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Counting the Cost (1): Second to None
January 24, 2016
Read Lu 14:25-35 – A couple got married, but soon after, Paul stopped wearing his wedding ring. His wife asked, "Why don't you ever you're your ring?" He said, "It cuts off my circulation." She replied, "I know. That's what it's supposed to do." Well, this passage is about the same issue as it relates to our marriage to Christ. Many people claim faith in Him, but they've taken off the ring. They're still flirting with other idols.Their commitment is half-hearted at best, and Jesus' point is, that just won't do. You're either in or out. Disciples can't sit on the fence.
A lot of people believe there are two levels of Christians – those, like themselves, who believe the facts but are unchanged in life, moderates – and a few Marine types, like pastors and missionaries and a few others who are a little on the fanatical side. Disciples. Radical Christians. The all-ins! They're suggesting you can be a Xn without being a disciple. One commentator says: "Jesus seems to make a distinction between salvation and discipleship. Salvation is open to all who will come by faith, while discipleship is for believers willing to pay a price. Salvation means coming to the cross and trusting Jesus Christ, while discipleship means carrying the cross and following Jesus Christ."
I don't know where he got that, but he didn't get it from Jesus. Jesus never says or implies, "Okay, those of you who want the easy way, just believe. But I also need a few Green Berets." Never says that. Never implies that! In fact, look closely and you will when talking about disciples, He's addressing the whole crowd here – not just the 12. The whole crowd must choose to be His disciples or be left out altogether. There's not two levels. Just one.
Neither Jesus nor the Bible know anything about multi-level Christianity. There's no class distinction between regular Christians and hard-core disciples. Jesus nowhere says, as some advocate, that you can accept Jesus as Savior now, and maybe as Lord later. There aren't two standards. Full discipleship is a requirement for everyone. But the Bible says, "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord . . . you will be saved" (Rom 10:9). Lordship is not optional. To be a disciple is to be a Christian. And to be a Xn is to be a disciple. You can't say, "Well, I'm a Christian, but I'm not into all that." There aren't two standards. If someone has taught you that, you have been sorely misled. That is precisely what Jesus is warning about here.
As this passage opens, Jesus is finally leaving the extended lunch He had at the home of a leading Pharisee. As He does so, v. 25 tells us, "Now great crowds accompanied him." There are lots of people. But there is a dilemma. They think he is on the way to Jerusalem to claim His empire as Messiah. Actually He is on His way to Jerusalem to die to pay the price for entrance into that empire, and these people don't get that – not one little bit. They think they are in because they are Jews and keep the law. Jesus knows differently. So three times we find the phrase, "cannot be my disciple." So guess what the theme is? Doesn't take a rocket scientist. This is one more way Jesus defines saving faith. Salvation is by faith alone. But faith is costly, and Jesus is not a seeker-friendly evangelist who tells His followers, "Let's just get them in first – we'll tell them about the cross later." He is no bait-and switch specialist. He believes in full disclosure. Count the cost NOW if you want to be mine!
If you've looked at your phone bill lately, you know exactly what I mean. Get a line for $19.95 a month. But when the bill comes, suddenly it's $50 – filled with extraneous state, local and federal taxes, and other totally unintelligible "access" charges." A lot of people advocate that's how we should entice people to Christ. But Jesus never goes there. He's up front. Nothing hidden.
Now, to get the sense of this passage, let's start back to front. Vv. 34-35: "Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear." What is this all about? It is a solemn warning. Modern table salt is generally pure and does not lose its savor. But in Bible times, salt, often from the Dead Sea, was mixed with impurities. Salt could waste away to a residue that was worthless for either preservation or spicing things up. So Jesus uses salt as to represent a professing disciple who starts off with great enthusiasm (salty), but who lacks staying power. His faith was never real. He wanted the blessings, but not the person of Christ. In hard times he fails and is "thrown away" – a Biblical term for lacking salvation.
This is the third soil in that parable where the seed starts to grow but is choked out by the cares of this world. Remember? They looked real at first, but never were. They didn't lose their salvation. You can't lose that gift. These never had it in the first place. John says of such people in I Jn 2:19-20, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us." You'd have sworn they were true Xns. Never missed a Sunday. Always gave an offering. Even taught a class. But when the going got tough, they left town. The writer to Hebrews makes a really sobering comment about such people: "4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt" (Heb 6:4-6). People who have seen the truth of the gospel in all its glory and outwardly subscribed to it for a time only to turn their back on it – for those there is no hope. So Jesus is warning, "Don't be salt that has lost is savor. Salt that's not salt. Be real."
Now, to prevent that, you must count the cost before you commit. He gives two examples. Vv. 27-31, "27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?" We were in Edinburgh, Scotland a few years ago. There is an incomplete monument in a hill there that is known as The Great Folly. Whoever started it didn't have enough money to finish, and so it's an apt description. For years in SoCal we used to drive under a set of lanes that came to a dead end right over the top of the freeway. Going nowhere because money ran out. Jesus' point is, if you're going to follow me, you need to consider what that really means. He's not trying to talk anyone out of it; but He refuses to mislead anyone as to the cost.
So, He's asking, are you real? Do you really want to follow me? Then here is what saving faith will cost you. You "cannot be my disciple", claim my name, unless you renounce three things – Relationships, Rights, and Riches.
I. Renounce Relationships
26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." Wow! Sound radical? Well, it is radical. Jesus meant it to be radical. He is shaking people out of the lethargy of self-righteousness. He is saying, "You're in Fantasyland. Reality is over here, and here is what it looks like. To be my disciple is costly, and the first thing it costs is your relationships." Now, Beloved, before you panic, understand this is the only way to truly straighten out damaged, broken, fallen, entangling relationships that can strangle us anyway. In the end, what Jesus asks is freeing and energizing and uplifting – but it all must come Jesus' way.
So is Jesus saying we must literally hate our families? No. One of the Ten Commandments is to honor father and mother – promoted by Jesus several times (Mt 15:4-6; 19:19; Mrk 7:10, etc.). Jesus loves and affirms families. So why does He say we must hate father and mother, wife and children? It's bc He's doing what He often does. He is using hyperbole – exaggerated statement to make a point. And His point is He must come first in our lives. Our love for Him must far exceed any other in our lives. His point is that top priority in relationships must go to Him alone – and by a large margin.
Turn Gen 29. Remember how Jacob fell in love with Rachel, agreed to work for 7 years for her hand in marriage? And remember how Laban tricked him into marrying sister Leah first, so Jacob worked another 7 years for Rachel? That's a long time, but he loved her so it seemed like a few days. Now Gen 29:31, "When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren." So did Jacob really "hate" Leah? Back up to v. 30: "So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years." See, hatred here means "loved less." Do you see? And that is exactly what Jesus is saying. He's not saying you just literally hate your family – but it's still a big requirement. Jesus is saying, "I must be your Rachel. If you come to me, you must love me more than anything – if it comes down to them or Me – it must be Me."
This was a devastating challenge in a society where family was everything. These people would do anything not to shame or disgrace family. To go against their wishes was unthinkable. So in claiming allegiance above family first, Jesus is staking a staking a claim at the highest possible level. "I must be your Rachel. Do you love me more than family?" Our question, too!
A few years ago a Muslim man in Chad named Baki heard a taped message about Jesus. He reports, "I told Pastor Musa I wanted to give my life to Christ. He urged me to think about it before I made a decision." Knowing the cost would be high, Baki chose Jesus. Trouble came immediately. His father-in-law seized his wife and boys. Baki was told they would only be returned if he renounced his Xn faith. He couldn't even see his family. For over a year, Baki followed his wife's nomadic cattle group, often sitting under a tree reading his Bible while the cattle grazed. As hostility grew, Baki eventually left without his family. A couple of years later he made another try, but in the course of this confrontation, the father-in-law killed Baki's first born, Joshua, by poison. Still Baki would not renounce Christ. Baki later got his 2nd son, but never his wife. We'll probably never face anything like that, but people all over our world have been disowned and turned out and sometimes turned in by family members – because they chose Christ first. Now no one is going to kill us, but some of you know what it means to suffer the ill-will of close family members because of your faith in Christ. Hang in, Beloved. It's often part of the cost of loving Jesus more.
I think of Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, lesbian women's right activist and tenured professor at Syracuse – living her life's dream, who once, in a kind manner, told a group of easy believism Christians, "I gave up my girlfriend and my career for this. What have you given up?" I think of my Uncle and Aunt who gave up the teen-age years with their daughter to continue as missionaries in Africa. I think of a friend who gave up a girl he loved because she was not a Xn. People who love people deeply – but love Jesus more. For those who truly come to Him, Jesus stakes a claim higher than any other.
Now some of you are thinking – "Hate my children? No way. Nothing is more important to me than them." Others are thinking, "Hate father and mother or hate sister or brother – no problem. I already hate them." Either of those positions is a huge problem. Both are signs of a wounded life. Either will eventually cause great heartache, anxiety and pain if it hasn't already. Neither is compatible with a true commitment to Christ. And to simply say, "Well, that's just the way it is" – will not do, Beloved. Jesus will accept you as you are, that's true. But as Lord, He will not leave you there.
C. S. Lewis depicts Jesus as Aslan, the great lion, in the Narnia Chronicles. At one point the two girls Susan and Lucy want to bury their heads in his mane. But they go all "trembly" at the sight of him. Lewis describes Aslan's paw touching the girls and says, "Altho it was velveted, it was very heavy." He's telling us while Jesus is very good, He demands our all. He is not safe. He is good and terrible and sharp at the same time. We simply do not know Him that way – and we must. That's why He says "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters . . . he cannot be my disciple." His love makes great demands.
Why? Because Jesus is needy?! No -- it's all for our good as well as His glory. See here's what Jesus knows that we don't. He knows that whatever our relationship issues – too much love in one direction – hatred in another – all are a human tragedy waiting to happen – He knows that the solution to all of it is to love Him above anything. He demands our outmost affection – way above anything else, even our spouse or children – because He knows that is the only thing that will set all relationships right in our lives. To live at peace with ourselves and with others, our loves must be rightly ordered – beginning with Him. When we look to the opinions of others for our self-worth, and put expectations on others to be our healers, we are asking of people what only Jesus can give.
We may hate our parents for demanding too much – but spend our lives trying to meet those expectations. Or we die inside because the imperfections of our spouse fall way below our expectations – what we need and want. We fear our children will be stunted if we do not give them every opportunity the world says is important – even at the cost of their spiritual development. We are enslaved to what people think of us and what we expect of them. [Repeat].
But there is a solution – a solution to every relationship issue we face. The solution is to look at the cross – to see how Jesus took upon Him there every doubt, every fear, every anxiety, every disappointment, every burden, every sin. And now He asks, "Love me most. It is the only way to put the other loves and hatreds in your life into perspective. It is the only way to deal with the fear of failure, the fear of loss and the anxiety of not meeting expectations. I must be the love of your life. I am the only one who will never fail you. All other loves must be as hatreds beside the love you have for me. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple." It is a heavy demand, Beloved. But it leads to a freedom you can find nowhere else as you find and build your true identity in Him. We'll never get this perfect in this life, of course. But our heart must be perfect – loving Jesus above all.
Conc – The story is told of how Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire, once captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, Cyrus asked, "What will you give me if I release you?" The prince replied, "Half of my wealth." And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." And if I release your wife?" The prince replied, "Then, your Majesty, I will give you myself." Cyrus was so moved by this devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Cyrus was certainly an impressive, handsome and just man, wasn't he?" To which she replied, "I did not notice. I could not take my eyes from you – the one who was willing to give himself for me." Disciples of Jesus have that same devotion for the same reason. He gave His own life to pay our penalty. How could we fail to love Him most. And when we do, it puts every other relationship in life into perspective. What would you give up for Him? For true disciples the answer is anything and anyone. Are you – a disciple? Let's pray.


