text:
By Antsy McLain
It had been a rough couple of weeks.
I had just buried my father, and began joylessly exploring the prospects of life as an orphan. Mom had passed away the year before. I recalled Dad's last days and the final, numb march of his funeral as if looking through thick, gray gauze. Pieces of that day still hung around me like stale air freshener. I could hear the voice of the pastor from the little country church Dad called home, his words blank and void of passion until the eulogy turned abruptly to an alter call. My blood still rises a good twenty degrees hotter when I think about it, especially after he mispronounced Dad's name. Twice.
"How long do you have to be a sheep around here before the shepherd remembers your name," I whispered to my wife as he plowed carelessly through my father's identity.
I can still hear the three distinct gun blasts of his military send off, the triggers pulled by two middle aged reservists in uniforms three sizes past snug. The blasts rang in the air, followed by a flutter of birds and a burst of sobs from my uncle Sonny. He had held up well until then, laying to rest the brother with whom he had climbed these trees, plowed this farmland, chased girls, raced cars, and buried loved ones of their own together. When a person dies, they take a part of you with them, a part of you no one else on earth knows. Sonny was letting it go with all that gunpowder.
All of this kept flooding into my heart and washing back out, taking grains of me with the tide, and bringing back untold questions from the mysterious deep. I was caught up in a tide of discovery, of new and old being swept away and washed back up on my empty shores until I didn't know what was me, what was God, what was real or what was counterfeit.
As they say in times like this, when it rains it pours. Life had decided, for whatever reason, to make me its student in an intense crash course that would change me forever.
When I had come home late from work around 10 PM one night, the last thing I needed to see was the lifeless body of our family pet, Moo Moo, in the cul de sac in front of our house.
I knew it was her immediately. I stopped the car in the middle of the road with the lights on, and ran to her. As perfect a dog as she was — and she was a gem — she had one fatal flaw: she chased cars. She had apparently caught one.
Moo Moo was named by our kids because she had spots akin to a Holstein cow. Black and white, part Jack Russell, part Blue Heeler, Moo Moo was a herding dog. If you've had a herder, you'll know that often equates to the dangerous practice of chasing things, including cars. Two years of training did nothing to curtail the deep, innate urgings of her DNA. This was who she was.
Moo Moo and I were soul mates. She swooned when she saw me. When I would come home from work, no one else existed. She would hop up on the back of our sofa, where she could be closer to eye level, and she would wag and whine until I acknowledged her shameless treatise for attention. When we hugged, all was well with the world. Every shirt I owned at the time was speckled with short, wiry white dog hair. I did nothing special to woo her. One day as a wiggly puppy, she just looked me in the eye and latched on, as if to say, "I choose you." We were buddies from that day forth. The kids had picked her out, had fed her, even named her, but it was clear to everyone, Moo Moo was Dad's dog.
So, there I was, awash in the white, hot light of my car's headlamps, sobbing over Moo Moo's lifeless body. "No, no, no, no, no," I said, over and over, wanting to turn back time, not only 30 minutes or an hour where she could be on the back of the sofa to greet me, but a year, or two years before when I had parents, when I had a tangible guiding force in my life, a voice on the other end of the phone that could tell me I was doing the right thing, or that I was screwing up – anything at all. This was just too hard to endure on my own, without those familiar, comforting voices. And now, it would be harder without the unconditional hug of this beautiful dog.
I carried her past the flower garden behind the house, past the swing set, past the tall elm tree where I had built a crude but functional fort with my kids. I set her gently down on the ground behind the shed. And then I went inside to tell the family. Their moans and cries broke my heart, and made me cry even harder. We held each other, pulled ourselves together and buried her together under the moonlight.
My wife took the kids inside and tucked them in, and stayed with them until they fell off to sleep. I finished the burial duties, cleaned up, and went to move my neglected car. It had shined its lights as long as it could, and now sat dark and still in the cul de sac out front. I groaned a "now what," and went to the garage where I had a new battery. Rather than deal with it in the morning, I decided to do it then, before I went to bed. Sleep probably wasn't going to come for hours anyway.
I took a flashlight, the battery, and the tools I'd need, and walked back to the car. I took the old battery out and installed the new one, making sure all the connections were tight. I tried to start it. Nothing. Not even a spark. I checked the connections. Nothing. I went into the house, got the keys to my wife's car, and drove it to the front, and hooked up jumper cables. Still nothing. I checked the connections a third time. It was now around midnight, and my patience, historically short anyway, was wearing very thin.
After checking the connections a fourth and fifth time, I got in the driver's seat, shut the door, made sure the windows were rolled up tight, and I turned the key over.
The sounds that came out of my mouth over the next 5 minutes were unlike anything I have ever heard before or since, and I've seen a lot of Martin Scorsese movies. I cussed myself out, calling me every name in the book; I cussed God, telling him where he could shove this life, and this earth and everything on it; I cussed out my father for leaving, and my mother for dying, and anyone else I could think of who had a hand in my immediate misery. I pounded the dashboard, slammed the steering wheel, and screamed until my voice was a raspy whisper.
Then, as the last echo of my screaming faded away, I quietly, resolutely shut the door of my car, and drove my wife's car back into the driveway. I left the hood up to my car with the cables still attached, and went inside. I checked on the kids, who were fitful but sleeping. I collapsed next to my wife and whispered a gravelly "Goodnight," as we held each other under a blanket still speckled with Moo Moo's hair.
I called a tow truck to haul my car to the garage, telling them "It's a brand new battery, and it wasn't turning over at all, so it must be the alternator." I expected to hear from them later that day with an invoice I couldn't afford.
I was barely at work 20 minutes when the garage called. "Your car's ready."
I was dumfounded. "Already?" I asked.
"Yep. You can pick it up anytime."
"But, I mean, I – what was wrong?"
"Who installed your battery?" the mechanic asked drily.
I weighed my options. I could blame this on someone else. I could tell this was not going to put me in a good light. "Me," I said, flinching, waiting.
"Well, you know those little plastic caps that come on the posts of new batteries?"
"Yeah," I lied.
Well, you have to take those off before you hook up the cables or you won't get a charge."
"We won't charge you for anything," said the mechanic, fighting a chuckle, "We found it right away. Just come by the office before 6 to get your keys."
I thanked him numbly, and gently set the phone down on its cradle. I leaned forward and placed my head in my hands. I sat that way for a long time before I moved again.
How often I do this: blame the world around me – anything else around me – for what I have done to myself out of ignorance or pride, or simply by just being in the dark. We're all in the dark sometimes, trying with whatever tools we have to fix something better left for the light of another day.
I picked up my keys, and the mechanic showed me the little black plastic cover, like a top hat for a little bird, and I took it from his grease-creased hands. I held the little culprit – this source of my great and horrible frustration the night before – and couldn't believe how such a small, lightweight thing could cause so much trouble. But then again, I knew it wasn't the cap. It was me. I put the cap in my pocket, and drove home. It sat on my dashboard for months, an amulet of sorts to remind me of the magnitude of little things. It now sits on some bookshelves in my studio at just about eye level. Beside it is a little jewelry box holding a black and white collar once worn by a herder who chose me to be her soul mate.
I apologized to God by the way, for all the things I called him. I haven't heard back, necessarily, but I reckon he had a good laugh over it.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
There were two men in this edition of Indian Premier League whose willows had been agonisingly dormant.
Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag enthralled the capacity crowd at Feroz Shah Kotla on Sunday with their exploits before Delhi Daredevils finally woke up from a self-induced slumber to cruise to a nine-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians.
Choosing to bat, Mumbai Indians could have felt confident of defending 161/4 boosted by the half centuries of Tendulkar (54) and Rohit Sharma (73). But Sehwag (95 n.o., 57 b, 13x4, 2x6) overshadowed the two and announced his return to form with a characteristically destructive innings. With Mahela Jayawardene (59, 43 b, 8x4, 1x6) supporting him well, Delhi made the chase a brutally one-sided affair.
Daredevils reached the total with 18 balls to spare to rustle up their first win of the season after six straight losses. In the process, Sehwag and Jayawardene stitched a 151-run partnership for the opening wicket besides winning back the adulation of the home crowd that had cheered Mumbai Indians earlier in the day.
One may call it the Vivian Richards effect! The great West Indian cricketer was roped in as ambassador and advisor by Dardevils before this match and sported the team jersey in the huddle before the match.
It definitely reflected in the batting at least. Sehwag freely swung the bat and Jayawardene, who had looked subdued during his past lone battles, promoted himself ahead of David Warner, and flourished. Together, they made a mockery of Mumbai's bowling, raining fours and sixes.
Imperious touch
Sehwag was in imperious touch. He flicked with ease, drove on either side of the wicket and comfortably milked the seamers in his favourite area- square of wicket. Mahela, quietly assiduous, exhibited sweet timing-- finding the gaps to breach the boundary with regularity. A packed Kotla, which had witnessed chants of Sachin's name in the first half, later echoed to the sweet refrains of "Viru, Viru".
Jayawardene departed when Daredevils was near the finishing line. But Sehwag helped Delhi cross the line with another boundary, just five shot of what could have been a well-deserved century.
Few would have given Daredevils a chance after they had lost their way during the Mumbai innings with a poor show in the outfield, marked by dropped catches and ordinary bowling.
After reducing Mumbai to 57/2 in 10 overs, Delhi might have fancied a lesser total. But powerful hitting by Rohit and Tendulkar boosted them to a respectable total. Tendulkar treated the crowd to some sparks of yore as he reached his highest total this season. His feet moved well and the pulled six off Ajit Agarkar was vintage stuff.
Rohit, with his effortless and calculated attack stepped on the gas and was a pure delight to watch. The two raced to put up 96 runs off 67 balls for the third wicket.
Tendulkar was given a life at 37 when Shahbaz Nadeem let go of a caught and bowl chance.
While Tendulkar chose to play safe, Rohit entertained the crowd with some fine strokes. Rohit tipped the maestro to reach his half century with a boundary off a Irfan Pathan full toss. A flicked six six off Umesh Yadav was the pick of his shots. Their efforts, however, did not prove enough as Daredevils cantered home in style.
Sehwag sizzles, Delhi dazzles
Openers unbeaten 95 powers Daredevils to their first win in seven matches
There were two men in this edition of Indian Premier League whose willows had been agonisingly dormant.


