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Star Trek Porn Story: Star trek ds9: Immortal Voyagers Part 2
Part Two.
Odo watched Conner escort Norman onto the Enterprise, both gave him
strange looks.
"I feel it now," said Conner,"It's faint, but I feel his presence."
"What do we do?"
"Nothing, he is not one of us, let his kind deal with him, as we
deal with our own," he gave Norman a meaningful glance, the captured
Immortal shuddered, envisaging his death when they arrived back on Earth,
and Conner's arranged accident for him.
Odo suddenly stepped forward,"Can you tell me something
Mr MaCleod?"
"Certainly Constable," said Conner, smiling.
"This Duncan, he was your cousin?"
"Strange, Duncan MacLeod once claimed kinship to one Russell Nash,
but that was one hundred years ago, before the Original Enterprise," he
waved at the ship above them,"Before it was even built, you don't appear on
any records until 5 years ago."
"I'm cleared with Federation security aren't I?"
"Yes, but something is wrong."
Conner sighed and handed Norman over to a waiting
security guard,"Take him on board, tell the Captain I'll catch up in a few
Norman stared at him strangely.
"There'll be plenty of time for you," Conner grinned,"But I'll be
staying on, to talk to Mr Odo."
Several hours later, the Enterprise left, and Fido happily sent out
the signal it had been instructed to.
Scotty stared after the Enterprise happily,"Always a beautiful
ship," he said,"But I feel like I should be on it, holding it together," he
smiled and walked back into Quark's bar.
In Ops, Sisko had a nagging feeling that something was seriously
wrong, he couldn't place it, call it instinct, but Kira wasn't around, the
computer was playing up and the Replicator would only serve Macaroni and
Cheese, which he hated. Odo would be working on that usually, but he was
immersed in deep discussion with Conner MacLeod, who had stayed behind for
some reason when the Enterprise had left.
"Computer, where is Major Kira?" he asked, her comm badge giving no
response, he waited patiently,"Computer?"
"We are running within acceptable operational limits."
"What?" he asked, O'Brien popped up from beneath a monitor, threw
down his tools in disgust and looked up at Sisko,"I'm sorry sir, it's
running damn slow…..It just answered a question I asked half an hour
"What is wrong?" Sisko asked, expecting a highly
detailed, incomprehensible answer, but O'Brien merely shrugged and
said,"Not enough power."
"Somehow we're losing power, I can't find any leaks or breaches,
it's just disappearing from all computer systems."
"Is there any outside force…?"
"No, I checked, the station is totally secure, but somehow we're
losing all energy."
"If it's not leaving the station, it has to be going somewhere."
"That's just it, what part of this station exists that we don't know
about that can suck energy and not be detected?
It's not possible for anything to exist like that without being
detected, it has to be part of the mainframe…..," suddenly he remembered
his conversation with Geordi,"I fed it into an unused system and cared for
it ever since……a part that was completely separate from the
"What?" said Sisko, perplexed.
"Fido!!" cried O'Brien,"It's stealing the power."
Kira couldn't believe it, she had climaxed twice in the last five
minutes, her doubles tongue expertly lapping up her juices as they flowed
from her cunt. She had never known such pleasure before, at first Kira2's
tongue had lightly probed her cunt lips, more annoying than arousing, but
then she had began to suck on them, her tongue darting back and forth over
her clitoris…..which had sent her off. Her now free hands massaged her
tits rather than tried to throw off the computer generated twin as she
exploded again.
"Oh by the Prophets," she cried,"Faster….please faster."
Her double complied quickly and ran her hand down to her own cunt,
wanking herself in exactly the same way as Kira herself did…those little
bastards had obviously taped her a lot. But right now she was more likely
to give Jake and Nog blowjobs than to kill them, this was so fucking
Her double moaned happily and came, her juices running over her
fingers, she cupped her wet hands around Kira's ass cheeks and slowly
massaged them as she continued to lick away quickly.
Kira knew she should be resisting…but she couldn't bring herself
to do it.
Sisko watched as O'Brien yelled commands at the computer and typed
in orders, the lights flashed on as part of his plan would work, then off
as Fido would compensate. The 'puppy' had refused to acknowledge the Chief
and Sisko was worried this particular little temper tantrum would kill them
all, they had attempted to contact the Enterprise but had been cut off
before they could even open a channel, not even Dax could penetrate the
security shield Fido had thrown up around the comms lines.
"Yes," cried O'Brien,"I've got a way to shut it down, it's sending
out energy signals to command the computer, it seems to speak the same
programming as the computer so it's ignoring my orders, but I can bypass
those signals and shut Fido completely down."
"For good?"
"No sir, Fido is firmly enmeshed in the computer, but I can
certainly knock him out for a while."
"How are you going to do it?"
"It's quite simple sir, remember the shield and engine we set up
when we first arrived here to take us to the wormhole?"
"Of course, it's where I met the Prophets."
"I can redirect Fido's energy signals into those
conduits, effectively shutting him off from us and putting up a temporary
shield….which will come in quite handy while we repair the damage he's
"Do it Chief, we have to stop this thing……." at that same
moment, an electrical surge blew O'Brien back against the wall, where he
slumped into unconsciousness.
"Chief!!" cried Sisko, he ran to the motionless man,"Doctor
Bashir," he cried into his comm-link,"To Ops now!!!"
Dax rushed to the computer, Sisko joined her as soon as Bashir
arrived, he looked down at the panel and cursed, he knew how to operate it,
but O'Brien's plan completely eluded him, Dax smiled at him nervously,"Don't
worry Benjamin, I think I can do what he was planning."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course……about 80% sure anyway."
"Just do it," said Sisko, and the station fell into complete
Kira lay motionless, around her the yellow grid of the Holo-Deck
shined dully, she slowly sat up, her double and the machine had disappeared,
so had the copy of her room and all signs of their being there, except of
course, for Kira's cum.
She moaned in disappointment, then caught herself, she had been
raped by the damn thing, she hadn't enjoyed it…had she? She slowly got
up and looked around for some sort of clothes, her own were ripped to
"Computer, are any holodeck costumes available?" there was no
answer,"Computer? damn it," she walked towards the door, it remained
stubbornly closed…..oh no…..what if she had to wait to be rescued? Who
would find her like this? She grabbed the doors and began to slowly pull
them open.
Odo and Conner had been discussing a great deal, he held in his
hand a letter opener covered in blood, Conner's blood, he had watched the
wound heal in front of him but still held out against the crazy idea that
the man was Immortal.
Suddenly the light's blacked out, Odo looked up angrily,"Damn it,
what's going on. Computer, activate emergency lights….computer?"
"No light? no computer?" said Conner,"Something is up."
"I didn't hear a red alarm, there can't be an attack."
They both stood and rushed to the door, it remained shut, they
quickly forced it open and rushed out onto the Promenade. They stared
around as vague figures rushed here and there, Quark screamed out about
robbers and a phaser fired, Odo immediately leaped down to the floor, his
legs almost magically stretching out before him.
"Quiet!!!" he shouted and for a brief second everyone stopped, then
they began moving again. Conner joined him and they looked around wildly,
suddenly a familiar humming sound filled the air.
"Someone's teleporting," said Conner and stared in shock as three
Cardassians appeared in front of him. The man standing at the front said
something irritably and then pointed a phaser at the Security man, before
he could move the blast hit him square in the chest, he collapsed.
Odo grabbed a Cardassian who just laughed and quickly stabbed him
with a knife, Odo smiled and began to reform his stomach, when
the Cardassian pushed a pill into the hole then rushed back. Odo felt a
growing pressure inside him and suddenly exploded, his body flying across
the Promenade, bits of him hitting the wall, one part falling into Triffle
soup and another on the dead body of Conner, which was even now repairing
it's wounds and preparing to revive him.
"Come," said one of the Cardassians,"We must take the station."
Sisko screamed for lights but got no reply, Dax pushed the buttons,
but without power they were useless, she yelled in anger and punched the
console, remembering how such an action had once helped O'Brien.
Worf appeared from nowhere, and shouted for silence, his deep voice
penetrating the room,"Attention," he cried,"There is nothing to worry about,
we'll all be fine if we just calm down."
Sisko grinned,"Worf is right, there is to be no panic, that's the
last thing we need, just calm down and we'll get the computers up and
running again."
He wished he knew how.
Kira slid through the dark corridors silently, hiding whenever
someone approached, but she didn't hear the three men approaching until she
bumped into them. Thank the Prophets for the dark she though and mumbled
apologies. But the three men did not step clear, one said quietly,"She's
Bajoran," she felt instant fear rush through her as she recognized the
accent, Cardassian!!!
The leader grabbed her and pulled her against him, cupping her
mouth in his hand, he muttered something in Cardassian to himself and then
said out loud,"A stroke of luck, she's naked!!"
"Hehe, the program must have caught her in the shower," whispered
the second,"What's our time so far?"
"Fifteen minutes," said the last,"We're a half hour ahead of
"That's plenty for this Bajoran bitch, let's see her face," the 2nd
Cardassian pulled out a small stick and snapped it, a small light emanated.
"My Go….It's Kira!"
Kira groaned as the Cardassian stared at her,"DuKat's told me a lot
about this bitch," he moved the stick down, taking in her naked body, he
smiled,"But I wonder if she's as good a fuck as he says?"
Kira struggled wildly against her captor as she heard these words,
the thought of her and Gul DuKat together was not only impossible, it was
revolting. The 2nd Cardassian grabbed her nipple and twisted, she squealed
"Stop moving bitch," he said,"I'm leader here, you – No'Kase – hold
her arms down, L'varn – her legs."
Kira was forced to the ground, her legs spread open with ease, she
resisted, but these Cardassians were tough, they easily held her down. She
heard the sound of cloth against flesh as the Cardassian leader removed his
pants, he grabbed her tits in his hands and suddenly she felt his mouth
engulf one nipple, he sucked on it, then teasingly probed at it with his
tongue. Above her No'Kase had managed to slip his pants off while still
holding her down, he thrust his hard cock at her face, she twisted her head
away. The leader grabbed her by the hair and smashed her head against the
floor, she opened her mouth to scream in pain but No'Kase forced his
fingers into her open mouth, forcing it to remain open. She suddenly felt
the Cardassian meat slide into her mouth, the leader had moved from her
tits to her cunt, which he probed dartingly, flicking back and forth
expertly over her clitoris. No'Kase twisted around so he was sitting on
her chest, her tits the perfect cushion for his ass, he began thrusting
his cock into her mouth, ordering her to suck and slapping her when she
didn't, she tried to bite but it was no good, his cock was too thick and
constricted the movement off her jaws, the best she could do was salivate
over his cock, which didn't do too much to get him out of the mood. The
leader – whose name she still did not know – moved his tongue away from her
cunt, he grunted angrily,"She hasn't come."
"She's already wet," said L'varn,"Fuck her…"
"No!" cried the leader,"I'll make this Bajoran bitch come if it's
the last thing I do."
"Remember our time-frame," grumbled L'varn, being the lowest ranking
member of the invasion team meant that he wasn't going to get any of the
hot Bajoran bitch.
The leader redoubled his effort, his tongue probed here and there,
slowly licking from her inner thigh up to the lips of her cunt first, then
rapidly nibbling away at her clitoris, the Cardassian was an expert on this
form of torture and Kira could feel her resolve wavering, she felt anger
flow through her, but she also felt helpless, she was being raped by two
Cardassians and couldn't stop them, she couldn't even call out because this
bastard Cardassian had his cock down her throat. Suddenly she felt a rush
flow through her, she arched her back slightly and moaned around the cock
thrusting in and out of her mouth, the Cardassian leader seized the chance
and licked away faster, probing at her cunt until suddenly she felt it
happen, an orgasm ripped through her – the combined experience of getting
fucked by the computer, her own double and now 2 Cardassians was too much,
she orgasmed and screamed in anger, No'Kase laughed, then stiffened and
Kira felt his cock jerk spasmodically in her mouth, then she felt warm
cum flow down her throat, she tried to spit it out but his cock was buried
deeply in her throat and she was forced to swallow the Cardassian cum. The
leader withdrew his tongue from her cunt and replaced it with a huge cock,
she cried out, but No'Kase had moved off her and was holding her arms down
and her mouth shut. The leader thrust his cock into her quickly, with no
thought for her pleasure, her humiliation only increased his desire. She
now understood the actions of the Bajorans who had raped all the captured
Cardassian women, and even the ministers who had had it televised. This
was revenge, plain and simple. He continued to thrust into her, his
thrusting motions making her tits flail wildly, moving first this way and
then that, the sensation was not entirely unpleasurable, she knew what was
going on, she was being brainwashed by the pleasure, she had seen it happen
to many Bajoran fighters, men hypnotized by women and women by men. She
gritted her teeth to show her displeasure, but her erect nipples told
another story, as did the next orgasm that was rocked from her, the leader
doubled his efforts, thrusting into her slowly now, recognizing she was
being dominated and humiliated, and enjoying it. He stopped and she cried
out in disappointment, her face flushed crimson with embarrassment and then
anger, she cried and struggled but he continued to fuck her with no
remorse, and as each orgasm was ripped from her, she wondered why on Bajor
she was resisting. Suddenly the leader stiffened, and then came, his sperm
rocketing down her passages, searching for her womb…she felt shock as she
considered the possibility of pregnancy. The leader moved away from her
and looked back at L'varn,"Okay ensign, prove your worth and finish this
bitch off, make her cum!"
L'varn saluted, holding both feet down with one hand to Kira's
embarrassment,"Yes Commander!"
The leader took L'Varn's position, L'varn stood up – and was
blasted across the room by a phaser, Kira looked up shocked and saw Thomas
Riker standing at the end of the corridor, an old style lamp held above
his head in one hand, a phaser in the other.
"Run!" cried No'Kase, leaving Kira behind he and the Leader charged
into the darkness.
"Major, are you all right?" Thomas asked, staring down at her,
obviously trying not to look at her tits or cunt, but also not at her
face, where Cardassian cum was still dripping from her mouth.
"I need some clothes," she said, trying not to sound embarrassed
or to let her tears show through,"Help me to my room."
End Of Part 2.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hilton Head Island resident Joseph Miller awoke early Monday to find part of his house in flames.
It wasn't the first time.
The fire that consumed a gazebo Monday near the home Miller hand-built on Oakview Road was intentionally set, fire officials said. It's the second suspicious blaze on Miller's property. The first occurred in August when his work shed and a lifetime collection of tools were destroyed by fire.
Miller said he was awakened by a noise early Monday and went out to shine his flashlight in the backyard. Shortly after, his 18-year-old son shattered a first-floor window to get out of his bedroom and called out that the house was on fire, Miller said.
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Two engines, a truck company and the battalion chief with the Town of Hilton Head Fire & Rescue Division arrived at 4:17 a.m. to find the 12-square-foot gazebo aflame. It was destroyed, along with about 20 feet of fence.
The flames also singed tangerine trees and azaleas.
Miller said he liked to relax in the gazebo, and he had just finished decorating it for Christmas.
During the holidays for more than a decade, Miller has transformed his home with a hodgepodge of wreaths, bright ornaments and lights. Two Santa Clause figurines -- one with dreadlocks wearing a novelty hat in pan-African colors -- were spared, but a third perched on the gazebo roof is gone.
The division, which has a fire-investigation unit, determined this one was no accident.
"There was electrical (wiring) in the gazebo, but not in the area of origin that could have caused the fire," said spokeswoman Joheida Fister.
Samples from the scene were collected for testing at the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office arson lab, Fister said.
Sheriff's Sgt. Robin McIntosh said investigators have not decided whether the evidence will be tested. Material collected from the Aug. 21 shed fire could not be tested because the tools and building materials stored there already included accelerants, such as gasoline and acetone, she said.
Miller believes the fire was set by someone who has a "beef" with his 24-year-old son, who also lives there. The Sheriff's Office has not released a motive or suspects.
Miller said he'll clean up the blackened wood frame that was once his gazebo. He got rid of the debris from the shed himself, tossing the charred material into a trash container loaned by The Deep Well Project.
Before he sets to the task again, he'll need some rest, he said.
"This thing has got me shaky, and I didn't sleep last night," he said.
Follow reporter Allison Stice at twitter.com/LCBlotter.
Related content: Hilton Head man uses his 'junk' to create real spirit of Christmas, Dec. 22, 2009
Suspicious fire burns down Hilton Head man's shed, Aug. 21, 2012


