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George Osborne lacked gravitas before the election and was seen as a political lightweight because of his "high-pitched vocal delivery", according to private Conservative polling relayed to US embassy diplomats.
In a candid account, senior party figures told the embassy that the future chancellor had been stopped from making an emergency statement at the height of the financial crisis in 2008 in light of his weaknesses.
The striking criticisms of Osborne are disclosed in an account of the 2008 Tory party conference by Richard LeBaron, deputy head of mission at the US embassy.
A Cameron insider told US officials in a private meeting that it had been decided Cameron should deliver the speech "as private party polling indicated that the public feel Osborne lacks the necessary 'gravitas'. Somewhat unfairly, party officials thought, polling indicated that Osborne was seen as lightweight and inexperienced, in part due to his high-pitched vocal delivery."
The senior Tory said Gordon Brown's warning at the Labour conference that the financial crisis meant it was "no time for a novice" had struck home. "This party insider also revealed that Brown's charge that Cameron was a 'novice' at a time of crisis had gained significant traction with voters," the cable said. "Internal Tory spot polling had found, worryingly for the Conservatives, that contrary to the general consensus, if an election were held the next day, Gordon Brown would be re-elected, albeit with a vastly reduced Labour majority."
LeBaron said of Cameron's conference speech: "If Cameron's aim was to convince the public that he has serious policies and will bring changes, then he succeeded in the eyes of much of the press. Cameron may have faced criticism that his speech failed to lay out, in specifics, the party's plans for government but no doubt he is trying to avoid the fate of previous leaders who, having set out a detailed platform far in advance of any general election, later had their best ideas taken by the Labour government."


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After identifying with my long hair for many years, this spring I felt the itch to chop it off. Somehow, I felt as though it was holding me back. While I had grown tremendously over the last year (nevermind the last 10), my long locks held in them fresh memories of being a young girl, my days in college, and of the early boyfriends who loved stroking them. I had outgrown my long hair like a kid outgrows a pair of pants. I was ready for a new look to fit the current me.
We all need to purge energy from our lives (and bodies), since it is only through the purging of the old that there is room for the new. This is part of managing our energy cycle. Exercising, fasting, conscious breathing, discarding old clothes, and even disengaging from non-serving relationships, are ways to dispose of stagnant energy. Acupuncture and hands-on energy work are others, as are journalling and creative work – basically, anything that mentally or physically purifies us. While sometimes the purification process is not pleasant (such as breaking off a social tie), in general energy cleansers make you feel vibrant, healthy and renewed. Chose something that does this for you, and commit to it regularly!
Where does this accumulated energy come from? We are constantly being affected by our environment, whether we realize it or not; from the noise on the street, to the stress at the office, to a crowded bar at happy hour, to a stranger's smile, outside energy is constantly bombarding our systems (some good and some not so good). So, it is important to engage in activities that balance our systems by releasing the energy that no longer serves us. Just as an overflowing cup can hold no new water, neither can a cluttered mind have clear thoughts, or a tense body react with agility to what confronts it.
As the scissors seared through my two pigtails, I was a bit scared, as we all tend to be when parting with something familiar. But I was also excited, and looking forward to what new things this lack of hair would bring. A lightness, a new feeling when touching my head, a fresh look and new style options. New reactions on friend's faces when they saw me. A new perception to the people I would soon meet. What I didn't anticipate was the great feeling of liberation that accompanied the physical lightness. Liberation from old, stagnant energy. I was myself again.

subset: commoncrawl


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Friday Night Live is a night for youth grades 6 and up to enjoy a night out at the Club while in a safe and supervised environment. The cost was only five dollars for Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley members and ten dollars for youth that are not already members of the Club. The night was filled with entertainment including a DJ, Skate Park, game trailer, paint ball, and more.
Youth member Jacob Lewis said his favorite part of the night was the basketball tournament that he participated in. In total, seventy-eight youth attended the event and were treated to cotton candy and snow cones.
The Club Site Supervisor, Julissa Velador, said, "I thought the kids really enjoyed the different activities including the snow cones and cotton candy. They really liked the music and the DJ. Overall, the night just had a really cool, safe atmosphere." The Club will be holding the next Friday Night Live event on Friday, September 29th from 7-10 pm.
In addition to Friday Night Live, the Club recently opened new teen rooms to accommodate the growing number of middle and high school youth that are attending the Club. The new rooms include a study room, games room, and enrichment room. In these rooms the teens are able to work on their homework, have positive interactions with their peers, participate in leadership Clubs, and more.
Please call the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley at (951) 246-8845 for more information or visit the Club's Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/menifeebgc.


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Miscellaneous Musings of the Month: November 2012 Edition
Oh hey. How do you like my new 'do? A web design update is something I've had in mind for a while, so I'm excited it's finally come to fruition. I met up with a fellow Stanford alum two Fridays ago at a coffee shop in SoHo when I drove down to NYC to visit family for the weekend. What initially started out as a hey-we're-both-from-Stanford-interested-in-health-and-fitness-let's-chat! turned into busy banter about the direction I wanted to go in for my business, my thoughts on re-branding, and what I could do to make everything even better. Before I knew it, we'd agreed to meet again the next day. A few clicks here, a transfer from over there, a moment of holy-crap-I-just-deleted-my-entire-blog (umm… whoops?), and 5 hours later, SoheeFit was born. Ta-da! This has exactly what I've been wanting: tons of white space, less clutter, a black/grey/burgundy/white color theme, and overall a mobile- and user-friendly format. It's actually not quite done yet, but I'm pleased with where it's at for now. I hope you likey.
New Facebook fan page is up and running. On a similar note, I've created a new fan page as part of my re-branding efforts. A part of me is kind of sad that I have to move away from my old one just after I hit 1,000 Likes (woohoo! mini milestone!), but at the same time, my goal here is not to win some popularity contest. Come join me!
My second article is up on Bodybuilding.com. This one actually slipped under my radar and went live last Friday without my even noticing. As many of you know are aware, one female writer took to explaining in a New York Times piece why women can't do pull-ups. To be honest, it kind of (read: seriously) made me roll my eyes, because I know that bullsh!t like this spreads like wildfire and it becomes virtually impossible to put the fire out. Once an ostensibly legitimate, highly-respected "authority figure" claims such and such to be true, it's like Pandora's Box has been opened. Thanks, you guys, for making our jobs to dispel fitness myths that much more frustrating. There's really nothing else we'd rather be doing than continuing to attempt to convince the general public that skipping breakfast won't kill and lifting heavy weights won't make chicks massive.
But that's the besides the point. The point is that I whipped together a piece on the pull-up and how to pop your pull-up cherry. Ladies, this is for you! Hoorah!
The whole IF-is-bad-for-women hoopla and my thoughts on it. You may or may not be aware of a few pieces floating around the Internet about how intermittent fasting is inappropriate for women (you know, like here, and there are some more interesting thoughts here). Some have asked me what my thoughts are on that, given that I am 1) a female (last time I checked anyway) who 2) has been intermittent fasting for over a year. I know there are studies out there that have found gender-based physiological discrepancies with this eating practice (eg. decreased insulin sensitivity, decreased glucose tolerance, irregular menstrual cycles). I've read about many women having terrible experiences with restricting their feeding windows in this manner. So have I changed my stance on recommending IF for everyone? Ah-ha, therein lies the incorrect assumption. Never did I endorse intermittent fasting as the appropriate eating method for everyone. In fact, I will be very clear that I say that intermittent fasting is not suited for most individuals, both men and women alike. There may even be some of you who think that I shouldn't be intermittent fasting – and that's perfectly okay. Personally, I've never experienced any of the negative symptoms that others have reported. I feel better, more alert, and I've had no issues with eating (nor has my eating disorder resurfaced in the slightest, as I did with the frequent meals). I'm able to relax more and not obsess about food; I can't tell you how liberating that is for me. But that's n=1, and I can't in any way, shape, or form guarantee that your experience will be the same. In short, try it out if you're curious, but understand that you need to listen to your body and be kind to it. If you're fighting an uphill battle to stay on the IF wagon, I say go ahead and jump off the damn thing.
Ollie is almost here! For the love of all things health and fitness, can we just not talk about protein for once? Oh wait, what? That's all I do? That couldn't be further from the truth. If your life is controlled by fitness and fitness only, then there's a problem. Fitness is a big part of me, yes, but I spend lots of time on other aspects of my life as well (relationships, for one). With that said, I don't do much to hide the fact that I'm obsessed with puppies – black pugs in particular. Well, what with my living out in Connecticut all alone, my boyfriend (he's the best, by the way) decided it would only be appropriate that I bring home a furry little companion. Readers, meet Ollie. I'll be picking him up in 17 days.
Online consulting services are back up and running. You heard it here first. I updated my Consultations page the other day but wanted to wait to make an official announcement. I did some consulting earlier in the year but had to continue due to a number of reasons, but it's coming back – newer and better! I've used a lot of my off time to read, learn, and revamp my entire approach to online training and nutrition. I refuse to be just another trainer who shells out a program and merrily sends you off on your way, blowing you kisses as you walk down the road alone. Maybe if I cross my fingers and click my red heels together, then the fat will fall off of you? Umm….That. Shit. Don't. Work. There's so much more to a successful fitness transformation than simply knowing what to do. In fact, I'd argue that much of the time, it's not that individuals don't have the knowledge; rather, they struggle with the consistent application of behaviors that bring them closer to their goals.
To re-iterate what's on my Consultations page, all you have to do for a chance to work with me is the following:
1. Zip me an e-mail at sohee(at)soheefit(dot)com with the subject line, "Online Consulting – LET ME IN!" and provide your name, age, height, weight, and #1 fitness goal. Here's an example:
Name: John Smith
Age: 31
Height: 5'6″
Weight: 180lbs
#1 Fitness Goal: Be able to look down and see my man bits again.
2. Subscribe to my newsletter (on the right!) for a discounted rate. Whoop!
The deadline to get on the list is December 10th. Don't wait!
It's gonna be a fun time.


