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Global warming has been a thorny issue for me for quite some time. The problem has been that while I believed that the earth is warming and that humans played a part in it, I never understood the mechanism by which it operates, and my conviction has been limited by the resistance to acknowledging it by many people. Because I didn't understand it myself, it was hard for me to talk about global warming with a lot of confidence.
That was before I read the article, The Case of the Missing Carbon in the February National Geographic. I really wish the whole article were posted online because it provides the most concise and sensible explanation of how global warming actually works that I've read anywhere. In fact, I think that after reading it I could explain global warming to anybody in one paragraph in a way that they could understand, and I'm going to give it a shot, just for practice.
The first thing to understand is that the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere dictates how much heat the atmosphere can store. The more carbon, methane, and other greenhouse gases are in the air, the hotter it is. Various natural processes release carbon into the atmosphere and leech carbon out of the atmosphere. For example, when the leaves that fall from the trees decay, they release the carbon stored in them into the atmosphere. In fact, the vast majority of carbon that's released into the atmosphere gets there due to basic natural processes that are beyond our control. The main methods by which carbon is removed from the atmosphere are photosynthesis and absorption by the ocean. If more carbon is released into the atmosphere than these natural processes can soak up, then the overall level of greenhouse gases rises and thus the atmosphere is able to store more heat, leading to global warming. Throughout history, natural processes have led to a lot of carbon being stored rather than being released into the atmosphere, specifically in the form of fossil fuels. Rather than decaying, much organic matter has been trapped within the earth, and converted into oil, gas, and coal. Human beings have been taking this stuff out of storage and burning it, and the natural processes that absorb carbon have not been able to keep up with this increase carbon release due to the burning of fossil fuels and so the overall level of atmospheric carbon has risen, thus giving way to global warming.
When combined with the empirical evidence we do have, the anecdotal evidence I've read about (mainly coming from northern latitudes), a basic understanding of how the process actually works leads me to believe that there's not much room for doubt of global warming and our part in the process. As of breakfast this morning, global warming has suddenly become a much bigger political issue for me.
One thing that's obvious is that no Bush administration is going to do anything about it. They're exploiting the fact that scientists are basically humble to repeatedly send it back for "further study." It seems to me that one of the most obvious steps we can take is burning less carbon. Coal is the worst offender in this regard, and I kind of wonder whether nuclear power looks better in light of global warming. Nuclear waste is a huge problem, but it seems to me that global warming is a larger long term problem. Another simple step we can take that Republicans have resisted is raising fuel economy requirements for cars. The only reason not to do so is love of large cars and love of oil companies. The reasons for doing so are myriad. Lowering carbon emissions is a huge reason to do so, but there's also the advantage of lowering our dependence on oil imports, and the fact that Americans will save money on fuel and die less frequently in car accidents.
One interesting part of the article that's less easy to summarize is the experiments that scientists have done to figure out which natural processes are doing the most to remove carbon from the atmosphere, and how we can boost the environment's ability to absorb more carbon. One interesting factoid was that old growth forests are not great consumers of carbon. The best habitats for absorbing carbon are forests that are growing, like those in the eastern United States that are only a few decades old. It seems to me that these findings should cause us to think differently about forest management.
Needless to say, global warming is much on my mind right now. Expect to see more about it in this space.


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What today's girl look in her partner?
Love and family hold a special place in our lives, and we end up spending lot of time in finding that special one. Every girl looks out for her knight shining armor with whom she can spend her entire life. Nowadays, women have become smarter, and they look out for several things in their life partner. It's more than expensive cars and lifestyle. So, if you want to impress your lady luck, you have to adapt these qualities else, someone will take her heart. These tips will help you to appear more attractive in the eyes of your love.
1. Maturity:
When girls think about long-term commitment, she is probably looking for a guy who is responsible and capable of taking important decisions. Boyish looks and attitude were good until she was 18, but after that, she seeks for commitment and sensibility. Now she wants something more than entertainment. Girls get attracted to mature men who are not older but who can overcome obstacles in her life.
2. Decisiveness:
Today's women are independent and live on their own terms, but still they want someone who can take concrete decisions and counter difficult situations. Women love to be supporters. Moreover, you should be aware of your future as this makes you appear devoted to her and your family.
These days men think they can attract girls with their physical strength and they tend to ignore the mental aspect. However, women like men who are capable of leading the conversation further with his witty nature and intellect. She looks for a man who is fun to be around and can explain her certain things.
It is said that while choosing a partner one should not put the whole emphasis on looks. However, it is important to maintain good looks. Men you should take care of your haircut, facial hair, maintain hygiene and wear impressive good-looking clothes. Well, the sign of true gentlemen is his shoes and shoes says a lot about you, so try to keep them as clean as possible.
Good mannerisms and loyalty attract girls. You should be able to communicate with people politely and respectively. Remember that girl notices how you interact with others as she assumes that you will communicate in the same way with her after marriage. Therefore, be very cautious while interacting with others.
The job is quite necessary in the today's world. However, modern girls are capable enough to carry their expenses, but they look for a partner who has a developed career and remarkable job. Good designation is the sign of both confidence and assertiveness. It does not matter whether you work by yourself or you work in an organization, but you should be capable and at par with her when it comes to finances.
Try to adapt all these things and be girl's favorite. If you want to share, other tips for potential bachelors do share with us.

subset: commoncrawl


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From now on I won't be able to write about the games on a regular basis as my work schedule changed back to normal. I had some problems getting out of bed today and I definetely didn't get enough sleep last night. Still I was surprised to find the last game of today still up and running. I didn't expect that to happen. In the meantime be sure to check out what Deanna has to say about her trip to Koushien. She's also got some very nice pictures there (as always). I think I like the one of those two Nihon Bunri players best. And for the Inning-by-inning reports go to the always hard working Goro Shigeno's site.
Day 9:
Tokyo Noudai-ni 東農大二 (Gunma) – Aomori Yamada 青森山田 (Aomori) 2-1
I watched this game all the way and my favourite in this one was Aomori, as I remember them being part of the very first game I ever watched from Koushien. The game was close as both teams scored early, but it was just a run each and so both pitchers while not overpowering were able to fool the hitters until the end and kept the score tied until the 9th inning.
Then, in the top of the 10th, my stream suddenly died and when I got it up and running again Noudai was leading by an run. Aomori weren't able to come back into the game and lost it in extras.
Tsuruga Kehi 敦賀気比 (Fukui) – Teikyou 帝京 (Higashi Tokyo) 1-5
Shounan 樟南 (Kagoshima) – Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku 九州国際大付 (Fukuoka) 1-3
Meihou 明豊 (Oita) – Saijyou 西条 (Ehime) 4-0
Day 10:
Kochi 高知 (Kochi) – Tokoha Tachibana 常葉橘 (Shizuoka) 6-7
Nagano Nichidai 長野日大 (Nagano) – Tenri 天理 (Nara) 7-6
Kansei Gakuin 関西学院 (Hyogo) – Chuukyoudai Chuukyou 中京大中京 (Aichi) 4-5
Yokohama Hayato 横浜隼人 (Kanagawa) – Hanamaki Higashi 花巻東 (Iwate)
Hamanaki Higashi jumped ahead early in the 1st and their hardthrowing ace pitcher Kikuchi kept Hayato in check for the next few innings, but they were able to level the score with a homerun in the 4th. Both pitchers looked good and the defense really kept up with their performance. Especially the corner infielders of both teams who robbed the batters of some base hits by catching some very hard hit liners. But Hamanaki broke it open in the 7th with a 2-run homerun. Kikuchi looked really impressive and although Hayato put runners on base, he always worked out of it with his strong pitching. He was struggling slightly in the last inning though, walking one and having a tough at-bat with the last batter, but he finally managed to put him away with another strikeout.
Sidenote: During the 5th inning break one brave reporter forced his way into the Hayato ouendan, giving an impression how passionate and loud the cheering sections in the Alps stands are. That was very interesting.


text: New Style Patient Lift [13023] $689.95 http://www.lifesolutionsplus.com/catalog/images/13023_Patient-Lift-Sm.jpg With sturdy chrome-plated steel construction and 6-point cradle design, this new-style patient lift by Drive Medical safely raises or lower individuals up to 450 pounds from any stationary position. The lift utilizes high-performance hydraulics to ensure safe and gradual movement. Easy-to-operate breaks on the casters provide additional safety and security, while an adjustable width base allows for a proper fit. The product includes sling chains and a limited lifetime warranty on the frame and 1 year limited warranty on the pump. Quantity on hand : 99999 Personal Hygiene Item - Non-Returnable: . Oversized Item - Ground Ship Only Additional Shipping Charges: . This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 01 February, 2012. Quantity:


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Oats Appam
Oats Appam
How long it takes: 1 hour
Makes : 28 Appams
Surprisingly oats preparations have become the most popular demand from the readers, and even more surprisingly they are actually quite yummy ! I have put up a few dishes from oats like the oats roti, oats paratha, oats upma, oats-poha upma, oats-poha chivda, oats-chana dal laddoos and now comes the appam. It is a sweet appam, and I plan to attempt a spicy version in the upcoming weeks. Here is my version of Oats Appam.
What you need to have:
1. Oats – 3/4 Cup
2. Wheat atta – 2 Tablespoons
3. Bombay sujee – 3 Tablespoons
4. Cooking soda – A pinch
5. Chopped jaggery – As per taste
6. Fresh grated coconut – 2 Tablespoons
7. Chopped cavendish banana – 1/4 cup
8. Grated cashews – A handful
9. Sesame seeds (white) – 1/4 Teaspoon (optional)
10. Cardamom – 5-6 (powdered)
11. Salt – A pinch
12. Cooking oil or pure ghee – 4-5 Tablespoons butter
13. Water – 1 Cup in all (approx to make the dough)
What you do with what you have:
1. Place a skillet with oats in it and dry roast it on medium flame till you get a nutty aroma. On cooling it powder to a medium fine consistency
2. Sieve the oats powder, wheat atta, cooking soda in the atta siever. Transfer it to a broad bowl.
Sieved oats powder, atta and soda
3. Grind chopped bananas, jaggery, fresh grated coconut in the mixer. Add water in steps to a medium fine consistency.
Ground mixture of jaggery, banana & coconut
4. Add this mix to the bowl from step-3 and mix well adding grated cashews, sesame seeds, cardamom powder and remaining water to bring it to a smooth batter consistency.
Ground mixture being added to the oats atta mix
5. Place an appam griddle on medium flame. Add cooking oil or butter in each of the appam mould and when hot, pour appam batter in it. Adjust the flame as per the size of your burner and cook till done on a low/medium flame.
6. Flip and cook on the reverse adding a little ghee or oil.
7. Enjoy with coconut chutney or even with butter
Ready to serve Oats Appam with coconut chutney
How long it takes : 1 hour (Including making the dough and frying the same)
Number of servings : 28
Good to remember:
1. Dry roasting of oats should be done on low flame.
2. Quantity of water depends upon the brand of oats.
3. Always use cavendish ripe bananas else it will not have the aroma of bananas at all. Also consistency of the dough will be right.
4. Fry Appams always on low/medium flame adjusting as per the size of your burner.
Oats-Bengalgram (Chana) Dal Laddoos
Oats-Bengalgram (Chana) Dal Laddoos
How long it takes: 45 minutes
Number of servings: 25 of the above size
Oats when combined with peanuts made delicious laddoos – a recipe I have already put up on this blog. I tried one more combination of oats with roasted Bengalgram/chana dal powder, sugar, pure ghee and cashews. They turned out richly laden in evil ghee, but were yummy. However, if our diet is otherwise balanced and healthy, an occasional indulgence in ghee-rich food can be enjoyed wholeheartedly. I prepared this laddoo on the first day of Navaratri, and with the festival season in the air, it might be a good-to-know recipe for you too. Do give it a try and here it is. Here's also wishing my readers on the occasion of Dassera !
What you need to have:
1.Oats – 1 cup
2. Bengalgram/chana dal – 1/2 cup
3. Pure ghee – Less than 1/2 cup
4. Sugar – Little more than 1/2 cup
5. Cashews – A handful
6. Cardamom – 6-8
Ingredients of Oats-Bengalgram/chana dal laddoos
What you do with what you have:
1. Place a skilllet with oats in it on medium flame and dry roast till you get a pleasant aroma and turn crispy.
Oats being dry roasted
2. Transfer oats to a bowl and in the same skillet dry roast Bengalgram/chana dal till you get a pleasant aroma and till done as shown in the image.
Bengalgram/chana dal being dry roasted
3. Dry roast sugar in a skillet till it turns into crystals (as shown in the image), stirring continuously. Adjust your flame to ensure that sugar crystallizes and does not caramelize/liquify – so that when powdered and mixed as an ingredient, laddoos will not turn brittle and will be a little hard.
Sugar being dry roasted
4. On cooling powder oats, Bengalgram/chana dal, cardamom and sugar separately in the mixer and transfer it to a bowl. Add roasted and grated cashews, pour required quantity of melted ghee slowly (not all at once) and mix well.
Ghee being added to the powdered laddoo ingredients
5. Mix well and bind into round laddooos. Serve with tea as a sweet. Store it in airtight containers so the laddoos will remain fresh, especially if pure and fresh ghee is used for the dish.
Ready to serve Oats-Bengalgram dal laddoos
How long it takes: 45 minutes
Number of servings: 25 of the above size
Good to remember:
1. Roast oats on medium flame stirring continuously so that it is not burnt.
2. Roast Bengalgram/chana dal on a low flame but do not burn it.
3. Roast sugar in such a way that it does not liquify/caramalise but crystalises as shown in the image.
4. Add required quantity of ghee and do not pour at once. Add ghee slowly on mixing.
Peanut-Oat Laddoo
Peanuts are a popular time pass snack. I have already put up Masala Peanuts (with and without garlic), peanut laddoos and peanut chikki etc. Today I am putting up Peanut-Oat laddoos which are once again good from health point of view as well as easy to prepare. Here it is:
What you need to have:
1. Peanuts – 1 cup
2. Oats – 1 cup
3. Grated Jaggery – 3/4 cup
4. White Sesame seeds – 2 Tablespoons
5. Cardamom – 4-5
Ingredients of Peanut-Oats laddoos
What you do with what you have:
1. Place a skillet on medium flame with peanuts in it. Dry roast it till you get a pleasant aroma. (When you just rub peanuts with your hands the skin should be pealed off easily.)
2. In the same skillet add oats and dry roast it on medium/low flame till it is done. (Oats changes the colour a little and turns crispy.)
Oats being dry roasted
3. Wash the sesame seeds and dry roast the same on medium flame till it splutters.
White sesame seeds being roasted
4. Peel and powder peanuts, powder dry roasted oats as well and grate jaggery too. Powder cardamom. Place all these ingredients in a broad based bowl so that it is easy to mix.
Laddoo ingredients placed in a bowl
5. Mix all the powders and knead it in such a way that one can shape it into laddoos.
Final laddoo mix
6. Apply strength and shape them into round laddoos and is as shown in the image below.
Ready to serve Peanut-Oats laddoos
Number of Laddoos: 25 laddoos
How long it takes: 45 minutes
Good to remember:
1. Do not over roast peanuts or oats. Roast instead on medium flame (of course adjusting based on your burner size)
2. Grate jaggery fine to get it mixed properly so that one can easily shape the laddoos as we do not use ghee etc.
3. Use quality jaggery to retain the colour of the laddoos and also to get the consistency for the laddoo mix to shape them.


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Being one of the most impressive rooftop bars in Kyiv, b-hush offers the richest cocktail menu in town based on the finest spirits, and boasts panoramic windows over the city, which makes it a unique place in Kyiv.
Enjoy the breathtaking panorama of the city center from the open-air terrace. Our private VIP rooms perfectly suit for informal meetings, unforgettable birthday parties and special romantic dates. b-hush also serves delightful dishes following the purest tradition of the Asian and European cuisine. Finest food, great choice of wines, special cocktails, shisha pipes and a fantastic view of the old historical city evokes extremely aesthetic feelings. b-hush lounge bar in Kyiv is also famous as one of the best party places in the city with famous DJs' and singers' performances.
One consequence of the lounge bar`s popularity is that we're solidly booked up at peak times for weeks ahead. Making a prior reservation for our restaurant to avoid disappointment is strongly recommended, and booking ahead is essential for peak times such as weekends.


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Focus on your core business and let us handle the rest.
Priority Express understands organizing your own fleet of transportation vehicles and drivers can be costly and time consuming. If you're tired of managing the high fixed costs of purchasingfuel, workers' compensation claims, staff concerns, and insuring your own fleet, Priority Express can handle it all for you.
Priority Express simplifies your day-to-day operations by eliminating the hassles and headaches associated with maintaining a private fleet. Priority Express puts an end to vehicle maintenance, employment issues, insurance, absenteeism, liability and much more. A highly cost-effective solution, we provide a dependable delivery option you can rely on.
We can customize a program to meet the needs of any client. Whether you have 10 stops or 1,000 stops, Priority Express can develop a program to meet your needs. With a team of dedicated logistic coordinators, we will exceed any delivery expectations.
Save more time: No longer will you need to spend time with recruiting, screening, payroll, multiple payables, vacation and holiday scheduling.
Same more money: Your capital is no longer tied up in buying or leasing vehicles, costly maintenance and repair schedules.
Expect more flexibility: With an improved logistics model that is scalable and flexible, enjoy the ability to adjust fleet size with fluctuations in your business, while using a single-source solution for your just-in-time delivery needs.
Expect more accountability: Using state-of-the art scanning, routing, GPS technology, and real-time tracking, our dedicated team provides you with the ability to improve your service to your customers, grow your business, and give you the peace of mind that your delivery arrived when its expected.


