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Archadeck of Columbus is in what many would call an enviable position. We have the opportunity to meet with homeowners around Columbus throughout the year and get to hear what they like, what they are looking for and what type of things they are contracting us to build in their backyards. As 2013 will soon be drawing to a close, we would like to share some of the trends we're seeing on the front line.
As part two of this 3-part series exploring top design trends, Archadeck of Columbus explores the top 16 trends we've seen in our market.
Top 16…
#1) The use of roofed structures on top of decks – Currently, we are seeing a high demand for roofed structures on decks. Roofed outdoor structures include covered porches, screened porches and even 3- and 4-season rooms. The trend toward these covered structures indicates that homeowners are entertaining more and investing in their home's living space more via the outdoor room. Having a roofed structure adds both shade and comfort to a deck space.
#2) Combination of a deck with other structures such as a patio or porch -The great part combining your deck with a porch or patio, is that it is the perfect add-on to give you those multiple outdoor living areas that you really want. A patio can be added with a new or existing deck at any time. Adding a patio to your deck is a great way to spice it up and put that spark back into your outdoor entertaining as well enhance the beauty in your backyard. Adding a porch will extend the function of your outdoor space and provide shade and shelter from inclement weather. If considering a screened porch and deck combination, you will also gain protection from hungry insects too!
#3) The availability of more affordable composites for your deck – Up until recently, all high-quality composites came with a price tag to match. There has been a new addition to the composite line called TimberTech Terrain. Terrain is a wood and plastic capstock product that is similar in many ways to the popular Earthwood Evolutions line. The Terrain line features a thinner profile, similar to the TimberTech Reliaboard line, but with the same attributes that makes homeowner's flock to the Earthwood Evolutions line at about 30% lower cost.
#4) More available decking board textures – New synthetic decking materials have a little more cleft in them which replicate more of a natural wood texture. Many decking companies are doing their best to make synthetics look far more like real wood than in years past.
#5) Contrasting color choices – Combining contrasting rails and decking add character and style to your deck. Even if you are considering a deck built with wood, you can stain your railing a different color to add contrast.
#6) The use of thin profile aluminum or cable railing – Thinner, lower profile railing will not impede visibility into your backyard or outdoor space.These include architectural rail such as Feeney Cable rail and many others. Not only will using less obtrusive railing open up the view, it gives your deck an upscale elegance with a contemporary feel. If using wooden decking, you can also get the same effect by using more upgraded pickets.
#7) Integrating different colors within the deck itself – Today's decks aren't always one color. Archadeck of Columbus is constantly asked to integrate additional colors into homeowners' decks through picture framing and parting boards. Additional colors are sometimes used to highlight a specific part of the deck, such as a dining or living area. By adding colors you can also accentuate the dimensions of your deck. By thinking outside the box when using colors, you can turn your outdoor living space into a one-of-kind work of art!
#8) More use of exotic woods such as Ipe and other Brazilian hardwoods – There is a growing trend among homeowners choosing to build their deck with Brazilian hardwoods such as Ipe. Ipe is simply beautiful. Along with the rich wood tone and natural streaking that sets this exotic hardwood apart from all others, it is also strong – so strong in fact, holes need to be pre-drilled prior to installation. Ipe looks the part, and performs the part. It requires less maintenance than other hardwoods and when left untreated will weather to an elegant dove-gray over time.
#9) Deck lighting is a big trend – Lighting adds safety and ambiance to your deck. We install a huge amount of LED lighting into deck risers and posts, rail posts and even integrate lighting into the floor of the deck. Deck lighting will extend the function of your deck into the evening hours and give your space a romantic feel that invites you to linger a while longer.
#10) Stairs – Stairs are now wider and more decorative than the minimum code of 3 feet. We also design stairs that are more aesthetically interesting like flared stairs or landing with integrated seating. The reason behind this is because homeowners want wider stairs to create more seating options. It also helps balance larger and more elaborate deck designs.
#11) Multiple stairs for traffic flow – Archadeck of Columbus thinks about the flow of your entire backyard, not just the simplest way to get from here to there. We place heavy consideration on exactly where your stairs should be placed to offer the most benefit, and many times we integrate more than one set of stairs to add function and harmony to your space.
#12) Under deck systems for elevated decks – More and more, homeowners are looking to utilize the "under deck" so their elevated decks become viable outdoor living spaces. By implementing an under deck rainwater carrying system such as Dry Snap, or outdoor ceiling systems like Inside Out into an elevated or 2nd story deck, you can create a under deck space that functions like a covered porch or patio.
#13) Balusters – Options for balusters are huge! In terms of distinction and design, balusters come with a myriad of design options. These include balusters topped with decorative finials, arches, baroque styles and even integrated lighting with the baluster itself Archadeck of Columbus uses a lot of Deckorators balusters because they are a high-quality product that offers many options to the homeowner.
#14) Lattice is out – and so is skirting – Skirting is sometimes requested, but we do not recommend it because it takes away from the view and surrounding landscaping. In addition, a skirted portion of your under deck space can inadvertently become the perfect spot for wildlife.
#15) We foresee the trend towards more electrical considerations – Homeowners are now asking for some hardwired plugs within their new deck. These outlets are installed for varied purposes including plugging in space heaters, laptop computers and even to operate holiday lighting along their deck railings. As technology advances, so does the increase in varied places available to utilize those technologies, including outdoor spaces.
#16) Gorgeous outdoor furnishings and accessories – Even though we don't build it, we would be remiss at not mentioning the benefit eye-catching furnishings and accoutrements add to your completed outdoor living space. Just like the suit is said to make the man, outdoor furniture makes the deck. Finishing out your space with comfy couches and chairs featuring oversized pillows is hugely popular, as is using pillows and cushions covered with weather resistant Sunbrella fabrics. Many of today's contemporary outdoor furniture designs also use streamlined design with deeper seating with less of an emphasis on a slender leg. Stacked resin furniture is wildly popular right now. The trend we see throughout outdoor furniture design is taking the comfort and easy feel of your living room into the exterior. Homeowner's are leaning toward outdoor furniture that mimics the comfort and loftiness of their favorite couch or easy chair but with low-maintenance outdoor fabric choices.
If you are starting to think about adding a new outdoor space to your Columbus area home, give Archadeck of Columbus a call for a free consultation. We can help you plan and design an outdoor space that suits your individual function with a cutting edge deck, patio or porch addition.
(740) 879 – 3730
Take a look at our extensive deck photo galleries by visiting our website today!

subset: commoncrawl


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On Wednesday August 10, 2011 there will be a post written by yours truly on Cookie Madness! I couldn't be any more excited about the opportunity to do a guest post for Anna while she's on vacation. The inspiration for the post is the Ginsberg's Alaskan cruise.
When Anna and I chatted we talked about ice cream desserts but as I did my research and thought about Alaska I kept coming back to berries. One of the recipes I was really excited about is this crisp recipe I found on Epicurious. Apparently it is on the menu at a place in Anchorage called Marx Bros. Cafe. A google search for Marx Bros. Cafe told me that if I ever get to Anchorage I will make time for a meal there.
The peach berry crisp is excellent. It didn't make the cut for my Cookie Madness post because it was the slightest bit runny and I didn't think the photos were very appealing. That said, it's a very tasty dessert and one I would make again. I loved the flavors of all the fruits and the topping was nice and crisp.
My husband enjoyed this with vanilla ice cream. I ate mine straight up.
Peach and Mixed Berry Crisp (adapted by Sue at Basically Baked)
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup (packed) light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
Fruit layer
2 large peaches, peeled, pitted, chopped (about 2 1/2 cups)
1 1/3 cups blueberries (about 6 ounces)
1 1/3 cups raspberries (about 6 ounces)
1 1/3 cups blackberries (about 5.6 ounces)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8×8 inch baking dish.
In a small bowl whisk together the dry ingredients for the topping, then add the butter and rub all of the ingredients together with the back of a spoon until the crumbs are very fine. You can also do this with your fingers but I prefer to use a spoon. Set the mixture aside.
Put all of the fruit in a separate bowl and toss it with the sugar and flour.
Place the mixture in the prepared baking dish and bake for 40 minutes stirring every ten minutes until the juices are bubbling. Bake another five minutes.
Remove from the oven. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees.
Top with the reserved topping mixture and bake for another 20 minutes, until the topping is golden.
Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Serve slightly warm.


