text:
The majority of America's farms rely heavily on herbicides—lots of them. So when the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the United States' most widely used weed-killer, glyphosate, as "probably" carcinogenic to humans three months ago, it was big news.
Now, the same group–the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has concluded that 2,4-D, another commonly used weed killer, is "possibly" carcinogenic to humans. Here's what you need to know about the decision and the chemical, which is the third most-widely used herbicide in the U.S.
1. Use of 2,4-D is About to Skyrocket
2,4-D was introduced nearly 70 years ago and is used to control weeds in agriculture, landscaping, and forestry. It is also in many products sold for home use. 2,4-D is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use on many fruits and vegetables, as well as on corn and soy. According to the Industry Task Force on 2,4-D Research, it is used in over 90 countries. 2,4-D was also an ingredient in Agent Orange, the highly toxic defoliant used by the U.S. during the war in Vietnam.
While 2,4-D use has remained fairly steady over the past 20 years, it's expected to increase dramatically in the next five years, thanks to the EPA's recent approval of a new pesticide called Enlist Duo. Manufactured by Dow AgroSciences, Enlist Duo combines a form of 2,4-D and glyphosate and has been approved for use in 15 states on corn and soy genetically engineered to tolerate the herbicide. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts Enlist Duo could cause an enormous jump in use. The agency estimates that use could grow between 300 and 700 percent by 2020.
EPA says Enlist Duo is safe for use as directed, but a number of farm and environmental groups—including the Center for Food Safety, Earthjustice, Environmental Working Group (EWG), Natural Resources Defense Council, Pesticide Action Network North America, and the National Farm Family Coalition—have filed suit against the agency for its approval of the herbicide. They contend that the EPA did not adequately consider adverse impacts to the environment and human health, especially considering the expected increase in use.
2. 2,4-D is a Potential Endocrine Disruptor Increasingly Found in Ground and Surface Water
The National Pesticide Information Center says that while some forms of 2,4-D can be very toxic to fish and other forms of aquatic life, particularly in warmer water temperatures, 2,4-D is not toxic to honey bees or other beneficial insects. Some studies, however, suggest that 2,4-D is a potential endocrine disruptor and may interfere with thyroid hormones. A recent study also suggests that 2,4-D exposure may promote antibiotic resistance. Yet other studies have linked 2,4-D exposure to immune and neurological system problems, including Parkinson's disease.
2,4-D breaks down fairly quickly in soil and water, but due to its widespread use, particularly, in the Midwestern U.S., it has been detected in surface and groundwater. 2,4-D is also being found in urban streams, especially after rainstorms. Weeds resistant to 2,4-D have also been found in the Midwest.
3. WHO Gives 2,4-D a 3 out of 5
According to IARC, people can be exposed to 2,4-D while it's being applied or where the chemical and herbicide products are manufactured. People may also be exposed through food, water, dust or when 2,4-D is being sprayed on crops and drifts through the air. 2,4-D is known to drift both in liquid and vapor form. This drift can destroy more than weeds, as Midwestern vegetable farmers have discovered when herbicide sprayed on nearby farms damaged their crops. Responding to these concerns, the 2,4-D formulation in Enlist Duo was designed to be less prone to drift. And as always, when it comes to pesticide exposure, those most directly affected are farmworkers and those who live near where these chemicals are sprayed. In this case, people who use it on their lawns might also be affected.
The IARC assessment, conducted by 26 experts from 13 countries, considered evidence from studies that looked at exposure to the chemical in animals and people. They found "limited evidence" linking 2,4-D exposure to cancer in experimental animals and what they call "inadequate evidence" in people. Some studies found an increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma in people exposed to high levels of 2,4-D, but questions about direct cause and effect remain in part because those people were also often exposed to multiple pesticides at once.
However, IARC says "there is strong evidence that 2,4-D induces oxidative stress, a mechanism that can operate in humans, and moderate evidence that 2,4-D causes immunosuppression." Weighing this combined evidence, IARC classified 2,4-D as "possibly" carcinogenic to humans—or the equivalent of a three on its 1-5 scale.
4. Advocates Say Ranking Might Not Reflect Danger
The IARC conclusion means that, as a chemical, 2,4-D might possibly cause cancer in people. But because IARC does not make regulatory decisions about pesticides—in the U.S., that's the EPA's job—its classifications do not dictate how a chemical should or should not be used.
The EPA says its most recent review of the science found that 2,4-D exposure does not cause non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, the agency is now conducting a new review that will include this new assessment. Based on these findings, the "EPA will determine whether any risk mitigation is needed to address unreasonable risks to humans," the agency said in a statement. EPA expects to release a draft of this new human health risk assessment next March.
Industry response has been blunter. In a statement posted to its website, Dow AgroSciences called the IARC classification "inconsistent with government findings in nearly 100 countries." The findings, said Dow AgroSciences, "should not be mischaracterized in ways that are misleading and harmful to farmers and consumers."
"I don't think it's going to impact how it's used," said Julie Goodman, toxicologist and consultant to the Industry Task Force on 2,4-D, in an interview with Civil Eats. 2,4-D manufacturers say the herbicide is safe to use as directed and that the IARC classification is not a cause for concern.
But environmental advocacy groups say there is additional evidence linking 2,4-D exposure to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and that use of Enlist Duo will mean far wider potential 2,4-D exposure. "Now that farmers are planting 2,4-D-tolerant GMO crops, this herbicide is slated to explode in use much the way glyphosate did with the first generation of GMO crops," said EWG senior policy analyst Mary Ellen Kustin in a statement.
5. There's Only One Way for Consumers to Avoid 2,4-D
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently monitor 2,4-D residue on crops, so only limited information is available about its presence in the food supply. (FDA doesn't monitor for glyphosate residue either.) And when it comes to health impacts of 2,4-D combined with glyphosate or any other pesticides, very little if any research has been done. As with most synthetic pesticides, the only way to avoid 2,4-D for sure is by buying food that is certified organic.
Leave a Comment
View Comments (25) Close Comments
- Tuesday, June 30th, 2015You make no mention of the known carcinogenic impurities in the original millions of pounds of 2,4-D as used as Agent Orange in VietNam. Any facts about whether or not these nasty impurities are present in modern 2,4-D is NOT mentioned. Until it is, I cannot take your warning as valid.
- Wednesday, July 1st, 2015It is not only from indirect exposure (drift, water), but with Enlist Duo, it is applied directly to our food. With the anticipated 200-700 % increased use from being applied to genetically engineered food and feed crops, both glyphosate and 2,4-D are systemic and accumulate in the food/feed components we consume. The most serious form of exposure is unavoidable! Both chemicals are endocrine hormone disrupters with multiple other health consequences when consumed! With the recently reported apparent scientific fraud in industry safety studies who knows the full danger?
- Wednesday, July 1st, 2015The article does not address why the use of 2,4-D will skyrocket in the near future??
Also, I believe Agent Orange is 2,4,5-T....not 2,4-D
This product has been on the market for 70 years and it is just now being considered a "possible carcinogen"...seems odd?
- Wednesday, July 1st, 2015Agent orange was contaminated with dioxin. The chemical 2,4-D or 2,4-T was not the cause of people getting sick.
- Wednesday, July 1st, 2015It's fascinating how "science" is used to deem highly toxic chemicals being sprayed on our food, but dismissed when applied to global warming.
- Thursday, July 2nd, 2015My wife and I do as much certified organic shopping as we can and we try to buy as much locally grown as we can. What bothers us is the fact that organic farming has no control over "chemical drift". Not only the drift in the air but also drift through the soil. Living in a bubble isn't practical. But demanding that government agencies do their job to best protect us (that's the reason they were created in the first place) isn't asking too much, is it? Like the FDA not currently monitoring 2,4-D residue on crops, just to name one. We truly need them to get back to the basic reason they were created. To protect the people, not the chemical companies! Certified organic. Right now you can't beat it.
- Monday, July 6th, 2015Testing one chemical at a time to find a connection to health problems is a farce. We have so many chemicals in our food and water that it is nearly impossible to test how they will interact with each other in the body. All we do is find bad ones after a problem is discovered and move on to adding another one to the environment. We are destroying ourselves and the environment with chemicals. We never know the truth until it is too late.
- Wednesday, July 8th, 2015the obvious question is: what is the likelihood of prompting the FDA to initiate testing for glyphosate & 2,4-D in the food supply, and test the effects of those residues in the lab?
- Saturday, January 28th, 2017My dog has lymphoma and I have seen many articles mentioning 24-D as a potential cause. I'm not clear where the evidence is about this...but it seems to me no one is paying attention to, nor collecting information about our pets that may be dying as a result of exposure to weed killers. I live where there is an HOA and they spray weed killers/spread fertilizers all the time and no one knows how toxic they are to our animals. One woman told me every time the spread something her dog becomes ill.
Is there anyone doing research on this?
- Wednesday, April 12th, 2017Hello,
A local, politically based corporation is planning to spray 2,4-D, in the form of DMA 4 IVM (Dow AgroSciences), onto our local lake in order to control milfoil. They are spraying it directly on and near docks, beaches and boats, where people are swimming and ingesting this water. These are homes along the lake, so animals are drinking from water that was poisoned 20' from the shore. Do I need to worry?
John Ely
Coeur D'Alene Idaho
- Tuesday, May 16th, 2017my life became an earthly hell after Hi-Dep 2,4-D drift contaminated my yard, laundry, garden and standing water. My son had temporary symptoms and I developed both short term and long term problems. I'm still using oxygen and have to stay away from stores and land that has been sprayed. For more info write me @ P.O. Box 1124, Polson, MT I just have a few questions to ask those who think poisons are safe. " Is it ever completely safe to play russion roulette? Is it ever ok to harm even one person? "
- Tuesday, July 18th, 2017i just want to kill the different weeds in my lawn something good, now you say this stuff is bad.
- Tuesday, July 25th, 2017What does the chemical breakdown into And what's it's Half life?
- Monday, September 25th, 2017Why do you call it a pesticide. Isn't it a herbicide?
- Wednesday, October 4th, 2017can 24 -d cause stomach cancer in dogs
- Monday, October 9th, 2017was involved with aerial spraying 24D in mid north of South Australia. This in aereas of Burra, My.Bryan and Hallet. I spent quite same time being a "marker" for plane, which meant I would get spray over myself. I did this work in late 60's early 70's. I have bladder cancer since 2005. Would this be a possibility of using this herbicide
- Tuesday, June 5th, 2018I have lost two brothers to the cancers listed as possibly linked to 24d both farmers with excessive exposure to this chemical !!! All of our university research is profit driven not health ! University of Kansas done studies many years ago on this which never became public knowledge !!!!
- Wednesday, August 15th, 2018I put 2-4-D on my fence rows. Spilt some on my fingers, washed it off within 5 min of being exposed. Should I use gloves when I use 2-4-D?
- Thursday, April 11th, 2019how are GMOs the cause of this? I'm trying write a paper on the pro's and con's of this for a college course but I'm finding it really hard to find any negative sources on it. If some could send me some links it would be appreciated.
- Friday, April 19th, 2019Any one who doesn't believe that this info and the regulatory issues behind its use is totally controlled by Big Corporate America must be living on a different planet. The FDA and EPA should be monitoring the levels of these products in our food and water. Soils on large corporate farms is totally sterile. Biodiversity is destroyed. Many of our insects depend on "weeds" to survive. Our insect diversity, population numbers are in catastrophic decline. We are in trouble. How does corporate America respond, by introducing a combined product, the toxic effects of which are completely unknown and quite possibly enhanced.
- Monday, July 15th, 2019I have serious concerns with any use of 2,4-D. My property and I have been exposed to 2,4-D drift. My trees in my yard are dyeing and I am concerned about my lungs and wondering why I get headaches when I am in the sun too long. I was raising non-chemical and non-GMO produce on my property. Atleast 2 times across the road 2,4-D was sprayed heavily and I smelled the chemical smell as I was sitting in the hammock while resting after cutting the grass. I look the direction the wind was from and saw the water system running on the ball field. It came from there. So I went into the house and shut the windows and turned on the air purifier, both times.
Now I cough often and get head aches when I am in the sun. My sinus is very sensitive to any chemical or manure smell.
I am considering going into the clinic to get tested for 2,4-D toxicity.


