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In relationships, the only person you really have control over is you. To paraphrase Scripture: If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with your teenager (Rom. 12:18). You establish the peace, and you do that through stabilizing the relationship from your end regardless of what your teen does. You must become the port in the storm for this sometimes turbulent relationship. You take charge over yourself first by understanding and accepting the ways you've contributed to any difficulty in your relationship. You take charge by apologizing and making an honest effort to do better. You model by removing your own plank first and then bringing up specks. Teens don't expect you to be perfect, but they'd appreciate a little honesty, especially where your faults are concerned.
The firm foundation your teenager needs is you as a parent to be clear about who you are and what your role as a parent is, even when that role is confusing and frustrating. There is a real danger here, if parents decide to abdicate their role as parents during the adolescent years for something else that feels more comfortable. Many of these situations, taken to extreme, are outlined in my book Healing the Scars of Emotional Abuse. Teenagers who are cheated out of that childhood role and thrust into another by a parent suffer a form of abuse.
The parent-child relationship can become warped during adolescence, especially creating a role reversal where the parent begins to look to and expect the teenager to fill the parent's needs. It is not healthy for you to begin to look to your growing teenager as someone to fill your adult needs. These can be adult needs for companionship or camaraderie, even advice and protection. Adolescence is meant to be a process for teenagers to grow and mature into their own person, filling their own needs, not yours.
I have seen mothers, afraid of their own aging, being to morph into older, distorted images of their teenage daughters, even wearing similar clothing and adopting similar hairstyles.
I have seen fathers, fearful of their own aging, treat their sons as peers and demand their sons reciprocate, requiring time and attention to the detriment of same-age friends.
I have seen mothers, fearful of the coming empty nest, bind their teenagers to them through increasing demands and intentional displays of incapacity.
I have seen fathers, troubled and discontent with their own lives, transfer that negativity onto their teenagers, dragging them down just at the point of launch in order to experience companionship in failure.
I have seen parents burden their teenagers with the weight of their own fading dreams of accomplishment.
Granted, these examples are extreme and produce an unhealthy attachment and enmeshment, a sort of relational strangulation. However, I say this as a reminder to all parents. Adolescence is a time of discovery and possibility for teenagers. It can also lcome at a time of disappointment and a sense of loss for parents, because of the juxtaposition of age. Aging parents can become fearful of advancing time and look to their teenagers to help slow the march. Solitary parents can become fearful of being left alone and look to their teenagers to fill the gap. Angry, embittered parents can look to teenagers as an outlet for venting and release. Maybe these examples aren't you, but please be aware and willing to look inside yourself to see if any of them claim even the smallest place in your heart.
Teens are growing into their potential at a time many adults may feel their own potential waning. This can cause jealousy and envy and contribute to the tension and friction between teens and parents. These sorts of issues have the capacity to damage and sever your connection with your teenager, without you even really understanding why. As you enter into this pivotal time of transition, I encourage you to make sure you hang onto your identity as a parent so you allow your teenager to retain his or her identity as a child for a few more years.
The above is excerpted from Chapter 4 of my new book, The Stranger in Your House. I'll be posting more excerpts from it here in the weeks to come, but you can receive a FREE copy of the book itself between now and December 15, 2011. To participate in this book giveaway, simply share some of your own thoughts or experiences about raising teenagers – in the comments section of this or future blog posts, or on the Facebook or Twitter pages linked to below.


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NAIROBI, Kenya A group of children runs up a muddy path, drenched from an unexpected downpour. A 5-year-old boy speeds in front of the pack when he suddenly spies the perfect puddle.
He waits until his older sister and friends are almost parallel with him and then practically "cannon balls" to get the biggest splash. He giggles and dashes inside a small, tin shack of a Baptist church as the 8-year-olds squeal and chase after him.
After three weeks of post-election violence, it's good to hear the sounds of children laughing and playing especially in the hard-hit slums of Nairobi.
Inside the church, it's wall-to-wall children and a sound even more precious than laughter can be heard a child's sweet, innocent prayer.
"Father, our country is in trouble. We pray for peace to come," an 11-year-old boy prays. "Protect us, Father. Teach people to love one another and not to fight anymore."
For the last two weeks, children in this small slum area have gathered to pray for their country. The church's pastor says the children started gathering on their own, so he let them in the church. The daily prayer meeting now attracts more than 200 children ranging in age from 3 to 17.
Ever since the children started praying together, the pastor says there have been no deaths, houses burned or even violence in their section of this slum. Adults recite this fact in amazement. The children, however, don't even mention it because it's exactly what they expected to happen.
"Pastor told us that there is power in prayer. He said we can change the country through prayer," 12-year-old Boniface explains. "So that is what we are doing, changing the country."
The children evidence a depth of understanding of the issues surrounding Kenya's post-election chaos.
The 12-year-old prays for President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga to sit at one table and talk peacefully. Votes cast in the election for these two candidates are under contention. The two leaders have yet to talk to each other in an effort to bring the strife in Kenya to a peaceful resolution.
Caroline, 16, shows her concern for the 250,000 internally displaced people around the country. She prays they will be able to go to school somewhere and that they feel safe. UNICEF estimates that more than 40 percent of the displaced are children. Parents put their children on trucks headed to the camps for displaced people but stayed behind to protect their houses and belongings. Many sit in camps, unable to attend schools that just opened in mid-January.
Another young boy prays for the people hurting others who are not from the same tribe, referring to reports of ethnic animosity throughout the country. He asks God to help them all be brothers and sisters and one people.
The pastor smiles and whispers to me, "A few days ago that one asked if I knew what tribe he was. I told him no. He didn't know, either. So he told me, 'I think I belong to the tribe of Kenya.'"
When it's time for the "babies" to pray, a fearless 4-year-old clasps his hands and closes his eyes so tight that his entire face scrunches up. "God, people die," he says in prayer. "Please do not let anyone die in front of my house."
More than 600 people have died since elections Dec. 27. The number increases daily as violence and protests continue.
An adult's concluding prayer simply thanks God for the innocent prayers of children and their faith in His answers.
As soon as the "Amen" is said, the church buzzes with little voices and bottled-up energy spurts out freely. Laughing and holding hands, the children rush into the rain and head home.
Even though it's the dry season and rains are not supposed to come for another month, no one complains about getting wet or muddy. The rain is an answered prayer.
The children had prayed about a three-day countrywide protest called by the opposition party. They had asked God to take control and keep people from dying.
Because of the rains, turnout for the protest was much smaller than expected. While there was still a lot of property damage, it was much less than predicted. Death tolls for the week were the lowest since the incidents started."See," 7-year-old Natasha whistles through her missing two front teeth. "God answers prayers."

subset: commoncrawl


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5 Oct.2017
It's Space Week!
Today most of the first and second classes (along with 5th class from the Senior School) helped launch air and water rockets.
5th class did all the pumping, while 2nd class did the positioning of rockets, opening valves and collecting the fired rockets.
We all had a fantastic day.
Here we are launching water rockets.