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As a writer, I like to keep it simple. A spiral-bound notebook and a no. 2 pencil sharpened to a precise point are all I need to make my ideas a reality on the page. I love the sound of the pencil scritching across the paper. It's the sound of progress being made. But every now and then, a writer needs to raise the quality of her writing instrument if for no other reason than the sheer pleasure it brings in owning a piece of artwork.
I cannot describe the thrill of writing with my custom-made fountain pen created by woodworker Arthur Miller. So far, I've saved my beautiful pen with its specially chosen color of ink for journaling. But art such as Mr. Miller creates is beautiful, functional, and durable. It would be a shame to keep my pen locked away for only occasional use. I simply love the feel of the pen in my hand and how the silky flow of ink makes even a humble grocery list look like a masterpiece of calligraphy.
Mr. Miller was gracious enough to share his passion for woodworking and explain the process behind the fountain pens and other beautiful works of art he creates in his studio.
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I was born in Akron, Ohio. I attended Springfield Township Schools and graduated from Buchtel High School. The Vietnam War was on, so two years after graduating I joined the U.S. Coast Guard. My first airplane ride was from Cleveland to Philadelphia, where I boarded a bus for the trip to Cape May, NJ where I attended boot camp. I have been stationed in Ogdensburg, NY on the St. Lawrence River; Cleveland, Ohio; Honolulu, Hawaii; Cape May, New Jersey; Little Creek, Virginia; New York City, and back to Cape May thus completing thirty years, two months, and fifteen days of service and retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer, CWO4. Following retirement, I worked for a durable medical equipment company, at a hardware store, and at a destination resort in Cape May. I have always been interested in wood turning, and my hobby, now in full force, somehow got out of control.
I am married to my first wife, Diana (from Medina, Ohio), and have two married daughters who live close by, and one grandson.
How did you develop your interest in woodworking? Was it a career or hobby? How long have you been at it?
I have long loved wood. Our childhood home was made from wood of one form or another: barn siding in the kitchen, pine paneling boards in the living room and office, mahogany panels in the bedrooms. The only plaster in the house was in the bathroom. I loved the smell, the feel, and the look of wood since forever except when we moved and I had to remove all the green paint from the oak paneling and woodwork in our new city house. I loved to climb trees and build things from wood. In high school, I took wood shop from Mr. John McKay who further enhanced my woodworking experience.
Are you professionally educated/trained in wood working or self-taught?
While I have been exposed to several of the foremost wood turners in the country since starting my business, and I don't make any claim to match them. I am largely self-taught beyond the high school years.
What tools do you use in the process of woodworking?
For tools of the wood working trade, of course there are the lathes of which I have three: two bench top (a 10 in. x 24 in. and a 12 in. x 24 in. capable lathes) and a larger 16 in. x 36 in. floor model. The smaller number indicates half the distance from the spindle to the bed x 2 which is the maximum turning diameter over the bed. Of course, the lathe can be reconfigured. The headstock can be moved to the end of the bed where by the maximum diameter is half the distance from the spindle to the floor—in my case about 7 feet. I am not turning 7 foot diameter items at this time!
Then there are the tools of wood turning. They come in two types: HSS (High Speed Steel) and carbide. The HSS come in several categories, gouges, scrapers, and specialty. This category of tool is sharpened on a diamond grinding wheel. Carbide tools are not sharpened. The cutting surface is replaced when it is no longer sharp. Both tools are important in the studio of Sweet N Round. Resins are another important tool used for casting.
What are some products you make from wood?
The product line at Sweet N Round is quite extensive. I make Pepper Mills, Salt Mills and Shakers, Coffee Mills, Platters, Bowls, Kaleidoscopes, Pens and Pencils, Sewing and Knitting items (Seam Rippers, Yarn Minders and Yarn Barns, Crochet Hook Sets), Marker Rings, Shawl Pins and Rings, Key Rings, Pill Boxes, Purse Hangers, Clocks, Garden Dibbles, Pizza Cutters, Bottle Openers, Wine Cork Extractors and Stoppers, and many other items.
Do you make furniture, sheds, toys, porches, framing, or other large items?
All items are made in my studio. Funny, in 1996, my brother-in-law and I built a shed. Soon, since I did a little mechanical work at that time, it was called a "Shop." Today, that same building is now called my "Studio." I do make toys—toy tops and kaleidoscopes.
Describe the process of making a fountain pen.
How to make a pen: first and foremost, select the style pen to make—be it a simple ball point, an advanced ball point, a roller ball, a fountain pen (which also come in simple and advanced), or a dip pen.
Most pens share these steps: select the kit (metal parts which will make up the pen), match with the material (see more on material later), we will call this the blank. Mark the blank to maximize the probability the grain will match. Cut to length then drill a proper hole for the tube that holds the workings inside—ranging from 7 mm to 27/67 inch. The drilling is done on the lathe using a special chuck, which holds the material tightly on the lathe, and of course the proper size drill. All brass tubes used on the interior of the pen must be roughed up with sand paper. This process is also done on the lathe using a mandrel. Tubes which will be used in acrylic pens must next be painted white. When the blanks are measured, drilled, and ready, the tubes are glued into the blank using either CA (cyanoacrylate) or two part epoxy glue. You know CA by its more common name, Super Glue. When the glued blanks have set, the next step is to mill the ends of the blanks (make the ends of the pen square with the tube). Once squared, the blanks are almost ready to be turned. Each blank is marked inside to indicate the end. In my shop, the mark is either the nib end or the finial end. In the case of many high-end writing devices, the finial end is larger than the nib end. Finally, the piece is turned. The blanks are mounted on a pen mandrel and turned to the proper sizes—sanded to usually 5000 grit in the case of wood—and then an appropriate finish is applied. In the case of acrylic or other similar products, the blanks are finished to 12,000 grit, polished with cream, and then buffed on the buffing wheel.
If wood, the finish may be wax, wax and oil, or CA. If CA is used to finish, seven coats of CA are applied and cured, and then the blank is finished in the same manner as acrylics.
What types of wood do you work with? What's your favorite wood to work with?
The most expensive exotic woods used at Sweet N Round are composites. A composite is wood or other material which, standing alone, has no value. The wood or other material is cast in different materials and then cut into blanks. Seashell blanks come to mind. The seashell material destroys regular cutting tools. Think of sanding sand in resin with sand paper. It cannot be cut using a regular saw, drill, etc.
We work with local woods (maybe from my back yard), domestic and exotic woods, acrylics, Corian, antler, horn, composites, and other materials.
My favorite woods to work with are those that smell nice. Pau Ferro, aka Bolivian Rose Wood, of the Rose Wood family comes immediately to the front. Included in this family is Cocobolo, a wood from Mexico. Many people are allergic to these woods though once finished it poses no issues to the user.
What other materials do you work with?
I like to turn a variety of acrylic and Corian although at the initial turning stages the chips are shrapnel. One must protect oneself from the hundreds of flying sharp pieces. Also a consideration in wood turning is the dust. Air filters are an absolute must in a closed shop and studios. Masks are also a must to protect the lungs from the dust. However, they also cause the eye protection to fog, so everything comes to a halt until I can see once again. Another wood I use is color wood. Grown in Maine, bass is cut, sliced into thin plies, dyed different colors, glued into slabs, cut to size, and sold to me for a ton of money. Colored wood items, such as mills, sell ten to one over the most beautiful grained cherry, oak, mahogany, maple, sassafras, etc.
What has been your biggest challenge with woodworking?
Finishing. Most of the time I use a finish called friction finish. It is mostly shellac and carnauba wax. I have no problem with small surfaces, but bigger surfaces are not always so good. I would like to learn lacquer and colors.
Many artists love turning a concept into a reality. What is your dream project?
I would like to turn items frozen in ice. Assorted shapes, permanently mounted on a base of some type, and then frozen in a block of ice to hold the smaller pieces in position. The result would be perhaps a wood or other material ball with a concave shape cut into it or a pyramid or a box. I'm still thinking about it.
What has been your most complex project to date?
I'm thinking the most complex, which should be the simplest, drilling a hole through a baseball bat.
What do you enjoy most about woodworking and/or working with your hands?
I like taking a piece of wood, conceptualizing, mounting on the machine, and then have the wood dictate to me what it wants to be.
Does your chosen craft require practice? If so, how much?
How do ya get to Carnegie hall? Practice, practice, practice. I often get pieces of wood from someone's family farm, or the yard, or something Grandpa always liked. The instruction: "I dunno, see what you can get from it".
How critical are you of your own work?
I'm pretty tough. My quality control lady (wife) is way tougher. My burn box is full of items that did not make the grade.
Of what product/piece/project are you most proud?
I like my "Dark Side of the Moon," my "Lunar Lander," and my large "Natural Edge Cherry Burl Bowl"—I don't know what to name it.
Do you teach your craft to others?
Absolutely. Belonging to the Cape Atlantic Wood Turners, an AAW affiliate (American Association of Wood Turners), one of the missions of our club is to spread the word. Each member has some private instruction arrangement and several of us teach basic wood turning at our local Technical Night School.
Do you participate in trade shows, craft shows, lectures, demonstrations, or conferences?
Shows are where it is at. I enjoy meeting the people, explaining, demonstrating, showing, and selling my work. It is a joy to see someone come to my table and their eyes just light up. One show, it was a Sunday afternoon, a lady came to my table, and tears immediately filled her eyes. I didn't know what to think. Her son was about to graduate from college and her husband, a Vietnam Vet, had just passed away. She was looking at my wooden Sierra Vista Pen, which was a rendition of the Vietnam Service Ribbon, in wood. Something we enjoy but have not done a lot is the home parties.
Are all your pieces unique? Do you work by commission?
I tell people all the time that my pieces are unique. I never (well rarely) measure. If you find two alike, it was an error or a forgery. Bring it back!
I am honored when people ask me to do commission work. I once made a lid for the urn for Uncle Fred's ashes.
When I do this kind of work, we understand we will aim for this or that goal. If my work misses your goal, we will try again until you are happy. However, woodworking is an art form.
Where would you like to go with your woodworking?
I'm pretty happy with where I am though not stagnating. There are items I must make to sell—that is what pays the bills—and there are items I call bait. Be they big or small, bait are items people want to drool over but really, where will they put it or how will they afford it? I like to make captured ring items. Typically a wine glass looking piece with a ring of the stem.
Does your skill set include carving or wood burning?
I burn my fingers all the time! I do not (have not) carved. Occasionally, I will burn a ring into a piece as accent.
What are you currently working on?
Pens, pens, pens. I make usually sixty pens at a time. Pepper mills for the summer.
Where is your workshop set up?
My shop is at the rear of my home. It is 12 x 16 feet. I have no radio because I want to hear the machines and the work as it is developing.
Where can people find you on social media?
We call ourselves Sweet N Round, and we can be easily found on Facebook.
Sweet: because we are honeybee keepers. We also honor my wife's heritage as a Medina Bee. Medina is the honey capital of the world and home of the A. I. Root Company—formerly the largest honeybee supplier in the world and now the premier candle producer in the world.
N: for a conjunction
Round: well, I make round things.