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No more opening and closing gates. Holds cattle, hogs, sheep and horses like an electric fence. Flexible fiberglass polyethylene arms support electrical streamers (30" in length and 6" apart) and bend in any direction. Metal never touches the tractor or vehicle, as it is covered by the fiberglass/polyethylene. Gate swings closed automatically. Easy to install. Energized with any electric fencer.
Drive-Thru Electric Gate for Livestock Holdingby Koehn MfgAs low as:$149.95
Protect your valuable horses and livestock from serious injury and unsightly scrapes. Safe-T post caps are designed to conform to a wide range of steel post sizes and stay on tight, eliminating the hazards of sharp, jagged post tops.
T-Post Safety Capsby CZ EngineeringAs low as:$10.95
Dual function tool used to check electic fence voltages and locate fence line faults. Hand-held unit allows you to quickly move down your fence line, comparing voltage and current readings as you go, to locate short circuits and faults on your fence. A significant change in current ampere readings between one point and the next indicates the presence of a fault between these two points. Unit can be used with or without sound setting, which rises in pitch with the magnitude of the current pulse. Does not require an earth leader. 1-year warranty.
Digital Fault Finder for Electric Livestock Fencingby Tru-TestPrice:$99.95
Fits the 13-19' and 18-24' gate.
Drive-Thru Electric Gate - Replacement Streamersby Koehn MfgPrice:$25.95
Vinyl sleeves slip over T-posts for safety and appearance. Complete with cap.
Safe-Fence T-Post Sleeveby Powerfields
Vinyl sleeve fits 4" x 4" x 5' posts including gates and corners. Complete with caps.
Safe-Fence Wood Post Sleeveby PowerfieldsPrice:$23.95
New improved design has numerous adjustments to keep Hi-Tensile wire coil under control. Has adjustable drag to prevent free wheeling of coil. One-inch shaft turns on greased bushing for smooth operation and long life.
Hi-Tensile Wire Spinning Jennyby North StarPrice:$109.95
Ideal for use in temporary electric fencing with round posts from 1/4" to 5/8" diameter. Convenient to use when more than one wire is required to hold stock.
Rod Post Screw-On Claw Insulatorsby Gallagher
These bright white 3" x 5" plastic markers give you a safer, more visible fence, even at night. The stainless steel K-Clips instantly attaches to existing wire fences for geater visibility. Comes packed 12 flags and 12 K-Clips per bag.
Fence-Flagsby Generic (brand may vary)Price:$3.95
No wire tying, fast and simple. Includes all three end strain elements - insulator, strainer, and steel cable. For corner or end posts. Simply slide over the post and you're done. Strong, stainless steel cable for long life. Fits up to 8" post. 10-year warranty.
Insulated Wire Strainer Kitby GallagherPrice:$7.49
The Gallagher Fault Finder is a top-of-the-line current meter and digital volt meter built to help you identify and locate faults in your electric fence line. Gallagher's Fault Finder allows you to check voltage, current, and shorts in one quick step, saving you hours of time!
Fault Finder for Electric Livestock Fencingby GallagherPrice:$117.95
Long-life Super Strain Insulator with pre-attached stainless steel cable. No wire tying or special tools required. Fits up to 8" post. 10-year warranty.
High Strain Insulator Kitby GallagherPrice:$5.49
In-Line strainer constructed with a galvanized steel frame and aluminum alloy spool and features a spring loaded clip to keep from unwinding. Recommended for high tensile wire use (usually 12.5 gauge wire).
Spring Clip Wire Strainerby PowerfieldsPrice:$3.29
Starts working when your fence stops. Provides an instant warning of low or intermittent voltages to detect fencing problems during hours of darkness. Attach to fences near roadways, driveways, buildings, etc., anywhere fence is passed or seen during hours of darkness. When voltage drops, fence alert flashes to notify you of problems. 1-year warranty.
Fence Alert Warning Lightby Tru-TestPrice:$23.95
24' spring gate is excellent for electrically bridging wide gate openings. Contracts to 32" when open and includes the unique Safe-Fence tensioners with special gate hood plates to attach the spring and handle to any type of electric fence system.
24' Spring Gate Kitby PowerfieldsPrice:$20.49
High visibility black and white expandable electric bungee cord. Expands from 8' to 16'. Includes gate handle and installation hardware.
Electric Bungy Gateby Powerfields
Fits the 13-19' and 18-24' gate.
Drive-Thru Electric Gate - Replacement Rodby Koehn MfgPrice:$13.49
Replacement spool for winding and unwinding portable fencing.
Bayguard Wire Replacement Reelby Parker MccroryPrice:$9.39
Premium gate handle with comfortable rubber grip and unique internal overstretch protection. The half spring, springload internal mechanism will not allow you to over stretch.
Rubber Grip Gate Handle for Rope and Wire Fencingby GallagherPrice:$8.95
Easy-to-read digital design, reads up to 19.9 kilovolts. Matches the performance meter on Parmak fence chargers but will also read all fence chargers accurately. For use with low impedance fence chargers.
Parmak Precision Digital Electric Fencer Testerby Parker MccroryPrice:$35.99
Wind up or pay out your electric fence in minutes. Has a crank handle that operates like a ratchet for fence tension; will handle up to 1/2 mile of Bayguard. Heavy duty plastic. Designed so it can be hung from a permanent fence wire or bolted to a post.
Bayguard Wire Reelby Parker MccroryPrice:$49.99
Galvanized T-Handle Ground Rod does not rust or corrode. The T-handle makes it easier to move in temporary fencing applications or insert in hard ground conditions.
3' Ground Rod T-Handleby GallagherPrice:$12.49
Stainless steel clips for use with 3/8" or 1/2" fiberglass posts. Pig tail clips may be used instead of insulators.
Pig Tail Clipsby Parker MccroryAs low as:$8.99
For use with these energizers: S10, S16, S22, and B700.
Fence and Earth Leadset for Gallagher Energizersby GallagherPrice:$14.98
A quick, convenient way to splice Hot Rope for a better, stronger splice. Appropriate for use with 1/8" and 1/4" electric rope.
Rope Splicerby Powerfields
Complete ground rod kit to get the most from your electric fence system. contains 3 six foot galvanized rods, 3 heavy duty clamps, 48' connection wire and complete instructions.
Safe-Fence Ground Rod Kitby PowerfieldsPrice:$49.95
Install at convenient locations like fence corners and gates to switch off a section of fence for maintenance and routine checks. Stainless steel contacts. Hardware not included.
Heavy Duty Cut Out Switchby Tru-TestPrice:$16.95
All-in-one multi-strand electrification gate. Quick and easy to install from one wood post to another. Highly flexible gate width, perfect for whatever space you need. Easy to repair. Should a strand break, simply change out the tape.
Electric Tape Gateby GallagherPrice:$56.95
Connects to an end tensioner to open gate.
Safe-Fence Gate Handleby PowerfieldsPrice:$2.99
The Electric Fence Light is designed to let you know that your electric fence is working properly without any worries. It flashes on and off with every pulse of the fencer with very little draw down of the voltage. Due to the line current, this light is ideal for fencers 2 joules or less. The Electric Fence Lights only draw current from your fence until the moment something touches the fence. If something touches the fence, the light will not flash and the full charge will go to whatever is touching your fence. So don't worry if your tester is showing a draw down on your fence while the light is flashing. Note: Adjust the Knocker spark gap as wide as you can with it still being able to spark. This sensitizes the spark gap with your entire fence, and if something touches the fence, the Knocker spark gap will disengage and the full shock of the charger will go to whatever is touching your fence.
LED Electric Fence Lightby Electric Fence LightPrice:$35.95
Fence compression spring is used to determine wire tension on your fence line. One inch of compression equals 150 lbs of tension. Helps absorb expansion and contraction of the fence wire. Made from 1/4" spring steel. Spring is 1 1/2" diameter, expands from 9" to 18".
Fence Compression Springby PowerfieldsPrice:$7.29
Monitors fence voltage and helps trace shorts in the fence line. Displays fence voltage in 100V increments under 10kV and shows fence voltage from 10kV to 12kV in 1,000 volt increments. Auto ON/OFF function. * Reads the voltage for battery energizers even when the energizers are in Battery Save Mode * Ground rod for ease of ground connection * Fence stud - for quick, no-fuss contact with fence * Powered by one 9V battery * Display to show low battery condition * Improved temperature stability * Water resistant
Digital Volt Meter for Electric Fencesby GallagherPrice:$56.49
Highly conductive 12-gauge aluminum wire insulated with heavy polyethylene coating for up to 20,000 volts. Ideal for all underground applications. One 49' roll is adequate for connection of two standard gates.
12-gauge Underground Cableby Parker MccroryAs low as:$16.99
Close your barbed wire gates with an easy crank handle. Easily used by anyone, simply turn the crank to desired tension. A lock can be added to keep out unwanted guests. Mounts with 2 large screws. All steel handle with heavy galvanized steel cable. Comes with 2 large screws and spring pin.
Barbed Wire Gate Latchby Koehn MfgPrice:$34.95
For smooth wire or polywire use only. Clamp around your standard t-post and tighten. Ready for use.
Double Hook Gate Handle Anchor for T-Postby PowerfieldsPrice:$3.49
2 alligator clamps joined by 32" of shielded wire. Connects and transfers power from 1 strand to another. Acceptable for all types of electric fence material.
Power Connectorby Powerfields
Easily secure your fencing unit to a t-post with the help of this mounting bracket. To be used with fencing model numbers DF-SP-LI (27127) and MAG12SP (27128).
T-Post Solar Pak Mounting Bracketby Parker Mccrory
Heavy-duty steel construction. Has a tough insulating grip and strong spring. Rated for high-tensile wire.
Heavy-Duty Handle for High Tensile Wireby Powerfields
Spring loaded PVC gate handle.
Gate Handleby Parker MccroryPrice:$3.99
Enables you to test the "control factor" of your system and assist you in fault finding, at a very reasonable price. Test voltage under "load" on your fence. Reads from 1,000-10,000 volts; lights glow in sequence to indicate approximate voltage. For use with all fence energizers.
Parmak 6 Light Electric Fence Voltage Testerby Parker MccroryPrice:$11.62
* 9 mixed-metal strands - 7/64" * Superior heavy duty strength * White/blue
Turbo Braid for Portable Electric Fencingby GallagherPrice:$119.95
Helps protect your 110-volt plug in energizer from power surges caused by lightning strikes. Plugs into any 110 volt outlet, limits high voltage spikes to 350 volts. Absorbs up to 34 watts of transient power.
Electro Gard Lightning Protectorby Parker Mccrory
Complete with gate handle, 2 tensioners and 20' tape.
Safe-Fence Electric Gate Kitby PowerfieldsPrice:$14.49
Made with heavy-duty alligator clamps and double-shielded, high-voltage wire for leak-proof transfer of power from the energizer to the fence and ground rods. Cords are 46" long and clamps are 3".
Energizer Output Leadsby Powerfields
Securely splices polywire to ensure that electrical current flows properly. Galvanized to prevent rust.
Double Post Polywire Splicerby Powerfields
Nylon snap-on clip insulators for use with the Insulated Line Post.
Insulated Line Post Clip Insulatorsby GallagherPrice:$4.99
This tightener is installed without having to disconnect the end of the fence. Can be tightened with a 1/2" drive ratchet. This powder-coated, white, aluminum tightener is best for use with rope or light-gauge wire. Not for use with coated wire.
No-Cut Online Tightener for Ropeby PowerfieldsPrice:$6.10
Connect a fence energizer to 1/4" electric rope or braid. Features a double-post rope clamp connected to a 3/8" terminal with 32" of 12 gauge, shielded wire. May also be used to terminate the rope at the end of the strand.
Rope-to-Charger Connectorby PowerfieldsPrice:$6.49
Quick and convenient way to make a good electrical connection to your polytape or polywire. Complete with two connectors and wire to connect two strands of polytape or polywire.
Polytape to Polytape Connectorby Parker MccroryPrice:$6.29
High-visibility LED flashes to indicate fence is working effectively. Clips onto wire or tape. No battery required, powered by the fence. Water and UV-resistant.
Live Electric Fence Indicatorby GallagherPrice:$34.49
These multi-wire insulators are snap-on nylon clips that are easy to install on Gallagher's Heavy Duty Multi Wire Ring Top Posts.
Insulator for the Multi Wire Ring Top Postby GallagherPrice:$15.99
This insulator is designed for round rod posts and is adjustable. No tools needed. High density polyethylene with UV inhibitors. 3-year warranty.
Standard Rod Post Screw-On Insulatorby GallagherPrice:$6.29
The Insulated End Strainer is a heavy duty, all-in-one, corrosion-resistant assembly to insulate, and tighten up to 4 mm/15 gauge fence wire. 12-tooth spool for fine adjustment, robust, high-quality, spring-loaded locking clip. Integrated joint clamp allows direct attachment of wires for paralleling and power connection. 10-year warranty.
Insulated End Strainerby GallagherPrice:$6.95
Connecting gates to a single post.
Double Gate Handle Anchor for Wood Postby PowerfieldsPrice:$2.85
High strength plastic ratchet tensioners for use on polywire and polytape up to 1" wide. No need to cut material to tension it, just slide it in and turn for tension.
Inline Tensioner for Polytape/Polywireby PowerfieldsPrice:$6.95
Provides flexibility to liven the fence from either the reel or handle end. Ideal to use with the Geared Medium Reel (#42522).
Dual Purpose Gate Handleby GallagherPrice:$3.95
Premium gate handle with comfortable rubber grip and unique internal overstretch protection. The half spring, springload internal mechanism will not allow you to over stretch.
Rubber Grip Gate Handle for Tape Fencingby Gallagher
Strongest, long-term, end-strain insulation for high tensile permanent electric fencing. 10-year warranty.
High Strain Insulatorsby GallagherPrice:$10.49
Connect and transfer power from 1 strand of 1/4" electric rope or braid to another. Features 2 double-post rope clamps and joined by 32" of 12 gauge, shielded wire. May be used to terminate the rope at the end of the fence.
Rope-to-Rope Connectorby PowerfieldsPrice:$6.49
Used for adjusting wire tension with the wire strainers.
Spring Clip Wire Strainer-Handleby Zareba Systems
For your easy convenience to splice fence.
6 MM 1/4" Rope 2 Post Splice Clampby Powerfields
Claw style insulator ideal for use in temporary electric fencing with rod posts 3/16" - 3/8" diameter. Fits Ring Top Post (#40990).
Rod Post Screw-on Claw Insulator with Locking Tabby GallagherPrice:$16.99
Replacement stainless steel K-clips for the Fence Flag (#24135) operation.
Stainless Steel K-Clip Wire Form Fastenerby Mom & Pop ProductsPrice:$8.49
Electri-Gate is a high conductive stretchable cord with a high impact plastic handle. Has an in-line length adjustor for gates from 8 ft. to 20 ft. Comes complete with two 2-way gate anchors.
Electri-Gateby Parker MccroryPrice:$24.99
A multi-purpose, high conductive connector that can be used with lead wire to provide a connection from the fencer to your fence or for connecting multiple strand fences together; also a great way to splice ½" poly tape.
Wire and Pulse Connectorby Parker MccroryPrice:$2.69
Ground rod clamp connects grounding wire to the ground rod.
Ground Rod Clampsby GallagherPrice:$12.95
Aluminum connector with wire to connect polytape or polywire to your electric fence charger.
Polytape to Fence Charger Connectorby Parker MccroryPrice:$3.99
For use with ground rods for proper electric fence grounding.
Galvanized Ground Rod - Clampby Tru-Test
Converts 110-volt AC power to 12-volt DC power for AC/DC and DC convertible energizers.
110-volt Power Adapterby PowerfieldsPrice:$26.49
Connects power from a 12-volt DC battery to 12-volt energizers equipped with input jack.
12-volt Connection Leadsby PowerfieldsPrice:$27.95
The only external fuse protection for fence chargers in the world. Lightning blows up the fuse and not your fencer. Just replace your fuse and you're good to go.
24" Lightning Fuseby Electric Fence Light
Used with Hot Rope or polywire to turn corners or as an end insulator. White only. Bolt measures 6" (measured from the 90 degree angle to the point of bolt.)
Corner & End Tensioner for Electric Ropeby Powerfields
Install the S10 or S16 Energizer on a Gallagher Ring Top Post (#40990) using this post mount. Easy to use and portable!
Solar Energizer Mount for the S10/S16 Chargerby Gallagher
1 1/2" Tape Clip, designed specifically for equine electric fence tape to be securely attached to a Gallagher Insulated Line Post. * Positive locking and quick release to enable re-tensioning of tape * Soft rubber pads lock tape in place to prevent tape movement and fraying * Made from UV High Density Polyethylene strength and long life
Tape Clip for Insulated Line Postby GallagherPrice:$17.99
Suitable for use with any model or brand of low impedance fence charger that has 1 joule or greater output. Provides necessary protection for your charger against the increased voltage surge to your fence created by lightning strikes within several miles. When a Storm Guard Module is in use, it can absorb this surge and fail, instead of causing failure to your fence charger.
Universal Storm Guard Moduleby Zareba SystemsPrice:$22.95