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She took a long, slow drag off one of her favorite cigarettes as he caressed her hand, both of them lost forever in the moment now fading into their past. They'd waited for this day as if it had been 100 years. Made the arrangements. Devised excuses for skipping out on work. They'd picked a location far from their hometown, where nobody would recognize them in the band of darkness that some would say straddles a thin line, but to them it would be plenty wide to satisfy their curiosity. She had wondered whether she'd feel bliss—or regret—after the rendezvous. And now she knew. It was over. She was already thinking about the next one. It was, as they say, nothing short of spectacular.
She slid her finger across her phone, tapped into the search engine, and waited. She cupped her hand over the screen and squinted. April 8, 2024. "What! Seven more years!?"
I'm not sure where your mind went, but that rendezvous refers to the solar eclipse a couple weeks ago. Apparently, it was that good.
All fabrications aside, the story is true. Well, mostly. Okay, barely.
Two weeks ago today while driving home after the 2017 solar eclipse, I saw a man and woman slouched in lawn chairs along the side of the road. She sat with one leg hiked over the arm rest and blew cigarette smoke casually into the breeze. The man stared straight ahead, euphoric-like. He seemed oblivious to the long line of cars trickling past in front of him, like he was transfixed on some thought dangling over distant corn fields.
Don't get me wrong. The eclipse was good. But that good? Maybe he'd just forgot to wear his eclipse glasses and was suffering from temporary blindness. Seen the light. You know.
But I understood—maybe not to their level of transcendence, but I did see for the first time a total solar eclipse, and it truly was spectacular. And in 7 more years on April 8, 2024, we'll get to see another one.
With devastating current events like the flooding in Texas, the eclipse itself is forgotten news (and rightly so with more important things like Houston). But the morning after the eclipse on my commute to work, and over the last couple weeks, my thoughts have driven far beyond the simple science and awe of the eclipse to discover a deeper, more personal meaning behind it.
By basic definition, we all know a solar eclipse is nothing more than the moon passing directly between the earth and the sun. The moon casts its shadow over a portion of the earth, and if you're in its path, it gets dark for a few minutes. So at its core, we can all agree that it's just a big shadow. Whoop-dee-doo, right? Solar eclipses don't happen every day of course, but they certainly are not rare, relatively speaking. They occur around the globe every year, often multiple times at varying degrees. Yes, they're amazing to see firsthand, especially without eclipse glasses while the sun is completely covered by the moon. But are they really that big of a deal? A phenomenon? Apparently that man and woman on the side of the road thought so. And so do I.
For people of faith, in particular Christ followers, our view of the natural world is a big deal. And if it's not, it should be (for Christians, anyway), because we believe the evidence of God's character and qualities exist in creation—if we'd stop to examine the artistry (and yes, the science) of it all. (Check out Romans 1:19-20). And so, on that premise of belief, a total solar eclipse holds a wonderful parallel to something we as God's precious creation often struggle with—transitions.
It just so happens that transition is the word theme for my family this year. (My wife and I spend time each January praying over the upcoming year. We often discover, and tune our hearts toward, a word or theme for the new year.) The day after the eclipse, it dawned on me that the eclipse had coincided with a huge transition in our life. We'd just returned home from moving our middle child off to college—our second of three to leave home. This change has brought a major shift in the dynamic (and noise level!) around our home.
Like eclipses, transitions bring anticipation, and sometimes anxiety. There are moments of uncertainty tucked in there, when light turns to shadow, and all seems eerie. Surreal. Out of place. Behaviors change—of people, of surroundings, of ourselves. Often too many things are in flux at once. We can't process it all.
The total eclipse I saw lasted all of 2 minutes and 39 seconds. That's barely enough time for this amazing event's special effects to register in the brain. By the time you start taking it all in, it's over. We can't control that.
We can control, however, our response to the transition, especially afterward. Did it grow us? Give us a new way of looking at others? At ourselves? At life in general?
I've been amazed at how much science went into this eclipse, and the variety of perspectives coming out of it. Airplanes flew thousands of feet to gather data and offer unique views during the event. And on the ground, a young boy captured a video of his chickens, and noted their reactions to the sudden change in sunlight and temperature. He intends to use his data to educate other farmers. I love his enthusiasm.
Loads of phenomena became visible and audible during the eclipse, offering the opportunity to see life in a new way—if you paid attention. Kind of like day to day life, is it not?
Thanks to social and modern media coverage, the climactic change brought on by this latest eclipse was clearly dramatic. Just look at the images. Watch some videos. Notice the responses to the eclipse, be it cicadas abuzz and birds going silent, or people laughing and crying, or counting more "oohs, ahhs, wows, and OMGs" than you'll ever want to hear again for the rest of your life.
For those of us who took the journey to witness firsthand this epic transition of earth, moon, and sun, we can attest to its moment of dimness. But it was just that—a moment. That's the nature of transitions. They don't last forever. That's bad news for eclipse chasers, but good news when your circumstance feels bleak.
Total eclipses are opportunities to catch a glimpse of the sun's radiance without man-made blinders.
Life transitions are just the same, moments to catch a glimpse of the Son's radiance—Jesus—without religious pretense and prejudice. To see Him, and others, through His own raw, unfiltered love for us.
After a total eclipse, the sun, of course, in its full brilliance, returns. And you realize, it never left in the first place.
(Keep the men, women, and children caught in the Houston flooding area in prayer, that their recovery and transition out of this tragedy would come and go swiftly, like an eclipse.)


