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Batman had it rough. As a boy, he was forced to watch as his parents were gunned down in front of him. It's the event that inspired his one-man war on crime, and the most famous tragedy in comics. But let's be honest, now. He still had a billion dollar trust fund, a giant mansion, the heirship to a giant international corporation, and the coolest butler ever. That's way more than some of the other guys got. Here are eight comic book characters who had it worse than the Caped Crusader.
The tragic death of a loved one is usually part and parcel of the whole superhero package. It takes a special brand of luck to also be the one responsible for their death. For that you'd have to be the hero who's been wedgied by fate more often than any other: Spider-Man.
After gaining his spider powers, Peter Parker made the (totally reasonable) decision to make a little money off of them. Later, when he had the chance to stop a burglar, he made the (again, totally reasonable) decision not to get involved. He had a successful entertaining gig by now, and didn't need to risk that by tangling with some criminal.
Unfortunately, sensible decisions have no place in comic books, as that same burglar then turned around and shot his beloved Uncle Ben dead. You know, the one who taught Peter "with great power comes great responsibility," the catchphrase that would cement Spider-Man as the universe's whipping boy for the rest of his life.
Missing your dead parents is one thing, but learning your parents are part of an evil coalition bent on destroying the earth is quite another. For the characters of Marvel's Runaways, this revelation leads to the formation of an unlikely superhero team with more variety and teen angst than the freshman locker room at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
The children of "The Pride" (an occult group of villains comprised of time travellers, mad scientists, mutant telepaths, crime lords and, of course, wizards) are burdened not with the death of loved ones, but with witnessing their parents sacrificing a young girl as part of a dark ritual. Most tragic origins fuel a sense of vengeance in their protagonists, but Runaways, however, derives its tragedy from an odd mixture of teen rebellion and hard-to-answer questions of morality and loyalty. It does involve a telepathic dinosaur, however, which is pretty much the opposite of tragic.
Despite having a costume that looks like a high school theater's prop department exploded, Taskmaster's superpower is pretty cool: he has "photographic reflexes," or in more scientific terms, a "magic plot device brain." Any physical skill he sees someone else do, he can instantly copy. Which means not only is he as capable as any athlete he's ever seen, he was also the best devil sticks player on his college quad.
Pretty sweet deal, until we learn that every new skill he learns pushes an old memory out of his head. As a professional mercenary, Tasky goes through quite a few skills, and so nearly everything about his old life is now lost to him. It's later revealed that his wife, whom he no longer remembers, has been quietly keeping tabs on him from afar, organizing his affairs and watching over him while he wanders through life in his amnesiac state. Tasky even meets a girl who is probably his daughter, but he's unable to tell her so for sure, or even that he'll remember her after they meet. It's an impressive amount of character development for a B-list supervillain. He's like Memento with a cool skull mask.


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Yay! We needed this. I'm not going to touch. Although, it is tempting.
- -LoneWolf 5
This is a total rip off of the wikipedia page we should try to be original -Random123
- An encyclopedia dosen't write original research. It finds sources of information and cites them as information. Both Wikipedia and Narutopedia are licensed under the GFDL. The best way to make this a good encyclopedia is to first copy over already existing information from wikipedia, format it so it fits into the wiki, then expand on that information with more information than wikipedia has. A good quote to remember, don't reinvent the wheel unless it needs reinventing. We're not taking credit for work, we're using it as a base, that's why the Wikipedia is there. Dantman (Talk) 00:02, 26 February 2007 (UTC)
Source material, shouldn't be wikipedia it should be the manga, the anime or something i guess like that it's okay to write it BASED on wikipedia but it shouldn't be the same exact page as on wikipedia-Random123
- Actually, I take the stuff from wikipedia and change it so that it fits our standers. I do it all the time on the jutsu page. I think thats what we all really do. Except for the annoying people who don't change it.-LoneWolf 5
I honeslty think this page needs to be renamed "Naruto (franchise)". ~Kakashi Namikaze (talk) 19:49, 16 July 2008 (UTC)
I found that someone had changed Sasuke's name to sasgay and fixed it but there may be more errors on the page--PAIN 15:48, 26 January 2009 (UTC) PAIN
What is this?
What is with the last sentence in the first paragraph here... i do not understand what '$1, $1' means... besides being a variable maybe from before. Simant (talk) 03:09, 24 July 2009 (UTC)
This has nuttin to do wid this but can we create a spoiler page for spoiler like the Bleach wiki? 188.8.131.52 (talk) 13:30, December 8, 2009 (UTC)
- Do you mean a page where possible translations of new chapters are listed? If so, how would that be beneficial? ~SnapperTo 18:04, December 8, 2009 (UTC)
Kishi & Anime
Is Kishi involved with the anime- does he approve plotlines like Echiiro Oda from One Piece or is the anime independent of him?
- Given the information we have, it seems Kishimoto-sensei is not involved in any way with any part of the series other than the manga and data/fan books. —ShounenSuki (talk | contribs | translations) 23:24, October 3, 2010 (UTC)
- What information would that be? I don't doubt your word, but I'm researching for a friend.
- Interviews, columns, and evidence from the manga and anime. Nothing Kishimoto-sensei ever did or said tells us he has anything to do with the anime, but there are dozens of direct and indirect references to him not having anything to do with it.
- For example, Kishimoto-sensei has complained about several things that happened in the anime and movies, like the use of guns and trains. There have been numerous big mistakes, like Itachi's Sharingan when he was first shown using Tsukuyomi, that would never have happened had Kishimoto-sensei been involved with the anime. Several anime-only arcs, like the Curry of Life arc, go directly against some of the themes Kishimoto-sensei has used in the manga. There are many more, but this is all I can think of right now.
- —ShounenSuki (talk | contribs | translations) 13:03, October 4, 2010 (UTC)
i think we need narutopedia although masashi should a own it and add to it about all the naruto stuff imean reall hes alread wrote chapter 521 and its still on going —This unsigned comment was made by Azsuki (talk • contribs) .
Someone has changed the entire article to just 'This series is gay. BELIVE IT!' ignoring the fact that they had to watch it for ages to write that, could we get it changed back? —This unsigned comment was made by 18.104.22.168 (talk • contribs) .
- The edit you're talking about was reverted only 2 minutes later, meaning the page is back to normal. —Fmakck (Images | contribs) 16:45, July 10, 2011 (UTC)
Hi, I have a request. I am looking for music from Naruto. [1] in the beginning of video i amazing music. What title is it? Thanks. Sorry for my terrible english
Wouldn't it make more sense to have the title be "Naruto (series)" in parentheses instead of how it is now? It just sounds more like the name of a character or something the way it is now. —This comment was made by the most awesome user on this wiki, November Blue (the most awesome user's talk page • the most awesome user's contributions). 22:05, April 5, 2012 (UTC)
- Seems like a good idea. — SimAnt 15:43, April 10, 2012 (UTC)
Genin Naruto
Why THE FUCK IS NARUTO STILL A GENIN!!! I MEAN HES PAST JOININ LEVEL!!! ???? confused!!—This unsigned comment was made by UchihaSensei (talk • contribs) .
- He was not promoted during his first chūnin exam.
- He's never taken another exam.
- He hasn't been promoted through any other means.--Cerez365™(talk) 13:26, May 13, 2012 (UTC)
- ^^ This. —IndxcvNovelist (Talk to Me|My Wiki) 13:34, May 13, 2012 (UTC)
I want to request that the character jutsu should be put on the bottom of the page. i want its looks like the fairy tail wiki because i can understand it better ( sorry for the bad english) —This unsigned comment was made by 220.127.116.11 (talk • contribs) .
Toonami is showing Naruto!
