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Nebraska Education Department Committing SuicidePosted: September 14, 2017 Filed under: Climate Change, education | Tags: Carbon Dioxide, climate change, education, global warming, science Leave a comment
Nebraska Education Department Committing Suicide
by JBS President Emeritus John F. McManus
Living in extremely liberal Massachusetts, this writer expects (hopes?) that fellow Americans in our nation's midsection still possess enough good sense to reject leftist policies and trends. Looking over the region not close to either east or west coast lunacies, the perception is that traditional political, economic, and cultural standards haven't been jettisoned. States like Nebraska, for one, seem far enough away from the coasts to resist joining the mob and plunging off a cliff into political correctness and its ideological offshoots.
But on September 8th by a vote of 6 to 1, Nebraska's Board of Education approved new science standards that have conservatives outraged. In 2012, the education watchdog Thomas B. Fordham Foundation said of the Cornhusker state's rules for primary and secondary schooling:
The Nebraska science standards are inadequate in nearly every way. They lack sufficient depth and breadth at every grade span, and critically important areas receive woefully inadequate attention – or are completely absent…. Taken as a whole, Nebraska's science standards do not articulate nearly enough of what students need to know and be able to do.
Local civil engineer Henry W. Burke found that the 2017 Nebraska Science Standards standards are based on the failed Nebraska 2010 Science Standards. He fought unsuccessfully to alert DoE members about the deficiencies of these newly conceived standards. With bachelor and masters degrees and 45 years of experience in his field, he felt sufficiently qualified to register an opinion about the matter. He concluded that the state's Department of Education was being asked to approve standards that are "more interested in promoting global warming and climate change than providing an academic understanding of science."
After studying what was being considered by his state's education board, Burke added a further opinion: "Global warming is presented as if it was proven science, rather than political narrative. This global warming agenda permeates the Science Standards from kindergarten through high school." "These standards," stated Burke, "do not present an objective, academically-based and scientifically-based approach to the topics."
The veteran civil engineer recommended looking at his Internet posting as he addressed the matter of carbon dioxide being a significant culprit:
When it comes to global warming, raw subjectivity has replaced scientific method. Many scientists and researchers began with preconceived notions and theories and then proceeded to find ways to support them. Ideology is controlling the conclusions instead of true science. No authentic scientific data proves that there is a correlation between man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) and global warming.
Backed by numerous representatives of the state's colleges and universities Omaha World-Herald reporter Joe Dejka wrote approvingly of the decision adopting the new standards. He correctly noted that, in addition to worries about global warming, students would also be exposed to insistence that evolution is a fact, rather than what many believe it to be a widely discredited theory.
The new standards for Nebraska schools will not be reviewed for another seven years. The conclusion: Nebraska has joined the left wing in the world of education. Watch for some parents to opt out and consider homeschooling.
A great home schooling alternative is our affiliate FreedomProject Academy. Learn more about the online school today!
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Mr. McManus served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the late 1950s and joined the staff of The John Birch Society in August 1966. He has served various roles for the organization including Field Coordinator, Director of Public Affairs, and President. Mr. McManus has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs and is also author of a number of educational DVDs and books. Now President Emeritus, he continues his involvement with the Society through public speaking and writing for this blog, the JBS Bulletin, and The New American.
Al Gore's SequelPosted: July 31, 2017 Filed under: Climate Change, energy | Tags: Al Gore, Carbon Dioxide, carbon dioxide emissions, climate change, global warming, science 2 Comments
Al Gore's Sequel
by JBS President Emeritus John F. McManus
Soon to be in theaters across the nation, Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Sequel" will repeat, even add to, the apocalyptic claims shown in his 2006 film "An Inconvenient Truth." In the decade since Gore's earlier film, however, the numbers of scientific realists who counter the stance put forth by Gore and others has grown enormously. There will, therefore, be plenty of outright denials of the former vice president's fright-peddling insistence about warming and mankind's role in it.
Don't expect any apology for misinformation in this film. And don't look for details from an important report examining how data from weather stations have been doctored to buttress Gore's scares. A conservative news purveyor known as PJ Media has recently shown that temperature figures making up the Global Average Surface Temperature (GAST) have been manipulated to favor the position favored by Gore. The culprits include the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA), and the Hadley Center for Climate Prediction and Research.
Figures used to create GAST's summary conclusion do not coincide with actual temperature readings and have been dubbed "not a valid representation of reality." In fact, the year 2016 was not "the hottest year on record" as claimed by NOAA. That year produced "a below average'" number of hot days that ranked it 80th from the hottest since 1895 when recording temperatures began.
NOAA's charts and graphs portray U.S. temperature higher by 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit since the 19th century. But its own figures disproving that very claim have been altered to conform to the increased amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. CO2 is "supposed" to be a dangerous substance driving temperatures upward; however, mounting numbers of climate realists and allies in other fields point to the needed and beneficial effects of CO2. And they don't adjust temperature data to conform to their expectations regarding temperature fluctuations.
According to many climate alarmists, deniers of "inconvenient truths" are bought-and-paid-for agents of energy companies. No mention is made of the millions Al Gore and his climate allies have accumulated from government grants and green-energy subsidies. Gore alone has become a multi-millionaire.
Nor should anyone be conned into believing that any denier is a self-indicted and dangerous kook just because of the claim that "97 percent of scientists" believe the CO2 con and mankind's pernicious role in causing its increase. There's "consensus" among scientists say Gore and his allies. There isn't. But, as the late physician, researcher and author Michael Crichton stated in his 2003 Caltech lecture, "In science consensus is irrelevant…. There's no such thing as consensus science. If it's consensus, it isn't science. If it's science, it isn't consensus. Period."
There happens to be a political agenda behind all of the hoopla about climate change. The Paris Agreement President Trump refused to sign turns out to be a key step toward wealth redistribution. Former head of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Rajendra Pachauri openly pointed to that goal. Christiana Figueres, who led the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) until 2016, said the Paris Agreement provided tools to "replace capitalism." Former UNFCCC official Ottmar Edenhofer summarized, "we de facto redistribute the world's wealth by climate policy."
Climate realists, adamant deniers of the message put forth by Gore and others, are today's heroes not the enemies of mankind. That their number continues to grow is welcome news.
Are you receiving our free weekly e-newsletter? Sign up today! Be sure to also get our free Top Daily Headlines from The New American.
