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Collective Defence in the Age of Hybrid Warfare
The discussion paper by Benjamin Tallis and Michal Šimečka, senior researchers at the Institute of International Relations, provides a (critical) reflection on hybrid warfare – as both a concept and a practice – in the context of collective security in Europe, and discusses the role of the institutions and policies of NATO, the EU, and Member States.
Over the past two and half years, 'hybrid warfare' has turned from an academic fad into an article of conventional wisdom. Russia's March 2014 annexation of Crimea and aggression in the Donbas – and, even more importantly, the lessons collectively inferred from the conflict by US and European policy-makers – has fashioned a new lens through which security in Europe, particularly the Eastern flank of NATO, came to be imagined and pursued. This is despite the lack of either an agreed-upon definition or a consensus on the manifestations of hybrid warfare.
Full discussion paper available here.


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Metal Headboards
Showing all 9 results
Ashley Metal Headboard
Ashley Nickel Headboard, is available in Black Nickel and Nickel finish and in four sizes.
Benjamin Metal Headboard
Benjamin is available in a Brass and Nickel finish and available in 4 sizes.
Jessica Metal Headboard
Jessica Antique Brass/ Nickel Freestanding Headboard in four sizes.
Tetrus Metal & Wood Headboard
A contemporary headboard in metal with wooden posts is available in four sizes.
Waverly Metal Headboard
Wave-like curves crest over the top of this elegant frame which is available in 2 sizes.

subset: commoncrawl


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GWEF 2016 success
150 people attended the Global Woman Entrepreneurship Forum on 1st November at the Hilton London Kensington Hotel, mostly women entrepreneurs and many coming from different countries to be there.
The Forum was opened by the founder of Global Woman magazine, Mirela Sula, and continued with an exclusive interview with Baybars Altuntas, who came from Turkey especially for this event. The energy and the atmosphere was very special and we all created a zone where women felt confident to connect and co-create with each other learning how to develop a business idea, how to take action and how to build it into a successful business model.
Our main keynote speaker was John Lee, who got a great reception from the audience. Other speakers included Fiona Harrold, Janey Lee Grace, Rafael Dos Santos, Camilita Nuttall, Adam Stott, Leon Street and the panel speakers with four Business Women Nyasha Gwatidzo, Viola Edwards, Sam McGratty and Tina Allton shared very powerful messages and great knowledge with the audience.
The 'Pitch to the Dragons' competition, moderated by Adam Strong, was one of the best parts of the day. The finalists presented their business model in front of the 'dragons' and a supportive audience, with the 'dragons' giving constructive feedback. Each of the finalists received a prize from one of the dragons and the winner, Tina Allton, received a VIP pass to attend the Angels Investors Conference in Turkey next February, with opportunities to meet many investors.
We have received great feedback from the participants through emails, social media and survey responses.
This is a testimonial from one of the delegates
The Global Woman Entrepreneurship Forum was a day jam packed with inspiration and valuable advice for entrepreneurs. The clarity and focus gained from the day resulted in myself going home and re-writing my "Magnificent Me, Magnificent You" website to present its mission more effectively and create greater impact.
As well as the invaluable business knowledge gained from the stage, being in a room full of women entrepreneurs from all over the globe, who are each going for their dreams with passion and determination to succeed was also uplifting, there was a wonderful sense of camaraderie, love and support for each others success.
Thank You Global Woman for creating this arena for Women to shine their light and support each other.
Dawattie Basdeo, Founder Magnificent Me, Magnificent You – & Founder Holistic World
We look forward to seeing you at the Global Woman Entrepreneurship Forum next year and the Global Woman Gala Dinner and Awards in March 2017
Watch this space for more details coming soon.
Global Woman Team


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Are Foot Bunions Hereditary
A bunion is a bony protrusion on the side of the big toe or in some less common cases on the outside of the small toe. The protrusion at the joint of the base of the toe can become irritated, swollen and painful. As the protrusion becomes larger the toe bends toward the second toe causing further sources of irritation. There appears to be multiple causes of a bunion. Genetically the foot may be shaped such that normal activity puts excessive pressure on the big toe eventually causing a bunion. Some suggest footwear that does not fit properly may also put excessive pressure and cause a bunion. The protrusion may be excessive bone structure or a fluid sac called the bursa that becomes inflamed. In any case the deformity of the toe makes it difficult to find proper fitting footwear, is not a pleasant sight, and can be very painful.
Bunions tend to run in families, but that does not mean that if you have a bunion, your children will inevitably have one too. The connection may be that bunions are a bit commoner in people with unusually flexible joints, and this can be hereditary. They are also commoner in women than in men. Bunions do occur in cultures in which shoes are not worn, but much less commonly. Shoes which squeeze the big toe or do not fit properly, or have an excessively high heel, may worsen the deformity, particularly in people who are at higher risk anyway.
Bunions are an often painful condition that may become even more painful as extra bone and a fluid-filled sac grow at the base of your big toe. Some of the most frequently experienced signs and symptoms associated with bunions, besides pain, include redness in your affected area. Blistering over your bunion. Callus formation around your bunion. Bursitis. Nerve damage (numbness and/or sharp pains) in your involved area. Bunions may also cause pain within and below your first metatarsophalangeal, or MTP, joint. Your bunion may become further dislocated and unstable as it progresses and may overload your adjacent joints.
Before examining your foot, the doctor will ask you about the types of shoes you wear and how often you wear them. He or she also will ask if anyone else in your family has had bunions or if you have had any previous injury to the foot. In most cases, your doctor can diagnose a bunion just by examining your foot. During this exam, you will be asked to move your big toe up and down to see if you can move it as much as you should be able to. The doctor also will look for signs of redness and swelling and ask if the area is painful. Your doctor may want to order X-rays of the foot to check for other causes of pain, to determine whether there is significant arthritis and to see if the bones are aligned properly.
Non Surgical Treatment
Podiatrists will treat bunions conservatively, using paddings and orthotics, which are devices that are made to protect the joint or deviate pressure away from it. Sometimes bunions will develop overlying callus or corns. These can be removed by a podiatrist, but if the area is irritated again by wearing ill-fitting footwear, the corn will grow back. Most people with this condition have flat feet, so arch supports are often recommended.
Surgical Treatment
If these methods fail, then surgery may be suggested. Basically, bunion surgery is performed to improve function or to prevent pain from occurring. When surgery is delayed in a symptomatic foot, greater amounts of arthritis can develop and the more complicated surgery can become. Surgery is performed to improve alignment and function to the big toe joint. The large bump is removed and, sometimes, a cut is made into the bone, to move it to a more normal position. Screws, pins and wires can be used beneath the skin, to improve healing and results. Healing can range from 3-12 weeks, depending on the procedure.


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Is it really possible to eliminate the unhealthy relationships dominating our lives? Can we concentrate our time and emotional investment on relationships that are life-giving?
Yes. And no.
Speaking from the perspective of a life coach as well as one who has experienced her fair share of toxic relationships, I can attest to the fact that it is worth our time to consider all of our relationships with the eliminate and concentrate mindset (Did you know there's a whole chapter this eliminate and concentrate principle in Meet the New You?).
Most of our toxic relationships became that way over time or are the result of family dysfunction passed down from one generation to the next. Those connections can't be fixed overnight, but by the grace of God and with the right counsel, it is possible to pursue emotional and spiritual health in our relationships with family members and friends as well as coworkers.
Great relationships don't just happen.
They are the result of an intentionality and sacrifice. It's the choice to leave a task undone in order to engage in a meaningful phone call or chat together over a cup of tea. It's a sacrifice to let go of personal convenience so you can meet a need that a friend has in that moment. . . not later on. It's the decision to forgive through trusting God with the outcome. It's the decision to exercise boundaries even when it feels uncomfortable.
As moms, the great motivator for us comes through envision how a new legacy of emotionally healthy relationships will impact their lives.
Step 1. Evaluate Your Relationships
Set aside an hour or so to think prayerfully about all your relationships. Categorize them accordingly:
- immediate family
- extended family
- long-term friends
- long-distance friends
- close friends
- church friends
- community friends
- acquaintances
Go back to your list and next to each name, put one of the following marks:
- + (plus sign) = for those that are life-giving
- – (minus sign) = for those that are life-draining
- 0 (zero) = for those that are neither here nor there
As the final evaluation step, highlight or underline the names of the people you have to stay connected to because of proximity, family relations, or various work/ministry commitments.
Step 2. Consider the Beauty of Boundaries
Now that you've evaluated your relationships, what can you actually do to change them? Pray! Ask God to show you what you can change and what is beyond your "jurisdiction." For example:
- Are there conversations or topics that you should not bring up with certain people because they automatically lead to conflict long after the initial "agree-to-disagree" conversation?
- Do you have unhealthy habits with certain folks when it comes to how you spend time together or interact? Can you avoid that habit altogether or create a new one?
- Are there certain people you are not obligated to spend time with that you need to stop interacting with because of the toxicity of the relationships?
- Are there certain relationships in which you need to have an honest conversation about the hurt you've experienced in order to heal and move forward?
- Are there people you need to forgive?
- Do you need to seek forgiveness?
You might recall the thoughts I shared here about helping our tweens and teens cultivating healthy relationships and wise boundaries? Well the same principles apply to us as moms.
We also should think of ourselves as a house. Inside our house represents our private lives and there are only a few select people who get to hang out there because the Lord calls us to guard this sacred space (Proverbs 4:23). Our "heart-dwellers" are the few select people we trust wholeheartedly.
Outside of our house is our yard, marked off by a pretty white picket fence. This is the space for the majority of our friends and extended family members to hang out. They are the people we know well and care about, but are not "our heart dwellers" for a variety of reasons. We might lack common values or beliefs, we may not see each other much, or maybe there has been a break or hurt in our relationship.
Beyond the fence is the road, where we wave at all the people passing by. These are our acquaintances as well as folks we might see on a regular basis or have known for a long time, but we're not necessarily close friends. There may come a time when I invite these folks into our yard, but there is no obligation to do so.
Step 3. Choose to Concentrate Your Efforts
Who are the life-givers in your family, community, workplace, or church? These are the type of people you should seek to surround yourself with and be willing to give up time to connect with on a regular basis. These should be "your people" because they are good for you, both emotionally and spiritually. These life-giving relationships are worth investing in and shouldn't be pursued only for your gain. It's a two-way relationship where you get to be a life-giver, too.
[clickToTweet tweet="Relationships are prone to be messy, but God can make them beautiful." quote="Relationships are prone to be messy, but God can make them beautiful."]
I've lived through many relationship challenges with family members and friends, some of which were so difficult that I went to counseling for support and guidance. I've lived through estrangement from family members and endured the hardest of conversations. I've forgiven before the restoration process was even a possibility, and have had to learn how to continually forgive hurt. I have experienced the fruit of boundaries, the restorative work of forgiveness, and the grace of God sustaining me in difficult situations.
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18 NLT
I pray that as you bring your relationships before the Lord, He'll give you fresh hope and fill you with an overflowing measure of grace for those you are called to love.
If you're visiting from The Better Mom, welcome!
I'd love for you to join the More to Be Tribe Facebook Group and get to know you. Our little hangout online is steeped in encouragement and accountability.


