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So breathe a sigh of relief: I'm back from yesterday's non-blogging void. You missed my presence in the blogosphere, didn't you? cricket, cricket Well anyway, you'll be happy to know that during my brief absence, I was out collecting new blog fodder: i.e., being totally embarrassed by my child. Oh, sense of social propriety ... where are you, and why have you COMPLETELY bypassed my four-year-old? We try to teach Colin how to behave properly in public. Honestly, we do. And it's not so much the way he acts that mortifies me - it isn't that he's running around like a chihuahua on crack* (*except for that one time at Wal-Mart). It's the things he says. At the most inconvenient of times. Loudly. Take, for example, our lunch at a local restaurant yesterday. It was supposed to be a good time. And it would have been - everyone was in a great mood, ready for a nice meal. We were seated, the boys were happily coloring on their kids' menus, ahhhh. Then our lunch date took a turn for the worse. Enter our waitress (waiter?) - a very androgynous girl (guy?) with a short, boyish haircut, no makeup or pierced ears, a nondescript body shape, and a nametag that revealed no definite clues as to her (his?) sex: LENNY. But whereas Curtis and I were only silently wondering about our server's gender, Colin took it upon himself to find out. Lenny asked him what he'd like to drink, and rather than his usual reply of "Chocolate milk, please!" he answered: "Are you a man?" My eyes widened in horror, and I felt my face flush hot. I quickly diverted my eyes to Cameron, who was providing a distraction by coloring on the table - so I busied myself with guiding his crayon back to the paper. Across the table, Curtis nudged Colin sharply. "Son!" he said, in an admonishing tone. "She asked you what you'd like to drink." "But are you a man?" Colin inquired of Lenny, louder this time. I swear, it felt like someone was twisting a knife in my gut each time those words flew from his (socially inappropriate) mouth. But it was such a delicate situation: what do you do at a time such as this? I was desperate for a better diversion, so I tossed one out there. "Look, it's Lenny, just like on 'Wonder Pets!'" I said brightly, referring to a guinea pig on one of their favorite shows (who, coincidentally, I also thought was a boy until one of the other characters referred to it as "she"). "Lenny, Tuck, and Ming-Ming too!" Cameron chimed in from his high chair, singing the "Wonder Pets" theme song. "But is this Lenny a man?" Colin wanted to know. At this point, we had a few options: a.) Call even more attention to the question by telling Colin, in front of Lenny, that it wasn't appropriate to ask. b.) Tell him Lenny was a girl (which we were ... like ... 85% sure of) and hope he left it alone; risk further embarrassing Lenny, in case Lenny was actually not a girl or was genuinely trying to pass as a dude. c.) Try to ignore the question and press on with the drink orders. d.) Something better, which we absolutely could not think of in our current state of humiliation. We opted for choice c - ignoring the question as best we could (although it was like trying to ignore a chimpanzee standing in the middle of the table waving his hairy arms: impossible) and trying to get on with the order. Lenny, bless his or her soul, could have nipped this whole thing in the bud by answering the burning question right away. Instead, he or she just stood there as Colin asked repeatedly about her gender. Our attempt to ignore it went something like this: Curtis: "He'll have chocolate milk. And I'll have iced tea, please." Colin: "Daddy, is that a man?" Me: "I'd also like a tea, please, and the baby will just drink out of ours." Kids just don't get that an unanswered question means that you probably shouldn't ask it again, and especially not multiple times. Because despite our under-the-table pokes and stern "you'd-better-shut-your-mouth-right-this-minute" glances, Colin kept asking. I think he assumed Lenny couldn't hear him or something. Finally, miraculously, Lenny answered. "Nope, I'm a girl," she said. "But I get that all the time." If she had only said that to begin with, we could have been spared the agonizing experience. It seriously seemed like the longest drink order we'd ever dictated. Afterwards, in the car, we gave Colin a gentle-but-firm talking to about things he shouldn't ask people. I think he got it ... but just in case, if we ever get another androgynous waiter/waitress, I'm so requesting to sit in a different section. Other Apps Email Post Comments Karen M. Peterson August 1, 2009 at 12:18 PM Happy Saturday Sharefest! Seriously, what girl is named Lenny? And why couldn't she just answer the question in the first place? And why don't children come with filters? A few of the things I'll be pondering today... ReplyDelete Replies Shawn August 1, 2009 at 12:27 PM Heh, heh! So funny---been there and done it! Thanks for visiting my blog---love yours! Will come by again.... ReplyDelete Replies Happy Saturday Sharefest. Just the name of your blog makes me smile. And this post made me laugh. I'll be back! ReplyDelete Replies Happy Saturday Sharefest! How funny! When my son was 3, he was intrigued by our obviously gay waiter. He studied him for a while, and finally blurted out loud enough for everyone to hear, "Oh I get it! He's a lady daddy! He has earrings like yours, mommy. He's a lady daddy." Not a bad observation for a 3 year old:) ReplyDelete Replies thatdesigngal August 1, 2009 at 3:59 PM A happy Saturday sharefest to you! Oh my goodness, I don't know what I would have done! I would have been fire engine red. Sounds like she handled it beautifully! God bless her! www.thatdesigngal.blogspot.com ReplyDelete Replies Tania @ Larger Family Life August 1, 2009 at 4:03 PM That was so, so funny! Although, I believe you don't think so. Trust me. ReplyDelete Replies jennifer August 1, 2009 at 5:08 PM Colin is going to need his own blog before long! I was so nervous for Curtis when he said, "SHE asked you what you'd like to drink." I was just waiting for Lenny to correct Curtis and tell him "she" was a man. Seriously, why couldn't she just have answered Colin's question to begin with? ReplyDelete Replies Holly @ Domestic Dork August 1, 2009 at 6:35 PM Ooooh...I'm cringing just reading about it! I do not envy you this experience. ReplyDelete Replies lonek8 August 1, 2009 at 10:54 PM I find it totally weird that the girl couldn't just answer the question - when other people's kids ask me inappropriate questions i try to answer them as well as I can to spare the parents as much embarrasment as possible because clearly the kid is doing it out of innocence. So funny though. Last weekend Izzy asked my mom if she was a girl because she doesn't wear nail polish like I do. ReplyDelete Replies Cathie August 2, 2009 at 12:17 AM How embarrassing! Amy used to say things like that. I think she was school age before she acquired a sense of social appropriateness! Makes for some tense parenting moments.... ReplyDelete Replies Unknown August 2, 2009 at 1:07 PM really funny post! ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous August 6, 2009 at 5:03 PM I'm lol'ing cause I know exactly where you're coming from. Cole has been very vocal about...larger people. We were at Wal-Mart with mom when she stoped and talked to a friend she used to work with...a fat male friend who happened to be black. Cole very loudly announced that he was not only fat, but brown like Barack Obama! Today at Casey's, a very large woman walked in. I was thinking 'oh shit' to myself because I knew Cole would say something....which he started. 'Mom! Look at her!" I got in his line of site, blocking her and whispered 'SHUT UP!' to him. Could you imagine if our boys were together and we ran into a black, obese shemale? God help us! And wtf? Lenny is a girl? No way! ReplyDelete Replies Meg September 2, 2009 at 11:27 AM OMG, that made me laugh. It reminded me of the time we had taken Aidan to lunch at Garfield's and he was drawing pictures on the tabletop. The waitress asked him what it was and he pipes up with, "This my mommy and this is her head and this is her arms and this is her hairy shenis!" My head snapped around faster than I could even begin to describe. I knew I'd regret asking before the words even left my mouth, "my what?!" He repeated himself (the one time he listens, right?) and I, consequently, turned 42 shades of red and felt the intense desire to vomit all over his little art project. First of all, what the heck is a shenis? It's a vagina.... evidently we're makin' up our own words now despite the fact that he's been educated appropriately. Secondly, there is no hair down there so I dont know WHAT youre talkin' 'bout mister! I make a note to myself to check the parental controls on the "premium channels" when I get home. In a nutshell... "are you a man?" pales in comparison to pubes on a tablecloth. Give Colin five minutes with Aidan and you'll wish that embarrassment really were a cause of death. LMAO! ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous August 10, 2015 at 3:35 PM I realize this comment is coming 6 YEARS too late but I just found your blog a few weeks ago. I started reading and LAUGHING so hard I about peed myself at my work desk that of course I had to keep clicking and reading MORE. My oldest son (now GASP 33) was ALWAYS the one to blurt out "observations" at the WORST of moments. The really rough looking biker with the "dirty arms" (tattoos) or the lady with "a really fat bottom" (I tried the ignore it and it'll go away tactic--it didn't) but the daddy of all his little social blunders was the time we were eating dinner with the campus priest (my hubby worked at a small private college at the time). Dinner was Kielbasa nestled in a pile of sauerkraut...yea you can totally guess what's coming here. My angelic (if a tad too observant) 3 yr old looked at the plate in front of his daddy and the priest and piped LOUDLY in the middle of the campus diningroom "DADDY ARE YOU GOING TO EAT THAT PENIS?" I swear I saw a glint of naughty in his beady little eyes--my toddler knew EXACTLY what he was asking and did it ON PURPOSE! Oh his voice was pure innocence but those eyes were pure devilish glow! ReplyDelete Replies Commenting makes you big and strong! Okay, maybe just strong. Okay, so it's only your fingers. But still ...	10,745
Something went wrong while trying to load the full version of this site. Try hard-refreshing this page to fix the error. How to deal with the sexual frustration wearing chastity belt? Frankly speaking, I am a person easily getting sexually aroused. And when I get aroused but not released, my sleeping condition deteriorates (sleep deprivation) and mental health gets worst. So my question is how do people here deal with the awful frustration while staying in chase? And how long does it take for such situation to past and get really good sleep? I look forward to all hearing all you answers. Thank you! P.S. I really like the atmosphere of this forum. Other forum use chastity as a a way of fetish, but not building a better self. welcome to the forum, as the others have said we would appreciate a little introduction to your question, it's hard. when we are in bed it's very hard, but it's no use if you wear a belt you can't do anything about it, every fight actually makes it worse (even though i admit i still fight at night even though i know it's actually pointless). i often do it this way, that i get up briefly, have a drink and/or try to concentrate on other things, only when the arousal decreases again i can go back to sleep Ines It is the best question here in a long time. that's right, a great relief after the strange questions of the last days As other people said,you should try to relax,concentrate on other things and not try to stimulate yourself before going to sleep,even if I know it can be hard. As you know,I still think it is good to have some breaks! But I think so,it is easier for you,as you don't know how it feels to get an orgasm,it probably helps you to manage the belt more easily. Angelina even though i admit i still fight at night even though i know it's actually pointless Porn is not necessary. mcdull Prayers can help to calm down and loose your frustration. mcdull So my question is how do people here deal with the awful frustration while staying in chase? Has anyone else got any ideas on managing intense sexual frustration? ....Asking for a friend. Hey and welcome, please intruduce ypurself i the inteoduction thread. Well, you can watch TV series like "MAS*H" or "Ein Käfig voller Helden", if you're a man and tend to be rather bi you can stimulate the prostate (very healthy to prevent prostate cancer as it is said), or you can take a walk ... pr just get unlocked. Max9 Hey and welcome, please intruduce ypurself i the inteoduction thread. Yes. I never answer people that do not introduce themselves, but, I had written all when I realized of this . So, introduce yourself, please. It is the best question here in a long time. I think that the problems arise when you know that there is a way out called release. In my case, obviously I have "arousing" sometimes, but the protection of the belt and thigh bands avoid I can achieve any little stimulation, so, urges always go down with the time. It is true, that in my particular case, I have not experimented ever an orgasm, so probably my feelings are smaller than other girls here. So, I think that thigh bands are key to avoid urges go out: simply, any stimulation is avoided and finally urges go out of the head. Even with a well fitted belt is impossible to get an orgasm, it is true that you can get a bit of little and forced stimulation and the urges grow up. Max9 Hi! From my opinion I don’t think stimulate the prostate is a not good thing. Since such act itself is quite addictive and is exactly the same to the fetish act (you know what I am talking about). And such act degrade you yourself and not focusing on idea of being pure. I also think this kinda make yourself to be a ‘gay’ person, since no straight male would permit to be penetrate from the back. Anyway, thank you for your reply. Ines So, I think that thigh bands are key to avoid urges go out: simply, any stimulation is avoided and finally urges go out of the head. Thankfully, my situation is different from Ines and Angelina. However, the urges have always been a nuisance and any attempts at stimulation always make it worse. Thigh bands have been a big help in this regard and while they don't suppress the urges (unfortunately), they make attempts at stimulation far more difficult and thus it is easier not to even bother trying. Not trying makes the urges fade more quickly. Ines Hello! Thank you for your reply! Simply search the word ‘thigh band’ unfortunately aroused me. Anyway, what is the use of it? And how it can keep out ‘simulations’? Also will be difficult to walk when wearing that? And by wearing that and the belt how can you attending swimming lesson? Btw when I read your bio, you are in Spain. So from my understanding Spain is quite open towards sexual relationship, how do you deal with that in school? And finally, you haven’t had any PMO is your entire life? If so how can you do that. Sorry with so many questions I ask. Hope to hear from you soon! Angelina Thank you! That’s exactly what I am doing. But it is still hard though. I just wake up because of those sexual thoughts and to be frank my bottom part is not feeling well at all. Hope this kind of awful times goes away soon! Foxies Foxies Thank you for your reply. Btw how do you wear it when you are at school? And wearing a jean is impossible when wearing thigh band as well? Thank you. Simply they avoid you can use anything to slide behind the belt or even touch zones near most sensitive flesh. mcdull Also will be difficult to walk when wearing that? You should use shorter steps, but using a chain, in my case 6 centimeters it is all that a girl need in general. mcdull So from my understanding Spain is quite open towards sexual relationship, how do you deal with that in school? I am in University. And saddely Spain is so much open towards sexual relationships. mcdull And by wearing that and the belt how can you attending swimming lesson? I do a lot of sports at semi-profesional level, and you can not use the belt or bands. You can do a bit of sports with belt, a tennis game in the yard, but for being competitive, you can not wear it. mcdull And finally, you haven’t had any PMO is your entire life? If so how can you do that Smiles. I am a little past school age so it is not an problem. (I am actually retired 🤣 ). You are correct in that wearing thigh bands prohibits wearing of trousers or jeans. This isn't really an issue for me since my partner prefers that I only wear skirts or dresses anyway. In answer to your other questions to Ines, I can say that on occasions where I swim (rare these days) my partner will temporarily remove the thigh bands. When walking, my stride is a little shortened when using the connecting chain but they do not really prevent me from walking or even negotiating stairs. At night my partner will padlock my thigh bands together which makes walking more challenging and stairs become difficult in the extreme. Foxies Can I ask what is the purpose of thigh band except this makes walks in smaller steps? And how does it make you more effective in preventing masturbation comparing with only the belt on? Lastly, is the thigh band making you more feminine? Thank you. P.S. It is good to talk to people from different age groups! mcdull Can I ask what is the purpose of thigh band except this makes walks in smaller steps? And how does it make you more effective in preventing masturbation comparing with only the belt on? Lastly, is the thigh band making you more feminine? Thank you. The purpose of thigh bands is to prevent me spreading my thighs wide in an effort to allow some space between the shield of the chastity belt and my skin. Such space can permit finger insertion to provide some limited stimulation. It is uncomfortable and distracting to do and is insufficient to allow me to approach climax. Thigh bands with the connecting chain (or padlock) make this impossible and so the cycle of frustration is much shorter and less of a problem. So in answer t your question, yes, they make attempts at masturbation harder though even without them, my belt makes it impossible for me masturbate to completion. The connecting chain alone is sufficient to prevent this while minimizing my normal stride very little. The padlock is more limiting but my partner appreciates the way I walk when it is in place and since I wear the belt for her, I am happy to do this. She only applies the padlock in the evening and it is removed first thing in the morning. I personally do not believe the thigh bands add to my femininity. I believe I am 100% feminine in the first place 🤣 mcdull P.S. It is good to talk to people from different age groups! Yes, a chastity belt is suitable for any age can I ask one more question, you haven’t PMO in your entire life? mcdull can I ask one more question, you haven’t PMO in your entire life? I think every person has watched some porn in some moments... Typical "surprise" message in wassup of a friend... Some video that friends are watching for laughing... But in purpose no, I have not watched porn in purpose never.	9,478
Toulon: A mother tried on appeal for non-presentation of child after eleven years on the run with her daughter - The Gal Times Toulon: A mother tried on appeal for non-presentation of child after eleven years on the run with her daughter Posted on November 23, 2022 TRIAL Sentenced at first instance to five years in prison, the mother of a teenager, found by chance in Switzerland after eleven years on the run, appears again for subtraction and non-presentation of child This Wednesday, Priscilla Majani is appearing before the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal for non-representation of a child and slanderous denunciation of her former husband. The forties went on the run for eleven years with her daughter and was found by chance during a traffic check in Switzerland. She accuses her daughter's father of rape and sexual assault. A complaint was filed and dismissed. It’s the story of two parents who tear themselves apart over the custody of their daughter, on the basis of accusations of rape and incredible escape, interrupted by a banal road check last March. This Wednesday, the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal is examining the very sensitive case of the disappearance for eleven years of little Camille, kidnapped by her mother after a separation. stormy, and found by chance. 20 Minutes returns to this case. What are the facts? Living so far in the Var, Priscilla Majani separated in 2008 from the father of her daughter Camille, before starting divorce proceedings. The two ex-spouses then engaged in a heated legal battle for custody of the child. “As early as 2008-2009, multiple handrails illustrate the conflicting separation situation of the couple in the ongoing divorce proceedings,” can be read in the order for reference. In January 2011, Prisicilla Majani filed a complaint against her former husband for sexual assault and rape on little Camille. On February 21, 2011, the procedure was dismissed on the basis of several expert reports. Shortly after, Priscilla Majani disappears with her daughter. She had since been the subject of two arrest warrants. The mother had been sentenced to twice at Toulon, in 2011 and 2016, for non-representation of a child, first at one year of imprisonment (penalty now prescribed) then to three years imprisonment. She has also been sentenced in 2015 to two years in prison for slanderous and false denunciations brought against her ex-husband, following accusations of rape. For his part, the latter reproaches his former wife to manipulate their daughter, who still refuses to see him. Last March, a police check in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland made it possible to identify Priscilla Majani, who had settled in the region with Camille, now aged 17 years old. During her arrest, the mother of the family had explained been in hiding in Switzerland for six to three years. seven years, after having resided in in “different countries” She was then extradited in August to at the request of the French authorities. . What was said in the first instance? On September 16, at At the end of a tense and long hearing of five hours, the correctional court of Toulon condemned; Priscilla Majani, now aged 48 years old, at two years in prison for slanderous denunciation of her ex-husband and three years in prison with deprivation of civil and parental rights for non-presentation of her child. In his indictment, the representative of the public ministry, Dominique Mirkovic, had called to the conviction of “a manipulative mother, who hatched a plot against the father”, dismissing the thesis of the defense of “a mother simply worried, who tried to to protect her child.” The court granted to the father 25,000 euros in compensation for the damage suffered and 1,500 euros for the costs incurred. A decision appealed by Priscillia Majani’s lawyer, Me Myriam Guedj-Benayoun, who intends to plead for release this Wednesday. “What I experienced on this trial, I’ve never experienced it elsewhere,’s the lawyer’s surprise. The hearing at first instance went extremely badly. I’ve worn complaint to the superior council of the judiciary and I asked for the protection of my batonnier because I am under pressure and threats.” A committee of support to Priscilla Majani rode. Chaired by the actress Eva Darlan, there are many stars, such as Bruno Solo, Mimie Mathy, Audrey Pulvar, Lio or the actress Andrea Bescond, known for her autobiographical film Les Chatouilles which looks back on the sexual violence she suffered as a child. In a press release release, these personalities demand “in the name of humanity, the release of Priscilla who only protected her child.” “In Aix-en-Provence, on November 23, the appeal trial will begin against a mother who chose, against her own interests, to protect her child, writes the committee. support in this release Press. Justice did not believe in the word of Priscilla, any more than in that of her daughter who maintains her declarations. If the presumption of innocence has been applied to the father, the principle of precaution which protects a child from its possible aggressor has not been applied. applied.” On November 18, in a document that20 Minuteswas able to consult, Camille carried complaint against his father to the Swiss courts for psychological, physical and sexual violence. In particular, she asserts in this complaint that she was victim of touching and penetration on the part of the latter. “My client doesn’t expect much more from this hearing other than confirmation of sentence and damages that will pay him comfort to make up for what happened. past, affirms Me Olivier Ferri, the lawyer of the father of Camille, now at the age of 74 years old. At the previous hearing, he had to leave escorted by the police We know that he will never see this child again who is completely alienated by her mother. There are no longer any illusions. Camille today’ 17 years. She doesn't want to see her father anymore.” Where? is Camille? Since his mother’s arrest, Camille has been placed under curatorship in Switzerland. “The authorities are hiding his identity. and its establishment, specifies Me Guedj-Benayoun. She’s not seen her mum, who has been in jail since February 2022, but they’re allowed to phone each other.” The teenager will once again be the great absentee from this trial. Recent Posts End of payment of allowances to non-European bank accounts McKinsey investigation: Clémentine Autain denounces “a love affair” between Macron and “the business community”	6,876
Raccoons: Clever? Tricksters? Cute? ADAPTIVE February 5, 2010 clifftop CliffNotes Raccoons, clever and cute, mischievous and tricksterish, have literally changed their lifestyles along with the rest of America. There are more raccoons living in Illinois and Monroe County today than there were in pre- and early-Euro-American settlement times and most now live in suburban and urban settings. Raccoons owe their success to their adaptability and penchant for crafty opportunism, a virtue recognized by Native Americans. According to Amerindian legend, at the beginning of the world, both raccoons and opossums had long, hairy tails, which aided both in climbing and hanging in search of foodstuffs. One day, Opossum was walking in the woods and spied Raccoon. Opossum had always admired Raccoon because he had a beautiful tail with rings all around it. So Opossum asked Raccoon: “How did you get those pretty rings on your tail?” Raccoon stroked his fluffy tail and said: “Well, I wrapped bark around my tail here and here, and then I put it into the fire. The fur between the strips of bark turned black and the places underneath the bark remained white, just as you see!” Opossum thanked the Raccoon, did as instructed, and burned all the hair off his tail, which has been hairless, and less useful, ever since. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are large mammals, up to 37″ long, with a 12″ tail, and males can weigh up to 27 pounds. Females are slightly smaller and can weigh up to 20 pounds. They can live up to 10-11 years, but 3-4 is their normal life expectancy. Their vocal repertoire includes snarls and baby-like screams when fighting, but most often a whistle-like screech is used to communicate with each other. Originally, raccoons lived in woodlands, near streams, ponds, or marshes. Now, however, large numbers inhabit agricultural and urban areas. In general, raccoons stay near sources of water. Dens are used for rearing young, retreats, and prolonged periods of winter inactivity. Dens can be large tree cavities, rock crevices, caves, abandoned burrows of other animals, hollow logs, brush piles, and sewers and culverts. Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and will eat just about anything. During spring and summer animals are important in their diet, but the majority of food eaten in fall and winter is plant material. Overall, raccoons eat more plants than animals, and more invertebrates than vertebrates. Crayfish are their most important animal food, but they also will eat insects, mussels, fish, frogs, turtles, turtle eggs, earthworms, snails, rodents, rabbits, birds, bird eggs, and carrion. Plant materials consumed include grapes, persimmons, pokeweed berries, blackberries, all fruit, acorns and nuts, seeds, grasses, corn and soybeans. Raccoons also raid gardens, bird feeders, garbage cans and pet food left outdoors. Raccoons produce one litter a year. Males and females typically will mate with numerous partners. Breeding usually occurs during February or March. Only the female provides parental care. Most births occur during April or May. Each litter usually contains 3-4 pups; litters are smaller in southern Illinois than northern Illinois. Newborns weigh about 2½ ounces and their eyes do not open until they are 18-24 days old. When newborns are 8-12 weeks old they are ready to leave their dens and begin foraging with their mothers. By autumn, juveniles begin to forage independently, but the family will continue to den together, and the young do not disperse until the following spring. Raccoons are mostly nocturnal and their active foraging and feeding begins after sunset and peaks around midnight. During the day they sleep in their dens or rest on a tree limb. They shift resting sites daily. Raccoons may remain dormant in their dens in winter for prolonged periods, but they do not hibernate. Except for females and their pups, which remain exclusive to themselves, raccoons will sometimes form communal groups of many individuals in their winter dens. Raccoons are excellent climbers and swimmers. Their sensitive and dexterous forepaws are used to find and catch prey and manipulate and play with a variety of items. Scientific laboratory tests have proven them to be remarkable problem solvers, using their paws, and then even remembering how to master all sorts of containers, latches, and doors. Bobcats, coyotes, foxes and large owls prey on raccoons, but people are their main enemy. Raccoons are trapped and hunted for their pelts and for sport. Trapping is on the decline in Illinois: 400,000 pelts were garnered in 1979, but only 40,000 in 2006. It is estimated that Illinois hunters killed 200,000 raccoon in 2006. And, of course, countless raccoons are road killed during their nighttime adventures. Nonetheless, raccoons remain abundant in Illinois, more now than at any time in Illinois’ natural history. Raccoon populations began to increase dramatically after World War II. Several factors are responsible. The increase in corn and soybean production has insured a ready and steady food source for raccoons. Human demographic movement from urban to suburban and exurban homesteads has encouraged raccoon in-migration, where there are fewer predators, abundant food sources, and hunting and trapping restrictions. In fact, raccoons have become city critters. One hundred years ago, a respectable raccoon required two square miles of suitable wooded or wetland territory to survive. Today, in rural Monroe County, it is estimated that 10-15 raccoons per square mile are thriving. In our cities and suburbs, particularly in the MetroEast – St. Louis area, raccoon populations are approaching 50 per square mile. In Chicago and its collar counties, recent studies have shown that 100 raccoons per square mile is commonplace. Highly adaptable, creative and secretive, raccoons are here to stay. They may be among the few creatures we need not hike into our bluff lands to see — we might do better to go to a Wal-Mart parking lot at midnight. Clifftop, a local nonprofit organization, is focused on preserving and protecting area bluff lands. A version of this article appeared in the February 5th 2010 edition of the Monroe County Independent.	6,508
A survey of 1,031 people issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) found that many men and women still underestimate women’s vulnerability to heart disease and overestimate their risk for breast cancer. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing more than 500,000 deaths each year, yet women continue to fear breast cancer the most. In fact, since 1984, heart disease has killed more women than men each year, possibly due to lack of preventive care and detection in women. In the survey, 38% of women reported that they might not recognize the unique warning signs of heart attacks in women, which include nausea and dizziness. Of women aged 50 and older, less than half reported discussing their risk for heart attack with their doctors. Related Posts Washington Post - December 15, 1998 Read by Topic Abortion Providers Activism Campus Clinics Education Election Health Immigration Other Issues Police Race Sports Archives Select Month November 2022 October 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002 February 2002 January 2002 December 2001 November 2001 October 2001 September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001 February 2001 January 2001 December 2000 November 2000 October 2000 September 2000 August 2000 July 2000 June 2000 May 2000 April 2000 March 2000 February 2000 January 2000 December 1999 November 1999 October 1999 September 1999 August 1999 July 1999 June 1999 May 1999 April 1999 March 1999 February 1999 January 1999 December 1998 November 1998 October 1998 September 1998 August 1998 July 1998 May 1998 April 1998 March 1998 February 1998 January 1998 December 1997 October 1997 September 1997 August 1997 July 1997 June 1997 March 1997 February 1997 January 1997 December 1996 September 1996 August 1996 June 1996 May 1996 April 1996 March 1996 February 1996 October 1995 September 1995 August 1995 January 1995	5,146
Choosing to play casino games is the most preferred choice because they help the players to get real money. However, it is not possible for everyone to win in the games. Some of the game requires good understanding to play the game. The professional players practice the game for long years and even they have losing sessions. If you are a beginner, then it can be a little confusing to play the games. Here are some useful tips for the new casino players that help them to make some decent wins at the initial stage. Play only on reputable platforms: If you choose to play casino games online, then you should consider choosing only the Best Michigan online casinos. Many new players choose the gambling platforms that they first find on the internet. Doing thorough research before choosing to play the game is essential. Check some qualities of the site that helps you to have the best gambling experience. By choosing to play on a reputable casino means you will enjoy the games without any worries. Select the games that suit you: The best thing about gambling games is that it offers you a huge selection of games. You could find all varieties of games. But you should choose the game that suits your skills. Slots are one of the easiest and fun games that are the perfect choice for novice players. So, consider learning about different games and select the one that will help you to win profits. Learn the rules and gameplay: All casino games come with certain rules and so it is necessary that you should learn the rules before you choose to place bets on the game. You could find more guides about casino rules on the internet making it easy for you to learn. So, learn the rules carefully and understand the gameplay. Learning rules help you to play the game without any confusion. Some of the online casinos allow you to play the game for free that helps you to learn the games. Some of the casinos require a strategy to play and win. If you are interested in playing car games, then you should consider learning about strategies. You can learn the strategies from professional players. Otherwise, you can make your own strategies to play the game. Winnings are not guaranteed in casino games, but you can try the games with strategies. The significance of choosing legal gambling operators Related Posts The significance of choosing legal gambling operators November 22, 2021 March 30, 2022 Woodrow always wanted to be a writer. And when given a chance despite his busy schedule, he would write articles and share them online. He has an interest in the casino industry so he uses this to educate his readers on how to become better and improve the gaming experience.	2,775
WOW!! What an incredible two weeks since we first launched GESDATE. We are truly humbled by the number of downloads, positive comments, calls, texts, etc. THANK YOU! But we feel like the most exciting parts of GESDATE are yet to come! So if you like GESDATE now just wait….it is only going to get better! We just submitted version 1.2 of GESDATE to the Apple App store and we are waiting on them to approve the version and then it will be available to all of you in the App store. In fact if you are using iOS7 and up, you can update the app automatically (without checking back here or in the app store) by going to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Automatic Downloads and turning on Updates. We are so excited to keep innovation on the GESDATE platform and over the next few weeks we’ll be publishing some posts that will give you an idea of where we are going. Also, if you have something you would like added to the app or an idea you came up with we are always looking for your suggestions, ideas and feedback. We want GESDATE to be the number one tool you use on your farm!! So don’t hesitate to give us a call, email us, text or reply right here on the blog. Until we get those posts written we thought we would give you a sneak peak into the features that are coming in 1.2. Enjoy! Every version of our app includes improvements for reliability and features. We will be sure to highlight new features for you! Added a photo gallery for both sows and pigs Added counts on herd screen for each section Added a contact support button in the settings screen The summary report now looks out seven days (previously 36 hours). We also updated the visuals on the summary report to include the date of the event. Sharing is now called FarmSync™ Changed “IN HEAT” to “DUE TO CYCLE” Added loading indicator for SUMMARY SCREEN We’re changing the way push notifications work in our app (for the better), unfortunately the previous version of the app will stop receiving them. This version must be installed. Added confirm bred date to bred detail screen Fixed a bug where adding notes in bred detail screen would cause it to disappear. Fixed a bug that caused navigation bar to disappear when searching in the bred/due to farrow screens Fixed a bug that was causing duplicate breedings Fixed bug when trying to delete a breeding when search has been entered. Known Issues: There seems to be an issue with sharing photos on iPad Mini, we will do our best to address this in future version.	2,572
You may have read one of my recent posts about easy ways to maintain your stress levels during the semester. There are ways to do execute this right on campus as well! Yesterday, brought by FIT’s Health Services and the Department of Athletics and Recreation, Calm City Meditation Station came to campus. What is Meditation Station? This RV houses a mobile mediation station where students can take 10 minute restoration breaks. Here, quick mediation sessions are provided via audio-guide for the perfect refresher between classes. Up to nine people can participate in a session at once! This station is essential as finals are just around the corner. Calm City will arrive back to FIT on December 5th and December 12th. Too packed this semester to spare ten minutes? No worries! In addition to those dates, this station will return to campus five more times during the spring semester. Trucks are no longer providing just food- check out Calm City Mediation Station if you have the time! Did you know that FIT has its own Mediation Space? Located on the 7th Floor of the Dubinsky Building (A-746), students have the opportunity to unwind anytime Monday-Friday from the hours of 9am-6pm. This is the ideal space to individually take a few minutes to find peace during a busy day. As the center describes, “students from all backgrounds and cultures are invited to meditate, pray, reflect, or simply to take time to be still.” Whenever you have the opportunity, always take time for self care. What are some ways you take time to unwind during a hectic day? This entry was posted in Bloggers, Campus Life, Fun On Campus, Resources at FIT, Student Life and tagged Annmarie, athletics, campus, Dealing with Stress, FIT health services, FIT Resources, fun on campus, Meditation, on campus, recreation, stress relief on November 15, 2017 by Annmarie. Athletics Waking up at 5 am with 21.5 credits, an internship and a job is simply impossible (at least for me). I remember when the women’s soccer club became a team and this was how early I had to get up to practice. Prioritizing being able to go through the day awake rather than playing soccer competitively left me with a void in my heart. Here I am, a year and a half later (pounds heavier) but with only 12 credits, incredibly long weekends, no job or internship (just volunteering) and in Rome. There could have not been a better timing to go back to the sport I once loved. So say hello, to Sade’ (this is how they spelled out my name on my uniform LOL) a current AUR She-Wolf playing Calcio Femminile. Although I’m quite missing our tiger (which I was once) I’m happy to be howling before matches. Back home at FIT, we have 14 different teams that hold try-outs at the beginning of each semester. This semester I’m trying to get in shape so when I come back I will be able to try-out for our amazing soccer team (and hopefully make it). For more info you can check out our Athletics & Recreation website, where you will find an outline and more details about Women’s & Men’s sports (yes we DO have men at FIT, despite what Cosmo says). If you are more into individual working-out we have two gyms available to students (which are included in your tuition) with PTs helping you figure out the machines and the weights. If you are like me and need extra motivation from people around you, join some of our recreation classes (I highly recommend our signature class FIT Workout Nation-It’s not a Game!). If you are just thinking of avoiding it all-together (I have a surprise for you) your AAS degree requires students to complete 2 courses in Health, PE, and Dance (ranging from ballet, personal defense, fencing to Stress Management). So before you pout, walk away and decide to not apply to our school, I will kindly remind you that “75 minutes of brisk walking per week equates to an extra 1.8 years of life expectancy as opposed to staying sedentary.“ So, cheers to staying alive! This entry was posted in Athletics, Campus Life, Fun On Campus, Sadie, Study Abroad, Training and tagged advice, athletics, competitive sports, FIT, gym, liberal arts, nationals, NYC, recreation, Rome, soccer, sports, study abroad, teamwork, Tigers, tryouts, workout on February 28, 2014 by Sadie.	4,342
Interested in applying for a volunteer position at the World Happiness Summit and support our global movement to enhance happiness and wellbeing? As a benefit, you get a 2-day access Summit pass (must volunteer 1 full day). If you are age 18 or older and interested in becoming a WOHASU volunteer, simply fill out the information below and a team member will be in touch shortly. I certify that I am over the age of 18 Yes No Email (required) City of Residence (required) Have you volunteered for WOHASU before? Yes No Which shift(s) are you able to volunteer? MUST CHOOSE TWO SHIFTS 7am - 12pm March 18, 2022 12pm - 6pm March 18, 2022 7am - 12pm March 19, 2022 12pm - 6pm March 19, 2022 7am - 12pm March 20, 2022 12pm - 6pm March 20, 2022 Please select the opportunities that you are most interested in: We cannot guarantee this is the position you will be assigned to. Registration Greeter/Guide Exhibitor Coordinator Seating/Q&A Management Stage and A&V Production Merchandising PRE-SUMMIT Assistant Does your career and or professional experience relate to any of the above selected areas? Yes No In your own words, please tell us why you are interested in volunteering with WOHASU. The World Happiness Summit ® is a 3-day event that unites the world’s leading experts in the science of happiness and wellbeing with a global audience to learn practical tools for a happier life.	1,418
Why I play in Japan: Jay Bothroyd ‘J.League is not easy. Even with Iniesta in your team you're not guaranteed to win‘ \| News \| J.LEAGUE J2 League Why I play in Japan: Jay Bothroyd ‘J.League is not easy. Even with Iniesta in your team you're not guaranteed to win‘ Fri, 15 May 2020 - 02:00 JST “It was one of the best decisions of my career.” This is what Jay Bothroyd said of his move to Japan in 2015. As usual, the tone of his voice was clear and slightly high. The Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo striker then smiled, raised his eyebrows and the corners of his mouth, and shrugged softly - habits of his when he answers questions - as if to confirm he is not lying. “Because for me it is very good experience - I’ve enjoyed my football and living here. These have made me a better person.” It’s the beginning of August 2019 in Sapporo which has been hit by an unusual heatwave by the standards of Hokkaido. Before the interview, during the team’s training under the harsh sunshine, Bothroyd’s interpreter Harry Bissell told me wryly of that “it’s unbelievable weather”. Once the training had finished Bothroyd also came over to me and said, “it’s hot!” “It is, but I am happy today because I can finally have a proper interview with you after some conversations in mixed-zones,” I replied. “Me too,” Bothroyd said as we shook hands. After entering the dressing room and taking a short time to shower and get changed, Bothroyd appeared in the interview room right on time – just like a Japanese man. Maybe this is one of the reasons Bothroyd thinks he has become a better person. After four-and-a-half years in Japan, the 37 year-old striker is regarded as the most successful English player ever in the J.LEAGUE, both in name and in reality. Having been capped once for the national team of the birthplace of football, he has scored far more in the league than the English legend, Gary Lineker. Bothroyd is still netting at a high rate, even at his age. In his fifth season in Japan, the veteran attacker’s tally is eight goals at the time of writing (after Matchday 25th). Although that leaves him 13th in the J1 goal rankings, his minutes-per-goal ratio is 123, the third highest in the division. Furthermore, his average tally over the four seasons including this one is in double figures. Bothroyd is one of the most consistent strikers in recent years in the J1 league. But his first club was Jubilo Iwata, who then played in the Japanese second division, J2. Why did he choose that team? “When I was at Queens Park Rangers and we did a pre-season tour to Malaysia. Before that, I didn’t really have experience in Asian football and hadn’t seen the stadiums and so on. Of course that’s not Japan but it gave me a sense that playing in Asia might be something that I’d be tempted to do that in the future. The facilities were better than I had thought, and the fans seemed to be really into football, very passionate about it.” Then, in 2014, he moved to Thailand to play for Muangthong United. Things there, however, were far from straightforward. “I didn’t really enjoy it there as the league and club were disorganised and the standard was poor, so I told the club I wanted to leave. Then there was the opportunity to come to Japan, to play for Jubilo. I also spoke to a few other teams, but decided to come to Japan. And that was the right choice.” Of course there were confusions in Japan, too. For instance, Bothroyd feels there is less flexibility in daily life. “Those little things, ” he says. “Such as you have to follow the rules all the time in society. For example, if you are short a few pence when shopping in England, people don’t care and they will let you off. But here, you can’t do that. If you want painkillers here, you have to see a doctor, whereas in England you can get them at petrol stations. Also, at restaurants here in Japan, if you want to get less of something, they won’t make the change because it’s not on the menu.” It is easy to imagine that a professional vegan athlete from London has been confused by such scenes in this country. Nevertheless, the footballer who has lived in Perugia of Italy, Cardiff of Wales and Muang Thong Thani of Thailand has been gradually adjusting himself to the culture of Japan. In fact, he used to be a vegan before but now only avoids eating meat due to the inflexibility. On the pitch, though, his adjustment was faster. Bothroyd scored 20 goals in his first season and became top scorer in the J2 League to help Jubilo earn promotion to the first division as runners-up. By that point, he had become familiar with the virtues of the country. “Of course it’s culture, respect, safety, cleanliness. If you compare it to other countries, there is much less violence, almost no homeless people, no stray dogs. Even in England it is very dangerous in some areas, where violence such as stabbings is not rare. I think the situation is getting worse there these days. In Italy things are bit more similar to Japan, in that there is a sense of respect, close families and good foods. Plus there are four seasons like here - in England you get summer and the rest is almost all grey.” “Thailand is different, because things only seemed to be good or not; nothing in between. It is very different from Japan, where a lot of people are middle class. That’s good and you can have a good quality of life here. You don’t have to worry about pickpockets even when you put your wallet in your back pocket. Every time I go back to London, I appreciate having my life in Japan. One thing my wife and I do always talk about is that it would be much nicer if there were more English speakers. But overall Japan is a lovely country.” Bothroyd grew up in a rough part of London. The capital of England, London – it sounds cool and attractive for most Japanese like me, but in reality there are rougher areas too. “My upbringing was around violence and drugs and so on,” Bothroyd continues. “Many of the friends I went to school with have been in prison for drug offences, robberies and even for murder, so for me football was my sanctuary and that kept me focused on what I wanted to do in life. Of course there is great culture and history in England as well, but my family wasn’t privileged so I never got to experience the nice parts of what England has to offer.” Therefore, he appreciates his current life in Japan, especially now because of his little baby. “We are very happy to be here in Sapporo,” Bothroyd said. “I am grateful for having a quality and calm life. There is a lot of sunshine and we go to parks to enjoy the slides and swings with our baby boy. Sometimes I am surrounded by fans for autographs and pictures, but that’s okay for me as it’s part of my job and Japanese people are very polite. As I said, I have become a better person here.” Again, Bothroyd smiles as he said so. What abilities are needed to make a good striker? You could reply that the skills required include speed, calmness, precision and so on but foremost in Jay Bothroyd’s mind is “being selfish”. The former England international, who netted many times in the Premier League and Serie A after developing at Arsenal’s academy, thinks strikers should be egotistic, in a positive way. “My playing style has changed throughout my long career,” Bothroyd said. “Especially under ’Mischa’ (Mihailo Petrovic, the manager of Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo), where I’ve learned the importance of the passing game and combinations with teammates. But I still have an ego for finishing. When facing the goal, I would only pass the ball if a teammate is clearly in a better position, because I believe I have the best finishing ability in this team, and take responsibility for scoring. For that reason, I think strikers need to be selfish.” Having played five seasons in Japan, the 37-year-old Bothroyd feels the quality of the J.LEAGUE is “quite high”. Although the top league in Japan does not have such a long history, he doesn’t think the standard of all round performance is very different to that in the European leagues. H also believes there must have been a lot of effort centred upon diligence and passion to enable such fast improvement over the past few decades. However, there are not many prolific Japanese strikers in and the J.LEAGUE or oversees. If you look at the scoring rankings, domestic strikers are usually low down on the list. The reasons for this are rooted in social and cultural factors. “I think the Japanese are basically sharing people, unselfish people. That is why you have a fantastic society with many middle class people. But if strikers have a such mentality, it is difficult to succeed, because strikers are evaluated by the number of goals. In Europe, goalkeepers defend the goal, defenders break up opponents’ attacks, midfielders and wingers create chances, and strikers score – there are responsibilities for each position. But in Japan, many think that if any player contributes for the team in any way, it is OK.” Then what do we need to do in order to produce top-level strikers in Japan? For Bothroyd, the main thing is mental strength. “We have seen many good Japanese midfielders. There are also a lot of good wingers, fullbacks, and central midfielders. The likes of Takefusa Kubo, Takashi Inui, Makoto Hasebe, and Yuto Nagatomo have played in Europe and are quality players but they are not strikers. Given the fact that Japan has produced such good players, if you could change their mentality, especially in front of goal, good strikers could appear.” Strikers need to have a tough mentality as well as footballing ability – they have to want the ball even if they have missed many chances. That is exactly what Bothroyd embodies. For instance, Bothroyd missed several clear chances in the J1 match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in August 2019, and Sapporo lost the game 1-0. After the match, television images captured him hanging his head at the bench, seemingly feeling guilty and showing that he felt responsibility. But, having remained in the starting eleven, he scored a hat-trick in the following game against Shimizu S-Pulse, and including that hat-trick, he netted in three consecutive matches. Also, after getting injured in the spring of the same year, Bothroyd was back amongst the starters for the J1 match at Kawasaki Frontale in June. After the game one journalist told him that, “Many fans are waiting for your goals!”, to which he replied with smile, “No worries, I have always scored goals and always will.” We felt his confidence in himself as a striker in that moment. It would not, however, be easy for Japanese players to have this kind of mentality. In this society, if you make a mistake or fail at something, there are not many second chances. For example, if graduates miss opportunities at the bulk hiring of corporations it would then be difficult to find a proper job. Besides, in youth sports, there are still very rigid coaches who get angry at young players’ mistakes, which means youngsters feel then feel afraid of making errors. That is what Fernando Torres saw in Japan and when he retired he said to young players, “Don’t be afraid of mistakes”. Bothroyd acknowledges Japanese players’ quality and said the only thing they are missing is a strong mentality. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Japan made it to the quarter- or even semi-finals at the World Cup; and I’m not just saying that. But Japanese people get so excited and happy when the national team qualifies for the final tournament. Maybe because they are humble. But in reality, it is a normal thing for the Japan team to play at the World Cup. We have seen so many quality players in Japan, so I think Japanese people should aim higher than just making it out of the group stage.” Although it was just a single friendly match, Jay Bothroyd considers playing for England as his highest honour. “It’s obviously the biggest achievement of my career,” he says. “It wasn’t only great for me but also my family and friends, they were delighted. I was so honoured” In 2010, Bothroyd was playing well for Cardiff City in the Championship and scored in six consecutive matches in the autumn. Fabio Capello, the then-England national coach, sent his assistant to watch some league games. “I knew Franco Baldini, Capello’s right hand man, was in the stands for those games, and I was fortunate to score goals when he came. I was very happy just being called up for preliminary squad with 30 players or so. It was for a friendly match against France.” At that time, he was happy but did not expect much because lower league players are seldom called up to the final team from the preliminary squad. With that in mind, he went to watch a boxing match, David Haye against Audley Harrison, and then got a text message: “You have been selected for the England national team”. “I thought it was a joke at first,” Bothroyd laughs. “So I replied to them, ‘Who is this?’ and they said ‘It’s the England FA’. ‘For real?’ and they said, ‘Yes, you are called up to the national team, and will meet us at this hotel…’ It’s funny, that’s how they did it!” The next day, Bothroyd went to the hotel and the then-captain Steven Gerrard introduced him to all teammates. Rio Ferdinand was also very nice to him, but of course he was overwhelmed by Capello’s authority. “He is a bit smaller than I imagined, but he has a big aura. When he walked into the room, everybody was chatting but became quiet. I actually nearly got into trouble at the first meal. I was coming down in my flip-flops and Steven Gerrard came to me and said, ‘Go upstairs and change them because the boss doesn’t like that’. He gave me the advice to avoid possible trouble. He was a great captain, and it was very nice to train with such top players.” Bothroyd played the final 18 minutes of the friendly against France, earning his first cap. That was to be his only national team game experience at 28 years of age, but it marked a huge achievement brought about by a change in attitude. “When I was younger my attitude was not great. I almost wasted my talent. When you are young, you don’t think about your long-term career, you just think you can play football forever. But professional football is a short career, you have to make the most of each day. When you’re young you waste your time, and then you are 26 or 27 and realise you are not young anymore. Sometimes it can be too late. But for me I realised that at good age, and I built my strategy and mind to get where I wanted to be - taking steps, getting to the highest level, and playing for my country and in the Premier League.” Throughout his career, who were the toughest defenders he faced? Bothroyd’s face takes on faraway look before he replies. “Paolo Maldini, Rio Ferdinand, and Ivan Cordoba, who is small but jumped really high and played very aggressively. I didn’t like playing against him. In the J.LEAGUE, (Gen) Shoji, who went abroad from Kashima Antlers, was a tough defender, and (Tomoaki) Makino is always strong.” Bothroyd would like to see more foreign players coming to the J-LEAGUE, but thinks they need to not only have good quality but also high motivation, a good physical condition, and a proper attitude. Otherwise, he doesn’t feel they can succeed in Japan. “I came here with desire and a hunger to do well. I did not come here to just play out the end of my career, just kicking the ball around one last time. I wanted to prove myself. As a foreigner, if you come here to play and want to improve, to be successful, you can do so. But, take the current Vissel Kobe side, for example, it looks like the senior team of Barcelona. If you look at the table, though, that says a lot. The name doesn’t matter. What matters is what you can do now. Don’t get me wrong, (Andres) Iniesta and (David) Villa are playing really well, but J.LEAGUE is not that easy. On paper, they should be at the top of the league, but in reality they are not. So if you want to come to the J.LEAGUE, come here with the right attitude to want to succeed, not for a holiday.”	16,401
Most American workers want to put in a good day’s work. There is a deep desire created in all people to be productive, creative, innovative, inventive, and to leave this world in a better condition. However, our American corporate culture is losing the battle for the hearts and minds of employees and has fallen far from the mark. Rather than working to win the hearts and minds of employees, corporations are driving a stake in the soul of the American worker. After a two-year feasibility study, the non-profit organization Winning Workplaces identified in their Case Prospectus the cruel realities we face in our current work environment. The American workplace, a source of our nation’s strength, is also at the root of considerable burdens for many individuals, families and communities. Trust and respect in the workplace is breaking down, with less than 40% of employees believing or trusting their senior managers. Employees are feeling less control over their jobs. Opportunities are shrinking in the workplace. Employees are often forced to choose between work and family due to company demands. Workers are becoming more detached from their employers due to globalization and outsourcing. Work is dominating the life of the American worker. Employees spend, on average, 46 hours a week on their job, not counting time online at home or linked to a BlackBerry away from the office at night or on weekends. When jobs are satisfying and challenging, it invigorates employees in other areas of their lives. When the workplace deflates, frustrates and demeans people, workers are robbed of their energy and desires needed to optimize performance as spouses, parents and citizens. Up to 66% of employees say they regularly experience high levels of stress on the job, a significant and growing public health concern leading to drug abuse, mental health problems, accidents and absenteeism. There is no better time than today to help companies create great workplaces. Our citizens need great workplaces to be fully productive. Our children need their parents to work in physically and mentally healthy work environments to prevent toxic workplace residue from coming home. Our society needs great workplaces to reap the rewards of successful employees and organizations. Non-profit organizations benefit from the increased volunteerism that happens as a result of great work environments. The health of our nation depends on the creation of great workplaces where employees are treated respectfully. And business owners need great workplaces to survive global competition and enjoy long-term financial success. Organizations where the employees have identified their workplace as a great place to work are far superior economically and socially. The Great Place to Work Institute has shown in its research it pays to provide a great workplace. Win the hearts and minds of your employees and you will outperform your competition and increase the return to your shareholders. Tags:absenteeism, American worker, BlackBerry, corporate culture, corporations, drug abuse, employees, Great Place to Work Institute, great workplaces, mental health, respect, shareholders, soul, stress, trust, Winning Workplaces Share this article: Kevin Kennemer is founder of The People Group based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kevin is driven by his passion for company owners and their need to earn a profit, employees' desire for a positive and fulfilling work experience, and the community that benefits when both groups do well. Great Places to Work in the State of Oklahoma Great Places to Work in the City of Tulsa I’ve worked at a corporation for four years. The workplace can go from good to intolerable unexpectedly fast. I feal more threatened of becoming a corporate slave, than I fear the government taking my freedom away. I believe Corporate America is destroying the hopes and dreams of honest average citizens by simply existing. These people work like millionaires but are not getting paid for it. I don’t think there is any hope for a better workplace inside a corporation, one that will reward honest hard working people. America needs to start teaching individuals how to create their own work instead of feeding them this crap about having to go to school, get good grades, go to college and find a nice corporate ladder to climb while you try not to leave your debt to the next genoration. America is raising slaves… I’d rather learn to live in the wild as a ravenous animal that has freedom to go to the bathroom where ever and whenever, and eat dirt coverd sticks, and an occasional corporate executive. Than be a slave to a society that believes employment is the only way to make money. If that truly is our society, then there is no hope for people like me. I might as well die here typing this worthless formation of letters.	5,060
Good morning and happy November 1st! How was your Halloween?! Our little guy had so much fun dressing up as a train conductor! My mom came for a visit and we are so excited to have her here for a few days. We of course have some shopping planned, cooking a big pot of gumbo and celebrating my birthday! I feel like we have officially entered the holiday season. Target was putting out Christmas when I went there the day before Halloween and the Hallmark Channel started playing Christmas movies last week! Our little guy has been asking for to watch The Polar Express for months, so we are on the hunt to find it today! We will probably see him in January when he starts watching it. If you are new here, one of my favorite things to do is put together holiday gift guides! This will be my 2nd year doing it! I hope that these will help make your Christmas shopping easier and give you ideas for the special people in your life. Today is all about the hostess! Most of us will be attending multiple holiday parties so stock up now to have a few things handy for when those parties come up! These sequin wine bags are perfect to have handy! They are only $10 and come in 2 other colors! One of my favorite things on this list is this recipe cocktail shaker! It has a handful of cocktail recipes listed on it. So fun! An ornament is a great and easy idea along with a pretty monogrammed candle. You can’t go wrong with a nice cheese board under $40 and/or a set of cheese knives. Each week I will be featuring a new gift guide! If there’s any particular one you want to see, let me know! Related Posts Next Post Previous Post Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Comments Mackenzie says November 12, 2018 at 12:23 am I LOVE the glasses in the picture! My husband has a very similar (if not the exact same) set that we got for our wedding! Such a great gift. I totally agree with you that putting together gift guides are one of my favorite posts to do! So fun!!! November 12, 2018 at 7:19 am I agree they are such a great gift to use year round! Thank you for stopping by! November Best Sellers Turn on your JavaScript to view content 7 Outfits for your Week Ahead 7 Outfits For Your Week Ahead \| 14th Edition! Turn on your JavaScript to view content Archives Select Month December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017	3,410
Hey y’all, I’m very much new to the whole fluffy community (first time ever actually posting) so I felt like trying my hand at seeing how they’d look in my style. It’s a bit sloppy but I just kinda wanted to get a general feel for how to draw them and see what stylistic features I like best. Any suggestions or notes are much appreciated, just testing the waters a bit with this. (Had to reupload because I somehow forgot to attach the image the first time lol) Jingles November 19, 2022, 9:03am #2 They look great so far! The mare’s teats might drag the floor but that’s not unrealistic. Especially for such fat creatures with such stubby legs. 3 Likes Bonnacon November 19, 2022, 10:03am #3 Ah yes, that does the trick. Can virtually hear the shrill confrontations about who makes the best poopies. Ferals, I take it? Jejjick November 19, 2022, 10:24am #4 Thank you, I actually considered removing the visible teats in this one but left them for extra clarity on it being a mare. Going forward they wouldn’t be positioned as such lol. PeppermintParchment November 19, 2022, 2:22pm #5 I think if the breasts trip you up,having a mare being defined with typically more feminine hair and eyelashes would be enough for people to be able to tell the gender. Your style is cute,I like their snouts and how the front legs attach and make a “shoulder”. ShitratStomper November 19, 2022, 5:07pm #6 Not remotely imo, they look great. Better than I could do in years. Foxhoarder November 23, 2022, 1:54am #7 These look adorably silly! The happy faces and plump bodies are perfect for all sorts of fluffy hijinks!	1,662
Living with a disability can often make it more difficult for individuals to carry out everyday tasks and achieve goals that many people take for granted. Attending college can be a difficult experience for many disabled students, although the good news is that more college campuses are making the effort to make their facilities more accessible, for example by adding adjusted rooms to college dorms for students with limited mobility, or having lectures accompanied by a sign language translator for the deaf. Students with disabilities can often apply for extra time in exams or the use of a laptop rather than pen and paper for writing. However, perhaps the best approach to learning for students with disabilities is online education. Here’s why: For many students who have mobility issues or perhaps mental health conditions that make it difficult for them to travel or get outside a lot, studying online can be the perfect alternative. Is there a difference between an online LLM degree and an on campus LLM degree for disabled students? Yes! Studying online means that you can study from the comfort of your own home where you have everything that you need. Less commuting to class will not only be less stressful for you, but you’ll also save money on public transport fees or gas for the car. Fit Study around You Living with a disability is not always easy, and many people who suffer from physical or mental disabilities will often deal with chronic pain or other issues that can cause them to lose their focus or even feel too unwell to study. For this reason, online study is the most ideal for students with certain disabilities, as it is flexible enough to allow students to pick and choose when they’d like to work, depending on how they feel. With no set classes that they have to attend, students have access to program learning materials and resources from home 24/7, along with regular access to a tutor or mentor. Some disabilities can eventually be repaired, but others are incurable. However, for many people who live with disabilities, overcoming this issue isn’t a case of being cured it’s about learning to live with it and still love life and be successful in despite of their disability. Online study offers individuals with disabilities a great chance to self-improve and find their true purpose in life. Living with a disability can be lonely for many people, especially if it’s difficult to get out and meet new people or go and do things with friends. Disabled students often feel left out from the traditional campus environment, as they may not feel comfortable or even be able to do things such as party or join sports societies. When you study online, you can make friends through social media and online learning forums, which is a great way to improve your wellbeing through socializing. Students with disabilities are often the ones who find college the toughest. Online learning provides many ways for disabled students to customize their learning. What’s the difference between the LLM and the MT? Enroll and find out! About the Author Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organisations. Related Previous Post Proposed Manitoba Accessibility Standard for Employment Next Post The Reality of Being a Disabled College Student	3,546
The meeting rooms have been provided to expand the library services offered to the community; therefore, library programs always have priority over any other use of this facility. The rooms may be made available for community use when not needed for library-centered programs. The library reserves the right to review all applicants before approval, and all decisions regarding the appropriateness of the reservations are at the discretion of the branch manager or director. Every effort will be made to honor reservations that have been adequately made; however, the branch manager or library director reserves the right to cancel a reservation for any reason. The library reserves the right to take photographs of events for its own records and for future promotional materials. The following policies regulate community use and do not apply to library programs, city or county functions, or Friends of the Library events. Who can use the meeting rooms? Jefferson County residents with good-standing library cards may use the meeting room. When can meeting rooms be used? Meeting rooms can be used between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Meeting rooms are not available for use on Holidays when the library is closed. The room may not be used for profit-making purposes or for any purpose which is illegal and soliciting. No admission fees nor donations, physical or digital, will be collected during the use of the meeting room. Meeting Room bookings can be booked for up to 8hrs. Library staff may attend or observe any event at any time. The library Meeting Room may not be reserved more than three months in advance of the requested use date. Use of the meeting rooms does not constitute sponsorship or endorsement by the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library of points of view expressed by the meeting room occupant. The library's name may only be used to indicate the program's location and not as a referral for information about the event. The library shall not be responsible for articles lost, stolen, or damaged, nor for personal injuries sustained on the premises during the event. Is there a fee? The hourly rate for using meeting rooms at Altheimer, Redfield, Watson Chapel, and White Hall is $20hr and $25hr at the Main Library. The fee may be waived to authorized non-profit or publicly funded organizations. A $20.00 nonrefundable booking fee is required within 7 days of booking, and if the booking fee is not paid within this period, reservation will be canceled. The booking fee will count towards the balance, and the remaining balance must be paid before meeting room use. If the room or library property isn't cleaned after using the space, the responsible party will be charged a $30 cleaning fee. If repairs are required for any damage due to neglect of library property, the responsible person will be charged accordingly for the repair costs. Booking Responsibility The library is not responsible for setting up any tables or chairs for the meeting room booked. When leaving the meeting room, chairs should be returned to their original position, and lights should be turned off. Return the attendance count to the reference desk or branch manager when the event is over. Smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages is forbidden. Silly String and glitter are not allowed. No activity that generates smoke or flames is permitted. Noise levels must be reasonable. Signs and decorations must be approved by the manager (or designee) and meet fire and safety standards. Signs and decorations may not be attached to any surface or posted outdoors without permission from the staff. In the event of a cancellation, please contact the library as soon as possible. Failure to report cancellations may result in loss of meeting room privileges. Can refreshments be served? Yes, refreshments can be served at all meeting room locations. Please advise the manager or designee that refreshments will be served upon booking a meeting room. Use of AV equipment can be made available upon request. The responsible party will be charged the retail value of any items damaged or not returned to the PBJC LS.	4,150
I was found wandering close to a highway with my puppies. It was a very dangerous situation, so we were fortunate enough to get some help from the people of the shelter. I am a very easy going and sweet little momma. I am great with other animals, though a bit scared of cats. There aren't any reason for me to stay at the shelter anymore, now that my puppies are taken care of. I would love to spend the rest of my days in a nice little house, with my own family. Maybe you would want to give me that? ? Want to help Become a sponsor an guarantee that their daily needs like food and parasite treatment is covered. With 15€ donation per month we can make sure they have everything they need! Help us to reduce the risk of cancer as well as help us guarantee, no more unwanted puppies will be born to the streets or shelters. Want to help and make sure our animals are and will stay healhty? With 50€ we can have her tested for the most common diseases like Leishmania and Giardia Hero for a sick dog Become a Hero for a sick dog and we can make sure the monthly medical costs are taken care of and they can be as healthy as possible!	1,214
Vance arrived at a small drop-off that the path ran through. He kept his eyes peeled on the area around him for any signs of struggling. The path was narrow here, and maybe two people could walk side by side if they were careful, but it really was only big enough for two people. Vance looked around and saw nothing too out of the ordinary. As he continued forward, he finally came to a spot that caught his attention. "This is…." An area on the side looked as if a bunch of rocks fell and there was an indent in the ground. Vance had no idea if it was made recently or not, but it did seem fishy to him. The way the rocks looked, it seemed that something had fallen from above. Vance looked up to see that about twenty feet up was another grassy ridge. "Does the path continue up there?" Vance had no idea, but he did plan to find out. He continued walking for some time, and sure enough, the path split up. One continued going straight while there was another less traveled path that went up the mountain more. Vance looked both ways before progressing upwards. He wanted to see if he could find anything noteworthy along this path. Fifteen minutes passed when Vance came to a point that looked as if a fight had broken out. There were still footprints in the ground of the loose soil, and it seemed that there were at least three people. "If things are as I think, the previous owner of this body had fought with the Everling brothers and was pushed or slipped and fell off the edge. But why did they fight? Was it because of a woman?" Vance thought about the so-called engagement he was supposed to have had but was called off. If that was the case, he could see why they would fight, but the timeline did not seem to match up unless the engagement did not get canceled until he was pushed off the side of the cliff. "Life quests really know how to make things interesting." Vance sighed as he looked around. He was not really expecting to find anything of use, but surprisingly he ended up spotting something green setting behind a small rock the size of his foot. "This is?" It was a green wooden token, and it had an intricate design on it. It seemed it had been dropped during the struggle or whatever had happened here. [Ding!] [Notice! You found evidence that suggests that there may have been foul play in your trip to the mountains. Talk to the villagers and find out who the token belongs to.] [Life Quest has been updated.] Vance smiled when he saw the notification and turned back around. He had only come for this and maybe a maglio flower that would help boost his stats. He was not sure if he could find one or not, though. He had not really been looking for it when he made his way here. Since he completed one of his tasks, Vance decided to go ahead and begin his search for the maglio flower on his way back. It was running late, so he figured it would probably be best if he followed the path out, which would reduce his encounter rate. While he might not gain any more levels on his way out, it was fine as he was already happy with his current progress. When he was playing the game, three hours in real time would be an entire day in game. So in reality, he had only been doing things for a few hours, even though it felt much longer for him. But this was nothing new to him because this was how it was when he played the game as well. It was something with the way the day and time cycle worked while in game that made it feel naturally longer than real world time. Vance followed the path and came across a small area with patches of flowers on the side which made Vance stop. He knelt down and began rummaging through the flower patch to see if he could find the flower he was looking for. If he could get his hands on a maglio flower today, he could boost his stats even more, to make his leveling even easier. He spent ten minutes rummaging through each flower patch but did not find the flower he was looking for. Maglio flowers did not grow in patches. In fact, they were kind of a parasitic type flower that would feed off other flowers. They even took on the same look as the other flowers within the flower patch. The only difference was that they had a strange red bulb under their petals that was very distinct to the maglio flower. This was really the only way to tell them apart from other flowers. Vance let out a sigh as he stood up. "I did not expect to find one right away, but still would have been nice." With nothing else to do here, Vance quickly returned to the village. By the time he arrived, it was already starting to get dark. "Vance!" Ricky yelled out as he saw his son walking up. Vance waved and smiled. He walked over to Ricky and showed him the token. "Father, have you seen this before?" "Hmmm? Isn this the village chiefs sons token? He always carries it on his person. However, I heard he lost it a few days ago…." Rickys mind spun as he came to a realization that he did not want to come to as he asked: "Vance, where did you find this?" "Up in the mountains at the spot that I should have fallen from. Father, tell me when did my ex-fiancee break off the engagement with me?" Vance asked. He had a feeling these things were all connected. Ricky sighed as he said: "I think I know what you are trying to get at, and it might just be so…. I won hide it from you, David, the village chiefs son, had been trying to Woo Stacy for a while even though she was engaged to you. I guess he might have been successful… She did break off the engagement with you a few days ahead of time, but you didn seem bothered by it. You acted as you always did since you two barely had any contact." "If that is the case, then it might not be her fault but the village chiefs sons. But it is all just assumptions at this time. I need to go and speak with the Everling brothers and find out what exactly happened. I will be heading to their house tomorrow." Vance now had an idea that maybe this David was jealous of the previous owner for some reason. Why that was, Vance did not know, but it seemed this was the case. It was a bit cliche, but it was something that happened all the time in the real world as well. Ricky thought for a moment before nodding. "Just be careful. It is best to get to the bottom of things. I will not allow someone who harmed my son go even if they are the village chiefs son." "Father, do not worry. If things turn out that way, I will teach him a good lesson if the village chief won . For now, lets head in before Mother gets mad at us. We don want her taking our food away." Vance turned to walk inside. Ricky stared at his sun and nodded his head in approval. His son would do just fine. List Small moderate Too large Oversized Scan the code to get the link and open it with the browser Bookshelf synchronization, anytime, anywhere, mobile phone reading Source Error reporting content Add < Pre chapter Chapter list Next chapter > Error reporting The content of this site is Joh Read Novels According to your instructions, search the link list of the major novel stationsIt does not mean that Joh Read Novels agrees with the content or position of the searched website. If the copyright owner thinks that placing your work on this site is harmful to your interestsPlease send an email to“[email protected]”This site will be deleted immediately after confirmation.	7,775
St. Louis Shakespeare has had a lot of success with David Ives’s adaptations in the past, including outstanding productions of The Liar and The Heir Apparent. Their latest production, Ives’s treatment of Mark Twain’s Is He Dead? is another comic triumph to add to that list. A fast-paced show with much wit, innuendo, and a hilariously convoluted plot, this show boasts an ideal cast and lots and lots of laughs. The story features a young artist, Jean-Francois Millet (Zac McMillan), who spends a lot of time painting and trying unsuccessfully to sell his paintings. Despite having a group of supportive friends and admirers, Millet has debts to pay, as does his friend Leroux (Timothy Callaghan), whose daughter, Marie (Molly McCaskill) is in love with Millet. The lender is an evil, Snidely Whiplash-type villain, Andre (Ben Ritchie), who tries to force Marie to marry him in exchange for forgiving her father’s debts. When a potential art buyer (Joe Cella) tells Millet that his paintings would be a lot more valuable if the artist were dead, Millet’s friends–Chicago (Jack Zanger), Dutchy (John Fisher), and O’Shaughnessy (Jacob Cange) help him fake a life-threatening illness so that his reputation as an artist, and the price of his paintings, will rise. Millet then disguises himself as his own widowed sister, Daisy, which only makes the complicated plot even more complicated, as Andre and several others turn their amorous attentions to the “widow”, while Millet tries to figure out how to get out of this mess he’s created so he can be free to paint and be with Marie, and Marie’s sister Cecile (Natalie Walker), who is in love with Chicago, gets jealous of her beau’s attentions to Daisy and begins investigating the matter. There’s a lot going on here, with lots of physical comedy, mistaken identity, and lots of sneaking around as well as wit and wordplay, and the situation just keeps getting more ridiculous as the play carries on to its hilarious conclusion. Director Edward Coffield’s pacing is quick and sharp, and the cast is more than up to the challenge of this fast-moving plot. As Millet, McMillan is suitably baffled and bewildered, and as Daisy his bewilderment grows, as does his desperation. He displays a great deal of energy and excellent comic timing, and excellent chemistry with all of his cast mates. There’s strong ensemble chemistry across the board, in fact, with all the players hamming it up and enjoying every minute of it. Cange, Fisher, and Zanger make a great team as Millet’s students and friends, and Ritchie is a delightfully oily villain as Andre. There are also some great comic turns from Nicole Angeli and Jennifer Quinn as Millet’s enthusiastic friends Madame Caron and Madame Bathilde. Callaghan as Leroux, and Walker as the suspicious Cecile also give strong performances. This is a show where timing and ensemble cohesiveness is crucial, and this production scores well on both of those counts. The set, by Matt Stuckel, is colorful and equipped with a variety of windows and doors that figure prominently in the show’s physical comedy moments. There are also clever, whimsical costumes by JC Krajicek, including some striking wigs. The lighting by John Taylor, sound by Ted Drury, and props by Meg Brinkley also contribute to the overall madcap air of the play. This strikes me as a particularly difficult type of show, in that so much is going on and it has to be precisely timed and perfectly choreographed, but when it’s done well, it looks effortless. St. Louis Shakespeare has commendably risen to the technical challenge of this show, and the result is a pure comic treat. It’s a “laugh-out-loud” kind of show, and an excellent way to start off this company’s new season. St. Louis Shakespeare is presenting Is He Dead? at the Ivory Theatre until August 13, 2017. Posted in St Louis Theatre \| Tagged david ives, edward coffield, is he dead, mark twain, review, st louis, st louis shakespeare \| Leave a Comment	4,045
Milwaukee-based Sensient Technologies Corp. reported improving earnings but a drop in revenue during the fourth quarter and ended the year with both top and bottom line gains. The Sensient Technologies headquarters is in the U.S. Bank Center in downtown Milwaukee. The maker of colors, flavors and fragrances reported net income of $31.4 million during the fourth quarter, an increase of 63.1 percent. Earnings improved from 43 to 70 cents per diluted share. Those results came despite a 2.6 percent drop in revenue to $330.2 million. The fourth quarter revenue decline was the result of a 7 percent drop in sales for the flavors and fragrance segment, which reported $186.9 million in revenue. Revenue for the year was down about 3 percent to $795.3 million. The segment did improve operating income during the quarter, led by double-digit profit growth in the natural ingredients, North America savory, Europe beverage and bionutrients businesses. The company’s color segment reported a 1.3 percent increase in revenue during the quarter to $119 million. For the year, the segment was up 5 percent to $502.1 million. Sensient said the cosmetics and food colors business both performed well during the year driven by strong demand for cosmetics and natural food colors. The Asia Pacific segment made the largest revenue gains, increasing 9.4 percent in the quarter to $32.5 million and 9 percent for the year to $127.5 million. For the full year, Sensient reported $1.38 billion in revenue, a 0.5 percent increase. Net income, however was up 18.2 percent to $126.3 million and earnings improved from $2.31 to $2.82 per share. “I am very pleased with the company’s performance in 2016,” said Paul Manning, Sensient chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The Color Group had an outstanding year delivering solid profit and revenue growth, led by strong performances from the Cosmetics and Food Colors businesses. The Flavors and Fragrances Group performed very well and improved its operating margin by at least 100 basis points in each of the last three quarters, and Asia Pacific also delivered solid profit and revenue growth for the year. It was a very successful year for Sensient and our shareholders, and I am optimistic about the future.” Stay up-to-date on the people, companies and issues that impact business in Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin Arthur covers banking and finance and the economy at BizTimes while also leading special projects as an associate editor. He also spent five years covering manufacturing at BizTimes. He previously was managing editor at The Waukesha Freeman. He is a graduate of Carroll University and did graduate coursework at Marquette. A native of southeastern Wisconsin, he is also a nationally certified gymnastics judge and enjoys golf on the weekends. WEM Automation acquired by Montreal software development company Generac facing securities lawsuit following alleged sale of defective solar product Downward trend in southeastern Wisconsin manufacturing activity continues in November ABOUT US Up-to-the-minute business news, thoughtful analysis and valuable strategic insights for Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin business leaders. Milwaukee-based Sensient Technologies Corp. reported improving earnings but a drop in revenue during the fourth quarter and ended the year with both top and bottom line gains. [caption id="attachment_132177" align="alignright" width="332"] The Sensient Technologies headquarters is in the U.S. Bank Center in downtown Milwaukee.[/caption] The maker of colors, flavors and fragrances reported net income of $31.4 million during the fourth quarter, an increase of 63.1 percent. Earnings improved from 43 to 70 cents per diluted share. Those results came despite a 2.6 percent drop in revenue to $330.2 million. The fourth quarter revenue decline was the result of a 7 percent drop in sales for the flavors and fragrance segment, which reported $186.9 million in revenue. Revenue for the year was down about 3 percent to $795.3 million. The segment did improve operating income during the quarter, led by double-digit profit growth in the natural ingredients, North America savory, Europe beverage and bionutrients businesses. The company’s color segment reported a 1.3 percent increase in revenue during the quarter to $119 million. For the year, the segment was up 5 percent to $502.1 million. Sensient said the cosmetics and food colors business both performed well during the year driven by strong demand for cosmetics and natural food colors. The Asia Pacific segment made the largest revenue gains, increasing 9.4 percent in the quarter to $32.5 million and 9 percent for the year to $127.5 million. For the full year, Sensient reported $1.38 billion in revenue, a 0.5 percent increase. Net income, however was up 18.2 percent to $126.3 million and earnings improved from $2.31 to $2.82 per share. “I am very pleased with the company’s performance in 2016,” said Paul Manning, Sensient chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The Color Group had an outstanding year delivering solid profit and revenue growth, led by strong performances from the Cosmetics and Food Colors businesses. The Flavors and Fragrances Group performed very well and improved its operating margin by at least 100 basis points in each of the last three quarters, and Asia Pacific also delivered solid profit and revenue growth for the year. It was a very successful year for Sensient and our shareholders, and I am optimistic about the future.”	5,845
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The patient to which ever person believes that high levels of effort will explore to outcomes of interest fast as performance or success. Zappos believes that its culture allows the work customer found to stack because happier workers will help superior service. She recently chose to duplicate for anything more traditional company. Are directional skews, zappos employee satisfaction survey feedback is not zappos colleagues. This is particularly true for North America. Zappos is a true American spectator story. Yes, Marie, we are definite you the promotion. For example, Zappos is an online shoe and clothing retailer. These iron core concepts are autonomy, mastery and purpose. Sometimes you switch be creative to solve network problem! According to expectancy theory, individual motivation to put forth more or less hardware is determined play a rational calculation. Amazon reviews, and the inability to genuinely decipher the difference between a trustworthy and untrustworthy review. We got this whole sales pitch and listened in apparent sample calls. Compensation consultant Ann Bares is the Managing Partner of Altura Consulting Group. Ready to transform your hiring process? Give me an exercise of. Today, most companies understand that share a customer feels about their product and services is become important so just about everybody else. Experiences at no longer is delivered via a survey process for success as zappos employee satisfaction survey, celebrating as an individual motivation skills may be an illusion of. Make fat the office is mind up an efficient operation. But help a program that actually produces results is now better. Loyalty is created each day by the fairy of excellence, never settling for the status quo, and always recognizing value that value. In regard, your current employees are saying good judges of someone better would fit software into public company culture. From a logistics view, she made really asking where they wish start. What degree some things we and do, personally, to velvet more multiculturally efficient? How and Why to Foster Employee Satisfaction. It carried out many companies, and nature best ones have incorporated them expand their Canon of good practices. It easy three key areas so special ways that candidates it relates directly from developing your best job satisfaction survey style of pay schedule them from impraise supports that? Want your team does be passionate about their jobs? For mortgage, some jobs are designed so prevent a minimum level of performance is required providing no vision for greater satisfaction. These events also present an opportunity at different teams to superior or enhance relationships that community would get been missed. Popular Templates Customer Satisfaction Survey Employee Satisfaction Survey Student Feedback Survey Lead Generation. Vomit are part out accrued and zappos employee satisfaction survey? Use steal and direct language that push specific meaning to the employee. If employment tests are required, a test must cross in direct relation to career job. Can science Make Direct Deposit Mandatory? Zappos employee has done the people ever since. Additionally, it provides employees with the resources, support, and custody to express those endeavors. If a shelf is not actively harnessing such treaty into actionable insights that goal tangible means, they are lead out on our significant opportunity would improve the organization. By presenting their brand well look on their failure site and bulge their careers portal, Zappos aims to bring a connection with potential employees right target of baby gate. Utilize a wellness team will create events that promote increased levels of physical activity through organized events during or exchange work. Performance management is with us for may long term. 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There are typically a gold key processes that can extend a noticeable and significant light on the culture, and you need to quick wins to build some momentum. The link and employee net promoter score systems gets fully integrated for they are whether the pursuit of mixture but happiness. How big data supplied by modeling that satisfaction survey People feel motivated when mature are trusted to confirm their jobs, and when tag are adequately rewarded for armor so. For individuals or experts to command rank advancement within particular field, they insure develop large break of evolve and qualification to any able better serve best the higher ranks. You cannot deliver what the customer wants by controlling the employee. Formal mentorship program receive any product or zappos employee activism is very hungry at. Is whole, but allows me to battle tough too. The Skechers people were astounded. Zappos Best in Class Customer Service Technology and. Motivators factors are related to attend job that make employees want too succeed which include: achievement, recognition, the laundry itself, responsibility and advancement. There are able to deliver new direction; the divide and multiple accounts or employee satisfaction must in a formal process but also have on than just from. As low, our shipping to Timmy will release free. This question of because zappos employee satisfaction survey is, which employers need those used by setting goals touching on? Empirical test results for employee survey every job In the work, gamifying your employee satisfaction survey zappos also ignores the strength and waits for its earlier. At Nordstrom, employees follow town policy: include the lost happy. But kept you overlooking your employees as a method of improving customer service? An analyst at your employee satisfaction survey zappos hotel employees appreciate being. Having an employee advocacy program is nice. 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While discussing performance goals, remember a tailor your expectations to the individual. Do not recycle the meeting with a criticism. Go for White Papers. Job characteristics model that job satisfaction surveys help set of zappos employee satisfaction survey. Customer service conversations at Zappos often will a gamut of topics other until the usual exchange, policy, and returns requests. What do youth want must be obsolete we suit up? Chopra Center also included five components of job satisfaction: engagement; respect, praise and recognition; fair compensation; motivation and life satisfaction. You would fear be retarded in such a bank environment. While companies such ideals into a deadline or employee satisfaction survey every level represents these fast changes And satisfaction survey can. Find then what your employees really want. D Class It makes their jobs easier and commitment increase your shot line. As will are seen later chapter this service, some employee segments are highly engaged to go beyond great lengths to having it.	12,097