Mr. McManus served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the late 1950s and joined the staff of The John Birch Society in August 1966. He has served various roles for the organization including Field Coordinator, Director of Public Affairs, and President. Mr. McManus has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs and is also author of a number of educational DVDs and books. Now President Emeritus, he continues his involvement with the Society through public speaking and writing for this blog, the JBS Bulletin, and The New American
The Mushrooming Trend to Skirt the ConstitutionPosted: September 10, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Carbon Dioxide, carbon dioxide emissions, climate, climate change, Congress, constitution, Executive Order, global warming, John McManus, Kyoto Protocol, Obama, President Obama, reflexive law, soft law, The John Birch Society, United Nations 1 Comment
The Mushrooming Trend to Skirt the Constitution
by JBS President John F. McManus
Claims about global warming have been countered so effectively by a growing number of scientific skeptics that promoters of the flawed theory have abandoned use of the global warming term. They now refer only to climate change. But their goal remains the same: propagandize the public with predictions of calamites, and force a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions which they insist are heating the globe, melting polar icecaps, raising sea levels, causing weather-related catastrophes, creating droughts, and even impacting food production.
Above: William Jasper (right), from The New American, interviews Tom Harris, Executive Director of the International Climate Science Coalition, on climate change realism.
Carbon dioxide emissions, mainly from coal-fired power plants and automobiles, were targeted by the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, a United Nations agreement that the United States wisely refused to endorse. At Copenhagen in 2009, environmentalists hoped that the U.S. and other nations would sign on to a similar pact, but that gathering likewise produced nothing. Now, another UN-led try to force drastic cutbacks in carbon emissions will be held in Paris in mid-2015.
Not waiting for the Paris meeting, the Obama administration plans to add new requirements to an already existing 1992 treaty as a way to counter climate change. These will greatly stifle coal-fired energy production. Also, the Obama team will employ what is known as "reflexive law," which is not a law in the full sense of the term but the use of pressure to force acceptance of some attitude or requirement that could not be gained legally.
Environmentalists have the ear of most journalists. Their impact on the public's attitude regarding something as questionable as climate change can be considerable. It can lead to achievement of the desired goals by "naming and shaming" opponents, essentially browbeating them into compliance. The result would not be a law in the traditional sense but something called "soft law," a combination of pressure and inevitability directed at opponents. If resistance persists, far more onerous government-imposed regulations – also unconstitutional – would be forthcoming.
Obama administration personnel plan to add their "soft law" gains to an existing 1992 treaty. Changes in a treaty, of course, should require approval by two-thirds of the Senate. A New York Times article entitled "Obama Pursuing Climate Accord in Lieu of a Treaty" quoted Jake Schmidt, a National Resources Council expert, who noted that promoters of new regulations "are trying to move this as far as possible without having to reach the two-thirds threshold" required by the Senate. Will the senators allow this?
President Obama has already boldly indicated that he will unconstitutionally use his pen to create law by Executive Order. Now, his administration intends to skirt the Constitution via "reflexive law" or "soft law." He obviously doesn't like the constitutional restrictions placed on a President. Will Congress allow such conduct to continue? Will the American people continue to elect members of Congress who won't stop the drive toward total government?
Mr. Obama and his merry band of dictatorship builders have to be stopped. Blocking the plans noted above would be a good way to begin.
Contact your Senators and let them know you're opposed to reflexive law.
Mr. McManus joined the staff of The John Birch Society in August 1966 and has served various roles for the organization including Field Coordinator, Director of Public Affairs, and now President. He remains the Society's chief media representative throughout the nation and has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs. Mr. McManus is also Publisher of The New American magazine and author of a number of educational DVDs and books.
Australia Leads the Way; America Should FollowPosted: July 17, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Australia, Carbon Dioxide, Environmental Protection Agency, President Barack Obama, The John Birch Society, Tony Abbott 4 Comments
Australia Leads the Way; America Should Follow
By JBS President John F. McManus
Three years ago, the Australian government led by Prime Minster Julia Gillard bowed to the questionable claims of environmentalists and imposed a carbon tax on large companies. Any company releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere was required to fork over a hefty penalty per ton of emissions. However, on July 17, 2014, the Australian Senate followed the lead already taken by the nation's House and approved a measure repealing this onerous tax.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who succeeded Gillard in 2014, saluted the legislature's wisdom. He had campaigned for the office on a pledge to do away with the assault on carbon dioxide emissions. Repeating what he stated in his campaign, he called the now-cancelled measure a "useless destructive tax, which damaged jobs, which hurt families' cost of living, and which didn't actually help the environment." As expected, opponents of the repeal insisted that doing away with the carbon tax would adversely impede efforts to address climate change, the new label for what was formerly known as global warming.
Only a few weeks earlier here in the United States, President Obama endorsed a plan created by the Environmental Protection Agency to have states devise plans to reduce the amount of carbon emissions produced by coal-fired power plants. Approximately 40 percent of the electric power generated in the U.S. comes from burning coal. If the EPA's regulations are imposed, the effect on energy production nationwide will be enormous, and the loss of jobs by coal miners and others in coal-producing areas will be catastrophic. So, too, will jobs be lost when the cost of energy formerly generated by coal skyrockets.
Addressing the EPA plan, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) stated, "The Obama administration must think our country … can operate on windmills." Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said of the EPA's targeting of carbon dioxide emissions stated: "Never before has the federal government forced an industry to do something that is technologically impossible." He added: "If these regulations go into effect, American jobs will be lost, electricity prices will soar, and economic uncertainty will grow."
The great bugaboo targeted by environmentalists and the EPA, of course, is carbon dioxide. No one doubts that burning coal to produce energy puts the substance into the atmosphere. But when pressed to address the scientific fact that carbon dioxide is absolutely essential for plant growth and therefore a definite good, the fright peddlers seek to change the subject into claims about rising sea levels, droughts, and severe weather outbreaks – all supposedly resulting from human activity and carbon dioxide.
Australia has shown the way. Prime Minister Tony Abbott is correct about the effects of the carbon tax in his country. The same effects would be seen here. But proponents of a similarly destructive measure would have the U. S. impose its own counterproductive tax on carbon dioxide emissions. U.S. leaders don't like to admit that anything can be learned from some other country. But if enough Americans merely inform our officials what Australian officials have just done, the damage a carbon tax and the related war on coal can be avoided.