I think we should update the wiki on the original Naruto (uncut) series and possibly update the Naruto Shippuden because of the newly revived "Toonami" has been showing Naruto on there. I am going to assume once they finish the Naruto Series, they are going to move onto Naruto Shippuden. Although, that's only my guess. Naruto (uncut) appears on Toonami every Saturday night at 12:30 a.m. Currently, I think they are on Episode 20 going onto Episode 21. 126.96.36.199 (talk) 21:37, April 15, 2013 (UTC)Gaara of the Desert

subset: commoncrawl


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Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. 4, by Edward Gibbon, [1788], at sacred-texts.com
The ambitious Rosamond aspired to reign in the name of her lover; the city and palace of Verona were awed by her power; and a faithful band of her native Gepidae was prepared to applaud the revenge, and to second the wishes, of their sovereign. But the Lombard chiefs, who fled in the first moments of consternation and disorder, had resumed their courage and collected their powers; and the nation, instead of submitting to her reign, demanded, with unanimous cries, that justice should be executed on the guilty spouse and the murderers of their king. She sought a refuge among the enemies of her country; and a criminal who deserved the abhorrence of mankind was protected by the selfish policy of the exarch. With her daughter, the heiress of the Lombard throne, her two lovers, her trusty Gepidae, and the spoils of the palace of Verona, Rosamond descended the Adige and the Po, and was transported by a Greek vessel to the safe harbor of Ravenna. Longinus beheld with delight the charms and the treasures of the widow of Alboin: her situation and her past conduct might justify the most licentious proposals; and she readily listened to the passion of a minister, who, even in the decline of the empire, was respected as the equal of kings. The death of a jealous lover was an easy and grateful sacrifice; and, as Helmichis issued from the bath, he received the deadly potion from the hand of his mistress. The taste of the liquor, its speedy operation, and his experience of the character of Rosamond, convinced him that he was poisoned: he pointed his dagger to her breast, compelled her to drain the remainder of the cup, and expired in a few minutes, with the consolation that she could not survive to enjoy the fruits of her wickedness. The daughter of Alboin and Rosamond, with the richest spoils of the Lombards, was embarked for Constantinople: the surprising strength of Peredeus amused and terrified the Imperial court: *_0060 his blindness and revenge exhibited an imperfect copy of the adventures of Samson. By the free suffrage of the nation, in the assembly of Pavia, Clepho, one of their noblest chiefs, was elected as the successor of Alboin. Before the end of eighteen months, the throne was polluted by a second murder: Clepho was stabbed by the hand of a domestic; the regal office was suspended above ten years during the minority of his son Autharis; and Italy was divided and oppressed by a ducal aristocracy of thirty tyrants. 22
When the nephew of Justinian ascended the throne, he proclaimed a new aera of happiness and glory. The annals of the second Justin 23 are marked with disgrace abroad and misery at home. In the West, the Roman empire was afflicted by the loss of Italy, the desolation of Africa, and the conquests of the Persians. Injustice prevailed both in the capital and the provinces: the rich trembled for their property, the poor for their safety, the ordinary magistrates were ignorant or venal, the occasional remedies appear to have been arbitrary and violent, and the complaints of the people could no longer be silenced by the splendid names of a legislator and a conqueror. The opinion which imputes to the prince all the calamities of his times may be countenanced by the historian as a serious truth or a salutary prejudice. Yet a candid suspicion will arise, that the sentiments of Justin were pure and benevolent, and that he might have filled his station without reproach, if the faculties of his mind had not been impaired by disease, which deprived the emperor of the use of his feet, and confined him to the palace, a stranger to the complaints of the people and the vices of the government. The tardy knowledge of his own impotence determined him to lay down the weight of the diadem; and, in the choice of a worthy substitute, he showed some symptoms of a discerning and even magnanimous spirit. The only son of Justin and Sophia died in his infancy; their daughter Arabia was the wife of Baduarius, 24 superintendent of the palace, and afterwards commander of the Italian armies, who vainly aspired to confirm the rights of marriage by those of adoption. While the empire appeared an object of desire, Justin was accustomed to behold with jealousy and hatred his brothers and cousins, the rivals of his hopes; nor could he depend on the gratitude of those who would accept the purple as a restitution, rather than a gift. Of these competitors, one had been removed by exile, and afterwards by death; and the emperor himself had inflicted such cruel insults on another, that he must either dread his resentment or despise his patience. This domestic animosity was refined into a generous resolution of seeking a successor, not in his family, but in the republic; and the artful Sophia recommended Tiberius, 25 his faithful captain of the guards, whose virtues and fortune the emperor might cherish as the fruit of his judicious choice. The ceremony of his elevation to the rank of Caesar, or Augustus, was performed in the portico of the palace, in the presence of the patriarch and the senate. Justin collected the remaining strength of his mind and body; but the popular belief that his speech was inspired by the Deity betrays a very humble opinion both of the man and of the times. 26 "You behold," said the emperor, "the ensigns of supreme power. You are about to receive them, not from my hand, but from the hand of God. Honor them, and from them you will derive honor. Respect the empress your mother: you are now her son; before, you were her servant. Delight not in blood; abstain from revenge; avoid those actions by which I have incurred the public hatred; and consult the experience, rather than the example, of your predecessor. As a man, I have sinned; as a sinner, even in this life, I have been severely punished: but these servants, (and we pointed to his ministers,) who have abused my confidence, and inflamed my passions, will appear with me before the tribunal of Christ. I have been dazzled by the splendor of the diadem: be thou wise and modest; remember what you have been, remember what you are. You see around us your slaves, and your children: with the authority, assume the tenderness, of a parent. Love your people like yourself; cultivate the affections, maintain the discipline, of the army; protect the fortunes of the rich, relieve the necessities of the poor." 27 The assembly, in silence and in tears, applauded the counsels, and sympathized with the repentance, of their prince the patriarch rehearsed the prayers of the church; Tiberius received the diadem on his knees; and Justin, who in his abdication appeared most worthy to reign, addressed the new monarch in the following words: "If you consent, I live; if you command, I die: may the God of heaven and earth infuse into your heart whatever I have neglected or forgotten." The four last years of the emperor Justin were passed in tranquil obscurity: his conscience was no longer tormented by the remembrance of those duties which he was incapable of discharging; and his choice was justified by the filial reverence and gratitude of Tiberius.
Among the virtues of Tiberius, 28 his beauty (he was one of the tallest and most comely of the Romans) might introduce him to the favor of Sophia; and the widow of Justin was persuaded, that she should preserve her station and influence under the reign of a second and more youthful husband. But, if the ambitious candidate had been tempted to flatter and dissemble, it was no longer in his power to fulfil her expectations, or his own promise. The factions of the hippodrome demanded, with some impatience, the name of their new empress: both the people and Sophia were astonished by the proclamation of Anastasia, the secret, though lawful, wife of the emperor Tiberius. Whatever could alleviate the disappointment of Sophia, Imperial honors, a stately palace, a numerous household, was liberally bestowed by the piety of her adopted son; on solemn occasions he attended and consulted the widow of his benefactor; but her ambition disdained the vain semblance of royalty, and the respectful appellation of mother served to exasperate, rather than appease, the rage of an injured woman. While she accepted, and repaid with a courtly smile, the fair expressions of regard and confidence, a secret alliance was concluded between the dowager empress and her ancient enemies; and Justinian, the son of Germanus, was employed as the instrument of her revenge. The pride of the reigning house supported, with reluctance, the dominion of a stranger: the youth was deservedly popular; his name, after the death of Justin, had been mentioned by a tumultuous faction; and his own submissive offer of his head with a treasure of sixty thousand pounds, might be interpreted as an evidence of guilt, or at least of fear. Justinian received a free pardon, and the command of the eastern army. The Persian monarch fled before his arms; and the acclamations which accompanied his triumph declared him worthy of the purple. His artful patroness had chosen the month of the vintage, while the emperor, in a rural solitude, was permitted to enjoy the pleasures of a subject. On the first intelligence of her designs, he returned to Constantinople, and the conspiracy was suppressed by his presence and firmness. From the pomp and honors which she had abused, Sophia was reduced to a modest allowance: Tiberius dismissed her train, intercepted her correspondence, and committed to a faithful guard the custody of her person. But the services of Justinian were not considered by that excellent prince as an aggravation of his offences: after a mild reproof, his treason and ingratitude were forgiven; and it was commonly believed, that the emperor entertained some thoughts of contracting a double alliance with the rival of his throne. The voice of an angel (such a fable was propagated) might reveal to the emperor, that he should always triumph over his domestic foes; but Tiberius derived a firmer assurance from the innocence and generosity of his own mind.
With the odious name of Tiberius, he assumed the more popular appellation of Constantine, and imitated the purer virtues of the Antonines. After recording the vice or folly of so many Roman princes, it is pleasing to repose, for a moment, on a character conspicuous by the qualities of humanity, justice, temperance, and fortitude; to contemplate a sovereign affable in his palace, pious in the church, impartial on the seat of judgment, and victorious, at least by his generals, in the Persian war. The most glorious trophy of his victory consisted in a multitude of captives, whom Tiberius entertained, redeemed, and dismissed to their native homes with the charitable spirit of a Christian hero. The merit or misfortunes of his own subjects had a dearer claim to his beneficence, and he measured his bounty not so much by their expectations as by his own dignity. This maxim, however dangerous in a trustee of the public wealth, was balanced by a principle of humanity and justice, which taught him to abhor, as of the basest alloy, the gold that was extracted from the tears of the people. For their relief, as often as they had suffered by natural or hostile calamities, he was impatient to remit the arrears of the past, or the demands of future taxes: he sternly rejected the servile offerings of his ministers, which were compensated by tenfold oppression; and the wise and equitable laws of Tiberius excited the praise and regret of succeeding times. Constantinople believed that the emperor had discovered a treasure: but his genuine treasure consisted in the practice of liberal economy, and the contempt of all vain and superfluous expense. The Romans of the East would have been happy, if the best gift of Heaven, a patriot king, had been confirmed as a proper and permanent blessing. But in less than four years after the death of Justin, his worthy successor sunk into a mortal disease, which left him only sufficient time to restore the diadem, according to the tenure by which he held it, to the most deserving of his fellow-citizens. He selected Maurice from the crowd, a judgment more precious than the purple itself: the patriarch and senate were summoned to the bed of the dying prince: he bestowed his daughter and the empire; and his last advice was solemnly delivered by the voice of the quaestor. Tiberius expressed his hope that the virtues of his son and successor would erect the noblest mausoleum to his memory. His memory was embalmed by the public affliction; but the most sincere grief evaporates in the tumult of a new reign, and the eyes and acclamations of mankind were speedily directed to the rising sun. The emperor Maurice derived his origin from ancient Rome; 29 but his immediate parents were settled at Arabissus in Cappadocia, and their singular felicity preserved them alive to behold and partake the fortune of their august son. The youth of Maurice was spent in the profession of arms: Tiberius promoted him to the command of a new and favorite legion of twelve thousand confederates; his valor and conduct were signalized in the Persian war; and he returned to Constantinople to accept, as his just reward, the inheritance of the empire. Maurice ascended the throne at the mature age of forty-three years; and he reigned above twenty years over the East and over himself; 30 expelling from his mind the wild democracy of passions, and establishing (according to the quaint expression of Evagrius) a perfect aristocracy of reason and virtue. Some suspicion will degrade the testimony of a subject, though he protests that his secret praise should never reach the ear of his sovereign, 31 and some failings seem to place the character of Maurice below the purer merit of his predecessor. His cold and reserved demeanor might be imputed to arrogance; his justice was not always exempt from cruelty, nor his clemency from weakness; and his rigid economy too often exposed him to the reproach of avarice. But the rational wishes of an absolute monarch must tend to the happiness of his people. Maurice was endowed with sense and courage to promote that happiness, and his administration was directed by the principles and example of Tiberius. The pusillanimity of the Greeks had introduced so complete a separation between the offices of king and of general, that a private soldier, who had deserved and obtained the purple, seldom or never appeared at the head of his armies. Yet the emperor Maurice enjoyed the glory of restoring the Persian monarch to his throne; his lieutenants waged a doubtful war against the Avars of the Danube; and he cast an eye of pity, of ineffectual pity, on the abject and distressful state of his Italian provinces.