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Friday, July 27, 2007
Vacation is Served
It's been two years since I've had a significant vacation like this. I was in New Orleans then and a few weeks later Katrina hit. Southern California might want to brace for an earthquake long about Sept 1.
Blogging will likely be very light next week but I may drop in to blog a postcard or two. Friday Beer Blogging will be a rerun but that's the only post I have planned in advance. It's my understanding that we will have internet access but my blogging motivation level may be low. I'm actually kind of hoping it is.
Friday Beer Blogging: Chicago Beer Riot Edition
[Chicago] Mayor [Levi D.] Boone had been in office for all of about fifteen seconds when he went to the City Council and suggested that liquor license fees should be increased from 50 dollars a year to 300, and that the terms of each license would last only three months instead of the usual year. The Council passed both measures with the speed and alacrity common among lickspittles. Mayor Boone then ordered Police Chief Bradley to immediately begin enforcing an existing statute ordering all taverns and beer gardens to close on Sundays. (The blue law had been on the books for 12 years, but enforcement had been, for beer enthusiasts, blessedly lax.) And so, energized by a sense of mission, and some spiffy new uniforms, officers from Chicago's new PD fanned out through the city intent upon showing tavern-owners and other dangerous nogoodniks the exact definition of the word "compulsory."
Problems were evident from the outset. The cops hit joints on the North Side—German Town—like swarms of aggravated bees, closing doors and issuing enough tickets to throw a fair-sized ticker-tape parade. They also targeted Chicago's central neighborhoods, where Irish-owned establishments received the same treatment. On the South Side, however, where "Americans" lived, taverns and other businesses serving alcohol were allowed to continue operating on Sundays using their rear and alley doors.
Mayor Boone, a strict prohibitionist, believed that a nationwide ban on hooch was imminent, and stated that the Sunday raids and licensing-fee increases were intended to "root out all the lower classes of dives, and leave the businesses in the hands of the better class of saloon-keepers, who, when the temperance law should go into force, could be rationally dealt with."
Tavern keepers, brewers and concerned citizens gathered to express their outrage over being persecuted. Many German and Irish beer joints adamantly refused to close on Sundays and, when faced with Boone's contemptible license-fee hikes, simply continued operating without them. Over 200 men and women were arrested, but when it dawned on Boone and other city officials that so large a number of cases, each requiring a separate trial, would bung-up Chicago's courts for years, they sought a compromise. The lawyer for the accused protestors met with the City Attorney, and they decided to conduct a single test case, the outcome of which would apply to all 200 defendants. The trial was scheduled for April 21, 1855, and would be presided over by respected Police Magistrate Henry L. Rucker.
Rucker had barely settled into his chair before the proceedings were interrupted by a roar of angry voices outside the court house. A reporter named John J. Flinn was on hand and described what happened next.
"The…saloon-keepers had collected their friends on the North Side, and, preceded by a fife and drum, the mob, about 500 strong, had marched in solid phalanx upon the justice shop, as many as could entering the sacred precincts. After making themselves understood that the decision of the court must be in their favor if the town didn't want a taste of war, they retired and formed at the intersection of Clark and Randolph, and held possession of these thoroughfares to the exclusion of all traffic. The uproar was deafening."
Now, I want to stop here for a minute to point out the the intersection of Clark and Randolf today is the site of the James R. Thompson Center, the huge State of Illinois office complex that only a drunken mob could love. Coincidence?
Anyway, back to our story...
The unrest lasted about a half-hour before Mayor Boone ordered Captain of Police Luther Nichols to disperse the protestors. Nichols, joined by 20 officers armed with cudgels, attacked the mob, beating them savagely and hauling nine away to jail. The demonstrators retreated back to their North Side stronghold, bloodied but not beaten.The trial finally got underway. Meanwhile, on the North Side, the Germans and their allies summoned additional bodies to their cause and began planning another assault on the courthouse. Upon learning of the German's intentions, Mayor Boone called in every police officer in the city and pressed into service an additional 150 emergency deputies.
Around four o'clock that afternoon, the crowd of protestors, now numbering more than a thousand, marched down Clark Street, armed with shotguns, knives, clubs and assorted kitchen implements. They were met by a solid line of 200 lawmen blocking off street access to the court house. A yell arose from the German contingent—"Kill the police!"—and the two armies went for each other. The battle lasted well over an hour before the protestors fled North and the cops retreated South. Surprisingly, only a single death resulted from the action—a German named Peter Martin, who was cut down by a shotgun blast.
Realizing he had underestimated the protestors' willingness to fight, Mayor Boone summoned two companies of the Illinois state militia, complete with artillery, to guard against further violence. The test trial was abandoned, and those arrested were freed on bail. An uneasy peace settled on the city, and it was decided that Boone's prohibitionist statutes would be put to a city-wide vote at a special election to be held on the first Monday in June, 1855.
For the rest of the story, go to the Modern Drunkard piece.
Have a happy weekend!Hat tip to Rich Miller for the pointer to this piece of history.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Bob Hull (That Was Mr. Hull To Me)
My condolences to his family.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
CSI Springfield: Perp ID Unit
At least they know it's a man. Or do they? I've been doing some investigating on my own and I'm not completely convinced our Westside attacker hasn't already been picked up in California:
Compare that to the artist sketch and I'm sure you'll see I'm on to something.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
If there's one thing farmers fight even harder than losing their subsidies, it's any change that would make it clear that the subsidies are really just a big welfare program. Welfare is for crack addicts in the Bronx, not hardworking Midwest soybean farmers.
And There Was Much Rejoicing
I guess I've kind of gotten so used to the smoke-free environments here in Springfield, it doesn't seem all that extraordinary for the ban to be implemented statewide. In fact, what does seem extraordinary to me is when I'm dining out in some community without a ban and they ask if I want the smoking or non-smoking section. It seems all so alien and retro. It's like they've asked it I would like the spittoon or non-spittoon section and would I like my horse taken to the livery stable.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Time for a Mandatory Chastity Belt Law
FRANKLIN COUNTY -- An alleged drunk driver and her four passengers were taken to local hospitals late Friday night after a crash on Illinois 37 south of West
Frankfort, Franklin County Sheriff Bill Wilson said.
Sara Koehl, 23, was traveling northbound on Illinois 37 near County Line Road when her vehicle crossed the center lane and went off the left side of the roadway, Wilson said. Koehl overcorrected the vehicle, causing it to go off the right side of the road. The vehicle struck a concrete pillar and two trees before coming to rest.
Koehl told deputies she lost control of the vehicle when a front seat passenger started "groping" her, Wilson said.
Arch Enemy
ST. LOUIS -- One of the two trams that take visitors to the top of the Gateway Arch was out of service Sunday after a power failure trapped about 200 people for hours inside the landmark the night before.Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!
The Arch's deputy superintendent, Frank Mares, said a fuse blew Saturday night after one of nine cables pulling the south tram apparently failed and came in contact with an electrified rail.
Power went out again Sunday for about 15 minutes after the Arch reopened, in a failure believed to be linked to Saturday's problem.
On Saturday, about 40 people in each tram were stuck, as were another 100 at the top of the Arch and others in loading zones. The St. Louis Fire Department said that at least two people needed medical attention, but that no one was seriously hurt.
Visitors at the top of the Arch had to wait about three hours to get down, Mares said. Those inside the tram cars waited about two hours but were probably the most uncomfortable because they lacked air conditioning, he said.
I'll be honest; I've never gone to the top of the arch, mostly because it's always been closed when I've tried. Now there is simply no way in hell you're getting me up there.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Living in Fear
Friday, July 20, 2007
Did Anyone Really Ever Say Anything?
This is actually old news but only today did I find out that the late Senator from Illinois, Everett Dirksen, never said this:
"A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money."See here, here and here.
But as with all famous quotes, someone had to make them up. Too bad only those with name recognition get attribution.
Update: It was only two months ago I was disappointed in these non-Lincoln quotes.
The Books that Eat Kids' Brains
By the way, I have not read one word or seen one minte of anything Harry Potter. Ever. In case Potter is the devil, you'll need at least one clear-thinking person to document the final clash between the Potter-ized living dead and the righteous defenders of the faith.
Friday Beer Blogging: Woody Edition
My favorite beer of the night was a brew from the Sand Creek Brewing Company called Woody's Wheat.
I kind of have a thing for wheat beers and Woody's is pretty good.
The Sand Creek Brewing Company is located in Black River Falls, Wisconsin (Between Madison and Eau Claire on I-94) and has an interesting history. It has it roots in the old Oderbolz Brewing Co.
Beer people are, and always have been, beautiful people.
Other Sand Creek concoctions include Pioneer Oderbolz Bock..
... a little something they call Groovy Brew.
And many more.
Have a great weekend and, if you can, get a Woody!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Outside Down There
Debbie Moore, director of the Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau, said she submitted information to the authors upon their request.Well, perhaps they missed Giant City because it's neither giant nor a city (however, my 4 year-old son calls it "Big City"). Still, that's OK. The fewer people who venture into GC the better (to a point) as far as I'm concerned. It just means more natural goodliness for me.
Just over three pages of the 472-page volume are devoted to Carbondale. Given the title of the book, it stands to reason most of the three pages is devoted to the outdoor resources surrounding the city.
"Even though Illinois has fewer acres of protected public lands than all but two other states, its biggest park is a doozie," the authors write. "The Shawnee National Forest is a diverse, 420-square mile spread of lakes, forests, steep hills, rocky bluffs and grassy floodplains, cobbled together within seven wilderness areas."
The book goes on to highlight Little Grand Canyon, Cedar Lake, Kinkaid Lake, Devil's Backbone and the River-to-River Trail.
"We always promote the natural areas in any promotion that we do," Moore said. "If we were to promote something specific about Carbondale proper, we would still mention the Shawnee National Forest or Giant City State Park."
Incredibly, Giant City State Park escaped notice of the authors.
Still Flying Everywhere Else
Wrong Track
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Don't Overreact
After 9/11, I was amazed at how panicked and shocked so many people were that terrorism could happen here. Well, duh. Terrorism, like shit, happens. Even here. And while it was fine that people finally understood this, it was pathetic how many overreacted to what happened. It was fear born of ignorance mostly. A blindness to what the world is like. It was this fear that the Bush administration has cynically harnessed for its own purposes (and continues to exploit).
Crime is going to happen. Planes are going to crash. Cars re going to wreck. Nutcases show up places with guns and shoot people. We can take steps to minimize these occurrences, but they are still going to happen sometimes. It does no good to let the fear overcome you and disrupt your life.
Which gets me back to Washington Park. It's still a wonderful and relatively safe place. It's no more dangerous than it was a week ago. Taking a few minor precautions, that should be taken anywhere, is all you need do. Enjoy life.
Reading Defined
Lots of people read all the time; they read blogs, they read email, they read text messages, they read in chat rooms, etc. In a lot of ways, text--or doing things with the written word--seems more important now than it was ten or twenty years ago. So the complaint is really that people aren't reading the right things, which just seems like license for someone to complain that his taste isn't universally shared. More charitably, the complaint might be that people aren't learning or thinking about certain important things, but if that's it, I wish folks would spell it out, so we could have a real discussion.Is reading blogs and e-mail really "reading"? I think it is. Or can be. I think blog posts in particular can easily pass the "learning or thinking" test. If the only reading that counts involves books printed on paper, then I guess I don't read much anymore. (And where to audio books fit here?) However, if you consider all the time I spend viewing text, I read more now than at any time in my life.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
He's So Not Going Out With Me
An item in Thursday's Police Beat indicated Sarah N. Kaiser was arrested for battering her 29-year-old boyfriend with an ashtray. A police report on the incident does not indicate the victim was Kaiser's boyfriend. The newspaper regrets the error.
Monday, July 16, 2007
More Naked Truth
Aborable Lawmakers
Most of his experience in government was in state government. For reasons I don't entirely understand, legislative experience at the state level isn't considered legislative experience at all. It's like training for actual legislative experience, which can only be accrued in Washington, DC. This particular bit of chauvinism doesn't effect governors, who can spend 12 years as the executive of a small state and be considered perfectly fit for the presidency. It also doesn't harm mayors of New York. And being a prominent business or military man also gets you a pass. But legislating in the statehouse, why, that's adorable, but not really relevant to the job at hand...Well, serving in the Illinois legislature really does sometimes mean you aren't gaining any legislative experience. Just look at the budget process we're enduring.
Pancakes on the March
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Pancake house operator IHOP Corp. said Monday it agreed to buy fellow restaurant operator Applebee's International for about $2.1You just can't have too many places to get pancakes.
Birthday Notes
* Since my son's birthday is tomorrow, we went ahead and had his party yesterday so his little friends could make it. We held it at Chucky Cheese. Yesterday was my actual birthday; therefore, for the first time, spent my birthday at Chuck's place.
* When I was 11, I wanted nothing more than a pair of binoculars. On my 12th birthday, my parents gave me a good pair of binoculars from Sears. It was my only present that year if I remember correctly. I loved them and used them a lot, not only then but really ever since. The early years took a heavy toll on them and I've bee using them half-broken for decades now. Finally, while I was using them to watch the International Space Station and the Shuttle fly over a few weeks ago, I mentioned to Mrs. TEH that it was probably time I get new ones after 35 years. Well, I got new binoculars yesterday. I hope they, and I, last another 35 years.
* For only maybe the fourth time in my life I got a new do yesterday. My old hair was making me look too old or something. Also, let's not forget the top of my head was recently outed online so it's become necessary to change my appearance for security reasons. So at the urging of the Mrs., I now have hair that stands up and has product in it. Harpooning low-flying birds can be expected.
* While my son is about to turn 4, my father–in-law pointed out yesterday that when he was my age, he already had a 4 year-old GRANDchild.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
120 Minutes Redux
It's Just a Number
Friday, July 13, 2007
Gas Way Up
PEORIA - Gas prices jumped about 20 cents in central Illinois during the past two days, to between roughly $3.15 and $3.30 a gallon for regular unleaded.I understand that these prices aren't historically unprecedented (taking inflation into account) but the volatility of the cost is just nuts. It's like being a day trader trying to figure out the precise moment when it's best to buy. I actually find myself doing gasoline algorithms based on how long it's been since a price increase (or how long prices have been creeping down), the level of my fuel tank, the day of the week, and if there's been any news that might be used as an excuse to raise prices. The difference between toping off today or waiting until tomorrow can be $5 or $10. Not a huge deal, but it pisses you off when you have to shell out those extra bucks because you gambled on lower prices one day too long.
Flooding at a refinery in Coffeyville, Kan., and the shutdown of a huge Indiana oil processing unit for maintenance were blamed for the increase.
In the next few days, prices in the Midwest could reach upwards of $3.50 a gallon, said Tom Kloza, Oil Price Information Service publisher.
Friday Beer Blogging: Milwaukee Protest Edition
MILWAUKEE - A group of Wisconsin brewers blasted open barrels of beer on the docks of the Milwaukee River on Tuesday in the Brew City's version of the Boston Tea Party.
Their sticky statement was in protest of a little-publicized state Senate bill they said would create complications for startup breweries.
The big brouhaha is over a proposed update to antiquated post-Prohibition laws related to the blooming business of craft beer making.
Basically, it divides small brewers into two licensed classes - those who want to serve food as brewpubs and those who seek to bottle and distribute their product on a larger scale. The latter would face new restrictions on food service.
The brewers, who acknowledge they're not savvy about the legislative process, say it's not fair for new beer makers to have to decide their fate that early.
"Every business takes on a life of its own," said Jim McCabe, proprietor of the Milwaukee Ale House. "For the guy that wants to start a brewery tomorrow, he's got to make decisions early in his business life that aren't possible."
After countdowns in English and German, the kegs were opened with mallets that spewed suds across the deck and into the Milwaukee River.
The whole issue started when the Great Dane Pub opened a third location in the Madison area but couldn't sell its own brews because the law only allows two such operations per chain.
"The love of beer, that's what this whole thing is about," McCabe said. "It could have been solved with a couple of sentences, a paragraph at the most. What happened is, the bill grew to 28 pages to do a whole bunch more."
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, was out of the office Tuesday, but spokesman Terry Tuschen said they're writing several amendments to ease the brewers' concerns.
"This is just a run-of-the-night operation that's being ram-roaded down our throats," said Russ Klisch, owner of Lakefront Brewery Inc. in Milwaukee and president of the Wisconsin Brewers Guild. "There are so many questions out there that have been unanswered."
Well, good luck to the Milwaukee brewers. Ummm, small 'b', not the baseball team. Go Cubs!
Have a good weekend!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Deer Insurgency Quelled
I'll tell you why; we didn't give against Deer Al-Qaida in Carbondale, that's why. We stuck it out! We hung -or hanged or something- tough! We didn't cut and run! We didn't let the deer terrorists win!
CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) -- On the edge of the dense forest that makes up much of the 20 or so acres of Southern Illinois University's Thompson Woods, the slogan spray painted on the paved trail seems simple and innocent: "Everything is gonna be alright."
After puzzling flare-ups between deer and humans at the school over the previous two years, students and staffers finally can consider the graffiti right on. The 20,000-student university had cause to be edgy until the last week or so, having seen a half dozen people - a mix of students, staff and police - get sent to hospitals after being attacked by deer here. Several other people were threatened but unharmed.
Wildlife specialists said the attacks happened during fawning season, the time from
mid-May through June when deer become keenly protective of their fawns.
But fawning season came and went this year with no dustups between humans and the hoofed, and it is anyone's guess why.
Ah, and now it's time to relive the heroics of the War on Deer.
Some suspect things came to a head one day in June of last year when a campus policeman got between a doe and a jogger to prevent another attack and shot the animal when it charged and slightly injured him. The animal was found and euthanized the next day, and the lack of attacks since has fanned speculation that that particular deer was a rogue one responsible for much, if not all, the problems.That doe, let's call her Jane Doe, was probably the Osama bin Laden of deerdom. Or at least the Osama bin Laden of deerdom's #2.
But let's not forget the efforts of Homeland Security.
Others submit the school's public-awareness campaign launched in the wake of theEr, walk quickly, not cut and run.
2005 attacks has paid off, persuading folks to watch out for deer, not approach the animals and, if a wild-eyed deer starts bounding their way, run.
And here's to a bright future…
"Or maybe deer found out that campus is not a friendly place," shrugs Rod Sievers, a spokesman for the university. "Who knows what the deer think, but maybe they got the message."Let us hope, indeed, Mr. Sievers, and God bless America.
Or perhaps the calm this fawning season was just luck.
"Who knows?" Sievers says. "Maybe the problem will never raise its head again. Let's hope."
Update: In comments, Will quite correctly notes that we fought the deer in Carbondale so we wouldn't have to fight them here.
Sigmund Bush
Today in his press conference, a reporter asked President Bush why he is "so resistant" to a "change of course in Iraq," even though that's what the American public is "clamoring for." Bush dismissed the reporter's question, stating that he isn't surprised "that there is deep concern amongst our people," but ascribed it to "war fatigue." "It's affecting our psychology. I've said this before. I understand that."War fatigue is "affecting our psychology". OK Decider Commander Guy, whatever you incoherently say.
My fatigue isn't war fatigue, it's Bush fatigue.
Two flighty teenage girls come bounding down the steps of the building where they encounter an approaching young couple carrying their new born in a car seat carrier. Quickly, and without stopping, one of the girls remarks, "Like your baby!"
iPhone iNsurance
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tortured Headline Watch
Governor unholsters gun bill; lawmakers won't pull trigger
Take the Subway, Please
We had called in an order of five sandwiches for the family. I went to pick them up. I got to the counter and pulled out my debit card. The girl at the register told me their credit card reader wasn't working. I looked in my wallet and pulled out the only money I had – a $20 bill. She rang up the order and it came to $21.86. I was $1.86 short.
Now, this is how it should have gone down: the girl should have taken my $20 and called it even. They would have been out only $1.86 and a customer would have been happy. After all, I didn't come in to rip them off (there was plenty of money in my account), there was a problem with the their debit card machine. (Alternate scenario: I leave, go to an ATM to get more cash and came back. I just didn't think it was worth it.)
Instead, she had to void one of the sandwiches (mine, I'm the dad) reducing the total to $17 and some change. I gave her my $20 and she gave me my $2 and coins. She put what was once going to be my sandwich behind her on a counter. I looked at her and said, "You're just going to throw that out, aren't you?" She told me that was right. I thought, how stupid. If she gave me the sandwich and charged me the full $20, they would be dollars ahead of juast tossing the sandwich and I would have gotten my dinner. But no. The rules are the rules. Let me get away with that and, well, something bad would happen, I guess. It was just silly.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Stock Market Plunges on Simpsons News
*I've always been amused at the reasons the media gives for gains and losses on Wall Street. This seems at least as plausible as many of the motivators I've read about in the past.
Oh well, what BFS says.
Scolding Update: See, Springfieldians, never burn your bridges. With an influx of brotherly Chicago area votes we could have won this in a landslide. But no, Chicagoans picked up on the nasty, resentful vibes coming from down our way and said, "Fuck 'em". Sometimes we just need each other.
Update II: The vote totals:
Vermont: 15,367
Illinois: 14,634
Oregon: 13,894
Massachusetts: 11,442
Kentucky: 9,985
Missouri: 9,535
Ohio: 7,442
Tennessee: 7,098
New Jersey: 7,063
Colorado: 3,632
Nebraska: 3,201
Michigan: 2,516
Louisiana: 2,387
Florida: 1,386
Two Items
1) "The Army missed its recruiting goals in June for the second straight month, as rising casualties in Iraq and a strong economy at home kept the service from enlisting enough new soldiers, Pentagon officials said."
2) The Bush twins were out "having fun last week" in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. The girls "had a handful of preppy-looking boys surrounding them." The DC Examiner reports, "Jenna looked great and was enjoying standing outside with her cigarette talking to her tall, country-club-looking friends who appeared to be 35-plus. … Barbara had a nice-looking black dress on and [had] what looked like a Jager bomb towards the end of the night."
Cover Your Junk, Dude
His wife, Wendy, was asked by the Newhouse News reporter: If her husband was as unfaithful as former President Bill Clinton, would she be as forgiving as Hillary Clinton?Oooo…the good (well, not so good) senator might want to practice defensive sleeping. Or wear an iron cup.
"I'm a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary," Wendy Vitter told Newhouse News. "If he does something like that, I'm walking away with one thing, and it's not alimony, trust me."
But seriously, isn't it interesting how moral scolds find themselves doing the same things as mere mortals. It's a lot easier to sit in judgement of other people's lives than live your own.
Bonus Snark: Hey, Mrs. V, while stewing in you indignation over that awful Bill Clinton, consider this: Mr. Clinton got his all on his own (and legally) while your husband had to PAY to get some.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Equal Time
When Weather Geeks Fight
MSNBC Tries to Throw the Simpson's Vote
Not Getting Out the Vote
Saturday, July 07, 2007
No Sale!
But what I found really interesting in the SJ-R story was this bit:
"Our challenge is to try to convince House Democrats, Mr. Madigan, to stop being a Republican, to stop forming partnerships with conservative right-wing Republicans to pass budgets that take health care away from children, that take services away from senior citizens, that cut education,'' Blagojevich said. "We need to get Mr. Madigan to be a Democrat again and stop being a George Bush Republican,'' Blagojevich said.Uhhhhh...wow. I'm thinking Mr. Blagojevich needs to look in the mirror. It's he who is acting like Mr. Bush.
You know, I keep wondering how upset I would be at Blagojevich in a universe in which my indignation wasn't constantly being sucked-up by a horribly amok Bush administration.
Friday, July 06, 2007
What Are We Waiting For?
45% favor "the US House of Representatives beginning impeachment proceedings against President George W. Bush;" 46% oppose.Those are stunningly high numbers for what amounts to the most drastic legal action you can take against a president and vice president.
54% favor "US House of Representatives beginning impeachment proceedings against Vice President Dick Cheney;" 40% oppose.
31% of approve of "President George W. Bush commuting the 30-month prison sentence of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby while leaving intact Mr. Libby's conviction for perjury and obstruction of justice in the CIA leak case;" 64% disapprove.
On Having Cows
Friday Beer Blogging: Little Kings Edition
Wow, that took me back. It's been maybe 25 years or more since I've had a Little Kings.
There was a time I drank them a lot. They were kind of a favorite of younger folks when I was a younger folk in the late '70s.
The little 7-ouncers came in 8-packs. Somehow those little beers carried quite punch as I remember them.
Although I had not seen Little kings on sale for many years, recently I'm pretty sure I've seen them locally at Friar Tuck's. I'll have to check next time I'm in there.
I wonder if they taste the same. I remember them as being pretty good but that was with my 19 year-old palate. Time may changed things. Hell, it might not even be brewed the same way. I'm now wanting to find out.
Have a happy weekend!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Act of Petition
Making the Travelocity Cut
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Tuesday Beer Blogging: What Day Is It Edition
I Wish Them the Best
Brian Pierce and Kellie Michaels are returning to radio, but not in Springfield.Well good for them. Hopefully, local bloggers will be nicer to them there.
On July 30, Pierce and Michaels will become hosts of the morning show on KFDI-FM 101.3, a country station in Wichita, Kansas.
On Shamelessness
We are faced with utterly shameless men. Cheney and the rest are looking our representatives right in the eye and saying "You don't have the balls to take down a government. You don't have the sheer testicular fortitude to call us lying sonuvabitches when we lie, to stop us from kicking the rule of law and the Constitution in the ass. You just don't. What's beyond that abyss -- what that would do to our government and our identity as a nation -- terrifies you too much. So get the fuck out of our way."That's exactly right. The Cheney/Bush administration gets away with this stuff time and time again because we have no usable mechanism in place to combat it. Shame used to be enough. Can you imagine an Alberto Gonzoles NOT resigning in any other administration. He lies, breaks the law and thumbs his nose at Congress and goes back to his office no worse for wear.
And to a great degree, the White House is right. You peel this back, and you reveal that the greatest country in the world has been run, for the last six and a half years, by men who do not give a shit about the Constitution, or fair play, or honesty.
And what are we going to do about it? Well, we've never had to do anything about it until this bunch came to town so I don't know. I guess most of us are just going to ride it out until January 2009 and hope like hell these guys, or anyone like these guys, never darken the door of the Executive branch again.
So pardon Libby! Let Alberto run amok! Lie about the reasons for starting a long and bloody war! Who cares, we're no going to stop you.
Monday, July 02, 2007
I've mostly stuck with position over the last 6+ years that I detested the administration rather than Bush himself, but you know, I'm really starting to hate the man. What a loser, Mr. 27%.
The good news is, this will just further the decline of the GOP which is now inexorably tied to Bush. The national Republican party will soon be as irrelevant as their Illinois counterparts. Just take a look at the pathetic bunch running for president; they are all trying to out-Bush each other. Wow, good plan; emulate the most disliked president in modern history. The gutless wonders deserve the defeat to be handed to them for having been so complicit in the empowerment of Bush & Co.
Update: Someone else says it best...
Dear American people and your hallowed legal system:Update II: Oh, I see...
Fuck you!
All best,
George W. Bush
Well, George did it. Made sure that Scooter wouldn't flip rather than do jail time. He commuted Libby's sentence, guaranteeing not only that Libby wouldn't talk, but retaining Libby's right to invoke the Fifth.Agreed.
This amounts to nothing less than obstruction of justice.
This iPhone is Making Me Sick
You know what's going on, right? iPhones are alien technology. While mesmerized by the shiny object, they drain your energy and beam it back to the mother ship. How fiendishly clever.
I've been up for over an hour; time to go back to bed.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
I Hate This iPhone
1. It supports no games. Nothing. Not Solitaire, no nothing. My old phone, an HP iPaq, had several games and I downloaded more. I like playing games while waiting in places I'm made to wait (Dr.'s office, iPhone line outside AT&T store, etc.). Even some of my older, clunkier phones from days gone by had at lest primitive games.
2. When I unlock my iPhone to use it, it randomly takes me one of of its many functions (stock quotes, iPod, calendar, etc,) . I would prefer it just take me to the home page (which it sometimes, but randomly, does).
3. The current weather conditions and forecast feature allows you to add as many cities as you like, but they appear on the scroll in the order you add them. There needs to be a way to arrange them after they have been added. For example, I'm going to Newport Beach, CA later this month on vacation. I'll want that as my first weather conditions displayed while I'm there but it's stuck in position number five because that's the fifth location I added. Not a big deal but you should be able to sort this.
But honestly, that's about it. Otherwise I love this thing. The best part is, it's going to impact the entire industry. Before long, all cell phones are going to be making attempts at imitating the technology in the iPhone. Someday I'll cringe at having paid as much as I did for my first iPhone.
Update: I forgot to mention, I did have to reboot the thing once so far. It froze for some reason. The reboot took care of that.
Cedibility Matters
Aside, then, from arguments about the legalization of marijuana or even other drugs we can see that our money is being wasted on over-the-top, ineffective advertising. I can't imagine any way to measure this, but I believe whatever effectiveness anti-drug advertising and education may have is mitigated by the government's obsession with marijuana. The claims made about marijuana use are generally undermined by most people's experience with it. Anti-marijuana advertising is only slightly less hysterical than anti-meth or anti-crack ads. If people disbelieve anti-marijuana ads and education, then, they will be less inclined, I believe, to accept the claims about harder drugs such as meth. This is unfortunate, because meth really is as dangerous as the hype, and an effective strategy to curb its use is desperately needed.Ridiculous fears and laws regarding marijuana do tremendous harm to the battle against drugs that are actually dangerous. This is because society needs to educate as a first line of defense and you can't educate without credibility. No one will listen to you.
Happy Weather Birthday Springfield!
July 1, 1879So as far as anyone knows, Springfield had no weather before 1879. No wonder Lincoln left us.
Weather records began in Springfield. The first observing site was downtown, on top of the Springer building at 6th and Monroe Streets, recording high and low temperature, as well as precipitation. The official observing site remained in downtown Springfield until the mid 1930's, when a second site was added at the old Southwest Airport. Even though weather observations were taken at Southwest Airport and later Capital Airport, the downtown weather office did not close until 1954.