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If you could add, take away or alter this site in anyway what would you change?
Most Helpful Girl
Hmm... it would have to be being able to post as many times as someone possibly wants, having some sort of automatic filter on the comments/questions so that if they're innapropriate in some way then they won't even get posted.10|10|0
You are just too smart among many other things
Thank you chef ;) you are so kind
Most Helpful Guy
I would change a lot. There would will be a revolution
Free food
Partying with the party boys every Friday
Cheer up people10|10|0
You need to run for president

subset: commoncrawl


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There is no shortage of blogs about thru-hikes. It would seem that everyone wants to tell you about their experience . . . which is a good thing. I've been reading more blogs about hikers attempting long-distance trails and there seems to be a common theme: how brutally challenging these hikes are.
The last one I read was about a lady that had set too ambitious of a schedule and it was weighing on her. Another one talked about how unprepared they were and how it really caused some problems within the group. One author was dismayed at how mentally draining the endeavor was. Not all of them were hiking the Arizona Trail, but the sentiments translate.
As I make my plans for my hike I often dream of prancing through idyllic forests, gazing out over majestic landscapes in iconic locations. I imagine taking naps next to babbling brooks or sitting comfortably watching sunsets. In short, I think of the good moments rather than worry about the challenges.
Don't think I haven't considered the challenges. In fact, I think all I've written about so far are some of the challenges – my back, my weight, my fitness, nutrition, hydration, etc. I even wrote about how planning is important but the need to be flexible is paramount. But what I haven't really spoken about is the "why" I'm doing this hike.
As you might recall, my first foray into "The Wild" was when I ran away with Anthony in 6th grade. Sure I had gone camping with my family as a kid, but that wasn't wild, that was family. When I got that first little taste of fear and freedom I was hooked. Now, as a solo backpacker I don't get fearful, I get excited. I still feel the freedom though. In fact, it's that freedom that I crave the most.
When I go backpacking I don't have to please anyone except myself (and whichever poor lucky dog that gets to join me). I can sleep in; I can hike without taking breaks; I can hike for hours after my intended stop time "just because", or I can pull up early at a camp spot just because I like the view & access to water. The only thing I have to do is live.
Reading these blogs has given me some great perspective though. Knowing that I'm going to start off slow and work into my "trail legs" will help me get past that first brutal week. I'm aware that at about day 14 there will be nothing I can do to slake my hunger. I'm infatuated with the idea that for 8-12 hours a day I'll be burning more calories than I can carry and will be inclined to lose weight. I'm also looking forward to stopping into the gateway communities for hamburgers, pizza and beer KNOWING it won't hurt my boyish figure.
All of these reasons, and more, are why I'm really looking forward to (rather than truly dreading) the hike.
I know it will be good for my soul.


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Petra by Night
Petra Travel Blog› entry 2 of 9 › view all entries
We reached Petra at about 6pm and it was already like night. It was very chilly with temperature of maybe 15C. We checked into Cleopetra Hotel which is recommended by Lonely Planet, and I do recommend it as well. When we reached, the staffs were preparing a dinner for a group of guest and they offered us as well. We were told that dinner is not normally prepared as it is based on number of request (small numbers can't justify the portion and effort). It was called "mensaf", which is a rice dish with pine nuts, poached chicken & yogurt soup. And it was pretty delicious. Cost - JOD 6 per pax.
Since we arrived on Thursday, we can get the opportunity to join the Petra by Night tour. It's only JOD 12 and there's absolute nothing else to do. It was quite a nice experience walking through the siq and sitting in front of the treasury, with paper candles lit all around. You're advised not to take pictures and yes, don't bother as you'll not get anything on your camera except for black images. We were also told not to use flash/tourch lights & maintain silence in order to fully experience the "by night" tour experience. After reaching the treasury, we were served with tea and entertained with traditional music accompanied by flute and oud. Highly recommended to future visitors to Petra to experience Petra by Night if you have the chance as it does not take place every day - only on Mon, Wed Thur.
After that, we head to a bar for some drinks with a new found friend. Pretty happy with today's achievement considering the short daylight time and very satisfied with our last minute decision to cancel Aqaba.


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Earthquake in San Francisco in 1906
Earthquake in San Francisco in 1906 was a great earthquake disaster that hit San Francisco and northern California coast at 05:12 local time, Wednesday, April 18 1906th The most accepted theory regarding the quake strength suggests a moment magnitude of 7.8, ranging from 7.7 to 8.3, however, suggested epicenter was offshore, about three miles from the city. There were houses and buildings that collapsed in about 3 days, and a total of 28 000 houses were razed.
But it was not just the earthquake that destroyed the city, but there was also a lot of heavy fire as a result of the earthquake. The disaster claimed about 1000 casualties, and more than a quarter of a million people homeless, damage estimated at equivalent to 10.5 billion.
There were about 3,000 white people who died during the earthquake (they never counted those with other skin colors who also died), and most fires are started by people who set fire to his own house (because they had insurance against fires and not against earthquakes ) and not the earthquake itself


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Excalibur (1981)
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Like most boys I loved the stories; Guinevere, Lancelot, the search for the Holy Grail and the jousting. I first saw this movie at the cinema on its release and it was just how I imagined it. Showing the young knights in shining armour which tarnishes as they grow older and the stunning locations in Ireland are breathtaking. The music by Wagner is spot on as well.


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Two years ago for Christmas my brother-in-law bought me a great gift: a homebrew beer brewing kit (he bought me a kit without the extra carboy, but I wasn't able to find that). Since that time, it's been a nice hobby, though I don't know that I'd recommend it as a way of saving money on beer. You can't beat the prices of cheap mass-market beer by brewing at home – though when you compare to craft brews it comes out in your favor, which is a more apt comparison for these more complex beers. At least until you start buying more equipment like a kegerator, cornelius kegs, wort chillers, more fermenters, bottles, or even a mash setup.
I've been sharing bottles of my homebrew with family members as I've brewed various recipes: Oktoberfest, Pumpkin Stout, American Ale, Wit, Hefeweizen. They've turned out pretty well and had spurred the interest of a cousin who has since brewed a couple batches. So it wasn't unusual when he asked me two weeks ago whether I had brewed any new batches. I told him I'd been too busy with various projects.
We were comparing our projects and sharing stories (over some beers) when he started talking about his looking forward to getting some time to split some wood – he loves any chance to go out and use his chainsaw and log splitter. He lamented running out of his own Brown Ale batch. My wife had just asked me the day before about ordering some wood for our fireplace at home. We don't use it for heat, more for ambience so we don't need too much and were trying to figure out how we could get a smaller amount since they typically won't deliver so little. So we brokered an old school barter: I'd brew him a nice 5 gallon batch of beer if he'd split up a face cord of wood. I love to brew and he loves to split, so it was an easy deal to make.
On the drive home, I saw some people were trying to sell face cords for $60 and $65. The beer type he wanted runs $35, a nice Red Ale kit. So we'll both make out nicely here: I'll get a cheap face cord of wood for the equivalent of $35 and he'll get 5 gallons of good beer for his sweat equity. I'm looking forward to brewing!