text:
So You've Decided to Watch Law & Order
So You've Decided to Watch Law & Order
Here's the skinny on every series in the Law & Order franchise.
*blink blink*
Uh. Can we get a 'BLAND TELEVISION. IS. WEEEEEIRD!!!' graphic for this?
I can't be the only person who liked the original Law & Order the most, can I?
There was also the episode when they found a woman who looked like she was sexually assaulted who was missing a leg, which led to this weird episode that involved carnies giving people body mods out of the back of a delivery truck and some dude setting up "accidents" to cut off the legs of young women because he had nn incestuous amputee fetish.
Eternally relevant, though I suppose SVU is far from the only culprit here.
It was my favorite too. I liked that the case was the focus and you learned about the characters through small moments every episode made them feel more real. You felt like they really were just people who worked together, not best friends/the only friends each other had. I also like that they didn't always win.
I came in here just to quote that and say "You know what's not awesome about this sentence? Nothing." I see I've already been beaten to the punch.
Count me in for a "Nothing beats the original" status as well. Hang-em-High McCoy was always my favorite part of the series. Obviously he wasn't the only DA through the entire run. Seems like it was season 4 or 5 before he even showed up. But still, original L&O is easily my favorite.
Criminal Intent was a decent distraction but it's premise got old fast and SVU simply depresses me with it's subject matter. I'll still catch an episode of SVU from time to time, but I can't binge watch it at all. Where the original I've literally spent a couple of days at a time watching nothing else. Between a TNT marathon and what few seasons are available on Netflix, I spent the better part of two (maybe three) days watching little else.
I feel the same about the different series, I have completely given up on SVU when they seem to keep going back to the well of "lets do horrific things to the primary cast members".
Watching Law & Order SVU?
In 2015?
Why would you ever want to do this terrible thing?
The original is by far the best. I do quite enjoy watching CI's Goren crawl around in the minds of sociopaths, and even SVU was entertaining for a while (who doesn't love Munch and Tutuola?), but the original was the only show that didn't eventually descend into lurid, depressing sleaze and self-indulgent police power fantasies.
The main show's characters were the least focused on and yet the most believable, because they were just people doing their jobs. It was like you could see, in all their short conversations and almost-background personal storylines, the human beings behind the careers they had chosen. Careers that defined then to a great extent, to be sure, but I never felt that Briscoe and Green or McCoy and Ross or what have you were just plot funnels; they had understated personality and struggles outside of the criminals they deals with. Law & Order was just a classic, classy show.
I thought Detective Munch was the mascot of L&W's detective side of things.
The Big Picture already had a few times saying "T.V.! IS! WEEEEEEIIIIIIRRRRRRD!!!", which is less likely to come back since Bob started this column.
Before that, it was Ben Stone as the ADA and Paul as his sidekick. I liked that cast well enough, but the McCoy and Kincaid era was easily the best for me. Fantastic theme song. I used to love lazing around on New Year's day with a hangover watching the Law and Order marathons of old episodes (on A&E I think?).
The show felt watered down the longer it went on. Coming out with SVU and CI made it worse if anything. The contrived intensity of Stabler was just painful to watch. I'll take a no nonsense Lenny Briscoe any day of the week.
McCoy starts in Season 5, replacing Ben Stone.
The original L&O had a slump in the quality of their writing starting around Season 9, and came back up to quality with Season 18. There are many good episodes in there, but overall it's just not up to their usual standards. That's despite some really good actors in that span, both in the main cast and guest-starring. Of particular note is the ending dialogue of the "Access Nation" episode, where Serena talks about how technology is making it "really scary out there".
Season 5 is my favorite, but if you missed the last 3 seasons (18-20), check them out.
People forget (or I'm the only one who noticed) just how good the series was from season 2-7. It declined a fair bit after, eventually sinking totally into utter mediocrity around the time Fred Thompson showed up. But if you can catch the early episodes (TNT was showing them early morning saturdays not too long ago, may still be doing it) it's a treat.
Why is there no 24 hour Law and Order channel?
If they included everything that is implicitly or explicitly a part of the L&O universe, and all adaptations, they could go over nine weeks without repeating a single episode.
3-5 were the best. That's the Jerry Orbach/Chris Noth years.
I liked the original the best as well, used to watch it all the time. Had such a love/hate thing for McCoy and Brisco was awesome. Munch was a good character as well. Well, I really liked his conspiracy theorist schtick. Was he like that in the prior series before L&O?
One thing I loved about the really early episodes of L&O were all the upcoming actors whom eventually became famous. The same happened with the X-files. Always giggled a little at seeing Samuel L Jackson playing a lawyer in a couple early episodes.
What? No love for NCIS? It has Scott Bakula for crying out loud!
It should be noted that Trial by Jury was also hampered by Jerry Orbach's death the week the first episode came out (he was the carry-over character that connected the series to the main one).
You're not, but I can say that towards the end I preferred both UK and LA more, mainly because after almost 20 years (and two other series in the local), the setting was getting a tad stale, although I did enjoy the new ADA who worked under McCoy when he became
Yes he was. They had crossovers with Homicide and Munch was still mad as a hatter in his appearences.
Love main show. SVU is hit or miss. There's a reason why "True Believers" is rarely shown in repeats, though I hear it's starting to get a bit better with episodes like "Girl Dishonored"(based off of the Stubenville rape case) or the one that Benson wrote and directed that guest starred Alec Baldwin. LA, UK and TBJ I've never seen. CI I didn't like except for the Logan episodes (a memorable episode had Whoopie Goldberg is a must see). Just don't like knowing who the killer is during the episode. "Who's the killer? Is it this guy getting coffee they cut too? Episode's over I guess." Logan ones rarely did that.
I haven't watched SVU n a while, but they are usually pretty good when it comes to this sort of thing. They did an episode on GTA that was actually quite fair and far less biased then I was expecting. Also L&A usually have a twist, so there will probably be a twist in this one.
I used to watch original L&O faithfully, and then Homicide: Life on the Street came along and ruined me for all other cop procedurals. Still miss the brief and shining era when it was Brisco, Logan, McCoy and Kincaid, tho.
SVU is one of those "Love it or Hate it" shows for me. When it actually tries to be nuanced and not present everything in complete black and white, and actually tries to see both sides of controversial subjects and ideas, it's really good. When the show gets incredibly preachy and makes it blatantly obvious who is good and who is bad, it's awful and I can't even finish the episode.
I wanted to like Criminal Intent, but Vincent D'Nofrio (sp?) is one of those odd actors who I just can't stand and I have no idea why. Something about him just annoys me.
My preference was always classic L&O - Sam Waterston is a joy to watch.
A GG SVU (OMG) could be interesting, but it's not like I watch any L&O for a realistic portrayal of anything. :)
100% on this, no-one will ever replace Jerry Orbach (taking nothing away from Noth who was also great, but Orbach was the greatest)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Stroke Care
After your loved one has a stroke, the care they need can be overwhelming. Even simple tasks may seem hard for them to accomplish on their own. You don't have to take on the responsibility of being their caregiver alone. Care to Continue provides stroke care services tailored to your individual needs and allows you to continue with your daily tasks while assured that your loved one is well-taken care of.
Although Care to Continue does not provide medical attention for individuals after a stroke, we can provide the assistance they need while they are recovering. After a stroke, many individuals need help preparing meals, cleaning their home, running errands, reminders for medications, transport to and from medical appointments, help with laundry, and assistance returning to beloved hobbies. Life doesn't have to change completely after a stroke! Let our experienced caregivers offer your loved one the stroke care they deserve to help them return to their normal life.
Recovering from a stroke
Those who have experienced a stroke often experience a drastic change in life style during their recovery period. No longer are simple tasks easy to perform and suddenly necessary chores become sidelined to doctors visits and appointments.
After working with a variety of individuals who have experienced a stroke, here are some of Care to Continue's tips for recovery.
Maintain a well-balanced diet
What you eat affects how your body is able to recover. Limit the amount of processed sugars, sodium, and cholesterol you are intaking from food, and ensure that your diet is abundant in fruits and vegetables. With stroke care from Care to Continue, your loved one will never have to worry about preparing healthy meals as our caregivers are able to prepare and help with eating a well-balanced diet.
Be Conscious of your limitations
After a stroke, it's easy for an individual to want to return to life as normal. However, accepting help, even if only temporarily, is the best way to ensure a healthy recovery. By allowing a caregiver to take over simple tasks such as laundry, cleaning, and cooking, an individual is able to focus more on their stroke recovery.
Change your home to your new change in lifestyle
A stroke can leave some individuals in a wheel chair or walker for a period of time. To ensure safety and to make life at home easier, take steps to updating your home to fit this new way of living. For example, removing excess furniture from a living room can make the space easier to navigate through. Updating the dining room table to fit a wheelchair makes eating meals a lot simpler. Changes to the home don't have to be permanent, but can help an individual recovering from a stroke stay safe and adjust quicker.
Keep your doctor's appointments consistent
Whether it's checkups for blood tests or physical therapy, don't let your doctor's appointments slip away. Maintain a regular schedule of doctor's appointments as needed to ensure that your body is healing properly. To help with this, Care to Continue provides Stroke Care that includes transportation to appointments. Family and friends won't have to miss work to transport their loved ones to appointments, and individuals recovering from a stroke will have the support they need through their recovery.
Contact Care to Continue today to learn more about how we can make the stroke recovery process easier with our professional and caring Stroke Care.