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In August 2002, 19-year-old Sergeant Kevin Cohen was guarding an Israeli settlement in the Gaza Strip. At 7 a.m. he was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper. It was that bullet that killed Kevin and his dream, which he had related to his mother, Rachel Cohen, of one day fathering a child.
But this week, four years after his death, a dramatic ruling by an Israeli court means Kevin Cohen's dream may very well come true.
A 'biological will'
After her son's death, Cohen approached a non-profit organization called "New Family" which is dedicated to advancing family rights.
The organization is trying to convince people to write a "biological will," which in case of death would allow doctors to extract sperm from their bodies," explained Irit Rosenblum, the founder of "New Family" and Cohen's lawyer.
It was a mother's instinct that led Cohen to request doctors to freeze her dead son's sperm. Cohen said she had a dream one year after her son died.
"He appeared in my dream and asked me, mom what's with my child? Please hurry," said Cohen. "I woke up with a big sweat and decided to go ahead, all the way."
Then came the legal battle, which was fought around the ruling permitting only the wife of a deceased man to extract his sperm and to become impregnated by it. The new ruling now recognizes the parent's right over a dead child's sperm.
Irit Rosenblum, left, founder of the Israeli non-profit organization "New Family," and her client Rachel Cohen.
Battle won
Cohen's cell phone rang with the good news just as she was laying flowers on her son's grave. "I was too nervous and frustrated with the court battle, I decided the best place to be was near Kevin's grave," said Cohen.
Rosenblum called with the news that her dream of becoming a grandmother was going to come true. "The decision gave me great happiness but still the pain is so huge, I turned to the grave and told the good news to Kevin," said Cohen.
"The ruling represents a light at the end of the tunnel both for a family mourning the loss of a child, and also for a single woman wanting to bring a new life into this world," said Rosenblum.
An unusual appeal
During the course of the legal battle Cohen sent out an emotional appeal to the Israeli public for help. It was a strange request: Would a woman come forward and give birth to Cohen's dead son's child?
The process of finding a mother for Kevin Cohen's child took more than two years. Two hundred women were interviewed, medical tests were conducted, meetings with psychologists took place and finally one was chosen. "She won my heart right away," said Cohen.
The 35-year-old woman preferred not to be identified, but Cohen said, "There are a lot of women out there that really want to know the father's identity, his background, to be able to tell the child who was his father."
Now Cohen is waiting for another phone call, for more good news, that maybe nine months from now she will become a grandmother. At last she will be able to look at her son's picture and tell him he has a child.
Is it just me that finds this slightly disturbing? I mean.. it'd be one thing if he had been married, and his wife was trying to have his baby (though even that it a little odd to me under these circumstances), but this just does not sit well with me at all. That poor baby.