From Italy the emperors were incessantly tormented by tales of misery and demands of succor, which extorted the humiliating confession of their own weakness. The expiring dignity of Rome was only marked by the freedom and energy of her complaints: "If you are incapable," she said, "of delivering us from the sword of the Lombards, save us at least from the calamity of famine." Tiberius forgave the reproach, and relieved the distress: a supply of corn was transported from Egypt to the Tyber; and the Roman people, invoking the name, not of Camillus, but of St. Peter repulsed the Barbarians from their walls. But the relief was accidental, the danger was perpetual and pressing; and the clergy and senate, collecting the remains of their ancient opulence, a sum of three thousand pounds of gold, despatched the patrician Pamphronius to lay their gifts and their complaints at the foot of the Byzantine throne. The attention of the court, and the forces of the East, were diverted by the Persian war: but the justice of Tiberius applied the subsidy to the defence of the city; and he dismissed the patrician with his best advice, either to bribe the Lombard chiefs, or to purchase the aid of the kings of France. Notwithstanding this weak invention, Italy was still afflicted, Rome was again besieged, and the suburb of Classe, only three miles from Ravenna, was pillaged and occupied by the troops of a simple duke of Spoleto. Maurice gave audience to a second deputation of priests and senators: the duties and the menaces of religion were forcibly urged in the letters of the Roman pontiff; and his nuncio, the deacon Gregory, was alike qualified to solicit the powers either of heaven or of the earth. The emperor adopted, with stronger effect, the measures of his predecessor: some formidable chiefs were persuaded to embrace the friendship of the Romans; and one of them, a mild and faithful Barbarian, lived and died in the service of the exarchs: the passes of the Alps were delivered to the Franks; and the pope encouraged them to violate, without scruple, their oaths and engagements to the misbelievers. Childebert, the great-grandson of Clovis, was persuaded to invade Italy by the payment of fifty thousand pieces; but, as he had viewed with delight some Byzantine coin of the weight of one pound of gold, the king of Austrasia might stipulate, that the gift should be rendered more worthy of his acceptance, by a proper mixture of these respectable medals. The dukes of the Lombards had provoked by frequent inroads their powerful neighbors of Gaul. As soon as they were apprehensive of a just retaliation, they renounced their feeble and disorderly independence: the advantages of real government, union, secrecy, and vigor, were unanimously confessed; and Autharis, the son of Clepho, had already attained the strength and reputation of a warrior. Under the standard of their new king, the conquerors of Italy withstood three successive invasions, one of which was led by Childebert himself, the last of the Merovingian race who descended from the Alps. The first expedition was defeated by the jealous animosity of the Franks and Alemanni. In the second they were vanquished in a bloody battle, with more loss and dishonor than they had sustained since the foundation of their monarchy. Impatient for revenge, they returned a third time with accumulated force, and Autharis yielded to the fury of the torrent. The troops and treasures of the Lombards were distributed in the walled towns between the Alps and the Apennine. A nation, less sensible of danger than of fatigue and delay, soon murmured against the folly of their twenty commanders; and the hot vapors of an Italian sun infected with disease those tramontane bodies which had already suffered the vicissitudes of intemperance and famine. The powers that were inadequate to the conquest, were more than sufficient for the desolation, of the country; nor could the trembling natives distinguish between their enemies and their deliverers. If the junction of the Merovingian and Imperial forces had been effected in the neighborhood of Milan, perhaps they might have subverted the throne of the Lombards; but the Franks expected six days the signal of a flaming village, and the arms of the Greeks were idly employed in the reduction of Modena and Parma, which were torn from them after the retreat of their transalpine allies. The victorious Autharis asserted his claim to the dominion of Italy. At the foot of the Rhaetian Alps, he subdued the resistance, and rifled the hidden treasures, of a sequestered island in the Lake of Comum. At the extreme point of the Calabria, he touched with his spear a column on the sea-shore of Rhegium, 32 proclaiming that ancient landmark to stand the immovable boundary of his kingdom. 33
During a period of two hundred years, Italy was unequally divided between the kingdom of the Lombards and the exarchate of Ravenna. The offices and professions, which the jealousy of Constantine had separated, were united by the indulgence of Justinian; and eighteen successive exarchs were invested, in the decline of the empire, with the full remains of civil, of military, and even of ecclesiastical, power. Their immediate jurisdiction, which was afterwards consecrated as the patrimony of St. Peter, extended over the modern Romagna, the marshes or valleys of Ferrara and Commachio, 34 five maritime cities from Rimini to Ancona, and a second inland Pentapolis, between the Adriatic coast and the hills of the Apennine. Three subordinate provinces, of Rome, of Venice, and of Naples, which were divided by hostile lands from the palace of Ravenna, acknowledged, both in peace and war, the supremacy of the exarch. The duchy of Rome appears to have included the Tuscan, Sabine, and Latin conquests, of the first four hundred years of the city, and the limits may be distinctly traced along the coast, from Civita Vecchia to Terracina, and with the course of the Tyber from Ameria and Narni to the port of Ostia. The numerous islands from Grado to Chiozza composed the infant dominion of Venice: but the more accessible towns on the Continent were overthrown by the Lombards, who beheld with impotent fury a new capital rising from the waves. The power of the dukes of Naples was circumscribed by the bay and the adjacent isles, by the hostile territory of Capua, and by the Roman colony of Amalphi, 35 whose industrious citizens, by the invention of the mariner's compass, have unveiled the face of the globe. The three islands of Sardinia, Corsica, and Sicily, still adhered to the empire; and the acquisition of the farther Calabria removed the landmark of Autharis from the shore of Rhegium to the Isthmus of Consentia. In Sardinia, the savage mountaineers preserved the liberty and religion of their ancestors; and the husbandmen of Sicily were chained to their rich and cultivated soil. Rome was oppressed by the iron sceptre of the exarchs, and a Greek, perhaps a eunuch, insulted with impunity the ruins of the Capitol. But Naples soon acquired the privilege of electing her own dukes: 36 the independence of Amalphi was the fruit of commerce; and the voluntary attachment of Venice was finally ennobled by an equal alliance with the Eastern empire. On the map of Italy, the measure of the exarchate occupies a very inadequate space, but it included an ample proportion of wealth, industry, and population. The most faithful and valuable subjects escaped from the Barbarian yoke; and the banners of Pavia and Verona, of Milan and Padua, were displayed in their respective quarters by the new inhabitants of Ravenna. The remainder of Italy was possessed by the Lombards; and from Pavia, the royal seat, their kingdom was extended to the east, the north, and the west, as far as the confines of the Avars, the Bavarians, and the Franks of Austrasia and Burgundy. In the language of modern geography, it is now represented by the Terra Firma of the Venetian republic, Tyrol, the Milanese, Piedmont, the coast of Genoa, Mantua, Parma, and Modena, the grand duchy of Tuscany, and a large portion of the ecclesiastical state from Perugia to the Adriatic. The dukes, and at length the princes, of Beneventum, survived the monarchy, and propagated the name of the Lombards. From Capua to Tarentum, they reigned near five hundred years over the greatest part of the present kingdom of Naples. 37
In comparing the proportion of the victorious and the vanquished people, the change of language will afford the most probably inference. According to this standard, it will appear, that the Lombards of Italy, and the Visigoths of Spain, were less numerous than the Franks or Burgundians; and the conquerors of Gaul must yield, in their turn, to the multitude of Saxons and Angles who almost eradicated the idioms of Britain. The modern Italian has been insensibly formed by the mixture of nations: the awkwardness of the Barbarians in the nice management of declensions and conjugations reduced them to the use of articles and auxiliary verbs; and many new ideas have been expressed by Teutonic appellations. Yet the principal stock of technical and familiar words is found to be of Latin derivation; 38 and, if we were sufficiently conversant with the obsolete, the rustic, and the municipal dialects of ancient Italy, we should trace the origin of many terms which might, perhaps, be rejected by the classic purity of Rome. A numerous army constitutes but a small nation, and the powers of the Lombards were soon diminished by the retreat of twenty thousand Saxons, who scorned a dependent situation, and returned, after many bold and perilous adventures, to their native country. 39 The camp of Alboin was of formidable extent, but the extent of a camp would be easily circumscribed within the limits of a city; and its martial in habitants must be thinly scattered over the face of a large country. When Alboin descended from the Alps, he invested his nephew, the first duke of Friuli, with the command of the province and the people: but the prudent Gisulf would have declined the dangerous office, unless he had been permitted to choose, among the nobles of the Lombards, a sufficient number of families 40 to form a perpetual colony of soldiers and subjects. In the progress of conquest, the same option could not be granted to the dukes of Brescia or Bergamo, ot Pavia or Turin, of Spoleto or Beneventum; but each of these, and each of their colleagues, settled in his appointed district with a band of followers who resorted to his standard in war and his tribunal in peace. Their attachment was free and honorable: resigning the gifts and benefits which they had accepted, they might emigrate with their families into the jurisdiction of another duke; but their absence from the kingdom was punished with death, as a crime of military desertion. 41 The posterity of the first conquerors struck a deeper root into the soil, which, by every motive of interest and honor, they were bound to defend. A Lombard was born the soldier of his king and his duke; and the civil assemblies of the nation displayed the banners, and assumed the appellation, of a regular army. Of this army, the pay and the rewards were drawn from the conquered provinces; and the distribution, which was not effected till after the death of Alboin, is disgraced by the foul marks of injustice and rapine. Many of the most wealthy Italians were slain or banished; the remainder were divided among the strangers, and a tributary obligation was imposed (under the name of hospitality) of paying to the Lombards a third part of the fruits of the earth. Within less than seventy years, this artificial system was abolished by a more simple and solid tenure. 42 Either the Roman landlord was expelled by his strong and insolent guest, or the annual payment, a third of the produce, was exchanged by a more equitable transaction for an adequate proportion of landed property. Under these foreign masters, the business of agriculture, in the cultivation of corn, wines, and olives, was exercised with degenerate skill and industry by the labor of the slaves and natives. But the occupations of a pastoral life were more pleasing to the idleness of the Barbarian. In the rich meadows of Venetia, they restored and improved the breed of horses, for which that province had once been illustrious; 43 and the Italians beheld with astonishment a foreign race of oxen or buffaloes. 44 The depopulation of Lombardy, and the increase of forests, afforded an ample range for the pleasures of the chase. 45 That marvellous art which teaches the birds of the air to acknowledge the voice, and execute the commands, of their master, had been unknown to the ingenuity of the Greeks and Romans. 46 Scandinavia and Scythia produce the boldest and most tractable falcons: 47 they were tamed and educated by the roving inhabitants, always on horseback and in the field. This favorite amusement of our ancestors was introduced by the Barbarians into the Roman provinces; and the laws of Italy esteemed the sword and the hawk as of equal dignity and importance in the hands of a noble Lombard. 48
*_0060 He killed a lion. His eyes were put out by the timid Justin. Peredeus requesting an interview, Justin substituted two patricians, whom the blinded Barbarian stabbed to the heart with two concealed daggers. See Le Beau, vol. x. p. 99. - M.