text:
DU hockey team, Colorado Medical Society honored by gay community with Ally award
The DU hockey team and the Colorado Medical Society were honored tonight as allies of Colorado's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Elected officials, gays, straights and, yes, hockey, players attended a reception outside the University of Denver's Cable Center. The event, held for the third year, is the work of One Colorado, the largest gay-rights organization in the state.
Last year the DU hockey squad became the first team in Colorado to produce a video for the You Can Play Project, which promotes respect for all athletes and combats homophobia in sports, according to One Colorado. Since then, other Colorado college and professional teams have joined the cause.
The Colorado Medical Society has "worked tirelessly to improve access, seek out new funding, and create new opportunities to educate its membership on issues of LGBT health," One Colorado said in a statement when the award winners were announced last month.
One Colorado also honored Tim Sweeney, departing CEO of the Gill Foundation.
Note: My apologies for misspelling the players' names in the initial blog.


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about six years ago
St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Leake tossed eight scoreless innings and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-0, to avoid a three- game sweep. Leake (1-1) allowed just four hits while striking out three for the Reds, who improved to 3-6 on the young season. Devin Mesoraco hit a two-run homer for Cincinnati, which got an RBI apiece from Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips. Billy Hamilton went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two steals. "I didn't have a good start (to the season) at all, but I feel like now I'm settling things down," Hamilton said of adjusting to his first full season in the big leagues. St. Louis starter Shelby Miller (0-2) gave up three runs on seven hits while striking out five over six full frames. Mesoraco's homer in the fourth gave the Reds a 2-0 lead. Chris Heisey hit a two-out single and scored on Mesoraco's blast to left-center field. Cincinnati tacked on another run in the fifth when Hamilton scored on Bruce's sacrifice fly. Hamilton led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a flyout and tagged up on Bruce's pop fly to shallow right. St. Louis finally had a runner advance past first base in the seventh. Matt Adams hit a two-out double to left, but Yadier Molina struck out swinging to end the inning. "He kept the ball down, had his sinker working, his cutter working," St. Louis third baseman Matt Carpenter said of Leake. "He was as good as I've seen him." Phillips' RBI single in the ninth made it a 4-0 contest. Game Notes St. Louis is 4-2 against Cincinnati this season ... The Reds went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine.
2020 Taylorville Daily News,
Miller Media Group
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The FBI is investigating after needles were found in turkey sandwiches on Delta Air Lines flights from Amsterdam to the United States.
Delta says what appear to be sewing needles were found in five sandwiches Sunday. One passenger on a flight to Minneapolis was injured.
The other needles were on two flights to Atlanta and one to Seattle.
FBI Special Agent Stephen Emmett in Atlanta confirmed Tuesday that the agency is investigating but declined to comment further.
The Transportation Security Administration says it's closely monitoring the situation. The agency said it immediately notified U.S. carriers with flights from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.
The sandwiches were made in the Amsterdam kitchen of catering company Gate Gourmet.