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Fri 10.7.5 -
There was a knock on the door and I went to answer it – we don't often get unexpected callers in the evening. It was our neighbours – the ones we don't talk to since their dog killed my flightless white dove, Jose. I was so amazed to see them - it was the daughter and the husband - and they had a small pot with the tiniest little bird inside it that you ever saw. I didn't pay enough attention to the details as I was so surprised to see them, but obviously they found it in their garden, or their dogs did and though normally I would've recommended putting it back for the parents to find and feed – I felt in the circumstances it wouldn't take much for the dogs to kill it so maybe it would be better off with me.
At first glance I thought it was a robin, but soon realised it was a wren, and had something wrong with one foot. I immediately put mealworms to soak and then looked for better accommodation than a dish lined with kitchen paper. I found a tiny basket and lined it with hay, and then put that into a bigger box lined with hay – that I use for baby doves sometimes.
Obviously I had no idea when it had last been fed, but had a go – feeding or trying to! – pieces of soaked chopped mealworms. It did take some and later on when it did a poop I felt like it had done something really clever!!!
You may remember just before my daughter's wedding in mid-May I had a nest of tiny baby birds to look after, and next day took them to the WildLife Aid at Leatherhead. They were even weenier than Sparky and only covered in fluff, definitely nestlings – whereas I feel Sparky is a fledgling, fluffy with proper little feathers. I know I mentioned to my online friends on Purplecoo that when I phoned to enquire I found all these babies had died, but I think I forgot to say so on this blog. So that was sad, and no doubt not the people at WildLife Aid's fault, but this time I thought I would try to look after Sparky myself. In case you are wondering, I took the following from the RSPB website:
It is legal to take in and keep most injured wild birds for the purpose of looking after them and releasing them as soon as they are fit.
(above doesnt apply to injured birds of prey)
The day light was fading but I didn't want to put the electric light on where Sparky was, as I wanted him to be governed by natural light. The conservatory had the best light and I was in there with him – he was in his tiny basket inside the box as before. I went out to get ready for bed, and when I came back he wasn't in his tiny basket..... or in the bigger box at all!!! I was immediately fearful about where he would be as I didn't want to step on him! – but soon heard him cheeping – he had obviously climbed out the basket, jumped out of the box and was down the side of the wicker tub chair that his box was on! Feisty little thing!
I went to bed about 10.30pm – in the spare room so as not to disturb Hubby if Sparky needed me in the night. The room of course was dark and my new baby was very quiet. I hoped he would survive but slept far better than when I was panicking about the nestful of babies (Bibberty, Bobberty and Boo I called them) because I had decided what will be, will be. I had set my alarm for 5.15am so I could get up to unblock my baby dove, Selfie but I was woken by loud 'feed me' cheeps at 5.07am. Well that was fine, I didn't mind!
11.7.15 - Sparky and I settled into a routine quickly – he cheeped to be fed about every 30-60 mins and ate 2/3 pieces of mealworm at each feed. Later on I went out and bought some Nature's Feast (brand name)high energy no mess 12 seed blend with added suet pellets – having read up on reputable websites about what wren's eat. If you happen to be in this situation do be careful what advice you take – I saw some dangerous rubbish on the internet about feeding baby birds – do NOT squirt water into their beaks it could cause death. This website is sensible - http://helpwildlife.co.uk/sick-or-injured-wildlife/babybirds/. So by the afternoon, Sparky was eating mealworms, a seed or two and a tiny piece of suet at each meal. When I rested in the garden and read my book, Sparky came too – in his box and I took out his tray with all his food and the tweezers etc. I needed my glasses to read my book AND to feed him – he is so tiny I just wouldn't be able to see him properly without! See him here with a £1 coin so you can see his size (or lack of it!) - and you can also see his bad foot.
|Rescued baby wren - with £1 coin
I went to see my grandson on a float at the local Big Event and took Sparky with me in the car. The car would've got too hot, and I wouldn't have liked to have left him in there for too long so I took him to my daughter's house, and popped back every hour to feed him.
Our snake has returned - or probably been somewhere the whole time, but I saw it today on the heap that it calls home, which is just behind the fence separating our garden from the river.
|Grass snake on it's heap
Sun. 12.7.15 – Sparky didn't wake me this morning, but I got up on the alarm at 5.15am to unblock Selfie. There weren't any doves or pigeons around so I will be able to set the time later tomorrow, but it may have been that the dove was rather gloomy – and anyway Selfie won't need blocking in soon really.
After I'd unblocked, fed the doves that started to arrive, including Selfie's daddy, Lucky – which is good he's an early bird so that I can make sure he gets fed, which in turn is good for Selfie! – I then went back to Sparky at about 5.35am and gently parted the folds of his nest, hoping he had made it through another night – and he had! – and was opening his mouth wide for food!
Apart from sleep, cheep, eat and poop, the only other thing he does is preen. You wouldn't think it of such a tiny little thing.
Between feeds he likes to snuggle up to the fleece in the hood lining the box and go to sleep – adorable!
In the afternoon I added another thing to his buffet – tiny little dead insects that had died in my conservatory. He found them perfectly acceptable!
Mon. 13.7.15 – Again Sparky didn't wake me up – I roused him at about 6am. His routine continues as before. He is fed more or less on demand when I am here– and if I go out, so far I have not been longer than an hour. I read in my RSPB book that wrens fledge at 15-19 days old, and then are tended by their parents for a further 9-18 days. Since he can't fly I have to assume that he is still under 19 days old, but I don't really know.
The routine of feeding him so regularly doesn't bother me but would be restrictive for many people. I am mainly here at home, and his box is next to me on the sofa where I sit with my laptop so I just stop typing or reading for a moment or two and feed him a couple of mealworms, a tiny dead fly and a tiny grain from a pair of tweezers. How do I know how much to feed? I don't! I just offer him food until he shuts his beak, and normally he just goes to sleep again! I start feeding about 6am and last feed depends on him – as the daylight goes – say about 9.30pm to 10pm latest. He puts himself to bed by snuggling deep into the corner of the box. I throw any unfinished mealworms out for the robins and blackbirds and make up a fresh batch for Sparky daily.
I plan to make a little nursery pen for him outside under the bushes, so he gets used to being outside and start to forage – but what I can make it out of I don't know.....he could slip between any normal bars. I hope to be able to eventually release him but as to the future well we will take it as it comes. His bad leg – or rather, foot, seems no better and no worse.
Tue 14.7.15 - Sparky doesn't seem to digest the little seeds/grains - they come out the same as they went in, so I am giving him less of those, but still a few. In the afternoon, he got quite perky and hopped around his box a bit, looking around. It is not ideal as he is learning about a cardboard box with an old fleece hood and some hay in it, not the outside world, but I can't really see what else I can do.
I was sent this inspirational pigeon rescue story by Hopeinparis who reads my blog and has rescued pigeons herself - the pigeon involved is called Fleetwood and how he overcame his injury is amazing - worth reading I promise you! Fleetwood's story
Cissie and Sultan are taking the new eggs more seriously than they did the first two, but Sultan still behaves like he did with Cloud - making the female do far longer on the nest than most daddy pigeons. Yesterday he didnt go on to the nest til 1pm whereas 10am would be more usual. I find it very annoying and frustrating as I like the bird in the hutch, on the nest, to be shut in safely - so I am always hanging around to see what he will do. But Cissie seems to be ok with it and we shall just have to see how it goes. If the eggs hatch it won't be til near the end of the month, but don't hold your breath - he is such a hopeless sitter and she is a PMV recoverer so what chance really have these eggs got?
My feather shop on Groovycart - called Real Birds Feathers - is doing really well, which always surprises me though I have been running it for about three years now. I started off getting the occasional order, then it crept up to about 6 a month. But now it's 19 or 20 a month, with people using the feathers for all manner of exciting projects. I always need feathers, and can't source them all myself just from my walks so if you keep birds and would like to sell their feathers - do get in touch. They don't need to be colourful feathers, all are useful. My contact details are in the shop. Click here for the Feather Shop (sell to UK only)
The little stock dove mentioned in the last blog that had obviously been caught by a hawk is doing well. I managed to take this close up of it's head - healing well.
Sparky in his box
|Baby pigeon and baby wren
15.7.15 - This morning when I took Chino out to join the flock, I gently threw her towards the lawn from the door, as is my usual habit - but somehow she had the strength in her one good wing and she flew up and away! Oh no! I wasn't sure if she landed on the roof, and couldnt see her there....so searched the over-grown flower bed and the garden......but couldnt find her......but very soon I spotted her in her usual place under the hutch. Thank goodness!
Sparky got even perkier today - he is growing up fast. I made him a playground - can you spot him in it?
He explored a bit but didn't really seem very interested.
My grand-daughter thought he was cute, until he pooped on her hand!
|Rescued baby wren on my finger
Little Sparky had a busy day as I took him to show to my grandson in the evening and then my youngest daughter, who was totally enchanted and allowed him to scramble up into her hair!
Since I've had Sparky his foot/leg seems to have got better. It's lost it's limp, crumpled appearance and is just like the other, which is all to the good.
Sparky's story and the rest of the dove blog will be continued soon!