22 See the history of Paul, l. ii. c. 28 - 32. I have borrowed some interesting circumstances from the Liber Pontificalis of Agnellus, in Script. Rer. Ital. tom. ii. p. 124. Of all chronological guides, Muratori is the safest.
23 The original authors for the reign of Justin the younger are Evagrius, Hist. Eccles. l. v. c. 1 - 12; Theophanes, in Chonograph. p. 204 - 210; Zonaras, tom. ii. l. xiv. p. 70 - 72; Cedrenus, in Compend. p. 388 - 392.
24 Dispositorque novus sacrae Baduarius aulae. Successor soceri mox factus Cura-palati. - Cerippus.
Baduarius is enumerated among the descendants and allies of the house of Justinian. A family of noble Venetians (Casa Badoero) built churches and gave dukes to the republic as early as the ninth century; and, if their descent be admitted, no kings in Europe can produce a pedigree so ancient and illustrious. Ducange, Fam. Byzantin, p. 99 Amelot de la Houssaye, Gouvernement de Venise, tom. ii. p. 555.
25 The praise bestowed on princes before their elevation is the purest and most weighty. Corippus has celebrated Tiberius at the time of the accession of Justin, (l. i. 212 - 222.) Yet even a captain of the guards might attract the flattery of an African exile.
26 Evagrius (l. v. c. 13) has added the reproach to his ministers He applies this speech to the ceremony when Tiberius was invested with the rank of Caesar. The loose expression, rather than the positive error, of Theophanes, &c., has delayed it to his Augustan investitura immediately before the death of Justin.
27 Theophylact Simocatta (l. iii. c. 11) declares that he shall give to posterity the speech of Justin as it was pronounced, without attempting to correct the imperfections of language or rhetoric. Perhaps the vain sophist would have been incapable of producing such sentiments.
28 For the character and reign of Tiberius, see Evagrius, l v. c. 13. Theophylact, l. iii. c. 12, &c. Theophanes, in Chron. p. 2 0 - 213. Zonaras, tom. ii. l. xiv. p. 72. Cedrenus, p. 392. Paul Warnefrid, de Gestis Langobard. l. iii. c. 11, 12. The deacon of Forum Juli appears to have possessed some curious and authentic facts.
29 It is therefore singular enough that Paul (l. iii. c. 15) should distinguish him as the first Greek emperor - primus ex Graecorum genere in Imperio constitutus. His immediate predecessors had in deed been born in the Latin provinces of Europe: and a various reading, in Graecorum Imperio, would apply the expression to the empire rather than the prince.
30 Consult, for the character and reign of Maurice, the fifth and sixth books of Evagrius, particularly l. vi. c. l; the eight books of his prolix and florid history by Theophylact Simocatta; Theophanes, p. 213, &c.; Zonaras, tom. ii. l. xiv. p. 73; Cedrenus, p. 394.
31 Evagrius composed his history in the twelfth year of Maurice; and he had been so wisely indiscreet that the emperor know and rewarded his favorable opinion, (l. vi. c. 24.)
32 The Columna Rhegina, in the narrowest part of the Faro of Messina, one hundred stadia from Rhegium itself, is frequently mentioned in ancient geography. Cluver. Ital. Antiq. tom. ii. p. 1295. Lucas Holsten. Annotat. ad Cluver. p. 301. Wesseling, Itinerar. p. 106.
33 The Greek historians afford some faint hints of the wars of Italy (Menander, in Excerpt. Legat. p. 124, 126. Theophylact, l. iii. c. 4.) The Latins are more satisfactory; and especially Paul Warnefrid, (l iii. c. 13 - 34,) who had read the more ancient histories of Secundus and Gregory of Tours. Baronius produces some letters of the popes, &c.; and the times are measured by the accurate scale of Pagi and Muratori.
34 The papal advocates, Zacagni and Fontanini, might justly claim the valley or morass of Commachio as a part of the exarchate. But the ambition of including Modena, Reggio, Parma, and Placentia, has darkened a geographical question somewhat doubtful and obscure Even Muratori, as the servant of the house of Este, is not free from partiality and prejudice.
35 See Brenckman, Dissert. Ima de Republica Amalphitana, p. 1 - 42, ad calcem Hist. Pandect. Florent.
36 Gregor. Magn. l. iii. epist. 23, 25.
37 I have described the state of Italy from the excellent Dissertation of Beretti. Giannone (Istoria Civile, tom. i. p. 374 - 387) has followed the learned Camillo Pellegrini in the geography of the kingdom of Naples. After the loss of the true Calabria, the vanity of the Greeks substituted that name instead of the more ignoble appellation of Bruttium; and the change appears to have taken place before the time of Charlemagne, (Eginard, p. 75.)
38 Maffei (Verona Illustrata, part i. p. 310 - 321) and Muratori (Antichita Italiane, tom. ii. Dissertazione xxxii. xxxiii. p. 71 - 365) have asserted the native claims of the Italian idiom; the former with enthusiasm, the latter with discretion; both with learning, ingenuity, and truth. Note: Compare the admirable sketch of the degeneracy of the Latin language and the formation of the Italian in Hallam, Middle Ages, vol. iii. p. 317 329. - M.
39 Paul, de Gest. Langobard. l. iii. c. 5, 6, 7.
40 Paul, l. ii. c. 9. He calls these families or generations by the Teutonic name of Faras, which is likewise used in the Lombard laws. The humble deacon was not insensible of the nobility of his own race. See l. iv. c. 39.
41 Compare No. 3 and 177 of the Laws of Rotharis.
42 Paul, l. ii. c. 31, 32, l. iii. c. 16. The Laws of Rotharis, promulgated A.D. 643, do not contain the smallest vestige of this payment of thirds; but they preserve many curious circumstances of the state of Italy and the manners of the Lombards.
43 The studs of Dionysius of Syracuse, and his frequent victories in the Olympic games, had diffused among the Greeks the fame of the Venetian horses; but the breed was extinct in the time of Strabo, (l. v. p. 325.) Gisulf obtained from his uncle generosarum equarum greges. Paul, l. ii. c. 9. The Lombards afterwards introduced caballi sylvatici - wild horses. Paul, l. iv. c. 11.
44 Tunc (A.D. 596) primum, bubali in Italiam delati Italiae populis miracula fuere, (Paul Warnefrid, l. iv. c. 11.) The buffaloes, whose native climate appears to be Africa and India, are unknown to Europe, except in Italy, where they are numerous and useful. The ancients were ignorant of these animals, unless Aristotle (Hist. Anim. l. ii. c. 1, p. 58, Paris, 1783) has described them as the wild oxen of Arachosia. See Buffon, Hist. Naturelle, tom. xi. and Supplement, tom. vi. Hist. Generale des Voyages, tom. i. p. 7, 481, ii. 105, iii. 291, iv. 234, 461, v. 193, vi. 491, viii. 400, x. 666. Pennant's Quadrupedes, p. 24. Dictionnaire d'Hist. Naturelle, par Valmont de Bomare, tom. ii. p. 74. Yet I must not conceal the suspicion that Paul, by a vulgar error, may have applied the name of bubalus to the aurochs, or wild bull, of ancient Germany.
45 Consult the xxist Dissertation of Muratori.
46 Their ignorance is proved by the silence even of those who professedly treat of the arts of hunting and the history of animals. Aristotle, (Hist. Animal. l. ix. c. 36, tom. i. p. 586, and the Notes of his last editor, M. Camus, tom. ii. p. 314,) Pliny, (Hist. Natur. l. x. c. 10,) Aelian (de Natur. Animal. l. ii. c. 42,) and perhaps Homer, (Odyss. xxii. 302 - 306,) describe with astonishment a tacit league and common chase between the hawks and the Thracian fowlers.
47 Particularly the gerfaut, or gyrfalcon, of the size of a small eagle. See the animated description of M. de Buffon, Hist. Naturelle, tom. xvi. p. 239, &c.
48 Script. Rerum Italicarum, tom. i. part ii. p. 129. This is the xvith law of the emperor Lewis the Pious. His father Charlemagne had falconers in his household as well as huntsmen, (Memoires sur l'ancienne Chevalerie, par M. de St. Palaye, tom. iii. p. 175.) I observe in the laws of Rotharis a more early mention of the art of hawking, (No. 322;) and in Gaul, in the fifth century, it is celebrated by Sidonius Apollinaris among the talents of Avitus, (202 - 207.)
Note: See Beckman, Hist. of Inventions, vol. i. p. 319 - M.


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Happy Halloween!0 comments Posted by Unknown at 23:33
Rylee and Reagan helping Dad carve the pumpkin on the kitchen floor.
Admiring the handy work.
Peter Pan was a sissy. He's got nothin on Tinkerbell.
Snow White. The costume was a little big for her and we had a few "wardrobe malfunctions."
I guess Dad got a little too excited. We were the first ones out there. Isn't it fun to relive your childhood through your children?
Dividing up the booty.
There is nothing like a sugar high before bed.
Do we have a plan B?0 comments Posted by Unknown at 14:07
When dealing with several little kids at once it is essential to have a plan. I do most of the time, but your plans also have to be flexible. The other night I fed Rylee and I thought that I would distract her with some playdough while I was feeding Reagan. Everything was going according to plan until I left Reagan's highchair close enough for Rylee to transfer her playdough to the empty tray.(See the picture below) When I turned around with Reagan in one arm and her dinner in the the other I saw that Rylee had taken possetion of both highchairs and had no intention of giving either of them up. When I tried to move her playdough back to her tray there was screaming fit.