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Real Estate Investment: Tips And Tricks For The Beginner
Like a property investor, the moves you will be making are exactly like chess moves not checkers. You shouldn't let that scare you, though one major mistake could crash your whole dream. You're planning to achieve success when you are aware what you want to do and that guide will allow you to get started.
Make certain you set realistic goals based on the budget which you have. You should not set an ambition to acquire ten houses in the length of per month if you have only a hundred thousand dollars to your name. Set reasonable expectations in order to avoid setbacks without exception.
Careful to never overextend in terms of buying property. Real estate investing is incredibly exciting, and quite often it could receive the better people. You could bite off a lot more than you are able to fiscally chew. Know your numbers along with your budgets and stay with them. Even if it feels like a simple flip, don't go past your financial budget!
When drafting your company strategy, recognize that the first costs should go beyond the price level of the property. There are closing costs, legal fees, staging costs plus much more which can be all part of your profits. If you work with your margin, consider all costs and add these costs towards the line item list.
You never desire to invest in a property that has not been professionally inspected. If a seller offers to pay for the inspection, know someone could possibly be lying for these people. The inspector ought to be a totally neutral party.
Locate a property that will rise in value. You may have higher future returns from something over a waterfront, for instance. Consider this a lengthy-term investment, and search on the future.
Make sure that you choose properties which can be in good areas that will have a lot of attention from prospective buyers. This really is vital simply because it improves the resale worth of the property. It's also a smart idea to search for properties that don't have high maintenance requirements.
Locate a contractor to do business with available as well as. In the event you don't like how they operate, there's absolutely no reason to get someone that will help you with fixing up real estate you invest in. You save yourself plenty of frustration should you just find someone you are aware of will work well together with you.
Should you be making renovations, usually do not dig up anything. In particular areas, it can be considered illegal to dig, and you also don't want to cause any property damage.
Perform a little research on http://www.baselabs.org/real-estate-news/create-the-home-improvements-you-will-need-today/ before you decide to put money into any property there. The metropolis needs to have an official website. After some research, you will get specifics of city planning that may affect property prices. A town that's growing is a great thing to purchase.
Make sure that you have of your own finances so as to be able to jump up on opportunities where time is vital. In the event you delay until you find a property and after that make an effort to get financing and loans in order, you could potentially miss out on the sale of lifetime. Having the ability to act quickly often will be the difference between an arrangement of a lifetime along with an opportunity lost.
Be selective as to what properties you target. Seek out low cost properties that hold wide potential or appeal. Avoid high-maintenance homes with extravagant gardens or swimming pools. Search for commercial properties that can house a variety of businesses with minimal remodeling. Funky floorplans are also something to step away from.
Try to find properties that will be in demand. Really think and quit in regards to what most people is going to be searching for. Look for moderately priced properties on quiet streets. Actively seeks homes with garages and 2 or 3 bedrooms. It's always essential to consider what the average person is going to be trying to find at home.
In order to be successful, Obtaining affordable financing when making an investment in property is essential. Verify along with your mortgage broker or bank the interest rate and monthly house payment before you make a deal. Ensure your monthly mortgage payment might be included in the rent in the property.
See which building you can maintain best. Property investing is more than buying property. It will be needed to keep your property well so that it can eventually be resold. Single story homes are simpler to maintain than multi-unit properties, as an example. Don't undertake a lot more than it is possible to handle.
Know that you desire an effective team to get involved with real estate property investing. At a minimum, you want a Realtor, accountant plus a lawyer you may all trust. You could possibly even need a trader or a party of fellow investors. Reach out through your personal connections to get people that will not likely let you down.
If you are searching to acquire property to transform around and resell it, always look at the market. It could be risky to invest in a market which is flooded with available properties. You don't wish to be bound to something that you must sell at little or no profit. Understand that you have to wait patiently for top level price so be sure to is capable of doing that.
Find the aid of experienced real-estate professionals. Try to understand that you never want to make a proposal with an investment property without speaking to someone with extensive expertise in the market. This can be an appraiser or agent. This expert can assist you decide.
Hopefully, this information has helped you see there is more to real-estate investments than really meets the eye. It is crucial that you are taking baby steps when you finally set your eyes on a use and property the things you have learned today. After all, the better you understand, the higher the chances of you turning a nice gain.
You've probably run into many people who are pleased to share their ideas on how you should sell your own real estate. You simply will not make certain should they be supplying you with valuable information, or things they may have heard from anonymous sources. This information will provide you with the information you need so that you will are an expert on real-estate.
Spring is the perfect a chance to obtain your home available on the market. Parents prefer not to uproot their children from schools mid-term, and so, purchasing by late spring and moving in the summer months is good. Getting your realtor hired, your home staged and minor repairs performed by late February, offers the finest timeline for a spring sale.
You need to ensure it is with the best shape possible, before you decide to put your home available on the market. There is no have to do expensive upgrades. Get rid of clutter. This may cause the house look larger. Do simple repairs. For those who have been ignoring a broken kitchen drawer, then this is the time to fix it. Paint any areas that want it. Mow the plant and yard some flowers. Get the most from what you need to capture whilst keeping a buyer's interest.
Doing a few basic tasks within your kitchen will enable you to sell your home. Try painting the walls and replacing the hardware in the cabinets. For rooms that need some more work, it is possible to change the appliances and replace the sink. This will give your kitchen area a whole new appearance leaving buyers using a favorable impression of your respective residence, considering that the kitchen is one of the biggest selling points of any home. Occasionally, renovations done to a kitchen can provide you with a 500% return in your investment.
To persuade a serious, qualified buyer who may be near accepting your offer to accept the plunge, let them literally sleep onto it and obtain the dotted line singed! Allow them to spend an evening inside and odds are good their mind will likely be composed before morning, in favour of buying, if your prospect is undoubtedly wanting your home but just having cold feet!
To get the best real estate professional to promote your premises ask for a list of all of the homes sold in your neighborhood over the past year. Examine this list to determine if one company or agent does more than almost every other to your neighborhood. They may currently have contacts with potential buyers to the area.
Replace your dying http://papershredderreviews.net/bethesda-md-sound-advice-for-purchasing-property-in-todays-market/ with many pumpkins or some mums, and you will definitely make an uninviting home appear like an area that anyone would feel good owning. These simple changes make the home look loaded with life and offer the consumer the motivation to help you become a proposal into it.
Tend not to add http://phantomframe.co.uk/bethesda-maryland-great-guide-about-how-and-whenever-to-purchase-real-estate/ if you have to add plants to enhance your landscaping for showing your residence. Immature trees look scrawny, and so they really do not add any appeal to the landscaping. Mature trees are far too expensive. Instead, consider planting bushes, which will give your landscaping a fuller, more established look inexpensively.
It may be a great idea to find in other places so they can be while you are showing your house when you know which you have a pet that may be aggressive occasionally. Having your pet attack someone would definitely produce a potential buyer decide not to generate a purchase.
Adding the appropriate curtain fixtures can actually improve the possibilities of selling your own home. As an example, worn down curtains make your room appear more dreary to some potential home buyer. Newer curtains ad spice to the room. Purchase curtains that match the shades of your furniture and also other objects inside the room.
When showing your house, make certain to remove all insects that must not be in the home. You must not have flies, roaches, or spiders. Bugs can be quite a huge switch off for most potential customers. Many home improvement stores carry items which will remove the bugs that you may have. You may also contact an exterminator if you don't need to do it your self.
When selling your home, remember that many buyers will probably be searching for storage area. Take the time to organize or wash it out prior to show your property in case you have an attic or basement. Whenever your attic and basement are empty or well organized, it will show how much space your home has.
In case you are showing your own home at nighttime, switch on each of the lights. It draws buyers when your home seems welcoming. You need to switch on all lights, outdoor and indoor. Flipping on the lights could add color to your home. It may also provide a warming effect. With Homes for sale in Bethesda MD on, the buyers can see all your house easily.
If you decide to sell your property, you should disconnect from this emotionally. That is because your emotional attachment will skew your thought of the complete selling process. You happen to be not selling how you live you are merely selling your building where you are living. Whenever you approach this objectively, it is possible to offer your residence efficiently.
If you want full service from a real estate agent in selling your house, you need to give him the "exclusive directly to sell" your house. This means he will advertise and market your list and house it in the Multiple Listing Service. Whenever your house sells, he will earn a commission.
The best way to obtain your house sold easier is always to extend the selling market period. Ensure that your home is able to go out there in mid-February so that you have nearly half a year to offer your property before the market starts to close up.
Selecting the correct price when selling your home can certainly make all the difference between selling inside a reasonable period of time and having your property sit out there for a long period. Perform your due diligence to find out what similar homes are selling for and stay realistic about value of improvements you may have made.
To summarize, we have now provided you many of the most crucial aspects regarding selling real-estate. Hopefully that you simply not just had the ability to learn something, but also should be able to apply it. Follow our advice and you will probably be http://www.atgbook.net/expert-consultancy-to-aid-with-the-next-home-remodeling-project/ to being an expert within this subject.
Real Estate Investment: Tips And Tricks For The Beginner


