse, but its framework is still visible. To the left of the farmhouse, a chimney stands. No doubt that marks the spot where the kitchen once was.
Labels: farm, Franklin County history


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Authorities say 33 people are missing after a ship heading from Madagascar to the Comoros Islands sank in the Indian Ocean Saturday.
Officials in Mayotte, a French island near the site of the wreck, say 43 people have been rescued since the Moubarak went down.
They said they did not know about the accident until a survivor was found two days after the boat sank.
The search for survivors continues.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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For some reason I've had onion soup floating around my head for the last couple of days despite never having made it, or as far as I can remember, never even having eaten it before. It might have had something to do with knowing there were a lot of onions in the cupboard that should perhaps get used up, mixed with a craving to actually cook something different for our tea rather than just accepting that we eat the same old things on a fairly short rotation.
So, I decided to give it a go. What would be the most amazing thing is if I had made this with my own onions and garlic - that's not to say I stole the ones I used obviously, just how cool would it be if I had grown them myself? Theo's quite understanding of my obsession with edible gardening although as we have recently helped ourselves to a slice of city living once again my edible gardening currently goes as far as this chilli plant rehoused from mums greenhouse (I'm not sure what it thinks of its new 'urban' view of the back of the old Debenhams building...). I am rather proud of my greenhouse chillis though which have spread themselves far and wide with one on it's way as far as Newcastle. I had around 14 plants from seeds that cost me 99p :)
They do however have nothing to do with my onion soup, which was incredibly satisfying and a judged a success even by Theo who doesn't usually like soup, well not homemade ones anyway. Thanks.
I looked at a few recipes, Delia's was hours long and most were quite fancy with the addition of alcohol of one sort or another. My cupboards didn't quite stretch to this but I would certainly make it to the same recipe again as well as experimenting with other additions.
- 1kg onions
- 1/2 a date
- 6 cloves of garlic
- 50 g vegan spread plus a bit extra for spreading
- 1.2 L vegan vegetable stock
- 1/2 tsp marmite
- 4 slices of wholemeal bread
- Enough vegan cheese to top 2 slices of bread
1. The first thing to do is thinly slice your onions.
2. Then melt the 50g of vegan spread, I used Vitalite, with 2 cloves of crushed or chopped garlic in a big saucepan.
3. Add in the onions. At first these filled the pan but they'll soon reduce down to much less than you'd think. I also added 1/2 a finely chopped date as some recipes during my browse for inspiration had added 1/2 tsp sugar at this stage to help caramelise the onions, I always prefer to use a less processed form of sugar and also just don't have any regular sugar in the cupboard!
4. Cook the onions on a medium heat for around 25 mins, stirring occasionally, until they are nice and caramelised and look golden and sticky.
5. Whilst the onions are caramelising, make the garlic croutons. These were so good, (luckily I made four so we each had one to top our soup and one to munch whilst dishing up!) and as I'm a fan of simplicity they were also very easy. They might suit some peoples preferences better if you use fancy white bread but I always prefer wholemeal and just used the sliced wholemeal I had to hand which worked a treat taste wise. Spread the slices of bread with either some vegan spread or olive oil (both sides) and then add a clove of chopped garlic on top of each slice. Cook in the oven for 25 minutes at around 180C until completely crisp and crouton-ey. Best to make at least one extra slice so you can check if they're perfect ;)
6. When the onions are caramelised add the vegetable stock, Marmite and any other seasoning you fancy and simmer for around 20 mins filling the kitchen with the most beautiful caramely onion smell and making you very hungry.
7. When the soup is done, ladel some into your bowl add a whole garlic crouton on top, top this with your favoutite vegan cheese and place under the grill for about 2 mins until the cheese starts to bubble. Then eat!
This recipe made enough for us each to have it for dinner last night avec croutons with enough left over for a light lunch today. Yum.
To end on a sugar laden confession - I did buy sugar (now all gone!) for my new cupboards last month when we first moved in in order to attempt to recreate the oversized fondant fancy cakes as seen in Tescos for Theo's birthday. It ended up as the 'lemon' variety rather than the pink strawberry I had originally planned as no red/pink vegan food colouring could be found last minute. Luckily the health food shop opposite did have vegan squirty cream for the central dome! Unfortunately only one pic was taken which doesn't quite do it justice, but it was 4 days after we had moved in and 2 after we had returned 'home' again to sell our little van (sob) so I was a bit knackered to remember to take lots of nice pics :) It was far from perfect aesthetically but it tasted amazing and even meant we visited Herbies without ordering desert for the first time ever.