You have to pick your battles too. So I fed Reagan standing up with her in my arms.
Don't touch my dough!
Rylee being a good big sister with Madison.
Papa on the day of his arrival, bonding with his granddaughter, Jordan.
Kari getting things done.
Papa with Rylee and Jordan.
Papa finding out that you are put to work as soon as you show up.
This is the night that the twins would not sleep...So we took pictures.
Same photo shoot as above. That is Jordan on the left and Madison on the right.
Aliens have come and stolen my daughter's underpants0 comments Posted by Unknown at 17:47
It has been an interesting morning.
I fear that I may be becoming redundant in what I am reporting, but when you sleep most of the day and rarely leave the house I guess that will happen.
Our girls have been known to take their diapers off in the middle of the night. It happens often enough that it is not really a surprise. It is, however, unusual for both of them to take off their diapers on the same night. I think it may have happened once in the past. That and the fact that Rylee's diaper is still M.I.A., is why I am sure that aliens came down last night and stole them.
At 4:57 a.m. Madison came out of a fitful slumber and was in the mood to be fed. Five is the normal shift change, so even though I was feeling pretty good, I went upstairs to wake Grandmom. If I don't get some sleep about then I will be out for the rest of the day.
I am always amazed how my Mother can just jump out of bed and be ready for action. I get up, stumble around like a drunk, stub my toe at least once (This wakes you up almost as much as coffee), splash some water on my face, and remain in a semi-conscious state for twenty minutes to an hour or more. So Grandmom came down and I helped heat the formula and get her settled with Madison. I then went upstairs and climbed into bed with Kari, who had possession of all the good pillows and was reluctant to give up covers. I finally got situated and tried in vain to go to sleep. This was around 5:20.
Just as I was starting to dose off I heard Reagan crying. Her voice is really starting to develop. I shut my eyes tighter, thinking Grandmom will get her. That is a little selfish I guess, but that is what I did. Well, we had turned down the baby monitor down stairs so Grandmom didn't hear her and after about 10 minutes I had to get up to check on her. I had not gotten to sleep yet anyway. I glanced at my watch, 7:03.
Reagan must have frightened the aliens off before they could complete their work, because her diaper was only half off. Just enough for her to pee on the bed. She must have been standing at the railing when she did because most of it was on the floor and I didn't notice it with the lights off. I just felt the mattress and incorrectly determined that it was dry and figured that I had dodged another bullet. I took Rea down stairs and changed her and put her back in what I thought was a dry crib. I waited for a few minutes out side Reagan's door to see if she was going to go down. It sounded like she would so I returned to bed.
7:39 Creeeeek. I saw the silhouette of a two year old at the door. I invited her to come snuggle with us. You can sometimes get another ten minutes of sleep before you get kicked in the crotch or a finger in the nose. However, she didn't move toward the bed, she pulled up her night gown and pointed. "Oh, I see. Would you like some new panties?" That is what we are trying to call them now, "panties." To help the transition to using the potty. It is going slowly, probably because we don't have the time to really work with her on that. So I rolled back out of bed, scooped her up and headed to the upstairs changing table. She started to fuss, pointing down and saying "downstairs" (sounds like ounsayers but means downstairs.) So I set her down and started to walk down stairs. She did not follow. I went to pick her up. That was the wrong move because she launched into a tantrum. I finally got headed downstairs and she settled down till we got to the downstairs changing table and I pulled out a new pull-up diaper. That was not the one that she wanted to wear and she had a fit. It can be very VERY difficult to diaper a two and a half year old who does not want to be diapered. So she got a time out. By this time we had woken up Grandmom who was semi-sleeping down with the twins.
So I am standing there with my back to a half naked, screaming, toddler and my mother is looking at me like "aren't you being a little harsh?" I could see that Grandmom wanted to go hug her, but to her credit she did not interfere and offered to help. There was not much she could do at that point so she went back to check on the twins. After our three minute cooling off period I finally got a new diaper on Rylee, although that was clearly not what she wanted. I put her down on the floor and she went to the living room where she insisted that we install a new diaper that she had placed on the couch. I am not sure if this was the one that she was wearing last night, since I never could find that one, but it was dry so I gave up, strapped that one on her, and she was happy again. I still don't know why that diaper was better than the other, but it made a difference to Rylee.
By this time Reagan was awake again, so I put Rylee in the highchair, popped some waffles in the toaster, and went to get Reagan. That is when I saw that I had not dodged a bullet and had only given it time to soak into the carpet.
I left the big girls munching on waffles, gave Grandmom a hug and went to sop up the urine soaked carpet.
At eight something I got back to bed to stare at the ceiling some more. Somewhere around 9:30 I drifted off and at 11:00 Kari came in to ask if I wanted to be up for the 12:00 interview. I just couldn't do it, so I didn't get to meet her. Kari and Grandmom seemed to like her though. I finally got back up just after 4:00 and found that it had been a rough day for Kari and my Mom also. Both big girls were not themselves and we hope that they are not coming down with something.
Kari is still feeling rotten and we did not get her to bed as soon as we had hoped. At about 9:45 I realized that I had given the twins the wrong medication at 8:00 p.m. and we spent about 45 minutes calling the doctor and poison control to see how bad that might be. Turns out that we are still under the max dose for the medications that they are taking, but it was a little scary and I really felt like an idiot. I have resolved to be much more careful in the future.
Both twins are being very good so far this evening, I hope that it continues.
Off she went in a huff!0 comments Posted by Unknown at 04:35
I had to share this.
This morning Kari, who was up anyway with a stuffy nose, took the 5 a.m. shift. At about 6:00 Rylee came down and crawled into bed with her, took Kari's arm and draped it over herself like she was pull over the covers and snuggled in for a nap. A few minutes later the twins started to fuss and not long after that Rylee sat up and gave a huff, as if to say "Those Girls!" Then she marched into the living room and curled up on the couch. After Kari got the twins settled down she found Rylee asleep on the couch. Since it is nice to have a two year old actually sleep with you, as opposed to squirm, she scooped her up and brought her back to bed. A few minutes later, sure enough, the twins started to cry. Again Rylee sat up, looked at the offending infant, gave a huff, and stormed back to the couch. I wish that I had been there to see it. But maybe its better in my mind.
We interviewed two prospects today. Both maybes. One a young college student (Kari has asked me three times if I thought she was pretty.) and a black woman about our age or a bit older, with four kids of her own from 20 months to 18 years. Kari didn't seem "sold" on either, but maybe.
After the interviews Kari and I took the big girls out for a change. We went to the mall for new shoes. Rylee has been growing like a weed and the sneakers that we just bought no longer fit. Pretty sad when a major event is now a trip to the mall, huh? I think that was my first time out of the house in about a week. At least showering, which used to be a major event, is now fairly common.
Small things0 comments Posted by Unknown at 23:12
I think that it is the small things in life that give us the greatest joy and also the most annoyance. Last night (or this morning) as I was trying to get to sleep I couldn't help but smile as I thought about the day. Specifically I was thinking of Rylee's grin, her excitement, the obvious anticipation that she felt as she was waiting for me to start chasing her. We had been playing the "I'm gonna git ya" game, where she runs, I chase her, and when she is caught she gets a good tickling. I was also thinking of Reagan's smile and those mesmerizing blue eyes. And last night was the first time that I got a real smile from Jordan. Not just a random gas smile, but a reaction to my voice. I think I almost melted. It is the small moments that I treasure. Like when my wife came up behind the couch while I was feeding one of the twins and put her arms around me and her cheek on mine.
It is also the small things that drive me nuts. Toys everywhere, when you trip twice on toys just getting from the bedroom to the kitchen. When you pull off a soiled diaper and reach for a wet wipe only to find that the box is empty. When the dog puts his paws up on the highchair and eats the remains of you kid's dinner even though he knows you are watching. When the kids don't understand that you are trying to accomplish a small task and will be done "in just a minute" so they cling to your legs and scream. When you get all situated with a twin and bottle, ready to feed her and you realize that you forgot the burp cloth across the room, again. I can't tell you how many times I have done that. If you don't have the burp cloth the milk runs down her chin and collects around the neck. I am not sure what chemical reactions occurs under those chubby, double chins, but it doesn't smell nice and it leaves their skin very raw.
Things are much better since Grandmom got here, but we are still a little stressed out. Kari and I have both had back problems for a long time and with the little exercise that we get neither of our backs have improved. So we are both constantly in some degree of pain. From "just a little achy" to "Oooh, I seem to be unable to walk at the moment." We are also still adjusting to the change in our day to day lives that the arrival of the twins has created. We both are constantly feeling guilty. About everything: Not spending enough time with the big girls. Are we pulling our weight in this team effort? Are we asking too much of our family? (But thanks for being here Mom) Also for me (not sure if Kari is experiencing this too) no matter how much sleep I get I still feel tired. I slept for 11 hours today and I still woke up kind of grumpy. I guess that I have a tough time adjusting from total darkness and sleep to the chaos that is our lives at the moment. As soon as I set foot at the bottom of the stairs and the big girls see me there is no rest till they have retired for the evening. Reagan wants "up" and Rylee wants me to chase her. All is well as long as I comply and chase Rylee while holding Reagan, but if I pause to drink coffee or go to the bathroom there is a scream fest. I love that my girls want my attention and I feel guilty that I sometimes would rather just relax for a few minutes.
Kari and I got into a little spat this evening because of this. Well, I don't even know if you could call it a spat. But, Kari was just telling me that she felt like she has been walking on egg shells when I get up, just trying not to do or say anything to upset me. I think I maybe took it the wrong way and got a little bent out of shape. Even when she tried to makeup I didn't do much to help the situation. So now I feel guilty about that too. So I guess that I am using this forum to say "Sorry, Kari. I love you very much and I will try to be a little more agreeable when I get up." I guess the truth is that our lives have been completely disrupted and will never be the same. We have not figured out what normal is going to be yet and all of us have been careful not to step on each others toes. I know that we have put my mother in some uncomfortable situations too and it must be difficult for her. Just imagine coming to someone's home and being expected to jump in and help care for the kids when the parents are on the edge of sanity. (Sorry, Mom if we tried to rope you into our disagreements or made you feel uncomfortable.)
