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Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 2014
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Rescue crews searched waters off Key Biscayne on Thursday after a man reportedly fell out of a private plane with no parachute about 2,000 feet into the ocean.
The pilot told air traffic controllers that a passenger fell from the Piper PA46 about eight miles southeast of Tamiami Airport, about one mile offshore, at around 1:30 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue along with the U.S. Coast Guard launched planes, helicopters and rescue boats, hoping to locate the man. The effort was set to resume Friday morning.
The plane landed safely at Tamiami Airport Thursday afternoon, the FAA said.
Miami-Dade Police sent homicide detectives to the airport to further investigate, said spokesman Javier Baez. Police have not indicated any evidence of foul play, however. And the pilot was very cooperative with the investigation, said Lt. John Jenkins.
"We're still gathering as many facts as we can," Baez said.
In the mayday call to air traffic controllers posted on the website LiveATC.net, the pilot said: "I have a door ajar, and a passenger that fell down. I am six miles from Tamiami."
A little later in the exchange, the air traffic controller asks: "So you said you had a passenger who fell out of your plane?"
"That is correct, sir. He opened the back door, and he just fall down the plane," the pilot said.
The pilot had contacted FAA air traffic controllers at Miami Terminal Radar Approach Control, which provides radar service to flights that are within a 55-mile radius of Miami International Airport. The control center then notified the Coast Guard.
"The FAA notified the U.S. Coast Guard and Miami-Dade Search and Rescue," the FAA said.
The Coast Guard searched an area two miles southeast off Key Biscayne by air and sea, including with a small boat. They stopped searching about 7 p.m. when it got too dark.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue had three marine units and two planes.
Anyone with information regarding the possible person in the water should call the Coast Guard via VHF marine radio channel 16 or by calling 911.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Scott Lyon is a film director represented for commercials by Outsider and Park Pictures.
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It's fun to be Catholic
In its best moments Catholicism is the happiest of the major world religions. It is permeated by the reverent joy of Christmas night, the exultant joy of Easter morn, the gentle joy of First Communion, the satisfied joy of grammar school graduation, the hopeful joy of a funeral Mass, the confident joy of a May crowning. Catholicism is shaped by the happiness of hymns like "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," "Adeste Fideles," the "Exultet," and "Bring Flowers of the Fairest."
Catholicism is an old, variegated, complex religious heritage. Many different cultural streams have emptied into its vast rivers. New ones still pour into it today. One can find in its history almost anything one wants-superstition, ignorance, bigotry, cruelty, arrogance, pride. One can easily find such realities today, too. Our ancestors have tortured and burned heretics and witches. They have murdered pagans, Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Protestants, and other Catholics. Anyone who has been raised Catholic has had experience with the harsh, negative, dour, repressive components of our heritage.
Yet at its best-and all religions should be judged by their best-Catholicism is essentially a religion of sacramentality and community, a religion that believes that God is everywhere in our daily life and world and that we honor God as part of a community of believers.
Anglican historian Owen Chadwick, in his book The Popes and European Revolution, comments, "The religious world of Haydn and Mozart had this characteristic of the Catholic 18th century, that it was a world of happy religion. . . . Like rococo architects, these were not men of an other-worldly religion, or (if they were) the other world wasclose to this world and permeated all its being."
Precisely. Perhaps without realizing it, Professor Chadwick put his finger on the essence, the genius, the fundamental orientation of Catholicism. We believe that the sacred is everywhere, that it lurks among us, sanctifying everything. We live in haunted houses, enchanted by the Holy Spirit.
God is not (only) distant. God is among us in the water, the bread and the wine, the oil, the body of the beloved. And in the sun and the moon and the stars, in reconciliation after quarrels, in the touch of a friendly hand, in a glorious summer sunrise, in a chill winter sunset behind a frozen lake, in a familiar face seen in a crowd after many years of absence, in chocolate ice creams, in a joyous romp with our lover. Grace is everywhere. All is grace!
Catholicism affirms life, affirms flesh, affirms pleasure, affirms art and music, affirms a God who is present in the objects and events and persons of daily life. Hence we have angels and saints and souls in purgatory and stained glass and statues and Mary the Mother of Jesus. They all remind us of the presence of God in the sacraments as well as in all the sacraments of our world.
Sure, Catholicism can easily slip over into superstition, folk religion, and a syncretistic blend with paganism. But other world religions that emphasize the distance of God and the godforsaken nature of our world risk reducing the world to an empty and almost meaningless place. God is both present and absent, of course, both near and far, both immanent and transcendent. Catholicism bets that its emphasis on his presence, his nearness, his immanence, is legitimated by the mystery of the Incarnation, that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (literally pitched his tent among us).
This appeal, this attractiveness, this charm of Catholicism is the reason why we remain Catholic, no matter the sins of the past or the foolishness of the present. Once a Catholic, it is said, always a Catholic. If Catholicism can enchant and enthrall your imagination in the early years of your life, you will always be haunted by it. As novelist Alice McDermott has said, with considerable pride, we are forever doomed to be Catholic. There's no turning back.
Somehow too many of our teachers and our leaders don't seem to understand that we remain Catholic and always will be Catholic because of stories of the presence of grace in the world, stories of God's love all around us. Most Catholics know better. There is a distinctively Catholic imagination-sacramental, liturgical, analogical, call it what you wish-that enables Catholics to see the world through a different set of lenses. That is the first reason it is fun to be Catholic.
Catholicism is thus a religion of festivity and celebration, of holidays and parties, of a sacred calendar, of Christmas cribs and Easter lilies, of processions and pilgrimages, of seasons and colors, of special prayers and special patrons. They are all part of the explanation of why Catholicism is a happy religion and why it is fun to be Catholic.
The other dimension of Catholicism that is so attractive to Catholics is its emphasis on community-an emphasis diametrically opposed to the emphasis on the individual that is so much part of American culture. Catholicism teaches, and Catholics believe in their bones, that we relate to God as part of a network of family, friends, and neighbors. Why should we, when it comes to religion, go off into the desert by ourselves?
So we express our intense communal relations at every level of our lives and most particularly in the neighborhood parish, which is the church for us. Catholics cluster, they bond, they converge, they swarm. Catholicism, in James Joyce's happy phrase, means "Here comes everybody!" We draw our boundaries out as wide as we can and, in our better moments, include within the boundaries even those who think they are outside. It's hard to stop being a Catholic.
Those rigid people who try to draw the boundaries tightly (so as to exclude the ones with whom they disagree) misunderstand what Catholicism is about. We are not a religion for only the saved, much less for those who think that they are saved. We are a religion for everyone. Even those who have been excommunicated are still Catholics. The only way you can get out is by formally and explicitly announcing that you have renounced the faith or by joining another denomination. Even then neither the church nor your own imagination gives up on you. Never!
It's more fun being Catholic because it's more fun to belong to something than to be a religious lone wolf. In a multinational study of family life, my colleagues in the International Social Survey Program discovered that in virtually every country, Catholics are more likely to live with their parents or to live close to them, to visit them often, and to talk to them often on the phone. The same things are true of relationships with children and siblings and even with other relatives. Catholics, as I say, tend to swarm.
It is fun to belong to something, it is fun to believe that God is close to us, loving us like a spouse, a parent, a friend. That's why Catholics stick to their church, come what may. That's why the confusion and the chaos in the church in the years since the end of the Second Vatican Council have not driven Catholics out of the church-despite all the attempts of us priests and bishops to drive them out! Despite the creeps and the party poopers, the puritans and the spoilsports, the killjoys and parade ruiners, Catholicism is too much fun to leave.
It always has been.
It is not likely to change.
Deo gratias!