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Wood anemone at Spring Park
As a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), the woodland at Spring Park is recognised as an area with a high value for nature conservation.
The ancient woodland, carpeted with bluebells, wood anemone and yellow archangel, is dominated by a canopy of oak and chestnut. Look a little closer and you'll discover pockets of wetter ground where seasonal springs allow alder and sallow to thrive along with sturdy regiments of rushes and sedges.
Dense hazel copse provides secretive nest sites for woodland birds whilst an abundance of deadwood, provided by decades of winter storms, have become a diverse habitat for fungi, mosses, lichens and insects, including the mighty stag beetle.
Arguably the woodland's most notable feature is its population of small-leaved lime trees which is said to be the largest assemblage of these majestic trees in Greater London.
Meadow at Spring Park
In contrast to the woodland, you can enjoy open views across the meadows where butterflies such as meadow browns and ringlets can be seen amongst the grasses and flowers during the summer months.
Taking a stroll just before dark, where the meadow borders the woodland, may be rewarded by a sighting of a Serotine bat, which is one of Britain's largest bats. Listen out for the hoots of Tawny owls as you wonder along.
Azure damselflies, Fred O'Hare
Bordering the meadows are impressive hedgerows, managed to maximise their benefits for wildlife. The roadside hedge has been 'laid', a traditional technique that revitalises the hedge plants and provides dense nesting sites for birds. Younger hedges, stretching across the meadows, have been planted with a good range of native tree and shrub species to provide plenty of nectar-rich flowers and sugar-rich berries for hungry insects, birds and small mammals.
No visit to Spring Park would be complete without dropping into see the pond. This diverse aquatic habitat is of interest all year round but at its best in the spring. Over 20 plant species can be found in the margins, whilst frogs, toads and newts fill the open water areas with their young. Dragonflies and damselflies complete the picture with their delicate aerial acrobatics.


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Canada Stocks to Watch: BlackBerry, Ainsworth, Nordion, Descartes and more
By Judy McKinnon
Listed below are some of the stocks we'll be watching in today's trading session.
BlackBerry Ltd. plans to run a fast auction process that could be wrapped up by November, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal. The smartphone maker has had preliminary talks with interested parties, according to one person.
Louisiana-Pacific Corp. has agreed to buy Ainsworth Lumber Co. in a deal worth around $1.1 billion. The deal values Ainsworth shares at C$3.76 each.
Nordion Inc.'s fiscal third-quarter profit surged, helped by the sale of one of its business units. Revenue and adjusted earnings beat Wall Street's expectations.


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The provisional PDF of my PhD thesis is available on-line, thanks to the biological library of the University of Padua. The final version will be released after paper publication. Illustrated by me.
"Design and implementation of novel algorithms to integrate different DNA sequencing technologies for de novo genome sequencing: Nannochloropsis as a test case" – http://paduaresearch.cab.unipd.it/4966/1/Thesis_last.pdf