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Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Rugby League Forum' started by Matabele, Jun 11, 2011.
Did what we had to do. Put a weakened side away with aplomb. Bravo.
Yep nothing special. Weather didn't help. Defense looks really committed and we are really playing tough physical style, which is what really makes me think we are a big chance this year. Some lazy stupid penalties cost us some momentum at times. Attack got a little disjointed, really should be scoring points when you get 3 sets back to back. Did what we needed and got the two points.
We're only 1 point behind the Queens now. Should go ahead of them in 16 days time.
We had Michael Robertson, William Hopoate, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough & Shane Rodney all unavailable. We are just as under manned as them. We beat them like for like. I had them beating us by 8, due to complacency !!
I agree but don't underestimate the Cowboys defense tonight, it was quite good. This is also the best part of our game atm, we are only conceding 1 try a game lately!!!
Happy to get the win,our on line defence was very impressive,we did enough in attack,too many undisciplined penalties though,if they had JT tonight he would have given us headaches,we can definitely improve on that win though.
Yeah, we were better than just adequate. We never gave them a sniff of a win.
The Cows did defend well, I thought, and even without Matt Scott they were still plenty tough in the forwards. They'll beat a lot of teams this year. They already have
I wonder if Tariq Sims will get breezed through the NSW revolving door for Game III?
Stuart won't change a winning side.
The Cows were never in it. We blew them off the park and then just practised our defending for the rest of the game. A good tough hit out and still won by 20 points. Parra will be similar cannon fodder next week and then its the big one. Of course as usual the NRL manage to **** up the biggest game of the season with their no idea scheduling. How good would it have been to see he Steelers v Manly Sunday arvo at the SFS instead of Monday night in drudge town.
The last time Stuart was in charge of a winning side Dally Messenger was a boy.
In reply to your prediction I then had us winning by 16. Na na ne na na !!
Stuart won't have a winning side.


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In an Emergency
1. Call the Poison Center Helpline (1-800-222-1222) if you or another person have been exposed to something that might cause an unwanted and/or unexpected reaction.
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An adult education DVD/video that can save lives! This 13 minute DVD/video provides invaluable information in English and Spanish about common poisonings, poison prevention tips for adults, and what happens when you call the poison center helpline.
Watch the full video on our YouTube Channel.


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A couple of the less exposed types make most appeal. No Such Number is one of those as he beat a subsequent winner at Bath in September on his first start for Julia Feilden and further progress is expected on his handicap debut. EPIC STORM is also a handicap debutant having won at Wolverhampton earlier this month and Sean Curran's charge may just have the edge. Fourth Generation has a chance on his recent placed efforts and Icebuster was third over C&D recently. Ellemujie is not out of this off his current mark though Six Silver Lane was winning over 7f at Laytown when last seen and Miss Aix makes more appeal.
Ellemujie 12-1 (9-6) Mid-division, headway towards inside over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, lost 4th close home, 5th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Night And Dance (9-10) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Six Silver Lane 9-2 (12-3) Tracked leaders, headway into 3rd 2f out, ridden and soon edged right, led early final furlong and kept on well under pressure, won at Laytown 7f am hcp 50-80 in Sep beating Core Element (11-10) by ns, 10 ran.
Icebuster 3-1 (9-13) Dwelt pulled hard in rear, headway and not clear run approaching final furlong, kept on, never able to challenge, 5th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Foster's Road (8-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Mica Mika (IRE) 11-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, under pressure 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 12l behind Gordonsville (9-5) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Fourth Generation (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Held up in mid-division, not clear run over 2f out, headway when not clear run over over 1f out, soon switched left, ran on inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 12, nk behind Flying Power (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Miss Aix 16-1 (9-8) Mid-division, headway to lead 2f out, ridden and headed narrowly over 1f out, still every chance inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Our Gal (9-9) at Yarmouth 1m 2f flls hcp 0-80 (4) hvy in Oct.
Stand Guard 15-8 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and slightly outpaced over 3f out, rallied approaching final furlong, kept on, 4th of 6, 4l behind Country Road (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f clm stks (6) pol in Apr.
Epic Storm (IRE) 4-1 (9-10) Steadied start, held up in last pair, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, stayed on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol beating Unex Renoir (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Where's Susie 50-1 (8-13) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, no impression, 11th of 14, 12l behind Enthusiastic (9-0) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Always The Lady 16-1 (8-12) Keen led until over 7f out, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 11, 7l behind Bridle Belle (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 4f flls hcp 0-130 (3) sft.
No Such Number 9-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, switched left approaching final furlong, ridden to lead inside final furlong, won at Bath 1m 5f mdn hcp 0-70 (5) fm in Sep beating Aleksandar (9-3) by hd, 9 ran.
Beat Route 16-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, eased when no chance inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 12l behind Captain Cardington (8-10) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) hvy in Oct.
Livia's Dream (IRE) 80-1 (8-9) Not much room after start, towards rear, driven in 10th and struggling 2f out, never any chance, 10th of 14, 12l behind Tempest Fugit (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 5f flls lst stks (1) pol.
Moderator 7-4fav (9-6) In touch, headway on inner 3f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 11, hd behind Instrumentalist (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.


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HDTach Throughput Benchmark Charts
We can look at actual throughput charts over time. These tests start from the faster outer tracks (the left side of the charts) to the inner tracks (right side of the charts).
Both the FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 throughput charts are essentially flat throughout, which means the test is pegging the maximum throughput of the interface, not the hard drive.
The FireWire 800 and eSATA charts show gradual degradation of performance over time, which means that at some point, the test is pushing up against the throughput limit of the hard drive, at least for the inner tracks. The eSATA chart is similar to that of an internal hard drive, with both read and write performance degrading as the head moves from the outer tracks to the inner tracks.
The FireWire 800 chart is a little odd, particularly the write line, which is the lower, mostly flat trend line. Read performance is quite similar to eSATA, but the write performance is noticeably poorer until the heads get closer to the inner tracks. Continued…
- « Previous
- 5 of 7
- Next »


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text: Hi Chris, I have tried all of them at one time or another. Here is my take, Vista- Very well built fixture, good lensing and easy to service. CAST- Very well built fixture, also good lensing and easy to service-cost is a bit higher though Kichler LED- Build is fine and pretty clean, no lensing (you will see individual dots from the LEDs on the stone), the chips they use are cheap you will see chips vary in hue from a green, yellow to purple. This is a result of poor binning in the 2700k spectrum. I have used them twice and my both customers hated them and had me remove them. I don't recommend them until they make some major changes. Focus- I have not used the focus lip light yet, so I can't comment VOLT- Heavy, decent built fixture (albeit a bit bulkier than it needs to be),good lensing and easy to service. Integral- Cheaper build-(non-enclosed lamp), no lensing, servicing is easy which will definitely be required with an open lamp-if using LED lamps I wouldn't recommend.


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Hey again everybody, thanks for tuning in.Ā Today I start with a short reading that was excerpted from Shane Idleman's book One Nation 'Above' God.Ā His books and speaking excerpts can be viewed at www.ShaneIdleman.com.
I briefly mention the new OS3 that just came out for the iPod Touch and the cool FREE Bible Reader software I got from OliveTree.Ā Very cool and extremely functional.
Next Rich takes us through chapter 11 of Hebrews and the very beginning of chapter 12.Ā I know you'll be blessed by his take on this pivotal section of Hebrews.
Podcast 22 - July 4 and Hebrews 11 [ 40:34 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
As always, please feel free to leave your comments in this blog post or email us directly at show (at) dontblamejesus (dot) com.Ā God bless.