text:
A PENSIONER was rescued by firefighters after spending all morning stuck in a deckchair.
The woman aged 83 was sunbathing on her flat balcony when the fabric suddenly gave way and her bottom became stuck in the frame.
And try as she might she could not wriggle herself free as her legs had shot up in the air.
For six hours she cried for help from the second floor balcony of her home in Scarborough, North Yorks, but none of her neighbours heard.
Her ordeal only ended when firefighters carrying out routine checks on fire alarms in the area looked up and saw her.
They then climbed over the railings of a neighbouring property to free the woman from the deckchair at 2pm – she got stuck at 8am after going out to enjoy the early morning sun.
Paramedics were called and treated the pensioner at the scene.
She was later taken to Scarborough District Hospital for a check-up.
A North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "This was an unusual incident, but our firefighters are trained for every eventuality."


text:
Sunday, November 15, 2009
November Garden Blogger Bloom Day
The weather the last few days has been absolutely delightful! I've been trying to stay outdoors as much as possible for I know the warm sunny weather won't last much longer.
These pictures were taken a few days ago and, after the frosts we've had, I was surprised to see so many of the plants still in bloom. The mums are the most prolific bloomers by far, and I guess the biggest surprise was to find a few blooms on the dianthus. I forgot to include the picture of the lavender bloom in the collage.
This clematis is another pleasant surprise! I wasn't expecting to see another round of blooms, especially so late in the year!
I've lost most of the cosmos due to the frost, but these are in a more protected area next to the house and they are still blooming and attracting the few remaining insects.
It's been a while since I've participated in Garden Blogger Bloom Day, (hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens), hopefully by next spring I'll have my act together and be able to participate more regularly.
I hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!
22 comments:
- Rose said...
What a gorgeous display of colors, Robin! And your clematis is amazing! Do you know its name? I have a similar one that produced one lonely bloom this fall before the frost finally finished it off. Glad you joined in for GBBD again this month; you certainly have lots of blooms that deserve to be shown off.
- November 15, 2009 at 9:36 AM
- Kerri Farley said...
These are absolutely stunning Robin!
- November 15, 2009 at 10:00 AM
- Ruth's Photo Blog said...
Thanks for the beautiful flowers this morning.It was a treat to see all the color on your yard.We have varying shades of brown,but there is still beauty,I just have to look a little harder.Going to a blog like yours is a sure way to find this color.
- November 15, 2009 at 10:47 AM
- Unknown said...
You've got lots of goodies still. Very pretty.
I am still stunned by your header collage every time I read your blog. It's so gorgeous!
- November 15, 2009 at 11:19 AM
- Vicki's Bit-o-earth said...
Pretty tough little flowers! I don't have to worry too much about frost here on the coast, but I lived in Eastern Oregon for many years and was lucky to have 100 days of growing season there, so I know of your surprise when plants delight you with blooms after tough weather! Gorgeous photos, as always~ Vicki
- November 15, 2009 at 1:25 PM
- Granny Fran said...
Surprised to see so many, lovely flowers! We had early frost and snow this year and are long past that. I prefer the years with long autumns, but live with what I get.
- November 15, 2009 at 2:49 PM
- Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...
Your clematis collage is very nice. Love those great anthers.
- November 15, 2009 at 3:13 PM
- Amy Farrier said...
You've got quite an array of color! The cosmos and clematis are especially nice; there's something special about autumn pink, maybe because orange and red are more expected.
- November 15, 2009 at 3:33 PM
- Diana said...
Robin - what lovely blooms you have in spite of the cooler temps. I can't believe that Clematis is still blooming there. And I love the Cosmos. I have some really tall ones in my cutting bed and they just make me smile -- theyr'e just perky, aren't they?
- November 15, 2009 at 8:35 PM
- Dee/reddirtramblings said...
Happy bloom day! You have a lot of beautiful blooms left. Most of mine is foliage by now. Thank you for the lovely collage.~~Dee
- November 15, 2009 at 10:01 PM
- chuck b. said...
You have Clematis?! And not that Sweet Autumn Clematis--you have a real Clematis! Awesome!
I should have let my Cosmos keep going. Oh, but I say that every year.
- November 15, 2009 at 10:45 PM
- Sweet Home and Garden Carolina said...
Still a lot going on for November, Robin. Same here in Chicago because of our wonderful first half of the month.
Is that a 'Bee's Jubilee' clematis? I have one and it is one of the few repeat bloomers.
I love dianthus , not only for its long blooming period, but because its sold as an annual but acts like a perennial.
- November 16, 2009 at 10:30 AM
- Darla said...
Just beautiful Robin!! I have a spring/fall clematis as well.
- November 16, 2009 at 11:56 AM
- Joanne Olivieri said...
The colors are so full of life on these flowers and still blooming - what a treat. I also have to say that your header mosaic is the most gorgeous I've seen on any blog. Well done.
- November 16, 2009 at 6:08 PM
- Marie said...
Beautiful Clematis! Great photos. And cosmos. How wonderful to have such beautiful blooms in November. Thanks for a beautiful post.
- November 16, 2009 at 7:37 PM
- Katiejane said...
Hi Robin, boy, we have had a string of lovely days, haven't we? I haven't had anything left blooming for several weeks, though. My chrysanthimums didn't do so well this year. Must have been too dry (my fault).
Your photos are wonderful and I just love your cosmos!
- November 16, 2009 at 7:43 PM
- Katiejane said...
Hi Robin, boy, we have had a string of lovely days, haven't we? I haven't had anything left blooming for several weeks, though. My chrysanthimums didn't do so well this year. Must have been too dry (my fault).
Your photos are wonderful and I just love your cosmos!
- November 16, 2009 at 7:43 PM
- Lisa at Greenbow said...
I like the mosaic of your blooms Robin. You have several things still blooming way up north. Enjoy those last warm days.
- November 17, 2009 at 6:59 AM
- Kathleen said...
That clematis is fantastic Robin. I never knew one would bloom so late either. Lucky you! I hope the warm weather continues for you so you can keep enjoying all the beautiful blooms you have left.
ps our 8" of snow didn't melt right away. I meant it was melting on the roadways ~ but we still have quite a bit on the lawns (even today). Sorry for that confusion.
- November 17, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Hasn't it been a fabulous November? I could get used to this kind of winter! Your clematis is wonderful. Now that's a real treat for this time of year. My cosmos finally succumbed to the frosts, but I have lots of other nice flowers still blooming.
- November 17, 2009 at 7:16 PM
- Gail said...
Robin, A fantastic post and I cannot believe that you all up north have more bloom then my zone 7 garden! I love that the clemmies still bloom on and off all summer into fall...what a treat and you can't beat cosmos for longevity. gail
- November 18, 2009 at 7:56 AM
- Ewa in the Garden said...
I couldn't resist - I had to comment - your November garden seems to be very lively and showing so many colors!
You are so blessed.
- November 28, 2009 at 1:23 AM