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Search Results
Shard of the Heroes
"An Shard of the Heroes with engravings in a language you have never seen before"
Shard of the Heroes is a Quest Items item in Lords of the Fallen. Quest items are those that unlock special location
- Insert it into a statue in "Square of the Heroes" (where the bossfights against Commander and Beast take place) to receive above-mentioned rewards.
This item will allow you to do one of the following, depending on when (and where) you use it:
1. You will receive the daggers " Revenge" when placing the shard into the Rogue-statue during the boss-fight against either the Commander or the Beast (and let them destroy it). You will receive the weapon afterwards.
2. You will receive the sword " Warrior" when placing the shard into the Warrior-statue during the boss-fight against either the Commander or the Beast (and let them destroy it). You will receive the weapon afterwards.
3. You will receive the Hammer " Cleric" when placing the shard into the Cleric-statue during the boss-fight against either the Commander or the Beast (and let them destroy it). You will receive it afterwards.
4. After any of the Bossfights you may pray at one of the statues to reskill your character's Attribute points.
The bosses are scripted to destroy the statue at a certain point in the battle once you have used the Shard of the Heroes, so don't be alarmed once you use the item and they don't immediately destroy the statue - just keep attacking them and they'll eventually charge and destroy it.
- Get into the Keystone Citadel from the first door (Exit From Citadel/5) that you ever exited it, and traverse halfway upstairs greater steps. In the middle of those, is a huge statue to where you need to jump to, in order to get to the item: Northern Monastery Wing Door Key. Take it, and then continue to head upstairs and get to the greatest hall. From there get back to the hall before that one, past the big door that you have opened in the beginning. If the door is to the left once you are inside, use a opportunity to jump onto a platform to the right underneath a white long banner. Inside in the hallway, you can recover a Ghost Merge Shard by breaking a vase. Jump over the high spot to access a door. Open it by using the Northern Monastery Wing Door Key. Recover the Shard Of Heroes that lies beyond that door.
- Further secret's details/facts: Once/if you are ready for using it to choose one of three weapons and if still applicable an Xbox Achievement/PSN Trophy/Steam Achievement, get past Yetka (9) who is outisde at Keystone Monastery in front before the Yard where the Commander Boss battle is taking place.
You can choose to use the Shard Of Heroes on one of the three Hero Statues (3) in this Yard during any of those two Boss battles there at, in order to achieve their relative rewards. A Boss must destroy the chosen statue to reveal its corresponding item it yields. Alternatively you can use it anytime on any statue of those, to stall activity for the opportunity there, of a one time Attribitue Points and Spell Points reclaim, in current Cycle only. This can be completely redone/rechoiced in another Cycle.
Shard Of Heroes is a Quest Item, and therefore it resets accross Cycles.
- Anonymous
11 Aug 2018 01:58
What happens if you die in the fight after placing the Shard on a Statue but before the Beast Destroys said Statue? I'm guessing you're screwed on the Weapon and Trophy till next playthrough. Because I can not get Beast to trigger destroying the Statue at all now. He just keeps attacking me only till he is dead... :(ReplyReplies (0)
- Anonymous
26 Oct 2017 18:09
What happens if you die after you use it and the commander had mostly destroyed the statue? The statue was gone when I went back into the fight.ReplyReplies (0)
- Anonymous
26 Jan 2017 16:05
*****ReplyReplies (0)


text: ACTUAL BAT USED BY VLAD IN THE 2007 ALL STAR HOMERUN DERBY AND WON DERBY USING THIS BAT. BAT COMES WITH THE AUTHENTICATION MLB HOLOGRAM STICKER. BAT IS AUTOGRAPHED BY VLAD. The item "VLADIMIR GUERRERO 2007 ALL STAR HOMERUN DERBY USED BAT" is in sale since Thursday, February 09, 2017. This item is in the category "Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop\Game Used Memorabilia\Baseball-MLB\Bats". The seller is "jessegue" and is located in Los Angeles, California. This item can be shipped to United States.


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Only one month remaining and might be you start preparation for this big holiday. This festival mainly very famous for decoration and makeup. Are you thinking to make Spooky Halloween Decorations this year, then you are at right place. We have awesome collection of Spooky Halloween decoration ideas. Check the ideas below and enjoy the festival with your family and friends.
Spooky Halloween Decorations Ideas


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Finally we have a book for little tyke, Sasha! Here is photographic evidence of him committing such crimes.
Mister Sasha caught in the act!
So to preempt his imminent visit in a few months, Mummy bought Sasha this book – to get it into his little mind that my tail is not for his entertainment. Ha!
May's comment: Sweet little book in a Good Behaviour series. It's a "starting point to show young children how to develop good relationships by exploring and managing feelings in a positive way.


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Oak Street is full of beautiful things. Just a block off of Chicago's Michigan Ave, Oak Street is a shopping district decorated with lighted trees, lake-front views and elaborately beautiful store fronts. So when I walked by a darling Lilly … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: June 2013
Taco Cornbread Casserole
My roommate in college made the most amazing taco casserole on the planet. I wish that I was exaggerating, but I promise you I'm not. She made it for me a few times, but I never got the recipe from her. … Continue reading
Wine & Lace
One of my darling friends stumbled across a craft project that involved wine, lace and sparkle. It was right up our alley! So, we immediately picked up/ordered the supplies and as soon as they arrived, planned a craft afternoon for as … Continue reading
Since I got my lovely letterpress, I've been really getting into card-making. Since my custom templates for my wedding invitations haven't arrived yet, I've been making cards for every occasion I can find, just so I can play with my new … Continue reading


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This post contains affiliate links, purchases from which I may benefit.
Soon after finding out about this pregnancy, my husband and I decided we would transition S from co-sleeping with us to a toddler bed sometime before Baby #2's birth. The thought both excited and saddened me. I have never really spoken about our co-sleeping experience, particularly because there is much debate around it, but it was one I really cherished.
In an effort to make the transition go as smoothly as possible, my husband and I bought S this Mickey Mouse toddler bed since he is a big fan of Mickey.
We surprised him with the bed on Christmas morning, after nearly 1.5 years of co-sleeping. Admittedly, we almost returned the bed when we realized it sits on the floor. However, this has proven to actually be of huge convenience for S to safely climb in and out of bed on his own.
Not surprising at all, S loved it. He jumped in it and played with the clock at the foot of the bed immediately. Then, Christmas night, we told S we were going to put him to bed and told him to get to his bed in his room. Much to our surprise, he directed us to his bedroom and got into his bed! We read to him, played classical lullaby music and eventually he fell asleep... and slept in his bed through the night!
He has slept in his bed every night since. I know the arrival of Baby #2 might throw his sleep routine through a loop and seeing the baby in my and my husband's bedroom might make S want to sleep in our room again... We will cross that bridge when we get there, though.
For now, we're relishing in having our bed and bedroom to ourselves again and we are just SO proud of S for rocking his transition from co-sleeping to his very own bed.
Transition from Co-Sleeping to a Toddler Bed
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Labels: baby, Baby L, co-sleeping, toddler bed
3 comments
That is such a cute bed! I bet he loves sleeping in it. That's great that he transitioned so well! Sierra~Beautifully CandidReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 19, 2018 at 2:43 PM
Amazing! You should be so proud of him!!ReplyDelete
Over 2 million moms chose Babies' Magic Tea! The best natural and effective treatment for baby colic, has and acid reflux.ReplyDelete
Your baby will sleep through the night & so will you. But I'm open to suggestions, please check what is popular and let me know:
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New Delhi, Jul 25 : CBI has approached theExternal Affairs Ministry seeking revocation of the passport of Balkrishna, an aide for Yoga guru Ramdev, as the agency alleged that it was procured on the basis of fake documents.
The agency has also issued a look-out notice against Balkrishna after it registered a case against him under section 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) for procuring the fake degree and violation of section 12 of the Indian Passport Act (knowingly furnishing false documents for getting passport), CBI officials said. CBI sources said agency has written to the MEA to revoke the passport of Balkrishna.
"Since the passport is with him only, we have sought not only revocation of the travel document but also issuance of a Look out Notice against him so that he does not flee the country," the sources said.
The notice has been sent to airports, ports, major bus depots and border check points especially around the Indo-Nepal border.
Investigations on his citizenship were underway to ascertain whether he is an Indian or Nepali citizen, they said.
The Registrar of Sampurna Nand Sanskrit University, which issued the degrees, Rajnish Shukla said CBI matched records which showed that the enrolment numbers mentioned in the fudged documents belong to a different student.
Balkrishna's two degrees 'Purv Madhyma', a high school degree issued in 1991 and 'Shastri', a Sanskrit degree in 1996 don't figure in the university's records, Shukla said. The documents show Krishna Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, an affiliate of the university had issued the certificates which have been declared fake by the Vice-Chancellor of the University.
The CBI had taken all the documents from the Bareilly Passport office after the agency registering a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) to probe whether Balkrishna had acquired the travel documents using forged documents.
CBI officials said there were allegations thatBalkrishna had fudged certain documents and had acquired passport using forged documents which is a punishable offence under the Indian Passport Act.
The charges have been denied by Ramdev-controlled Patanjali Yogapeeth Trust. "Balkrishna's passport is valid. He got his passport about 12-13 years back. Why is the government now raising questions about it," Trust spokesperson S K Tijarawala had said earlier.
Besides questions being raised about his nationality, Balkrishna is under the scanner of the central investigating and law enforcement agencies for allegedly amassing wealth worth several crores of rupees disproportionate to his known sources of income. PTI