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Month: May 2018
Memorial Day
Today is a day to remember those who fell in service to our country, but I do not believe the ghosts of those who gave their lives would begrudge you your barbecues and parties.
So enjoy your holiday. Feast on burgers, ribs, and steaks. Play frisbee in the park. Go to the beach or pool if the weather permits and that's what you want to do. But take a moment sometime during the day to remember those who passed. Raise a toast to those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that you could have the freedoms you enjoy today.
Absent friends.
In Flanders Fields
John McCrae, 1872 – 1918
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead; short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe!
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high!
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Football, Protests, and Rights
Short one today.
In the past, I have pointed out that there is no right to protest per se. I.e. there is nothing that is normally not permitted which suddenly becomes permissible if done as "protest". There are rights which you have which can be used as protest–speech, peaceable assembly (don't forget the "peaceable" part), the press, and petitioning government for redress of grievance–but "protest" on its own is not an enumerated right.
Still "speech", which also includes physical actions for the purpose of conveying a message, is one of the rights. And so, in the wake of the NFL ruling on the "kneeling" protests during the National Anthem, people are complaining about violating the player's "free speech."
Okay, the players have a right to speak. What they don't have is a right to force people to attend/watch NFL games and buy NFL merchandise. And, since they don't have the right to force them, the people _do_ have a right to turn away from the NFL if they don't like what the players are doing and the League is allowing. (And that's exactly what has been happening–people have been staying away from NFL games and licensed NFL merchandise in droves, leading to the league hemorrhaging money.) They don't have a right to require their employer–their teams and the League of which they are a part–to provide them a venue for their speech.
Which leads to that the players with the protests also don't have a right to keep earning multi million dollar salaries when they're costing their employers money.
If I were to engage in political protests on company time that cost my boss business and therefore money, I'd be fired and rightfully so.
They're getting off easy.
A Blast from the Past on the Subject of Watching Out for Two Wheeled Vehicles
Hit with a 14 hour day at work yesterday (so no post yesterday), then a frantic rush today to get a shipment out before a deadline today that, if missed, would cause the funding that's paying for it to vanish. So here's another "Blast from the Past".
Back when I was assigned to Fort Meade I had a motorcycle, a little Suzuki GS400 that was about 10 years old then. Great bike until a Yugo pulled out in front of me without looking and…well, you should have seen the other guy, but the bike was totaled. And me, I was on crutches (right knee between my fuel tank and his fender) and dizzy for days (impact head first with the pavement but…helmets save lives).
But that's not the story I'm talking about today.
Fairly early in my ownership of that bike I ran down to one of the local malls. Now, the bike has this lock on the side of the seat where you can hang your helmet. The "D" rings that are used to secure the strap when you're wearing it hang on a latch and the lock secures it in place.
I come out of the mall sometime later and…no helmet. I see the D rings hanging from the latch but the helmet is gone. Apparently someone cut the strap and absconded with the helmet. Of course, by cutting the strap they rendered the helmet useless since it would come right off in an accident. They just basically stole themselves an oversize and cumbersome paperweight. So they weren't even getting any benefit from the theft, ending up with a worthless piece of plastic.
Why do people do things like that?
I had recently gotten contacts and couldn't drive back without something to shield my eyes from the wind. I ended up buying a cheap pair of sunglasses. And once I got back to the dorm I had a spare helmet so I was good to go for the future.
Of course, I do know why people do things like that. Some people are just…broken. They'll steal something just because they can, whether or not they actually get any return from it or not. Probably stuck on a shelf somewhere as some kind of "coup marker" until later forgotten about and thrown out. The other possibility is that someone thought he could pawn the helmet for the price of his next fix and didn't realize by cutting that strap he was rendering the helmet worthless. But that's just a different form of broken.
Another incident, later (after the motorcycle was totaled) I was doing my shopping trip by bicycle. On the way back to post I was hit by a car. I have no memory of the incident. I remember waking up first in the hospital at Fort Meade–Kimborough Army Hospital. Then, later, I woke up again at Walter Reed. Broken collarbone, concussion (duh, I was rendered unconscious). Some cuts on my face. And something happened to my other knee this time. My clothes had been cut off so when I was returned to post it was wearing one of those hospital gowns. Well, since my clothes at the time consisted of a bicycling jersey and shorts and I wasn't going to be riding for some time (never did learn what happened to my bike–or what was left of it) it wasn't a great loss.
From the injuries, it looks as though I was struck from the left, probably by an overtaking car, and then knocked to the right where I hit the pavement.
Okay, it was an accident. These things happen except I've managed to avoid them happening every other place I've ever been. (If I have to offer any driving advice it's "Stay away from Laurel, MD.") The weird part was when I tried to track down what happened. My first stop was the NCOOD–that's the NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) Of the Day. That's a slot that has someone all duty on all times to, well, among the duties is to field calls like the one from the police about my being in an accident and transported to the hospital.
The NCOOD report was very brief. It said a call from civilian police reported that I'd been in an accident and transported by ambulance to Kimborough. That's it. It didn't name any officers, refer to any actual police reports, or even name which police department made the call.
So, I start calling the various police departments. There was the Laurel police, since I was going to Laurel to pick up things. Some of what I was going to pick up was my "pick list" of comics from a comic store. I was able to confirm that I had picked them up and, therefore, had been on my way back to post when I was in the accident.
Laurel police had no record of the incident.
So next I try the Prince Georges County police. Laurel is in Prince Georges County. No report.
Anne Arundel County police. Fort Meade is in Anne Arundel County. No report.
State Police. No report.
That covered every department whose jurisdiction I could have gone through.
Nobody had any report that a serviceman had been hit by a car and taken to the hospital.
I was never able to find out what happened. I didn't remember the incident. I was never able to learn who hit me because I was clearly hit by a car. There's no way a "single vehicle accident" could have led to the injuries I had, not on that route. And there really was only one route as well.
So I was always left to wonder: was the car in the incident owned or driven by somebody with the clout to squash the report? This was in the Baltimore/Washington corridor after all. Or was this simply incompetence/laziness on the part of the civilian police, not bothering to do paperwork once they passed me back to the Army, figuring I was there problem then? I don't know. Never will know.
Maybe if I'd been able to find out who hit me I could have won a substantial settlement which would have…dramatically changed how my life went after leaving the military a month later. Again, that's in the "we'll never know" category.
One thing I have learned from these incidents, however: Stay away from that part of Maryland.
Fisking 27 ways to be a modern man: A Blast from the Past.
Oh, lordy. A couple of years ago there was this ridiculous article on the New York Times' website "27 Ways to be a Modern Man". It was so risible that I simply had to fisk it. So, here it is again, the fisking of "27 Ways to be a Modern Man:
Usually I leave the fisking to others. By the time I get around to thinking things through, others have done the job said all I would care to say on the subject. But this one I couldn't leave alone.
So, text from the original article will be in Bold. My comments in Italics.
Being a modern man today is no different than it was a century ago. It's all about adhering to principle. Sure, fashion, technology and architecture change over time, as do standards of etiquette, not to mention ways of carrying oneself in the public sphere. But the modern man will take the bits from the past that strike him as relevant and blend them with the stuff of today.
Okay, this sounds like a reasonable approach, at first. Learn from the past and apply it to today's situations. Practically the definition of conservatism.
1. When the modern man buys shoes for his spouse, he doesn't have to ask her sister for the size. And he knows which brands run big or small.
"When the modern man buys shoes for his spouse"? His spouse isn't capable of buying her own shoes? Does he also tie them for her? Yes, some brands run big and small. But so do individual patterns. And a shoe that looks good on the shelf or in a catalog may not look so good on ones feet. And there is simply no way to tell how they will feel until she actually tries them on.
How about this: instead of buying shoes behind her back which may or may not be what she wants, why not take her with you to buy shoes. Or go along when she wants to buy shoes. Or, if she's asking you to go because she needs new shoes right now and for whatever reason can't get to the store herself, then he should have her tell him what she wants, including size.
In that case, the modern man will go from store to store until he finds what she asked for because making his wife happy pleases him.
But the elephant in the room here is shoe buying? Really? That's what you put on the list of what makes a modern man?
2. The modern man never lets other people know when his confidence has sunk. He acts as if everything is going swimmingly until it is.
Antony Hare
The modern man knows when he needs help and asks for it. The manliest of men once said "A man's got to know his limitations."
3. The modern man is considerate. At the movie theater, he won't munch down a mouthful of popcorn during a quiet moment. He waits for some ruckus.
The modern man can eat quietly.
4. The modern man doesn't cut the fatty or charred bits off his fillet. Every bite of steak is a privilege, and it all goes down the hatch.
The modern man knows how to cook a steak. If it's prepared improperly at a restaurant, he. sends. it. back. If they're taking his money, the least they can to is provide good value in the form of a properly prepared steak.
Oh, and incidentally, a properly prepared fillet doesn't have fat to trim.
5. The modern man won't blow 10 minutes of his life looking for the best parking spot. He finds a reasonable one and puts his car between the lines.
The modern man can do elementary arithmetic and determine whether it's quicker to just park here or look for a better parking spot.
Or, if he wants to be quick about it, he starts close, works his way out, and parks at the first spot he comes to.
6. Before the modern man heads off to bed, he makes sure his spouse's phone and his kids' electronic devices are charging for the night.
The modern man can trust his spouse to see to her own phone. As for the kids, if they're old enough to have a phone, they're old enough to see that it's charged. If they forget, well that will be a lesson for next time, won't it?
7. The modern man buys only regular colas, like Coke or Dr Pepper. If you walk into his house looking for a Mountain Dew, he'll show you the door.
The modern man drinks whatever he wants. If it's Diet Cherry Mountain Dew, it's Diet Cherry Mountain Dew. The modern man does not apologize for his choice of beverage.
If a guest asks for something the modern man does not stock the modern man says something like "I'm sorry but I don't have that. Would you perhaps like…" and then offers a selection of what the modern man does have. If a modern man knows in advance that a guest has a particular preference, the modern man will insure that he has a supply of it. See "considerate" above.
The modern man's guests never leave hungry or thirsty unless it's by their own choice.
8. The modern man uses the proper names for things. For example, he'll say "helicopter," not "chopper" like some gauche simpleton.
The modern man uses words appropriate to the context and audience. That might be "helicopter", "chopper", "Huey", "Blackhawk", or "Our ride" depending on the situation. Words are tools that serve the user. They convey more than just dictionary definitions but feelings and connotations and are chosen with that in mind.
9. Having a daughter makes the modern man more of a complete person. He learns new stuff every day.
The modern man appreciates whatever children the Gods grant to him. He does not keep trying until he has a daughter. He loves any and all children he may have, each as an individual.
10. The modern man makes sure the dishes on the rack have dried completely before putting them away.
Come on. It's the 21st century. The modern man has a dishwasher. If he doesn't (poverty does not render one less of a man) he has a dishtowel.
11. The modern man has never "pinned" a tweet, and he never will.
Okay. Can't argue that one.
12. The modern man checks the status of his Irish Spring bar before jumping in for a wash. Too small, it gets swapped out.
The modern man may well use body wash. And Irish Spring? Perfume in soap form? If you must use bar soap, then Ivory all the way. (I kid. The modern man uses whatever he wants.)
And again, really? Manhood defined as avoiding the possibility of having to hop out of the shower to grab some soap?
13. The modern man listens to Wu-Tang at least once a week.
The modern man listens to whatever the hell he wants. But if that playlist doesn't include bands like Dragonforce, Hammerfall, and Man O' War, I have to raise some questions…
14. The modern man still jots down his grocery list on a piece of scratch paper. The market is no place for his face to be buried in the phone.
Rubbish. The phone has a note taking app for a reason. The modern man is not afraid of modern technology. See that "modern" in there? That's a hint.
15. The modern man has hardwood flooring. His children can detect his mood from the stamp of his Kenneth Cole oxfords.
Once again, the modern man has whatever flooring he wants. If his children need to hear his foot stamps to determine his mood, he's doing it wrong.
If you really want people to understand what you think and how you're feeling, there's this wonderful invention called "words". Use them.
16. The modern man lies on the side of the bed closer to the door. If an intruder gets in, he will try to fight him off, so that his wife has a chance to get away.
The modern man and his spouse decide between them who sleeps on which side of the bed so that both are happy with the arrangement. The modern man understands that compromise and mutual accommodation is one of the keys to a successful relationship. The modern man has dogs, a security system, locks at least, and weapons to deal with the unlikely event of someone breaking into the dwelling intent on harm.
17. Does the modern man have a melon baller? What do you think? How else would the cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew he serves be so uniformly shaped?
The modern man couldn't care less how neatly balled the melons are. They all taste the same. If, for some reason, he has a fetish for neatly rounded melon balls (not that there's anything wrong with that) he may have a melon baller. Or he may not. It's hardly an essential of manhood.
18. The modern man has thought seriously about buying a shoehorn.
The modern man buys shoes that fit that he doesn't have to cram his feet into.
19. The modern man buys fresh flowers more to surprise his wife than to say he is sorry.
Okay, I'll give you this one too.
20. On occasion, the modern man is the little spoon. Some nights, when he is feeling down or vulnerable, he needs an emotional and physical shield.
There is nothing that lifts a man's spirits more than being able to support and protect someone else.
21. The modern man doesn't scold his daughter when she sneezes while eating an apple doughnut, even if the pieces fly everywhere.
This is something you worry about? Sneezing is an involuntary reaction. Hell, our Training Instructors didn't gig us for sneezing in basic military training (but it had better not sound like a fake sneeze).
22. The modern man still ambles half-naked down his driveway each morning to scoop up a crisp newspaper.
The modern man has internet allowing him to sample a variety of news and opinion sources. (But I see what you did there New York Times.)
23. The modern man has all of Michael Mann's films on Blu-ray (or whatever the highest quality thing is at the time).
Eh. They're okay, but I've seen better.
John Wayne's and Clint Eastwood's films on the other hand…
(Ed: And if you don't have John Wick…)
24. The modern man doesn't get hung up on his phone's battery percentage. If it needs to run flat, so be it.
But the modern man obsesses about his spouse's and children's phones to the point of checking that they're charging every night? (Point #6)
The modern man plans ahead. He has a phone with sufficient battery life for his needs or he has extra battery capacity–either an external battery pack or access to a charger–to insure that he has power when he needs it.
25. The modern man has no use for a gun. He doesn't own one, and he never will.
The modern man recognizes that he is ultimately responsible for his protection and that of his family. He is responsible for not putting his family under the hardship that his own death or injury can cause. The police cannot always be there. Crime and the threat of violence will, indeed, appear when the police are not at hand (criminals not wanting to be caught will generally act where the police are not. Until the police arrive, which can take some time, the modern man is on his own.
The modern man arms himself against that need.
26. The modern man cries. He cries often.
Perhaps at times but often? The modern man has other tools in his kit for dealing with problems. The modern man puts on the gloves and hammers away at the heavy bag. He splits wood. He does woodworking projects. He runs. He works on his car. He goes to the range and puts holes in paper. He does any of a variety of things to redirect frustration and sadness and cleanse his mind and spirit.
27. People aren't sure if the modern man is a good dancer or not. That is, until the D.J. plays his jam and he goes out there and puts on a clinic.
If the modern man likes to dance, he dances. He doesn't worry about what other people think about it. He may be good at it. He may be bad at it. But he dances. At the least, however, he knows some basic, general purpose steps so that he can teach his children so they won't feel totally helpless in social situations that involve dancing.
The original article wasn't describing the modern man. It was describing the modern milquetoast. The essentials of manhood have not changed. Courage, honor, providing for and defending ones family. These are the constants that have not changed however much some folk want to denigrate them these days.
Happy (or not as you prefer) World Goth Day
For those unfamiliar, here's a brief history of Goths, the Gothic subculture and why "Goth" even though they, we, were nowhere about when Rome was being sacked. (I've got an alibi!)
And some pictures of Goths, being Goth (what can I say, I like couples):
If this interests you, Toxic Tears has some tips on getting started:
Awards day at Dance Legacy.
My daughter has been in ballet since this past, October I think. In March the class she's in was in a big competition. Today, Athena collected her awards for that:
The trophy was for a competition that, unfortunately, Athena did not attend. (Miscommunication so I didn't get her there.) The plaque sitting on top of it is for the competition she did. That one goes to the school. The medal she's wearing is her personal award, along with a pin. She's wearing the costume she wore for the competition.
Here's the video I took of the ceremony:
Going into the Summer session, Athena will be continuing Beginning Ballet, on Tuesday nights now, with a later additional session called "Pre-Pointe". She's really enjoying it, at least for now. Mind you, I can remember plenty of other things she was really excited about in the past and perhaps this, too, shall pass but for now I'll let her see where she wants to, and can, go with it.