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Reflex Boost
Top Contributors: Hector Madrigal, Kojo Howe, Destin Legarie + more
Reflex Boost is a Tier 2 Suit Module in the Campaign, and requires 2 kit unlocks.
| 20% Faster Weapon Reloads
20% Faster Aim Down Sights
20% Faster Weapon Select
|Increase to 33%
|Kill 50 enemies within 1 second after aiming down sights
This suit module will give a 20% speed increase to weapon reloads, weapon aiming and weapon selection.
The Maximum function will increase all functions to 33%.
Condition for Maximum[edit]
To reach maximum function, players must kill 50 enemies within one second after aiming down the weapon's sights.
To complete this, it's best to use very powerful or high rate of fire weapons that don't need time to aim. Sniper Rifles are out, but shotguns and sub-machine guns are good choices.


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Have you ever had a conversation where you feel like people are talking at you, or maybe they feel that you are talking at them?
Both of you may be thinking; why the hell are they not agreeing with me and telling me I'm right?
This is actually a very real space to be and it can lead to some really bad mis- understandings and hurt feelings.
Join us today and find out how to approach situations and not only have your voice be heard, you can feel confident that you are sharing from the best of intentions.
For Today; Be Real, Go Raw & Be Truthful To Yourself & To Others
Podcast: Play in new window | Download


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The Garden Restaurant
The highly acclaimed Garden Restaurant is perfect for relaxing after shopping. Sink into soft leather sofas with a coffee and the newspapers, or lunch alfresco on the garden terrace and enjoy glass of wine with friends. Serving delicious home-made meals cooked from fresh local produce ensures that lunch times are always a hubbub of activity, so table bookings are strongly recommended at these busy times.
Serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and light refreshments throughout the day. Everything is freshly prepared by the chef and his team, using produce from the Farm Shop and Fish Shop.
We open all day and the chef regularly changes the specials board.
Call The Garden Restaurant on 01789 491950 or email directly [email protected] to make a booking or to discuss a private function.
Opening hours:
9.00am – 4.45pm
Breakfast 9.00am – 11.45am
Lunches served 12.00pm – 4.00pm
Last orders for tea and cake 4.45pm
Please note that the Garden Restaurant's outdoor tables are all No Smoking tables.


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Federal Judge Upholds Schedule I Classification Of Cannabis
A federal judge today denied a motion challenging the constitutionality of cannabis' classification as a Schedule I prohibited substance without any accepted medical utility.
Judge Kimberly J. Mueller of the Federal District Court in Sacramento, California issued her oral ruling during a 15-minute court hearing today. Judge Mueller heard closing arguments in the case in early February but had postponed her decision on several occasions. Her written opinion is not yet available but is expected to be posted publicly by week's end.
"At some point in time, a court may decide this status to be unconstitutional," Judge Mueller said from the bench. "But this is not the court and not the time."
Defense counsel intends to appeal the ruling.
In October, defense counsel and experts presented evidence over a five-day period arguing that the scientific literature is not supportive of the plant's present categorization. Lawyers for the federal government countered that it is rational for the government to maintain the plant's prohibitive status as long as there remains any dispute among experts in regard to its safety and efficacy. Defense counsel — attorneys Zenia Gilg and Heather Burke of the NORML Legal Committee — further contended that the federal law prohibiting Justice Department officials from interfering with the facilitation of the regulated distribution of cannabis in over 20 US states can not be reconciled with the government's continued insistence that the plant is deserving of its Schedule I status under federal law.
Paul Armentano, NORML's deputy director who served as the principal investigator for defense counsel in this case said: "We applaud Judge Mueller for having the courage to hear this issue and provide it the careful consideration it deserves. While we are disappointed with this ruling, it changes little. We always felt this had to ultimately be decided by the Ninth Circuit and we have an unprecedented record for the court to consider.
"In the interim, it is our hope that lawmakers move expeditiously to change public policy. Presently, bipartisan legislation is before the House and Senate to recognize cannabis' therapeutic utility and to reschedule it accordingly and we encourage members of Congress to move forward expeditiously to enact this measure."
In a brief filed with the court by the federal government, it contended: "Congress' decision to treat marijuana as a controlled substance was and remains well within the broad range of permissible legislative choices. Defendants appear to argue that Congress was wrong or incorrectly weighed the evidence. Although they failed to prove even that much, it would be insufficient. Rational basis review does not permit the Court's to 'second guess' Congress' conclusions, but only to enjoin decisions that are totally irrational or without an 'imaginable' basis."
They added: "Congress is not required to be 'right,' nor does it matter if the basis on which Congress made its decision turns out to be 'wrong.' All that is required is that Congress could rationally have believed that its action — banning the production and distribution of marijuana — would advance its indisputably legitimate interests in promoting public health and welfare. Because qualified experts disagree, it is not for the Courts to decide the issue and the statute must be upheld."
Said Armentano, "The continued Schedule I classification of cannabis, in 2015, in self-evidently ridiculous. But unfortunately, the law may be ridiculous and still pass constitutional muster."
He added, "The judge in this case missed a golden opportunity to demand that federal law comport with available science, public opinion, and common sense."
Legal briefs in the case, United States v. Schweder, et. al., No. 2:11-CR-0449-KJM, are available online here.
Posted in : Legalization, LITIGATION, Policy
102 responses to "Federal Judge Upholds Schedule I Classification Of Cannabis"
April 15, 2015
Stone age thinking
So , I wonder how much palm greasing was necessary for judge Mueller to uphold the unconstitutionality of cannabis scheduling classification?
Just another case of a judge that's too much of a coward to follow facts and logic. way to pad your pockets with false crimes. there is no reason to thank a judge for hearing a case. its her damn job. which she only half asses. Its lazy pocket trolls like her that have ruined the system to begin with
"All that is required is that Congress could rationally have believed that its action — banning the production and distribution of marijuana — would advance its indisputably legitimate interests in promoting public health and welfare.
It is reasonable to counter argue that they could not have rationally believed that cannabis prohibition would advance its interest in health and welfare. The policy had already been to put to test with alcohol prohibition. It failed completely, and cannabis prohibition has failed equally as completely. I believe many in Congress are familiar with the aphorism regarding doing things over and over and expecting different results, they mention it regularly. It's brought up to point out irrational expectations or behaviors by opposition members.
It sounds like the government argued that it is constitutional for congress to be wrong but not irrationally so. To which I say here is an example of being irrationally so, despite the disagreement of (so called) experts.
I would also argue that nowhere does it say Congress is Constitutionally bound to listen to expert advice, and even if it did, the idea that such advice cannot be parsed by courts is absurd once it is reasonably demonstrated that Congress has acted irrationally.
While I was hoping Mueller would have a pro-legalization decision, it doesn't surprise me one iota that she upheld prohibition. It's the same old story while such people are in their installed office, and then after they are out of office, retired, whatever they come out in favor of legalization. Former Mexican presidents do it all the time.
It's that whole international WHO schedule and the international treaties shit. The American people will simply have to keep ignoring the illogical bullshit that the feds because WHO won't reschedule and so the feds won't reschedule, and everybody's too fuckin' lazy to do the work necessary to petition the Secretary General, and the dicks in WHO itself are just doing as little as possible in order to keep collecting a paycheck.
There's the interlocking cannabis as the new Jim Crow to keep basically a permanent underclass generation after generation that lives in the inner cities and resorts to violence to settle disputes. The military part of the complex needs there to be poor people used to violent acts to direct their skills in the name of big profits for the defense contractors and their shareholders to use to go abroad and ensure profits. Note how the VA is underfunded, and can't keep up with taking care of veterans properly. I heard the latest VA scandal about the Philadelphia VA audit where they were changing the dates and there was something like a year backlog for patients.
How will there be a permanent underclass when we abolish the new Jim Crow, legalize cannabis? Where will the violent youths desperate to escape poverty come from to enlist in the all volunteer armed forces?
Now it's up to Congress and the CARER law. Congress is a do nothing body whenever it comes to anything pro-cannabis, and I'll be amazed if they actually take any kind of action to move legalization forward soon. They're more likely to stretch it out and put the issue off to maximize election donations.
Mueller, I'm so disappointed in you, yet not surprised. You could have gone down in history on the right side, the correct side of the cannabis issue, but you took the low road, easy way out, servile compliance. Shame on you.
[Paul Armentano responds: The Judge has yet to issue her written ruling so we can only speculate as to her reasoning. That said, she acknowledged from the bench that our witnesses were credible which infers that had strict scrutiny been employed rather than rational basis we may have had a different outcome. The rational basis burden is exceptionally low and the government argued that the mere fact that a single credible expert would support keeping cannabis as Schedule I would thus make the federal law rational.]
Well when you don't have to be right in a decision and you still have it go in your favor, I think we have more problems with our courts than with cannabis. This isn't weighing evidence it's personal choice.
I think all those postponements just gave more opportunity for the bad guys to pay her off. My heart sunk when I saw this, but looking at the big picture I really don't think this will matter. Momentum is still in our favor and people will continue to open their eyes.
Two words on this judges mind: Job Security
Two more words on this judges mind: Career Suicide.
Hey lady judge grow some balls & make a fair decision.It feels like the Republicans whispered in your ear.