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Sally Blevins
Marion High Marion, VA Class of 1959
Memories of Sally Blevins
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Patrick Corcoran
North Arlington High
Personal Info
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- Patrick Corcoran
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Memories of Patrick Corcoran
Are you Patrick Corcoran?
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Looking for Patrick Corcoran?
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DETROIT, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Mitt Romney was a double winner Tuesday, capturing the Michigan and Arizona Republican presidential primaries, results showed.
The Detroit Free Press declared Romney the victor over his GOP rivals in Michigan.
With about 96 percent of the precincts counted, Romney had 390,879 votes (41 percent) to Rick Santorum's 360,769 (38 percent), results posted by the Free Press showed. Ron Paul was third with 110,948 votes (12 percent) and Newt Gingrich followed with 62,102 votes (7 percent). Another 2 percent voted "uncommitted" and a handful of votes went to several other Republicans who are no longer contenders.
CNN called Romney the winner in Arizona. With 79 percent of the vote counted, Romney had 208,999 votes (47 percent) to Santorum's 115,687 votes (26 percent). Gingrich was third with 71,633 votes (16 percent), with Paul bringing up the rear with 37,314 votes (8 percent).
Santorum took solace in not getting blown out by Romney and called it "an absolutely great night."
"This was going to be Romney's night. The question was how big. And it wasn't very big," CNN quoted Santorum as saying.
"A month ago they didn't know who we are, but they do now."
Back in the GOP driver's seat, Romney said the margin of his twin victories didn't matter.
"A week ago, it was just a week ago, the pundits and the pollsters, they were ready to count us out," he said. " ... We didn't win by a lot, but we won by enough and that's all that counts.
Exit polls in the two states Tuesday had indicated electability was the top priority among Republican primary voters.
Thirty-three percent of Michigan voters said beating President Obama is the top priority when selecting a GOP nominee, while 38 percent of voters in Arizona said the same, CBS News exit polls indicated.
Romney and Santorum slashed at each other ahead of the Michigan primary, which was too close to call. The contest in his home state is seen as crucial to Romney and his claim of the front-runner's mantle.
Despite the closeness of the Michigan race, the Post said Romney was expected to win about three times as many convention delegates as Santorum Tuesday. Arizona is a winner-take-all primary. Michigan's 30 delegates are allotted proportionately to the primary winner in each of the state's 14 congressional districts. Arizona's winner picks up all of its 29 delegates.
The Washington Post said Romney was expected to garner 45 delegates from both contests, with Santorum picking up about 15.
Gingrich and Paul were not expected to win any delegates, and did not seriously campaign in the two states.
Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, and Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, have been shooting fireballs at each other in recent days.
Romney blasted Santorum's use of robocalls urging Democrats, who can vote GOP in Michigan, to vote for Santorum.
"I know why [President] Obama doesn't want me to face him but I just think it's outrageous and a terrible dirty trick at the last hour, by the way, late in the afternoon on the day before the election, maybe hoping no one would notice, they start sending out calls to Democrats, union members telling them to go into the Republican primary and vote against Mitt Romney," Romney told Fox News.
"This is a new low for his campaign and that's saying something," he added.
Santorum told Fox News Monday night he's just trying to attract the Democratic voters he'll need in November.
"When he runs a robocall of my voice from four years ago saying good things about him, that's not a low moment, and when I run a call basically saying, calling Democrats that are eligible to vote here, to vote for us, that's a low?" he said.


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Who Makes Laws and Regulations?
Look at Montana's book of hunting regulations. Why do we have so many rules? Are they really necessary? Who makes them? Who enforces them?
Hunting laws are created with the leadership of hunters working with elected officials, who are responsible for making new laws. They are intended to protect and manage wildlife populations as well as to protect hunters. Before the establishment of these laws, many species were driven to near extinction. In response, hunters pushed for laws to regulate hunting and protect species in hopes they could recover their numbers and be enjoyed by future generations of hunters and nonhunters.
Laws come from legislators or citizen ballot initiatives. It takes time and effort to develop laws, so they don't change very often. Because of this, most states and provinces grant state wildlife agencies such as FWP authority to make regulations. Regulations are based on public input and on information provided by scientists and managers. They are easier to change than laws and are better suited to the way that wildlife is managed everyday.


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If you're feeling patriotic and have dreams of backyard BBQs and 4th of July cookouts these chocolate stars are perfect for adding some color to your festivities. Use them as cupcake toppers for spectacular 4th of July cupcakes, or use them as a border at the bottom of a cake. The possibilities are endless and because this is a quick and easy project, kids will be happy to join in the fun as well.
This is a great chocolate project for those who are just beginning to work with chocolate. There is just one color of chocolate that you will need and the Ice Princess Chocolate Mold is very easy to work with.
To make these stars, you will need the following tools -
~One 12 oz squeeze bottle
You will also need the following Items -
~1 bag (16 oz) white chocolate candy melts
Step 1 – Begin by melting the chocolate. I melt my chocolate in the microwave by emptying an entire bag of white chocolate melts into a large Pyrex bowl and microwaving it in intervals of 30 seconds on the defrost setting, stirring in between each 30 second interval. The stirring will ensure that the heat gets distributed throughout the chocolate and it melts evenly.
Step 2 – Once the chocolate is fully melted and smooth (no lumps), use a funnel to transfer the chocolate into a 12 ounce squeeze bottle.
Step 3 – Now you are ready to fill the mold! This mold is made of silicone and though they are originally designed for making ice cubes, I found that these silicone molds work great for chocolate. They produce crisp designs and the silicone is very flexible making it easier to remove the chocolate. This mold is pretty deep so I only fill each star about 3/4 full.
Hint – Keep your chocolate squeeze bottle upside down in a pint glass when you are not holding it. This will keep all of the chocolate close to the tip and will eliminate air bubbles and the chocolate explosions that you sometimes get from hidden air pockets.
Step 4 – Once all of the star shapes are filled with chocolate, tap the mold several times to allow air bubbles to float to the top. Next place the mold in the refrigerator on a flat surface for about 15 minutes.
Step 5 – Remove the mold and pop out the stars. Gently pry away the silicone from around each of the stars before trying to release them. This will help detach them from the mold.
Step 6 – Repeat the process to make more stars, or if you have enough, move on to decorating your stars.
Step 7 – Prepare your decorating supplies. For my stars, I'm staying with the patriotic theme by using tri-color nonpareils which are in red, white, and blue. You can use any combination of sprinkles you like. Nonpareils work well because they are small and provide good coverage. Now you will need two small dishes or plates. Place your sprinkles in one dish and squeeze a bit of chocolate (maybe two tablespoons) into the other dish.
Hint – If you are done with your chocolate, pipe the remainder that is left in the squeeze bottle into small dollups on a piece of parchment paper. Don't forget this step, because if your chocolate solidifies in your squeeze bottle, it will be almost impossible to remove (you would need to rewarm it). Once the wafers that you pipe are dry, all you need to do it put them in an airtight bag or container and they will be ready for re-melting for your next project.
Step 8 – Begin decorating! Pick up one of your chocolate stars and use your small paintbrush to paint the chocolate onto the surface of your star. Do this quickly so that the chocolate doesn't set up as you work. You can rewarm the chocolate in the microwave if it gets to cool. Once the surface of your star is coated in chocolate, immediately dip it into the sprinkles. Press it down firmly and remove it. It should be covered in colorful sprinkles! Repeat this with the remaining stars be creative with your decorating. I chose to fill in just the center of some of the bigger stars. You can create any pattern by brushing the chocolate on isolated areas of the stars.
Have fun with these stars by throwing them in a fruit salad, using them as cupcake toppers, decorating a cake with them, making a candy necklace, or anything else you can think of. Use your imagination and if you enjoy this blog and decide to try it yourself, please send in your pictures. We would love to post them and share all of your wonderful projects!