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Hibernation Pods are a type of technology used by the Wraith.
These pod-like structures are typically situated in large numbers in the aft section of a Wraith Hive ship, containing hundreds of dormant Wraith. The pods are usually located in the ceilings of certain rooms or walls of certain rooms. (SGA: "Rising", "Misbegotten")
An organic membrane surrounds the sleeping Wraith with a console nearby that allows for the deactivation of the pod. A red liquid is present in the pod which encases the Wraith. Numerous organic tendrils extend from the walls of the pod and are attached to the sleeping individual to allow for a continuous exchange of fluid between a sleeping Wraith and the Hive ship. The drawback of this exchange however is the fact, that, if the Wraith is infected with a disease, than this disease could spread to the ship, causing damage to the organic parts of the ship. When deactivated, the liquid drains from the chamber and the tendrils retract, after which the Wraith is awakened from their slumber. There is also a safety protocol in place so that if power to a pod is ever compromised, the pod will open and awaken the Wraith. Should the pod fail to open, the Wraith inside would suffocate. (SGA: "Infection")
When Lt. Colonel John Sheppard killed the Wraith Keeper in 2004, it inadvertently resulted in her awakening all the Wraith Hives in the Pegasus galaxy. Sheppard and Aiden Ford at this time witnessed the awakening of hundreds of Wraith, since many hibernation pods were located in the dining hall of the Hive ship the two were on. (SGA: "Rising")
During the Battle of the Void, the crew of the Daedalus was forced to beam the Wraith retrovirus on board of one Hive ship, causing the whole crew (save for the Hive queen) to be turned into humans. These humans were put into the hibernation pods of the ship by the Atlantis expedition while they decided what to do with them. (SGA: "Misbegotten")
In order to survive from a deadly disease spread among them in 2008, Todd and his Hive ship crew entered into hibernation and set a course for Atlantis in the hope that the expedition would aid them in their crisis. Sheppard later awakened Todd from his sleep to enlist his aid when the Hive ship was experiencing numerous random malfunctions. It was discovered that due to the exchange of fluids between Wraith and Hive ship during hibernation, the disease had spread to the ship itself. The hive eventually split in two from the ailment, and the crew were killed as they were in the rear half. Todd and the Expedition members managed to land the forward section on water on the planet below. (SGA: "Infection")


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Monday, January 11, 2016
CINCINNATI – AdvancePierre™ Foods (APF), a nationally recognized, fully integrated producer and seller of sandwiches and value-added proteins, now packages its seven top-selling BIG AZ sandwiches for distribution in 10-count cases. Previously sold eight to a case, the transition to 10-count cases will save an estimated 50 tons of corrugated board annually, saving it from landfills and other energy-consuming reprocessing.
"AdvancePierre is always measuring our operations and processes to maximize efficiencies and lessen environmental impacts," said Tony Schroder, president of convenience channels at APF. "After careful analysis, we calculated that modifying the case count would result in less waste in the environment and, with the more space-efficient master case, our customers will benefit from more cost-effective storage and transportation."
The shift to 10-count cases has resulted in new item numbers for the following best-sellers:
• 1443-10 BIG AZ Cheeseburger in printed film
• 0947-10 BIG AZ Cheeseburger in hand-wrapped paper
• 0605-10 BIG AZ Kickin' Jalapeño Cheeseburger in printed film
• 0604-10 BIG AZ Kickin' Jalapeño Cheeseburger in hand-wrapped paper
• 1470-10 BIG AZ BaconAddict® Cheeseburger in printed film
• 1465-10 BIG AZ BaconAddict® Cheeseburger in hand-wrapped paper
• 1508-10 GIANT Cheeseburger in printed film
Item numbers for the eight-count cases have been discontinued. The new item numbers currently are available for order nationwide.
For more information about AdvancePierre™ Foods, visit www.advancepierre.com.


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- Stieg Larsson's Dragon Tattoo Trilogy the epic Swedish trilogy that tore up the screens last year hits DVD in a sweet, complete package for the completists out there (like me!)
- Black Death Starring Sean Bean, this mystery/thriller is set during the plague and I was quite leery about but ended up really enjoying. It's got an creepy tone, harsh adventure zeal and certainly kept me on edge. Definitely worth checking out.
- Unknown Liam Neeson stars as a man travelling in Berlin with his wife but after an accident has no recollection of his past. Pretty interesting mystery with some action and thriller elements (available on Amazon.com as of June 21, 2011).
- Blue Valentine Raw and real performances by Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling are what make this relationship drama so real it hurts. I wish there had been more romance, but if you are looking for something visceral and real, this is easily the one to pick.
- Life with Murder Canadian documentary following a family who faces tragedy after a horrible crime is committed but also showcase the amazing resilience and strength of family.
- The Illusionist BluRay/DVD Combo Oscar-nominated animated film that's easily charmed people over form all over.
- The Concert new kind a musical/comedy with set thirty years ago and following and conductor of an orchestra after being fired becomes a cleaner and has a whole 'get the band back together' feel.
- Almighty Thor hot off the heels of the theatrical release of Kenneth Branagh's Thor, this version just played on the weekend on SyFy and stars Cody Deal, Kevin Nash, Richard Grieco and Patricia Velasquez.
- I Saw the Devil With the tagline "Abandon All Compassion" I'm a little leery, but given this one is from director Kim Jee-Woon who brought us The Good, the Bad, the Weird I can't help but be curious.
- Legend on BluRay 80's fantasy film starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara & Tim Curry and directed by Ridley Scott. This one has a bit of a cult status to it, although it never quite stuck with me. Might be time for a rewatch (available on Amazon.com as of May 31, 2011).
- Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Again concert film of the earnest singer with the beautifully brushed hair will be released this Friday May 13, 2011.
- No Strings Attached romantic comedy starring Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Kline.
Titles on Amazon.ca(Canada):
Titles on Amazon.com (US):
Life with Murder & The Concert not currently available on Amazon.com


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Words In the Bucket
A look at consciousness movements
Today marks the 37th year since Steve Bantu Biko's funeral. On this day, in 1977, more than 10000 people attended his funeral – including diplomats from 13 countries. The attendance number would have been higher if the police had not stopped many who were attempting to enter the funeral to pay their respects.
A revolutionary, a father and a doctor, Biko was 30 years old and one of the pioneers of the Anti- Apartheid movement. He died in prison because of brain damage caused by the beatings he received by the prison officials. The official cause of death declared by the racist government in charge at the time was that he died because of a hunger strike. He was one of many to die in prison by the hands of the officials since the 1962 'Detention Without Trial' convention was introduced.
The Black Consciousness Movement (BCM), of which Biko was a leader, was a movement that urged black people to be aware of the value of their humanity, and to feel pride in being black. Part of the idea was that a 'psychological' liberation was an essential step towards black liberation. A fight for the political and social change alone, were not enough to bring liberation forwards.
Years of oppression and injustice had inevitably resulted in a huge inferiority complex felt by many black people in South Africa, even though they were the majority. The movement stimulated many to confront the cultural and psychological realities of the Apartheid regime, seeking black participation in society and in political struggles. For example, whilst many movements looked for whites to cooperate with them to achieve civil rights, the BCM wanted blacks to lead in the elimination of the regime and obtain rights for the black South Africans.
The movement was often criticized as having very little impact on policies and laws, and therefore often labeled as ineffective. However, I think it is a mistake to underestimate the significance of the intellectual aspect that comes with wanting change; in a society where most trails of identity and pride for black South Africans were trashed by the racist government, it was a crucial first step in regaining consciousness and an identity.
A movement with a similar approach is the Gay Pride, which has taught us that true change comes when people are not afraid to speak up, when people are aware and conscious of their human and civil rights. Until the first half of the 19th century, homosexuality was closeted. Homosexuals were individuals without a collective conscience. To declare one's homosexuality, or to be 'outed' meant serious consequences in the workplace, at home and in society.
Women's rights movements have also grown from women's collective awareness of their own rights. Not to be underestimated is also the huge importance of the feeling of support that people get in being part of a movement.
Yesterday, I saw a documentary following the biggest climate change march in history that happened just a few days ago. In it, the power of people's collective action and solidarity was highlighted as a huge catalyst for change. People all over the world marched to show that they are aware of what is happening to our planet, and that they demand change. If we become aware of what we can do, then there is no stopping us.
In a country that offered black people very few opportunities, Steve Bantu Biko managed to raise his voice and urge black people to be proud of their 'blackness', to expect respect and freedom and to be conscious of what they deserved. It takes courage and perseverance to follow the pursuit of justice in a society where you are given barely any space, and it takes much more to have thousands of people respect and follow you through that path.
History has taught us that humanity is capable of changing the unchangeable. We are the ones responsible for the way the world is now (good and bad) and we are the ones responsible for changing the things we want changed.
If you want to change the world, first change yourself. The rest will follow.