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Seniors, Pension Funds Caught in the Storm
In our grandparents' and even our parents' time, the old-age pension was part of the American way of life, containing the promise of self-reliance and dignity for the senior years. But these days it's hard to find jobs that even offer a pension; the norm these days is a meager employer match on your 401(k), if that. Really good workplaces might match as much as three percent, barely enough to cover the exorbitant fees some plans charge. Even companies that still offer pensions mostly limit them to high-level executives. In 1990 forty-two percent of employees were covered by a pension; today that number is closer to twenty percent. For a time it was fashionable for companies to shed their pension obligations by moving them to a subsidiary and letting that company file bankruptcy, gleefully shifting the pension obligation to the taxpayers.
The few pension funds that are left, many belonging to state and local governments, are now finding themselves trapped by the same market forces ironically wiping out our 401(k) plans across the nation. Like any big, responsible saver in today's financial world, destructive policies by central banks purportedly meant to punish corporations and individuals hoarding cash are blowing back on pension funds.
Nowhere to Run
One of the biggest government pension funds in the world is Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund. When the Bank of Japan decided to try negative interest rates, because all the cool kids in Europe were doing it, the decision had an unintended casualty in the Government Pension Investment Fund. The move forced the $1.4 trillion dollar fund to shed the safety of government bonds and turn to far riskier domestic stocks. For Japan, which has one of the fastest-aging populations on the planet, this sudden shift to high risk on investments represents a serious threat to the retirement livelihood of millions of Japanese.
Goodbye Frying Pan, Hello Fire
The problem with the strategy of relying on equities is clear with just a quick glance at the state of the stock market. Global equity markets have shed more than $7 trillion dollars just since the beginning of the year. Pension funds that fled into bonds were further aghast to see the bond market melting down right along with the stock market. Past Supreme Court decisions prevent states from reducing pension payments, causing state budget deficits to balloon at a time when state coffers should be healthy.
It's All Downside
The implications of the pension crisis are far-reaching. In New Jersey, where Governor Chris Christie refused to boost pension funding, the result has been a disastrous credit downgrade for the Garden State. This lowered credit rating, the nation's second-worst, means New Jersey pays more to borrow money, costing taxpayers millions in extra borrowing costs. Only the Illinois state budget is in worse shape, and Christie's fifty-five percent disapproval rating at home may be part of the reason the governor was forced to abandon his presidential bid.
Corporate America Gambling Pension Funds
In their fight for gains, many pensions are now shifting money toward hard assets like real estate in order to hedge against shortfalls in the future. But other strategies look far more suspect.
In an effort to increase returns, American companies have been playing fast and loose with pension funds. Corporate America is now running near-record pension deficits, even though their profits have been healthy for the better part of a decade. To a cynic it might appear that many companies, ones that just recently were borrowing money to buy back their own stock, are now using the current crisis as a convenient excuse to let their pension funds become insolvent. Why? Because then they can foist them off on the taxpayer-financed Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
Seniors finding their pensions shifted to the government are in for a rude surprise when they discover the government doesn't pay the same level of benefits they'd been receiving—and with no cost of living increases. Millions of others may discover the retirement income they thought was a sure thing can suddenly be gone. If the current economic climate drives home anything with absolute clarity, it is that the only thing you can count on to take care of the older you is the younger you. Promises of a pension or Social Security are as empty as fund coffers.
Will Granderson is a regular columnist for Goldco Precious Metals writing on finance, precious metals, and gold as an investment and in popular culture.
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Shades of YellowApril 12, 2010
Spring is just such a pretty time of the year. I love watching the gardens come to life and it is surprising how fast the gardens change once spring arrives. The daffodils and narcissus are in full bloom now giving a cheery display that brings a smile every time I see them. Aren't they gorgeous?
Happy Gardening!
Garden Gnome
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Shades of Yellow in My Garden
4:17 PM bulbs, spring No comments
Shades of YellowApril 12, 2010


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Hello everybody,
I think in early stages in teaching english you should leave your student to take his chance to build his confidence, you should let him /her to trust you and first to trust him/her self. This is our mistake in arab countries we don't give students enough time to show what he/she has.
Grammer correction is important but in certain places and in sutible time,so teachers give your students space to discover their abilities.
English Teacher


text:
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United States District Court, D. New Hampshire
April 10, 2017
Charles A. Russell, Administrator of the Estate of Kathleen Skwozinski, and Matthew Skwozinskiv.Emigrant Residential, LLC Opinion No. 2017 DNH 069
Harold McCann, Esq. Michael P. Robinson, Esq. Charles A.
Russell, Esq.
DiClerico, Jr. United States District Judge
A. Russell, as the administrator of the estate of Kathleen
Skworzinski, and Matthew Skworzinski, filed a complaint
against Emigrant Residential, LLC in state court to enjoin
the foreclosure sale of property owned by the estate and
Matthew Skworzinski.[1] Emigrant removed the case to this court.
Emigrant now moves to dismiss, and the plaintiffs object.
of Review
considering motions under Rule 12(b)(6), the court takes the
factual allegations in the complaint as true and draws
reasonable inferences from those facts in favor of the
plaintiff's claims. Sanders v. Phoenix Ins. Co.,
843 F.3d 37, 42 (1st Cir. 2016). Based on the properly
pleaded facts, the court determines whether the plaintiff has
stated "a claim to relief that is plausible on its
face." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S.
544, 570 (2007). A claim is plausible if the facts as
pleaded, taken in the context of the complaint and in light
of "judicial experience and common sense, " allow
the court to draw "the reasonable inference that the
defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged."
Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79 (2009).
plaintiffs' objection does not comply with Local Rule
2.3(a) and Appendix A to the Local Rules, Supplemental Rules
for Electronic Case Filing, 2.3(a). For that reason, the
plaintiffs were directed to refile the objection by April 7,
2017. The plaintiffs failed to refile the objection.
court may impose sanctions for a failure to comply with the
local rules. LR 1.3(a). The court may also excuse a failure
to comply. LR 1.3(b). In light of the outcome in this case,
the court excuses counsel's failure to comply with the
local rules and has considered the objection.
the motion to dismiss, Emigrant provided a copy of the
mortgage and a document showing the assignment of the
mortgage. The plaintiffs do not object to those documents or
dispute their contents.
2008, Kathleen Skwozinski, and her son, Matthew Skwozinski,
Jr., executed a promissory note to Emigrant Mortgage Company,
Inc. for a loan of $50, 000 that is secured by a mortgage on
their property at 440 Gold Street, Manchester, New Hampshire.
Emigrant Mortgage assigned the mortgage to Emigrant
Residential, LLC in 2011.
Skwozinskis have defaulted on their payment obligations since
2011. A foreclosure sale of the property was scheduled for
February 22, 2017.
February 17, 2017, the plaintiffs filed two complaints on
forms provided by the state court, seeking to enjoin the
foreclosure sale. In describing why he is asking the court to
enjoin the foreclosure sale, Russell states:
State of N.H. is owed over $62, 000 for nursing care bills.
Estate will have insufficient asets [sic] remaining to make
little, if any payment, on that bill. Emigrant is owed about
$70, 000. Property listed and assessed at two to three times
amount owed to Emigrant. Risk of any loss by Emigrant is low
given those facts.
Skwozinski adds that he is a half owner of the house and that
his retirement funds are tied up in the house. The plaintiffs
further state that they want to have the foreclosure sale
enjoined so that they can proceed with a private sale of the
property. The ...
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Executives at the Bank of New York know that lending is a risky business, even when the borrower has ties to John C. Malone, the billionaire cable guy who has been a member of the bank's board for 20 years. In the last two years, the bank has written off $9.7 million that was owed to it by three unidentified affiliates of Liberty Media, according to company filings. Mr. Malone, the chairman of Liberty Media, was not involved in the decisions to repay less than the amounts owed to the bank, said John Orr, a spokesman for Liberty Media.
PATRICK McGEEHAN