subset: commoncrawl


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The Yale Center for Faith & Culture is pleased to announce the winners of our Theology of Joy and the Good Life Sermon Series Competition.
First Prize Winner:
Rev. Dewey Williams
Mt. Level Missionary Baptist Church, Durham, North Carolina and Central Prison, Raleigh, North Carolina
Sermon Series Title: "Joy On Death Row: A milieu for empowerment to a group marginalized in society"
Dewey Williams is the Executive Director of Mt. Level Community Haven providing outreach to Durham neighbors. He also serves Mt. Level Missionary Baptist Church giving leadership of the Prison Ministry, and the Marriage Ministry. He is an ordained Baptist Minister and pastored in Denver, Colorado for ten years.
Dewey is a graduate of Duke University Divinity School with a Master of Divinity, and a graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work. He worked in social work and mental health services for over twenty years. Dewey currently serves with two groups providing ministry in Central Prison while in addition preaching on a regular basis to men on Death Row and to men in General Population. Dewey is President of the Board of Jubilee Home, a non-profit organization providing services to men who have been released from prison.
Watch a sermon from Rev. Williams' series.
Read more about Williams' sermon series in the YDS news piece, "Preaching about joy on death row."
Runners Up:
Rev. Nikita McCalister
Bethany Free Baptist Church, Providence, Rhode Island
Sermon Series Title: "This Joy that I have"
Rev. Nikita G. McCalister is an ordained minister of the Gospel. She is the Senior Pastor of the Bethany Baptist Church in (Pawtucket, RI) and the Associate Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island. She received her B.S. (Central Michigan University), MBA (University of Detroit Mercy), and Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology. She is married to Rev. Jabulani McCalister, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (Providence, RI.). She is the proud parent of two wonderful children: Jaden McCalister and Azriel McCalister.
Rev. Dr. David Milam
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Purcellville, Virginia
Sermon Series Title: "The Way Marked by Joy"
Rev. Dr. David Milam has been the Pastor of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Purcellville, Virginia since 2005, having been ordained in 1985. He has a D. Min. from San Francisco Theological Seminary, earning the dissertation prize in 1999 for his work called "Neighbor Language." He also has earned degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, Wheaton College, and San Diego State University. He is married to Bonnie. They have three children and six grandchildren, who live too far away.
Hiking the Camino de Santiago marked one of David's great recent joys. He walked the millennium old pilgrimage route 500 miles across northern Spain with his daughter, Karen, three years ago.
He found his sermon series called "The Way Marked by Joy," to be a timely and challenging effort, especially in our challenging national climate, in which division and intimidation have pushed pastors and church to plumb the depths of our faith as a counter to the climate of broken trust. Looking to the joy that permeated the early church, he found in the Book of Acts, encouraging stories of resilient joy rising from their spiritual fellowship and energized mission.
Rev. Dr. Ian Rottenberg
Garden City Community Church, Garden City, New York
Sermon Series Title: "En (joy) ment: A Sermon Series on Living Well"
Rev. Dr. Ian Rottenberg is Teaching Pastor at Garden City Community Church on Long Island, New York. Ian graduated from Yale Divinity School prior to completing his Ph.D. in philosophy at Fordham University. His pastoral work in Garden City combines his passions for teaching, writing, and congregational ministry. He and his wife Jennifer reside in Flushing, Queens, allowing easy access for following his beloved New York Mets. The sermon series submitted for this competition was preached primarily at a unique and growing Wednesday evening worship service that Ian leads at his church.


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SIGBI Meru Women's Garden Project
Fund Raising events across the Region
SI Glamorgan Gwent Marshes
On a beautiful sunny afternoon, SI Glamorgan Gwent Marshes held a very successful 'Afternoon Tea' in Peterston Super Ely in aid of the Meru Women's Garden Project with president Elect Bobbie attending and members from other clubs. All was well until the wind rose and decided to topple one of the umbrellas! How many Soroptimists (and 1 Soroptimister) does it take take to fix an umbrella?!
SI Bridgend Coffee Morning
Earlier in July , on a rainy morning, SI Bridgend held a very successful coffee morning to raise money for the Meru Women's Garden project.


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Press Release from USDA: Each year during April, USDA amplifies its public outreach about the risks that invasive plant pests, diseases and harmful weeds pose to America's crops and forests—and how the public can prevent their spread. Invasive species threaten the health and profitability of U.S. agriculture and forestry, and scientists have estimated the cost of all invasive species – to all economic sectors – to be approximately $120 billion yearly. "Invasive species threaten the health and profitability of U.S. agriculture and forestry, and the many jobs these sectors support," said Kevin Shea, Administrator of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS helps to ensure a diverse natural ecosystem and an abundant and healthy food supply for all Americans.
With stakes this high, public awareness and action become key elements in protecting America's agricultural and natural resources. APHIS created its Hungry Pests public outreach program to empower Americans with the knowledge they need to leave these "hungry pests" behind. So APHIS is asking Americans to visit HungryPests.com to learn what invasive plant pests and diseases are in their state or threaten it. Get information about damaging pests that USDA and its partners are combatting right now, especially tree-killing pests that are beginning to emerge this spring and into the summer. Be on the lookout for the emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle, which starve trees to death by boring into them and eating their insides. Keep an eye out for the gypsy moth, whose hungry caterpillars can strip trees and bushes bare. Not all tree threats are insects; sudden oak death disease, caused by a fungus-like organism, can kill many types of trees as well as many landscape plants, such as camellias and rhododendrons. Most importantly, learn the "Seven Ways to Leave Hungry Pests Behind," such as buying firewood where you burn it, or only moving treated firewood if you must bring it with you. Start by joining the conversation on the Hungry Pests Facebook Page.