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Taurus (April 20th to May 21st)
#MeTime: With Jupiter, the Big Daddy Grace of planets, going full throttle in your sign, you may feel a lot more amped than your usual cool, calm self. Nobody's hatin' on that, but here's where you could come across some problems. When life's in parade mode, everything fallin' looks like confetti and ticker tape. You could miss the early drops of rain falling too. Pay attention to the details now, especially with how you spell out things to people. You may have the best of intentions when speaking to someone and be in the most positive of moods; but take a moment to really take stock of where someone is and how you could be aptly encouraging rather than flippantly condescending or careless.
#Heartstrings: No one usually has to tell you to slow down, but you feel more revved up than usual, especially on the romantic & social networking tip. So slow down if you feel like you're being a little too greedy or demanding of people's time. Chances are that you are. Here are some of the best ways to use the Venus-Mars tango dance happening this week: revisit an old romantic haunt with a current love; be prepared to catch a spark perhaps from a former partner; or check out an event or social meeting that you've visited in the past as it may show you the way to a new path or connection.
#MoneyMoves: With Jupiter grazing deeper into your sign, you definitely feel emboldened to charge ahead like the bull you are with plans and ideas that you had set up last year. But don't start writing checks with your mouth (or your hands) that your butt or bank can't cash. Slow and steady is what usually wins the race for you, and it's with good reason that haste makes waste for you. This is definitely the time when you may feel like you're really overextending yourself. Don't confuse feelin' good with feeling invincible. Savor each moment as a victory, not as a breadcrumb to bigger and bigger loaves of goodness. That'll come in its own sweet time.


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The same storm that devastated Acapulco and surrounding areas over the weekend regenerated into Hurricane Manuel and was swirling into the Pacific coast again, this time further north, just offshore from the Sinaloa state capital of Culiacan. Sinaloa civil protection authorities said some areas were already flooding and more than 200 people were evacuated from small fishing villages on the coast.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the Category 1 hurricane was expected to move slightly inland and continue to dump rain on fishing villages. It is a third blow to a country still reeling from the one-two punch of Manuel's first landfall and Hurricane Ingrid on Mexico's eastern coast.
Hundreds of stranded tourists remained lined up for a second day Thursday at an air base on the outskirts of Acapulco, where military aircraft were slowly ferrying people out of the resort, which was cut off by road from the rest of the country by dozens of landslides and washed-out bridges.
So isolated is Acapulco that cargo ships have been contracted to supply food to the city by sea. Only about 10,000 of the estimated 40,000 stranded tourists have been flown out since the improvised air lift began two days ago.
Increasingly angry, frustrated travelers -- many of whom had to wait through the night on the roadside -- began to block army trucks heading into the base with what the stranded travelers believed were wealthy, well-connected people or foreigners cutting line to get on airplanes without waiting. The angry crowds forced the trucks to detour a few blocks along the beach to get to the base.
"The problem is that they didn't get in line like all the rest, who spent the night out in the open, hungry," said Blanca Flores, 24, a call center supervisor from Mexico City.
Federal officials raised the death toll from the passage of Manuel and Hurricane Ingrid from 60 to 80 earlier Wednesday. They said they were not yet including landslide victims in the village of La Pintada, several hours north of Acapulco, but "It's very likely that these 58 missing people lost their lives," said Angel Aguirre, governor of storm-battered Guerrero state.
Heavy rains also began pelting the state of Guerrero again Wednesday night, increasing the risk for federal police trying to evacuate the last 45 residents of the village of La Pintada, where tons of dirt and rocks smashed through the center of town Monday night, burying a church and a number of two-story homes.
Federal authorities reached La Pintada by helicopter and evacuated 334 people, some of whom are hurt, one seriously, said Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong.
Osorio Chong said the landslide went right through the middle of the village of some 600 people, accessible in normal conditions by winding mountain roads now broken multiple times by landslides and flooding.
In Acapulco, three days of Biblical rain and leaden skies evaporated into broiling late-summer sunshine that roasted thousands of furious tourists trying vainly to escape the city, and hundreds of thousands of residents returning to homes devastated by reeking tides of brown floodwater.
The depth of the destruction wreaked by Manuel, which first hit Mexico on Sunday as a tropical storm, was highlighted when the transportation secretary said it would be Friday at the earliest before authorities could clear and reconnect the parallel highways that connect this bayside resort to the rest of the world.
Hundreds of residents of Acapulco's poor outlying areas slogged through waist-high water to pound on the closed shutters of a looted Costco, desperate for food, drinking water and other basics.
Many paused and fished in the murky waters for anything of value piling waterlogged clothing and empty aluminum cans into plastic bags.
"If we can't work, we have to come and get something to eat," said 60-year-old fisherman Anastasio Barrera, as he stood with his wife outside the store.
With a tropical disturbance over the Yucatan Peninsula headed toward Mexico's soggy Gulf coast, the country could face another double hit as it struggles to restore services and evacuate those stranded by flooding from Manuel and Ingrid, which hit the Gulf coast.
Mexico's federal Civil Protection coordinator, Luis Felipe Puente, said 35,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.
Elsewhere in the verdant coastal countryside of Guerrero, people turned motorboats into improvised ferries, shuttling passengers, boxes of fruit and jugs of water across rivers that surged and ripped bridges from their foundations over the weekend.
In Acapulco's upscale Diamond Zone, the military commandeered a commercial center for tourists trying to get onto one of the military or commercial flights that remained the only way out of the city. Thousands lined up outside the mall's locked gates, begging for a seat on a military seat or demanding that airline Aeromexico honor a previously purchased ticket.
"We don't even have money left to buy water," said Tayde Sanchez Morales, a retired electric company worker from the city of Puebla. "The hotel threw us out and we're going to stay here and sleep here until they throw us out of here."
Mexican officials said that more than 10,000 people had been flown out of the city on about 100 flights by Wednesday evening, just part of the 40,000 to 60,000 tourists estimated to be stranded in the city.
A lucky few held up ransacked beach umbrellas against the sun. Temperatures were in the mid-80s but felt far hotter. Dozens of others collapsed in some of the few spots of shade.
"Forty-eight hours without electricity, no running water and now we can't get home," said Catalina Clave, 46, who works at the Mexico City stock exchange.
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Best for:
- Fever
- Mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain
- Mild to moderate back pain
- Mild to moderate headache
How it functions isn't well understood, but acetaminophen may block COX-3, a protein that helps send out the body's pain signals. It's not as potent as some other OTC painkillers such as naproxen and ibuprofen, so it's typically effective only for low-intensity aches. If you've had alcohol in the past 24 hours (or plan to), hit the brakes: Too much acetaminophen and alcohol can damage the liver. An advisory committee to the FDA has proposed lowering the maximum daily dose from 4 grams (which may be too much for some people); watch these pages for the new limit. If you feel weak or "off" after use, see a doc, stat.
Best for:
- Mild toothache
- Moderately sore muscles
- Mild to moderate back pain
- Mild to moderate headache
Aspirin eases pain and inflammation by slowing the production of prostaglandins, molecules that activate pain receptors. The active ingredient, acetylsalicylic acid, also makes blood platelets less sticky, which is why people at risk for heart attack take aspirin to help prevent clots. In many people, acetylsalicylic acid reaches toxicity faster than do ibuprofen and naproxen (the maximum daily dose is 4 grams), so regular use has a higher risk for side effects such as gastric irritation. Thus aspirin is useful for mild to moderate, but not severe or chronic, pain. If you just had or are about to have surgery, steer clear.
Best for:
- Acute muscle injury
- Arthritis
- Joint pain
- Lower-back pain
- Moderate to severe headache
- Moderate to severe menstrual cramps
Like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen inhibit prostaglandin production to stop inflammation and pain. But they can also disrupt H2, a gut histamine, stimulating the overproduction of gastric acid and leading to stomach upset and even bleeding, warns Rollin M. Gallagher, M.D., of Philadelphia, past president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. If you have a history of stomach problems (like ulcers), these might not be for you. Call your doc if you have stomach pain, vomiting or black stools or if you cough blood after taking one. The max daily dose for ibuprofen is 1,200 milligrams; for naproxen, 600 mg.
Listen to your body! An OTC pill that works well for one person may not help another, so trial and error can be your best pal. One caveat for pregnant ladies: Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen can cause heart problems in the fetus, so consult your M.D. before you take any pill.
Photo Credit: Jamie Chung