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Celebrating illustration, design, cartoon and comic art of the mid-20th century.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Editorial Research Confirms It
The Reader Analysis Bureau of the Crowell-Collier Co., publishers of Collier's, "covering research among men and women readers of eight magazines", came to these conclusions:
"Illustrate a story with men, and the women's readership decreases; and put only women in the illustration, and male readership diminishes."
Illustrations of children seem to attract women very strongly, and, generally speaking, animals (especially dogs and horses) seem to have more attraction for men."
"Composite illustrations, men and women,
including 'clinches', are halfway between these two extremes."
Of course there were other sorts of clinches that were popular as story illustrations at the time. Unfortunately, The Reader Analysis Bureau did not provide information on which audience found the other type most appealing.
But author Wiseman leaves us with this telling conclusion:
"Pictures that readers can most readily understand (in their own personal terms), in which they can most quickly 'see themselves', or that offer solutions for their problems, are apt to engage their attention and hold it."
* For the purpose of context, I thought it would be interesting to show all the editorial illustrations from a single issue of Collier's magazine for today's post.
4 comments:
Very interesting post. Thanks for sharing.ReplyDelete
I have no scientific proof, but It seems to me that generally, small town America today is made of a mix of locals that never left, locals that have moved to the larger towns and cities for education and work, and then returned to raise their kids and those that grew up in the city and moved to a small town for lifestyle advantages. In the 50's, my experience was that small towns in America consisted mostly of people that were born and raised there or had lived there a long time.ReplyDelete
Although the structure and therefore the mentality of the small town may be a mixture, compared to the 50's, the "hard wiring" differences between male and female interests, preferences and taste, perhaps hasn't changed as much as some would like to think. When I do a landscape painting in soft impressionistic pastel colors, men show little interest, but women are attracted to it and make favorable comments. When I do a painting in bold aggressive brush strokes using a pallet of primarily earth tones, women show less interest, but men are more apt to take notice and comment. I find no surprise or great mystery in that, nor do I have a problem with it.
Tom Watson
Frank McCarthy is illustration royalty. His talents are great and vast and it's always a huge thrill to come upon one of his pieces. It's nice to know there's a truck-load of his work I've yet to see since the only work of his I'm familiar with is in Leif's Flickr collection--er...and McCarthy's James Bond posters.ReplyDelete
Interesting topic, Idon't know very much about North American illustrators, but I'm learning in your blog.ReplyDelete
Today starting my vacations, but I'll be right back :)


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By Michael Power
Strategist, Investec Asset Management
The Indian Ocean has been a nexus of trade since the first Arab mariners sailed to uninhabited island of Mauritius. Following their footsteps came the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Chinese and the British seeking to trade new and exotic spices and raw materials in return for manufacturers.
The centuries-old tradition of vibrant trade both with and within the Indian Ocean helped spread the character of individual parts of the basin far and wide: Indonesia would not have become the world's most populous Islamic nation without it. We also owe many of our favourite cuisines to the seasonal trade winds that ferried traders across the sea bringing with them rich spices from east and west.
Today, the Indian Ocean is bordered by a fast rising Asia to the north; to the west, an awakening Africa; to the east, the ever-lucky continent of Australia. Anchoring the apex of the Indian Ocean lies the Indian subcontinent whose seven nations today have a population of 1.7 billion and whose central giant, India, will by 2025 overtake China to become the world's most populous nation.
I regard the Indian Ocean region as a whole as abundantly endowed with all the main factors of production starting with a population of just shy of 3 billion (including those land-locked nations whose primary port – be it a port in another country – borders the Indian Ocean). From West to East, it encompasses mineral-rich South Africa up to agricultural and people-rich Eastern Africa via oil-rich Arabia and Iran to the people-rich Indian subcontinent, onto people and resource-rich Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and down to resource-rich Australia.
And there is so much more: the region has capital that it can recycle through the banking entrepôts of Dubai, Singapore and even Port Louis and vibrant capital markets stretching from Johannesburg to Djakarta. It is also home to all three of the world's "super-connector" airlines: Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways.
In short, the Indian Ocean Basin contains within it all the most important pieces of the modern economic jigsaw puzzle: all that is needed now is to assemble them. And the evidence is now building – strongly – that this is precisely what is happening.
A complex trading hub
One of the most interesting economic theories to emerge in recent years attempting to explain the mysteries of economic growth has been that of "Complexity" as put forward Harvard University's research institute on this subject, the Observatory. Their latest Atlas of Economic Complexity unequivocally highlights the Indian Ocean Basin as being the hottest spot on the planet in terms of where economic growth is likely to be highest in the coming decade. Anchoring and leading this prediction – as its does the whole region – is India whose GDP growth is forecast to average 7.0% per annum in the decade to 2020. 10 of the 12 countries with the fastest GDP growth border the Indian Ocean or connect to it, namely Egypt, India, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia; the immediately adjacent nations are Tanzania, Madagascar, and Pakistan.
Mozambique, Indonesia, Thailand and Jordan are also in the top 21. Confirmation of this prediction comes from an American corporate think tank, the Conference Board. They see the Indian Ocean basin as the region in the world likely to register the highest productivity growth in the next decade.
Many of the resource-rich countries of the region – South Africa, the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Indonesia, Australia – may, in the wake of the boiling over of the commodity supercycle, feel cast into the shade. But I predict once resource-short India builds up a head of economic steam say by 2025, that their sun will shine again and that the commodity cycle will be revived. And these commodity-rich nations of the Indian Ocean basin will then be seated in the front row, ready to supply India with its imported raw and value-added material needs. There are signs even now that this "picking-up-where-China-left-off" phenomenon is starting to happen: in 2016, India is expected to overtake China to become the largest player in the market for sea-borne coal.
Invariably there is a clustering effect in this pattern of national development. Successful models are emulated and improved upon by neighbours; mistakes made by one often avoided by the next. Integrated infrastructure development programmes – such as the one that is much in evidence in Eastern Africa from Djibouti to Ethiopia – are designed to lift whole sub-regions together. Capital that grows comfortable with the risks of one country is often then more willing to pursue opportunities in its neighbours.
Growth spilling over
The economic renaissance of the Indian Ocean is a product of two overlapping factors. The first is that economic growth is spilling over from increasingly high-cost East Asia centred on China into lower cost South East Asia. The second is that manufacturers the world over are realising the last two great pools of underused low-cost labour reside in the Indian sub-continent and Africa: Bangladesh, Kenya and Ethiopia are already showing the benefits of this observation. Puma, Wal-Mart, JC Penny, H&M source some of their garments from Kenyan Export Processing Zones, which now employ over 66,000 people.
All over the Indian Ocean basin, there are muster points where industry is taking root: Gujarat in Western India, the island of Java in Indonesia and the Swahili Coast centred on Kenya. From these hubs, business is radiating out into adjacent areas; the recent rise of Rajasthan can partly be attributed to its adjacency to Gujarat.
This narrative dovetails neatly into China's "One Belt, One Road" strategic vision. China is determined to rebuild the two Silk Roads of old: the terrestrial belt across central Asia and the maritime road via the Indian Ocean. And while the macro aim is to reinvigorate trade between the Far East and Europe, China wants to help central Asia become major markets for its exports as well as the source of raw materials. The implications for the Indian Ocean are profound: from building ports in Gwadar (Pakistan), Chittagong (Bangladesh), Bagamoyo (Tanzania), Lamu (Kenya), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), and Sittwe (Myanmar) to canals across the Kra Isthmus (Thailand) and then connecting railways and pipelines to these ports, such a strategy has been called – somewhat loosely – China's Marshall Plan for the region.
For its part – having begun the 1990s with an inbuilt advantage that flows naturally from proximity – India has recently woken up to the region's potential, and is busy rebooting its links to Africa, the Arabian Gulf and South East Asia.
Other littoral states have also increased their interests in Africa – Australian mining companies remain active in Africa as do private equity companies from Greater Arabia and a number of corporates from Malaysia. And how could one forget those pesky South Africans!
It helps that there are no global superpowers bordering the Indian Ocean as it creates an amphitheatre which allows the small- and the medium-sized players room to manoeuvre. Yes, the big Western players all have military facilities in the region, but this fact has created something of a vacuum for a rising China and a waking India to fill. India is of course the regional superpower in the making and has been linking up with the likes of Mauritius, the Seychelles, Madagascar and Iran. But notwithstanding this, the Indian Ocean is by far the most open of the big three ocean basins of the world – not just militarily but commercially too – much more so than the Atlantic or the Pacific.
Looking to the future
So what is my forecast for the Indian Ocean region?
- The first prediction is that – anchored by the economic rise if India – the future will see a much bigger increase in both intraregional trade and with it intraregional investment.
- That said, I expect China to seek to fill the Great Power vacuum in the region as much as it can, which ultimately will probably mean as much as India will let it.
- I see the Indian Ocean Basin – together with Eastern Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands – becoming a major tourism destination for Asia – with its 4.3bn population. This is very good news for the island nations and littoral states of the Indian Ocean with their fresh air, clear skies, low noise pollution and tropical vegetation. Already China is the largest source of tourists for the Maldives and the third largest for Mauritius.
- The shortlist for becoming the region's entrepôt are Dubai in the west, Singapore in the east and, in the middle, Port Louis. Dubai will compete with Port Louis for Africa's offshore business and, together with Singapore, for that of India. For the time being, it is clearly ahead of Port Louis in the Global Financial Centre Index – sixteenth versus sixty-fourth – with Singapore at fourth.
- With the added advantage of being English-speaking in a basin that understands English, I see Indian companies spreading themselves aggressively throughout the region. Hero, Bajaj and TVS have already done this in the motorcycle and scooter sectors. Indian IT firms like Tata, Infosys and Wipro and pharmaceutical companies like Cipla, Ranbaxy and Dr Reddy are already increasing their footprints as are the hotel groups like Taj and Oberoi.
- Over the past 50 years, the Indian Ocean basin has changed dramatically and particularly during the past decade. Central to these changes has been the economic rise of Asia, an event with truly global consequences in that it is shifting the centre of global economic gravity back to where it was prior to 1800 and to where population density would dictate it should be: Asia.
Notwithstanding the abrupt end of the 2000-2012 commodity supercycle, Asia's rise has given Australasia a new lease on life and allowed Africa to establish its economic relevance. The centrifugal forces that Asia's rise have unleashed will likely have their greatest impact on the nations surrounding – and in! – the Indian Ocean mainly because the centripetal forces pulling this region in other directions are far weaker than they would be in Asia's other great ocean border, the Pacific. There are a number of other reasons working in the Indian Ocean basin's favour: above all, it has the best demographics, the most competitively priced labour and so the best productivity growth prospects in the world.Return to Investment Institute


