text:
"Do you want to walk the trail with me?" I asked my dear friend.
I wanted to hold her hand and skip down the lane. Could my heart contain the happiness inside? Or would it burst from joy? I hadn't seen my dear friend in over 20 years. We'd moved to Spokane, Washington, in my mid 20s with the air force. We bought a home in the country and immediately formed a tight bond with a farming community. My friend, a farmer's wife, welcomed me into her home, church, heart. We loved each other like sisters from the start and only had a short time together before we returned to Texas.
She and her family came to Texas to vacation last week (I want to think I influenced her a bit), and they spent New Year's Eve with us.
We headed to the back property, released the sheep, and made our way around the trail. I couldn't take the smile off my face, the definition of happy.
"Is that a mailbox?" my friend asked. "What's that doing out here?"
It's an acceptable question that I find myself explaining to everyone. We didn't want to leave it behind, so we brought it with us when we moved. It was a truck, but it began to deteriorate over time, so we took off parts here and there, keeping the bare necessity. Now, it looks like a set of bulging yellow eyes staring at you. It's planted right across from the swing.
"We write letters to each other … or at least, we used to. Like love notes. Now, it mostly holds used popsicle sticks, spider webs."
The red flag stood tall. My husband pulled the handle down, revealing mail. Mail? Mail!
Three letters. One was addressed to: Mom (that's me)
I opened it … from my Katelyn.
I teared up a tiny bit. I read it out loud to my friend, unable to share it fast enough. It was just one of those proud mama moments … raw, tender … for someone else to see the love your child really does have for you as a parent. Three paragraphs, three points, that pave the way for my 2017. And I'll be glad to loan them to you, too.
1. Apologize
To Mom:
I love you, Mom. Sorry for acting horrible when you guys want to watch something. I don't know what's got me agitated recently …
2. Encourage
Mom, you need to keep writing. You are great at that (and everything else. You are the best mother someone could ask for). I love all the books you write.
3. Love
You are the best thing anyone could ask for. Keep doing what you're doing. I love you so, so much.
That's my Katelyn. She doesn't like watching TV much, she reads everything I write, and when she loves, she really loves.
I gave her a big hug when I got inside. "Katelyn, I loved my letter. When did you write it?"
"Six weeks ago." She chuckled. "I thought you'd never find it."
It took me six weeks to discover her love, her voice, her heart …
That's not acceptable. But what beautiful timing. God-timing.
Father, take me down your path … the path … for me … for this 2017. Let me apologize more, encourage more, and love more. Keep my eyes open. Don't let me miss opportunities. Don't let me deteriorate. Father …
I want to go where you go.
|Karalee (kid lover), me (Word lover), and Katelyn (animal lover) from earlier in the year
And y'all, life has been so crazy that I wasn't sure I'd get a blog post written. I'd cherish your continued prayers for a close family member. And … Katelyn gave me her permission to use the letter. *Grin*
What other ingredients can you add for a happy new year?


text:
- (-) Remove Yong, Sue filter Yong, Sue
1 publications found
An Asian Perspective and the New Zealand Treasury Living Standards Framework (DP 18/10)3 Sep 2018Author:Corporate author: Auckland University of Technology
Use the filtering options to narrow your search for publications. See Publications for information about the categories of publications, and the types of publications grouped under each of them. Individual authors are only identified for selected publication types in the Research/commentary and Speeches categories.
The key word search searches the descriptive information about publications; it is not a search of the full text of publications. Use the sitewide search for a full text search.
The Treasury
1 The Terrace, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
PO Box 3724, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 472 2733

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Why do people do things to their pets that are just so WRONG?
Like putting them in clothes when it's not cold & they have plenty of fur.
Or as I witnessed today, blow air up their bum. Yes, I said blow (air) up their ass.
I have a friend that craves attention from her dog and when he straight up ignores her as if she didn't exist, she sneaks up behind him and blows like she's making a birthday wish up his unsuspecting posterior.
And the part that confuses me even more than her actions, is her reaction to his reaction.
Picture this, you watch as she blows hot air up her pet's "rear exit" and it barks and then tries to bite the *bleep* out of her.
How did she expect him to react?
I told her, "I can't blame him for wanting to take a chunk out of you as if he were Mike Tyson & you were Holyfield knocking the poop out of him."
She didn't see where I was coming from, so I said, "How would you like it if someone blew up your cute ass?"
She paused.
"Think about it. Unless you get off on that kind of thing, chances are you're not gonna like having your taint air dried." I said.
To which she replied, "How would you know Stephen?"
I stared blankly at her for a few seconds.
Eventually I felt a smirk grow on my face as an idea found its way into my head, and I asked her, "Why don't we find out? Why don't I blow air up your ass & you tell me if you don't feel like biting, slapping or cussing me out?"
We burst out laughing.
After catching her breath, she said, "What makes you think I'd want you to blow up my ass?"
And I said nothing. I just shook my head & smiled at her.
I have to wonder what other weird thing people do to their pets for kicks… Or to their significant others. But I won't open that can of worms.
"To the blower-uppers." –Marty Kaan (House of Lies)
Side Note:
I just finished watching "House of Lies" season 1. Fantastic show, cast & writing. Each character is such a "magnificent bastard" (a term normally reserved for Lionel Luthor from Smallville), whom I love & hate at the same time because they do such horrible things so well and hilariously. Can't wait for season 2… In 2013!? Sigh.
Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.