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Wal-Mart Saves Money November 27, 2007Posted by voolavex in Deborah Shank, despicable, health care, Wal-Mart.
Tags: Deborah Shank, despicable, health care, Wal-Mart
4 comments
This is the full text of an email sent to me by Wal-mart Watch. This is a disgusting story of greed and immorality. It asks you to donate – but I am not asking that of you – I ask only that you to write to Wal-Mart, email Wal-Mart, call Wal-Mart and otherwise bombard Wal-Mart asking them why this is happening? I could list other companies that are just as guilty – but clouding the issue is not constructive. Go to the website if you want to donate – but I am NOT asking you to do that. Send your message of disgust to Wal-Mart.com. Their slogan: "Live Better. Save Money". Bullshit
Scroll down for the story.
Seven years ago, a semi-trailer plowed into the driver's side of Deborah Shank's minivan.The 52-year-old Missouri Wal-Mart employee and devoted mother of three suffered permanent brain damage. Today she lives in a nursing home for round-the clock care, unable to walk, feed or dress herself.As the Wall Street Journal reported on November 20, it's a tragic story – but it gets worse:
"Wal-Mart started out as one of the good guys in this story, paying almost $470,000 of Shank's initial medical bills. But three years after Shank's husband sued and settled with the semi driver's employer, the retail giant changed hats. It demanded every penny back, plus interest and legal fees — more, in fact, than the $417,477 the settlement had placed in a special trust fund specifically for Shank's future health care expenses."Wal-Mart sued a permanently brain-damaged woman out of her medical care funds. Thanks to her former employer – the world's largest retailer – Deborah's family is sinking deeper into debt and Deborah will be completely dependent on Medicaid and Social Security for a lifetime of medical care.Wal-Mart Watch is collecting funds to help Deborah Shank's family with her medical bills. Will you make a donation?
Wal-Mart's actions are horribly unethical and morally bankrupt, but the company says it's legal – and it's right about that.As the Wall Street Journal explains:The reason is a clause in Wal-Mart's health plan that Mrs. Shank didn't notice when she started stocking shelves at a nearby store eight years ago. Like most company health plans, Wal-Mart's reserves the right to recoup the medical expenses it paid for someone's treatment if the person also collects damages in an injury suit.
In cases like the Shanks', where injuries and medical costs are catastrophic, accident victims sometimes can be left with little or none of the money they fight for in court. Company health plans are increasingly adopting language such as Wal-Mart's, which dictates that it is to be paid first out of any settlement, regardless of what remains for the injured person. Moreover, the victim is responsible for all legal costs in pursuing the suit.
Last year the U.S. District Court sided with Wal-Mart over the Shank family – making its ruling just six days before Deborah Shank's 18-year-old son, Jeremy, was killed while serving in Iraq.
The decision has forced Deborah's family to take drastic measures. Earlier this year, her husband divorced her because of advice from a health care administrator, who said that she would qualify for more public assistance as a single woman.
The Shanks aren't gold-diggers. They are an honest, hard-working American family trying to deal with a catastrophic event, and now they're doing it with an empty wallet – thanks to Wal-Mart.
Please do your part to help the Shank family by making a donation now:
This holiday season, Wal-Mart rolled out a new slogan: "Save money. Live better."But who lives better with Wal-Mart's low prices? Clearly, it isn't Wal-Mart employees like Deborah Shank.Sincerely,
David Nassar
Wal-Mart Watch
Paid for by WalmartWatch.com, a campaign of Five Stones and The Center for Community and Corporate Ethics
To unsubscribe: http://action.walmartwatch.com/unsubscribe


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WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration is upping the ante in the fight against health care fraud, joining forces with private insurers and state investigators on a scale not previously seen in an attempt to stanch tens of billions of dollars in losses.
Announcing the new public-private partnership Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said it 'puts criminals on notice that we will find them and stop them.'
Fraud is an endemic problem plaguing entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid as well as private insurance companies. Sebelius said the new program will collate claims data from all those programs and mine it for signs of bogus billing.
'Lots of the fraudsters have used our fragmented health care system to their advantage,' Sebelius told reporters during a White House meeting with insurance executives. 'By sharing information across payers, we can bring this potentially fraudulent activity to light so it can be stopped.'
The agreement is also unusual because it brings the Obama administration and longtime foes in the insurance industry together to tackle a common problem. While carrying out the requirements of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law, insurers are also lobbying to roll back some of its provisions, such as new taxes on the industry and cuts to private plans offered through Medicare. Obama continues to rail against industry 'abuses.'
But industry leaders stressed that combating fraud is in everyone's interests.
'It's just gotten a great deal harder to prey upon the public,' said Karen Ignani, CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans, one of a number of industry groups backing the partnership.
Attorney General Eric Holder, who took part in the announcement, said industry and government will 'come together as never before to share information while protecting patient confidentiality.'
Details of the collaboration remain to be worked out, but the possibilities include sharing information on new fraud schemes as they pop up, using claims data to catch scams such as payments billed to different insurers on the same day for care purportedly delivered to the same patient in different cities, and using computer analysis to spot emerging patterns of fraud.
An industry official familiar with the discussions said the partnership aims to produce tangible results within six months to a year, but that some issues – including extensive sharing of claims data – will take longer to work out. Initially, the collaboration will involve sharing of such information as billing codes associated with fraud for different insurers.
'This is about getting stuff done, not about holding meetings,' said the official, who declined to be identified because the official was not authorized to discuss the subject in public and spoke on condition he not be named.
Fraud is estimated to cost Medicare about $60 billion a year, and the Obama administration has beefed up the government's efforts to stop it, bringing in record settlements with drug companies for marketing violations as well as using new powers in the health care law to pursue low-level fraudsters with greater zeal.
Yet, although Medicare is becoming a harder target, it's too early to say if the tide has turned.
Some antifraud efforts launched with great fanfare have yet to deliver convincing results. For example, a $77-million computer system unveiled last summer to stop Medicare fraud before it happens had prevented just one suspicious payment by Christmas.
Likewise, the new public-private collaboration could face problems. Privacy advocates may object to extensive scrutiny of claims data, and doctors have traditionally pushed back against routine computerized monitoring of their practice patterns.
Supporting the partnership are America's Health Insurance Plans, the leading industry lobbying group, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and major companies including UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint, Inc. Formal working meetings are scheduled for September.
'The cost of fraud can far exceed what is paid for in falsified claims,' said Karen Ignagni, the industry's top lobbyist. 'It can cause real harm to patients who are intentionally exposed to radiation, invasive surgeries and medication they do not need, or suffer the consequences of receiving a fraudulent diagnosis.'
The analysis of data from Medicare, Medicaid and private health plans will look for suspicious patterns and other evidence that might indicate fraud, White House officials said. A 'trusted third party' would comb through the data and turn questionable billing over to insurers or federal investigators.
Officials said those who submit fraudulent claims often do so for both government programs and private insurance plans. Separately, such claims might not raise suspicions, but taken together they could raise a red flag, such as when a doctor bills for more than 24 hours in a day.
Law enforcement organizations taking part in the collaboration include the FBI, the Health and Human Services Inspector General's Office, the Justice Department, and state and private insurance fraud control units.