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Incredibly Beautiful
Tickle is a cute, fun and purpose built personal blogging WordPress theme. Designed by the incredible Jo Klima, there's a huge level of texture, detail and quality throughout this theme. Jo's beautifully delicate style is the perfect companion to you and your content. We've got some beautiful child themes available, as well as many more to come.
Attention to Detail
We've paid attention to all the fine details that make a website look great. In this case we've used some stunning textures to give the theme a very unique feel. In some places it's a very subtle hint of texture, and in others the texture stands out and grabs attention. Make sure to check out all of the various design elements and beautiful textures.
Multi Purpose Theme
We imagine Tickle could be used for anything from a Scrap style inspiration blog, to a fashion blog, interior design blog or even just a beautiful personal blog. We've gone for a really organic and natural finish for most of the variations, but the parent theme, while still beautiful, holds back on texture, making it the perfect platform to build on or modify.
Built to handle frequent and beautiful content; the Tickle theme is ideal for Bloggers of any skill level, but can be used for anything.
We've also included a set of icons with free future updates in the Bundle. Plus if you love icons there's some bonus Icon discounts too.
As with all of our themes, you can use all the features and extras, or just stick to a standard blog format that we've ensured looks fantastic.
No need to figure anything out. An intuitive control panel makes sure everything you need easy to set up, and ready to go.


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The Ghost is a common enemy in the Cemetery map.
Speed: Fast
Speed: Fast
Speed: Fast
Its tentacles and shape give the Ghost an appearance similar to a jellyfish. The Ghost is white with gray specks in it, has red eyes and a deformed mouth. It can also be seen. It has a total of 5 tentacles.
It is also seen in the form of a Blue Ghost. The Blue Ghost is the boss of this level and pretty much a blue-skinned version with higher stats. There is also a castle counterpart, the Castle Ghost.
When it dies, it seems to attack at first, but isn't actually. This can give a fright to those trying to three star levels, but only when killing them at very close ranges.
- The ghost is somewhat based on the Ghast from Minecraft.
- The death sound of the ghost is also similar to the death scream of the Ghast from Minecraft.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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¹²Investing For The Next 5 Years
By Larry Laborde | 27 September 2010
Even though perhaps as many as 20% of the working age people in the US are unemployed, 80% are still working. Young people fall in love, babies are born and the inevitable funeral awaits us all at the end of our earthly journey. But what a joy life can be if you simply make the right choices and choose to enjoy them. One of my favorite sayings is happiness is not about getting what you want but simply wanting what you get.
Many people are uncertain about just exactly how to invest in these troubled economic times. Private capital seems to be fleeing the stock market as it not only seems to have gone nowhere this last decade but has even lost ground when considering the steady erosion effects of inflation as it devalues our dollars. Even though we may hold the same amount of dollars in our accounts at the end of the decade as when we crossed over into the year 2000 those dollars have shrunk quite a bit when considering their purchasing power.
Many of those dollars that have left the stock market have rushed into the supposed safety of bonds. With the falling revenues and increasing expenditures of municipalities and state governments (especially in lavish defined benefit pension funds) default cannot be far off. US bonds are not much better but will last a bit longer before the inevitable default occurs; either through outright default or the slow painful type that pays off in 'future' dollars that buy less and less than the past dollars that purchased those same bonds.
Bonds may realize a further gain if the interest rates drop further— but how much lower can they go? If the interest rates go up (more likely than going lower) the value of [[a pre-mature: normxxx]] bond will drop. Bonds just do not look as good going forward as they have in the past.
Most investment advisors will tell you that you should only invest in stocks and bonds. Invest heavy in stocks when young and change the mix to a heavier allocation into bonds as you get older. This is looking to be a less and less promising strategy as we go forward into this economic storm.
There are 7 classes of investments out there; stocks, bonds [[and other 'fixed income' investments: normxxx]], cash [[and cash 'equivalents': normxxx]], precious metals, commodities, collectibles, and income-producing real estate. Real estate still seems like it has lower to go (especially commercial real estate). Cash is not bad, but there is a cost to hold it as inflation exceeds ordinary interest right now. Commodities are becoming more and more popular [[altogether too popular: normxxx]]. People had made fortunes in agricultural commodities as of late due to the Russian drought, a growing world population, and third world prosperity that is hungry for a better diet. Precious metals have been in a bull market (when priced in fiat currency) for the last decade and will probably continue to be a good investment going into the next decade, as they are increasingly recognized as the premier form of cash. [[But beware of increased, stomach-churning volatility going forward.: normxxx]]
Economic storms are not about smooth sailing or even about passing other boats in the race. They are about survival. Storm sails and sea anchors are not about speed. They are about surviving through the storm, then taking stock of the horizon afterwards and then adjusting our sails and continuing onward.
Preserving our capital in this economic storm should be our number one priority. Making money should be secondary. The time for great profits will come a bit later after the storm. However, if your boat has capsized and sunk then you are out of the race, and when the storm clouds clear and the sun does reappear, you will be unable to take advantage of fair winds and favorable seas.
So how exactly do we rig for storm? Only invest in what you understand. If you do not understand the business plan of a company you are invested in then read up on it. If it does not make sense to you then get out. If the prospectus looks like an old Sears and Roebuck mail order catalogue then simply pass on that one. Charlie Munger said that at Berkshire they had 3 buckets; good investments, bad investments and just too hard to understand investments.
[[Look for "World Dominator" stocks [1]; ie, whose customer base is geographically distributed, which seems to have an assured future— including revenue growth during "up" periods and no significant loss during "down" periods, which is providing an essential/needed product/service (which is not likely to become obsolete in the foreseeable future), has an investor friendly, innovative management (this may be hard to judge; but use the opinions of several gurus whose advice you have come to respect; in particular, look for the capacity to 'expand' its current franchise into seemingly unrelated or tangentially related fields— such as google or microsoft— and/or can quickly match or usually anticipates the new products of competitors— such as intel), has a high 'moat' against new competitors, a very consistent profit margin (preferrably over several years), pays a reasonable dividend (in-line with industry) with a good history of ever increasing dividends (very few or no "bad" years), etc.
Remember to be especially on the lookout for 'future' world dominators, ie, medium-sized companies with seemingly unlimited potential to grow, eg, in the attributes described for the WDs (most such are relatively 'boring' companies, like Wal-Mart or Exxon; Microsoft and Intel are probably two of the most 'exciting' stocks in this group, but are not any better than the rest).: normxxx]]
Even the best of investments should be shied away from if they are too hard to understand. Stocks are not altogether poor investments if you are a good picker and are willing to do your homework, but by and large most are overpriced right now. When P/E ratios get back around 5 to 7 and good dividends are being paid out then it will be time to re-enter the market with the capital that we saved from the storm.
Lazy stock investors will have a hard time surviving this storm. Municipal bonds should only be invested in when you have knowledge of the individual municipality and feel comfortable with their fiscal position. (I know of few to none right now.)
US government bonds are simply a bet that Washington DC has the right answers and will guide us through this mess with responsible policies (It is hard to type and laugh at the same time.) If you feel that you must invest in bonds then try only short-term bonds or long term bonds that mature in 1 year or less. Just remember to be out of them at least one day before they default.
There are simply no shortcuts in this process. You simply have to grow up and do your homework on your investments. My father used to lament that it is hard to make money but it is even harder to invest it wisely enough to hang onto it. I now know exactly what he was talking about.
I have always recommended a 10% investment in precious metals (metals that you own outright and hold in your hands) as portfolio insurance. In these uncertain times a 20 to 25% allocation is not too much. Don't look to others to take care of you.
Social security will probably not be around for those of you under 45 right now. Social Security has just gone into deficit spending 6 years ahead of schedule. It will be 'means tested', real payments will be reduced through inflation [[the current COLA will be discontinued or discounted: normxxx]], and the retirement age will slowly creep up to where it seems many people will never get there at all (sort of like the carrot on a stick).
Defined benefit plans will go bankrupt after payments are reduced through inflation. Few such plans are fully funded these days, and funding will only get worse going into this storm. Cash, while expensive to hold, is still not bad and probably deserves a 20 to 25% allocation right now. Just make sure your cash is held in the right place.
Most money market funds are paying close to zero and some even 'broke the buck' back in 2008. Many more may head below $1/share as interest payments drop and fees are subtracted. Stay away from the large New York banks as they are all the walking dead. While it is true that DC may bail them out forever it is just possible that things may not work out so well for them into the future.
I also consider it morally reprehensible to deal with them at all. Look at local banks that have a strong bank rating. Also consider credit unions. Just do not keep over $100,000 in any one institution. Spread it around a bit and hedge your bets.
There will be bargains in the future when the storm passes and you must have wealth to be able to play. The stock market will be a bourse with more sellers than buyers as the largest generational demographic enters retirement age and starts cashing in on their investments to live during their old age. Most stocks in the US are overpriced as their P/E ratios are too high and the dividends are non-existent.
Capital appreciation is the only way to profit with most stocks nowadays and that is a long shot with most of them in today's storm. Stock markets in the third world or in the emerging markets will show great promise after the storm, however, they could prove a bit risky just now. Start a list of possible investments for later. Research them and follow their progress through the storm.
It is a bit early to invest but it is never too early to start your watch list with target purchase prices. (This is why you need the cash.) Good agricultural real estate and solid commercial real estate will be great buys at the bottom so start looking around at targets to purchase in the future. Finally, consider opening a family bank or your own venture capital investment company.
Instead of investing in Dow Jones stock consider investing in your nephew, your grandson or another bright young relative. Unemployment is extremely high among the younger generation. Encourage them to learn a trade such as a plumber, electrician, machinist, painter, landscaper or commercial driver. Anything that interests them will work.
If they cannot find a job then encourage them to create their own and start a business. Make a small loan and then mentor them in their business ventures. Help with insurance selection, cash flow, employee relations; all the things that you have learned for the last 30 years in business. Help make them a success. See what the bank would charge for a small business loan and then make that same loan for a couple of points less. The return on your capital will be much greater than the bank is paying. You can control the risk by mentoring them.
Many people complain that the banks are not lending. They are also complaining that the banks are not paying interest on savings. Well just cut them out and make those loans directly through your family bank. It will take honest talk between both parties as well as a little legal work to have everything perfectly understood up front. The results can be amazing for both parties.
Housing will be another area where there will be much more pain to come. Home mortgages will be harder to get and harder to service. While I think we will see inflation in things we need and import such as food and energy, I think we will see deflation in assets such as houses and luxury items that we can do without. I believe we will see 'intergenerational homes' more and more in the coming years.
There is a great opportunity for building contractors to convert the sprawling 5 bedroom ranch house into a modern intergenerational home for the coming decade. A remodel that offers 3 master bedroom suites each with private bath, bedroom and sitting room along with common rooms such as common kitchen, den, dining and laundry rooms will create a powerful economic family unit that will still allow for a certain amount of privacy. Grandparents with their own mini apartment or suite can provide childcare as well as transmit family values to the next generation.
Older adults still working can provide economic stability and allow younger adult children to take risks and open a new business. The key to this new family arrangement is converting the 5 bedroom ranch into a family home with 3 master suites or apartments allowing for private spaces for each generation. Kitchen, laundry and dining rooms are public spaces [[but need to be rebuilt as 'shareable': normxxx]] whereas the master suites are private spaces.
This will allow for families to live together in harmony. The younger generation has been hardest hit in this storm. For those that do not have the luxury of a conventional job, the new economy will work best if they seek several streams of income through contract work at different part time jobs. All three generations working together will allow for flexibility and many different income streams to support the home in case one or more are lost.
Debt will be a killer in the future. If you can pay off your home, credit cards and car then do so. Try to operate with cash as much as possible or at least pay off your credit card every month. Live below your means and save all you can every month. Make sure you have 6 months of living expenses in savings (preferably in a credit union). Also try to have an emergency fund of a few thousand dollars at home or close by.
In these economic times family and neighbors will be more important than ever before. As government assistance and services disappear in this storm, it will be family and neighbors that pull each other through.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Investing For The Next 5 Years
Posted by normxxx at 8:46 PM
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Mo Brooks is doubling down on an endorsement from a conservative super PAC that rose to prominence part of the "Never Trump" movement.
Last week, the New Jersey-based Courageous Conservatives PAC endorsed Brooks, the Alabama congressman and candidate for U.S. Senate facing incumbent Luther Strange in the crowded Aug. 15 Republican primary.
As reported by AL.com, Courageous Conservatives had spent more than $46,000 on anti-Trump ads – with only $87 to attack Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016. The group supported Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the GOP primary, spending about $186,000.
The PAC also played a role in the "Dump Trump" movement to transfer delegates during the Republican National Convention.
One of the Courageous Conservatives ads in the 2016 cycle blasted Trump over his list of prospective Supreme Court nominees, which included Bill Pryor, a federal judge who served as a former Alabama Attorney General.
The ad was critical of Trump's inclusion of Pryor, taking him to task for removing Roy Moore off the Alabama Supreme Court "for displaying the Ten Commandments."
Brooks told AL.com he was unaware of the February 2016 ad, saying it was "a question for Roy Moore."
"I'm not going to engage in this kind of debate about whether an entity is 100 percent in agreement with me all the time," Brooks added. "They are conservatives who have the courage to stand up to establishment, moneyed candidates, and tried to get elected to various offices principled conservatives, and I agree with that."
As a super PAC, Courageous Conservatives cannot directly coordinate with Brooks' Senate campaign. But the congressman did say its support could be helpful in the primary.
"I saw what they did in Virginia just because of my work in Washington," Brooks said, talking about what the PAC did for Corey Stewart in the Virginia governor's race, in which he lost the primary by less than 5,000 votes.
"My knowledge of Courageous Conservatives focuses primarily on the impact they had on the Virginia Republican primary and how much they boosted Corey Stewart's campaign," Brooks told AL.com. "That's my knowledge of Courageous Conservatives."
Brooks is one of 10 candidates in the special election to determine who will serve the remainder of the Senate term of Jeff Sessions, who left to become Trump's attorney general. Then-Gov. Robert Bentley appointed Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange to the seat earlier this year. A primary runoff, if necessary, will be Sept. 26; the general election is Dec. 12.