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L.A. to Arkansas to Anaheim . . . all good
I went home to Arkansas on a private plane after the game yesterday at Dodger Stadium to be with family attend services for my grandmother. That's why I wasn't able to hang around and talk to reporters, which I enjoy doing as part of my job.
I know everyone was curious about how I felt after crashing into the wall to make that catch on Matt Kemp's ball, and I was pretty sore. But a massage helped me out, and I actually feel pretty good today. So I called Mike Scioscia, our manager, and Ron Roenicke, our bench coach, and told them I'd better be in the lineup against the White Sox.
My grandmother — Zelma Louise Hunter — passed last Saturday. This is my dad's mom, and he's taking it pretty hard. She was 94 years old and lived a good, long life. She went to the hospital 10 days ago and they told her she had a week to live.
I got back to Pine Bluff last night, going solo. I hung out with my family. I haven't seen some of them for 10, 20 years. I'm glad I was able to get back there and be there for her services. She was a wonderful person, and she'll be missed.
OK, so here I am, back on the job. I'm going to take batting practice and get ready to play. I didn't think I'd feel like this after it happened. I was trying to catch my breath after the catch. My body spasmed up. I was trying to ball up before I hit the wall, turn and hit it with my back, but my elbow hit me in the ribs and took my breath away.
The whole game after that I had short breath. But that's what I do. I was asked, very respectfully, if I'm a little crazy to make plays like that, but I've got to catch that ball. It's irritating to let a ball fall. I've been running into walls my whole career. If I was gun-shy, it would have happened my first year. Only in Boston will I let it go off the wall — you don't want to run into that thing. Everywhere else it's padded out there, and it's like Ray Lewis hitting you. You know how much I love football.
I came out of the game yesterday a little early, in the seventh inning. My quad tightened up a little, but the massage I got after the game straightened that out. I'm fine.
I'm excited to be back. The great Vladimir Guerrero comes back tonight, and that's another big weapon in our lineup. We've been playing pretty well lately, showing our toughness, I think. The guys have come together and played some good baseball. It's a long season, and I love this team.
It's great to be back, and my family's all right. It's all good. I'm ready to get back out there and get after it.
21 Comments
Torii, I am your biggest fan and I am playing american legion baseball for my high school, so i know what it is like to take hits, my grandmother is also in hospital from stroke but she is doing much better.
I do feel for you man
As a lifelong Angels fan I cannot thank you enough for 2 things:
1) Coming to play for the Angels
2) Playing the game as hard as you can at all times!
Thanks for keeping in touch with the fans!
Torii You are one of a kind.
1.) I enjoy watching you play in center field. The balls you catch are amazing to watch. You are truly a golden glover.
2. Thank You for being a club house leader.
3. I'm glad you signed with the Angels, you mean so much to the Angel team. Keep up the hard work.
4. Hope you make the All Star Team this year, I'm doing my best to get you voted in.
A Loyal Fan in Henderson, NV
My condolences to you and your family. I have lost a few people in my life young, and old…no matter what age it always seems to be a loss. How very respectful of you to make the time and dash home for your grandmothers services. You are truely a "great effort person". I can see it in your playing and I can only image how you are with your family and in your everyday life. I have a feeling the people around you and your teamates that you see everyday are blessed to have your support and your commitment.
Torii, I am sorry about your grandmother. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
**Awesome catch! You play with alot of heart and I love it**
It seems that every single game, Torii makes another amazing catch, or knocks another fastball into the next century. Sometimes both. I cannot express how important Torii is to the 2009 Angels.
Randy ~ ExposurePerfect.com
Torii, I'm very sorry to hear about your grandmother passing. My condolences to you and your family.
I've always loved watching the Angels play their style of ball, but it's been even more enjoyable since you joined the team. You always give it everything you've got and are willing to take hits to make those spectacular catches. Your leadership and positive attitude in the clubhouse, on the playing field, and in the community truly impresses me. You definitely get my vote for the 2009 All Star team!
You have my sympathy and my prayers. I know how hard it is to lose a loved one. Please send my condolences to your family.
You and the team have been playing great. You are on my Fantasy Baseball Team and I never knew the story Vince Skully told about you sleeping in your car when you first started out. It really touched my heart. You have the heart of a real champion. Good things come to good people.
I am so glad I have someone with such character on my team. Keep up the good work.
My prayers are with you and your family right now as you deal with your Grandmothers passing. With God's strength, you will get through.
I have to tell you that my 6 year old Grandson, Jack loves you. You are the #1 Angel player (Vladi and Chone are second and third). When someone asks why you are his favorite, he says that he will always remember when you hit the '4 person home run' We were at the game against Cleveland last April 8th and they were kicking our butts. Jack was getting tired so we left thinking it was all over for the Angels. In the parking lot we heard on the radio that we loaded the bases. We got home 10 min later and I took Jack upstairs and turned on the TV. He had fallen asleep in the car and I went to get the rest of the gear out of the car and I hear "Grandma! Torii just hit a 4 person home run and the Angels win!" I could not get him back to sleep, he was so excited. So now every time you are up, he asks 'will Torii hit another 4 person HR?' We love your heart, humor and your fantastic catches! We hope you will be an Angel for a long time to come!
First I want to say I'm sorry about your grandmother. That's always tough to deal with…but I'm sure your family was happy to have you there. Sounds like grandma got the most out of her life…..just like you are doing!
Secondly….i just want to say that I'm so happy that you are an ANGEL!!!! You have already become a leader of our team in every way…and I LOVE IT! I love watching you play your game.
And finally, I just want to say…. KEEP SMILING! You have an awesome smile! I always see you with a smile on your face…and it puts a smile on MY face! :)-
Torii im very sorry to hear about your grandmother, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Just wanted to tell you how much I admire you. I love the way you go out there and play everyday. You always play 110% and put all your heart in the game. Thanks so much for always being hear for us. YOUR THE BEST…..
Hey thanks for the awesome home run on sat (5-23) you shut the dodgers fans for awhile and I was telling them "Now What Torii is #1" LOVED IT!!!!!! k well GOD BLESS YOU N YOU FAMILY
94, wow, that's a long time with grandma, a thankful and fortunate grandson feeling with that, filled with lotsa fun memories, I'll bet!!
P.S. Have u been shooting yourself on the foot trying to advance to 3B lately?!
Hi Torii, I am very sorry to hear about your grandmother. I am glad to hear that you took the time to go to her services. A lot of people now a days dont take the time for their families anymore. Thank you for keeping your heart and my prayers to you and your family.
I was sorry to hear about your grandmother. Mine lived well into her 90's as well. When she passed away it left a hole in the entire family. After all, she had ALWAYS been there. There with her love, charm, her sense of humor, and the wisdom that comes from 96 years of experience.
Even in passing, she shared one final lesson: Live well. I think of her often and I am not afraid to ask myself, what would Grams do? It is as though I carry a moral compass within me that affects everything. My work ethic, how I treat those around me, etc..
I have no doubt your grandmother shared invaluable lessons as well. Savor them, embrace them. Encourage others to do the same. Her memory will serve you well; you need only allow it.
Dear Mr Hunter,
I'm sorry for the loss it must be hard on your family and yourself. I would like to thank you (for the millionth time) for playing with great passion every single day! We, as fans, appreciate it so very much!! Best of luck this season 😀
much love
p.s. Man i'm voting for you like a maniac for this year's all star game! I can't believe you aren't even in the top 5 though what is this?! So lame 😦 You deserve a spot in there definitely and i'm trying my best here to give it to ya
I hope you read the article on yahoo sports today. It said that you should be the MVP so far this year and I def. agree with that. You are def. an angel favorite and mean more to this team than you know. This has been an up and down season so far but you have been solid all year and I hope you never leave the angels. Torii for MVP.
I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother and I wish your father all the best. You're definitely playing out of your mind; making all the big defensive plays and coming up with the big hits. Vlad should be able to come back with no problems because he has you raking behind him. I'm glad you love the game as much as you do to play as hard as you can in every game.
on saturday at the parking lot before the game i told you i like your blog
my prayers are with your family
This was a nice blog. My thoughts and prayers are with the Hunter family. I know Zelma Louise is with God now. Torii, just want to say we miss you up here in Minnesota, but I'm happy you are well received in Anaheim, now a lot more people have the opportunity to see how special you are, and you can play on grass now! I met you on May 2nd, 2001 in Minneapolis. That was your breakout year so you weren't as well known back then but you were exactly the same as you are now, always smiling, genuine, down-to-earth. You hit a home run that night to lead the Twins in a 4-2 victory over the Yankees. Remember that? Well ever since I've been the biggest Torii Hunter supporter. I wish you all the best in Anaheim and in your career. God Bless.


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Next Issue, the "Netflix of Magazines," is available today on the iPad. And that has me thinking a lot about the digital magazine format. In general, I love the entire idea of tablet magazines. The touch UI, the ability to carry years worth of issues with me all at once, the instant downloads, the interactive components, and the lack of a paper mountain in my bedroom from old issues that makes me look like some sort of crazy cat woman because I don't want to throw them away. I want this to be the future of magazines. I think.
I say "I think" because I have a dirty secret. Aside from a few mags I absolutely have to read the day they arrive, I tend to forget about the other magazines because they're not piling up in my face, filling me with guilt for buying these things and not reading them. And for all the conveniences tablets provide, casually thumbing through a magazine on your iPad still isn't quite as casual as it is with a paper copy. Am I the only one who has an even bigger backlog of magazine reading thanks to the advent of tablets? Anyone else feel a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of Next Issue?