text:
Yes, we are getting so very close! Black boxes are absent in less than 10% of all new passenger vehicles. With the newest statistics suggesting that 96% of all automobiles manufactured for use in the United States have a black box as standard equipment, it's looking as if omnipotent safety is drawing ever closer to tangible reality.
This article shows that the NHTSA had proposed that black boxes be mandated by September 2014. September came and went. There doesn't seem to be much, if any additional information as to whether this proposal was accepted, rejected, or modified. With these devices being so prevalent these days, why has this mandate even taken this long?
The black box is not a new concept. Flight data recorders were introduced in the 1950's. We often hear them referenced in the news in the tragic event in which a passenger aircraft doesn't touch down safely at its intended destination. Both data and voice recorders are instrumental in understanding "how" and "why" in the aftermath of modern aviation disasters. These devices are essential for us to determine if a mechanical failure of a specific component on an aircraft was at fault for an incident, or if it was pilot error. The current FAA mandate basically puts a flight data and cockpit voice recorder on any commercial flight that you're going to board in the civilized world, unless you're in a bush-plane in Alaska or somewhere else that is very remote.
So, why do we want these recording devices in our cars? What's the point? Is it to track and monitor me, the driver? Or, is to track and monitor the automaker that manufactured the car in which I drive? Is it a way for the powers that be to prove when I've made mistakes behind the wheel, or is it a way to prove when an auto manufacturer has made mistakes behind the welder?
Both, and for drivers and pedestrians alike, it's important that we become familiar with the implications of this new mandate and the possibilities inherent within this new data that is becoming available. It's important to know how this data will and could be used, because it will eventually impact you in some way.
These data capture devices started out as event data recorders or "EDRs," for use in post-crash analysis of airbag deployment in the 70's by General Motors. As an airbag deployed in a GM vehicle manufactured after 1974, so did that GM vehicle's "EDR." These early devices proved successful in capturing some of the parameters that could help to indicate "why" an airbag deployed. Yet, the NHTSA didn't conduct a full study on the usefulness of these devices until the late 90's. As a result of that later study, EDRs began expanding in capability and use throughout the 2000's. After over a decade of development, they eventually morphed in to the full-fledged "black box" of the proposed-to-be mandatory units. So, what else could the data provided by these advanced electronic monitors be used for?
Parameter Tracking or Manipulation:
There are a vast number of potential benefits to this type of black box system. What if your car was directly linked to your insurance company? Insurance companies could be able to give discounts to well-mannered drivers. You may recall a major insurance provider marketing a program in which they would track your driving habits for a period of time in order to qualify you for a safe-driver discount. That GPS unit was removable and was sent back to the insurance company once the pre-defined monitoring period was over. These new GPS black boxes are not removable (even if you can physically remove the device from the automobile and preserve that automobile's functionality, you will most likely face stiff penalties or possibly even imprisonment if you're caught having done so.)
If auto manufacturers, or you, give insurance companies access to this data – they could also, in turn, raise your premium if you are deemed an "unsafe" driver. They could possibly even raise your premium based off of any number of parameters including what time you drive, how often you drive, and what roadways you drive on. It has the potential to become a risk analyst's wet dream. Accident fault will also be more easily determined. If an offender's throttle position sensor is registering the go-pedal at 95% depression moments before a collision, they won't be able to hide it no matter how slick the road was or if their black box was somehow destroyed in the accident. The automaker will have the data in their cloud and that driver's insurance company may be storing that data as well. Suspects in crimes from kidnapping to bank robbery will be more easily tracked and apprehended in the moments following a crime in situations in which we know what vehicles they are operating. Remember, Ford has already admitted that they know when you're breaking the law – but specifically in regard to traffic offenses.
Although Ford has issued a statement back-stepping from their initial comments - they still let the world know that this data exists and is accessible - remotely. It's very hard to conceive that private companies are not using this readily available data to their advantage. It's reasonable to speculate that this data is, in fact, being utilized. It is also reasonable to speculate that with the ability to track a vehicle's given parameters, automakers will also have the ability to manipulate these parameters and override a driver's control in more situations than just parallel parking. A primary application for these abilities could be utilization by law enforcement or emergency medical services.
Read just the first paragraph of this 2006 NHTSA document entitled "EDR Final Ruling," and it becomes clear that this is precisely the motivation for the NHTSA in implementing this technology.
Real-Time Component-Use Analysis:
Arguably, the automobile, itself, could improve based on the new data that auto manufacturers will publicly have access to. Why not review the use and stresses of each component in order to build a better car? Being able to pool the data of how, when, and where each of us individually travel is a huge leap forward for automakers. In the past, these manufacturers were forced to rely upon physical inspection of their products or voluntary owner surveys in order to understand how we used them. Now, automakers will be able to see how we use their products, every single time that we use them, while we're using them. Automakers could also monitor for failures in their products as they start to happen in real-time. Recalls could be issued before components completely fail. It's hard to imagine all companies not doing this, not just the recently recall-stricken GM.
This data could also be used to identify areas in which industrial design can enhance the service requirements for some key components. Manufacturers could intentionally reduce the service life of certain items that require replacement in order to raise profits in specific areas. Tesla and the electric car are a threat to manufacturers primarily relying on internal combustion engines. The electric car is an even bigger threat to those manufacturer's dealerships. Dealerships make a profit from servicing the cars that they sell. The electric car has fewer moving parts than an internal combustion powered car and therefore requires less service. Tesla and the electric car could cause an economic gap where some of these dealerships really make their money - keeping your crazy explosion-powered-petrodollar-consuming-torque-converting contraption on the road.
Even with ever-restricting government regulations and profit-devouring environmental requirements - I still know that most American companies primarily exist to serve their consumers and better the world for all of humanity. It's not as if these companies are driven by the sheer desire to stay competitive and relevant in an increasingly intense global market focused on maximizing profits to satisfy shareholders at any cost. So, I'm trusting automakers will primarily be focused on using this data and new technology to make us great cars that last forever and rarely need serviced. Unlike noted (by me) pessimist Doug DeMuro
Data Farming and Profiting:
The idea of data farming may be a bit fresher than the black box, but most of us are familiar with how this works. A grocery store gives us a discount card that they associate with our identity. They then monitor and analyze our purchases as they are "farmed" at the register, so that they can sell to us more effectively. The consumer primarily focuses on the instant discount from a "discount card," and may not perceive how such practices could actually cause them to spend more money. How could the data from our cars be used to make auto manufacturers more money?
The data on how we use automobiles has the potential to be the biggest data cash-cow, yet. Automobiles, and how they're used, are influentially relevant to almost every aspect of a modern American's life. Even if you don't own or drive an automobile, something, if not everything, that you buy and use in this country was at one time on a truck or in a van (or in a someone's hatch-back.) This data could be viewed as potentially commercially profitable to virtually every industry from environmental protection to auto-racing. In the same way that grocery stores use this information to put items and packaging on their shelves that are designed to make you more likely to react and buy, businesses from all walks of life could make more money by knowing where and when you travel and how to market themselves around your life. You know how that last item you looked up on Amazon.com follows you around the internet in the form of similar advertising? Well, now those ads could be getting ready to follow you down the street.
Homeland Security:
Outside the scope of just the automakers benefiting from potentially selling this new data, you have to assume that Uncle Sam is going to be in on the action as well. The scope of the possibilities as to what the government could do if they could monitor, let alone control, every car in the country would make a conspiracy theorist's head spin. The government will either find ways to access this data where and when they want to in a manner that they responsibly construct as legal, or possibly gain access regardless of legality or even our knowledge. The U.S. Government has a zero-tolerance policy in regard to terrorism on U.S. soil. The ability to track or control vehicles of suspected terrorists seems a bit too tantalizing to conceive of homeland security passing it up.
Wrongful Imprisonment:
With intelligently designed systems from mankind also come human errors from those that design, implement, and operate said systems. In the event of a failure within a system, if you aren't familiar with how a system works or what it is comprised of, you won't know what has failed or how to fix a failure when it occurs. Any time that we rely on something – we give that "something" the opportunity to fall short of our expectations or requirements. From a misplaced document to a lack of quality control, we have all relied on systems that have failed us at some point, for some reason. How could failures in this black box system affect individual drivers or their vehicle's occupants?
Let's look at a few worst case, hopefully hyperbolic scenarios:
What happens when you're driving home one night, and suddenly your car's steering wheel, windows, and doors all lock at once? The car is still driving and steering, but seemingly entirely of its own accord. Your car proceeds to slow down and pull over to a safe and well-lit area off of the roadway, but you're stopped and locked inside. A crime has been committed, and the witness who reported the license plate number of the perpetrator, instead, mistakenly gives the police your plate number. Now, you're sitting in your car waiting for the police to come and question you. You are now in jail in your own car. If the reported crime was severe, police may have their guns drawn on you when they reach you. This sounds like a psychological nightmare. What if you were on your way to work or to see your child's sporting event? Systems do not care when they fail. The individuals that are affected by the failures are usually the only people that suffer any of the consequences.
What if, even worse, a glitch in the code for cruise control or electronic steering suddenly cause you to have an accident that you are powerless to avoid? What if the data recorder makes an error in recording the first digit of your speed, which somehow causes you to appear at fault in an accident in which you're actually the victim? Automobile accidents have legal implications for at-fault operators. In this instance, the person who wrote the code is actually the person directing this vehicle's actions. Those directions are relying on ever-increasing electronic devices that are designed and built by a limitless number of different people. How will all of these behind-the-scenes elements play out in courts? What kind of auditing system will consumers have in place to protect themselves? What will happen to people who are left helpless when the system that they had relied upon fails them?
As with a lot of new technological advancements, most of the general public's understanding doesn't breach the concept of what that technology accomplishes and (sort of) how to use it. How technology accomplishes tasks is simply not important to most people or requires a vernacular that the general public does not have; and therefore, it is simply not in the rhetoric. Still, why raise such a fuss about what the negative implications of automotive black box technology could be? What are we really giving up by allowing these devices as standard in our personal modes of transportation? What do we care if companies are making a profit from data that we generate?
"The right to be left alone – the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men." - Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis
There are certain times, and particularly when I'm in my car, that I just want to be left alone. People who are dead inside will argue that if you aren't doing anything wrong, you don't need any privacy. Instances may have arisen, when in my own personal car, that I have taken actions that the department of motor vehicles would consider "wrong." I may have, after observing another vehicle too close in proximity to the the rear of my vehicle for a few too many miles, briefly or "abruptly" turned on my 3rd tail light. Maybe there have been scenarios where I have jumped the speed limit by 12mph, on a back-road with clear visibility in all directions, to avoid a red light. Maybe none of those situations have occurred. In any case, most of the time I still just want to be left alone. When I shut the door of my car, I'm (most often) alone and I'm in control. Both privacy and control are elementally and equally part of why I enjoy going for a drive.
Control is important to me because a car can crash, and I am not designed for car crashes. I am intimately aware of what car crashes are and it is very important to me that I avoid them. I don't trust this task to many other people, either. Adding a myriad of digital elements in to the mix of what is watching and possibly controlling my car, frankly, freaks me out. It's my car. I want to drive it. I worked many hours to buy it. I will work many more hours to pay for its fuel and insurance. I should get to control all aspects of what it is, what it does, and what it's used for.
To me, the thought of mixing the potential failures of I.T. with the potential failures of an automobile is a terrifying concept. Windows crashes enough without being able to drive my car. For now, technology is content to primarily be a passenger on your journey (albeit a passenger that is getting ready to snitch on your every move.) As the growing capabilities of technology reach out in to transportation, they can't help but also have an impact on the freedom that our individual modes of transportation provide. When is that impact too large? How much individual power are we willing to give up before we recognize and protect it as endangered? Privacy was a big part of the enjoyment and freedom of driving for me. I, for one, am sad to see it go.