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Aitkin Growth wants 40 acres shovel-ready
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
lndustrial development is something that is sorely lacking in Aitkin County, according to Mike Hagen of Aitkin Growth, a nonprofit economic development corporation which aims to improve quality of life through job creation, economic diversification and area development.
Of the 247.5 acres of land Aitkin Growth owns in Aitkin and Spencer townships, about 40 acres is potentially suitable for future development. Since developing the land for residential use is out of Aitkin Growth's budget, the organization has shifted its focus to industrial development. "Our vision and mission is to have growth in Aitkin County," Hagen said.
Economic Development and Forest lndustry Coordinator Ross Wagner brought an idea to the table during the Oct. 24 Aitkin County Board of Commissioners meeting. A discussion regarding the possible use of the land followed to guage the board's interest in moving forward.
Although no formal request has been presented to the board yet, Wagner said essentially the request would be for the Trust for Public Land to purchase 207.5 acres of Mississippi River frontage at a market rate to be determined by the Trust for Public Land from Aitkin Growth and donate it to Aitkin County.
By accepting the donation, the county would commit to manage the property primarily for wildlife habitat and compatible outdoor recreation, including public hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing. Permanent development such as a fishing pier, paved trails or a designated campground would not be permitted. However, minor improvements such as a small parking area would be allowed.
Aitkin Growth would retain the remaining 40 acres along with its weather road frontage, public utilities and high speed internet. Even though the 40 acres are suitable for development, currently they need work such as soil testing, site survey, an environmental assessment and more, Wagner said.
Category: Lake Country Power, Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative, East Central Energy


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Hello Again! We have reached chapter 18 and the fight against the trolls is about to start, what will be the reaction of the townsfolk? will Guts and his group up to this task? who will die and who will live when all of this gets over? Let us find out!
Fightfor survival against the demonic legion
Gut´s group is in front of the mob from that eldervillager is, they are amazed by seeing the group who has an imposing person andwhat it looks like 2 witches; their impressions changed suddenly when the newsthat the witch was none other than little Schierke, adding more salt to thewound it is that the local Pastor is very opposed to this idea and in a matterof few words has convinced everyone that this is just a trick pulled by Morgan;in any case after a few words coming from Gut´s mouth, they have permission tostay in the village and pass through in quality of pilgrims.
After that the group is preparing for the upcomingattack, or rather a communication device centered on Schierke´s hair andtelepathy, that ways she will be able to communicate with them, although theywon´t be able to answer back. In any case after a little argument between the 2youngsters of the group; Isidro leaves the place all angry alongside Puck.
A little later; on the water bed of the river,Isidro was training with his sword alongside Puck; soon enough Morgan entersthe conversation and says that he was fishing; but got no luck whatsoever,still the conversations goes towards two things: the first one is a rief storyif this village, which was a popular resting spot in the past; but not anymoreand how Morgan shared his story and the reasons why he is still here. Thesecond is about Isidro´s feelings towards Guts and if he admires the man withthe giant sword, Isidro, being the prideful person he is, says that he doesn´tadmire Guts or anything, rather he is just here to steal his ability and that'sall!
After Isidro leaves, Guts appears and Morgan justsays that in truth it looks like that Kid has a big admirations towards him.
Meanwhile Schierke has detected that a point wherethey have to put a strong defense is the Church since when the Trolls attackthe people will most likely come in here, suddenly some village kids startthrowing her some stones and says that the priest has told them that witchesand trolls are equally bad, still their attacks are stopped the moment Gutsappears on the scene and after that Schierke says that as a matter of fact sheis quite angry with this quest, since this whole village are nothing; but abunch of ungrateful people; but not only that since that Church over there wasmade over the ruins of an ancient spiritual place, so she has some nasty feelingsfor the Holy see in general and their followers in particular since they havestepped on the ancient rites and also has used the fate only as a statussymbol, by making war and all of the other nasty stuff. At the same time shehas grudges against the people for how they treated her Master when she wasyoung, since she at first helped with their sick people or serving as a medium;but when the holy see came they got rid of her and obliged her to live in theforest.
It is after that speech that Guts just tells theLittle Witch (that it isn´t in any Academia) that if she feels like thatthen…She should just not do anything, screw this guys! They don´t deserve theirhelp anyway, and since that old witch is about to die anyway, then there is nopoint in continuing with this whole thing.
Of course Schierke just thinks that doing that wouldbe a something truly irresponsible and that there is no way that Guts is partof her destiny! That would be bonkers!
At the same time, Farnese is dealing with Casca andthe fact hat she doesn´t want to put the hair on her finger! Still Farnese istaking care of her and doing it. Serpico looks at the scene and it seems thathe is seeing something new in her, that she cares for other people now, somaybe this whole endeavor it is not something futile; but rather something thatit is changing Farnese, and for good. Still… Serpico wonders what he is goodfor then? Since in all of the years he has knowing her she never changed, orrather even changed at times for the worse.
The sky turned gray… The time has come and theTrolls are coming. Quickly the group redirects to the Church while at the sametime the villagers starts running towards that place!
The attack of the Trolls starts and Serpico is thefirst one to enter the actions! He uses his sword; but it has little to noeffect until he remembers that he has to "see" the wind spirits, after doingthat the sword has a lot of effect! So much that it cuts his enemies likebutter and in big quantities! His cape for his part protects him fromprojectile attacks!
Isidro, for his part tried to attack a troll only torealize that they are never alone so he just throws some of thoseberries/balls/whatever and it makes their work to stop them for a second! Still there is no other way than running!
At the front of the Church, Casca falls and Farnesetries to protect her using her body, something that Serpico never have imaginedto see. All in all he defeats the Trolls; but besides such thing there wassomething happening, and it is that the enemy just stopped, like freeze whenthey were near Casca.
Now it is time for Guts to enter the action and hestarts killing the Trolls using his giant sword! Opening an opportunity for therest of his group to enter the church alongside the other villagers…
…What they found in there wasn´t hopeful and thehorror soon covered the minds of the townsfolk since…
The trolls where already in; Meanwhile Kierschewonders about Gut´s weapon and she starts making some enchantments in order to protect everyone, even though thePriest, like any caricature, comes in and tries to stop her because reasons… Goodluck to her that Farnese and Casca appeared and stopped him, although theTrolls started climbing the church. On Farnese´s part, she got immobilizedafter hearing the reasons of the Pastor since…those where the same ones shesaid when she was in the Holy iron Chain…So she can´t do much.
Back at the battle Guts decides to guard theentrance while Serpico and Isidro goes inside and handle things there! At thesame time the Trolls are already with Kiersche, the priest and company; whenthey were about to attack Casca they suddenly stopped, a chance that Farnesetakes to take on the enemy. At the same time Isidro is having a bad timedealing with these monsters and would have died if not because Morgan protectedhim! Act that encourages the townsfolk to join the fight!
Back with Kiersche, she has activated her magicspell and the trolls inside the temple are being destroyed while at the sametime the wounds in Morgan´s back are being healed!
Whatthe Band of the Haken say about this:
If I had demons and /or trolls eatingpeople in my village, I wouldn't bitch about who shows up to stop them. Especiallyif one of them is like 7 feet tall and has a sword the size of a dinner table.
You would if they were worse than thetrolls
That would be hard to accomplish
I mean he's not, but…
I'm just saying, in the kind of crisis,if someone shows up and is all "hey let me handle those trolls foryou", I'm not sure your first reaction should be "Fuck off, you notexactly like us."
Pragmatism has to kick in theresomewhere
Indeed. Although I found funny how thepriest quickly changed the hearts of the people... Like it wasn´t their idea onthe first place to search for a witch? But in any case, the whole thing it madethe point across, so that´s something!
The direction in some of the actionscenes is so bad.
Well I liked on this chapter the Gut´sbattle, even with the CLANG! Although I agree that more times than it shouldthe battles leaves a little more to desire...
Oh it's a good chapter, but they put thedamn camera angle in the worst possible place sometimes
Don't they do that all the time?
It's almost like somebody made a betwith their buddy that they could create the most poorly directed anime thisside of Hand Shakers. Now imagine if Wit Studio was doing Berserk instead...
IT'S GOIN' BEAR-SERK…No wait that's Teddie, nevermind.
Now talking on a more specific point,personally the chapter was good enough and with a good balance in story andaction; still the action-scenes (or rather the camera) aren´t as good as howone would like them to be, nonetheless the job is well done and even on thischapter it opened to some plot points that it might be resolved in futurechapters, like why the Trolls gets frozen when Casca is nearby? Or will theVillagers change their mind about Guts and his group/witches/magic? And willKiersche´s opinion on the townsfolk and Guts will change?... Well with Guts theanswer is obvious; but you get my point.
Anyway, that is all for me and see youthe next time!