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Call us: (707) 526-0529
Masters Swim: An organized lap swim workout with coaching from Rick Niles and Karen Chequer-Pfeiffer. Workouts are of various lengths incorporating all strokes. Instruction will be given on stroke technique. This class is free and open to swimmers with some ability to swim 4 main strokes and enough cardio conditioning to swim for 60 minutes. schedule
Aqua Aerobics: A non-impact aerobic and muscle-conditioning workout which takes place in both deep and shallow water. Equipment is used in this class which is provided by the club. Participants are encouraged to bring a water belt for the deep water exercises. Water Belts may be purchased at the front desk or on-line. Aqua aerobics is a great, safe, low impact, high energy workout. schedule


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We have state of the art mobile Liebherr cranes to handle all types of project cargo. Our equipment and highly trained staff provide fast and efficient solutions to handle all types of heavy lifts.
Dublin Stevedores Limited
No.2 Ramp, Ocean Pier,
Alexandra Road, Dublin 1
view map
Phone: +353 1 855 5236
Fax number: +353 1 801 4316


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Thursday, March 29, 2012
Fun Bites Review & Giveaway 4-12
19 comments:
I learned that FunBites is dishwasher safe. Thank you. Laurie Adams,firstname.lastname@example.com
that the food pops out and it remains untouchedReplyDelete
catherine0807 at hotmail dot com
Great for picky eaters and bento lunches! These are great!ReplyDelete
this is fun for all ages. You can use it on Tofu or watermelon!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 31, 2012 at 9:14 PM
they were featured in real simpleReplyDelete
FunBites is BPA free and can be hand washed or is top-shelf dishwasher safe.ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
It's dishwasher safe firstname.lastname@example.com nikki berginReplyDelete
I like that it can cut more than just sandwiches.ReplyDelete
I learned some fun ideas of things you can cut with it...like burgers and cheese!ReplyDelete
- BP MammyApril 4, 2012 at 2:17 PM
I learned you can get kids to eat the food they don't want by making it look like food they do want! THANKS!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 4, 2012 at 3:17 PM
great for pricky eatersReplyDelete
Lisa Janson
100% MADE IN THE USA. ~ Angie BaileyReplyDelete
I love the creativity this can give parts to make food fun. So many wonderful possibilities!ReplyDelete
I learned you can use it on pancakes, sandwiches, watermelon and more!ReplyDelete
It is dishwasher safe which means i want it!ReplyDelete
They have curved blades that cut the food into small bites.ReplyDelete
I learned that they're BPA free and made in the USA!ReplyDelete
the way it is made you can cut the food into shapes and keep your hands clean and the food is untouched, much better than me trying to do it with a knife!ReplyDelete


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Today's look for Sara-May's 'May 2011 FOTD Challenge' is pin up. I absolutely love the pin up look because it's classic and flattering on everyone. I especially adore the defined crease eye look a la Marilyn Monroe and I've already done a post on this look. Check it out here. I wasn't planning on taking part in today's challenge since I had already done something similar but I love it so much that I decided to give it another go!
My previous post was more of a classic pin up eye but today's one has a bit of a twist as I used a pastel blue eyeshadow on the lid instead of the normal shimmery/matte beige colour. I first wore this look to a friend's hens night a few weeks back and I loved it! I paired it with NARS Heatwave on the night but I think this eye looks gorgeous with a nude/light pink lip.
To get this look I decided to use my Coastal Scents Originial 88 palette. I numbered the colours on the picture below as a reference (click to view bigger) and I'll explain how I used them in the look.
I used:
Urban Decay Primer Potion all over the lid up to the brow bone.
MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot all the lid up to the brow bone as a base for the shadows.
The first eyeshadow I put down was colour 1 from the CS Palette which is a light cool brown and I used this to lightly define the crease concentrating the colour on the outer half of the crease.
I then patted colour 5 from the CS palette which is a shimmery pastel blue all over the lid just up to crease.
I then picked up some of colour 2 from the CS pallete (which is a dark cool brown) on an angled brow/liner brush and drew in a defined crease. I then blended the top of this line out with a tapered blending brush.
I then picked up some of colour 3 from the CS palette (which is a matte black) on the same angled brush and darkened the crease a bit concentrating on the outer edge of the line and then blended the top of the line out.
I used colour 4 from the CS palette (a pastel peach) as a brow bone highlight and a mixture of colour 4 and colour 6 as highlight around my tear duct.
I used Rimmel Exaggerate liquid liner in black all along my top lashline and ended the line in a flick.
I used Rimmel Soft Kohl liner in White on my water line and Rimmel Sexy curves mascara on my top lashes.
I finished the look off by adding so half lashes on the outer part of my lashline.
I chose to pair today's look with a red lip and went with NYX Hot Red lipliner and NYX Snow White lipstick.