text:
Category: Uncategorized
Baseball's image now? Super
During the latter stages of my Magazine Period — hey, Picasso had his Blue Period; my career has had Newspaper, Magazine and Dot.Com Periods — I merged into the press junket for a glitzy football movie.
Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday" didn't become a mega hit, but it wasn't for lack of star power. Al Pacino, James Woods, Ann-Margret, Cameron Diaz, LL Cool J. Jim Brown (yeah, that one) and Lawrence Taylor. A driving, hip-hop soundtrack.
As I sat around tables rubbing elbows with the glitterati, the lifelong baseball fan in me would come out in one recurring envious impression: "Man, these people are kicking back and talking football, and are about to ingrain it deeper into American culture with the big-screen treatment."
It was 1999. McGwire-Sosa notwithstanding, baseball was still in its post-1994 strike funk. The game hadn't changed, but perception of it certainly had. Bland, stodgy, arcane, languid, out-of-touch, obsolete — everything football, as seen through the lenses of "Any Given Sunday," wasn't.
NFL was Dr. Dre. MLB was Lawrence Welk.
And I remember thinking, "Baseball would kill to have an image like this." I believe I even used that line in my published review of the movie.
Well, no body has ever been found. But the makeover was swift and dramatic and in 2016, baseball is firm on the cutting edges of sport and technology — hip, global, social, 24/7, accessible, urban AND urbane.
The plot to reclaim America began with the advent of MLB.com in 2001 — only two years after "Any Given Sunday" was pulling cultural rank.
Bud Selig, Bob Bowman, Dinn Mann, all 30 club owners brilliantly masterminded the caper … and I, along with all the charter staffers of MLB.com, were accessories to the crime.
Guilty, as charged.
The Crossover Column: A bit of Baseball …
… A lot of something else …
- Their most outrageous gambit yet.
Neal Huntington gets 'em. Ray Searage fixes 'em.
They signed a pitcher with a broken arm (okay, it was the right arm and he is a lefty, but still …) and have gotten 35 wins out of Francisco Liriano. They brought back A.J. Burnett after he led the world in losses and turned him into a first-time All-Star. They dealt for a reliever with 6.20 ERA and turned him into a 51-save closer.
Now they've gone so unconventional, the GM should launch his own fast-food franchise and call it Neal out of the Box.
They've essentially swapped Neil Walker and Charlie Morton, who was 9-9 with a 1.38 WHIP, for Jonathan Niese, who was 9-10 with a 1.40 WHIP. Ryan Vogelsong is this year's boomerang Buccos righty, trying to pull a Burnett. The 40-man teems with projects.
Jim Benedict had always gotten a lot of the credit for past pitching makeovers. But he is now the Marlins' vice president for pitching development, so we'll find out if Searage is the real Dr. Frankenstein. …
- I think record labels should distribute free turntables to stimulate sales of their LPs — the early cell phone model, when all the profits were in usage (35 cents a minute?!). Have you seen the price of vinyl? …
- Gotta assume Bill Mazeroski doesn't share the problem most of us have with writing a new year on our checks; the one-and-only finished his career with 2,016 hits. …
- Market analysts are always pointing out that vinyl is "enjoying" a revival. No one is enjoying it as much as the labels pressing those $25 discs. …
- I suddenly get the feeling Justin and Melvin Upton Jr. are becoming the Hank and Tommie Aaron of their generation. …
- Yeah, I'm getting back into vinyl. It's still a more emotional way of listening to music. I especially get emotional when I rummage through a record shop and see LPs
I threw away at the dawn of the digital age selling for $25 a pop. …
- Get ready for a barrage of preseason "expert" predictions. But don't build your fantasy team around any of it. From the bulletin board, here's one guy's pre-2015 take on the Royals:
"I want to see whether the Royals can make an adequate defense of their pennant or whether they're as bad as they look on paper …"
- Given: LPs have become the baseball cards of yesteryear. You trashed boxes full of both way back then … and wish you could have them back now.
Bucs in pillow fight for some pitchers
Back when we were just entering the stretch drive for Christmas shopping — Dec. 2 — I came up with a different sort of shopping list for the Pirates, one their Santa Claus (Neal Huntington? Bob Nutting?) only had to check once: Top Ten bounceback starting pitcher candidates.
Seven weeks later, four remain on that list of free agents, guys searching for the proverbial pillow contract to prop up their market value. If Huntington goes Rock Hudson, who could be his Doris Day?
- Mat Latos
- Doug Fister
- Chad Billingsley
- Justin Masterson
Fister, his 5-7 slide of 2015 notwithstanding, still holds out for a two-year deal, and the Bucs wouldn't be opposed to that (remember, Francisco Liriano started with them on a two-year contract off his 6-12 record in 2012).
Latos, at 28 and in definite I'll-show-you mode, has his choice of several teams interested in tossing him a pillow — the Pirates definitely among them.
I would add Cliff Lee to that list, because the graybeard lefty is in definite bounceback mode after missing the entire '15 season with elbow issues. But Lee doesn't appear to be in make-good-contract mode. He seems more intent on big bucks than on a big opportunity, and that isn't how the Pirates roll in these matters.
Another veteran lefty on the periphery (please try not to snicker): Wandy Rodriguez. Yeah, I'd shrug him off, too, except for three points (No. 3 totally blew my mind):
- His first Pittsburgh tenure ended abysmally in mid-2014 because he tried to pitch on a bum knee on which he finally had surgery three weeks after his release.
- He would come really cheaply, on an incentive-loaded contract.
- Who do you suppose had MLB's best 2015 streak of 32 straight batters retired (the equivalent of 10 2/3 perfect innings)? Jake Arrieta? Max (Double No-Hit) Scherzer? Zack Greinke? Clayton Kershaw? No, no, no, no. Wandy Rodriguez — during his brief fling with the Rangers.
Chance of a weird injury? A lead pipe cinch
Bartolo Colon once went 0-for-43. Soon after that one ended, he took off on another 1-for-50 "streak." None of that stopped the Mets from including a fat bonus in his new contract for winning a Silver Slugger Award.
This is called the Pipedream Clause. What's Bartolo supposed to do, say, "No thanks?" And if a guy can learn to hit at 43 and do it better than anyone else at his position … claim your reward, dude.
But for every Pipedream Clause, shouldn't there be a Lead Pipe Clause? It calls for a deduction if you miss playing time after getting hit by a plumbing vessel, or for other equally sensible injuries.
Like …
Pulled oblique muscle, left (Mat Latos) or right (Kevin Pillar), or back spasms (Sammy Sosa), from sneezing.
Bruising your tailbone by falling off a beanbag chair (A's reliever Fernando Abad did it this season).
Getting your face scorched by (oxymoron alert) chillin' on a tanning bed (Marty Cordova).
Suffering a chest burn while ironing your shirt … while wearing it (John Smoltz).
Straining your back while yanking on boots (Wade Boggs).
Dislocating your shoulder ripping apart a phone book (Steve Sparks, the 1994 Brewers version).
Dislocating a thumb while pulling on socks (Randy Johnson; no, not that one — the Braves' 1982-84 third baseman).
Hand lacerations while buttering a dinner roll (Oddibe McDowell, 1985-88 Rangers), washing dishes (Ian Kennedy) or cleaning a blender (Brett Cecil).
Dislocating your ankle while showing your 5-year-old son how to use a trampoline (Joba Chamberlain).
A swollen wrist by over-jamming on Guitar Hero (Joel Zumaya, during the 2006 postseason).
Frostbite … in August … by falling asleep with an ice pack on your foot (Rickey Henderson).
A stomach stab, when taking on a DVD box with a knife and losing (Adam Eaton).
Biting YOURSELF in the butt.
Okay, that last one requires an in-depth explanation. Clarence Blethen was a '20s pitcher, forgettable except for one thing: He'd try to spook out hitters by moving his false teeth from his mouth to his back pocket while pitching. Well, one day he slides into second and the dentures chomp into his butt bad enough to force his removal from the game with excessive bleeding.
Yes, a century before cell-phone "butt calls," we had a "butt call-out."
No re-gifting, please
Time for the obligatory list of presents for some of the men who have everything, MLB's finest.
- Jason Heyward: Earplugs, for his return visits to Busch Stadium.
- Neil Walker: Directions to the visiting clubhouse in PNC Park.
- David Price: A copy of "The Idiot's Guide to Boston," by Carl Crawford.
- Lee Smith, Edgar Martinez: A phone call from BBWAA secretary Jack O'Connell.
- Andrew McCutchen: Strong, healthy left knee.
- Yasiel Puig: 2013, again.
- Shelby Miller: Runs; guy went 1-16 with a 3.63 ERA after May 27.
- Brandon Phillips: A cushion (to sit comfortably on Reds' bench).
- Jonathan Papelbon: 23 other guys who put out like Bryce Harper.
- Ruben Amaro: A nickname for last season's Phillies GM, this season's Boston first base coach; got it — The Benjamin Button of MLB.
- Jose Bautista: A boxed set of the 1964-67 TV series, "Flipper."
- Don Mattingly: Healthy Giancarlo Stanton, unleashed.
- Clint Hurdle: Deck of cards, none of them wild.
Bucs' Huntington will shake on this
I suspect Neal Huntington has been shaking his head a lot lately.
Pittsburgh's GM has the well-earned reputation of being MLB's most tight-lipped executive. Off-the-record is not in his vocabulary. He will never be that mysterious "baseball source" leaking news.
Huntington simply will not comment on developing transactions until they are done. Media get word on moves when 245 Park Avenue has signed off on them. Huntington also believes in the sanctity of mutual-risk long-term contracts.
We've seen both of those principles violated time and again this offseason.
Once, at the 2014 Winter Meetings, Huntington took time to actually explain his refusal to talk about in-the-works transactions. Digest version: To do so could make the club prematurely accountable for the welfare of the player, and can also lead to embarrassment.
Twice in the last two weeks, the Dodgers had "deals" that, for different reasons, fell through. They'll survive, but you don't think Dodger Red — as in embarrassed — has temporarily supplanted Dodger Blue as the team color after Aroldis Chapman and Hisashi Iwakuma?
And premium free agents keep signing win-win long-term deals with midpoint opt-out clauses: David Price, Johnny Cueto, Jason Heyward … they all have the option of again being free agents in a few years if their performances rate raises on the open market. Underperformers have the protection of the back-end of their pacts.
These one-sided deals must really chafe Huntington. He scored over Andrew McCutchen (two years to go on his six-year, $51.5M deal), Charlie Morton (three-year, $21M) scored over him. But at least they were all sitting at the same table.
Opt-out deals are nothing new (Alex Rodriguez famously exercised his during the 2007 World Series, Zack Greinke just used his as a bridge to the D-backs) but are becoming more frequent.
They have the attention of Commissioner Rob Manfred, who the other day seemed to take the words right out of Huntington's mouth when he told FOX Sports:
"The logic of opt-out clauses for the club escapes me. You make an eight-year agreement with a player. He plays well, and he opts out after three. You either pay the player again or you lose him. Conversely, if the player performs poorly, he doesn't opt out and gets the benefit of the eight-year agreement. That doesn't strike me as a very good deal. Personally, I don't see the logic of it. But clubs do what they do."
Hmmm … doesn't that sound like the next Geico commercial?
The checkmarks are in the mail
Voting for the Hall of Fame has always been an honor and a privilege — and it has become a slightly bigger privilege with the museum having weeded out unqualified voters to trim the electorate.
The Hall — or, more accurately, its BBWAA guardians — gets ripped a lot. I've been known to join that chorus (I still need an explanation for how Tommy John and his 288 wins weren't good enough).
Us writers seem to like picking our own fights. We resent being sworn into the Steroids Era jury. Yet we want to preside over the Closer Era and Designated Hitter trials and insist Lee Smith and Edgar Martinez aren't worthy.
Hall of Fame voters are like America. What a melting pot. How can you not like the diversity in a group which is likely this year to elect Jeff Bagwell (449 homers and 1,529 RBIs) but last year did not cast enough votes for Carlos Delgado (473 homers and 1,512 RBIs) to even remain on the ballot?
With all that said, Ballot #415 is in the mail:
- Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza: Very short version — I climbed off the PED soapbox a couple of years ago, and swore to stay off it. And you can't argue their numbers.
- Trevor Hoffman: How's this for a change of pace (his signature pitch)? "Closer is a first-ballot Hall of Fame."
- Smith: C'mon. He's the guy who set the trail for all these Cooperstown guys (Dennis Eckersley, Bruce Sutter, Goose Gossage, Hoffman maybe now, Mo Rivera definitely to come) to follow.
- Martinez: The Lee Smith of DHs; good heavens, David Ortiz's platform for likely future induction is built on having won seven Edgar Martinez Awards.
- Bagwell: He came within two RBIs in 2002 of having eight straight 30-100 seasons. Dominating an era? Check.
- Jeff Kent: Much of Piazza's candidacy is based on how he stood out among all-time players at his position; well, this is the Piazza of second basemen.
- Gary Sheffield: He could be this year's Carlos Delgado, but his 509 homers have to be seen through this prism — Sheff was the last power hitter with a controlled, not an all-or-nothing, swing. Do you realize he had 12 seasons with 500-plus plate appearances and fewer than 75 Ks? In 2003, he went to the plate 678 times and fanned 55 times.
- Ken Griffey Jr.: No testimonials required, I know, but it must be pointed out he dominated the '90s (382 homers and 1,091 RBIs) perhaps unlike any player has ever stood over a decade.
An open letter to Clint Hurdle
No, not that one. Not to you, Clinton Merrick Hurdle, Pirates manager.
To Clinton Edwards Hurdle, your father.
Getting to spend four years in Pittsburgh covering the Bucs was a pleasure. Getting to know you even a little bit was a privilege.
The days around the ballpark in this 24/7 world tend to drag, and spirits and eyebrows both tend to sag. Entering the PNC Park clubhouse and running into your wide-grin greeting never failed to perk me up.
But it absolutely floored me to ever hear that you were actually looking for me, wanting to catch up. Just as I cowered with humility to be able to count you as a regular reader — and editor. Clint, who has neither the time nor the inclination to read about his team himself, would periodically point out mistakes I'd made and were reported to him by you.
Sharing stories or small-talk, the highlight of any day. Listening to you, watching that mischievous twinkle in your eye, it was easy to picture you and the tyke Clint playing backyard catch under a fading sun, or hear you laying down the law years later to the rambunctious Clint.
I never took for granted those fleeting minutes, a connection forged by our mutual love of the game. I got to see the world through your words, and I enjoyed the view. I don't think we ever had to explain ourselves to each other. So, now, I probably don't have to explain why I so much enjoyed your company.
I think a big part of it was the affection and pride in what your son had become. You looked upon Clint, in other words, pretty much the way I looked upon Pittsburgh.
Both relationships began about the same time. You and Louise "met" Clint in July 1957. I first arrived in Pittsburgh in July 1959. We both hence traveled a winding, traps-filled road only to arrive at the same destination, at the flagpole flying the Jolly Roger full-staff.
Sorry for the rant. But as Pittsburgh readies for a rite of winter, a PirateFest I will not be attending, my mind wandered to what I'll miss about not covering the Pirates. And I thought of you.
I wish you a very happy holiday season. And many more happy summer afternoons at your son's side on the North Side.
For starters, it's a sprint, not a marathon
One of baseball's age-old hypothetical questions — "If you had to win one game, who would you pitch?" — has become very real in the Wild Card age.
That was certainly my lead takeaway from the last two seasons of covering the Pirates, having watched Madison Bumgarner then Jake Arrieta throttle the Bucs in the last two NL Wild Card games.
MLB execs have been saying "Amen" to that with the frenzy in a free agent market that now is a sprint and not a marathon, in contrast to what we usually say about the season itself.
The Winter Meetings used to green-light the offseason action. Now it's just a pit stop. Even before the symbolic gavel drops tomorrow morning in Nashville, clubs have spent a whopping $814 million in multi-year deals to 13 free agents (that compares to $307 million on six multi-year deals prior to the start of the '14 Winter Meetings).
And most of that investment has been made in 10 pitchers — two setup relievers and eight starters: David Price, Zack Greinke, Jordan Zimmerman, Jeff Samardzija, John Lackey, J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada and Mike Pelfrey.
In a sense, I consider this demand for starters oxymoronic, given the game's ongoing de-emphasizing of starting pitchers. Two-hundred-inning workhorses in 2015 (28) were the fewest in a full seasons since 1947 (25), when there were only 16 teams compared to today's 30.
How many complete games do you suppose that elite eight had? Seven; Zimmerman, Happ, Estrada and Pelfrey had zero.
So, obviously, all starters are being paid exponentially more per inning than ever before. One example (I'll let economists weigh in with the dollar-value factor):
At the height of his earnings ($4.2 million in 1992), Nolan Ryan made $26,752 for each of his 157 innings.
Pelfrey is the low man among our elite eight. If his workload matches his career average (124 innings), he would make $64,516 for each inning based on his two-year, $16 million deal with Detroit.
At the other end of the scale, Greinke will earn $149,782 per inning if he matches his single-season max of 229 innings (in 2009), based on the Annual Average Value of his six-year, $206 million deal.
And you know what? He'll be worth every penny to the D-backs if they have a must-win game and Zack on the hill.
Pillow talk: Fluffing up Bucs rotation
To borrow from an insurer's inescapable advertising campaign, if you are a pitcher looking to jack up your market value, you go to Pittsburgh. That's just what you do.
It's been a successful formula for both the Pirates and for hurlers laying down their heads on pillow contracts, as Scott Boras calls them. Edinson Volquez came for $5 million and left for two years and $20 million (and a World Series ring with the Royals). A.J. Burnett came on the Yankees' dime and left for $15 million (before his '15 return). J.A. Happ came with a 4.64 ERA and left for three years and $36 million.
You don't even have to leave to cash in. Francisco Liriano came for $1 million in 2013 and remained for three years at $39 million. Mark Melancon checked in at a minimum in 2013 and has become an $8 million closer.
Word gets around. When the Pirates were contractually obligated to deal Clayton Richard to the Cubs in July, GM Neal Huntington was surprisingly OK with the time and effort spent in vain on the lefty's rehab because "our success with him will attract others in a similar situation."
Huntington now is counting on that to restock a rotation after Burnett's retirement and Happ's departure. There is a mob of free agent pitchers in bounce-back modes elbowing each other to get into Ray Searage's lab (although Jim Benedict doubtless took some of the fix-it draw with him to Miami).
With that in mind, look for the Pirates' 2016 rotation to include one, maybe two, of these (ages in parenthesis):
- Mat Latos (28): 28-11 in 2012-13; 4-10 last season.
- Brandon Morrow (31): 10-7, 2.96 in 2012; 5-6 since.
- Mike Pelfrey (32): Sinkerballer — Bucs love those — who went 6-11 in '15.
- Jeff Samardzija (31): Big arm, went small (18-26) last two seasons.
- Kyle Kendrick (31): 31 wins in 2012-14, 7-13, 6.32 last season.
- Dillon Gee (30): 12-11, 3.62 in 2013; 0-3, 5.90 last season.
- Doug Fister (32): 6-foot-8 righty — Bucs also love tall downhill-throwers — who went from 16-6, 2.41 in '14 to 5-7, 4.19 last year.
- Chad Billingsley (31): 3-3 in 49 innings since 2012.
- Gavin Floyd (33): 12-11 in 2012; 2-6 since.
- Justin Masterson (30): All-Star in 2013; 11-11 since.