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Video Trailer: Nas – The Don
Nasty Nas drops a preview of his upcoming video for "The Don". Off his album Life Is Good which is anitcipated to drop this summer.
In the meantime check out hte Nas The Don Lyrics here.
One Response to "Video Trailer: Nas – The Don"
Wes on April 18th, 2012 6:28 pm
Don shit!
Leave a Reply


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do ya wanna know a secret?
When you look at successful people, regardless of their niche, they all seem to have one thing in common…they do things pretty much the same as everyone else except they have a little something they add to the mix that sets them apart. This one little thing is the thing that tips the scales just enough to sky-rocket them to a greater level of success.
They have a secret.
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The golden rule I live by is that there is no need to re-invent the wheel. When what is available works, don't mess with it! But at the same time use your experiences and knowledge to improve upon it.
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Fargo, N.D. – Block 9 Site Design
Block 9 Partners is set to complete the Block 9 project in downtown Fargo in 2019. This project, taking over the formerly known U.S. Bank Plaza, will include an 18-story mixed-use tower, 375-stall parking ramp and a civic plaza.
Moore Engineering will provide a mass excavation plan, a demolition plan, and a design development plan for civil site improvements including grading, drainage, erosion control, sanitary sewer, watermain, storm sewer, exterior pavement and hardscapes. Moore Engineering will coordinate with the City of Fargo on all storm water retention and water quality requirements for the proposed improvements.
Construction of the building is slated to begin in 2018.
Questions about this project?