My Mom has really gone to great lengths to ease the stress and make sure that Kari and I get enough rest. I just hope that she is not wearing herself out in the process. I think that once we get a nanny here things might smooth out a little bit. And it looks like we are getting close. Kari has been very thorough in her search. One applicant told her that she had never seen a more detailed job description, "You really know what you want." Since I have been sleeping during the day I have not had much to do with the nanny search and I am glad that my beautiful wife is on top of it. We have several interviews lined up for the next couple of days. This should give me some good material for the blog.
What I miss...0 comments Posted by Kari at 20:39
I miss my husband and I miss my bed. I've got great sheets. They are from Bed Bath & Beyond Pure Beech sheets! Better than any 600 to 1000 count sheets. I have put them on just about any bed I may sleep in for pure comfort. I want to sleep good but I have an everlasting dream of free falling with no end. It is annoying as hell! My husband gets up from the night shift and all I want to do is complain, It sucks! I love him dearly and I just want compassion. But I feel like all I want to do is give him compassion. I feel it is a no win situation.. Our marriage suffers for the benefit of our children. I'm not too worried since we made it through the three year itch and the seven year itch together. But I do worry that he will think What the hell have I done? I love my family, but I feel I need more down time with the man I married without snips, arguments, or child discussions. This just sucks!
A Nasl Syringe is Great for Stirring Coffee!0 comments Posted by Kari at 11:41
Yesterday, in a stolen moment, I was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee. I needed to get up to check on a twin and left the coffee sitting there. A big no no with Reagan up and about.
When I came back, I found her stirring my coffee with the blue nasal syringe that had recently been used to suction someone's nose. Mark said it was likely Reagan stuck it up her nose prior to stirring. I am glad I caught her doing it before I sat down to have another sip!
This is my first post since my arrival in Texas. There is rarely a free minute when all is quiet. Reagan is napping upstairs, Kari is working on her Nanny interview list, Mark is sleeping and the twins are lying on Mark and Kari's bed with their arms thrown back in deep sleep. Rylee is watching cartoons and here is my chance to let everyone know that things are much less chaotic.
It is so exciting to see Madison and Jordan looking so good. They look like real, healthy babies. Such a dramatic difference from NICU. We are now feeding them when they are hungry instead of every three hours. Their faces are round, pink and healthy. They hold their heads up, push with their feet and track with their eyes. Truly miraculous.
We have all had a really good scare and are still vigilant about making sure all is well. Kari has two charts that we keep to record what is going on. It is hard to remember which twin ate last and how much. They also are on three different medications that have to be administered on a regular schedule.
We have split up the duties. Mark is still on the night shift and wakes me at 5 a.m. to take over until Kari gets up.
The wildest time of day is between 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. when the twins need to be fed, Rylee and Reagen need to be changed and fed, Bunker and Bogey are hungry and need to be let out and the cat needs food and water. The second wildest is between dinner and bedtime. The girls seem to need lots of attention at these times.
Off the subject of babies. Bunker and Bogie had a little outing yesterday. I let them out not realizing that the gate had been left open by the yard people. They had quite a romp before they were finally rounded up about an hour later. They showed no remorse that I could tell.
Thanks to Mac who is glad I am able to be here to help. Luckily he is extremely busy but it can be lonely holding down the fort alone. He was a huge help when here. Wish he could have stayed longer.
I am hopeful that the painting project will be complete before Halloween. With the blinds up at night and the lights on inside the room it looks like Halloween. They are painting the walls a rich cayenne color. The Sherwin Williams paint has been lousy, however. It has taken 5 gallons and we are still not done.
Well, it is almost lunch time. More later.
Baby's Breath0 comments Posted by Kari at 10:20
Last night Mark was painting the dining room with what I believe was the fourth coat of paint. Note to others, use a primer even if you are painting a deep orange over another bright orange. Especially if you are painting flat on top of semi-gloss. I believe the dining room will be done by Thanksgiving. I was hoping it would be done by Halloween, but I like longer goals, so I will be pleasantly surprised when they are accomplished sooner.
Speaking of Halloween, I have not been as prepared as I normally am. I usually have the costumes in hand by the end of August. I went out last week and the pickings were slim. Rylee is going to be Snow White and Reagan is going to be an angel. The twins are going to be miracles (no dressing up required). I did manage to get some candy (of course, the kind that I will eat after Halloween) before the shelves were emptied. Next year I'll put more thought into it and coordinate the four girls, decorate the house, and hopefully have a truly spooky fun filled time.
So, anyway, last night I sent grandmom to bed. She looked exhausted and ready to fall into a deep sleep. For some reason, I was awake with no desire to go to bed. Grandmom had been holding Jordan because she was being fussy. I took over and settled comfortably into the couch and flipped through the 49 DVR recordingings of shows I must see. Jordan was laying on my chest and went into a deep sleep. I started watching Grey's Anatomy, not sure which episode. I think I have three recorded.
I couldn't help but brush my lips on the top of Jordan's head and watch and feel her breathe on my chest. Baby's breath is so calming and has to be one of my favorite things. Her angelic pose brought out such deep emotion for me and I wanted to hold her all night long.
But Madison started fussing, so I laid Jordan down. I put Madison on my chest, the fussing stopped, the breathing became rhythmic and I sighed in ecstasy again. Oh my gosh, Cally is gonna beat the snot out of Izzy! I have to rewind.
I get through an episode of Grey's then Jordan started fussing again. I laid down Madison and got Jordan. She immediately stopped fussing and fell asleep on my chest once again, as I watched Zhan Hu of Survivor be completely clueless.
Mark cleaned up and got Madison, who was fussing again, and he changed and fed her. I of course, went to bed around 12:45am just as Madison unloaded the effects of prune juice earlier in the day into her now potent diaper.
To pee or not to pee0 comments Posted by Unknown at 23:44
Papa went home yesterday. He was a really big help and we wish that he could have stayed longer, but we will take what we can get. We started a painting project that we were both sure would be done in a couple of hours. It is day three and it is still not done. We had to go buy more paint, and I ran out again before I finished this evening.
The twins are doing very well. Jordan is now getting Reglan and Zantac like her sister and it really seems to be helping. There has been less vomiting and she is eating quite a bit more. We have been keeping them off the monitors more often. Their skin was getting very irritated from the sticky stuff on the leads. Now we just hook them up when they are sleeping or when we "think" they will be sleeping.
The nights can still be a bit of a bear sometimes. Last night at around 1:00 they both decided to cry at the same time and were pretty fussy till about 5:00. I guess it is natural to want to fix it right now. Even though I know that they are ok and can wait a few minutes, it still stresses me out when they are both riled up at the same time.
I have a different diaper changing technique than Kari. She likes to live on the edge and will take the dirty one off before putting the new diaper in place. Thus leaving a naked infant on the unprotected bed for several seconds. I, on the other hand always slide the new diaper underneath the kid before removing the old one. This has saved me many times.
However, last night it did not. Since they were both crying, I was rushing to get a new diaper on Jordan. I got the new one in place and unfastened the wet one. As I was starting to remove the soiled garment Jordan got a hold of the leads to her monitor and was about to pull them off. So I paused long enough to untangle her, leaving the diaper in place. While I was trying to get the wires out of her vise like grip she dislodged the new diaper with her flailing legs. It was at this point that she peed and it ran off the old diaper onto the new one and off of that onto the bed. I lifted her legs to survey the damage. It wasn't too bad, new pajamas were in order, but there was only a small spot on the bed.
So I had two wet diapers, wet pajamas, a wet swaddling blanket and damp sheets. I thought, well, since she already "went" I didn't need the protective new diaper underneath. I balled them up and secured them with their little velcro straps and turned to get a new diaper from the pack. Then "No, No, NO, NOOO!" she really let loose. It was like watching a car crash. Time slowed down. I tensed, ready to spring into action, but it was too late.
Is it just girls that can start and stop and start again? Because, I can't do that. There is no stopping until the bladder is empty for the boys. Anyway, I pulled up the sheets to prevent it from soaking down to something that is not washable. Madison was still crying and Jordan was fairly calm so I put her in the swing and started feeding Madison. She got most of the way through the bottle before Jordan started crying again. So I stood up and patted Madison on the back. Pat, pat, pat, BOOM! "Oh great!" So I took my, vomit covered, shirt off got Madison clean and calm and got part way through feeding Jordan before Madison needed me again.
I got both kids fed, sheets changed, and myself sort of clean (splashed some water on myself, put on deodorant, and a squirt of cologne.) by shift change.
Here are a few more pictures. I have more, but just have not had the time to upload them yet. More soon.
Rylee is becoming quite a ham when you point the camera at her now.
The girls are quite fond of Grandmom and Papa.
Note: Those white painting suits only stop splatters. If you wipe your hands on them you will get paint on your Dry Clean Only pants.
Rylee likes riding on Papa's shoulders.
Saint Grandmom and Dad with the twins.
Sunday afternoon races0 comments Posted by Unknown at 22:52
The crowd gathers for the Sunday afternoon street race.
Rylee, having just set a new record in the quarter block tricycle event, throws down a challenge to her younger sister. "There is no way that you can beat that time, Reagan."
Never one to turn down a challenge replied "I can take you any day."
Rylee points out the starting line.
Reagan gets into position and revs the engine.
One last minute check by race officials for any illegal modifications. "I don't think that bag is sanctioned."
Reagan surveys the track and mentally prepares herself.
She finally puts on her racing face and hits the gas.
At the finish line the pit crew unstraps "Racin Reagan" from her machine. The judges compare the times and it is a tie.
Reagan gives the crowd one last smile before heading to the post race celebration.
Heading to drivers party to tap a keg of apple juice.
Rylee - Showing promise as a photographer0 comments Posted by Unknown at 22:23
I turned Rylee loose with the digital camera this evening. I was suprised how well she did. There where some pictures like this and several of the floor. But look at some of them. Not too bad.