text:
Operation Beautiful
"I CHOOSE to be positive." This is a phrase that we do not hear enough in our world. You know how when someone says, "I love your hair today", or "You are absolutely wonderful", you feel absolutely amazing inside? Why don't we say these simple phrases everyday? Why don't we make someone's day, everyday? The goal of Operation Beautiful is to end negative self talk or "fat talk". Negative self-talk inflicts pain; emotionally, spiritually and physically. Simple acts of kindness, as simple as leaving a tiny post-it note, containing the words, "You. Are. Beautiful," could change not just someone's day, but life dramatically. You never know whose life you will touch, whether it is just a stranger or someone who is truly suffering.
On Thursday, October 24th, from 5:00pm-8:00pm, Operation Beautiful will take place at UNH. This is one of the many events that will take place during Fat Talk Free week, courtesy of UNH Health Services. The goal of this event is to influence Wildcats to inspire and help each other. If you attend this event, you will receive post-its that you are urged to post around campus; whether it be at the gym, in the bathroom, the library, the dining halls, ANYWHERE! Anywhere that it will be visible. Write inspiring and inspirational messages on them so that you can spread positivity on our campus and help end negative body images. Help EVERY student, feel beautiful. It is as simple as a pen and a post-it.


text:
Keranamu Malaysia, Negaraku. Walau wajahmu memerlukan beam satellite yang tepat disebabkan saiz kerdilmu.
While you read this, YOU start to BECOME aware of your surroundings, CERTIAN things that you were not aware of such as the temperature of the room, and sounds may make YOU realize you WANT a real college degree.
Call this number now, (413) 208-3069
Get an unexplained feeling of joy, Make it last longer by getting your COLLEGE DEGREE. Just as sure as the sun is coming up tomorrow, these College Degree's come complete with transcripts, and are VERIFIABLE.
You know THAT Corporate America takes advantage of loopholes in the system. ITS now YOUR turn to take advantage of this specific opportunity, Take a second, Get a BETTER FEELING of joy and a better future BY CALLING this number 24 hours a day.
(413) 208-3069


text:
EAST GREENBUSH–A 38-year-old West Sand Lake woman was hauled off to jail early Tuesday for refusing a breathalyzer test after a traffic stop along an East Greenbush road Monday. According to reports, police observed Tonya McIntyre's white 2006 BMW "drifting from lane to lane and onto the shoulder" along a stretch of Upper Mannix Road late Monday night. After stopping McIntyre, East Greenbush police attempted to administer a field sobriety test, but she refused. Cops soon learned that the 38-year-old had been previously arrested for DWI twice; in Guilderland in 2004, and in Schodack in 2010. For her second DWI arrest within ten years, police charged McIntyre with a felony, along with a host of vehicle and traffic law violations. McIntyre, of Autumn Lane in West Sand Lake, was arraigned in East Greenbush Town court before Judge Kevin Engle Tuesday morning, after which she was released and ordered to reappear on February 14. Police seized McIntyre's BMW pending felony forfeiture proceedings in county court.
West Sand Lake woman facing felony DWI after traffic stop
Start the conversation


text:
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean, and has three international airports which service major cities in Italy and many other European destinations like: Spain, England, Ireland and Germany.
International Airports in Sardinia, Italy
- Alghero Airport (AHO)
- Oblia Airport (OLB)
- Cagliari-Elmas Airport (CAG)
Airlines with direct routes to Sardinia from Europe:
- Meridiana Fly – is based in Olbia, Sardinia. Meridiana connects the traveler to major cities in Italy, Germany, Spain, England, France and Russia.
- EasyJet is a British airline with its headquarters at the London Luton Airport. EasyJet services Sardinia with Gatwick-Olbia and Stansted-Cagliari flights.
- Ryanair is Europe's leading discount airline. Daily flights from all over Europe to Alghero and Cagliari.
- Alitalia is based in Fiumicino, Italy and operates at Rome's major international airport Fiumicino (FCO). Alitalia connects to many major large cities around the world. Alitalia connects the traveler, daily to Sardinia through: Olbia, Alghero and Cagliari.
- SmartWings is another low cost airline based out of Prague. They have direct flights from Prague to all three main airports in Sardinia.
- British Airways offers charter flights in collaboration with Sardatur Holidays from London Heathrow/Manchester to Olbia/Cagliari.
By Sea:
- Moby Lines offers daily voyages from these Italian mainland ports: Livorno, Piombino, Genova, Civitavecchia, Bonifacio to Olbia, Santa Teresa di Gallura, and Porto Torres.
- Tirrenia offers daily ferries between mainland ports in Italy and Sardinia. Routes include: Porto Torres-Genova, Cagliari-Palmero, Cagliari-Napoli, Oblia-Civitavecchia, Oblia-Genova, Arbatax-Genova and Arbatax-Civitavecchia and many more!
- Corsica Ferries offers crossings from Santa Teresa di Gallura to Bonifacio and Olbia to Livorno.
Safe and Happy Travels.
*Please note: during the off-season months some routes and timetables may change. Please check with your carrier of choice for further details.
How will you arrive on this magnificent island in the Mediterranean?