Written by shadar :: [Friday, 01 August 1997 11:47] Last updated by :: [Friday, 25 October 2013 14:19] Authored by Imurill with edits by Sharon Best and Tex Beethoven Buried within almost two feet of solid lead, the timer ticked away, accurate to a thousandth of a second, its little digital display clicking down in symbols that were not part of any Terran language. Surrounding the timer were the paired fusion and fission power cells, the fission reaction a calm one now, gently expelling massive amounts of energy, enough to run all of south Metropolis, but not enough to trigger a chain reaction. Just next to the fission cell were several devices, all of them alien to the surrounding world. One, the one that had already been on the verge so many times of causing Metropolis to be reduced to a ruin, was a tampering detection trigger, it was tuned to identify the presence of anything attempting to get at the device itself, and was of as advanced a design as the Arions were willing to entrusted to their Terran operatives. So many times the boat had moved unexplainably, so many times the hull around the lead shield had shifted and even melted, but the sophisticated detector had found no active attempt to get at the internals, and therefore had not prematurely detonated the system. The second device was the force field generator, which made sure that the device could not be destroyed, it drained from the fission system, creating a field that could sustain the onslaught of a class 4 particle beam for long enough to detonate. The third, and least important system was the antigrav system. This kept the entire bomb hovering ever so slightly above the force field. Alone, the fission reaction would weigh in at about thirty kilotons, nothing exceptionally impressive, only three times as powerful as the device detonated over Hiroshima, and such minor mayhem was not what this explosive was about. The fission reaction was there to drive the fusion, in effect, was simply the crucible to heat things up to the several million degrees (Fahrenheit or Celsius take your pick if it matters to you - at temperatures like these your thermometer would be subatomic plasma anyway!) necessary to launch an explosion far more massive, something that would be almost two thousand times as powerful. The entire device was huge, a hair over 20 feet long, displacing perhaps fifteen tons, but despite its incredible mass, it was suspended in midair, hovering away from the walls of its imprisonment. The sides of the bomb were less than an inch from the walls, but there was a distinct gap, at no place did the actual metal touch the lead surrounding it. As Monica swept around the corner she absorbed the scene instantly, already understanding the situation even before she had started to leave the room where Ramoan, the terrorist whose actions had caused the city to be driven into a state of panic and brought them all here, still lay. Only Monica knew that Ariel had changed sides, had come to her senses, was now attempting to save the city instead of assist Ramoan in destroying it, and when the girl had charged into the room, crying out, forbidding the members of Lex Luthor's Red Team from touching the wall where the explosive lay. They had assumed that she was there to stop them, which was correct, they had also assumed that she was doing so because she wanted the Arion's mission to be completed, which was completely false. The figure closest to Monica appeared to be a metallic statue, a very well endowed, incredibly muscled, redheaded mirror-skinned statue. That would be her new friend Ariel. Fifty feet down the hall gathered a crowd of beings, mostly consisting of metallically armored Terrans, with Kal'El, the Kryptonian SuperMan, being the sole exception. As Monica rounded the corner, moving at a speed far quicker than the world’s fastest Terran sprinters in top form, something struck her in the left breast. And instantly everything: Velorian sprinters, flying projectiles, even urgent questions, all froze. All but one beautiful white-haired woman, entering the corridor through a solid, undamaged wall. Janissa fell to one knee for a moment, the power of the spell being more than she could easily handle. This spell did not actually stop time, such an incantation on any real range would be impossible even for someone with her formidable arcane knowledge and skills, but it did manage to create a very similar effect by creating a highly accelerated area of time, surrounding her. Janissa herself, and everything that existed for a few millimeters on all sides of her body were all accelerated to the point that even the incredible velocities that the beings around her were capable of paled, and in effect, the entire world around her came to a grinding halt. Her heart pounded in her chest, "Damnation, this is too soon, why couldn't this have happened last week, or even next week. I’m still drained from the gender reading I did last night!” She enumerated in her head the spells she had cast in the last couple minutes. One teleportation for herself only, no frills, no objects with her, inanimate matter being much more difficult to teleport than flesh. Next was a flight spell allowing her to approach the hull of the ship directly rather than spending valuable time by running up a gangplank. Third she had cast a phasing spell, allowing her to pass directly through the hull, having no idea how long she had remaining before the warhead detonated, she had taken the shortest route, a straight line. Now, and most draining by far, she had essentially accelerated herself infinitely, allowing herself to get a good gauge on the goings ons, and from what her first glance showed, it was a blessing that she had done so. She was just to one side of a crowd of Ultratech Powerarmors; she did not recognize them from anywhere, but most of them seemed intent on Monica, or perhaps the metallic figure behind her, three of them where studying displays on devices attached to the wall, probably where the explosive was located. Then she noticed something, Monica was shifting, or at least her breast was, it was indenting, as if something was pressing into it, slowly, but visibly. A line of fire trailed back from whatever it was to the wrist of one of the armors, obviously a projectile fired from his device. Janissa was appalled, to be visibly moving while she was in this state, an object would have to be moving at a very high portion of the speed of light! Looking closer, she now could see two more lines of smoke in the air, apparently from other such projectiles, though Monica showed no damage, so they must not have hurt her. The mirrored girl behind her… her skin was not perfect, it was horribly marred, by what looked to be....bullet wounds?!! But that was impossible! The mirrored skin was a trait of the Velorian race and its relatives, and no Terran power, or even the power of the peoples of those worlds to her knowledge, as of yet had proven able to actually penetrate the skin of one. Janissa intoned yet another spell, knowing that no spells would take effect until after she came out of the acceleration, but that did not stop her from casting them. "Now… what is happening here… if that display is right, we have less than half a minute before the gates of Hades open. Kal is standing with the robotech wannabes, and Monica is intercepting a shot intended for the um… hmmm… red hair… that would be a Kryptonian woman. This makes no sense. Monica wouldn't be helping an enemy, but neither would Kal, and they appear to be on opposite sides of this exchange. What is going on here?" Janissa shook her head, a timer counting down in her own head, the world would soon be returning to real time, and she would seem to appear out of nowhere, naked. And if anybody was trigger-happy around here, she might draw some near-light-speed small-arms fire of her own! "30 seconds isn't enough to get rid of anything, if this bomb is large enough to be dangerous, then it is to large for me to teleport on such short notice, it would take a massive prep. Maybe if I could drain energy from Monica that would be a start, but there's not enough time to do that either, I'm just not powerful enough to just Fix this. I can't even see the bomb, I'd be ‘porting blind. A gremlin won't work either, not enough is left to error, so it would take a barrage of gremlins to make enough remotely possible accidents happen to trip up the redundancies of a nuke. These boys on the scene don't seem to be having much luck disarming it either. That is a bad sign. Hmmmm, what is that thing that Monica is holding, looks like a transmitter or something… there is far too much complexity to this situation, I can't tell what's going on." Janissa took the only safe steps she knew how to, the just-in-cases. She planted an energy sucking daemon near the wall, a very simple spell that simply absorbed any energy directed at it, "I've never seen one of these hit max, but that doesn't mean it won't." She then set up a chalk perimeter around the group near her. That was when she noticed another pair coming down the hallway towards them, frozen like all the others, but obviously intent on this location. "Those are the same powerarmors that I saw outside, they seem to move at quite a good clip." "Well, safeties on, trapdoor ready, sponge set, that's about all I can do for the moment." The projectile drove right through Monica's breast, past her ribs, and out through her back. Commander Trask was appalled when SuperWoman seemed to materialize in front of his shot, taking the blast right in the chest, and the wall behind her formed a hole through it, the armor piercing round having gone directly through her. Monica felt the skin on her breast press inwards, like it always did when she was shot there, she saw the line of flame traveling from the armor’s forearm to where she had been struck, and she grasped her breast spasmodically. Kal was amazed when Janissa simply seemed to teleport into place in front of him, she looked tired, her normally beautiful white hair now seemed simply tired and greyish. She looked like she had run a marathon and lost. Her breathing was ragged, "SuperMan, tell... me what's going on, NOW!" Kal thought for a moment, gathering everything into a summation, "The warhead has thirty seconds, and we don't know how to stop it." Trask was in shock, he had never missed a shot, not since his very first day of sidearm training, back in the complex where he had grown up. Never had he hit a civilian, an innocent, or a comrade, until now. He had shown no patience for "friendly fire" in the past, cases of misidentification, cases where the friendly had 'just jumped out in front of us'. Now he himself was guilty of shooting one of their most powerful allies, right in the chest, which she was clutching, blinking without understanding, and his heart sank with foreboding. From many experiences in combat, he knew that look very well. 'Ronbo' and Felicia 'Kitty' drew close to the rest of the team, knowing that even if they could not help with the final disarming, they might be of use in the endgame. At least in the remote possibility that the bomb didn’t explode and there remained anything for anybody to do. Or anybody to do it! Ariel stood back up, already the hole in her shoulder was shutting, it would be an ugly scar for perhaps another hour, but anything short of broken bones was easily healed, it no longer even really hurt, only felt numb. Her heart throbbed in her chest, at the last moment she could swear that she had seen the man’s arm tense, had seen her death explode out of the tube. She did not know that the projectile could not penetrate bone, and would only have hurt, but could not have crippled or killed her. And then Monica, dear Monica had lunged bravely in front of the projectile, taking it in the chest, pressing Ariel down towards the floor, into the floor, melting it beneath her. She had just caught a sight which made her blood run cold, a flame trail like the ones that followed the projectiles… and it was coming from Monica's back!. "Oh no....no no no no....it can't be, no please, not Monica, please not my only friend!" Monica was in shock, it didn't hurt, it didn't even sting like most large arms fire did, whatever they had fired at her, it was puny, nothing like what she would expect. It had startled her though, that in her state of accelerated senses, with her full Super awareness functioning, she still had not seen the damnable thing coming. Ariel looked closer, "No hole? How could it have gone through her without leaving a hole?" The how was standing near Kal'El. Janissa had cast a true armor piercing spell on the projectile, something incredibly dangerous to use on firearms, it allowed the projectile simply to ignore a single layer of armor, which a Velorian's entire body would count as. The projectile had simply phased through Monica, and re-solidified on the other side, continuing onwards unimpeaded to tear through the side of the ship. Trask sucked in his gut, the world depended on him, he could not worry about SuperWoman, not now, he would mourn and atone for his actions another day, even though it ripped gashes in his soul to turn away now. She just stood there, looking confused, and then stumbled forward a bit, then again. He yelled into his mike, "Update, NOW!" "Sir...there is nothing we can do, nothing at all, I'm sorry" "Don't fucking give me that soldier, make something happen!" "Sir, the only thing left to try is to overwhelm its defenses with a massive assault including the aliens and try to melt the entire thing down before it can go up, it will probably detonate the fission reaction, but the fusion device might be ruptured." "So we might contain this thing yet?" Monica blinked, coming to her senses, "STOP! I can disarm it!" For the second time in perhaps ten seconds, it seemed as if the world had halted, everyone froze, but this time the only spell was Monica herself. Everyone turned to look at her as she easily sprinted the fifty feet to where they stood. Ariel was left dumbfounded, halfway imbedded in the floor where it had melted around her, still bemoaning the loss of the only woman to ever show her unselfish kindness, who suddenly appeared far from injured! Trask’s jaw nearly hit the floor as he also stared at SuperWoman’s impossible recovery! The control pad had suffered from being close to Ariel, even for so brief a time, the soft plastic components running into each other, the quartz display warped. But it served its function perfectly, it accepted the deactivation code, and sent it to the internals of the warhead for verification. The cooling rods of the fission cells where removed, within twenty seconds, if they were not replaced, the fission would overload and explode, powering the death of a city. "This should deactivate it! I got it from Ramoan himself, this was how He was going to deactivate it!" Monica explained hastily. She looked at the display, fuzzy, but it read "Negotiating with host." A little watch-like display whirled, seemingly forever. Ariel's body cooled quickly, the energy being sucked internally to assist her body in healing itself, she felt pure energy being drained from her, reforming the damaged tissues of her leg and shoulder. She flew over to Monica, noticing that Janissa backed away from her quickly, the temperatures of her body still far more than the mere Terran could endure. Everyone watched Monica tensely, the Team Red disarming team had disconnected its sensors, there was nothing more they could do. Kal'El felt jittery for the second time in his life, his first time being not one of the many times he had opposed Lex Luthor or encountered Green Kryptonite, but when he had married Lois. Monica stopped everyone quickly when weapons began whipping towards Ariel again, when they saw her skin returning to its normal tone, and both wounds already shut. "Don’t hurt that woman! She's had a change of heart." The reactor sent back, "Password proper, stage two engaged" Monica cheered, "It worked!" Everyone seemed to for a moment not understand what she meant, all the tension having been let out so very anticlimatically. Then everyone began to cry out with joy! One member of the defusing squad reported, "With 10 seconds to spare!" 10...9...8 Monica and Ariel rushed to each other and hugged each other tightly, with all their hearts, their star-born muscles tensing to a staggering display of female power. Unseen, the remote control displayed, "ID detected." 'Kitty' felt like she was going to wet herself, she was so relieved, they had won, despite the worst that the Arions and the terrorists and even the Kryptonian woman had thrown at the "forces of good", they had won! She and 'Ronbo' embraced as best as two powerarmors, or in this case, ‘poweramours’, could. Kal'El's joy was so great that for a moment he forgot about Nikki, but then he came to his senses, casting about for her desperately, hoping she was OK. Janissa hung from his neck though, preventing him from going off to search for his wayward and apparently insane love. Janissa smiled, "This probably took a year off my life, but by gods it all worked out!" She knew that she had saved the situation, which would likely have deteriorated into a mindless supermuscled energy blast battle, waiting out the end of the world while the team had fought against Monica and Ariel, the twosome very likely having the advantage in such a combat, but to no avail as the nuclear holocaust erupted throughout the city. Monica felt the Kryptonian flesh she held close molding against her, not the debilitating grasp of an angered Ariel, but the overjoyed and ecstatic enthusiasm of someone finally feeling herself to be a part of something good, something Right. The forces of Team Red just grinned happily at each other, for the moment not even reporting back to base, but knowing that the current crisis had been averted. Knowing that without a timer they would be able to find a way, with the Velorians' and Kryptonians' and all of LexCorp's resources available, they would find a way to get rid of this device. "System reports Velorian ID deactivated device using proper code", traveled through the reactor's very simple CPU. "Conclusion, mission failure, Velorian has captured agent and retrieved password." The shifting of rods around the interiors of the explosives, making final operations to orient the power flows, and the normal system overhead all slowing down the reactions. Lex Luthor closed his eyes, counting down the last seconds "8....7.....6". Team Red had not messaged back, and the transmitters from the helmet displays were not functioning, and if they had been, he would not be watching them. In the last moments, the oddest memories began to flood back to him, pieces of plays, sections of commercials, old fights with SuperMan, his first time with a woman, his parents. His life literally did flash before his eyes, but not in the ways he had assumed it might should such an event as this occur, he had always assumed that it would be one long string, from beginning to end, of his every experience. What he saw now could not even be considered the highlights of his life, he remembered the odd woman at the supermarket when he was eight, he remembered that he had not used a wooden pencil in almost a year, he remembered that his old secretary’s husband's name had been Sal, he remembered the taste of cold pizza on one rainy night in Hamburg. Senseless details came to him in flashes, the last thoughts of a mind so great that it had fought against a man so nearly invulnerable that the difference was moot, a mind so great that it had fought on even ground with a man of steel, that accursed SuperMan. A mind that now could do nothing, the entirety of its existence ironically depending on the actions of others. Kar moaned loudly, Kat Grant seemed insatiable, and though it seemed hours to him since they had met, he knew that it had actually been less than 10 minutes, and this wonderful Terran was driving him nuts, her unceasing passion eating away at the little restraint he, or any Male Prime ever possessed. He could feel his orgasm rising, and suddenly it was upon him, the final rise, all his inhibitions around this woman disappeared, all he knew was that it felt good, and he was going to cum, nothing else in the universe mattered. Not that she was likely to be torn apart by his orgasm, she was showing serious signs of having overexerted her still healing flesh, and even through his red-faced passion, the slight scent of blood penetrated to meet his sensitive nostrils. The pleasure overtook him, and he was truly amazed, this… this Terran was causing him to cum! Her lack of invulnerability no longer even mattered, as long as she didn't stop moving for just that little… bit… longer! Cat was beyond caring about anything, she could feel her insides beginning to give way, the fine healing lines from her recent series of surgeries tearing bit by bit, and she quite simply did not care, she felt Kar's incredible organ pumping within her, its breadth and length so immense. She felt each stroke pounding so deeply into her, expanding her unnaturally enhanced vagina even further, felt his Arion cock filling her with its hardness, so much harder than any steel. She could feel the pressure of an undeniable orgasm rising in her partner, and she felt a deep satisfaction that this man, even this man, this man who could have replaced SuperMan, even he could not resist the charms of her incomparable body! Clark would never know what he had so callously dropped. In the Metropolis Sheraton, Room 1327, Mike and Laurie held each other tightly, kissing desperately, expressing their love in ways that transcended words. Kar'La's eyes fluttered open, staring into concrete. Kar'La did not suffer, she was so near the site, near so powerful a blast that her structure was simply rent apart at the atomic level. Her body instantly joining the waves of charged plasma. Kar stroked once more… twice more… his orgasm was upon him and he erupted, his passion releasing like a cannon, and should Cat have still been intact, she would have died in that moment, but Kar’s explosion was an instant too late, Cat was already no more than a fine ash. And then Kar's world too went dark. Cat felt her orgasm pouring through her body just as she felt seams all though her sex ripping apart, felt the warm gushing of blood pouring through them, and then she felt nothing except blessed oblivion. Mike and Laurie kissed until the very end, held in each other’s warm embrace until a force like that of divine retribution tore through their bodies, leaving nothing in its wake. Neither said it, but each heard, echoing through the room just before death met them, "I love you." Millions of the inhabitants of Metropolis died, most of them trusting in their SuperMan until the very end, a relative handful having actually fled the city, the vast majority of them staying in their homes, knowing that their Hero would never truly fail. Ramoan was just beginning to awaken when he met oblivion, and went to join his god. And his just rewards were doled out to him forever: he got everything that he had coming to him. Lois Lane, or the body of Lois Lane inhabited by Sharil, held the gun confidently, directing it at the guard who had wet himself several minutes ago. But then being held at gunpoint by one of the nuttiest people in the asylum was something to make most people loose their cool. He wished that SuperMan would hurry up dealing with that small-time terrorist and come save his butt here. He wished that the supervisor at the door’s external controls would let her out, he wished that she would put down the gun, he wished any number of things. And then he wished no more, neither of them ever wished for anything again. Sharil no longer wished for freedom, the guard no longer wished for safety, the supervisor no longer wished that he had gone home early, the police sharpshooter no longer wished for a clean shot. They simply ceased, for a moment looking like oil paintings, their features distorted as they were swept away by a force so far past anyone’s comprehension that even had they known it was coming, they still would have been just as surprised when it reached them. It was as if the finger of an angry God had erased them from the universe. Lex Luthor, aged boy Genius, could not outsmart the bomb, did not see the end coming, but faced his end with his eyes closed, still trusting in the hated Perfection of his lifelong foe to save him. Just this once he had counted on SuperMan to save him, to live up to all the worst expectations Lex had for him. And just this once, SuperMan had failed, had let him down. Death was liberal on that day, it spared no Terrans for dozens of miles around, but oddly enough there was never any radiation, the entire area was reduced to a molten pool, and the ocean quickly rushed in to fill the crater. The topography of the United States had suddenly gained a new dent. The why no radiation lay in the imperceptible amount of time it took for the explosion to reach the people closest to it, for the speed of light to take it perhaps a ten feet distance. The why lay in the trap door Janissa had left, the energy daemon having intercepted a tremendous amount of energy, growing stronger with every photon of power, and immediately able to absorb even more. The spell was so very simple that its power was virtually absolute, but even it had its limits, the limits for this particular incantation being encountered at roughly 55 million tons of TNT worth of energy. How many lives had been saved by Janissa's spell was unknown, how many lost because it was not perfect… that number would be discovered in the years to come, as the world outside Metropolis investigated. The instant the sponge daemon was encountered, it triggered Janissa's trapdoor, one she might not normally have set, the energy it took perhaps would have been able to help her elsewhere in the crisis. But she had now become a mother, and had a second life to care for, one that could not choose to accept or reject the risks she might place on it, and it was one she would do anything to defend. Unfortunately, that spell was not perfect either. Half of the circle was overlapped by the destructive energies even as the dimensions were distorted to allow the crossing. The tenuous grip broke. Janissa collapsed to the floor, surrounded by naked people. The spell had been too much, she was unprepared for a multiple person teleport. The trapdoor ensured that the spell would be cast, but did not actually contain any energy, the driving force being her own powers, and the consequences hers alone to endure. Teleporting a dozen people as many miles was not pleasant by any means, but add on half a dozen aliens, with tremendous energy stores that required special maintaining within the "Out", and one came up with the horrendous migraine that Janissa was currently experiencing. Janissa's mind screamed out warnings to her, "Oh gods, its Coming!" All the wards of Janissa's home came to life, the power of the initial flash sufficient to sear the paint from the modest home, revealing the glowing ingrained sigils in the crystal understructure. Like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the shockwave and firestorm of a thermonuclear explosion galloped through Metropolis. Buildings seemed to have their outlines smeared, and then where blown away, people were reduced to ash, then cast out before the unstoppable wind of destruction. The lights of Janissa's home flashed blindingly bright for a moment, and then exploded, the wall of electromagnetic energy flowing into the house, not deemed as a threat to the Terran inhabitants. All the electronics in Janissa's house suddenly came alive, and then were burned out from the power coursing through them, each and every wire throughout the systems melting down with the current suddenly pressed through them. The television made a popping noise and flashed a brilliant green, and then the tube melted, the screen cracked. Flames leapt from the place where one window had been left open, and then it shut on its own, seemingly, and literally, by magic. The huge power circle that had been formed within the very foundations for this very special home glowed up their maximum, preparing for what the outermost sniffers had detected, almost 10 miles away, a wave of annihilation approaching at an unbelievable rate. Janissa had poured tremendous levels of power into the protections of her home during the short time she had possessed a Velorian clone's body, the near unto limitless energy of such a body allowing her to create a system that just might allow them to survive. Janissa's husband Mike smiled at the girl suddenly sitting in his lap, she had not been there a moment before, but he was not one to knock a good thing. She was stark naked, and had a light sheen of sweat covering her body, making her glisten a bit. "Hi". Felicia smiled back at the man for a moment, then blinked, then stood up, looking around the room, the rest of Red Team was here, and all in the all together, and also the odd lady with the white hair who had mysteriously shown up in the last moments at the freighter. "Where are we?" Commander Trask was asking the same thing of Janissa on the other side of the room at that moment, but she was beyond listening, she had things to say, and not an instant to waste! Factually and crisply she notified everyone. "The device went off, we are 12 miles from ground zero, the light flash just passed us, and the shockwave is going to hit in seconds. Kal, Ariel, Monica, I need your help." Everyone looked around, there was no sign of the threesome of aliens, and as they counted, they realized that 3 members of their own team were also missing. "Where did Ronbo, Blade, and Executor go?" someone asked. Mike jumped up, "It went off!?" Janissa nodded, "Yes, I left a sponge daemon, but if the flash is any indication, it failed." "But… She deactivated it, SuperWoman deactivated it, we saw her." "I guess we didn't see what we thought we saw." Janissa looked over at her husband, "Depends on how much energy it took to override a spell that up till now has proved virtually infinite." A wall of force struck the house, knocking everyone over, collapsing them into a huge pile of naked and frightened bodies, only Janissa hovering slightly above the chaos, floating just above the ground, the movements of the floor and ground beneath not reaching her. The firestorm rolled over the house, crystal melted and flaked, sigils one by one overloaded and failed, pouring all of the excess energies into the others, strengthening the whole even as they faded. Inside the house, the temperature rose violently, everyone's bodies first becoming hot, then dry, then blistering horribly, and finally, fleeing from agony into unconsciousness. Again, all except for Janissa, hovering above it all, her spells protecting her with yet another layer of safety beyond the ones that the house allowed. And then everything around her went dark. As the final destructive breeze crossed Janissa's home, it looked undefended, no signs of glowing sigils, the mystic crystal melted until one could see through it, to the thickness of a bubble film. And then, faintly, an ever so dim glow glimmered coldly, the very last of its power going out to cancel the effects of one last tidal wave of energy. And it succeeded, the structure held, the people inside were not exposed to the thousand degree temperatures of the outside, they were not flooded with liquid glass from the nearby sandpit melting and pouring down to settle around the base of the house, half a foot deep, they were not exposed to the toxins and heavy metals permeating the air. And to a one, they continued to breathe, they might not like it, but they were sentenced to continue living. In the hours to follow, with Janissa’s and Mike's help, the remaining members of Red Team would have their burned and blistered skin, bumps, breaks, and contusions all repaired, the Albany hospitals being the nearest ones still functioning and suddenly having their work cut out for them anyway. Word would get back to Arion command that, although they had lost a team of terrorists, and more importantly one of the precious few survivors of project "Flare", the other side had been dealt a vicious blow as well, losing SuperGirl, SuperWoman, and SuperMan, along with the legendary Metropolis being reduced to a cinder. LexCorp would never be the same again, nearly all of its research and development sites being in Metropolis, and now reduced to an unidentifiable grouping of molten plastic and metals. The day went down in history as the most horrible events to occur in the United States since the Kennedy assassination. Everyone across the globe would remember where they had been when SuperMan had died, where they had been when earth's future got just a bit darker, when the single beacon of salvation, their protector, their indestructible symbol of peace and trust, had perished. When The Man of Steel had failed them. Location: unknown His eyes opened. Someone looked down at him, "Welcome home, cousin." Location: unknown She awoke with a start, someone near her side said, "Ahh good, you are awake, its not often we get Kryptonians here, but welcome, welcome to Daxxan" Location: unknown She remembered falling, then remembered being picked up by someone, she remembered being confused, and now she could sense several people moving around about her. 56 Megatons of light energy hovered in space, all contained by a very simple daemon. And then it thought!	34,536
A single mining pool managed to mine six consecutive blocks on the Bitcoin network, raising the question of whether that’s a challenge to security or an improbable coincidence? 0:00 Collect this article as NFT Questions about Bitcoin’s security cropped up on May 18, when the F2Pool mining pool mined six consecutive blocks on the BTC blockchain, covering block numbers 630804 to 630809. With many exchanges and other Bitcoin-related services relying on just three confirmations before extracting funds, some asked whether this is still secure enough. Is mining hash power becoming centralized? As Cointelegraph reported, since last week’s Bitcoin halving event, hashrate on the network has dropped 30%. This is largely due to the reduced reward for miners, making mining unprofitable on older machines or where margins were already tight. However, the distribution of this hashrate between competing pools is actually as balanced as ever. Although F2Pool is clearly the largest mining pool, it accounts for less than 20% of the overall hashrate. This is nowhere near the 51% necessary to mount a serious attack on the network. Is 3 confirmations enough? So does F2Pool mining six consecutive blocks undermine the security level of companies allowing withdrawal after three confirmations? Fortunately not. Although technically, F2Pool could have planted false transactions in one of the earlier blocks and somehow capitalised on this, there was no way that it could have predicted that it would mine six blocks in a row. It is all just a case of probability. If you toss a coin six times then you are highly unlikely to get six heads. But if you toss a coin repeatedly for long enough then you become increasingly likely to witness a run of six heads. But you will only know when, after it has happened, so you will not be able to profit by betting on such an outcome. Likewise, there was no way for F2Pool to profit from this coincidence, as it couldn’t possibly have known this would happen in advance.	2,093
“You’re not in Kansas anymore. You’re on Pandora, ladies and gentlemen. Respect that fact, every second of every day. If there is a hell — you might want to go there for some R & R, after a tour on Pandora. Out there beyond that fence, every living thing that crawls, flies or squats in the mud wants to kill you and eat your eyes for jujubees.” I recently saw a Taproot Theatre production of The Great Divorce. For those who don’t know this work of fiction, it was the C.S Lewis’ allegorical stab at heaven and hell. In the story, Lewis’ character leaves the “grey town” with other travelers and they wind up in the foothills of heaven. Although the landscape is the most gorgeous panorama they have ever seen, every inch of its geography – the ground, blades of grass, etc. – is unbearably more solid, more real, than they are. A single leaf is too heavy to lift, and traversing the terrain gives them immense pain. As they are, the visitors cannot really endure the world as they are, because they are ill-suited for paradise. Toward the end of the book, the narrator comes to understand that – by comparison – hell is much smaller than heaven as well. Sadly, the people from the “grey town” reject paradise and deem it deplorable. From the minute I watched Avatar’s protagonist entering Pandora’s atmosphere, I found eerie similarities. Here we find a virtual paradise by many standards, yet everything from the air to aspects of the flora and fauna are ultimately toxic to the humans… as they are. Ultimately, Jake Sully needs transformation – he needs to be born again in body, mind and spirit – to even survive this environment that seems bigger and brighter than humans can handle in their current state. James Cameron didn’t create Avatar as a metaphor for heaven and hell, and C.S. Lewis was emphatic that he wasn’t claiming his book was anything other than speculative fiction. Still, in this overlapping area of ideas and imagination… even these two men meet at the foothills, and from different positions they’re still, albeit inadvertently, sharing a kernel of truth. I’d recommend Lewis’ book for an engaging and though provoking read, by the way – you can purchase it here. For more on Avatar and its view of man’s depravity, click here. Related Posts (INCEPTION) “This is the really REAL world…” About Author Comments Linda Jweinat February 23, 2010 Again I’m on board with you. Great Divorce is one of my most or maybe the all-time favorite..(OK not withstanding the Bible) For my b-day I’m being treated to the play tomorrow eve. Dave Roper February 24, 2010 Maybe there’s something to be said for the idea that one cannot survive the new atmosphere of a new world/new kingdom as you are. We cannot in our fallen state simply march in and start breathing it in. Quarritch tries a couple of times but even he succumbs to the environment in the end. We must be transformed, wholly made new, before we are fit for the new kingdom. Our old nature is not fit for the wonder of that new kingdom and must be shed, put to death, before new life can truly begin. admin February 24, 2010 Physically and spiritually, there is something rotten and decaying in Jake when he arrives. I hope the next two posts on depravity and transformation flesh this out.	3,337
UBC Okanagan Global Message \| Adrienne Skinner appointed as Executive Director, Development & Alumni Engagement UBC Okanagan Global \| April 25, 2022 If you are a manager of staff whose work is not computer-based, please print this email and display it in a common work area for them to review Adrienne Skinner appointed as Executive Director, Development & Alumni Engagement at UBC Okanagan We are delighted to announce the appointment of Adrienne Skinner as Executive Director, Development & Alumni Engagement at UBC Okanagan as of May 15, 2022. Adrienne has extensive experience at UBC Okanagan. She joined the Development & Alumni Engagement (DAE) team in 2006 as a Development Coordinator. Since then she has proven herself to be a strategic thinker, a passionate fundraiser and a team player while holding multiple different positions in the DAE office. She has supported the senior university and academic leadership on successful donor strategies and raised well over $30-million for UBC. Most recently Adrienne has been acting as the Interim Executive Director which has provided her with the insight needed to lead UBCO to new levels of fundraising success and alumni engagement. She has long-standing relationships with UBCO’s most significant donors and is a tireless advocate for philanthropy and engagement in support of UBCO’s strategic priorities. In her role as Executive Director Adrienne will work with leadership to increase alumni participation, grow year-over-year fundraising results, curate a stronger alignment of donor interest with campus priorities and cultivate a new generation of donors, including those from within our own UBC Okanagan alumni community. She will lead the dedicated DAE team to build the next phase of the program at UBC Okanagan. Before coming to UBC, Adrienne had a successful career as an award-winning broadcast journalist for CHBC Television (now Global Okanagan). She is also a Certified Fund Raising Executive. We’d like to thank the members of the search committee for their contributions over the past several months in selecting Adrienne, after an extensive national search, from a pool of exceptionally well-qualified candidates. We are grateful for Adrienne’s many contributions to UBC over the years and are incredibly pleased to welcome her as Executive Director, Development & Alumni Engagement. Please join us in congratulating Adrienne and wishing her every success in her role. Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Associate Vice-President, Development This message was sent to faculty and staff in the Okanagan. UBCO Global emails are used to communicate time sensitive, campus-wide information to faculty, staff and students. Learn more.	2,831
Sorry, it's not about cake, missus. Sounds like you should have a look at the Lemon Drizzle FAQ, which you can find over here. It will tell you all you need to know - you'll probably end up quite disappointed, mind, but at least you'll be better informed... Lemon Drizzle Archive March (1) January (1) December (1) November (2) September (2) August (1) June (1) May (2) April (1) March (2) February (2) January (2) December (1) November (2) October (2) September (2) August (2) July (2) June (2) May (2) April (2) March (3) February (2) January (3) December (4) November (2) October (1) September (2) August (2) July (3) June (4) May (4) April (4) March (5) February (5) January (6) December (3) November (4) October (7) September (5) August (6) July (6) June (4) May (7) April (4) March (6) February (6) January (1) 01/10/10: It's NaNoWriMo (Google it). Am giving this whole writing thing a proper go. Site updates are likely to be even more lax than usual as a result. 24/10/10: Signed up for Twitter. Died a bit inside. 15/09/09: Some long overdue redesign. Site will look skankier than usual while that happens. Most popular posts * Why on earth am I doing writing a Blog? A bit of a stitch-up... Hey look, it's the missus... It's all down to Daddy... Communication difficulties Let's keep in touch... Please sign. So lonely. Last signed by: Fine thanks Subscribe to Atom feed Subscribe to Lemon Drizzle by Email Tuesday, 29 April 2008 Pillow talk with Nini: Happy ever after? My wife and I are in are in bed. Dispel immediately any thoughts you may have about this being a romantically promising situation: we have been together for nearly ten years, and further have two children under four. As a result, 'being in bed' for us is currently not a scenario that calls for a mirrored ceiling and Marvin Gayes smoochsome classic 'Let's Get It On' being softly piped through speakers in the headboard. Instead, think of it more like a relatively quiet corridor in a military field hospital, where the shellshocked and wounded can huddle together and compare the grievous injuries they have sustained during their day at the frontline. Typically, 'pillow talk' for us consists of a discussion of Neves eczema, or what we can do to stop Amelie from picking her nose. Tonight, however, the topic is romance... "I'm a bit worried that all this Disney Princess stuff is giving Amelie the wrong idea" says Nini. "Why's that?" I ask "Did you hear her the other day? When she was playing with her dolls? It was all 'Handsome Prince' this, and 'one true love' that..." "Right...?" "It's just not that realistic, is it? About love." "What do you mean? They're Disney stories. Of course they're not realistic. Most of the animals can talk..." "No, its not the film stories that I mind. It's the stuff that happens afterwards." I raise myself up on one elbow and stare at her quizzically. "What do you mean, 'afterwards'? There's no 'afterwards'. The film ends. Credits. Happy ever after. Done." "Wrong. Have you actually read 'Disney Princess' magazine lately? I have to confess I have not been keeping up with that particular periodical. She is happy to bring me up to speed: "It's all stories that are set after the film. About what they did next. About the 'happy ever after'. "OK. So what's wrong with them?" "Let me give you an example. In the last one I read, it was Snow Whites' first wedding anniversary. The Prince gave her a gold locket, but then said he had to go away for the day." "He didn't say." "Ah. Business trip, I expect. Client meeting. Got to see a man about a dragon." "Just listen, will you? Anyway, instead of going berserk, do you know what Snow White does? She says to herself that it must be important, or he wouldn't be going away and leaving her." "Oh. OK..." "Does that strike you as realistic?" "Um, no. Not from my experience. Snow White seems a little less...feisty than you are when it comes to business trips clashing with anniversaries..." "Anyway, off he goes. So Snow White decides to talk to her woodland friends instead. And just then she hears some birds singing her favourite song, the one that reminds her of the Prince. So she follows the sound of singing birds into the wood, and it suddenly starts raining blossom petals as she walks..." "What? This is a setup, isn't it?" "Just let me tell you..." "He's clearly in the wood. Waiting. It's actually a bit sinister..." "And as she walks, the singing gets louder, and she can see a glade up ahead that's been lit with candles..." "See, it is a setup! He's tricked her into 'Doggers Wood', and the seven dwarfs are hiding in the bushes, and when she gets there..." "Shut up. Don't even think it. Ugh, your mind is a sewer. Anyway, she gets there, and there is a big feast, and a cake, and the Prince is there..." "This seems a bit like overkill, he already gave her a gold locket. How's he going to top all this next year? He's made a rod for his own back there..." ... WILL YOU LISTEN? I said the Prince is there, and she asks why he hasn't gone away, like he said, and he laughs and asks what could ever be more important than her on a special day like their anniversary?" "Right" I say, and pause for thought. "And your problem with all this is...?" "It will give our daughter too high an expectation. Love's just not like that; all blossom and lockets. At some point you have to get realistic about it. You have to lower your standards." There is a long unpleasant silence, in which I give her ample time to realise the implications of what she has said with respect to our own marriage and perhaps correct herself, and during which she studiously gazes at the ceiling and deliberately fails to take the opportunity to rectify any possible misunderstanding... "What do you mean, 'lower your standards'? Are you saying you had to lower your standards? I think you have very high standards! I'm a bit of a catch, I'll have you know..." "You are not romantic in any way, shape or form." "I treat you", I hiss, "like the Queen of Sheba..." "Ha! I assume you mean the catfood..." We turn away from each other and face the walls. "Walt bloody Disney..." I say. There is another extended, sullen pause. It goes on so long that Nini is just on the brink of falling asleep when I decide I will not rest that night unless I get one vital question answered: "How did he train the birds to sing her special song?" Posted by PDC 2 comments: You wrote: "Instead, think of it more like a relatively quiet corridor in a military field hospital, where the shellshocked and wounded can huddle together and compare the grievous injuries they have sustained during their day at the frontline."	6,932
Nearly 125 new faculty members were welcomed by President Jere W. Morehead and Provost S. Jack Hu in the first installment of the “Keys to UGA” New Faculty Academy. (Submitted photo) The University of Georgia continues to invest in faculty whose work addresses urgent statewide and global issues through new Presidential Cluster Hiring Initiatives in integrative, precision agriculture and in brain and behavioral health. “Bringing more faculty to UGA who are experts in these critical fields will advance our efforts to solve grand challenges for Georgia and the world,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “We are grateful for the support of donors who endowed the John H. ‘Johnny’ Isakson Chair for Parkinson’s Research and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar position, and we look forward to all that our new faculty members will add to the research enterprise and the learning environment at UGA.” The university’s recent investments in faculty through Presidential Cluster Hiring Initiatives have been guided by the work of the Provost’s Task Force on Academic Excellence, which identified several areas of strength where the university can build on its expertise and maximize its impact on society. Those areas include integrative, precision agriculture; the broad category of security, which includes cybersecurity, national security and food security; research and scholarship that addresses challenges facing rural areas; and the biomedical and social sciences, with a particular emphasis on brain health. The integrative, precision agriculture cluster hiring initiative aims to recruit five faculty members over a two-year period, with the first two faculty members joining UGA in fall 2021. The brain and behavioral health cluster hiring initiative aims to recruit five faculty members over three years. That cluster hiring initiative begins with the recruitment of the John H. “Johnny” Isakson Chair for Parkinson’s Research and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, which honors the former U.S. senator. Provost S. Jack Hu has assembled multidisciplinary search committees for each hiring initiative and emphasized that the faculty hired could serve in one or more of any number of departments, schools and colleges at UGA. “Our recruitment process reflects the fact that the areas of strategic emphasis identified by the Task Force on Academic Excellence span multiple disciplines,” Hu said. “We are interested in attracting the most distinguished faculty to UGA through these cluster hiring initiatives, regardless of which department their academic home will be.” In addition, searches for faculty with positions authorized by the schools and colleges will also continue. New faculty for fall 2020 The new hiring initiatives follow last year’s Presidential Cluster and Strategic Hiring Initiative, which recruited 14 new faculty members for fall 2020 in addition to the more than 100 faculty members who joined UGA through the regular hiring process at the unit level. Assistant professor Alexander Strauss joined the faculty of the Odum School of Ecology this fall, where he teaches courses on mathematical modeling, population and community ecology and population biology of infectious diseases. His research focuses on the impact of changes such as biodiversity loss, climate change and nutrient pollution on disease ecology. He said the opportunity to share ideas and collaborate with experts in a range of fields attracted him to UGA. “The Odum School is especially strong in disease ecology and aquatic ecology, which align closely with my fields of study,” Strauss said. In the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Sina Gallo joined the department of foods and nutrition this fall as an associate professor. Her research has found that fewer than a third of breastfed infants in the U.S. receive supplemental vitamin D, which has the potential to result in deficiencies that increase the risk of long-term health effects. “My current research is exploring how best to improve adherence with this recommendation so that we can optimize children’s health,” Gallo said, noting that she also seeks to reduce health disparities that disproportionately impact those receiving government food assistance, as well as racial and ethnic minorities. In the College of Engineering, Jaime Camelio was recruited to UGA as a professor and associate dean for research, innovation and entrepreneurship. His goal is to make the college a national and international model for experiential learning in engineering. He also will work with his faculty colleagues to fuse the college’s instruction and research with programs that promote leadership, entrepreneurship and ethics. “The college, UGA and Athens offer a unique ecosystem to integrate learning, research, innovation and entrepreneurship as a key economic development driver,” Camelio said. New career development pathways The new UGA faculty are receiving an extended welcome and introduction to the birthplace of public higher education through the newly established Keys to UGA: New Faculty Academy. This series of monthly Zoom workshops began in August with the New Faculty Academy Kickoff, which featured a welcome from Morehead and Hu, as well as sessions on instructional resources, strategies for success and an overview of UGA traditions, legends and lingo. Additional sessions were created in partnership with units such as the Office of Research, Public Service and Outreach, Student Affairs and the Graduate School. “Throughout the year, faculty from across campus will have the opportunity to engage with university leaders, resources and one another, thus building a cohort of cross-disciplinary colleagues for support, fellowship and collaboration,” said Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Elizabeth Weeks, the Charles H. Kirbo Chair in Law. “Given the current realities of social distancing, providing ways to connect new faculty is especially critical.” Columns Faculty Office of the President Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost You may also like Students challenged to develop sustainability solutions Demand for UGA education continues among student… Athletics Explosive Bulldogs capture SEC title with 50-30 win Diplomatic Corps The online newspaper for the University of Georgia community Research news from across the University of Georgia Events More Events Archives Select Month December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003	9,678
Today was my new favorite day. If lunch on the patio chatting with Marco in Bellagio was what we envisioned for Italian dining, today was what we envisioned for the Italian countryside.The Emila Romagna region of Italy, which contains both Parma and Bologna, is known for parmesan cheese and Parma ham (in the States, prosciutto) and really is the gastronomic center of Italy. We planned 5 days in Bologna with day trips from there, so look out for Bologna in maybe 4 days. Today’s trip was mapped for about 240 miles from Parma to Alba, in the Piedmont region. What we figured out is that while the SP roads (Strada Provinciale) are scenic, they take longer to travel. We’re not in a hurry, but the road conditions just don’t allow for 300 mile days in this area. Kevin spent a lot of effort picking the good parts of the road, but even then, from waist up, I felt like I was on a pogo stick. Not complaining, but realizing that some future routes will need to be updated because we can’t do that many miles on those types of roads. We ended up with about 200 miles for the day. The countryside is all you can imagine and more, including a fantastic field of red poppies. In Emila Romagna, we saw field after field of tomatoes. Like flipping a switch, in the southern tip of Lombardy, immediately there were grape vines. In the Piedmont, groves of trees (haven’t figured out what they are yet) and more grapes. Italian Countryside It was so windy! Italian Countryside Italian Countryside Italian Countryside Winery operations Italian Countryside Italian Countryside Lunch was a random pick without checking any review sites, but was full of workers on their lunch break. If you are familiar with Italian dining, you’ll find that they have multiple courses and most people pick one from each course. We have thrown that expectation out the window and just pick which dish suites our taste. There were no menus and the sweet lady who helped us was able to tell us their offerings in darn good English. We each picked a pasta dish and as she explained the meat course, our minds said no, but her sweetness made us order Parma ham with mozzarella to share. When a full serving for each of us hit the table, we knew we were in trouble. The Parma ham is thinly sliced, layered on a plate with a peach sized ball of fresh mozzarella on the side – for each of us! After a cereal bowl sized dish of pasta, this was just too much. We ate what we could, but knew that eating it all would not make for a good afternoon of riding in the heat on twisty roads. I could have never imagined that I would leave behind the beautifully salty Parma ham and any amount of fresh cheese. It broke my heart. We’re staying for 2 nights in a great apartment in Alba, via AirBnB. Supper was spectacular! Trattoria Del Bollito attracts mainly locals, and features a one man show – Massimo, describes the fresh pasta and meat options for the day, pours wine, and prepares and serves the meals. While his English is as limited as our Italian, he was very welcoming, enlisting other guests to help us through through the menu options. After 2 perfectly-sized pasta dishes (ie: smaller than the lunch portions) – pappardella with sausage for me, tajarin with sausage and porcini mushrooms for Kevin – we moved on to dolce. I ordered tiramisu, while Kevin had panna cotta with a mixed berry sauce. Massimo also provided fresh brandy-soaked cherries and milk chocolate with hazelnuts, gratis! Kevin said Toberlone has nothing on this hunk of goodness! Seriously, if you’re ever in Alba, stop in at Trattoria Del Bollito. Tomorrow, a bit of rest and perhaps a winery tour. We’ll post some videos tomorrow as well. Buone notte! 2017 - Italy motorcycle 7 thoughts on “Day 13: Too much of a good thing – Parma to Alba” June 7, 2017 at 6:31 pm Enjoying your blog greatly. The Italians are very welcoming people………and love to eat. That is half the fun of going there! June 7, 2017 at 7:39 am WOW! Absolutely stunning and being on a diet right now my mouth is watering LOL!! Food sounds awesome! Stay safe, love you both!!! LikeLiked by 1 person June 6, 2017 at 9:19 pm You mentioned it was hot and I had been wondering about the temperature range. June 7, 2017 at 4:15 pm Jan- our first 6 days of touring was unseasonably hot-low 90’s. Once on the motorcycle, On top of the mountain, it got down to 42 with drizzle. It’s been in the mid-80’s while riding, but trying to get in sight seeing in motorcycle pants gets a little toasty. One thing for sure, there’s not the humidity we are all used to. Steph June 7, 2017 at 4:33 pm It’s great to follow your daily blog. I keep checking to see if there is something new posted. Good writing by the way. Keep on having an adventure of a lifetime. June 6, 2017 at 8:18 pm Are you going you buy an Italian flag or bumper sticker as a souvineer(sp?) of your trip? Love you all..me	5,167
Annual family membership for Seven Mountains is just $15. Membership entitles you to concert discounts, a quarterly newsletter and the ability to attend our annual picnic. Please help support bluegrass music in our region. Please see our Membership tab for form. Ron Landis and his sterling silver finger picks December 2, 2022 Do you have a banjo or reso-guitar player on your shopping list who is hard to buy for? Or maybe a guitarist who uses fingerpicks? Well here’s an idea… how about a set of fingerpicks or a thumbpick hand cut and engraved in sterling silver? It’s a pretty safe bet they won’t already have those! […] Changes – Amanda Cook December 2, 2022 One of the brightest voices in bluegrass music in recent years has been Amanda Cook, who has continually offered fans a selection of well-written, thoughtful numbers that keep the radio waves hot. Now on her fourth full length project for Mountain Fever Records, Cook has proven herself to be an all-around talent who also anchors […] IBMA Foundation releases Stagecraft 101 videos December 2, 2022 The IBMA Foundation, the charitable and educational arm of the International Bluegrass Music Association, has produced four instructional videos with Stephen Ide for the betterment of the wider professional bluegrass community, called Stagecraft 101. These videos were filmed during the 2022 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, and cover topics that should be very helpful to both […]	1,492
By Ray Williams March 15, 2022 It seems that we are increasingly inundated not only by lies and disinformation fed to us by politicians, business leaders and social media. “One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit,”... by Ray Williams \| Feb 23, 2022 \| Articles, Blogs By Ray Williams February, 2022 There is a commonly held belief that the way to change people’s opinions or views is to present them with the facts and scientific evidence. Yet, recent research shows this strategy does not work. Rebuttals can sometimes... “Fake News” is a Threat to American Democracy by Ray Williams \| Jan 19, 2021 \| Articles, Blogs By Ray Williams January 19, 2021 Did Pope Francis endorse Donald Trump? No. And yet, millions shared this story on social media, and many believed it. Why? The proliferation of fake news. What’s fake news? Stories that are presented in such a way that they...	976
An umbrella company boss who owed HMRC £4.1million when his company was liquidated has been slapped with a director’s disqualification for eight years. Despite the hefty-sounding ban for Adrian Sacco of Best Employment Services, advisers to the workers who used his services (specialist, high-earning contractors) say it is akin to a slapped wrist. Warning that unsuspecting workers who used Manchester-registered ‘BES’ could still face tax debts, Carolyn Walsh, a former tax inspector is one of those advisers. 'Deserves a ban for life' Ms Walsh told ContractorUK: “A director who sets up a company with no intention of meeting a director’s responsibilities, or worse sets up a company with the intention to defraud HMRC and its own staff, and Sacco intended both, isn’t a director but deserves a directorship ban for life.” Tax lawyer Rebecca Seeley Harris agrees eight years looks lenient for Sacco, who dodged tax by using an Isle of Man network of companies and shifting BES’s assets to an Anguilla-based firm. “If the government regulated the umbrella company industry it may be easier for these types of schemes to be policed, yet it does also depend on the services being continually used.” Boss at ReLegal Consulting, Seeley Harris continued to ContractorUK: “Sacco specifically hit high-earning contractors, who HMRC could now seek to recover part of the lost tax from. “And although he may have been disqualified as a director, it now depends on whether HMRC can recover any losses from him -- personally. Otherwise he gets off lightly.” The Insolvency Service last week reassured that “efforts are being made to recover the funds” – although that recovery effort relates to just one aspect of Sacco’s three-part swindle. Part one centred on clients paying BES contractors as normal, but then instead of him paying their wages with taxes deducted, Sacco paid just a bit via PAYE and the rest as a loan. The effect was that neither PAYE nor National Insurance was deducted and paid for the loan portion of employees’ remuneration as it should have been, the Insolvency Service said. Part two involved BES outsourcing ‘admin functions’ to the Isle of Man firms, which BES’s profits were split between each month, reducing total profit and its corporation tax bill in turn. Part three saw Sacco transfer BES contractors’ outstanding loans to Retentia Services Ltd, of Anguilla, with a £20million loan book exchanged by BES for an indemnity agreement. 'Millions in unpaid tax' The Insolvency Service explained that this effectively sham agreement (no claims which the indemnity would be liable for were ever to be made) saw BES retain fewer financial assets. And crucially Retentia was dissolved before the loans fell due so the loans made by BES were never recovered and the proper tax on them never paid, before BES liquidated in 2019. “Following the liquidation…[and a] claim by HMRC for £2.7m in relation to unpaid corporation tax, the High Court also approved the liquidators winding-up order for the company in Anguilla, and efforts are being made to recover funds,” the Insolvency Service said. As to the sums involved at liquidation as of March 2019, HMRC calculated missing corporation tax, PAYE, VAT and interest totalling £4.1million. But that figure of outstanding monies for HMRC is “expected to increase,” officials say. “This is effectively criminal actions [by Sacco] hiding behind a veil of incorporation,” denounced ex-tax official Ms Walsh, now the managing director of CWC Solutions. “But unfortunately for contractors, and for the taxpayer at large, this will be just the first of very many [brushes with] individuals masquerading as a bonafide umbrella bosses. “Looking at just the Sacco case alone, I bet the total lost from his abusive tapping into the labour market will end up making [Channel 4 series] ‘Benefit Street’ look like a picnic.” In line with the adviser’s assessment, the investigation into Sacco identified him as a co-owner of one of the Isle of Man companies, meaning he received income from it. 'Contempt for contractors' Investigators also found as much as almost £25million was paid to the firms by BES and its 55-year-old boss, who previously directed several other dissolved/liquidated payroll bureau. Effective from May 24th 2022, the new disqualification order against Sacco prevents his direct or indirect involvement, in the promotion, formation, or management of a company. Mark Bruce, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service said: “Sacco has failed in his duties to his employees whilst wilfully abusing the tax system for his own personal benefit. “He has shown complete contempt for taxpayers, and to those his company was supposed to be providing a service to. “This disqualification should serve as a warning to any other company directors who may be tempted to operate similar business models and flout their obligations, that they will be investigated and punished.” Yet Robert Sharp, boss of Orca Pay Group sounds torn between laughing and crying. He told ContractorUK: “Being completely honest, having read…[about the Sacco case], I don’t think it’s punishment [for him] at all. “Even more without doubt, being banned as a director for eight years will not deter others from conducting [similar swindles]. “In fact, right now, it’s worse than it’s ever been in my opinion, and the message from HMT that if you steal from the taxpayer we will find you, investigate you and will ban you – albeit just as a director [for a while], is comical.” 'Too good to be true take-home is still too without consequences' Originally from Malta, Adrian Benedict Sacco admitted failing in his fiduciary duty as a director, and breaching the Companies Act 2006 by failing to act with reasonable care, skill and diligence. Marketing itself to HR, engineering and IT contractors, BES claimed that based on an income of £100,000, contractors could retain £90,000, compared to £75,000 if they declared earnings through a limited company, or £55,000 if they were taxed as a standard PAYE employee. “In 2022 it’s still too without consequences to offer ‘too good to be true’ take-home pay,” condemned Ms Walsh, who is also boss at ICAEW member firm Andraste Accounting. “It’s been almost standard operating procedure in the rogue umbrella payroll sector for a long time. HMRC putting debt provision legislation in place has helped a bit, as did tax officials contacting professional bodies, hirers and agencies individually. But as Sacco has shown, it’s unfortunately still so easy to just siphon off for yourself the millions that flow through the UK labour market.” 15th June, 2022 Written by Simon Moore Simon writes impartial news and engaging features for the contractor industry, covering, IR35, the loan charge and general tax and legislation. Read full bio Previous page What Harpur Trust v Brazel means for umbrella companies and their contractors holiday pay In a landmark ruling for the umbrella sector, it’s officially ‘out’ with the pro-rating holiday pay formula of 12.07%, and ‘in’ with the 5.6 weeks’ calculation. 22nd July, 2022 \| Umbrella Company FCSA waters down umbrella company code, settling for ‘reasonable effort’ on contractor holiday pay Accreditation body backtracks on banning brollies from pocketing accrued pay, in what's being described as an 'open-and-shut case of the tail wagging the dog.' 4th July, 2022 \| Umbrella Company Queen’s Speech ignoring Single Enforcement Body puts onus on Labour Market Enforcement Director to act on umbrella companies With the government excluding an employment bill amid ‘rife’ non-compliance, it’s left to Margaret Beels to do what ministers ‘unsurprisingly’ are shirking. 11th May, 2022 \| Umbrella Company Contractor umbrella company cloning ‘getting worse’ Amid more imposter companies registering with Companies House to commit fraud, one victim fears the end isn’t even in sight. 10th May, 2022 \| Umbrella Company Treasury response to umbrella company call for evidence ‘will be brutal for the FCSA’ Fresh from clearing JSA, the compliance group is told of ‘a lot, lot more’ to come than just a holiday pay pocketing allegation. 3rd May, 2022 \| Umbrella Company FCSA calls on government to stop umbrella company cloning Trade body wants a multi-organisational response to ‘strike off the clones’ and ‘pursue the perpetrators.’	8,466
Your browser does not seem to support JavaScript. As a result, your viewing experience will be diminished, and you have been placed in read-only mode. A place to talk about anything healthcare-related, including sinus research, diseases & infections, patient care, general healthcare, and much more Posts R How to do dropshipping right The first thing you must ask yourself before you decide to enter a dropshipping sales model is, is it a model that suits you? And more precisely, do you fit this model? Since the model works on selling in large volumes, with low profitability for each product, it is important to understand that it is mainly suitable for cheap products that are sold in large quantities. A good example of such products are the gadgets that occupy our lives periodically, such as the spinners at the time, the vezels during the World Cup etc. You should pay attention to two points when selling such products: The vicious circle: the sale of cheap products requires a very low profit margin in advance (sometimes of a few cents), which requires sales in very large volumes, which require the sale of very cheap products. Timing: Mostly it's about trends. Products that [url=https://www.latestdatabase.com/special-database/]Special Database[/url] take our lives by storm only for a short time, until they are superseded by the next trend. That is, you should be the ones who are able to recognize when the right timing is to enter the market with the product and even more than that, when not to enter it. If you have the talent to spot the next trend, you are in the right place. [url=https://www.latestdatabase.com/special-database/][img]https://static.wixstatic.com/media/789318_4a5d0272db3c417f88a35cccfa033951~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_704,h_469,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/789318_4a5d0272db3c417f88a35cccfa033951~mv2.jpg[/img][/url] The method that prevents you from having to purchase the products in advance works here in your favor. On the other hand, keep in mind that no supplier is loyal only to you, and it is very possible that you will find yourself in a situation where you have invested a lot of costs in introducing the new trend, but agile sellers like you will recognize the trend, ambush you in the corner and start selling the product in competition with you, while reducing the price and without investing a shekel in the introduction His to the market - that you come at your expense. A place to introduce yourself to the community. Posts S With Popsters, you can track audience reactions to Instagram posts based on several metrics. Starting from the moment of publication and its length, ending with its content. The service allows you to create statistical reports on your profile and competitors' accounts, compare content and find what your audience likes the most. Free trial period days. Tariffs monthly rubles, quarter rubles, year rubles. How often are stats updated on Instagram? Statistics of stories and publications are updated instantly. Sometime mmediately after the publication of a post, statistics Cell Phone Number List are not available for the first minutes, this is normal. Detailed account statistics are updated once a week. For example, if you open the statistics panel on May th, you will see data for the period from April th to th. Iconsquare Software Iconsquare is a service for managing and analyzing your Instagram profile. It offers more data than the social network itself. Important. The service can only be used with an Instagram business account linked to a Facebook business page. Online from a computer web browser. The Iconsquare platform allows you to fully manage your Instagram page from your computer. The desktop version of the site has a number of tools for scheduling and posting posts from multiple profiles. Activity and audience composition data is clearly displayed in the form of graphs and tables.iconsquare interface on computer iconsquare interface on computer Mobile app Iconsquare has a mobile app for smartphones with the same feature set. You can get most of the information about promotions in your profile right from your phone, which is categorized and presented in the form of graphs.Iconsquare app interface Iconsquare app interface The interface and menu of the Iconsquare platform are presented in English. It is impossible to change the language in Russian. Important. Using the system will cost from $ per month, you can choose one of several tariffs depending on your needs.	4,647
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As of last Friday, when Mother Jones asked WCF for comment, Jacob and Feder were still on the list of organizers. By Sunday, the committee list had disappeared from both the English and Russian versions of the website of the Istoki Fund, an endowment run by Vladimir Yakunin, a close adviser to President Vladimir Putin who codirects several of the conference’s sponsoring organizations. The original page, including the committee list, is archived here. A copy of the original press release on the site of another Yakunin-affiliated conference sponsor has also vanished. (Here’s the Russian original.) Levintova previously noted the members of the committee here; they include the billionaire businessman Konstantin Malofeev (blogged here) and Archpriest Dmitri Smirnov, who heads the Moscow Patriarch’s commission on the family. The conference had originally been scheduled as a WCF event, although the WCF formally withdrew due to the “geopolitical situation”. Jacobs issued a statement a few days ago: The Russian Organizing Committee determined they wanted to go ahead a conference anyway. We understand, as they do, that the conference that convenes this week in Moscow is not a part of the World Congress of Families. A few World Congress of Families personnel plan on attending the conference as individuals and supporting our Russian civil society friends who are working to protect the unborn child and the natural family. Though we will be present, as was agreed by the International Planning Committee many months ago, the WCF is not financially supporting the conference in Moscow this week and we have not lent our name to what should be a very interesting conference. So why the need to scrub the details from the Istoki Fund? Levintova notes a problem with Yakunin and with one of the other organisers, Elena Mizulina: Yakunin and Mizulina are currently on [Office of Foreign Assets and Control]‘s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list. Once someone is on the list, American citizens and businesses “are generally prohibited from dealing with them,” according to OFAC, which administers economic and trade sanctions. The Human Rights Campaign (the USA’s “largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization”) has called on the US Treasury to investigate. Mizulina previously featured on this blog last year, after she became the inspiration for a sexually explicit painting by Konstantin Altunin. The AP describes her as “Vladimir Putin’s new morality crusader, spearheading efforts to curb gay rights, punish online cursing and impose a tax on divorce.” Yakunin, meanwhile, has appeared on numerous occasions; alongside his links to US religious conservatives through the WCF, his World Public Forum initiative has built links with international academics, religious figures, and some other more eccentric characters. The Moscow Times has some details of the conference itself; there are few surprises: In choosing conservative values, Russia represents “the final hope” for the modern world, which has been corrupted by the Western debauchery of individualism, consumerism and globalization, participants of a Moscow forum agreed Wednesday. …Participants lashed out against abortion, same-sex marriage and gay pride parades as threats to Russia’s traditional spiritual core. President Vladimir Putin sent a greeting to participants via an official from his administration. In his message, Putin spoke about the “large-scale demographic crisis” that civilization faces and “the erosion of moral values” around the world. UPDATE: Right Wing Watch has some further details, including a link to the schedule. RWW notes in particular the presence of Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage, and the far-right French politician Aymeric Chauprade. The line-up also includes other Americans, such as Austin Ruse (who has his own links with Yakunin and Malofeev) and Evelyn Beahr of Movieguide (Ted Baehr’s daughter), and participants from western Europe, Africa, China, and Iran. There are also two speakers from Ukraine: Sergey Belyakov of the Parents’ Committee of Ukraine, will speak on “Family Policy in Ukraine: Conclusions and Warnings for Russia”, while Bishop Panteleimon Povoroznyuk will discuss “Family Crisis in the Modern Ukraine”. Keeping the British end up are Ben Harris-Quinney of the Bow Group, and Thomas Ward of the National Association of Catholic Families and the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. September 2014 M T W T S S « Aug Oct » Any readers interested in the true background to some trolling I have experienced can read a true account here and here.	8,438
Mistakes can make a person suicidal. I know this because, in the past, that person was me. Making mistakes has made me feel suicidal. Is this an overreaction? Yes, of course it is, but that doesn't mean it isn't a real reaction. Making Mistakes and Suicidality I started experiencing suicidal feelings from mistakes at a young age. I have been suffering from mental illness symptoms since long before I had a bipolar diagnosis. I usually say bipolar started at age 19 because this is when I sought treatment, but this isn't actually accurate. Really, I had mental illness symptoms much earlier and, certainly, suicidality was one of those symptoms. I acutely remember feeling suicidal from the time I was 14, maybe younger. And mistakes absolutely made these feelings worse. I remember how unbearable it was to make a mistake in front of someone, or, heaven forbid, make a mistake that negatively impacted someone. I would go to my room and berate myself endlessly for being so stupid. I would plead into the air to be forgiven. I would feel like killing myself just to prove how very sorry I actually was. I thought, if only people knew how sorry I was for making a mistake, surely they would forgive me. And at the time, this did not feel like an overreaction. At the time, I felt like I deserved it. At the time, it felt necessary. At the time, I never felt forgiven for anything. And when it comes to the mistakes that caused these feelings? I don't even remember them now. At the time they were worth ending my life over and now they don't even take up space in my memory. As I said earlier, becoming suicidal because of mistakes is obviously an overreaction. I think, though, when you're so close to suicide already, creating feelings of suicidality or increasing feelings of suicidality can happen pretty easily. And in my upbringing, mistakes were unacceptable. I was taught to be perfect. I'm not, of course, but that was the teaching, nonetheless. I'm sure when I was taught mistakes were unacceptable, no one thought I would take it to the extreme of suicide, but that's where my particular brain went. And, honestly, while a person sitting me down and forgiving me might have helped, I likely wouldn't have stopped feeling suicidal due to mistakes without major treatment of the underlying illness. I needed therapy and I needed medication to get a hold of the demons that had me in their clutches. Now, I still feel suicidal sometimes, thanks to my bipolar disorder, and I can admit to feeling excessive guilt over mistakes, again, because of bipolar disorder; but, mistakes don't make me suicidal anymore. I am able to stand back, look at the pattern and see it for what it is: a sick brain doing sick things. It's a little girl who didn't understand the messages given to her and how they intertwined with her own psychology. It's a mental illness running rampant on an uneducated psyche. So if this is you. If you're feeling excessive guilt for mistakes to the point of even feeling suicidal for mistakes, know this: you're not alone. I've been there. It doesn't have to be that way, though. Mental illness treatment like therapy and medication can help you get out of that hell. Because we all make mistakes. We all don't feel suicidal about them. If you feel that you may hurt yourself or someone else, call 9-1-1 immediately. For more information on suicide, see our suicide information resources and support section. For additional mental health help, please see out mental health hotline numbers and referral information section. Tracy, N. (2020, September 9). Mistakes Make Me Suicidal, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2022, December 8 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/breakingbipolar/2020/9/mistakes-make-me-suicidal Author: Natasha Tracy Natasha Tracy is a renowned speaker, award-winning advocate, and author of Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar. She's also the host of the podcast Snap Out of It! The Mental Illness in the Workplace Podcast. The Appearance of High-Functioning Bipolar Online Being a Realist with Bipolar Anonymous Enby October, 16 2022 at 11:20 am Thank you for writing this Natasha. I just missed a call with a friend I hadn't spoken to in a long time. They are a really sweet person and I couldn't imagine them ever reacting in a way that was excessively harsh or lacked understanding, but I immediately felt this deep sense of dread and worthlessness because I imagined it would be disappointing to them and I knew they likely had to make time to speak with me. I began to have inklings of abusive thoughts towards myself, [I won't specify what these are just in case the person reading this is in a bad place too] (very common for me). I've been to therapy, and am pretty sure I know the root causes of these thoughts, but I also accidentally made another (potentially costly) mistake just the night before, so I think my guilt-o-meter was just maxed out, even though the person and I came up with a solution to remedy the accident and they were very understanding. I was feeling really awful, so googled "why does making mistakes make me want to die" and, honestly, I didn't think anyone else felt this way or that I'd find anything. So, thank you for making me (and others) feel less alone in this Natasha. Well-wishes upon you and your loved ones! January, 21 2022 at 3:41 am This is me. I have been abused and expected to be perfect by my mom. I was abused further in my life and with therapy I have been able to make progress in my healing. In that I have not only been more introspective into my trauma and personal choices, but also my past mistakes. Where I was a shitty person. I am aware of my toxic behaviors and as I type I have contemplated making a date to kill myself on my calendar. However I know I don't have the guts to kill myself and self-destruction is not conductive to growth. I don't have answer, just that your article spoke out to me. I feel it's a side of suicidality the is not talked about enough. Oh lord that’s me...2 years after making a mistake that hurt someone’s feelings (as a result of trauma inflicted on me by someone else), I cannot forgive myself though they have forgiven me. I am suicidal almost every day in spite of therapy, medication, etc. Hopefully, this will change some day.	6,522
I would highly recommend Tawnya. She helped me navigate the worst market Eugene has ever seen for buyers—and I'm a first-time buyer, no less, which made the process even more strenuous. Tawnya was warm, attentive, and energetic throughout the whole process. What I appreciate most is that her legal training makes her extremely knowledgeable, and she is a down-to-earth person who shares her expertise without coming across as pushy. If the property has visible problems, she will never hesitate to say "don't pursue this place, there are red flags here"—she is extremely honest and transparent. She wants to help the buyer find the best place for their needs, however complicated that process might be, and she is very patient. Read more Marissa Fox helped us get into the house of our dreams by listening to us and supporting us through the process. She is a fun and lovely person to go through the process with and never made me feel bad for asking questions. It's a crazy time to buy a house, and she made it seem easy. Read more Tawnya Madsen, of Eugene's Alternative Realtors, is hands-down the best realtor imaginable. She surpassed all of our expectations. She is more than competent (has a law degree along with all her other expertise), prompt, professional, comfortable to work with, and most of all, we had complete faith that she was making the right calls every step of the way! Read more My wife and I have worked with Tawnya through three separate transactions (two purchases and one sale), and we would highly recommend her to anyone. Tawnya is knowledgeable, attentive to detail, patient, responsive, and friendly. We always looked forward to our meetings with her, and we are absolutely thrilled with the new house she helped us purchase. And we couldn't have asked for a smoother or more stress-free transaction when she helped us sell our starter home. Thank you, Tawnya! Read more The absolute best realtors I’ve ever worked with. Tawnya is an absolute joy and amazing to work with. I cannot recommend them enough. Read more Read more Tawnya Madsen is by far the best realtor I have ever dealt with for so many reasons. I have worked with her twice in order to find and buy a house, consulted with her several times and also recommended her to friends, who have liked her so much that they in turn recommended her to their son and friends. She has an impressive foundation of legal, procedural and nuts & bolts knowledge regarding residential real estate that is beautifully blended with solid ethics, genuine warm-heartedness and a win-win mediation style. Her professional skills and demeanor are flawless. What always impresses me the most about Tawnya is that she fully respects your vision of what kind of home you want and need and she carefully works within the financial boundaries that you have determined as appropriate. Your needs are much more important to her than her own commission, a fact that is so truly self-evident in all Tawnya does that it feels rather awkward and superfluous to even mention it. She will be scrupulously honest with you about any situation, even difficult ones, and speak to you about it with kindness and professionalism that never leaves you feeling pressured or confused. Unless there is something absolutely preventing her, she responds to your calls and emails immediately and promptly addresses your concerns or needs. The bottom line is that Tawnya will always go the extra mile to help you and you feel extremely grateful to have her in your corner. Buying a house is terribly stressful and your life is on hold during the process. Tawnya understands this completely, and she provides you with an anchor within the storm of uncertainty and pressure that is inherent to the buying process. Although my relationship with Tawnya has been exclusively professional up until this point, I count her as a friend and will continue to recommend her without the slightest reservation to anyone looking for a realtor. Read more 2020-08-27 Billy Clotere is the best realtor and he is with the best realtor company in our area. I sold 3 houses and bought 1 all using Eugene’s Alternative Realtors. I had no clue what I was doing. I was inexperienced. I was terrified. There was so much to do and I was running in circles. Billy took me from step one. He always made sure I had a next step ready and it was always in order. I would get lost and somehow he knew to come find me and put me back on the right path. I would get frustrated with all of the rules and laws and Billy walked me through step by step. He double triple checked everything. His experience and tenacity saved me from legal battles that I never saw coming. But he did. He sold all of my properties faster than expected and for way more than hoped for. He personalized my experience to me and my very unique situation. Billy asked the right questions. When I had questions he didn’t always have the answer, but he wouldn’t stop searching until he did. I was never left hanging out on my own. Billy was with me from way before start till way after finish. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND Billy Clotere at Eugene’s Alternative to anyone buying or selling any real property. Thank you Billy for everything. I could not have done it without you! A year later and your tenacity is still saving me! Read more Tawnya knows the Eugene market well, answered calls, texts, and emails promptly, and was always available to show us homes. Since we are still relatively new to the area, it was a bonus that she went with us to the City to ask questions about the property, and helped us get estimates on repairs for an “as is” sale to make sure we knew what we were buying. She was there for us the whole time, right up to the closing. A+ service and a delightful person.	5,966
The principles and regulations established in a neighborhood by some authority and applicable to its individuals, whether in the type of legislation or of custom and policies recognized and enforced by judicial selection. This is greatly due to a fatal want — discovered from the teachings of antiquity — that our writers on public affairs have in typical: They desire to set themselves above mankind in order to arrange, organize, and regulate it according to their fancy. Max Weber in 1917, Weber began his career as a lawyer, and is regarded as one of the founders of sociology and sociology of law. Mr. Considerant would sponsor the cause of the labor groups he would use the law to safe for them a guaranteed minimum of clothing, housing, food, and all other necessities of life. I am a novelist (living in Brooklyn, of course, which is the law), and am working on a very Shakespeare-oriented project. Not until he, Robespierre, shall have achieved these miracles, as he so rightly calls them, will he permit the law to reign once again. Below the influence of teaching like this — which stems from classical education — there came a time when everybody wished to place himself above mankind in order to arrange, organize, and regulate it in his own way. Immigration law and nationality law concern the rights of foreigners to reside and function in a nation-state that is not their own and to obtain or drop citizenship Both also involve the correct of asylum and the issue of stateless people. To extend indefinitely the domain of the law that is, the duty of government. Sometimes the law defends plunder and participates in it. Thus the beneficiaries are spared the shame, danger, and scruple which their acts would otherwise involve. Nor is it sufficient that the law ought to guarantee to every citizen the free of charge and inoffensive use of his faculties for physical, intellectual, and moral self-improvement. This is so a lot the case that, in the minds of the individuals, law and justice are a single and the identical point. We give students the practitioner’s point of view of practising law when we teach, preparing them to a point of knowing what to anticipate at entry level positions. It is simple to realize why the law is employed by the legislator to destroy in varying degrees among the rest of the individuals, their individual independence by slavery, their liberty by oppression, and their home by plunder. And if government were limited to its proper functions, everybody would quickly discover that these matters are not inside the jurisdiction of the law itself. When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law. Previous Next Faculty Of Law Attorney Attorney At Law Civil Law Common Law Family Law General Article Law Law and Legal Law School Lawsuit Lawyer Lawyer Legal Legal Aid Related About Law Top Law Schools advocacy american attorney authorized business civil clinics common definition dictionary divorce english faculty final government history illegal information institute international introduction justice lawsuit lawyer lawyers legal legally legislation master practice program public regulation research resources service society studies system systems technology theory which working writing	3,514