Be careful of what you are watching. Even prime time can be a little racy, especially when you see it through your child's eyes.
The dogs proved to be interesting subjects and they weren't moving too fast.
I thought that this was an interesting point of view. However, I guess this is what everyone looks like to a toddler.
She got several shots of Bunker. She likes to get several and then pick the best one.
Candid photos to round out the album.
As always it is fun to record the goings on with the twins. This one is Madison getting buckled in for a nap.
It is nice to see that she didn't forget her other sister Jordan. I am sure that Reagan would be in some if she were awake.
This is me trying to teach her not to put her fingers over the flash.
Heavy Weights!0 comments Posted by Kari at 18:07
As of October 19th...
Madison is weighing in at 10# 3.48oz
Jordan is weighing in at 9# 1.28oz
Labels: Updates
Full house and we are loving it.0 comments Posted by Unknown at 10:47
Papa got in yesterday, as did Papa Wayne and June. It has been nice to have the house full of family. It reminds me of Christmas in Ouray when there were 6 or 7 families sometimes more. Kids running around, pleasant conversation, always someone around to lend a hand, it just feel festive.
The Grandparents took over last night and Kari and I were sent out to celebrate our anniversary. It was really great to get away for just a little bit with just my bride. It almost felt like we were back dating again and it was the most I have seen Kari smile in a long time. But, it wasn't long before we were missing the kids.
Grandmom and Papa Spencer took the graveyard shift and sent us to bed. I got about three hours of sleep before my body told me that I should be up. I fought my alertness for about an hour and a half then gave up and went down to relieve Grandmom at about 2:30. The twins were excellent last night. After about 3:00 they settled down and slept till 8:00, with the exception of a diaper change for Jordan. My Dad and I dosed on the bed while the twins slept. So while I didn't get a full night sleep, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. We may be getting close to having the two of them sleeping through the night.
Wayne and June's dog sitter bailed out at the last minute and so Sinatra Blue, their nine week old puppy, came to play. Rylee especialy liked the puppy.
The twins were pretty good last night. However, they took turns being awake. They didn't fuss too much but did more eating than I hoped they would do in the middle of the night.
Not sure what the problem is, but I tried to post this last night and it didn't go. Hope you enjoy the pictures.
Blue in a timeout for nipping.
Blue taking over the big dog's bowl.
Rylee and Blue playing the "I'm gonna git ya" game.
Rylee being got.
Reagan was not as thrilled with the puppy. He was pretty neat as long as he was not jumping up on her.
Little dogs are fun too.
More on vomit and other interesting things0 comments Posted by Unknown at 03:43
3:45 a.m. and the twins have not shut their eyes since about 10:30 p.m. They are both groaning pitifully at the moment and I am out of ideas to make them happy. Okay, now I am holding Madison, she broke into a full on cry and is acting like she might vomit. Speaking of that.
I have taken every precaution. I now burp the girls in the bathroom and I am very careful about not feeding them too much. Well tonight I have been ganged up on all evening. I usually try to feed one at a time but there has been no way to keep them both quiet without feeding them together. Even when they are fed, burped, and changed they are not happy. I have tried swaddled, unswaddled, in the swing, in the bed, on the belly, on the back, on the side, rocking, bouncing, singing and now they are both on the bed next to me. (Still not happy really, though they are not screaming at the moment)
Anyway, at 2:00 they were both screaming and I fed them together. Each propped up on a pillow on the bed. It is a little hard on the back that way, but they were both quiet while the bottles were in their mouths. I took turns burping them and was feeling pretty proud of myself for getting through with no vomit. Then Madison gagged. So I took her to the bathroom and patted her and got one big very wet burp. Then BOOM! But this time is wasn't on me. Jordan, who had been laying quietly on the bed, erupted like a volcano. I kind of wish it made that boom sound. It was really more like someone dumped a pitcher of water on the bed from about three feet above. Kind of a splatting sound.
It was a bad one, out the nose and she turned pretty red by the time I put Madison down and got over to her. She obviously couldn't breath and it took what seemed like a very long time to clear her airway. She is doing good now, but I think she might be hungry again and I am scared to feed her. With as much as she spits up I am amazed that she is still gaining weight. I think that Kari said Jordan is 9.5 lbs and Madison is now 10.5 lbs. Now the sheets are changed, again, and the girls are changed, again, and my shift is almost over.
In other news...
Kari awoke this morning to the screams of a disgruntled toddler. Still bleary eyed, she stumbled to the bathroom. As she glanced at the toilet she noticed something white protruding above the rim of that porcelain bowl. Her first thought was that I must have clogged the toilet and just left it for her to discover. I wouldn't do that. Upon closer inspection she found that the toilet bowl had been filled with tampons and maxipads that had been stored at low altitude. Apparently Reagan thought that Rylee has been getting too much press and had to get in on the action while Grandmom was busy with the twins.
Papa should be in this morning. We can't wait to see him.
Jordan was hungry. And they are both fussing again.
Food for thought - dinner time at the Spencer's1 comments Posted by Unknown at 20:41
I had a few more pictures that I was going to put up tonight, but the twins got fussy.
We have been trying out a new technique. We are not waking them up to feed them. I am not sure how its working yet. Sometimes it is really nice and they will both sleep for a good while. However, sometimes they get on opposite schedules and one will always be awake, like tonight. So the jury is still out.
Mom and Kari think that I might be depressed. I may have hit a little low here, but I'm not doing too bad. I think that I was just hanging on before Grandmom got here and I didn't have time to break down. Now that we have a little help maybe some of that stress is coming out. I have been a little grouchy and there are times I have felt like "I quit." It does sometimes seem that there is no end to the screaming and crying. From the time I got up today till now there have not been many minutes where someone hasn't been crying or needing something. Rylee may have less time to control a tantrum before she gets a nap and I have had to turn the baby monitor off for a few minutes when both toddlers are crying, but overall I think I'm doing pretty good.
I thought it might be nice to see pictures of the twins from early on next to more recent photos.
Jordan shortly after arrival.
Jordan as "just a wee little thing"
Jordan as of just a couple of days ago. I think she looks..."better"
Madison early on.
Madison after eating her spinach.
Grandmom and Rylee taking a break.
The first photo of the whole family. We have started having dinner together. It is an adventure.
Rylee, Dad, and Jordan (I think). The big girls like to "help" us eat too.
As you can see dinner time is not all about the food. It is for enjoying the company.
Reagan, not a vegetarian.


text:
The VHF / UHF Listing is a list of the call-signs of stations with a checked score of 100 or more IOTA groups on the VHF / UHF bands.
Listing in the 2019 tables was restricted to those participants who had updated their scores since February 2014. IOTA rules limit inclusion in the listings to those participants who have updated their scores at least once in the preceding five years and have opted to have their scores published.
All participants should be reminded that the final decision on acceptance of credits is made by IOTA Management and that this can mean downward adjustments to scores at any time to reflect corrections of one sort or another. Data-cleansing work is on-going and covers every participant's complete record, not just the latest credits added. Although efforts are made to alert participants to score changes, this cannot be guaranteed to happen in each case.
Remember, the line of communication is via your checkpoint, so PLEASE do not route queries direct to IOTA Management or the IOTA General Manager. Always check first to see if the answer is in a recent IOTA Directory (2016 or 2018 edition).


text:
She's famed for her thrifty style when it comes to recycling outfits for official enagements, yet it still comes as some surprise to hear that Kate Middleton is not above haggling for a bargain when she sees something she likes.
For among the visitors to a recent antiques fair at a showground in Wales, not far from where Kate and William live, was the Duchess of Cambridge, and upon spotting a pair of antique vases that took her fancy, ruthless Kate she beat the stall holder down from £180 to £160.
Nick Bayliss, owner of Ludlow-based Continuity Fairs, who chatted with the duchess, said: "We had sent out complimentary tickets to Prince William and the duchess for our May fair and again in October, and to my absolute delight in she comes with her party on the Sunday morning and had her hand stamped with the green dragon by my daughter, who didn't recognise her."
Kate spent some time going round the fair before negotiating a best price on the Imari vases, according to the Antiques Trade Gazette.
Kate's grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, who keeps her breakfast cereal in tupperware boxes to keep it from going stale, would doubtless approve.


text:
Thanks for the confirmation. I actually tried that experiment last fall. I bought some thick moving blankets and hung them up in my basement. I found they had almost zero effect. The solid backing behind your sound insulation is key, me thinks. My blankets were just flapping in the wind with nothing behind them.Grandma Melonhead wrote:DAVE. Before I went out and bought a bunch of heavy blankets I did a test where I recorded a vocal completely underneath a heavy comforter (that is, I crawled under a blanket with a mic) and found that even that didn't really work. The room still made the vocal sound thin and you could hear the reverberation. So I didn't bother getting all the blankets and hooks.
I too was amazed that the Vox-O-Matic. Maybe I WILL order one after all! I wouldn't have thought that blocking off behind the mic would have that dramatic effect. I really want to experiment now.
Random Musical Ideas: Yeah, I record bits and pieces but almost never do anything with them later. Anymore, I find that unless the song comes to me quickly in one session it is hardly worth the pain of extricating a song from a jumbled mess of lyrics and random musical pieces. It is so much better when the whole song just comes.


text:
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text:
Indian Moon mission is go for 22 October
Hi-tech survey gig for Chandrayaan-1
India is all set to launch its first unmanned Moon mission on 22 October - the Chandrayaan-1 probe, which will over two years survey our satellite's surface with a rack of hi-res kit.
According to the BBC, the launch had been planned for April, but was knocked back due to "technical problems". The $83m mission involves input from six other countries, including the US. The European Space Agency has contributed three instruments to the total of 11 science payloads on board.
These include the Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC), designed to "map topography in both near and far side of the Moon and prepare a three-dimensional atlas with high spatial and altitude resolution"; the Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI) ("to provide ranging data for determining accurate altitude of the spacecraft above the lunar surface"); and the High Energy X-ray Spectrometer (HEX), which is described as "the first experiment to carry out spectral studies of planetary surface at hard X-ray energies using good energy resolution detectors".