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Find Your Signature Sound ProfileDid you know, the sound you hear is like your own fingerprint-UNIQUE...


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You're sitting in your treestand and notice that a great looking buck that you've been getting pictures of on your trail cam is approaching you from the cornfield that he just left. You slowly draw your bow as his head goes behind a large white oak and place your sight on his vital area as he appears on the other side. He stops for a second to survey his surroundings and a quick squeeze of your release trigger sends your arrow through his lungs. He then runs off only to fall within sight as you celebrate inside and savor the moment.
Now that you shot that buck of a lifetime, take some pictures that everyone - including yourself - will be happy to see. These few, but simple ideas will help to compose an eye pleasing "hero shot".
First off, take a little time to clean the blood off of the animal. Put some paper towels in your pack for this, or even a handful of dry leaves will work in a pinch. You can then place your gun or bow over the wound to cover it. A deer looks a little less majestic with it's tongue hanging out, so make sure to tuck the tongue back in it's mouth. Plastic or glass eyes can be purchased through taxidermy websites or catalogs and can be placed over the deer's eyes like a contact to eliminate that "dead" look. They cost around $10 and can be reused many times.
Article Photos
The author with a fine buck taken with a bow.
Try to take your pictures before field dressing the animal and in it's natural surroundings. It lets others get a feel for the hunt and shows the deer's preferred area. There is nothing worse than pictures of your animal hanging from the rafters of your garage with a bunch of tools, gas cans and clutter in the background. Pictures of a deer in the back of your truck are undesirable too. It's not that we don't want to see how awesome your new truck is, it just doesn't make a very attractive backdrop.
Take a moment to inspect the area around you for anything that will distract the eye from the trophy to be photographed. Clear any brush or debris that will block the view through the camera lens also.
Make sure the sun is not behind you. Your camera's light meter will be tricked and the subject will appear dark and shadowed. Also, facing directly into the sun will cause you to squint. Instead, face the sun at a 45 degree angle. Use a flash, even during daylight picture taking. The flash will eliminate any harsh shadows, especially helpful when wearing a baseball cap. If no flash is available, tilt your cap back a few inches to reduce the shadow caused from the bill of it.
Fact Box
The instant viewing feature of today's digital cameras make getting great pictures much easier than the 35mm cameras of the past, so there's no excuse to not get good photos.
Positioning yourself to the side, rather than directly behind the antlers aids in making sure they don't get lost in your camouflage. A clear blue sky or a solid colored object behind the antlers makes the best background for this. Placing the camera low to the ground or at least at the eye level of the deer will also make the animal appear bigger. Never sit on or straddle the animal. I saw a picture of a record book buck not long ago and the first thing that I noticed was the hunter straddling it. It was a fantastic buck, but a weird looking picture to say the least.
The instant viewing feature of today's digital cameras make getting great pictures much easier than the 35mm cameras of the past, so there's no excuse to not get good photos.
Most of us are in a hurry to get the animal out of the woods and to a meat processor immediately after the shot, but try to remember to take as many pictures and from as many different angles as possible. Many pictures to choose from makes getting at least a few great ones a sure thing.
Article Links
A few would argue that all of this prepping of the animal and blood wiping is hogwash and continue to snap away the unattractive and sometimes offensive pictures, but the question is - why would you not want a nice picture of the animal, especially if it's a trophy? Other than a mount, a picture is the next best thing to show it off!


text:
Jesus Christ,
where do we begin?
In the beginning,
which wasn't a beginning.
At a time
when there was no time.
Long before the morning stars sang together.
Before God's body
warmed the cool air of stellar space.
Before the world was hung
on invisible string
and spun like a top on its axis.
Before the seas roared in angry voice,
and the trees laughed in the wind.
Before the mountains proudly lifted their heads,
and the deserts cried out in thirst.
Long before an Unseen Hand
scooped up a batch of clay
from a muddy stream
and molded a living sculpture
that caught the breath of angels.
Before pain was etched on the brow
of a solitary face,
or a tear dropped crystalline
from a single eye.
Before the first cry was heard to burst forth
from between a mother's legs,
or a note was plucked
upon the string of an angel's lyre.
When the world was but an egg
incubating in the mind of God.
In the beginning.
When all there was
was silence….
and the Word.
The Word.
In the beginning
without beginning.
Eternity spinning in upon itself
and out again.
The Word was as timeless
as God,
as a clock with no hands or face.
As endless as Life.
Without lips to loose labials
or tongue to grunt gutturals.
Without teeth to sing sibilants,
or mouth to speak it into being.
The Word was.
Ready to communicate
Ready to speak
the first stammering,
s…s…stuttering syllables.
The Word hung on Sacred lips,
for the moment it would speak itself
into words that form sentences of reality.
Then, the silence will be broken.
The Word will speak universes, galaxies,
a tiny rotating blue orb,
and finally….
a word of skin and speech
not unlike itself….
a babbling being.
the Word as
Divine Wisdom.
She waits to woo and win the world,
even before She walks
into the room of time.
One with God,
like two peas in a pod,
twins who wear the same clothes
and think the same thoughts.
distinct from,
yet, fully God.
Very God of very God.
One with the Word.
And yet, other.
As other as the babe nestled in Mary's womb
waiting on the edge of the world
to be born.
In a word,
to be heard.
Without throat, teeth, or tongue,
the Word spoke….
And silence shattered
into a billion stars,
like broken glass
from an opera singer's high note.
A world was expelled
by a cough from the lungs of God,
spoken into being.
Tinier than a mustard seed
caught in God's teeth,
it was flung into space
by one able to move mountains
with the blink of an eye,
fill seas with her tears,
create canyons with her footprints,
who says "Be!"
and it is.
After speaking a six-day sentence,
the tongue of the Word rested,
then tasted what She had made
with one luscious lick.
The Word said,
"It tastes mighty good!"
And the Word became
One day in time,
in eternity
spinning in upon itself
and out again,
Adam's hand
snapped the string that held the world.
The wobbling world
fell from Eden's perch
with a CRASHHHH!!
and cracked like a fragile vase
from a Potter's wheel.
In pain and anguish
the Potter spewed forth colored words
over the broken, gray world.
The words landed
on the tongues of poets and prophets,
who cried out
in the desert
of punctured promises,
wilderness wanderings,
corrupted kings,
tainted temples.
God's tongue
tasted the nation of her choosing.
It had gone sour.
The Word kept crying out
word upon word upon word.
The stammering, stuttering Word
stuck on the same sounds,
a broken record,
playing over and over
for a broken world
lying on the dying floor.
From deep within the bosom of God
the Word prepared to speak
a word unlike any word
that ever fell on human ear
or rolled off prophet's tongue.
The Word rumbled around
in the belly of God
a mouth to speak it,
a tongue to articulate it,
a body to dance it,
a womb to birth it.
Then, the Word found
an open door into the world,
the only way to enter
the blood and bone sanctuary.
The Word became flesh.
Not like the putting on of clothing
to walk into the cold of winter.
Nor like an ancient actor wearing a mask
that displays personae and hides identity.
The Word became flesh,
vulnerable and vexed,
weak and wearied,
finite and fragile,
Just to speak the word
grates across the tongue.
Paraded and pink
on long legs looking for lonely lovers,
pleasure for pay.
Tan and taut
as leather stretched over a cage of bones
lying on the streets of Calcutta.
Bruised and battered
by angry hands
in a home bittersweet home
where Sophia cries.
Pale and pocked
By a four-letter disease
that numbers your days.
Wrinkled and wormed
lying in a satin-lined box
dust to dust.
The Word became flesssshhh.
Tormented and tempted,
tried and tested,
and tight enough
to be pierced
and hung out to dry
on two crossed sticks.
The Word
packed up its heavenly tent
and moved to a new home
sweet home
in the belly, of all things
…. a virgin.
From flesh came flesh.
In a barnyard of beasts.
Pushed out onto the hard earth
like raw meat
hanging in the window of a butcher shop.
The screaming wonder
wrapped in strips of cloth,
a mummy for the tomb.
The Word entered the world
of babbling beings
unable to speak…a word.
While angels bent over the earth
silent as a whisper.
Wrapped up tight
in the humanity of that child,
a future of unborn days,
when that fine hair will glisten
with water from the Jordan river,
when those tiny hands will scoop up mud
and heal hollow eyes,
when those lips will drip words of honey
on the tastebuds of hungry ears,
when those two round eyes,
as big as worlds,
will look upon the multitudes
hungry for more than bread,
thirsty for more than wine,
longing for true communion.
The day will come when those small ears
will hear the whispers of heaven
and clothe them in words.
The Word pitched a tent among us,
stretched out the cords of a sacred temple,
nailed them down,
and made our home his home,
our sod his sod,
our God his God.
Even death,
the end of speech,
could not silence him.
The Word still speaks.
The Word that was
and is
and is to come,
is with us.
When we toss and turn
in the sheets of pain,
sit in solitude,
hold the crumbs of our future
in our trembling hands,
or when life bursts through our door
with party horns blaring
and rainbow streamers flying
curly-cue in the air,
or when sitting
on the edge of the world
watching the dying sun
paint the sky with invisible brush
colors that pale the palette of Picasso.
The Word is with us,
when little ones make their singing debut
in the maternity ward,
or when a wrinkled hand drops limp
at the side of a rocking chair
in a rest home,
sweet rest, home.
The Word still speaks
in words wrapped in the swaddling clothes
of the human .
The Word became flesh.
With human face.
Have you seen the Word?
broken smile,
broken spirit,
begging near the freeway off ramp.
looking for cans in the park,
a sleeping place in the dark.
The Word with a face
seen between empty spaces
of iron bars
or at empty places
like local bars.
To miss the face,
the other,
the Word,
among the least of these,
is to stop the ears
to the sound of sacred speech,
and to end up as guilty as a goat
on judgment day.
O, Wondrous Word,
Let us see your face.
As black as night
in a Savannah swamp,
as pale as the moon
on Chesapeake Bay,
as red as mud
on an Oklahoma road,
as brown as earth beneath
Mexican sandals.
O, wonderful Word,
Will we listen for your voice
only in soaring song and silent sanctuary,
in petitioning prayer and preacher's proclamation,
in bound Bible and believer's bosom?
Or will we tune our ears
to listen for the Word
in the lost and lonely places,
the forgotten and forsaken places,
the marginal and manger places
of this turning orb?
The Word still speaks
from as far away as forever
or as near as a neighbor.
The Word still speaks
louder than dividing walls that fall.
Quiet as a flower budding
on April's first birthday.
The Word still speaks
in eternity
spinning in upon itself
and out again
and in the still, small voice
of this moment….
The Word
is with us.
And we behold the glory,
full of grace and truth.