text:
I get hung up on certain foods… during the winter, I'll spend hours upon hours peeling pomegranate and slurping down the seeds. When I was a kid, my mother would buy bushels of corn… and I would spend the afternoon dropping ears into boiling water, and neatly cleaning the cobs of their juicy kernels while I read my novels. I have favorites, and once I start on a favorite, it might be weeks before I move on to something else.
This last month has been a month of charred and buttered broccolini with a little sprinkle of grey salt. I'm sure it's not a groundbreaking, cutting edge process to cooking broccolini, nor is it the most sophisticated, but it is the perfect way to get some crunchy, crispy greens in your tummy. I'm not sure it really calls for a recipe, but I've written up my notes below.
Sautéed Crispy Broccolini with Grey Salt (Kaprise Kitchen's current favorite)
- A medium sized bunch of broccolini
- 1 tablespoon of good quality butter
- 1 tablespoon of good quality olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of filtered water
- a generous pinch of good grey sea salt – I used a Celtic light grey I found at my local natural foods store
- Thoroughly wash the broccolini is cool water, removing any damaged or wilted leaves
- Trim and chop the broccolini in 1 1/2 inch segments, stopping just short of the flowering tops. Divide the flowering tops into smaller bunches. The stem in this picture was a bit damaged, so I shaved the stem and removed the damaged flowered pieces – dividing the larger head into two smaller and easier to crisp segments.
- In a large pan, heat two tablespoons of water on medium heat
- Add chopped broccolini to bubbling water, stir until bright green and tender
- Raise the heat to high and stir until all of the water has evaporated from the pan.
- Drizzle in the olive oil and butter. Stir until all of the pieces are coated with butter and oil – I like to set the flowering heads of broccolini on their top to help them crisp
- Let the broccolini crisp one side, without stirring. I like my broccolini quite crunchy, so I let the pieces crisp for about two to three minutes before tossing the pan. Stir and crisp until the desired level of crisp and char is acheived.
- Turn the heat off, sprinkle with the desired amount of grey salt
- Serve hot
- I imagine, in addition to a generous sprinkle of salt, that crushed red pepper flakes would be fantastic for a kickier version. I can also see a generous sprinkle of fresh herbs (say… tarragon, oregano, or basil) would be fantastic in this dish as well.
- I've done a version with fresh sliced garlic, but toss the sliced garlic in a minute or two before your broccolini is done, or your garlic will be a very unforgivable black charcoal chip.


text:
NFL Draft 2012
- Round 1:
- Round 2:
- Round 3:
- Round 4:
- Round 5:
- Round 6:
- Round 7:
Related stories
- Richardson's path to NFL difficult, emotional
- Second-round pick Schwartz added to O-line
- Browns trade down, add Cincinnati DT Hughes
- Richardson, Weeden meet the local media
- Weeden is Browns' anti-McCoy: Livingston
- Live chat now underway for Day 2 of the draft
- Draft tracker
BEREA, Ohio -- Pat Shurmur said he expects quarterback Brandon Weeden to come in and hopefully win the starting job immediately, and he was noncommital about Colt McCoy's future with the team.
"We've added three [offensive] players and we expect them to compete to start and contribute what we hope to be immediately," the Browns head coach said after the team finished its Friday selections in the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft. "We'll see how it plays out. We got a running back [Trent Richardson], a quarterback and right tackle [Mitchell Schwartz]. We feel like we got three players that are going to be there for us."
He added that the Browns are "really impressed with what we saw with Weeden." He also dismissed a report that the Browns were shopping McCoy on the second day of the NFL draft Friday, but didn't rule out moving him in the near future.
"We've drafted a quarterback to come in and compete with him -- at this point -- and that's where it's at," he said.
He also said a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Browns told McCoy Thursday that they wouldn't draft a quarterback in the first round "was absolutely false. For the record, we don't consult our players about what we're doing in the draft. I think it's ridiculous to assume that we would say those things. I just want to be strong about the no."
He said McCoy worked out here all week and then headed to Dallas for the weekend, as had been planned. "I expect him to be here Monday as part of the off-season program," said Shurmur.
But Shurmur was effusive in his praise of Weeden, and adamant that he's set to be their man. When asked if he can make the current crop of receivers better -- seeing as that the Browns didn't draft one -- he quickly responded, "I believe so."
If a team wants McCoy, it would probably only be willing to surrender a sixth- or seventh-round pick. The final four rounds of the draft take place on Saturday, beginning at noon. But a source said the Browns ideally would like to take a little time to think about what they want to do. They might also have to make a decision on Seneca Wallace, who's set to make $2.4 million in 2012 and $2.85 million in 2013.
"We haven't made any plans to do anything about anything yet," said Shurmur. "We haven't made any phone calls, we haven't done anything in regards to Colt."
Asked if McCoy will still be with the team when organized team activities begin May 22, Shurmur said, "let's not take it all the way out to May 22. As it stands right now, I've talked to Colt and we're getting ready to draft [more players]."
He said he talked to McCoy Friday evening, but not about his role in the wake of the Browns drafting Weeden.
"He's fine," said Shurmur. "All we talked about was what we [were] going to do with the next two picks.'"
The Browns' second-round pick, the No. 37 overall, was something McCoy could've really used -- a starting right tackle. They drafted California's Mitchell Schwartz, who has experience playing on both sides, including the last two seasons on the left and 2009 on the right. Schwartz also played two seasons with Browns center Alex Mack at Cal.
The Browns traded their third-round pick -- the No. 67 overall -- to the Broncos for Denver's 87th in the third round and 120th in the fourth round. They used the 87th pick on Cincinnati defensive tackle John Hughes, who will provide depth behind Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor.
"We got two big, tough physical guys [who] are going to help us," said Shurmur.
The Browns didn't draft any of the 13 receivers that went off the board, but Heckert defended that decision.
"We'll see what happens [Saturday]," said Heckert. "We could've drafted one, but we liked other players better."
As of Friday afternoon, McCoy had no plans to ask for a trade, but would like an opportunity to compete with the Weeden for the starting job, a source said. McCoy was given the impression by the Browns all off-season that he was going to be their starting quarterback, at least heading into training camp.
If he remains as a backup, it might not be such a bad situation for him -- or the Browns. McCoy's salary is team-friendly: he's only making $540,000 and 2013: $575,000. If he's willing to back up Weeden, who's three years his senior, it might be a chance to learn the West Coast offense better. He would then get an opportunity if Weeden falters or gets injured.
But make no mistake about Weeden's role. "We have the guy that we think is our guy as we move forward," said Shurmur.
Meanwhile, Weeden conducted himself like a starting quarterback during his introductory press conference. After spending five years pitching in the minor leagues and four years at Oklahoma State, Weeden is not your typical rookie quarterback. He's married and is older than most of the players on the Browns' roster. He was the first player chosen in the 2002 MLB draft by the Yankees and left home at the age of 18 to chase his dream of pitching in the major leagues.
"My baseball background, the adversity I've been through, it really prepares me for what I'm about to go through," he said. "Being 28 years old, I use it as an advantage because my body's still fresh, I have a lot of football left in my tank. I think it's going to help in the locker room. I think it's going to help me prepare on a daily basis to become the best player I can possibly become."
On Twitter: @marykaycabot


text:
BOSTON (AP) — Celtics coach Doc Rivers offered Kevin Garnett the night off to get him the rest he's losing by playing in this weekend's All-Star game.
Celtics 71, Bulls 69
Good thing for the Celtics that Garnett turned it down.
The All-Star center scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter and added 11 rebounds to help the Celtics overcome historically poor shooting and beat the Chicago Bulls, 71-69, on Wednesday night.
"I'm seeing everybody in here playing through everything. I'm no different from that," said Garnett, who played 26 minutes. "Everybody's tired. I felt like that was unfair. If he wasn't going to give everybody the night off, then that wasn't an option. I just came out and gave what I could."
Paul Pierce went only 2 for 12 from the floor, but he hit a 3-pointer that bounced around the rim and in to give Boston a five-point lead with 3 minutes to play. The Celtics shot just 36.8 percent but still had the advantage over the Bulls, who made just 36.5 percent of their shots.
"I told them before the game I wasn't going to play Kevin much and there was a chance I may not play him," said Rivers, who had wanted to leave Garnett home for Monday's game in Charlotte but got talked into playing him there. "I told them it's going to be an ugly game. … And this is before the game."
Joakim Noah had 10 points and 16 rebounds, and Carlos Boozer had 11 and 11 for Chicago. Reserve Marco Belinelli added 12 points in under 20 minutes for the Bulls.
The Celtics scored 19 points in the second and third quarters combined, tying for third-lowest in NBA history and setting a franchise record for the fewest points in consecutive quarters since the shot clock era began.
Their 71 points was the third-least in a win since the 24-second clock was added in 1954-55.
The teams now break for All-Star weekend, then the Celtics begin a five-game road trip and do not return to TD Garden until March 1. The Bulls resume their season Tuesday night at New Orleans.
"The last game before the All-Star break is a strange game," Rivers said.