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Continental Seating Introduces New Theater Seating Style Proscenium Into Bravo! And Grand Tier Collection
[The following is a release from Continental Seating]
July 28, 2008
Continental Seating, of Carrollton, Texas, announces the new home theater seating style of Proscenium into the Bravo! and Grand Tier Collections. Proscenium is available in a 21" and 24" seat with the choice of Faux Leather, Ritz Suede, and Brazilian Leather coverings from the Bravo! Collection and the choice of 6 grades of leather from the Grand Tier Collection making this introduction flexible in the family of luxurious loungers. "Continental Seating will continue growing as an industry leader with our unsurpassed attention to areas of product innovation and research and development driven by dealer/designer requests, industry trends, and/or complete and original concepts." said Adam Cox, Principal of Continental Seating. "Proscenium's arched back caters to the high-end custom installer's commitment to enhancing the immersive surround sound experience and, as such, is a perfect addition to our innovative product line." "Aesthetically, this piece rocks!" said Rick Neverdousky, National Sales Director of Continental Seating. "The Proscenium isn't just about aesthetics and appearance though, our Manufacturing Director, Charlie Smith, was still able to provide a chair with stout comfort and good head support in the viewing position." Proscenium has a retail price ranging from $1,420.00 to $2,840.00 per seat plus a multitude of seating configurations making this one of the most flexible custom lounger brands available for home theaters today. Each piece of Continental Seating's home theater and multi-media room seating is hand built per order and inspected at every production point during manufacturing, making this a true custom built product. Available from authorized Continental Seating dealers in North America, customers should allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery from order. As the manufacturer, Continental Seating offers custom home theater seating through our network of national reps and audio video dealers. The Bravo! Collection has 14 popular loungers that may be covered in Ritz Suede, Faux and Brazilian leathers. The Grand Tier Collection has 20 loungers that can be covered with over 200 colors in 6 different leather grades from the world's finest tanneries. CenterStage Home Entertainment and Multi-Media furniture has 14 styles of sectionals, sofas, chairs and ottomans. Continental Seating will be exhibiting at the 2008 CEDIA EXPO, booth# 274, in Denver, CO Sept. 4-7.


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Click here to return to the 2017 Overdrive's Most Beautiful page
Have been in trucking since 1982. Have always loved the power of the engines & the industry as a whole. If we have it, a truck brought it! I always said when I grew up, I was gonna be one of those girls on the Peterbilt calendars…lol. Never applied :)


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NYC OTB Lives On, For Now
The New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. has warded off its demise yet again, giving itself and about 1,300 workers another year as it pledges to slash its budget and continue working toward a restructuring.
The NYC OTB — which provides off-track wagering opportunities to horse-racing fans and distributes the revenues to racetracks, horse breeders, trainers and others — has been battling financial woes for years. Last month, it sent notices to all of its employees warning them that unless state lawmakers came to its aid, it would close its doors April 11. But two days before, NYC OTB's board temporarily suspended the layoffs out of hopes that the state, whose laws created and govern NYC OTB, would come to its rescue. No deal was struck by this weekend, but NYC OTB's chairman said the progress made in last week's negotiations convinced him and his fellow board members that it wasn't yet time to turn out the lights.
"During the negotiations, all parties recognized that closing NYC OTB now would be a catastrophe to the racing industry," said Chairman Meyer "Sandy" Frucher in his remarks at Saturday's board meeting.


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Sleep has been a stranger – this past week. It's never good but sometimes it is near non-existent. This is when I am forced to realize that being unconscious is not the same thing as sleep. This is one of those bad periods that has my mind reeling and my body feeling all blargh and meh.
What does love do when lack of sleep has the body not thinking straight, feeling sick, and then drags my emotions down?
It just keeps going that's all.
How did Our Lord keep carrying that cross to Calvary?
He just did.
The Roman soldiers had a job to do and he was slowing them down with his excessive falling. They took the cross from him, maybe even against his protest. Regardless, he just kept marching down the hill of Jerusalem and then up the hill called Calvary.
I love the fact that I have friends who pray for me through this "sleep thing". Thank you. But as the years go on – the more I realize it's a thorn – and not to be removed anytime soon – if ever. The more I realize this, the more I just keep going anyway.
Trials seem to be different than thorns.
If it's a trial it seems meant to be borne and then to pass.
A thorn?
I think a thorn is just to be present.
Passing may not happen.
And love dictates being ok with that.
I am blessed, not for the thorn – but for the God who allows the thorn.
I get how Paul rejoiced in his weakness – his thorn. (2 Cor 12).
I didn't always get it.
This thorn helps with the "getting" of it.
I'm on the other side of a computer screen. I could just pretend it's not there and write some generic and fluffy love stuff.
But no masks,
and though sympathy is nice,
Lord knows I love me some good sympathy,
sympathy isn't asked for.
It's just a thorn.
You don't' get thorns in the side unless you need them, I think. This thorn has a job to do. I'm OK with that.
It's just that for the past week it's working a tad hard for my tastes.
You guys know how I'm prone to long series. In fact, trust me, as much as it looks like it, I haven't forgotten to finish up the series on prayer. But I'm learning that blogging isn't book writing. It's life. It moves at the pace of life. It reflects life. And life right now, I think, is being used by Our Lord to teach me something. So it gets the spotlight.
Oh – and did I mention I have to move on Friday? Not really good timing for the body to go haywire. And did I mention that I hurt my arm? It's a sleep related weakness that just made a muscle go a little snappy. Arms are useful for moving. It'd be nice if that heals before Friday. And did I mention that of the people I would expect to help in the move, it's possible that none may arrive?
And I just realized how whiny that all sounds. Sorry. I'm a little cranky.
Love is not cranky. I'm gonna work on that.
All things considered, not good timing for the thorn to flare up.
Or maybe…
really good timing.
To be continued…
In God's love


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Mises Wire
What is Central Planning
David Glasner attempts to defend central bankers from the accusation of being central planners. He does so from a distinctively Misesian perspective — or, at least, that is his intention. But, he mistakes Mises' definition of socialism as a definition of central planning, where the former suggests the collectivization of the means of production and their rationing by means of a planning board (or something similar). Yes, socialism requires central planning, and yes socialism is untenable, but this does not mean that central planning can only occur in a socialist economy.
Mises, fortunately, defines 'planning' for us in "Small and Big Business", in Economic Freedom and Interventionism (pp. 234–252). Contrary to Glasner's claims, Mises' definition presupposes the existence of a capitalist economy. Writes Mises,
The characteristic feature of this system of social control or planning is to be seen in the fact that it preserves to some extent a sphere in which the initiative of the entrepreneurial spirit can benefit the consumers. (p. 244)
It is best to approach the topic of central planning by first exploring the organization of society free from intervention. It is this form of organization that Hayek dubs "spontaneous order", and it basis itself on human action — the fact that individuals act purposefully, economizing between means and ends. As George Reisman, in Capitalism, carefully puts it, there is planning in the free market, but it is a planning by part of the individual market agents for themselves. It is a plan to accomplish a chosen end and allotting means towards the achievement of that end.
Central planning refers to planning as a means of social engineering. In other words, the central planner intervenes in the economy to manipulate the outcome. Why does the government fund healthcare? Because it is believed that if they do not then the market will inadequately supply health services. Why do Keynesians support fiscal stimulus? Because there is insufficient aggregate demand. These are all forms of interventionism, and as such they are also all forms of central planning. They represent the intent to manipulate an outcome away from what it would have otherwise been had it been left to "spontaneous order".
Of course, interventionism is not the same thing as socialism — socialism is a very specific economic system, where the means of production are collectively owned. But, central planning is not the same thing as socialism; it is merely a facet of socialism. Planning boards can exist in a capitalist economy (government) and a socialist economy.
Is central banking a form of central planning? Absolutely. The role of central banks is to help avoid certain outcomes which are expected to produce themselves in a free market. This includes price stabilization, unemployment targeting, and the guarantee of financial stability. Central bankers look at the data and decide whether or not an intervention is necessary. By the very definition of their actions they are centrally planning.
So, in the interest of "clear thinking" (as Glasner puts it), let us all admit that if we are in favor of certain forms of interventionism then we are in favor of central planning in those cases.


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Paradise was in paradise. Hawaii to be exact. One late night party left her in bed with an unknown stranger to walk out on the next morning.
But Fargo Leesburg catches feelings from his night spunt with an unnamed dark beauty. Will they meet again? What will happen if they do?
Let's see...
Roll the Watt!
- baby
- bwwm
- chase
- findingme
- love
- onenightstand
- paradise
- pregnancyscare
- strangers
Kaysinger1 Mar 10, 2017
Lesson to show that the 72hr pill doesn't always work. Cute girl.
Yuki1726 Jun 18, 2017
She is pretty but tht collar bone tho it all out there like BAM
Sampottorffsbae4life Nov 17, 2016
So cause your french that automatically makes you a sex god hmm interesting
JoyBarker Mar 21, 2016
She is so CUTE ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♥♥♥♥♡♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡
InterracialLuvDuh Apr 16, 2016
I need to go to a place with all the crazy white people that be in your stories 😂😂
lelezriya Nov 29, 2016
🎶🎵🎤Wait for them to ask you who you know please don't make any sudden moves you don't know the half of the abused 🎶🎵🎤