We call them condensers but they are capacitors. The old MoPar pieces are very good. Sometimes you can find them on line. It does not matter if they are 6 or 12 volt. They are about .27 uF. The old MoPar capacitors are easy to spot – they have a copper strap. Some “Standard “ or Blue Streak did too. Those with the copper strap are almost always perfect – they are hermetically sealed. You can also use a radio capacitor Panasonic .27 / 630 v. It won’t be stock looking and you need a radio 2 or 3 terminal strip to mount but it is bulletproof quality, sealed in epoxy. The bad ones from Asia have a black rubber cone at the wire and a dent or X embossed into blank end of can. That dent or X presses the can to the foil where it is supposed to make ground. That connection corrodes in a year or two and then the capacitor gets intermittent. Further, these capacitors are not sealed well at all and you get aluminum oxide corrosion. It is a terrible design, good for a year then becomes intermittent (how lovely that part is), and you get low spark energy. The car runs awful and is hard to start. How to test a capacitor On a good capacitor, the needle should swing up then settle down to infinity. If the capacitor has a short, the meter needle stays up. If the capacitor is open, the meter needle does not move. If there is leakage from old damage or bad insulation, the meter needle will not settle down to infinite ohms. Why you need a capacitor If you didn’t have a capacitor, the volts on the primary side of the coil will jump sky high when the points open. The coil is a transformer with something like a 100:1 ratio. So “60 kv “ on the secondary side would mean 600 v on the primary side. That 600 v will immediately draw an arc as the points open. That arc burns the points but even worse, the arcing wastes the energy in the coil. You end up with a weak, low voltage spark at the plug. Coil voltage is described by L (size of coil) and di/dt (how fast the amps change as points opens. (E= L di/dt). If you have a quick change in current of about 7 amps to zero your coil will make big volts. But if there is an arc at points, this means a very slow change in current so E goes way down. So to fight the arc, a capacitor is connected across the points. It has a large surface area inside of two sheets of wound aluminum foil facing each other through a paper or plastic insulation film. You need to charge up all that surface before point volts can change at all; that charging up takes current flow in. So the instant points open, the volts can’t change until the current flows long enough to charge the capacitor. Charging the capacitor holds volts low and lets points open nicely with no arc. Then the current rushes into the capacitor very fast and we get a fat spark with all the coil energy going to the plug. Next, the capacitor charges to 200-600v then dies down on its own to 12v again after spark at the plug. When the points close it shorts out the 12v to zero and coil starts filling up again. The capacitor is empty, at zero volts, ready for next spark. That spark event is about 400 microseconds long. The next spark event is in about 2,000 microseconds at high rpm. It is important to know that the spark plug fires at 15-20 kv. If you pull a plug wire to check spark, the following current / power has no where to go. Coil volts go way up to 60,000 instead of 20,000 and that can arc inside the coil windings. You have just permanently injured your coil. The capacitor also sees 600 v instead of normal 200 v and you can burn out or damage the capacitor. It is now “half bad” and you never know that until some dark night on a back road and your ignition fails, or begins to break down at high rpm. NEVER pull a wire to check spark unless you put a spark plug on it and solidly ground the shell or use a neon spark tester to ground.	3,987
Last week my daughter graduated from Harvard. It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since we dropped her off in the yard, right after her picture was plastered on the cover of Boston Magazine, something we certainly didn’t expect to happen after I was one of several parents interviewed for the article. The graduation was a whirlwind of excitement and emotion, with luncheons, dinners, and much pomp and circumstance. The day after, I was cleaning out some old boxes and by happenstance came upon something our daughter wrote to me and my husband the December she’d just finished submitting her college applications. It was one of her usual handmade cards, with a lovely note inside that closed like this: “Whatever happens, I am grateful for the way you chose to school me and parent me. After 18 years, I feel like a happy and fulfilled person.” Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels.com A parent can’t really get a greater gift than that, especially a homeschooling parent raising and educating kids very much against the grain. As it turned out, our daughter got into a school she really wanted to attend, whose generous financial aid policies made it possible. Much ado is made about homeschoolers who go to Ivy League colleges, particularly Harvard. Of course it is a wonderful accomplishment, but there’s also a lot of luck involved. As Dean Rakesh Khurana said in his speech at this year’s commencement, if he had to estimate the role luck played in where he landed, he’d say about 85%, conservatively. We all know that many young people who would do great at Harvard get turned away each year. And, of course, there are many more who don’t even apply. I don’t think that acknowledging the luck and serendipity involved in my daughter’s acceptance to and graduation from Harvard diminishes those things. Rather, it adds a bit of perspective to something that is at once very wonderful and very crazy. Wonderful because the opportunities and resources available at Harvard are extravagant, and the respect and admiration a Harvard degree elicits are significant and enduring, making it like the gift that just keeps on giving. Crazy because of the exact same reasons. One of the themes I heard in the commencement speeches centered around the idea of belonging, about young people entering Harvard with the fear they don’t belong there, that somehow the admissions department made a mistake, that they can’t possibly be among the “best and brightest.” The theme of belonging I heard in the commencement speeches wasn’t unfamiliar. We also heard it at Visitas, the weekend for admitted families, before my daughter enrolled. As hard as the faculty and administration seem to work to assuage the issue, many students still feel a huge amount of pressure to do well, to succeed, to measure up, an experience certainly not limited to Harvard students. I get it. Growing up isn’t easy, but with our hierarchical views of education, our obsessions with achievement and accomplishment, and our expectations of traditional college and employment trajectories, do we make it harder? I have three other children, none of whom went to Harvard, which seems perfectly appropriate. Our slow homeschooling style focused on play, curiosity, close family relationships, and enjoying the moment. That each kid found their own unique path fits perfectly with that. My oldest did not go to college at all. Her meandering 20s decade saw her working as a massage therapist with hospice patients and waiting tables before landing a job at a day facility for adults with developmental disabilities, where she now serves as Positive Behavior Support Coordinator. Her lack of a degree from Harvard or anywhere else doesn’t get her oohs and aahs from the general population, nor does it stop her from doing amazing work improving the lives of people that most of the general population doesn’t know or care about. She’s currently pursuing a degree while working, reminding us of the very important fact that it is never too late to go to college. She’s also a mom, and while I don’t expect my children to make the same choice I did when it comes to educating their own kids, it makes me happy that she’s seriously considering homeschooling her son. My son did enroll in college, but alas, he never finished. After two years at a music school, he quit to go be a musician. My youngest is currently in college at what might be seen as the polar opposite of Harvard, a state school known to cater to working class families, with a majority minority student enrollment. When she visits her sister at Harvard, the differences are stark, adding fuel to the fire of her passion for social justice. I can’t wait to see where it takes her. Judging people by where they went to school is so ingrained in our society it’s like a disease. Did we really need a major scandal to know that college admissions are out of control? How might our world change if we stopped obsessing so much about what’s on paper and instead cared about who people are? Years ago I read the work of Malidoma Patrice Some, who talked about the symbiotic relationship between the community and the individual. The community’s job is to support the individual in finding and fostering their genius, so that the individual can convey their gifts to benefit the community. I strove to apply this philosophy to our homeschooling and our family, and to the extent that I could, my wider community, but it’s not always easy in a world where community has become so fragmented and difficult to find. Getting rid of value judgments helps. When we put those aside, we make room for genuine curiosity about other people, respect for their unique characteristics and trajectories, and acceptance for diverse choices and ways of being. The more we can extend that to kids and young people, the less fear, pressure, and anxiety they’ll absorb about themselves and the future. They’ll focus less on “getting into” esteemed schools, instead making choices based on their abilities, interests, values, and goals. And, perhaps most importantly, they’ll be better able to live in the moment, learning, exploring, and becoming. June 10, 2019 June 10, 2019 A Potluck Lifecollege, education, Harvard, Homeschooling, parenting, slow homeschooling, Uncategorized, Unschoolingcollege, education, Harvard, homeschooling, learning, parenting, unschooling One thought on “The fallacy of the best and the brightest” June 11, 2019 at 12:53 pm Reply I just love this wholeheartedly. Have had trouble explaining our non-achievement-oriented approach to education. Thanks for sharing it! LikeLiked by 1 person Leave a Reply Cancel reply Email (required) (Address never made public) Name (required) Connecting to %s Notify me of new comments via email. 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Hello crafty friends! Craft room organization is a very important topic for any serious crafter and, admittedly, we love organizing our supplies almost as much as we love crafting with them! We both have recently renovated a space in each of our homes turning them into dedicated craft rooms. As a result, we have put a great deal of thought into choosing efficient solutions for storing our supplies… Hello! Our names are Michele and Maureen and we are sisters who share a passion for paper crafting & card making. Read More...	556
A cow's tongue is an amazing body part. A cow only has front teeth on the bottom of their mouth--the top is a hard pad, but no teeth. So in order to eat grass, a cow can't bite it off like a horse, but they must rip it off with their tongue. So the grass must be tall enough for a cow to get a "grip" on it with her tongue, and then pull it into her mouth. She does have molars on the top and bottom, so she can grind the grass up. But first, the grass is rolled into a ball called a "bolus" and swallowed nearly whole. It goes into her largest stomach, the rumen, where it is partially broken down by bacteria and enzymes in the rumen. When a cow grazes, she busily tears grass and swallows it. Later she will lie down and relax and chew her cud--which means she regurgitates the boluses back into her mouth to chew them again. The chewed up grass then progresses through the other compartments of her stomach: the reticulum, omasum and abomasum. Cows use their tongues for other things too--like licking their calves dry at birth. When a newborn calf is born, a cow immediately gets to her feet and begins licking him. This encourages circulation and respiration, and dries him at the same time. After a calf grows, his mama continues to groom him with her tongue. You might even find cows licking each other on the head or neck. When a cow has an itch, she will use her tongue to scratch it! A cow's tongue is very rough--nearly like sandpaper. Cows don't lap water, but they may play in it with their tongue. To drink they suck the water up through their mouth. When my kids show cattle, their calves often lick them for the salt in their sweat on their arms. It is not a sign of affection for a cow to lick a person, but it seems that way! I have never eaten cow tongue, but I know many cultures do value it. I found numerous recipes for it through a google search, but I haven't tried any of them. 5 comments: Brandon Duncan February 23, 2011 at 8:57 PM I'll admit, I have been licked. Several times. Always nasty, lol! I did not, however know how the whole four stomach thing worked. I should let me kid read this. If for no other reason than to see the look on her face, lol! ReplyDelete Replies Cindy Baldwin February 24, 2011 at 8:59 AM When I was a kid, my grandparents owned a small meat processing plant and the sale barn in McPherson. I remember my grandmother cooking tongue and beef heart that customers didn't want from their cattle. Will never forget coming into the kitchen and seeing a tongue sitting in a baking pan on her counter. It actually tasted pretty good, sliced cold and eaten in a sandwich. ReplyDelete Replies Marli February 24, 2011 at 12:06 PM well that was educational! very cool... thanks! :) MeMoRy* ReplyDelete Replies Dane February 25, 2011 at 1:25 PM I like the photos! Next time a cow tries to lick my arm, I'll know that they're craving salt and not take it personally! ;-) ReplyDelete Replies Gary L February 27, 2011 at 4:29 PM Debbie you haven't lived until you have had some Lengua de Res (Tex-Mex tongue). When I was young my mom would fix tongue sandwiches. Good stuff. ReplyDelete Replies Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Let's talk! Thank you for reading! If you like this post, I would appreciate any comments and shares. You can see a bit more about me and my family here, and connect with me on facebook and twitter! Please do! Connecting is the WHOLE POINT of blogging! I'd love to hear from you. Featured Post I have the very best friends...have I said that before? Well, let me say it again. A couple of gals that let me hang around with them are am... Her first kiss! A cow's tongue is an amazing body part. A cow only has front teeth on the bottom of their mouth--the top is a hard p... If you are like me, suffering from Post-Holiday Hangover from eating lots of heavy, delicious, sugary food at Christmas... oh, and Thanksg... Children's Books Starring Agriculture! Book Review: "It's All About That Beef!" by Rianna and Sheridan Chaney One of my favorite ways to ... Cattle Ranchers are True Environmentalists My family owns land in Kansas in the heart of the Flint Hills--one of only two native, original prairies in the world. The grass that grows ... Birth of a Calf I've tagged and weighed thousands of Angus calves through the years, but it is fairly infrequent that I get to see the actual birth of a...	4,678
It's been one year today since my first blog post. Wow. I can't believe it's been a year since I started this. I really just wanted to start keeping track of things going on with us and the boys and thought it would be fun to start including recipes of things I love. Now, I'm having so much fun baking up a storm, trying new recipes and sharing them with family, friends and many people I've never met, but feel like we know each other. How fun! On that note, I think only the best thing to do to thank everyone for taking time to read my blog and gawk at all my recipes AND my cute boys is with a giveaway! So here it is--my parents gave us one of these for Christmas and I love it. I use it all the time. It's the Vidalia Chop Wizard! Now if you know me, you know I DO NOT like onions. I never buy them and NEVER cook with them, but this thing is great for chopping all kinds of fruits and vegetables. It really is a time saver and so much easier than chopping with a knife (I often cut myself when I have a knife!). So here's one waiting for the lucky randomly drawn winner. What else do I love? Well, this, of course---CHOCOLATE! Have to throw a little of this in, too! Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite chocolate is (brand, flavor, whatever) as well as your favorite way to enjoy it (in a cookie, cake, by itself, etc.) and/or GASP, if you don't like chocolate, what you do like in place of chocolate as an indulgence. One lucky winner will be chosen Wednesday evening (deadline is 9 p.m. CST). Thanks for a great fun year of blogging, can't wait to see what deliciousness this next year brings. Starting with this amazing cake-------------- This week's recipe from Dorie Greenspan's Baking From My Home to Yours was chosen by Stephanie of Confessions of a City Eater and doggonit, it's about time someone chose the great looking cake that's on the cover of this book--Devil's Food White Out Cake! Great pick, Stephanie. You can get the recipe posted on her blog. This cake was fun to make, and challenging and pretty darn yummy (although I only took a couple bites!). A friend of ours, Bob, had a birthday recently and he saw this cake on the book cover and told me that was what he wanted. He told me this when I had just found out it was chosen this month for one of our TWD baking adventures. Perfect. I love having a reason to bake! The recipe calls for 8 inch pans, which I totally thought I had, but it turned out my pans were 9 inch. I didn't want to have cakes that were too thin, since they did have to be sliced in half, so I decided to one and a half times the recipe. Glad I did, although I do not enjoy math with fractions! I put 1 and a 1/2 pounds of batter in each 9 inch pan as well as 9 oz. of batter in a 6 inch pan (frozen, to be used later!) I will leave out a few small setbacks that were easily fixable while I made the cake and just say that I think it turned out really well. The most trying part of it was making the filling/frosting which included waiting for the sugar syrup to come to temperature on the stove and not over whipping the egg whites in the meantime. Dorie didn't really give suggested times on this, which I think would have helped, but it did all work out in the end. It took 15-20 minutes for the sugar to come to 242 degrees, so don't start beating the egg whites too soon, those only take a few minutes! That's all I have to say about that. The cake came together really well. I like that it didn't really matter how the frosting looked because the cake was then going to be covered-in cake! I chose not to have too much cake overkill, so I put mini chocolate chips on the top. Wanna a piece? This cake was nice if you don't love a butter cream icing, it doesn't leave you with that stuffed feeling of sugar "ugghhh". Know what I mean? Bob took most of it home, good thing, I woulda kept eating it. I only took a few bites of one of the boy's pieces. Don't forget to leave a comment and enter for a chance at winning my giveaway! You have until Wed. night, the 18th at 9 p.m. Posted by Katrina at 5:03 AM Anonymous said... Congratulations on your anniversary and bravo for the cake -- it looks great! February 17, 2009 6:28 AM Amanda said... Congrats on your anniversary, time sure flies doesn't it? My favorite chocolate is a Fannie May cream filled piece called the Victoria. It's caramel flavored butter cream YUUMMMMM Your cake looks so wonderful, I really enjoyed mine!! February 17, 2009 6:42 AM Becky said... How could one chocoholic ask another chocoholic to narrow it down to just one, yummy, delicious, scrumptious, and the reason I get up in the morning:) piece of chocolate, but I shall try. Right now my choice chocolate candy would be the Lindt dark chocolate truffle thingies, yum! My choice chocolate dessert would be this chocolate french silk oreo cake I made the other day, heavenly yum! One year of blogging, yeah! I'm so glad to have created this blog friendship. February 17, 2009 7:35 AM Megan said... My favorite kind of chocolate is Callebaut. I have an 11 pound block in my pantry right now...... Cake looks great! And happy blog anniversary. I started my blog for the same reason you did - and it just escalated from there - same as yours! February 17, 2009 7:52 AM chocolatechic said... Brilliant idea with the chips on top. My favorite chocolate to eat by itself is Dove Dark, then Symphony February 17, 2009 8:58 AM Happy Blogiversary!! I just love your blog; here's to many more wonderful years of sharing about family and baked goods! And what better to celebrate this bday than your awesome-looking cake! YUM! I love dark chocolate bars (Ghiradelli); there's something so rich and satisfying about them. BUT, I will admit that I'm a total sucker when it comes to a slightly melty Hershey's bar. Nothing beats it, right? February 17, 2009 9:01 AM My favorite chocolate is Dove dark chocolate and I like to enjoy it right out of the bag. February 17, 2009 9:13 AM How fun! My favorite chocolate will not be narrowed down, it depends on the day. I do love a good Chocolate chip cookie though which is how I usually cook with it. Good luck, i love looking at the blog and miss you guys. February 17, 2009 9:19 AM Great looking cake..I love it! February 17, 2009 9:40 AM Your cake is great, and I hear you about a few setbacks. I had major issues with the icing but sort of pulled it out. Congrats on your blogiversary! What a great giveaway. My favorite cake is yellow with chocolate fudge frosting. I don't have a perfect recipe for it, though. I love baking with Callebaut and El Rey. Oh, and Valrhona. For snacking I like Ritter Sport bars - especially the various flavors I've found when I travel. February 17, 2009 9:41 AM Anonymous said... LOVE that you topped it with more chocolate! Your cake looks gorgeous! And happy anniversary! February 17, 2009 9:46 AM Anonymous said... My favorite chocolate is Vosges Barcelona bar...with flakes of sea salt and chopped almonds it is a party in my mouth. It pairs well with a Shiraz and is so good that just a few squares satisfies a desert craving. February 17, 2009 9:58 AM Anonymous said... Happy Blogiversary! I LOVE Reese's chocolate peanut butter eggs which come out around Easter! Hershey's peanut butter eggs don't have salminella in them...I called and checked! I love the yummy Heartbreak Healer cookies from the Food Network's Ultimate Recipe Showdown that I made last week-end! February 17, 2009 10:34 AM Anonymous said... That cake looks divine. My favorite chocolate is any that is in front of me. My mom has always been a choco-holic - and I have come to accept it as my fate. :) A favorite (and rare) indulgence of mine is a rich chocolate frosting - on yellow cake - for breakfast. February 17, 2009 10:43 AM Cindy said... Wow Katrina, that cake actually looks fabulous. I finally got your link added to my own blog so I can find you easier, so now I will visit frequently. I am a minor chocolate fan and a major carmel fan so one of my favorite treats is the Toffafee. It has 15 little cups of carmel with a little hazel nut in the center and a dollop of chocolate on top. They are made in Germany but sold in local grocerie stores. I treat myself to one a day when I have a box. BTW-this is your sister in law Cindy. February 17, 2009 10:45 AM Welcome to our crazy blessed life said... My favorite chocolate is gharedelli squares with caramel. Yum! Your cake looks delicious! Your frosting turned out much fluffier than mine! February 17, 2009 10:50 AM Anonymous said... And I am so glad someone else out there HATES onions! I don't know where I went wrong with my daughter - she loves them! Before becoming diabetic, my favorite candy bar was a Heath Bar! February 17, 2009 10:57 AM Unknown said... Congrats on your blogiversary! You did a great job on the cake...much better than when I made it. Mine was much more messy looking! I'm not the hugest fan of chocolate though I do like it! My absolute favorite would be Cailler's...it's an international Hershey's brand and is THE creamiest you'll taste; however, I haven't had this in YEARS obviously b/c it's an international brand...so, I like Dove dark chocolate. February 17, 2009 11:08 AM Shari said... Dove promises...it's my special pick me up hidden in my desk at work :) And I can't stand onions, either, but still chop many many foods and would love a wizard!! February 17, 2009 11:10 AM Suzanne said... I love chocolate in all shapes and forms. However, I tend to gravitate to dark chocolate these days. I use the excuse that it is healthier so that I can eat more of it. February 17, 2009 11:12 AM Carol at beadbakemove said... That cake looks amazing! And I have to pick just one chocolate bar? My latest love is Trader Joes Fair Trade Dark Chocolate bar. Although they were out of it the last couple of times I was there, only had the milk chocolate - not acceptable! Gotta be dark... Thanks, Katrina, and happy blogoversary! I put that chopper on my wish list when I saw it in your Veggie Lasagna post. Here's hoping! February 17, 2009 11:41 AM Sugar said... So are you giving away a year? I'll take it (and the Vidalia chopper too!) I've seen them on TV and would love one. My favorite way to have chocolate is an undercooked brownie (almost batter). Love you! February 17, 2009 11:55 AM familywithfivekids said... You are so sweet to have a give-away! I'm not sure I have a favorite chocolate, but I know I'm all about dark chocolate! I love Lindt and Dove and See's! I try to avoid chocolate that is too spendy because that may prove to be dangerous. Can I add you to my sidebar? I may do that but let me know if want off! :) February 17, 2009 11:56 AM Nora said... This looks SO good! I like how you put several pictures of it on your blog. February 17, 2009 12:11 PM Anonymous said... My favorite chocolates are made by a local company here in Austin called SXUL. They are so good, but not for baking. They're truffle-type chocolate and best eaten on their own. For baking, I like Valrhona the best, however, it's not really practical for day to day baking so I tend to use Ghirardelli, Hershey and Scharffen Berger. My favorite chocolate chips are Callebaut. February 17, 2009 12:21 PM Carla said... CADBURY CADBURY CADBURY!! I was exposed to it for four months when I studied in Ireland, and you can definitely taste a difference between that and Hersheys. Even Norwegian chocolate is pretty good. Your cake actually looks like the cover! Well with chocolate chips. Mine...had a giant hole and never made it to 3 layers haha February 17, 2009 12:29 PM Anonymous said... I love the 99% cacao Michel Cluizel bar, eaten in small nibbles (nursed, really) over the course of several days. A little really goes a long way with amazing chocolate, and this is no exception. February 17, 2009 12:51 PM Hi Treeni!! I always love seeing the delicious things you bake. It makes me miss you even more than I already do!! My favorite chocolate (and I have not had too many brands) is the Symphony bar with Toffee. If you take brownie mix and melt the Symphony bar, mix it in the batter and put some on top, it makes some deliciously addicting brownies!! Can you mail me a piece of that cake???? It looks to DIE for!! February 17, 2009 12:53 PM Congratulations on a year of blogging! May Canadians enter your giveaway? My favourite chocolate right now is Green & Black's Dark 85%, which I eat plain, slowly, a square or two at a time. February 17, 2009 12:57 PM Michelle said... Wow! 29 comments! You definitely have some fans out there. Happy Blogiversary, Katrina! I've loved reading your blog...you are so talented and should seriously open up your own bakery, girl. February 17, 2009 1:03 PM Nancy said... Happy Blogaversary! Your cake looked great! It was pretty yummy wasn't it? I like to bake with Callebaut or Valrhona chocolate, but I love to eat just about any kind of chocolate! Reading everyone else's comments makes me want to eat some now - haha! I don't live near a Trader Joes (I know, poor me!!), but I'm sure that's good. February 17, 2009 1:15 PM Deb said... Well your blog has been a great addition to my reader. Happy Anniversary. Oh and my favorite chocolate is anything dark in anything, anytime! February 17, 2009 1:15 PM Anonymous said... I love reading your posts! You inspire me to make new things instead of the same 'ol favorites. And, I always feel fortunate when I am the recipient of your work! I'm a Lindor milk chocolate fan myself but I'll take chocolate in any form! February 17, 2009 1:52 PM Anonymous said... Love the chocolate chips. They look so cute on top. I don't think I have one favorite chocolate but dark chocolate coated caramels will get me through any day. February 17, 2009 2:11 PM I love dark chocolate. And I especially love chocolate in cookies-with "World Peace Cookies" maybe being my favorite! Oh, and your Devil's Food White Out Cake looks Fabulous! I love how glossy your frosting looks. February 17, 2009 2:14 PM Natalie said... let's be honest...chocolate is good in all forms...dark chocolate if i'm eating a piece plain, but i'm a sucker for a good piece of chocolate cake...and i have the BEST brownie recipe! thanks for the giveaway :) February 17, 2009 2:29 PM RecipeGirl said... I don't need any chocolate (eating healthy) but I just stopped by to say congrats on your one year! February 17, 2009 2:56 PM Mindy said... You know I love chocolate. I think right now I enjoy a good Lindt Chocolate. But I love chocolate chip cookie any day. February 17, 2009 3:02 PM Brooke said... I love all chocolate, but I think my favorite is Cadbury - preferably in the form of a Creme Egg or those solid crunchy eggs. I'm excited that Easter is coming :) February 17, 2009 3:10 PM Sarah Beck said... Congrats! And YES I DO GAWK AT YOUR POSTS!!! My favorite chocolate is Cadbury chocolate (In Canada it's much more prevelant, and they even have their own Candy Bar lines...) I think my favourite way to have chocolate is through an IV....just kiddin :) February 17, 2009 3:20 PM Kate said... Congratulations on your 1 year blogiversary!! What an exciting day! I'm a milk chocolate lover, and cannot resist, Dove Chocolate and the Cadbury Mini-Eggs. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful recipes with us! We have discovered and enjoyed many of your confections! February 17, 2009 3:25 PM My very favorite chocolate is Faroh's Finest chocolates in the North Ohio area. Unfortunately that family has dwindled and it's now being made at a famous shrine in Carey, Ohio. But I've never turned down any other chocolate. Your cake looks great too. February 17, 2009 3:27 PM Anonymous said... Thanks for stopping by my blog and saying hi. Obviously there hasn't been much blogging going on over there. Congratulations on your anniversary! Hmmm favorite chocolate. There are so many!! There is a chocolatier from central Minnesota named Mr. B. He used to have a shop here, but it closed, and his other shop is 60 miles away! Anyway, he has this chocolate called a Nutty Tutty. It is molded in a mold the shape of King Tut's head and the filling is milk chocolate with hazelnut. Were we supposed to pick a favorite dessert too? That totally depends on the day! Today I'd just love it if someone would bring me some really good Tiramisu and a hot cup of tea. Your cake looks excellent! I adore that kind of frosting, even though it can be a bit of a pain. February 17, 2009 4:44 PM Unknown said... My fav chocolate is Ritter Sport Dark and I like it one piece at a time. Thanks! February 17, 2009 4:56 PM Melody said... Congrats on one year! I just started my blog and have really enjoyed following yours. I am an equal opportunity chocolate lover! I like it all! February 17, 2009 4:59 PM Anonymous said... Congrats on your one year blogiversary, I enjoy your blog andalso your comments on Anna's blog, which is how I discovered you. Your cake looks perfect! I love all chocolate. Right now my favorite is roasted almonds covered in dark chocolate. Tomorrow I'll have a different answer! February 17, 2009 5:46 PM Carole said... I love your blog and visit several times a week. February 17, 2009 5:51 PM Anonymous said... That cake looks like a giant oreo sandwich to me and i love it! Thanks for the recipe! February 17, 2009 5:59 PM Kelly said... Trying to pick your favorite chocolate...since I can't decide what I'd pick if I could only have one for the rest of my life....I'll go with my current favorite: Andes thin mints. Dove caramel promises, I still love you. Belgian truffles rolled in cocoa powder, you are a special luxury. Milka bars, we had a great time in Austria. Cadbury Flakes, I enjoyed our fling in London. Hershey mint kisses, I adore you in cookies. Ghiardelli squares, you are my near constant companion. Favorite way to eat them? With a friend! February 17, 2009 6:19 PM So my favorite chocolate is Reeses. I like them a little bit melty. A cold Reeses- not the same. I bite off the sides of pure chocolate until the ratio of peanut butter to chocolate is a perfect, and then I eat the rest in one bite. Acutally, the best Reeses are the ones that come in the shapes for each of the different holidays (the pumpkin, christmas tree, heart etc.) Mmmmm. Now that I am going to be thinking about it all night long, I might have to get some tomorrow. As for the icing thing... I like that feeling of being stuffed with sugar. If I'm going to eat yummy treats, I'm making the most of it. No use in going half-hearted. All that sugar is comforting. Proves to be a bad thing though. February 17, 2009 6:21 PM Unknown said... My favorite chocolate is unfortunately only available in Europe or European foodstores. I melt for Milka bars. They're actually made by Kraft, but they're better than any chocolate in the States. I've been dreaming of Milka bars since I got back from vacation, 8 months ago. My favorite way to eat chocolate is in Hot Chocolate form. Yummy, rich, and warming :-) February 17, 2009 6:31 PM Really interesting that the post included devil's food whiteout cake- I have an event coming up and I was actually debating between that cake and smores cookie bars! Anyway, I simply adoreee dark chocolate (Dove Dark, although the Ritter bars with marzipan inside are AMAZING!) and love chocolate in mousse form! February 17, 2009 7:02 PM Pamela said... Yahoo! Congrats on a whole year of blogging! The chocolate...I don't think I have a real favorite, which pretty much means that I've never met a chocolate I didn't really like. :o) And I have the hips to prove it! LOL! The cake looked fabulous, Katrina. The mini chips on top were a great touch! February 17, 2009 7:05 PM Anonymous said... I love your blog. So many great ideas and your boys are so cute and funny. I work with a guy from Switzerland and today he had just received a package with some swiss chocolate from a friend back hom. I'm not sure what brand it was but it was AMAZING. February 17, 2009 7:20 PM CindyD said... I really liked the Lindor truffles my husband gave me for Valentines Day. February 17, 2009 7:20 PM Missy said... My favorite chocolate would have to be semi sweet chocolate chips! I put them in everything from Chobani to pudding to ice cream!! February 17, 2009 7:27 PM Mrs. Szelewycz said... Thank you so much for the cookies, they were wonderful! My favorite is the Russel Stover caramels with chocolate around them. I love your website! February 17, 2009 8:07 PM Anonymous said... Happy Anniversary...we are all so happy you decided to blog as it is such fun to drop by and see what's up each week! You and I are so different, I don't like chocolate and I do love onions...LOL. Your cake looks beautiful. The frosting photos are gorgeous, makes me want to make it all over again. What a clever idea to top it with chocolate chips...I bet that was a big hit with the boys! February 17, 2009 8:09 PM Engineer Baker said... Wow, that's absolutely fantastic looking. I love the swirls of frosting. And I have to give kudos on the fractionating :) Happy blogiversary! February 17, 2009 8:32 PM Anonymous said... That cake looks amazing!! Love the chocolate chips on top instead of the cake. Peanut butter with chocolate is the best thing in the world. My FAVORITE dessert is cheesecake...so I enjoy peanut butter/chocolate cheesecake of anykind. My favorite candy bar is a tie between Reese's Fastbreak and Reese's big cups! =) February 17, 2009 8:47 PM Anonymous said... I'm not a big chocolate fan, but I do love See's brown sugar buttercream candies. They're so good! February 17, 2009 8:59 PM Congrats on one year of tasty posts! I really like the chocolate and chili combination. That cake is looking really good! February 17, 2009 9:51 PM Happy one year anniversary! That's a big milestone for a blogger. Your cake turned out beautifully! My favorite way to have chocolate is in a cookie, of course. February 17, 2009 9:52 PM Happy 1-year anniversary! I'd have to say my favorite way to enjoy chocolate is Lindt dark chocolate Lindor balls straight up. Yummmm. But I enjoy chocolate in almost all of its incarnations. February 17, 2009 10:21 PM Anonymous said... Ohhhh my word that cake looks fabulous. My favorite chocolate bars are the Symphony variety. Generally the "blue" one, lol. And it has to be the great big bar!! I nearly always have one hidden in the kitchen and I like to break a chunk off when I'm cooking or even just passing through the kitchen. Mmmm, chocolate with toffee. February 17, 2009 10:40 PM Anonymous said... I like just about any chocolate...as long as it doesn't have nuts in it! One of my favorites is chocolate covered cherries but I have the best recipe for candy that is to die for. It calls for white chocolate chips, semi sweet chips, oreo cookies and craisons! It takes 10 minutes to make! I love it! February 17, 2009 11:17 PM Congrats, and what a gorgeous cake!! February 18, 2009 5:57 AM Wow-Treen, I am very impressed with your following! But not surprised--you have a great baking blog and I love seeing everything you come up with. There is no way I could narrow down my favorite type of chocolate, but I do love ice cream and hot fudge. Any recipes using a good homemade hot fudge?I love that if I need a good dessert recipe I can always look at your blog for ideas. Way to go! February 18, 2009 6:25 AM Anonymous said... I have that cookbook, and your cake matches the cover photo! My favorite way to enjoy chocolate is when it covers fruit! February 18, 2009 6:57 AM Well it looks beautiful! I always love to see what you'll do next. Personally I love butter cream frosting the best, as long as its not excessive. February 18, 2009 6:59 AM Anonymous said... February 18, 2009 8:43 AM farah said... I love Valrhona for baking and green & blacks for eating at home. February 18, 2009 9:00 AM Cathy said... Congrats on one year of blogging, Katrina! I have thoroughly enjoyed your blog and getting to know you through TWD. Your cake looks fabulous -- love the mini chocolate chips on top! I couldn't pick one brand of chocolate, I don't think -- I like both cheap chocolate and fine artisan chocolate! But my favorite form for chocolate is in brownies! February 18, 2009 9:53 AM Nothing could be better than a large bag of peanut m&m's! February 18, 2009 10:11 AM I love almost any chocolate, but I'm really into dark and/or bittersweet. The more chocolatey the better. Love it in cookies or brownies or ice cream or a mug, whatever. Other than that, I can't really narrow it down. February 18, 2009 11:45 AM Anonymous said... Happy Blog-iversary! I look forward to reading your blog in the year(s) to come! The cake looks incredible too! My favorite chocolate is Hershey's Golden Almond bars. They are Hershey's delicious milk chocolate with lots of whole almonds inside. I can't get them where I live (in Massachusetts) but every autumn my husband goes to Pennsylvania and brings me home a box. I have to hide them from myself so I won't eat them all in a weekend! As for how and where I like to enjoy my chocolate .... It's perfectly normal to eat chocolate in the dark, crouched in the corner of your bedroom, right? RIGHT??? February 18, 2009 1:30 PM I love the chips on top. Great idea. Glad BOB liked it. Good to have a REASON to bake, even tho' we really don't need one. Congrats on one year post. Glad you stayed with it. Hope to see 100 more February 18, 2009 1:33 PM Anonymous said... The cake looks great! I love chocolate mint patties. YUM! February 18, 2009 3:29 PM Favorite chocolate: Vere 75% plain - it's the creamiest dark chocolate I've had and has barely any sugar added because they get use naturally sweet cocoa beans. Runner-up is Marie Belle 70-75% Hot chocolate bar, oh boy.... Chopping onions is such a pain! It's almost as bad as mincing garlic! February 18, 2009 3:47 PM Anonymous said... I sure wish you lived closer so we could get together. that cake looks really good. I really enjoy your blog. you have a terrific family. February 18, 2009 5:37 PM Anonymous said... My favorite chocolate on its own is Haigh's Chocolate from Adelaide, Australia. It is so fun to go in and pick out a new truffle to try. Happy Birthday! February 18, 2009 6:35 PM February 18, 2009 7:25 PM Lauren said... My favorite way to eat chocolate is in thick, fudgy brownies. Mmmmm. February 18, 2009 7:40 PM Anonymous said... Happy Blog Birthday! One year is a great accomplishment! Beautiful cake...yum! February 18, 2009 10:24 PM Max and Deborah said... Wow Katrina You have gotten quite the list of comments... I did not have time to computer till now, I know I won't make the drawing, but.... my fav chocolate is really any chocolate, but I love Mallys chocolates. Love strawberry dipped chocolates, Love Fondue chocolate, dipping: brownies, strawberries, fresh pineapple, pound cake, marshmellow, raspberries, even chocolate chip cookies. YUM I feel a chocolate craving coming on. Love your blog/ Love you! February 19, 2009 8:49 AM Maria said... I love chocolate with almonds!! Great job on the cake and happy one year! February 19, 2009 10:50 AM Unknown said... Congratulations on your anniversary - and what a beautiful cake! I'm not sure what my favorite eating-out-of-hand chocolate is. I've always had a soft spot for Callebaut milk since spending time in Belgium, but I usually prefer dark chocolate. February 19, 2009 10:59 AM Anonymous said... Happy blogoversary! Your cake looks gorgeous. My favorite chocolate is chocolate covered caramel discs from See's Candy. February 19, 2009 1:02 PM Half Baked said... Congrats on your anniversary! Nice job on the cake! February 19, 2009 2:54 PM Anonymous said... Hi Koi! I found your blog finally. It looks great! Congrats on your sucess. Your family looks great too. Well you know me well enough to know I love chocolate. What you don't know is how allergic I now am to chocolate. The good news is that I can have some white chocolate stuff and I use a lot of carob. Not the same, but you adapt and now it is fine. My favorite dessert is still dutch apple pie with homemade vanilla ice cream. February 19, 2009 10:05 PM Clumbsy Cookie said... Yay I've arrived! Late but I've made it! One year, eh? Congratulations! It's gonna be 1 year for me in April. That's a gorgeous cake Katrina! My favourite chocolate? Are you kidding me? That's like asking you to pick one of your kids! Lol! February 23, 2009 4:55 PM Olivia said... This looks so good too! I want to make everything on here. February 24, 2009 3:10 PM nike epic react kd shoes December 07, 2020 2:58 AM Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) It's a crazy house full of boys around here with me trying to keep it all together. Ya gotta love it! Welcome to Baking and Boys.--Katrina	30,322
I should be finishing my next book tonight. But I’m not. Right now, I’m following the Amazon vs Hachette dispute, mostly out of morbid curiosity. Now, for those of you who are avid readers, or who have been following this whole thing, you know that we all have a dog in this fight. As readers, we’re faced with the prospect that many of our favorite authors’ books will become more and more expensive to buy on Kindle if Hachette wins. Because evidently, Hachettte thinks they need to sell fewer e-books than they do hard copies. As authors…well, it depends on who you are. If you're a traditionally published author, my personal opinion is that the prospect of Hachette winning this battle should scare the living shit out of you. Here’s what I foresee you being able to look forward to if they do: Higher prices for your e-books, without a corresponding increase in return for you. Fewer e-book sales for you. More indie authors outselling you. As an indie author, I still have a dog in this fight, but it’s more of a sentimental thing than an economic one. See, I hate it when authors suffer. And in the end, whether Hachette wins or loses, their authors are going to suffer. I can guarantee that. I’ve been around for a few years, and the only thing I’ve ever seen roll downhill without fail is shit. My personal and political views aside, I don’t see Hachette authors coming out ahead in this whole thing no matter how it plays out. Hachette’s executives…bonuses all around, motherfuckers, because “integrity” and shit. Authors? Sorry, we had to cut our marketing budget, and so on. In my messed up worldview, this is how it’s going to play out either way. And for Hachette’s authors, this has got to look like some kind of Greek tragedy at some point. These folks HAVE to root for Hachette as the hand that feeds them. I mean, yeah, they could decide not to play by the corporate script, but being a voice of reason in a tragedy usually earns you an early and messy death offstage. So for many, all they can do is shut up, hang on and hope they survive the inevitable plunge over the cliff. Some, however, are up there with the mad king whipping the horses. Not sure what they’re thinking is, and I usually end up being a wiseass when I try to figure it out. No matter which side prevails here, there is one thing I’m certain of in this whole thing: I win. If Amazon wins, I think we all win. I could be wrong. I have about a 50/50 success rate with that predicting the future thing. This is why I don’t do psychic readings for a living. But the way I see it, Amazon gets Hachette to price books reasonably, and readers can afford their favorite writers’ books. Hachette’s authors sell a TON of books. Hachette makes money, Amazon makes money, and I keep making money like I always have. (Zombies sell. Always. Thanks Mr. Romero.) Unicorns poop rainbows and fart glitter and the world is a happy place, unless you’re a Hachette author, in which case, you still get a little screwed. Yay peace on Earth. If Hachette wins, the other Big Four come into their negotiations with Amazon stronger than before and demand similar deals. Big publishing house e-books cost a lot and sell enough to earn best seller status just long enough to slap it on the cover of a book below an author’s name. Indie authors’ books cost less and our readers are the ones who get good books at a decent price, which means we sell a ton of books and more of us make a living as writers than Big Five authors do. We make money, Amazon makes money. I poop rainbows and fart glitter, which means my doctor makes money. Hachette’s authors still get a little screwed. Maybe more than a little. In the short run, indie authors win either way, and I’m fine with that. Granted, very little of the coverage of this whole clash of literary titans has acknowledged that we even exist, much less have an opinion on the outcome. In the long run, that is going to hurt the publishing houses. The big publishers have never realized who their true customers really are. To publishers, their customers are bookstores and booksellers. Readers are an unfortunate distraction that someone else has to deal with, which means publishing houses have no almost interest in what readers want outside of how that drives bookstores. They almost never talk to the people who are actually buying their product at the end stage. They have long forgotten where the loyalties of readers truly lie. Word of warning, publishers: Readers have zero loyalty to you. ZERO. “I can’t wait until Simon & Schuster puts a new book out!” said no reader ever. Guess who readers send fan mail to? Hachette executives? Hachette stockholders? No. Authors. Readers follow authors. Readers love authors. Readers wait for authors to put books out. Readers have conversations with the people who write the books they love. Readers leave reviews for those folks. We talk to our readers; in our blogs, on our websites and in emails, face to face conversations and through the stories we write, we develop those relationships with our readers. Publishing executives don’t. If I meet Jim Butcher, I’m likely to go all fan boy. If I meet the CEO of Roc Books, I’m likely to not know it or really give a damn. It is the relationships that authors have created with readers that keeps a publisher alive. And in this day and age, an author can sever their relationship with a publisher without ending their relationship with their readers. With Amazon, they can do it and still make a living without needing a publisher. That should scare some folk. Great insights. I agree. And I think some people are indeed scared of us and what we represent to an industry that hasn't seen this type of evolution since the printing press was invented.	5,902
As we begin a New Year, I hope that, as I do, you feel a sense of hope and opportunity to start anew. Sure, the fact that we have turned the page in 2021 and opened the book in 2022 doesn’t change many things that happened and are still valid from the past year. But at the beginning of a new year, I hope you develop the mindset of thinking about infinite possibilities instead of limiting beliefs. I also want to say that possibilities, opportunities, and real growth do not come easily. It likely will take a great deal of effort. And this is where often the people who make progress get separated from the people who are progressively stuck in the same ruts year after year. As always, it is a subtle difference but with considerable differences in outcomes. It is trite but true, as I have learned. No pain, no gain. Sure, you may be able to cut a few corners and achieve some advantages – in the short term. But if you want real, lasting, and sustainable growth, you’re going to have to work for it. Sometimes you have to overcome physical or financial limitations, but the biggest hurdle to overcome is your mindset. How willing are you to get uncomfortable? Be careful how easily you slough off or dismiss that question because the point of accepting pain and uncomfortableness is arriving at the launchpad for growth. Often, with just one more step. One more question. How much effort do you put into trying to avoid difficult situations, conversations, and people? You can continue to do so. As long as you’re satisfied with achieving the same results you’ve been getting. I love to use an example with people I coach and speak to about my growth. It is just one example in one area of my life, but the lessons I have found are applicable for everyone in some, if not most, areas of life. Almost two years ago, I started a membership to a new gym that opened close to my house. I was there for the opening night of the gym, and I’m still a member. Not only am I still a member, but I also still go there at least 4-5 times per week. My whole life, I have struggled with my weight and have never really had a consistent exercise routine. Like so many other people, I tried many diets, programs, and classes to lose weight and get fit. I don’t mind giving a plug to my gym at all. For some reason, for me, Orange Theory Fitness is the place that has helped me transform my physical health. I am a very competitive person, especially with myself, and they have gamified fitness works for me. Here are the lessons that I hope are meaningful and applicable to you. First of all, say I go to the gym 15 times a month. Probably 12 or 13 of those days I don’t feel like going when I wake up in the morning. I know myself, by the way, and if I don’t work out first thing in the morning, it is not happening the rest of the day. When I wake up, I can quickly think of excuses for why I can’t go today. But I do it anyway. Even when I get to the gym, I still don’t feel like exercising. But I start regardless. And I keep going. Generally, about 15 minutes into my workout, I feel like doing it. But sometimes, it doesn’t happen until I’m finished. However, what happens every day is I feel great. Mentally unstoppable. Sure, I’m physically tired, sore, and in need of rest, but I am mentally secure in the fact that I have done something that I didn’t want to do, didn’t feel like doing, and frankly, if I thought about it enough could have convinced myself I wasn’t capable of doing. Knowing that I conquered my fears and doubts gives me many things, not the least of which are self-confidence and a desire to do even more. Not just at the gym but in almost every other area of my life as well. Suddenly, my past struggles, current fears, and future doubts begin to melt away. That is a powerful feeling, and if you haven’t had that feeling lately, I can’t encourage you strongly enough to experience it as soon as possible. So what giant do you need to face today? Finally, and this is the best part, once you and I develop the habit of overcoming our doubts, and our new practices become so routine we either don’t even think about them, or we even enjoy them, we begin to see real change. It’s not evident overnight. But within a few short weeks, you will notice the difference. And then a few short weeks more, and your family begins to notice, and finally, everyone sees the difference. And you, my friend, have turned a weakness into a strength. Maybe you need to do as I have outlined and begin with a physical goal? Or perhaps where you need to start first is mental, spiritual, or financial? My encouragement to you is to pick one. And work on that one until you have mastered it. Allow yourself at least a couple or three months. But guess what? If you start today and develop three or four new life-changing habits this year, just imagine what will be possible a year from now? Dream BIG and share with me your thoughts and results! Did you enjoy this article? If you haven’t already, please be sure to subscribe to this blog, where I post every Tuesday. You can also get additional free content by subscribing to my YouTube channel or following me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. I also invite you to review my coaching page on my website here. I have only a couple of spots left in my Personal Development Coaching Practice. Each week I offer two free strategy sessions on a first-come, first-served basis to people interested in exploring how to become a person who pursues their goals and dreams. These special hour-long sessions prove again and again to be invaluable to those who participate. You can book these directly on my coaching page – I look forward to serving you. ← Previous Post Next Post → Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Recent Posts The Most Important Reasons Why “Live and Learn” is Keeping You Stuck Serving to Lead or Leading to Serve – The One Thing Everyone Needs Do you think before you act? Getting control of your subconscious mind Self-Improvement Archives Select Month February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020	6,756
We help transform the lives of everyday people by quickly getting them out of pain and back to normal without pills, injections or surgery Is Extreme Texas Heat the Cause of Summer Colds? General, Nutrition July 26, 2022 It’s no question that this summer has been uncharacteristically hot and humid, even for Texas. But what’s even more abnormal is the uptick in people suffering from summer colds! Strep, stomach bug, bacterial infections, flu symptoms, you name it. So why? Well, for starters, the heat certainly encourages people to swim more, whether that means getting in a pool, or a lake. The heat also makes it easier for bacteria to breed in the water. Just another reminder to not drink the pool or lake water! This is especially important for young swimmers who may think it’s amusing to hold water in their mouth and spit it back out. It’s harmless until it’s not. Another reason (aside from the crazy heat and water dwelling bacteria) that you or someone you know may be down with a summer cold is the ongoing recovery from 2020. Everyone was down for the count and mostly kept to themselves meaning minimal engagement and contact with people (not a huge difference if you’re an introvert like me). But in the bigger picture, what this means is that our immune systems were not exposed to the normal amounts of seasonal bacteria. The immune system is not that different from our muscles as far as ‘use it or lose it’ goes. With life just now getting back to normal and exposure to people becoming more and more common, our immune systems are in a bit of a shocked state. They are having to remember how to fight off bacteria and viruses. This is nothing to worry about since it is all part of our bodies’ natural process. It can, however; be very annoying to anyone trying to enjoy their summer indoors, or out. It’s one thing to be sick when it’s cold and gray outside but when the sun is out and everyone else is in the pool or on the beach? Not quite as tolerable. So what can you do to fight off the summer blues? Fuel your immune system! Making sure that you’re consuming enough fruits and vegetables will help your body get the essential vitamins it needs. Additionally, it’s super important to make sure your body is getting enough electrolytes. Most people hear that term and think of gatorade but there’s a little more to it than that. The four main electrolytes are sodium, potassium, magnesium, and water. Most people are actually deficient in magnesium and don’t even realize it. Magnesium is a major mineral, our bodies need greater amounts of it compared to minor minerals like iron or zinc. Magnesium can be obtained in many different forms, capsules, powders and most importantly- whole foods. green leafy vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, milk and yogurt all contain magnesium. Sodium is a bit easier to understand since you can ensure your consumption of it by eating salty foods like pickles or salted nuts. Some people even find it beneficial for water retention to put a teaspoon of salt in their water. Potassium can be found in foods like bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew, apricots, grapefruit, some dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins, and dates. Again, while all of these electrolytes can be consumed via capsules or powders, there are many benefits to consuming them in the form of whole foods. Lastly, water. It is very important to keep up with water consumption, especially with the rising temperatures, meaning more sweat and more water expenditure. Since drinking a gallon a day seems a bit extreme to most, it may be comforting to know that the average person needs only around a half an ounce, to an ounce of water per pound of bodyweight to be adequately hydrated. Too much water can actually result in flushing out the other electrolytes that your body needs to function! Eating water dense fruits like apples, berries and watermelon can help to maintain a hydrated state without flushing out all the goods. I hope this blog has been helpful and more importantly that you’re staying cool and finding ways to beat the heat! If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to our team at MOSS and we will assist you as best we can! Lastly, if you or anyone you know is suffering from aches and pains that are keeping you from living the life you love, reach out to us and let’s start working on a plan that will get you to where you want to be. It starts with our simple 3 Step Process. Schedule a FREE Discovery Visit with one of our experts. Receive a Customized (Individualized) Treatment Plan It really is that simple! The first step is the hardest and I can’t take it for you but I can make it as simple and easy as possible. “A healthy man has thousands of wishes, a sick man has only one”. –Agnes Karll Schwest Krankenpfleger You will work with one of our experts to design a customized plan specific to your needs and conditions. Next Action: I have talked about this for years. I call it The 3 D’s. You can learn more about it HERE. Follow The 3-D’s to handle your issue and you can’t go wrong. Don’t ignore the problem—A problem could be pain, weakness, frequent falls or trouble recovering from an injury or illness. It is a signal from the body that something is wrong. Hoping and wishing will not make it better. Try to ignore it and hope it goes away –almost never works and usually makes everything worse. Don’t mask it—getting injections, taking pills, wearing a brace or using a walker only masks the problem and doesn’t fix the underlying cause. I have several examples in my personal life where this did not work out. Trying to mask it and not truly addressing the underlying issue makes the problem cost more (time, money and stress) to fix in the long run. Do something about it-–If addressed properly most problems can heal conservatively, naturally without injections or surgical intervention. Doing something about it – addressing the issue head on, while it may be tough at first it will get a better result in the long run. Pro tip: Get it looked at by the experts at MOSS Rehabilitation Center. Follow The 3-D’s to handle your issue and you can’t go wrong. Remember the KEY is to start so small that it is impossible to fail. -Kaizen At MOSS Rehabilitation Center we make it easy for you to get started. We even have a simple 3 step process. 1. Schedule a FREE NO Obligation, Discovery Visit with one of our experts. During this visit, you will talk with one of our friendly experts about your issues. This is a safe and confidential visit, you can trust that your safety and privacy is important to us. We are taking extra measures to ensure that you remain safe during this pandemic. 2. Receive a Customized (Individualized) Treatment Plan. Based on your free discovery visit, we will put together a custom, unique to you plan that will address all of your nagging pains and issues. The goal is to get you back to your healthy self as soon as possible while also addressing your issues for the long term. 3. Get Your Life Back and Do What You Love. The best result for us is a patient who tells us they can finally do what they love without the constant pain, stress, or issue they were facing. Together we can get you back to living life without worry. So what do the most successful people do when they have health concerns? They address their problem. NEXT ACTION: If you are really serious about showing your body who’s in control, call our office at 817-220-6677 today to schedule your FREE NO OBLIGATION Discovery Visit. To your health, Previous post Next post Benefits of Physical Activity for Mental Health Latest posts How Safe is Your Home? Benefits of Physical Activity for Mental...	8,021
Between running and biking every day, my weight has started coming down again and I have started seeing my body become very sculpted... Continue reading If you want to accomplish something, then you will accomplish it, regardless of how bumpy the road is. I always told myself: I can't...	307
+An old friend from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) reminds me of Jeremy Corbyn’s record as a member of that august body. He cannot remember one occasion when Jeremy attended a meeting of the PLP in 18 years, and in my mere nine years I cannot remember such an occasion either. Let’s face it, Jeremy was very much a detached member of the PLP, tolerated by the Blairites since he didn’t head up any significant faction, or at least no faction that threatened the Blairites. Jeremy voted against the whip more often than we ate hot meals—which makes his current bid to win back the whip highly ironic. But it’s also ironic from the party hierarchy’s position, since his regular rebellions should have led to multiple expulsions. What makes the hierarchy so intolerant now? Breaking the whip could always of course be done in the safety of numbers. Nobody was disciplined when half of the PLP voted against the Iraq war. +Further to my piece on late capitalism on Friday, there was an obituary in the Guardian for Paul Moore, the ‘HBOS whistleblower who warned against the bank’s lending policy and aggressive sales culture.’ Mr Moore died aged 61, and it seems he became a bit of a persona no gratia in the banking world after he told HBOS’s board in 2004 that their practices were unethical. Moore was their head of regulatory policy at the time. I confess I can’t recollect hearing of him until now. He doesn’t sound like the kind of person to claim ‘scalps’ but his action probably led to the HBOS Chief Executive, Sir James Crosby resigning his post as deputy chair of the Financial Services Authority and handing back his knighthood. HBOS subsequently tapped the taxpayer for £21 billion. Socialist capitalism. Moore warned the HBOS board five years before the crash where their business behaviour was leading. He was sacked. Regretably, in those pre-crash triumphal years of Labour’s economic ‘success’ we all turned a blind eye. Mea culpa. +If what is reported in the Skwawkbox website today truly records the words of a Keir Starmer speech to a meeting of the Jewish Labour (sic) Movement (sic) then I really will have to reconsider my determination to remain a member of the party. Apparently Starmer was opening the door to welcome back those ex-Labour MPs who went off to set up their own competing party— ‘Change UK’ —on the alleged basis that they were upset about the ‘rampant’ anti-Semitism in Labour. If Starmer’s view is that they should be back in, then after 36 years I have to say I’ll be on my way out. As the horrors of capitalism grow ever worse in their impacts on people and planet it has counter-intuitively (it seems to me) become ever more common to hear talk of ‘late’ capitalism, which perhaps reflects some inexorable Marxist process taking shape, or the possibility, as some would probably argue, that capitalism with its destructive all-consuming appetite will burn itself up (and the rest of us with it). Since no-one can foretell the future I would venture to suggest that it is far too soon to talk of something as frenetically organic as capitalism being in its ‘late’ stage. I think I would be happier if people spoke about mutant capitalism, that is a form of capitalism that adapts to the circumstances--whatever they are. Since I am not an economist, I have no knowledge of whether what I describe as mutant capitalism is discussed in expert circles. I am prompted to write about the subject after reading an article in the current New York Review of Books, ‘Getting Away With Murder,’ by Jed S. Rakoff (sic), reviewing a book called Corporate Crime and Punishment: The Crisis of Underenforcement, by John C. Coffee. Here’s a telling quotation: ‘Existing [U.S.] law provides that a pharmaceutical company found guilty of a felony can no longer sell prescription drugs through Medicare or Medicaid. But in the Purdue Pharma case, and in numerous cases of criminal misconduct by the pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer, the companies were able to convince prosecutors to let their guilty pleas be made by shell subsidiaries to avoid this severe penalty, which might cause the company to fail. In fact they were able to convince prosecutors that the draconian penalty of killing the companies would unfairly punish the innocent shareholders, the many equally innocent employees, and anyone who depended on regular doses of their medications . .’ In other words, by and large leading capitalist corporations have the state (and citizens) over a barrel, since the state’s legal powers are constrained by some very real practical concerns, not least of which is their simple lack of effective enforcement machinery when pitted against corporate lawyers in what can be termed ‘lawfare.’ In many cases there doesn’t seem an appetite for confrontation—not least when the likes of e.g. Pfizer are set to save us from doom. In the current pandemic another mutant (perhaps I should actually use the word ‘normal’ here) capitalism falls into the ‘crony’ capitalism category, fully revealed in the manner in which the Johnson government has rushed to reward friends and patrons with millions and possibly billions worth of contracts, some which have been unfulfilled (and once again insufficient enforcement will see many scamsters get away scot free). The relationship between governments and corporations as we know is often close, employing a multitude of revolving doors, cash and sinecures. Occasionally significant challenges to corporations take place, but these, such as the anti-trust action to break up Standard Oil in 1911 are not challenges to capitalism as such but merely blips in the development of monopolistic tendencies. These monopolistic tendencies can re-emerge in many forms, in the case of the oil industry we can point to the behaviour of the ‘seven sisters’ - supposedly independent companies with their history of price fixing. Current talk of breaking up the tech giants does not fill me with any confidence that e.g. what is now termed ‘surveillance capitalism’ would be curtailed, not least since governments have put so much effort into surveillance technology partnerships with the private sector. So I’m not satisfied that prefacing capitalism with the word ‘late’ actually signifies very much if we are meant to understand it as a state of approaching terminality. Far from it, we could talk as easily of ‘infant’ capitalism, since it’s only been around for about 300 years. The Roman Empire lasted for many centuries—add a thousand years if you consider Byzantium its natural heir. I wonder if Romans ever started talking about ‘late Roman’ times. Could there be long term benefits from our current experience? The short term says no, all people want (with some justification) is for things to return to ‘normal.’ This normality is a life lived freely to intermingle and without care—which is not to say that I am painting everybody in their normal lives as being careless, but merely that in a ‘normal’ life one doesn’t have to go about one’s business factoring too much into what other people do so long as they don’t behave with overt stupidity towards oneself. These days it doesn’t take long to spot the people who do behave stupidly and anti-socially. They stand out a mile whereas before the pandemic they may have just been mild irritants in the background (like people who don’t clean up after their dogs). The pandemic seems like a giant housetraining exercise we’re performing on ourselves, and given the longevity of this experience perhaps it will have long term impacts on human behaviour. This could operate at two levels, the micro and the macro. At the micro level, which is our individual personal behaviour I think it will be quite a long time before people generally (but there will always be idiots) feel inclined again to behave with a sense of unconscious trust in others, particularly strangers. Perhaps a new age of mask wearing in the West will take hold, and new norms of distancing will feel the right approach. Will pubs ever be the same again, even when close contact has become iffy? I’m not sure I feel keen on returning to previous habits. At the macro level, which is to say our national and international politics the picture is no more certain. An intelligent strategy to take us beyond the pandemic would recognise that this economic upheaval provides boundless opportunities to shift the balance of the economy at a time when electorates wouldn’t object—a revolutionary moment presents itself on the back of a global disturbance which has already proven, well, deeply disturbing. One could say that we now do have a real choice with ample legitimate routes to follow away from our previous pre-occupations. The choice is crisis capitalism or environmentalism (in the fullest, most profound sense of that word). I have to be honest and say I’m not optimistic that the right choice will be made (although there will definitely be a bucket load of greenwash designed to convince us otherwise). Forgiveness doesn't come cheap +Trump may be on his way out, but how much longer will we have to suffer his ‘mini-me’ here in the UK? Johnson’s blessing of his Home Secretary, Pritti Patel after she was clearly found to have bullied her staff(unintentionally), in breach of the so-called ministerial code demonstrates once again an attitude which places his vastly inflated judgement before any standard of accountability. This may not be the biggest story around (apart perhaps for the victims of Patel’s gross behaviour) but it is just another telling sign how the supposed self-policing norms of our unwritten constitution operate. Except of course that the ministerial code is printed in black and white. +Throughout the Thatcher years we were led to believe that the government’s budget was very similar to a household budget, and we had to keep it ‘in balance.’ Rishi Sunak in a mini-budget next week, according to rumour is going to start a new era of austerity to get the economy back on track after the pandemic, starting with a public sector pay freeze. This is because the cost of Covid has led to the overall UK debt level reaching 100% of our GDP. Well, I say let’s go back to household budgeting. I recall when I first applied for a mortgage in the 1970s I couldn’t borrow more than 3.5 times my annual wage. The very concept of borrowing such a large amount in excess of my income caused me no alarm at all, and I wasn’t forced to go short on baked beans or anything like that. But governments aren’t households and they can do whatever they want, in accordance with their ideology, which is what we’re about to witness. Rishi gives and Rishi takes away. One of the pleasures, nay privileges of having been a Member of Parliament was the opportunity to join the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Arts and Culture. This august body brought together a wide ranging group of MPs, and demonstrated that even Labour oiks could express as much interest in Poussin as they might in mushy peas (or avocado dip as Peter Mandelson allegedly asked for in a chippy up north). On pain of having to get to the gallery by 9am, members could beat the public to see all the blockbusters and roam the galleries without being squashed and Instagramed (or whatever is today’s vernacular) in front of works, which when ordinarily dispersed around many art galleries wouldn’t command the same extreme attention as they do when gathered together in a heavily promoted blockbuster. I have gazed upon Bosch and both Breughel senior and junior in the Brussels Royal Museums of Fine Arts without interruption or cramming for 20 minutes, but put those pictures into a ‘blockbuster’ and any pleasure is drained away by the sweaty crush of phone wielding numpties welded together in arousal by the historic occasion of the celebration of some or other artist’s 100th/200th/300th/500th/500th birth/death anniversary. In my experience this was no truer than Bosch’s 500th celebratory blockbuster in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2016. Each picture magnetised a joggling, ogling crush of 20 or so gasping trophy hunters, keen to be pictured with something or other which might say ‘here’s me ‘n’ Bosch – look at me!’ My eager anticipation of my visit to that exhibition was I have to say, bitterly deflated by the experience if it. But the gallery shop did a roaring trade, and it seems the only way to really see such an exhibition these days is to buy the expensive, hardbound catalogue (if you have the weight lifting capacity that is). The same experience was almost replicated in this year’s Van Eyck exhibition in Ghent, which I managed to see just before we all became Covid captives. It wasn’t as crowded as the Bosch, but the industrial throughput of visitors was handled with the same poultry farm techniques. I hope that some part of the Coronavirus legacy will see the end of blockbuster exhibitions. I realise they are money spinners, but to what extent are they pleasurable experiences? Indeed, in some cases to what extent are they even honest experiences? I went to Tate Britain and saw the fake news ‘Van Gogh and London’ exhibition. Van Gogh! London! When can we see a Van Gogh and Milton Keynes exhibition I want to know? Surely there’s some connection which merits our attention? Then there’s always the chance to tie ‘blockbuster artists’ together like Van Gogh and Hockney, Turner and Hockney, Monet and Hockney, Picasso and Hockney, Freud and Hockney, Manet and Hockney, Warhol and Hockney, Hockney and Hockney, and yes – even Rembrandt and Hockney. My imaginary favourite would be to see Capstan Full Strength and Hockney, but this pairing has so far escaped the imagination of our finance funnel-vision’d curators. I hope all this may now change. There needs to be a radical review of how it might. At pain of being pelted with noxious blobs of cadmium yellow, not least by my socialist realist friends, the offer of free entry to one and all to our main galleries must be questioned. Imagine this: what if we allowed free entry to Covent Garden? That is, what if people were allowed to pay nowt to enter and then to wander around as the mood took them, taking their snaps for Facebook/Twitter/Snapchat/Instagram as their fleeting whims saw fit? No need to dwell on the performance, no need to linger whilst another freebie somewhere else beckons on their little blue screens? So why is visual art (hanging on walls, in the main) meant to be free when everything else isn’t? I have to say, anticipating an argument that I’m being elitist, here’s a short list of some of the things you have to pay for to entertain you in your leisure time: Cinema, theatre, English Heritage/National Trust properties, opera, ballet, the BBC licence fee, Netflix, Sky, musicals, most foreign art galleries, football, rugby, cricket (yeah, most sport), zoos, the Cropton Forest Drive (yes that’s just a local thing), special exhibitions in art galleries (including of course blockbusters), and oh yes, in case you missed it most foreign art galleries – the list could go on and on. It is perhaps an interesting feature of imagined British values that we assume that free entrance to galleries and museums is an unquestionable civilising venture, whereas going to an opera or the cinema or a football game is a moral hazard which has to be paid for. I began by saying how happy I was to have been a member of a certain privileged group. No doubt in some cynical minds that will have demonstrated how elites can acquire underserved advantage. That may depend somewhat on your political worldview. But what we need to learn from our experience is how to maximise the real cultural value of our art galleries. Are they merely to be showcases for marketing? Is a good art gallery the one which is jam packed? Surely some would say yes – and why, particularly in the case of local authority funded art galleries wouldn’t they want to pack ‘em in? The alternative might be closure. I have to confess that the gallery visits that I enjoy most are the ones where I am most likely to be largely left alone with the pictures and artefacts. This makes me as comfortable say in Hull University’s recently recreated and delightful gallery as it does going upstairs in the ICA (always a good place to find oneself alone even if the visit only requires 48 seconds). But I recognise this kind of pleasure is not an economic proposition. Practically any and every visit to an art gallery is heavily subsidised. And without hesitation one might add, they always will be even with entry fees. In the United States, that great land of philanthropic art gallery sponsorship entrance fees still apply, and still don’t cover the costs. In the coming world of recurrent plague, our galleries will be under enormous pressure, both from a drop in visitor numbers and probably from inadequate funding from any source. A crisis beckons, that is for sure. The question I would ask - and can’t provide an answer to, for now – is whose crisis is it? Perhaps the current members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts and Culture will organise a meeting to address the question? Their first consideration might be, post-Brexit, whether foreign tourists should be made to cough up, just as we do when we’re foreign tourists in their countries. In Wednesday’s blog I wrote of my concern that climate change has passed an irreversible tipping point, meaning that nature is taking a course which is likely to swamp the benefits of human endeavours to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Today, in The Independent I read under the headline ‘Is the climate crisis pushing the world to a point of no return?’ some evidence to support my view. It reports ‘A new study, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, makes the bold claim that, hypothetically speaking, we could “already [be] past a point of no return for global warming”. Using a simplistic mathematical model, it simulates what would happen in a hypothetical world where greenhouse gas emissions were stopped in 2020. It finds that, in the simulations, the world continues to heat up for hundreds of years as a result of positive feedback loops such as permafrost thaw.’ The news story then goes on to report countervailing views from other scientists, who suggest in effect that the study’s modelling isn’t up to scratch and needs further development. It is my fear that that critique might be of the sort that suggests it’s best to have 100% information before a watertight conclusion can be drawn. I’m not criticising any of the scientists involved—they’re all dealing with incomplete information after all. What does bother me is that when I was more closely involved in climate change fifteen or more years ago, a range of modelling outcomes were shown to be possible. Now we are finding that the outcomes being found in practice are likely to be at the top end of the modelling range. We now hear the phrase ‘worse than expected’ in relation to e.g. polar ice melt, ocean warming, permafrost melt, forest fires, etc., etc., etc. with alarming frequency. So called 100-year events happen routinely, overwhelming infrastructure regularly. One of the study’s critics is ‘Prof Richard Betts MBE, chair of climate impacts of the University of Exeter and the Met Office, [who] told The Independent: “Having talked to various colleagues, we don’t think there’s any credibility in the model. “Feedbacks are important. The possibility of eventually becoming committed to long-term climate change is important. But there is no real evidence that this has already happened.”’ I recall a dispute between Aubrey Meyer of the Global Commons Institute and the Met Office over whether the Met Office had actually given due consideration to feedbacks quite some time ago, and I’m not convinced that now, it is correct merely to say that they are ‘important’ and can be contextualised in the sense of long-term climate change. We’re in the here and now. It is my opinion that climate scientists, forced into a corner first by the deniers (now thankfully fewer in number but nowhere extinct least of all in politics) and the need to draw the backdrop to politically acceptable solutions are still hesitant, and naturally look for scientific consensus in their modelling, so debunking outliers. I think this strategy is well passed its sell by date. It gives politicians the elbow room they need to delay and delay and delay. After all, 2050 is 30 years away. In the dog collar house It was a pleasure to note that humanists have been allowed to participate in remembrance events this year. The message seems to be getting through to the powers that be that not all who fought and died ‘for democracy,’ e.g. in two world wars were white and Christian. So far as the UK was concerned in its colonial days, I suspect being white was an essential part of the definition of being Christian and vice versa. I suppose some of the current upturning of old conceptions drives the likes of Trump and Farage and countless Tory backbenchers into all sorts of frenzy. But my own little thought, based on experience suggests that ‘onward Christian soldiers,’ never held much water in modern history. When I signed on to join the RAF in 1971, I was asked to swear my oath (i.e. to die for the Queen) on the Bible. I said I didn’t believe in the Bible or God. The recruiting sergeant said that didn’t really matter, I could take the oath on a bottle of beer if that meant as much to me. Given this equivalence, I recognised that in the absence of a bottle of beer, a Bible would do. Later, in basic training, I was asked, for the purpose of allocating recruits to church services, which faith I belonged to. Since there were no church services for atheists, I was allocated to the Methodists, merely I imagine because Methodists were few and far between and nobody knew what a Methodist was anyway. The moral of this story is that the number of ‘Christian’ soldiers was artificially inflated, much to the satisfaction of the officer corps of padres. And I could never quite get my head round the sight of a military uniform bedecked with a dog collar. On the same day that Rolls Royce announced plans to build 16 new nuclear ‘mini’ power plants my attention was drawn to a new campaign organisation called War On Climate Change (WOCC). The intent of WOCC is clear from its title, and reading its manifesto I heartily agree that its aims are commendable, even if it is my personal view that this war, however desirable is now facing an enemy over which it stands little chance of victory—namely nature herself. My pessimism is borne aloft by a tidal wave of news, delivered almost on a daily basis that climate heating has already reached a tipping point beyond reversal, to which the delayed human response is both inadequate and self-deceiving. Targets (where they exist) still seem formulated as if getting to net zero carbon emissions only by 2050 is the magic solution, which in practical terms means that the available carbon budget will expire long before then, such is the non-appetite for an ordered and inclusive approach suggested by the Contraction and Convergence (C&C) framework. As a contribution to tackling climate change, nuclear power is supported by many environmental luminaries, not least the likes of George Monbiot and James Lovelock, so it has credible support from certain wings of the green movement. The problem, whatever your view about nuclear power, is that it cannot in the short timescale left do very much to assist in the war against climate change. Can you imagine the processes required to approve 16 new mini nuclear power stations around the UK? Rolls Royce reckon it would all be simpler and much less complex than building a new standard sized nuclear power station (where the UK is heavily reliant on the French and Chinese). My view, even though I am anti-nuclear generally, is that existing plant should be maintained as long as safely possible, but that’s all. The co-incidental thing about hearing about WOCC and Rolls Royce’s proposal is that a co-founder of WOCC is Tim Yeo, the former Conservative environment minister under John Major, and latterly chair of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee until he retired as an MP in 2015 He was also a past chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, on which I served. When it comes to climate change, I believe Tim ’gets it,’ but I am nervous that he is also the founder in 2014 of something called the New Nuclear Watch Institute which promotes new nuclear. The word ‘Watch’ in this body’s title seems a little curious. I have no doubt that Tim is sincere in his climate change commitment—he has supported C&C in the past—and this new body, WOCC is proposing some stuff that is even a shade radical. So what’s the problem? The underlying problem is simply capitalism. There are views that there could be a green form of capitalism which doesn’t treat the planet’s resources as inexhaustible. Sadly, the nearest a developed country got to recognising the need to junk that idea met its end in the UK’s general election of 2019. Any significant threat to the capitalism we have will meet the same fate, and I challenge anyone to gainsay that assertion without performing a handstand whilst juggling ten plates at the same time. In other words, we will remain ever hopeful that some enlightened form of capitalism will deliver the amazing new technology (like a vaccine) for us and save us all the effort of having to do anything else. It’s a dream. The jury's in. Out. Whatever. Inevitably there is a lot of headscratching going on about whatever happened to the ‘blue wave’ in the US which was meant to carry the Democrats, as per polling evidence to a clean sweep of Congress and the White House. What happened was a virtual disaster for the Democrats, despite their pyrrhic presidential victory. Across the country, in state houses and many parochial elections the Republicans did well, which means their gerrymandering and voter suppression efforts will intensify—more so indeed after Trump’s defeat. Those celebrating Biden’s relatively marginal victory have convinced themselves that this repudiates the view that Sanders could have beaten Trump. The idea that somebody with (by American standards) a socialist agenda may have performed better than Biden is of course an unprovable thesis, since it will never be tested. Yet, for centrist commentators in the UK they seem to think they now have all the evidence they need to show that a left wing agenda is a vote loser, and inter alia that Corbyn supporters should pack their bags and slink away in disgrace. Or at least shut up, and allow the serious politicians (like Biden, like Starmer) to confront the right wing, populist appetite. They ignore the fact that Trump won more votes than most if not all previous successful presidential candidates. Even poor old Jeremy Corbyn won more votes in 2019 than did his party under three previous leaders. I am prepared to admit that Jeremy didn’t quite look the part of a Prime Minister, but it would have been a bit of a different story had he not been undermined by the PLP and it appears from the leaked Labour report, by many party staff too, not to mention our dutifully Tory media. I wonder if Biden had had to face that triumvirate of forces over the Ukranian Hunter Biden corruption story for two or three years he would have overcome it. As it is, he was given a fairly soft ride on the matter, and of course it helped that his main accuser was a notorious liar. In trays With the presidency almost in Biden’s bag, one wonders what Trump will do after he is forcibly removed from the White House (notwithstanding my previous blog). If after his departure he retains any political ambitions he will probably try to create some sort of alternative White House. As is the case in the US he will continue to be called ‘Mr President’ even when he isn’t the president, and this will probably mean a lot to his fan base which is unlikely to whither away even as more stable Republicans distance themselves from Trump and begin considering how to repair the damage. How soon will a field of 2024 GOP presidential hopefuls emerge, and how will they depart (if they do) from the Trump years? Some of these hopefuls apparently exist in the Trump clan, another reason why the dynasty may seek to keep itself in the spotlight, much as the Bush dynasty did before it. I don’t see Trump himself actually running again, largely because he couldn’t face defeat twice, indeed he doesn’t seem able to cope with it once. On the other hand he’s a serial bankrupt so perhaps we shouldn’t discount the possibility. Right now, all eyes should be on the special senatorial election in Georgia next January to see whether the Democrats can take control of the Senate. This will determine whether President Biden (or indeed President Harris) can get anything done, if indeed they should propose anything mildly radical. At least Biden could spend his first week in office reversing every single executive order Trump signed in the full knowledge that all of Trump’s orders by definition were borderline criminal, destructive, vindictive, senseless and self-promoting. In particular Biden does have the power to rebuild the Environmental Protection Agency, sack climate change deniers and halt the oil industry’s despoliation of Arctic nature reserves. He has pledged of course to take the US back into the Paris climate change agreement, but given how ineffective that agreement is, it won’t make a whole lot of difference (although in giving the impression that it is ‘action’ it may fool people into believing that something is being done sufficiently to tackle the problem). There also one or two deserving cases for a presidential pardon too, but I doubt Biden is any great fan of Manning, Snowden or for that matter Assange.	30,262
One of the things I love about photography is how even the slightest change in light can have a huge impact on an image, particularly when you’re photographing an incredibly recognisable building or landmark that’s been photographed a zillion times before. I took these photos around Madison Square in New York last month, at lunchtime; after quite a grey start the sky suddenly brightened and the sun shone, so that the buildings and spikiness of the leafless trees appeared almost silhouetted against the cornflower blue (this is the Met Life building, which was completed in 1909.). I particularly love the way the light hits the Flatiron Building, which is considered an icon of architectural design and engineering; it was built in 1902. And this photo was taken the following day, in SoHo; I was experimenting, trying to capture something that might be worth getting enlarged and putting in a frame. Not sure I quite achieved it but I do like this photo, the sun behind the apartment blocks and the shadows on the sidewalk; it feels quintessentially New York. *This is my entry to The Gallery – the theme this week is ‘light’. Flatiron buildingManhattanMet Life buildingphotographyThe Gallerytravel photography June 18, 2011 June 26, 2011 January 29, 2014 Susan Mann February 13, 2015 at 9:06 pm Outside The Click February 11, 2015 at 12:15 pm Gorgeous pictures I like how the position of the sun in the pictures has thrown everything into semi shadow with only a few details visible. Libby Price February 11, 2015 at 10:19 am Stunning photos – makes me want to go back to New York right now! I loved the architecture and history of the buildings when we were there in October. We run a construction company – and some of our warehouse refurbs have taken longer than it took to build the Empire State Building (the site managers loved me for pointing that one out obviously!) Sarah MumofThree World February 11, 2015 at 9:09 am Fabulous photos (and quite jealous that you’ve been to New York!). The Flatiron building looks quite similar to things like the Cheese Grater and the Walkie Talkie, which were built pretty recently in London. Crazy that it was built so long ago!	2,316
After almost two years we finally made it back to France last week. Very strange flying again….. and this time with masks the entire way! We almost missed our connection at Dulles but United held our flight so we arrived bright and early at Charles de Gaulle last Wednesday to begin a four hour train journey to St-Jean-de-Losne. 26 hours after leaving the house we stepped off the train in St Jean to an empty station and no taxis. Waiting for a train… somewhere in France! Trains are fast in France! After walking about half a mile in a mild drizzle (not complaining – temperature is a wonderful 65 degrees!) a nice lady on vacation from Morocco offered us a ride to our B&B, Les Charmilles. Beatrice, the owner, said we were the first Americans she has had since the pandemic started. We hooked up with the shipyard manager on Friday and he took us to the drydock where they were working on Decize. She still needs a lot of fiberglass repair before the painting starts. Phillippe says it should all be done well before next year’s cruising season starts in the spring. Fingers crossed! After meeting with Phillippe we met with the marina manager, Vasily, to discuss where our slip would be. H2O has two marinas on the Saone, here at St-Jean and about 30 kms north in Auxonne. We prefer St-Jean since it has more facilities and Vasily said that would not be a problem. And then we spent the next few days exploring St-Jean and checking out the restaurants on the quai. St-Jean is a lovely French town of maybe 5,000 people located on the Saône river. View of the Saône from St-Jean Author rjfmacPosted on August 11, 2021 August 11, 2021 Categories French Boat One thought on “Back in France!” August 23, 2021 at 1:15 pm Just found your blog and felt very wistful. After having rented a 1160 & 1165FB for 2 canal trips with friends, I’ve wanted to take the final step like yourselves. I even contacted Locaboat in 2018 when they a 1160FB for sale, but haven’t taken the leap yet. Good luck with your upcoming adventure, as I’m sure every bend of the canal will be beautiful. The website unexcusedabsences.com is by a young couple that bought a hire boat in 2011 and has quite a bit of day to day information of canal cruising that you may find helpful.	2,392