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The ever growing increase in ultra-marathons has seen a significant amount of members from Falkland Trail Runners experience the fun and enjoyment of the long distance challenges.
Last weekend was no exception with two members competing at the Lochalsh Dirty 30 Mile Race.
Comprising of a 30 mile circuit from Glenelg, passing the Skye Ferry, the Skye Bridge and the world famous Eilean Donan Castle before climbing over the hills and past ancient brochs and returning to the finish in Glenelg, Nikki Wood finished in 7 hrs 52 mins with Karen Spence 8 hrs 49 mins.
At Kirkcaldy 5k parkrun on Saturday Bryan Innes maintained his fine form over the distance finishing second and setting a PB in 18 mins 29 secs. Alex Jarrett also set a PB finishing sixth in 19.39.
Kevin Murray was 18th in 21.15. Alison Sutherland was 22nd and first female in 21.41 followed by 38 & 5F Lyndsay McKay 23.49, 62 Sandy Adam 26.24, Laura Fleming making her debut over the distance finishing 64th in 26.32 with Ann Davidson 92nd in 30.53.Glenrothes Tri-Club member Rebecca Reader finished ninth female in27.26.
At St Andrews 5k Parkrun, Brian Cruickshank finished fifth in 18.14 followed by 14th Jason Sharp 19.56, 17th Colin Smith 20.09, 33rd Keith Bonthrone 22.48,PB, 68th and 12F Ruth Sharp 25.22, 75th Alan Sheret 25.47, 93 Malcolm McTavish 27.26 and 163rd Lynn Smith 35.16.
Husband and wife team of Lynne and Leonard Zabek competed the Greenock 5k parkrun with both crossing the line together in 64th and 65th respectively in 26 mins 05 secs while at the Wallace parkrun in Lisburn Clare Muir finished 184th in 38.02.


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How do you get this . . .
with these?
Do it like this...
From your browser, just click on Select All, then Copy...
...then click to paste THE ENTIRE PAGE into Text2GED!
"How fast can you click?"
Version 1.1 Now Available
Click to download demo (8/4/2006 build)
The demo version is a fully functional program, except the save to GEDCOM feature has been disabled. To enable saving to GEDCOM files you must purchase a registration key. To purchase a registration key (only $18.99!), click on the button below:
What is Text2GED?
Text2GED is a computer program that accesses and extracts genealogy data from the internet.
What does Text2GED do?
Text2GED quickly and accurately converts genealogy data displayed in a web browser into standard GEDCOM 5.5 file format. Text2GED bridges the gap between genealogical information found on the internet and your genealogy database program. Instead of manually typing in each little bit of genealogy data from your keyboard, with just a click of your mouse Text2GED lets you copy and paste entire pages full of data - page after page after page - and then automatically converts it all to standard GEDCOM 5.5 format for import into your favorite family tree program. Manual entry of genealogy data is often tedious, tiresome, and time-consuming. Text2GED automates that part of the process, so your excitement at finding more branches of your family tree on the internet can remain undiminished by tedium and time constraints.
Consider Text2GED as an exceedingly fast (and accurate!) typist and faithful scribe. A super-scribe, if you will. Super-duper, even.
How to use Text2GED:
After launching Text2GED, begin by pulling up your favorite genealogy website and do a typical search for an ancestor (see below for a current list of recognizable website pages and formats).
When you find one that looks to be a rich vein, someone with lots of ancestors and/or descendants (check the pedigree if available), simply follow these four quick and easy steps:
1) right-click your mouse anywhere inside the browser window containing genealogy data
2) click on "Select All" from the menu that pops up (this will highlight the entire page)
3) right-click inside the highlighted browser window once more, and this time click on "Copy"
This will capture all the text on the web page and copy all that data onto the Clipboard. You've done this before, right?
Now go to the Text2GED window and:
4) click on the wide grey rectangled button with the clipboard picture in the middle.
This will copy (or rather "paste") the Clipboard data into Text2GED.
Before you can blink, the Text2GED tree window will show in pedigree format the beginnings of the family branch you're working on.
All the names contained on that page of the website, all the dates and places (birth, christening, death, burial, and marriage), and all notes (if any) are now all in the Text2GED program with all their relational links recorded and preserved. Like magic! Auto-magic!
Now go back to the web page you're pulling information from and click on a parent's or child's link (or in some cases such as LDS a "family" link). When the page appears, repeat steps 1 through 4. Continue on, selecting all-copying-and-pasting into Text2GED through the remainder of the pages at the web site. Rinse and repeat until you get to the end of the branch. The pedigree tree in Text2GED will continue to grow as you continue to copy and paste. And it's all in there. Go look!
Does this beat typing it all in or what!
When you're sure you've got all the data and you're satisfied they require no further editing or polishing (see additional features below), you may save it to a GEDCOM file for importing into your genealogy database program. Or, you can save your work to a workfile if you'd like, and pick it up later right where you left off. Or, you could go to some other genealogy website and see if they might have even more names or additional data to add to what you've already got. With Text2GED you can mix and match data captured from many different genealogy websites.
Other Approaches to Data Capture
Another tack you might consider following is to begin with a Descendant Register or an Ahnentafel List. Text2GED can capture data from web pages in those formats, too. It's not much a stretch to be able to get over 200 names (I've seen some lists with over 1400 - Text2GED can handle it), with dates, places, and relationships, in just 6 clicks. Two seconds, two hundred plus relatives sitting in your tree! And not a single typo! Super-duper indeed!
Text2GED can process Pedigree Forms and Descendant lists, as well. Because these formats typically do not include as much data as individual or family formats, additional information can be gathered by navigating through the list in the browser window and drilling down to the detail level, and then pasting those details into Text2GED page by page. Or even better, use the Internet Search function in Text2GED.
Text2GED doesn't just add records - it can also update them with any additional information you might find from any recognizable site - Text2GED is able to identify matching records by IDs, or by name and birth date, or names of spouses or parents. And if it's not sure if it's got a true match, it'll ask you. It's smart, and smart enough to know when it's not that smart.
Text2GED Functions and Features:
Data Display: Text2GED's pedigree view is similar to most other programs' pedigree views. It displays five generations of names at a time (31 in all) along with birth and death dates. If a branch reaches out beyond five generations an extension button is displayed, allowing for navigation further along the branch. Clicking on a name in the pedigree tree will show Birth/Marriage/Death dates and places for that individual, as well as spouse and children. If a person has more than one spouse, clicking the arrow at the right of the box will show a list of all their spouses. Simply click on a name to select from the list -the list of children will change accordingly, as will marriage date and place. Double-clicking on a name in a child list will re-order the pedigree tree, moving the selected child to the base of the branch. Numbers to the right of the marriage date and place are the couple's respective ages at marriage. Right-clicking on a name in the pedigree pops up a short menu from which you may select from four options: search the Internet for that individual, edit data in that individual's record, show a descendancy list, or delete/prune.
Data Lists: from the Lists Menu you can pull up a list of all the names, with birth dates and places, record numbers and IDs. Or a list of marriages with names of husband and wife, marriage date and place, and number of children. Both lists may be reordered according to name, date, or place. Double-clicking on a name in a list opens a window for viewing/changing that individual's record.
Data Edits: from the Edit Menu you can list and then quickly change place names en mass; or change all surnames to All CAPS or proper case with just one click. For manual down and dirty edits, right-click the mouse on a name in the pedigree tree and select Edit to display an individual's entire record - from there you can modify, insert or remove data; or click Unlink to remove that individual from the parents family record. There's also a Prune function, in case you'd like to cut off part of a suspect branch.
Source Recording: Text2GED remembers where you got the data, and gives you options for including source citations in the GEDCOM file. Source and Repository records and references may also be added, modified, or removed.
Files: Text2GED affords standard and expected file Open and Save procedures. Save to either a GEDCOM file or a work file. You may have as many work files as you want, and they can be re-opened at any time for additions and/or changes to your data.
ToolTips text messages display when you move your mouse over a button or a text box.
That's about it!
Oh! And check out the Internet Search feature. Right-click on a name in the pedigree tree, select Search Internet, and it'll load the search fields for you. Simply select from the lists on top which site you want to search in, flag the fields you'd like to set as search criteria, click Go and you're there. Play around with it a bit and you'll see how this might be a cool little tool in its own right!
Current List of Recognizable Formats
Text2GED is able to translate most formats on:
LDS's FamilySearch site (FamilySearch.org)
a. LDS AFN - Ancestry File (individual, family, and pedigree)
b. LDS IGI - International Genealogy Index (individual, family, and pedigree), and
c. LDS PRF - Pedigree Resource File (individual only - PRF doesn't have family records).
Ancestry.com's World Tree Project.
Since RootsWeb is a subsidiary of Ancestry.com, Text2GED can read RootsWeb pages as well, specifically:
a. Individual (includes parents, spouses and children)
b. Descendant Register
c. Ahnentafel
d. Pedigree (text and table formats)
e. Descendant List
a. Individual (includes parents, spouses and children, but they call it individual)
b. Pedigree (table format)
MyTrees (KindredKonnections.com)
a. Individual
b. Family
c. Pedigree
Additional features and format recognition will be added periodically. Upgrades are always free for registered users.