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I have always loved about fruit, forage, and jam-making the way it brings me into closer contact with my geographic neighborhoods and neighbors--meeting people through the acts of sharing bounty and harvest. The last month has also taught me the sweetness of virtual neighborhoods and the ways they interconnect with these geographic ones.
Over the past month 510Fruits has been Facebook shared, list-serve posted, and written about in several online media sources and blogs. In addition to the sweet emails I have received from folks expressing appreciation for the remembrance of forage and neighborhood and home-made jam, the virtual neighborhood has actually brought me lots of contact with my geographic neighborhood as well. Neighbors I had not yet met have been emailing with offers of fruit, and Sunday I shared favorite jam recipes with one of these new neighbors as we harvested 15 pounds of plums (3 different varieties!) from his backyard trees. Now I will add plum butter, plum jam, and whole stewed plums to the 510Fruits offerings. Thanks Hans!
Here are a few of the recent articles about 510Fruits.
Thanks for sharing in the bounty both virtually and more proximally!
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Here is the golden egg to your fat loss secret...There is no secret diet, magic weight loss pill or new exercise machine. You're fat because you choose to be! Did you hear me? I will say it again..."Your Fat because you choose to be!" If you said anything but, yes then you need to punch yourself in the junk. Stop making excuses, period.
Taking off weight boils down to simple arithmetic: to lose weight, you have to put less energy in your body than your body burns up. The established way to do this is a combination of watching what you eat (to control what energy you put in) and doing exercise (to control how much you burn up).
online diet programs, weight loss calculator, easy weight loss,
Medical authorities and nutritionists say that the ideal weight loss pace is about one pound a week. This is not because the experts want you to take forever to lose the amount of weight you want to lose, but because faster weight loss is usually not sustainable. If you try to lose weight faster, chances are your body will rebel and you will end up binging on food, or you will regain the weight as soon as you've lost it and there is evidence that the way they lose weight damage their health. If you're looking to lose excess weight and maintain a healthy weight for the rest of your life, it makes sense to look at a program where you lose weight gradually and keep the weight off forever.
Instead of thinking about losing weight, think about achieving and maintaining your ideal weight. That way, you won't be deceived into thinking that losing weight is a temporary activity. Maintaining a healthy weight is, in fact, something that lasts a lifetime.


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I don't think that we're lazy. We all know someone who we could call lazy but the majority of us aren't. Lazy – adj. not inclined to work or exertion. Ok, so maybe I'm lazy on occasion but not regularly. I think the word lazy is way over-used. Our society has made it sooooo easy to be "lazy". Is it being lazy when we turn up the furnace instead of throwing another log on the fire? Is it being lazy when we open the fridge to find something to eat instead of chasing the poor hen around the yard with a hatchet so she can join us for dinner? Back in the day we, as a people, had to work so much harder just to survive. If we didn't bust butt on a daily basis we might die. Our ancestors were hard-working people (other than that darn, lazy Uncle Wilbur) so they didn't need to include an exercise routine in their lives in order to be healthy. Many of us, on the other hand, make our living sitting at a desk. We leave our desk, get in our car to drive home, sit down to dinner and then plop ourselves in front of the tv for the evening. If we don't throw exercising into our routine we're doomed.
My dear friend Sally sent me a copy of a newsletter that she received with a cover story titled Decoding Diabetes. The newsletter is called Nutrition Action Health Letter and is put out by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. This edition of the newsletter focuses on diabetes; what causes it, what happens in your body in regards to fat, insulin and what you eat, how to avoid it as well as a great article on aging and exercise. I wish I could photo-copy it and send it out to everyone I know.
Sally told me that the last article, on aging and exercise, really opened her eyes and caused her to take notice. Sally is a nurse so she obviously knows quite a bit about the human body and how it works yet even she wasn't tuned in to why it's important to move as we get older. I'm sure she knew all of this but she wasn't paying close attention. (Sally is a very intelligent woman.) It's really a great article that explains, in a simple way, how aging can increase your risk of developing diabetes. "Overeating isn't the only cause of diabetes. Aging also increases the risk, even if you're lean. But you can counter some of the consequences of aging with strength training and aerobic exercise."
As we age our muscle mass declines. "Less muscle may raise the risk of diabetes because muscle is where the body sends most of its blood sugar (glucose) to be burned or stored." Less muscle = fewer places where our bodies can burn up the sugar in our system. Makes sense.
We get fatter as we age (dammit). "As you age, you not only lose muscle, you also gain fat, especially the deep visceral fat that is linked to diabetes." Visceral fat is the fat found in the abdomen and surrounds the internal organs.
What can we do? The article recommends incorporating both aerobic and resistance training exercise into our routine. Aerobic exercise may be more helpful for weight loss but it doesn't build muscle. Strength/resistance training is all about muscle so it's easy to see why both are important. Here is what the article recommends:
- Strength training – "Shoot for 8 to 12 repetitions of 8 to 10 exercises at moderate intensity two to three times a week." Take a day off between days of strength training because you're actually damaging the muscle and it needs time to repair itself. Self-maiming at its finest.
- Aerobic exercise – at least 30 minutes of brisk walking or other aerobic exercise at least five days a week.
Phew! I'm tired just thinking about all this exercise! How will I ever fit it into my schedule? It's daunting, isn't it? The article ends by saying that "What helps the most is being active all day long. Get up and walk around. Get a treadmill in your office. Don't sit at the computer all day." That's encouraging.
I'm a huge advocate of starting out slowly. It isn't necessary to run right out and join a gym or spend $$$ on fancy exercise equipment. We also don't have to immediately begin exercising at these levels. The important thing is to start. If you aren't regularly exercising then begin by walking around the block 3 times a week. Work up to going farther and farther each week until you're walking at least 30 minutes. Not into strength training? Find one exercise you can do without putting yourself into traction and do 10 reps 3 times a week. (Search the internet for exercises. There are plenty of articles that will give you routines to try.) We're talking maybe 10 minutes here. You can spend 10 minutes to improve your health, can't you? Each week add another exercise or 2 until you're doing the recommended 8-10 exercises. Another cool tip I read somewhere is to do your reps "backwards". In other words, count DOWN instead of up. Do 10 reps, rest for 10 seconds, do 9 reps, rest, do 8 reps etc. until all you have to do is 1!
It's so important that we do this. I'm doing so much better at exercising regularly but I'm not so good at the strength training part. I hope that writing this post will encourage me to start. I can spend 10 minutes to improve my health, can you?