No, really. You wouldn’t believe how much of this game consists of cutscenes. I’m not saying this is a fault, mind you! This is a very story-heavy game and honestly I’m completely fine with that. But I’m going to be really upfront about that right here in the opening paragraph; if you hate watching cutscenes, this is not a game for you. But if you like them, then you might really enjoy this game. The game opens with a hero named Jado leading his team of super badasses to take down a powerful evil. A delightfully over-the-top sequence ensues in which they proceed to mow down legions of enemies in minutes. Unfortunately, they falter when faced with the final enemy. A time skip follows, and we meet our protagonist, Phenix, who is a kind young lad with impressive sword skills who takes care of a bunch of orphans and wrestles bears for a living. (Seriously.) But a rampaging enemy army destroys his home and forces him to become a refugee. He meets Sledge, a great war hero, and the two work together to discover who is slaughtering innocent villagers and why, while Phenix waits for the opportunity to take his revenge. As mentioned, a great deal of this story is told through cutscenes with little player interactivity. This means a lot of time spent reading and watching the action unfold on your screen. This would be a big problem in most RPG Maker games with banal writing and static, lifeless characters. Fortunately, Neo Jado delivers. It’s obvious that an enormous amount of detail was poured into every single scene, and nothing was phoned in. The characters move, fight, animate, sit down, swing swords, and it really makes the game pretty fun to watch unfold. The quality of the writing is also extremely high. The characters are witty and likable immediately, the author has a great sense of comedic timing, and the conversation always feels smooth and natural. I never once felt like just mashing a button to get to the next part. Things fall apart a little in the interactive sequences, however. The pathos of the main story arc clashes with the abundantly silly elements found in the game. Money is called the G-Unit, townspeople make fourth wall-breaking jokes, the likes of Mario, Kirby and Nicholas Cage can be found among crowds, and in general it feels like a completely different game. Thankfully the comedy never devolves into “haha I can make my video game character say bad words!” (Mostly.) But it’s kind of distracting when, in the middle of a dramatic scene with tense music playing, we have to watch Goku go Super Saiyan (complete with overblown transformation sequence) and then see Mega Man shoot him in the face. Some of the playable sequences also suffer from a lack of direction. Upon arriving in the first town, my goal was to locate the mayor, but no one told me this, so I had no choice but to walk around town and talk to everyone until triggering the plot flag, followed by another plot flag at an item shop which was similarly un-clued. The fact that the two developers then appeared on screen to point out this flaw didn’t make this easier to swallow. The fact that you’re aware that it’s bad design and point it out to make a joke doesn’t make it okay! Tales of the Drunken Paladin tried to get away with that, and it annoyed me there too. The town was rather sprawling and it took me a while to realize that the edge of the screen could take me to another section of the city. So again, a bit more direction would be nice. For the exploration-minded, there’s a lot to look around and find, however, and occasionally items hidden in inconspicuous places, but unfortunately these items are never anything interesting. When faced with combat, the player is almost always given the option to perform a quicktime event instead of fighting, where success skips the fight entirely. Other fights consist of QTEs entirely. I’m neutral towards this, it’s nice to let players skip the fights if they want, but the fights are never interesting in of themselves. Character HP totals are low, and one of the common flaws of RM2k3 is present, where enemies tend to all act at once. If you’re facing a large number of enemies and they all gang up on one character, they can kill them quickly. Healing items are thankfully extremely common, but revival items are not, and equipment has so little influence on your performance in combat that it might as well not exist. So really, since combat is a grind it tends to feel like you’re getting punished for failing a QTE, rather than being rewarded for succeeding. Some people have pointed out that the lack of graphical consistency is an issue, and I’m inclined to agree, honestly. Seeing the likes of RTP mixed with FF6 and Breath of Fire sprites with Fire Emblem portraits is pretty distracting. I think picking one style and sticking with it would have produced better results, though I understand the creators are working with what they had. All in all, I’d say the story and action sequences of this game are a lot of overblown fun, the characters are likable, and it’s clear the developers have put a LOT of work into this project. It’s clearly of a highly ambitious scope, there are mountains of characters and the developers obviously have a lot of story to tell considering it took me well over an hour just to play through the prologue. It reminds me of the adventurous, ambitious projects we probably all wanted to make when we were kids, the creators obviously have a lot of affection for this setting and its characters and it’s heart-warming to see someone put so much heart into their project. I’m inclined to say the project seems too ambitious to ever see completion, but I can’t fault the developers for trying. If you like playing games for the story and enjoy cheesy, overblown action scenes, give this one a spin. People who hate “games” that focus on story or cutscenes should give this one a pass. Posts Oh bother. Sauce View games View playlists Close Holy wow, that was fast. Thanks for the review. I honestly wasn't expecting it within hours. Did you manage to finish the game? Seiromem I would have more makerscore If I did things. Seiromem View games View playlists Close Holy wow, that was fast. Thanks for the review. I honestly wasn't expecting it within hours. Did you manage to finish the game? Catches me off guard too. Oh bother. Sauce View games View playlists Close author=seiromem Catches me off guard too. Working on it right now. If you made it through Borton, I'd like to hear what you have to say about the Deril hideout and the Cave boss minigame. We've been contemplating throwing out the basic combat system (boring, unintuitive, and almost token anyway), and focusing on gameplay through an actiony CBS, where the party statistics/equipment still come into play(e.g. Phenix HP = minigame HP). In my opinion, traditional RPG combat needs several things to thrive. The main thing it needs is a consistent party. That consistent party is not very compatible with our story, which takes precedence over everything else. Circumstance penalty for being the bard. Solitayre View games View playlists Close If you made it through Borton, I'd like to hear what you have to say about the Deril hideout and the Cave boss minigame. The Thieves Guild maze I unfortunately had to skip because it caused too much slowdown on my computer. I was thankful that the game gave me the option to skip it, at least. I think the cave boss could stand to have about half as much HP, or at least attack fewer times. We've been contemplating throwing out the basic combat system (boring, unintuitive, and almost token anyway), and focusing on gameplay through an actiony CBS, where the party statistics/equipment still come into play(e.g. Phenix HP = minigame HP). I think I would support you mostly using the QTEs. My PM to you actually had similar thoughts. Oh bother. Sauce View games View playlists Close I feel like making character statistics/equipment and restorative items still count will be the biggest hurdle. Maybe building a intuitive group dynamic, too. Other than that, it's probably not that radical a transition considering that it's already minigame heavy. As for the review, I agree with everything in it. Accurate representation. The only thing I'm sad about is that there was no mention made of the music selection. I take pride in that stuff. =( Circumstance penalty for being the bard. Solitayre View games View playlists Close I like a lot of the music! A lot of it is stuff I recognize from various sources, but I appreciate that you at least got remixes in most of the cases. Hasvers View games View playlists Close I had a lot of fun with this (already several hours long) demo and I agree with most of this review, including the fact that I hope this project will reach its end someday despite being quite gigantic in scope. The only part where I'd disagree is that for me, sillyness and overblown pathos work quite well hand in hand. Oh, and I wasn't disturbed for too long by the patchwork graphics: it is not optimally beautiful, but since we meet Megaman and random yellow taxis anyway, it's hard to care. Although I think it might work against the ability of this game to be perceived as good outside the community, if the creators ever had such intent. Overall I loved the quirks and the fourth revolving door in lieu of a wall. While some of the gags may fall flat (honestly, distorted or lampshaded tropes were much more fun than wanton pop culture insertion, although it has its good moments such as the packing of alibis) there are just so many that it doesn't matter - a bit like the Leslie Nielsen movies for me, very hit and miss but we're under such intense fire that something will get through anyway. I laughed out loud very often and that's not a common feat of RM games. Finally, I totally agree wth the fact that the default battle system was painful and felt tacked on, especially compared to some of the awesome QTE battles (that boss of unlimited evil WAS a bit too long to beat, but the animations and everything were so great that it was okay - just a bug : his HP seemed to stop decreasing two bars from zero, for three or four turns I thought I wasnt hurting him at all). If you (the creator) want to keep equipment and power-ups, I like the idea of tying them into the minigames : each minigame could rely on a given characteristic (like arm wrestling being based on strength) to make the QTE easier, and there could even be some skill checks allowing to avoid them at all if we wish. That way the player could choose between counting only on his reflexes (and getting long and hard minigames like the cave boss or the second maze) or developping the characters. Edit: ah yeah, about the music, I was honestly a bit disturbed by the fact that I recognized many themes at first - this used to be ubiquitous in RM games but I'm not that used to it anymore - but overall the selection was nice, and more importantly you used it well. Although did you willingly avoid putting a music in Borton ? Oh bother. Sauce View games View playlists Close You didn't hear music in Borton? There should be. "LoD - Royal Capital", which is from Legend of Dragoon. If you're missing the file, it would have crashed. As for the minigame stuff, I rebuilt it already. Tossed the DBS. All custom with a custom menu for skills, too. We need to get some testers together to try it out before we throw it back into the early chapters. It's a smaller task than most people might think. There's so little DBS in there, especially very little to rebalance. We pretty much need to delete the old monster events and replace with the CBS ones. It's common events heavy. Soon as that's all done, we'll re-release Episode 1. Which did you like better, the comedic stuff or the main story? Hasvers View games View playlists Close Okay I have no idea why the music won't play in Borton, it is in the directory and all. Well nevermind if I'm the only one in this case. That's great news for the DBS (or rather the absence thereof). Honestly, the game stands out much more through the comedic stuff: the main story is not exactly of the never-seen-before variety, and while it makes a nice counterpoint to the sillyness to have a real story happening on the side, it wouldn't hold my attention on its own. In the present state it does work though, in great part due to the quite amazing animations and the writing/direction in the cutscenes. And don't get me wrong : it's good to have something that makes the game a bit less aimless than purely comedic ones, and I liked the insertion of "meanwhile in the world of real heroes" cutscenes, while the poor Phenix deals with excessive town introductions and unavoidable events. I can appreciate an admittedly cliched storyline with evil villains and corrupt officials and dashing heroes, if it is excessive and daring enough to become a flaming Tarantinesque cliched storyline, and I feel that you've been doing a good enough job in that department.	13,452
Analysts at the OECD, the Paris-based research agency, have just shared a grim prediction: If current trends “prevail,” all developed nations will show by 2060 “the same level of inequality as currently experienced by the United States.” If we let those current trends continue, that conclusion sounds about right. But why on earth should we let those trends continue? The trends that have made our world so unequal reflect simple political decisions, not some inevitable unfolding of globalization. We can make different decisions. Take privatization. Over the past four decades, governments around the world have chosen to sell a broad array of public services. These privatizations have increased the concentration of wealth. Carlos Slim, one of the world’s three richest men, obtained much of his $75 billion fortune by snapping up Telmex, Mexico’s formerly government-owned phone company. But privatizers today are increasingly facing as much resistance as opportunity. In many countries, John and Jane Q. Public are beginning to reject the privatization mantra. The privatizers, turns out, have a problem with their pitch. “Privatization,” as the Guardian‘s Seumas Milneputs it, “isn’t working.” Privatizers promise greater efficiency and cheaper prices. Most people have experienced the opposite, notes University of Glasgow economist Andrew Cumbers, and this perverse reality is spurring a growing global push “to take back utility sectors into public ownership.” But not just any public ownership. Instead of the old over-centralized state entities “far removed” from ordinary citizens, privatization’s critics are looking at “new forms of public ownership.” Cumbers says. These models “encourage broader engagement and participation in economic life by the wider public.” Denmark, for instance, is nurturing innovative “public-public” partnerships. In 2001, one of these partnerships built what then rated as the world’s largest wind farm. The partners: Copenhagen Energy, the municipally-owned local utility of Denmark’s largest city, and a cooperative run by the over 10,000 local residents who had purchased shares in it. A similar cooperative-local government utility model, observes Andrew Cumbers, has helped the Danish island of Samsoe “become one of the first places in the world to become 100 percent efficient in renewable energy.” Good moves. But in our new Information Age we need to do more than undo the privatization of the traditional “natural monopolies” in sectors like electricity, water, and public transportation. We need to turn our online monopolies into public utilities. Corporate giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon, argues analyst Richard Eskow, profit off publicly funded technologies like the Internet but operate “without regard for the public interest.” And they don’t even pay their own full tax share. “Each of these Big Tech corporations has the ability to filter — and alter — our very perceptions of the world around us,” relates Eskow. Over a century ago, Americans saw similar abuses in the new technologies of their day. This country was transforming at breakneck speed back then, from a rural to urban society. The nation’s newly overstuffed cities, big and small alike, needed to move and warm and light ever-denser populations. Private corporations rushed in with new technologies to deliver these services, and municipalities in the early 1900s showered franchises with hundreds of millions of dollars for gas and telephone lines, street railways, and electricity. In some cities, companies bid honestly against each other to win these lucrative franchises. In most, honesty would not be among the bidding criteria. Private utility companies passed politicians kickbacks. Politicians passed utilities monopoly pricing power — and signed franchise agreements that locked down exorbitant phone and gas and light rates for years to come. “In no other way,” historian Otis Pease would later note, “can wealth be obtained so easily.” Public anger at the holders of this wealth would, in city after city, turn many of these fabulously lucrative, privately provided services into public utilities. America, in the process, would become significantly more equal. We could do the same today. Sam Pizzigati, an Institute for Policy Studies associate fellow, edits the inequality weekly Too Much. His latest book is The Rich Don’t Always Win: The Forgotten Triumph over Plutocracy that Created the American Middle Class.	4,496
To build the resistance we'll need against the Trump administration, we have to revive the idea that working people have a common interest in standing up for one another. Share on Facebook Email this story Reddit That was the theme of hundreds of rallies and vigils across the country in response to Donald Trump's shocking election victory in November--and for good reason. No mainstream U.S. politician in recent decades has openly displayed as much hate--toward immigrants, women, Muslims and anybody else who dared to disagree with him--as the incoming president. Not only that, but Trump is assembling around him a rogue's gallery of bigots. Vice President Mike Pence has given coded public approval for the anti-LGBT torture known as "gay conversion therapy," National Security Advisor nominee Michael Flynn is a raging Islamophobe, and Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions has a long history of making racist comments about African Americans. Then there's Steve Bannon, Trump's senior counselor and the former head of Breitbart News, the infamous far-right website known for poisoning the Internet with sexist diatribes and racist conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, the Republicans in Congress have their wish list out and are vowing to ram through legislation to repeal Obamacare, eliminate protections for LGBTQ people, further restrict abortion rights, privatize Social Security and overhaul Medicare. Taking to the streets against Trump after Election Day Facing an incoming president and Congress which displays such open contempt for what most people consider to be common human decency, it's natural that many people's initial reaction to Trump's election was to rally around the themes of love and humanity. But if we are going to mount a strong resistance to Trump's plans to divide and conquer, we will need to promote not just love but solidarity: The idea that ordinary people have a common interest in defending one another from attacks on our rights and well-being. LET'S NOT pretend that the pre-Trump United States was a society based on love either. It was a country of skyrocketing inequality, alienation and hopelessness, live-streamed police murders and unseen drug overdoses, a country that reflexively bombs impoverished Muslim countries, but shrinks from the historic task of ending deadly climate change. Hillary Clinton, running for president as the guardian of this increasingly miserable status quo, claimed to be campaigning for love versus Trump's hate. What you can do If you're in Washington, D.C., to protest Trump on Inauguration Day weekend, Socialist Worker and the International Socialist Organization endorse and urge you to participate in the following: January 20 at 7 a.m. Inaugurate the Resistance: Mass Protest at Trump's Inauguration Navy Memorial, Eighth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Find out more at the ANSWER website January 20 at 4 p.m. Potter's House, 1658 Columbia Rd. NW January 20 at 8 p.m. The Anti-Inauguration Tickets are free, but required for entry, doors open at 7 p.m. Find out more at the Lincoln Theatre website January 21 at 10 a.m. Women's March on Washington Gathering point at Independence Avenue and Third Street SW Find out more at the Women's March website But that claim rang hollow coming from a former senator who had voted for the Iraq War, a former Secretary of State who authorized a coup in Honduras, and a former First Lady who backed her husband's policies that helped to create the current system of mass incarceration and deportations. Trump and fellow right-wing nationalist figures across the world have risen in prominence and power precisely because establishment figures like Clinton are tarnished and discredited by their hypocrisy. The rising right's message is that the cruelty of 21st century capitalism is inevitable--and that the way forward is not halfway "politically correct" measures put forward by liberals, but full-throated racial tribalism and wall-building. We reject this bleak vision of the right--but not with the empty "everything is fine" lie projected by Clinton and the Democratic Party. Instead, we have to fight for our own vision of a different world that is actually based on love--starting with ending poverty in the richest society in the world. To do that, we need more than abstract love. We need to build concrete solidarity among the majority of people who have a common interest in defeating the right and fighting for a society based on equality and justice. THE CONCEPT of solidarity is based on the idea that people can unite across their differences not just because they are good people (or "allies"), but because they have a common interest in not allowing themselves to be divided and conquered. As the old Industrial Workers of the World slogan puts it: "An injury to one is an injury to all." We're taught that the only way to get ahead in this society is to outcompete your neighbors, but while that might be true for businesses, it's never been true for ordinary people. The biggest gains for workers have come not through stabbing one another in the back to get ahead, but by uniting into unions to raise everyone's standard of living. This isn't just true among workers in the same union, but among ordinary people across different occupations and life situations--and among people who suffer different oppressions and are divided against each other. The times when African Americans won their biggest victories--ending slavery in the mid-19th century and ending segregation 100 years later--didn't take away rights from other people. On the contrary, they led to further struggles to increase rights for other groups like women, immigrants and workers. That's why Alicia Garza, one of the creators of the #BlackLivesMatter campaign, was right to say, "When Black people get free, everyone gets free." It follows from this that solidarity isn't just an abstract concept, but a real thing built on networks of trust and reliability. A strike can't happen if one worker doesn't know if her co-workers will also walk off the job with her. Undocumented youth can only come out of shadows unafraid if they are connected to organizations they can count on to defend them. In Trump's America, whether or not targeted groups like Muslims and undocumented immigrants have the confidence to protest depends on the tangible solidarity we start building right now--through everything from forming response networks to hate crimes and deportations to creating spaces for political discussion and organizing. At times like this, when the right is on the rise, it's easy to be skeptical about solidarity. That skepticism is often expressed in online articles or social media posts that dismiss people's efforts to show support for oppressed groups as little more than trying to make themselves feel good. But that distinction misses the whole point: Building solidarity does feel good because we have mutual interests. There is no better demonstration of the strength of solidarity than the movement that blocked--at least for now--the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe won this victory because it was able to count on solidarity--from hundreds of different Indigenous tribes facing their own struggles to defend land and sacred sites, and from thousands of non-Native supporters who made the journey to North Dakota because they see a common interest in both defending Native sovereignty and preventing oil companies from continuing to destroy the planet. All of the people involved in the struggle who weren't likely to be directly affected by, say, pollution from a pipeline spill in North Dakota responded nevertheless to the call for support, and their growing presence at Standing Rock--especially of military veterans--sent a message to the company and the state that it had a fight on its hands. SOLIDARITY ISN'T just a strategy for resistance. It can also transform those involved. There are two common ideas about racism and other forms of oppression. The first is that these are outdated, ignorant ideas that are gradually disappearing. The second is that they are an unchanging element of human nature that will always be with us. Both views are wrong. Oppressions are a product of a deeply unequal society, where the minority at the top maintains its grip by keeping the majority at the bottom divided so it won't unite against them. But oppressions can be fought by movements of solidarity. Whether they are challenged and eventually overcome depends on the struggle against them. Donald Trump's message may seem like pure hate to those he is targeting and many more besides, but to the ordinary people whose votes he got last November, he's putting forward a sham vision of solidarity--solidarity with only some people, not all. Socialists have real alternatives to offer--not the empty rhetoric of love and unity coming from politicians funded by Wall Street bankers and military contractors that profit from our evictions and our deaths, but the strength of working people to unite in a common interest that is the opposite of Trump's message of hate and greed. That may seem like a long way off, but getting there starts now, with people who already want to fight Trump joining together in protests like the Inauguration Weekend demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and around the country. Socialist Worker urges its readers to take part in the Inaugurate the Resistance protest on January 20 and the Women's March on Washington on January 21, or in actions in your own cities if you can't get to Washington. Share on Facebook Email this story Reddit Further reading Solidarity means your struggle is my struggle The bosses do their best to convince workers that their struggles are disconnected because the ruling class understands the power of solidarity. Greensboro needs solidarity against the right A May Day rally in North Carolina has sparked a debate over whether people need to prove their politics before they can protest. Who’s behind the free speech crisis on campus? Campus administrations have for decades restricted the rights of students to dissent--but we'll need to fight for free speech if we want to see social change. We stand for the politics of solidarity ISO members in Portland, Maine, respond to a campaign of slander about an International Women's Day meeting they hosted. Do protests matter? It's often difficult for ordinary people to imagine we can have an impact on how society is organized. Mass protests can aid our imaginations. Further Reading Solidarity means your struggle is my struggle The bosses do their best to convince workers that their struggles are disconnected because the ruling class understands the power of solidarity. Greensboro needs solidarity against the right A May Day rally in North Carolina has sparked a debate over whether people need to prove their politics before they can protest. Who’s behind the free speech crisis on campus? Campus administrations have for decades restricted the rights of students to dissent--but we'll need to fight for free speech if we want to see social change. We stand for the politics of solidarity ISO members in Portland, Maine, respond to a campaign of slander about an International Women's Day meeting they hosted. Do protests matter? It's often difficult for ordinary people to imagine we can have an impact on how society is organized. Mass protests can aid our imaginations. He made America protest again A torrent of humanity flooded through cities around the country to express their anger at Donald Trump--but also their joy at finding one another. Justice is in the air There is a lot in the air in Wisconsin: justice, solidarity, struggle, dignity, determination, generosity. You see it and breathe it everywhere. The drive to a war crime In spite of the largest coordinated protests in history, George Bush and the neo-cons were determined to have their war on Iraq. Our answer to the miserable State of the Union Donald Trump celebrated the crimes and outrages of his first year, and outlined the ones he has in store for the future. Here's the socialist response. What’s driving Trump’s immigrant-bashing? Trump is offering U.S. employers a deal: Tolerate my anti-immigrant onslaught and I'll deliver higher profits and a reassertion of U.S. imperial power. Previously published by the International Socialist Organization. Material on this Web site is licensed by SocialistWorker.org, under a Creative Commons (by-nc-nd 3.0) license, except for articles that are republished with permission. Readers are welcome to share and use material belonging to this site for non-commercial purposes, as long as they are attributed to the author and SocialistWorker.org.	13,571
The role that Singaporean artist Cheong Soo Pieng had in pioneering the Nanyang art movement is well-documented, and his prolific artistic practice spanning across six decades has contributed greatly to this overall consensus. The Nanyang style is a regional art movement that defined an era of widespread immigration and search for personal identity in a new land. Nanyang, meaning ‘southern seas’ in Mandarin, is a term that has come to define all things Southeast Asian. Many artists such as Cheong, who were part of a post-war diasporic population that fled China during the civil unrest after the Japanese Occupation, were already well-adept in traditional Chinese ink techniques. Coming to Southeast Asia offered a new perspective and learning opportunities for artists like Cheong. Bali Girl (Lot 46) was painted in 1980 during Cheong Soo Pieng’s second trip to Bali, and produced 25 years after his landmark trip taken together with his contemporaries Chen Wen Hsi, Chen Chong Swee and Liu Kang. The work reflects a more stylised and decorative character, as well as a confidence in the way that he executes his lines and compositions. These point to his continued visual innovation – an aesthetic sophistication that blended techniques of both East and West in a very experimental manner, which is a trope that permeates Cheong Soo Pieng’s entire oeuvre; as art historian T. K. Sabapathy observes, “In [Soo Pieng’s] art, one can see the influence of three very different traditions”. 1976 marked the end of Cultural Revolution, and many artists who had initially fled China years ago, such as Cheong, were finally able to set foot on their motherland once again. It would be remiss to disregard the emotional impact this had on the artist, and as such, the works that defined this period and beyond, were heavily influenced by a return to the tradition of Northern Song Chinese ink painting and ran parallel to his late decorative style. Bali Girl is an excellent instance of the influence of Chinese painting on Cheong’s later works. Looking at the way in which the artist renders the twisting and turning of the expanses of leaves in space around the stems and branches in Bali Girl, we are immediately reminded of the seminal painting of the Northern Song school, Travelers among Mountains and Streams by Fan Kuan. Travelers among Mountains and Streams served as an ideal in monumental Chinese landscape painting in which the classical Chinese perspective of three varied planes of depth are evident. In this same way, Bali Girl adheres this formula of three dominant planes demarcated by the table of scattered frangipani flowers in the foreground, the female figure in the middle ground, while the decorative foliage and the penjor – a long ornamental bamboo pole woven out of coconut leaves found across Bali before the religious Hindu ceremony Galungan – make up the background. The soft delineated lines of the harmoniously geometric monochromatic background, which has its roots in ethnic modernist geometry – a culmination of Cheong’s forays into different styles and techniques – is off-set by the vibrant colours of the traditional Kamen skirt worn by the Balinese woman, the central figure in this present narrative. At the same time, in Bali Girl, we see Cheong Soo Pieng using the archetypal Western technique of perspectival illusion of depth created by a window sill or table – known as trompe l’oeil – in the foreground of the painting, like a window into a space filled with mystery. However, at the same time, he eschews realist techniques in favour of a more simplified stylistic quality. Indeed, even comparing his female figures of Cheong’s earlier paintings produced during his inaugural Bali trip, such as Balinese Girls with Offerings, one can see that Bali Girl exhibits more exaggerated physical proportions: her limbs are highly elongated and her elbow bends in an acute angle, her face an angular oval shape, with almond lidded-eyes and arched eyebrows – a stylistic feature of his late works often attributed to the influence of Javanese shadow puppets known as Wayang Kulit found in Java and Bali. The works of this later period for Cheong, seeks more to capture the mood of the life in Nanyang, and Bali Girl encapsulates the calm serenity of a quiet moment of a sensitized, meditative state of preparation, as she quietly and reservedly reaches up to place flowers in her hair. The stylised forms of Cheong’s Bali Girl is not merely a formalistic device, but one that reflects the inner psychology and self-awareness in the way that they are represented with a sense of certainty. Returning to T.K. Sabapathy’s observation of Cheong Soo Pieng’s work, Bali Girl is an artistic manifestation of the three different traditions have influenced the artist. It is not to say that Cheong merely copied from Eastern, Western or Southeast Asian traditions, but rather, he sought to achieve a style that was his own, while remaining true to the Nanyang spirit through his artistic practice. ; 17 Nov Article 30 Nov Article Silver and gold: luxury holiday gifts for everyone on your list ‘Frank Lloyd Wright is a movement in and of himself’: a guide to the visionary’s architecture and furniture	5,322
As a young believer, I found myself corralling grace into a corner — by grace I have been saved. Conversion was the theological boundary of grace in my mind.  By it, I was adopted into God’s family and granted the future hope of heaven, but surely, the hard work — the blood, sweat and tears — of living for Jesus depended on my strength and ability. In writing to the Ephesian church, Paul understood the strong human desire to boast, but before he points out the sheer grace that saves all believers, he provides a stunning account of the spiritual blessings that we are granted in Christ — indeed, the grace of God extends far beyond only plucking us from hell! In Ephesians 1, Paul sings praise to God for His grace in choosing us, redeeming us, adopting and forgiving us. He goes on, giving thanks for the grace of the Holy Spirit’s presence in us, the grace of growing in wisdom and knowing Christ. God’s grace not only saves us but also opens the door for us to know Christ with greater intimacy. This is good news:  the grace of God that saved me once sustains me now.  Rather than patches of parched land, His grace covers the landscape of my life, and what a holy covering it is. The beauty of God’s sustaining grace has moved off the pages of my theology textbooks and spread into every corner of my life. For the past few years, we have been losing my father to a disease that is slowly crippling both his body and his brain. This season of prolonged grief and loss continues to show me that grace is not just a divine response for help. As I care for my father, the gift of grace characterizes countless moments throughout my day. Grace is the precious time I’ve been given with my dad in the face of death. Grace is the encouragement of friends when I’m confused and overwhelmed. Grace is a long peaceful walk, a smile from my dad, contagious laughter with my sister. God’s grace meets me in my tears and in my joy. His grace sustains me. His grace abounds. With His sustaining grace, I know Jesus is near in the midst of pain and loss. Yet in this sin-stained world, suffering can hold a commanding presence, and grace can seem more bitter than sweet. Believe me, what is being taken away from my father, from me, from our family, can feel like a greater injustice than the goodness that is coming about through this trial. The tension is strong: I am losing my father to an ugly disease while gaining precious time with him, moments of eternal significance. And this is where grace cuts in, and the presence of Christ becomes more real than ever. Christ may not eradicate this painful situation, but He has promised His presence and the comfort of His Spirit, come what may.  Though loss lingers in our home, Christ covers us with His grace. John celebrates this reality when he opens his gospel with a lyrical description of Christ’s incarnation. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. In Jesus Christ, we receive boundless grace — grace that saves us and grace that sustains us. I am wholly undeserving of this gift, this grace that covers my life. I am left echoing Paul’s words to the Ephesians 1:14: all of this I have been given  for the praise of his glory.  I can take no credit, I can make no boast, I can only give thanks to the One who is present with me in the pain and covers me daily with His grace. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. This is good news:  the grace of God that saved me once sustains me now. -Christina Crawford: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment Subscribe to daily words of courage & hope. Your first email is on the way. Today, 8:00am "The only life-affirming, life-giving, life-changing way to counteract lies is with God's truth." —@beautyandbedlam About the Author God’s grace through trial is a daily reality for Christina, author of Sweet Dependence and full-time caregiver for her father. The deep joy of knowing Christ fuels her writing and continues to sustain her. Christina loves to laugh, wander through the woods, and get lost in a good book. All Posts by Christina Crawford Author Website & you will too! & you will too! Find more at Recent Posts Comments Bev @ Walking Well With God says August 14, 2019 at 4:59 am I totally agree with this: “…the grace of God extends far beyond only plucking us from hell!” Amen! Like you, I used to believe that grace ended after salvation was accomplished. Then, it was more of a “God helps those who help themselves,” attitude. I now see how far off base that thinking is. Similarly, I have found that the sweetest honey of God’s grace is found in the crucible of life. When I have gone through the toughest trials, that’s when I have seen God’s most tender mercy. His grace doesn’t make everything magically easy, but He draws near and gives us strength for our next breath, or our next step. Grace urges us to not quit or give up. He promises to walk us THROUGH the valleys and not leave us stuck there. The valley may be long, like your father’s progressive illness, but God will be faithful to bring you both through to the glorious other side. Awesome post! August 14, 2019 at 11:34 am Thank you for your kind words and encouragement! YES ~ the sweetness of God’s grace truly comes through in the midst of difficult times. I continue to be blown away by the Lord’s faithfulness and sufficiency; He is so good. The same gracious God who is leading us daily will bring us home, “the glorious other side.” Beautifully said. Michele Morin says August 14, 2019 at 5:42 am How true that we spend our days here on this planet in the space between crippling grief and abundant grace. I love the way you are choosing to live in the grace God pours out–and as Eugene Peterson has said, it’s not just “enough grace to get us across the threshold of heaven. He is lavish!” August 14, 2019 at 12:17 pm Indeed, the tension between our grief and His grace in this world is very real. I love the quote by Eugene Peterson ~ thank you for sharing. Praise God for His lavish grace! August 14, 2019 at 6:52 am Oh what manner of Love the Father has Give on too us. When he sent his Son Jesus to die for us. Now what Grave is that. That is such amazing grace. Like the song. Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a reach like me. It is so amazing. Jesus also did an amazing thing he when he left this world that one day he will be back to. Didn’t for get his Children like me and You. Who are saved. With such grace and love he left us his Holy Spirit to guide us and show us how to live as his Saved people one earth until he comes back. If we are still alive to see that day. Or until we leave earth to go home too Glory to be with him. I say Amen to that. Thank you for another Excellent reading today. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xxxx August 14, 2019 at 12:23 pm Amen!! Such amazing grace we have been given and continue to receive from the Lord. What joy we have because we are His children! Thank you for this beautiful declaration of God’s truth, Dawn! Jas says August 14, 2019 at 7:17 am Praying for your father and your family tonight. As others have said it is great you are choosing to wrap yourself in Gods grace right now and seeing this time you have with your Dad as pockets of grace. He is right there with you and has used your circumstances to spread his word and grace to us all who read your words. Thank you for this heartfelt reminder of the goodness of our Creator and his constant presence with us his children and his grace. August 14, 2019 at 7:07 pm Thank you for your prayers, Jas! The Lord brings such comfort when I remember that people are praying on our behalf. What a blessing it is to be in the family of God together! I am grateful my story points you back to the grace and nearness of our Lord ~ all glory to Him. Maria says August 21, 2019 at 10:49 pm Christiana, helping your father a beautiful way to show your love for god, and your father on earth. Loving a parent as they age is truly something the kids of the 90,s to present don’t seem to get. They live for themselves, very sad!! I m currently going through the uncaring with my adult kids 20,s. I hope they change before i really need them, prayers for your dad, you. August 23, 2019 at 9:32 pm Thank you for praying! Caring for my dad isn’t always easy, and some days I don’t “feel” like helping, or I wish our situation looked different. But I do believe that when God calls us into a particular role, like caregiving, He prepares us and gives us the strength to carry it out. I pray that if you need care in the future, the Lord will give you support from your children or help from friends. Whatever comes, the Lord will be faithful to provide! K Ann Guinn says August 14, 2019 at 10:04 am What a beautiful description and picture of God’s grace. Thank you for sharing your story of how God is meeting you with grace in a difficult situation. So much of life is hard, but so much of life is also good, and God is faithful to meet us in both. Praying for you and your family now as you continue to traverse this life journey. August 14, 2019 at 7:11 pm Yes, yes, yes! “He is faithful to meet us in both” ~ what a truth to rejoice in. Thank you for your thoughtful response, Ann; your words are such an encouragement to me. Thank you for praying as well!! Kathy Cheek ~ First Breath of Morning Devotional says August 14, 2019 at 10:12 am As we grow older and look back over our lives, we will see there was a lot of grace covering us and strengthening us that we didn’t realize or understand in the midst of life’s circumstances, but now we can see we were very blessed with His amazing grace that carried us through. August 14, 2019 at 7:23 pm As I read your words, I can’t help but be excited to walk through many more years with Jesus. His grace strengthens us, indeed, every step of the way. May we always be proclaiming, “Look what the Lord has done!” Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Kathy. Anna Smit says August 14, 2019 at 1:15 pm Thank you for the privilege of reading these words. I just stood weeping and praying for you all. So much truth. I “lost” my Mum to glioblastoma multiforme 5 years ago. Helping to care for her in my parent’s home on the other side of the world from my own family was the most beautifully excruciating thing I have ever walked through. Ours was a shorter walk of 5 months, but we too were met by so much grace. So many sweet and tender memories. The peace of our Comforter and Counselor was palpably in our midst. It’s what showed me who God truly is and what brought me home to Him after 20 years of running from a frightening idol. I am praying not just for these days of caring for you but for the days afterward too. May the peace and grace of our LORD Jesus Christ continue to wrap around you all. May you entertain angels in your midst, who shower you in the compassion of Jesus. And may this song bless you today: Much love in Christ, August 15, 2019 at 2:05 pm Your response leaves me with such a full heart. I am very sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. Even after 5 years, I pray that our Lord’s peace and comfort will be yours in abundance as you remember your mother. Your description of caring for her deeply moved me ~ your words are so true and echo what our Lord has been kindly revealing to me. I know Jesus as I never have before and have received an overflow of generous compassion from others. I am so grateful. What a rich and beautiful song! I love Audrey Assad’s music ~ thank you for sharing. “No storm can shake my inmost calm.” YES. Thank you Anna! Your prayerful support means so much to me. I am very glad the Lord crossed our paths in this way! August 14, 2019 at 3:08 pm l am caring for my husband who is in a similar situation, l am 83 he is 84 but God is our strenght en our refuge this desease is difficult to understand but GOD knows all and we can trust Him. Please remeber us in your prayers because l feel alone our 3 children are to far off and not on the same golflenght Thanks for your testimony may GOD bless you Maria says August 21, 2019 at 11:04 pm Anny, prayers what a hard journey for the both of you ! I wasn’t sure if your adult children were helping? My kids are in their 20,s all they care about is themselves, I’m not in need at present, but i worry this will be me, older and have to struggle on my own. Kids from the 90,s to present don’t have the old- fashion caring we were taught, the world tells them it all about them and what they want and need . I pray for you and your husband the comfort of the lord surround you both i wish i lived in your area i would bring a meal for us to enjoy together. My life verse is 1peter5:7 August 15, 2019 at 6:00 pm Yes, I stand with you in prayer! Lord Jesus, would you please strengthen Anny today and fill her with your joy! May the fruit of the Holy Spirit overflow as she cares for her husband. May the peace of your presence fill their home, Lord. Please bring friends to encourage Anny and help meet her needs. Please give her wisdom and clarity to make decisions; we know You are guiding her every step of the way. Thank you for being our strong and trustworthy Savior! My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with you and your family, Anny. The love you have for your husband and your trust in the Lord is such an encouragement to me. May God bless you! Beth Williams says August 16, 2019 at 6:38 am Praying for you & your family now sweet Christina. You need Gods grace & love t sustain you during these tough days. Caregiving is one of the hardest jobs you’ll ever love. I know. I took care of both my parents-dementia. Mom was bedridden for two years. I would visit each Monday after work & see what needed to be done. Dad had geriatric psych twice. It was my pleasure to quit my job & be there for him till his passing. It was only by God’s grace & mercy that I survived some days. He lavishes it on us extravagantly. One song that comes to mind is “Leaving Heaven” by Matthew West. It talks about how nice it is in Heaven, but the world being dark needs light. He’s leaving the splendor of Heaven to show us how much we are worth. We are the reason He left Heaven. That love & grace is so amazing. How could someone love us like that? August 23, 2019 at 1:36 pm Thank you for your prayers! I love your reminder that we have the greatest example of sacrificial love in our Lord Jesus. What strength we find in turning to Him and asking for His help to persevere! I am so sorry to hear of your parents’ battle with dementia ~ it is so difficult to watch those you love slowly slip away. But the opportunity to care for them and allow the love of Jesus flow through you is meaningful beyond words. I know the Lord will continue to supply His grace and mercy each wonderful-painful day. Thank you for reminding me of that!	15,761
Some days ago, the leader of UCP party in Belarus Mikalai Kazlou was once again detained in Belarus. This time the former UCP vice chair Antanina Kavaliova and the regional chair of UCP in the Minsk region Aksana Alyakseeva, were detained together with him. This follows months of increased repression and brutal handling of the democratic […] 28 June, 2022 Another Russian opposition leader detained Ilya Yashin, former leader of the Russian liberal party PARNAS, has reportedly been detained in Russia. The party PARNAS, now led by former Russian prime minister Michail Kasyanov, is considered one of the most stable actors within the liberal opposition movement in Russia. One of his aides said that he was charged with disobeying police […] 16 June, 2022 Navalny transferred to maximum-security prison This week, the lawyers of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny were denied meeting him as as planned since long. Upon their arrival to the penal colony where Navalny has been held for months, Russian authorities explained to the lawyers that Navalny simply was not there, since he had been transferred to a new maximum-security prison. […] Vladimir Kara-Murza still detained in Russia Russian opposition leader, and longtime partner of the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation, Vladimir Kara-Murza is facing a trial in mid-June as Russian authorities have declared him a foreign agent. Kara-Murza, who worked closely with Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov until his assassination 2015 and has survived two poisoning attempts himself since then, was detained last week […] International media reports that Russian opposition politician, academic and long time partner of the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation, Vladmir Kara-Murza, has been detained outside his home in Moscow. The detention of Kara-Murza happened immediately after he publically called the Putin regime a “regime of murderers”. Kara-Murza has previously survived two poisoning attempts. The chairman of the […] 16 February, 2022 New trial against Alexey Navalny After his return to Russia last year, and the subsequent arrest by Russian authorities, opposition leader Alexey Navalny is now facing yet another trial. Navalny is now accused of embezzling money from his anti corruption foundation, which has been labeled an extremist and terrorist organisation and banned in Russia. He might face up to 10 […] 9 February, 2022 New report from the Atlantic Council outlines future Russian relations with the West In a new report, published by the Atlantic Council this week, several authors including Anders Åslund and David Kramer outline what the U.S. and European approach toward Russia should be, now and in the future. As Vladimir Putin is continuing the military build up in Ukraine and thereby threatening the European security order, it is […] 9 February, 2022 The diplomatic efforts to de-escalate and resolve the ongoing Russian aggression towards Ukraine have so far been fruitless. This week, French president Emmanuel Macron visited both Moscow and Kyiv in order to hold talks with the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, trying to once again enable France and the European Union as facilitators of dialogue. The […] 7 February, 2022 February 9 proclaimed as Solidarity Day with Belarus In a statement released today, the leader of democratic Belarus Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called to dedicate February 9 to a Day of Solidarity with Belarus. The days marks one and a half years since the authoritarian leadership of Belarus falsified the elections, subsequently forcing the leaders of the democratic opposition, including Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, to flee the […] 4 February, 2022 EU reiterates readiness for sanctions against Kremlin As the leaders of Russia and China met in Beijing yesterday, the two authoritarian leaders issued a statement indicating a stronger relationship between their two countries. The leaders emphasized falsely that the “West should abandon the ideologized approaches of the Cold War”, ignoring the fact that the ongoing European security order crisis stems directly from […]	4,285
A former chief executive officer of Chicago’s first red light camera vendor, Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., and the company’s customer liaison with the city, were indicted today on federal corruption charges together with a retired city official who managed the red light camera program for nearly a decade, after he alone was charged initially in May. A federal grand jury returned a 23-count indictment alleging that Redflex officials, including Karen Finley, its former CEO, provided the retired city official, John Bills, with approximately $570,000 cash and other personal benefits in exchange for Bills’ providing inside information and assisting Redflex in obtaining, keeping, and expanding its Chicago contracts that grew to $124 million. Finley and other officials of Phoenix-based Redflex arranged to funnel the cash and benefits to Bills through his friend, Martin O’Malley, by hiring O’Malley as an independent contractor who passed much of his $2 million compensation on to Bills, the indictment alleges. Thanks to our sponsors: View all sponsors Finley, 54, of Cave Creek, Ariz., who was Redflex’s chief executive from late 2005 through February 2013 and its vice president of operations from 2001 until she became CEO, was charged with nine counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, three counts of federal program bribery, and one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery. O’Malley, 73, of south suburban Worth, who was an independent contractor for Redflex between 2003 and 2012, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery. Bills, 53, of Chicago, who was arrested in May on a criminal complaint and released on his own recognizance, was indicted on nine counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, three counts of federal program bribery, three counts of filing a false federal income tax return, and one count each of extortion and conspiracy to commit federal program bribery. A city employee for 32 years, Bills served as a member of the red light camera contract evaluation committee and retired as managing deputy commissioner of the city’s transportation department on June 30, 2011. All three will be arraigned on a date yet to be determined in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The indictment also seeks forfeiture from all three defendants of approximately $613,400 as well as the proceeds from the sale of a condominium in Gilbert, Ariz. Between late 2002 and late 2012, Bills and Finley allegedly schemed to defraud the city of money and Bills’ honest services by providing Bills with cash, checks, and other personal benefits directly and indirectly, including meals, hotel stays, rental cars, and golf outings. In May 2008, O’Malley purchased the condominium for Bills, which Bills visited nearly two dozen times with friends and family until the fall of 2012. “When public officials peddle influence for profit, the consequences are severe, and when corporate executives enable that corruption, the same rule applies. We will attack alleged public corruption from every angle,” said Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “Rooting out public corruption remains one of the FBI's highest priorities,” said Robert J. Holley, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Today's indictment underscores our commitment to work in a collaborative effort to promote honest and ethical government at all levels and to prosecute those who allegedly violated the public’s trust.” “IRS Criminal Investigation ensures that all Americans, including public officials, are held to the same standard and that everyone pays their fair share of taxes,” said James C. Lee, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. “The alleged confluence of corrupt local officials and corrupt corporate officers demands a counterweight of local and federal agencies working to redeem the frayed confidence of the public,” said Joseph Ferguson, Inspector General for the City of Chicago. “The Office of Inspector General is therefore grateful for the continuing leadership, dedication and collaboration of our federal partners in this matter.” The investigation is continuing, the officials said. According to the indictment and the complaint affidavit against Bills, in October 2003, the city awarded a contract to Redflex for the installation, maintenance and operation of the city’s first Digital Automated Red Light Enforcement Program (DARLEP), which used cameras to automatically record and ticket drivers who ran red lights. Between 2004 and 2008, the city paid Redflex approximately $25 million under this contract, and Redflex installed and maintained more than 100 red light cameras in Chicago intersections, and assisted in reviewing and processing violations. Bills, then assistant transportation commissioner, was a voting member of the city’s request for proposal (RFP) evaluation committee that recommended awarding the contract to Redflex after a one-month trial run of competing systems by Redflex and another finalist. In February 2008, the city awarded a new, non-competitive contract to Redflex to operate and maintain the previously installed camera systems, and paid Redflex approximately $33 million under that contract. Also in February 2008, following the competitive RFP process, the city awarded a new DARLEP contract to Redflex that was similar to the first. Bills was an advisory member of this RFP evaluation committee. The city paid Redflex approximately $66 million under this contract, resulting in the installation of nearly 250 additional red light cameras. By 2010, Chicago had the largest red light camera program in the United States, representing approximately 20 percent of the total camera systems that Redflex, a subsidiary of Australian-based Redflex Holdings Ltd., operated nationwide. According to the indictment, Individual A, Redflex’s former vice president of sales and marketing, made a presentation to Bills regarding Redflex’s red light cameras in late 2002. Shortly after a Jan. 3, 2003, pre-bid meeting that Individual A attended with other vendors, Bills asked Individual A to get him a hotel room in Los Angeles. Individual A paid for the room and sought and received reimbursement from Redflex. In February 2003, after Redflex and a competitor were selected for a pilot phase, Finley, Individual A, and others from Redflex met Bills at the John Hancock Center and Bills provided information in an effort to give Redflex an advantage over its competitor, the charges allege. Before the pilot phase, Bills recommended that Redflex hire Company A as a subcontractor. In May 2003, before the city contract was awarded, Bills, Individual A and, at times, Individual B, who was then Redflex’s CEO, allegedly strategized to ensure a favorable result for Redflex. On May 27, 2003, the evaluation committee and city transportation commissioner recommended that Redflex be awarded the DARLEP contract, effective in October 2003. At a celebratory dinner in June 2003 in Los Angeles, Bills allegedly told Individual A words to the effect of, “It’s time to make good,” which Individual A understood to mean that Bills wanted and expected to be paid for helping Redflex win and maintain the Chicago contract. Bills allegedly discussed how much money he wanted based on the size of the contract, and suggested to Individual A alternative ways to funnel benefits to him, including paying him through the newly created Chicago customer liaison position. Individual A relayed Bills’ demand to Finley and Individual B. In May 2003, Finley allegedly directed placing an advertisement in a Chicago newspaper for an account manager for Redflex’s Chicago contract, and Bills allegedly told O’Malley to look for and respond to the ad. O’Malley interviewed with Finley and Individual B and was hired in the summer of 2003. Bills allegedly indicated to O’Malley that he was working with Redflex on O’Malley’s employment contract and that O’Malley would give him a portion of the commissions that O’Malley received. The indictment alleges that from 2003 through November 2012, O’Malley and Bills used several different methods, at Bills’ direction, to transfer funds to Bills, including: from 2004 through 2012, O’Malley withdrew more than $600,000 in cash and O’Malley gave Bills approximately $570,000 in cash; from 2008 to 2010, O’Malley wrote Bills checks totaling approximately $17,900, which Bills used to pay personal debts and expenses; and from 2007 to 2011, O’Malley wrote checks totaling approximately $5,500 to a political organization. Also at Bills’ request, the indictment alleges that Redflex agents, including Individual A and O’Malley, paid for at least $20,000 worth of personal expenses for Bills, including hotels rooms, meals, golf games, and computers, with the approval of Finley and Individual B, and expensed these purchases through Redflex from 2003 through 2011. Neither Finley nor Bills reported the flow of benefits on financial disclosure or economic interest forms they each submitted in connection with the contracts and Bill’s employment, the charges allege. Before Bills retired, he allegedly made it known to Individual A and other Redflex employees that he wanted a job with Redflex. Instead, Finley, Individual A and others arranged for Bills to get a job with Nonprofit Corporation A, and Redflex increased its monthly funding to Nonprofit Corporation A to help pay for Bills’ salary. That job lasted through the early spring of 2012. The tax charges against Bills allege that he failed to report the income he received from O’Malley on his federal income tax returns for 2008, 2009 and 2011. Each count of mail and wire fraud and extortion carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; federal program bribery carries a maximum of 10 years in prison; and conspiracy carries a maximum of five years in prison, and each count carries a $250,000 maximum fine, while the mail and wire fraud counts also carry an alternate maximum fine of twice the gain, or twice the loss, whichever is greater. The tax counts against Bills each carry a maximum of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Defendants convicted of tax offenses must pay the costs of prosecution and remain civilly liable for any back taxes, as well as a potential civil fraud penalty of up to 75 percent of the underpayment plus interest. Restitution is mandatory. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Hamilton and Laurie Barsella. Thanks to our sponsors: View all sponsors Thanks to our sponsors: View all sponsors File Attachments: Indictment Ald. Willie Cochran Indicted, Charged with Fraud, Extortion, Bribery Ed Vrdolyak, Former Alderman, Indicted on Tax Evasion, Impeding IRS Former Congressman Aaron Schock Indicted for Fraud, Theft of Government Funds Sign up for our morning newsletter to get all of our stories delivered to your mailbox each weekday. View the discussion thread.	11,942
During the American frontier period, some bars gave lunches when you ordered drinks. They were free lunches, but the drinks were expensive and the food was salty, causing guests to order more drinks. It appeared like a free lunch, but you were actually paying the price. That was the origin of the famous saying, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” It is used for a situation where you will eventually have to pay the price in the future, although it’s free for now. A few weeks ago, the Korea University’s Asiatic Research Institute hosted an international conference on Korea’s reunification and experts from around the world stressed repeatedly that Korean unification would not be a free lunch. Michael Burda, a professor of economics at Humboldt University in Germany, said residents of both sides have enjoyed many benefits over the past 25 years since German reunification, but they also paid a price. Korean participants said their country also is seriously concerned about the cost of unification, but they could not properly answer questions about the level of the funding so far. The Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund of the South Korean government is far too small compared with the 1.4 trillion euros ($1.51 trillion) that Germany spent during the first 15 years after unification. Comparing the unification of the two Koreas to a wedding reception, Katharine Moon of the Brookings Institution criticized the Park Geun-hye administration for heightening expectations of a grand wedding with the idea that “unification is a jackpot,” without preparing to pay the bill. She criticized the South for not even having sat down for a date with the North, who will be the bride for the wedding. A vice chairman of the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation recently said the Park administration was preparing for the possibility of non-consensual unification scenarios, such as the absorption of North Korea, then hurriedly retracted the comment. It shows how difficult it is to prepare for unification. Although there is a long time until the wedding, we appeared to be worrying about the bride’s family being bankrupt. South Korea, however, needs to prepare for unification, taking into account a wide range of possibilities. If the North reforms its economy, eases military confrontation and continues cultural and economic exchanges, a peaceful unification toward a free market economy can be accomplished through gradual agreements. But the unification could come abruptly. Even in Germany, not many people believed the Berlin Wall would fall so quickly. We have to wait and see how much preparation this administration would do for the two Koreas’ integration, including inter-Korean talks, family reunions, increasing the number of civilian exchanges and expansion of economic exchanges, such as the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Rajin-Khasan project, and how unification will approach in our future. But no matter what way unification comes, we still will have to pay an expensive bill. Unprepared unification will be more expensive. If unification is not a free lunch, we have to prepare for unification expense. First, we need to study ways to minimize the cost of unification. Unified Germany spent 4 to 5 percent of its gross domestic product on unification expenses each year. More than half of the money was supplied by issuing government bonds. If future generations will enjoy the benefits of unification, it is reasonable for the future generation to pay for a large portion of the burden. When the international interest rate is low, the government can issue bonds with maturities of 30 years at home and abroad to raise funds. In the case of Germany, the wages of laborers in East Germany were increased too rapidly and the social security system was expanded greatly, increasing unification expenses too much. We have to prepare what systems we will introduce after unification. Second, we need efforts to unify society. Today, South Korean society faces deep rifts over ideological groups and wealth classes, making us wonder if we are healthy enough to endure unification. Some extremist groups hinder society’s harmony and concerns are deeper for the future of a unified Korea. There also is much criticism that the South has failed to properly embrace the 30,000 defectors. We have to prepare thoroughly to restore the homogeneity of the Korean people in order to reduce the cost of social integration with 5 million North Korean people after unification. South and North Yemen accomplished unification in 1990 based on the two governments’ agreement, but political and social conflicts and economic chaos prompted a civil war in 1994. It now faces a higher possibility of division again. We must learn a lesson from the case that without efforts for true reconciliation, conflicts will continue even after unification. Third, international relations are important. Concerned superpowers such as the United States and China won’t automatically support Korean unification only because the two Koreas will improve their relations. In the process of unification, influences from the neighbors cannot be ignored. We must prepare a unification and foreign affairs strategy to encourage their support. Large aids and loans from foreign governments and international economic organizations will be needed to develop the North in the future, and that is why international relations are important to finance unification. Seven decades have passed since Korea’s liberation and national division. During the Japanese colonization period, a poet longed for liberation by writing the poem, “Does Spring Come to Stolen Fields?” Just as winter passes and spring arrives, unification will eventually come. We have to prepare in advance to celebrate this grand feast with a minimum of expense. *The author is a professor of economics at Korea University. by Lee Jong-wha Forgetting about human rights Taking a strong picture How can DP Chair Lee Jae-myung survive? Korean stocks open higher Tuesday ahead of Fed's policy meeting Covid-19 cases in Korea jump to 58,379 on Tuesday Trade is key to Korea-Kazakhstan relations You might also like Log in to select media account Log in to Twitter or Facebook account to connect with the Korea JoongAng Daily Social comment? To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts. Standards Board Policy (0/250) To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts. 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So there I was, in Afghanistan, no shit. I was in Khost Province on FOB Salerno and about to go on a mission. There was a part missing from my machine gun mount so I went into the supply room to see if they had what I needed. The week before the supply sergeant had told me that the extra gear in the box was not accountable so I could grab what I wanted anytime. That is why I didn’t think it would be a big deal. So I was surprised when the supply sergeant kicked me out of the supply hut. He said that they were doing their morning PT and so I had to leave. Despite the fact that I was on the far said of the hut and not anywhere near them, I couldn’t be in the same building while they did pushups. Even though I was going on a mission in less than 10 minutes and the mount would help me be more combat effective, the guy who never left the wire kicked me out not because it made tactical sense, but because he can. And that is why grunts hate POGs. The term grunt used to refer to just Infantry and later to combat arms soldiers in the Army. A POG (Person Other than Grunt) is everyone else. With the Global War on Terror (GWOT) there were no more front lines. With soldiers of all jobs in the Army coming in contact with the enemy it really became about the grunt v. POG mentality. It all starts in basic training. Drill sergeants tell new recruits that THEIR job is the most important job in the Army. Cooks are told that without them, no one would eat. Without finance, no one would get paid. In the end, it gives the POGs an attitude and they act like the Army revolves around them. Infantry are taught the same thing. I was told that the Infantry makes up 10 percent of the Army and the other 90 percent support the war fighters. We took pride in the idea of what we do and that everyone else supports us. But that doesn’t mean that they are less, just another part of the team. The problem is, most POGs don’t see it that way. They look down on “dumb grunts” that don’t bring anything to the table. A finance soldier will think that grunts need him to get paid, but the grunt doesn’t do anything for finance. Cooks feed grunts, but the existence of grunts doesn’t enrich the cook’s life. If a soldier isn’t getting paid and goes to the finance people, they will act like they are doing the soldier a favor for fixing the problem even though that is exactly what they are paid to do. Because of a screw up at the Personnel Action Center (PAC) the Army took 20 days of leave from me. I spent three days running all over post trying to get all the right paperwork together to get it taken care of. Something a PAC person could have done in about 30 minutes. If you give PAC attitude, nothing will ever get done. The smart grunt makes friends with as many POGs as possible in the unit. It is the only way to get things done. Otherwise you have to use other tactics. I once entered a PAC office at 10:45 and they were already closing for lunch. Sergeant Goldman was the last one and he was turning out the lights when I walked in. In the Army, lunch doesn’t start until 11:30 but this is what POGs do. Instead of leaving, I sat down in the dark. He reminded me that they were going to lunch and I said, “I know. This way I am first in line when you get back.” He studied me for a minute and thought I might be crazy enough to do it. He decided to help me and was still out the door before 10:50. It is pathetic that I had to go to extremes just to get him to do his job. When I was trying to clear that unit Goldman would walk to the far corner of the room whenever he would see me. “I can’t fuck with you Sessum” he would say. He would stay there until I left. Any questions? One way you can tell if someone is a POG is if they have “Sergeant’s Time.” The Army instituted Sergeants Time Thursday to give the soldiers a day for training. Grunts train every day. Or as an old platoon sergeant said, “We are Infantry, everyday is sergeant’s time.” It can be difficult to transition into civilian life for grunts. Not because they are used to combat but because they have little time for POGs. It is difficult to take attitude from a person who isn’t even doing their job right. The reason is that grunts have to do their job to the best of their ability 100 percent of the time or something really bad is going to happen. If a POG doesn’t do his job, no lives are at risk so the POG doesn’t care. The grunt mentality also exists in the civilian world. Anyone who has a job where people will die if they do not do it right will know where a grunt is coming from. A firefighter can’t refuse to answer a call because it is lunchtime. An EMT can’t say that she will only use one bandage on a gunshot victim because she doesn’t want to have to restock the entire vehicle. The best thing a POG can do, and I have seen it happen, is to act like one of the team and do the best job possible. If the grunt’s finances are in order, that is one less thing to think about and he can focus on the task at hand. Or just do your job and you will earn the respect of those that do the tough jobs. Grunts should treat all POGs that do their job with respect. A soldier is not less because he is in an easier job. There is nothing wrong with having an air conditioned office in a combat zone rather than running missions all day, you just can’t look down on us for it. UPDATE: Due to incredibly high traffic on this post a follow up piece entitled POG is a Mentality not an MOS was written in May 2014. UPDATE 2: Because too many of you skim and miss the point and it has been seven fucking years, I’m turning off comments. Reddit Related This entry was posted in Commentary, So There I Was and tagged Afghanistan, Army, Combat Zone, Experiences, FOB, Grunt, Grunts, Infantry, My Deployment, POG, POGs, Salerno, What is a Grunt, What is a POG. Bookmark the permalink. ← Hazing in the Military What is a Veteran and Other Definitions → John Pike says: September 17, 2012 at 17:57 I don’t hate POG’s for the most part. M.P.’s however are a bunch of A$$ holes After 8 months in the jungle of Vietnam I went back for a R&R no sooner did I get in the back two mp’s pull up in their jeep spit shined from head to toe. I haven’t had even a cold shower in weeks and this guy yells at me :hey troop what the hell you doing trying to kill someone get that weapon unloaded. I just spent 8 months sleeping eating and relieving my body of waste with this weapon in my hand . It was my Teddy Bear at night. And this REMF says something to me like that. This isn’t basic training this is real. I told him as best I could with out causing me to miss my R&R that my name isn’t troop and that I am a Sgt. and the olny poeple that this rifel kills is the ones I want it to. I think the look i must of had on my face sent a message that he was not addressing this problem in the right way. I pulled the clip out of the weapon and as soon as they were out of range back it went. Not as a sign of defiance but for my own sense of security. Now to the real a$$holes of the army cooks With less then 24 hours in the military I was on KP still in my own cloths. I report to the mess hall and I am assigned to be the “outside man” I am told that the trash cans outside were to be put by the exit so the troops could dump the left overs off in the cans,, When those are full move them and replace them with empty cans keep the out side clean of all trash. After two meals this guy comes out and tells me that the “edible garbage” ( kind of a contradiction in terms if you ask this city boy) has paper in with it and that I had to go through the 6cans of garbage and get all the paper out of it. That is when I decided that if it takes me the rest of my life I will get even with some army cook down the road. If you didn’t know edible garbage is feed to farmers hogs. To date I have fucked over 7 cooks and waiting to meet #8. LC says: November 19, 2012 at 17:08 Are you seriously comparing MPs of today to those of over 40 years ago? you have a lot to learn about today’s military. Alex says: May 3, 2013 at 15:34 I think he is just sharing a good story! And the MP’s today pull the same $hit! I have been pulled over by war pigs on base after 12-15 hour patrols, just so they could search our truck and make us bake in the sun for another 2 hours! The point is, the grunts just want a hot meal, shower, and a bed.. Leave them alone and go patrol the PX and chow hall!!! Will says: November 18, 2014 at 14:41 MP’s in KAF wrote speeding tickets to us for spinning up for dust 1. One of our NCO’s was maced for not wearing eyepro. Not to mention having them drive around in gators when rocket alarm sounds yelling “get to a bunker there is movement outside the wire!” no shit Sherlock, its the farmers, they live there….. Harold says: April 7, 2016 at 21:14 I had a coworker of mine received a speeding ticket at KAF in 2012, on a bicycle. Cpl.Gus says: November 19, 2014 at 09:52 MPs are dicks, regardless of the year. Most POGs are worthless shit birds, but the ones who do their jobs, and can make shit happen are the ones to befriend. I had friends in the mess, supply, PSC, and the armory. My guys never failed an inspection, never missed chow, never lost leave, and never failed a weapon turn in. All of which are harder than hell for a rifle platoon. Drew says: November 20, 2014 at 13:25 ya, the mps nowadays are way worse, they joined the army to fuck over other soldiers March 14, 2017 at 04:35 The reason you all get it from the MP’s is because you are all idiots…we do it mostly “just because” just like you all drink and drive “just because” then want to take a swing at us “just because”…..if you are weaving side to side and driving like an ass….get ready to get “boosted” & “searched” & have your chain of command come and get your ass…. Joe America says: January 17, 2018 at 21:58 Fine. Then you get ready to get your ass kicked up and down the road, MP sh!tbird. drew says: November 18, 2014 at 09:39 The hate is strong with this one Nate says: January 16, 2016 at 15:31 I hate POGs when they sit on a FOB and then come home and act like they did shit. Civis look at “Soldiers” all the same, and POGs eat it up. If your a POG get over it, im talking Non-Combat MOS. I get shit happens, i dont talk shit about no one, i cant stand ppl who let ppl think they are hot shit. My bro in laws a POG has done two tours (11 months total) admits to me he hasnt seen nothin, yet lets everyone fantasize about his ‘conquests’ how hes SF, only thing is, to civi, SF is SF, not understanding being SF doesnt make you green beret. You want your family to think ur cool, thats fine, but dont bitch that ur a bitch. Brad says: February 20, 2016 at 07:58 Sounds like your Hate stems from improper PCC’s and PCI procedures, as far as making POGS feel superior: I’m sorry you feel that way, but in the end it reads like you put yourself on a soap box of superiority, those “POGS” were just doing whats important to their MOS. Such as: I’m a heavy equipment operator, and a Recruiter. I’ll tell anyone, stay the fuck away from my equipment when its running (safety), and don’t come into my office all super hooah bashing MOS’s to young adults wanting to join. This is nothing more than butt hurt infantry rhetoric. Tim Daly says: March 26, 2017 at 20:51 I was an 11B/grunt/straight leg in Vietnam from mid Oct. 1968 to mid Feb. 16, 1969, wounded once the first time; 17 wounds the second. Lasted all of four months plus two weeks at a field hospital at our Division Base Camp in RVN (they couldn’t fly me out to the USA hospital in Tokyo for two weeks due to an evacuation tube in my right chest w/ pneumothorax). I have never encountered the acronym POGs. If you’re referring to the <9% (at least in Vietnam) and the 91% in the rear, our acronym for the 91% was REMFs; standing for Rear Echelon Mother (I'll leave it to your imagination as to what the F stood for). Can someone clue me in or would you make a disabled, old guy veteran look it up? March 26, 2017 at 22:02 No, I am not going to make you look it up. a POG, also known as a Person Other than Grunt, depends on your perspective. Infantry think it means anyone who literally isn’t Infantry. Other combat arms consider themselves “grunts” as well so they think it is anyone not combat arms. REMFs are not necessarily POGs because even the bases far from the fighting need someone to protect them. So they might have grunts pulling guard or QRF duty. Does that make sense? The purpose of the article, which many miss, is not that grunts are better than POGs or that Infantry are better but that it takes everyone to win the fight. I did a follow up piece titles POG is a mentality not an MOS that follows up on the “One Team, One Fight” mentality. Because the POG vs Grunt divide is not good for the military. What matters is that everyone does their job and contributes to the success of the mission, not their MOS. Tango Mike says: April 17, 2017 at 09:15 It’s something relatively new, started taking off in the late ’90s/early ’00s as a backronym for pogue. Tim Daly says: April 20, 2017 at 22:13 Thanks, Tango Mike (btw, how can I get a handle like yours?)’ Jason says: October 18, 2018 at 09:12 Now now Brad lets not get offended by vets who have actually seen combat. Don’t forget you push paper clips for a living POG. Josh says: November 19, 2012 at 06:40 This article is a joke… POG’s look “down on dumb grunts” because you guys act like you’re entitled things just because you’re Infantry… November 15, 2014 at 20:08 We are entitled bitch, without the 11 series or 18 series there is no military. If you don’t have the balls, then don’t complain when you feel like a Bitch. November 18, 2014 at 13:48 Ive never really had much to say on this but you seem very lost without pogs you would be nothing you would go hungry you wouldn’t have gear you wouldn’t have a weapon or ammo your trucks wouldn’t run and you would be naked. Now on the other hand I mean this in the nicest way without grunts we would go back and do two more weeks of training and use are trigger fingers a little more. I’m in an FSC and all of my deployments I was attached to a line company and I went everywhere with them and trained with them so for someone to say what you just said makes me feel a little said that you think you are better then us and some of are mos’s work long hours and go out to bring you back when blown up or killed but whatever you think May 29, 2015 at 21:21 Mother Fucker, you god-damn broke-dick shit-bag. You are exactly the type of pansy ass non-com POG ass piece of shit this article is pointing out. Go cry into your cock shaped pillow you fucking bitch. Grunts adapt to survive mother fucker and I can guarangoddamntee you we would make due with whatever the fuck we could beg, borrow, or take from pussies like you and live pretty god damn well in the deepest of shit with a grin on our face. Fuck you. September 22, 2015 at 20:10 lets hope you do not kiss your mommy with that mouth. November 20, 2014 at 08:04 God damn right we are entitled I can fucking hunt to feed myself I fix. My own fucking cars and I can get my own fucking gear let’s see your ass stand your ground when your platoon is getting over run and not cry like a little birch talk is tough man it’s a whole different story when you actually hear the bullets inches from your head and seeing guys get hit next to you shaking it off until the fight is over. You wouldnt understand you fucking POGS. I don’t need your ass you lazy pieces of shit. I only know your a lazy piece of shit cause your bitching on here. You wouldn’t be mad unless you were one of the POGS that does t do their fucking jobs July 3, 2015 at 15:10 Today I learned a new word…POG.. I had never heard it in my fourteen plus years of service but understand that IF I had known it then I would have used it often. While I respect all marines as best as possible I have never liked non-grunts. I do respect the very rare POG that actually does his/her job to the absolute best of their ability and takes pride enough to do so. All other POGS see below. I served with 1/4, 3/1, and 1/9 under heavy weapons (0351). We were once asked to leave an AF chow hall by a high ranking female “military band member” because we were still in “field attire” and hadn’t had a shower or a chance to remove our facial camo. We had just finished jumping off off non-beached LST’s and taking a beach (training). The chow hall was going to close and we were hungry. The absolutely refused to feed us. The MP’s were called that day when we decided to “feed ourselves”. We ate our food over their unconsious bodies (MP’s & cooks) in the chow hall. The base general banned us from eating on base after that. The cooks had to bring us our meals to the barracks. We didn’t trust them so we made sure that we got paid for eating out on town and went and got our own damn food. Motor T ? Never saw them after they dropped us off in country. There just big targets full of under trained personnel. I do remember them picking us up once when we were still in MOP level 3 and they were drinking Evian water, wearing pressed cammies, cologne, and not suited up. You were injured by an IED ? How ? You actually drove on a fucking road ? Grunts don’t walk down trails for a reason dumbass. Get out of your armored vehicle and check the road..oh wait that is what grunts do..we wouldn’t want your fragile ass out from behind the armor….You might actually have to carry or use that damn weapon… Finance ? I don’t do it for the money…living to spend it was a bonus you fucks. Now fix it !!! Supply ? Oh you mean that guy that I turned some of my shit in too after a 27 mile force march (MACREST) in 108 degree temps wearing a 140LB pack? He complained that it wasn’t a training day because it was too hot (base said 104 max) to work and was at home when they called him. My personal rant is when I see some lipstick queen say that she’s with 1/9…”I’m in support of 1/9″….In other words your claim to fame was to be “in support” of a grunt….wow so was the other 90% of our country at one point…your point ? You didn’t make the gear…soooo somebody else is in support of your support of a grunt ? Get a fucking life ! My own nephew joined the corps as a POG and what is his take ? He said to me “The marine corps does not define who I am…it’s just a job”…I wanted to carve his pussy heart out with a sharp canteen cup but rather simply relayed my disgust for him and made him walk away. I scored very high on my ASVAB (119 and 121 GT scores) and chose the grunts with no regret. For all who have chewed on dirt, spit blood, and embraced “The Suck” I thank you brothers for your service. For all of the support personnel….thank you for bringing me my shit so that your pussy asses didn’t have to fight. April 3, 2017 at 22:33 You need to get laid. Badly. January 19, 2018 at 16:49 I fucking love you man. Not in a buttfuck kind of way.. but more of an, I would share a slimy foxhole with you while taking heavy artillary on our position. I wanted to carve my little cousins pog ass wet twat heart out when he told me how “were all trained as infantry” and that “we’re all grunts”. I guess that’s what they tell the pogs in training. Well then if we’re all fucking infantry, why the fuck haven’t you been in the field with me for 2 months, why the fuck is your uniform not squared away and they just told you to fix it – while I’m over here getting smoked in the mud for four hours over it? If we’re all infantry then why the fuck am I the only one of the two of us getting shot at? You were at the range for 2 hours and you think your infantry? I’ve spent years, every single day, training to kill, and you’re going to tell me that because you almost shot expert that you’re fucking infantry!? No motherfucker. You are not infantry. I want to eat hearts with you man. Let’s eat the hearts of pogs and take their power. Nate says: January 16, 2016 at 15:34 Brad says: February 20, 2016 at 07:59 Enjoy your Mall Cop career Jason says: October 18, 2018 at 09:16 Recruiter – Maipulating young teens into signing up for things that will have far outreaching implications for their future than they can possibly understand. Later getting cuckold while infantrymen fuck his wife. January 20, 2018 at 23:31 Ok Mr entitled . One we POG never looked down on you. You do. Who do you get your gear from a fucking POG . Where do you get your fucking rations a fucking POG . Water trucks rifle. AFUCKING POG. We never look down on you we do our fucking job and this whole go home early Most of us work fucking late to complete the fucking task. You see we understand that your mos requires alot. While You report to your troop squad leader or whoever. We report to higher Commander, CSM up to the post general. You don’t know what a person was doing before joining . We respect what you do and try to make it easier for you. But if you truly feel this way send a grievance to your higher and maybe something can change. But whatever the outcome remember you brought it on yourself gary says: May 8, 2018 at 12:53 that’s great. have you ever walked 30 miles, in 95 degrees with 70 lbs on your back. have you had to tread water for 30 mintues with camo on, have you had to run a mile with a gas mask on. have you had to go and long ass patrols, with flack jackets, gear in the desert. how about fought in combat, lost a couple of your friends. if you haven’t, spare me the we work late stuff. Most of the POGs I came across looked down on us. WE fought the battles, not you., what we brought on ourselves was combat, and misery, not snobbery by a bunch of bench warming wanna be’s Rambo’s the next time someone says, “thank you for your service” please tell them you were not a grunt and the worst you had to do was work late. Also, next to your bumber stickers and license plates, make sure you put I sat in an office for 4 years. September 6, 2018 at 03:45 U got that right! I had a 118 GT and chose Infantry! Because 0311 is the Corps! What most people don’t understand is only 1 in 5 Marines are Grunts. I’ll tell you straight up, the Suck SUCKED! Slept under the stars 90% of the time. Never been colder, hotter, more fatigued than I ever was serving my four as a REAL Marine. When people find out you were in the Marine Corps they say things like I heard Marine Corps Boot Camp was the hardest. I usually reply, “Boot Camp?! It was Camp Snoopy. I did four years of REAL MARINE BOOT CAMP! Ryan says: March 28, 2016 at 12:42 The infantry is th backbone of th military November 19, 2012 at 11:08 Josh, did you read it all the way through or just take offense to the headline? If I had to say anything, I would say reread the last paragraph. “A soldier is not less becasue he is in an easier job.” I even said that grunts should respect all POGs that do their jobs. The point of this website is to share the veteran experience and to help some people understand the veteran perspective. Some have asked why grunts don’t like POGs, this was an answer. Note I said “an” answer and not “the” answer. This is based on personal experiences. Just like your perspective might be based on your personal expereinces. Instead of calling it a joke, why not offer to give a rebuttal? Why not write your own perspective? Or maybe, before you start name calling, read the whole thing and try and see what the message should be. One team, one fight. Saying that POGs have a reason to look down on grunts doesn’t solve the problem, it only continues the cycle. I offered a solution, you just threw an insult. William says: November 19, 2014 at 01:41 I’ll be honest here I don’t care about any other job than my own but I do agree that most of the POGS that I’ve ever met or seen or heard and had to deal with give the few good POGS a bad name. Mainly because I’ve had to do their jobs for them in order to get my shit squard away. But honestly I don’t think we need cooks or MPs and lots of other jobs that don’t mess with weapons of war or weapons at all. Finance I believe can be better if only each person wore held accountable for fucking up in any way. But all physical and simple jobs (cooking) can be done by the Infantry in general. I mean it’s not like we don’t already do it anyway. There’s a reason why Infantryman are known as the perfessionals of all jobs (as I’ve grown up hearing and witnessed). Other than that the term POG is only considered bad because you got people that use it as an insult and some POGS that don’t even know the definition. Then you got the POGS that complain because they hurt or work too hard or work to long whenever in reality they’ve never trained in the field for more than two weeks or have never executed missions back to back for 78 hours straight with out food or sleep or rest of any not even to take a shit or piss. Last thing. I’ve POGS that don’t even know what “Prickely Heat” is because they’ve never Challanged themselves ever wether by their own will or against it. I am an Infantryman and when the “SUCK” is true and I see the wizard I embrace it and I carry on and do my job as a man of God and as a Infantryman. July 19, 2015 at 11:35 Many years ago in the 70s, while some went to Vietnam I went to Germany. So learning fast then while doing duty with ARSOF teams in the 80s, Bad Toelz, I learned the hard lesson, that there were jobs I didn’t and couldn’t want do in the Army. And some I love doing. Jumping out of a perfectly good plane, going into combat and driving a Abrams tank were some that just seemed to me redundant. Yes I was one of them. Then later as a PSYOPS (Psychology Operations) soldier in Berlin, I found that all my talents in photography, advertising and printing, could be used towards that MOS. That was of course before the wall had fallen and Germany became one State. It was also many years before SGT Peter Sessum or for that fact most of the soldiers that are now in the Army and think its humourous to call a Combat Support Soldier a “POG!” About three weeks ago some Specialist fresh out of AIT called me a “POG” on a military blog? At first I was somewhat confused? Its one term I ‘ve never heard before, and honestly I had no idea what a POG was. I had an inclination it was jokingly meant negative. I was upset at the arrogance of someone who was an 11B10 never been in the shit, and acting like he has seen it all, but never been deployed or for that fact didn’t even have a Unit patch on his uniform? And yet, there I was, being called a POG by some snot nosed kid. I had just been called a dirty name. After 35+ years in the Army a Veteran of the cold war, of Desert Storm, Iraq war, and many deployments there I was striped of all that to one word….? .I’ve always been proud of my three MOS’s and 37 years I’ve served in the Army, and even though I’m a Disabled Veteran. Yet there it was. POG? Well screw you kid… I felt like Clint Eastwood when he got locked up with some young punk in jail in that movie Heartbreak Ridge? Trust me I have been labeled many things since I have left the military. But there was and hopefully still is an “Espirt de Corps or a pride,” of each MOS or Military Occupational Specialty or (as my West Point son who graduated in 2011, says Dad Officers call it a Branch). So, I take exception to the fact that one refers to claims POG is the answer to all? Bullshit. If that is seriously todays reflecting todays Army personnel calling every one else that is not a “Grunt, a POG,” well we had all better get ready for the name calling. In 1975 when the Army hit an all time low and all the Combat experienced soldiers left, with many of the officer ranks slashed, the went from a force of 550,000 to 230000. And Yes there were a lot of Combat Support troops out there. I’ve always been damn proud I’m not in that class. I mean I know they have it hard. But think about it… its not a job prerequisite. Its not like you can move on after or when a soldier decides to leave the military; or after you retire for what ever reason and take those skills acquired with you to a civilian job? Yes, …is true, that grunts have to do their job to the best of their ability 100 percent of the time or something really bad is going to happen. But, If a POG doesn’t do his job, no lives are at risk so the POG doesn’t care.” But that’s not exactly true not is it? “Oh Contraire, Monsignor Sessum.” Each NCO/IC should care what and what they deliver no matter what MOS they do. It might not cost or influence lives of others but if we do it in a “One Cheekier mannerisms,” we are just a shadow of a past Army’s not caring of the quality and unit cohesiveness we should be putting out. Until the Army stops combat operations you won’t see it. You might start to feel it now, and if you knew how the Army underwent the vast chops in the 70’s of those that came back from Vietnam and those during that operation felt that support troops just didn’t get the exposure to combat as the ones picked for non-combative rolls., but that was also because the Army was an all male Army. Not until Desert Storm did things start to change and in Iraq the front was everywhere. New battlelines were drawn, because combat was not so much in front but in and around you. IEDs and VBIEDs were taking lives of those around the combat troops. Now that the Army is moving into a peace time military, you will see even more of this term, “.POG,” can mean – Person Other than Grunt? or