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Lawrence was the guest host of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' last night
Jennifer Lawrence interviewed Kim Kardashian on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night (October 2), asking the reality TV star a series of awkward questions.
Lawrence was the guest host of Thursday's episode of the US late-night show and Kardashian was her main guest.
During the chat, Lawrence asked Kardashian things like which family member she would kill last, which of her siblings lost their virginity first and what her and Kanye wear to bed.
You can watch the full interview in the video below:
Meanwhile, Jennifer Lawrence recently opened up about her experiences of misconduct and harassment towards women in Hollywood, revealing that she was once forced to participate in a "nude line-up" during her early career.
Lawrence made the comments during a speech at Elle's Women in Hollywood event last month (October 16) in Beverly Hills. "When I was much younger and starting out, I was told by producers of a film to lose 15 pounds in two weeks," she said. "During this time a female producer had me do a nude line-up with about five women who were much, much, thinner than me. We are stood side-by-side with only tape on covering our privates."
"After that degrading and humiliating line-up, the female producer told me I should use the naked photos of myself as inspiration for my diet," Lawrence added. Lawrence said that when she approached a male producer about the incident, he responded by saying that he "didn't know why everyone thought I was so fat" and that "he thought I was 'perfectly fuckable.'"
Describing herself as feeling "trapped" by the experience, Lawrence added: "I let myself be treated a certain way because I felt I had to for my career." "I'm still learning that I don't have to smile when a man makes me uncomfortable," she continued. "Every human being should have the power to be treated with respect because they're human."
"In all of the sadness, I think it's been oddly unifying," she added. "It's so fundamental to the female experience to be mistreated and feel ashamed of it."


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Decorating in a place with a tiny family room can be a bit of a challenge. After all, every square foot is precious when you don't have a lot of floor space to work with. However, with some smart choices, even the humblest living room can be made into a breathtaking space.
1- Purchase dual purpose pieces
Living in a small space means that your pieces need to pull double duty. Specifically, any ottomans, coffee tables, or desks in your living room should double as storage pieces.
2- Pick appropriately sized furniture
While that oversized sectional may look great in the store, it is going to overpower your space. The end result will be a living room that looks crowded and small. Instead, buy appropriately sized living room furniture that flows in your space.
3- Don't be afraid of wooden furniture
Lately, living rooms have trended toward exclusive use of upholstered pieces. Wooden furniture, however, takes up a smaller footprint than padded counterparts. For example, a pair of wooden chairs provide much needed seating without taking up too much space. Additionally, you'll only have to change out the cushions to re-vamp your look.
4- Keep contrasting colours to a minimum
While you do want a variety of shades in your room, try to keep a cohesive theme throughout the living room. Otherwise, the space is going to look busy and crowded. To play it safe, only pick one contrasting colour and use it sparingly.
5- Think about a wall mounted entertainment centre
Sure, TV stands look great. However, your small living room just might not have the space. Instead, mount your TV to the wall, and add wooden shelves all around to hold DVDs, books, magazines, and remotes. For an extra pop, match the shelves to any other wooden furniture you have in the room.
Tips how to decorate a small living room
If your living room feels like the size of a matchbox, don't assume it's a lost cause. Even the tiniest of spaces can look fantastic with the right choices. Once your hard work is completed, you'll have a living room that flows well, offers plenty of storage, and looks great.


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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
Camp Harlow in Eugene, Oregon
Hansen House
Be the first OregonLive.com user to add photos or videos of Camp Harlow
Campus compact student leadership conference. Amazing property. Pools, putt putt, basketball. Fun
My daughter attended this camp for several years and soon I will send my son when he gets old enough. This is a fantastic camp for children....
Camp Harlow is located at 3850 Vountry Farm Rd, Eugene, OR. This location is in the Cal Young neighborhood. This business specializes in Camping.
Camp Harlow can be found at County Farm Rd 3850. The following is offered: Campgrounds. The entry is present with us since Sep 8, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Eugene there are 3 other Campgrounds. An overview can be found here.


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Ghosts of Liberty
'Ghosts of Liberty' is yet another mobile/pervasive game (played in Boston) and designed by Urban Interactive.
Players roam through the lamp-lit alleys of Boston's North End, following a trail of ghostly messages to track a mysterious enemy of the state. A cell phone weaves electronic gameplay and live action into the nocturnal ambiance, as participants race against the clock to solve riddles, discover hidden items, and interact with characters both real and digital.
(picture by Evan Richman/Globe Staff)
The Boston Globe has a piece about it, somehow describing how the players apprehended the game:
Met by a ``secret agent," Bitkower's foursome was handed a cellphone programmed with all the night's clues, an ultraviolet pen, a map of the North End, a ``classified" case briefing, and a folder to open in the event of an emergency (i.e., if they became hopelessly lost).
Wolfe's wife, Nan, a kitchen designer, took over as master code-breaker, jotting down letters and numbers from bronze plaques and muttering aloud solutions. Bitkower, the group's text-message fanatic, was glued to the cellphone, tripping over cobblestones and even a small fence in his haste to relay information from digital maps, text messages from ``Director Finch," and voice mails from a ghost-channeling psychic to the group. As the team raced down Salem Street past Bova's Bakery , Jim Wolfe signaled to turn left instead of right -- to throw other groups off their scent. ``I feel like we're behind," said Jerry Ringuette, an information technology specialist from Quincy, before sprinting down Commercial Street in search of a woman's feather boa. Lost on Hanover Street, Bitkower slyly reached into his coat pocket for a travel map. ``We brought a cheat sheet," he whispered.
Check also the players' briefing sheet.