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SEOUL, South Korea – The United States and North Korea took a step back from the nuclear brink after both sides showed they could be willing to bend under the calm guidance of Beijing.
Still, with no date set for arms talks to resume and Washington and Pyongyang profoundly lacking in trust of each other, it remains to be seen whether Tuesday's agreement for the North to return to negotiations means an end is near for the North's aspirations of being a nuclear power.
Both the North and the United States had previously stuck to positions that seemed totally at odds, leaving little apparent room for a breakthrough. Neither side wanted to cave, despite calls from other nations for flexibility.
In keeping with its typical tactics of escalation and brinksmanship, the North test-fired a barrage of missiles in July and then took the unprecedented step of conducting a nuclear test Oct. 9 to goad the U.S. to action. Washington responded by backing tough U.N. sanctions.
If the United States agreed to meet the North's demand for direct talks and other concessions, it would amount to succumbing to nuclear blackmail – at least in some minds.
Instead, U.S. officials demanded the North first return to the international nuclear talks – which also include China, Japan, Russia and South Korea– and said they would be happy to meet separately just with the North there. That position had softened somewhat just before the North's Oct. 9 nuclear test, with U.S. officials saying the North simply had to agree to return to the nuclear talks first to get some face time with the Americans.
But the North insisted on direct talks, in keeping with its view that its nuclear dispute is with Washington alone because of the perceived threat to the regime it sees from the American military.
Pyongyang also wants to be seen as on equal footing with Washington, a desire fueled by nationalistic ideology viewing itself as a great nation and "socialist paradise."
North Korea had also refused to return to the negotiating table until the United States lifted financial restrictions against a Macau bank where it held accounts. That move had been part of a Washington campaign to sever the already isolated communist country from the international financial system for its alleged involvement in counterfeiting and money laundering to sell weapons of mass destruction.
China appears to have held the key in getting both sides to compromise and allow all to save "face."
During Tuesday's meetings in Beijing that led to the North's agreement to return to the bargaining table, Chinese and American representatives first met and then all three sides had lunch, said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the main U.S. envoy. Then, the U.S. and North Korean delegations met before all three got together again.
Having China in the room for most of the time meant the U.S. technically wasn't meeting just with North Korea.
For its part, the North stepped back from its demand that the financial restrictions be lifted to return to nuclear talks. But Hill said Washington did agree to discuss the issue at the nuclear talks, perhaps at a separate session going on at the time.
Those negotiations will still be rife with pitfalls, given the long history of disagreements between the two sides.
The North has previously refused to dismantle its nuclear program without getting concessions along the way, while the U.S. has said it wants to see the entire program eliminated before giving Pyongyang any reward.
When the talks do resume, the U.S. and North Korea will have a chance to show just how far their newfound flexibility goes.


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If you are searching for a delightful place to organize all of your loose change, then look no further than the fabulous Catseye Bathing Belles Coin Purse. This delightful little Purse is crafted with strong and sturdy PVC, which gives the accessory a shiny finish that is also conveniently waterproof. To the front of the Coin Purse you will discover a colourful photographic design that incorporates numerous vintage dressed women in bright bathing costumes. Complete with a secure zip fastening running along the top, this versatile and incredibly practical Coin Purse will make a tremendous addition to your accessory collection. The Catseye Bathing Belles Coin Purse is also an impressive gift for loved ones of special occasions.
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No individuals within our company or SagePay are able to decrypt transaction information or cardholder data. Their systems only allow access to our most senior staff and only in extenuating circumstances (such as investigations of Card Fraud by the Police). Your card information is secure even from their own employees because the systems never display the full card numbers, even on administration screens.


text:
Case 1: Wanted - Chikayla BUNYAN
Case 1: Wanted - Chikayla BUNYAN
Police in Counties Manukau have two warrants to arrest Chikayla BUNYAN for aggravated robbery and failing to answer court bail.
BUNYAN is described as:
- Female
- 23 years
- 165cm / 5'5"
- Solid build
BUNYAN is believed to have contacts in the Auckland area.
Police warn that BUNYAN is considered dangerous so is not to be approached.


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The Freshman Dux were defeated by Holland high school 24-32 in their final game of the season. The Dux found themselves down 5-20 at halftime but entered the second half with a revitalized energy as they outscored Holland in the remaining 2 quarters. The Dux played with a great deal of grit and passion in the second half but could not overcome the Holland lead.
The Dux were led in scoring by Callie Dobrinski's 8 points and followed by Cortlyn Merryman and Makennah Blackman who each scored 7 in the contest. The Dux finish their season with a record of 3-17.


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According to safe work Australia in 2009 - 10, 638 400 Australian workers had a work-related injury. This translates to an incidence rate of injury of 57.9 per 1000 workers. Imparting effective safety training to your people goes a long way in reducing accidents and other untoward incidents.
But, what does it take to create top-notch safety programs? How can you make "dry" safety training programs highly engaging? To find out, download the kit, 4 Incredible Resources to Build the Best Safety Training Program. This kit also:
This kit consists of the following resources:
Download the kit now!


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Employee Motivation Using Gifts
Meaning to everything in life comes from using recognition gifts as method of leadership This includes making the entire process of transformation meaningful. Companies that use recognition gifts are at a better position to rule the industry.
Everybody within the company must primarily reshape and rethink the entire business as it continues to run the operations daily. Energy used in transformation fuels the recognition. Understand that the transformational capacity goes great miles to help in improving commitment levels of employees by making them believe in the company missions.
It also helps employees to answer many questions starting with the relevance of transformations both to them and the company. It is essential to crucial the organization industry where the company manufactures motor vehicles that do not influence the staffs directly.
On the other hand, the impact of powerful transformational stories depend on the capacity of the Chief Executive to take a leading role in addressing company issues, provision of compelling answers to questions, identifying and appreciating success marks in the company, and engaging openly with the personnel.
An organizational culture that covers employee behavior and mind-set is developed using recognition gifts as a method of motivation. Managers who give recognition gifts position are always associated with their roles or the company irrespective of where they are. Such leaders are applauded by employees always.
Leaders must understand and internalize that any movement they make, all that they say, and every action they take is important to other employees. This means that for them to realize success, they must lead by motivation. They should be as perfect role models when they use recognition gifts. Whether they appreciate it or not, employees always assess the actions of leaders including the Chief Executive and use the same to determine whether they believe in motivation or not.
This circumstance requires the use of recognition gifts to transform itself. Employees always look up to the leader for most things including motivation. Everything changes including use of recognition of gifts. To see change among other executives, the Chief Executive must change. The CEO now becomes the center of leadership as a role model.
Leaders ought to comprehend that recognition gifts as a way of motivation is important to the company. The value of this is that it helps in objectives laid down, a chronology of events covering utilization of time on essential priorities, commitment to identified short transformation goals, and coaching by experts where necessary.
Handling motivation, social responsibility and business ethics is the most complicated exercise for managers in organizations. This is because Multinational Corporations runs businesses run operations in various countries with varied cultural orientations. Cultural differences differ from host country that has a subsidiary to another. The headquarter partners with subsidiaries in the local market to set the most appropriate world-wide corporate business codes of conduct, core, social responsibility, objectives, as well as general values.
Research shows that Executive Officers find the going easy when all leaders use recognition gifts albeit with modifications. Recognition gifts suit all departments within the manufacturing company and come together to discuss and enhance collective organizational objectives. A challenge and supporting the environment within the business organization is a benefit of using recognition gifts.
Cited reference: check


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John Schinnerer, Ph.D. is a member of the National Speakers Association, award-winning author of "Guide To Self: The Beginner's Guide to Managing Emotion and Thought," former host of "Guide To Self Radio" a daily prime time radio show, and a U.C. Berkeley-trained educational psychologist. Dr. John served as expert consultant to Inside Out from Disney and Pixar. He was also featured in Skewed, a documentary on the impact of violence in the media on the human mind.
Emotional intelligence is the strongest remaining competitive advantage in today's economy because it can be learned. If you have managers and executives who are emotionally challenged, expect your most talented employees to find work at your nearest competitor. People leave firms because of their direct supervisor. Ninety percent of supervisors lack emotional management.


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Fully Licensed & Bonded
The airport is located towards the north of the islands,
10 miles (16km) east of Hamilton.
Short-term parking costs BMD 1 per hour, up to a maximum of two
hours. Long-term parking at Bermuda International Airport is
charged at BMD 5 per day.
There are no car hire companies on the island.
Buses 1, 3, 10 and 11 service Hamilton and St Georges, but have
no luggage storage space and cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Taxis
are also available for hire at the airport.
Tel: +1 441 293 2470.
The airport terminal has ATMs and a money exchange on the ground
floor. The newly renovated shops in the check-in concourse sell a
variety of goods including magazines, books, souvenirs, jewellery,
perfume and clothing. Duty-free is also available. There is a
coffee bar/bistro, snack bars and cocktail bars in both the US and
international departure lounges.
The Bermudan Dollar (BMD) is divided into 100 cents, and is tied
to the US Dollar (US$1=BD$1). US currency is accepted almost
everywhere and other major currencies can be exchanged at banks and
bureaux de change. Banking hours vary, though most are open
weekdays from 9am to 4.30pm. Visa, MasterCard and American Express,
and travellers cheques are widely accepted and ATMs are extensively
available. To avoid additional charges, it is best to carry
travellers cheques in US dollars. Visitors are advised to exchange
all their Bermudan Dollars before leaving, as it is impossible to
exchange once outside the country.


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Adjust your resistance level and your cadence (or pace) until you find your true comfort zone where you feel mildly challenged but also like you could pedal with that pace and gear level for long stretches of time. Next, add resistance and come out of the saddle (with your hands in position 3) and find what feels like the optimal tension for you to do on a standing climb. Discovering these personal sweet spots will help you get better at pushing yourself out of your comfort zone when the opportunity calls for it and settling back into it when appropriate.