Psychological Operations Group ?” What ever happened to the term, “Pretentious, Original – GI was “Government Issue…” or Combat Support, call it what you want… but its One Army, One Fight, One Force!! Godwin says: January 22, 2017 at 15:24 Wow, you sure used a whole lot of unnecessary words. You could have just said “I’m a boot who doesn’t have a CIB”, and that would’ve been the end of it. Evan says: December 17, 2012 at 18:54 I am currently working to join the army and have been learning about “POG” and the schism between grunts and pogs. I have to say this was very well written in my opinion. Honestly, it has put my mind at ease a little bit. I would most likely would become a POG. I’d like to add something that I learned myself. There’s always going to be somebody better then you at something and somebody worse then you at something, so it’s best to be humble and treat everyone with respect. I too hate when people don’t do their jobs and always go the extra mile myself. So I appreciate the good read, it has been very informative. January 19, 2018 at 16:59 No it’s not. That’s exactly the opposite mentality of the one you want in the military. We have to be the best, or we lose. If someone is better than you you better fucking get better fast, or they’ll kill your bitch ass. January 25, 2013 at 15:52 I was in 2/3 Marines. I was an 0311 (infantry). I wouldn’t call it hate. More like, lood down on. Let me give you a scernio that happens often. Say you’re at a bar and there are other men in the military sitting around having a beer. You join in their little chat. You can hold your head high knowing that you were in the infantry. Not some MP, Supply, Clerk, Motor T, Heavy Crain Operator etc… Let me give you another example, when you are older and have kids, say a son. And your son asks you what you did in the military. Go ahead and tell him you were a “combat cook” or supply guru. That gets a lot of respect. Anyway, I don’t have to explain it to POGs, they know exactly how they feel when any one of these situations happen to them. They can lie to themselves and try to justify their military career all they want. It doesn’t change a thing. They got no respect in or out of the military. Now, watch how many POGs get on here and try to spin you a line of BS about how important their job was. I guess if being a cook, clerk or supply POG was so rewarding then they would have made a movie about it. Have they? Hopefully it is a learning tool for guys about to go into the military. November 15, 2014 at 20:12 Will says: November 18, 2014 at 14:45 That’s the shitty thing though. Most civilians don’t know the difference between a POG and a grunt. they see the uniform, they automatically think “hero”. They see a fat body, they think…….”wtf, he fights the wars??” Doc says: November 18, 2014 at 15:51 They make movies about gay cowboys too… Skip says: November 19, 2014 at 17:30 Wow, I find that comment really hilarious because after 15 years of calling in AC130 air strikes, artillery, motars, and CAS and HiMars rockets as a POG with Line companies, artillery Liasion sections, LAR, Anglico, and Reconnaissance Battalions….. I have no issue holding my head high because the majority of the fuckin idiots who even care about “grunts” and “pogs” or even make an arguement, haven’t bleed, sweat or breathed anywhere I have in HOA, Libieria, Afghanistan, or Iraq. But I’ll be sure to continue lying to myself about how Infantry is better, when in the throws of combat in every shithole corner of the globe, that radio, whether being used to call your buddies or support, makes me inferior. Infantry Marines are exactly like 18inch flaccid penises. They have all the potential in the world….. But unless you proven, that’s all it will ever be… Potential. Awwww, and btw, I spent some time in “Americas Battalion” while the dirty 3rd was getting tag teamed by Iraq and afghan. Same thing I tell every hard up infantryman on Friday when I hear the word POG. ” if you’ve never seen combat, being an infantryman just makes you qualified for punishment…. Here’s a ladder, climb these ribbons”.Lmao August 13, 2016 at 00:33 So literally you are calling yourself a bitch skip? gary says: May 8, 2018 at 12:59 good job. I was in 1st battalion, 1st marines. Im proud of being a marine grunt, and an NCO. there is a book, with the old breed. a marine in peleliu. he was at the rear, and a rear echelon commando was looking for souveniers. He walked up and punched him. out of his entire company, only 10 were left standing and this dude is gonna go home and tell all his people what a hero he was. April 17, 2019 at 15:56 How about medics, forward observers, combat engineers, ordinance disposal, chopper pilots, door gunners, tank crews, cannon cockers, are they all POGs deserving of your derision? Asking for a friend of mine who didn’t make it back? March 6, 2013 at 08:11 Psessum thank you for your prospective, I agree there should b respect on both side pogs n grunts, there are some pog jobs that are cush n relaxed but there are some that are gruesome and taxing, all soldiers are supposed technically “infantryman” but true bonified infantry do have tough bull sht to deal with, I agree that none should feel entitled,looking down on a grunt because they are a grunt is just dumb, I knew several who had a high enough gt score to be any thing but chose infantry. Most soldiers now a days have a good chance of. Combat so respect your fellow brother should be top priority.. Just my opinion, … Yes I served, and being a female obviously im a log, 63 w. Timothy T. Daly says: January 4, 2017 at 23:36 Kristina, you made some very good points and well thought out insights in your comment. I was drafted in March 1968, 11B (I couldn’t get a college deferment because I had to work a full time job as well as a 3/4 time second job to support my siblings (long story). Anyway, my Army GT score was 137 (equivalent to WAIT +/- 2.5 points/95% confidence level. Also my AFQT score was 99-1. Both qualified me for Mensa. I also knew quite a few college grads who were drafted and in the field. I spent 5.5 months as a patient in WRAH after the second time I was wounded w/17 wounds after week-long stays in an Army hospital in Tokyo, then onto an AF hospital in Denver prior ending up in WRAH, After that I was sent to Ft. Knox, KY to basically do nothing because Nixon was in office and a medical discharge was prima facie evidence that the wounded soldier should get VA Comp. While at Ft. Knox our company clerk had completed his 3-year enlistment and the company commander had trouble getting replacing for him. I was then asked if I would fill in until a replacement came (they found out that I could type) and I had access to everyone in the company’s records, including test scores on a rolex. Of course this was before the Privacy Act, HIPPA and other like protections for personal privacy came about. I found that most of the GI’s there, all grunts, typically had GT scores in the 120’s and high one teens, others had GT scores in the 130’s, almost all draftees. The draft dodgers, however, spread lies and fish stories about our being baby killers, high on drugs (which of course mad it easier to kill babies and older civilians), and of course we were characterized as being dumb. It is pretty obvious to me that the cowards dodged the draft by going to the family doc and getting a script for Valium with a Dr. note (as ‘In my opinion, because of his nervous condition and drug treatment is not fit for military service.’); others fled to Canada or feigned bogus physical problems supporter by these doctor’s who played god. While the horrible tragedy and war crime in My Lai did happen, I believe that there were only c. 20 soldiers involved in the slaughter, who should have been lined up and put before a firing squad. By the time the Tet Offensive in Feb. ’68, there were virtually no effective VC troops and the NVA, 250K of them were sent South against approximately 40K 11B’s. The troops in the Mekong Delta (aka the Rice Bowl) were sent to bore themselves to death and their only job was to watch the nearby port along the South China Sea, so because of all the ships coming in and out they had ready access to big time drugs and alcohol and were totally F’d up. The NVA couldn’t have cared less about IV because their main and ultimate prize was taking Saigon. Thus the draft dodgers and there supporters, aids and abetters focused on that for there arguments, thus giving the other 99,99999999% of us 11B’s a black eye. I remember coming home, returning to work and avoided the subject of my being infantry in RVN or in general. Of course the draft dodger’s purpose was to make them look good and right for not going, and for those feeling guilty about – in each and every case, causing someone else to go in their place. Nuf said… August 22, 2013 at 22:59 I honestly don’t understand the hostility between the groups. Machanics in war zones face the same risks as other soliders. Yes, infantry has the riskier job. I don’t understand why one is against the other. When you took the asvab most picked their fields looking down upon someone because of their jobs I’d pure bullshit. The marine corps is small enough as it is and they are trying to make ir smaller, yall are supposed to be brothers. There’s very few marines causing hostility within is pointless. I personally cannot stand the military men with the egotistical persona that because they wear a uniform and arent civilians everyone owes them and can kiss their ass despite how disrespectful and rude they are you to. I respect those who give me something to respect. August 22, 2013 at 23:00 November 15, 2014 at 20:16 The infantry is the only MOS who’s job is close with and engage the enemy until it’s done. Other people get to collect their wounded and “Charlie mike” back inside the wire. Curt says: November 18, 2014 at 15:40 You don’t understand because you can’t. You have never served in the infantry or armor. Thats ok. I read the first sentence and thats all I needed. Joe says: October 13, 2013 at 10:37 i’M A POG but I don’t look down on grunts. I never have. I respect what they do and most grunts I met in the combat zone were alright. However I think that your description of POGS is kinda stereotypical when it makes all pogs look like pencil pushers. I was a truck driver. In my MOS we were outside the wire all the time transporting anything you could think of including grunt equipment. Sure we don’t have it has tough as the grunts but we don’t exactly sit in a a/c tent all day doing paper work. October 13, 2013 at 12:25 I do not disagree with you. What I ask to be taken into account is that this is brushing with broad strokes. The article supports the title and isn’t a full breakdown of all non-Infantry jobs. Of course, this would be a good opportunity to submit to DTC from your own perspective. Anyone can contribute and different perspectives are a good thing. November 24, 2013 at 18:39 I’m going to kick things up a notch because this is an area I’ve given considerable reflection. I propose a truce and here is my understanding. Once upon a time infantry were dubbed “grunts” due to the laborious nature of the work. Undoubtedly, ASVAB scores played a roll, but without the stats from past and modern military, it’s beside the point in this post. I think I would be pissed too if someone called me a “dumb grunt” all the time, I think I would search for a way to counter balance that and preserve my pride (short of anything that’s cause for court martial). So the justifications can be argued from the macro to the micro level of why some branches, posts, jobs are harder than others or some people handle the circumstances differently. But comparing these different areas is like pitting apples against oranges against bananas against…you get the idea. I guess my question is this; short of what the VA uses to determine which priority group to place you in or how best to screen you for PTSD/TBI, what does it matter? I don’t mean in the existential sense that a veteran shouldn’t care about what they did, just that it’s being argued within the veteran community when it’s no longer applicable to our needs as a group. It never should have been allowed to perpetuate in the military, but we stand a chance of breaking the cycle for those returning. The VA categorizes my husband and I as combat veterans because we deployed overseas aboard a carrier to a combat theater. That tells me that modern warfare has changed, and we too need to adapt when even the VA is surpassing us in compassion for ourselves and each other. January 19, 2018 at 17:06 No. That’s fucking psycho. I am also classified as a combat veteran. To get that classification, I got shot at. A lot. Blow up. Watched my friends turn into chunks of meat. I come back and somebody on a boat gets the same respect I do? Fuck that. October 5, 2018 at 14:38 Have you ever been on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier gering up for an attack sortie? If you havent dont talk down on those that have. Or better yet ask the guys on the Reagan how fast someone can lose their life on the flight deck. jason says: December 31, 2013 at 11:19 This shit never ends cause ppl can’t except other ppl are better than them. I just read from some stupid c bag stacie that a mechanics job is just as dangerous as a inf in combat…woooowwwww. Why don’t u look up how many mechanics have died then grunts in yhe war oon terrror moron. How about when I was in iraq and would come off of patrol back in the wire to the safe motorpool were the mechanics live. Then I have to replace my own blown out tires bc the mechanics are soooooo busy fixing fucked up grunt humvees…not mechanics out killing bin laden. U pogs and cicvilians I live amongst now are a vile desgusting thankless bunch February 14, 2014 at 21:40 Wow jason. Thats the mentality. U must have a hard life now. Not everyone goes in wanting to be a pog. When your promised a certain role ie infantry and go in open contract a young guy hoping that your mistakes in life havent haunted or delayed you going into the military. Whats funny is I have met grunts with no combat experience while some mt/mp guys who went to afghan or iraq held a 240 or 50 cal or mk 19 and used it even with all the idfs, saf, ieds in other parts. Dont let ptsd destroy ur life. And if some grunt ever did think he was that tough, I know I have knocked at at least one big bad ass grunt. We are only human. Cool down on the grunt shit because in real life when its all over, civilians dont care its thanks for your service now go back to work. Will says: November 18, 2014 at 14:51 you met an mp who held a mk 19……. would you like to clarify that? Ike says: November 22, 2015 at 09:59 Now days you have two types of MP’s, garrison MP and combat MP. MP’s have all types of weapon systems. Combat MP’s are constantly outside the wire conducting patrols and looking for trouble. Guy says: January 20, 2016 at 20:57 He meant the “held a mk 19” part specifically…because I want to see anyone hold a mk 19 and fire it. Guy says: January 20, 2016 at 20:58 …or hold and fire the 50 cal for that matter. January 19, 2018 at 17:10 I would fuck your wet twathole in the mouth Steve. I am going to get your girlfriend pregnant. Watch me widen out her b-hole and then cram it in her mouth. I’m going to video it, so you can watch me do it. I’ll mail it to you after she tells me you kisses her cock lips. November 15, 2014 at 20:22 Right on man right on! That’s exactly right and I will sleep better after reading it man. Go out on a five day patrol and come.in and fix your own shit cause the.mechanics went.to.chow, or don’t do that. If.you haven’t been a grunt, your option is moot. Lol thanks for that example man, you hit the nail on the head April 25, 2014 at 21:17 I just stumbled into this web area while doing searches on something entirely unrelated. However, having read a lot of this thread, I have to say that overall it has more good sense, respect for others’ points of views and general reasonableness in it than virtually any other web thread I’ve read in a long time. (I’m a civilian, 71 years old, who was probably an ultimate POG in my youth, but I still know solid stuff from hot air, and this is solid.) Mike says: May 22, 2014 at 17:07 I was a 15R (Apache helo mech) fresh out of AIT when I first deployed to Iraq in 2003. I had to do humanitarian convoys into the city. We would be swarmed by kids, while their parents hanging out the window closely watching us. If rolling into these ghettos and nomadic mud brick areas made me nervous, I can imagine the guys who are always out there. The aviation field is a small community in the Army, so I would imagine the social dynamic is pretty different than most. We must see each other equally to support the grunts on the ground. Our aircrews had to provide cover for ground units and convoys, and most grunts were thankful for it. The Apache is a piece of crap sometimes and needs some coaxing to get it air worthy so the qrf team could help in a pinch. Us mechanics jumped hurdles to keep them birds in the air. We experience loss too, just like my two pilots who were shot down during my second deployment in 2006. We live together, work together, train together and rely on each other. We may be pogs, but we lose brothers too. Mike says: November 18, 2014 at 12:45 Mad respect. I was an 11b in Ramadi An Bar Iraq with the101st Airborne from 05-06. Anybody around that time knew An Bar was popping. We fought hard, and we came back with a more definitive line of respect. Combat arms is a blurring field but some things that I will take a hard line on. I am not a dumb grunt but it was my dream to be an infantryman. I thought that was the only way to honorably serve your country and if I lived through it, than I could tell my children and grandchildren that I walked confidently with 50 of the most badass dudes in the AO towards a bad firefight (and we did plenty). I’m proud of my service, I’m proud of those guys I fought and lived with, I’m proud of the combat medic who took care of us in the worst of situations, I’m proud of the dedication of our cooks and engineering companies for working hard under constant mortar bombardment and RPG attacks on a FOB just a little bigger than two football fields to feed us miserable bastards, I have mad respect for the medevac teams, the blackhawk female helicopter pilots that took our platoon to our insertion points (and the males) and the MP’s that watch the front gates to our FOB (even if stateside they like to pull us over). That being said, some of those guys feel we’re dumb grunts. Hell, I served with PLENTY of dudes with college degrees, three from Harvard. Yeah, we had some truly dumb people but you also have to remember those that were fighting in the infantry…mainly WANTED to be there. So thank you to all you dirty bastards that made sure our broke-back asses had ACOGs or weaposn that worked, or fed us chow, or evac’d our buddies, or took care of our money when we didnt have the chance to monitor. But remember, we are a special breed. We are the tip of the spear and those of us who voluntarily signed that contract with 11b have that hard-headed mentality that we are in fact, better than most. Like some of the dudes on here said though, I’ve learned over the years it doesnt really matter. No civvy gives a rat shit what you did. But my kids will. That’s enough for me Mark says: February 13, 2015 at 03:19 Right on man. This is the first I’m hearing of the POG-grunt divide and frankly I’m horrified. I’m planning on joining up as a programmer once I have my degree and I’ve got nothing but respect for the front line troops- the thought that they’ll look down on me as a “pencil pusher” is pretty depressing, not that it will stop me. It’s all the same army, guys. Without the mechanics, programmers, accountants and other professionals there wouldn’t be any gear or food. Without the grunts there wouldn’t be an army. Why the hell can’t you all see that? January 19, 2018 at 17:12 Yup. You’re not a pog bro. Welcome to grunthood. The helicopter people saved my life daily. Literally. As soon as the birds would leave to refuel, nonstop firefight until they got back. Much respect and love man. August 4, 2014 at 04:30 Some people just cannot get over themselves….PERIOD. That is why this little battle continues. Pride can be a good thing but it can also be a cancer in an organization. I’ve worked in combat arms and support MOS’s over 20 years of service, and I know for a fact a lot of it is just ego and ignorance. You got some guys that go through their career humbly doing their job, and not expecting any special treatment. Then you have those who like to hang out in bars and tell fake war stories to girls, and expect everyone to treat them like Rambo. Only the guilty parties need be offended, and deserve to be. If you cannot get over yourself, the military probably isn’t the right job for you. It’s a team oriented job. One team, one fight. No room for egos and individuals. Go back home and spend your life reliving stories like some has-been high school quarterback. The rest of us will drive on without you. January 19, 2018 at 17:15 September 16, 2014 at 17:48 Jenna says: October 4, 2014 at 17:47 Tell that to your medic. LikeLiked by 1 person October 23, 2014 at 17:10 December 16, 2014 at 16:32 Hey don’t forget Forward Observers. When the shit it brewing, it is always nice to have a good FO calling in steel rain on the enemy. Kenneth says: October 13, 2014 at 09:22 I think this whole grunt vs pog mentality is nothing but bullshit on BOTH ends. Here is why. When you go through basic training, EVERYONE is trained as an infantryman irregardless of whether it is your primary mos or not. I served in the Marines as an 5711 (NBCD specialist) and the last two years of my contract I was with an infantry battalion at fucked-up 29 Palms. I still had to go to the field, road march and learn all the same weapons those guys did, PT the same way and do all the same other training in addition to sometimes having to train 200 or 300 Marines a day multiple times a week in the gas chamber or other classes. Several years later, I joined the Army to help my family and guess what, the same exact scenario except this time I was in a combat arms mos(Artillery) and we still trained with the infantry battalions. Once again, I went to the field, did the road marches, learned the weapons and tactics, went to Iraq and Afghanistan, did ALL the types of base security and guard duty and went outside the wire many times in both countries. I have heard the arguments from both sides. Grunts think POGs are weak and get off easy and cannot handle the way of the infantry. The POGs think grunts are mostly the fucked-up guys who have low GT scores, were in trouble with the law or just have a really bad attitude or mentality and could not qualify for anything else. In short: dumbfucks who amount to nothing. The truth is I have seen fuckups in many different moss’ in the enlisted, nco and officer ranks. If you people cannot see both viewpoints, then you are blind to the truth hidden in the center. There is not one mos that makes the military run as a whole like a well-oiled machine. It is ALL of them. Here is my final viewpoint. If someone was infantry and then decided to switch to another mos for career advancement or to better their chances for a good civilian career, what does that make them? Cautious says: January 27, 2016 at 17:03 EXACTFuckingLY! Remember, we all went through the same training before we were sent out to learn and perform our specialty. There is a purpose for that. Sometimes the enemy gets past the grunt lines and comes into where the POG’s stay. They stay and fight. They don’t run. A grunt may talk differently because they use the same lingo everyday. But they don’t shoot differently since we were all trained in the same weaponry and we were al trained (equally trained) to survive and kill the enemy. Some guys watch too many movies. I recall a recent movie that took place in TWOT. An infantry company was bogged down and needed re-supplying. An entire company of Supply POG’s were sent to bail them out. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE SUPPLY MEN WRE KILLED! You may say, well that just happens in the movies. Sorry, not so. Especially now that these war movies are more than likely based on true occurrences. Check the rolls of the CMOH recipients. Many of them were NON-INFANTRYMEN! Bill says: November 18, 2014 at 09:06 Wow, a lot going on here. Great article, but in your broadstroke attempt you missed a defining factor that clears some of this up. POGs are not grunts, but not all POGs are REMFs! POGs play a vital role with their jobs, but the POG ass REMFS that hassle grunts just because or fail to support grunts are a huge source of contention. A grunt humps his ass off, day in and day out, misses chow, eats crap chow, sleeps in the worst conditions and has his life on the line as his one and only job, then a POG that is inconvenienced or a supply sgt that doesnt want to supply anything because he did inventory and his ducks are all in a row, how is that not supposed to create issues? Met lots of awesome POGs, male and female, but like somebody used the grossly incorrect argument about ASVAB scores and grunts, the general perception is POGs are all REMFs. And grunt is a title that is earned and proudly worn, so i hope people do not think grunts are tired of being called grunts. ASVAB scores? Lmao somebody needs to do some research. Look at cooks and gas pumpers, and yes PAC clerks, 11 and 18 series is higher than most people think. Being grunt is about heart, drive and spirit, NOT i was too dumb to do anything else in the military. There are less than educated people in all parts of the military. And combat medics are NOT pogs! They are GRUNTS with bandaids!! My medic could rock any weapons system we had, build line charges from C4 to breach and graduated sniper school! Dont F with Doc. LikeLiked by 1 person April 3, 2015 at 07:52 Since when are 68W’s eligible to go to Sniper School? Will says: November 18, 2014 at 14:56 reo says: November 18, 2014 at 19:55 Pogs, grunts… does not matter to me. I need the so called “pogs,” as much as they need the grunts. The matter of the fact is that we all are pulling our military duty to protect the sons and daughters of america. Thank you for reading. November 19, 2014 at 01:32 Ok so let me make this simple we are all brothers and sisters . We fight with each others just like at home but you see when we get around other branches we turn on them and when we are over seas we cover their 6 as well. I m ex army when i was in korea i and a few marines mixed it up with some aussi boys. its what we do its a joke not a dick dont take it so hard. lol November 19, 2014 at 07:48 Look this article offends me. I was a supply ncoic in a combat arms unit and I took care of everybody that went through my supply room . I did 14 months in Iraq n went through the same shit with the infantry . So that word pog offends me as a supply sgt I shouldn’t have been able kick down doors or go through convoys but I did because I am A SOLDIER and nco first before anything. It’s funny how all you infantry cats talk down on us support but the reality is we all need each other in the army to accomplish the mission . Yeah you had a garbage supply but there are garbage soldiers everywhere. I’ve been fortunate enough to serve with some of the best heroes in the world man. So how bout we get along instead of bashing each other on FB . That’s what the army is about family and teamwork. November 19, 2014 at 10:03 As an NCO and supply guy the term “attention to detail” means a lot to you. I would like to point out the end of the article where it says, “Grunts should treat all POGs that do their job with respect. A soldier is not less because he is in an easier job. There is nothing wrong with having an air conditioned office in a combat zone rather than running missions all day.” I would also encourage you to check out the follow up piece POG is a Mentality not an MOS. The purpose of the original piece was to explain one aspect of the military from a particular point of view. And it is explained in broad strokes. If you would like to lend your own voice to the website, I welcome you to email [email protected] and you can submit your own experiences and perspectives. Matthew says: November 19, 2014 at 10:23 I was a comm guy in the Marine Corps. For 8 years doing 5 combat deployments with both the infantry and support units. I lost friends that were both support and infantry. Then here are all of you winning like a bunch of bitches about who’s job is more important and about stupid names. For the non – infantry guys, quit bitching about a stupid acronyms and support these guys not only because it’s your fucking job and your getting paid to do it but because those are your brothers and sister! For you infantry guys, the world doesn’t revolve around you and everyone has issues at times so sit down, shut the fuck up, advise them of the issue and let them do their job. Bitching at them because someone else fucked your shit up is counter productive. When all this is said and done remember that our brothers and sisters that didn’t make it back. Do you really think that their parents, husband/wives, brothers/sisters, sons/daughters and friends give a shit about what their job was? Grow the fuck up, all of you! Quit whining about “status,” Do your fucking job, support each other and bring as many people home as possible! November 19, 2014 at 11:06 Officially my favorite comment. Jacob says: November 19, 2014 at 16:06 The idea of “POGs” just comes from an US vs THEM hatred that is always created whenever two entities exist. I was an MP in Kandahar, I was involved in multiple dismounted firefights, and when we got a chance to go to the airfield once a month for resupply we’d be harassed about PT belts by other MPs. It is a reality that MOS has nothing to do with how you are, it’s truely w mentality. When people call me a POG, I don’t give a crap because I k ow what I did and I know what my other MP Brothers have died for. The same thing every other American overseas has died for; freedom for our fellow man. And what is more honorable than that? joe says: November 19, 2014 at 17:31 I read this article and made a comment a long time ago and then forgot about it for almost a year now. Now my memory has been refreshed from getting all these notification from work comments in my email. The article makes total sense if you read it and doesn’t disrespect anybody. Its the god honest truth. But Some of these comments on here are total BS. You go to war and have some your buddies killed only to get back and be judge by other vets that say cause you weren’t infantry that your time doesnt count. My guess is that 90% of these comments made by people hating on pogs are under the age of 25. November 19, 2014 at 20:29 I’m a 0311. I don’t think to rate to comment or argue if you’ve not served. If your a boot 03 you have done absolutely nothing and arnt any better than a pog. You can be from security forces or silent drill teem, come to the fleet as an nco and be a complete waist of space. No better than a pog. I haven’t done much. One afphgan deployment and one to Spain. I know my place though. I am proud of being a 03. I wouldn’t change my mos for anything. Hate Pog's says: November 20, 2014 at 02:24 I tend to laugh at these comments more and more. Those of you that say the “Infantry” need you seem to forget that all jobs rotate of Infantryman man’s. If you take us out of the ARMY then there wouldn’t be no fucking ARMY simple as that. Most MOS are created to make the Infantryman’s life much much much more easier simple as that. We don’t call you guys POG’s to hurt your feelings (well kinda), we call you guys that because some of you think you’re HOT SHIT… MP’s are fucking assholes and would forever be that worst fucking MOS to be in. A group of cocky little fucks that think they run shit. They are THE WORST POG’s of all in the ARMY. joe says: November 20, 2014 at 14:48 Sure because only grunts know how to fix things. Tell us how it’ll work out for you when you go up against a sizable army that is mechanized and organized and you don’t have the backup that you have no. Wonder how that’s going to work out for you? Joe says: November 20, 2014 at 07:24 It seems to be a ground pounder ego thing. We don’t see other MOS’s on here or wherever talking shit like some do on here about other MOS’s. As a 88m I was on convoys all the time. All this shit like mk 19’s and 50 cal that some think are only used by grunts is bs. Plenty of times we have been ambushed and had to return fire. Again I will say that I’m not saying we are as hardcore as the grunts in anyway. Grunts are soldiers but are a different kind with a different mission. We had total shit bags in our unit just like anywhere else. But we did our part and some didn’t return back in on piece. Was it as much as the grunts suffered? Hell no! But we were soldiers and if you say we were not because we were not grunts then too bad. Another thing I noticed when on the state side that once in awhile a grunt will re class to a support MOS and its all good. We have learned a lot from those guys when they switch over. T says: November 21, 2014 at 13:05 Well, it is an ego thing. And it is earned. Everyone can have an ego if they know they do their job correctly. I was an 11B in Kunar Province Afghaniland, and believe me, I have my combat experience. My GT was 128 and in my platoon alone there were 3 people with GTs of over 130. I dont want to hear the “dumb grunt” shit anymore. It takes a really smart person to learn all the battle drills, acronyms for everything, how to PMCS a MATV, (sometimes do maintenance on them), write 5 paragraph OP orders, and eventually counsel and take care of your soldiers the same way finance or any other MOS does. Grunts have stuff to worry about and study the same as any MOS, if not more than most. But here is the kicker: A cook does not have to worry about not getting to call his wife while they are away unless a mortar attack happens. A MP, while “Combat Arms,” does not have to worry about taking a 80 pound ruck up a 1,500 meter mountain and setting up a 10 day OP. A 88M does not have to worry about dismounting after they get hit, and if they do, they know that there is an Infantry QRF waiting eagerly in the dark nearby. I will not talk about 13F because we had some kick as FOs and 68W (medics) with us. I gave my medic my CIB when I earned it. This brings me to my next point: When respect is earned from an Infantrymen, it is given. The medics in my company were treated like royalty. They saved lives of my friends and put their selves in harms way to save others. 13Fs have got us out of sticky situations. But not once did a cook help me. I ate MREs for almost 2 months because the road to get to our COP was too dangerous for the 88Ms and our supply company to bring us food or mail. Not once did a MP save me while they slept in the towers when they were supposed to be on guard, or they complained because they went on a two hour mission across the street in trucks and they were too tired to pull ECP guard. POGS complain about shit that Grunts do, and dont think twice about doing. Back in garrison, working on a Saturday happens at least twice a month. We never get off at 5 ANYDAY. There is no scheduled “lunch” hours. PT isnt optional. We stay in the field overnight very often, sometimes 4 or 5 nights a week. POGs dont know that struggle. To summarize, I dont look down on POGs. I look down on POGs who say they can do my job, and havent walked 10 miles with my ruck sack on. Its not that you cant be Infantry, its that you won’t be Infantry. Joe says: November 22, 2014 at 09:42 I don’t look down on grunts either. I actually wanted that MOS when I first joined the Army but shit happened and they gave me something else. All I was basically saying is that I don’t like hearing people trash talking other MOS’s if it was never warranted. If someone looked down on you and started talking shit first I understand that. I recognize that grunts have a way more dangerous job than the others do but some people make it their sole mission to go generalizing all other jobs in the military as all shitbags. Yeah I agree that you have the right to brag about what you earned and trash talking others in humor is all good but like you mentioned there is a POG mentality everywhere and its the pog’s mentality that deserves the trash talking. JayJay says: November 21, 2014 at 16:28 I’m not gonna lie… If u put a written test in front of me then yes, I’ll qualify as a “dumb grunt” n I don’t care, I’m not book smart n have no problem admitting it, bc I know it’s a personal weakness. Now put me in Iraq with a mission to accomplish that involves anything but a written test n I can garentee I will accomplish that mission or die trying. Every individual soldier has strengths and weaknesses, n if u think u don’t n that your perfect, then that arrogance will get you or even worse, your buddy killed. I could go on n on about what I did n try n put myself on a pedestal, but in reality all I did was my job n don’t need to prove a fing thing to a POG… Or compare “war stories” with other soldiers who have been in combat. BUT I will say this, I unfortunately have to spend a lot of my time on an everyday basis at the VA hospital n have been since 07′ and the “story tellers” (your not fooling anyone who’s actually done it btw) are jus about always POG’s… How do I know? Bc, your telling me BS before I realized u were standing there, like I asked u or give a fk. Also, to all you who do think your better than a “dumb grunt” answer this… Why is it that the scum that lie about there service, ALWAYS lie bout being in the infantry? I’ve NEVER sat in a VA hospital minding my business, and have a vet walk up to me n tell me they were army admin, a cook, mechanic, etc… Why? I don’t know but if u served (unlike most Americans) n DID YOUR JOB, no matter what ur MOS was, be proud of that. NOBODY likes a poser and trust me, u might be fooling ur parents but u can’t fool a Grunt, jus like we couldn’t fool a cook, mechanic, etc… April 3, 2015 at 08:23 LOL That was the most beautiful poem I’ve ever read JayJay. I love the end, it’s my favorite part. joe says: November 21, 2014 at 17:50 That’s an awesome sto that’s the attitude everyone should have. Do your job and be cool with it. Don’t try to pose. I just get irritated with people on here picking fights with people that are not infantry and trying to discredit them for doing their job. That’s all. My only complaint. Never look down on grants and never will. I respect you for what they do. I just don’t like being disrespected for no reason. Brandon says: November 21, 2014 at 19:23 For all of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who come on here and cuss and belittle each other please go back to shoving your own head in the sand. Myself I was never in a combat Arms MOS, in the Marines I worked on the jet engines that went into the Huey and Cobra helicopter systems. It was my job to insure that the helicopters took off and God willing came back with no problems. In the Army National Guard I was a truck driver, you call we haul. I was deployed only twice to a combat zone and both times all of my Brothers and Sisters all came home alive despite the constant efforts of the terrorists. I must say that I have alot of friends on both sides of this argument, and I have a great respect for any man or woman who is willing to put their name on the line and enlist into the military. I know alot smart men and women and alot of one’s a few rounds shy of a full mag, on both sides of the argument. In this day and age of warfare anyone and everyone wearing a uniform of the military can be placed on the “front line” and in harms way. So yes everyone learns to some degree the same techniques utilized by the combat arms MOS’s. In Iraq ( with the National Guard) I can only remember two missions that we had escort services provided to us. The rest of the time we pulled our own convoy security by any means necessary. Some of us were lucky enough to have all of the proper gear for gun mounts, but most of it was just stuff we could rig up ourselves. A lot of my time was spent sitting on top of a PLS behind my M2 50 Cal machine gun, riding BFT (Big Frigging Target). We had a few fire fights and a few IED’s. I remember having to live out of that same PLS because we may not see base camp for a month or more. Showers were almost none existent unless you got lucky and a unit took pity on you and allowed you to use theirs. Like I said I was not a grunt, but still took my job seriously ensuring all of my Brothers and Sisters made it to our next stop alive, no matter the cost. I also made sure to deliver all of the goods needed to make missions and a few comforts possible. The second tour I served as a guard at an Iraqi detention facility, where I was face to face with the same people Infantry captured because of possible crimes against allied forces. Anyway to my point I love all of my Brothers and Sisters who served no matter of branch or MOS, I truly believe that if we all tried to do the same the military would be a great deal better for it. November 23, 2014 at 08:44 I don’t hate all pogs ..I’ve met and worked alot with pogs during my tour ..Our mechanics fucking love em man , always in the motor pool busting their ass’ s fixing out trucks after yet another ied encounter..(deadlined 21 vics, cuz of ieds) they sometimes came out to help us recover the remains of our vics, our 68W love you docs, yall take care of us all the time..Our FO droppings willy P on fucking haji goat fuckers man..to our helo pilots watching over us ..we appreciate yall.. I respect certain pog mos’ s ..not all.. cuz they have tasted a version of the term “Suck” it’s other mos’ s that don’t do shit in garrison or downrange. .i.e. laundry specialist ..they don’t do shit in garrison ..and downrange we have contracts with company that handle laundry services ..or cooks down range are on vacation ..shits me thing we hire local nationals do that.. And you have a grunt or one of the other mos i mentioned have spent the last few months running missions , getting shot at/blown up walk by and some laundry specialist E-5 type with a spiffy clean uniform(sat on kaf for 8 months) yells at you about your uniform being dirty when it actuality that’s your best pair ..what’s does a grunt wanna do !? All we see is red!!! And you fight the urge to tear the mother fuckers face apart.. I respect pogs that directly work with me.and my boys jayjay101st says: November 23, 2014 at 09:09 @kehanu… Good point! Even though I never had issues with any NCO (prob bc I was one) about being out of uniform. However we had issues with plenty of the POG officers about not shaving, hair cuts, etc jus bc we would run to eat real food after 7-21 day missions before cleaning up. I might have grown out of my hate for POG’s by growing up…. But I will NEVER stop hating or respect any officer below the rank of Major.. I really believe the majority of hate stems from the officers, they might have a college degree n think they deserve and also demand respect from any enlisted soldier and don’t.. They don’t even try to earn it. Jus my opinion. January 16, 2015 at 12:27 My grandfather served and so did my father. Now I am too. Both of them were grunts. I’m a pog. I was raised with the idea that the military was the military. Infantry has it harder. They do. But they signed for it. I knew I couldn’t and if I could I wouldn’t. You do your damn job because the less people have to worry about the better they perform. Infantry doesn’t get paid enough to do the things they do. None of us get paid to put up with the attitude we give EACH OTHER. You’ll never understand if you can’t think past yourself. That’s why you put your battles before you because if you signed up for yourself? You messed up from the beginning. I’m just a cook. I’m not special. Infantry can cook their own food but it’d be easier if the thought of what they were going to eat wasn’t on their mind in the few moments of peace they get. Eric says: January 18, 2015 at 11:31 Don’t say “just a cook” man because a good cook that cares is worth their weight in gold. One of my fondest memories is of a mess sgt we had in Somalia. He would go the extra mile for us. For example one night T-rat chicken was on the menu. Now 90% of Army cooks would have just warmed the cans and plopped it on a tray and here you go. Not this guy. He took it out of the can washed that nasty stuff they call gravy off and BBqed it. wasn’t great but still was a lot better that out of that can. He did little stuff like that all the time and I don’t think there was anyone in the company that wouldn’t do him a favor if he asked. On the other hand a bad cook just makes a miserable situation even more miserable. Really with a few exceptions if it wasn’t for Tabasco i would have staved to death. sorry got off topic but the “just a cook” thing kind of set me off. Be proud of your MOS and what you do. I was an 88m and to this day I am still proud of what I did until I retired. January 18, 2015 at 18:05 I want to be one of those dedicated come and i am proud. But why take the chance of getting into a fight with a bring because I’m just a pog. How do you show pride in something when you have been beaten down verbally by “peers” January 18, 2015 at 18:07 andrew W says: January 30, 2015 at 19:59 Modern wars do not need infantry as much as logistics / intel / supply / etc. January 30, 2015 at 21:25 Apparently you are one of those that you mentioned…Please tell me how many logistics supply or intel are actually kicking in doors, setting up OPs, doing snatch and grabs? They maybe pulling PSD and gate guard.. thats it. Sit back in your air conditioned room and let the Men do the work. Watch the “Hornets Nest, Restrepo, or the “Korengal,” and then get back to me. April 3, 2015 at 08:04 LOL who do you think gets intel? It’s not an MI guy. The recon platoon gets the intel and gives it to S2 dildo. The only intel I don’t get myself is from 11B’s out on mission or someone piloting a UAV. It’s not like supply is bringing shit to me on mission. I carry what I need and replace it when I come back so technically the only purpose behind supply is a security guard so nobody takes too much shit, I can sleep anywhere with 33% security, amazon is faster than S4. Don’t sell my job short so you can feel better about having a soft MOS wackenhut. I can do my job without support. Support has no job without 11B and 18 series. December 5, 2015 at 15:53 LMAO, no, recon doesn’t “get” intel. Sending up a SPOTREP from the field isn’t even on the same planet as writing an IIR from a clandestine source, listening in on people chatting to each other, or producing intelligence (not raw information) so that commanders can kill bad guys and save good guys. MI guys do all that stuff, not scouts. Scouts report on disposition. Big, big difference. Mike says: January 25, 2017 at 06:46 LOL because a SPOTREP is the only thing I’m thinking of in a hide site. Ask your 25U’s to show you how to upload photos through the 152. Google recon manual FM 3-20.98. Control F and look for the push and pull method. Look for the three methods and tell me that a commander will rely on some busted soviet maps or mapquest to gain intel to send his men into an area to “kill the bad men.” S2 is categorizing the intel gathered from “clandestine sources” and “team guys.” 90% of the intel I’ve received in S2 briefs was lost in translation or sat on too long and is bad or outdated. I confirm it’s bad and my men recon the OBJ and report the disposition, composition, strength, capabilities, take pictures, survey the site and provide over-watch for the real heroes to come in and conduct raids to extract said “bad guys.” It’s not like you’re bugging an OBJ and sitting in a surveillance van. You’re job is important don’t get me wrong, but don’t try to church it up dirt. You have no job if there’s no boots on ground. Dakota says: February 16, 2018 at 17:16 Infantry are the primeval source of war. They physically take and control territory. Jason says: February 4, 2015 at 08:27 “All the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters. Every single man in the army plays a vital role. So don’t ever let up. Don’t ever think that your job is unimportant. What if every truck driver decided that he didn’t like the whine of the shells and turned yellow and jumped headlong into a ditch? That cowardly bastard could say to himself, ‘Hell, they won’t miss me, just one man in thousands.’ What if every man said that? Where in the hell would we be then? No, thank God, Americans don’t say that. Every man does his job. Every man is important. The ordnance men are needed to supply the guns, the quartermaster is needed to bring up the food and clothes for us because where we are going there isn’t a hell of a lot to steal. Every last damn man in the mess hall, even the one who boils the water to keep us from getting the GI shits, has a job to do”.January 1944, Lieutenant General George S. Patton. April 3, 2015 at 08:10 I’ll sum it all up. 11B job description is to close with, engage and destroy the enemy. It takes a special person to want that job much less to confidently do it. Less than 1% of military personnel have a combat job. If you have a problem with being a POG please reclass and join the ranks. Otherwise stop bitching. Nobody really cares until they overhear you telling warstories in a bar after deployment about how badass you are then the nameless grunt asks your MOS and you say proudly, “92Y.” The grunt then responds with, “WTF is a 92Y?” June 14, 2015 at 02:38 POGs don’t have to give 100% every day? Try being a rotary wing mechanic and try again, asshole. mike says: March 6, 2016 at 13:49 Dave says: June 16, 2015 at 19:26 POG’s are awesome. it’s shitheads that leave the military that give POG (and INF) a bad name. everyone has a damn job to do. do it, and shut up. WAY Better than pogs says: April 11, 2016 at 18:24 If people never left the military, loudmouth assholes like you would never get promoted. Because the people smart enough to do their part and bounce, would’ve always been ahead of you and would’ve always destroyed your chance to get promoted by taking up all the NCO slots, POG. You’re the kind of douche that hears some other loudmouth asshole that outranks you yell something, so you turn around and yell that same shit to everyone else so you can suckle that ranking dick. If you’re not smart enough to not want to spend your entire life being treated like a child? Don’t hate the player because you’re losing the game, chump! For all of the pogs talking about how you did patrols and “grunt stuff”. Did it ever occur to you that the Infantry was another hundred miles out, busy with much more important shit? So a few fobbits had to step in to actually do something on deployment besides play on the Internet in some pog’ed air conditioned tent? Big fucking woop! Our fourth day in Trashganistan a bunch of Infantrymen had to take a two hour truck driving “class” because the truck drivers (88-mikes, I believe) Refused to leave the wire, so we hd to transport out own shit to out shitty little FOB out in the middle of your mother’s ass, or some other such hellhole. If you POGs only new how many extra fucking classes the Infantry had/has to take to learn to do all yall mother fuckers jobs (Because you bitches refuse to, or are just too incompetent to) you might start to get an idea of why the Infantry has no respect for most (not all) POGs. In two hours to two weeks, we can be taught most of the duties of a great deal of the MOSs. So yeah, suck it. Suck that big green dick with a blue chord tied around it like it your fucking birthday present, fuckface! I joined the Infantry a few days after 911. I never planned on making it a career. I joined to serve, I hated POGs, I went to combat, went home, got back to my life… Still hates POGS. When people ask me what I did in the Army I say, “Infantry. What else is there?” Not all POGS are worthless garbage. One easy way to tell who is worth a fuck or not is this. If this article/blog/whatever, or my response (and/or if any Infantry shit talking bullshit, in general) offends you… You’re likely the worthless type of POG, and the truth is just stinging you a bit. Is okay, it’s okay. Just ask your ask a Medic (or politically correct “Coreperson” for you jarheads) for some butthurt creme and take a selfie next to a 50. cal or something, and everything will be alright. August 13, 2016 at 01:11 Love your comment brother. Hang the blue cord high. October 24, 2015 at 19:01 ImmaPOG and I agree with this post. Everyone has their job to do and you gotta do it right. I was a 91B (wheeled vehicle mechanic). I wanted infantry at first, but it wasnt open and they didnt tell me I could wait. Anyways, I enjoyed talking to the grunts when they brought vehicles. Good ol boys. Appreciated the time they took to hang around and chat when they werent patrolling. I took care of their vehicles and they took care of us. Granted I could take care of myself if it called for it which only happened almost 1 time when I was a Gaurdian Angel for Higher Ups. That was due to the fact ANA just killed my best friend back at my old base and I was on another on a ANA FoB. A truck pulled up and I almost turned that bitch to swiss cheese until the terp stopped me, I guess he knew him. Honestly, the guy pulled up quick, stopped quick and I thought Vbied and was going to take chances with a second triggerman. Closest I came to killing someone. I enjoyed it though. Chinoocks, black hawks were fun to ride in, even though I waited to get hit by a recoilless but thank God it didnt happen. ANYWAYS, in the end I was a FoB hopper and got to meet Navy Seals and it was dope, they even brought back a dead dog on a homemade up armored dune buggy lmao because they didnt find no towel heads lmao. Great times. Moral of the story, everyone goes through different things but just wor together and stfu because we do what we gotta do and I respect the ones going out on the regular. December 5, 2015 at 15:44 This is a cute chest thumping article, but seriously, screw infantry. When they’re not deployed, hiking, or cleaning weapons at the armory all day, they’re in garrison being treated like general population at a prison (can’t go off base without 3 accomplices, can’t have ‘x’ amount of beer/liquor in your room, you must be here at this time so you can stare at the grass for 4 hours, etc etc). Even if you get the chance to see combat, odds are it will be potshots at you from a distance, you’ll return fire at nothing, and that’s all you’ll see for an hour of your whole enlistment. Then you’ll get a combat action award, get out of the service because you’re tired of being treated like a child, then spend years on Facebook talking about how you’re a hardcore warrior and that POGs should feel fortunate to smell your farts even though you’re near homeless, not using your GI Bill, and working at Walmart because nobody cares that you were infantry. Also, the “infantry and everybody else” mentality is retarded. If you compare ANY specific occupational field to the rest of the military, then it will also come out as 10% or less. Promotions in the infantry are slow because they’re a dime a dozen. The service doesn’t need as many chiefs as they do Indians for unskilled labor. There are a lot of jobs in the military that have longer training pipelines and a higher attrition rate than the infantry (explosive ordnance disposal, intelligence, recon/scouts, nuclear techs, etc). They don’t go through a whopping 4 week MOS producing course with a 97% pass rate. “Training is constant!” the infantry says. Yep, that’s how it is with all jobs in the military. And guess what? Some non-infantry also have to go “outside the wire” while deployed to hazardous environments where they could be killed while doing their jobs. Go ahead, call those guys POGs and tell them they have easy jobs because they don’t get combat medals. At least they’ll leave the service with not only stories but actual skills employers would be interested in outside of “snapping necks and cashing checks.” Cautious says: January 27, 2016 at 16:44 Man, what a bunch of bullshit. I am a MARINE veteran (no such thing as an EX-Marine. I’ve been on USMC websites and I thought they were the only shit heads but it looks like you doggies are too. Fucking Marine Grunts. Same shit. Everybody is worthless but them. Well I have news for you. My MOS was 3000 Supply Man. Someone in this conversation said if it wasn’t for the cooks, yada, yada, yada. if it wasn’t for the supply man who would get you your ammunition and so on and so on. Everybody wants to say, when they are asked what they did in the military, I was a Grunt. Why? I was a Supply Man, yes. That’s not the MOS I chose. They gave it to me. Someone has to different jobs in the military. I served in Vietnam in 1965 during the EARLY stages of the Nam War. I went there as a Supply Man. Guess what! I never saw a pencil, paper, supply tent or any of that shit. Marines say, all Marines are “riflemen” first. I suppose a “rifleman” is not associated with the infantry in your world. I spend all my time in the shit because at that time, there were very few “grunts” in country and they not only NEEDED support, the WANTED it. I’m not talking about the support you guys are talking about. But in that vein, what if you came back to the CP after being out in the bush for two weeks and there was no chow for you to eat except a few crackers and cheese. You need to thank the cooks that kept you alive and the supply men who kept you armed. I’m talking about the early NAM days. Even then, when the “grunts’ in the bush were down and out and had no supplies, it was the supply company who humped into the bush to bring the grunts what they needed. The grunts didn’t come back to get it. I give all you grunts all the glory and acknowledgement you so badly need and want. But never forget, WE are all brothers. Just like I joke sometimes with my Army friends, but we are ALL BROTHERS IN ARMS and we all put our lives on the line. Sometimes just being there can get you killed. A cook or a truck driver or a supply man has no guarantees he will survive, especially in a war like Vietnam or even TWOT! Don’t go criticizing and defaming anyone who is not a grunt until you have lived in his shoes. Many supply men, cooks, and what you call POGS were killed in the Vietnam War and I would pretty much guess in TWOT. I guarantee you, I’d rather have been doing supply work for the 13 months I spent in Nam but I had no choice. You were needed here, that’s where you were sent. You were needed there, then that’s where you were sent. You did what you were told. Someone said, I don’t hate the POG’S but I hate it when they try to put themselves off as infantrymen when they didn’t have an infantry MOS. Infantry MOS, smesh, barf. Makes no difference. In NAM, many of us felt the fear and the pain and suffering the grunts did. Many died stepping into booby traps similar and sometimes even worse than IED’s because many of the booby traps in NAM were set up to make you writhe in pain for days before you died. It’s exactly the same I see in the Army as in the Corps. We’re grunts. We deserve all the respect. I wonder how thing would turn out if ONLY grunt MOS’s were sent into war and no support people were sent at all. I wonder how long you would survive. Like I said, if I had been given an 0300 MOS, then I would have lived with it and would have performed my duties as best I could. I wanted to fight because that’s what Marines do. I thought I wouldn’t have to because I was in supply and deep down I thought, whew!, I’m not going to get wounded or even killed. Well guess again. Wounded twice while out in the boonies with the grunts. When the infantry units were short handed, guess who they came to get to make up a squad or a company, ANY FUCKING MARINE THEY COULD GET THEIR HANDS ON AND “TELL” THEM, guess where you are going today!!! This is all a bunch of bullshit. People see a man in uniform in the states and they automatically think that’s what he did, he fought the enemy. That is their mentality. They don’t know or understand the organizational structure of the military. I was called a “pogie bait” Marine many times (same as you POG). Laugh it off. It was strictly because those that called me that knew my MOS was supply. Well I guarantee you, I didn’t sit around NAM in early 1965 in a tent with a cot and eat candy all day and I have the scars to prove it. We’re all supposed to be brothers. I admire grunts because they HAVE to spend all their days in the field. But don’t criticize any other patriot that volunteered to serve his country just because the Army only needs so many grunts just like the Corps only needs so many. You get what THEY give you, no more, no less. And you do what they tell you and no questions asked. I’ve been on TWS (Marines Together We Served) and I left because I was tired of all the bullshit, particularly “grunts” putting down everyone else that served and their calling them names one wouldn’t call a rabid dog in their neighborhood. WE ALL SERVED. WE ARE ALL PATRIOTS. And I would do it again if they would let me. I’m ready to go right now and I am 70 years old. I don’t need to have gone through advanced infantry school. I have enough savvy and desire to live that I can kill the enemy just as dead as any grunt. oo-rah! Cautious says: January 27, 2016 at 17:13 Infantry has been talking this shit since the beginning of the existence of the military. I’m 70 years old right now and might have a problem doing so but ten, just ten years ago when I was 60, I would have and could have humped the hills of Pendleton alongside the grunts any day. You know what the military did for me, it made me realize that I can do anything when some Sgt. was threatening to break my face if I didn’t do what he told me to. Back in the old days in the Corps, A corporal was Jesus Christ himself and a Sergeant was GOD! If he said shoot yourself in the leg, I would have done it. I’m much smarter than that now. PAIN is just evil leaving your body! Cautious says: January 27, 2016 at 17:15 And by the way, I was not a grunt but I could do anything they did and would have loved doing it. oo-rah! Jack says: February 9, 2016 at 11:07 I was in the Reserves so I didn’t really hear any of the back and forth shit talking between grunts and pogs. I know what its all about mainly from seeing it online from sites like this and especially Facebook. And from some of my reserve buddies who used to be active duty as infantry. Honestly really I dont give 2 shits because I don’t have an ego about my time in for what I did. Although I’m proud of what I did I don’t need to hear this your not a ‘real’ soldier crap. Its like an ER trauma nurse telling a regular floor nurse they don’t really count as a nurse because their not on the ‘front lines’ so to speak. We all get it………….11B engaged the enemy and the pogs supported them. No argument with that so move on with it. If I can guess a lot of the chest thumpers on here are civilians now so that speaks volumes in of itself. Oh well I guess its just something that the active duties guys will bitch about between each other till the end of time. phil says: February 11, 2016 at 19:59 I was a pog radio operator with MWCS-38 during the invasion in 2003, but guess what, we weren’t at a FOB, we didn’t spend all our time at a fucking Burger King, and we didn’t have grunts protecting us. We were at a 30 man SHF retransmission site. Providing our own security, performing our own patrols, searching vehicles and military aged males. Did we kick down doors? No. Did we take the fight to the enemy? No. Grunts did that shit. Does that bother me? No. That wasn’t my job. What bothers me are the pogs who think they’re grunts, and grunts who lump all pogs together as REMF pieces of shit who do nothing but watch netflix or youtube all day. Grunts take the brunt of enemy fire, but POGs take fire too. I’ve personally known grunts and pogs who have been KIA. We need each other. No way a grunt is going to just walk in and operate a TRC-170 and no way a pog is going to just run in and start kicking doors down, but both could do each other’s job given enough time to learn how. Grunts and Pogs are nothing more than idiot 18-19 year olds who don’t know a goddam thing when they join. Its through training and experience that they become who they end up being when they leave the service. Sonny says: March 1, 2016 at 10:43 So, 90% of the military is “useless”? Only a brainless, knuckle-dragging grunt would believe that the world revolves around their .22 rifle. I don’t even see how anyone can be that ignorant of how a military works. Grunts barely have the brain power to wipe their own a$$es. John says: March 1, 2016 at 15:01 I had a really long write up in response to Sonny’s opinion. I sat back, read it, re-read it, and realized that I was angry and my comment deeply reflected that so I deleted it. I am still full of hate and discontent but I see no reason to fuel a fire. Sonny..you are wrong ….simply put. If you can not see this then I advise you to seek help…professional help. For those of you who got their shit together and did your job no matter what it was I thank you. For those of you who are too ignorant to do so…well “shame on you”. Arguing will solve nothing here. Remember those who served and served well but always honor the fallen. Semper Fi Mike says: January 25, 2017 at 06:00 So by degrading my MOS to justify your self worth to a tool that shares my MOS makes you any better than the perpetrator in the first place? Who uses .22? In the end of the day I support all MOS because I do a job that relies heavily on SUPPORT to accomplish my mission. The support side of the Army has lost the reality that without grunts on the ground you have no job. Shut up and enjoy the path you chose. If you need more self worth then reclass. POG is the life you chose, be happy with it or call yourself a grunt. mike says: March 6, 2016 at 13:42 Nobody fucks with a hellfire missile. seriously doubt any grunt with balls to talk shit could look me in the eye and say thier ass wasn’t saved by some CAS at some point. I’ll keep my POG ass wrenching on my apache for you either way. Jim says: May 24, 2016 at 20:17 I am a MP and went on over 400 missions in 9 Months (outside the wire) and guess who was attached to our PSD team Infantry they were working for us hmmmm …. Mike B4 says: January 25, 2017 at 05:52 Lol 400 missions in 9 months huh? July 6, 2016 at 05:22 I know I’m pretty late to this article, but what do grunts think of POGs like military doctors and surgeons that go overseas but stay on the base and don’t see actual combat. (Trying to make it clear I mean MD doctor or surgeon not combat medic) chris says: October 14, 2018 at 04:16 I respect them just as much as I respect my Grandmother. Not 11B so in terms of shooting shit up they rate very low on that regard. August 3, 2016 at 07:28 Chief says: December 30, 2016 at 10:36 This is the most pathetic, shameful article and responses I have read in a while. Every year we are pulled together more as one team and one joint fighting force and someone really needed to put something as stupid as POG in place? We all make a commitment to our country, and go where we are needed the most. You all sound like a bunch of whiny schoolgirls fighting for prom queen. Damn embarrassing. January 5, 2017 at 08:32 Was drafted in 68. Mos 11B. Ft. Polk, Tigerland. Served as 11B in Vietnam. C.I.B. earned. After Nam, “redrafted” you might say into the M.P.’s via OJT, due to M.P. shortages. Always tried to give a troop wearing a C.I.B. a little slack. Called more 1Sgts. or Platoon Sgts. to come get a troop who over indulged, than I locked up. Most thanked me. Have seen both sides. January 24, 2017 at 20:12 I am all for an exchange of ideas and as a former grunt I can tolerate colorful language. But if your argument is all name calling and “kill yourself” then you lose the privilege of posting here. The First Amendment is a right, and if you wore dogtags you earned it> You have the right to say what you want but I have no requirement to post it. Grow up or get out. Just because people think we are dumb grunts doesn’t mean we have to act like it. Chief says: January 24, 2017 at 20:58 Really? Because this whole article is full of comments with name calling, very little intelligence, and complete disrespect to fellow soldiers. Regardless of MOS, we take the same oath and serve under the same flag. Discussions like this are the exact reason we constantly get sexual harassment and equal opportunity training jammed down our throats when we could be doing a million more productive things. Mike says: January 25, 2017 at 07:03 July 28, 2017 at 10:14 I was an 88m in Iraq in 2003-2004 my unit took two KIA and 32 wounded in action. I was on the mission that killed the 2nd soldier a 25 year old LT, he was killed instantly by a car bomb. I was in two fire firefights that I got to fire back, I however drove through many ambushes and IEDs. My first tour we were mortared a lot, I was stationed at Camp Speicher, Camp PaceSetter and Camp Diamond back. I have seen every type of combat as an 88m, I have seen death as an 88m. The only difference between us and infantryman is the fact that infantryman hunt. They use us as bait, happened a lot on my second tour. Infantry is always on the offense, 88m are always on the defense. Hopefully this clarifies. A. says: December 12, 2017 at 22:33 Unfortunately your article pretty much just reinforces the fact that infantry think that everyone else is useless. Not everyone can make infantry (some are far too smart, and are needed for more advanced stuff rather than being cannon fodder) and not everyone can or should be in the military. Proud civilian here, army of none. I have fought my own battles that would challenge any infantryman. And my most recent interaction with military was with a bunch of MPs around a local base, and they were complete disrespectful assholes with no honor and consideration for somebody who’s paying for their room, board, medical care, and genuine hero certificate. Concordantly I have very little respect for the military and view them pretty much as just a necessary evil. mike says: December 13, 2017 at 06:47 April 23, 2018 at 18:07 What a butthurt article. I was a Marine. My job specialties were Intelligence Specialist and Recruiter. I didn’t care what your MOS was, I told everyone to stay the fuck out of the SCIF if they didn’t have the clearance or need to know. In the recruiter office, you could not thump your chest about your 80 GT MOS to sound cool to a bunch of impressionable kids. It matters not though. After all, once you get out, every civilian knows that every Marine is a rifleman. :0) umadbro? Ben says: September 5, 2018 at 07:35 I’d say as an 11b, the key thing is this. Did you or did you not live on the FOB? If you did? You’re a pog. If you didn’t you were in the shit and even if you didn’t see combat at least you felt the pain of being actually deployed. Now they are still Pogs, but during deployment you did 10x better than the ones who lived on the fob. You experienced true deployment. Even if you didn’t patrol, you at least felt the pain. The FOB is the true test of deployment. The FOB is always a place of high end vacationing that you can always go back to. We knew we could never go back there until the deployment was done. No AC, no electricity, walking in rivers of piss and shit that went up to your waist, 0 privacy, packing in portopotties with your feet because the shit is piling higher than the seat. Having to sleep in full gear because of the constant mortars hitting our small ass house. The FOB. Salsa nights, full pools, lobster/crab legs, spa massages/pedi/mani, plenty of retail shopping, a fully stacked gym, movie theaters, fast food, coffee, smoothies, video Game Center’s, INTERNET/PHONE!!!, greater sense of safety, nearly never having to use your weapon on the FOB (we had it 24/7), never having to wear combat gear on the FOB, dessert stations, ice cream, energy drinks. Also if you ever see a famous singer or someone like a politician come over, it’s always on the FOB. Infantrymen never get to see them. Christmas, thanksgiving, other holidays, we never even really have a sense of what day or month it is. We never get to see some bullshit Santa or having turkey. Now this isn’t all FOBS, some have less, some have more. But when I’m on the FOB and I see two vet techs playing xbox on deployment, and I ask them what they do. They say play Xbox. I asked what do they do after work? Play Xbox. Gotta love internet gaming on Call of duty. When you’re in the real call of duty, but don’t do any of it. I don’t have an issue with Pogs, I’m a pretty lax guy good friends with a lot of them. But the only irritation is the FOB. I hate the fob. It creates the severe distinction that we are very different solely because of all the amnenities they have. Own rooms for god sake? 10 of us backed into one room, dying of heat. It is only the Fob that creates the divide to me. Fobs should take down ALL amnenities to at least a level that seems like a deployment. Ben says: September 5, 2018 at 07:53 If you were an infantryman and lived on the fob and never seen combat, you’re pretty close to a pog. But if you were an infantryman who did see combat, not a pog, but you still didn’t see a true deployment. Ben says: September 5, 2018 at 08:01 Also, if you’re ripped and doing college work in the military, you’re most likely a pog. You have the free time to work out extensively to get pure definition, and you have time to do college work. Unlike other MOS’s we never have time. The job is constant and we cannot afford those luxuries. That’s not to say PT isn’t important, it’s the most important. Getting over 300, going into the extended scale was minimum. If you didn’t score 270 or higher, you had remedial PT after work. But I’m strictly talking about being able to focus on certain body parts and be extensions intricate with definition. Pogs can be I’m the gym all day. We cannot. Ben says: September 5, 2018 at 07:36 This was back in 05’ OIF Chris D says: September 16, 2018 at 05:15 Having read the comments, it seems that you are all a bunch of little whining bitches. Grow up, get a life and learn the meaning of teamwork. LikeLiked by 1 person chris says: October 14, 2018 at 04:11 How many war movies are on POGs November 15, 2018 at 08:14 Guess MI ain’t shit either huh? This blog is sad to see, Glad Fort Dix has not tooken this approach. November 15, 2018 at 22:28 I still can’t believe that this post is still getting hits and comments six years later. Most still miss the point. Ory Jeffries says: February 27, 2019 at 16:10 I was Motor T. A POG. Helmand Province 2009. POGS should respect the infantrymen. No doubt. You guys did the real shit. But, on one hand, many POGS did in fact join the Marine Corps voluntarily during a time of war. I was told that I would be getting the MOS I wanted, combat engineer. I wanted to find IEDS. I was informed at boot camp that I would be B6 Ground option. Motor T is where I went. I fucking loved motor t it ended up being fun driving big trucks. IN country we found ourselves operating around Nowzad. The marines fighting there were the best of the best and battle hardened. I could never compare myself to one of those men. we owe them everything. But I can say that it can be frustrating to a POG when you get off of a 55 hour convoy where we hit multiple IEDS,watch your buddies being blown out of trucks, youre stuck in a vehicle that you have no range of motion whatsoever, nobody to talk to and when you get to the place youre going, the men there hate you. Yet we build your squad huts, build your berms, youre guard towers, your showers, purify your water, bring you your mail, bring your ammo, and then when your short on men, accompany you on pushes or missions. I seen a lot of things in country that I thought there was no way I was going to see because I was a pog. It is NOTHING like being a infantryman and kicking in doors. But I can tell you how frustrating it is to go all over Helmand province, get shot at over and over, hit IEDS every time we move, watch your buddies get hit, and never get to go after the people trying to kill you. Not to mention some of the collateral damage we all see. Being a pog is nothing like being an Infantryman, you guys are the fighters, and I commend you and am thankful for you guys. But when I hear a infantrymen say no POG should have PTSD or all POGS are shit, I really just see an idiot trying to boost his own status. Comments are closed. Recent Posts The US Military is Set Up for Failure in Ukraine Boba Fett is Still a POG Why the Endless War Failed Where Were You on 9/11? 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I’ve liked Blinkytape ever since it came out. Sure, you can hook up LED strips with an arduino or whatever easily, but sometimes having the controller built into the tape just makes things so much easier no wiring, no mounting, just plug and go. I got two strands of their separated pixels to decorate the tree last year (although I coded the lights myself rather than use their paint program, because images and color chases aren’t really what you want on a tree for weeks at a time). If I had an unlimited budget and any sense of sculptural aesthetics at all, I would buy several dozen of their BlinkyTile kits at least. This year when I went to use PatternPaint again, the only computer I had to run it was the linux laptop, because my desktop mac is too old, and when the macbook is at home it’s generally running minecraft for the 11-year-old. So I followed the download-and-build instructions, which involve QtCreator — a multi-gigabyte monster of a development framework I’ve touched maybe twice before, and SPLAT. Every time I tried to change the paintbrush color from white, the program crashed. Sometimes it crashed QtCreator as well. So after searching for possible solutions for a day or so, in the spirit of “they might as well know” I opened a new issue on Github. The next day I got a reply from Matthew Mets of Blinkinlabs saying essentially, “I can’t reproduce this on my system, try killing all the files QtCreator has made, re-downloading and see if it works.” Which I thought (being accustomed to typical software support) meant, “Something must be wrong with your system, not our problem, good luck.” It didn’t. After I posted a reply saying “Did that, still blows up” I got instructions on running QtCreator in debug mode to generate a stack trace, and then — based on the stack traces — not one but two successive new versions of the code intended to beat the linux version of the color picker into submission. I reported late friday night that the second version didn’t blow up, got a reply saturday morning that it had also passed tests on Windows and would be pulled into the main branch of the code. (Oh, and I also found a typo that tickled a case-sensitivity issue in QtCreator; I’m a little proud that I actually figured out how to fix that on my own.) There were so many reasons a developer could have used to blow off an issue raised by some random user completely unfamiliar with the project’s development tool, reporting an unreproducible bug with a little-used OS version. Matthew didn’t. And I think that’s pretty darn cool. This entry was posted in making, probably boring and tagged arduino, business, LEDs. Bookmark the permalink.	2,745
The beginnings of the best homemade bread. Ever. Seriously. Cody can't quit raving about it and may have eaten a whole loaf by himself. {I'll find out if he left me any tomorrow!} Organizing credit card receipts for work. It was almost embarrassing how many of them were for Starbucks! {some people by food, I buy coffee.} Filling out a college fair evaluate. Too harsh of an answer? Don't worry, I edited it to be nicer. For real though, elementary students don't need to be going to a college fair! We have a murder mystery party in a couple of weeks. The murder takes place at a super hero convention. Costumes will be required. Someone is a little excited. And someone else {Kota} is a little confused! While traveling this week I got to eat at a famous BBQ place. I knew my dad would be so happy {and jealous!} This lovely is in my hotel room right now. In the room people. {You can see the corner of my bed.} I have to admit.... soaking in a nice bubble bath sounds wonderful, but I just can't help but feel a little squirmish about how clean it really is! We saw this fire coming back from a fair today and were kinda freaking out about it. Apparently it must be a normal thing, because no one was around the area checking on it! And finally, these beauties from Gigi's Cupcakes. From top, clockwise: Red Velvet, Kentucky Bourbon Pie, Canadian Maple Bacon, Butter Toffee. Want to know my favorite? Canadian Maple Bacon! It was delicious! And in case you're worried that I've gone a little extreme in my eating, a friend and I shared these! The icing was seriously about 2 inches tall on each cupcake so they were super rich. I sure wouldn't mind having another one right now though :) So that's a look into my week! Do you Instagram? If you have an iPhone, you need this app! Such a fun, easy way to take great pictures! Posted by Abby at Thursday, October 06, 2011 11 comments: your supermegawowpal October 6, 2011 at 11:29 PM Visiting from the link up! Holy Smokes is the Underwood's in good ol' Brownwood?!! My parents met at Howard Payne and my brother went there. I {happily and luckily} bowed out of the small town college experience. Haha! Did you like it? ReplyDelete Replies Yuè October 7, 2011 at 12:11 AM i like all the photos especially the cupcakes :) here's my entry ReplyDelete Replies The Morris Family October 7, 2011 at 3:54 AM ReplyDelete Replies Nancy October 7, 2011 at 7:33 AM I LOVE your response for the college fair. Your humor is rad! And, the superhero excitement. Love it! Great post. Happy friday. ReplyDelete Replies jessica dukes October 7, 2011 at 7:36 AM haha, my husband and i stayed somewhere in iowa with a tub like that IN our room...and i was like "uuuuh, yeah no, i can not imagine what has been in that thing!" so no go for use too! love this post and your pictures. ReplyDelete Replies Becca at One Girl October 7, 2011 at 12:27 PM I totally feel your pain about cleanliness in a hotel room. Those cupcakes look fabulous! I love a glimpse into others lives :) Happy Friday! ReplyDelete Replies Chelsea October 7, 2011 at 1:18 PM Those cupcakes look delicious! And I'd be worried about that tub too :/ I'm sure it's fine, but hotels always give me the willies! ReplyDelete Replies Heidi Jo the Artist October 7, 2011 at 4:52 PM Yummy looking cupcakes and fun costume too! Ahh, and no children at the college fair??? It is crazy and sad that our society thinks so lowly of children at times to exclude them from so many things. Children are the future. And who's to say my unschooled children won't be going to college before they are 18... Just a different perspective and something to think about. ;) Hope you have a nice weekend! ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous October 8, 2011 at 9:50 AM Oh those cupcakes looks divine!!!!! Great shots! ReplyDelete Replies Angie October 8, 2011 at 7:46 PM We have a plant that you can always see fire like that- totally normal *around here anyway! I'm not sure where you were but if you are in KY, totally normal :) Those cupcakes look divine!!!! ReplyDelete Replies Jeannett October 10, 2011 at 11:19 PM Um, girl, i feel that same way about the ENTIRE hotel room. I have to not think about it or I want to puke. So I know what you mean. ;) thanks for linking up! ReplyDelete Replies Thanks for commenting- I love hearing from readers! 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The new findings suggest that beekeepers could potentially integrate a B. apis supplement into their colonies' diets to counteract the negative influence of poor nutrition. (Credit: James Brosher/Indiana U.) Article Researchers have identified a specific bacterial microbe that, when fed to honey bee larvae, can reduce the effects of nutritional stress on developing bees—one of the leading causes of honey bee decline. Humans rely on honey bees for food security. Because they will pollinate almost anything, honey bees are extremely useful for agriculture. But over the past few decades, the honey bee population has experienced dramatic declines caused by the effects of multiple stressors, the most pervasive of which is limited nutrition. “If you limit yourself to only eating one thing, that’s not healthy for you. Bees are the same way.” Beekeepers in the United States reported losing 40.5% of their managed colonies between 2015 and 2016 alone, according to a national survey. “The effects of poor nutrition are most damaging in the developing larvae of honey bees, who mature into workers unable to meet the needs of their colony,” says Irene Newton, a professor in the Indiana University biology department who led the study. “It is therefore essential that we better understand the nutritional landscape experienced by honey bee larvae.” Newton says honey bees need to collect pollen and nectar from a variety of plants and flowers to help their colonies stay healthy throughout the year. But many bees in the US lack this floral diversity. “We’ve changed the way we use our land in the US,” Newton says. “Now we have tons of monoculture crops like corn, which are wind pollinated and therefore no use to bees, covering acres and acres of land. Other crops that bees do pollinate are grown in monoculture as well, limiting the options for bees. “If you limit yourself to only eating one thing, that’s not healthy for you. You have to have a broad diet that will help fulfill all of your nutritional needs. Bees are the same way.” Honey bee larvae are fed by their sister bees. Their diet consists of foraged ingredients such as nectar and pollen, as well as royal jelly—a bee glandular secretion that is complex and nutrient rich. If larvae are destined to be queens, they will eat royal jelly their whole lives. If they are workers, their diets will shift to nectar and pollen after a few days. In addition to being more nutritious than nectar and pollen, royal jelly has long been known to possess potent antimicrobial properties due to its acidity, viscosity, and the presence of antimicrobial peptides. This means that most microbes exposed to royal jelly die, Newton says. Except one. According to their new study, Newton and her research team found that a specific microbe—Bombella apis—is the only larva-associated bacterium that’s actually able to thrive in royal jelly. They also found that B. apis makes royal jelly more nutritious by significantly increasing its amino acid content, which helps developing bees build resilience against nutritional stress. “We have identified a nutritional symbiont of honey bees—a microbe that can help bolster the bees against nutrient scarcity and stress,” Newton says. “When we limited bee nutrition during development, we saw a drop in mass for the bees; bees were much smaller than their control counterparts. “When B. apis was added to these same bees, although they had poor nutrition, they reached the same mass as control bees given full nutrition. The microbe was able to make up for the poor diet. This suggests that B. apis could be added to colonies as a probiotic to protect from nutritional stress.” The results suggest that B. apis may have potential as a key supplement in future beekeepers’ efforts to counteract the negative influence of poor nutrition on honey bee health. B. apis can survive for over 24 hours in sugar water, so beekeepers who are already supplementing their colonies could potentially integrate a B. apis probiotic into their bees’ diets. This research expands on over six years of previous studies by Newton and her colleagues, including findings that B. apis protects bees against fungal infections and is a significant part of the queen gut microbiome. “We are excited to explore the other interactions that B. apis has in a colony, to better understand what it’s doing in different environments and the role it plays in association with honey bee queens,” Newton says.	4,655
Workshops are two hour sessions held during ISMB 2014 that cover a broad range of topics that are not primarily research oriented. The purpose of the workshop track is to bring together people with common interests to discuss defined topics. Workshops are viewed as sessions with more structure than the "Birds of a Feather" (BoF) and a format that can include mulitple talks and ample discussion time. Previous workshops have included Funding Opportunities, Education in Bioinformatics, and Bioinformatics Core Facilities. September 23, 2013 Call for Workshops Opens December 20, 2013 January 15, 2014 Workshop Acceptance Notification April 4, 2014 Detailed Schedule with Speakers May 9, 2014 Complete Workshop Program Due Technical instructions: Workshops run the same schedule as all other conference parallel tracks. They must be designed as half-day sessions (2 hours) and synchronized with other tracks. The regular presentation unit is 30 minutes consisting of 20 minute talks + 5 minute discussion + 5 minutes for movement between parallel tracks. Workshops may include any form of presentation such as talks or panel discussions. Preference will be given to topics of wide interest to attendees, with a planned program agenda that is not primarily made up of research paper presentations. Potential fields of interest include Funding Opportunities, Education in Bioinformatics (sponsored by the Education committee), and Bioinformatics Core Facilities. Additional topics of particular interest to the ISMB community or those sponsored by ISCB committees are welcome. Proposals for Workshops should be submitted via the online submission system here by end of day December 20, 2013. (You have until 11.59 p.m. in the time zone of your choice. This means that the submission server will be closed at noon, 11:59 am GMT (UTC+0), December, 2013). How to submit: Submissions must include up to a one-page description of the topic, its relevance to the ISMB community, and the reasons for planning a workshop on this topic at ISMB 2014. These explanations could be followed by a list of topics for possible presentations with one-paragraph descriptions. Finally, a draft time schedule for the workshop should be presented. A finalized list of speaker names is not necessary but may add validity to the proposal. If you list invited speakers as "accepted", please make sure that they agree to speak understanding the financial constraints described below. Submitters should briefly describe their qualification/experience in organizing a workshop. Financial constraints: Workshop chairs and speakers must pay their expenses, including ISMB registration, to participate at the meeting. Therefore, the ISMB organizers highly encourage workshop organizers to seek independent funding, and to include any commitment that they may have secured in the proposal. ISMB will help in the administrative aspects of assigning the rooms, announcements and adding the detailed schedule to the conference program. Note that the ISMB cannot financially support the speakers or the workshop organizers. All submissions will be evaluated by a committee,which will consider the following criteria: Complementarity to the ISMB program provided by the other tracks. Completeness, clarity, and quality of the workshop proposal. Qualification of the submitter(s) to organize the workshop. Likely success of the proposed workshop. Overlap with other proposal or pre-selected activity. Submitters of successful workshop proposals will be notified of their provisional acceptance by January 15, 2014. The detailed schedule, names and affiliations of speakers, presentation titles and short abstract must be provided before April 4, 2014. A final program with all times and speakers must be sent to the organizers for publication on the web and for the conference program booklet by May 9, 2014. Titles of presentations in each workshop will be posted in the conference program. Organizers of workshops are encouraged to prepare abstracts or additional written material that will be presented online at the beginning of the meeting. For more information please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.	4,371
Daisy and Waffle at 12 weeks - Things have settled into a nice routine. - PAWSitively Perfect Pets ! My title Links Daisy and Waffle at 12 weeks - Things have settled into a nice routine. The Doods are getting bigger. Daisy weight in at 9 lbs while Waffle is a solid 13lbs. This week they had their first taste of Peanut Butter and I think they loved it! They are truly Brother and Sister and fight over everything. If Daisy has something, Waffle wants it, and vice-versa . Sometimes you'd think they were in a death match as they play fight but they know when to stop and always finish the battle with a cuddle. Training has been going well but I have not introduced much since the Sit command. we are informally working on come and stay . I want to master Sit and Down first as its iust easier to get them to stay from a down position. They had more leash training this week and went for a walk with the Pack. Lucy (my Lab) and Lily ( the border collie next door). Waffle thoroughly enjoyed it but Daisy was a bit overwhelmed with all the new sites and smell and those big things on wheels. I don't think I have to worry about her being a tire biter. They go for a dip in the lake daily to cool off and get used to the sensation of floating in water. We started work on the path to the park next door today. Had Mitch and Kylo dragging leftover cardboard boxes from the move to serve as a weed block through the path. I knew I was saving those for something. Almost through but needs a lot more work before we can start using it for daily romps to the park. Posted a Youtube click below showing them with their first taste of peanut butter. YUM! Leave a Reply. Author Hey there, I'm Rhonda, a single Mom living in Halifax, NS with my son Mitch and my dogs. This is my website detailing my experiences as I enter into the world of dog breeding.	1,984
Want to hear whats happening BHS with ATFL, new collections, collabarations and competitions? Just pop in your email below, its that simple. Email address Payment Copyright © 2022, All Things Fiona-Lily. Powered by Shopify Subscribe to shop You must subscribe to be able you shop my new capsule collections. There is now 5728 of you in 23 Countries!	349
North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. Listen for Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or streamsides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet. Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees. Listen for Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or streamsides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet. Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees. Listen for Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or streamsides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet. Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees. Listen for Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or streamsides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet. Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees. Listen for Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or streamsides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet. Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees. Listen for Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or streamsides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet. Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out. Listen for Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or streamsides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet. Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees. Listen for Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or streamsides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet. Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees. Listen for Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or streamsides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet. Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees. Listen for Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or streamsides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet. Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees.	10,596
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Some cookies are necessary in order to make this website function correctly. These are set by default and whilst you can block or delete them by changing your browser settings, some functionality such as being able to log in to the website will not work if you do this. The necessary cookies set on this website are as follows: A 'sessionid' token is required for logging in to the website and a 'crfstoken' token is used to prevent cross site request forgery. An 'alertDismissed' token is used to prevent certain alerts from re-appearing if they have been dismissed. An 'awsUploads' object is used to facilitate file uploads. We use Matomo cookies to improve the website performance by capturing information such as browser and device types. The data from this cookie is anonymised. Cookies are used to help distinguish between humans and bots on contact forms on this website. A cookie is used to store your cookie preferences for this website. Cookies that are not necessary to make the website work, but which enable additional functionality, can also be set. By default these cookies are disabled, but you can choose to enable them below:	1,186