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James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, and the Father of the Constitution, was born March 16, 1751, in the Tidewater area of Virginia.
Is it sinful that we do not celebrate his birthday with a federal holiday, fireworks, picnics and speeches and concerts?
Maybe you could fly your flag to day. If the neighbors ask why, tell them you're flying it for freedom on James Madison's birthday. They'll say, "Oh," and run off to Google Madison. You will have struck a blow for the education that undergirds democracy.
A few years ago I was asked to talk about freedom to a group of freedom lovers in North Texas. I chose to speak about James Madison's remarkable, and too-often unremarked-upon life. Later, when I started this blog, I posted it here, with an introduction. All of that is below, in honor of the birth of James Madison.
Did you know that Madison is the shortest man ever to have been president? His stature is measured in freedom, not in feet and inches.
(Originally a post on July 31, 2006)
I don't blame students when they tell me they "hate history." Heaven knows, they probably have been boringly taught boring stuff.
For example, history classes study the founding of the United States. Especially under the topical restrictions imposed by standardized testing, many kids will get a short-form version of history that leaves out some of the most interesting stuff.
Who could like that?
Worse, that sort of stuff does damage to the history and the people who made it, too.
James Madison gets short shrift in the current canon, in my opinion. Madison was the fourth president, sure, and many textbooks note his role in the convention at Philadelphia that wrote the Constitution in 1787. But I think Madison's larger career, especially his advocacy for freedom from 1776 to his death, is overlooked.
Madison was the "essential man" in the founding of the nation, in many ways. He was able to collaborate with people as few others could, in order to get things done, including his work with George Mason on the Virginia Bill of Rights, with George Washington on the Constitution and national government structure, Thomas Jefferson on the structure and preservation of freedom, Alexander Hamilton on the Constitution and national bank, and James Monroe on continuing the American Revolution.
We need to look harder at the methods and philosophy, and life, of James Madison. This is an opinion I've held for a long time. Below the fold I reproduce a "sermon" I delivered to the North Texas Church of Freethought in November 2001.
I have left this exactly as it was delivered, though I would change a few things today, especially emphasizing more the key role George Washington played in pushing Madison to get the Constitution — a view I came to courtesy of the Bill of Rights Insitute and their outstanding, week-long seminar, Shaping the Constitution: A View from Mount Vernon 1783-1789. The Bill of Rights Institute provides outstanding training for teachers, and this particular session, at Washington's home at Mount Vernon, Virginia, is well worth the time (check with the Institute to see whether it will be offered next year — and apply!). I am especially grateful to have had the opportunity to discuss these times and issues with outstanding scholars like Dr. Gordon Lloyd of Pepperdine University, Dr. Adam Tate of Morrow College, and Dr. Stuart Leibiger of LaSalle University, during my stay at Mount Vernon.
My presentation to the skeptics of North Texas centered around the theme of what a skeptic might give thanks for at Thanksgiving. (It is available on the web — a misspelling of my name in the program carried over to the web, which has provided me a source of amusement for several years.)
Here is the presentation:
Being Thankful For Religious Liberty
As Presented at the November, 2001 Sunday Service of The North Texas Church of Freethought
Historians rethink the past at least every generation, mining history for new insights or, at least, a new book. About the founders of this nation there has been a good deal of rethinking lately. David McCullough reminds us that John Adams really was a good guy, and that we shouldn't think of him simply as the Federalist foil to Thomas Jefferson's more democratic view of the world. Jefferson himself is greatly scrutinized, and perhaps out of favor — "American Sphinx," Joseph Ellis calls him. The science of DNA testing shows that perhaps Jefferson had more to be quiet about than even he confessed in his journals. While Jefferson himself questioned his own weakness in his not freeing his slaves in his lifetime, historians and fans of Jefferson's great writings wrestle with the likelihood of his relationship with one of his own slaves (the old Sally Hemings stories came back, and DNA indicates her children were fathered by a member of the Jefferson clan; some critics argue that Jefferson was a hypocrite, but that was Jefferson's own criticism of himself; defenders point out that the affair most likely was consensual, but could not be openly acknowledged in Virginia at that time). Hamilton's gift to America was a financial system capable of carrying a noble nation to great achievement, we are told – don't think of him simply as the fellow Aaron Burr killed in a duel. Washington is recast as one of the earliest guerrilla fighters, and in one book as a typical gentleman who couldn't control his expenses. Franklin becomes in recent books the "First American," the model after which we are all made, somehow.
Of the major figures of these founding eras, James Madison is left out of the rethinking, at least for now. There has been no major biography of Madison for a decade or more, not since Ralph Ketcham's book for the University of Virginia press. Madison has a role in Joseph Ellis's Founding Brothers, but he shares his spotlight with Hamilton and Jefferson. I think this is an oversight. As we enter into the first Thanksgiving season of the 21st century, we would do well to take a look back at Madison's life. Madison gives us a model of reason, and more important, a model of action coupled to reason. America's founding is often depicted as a time of great thunder — if not the thunder of the lightning Ben Franklin experimented with, an experiment he parlayed into worldwide respect for Americans, it is the thunder of the pronouncements of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, or of George Washington, just generally thundering through history.
The use of a bolt of lightning as a symbol for this group is inspired, I think. I'm a great fan of Mark Twain, and when I see that bolt of electricity depicted I think of Twain's observation:
"Thunder is good; thunder is impressive. But it is lightning that does the work."
Thunder at the founding is impressive; where was the lightning?
I'd like to point out two themes that run through Madison's life, or rather, two activities that we find him in time and again. Madison's life was marked by periods of reflection, followed by action as a result of that reflection.
We don't know a lot about Madison's youth. He was the oldest son of a wealthy Virginia planter, growing up in the Orange County area of Tidewater Virginia. We know he was boarded out for schooling with good teachers – usually clergymen, but occasionally to someone with expertise in a particular subject – and we know that he won admission to Princeton to study under the Rev. John Witherspoon, a recent Presbyterian transplant from across the Atlantic. Madison broke with tradition a bit in attending an American rather than an English school. And after completing his course of study he remained at Princeton for another year to study theology directly under Witherspoon, with an eye toward becoming a preacher.
Witherspoon is often held up as an example of how religion influenced the founders, but he was much more of a rationalist than some would have us believe. He persuaded the young Madison that a career in law and politics would be a great service to the people of Virginia and America, and might be a higher calling. After a year of this reflection, Madison returned to Virginia and won election to local government.
In his role as a county official Madison traveled the area. He inspected the works of government, including the jails. He was surprised to find in jail in Virginia people accused of — gasp! — practicing adult baptism. In fact Baptists and Presbyterians were jailed on occasion, because the Anglican church was the state church of Virginia, and their practicing their faith was against the common law. This troubled Madison greatly, and it directed an important part of his work for the rest of his life. In January of 1774, Madison wrote about it to another prominent Virginian, William Bradford:
"Poverty and Luxury prevail among all sorts: Pride ignorance and Knavery among the Priesthood and Vice and Wickedness among the Laity. This is bad enough. But it is not the worst I have to tell you. That diabolical Hell conceived principle of persecution rages among some and to their eternal infamy the Clergy can furnish their Quota of Imps for such business. This vexes me the most of any thing whatever. There are at this time in the adjacent County not less than 5 or 6 well meaning men in close Gaol for publishing their religious Sentiments which in the main are very orthodox. I have neither patience to hear talk or think of any thing relative to this matter, for I have squabbled and scolded abused and ridiculed so long about it, to so little purpose that I am without common patience. So I leave you to pity me and pray for Liberty of Conscience to revive among us."
By April, Madison's views on the matter had been boiled down to the essences, and he wrote Bradford again more bluntly:
"Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise."
Madison must have done a fine job at his county duties, whatever they were, because in 1776 when Virginia was organizing its government to survive hostilities with England, Madison was elected to the legislative body.
Madison was 25, and still raw in Virginia politics. He was appointed to the committee headed by George Mason to review the laws and charter of the colony. Another who would serve on this committee when he was back from Philadelphia was Thomas Jefferson. George Mason was already a giant in Virginia politics, and by the time Madison got to Williamsburg, Mason had already completed much of the work on a bill of rights to undergird the new Virginia government. Madison noted that freedom of religion was not among the rights enumerated in Mason's version — but it was too late, Mason said. The work was done.
Madison quietly went to work on Mason, in committee, over dinner, during social occasions — noting the great injustice of jailing people solely because of their beliefs, and urging to Mason that it did Virginia no good to keep these fathers from providing for their families.
Mason ultimately agreed to accept the amendment.
The pattern was set.
Perhaps a better example of this reflection and action cycle occurred nearly a decade later. By 1785 the war was over, independence was won, but the business of government continued. While serving as governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson had drafted about 150 proposals for laws, really a blueprint for a free government. About half of these proposals had been passed into law. By 1785, Jefferson was away from Virginia, representing the Confederation of colonies in Paris. Jefferson had provided several laws to disestablish religion in Virginia, and to separate out the functions of church and state. With Jefferson gone, however, his old nemesis Patrick Henry sought to roll back some of that work. Henry proposed to bring back state support for the clergy, for the stated purpose of promoting education. (Yes, this is the same battle we fight today for church and state separation.) After Jefferson's troubled term as governor, Virginia turned again to Henry – Henry ultimately served six terms as governor. His proposal was set for a quick approval in the Virginia assembly. It was late in the term, and everyone wanted to get home.
Henry was, of course, a thundering orator of great note. Madison was a small man with a nervous speaking style, but a man who knew the issues better than anyone else in almost any room he could be in. Madison came up with an interesting proposal. Picking the religion for the state was serious stuff, he said. A state doesn't want to pick the wrong religion, and get stuck with the wrong god, surely – and such weighty matters deserve widespread support and discussion, Madison said. His motion to delay Henry's bill until the next session, in order to let the public know and approve, was agreed to handily.
You probably know the rest of this story. With a year for the state to reflect on the idea, Madison wrote up a petition on the issue, which he called a "Memorial and Remonstrance." In the petition he laid out 15 reasons why separation of church and state was a superior form of government, concluding that in the previous 1,500 years, every marriage of church and state produced a lazy and corrupt church, and despotic government. Madison's petition circulated everywhere, and away from Patrick Henry's thundering orations, the people of Virginia chose Madison's cool reason.
When the legislature reconvened in 1786, it rejected Henry's proposal. But Madison's petition had been so persuasive, the legislature also brought up a proposal Thomas Jefferson had made six years earlier, and passed into law the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom.
This was a great victory for Madison, and for Virginia. He celebrated by convening a convention to settle disputes between Virginia and Maryland about navigation on the Chesapeake Bay. Having reflected on the nature of this issue — a dispute between colonies — Madison had sought advice from others having the same problems, such as New York and New Jersey. In that effort he got the support of a New Yorker working on the same problems, Alexander Hamilton. In the course of these discussions Madison thought it clear that the difficulty lay with the form of government that bound the colonies together under the Articles of Confederation. Hamilton agreed, and they got their respective states and conferences to agree to meet in Philadelphia in 1787 to try to fix those problems. [Since I first wrote this, I've learned that it was George Washington's desire to get a federal government, to facilitate the settling of the Ohio River Valley where Washington had several thousands of acres to sell, that prompted him to push Madison into the Annapolis Convention, and who made the introduction between Madison and Washington's old aide and friend, Alexander Hamilton; Madison's work with Washington runs much deeper than I orignally saw.]
Amending the Articles of Confederation was a doomed effort, many thought. The colonies would go their separate ways, no longer bound by the need to hang together against the Parliament of England. Perhaps George Washington could have got a council together to propose a new system, but Washington had stayed out of these debates. Washington's model for action was the Roman general Cincinnatus, who went from his plow to lead the Romans to victory, then returned to his farm, and finding his plow where he had left it, took it up again.
Madison invited Washington, and persuaded Washington to attend. Washington was elected president of the convention, and in retrospect that election guaranteed that whatever the convention produced, the colonies would pay attention to it.
You know that history, too. The convention quickly decided the Articles of Confederation were beyond repair. Instead, they wrote a new charter for a new form of government. The charter was based in part on Jefferson's Virginia Plan, with lots of modifications. Because the Constitution resembles so much the blueprint that Jefferson had written, and because Jefferson was a great founder, many Americans believe Jefferson was a guiding light at that Philadelphia convention. It's often good to reflect that Jefferson was in Paris the entire time. While America remembers the thunder of Washington's presiding, Franklin's timely contributions and Jefferson's ideas, it was Madison who did the heavy lifting, who got Washington and Franklin to attend the meeting Madison had set up, and got Jefferson's ideas presented and explained.
It was Madison who decided, in late August of 1787, that the convention could not hang together long enough to create a bill of rights, and instead got approval for the basic framework of the U.S. government. In Virginia a few months later, while Patrick Henry thundered against what he described as a power grab by a new government, it was Madison who assembled the coalitions that got the Constitution ratified by the Virginia ratifying convention. And when even Jefferson complained that a constitution was dangerous without a bill of rights, it was Madison who first calmed Jefferson, then promised that one of the first actions of the new government would be a bill of rights. He delivered on that promise as a Member of the House of Representatives in 1789.
It is difficult to appreciate just how deeply insinuated into the creation of America was James Madison. In big ways and small, he made America work. He took the lofty ideas of Jefferson, and made them into laws that are still on the books, unamended and unedited, more than 200 years later.
When the ratification battle was won, when Madison had won election to the House over Patrick Henry's strong objection, partly by befriending the man Henry had picked to defeat Madison, James Monroe, Madison could have savored the moment and been assured a place in history.
That's not what a lightning bolt does. Journeying to New York for the opening of the First Congress and the inauguration of Washington as president, Madison stopped off at Mount Vernon to visit with Washington, apparently at Washington's request. In what was a few hours, really, Madison wrote Washington's inaugural address. While there at Mount Vernon, Madison stumbled into a discussion by several others on their way to New York, wondering what high honorific to apply to the new president. "Excellency" was winning out over "Your highness," until Washington turned to Madison for an opinion. Madison said the president should be called, simply, "Mr. President." We still do.
Once in New York, Madison saw to the organizing of the Congress, then to the organizing of the inauguration. And upon hearing Washington's inauguration address — which Madison had ghosted, remember — Congress appointed Madison to write the official Congressional response.
Years later, in Washington, Madison engineered the candidacy of Thomas Jefferson for president, and after Jefferson was elected, Madison had the dubious honor as Secretary of State of lending his name to the Supreme Court case that established the Supreme Court as the arbiter of what is Constitutional under our scheme of government, in Marbury v. Madison.
Wherever there was action needed to make this government work, it seemed, there was James Madison providing the spark.
James Madison was the lightning behind the thunder of the founding of America. We should be grateful that he lived when he did, where he did, for we all share the fruits of the freedoms he worked to obtain. And in this Thanksgiving season, let us look for appropriate ways to honor his work.
The Madisonian model of thoughtful reflection leading to action is one that is solidly established in psychological research. It is the model for leadership taught in business schools and military academies.
I would compare religious liberty to a mighty oak tree, under which we might seek shade on a hot summer day, from which we might draw wood for our fires to warm us in winter, or lumber to build great and strong buildings. That big oak we enjoy began its life long before ours. We enjoy its shade because someone earlier planted the seed. We enjoy our freedoms today because of men like James Madison.
How do we give thanks? As we pass around the turkey to our family, our friends, we would do well to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy, and how we got them.
Finally, remembering that someone had to plant those seeds, we need to ask: What seeds must we plant now for those who will come after us? We can demonstrate our being grateful for the actions of those who came before us by giving to those who come after us, something more to be grateful for. A life like Madison's is a rarity. Improving on the freedoms he gave us might be difficult. Preserving those freedoms seems to me a solemn duty, however. Speaking out to defend those freedoms is an almost-tangible way to thank James Madison, and as fate would have it, there is plenty of material to speak out about. A postcard to your senators and representative giving your reasoned views on the re- introduction of the Istook Amendment might be timely now – with America's attention turned overseas for a moment, people have adopted Patrick Henry's tactic of trying to undo religious freedom during the distraction. I have had a lot of fun, and done some good I hope, in our local school system by asking our sons' science and biology teachers what they plan to teach about evolution. Whatever they nervously answer — and they always nervously answer that question — I tell them that I want them to cover the topic fully and completely, and if they have any opposition to that I would be pleased to lend my name to a suit demanding it be done. We might take a moment of reflection to ponder our views about a proposed Texas "moment of silence" bill to be introduced, and then let our state representatives have our thoughts on the issue.
Do you need inspiration? Turn to James Madison's writings. In laying out his 15-point defense of religious freedom in 1785, Madison wrote that separation of church and state is essential to our form of government:
"The preservation of a free Government requires not merely, that the metes and bounds which separate each department of power be invariably maintained; but more especially that neither of them be suffered to overleap the great Barrier which defends the rights of the people."
How can we express our gratitude for such a foundation for religious liberty? Let loose a few lightning bolts, in remembrance of Madison.
Copyright © 2001 and 2006 by Ed Darrell. You may reproduce with attribution. Links added in May 2013.