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No one knows the real estate market in Shelby County like the seasoned real estate pros at Down South Realty Inc. That's because the folks behind Down South have a 24 year history of helping people just like you find the new home or investment property you're looking for, with minimum hassle and maximum satisfaction.
Whether you're looking to purchase a new home, sell your old home or find the rental property that's right for you and your family's short-term needs, Down South Realty can help.
We are the Wilsonville area experts on:
• Home buying
• Home selling
• Land sales
• Waterfront properties
• Commercial properties
• Rentals
Thanks to our long acquaintance with the local real estate markets, we can point you in the right direction for your successful property transaction.
Down South's Licensed Broker/Agent Provides Turnkey Real Estate Services
We'll not only help you find your ideal property – we'll assist you at every step throughout the buying process. That includes negotiation on pricing and terms, securing a mortgage to expedite purchase of your new home and providing guidance to make sure the closing goes smoothly.
Call Down South Realty today to find out why so many Shelby County, AL residents consider us the go-to real estate agency serving the Wilsonville area.
We're standing by to help at 205-669-1933.


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The clients asked was for a large family house of doctors.
The plot was positioned with the sun and the view in opposite directions, while the size of the plot wouldn't allow an access to the view to all houses' spaces.
The project came to respond to those problems by giving a priority to the view to the main living spaces, that are crossed by a deck from both sides that multiply the open spaces in the side. The stone wall creates a back to the sitting area and privacy to the swimmingpool.
The surface of the wall at the stairs with the glass will work as a heater for the house in winter while it's shading will protect it in summer.
All rooms have cross ventilation, and sun from the south. The rooftops that don't have rooftiles will have green roofs for better insulation.


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Veterans Day hit home for a lot of families at Sangster Elementary School in Springfield on Tuesday -- and the school had its largest celebration yet.
This year more students were outside for the actual ceremony, which was fed inside the school for all the students to watch live.
In previous years the ceremony was videotaped and shown to students who couldn't participate outside.
About 20 percent of the families at Sangster are military. And the school has an active group that supports military families.
Brenda Stuart, president of the Military Spouses Group, says the organization offers support to military families coming into the D.C. area.
The school principal, Lisa Reddell, is thankful for the group's effort both at the school and for organizing the Veterans Day activities for the past three years. Active military personnel from all five branches of the armed services attended today's ceremony.
Students heard the poem "I am the Flag" by Ruth Apperson Rous.
The school's chorus also performed.


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2. Palo Alto, California
If you have a serious amount of wiggle room with your budget, then you should really check out Palo Alto, California. Yes, the housing costs are amongst the highest in America. But you are getting what you pay for, for once.
First, let's have a look at the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) which is a top-rated school district that serves 12,000 students. There is also an Adult Education school for personal development and career advancement.
Then, there is the sheer volume of amenities to contend with: museums, zoos, proximity to San Francisco, libraries, and a vast amount of green space to take into consideration. It is kind of like a Walgreens commercial. But real.


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It can be rather tricky buying shoes due to there being so many styles to choose from. What is it that you search for when shoe shopping? Do you always wear the latest styles? There are numerous questions that need answers prior to any shopping excursion. If you want to learn more about shoe shopping, read on!
Have both of your feet measured if you're unsure of your size. Sometimes, one foot is bigger than the other. Find a pair that fits the bigger foot.
Don't wear flip-flops out on the town. They offer no support, and they can cause injury to your ankles and toes. Limit your wearing them to places near water.
You need to be sure that your shoes are always comfortable. You need your feet to stay in great condition, and your shoes play a big part. If shoes do not feel right or your feet start hurting, you can damage your feet. This can cause future problems, so it's best to make sure your shoes fit right and feel good.
Before you buy shoes for exercising, find out what type of arch you have because different athletic shoes fit different arch types. Get your foot wet and stand on a sheet of paper. The parts that show up wet will reveal your arch type. If you have a flat arch, most of your footprint will show. If, on the other hand, your arch is considered high, you will not be able to see most of your footprint. This will help you find comfortable shoes.
An athletic shoe purchase requires an investment. This is especially important if you exercise. They will give your feet the proper support. Your feet won't be supported properly by shoes not designed for this purpose.
Don't just go on the assumption that they will eventually be broken in. They should fit well the first time you try them on. They might stretch as you think they might. If they hurt or give you blisters, they may just sit in your closet and gather dust.
Before you buy a pair of shoes, walk in them. Walk around in the shoe store a bit to make sure the shoes feel as good while walking as they do while you are sitting. Feel for any rubbing. Doing this means you won't feel bad for purchasing a pair of shoes that don't work for you.
You don't want to overpay for shoes, and you don't want to underpay either. Shoes designed for walking and running are made from tough materials and they are costly, but the money is well worth it. However, it's foolish to pay a lot of money just because a shoe is celebrity endorsed.
Never buy bargain shoes that are a bit too small or uncomfortable, while thinking they will get better with time. It usually doesn't work out that way, and you'll instead end up with a pricey pair of shoes you never wear. If you have corns or bunions, you can have the shoes professionally stretched.
As previously stated, you can never know too much about shoes. It can be hard to navigate the selections, the stores and the sales. Thankfully, however, you have found the article here and it gave you some tips. Use these tips the next time you go out and make a shoe purchase.


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Chocolate Brownie Cheese Ball
3 Tbsp powdered peanut butter mixed with 1.5 Tbsp water
8oz 1/3 less fat Cream Cheese (also called Neufchatel cheese), room temperature
2 ½ Tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups Splenda or granulated Stevia
½ cup mini chocolate chips
In a deep bowl, mix together peanut butter with cream cheese. Stir in cocoa powder and vanilla.
Gradually add in the Splenda and stir until well blended and creamy.
Line a small bowl with plastic wrap and spoon the mixture into the bowl, covering with the edges of the plastic wrap. Freeze for 6 hours or until firm.
Remove from plastic wrap and cover the cream cheese mixture with mini chocolate chips. Serve with sliced apple.
Makes one cheese ball, about 20 servings
Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
Calories 62
Fat 4.2g
Saturated Fat 2.7g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 8.0mg
Sodium 55mg
Potassium 10.6mg
Carbohydrate 6.5g
Fiber 0.5g
Sugar 3.3g
Protein 1g
**Nutrition analysis does not include fruit.
Modified from chocolatecoveredkatie.com


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White Skinny's: Nordstrom // Watch: Michael Kors // Necklace: Kendra Scott
Rules were made to be broken, and the whole "no white after Labor Day" thing, just doesn't work for me.
This season will be all about blending fall whites and neutrals together, to make one cozy look! I've already started shooting outfits for fall (yes, it was really hot trying to wear a scarf in September) but it's been so much fun! I've already pulled out a bunch of ankle booties, cable-knit scarves and puffer vests. All that's missing is a cold front!
Until then, I'm gradually transitioning my wardrobe from summer to fall. It has basically been trading in my denim shorts for skinny jeans, and keeping the short sleeve tops until it gets chilly outside. Maybe it has to do with my hair being lighter, but I'm adding more white into my wardrobe. I've never been a big proponent of a color that stains so easily, but I'm slowly coming around.
To keep my summer clothes current, I've been adding more fall elements to the mix, while still keeping it light. It's not cold enough to add a hat or scarf. Because of that, I'm sticking to chunky jewelry and sunglasses until further notice. As soon as a cold front comes in, you guys will be the first to know! I will immediately lose the tank tops and be in fall whites like these new favorites!
**For a sneak peek at what's to come, follow along on Instagram and see all the candid pics about pumpkin spice lattes, fall leaves and everything else!


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Real Thai On, the new Thai restaurant on Jane, got off to a very bad start, breaking the law in addition to earning itself a yellow card.
When it was inspected by Toronto Public Health on January 30, the restaurant had violated the Municipal Code: nobody with a food handler's certificate was working, and the license was not clearly posted.
In addition, and more worryingly, Real Thai On was given a yellow card for not providing handwashing supplies, not ensuring food safety, and not keeping hazardous foods cold. That last one is a rarely-seen "Crucial" infraction.
Leisureworld Caregiving Centre down the street was also given a yellow card for handwashing supplies.
Poon's Express on Weston Road added flavour by fermenting dangerous food at temperatures above 4ºC, a yellow-cardable offense. It also pulled in tickets for not washing up or using utensils to keep patrons safe.