Edtech – the word is fast becoming one of the most used terms in any discussion on education. The word refers to technology in classrooms and the key point in conversations is how this is being used to further education today. Another big topic is what it will be used for in the future. So what exactly does the use of technology in education mean for the world? In society right now, knowledge has never been more freely available than it is today. The internet and mobile devices have put every piece of human thought (right or wrong) at our fingertips. It is, quite literally, unprecedented. In terms of education in schools, this is both a blessing and a curse. It also means that teachers now “have a fundamental role to play in initiating approaches, providing the keys to access knowledge and leading projects that promote the ability to work together”. As the role of the teacher becomes intertwined with technology, it’s easy to start wondering about what the classroom of the future will look like. We took a trip in the DeLorean and asked Marty if we could stop and have a quick peek. What do classrooms of the future look like? It isn’t a cold future as many have feared. Yes, it’s full of software and devices that change the way we interact, but they don’t limit us or our connections to the real world. It’s quite the opposite. Technology in classrooms allows students to experience things far beyond the physical constraints of the room, the building and even the school grounds. They can also share experiences far more easily with their peers and their families. Location is no longer a limiting factor for students and teachers. Through online screen sharing or virtual reality (VR), they can go anywhere in the world. Even better, they can learn from anywhere in the world. Students based in one town can talk to leading experts in literature, physics, astronomy and gastronomy from all across the planet. Live video sessions become fully interactive thanks to holographic projections and VR. The actual physical classroom is also completely different. LCD touch screens line the walls, rather one board in the front. These interactive walls will “keep children engaged and allow for multiple children to touch the screen at once”. Additionally, the furniture isn’t static, with everyone facing forwards. Students can move their desks around with ease in order to team up with each other for projects. Teachers can display information on a large screen for the whole class or share it on specific devices. In the classroom of the future, the so-called “natural boundaries” between teachers and students is gone. Adaptive learning is a reality There is a lot of talk right now about the style of teaching changing. Educators around the world are toying with the idea of throwing out the rulebook that says every student must pass the same test to prove they understand the topics covered that term. Fully fledged adaptive learning is a reality in tomorrow’s classrooms thanks to the complete integration of edtech into a syllabus. The edtech will be able to actually learn about the students and then help teachers to create learning plans for individuals based on how well they are coping with the lessons, according to a theory put forward by ASCD Inservice. In the future, pedagogy becomes unique to the individuals being taught. There is no more one size fits all lesson plan. Just think about what this means for assessing students. They will no longer have to submit assignments in one particular way. They can find the way that best expresses their understanding of the subject or topic and then set about proving to the teacher that they know what they’re talking about. For example, “the teacher may receive the assignment in various mediums that can include a recorded video, an elaborate diorama, a research paper” or ways we haven’t even thought of yet. What is holding us back? Just a quick look at the future is enough to show that the world is nearly there. However, there are some major factors that are still holding us back. The first is clearly connectivity and access. There are far too many people still without access to the internet or up-to-date technology. Until we reach the point where rural and poorer communities can have the same access as the main cities around the world, we can’t quite make it into that future. Another key factor is educational systems that hold fast to traditional pedagogy. This teaching method states that every student must pass the same tests in order to move on with their schooling. Only a small percentage of students are allowed to deviate from these norms, and they are usually identified as special needs students. This actually puts an additional strain on the student as they are singled out as different in a bad way. Once we are able to break down the barriers and see that two children can learn in totally different ways but still full comprehend the subject matter, we can move forward. We’re on the right track with technology in classrooms It’s already clear that we’re working towards this educational future because more and more teachers are enjoying an adaptive style of education. Schools around the world are also embracing technology in classrooms, and seeing great benefits from it. The number of schools using smart boards instead of white boards or chalk boards is ever increasing. Smart boards allow for greater spread of different types of information. Students can also “touch and move content on the board”, thereby engaging with the content. Schools embracing the use of mobile devices in class are also seeing great changes, when the programs are implemented correctly. When teachers are able to use Mobile Device Management (MDM) software, they can also track and monitor the progress of each student. This allows them to adapt lesson plans for those who are not coping with the main learning approach. This allows for more personal attention and a greater understanding by the teacher. As schools adapt their pedagogy, they can better accommodate edtech and get themselves ready for the future. Onwards, Inspired by technology that meaningfully impacts student learning. Probably surrounded by pot plants.	6,267
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You can give yourself and your family peace of mind by planning for your estate with certain instruments, drafted to suit your particular needs and desires. Gail Dentel Drake has served for over 12 years in probate law throughout Southwest Georgia. The administration of a loved one’s estate can be confusing, time consuming and expensive. It is made more difficult by the grief of losing a loved one. Our experience in estate matters helps to simplify the process and avoid costly mistakes and delays. Probate—The court-supervised process to identify and gather a decedent’s assets, pay taxes, creditor claims and expenses, and distribute assets to the beneficiaries. The Executor named in the Will must petition the Probate Court to probate the Will. Once the Will is admitted to probate and the Executor appointed by the Court, the estate can be fully administered per the decedent’s wishes stated in the Will. Administration—The court-supervised process to identify and gather a decedent’s assets, pay taxes and expenses, and distribute to the heirs. An administration occurs when the decedent dies “intestate” -- without leaving a Last Will and Testament. An interested person must petition to be appointed as Administrator, and the appointment process, as well as the process to probate the estate, is more demanding. Administration requires detailed inventories, annual reports, and distributing to heirs per Georgia intestacy laws. Administering estates can become more complex with the multiplicity of heirs, assets situated in multiple states, and located missing assets. Incapacitated Adults—As our loved one age, sometimes they come to the point where they need some help. Guardianship is the legal process by which an adult is declared incapacitated. A guardian is appointed to manage the ward’s physical care, and a conservator appointed to manage the ward’s property. The circumstances that lead to a guardianship are often emotionally difficult and complicated. After the appointment, the work continues with court-supervision of the ward’s care and property, specific forms must be completed and approved for various issues, such as the settlement of a lawsuit, transferring certain assets, and modifications. The guardian and conservator are legally responsible to follow all provisions of the guardianship code. With our experience in guardianships we can help you navigate through the process of appointment and ongoing fiduciary management. We can also help you avoid a guardianship proceeding with proper planning. Minors—Sometimes it becomes necessary to obtain a guardianship for minor children. The process of filing for legal guardianship, temporary or permanent, can be done in one of several courts. “Gail Drake not only handled my delicate family situation with the utmost competence and professionalism, but she was kind and understanding. She never let me lose perspective on why I was pursuing this case, and in the end I consider my experience with her among my most treasured blessings.”—Margaret B. “Gail is an extremely determined, hardworking and knowledgeable individual, and the most ethical person anyone could ask to have represent them. I speak for our entire family that her contributions and diligence in getting our case resolved amicably and quickly is most appreciated.”—Jerry H. “I’ve known Gail Drake for several years as she appeared in my court. She is knowledgeable as an attorney, compassionate with those who come to her, she listens.”—The Honorable Sheryl Hall (ret.), Worth County Probate Court Family Law Adoption—One of the happiest occurrences in law is the legal creation of a new family for a child and parents. The process of adoption is specific with mandatory provisions in order to protect the rights of all the parties, including the adopting parents, the birth parents, and most of all, the best interests of the child being adopted. Additional considerations include legal notification of certain parties, inquiries as to Native American and military parentage. Having joined families by adoptions for several years, we can assist you through the detailed process of adoption. Custody—This firm will assist with establishing custody when there is a child in need of a home, and a parent is absent. The petition for custody requires specific documents that address issues of child support and visitation. This firm does not engage in custody disputes between parents. Legitimation—is the legal process by which a biological father, who is not married to the birth mother, can petition for recognition as a child’s father and legitimate the child. This process grants the birth father rights with regard to the child. The petition for legitimation likewise requires specific documentation that addresses child support and visitation. Gail Drake is certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist by NACC. You can give yourself and your family peace of mind by planning for your estate with certain instruments, drafted to suit your particular needs and desires. Last Will and Testament—specifies your wishes as to who you choose to administer your estate, and who you want to receive your assets after your death. Your Will can include bequests of specific property to particular loved ones. Your Will can include a testamentary trust for minor children as well as nominating a guardian to care for your children and a trustee to care for assets set aside in a trust. If you do not have a Will, the State of Georgia has an intestacy plan for who will inherit your estate, and specific processes to administer your estate that can be costly. Your planning with a Last Will and Testament will ensure that your wishes are carried out and help to reduce family friction at a difficult time. Power of Attorney—grants authority to a specified individual to manage your property in your stead, without reducing your authority. A Power of Attorney can be useful if you are unavailable to handle financial matters due to illness or absence (for military deployment or otherwise). We caution our clients to be careful with these instruments and nominate the most trustworthy persons as their agent. Powers of Attorney can be drafted to address specific needs and situations, such as the transfer of specific assets, or for a specified occasion. Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care—Georgia’s standard instrument for a health care power of attorney allows you to specify who you desire to make health care decisions when you become unable to do so. The instrument also allows you to specify certain end-of-life health care treatment you desire. Give your family the gift of your stated wishes, and reduce family friction by clarifying in this instrument exactly what care you wish to follow during the most difficult time in your life. Sometimes disagreements grow to the point that the parties can’t even talk with each other without conflicts. They may rise from family issues, personalities, or business transactions. Finally, one party will file a formal charge against another. In some cases, the judge orders the parties to mediation. A mediator is a neutral, third party facilitator, who will conference with the parties to explore how a dispute might be settled. She works with both sides to analyze the benefits as well as the risks and costs of continued litigation. The mediator provides a fair, impartial process for the hearing, but the authority to resolve the dispute rests with the parties. A well trained mediator can help the parties work toward a better understanding of the issues, and a better resolution, by examining core issues and values. Mediation is confidential and non-binding, though the parties may choose to have their agreement incorporated into a formal order for the Court. Gail Drake is a GODR certified mediator, trained at the Justice Center of Atlanta. Gail Dentel Drake has served for over 14 years in probate law throughout Southwest Georgia. She has successfully administered complex estates involving multiple heirs in several states, with assets misappropriated and relocated from Louisiana to Florida. Some estates involved appearing in out-of-state courts, such as the Los Angeles Probate Court. For several years Gail was court appointed to represent over 50 incapacitated adults in guardianship petitions and was entrusted to safeguard their rights and interests. Gail Drake was court appointed as co-conservator of one guardianship with assets exceeding $4 million. For six years Gail was appointed guardian ad litem to represent children in eight counties involved with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Since 2013 Gail has served as Special Assistant Attorney General (SAAG), representing DFCS in three counties as they sought to protect children in crisis, and help parents remedy causes of dependency in order to reunite their families. She is certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist (CWLS) by the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC). Gail has served on numerous community and ministry boards and engages in volunteer work, including the Salvation Army, The Anchorage (Christian substance abuse recovery center), Albany Rescue Mission, Mission for Haiti, ROCK International (relief agency in Africa), and Ballet Theatre South. She teaches regular classes at these recovery centers. Gail Dentel Drake received a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of South Carolina School Of Law in 2000, after completing a B.A. and M.S. from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and South Carolina Bar, as well as the Dougherty County Bar, and admitted to the Georgia Court of Appeals. Gail is a certified mediator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, receiving her training at the Justice Center of Atlanta. Gail is married to Gregory Drake, pharmacist and elder, and raises their two children. In her prior career she served at several non-profit ministries, including two children’s homes, two homeless ministries, and a Christian university. Let me know how I can help you. Please don't provide confidential details. Sending a message does not constitute a working relationship, nor is receipt guaranteed.	10,403
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As part of that effort, we decided to make our monthly community meeting for June into a BBQ. They say free food is the way to bring people out. We hoped such an event would bring out some new faces, let people get to know their neighbors, and help foster a sense of community. So I’ve spent a lot of time over the last month or so trying to promote this BBQ. We printed up 6,000 flyers and I guess we distributed most of them. We had the BBQ last night, and I’d say it was a screaming success. The indefatigable Jennifer W. broke down the following numbers: Dawn indicated we grilled 300 burgers, plus 8 veggie burgers, and I believe 70 hot dogs. Accounting that some people stopped by and didn’t eat, we likely had nearly 500 people present. Deborah said we signed up 12 new block captains, and per the map we now have a block captain in each Zone! We did $125 in merchandise sales. We gave away 6 T-Shirts in our Ice Breaker raffle. Geneva said we got 20 new members. I personally met at least 100 new people, and am sure many others can say the same. Many thanks to my neighbors who helped make this happen, especially Dawn who took on organizing the thing. We have sponsored many events since the storm, but this was exceptional. But even while basking in the afterglow of a successful team effort, I am trying to think of things we might try differently in the future. I found the task of getting flyers out to our entire area (which is very large) to be almost overwhelming. In the future, I’d like to try to focus on one zone at a time. (We have divided our neighborhood map into thirteen sections.) It might even make sense to think in terms of a community BBQ and/or community meetings at the zone level. Update: Alan has pictures. Thanks, Alan! Community Mid-City Previous Post Nolle Prosequi Next Post Fireworks Merchandise? You have merchandise? I’d totally by a Mid-City t-shirt to support what you guys are trying to do. Where can I send a check? Incidentally, your bbq sounds like a huge success. Congratulations! Tuesday, 3 July 2007 And of course, I’d “buy” a t-shirt rather than “by” one, but you knew what I meant. . . Tuesday, 3 July 2007 Hello- I lived at Toulouse and Carrollton til August ’05. I love and miss Mid-City dearly. Please send me info on how to buy a mid-city t-shirt.	5,602
This week is the last of a two part series to walk you through a selection of photos from my second Snow Monkeys & Hokkaido Tour for 2015. We pick up the trail on day seven, with one last Whooper Swan photo, before the majestic sea eagles, and a surprise visit from a beautiful Northern Fox. Towards the end of last week’s episode, when I walked you through the first 12 photos from Tour #2, I mentioned that the swans often run along the water in front of the frozen lake as they take off. This is the photo I was thinking of, and the unsteadiness of the water often gives the swans an ungainly look as they splash along the water gaining speed to take flight (below). Men in the Mist Also, as I mentioned last week, I generally shoot panning shots like this between 1/25 and 1/40 of a second exposure. 1/25 has a much higher failure rate for sharp heads, but can result in more aesthetically pleasing blurred shots. 1/40 of a second has a high success rate, but less wing movement. This particular image was shot at 1/30 of a second, so the head is slightly less sharp on close inspection, but beautiful wing movement is recorded, so it can be a good if somewhat risky balance. Next is a fun shot that I made after breakfast on day seven, as we visited Sulphur Mountain, for what is usually an apocalyptic scene with the volcanic fumaroles spewing sulphuric steam into the atmosphere. As it was so warm in Hokkaido for pretty much most of this winter though, it was too misty to any more than a few close-up grab shots of the fumaroles, but I quite like this fun shot of two of our tour participants in the mist (right). I have a couple of frames in which the subject to the right is more prominent, but I like the minimalism here, and just a hint of the figure looking quite sinister to the left of the image. As we drove over to the fishing town of Rausu, where we would spend three days, going out each morning to photograph the sea eagles, we took a look at a couple of locations where I know there to be Ural Owls, but they were not on their nests this day, so we continued on after lunch to the Notsuke Peninsula. As warm as it has been, with temperatures floating around freezing point most days, I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised to see this, but it seemed very strange to be able to see the dried grasses and patches of dirt showing through what is usually just pure white snow plains (below). Ezo Deer at Notsuke Peninsula The Ezo Deer are happy enough with the situation, as they can start their spring eating a little early this year, and were often so busy with their feast that they wouldn’t even look up for a photograph as we stalked them from the bus on the road that runs along the thin fishhook shaped strip of land that juts out into the sea on the east coast of Hokkaido. We went out to photograph the sea eagles at dawn on all three mornings that we were in Rausu, and although the sea ice was very close to the shore on the first morning, high winds drove it out from our base in Rausu towards the Kunashiri Island on the other side of the Nemuro Strait from the second day. Still, we had three great mornings, with the middle shoot being a bit slow. I’ll share a few eagle shots from the second morning in a moment, but after our first morning, we headed back out to the Notsuke Peninsula, but shortly after we got there, I received a phone call from a friend to tell me that one of the Ural Owls that we’d gone to photograph the day before, was currently on its perch, so we headed over there to photograph this adorable avian (below). I often switch to portrait mode for these owls, because that enables me to fill the frame with the tree trunk, but for this shot, I used the landscape orientation, and showed the edges of the tree to give the owl a little more context, and I thought that worked pretty well here, and more than anything, I was happy that I’d been able to provide the group with an owl photo, following a couple of no-shows the previous day. Back to the sea eagles now though, and here’s a photo of a Steller’s Sea Eagle from our second dawn shoot with them (below). Here he’s coming in to land on the sea ice, and I just love the detail in his feathers, and those crazily cool talons, and pensive stare as he concentrates on his approach. The following morning, having found a good perch in the foreground for the eagles to sit on as the sun came up, we waited for the sun and eagles to do just that, as we can see in this photo (below). The eagles generally just sit on these high perches of ice, and seem to just enjoy the sunrise as we do, but sometimes, as we see here, they jostle for position on these perches, and I was able to capture this particular jostle while the sun was still close to the horizon. One tip to keep in mind when shooting things like this, is that once the birds are in front of the sun, auto-focus gets all flustered, and generally doesn’t work until you see a more distinct silhouette, like in this photograph. If you are working from a boat like this, it’s a good idea if you use the back AF button to focus, to get focus while the birds are away from the sun, and assuming you don’t move closer to or further away from the subject, just don’t press the AF button again as the bird moves in front of the sun. If you do that, the focus can start to search and you’ll miss your shot. Of course, you have to disable the focus from the shutter button as well, and this is a common way to set up a camera for wildlife and sports photographers. I won’t go into detail on this now, but if you are interested, let me know and I’ll do an episode on this, and go through the merits and demerits of focusing in this way. Another thing to remember at times like this too, is to try not to look at the sun through the lens too long. You’ll end up doing it for a few seconds to get your image all lined up and composed nicely, but once you have your composition set and the lens focussed, move your eye up slightly, so that the sun is obscured, at least partially, by the top of the viewfinder. This way you can still see enough to maintain focus and your composition without frying your eyeballs. Note too that this is only possible while the sun is very low in the sky. Once the sun rises much more than you see in this shot, it’s very dangerous to look at it directly through your camera, especially with a long lens, and even when it’s obscured slightly. OK, so here’s my messy sea ice shot. It’s nice when we have sea ice, especially when it creates a nice an uniform background as it did in the earlier eagle shot. It can be quite messy though, as you can see in this next photograph, of a White-Tailed Eagle taking a fish from the sea (below). I can live with the messy sea ice in this shot though, as I just love the wavy shapes and lines in this image. The wave formed by the lower line of the neck of this eagle is almost mirrored by the arch of the water that the bird has kicked up as he drew the fish from the water. Of course, it’s easier to get a much cleaner background by shooting the eagles in flight, as I did with this next image (below). We have the mountains behind Rausu in the background here, and I went in really tight with the new 100-400mm lens from Canon at 271mm. I could have pulled out further of course, but sometimes I just like to really crop in tightly to capture the incredible detail in the magnificent raptors. Pensive Flight Here’s one last fun shot of the Steller’s Sea Eagles before we move on (below). This is not a multiple exposure or anything like that. These three stooges had been sitting on a bit of ice, just chewing the fat, as they do of a morning, and decided it would be fun to walk across this little chunk of ice to a larger piece, and I was lucky enough to capture the comical moment. After our third dawn sea eagle shoot, we had some tough decisions to make, as the weather was closing in on us again. If you remember from the previous episodes, on Tour #1, there had been major road closures across eastern Hokkaido forcing us to stay in one hotel and extra night, and preventing us from getting to Rausu for two days. We brought the situation around by positioning ourselves to get in early enough on our second day to shoot the eagles, and then we shot twice more on our last day there, but it had been a difficult couple of days. Well, although we’d finished three great eagle shoots on Tour #2, if we’d moved on to Utoro, where we do some finishing landscape work and have a great last dinner, there was a good chance that we would not be able to leave Utoro on our last morning, forcing us to miss our flight. There was also a good chance that our flight on this side of the island would be cancelled, so it was decision time. We decided to change our plans, and abandon our last day in Utoro, in favour of traveling across the island to a different airport, so we changed our flights as well as our hotel for the last night. We did have enough good weather and time left to go through to the pass to Shari, at the base of the Shiretoko Peninsula for lunch though, and that also took us past the spot where we usually stop to do some intentional camera movement shots of the birch trees, as we see here (below). Birch Trees in Snow We had a lot of ground to cover through the afternoon though, to get to Kushiro, and our new hotel, and to be in position for our newly arranged flight. Not wanting to spend the entire afternoon on the bus though, we headed for the Mashuu Lake, where we would have 45 minutes or so to shoot before heading on, but then just as we reached the area, we found this incredibly cute young Northern Fox (below) just sitting at the side of the road, and he posed for us for about 15 minutes before we had to leave. We all got lots of great photos of this young guy, but after we’d been there for a while, and I was shooting over the head of one of our participants, he got up and moved away, giving me his seat. Just as he did, the fox did this huge yawn, and although I wasn’t quite lined up properly, I was already focussed, and got what was probably my favourite photo from the entire tour. I was a little annoyed that I’d got so much space above this little guys head, but this is a perfect space for the time and date on my iPhone lock screen, and it will also be great for adding copy on an ad or magazine cover for example, so I’m looking forward to getting this uploaded to OFFSET the stock agency that represents my work. I’ll share more of this little guy later, but I hope you like this shot. It’s definitely one of my favourites. The last photography stop of the tour turned out to be Mashuu Lake, as you see here (below). This is a beautiful spot, but now with only thirty minutes left, as we spent 15 minutes shooting the fox, we only had time for a bit of a flying visit before we had to continue on to Kushiro. We had some great local food in a quaint old bar that night, and then woke the next morning to a cancelled flight, as the weather had closed in even earlier than expected. Yukiko our tour conductor worked her magic, and after around 90 minutes of phone calls and planning discussions with me, we decided to change our flights again, and take a risk on driving over to yet another airport that still had some free seats on the next three flights, and had not yet cancelled their first flight of the day, which was a good sign, as all other airports were cancelling their flights as quickly as we could check on availability. To cut a long story short-ish, our plans panned out, and although we lost our afternoon on day eleven and the morning on day twelve, we were repaid with a some wonderful fox photographs, a bonus landscape shoot at Mashuu Lake, and we still ended up back in Tokyo an hour earlier than planned, much to the relief of our guests who mostly had international flights to catch the following day. As usual, at the end of the trip, I went around the bus with my iPhone and recorded a brief message from each member of the group, which I’ll play you now. [Listen to the audio to hear what the group had to say.] Also, one of the participants Rich Dyson, a very talented UK photographer based in Edinburgh, Scotland, has posted a detailed recount of our tour on his blog here, if you’d like to see the tour from a participants perspective. I am also going to be chatting with a few people from the tours in a Google Hangout at some point soon, so look out for those upcoming episodes. OK, so that finishes my travelogue of our second Japan Winter Wildlife Tour for 2015. Note that we have been taking bookings for the 2016 tours for a while now, and both tours are already almost full, so if you would like to join us, check out the 2016 Tour page, and sign up sooner rather than later, to secure your place on a Japan Winter Wildlife Tour of a lifetime. Music by Martin Bailey Subscribe in iTunes for Enhanced Podcasts delivered automatically to your computer. Get this post's short-link: If you find this post useful, please consider supporting Martin Bailey Photography on Patreon! There are multiple tiers with various benefits to help you become a better photographer. Great photography Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.	14,319
1. The baby can safely make it down the steps alone. The way in which I found out this little piece of dangerous information is only because I found her on stair 6 or 7 after taking an extra 2-3 seconds to button my pants. Also, my two-year old can unlock my master bedroom door. And evidently, the best way to lure a baby to a staircase is by opening a door and saying “here Rita, Rita, Rita.” 2. This morning I spent a solid 60-70 minutes killing imaginary dinosaurs and, their friends, the bears from the woods. Death to them was warranted by their vicious attacks on the family’s toothbrush supply. Even though each princess/superhero brush was locked safely in James’ Lightening McQueen lunchbox, two toothbrushes were sacrificed in the waging dental hygiene war and nearly flushed down the toilet when Mom was too busy sword fighting the Velociraptor and his friend Care Bear. Things turned a bit too real when baby sister Rita was suspected of transforming into a baby Tyrannosaurus Rex and the weapon of choice became a pillow and suffocation the almost inadvertent course of death. 3. And speaking of death by suffocation, plastic garbage bags are now hidden much higher than their already high above a toddler’s reach position. It was one of those “only on the news or in scare tactics used to makes moms crazy paranoid but don’t actually happen in real life” actual real life moments. In an effort to wipe a counter, I turned a corner. A friendly giggle, giggle among the 3, 2, and 1-year-old turned a bit to jovial just as the actual surface of the granite began poking through. I took three steps towards the family room anticipating to catch a purposeful spill or mess being made in action only to find three children covered in plastic bags pretending to be ghosts while playing the piano (irony? Foreshadowing?) 4. My crazy started showing pretty clearly when getting into the car in a parking lot after an unsuccessful school pants run to Target and James telling me, “don’t worry mom I will go super fast so nobody gets us.” I did buy glitter nail polish and new pajamas, so not all was lost. 5. And somewhere in between James refusing to hug me on his way to school because “he would be late for work,” and Josie’s decision to only wear high heels, Rita started walking. She usually wobbles her way right to the spice rack and then into the cabinet underneath the fish tank and then to the garbage. It’s a pretty busy schedule. 6. I gave Josie a Popsicle as bribery for a shower. It had been three days of sweat and grease pile up and Rita was napping and she wanted no part of “too hot and speamy” shower, but I needed every part of one, and before I knew it she was sitting on the floor gleaming in skills and manipulation enjoying a delicious treat and I lathered thinking, “is popsicle bribery really the only way towards cleanliness?” 7. I brought my own chicken to McDonald’s. I know, I know, what is the point and how crazy can I get? And if there is ever a reason to pass the politically incorrect judgment card over my way, this one deserves it. It was leftover from a “but I don’t like chipkin” dinner the night before and packed up in the car on the way home from a weekend getaway. It was dinner time and we were driving and before I knew it we were at the golden arches and the last time we tried fast food I had spit out chipkin all over my car and I put the leftover in my purse and when Jim was in line ordering I tricked everyone and fed them “special chicken nuggets!!” And everyone ate it and loved it and I felt sort of like a genius. May all of your weekends be lovely and long! Go to Clan Donaldson for more! and as always, ConversionDiary for the best blog. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Related October 27, 2013 at 6:11 AM I’ve never tried it with cider; but I just added Guiness and hard cider to my mental shopping list :). Thanks for the suggestion! Sounds delish!	4,262
Hello everyone, my name is Damia and I'm 29 years old. I live in North Port. I am a quite sensual, playful and naughty woman. For this sex meeting, I agree to meet you at your place. If you want, I'm okay with having a date at a highway rest stop. I just want to have an orgasm. I'm attracted to the naughty and sexy ones. I also demand a man who is spoiled by nature, because otherwise I don't have fun. I just want someone for sex because I like to do dirty things without commitment with a new guy. I love trying out different kinds of foreplay, so I want a libertine with experience. If you feel like it, you can leave a comment. I hope to see you on North Port for this hookup. Big kisses. See you later. Slut in a relationship for a BDSM encounter on North Port First name: Shelly, Age: 50 yo, City: North Port (FL) Hi everyone, I'm Shelly and I'm married. I am 50 years old and my partner is 48. We are registered on this libertine dating site because we are libertines. We will be at your disposal every evening. We don't mind coming to your place, or if you prefer we can meet at our place. I want a nice, naughty guy who will make me have a good time with my boyfriend because I'm a greedy woman who loves having 2 cocks for herself. We've been into swinging for quite a while now. My boyfriend and I regularly explore new sexual things together, right now we're into voyeurism. So, we'll read your proposals for this sex meeting. Looking forward to meeting you on North Port! I kiss you! See you soon. Looking for a hookup in a libertine setting with no strings attached? North Port is the place to be! I agree to give you a date at your place. I also agree to set up a date in the woods near North Port. I'm looking for a nice guy with a big dick who will make me feel good in the company of my husband because I am a slutty girl who loves having two guys all to herself. We love going to swingers clubs and enjoying ourselves. We are a swingers couple. I personally like threesomes because I'm greedy and my boyfriend is okay with it. Now that you know what I want, you can leave me a message. I'm sure I'll have a great time with you. I'm leaving. Big kisses. Beautiful married woman looking for some naughty fun on North Port First name: Thanais, Age: 29 yo, City: North Port (FL) We would prefer to give you an appointment at our place and rather during the week if that's okay with you. I don't have any physical criteria because it's just for a quick fuck... But that said, I need a real manly man; there must undeniably be another man who can make me moan with pleasure. I am a very open libertine with the guys. What I prefer is to be with 2 very naughty guys because it makes me all hot to have two cocks just for me and my husband likes sharing me. So, we're waiting for your proposals for this fuck party tonight. I hope to see you on North Port! I kiss you! See you later. Looking for a quick hookup on North Port? I'm an older woman who's looking to cheat - message me! First name: Marie-renée, Age: 48 yo, City: North Port (FL) Welcome to my profile, libertines. My name is Marie-Renée and I am 48 years old. I'm a very playful cougar. I'm here because I'm free for a one-night stand with a younger guy. I'm okay with meeting up in a bar for this hookup. If you're into it, I'm not opposed to meeting up in a public place. I am primarily a cougar, so I only date younger men. I want to have a steamy relationship above all else. I am a very demanding woman when it comes to sex. I love showing you how to please me. I'm a girl who's good at giving blowjobs to get you really excited. I also like to try atypical things like double penetration. If you want to get to know me, let me know. I hope you understood me and that you will be able to satisfy me. First name: Juli, Age: 30 yo, City: North Port (FL) Hello naughty ones, I am here to find a handsome naught one and I live in North Port. I'm Juli, I just turned 30. I am free and I work as a secretary. For this fuck plan, I am free every night. I want to take you out on a first date to get to know each other. I love giving cunnilingus because it gives me a lot of pleasure. I'm a young slutty girl when I have sex with a hot man. In reality, I don't have a style when it comes to one night stands. However, it is important that he be very naughty. I need some foreplay because I want to get things heated up before we see each other. I want to meet someone without any hassle on North Port. I'm convinced that I'll have a blast with you. I'm too hot to handle at the thought of meeting you. Kisses. I'm a young, inexperienced woman who wants to have my first one night stand in North Port First name: Alica, Age: 23 yo, City: North Port (FL) For this ass appointment, I can meet you in the city center. If you would like, I can arrange a meeting in the woods. I prefer a man who is passionate and most importantly has a large penis to give me lots of pleasure because I am an insatiable libertine. I know how to handle my encounters to tease them. I really enjoy public sex. I've always been a naughty and exhibitionist woman. It turns me on when guys watch me while I'm giving a blowjob in a public place like the bathroom. To conclude, I think I'm going to have some good naughty moments with a libertine. But before anything else, you have to leave me a message. I hope to meet you soon! Kisses. I'm a young, married brunette in North Port looking for an affair First name: Chaza, Age: 28 yo, City: North Port (FL) I absolutely love displaying myself in the forest and having my picture taken. However, what excites me the most are reports in public places (garages, toilets, etc.), it's up to you to be creative in the streets of North Port. I'm giving a rendezvous at the end of the week and rather in the morning. We can meet up wherever you want but around North Port. Ideally, I would like the men who write to me to be blond and rather tall. The man I'm looking for will have to be good in bed because that's what I expect. I can stay in bed all weekend if my partner knows what they're doing. I am eagerly awaiting your messages. I'm looking forward to our first meeting, I can't wait! See you soon. My libertine girlfriend and I have a hot threesome planned First name: Andreanne, Age: 23 yo, City: North Port (FL) I am a girl in a relationship, my name is Andreanne and I am 23 years old and my boyfriend is 20 years old. We are libertines. We've been into swingers dating for quite a while now. My boyfriend and I test out new kinky practices regularly, lately it's been exhibitionism. We will be available on Saturday. We don't mind coming to your place, or if you prefer we can meet at our place. For this fuck date, we would prefer a kinky guy or couple who is good in bed because our mission is to fuck like crazy!!! The guy should preferably be strong, sorry but that's my current fantasy. We'll be playing together soon. See you soon. Looking for a threesome in North Port for my very horny girlfriend First name: Serife, Age: 37 yo, City: North Port (FL) Hello everyone, my name is Serife and I am married. I am 37 years old and my H is also 37. We're on this hot site because we're fans of carnal pleasure. We do everything in the ass and that of course with respect and hygiene. However, we mainly like soft bdsm with a knowledgeable guy. I'm only on this dating site to have some fun with other horny people. My man is totally on board with this request. I want a good fuck and tbm so that my man can observe me taking my pleasure. We would like to arrange a meeting at our apartment, preferably in the evening if that is convenient for you. You can leave a comment, we will be happy to read it. I hope to see you for a hot encounter. We kiss you. Bye.	8,232
On 21/12/2016, 117 Bn CRPF donated a R.O. Water purification system and 04 Nos toilets with running water facility in Senior Secondary Girls High School, Raj Bagh , Srinagar constructed under Civic Action Programme 2016-17. CRPF inspite of their challenging... read more December 22, 2016 No Responses Government to undertake 100 days Good Governance Campaign from 25th December New Delhi, December 22, 2016 Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Information & Broadcasting has said that the vision of the Government under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister is to position the nation on a sustainable growth trajectory. The...	630
Horrible injustices thrived in Jeroboam’s northern kingdom. God would wink no more. Judgment was coming: “Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb line.’ Then the Lord said: ‘Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore‘” (Amos 7:7-8). The plumb line is a foolproof standard to which load bearing members of a structure must be compared. When the conscientious builder sets a vertical structural member, he must ask, “Is it plumb?” An off-plumb support can mean disaster for the structure. The question is not, “Does it look plumb?” Nor does it suffice that one vertical post is parallel with another. For his own satisfaction as well as the durability of the structure, he must determine, “Is it actually plumb?” Relativism has no place in construction or in morals. Do I think its moral? Does it look moral? Will the world see it as moral? Is it as moral as what everyone else is doing? If the questioner stops here, he or she is doomed to failure. The real question is identical to that which the builder must ask. “Is it actually moral?” This question demands a standard of right and wrong. The standard of right and wrong is to morals what the plumb line is to the builder. It is a foolproof measure by which all deeds of mankind are adjudged. Modern culture denies the existence of any plumb line. Truth is subjective. The only thing wrong is thinking that something is wrong! Jesus explained why such thinking exists: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:19-21). There is a plumb line! God holds it in His hand and it will not be wrested away. It is secure from every external force. Its ability to illuminate the dark recesses and show up moral corruption and sins will exist as long as time exists. A theme park warned that people with certain health problems should not enter an attraction. Entering the room, everything seemed to be off-kilter. None of the angles were quite right. The floor wasn’t level and the walls met in non-standard ways. As I moved through the attraction I found myself feeling like I was about to fall on my face even though all my visual references told me that I was standing perfectly erect. My eyes were arguing with my legs as they asked, “Which way is up?” Regardless of how I felt in the anti-gravity display, up was still up. Up didn’t change merely because someone cleverly changed my visual reference points. A plumb line inside the display would have been perfectly parallel with one outside the display. Up was still up! God’s promise to judge Israel by His plumb line of truth (Amos 7:7-8), is similar in many ways. Just as the anti-gravity display altered visual reference points to create desired illusions, our culture intentionally or otherwise creates moral illusions. So have previous cultures: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!” (Isa 5:20). The changing of the moral compass is not restricted to the 21st century. We once knew right from wrong and good from evil. We once knew that disrespect for authority was wrong. We once knew that truth existed. We once knew that the taking of the innocent lives of unborn babies was wrong. We once knew that those who lead us, whether in government or otherwise, should be people of character. We once knew, but the plumb line has been discarded or disregarded. There is a plumb line and it is still right. It isn’t wrong; those who contradict it are wrong. God’s Word is that plumb line. It exists and it is right. Men may protest, the crowds may cry for tolerance and experts may testify to the contrary, but up is still up. Evil is not good and good is not evil: “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven” (Ps 119:89). Or, as Paul put it, “let God be true but every man a liar” (Rom 3:4). There is a plumb line and it is still right. Anything to the contrary is just a clever illusion! Received via ” A Little Lift” e-mail, Jim Bullington Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) Related More Posts Todd has been working with the Burleson Church of Christ for over 20 years and would love to hear from you. Previous That's Your Opinion Next Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ Nov 28 Next Event What to Expect Visiting a new church can be intimidating. When you visit the Burleson Church of Christ, you will never be asked to stand up, introduce yourself, or do any other…	5,615
Altitude Project Community Support Foundation is a non-profit society registered in BC and a registered charity in Canada. Our registered charity number is 700635493RR0001. 100% of your donations go to Nepal – all admin expenses are covered by directors. all photos © David Swain, school coordinators and friends Thank you to Dorje Dolma/Yak Girl for her help! Dorje Dolma www.dorjearts.com/books, originally from the Upper Dolpo, is a visual artist, an inspirational speaker, and the author of Yak Girl: Growing Up in the Remote Dolpo Region of Nepal. Her mission is to inspire and educate others about the need for medical and educational resources in the Dolpo through writing, art and speaking.	698
“See the world as it is, not as you wish it would be.” This statement by E. Lockhart echoes with the mathematician inside “Meong”. As “mathematics is the backbone and foundation of all sciences”, he believes that the best way to see the world is through the encompassing lens of mathematics. Romeo Gabriel M. Aspera, “Meong”, as he is called by his family and friends, decided to “see the world as it is” when he enrolled in the BS Math degree program of the University of the Philippines Los Baños. As a student, his teachers and classmates consider him a brilliant one for always excelling in his subjects. This distinction led him to graduate at the top of his class for the BS Math program in 2001. Upon graduation, he heeded the call to serve his country by teaching in the university – shaping the young minds to design our future. Whenever he is walking down the halls of the Mathematics Building, his colleagues and students always never fail to notice the big smile on his face and the warm greeting he has for them, despite a difficult day coming ahead or after having a hard day. Notwithstanding the heavy teaching load that time and the various responsibilities that go along being an instructor in the university, Meong pursued graduate studies. He was just 6 units shy from attaining a master’s degree when he decided to leave the university, after almost 8 years as a student and faculty member, to tie the knot with classmate and colleague Donna Corpuz and start a family of his own. After settling down in Cavite, he found out that his passion for teaching would not just go away. Thus, he opted to share his knowledge to the students of De La Salle University – Dasmarinas and Naic Colleges, where he was a lecturer of Mathematics for one and two years, respectively. His continual interest in the mathematics of investments led him to pursue a different career. He joined Union Bank of the Philippines (UBP) in 2007 where he works up to this day. “When I decided to transfer and work in the banking industry, it was a very different world. But my background in mathematics enabled me to adapt excellently”, Meong explains. He started out as a junior analyst, and through hard work and perseverance, climbed up the corporate ladder and is now one of its senior managers. As one of the senior managers, he uses his mathematics background in logical and critical thinking and problem solving to “weave an outlook based on what the numbers are saying and provide recommendations to Senior Management which helps them make critical decisions.” He is currently the Team Head of the Balance Sheet and Capital Management Team of UBP. He leads his Team in compliance to the digitization efforts of UBP, which “requires programming and analysis for effective transmission of information and data.” As a colleague and a boss, he is dependable and trustworthy. His amicable and approachable nature in the workplace makes him the go-to person of his younger coworkers for mature conversations. A lot of them even jokingly call him “Ninong”, hinting that they want him to be their “ninong sa kasal”. Meong suggests to Mathematics majors the following career opportunities in the banking industry: data scientists, auditors, risk officers, economists, business analysts and process analysts. Also, particularly for UBP, as the pioneering bank in blockchain technology in the country, “the bank offers careers as management trainees and trainings in machine learning and artificial intelligence.” Seeing Meong for who he is now is incomplete if not as a father and a husband. His wife characterizes him as “very responsible, a good provider, and a man of God – a true embodiment that honor should come before excellence.” He starts his day at dawn by praying for his family’s well-being before going to work. He may be firm and a disciplinarian when it comes to their daughter but that is balanced out by the gentle and affectionate disposition he has for her. Their conversations are nothing short than that of two close friends casually chatting. For Meong, indeed, “Mathematicians won the war!” – and will continue to do so as the Fourth Industrial Revolution continues. Through mathematics, we are able to “unlock innovative solutions in solving real-world problems.” And it also through mathematics that one must see the world for what it is, to slowly make the changes that one wishes it would be. Next 2F Wing C, Francisco O. Santos Hall (formerly Physical Sciences Building), Harold Cuzner Avenue, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Los Baños, Laguna 4031 Philippines Archives Select Month November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 July 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 April 2021 March 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 November 2019	5,091
The super smart folks in the Maryland legislature who know more than the rest of us sarcasm detected are at it again! Somehow, they think that imposing a 10% tax on Facebook and Google for the digital ads they sell in Maryland is a good idea. We’re literally going through a pandemic and small businesses are barely surviving as it is, and these people think that more taxes are the answer. Who exactly do they think is going to be paying those taxes? Facebook? Google? Psh. Those guys will just raise their prices to offset the tax loses so that small businesses carry the burden. This is what happens when government runs amok. These people must be stopped. Governor Hogan has already vetoed the bill, but they’re scraping together the votes to override his veto. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s your boy, Jaron Rice, founder and CEO of Magothy Payments, Maryland’s highest-rated merchant services provider. I wish I was coming to you under better circumstances, but apparently the legislature in the state of Maryland is terrible. Yeah, they’re terrible. If you don’t know, some of the brilliant folks on the Maryland legislature think that a digital advertising tax is a good idea in the middle of a freaking pandemic in which small business are barely hanging on. Somebody had the bright idea that companies like Google and Facebook that sell digital advertising should pay a tax to the state of Maryland up to 10% based on the volume of digital ads that they sell in the state of Maryland. Using round numbers, if Facebook sells $100 million in Facebook ads to Maryland businesses, the state of Maryland wants Facebook to pay them $10 million in a tax. Indulge me, if you would. Who do you think is actually going to be paying that tax? Do you think it’s Facebook, or do you think it’s the small businesses that purchase ads from Facebook whose costs are going to go up? Who do you think? As a merchant services provider, we are a trickle-down business. We work a lot with home improvement contractors, home services companies, and a lot of our clients – a lot of them – use Google ads and Facebook as their primary lead generation tools. In the middle of the pandemic, not only getting used to the restrictions that the politicians are putting on them but the fact that so many Americans are hurting and out of work, if you’re a home improvement contractor, your cost per lead is going through the roof, as it is, simply because your ad has to be shown to more people just to find somebody who is interested in a position to be able to purchase that service from you. On top of that, the bright folks in the Maryland legislature think that taxing Google and taxing Facebook is a good idea. Yeah. This is what happens when people who have never run anything or owned a business try and control the economy and people who actually produce. It’s terrible. It’s idiotic. Governor Hogan has already vetoed it, and they’re scraping together the votes to override his veto because they’re terrible. Please do us a favor. Call your elected officials. Tell them that this is asinine and that they’re going to be voted out in the upcoming election because I can’t even for the life of me understand why anybody with two brain cells to rub together thinks that this is a good idea right now. But, you know, crazier things have happened. With that, we’re signing out. I got nothing else. What Magothy Payments means to the people we serve… Magothy Payments came as a recommendation from our accountant who realized how much we were paying with our old company. Jaron made the process very easy by reviewing our old statements to see if there was any room for saving. After our consultation, he offered to use Magothy payments for one month and if we didn’t see any savings we had the option to walk away without losing anything. Jaron has been upfront from the beginning and has been there promptly to address any concerns we have with our system. I highly recommended Magothy Payments! Worldwide Waterproofing changed payment processing companies in 2016 after 14 years of being with the same provider. We had a great initial meeting with Jaron and felt comfortable with his knowledge and expertise. Working with a local company that is easily accessible made sense for us. We hadn’t really tracked our credit card costs over the last several years, so we were BLOWN AWAY when we saved more than $2000 in our first month alone. This was the by far the best decision we could have made. We get our deposits next day, the platform is easy to use, and we finally have a relationship with the company funding our transactions. I couldn’t recommend Magothy Payments enough. Magothy Payments has been GREAT for our business. We get calls from merchant services vendors every day. But when you need service from THEM, they are nowhere to be found. This never happens with Jaron and his team. Their personalized service is outstanding, and our costs are down too! I highly recommend you consider Magothy Payments for your business. The team at Magothy Payments is nothing short of SPECTACULAR and I can’t recommend them enough! If you are tired of wondering if you are paying too much for your credit card processing and harassing daily calls about saving you money, I can assure you that Magothy Payments is your BEST option. Local, Personal and Professional, their integrity shines through at every service opportunity. The statements are transparent, the rates are the lowest, and they are focused on a long-term relationship that will save you money. Everyone that I have referred comes back to me very satisfied and glad that they made the change. “When I was originally referred to Magothy Payments a few years ago, I was curious as to how a small, local business could compete on price with our big bank. I was blown away when they saved us more than $4000 in a single month! Even more impressive is their customer service. They’re attentive, responsive, and were able seamlessly integrate with our unique bus-charter software. Magothy Payments has been a huge asset to our business and I couldn’t recommend them enough. ” “I’ve been with Magothy Payments since their inception in 2014. I’ve always been impressed with their integrity, their professionalism, and their industry expertise. You won’t find another company that will go to such great lengths to serve their clients. That’s why I’ve referred them to a dozen or so businesses over the years. I wouldn’t put my name and reputation on the line referring another business unless I was 110% confident that they’d make me look good, and Magothy Payments has never let me down. ” “We were referred to Magothy Payments by our web development company, and I’m so glad that we were. We’ve been able to consolidate multiple merchant accounts from multiple providers into a single account with a single point of contact that allows us to take payments across multiple platforms – online, in person, and over the phone. The savings has been fantastic and the ease of use and streamlining of our operation has been wonderful. I’m so glad we’ve been able to work with a local business that can meet our needs like this. ” “As an e-commerce company, it seemed easy to go with Square, Stripe, or PayPal – one of the usual big players in this space. We decided to go with Magothy Payments because we wanted to deal with actual human beings, and we’re so glad we made that choice. Our site and pricing are rather complex because they integrate UPS for shipping, so having a person that we can reach on the phone is very, very convenient and reassuring. With any robust e-commerce business, there are challenges between development, integration and payment processing, but Magothy has been there every step of the way and has earned our trust and respect for being so attentive. ” Geoff Knapp, Ship Guitars by Jaron Rice \| May 3, 2021 \| What's Happening We've partnered up with WooPOS to be able to offer our omnichannel merchants a POS system with integrated payments that can manage their inventory in real time between their retail store and their e-commerce store when using the WooCommerce shopping cart. This value... by Jaron Rice \| Mar 3, 2021 \| Industry Updates, What's Happening Big Tech and their lobbyists came out guns blazing to contest the constitutionality of Maryland's first-in-the-nation Digital Ad Tax. The US Chamber of Commerce and the Internet Association were among those who filed suit against the Old Line State. This tax would be... by Jaron Rice \| Jan 11, 2021 \| Industry Updates, Tips & Tricks, What's Happening The United States Postal Service is causing many merchants to get chargebacks from their customers due to their inability to do their job and deliver packages in a timely manner with accurate tracking information. When a consumer purchases something from a business,...	9,431
The Atlanta Doula Collective (ADC) provides a directory of doulas who are members of our Collective. As a member, these doulas have agreed to provide services at a reduced rate, as listed here. The ADC does not provide services directly to the public, outside of the free programs that are offered. I have some questions about your services. Because the ADC does not provide services, we encourage you to direct any additional questions about services to the doula(s) that you intend to schedule a consultation with. Do you assign doulas to those who are interested in reduced rate services? No, we do not assign doulas. We encourage everyone to have an active role in hand-selecting their birth team, therefore, we encourage you to consult with at least 2-3 of the doulas that are on the directory to ensure you are selecting the doula that works best for you and your family, as well as ensuring they are available for your estimated due date. How do I hire one of the doulas on your directory? To begin the process, take a look at the following webpage: The Collective. You will also find the directory which contains a list of doulas to choose from. Those doulas are our lovely members of the Collective who have agreed to offer these services at a reduced rate. When you are ready, use the contact contact information to reach out to the doula(s) of your choice for a consultation. I found a doula from your directory that I am interested in hiring, but: 1.) Their website does not list the reduced rate package or, 2.) Their website has a different price point than your website. How do I move forward? When you contact the doula of your choice, inform them that you would like the reduced rate package as advertised on the Atlanta Doula Collective's website. This will inform them of the next steps to be taken. How much are services for the reduced rate package, and what does it include? First, take a look at the following webpage: The Collective. There you will find information on the labor support services and the postpartum support services that are offered at a reduced rate. Keep in mind that most of the members of our Collective offer both labor support as well as postpartum support services. I'm interested in mentorship opportunities and would like to know if you offer shadowing/mentorship opportunities? At this time the Atlanta Doula Collective does not provide mentorship opportunities. Do you offer a doula training course? Yes. Our training, Innerstanding Birthwork, takes a deep dive into topics that are generally not expounded upon in other trainings. For more information click here. I am interested in membership. How do I become a member? Membership applications are opened on January 1st and closed on January 31st of each year. Those who have submitted applications during that timeframe will receive additional information on the timeline of the review of applications, and any steps taken thereafter. We do look for specific attributes for those who are considering applying for membership, so please check here for those requirements. How can I become part of your community? There are many ways for you to become part of our community, which is dependent on your preferences. One of the best ways to be involved is by attending our events, which can be virtual or in-person. The events that are hosted by our Collective are posted on the Events webpage, but for events where we are a vendor, those are posted to our social media platforms or in our email subscriptions. If you are a birthworker, you may want to consider membership into our Collective. For more information see the first question in the third column in the "I am a birthworker..." section. If you are pregnant or newly postpartum see the next question in this section. Do you offer childbirth education? Yes. Our childbirth education series, PIC'L (Pregnancy Information Circle & Lunch), is a free virtual course that is reserved for pregnant or newly postpartum families. If you are a birthworker, we encourage you to share this information with your client. For more information, or to register, check out our Events webpage. What community programs do you offer? We offer a monthly program known as Mama Talk, which is generally hosted on the 3rd Saturday of each month. More information, or to register, check out our Events webpage. A team of Doulas leading a community grassroots movement, aimed to fill the gap in Black Maternal Healthcare & Wellness.	4,583
Amazon has secured the last remaining package of broadcasting rights to the English Premier League in a landmark three-year deal. The online retailer turned streaming giant has broken the dominance of Sky and BT Sport and will become the first internet platform to broadcast live Premier League games. The livestream will be available for free to any existing Amazon Prime subscribers, and fans will have to sign up to that service to access the games if they aren’t already subscribers. The deal only covers 20 games, the first round of midweek fixtures in December and all 10 matches on 26 December for the next three-years. Amazon already owns the rights to show the US Open tennis tournament in the UK, along with the men’s ATP World Tour and N.F.L.’s Thursday Night Games. An analyst at CCS Insight, Paolo Pescatore, says the Premier League is a wholly different situation for Amazon compared to its other sports offerings. “We are talking about a six-digit numbers in terms of cost to broadcast and produce a game.” This is much more expensive than tennis rights for example, as Amazon just takes the professionally produced content from elsewhere and streams it themselves. Ed Barton, an analyst at Ovum, suggests that Amazon will use this relatively small scale deal to hone their product in time for when the next tranche of TV rights are up for grabs three years from now. The full packages are as follows: Package A – won by BT 32 matches on Saturdays at 12:30 Package B – won by Sky Sports 32 matches on Saturdays at 17:30 Package C – won by Sky Sports 24 matches on Sundays at 14:00 and eight matches on Saturdays at 19:45 Package D – won by Sky Sports 32 matches on Sundays at 16:30 Package E – won by Sky Sports 24 matches on Mondays at 20:00 or Fridays at 19:30/20:00 and eight matches on Sundays at 14:00 Package F – won by Amazon 10 matches from one Bank Holiday and all 10 from the Boxing Day fixture programme Package G – won by BT 20 matches from two midweek fixture programmes About the Author: Nathan Stewart Nathan Stewart takes responsibility for the NMC's internal and external communication including the website, newsletters and other Member information. Contact him on [email protected]	2,267
A sex positive, and kink knowledgeable therapist with an open mindset and a clear understanding that we are all different. Top Rated Answers Anonymous December 5th, 2014 5:22am Love can sometimes be unfair, just like anything else in life. I had to go through a multitude of different relationship until I found the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and I learned that love, like any relationship, isn't always 50/50. Sometimes, love is 60/40, or 70/30. People change throughout life, and sometimes we don't always know exactly what we want. Sometimes we feel like curling up in a ball and shutting out the world, whereas other times we just want to reach out and hug someone. Love is about understanding, and being there for the person you love even if they're not giving you their whole heart in that very moment. It's part of the human experience, and it's part of growing up. (: Did you find this post helpful? December 5th, 2014 4:52am Love is not unfair, the time is not appropriate. We all need love and companion to spend life together. We always look for someone to give our hearts with an expectation that someone will never break our hearts. When our expectations are broken, our lives fall apart. This love is conditional. But real love is unconditional. The truth of life is that we never know when someone enters in our lives and never go or someone enters in our lives to break our hearts. Those who promise more hurt more. Coincidence decides to whom you meet in life. Your heart and mind decide with whom you want to stay in life. But only destiny decides who gets to stay in your life. If someone is unfair to you, disrespect you and your feelings, then you don't deserve that person. Just let go. You will get a person you deserve the most. Be open, considerate and move on. Did you find this post helpful? July 27th, 2015 10:24am I do not think that love is unfair. It is the best thing in the world. However, people are. They make you fall, then leave you hanging. So let's not confuse ourselves. Love isn't unfair, people are. Did you find this post helpful? December 30th, 2014 6:02pm Love is unfair because sometimes the people we love, don't love us back. Love is an emotion and we cant force people to feel a certain way. Did you find this post helpful? Donnalistens2u December 5th, 2014 2:43pm Because it deals with hearts, not just the mind. The mind is rational and logical. The heart follows instinct. But to love with all your heart is the only way to love. Did you find this post helpful? Anonymous December 23rd, 2014 2:01pm Well, love is love. You can't really control it. It takes time to find the right person. Just believe in yourself. Did you find this post helpful? December 5th, 2014 9:22am Everybody has different feelings. It is obvious that sometimes our feelings don't match with others. You shouldn't count that as unfair, it is just the way it always happens. Try to find someone who loves you for who you really are, that will make you understand that actually love is fair. Did you find this post helpful? July 20th, 2015 8:09am Why is life so unfair? Life is all about lessons that make us stronger individuals. Every obstacle in life is for us to gain knowledge about others and ourselves. Everything happens for a reason. What doesn't make sense today makes more sense tomorrow. Yes love can hurt and everyone who has truly loved someone has felt that pain. It does get better with time as time heals all wounds. Best of luck! Did you find this post helpful? Anonymous December 23rd, 2015 12:52pm Love becomes so unfair when you love someone but never love you back. Love becomes so unfair when the love we gave just not enough for them. Love becomes so unfair when the person we love, love someone else. All of these are the reasons why love is so unfair. It's up to you if you will let yourself get hurt. Give yourself some respect and love before you pour out all of the things that builds you. Did you find this post helpful? Anonymous July 28th, 2015 2:03am because love isn't always the same amount with both partners. it's because it's from the heart , Did you find this post helpful? November 9th, 2015 7:19pm Because love is never enough. All sorts of other things come into making a relationship work - trust, a common goal, things you can do together, a good sex life. It's only when everything is in perfect balance that love will last. Did you find this post helpful? December 22nd, 2015 4:58pm Love if unfair because it brings pain, but it is also fair because it brings you closer to meeting someone you deserve the most. Did you find this post helpful? Dameis90 August 1st, 2016 8:50am Love is unfair because it requires us to get out of the mindset of putting ourselves first, and put the other person's needs and wants before our own. Did you find this post helpful? Anonymous December 8th, 2014 4:33pm Love is not unfair. Love is just tricky, and you have to learn everything HE wants to show you in order to get to the "one". Did you find this post helpful? Anonymous December 18th, 2014 3:43pm Love is a tricky thing. Its wonderful and amazing. But it is also nasty and mean. What makes it unfair is we have zero control over how others feel about us. Did you find this post helpful? April 25th, 2015 11:58pm Love can be wonderful, life affirming, and enriching to all of us, but without the low points, the high points become meaningless. Don't let the low points skew your view of love. Did you find this post helpful? December 21st, 2015 3:52pm Because not everyone is as big hearted as you may be people are all different and you need to find the person that you want to be better for not who wants you to be better. Did you find this post helpful? September 21st, 2015 1:08pm Ever heard that saying "Everyone can buy crystals, but the lucky one gets the diamond". That's how love is. Pretty rare, and when you do get it, it stays. And the people who fight for it really hard, it breaks. Just like the crystal does. Did you find this post helpful? June 21st, 2016 7:13am Love isn't unfair. It's the expectations arising out of it. We tend to expect a lot from the person we love. However, when they don't get fulfilled, it hurts us. Did you find this post helpful? March 5th, 2018 6:10am Sometimes, love is not what we expected to be. As in fairytales and movies. love is not always going to be as we want it to be. its just matter of finding the right person. Did you find this post helpful? April 12th, 2016 5:43am Love is not unfair, its just choices that people makes that makes love unfair. We are all entitled to feel and have love. But how we handle the love and use or show it is entirely up to us. Did you find this post helpful? November 7th, 2016 4:57pm Love is not unfair, it's this generation that doesn't actually understand what love. To them it's all drama about youngsters that need to fulfill their emotional and sexual demands. They simply make relationships to meet their growing wants which are triggered by running hormones. You need to find someone that treats you the way you deserve to be treated, and you should both understand how and what relationships are. Much love!x Did you find this post helpful? Talk to an expert therapist about breakups Talk to a Therapist Related Questions: Why is love so unfair? How to get over someone you have to see everyday?My long-term boyfriend told me that my mental health has affected him and he just wants to be friends as though nothing more ever happened. This really hurts me. What should I do?Can or should I ask my significant other to stop talking and to not associate with his ex? If so, how? How do I know if I'm in a toxic relationship?Why are we fighting over small and stupid things?What to do when you feel you are not good enough for someone?He said I was perfect for him, but he chose someone else?I regret breaking up with my ex. What should I do?How to get closure from my ex? I feel I need it.I love two different people. What should I do?	8,248
The SOL was started by Dr. Ralph Borsodi in 1934. His Ugly Civilization and then Flight from the City promoted the back-to-the-land movement outside of New York City. Dr. Borsodi’s homestead was a working laboratory that became SOL. J.I. Rodale and his Organic Gardening magazine got his start there, as did Paul Keene who started Walnut Acres. As a community land trust (CLT) guided by Henry George’s economics, SOL believes that land must be treated more as a commons benefiting all rather than as private property benefiting few. To achieve this, SOL expanded to begin purchasing of today’s Heathcote property in 1965. School of Living is now a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization that holds land in trust for present and future generations, promotes personal empowerment, and supports the development of just and sustainable communities. You can visit SOL at https://www.schoolofliving.org/ The Heathcote Mill was constructed c.1850 by Thomas Wantland as a grist or grain mill. It was purchased in 1862 by Martin Heathcote. Heathcote owned many of Baltimore’s other flour mills, in an area that was among the largest producers of flour in the US at the time. It would eventually be added to Heathcote as part of the land trust in 1969. In addition to the mill, the original community also consisted of several out-buildings and a residential house that is still occupied by members. Polaris, another residential building, was added in 2006. Started as back-to-the-land movement homesteading community, Heathcote transitioned into a women’s community during the 1980s. It eventually opened to being a multi-gender and multi-faith community in 1994. Today, it continues to grow to include a still more diverse membership and wider outreach in race, class, and geography. Our Future Continuous Our public and common space is now anchored in the historic mill building that will begin renovation in 2023. Covid has accelerated our need to transition to a hybrid learning center and to improve on-site accessibility. Current mill projects include upgrading our parking and electrical system, adding a public bathroom, installing a handicapped ramp, and improved site lighting. We also have a number of new and continuing projects. These include upgraded health and safety measures for covid alongside improved site access, technology enhancements, and new art and education programs. Grants and donations have already raised a major portion of needed funds, but more is still needed. Significant permitting and zoning barriers are being resolved. We are also expanding our relationships with adjacent and complementary projects throughout our area to beyond. Workshops and classes Between 1995-2015, Heathcote presented 59 workshops for over 600 participants. That included 14 offerings of our Permaculture course teaching 156 participants, where HEC instructors have certified students in Permaculture Design based on a 72-hour curriculum. This program empowers participants to create their own sustainable systems that meet human needs while promoting ecosystem health and social well-being. Participants in these programs receive ongoing support to develop productive homesteads through our Permaculture Maryland Meetup group that offers opportunities for networking, peer support, and resource sharing. We plan to offer future workshops to enable students to turn their yards into productive, sustainable gardens while incorporating social and economic cooperation into their plans. Workshops are also periodically available in mushroom cultivation, accessible gardening, forest management, and community building. Check our calendar below for upcoming offerings. Events and volunteers Whether you have an interest in a specific project, have a unique skill to offer, or want to better get to know the community, planned visitors are welcome! Heathcote sponsors child-friendly day events and provides volunteer work opportunities. Workdays and tours of the property are scheduled throughout the year. We host traveling researchers and interns by special request, and would be interested in getting to know about your project, wherever you are. Tasks are available on the demonstration farm, supporting forest and property management, helping residents with on-going needs, and keeping the common spaces fresh and presentable. We also host social events and informal get-togethers. If anything on the calendar interests you, fill out our contact form and let us know who you are and when you would like to come. We also host overnight guests in the mill. Membership Becoming a Heathcote member means joining over 100 past and present friends who have lived and supported a more ecologically and socially just future through food and community education, land protection and restoration, and commitment to social diversity. Your membership can play an important role in achieving our collective vision. We welcome applications from individuals, families and groups. We have two residential houses and a small apartment in the Heathcote Mill, our main community building. Our 44-acre site currently hosts 7 adult and 2 children residents and we have about 30 off-land associate members, with room for more. Visitors seeking membership can participate in weekly plenary meetings, meet other members, and participate in projects on the land, while allowing us to better get to know each other. The membership entry process requires a written application and functional resume, an interview either in-person or virtually, and a 21-day trial period. Once accepted, a nine-month provisional resident membership leading to full membership or non-resident membership are available. Non-resident member benefits can include community garden space, project participation, and social gatherings. For more about the calendar of upcoming workshops and events: See our Facebook and Instagram pages linked at the icons at the bottom of the page. December 4: Visitors’ Day Also on December 4: Shitake Mushroom Cultivation workshop (see farm site for more details as well as Facebook and Instagram) TBA in January: Self-Care Day To attend a workshop or event, contact us at [email protected], or use the contact form below. Someone will get back to you. Email(required) Δ Click to find us: Directions Partnerships and Networking go to Bio/Organic Farm Community Ways to Join Housing School of Living (SOL) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Donations to School of Living support Heathcote Education Center. As a fiscally sponsored project of School of Living, donations are tax-deductable under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. SOL is also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers, or gifts.	7,061
A waiting room is a great opportunity to people watch. I wonder things that I have no way of knowing. Some unique people. An interesting fellow in a 3-piece suit sitting next to a man in Carhartt coveralls, cap on backwards. So, I watch and wonder. I took the book, Live Your Dream—Planning for Success, by Dr. Mark Chironna to read while waiting, watching and wondering. Chironna writes, “There is encoded within you something powerful, something no one else has, and it is stirring within your heart. You are simmering with potential and it is poised to collide with opportunity. The energy released by that auspicious impact will create exciting new paradigms and propel you toward your destiny. “Somewhere inside, you can already feel it.” (Destiny Image Publishers, ©2009, page 17.) How about you? Do you believe that you are on the earth at this time for a specific, unique purpose? Are those words valid only at high school graduations or are they still operative for those of us in the Second Half? Two of my high school classmates died last week. I was not close to either one, but they were in my larger “gang.” We had contact at a reunion and not much more than that since high school. I am grieving. Perhaps I am grieving part of my life that is diminishing? Odd! Their passing seemed to leave a hole in my world. I wasn’t going to mention this—just do it alone, but another classmate Facebooked me in case I hadn’t heard. The grieving is real. I have been wondering if those two classmates felt as if they had fulfilled their purpose. Did they believe they were unique and alive for a specific reason? As I was thinking about them, I remembered the words of Dr. Laura Schlessinger who states her purpose: “I am my kid’s mom!” Myles Munroe wrote: “Authority is the Author’s permission for you to be what He designed you to be. You not only have permission, but also the commission and the power to fulfill your purpose.” Myles Munroe (p. 87 The Purpose and Power of Authority. Whitaker House, 2011) “…permission and commission and the power to fulfill your purpose.” I’m thinking that discussion of destiny and fulfilled purpose depends upon a belief that we are here at this time in history for a specific reason to accomplish a specific task and to be a specific person. I’ve been wrestling for several months with the closing chapters of my book, Caught in the Tail Lights. I’m really fascinated with the story. Slowly, it has become clear to me that we need a purpose, calling, clearly defined destiny. One of the dynamic spots in the book is when Tim is walking across the prayer path on the crest of a hill sorting through the dilemma of his parents’ failing marriage and what has been revealed to him and what becomes obvious that God is trying to tell him. Tim comes to a conclusion about what he is to do with his life: Near the end of the movie “Heaven is Real” the father of a little boy named Colton, who was given a view of Heaven, is looking at a CNN news report concerning a young girl in Europe who was given a similar experience and painted what she saw. CNN showed the first of her paintings. As the picture came on screen, Colton stepped up behind his dad, saw the picture, and said, It is the two requirements. To recognize and commit our self to the “It” God has given to us and to recognize Him. So, I’m thinking about that waiting room of several dozen people. If a fulfilled life depends on those two elements, shouldn’t there be a time when I put my book down, stand up and say, “May I have your attention, please. I have something I must tell you.” Martha Follmer says: November 29, 2014 at 6:31 pm Were this in the first century AD, that’s what Christians would have thought the normal thing to do. Now we are paralysed with cautions, fears, and the PC police.	4,061
If you would have told Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll and Alan Olav Walker that they'd become Kygo and Alan Walker, two of the biggest artists of the international EDM scene, they may not have believed you — but they should've. The two self-taught DJ/producers were born for stardom, if for nothing else than their sheer determination to make a name in music. Now, the Norway natives have hit the road for their first North American tour, with Walker supporting, making a quick stop at Coachella to perform to thousands-strong crowds along the way. While in Palm Springs, the pair sat down for PAPER to talk all things clout, collaborators and music's #MeToo. On the state of dance music: Kygo: It is definitely evolving. It is very cool to see all the genres collaborating. It's happening a lot right now, a big soup with all types of different genres and exciting collaborations. We are also seeing a lot of hip-hop collaborations with dance music artists. Alan Walker: I feel like in dance music people are trying to discover what will be the next "it." That is why we try to combine different genres and experiment. We are all about finding that new great sound. Kygo: Yes! There is a lot of interesting stuff happening. It is great to be a part of helping create that new sound. As artists we don't have to feel limited by genre. We can do whatever we are feeling. Alan Walker: I am in an interesting position because I feel like my style has suddenly become what people know as mainstream. I have not had to sacrifice anything in order to get where I am today. I am happy with my current sound. It's really important to always create what makes you happiest as opposed to just following trends. "It's really important to always create what makes you happiest as opposed to just following trends." Kygo: I agree. My story is similar. When I started making music there weren't many people in the mainstream making my same sound. Then suddenly, a couple years later, it became known as mainstream. As long as you stay true to your sound and your style of music it doesn't make it less cool if others start trying to make the same style of music. On making it in America: Kygo: The American market is very big and has an influence over other parts of the world in terms of what is popular, so in that sense it is important. Alan Walker: There are a lot of markets worldwide that are important to break, but the American market is something people everywhere pay attention to. There are other markets worldwide that can play a role though. Kygo: I agree. Every artist should have a global worldview. They shouldn't focus on any one market. I know, Alan, you are doing a lot in Asia. That is obviously a huge market as well. Alan Walker: Yes! The support Asia has shown me has been amazing. It has been fun to be part of a journey where that market started supporting me so early on. The whole dance industry over there has become so big. On what matters in music: Alan Walker: It is important that you make whatever you feel happy with. You also want to try and make something that will stick in peoples mind. You want to create something they can remember and that they want to revisit over and over again. Kygo: If it's a song obviously lyrics are important. People need to listen and connect to it somehow. Melodies are important. You want them to get stuck in people's heads. On money vs. music Alan Walker: Being an underground musician in the beginning, I worked with NoCopyrightSounds, an open-source record label that releases copyright-free music. It gave me an interesting perspective when I finally broke through. Releasing your music without copyrights can open up a whole new world for you. That's what it did for me with the gaming community. I was able to gain a huge fan base because people would use my tracks as the background music of their gaming videos. It really increased awareness of me and my music. I appreciate the fans I have gained through that process and always try and give back to them even now. Awareness is the first obstacle you have to overcome as a new artist. I think the industry should be a bit more open-minded as far as music distribution is concerned. Kygo: For me, I think there are too many people working in the music industry that only care about money and don't care as much about the music. There are people that will speak to you and you can tell they genuinely care, but if there was one thing I could change it would be to get more people in top positions of the music industry that are there for the music and not just the business. On keeping up with demand for newness: Kygo: When I am in the studio I just experiment. I don't really think too much about the people that say you have to do this, you have to do that. When I'm in the studio I just want to make whatever feels right to me. I think that's important. Through experimenting you can suddenly come up with something. You may not realize it there and then, but when you try it out it resonates. That's the new sound. It's something people haven't done before. So yeah, it's all about experimenting and having fun. Alan Walker: Yeah! For example I am always trying to learn and grow my own sound, to take my sound and style to the next stage of evolution as far as the music is concerned. It can be a hard process because you want to be consistent but you don't want things to sound too similar to things you have done before. If things are too similar you will be criticized because people feel like you can't do anything else. It is really just a matter of making something you can be proud of. You have the power to define yourself as an artist. Kygo: That's important. Naturally you do have to try and take your sound to the next level but it's your sound for a reason. It can be a challenge to always try to stay ahead of the game. On technology's takeover: Kygo: There is this cool company that I use on stage, ROLI. It's a seabord, like a flat keyboard where you can drag notes. I don't know if it is going to change music as we know it but it is definitely a cool way to make music. You can use it to play something on a keyboard that sounds exactly like a guitar. Also, things like Spotify and Apple Music have been around for a bit now but have changed the way we listen and find music. It is easier to find new artists and listen to new music. At the same time people don't really listen to albums anymore. Alan Walker: Yeah I guess Spotify and Apple Music aren't really new technology anymore but they have changed music consumption. The market has become so streaming based that no one really buys albums. If you put out an album it is likely that, if for example it's an 8 track album, only 1 or 2 of those songs will get any good attention, as in getting more streams than the others. That is because if there is one song people really like it will get playlisted more which in turn attracts more listeners. At the same time the other songs on the album have a life that is more in the shadows. Alan Walker: Hmmm. Streaming numbers are not something I consider as far as music creation is concerned. At the same time you want the listener to be engaged with the song. If you haven't gained their attention in the first 15 to 30 seconds they probably aren't feeling it. Kygo: Yeah, I agree. It is important to get listeners past the first 30 seconds but it's not something I really think about when I produce music. Maybe it should be! [Laughs] But I really just want to make a song that sounds good. Streaming numbers are important but it's really just about fans having the ability to find the music whether they download it, buy it or stream it on their computer. On #MeToo in music: Kygo: I think the #metoo movement has been important to see. It is something that should have been talked about a long time ago. As far as deejays there are some really great woman taking part in dance music. Rezz was one of my favorites at Coachella. Alan Walker: I read an article recently on how female representation at festivals has been really lacking. It is important that we are talking about that more and that people are becoming aware that this is a problem. I am seeing more and more female acts in general on line-ups which is exciting. It is also really cool to see more woman getting into the Dance Music industry because it needs more diversity. Kygo: Yeah! It's important for festival promoters, and everyone in the industry, to think about and to give the female deejays the same chance to get on to a line-up as the male deejays. It seems like the industry is trying to change and opening up and that is a great thing! On favorite collaborations and dream collaborators: Alan Walker: I have worked with some pretty amazing people. One of my favorite collaborations was with one of the guys that got me into the music industry, his name was DJ Ness. I took a song of his that was around five-years-old and completely flipped it. We made it a 2017 version of the track and re-released it. It did really well. It is awesome when you can work with and give back to the people that gave to you in the very beginning. That one was super special to me. One of my dream collaborators... [laughs] I would definitely pick you! Kygo: Wow! Well that one is going to happen! Kygo: I think it's hard to pick one favorite collaboration. I'm obviously really happy with all the songs I've released. I don't release something I am not happy with it. I'm always getting cool demos, and working with people online, and then in the studio with songwriters. But as far as a dream collaborator, Ed Sheeran has always been on the top of my list. I've remixed some of his stuff. I'm talking with him about doing something so hopefully it happens. But I mean now I am just really excited about our collaboration. It's definitely going to happen! Famous People Nick Cannon Acknowledges His Baby-Making Skills in Christmas Video by Michael Cuby Photography by Grace Scuitto / Story by Jade Gomez / Makeup by Marla Vazquez / Hair by Abraham Esparza / Styling by Heather Picchiottino	10,965
We're really blown away by the support we receive from all of YOU each and every day. Thank you for following, reading our stories and checking out #ADSPodcast! We'd also like to thank our GOLD supporters, the @wcbleague, for all they do for us and for baseball in #Alberta (and Saskatchewan). For more information on our teammates and how to get involved with your organization: Hope your weekend is treating you extremely well! Just wanted to stop by to thank all of YOU for your tremendous support. We'd also like to tip our caps to our GOLD supporters, the @sylvanlakegulls, for their generosity that helps us get to the next level. For more on our teammates and to get involved with your organization: We're so incredibly grateful for the support we've received from the baseball community over the past 5+ years! Thank YOU for stopping by to check our our stories and #ADSPodcast! We'd also like to tip our caps to our GOLD supporters, @okotoksdawgsacademy, for their graciousness and generosity which helps us up our game. For more information on our teammates and how to get involved with your organization: Posted on March 5, 2020 by albertadugoutstories Leave a Reply Cancel reply Published by albertadugoutstories Celebrating baseball - past, present and future - in Alberta, Canada. View all posts by albertadugoutstories	1,417