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Compare partner credit card offers from our most
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When looking to get a credit card, there are a variety of things you should consider. If you want a rewards card to use frequently, you might not mind paying a $100 or $200 annual fee. You should also consider the regular APR (as opposed to the introductory rate) and the interest rate. A good interest rate is dependent on how you will use the card. For example, a 20% interest rate is fine if you plan on paying off the balance every month.
It pays to ask these kinds of questions before you fill out the application form. Here are 9 questions you want answered before you sign on the dotted line.
The "very first question" the consumer should ask is, "Why am I applying for this card? Why do I need this card?" says Bruce McClary, media director for ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions, a nonprofit affiliated with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling
Some positive reasons: The card has low or no fees, a lower interest rate or offers a rewards program that suits your spending habits. "It has to make sense, and it has to fit into your overall lifestyle," McClary says.
Do you pay off your credit card balances every month? If so, "you don't care what the interest rate is because you won't pay any," says Ric Edelman, author of "The Truth About Money." "But you care about the (annual) fee," he says.
If you run a balance, you want the lowest rate you can get, even if that comes with an annual fee.
One clue to your usage: "Look at your past history," says Edelman. "Because what you've done before is what you will be doing."
If you're shopping for a card, chances are you're comparing card terms. But if an issuer sends you an offer, it's tempting to apply and see what you get.
"It's really difficult to pick one (in isolation)," says Kelly Rogers, chief development officer for the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County and adjunct faculty at Chapman University. "If someone just shows you one car, how do you know if it's the right car for you?"
Her advice: Do a side-by-side comparison of several different cards before you apply.
Don't be afraid to plug the card name, "complaints" and "customer service" into your favorite search engine. "I go through and see who has the least amount of complaints and issues," says Rogers.
Some cards will give you a range of rates you could get, but often that window is pretty wide, says Nick Bourke, director of the Safe Credit Card Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts. Other cards may offer a specific rate (or terms) and either approve or reject you.
If you're operating totally in the dark, you have another option: Apply by phone and push for an answer on your rate and credit line before the account is opened.
While there are no guarantees, sometimes you can get an answer, says Bourke.
"I've actually done this myself," he says, admitting "you do have to go pretty far in the process."
You may have to ask for the department that's actually evaluating your application to get an answer, he says.
"The thing that you want to do is when you're talking to the person on the phone taking your application is you want to push them as hard as you can to get your APR and credit line," Bourke says. Then, once you have the information and before the account is opened in your name, "you can say yes or no at that point," he says.
According to the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, if a card offers a lower interest rate during an introductory period, the promotional rate has to last at least six months. While that introductory offer may be appealing, the regular rate is what you're really buying.
So find out when the introductory APR expires and what the new rate will be. You can find this information online in the terms and conditions for the card or you can ask a service representative.
Another smart question: How long is that grace period? "Some cards start charging interest immediately," says Edelman. A card can have different grace periods for balance transfers and cash advances than it does for purchases.
You can find information about the grace period in the credit card offer, thanks to federal rules that took effect in 2010. Look for a summary table of rate and fee disclosures, which will include a statement that explains how to avoid paying interest.
If you're getting the card for points or rewards, this is one you definitely need to ask, says Josh Frank, senior researcher with the Center for Responsible Lending. Some issuers will revoke rewards if you're late with a payment by even one day, he says.
"A lot of times, the answer they will give you is that they can take away or reduce your rewards for any reason," he says. While that's true, the issuer will have a policy on revoking or reducing points, and that's what you want to ask about, he says. Under what specific circumstances would they reduce or eliminate a customer's points?
In most cases, "this is one the customer service agent should know the answer to," he says.
Some card issuers use your purchase records to assess your ongoing creditworthiness.
That means if you suddenly use your card to purchase retread tires, pay for a session with a marriage counselor or make a purchase at a market on a sketchy side of town, you could see your APR climb or your credit limit fall, says Frank. If you see this practice as an invasion of privacy, ask beforehand if the issuer does this, he says.
How to phrase it: Can my transactions ever be used in rating my credit risk?
And that's one question the customer service representative "might not know the answer to," says Frank. "You might want to ask them to transfer you to the credit department manager."
If you are guaranteeing a card account by co-signing for a college student, ask if you will be on the hook for the debt after the other party turns 21, says Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney for the National Consumer Law Center.
Many times, "there is nothing to prevent the issuers from saying you're going to be guaranteeing this card 15 years from now — long after junior is out of college," she says.
In addition, find out exactly what has to be done to get you off the account. Are you free to complete those steps yourself? Or will you need the cooperation of someone who might not want you — and those charging privileges — to go away?
Federal regulations limit your liability for unauthorized credit card charges to $50 if you report it within two business days. The longer you wait, the more you may lose. Many issuers cap losses at zero dollars, provided you follow a few rules. So find out how the card would handle charges you didn't make, says McClary.
Also, does the issuer monitor usage and shut down the card if it sees out-of-the-ordinary charges or spending locations? That feature can be great if you always use the card for the same types of purchases in the same geographic area, but cumbersome if you're getting the card for travel.
While it sounds counterproductive, you want to ask some detailed questions on how the issuer will treat you if you run into financial problems, says McClary.
Will you lose points or benefits? Will you be hit with late fees or a penalty rate? Ask what those penalties are or look online at the terms and conditions for the card.
Some issuers have programs to slash interest temporarily for customers who get behind, he says. Others don't. So find out ahead of time what kind of programs the issuer offers that will help you rehabilitate your account and restore your original terms, McClary says.
Ask about the "worst case scenario," he says. "When do they consider an account to be charged off? And when do they send an account to a collection agency?"
"It may be a little tough to get a hold of that information because it might not be readily available at the customer service level," says McClary. "You may have to punch it up a level."
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(Auszug aus der Pressemitteilung)
Fremont, CA, February 28, 2008 – Corsair, a worldwide leader in high performance computer and flash memory products, announced a new 16GB high performance "GT" Flash Voyager USB 2.0 drive. The new Corsair 16GB GT Flash Voyager USB drive will be debuted at the CeBIT 2008 Show next week in Hanover, Germany on Corsair's stand (Booth 40 in Hall 21).
High Performance USB Solutions for Transporting & Backing-up Critical Data
The new Flash Voyager GT USB drive provides data transfer rates that are up to 4X faster than standard USB 2.0 drives. Whether transporting office files, pictures or even full-length movies, you can "store-n-go" faster with the Corsair GT USB line. The drive has been optimized to take full advantage of its advanced flash controller technology as well as the screened and hand-selected NAND flash chips.
Performance data shows:
Corsair 16GB GT USB Drive Features:
- Maximum durability – proprietary all-rubber housing
- Drive integrity – water resistant and shock resistant
- Data security – TrueCrypt encryption software offering AES 256-bit encryption
- User warranty – 10 years with on-demand customer support
The new 16GB Flash Voyager GT utilizes Corsair's proprietary water and shock resistant all-rubber casing, meaning that users with busy and active lifestyles can be confident that their data is secure and protected from damage.
Corsair 16GB GT USB drives are immediately available:
- Flash Voyager 16GB GT ~ $169.99 USD MSRP
"People expect Corsair to deliver the highest performing products," said Jack Peterson, VP of Corporate Marketing at Corsair. "That's why our latest Flash Voyager GT offers both higher speeds and higher capacities than standard USB drives, making them ideal for discerning customers," added Peterson.
Corsair's 16GB Flash Voyager GT USB drive is available through Corsair's authorized distributors and resellers world-wide. The drive is bundled with a lanyard, security software preloaded, and a USB extension cable. Corsair flash products are backed by a 10-year Limited Warranty. Complete customer support via telephone, email, forum and TS Xpress is also available.


text: Cooking is an art. The ingredients, the cooking process, and the presentation of your food all help deliver a culinary masterpiece. Even the most seasoned cook can have disastrous results if not working with the proper equipment. When it comes to cookware, at Golda's Kitchen we have a motto: "only the best"! We offer a wide selection of professional-quality cookware for the serious cook who strives for superb results every time.


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Walker not thinking about 2016 presidential run
Gov. wants to focus on budget, governing
MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker insists he is not thinking about running for president in 2016.
Walker told the Associated Press in a Monday interview that he is focused on putting together the next state budget and working as governor.
Walker was elected governor in 2010 and survived a June recall election. He is close political and personal friends with Paul Ryan, the GOP congressman from Janesville who was Mitt Romney's running mate this year and frequently mentioned as a viable presidential candidate in 2016.
Walker said he has talked with Ryan about pheasant hunting and going to Mass, but he has not talked with him about anything presidential.
Walker said, "I've worked far too hard to become the governor and governor again to worry about anything else after that."