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Researchers at the University of Oxford have named dramatist, and former student of Queen's College, Thomas Middleton as the most likely co-author of All's Well That Ends Well, a play previously attributed exclusively to Shakespeare.
Inconsistencies of vocabulary, rhyme and grammar led researchers to believe that the play, like many others of the period, was not written by the Bard alone. The play's unusually high frequency of rhymes and polysyllabic word endings – hallmarks of Middleton's style – were seen as particular giveaways to the identity of Shakespeare's collaborator.
Magdalen Tutorial Fellow Professor Laurie Maguire, who led the research along with Dr. Emma Smith of Hertford College, highlighted the positive effects of the team's findings:
'The important thing to stress when writers write collaboratively is that there is a harmonic vision,' she said. "The picture that's emerging is of much more collaboration; we need to think of it more as a film studio with teams of writers. In that sense, Shakespeare is in all five acts of his plays. He's talking with his collaborators. So don't worry, we're not losing Shakespeare. It's our gain, not loss.'
Though it has long been known that Shakespeare had collaborators – including Middleton himself on Timon of Athens – the Maguire/Smith hypothesis is new, and suggests that Shakespeare's writing partnerships ran throughout his career, rather than at its beginning and end.
Though Shakespeare is often considered an isolated master wordsmith, he worked during a time in which high demand for theatre meant collaboration made practical sense. "We have a Romantic view of the creative genius having to write alone", noted Maguire, "[but] over 50 percent of Renaissance plays were written collaboratively; it was the norm not the exception.'