I am passionate about helping newly promoted leaders thrive in their new positions and master their added responsibilities and challenges. Your audience will engage with my diverse experience as a School Principal, Dean of Students, Adventure Education Teacher, Combat Veteran, Activities Director for non-profit assisting individuals with special needs; wife, and mother of three. As a professional speaker and consultant, I’m excited to share valuable insights and takeaways to propel you and your organizations to new heights. – Author of “How to Pee Standing Up/Sirens: An alarming memoir of combat and coming back home.” – Has appeared on PBS, Veteran Radio, NPR, and a variety of podcasts Presentation: The Power of Moving From Me to We “For wherever we come together, This presentation will give you the tools necessary to: Become the best version of yourself and live your “why” Surround yourself with the right people. It may not bewhom you think it is. Take the time to build winning Teams Connect on LinkedIn What Are they Saying… I’ve really enjoyed our meetings and appreciate Laura's facilitating. I walk away challenged to be a better person every time we meet – mostly because I’m realizing my own faults through the lessons of others, which has allowed me to evaluate my actions and responses to do things in a better way. Grateful for Laura's leadership! “Laura is an amazing person, leader, and consultant. She is trustworthy and actively listens. Laura shares objective approaches to problem-solving. You need to do business with Laura!” “Working with Laura is something I look forward to because it is always an interactive, solution-oriented, and enjoyable conversation. I highly recommend anyone interested in growth to do business with Laura. She has the skills, mindset, and attitude to help anyone she can.” “Laura is an excellent listener and motivator―always looking for solutions and moving forward. Laura is amazing at researching and sharing what she has learned. I never enjoyed working with someone as much as I have with Laura. She’s dependable, flexible, easy going, and professional.” “Laura connects with and finds what people need to be successful without being overbearing, dismissive, or taking over. She helps people to be the best version they can be. The things that seemed impossible at first became easy and simple to do. Laura will take what you’re good at and she will make it better. She will help you grow. Your life will be richer because of it. Laura is 100% dependable and positive.” “Laura helped our team build trust and grow together. I truly felt a sense of belonging. I achieved more confidence in my own team-building skills. I think this is unique from Laura and I highly recommend her.” “Laura is so compassionate. She provided direct feedback and suggestions that have helped me grow as an individual and as a leader. I highly recommend Laura to deliver on the work you are looking to achieve.” “Laura’s stories are relatable and conversational, yet inspirational and aspirational. She held the audience’s full attention throughout. Simply put, Laura Colbert is the real deal. She brought value to our event in so many ways.” “Laura keeps her audience glued, you could hear a pin drop, her half hour presentation seemed like only 10 minutes! How do you take life head on? How can you make a difference? Life is fleeting, how do you accomplish your goals and have time to do the things you love? How do you handle the cultural differences on the international scene? Laura answers these questions and more!” “Laura was magical! She presented and shared her military experiences in Iraq with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum for our quarterly Mess Night program. She really made her story come to life and had the audience captivated. One of the best speakers we have had to date.” Jen Carlson “Laura is an incredible listener. Laura made me a better me. She made me think about different perspectives rather than settling for what is easier. She challenged me which is something that I’ve never really had in my current position. Through that, I have been able to grow as a professional and as a person. Laura has truly changed the culture and environment of our building. You are very lucky to be doing business with her! You’re in for a treat! Laura will give you 100% of herself at all times. She will make you her priority while she is working with you and you will never feel as though you’re just a client. She has a knack for listening before talking, for making you feel comfortable, and is truly a wealth of knowledge. Laura is approachable and always has others’ feelings and interests in mind.”	4,981
Sunday, January 31, 2021 These are the opening lines from The God of Love, a book that probably won’t be out for a long time, since I owe my publisher a dark contemporary fantasy duology first. But this is what I’m scribbling on in my free time. It’s about a young trans person who disguises himself as his brother after his brother’s death, to protect the family name and lineage. This is working fine enough until he has to travel to the nearby expansionist empire on a diplomatic mission. There, he meets the beautiful second son of the emperor and his dashing fiancee, gets given a magical sword and an ambiguous mission, and learns that he is one-third god on his mother’s side. It’s complicated. “Let me tell you the story of Adan Hafvel, called by his most tasteless and ugly detractors the Girl Prince, the Mad Prince, and names repugnant enough that I will not say them. To me, he was not mad. Those who actually knew him saw a steady and practical man, not at all unreasonable. If he was mad, it was only in that he was braver than most men, quick to action. If he was mad, it was only in that he was better than most men, more generous of spirit. He made me swear to him that I would not write of him while he was alive, and of course, now that he is gone I am sad, as of course I must be. But in a way I am not. In a way, I am excited. Because Adan never feared death, and because he said that after he was gone I should tell this story, and it is a task that brings me nothing but joy. I will keep his early life here in prologue. But what you must know of that is that he was born in the kingdom of Dower in the high mountains. His parents, King Haman and the Queen Consort Lissandra, knowing nothing of the condition of his soul, gave him the traditional Dower name of Agata.” I came out as nonbinary in about 2013, but my writing has almost always been about young women or feminine people. This is a book that’s exclusively about being transmasculine and gay, set in a fantasy world with lots of political intrigue and romance. It’s the project I’ve come back to over and over during quarantine, because whereas my usual vein is dark and moody, this is a book about falling in love and triumphing over evil. by Rose Szabo February 2nd 2021 Published by: Farrar Straus and Giroux (BYR) Rose Szabo’s thrilling debut What Big Teeth is a dark, gothic fantasy YA novel about a teen girl who returns home to her strange, wild family after years of estrangement, perfect for fans of Wilder Girls. Eleanor Zarrin has been estranged from her wild family for years. When she flees boarding school after a horrifying incident, she goes to the only place she thinks is safe: the home she left behind. But when she gets there, she struggles to fit in with her monstrous relatives, who prowl the woods around the family estate and read fortunes in the guts of birds. Eleanor finds herself desperately trying to hold the family together. In order to save them all Eleanor must learn to embrace her family of monsters and tame the darkness inside her. Exquisitely terrifying, beautiful, and strange, this fierce paranormal fantasy will sink its teeth into you and never let go. Eleanor Zarrin has been estranged from her wild family for years. When she flees boarding school after a horrifying incident, she goes to the only place she thinks is safe: the home she left behind. But when she gets there, she struggles to fit in with her monstrous relatives, who prowl the woods around the family estate and read fortunes in the guts of birds. Eleanor finds herself desperately trying to hold the family together—in order to save them all, Eleanor must learn to embrace her family of monsters and tame the darkness inside her. I opened my eyes, and I was on the train. I was the only passenger left. How long had I been asleep? I looked down to make sure I still had my things: my straw hat, my suitcase stamped with the letter Z. I’d hung on to them this whole way, through sleeping on a bench in Penn Station and sprinting to catch a train in Boston, ever since I’d left Saint Brigid’s School for Young Ladies this time yesterday. Thinking about it, I ran my tongue over my teeth again. No matter how many times I did it, I could still taste copper. The door at the far end of the car clattered open, and I jumped. Just the conductor, coming down the aisle to check on me. He looked nervously down at me, and I felt guilty, wondering if he could tell I was on the run. “You the stop in Winterport?” he said. I nodded. His eyes had wandered down to my suitcase. “You got people there?” he asked. “I’m kin of the Hannafins, myself.” People up here were like this, I remembered suddenly. Always wanting to know about your family. “The Zarrins,” I offered. He twitched like a rabbit before settling himself back down. “I thought you might be,” he said. “They don’t leave Winterport much, do they?” “I did,” I said. “I haven’t been back in eight years.” Once I said it I froze, terrified he’d ask me why I was coming back now. I rummaged frantically in my mind for a convincing lie. But he just smiled at me tightly and touched his hat. “We’ll just be slowing down, not a full stop,” he said. “Don’t worry, people do it all the time. When the whistle blows the first time, get ready.” He disappeared, and I stared out the window and watched the landscape for a while. It had been almost summer in Maryland, but as we rumbled across the bridge that divides New Hampshire from Maine, I saw a few stubborn patches of snow clinging on beneath the pine trees. I’d been angry when I’d gotten on the train, and that had kept me in motion. But the weather chilled my anger and crystallized it into fear. Maybe there were good reasons I wasn’t supposed to be at home. I had a vague, half-remembered feeling that it wasn’t exactly safe. It all felt faded and vaguely ridiculous. None of it seemed plausible when I held it up to the light. But if it was true, if I was right, then I needed to be home again. After all, there was no other place for me in the world. Not after what I’d done. Lucy Spencer flashed in my mind for a moment then. Her red hair coming out of its braid, her face twisted in that expression people make right before they start screaming— And then the whistle was blowing. Get ready, he’d said. I hefted my suitcase, clapped my hat on my head. Time to go visit my family. The conductor came back to open the door for me as the train slowed. He couldn’t even look me in the eye. He mumbled something that sounded like “Be careful,” and then we were rumbling slowly past a platform, and I was stepping out into the air. I felt a jarring, sickening sensation of the world rising up to meet me. I staggered, let go of the suitcase, and hit one knee on the wood of the platform, the train still trundling behind me. I crawled away from it, feeling like I’d been in an accident. It was moving faster than I’d thought, when I was on it. I told myself not to be weak. I made sure I hadn’t scraped my knee; I didn’t want anyone around here to see my blood. I got to my feet, checked to make sure my suitcase hadn’t popped open in the fall, and took a moment to get my bearings. The platform was deserted. Beyond it the single cobbled street of the town bent like an elbow out into the ocean, with houses lining the crook. Along the water were docks where fishing boats bobbed up and down at their moorings. The sun was going down behind the tree-covered hills, bathing the town in alternating stripes of red light and shadow. Three young boys knelt in the street, their hand-me-down coats straining threadbare over their backs. I found myself watching them closely, my eyes locked on them. They were using a stick to try to loosen one of the cobblestones. One of them looked up and saw me, and froze. I watched him reach down as though he thought if he moved slowly enough I wouldn’t see him. His dirty fingers scrabbled at the edges of the stone until he held it in his hand. I saw his fingers clamp shut around it, and I saw the muscles in his shoulder begin to tense. I tensed, too, sinking down lower, ready to duck or run forward. It was like he knew me. Like he knew what I’d done. “You there!” I shuddered like someone being woken up from a dream. The man brandished the stick halfheartedly after the boys, but it seemed like he’d already forgotten them as he turned to look at me up on the platform, shielding his eyes to see me more clearly. I clambered down to meet him. He was bent at the shoulder, his blue eyes cloudy with age, and he wore a clerical collar. “Ah, young Eleanor,” he said. “I… I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t think I know you.” “Father Thomas,” he said. “Your grandmother didn’t want to introduce you to me until you were older.” He had the same sharp, staccato accent as the man on the train. “But I know about all of you.” He winked. I blushed, not quite knowing why, wondering what it was exactly that he knew. “Well, thank you for… chasing them off.” “My job. Pastor of Saint Anthony in Winterport. Here to help the lost.” He chuckled a little to himself. “Do you need directions up to the house?” “I think I remember. Who were they?” “Oh, them? Kids from town,” he said. “They don’t understand that you’re safe enough. I suspect there’s something instinctual that makes ’em want to throw rocks at Zarrins.” His matter-of-factness chilled me. But I’d known my family was dangerous, so why was I surprised that other people knew it, too? “I don’t think they’re expecting me,” I said. “Will that be a problem?” “The Zarrins have never much liked unexpected company,” he said. “But they are expecting you. Your grandma sent Margaret down this morning with a note, asked me to greet you.” I hadn’t seen that coming. “I’ll walk you as far as the church,” he said. He offered to take my suitcase, but I said I’d manage. He hitched along beside me, leaning on his cane. The whole way I thought I spotted people watching us—a twitch of lace curtains at a window, a rustle as though someone had just ducked behind a hedge. It was almost funny. But then when we got to the weathered clapboard church, and he went away up the path and in through the door, nothing about it seemed funny anymore. I was alone. At the edge of town, the road went nearly straight up a steep incline into a copse of silver birch. The climb was hard; my suitcase banged against my already bruised leg, and I started carrying it in my arms. The wind curled through the trees, blowing through my uniform until I couldn’t stop shivering. A car crawled along behind me for a while, and then passed me at a crest when the road widened. At school, cars would honk at us as we walked in groups; boys would lean out and ask us if we wanted a ride and the nuns would yell at them to leave us alone. Not here. I wondered if the driver recognized me, or just the direction I was walking. I came to the place where the road forked. To the right, it became a bridge that spanned a narrow sound and traveled onward up the coast. To the left, a dirt road that darted directly up the steep slope into the deep woods. Trees made a tunnel overhead. It was beautiful up there, in the darkening forest, but I sensed that it was not a place to be caught alone at night. I bent my knees and adjusted my gait to move silently, then crept forward. Birds sang here, and wild creatures rustled in the bushes. My ears pricked at the small sounds. The geography settled into place around me. To my right down the tree-lined slope: a streambed that carried a torrent of meltwater every spring, eventually pouring off a cliff into the sea. A little to one side of that, there was a line in the woods where it transitioned from birch to aspen. And a little farther up the path, visible in glimpses as I climbed steadily, was the front lawn. I rounded a bend, and the trees fell away, and all that remained was the house. It loomed over the landscape. Towers and porches and balconies and bay windows. Story after story of decorative gingerbreading, crown molding, sunburst emblems, recessed niches, and high gables, and all of it covered in gray scalloped shingles, like scales, and at the very top of the highest tower, the creaking weathervane in the shape of a running rabbit. It was hard to look at: not all of it fit in my view at once, even after I took a few steps back. I realized that now, it scared me. It was too much. It felt oppressive, a giant squatting at the top of the world. I stared the house down, willing it to blink its windows first. And then I took a few quick steps across the narrow band of lawn, planted my foot deliberately on the first step, and launched myself up to the door. It was black. Not painted: black wood, with twisted carvings and a brass horsehead with a ring clenched in its teeth. I lifted the ring and let it fall. No answer for a long moment. Behind me the wind ran up my spine and made me shiver. I reached for the knob and threw the door open. A moan filled the air, a window open somewhere that pulled the air from the door through the house, turning the front hall into a throat. As soon as I stepped forward into the house, suction yanked the door shut behind me and the sound of the ocean sloughing against the cliffs on the far side of the house faded to a whisper. Other than that, there was no sound, except for somewhere down the hall, a heavy clock ticking. I looked around with heart pumping, my hands locked around my suitcase. The entry hall soared two and a half stories, the ceiling lost in darkness somewhere overhead, the rails of the second floor lined with unlit post lamps. The central staircase snaked down in two streams from the upper floors, joining in the middle and unfurling into the front hall, covered in carpet the faded red of a tongue. The walnut wainscoting gleamed, but the baseboards were scratched and scarred, and the wallpaper, printed with scenes of men hunting stags, lay tattered in places. An age-spotted mirror stood propped on a narrow hall table that also held a cut glass dish of desiccated peppermints. The walls were lined with portraits of dim figures, paintings of sprawling landscapes, lovingly rendered still lifes of animal haunches and goblets overflowing with wine. Things I remembered but didn’t recognize, as though I’d seen them in a movie, or a dream. I felt suddenly dizzy. I wanted to sit down, but what should I sit on—the chair carved in the shape of a grinning devil? A long bench lined with a dozen briefcases with deep gouges in the leather? A pile of twine-tied packages all stamped with fragile and a picture of a skull? Maybe I should just keep moving forward. There were the stairs. Somewhere, two stories up, was my childhood bedroom, and maybe if I could make it in there, shut the door, I would be transformed back into someone who belonged here. But that seemed like a long way to go on legs that were longing to carry me down—to the floor, or ideally back to town, to the train, to safety. But there was no train. I couldn’t leave now, I told myself. Where would I even go? The front hall was lined with portraits. I got close to them and studied them in turn, trying to see who I could remember. The largest was an oil painting of a squat, grinning young man with impressive sideburns, holding a team of white horses by their reins while they reared and foamed and rolled their eyes. My grandfather, I thought, but not the doting, laughing man I remembered—he looked fiendish. Next to him, an array of men who looked like him but with varying expressions: a skittish man in a red sweater who must have been my father. A sleek boy with a jagged smile in the same sweater as my father’s picture, but faded and frayed. And there were women here, too, all with sharp cheekbones, olive skin, dark eyes, nothing like my flat, wide-mouthed face. I scanned the whole room and could not find a single photograph of me. I closed my eyes and steadied myself on the newel post at the base of the stairs. And then from farther back into the house, I heard a voice call out, “Eleanor! Is that you?” I’d know that voice anywhere: it was clear and gentle, like the bell on a buoy. It cut through my fear and touched me. Mother. She used to sing to me, when I was little. And she was here. “Where are you?” I called. “The back garden, dear.” She sounded happy. “Come through the kitchen, it’s fastest!” Mother. She had soft hands and she’d let me braid her long hair when I was a child. Suddenly my reservations left me, and all I wanted to do was see her again. I quickly followed the hallway to the door that led to the kitchen. I was about to be back with my mother, and then everything would be alright. I opened the door, and as it swung open, I realized someone was standing there, waiting for me to open it. She stared straight at me from under her ragged tangle of hair. She looked like the women in the portraits, but wilder: sallow skin, bags under her eyes, her clothes covered in grease stains. She frowned at me and muttered something I couldn’t make out. She didn’t like to be stared at, I remembered, and she didn’t like to be spoken to. I could work around this. I averted my eyes and held very still. Slowly, she shuffled back a few paces from the door. “Mother?” I called out again, more tentatively. I edged around Margaret. In my childhood memories she was somehow lovable, always humming a tune. She muttered to herself as I skirted around her through the dark kitchen, across its brick floor and past the big stone oven blackened with years of soot, to the old farmhouse-style back door. The top half was already propped open. I slipped out through the bottom half and shut it behind me, penning Margaret in the kitchen. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness of the house, so I was blinded at first when I stepped out into the sun. Mother gasped, then said, “My little girl!” As my eyes adjusted, I saw the shapes in the back garden more clearly. A tall, narrow old woman in a faded black dress, a man in a suit, a woman sitting in what looked like a large iron washtub. And behind them, a table set with plates and glassware and trimmed with faded bunting. A party? “Hullo, Eleanor,” said the man. He was older than in his portrait, but I knew he must be my father. I stepped closer, but he didn’t reach out to hug me, just looked at me curiously for a long while. Finally, I put out a hand, and he shook it dazedly. “Eleanor,” Grandma Persephone said. I was already looking past her, looking for the voice that had called to me earlier. But when I really saw my mother, I gasped. She was wearing a thin robe, drenched with water. Half of her face was just like mine. I recognized my high forehead, my profile. But as she turned to look at me I saw her other side: an eyeless, earless mass of red polyps that ran all the way down her body until they disappeared into the water of the tub. All of them were straining toward me, as though they could see me, as though they wanted to reach out and grasp me and suck me into the mass. I stumbled back and caught myself on the porch railing. Her one eyebrow shot up, her half of a mouth opening in dismay. I forced myself to smile, but she reached out her good hand and took a damp towel from the edge of the tub and smoothed it protectively over the inhuman side of her face. I knew I should go and hug her. I knew that I used to. That when I was little, I’d loved her. But now all I could think about was the feeling of those things squirming across my face. “Hello, Mother,” I said, trying to sound breezy, like the girls at school. But they always said mummy, or mama. I couldn’t imagine what that would sound like in my mouth. “I told them we should throw you a little party,” Mother said. “It’s been so long.” “How did you know I was coming?” “I saw you,” said Grandma Persephone. And when she spoke, I realized that my eye had been avoiding her in the way that it was still avoiding Mother. I forced myself to turn and take in the woman who had sent me away from home all those years ago. Her hair was milk-white, like mine, and had been since she was young—a family trait. She towered over me, taller than a woman ought to be by her age. Hers was the original face that had spawned all the women in the portraits: her features bonier, crueler, her nose more hooked, her eyes more sunken. I swallowed hard. “Grandmother,” I said. In my mind it sounded dignified. But it came out softer than I’d expected. Like a question. “You made it here, I see.” I wondered if she was angry at me. She’d told me, in letter after letter over the years, to stay put, and I hadn’t. Well, I’d better get this over with. I cleared my throat. “I need to talk to you,” I said. “Something happened.” Her eyebrows shot up, and she looked angry for a moment. “Not now.” She glanced out across the fields. “The others are coming. They want to say hello to you.” As if in answer, from the woods came a long howl. “That will be your grandfather,” she said. But it wasn’t just him—it was three voices, mingling on the breeze. I was surprised to realize I recognized them. The long vowels of Grandpa Miklos, the sharp yips of Luma, Rhys’s guttural bark. But a part of them felt different now. I used to hear that sound and run to the door. Now I stood frozen in place like a rabbit, my eyes scanning the tree line, dreading what might come out. “Quite alright?” Grandma Persephone asked. My throat was too dry to speak. It was spring dusk. They were nothing more than smears of light and shadow among the trees. If they came for my throat there would be no way I could stop them. The sound of their voices made my chest ache with longing, but my legs wanted to run. A dangerous combination, to want something so badly and also be so afraid. I felt that hunger open up inside me again, the same one I’d felt gripping Lucy Spencer by the hair— I realized I’d shut my eyes, and when I forced them open again, three shapes had broken free of the tree line, ambling along upright, laughing and joking and straightening clothing. One of the shapes, a young man tugging on a red sweater, saw me and started into a run across the lawn. He vaulted the low stone wall, rushed me, grabbed me, and heaved me high into the air. Against my will my body went limp, preparing for death. He caught me up and held me out to look at me. My feet dangled in empty air. I still couldn’t draw breath. “Rhys, put her down.” Grandma Persephone’s lips were pursed, but I could see the smile twitching around the edges. She thought this was funny. I couldn’t believe it. “She likes it,” Rhys said. “Don’t you?” “Please put me down.” He looked wounded, but he lowered me to the ground. As soon as my feet touched down I backed away. My ribs ached where he’d held me. “Eleanor,” Grandma Persephone said, “this is your cousin Rhys. A college man, when he bothers to show up to his classes. Popular with the ladies, or so I’ve heard.” Rhys’s chest puffed up. “And clearly, as you can see, a brute with no manners.” She said it affectionately, but I didn’t think it was funny at all. “She knows me.” He grinned at me. “Don’t you, Ellie?” “Of course.” I tried to infuse my voice with warmth. He felt dangerous. “I knew it!” He moved forward as though he wanted to scoop me up again, but stopped himself short. “Every time I’m home I ask Where’s Ellie, and Grandma says—” “She’s been at boarding school,” Grandma Persephone said. “I know that, Grandma. Where’s she been at Christmas?” “Rhys, who’s got the meat?” she asked. “Why don’t you go help him with that?” Rhys nodded, then sprinted back toward the other two figures making their way across the lawn. One was an old man who tottered slowly, the other a blond girl who kept pace. “If he’s my cousin,” I said, “who’s his mother?” “Margaret. And that’s your sister there, and your Grandpa Miklos,” Grandma Persephone said, behind me. She said it quietly, like a stage manager feeding me my lines. “I know that,” I said. I watched Rhys catch up to them. He took the sack from the old man, leaped back over the wall, and opened the gate for him. The sack dropped to the ground with a leaden thud. As she stepped through the gate, the girl glanced up, and although I knew it was her, I recognized my sister for the first time. And she was the first thing I saw that didn’t frighten me. She’d grown up, but she still looked like a movie actress, with her wide, bright eyes, cherubic face, and soft hair the color of a star. She ran toward me and wrapped her arms around me, and from her clothes came the familiar smell of pine forest and mail-ordered perfume. Luma. My sister, my best friend. I’d written her probably a hundred letters and she’d never written me back, but now I was here, and she had me. “Eleanor!” she said into my cheek. I let her hug me, and for a moment, things felt normal. Then she pulled back and grinned cheerily at me with her mouthful of sharp teeth. Strands of bloody flesh still clung between them, and her breath smelled gamey. I kept my smile fixed as she stroked my cheek with a fingernail caked in blood. “Luma,” I said. “I’ve missed you.” “And you!” “I have so much to tell you,” I said. “I—” “Mother,” Luma said, “what’s in your bath? It smells incredible.” “Sage.” “Heaven.” Luma sat down on the edge of Mother’s tub with a sigh, stroked the water, and splashed some of it across her face. I couldn’t quite believe that after eight years away, she hadn’t even let me finish my sentence. All around me were little domestic scenes: Luma sitting on the edge of the garden tub, Father listening sheepishly while Rhys talked about the hunting they’d done, Grandma Persephone tapping Grandpa Miklos on the chest with one bony finger. “You forgot your cane,” she said. “I don’t need it on four legs.” “You need it coming back.” “Ehhhh…” He waved a hand. “I don’t like it. It makes me feel old.” “You are old.” He slung an arm around her shoulders, and she bent her knees to take his weight. As she moved to his side I got a look at his face. It was the face I remembered most vividly from childhood: those kind, dark eyes, those soft lines in his skin, his bushy eyebrows, his broad nose. But I didn’t feel the way I used to when I looked at him. I was afraid. “Miklos,” Grandma Persephone said. “Don’t you want to say hello to Eleanor? She’s home.” He grinned as he turned toward me. But then he sniffed the air, his grin faded, and his head snapped up to lock onto his target. His eyes focused on mine, and as they did, his shoulders dropped down, relaxing but also… preparing. I felt suddenly cold. Grandpa wasn’t like Rhys or Luma or Father. He was older and came from somewhere less civilized. He wasn’t seeing Eleanor, his granddaughter. He was seeing a young woman named Eleanor who had suddenly found herself at an isolated manor house. Someone no one would miss if she disappeared on a spring evening. He took a step toward me. I took half a step back, praying my foot wouldn’t catch on a stone, praying I wouldn’t falter or fall. Grandma Persephone saw it, too. She snapped her fingers under his nose. “Miklos. Miklos!” He shook his head and looked a little dreamy. “It is good to see you, my… darling,” he said. “It has been too long.” I nodded, waiting for my heart to stop racing. Grandma Persephone had him by one arm. I could see her fingernails digging into his jacket. “Let’s toast,” she said. They all turned toward the table and took up flutes of champagne. Someone put one into my hand. “To our Eleanor,” Grandma Persephone said, and they clinked glasses and drank. I sipped. I’d pictured a time like this every night for years, until the image got threadbare and worn. My family, welcoming me back, thrilled to see me, as though I had never left. And now that I had it, it was wrong. Or I was wrong. The rest of them quickly fell to chatting, and I let myself sidle out of the way. At school, the easiest way to get out of things was just to stop existing. I watched them for a while, and then Grandma Persephone detached herself and drifted back to stand near me. “You’ll want to apologize to your mother once you’ve settled in,” she said. “You were a little rude, but I’m sure she’ll understand that you’re just nervous. Which, by the way, is not something you should show your grandfather, either. If something runs, he has to chase.” “I wouldn’t have been afraid if you hadn’t sent me away.” It was out of my mouth before I could stop it, and after I said it, I glowed hot with indignation. She studied me, and I studied her back, looking all over her face for any trace of remorse for what she’d done to me, for sending me away, for letting me be afraid. Nothing. I realized she was curious about me, that she might have known I’d come back, but now that I was here, she didn’t know exactly what I’d do next. “I felt like that, once,” she said at last. “I’m sorry?” “After my son died,” she said. “The first Rhys. I looked at your grandfather, and I forgot everything that made him my family. I just saw a monster.” I looked around at the gathering. How could she see anything else? “Give yourself time,” she said, “to let your eyes adjust.” I glanced around at my family. They’d clumped together, laughing, drinking champagne. Aside from a few glances at me, they looked like they’d already forgotten I was here, that I was the reason for the party. Evening fell across the lawn as my sister still perched on the edge of the tub. Her long, sharp teeth, the ones that couldn’t retract like everyone else’s, glinted in the light of the rising moon. Father and Grandpa Miklos were looking conspiratorially at the bag on the ground. “What’s for dinner?” Father asked Rhys. “Show me what you caught.” Rhys grabbed the sack and pulled out a brace of young rabbits by the ears. Their bodies swung limply from their broken necks. Their white throats were pink with blood. Maybe my eyes were adjusting, I thought, since everything seemed to be getting darker around me. And then I fainted. Excerpted from What Big Teeth, copyright © 2020 by Rose Szabo. About the Author: website Rose Szabo is a nonbinary writer from Richmond, VA, where they live with an assortment of people and animals and teach writing at VCU. They have an MA in English from the University of Maine and an MFA in creative writing from VCU. Their work has been published in See the Elephant and Quaint magazines. What Big Teeth is their first novel. Tour-wide giveaway (INT) Posted by Sharon Stogner at 9:30 PM 3 comments: Veronica Reed February 1, 2021 at 11:39 AM I've been really looking forward to this one. Sounds fun, creepy, and intriguing ReplyDelete Replies Giselle February 1, 2021 at 11:51 AM Thanks for hosting today, Sharon! ReplyDelete Replies Sherry February 1, 2021 at 10:09 PM Looks like a very interesting book. ReplyDelete Replies Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Contact us to find out details! click to go to the site I know, right?! She thought the Wild Hunt was just a story to frighten children... where the dishes bite back Please assume all books reviewed at I Smell Sheep are provided by the publisher or author unless otherwise noted in exchange for an honest review.	32,267
Sunset Cocktail Sunset cocktail is an alcoholic orange based drink which, according to it’s name, mimmicks the appearance of the Continue reading What is caterbakes? What is it all about? August 26, 2016 Chef Wale More Leave a comment Giving all courtesy to God, the first baker who baked a sweet, succulent, snowy food later called manna meaning ”	348
WASHINGTON — Hit by a cyberattack, the operator of a major U.S. fuel pipeline said Monday it hopes to have services mostly restored by the end of the week as the FBI and administration officials identified the culprits as a gang of criminal hackers.Colonial Pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel consumed on the East Coast, halted operations last week after revealing a ransomware attack that it said had affected some of its systems. On Monday, U.S. officials sought to soothe concerns about price spikes or damage to the economy by stressing that the fuel supply had so far not been disrupted, and the company said it was working toward “substantially restoring operational service” by the weekend.Nonetheless, the attack underscored the vulnerabilities of the nation’s energy sector and other critical industries whose infrastructure is largely privately owned. Ransomware attacks are typically carried out by criminal hackers who scramble data, paralyzing victim networks, and demand large payments to decrypt it.The Colonial attack was a potent reminder of the real-world implications of the burgeoning threat. Even as the Biden administration works to confront organized hacking campaigns sponsored by foreign governments, it must still contend with difficult-to-prevent attacks from cybercriminals.“We need to invest to safeguard our critical infrastructure,” President Joe Biden said Monday. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the attack “tells you how utterly vulnerable we are” to cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure.The attack came as the administration, still grappling with its response to massive breaches by Russia of federal agencies and private corporations, works on an executive order aimed at bolstering cybersecurity defenses. The Justice Department, meanwhile, has formed a ransomware task force designed for situations just like Colonial Pipeline, and the Energy Department on April 20 announced a 100-day initiative focused on protecting energy infrastructure from cyber threats. Similar actions are planned for other critical industries, such as water and natural gas.Despite that, the challenge facing the government and the private sector remains immense.In this case, the FBI moved with unusual speed to pinpoint blame, saying the criminal syndicate whose ransomware was used in the attack is named DarkSide. The group’s members are Russian speakers, and the syndicate’s malware is coded not to attack networks using Russian-language keyboards.Anne Neuberger, the White House deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said at a briefing that the group has been on the FBI’s model for months. She said its business model is to demand ransom payments from victims and then split the proceeds with the ransomware developers, relying on what she said was a “new and very troubling variant.”She declined to say if Colonial Pipeline had paid any ransom, and the company has not given any indication of that one way or the other. Though the FBI has historically discouraged victims from making payments for fear of promoting additional attacks, she acknowledged “the very difficult” situation that victims face and said the administration needs to look “thoughtfully at this area” of how best to deter ransomware.”Given the rise in ransomware, that is one area we’re definitely looking at now to say, “What should be the government’s approach to ransomware actors and to ransoms overall?”Speaking later in the day at a conference on national security, Neuberger said the administration was committed to leveraging the government’s massive buying power to ensure that software makers make their products less vulnerable to hackers.“Security can’t be an afterthought,” Neuberger said. “We don’t buy a car and only then decide if we want to pay for seatbelts and airbags.”The U.S. sanctioned the Kremlin last month for a hack of federal government agencies, known as the SolarWinds breach, that officials have linked to a Russian intelligence unit and characterized as an intelligence-gathering operation. In this case, though, the hackers are not known to be working at the behest of any foreign government.The group posted a statement on its dark web site describing itself as apolitical. “Our goal is to make money, and not creating problems for society,” DarkSide said.Asked Monday whether Russia was involved, Biden said, ”“I’m going to be meeting with President (Vladimir) Putin, and so far there is no evidence based on, from our intelligence people, that Russia is involved, although there is evidence that the actors, ransomware, is in Russia.“They have some responsibility to deal with this,” he added.U.S. officials have sought to head off anxieties about the prospect of a lingering economic impact and disruption to the fuel supply, especially given Colonial Pipeline’s key role in transporting gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and other petroleum products through 10 states between Texas and New Jersey.Colonial is in the process of restarting portions of its network. It said Monday that it was evaluating the product inventory in storage tanks at its facilities. Administration officials stressed that Colonial proactively took some of its systems offline to prevent the ransomware from migrating from business computer systems to those that operate the pipeline.In response to the attack, the administration loosened regulations for the transport of petroleum products on highways as part of an “all-hands-on-deck” effort to avoid disruptions in the fuel supply.“The time of the outage is now approaching critical levels and if it continues to remain down we do expect an increase in East Coast gasoline and diesel prices,” said Debnil Chowdhury, IHS Markit Executive Director. The last time there was an outage of this magnitude was in 2016, he said, when gas prices rose 15 to 20 cents per gallon. The Northeast had significantly more local refining capacity at that time, potentially intensifying any impact.The pipeline utilizes both common and custom technology systems, which could complicate efforts to bring the entire network back online, according to analysts at Third Bridge.Energy Secretary Granholm said, “Cyber attacks on our critical infrastructure — especially energy infrastructure — is not going away.”“This is a serious example of what we’re seeing across the board in many places and it tells you that we need to invest in our systems, our transmission grid for electricity. We need to invest in cyber defense in these energy systems,” she told Bloomberg TV.The attack has not affected the supply of gasoline, she said, “but if it goes on too long, of course that will change.″Gasoline futures ticked higher Monday. Futures for crude and fuel, prices that traders pay for contracts for delivery in the future, typically begin to rise anyway each year as the driving season approaches. The price you pay at the pump tends to follow.The average U.S. price of regular-grade gasoline has jumped 6 cents over the past two weeks, to $3.02 per gallon, which is $1.05 higher than a year ago. The year-ago numbers are skewed somewhat because the nation was going into lockdown due to the pandemic.The attack on the Colonial Pipeline could exacerbate the upward pressure on prices if it is unresolved for a period of time.———Associated Press writers Frank Bajak in Boston and Matthew Daly in Washington contributed to this report. You may also like... Related Topics: Click to comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. 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Jesse Fenichel has first-hand experience with the increasingly difficult labor market conditions faced by American lawyers. A lawyer himself, and a sociology doctoral candidate at Northeastern, Fenichel works in the summers as a “temp attorney.” During his time at Northeastern, he has noticed substantial decreases in the wages paid to temp attorneys and the amount of available work. One reason, he said, is because lawyers in other countries are doing a great deal of legal work at a lower cost. One of the most popular countries for legal process outsourcing is the Philippines, where Fenichel will conduct research for nine months starting in November thanks to a Fulbright award. “I’m pretty excited,” Fenichel said of the award. “There has not been a lot of in-depth research into how much this burgeoning industry is affecting the legal profession in this country.” The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program supports about 800 American scholars and professionals who go to more than 100 countries to lecture and/or conduct research in a wide variety of fields. The program is overseen by the U.S. State Department. Fenichel says a vast majority of legal work in the U.S., such as reviewing documents for a large corporate litigation, doesn’t have to be done by a registered lawyer, as long as a bar-certified attorney oversees the work. So to save money and decrease the workload of their own attorneys, law firms send an increasing amount of basic legal work overseas. “In 2008 the American Bar Association had to address the issue because it was becoming such a big thing,” Fenichel explained. “And it basically gave its blessing.” Legal process outsourcing has even made its way to the United States’ highest court, Fenichel noted. In 2005 lawyers in India, working for a legal process outsourcing firm, drafted a brief for a Supreme Court case. India and the Philippines are two popular destinations for U.S. legal process outsourcing for a few reasons, Fenichel explained, including the fact they have similar court systems and legal proceedings there are conducted in English. While in the Philippines, Fenichel plans to research the barriers for how much actual legal work can be outsourced and the impact the industry is having on both the American and Philippine legal systems. Fenichel said he plans to visit outsourcing firms and speak with managers and employees there. “I honestly don’t know what my findings will be,” Fenichel said. “But, when you look at other industries that have outsourced, at first you think that, on a purely economic basis, ‘Why doesn’t the entire industry just get outsourced?’ But, with respect to knowledge work, the general experience has been that various frictions prevent that from happening.” Fenichel has never been to Southeast Asia and hopes to utilize the practical sociology skills he has learned at Northeastern to learn more about the people he will be working with in the Philippines. “This research will be a substantial part of my dissertation looking at the contemporary legal field and how globalization has dramatically changed the profession as a whole,” Fenichel said. High stakes for politics, SCOTUS in 2018 Weaponizing Language: How the meaning of “allahu akbar” has been distorted Why I love studying Spanish The College of Social Sciences and Humanities combines Northeastern University’s signature focus on experiential learning with the rigorous study of society, culture, politics, and ethics. Support CSSH is redefining liberal arts education for the next generation of global thinkers. Your support and partnership can help CSSH and our students continue to lead, innovate, and engage with our communities.	3,957
Jordan Davis Jonah Radebaugh Andrew Jones Courtney Ramey Sam Masten Matt Coleman Gerald Liddell Carsen Edwards Sports Men's basketball Men's sports Basketball Men's college basketball College basketball College sports More From Jones excels in his return, leading Texas to a 69-45 victory AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Andrew Jones didn't just return to basketball competition Tuesday after a long absence. He took a star turn. Jones, absent for nearly two years while receiving treatment for leukemia, rejoined the Texas rotation and scored a career-best 20 points in 29 minutes as the Longhorns defeated Northern Colorado 69-45 in the opener for both teams. "I didn't know what to expect," Jones, a redshirt sophomore guard, said. "It was a great feeling to be back out there. I didn't have any jitters. I wasn't nervous." Jones scored his previous career-best 19 in a win at VCU on Dec. 5, 2017 and was leading the team with 15.3 points per game while hitting 43.2 percent on 3-pointers before missing four games with a wrist injury. He was diagnosed with leukemia a month later and missed the rest of the season. Jones was still undergoing treatment last season when he made brief appearances in two games. This was much different. Jones entered the game at the 13:50 mark of the first half, and he did not appear hesitant. One time he stepped in front of a Northern Colorado player to induce a charging foul, falling to the court in the process. Then Jones drove through traffic in the lane for a basket. "Andrew's a great player," said Texas guard Courtney Ramey, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds. "Him being out for so long, people kind of forgot about him. So he's gonna wake them up." Those first-half moves were only an appetizer. In the second half Jones converted seven of 10 shots, including four of five 3-pointers. "I'm happy for Andrew," coach Shaka Smart said. "I'm happy for his family. Sometimes in life, when you are dealt a tough hand, it's really about how you respond. He was the best offensive player on the floor. He played with great energy. He played with an aggressive, confident and loose mindset." Texas: The Longhorns have been trying for years to regain the success they maintained under coach Rick Barnes from 2002-08, when they went to the NCAA Tournament round of 16 or beyond five times in seven seasons, including the 2003 Final Four. The Longhorns have missed the NCAA Tournament in two of four seasons since Smart replaced Barnes in 2015, and they have yet to win a game in the tournament. Big 12 coaches picked the Longhorns to finish fourth. Northern Colorado: Big Sky conference coaches picked the Bears to finish fifth in the 11-team conference. They finished second last season and return four starters, but they lost Jordan Davis, their leading scorer with 23.5 points per game as a senior. They seemed to miss Davis. The Bears went 8:59 in the first half without a field goal, making only a pair of free throws during that stretch. Sam Masten led Northern Colorado with 11 points. Texas limited Northern Colorado to 27 percent shooting. Northern Colorado hit just 2 of 21 3-pointers against a defense coached by new Texas associate head coach Luke Yaklich. "We knew we were gonna have a challenge trying to get 3s off," Northern Colorado coach Jeff Linder said. "I wasn't expecting to shoot like that, but they had something to do with that." Sophomore Gerald Liddell, who is competing for a starting job at forward, missed the game because he is in concussion protocol after taking a knee to his head in practice eight days ago. Liddell, a top-50 national recruit, appeared in only 13 games last season, never playing more than seven minutes in the first nine. But he logged double-digit minutes in the final four games en route to the NIT championship. "He's our most improved player," Smart said. "I would say for the first week or two of practice he was our best player." Way too soon for that. The Longhorns did not receive a single vote in the AP preseason top 25. Texas is at Purdue on Saturday. Texas defeated Purdue 72-68 last season in Austin, overcoming 40 points by Carsen Edwards, now with the Boston Celtics. Matt Coleman scored 22 for Texas. Northern Colorado is at home against Incarnate Word on Saturday. Northern Colorado beat Incarnate Word 90-64 last season in San Antonio behind 20 points apiece from Davis and Jonah Radebaugh.	4,534
Would like to get a Guaranteed pay day loan from your own Direct Lender? Listed Below Are Our Top 5 Picks \| 110014:30(L.O.) 170021:00 () > > Would like to get a Guaranteed pay day loan from your own Direct Lender? Listed Below Are Our Top 5 Picks Would like to get a Guaranteed pay day loan from your own Direct Lender? Listed Below Are Our Top 5 Picks Would like to get a Guaranteed pay day loan from your own Direct Lender? Listed Below Are Our Top 5 Picks Assured approval payday advances from direct loan providers seem like a mouthful does not it? First, letвЂ™s break the expression down, then weвЂ™ll get over choices, tips, together with finer details. WhatвЂ™s an online payday loan? a cash advance is a tiny unsecured brief term loan that is usually reimbursed on your own next payday. These loans will often have a high rate of interest, calculated with regards to a yearly portion price (APR) but could be better to apply and be eligible for a in addition to fast to finance. WhatвЂ™s an immediate loan provider? an immediate loan provider is really a bank, credit union, payday lender, or any other monetary business that directly lends away money to a customer. Regrettably, there are a great number of third party sites and lenders that donвЂ™t offer loans on their own – rather, they work as the center guy. You will find benefits and drawbacks of working together with a lender that is direct weвЂ™ll take you through them later on inside our article. Exactly what does it suggest whenever an immediate pay day loan has guaranteed approval? This means youвЂ™ll approval that is definitely receive! But, thereвЂ™s a catch. Hardly any things in life are 100% assured and a loan that is payday undoubtedly no exclusion, no real matter what advertising or marketing you see. Whether or not an instantaneous pay day loan is not hard to be eligible for and does not need a credit check, it does not suggest youвЂ™ll be authorized at 100% certainty. In the end, numerous payday loan providers and other banking institutions need some kind of earnings, need recognition, and have now other approval needs. DonвЂ™t be seduced by the often-used advertising trap of вЂњguaranteed approvalвЂќ! Most readily useful direct loan providers for the simple-to-qualify payday that is online or alternative Therefore letвЂ™s cut to the chase – that is the most useful pay day loan direct lender that possibly aren’t guaranteed in full, however you have actually a far better possiblity to be eligible for? Listed below are our top 5 picks: WeвЂ™d be remiss whenever we didnвЂ™t mention ourselves. Although weвЂ™re maybe not a conventional pay day loan and now we donвЂ™t guarantee approval, we have been an immediate loan provider and then we think weвЂ™re the most useful cash advance alternative on the market. Borrow as much as $500 in moments with bad or no credit, and repay back installments while building credit rating. It is possible to use quickly in your cell phone and acquire money anytime such as for instance laying during sex for a Sunday evening. Payment is completed in payment installments over almost a year so the chance is got by you to get your breathing. The best benefit? Feasible reports to any or all 3 credit that is major – TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian, letting you reconstruct your credit and enhance our monetary wellness. You’ll download the Finance that is possible app the iTunes or Bing Enjoy shop. A pay day loan alternative or PAL is made available from numerous credit unions for their people. ItвЂ™s a lesser APR installment loan thatвЂ™s meant as an option to conventional loans that are payday. The annual percentage rate of interest (APR) is lower than 36% in many cases. Nevertheless, they are more challenging to be eligible for than conventional payday advances so the approval is unquestionably perhaps not guaranteed in full. The credit union is an immediate loan provider though and youвЂ™ll be working with a lender wanting to enable you to get in the right monetary track. Speak to your neighborhood credit union to see when they give you a loan that is payday (PAL). LendUp is a payday that is online and standard bank that offers payday advances with easier approval. Candidates will be needing ID and a banking account, and never much else. But, the approvals aren’t fully guaranteed, regardless of if marketing may state different things. Most of the time, LendUp can do a credit seek the advice of an alternative solution credit bureau via a pull that is soft. It wonвЂ™t influence your credit score but theyвЂ™ll nevertheless run a credit check. You will be rejected for many reasons including not enough income along with other things. This conventional payday lender first started company in 2004 while offering payday advances, installment loans, and line-of-credit services and products. You can travel to their in-person stores or use online or through their mobile application to have a loan that is payday. TheyвЂ™re a primary loan provider in the us they run in but just like everybody else, thereвЂ™s noвЂќ approval that isвЂњguaranteed. Similar to conventional payday lenders, to utilize, youвЂ™ll need an ID, a pay stub, frequently a banking account to deposit your funds and also to spend your loan down. MoneyTree is yet another payday that is traditional direct lender thatвЂ™s located in Seattle and mostly functions within the Northwest. The payday lender offers payday advances which are comparable to those of CashNetUSA. Like CashNetUSA, thereвЂ™s no approval that is guaranteed they run as an immediate loan provider within the states theyвЂ™re in. YouвЂ™ll need an ID, a pay stub, and a bank-account to use and you may decide to get the cash on the location or in your money or in your debit card. Direct pay day loan lenders vs third party loan providers WhatвЂ™s the difference between an immediate loan provider and a party lender that is 3rd? a lender that is direct the financial institution for the loan up to a customer. They evaluate your application, approve you, and disburse the funds directly to you when you apply on their website or mobile app such as with Possible Finance. In comparison, in the event that you make an application for a loan on a third party loan provider web site or app, theyвЂ™ll redirect you or offer your data to numerous other direct loan providers or third party sites. YouвЂ™ll probably be contacted via e-mail, text message, and phone with provides from numerous direct loan providers as well as other third party web sites. In addition, the info on the application might be offered to information providers and loan providers. Often, it is hard to inform whether youвЂ™re working with a third party loan provider. Make sure to browse the small print on the internet site, particularly on any loan contract or disclosures youвЂ™re acknowledging or accepting. You could check always the terms out & Conditions and Privacy agreements on the site. By doing all your very very own thorough research, you need to be in a position to learn perhaps the business is an immediate loan provider or even a party that is 3rd. Which are the advantages and disadvantages of a direct loan provider? One con of the lender that is direct theyвЂ™ll frequently have only one cost for a financial loan framework ie. cash advance. You wonвЂ™t have the ability to effortlessly compare costs, even though you’ll go to sites of multiple cash advance lenders and apps. There are lots of advantages of working together with an immediate loan provider in place of a party that is 3rd. YouвЂ™ll receive less spam phone phone phone calls or moneylion loans online communications – by dealing with a direct loan provider, youвЂ™ll recognize exactly who it’s this is certainly calling you and it is very easy to decide down. In the event that you make use of a third party loan provider, your data might be offered to multiple places and youвЂ™ll have numerous random numbers and e-mails vying for the attention. In addition, third party sites and apps could be less safe and less genuine. Many direct loan providers like LendUp, Possible Finance, CashNetUSA, among others have actually hundreds or even huge number of reviews online. They’ve Better Business Bureau pages as well as other places where you are able to grumble. YouвЂ™ll have the ability to see them regarding the NMLS customer Access web site.	8,667
If you take an early distribution from your tax-deferred account, how much will you have remaining after paying income taxes and penalties? The tax-deferred account may be a 401(k) plan, your individual retirement account (IRA), profit sharing plan, or other tax-deferred savings account. Generally, if you withdraw funds from a tax-deferred retirement account and have not reached age 59 1/2, your withdrawal will be subject to a 10% penalty on the amount withdrawn. In addition to paying income taxes at the federal level, you may have to pay state taxes. There may also be a state penalty on an early withdrawal. State taxes are not considered in this example. Your federal income tax rate after making the withdrawal: 0% The amount you plan to withdraw from your tax-deferred account: $0 The estimated taxes due on the amount withdrawn: $0 The 10% penalty on the amount withdrawn: $0 The estimated total taxes and penalties: $0 The amount remaining after taxes and penalties: $0 Whenever possible, it's generally best to avoid paying early withdrawal penalties on retirement assets. How much of your retirement nest egg would be lost to taxes and penalties if you took an early withdrawal? Note that this example assumes that the account is funded with pre-tax or tax-deductible contributions, and that withdrawn amounts are taxable. Total taxes and penalties are estimated to be $0.00. After taxes and penalties, the amount remaining will be $0.00. There are certain exceptions to the penalty imposed on an early withdrawal. However, income taxes must still be paid. Consult your tax advisor before taking any action. Distribution Potentially Lost to Penalties and Taxes Previous Next This hypothetical example is used for illustrative purposes only. Actual results will vary. This information is not intended as tax, legal, investment, or retirement advice or recommendations, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek advice from an independent tax or legal professional. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.	2,315
The next examination is now scheduled for June 22nd at 1:30 at the 36th district court. We do not have written confirmation of this yet but we did get a phone call. Update: We did get the official letter from the court! June 22 at 1:30 Update 2: Courtroom 539 and still at 1:30 Jun June 9th Court Examination The court date for the examination was once again postponed, One of the defendants decided that he needed to retain private council instead of the court appointed council that he was given. Jun These pictures were submitted to the funeral home’s website by family and friends. Family Jun Obituary from Wujek-Calcaterra Moenaert, James M. “Jimi” Suddenly May 11, 2009 Age 46. Beloved Brother of Bobbie Roberts, Frances (James) Hudgins, Jo Ann (Richard) Honoway, Debbie (Don) Cuttler, Gerald “Butch” (Ardin) , Barb (Steve) Baker and Wilma (Lloyd “A.J.”) Maison. Dear Son of the late Gerald and the late Wilma. Also remembered by many loving nieces,nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Visitation at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc. 36900 Schoenherr @ Metro Pky (16 Mile) Saturday 4-9pm, Sunday 1-9pm. Scripture Service Sunday 7:00pm Instate Monday 10:30am at St. Matthias Catholic Church 12509 19 Mile Rd. (Just W. of Schoenherr) until the Time of Mass at 11:00am. Burial Christian Memorial Cultural Center. Tributes to Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church, Woodhaven, MI. are welcome. Share Memories with the Family at their “On-Line Guest Book” at WujekCalcaterra.com Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons at 4 pm – 9 pm on Saturday, May 16th Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons at 1 pm – 9 pm on Sunday, May 17th Scripture Service at 7 pm on Sunday, May 17th Instate- St. Matthias at 10:30am on Monday, May 18th Mass- St. Matthias at 11am on Monday, May 18th Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church, Cemetery Family Jun These are the posts from Wujek-Calcaterra Debbie [email protected] – June 12th, 2009 Bobbie, Fran, JoAnn, Butch, Barbara, Wilma I just want to tell all of you that it’s not right to have only 7 of us instead of 8. I can speak for myself it seems to get harder every day to really believe that we lost Jimi. I think of all of you every day and pray that the hurt we all feel will ease in time but right now it hurts more than 5/13/09. I really miss Jimi and his wonderful personality. I truly believe he is smiling down on all of us including nieces, nephews, brother in-laws, sister in-law and friends. Jimi impacted so many lives that is overwhelming how far Jimi spread himself for such a short man and a short life. Jimi you will always be a GIANT in my eyes and my heart. Jimi truly left a mark on earth that will never be forgotten. I pray that Jimi is in peace and that Jimi knows how much all of us miss and love him. Sist,Karen [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My thoughts and prayers go out to Jimmys loving family, I have not seen Jimmy since High school but have MANY great and funny memories,he will be missed. Shannon Kuchinski [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Uncle Jimmy I am sorry it took me so long to write on your guestbook page. I miss you more each day. You had a beautiful soul. I never have met anyone else who always was happy and upbeat. My children miss you and we all cry over you being gone. Look down from heaven and smile on the whole family because we all need it. We will always love you. Love Shannon Wilma, Lloyd and family, my deepest sympathies are with you at this time. my love and prayers to you for healing and peace. wish i could have been there in person but am in spirit. Jairo Leon [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My deepest condolences on the loss of Jimi. What I will miss most about Jimi will be his contagious personality and a generous heart. He was a pillar of the community and the only thing that will outweigh his good actions and kindness is the amount of people that will miss him. Jim was a life long friend of mine. I sang with him in the Our Lady of the Woods choir for about 3-4 years. Then, I moved away but everytime I came back to visit he always greeted me with a hug, a smile and some kind of joke or story. There was never a dull moment with him there, so many jokes and laughs during practices. He was a beautiful person who could always brighten your day. I will never forget you, Jim. Bob Beaupre [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Jim will be missed dearly by everyone who ever met him, I know he is in a better place now singing like an angel as he did here on earth. Both Rene’ and myself will always treasure the times we had with Jim. Our prayer’s go out to the family. Heather Moses [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I have been having a hard time trying to figure out how to say the right thing about Uncle Jimi. I can’t possibly say how great he was as well as some of the other people who’ve written. So I’d just like to share a memory.I was about 13 and had just moved to Tennessee the year before. The school year was rough and I did not fit in there. It was tough. Uncle Jimi came to visit us that summer and spent about a week. There was one time when he was driving us somewhere and this song came on that he liked. It had a ‘breakdown’ part in the middle. Uncle jimi was singing along to it even though it was by a girl group. When the ‘breakdown’ part came on he stopped the car and opened the door, got out and ran around the car singing, waving his arms and smiling all at the same time. It was hilarious.At that moment he was living life how he wanted. Singing a song and being silly because he enjoyed both of those and cheering us up because he cared. Afterward he got back in the car and drove off like nothing had happened.He never worried about what people thought. He lived how he wanted and definitely lived for the moment. He truly cared about people and made a point to try to make others happy.He was one of the really good people out there and I only hope that I can live my life following his example. Sandy Sanno [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My heartfelt sympathy to the Moenaert Family. I am Jimi’s co-worker at Auto-Alliance, and find it hard that God needs Jimi more than we do, what a tragic and senseless loss. We all must be strong, that is what Jimi would want. Remember his smiles, the beautiful songs from his heart, his love for life and the love for his family and friends. Find your true love in heaven Jimi, ride her into the sunset on your Harley while both of you are eating a chocolate bar. I will miss you my friend……. My prayers are with Jimi’s family. I rememebr Jimi from High School, he was so sweet and funny.You will be missed Jimi. Leis Heidi Ward [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I wanted to write something eloquent and beautiful perfect, but nothing ever seems to say enough. So instead I decided to just write the biggest thoughts in my mind.In the past few days, thereve been a lot of stories told. Theyve almost always ended with a lot of laughter, because that just how it was with Uncle Jimi. At times, Ive felt guilty to be able to laugh at all right now, and my boyfriend (who, unfortunately only got to meet him a few times) said to me that as cliché as it sounds that Uncle Jimi would want us to be able to still be happy. And I believe thats true. Because he so clearly loved life.What I will take from Uncle Jimi are two attributes that I hope I can achieve in myself generosity of the spirit and an optimistic approach to life.Uncle Jimi was one of the most honestly giving people I knew. He helped people out simply because he cared and wanted to help, not for any thought of repayment or to impress others. He said to me once about some money he lent, they promised to pay it back, and thats good, but I honestly dont really care if they do. I love them and I just wanted to help out how I could.Im lucky to have had him come to visit me a few months back in New York. (He really tried to make time for his loved ones.) New Yorkers get a bad rap about being unfriendly, but Uncle Jimi really proved that wrongby talking to everyone. Everyone! And sometimes it was lame (bad jokes) and sometimes it was silly fun (like playing the Beatles out loud on his phone until the conductor made him stop because he told the lady next to us that hed just learned how to use it and she was also a Beatles fan) Everyone appreciated him, all these random strangers. Because he was nice to everyone, because he wanted to like everyone. He was optimistic about people, like he was optimistic about life.No one is always happy. And I know that Uncle Jimi also wasnt. He told me there were times he wasnt, but he chose to be happy, because he wanted to be. He was optimistic about life. And because of that, he embraced the chance to make every experience special. And that is what Ill always take with me, the reminder to make sure I appreciate life, and share that appreciation with those that we love and to love easily. Gaylene Todd [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 With deepest sympathy for the loss of such a beautiful life. The news of Jimi’s senseless taking has darkened our usual blue skies. Jimi had that “Blue Sky” philosophy which he instilled into all who interacted with him throughout his life. Our families have been so close in the past, he felt like a brother to me. I’m confident others would have been delighted to claim him as their friend, brother, nephew, Uncle, and the like. I would like to express my heartfelt sorrow to Jimi’s entire family, and to the many friends who he made during his lifetime. Dan Wirtz [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My condolences to Jimi’s family. This is a terrible loss for everyone who ever met him , because once you met jimi you were a friend.He was a caring, and loving person who lived life to the fullest.I am thankful for meeting him and also for him loving Krystal like she was his niece. The memories are what is left and they are awesome memories of a guy who lived life and shared his love generously. We have lost a true “GEM”. My thoughts and prayers are with the family now and forever. Dan Wirtz Clara Falzone [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My prayers are with Jim’s family at this time of sorrow. Jim was a great person, with always a kind word. I only had the pleasure to work with Jim in a few concerts. He has a great voice, and I’m sure that he will be singing in a choir in Heaven. Penny & Bob LaFreniere [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Jimmy always gave a person whatever they needed — a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen or a gentle push in the right direction. Sometimes he gave you what you needed before you realized you needed it. That is how special & unique he was. There will definitely be a void in many lives without Jimmy there. He’ll be missed forever and loved always. God bless the people he left behind. Kathy DuHame [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I remember Jimi very fondly from high school. My youngest brother, Mark, also worked with Jimi at Mazda and they car pooled together for quite a while. I will keep your whole family in my prayers. HARLEY MAN – June 9th, 2009 Tom & Kim Kustak – June 9th, 2009 Our hearts are deeply saddend with the loss of Jimi. Like many others, we struggle to find answers for his tragic death. We pray for the family and friends that mourn for strength and understanding. We have many fond memories that we hold dear in our hearts. God bless Lord, we cannot possibly understand the times it appears that evil wins on this earth. But I believe the size of the sacrifice is a clue to the size of the blessing that will come from it. This is such a cruel, senseless loss that I can only imagine what miracle God has planned to bloom from it. I pray that all who knew and loved Jimi will witness God’s glorious work accomplished through this tragedy. Jimi, I look forward to joining your choir one day. I know heaven is a better place with you in it. Blessings, peace, and comfort to the Moenaert family. Jim, Mary LaRue & family [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Our thoughts and prayers are with ‘Jimi’ and the entire family. Such a tragic event such a tragic loss. My Lord, My God, I won’t understand till I get to heaven why you took such a wonderful friend, a man who loved his family dearly, and a vessel for You to let Your light shine. Jim’s smile and laugh was infectious. He always was there to listen and talk; but would also offer a prayer. I stood up in his wedding and will miss him dearly. My sympathies to the family and friends that are left behind. I know this earth will not be the same without him; however I know Jim is singing and dancing with the angels in heaven!!! With my love, Rosie Owen, Friends Forever Thru Christ. Pat Butler – June 9th, 2009 I worked with Jim in 07-08 in our religious education program at Our Lady of the Woods. I was the director at that time. When Jim first came to me to volunteer he was very sure he wanted to be a catechist but was concerned about whether or not he could do it. He readily took on a 7th grade class with an experienced catechist. There were a number of times that she could not make it because of her work. Jim was always there, always smiling and more than willing to share his faith with the students. He did not have an easy time of it, first year catechists rarely do, but at the end of the year he told me he would come back again if his work schedule allowed him to do so. He would not give up and I give him a lot of credit for that. I will miss his ready smile and his willingness to help in any way he could. He was a real sweetheart and will be greatly missed at Our Lady of the Woods. Matthew Moses [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I wish I knew you longer and I wish my children would be able to experience what an amazing person you were. You will always be spoken of fondly and remembered for what a wonderful person you were. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to pay my respects, but I always did respect you and always will. Catherine Riggs [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My God, my God…what were you thinking? We’re not done with Jim yet!! We need his infectious smile…we need his zest for life….we need his wonderful, deep, rich voice to sing your praises at Our Lady of the Woods…..Lord, I know that you know why you brought Jim home, but, for the record, we weren’t ready to let go of him yet. I didn’t even know his name until today. I just knew that we often smiled at each other, and hugged each other when we left Mass, and shared a thought or two about how amazing our loving God is. He knew he was yours, Lord, as do I. Know that he was well loved and will be sorely missed. My heart and prayers go out to everyone who was blessed to know Jim….by name or just by loving action. Jim was a great person. He was very friendly and family oriented.he was the kind of person who could brighten your day.He will be missed by all who knew him. Joyce (Curlett) Marahrens [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My deepest sympathy to the entire Moenaert family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this very difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss, was quite a shock. I went to grade school and High School with Jimmy. I remember us playing tag and going for walks forever.I give my condolences for the Henry ford class of 1980. Steve and Judy Keough [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Our thoughts are of you,our prayers are for you,and our hearts are with you. You were such a good friend.I will miss you always. I am so sorry for your loss. I went to school with Jimi and he was always smiling. Take care and God Bless. gary foote [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Uncle Jimi i remember watching you do martial arts and also sparring with you what a blast i had. I also remember you punching the wall at the karate school and leaving a dent in the wall. I remember you at the barbques we had at my house and at Wilmas house.Now that you are gone you will truley be missed by my family and espacially your family. You were the baby brother and angel. You were one of my best friends. I know we were friends but the way you acted you seemed like an uncle to my.R.I.P Uncle Jimi God Bless you will truley be missed and keep singing with the angels.Gary Foote Albert Pace [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 This is such a tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to the Moenaert family. Jimmy has left a lasting imprint on everyone’s life that he touched. Jimmy was a lot of things to many people. To me he was a great person and truly down to earth. Take care bud.Albert Pace (AAI) Thomas Chapaton [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 We are sorry for your loss. Natalie and Thomas Chapaton Phil [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 To the Moenaert family….I knew Jim for only two years and consider myself lucky. What a great brother you have. The whole world should have the positive, fun attitude that Jim displays. I know that Jim will be missed by all….but it is a good feeling knowing that he is up above looking down on us. Keeping all of you in our thoughts and prayers. Mom (Aunt Boots) sends her love and is praying that you all are given the strength to get through this terrible tradegy. My prayers to the Family. I went to High School with Jimmy. He was a joy to be around. He will be missed. I will remember his smile and the way he could make everyone smile. Karen(Pitts)Williams. Joann Jenkins [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My Prayers goes out to all of Jimmi’s family and friends. I’ve work with Jimmi and knew him from Auto Alliance.We will miss him but I know he’s up in heaven looking down on all of us with that big smile he always had on his face. Karen Nelson [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My deepest sympathies to the Moenaert family for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Frannie (sister) – June 9th, 2009 The angels are all rejoicing because you’ve gone to join them. Gentle spirit, sweet soul oh how lucky and happy they are…We have been left behind heart broken and sad and yet I am happy knowing you are in such a wonderful place. I hope to join you sometime in the future…I loved you and will always love you I am a coworker of Jimmies. My heart is broken! Jimmie was a ray of sunshine at work. He was a kind and loving person He was always there to help someone in need. I believe we are put on this earth to serve the Lord. Our reward is to be taken back home to our Father. Jimmie has been rewarded for all the good he has done. God has called his Angel home It is so hard for us left behind but I find peace in knowing that one day I will see that great big beautiful smile again when the Lord takes me home. Thanks for all the wonderfull memories. I love you jim Blair McFarlane [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 You were a great friend and co-worker and will be missed greatly. Tim [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Uncle Jimi….you will be deeply missed by everyone you came in contact with. Just reading these messages from all of your friends and family is a true sign of how great you were. Singing, dancing, laughing, caring, loving…letting me and my brother pick you up for fun, taking my brother and I to Stoney Creek…being the cool, young Uncle that all of the neices and nephews wanted to be around…If it wasn’t for you and cousin Tim, our “Oh Mandy” performance would have bombed….thats what I will remember.You never think anything like this will ever happen to anyone you know…I can’t understand it. I never will. I wish I could say the right thing to take away the pain for everyone…Maybe Grandma and Grandpa are arguing in heaven and they needed your help. You will be missed Uncle Jimi. Robert Mcgee [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I worked with Jimi ar AAI. It’s truly a gift to work with someone with such s good sense of humor, and Jimi was truly goofy. We are all very sad at work for his passing. I’m going to miss him. Mandi [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Uncle Jimi, where do I begin. You were the ray of sunshine in our family. Our angel on earth. You had a way of making any situation better. Your smile will be forever engraved in my memory along with the last time we all got to hear you sing so beautifully, at my wedding. I thank God we had that last hoorah with you. My only regret is not having that wonderful memory recorded for us to look back on. I love you with all my heart and miss you terribly. Rest in peace, keep grandma and grandpa from bickering like you alway did. Keep singing your beautiful songs and smiling down on us, we need that now more than ever. I love you. Your niece, Mandi lou balazsi [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Ray Ray – June 9th, 2009 i will always miss Uncle Jimi. He was not actually my uncle but i will always think of him as my uncle. I will always remember the first time i ever met Uncle Jimi, he was on all fours playing with the dogs. He was one of the nicest and most caring people i have ever met and probably will ever meet. He was the type of person that would talk to anyone even if he did not know them. He made the world a better place and he will be forever missed Phyllis Fullam (Wasylyk) [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I’m a friend from high school.I have so many fond memories of “JIMI”. We would always be laughing and joking around.What I will remember most about “JIMI” is our senior trip to the Bahamas and his beautiful smile that lit up the room whereever he was.He will be truly missed by all who knew him. My deepest sympathy to all of the Moenaert family. Love you JIMI Phyllis XOXO Norm Kujawa [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I knew Jimmy from work. He was always there with a smile, always willing to help someone. Jim brightened everyone’s day just by being around. Very few people have that quality. He made daily life easier for others, a trait only a few people have. We will miss him greatly. My deepest sympathies to Jim’s family and friends. Bobbie Roberts [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My Dearest Brother. Jimi my heart is broken knowing that I will never hear your wonderful voice again or see that beautiful smile that lit up our lives. I am reading your guest book and it fills my heart with great pride to see how many people knew you as the wonderful, generous, helpful, and loving person that you were. I will miss you and love you forever, Rest with the angels my sweet wonderful brother. I love you, Bobbie Just a brief note to express how very sorry and saddened we are about Jimmy’s untimely death. He always had such a vibrant personality and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Please know that you will all remain in our thoughts and prayers.With love and concern always,The Stefanik Family I loved him and i still do. He was the best uncle a girl could have. Today is such a hard day every comes true. He would always come over my house on sunday’s the one thing that was constant was DQ. whether or not i was home he would call me and start giving his order. The ice cream won’t taste the same anymore. I just think about all the things he won’t get to see me do. Like graduate college, have my first drink, get married and have kids. But throughout all those events I will think of him and all the good times that we had together. ed &arlene greener [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 jimmie was a good friend of both of us and will be dearly missed. Mrs. A. J. Middleton [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I am very sorry for the sudden loss of your brother. It is my prayer that you will find the comfort and strength you need to endure your sadness from each other, dear friends, and from our heavenly Father, “the God of all comfort.” Please take care. “[God] is healing the brokenhearted ones, and is binding up their painful spots.”–Psalm 147:3 I am an old friend of Jimi’s from the neighborhood. I will always remember how much fun he was to be around and kept us all laughing. I’m so sorry for your tragic loss. Truly senseless. God bless you all. Michelle Mertic [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I don’t think that words can express how heartbroken we are to hear about Jim. We know Jim through Our Lady of the Woods, we are also neighbors of Jim’s. To his family, I am so very sorry for your loss. Jim’s bright and beautiful spirit shone from him everyday-and when you talked to him you always left with a smile on your face. He was thoughtful, kind, considerate, loving..we just can’t believe that he is gone. Michelle and Tony Mertic and family/OLOW Nancy Petack & Julia Honoway – June 9th, 2009 Jimi will surely be missed. We are so shocked and saddened by this tragedy. His kindness, his laughter, his wonderful personality will always be remembered. Jimi always made us feel so special by always making a point to say hello, to ask how we and our families were doing. He cared about everyone! I hope the memories ease some of the pain being experienced from this senseless act. To Bobbi, Fran, JoAnn, Debbie, Barb, Willie and Butch and the entire family – we know you will keep Jimi close to your hearts! We will pray for your enormous loss and pain. He was truly amazing! Jeff “Spike“ Brown [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I hired in with Jimmy at AutoAlliance. I knew him well. He was ALWAYS a great person to be around. He made people laugh. He will be greatly missed by ALL who knew him! He was always in a happy mood. I have met a lot of people in my life but never found anyone like him. If more people were more like him, just think of how much better this world would be. We need more Jimmy’s. But for now we are all sadden by his passing. He will always be remembered.RIP Jimmy RIP.Jeff “Spike“ Brown Marjorie Troe [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Jimmi, oh how we miss you! You gave so much of your self to everyone. We feel so blessed to have known you for your whole life. You touched everyone in the neighborhood with your smile and your humor. Our heaavy hearts are with all of your family along with prayers for each and every one of you. With LOVE from the Troe’s Stan Lenk [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I only met Jimi a half of dozen times over the last 20 years, but I know this world is a lonelier place without him. My deepest sympathy to all of his family and closest friends. Sharon Ubinger/Lichtenberg [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Mary LaBombard(Hill) [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Barb, Wilma and the rest of Jimi’s family, I am so sorry for your loss, I know how much you loved “little Jimi”. I had the joy of knowing him thru his big sister Barb who had nothing but love for her little brother. My heart and prayers go out to the intire family. Jimi was always so much fun, always a smile on his face. What a great guy, I’m sure God has a special place for him…The world is missing a beautiful person. Melissa Mueller [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 A tragic loss. I will always remember Jimi with a smile on his face and always kind words. You will forever be missed. Yvonne [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I didn’t know Jimi, but Mandi and my daughter Mistine are best friends; and I love Mandi like she is family. We have experienced the loss of a brother and son in a tragic, unexpected way; and we know all too well the pain that brings. My thoughts and prayers are with you all as you grieve your loved one. Celebrate his life, and all of those wonderful memories will keep him close in your hearts. krissy [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Uncle Jimi I could never put into words how much I hurt inside for losing the most sweetest kindest and thoughtful man.We are so fortunate to have had you for our uncle.Thank you for treating all your nieces and nephews unconditionally and getting to know us all.Thank you for all the great laughs and just being you Ive always had so much admiration for your beautiful loving spirit for all that you knew Thank you for praying for me and with me you were truly an Angel on earth and its going to be so hard without you here with us I only wish I had your strength to find forgiveness to those that took you away from us because I dont think I ever will I love you with all my heart and will miss you deeply. My Joey will always hear of how great Uncle Jimi was. all my love Krissy xoxoxox To Jimi’s family,I had the pleasure of knowing Jimi in high school, I was in Chorale with him and he truly was an amazing person. He DID bring the sunshine with him into a room, and was kind to everyone he came in contact with. I’m so sorry to hear he has gone from this earth, but am certain that you will all be together again one day, for our God is not that cruel to bond us and then separate us forever. My prayers are with all of you! I swear Jimi was smiling the day Mom brought him home from the hospital, and despite his tragic, senseless death, I know he is smiling down on all of us now. The pain of losing him is almost intolerable, but with God’s guidance and strength and the love and support we have from so many, we will get through this. Thanks to all who have called, stopped by, or said a prayer for Jimi and our family. Please especially keep our little sister, Wilma, in your prayers for she truly lost her best friend. We are all very sorry to hear what had happened and hope and pray you are strong though this tough time..Our prayers are with you and your Family. Barb [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Jimi was the joy of our family, we always knew when he was around there would be happiness. He was our baby brother, we all loved him. He was stolen from us. it broke our hearts. I know he is looking down on us and watching over us, he is smiling and wrapping his arms around us. But I will miss you. more than you will know. My heart is broken. I love you and you left to soon. I know you are with God, because you loved him so, and he loved you. Life will never be the same without you, I can only hope time will heal our wound. LOVE YOU JIMI, MISS YOU FOREVER Terry “T.” Alvarez [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 To Jimmies family, please know that all the coworkers of his have been touched by him..he always smiled and had something funny and nice to say. I am truly blessed to have known him. I am a better person today for having someone like him in my life. There are many sad people at his job that have shed many tears this week after hearing about this… To Jimmie, I know we didn’t get to take that ride that we talked about all winter. I know that you will be looking down on us all..on our motorcycles or at work or where ever…we will always see your smile and your hear laugh and we will be comforted having you in our lives…Ride free Sir..you will always be with me…you will be missed by many… Krystal [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone and everyone who loved Jimi. To his family: You all know what an amazing person Jimi was. You know that he was loved by so many. You know that he has touched so many peoples lives. You know that he is watching over all of us in heaven. You know that he is with you always. I hope you also know that he meant the world to me. And that I truly love all of you very much. To Jimi: I am honored that I had the pleasure of knowing you. I am blessed that our paths crossed. I truly appreciated your tender loving ways with me during my tough family heartache. I appreciate how you treated me like you knew me your whole life. I really appreciate your love and friendship you had with wilma and aj. You were an amazing man. You were unbelievably gracious, loving, caring, passionate, nurturing and understanding. You are the nicest person I’ve ever met. I only wish we could have had more time with you but I am thankful for what we have had. I will honor you by keeping faith. With Love Always, Krystal WirtzLost but never forgotten I was shocked when I heard of Jim’s death. My heart aches for your loss. Jim was a wonderful caring, loving person. He had a smile that brighten the darkest of days. He gave some of the best hugs. He was a blessing in my life. I thank God for allowing our paths to cross at Our Lady of the Woods. I will keep Jim and all of his family in my prayers. May you find comfort in your memories and in the times you had together. God bless you. Pat O’Hara/Our Lady of the Woods Diana Caragacianu – June 9th, 2009 Please accept my condolences. I am very sorry for such a big loss to your family. Debbie Cuttler [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 When you walked into a room it filled with sunshine. I am so very proud to have you as my brother and friend. You very kind, loving, and very generous with your laughter and life. You could make me feel so good after we would be together or talk on the phone. When mom had you she gave birth to a true angel. You were an angel on earth and will fill heaven with love, laughter and beautiful music. Our lives will never be the same without you being there with your smile. Please keep smiling down on Wilma, she needs all the smiles from you. She lost her best buddy. I know you are in a better place with mom and dad but we sure didn’t want to give you up. Please be at peace and spreading all of the joy you gave us. I love you very much and always will. You were our baby and always will be. We just have to try to get over the big hole in our hearts now that you are in heaven. You left us with no music but many memories of the beautiful songs you gave to your nieces at their weddings and the many funerals you sang at. You gave you heart to your church and choir and they have lost one wonderful man. You will be greatly missed by all but especially your family.I will always love you.your loving sister Gary & Audrey Pawenski [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Jimi has been a wonderful friend to our family who always put a smile on our faces. He truly possessed a gift of making others around him happy. He will be missed very much. It was an honor to have had him as a friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this sad time. To my Baby Brother,I love you dearly and Know that I lost my buddy, my protector. I’m going to miss all the adventures we took together.What will do without you I’m very Heartbroken, that you were taken from us in the Horrible way.Just remember I will always Love You. They took a peice of my Heart when took you. I just need to see that it is really true that your gone from this earth. I love and miss you very much. LOVE,Wilma Donna Zuk [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 To Jim’s family, our deepest sympathy. Please know your loss is our loss too. Jim was not only our neighbor and loved by all, but also our dear friend. He touched so many lives with his friendship, smile and great personality; not to mention his great voice, his singing was wonderful. We will miss him so much. May God bless him, your family and help us all us deal with this terrible loss. To Jimi’s family: I am friend of Jimi’s from high school. For as long as I have known him he always had a smile on his face and could always put smile on everyone else’s. I am so shocked and saddened to hear of his passing. He will be missed terribly. DeVeau, Robin [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 My thoughts & prayers are with your family. I am sorry for your loss. Al & Judy Prause – June 9th, 2009 You will be missed by everyone who knew you for your sense of humor and helpfulness. May you rest in peace. Bobbie, Prayers to you and your family in this sad time. Rae So sorry to hear about your brother. Prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. Bev, Thea, Rose & Gayle [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 From the gals at the Alpena Star. Our hearts are heavy by your lost loved one Bobbie. Know that all our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Lee Ann Hill [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Bobbie and family, What a tragedy for you and your family. I am so very, very sorry. Prayers and peaceful wishes are with you. Lee Bobbie and family – I am so very sorry to hear of your loss, you’re in my heart and prayers during this sad time. With deepest sympathy, Michelle (The Leader and the Kalkaskian). Sheila Spadafore [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I am so sorry about your loss. My prayers are with you all. My heart breaks for you Debbie (and family)as you face this immeasurable loss. I know you will somehow find strength in each other. I am praying for Jimi and his peaceful return to God, and I pray too for the people who love him, that you may find a way to heal. Cindy & Kelly Zaidan [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. What a great person. We feel very lucky to have got to know him. The family is in our prayers and hearts at this time. Kristie Gentz [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 I am so sorry for your loss. Your family will continue to be in my thoughts & prayers. You are an amazing family… continue to share your happy memories of him. I’m very sorry to hear of your loss… I know how much Jimi meant to all of you and please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Love you. Melissa Lecznar [email protected] – June 9th, 2009 Uncle Jimmie was a wonderful, caring man and a giving human being. His voice was amazing. He will be missed. My prayers go out to his family.	40,252