text:
STOCKTON - Tears flowed in a north Stockton church Thursday morning as the final call for a brother officer crackled over the speaker system and on police radios across the city, a fitting tribute for Officer Scott Hewell, 33, who gave his life while serving and protecting others.
STOCKTON - Tears flowed in a north Stockton church Thursday morning as the final call for a brother officer crackled over the speaker system and on police radios across the city, a fitting tribute for Officer Scott Hewell, 33, who gave his life while serving and protecting others.
"Thank you for your service, officer. You can rest in peace. We have it from here."
Hundreds of uniformed law enforcement officers from throughout California attended the memorial service at Christian Life Center as a show of support for members of the Stockton Police Department as well as Hewell's mother, Tina, stepfather, Dave Johnson, and girlfriend, whose name was not released. The family has requested privacy and did not speak to the media. They were joined by other family and friends, local dignitaries, California Attorney General Kamala Harris and members of the public.
Following the one-hour memorial, a milelong procession of public safety vehicles followed the hearse containing Hewell's body as it drove from the church to Stockton City Hall, passing by police headquarters and beneath an American Flag draped from crossed ladders set up by members of the Stockton Fire Department on North El Dorado Street.
"It's a brotherhood, it's a camaraderie," said Officer Nick Nunez, who spent more than 10 years with the Stockton Police Department before joining the Oceanside police force. He returned today to support his former department.
"We all do the same job no matter what city we're in. You're there for your fellow brothers and sisters in law enforcement," Nunez said.
Hewell died June 11, nearly two weeks after an on-duty traffic collision May 28. He and his partner, who was driving and also badly injured, were en route to a high-risk traffic stop of a man who police allege shot at two people in a road rage incident. Their police vehicle struck a tree along North El Dorado Street near Jamestown Street shortly after 2 a.m., requiring assistance from the Fire Department to extricate them.
The suspect in that case was arrested. Hewell's partner, whose name has not been released, has returned to work.
Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones, on one of the saddest days of his career, lauded the large showing of support from fellow officers attending the memorial service.
"This is an amazing law enforcement contingency. It is important for us at the Stockton Police Department to honor Scott Hewell in the finest manner," Jones said, addressing the hundreds of mourners in the cavernous church.
"For all of law enforcement, you know that we must be vigilant and ready in a career that is inherently dangerous. Always be ready because we never know. Be strong. Put on your full armor, stand your ground, for all struggle is great. Stand firm and with your feet fitted with readiness," he said.
"In law enforcement, we stand on that thin blue line. ... Today we stand firm as we commit Scott to the hands of God," Jones said.
To his closest family, Jones portrayed Hewell as "a great police officer, and he will be missed. He had a core group of friends in the Police Department. When I saw him in the hospital one day, he was positive and enthusiastic."
Jones said Hewell expressed to him his desire to return to work as soon as possible.
"Simply put, Scott was a very good man. ... He was doing his job as a law enforcement officer. I take comfort that angels were with Scott during his last moments," Jones said.
Officer Bernie Tapia, a fellow member with Hewell on the Mobile Field Force, said he was honored to be chosen to speak Thursday.
"Scott worked in Lakeview, one beat over from me. He never gave off the vibe of not wanting to do anything. When Scott was here, he knew he was helping a wounded city," Tapia said, referring to the period when Hewell joined the department on Sept. 4, 2012. That year, Stockton suffered through an unprecedented crime wave, including 71 homicides - the most in city history.
"Scott was young at heart and didn't take himself so seriously. I loved that about Scott, because it changed something about me," Tapia said.
He depicted Hewell as always good for an "outrageous story," thoroughly enjoying making others laugh.
"He cared for his friends and his family and was quick to make you feel better, even if he was not at his best," Tapia said.
Sgt. John Snyder, one of Hewell's training officers, described the young officer - a San Francisco State graduate who ranked at the top of his class at the Sacramento Police Academy - as "absolutely the epitome of a family man. He was a mama's boy who wore it like a badge of honor, forging some very strong friendships along the way."
Snyder said he would miss most of all the physically strong Hewell's "big old smile."
Harris, the state's top law enforcement officer as head of the Department of Justice, said words could not satisfactorily express the grief being felt Thursday by everyone who puts on a badge to go to work.
"I thank each and every law enforcement officer here and across California for the ultimate sacrifice you are willing to make to keep us all safe. You are all heroes. I also ask that we keep Officer Hewell's patrol partner in our thoughts and in our prayers," Harris said.
"For all of you who are here today, thank you for remembering this fallen officer, and may he rest in peace," she said.
Hewell's death marked the 11th Stockton police officer to die in the line of duty since 1854 and the first since Officer Arthur Parga was gunned down in a drug raid 21 years ago.
Public safety personnel from San Joaquin County and every corner of California gathered at the church in a large show of support and respect for a fallen comrade.
"We're here to show our love and support for our fellow public safety employees in the community," said Stockton Fire Department Deputy Chief Mario McArn, representing a large contingent of Stockton firefighters.
Officer Michael Boyd, a 17-year veteran of the Sacramento Police Department, was on duty Thursday in Stockton providing traffic control during the memorial service.
"When something like this happens, you feel the brotherhood with all the other law enforcement officers, but you hate that this is the reason that brings you together," Boyd said.
Officers Andrew Frankel and Ryan Andersen represented the Berkeley Police Department Honor Guard.
"Our presence here is twofold: to show our support for our fallen brother and his family, and to show our support for the men and women of the Stockton Police Department."
As the church service concluded and the U.S. flag draping Hewell's casket was ceremoniously presented to the officer's mother by Jones, mourners moved outside, where a bagpipe escorted the casket to the waiting hearse.
A riderless horse with boots reversed in the stirrups, signifying a fallen officer, was led through the crowd as 12 long rows of officers stood at attention.
A squadron of helicopters then flew over the scene, with one breaking away from the group. Following the ceremony, the officers returned to their vehicles and followed the hearse south on Highway 99 to Highway 4 and then through downtown Stockton.
The highways had been closed to allow for the slow procession.
People lined El Dorado Street to honor Hewell's memory and thank the participating officers for their service. Police cadets including Noah Torres, 14, and Jordan Lewis, 15, handed out flags.
Stockton resident David Crawford, standing in the shade of Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza across from City Hall, explained that his wife, Katie Crawford, is a police officer.
"I'm here out of respect," Crawford said, adding that being the spouse of an officer can "at times be stressful. We're pretty much all a family."
During an interview before the memorial service, Stockton Councilman Elbert Holman, retired from a long career in law enforcement, described how hard it is to know four fellow officers on the police memorial wall.
"It's a dangerous job. Stockton has always been a violent city, way back before you and me. You don't expect things like this to happen," Holman said.
"These guys don't get into police work just to be cool. You have to be all in, go that last mile," Holman said. "You're the last line of defense - that thin blue line - between chaos and our safety."
Contact reporter Joe Goldeen at (209) 546-8278 or email@example.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/goldeenblog and on Twitter @JoeGoldeen.


text:
The Maine Public Utilities Commission has issued its final order giving its approval to the sale of Verizon's landline business in Maine to FairPoint Communications.
The order, issued Friday, formalizes an agreement that was approved by the commission in early January. It comes exactly one year after Verizon filed a request seeking to sell its Northern New England landline assets to FairPoint Communications.
The document spells out the conditions of the agreement allowing FairPoint's buyout of Verizon's land lines and Internet operations in the three northern New England states.
It also gives the commission the right to revisit the order depending on what the regulatory boards in New Hampshire and Vermont do.
The deal needs approval in all three states, but regulatory boards in New Hampshire and Vermont have not yet voted on the proposal.