text:
I heard the adage Silence is Golden a lot as a kid, but not so much anymore. To be honest the old slogan hasn't even come to mind in years, and more than just a few.
It's my guess that I'm not the only one who hasn't thought of those words lately either. And I'll bet it's for a similar reason; we don't cherish silence like we used to in our society today…
I was reminded that Silence is Golden in a very unexpected way last weekend. Odd that it was in a less than silent setting. Words, however you hear them, can be a mighty powerful tool for change… and open the heart and mind to the dire need of it.
Music has been a huge part of my life – all of my life, as a kid was no exception. It's fair to say that music may have been even more impactful then.
Some songs you hear a couple times and they become a part of who we are and you carry them with you forever.
Even though heavy Rock and Roll was all the rage in the late sixties, there were some pop songs that were just too catchy to be denied. One of those catchy songs my cousin Quay and I sang at the top of our lungs long before we could add or subtract. Some things are easier to memorize than others when a person is still having birthdays that can be counted on two hands.
That particular song started like a mellow crooner, but come chorus time it stalled momentarily then a massive orchestra burst into a riff in overdrive. Just as that ended is when Frankie Valli belted out the famous line that my cousin and I loved to imitate. "I Love You Baby".
By that time Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' songs were part of American culture. Even though a lot of the songs were born about the same time as me, they were still getting radio play. They were too catchy to fade away… still are.
Some of the instant classics were "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Walk Like a Man", "Rag Doll", "Dawn", and "Working My Way Back to You" to name a few. It would be some years later when songs like "My Eyes Adored You", "December, 1963", "Who Loves You", and "Grease" would blare from FM radios and Junior High and High School dances.
But of all those songs that most of us can at least sing the chorus to by heart, it's the one that never makes the top lists for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons that is still ringing in my head from last weekend.
I could hear that familiar voice that had been with me in my childhood and adolescent days as we walked through the doors. I figured there would have been an opening act. I guess when you're 84 you wanna get the show done and get to bed.
As soon as Frankie started singing "Silence is Golden" not only did the memory of the song come to me, but also the adage that has seem to have gone missing from my life and so many others as well.
I know the author of that song didn't intend it to have the effect that it did on me. That's what a lot of people call "a God thing". And I believe that's exactly what it was. When we belong to God we have the grace from Him to find His wisdom… especially when we need it.
I don't know about you, but I need it. I need to "Be still and know that He is God". Which when we can pull it off… it brings peace to the soul and reminds us that Silence is Golden.


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To be able to view this page, please upgrade your current browser or select one from the list below:
The outputs of this calculator are based on real returns (after inflation). Future investment values that include inflation are difficult to understand as they do not represent the current purchasing power. Simply toggle the sliders below to reflect your current retirement plan details. Once your details are captured, your retirement savings result will be pre-populated.
Please refer to the calculator examples document that illustrates how this retirement calculator can be used.
Balancing income and risk appetite in low-cost passive structure beats SA's high retirement saving cost.
Today the Corporate and Investment Banking division of Absa Bank Ltd (Absa) member of Barclays, launched its low-cost retirement annuity which is based on life-stage investment philosophy. The Absa Retirement Annuity Fund: Core Portfolio or the Core Retirement Annuity, allows members to benefit from increased income generated by higher risk while young, and automatically reducing risk and consolidating gains as members approach retirement age.
The Core Retirement Annuity provides diversified exposure to multiple asset classes such as domestic and international equity, property, fixed income and money market. The risk associated with the investment is automatically adjusted according to the investor's life stage.
"Younger investors, for example, whose primary objective may be to build their wealth, will have a greater exposure to risky assets such as equities. Exposure will automatically reduce as the investor approaches retirement and their emphasis shifts to protecting their retirement nest egg," explained Vladimir Nedeljkovic, Head of Exchange Traded Products at the Corporate and Investment Banking division.
Since the portfolio is built from passive building blocks - exchange traded funds, investment costs are very low, approximately 0.51 – 0.55% per annum (all inclusive). Moreover, contributions are tax deductible by up to 15% of non-pensionable income, returns on investment are tax free, and, at retirement, a significant portion of the lump sum pay-out is also not taxed.
Also, with a minimal lump sum investment of R10 000, or a recurring debit order of only R500 per month, almost anyone can participate, making the Core Retirement Annuity ideal for people who:
On retirement, members may take up to one-third of the retirement benefit proceeds available in cash, of which a portion may be received tax-free. Any additional contributions that the member may have made that did not qualify for tax deduction at the time may be added to this tax-free portion. The balance of the retirement benefit proceeds must be used to purchase a compulsory retirement annuity, drawdowns from which are subject to normal tax.
"The Core Retirement Annuity is designed to help South Africans to better save for their retirement by making the investment process simpler and more convenient, and significantly reducing the investment costs.
This product is accessible to all existing and potential Absa customers via Absa's internet banking portal – absa.co.za." concluded Nedeljkovic.
More information about this and other passive investment offerings by CIB can be found on etf.absacapital.com.
Corporate and Investment Banking, a division of Absa Bank Limited a member of Barclays, is a leading South African corporate and investment bank with global reach, offering clients financing, risk management and advisory solutions in a wide range of currencies and structures across the globe.


text:
The main reason for a late summer visit to Michigan was to celebrate my mom's birthday. For the celebration itself, she had requested that we make a short trip to the lake town of Grand Haven for dinner, so one afternoon we all piled into the car and drove west. Located on Lake Michigan at the shore of the Grand River, Grand Haven is one of several picturesque beach towns in Western Michigan.
|Yathzee anyone? One of several games folks can play at the marina.
|(Photo credit: my brother-in-law)
|Family fun!
|We loved these bright red benches!
Grand Haven State Park, and one needs a special permit to park in the lot, yet it was late enough that open spaces were available and no one seemed to be checking. My niece immediately discovered the playground, while my nephew noticed the paradise found just beyond it - twenty-one beach volleyball courts! He stood next to an ongoing game, watching intently, then was transported to cloud nine when the incredibly friendly folks invited him to join their game.


text: 52 Amazing Ways to Decorate Your Pumpkins >> More DIY Ideas << Halloween is around the corner. Pumpkins, costumes, and parades have begun. Have you got your idea how to decorate your pumpkins to beat your neighbors yet? No worry if you haven't. We got you covered. We all know that the classic jack-o-lanterns won't cut it. That's why Bob Villa has collected 52 Unexpected and Amazing Ways to Decorate Your Pumpkins. They are very inspirational and will for sure to sparkle some ideas for your pumpkins to stand out from your neighborhood. Here goes the link… Bob Villa – Amazing Ways to Decorate Pumpkins Watch the video for more ideas. >> More DIY Ideas << >> Low Cost Craft Supplies << Get New Posts Right To Your Inbox!Get captivating new Tutorials, just like this one, delivered right to your inbox each day. Just sign up and we will send you the best new tutorials as they come in. Your email address will NEVER been spammed, sold, or shared. You are welcome to unsubscribe at any time with the link in the email. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website © 2020 How To Instructions.org Tweet Buffer Share on Tumblr


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2543 Cummins St Cincinnati OH
Great opportunity to build your new home in this up and coming area. Close to downtown and entertainment and sports events.
Directions to 2543 Cummins St Cincinnati OH 45225: Beekman to Carll to Cummins
More info about this property
Send me information
No spam. Ever.
Keller Williams Assoc. Partner
Sharon L Dees
Sharon L Dees
Office: 513-874-3300
Phone: 513-293-0667
Phone: 513-293-0667
The data relating to the real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity program of the MLS of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Comey & Shepherd Realtors are marked with the Broker Reciprocity logo or Broker Reciprocity house icon. The properties displayed may not be all the properties available through Broker Reciprocity.


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AVG Labels ZoneAlarm as Malicious & Infected With Trojan
According to news reports published by TheRegister on October 16, 2008, a tricky anti-virus update from AVG Technologies wrongly tagged the popular ZoneAlarm firewall as a Trojan virus.
Security specialists at AVG Technologies stated that the wrong AVG definition flagged up ZoneAlarm containing the Agent_r.CX Trojan horse. Security company, Grisoft, which found AVG anti-virus, issued a warning that certain files of ZoneAlarm software inside zlsSetup_70_483_000_en[1].exe, a zip file containing inactive set-up files involved in Check Point's ZoneAlarm, were infected with the Agent_r.CX Trojan.
Meanwhile, the fake warning soon filled up the ZoneAlarm user forum with postings from concerned users. ZoneAlarm users, who rushed to the widely accepted anti-virus package together with the security software from Check Point, found an improperly working firewall, mysterious reports announcing infections and an incapability to reload their ZoneAlarm software.
Moreover, the problem emerged on ZoneAlarm support forums and remained until the early morning hours of Tuesday (October 14, 2008) when AVG Technologies issued a notice that the false warning was fixed. Before that, ZoneAlarm users confronting the problem managed to bypass the problem provided they knew the process of adding ZoneAlarm's directory path as exclusion to anti-virus scrutiny.
Furthermore, an AVG spokeswoman acknowledged in a statement that the company accidentally declared the Check Point's ZoneAlarm as a Trojan virus, and the detection stayed for about seven and a half hours. However, the company had resolved the issue as soon as the problem was notified to it. They had also added the software to their white list, the spokeswoman said, as reported by TheRegister on October 16, 2008.
Moreover, security specialists said that erroneous anti-virus software files do turn up within the security industry over sporadic periods of time. The AVG Technologies' case is particularly notable as it involves a blending of popular security suites that only a small number of users are inclined to run. Furthermore, false alarms commonly cause difficulties when they pronounce common JavaScript applications, or Windows systems files, for instance, as potentially malevolent, the experts explained.
Related article: APACS Reports phishing On The Rise
» SPAMfighter News - 10/27/2008
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Today's invertebrate pic is a photo I took way back in September 2008. This beetle was in the Ark in the Park, an exciting project in the Waitakere Ranges, near Auckland, New Zealand. A joint project between Forest and Bird, a local conservation group, and the Auckland Council, Ark in the Park uses intensive trapping and baiting to control invasive predators for the benefit of native species. 2008 was the last time I visited the park, and the forest was already loud with birdsong at the time. Since then the area of pest control has been increased, and there have been several reintroductions of endangered native birds. I look forward to visiting the Ark on my next visit to New Zealand, and seeing the progress that has been made.
As for the beetle, I'm not sure, but I think it is a member of the genus Stethaspis, in the family Scarabaeidae.
And now here are some gratuitous pictures of the great kauri trees and nikau palms in the Waitakere ranges.