text:
How to I obtain copies of recent credit card purchases?
My name is Katy, I am a customer service rep with HomeDepot.com. Depending on whether the purchase was an online purchase that was either shipped to you or the store, or if this was a store purchase, there are a couple options.
For online orders that were shipped, you should have received a shipping confirmation email stating the order has shipped, that is your receipt for the online purchase. If you no longer have the shipping confirmation email, please call us at 1-800-466-3337, and one of our customer service reps can assist in re-emailing that receipt to you.
For store purchases, including BOPIS, (Buy Online Pickup In Store) if you have created a customer account with HomeDepot.com, and your card information has been stored in your account, when that card is used to make a purchase, you can login to your account and can view in-store receipts used for every saved credit card on file.
Another option if you make a purchase at the store, the keypad will ask if you would like an emailed version of your receipt, or an (eReceipt.) If you select yes it will prompt you to enter your email address, once submitted, it will email you the eReceipt to your email address.
If you have not registered a customer account with HomeDepot.com, or did not select at checkout to have an eReceipt sent to your email; I'm afraid there isn't a way to locate the receipts for those previous purchases. I do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
I made a lumber purchase yesterday; and although I am usually treated kindly at Home Depot, the help I received by a man named Raymond was above kind; beyond great. He treated me like I was his best friend, or brother. I was not there to buy 500 dollars' worth of lumber, not 400, 200, not even 50. I spent 12.00 dollars on a piece of wood to fit in a groove in the back of my truck. This man went outside to my truck and measured the area, picked out a good piece of wood, cut it to size, took it out to make sure it fit, took it back it in to shave off a bit so that it fit perfectly. There were other customers yelling at him "what are you going to do, cut all his wood for him?" they would shout at him. He said, "yes", he's my customer. He told them his partner was at lunch so he was the only one in the dept at the time, to please and be patient he'd help them soon. Raymond treated me as if I was the owner of the Home Depot Store. I've never felt more "customer important" than he made me feel in my whole life.
I lost my receipt so I couldn't take the survey (the reason why I'm putting this on here). I know one thing, I'll be telling everyone that I know who needs the kind of help I needed yesterday, to go see Raymond at Home Depot on Clemson Blvd in Anderson, South Carolina. I believe Raymond should be given some type of humanitarian award. He certainly deserves it!
Note: I am a disabled veteran. Thanks again Raymond and Home Depot.
Hi LGodfrey,
You can keep track of past and new Home Depot receipts automatically with the Greenback app. Contractors use it for construction project costing but you don't have to be a pro. Greenback imports all of your receipts for you automatically and then you can do reprints or export your data to an accounting platform like Quickbooks, or Xero, or Excel, Google Sheets, etc. You just need to setup your Home Depot account (ie: add your credit or debit cards, checking account, etc.) Greenback has a free plan and for high-volume paid plans you even get a bulk export tool and more. I can never find my receipt when I need it but it's online! Check it out at: Greenback.com