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For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will … Continue reading 25 years worth of lessons, failures, and victories
Hopeful Exultation in Life or Death
Can you name all four sets of parents from the fourth generation before ya? It be your grandparents' grandparents I'm talking about. Name them all if you can. Now if you like me, well you can't do it. I honestly don't know their stories or even names. I been observing my generation and this up-n-rising one … Continue reading Hopeful Exultation in Life or Death
Poor, Wayfaring Stranger
God's work, done in God's way, will never lack God's supplies -- Hudson Taylor I share Hudson Taylor's quote above: He was the first missionary to these foreign lands I reside in. I've heard that quote used a bunch of times from a man that has my highest respect and admiration, ole D. Tabb. What … Continue reading Poor, Wayfaring Stranger
The Light
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, " I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." -- John 8:12 If you just clicked on this post, this blog post is second part in a series on the idea: ABIDE. Highly recommend reading … Continue reading The Light
XXX: Restless Wayward Child
No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. -- C.S. Lewis As I sit in a Pacific Coffee shop my mind races. Puzzled on how to begin writing what is bursting at the seam to be put down on digital ink. The overwhelming thought on what exactly is the point of … Continue reading XXX: Restless Wayward Child
Courage at the Forks in Life
Joy alone cannot unfold the deepest truths, although deepest truth must be the deepest joy -- George MacDonald I can't believe it is already April. That all so funny date is approaching this month, 4/20. How I use to long for that day in college. I truly believed I was experiencing life caught up in … Continue reading Courage at the Forks in Life
What are we meant to be?
You know I'm having a hard time putting digital ink down with this question. I think this is a question every human being has, currently, or will struggle with at one time or another. I mean how can my 24 years of life experience be enough wisdom on this matter? Won't stop me from trying to … Continue reading What are we meant to be?


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About 20 years ago I had a friend who told me that if I stayed with my partner we'd have to go to couples therapy for the rest of our lives.
She wasn't exactly a big fan of the relationship.
So as our 26th anniversary approaches, and I revisit, well, everything because the over-examined life is…well, worth living though it could be suggested that I might give myself a break once in a while (note to self: get off my back!), I remember what she said and the extreme emphasis she put on every syllable.
Now anyone who has read this blog knows that my partner and I go through couples therapists like toilet paper (sorry, couldn't think of a better comparison). In fact, we have just fired The Stork for the 2nd time. We don't exactly like couples therapy. My partner even begged me to not even look for a new therapist for a while. (This is new, since I'm usually the anti-therapy advocate.)
So, we can't be in couples therapy for the rest of our lives.
Nor can we be like that ad for E-Harmony saying, "My wife is a blessing to me," or "I finally found a man of quality." We more closely resemble Ben Affleck's Oscar remarks to Jennifer Garner. "We've worked really hard on this marriage and marriage is hard, and it's the best work there is. Thank you for working with me."
Add to the above statement the following: "Because I know I am an unbelievable pain in the ass and completely whacked out." (Me.) "Because I know I am an unbelievable pain in the ass and that my neurotic monologues about details drive you crazy." (Her.)
So, to get to my point. Closeness is hard! I mean, yes, of course, it feels good, maybe better than just about anything else, but then you get really scared and you start to freak out, so you have to distance a little (or a lot) just to not freak out in super unskillful ways and then your partner senses you distancing and starts to freak out and gets all clingy, and then you freak out that she's getting all clingy just when you need space and then you have a massive fight and have to work on admitting all your own bullshit so you don't get a divorce.
I exaggerate. But only slightly.
26 years. That means we've known each other for 30. The other day I woke up and said, "How come I married such a goofball?" And she said, "I don't know. Why do you think?" And I said, "I guess I couldn't find anyone better." And she said, "I'm taking that as a compliment." And then she hugged me for a really long time as if I'd said the best thing ever.
The truth is, I've never found anyone I liked more even if she is incredibly neurotic and can't make a decision to save her life and buys every pair of pants in her size on her Gap credit card and then brings it all home so she's have MORE time to decide and then loses the receipt and has to keep 12 pairs of pants from the Gap.
However, right now, this week, I bought her two pieces of furniture for her birthday, because believe it or not, that's what she likes, but the colors were just a shade off and she's like, "I want to do something small for my birthday so we can save our money and you can go to New York and be an actor."
Like I said, I couldn't find anyone better.
Of course, three weeks ago she yelled at me and I felt really hurt and she was appalled at herself, and I had to admit I'd raised my voice first….it was an exception to our usual, but there have been years where that kind of fighting was our usual, though thank whatever/whoever it is now some 15 years in the past (1998 was a suck year in this marriage).
Anyhow. It upsets me that romance is idealized so much, because wanting the fairy tale, believing it's the thing, led me to stay in my first real relationship, which was romantic, and passionate, and eventually destructive. It upsets me that we understand so little about intimacy. How much forgiveness it requires, how much being in reality. I can only know my partner if I am willing to see her, as she is, and I can only see her as she is if I set aside illusions about what it means to be human, as well as all my illusions of how love will save me. Then I can know the sum of her.
My partner is incredibly unbelievably loving, and she loves to take care of me, and she can be generous, and connected, and grounded and so inside her own goodness…and she can be mean, and passive aggressive and wanting her own way no matter what, and sometimes she tries to change me and sometimes she's just plain grouchy. Besides the daily neurosis which is alternately my entertainment and my frustration. Is she a blessing, a moment of grace? Yes. But sometimes grace is kicking me to change where I really don't want to, and sometimes grace is turning and telling her (or her telling me) that I'm me, and this thing that bothers her isn't changing because I don't want it to.
What I love about marriage is the attention. Both the attention she gives me and the attention I get to pay, the way my consciousness rests and wrestles and battles its way to more light, all the time, as I fall into shadow with my partner, as I work my way out, or as we do it together. There may be periods of pure light, but the shadows will fall, again and again, because that's what marriage is…continuing to pull yourself, each other, the coupleship, into growth, into closeness, into the kind of knowing that comes from admitting all of who you are–insecure, gifted, warm, distracted, loving, passionate, moral, broken.
I have never known anyone as well as I know my partner, and so I have never loved anyone as much. I am humbled by knowing my partner, and frustrated, and enlightened, and brought down into my own failings and then made better by how much I love her, which causes me to work on those very failings, or at least on more honesty, all the time.
It's not ideal. Or maybe it is. Maybe this private, wonderful, irritating life is the ideal. Only Jesus, can someone besides Ben Affleck admit how irritating it is? How difficult? He had it right. It's such hard work. And the best work there is. Marriage is a human making experience. I am made human by the struggle, by the forgiveness, by the sheer fun and ridiculousness, by seeing how I want to get even when I'm hurt, by seeing how hard I'll try to stop hurting the person I love most.
26 years. My narcoleptic genius of the mundane will read this on her Facebook page and then she'll say, "How about a little more on your faults?"
PS–I could have written more about marriage equality. Metta for the Supreme Court. May they have the sanity to know that making second class citizens hurts all of us.


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Programmed Industrial Maintenance
Contact Details
Level 3
47 Burswood Road
Burswood WA 6100
+61 8 9216 2100
Other Locations
Company Profile
Programmed Industrial Maintenance is a leading provider of managed maintenance solutions to the Resources, Utililies, Ports, Light & Heavy Industrial, Defence, Oil & Gas key market sectors across Australia. Our maintenance solutions range from supplementary maintenance crews, through to fully outsourced maintenance models. Programmed Industrial Maintenance services include: Industrial Maintenance Facilities management (upgrades / refurbishments) Shutdown management and execution Scaffolding services Workshop services (10 workshops nationally) Asset Integrity Projects Capital works projects Painting & Blasting Workshop Services include: Fabrication Welding Machining Asset Management Asset Integrity & Capital Works Projects: Our team brings extensive knowledge and experience across a wide range of industrial sites, commercial facilities, equipment & infrastructure. Core services includes: Repairs Upgrades Expansions Refurbishments New construction works
Products and Services
General maintenance and fixed plant works
24 hour call out and breakdown coverage
Campaign and shutdown or turnaround maintenance
Shutdown management and execution
Asset Integrity Programs
Asset Management
Facilities management (upgrades / refurbishments)
Capital works and projects
Painting and Blasting
Workshop services:
Poly welding
Fitting and repair facilities and teams
Scaffolding services