text:
"'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
"'He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.'" Luke 4:18,19 (NRSV)
When these words, which Jesus spoke at the beginning of his mission, were read out in Church last Sunday we were informed that some passages from Isaiah 61 were missing.
When I got home I looked it up.
Apart from some paraphrasing the obvious omission came at the end of the reading.
Isaiah 61 has "'and the day of the vengeance of of our God.'" Isaiah 61:2b (NRSV) after "'the year of the Lord's favor.'" Isaiah 61:2a (NRSV)
Could it be that, like myself and many other Progressive Christians, Jesus did not believe that God was vengeful.
The overwhelming spirit of Jesus' mission was love, forgiveness, compassion, and generosity (abundance).
It has been demonstrated elsewhere that the writers of the Gospels put words retrospectively into Jesus' mouth.
Could it be that we are being given justification for our practice of removing from the end of passages about God's nature the additional lines of vengeance and punishment.
This occurs elsewhere in the Bible.
Jonah's declaration of the nature of God (Jonah 4:2b) which refers to Exodus 34:6,7 omits the last lines about guilt and punishment.
Could it be that later writers discerned more clearly the nature of God?
The image of God evolves in the Bible from a primitive tribal god to be appeased to the benevolent, loving Father of all that Jesus showed us.
I am prepare to say that the Old Testament prophets were wrong when they spoke of vengeance and punishment from God.
God is all-loving, all-forgiving, and all-compassionate.
His nature is the abundance of life.
His light has no shadow.
And His heart is full of Love.
(Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.)


text: One of the first GBCSA registered Multi-Unit Residential Pilot projects in South Africa is being planned for Port Elizabeth, South Africa. To be developed by Fusion Properties, the project will consist of 5 individual units sloping into the Baakens Valley, a verdant area which is often thought of as the "lungs of the city". Targeting a 4 Star rating, the homes will incorporate various 'green building' principles including green roofs, sustainable building materials and passive design.


text:
This warranty applies only to Higuera Hardwoods LLC Eco Elegant line Solid Prefinshed bamboo flooring products installed in residential buildings.
This warranty applies only to Higuera Hardwoods LLC bamboo flooring installed in residential buildings. Higuera Hardwoods LLC was formed to provide the finest bamboo flooring on the market. Our exclusive source in China uses the finest German production technologies available for producing and finishing our products, which allows us to provide one of the finest warranties available for all of our products. This warranty is subject to a few exclusions that are specified below:


text:
I was at my hormonal wisdom workshop this week and one of the things I spoke about was screens and stress.
Screens are part of the landscape now, whether we like it or not. And mostly, we like it.
My husband and son went to stay with his father for a couple of nights this week. I received a late night message:
'Dad's stopped paying the bill, so there's no wifi.'
He wasn't happy but it wasn't the end of the world; he still had his phone and a 4G connection.
My daughter's phone battery life is limited so until she can afford a new phone she goes everywhere with an additional battery pack.
I take my phone to the park so I can take photos of my dog walk.
Does this sound familiar?
I can help you:Stop catching everything that's going
Have trouble-free periods
Get ready for pregnancy
Sail through your menopause
Get a good night's sleep
Have nice clear skin
When you want to get yourself sorted out you know you'll need regular treatment for a while.
With this in mind, it's important to make sure you choose the right person to work with and I know that's a big decision.
That's why I offer a free Discovery Call to anyone who is thinking about working with me.
It's easy to book your free call on my Book Now button.
Or, just call me on 07946545040 and if I can pick up, I will. Leave me a message and I'll return your call.
Tell me what's going on for you and ask me all the questions you like. I'll be honest and open about what you can expect from working with me. If I'm not sure that I can help, I'll say so.
If you're in a different time-zone or it just seems easier to email, I'm happy to chat that way too. You'll find my contact form in the menu at the top.
I look forward to hearing from you!


text:
Dec 11 2017 19:00 - 20:30
St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington Church St, W8 4LA London
Sentebale are delighted to announce the return of our Christmas Carol Concert on Monday 11th December at St Mary Abbots Church in Kensington.
Doors will open at 18.30 | Concert begins at 19.00
Join us for an evening of festive fun to celebrate and raise awareness of Sentebale's work with children affected by HIV in southern Africa.
The programme will include an array of ever popular Christmas carols, together with performances from soprano Laura Wright, one of the biggest selling classical artists of this decade, and the St Mary Abbots Primary School choir!
Olivia Grant, star of hit Channel 4 drama series Indian Summers, will be reading at this special event.
All guests are invited to join Sentebale for seasonal refreshments immediately after the service.
Doors will open at 18.30
Where your money will go:
All proceeds from the 2017 Sentebale Carol Concert will support our programmes of education and care for children and young people affected by HIV in southern Africa. Fundraising initiatives like the Carol Concert enable Sentebale to continue the delivery of this vital work, and give even more children affected by HIV the bright future they deserve.
The Sentebale 2017 Carol Concert is generously supported by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Camp Kerala and Moyses Stevens.
Not Available
Child (under 12)
Not Available


text:
My husband and I are innately different people. He is an optimistic, experiential, confident, next-step-at-a-time kind of thinker. (In my world, we often call this personality "an engineer.") I am a cynical, predictive, worried, let's-think-ahead-to-all-the-things kind of thinker. (In my world, we usually say this person is "a project manager.")
Lest I forget, which I tend to do in a haze of wishful thinking: this is not good when it comes to any sort of projects. GAWD HELP ME, I want to hang the man out a window by his toenails.
Thing is, we share a sucker-ness for good deals, discomfort with "what they say," and overinflated sense of how much we can accomplish in a given time. He thinks it'll be easy; I forget we'll fight most of the time.
So, while this frustration is fresh in my mind as I dance around staying out of it versus fully project-managing it, I will say, to the world: WE SHOULD NOT BUY ANOTHER DIY HOUSE. We should spend more on something smaller, not worry so much about ease of increasing the value by doing projects X, Y, or Z, and accept that while the quality on something might not be as good if we don't do it ourselves, and we'll likely pay more than we'd like, we will kill each other if we do this again.