For an extra dose of fun, spend an entire session pedaling to the beat of whatever song is playing at a given time—faster during up-tempo songs, slower during ballads and other gentle songs. (This is a great way to hone your technique for beat-based classes.) The extent to which you adjust your resistance is up to you. Just remember: Always keep some resistance on the bike.

Use a particular session as an opportunity to gain control of your pacing. Spend a good chunk of time maintaining a consistently strong pace with moderate-to-heavy resistance on the bike. Then, slightly dial down either the resistance or your pace and focus on accelerating quickly; see how quickly you can add 10, 20, or 30 RPMs to your current pace before dropping down again. This is a good skill to have when you're riding (real or simulated) switchbacks or breakaways.

To improve the efficiency of your pedal strokes, try a traditional method called ankling, which involves flexing and extending the ankle during each pedal stroke. Specifically, the idea is to flatten your heel during the downward part of the stroke, roll through the foot (from heel to toe) at the bottom of the pedal stroke, then lift the heel as the pedal begins its ascension to the top of the arc, which gives you extra leverage. For a visual image, think of it as a motion that's similar to scraping mud off the bottom of your shoe.

During an endurance ride or a recovery ride, seize the opportunity to reconnect your mind and body by focusing on your breathing. Try experimenting with different breathing patterns such as diaphragmatic breathing or rhythmic breathing to see how they affect your energy, stamina, and performance. By doing this exercise, you will become more cognizant of breathing properly on a regular basis.

Whether they're riding indoors or out, most people tend to push off with the same leg or let their stronger leg drive their pedal strokes. Over time, this can exacerbate imbalances in muscle strength between your right and left legs. The solution: Spend a class or solo workout alternating between letting your weaker leg drive your pedal strokes and engaging both legs equally.

With indoor cycling, your mind can be a powerful ally. Even though you're in a darkened studio, you can keep your workout interesting by picturing the terrain your rides are simulating—flat roads, rolling hills, switchbacks, coastlines, lake settings, and more. Similarly, if you want to suddenly push your pace during a sprint, it can help to visualize yourself breaking away from a pack of riders as you pour on the pace. Seeing it can help you believe it and achieve it!


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10th Annual 'White Tie & Tiaras Charity Ball' Raises Over £60 Million
Photos courtesy of Wireimage.com
Elton John's 10th Annual White Tie & Tiaras charity ball brought out all the stars.
He and his partner David Furnish opened the doors of their Berkshire home each year to their celebrity friends.
This year, the guest roster included the Duchess of York and her daughter Princess Beatrice, Will Smith, Denzel and Paulette Washington, Bill Clinton, Mischa Barton, Gordon and Tana Ramsay, Elle MacPherson, Rod Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Elizabeth Hurley, Eva Herzigova, Stephen Fry – who wore a white tie and a tiara, and the list goes on.
The 620 guests arrived at the Windsor mansion for and paid the £3,000 ($6,000 US) per ticket to help raise money for the Elton John AIDS foundation.
The theme was 'beach party,' but the only one who was on point with the theme was Elle MacPherson in her tasseled dress, gold sandal flats and headband.
The celebrity auction went off without a hitch. An oil painting by Mark Quinn went for £900,000. A private photographic portrait sitting with Mario Testino raised £800,000... In total, the auction raised £10 million for the Foundation, bringing the evening to a wonderful success as the charity took in over £60 million.
"I can die a very happy man," said Elton.


text: "Anyone got any ideas or BTDT?" Regarding my experience with gremlins (and re-do's), it might be the last thing you did, ie the rear CV-joint. Otherwise... 1) when my prop shaft went out it made noise in off-load situations. 2) when my suspension parts went, the made thunking noises when turning combined with fwd-rev changes. 3) Aha, now I remember! When I had drumming noises it was TREAD SEPERATION! Invisible initially, additional miles finally produced the final diagnosis. David G.


text:
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Glutax 5gs Micro Advanced Glutathione IV
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6 Ampoules x5ml
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Glutax 5GS micro advance contains more vitamins designed to repair skin cells and increase skin nutrients throughout our bodies we are in this Product.
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text:
Victoria Studio (Photographers) : Autographed photograph of William James Hardham, 1902
Reference Number: PA1-q-162-73
William James Hardham photographed in 1902 by Victoria Studio (of Australia?). He wears the Victoria Cross, and other medals. The autograph on the bottom right hand corner reads: Yours Truly W J Hardham (1902).
Key terms:
1 image, related to William James Hardham, Victoria Studio, New Zealand. Army - Medals, badges, decorations etc, Soldiers and Victoria Cross.
Part of:
Morice album 1, Reference Number PA1-q-162 (1 digitised items)
Morice, Charles George Frederick, 1868-1966 :Photographs, Reference Number PAColl-5805 (5 digitised items)
Extent: 1 b&w original photographic print(s)Silver gelatin print 17.5 x 11.9. Vertical imageSingle photograph
Conditions governing access to original: Not restricted
Inscriptions: Inscribed - Recto - bottom right: Yours Truly W J Hardham (1902); Recto - bottom right: [embossed] Victoria Studio
Usage: You can search, browse, print and download items from this website for research and personal study. You are welcome to reproduce the above image(s) on your blog or another website, but please maintain the integrity of the image (i.e. don't crop, recolour or overprint it), reproduce the image's caption information and link back to here (http://mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=26807). If you would like to use the above image(s) in a different way (e.g. in a print publication), or use the transcription or translation, permission must be obtained. More information about copyright and usage can be found on the Copyright and Usage page of the NLNZ web site.
External Links:
View Full Descriptive Record in TAPUHI
View and/or order a copy of this image from Timeframes
View Archived Image on NDHA


text:
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Biotechnology for the Non-Biotechnologist" conference to their offering.
Biotechnology for the Non-Biotechnologist, ideal for non-Scientists and Scientists needing to understand the basic theory, principles, techniques and potential of biotechnology.
Why you should attend:
- Gain an introduction to the fundamental principles of biotechnology
- Improve your understanding of the key techniques used by biotechnologists
- Understand the importance of meeting regulatory requirements and hear about the advances being made
- Learn how to identify potential patents, and why and how they must be protected
- Share knowledge and experiences with fellow attendees from across Europe
Who Should Attend:
- Quality Assurance
- Regulatory Affairs
- Legal and IP
- Business Development
- Sales and Marketing
- Engineering
- Finance
- Finance
- Training
- Administration
- Management
Day One
09.30 Introduction to Biotechnology
Introduction to Molecular Biology
Re-Expression of Proteins
Development of Production Organisms
Fermentation Technology and Large Scale
17.00 General Discussion
End of Day One
Day Two
Process Optimisation and Scale Up
Analysis of Biopharmaceuticals
Product Recovery and Purification
Formulation Design of Biopharmaceuticals
Process Economics
17.00 General Discussion
End of Day Two
Day Three
08.30 Patenting Biotech Inventions
Patent Workshop
Regulatory Considerations of Biopharmaceuticals
Application of Regulatory Principles
Advances in Regulation: Biosimilars
Advances in Regulation: Advanced Therapies
16.30 General Discussion
End of Course
For more information about this conference visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/gw3fpw/biotechnology_for


text:
McCann, Gerry
|born on
|5 June 1968 at 07:45 (= 07:45 AM )
|Glasgow, Scotland, 55n53, 4w15
|MET h1e (is standard time)
|Data source
|Astrology data
|14°40' 28°15 Asc. 24°01'
Scottish-born father, a physician who, with his physician wife Kate, was vacationing in Portugal when their daughter, Madeleine McCann, went missing on May 3, 2007. The disappearance was much covered in the news and the parents were suspects for a while. While there have been several suspects, including Kate McCann, to date (late 2008), the authorities have not been able to hold or convict anyone in the disappearance and possible death of the child.
Madeleine was born on May 12, 2003 in Leicester, England--no time known. She was last seen on May 3, 2007 at about 8:30 PM local time in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve region. The couple told Portuguese police that they had left their three children, Madeleine and their younger twins, in the ground-floor apartment they had rented while they were at a nearby restaurant. When they returned, Madeleine had gone missing.
(PT notes that she has not seen a date for Kate McCann's birthday though one unknown researcher reported that she was born in first quarter of 1968 according to an Ancestry.com.uk search s/he conducted. They married in December 1998 in Liverpool according to the same website. Someone alleged that she was born Kate Healy in Liverpool, and is the daughter of Susan and Brian Healy. PT notes that none of this information has been verified as far as she knows; however one news report said that Kate had used IVF to become pregnant and had Madeleine five years after her marriage so 1998 seems right; news reports at the time of the child's disappearance gave Kate's age as 39).
Source Notes
Caroline Gerard quotes birth certificate as cited by David Fisher in "Transit" magazine, Nov/Dec 2007 (publication of the Astrology Association of Great Britain).
- Family : Parenting : Birthing - Twins, triplets, etc.
- Family : Parenting : Kids 1-3
- Family : Parenting : Kids -Traumatic event
- Vocation : Medical : Physician