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In 1998, Joseph Farah's WorldNetDaily warned the world that Bill Clinton had a mad plan to hold on to power, by exploiting panic over the Y2K bug.
Fourteen years later — with two presidential transfers of power safely and peacefully completed — Farah and his gang are still sounding the alarm as the chief purveyors of undead conspiracy theories about President Obama's birth.
Farah's WorldNetDaily, now known simply as WND.com, has carved out a niche for itself as the go-to destination for Americans who doubt the legitimacy of President Barack Obama's birth certificate.
But Farah, who launched the website out of his bedroom in 1997, says that despite WND's growth during the Obama era, its relentless pursuit of birth certificate stories is actually bad for business.
"There are advertisers who are afraid of WND because they think we're obsessed or we're out on a wild goose chase or it's just too controversial," Farah told TPM in a phone interview recently. "We would be making more money if we pretended like the rest of the media there's no controversy here, there's no question about that."
A former California newspaper editor, Farah started out thinking most of WND's profits would come from ad sales. Though he claims the site reaches eight million unique visitors a month, most of WND's profits come from the WND Superstore, which sells items like a magnetic "Birther On Board" bumper sticker, and from WND Books, which has published tomes by Sen. James Inhofe, former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and anti-Muslim activist Pam Geller.
WND, which recently underwent its first major redesign in its 15-year history, is headquartered in Chantilly, Va., a suburb of Washington. It has roughly 35 full-time employees, about 15 of whom are on the editorial side, but much of their work is contracted out.
Farah bristles at WND being labeled "conservative," and says the site appeals to what he considers the "heartbeat of America."
"If you look at every poll, every survey that is done, most Americans have what we would call conservative values or some kind or another, they love their country, and those are the people that we wanted to appeal to," Farah said. "They love what America stands for."
Farah insists that WND is still primarily a journalistic enterprise. He credits the hand of God with WND's success but said anger against the Obama administration has something to do with it.
"Certainly some of the products we've had have been successful because they're about Obama and there's a lot of resentment against Obama," Farah said. "The Bush years were kind of almost a holding pattern for us. For eight years, we were criticizing the Republican president, and that did not play well with our core audience, quite honestly."
When WND launched, Farah was running a non-profit organization called the Western Journalism Center, an outlet best known for publicizing rumors that the Clinton administration was involved in the suicide of White House Deputy Counsel Vincent Foster.
Farah grew up in New Jersey and considered himself a "revolutionary communist" in high school. He says he voted for Jimmy Carter and George McGovern and was arrested in Washington, D.C. during a 1971 anti-war protest after helping overturn cars and setting bonfires in the streets.
Like many reporters of Farah's era, his entrance into journalism was inspired by Watergate. After serving as editor of The Beacon newspaper at William Paterson College, Farah worked for local newspapers in New Jersey. At 24, he was a self-described "young journalist on the fast track" and was hired as a reporter for the Los Angeles Herald. Three years later, he was running the newsroom.
He loved L.A., but said it hit him one day that out of all the journalists he had come to know, he "was probably the only one who went to church on Sunday." Farah wrote in his book that he was experiencing a "coup" as America's newsrooms were "hijacked" by "ideologically motivated extremists."
Farah's first big attempt to push a conservative agenda at a newspaper came when developers bought the Sacramento Union in 1989. By 1990, The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that the Union had "become a mouthpiece for the fundamentalist Christian right, preoccupied with abortion, homosexuals and creationism." Eleven top editors and managers had quit, retired or been fired in just a matter of months.
The Union's failure, Farah says, was largely due to the limitations of newspapers. He believes it had an audience in the larger Sacramento area but that the cost of delivering the physical newspaper to those subscribers was too high. The Internet solved the distribution problem, and pretty soon WND was encouraging the failure of newspapers.
Farah became a fan of the Drudge Report and believed he could do the same thing.
"I saw what Drudge was doing and I said 'This is easier than I thought,' because it didn't mean building up a huge staff first," he said. He and his second wife Elizabeth — he met her at a Pat Buchanan speech — launched WND on a shoestring budget and were surprised at how quickly it took off.
WND encouraged readers to "Quit [their] daily rag, go cyber, send us the difference" and promised to "blow your socks off — not only with the most courageous investigative reporting in America, but with lawsuits, Freedom of Information Act disclosures and a marketing plan to wake this country from its dangerous, complacent slumber."
While it originally began as a spin-off of the Western Journalism Center, Farah said he quickly learned WND's future would be as a for-profit. Rather than running the site out of New York or Washington, which he saw as part of the problem, Farah leased a 250-acre ranch in south Oregon and invited all new staff members to join him there.
"We didn't choose southern Oregon as an out-of-the-way corporate headquarters just because we liked it. It was a place with few distractions other than beauty, serenity, and good fishing and hunting," Farah wrote. Ultimately, Farah decided that it made more sense to work from the D.C. area.
Farah claims WND has paid a price for its pursuit of the birth certificate issue but says he's fine with that being what WND is best known for.
"I'm totally convinced now that we're looking at a fraud," Farah told TPM. "If we ever see the real birth certificate it will be the legacy of our site."


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A genuine masterpiece
One of, or if not the best looking flash cartoon I have ever seen.
You deserve props man.
A genuine masterpiece
One of, or if not the best looking flash cartoon I have ever seen.
You deserve props man.
Lol I kinda liked it.
And I understand that this was not meant to be offensive to Stever Irwin I mean I too have had enough of those "slideshow with sad music" flashes, it's time for some humor which Steve had, he would have liked this movie, I bet. The graphics weren't the best but you managed to make it funny so you get my vote. R.I.P Steve.
~ Ringfinger
It came when I least expected...
Wow, I never expected this, I'm so glad you decided to continue the series, they are very epic and dramatic. I love the fact that you used the same theme song from the first episode, it kinda made it click as a whole. It also reminds me of the time when I was watching your movies as a young flash animator, asking for your advice over AIM, etc. Great to see you back. Peace.
~ Ringfinger
Well you're brave for calling this the Ultimate Homer Simpson Soundboard, I salute you for that. But what this soundboard lacks is the potential to produce a quality prank call.
If you're going to make a soundboard, you don't just record various quotes and put them in one place, you really have to take your time and find proper replies, funny things you can say to the person in the phone etc... Because if soundboards are not used for prank calls, whats good about them? Plus you could have included alot more sounds. The Simpsons has been running for almost 17 years. Better luck next time.
~ Ringfinger
Umm... filesize is the problem, ym friend. Unless the wuotes are very short (ex. 'D'oh!'), then the filesize for each clip is big. That expalins the 4 MB.
Also, if you dewle throguh the soundboard, you'll find that it can be used for prank phone calls.
Thanks for the review!
not a bad game
Keep it up, I liked the graphics...Although where it says the music is by Gorgoroth I thought you meant the Black metal band Gorgoroth...kinda confusing...cya
~ Ringfinger
Yeah, I could of been a little more clear on that I guess =p
Thanks for the review man =D
not bad
I like it. But for how long have you been making this? I remember it from like 2003 or something... Anyway it was pretty good. Could be more original though.
~ Ringfinger
Thanks =)
We were discussing in MSN about story based flash games in 2003, which led me to start Final Splatters 1 (took me a year =( ).
Final Splatters 2 took me 5 months.
30, Male
Joined on 2/21/02