text:
There's no doubt that Morocco is a multi-ethnic country, from both a historical stance and a cultural stance. Their traditional music is multi-faceted, and the different ethnic groups have their own varieties and variations of their music.
Andalusian music (music of Andalusia, or Muslim Iberia [Spain and Portugal]) is a mix of the music of the Maghreb with the music of Iberia. Other popular styles of traditional music include Berber music, Sufi music, mystical Gnawa music, Chaabi music, and classical Malhun music. Some of the differences between these different styles include whether it's for a religious or spiritual purpose or who performs it or what function the music is for.
While there are certainly differences between the various styles of music, some instruments are used throughout the region. Vocal music is still at the heart of their music. Instruments such as the rabab (like a fiddle), oud (lute), qanun (zither), tambourine, kamenjah (like a fiddle that is played upright held by the knees), darbuka (type of goblet drum, usually made of metal or pottery), handwa (small, brass cymbals), swisen (small folk-lute that is typically pitched higher; there's also a bass version called a hadjouj), and the garagb (metal castinets) among others.
And like the diversity you find in their music, each ethnic group has their own dance as well. A few of the more common dances from Morocco include the shikat (belly dancing), ahwash (danced in the High Atlas Mountains, where women dance to a circle of male drummers), guedra (a type of Tuareg Berber dance performed by women), and the gnaoua (performed by men to drive out spirits, typically danced with acrobatic moves).
And certainly as they moved forward into independence and the latter half of the 20th century, their music was influenced by European and American music along with other areas of Africa and the Middle East. The first one I sampled was the music of Cheb Mimoun. There are several Moroccan musicians who perform their own version of rai music, a style of music far more popular in neighboring Algeria. The music uses some traditional instruments mixed with some modern ones. I think the rhythms drive the music—not just in the percussion lines but in the instrumentals as well.
Hanino is another musician who falls into this rai music genre as well, but to me, it's a little more modernized. There are times when I swear he's using autotune. There's something I like about this, though.
There is also a huge hip-hop scene in Morocco. For the most part, they base their style off of American-style hip-hop. I first listened to Dizzy Dros. The music is catchy and the change ups are spaced well. I liked his rhythm and flow; his voice reminded me a little of Cypress Hill in a way at times, except that he was rapping in Arabic with some phrases in English mixed in. I listened to the album 3azzy 3ando Stylo, and what impressed me was that the album was long—it had 21 songs!
Another big name in Moroccan hip-hop is Muslim. His style wasn't too much different than that of Dizzy Dros, although, I think sometimes he integrated traditional melodies into his music. The way he raps was a little more dark, maybe more gangsta? I don't know. I liked what I heard, though; I saw he collaborates with quite a few other artists.
I also came across a Moroccan rock band called Lazywall. Most of their songs are sung in English, and I think they're great. Their style is an early-to-mid 2000s-style alternative rock, kind of similar to Audioslave. Ok, I am actually pretty damn impressed with them. In fact, I followed them on Spotify just so I can listen to them later in the car. They might be my new favorite band of the day.
There are other genres represented in Morocco as well. One Moroccan DJ and singer, who goes by the name Dub Afrika, has a few songs that are pretty catchy in the dance/club category. There's also a small metal scene; I listened to a song by the band Sakadoya called "Back to the Age of Slaves." It's pretty metal in every sense. While everyone knows by now that I'm not such a fan of screaming in music (I do have my moods and moments where I don't mind it), their instrumental playing is on point.
Up next: the food


text:
When you or someone you love is first diagnosed manic-depressive, it's hard to know what to make of this bewildering and frankly terrifying new label. How do you come to grips with an illness that often renders its victims unable to work, that nearly always leads to a lifetime of medication and expensive medical care, and leads to suicide with tragic frequency? Here are some steps that may help.
1. Quiz the doctor who gave you the label. Your first job is to make sure the diagnosis is accurate, so you need to know how she came to the conclusion that you're bipolar. A lot of diseases can mimic bipolar disorder — among them schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder — so ask her what in your history or current behavior points towards this diagnosis. Sometimes the symptoms of depression and mania will be classic and obvious; other times, mania may come in the form of aggression rather than grandiosity, for example, and depression may be so chronic and deep that it's easy to overlook episodes of mild mania. You need to be skeptical without engaging in denial, which is tough.
Here are some resources that may help you to accept a diagnosis or research it further: here's a list of symptoms from the National Alliance on Mentally Illness; and here's another from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Here's Wikipedia's definition, which includes a comprehensive list of the different flavors of bipolar disorder — Bipolar I and II, cyclothemia, and so forth. AllPsych Online includes information taken from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV, which psychiatrists use to diagnose mood disorders and to distinguish between them.
2. Read everything you can find about the disease, asking yourself "Is this me?" The touchstone book for most bipolar people is Kay Redfield Jamison's memoir An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness. Many people see themselves in her description of her struggles, and are inspired by her incredible achievements despite severe illness and brutal side effects from medication that, in her judgment, she must take. I also recommend her textbook, Manic-Depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression, written with Frederick K. Goodwin. Though it is massive and intended for psychiatrists and psychologists, more than any other resource it helped me to accept my diagnosis and understand its implications. Both are an excellent place to start. I do not recommend her book on suicide, Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide, as a starting point; it can be deeply frightening, and can lead to a sense of helplessness and hopelessness concerning bipolar depression.
There are many other excellent memoirs available from the perspective of both sufferers and their family members — a search of Amazon will bring up several. There are also a slew of books on controlling bipolar disorder; I hope to begin reviewing them soon. For now, I really recommend browsing the NAMI and DBSA home sites; they offer numerous excellent resources, to the point of being bewilderingly comprehensive.
3. Try the medication prescribed for you and see what does and doesn't work. Often you will respond well to medications intended for your condition — for instance, if you're bipolar, you may get a lot of relief from mood stabilizers. Of course, you may be among the minority that simply can't tolerate them, or doesn't respond to them, and still be as bipolar as can be. If antidepressants cause manic symptoms, that's an excellent indicator right there; it's how I was finally diagnosed.
4. It may take years to get an accurate diagnosis from a doctor, so it's up to you to research your symptoms thoroughly and make sure that your shrink is aware of the full range of symptoms that you experience. This will help her to tease out exactly what flavor of mood disorder you're experiencing. As you will discover, there are innumerable variations on bipolar disorder: rapid-cycling, bipolar I, II, and even III and IV, according to some doctors. All of these point to different courses of treatment.
5. Start tracking your moods, medications, sleep patterns, and other behaviors. Here are some excellent online and hard-copy resources: the DBSA Wellness Tracker; moodtracker.com, which will produce nifty charts and even let your doctor sign on to see how you're doing; for you old-school folks who prefer to work from hard copies, the DIY Planner site offers excellent charts to track moods and thoughts. I highly recommend the Daily Mood Journal from this site. You'll have to page down a little to find it, but when I track my moods (which is to say, not nearly as consistently as I should), this is what I use.
6. Begin working on wellness immediately. Begin an exercise plan (after consulting with your doctor to make sure it's safe for you); track your sleep patterns and practice good sleep habits; quit caffeine, or at least limit it drastically (yeah, I know, this coming from the four-cup-a-day queen — but it would help me!); eat well and don't go on crazy diets in an attempt to lose weight (more on good eating habits for bipolar people in a later post). And for crying out loud, if you drink or use street drugs, stop as soon as you possibly can, using whatever resources you need (again, more on this later).
That said, don't try to change every bad habit at once. Set priorities and focus on taking one baby step per month. Probably the best guide to changing habits is the blog Zen Habits, which offers not just excellent advice, but a support group for people who are taking the author's 30-day challenge to change a single habit. Great stuff, from which I've benefited enormously.
7. As I said in a previous post, find a support group. This takes a certain suspension of disbelief. Your fellow sufferers may seem like a pathetic lot who can't control their own lives, let alone teach you about yours. But persist: there's an amazing amount of wisdom in these groups, and over time you'll be surprised by the brilliance, accomplishments, and courage of even deeply ill members.
These steps should be a start. You needn't ( and probably couldn't) apply them all at once. The most important one is to educate yourself online and through books. Chances are that your shrink has had very little experience treating people who are seriously mentally ill (as opposed to just neurotic), so you'll need to advocate for yourself every time you visit her.
But what if you don't have insurance but suspect you're bipolar and need treatment? Well, that's a matter for another post; so is health care reform, an issue that has been obsessing me lately. Don't you worry — this blog will agitate loudly and persistently for meaningful health care reform once I gain a little momentum.
Love to all.