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May 26, 2020 - Latest: What has happened to markets this year? by Darius McDermott
29th December 2015
Financial anxiety among UK adults has risen sharply since last year and has returned to the same level as 2013, with 18.5 million people feeling stressed about their money every single day, new research suggests.
MoneySuperMarket's annual insight into the nation's stress levels found that over a third of those surveyed (36%) cited daily money worries as their main cause of stress. This equates to 18.5 million people, 19% more than the 15.6 million who felt the same last year.
This year, more than a fifth (22%) say it's their current financial situation that is causing the most stress, while 14% worrying mainly about their future financial outlook. Almost a third (30%) state they are more concerned about their finances than this time last year.
Those aged 18 to 34 are three times more likely to be worried about their current or future financial situation than those aged 55 or over.
Kevin Pratt, consumer finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, says: "Money worries continue to keep many Brits awake at night and after an improvement in 2014, financial anxiety has now shot back up to the same level as two years ago.
"Stressing about money can impact other areas of your life and take its toll on your mental health, so it's important to understand the options available to help you manage your money more effectively and alleviate some of that anxiety.
"Something as simple as switching your credit card could help you save money on interest payments each month, and in turn, hopefully help lessen some of the burden."
Almost half (45%) of UK adults believe their financial anxiety will get worse next year, with 29% citing the rising cost of living as the main reason. A further six% are concerned by squeezes to their benefits, while three% are worried about their mortgage repayments.
More than half (53%) of UK adults are frequently or occasionally worried about their finances. Again, the younger generation suffers more than the older demographic, with two thirds (67%) of 18 to 34 year olds stating they frequently or occasionally worry about the state of their finances, compared to 38% of those aged 55 or over. Women feel the strain the most, with 59% saying they worry about money compared to 48% of men.
Financial anxiety has other detrimental effects too, as 59% of those who are worried about their money believe other areas of their lives are affected as a result.
A fifth (19%) say their money worries affect their health and 14% admit their relationship with their partner or spouse has suffered.
The nation's debt mountain appears to be growing too. Two-fifths (39%) state they are currently in debt, compared to the 36% who said the same last year but slightly lower than the 40% who were in the red at the same time in 2012. However, 42% of UK adults do think they will be able to clear some type of debt completely within the next five years.
Those who frequently or occasionally worry about their finances plan to make cutbacks to their lifestyle, in order to get their finances into better shape.
Half (49%) will buy fewer non-essential items, 40% will eat out less frequently and 27% will go on fewer holidays. A quarter (25%) plan to proactively switch their utilities to a cheaper tariff.
Kevin Pratt adds: "With a base rate rise looking likely to happen in 2016, the New Year is a good time to review your finances and work out whether you can make any changes to save money on your household bills. Spend some time looking at your outgoings and make sure you're not overpaying on things like your energy or insurance, as this can make a big difference to your overall balance.
"If you're feeling really overwhelmed by debt, don't struggle on your own. Debt charities such as StepChange, National Debtline or the CAB are free and ready to help."


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Bass - Trademark No1
A great conversational piece at any dinner party is the question, 'what was the world's first brand identity?' The answer is the instantly identifiable red-triangle of the Bass Pale Ale logo. This distinctive identity was registered under the United Kingdoms 1875 Trade Mark act. Due to the fact that the act actually came into effect on 1st January 1876, an employee of Bass queued outside the registrar's office for the whole of the New Years Eve night to ensure that they were the very first in line to register the trademark the following day. Thanks to the efforts of that Bass employee, Ratcliff & Gretton Ltd received the first two registrations, the Bass Red Triangle for their pale ale and the Bass Red Diamond for their stronger ale.
The Bass red triangle is such a significant brand icon that it features within a number of the worlds best known works of art and novels including Édouard Manet's 1882' Bar at the Folies-Bergère', Pablo Picasso's 1914 'Bottle of Bass and Glass' and James Joyce's 1922 'Oxen of the Sun' episode of 'Ulysses'.
In response to consumer demand for premium bottle ales, in 2013 the product was made available in a 500ml bottle size for off trade. Furthermore, the company also changed the products name to 'Bass Trademark No.1. This fully highlighted the importance of this legendary brand and fully celebrated it's place in history as the world's first registered trademark.
Today, the Bass pale ale brand is part of the worlds largest brewing company, the Anheuser-Busch InBev and is available in over 50 countries, on draught, in bottles and cans. Since 2005 Bass Draught has been brewed under contract by Marston's for AB-InBev who are still based in Burton Upon Trent, however bottled products for export are now brewed at AB-InBevs own brewery in Samlesbury, except for the United States and Belgium where Bass is brewed locally.
With its simplicity of colour and form, the Bass logo is a prime example of branding at its very best. Immediately identifiable it is without doubt a pioneer of international Branding and worthy of its place as our first featured Classic Brand.