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We're deep in the heart of fall, which means two things: root vegetables are back and Congress is embroiled in end-of-year fighting. With tax debates on the horizon and the Mueller investigation in full swing, we're here to provide you with the corruption stories you need to know. Read on for your weekly corruption rundown.
The Mueller investigation turns up the heat on lobbyists for foreign work
Paul Manafort was indicted on a number of charges, including foreign lobbying violations, and lobbyist Tony Podesta left his firm.
The political world was rocked Monday when charges were announced against three former Trump campaign officials as a result of investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort faces multiple charges, including failing to register as a foreign agent and making false and misleading statements under the foreign lobbyist registration requirements (known as FARA). Perhaps most striking, as Ken Silverstein notes in POLITICO Magazine, is that Department of Justice figures released last year reveal there have been just seven FARA prosecutions in the last 50 years – and only one conviction at trial.
Meanwhile, powerful Washington lobbyist and major Democratic donor, Tony Podesta, announced he would be leaving his firm after coming under Mueller's investigation. Both Manafort and Podesta have been tied to work that benefited a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine. It's an open secret that lobbying is poorly regulated in Washington, Silverstein argues. "[I]f you're going to indict and prosecute lobbyists for failing to disclose their activities," he writes, "roughly half of Washington would be under arrest." Experts argue these FARA charges could go a long way toward changing that practice.
The bottom line: There's a compelling case to be made that lax enforcement not only misses major violations, but actually encourages bad behavior. We need tough, responsive lobbying regulation around the country to eliminate the culture of lawlessness in the influence industry.
179 of Trump's executive branch nominees have conflicts of interest. That's more than 50 percent
New analysis finds extensive industry connections for a bulk of administration nominees.
Lawyers, lobbyists, and executives: oh my! According The Daily Beast's analysis, more than half of nominees to administration jobs that require Senate confirmation have some "notable conflict of interest." For many, it's past work in the industry they're required to oversee, like Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, formerly of the Georgia Agribusiness Council. And Stephen Parente, who was nominated to serve as an assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services. Shortly after his nomination, UnitedHealth, a major insurer, donated $1.2 million to "a tiny academic research center that Parente helped found and served as director over the past decade," POLITICO reported. Other nominees – 63, to be exact – were once lobbyists, lawyers, or representatives for the industries they're now supposed to regulate, and of the non-conflicted contingent, several nominees were onetime Trump donors or campaign workers.
The big picture: Can we finally do away with the fiction that industry-cozy former executives and lobbyists are the only people with enough issue experience to regulate the sectors they came from? If it's not laziness, then appointments like this are borne of an actual desire to give the industry more say in its own oversight – and that's wrong.
The Clinton campaign had extensive control over the party, a former DNC chair revealed
The party and campaign signed a powerful fundraising agreement almost a year before Clinton secured the presidential nomination.
This is a big one. As former acting Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile revealed in an excerpt from her upcoming book, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign exerted serious control over the national party starting almost a year before she secured the presidential nomination. Brazile's account, which lends further credence to claims the DNC unfairly favored Clinton throughout the primary, describes a party wounded by management problems and desperate for cash – relief that would eventually come from the Clinton campaign. The money did not come free, however. Brazile describes uncovering an unorthodox fundraising agreement penned in August 2015 that granted the campaign substantial control over party affairs. That document, she writes, "specified that in exchange for raising money and investing in the DNC, Hillary would control the party's finances, strategy, and all the money raised."
Several states had lined up to link arms with the Clinton campaign as early as August 2015, the New York Times reported. State and national party committees have higher contribution limits than do individual candidates, so the joint fundraising committee allowed donors to give money to state parties that would share their cash with the Clinton campaign. A lot of cash, it seems – Brazile cites a May 2016 POLITICO article that found the state parties had kept just 1 percent of the money raised through the joint committee. While the Bernie Sanders campaign also had a joint fundraising agreement with the DNC, his campaign was not "as aggressive as the Clinton campaign in raising money through that fund" – and the campaign did not appear to have the same level of control over DNC strategy and funding.
The bottom line: While this behavior isn't illegal, it does call into question the equality of the playing field for all candidates. Democracy depends on voters being able to choose between candidates without their party tilting the scales.
Facebook, Google, and their employees gave $1.6 million to the members of Congress who will now question them about Russia
Google and its employees have contributed to 95 percent of lawmakers on the committees.
Amid revelations that Russian interests used social media platforms to attempt to influence American elections, Google and Facebook representatives are testifying before Congress. For most of the lawmakers in the House and Senate committees who will be questioning them, this will mean facing campaign donors (or their emissaries). That's because Facebook and its employees contributed to 40 of the 55 committee members – and the Google community gave to a whopping 52 of them since 2009. The totals are not insignificant for some members. Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, for example, has collected almost $125,000 from the companies and their employees.
The bottom line: While these figures may not seem high, especially when compared to other special interests, tracking these contributions is crucial for ensuring government accountability. Transparency is one of the most important anti-corruption tools we have.
Thanks for reading. As always, send any corruption stories worth sharing to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Advanced Individual Training Complex, Fort Lee
A full mock-up of the eaves transition and of a window opening helped coordinate the sequence of continuous insulation and air-barrier installation that improved the facility's interior environment. The mock-up and finished building tested well below the maximum allowable leakage rates. The selected solution is the largest Type-III, five-story, wood framed project constructed on the east coast in many years. USGBC Certified LEED Gold.
Largest Five-Story Wood Framed Buildings on the East Coast


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Boy, the story behind this will make an interesting podcast. This is the final product for that shoot. I was happy with the photo, I wished it could have been better (more on that in the podcast story)... but the good news is that the client was very happy with the shot.
I was very pleased to hear that. It makes the ending of the story even sweeter. Thanks Bonnie for the opportunity to do this project for you!


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A prior version of this pulse gave the incorrect day for the upgrade.
MADRID (MarketWatch) -- French oil major Total SA TOT, -1.74% FP, -0.03% was upgraded to neutral from underperform on Wednesday at Credit Suisse, which said shares have unjustly sold off over euro zone worries. "Total looks significantly cheaper than in mid-April, having de-rated to all-time relative 2-year forward price/earning lows," the analysts said. The analysts said Total has been rightly penalized by the market for its large future capital expenditure requirements. "We are not yet buyers of Total as we believe its large capex programme will compress free cash yields for 4-5 years and limit dividend increases," the analysts said.