text:
My Nonna Annalucia passed this morning at 6am (our time).
Monday, January 20, 2014
When loved ones relocate to Heaven
My Nonna Annalucia passed this morning at 6am (our time).
30 comments:
- Something Nice and Pretty said...
I'm so sorry for your loss, you look like her a bit♥
- January 20, 2014 at 7:06 PM
- Lena said...
I'm so sorry for your loss, my friend!! Sending hugs and prayers your way!!
- January 20, 2014 at 7:29 PM
- Sarah said...
Daniela, I'm sorry for your loss. I know the sudden feeling of emptiness. My mom, 99, passed away Thanksgiving morning, and then her sister, just two weeks later. It's the end of a generation in our family. A loss that is painful, though our hearts are filled with gratitude for the long, full life each one led. Thinking of you.
- January 20, 2014 at 7:43 PM
- Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes said...
I am so sorry for your loss. You really resemble her
- January 20, 2014 at 8:33 PM
- ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...
Oh Daniela I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
- January 20, 2014 at 9:02 PM
- Mary Palumbo Collings said...
Condoglianze Daniela… I ricordi di tua nonna rimangano nel cuore…
Baci, Mary
- January 20, 2014 at 9:17 PM
- Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...
I'm so sorry for you loss. There is an amazing resemblance.
- January 20, 2014 at 10:36 PM
- Libby said...
I'm sorry for your loss, Dani. I agree. It doesn't matter how long a person has lived, when they are gone, the pain is still very real. May you take comfort in God's word and His faithfulness throughout this time and forevermore.
- January 20, 2014 at 10:41 PM
- Jeanette@Creating A Life said...
I'm so sorry for your loss, Daniela. Sometimes grieving and hope do go hand in hand.
Blessings to you and your family.
- January 21, 2014 at 12:47 AM
- Suzan Oxenreider said...
I am very sorry for your loss. The wonderful memories you have will be a source of joy and comfort in the days ahead.
- January 21, 2014 at 1:27 AM
- Maria Elena said...
Daniela, I am so sorry for your loss. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs. Maria
- January 21, 2014 at 3:48 AM
- Rita C. said...
My thoughts are with you, Daniela. I wrote a personal post just about 2 weeks ago remembering my mom's passing (it'll be 7 yrs next week). Like you, I am hopeful to see her again. {Hugs}
- January 21, 2014 at 4:24 AM
- LittleMyoo said...
Yes, there is definitely a resemblance. I'm so sorry for your loss Daniela. You were blessed to have her for such a long time, but it's still so difficult to say goodbye. Hugs!!
- January 21, 2014 at 5:16 AM
- marty (A Stroll Thru Life) said...
Yes it is so hard to lose ones we love so much. God Bless. Hugs, marty
- January 21, 2014 at 5:29 AM
- Dee @ A Lapin Life said...
I'm sorry for your loss Daniela. A Grandma is extra special.
- January 21, 2014 at 5:38 AM
- Carla from The River said...
I am grieving with you. My grandma is in hospice right now. It has been a very hard time for our family. We thought she was going to be able to go to a nursing home, we had all the plans ready and the room set. Well, that did not happen, instead she got sick. We cleaned out her apartment last week. So many memories. I was best friends with my grandpa, so it feels like my grandpa is dying all over again too.
Praying for you.
xx oo
- January 21, 2014 at 8:15 AM
- Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...
Dearest Daniela,
Understanding fully how it feels like when your dear Nonna passes away and you sit here, across the big Ocean and tears cannot bring you nearer for attending her funeral. This is the very hard part of being a first generation immigrant. No matter what age, that does not change the level of grief... My Paternal Nonna lived to be 92-½ and my Maternal Nonna lived to be 97-½ and I always remember our last visit. But knowing in our hearts that they are still with us, without any pain and suffering and reunited with other loved ones that will wait for us to join them... Your Nonna now surely has become one of those Angels that we know by name, just as I wrote on January 11. This singer is great and with the lyrics it really is touching. Found the original version on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg4cYdP1ngw
Even that is a comforting feeling that such a young artist is sending such a strong message to the world! Yes, I believe in Angels and grieving is all right, it is part of life but your Nonna is with you and you look like her image!
A tight hug to you, this was very touching for me as well... teary touching!
- January 21, 2014 at 8:39 AM
- Kelly said...
I'm so sorry for your loss! I loved seeing the photo you posted of her on facebook. These old photos you shared today are wonderful too. As hard as it is to have her pass away, I'm sure you can take comfort in knowing that she led a full and long life.
- January 21, 2014 at 10:28 AM
- NanaDiana said...
I am so, so sorry, Dani. It is always hard to lose someone we love no matter how old they are. In a way, it is a blessing that she did not linger long once she was ill. My own brother died within 5 days of becoming ill, too. So sad. But, like you, I know where we will meet again. I don't know that song but I am going to listen to it now. xo Diana
- January 21, 2014 at 10:52 AM
- Richard said...
So sorry for your loss. May the Lord fill the void in your life and know that she is resting in a much better environment.
Richard; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
- January 21, 2014 at 11:42 AM
- Revi said...
Bless you - may you feel God's comfort during this time. I know it must be extra hard to not be there with family so far away. You look like her, Daniela...
- January 21, 2014 at 11:53 AM
- marie said...
Daniela, so sorry for your loss. I am grieving with you as we lost our precious grandson (22) in a car accident Christmas morning. I have to believe we will see each other again. There is a hole in my heart. I hope my grandma, his great, great welcomed him in heaven with open arms.
- January 21, 2014 at 12:12 PM
- Regena Fickes said...
I am sorry you will not see your Nonna in this life again. I lost my beloved "Ma" almost 30 years ago. Her memory is always with me. I am constantly using phrases she used and I see her in my children. When she went home, her favorite old hymn gave me comfort.I know it is a long comment, but maybe it will help soothe you.
"There will be a happy meeting in Heaven, I know
When we see the many loved ones we've known here below
Gathered on that blessed hilltop with hearts all aglow
That will be a glad reunion day.
A glad day, a wonderful day,
A glad day, a glorious day
There with all the holy angels and loved ones to stay
That will be a glad reunion day.
When we live a million years in that wonderful place
Basking in the love of Jesus, beholding His face
It will seem but just a moment of praising His grace
That will be a glad reunion day.
A glad day, a wonderful day,
A glad day, a glorious day
There with all the holy angels and loved ones to stay
That will be a glad reunion day."
Iris Dement
May the good Lord hold you in His arms and may you feel His eternal love.
- January 21, 2014 at 12:24 PM
- Cynthia said...
I am so very sorry for your loss. Even though she lived a long life it doesn't lesson the pain. My heart goes out to you. I lost my mom when I was just 26 and she only 56. I have so many memories of her and I hold on very tight to everyone of them. They make me so happy when I think about how blessed I was to have her as my mom. Time will heal and you will feel the same way over time, promise!
- January 21, 2014 at 12:46 PM
- Marylou said...
I'm so sorry for your loss, Daniela. I lost my Mom a couple of weeks ago, and your post really spoke to my heart. Thank you for sharing! Until we "meet" again, may the Lord bless you abundantly and make YOU a blessing to someone else today! --Marylou
- January 21, 2014 at 2:51 PM
- Linda said...
Bless your heart. What a blessing to be a.believer because we DO have eternal life and the comfort of knowing your dealy beloved grandmother is with the Lord. I pray you wil be comforted by the Holy Spirit. I want to be the kind of grandmother YOU had !
- January 21, 2014 at 3:12 PM
- Danni@SiloHillFarm said...
Oh Dani, I am sorry about your Nonna. I'm hoping your sadness is replaced with happiness soon. I wish you peace.
- January 22, 2014 at 4:47 AM
- Junkchiccottage said...
So sorry for your loss Dani. It is always hard to say good bye to someone we love. Hope all the fond memories you have of her will give you such joy to remember her by. You look a little like her. This was really sweet of you to share the photos and memories of her to help you grieve your loss.
- January 24, 2014 at 1:00 PM
- Kerry Moody said...
What a wonderful song and photos you have to remember your grandmother and grieve the loss of her wonderful long life. You do look like her and I'm sure she was proud to call you her grandaughter. I still miss both of my grandmothers, but I will see them again one day!
- January 27, 2014 at 6:12 AM
- Heather @ The Beating Hearth said...
My heart goes out to you right now. I have a most beloved Grandmother and I can't imagine being without her. Much love.
- January 27, 2014 at 9:45 AM