text:
Sweet Tees. Original designs. Perfect for all.
an abstract composition on a substrate of expressionism: an instant capture of a covert glance on transit.
Original: acrylic on panel board.30X40cm.
Featured in AVANT-GARDE on 11/07/!2012Featured in THE ACRYLIC PAINTING GROUP group on 25/08/2012
abstract eyes glance orange purple ivory straight lines acrylic spanish artist maraia
Wonderful absract with wonderful colors!!!
thanks so much, Katerina, for your comment. Feedback is always very welcome!
love the order/disorder, the graphic line and the abstract feel. Great combination Maraia!
wow, Mark, you are not only a great artist but a wiondeful critic, I'm so happy you have taken the time to comment on this!
Gorgeous! Fave!
Thanks, nanaellis, I'm glad you like it!
Your creations are Great Maraia ! Splendid !!
Thanks indeed, I feel I'm progressing in my work, and I'm sure the inspiration and the great feedback I get here have a lot to do!
I'm glad I'd met you and your art Maraia after your comment! :) wonderful abstract!
Thanks so much, Marianna, nice to meet you too!
yes, that feeling exactly…the flash of presence, unmistakably, you. Expressionism at its best.
Wow, thanks kenroome, what an appreciative comment!
i am interested in the co-incidences of the instances … great title … engaging
Thanks, mxara, I also think titles are important to focus the intention of a work.
this is great! my first feature in your group! wonderful news!
Cheers, nanaellis, and thanks for your interest in my work!
wonderful glimpse, just stunning
Hi, anna, what a lovely comment, thanks indeed for leaving it and for the fav!
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text:
The rollout of the health care exchanges on Healthcare.gov went badly. For two months, people were effectively unable to enroll, due to software glitches in the programming of the website. Half of the states rejected ACA money to expand Medicaid, even that expansion cost those states nothing, largely for irrational reasons. The anti-ACA misinformation campaign was ferocious; a majority of Americans now think that the Affordable Care Act is a good thing, but that 'Obamacare' is a disaster, despite them being exactly the same thing. The President's early sales pitch misfired as badly as it could have done. When he said 'if you like your current health insurance, you'll be able to keep it,' that wasn't strictly true. Lots of people had cheapo, low-cost, low-benefit insurance policies they liked just fine. They offered the illusion of adequate coverage, but didn't cost much; obviously, if you didn't get sick, that kind of policy would seem perfectly adequate. Insurance companies made a cheap buck off those policies, knowing they could only offer them for a year or so; the ACA would outlaw them, and it would look like the President's fault. What the President should have said was 'if you have a good health insurance plan, offering adequate coverage, you'll be able to keep it.' He didn't say that, and he's paid a high political price for it.
The initial goal was for 7 million people to be enrolled in the Healthcare.gov exchanges. Two months ago, that goal looked completely unattainable, for all the reasons listed above. The early enrollment period ended yesterday. Although final figures aren't yet available (some late enrollments still need to be processed), they will exceed 7 million by a considerable amount. That's 7 million people who did not previously have insurance, many of them having been denied coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions. Now they're all covered; getting affordable health coverage, and for many, life-saving health care. The website works. The ACA works. It's going to continue to work. Service will improve.
Republicans continue to shout from the rooftops that Obamacare is a catastrophe, that it's a complete failure, that it's the worst bill in American history. Quite possibly, Tea Party favorites like Senator Ted Cruz (R-Pluto), will continue to compare Obamacare to slavery, or the Holocaust, or the zombie apocalypse. Republicans are counting on this being THE big issue in the 2014 Congressional elections, and they're hoping that they could very well win the Senate, and increase their lead in the House, based entirely on Obamacare. That could happen, I think. Off-year elections are low-turnout elections, and conservatives are unified in their hatred of this President and his signature legislative achievement. If enough young voters stay home, a strong showing by conservative voters could cost the Democratic party Congress.
But long-term, opposition to Obamacare will increasingly become a losing strategy. Because in it's own slipshod, ramshackle fashion, Obamacare does work. Is it a flawed bill? Of course. Could it be improved? Absolutely. What I would love to see is a sensible, bi-partisan approach to the ACA that acknowledges the bill's strengths and works to fix some of its problems. And writing those words 'sensible' and 'bi-partisan' caused me to throw up a little in my mouth.
What I am certain of is that the ACA will not be repealed, and that opposition to it will fade over time. And there will be no viable conservative alternative, because, let's face it, the ACA IS the conservative alternative. What liberals wanted was a single-payer system. What liberals wanted was for health insurance companies to go out of business. Republicans say they want a 'market based' alternative. What could be more market-based than a health care exchange? What could be more market-friendly than a website where lots of health insurance companies compete for your business?
What everyone hates about health insurance is a situation where you have a serious illness and your insurer won't pay for your treatment. What everyone hates is the concept of a 'pre-existing condition' that makes it impossible for you to get any health insurance at all. It's the double-bind in which parents without insurance coverage find themselves. Your kid's sick. You don't have insurance. Your only choices are both irresponsible. You can go to an emergency room and rack up a bill you can't afford to pay. Or you can not get treatment for your child, who may well have a serious, but treatable illness. Choice A stinks. Choice B stinks worse. We're the richest country in the history of the world. We have to be able to fix this.
But it also doesn't make sense to pay for something you don't need. If you're not sick, paying health insurance premiums is a waste of money. Wouldn't it make more fiscal sense to only get health insurance after you get sick? By the same token, paying fire insurance premiums is a waste of money. What makes more sense is to buy fire insurance only when your house is actually on fire. But that defeats the purpose of insurance. So we say to everyone who buys a home 'oh, and you also have to buy fire insurance.' We say to everyone who wants to operate an motor vehicle 'you have to buy auto insurance.' And that's why the ACA includes a health insurance mandate. We're going to make you buy health insurance (and auto insurance, and fire insurance), because that's the only way to make sure the money is there to care for people who become really really ill. (Or wreck their cars, or burn down their houses).
So whenever you hear people say 'what I like about the ACA is the prohibition on people who can't get coverage due to 'pre-existing conditions,' but I hate the mandate; this is America; we can't make people buy insurance,' understand that those people don't know what they're talking about.
One thing I don't like about the ACA is the way it continues to link employment to insurance coverage. I think the ACA has incentivized companies to cut employee hours so as to avoid having to pay for health insurance for those employees. That's happened a lot at universities, for example, and it's reprehensible.
I'm intrigued by the concept of 'defined contribution', where companies no longer have to administer health insurance, but simply create a pool of money for insurance, and allow employees to buy their own coverage on an exchange. I think companies would like the flexibility of defined contribution. And all employees would have access to the money set aside for health insurance, though with less money available for part-time employees. I like the flexibility of being able to choose between a PPO (Preferred Plan Organization) or an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), each of which have advantages and disadvantages.
But the reality is, misinformation aside, the ACA works, and better than most people thought it would. Any narrative about 'the failure of Obamacare' will become increasingly quaint and old-fashioned. We're moving towards a time when everyone in the country will have access to affordable, high quality health care. We're not there yet, but the ACA is a step in the right direction. Let's put this debate behind us, and take the next step forward.


text:
The Democrat-controlled state Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday gave a rubber stamp to a sheaf of measures that would change the landscape of gun laws in California.
The proposals, being rushed through the legislature by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León – currently locked in a battle with Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom over who will lead the charge toward expansive new gun regulations California – confusingly included three duplicate measures crafted from gutted and amended zombie bills left behind by the resignation of a fellow Democrat.
The measures include restrictions on "ghost guns," retroactive bans on currently grandfathered firearms and magazines going back to 1899, outlawing the use of "bullet buttons," founding a state-run Firearm Violence Research Center, changing how California defines ammunition and requiring the reporting of stolen guns. The bills all passed in 5-2 votes along party lines.
"There is a good chance of getting the legislative package of gun-control bills to the Governor," De Leon said in a letter sent to Newsom last month, arguing state lawmakers are better placed to enact sweeping gun control laws than the Lt. Governor's own Safety for All ballot initiative.


text:
As I sit back and get ready to move into this new year of 2016, I finally can exhale… and let me tell you, I've been "waiting to exhale" for years!!!! YEARS!!!!!
This week I was challenged….. Someone very close to me said some very hurtful things to me and my quickest reaction was to go off on this person because my temper is short, and I did! I went off… but the lasting effect of the feeling it left me with is still lingering. Hurt, sadness, disappointed, violated? I won't let it stay with me though, life is too short…. I will move on and be thankful for the experience.
They say a New Year should bring a New You, but I have to say, I like the "ME" I am today! I'm always on the road to being a healthier, more financially stable and over all positive person, but I'm going to go with just being happy with ME!
I'm so quick to let things get the best of me, especially when it's something someone says or thinks of me, but then again do we ever really grow out of that one? Who cares what they think or say, it's time we are comfortable in our own skin, with who WE are!
I have an amazing daughter that I have just been blessed with in so many ways, I have my parents that are supportive, a great sister that keeps me grounded, friends that are always there when I need them and even if I don't, a soul mate that I'm able to share many wonderful moments with and above all I have my faith, that pulls me through every time I fall.
So I'm going to stick with that! Happy New Year!