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The other day, I was talking to a client who is in the process of losing one of his best people to a bigger and more well-known competitor. He wasn't happy about it - but he's a good guy, so he was supportive of his employee and happy for her. She loves working for him, but the offer was just too good for her to pass up. He got his company to put together a counter-offer, but he knew it was less about the money and more about the prestige and the opportunity (bigger job; more upward potential).
If someone leaves your company in that situation, congratulate yourself on growing a great employee and start figuring out how best to replace him or her. There's not much you could have done differently; you will inevitably lose some people in circumstances like this.
However, that's not why most people leave their companies. Eric Jackson wrote an excellent post last winter that I just ran across this morning, Why Companies Are Terrible at Selecting, Retaining and Motivating Their Talent. He offers ten reasons, but they really all come down to this:
most companies give lip service to the importance of good employees, but they don't actually treat them as though they're important.
Companies that keep most of their great people, at every level, treat them like valued partners in the business' success. Here's how that looks:
Include them: People (especially great people) like to feel that they're an integral part of the success of their company. Two simple ways good companies do this: 1) let people know what's happening and why, and 2) give them as much influence over decisions as possible. So, first, be honest and consistent in communicating important information about the company. It's an awful feeling to find out critical news about your company by reading about it in the paper. Communicate both the great stuff and the difficult stuff first to your employees. Second, include employees in the decision-making process whenever you can. This can be anything from asking for input on employee surveys, and then actually responding to what you hear in substantive ways, to creating a culture where authority to make specific decisions is pushed as far down into the company as possible.
Support them: In companies that are bad at keeping great people, employees tend to feel that they're twisting in the wind most of the time. For example, my niece has been working at a job for the past few years where she has had a total of six conversations with her boss, three of them by phone. The message is clear: do your work and don't bother me. She is looking for another job. Supporting your people can take many forms, but the ones that have the biggest impact are those that let them know you genuinely care about their success: checking in with them regularly; doing your best to remove obstacles and provide needed resources; asking about their professional hopes and finding ways to help them grow.
Offer Great Work: Good people want to be challenged. At companies where the employees aren't a priority, work is assigned based on the company's needs, and generally is to be done in a prescribed way. Companies that keep their good people make more of an effort to match employee passion and aptitude with job requirements, and they also encourage their employees to find better, faster, more efficient ways of doing things.
Acknowledge Their Contributions: Someone very dear to me has just left a job where, even though he basically worked magic for six years with tiny budgets and no support from his management, he had no idea whether anyone even noticed until he announced his departure - at which point they grudgingly acknowledged that he would be hard to replace. Most people want to be appreciated for their hard work and good results. It's as simple as letting those who work for you know, regularly, that you're aware of what they're doing and that you're grateful for their efforts and results.
You may have noticed that all four of these things require good management and leadership, and a company culture that includes honesty, clarity and treating people consistently well. Most elements of a company's success are dependent on these two things - and keeping great folks is no exception.
Look for Erika's latest book, Leading So People Will Follow, coming October 9th from Jossey-Bass.
Follow Erika on Twitter @erikaandersen.
Get exclusive content and fresh ideas; join the Insider List.


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Every family has its own special holiday traditions. Those rituals that bind us together during this festive season, whether trimming the tree with a collection of special ornaments gathered over the years, reading holiday stories while nestled in flannel sheets, or cooking cherished family specialties to share with family and friends. Maybe it's the excitement children feel putting out their shoes for Los Reyes, or the family 'asador' putting on an unbeatable grill-fest.
Whether in the sizzling heat of the southern hemisphere's summer or the bone cold frost of the northern winter, the season brings us closer together, and wherever and whenever we gather, we are bound to break bread.
This is the first holiday season that our son, Esteban, almost five, is really 'into' Christmas. So as we get into the rhythm of having a new addition to the family, I've been trying to solidify those favorite traditions from last year, to create the holiday memories that will be with them a lifetime.
Eating Pan Dulce (aka Panettone) is one of the traditions we most enjoy and hope to pass on--nothing says holiday to me like the smell of fresh pan dulce in the oven, its yeasty, sweet smell mingling with the orange and lemon peel studding the bread. Cutting into one on Christmas morning is a special treat, a gift of its own. The first piece is eaten with a cup of coffee, as we sit bleary-eyed, around the tree opening gifts.
This year, I decided to make my own candied orange and lemon peel for the pan dulce--a simple recipe that can be made up to two months in advance if you're one of those uber-organized folks, or the day before you make the pan dulce if you're not. The flavor is much better in the DIY peel than the store-bought version, plus free of the preservatives and what have you that we would rather avoid.
Candied peel makes a wonderful homemade holiday gift, and can be dipped in dark chocolate, too. It would be a great hostess gift, along with a tag attached with the recipe for pan dulce on it. Pan Dulce is sure to become one of your family's treasured holiday favorites, and even more so with the addition of your own handmade candied peel!
Candied Orange and Lemon Peel
Cáscara de Naranja y Limón Azucarada
This recipe makes enough for 2 panettone, about a cup each of orange and lemon rind, but this recipe is easily doubled or halved as needed. I combined lemon and orange for convenience sake, but they can be made separately if that is your preference. The peel can be made up to 2 months in advance and stored in the freezer, or can be made one week in advance and stored in the refrigerator. For the pan dulce, simply chop the strips of candied rind into small pieces.
5 lemons
5 oranges
3 cups water
4 cups sugar
Using a sharp knife, cut off the ends of each lemon and orange. Score the rind of the fruit in quarters, slicing just through the rind and not into the fruit. Peel off the quarters of rind carefully, then slice into strips about 1/4 inch wide. Put all the peel into a medium sized saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and boil for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the water and replace it with fresh water, and bring to a boil again. Repeat this blanching process two more times to remove any bitterness from the peel. (A total of 3 times.) Drain the water and reserve the peel.
In the same saucepan, combine the water and 3 cups of the sugar and heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Add in the rind into the sugar and water mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let simmer until the rind is translucent, about 45 minutes. Drain the rind, reserving the simple syrup, if desired, as a citrus simple syrup for cocktails and such.
Remove the rind and spread out evenly on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the remaining sugar. Turn the rind over and sprinkle with the other 1/2 cup of sugar. To dry, either leave the rind in a cool, dry place in the kitchen overnight or bake for one to two hours in a 200 degree oven (checking frequently to be sure that the rind is not cooking, but just drying out).


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Ugandan Metal-Building Manufacturer Installs 72-in. Slitter
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Friday, October 1, 2010
Braner/Loopco, Schiller Park, IL, shipped a 60,000-lb. by 72-in. by 1⁄4-in. precision coil-slitting line to Roofings LTD in Kampala, Uganda. The line, rated to 1000 ft./min., features a turret-head slitter with two 9- by 72-in. quick-change heads, and variable strip tensioning; 450 hp is available for recoiling straight-wall tight coils. Roofings LTD manufactures metal building products.
See also: Braner USA, Inc.
Related Enterprise Zones: Coil Handling


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A high percentage of light transmission describes what is perhaps the most important feature of any binoculars or riflescope: the brightness of the image. Carl Zeiss is the world's market leader when it comes to image brightness in optics. The hunting optics made in Wetzlar deliver brilliant, high-contrast images even in the most challenging of light conditions. This means that you can shoot for much longer and even take the perfect shot in difficult light conditions. Enjoy greater success with the high transmission optics from Carl Zeiss.
You can see the difference between a good lens and a cheap lens at the first look, even if specific values such as twilight factor appear to be the same in products of the same size. Lenses with higher levels of light transmission bring you clear, bright images, while cheap products produce images that are dark and dull. The key factor is how much light is "swallowed up" by the lenses, and therefore fails to reach the eye of the observer. As the genius and ZEISS scientist Alexander Smakula realised some 80 years ago, when light enters or leaves a lens, a certain percentage of the light is reflected from the boundaries. Depending on the type of glass used this is usually between 4 and 8%, and, depending on the number of lenses, the total light lost can be as much as 50% or more. Smakula countered this significant disadvantage by covering the surface of the lenses with extremely thin layers of special materials. In doing so, he changed the transfer of air to glass, thereby reducing the reflections. This led to significantly improved levels of light transmission. Binoculars and riflescopes with this "Transmission layer" were, from that point on, given the designation "T", and the improved multi-layer coating developed at the end of the 70s was named "T*". For us, "ZEISS T*" is a core skill, and one that we are constantly developing. For you, Smakula's discovery means bright, high-contrast images with no distracting reflections.
ZEISS HT – an innovative optical concept with SCHOTT HT high transmission lenses, performance-enhanced Carl Zeiss T* multi-layer coating, loss-free transmission reticle technology (in riflescopes) and the use of the Abbe-König prism system (in binoculars) - stands for the best transmission performance ever. Developed for use in the last traces of twilight and in difficult light conditions. With up to 95% or more light transmission Carl Zeiss set a new standard in brightness. No other premium manufacturer offers more in terms of light reserves. Experience a whole new dimension with the new VICTORY HT riflescopes and binoculars.


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|Line: 1 to 1
Table PluginGives extra control of table display:
SortingClick on column heading text to sort by a column. Initial column will be sorted in descending order, click again to get ascending order. The type of data in the cell is determined automatically:
Row spansTable cells with a single caret indicate follow-up rows of multi-row spans. For example,
TablePlugin Global SettingsPlugin settings are stored as preferences variables. To reference a plugin setting write
%<plugin>_<setting>%, for example,
Table AttributesAttributes are defined as a
TABLEATTRIBUTES Plugin setting in this topic, a
TABLEATTRIBUTES preferences setting, or on line before the table using
%TABLE{...}% settings override
TABLEATTRIBUTES preferences settings, which override the
TABLEATTRIBUTES Plugin settings.
The setting
disableallsort is normally not used as a TABLE or TABLEATTRIBUTES setting. Plugins such as EditTablePlugin dynamically sets
disableallsort to disable sorting while editing a table. For this to work it is important that EditTablePlugin runs before TablePlugin, which is the default. The setting
sort can be overwritten by a URL parameter or hidden formfield of the same name. Plugins such as EditTablePlugin can use this to disable table header sorting while in edit mode.
Use of %TABLE{...}%Line before table:
%TABLE{ sort="on" tableborder="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="3" cellborder="0" headerbg="#D5CCB1" headercolor="#666666" databg="#FAF0D4, #F3DFA8" headerrows="2" footerrows="1" }%
Table with 4 digit year dates and no use of %TABLE{...}%
TablePlugin and CSSInformation for programmers. TablePlugin implements the following precedence:
CSS written by TablePlugin
Plugin Installation InstructionsThis plugin is pre-installed with your TWiki release. You should not have to install it other than to do an upgrade.
Plugin Info


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Bill Would Create Education Administration Position
The Chairmen of the Legislature's Joint Education Committee are sponsoring legislation to change the governance of Wyoming K-12 public education system. Sen. Hank Coe (R-Park) and Rep. Matt Teeters (R-Goshen) have offered SF0104 "Education - state administration" to create an appointed position to administer the Department of Education.
The bill has broad co-sponsorship support, including all majority and minority members of leadership in the House and Senate, the Joint Appropriations Committee chairmen, and various members of the Legislature's education committees
The legislation prescribes duties for a director of the Wyoming Department of Education, which would be appointed by the Governor, and adjusts the duties for the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Sen. Coe and Rep. Teeters say they sponsored the bill to clearly define roles and responsibilities regarding education policy at the state level. The sponsors say that Wyoming's state-level education governance structure no longer serves the needs of students, schools and citizens.
Teeters said, "Education issues should not be political in nature. The time has come to take personal politics out of the education equation."
Coe added, "We acknowledge the strained relationship between the Legislature and the State Superintendent. As we considered options to address critical education needs, we worked to separate personality from the issues. We have done that and recognize that, at its core, the current education governance model is flawed and we have grappled with this flawed structure for several decades. This bill fixes that problem."
The sponsors say that without the stability provided by an appointed position to administer the Department of Education, the investment Wyoming has made in the State's K-12 system is at risk.
Supporters of the bill say that the need for an appointed director is clear, adding, staff turnover, personnel assignments, and budget decisions are hurting Wyoming's ability to provide the best education possible for its children.