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Defending life from conception to natural death
SPUC supports parents and medical professionals in helping to protect children, before and after birth
SPUC has a team of highly trained speakers to visit your school free of charge.
Read about our founders, the aims spelt out in our constitution and some of the campaigns we've been involved in
We stand shoulder to shoulder with the African pro-life movement as part of the global witness to life
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SPUC's charities bulletin is a guide to where many well-known charities stand on abortion and other pro-life issues
The universal right to life of every human being is the foundation on which all other rights rely
Pro-life feminists represent a growing number of women who believe passionately in women's empowerment and the universal right to life
Want to find out more about abortion? Wondering about the hard cases? Our FAQ page is here to answer all your questions
Maternal Mortality is an international disgrace.
In developing countries, tens of thousands of women die as a result of childbirth every year. This figure may be in the hundreds of thousands - statistics from developing countries are often highly inaccurate and are frequently manipulated for political or ideological ends - but whatever the exact figure, these deaths are almost all preventable.
These deaths could be prevented by providing basic maternity care, improving infrastructure (such as transport and clean water supplies) training professional helpers and improving the standing of women in many countries. Unfortunately, western aid agencies and governments have included abortion as part of the solution to maternal mortality, pointing to what one charity describes as "a real poverty - the lack of compassion and love."
No woman should die in childbirth for want of basic medical care.
No baby should be sacrificed under the banner of 'reproductive health'.
The Motherhood Campaign:
* supports and campaigns for good and ethical maternal healthcare in developing countries
* lobbies the Department for International Development to adopt ethical policies regarding maternal health
* condemns attempts to use maternal health as a Trojan horse to impose abortion on developing countries rather than deal with the real problems facing mothers.
"We affirm that there are no medical circumstances justifying direct abortion, that is, no circumstances in which the life of a mother may only be saved by directly terminating the life of her unborn child." (John Bonner, Eamon O'Dwyer, David Jenkins, Kieran O'Driscoll, Julia Vaughan, 'Statement by Obstetricians', The Irish Times 1 April 1992)
A group of 78 Argentinean obstetricians have signed a Manifesto for Life opposing the legalisation of abortion in their country. A report on the Manifesto can be read here, with the text available in Spanish here
Click on the video image to watch women of the Family Research Council advocating for women in the the developing world, againsnt the menace of RU-486 chemcial abortion.
This interview with Donna Harrison, a diplomat for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, sheds light on the political motives that so often distort statistics and even medical definitions in the sensitive forum of maternal health. This answer bears close reading.
MercatorNet: What are the main obstacles to getting good abortion data?
Donna Harrison: There are three main problems. First, the use of the terms "safe" and "unsafe", which are not scientific terms but more legal and political, because they are directed to changing the law. In a 2007 article co-sponsored by WHO, for example, unsafe abortion is defined as "abortions in countries with restrictive abortion laws". That means that any abortion in such a country, no matter how medically superior the conditions, would be counted as "unsafe".
This can produce some unintended and even amusing consequences. In 2007 I attended the UN-sponsored Women Deliver conference in London, which was dedicated to advancing maternal health. During the presentation of a paper estimating the worldwide number of "unsafe" abortions, a Marie Stopes International representative from a clinic performing abortions in a country where it is illegal rose in indignation and said, "By your definitions, are you saying that all the abortions performed in my clinic are unsafe?" The presenters did not answer her question.
The second major problem comes from the way WHO collects data on hospital admissions due to abortion. In a 2003 document drawn up in conjunction with the UN Population Fund it defines these admissions as "due to abortion (spontaneous and induced, but excluding planned termination of pregnancy)". This could mean in practice, "Don't count complications in women admitted precisely to have an abortion," or, "Don't count any women who have had complications from planned termination of pregnancy." It's not at all clear what statistics to count. And, since planned termination of pregnancy in a hospital implies legal abortion, this method would give a distorted picture of maternal deaths and morbidity, or ill health, under a legal regime.
The third major problem comes from the statistical manipulation of such data as it has. For example, in estimating the number of "unsafe" abortions and related morbidity, WHO combines spontaneous abortions and induced abortions, and then "corrects" for spontaneous abortion according to what it believes the proportion should be.
There are times when I really do wonder whether British journalists will ever get to grips with the plight of women outside the Fleet Street Comfort Zone. Sarah Ditum's article in The Guardian is absolutely typical of the neo-colonial ignorance of people absolutely determined to defend their narrow ideological position at any cost - even if that cost includes the truth and the welfare of women whose rights they claim to care about.
The article is replete with pro-abortion cliches and though she makes some valid points about the status of women in Indian society more generally, Ditum transparently fails to notice the enormous elephant in the room - that "choice" is precisely NOT what many women carrying baby girls are being given. A recent report on India's "missing" girls contains heartbreaking stories of women being beaten and abused, not - as Sarah Ditum suggests - for giving birth to a baby girl, but for being pregnant with a baby girl they desperately want to keep. It is almost obscene to mention words like "choice" and "autonomy" or even "women's control over their own bodies" in face of the stark, ugly reality that in a culture that fails to respect women, abortion is yet another weapon employed against them.
This meta-study analyses the contentious subject of abortion in the context of maternal mortality. The paper comes to a conclusion that is perhaps obvious but needs to be constantly stated in the current political climate, where ideology so often trumps common sense.
To reduce maternal mortality, we must strive to give women in the developing world access to the same standard of care that has been available to women in the developed world for decades—care that results in a healthy outcome for mother and child.
Rene Leiva of the University of Ottawa has a letter in The Lancet, refuting the argument that abortion should be legalised to reduce maternal mortality. As Leiva correctly asserts:
one could argue that sound scientific evidence shows that legalisation of abortion is not associated with a reduction in maternal mortality. On the basis of the data provided by Hogan and colleagues,2 countries such as El Salvador, Chile, Poland, and Nicaragua, which prohibit abortion after having previously allowed it, have not seen their maternal mortality worsen. In fact, it has improved. South Africa has seen mortality worsen after the legalisation of abortion.
Check out this report on maternal mortality in South Africa. South Africa has some of the most liberal abortion laws in the world but the abortion lobby has been forced to acknowledge the huge increase in maternal deaths in that country. Easy access to abortion does NOT decrease maternal mortality as the terrible - and wholly avoidable - situation in South Africa demonstrates so tragically.
Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation. A decade of applying research to midwifery practice in one Malawi district demonstrates that PPH is quite easy to prevent.
One in four maternal deaths worldwide is due to post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) - excessive bleeding after childbirth; for Africa the figure is one in three.
Malawi has an extremely high rate of maternal mortality, at 807 women per 100,000 live births, with 25 percent of these due to PPH. But these figures represent an improvement over 2004 when maternal mortality was 1,120 per 100,000 live births.
Full article available here
Maternal Mortality Rates dropping 3.3% every year
Maternal mortality rates worldwide are dropping by approximately 3.3% a year, according to WHO figures. This still means that we are very far from reaching the MDG5 promise of reducing maternal mortality by 75% but it is an improvement on the 1990s, when the rate was only dropping by around 2% a year and shows that progress is slowly being made to reduce the tragedy of maternal death in the developing world.
Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life
[an] unborn child seems to me to be a real concept. It's not a growth or an appendix. You can't say the rights question doesn't come up