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A recent post at Accounting Mechanics suggests accountants should do anything necessary to fill the gap between Finance and IT. While I fully agree accountants are in a better position than IT specialists to provide useful management information, I can think of a few issues with that positioning, though:
- Old-school finance people might see you too much like an IT resource
- IT will most definitely see you as competition;-)
- The added value is obvious once you're part of an organization and start to deliver results, but it's difficult to "sell" that particular skill set without sounding too much like "an IT guy"
- You run the risk of ending up maintaining systems instead of using them to answer the very questions you built them to find answers to in the first place
Still, there seems to be quite a few of us out there tackling those issues and getting involved with a whole set of typically IT-only technologies. Feel free to let me know of any experience you wish to share in the comments.


text: Mazda Mazda MPV wheels for sale 1992-1995. 15" Silver rims 64736 1992-1995 Mazda MPV OEM Wheels 15 inch Silver factory rims 64736 OEM Wheel Fitment: Mazda MPV - 1992-1995 OEM WHEELS - These OEM wheels have been originally equipped on the 1992-1995 Mazda MPV models. These Mazda MPV wheels are original Mazda stock... $601.00 $99.00 Add to Cart Compare Quick view


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[Back to Regnum main page] [Regnum Resources for Mission][Back to Regnum series]
My Story with Governance
Tom Houston
Regnum (), 106pp, ISBN: 1-9083.5565-2
Buy online from OCMS.
Paperback: £8.00. Our Price: £6.40.
(Discount applied: 20%)
Tom Houston held top jobs in several Christian organisations. This is the story of what he learned as he did them. He writes about his own experience. Then he tries to say what he thinks Jesus taught about governance in a well known story from the gospels. He moves on to tackle what he calls Jesus kind of church from the words of Jesus, Peter and Paul. To round it off he has some thoughts on the other kind of church and their impact on the nations to which theybelong.
An excellent and unique resource for church leaders grappling with the complexities ofgovernance. Toms breadth of global experience across a wide range of organisationsincluding, NGOs, International Mission Agencies, Global Movements and Churches
in the UK and abroad give him credibility to write on this subject. An essential read for ministry leaders in mission agencies or a local church.
Ram Gidoomal, Chairman Traidcraft and Lausanne Movement International Board
Other Regnum Titles [Regnum main page]


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A 25-year-old nurse from a leading private hospital was allegedly gangraped by two men in a suite in The Oberoi in Delhi, as the ailing wife of PRS Oberoi, the head of the luxury hotel chain, slept in another portion of the suite, the police said.
According to the victim's complaint to the police, the incident took place on August 15. The nurse had been hired to look after Oberoi's wife, while the two accused worked as temporary help around the suite.
DCP, Southeast, P Karunakaran said, "The accused, Neeraj (25) and Rajan (20), were arrested after the woman lodged a complaint at Nizamuddin police station on Monday morning. A case of gangrape was registered against the accused after the medical examination confirmed rape."
The police were checking to see if any criminal cases had been registered against the men in the past.
Deepica Sarma, Communication Manager at The Oberoi, said in an official statement, "The incident is very unfortunate. The individuals in question are not hotel employees. We are fully cooperating with the police and local authorities with the investigation."
The victim told the police that on the night of August 15, she had retreated to her portion of the suite after giving Oberoi's wife her daily medicine. She alleged that the two men, who had come into the suite to clean utensils, dragged her to a corner and forced themselves on her by turns. The woman also said in her complaint that the men had threatened her with dire consequences if she spoke of the assault to anyone, including her employers.
"She stated that Mrs Oberoi who was sleeping in the other portion of the room could not hear her scream for help. She alleged that the men gagged and threatened her. After raping the woman, the men reportedly left the room. The victim did not approach us with a complaint for two days, and only came to us on Monday morning," a senior police officer said.
In her statement to the police, the woman said she had continued to go to work even after the incident. "She said that she did not take leave, and tried to appear normal before her employers, because she was scared of the accused. On Monday morning, however, she approached us with a complaint," the officer said.
A senior police officer said, "The Oberois have a four-year contract with the leading private hospital that provides nurses who come in three different shifts to the hotel to look after Mrs Oberoi. The nurse had been visiting the hotel in shifts on duty earlier also."
The officer added that while Neeraj had been working with the Oberoi family for the past five years, Rajan had joined him only a month ago.
Sources in the victim's hospital told Newsline that she was initially very reluctant to go to the police. "She contacted women in her department on August 15 itself. She was terrified. It is only after doctors and senior hospital authorities persuaded her to approach the police that she filed the FIR," the sources said.
📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines
For all the latest Delhi News, download Indian Express App.


text: Featuring a bundle of fun features, the Sportcraft SpongeBob and Friends Waterslide with Sports Center provides a myriad of joy and excitement. During the summer season, water activities are something children anticipate for. This inflatable water park provides many different water activities all in one unit that promise to keep […] Read more »


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Job opportunities are a lot for English literature alumni.
Just read below…
Choosing for major as the next step to continue education in college is quite troublesome for Indonesia high school students.
Future employment opportunities become one factor that to decide what university they will enroll.
If one student said he/she will continue his/her study in English Literature, most people – older one, that is- will rise their eyebrow and said You want to be a teacher in an educational institution?
You might get that after finishing the study in English Literature one must be a teacher.
Well that's wrong.
Job opportunities of an English Literature alumni is huge in Indonesia. I am pretty sure those old geezer who underestimate English Literature alumni will be shut their mouth.
I quote from the site Maranatha university English literature employment opportunities it consists of:
- Field of Journalism (journalist, editor, columnist, etc.),
- Publishing, Education (Teacher, Lecturer, Professor Les)
- Public Relations, Secretary, Advertising, Translators and 4. Interpreters, Tourism (Tour Guide, Travel Bureau),
- Entertainer (Actor, singer, MC),
- Author,
- Business Export / Import
- entrepreneur
Those lists of fields in working that I have mentioned above to be reaffirmed by the Sanata Dharma University.
Graduates of study programs in English Literature can pursue a career in industrial enterprises that demand the ability to speak English, to handle
- secretary (correspondence, reporting in English, translations),
- public relations (PR),
- Staff training;
- in education, which is taught both as a lecturer, teacher, and English instructor and researcher;
- in mass media company, which is handling the editing (editing), publishing and journalism, and
- in non-governmental organizations, namely the handling of training, reporting program.
I myself graduated from the state university English literature field, and now I am working as an employee in an insurance company in South Jakarta.
for you alumnis of English literature do not affraid for not having a job.
Just don't give up.


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Call (615) 343-1554 for appointments. If your insurance requires a referral, we will help coordinate the paperwork.
Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt
This clinic is an outpatient department of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
3401 West End Ave., Suite 380 (3rd floor)
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 343-1554
Map and directions
Enter the building through the glass doors in the parking garage.
We accept cash, check or credit cards for all services. We also have contracts with many insurance companies. Integrative health consultations and physical therapy are covered by most insurance plans with a referral form from your physician. Check with your insurance company to see whether other services are covered under your policy.
View frequently asked questions about our billing process.
To ensure appropriate and consistent practice for registration of all retail programs at Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt:
If an individual cancels more than two weeks prior to the start date of the event, a full refund is available. When cancelling less than two weeks prior to the event, a refund is available minus a 20 percent cancellation fee. If cancellation is made on the day of the event, no refund is available.
Once the series/event/package begins or has been held, refunds are not available and the cost cannot be transferred to another service or series. If a non-refundable deposit has been paid, no additional cancellation fees will apply.


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AG defends Bush, disses judiciary
Is is joking? What judgements? The one when he declared he was the Great Decider or the one where he has been insisting on staying the course with failed policies? But Gonzales doesn't stop there.
He said the Constitution makes the president commander in chief and the Supreme Court has long recognized the president's pre-eminent role in foreign affairs. "The Constitution, by contrast, provides the courts with relatively few tools to superintend military and foreign policy decisions, especially during wartime," the attorney general told a conference on the judiciary at Georgetown University Law Center.What a crock. The only one overturning long term precedents is Bush and we're not in a war, we're in a failed occupation. It's to reframe the discussion and eliminate the idea there's an actual war on terror. All we've got is a president cast adrift in a sea of terrorism, trying to paddle against the current with no oars.
"Respectfully, when courts issue decisions that overturn long-standing traditions or policies without proper support in text or precedent, they cannot — and should not — be shielded from criticism," Gonzales said. "A proper sense of judicial humility requires judges to keep in mind the institutional limitations of the judiciary and the duties expressly assigned by the Constitution to the more politically accountable branches."