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2018-19 Bus Planner
Facility Rental Form
Google Apps
Inquiry Process Model
Board Policy Handbook
School Calendar
School Documents
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Administrative Procedures
Bus FAQ
2018-19 Bus Planner
Educational Plans
Emergency Communication for Parents
Inquiry Process Model
PRSD Documents
PRSD School Calendar
Registration Form
School Cash Online
School Council
School Documents
Student Success
What is Your Child Learning?
Bus Planner
Destiny Library
Public Documents
Staff Documents
Google Apps
Instructional Materials Centre
Learning Services
Public School Works
Reading Assessment Framework
School Calendars
School Messenger
PRSD Photos
PowerSchool AtrieveERP
PowerSchool Admin
PowerSchool Teacher
PowerSchool Staff Training
Staff Network Services
Student Learning Assessments Grade 3
VoIP Phonebook
Safety message – PRSD safety protocols and communication
Schools are considered to be the safest places in our comm...
2019-2020 Helpful start-up information for families
Welcome to the Peace River School Division family. Below...
June 25, 2019 -- In following up to a letter dated March 5, 2019 that was issued to schools by PRSD Transportation Manag...
For immediate release:
For the 2019-2020 school year, Peace River School Division (PRSD) high school students will...
As Pink Shirt Day (February 26, 2020) approaches, we reflect on the great opportunity we have in Peace River School Divi...


text: Cupcakes are the latest rage with no sign of fading. Here at GKC we feature recipes for S'mores Cupcakes, Gingerbread Cupcakes, Root Beer Cupcakes and more. And we are in the process of developing some others. Some people are intimidated by cakes (no one wants to make the first cut!) but no one is intimidated by cupcakes. And just as the recipes are terrific, there are some great ways of displaying them. This is one of our favorites from Midwest CBK and available through amazon. They also have a white (slightly different but still elegant) version and a jeweled gray option. Cupcakes have never looked this good!


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Microsoft has issued a warning that cyber criminals could advantage of an unpatched flaw in Windows to install malicious software on a victim's PC.
The reported attack, now under investigation by Microsoft, involves a malicious Word document, but there may be other ways of exploiting the flaw, the company said.
"Do not open or save Word files that you receive from untrusted sources or that you receive unexpectedly from trusted sources," according to a Microsoft security advisory.
The flaw lies in the Jet Database Engine that is used by a number of products including Microsoft Access. Microsoft is investigating whether other programs may also be exploited in this type of attack.
Although this kind of unpatched, "zero day" attack is always cause for concern, Microsoft downplayed the risk.
"At this time, we are aware only of targeted attacks that attempt to use this vulnerability," the company said. "Current attacks require customers to take multiple steps in order to be successful; we believe the risk to be limited."
Following its usual policy, Microsoft didn't say when - or if - it planned to patch the bug. But in a statement, the company did not rule out the possibility of an emergency patch, released ahead of its next set of security updates, which are expected on 8 April.
Users of many versions of Word, including Word 2007, 2003, 2002 and 2000 are at risk, unless they are running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2003, Service Pack 2. Those two operating systems include a newer version of the Jet Database Engine that does not have the bug, Microsoft said.
For the technically savvy: this means that PCs with a version of the Msjet40.dll that is lower than 4.0.9505.0 are vulnerable.
There have been other reports of attacks targeting this database software recently. In December, the US-CERT (United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team) warned that attackers were sending out malicious Microsoft Access Database (.mdb) files in a similar type of attack. Security experts speculated that this exploit could have been based on a publicly reported flaw in the Jet Database Engine.


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Social network for women with breast cancer launches
An estimated 227,000 women will develop breast cancer in the United States in 2012. A new social network has launched that aims to connect many of these women with others in similar situations.
MyBreastCancerTeam launched in September ahead of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The site aims to connect women with breast cancer to others, to learn more about their experiences or just lend an ear to listen.
"It's like crowdsourcing the best information," Mary Ray, co-founder of MyBreastCancerTeam, told CBSNews.com.
When users sign up, they can list their basic information in the "Who Am I" section of the site, which acts as their profile. Another section called "My story" lets users share their personal story about their diagnosis and how it's impacted their life.
There's also an Activity page which functions similar to a feed, where users can let others on the social network know how their day is going.
A section called Meet Others allows users to search for other users based on their age, location, stage of cancer, type of breast cancer (e.g. estrogen/progesterone receptor, HER2, IDC, LCIS) and other details about their disease.
While breast cancer support groups may be help many women, Ray says they may not get the answers they're looking for because breast cancer affects different types of women differently.
"A 30-year-old might go to a support group with a 65-year-old who isn't having kids and is postmenopausal," she said. "There are times you can't make a once-a-month meeting where people are different from you, is it really worth going for you?"
On MyBreastCancerTeam, users can connect to a profile of a woman of a similar age with a similar type of cancer, and open the "Diagnosis and Treatments" tab to learn more about the type of cancer, treatments she has pursued and other information on health care providers.
"The more you share, the more you're trusted in the community," Ray said.
Users can also look up a searchable database of frequently asked questions and answers submitted by other women in the community. If they're looking for a specific treatment, they can also look up health care providers best suited to meet their personal needs in their area.
Each profile also contains a Pinboard function that allows users to share images or even their favorite books. One user, Ida, inspired others by creating a photo-fashion show of her different scarves she wears on her head after she lost her hair from treatment.
The site launched following the success of another of Ray's sites, MyAutismTeam, which launched last year and has more than 30,000 users, mostly parents of children on the autism spectrum who share their experiences and care providers.


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Orientation brings new friends, calms nerves
Group leaders help Class of 2017 move in, learn the ropes
They sit in small circles on the Great Lawn, outside the Rose Art Museum, in front of the Shapiro Campus Center. Nametags dangle from their necks, and no one is ever far from a student donning a bright yellow T-shirt. They chat with each other. Eager. Excited. A little nervous.
They are members of the Class of 2017, which comprises more than 800 students from 37 states and 26 countries.
After arriving over the weekend in cars filled to capacity, they've unpacked, hugged their family goodbye and are ready to begin their Brandeis experience. Their orientation leaders, the ones in the yellow shirts, help them acclimate bit by bit.
"It was hard to say goodbye — I've never been away from home before. I'll miss them," said Alexis Corrado of Baldwin, N.Y.
Charlie Ramirez had a different reason to be apprehensive about leaving home. A native of San Luis, Ariz., Ramirez has never experienced a real New England winter.
"I'm a little nervous about winter but also pretty excited," he said with a smile.
New England winters don't scare Kishah Rajendran — she came to Brandeis from Lincoln, Neb. Rejendran knew Brandeis was different from other schools when she received a postcard in the mail with a picture of a bran muffin and dice: Bran-dice.
"I thought it was so cute and so different from all of the other college stuff I was getting at the time," Rajendran said. "I started researching it and I love that it was a small school with great professors."
Aishika Nagarajan, from Boxborough, Mass., also said the school's reputation for scientific study and top-notch faculty led her here.
"The science programs here are great, especially the biology program," said Austin Luor, of Taiwan.
Many members of the Class of 2017 were excited about making new friends in their orientation groups and throughout the upcoming semester. In fact, the warmth many students said they experienced on their visits to campus was one of Brandeis' biggest draws.
"I just had a better impression of Brandeis than other schools because everyone was really nice," said Jorden Rabasco of Nashua, N.H.
Missy Kintish, of Beverly, Mass., explained that Brandeis was her ideal: a small liberal arts college near Boston, but in a pretty suburb.
Its culture of social justice brought Aaron Birnbaum, of Merrick, N.Y., to Brandeis.
"I came here because I liked the whole idea of having an impact on the world and making a difference," he said. "There seem to be a lot of people here with similar goals."
Jade Lara, of Chelsea, Mass., agreed.
"Other schools focus on academics only for success," she said. "But Brandeis uses academics to make the world a better place."
Categories: General, Student Life


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Forests and peatland that are home to the critically endangered orangutan, support entire communities and are critical in the fight against climate change.
There is no need for NZ dairy to be produced at the expense of tropical rainforests, the climate, endangered orangutans and New Zealand's clean green reputation.NZ imports up to 25 per cent of the world's trade in palm kernel feed.
NZ dairy giant Fonterra's industrial dairying approach is driving production beyond the limits. NZ cows can no longer be fed on grass alone and Fonterra's dairy herds are fed palm kernel grown on land in South East Asia where rainforests once stood...
1 - 12 of 900 results.