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well this is my feedback thread
please leave feedback if youve had dealings with me
well this is my feedback thread
please leave feedback if youve had dealings with me
Jeezz- I'm not sure how to feel about this. Ahh memories of younger days!! A virgin feedback thread!! Freebird shipped me items recently, and other than the New Mexico slow postal mules the exchange was great! Items were as expected. Seemed very concerned when items were delayed. Would trade with him in the future!!
traded me an RT Sear and pin/axle, for a nice Lapco Barrel...fast shipping, and no problems what-so-ever...do not hesitate to deal with Freebird!!!
bought an rt rail and some other stuff from him, kept me up to date on the shipping issues, great trader!!
Got a used Y grip and foregrip from him. Had some problems with shipping that could not be helped. He willingly worked and paid to make sure the shipment gets to me on time.
Bought some freak tips off him. After a little mix up with paypal, we got things worked out and got things done. Only 1 recommendation, a little follow-up communication wouldn't hurt to let the other party know how things are going. Got the Tips today, in expected condition. All and all a good trade.
bought a body off him. no problems, would deal with again.
I bought a vest from him. Packaged great, shipping time was just as expected, condition was as advertised. A+ Would do business with again!
great trader thankx again A+
Bought some DW CF barrels from him. Good communication and quick shipping.
Bought a DW Fibur Barrel from him.
Good dealings without any problems
~ P8nt
Jai "P8ntbal4me" Menard
I also purchased a Deadlywind Fibur Barrel from Freebird. Flawless transaction and superb communication; I couldn't ask for more in a seller.
Thank you very much!
I purchased a Deadlywind Fibur Barrel from Freebird. He was accommodating for shipping to Canada. Thanks
I bought a Q-loader system at a good price from Freebird. I got my moneys worth, smooth transaction, great communications. Thanks
Bought a Benchmark frame from him. I received it the same week I bought it. Couldn't be more pleased with the transaction.
Bought a Dye bag off of him. Got here fine no thanks to the Post Office, even threw in an extra.


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Late last week Baylor announced that defensive end Tevin Elliott had been suspended indefinitely for violating unspecified team rules.
A couple of days later, we now know that the defensive end is facing a serious legal issue that led to the punitive measure.
KWTX-TV in Waco is reporting that Elliott was arrested Monday on a warrant charging sexual assault. The only available detail is that the charge stemmed from an early-morning incident April 15 at an apartment in South Waco, in which it's alleged Elliott sexually assaulted an unidentified female.
In announcing the suspension last Friday, head coach Art Briles said the football program would have no further comment on Elliott's situation.
Last season as a redshirt sophomore, Elliott played in 12 games, starting five of the last eight regular season contests. Elliott finished 2011 second on the team in sacks with three and tied for second in tackles for loss with eight.
He missed Baylor's Alamo Bowl win due to a knee injury, and the subsequent surgery forced him out of the recently-completed spring sessions.
(Tip O' the Cap: ArrestNation.com)


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Napoleon and Josephine's Engagement Ring Auction Is Rich in History
Napoleon's symbol of love for Josephine for sale at auction house on March 24.
March 23, 2013 -- As jewelry goes, it is modest, a simple diamond and sapphire ring. But it is rich in history.
The ring, which will be auctioned off in Paris on Sunday, was Napoleon's engagement ring in 1796 to the woman who would become Empress Josephine.
The gold ring has an 18th century setting called "toi et moi" with opposing tear shaped jewels, a blue sapphire and a diamond. The carat weight of the two gems is little less than a carat each.
This ring will go on sale at the Osenat auction house in Fontainebleau outside Paris where the bidding is expected to reach at least 15,000 euros, something close to $20,000. But the auction house said there will be more than two dozen international bidders on phones and online as well as those in the bidding room, which is expected to drive the price up higher.
The ring may seem unimpressive considering the names attached to them are an emperor and empress, but it actually illustrates Napoleon's passion for his future queen.
"At the time Napoleon was a young and promising officer, but he was not rich. He must have broken his wallet to buy this quality ring," Osenat's expert Jean-Christophe Chataignier told ABCNews.com.
The auction is also being held on a unique day.
"The auction will celebrate 250th anniversary of Josephine's birth," says historian David Chanteranne, the editor in chief of Napoleon I Magazine.
Napoleon met Josephine, (Rose Tascher de la Pagerie as she was known then) in September 1795. She was 32 years old, six years older than Bonaparte. At the time she was the rich and stylish widow of Alexandre de Beauharnais, an aristocrat who supported the French Revolution but died on the guillotine. Her first marriage produced two children, Eugene and Hortense, who Napoleon later adopted.
According to Napoleon's memoirs written at St. Helena, he met Josephine when her son Eugene came to ask him for the right to keep his father's sword. Napoleon said yes, and Josephine invited him to her apartment in Paris to thank him. Napoleon was immediately smitten, and within the first couple months of their relationship had fallen completely in love with her. He wrote about this in his memoirs:
"Everyone knows the extreme grace of the Empress Josephine and her sweet and attractive manners. The acquaintance soon became intimate and tender, and it was not long before we married."
The wedding day was March 9, 1796, but the honeymoon lasted only 36 hours. Napoleon left to lead the French army on a successful invasion of Italy, but during this absence he wrote frequently, sometimes twice a day.
"Since I left you, I have been constantly depressed," one letter says. "My happiness is to be near you. Incessantly I live over in my memory your caresses, your tears, your affectionate solicitude."
"How happy I would be if I could assist you at your undressing," the Emperor writes, "the little firm white breast, the adorable face, the hair tied up in a scarf a la creole."
Napoleon begged Josephine to join him in on his conquest in Milan, but Josephine was often unresponsive, preferring Paris where her kids attended school to the front line in Italy. And the there was her Parisian affair with Lt. Hippolyte Charles.
When Napoleon learned about Josephine's affairs, his letters changed in tone: "I don't love you, not at all; on the contrary I detest you – You're a naughty, gawky, foolish slut."
The marriage didn't last, but "Josephine continued to treasure the ring and gave it to her daughter Hortense, later Queen of Holland, through whom it came down to her son, Napoleon III and his wife Empress Eugene to whose family this relic ring still belongs," claims Chataignier.
The buyer will be breaking up something of a set. The ring is currently on display alongside other historic treasures, including portraits of Napoleon's son and a sword given to the emperor by King Henry IV.


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Winter weather is moving in and in the event the lights go out, many people quickly learn how dependent they are on their stoves and microwaves. How would you prepare your food without electricity? In preparation for a possible outage, Fulton County Cooperative Extension says residents do not have to go hungry during a power failure. They just have to be prepared.
"In the event of a power outage, with proper preparation, residents can prepare meals that do not require cooking," states Menia Chester, Director of Fulton County Cooperative Extension. "The key is to be smart when selecting foods to prepare."
Listed below is a list of easy foods that the University of Georgia experts recommend storing in preparation for winter power failures:
Canned meats - Ham, chicken and turkey are available. Look for them on the same grocery aisle as canned tuna in most stores.
Hard cheeses - Hard cheddar, Swiss, provolone or mozzarella can be kept even without refrigeration for several hours before they lose quality. And don't forget the crackers.
Fruits - Fresh, canned or dried, fruits are healthful and do not have to be cooked.
Vegetables - Fresh veggies are nutritious and do not require cooking.
Peanut butter and jelly - Who doesn't like peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches? And what could be easier to "cook"?
And while at the store, buy things that make powerless cooking work, like plenty of starter sticks for the fireplace and a hand-operated can opener.
Visit http://bit.ly/1jtpuBs for more information on cooking without power or contact the Fulton County Cooperative Extension office at 404-332-2400.
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Jewels of Lake Tahoe - Eleanor Preger
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Jewels of Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe has many jewels. The Lake, the land, the views are embraced and not to be missed.
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We need that memorial!
– Posted using MobyPicture.com
In 2008 I walked across America, 4250 miles from San Francisco back to Boston. I carried a blank leather-bound journal and asked people he met write their personal message for the soon-to-be-elected President of the United States. By the time I finished in Boston ten-and-half-months later, I had collected thousands of handwritten missives, from welfare recipients to business owners to teachers and farmers, on topics ranging from the economy, the environment, UFO research, to the War on Terrorism, even notes of congratulations and advice for marital bliss.
Now, thanks to Sen. John Kerry's office, I have an appointment to meet with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office. True to the spirit of the original walk, once again I am walking the 450 miles from Boston to Washington D.C. I set out from the Mass. State House on October 30th and I must cover an average of 16 miles per day to make my meeting on December 1st. Again, I'll be collecting messages for the president along the way. Check back here for updates, photos and notes, and thanks for reading.
Em: email@example.com
Tw: @WalkWhiteHouse
The 2008 route covered 4250 miles through the four major regions of the United States.