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Well after a year everyone has figured out the spleen has to go. For nine months they thought I needed a bone marrow transplant but lo and behold the last bone marrow biopsy showed the marrow is full of healthy blood cells.
I mentioned way back in February that it probably was my spleen. Oh no they thought because my blood results couldn't tell them what I had. Well if your spleen is almost 3 times the normal size and it's not letting the liver do it's job it probably appeared more obvious to me than them. I don't know.
Was supposed to have the surgery the 18th but they bumped me back to the 25th cause some people needed surgery more than I did. Oh well, I hope that was a one off.
Now despite being away from work on disability it does feel a bit like retirement. Physically I would like to do more things but I find if I do a few things I can hardly wait to rest.
The other night there was an open house for kids entering high school. I took my son and it lasted for 2 1/2 hours. It was well organized. The only thing I found was about halfway through I just wanted to go home. My back is out cause of the seats and thank heavens touch wood I didn't catch anything. I can feel the hemoglobin low.
Now you think cause I have been off work for almost 7 months I would be itching to get back. Not really. So I am thinking why does a retired person want to keep working anyway? In their whole life haven't they come up with an interest or hobby they would like to pursue?
At this present time I am voraciously reading books that are really interesting to me. Would I rather be working than reading a good book? Hmmm..
You know what I think it is that I never worked for only the money. At the end I was physically no good anyway so the money wouldn't have mattered.
If you read my book you will notice it was always about the life experience. Switzerland, England, cruise ships, Jasper in the Rockies etc..Did I make scads of money? Not in your life!
Some people want to wait till they retire. I get it. Then what would happen if I waited. Here I am 3 weeks before my 59th birthday and I go for transfusions every 2 weeks. Hopefully the spleen's removal will release all the good cells.
So I am content and really settled.
Let me say this as this may come as a surprise. All those places I went to in the book were never on my bucket list. I never thought in school about seeing the pyramids. A friend and I decided to go to Europe one day sitting on his balcony. Our budget was $15 a day.
Never would I have been able to afford the air fare or cared to put it on a credit card to go. It would have taken me months if not years to pay it off. I remember buying some furniture and television when I moved into an apartment at age 24. Took me 12 monthly payments to pay it off.
So I had nice furniture no life.
What got me to those places was the excitement of the work experience which happened to take me to some cool places. I got really good.
It's all about knowledge. I guess if I had Facebook back then everyone would have got sick of 12 photos of a different place everyday. I don't know.
So what I did was live on limited possesions. Just a suitcase and my books most of the time.
So in ending this blah blah post just remember put the life experience before the money. You will be happier. Do it for yourself cause no one else will give a shit what you do.
In the end I bumped into a wonderful wife and 2 great boys. Didn't see that happening either.
The wife wants to go to Paris so we should do that when this is over. That's about it and see our kids grow.
That's all over and out.


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A Downtown Philadelphia Wedding
- Kevin + Erika
I seriously feel like I have known these two for YEARS. Why? Because this journey started long before their wedding day! It begin when Kevin sent me a very well articulated email about how he was planning to propose to his girlfriend Erika but he needed my help! Yikes!! These types of things make me so excited and SO nervous! Kevin surprised Erika with a coaching session in April of last year. He drove her down and during her headshots, he proposed!! So this wedding was really special for us because we have literally been there for EVERY part of the process!! From the proposal during the coaching session to their early morning engagement session in State College, PA, we've shot it all! We even got to meet their little fur baby, Lilee! Saturday we had the honor of meeting the rest of their family, friends and everyone who loves them the most!


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Housing Slump Worse than the Great Depression
Zillow's reports:
The Zillow Home Value Index has now fallen 26% since its peak in June 2006. That's more than the 25.9% decline in the Depression-era years between 1928 and 1933.
November marked the 53rd consecutive month of home value declines, with the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) falling 0.8% from October to November, and falling 5.1% year-over-year.
In the near term, home values will continue to fall thanks to excess inventory of homes, high negative equity and foreclosure rates, and weakened demand due to elevated unemployment.
The mainstream media is starting to pick up on the story. For example, Reuters writes:
Home prices fell for the 53rd consecutive month in November, taking the decline past that of the Great Depression for the first time in the prolonged housing slump, according to Zillow.
Home prices have fallen 26 percent since their peak in 2006, exceeding the 25.9 percent drop registered in the five years between 1928 and 1933 ….
And CNBC notes:
The housing market, on the other hand, just crossed that threshold.
Home values have fallen 26 percent since their peak in June 2006, worse than the 25.9-percent decline seen during the Depression years between 1928 and 1933, Zillow reported.
November marked the 53rd consecutive month (4 ½ years) that home values have fallen.
What's worse, it's not over yet: Home values are expected to continue to slide as inventories pile up, and likely won't recover until the job market improves.
The value of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue [i.e. the White House] has dropped by $80 million, or nearly 25 percent since the peak of the housing boom. It's current value is $251.6 million, according to Zillow, down from $331.5
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The Villa
A two-phase project to restore seven apartments within an elegant Georgian property on Guernsey is heading into its final stages.
Originally built in 1802 for a wealthy merchant family, The Villa will soon feature seven contemporary, sensitively restored apartments in one of the prime property locations on the island. Phase One of the project began in May 2015 and encompassed work on five of the apartments as well as repairs on the building as a whole.
This work was completed a little over a year later in June 2016 and was followed by a successful period of marketing for each apartment. Phase Two of the project, which will see the final two apartments on the lower ground floor renovated, is currently underway and on course for completion in May.
Fuller Group, long time owners of The Villa, instigated the project. The Fuller Group have been based in Guernsey since the 1970s. The property investment and development company has a diverse portfolio with investments in the Channel Islands, mainland UK and the Caribbean.
Managing Director Alex Fuller spoke to Premier Construction Channel Islands about the development:
"We've owned the building since 1996. It consisted of some fairly basic rented apartments up until 2015 when we began this project. Partly because some fairly major repairs were necessary on the building, we took the decision to significantly upgrade the seven apartments and make some alterations to their layouts with a view to selling them off. We did look at another scheme that would have involved converting the building to 11 one bedroom apartments but it was more viable to simply renovate the existing units.
"There were some issues with rot within the building and almost all of the exterior walls were taken back to the granite and treated."
There was also an intention to re-cover the roof and carry out some repairs to the structure but a decision was subsequently taken to completely remove the roof and replace the structure with a steel frame.
Alex added:
"The work has been very sympathetic to how the building would have looked previously. We reinstated a lot of the Georgian features and tried to emphasise and restore the historic and period elements. Externally, we didn't make significant alterations to the footprint or to the elevations but what we did do was to reinstate the original shutters, improve the landscaping and installed railings more in keeping with the property as well as extensive general exterior repairs and decoration."
Similarly, the interior of the building has been designed to blend the old and the new. Cornices and wood panelling for example, have been reintroduced throughout the building.
The largest of the apartments occupies the entire top floor boasting three double bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, modern kitchen and mezzanine storage space. Oak flooring has been used throughout and large windows allow for stunning views of the coast.
Moving onto the first floor, one of the apartments has been developed to house two double bedrooms while the other has one double bedroom with the option of either a single room or a study. Large sash windows allow for an abundance of natural light to flood the space.
The final two apartments developed during Phase One are located on the raised ground floor level. Both feature two double bedrooms with en-suite facilities as well as generous floor space for a flexible layout.
A parking space is provided with each apartment whilst a professionally designed communal garden provides ample sun and shade in the summer months. The Villa is also within easy walking distance of the main town of St Peter Port.
The prominent positon of the building was just one of many rewarding aspects for Alex when working on the project. He reflected:
"It has been very rewarding as it was a building which was hidden and went largely noticed before development. We've had a lot of positive feedback because it's a building people drive past and see on a daily basis. I really think we've restored it to its former glory."
"Compared to various new build residential schemes, this is quite unique. The apartments are very large with high ceilings and lots of natural light, something you rarely get with new builds."