Of course, you can't in all conscience send a spacecraft all the way to the Moon and not throw something at it, so Chandrayaan-1 is offering a piggyback to the 29kg Moon Impact Probe (MIP) destined to, as the name suggests, "impact on the surface".
The means of getting Chandrayaan-1 aloft is India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, which the Indian Space Research Agency says has "proved its reliability and versatility by scoring eight consecutive successes between 1994-2005 periods in launching multiple payloads".
Of course, as the BBC notes, the project has taken flak for being "over ambitious" and a "waste of resources" for a nation where "millions still lack basic services". Nonetheless, India's highly ambitious space programme includes dispatching a manned mission to the Moon "in the next few years". ®
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text:
Colorado's Lappe taking questions for "Fan Mail"
Remember when Colorado women's basketball was a must-see hoops experience? That was back in the days when Ceal Barry was coach and the Buffs were regulars on the national scene.
New CU coach Linda Lappe certainly remembers. She was a player for the Buffs from 1998-2003, a ride that culminated with three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2002 Elite Eight.
Although expectations are low for Lappe's Buffs – CU was picked to finish 12th in Big 12 by the league's coaches – Lappe is eager to restore luster to the program.
"I'm not sure what will be new and surprising, but I think what you'll see is a team that is passionate about basketball, passionate to be on the floor, passionate to wear the CU uniform," she said during last week's media day. "They have an understanding of the tradition. They have an understanding of the 53-game home win streak that we had here a while back and really take the court with a sense of urgency. We have to prove a lot this year. We have to prove a lot of people wrong; we've talked about that already."
Lappe has agreed to be the next subject of The Denver Post's "Fan Mail" feature. She is ready to take your questions about her team, her coaching philosophy and the excitement of a new season.
Please email your questions to firstname.lastname@example.com. Please be sure to include your name and where you are from.
Questions will be accepted through Wednesday.


text:
It's been quite some time since my last blog post. I blame it on work, quality family time, and the pending arrival of our second child any day now. Exciting stuff! But this being Good Friday and a holiday for me, I thought I'd take some time to give thanks and praise to a few of my favorite things that took place this past month…
(1) University of Hawaii Baseball Games – It's hard to beat a lazy weekend afternoon at the ballpark and Les Murakami Stadium is no exception. As University of Hawaii alumni, Kelly and I have enjoyed coming to cheer on the UH Rainbows for years, usually sipping on a couple of ice cold beers, chowing down on ballpark food, and the just kicking-back and taking in the atmosphere. And now Ensen loves it too. For $5/person, we sit in the upper deck and soak up the action. Give it a shot if you're looking for something fun to do the next time the Rainbows are in town.
(2) Golfing – Those who knew me a few years ago know that every chance I got, I was usually on the golf course…though that has changed significantly since Ensen was born. I've chosen to cut back on my golf game to spend more time with family, watching Little E grow up, and doing as much family activities on the weekends as possible. It's the way life should be. But don't get me wrong, every now and then, I need to be on a golf course, hack it around with friends, and enjoy some friendly competition. In fact, a couple friends – John Garcia and Shawn Nakamoto – and I recently started a new "social media golf club" of sorts – TwitterTeeOff.com. It's our humble attempt to mix social networking with one of our favorite sports. Here's a few photos from our first get together at Hawaii Kai Golf Course's Executive Course on March 6. Hope you'll come out and join us for our next…stay tuned.
(3) Kuru Kuru Sushi – The Kam family loves sushi and Kuru Kuri Sushi in Pearl Kai Shopping Center is our go-to place when we have a craving. As "conveyor belt sushi joints" go, this place is superior to all the others in my opinion. The quality of the fish and portions are always great, service is consistently awesome, and the prices are right. Plus the diversity of raw and cooked items on the menu means there something to please everyone's palate. However, be prepared to wait for a seat as this place is extremely popular. We've waited for up to 45, but I will tell you it's worth it. If you get there, let me know what you think.
(4) Chef Ed Kenney and Downtown/Town – One of the great things about working in downtown Honolulu is all of the great places to eat. One of my favorites is Downtown at the Hawaii State Art Museum (HiSAM). This is one of Chef Ed Kenney's two great restaurants in Honolulu (the other being Town in Kaimuki on Waialae which we love too!) where his motto is "local first, organic whenever possible, and with aloha always." And this shines on his beautiful plates of food. Fresh, simple, clean, and ono is the way I like to sum up the menu. For a true taste of local farm-to-table cooking, this is the place. I recently had lunch there with PR colleagues Melissa Malahoff-Kamei and Robin Carr and enjoyed the Kulana Ribeye with Ho's Farms Long Beans, Roasted Tomato, Chimichurri. Talk about one tasty steak!
(5) Blarney Burger at Murphy's Bar and Grill – Just ask my pal and co-worker Dan Zelikman and he'll echo the same sentiments about the Blarney Burger at Murphy's Bar and Grill. What exactly is a Blarney Burger you ask? Well it's a juicy and delicious burger topped with imported white cheddar and Guinness cheese and served with a good helping of fries. It's even more heavenly if you add bacon (as shown below). Murphy's is a favorite lunchtime spot of ours for good food and inspiring conversation. It's also a great place to run into the "who's who" of downtown Honolulu.
(6) Student Tours of Anthology Marketing Group – One of the rewarding things about working at Anthology Marketing Group is being able to share our company's story, expertise, and values with college students. The latest group to visit us a few days ago was the young men and women of the University of Hawaii's Business Executive Society of Tomorrow (or B.E.S.T.). One of my best buddies, Brad Araki, was one of the original founders of the club back in the day and this group has kept the momentum going. I've always been impressed with the leadership and activities this club organizes for its members. Mahalo to president Cody Momohara and his board for coming by to visit the agency.
So now I ask you. What's on your list of favorite things to do? I actually should have put photography on the list, but I'll save that for the next one. Happy Good Friday to all!


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Carlos Albizu University is ranked among the top five U.S. universities in conferring doctoral degrees to Hispanics
Find out about recent news from our University including upcoming events, and links to other sources of current information.
Published on Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Dr. Collado Schwarz, graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and Syracuse University in New York, has a doctorate from the Complutense University in Madrid, Spain. He has served as a professor for the Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico and the Faculty of Law of the University of Puerto Rico.
Author: Carlos Perez
Categories: Campus, Miami Campus, San Juan Campus, Type, News


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2019 Central Venous Access Device (CVC, PICC, TIVAD)
The Christie SoO
Event Details
Target Audience
Any member of staff required to perform central venous accessd devices (CVC, PICC, TIVAD) as part of their role.
Aim and Outcomes
Aim: To ensure staff have the knowledge and skills to safely and effectively access and provide continuing care for patients with a central venous catheter (CVC), peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) and totally implantable venous access device (TIVAD).
On completion the delegate should be able to:
- Demonstrate a basic knowledge of associated anatomy and physiology
- Identify a CVC, PICC and TIVAD and their indications for use
- Select correct equipment to perform the procedure
- Demonstrate safe and effective access of devices based on up to date evidence and policy
- Identify common complications and appropriate prevention and/ or management of these
- Explain own role in providing information for patients/carers in promoting patient self-care
Booking Terms & Conditions:
- Your place will only be confirmed once The Christie receives payment or the production of an official purchase order (PO) to confirm that your trust are willing to pay your delegate fees.
- Once your place is confirmed, you will be sent a confirmation email informing you of your place. Bearing this in mind, please ensure that your email address is correct.
- Should you need directions to The Christie, they can be found: http://www.christie.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/visiting-the-christie/directions-and-transport/
- Payment should be made before the course commences. If this does not occur, we reserve the right to cancel a booking in the case of non-receipt of payment prior to the day of course.
- In the event of a cancellation, you or your employer will be charged the full fee if you do not inform the course organisers at least 5 working days before the event.
- There will be an administrative charge of £30 for all cancellations unless a replacement delegate is identified.
- It is the responsibility of the representative booking the training course(s) to ensure that the event organisers are informed of any access requirements.
- A list of nearby accommodation can be found via the following link: http://bit.ly/2hOQL4r


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Time to man up and pick these playoff games. Be sure, when making your picks, to make it sound like you know what you're talking about! That way, people will totally think you know lots and lots about football, even though after kickoff you'll be proven hilariously wrong.
Okay, off we go.
Texans/Bengals. The Bengals are a low-scoring outfit. The Texans have struggled ever since losing Matt Schaub to injury. You'd think this would be a low-scoring affair, BUT YOU THOUGHT WRONG. I'm going with a high-scoring result just to make you look bad. Also, Arian Foster is awesome and deserves to run for 170 yards and win a playoff game virtually all on his own. TEXANS 34, BENGALS 33.
Saints/Lions. I get the whole, "Hey, Matt Flynn scored six TDs on the Lions, that means Drew Brees will score, like, twelve!" idea. But the NFL doesn't work that way. A team like Detroit does have the ability to adjust and NOT give up the same statistical output from the previous game. It can happen. Anyway, I like the Saints to go up big early, only to see the Lions make a fevered effort to make a game of it at the very end. SAINTS 35, LIONS 28.
Falcons/Giants. Just because the Giants won a whopping two games in a row (against choking teams) doesn't mean we should all hop on the "It's 2007 all over again!" bandwagon. Also, I'm rooting for Julio Jones to score four touchdowns in this game, just so Gregg Easterbrook's head explodes. FALCONS 26, GIANTS 17.
Steelers/Broncos. Like I said yesterday, John Fox should show some onions and bench Tim Tebow for this game. You're facing the #1 pass defense in football. How are you gonna score if you can't throw for more than one yard? Two more things. One: If the Texans win tomorrow, the Pats have to play the winner of this game, likely the Steelers. I can't imagine the Pats are very happy about that. I think they'd probably far rather get TJ Yates playing on the road. This is why the top seed should be able to pick it's divisional round opponent. Two: You don't want Tim Tebow doing some wacky Tebow stuff and winning this game at the end. I promise you, you don't. ESPN will ruin your life. STEELERS 14, BRONCOS 0.