text:
How to track RBL bank credit card application status?
So you have applied for applied for new credit card and are looking forward to track RBL bank Credit card application status. Welcome, you are at the right place.
As per Wikipedia, RBL Bank Limited is a scheduled commercial bank, headquartered in the Mumbai region of Maharashtra, India. Founded in August 1943, RBL is one of the oldest private sector banks in India. The bank currently services approximately 3.15 million customers and has a total business size of over Rs. 64,000 crores. As of June 2017, ICRA has rated the Bank as A1+ (Rs. 3,000 crores) for the Certificates of Deposits Program,[6] MAA- with a positive outlook on the Fixed (Term) Deposit Program and A+ (Hyb) for the Basel III compliant Tier II subordinate debt program.
How much time does RBL bank takes to process my credit card application.
Whether you applied online(through their website/netbanking etc) or offline(by filling out forms with pen), it can take some time to process your application.
Typically, it takes around 2-3 weeks for the credit card to reach your registered address after you apply for the RBL bank credit card. Even if your application for credit card is instantly approved or pre-approved, even then it takes around 1-2 weeks for your credit card to reach you.
How to track RBL bank credit card application status:
The waiting period can make you really impatient, so you can track RBL bank credit card application status to keep yourself posted and updated. The process to track RBL bank credit card application is really easy. You just need to have following with you in order to track your credit card application:
a. Registered mobile number: The phone number you provided while applying for the RBL bank credit card.
b. Application reference number or Account Number: Complete application reference number should be added including # symbol. It can be found on your application form receipt. RBL also send this to your registered emailid and registered mobile number. In case you dont have application reference number, then you can enter account number.
Once you have this info, follow these steps to check the status of your credit card application
1. Go to https://rblbank.rupeepower.com/application-status. Refer this screenshot for details:
2. Enter application reference number or account number.
3. Enter registered mobile number.
4. Click the Submit button.
5. Now you should be able to see the exact status of your credit card application.
So we saw that the procedure to track the status of the RBL bank credit card is quite simple and straightforward. But if you have any difficulty checking the status, you can share your details in the comment section and we will check the status for you.


text:
The feeding tube was nearly dry. John hadn't attended to Fred's apparatus in some time. The creature had lost weight, but the scientist was so thoroughly enthralled in his work that he hadn't noticed. At first Fred flailed a little when John was in the room in an attempt to get his creator's attention. Having no mouth or vocal cords, he could not call and his efforts were in vain. He sat there on the desk with a dry tube and nothing to nourish him, patiently dying.
Many would argue whether his existence could be considered living. Whether it mattered, as he wasn't a creature of God but instead an abomination technologically constructed by man. Fred had no soul, they'd say. The pittance of grey matter that his genetic code allowed for was just barely enough to afford his growth. He affected life, but he was horrible to behold with freakish multiple limbs like a spider, no features or mobility and indeed no survivability at all without the pipettes. He was dependent, like a fetus. His mother was neglectful however and the womb was outside John's body, thus greatly endangering Fred's capacity to continue on without manual maintenance.
He sat patiently dying and affecting life whilst great lofty intelligences debated the morality of his coming into being. Little did he know that he would become a catalyst for nightmares, urban legends, and activism. He was wholly unaware of the many people who would retch and swear off fast food for a week upon first beholding his form just prior to lapsing back into complacency and indifference. Simultaneously ignored and focused on, Fred suffered in that singular fashion reserved for glamorous stars, abominations and children.
Hours passed, the clock on the wall methodically interrupting the silence as motes of dust floated on unseen currents of air, catching the light as they crossed the beams peeking in from the drawn curtains. It was stifling, but Fred didn't have to worry about sweating out his dwindling water supply as he had no such glands to regulate his temperature. They were inconvenient and thus excluded from his genetic coding. John was away, and so the window A/C unit hadn't been set for some time and the ventilation in the old house left something to be desired. None of this was apparent to Fred, whose lack of sensory organs and larger regions of the brain kept him from the tedium of his wasting existence.
Sometime in the afternoon as the sun began to shift and elongate the shadows, the air stirred and danced invisibly away from the door as it creaked ominously open. Smallish feet scuffed the floor as Fred's brother Darren entered the office despite having been forbidden to do so. Carefully he looked around and shut the portal behind himself, wincing as the hinges offered up dull groans of protest. His eyes locked on Fred. He paid no attention to the papers, furniture, books or other objects in the room as they held less fascination for him than the specks of dust gliding past the window on unknowable missions driven by inertia. The strange creation engineered by his father, however, was of immediate and ongoing curiosity.
Darren drew close and stood on the chair, leaning over the desk carefully so as to leave the allegedly organized chaos of John's workspace undisturbed. He breathed slowly and hotly through his mouth. He didn't blink. He lingered this way in anticipation of Fred's eventual motion, not knowing that the thing had grown weak from starvation. After several minutes, he shifted his weight and placed a hand on the worn wood, extending the index finger of his opposite hand in an almost accusatory gesture. He paused several inches from Fred's skin.
"Hey!" he tested. Fred did nothing, as he could not hear. "Hey, Fred!" Darren tried again. Still no response. "Fred…are you alive?" This continued through a gamut of variations on a theme, until the boy grew impatient as mobile and truly living beings are apt to do. The restlessness caused him to become brave, and he poked the creature. Fred did not react.
"Eww." Darren breathed, wrinkling his nose and frowning at the alien sensation of his brother's skin. He pushed harder this time, and the creature fell over. Finally Fred stirred, ineffectively flailing with what reserves of strength he had left. This startled Darren, who simultaneously cried out and jumped back. He immediately fled the room, leaving the debatably living yet definitely perishing creation in its toppled state.
The sun continued to lengthen the shadows.
Fred lay patiently dying on the desk.


text:
Monday, June 4, 2012
Full Steam Ahead
7 comments:
- Jen said...
Those friends of yours - the ones with LIVES? They should be ashamed! Never NEVER hold back when you have time to play in the sweat shop! NEVER! :)
- June 4, 2012 at 1:01 AM
I have been reading your blog for over a year. I am so impressed with all you do. Never hold back no matter what. I am sometimes called and over achiever and I always say thank you . :0)
I love all the houses you make. I have tried many times to make houses but I have a terrible time with windows and doors. They always are crooked. How do you do it? Keep those blocks coming
- June 4, 2012 at 3:41 AM
- LesQuilts said...
Hi! I agree with Jen above. We all have different priorities! Me, I have a life like yours, work, home, work, home.
Home = quilting+applique!
Head up! Sew and applique on!
- June 4, 2012 at 4:25 AM
- krislovesfabric said...
Carry on, as one who is behind on the MMS project, I say we enjoy seeing you keep up even when we do not ;). I will hope to get another block done this week but it's never a race, quilting is for fun! Thanks for the motivation to continue making snowmen when it is 90 degrees around here, lol!
- June 4, 2012 at 5:18 AM
- Carol said...
I signed up for Pumpkinville at FQS. I must be crazy though because I haven't even started my Merry Merry Snowmen.
- June 4, 2012 at 6:21 AM
- Busy Little Quilter said...
I love Pumpkinville! I still have to make Autumn House and Bunny Hill!
- June 4, 2012 at 2:30 PM
LOVE pumpkinville.....she is just amazing, i just must do it!!! Love your merry merry!!
- June 4, 2012 at 10:02 PM