text:
Hello Friends,
Some of us older guys talk about the "Good Old Days," but they were also filled with hard work, just to survive, building fires in the down stairs basement wood and coal furnace, etc., and shoveling snow by hand and shovel, etc. Everything was much different then, and I never lived in an Air Conditioned house until about 1989 ! People suffered in the heat and dropped over, dead ! So, I honestly love and appreciate all that I have worked for all my life, and THANK GOD !! And there is still no guarantee in life, and there is now a lot of more violence in the streets, with robberies, murders in big cities like CHICAGO and DETROIT, where people on Welfare are not satisfied with getting most everything FREE, for the taxes that I still pay !! Ha! Some of those places are like a cesspool ! The language of our younger people in grade school is like a cesspool, too, and Hillary and Obama, are just as guilty, if not worse.... sorry to burst some of your bubbles.
Mr. Trump is no choir boy, and many times having lots of money can go to one's head. I never had lots of money, but I am rich compared to many people in South America and Africa, PTL..... Praise the Lord. But then, I worked my butt off all my life, from young on. I still have lots of bills to pay every single month, but I know that God loves and protects me.
OK, I know that most of you see me repeating many things here in my modest, humble Blog, but the point I want to make tonight is: Right now, if the WRONG person gets into office, or even SOONER, we could end up being at war with Russia, a major nuclear power with lots of military might and ability ! ! That fact alone ought to make us really sober, in a heart beat, dear friends ! In fact, this is something that we should all pray about in earnest, folks. Are all you kind, nice, friendly people ready to meet your MAKER, Father God, right now ?? Right now.... I AM ! I am all alone by myself in a big house in the far North Woods of the U.P., typing on my little old, P.C. [Personal Computer], and only had a few pieces of Pizza to eat all day, and I feel fine, and also thankful.
Sometimes we watch these, 'Disaster Movies' where everyone has their own little life style, but after a major disaster befalls them all, things are radically different, with a dire life or death situation. And people realize just what is really important in Life. I have been in those situations MANY TIMES IN MY LONG ADVENTUREOUS LIFE OF 67 YEARS ! There were even times when I was in so much pain and suffering that I begged God to TAKE MY LIFE ! Sadly enough, sometimes it takes a bad ass whipping to wake people up from their selfish, greedy, messed up lifestyle -- to find out what God really wants of them. To me, the worst thing in the world would be to die without God's mercy and Grace, as an Unbeliever, and outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ ! Eternity is forever, friends. What is 70-90 years on Earth compared to all eternity ?? And just think: If you died and went before the "Judgment Throne of Father God," having never even read the Bible or coming to know Jesus as your true Lord and Savior ! Are you going to say, that you just didn't have the time... that you were too busy ? Ha!
Yes, I guess that there are much worse things in the world besides just being lonely in a big house..... At least I get to get in my nice, new Dodge Ram 4 by 4 truck to drive to a good restaurant and eat/ enjoy GREAT food, and visit with people. I get to attend a nice, warm church and meet new people, shake hands with many warm, kind, smiling people... Christians ! And God hears my prayers and knows what is best for me, no matter what I pray for. The Holy Spirit is IN me, and helps me do the right things.... most of the time... LOL.
Let's give thanks for the big and small things, and also take some positive, affirmative action on November 8th.... if it comes.
Warm Regards,
Tommy Schuckman
My email: firstname.lastname@example.com
-----This was me in the year, 1989 >>>
The Locker Room Talk Issue
Donald apologized for his inappropriate remarks, remarks that about 90% of all men have made in the exclusive company of other men to impress them with no real intent on acting on their braggadocios words towards women.
Anderson Cooper would not let go of the topic and kept interrupting Donald and basically asked him if he groped women's genitals without permission. Excuse me, but in the words of the most intelligent person in my family, my wife, who asked, "What the hell does locker room talk have to do with running the country"?
In a brilliant move, Trump did what we have all done in support of Donald Trump. What is worse, my words or Bill Clinton's actual abuse of women and his wife's support of his abuse? "She has threatened his accusers", she has "defended the rapist of a 12 year old girl and joked about about it twice". Which is worse? For any reasonable person watching the debate, Trump took the sting right out of locker room talk and placed the bulls eye where it belongs, on Bill and Hillary Clinton's rear end.
For those who are still fixated on Trump's locker room talk, look at what the press corps and former Secret Service Agents Say about Clinton's demeanor AND inappropriate language. I challenge you to listen and do a compare and contrast between Donald and Hillary? And then maybe we can get on to the real issues. Here is a video made where I clean up Hillary's language, realizing I run a family operation, but I leave no doubt, through innuendo, of the language that this 4th degree Coven Witch uses.
Remember, Donald Trump is not accused of raping anybody. Bill Clinton has been accused of sexual assault by his victims (e.g. Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, et al) multiple times and each time Hillary defended him and according to the victims, she has threatened them with reprisal for their allegations. Which is worse America? Take that Anderson Cooper.
Other Peripheral Issues
The candidates talked about a couple of meaningful issues:
- Hillary's private and public stances. It has been documented by Wikileaks that Hillary told Wall Street in paid speeches in which she would not release the transcripts. In these meetings with Wall Street Clinton supported the TPP, despite her public claims to the contrary. She tried to excuse the public/private differential responses by saying she was referring to Abe Lincoln in a movie. It was good that I had my feet up on the couch because it was getting deep in every living room in America at that point.
- Hillary defended the disaster that was Obamacare. Trump destroyed her on this point and stated that she will throw good money after bad to save this disaster of a health care plan.
- Hillary was taken to task for her attacks on the Second Amendment.
To that, the crowd exploded in laughter and applause. Anderson Cooper, the omnipresent defender of the establishment, went ballistic on the crowd who stuttered and stammered as he realized that he had lost control of the narrative.
Hillary: "… it is a good thing that people like Donald Trump are not running our legal system.."
Trump interrupted and said "You are right because you would be in jail".
In the finality of the debate, Clinton's criminal behavior was on display for all to see. In fact, Clinton and Trump traded roles. Trump's inappropriate locker room talk slid right off the debate stage while Hillary's criminal behavior stuck. However, these one-liners were not the real issue at the debate. debates don't tell you much about leadership, except with one issue, the Russian problem.
The Debate Most Important Issue: Hillary Declares War On Russia
Hillary, again and without any proof whatsoever, made the allegation that the Russians are hacking into our elections. How is that possible Hillary? Thi sis the excuse to allow DHS and the UN to "oversee" our elections, I mean steal our elections. We will not have an election until November 8th, so who are the Russians hacking, Hillary?
This Russian hacking thing reminds me of the movie Wag the Dog in which a mythical President (aka Bill Clinton) is caught having sex with a girl scout. In order to deflect attention, he makes up allegations and starts a war with Albania based upon false allegations of terrorism. The Hollywood movie producer who facilitated the fraud for the President was murdered at the end to conceal the real truth. How very and uniquely Clinton is that ending to a movie that eerily represents the Clinton mentality?
Last night, Hillary Clinton frightened me. She did not frighten me because she is a witch according to her former insiders (e.g. Larry Nichols). She did not frighten me, too much, because she's a sociopathic criminal. She frightened me because she declared war on Russia. If she is elected, Putin will have no choice but to attack the United States.
Hillary stopped short of saying she would put ground troops in Syria. But she did say we would keep special forces and the Air Force in Syria and THAT SHE WOULD ENFORCE A NO-FLY ZONE. And of course if your Air Force is in a theater of war, your ground troops are next. These are acts of war. Mark my words, and we need to pray to Almighty God to stop Hillary. If Hillary Clinton is elected we will have a devastating world war in which billions will die. For every American who wants their children to live out normal life spans, Hillary's comments should disqualify her from serving.
Trump on the other hand said he wants to work with Russia. My self-preservation instinct prefers negotiation to genocide. Please pray in unison that this lunatic and witch, Hillary Clinton, is never elected to Presidency. May God help us all.
Here is a more detailed analysis of the debate if anyone feels the need to go beyond the Russia issue.


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From Erica Schoon, Program Director…
I've been in awe this week of the transformations happening within and between campers and of their own self awareness of how much that transformation has meant to them. This process culminates on the last day when we go through closing activities, reflect on the week, and conduct our closing ceremony in which each camper makes a commitment to reach a specific peacebuilding goal sometime in the next six months. You can see below the amazing work these campers will be doing in their home communities. This week we also took a few minutes to ask campers to write down what their camp experience meant to them, what they wanted us to know about it, etc. You can read those quotes here. We're all proud of how these campers have grown this week and of action they will be taking back home in the next few months. The courage and integrity of these 13- and 14-year-olds is inspiring.
Peacebuilders Camp 2014 2nd Session Camper Commitments (13-14 year olds)
- Morghan- By 1/26/15 I will organize a community talent show in my neighborhood.
- Glory- I will write a song about human rights and sing it at church, talent shows, concerts, open mics, etc. by 1/25/15.
- Tre- I will write a song about peace, poverty, and human rights. I will perform it 12 times for social media sites and open mic nights by 1/26/15.
- Marco- My family and I will bring food to a shelter or volunteer once a year.
- Joshua- I will finish my song about peace and produce it in a music studio in Atlanta and also post it on Facebook by 1/26/15.
- ZoraAnn- I will write a song about peace and justice and perform it at least 3 times by 1/26/15.
- Nichole- I will volunteer at the animal shelter once a month for four hours and post it on Facebook.
- Jay- I will score 8 touchdowns this season or earn a gold medal for football and make my people and myself proud because people always say I can't do nothing so I'm going to prove to them and myself that I can do it so there will be peace for me.
- B- My goal is to make the basketball team this December. I will work on my skills every day so that I can make the team and be a supportive team member.
- Ehsoe- I will volunteer once a month for one year at the Clarkston Community Center. I will write a poem and share it with my family and neighbor about peace and justice.
- Jesus- I will volunteer with Ryan fixing homes with the Fuller Center one time in the next month.
- Hsaw Meh- Next week I will talk to one person in my neighborhood about fair trade and explain what I learned at Peacebuilders Camp about the right to fair wages.
Below are photos from our last day of camp:


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Newcastle 2 Wigan 1: Matt Ritchie fired the winner after Dwight Gayle's opener was cancelled out by Michael Jacobs
Magpies have enhanced their commanding lead at the top of the Championship as they get back to winning ways
MATT RITCHIE helped Newcastle take another big step towards an immediate Premier League return.
Although they have now lost just once in 11 games, this was the Toon's first win in four and it has settled the nerves among the St James' Park faithful.
The added bonus of Burton's last-gasp win at Huddersfield means Newcastle are now ten points clear of the play-off places with seven games to go.
Keep up to date with ALL the Newcastle and Wigan news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
Boss Rafa Benitez said: "I said before this is a mini league of eight games and now we have to carry on and concentrate on ourselves.
"You have to be happy with a win, especially at this stage of the season.
"We had 18 shots on target and we would like to score five goals and be more relaxed but at the moment we have to be sure to win our games.
"We showed character and personality. Everybody can feel that we are so close.
"We will change two or three things and hopefully do better against Burton on Wednesday."
Most read in football
Dwight Gayle broke the deadlock with his 22nd of the season when he was found unmarked at the far post by Mo Diame in the 36th minute.
By that stage only Jonjo Shelvey and Jamaal Lascelles had come close to Matt Gilks' goal with weak and off-target efforts.
And home fans had a wobble early in the second-half when Michael Jacobs deftly slotted the ball over Karl Darlow to equalise for the struggling Latics.
The visitors even had chances to grab a second, and record a first-ever win on Tyneside, but Jacobs and Callum Connolly missed the target.
Within seven minutes of Jacobs' strike, midfielder Ritchie settled the match with a shot which bounced in off the post — his tenth league goal since a £12million switch from Bournemouth.
Wigan caretaker boss Graham Barrow accused Ritchie of diving — when he fell dramatically after a Jake Buxton challenge — and tempers flared on touchline with Toon coach Mikel Anita.
Barrow said: "They thought it was a penalty and I thought it was a dive, but my eyes are going. We all shook hands and it was heat of the moment."
Benitez said: "The referee said he exaggerated but it was a penalty."
Barrow added: "I am disappointed with the result but proud of the players.
"At 1-1 I thought we were in with a chance and we could go on and win it, but they got the rub of the green on the second."