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arthurian, edvard munsch, m night shymalan, medieval, merlin, TV
Morgana's dreams are getting worse again. Unsympathetic spectators might hazard that her unquiet slumbers have something to do with her invariable habit of going to bed fully dressed in fetching yet surely inconvenient medieval gowns. Look at Arthur, they might say. He enjoys a healthy and normal relationship with his bed – we see him in it very often – and he is punctilious about removing unnecessary garments before attempting sleep, including the bedcovers on occasion. These spectators would have missed the operating principles upon which much of Merlin takes place. But no matter.
Overdressed or not, things get a bit pyrotechnic in Morgana's bedroom[1], and Gaius can no longer pretend she doesn't have magical powers. In private, at least. In public he's still denying there's such a thing as magic. Despite his best efforts, Uther goes off on one about sorcery again, and orders a roundup of suspected wizardy types. Merlin decides this is his big chance to help (scrubbing leech tanks doesn't count as socially productive labour apparently, peculiar sense of priorities this lad displays) and persuades her to seek out the Druids, with whom she'll feel more at home. Finding where the Druids call home in order that Morgana may feel at home there requires him to descend once again to consult the dragon, that giant scaly conglomeration of "Oh, what now?" so ably voiced by John Hurt. Off she sets into the forest, with what is either a very brief nod to The Village or a pretty run-of-the-mill Red Riding Hood reference.
Whichever the director may be gesturing towards is irrelevant, since neither of those stories involved giant scorpions to my knowledge, but then I haven't read my Angela Carter recently. The scorpions start playing tag with Morgana, and she very selfishly decides that, having been tagged, she would rather have a nice quiet lie-down and a faint than chase them round the forest in her turn, and she is rescued by one of the druids. (Earth-religion types have such an advantage in medieval fantasy – the whole eco-woo thing looks so much less wimpy and macrobiotic when it involves being able to order around hypertrophied exo-skellingtons with massive poison-dripping stings. Commanding an army of a million yoghurt-dwelling bacteria, which are actually, like, totally natural and not as bad for you as Western medicine, which can only, like "cure" you or whatever, is only really going to have an impact if you're up against a vast but dramatically lactose-intolerant horde of barbarians.)
The possible Shyamalan influence from The Village disappears abruptly, as well it might when the director reflects he doesn't want recappers everywhere to be able to refer to the Druids as "the Village people" and we slide more into The Omen, with the arrival of a creepy magic-wielding child you may recall from earlier seasons. Yes, Mordered is back, and when Uther's soldiers turn up, convinced that Morgana has in fact been kidnapped by Druids, he rather spoils the lid everyone's been trying to keep on magic and the fact that it is a thing. Surrounded by the mailed retainers in question, Mordred gives a lively impersonation of Munsch's The Scream, only with full soundtrack, blowing the soldiers off their feet. Nevertheless, Morgana is returned to Camelot and the natural condition of that particular castle (the kind of collective denial which must keep Camelot's analysts in absolute clover) is re-established. A rather pedestrian episode, in many ways, but the hints at a Princess Bride aesthetic during some of the outdoor scenes of soldiers chasing people are worth noticing – they may well come into their own in later episodes…
[1] I've just reread this sentence, but I think changing it would be tantamount to caving in to the repulsive minds you all have, so consider my leaving it as I first wrote it a rebuke to the lot of you.