text:
fbi relies on FEAR
The fbi relies on the fear of the public in order to engage in the fbi's own crime spree against selected Targets, such as I.
**Fbi Relies On FEAR**
The fbi is today a global MAFIA whose agents, operatives, assets and all police (including INTERPOL) engage in atrocities and at times crimes against humanity. Like the MAFIA that we all know as an organized crime syndicate, the fbi relies in part on fear, threats, torture and murder to enforce obedience to their mandates.
See also:
** Understand that the fbi, also like the MAFIA, become when convenient human monsters, and psychopaths; they frequently direct others to assist in their sadistic crimes such as mayhem, torture and murder. All who assist the fbi/MAFIA in their crime spree (which is unprecedented in human affairs as a result of high tech torture tools such as DEW, i.e. directed energy weaponry) are accomplices to the crimes. I have named many of them in my reports, including doctors, lawyers, realtors and judges (especially federal magistrate judges- hereinafter referred to as 'fmj'). Even my neighbors eagerly assist the fbi in assaulting me. The fbi also sends a little army of street thugs to criminally assault me frequently (included in the street thug category are security guards and cops). For these reasons I report online that the United States of America (USA) has become a nation of psychopaths. The following information is contained in my report entitled, "geral sosbee presents" at several sites; the report shows additional examples of the crimes that I reference in my work (for descriptions of more crimes by the fbi/MAFIA and company see my sworn affidavits 2007 and 2014 online).**
** Excerpt from geral sosbee presents:**
I have proven that the fbi engages in the following crimes regularly:
Torture by DEW, attempted murder by chemically induced kidney stone and strategically placed bacterial infection near brain, extreme psychological assaults and provocations as a method to arrest the Target (or to force final exits), repeatedly & for decades pump toxic gas into the residence of Targets, turn some cops into assassins and turn cops at every level into thugs who fraudulently threaten the Target with arrest, send infected operatives to spread communicable diseases to others (My own medical clearances are available online);
and evidence continues to mount that fbi threatens and achieves the following crimes against selected Targets: castration, blindness, deafness, etc., turn average citizens into thugs and potential killers at will & en queue .
For my related papers, see at least these 2 papers at
1) Evidence of a new, unheralded, illegal, quasi 'Criminal Justice System' (CJS) forged by fbi
2) The SCAM of the Millennium
When the fbi cannot fabricate fraudulent evidence of a crime against their political or ideological Target (such as I), then the fbi labors to build a 'parade of horribles' to be used against the Target for purposes of placing him in a mental hospital. See
A fmj always helps the fbi with the legalities of such an abomination. The fmj is one of the worst human rights offenders in the USA and in history of civilization. I believe that he and his fbi buddies are insane, as are perhaps all who fear them.
Regarding the false data used by fbi for criminal imprisonment of the innocent accused, see my reports on the two corrupt or retarded high level cops Trey Knipfing (USPI) and Conrad Rodriguez, Texas DPS; also see my reports on offenses committed against me by Brownsville Police detective Adrian Posada; and don't forget to review my decade long ordeal with University of Texas (UT) thuggish police Wilson, Bleier, Earhart, Trevino, et al.; and review the absurd activities by Harlingen Texas police, and detective Reynaldo Delua, 09-45954 ( a case report against fbi/police operative Alonzo Yanez who committed assault and battery on me). All of the offenses by the UT cops and civilian community are described at
and in parts a,b,c of the part 19 sequence of "My Story In Detail".
When people fear the fbi/MAFIA, then law and order are subverted at will by the police and fbi. Plus, people surrender their integrity unto a band of assassins in the fbi-police society. When individuals expose the miscreants as the human monsters that they are, then the fbi/MAFIA tremble at the possibility that they will be destroyed by an enlightened populace. I choose to resist the evil authorities of our era:
Thank you and may Providence provide aid, comfort and blessings to all who suffer and die under the oppressive crimes committed against them by the fbi, police and their civilian friends in the general population.


text:
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text:
Day fourteen
I've never really got to grips with how I should handle myself when I return to a hotel room and the maid is in there. A cheery hello, a polite smile, and the overacting of I'm-just-getting-something. I exit the room and do something for ten minutes or so, aimless wandering or sitting and waiting somewhere. All the time, though, all I can think about is getting back into the room and dropping the kids off at the pool, which, well, it'd be rude to destroy her sterling work while she's in the room, wouldn't it?
Sitting in the hammock in the palapa at the end of the pier. There are two hammocks and a two-seated wooden swingy thing there. Whenever I've seen people using one of the loungin' options, I've put on hold my desire to go out there. It just seems a bit weird to encroach on someone's relaxation. Like in a small hotel pool; if someone else is using it, I don't really want to bug them by working on my cannonballs. Not so, though, with an older American gent, who harshed my mellow by standing at the edge of the palapa and dropping a fish hook attached to a small reel of line into the sea. I've swum around the end of the pier before. It's knee depth at best. He caught nothing. And with another man present (me), by catching nothing he announced to the world that he is useless at fishing. Thus useless at providing for his woman. And he'd be too weak to defend his family. And not able to defend his position as leader of his tribe and village. I can therefore go to his town and take over. I will assume the role of alpha male. And I will institute laws allowing me to do what the fuck I want. (My reign will be based on the reign of King Mswati III of Swaziland: loads of wives and cars for me, while my people live in poverty and die of AIDS.) He'll soon wish he never walked onto MY pier. The funniest thing, though, was when he dropped the reel and it rolled all the way across the pier floor and plopped into the water. Holding the thread in his hand, he started to try and pull the reel out of the water, all the time just pulling more and more line off of the reel, which was more than likely stuck in the sand on the sea bed. (Sea bed seems like too dramatic a name for sand that's a foot or so beneath the surface, though, right?)
I did work on my cannonballs in the pool, though. The hotel emptied out on Sunday, so at 10am there was virtually no-one around. Got some good height and big splashes going on.
Some bobbing around was in order. Bob bob bob. I backed into a corner, supported myself with my hands on the side of the pool and hummed "Also sprach Zarathustra" to myself and pretended my feet were monoliths (duoliths?) rising from the ocean. Nice to feel the change in temperature, from cool to warm as the sun hits the feet.
"Club Tropicana" by Wham! A song that my childhood self thought of as the epitome of what being an adult on holiday abroad was like. At the age of twelve, some 28 years ago, the farthest afield I'd even been was a school trip to a small town on the northern coast of France called Le Portel. (It was a trip for us to practice our French. I remember being amazed that morning coffee came in a big big cup with no handle, and mostly that there were topless sunbathers on the beach.) And I remember thinking the "Club Tropicana" 7″ single had a nice sleeve of a tropical palm tree beach scene. Even though the chorus clearly states that "all that's missing is the sea." Of course, the second verse does mention that one can "watch the waves break on the bay" and that there is "soft white sands" and "a blue lagoon." Really, that song needed a fact checker. Still love it, though.
For a change of scenery I moved from the pool that is nearest to my room, to the pool near the bar. Dripping on the sand for the 30 second walk.
Stood at one end of the pool, opening the top of my shorts to let it fill up, the squeezing the crotch to let the bubbles float out.
Again I was alone in the pool so I waded around in the bouyant way one can do in a pool, pretending I was walking on the moon.
I spent some time zoning out, enjoying the light refracted in the water. And quite some time trying to be as still as possible so my feet looked normal under the water.
Strode around some more, this time pretending I was evolution occurring, from a blobby thing to a tadpole-y thing to a fish, to a frog, and leaping out of the pool, missing a few steps in the evolutionary chain, to being a short-sighted English human groping for a towel and his glasses.
Got back in and did some laps. Breast stroke, of course. The lazy man's swimming style. Wondered which freak ever invented butterfly. Fucking idiot. And more than that, how in the hell such a style of swimming became an Olympic sport.
Out in the kayak for a change of pace. I had no plans for a specific journey; just fancied paddling around in the sunshine. I got about 50 metres from the shore and noticed something floating. It couldn't be what I think it is, could it? That looks like… a piece of poo. (Or as the iPod just autocorrected: a piece of pop.) I paddled away, and saw another. And then another. And soon enough I was surrounded on all sides by chod. And slowly, the poops started coming up through the little holes in the bottom of the kayak. The craft was filling up with faeces. And as it filled up, the kayak started to sink. The stench was unbearable, but I was powerless. Down and down I went until all that was above the crap stew was my head. A sudden, swift feeling around my ankles and I was dragged under. I had just enough time for one last gasp of air, and held my breath. My eyes were closed, but I could sense the darkness above me, as a canopy of plops blocked the sunlight. I was dragged down and down until I became aware that I was no longer in water. There was air. I opened my eyes and saw I was inside a hut. It had clay walls. A tiny man—about the size of a Tickle-me Elmo— beckoned me to follow him through a door that was big enough for a human. I entered a big hall. Lining the walls were gold-framed oil paintings of turds. We kept on walking, towards a door at the other end of the hall. The tiny man smiled, and beckoned me excitedly. He looked like he knew what I was getting for Christmas, and that I would love it, and he was dying to tell me. Through the second door, we entered a short corridor, and through a third door, into a room that looked not unlike one of the weirdly fake-looking bedrooms they have in IKEA. Lounging on the bed was another small man. He was wearing a crown, though. The first man shook my hand and left. The man in the crown cleared his throat.
"Mr. Robinson, I'm glad you could join me. I've been wanting to talk to you for quite some time," he said.
"Really?" I said.
"Really. You see, I've been paying attention to you for many years. And you use the word 'shit' way too much. And 'crap.' And 'poo.' And 'turds.' And sometimes 'ploppy.' You use these words like they are bad things. And you seem to be amused by them, too."
"Well, they are kinda gross. And funny."
"But to us in the Fecalworld, it is offensive when you say 'poo.'"
He kept on talking for a while, but I didn't really notice much of what he was saying; all I could think about was trying not to laugh at him saying "poo."
"… so if you could try to keep the toilet talk to a minimum in future, we'd greatly appreciate it. We don't expect you to stop altogether, but, an effort would be appreciated."
"Er, okay. I'll do my best."
"Goodbye, Mr. Robinson."
And with that, the first man re-entered the room and lead me back through the doors to the hut. He smiled a last smile, shook my hand, and jerked his hand towards the roof, and I was instantly back in my kayak on the surface of the sea. Not a poo in sight.
Coming back to shore, Dean, the Virginian gentleman I spoke to the other day, shouted and asked if there were any fish out there. He called me Clive. I didn't have the heart to correct him. (I once vaguely knew a guy in Lincoln, and the first time he got my name wrong, calling me Carl, I didn't correct him. He called me Carl for three years before I left town and have never seen him since.)
Back to the pool. Even at its deepest, you couldn't drown, so I walked the whole length in the style of John Cleese. You know the walk I mean.
Off by the steps up to the pool there was an iguana. I got out to get my camera and he scampered off. Iguanas look funny from behind when they run.
I spent a not insignificant amount of time pondering my finger nails under the water.
I inched along the edge of the pool, looking at the grains of sand around the edge. At the right angle, and focussing right up close, the grains look like cars on a vast open landscape, like an architectural model.
And then, oh no, the Chuck Palahniuk short story, "Guts" popped into my head. I tried to empty my mind. Stood in the pool. Tried to think of nothing at all. Specifically not "Guts."
Empty the head. Think of nothing. Don't think about thinking about nothing. I would've gotten further had the thought of lunch not popped into my mind. So it was time for a burger and a couple of beers.
Lunch, and a nice wee chat with a couple from Toronto, and I was back to the grindstone. After watching the dude fishing earlier, I had some interest in fishing myself. So I went to the end of the pier, sat down, and watched pelicans flying around and diving into the sea to grab a fish. Several of them did it while I was there, the closest dove into the water just ten feet or so away from me. It was nice to watch him lift his head and swallow his lunch, before flap flap flap and away he went for a second helping. A tiny school of fish were swimming under my dangling feet. There must've been about 30 fish there. Each one silvery in colour, and about two centimetres in length. They weren't making much headway, though; the waves were bashing them backwards all the time. I decided to have a closer look, and slipped into the sea as stealthily as a horse trying to sneak out of fifth floor hotel room at the National Horse-Spotting Convention. And the fish darted off, showing that they were jet being lazy before.
Time for a shower. The shower cubicle and indeed, the whole bathroom, has a horrible tile. It's got a brown to tan gradient, and has relief splodges that are supposed to look like water drops on the tile, with highlights and shadows. Except, the master craftsman who tiled the bathroom put them on upside down. It makes me chuckle to imagine at what point he realised that he had messed up.
Back to the bar for a late afternoon beer. I've been playing a game with myself, thinking of which famous people could be the parents of the bar staff. One dude looks like his folks would be Forest Whitaker and Martin Lawrence. Another looks like they are Jamie Foxx and Pookie off "The Wire," and another looks like Eddie Murphy and New York Yankees player Curtis Granderson would be his parents.
Into Placencia for an ice cream. Kraig and Barbara mentioned they wanted to check out a crafts store, and did I want to come along. Yep, cool; I need something to scoff at. And as we walked along I was lucky enough to hear some Nickelback while I was there. That's real music. None of your poncey electronic disco music. Good, solid, chunky, stodgy rock music. Canada is like Germany like that. With Germany it's easy to jokingly assume they all like David Hasselhof and the Scorpions. And with Canada, the brain just flicks to Nickelback, Bryan Adams, and Celine Dion. Stupid, really. Especially seeing as though I've got ten Neil Young albums on my iPod.
Could've bought all kinds of shite at the craft shop. Seashell necklaces, a woven wallet, a keyring in the shape of a flip flop with a sunset on it, or a baseball cap in Rasta colours. Or a CD of a Belizean musician called Titiman. Snigger. They didn't have them here, but you know those seaside joke gifts that are like an empty jar with a sticker on that says Real Seaside Air or something. I think I should set up an Etsy store selling them, just with a sticker saying The Breath of Authentic Misanthropic Scoffing.
Stopped off on the way back to the hotel to buy a couple of big bars of Cadbury's Dairy Milk, the best chocolate in the world—suck it, Switzerland!—a brand that I've never seen on sale in Mexico.
One last swim to cool off a little. An beautifully executed cannonball, too. Laps. Twenty of them. I guess the pool is about seven metres long, so however you look at it, it was quite a meagre amount of swimming. But, as dusk turned to night, a fitting way to end a hot hot hot day.
After dinner, a stroll along the beach. The sky has been clear here, and the stars are really bright. You can see beyond the constellations, and, for example, the hundreds of stars framed by the corners of Orion. It's pretty darn cool.
And the day was finished off with a nice pink Benadryl to help with the still slightly swollen after effects of the doctor fly bite on my hand. Combined with a couple of beers: nice and drowsy snoozey time.
One Response to 'Day fourteen'
"harshed my mellow"
haven't heard that in ages