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The Island Of Plenty
Discovering euphoria off Panama's Caribbean coast
Words: Dave Malcolm
Photos: Seth Stafford/SPL
"Oh, man, I'd love to, but I don't think I'll have new boards ready before then—I'll let you know."
It's the third time I've heard that same excuse in the last 24 hours—time I've spent rifling through the TransWorld SURF rolodex trying to wrangle up a small crew of three for a last-minute strike mission to Panama. Is it me? Does my breath stink? I should floss more. Anyway, I'm somewhere around belly button deep in production for our new surf flick Tropically Yours, and cherry-picking the proper crew for these trips is key. There's a fine line one must dance when enticing pro surfers to pack their bags and book a flight. It sounds funny, but these surfers can be pretty damn reluctant to go on surf trips. Strange, right? You'd think in the middle of winter it'd be a no-brainer to throw some trunks in a board bag and head south to warmer pastures. But in reality, convincing these guys to squeeze more "work" into their schedule involves finesse and technique. You've got to hype it up but not too much. It's quite an art form, really.
Having been to the Caribbean side of Panama the year before, I know the potential, and the forecast looks good once again. But with only three days of advance notice, I need to push our tentative crew over the ledge, so I commit to a tactic I told myself I'd never use: I over-hype it. "You guys have to believe me: It has the most fun waves ever, it's the sickest place, there's rad parties, the forecast looks mental, and Latin American supermodels litter the beach with not one dude in sight. I know, I know, it sounds too good to be true, but it's real. I've seen it." I speak as though I've discovered El Dorado, and somehow Matt Meola, Dillon Perillo, and Michael Dunphy believe me.
I always house some level of anxiety on the way to a new destination, laying out the variables in my head over and over. Will the swell really show? The charts were downgraded. Should we even go? The longer the journey, the higher the expectations, and though I'm normally not a pessimist, this trip really has me spinning my wheels in a negative direction—toward delusions of complete disaster. No waves. No chicks. This crew will never do another trip with me. That cliché evil movie laugh echoes through my weary skull well into our Panama City layover. And then, hope arrives.
"Excuse me, where are you going?"
I stir out of my subconscious in one of those ergonomic airport seats, and squinting through bleeding eyeballs, I see Dillon in a similar state, quizzed by what sounds like a girl. More squints. Yep, that's definitely a girl—and an attractive one at that. Dillon mumbles something about Panama, but I pay no attention to him. His new friend continues in broken English. "Okay. So are we. We are staying at Calypso. We will see you there?" Turns out "we" is her plus seven more gorgeous friends on summer vacation from Buenos Aires, Argentina. The outgoing one returns to her curious pack and relays the information. Giggles and smiles exchange. Did that just happen?
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Audio Technica BP4027Z includes BP4027 Microphone with BPZ-L Soft Zep system (360mm long).
Based on models originally developed for use in the broadcast of the Sydney Games in 2000, the Audio Technica BP4027 (14.96" long) Stereo Shotgun Condenser Microphones models are engineered for high-end broadcast and production use. Both microphones feature independent line-cardioid and figure-of-eight elements configured in an MS (Mid-Side) arrangement with switch-selectable internal matrixing. These innovative microphones allow sound recordists the choice of selecting a left-right stereo output (wide or narrow) via the microphone's internal matrixing system or choosing discrete Mid-Side signals for later manipulation, a flexibility not available from any other manufacturer.
A switchable low frequency roll-off filter helps minimize the pickup of unwanted low frequency noise. These phantom-powered models feature a rugged lightweight design and sleek black color scheme, perfect for on-camera use.
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Slow But Steady Blogging Progress
Direction is more important than speed. We are so busy looking at our speedometers that we forget the milestone.
– Author Unknown –
My presence in the blogging world has gone from complete obscurity to relative anonymity – in 29 months! But, I have finally reached the Milestone of 325 Posts, and for that I think I'll award myself the Slow but Steady Award. You see, I may blog at Turtle speed, but at least I'm still in the race. Apparently a significant number of blogs are abandoned within a month or two of being started, which gives them the lifespan of a fruit fly.
I didn't reach this milestone alone. Many of you have been with me for all or part of the way. I'd like to express my gratitude to you for hanging in there! Amazingly, you come from all over the world. WordPress.com installed a nice World Map on our Stats page, and now I can see where you all live. (Not that I can see your house or anything, but I can see what country you come from.) Many of you are from the United States (red on the map), but Canadian visitors are right up there in numbers. Go Canada! Third spot goes to the United Kingdom, then Australia, Germany, India and the Philippines. After that, there are 48 other countries listed! I know people in Qatar, Egypt and Luxembourg, so I expect they are the readers who stop by to visit. But Israel, Nepal, Turkey and Slovenia – I had no idea I had readers from there.
Next I'd like to thank all of you WordPress blog owners who take time to click the 'Like' button. I appreciate your vote of confidence. I am a big fan of the Like button, and I wish WordPress listed your visits on the Stats Page. I use the Like button often – it tells you that I read your post, and I really can't add anything that hasn't already been said by you and the 25 to 100 others who commented already! (I think the 'Like' button is a Word Conservation Tool.)
I'd also like to thank all the people who leave Comments. Mags, Lorna, Mark, Amanda, Composer, Steve, Susan, Sylvia, Peg, E.C., WSB, Barb and so many others stop by regularly to brighten my day. I've listed you all on my Links Page!
I'd also like to thank all of you who nominated me for Awards. I've rounded you all up and put you on my Awards Page, along with brief bios that I borrowed from you. If I have made any mistakes, let me know!
Last, but certainly not least, I'd like to thank The Car Guy. After 42 years of being married (to me), he says he is always surprised by what shows up on my blog. And that makes two of us.
Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these.
– Susan B. Anthony –
53 thoughts on "Slow But Steady Blogging Progress"
Congratulations on your 300th post! Yours is one of the few blogs that I subscribe to where I always come and read what you wrote, rather than thinking, "Oh, yeah, I should probably go check that out at some point." I enjoy your writing so very much.
Since mine is (unfortunately) one of the many blogs that has fallen victim to busy-ness and writer's block, it is currently on ice. I hope to revive it at some point, maybe this summer – your writing frequently inspires me, and I need to put that inspiration to some good use!
That is so impressive. Congratulations, Margie! Thank you for sharing quotes, your insights and beautiful photos!
Congratulations on reaching #325! You are a truly gifted writer and photographer! I love reading your blog. Keep them coming!


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Electronic Media
Electronic Media (EM) provides technical media instruction and access to media production facilities, support services, and resources.
We manage and provide on-campus support for audio, video, and film resources. In addition to supporting academic productions and instructional media workshops, EM supports campus media facilities, including the following:
- Animation Labs
- Audio Studios
- Center for Creative and Applied Media
- Television Studio
- Lynda Lab
- Media Engineering
- Audio Lab
- Sound Effects Studio
- 5.1 Surround Mix Room
- Film Editing
- Multimedia Lab (MML)
- Video Editing Suites
- Music Technology Labs
In addition, we provide audio, video, and media production services to a variety of campus activities and events, and for Washington state agencies. Electronic Media also supports media instruction for students, faculty, and staff of Evergreen, as well as provides backup support for media-equipped spaces across campus.
Electronic Media's Focus Areas
- Support of academics, providing instruction in film, video, audio, multimedia, and computer-based media production;
- Provide support for audio/video/media productions and post production for campus and external clients;
- Administer operation, maintenance, and development of campus media resources and facilities.
Electronic Media is closed during break weeks.
Call the Media Services front desk at (360) 867-6253 or contact our staff for help.


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The Obama campaign is running an ad that tries to inoculate themselves against the charge of being anti-coal. This, from the guy on record saying that he wants to bankrupt coal-fired power, and whose EPA has proposed rules that will effectively prohibit any future coal plant from ever being built in the U.S. again, with more rules to throttle coal mining (so don't even think of exporting coal to China) on the way next year. Watch this ad and notice what's not said:
Notice that the ad changes the subject from coal as fast as possible, repeats the old "Romney is a rich guy" theme, and the clip at the end doesn't establish that Romney hates coal–only that he doesn't like coal plants with poor emission controls (a result of poorly drafted environmental statute, by the way). I doubt coal miners are dumb enough to buy this.
Environmentalists might be, though. A bunch of them have their knickers in a twist about this ad, and have deployed their ultimate weapon–a petition!!–asking the Obama campaign to kill this ad because it merely implies that Obama may support coal.
Meanwhile, the greenies at Grist.org are upset that the Obama administration has approved a permit to build the first new oil refinery in 30 years–a tiny little facility that will process a mere 13,000 barrels a day in North Dakota (which is well below one percent of the daily output in North Dakota). It is helpful when environmentalists expose that they really are opposed to all conventional energy development.
Finally, is this standard equipment at most filling stations a subtle political message? I hope so. Seems to me we could use Gas Diesel Mitt in the White House right now.