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Okay, so I've been a bit lazy of late. I blame it all on LOST, truly. It's not all LOST's fault, but I'm blaming all of it on the show anyway. 😀
Mags and I have been rewatching the past seasons, we're about halfway through season 2 now, and it's "brother" everything around here right now. "Are you going to school, brother? Don't forget your backpack, brother. Do you have Math Bowl after school, brother? Or cheerleading, brother?" Meh, she rolls her eyes at me and says, "Mom, stop it." but I know she loves it. I know she laughs as soon as she leaves and is just too cool to give a chuckle in my presence.
We're also almost done with Stargate SG-1, and working our way through Atlantis as they were televised concurrently. LOST and Stargate, it's all their fault. Seriously, though, I'm loving Stargate Atlantis so much more than SG-1 right now for two reasons: 1) The Ori really suck as bad guys, honestly. The Goa'uld were such better baddies… not to mention beatable. I just don't see us kicking much Ori butt and it's a bit depressing. and Atlantis have Wraiths to fight (and now we're getting the Pegasus Galaxy's version of the Replicators… meh). Wraiths are creepy/cool/bad/ugly-but-beautiful aliens who suck the life from their victims with "mouths" in their palms. The SECOND reason that Atlantis is better than SG-1 (at least the last two or three seasons of the show) is:
Ronan Dex
OMG… Faint! He's soo HAWT! He's played by Jason Momoa, who's okay, but I totally have a character crush. He fiercely guards his friends (even McKay, lol), loves deep, and has honor and integrity I wish could be found in more people. AGAIN… lol… Maggie rolls her eyes a LOT when we watch Atlantis. She really hates it when I lick the TV screen.
*Sigh* have to wait until the mail comes tomorrow for more Atlantis.
Which is some of the other things that has been capturing my interests, btw. There's fairly good evidence that the "Lost City of Atlantis" was actually Minoa, which experienced severe destruction after being repeatedly swept over by wave after wave of a powerfuls tsunami when the iland volcano that is now Santorini in the Agean sea suffered a mega eruption 10 times that of Krakatoa which blew out it's cauldera. 80-90% death toll, and whoever was left were slaughtered in the invasion of the Peloponnese Greeks, who were possible the only major empire in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to have remained unaffected by the disaster. Cool, eh?
Then there's the whole science of "free energy" that I've been studying up on. The Hutchison effect has got to be one of the most bizarre phenomena I've ever seen. Through the manipulation of energy, they're able to transmute substances into unknown elements, levitate objects, and even cause a sudden and instantaneous death on the cellular level. It's totally weird and completely real. It's quite possible that we could see the elimination of need for fossil fuels, except for two things… DOLLARS and EGOS. DOLLARS, because energy barrons are NOT going to allow any kind of invention that would allow us to go off-grid. Simply put, "If I can't slap a meter on it, then I won't fund it" as J. P. Morgan told Tesla. As to EGOS, well… The mainstream, "accepted" scientific experts have ranted a lifetime against the idea that energy could be free (because they're paid by BARRONS to "research" such claims) and if such a shift were to occur in our understanding, then they'd have to admit they're wrong. OMIGOD! Nooooz! The universe would implode from the sudden intake of breath!
Then of course there's the whole Paradox of Choice that will keep us bound to environment-polluting, resource-sucking fossil fuels. Basically, if it requires making a decision in our modern world full of 175 different salad dressings and over 200 choices of breakfast cereal, we become paralyzed and, instead of making an informed decision, we opt for inaction.
Then I realized this morning that I'd totally missed the PUSH deadline. Crap. LOL… So I'll be getting the entries compiled and getting a winner picked quickly. So you get an extended chance to enter. I have a review of Tainted by Brooke Morgan to post tomorrow, so I'll get the winner picked for Thursday then. I've been such a slacker!
I think part of my problem has been that I was pushing myself too much and it sucked all the fun out of everything. I think I'd rather enjoy the books I'm reading than "get them done". Okay… back to finish Tainted now 🙂
Filed under: Random | Tagged: Atlantis, Barrons, Brooke Morgan, brotha, brother, casimir effect, cauldera, Desmond, Dude, free energy, Goa'uld, Greeks, Hurley, Hutchison effect, Jason Mamoa, levitation, LOST, lost city of atlantis, McKay, Minoa, Ori, Push Giveaway, Ronan Dex, science, SG-1, Stargate, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1, Tainted, Tesla, transmutation, tsunami, volcano, Wraith, Zero Point Energy | 5 Comments »


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Posts Tagged approved for custody transfer
Siemens SITRANS FC430 Coriolis Flowmeter Now NTEP-Approved for Custody Transfer
Posted by danstips in Flow, Flowmeters, Siemens on May 2, 2016
Custody transfer flow meters are used to determine how much of a commodity changes hands in exchange for some monetary, financial or other recognized trade consideration.
All custody transfer applications involve at least one buyer and one seller. During custody transfer, accuracy is of great importance to both the company delivering the material and the recipient.
In order to ensure reliable and accurate measurement, devices are certified for custody transfer by a nationally recognized body. For Coriolis flow sensors, custody transfer approvals are mandated by the US National Conference on Weights and Measures office.


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Epsylon - The Guardians of Xendron takes the player on a journey to a futuristic world investigating a very special Science-Fiction setup. With a team of rather different characters the player investigates, and if required fights, his way through a large case. How you solve the case is though up to you. Combine the strength of your team members is important as no team member alone can crack the case alone.
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.
Sean is tired after the long weekend guarding the booth.


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Just a few additional blood donors at remaining blood drives could boost supply
OSHKOSH, Wis. (July 24, 2012) – With extreme heat keeping some donors at home and severe storms forcing the cancellation of dozens of blood drives earlier in the month, the American Red Cross continues to have an emergency need for donors of all blood types. If at least two additional donors give at each blood drive through the end of July – above what the American Red Cross already expects to collect – the blood supply would be sufficient to meet patient needs.
Red Cross blood donations are at the lowest they have been in 15 years. Public support from the organization's late-June appeal helped temporarily stop a decline in the blood supply. However, the mid-week Independence Day and extreme summer weather have contributed to a decrease in donations lately.
"We cannot thank enough the blood donors who have already rolled up a sleeve this summer," said Greg Novinska, CEO of the Badger-Hawkeye Blood Services Region. "We appreciate the support from donors in Wisconsin, and we're encouraging all eligible donors who didn't have a chance to give yet to step up and help patients by making an appointment, as well as those who gave earlier in the spring and are now again eligible."
Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. As the nation's single largest supplier of blood and blood products, the Red Cross is dedicated to ensuring that every patient who needs a lifesaving transfusion is able to receive one. In fact, the Red Cross must collect more than 17,000 pints of blood each day to meet the needs of patients at more than 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.
All blood types are needed to ensure an adequate blood supply. Donors with type O negative, O positive, A negative or B negative blood are especially encouraged to give this summer.
Upcoming Blood Donation Opportunities
7/27/2012, 11:00 am- 4:00 pm, Regional Red Cross Chapter Office, 515 S Washburn St, Oshkosh
How to Donate Blood
Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
Filed under: Giving Blood | Tagged: American Red Cross, Blood, Donate, Greg Novinska, Oshkosh |


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We, at Adventure Rocks, are the esteemed Indoor Play Fun Station Manufacturers in Himachal Pradesh. We offer a wide and comprehensive range of kids indoor Play fun stations.These playstations suffice the need of play areas for children. Playing regularly helps bring the all round growth and development of children. Known to offer these quality multiplay stations in different colours and sizes, we occupy the position of leading manufacturers and suppliers of multiplay stations in Himachal Pradesh. These are designed keeping in mind the varying interests and numerous likes of the children. We offer these multiplay stations for their children at affordable market prices. These qualities ensure to make us the leading multiplay stations manufacturers in Himachal Pradesh.
With the aim of providing the best playstations to our customers for their children, we ensure to formulate and design these stations from supreme quality raw materials. This supremacy makes us the best Kids Fun Station Suppliers in Himachal Pradesh, India. Our indoor playstations are high in strength, being made from good quality raw materials and hence are very efficient when used by kids for their play. With the team of trained and highly experienced professionals and technologically advanced machinery for making these quality multiplay stations.