text:
By Greg Kaplan and Giovanni Violante
A wide body of empirical evidence, based on randomized experiments, finds that 20-40 percent of fiscal stimulus payments (e.g. tax rebates) are spent on nondurable household consumption in the quarter that they are received. We develop a structural economic model to interpret this evidence. Our model integrates the classical Baumol-Tobin model of money demand into the workhorse incomplete-markets life-cycle economy. In this framework, households can hold two assets: a low-return liquid asset (e.g., cash, checking account) and a high-return illiquid asset (e.g., housing, retirement account) that carries a transaction cost. The optimal life-cycle pattern of wealth accumulation implies that many households are "wealthy hand-to-mouth" : they hold little or no liquid wealth despite owning sizeable quantities of illiquid assets. They therefore display large propensities to consume out of additional income. We document the existence of such households in data from the Survey of Consumer Finances. A version of the model parameterized to the 2001 tax rebate episode is able to generate consumption responses to fiscal stimulus payments that are in line with the data.
The extant literature exploits the timing of the mailing of the stimulus checks to determine the marginal propensity to consume. But all recipients were expecting those checks to come, so what is measured is really the impact of differences in liquidity. What Kaplan and Violante do is build a realistic model of liquidity management that yields the measured predictions in order to back out from the model what the true propensity to consume is. A very subtle exercise.


text:
Mandy Gregory is a 2007 and 2012 Teacher of the Year. She has taught 4th, 3rd, and 2nd grade in both the general education and inclusion setting. She is the owner and creator of the Teaching Tips website (www.mandygregory.com). Mandy has over 13 years of experience.
Hands on, game based (when possible)! Mandy also believes in a workshop approach. She currently teaches using reading workshop, writing workshop and a version of a math workshop (using guided math).
~Centerville Elementary School Teacher of Year 2007 ~Mercer University Outstanding Reading Student 2007 ~Graduated with honors for Masters and Bachelors degrees ~2011-2012 District Model ELA Common Core Lab Classroom ~Acworth Elementary School Teacher of the Year 2012
Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education from North Georgia College and State University Masters Degree in Reading from Mercer University Certified to teach PreK-5th grade and PreK-12 (Reading) Certified to teach Special Education (General Curriculum ) PreK-12
I am married with two beautiful children. We have a nine year-old daughter and a seven year old daughter.
PreK, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, Homeschool, Staff, Not Grade Specific
English Language Arts, Balanced Literacy, Creative Writing, Writing-Expository, Reading, Grammar, Spelling, Vocabulary, Specialty, Math, Applied Math, Arithmetic, Basic Operations, Fractions, Geometry, Graphing, Measurement, Numbers, Other (Math), Science, Social Studies - History, U.S. History, Arts & Music, Other (Arts), Special Education, ELA Test Prep, Geography, Other (Social Studies - History), For All Subject Areas, Literature, Classroom Management, Business, Word Problems, Study Skills, Writing, Reading Strategies, Holidays/Seasonal, Back to School, Thanksgiving, Christmas/ Chanukah/ Kwanzaa, Poetry, Autumn, Mental Math, Halloween, Winter, Valentine's Day, Black History Month, St. Patrick's Day, Spring, Place Value, Earth Day, For All Subjects, Summer, Informational Text, End of Year, Phonics, Close Reading, Women's History Month


text:
Posts Tagged 'steampunk'
Emerging Weirdness
The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities ed by Jeff and Ann Vandermeer is now available. "After the death of Dr. Thackery T. Lambshead at his house in Wimpering-on-the-Brook, England, a remarkable discovery was unearthed: the remains of an astonishing cabinet of curiosities. Many of these artifacts, curios, and wonders related to anecdotes and stories […]
Filed under: art, comic books/graphic novels | Leave a Comment
Tags: ann vandermeer, jeff vandermeer, mieville, Negarestani, reza negarestani, steampunk, the weird, weird fiction


text:
No Groom? No Problem! Bride Turns Heartbreak into Celebration [Video]
Florida Teacher Turns into "Luggage Angel" During Airport Travel Chaos [Video]
Senior Dog Defies Odds, Rescues Sibling from Coyote Attack [Video]
Homeward Bound: Dog Reunites with Owner After 5 Weeks in the Mountains [Video]
How a Mail Carrier Became a Dog's Best Friend [Video]
The Power of Meow: Meet Sam, the Cat with a Viral Voice [Video]
Petty Pup Pulls Off Hilarious Bone Heist [Video]
Feisty Feline Hates Everyone — Until She Meets Her Grandpa
"Chonkasaurus": Giant Snapping Turtle Captures Hearts in Chicago [Video]
Meet Einstein: The Bull Terrier with an Oscar-Worthy Act [Video]
NBA Legend Shaquille O'Neal Foots Bill for Stranger's Engagement Ring [Video]
NBA Star James Harden Forms Special Bond with MSU Shooting Survivor [Video]
Arnold Schwarzenegger Introduces the World to His Adorable New Pet Pig
Keanu Reeves Makes 9-Year-Old Fan's Day [Video]
Actor Billy Gardell Opens Up About Inspiring 150-Pound Weight Loss Transformation
Office Adventures: The Purr-fect Museum Mascot
Out of the Ashes: Community Helps Family Rebuild After Tragedy [Video]
Lonely Dog Rescued Clutching Stuffed Animal [Video]
Truck Driver's Kindness Saves Kitten Trapped in Vehicle Structure
Raising the Barre: Senior Women Reclaim Their Confidence Through Ballet
Special Delivery: Amazon Driver Brings Woman Box of Kittens [Video]
Pet Cam Shows Rescue Dog Spend "Entire Day" in Owner's Bed [Video]
"Father of the Year": Cat Dad Wins Hearts By Supporting Girlfriend During Kitten Birth [Video]
Kenny Deuss started photoshopping silly, dangerous photos featuring him and his kids to prank their mom at work.Since then, Kenny has never stopped sending her photoshopped...


text:
Extremely small VHF / UHF Antenna That Can Be Cut To The Frequency You Need.
The OPEK SWR6L is a compact SWR and Power meter product designed for operation in the HF band, including CB Radios. The LED illuminated display makes for convenient night-time usage. Accurate within 5%.
Compact SWR and Power meter with a large, cross-needle display for CB and 10 meter radio frequencies. *note this meter does not light up, regardless of the part number."
Easy to read back lit cross needle meter measures SWR & power at the same time
MFV-5MH - No Grounding Required On This Marine Antenna. Everything Included For a Simple Installation.
VH3200CX - Easy To Install VHF Marine Antenna Kit. Includes Antenna, "L" Type Mounting Bracket And 15ft Coax Cable. Attached With PL-259 Plug On Both Ends


text:
Can Christians Be Angry?
- Dr. Roger Barrier Preach It, Teach It
- 2013 9 Apr
Editor's Note: Pastor Roger Barrier's "Ask Roger" column regularly appears at Preach It, Teach It. Every week at Crosswalk, Dr. Barrier puts nearly 40 years of experience in the pastorate to work answering questions of doctrine or practice for laypeople, or giving advice on church leadership issues. Email him your questions at email@example.com.
Dear Roger,
I really struggle with anger. It seems like I just can't keep it under control. I know it's not Christian to be angry, so what advice would you give me?
Dear BLE,
Who says that it's a sin for a Christian to get angry? Jesus got angry on numerous occasions (Matthew 23:13-26 and John 2:13-17 just to name a few). I figure that if it was OK for Jesus to get angry then it is OK for you and me!
Like you, many people do wonder: "Is it a sin to be angry?" Of course not. Anger is a necessary, built-in emotion. (Proverbs 27:4; Proverbs 14:17 Ephesians 4:26-27 . The emotion of anger is not sin; but, anger has the potential to lead into sin. Anger does not become sin until we translate it into aggressive and hostile actions—or activities destructive to ourselves.
However, anger has its limits. Out of control anger can be a dastardly thing. One of my favorite proverbs is Proverbs 29:11 "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control."
Why do people get angry? You know the answer to that. People get angry for all sorts of reasons. Some are angry because of the injustices done to themselves or to others. Some are angry for righteousness sake. Hurt someone and they will get angry (Proverbs 20:2). Anger is the natural response to being hurt. Some are stymied and kept from doing something they intend to do. Some have been embarrassed by others. Others feel cheated. The loss of a loved one can trigger intense anger. Occasionally a small squabble can become an angry encounter. The list goes on and on.
On somewhat of a deeper level, some get easily and overly angry because of imbalanced brain chemistry. Some have opened their lives to a demonic stronghold (Ephesians 4:26-27).
Uncannily, many people don't realize when they are angry. According to Dwight L. Carlson, M.D. the following are misconceptions about anger:
- If I don't look, feel, or seem angry, I don't have an anger problem.
- If I ignore my hurts and anger, they will go away and won't cause me any trouble later on.
- If I just let all my feelings and anger out—just get them out of my system—I'll solve my anger problems.
- It won't cost me too much emotionally to be a nice person who never gets angry at anybody.
- If I express my hurts and anger to the person with whom I'm angry, our relationship will suffer.
Very often, we tend to express our anger in two ways: we blow up and vent our anger (Proverbs 29:11), or we internalize it by "clamming up." The first century Greeks recognized these two polar opposites.
"Orge" describes a fire that quickly flashes up and dies down just as quickly. Like when an open flame is touched to a pile of extremely dry sticks and leaves. It burns furiously and just as quickly burns itself out. Some angry people explode and often hurt those around them--but they sure feel better.
On the other hand, the Greek word "thumos" describes a ripe peach still hanging on the tree that keeps getting riper and riper until it turns to mush and falls on the ground for some unsuspecting person to step in. "Thumos" people internalize anger and refuse to face it for what it is. Eventually, however, their anger will likely ooz out and sabotage relationships with the people around them--as well as their own emotional well being.
In his dynamic work, The Angry Book, Dr. Theodore Isaac Rubin, M.D., illustrates describes what "orge" and "thumos" might look like.
- Venting ("orge"): Auto Poison; Bullying; Explosive Behavior; Rage; Violence; Suicide; and Murder
- Repressing ("thumos"): Anxiety; Depression; Self-Sabotage; High Blood Pressure; Overeating; Under eating; Sleep Problems; Silent Treatment; Malicious Gossip; Overworking; Over sexing; Over exercising; Bad Dreams; Always Tired; Drugs; Alcohol; and Juice-Stewing
Now, let's come to the crux of the matter. What do I do when I feel myself becoming angry? (Proverbs 16:32)
1. Deescalate the emotions of the moment. Choose to calm yourself down. (Proverbs 30:33; Proverbs 15:1 . Take time to read and apply Psalms 131 Counting to 100 is still a most effective way of quieting yourself down before doing something stupid.
2. Quickly decide whether the anger is worth it and back away if it is not. I was a happy third grader on the play ground when a big-fourth grader challenged me to a fight.
"I heard that you said that you can beat me in a fight. Do you want to try," he asked?" My first thought was, "I never said that." My second thought was that it wasn't worth the fight. I said, "O.K. you win. You are better than me." He screwed up his face and looked at me: "Well then, don't you forget it." Some situations just aren't worth it.
3. Ask the question, "where have I been hurt?" Most people get angry they've been hurt by someone, something or some situation. (Proverbs 19:11). What hurt is producing you anger? Heal the hurt and you will begin to heal the hurt (Matthew 5:4).
4. Follow Jesus' anger-healing model as revealed during His crucifixion experience (This model is adapted from "Jesus Healing Model by David Ferguson of Intimate Life Ministries.)
First, He mourned His hurt (Matthew 26:38) and received comfort (Matthew 5:4) from the angels.
"He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me" (Matthew 26:37-38).
Second, He understood the truth of what was happening: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" "(Luke 23:34).
Third, He forgave those who were crucifying Him: "Father, forgive them . . . " (Luke 23:34).
I hope this helps. We need to feel the emotion of anger to be healthy, as long as we express it in a godly way.
Dr. Roger Barrier retired as senior teaching pastor from Casas Church in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to being an author and sought-after conference speaker, Roger has mentored or taught thousands of pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders worldwide. Casas Church, where Roger served throughout his thirty-five-year career, is a megachurch known for a well-integrated, multi-generational ministry. The value of including new generations is deeply ingrained throughout Casas to help the church move strongly right through the twenty-first century and beyond. Dr. Barrier holds degrees from Baylor University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Golden Gate Seminary in Greek, religion, theology, and pastoral care. His popular book, Listening to the Voice of God, published by Bethany House, is in its second printing and is available in Thai and Portuguese. His latest work is, Got Guts? Get Godly! Pray the Prayer God Guarantees to Answer, from Xulon Press. Roger can be found blogging at Preach It, Teach It, the pastoral teaching site founded with his wife, Dr. Julie Barrier.
Publication date:


text:
Hello, Paris
Think Paris and I conjure images of the Eiffel Tower soaring above the romantic city of lights. As the self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, I've always wanted to visit France and intimately appreciate the Eiffel Tower surrounded by Seine River and restless streets of Paris, but situate just distant enough to take it all in. Prettily dressed. Picture Perfect. I had finally made it happen this fall. Living in the interconnected world while being social media savvy, I must have seen the Eiffel from every possible angle through a screen (Eiffel Tower steals the show on Instagram as one of the most photographed attractions in the world). But I have to say, nothing levels the dynamic expression of the real thing. Time passed by without me noticing and I ended up spending hours at Champ de Mars with the perfect view. Blissful. Memorable.


text:
You could say I grew up watching George Carlin.
He was always my favorite rhetoric-ist. The most logical. The most reasonable. He was in effect my only access to what I now know as the Trivium.
In my first 25 years of life, George Carlin's material truly made me laugh at what could only be defined as Carlin's hyper-realistic perspective stand-up routine. It was the most harsh and abusive form of truth intervention for the entire human species – and yet it was masked brilliantly as comedy.
At around age 25, I attended an event in Las Vegas that was the beginning of my own transformation and incremental arrival into the over-exposure of hyper-reality Carlin spewed. This event was George Carlin, live at the Bally's Casino resort. How wondrously excited I was to see up close and personal one of my few Idols in life. And the show went on…
But something was different.
Something just didn't feel right.
George wasn't the problem, for he was delivering his material just as rehearsed-ly as he always had, mentally re-ciphering eerily associative memory poems with endless lists of material and anecdotal stories with an almost autistic flair.
No, the problem laid elsewhere… It was the crowd. And it was myself.
I realize now as I listen to archives of the HBO and large older productions of Carlin's televised stand-up routines that the audiences were given a bit of help. Laugh tracks were used to either replace or augment the seemingly jovial nature of the large audiences. Years of working in Hollywood sound departments helped my ears confirm the false stereo and room placement effect of certain "callers" within the otherwise echo-effected hall – their outbursts were out of place and sometimes non-situational. In other words, fake laughing was added to create the typical sitcom fake audience.
As I listened intently to and watched the live body language of the same old Carlin I was used to up on that stage, it seemed to me that somehow the material had changed… yet inevitably it had stayed exactly the same, with the same timeless delivery.
Have you ever wanted something so bad that in your mind you allowed it to be what you expected, even when you knew it was not? This was how my own cognitive dissonance played havoc on my conscious that night. For I realized something very disturbing as this man spoke with contempt.
George Carlin is not being funny. He is not telling jokes. In fact, George Carlin isn't actually funny.
His disturbing truth is such a blow to anyone-whom-might-be-listening's ego that the accepted response is a nervous laughter to match that of the crowd. I would bet that Carlin's last thought before he received his standing-ovation and final laughs and cheers for the night was that each and every audience member out there cheering, at one time during this routine tonight thought to him or herself: "Yeah… the asshole he's joking about right now is me…". I'd even imagine he could feel and almost taste the difference in tonal quality between those who laughed genuinely and those who laughed to cover up their horror and dissonance relating to Carlin's hyper-accurate satire.
For truly, no man has ever laid out the reality of the American way of life than did this man. No common blood man in his right mind can possibly think that anything Carlin stated about the actions and control by elite forces of the common man could be even close to funny. For George was revealing nothing but the rawest of reality, tearing it wide open, and relinquishing it upon the audience like a plague of truth. And I would imagine that George, if impossibly presented with this statement today, would simply and logically conclude that: 'this very reasonably must mean that none of them are in their right mind. My statements, that are not jokes but instead a guide to the revelation of hell on earth, are greeted with belly-laughing and idiotic group-think cheers by 90% of the population?'
And so I laughed miserable and false laughs all night, wanting to fit into the crowd, and sometimes without really smiling, while in my heart I was taking in everything this brilliant commentator projected as his world view. In short, as far as comedy routines go, this one was horrific. I could sense the same reaction throughout the arena; while much of the audience went through the familiar simulation of comedy. But his words rang true, and I couldn't help but notice the same disappointed sentiment traveling randomly throughout the audience.
Now, many years later, I know what I was feeling was not disappointment in a show that was not necessarily very funny, but instead I was empathizing with George's live emotional state. He never laughs at his own "jokes". He seldom tells any jokes, other than to cleverly end one of his painfully real appeals to reason and logic with an anecdotal happenstance.
No, the problem wasn't George's material, it was that his material was working on my soul… and it wasn't funny.
And so I ask you to take the time to do a little experiment on yourself, like I did.
Here is a video of Carlin's finest political satire and truth telling with laugh tracks added for effect. Click it and see if you laugh at his truth-telling. Perhaps the question "are you awake" fits nicely here, for those awakened to the truth of Carlin's words would never justify laughing at not only their own sick society-based disposition but the very sickness of society and the government that kills to protect that sickness.
Maybe it's just me, but I found this to be more sobering than any State of the Union speech ever delivered:
No smiles…
No laughs…
Just an agonizing presence and sobriety on stage mixed with hopeless comedic simulation with visions of a fat paycheck at the end. Here, truly was a man without hope, abandoning his faith in humanity long ago.
Now you might go watch the pain and contempt we call the comedy of Bill Hicks and see how it feels. I stopped laughing at him too.
This is the George Carlin sanity test – an experiment for the analysis of your own state of mind. I hope you passed, and I wish I could personally tell George I get it man… I finally get it. And you are not a funny man. Just a misunderstood brilliant prophet of the times.
–Clint Richardson (realitybloger.wordpress.com)
–Saturday, January 11th, 2014


text:
The Steelers activated veteran nose tackle Casey Hampton and veteran running back Rashard Mendenhall from the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List, the team announced today.
Hampton is in his 12th season with the Steelers and has played in 157 career games with 146 career starts. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Hampton was recovering from a knee injury in the offseason.
Mendenhall is in his fifth year with the Steelers after originally being the team's first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Mendenhall has two 1,000-yard rushing seasons and has amassed 3,367 yards rushing in his first four years. He was recovering from a knee injury that he suffered in the 2011 regular-season finale at Cleveland.