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Textbook of Endocrine Surgery
2nd Edition
Here's the leading resource on endocrine surgery-fully revised and updated in a New Edition! It examines disorders of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands as well as neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. Leading authorities from around the world discuss diagnosis, localization, intraoperative management, and surgical therapy for the full range of endocrine conditions.
Key Features
- Considers etiology, embryology, anatomy, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic and localization procedures as well as surgical and other treatment modalities for the full range of endocrine disorders.
- Reviews rationales, pre-operative considerations, operative techniques, and post-operative treatment for each procedure ... as well as the benefits, risks, controversial issues, and cost-effectiveness of each approach.
- Makes complex information easy to understand with more than 500 line drawings and photographs.
Table of Contents
1 Thyroid Physiology
2 Surgical Anatomy & Embryology of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands & Recurrent & External Laryngeal Nerves
3 Medical & Surgical Treatment of Endemic Goiter
4 Management of Benign Nonendemic Goiter
5 Thyroiditis: Acute, Subacute, Hashimoto's & Riedel's
6 Hypothyroidism
7 Hyperthyriodism: Graves' Disease & Toxic Nodular Goiter
8 Use & Abuse of Thyroid-stimulating Hormone Suppressive Therapy in Patients w/ Nodular Goiter & Benign or Malignant Thyroid Neoplasms
9 Approach to Thryoid Nodules
10 Childhood Thryoid Carcinoma
11 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Rationale for Hemithyroidectomy & Regional Node Dissection
12 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Rationale for Total Thyroidectomy
13 Follicular Neoplasms of the Thyroid
14 Hurthle Cell Adenoma & Carcinoma
15 Medullary Thyroid Cancer
16 Localization Tests in Patients w/ Thyroid Cancer
17 Papillary & Follicular Carcinoma: Surgical & Radioiodine Treatment of Distant Metastases
18 Anaplastic Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland
19 Unusual Thryoid Cancer, Lymphoma & Metastase to the Thyroid
20 Recurrent Thyroid Cancer
21 Thyroidectomy
22 Management of Regional Lymph Nodes in Papillary, Follicular, & Medullary Thyroid Cancers
23 Complications of Thyroid Surgery
24 Thyroid Emergencies: Thyroid storm & Myxedema Coma
25 Histologic & Cytologic Characteristics of Thyroid Cancers
26 Factors That Predispose to Thyroid Neoplasia
27 Predictors of Thyroid Tumor Aggressiveness
28 Growth Factor, Thyroid Hyperplasia & Neoplasia
29 Signal Transduction in Thyroid Neoplasms
30 Oncogenes in Thyroid Tumors
31 Thyroid Oncogenesis
32 Cellular Properties Associated with Invasion in Normal & Malignant Endocrine Tumor Cells
33 Surgical Management of Recurrent & Intrathoracic Goiters
34 Surgical Techniques
35 Potentially New Therapies in Thyroid Cancer
36 CGH & LOH Changes in Thyroid Neoplasms
37 Sodium Iodide
38 Parathyroid Embryology, Anatomy, & Pathology
39 Parathyroid Hormone: Regulation of Secretion & Laboratory Determination
40 Diagnosis of Primary Hyperparathyrodism
41 Natural History of Untreated Primary Hyperparathyroidism
42 Metabolic Complications of Primary Hyperparathyroidism
43 Natural History of Treated Primary Hyperparathyroidism
44 Asymptomatic Hyperparathyroidism
45 Normocalcemic Hyperparathyroidism
46 Localization Studies in Patients with Persistent or Recurrent Hyperthyroidism
47 Technique of Parathyroidectomy
48 Surgical Approach to Primary Hyperparathyroidism (Bilateral Approach)
49 Surgical Approach to Primary Hyperparathyroidism (Unilateral Approach)
50 Minimally Invasive Surgery
51 Endoscopic Parathyroidectomy
52 PTH Testing
53 Parathyroid Hyperplasia Parathyroidectomy
54 Familial Hyperparathyroidism in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes
55 Familial Hyperparathyroidism
56 Metabolic Complication for Patients with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
57 Surgical Approac to Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
58 Parathyroid Reoperations
59 Hyperparathyroidism, Pseudohypoparathyroidism & Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism
60 Cryopreservation of Parathyroid Tissue
61 Hypercalcemia of Malignancy & Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein
62 Hypercalcemia Crisis
63 Parathyroid Carcinoma
64 Surgical Embryology & Anatomy of the Adrenal Glands
65 Adrenal Physiology
66 Adrenal Imaging Procedures
67 Adrenaloma (Incidentaloma)
68 Hyperaldosteronism
69 Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Nonfunctioning & Functioning
70 Cushing's Syndrome
71 Pheochromocytoma
72 Addison's Disease & Acute Adrenal Hemorrhage
73 Operative Approaches to the Adrenal Gland
74 Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy
75 Anatomy & Embryology of the Pancreas
76 Multiple Endorine Neoplasia Type 1
77 Transplantation of Endocrine Tissues
78 Pancreatic Endocrine Physiology
79 Insulinomas
80 Localization of Endocrine Pancreatic Tumors
81 Pancreatic Surgery for Endocrine Tumors
82 Gastrinoma
83 Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B
84 Somatostatinoma & Rare Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors
85 Non-Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Endocrine Syndromes
86 Carcinoid Tumors
87 Endocrine Emergencies: Hypoglycemic & Hyperglycemic Crises
88 New Technology & Endocrine Surgery
89 Chemotherapy for Unresectable Endocrine Neoplasms
- No. of pages:
- 848
- Language:
- English
- Copyright:
- © Saunders 2005
- Published:
- 17th June 2005
- Imprint:
- Saunders
- Hardcover ISBN:
- 9780721601397
- eBook ISBN:
- 9781437712988
About the Authors
Orlo Clark
Affiliations and Expertise
Professor of Surgery, Chief of Surgery Mt. Zion Medical Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Quan-Yang Duh
Affiliations and Expertise
Professor of Surgery in Residence, Chief, Section of Endocrine Surgery, Assistant Chief, Surgical Service, VA Medical Center, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Electron Kebebew
Affiliations and Expertise
Assistant Professor of Surgery in Residence, Department of Surgery, Mount Zion Medical Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Dental care offered by San Jose general and cosmetic dentists at Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers - Jonathan H. Kim, DDS, Inc. for seniors involves unique considerations. Seniors are more likely to suffer from a host of oral health issues resulting from the natural aging process, their inability to receive proper oral health care due to financial constraints (no dental insurance) or their inability to provide adequate dental hygiene care for themselves.
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Sold a Single Family home in 2016 for approximately $200K in Charlotte, NC.
Marcus was referred to us from our rental management company when we decided to sell out property rather than continue to rent. Marcus was very helpful in walking us through the rules and requirements around Real Estate Listing and Sales in North Carolina, and made it easy for us to understand our obligations and options as sellers. Once we began getting offers Marcus provide great guidance around what the various offers and terms coming back meant and gave us the right framework for making a good decision. After we went under contract he actively worked to help us get the best deal possible and make the process of negotiation and settlement as smooth as possible.
We were selling form out of state, and Marcus made the process of settlement painless through the right balance of technology (e-signatures/Docusign) and mail settlement options, which he worked with the closing attorney on to get everything worked out in plenty of time to close on the date agreed upon in our contract.
Marcus went above and beyond. We had some delays due to the closing attorney our buyer chose and the buyer's lender. Marcus aggressively follow-up with the closing attorney throughout to make sure we stayed on time and closed as contracted to our benefit and the buyers'.


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No one at the America's Got Talent judges' table or in the audience really knew what to make of the contestant who stepped onto the stage carrying a satchel and wearing a wide strip of tape over his mouth. He didn't give them much to go on either. Aside from an eyeliner-enhanced, wide-eyed stare,
Tape-Face — as he quickly became known — offered absolutely no clue about what was about to happen.
The judges seemed a bit impatient as he began his act, but once he started, no one could stop watching him.
As it turns out, Tape Face is also known as The Boy With Tape On His Face. His website seems to indicate that he's based out of New Zealand, but he's not exactly talking.
Watch his deliciously weird audition below:
For more from The Boy With Tape On His Face, take a look at his Facebook page and Twitter account.


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Restaurant by Pramod Jaiswal and Divya Ethirajan
Pramod Jaiswal and Divya Ethirajan Presents The Jonathan's Kitchen and Komatose Restaurant
Pramod Jaiswal and Divya Ethirajan, the creator of the highlighted project Award Winning Jonathan's Kitchen and Komatose Restaurant demonstrates, The design explores the possibility of engaging sophisticated crafts people like masons, metal fabricators to create spaces which could engage people through its spatial and tactile quality. Both the spaces have a distinct spatial quality, achieved by a controlled juxtaposition of materials and articulation of the the envelopes defining these spaces. The rugged textured surface of lime yellow color slate and articulated brick wall has been complimented with relatively plain grey bison board partition and stretched metal sheet with patina of rust..
Restaurant by Pramod Jaiswal and Divya Ethirajan Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to Art and Design homepage.


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400 sqft
Bar & Restaurant
À partager
Home to the world's oldest aquarium, a Grade II listed pleasure pier and the British Airways i360 viewing pod, Brighton Beach attracts millions of visitors every year. Right outside the British Airways pod's beachfront building that also houses a gift shop and the West Beach Bar & Kitchen, this unique outdoor space is available to rent for experiential activations, retail kiosks, food trucks and events.
Dog walkers, joggers and locals taking in the sea air come to Brighton Beach every day, while weekends see tourists and day-trippers from London join the crowd. As an event venue and tourist attraction, the BA i360 pod attracts a steady stream of visitors all week round, especially Saturdays and Sundays. The West Beach Bar & Kitchen is a popular spot for weekend lunches. Brighton station is a 25-minute walk away.
The West Beach Bar & Kitchen and the British Airways i360 pod and shop are your closest neighbours. The Brighton Grand, The Brighton Centre and Brighton Music Hall are a short walk along the seafront.
You can only access the beachfront by car until 11am for set-up, after that the road is closed.
Available to rent for a minimum of one day and a maximum of one week.
There's 24-hour security on site.
This is an outdoor space, so it's not weatherproof and you'll have to provide your own amenities and equipment.
Some space on the brasserie's terrace in front is also available to rent if needed.
The price quoted is for the summer months (May to September). For the winter months (October to April), the space is available for £150 per day or £900 per week.


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The U.S. Army, along with U.S. Sen. Mark Warner's office, recognized a soldier's heroic actions from his service in World War II.
However, the Silver Star, the military's third highest combat award, was pinned to 95-year-old Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ralph Kuethe 70 years late Friday.
"Well the main thing [is] that I lived this long to receive it," Kuethe said with a chuckle.
The former soldier's heroic actions date back to Sept. 22, 1944. As Allied forces withdrew all around him, Kuethe got orders to hold the line. He organized a plan that ultimately pushed German forces into retreat.
"We stopped the counter attack and setup a defense at that point," he said.
But Kuethe was never recognized for those daring actions. In fact, the Silver Star for that heroism was awarded to someone else.
"... The person who received the Silver Star in my place... seven days later, [they] had changed the citation officially to a different action on a different date," Kuethe said, "and essentially vacated the approved Silver Star."
Sen. Warner's office helped facilitate the honor to bestowed on its rightful recipient.
"70 years ago the Army awarded the medal to the wrong guy and it's taken this time to rectify," said Warner (D-Va.).
Alongside Kuethe was his wife of 69 years, Dorothy. The two met as he was recovering from war wounds.
He hasn't slowed down much.
"I did 40 sit-ups this morning. The last 15 I held for a count of five each," Kuethe said of his daily routine.
When asked what he had planned for the rest of the day, Dorothy chimed in, saying, "Watch 'Gunsmoke!'"
Kuethe began to laugh.
"Well, I do watch 'Gunsmoke' at night," he said. "And of course Channel 4 news."


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Ah Monday, if nothing else you always seem to remind me of how much I didn't get done over the weekend. I mean, I did things, but honestly all this reading, while soothing to my soul, does not make me feel like I accomplished anything as there is nothing concrete to show for my efforts. I did finish reading Station Eleven, excellent book, and I read another comic book series all the way through. After that I started yet another novel. This time it was on of those Kindle First books that they offer for free before they release. I think I'm almost finished with that one as well. I only tell you all this because writing it out is the closest thing I have to that concrete evidence that I accomplished something like I mentioned before.
Other than reading there was the usual family adventuring and occasional movie watching with the kids. I did mange to finish one craft related project. I had been knitting a cowl for my daughter because she asked for one after I finished mine. I told her no initially, changed my mind and didn't tell her I was knitting for her. It's been a couple of weeks, but I got it finished and at least there's something to show for it. Of course I didn't bother taking any photographic proof, but it exists in the world.
Hopefully the sun will come out today and it will inspire me to finish all those half done tatting projects sitting on my table. At least then I'd have something to take a picture of to liven up tomorrow's post. Crossing my fingers for inspiration, or sales...sales would be great too.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Weekend Recap
Posted by TotusMel at 4:35 AM
Labels: family, needle tatting, reading, totusmel
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