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Shanghai Ding is a Shanghainese restaurant in Penang. I love Shanghainese food and couldn't pass up the opportunity to try the food at Shanghai Ding. I took my whole family there and sampled a lot of great dumplings, dim sum, and rice and noodles. Penang is not Shanghai, but I was very pleased with the quality of food there. I think the variety is great and unlike other typical dim sum restaurants, plus the price is really reasonable and quite cheap.
This is their flagship specialty: Crab Meat Xiao Long Bao or 蟹肉小笼包. I am not a novice in this delicacy and have had the best Xiao Long Bao in Shanghai, Taipei, and Hong Kong. Theirs are authentic and quite tasty–the skin thin and the dumplings are filled with hot and juicy broth. The traditional Shanghai Xiao Long Bao or 上海小笼包 (with just pork meat) are pretty good, too.
This is another must-try at Shanghai Ding. Called Pokey Mouse or 奶皇刺猥, these little porcupine buns were filled with sweet custard. I loved the "popping" texture of the bun as they were sparsely coated with poppy seeds…
This is prawn siu mai filled with sweet and succulent prawn. I don't like the typical pork siu mai so this prawn siu mai is definitely one of the items I recommend if you love prawn.
Crispy prawn rolls with mayonnaise. Delicious!
Mango cheese. Crispy on the outside and tastes extremely "exotic" and interesting on the inside with a filling of mango and cheese.
Fried radish cake with seafood. This is well done because I could taste the "wok hei" (breath of wok).
If you are going with your loved ones, you don't want to miss this cute heart-shape fried rice. Called QQ fried rice, the fried rice is QQ in texture and most importantly, they look so "cute" to eat. :)
Other specialties of Shanghai Ding are:
Shanghainese La Mian (上海拉面)–a simple noodle dish with spicy meat sauce topping. The plain La Mian with just scallions and peanut sauce is very addictive, too.
Pan-fried Shanghainese Bun (上海菜肉包), the buns were steamed and then pan-fried, the contrasting texture of steamed softness and pan-fried crispiness complement the light filling of minced vegetable and meat.
I am a huge fan when it comes to red bean paste, interestingly their red bean paste bun or 南乳豆沙饼 are made with a tint of red fermented bean curb cheese (南乳), these buns are so soft and aromatic.
Sweet Yam Bun or 香芋包, baked buns with sweet yam paste.
Pineapple Buns or bo lo bao (菠蘿包) are baked buns with sweet crusty toppings; they are great as a takeout for breakfasts or tea.
For dessert, you should ask for Durian Pancake or 榴莲煎糕. It's durian wrapped in a pancake.
Other than dumplings, noodles, and dim sum, they also offer regular lunch and dinner dishes such as Shanghainese dongbo rou (pork belly), etc. When I was dining there, I saw some mainland Chinese engineers (working at the second Penang Bridge) and also some Japanese there. All in all though, you should check it out.
Shanghai Ding / 上海鼎
Blk H, 4G, Persiaran Bayan Indah,
Bayan Bay, 11900 Penang
Tel: 04-644-1644
Note: Below is their poetic Chinese tagline. It basically outlines the basic steps to eating Shanghai Xiao Long Bao. To learn more about the proper ways of eating Xiao Long Bao, please refer to my eating guide here.
慢慢移, 轻轻提,
先开窗, 后吮汤,
馅儿滑, 肉更香,


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In 2007, then Democrat member of the United States House of Representatives, Rahm Emanuel, told the gathered at the annual Stand Up For a Safe America event sponsored by the Brady Center that if your name is on the terrorist no fly list you will not be allowed to own a gun.
In 2007, according to the Inspector General of the FBI-administered Terrorist Screening Center, there were well over 700,000 names on the no-fly database and the list was growing at an astronomical rate of 20,000 records per month. That means the list now contains more than a million people. Senator Ted Kennedy, Rep. John Lewis, and former Senator Ted Steven's wife, Catherine Stevens are on the list.
According to Rahm Emanuel, now Obama's Chief of Staff, every last one of them are terrorists who will have their Second Amendment right to own a firearm stripped.
Rahm Emanuel wasn't blowing smoke. His proposal to rob more than a million Americans of their Second Amendment right to own firearms may soon become law if a notorious gun-grabber has her way.
On May 13, Democrat Rep. Carolyn McCarthy introduced The No Fly, No Buy Act (H.R. 2401), a bill that will merge the TSA's no-fly list with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), a point-of-sale system for determining eligibility to purchase a firearm in the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. It was created in November of 1993 when the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 (Brady Act), Public Law 103-159, was signed into law. Permanent provisions of the Brady Act went into effect on November 30, 1998, and required the U.S. Attorney General to establish NICS.
"For far too long, the 'terror gap' has left a wide open loophole in our nation's gun safety laws that could allow terrorist to acquire guns the same way any law abiding citizen can," McCarthy declared as she introduced her bill. McCarthy and Congressman Steve Israel, flanked by law enforcement officials, stressed "the importance of keeping guns out of the hands of people that are known or suspected terrorists," according to the Floral Park Dispatch. "For far too long, the 'terror gap' has left a wide open loophole in our nation's gun safety laws that could allow terrorists to acquire guns the same way any law abiding citizen can. The No Fly, No Buy Act uses existing TSA data to update the NICS system with the names of known or suspected terrorists to disqualify them from passing the Brady Background Check. This is a common sense gun bill that will prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands," McCarthy said.
The Department of Homeland Security now considers veterans, advocates of the Second Amendment, and states' rights activists as terrorists.
"Since September 11, 2001, Congress has passed many laws to improve homeland security," the Floral Park Dispatch continues. "Yet, this loophole remains open. If someone is denied the chance to board an airplane because of suspected ties to terrorists, then they should also be denied the opportunity to purchase a gun. Individuals with ties to terrorists have bought guns in the past and used them to kill Americans."
The language of H.R. 2401 reads as follows: "To increase public safety and reduce the threat to domestic security by including persons who may be prevented from boarding an aircraft in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and for other purposes," according to the Open Congress website. Govtrack.us reports that the bill was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
It does not take a lot of imagination to speculate what "other purposes" will ultimately mean.
This article was posted: Monday, May 18, 2009 at 3:55 am


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I was sitting at my computer at home on Tybee Island when my cell phone rang.
"Are you at home or at work?" my friend Sandy Beasley asked tersely.
"At home," I replied.
"Get your camera and come over," she instructed. "Brenda and I are looking at a scissor-tailed flycatcher at the small pond off North Beach."
"I'm there," I responded, as a rush of adrenaline surged through my body.
Normally, watching birds is relaxing and low-key. I stroll, breathe, look and listen. When a rare bird is discovered, the game changes. Now there's a goal — see the bird, and share the news with as many other birdwatchers as possible.
This time it was easy. All I had to do was drive 15 minutes from my house. I pulled up behind Sandy's car and followed her gaze to a raised walkway over a small pond. There, perched on the railing, was a gray and white bird that at first glance could have been a mockingbird — except for the extra-long, split tail and the salmon pink blush on its sides. As we watched, the bird took off from the railing and began swooping and diving above the pond. After half-a-minute of aerial ballet, the flycatcher made a beeline for the top of a nearby wax myrtle. It landed on a thin branch, grasping some sort of insect in its beak.
Two weeks ago, a birder had spotted another rarity on Tybee — a Franklin's gull. I spent an hour walking slowly back and forth along the flock of hundreds of gulls and terns, staring at every laughing gull until finally I found one that was just a little smaller, had a slightly more pronounced hood, and more obvious white crescents around its eyes. I took a few photos and sent them off for verification.
With the scissor-tailed flycatcher, identification was a snap. Our only other long-tailed flycatcher, the fork-tailed flycatcher, resembles an eastern kingbird in tails, rather than a northern mockingbird. The fork-tailed is a casual vagrant in North America and has not yet been recorded in Georgia.
Adult scissor-tailed flycatchers are 14 inches long, seven inches of which is their deeply forked, black-and-white tail. Their flight is extremely acrobatic, marked by the systematic scissor-like opening and closing of the tail. They are most often found nesting in eastern Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and western Louisiana. They prefer open areas with small bushes, and generally forage close to the ground. Most leave the United States to spend the winter in the tropics, although a small number remain in central and southern Florida.
Scissor-tailed flycatchers have a reputation for roaming far from their breeding territories — as far north as southern Canada, and to both the east and west coasts of North America. They are considered rare but regular Georgia visitors, and have been known to nest here, most recently in 2009 in an electrical tower in McDonough, south of Atlanta.
In these days of advanced technology, spreading the word about a rare bird is easy. I made phone calls and sent an email to Georgia Birders Online (GABO). The folks who made the pilgrimage to Tybee that Wednesday were lucky.
All got good looks at this beautiful bird.
People who waited until Thursday or Friday were disappointed.
The pond was full of hooded mergansers.
A dozen white ibis probed enthusiastically in the vegetation at the water's edge.
A phoebe called from the top of the gazebo, but there was no sign of the flashy dresser in tux, tails, and salmon cummerbund.
Where had it come from?
Had it left that night, pushed southward by the northwest wind?
Who would send out the next Rare Bird Alert?
With all our technology, we still have more questions than answers. Good birding!
Bird enthusiast Diana Churchill can be reached via email at email@example.com.