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MyChart Login
Home > Patients & Visitors
Whether you're a patient or a visitor at Mary Greeley Medical Center, we want your experience to be welcoming and caring. Even before you enter the medical center, you can use this website to find information that can help you get ready for the time you'll spend with us.
You may park your car free of charge in the parking ramp located across the street south of the medical center. Parking is available in the surface lots west of the medical center. View the map.
Mary Greeley Medical Center offers free valet parking. Please pull into the valet lane at the main entrance and wait for a valet service attendant to greet you. View the map.
A valet service attendant will accept your keys, record identifying information and park your car. When you're ready to leave go to the west entrance/patient discharge, the valet will return your car to you at the front door.
If you do not pick up your car before 8:30 p.m., you may go to the Emergency Department Admitting Desk to retrieve your keys and learn the location of your car.
We politely request that you not tip our valets.
Mary Greeley has a responsibility to provide an atmosphere that supports and promotes patient recovery. Adequate rest is necessary for a rapid recovery. We also recognize the therapeutic role that visitors play in the healing process. Mary Greeley ensures the right of a patient to receive visitors consistent with patient preferences, including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), another family member, or a friend. The patient has the right to withdraw or deny his or her consent to receive specific visitors.
Patient visitation rights are subject to Mary Greeley Medical Center's justified clinical restrictions. Such restrictions may be imposed when it is considered necessary to provide safe care to the patient or other patients. A justified clinical restriction may include, but need not be limited to one or more of the following circumstances:
The patient is undergoing a clinical intervention or procedure and the treating health care professional believes it is in the patient's best interest to limit visitation during the clinical intervention or procedure.
For our Birthways unit, we request that all visitors check in at the Birthways front desk. This is to ensure the privacy and security of our patients. We provide a mid-afternoon quiet time from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., during which napping is encouraged. Please consider this when planning a visit.
The Mary Greeley Auxiliary Gift Shop staff and volunteers can assemble and deliver a gift to in-hospital patients. Visit us near the hospital main entrance or call us at 515-239-2190.
Send a gift
Let a patient know you're thinking of them by sending a Cheer Card! Cheer cards are fun, easy to personalize and free. Browse our Cheer Cards and brighten someone's day.
Send a cheer card
Burgie's Coffee & Tea Company, located next to the Gift Shop, offers coffee, specialty drinks, pastries, deli sandwiches and other treats. There's a relaxing seating area where you can enjoy a snack and conversation.
Burgie's hours are:
The Gift Shop has been temporarily closed due to COVID-19.
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1111 Duff Avenue Ames, Iowa 50010
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Our fabulous Autumn this year is hangin' on! It's always a welcome thing here in northern Wisconsin if we reach the end of October and the temps are above zero! LOL! I snapped the header photo of some mums in the garden that are still blooming despite a couple of nights of frost! They are hardy things! I buried a few spent pots of them I had on the front deck in the garden and with any luck they will bloom again next Fall.
Things are a hoppin' here in the wool studio. The ladies are buying patterns, wool and supplies in anticipation of those days ahead when we don't stick our noses out the door unless we have to!
I have been hooking on a little something too which I will wait a little longer to show you! I used all the new wools from Rebecca Erb's Wool Studio in this design.
It's been really really hard for me lately to sit down and do any designing! We have started to do a little remodeling in the kitchen. Needless to say my mind is preoccupied with layout, cabinets, windows, appliances, etc. We've decided that something MUST be done! No stove to cook or dye wool has been difficult and stressful for me. So... let me introduce you to the newest purchase ( and an expensive one.. holy cow!) that is the starting point for this remodel.
Now how's that for an upgrade from a hot plate! LOL! Wowser! It arrived last week and our super nice electrician got it temporarily wired so I can use it while waiting for the remodel to get underway!
I keep telling myself that I really needed that double oven... a splurge that I hope pays off in the long run!
Max has given his approval but he can't quite figure out where the old wall oven went! The square on the floor is where the cabinet stood that housed the old oven. Out it went and I was never so glad to take the hammer after it! It's really opened up the galley style kitchen! The plan is to put a new fridge where the new stove is sitting right now and the stove will have it's permanent home on the wall a little further down. So a few new cabinets are in order as well as new counter top.
But this will all take time. And money. We're determined so are doing a lot of the work ourselves with the help of a few talented friends who are guiding us along the way.
You may be wondering if our infamous orange sink is part of the new remodel plan. Well.... perhaps not. But we shall see... if I decide to get a new sink ( and it won't be orange believe me) do I have to change the name of my blog???? Oh mercy.... it's on my business cards and all my patterns and everything!
Yikes... tell me I can still call the blog Orange Sink.... as Stainless Steel Sink just doesn't quite have the same ring to it!!
Cathy G


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AUSTIN (KXAN) — Early Friday morning, the Austin City Council approved a 6 percent property tax exemption for homeowners. Council members Ora Houston, Delia Garza, Greg Casar, and Kathie Tovo voted against the proposal.
Mayor Steve Adler and most of the Council members promised working toward a homestead exemption months ago while campaigning. City Council members started discussing the day's biggest item after 10 p.m. Thursday.
Earlier this week, Casar offered a new proposition that he developed with Adler. The plan would implement a 5 percent homestead exemption — instead of the proposed 6 percent exemption. The 1 percent of "savings" – which amounts to about $700,000 – would be applied to the city's Tenant Rental Assistance Program.
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Jerome Boateng out for a month with aeroplane drinks trolley injury
Man City signing joins the mile high injury club
New Manchester City signing Jerome Boateng will have to wait a month for his debut after a collision with an aeroplane drinks trolley.
The Germany international tore a tendon in his left knee playing for his country. The injury was aggravated when a drinks trolley smacked into it during the flight home.
Boateng will now be unable to begin training until the end of September.
"I imagined my start at City to be quite different, of course," the 22-year-old told German website Sport1.
Not the first time a footballer has come a cropper courtesy of an aeroplane drinks trolley, but possibly the first time their misfortune was not courtesy of the trolley's contents.


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Our mentors are professionals or women pursuing graduate degrees in engineering, science, technology, medicine or math-related fields. While the girls who sign up for Cybermentor live in Alberta, our mentors can—and do—live anywhere.
A mentor is not a parent, coach, tutor, or counselor. Mentoring is a one-to-one relationship in which the mentor offers encouragement and constructive comments based on openness, mutual trust and respect. You bring your willingness to share and we'll provide online training materials and suggestions for topics to discuss with the girl you're matched with.
The two of you will exchange regular messages through a secure website, using your computer, phone or tablet. Our mentors share personal experiences, ask questions and engage in a little small talk to build the relationship, and guide the discussion based on your matches' interests.
Mentors provide direction, educational advice and a window into university and/or professional life—all of which is enormously beneficial to the girls. Our mentors get a lot of out of the relationship too. They enjoy the opportunity for reflection, get a deeper understanding of their discipline, improve their communication, leadership and mentoring skills and have the opportunity to network with other successful women in science and engineering.
You can make a world of difference by inspiring the next generation of girls in science, technology, engineering, and math. And in the process, you may reinvigorate your passion for your own career.
You commit to mentoring a girl between the ages of 11 and 18 (grades 6 to 12) for the current school year (September to June)
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Have fun! Cybermentor is meant to be a learning experience for mentors as well as the girls
Read the complete MENTOR REQUIREMENTS(pdf)