text:
[fr] Test et critique du téléphone Skype sans fil (pas wifi!) Dialog+ de Miglia. Franchement sympa et abordable, en plus!
***If you want the [review without the whole chatty story](http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/01/14/miglia-dialog-cordless-skype-phone/#dialogplus), scroll down.***
As is now public knowledge, my visit to San Francisco coincided with [MacWorld](http://macworldexpo.com/live/20/). ("Oh, you're going to SF for MacWorld?" — "Mac-what? MacWorld? What's that? Oooh…") This was nice, because it gave me the occasion to join the geekfest, discover [lynda.com](http://lynda.com), watch the [Leopard](http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/index.html) and [iPhone](http://www.apple.com/iphone/) demos, buy a pink "Mac Chick" cap, and last and lot least, hang around my IRC friend Victor's booth, which quite unexpectedly led to me walking off with a [Dialog+ cordless Skype/iChat handset](http://miglia.com/products/communication/dialogplus/index.html).
That booth was very obviously the most busy one in the row, and for a reason: [Miglia](http://miglia.com/) (drop the "g" when saying it, Italian-style) is a hardware company which make [a bunch of pretty cool toys](http://miglia.com/products/index.html) for Mac (and Windows!) users.
They have [digital TV stuff](http://miglia.com/products/video/digitaltv.html), which I'm unfortunately a bit deaf to these days, as wireless digital TV doesn't really work in Lausanne, and the way Swiss TV does "bicanal" (the thing that allows you to choose between dreadful dubbed versions and original versions) seems to be somewhat non-standard. At least it didn't work with [EyeTV](http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetvhybridna), which I tried and brought back to the store a few months back.
**Much more exciting for me: [cordless VOIP handsets](http://www.macworld.com/news/2007/01/12/migliavoip/index.php), and in particular the [Dialog+](http://miglia.com/products/communication/dialogplus/index.html). It's a Skype/iChat cordless handset.** I'm [using Skype more and more](http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2006/11/18/skype-mon-ordinateur-comme-centrale-telephonique/), and next best to a WiFi Skype phone (the geeky toy [I said I wanted for Christmas here](http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2006/12/13/ce-soir-scenes-de-menage/)) is a cordless one. Unfortunately, most (if not all) of the cordless handsets I've looked at (see the [Skype Shop](http://us.accessories.skype.com/direct/skypeusa/accessoriesList.jsp?acctype=8) for example) have big nasty clunky non-laptop-friendly base stations. Not this one. Have a look at how laptop-friendly this is:
And the price was nice too: $80 MacWorld price, $100 normal price.
Well, I was tempted. Very tempted. So tempted that I decided to buy it, after dragging Victor upstairs in the lobby where we could find wifi to try it out (I'm a bit picky about audio quality). On the way, we bumped into one of their PR (?) people, and a few seconds later I was eagerly saying "I'll blog it, I'll blog it!" at the prospect of being *given* the handset. Here for the disclaimer, then — but I would have bought it anyway 🙂
For the trouble, here's a nicely [hReview-formatted](http://microformats.org/wiki/hreview) review of the phone, after 24 hours or so of ownership and a couple of outgoing Skype calls. People who didn't care for the backdrop story should start here.
Miglia Dialog+ (DialogPlus) Skype/iChat Handset
Laptop-friendly Skype/iChat phone, light, nice sound quality and affordable price. Small USB dongle and recharges through USB too.
The first thing that stood out when I was shown this 100$ phone (80$ at MacWorld) is that instead of having an untransportable base-station, it has a USB key-like dongle which is easy to carry around with the handset. The handset itself is light, has good autonomy, and is recharged (3AAA batteries) with a pretty much standard USB cable, as shown in the picture. It's something I can imagine carrying around all the time in my computer bag.
You can scroll through your Skype and iChat contacts on the phone easily, and even scroll through the Skype contact list which is displayed on your computer from the phone (it's a bit eerie, as if the phone were a remote mouse or something). At first I wondered what the purpose of this feature was, but actually, even though the LCD display on the phone is very nice, it's still even nicer to go through your contacts on your computer screen.
Besides the up/down, green-red, and normal number keys you'd expect on a phone, the Dialog+ has only three "special" keys: one to display call history (you can use it to toggle between received, outgoing, and missed calls), one to display your contact list (use it to toggle between all contacts and online contacts), and a third button (clear/backspace) which allows you to take control of the Skype contact list on your computer. It's pretty easy to figure out what each button does and memorize it.
I personally don't use iChat much, particularly for voice (I use Adium for instant messaging, and unfortunately it doesn't do voice over IM), but I placed a couple of Skype calls to check the sound quality. My hearing is slightly impaired and I sometimes find that volume settings on phones don't allow me to listen at a comfortable level. Not the case here, I could hear the person I was speaking with very clearly. However, people on the other end do hear an echo if the volume is set too high, and have complained a bit about the audio quality they receive. This can be due to the quality of the Skype connection, but I'll try lending my phone to somebody and have them call me to hear for myself.
Setting up the phone was rather simple: close Skype, install the driver from the CD, pair the phone with the dongle by pressing the little square button on top of it. At first my phone said there was "No contact list", so I tried reinstalling the driver and re-opening/closing Skype, and it worked. Not quite sure what went wrong, but it fixed itself quite nicely. The instructions booklet is just the right thickness and contains clear explanations. I would, however, call this a "cordless" phone rather than "wire-free" — when I read that on the back of the phone, I went "wi-fi phone?!", which of course, is incorrect.
So, to sum it up: very happy about the toy and its design. I'll certainly be using it. I just unwittingly gave it its first crash test by kicking it off the sofa as I was writing this post, and it survived. According to the booklet, it has good autonomy. I still need to dig into the audio quality a little, and see how it works when I start walking about my flat with it (upto 25 meters range).
I was disappointed at first that I couldn't send text messages from it, but actually, that's not too bad: if I have the Dialog+, I have my computer nearby — and anyway, Skype text messages aren't always very reliable (for example, depending on the carrier, they don't give your own phone number as the "reply" number, and messages get lost).
Great job, Miglia — oh, and I nearly forgot: Miglia's interest being hardware sales, the phone comes with free software upgrades. For life. Neat!
Similar Posts:
- Skype and Address Book Integration Failure [en] (2006)
- Becoming a Professional Networker: Tags in Address Book OSX Needed! [en] (2008)
- Skype: mon ordinateur comme centrale téléphonique [en] (2006)
- Twitter Stops Sending SMS in Europe [en] (2008)
- Multimedia [en] (2006)
- Steph+Suw Podcast: First! [en] (2007)
- Nokia 6280 Shortcomings [en] (2007)
- Flickr and Dopplr: the Right Way to Import GMail Contacts [en] (2008)
- Lush in Lausanne [en] (2006)
- LIFT'07 Swiss TV Coverage [en] (2007)


text:
So, here's a nifty thing: One of my poems was selected to be handed out at Red Hen Press's Poetry Prom by poet Nicelle Davis, who coordinated a human Zoltar fortune-telling machine at the event. You know, Zoltar — like from the movie Big. (Apologies to anyone who was prematurely aged or turned into Tom Hanks due to receiving my poem.)
Anyway, here's a shot of the poem laid out all pretty (bottom left):
Click here and zoom for a bigger version.
Thanks to Nicelle and Red Hen Press for including me!


text:
Office of Safety and Security
Cambridge Rindge & Latin School
459 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02141
Program Description
Some young people are faced with very real and difficult periods in their lives sometimes resulting in truancy, behavioral problems and criminal activity. The Court Liaison assists students, families and school staff with these issues by working through the judiciary system, police and probation.
Children cannot learn if they do not come to school. The Court Liaison files Children in Need of Services (CHINS) to address Truancy issues and Habitual Offenders (HSO). When students commit crimes or are victims of criminal activity, this office works with the criminal justice system.
Contact Us
Office of Safety & Security
Cambridge Rindge & Latin School, Room R103
459 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02138
Alicia Bairos, Interim Director


text:
balm, best, beta-carotene, Brazilian purple clay, brightens, centre court, Citrus essential oils, cleansing mask, décolleté, Decleor Energising Smoothing Cream, Decleor Green Mandarin Sun-Kissed Glow Cream, deep cleansing therapy, elderberry, Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask, Elemis Superfood Berry Boost Mask, eliminating signs, English rose, fatigue, Galangal extract, game, gin and tonic, Ginseng, grim, grime, hot and bothered, hyaluronic acid, kiwi fruit, lemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Body Cream, light, limb, loving, lush, luxurious body cream, macadamia oil, make-up, omega-rich, omega-rich super berry complex, pollution, potent, purifying mask, radiant glow, revitalises, rich, running, set and match, shower, side, silky-smooth, SPF15, starflower, strawberries, strawberries and cream, sun, super berry complex, super-smooth, t-zones, tennis, tennis shoes, tones, up to speed, volley, Wimbledon
With Wimbledon just around the corner, it's time for strawberries and cream, gin and tonic and let's not forget the tennis.
At Pure Beauty, we sell some first-class products that help ensure your skin is as super smooth as the winning action on centre court.
If you want to volley into sensational skin, the Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask is for you. This isn't just a cleansing mask but a refining one too that is rich in strawberries and kiwi fruit. Left on for 10 minutes, once or twice a week, this deep cleansing therapy revitalises, brightens and nourishes even the dullest of complexions
The Decleor Energising Smoothing Cream is as light as the best tennis shoes and comes with an SPF 15 so that skin is protected from the sun if it does come out to play. Galangal extract reduces the signs of fine lines while potent ginseng tones and visibly brightens the skin, eliminating signs of fatigue, which is great if your game isn't quite up to speed.
If you are going for game, set and match, there is no doubt in our minds that you need the Elemis Superfood Berry Boost Mask on your side. This purifying mask comes complete with Brazilian purple clay and an omega-rich super berry complex that not only balances the skin but mattifies tricky t-zones too. In less time than it takes to run up Henman Hill, this mask will draw out impurities so that skin is smooth, healthy and hydrated.
Given that Wimbledon is in the city, after a day outside, you will love the Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm. This powerful, deep cleansing balm removes make-up, grime, and pollution thanks to a blend of English rose, elderberry, starflower, and padina pavonica. Skin is left feeling nourished and soothed, with a radiant glow. For best results, warm a little balm in your hands, smooth over your face, neck and décolleté and after gently massaging into your skin, rinse away and love the skin you are now in.
If running around in the sun isn't your thing, but you'd like a tennis players' glow, how about trying the Decleor Green Mandarin Sun-Kissed Glow Cream? This fantastic day cream helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles and gives you a sun-kissed glow at the same time. Citrus essential oils have been blended with hyaluronic acid and beta-carotene for a winning combo that re-energises tired looking skin.
All players get hot and bothered so after a great game and a cool shower, the Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Body Cream is a limb loving 'go to' product. This luxurious body cream has been enriched with macadamia oil and fragranced with frangipani flowers which together, leave skin silky smooth and smelling lush.
For more details on how you can get your skin match ready, get in touch today and we would love to help.
Team Pure Beauty.