text:
"Dad had a gig last night. Mom rested up for so she could go too."
"Mom's mom & dad came too, well at least for the Pink Floyd tribute band Us & Them who played the album 'Dark Side of the Moon'. But they didn't stay to listen to the other band dad's in called 2nd & Vine. Clister is still broken. ::sigh::
Dad still hasn't even taken her to see how much it would take to get her fixed because he figures they couldn't afford it anyway."
"Before they left, mom & dad put us in charge of the house
and you can see what an excellent job we're doing!!
Here I am taking care of something of Jennifer's."
"Of course mom & dad gave their kittens rules as well.
(Corwyn will be 15 in March & Jennifer 18 in August)
1) Don't let any Huns in the house.
2) Don't sack Rome.
3) No sacrificial fires in the front yard...
or the back yard or the side yards!!
4) and no, you can't use my swords for anything."
this links to the Other Things section, it's also in cards & clothing
We got home about.... 3? 4? I don't know, I fell asleep. And the only cat who stayed on the bed was Mister Kitten... well, Thomas came by at some point but I think he was just jonesing for some cat treats (he's getting much better about not mugging me).
I miss having Star sleep with me.


text:
So I continue to make progress with my "sun" project. I keep "hacking" my way through the creative process and continue to try and come up with some unique designs for the remaining 6 rays. It has been a struggle and I find myself gaining very little satisfaction as I complete each ray. I quite often find that when I am forced to stare at a project for too long things start to get warped in my head. It makes it difficult to determine what is the right move to make as I no longer see the project in its entirety but instead I obsess with it square inch by square inch. I am holding on to the hope that when all the pieces get assembled they will all blend together and form a unified image thereby hiding all the "small" issues I am coping with in my head.
So for my next ray I decided to build one based on a celestial theme. I decided to build a solar system based on the twelve zodiac constellations. I understand the biblical debate involving Christianity and astrology however astrology is not what this ray is about. It is simply a map of existing stars plus I do not plan to reveal, to the church, how I came up with the design for the ray. If they happen to read this blog posting then I suppose the secret will be out.
I started by making paper templates of the 12 zodiac constellations that would help me layout the stars on a ray. The idea was to jumble all the constellations together to create a mish mash of scattered dots. I was able to lay out all my templates so that they interlaced with one another. Once in place I drilled out all the stars with a ¼" drill bit. I think it came out close to 115 holes. I had kept track of each constellation sequence and labeled them all individually to help me out later on.
So with holes drilled I needed to build my stars. I purchased 2", 3", and 4" long ¼" bolts along with 200 nuts. I opted to machine all the hexes off all the bolts and half of the nuts in order to create round stars. Once machined I simply bolted in all my stars, all at random heights, to all my previously drilled star holes. I used the machined nuts as the visible support nut on the top of the ray. The star was then locked down with a regular nut from in behind the ray.
So with the stars mounted I moved onto linking all the individual constellations together using 14/2 Romex house wiring. I used the bare copper ground wire as well as stripped off the neutral and hot wire insulation in order to make use of all the wiring. I wrapped each sequence of stars to create the constellation pattern. To look at the finished result it is impossible to indentify what the pattern is, which is good cause that is what I was going for. I added some brass and copper star bursts and called it done. The star ray, on its own, is not much to look at however when it is introduced into the rest of its team hopefully the contribution it makes will be a positive one.
For the next ray I wanted to implement some expanded metal. I freehanded some "flame" style lines into an empty ray and proceeded to do some chopping with the plasma torch. I cleaned up all the edges and then backed one of the openings with fairly tightly laced expanded metal. The look was a bit too dense so I cut out the expanded metal and replaced it with a section of .250" galvanized steel mesh. The mesh was a little more transparent which was more of the look I was going for. I opted to rivet the entire sheet of mesh onto the sheet metal as I figured the riveted look would add.
To help tie the "flame" ray into unity with the others I added some copper wraps to it using the same house wiring I used on the stars. In the end I was happy with the result. I have been trying to create a mixture of 2D and 3D rays and the flame ray has made its contribution to the 2D sector. So with 5 rays completed I have 4 to go not including the 3 highlight rays. I've got a few ideas stirring; some sleepless nights will help me finalize things.


text:
Plasmon Gx-174 libraries connect to a Windows, Linux, or UNIX server via a SCSI host adapter and cable, and are typically managed using storage management applications such as EMC Disk Xtender, FileNet HSM, PoINT Jukebox Manager, and QStar Archive Storage Manager.
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Plasmon AA-174 Archive Appliance Highlights
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• Max Weight: 300 Lbs.


text:
Noir Raindrop
2 In stock
TheNoir Raindrop earrings are inspired by the quite walking on the beaches of the caribbean sea where you can find magical treasures buried in the sand. They're handmade by master artisans in our atelier in Bogotá, Colombia, from golden-plated bronze, semi-precious stones and thread.
- Material Gold-plated bronze and thread
- System Clip fastening
- Reference TROPICS125-B
Worldwide shipping with DHL (5 to 10 days)
Item is returnable. Read more
30 days warranty


text:
In case you hadn't heard, the family room on the lowest level of our split level house flooded in the Chicago rains this week. Faulty sump pump. Backyard up to the knees at the lowest point. This level of flooding happened 3 years ago but only had a couple inches of water. Landlords got us new carpet, we finally really moved into the room and began utilizing it as a room of no-clutter and coziness for me, and a corner for a home office.
But… we had 5 inches or so 2 days ago. Lost the furniture, book cases, desk, etc. Many books, photo albums. Junk. Landlords are getting us a new sump pump and carpet. But our losses are still significant. And no, rental insurance doesn't cover flooding. We checked last time.
So, my life is disrupted. The cats are Not Happy about the chaos and naturally respond to my mood and Dave's. I've been stable so far and anxiety has been low enough that I an handle. The depression I live with all the time, plunging a bit. Enough that I'm thinking about the safety of the hospital. The reality is that I'm not wanting to hurt myself or suicidal. I am, however, depressed and getting more depressed. Depressed people usually don't have energy to do anything about it…
I've been pushing feelings away and staying focused on tasks at hand. You'd think that was a good thing "staying in the moment." It's not. It's avoidance. When feelings break through or I become aware of the disruption and then the feelings of sadness at leaving things and the frustration of all the work that will hurt my back, then I hurt and I start thinking of the hospital. Now I'm trying to push that away. This is just stress right?