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Fundraising Option 2: You pay £800* & raise as much as possible for your chosen charity. (Invoiced appox. 9 weeks prior to event).
*Please note that a small surcharge will be added to the Tour Cost if the final group size is small
Challenge type: Bike - Support your favourite charity...
Sign up and raise funds for any charity or if you're not sure who to support, take a look at our charities supporting this challenge.
Destination: France
Runs from : 20th September 2019 to 23rd September 2019
Join this beautiful long weekend charity challenge from London to Paris, covering 300km in 3 days. Cycle from Crystal Palace towards Newhaven with sweeping views of the South Downs on our approach. Then set sail to France for two more action-packed days of cycling. Encounter historic towns, sleepy villages and rolling countryside en-route. Experience the thrill of riding along wide boulevards and crossing the Seine to finish at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Join this fantastic London to Paris cycle challenge and raise much needed funds for the charity of your choice.
Ferry Newhaven - Dieppe, Eurostar Paris - London, accommodation, transfers, full medical support, experienced guides, support staff, water & all meals except lunch & dinner on day 4.
Bicycle, travel insurance, lunch & dinner on day 4, optional tours, gratuities & spending money.
To sign up for this challenge you will need to pay a registration fee and pick from one of the following two payment options:
Option 1 (Minimum Sponsorship) - You pay a £125 registration fee and agree to raise the £1500 sponsorship.
Option 2 (Own Place) - You pay a £125 registration fee, plus pay the £800 tour cost yourself. You will be invoiced for the remaining tour cost approx. 10 weeks prior to departure.
* For more information on these options take a look at our booking conditions.
All costs correct at the time of writing, subject to change
For more information about July's ride, click here
Registration Fee: £125
Fundraising Option 1: You raise £1500 approx. minimum sponsorship.
Fundraising Option 2: You pay £800* & raise as much as possible for your chosen charity. (Invoiced appox. 9 weeks prior to event).
*Please note that a small surcharge will be added to the Tour Cost if the final group size is small
Accepted payment methods:
We set off early in the morning through the streets of south-east London, continuing down through Godstone and Outwood. Roads will be busy so we'll cycle slowly and keep close together. As we head south, our surroundings become less built up and less congested. We enjoy an undulating section of the route including a couple of steep uphill and steep downhill stretches. Long before we reach the M25 and as we continue into the leafy lanes of Surrey, the scenery is very pretty and rural. Some 45km from our starting point we stop for lunch at "The Crown" on Turners Hill, a 16th century farmhouse which has been converted into a public house. We will be ready for a break after the challenging hill-climb it takes to get there!
In the afternoon we pass the South of England show ground, on the approach to Lewes. Watch out for a steep climb here, but you can look forward to the reward of fantastic views of the South Downs once through town. After around 89km we see the "Welcome to Newhaven" sign and we head for the ferry terminal where we have a 4 hour crossing to Dieppe. After wheeling our bikes on board, we have dinner on the ferry and there's some time to relax. There's also the opportunity to change clothes and socialise with your fellow cyclists. We disembark with our bikes and cycle the short distance to our hotel for some well-earned rest
After a hearty breakfast, we set off through Dieppe, an old fashioned port town nestled between two limestone cliffs. Within 2½km we are into the pretty Normandy countryside. We pass through typically French villages, all of which seem to have at least one boulangerie and bar/tabac no matter how small. The route to our first stop in the village of Torcy le Grand is gently undulating. The terrain is similar for the next stretch to the centre of Saint Saens, with its pretty central square and church. From there we encounter a few uphill sections - some longer and more challenging than others. From Bosque Eveline (51km into the day) the route becomes undulating once more.
After a long sweeping descent (and a shorter uphill) we reach the quiet village of Argueil and lunch in the square opposite the 16th century church of St.Maurice. The last stretch of cycling is another succession of sleepy villages along quiet roads. The terrain continues to be undulating with an uphill stretch that affords beautiful views of Saint Aubert-en-Bray and Onse-en-Bray. We will spend the night in Gournay en Bray, a picturesque town.
Early start to reach Paris. We anticipate congestion on the Paris approach, so the earlier we start the better! We leave Gournay en Bray in a south-easterly direction bound for Paris and a beautiful days' cycling. Normandy is known for its bocage, farmland criss-crossed with hedges and trees and we are soon cycling amongst this type of rural landscape. We pass through numerous villages where the terrain is mainly undulating with some short climbs. As we progress through the day, our surroundings start to change as we enter the suburbs of Paris. We stop for lunch after having cycled around 40km. Straight after lunch we enter a forested area known as Le Parc aux Etoiles for about 3km. From there it's a steep descent towards the River Seine. We cross the river over a bridge close to Poissy. This is a main road and there is likely to be traffic. Once through Poissy we head uphill through more forest on a designated bike lane. When we come to St Germain-en-Laye we cross the Seine once more, the river having swept round from where we crossed it before. We encounter a succession of traffic lights and roundabouts before crossing the river once again. The route is mainly uphill with one very steep climb followed by a long downhill.
The next bridge we cross takes us into the Bois de Boulogne on the western edge of Paris. The designer of these woods took his inspiration from London's Hyde Park. Today it is home to the French Open tennis tournament and two horse racing tracks – we pass both of these venues on our route through the park. We re-group inside the park for the final stretch of cycling. We exit this pretty expanse of green together at Place de la Porte de Passy. From there the excitement starts to mount as we cycle along the wide Parisian boulevards towards our final destination. We cross the Pont d'Iena and finish the challenge, with time to load our bikes onto the vans.
Today is free for you to explore Paris independently. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world – Notre Dame, the Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre, Sacré Coeur, Musée d'Orsay… there is so much to see and do.


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I don't know about you, but i cannot wati 'till this Thursday episode!
Now,i have something i would like to hear your oppinion on!
You know that in the coffins were only 3 originals (in those 3 who would open) .But there is one more coffin that has a spell over it and cannot open.So..what do you think it's in it ?


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Black eyed peas – greens and corn bread are a New Year southern tradition in our home. How about yours? Do you do beans and greens? These tried and true, old fashioned southern recipes are a healthy treat any time of the year. But, at New Years, an actual 'MUST'!
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Black Eyed Peas – Greens and Corn Bread
You don't have to be from the south to love these good, old fashioned dishes, but it helps! I grew up on black eyed peas, as they were a staple in our southern home. As a matter of fact, when I was very young and anemic, the doctor had my parents serve me a couple of big spoonfuls of black eyed peas – several times a day. I drank only water, no milk products, and ate real food. Guess what? It cured my anemia!
The secret of a long life is to eat right and love what you do." ~ Dr. Leila Denmark (114 years old)
Black Eyed Peas Nutrition
The funny looking little dried peas are full of healthy goodness. They support the immune system, and build up the blood. Black eyed peas are actually beans, and packed full of iron. They count as a vegetable, are full of protein, and healthy fiber to regulate digestion and cholesterol.
By jeffreyw (Mmm… black eyed peas) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Black Eyed Peas
Black eyed peas were't just for New Years day at our house! They can be a simple, frugal, and healthy addition to any meal.
- Dried black eyed peas
- Pot of water
- Optional: cup or two of chicken broth, red pepper flakes
- Rinse black eyed peas in strainer to remove any foreign particles
- Cover beans in large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil for two minutes
- Turn heat off and let stand for 30 minutes – 1 hour.
- Rinse peas in collander and place back in pot, covered with water (add broth if available)
- Bring to a boil, turn down heat to low and simmer for 1 – 3 hours, carefully stirring occacionally, add water as needed. If cooking in crock pot, simply add peas back to pot with water, broth, and seasoning and cook for 3-4 hours on high.
- Season with salt, pepper, dried red pepper as desired
Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
It's best to soak black eyed peas overnight. I like to do the quick boil method for two minutes, shut off heat, soak one hour. Drain, rinse, and soak overnight. The next day – rinse beans and add to Instant Pot with enough water to cover them and seasonings stirred in. Cook on high for 25 – 30 minutes.
Corn Bread
Often, especially here in the south, we have homemade corn bread to accompany our black eyed peas. The way my Nanny made it was a simple mix of 1 part corn meal and 1 part flour. Now, she was not big on exact measurements, but I can offer you the basics. She said she knew it was done, "When it smelled right."
We make our corn bread in a cast iron skillet using self-rising cornmeal and flour. Adding bacon fat is a traditional touch that I prefer not to go without, although, you may substitute vegetable oil or coconut oil (if you must). In case you don't have any buttermilk around, use whole milk and a tablespoon or two of vinegar. Stir it in and let it sit for a bit and it will turn the milk just right for you.
Printable Recipe
- Tbs bacon grease (substitute veg oil or coconut)
- 1¼ cup white cornmeal (self-rising)
- 1 cup flour (self-rising)
- 2 tsp baking soda
- pinch salt (1/2 tsp)
- 1½ cups buttermilk (or whole milk with 2 Tbs vinegar)
- egg (optional)
- 1 stick salted melted butter
- Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Add bacon grease to cast iron skillet and place in over to heat. Using a mixing bowl underneath, add dry ingredients through a sifter (or just add to mixing bowl and stir well). Beat egg into buttermilk, add to dry mix, stir in butter.
- Add mix to hot cast iron skillet, turn oven down to 400. Place skillet in center oven to cook for 15-20 minutes depending on size of skillet or round pan. (should be 10 - 12 inches diameter)
Southern Style Greens – Especially for New Years Day
If you've ever had greens from Cracker Barrel Restaurant, you have a good idea of how we fix 'em down here. We often add ham, hot sauce, and/or vinegar juice to flavor them. I like to cook them in a bit of chicken broth and use left over ham from Christmas. Mixing a couple of different types of greens is also a tasty option. Smart people also crumple a bit of bacon on top. 🙂
By Kristen Taylor [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Southern Style Greens Recipe
- 1 bunch kale or mustard greens
- 1 bunch collards and/or turnip greens
- large onion, chopped
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced (or 2 Tbs)
- jalapeno pepper, chopped (no seeds)
- 1 – 2 tsp dried red pepper flakes
- 1 cup shopped ham
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup chicken broth
- salt and pepper
- balsamic vinegar (optional)
- crumpled bacon garnish
- Preheat a large skillet with bacon fat, olive oil, or coconut oil.
- Bring a pot of water with 1 1/2 Tbs salt to a rolling boil.
- Wash greens, remove big veins, rip into large pieces.
- Add greens to boiling water for about 5 min. until wilted.
- Add onion and garlic to preheated skillet while greens boil;
- Sauté until onions are lightly brown, add jalapeno peppers
- Cook for two minutes – stirring.
- Greens will be done boiling – drain and rinse.
- Place cooked onions, garlic into empty large pot or crockpot.
- Add greens, ham, red pepper and 1 cup broth -2 cups water.
- In crock-pot, cook on low for six hours.
- In large pot, simmer on medium/low – check frequently.
- Make sure it doesn't burn (add water or turn down heat).
- Cook for 1 – 2 hours slowly or until greens are really soft.
Optional, serve with balsamic vinegar, crumpled bacon. Sides corn bread, and black eyed peas!
Instant Pot Greens
Use saute' function to cook any meat, bacon, and onions. Add other ingredients, but replace liquid with just 2 cups of broth. Cook on high for 30 minutes.
Sources & Resources
- Live Strong
- Personal experience with – Dr. Leila Denmark
- Free Printable Coupons