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- 3
- 10
- Joined Feb 27, 2014
Hello from The Blue Ridge Mtns. near Roanoke, VA. I am a native Virginian exposed to smoked meats/fish at a young age. Global travel affords multiple ops for sampling smoked goodness from different cultures. I won't go into the boring ego stroking stuff here of where and what I have experienced and eaten. Just Know this nose knows smoke and how to prepare on all levels and am very experienced in the sampling of the results of unreal personal devotion we all have to this ancient way to cook. I have a post now about the aromatic Pinion wood discovered "Out West" and ?? about its safe use. Other than that, be sure to bless the creatures and people that sacrifice their lives and labor to bring this wonderful method and sustenance to all of us to enjoy.
Have a smokin' good day!
Have a smokin' good day!


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Corn Cob Acres Welcomes Groups and Field Trips
Corn Cob Acres is an exciting adventure and fun to discover as a group as well as in a birthday party or field trip. We look forward to hosting your group very soon!
To qualify for group pricing, you must have at least 20 participants. The group leader must pay for the entire group. Please refer to our Dates, Times, and Prices page for details on group pricing. Groups are not required to call in advance but may certainly do so if you wish.
Field Trips
In order to accommodate educational field trips for elementary schools, day cares, preschools, clubs, and home school groups, we are open on select weekdays during our fall season. With plenty of bus parking, educational opportunities, and a seemingly endless number of activities, Corn Cob Acres is the ideal place to combine learning with outdoor physical activity.
Field Trip Days for 2020 are October 9th*, 15th, 16th*, 21st, 22nd, 23rd*, 27th, and 30th*. Please note that on October 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th our park will also be open to the general public. However on October 15th, 21st, 22nd and 27th our park is closed to the general public and only open privately for Field Trips. Pre-registration is required along with a non-refundable deposit of $100.00.
Fall Harvest - All About Pumpkins: $9.00 per person*
This pumpkin package will teach your students about how we cultivate pumpkins. From planting to pollination, your students will develop an understanding of what it takes to raise this popular fall decoration. Then, board our "Little Screamers" Hayride and take a journey around our farm. After the hayride, each student will be able to pick out a pumpkin to take home with them. This package also includes exciting activities such as the NEW GAME WALL, our "Little Screamers" Hayride, Animal Barrel Train Ride, Tire Dragon Leap, Castle Tube Slide Racers, Giant Jumping Pillow, Hay Bale Jump, Pumpkin Playhouse with Vine Slide, Haystack Slides, Bluebird Village Adventure Land and Treehouse Slides, Straw Bale Pyramid Climb, Spider Web Traverse, and more!
Gem Mining and Pumpkins: $12.00 per person*
Along with the pumpkin experience listed above, this package includes our very popular Gem Mining Experience. Your students will saddle up and head on down to the Wild West, where they will learn all about rocks and minerals as they mine for real gemstones! Each child will receive a bag of "dirt" which is full of hidden gemstones. Watch them sift and pan as the water from our sluice separates the sparkly, real gems from the dirt. Everyone will receive a gem identification chart so that they can easily lay stake to their claims. Each child will also receive a bag so that they can take their new treasures home with them. As an added bonus, this package also includes all of the educational opportunities and fun activities that are a part of the Fall Harvest package listed above!
Ultimate Fun-Filled Day: $15.00 per person*
This is the all-inclusive ultimate package! Your students will not miss anything as they enjoy all of the educational opportunities and fun activities included in visiting Corn Cob Acres. The Ultimate Fun-Filled Day Package includes everything mentioned in both the Fall Harvest and Gem Mining Packages. These items include a free pumpkin to take home as well as the opportunity to experience mining for real gemstones at our very popular Gem Mine Sluice, where they will get to take home their treasures as souvenirs. In addition, this Ultimate package includes interaction with some of the animals on our farm. One of our NEWEST ATTRACTIONS is our themed Pig Race Arena that is home to our thrilling Pig Race Shows! You and your students will be granted entry into our tiered seating arena to watch and cheer on our trained piglets as they race their way around our custom-built racetrack. Our Hillbilly Host will entertain you for the entire duration of the approximately 15 minute show. Also with this package, each student will receive a small bag of feed that students can use to feed our resident family of goats. Please allow 4 hours to participate in this package if you are eating lunch at Corn Cob Acres. Allow 3.5 hours to participate if you will not be eating lunch with us.
Other Details
20 student minimum required for Field Trips.
$100 deposit required.
Final count and payment is due one week prior to Field Trip Date. This keeps everything organized and helps expedite your check-in. If there are additional students on the day of the field trip they will be charged at the package rate that is chosen. All chaperones over the allowed number as well as those who show up the day of the event will be charged $5 per person. There will be no refunds for students or chaperones who are paid for in advance but are not present the day of the field trip.
**One free teacher/chaperone per 5 paying students. Additional chaperones are $5 per person. No chaperones receive a pumpkin or gem bag.


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Note : This is mostly copied/adapted from a message I posted last week in yet another conversation about the identity issue on W3C Library Linked Data Incubator Group internal mailing list.
Basically, most proposals to tackle the identity issue have boiled down so far to use direct assertions. To express that http://ex1.org/foo and http://ex2.org/bar denote more or less exactly the same thing, one uses dedicated predicates to make declarations such as:
http://ex1.org/foo p http://ex2.org/bar
The predicate p may stand here for owl:sameAs, rdfs:seeAlso; skos:exactMatch; umbel:isLike, any future foaf:whatever ... all those predicates conveying some kind of co-reference. In fact, even if it's not respected, among those only owl:sameAs has hard-defined semantics, the other ones can be interpreted at will by applications, through any follow-your-nose heuristics. Moreover, defining formal semantics for any of those will not prevent hacking. You can define as many same-ness similarity properties you like, they are bound to be used and abused the same way owl:sameAs has been. And if you consider that owl:sameAs semantics are as straightforward as can be, go figure how more subtle definitions will be hacked.
But there are other ways to explore this issue, including the radical "blank hub" way introduced here years ago. The path I would like to explore now uses operational rules rather than declarative assertions, and in particular substitution rules.
The basic principle is as following : Two denotations (e.g., URIs) are (somehow) co-referent if they can be substituted to each other in (some, many, most, all) assertions.
An owl:sameAs declaration amounts to absolute substitutability. When substitutability is partial, substitution rules could assert the conditions under which substitution is valid.
For exemple one could say that ex:author is substitutable to dc:creator if the subject of the predicate is a Book. Put formally, using e.g., RIF Basic Logic Dialect
Forall ?x ?p (ex:author(?x ?p) :- And(?x#ex:Book dc:creator(?x ?p))
This rule is different, and in fact independent of a declaration such as
ex:author rdfs:subPropertyOf dc:creator
because it does not say anything about the use of those properties outside the Book class.
Let's take an example discussed at length a few months ago on DBpedia forum.
ex1:MichelleObama rdf:type foaf:Personex2:MichelleObama rdf:type skos:Concept
In which context are those URIs substitutable? Certainly not for assertions using either predicates specific to the class foaf:Person (foaf:mbox) or specific to the class skos:Concept (skos:related) or which would bear different values for the two resources (dcterms:date). But they are substitutable for example for labeling predicates, such as :
?x rdfs:label 'Michelle LaVaughn Robinson'
which hold for both URIs.
This could be captured by the following rule (using RIF syntax again)
Forall ?name (rdfs:label(ex2:MichelleObama ?name) :- rdfs:label(ex1:MichelleObama ?name))
Using such rules has several advantages over declarative assertions:
- They do not need extra vocabulary to be defined and (mis)understood
- They have non-ambiguous formal interpretation
- They are flexible ad libitum to cover the whole spectrum of similarity-sameness flavours.
They can be expressed in various, more or less expressive rule languages, such as SPARQL CONSTRUCT.


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Picture challenged
Here are a few shots from today:
Now for my "Notes from Today" section.
up at 7:45
Today show, computer time
put away dishes from drying rack
paid bills online
put away laundry from drying rack
putter in the scrap room, organizing and finishing up sleeve mini album
photograph mini album
SRG billing
talk to Shawn
create new blog header
new look for blog
shower and get ready
charge camera batteries
pack lunch
work on 52 Card
talk to mom briefly
off to work
eat yogurt and berries while driving
session with L.C.
drive and eat apple
session with M.P.
drive and NPR
session with M.P., chat with his Dad about reflux issues
CVS for dental floss and snack
session with A.S. and A.S., home with raisin challah from their mom
drive home
chat with Michelle
unpack lunch bag, go through mail
talk to Shawn
feed koi
make dinner
eat and computer
upload photos
kashi cereal bar
yogurt and berries
wheat thins
veggie sandwich
slice of challah
I love having late start to work and enjoying my mornings at home
just getting motivated with my 52 cards and time for work
is my car invisible today?
eating the world's most perfect RED apple
missing Shawn
24/7 financial reporting is starting to really stress me out
good tv tonight
watch House and Fringe (new favorite)
talk to Jessie again?
Thanks for bearing with me....not the most thrilling blog post I know, but helping to keep me on track with this project.