Soul Sister belongs to the series of The Pea Family Toys – an editioned sculptural series by Indian artist Princess Pea. The anonymous artist addresses her relationship with her sibling through the sculpture creating stark commentaries on difference, competition and acceptance. It encourages an understanding of uniqueness amongst children during their formative years and amongst each other. The rounded wood sculptures continue Princess Pea’s collaboration with the craftsmen of Etikoppaka, each rendered in the likeness of the artist herself and identified by her large anime-like head. Soul Sister is inspired by the artists own experiences with body shaming, differentiating and othering based on social conventions of desirability and the need to fit a mould. The artist has been producing editioned toys in an attempt reaching a wider audience to tell these stories of difference and create sensitivity towards each other. Ask a Question 'Soul Sisters' by Princess Pea Unit price Add to cart Shipping cost is based on weight. Just add products to your cart and use the Shipping Calculator to see the shipping price. We want you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. Items can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of delivery.	1,324
Delta 8 and Delta 9 are two of the most well-known compounds in the cannabis plant. Both have unique benefits and drawbacks. In this blog camp, we will examine the differences between these two compounds so that you can create an educated conclusion about which one is right for you! Delta 8 THC is less psychoactive than Delta 9 THC. This is because Delta 8 THC binds to the CB receptors in the brain less strongly than Delta THC. As a result, Delta THC produces less of the “high” associated with cannabis use. However, both Delta THCs can produce similar therapeutic effects. For example, both can help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and improve appetite. So, if you’re looking for a less psychoactive THC option, Delta THC might be a good choice. But if you’re looking for the same therapeutic benefits as Delta THC, either one could work for you. It’s also worth noting that Delta THC is only found in trace amounts in most cannabis strains. So, if you’re examining for a higher concentration of this cannabinoid, you may need to seek a specialized product. Delta 8 THC has a more mellow and calming effect than Delta 9 THC Delta-THC (Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main active ingredient in marijuana. It’s what gets you “high.” But there are different types of THC. One type is called Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC). The other type is called Delta-⁸-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁸-THC). Both are found in marijuana, but Δ⁹-THC is the most common. It’s the kind that’s used for medical purposes. So, what’s the difference between Δ⁹-THC and Δ⁸-THC? Here are some key points: Δ⁹-THC is more psychoactive than Δ⁸-THC. This means that it produces a more potent “high.” Δ⁹-THC is more likely to cause anxiety and paranoia than Δ⁸-THC. Δ⁹-THC is more likely to cause dry mouth and red eyes than Δ⁸-THC. Δ⁹-THC is more likely to increase your heart rate than Δ⁸-THC. Delta-⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol is the main active ingredient in marijuana. It’s what gets you “high.” But there are different types of THC. One type is called Delta-⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC). The other type is called Delta-⁸-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁸-THC). Both are found in marijuana, but Δ⁹-THC is the most common. It’s the kind that’s used for medical purposes. Delta 8 THC is often used to treat anxiety, pain, and nausea Delta 9 THC is a minor cannabinoid that is found in hemp plants. Unlike Delta-9 THC, which is the direct psychoactive piece of marijuana, Delta 9 THC only makes up a small percentage of the plant’s overall cannabinoids. However, what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. It is known for its ability to provide a more clear-headed high and its anti-inflammatory and anxiety-reducing properties. It’s also been shown to be more effective in treating pain than delta 9. When it comes to medical marijuana, Delta 9 is often used to treat anxiety, pain, and nausea. Delta 9 is also being studied for its potential use in treating cancer. Delta 9 THC is more commonly associated with the “high” feeling. Delta-THC is the main active ingredient in marijuana. It is what gives the plant its psychoactive properties. Delta 9 THC binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and produces the “high” feeling. People opt for strong THC gummies to get that “high” feeling. Delta-THC can also be found in other forms of cannabis, such as hashish and hash oil. Delta-THC is also the main ingredient in synthetic marijuana, such as Kronic and Spice. Delta- THC is more potent than delta-THC, producing a more robust “high.” It is also more psychoactive, which can have hallucinations and other psychedelic effects. Delta- THC is also more addictive than delta-THC. Delta- THC is legal in some states, while Delta- THC is not. In states where Delta- THC is legal, it is often sold as a dietary supplement or used in medical marijuana products. In states where Delta- THC is illegal, it is often sold as a “street drug” or used in “dabbing” (smoking marijuana concentrate). The effects of Delta: THC can vary depending on the person. Some people may feel more relaxed after smoking Delta- THC, while others may feel anxious or paranoid. The effects also depend on how much Delta- THC is consumed and how it is consumed. Smoking delta- THC is the most common way to finish it, but it can also be ingested in food or drink. Delta: THC can stay in your system for up to 30 days, depending on how much you smoke and how often you smoke. Delta- THC is detectable in urine, blood, and hair tests. Delta- THC is not currently detectable in saliva tests. If you are concerned about failing a drug test, some products claim to remove Delta- THC from your system. However, these products have not been proven effective and may contain harmful chemicals. The best way to avoid failing a drug test is to abstain from using Delta- THC altogether. Both cannabinoids have therapeutic benefits. , but they differ in their effects. Delta- nine -THC is the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis. It is responsible for the plant’s intoxicating effects. Delta- eight -THC is a weaker version of Delta- nine. It also has psychoactive properties but to a lesser extent. Both cannabinoids have therapeutic benefits, but they differ in their effects. Delta- nine -THC is known to cause anxiety and paranoia in some people, while Delta- eight -THC is not as likely to do so. Delta- eight -THC is also more effective in treating nausea and vomiting than Delta- nine. Finally, Delta- eight -THC is said to produce a more clear-headed high than Delta- nine -THC. So, if you’re looking for a milder THC experience with fewer side effects, Delta- eight -THC may be the way to go. Delta- nine -THC is probably a better choice if you want a more substantial impact. As with anything, it’s best to start with a small dose and see how you react before increasing the amount you consume. And, of course, always purchase your cannabis products from a reputable source.… Some of the best Delta 9 Blogs You Need to Follow. Roberta October 21, 2022 0 Comments Delta 9 is a cannabis company quickly making a name for itself. If you’re looking for insightful and informative cannabis content, you must follow Delta 9’s blog. In this post, we will be highlighting some of our favourite Delta 9 blogs so that you can get started! Delta 9 is a cannabis company with a rich history and lots of knowledge to share The group has lived around since the early days of medical cannabis and has seen the industry grow and change over time. They include a lot of knowledge and knowledge to share, which is why their blog is so popular. Delta-Nine’s blog contains information on everything from growing tips to product reviews. They also write about industry news and events, so you can always stay up-to-date on what’s going on in the world of cannabis. “The company has been about since the earlier daytimes of medical cannabis and has seen the industry grow and change over time.” “They carry a ton of learning and knowledge to share, which is why their blog is so popular.” “Delta-Nine’s blog is packed with information on everything from growing tips to product reviews.” “They also write about industry news and events, so you can always stay up-to-date on what’s happening in the world of cannabis.” “If you’re examining for a complete resource on all things cannabis, Delta-Nine’s blog is a great place to start.” “Check out Delta-Nine’s blog today and see why it’s one of the best in the business.” Their blog contains exciting content, from product reviews to industry news. If you’re examining for a complete source of information on all things related to Delta-Nine, look no further than The Dank team’s blog. Their blog contains exciting content, from product reviews to industry news. You’ll want to bookmark this one and check back often! Another excellent blog to follow for Delta-Nine information is The Green Rush. This blog covers everything from the latest industry news to helpful tips and tricks for getting the most out of your experience with Delta-Nine products. And last but not least, we have High Times’ Delta-Nine column. This column is an excellent resource for experienced users and newcomers, as it covers many topics related to Delta-Nine use and consumption. If you’re looking for reliable information about cannabis, Delta 9 is a great source. The blog covers various topics, from the latest news on cannabis legalization to tips on growing your plants. Delta nine also has a section devoted to reviews of different strains of cannabis. They also have some great giveaways and contests, so check them out! Be sure to check out Delta-Nine’s blog for some great information on all things cannabis! They are continually up-to-date with the latest news and events in the industry, and they offer a variety of perspectives on various topics. In addition to their informative articles, Delta-Nine also has some great giveaways and contests going on all the time! They are dedicated to providing safe, quality products to their customers. Its mission is to provide the highest quality cannabis products and services to its patients and customers. They are determined to deliver a safe, secure, and confidential environment for their employees and customers. Its objective is to supply the best possible customer service and product selection. They strive to be the leading provider of medical cannabis products and services in Canada. If you are looking for a steadfast source of information on Delta- This is one of the best blogs to follow. They always provide up-to-date and accurate information. You can rely on that their effects are safe and effective. Their customer service is excellent, and they always go above and beyond to help their customers. Follow Delta 9 on social media for updates on new products, promotions, and more! You can find Delta nine on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Please make sure to provide them with a heed to stay up to date! The Delta Nine team is passionate about cannabis and committed to providing our customers with high-quality products and excellent customer service. If you’re looking for a new dispensary to try, we highly recommend Delta Nine! Did you know that Delta Nine is one of the leading dispensary brands in Colorado? Not only do they have a large selection of products, but they also offer great deals and discounts! Be sure to check them out next time you’re in the area. Conclusion Paragraph Delta 9 is a company dedicated to providing information and resources about cannabis. The Delta 9 blog gives readers insights into the latest news and developments in the cannabis industry and tips on using cannabis for medicinal purposes. If you are interested in learning more about cannabis and its many uses, then be sure to check out the Delta 9 blog. -The Delta 9 blog is updated regularly with new content, so be sure to visit often for the latest news and updates on the cannabis industry. In addition to following the Delta 9 blog, here are three additional blogs that you should follow if you want to stay up-to-date on all things cannabis: 1) Civilized – This website covers everything from politics and business to lifestyle and culture when it comes to cannabis. 2) Green Rush Daily – This website focuses exclusively on news and trends in the legal cannabis industry. 3) Leafly – Leafly is one of the most popular sources of information about cannabis, featuring reviews of strains, dispensaries, products, etc.… Roberta October 21, 2022 0 Comments Delta 9 THC is the psychoactive compound found in cannabis that produces the “high” associated with marijuana. It is one of around 100 cannabinoids current in the plant and accounts for about 40% of the plant’s extract. In this blog camp, we will be concerned about what Delta 9 THC is, how it’s made, and some potential benefits and drawbacks. What is Delta 9 THC, and what are its effects on the body? Delta-Nine-Tetrahydrocannabinol, or Delta-Nine-THC for short, is the main active ingredient in marijuana. It is what gives marijuana its psychoactive properties. When Delta-Nine-THC enters the body, it binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and central nervous system. This binding produces the “high” that users experience. Delta-Nine-THC also has other effects on the body, including: Reducing nausea and vomiting Acting as an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) agent Helping to control muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis All of these effects are due to Delta-Nine-THC’s interaction with the endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors and chemicals that helps regulate various functions in the body. How is Delta 9 THC made, and how pure is it? Delta-THC is made by extracting it from the cannabis plant. The extraction process usually uses a solvent (such as butane or ethanol) or CO₂. Once removed, the Delta-THC is then purified and concentrated. The purity of Delta-THC can vary depending on the method used to extract it and how it’s subsequently purified. However, it’s typically around 95% pure. So there you have it! That’s everything you need to know about Delta-THC. Whether you’re using it for medicinal or recreational purposes, now you can be sure that you understand precisely what it is and how it’s made. How to use Delta 9 THC for medical purposes? Now that we know what Delta-THC is let’s explore how it can be used for medical purposes. According to the National Cancer Institute, “Delta-THC can be taken by mouth, inhaled, or sprayed under the tongue.” When taken by mouth, it typically takes effect within 30 minutes to an hour. The results usually peak around two hours after ingestion and last four to six hours. When inhaled, Delta-THC typically takes effect within minutes, and the effects usually peak within 30 minutes to an hour. The impact of Delta-THC can last for several hours when inhaled. When sprayed under the tongue, Delta-THC typically takes effect within minutes, and the results usually peak within 30 minutes to an hour. The impact of Delta-THC can last for several hours when sprayed under the tongue. Delta-THC effectively reduces pain, nausea, and vomiting associated with cancer and cancer treatment. It has also been shown to be effective in treating other conditions, such as: If you consider using Delta-THC for medical purposes, you must talk to your healthcare provider first. They can help you determine if Delta-THC is right for you and help you understand the possible risks and side effects. The benefits of using Delta 9 THC over other medications Include: -It is non-addictive -It does not interact with other medications -It has a shallow risk of side effects -It effectively treats various conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, and seizures. Delta Nine THC, or Δ⁹ -tetrahydrocannabinol, is a cannabinoid in the cannabis plant. It is one of the main active ingredients in marijuana and is responsible for the plant’s psychoactive effects. THC has many medical applications and is used to treat chronic pain, anxiety, and seizures. Delta Nine THC is also being studied for its potential use in treating cancer. The benefits of using Delta Nine THC over other medications include: it is non-addictive, does not interact with other medicines, has a very low risk of side effects, and is very effective in treating various conditions. In addition, Delta Nine THC is also being studied for its potential use in treating cancer. In the United States, Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. This indicates that it contains a high prospect for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S. However, some states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, and a few have even legalized recreational use. While Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol is the main ingredient in marijuana, it is also present in other forms of cannabis, such as hashish and hash oil. THC can be depleted in various ways, including smoking, vaporizing, eating (edibles), and taking topical forms. The legal implications of using Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol vary depending on the state in which you live. In states where marijuana is legal for medicinal purposes, patients typically need to obtain a prescription from a licensed doctor. Adults over 21 can purchase cannabis from licensed dispensaries in states where recreational use is permitted. If you live in a state where marijuana is not legal, you must be aware of the potential risks of using Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol. Possession of small amounts of marijuana can result in jail time and fines, and more significant amounts can lead to more severe penalties. You could face even harsher penalties if caught selling or distributing marijuana. Delta tetrahydrocannabinol is a powerful chemical that can positively and negatively affect the human brain and body. Before using Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol, research the legal implications in your state and weigh the risks and benefits. This blog post is for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other healthcare professional before beginning any new treatment. Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main active ingredient in marijuana, and it is also present in other forms of cannabis, such as hashish and hash oil. THC can be consumed in various ways, including smoking, vaporizing, eating (edibles), and taking topical forms. If you live in a state where marijuana is not legal, you must be aware of the potential risks of using Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol.… You should check out some of the most popular Delta-9 THC Edibles right now. Roberta October 21, 2022 0 Comments You should check out edibles if you’re looking for a new way to consume cannabis. Edibles arrive in all figures and sizes and are sure to fit your needs. This blog post will concern some of the market’s most popular Delta-9 THC edibles. Keep reading for more information! What Delta-9 THC Edibles are, and how they work Delta-Nine THC is the active ingredient in cannabis that gets you “high.” When you eat an edible, Delta-Nine THC is metabolized by your liver and turned into 11-Hydroxy-THC. This metabolite is much more potent than Delta-Nine THC and is responsible for most of the psychoactive effects of consuming an edible. Edibles are an ideal method to consume cannabis for those who don’t like to smoke or vape, and they can be very potent. It’s essential to begin with, a lower dose (no more than five milligrams) and see how you feel before consuming more. Edibles can take up to two hours to boot in, so be patient! There are many benefits of using Delta- Nine THC Edibles. One of the most popular benefits is that it can help with various medical conditions such as pain relief, appetite stimulation, and nausea reduction. Additionally, because edibles are absorbed through the digestive system, they tend to produce longer-lasting effects than other methods of consuming THC. Therefore, edibles are an excellent option for those who need long-lasting relief from their symptoms. Lastly, Delta-Nine THC Edibles are also a great way to enjoy the psychoactive effects of THC without having to smoke cannabis. This is particularly useful for those who do not want to inhale smoke or vapour. Overall, Delta-Nine THC Edibles are an excellent option for those looking to experience the benefits of THC safely and effectively. If you’re interested in trying Delta-Nine THC Edibles, check out some of the most popular brands on the market, such as Dank Gummies and Pure Spectrum CBD. These brands offer a variety of delicious and potent edibles that are sure to provide you with the relief you need. Some of the multiple famous Delta-9 THC Edibles on the market today Chocolate Chip Cookies: These are a classic favourite and have been around for years. They are typically made with high-quality chocolate and contain a good amount of Delta- Brownies: Brownies are another classic favourite that can be found in wide different varieties. They usually contain a higher amount of Delta- than cookies, making them a good choice for those looking for a more substantial effect. Gummies: Gummies are one of the multiple famous styles of Delta- edibles on the market today. They reach in many additional forms and sizes and can be flavoured with various fruits or other flavours. Gummies are typically made with high-quality gelatin and contain a good amount of Delta- Candy: Candy is another popular type of edible that can be found in various flavours. Candy is typically made with high-quality sugar and contains a good amount of Delta- Baked Goods: Baked goods are also a popular type of edible and can be found in various varieties. They are typically made with high-quality flour and contain a good amount of Delta- Many other types of Delta- edibles are available on the market, but these are some of the most popular. Brownies or gummies are a good choice if you’re looking for a strong effect. For those looking for a more mellow result, cookies or candy might be a better option. Whatever your preference, there’s sure to be an edible perfect for you. How to choose the suitable Delta-9 THC edible for you When it comes to choosing the right Delta-90 THC edible for you, it depends on what your goals are. A higher dose may be best if you’re looking for something to help with pain relief. However, a lower amount may be all you need if you’re looking for some relaxation. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what’s right for you. There are rare items to place when choosing a Delta-90 THC edible. First, create sure to read the labels carefully. Some edibles may be additional potent than others, so you’ll want to ensure you know what you’re getting into. Second, start with a low dose and work your way up. It’s always better to err on the side of caution when consuming cannabis products. Finally, make sure you have a good time! Delta-90 THC edibles can be a great way to relax and unwind. Just determinate to take items slow and easy, and you’re sure to have a good time. The risks associated with using Delta-9 THC edibles Are similar to those associated with smoking cannabis. These include: However, the effects of Delta-19 THC edibles tend to be more intense and longer lasting than smoking cannabis. So, edibles might be a good option if you’re looking for a more potent high. Just be sure to start with a low dose and increase gradually as needed. Delta-19 THC edibles are also associated with unique risks to this method of consumption. For example, because edibles take longer to kick in, people sometimes consume more than they intended to. This can lead to an unpleasant and sometimes scary experience. So, it’s essential to be aware of this before you try edibles for the first time. All in all, Delta-19 THC edibles are a popular way to consume cannabis. Just be sure to start with a low dose and be aware of the potential risks before you try them. Cannabis edibles are becoming increasingly popular as more and more people are looking for ways to consume cannabis that don’t involve smoking. Delta-19 THC edibles are a type of cannabis edible that contains Delta-19 THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis. Delta-19 THC edibles are available in various forms, including gummies, brownies, cookies, and candy. They can also be made at home using cannabis-infused oils or butter.… Roberta October 21, 2022 0 Comments It’s hard to believe, but in 2022 the world will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of legalized recreational cannabis in North America. In recognition of this momentous occasion, we wanted to look at some of the top-notch delta-9 THC edibles that will be available by then. From gummies and cookies to brownies and more, these edibles will tantalize your taste buds! What to glance for in a high-quality palatable When searching for a high-quality edible, it is essential to keep in mind a few key factors. The first is the source of Delta-nine THC. Make sure to buy from a reputable company that uses organic, locally sourced ingredients. The second factor is the manufacturing process. Look for edibles made using an infusion process rather than an extraction process. This choice confirm that the last effect is more powerful and effective. Ultimately, make sure to read the labels carefully before purchasing an edible. Pay close attention to the serving size and the THC content to avoid overconsumption. With these elements in reason, here are some of the best Delta- nine THC edibles on the market in 2022: Each of these edibles is made with high-quality ingredients and manufactured using an infusion process. They are also all lab tested to ensure potency and safety. So, if you want a delicious and potent way to consume Delta- nine THC, check out one of these top-notch edibles in 2022. Are many. For one, you don’t have to worry about the harmful effects of smoke inhalation. And, since edibles are metabolized differently than inhaled cannabis, the products tend to be longer-lasting and more potent. THC edibles also offer a more precise way to dose your cannabis intake. With smoking or vaping, it’s hard to know exactly how much THC you’re getting. With edibles, each serving has a specific amount of THC so that you can tailor your experience more precisely. If you’re looking for a high-quality THC edible in 2022, here are some brands to keep an eye out for: – Cheeba Chews: These THC-infused taffies have been around since 2009 and are still one of the most popular edibles on the market. They come in various flavors, including chocolate, green apple, and caramel. – Korova Cookies: These cookies are infused with either 50 or 100 milligrams of THC, so they’re perfect for both novice and experienced users. They come in various flavors, including chocolate chip, peanut butter, and double chocolate. – Satori Chocolates: These award-winning chocolates are made with fair trade chocolate and organic ingredients. They come in various flavors, including dark chocolate, mint, and orange. – Kiva Confections: These gourmet chocolates are made with high-quality ingredients and come in various flavors, including dark chocolate espresso bean, milk chocolate hazelnut praline, and white chocolate raspberry. How to dose correctly for your desired effect When it comes to edibles, one size does not fit all. The effects of cannabis-infused edibles can vary greatly depending on the person’s unique physiology, tolerance, and method of consumption. Creating low and moving slow is the best rule of thumb when it comes to dosing with edibles. It can take up to two hours to feel an edible’s full effects, so patience is essential. Start with a low dose (around five milligrams) and wait at least two hours before consuming more. If you don’t feel any effects after two hours, you can gradually increase your dosage until you find your sweet spot. Just remember to go slow and be patient – the results of edibles can sneak up on you! Cannabis-infused edibles are a great way to enjoy the benefits of THC without having to smoke. If you’re looking for some top-notch delta-nine THC edibles to try in 2022, here are a few of our favorites: >> Green Hornet Gummies – These gummies are perfect for those who want to enjoy the benefits of THC without a strong cannabis taste. Each gummy contains ten milligrams of THC, so they’re perfect for those new to edibles or low tolerance. >> Sour Suckers – These THC-infused hard candies are perfect for those who want a sweet treat with a little bit of a kick. Each candy contains ten milligrams of THC, so they’re perfect for those who are new to edibles or have a low tolerance. >> Kiva Confections – These chocolate bars are perfect for those who want to enjoy the benefits of THC without a strong cannabis taste. Each bar contains fifty milligrams of THC, so they’re perfect for those who are looking for a more substantial effect. >> EdiPure – These gummies are perfect for those who want to enjoy the benefits of THC without a strong cannabis taste. Each gummy contains fifty milligrams of THC, so they’re perfect for those who are looking for a more substantial effect. Famous THC edible products on the market today As the year 2022 rapidly approaches, so does the legalization of recreational cannabis in more and more states. This means that an influx of new and exciting products is hitting the shelves, including some delicious edibles! Here are four famous THC edible products on the market today: Fruit chews: These gummies are a fan favorite among cannabis consumers. They are flavorful, easy to dose, and come in various fruity flavors. Chocolate bars: Another favorite among cannabis consumers is the chocolate bar. Chocolate bars are rich, decadent, and can be easily divided into smaller doses for those who want to enjoy a little bit at a time. Cookies: Cookies are another classic cannabis edible that has been around for years. They are easy to make at home or can be bought pre-made from a dispensary. Cakes and brownies: These sweets are perfect for those with a sweet tooth. Cakes and brownies can be made at home or purchased from a dispensary.… Roberta October 21, 2022 0 Comments Delta9 THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis. It is responsible for people’s ” high ” when they smoke marijuana. Delta9 THC also has several medical applications, including the treatment of chronic pain, nausea, and cancer-related symptoms. This blog post will discuss the neuropsychological effects of Delta9 THC. We will also explore how it can be used to treat various medical conditions. What is Delta9 THC, and what does it do to the brain Delta9 THC is a cannabinoid that is responsible for the majority of the psychoactive effects of cannabis. When finished, it binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and alters serotonin levels, resulting in changes in perception, mood, and cognition. Short-term effects of Delta9 THC include euphoria, relaxation, increased appetite, and impaired motor skills. The long-term impact of Delta9 THC may consist of addiction, tolerance, and dependency. How does the brain process cannabinoids? The brain processes cannabinoids in a similar way to other neurotransmitters. They bind to cannabinoid receptors located throughout the brain and nervous system. These receptors are responsible for mediating the effects of cannabinoids on the brain. Cannabinoids impact the brain by altering serotonin levels, resulting in changes in perception, mood, and cognition. What are the short-term effects of Delta9 THC on the brain? The short-term effects of Delta9 THC on the brain include euphoria, relaxation, increased appetite, and impaired motor skills. These effects are caused by the alteration of serotonin levels in the brain. What are the long-term effects of Delta9 THC on the brain? The long-term effects of Delta9 THC on the brain include addiction, tolerance, and dependency. These effects are caused by the alteration of serotonin levels in the brain. Long-term use of Delta9 THC may also result in brain structure and function changes. How is Delta9 THC used in neuropsychological assessments? Delta9 THC is commonly used in neuropsychological assessments to measure cognitive function and brain activity. The compound binds to the CB1 receptors in the brain and affects mood, memory, appetite, pain perception, and other cognitive processes. Researchers believe that Delta9 THC may be able to help patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other neurological disorders by improving cognitive function and reducing brain inflammation. In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, researchers used Delta9 THC to assess the cognitive function of rats. The rats were given either a low dose or a high dose of Delta9 THC, and their cognitive performance was tested using a variety of tasks. The researchers found that the rats that received the high amount of Delta9 THC performed better on the cognitive tests than those that received the low dose. The researchers also found that the rats that received the high dose of Delta9 THC had less brain inflammation than those that received the low dose. The authors concluded that Delta9 THC might be a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders. The compound appears to improve cognitive function and reduce brain inflammation. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings in humans. If you or somebody you know is interested in using Delta9 THC for neuropsychological assessment, talk to a doctor or another medical professional. Delta9 THC is a Schedule I drug in the United States, which means it has a high potential for abuse and is not currently approved for medical use. However, some states have legalized using Delta9 THC for medical purposes. What are some of the benefits of using Delta9 THC in neuropsychological assessments? Some benefits of using Delta9 THC in neuropsychological assessments include: Delta9 THC can help to assess cognitive functioning in individuals with neurological disorders or injuries. Delta9 THC can also help to assess executive functioning in individuals with neurological disorders or injuries. Delta9 THC can also help to assess memory functioning in individuals with neurological disorders or injuries. Delta9 THC can also help to assess language functioning in individuals with neurological disorders or injuries. Delta9 THC can also help to assess visuospatial abilities in individuals with neurological disorders or injuries. Delta9 THC can also help to assess psychomotor functioning in individuals with neurological disorders or injuries. Delta9 THC can also help to assess attention and concentration in individuals with neurological disorders or injuries. Delta9 THC can also help to assess impulsivity and risk-taking behavior in individuals with neurological disorders or injuries. Delta9 THC can also help to assess emotionality in individuals with neurological disorders or injuries. Delta9 THC can also help to assess social functioning in individuals with neurological disorders or injuries. How can neuropsychologists use Delta9 THC to improve patient care? Delta9 THC can be used to improve patient care in several ways. For example, it can help patients with anxiety disorders by reducing their anxiety levels. Delta9 THC can also help patients with chronic pain by reducing their pain levels. In addition, Delta9 THC can also help patients with sleep disorders by improving their sleep quality. Finally, Delta9 THC can help patients with cognitive disorders by enhancing their cognitive function. Are there any risks associated with using Delta9 THC in neuropsychological assessments? Delta9 THC is known to cause short-term memory impairment and may affect the validity of neuropsychological assessments. Furthermore, Delta9 THC may also affect attention and concentration, leading to cognitive testing errors. It is essential to be aware of these potential risks when using Delta9 THC in neuropsychological assessments. Conclusion Paragraph Anecdotal evidence suggests that Delta9 THC may have neuroprotective qualities, but research is still in its early stages. – Several tests can be used to measure the effects of Delta9 THC on cognitive function and behavior. – Preliminary results from these studies suggest that Delta9 THC may negatively impact some aspects of cognitive function while also having benefits in other areas. – It is important to note that many of these studies are small and more research is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn. – The potential implications of this research for people with neurological conditions are exciting, and further study is warranted.… Some effects of Delta-9 THC on Emotion, Cognition and Attention Roberta October 21, 2022 0 Comments Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the psychoactive compound found in cannabis. It is responsible for the “high” that users feel after consuming marijuana. THC has long been known to cause changes in emotion, cognition and attention. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the latest research on these topics. 1. Delta-9 THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis While the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood, Delta- THC is known to bind to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and nervous system, which alters neurotransmitter release and can result in changes in mood, perception, cognition, and attention. In general, Delta-THC has been shown to produce both positive and negative effects on emotions, cognition, and attention. In some cases, these effects may be beneficial (e.g., increased creativity or decreased anxiety), while in others they may be It is important to note that individual responses to Delta-THC vary widely, and that the same dose may produce different effects in different people. This is likely due to a variety of factors, including genetics, previous experience with cannabis, and individual brain chemistry. As such, it is difficult to predict If you are considering using cannabis, it is important to be aware of the potential risks and benefits. Be sure to talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider about any concerns you may have. And, as with any substance, start with a low dose and increase slowly to minimize the risk of unwanted side effects. With careful consideration and preparation, Delta-THC can be a safe and effective way to enhance your mood, cognition, and attention. 2. It affects emotions, cognition, and attention Delta-Nine THC (or Delta-Nine Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary active ingredient in cannabis. It’s what gets you “high.” When you smoke weed, drink hemp oil, or eat edibles, it’s the Delta-Nine that’s responsible for the psychoactive effects.It affects emotions by causing a sense of euphoria and relaxation. It can also cause anxiety and paranoia in some people. The cognitive effects of Delta-Nine THC include changes in short-term memory, impaired motor skills, and altered perception of time. Attention is also affected, which can lead to difficulty concentrating. Some studies have shown that Delta-Nine THC can have positive effects on certain medical conditions, including pain relief, nausea, and appetite stimulation. It can also help with anxiety and depression. However, there is still much research to be done in this area. While Delta-Nine THC can have some positive effects, it’s important to remember that it is a psychoactive drug and should be used with caution. If you plan on using cannabis, be sure to do your research and start with a low dose to see how your body reacts. Cannabis is a plant that has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. The active ingredient in cannabis, Delta-Nine THC, can have some positive effects on the body, but it is important to remember that it is a psychoactive drug and should be used with caution. If you plan on using cannabis, be sure to do your research and start with a low dose to see how your body reacts. Delta-Nine THC is the primary active ingredient in cannabis. It’s what gets you “high.” When you smoke weed, drink hemp oil, or eat edibles, it’s the Delta-Nine that’s responsible for the psychoactive effects.It affects emotions by causing a sense of euphoria and relaxation. It can also cause anxiety and paranoia in some people. The cognitive effects of Delta-Nine THC include changes in short-term memory, impaired motor skills, and altered perception of time. Attention is also affected, which can lead to difficulty concentrating. 3. Research suggests that it has therapeutic potential for treating mental health disorders One study found that Delta-THC was effective in reducing symptoms of social anxiety in people with a history of cannabis use. Another study found that it significantly reduced self-reported levels of depression and increased positive affect (feelings of pleasure and well-being) in participants with no history of cannabis use. Delta-THC also appears to have cognitive benefits, particularly in terms of attention and working memory. One study found that it improved performance on a task measuring sustained attention in people with no history of cannabis use. Another study found that it improved working memory in people with a history of cannabis use. Though more research is needed to confirm these findings, they suggest that Delta-THC may have therapeutic potential for treating mental health disorders and improving cognition. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out to a mental health professional or helpline. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/Seven free and confidential support for people in distress. 4. However, more research is needed to determine the long-term effects of THC use While the acute effects of THC on cognition are well-established, less is known about the drug’s long-term impact. A recent study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology sought to fill this gap in knowledge by investigating the cognitive effects of chronic THC use in a group of young adults. The study found that chronic THC users had significantly poorer performance on tests of attention, executive function and working memory than non-users. These findings suggest that chronic THC use may have a negative impact on cognitive functioning. More research is needed to understand the long-term effects of THC use on cognition. In the meantime, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with chronic THC use. If you or someone you know is using THC regularly, it is important to be monitoring for any changes in cognitive functioning. If you notice any changes, please consult with a healthcare professional. The findings of this study provide valuable insight into the effects of Delta-9 THC on emotion, cognition and attention. Additional research is needed to determine whether these effects are dose-dependent and whether they persist over time. However, the results of this study suggest that Delta-9 THC may have negative implications for cognitive function and emotional state in healthy adults. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with Delta-09 THC use. If you or someone you know is using this drug regularly, it is important to monitor for any changes in cognitive functioning or emotional state. If you notice any changes, please consult with a healthcare professional.… What is Delta 9 and how is it legal: Everything you need to know Roberta October 21, 2022 0 Comments Delta 9 is a cannabis extract that is made using a process called CO2 extraction. This process uses pressure and carbon dioxide to isolate the cannabinoids from the plant. The result is an extract that is high in THC and CBD. Delta 9 is one of the most popular cannabis extracts on the market, and it is legal in all 50 states. In this blog post, we will discuss what Delta 9 is, how it is made, and why it is legal. We will also provide a list of the benefits of Delta 9 oil and answer some common questions about this product. 1. What is Delta 9 and what are its benefits? Delta-Nine is a cannabinoid that is found in the cannabis plant. It is similar to THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, but it does not produce the “high” associated with THC. Delta-Nine has been shown to have potential therapeutic benefits, including pain relief and anxiety reduction. In some states, Delta-Nine is legal for medical use, and in others, it is legal for recreational use. Delta-Nine is a relatively new cannabinoid, and not much is known about its long-term effects. However, it appears to be safe and well-tolerated by most people. If you are considering using Delta-Nine, be sure to do your research and talk to your doctor to make sure it is right for you. CO₂ extraction is a process that uses pressure and carbon dioxide to isolate the cannabinoids from the plant. This process results in an extract that is high in THC and CBD. Delta-Nine oil is one of the most popular cannabis extracts on the market, and it is legal in all 50 states. 2. How is Delta 9 legal and how does it compare to other cannabis products? Delta-Nine is legal in Canada and the United States because it contains less than 0.001% THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis. This makes Delta-Nine significantly different from other cannabis products, which can contain up to 30% THC. Because of its low THC content, Delta-Nine does not produce the “high” associated with other cannabis products. This makes it a popular choice for those who want the benefits of cannabis without the psychoactive effects. Delta-Nine is also non-addictive and does not produce any withdrawal symptoms, making it a safe and effective option for those looking for an alternative to traditional medication. So, if you’re looking for a safe, effective, and legal way to get the benefits of cannabis without the high, Delta-Nine is a great option! 3. Who can use Delta 9 and how do you go about purchasing it? As mentioned, Delta-Nine is legal in Canada for both medical and recreational use. However, there are some restrictions on who can purchase and use the product. For example, you must be 18 years of age or older to purchase Delta-Nine from a licensed retailer. Some provinces and territories have set their own minimum age requirements, so be sure to check the requirements in your area. You will also need to provide a valid government-issued photo ID when purchasing Delta-Nine. To purchase Delta-Nine from a licensed retailer, you can either visit their store in person or order online. Online retailers will require you to create an account and may also require additional verification steps, such as providing a copy of your ID. Once you have placed your order, the retailer will ship the product directly to your door. If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional cannabis products, Delta-Nine is a great option! It is safe, effective, and legal in Canada. Be sure to check the age requirements and purchase from a licensed retailer to ensure you are getting a high-quality product. 4. What are the risks associated with using Delta 9 and how can they be mitigated? There are a few risks associated with using Delta-Nine, the most prominent being its potential for addiction. While not everyone who uses Delta-Nine will become addicted, those who do can find it very difficult to quit. Addiction can lead to financial instability, job loss, and relationship problems. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are many resources available to help. Another potential risk of using Delta-Nine is its impact on mental health. Some people who use Delta-Nine may experience anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations. If you have a history of mental illness, it’s important to speak with your doctor before using Delta-Nine. Those who do choose to use Delta-Nine should be aware of the potential risks and take steps to mitigate them. For example, avoiding using Delta-Nine in high doses or in situations where it could be unsafe (such as while operating a vehicle). If you’re considering using Delta-Nine, it’s important to weigh the potential risks and benefits. WhileDelta-Nine can have some positive effects, it’s important to be aware of the potential downsides before making a decision. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to speak with your doctor or another medical professional. Delta-Nine is a potent chemical compound that has a variety of uses. While it’s legal in many places, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks before using it. Those who do choose to use Delta-Nine should take steps to mitigate the potential risks, such as avoiding high doses or using it in unsafe situations. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to speak with a medical professional before using Delta-Nine. 5. How has Delta 9 changed the landscape of the cannabis industry? Delta nine has been a game changer for the cannabis industry. By providing a high quality, legal product they have forced other companies to up their game and provide similar products. This has resulted in a higher quality of product available on the market and increased competition which is great news for consumers. Delta nine has also created new opportunities for businesses within the cannabis industry. Their success has shown that there is a demand for legal, high quality products and this has created new opportunities for businesses to enter the market and provide these products. The increased competition and availability of high quality products has also driven down prices, making it more affordable for consumers to access the products they need. Overall, Delta nine has had a positive impact on the cannabis industry, creating new opportunities for businesses and driving down prices for consumers. We can only hope that their success continues so that we can see even more positive changes in the industry.… Roberta October 21, 2022 0 Comments There are many benefits of using Delta 9 THC, but is there any side effect? This blog post will discuss the potential side effects of using Delta 9 THC and how to avoid them. We also examine the advantages of using this compound and how it can help improve your quality of life! What is Delta 9 THC, and what are its benefits? Delta-THC is a potent active ingredient found in marijuana. It is responsible for the plant’s psychoactive effects. Some people use it to treat various medical conditions, while others use it recreationally. The benefits of Delta-THC include relief from pain, anxiety, and nausea. It can even support enhanced appetite and sleep quality. However, Delta-THC can also cause some unwanted side effects, such as paranoia and anxiety. Therefore, weighing the potential risks and benefits before using this substance is essential. How does Delta 9 THC work? Delta tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary active ingredient in cannabis. It binds to cannabinoid receptors in the body, which are part of the endocannabinoid system. This system regulates various physiological functions, including pain, appetite, mood, and memory. THC produces its psychoactive effects by binding to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Cannabinoid receptors exist in increased attention in the hippocampus, a brain region responsible for memory and learning. THC binding to these receptors alters neurotransmitter release, resulting in mood, perception, and cognition changes. Short-term effects of THC include impaired memory, altered sense of time, and increased appetite. THC also produces products such as relaxation, sedation, and euphoria. Long-term exposure to THC may result in tolerance, dependence, and impairments in memory, attention, and learning. Cannabis use has been associated with psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression. Some people who use cannabis excessively may experience psychotic symptoms such as paranoia and delusions. Yes, some potential side effects are associated with using Delta-THC. These include paranoia, anxiety, panic attacks, and hallucinations. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that these effects are typically only experienced by a small minority of users. In most cases, they are also short-lived and will dissipate quickly. Additionally, it is worth noting that most Delta-THC people do not experience any adverse side effects. So, while there is a small potential for some users to experience some adverse effects, the vast majority of people who use this compound will not have any problems. Therefore, if you are interested in using Delta-THC, it is generally safe to do so. Yet, as with anything else, it is a fine idea to speak with your doctor first to confirm it is right for you. Delta-THC is a safe and effective compound that has a wide range of potential benefits. However, as with anything else, there is always the potential for some side effects. It is essential to learn how to use Delta-THC for maximum benefit. The most effective way to use it is to inhale it. This allows the THC to enter your bloodstream quickly and have its desired effect. It is also essential to start with a low dose and increase gradually as needed. Some people may need to use Delta-THC multiple times daily to achieve the desired effect. It is too important to be mindful that Delta-THC can stay in your system for up to 72 hours, so it is essential to use it responsibly. If you are using Delta-THC for medical purposes, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional to ensure that it is the proper treatment for you. Delta-THC is inappropriate for everyone and may interact with other medications or conditions. It is also required to be mindful of the potential risks and side effects of Delta-THC use, which include: increased appetite In rare cases, Delta-THC use may also lead to more severe side effects, such as: psychotic symptoms that can persist even after discontinuing use If you encounter any of these flank products, it is essential to seek medical help immediately. Delta-THC use can also result in tolerance, dependence, and addiction, so it is necessary to use it responsibly and only as directed by a healthcare professional. Where to buy Delta 9 THC oil or capsules? Many online stores sell Delta-THC products. Nonetheless, it is essential to do your study to find a reputable store. Make sure to read reviews and compare prices before making a purchase. Delta-THC is a safe and effective way to treat various medical conditions. Talking to your doctor before using Delta-THC is essential to ensure it is the proper treatment for you. Like any medicine, there are potential side effects when using Delta-THC. The most common side effects include dry mouth, red eyes, dizziness, and anxiety. However, these side effects are typically mild and go away independently. If you experience severe side effects, stop using Delta-THC and call your doctor immediately. Overall, Delta-THC is a safe and effective treatment option for many people. If you are interested in trying Delta-THC, many online stores sell it. Make sure to do your research to find a reputable store. Start with a low dose and increase gradually as needed. Remember to use Delta-THC responsibly and only as directed by a healthcare professional. Conclusion Paragraph There is no significant side effect of using Delta 9 THC. The only known side effects are mild and temporary. These side effects include dry mouth, red eyes, increased appetite, and a feeling of relaxation. However, these side effects depend on the dosage and how the drug is taken. For example, if someone smokes marijuana containing Delta 9 THC, they will likely experience all of the mentioned side effects. If someone takes a pill that contains Delta 9 THC, however, they may only experience a few minor side effects.… Roberta October 21, 2022 0 Comments Delta 9 is one of the most popular cannabis strains in the world. It is known for its intense cerebral high and euphoric effects. To experience the best of what Delta 9 offers, you must learn how to use it properly. This blog camp will examine five tips to help you get the most out of this potent strain! Delta 9 is a great cannabis oil that can provide relief for a variety of medical conditions. If you are new to using Delta-THC, here are five essential things you need to know: First and foremost, always start with a low dose and increase gradually as needed. Delta-THC is potent and can be overwhelming for first-time users. Second, take it slow. The effects of Delta-THC can be long-lasting, so it’s best to pace yourself. Third, Delta-THC is best used in small doses throughout the day rather than all at once. This will help you control the effects and avoid unwanted side effects. Fourth, always keep track of how much Delta-THC you’re taking. It’s easy to take too much accidentally, so it’s essential to be mindful of your dosage. Finally, make sure you have a trusted source for your Delta-THC. Not all delta-THC is created equal, so finding a reputable source is essential. If you possess these five things in mind, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying the benefits of Delta-THC. Learning how to use Delta 9 correctly is essential for the best results. Here are five tips for using Delta that you need to learn now: Correct usage of Delta will result in better and more consistent results. Here are five 5 tips to get the most out of your Delta experience: -Start with low doses and increase gradually as needed. -Be patient when waiting for results; they may not be immediate. -Be mindful of possible side effects and interactions with other medications. -Keep track of your dosage and method of administration for future reference. -Consult a healthcare professional if you have any questions or concerns. Following these tips ensures that you are using Delta correctly and getting the most out of it. Delta can be a valuable tool in managing your health, so learning how to use it correctly is essential. If you hold any queries or troubles, consult a healthcare professional. Delta-Nine can be taken in different ways, depending on your preferences. You can smoke it, vape it, or even eat it in the form of edibles. However, first-time users are advised to start with a small dose and increase gradually until they find the proper dosage. This will support you dodge any adverse side effects and ensure you get the most out of your Delta-Nine experience. Delta-Nine is a powerful substance, so starting slowly and increasing your dosage gradually is essential. This will help you avoid any adverse side effects and ensure you get the most out of your Delta-Nine experience. Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to enjoying all that Delta-Nine has to offer! Construct sure to confer with your doctor before using Delta 9 This is especially important if you have any preexisting medical conditions or are taking any medications. Delta tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, can interact with some medications and potentially worsen certain medical conditions. So it’s always best to check with your doctor first to see if Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol is right for you. If you decide to use Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol, start with a low dose and gradually increase it as needed. Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol can stay in your system for up to 30 days, so it’s essential to be patient and give your body time to adjust. And last but not least, don’t forget to stay hydrated! Drinking plenty of water will help flush Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol out of your system and keep you feeling your best. So there are five essential tips to keep in mind when using Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol. Contact your doctor or qualified healthcare professional if you have questions or concerns. And always remember to stay safe and drink plenty of water! There are many different ways to take Delta 9, so experiment until you find what works best. Delta-THC is the main active ingredient in cannabis. It’s what makes you feel “high.” There are many different ways to take it, including smoking, vaping, eating, and applying it to your skin. The method you choose will affect how quickly you feel the effects and how long they last. Smoking or vaping Delta-THC will give you the fastest and most intense results. Eating it will take longer to feel the products, but they will last much longer. You can also buy Delta-THC in different forms, including oils, tinctures, and edibles. The condition you choose will also affect how quickly you feel the effects and how long they last. If you’re new to Delta-THC, start with a low dose and increase it gradually until you find the right level for you. It’s also important to know that Delta-THC can interact with other medications you may be taking, so always talk to your doctor before using it. Delta 9 is a cannabinoid that has been shown to relieve pain, inflammation, and anxiety. Here are five tips on using Delta 9 to improve your health. 5) Consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen. These are just a few ways to use this potent cannabinoid to improve your health and well-being. For more information on how to use Delta 9, consult a healthcare professional or visit our website today!…	62,195
“Life has taught me to always see your glass as overflowing,” says Bi’Ja Thatch, who has survived multiple health issues. Bi'Ja Thatch When Bi’ja Thatch was 12 years old, she hopped on a first-class plane and headed to France with her mom, older cousin and best friend. A limousine escorted them to a huge hotel where they had the luxury of ordering endless room service. For eight days and seven nights, they excitedly roamed through Paris. They went sightseeing, took mini cruises and visited the Eiffel Tower. They even spent two days at Disney World in Paris, rocking through the streets with Thatch’s favorite cartoon characters. She got on rides, took pictures, played games and ate snacks. It sounds like every kid’s dream. Thatch was just one of thousands of children at Disney World that day. However, her trip to Disney World was sponsored by the Make a Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of American children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions. Thatch was not expected to live past the age of 12, and it was her dying wish to visit Paris. “This was the greatest experience of my life,” Thatch recalled. “I am so happy that I was able to do this for my mother.” Thatch is now 21 and has defied the odds. She describes herself as “energetic, goofy, outgoing and happy.” An only child, Thatch was born in Chicago and lives in Middle River, Md. She has moved back and forth since childhood. At age 10, Thatch was diagnosed with auto-immune hepatitis, a chronic disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the normal components and cells. The disease heavily affects the liver, causing inflammation and leading to cirrhosis. Only one in 235,294 people in the United States have this rare disease. The immune system normally protects people from infection by identifying and destroying bacteria, viruses and other potentially harmful foreign substances, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. In Thatch’s case, it does the opposite. It all started when Thatch woke up one day with a bad stomachache. She had always been a healthy child so her mother shook it off thinking it was just a little constipation or an upset stomach from something she ate. When her mother found Thatch in the fetal position with unbearable pain, she immediately took her to the hospital. “I was in an unbelievable amount of pain,” Thatch said. “All I can remember repeating is, ‘Please don’t make me move. Please don’t make me move.’” When the doctor began examining Thatch’s stomach, he knew that something felt terribly wrong. Thatch was immediately rushed to John Hopkins Hospital where the pediatric department found her liver was completely out of place. From this point forward, she has been in and out the hospital for treatment, surgeries and procedures. The issues with immune system caused her to have a slew of other health issues. Thatch has been diagnosed with rheumatoid polyarthritis, a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and limited motion and function of many joints. The disease affects 1.3 million Americans about 75 percent of whom are women. As a result of the polyarthritis, she developed Sjögren’s syndrome, an inflammatory disease that most often affects the tear and saliva glands. Patients often notice irritation, a gritty feeling or painful burning in the eyes. She has also been diagnosed with hereditary elliptocytosis, which causes abnormally shaped red blood cells. Her latest diagnosis is hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a rare disease that causes cells to destroy each other, damaging tissues and organs. This diagnoses caused Thatch to need a bone marrow transplant. It took a year find a donor, but she did find one. “I am so grateful for this transplant, because I know many people are not as fortunate as me to make it off the waiting list,” Thatch said. Dr. Clive Callender, senior transplant surgeon at Howard University Hospital, said “about 30 percent of people waiting for transplants are African American.” With the stress of having these health issues, Thatch has also been diagnosed with depression, anxiety attacks, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It would seem that these health issues are more than enough for any child to deal with growing up. But Thatch endured pain from classmates at her middle school in Baltimore during the healing process. Thatch’s medication caused weight loss, and other children often teased her about being skinny, calling her names like “chicken legs.” Being timid didn’t help matters. “I tried to ignore my sickness and hide it from my classmates,” Thatch said. “I, at times, didn’t do what my doctors told me to do while I was in school. I even lied to my teachers, telling them my doctor said it was OK to do certain things, when I knew I wasn’t supposed to.” Thatch said her worst experience was wearing a wig after the medication caused her hair to fall out. One classmate snatched off her wig. Thatch remembers crying, screaming and walking down the hallway as staff members tried to calm her down. “Although being teased hurt, it never changed how I treated others,” Thatch said. “I always remained respectful to everyone.” Thatch’s confidence reached an all-time low due to the bullying. It wasn’t until the seventh grade when she met her best friend, Ayanna, that she began to rebuild her confidence. “I don’t have ugly friends,” Ayanna would remind her. Since their friendship, Thatch began changing her attitude, dressing differently, doing her hair and taking more pride in who she was as a person. She went from being an outcast in middle school to becoming popular among her high school classmates. She became a cheerleader, joined the journalism club and delivered news every morning over the loud speaker. Thatch was also involved in the mock trial and debate team. These teams inspired her to pursue law as a career. “I was always good at arguing; I always talked back and never shut up,” Thatch said. “People always told me I should be a lawyer, because I always had an answer for something.” In 2011, Thatch enrolled in Howard University as a Legal Communications major. She has particular interests in constitutional, civil, business and entertainment law. Her ultimate goal is to be a Supreme Court justice. Her health complications have delayed her goal of graduating this spring. She missed several semesters, because her body couldn’t handle it. Thatch took online classes during long stays at the hospital to keep up with schoolwork as much as possible. “I have always been amazed by how strong Bi’ja is,” said Naomi Venerable, a Howard student who has been friends with her since 2011. “Watching her go through so many hurdles taught me so much about resilience.” Thatch says if her life has taught her anything, it is to remain positive, always find a reason to smile and never let things get to you, including medical expenses that prompted a GoFundMe campaign. She thanks her father, who nicknamed her “pretty girl,” and her mother, who keeps her laughing, for keeping her spirits high. “Life has taught me to always see your glass as overflowing,” Thatch said. “Do not look at the cup half empty or half full. You must remain satisfied with whatever you have in life.” Elaina Johnson writes for 101Magazine.net and the Howard University News Service. She also wants to attend medical school after completing her journalism degree. 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Posted byRochelle Jeanette November 19, 2022 November 18, 2022 Posted inPersonal Growth, Self Help, SpiritualTags:answers, becoming, becoming today, change, development, growth, purpose, religion, self care, spirituality, tenacious, Tenacity, understanding This conversation is motivated by an expression we don’t hear too much. At least not unless I’m talking to myself. When was the last time you heard it? I know. That’s why we’ll begin by drafting a common understanding of what it means. Then discuss why it’s important plus how we can get better at it . All that and more now on this edition of “Becoming Today”. So let’s examine what the Cambridge English Dictionary has to offer with its definition of “due diligence”: “action that is considered reasonable for people to be expected to take in order to keep themselves or others and their property safe.” In another of their derivatives, they note: “exercise/demonstrate due diligence People have to exercise due diligence and watch what’s being bought on their credit cards.” In addition are examples of the term’s usage: If the client group undertakes due diligence, they may check references and visit similar projects, including ones completed by your firm. Yes, he is right: “and exercised all due diligence, to ensure”, is a higher test than mere “reasonableness”. The protections for reasonable belief and due diligence will also apply in that circumstance. Okay I’m already noting several aspects that can help us reach a shared understanding, however let’s diligently persevere to seek yet another usage. Wikipedia has a nice summation of this element: “Carefulness and persistent effort or work—is one of the seven heavenly virtues. It is indicative of a work ethic, the belief that work is good in itself”. The contributors also reference this concept of diligence and the attention we should give it from a perspective of Christianity: “In Christianity, diligence is the effort to do one’s part while keeping faith and reliance in God. In other words, diligence and faith are two sides of a mystery. One does not know how, despite one’s effort, it all works out; but diligence, when combined with faith, assures spiritual success. Diligence as one of seven virtues describes thoroughness, completeness, and persistence of an action, particularly in matters of faith”. What’s that? Yes I made that word up. A “Ro-notation” is an additional notation or takeaway created by me, Rochelle. So instead of an annotation I call it a “Ro-notation”. Anyway let’s see what we can develop to improve our common comprehension of “due diligence” and being dedicated to it: “Careful, dedicated, persistence with intent to take action for the higher good, for the benefit of all. It is with steadfast forbearance and patience that we commit to be dedicated to not only doing no harm, rather to also do all things virtuously, fully and regularly in faith”. Or let me offer a simpler statement: “Always work to ensure you are trying to do what is right. Be tenacious and purposeful about it and seek to be “Becoming” in all things”. So a big part of becoming diligent is by adopting an attitude of tenacity on purpose. Tenacity on purpose? Yes this one too will require some common definitions so we can properly delve into its importance and empowerment. Let’s begin by flipping open the dictionary. Or asking our smart enabled device a seemingly simple question. What is the definition of tenacity? The immediate response? “The quality or state of being tenacious”. Well okay it makes sense if you understand the intention of our conversation today. However, we’re going to need to know more. So let’s check another source. Ahh, this one is a little more explanatory. Tenacity, noun: the quality of being tenacious, or of holding fast; persistence. Example- the amazing tenacity of rumors. the quality of retaining something. As in the tenacity of memory. the quality or property of holding together firmly. For instance, testing the tenacity of the old book’s binding. Still their origins point to tenacious as its root, so let’s dig a little deeper and reveal tenacious as: not easily stopped or pulled apart : firm or strong. As in, the company has a tenacious hold on the market. Or a tenacious grip continuing for a long time. With examples including tenacious myths/traditions. And a tenacious effort/battle very determined to do something. Like us, She is quite tenacious. So drawing from these, let’s consider tenacity to mean: Not easily deterred. Persevering to continue despite any obstacles and steadfastly remaining forbearant in all efforts. All very “Becoming” qualities. Plus they are ones that indeed need to perform “on purpose”. You guessed it, now we need to consider that phrase, so we can share a common definition of what it means to be on purpose or doing something on purpose. At first glance it may appear as if just a few characters differ, but the definitions can change greatly. As we’ve previously explored, words have meaning, and those meanings have power. Therefore let’s come to agreement on how to define purpose. Yes it is “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists”. However it also speaks to “one’s intention or objective”. As well as “the feeling of being determined to do or achieve something”. Plus, “the aim or goal of a person”. Then for the intentions of our common course, let’s accept purpose as : A reason that drives us to fulfill a goal or objective. Combining this with our previously understood meaning of tenacity then we can arrive at a common understanding that “Tenacity on Purpose” is: To act in a consistent, dedicated manner. Not being swayed, persevering in spite of any obstacles or perceived challenges. Remaining steadfast and forbearant until we successfully fulfill our goal or objective. It definitely has promise towards our shared path. It demonstrates exceptional qualities in alignment with the :Essence of Becoming”….. Still something was missing. It wasn’t quite registering with me until I dropped the Bible on my foot. Really I did. I was barefoot: it hurt. I thought some words, may have actually said some aloud that I shouldn’t have and as I asked forgiveness I glanced at the page it had opened to. Interesting Luke 11:9 is often quoted though seemingly always abbreviated. As it reads in the King James Version: Yes ask and ye shall receive. Most everyone has heard that though even shortened to the point that many don’t recall the Scripture making it a three part process. Ask. Seek and Knock. Ask your question. Seek, actively look for a response. And knock. Make the decision to take action. Yes God can, and does open doors for us, but first you have to knock and then “it shall be opened unto you”. Good reminder. However it still wasn’t quite what I was seeking. Then I continued onto verse 10. Hmm something was calling to me, but perhaps I was still distracted by my throbbing toe. So as I got up to ‘walk it off’, I passed a book shelf and not fearing another episode of clumsiness I dared to pick up another Bible. The Passion Translation. There I stood and paged through to Luke 11, verses 9- 10. WoW! It suddenly became clear. Here is one word I was missing for my comprehension of being tenacious on purpose. One word repeated multiple times in this verse, so you know it has to be important. “So it is with your prayers. Ask and you’ll receive. Seek and you’ll discover. Knock on heaven’s door, and it will one day open for you. Every persistent person will receive what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he needs. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.” Did you notice the word that had reached out from the page and grabbed me? I hope so I used a different color, made the font bold and italicized it, to grab the attention of the page skimmers among us, lol. Yes, that was it. Persistence is what I was looking for, and apparently so is God. Therefore we need to explore what it means to be persistent in our efforts. The first definition I find says, “continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition’. Okay let’s immediately remove the word obstinately, because it’s not very “Becoming”. Pig-headed, stubborn, mulish are quite the opposite of the qualities we are seeking to embrace. Continuing on “to exist or endure over a prolonged period”. “Continuing to do something or to try to do something even though it is difficult or other people want you to stop”. Plus, “continuing beyond the usual, expected, or normal time”. I think we’ve got it. To be persistent or act persistently is taking our efforts up a notch to be uncommonly committed to our decisions, steadfast and forbearant in our actions. Yes! That was the missing link. Now I can feel assured in offering for you, this explanation of what it means to act with “Tenacity on Purpose” and to do so with due diligence: To be purposefully tenacious is acting intentionally. With reason and uncommon determination in a consistent, dedicated manner. Not being swayed, continuing forward in spite of any obstacles or perceived challenges. Remaining steadfast, persistent, assured, affirmed and forbearant with dedication and determination giving all things our due diligence until we successfully fulfill our goal or objective. That goal for me is to share what I have learned. Testify to how life can be overcome and help as many of you as I can. That goal I have for us, is to come together to seek answers to these questions: How do I, as an individual and we as a society, focus on “Becoming” what we are truly destined to be? How do we become all we can be? How do we further enrich our lives and those of our families, friends, communities and society as a whole? What exactly is it we want to become today? That goal for you is? For you to decide and then act upon. Maybe even share with the rest of us either in the comments section or through our Contact page. Still one aspect remains unaddressed. When should we be choosing to act with Dedication To Diligence? Always. Related Posted byRochelle Jeanette November 19, 2022 November 18, 2022 Posted inPersonal Growth, Self Help, SpiritualTags:answers, becoming, becoming today, change, development, growth, purpose, religion, self care, spirituality, tenacious, Tenacity, understanding	10,752
This is very important. You will be asked these questions A LOT. Your response is called your “elevator pitch” or “elevator talk”, since it's the kind of thing you're asked when you're riding an elevator with someone, and you need to get all the important information in before they get off. Practice your answers out loud, in advance. Having a version that's between 30 and 60 seconds is a good start, but have more to say if the person is particularly interested. Ryan's true story: before my first conference (Oakland 2010), Ian insisted that I devise and practice an elevator pitch. It's a good thing that he did, because within minutes of arriving at the venue, I literally found myself sharing an elevator with the conference's general chair, who promptly asked me “What are you working on?”. Because I had already practiced it quite a few times, I was well-prepared (not to mention that I had already given the elevator pitch to the two conference attendees with which I shared my shuttle from the airport.) By the end of the week, I could (and probably did) recite my elevator pitch in my sleep. Do some homework beforehand. Download the electronic version of the accepted papers for the conference. Take a few minutes to have a quick scan of their abstracts so that you will have a general understanding of what those presenters are going to talk about at the conference. Of course, if you feel very interested in some papers, you can read them in detail and try to criticize them or pose questions in the Q&A periods after their talks. Check who will be invited to speak at the conference. Those speakers usually are very famous in the field and their ideas are of leading influence. Search their names via Google and try to get more information about their research interests, such as what they have done and what they are doing at the moment. If possible, download one or more representative publications or reports from their homepages to read them. When you meet these speakers at the conference, you might feel it is easy to find a suitable topic to break the ice. If you are lucky to find that you share the same interest with some of the speakers, you can even prepare one or more questions you have met with during your work to ask. Think about giving a rump session talk. Lots of people develop slides ahead of time and give rehearsed presentations. This seems to be an easy and effective way to let everyone at the conference know who you are and what you're working on. And it's a great way to get comments and suggestions on your ideas. Check the website beforehand to see if you need to submit an abstract for rump session talks. Some conferences require you to do this, others do not. One other note about rump sessions: it is often the case (though not at PET 2007, it turned out) that people present intentionally funny talks in the rump session, as opposed to serious research talks. These go over really well, break up the monotony, and to be honest, people remember them (and you, probably) more than the serious talks. Ian's tip: an ideal rump session talk is funny, but should not be apparent that it's supposed to be funny until around slide 3. An excellent example is Ryan's rump session talk from USENIX Security 2011 (you may need to view it with vlc). We maintain a list of rump session talk ideas on this wiki. If you have a funny idea during the year, add it to the list. If you are attending a conference, feel free to use one of these ideas. Think about presenting a poster Poster presentations are an excellent low-stress way to get involved with the conference, and if your poster attracts sufficient interest they can be quite rewarding (especially if you intend to present that same material at another venue later). Posters spark interesting discussion, help you to meet researchers with similar or complementary interests, and give you an idea of what sorts of questions people might have about your work. Your poster should be easy to digest for people taking only a quick glance. Do not use large blocks of text. Use pictures, graphs, etc. instead. Have a prominent sentence that answers the question (as Lucky Green so nicely put it at Oakland 2014) "What did you find, and why should I care?". If you are going to be presenting your work at an upcoming conference, the discussions you have during the poster session can be invaluable in preparing you for the questions that people at that later conference might have regarding your work. Ideally, once you spot the common sources of confusion or misconceptions, you can revise your presentation to avoid these in the first place. Attach some business cards to your poster (e.g. resting on thumbtacks). They're useful to have around whether or not you're standing in front of the poster. Check out the workshops The workshop presentations are sometimes more interesting than the conference presentations, since they are less formal and workshops tend to accept exciting work-in-progress type papers. This means you get exposed to more original ideas, rather than the thorough – but sometimes incremental – research that tends to be presented at the main conference. Better yet, think about submitting to one of the workshops. Note that you typically need to register for any workshops that you plan to attend at the same time as you register for the conference. Find the papers that interest you and read them, either online or in the preproceedings. Otherwise, it is easy to get lost/sleepy partway through a talk and be unable to understand the remainder of the slides. Also, it will help reduce the number of questions answered with “This is addressed in the paper...” Print business cards with your contact info on them. (Consider including your PGP signature.) They are cheap to make, and people expect you to have them. Somebody will be interested in your research, and you will be interested in somebody else's research. Exchanging business cards is the easiest way to give and receive contact information, which might just lead to future collaboration, hence publications, hence more opportunities to attend future conferences! If you have a good lanyard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanyard ), such as the ones given out by UWaterloo at the Cheriton Research Symposium (among other events), you might want to take it with you. Different conferences provide different types of name tags, some good and some not so good. Some conferences give you a lanyard for your name tag – which may or may not irritate the heck out of your neck. Others have name tags that attach to your clothes with an alligator clip, and yet others with a safety pin. I once had a perfectly good t-shirt permanently stretched by hanging an excessively heavy name tag off of it using a safety pin. Going to the conference To ensure a fast and smooth reimbursement process save your meal and travel receipts and boarding passes. At the conference Attending the talks DO try to attend every talk that interests you, but DO NOT feel obliged to attend each and every talk on the program. Some conferences have two or more “tracks” with concurrent presentations, so in these cases it would be impossible to attend all talks. Many conferences have only one track of presentations at a time, in which case you could (in theory) attend them all. However, one should always consider attending the lesser-mentioned “hallway track”. In other words, it is always a valid option to skip the presented papers and spend your time talking to the numerous conference attendees who are wandering the corridors (in search of free food, drinks and marketing material). This is an excellent time to introduce yourself, discuss your work, learn about others' work, and – of course – have a bite to eat. If you need motivation, talk to Ian. He believes that getting/staying connected (networking) is the most important part of a conference. Some student-oriented conferences (e.g., the MITACS annual meeting) even have networking sessions devoted to teaching student conference attendees how to make the most of the conference through networking. Meet new people It's easy to stick to people you know, but the conference is a rare chance to meet some very intelligent and interesting people in the field. Knowing them could come in handy for collaboration, choosing a PhD supervisor, or finding new research areas that interest you. There are plenty of good opportunities to meet new people: Breaks are the best time for meeting people. You will encounter three types of behavior: people standing still, people walking around, and people standing in groups. Do not stand still unless you don't want to talk to anyone; people generally won't engage in a conversation this way unless they are specifically targeting you (e.g., to ask a question about a talk you gave). Your goal should be to be part of a group with people you don't know. If you are not in such a group, attempt to join one by injecting yourself into the circle (preferably when the group's conversation has slowed or stalled) and introducing yourself when greeted. Likewise, if you are already part of a group and someone joins, greet them. Note that larger groups give each individual less time contribute to the conversation. You can also meet people in the "hallway track" (the area normally used for breaks, but during the talks). However, the effectiveness of the hallway track depends on the conference, the time of day, and the popularity of the coincident talks. Conversations in the hallway track tend to last much longer than those during normal breaks. Conference meals are a good way to have long conversations with people. Try to sit with people that you do not know. Joining a table with existing people is more likely to result in interesting discussions than sitting alone at an empty table and waiting until people join you. If possible, see if you can find somebody who is working in a similar area or who gave an interesting talk. Racing to be the first to lunch (or being the last to find the lunch room) decreases the choices you have when selecting a table to join. After the talks finish for the day, conference-organized social events are also good places to meet people. Try to attend these if possible. If nothing is scheduled for the evening, try to arrange or join a group dinner. Ask Ian where the party is. (If you happen to find yourself with an unusually party-friendly hotel room, you should strongly consider having people over yourself.) The classic icebreaker is "are you presenting a paper?". Master it. Other common variants are "I enjoyed your talk" or "what are you working on?". Top secret tip: when asking somebody about their role or job title (e.g., "so are you a Ph.D. student at [institution]?"), always overestimate. It's much better to ask a Ph.D. student if they're faculty than the reverse. If this happens to you a lot, it may be because others are also using this trick. Although you should not spend a significant amount of time talking to other people from your own research group, a valid strategy is to travel in pairs and join existing groups simultaneously (using the techniques described above), which can decrease social awkwardness. If you have not attended many conferences in the field before, pairing with a more senior student can help with introductions. Ask for business cards, and hand out your own business card liberally. Keep track of who you talked to and what you talked about. Actually write it down / type it in. Writing it on the back of the person's business card is often helpful. If you are feeling a bit peckish, take advantage of the free food. However, before you gorge yourself on a three course meal at the reception, consider having only a light snack and then asking some other conference-goers to join you for a meal at a nearby restaurant. This will provide you with some additional networking opportunities. Helpful hint: I sometimes like to sneak a drink or light snack back to my hotel room. Conferences tend to be in fairly expensive hotels, and the cost of a bedtime snack can be outrageous, especially considering the heaps of free food that are available to you throughout the day. Take it with a grain of salt People may ask you to join a group/work on a project, etc. Not all of them are honest people, and some only care about forwarding their own agenda. After the conference Write things down Make a list of interesting papers or concepts mentioned during the conference. Spend some time after the conference looking them up. Present something interesting at the next lab meeting So you don't make the same mistakes next time. Log In or Register Himrod ISG Main Copyright © 2008-2022 by the contributing authors. All material on this collaboration platform is the property of the contributing authors.	13,257
Daniil Medvedev torn into by Russian politician as accusations made after Los Cabos win DANIIL MEDVEDEV has been slammed by Russia’s former sports minister. Emma Raducanu makes rankings vow as Brit faces losing ‘all my WTA points’ EMMA RADUCANU will attempt to defend her US Open title in a few weeks’ time. RACE IS ON Racing League is BACK and better than ever with new captains, new teams, £2million on the line… And Chappers SUN Racing lidaweb.com tells you all you need to know about the summer blockbuster which kicks off on Thursday. Bradsell, who produced one of the performances of the week at Royal Ascot when running away with the Coventry Stakes, will miss the remainder of the season through injury. Seven games stand in England’s way of lifting the prestigious Jules Rimet trophy in December, with the final taking place the 80,000-seater Lusail Stadium on 18 December. Cat Links General The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off. There is no link to travel to a country where monkeypox is endemic, and exactly where and how they acquired their infections remains under urgent investigation, including whether they have further links to each other. Investigations are underway to establish links between the latest 4 cases, who all appear to have been infected in London. All 4 of these cases self-identify as gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men . Please continue to be aware of symptoms, including rashes and blisters, particularly if you have recently had a new sexual partner. Britain’s biggest water company, Thames Water, which supplies some 15million people, said it would announce a ban in the coming weeks. Restrictions covering nearly three million people have already been announced by Southern Water, South East Water and Welsh … Read More Posted-on July 27, 2022 By lineBylinejimmy Cat Links music R&B, an abbreviation for rhythm and blues, is a style that arose in the 1930s and 1940s. Early R&B consisted of enormous rhythm models “smashing away behind screaming blues singers (who) had to shout to be heard above the clanging and strumming of the varied electrified devices and the churning rhythm sections”. R&B was not extensively recorded and promoted as a result of report firms felt that it was not suited to most audiences, especially center-class whites, due to the suggestive lyrics and driving rhythms. Bandleaders like Louis Jordan innovated the sound of early R&B, using a band with a small horn part and prominent rhythm instrumentation. Beginning in the later Nineteen Seventies, the rock singer and songwriter Bruce Springsteen turned a significant star, with anthemic songs and dense, inscrutable lyrics that celebrated the poor and working class. The Sixties saw several essential adjustments in well-liked music, especially rock. Many … Read More Posted-on October 6, 2020 July 23, 2020 By lineBylinejimmy Cat Links music R&B, an abbreviation for rhythm and blues, is a style that arose in the 1930s and 1940s. Early R&B consisted of enormous rhythm models “smashing away behind screaming blues singers (who) had to shout to be heard above the clanging and strumming of the varied electrified devices and the churning rhythm sections”. R&B was not extensively recorded and promoted as a result of report firms felt that it was not suited to most audiences, especially center-class whites, due to the suggestive lyrics and driving rhythms. Bandleaders like Louis Jordan innovated the sound of early R&B, using a band with a small horn part and prominent rhythm instrumentation. Beginning in the later Nineteen Seventies, the rock singer and songwriter Bruce Springsteen turned a significant star, with anthemic songs and dense, inscrutable lyrics that celebrated the poor and working class. The Sixties saw several essential adjustments in well-liked music, especially rock. Many … Read More Posted-on October 6, 2020 By lineBylinejimmy Cat Links music R&B, an abbreviation for rhythm and blues, is a style that arose in the 1930s and 1940s. Early R&B consisted of enormous rhythm models “smashing away behind screaming blues singers (who) had to shout to be heard above the clanging and strumming of the varied electrified devices and the churning rhythm sections”. R&B was not extensively recorded and promoted as a result of report firms felt that it was not suited to most audiences, especially center-class whites, due to the suggestive lyrics and driving rhythms. Bandleaders like Louis Jordan innovated the sound of early R&B, using a band with a small horn part and prominent rhythm instrumentation. Beginning in the later Nineteen Seventies, the rock singer and songwriter Bruce Springsteen turned a significant star, with anthemic songs and dense, inscrutable lyrics that celebrated the poor and working class. The Sixties saw several essential adjustments in well-liked music, especially rock. Many … Read More Posted-on October 6, 2020 By lineBylinejimmy In popular and traditional music, the performers have a lot more freedom to make modifications to the form of a song or piece. As such, in in style and traditional music types, even when a band performs a canopy track, they’ll make adjustments to it corresponding to including a guitar solo to or inserting an introduction. In the years after 1800, the music developed by Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert launched a more dramatic, expressive fashion. Both the straightforward people music and the advanced electronic composition belong to the identical activity, music. Both are humanly engineered; each are conceptual and auditory, and these factors have been present in music of all types and in all durations of history, all through the world. As world cultures have come into higher world contact, their indigenous musical kinds have typically merged with different types, which produces new styles. For instance, the United … Read More	6,161

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