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Tue, Mar 03, 2020
Ocean Hill Collegiate Charter School and Achievement First Voyager Charter School - Revision Public Hearing
- Ocean Hill Collegiate Charter School
The site navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Left and right arrows move across top level links and expand / close menus in sub levels. Up and Down arrows will open main level menus and toggle through sub tier links. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items.
Tue, Mar 03, 2020
Fri, Mar 06, 2020
Mon, Apr 06, 2020 - Fri, May 15, 2020
Thu, Apr 09, 2020-Fri, Apr 17, 2020


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You're about to visit our web page in English Would you like to continue?
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Visit our Welcome Page!
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Information applies to:
The administrator created a URL filtering rule to block web sites included in the adult category. However, a particular adult site was allowed despite the fact that it was displayed in the transaction report and rated as ADULT.
The reason for this is that this URL actually belonged to more than one category: ADULT_THEMES and DISCUSSION_FORUMS and ON-LINE_CHAT. In this case, there was a URL filter rule that allowed ON-LINE_CHAT for the end user, and this rule was running before the rule blocking Adult sites.
SolutionIn this case, you need to change the order of the URL rules, setting the ADULT_THEMES rule before any other rules.
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Last weekend, I was going about my business, when a person stopped me asking myself and I to attend the Realise event at his church which is UCKG. We have had a few separate invitations from this church. The first was to get anointed with oil by 'the man of God' and my wife was offered to come for an anointed rose… yes you heard me right. Anyway we played dumb and asked him what it was about without divulging the fact that we were Christians. He then proceeded to tell us how we could learn the keys to being successful. At this stage there was NO mention of God, NO mention of Jesus, NO mention of sin, NO mention of my need for forgiveness. I actually tried to steer him in the way by asking him what would happen if I became very successful (like Steve Jobs) , but died afterwards? Still nothing.
In the end, I had to tell him about his error because no doubt, if I had been a non-christian, and asked him all those questions and left, I would have left dead in my sins without any knowledge of the gospel at all. I did ask him why he never spoke to me about God and he basically said that non Christians would not be interested so he talked about the other stuff to 'get me in'. The problem with that is if I decide not to visit their church, the very thing that has the power to save me i.e. the gospel, is the very thing that is left out in the conversation. It is hard enough going out of your way to witness to someone but when someone comes to you asking questions, we as Christians should jump at the opportunity to give them the good news.
As I said, this is not the first experience that I have had with UCKG and many times, I have had their newspapers in the post and their general thread and emphasis is about being happy and successful, but not about being righteous and being in a right standing with God. A classic example of this is their series 'The 5 Biggest Failures of Jesus' (I didn't even know that he did fail, silly me)
As per their website
When we say that Jesus had failures, people's knee-jerk response is, "No He didn't. He's God. He never fails at anything." But the truth is that Jesus failed many times throughout His 33-year earthly ministry. He experienced disappointments and many times things did not always go quite the way He wanted.
But… He turned them around… every single time. Whenever Jesus experienced failure, He used it to His advantage and either turned the failure into success, or put more effort into something else that would bring more results.
'Failure' 1 – Jesus had no money to pay His taxes (Matthew 17.24-27) Click here
'Failure' 2 – Jesus was known as 'Jesus of Nazareth' and had no recognized degree in theology – Click here
'Failure' 3 – The partial healing of the blind man – Click here
'Failure' 4 – People of the Gadarenes reject Him (Mark 5:1-20) – Click here
'Failure' 5 – Many Disciples desert Him (Jn. 6:66,67) – Click here
You may say 'What's the problem?' Do you see a re-occurring theme? They have twisted the scriptures to somehow make the bible a self help manual. The problem is even though on the surface, it seems to be harmless and even christian, the real focus is not about Christ but it is the gospel of YOU. The focus is on being successful in THIS life on earth. The very thing scripture tells us not to focus on
Set your minds on things that are above, NOT on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2)
Am I saying that it is wrong to have earthly ambitions? Not at all, but from my experience and from the many newspapers and experiences that I have had with this church, the emphasis has always been on the here and now and an example of this can be seen in the five lessons above.
Do I have any personal gripes against UCKG? Not at all but I have enough experiences to know that churches (whether it be this church or a Joel Osteen type of church) which subscribe to this type of theology is a dangerous one. I can be the most successful person in this life but the truth of the matter is, if I die without Christ, I will die in my sins and will be heading to hell


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Small, compact diving duck with large head and small gray bill. Breeding males are black and white with large white patch on back of head. Females and immature males are gray-brown with white patch on cheek. Much smaller than Common Goldeneye with which it often associates. Found in bays, estuaries, reservoirs, and lakes in winter. Travels to boreal forest and nests in cavities in summer.
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BERLIN -- Germany's second-biggest airline, Air Berlin PLC, says Niki Lauda has left the company's board to devote more time to his new role with the Mercedes Formula One team.
The three-time Formula One world champion became a non-executive director at Air Berlin, which integrated his Vienna-based airline, Niki, in late 2011.
Lauda is joining the Mercedes team as the non-executive chairman of its board of directors. The team's drivers for 2013 are Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Air Berlin said Thursday that Lauda will be replaced on its board by Austin Reid, a former chief executive of British airline bmi, or British Midland.


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Zumba instructor makes 1st court appearance in Maine on prostitution charges
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A 29-year-old fitness instructor is being arraigned on charges she ran a prostitution business out of her Kennebunk Zumba studio and secretly filmed her encounters.
Alexis Wright of Wells is due in a Portland courtroom on Tuesday on 109 counts including prostitution and tax evasion charges. Mark Strong Sr., a 57-year-old insurance agent and Wright's alleged business partner, is also being arraigned on 59 counts of promoting prostitution, invasion of privacy and conspiracy.
Police say they found video footage of Wright having sex with men who were unaware they were being filmed, and meticulous records suggesting the sex acts could have generated $150,000.
Police say they'll be issuing summonses to Wright's alleged customers. Strong's attorney says he's seen a list of about 150 customers, some of whom are well-known.


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Sept. 30, 2006
Head Coach Jerry Smith:
On the game
"I never concern myself with the shot total. In fact, the philosophy here is to take fewer shots and score more goals. I'm all about waiting for more opportunities and not firing the ball from anywhere. Our attack is built around trying to get around the corner and put crosses in front of the goal, but oftentimes those are dangerous situations which never really result in a shot. But I thought we did take our chances well and made the most of them."
"And then our defense is set up for letting people take long shots on our team, and UCLA did the same thing. Our goalkeeper is very good, and if you're going to take long shots at our goal, its going to take a heck of a shot to beat our goalkeeper."
"Stanford had some good chances, and when they did have two or three good chances, Meagan came up with some good saves or they hit the ball right at her. I'm happy with the result, I thought out team could have played a little bit better, and I give Stanford a lot of credit. They were a very aggressive team tonight, they've got a lot of team speed and a lot of attacking weapons. It is another shutout for the team, and for the back four and goalkeeper."
On Amanda Poach's goal
"Amanda has this wicked shot that you never know where it is going to go, and for her it's mostly gone off-goal for most of her career here. But to her credit, she normally plays holding midfield, and playing that position on our team, you're not gonna get a goal that often, so you basically sit back a lot and playmake from a deeper position. Amanda scored about two or three minutes after I switched her and Brittany Klein, and I wanted Brittany to play closer to the back of the field, and Amanda to get forward only because they were marking Amanda as our playmaker from a deep position.
"Amanda hit that rocket shot, and I think it knuckled and moved a couple of times, I think it kind of surprised the goalkeeper with its velocity. Even though it went into the middle of the goal, it had such pace and movement on it, obviously it was a great goal and it was great for the team."
On Meagan Snell's performance
"The number one priority for forwards is scoring goals, and Meagan is, right now, incredible. She has reached an incredible level with her finishing ability, and what's great about Meagan is that she only takes one or two shots a game and ends up with one or two goals. Here at Santa Clara, we're about shot selection, and Meagan has picked her opportunities extremely well and did it again tonight."
Forward Meagan Snell:
On her performance
"We're just coming out here and playing, and I'm finishing chances that are created by Brittany, Kiki, and Jordan, and that means its just an easy ball to slot."
"It was an important goal, I mean I wish we could have had a 3-0 lead like we did against UCLA, because we need to keep going down their throats. I think it was good, but then in the end became dangerous, because 2-0 is a very dangerous lead to have. We need to work harder, but it was good."
Midfielder Amanda Poach:
On her first collegiate goal
"Kiki did all the hard work, she managed to play a great ball to me, and I didn't see anyone in front of me so I took a touch and shot it and it just went in."
"Yes, especially because everyone is always getting on my case because I take all these shots from long range, and last year I didn't get any goals, and I hadn't yet scored this year. So I worked on my shooting and hopefully it pays off, but it was nice."


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Sedentary lifestyles present a tremendous challenge to the health of American citizens. Diabetes projections from the NIH over the next four decades are alarming however in Native American communities this dire future already exists.
Last week the National Institutes of Health announced that within four decades 1/3 of U.S. adults will develop diabetes in their lifetime. This alarming statistic pales in comparison to the potential devastation within specific ethnic populations. Native Americans currently are 230% more likely to develop diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age.
Responding to this concern a company based in Phoenix, AZ, TrekDesk Treadmill Desks, has launched a diabetes and sedentary lifestyle campaign aimed at introducing movement back into native communities.
"We have a national health epidemic due to sedentary lifestyles that needs immediate intervention with policies, innovations and education designed to alert Americans to the dangers of sitting throughout the day," stated Payton Bordley, Social Media Coordinator and Director of Native American Programs for TrekDesk. "This need is even more critical in the Native American community where the future health path of America already exists."
TrekDesk hopes to partner with reservations across the country to introduce treadmill desks in work places and community centers so that Native Americans become aware that movement is possible and beneficial even while performing normally sedentary tasks.
Dr. Griffin Rogers of the NIH cited the importance of daily movement within the Native American population, "The key is regular physical activity and modest weight loss—as little as 5 to 7 percent of your body weight. We want to encourage people to take this message of good health to their families and their communities, so we can put an end to the diabetes epidemic."
"I am currently working on a pilot program within my own reservation." stated Bordley. "Even though the efficacy of walking 10,000 steps a day is well documented we will still need clinical data specific to native populations proving the benefits of this program nationally and to determine the exercise dosage most beneficial towards reducing health risks."
TrekDesk is currently available for sale online at TrekDesk.com for $479.00 including free shipping however a special tribal volume discount is available for nations wishing to participate in the program.
Join the TrekDesk's "Movement Revolution" to learn more about these studies on TrekDesk's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TrekDesk