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(Click for larger image)
Parr, Martin. FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE: MARTIN PARR POSTCARD COLLECTION. Stockport, England: Dewi Lewis Publishing, 2002. Hardcover. First Edition/First Printing. 96 pages. As New.
The photographer's selections from his Christmas card collection. The first and only edition. Published in a small and limited print run as a hardcover original only. Part of his continuing Series on postcards ("Boring Postcards") and other memorabilia items that he has patiently collected over the years. The First Edition is now scarce. An elegant production by Martin Parr: Small-size volume format in square shape. Red hard boards with colorful titles on the cover and spine, as issued. Christmas cards from various sources. All of the original cards are part of the photographer's personal collection. There is no text. Printed on pristine-white, thick coated stock paper to the highest standards. Without DJ, as issued. Presents Martin Parr's "From Our House To Your House". So cheesy it's great. "Martin Parr has put together another wonderful book from his personal collection. This time he shows us the American Christmas card. This is a fascinating eye-opener into American culture, as proud families everywhere (pets included) pose before the camera to send their Christmas greetings across the nation" (Publisher's blurb). In many ways, Martin Parr's aesthetic of affectionate ambivalence is most evident in his picture collections, that is, that he would lovingly keep what everyone else would discard, the archaeological work of the photographer-as-collector par excellence. "Warm, funny, and frequently hilarious, a wonderful collection of cards celebrating the American Christmas". Parr's oblique, indirect, and witty approach leaves a strong aftertaste. An absolute "must-have" title for Martin Parr collectors. This title is now collectible. This is one of few copies of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing still available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright, a pristine beauty. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A scarce copy thus. The most influential and most important British photographer of our time. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER MARTIN PARR TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 1899235345. $20.00


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I'm so very proud of my friend, fellow author, and CatholicMom.com contributor Erin McCole-Cupp, who recently released a wonderful new book entitled "Working Mother". In my review of this very affordably priced work of fiction, I shared:
"When I contemplate the Holy Family, I often wonder about those 'hidden years' — the decades left biblically undescribed that laid the foundation for Jesus Christ's public ministry. In Working Mother, Erin McCole Cupp offers us one possible scenario in a story that is emotionally gripping and filled with heart. Based on known biblical precepts, Working Mother contemplates the depths of Mary and Joseph's 'yes' to God's will for their lives."
Today, I'm honored to share my recent email interview with Erin. I encourage you to spend time with this wonderful work of fiction!
Q: Please briefly introduce yourself and your family to our readers.
My name is Erin. I have one husband, three daughters, two dogs, one cat and one cockatiel. I'm a revert, a lay Dominican, and when I'm not homeschooling, keeping house, or playing Taxi Mom, I write stuff.
Q: Tell us about Working Mother. What motivated you to write this book? Where did you get the idea? How would you describe the book to our readers?
I actually wrote "Working Mother" about seven years ago. Our family took some financial hits, and my freelance writing income was scanty and unreliable. I had to go back to working outside the home. I remember the day I told my kids that I'd be going back to work, and my middle child said, "But Mommy, I thought you were a writer!" I don't remember how I replied, but I do remember being glad that I was driving at the time and the kids in the back seat couldn't see me cry. I had to lay aside what I was pretty sure were good, holy desires–staying home with my kids and leading them to the Lord–and I could not see the sense in it. Why wasn't God helping us enough that I could go back to working from home, doing what I loved for His glory? Every Catholic I knew advised me, "Go to Mary. She understands." I would snicker and say, "Yeah, well, Mary never had to get a job." Finally, it was like I heard a voice in my heart ask back, "Are you sure about that?" Over lunch breaks and after bedtimes, "Working Mother" was written.
Q: The book is getting rave reviews! Congratulations–that's well deserved! How does the finished product relate to what you originally envisioned?
Thank you so much! It's so exciting to see how the story has touched others. Actually, the finished product is pretty close to the original drafts. There weren't many changes to the actual story besides the usual spit and polish good editing provides. Originally I had marketed it to a handful of magazines over the years, but they were either not interested in this kind of story, changed to formats that no longer included fiction, or just out and out folded. So I put the story on the back burner until one time last summer. I was talking with my editor Ellen Gable at Full Quiver Publishing, brainstorming about ways to get more of their usual readers to look my way, because my novel Don't You Forget About Me with with FQP is a bit quirky in that it's a murder mystery, a little outside their usual catalog. I took a chance on asking Ellen to consider publishing "Working Mother" as a low-risk way to get my more obviously Catholic work in front of more readers, especially if we offered it for only 99 cents. She was willing, so here we are! Not what I expected, but what ever is?
Q: What is your hope for this book?
Well, sure, there's the aforementioned practical, "funnel marketing" hope for this story to send more readers to check out more of my work. Still, I wouldn't have bothered writing "Working Mother" in the first place if it hadn't been for hope. I wrote it out of pain, exhaustion, confusion and disappointment. Writing "Working Mother" gave me hope that in having to work outside of my home, I wasn't being driven away from what is good but that God was sending me and my children out to fulfill part of his plan for us in this world. I wanted to share that hope with others who suffer from "mommy guilt," whatever form it takes. If you're following God's call, whether you're at home, at the office, or at the home office, then you're going where God has sent you. Period. Let go of the guilt and hold on to hope in Christ. God has a purpose for all of our pain, exhaustion, confusion and disappointment. I know there are a bajillion blog posts and non-fiction books telling us that's true, but as a fiction writer, I get the opportunity to show you how that could be true–in Mary's life then and in our lives now.
Q: How has Working Mother changed the way you relate to our Blessed Mother and the Holy Family in your spiritual life?
As a fiction writer, I have to employ my all my senses through imagination. I can't just think deep thoughts. I have to think, feel, smell, taste, hear, see what the characters experience. Having spent some time with the Holy Family not just on a prayer card but in my actual brain has breathed a whole new dimension into my prayer life, into how I put my own struggles into perspective. I had to research what their world was like, where they might have hidden in Egypt, what their home would have been like, what would their interactions with the Gentiles have been… I could go on and on. Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived in dust and dirt and bad smells and real life risk–all for us. The act of having to take those ideas and put them into something that readers could also experience themselves has shown me not just the humanity of Mary and the Holy Family but how they lived their virtues as well. Seeing that Jesus could have made their lives comfortable and chose not to has shown me that there is purpose in all suffering. So much of our Catholic faith teaches us that, but having to adopt it in my own imagination, trying to see through the eyes of a possible experience Mary may have had, has really brought it all home for me. I hope it does the same for the readers.
Q: What is next?
I am working like crazy on the sequel to Don't You Forget About Me (yes, the sequel's chapter titles will be the titles of '80s AND early '90s songs). Inspired by my research for "Working Mother," I'm also working on a non-fiction series for girls ages 8-15 called First Disciples, which will teach girls the life skills that Mary, Elizabeth, and all the women of their time would have known: fire building, spinning, weaving, and so on. It's very exciting and hands-on. If you're interested in being a beta-tester, visit my First Disciples page and we'll be in touch!
Q: Who are some of your favorite authors, both fiction and non-fiction? Who inspires and influences you as an author?
Okay, this question is always very humbling, because I don't read a ton of them thar highfalutin Catholic classics that I'm "supposed to" read, so bear with me. I do tend to read a lot of fiction, because that's my thing: older Neal Stephenson/Stephen Bury, William Gibson, Tracy Chevalier, Jane Austen, Katherine Patterson, Elizabeth Gaskell, John Desjarlais… and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Charlotte Bronte, considering my first novel is a sci-fi retelling of her Jane Eyre. In the past year I've become a HUGE fan of Amy M. Bennett's Black Horse Campground Mysteries, Leslie Lynch's Appalachian Foothills series, and anything at all by Dena Hunt. Ellen Gable, besides being an editor, is quite a skilled author in her own right. As for non-fiction, I adored Strange Gods by Elizabeth Scalia and The Grace of Yes by Lisa Hendey–and I'm not just saying that to kiss up! Right now I'm savoring my way through Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial and loving that, too.
Q: Are there any additional thoughts you would like to share with our readers?
Not to beat a dead horse, but our sufferings have value. Seriously. Don't back away from them. Examine them, mine them for meaning, and ask God to help you see that your suffering is as precious to Him as Jesus' suffering on the cross. Oh, and pray that I can remember these lessons as well. I forget them all to often.
Order Working Mother and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase
Copyright 2015 Lisa M. Hendey
- Working Mother – Erin McCole-Cupp – all rights reserved – used with permission
- Erin McCole-Cupp – Erin McCole-Cupp – all rights reserved – used with permission