text:
By Scotty Reid
Count Kareem Abdul-Jabbar among the white terrorism deniers commenting on the attacks committed by Dylann Roof against a SC Senator whom he asked for by name, along with the other defenseless souls trapped in the Charleston church with an admitted white supremacist. While Mr. Abdul-Jabbar makes salient points about racism deniers in media, he is among those making absurd claims about how the attack on the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina was not terrorism.
In article written for Time, Mr. Kareem Abdul Jabbar seems confused about what constitutes terrorism.
For instance he says, "Terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan want to drive Americans out of their countries."
If we use that criteria in determining who is and isn't a terrorist, French resistance fighters opposing the occupation of France by German Nazis would be considered terrorists. Any number of African Independence fighters would be considered terrorists and in fact the US government considered South Africa's Nelson Mandela a terrorist. Logic would hardly allow the classification of those trying to drive foreign occupiers out of their homelands as terrorists. As the old saying goes, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter depending on what side of a conflict you're on.
Mr. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar writes that what Roof did was not terrorism because he could not realistically achieve his goal to start a race war or force blacks out of politics. Islamic radicals can not realistically take over the USA and implement Sharia but it is still considered terrorism when they attack and kill unarmed civilians.
"After an hour at the prayer meeting, Dylann Roof stood up and proclaimed that he was there "to shoot black people." His rambling manifesto during the shootings was: "You rape our women, and you're taking over our country. And you have to go." In his mind he was a terrorist, but in reality this was nothing more than hate crime using terrorist tactics to enact his racist fantasy."
I would say that if we must use the term "hate crime", it would more accurately apply to the execution of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina this year by Craig Stephen Hicks. Hicks, a 46 yr-old white male, was known to post anti-religious statements on Facebook. Hicks is an atheist but it is important to note that he did not go into a white christian church and kill everyone inside. He targeted Muslim neighbors. Hicks has not been charged with a hate crime or terrorism but with murder, the same as Roof.
Mr. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar continues,
"Roof had no hope of driving African Americans out of the country, starting a race war or engendering any political or social change at all. We shouldn't use it as an excuse to discuss terrorism because that diverts us from the actual problem."
What Roof did was a terrorist act despite whether or not he could bring about his goals.The definition of terrorism does not include any reference to whether or not terrorist can achieve their goals but their stated or implied intent.
Terrorism is "the use of violence to physically and psychologically terrorize a population by an individual or a group in order to draw attention to a cause, enact political change, or gain political power."
Sarah Jones writing for politicususa.com in debunking FBI Director James Comey who during this still open investigation prematurely made the claim that the attack was not terrorism stated,
"Dylann Roof claimed blacks were taking over. He clearly had a right wing agenda to "preserve traditional social orders," which is a form of terrorism."
I would add that Roof believed in white supremacy, wrote about his belief in racist white wing ideologies and he assassinated a Black political representative in South Carolina that was working to advance legislation to address police shootings in the state.
As an aside, the FBI not that long ago elevated Black Liberation icon Assata Shakur to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorism List. Shakur along with several comrades are accused of getting into a shoot out with New Jersey State troopers that resulted in the killing of Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973. While Shakur had been accused of several crimes involving murder and bank robbery, she would be acquitted on most of the charges and/or charges were dismissed. However, she was never accused of a crime involving the mass killing of civilians or politicians as is in the case of Dylan Roof. Shakur would escape prison in 1979 and was given political asylum in Cuba. Assata Shakur was moved to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists List on May 2, 2013, the 40th anniversary of the New Jersey Turnpike shooting.
At the time of Shakur's placement on the terrorist list in 2013, Mr. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was not writing articles about how Assata Shakur isn't a terrorist.
Later in his article Mr. Abdul-Jabbar becomes even more confusing in his application of the term terrorism.
Mr. Abdul-Jabbar is absolutely correct and on point in his assessment of racism deniers writing and talking about the motivations of white terrorist Dylan Roof. Fox News in particular has been engaging in media deception to divert attention away from the white supremacist aspect of the killings by calling it an attack on Christianity.
Mr. Abdul-Jabbar accuses those denying racism had anything to do with the attacks of engaging in "media terrorism". As far as I know, this is a new term or a relatively unknown term. Certainly media is used by terrorist and terrorist organizations to promote their ideologies. Corporate media in America has always advanced the terroristic goals of the US government by participating in smear campaigns and pushing outright lies against leaders of intended targets like Libya's former Prime Minister Muammar Gaddafi. I would also say that Fox News, Breitbart News and other right wing platforms certainly push xenophobic and racist right wing ideologies embraced by right wing terrorists in addition to their racism denial.
However, these media networks may be the preferred networks of white would be terrorists but they are not actually engaged in the physical acts of violence required to fit the definition of terrorism. They may be providing material support to white terrorists and potential terrorist through propaganda but what they are doing does not fit the classic definition of terrorism.
Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and anyone else who claims that the attack on Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church which claimed 9 lives including a sitting state senator was not related to terrorism are ignoring the facts of the case. White Terrorism deniers are the reason that the US Department of Homeland Security under President Obama's administration, who has yet to label the Charleston attack as terrorism related, gutted its section that tracked and investigated potential right-wing terrorists. No one can say for certain that if Homeland Security had not turned a blind eye to white right wing terrorism that the Charleston attacks would have not occurred but it sure did not help prevent the terrorist attack.
White terrorism deniers are both intentionally and unintentionally putting more non-white people in the USA at risk of more attacks. Since the US government is not interested in tracking white supremacists and preventing future attacks then it is imperative that Black people engage in their own counter-terrorism activities.


text:
Fairmont Admissions Process
Our Fairmont admissions team is dedicated to helping you make one of the most important decisions for your child's life — choosing a school where she can learn, grown, and blossom into her most successful and authentic self. We invite you to meet our family of expert educators and lifelong learners, who inspire minds and empower dreams every day.
Check Out Our Campus Virtual Tours:
View Our Fairmont Brochure
The Fairmont journey beings in preschool (starting at age 2) and continues through high school graduation. Our five Orange County campuses – four preschool—grade 8 and two high schools – are unique learning communities, yet all share a common philosophy: researching, planning, and carefully implementing the most advanced curriculum, education technology, and instructional practices to offer your child the best possible learning experience.
Our accelerated academic program means that every student works at least one year ahead of grade level, as our low student-to-teacher ratio and extensive support services thoughtfully address every child's interests and needs. In this nurturing, caring environment, award-winning arts, athletics, and leadership-building programs strengthen your child's self-awareness, creativity, and confidence.
Please take this opportunity to meet our Fairmont admissions directors, each of whom would be delighted to give you and your family a personal campus tour.
Thank you again for considering Fairmont Private Schools. We hope you will join our enthusiastic learning family.
Contact our Fairmont Admissions Team
Jennie Han
Crystal Garcia
Alexandra Pesko
Audrey Foreman
Please email Ms. Foreman for tuition information on our newest campus, Fairmont San Juan Capistrano.
2020–2021 Tuition
|Student Grade
|Annual Tuition Rates
|Preschool Half Days
Three Half Days (M-W-F) – Anaheim Hills & Historic Anaheim Only
Five Half Days (M-F) – Anaheim Hills & Historic Anaheim Only
|Preschool Full Days
Three Full Days (M-W-F) – Anaheim Hills & Historic Anaheim Only
Five Full Days (M-F) – Anaheim Hills & Historic Anaheim Only
Five Half Days (M-F) – Anaheim Hills Only
Five Full Days (M-F) – All Campuses
|Junior Kindergarten – Kindergarten
|Grades 1 – 5
|Grade 6
|Grades 7-8
|Grades 9 – 12


text: I have this spreadshhet where represents a Call Centre conversation. A question is asked and depending on answer the next question will asked and so on. I have to represent this in a Tree structure. Can this community help with this? If the answer is Yes then I could attaché a sample of the file, it is difficult to explain without going through the file.


text:
So you're approaching the final countdown to your holiday to Turkey and the cases are coming out of the storage cupboard, but the question is what to pack. Obviously there will be the usual sun creams and toiletries, but is there anything specific you need to take with you for your chosen destination?
Unsure what to pack? Well, Holiday Hypermarket has created your ultimate Turkey packing list to make sure you don't forget anything.
1. Cool and Comfortable
If you're travelling in summer the temperatures can reach tropical heights which means you will need to pack cool and comfortable clothing. Avoid colours like black and opt for light shades instead as dark colours tend to absorb the heat. Comfortable and sturdy footwear is also advisable, especially if you plan on exploring.
2. Swimsuit
This goes without saying as you're likely to take a dip in the pool or sea during your holiday to Turkey given the country's overpowering temperatures. However, if you're planning a visit to the mud baths we would advise you take a spare swimsuit as the smell of the mud baths is rather pungent. Although there are showers and a guy with a hosepipe ready to wash all the mud off, we still think an extra swimsuit is a good idea as the smell can linger. We also recommend a spare towel.
3. Guidebook
A guidebook is another essential item. You can either get one for the whole of Turkey, or one dedicated to the different areas and resorts. This will make planning your trip so much easier as they will include ideas of where to go and what to see, along with a few local phrases that may come in useful in cafés and bars.
4. Empty case or Holdall
There is so much to buy in Turkey and it is all very reasonably priced. So, you may want to consider taking an empty case or holdall.
5. Bubble Wrap
This may be a strange item to suggest, but it is so useful when it comes to protecting those must-have Turkish ceramics.
6. Winter
Temperatures can vary, it can be lovely and warm during the day but temperatures tend to drop in the evenings, so we suggest that you take a cardigan or jacket for those chilly nights.
7. Milk
Turkish tea and coffee is very strong and is served black. Most of the hotels have milk, but some cafés and restaurants charge extra for it, so we would advise taking sachets or pods of UHT milk or creamer with you.
8. Female Travellers
Turkey is a laid-back country, especially around the resorts. However, if you're planning on visiting a mosque or holy place, you'll need to cover your head, so we would advise bringing a scarf.
9. Visa
All UK visitors to Turkey will need to apply for a visa. You can purchase this on arrival, but it is much more advisable to apply for it before you go. This can be purchased online, all you need to do is print out the confirmation, which will be sent to your email. Whatever you do don't wait until you get there as you'll be expected to queue twice, first for the visa and then for passport control – and this definitely isn't a quick process.
10. Corkscrew
This is another unusual one which you may not have expected, but If you're planning on purchasing a bottle of wine from the supermarket, you will struggle to find a corkscrew. For this reason we do recommend packing one.
Most things in Turkey are easily accessible, so if you do forget anything you're bound to find it in one of the many supermarkets. However, if you don't want to waste those precious holiday hours shopping make sure that you're already prepared. We do hope you found this list useful and if you can think of anything we have missed off then feel free to share your packing tips.