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Official encouraged by bobcat sighting in Ohio
The Associated Press
ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — A state Division of Wildlife surveyor says a recent bobcat sighting in southeast Ohio was helpful as the state tries to determine why bobcats seem to have thrived more in some parts of the state than in others.
The Athens Messenger (http://bit.ly/VWnJ0o ) reports that wildlife biologist Suzi Prange says the bobcat accidentally trapped and released unharmed recently in Meigs County probably weighed about 30 pounds.
Biologist surveyor Suzi Prange says the state has controlled studies in Noble and Vinton counties. Seven bobcats were tracked using GPS last winter. The division hopes to study eight in each of those southeast counties this year.
Prange says there are an estimated 1,000 bobcats in Ohio, but not many have been spotted in Meigs or Athens counties.
The studies focus on movements, survival and reproduction.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.


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I had previously posted an earlier version of this blog entry (with a different title). I decided that, although I knew what I was saying, I hadn't properly fleshed out my thoughts for general consumption. So I revised it to be more readable and connect ideas together more coherently. I hope you find this version makes more sense and is easier to read.
"I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed
because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do." ~D. Dale Gulledge
Whether Christian or Muslim, we've all had our fair share of experiences with true believers and have come to understand what William G. McAdoo meant when he said, "It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument." They are oblivious to reason and anointed in denial. Being ignorant is neither good or bad, right or wrong. Being willfully ignorant is another matter entirely.
Many (most?) Christians and Muslims, when faced with irrefutable evidence or an iron-clad argument, will almost never admit they are wrong. Instead, like the Catholic Church, they back-pedal: modify their arguments to mitigate the damage of evidence and logic.
Revealed religions claim to have a superior and objective moral system or standard because it is handed down by God via divinely inspired scripture. They are right when they claim that, without a supernatural entity to dictate behavior, there can be no objective morality. An omniscient God is the only possible source of objective morality because there is none to be found in nature. Nature has only a prime directive: survive. So, because we (atheists) believe God does not exist, most of us also believe morality can only be subjective.
One doesn't need to be religious to believe in an objective morality: I've even seen so-called atheists tout various ethical systems as objective moral standards -- Utilitarianism, survival-based cooperation, the avoidance of unnecessary pain or suffering, etc. But, of course, these are not objective moral standards at all . . . Who decides what serves the greater good? In what context are we to make survival-based decisions? Why do you claim something is unnecessary? . . . Value judgments are at the heart of any moral or ethical system and they are, by definition, subjective. Pay attention to what these people say and you're likely to see that they are didactic pedagogues attempting to force their pedantic dogma down your throat. Whether or not such a person is aware of it -- or just good at disguising it -- he or she harbors at least a little "holier-than-thou" smugness.
Morality is subjective. Collectively, much of morality is determined by social norms. Majority opinions form socio-cultural norms that vary from place to place and over time and are often codified into law. Morality isn't exactly dynamic but it does evolve as the human condition evolves. Even if an objective morality did exist, it could not evolve with us: it would be independent of us and unchanging in the same way scriptural morality is "written in stone". When people imbue their personal ethics (religious or not) with certainty, they are, in effect, objectifying it: turning it into a quasi-objective morality. That's the hubris called "Playing God". Certainty is an illusion: especially where morality is concerned. Scientists and philosophers agree that certitude is a sure sign of trouble.
Oh . . . and about the so-called "superior and objective" morality of religion? Even if there is a personal God, EVERYBODY overrides his moral dictates (as contained in scripture). We reject slavery and the subjugation of women no matter what God tells us. WE decide what is morally worthy: WE decide what is religious. Even if there is a God of Abraham, we don't need him for moral guidance . . . so why do we need him at all?
It's easy to understand the allure of an objective moral system. It offers a simple way to resolve complex issues. And it makes it easy to judge others with the comfortable self-righteousness of certainty. But we pay a price when others morally cop-out. Conflict. These people tend to relinquish critical thinking and to indulge in judgmentalism -- a potent combination that leads to, and reinforces, fundamentalism. And when they feel the backlash of our objections, they perceive it as persecution. It's the perfect recipe for simple-mindedness and denial.
That's what religious thinking does. And the main mechanism for that is the false belief in an objective morality. But it's not just religious thinking: it's any kind of dogmatic zealotry based on certainty of one's personal moral system. Vegetarian/vegan zealots and pro-life fanatics leap to mind as do other extreme left or right political wingnuts. Be wary of the certainty of moral absolutists: they are totalitarians in sheep's clothing.
© Copyright 2012 AtheistExile.com
eMail: email@example.com
Views: 215
The morality of the Theist is based solely on fear of their god if they sin and the (false) hope of a reward for doing the right thing. They need to be taught what morality is. Atheists have to take responsibility for their own actions. We are more aware of the evolved sense of empathy we have with the people (and animals) we share the planet with. We are not enslaved to reward and punishment as the Theist is. If our morality was based upon the standard of Theism then we would be much lesser creatures that we could be. I would prefer to live in a land of godless people who know why they are godless than to be surrounded by smug theists who think they are better without ever thinking about it.
A theist who doesn't understand the difference between objective and subjective, probably doesn't really have a reason for their belief. They're just sheeple following the flock. But those who seek some sort of rationale for their beliefs is likely to cling to the notion that God's law supersedes human morality. The claim to moral objectivity is a seductive counterargument to the moral relativity of their detractors.
Revealed religions lay claim to morality because they would not otherwise have anything to offer. Morality is the key to self-respect, a life worth living and the hereafter. Morality is the best way to lead man by the nose.
To the Theist morality is so embedded in the "meme" that only the religious can be moral. It is only from their gods that they can know good from evil and right from wrong. So they assume that all "godless" people must therefore be immoral. That is a vile way of thinking. It belittles them to have such an immature system and I have little respect for those who as adults still need a reward / punishment system to live by. I am not saying that all Theists have a poor moral standard. They don't but that is in spite of religion and not because of it. Their standards are not good enough for me to live by.
Your first line is very true. Anytime I debate theists about morals or eevn belief itself, I usually have to explain the difference between objective and subjective. They don't seem to think much at all about anything at times. I suppose if they did they would be member of this site. lol.
This Video is worth a look.
That a good video . . . mostly because it agrees with me :-)
Actually it's approaching the topic from another tangent but we're in agreement on principles.
In Dr. Thomson's summary of his presentation (starting at 39:20 of the video), he echoes the principles of this blog post.
I think you should all give debating lessons. When confronted by a simpleton and its arguments, I don't know whether to run and hide or go postal. The ability to argue against people who do not listen to a word I say, is more miraculous than anything I have ever read in the bible.
The best I can do is "look up the late Christopher Hitchens on You Tube"
I still haven't figured out how to effectively debate a stubbornly religious person. They always wear out my patience and I usually say things I wish I hadn't.
Not cooking lamb in its mother's milk is just one of many dietary laws prescribed by God's divinely inspired scripture. Then Jesus came along and claimed a new covenant while simultaneously exhorting us to uphold scripture. Is there any Biblical justification for the notion that we are no longer accountable to God's dietary laws?
@AE the willful ignorant aren't worth your time.


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Stages of Learning Spring 2006 Gala Benefit
Tuesday, May 16, 2006,SAFE HARBOR 446 Broadway in SOHO, New York City, NY-- Stages of Learning's Spring 2006 Gala Benefit featured a Cocktail Party with select hors d'oeuvres from SAPA and a Silent Auction with a Performance by Fifth Grade Stages of Learning students from PS 6 of Shakespeare�s The Tempest. BENEFIT COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS: Mona Wyatt and Susan Shin BENEFIT COMMITTEE: Shane Burn, Geoffrey Scott Carroll, Angie Dalton, Phoebe Donham, Kelly Ellenwood and Tim Parsaca, Karla Farach, Diana Hsu, Terri Kahan, Isabelle Kellogg, Naeem Khan, Christopher London, Heidi Miskin, Kelly Moore, Dawn Palo, Lisa Resling Halpern, Marna Ringel, David Shook, Jean Shin, Elena Stephanopoulos,Tracy Stern, Vivienne Tam, Sara Tecchia, Christine Cachot Williams, Jason Wright, Arden Wohl, Christina Wood, Christina Ying BOARD MEMBERS: Niko Elmaleh, Toby Fischer, Jan Gilman, Lauren Howard, Smita Kothuri & Floyd Rumohr MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Radio personality, Valerie Smaldone of Z100 PHOTO CREDIT: ©Manhattan Society.com 2006 by Christopher London e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com NOTE: This album is NOT complete. Final edit and additions will be made late Thursday evening. Please do check backRead More