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Live: The Report
The news conference for former Sen. George Mitchell has concluded, so has the one for Commissioner Bud Selig, and now so has the one for Donald Fehr, executive director of the Players Association. We have posted the PDF of the Mitchell Report at MLB.com. Here is the download launch page, or just get the PDF file: Download mitchrpt.pdf
Mitchell is saying that the most important part is the conclusions in his report. Here, then, are the conclusions excerpted from that PDF:
There has been a great deal of speculation about this report. Much of it has focused on players' names: how many and which ones. After considering that issue very carefully I concluded that it is appropriate and necessary to include them in this report. Otherwise I would not have done what I was asked to do: to try to find out what happened and to report what I learned accurately, fairly, and thoroughly.
While the interest in names is understandable, I hope the media and the public will keep that part of the report in context and will look beyond the individuals to the central conclusions and recommendations of this report. In closing, I want to emphasize them:
1. The use of steroids in Major League Baseball was widespread. The response by baseball was slow to develop and was initially ineffective. For many years, citing concerns for the privacy rights of the players, the Players Association opposed mandatory random drug testing of its members for steroids and other substances. But in 2002, the effort gained momentum after the clubs and the Players Association agreed to and adopted a mandatory random drug testing program. The current program has been effective in that detectable steroid use appears to have declined. However, that does not mean that players have stopped using performance enhancing substances. Many players have shifted to human growth hormone, which is not detectable in any currently available urine test.
2. The minority of players who used such substances were wrong. They violated federal law and baseball policy, and they distorted the fairness of competition by trying to gain an unfair advantage over the majority of players who followed the law and the rules. They –- the players who follow the law and the rules –- are faced with the painful choice of either being placed at a competitive disadvantage or becoming illegal users themselves. No one should have to make that choice.
3. Obviously, the players who illegally used performance enhancing substances are responsible for their actions. But they did not act in a vacuum. Everyone involved in baseball over the past two decades -– Commissioners, club officials, the Players Association, and players –- shares to some extent in the responsibility for the steroids era. There was a collective failure to recognize the problem as it emerged and to deal with it early on. As a result, an environment developed in which illegal use became widespread.
4. Knowledge and understanding of the past are essential if the problem is to be dealt with effectively in the future. But being chained to the past is not helpful. Baseball does not need and cannot afford to engage in a never-ending search for the name of every player who ever used performance enhancing substances. The Commissioner was right to ask for this investigation and report. It would have been impossible to get closure on this issue without it, or something like it.
5. But it is now time to look to the future, to get on with the important and difficult task that lies ahead. Everyone involved in Major League Baseball should join in a well-planned, well-executed, and sustained effort to bring the era of steroids and human growth hormone to an end and to prevent its recurrence in some other form in the future. That is the only way this cloud will be removed from the game. The adoption of the recommendations set forth in this report will be a first step in that direction.
17 Comments
// But being chained to the past is not helpful… But it is now time to look to the future //
So Mitchell interviewed McGwire? I didn't see that in the report…
Michael Norton – Some Clubhouse
Milwaukee is not in good shape. We just signed Gagne and he is on the list. So much for the bullpen. Also I knew Barry Bonds was going to be on the list and re affirms what we all believed. Now Hank Aaron can retain the title that is his.
Wow George Mitchell
JEEEZ when does a investigation cross the line into a smear campaign?
What a long face!
Is he any relation to Ken Starr?
And what do you tell the families of the folks you smeared?
Barry Bonds is God's chosen hero regardless of what he does to his own personnal body.
And Roger Clemons wont take this calmly either.
Its gonna rain Lawyers and Mr Mitchell deserves a microscope up his *** too.
Daniel Warren
I'm reading it page by page now… Some interesting facts, some old news. Props to Frank Thomas to be the only player willing to talk to Mitchell on his own.
McGwire should just come clean. Mitchell requested an interview with McGwire and McG declined.
They are going to use this report, particularly the "move forward" section, to blow off all that was done wrong and effectively pardon the transgressors. None of the stats mean anything now. I don't believe in baseball anymore.
Here is how I summarize this report. "I have a friend of a friend who saw player x take steroids one night 5 years ago". Too much hearsay, not enough evidence. I don't think you bring all these names up without hard evidence.
I completely agree with kurt's comment. How did an investigation of this length turn up nothing but a bunch of word of mouth ****.
I disagree with the 3rd comment, Mitchell specifically stated that every player named had their chance to give their side of the story, if they declined then it's their own fault.
I wonder what the backlash will be against The Big Hurt (Frank Thomas) from the other players around the league once they learn he was the only player to speak to Mitchell voluntarily. I said a few years back that he is the only guy in baseball I'm 100% sure never used steroids, and my feelings are just confirmed today. Good job Big Hurt.
Still, none of this will do anything to stop players from using steroids/HGH. Kruk made a great point on ESPN, make the first offense a 2 year ban and the 2nd offense, you're done. Of course that would never be agreed upon by the union though.
Overall, this investigation was a complete joke.
Mitchell was able to come up with two cooperating sources, a former Mets' clubhouse attendent and a former Yankees' strength coach. Can't we assume that similar characters existed in other clubhouses across the country with client lists of their own? The list of players implicated is clearly a small sampling, so disciplinary action would be unjust. The publishing of the names was also grossly irresponsible, as these players' reputations will now be irreparably smeared just because they happened to be clients of the guy who snitched.
What I don't look forward to is explaining to my 12 and 7 year old sons what all of this means. They love the game the same way we all did as kids. When I get asked "is (fill in the blank) a future Hall of Famer?" do I now change my answer to "I don't know, was he in the Mitchell Reoprt"?
I agree that the Game needs to move on. The Union and the League need to get their collective s%#t together and think about the fans. We are the fuel that drives their multi-billion dollar engine. It's time for THE FANS to be selfish and demand more. The Game lives on because of us…not the owners, not the players, not the TV execs. Little League, high school ball, Babe Ruth and Legion ball, back yard games, games played in the street and in the cornfields will survive. There is a difference between being disappointed in Major League Baseball and loving the GAME. Continue to love the GAME, MLB needs some serious work.
Get at it Players Union and Owners….or you will be left behind.
So wait, because we only caught some of the guilty players, the ones that were caught shouldn't be punished? No wonder baseball is jacked up with fans like Daniel and half the Yankee fans I've been reading here on MLBlogs. Get a grip people! These guys cheated. Did the report miss many more? Of course but that doesn't somehow mean that these guys aren't guilty. So far all of the names that have come out have been spot on accurate (Ankiel, Byrd, Grimsley etc) and there's no reason to believe these aren't as well.
We need to move on and put a * on each of the players involved in the scandal and then enforce this one rule and one rule only. Ready for this? You get caught using steriods or HGH just once, you are banned from MLB for life. Pete Rose deserves to be in the Hall of Fame for all of this mess.
Why doesn't the country "wake up" and realize these overpaid clowns don't care whether the public know they use drugs as long as the families can find the $$$$$$ to go to a major league game. They only look @their pay check and records that were set long ago before anyone knew about enhancing dugs are not their concern. The Mitchell report is very concise and recognizes that MLB is dirty. Sad time for MLB and I'm sure the Babe Ruth's, etc are rolling over in their graves over this. But I'm sure Selig and the rest will just turn their heads and no one will be penalized. We all know about the Olympics, Tour De france, etc, what about Football, Basketball, etc are all these super overpaid athletes clean. Looking in the past, we don't want another Nixon??? The public needs to take a stand and stop supporting the dirt in sports.
Pete Rose was banned for life. Not the same, but totally relative.
That is what should happen to the cheaters!!!
Gambling is not cheating, and Rose didn't disgrace the game the way this multitude has. This is a partial list and I bet only 1 in 10 got caught buy this unthorough yet eye opening investigation. These guys are gonna start dropping like Lyle Alzado's but at least their families will be set for life as their legacies forever tarnished. I am embarrassed for baseball and my participation in it will be forever lessened. No more jerseys, jackets, tickets, viewing, or anything else from me. I'm done until this stops happening and the guilty are nolonger in the game! Feel my disgust people?
It would be nice, if the Cy Youngers and MVP'ers on this list who would have, are never voted into the HOF.
You cant take their milestones away, because there may be others that havent been found (yet)… but
you have to admit
If we're going to castrate Barry Bonds, somebody like Clemens ought to also be castrated as well. Its only fair.
I just have 2 comments about this whole fiasco. these, of course could be followed by several others, but for now, just 2.
1: I find it reprehensible, and completely irresponsible to publish names on hearsay "evidence".
2: And more important –
As, I think, most fans don't.
The media, and our misguided, deaf, blind and dumb govenment
are making a big deal where there isn't one, so we can ignore things they should be concentrating on.


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So, as most of you know I am NOW a coffee junkie thanks to my friend who shall remain nameless (Kim). A few years ago, I was on my way to speak at an evening event. I was pretty tired as it had been a looooong day. You see, I'm not really a night person… or a morning person, come to think of it. I guess I'm more of an early afternoon chick. Like 2:00-2:30ish, something like that. 🙂
Well, I just could not stop yawning so my friend suggested we stop and get me some coffee to wake me up. Although I had never tried coffee before, I knew she was right. I needed a pick me up! It would be pretty unprofessional to be yawning up on stage. ( I just yawned typing the word. Why is yawning so suggestible? Did you just yawn, too?)
Because this "coffee" was going to be a new taste to me, my friend started me out with a pretty fru-fru drink that still had enough caffeine to get the job done, but was designed to be easier on my delicate palate. And it didn't let me down.
I got hooked.
For so many years, I was almost prideful about the fact that coffee had never passed through my lips and down my throat. How did I make it through college?? That's actually a really good question 😉
You know what's interesting? As these years have passed, I've gotten further from those fru-fru drinks and can now drink coffee ALMOST black (still need a little milk and the yellow packets). I do like the "decorative" drinks, but can drink a little darker than I used to be able to do.
That's what sin is like. It has the Coffee Effect on us.
Sin starts out sweet and tasty and doesn't always present itself as too bold or too dark. It's not hard to swallow because there is only a subtle hint of a bitter taste.
But, then we need something a little stronger to get us up and going in the morning. We get a little tired of the sweetness and so we go a little blacker to get the same effect. We adapt to the need for more, sometimes without even blinking an eye.
Until one day we are black coffee drinkers (no offense meant… just an example) and we find that's all we want… and exactly what we need. The hard stuff. We can't quit now. I mean, has anyone experienced a "caffeine withdrawal" headache? You see, we're too entrenched in the habit so trying to find a way out seems… overwhelming.
What do we do? Do we try to wean ourselves off the coffee (aka… away from the spirit-breaking sin) or do we just quit cold turkey? Can you really wean yourself from sin? Is it realistic to just… stop… and not look back?
What do you think?


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Nov 01, 2012 4:50 AM GMT
are there any vegetarians on here? Lately i noticed that meat makes up such a small percent of my daily diet im curious to try a vegetarian diet and see if i even notice. I am lactose intolerant, i hate fish, i cant digest red meat fully so i can only eat small amounts of it. So when/if i do eat meat its either chicken or shelfish. Im not sure whether to go vegetarian or try to increase my meat intake.


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LOL: Anti-Trump Media Stronghold Gives Up, Says Let The Man Play Golf!
Just one day after President Trump predicted that the media would come around to his unique ways, it began to happen. The Daily Beast, a liberal media icon, published an editorial on Saturday called "Let Trump Golf," which argues that attacking a President over golf is


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June 21, 2019
EPA Takes Important Step to Further Protect Children from Exposure to Lead-Contaminated Dust
WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler, along with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, announced new, tighter standards for lead in dust on floors and window sills to protect children from the harmful effects of lead exposure.
More information here...
November 28, 2018
EPA settles with West Chester contractor for lead 'lead safe' violations
PHILADELPHIA—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday announced that Chapman Windows and Doors of West Chester, Pennsylvania will pay a $17,500 penalty to resolve alleged violations of the lead-based paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule.
for more click here
October 25, 2018
EPA Enforcement Actions Help Protect Vulnerable Communities from Lead-Based Paint Health Hazards
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced 140 federal enforcement actions completed over the last year to ensure that entities like renovation contractors, landlords, property managers, realtors and others comply with rules that protect the public from exposure to lead from lead-based paint. Exposure to lead dust, chips or debris from lead-based paint can pose serious risks to human health, particularly for young children.
"EPA's work to enforce federal lead paint laws helps protect communities across the country," said EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Assistant Administrator Susan Bodine. "These cases also hold violators accountable for their actions and help maintain a level playing field for companies that follow the rules."
for more click HERE