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1 in 7 Female Students Victims of Sexual, Physical Abuse on College Campus
One in seven female students are victims of serious sexual assault or serious physical violence while attending college, a new study reveals.
The number of female university students sexually assaulted, stalked or sexually harassed shocked researchers in the study released Wednesday by the National Union of Students.
"This report is a wake-up call," said Olivia Bailey, an officer of the NUS.
"The picture that we have revealed is disturbing. We must act now to break the silence: violence against women students is widespread and serious."
The number of sexual crimes happening on college campuses continues to increase while the assaults creep under the radar of many reports on the issue. According to the new study, 68 percent of female college students interviewed have been subject to verbal or physical sexual harassment and nearly one in four experienced unwanted sexual contact.
Statistics show that very few students reported their experiences, either to their institution or to the police. In the category of serious sexual assault, only 10 percent reported it to the police, and more than four in 10 told no one about the attack.
"We decided to undertake this research because women aged 16–24 have a higher risk of experiencing domestic violence," said Bailey. "But there appeared to be little awareness of this amongst students."
According to NUS' "Hidden Marks" survey, more than 50 percent of the students interviewed did not report the assault to the police because they felt ashamed or embarrassed, and 43 percent because they thought they would be blamed for what happened.
"Women students can be left feeling like they are to blame for the violence committed against them. Clearly, not enough is being done to encourage women students to report all instances of assault or harassment to their institutions or to the police," Bailey said.
Sandra Horley, CEO of the National Domestic Violence Charity Refuge, said the new report deeply saddened her to hear that so many women students are experiencing violence and harassment during the course of their studies, and that so very few feel able to report the crimes against them.
"It is vital that universities create an environment where women feel confident to speak out against abuse," Horley said.
"Women students need to know where they can seek help, and must feel sure that their reports will be taken seriously. Women have the right to enjoy university life, focus on their studies and plan for their futures, without fear of intimidation of violence."
Did you know?
- Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted.
- Someone known to the victim commits approximately two thirds of assaults.
- 15 out of 16 rapists will never spend a day in jail.
- 38 percent of rapists are a friend or acquaintance.
The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network suggests that while you can never completely protect yourself from sexual assault, there are some things you can do to help reduce your risk of being assaulted.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Knowing where you are and who is around you may help you to find a way to get out of a bad situation.
- Try to avoid isolated areas. It is more difficult to get help if no one is around.
- Walk with purpose. Even if you don't know where you are going, act like you do.
- Trust your instincts. If a situation or location feels unsafe or uncomfortable, it probably isn't the best place to be.
- Try not to load yourself down with packages or bags as this can make you appear more vulnerable.
- Make sure your cell phone is with you and charged and that you have cab money.
- Don't allow yourself to be isolated with someone you don't trust or someone you don't know.
- Avoid putting music headphones in both ears so that you can be more aware of your surroundings, especially if you are walking alone.


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He was a lover of street prostitutes;
not the sable-wrapped uptown girls
who sold their tight-toned wares retail,
but rather those working-class girls
perfumed by the sweat of their labors;
standing beneath broken streetlights at 2 a.m.,
in cheap, colorful makeup and Wal-mart lingerie,
with asses bubbling back and flaccid breasts;
those colorful painted whores of the night.
In his youth, he had been scorched by the beautiful
and he would never again have the fevered yearning
of lying with flesh more pliant and comely.
Street-walkers fed his pathos and filled his inner void.
They would let him kiss them on the mouth,
and wouldn't complain when he couldn't get hard
because of too much beer and whiskey.
They'd always wait patiently, filing their nails
and filling the silence with meaning-less chatter.
If he couldn't function, they didn't condemn him,
but would play with themselves upon request
so at least the failing of the hour felt sexy.
Most of all, they didn't lie.
They wouldn't tell him what a great lover he was
or offer up false platitudes on his endowment;
They used their real names and would share their coke
for an extra five, and he would pour them shots.
Sometimes, he would write beautiful sonnets for them
and they would be genuinely moved to tears.
If the sex was lousy, they took it in stride and didn't bitch.
They didn't conspicuously spit into folded Kleenex
or stuff their mouths with wads of spearmint gum
after he had come, just to lose the taste of him.
Rather, they swallowed because they, too, didn't care
if they got one more filthy, fucking disease.
They were like him; defeated and empty,
just grateful not to be judged and discarded
like yesterday's rotten fruit.
The Poet and His Prostitutes
He was a lover of street prostitutes;


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Marcus Metzner
Head, Marketing Services & Communications
arvato Systems
Prior to joining arvato systems in 2011, Marcus was responsible for marketing & communications at broadcast software specialist S4M – Solutions for Media, one of arvato systems' subsidiaries – for nearly 10 years. Before this he was Head of Editorial Staff at different TV production companies, working for all major German broadcasters.
Marcus is a trained journalist, graduate of the Ruhr University Bochum and holds an MA degree in Film and TV Studies as well as German and English Literature and Language.
With arvato systems Marcus Metzner is responsible for marketing services & communications for the whole of arvato systems


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Presidential visit for Pittsford native
Not everyone would rejoice at having to spend the holidays in a hospital room, but the family of Pittsford native U.S. Army Spc. Kevin Mowl say Mowl's room is the perfect place to heal — together.
Friends and family of Mowl gathered last week to celebrate Christmas at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where Mowl even received a special visit from President Bush Dec. 19. Bush visited with the Mowl family and took part in a Purple Heart ceremony, pinning the medal to Mowl's gown and presenting him with a presidential medallion.
"I truly appreciated the time President Bush spent with us," said Mowl's sister, Carlene, in an e-mail. "It was a big honor for Kevin to be acknowledged in this way."
The last couple weeks have held other good news for the family. On Dec. 24, Mowl was able to perform full-body stretches, a first since his admittance into the hospital. Doctors also recently told Mowl that he's close to leaving the intensive care unit for the surgical ward. After more than 20 weeks in the ICU, family members say the move would be a "big step" for the gravely injured soldier.
On Aug. 2, Mowl and his Stryker Battalion were on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq, when Mowl's vehicle was hit by an improvised bomb. It contained 150 pounds of explosives and was hidden in a storm drain.
Along with Mowl, 11 other soldiers and an interpreter were injured. Three soldiers were killed. Mowl suffered a brain injury and multiple fractures in the explosion.
After numerous surgeries and constant monitoring, Mowl, 22, is now waiting to move to a more-spacious room, big enough so his family can more comfortably gather around him.
"We're thrilled," Carlene Mowl said. "From what we've heard from the doctors, patients improve quicker when they're out of the ICU."
Carlene Mowl added that since patients staying in ICU are kept in such a false environment — with no sunlight and constant visits from hospital staff — it's hard for many patients to move along quickly in their mental and physical healing.
An extra bonus is the change in visitor rules. Kevin Mowl can now have more than two people at a time in his room.
"Kevin ... is one hell of a fighter," said Kevin's father, Harold, in an e-mail. "Despite the fact that his injuries from the blast are debilitating, and he has suffered many complications, his recovery continues to be a remarkable one because of the person he is. With him in a regular hospital room, we can welcome more visitors who I am sure will give him the moral boost that he needs to get better more quickly."
Mowl attended Pittsford schools until 11th grade and graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy near Philadelphia. He served in Iraq for a little more than a year as part of the Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team based in Fort Lewis, Wash.
While Mowl's move would be a big occasion for the family, the last few months have had other memorable moments. On Oct. 23, Mowl was presented with the Purple Heart, the military's oldest decoration. He received it from Commander Steve Townsend, who led Mowl's 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. One day later, Mowl and his family celebrated his 22nd birthday.
For weekly updates on Kevin and the Mowl family, visit caringbridge.org/visit/kevinmowl.
Brighton-Pittsford Post