text:
Not too long ago, everyone was warned about computer viruses and 'Anti-Virus' became the in-word when it came to computers, because the last thing you wanted was for someone to cause damage using a virus program.
Since then, criminals have jumped on board the malicious software scene and big money can be obtained from data – especially yours.
Increasingly the media are telling us that there are more threats than basic viruses now, things like 'Ransomware' (a malicious program which encrypts your files so that you cannot access them again without payment), software aimed at stealing your credit card and identity data, telephone scams using remote software, plus others.
Protection – what can you do?
Clearly, if you want to go on the internet you do need anti-virus protection but unfortunately, protection from free programs is not enough these days. Yes they are definitely better than nothing, but you have to ask yourself if big corporations such as Yahoo and TalkTalk can get hacked, maybe minimal protection compared to paid-for protection, is not the way to go.
A good paid-for security suite is the minimum these days and even then, you have to be careful about what websites you visit, emails you open and what you download.
The One Anti-Virus Rule
Traditionally, the rule has been that you must only have one anti-virus program running at any one time on your computer. To have two anti-virus programs was definitely not recommended, as they compete with each other and at the very least slowed your computer to a crawl, if not actually corrupting your data. We have come across many computer systems with two or more anti-virus programs which have caused problems. That was up till now.
There is now a product called Malwarebytes, which has been designed to actually run alongside your traditional anti-virus program, without causing the problems as before. It compliments your current protection by looking for the ransomware / malware-type of threat and assists in the protection of your system by concentrating on the non-traditional danger to your computer, without causing problems having two protection programs.
As it is a paid-for product it runs in real time, bolstering the protection of your system. As the threats particularly of Ransomware are becoming a problem, especially for businesses, it is recommended to seriously think about adding to the scope of your protection.
Ultimately, no protection system is guaranteed 100% effective as they are always catching up with the "bad guys", but it is worth considering whether or not one protection program is enough these days, bearing in mind online banking and other day-to-day internet use that involves sensitive personal and financial information.
If you do decide to go down the additional protection route, we can supply Malwarebytes at below retail prices, so if interested give us a call on 01455 209505.


text:
This article is from Open Magazine.
By V Shoba
Fringed by luminous sandy banks, the fabric flows, a perpetual stream over stones. Thick as luxury linen, though not sateen-smooth, the plain grey cotton sari is outlined by an inch of turmeric-yellow, the colour of the sun that beats down on Kodekal this morning. A village of about 8,000 people in Yadgir district, north-east Karnataka, it is the birthplace of Kodekal Basavanna, a follower of the 12-century Shaivite philosopher Basava. In this cradle of faith, another legacy has dwindled to naught. "There were 200 weaving families in the village. It was a small handloom centre. Over the years, they have all moved out or taken up other work," says 89-year-old Sangappa Manti, an award- winning artisan. "You can't blame them. If the husband and wife weave together, they may finish a sari in a couple of days and earn Rs 350 from it. Agricultural labour will fetch them double that in one day." Kodekal's past pokes through in the rattle of Sangappa Manti's wood looms. His family is the sole custodian of an unpretentious weave known as the 'dandin seere', the bordered sari. Among Kurubas and other communities of the region, the sari is a must at rituals and pujas. Made of the colours of the earth and finished with a propitious haldi border, it costs Rs 900 and lasts a lifetime.
"Thick as luxury linen, though not sateen-smooth, the plain grey cotton sari is outlined by an inch of turmeric-yellow, the colour of the sun that beats down on Kodekal this morning."
Manti does not bemoan the fate of the customary weave that has run in his family for generations or see himself as a sentinel of tradition. The family supplements the income from weaving with a five-acre patch of sonamasuri rice. He himself diversified 20 years ago into crafting saris for temples--elaborate pure silk affairs that can take up to a month and cost about Rs 28,000. His drapes adorn dozens of goddesses in north Karnataka and he does not want for work. "I am pious. I take a shower and perform puja before I weave the sari. It takes time," he says. Pictures of Lakshmi, Shiva, Hanuman and Basava crowd the glossy green walls of Manti's front room. He wears a dhoti and an infectious smile that widens to a grin when he takes a jibe at the children scampering through the house. Shafts of white flood every room through vents in the tile-and-wood roof. There is almost no furniture, with the exception of an iron cot and a rack stacked with saris. I spy among them Ilkal cottons-- a finer weave with an elaborate red silk pallu from the eponymous weaving centre 75 km south-west of Kodekal-- and artificial silks. "We sell about six or seven traditional cotton saris in a month. These are usually made to order," Manti's brother's son, Veerasangappa, explains. "The rest of the time, we weave Ilkal saris, which cost more (about Rs 1,600) but are easier to sell. They are also lighter."
"He wears a dhoti and an infectious smile that widens to a grin when he takes a jibe at the children scampering through the house"
His brother Sangayya has fallen into a rhythm weaving a black sari at one of the two wooden looms occupying a large room. Spindles of brightly-dyed cotton yarn are everywhere. A brush made of tamarind fibre, used to apply jowar starch to woven fabric, hangs from a hook. The aroma of obbattu--jaggery- and-dal-stuffed crepes made of wheat-- suffuses the courtyard. We are treated to a meal of jowar roti, dal, subzi and kheer, all laced with a hint of wood smoke. "When someone asks for a sari for the goddess and comes home to receive it, it is customary to cook a feast," says Ratnamma, Veerasangappa's wife, bustling about in a green Ilkal. Simplicity and generosity are converging pursuits here.
"The aroma of obbattu--jaggery- and-dal-stuffed crepes made of wheat, suffuses the courtyard."
Some women in the 15-member household wear an ochre-red sari with a slim white border. It is a weaver's privilege and identity, says Sangayya, one they proudly sport at community gatherings. With the power loom yet to muscle into wardrobes in these parts, Sangappa Manti delights in weaving for his own people, giving them what has been theirs for centuries. To him, it is an extension of the struggle for freedom from the Nizam and his Razakars, who lorded over the Hyderabad region even after India had won Independence. "In 1947, when the rest of the country was celebrating, we still lived in fear. Our women did not want to step out into the streets. Then, in October, Swami Ramanand Tirtha came here from Hyderabad to organise a protest," Manti remembers. A 20-year-old Sangappa was among the thousands of men who were put behind bars, first at the Shorapur sub-jail and later in Gulbarga, for months. When Gandhi was killed, he observed a fast while in jail. It was only in September 1948, that the Nizam was finally overthrown and Hyderabad integrated into India. "You see, people here have deep roots and value their history," Manti declares in conclusion, with a knowing smile that says his saris will stay relevant for years to come.
Image by Open Magazine.
Contact HuffPost India


text:
Happy St. Patty's Day!!
Top O The Morning To Ya!
Happy St. Patty's Day!!
BIG on food, holidays and fun!
Like this recipe? Save it to your Pinterest board now!Pin
sylvia says
Toooo cute! Love the green. Happy St. Patty's Day!
Scrappy Jessi says
love all the green images!!
yeah to the lucky winner!
Becky, yep says
You have one high-tech blog, there sister!
amanda says
Ok so what cute things are you doing today for Avery? I need some ideas.
Kami says
Amanda – Here are a bunch of good ones.
amanda says
Thanks for the ideas. I saved some of them for next year since I'm a little late, but I think Brett will like the food coloring in the toilet:)
Lorilee says
I love a girl who loves to celebrate a holiday as much as I do. It just makes life so much more fun, don't ya think?
ps. I really wanted to participate in your Go Green Giveaway—since I've started working at the Natural Foods store, I've become a total hippie and recycle obsessed. I could have won. Maybe next time.
Shauna says
You are so fun! Love it that you get into the every single holiday so so much! Way to go!
Wendy says
You are so festive. I guess I shouldn't tell you that I didn't even remember it was St Patty's day til it was half over. Oops. 🙁
Becky, yep says
second pic from the left looks like kyle's hairy chest


text:
Honey Buns
Glazed Breakfast Pastries
Are your mornings hectic and overwhelming, leaving you to eat a boring piece of toast for breakfast or maybe even just a cup of coffee? Does that afternoon crash hit you hard, leaving you feeling lethargic and honestly just sad? Drake's Honey Buns are here for you!
These large cinnamon-flavored honey buns are covered in a sweet glaze. Each bite is just as sweet, moist and delectable as the next. There's really no need to over-hype these treats. They're the delicious solution whenever you need them.
Each carton contains six individually wrapped sweet roll pastries, so we would recommend grabbing more than one box at a time because these will become a staple snack in your life.
Kosher certified by the Orthodox Union.