text:
An eBook: A Practical Guide to Machine Appliqué
For several months I've been writing a collection of patterns involving machine appliqué (they'll hopefully be released very soon), however, when it came to writing the appliqué aspect of the pattern I found that I became so intent on wanting to convey all the proper techniques for successful appliqué that it would have completely ruined the flow of the pattern for anyone already experienced with it.
That's when it became apparent to me that a dedicated, stand-alone mini-book about machine appliqué was something which I felt passionate about writing. The result of this is a 26-page instantly downloadable PDF eBook which is intended for hand-holding a complete beginner through every aspect of the process. At all stages there are practical samples which I've created especially for this book to illustrate my words and demonstrate the different techniques. The book doesn't simply tell you how; it always explains why you should do things in a particular way because, to me, that feels like a deeper way of learning that gives a better springboard with which to spiral away with your own creativity. The scope of the book should enable one to quickly move from successfully appliquéing one-piece simple images, to creating more complex works.
I've always found appliqué a hugely enjoyable way to add interest to whatever sewing project I might be working on and have used it to embellish quilt tops, t-shirts, pencil cases, pincushions and have even created a clock face using the technique. I'm hoping that for someone new to appliqué (or anyone who struggles to get the results they've been hoping for) my enthusiasm for the technique will be infectious and that with thorough guidance anyone attempting it will be able to get straight on with the fun of it, with much of the trial and error already smoothed away.
The eBook covers:
- How to appliqué using different stitches: starting with a basic straight stitch; followed by a zigzag stitch; and finally a dense satin stitch (demonstrating different width stitches for the latter two)
- Suggested machine settings (including tension) for each of the above stitches
- Troubleshooting photos to help you achieve a good finish for the slightly trickier satin stitch which can be hard to execute perfectly on non-digital machines
- Two ways of stabilising your fabric to give a perfectly smooth finish to your appliqué
- How to use fusible web to keep your appliqué pieces exactly where you want them as you sew
- Appliquéing using a template
- Appliquéing using a flower or shape cut directly from a piece of fabric
- How to deal with mirror images if you choose to appliqué letters or numbers
- Specialist machine feet for the appliqué enthusiast
- How to guide the fabric as you sew
- How to secure your stitches without them being visible
- Techniques for neatly negotiating convex and concave curves when using a zigzag or satin stitch
- How to create order when creating an appliqué made of many small pieces
- Two basic shape templates are included which you may print out to practise on if you wish
- Every aspect is fully illustrated with diagrams and photographs
- It assumes you are using a basic sewing machine, so no fancy electronics are required for any of the stitches (although lucky you if you have them!)
- The eBook costs just £4 (which is just under $5.50 US dollars/around €5.20 Euros/about 7.60 AU Dollars)
- You can download the eBook immediately and either view it on your computer or print it out on your home printer.
- This eBook comes in PDF form.
- Payment is completely secure through PayPal. As ever, you don't need a PayPal account to pay for this book - PayPal accepts credit and debit cards. Once you've paid, PayPal will take you to a page where you can download the book instantly, by clicking on the link provided. You will also receive an email containing the same link. The book must be downloaded within 48 hours of payment - after this time the link expires. Because of the non-returnable nature of an instant download, this eBook is non-refundable.
If you make anything as a result of using my guide, then I'd love it if you wanted to email me a photo of your sewing or you can drop it into the Flickr pool here.


text:
You are currently browsing the daily archive for February 27, 2010.
Tugster last captured snow days here and here 13 months ago; this year has brought inches more. Thanks to Jed for the foto below from Thursday afternoon.
Modifications to the routine forced by heavy weather bring unlikely revelations, like this metro NY area newspaper editor reading his poetry (yes poetry . . . from a no-nonsense editor!!) about snow that you can enjoy here. Low-brow?
Sometimes snow is just snow; and bad weather is unadulterated pain, but . .. other times snow might get us thinking about other stuff.
Claude McKay sees in snow flakes love found and lost: "Throughout the afternoon I watched them there, Snow-fairies falling, falling from the sky, Whirling fantastic in the misty air, Contending fierce for space supremacy. And they flew down a mightier force at night, As though in heaven there was revolt and riot, And they, frail things had taken panic flight Down to the calm earth seeking peace and quiet. I went to bed and rose at early dawn To see them huddled together in a heap, Each merged into the other upon the lawn, Worn out by the sharp struggle, fast asleep. The sun shone brightly on them half the day, By night they stealthily had stol'n away.
And suddenly my thoughts then turned to you Who came to me upon a winter's night, When snow-sprites round my attic window flew, Your hair disheveled, eyes aglow with light. My heart was like the weather when you came, The wanton winds were blowing loud and long; But you, with joy and passion all aflame, You danced and sang a lilting summer song. I made room for you in my little bed, Took covers from the closet fresh and warm, A downful pillow for your scented head, And lay down with you resting in my arm. You went with Dawn. You left me ere the day, The lonely actor of a dreamy play." High brow?
Anyone feel inspired? A poem . . . 60 seconds or less? Snow on the water? If you go, I'll go …. I'll even film my reading at one of my favorite waterfront offices. High brow or low brow or no brow . . . no problem.
Until then, I hope you enjoyed the same foto of Meagan Ann, increasingly manipulated. Here she appeared in the 2009 Tugboat race with her Viking crew, and here (See Youtube at end.) she sports in nose-to-nose pushing with Nathan E. Stewart.
Again, foto thanks to Jed although I'm still looking for more.


text:
Support us:
Site Index
Join 81 other subscribers
Social Networks
Twitter feed: @wulfrunasufiTweets by wulfrunasufi
Find us on Facebook
Disclaimer: External Links
Links to external, or third party websites, are provided solely for visitors' convenience. Links taken to other sites are done so at your own risk and Wulfruna Sufi Association accepts no liability for any linked sites or their content. When you access an external website, keep in mind that Wulfruna Sufi Association has no control over its content.
Any link from the Wulfruna Sufi Association website to an external website does not imply or mean that Wulfruna Sufi Association endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content or the use of such website. Wulfruna Sufi Association does not give any representation regarding the quality, safety, suitability, or reliability of any external websites or any of the content or materials contained in them. It is important for users to take necessary precautions, especially to ensure appropriate safety from viruses, worms, Trojan horses and other potentially destructive items.
When visiting external websites, users should review those websites' privacy policies and other terms of use to learn more about, what, why and how they collect and use any personally identifiable information.
My Visitor Map
Website Stats
- 259,823 hits
Copyright Notice:© Wulfruna Sufi Association and/or the authors of contributed content. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author(s) is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that the text is not edited for any reason without express and written permission from the author(s) and full and clear credit is given to the author(s), with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Tag Archives: years
Happy Birthday
Posted in Allah, association, blessing, community, Dervish, faith, God, Islam, peace, spirituality, sufism Tagged 50000, birthday, Britain, England, enlightenment, happy, harmony, hits, Islam, peace, spirit, spiritual, spirituality, sufism, UK, United Kingdom, visits, West Midlands, Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Sufi Association, years Leave a comment


text:
You can enjoy porn Hot fuck with naive neighbor for free. Best hd online Hot fuck with naive neighbor sex video for mobile and pc. Just select the category, tag and enjoy.
You can watch and enjoy porn videos on our site. The videos on our site are porn videos in 4K, HD quality. You can list thousands of porn videos by selecting your category or tag right now. Full xnxx - sex video - Full Sexy Video - seks porno - xxx videos - free porn


text:
Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyre
Click to enlarge
The Schwalbe website says that "Punctures are a memory" and that has been our experience with these tyres. The Marathon Plus bicycle tyre has unequalled puncture resistance, yet still rolls better than many tyres including the classic Marathon. We've used them on our own town bikes for many years.
These tyres also have applications on higher performance bikes. In the winter or for touring, I use these tyres on my Mango velomobile, as repairing punctures in cold and wet conditions isn't fun, and with the Marathon Plus tyres I've never had a puncture.
The only real drawback of the Marathon Plus is that the ride is a little harsh compared with the Normal Marathon in the same width. It's also available in fewer sizes so if the size you want is not shown here, try the Schwalbe Marathon instead.
To avoid confusion in size, we use the ETRTO tyre sizes. These consist of two numbers giving width and rim diameter in millimetres. If you are buying replacement tyres then your existing tyres will have these numbers on their side-wall. In many cases, a slightly wider tyre can be fitted for more comfort, but take care of clearance for mudguards, brakes and frame tubes.
The Schwalbe Marathon Plus has both a reflective sidewall for safety and a dynamo track to optimise working with a dynamo lighting system.
The 37-622 size is ideal for most Dutch style town bikes and tourers.
If unsure about what tyre size you need, please read our guide to choosing the correct tyre size.
Your Review: Note: HTML is not translated! Maximum 2000 characters.
Rating: Bad Good
Enter the code in the box below without XX:


text:
SPOILER ALERT-if you plan on seeing Mama (2013) on DVD but have not done so yet, it's probably best to save watching this BTS footage till after the movie. More than one commenter on the Wired post said it sort of, well, spoiled the illusion.
Many of us who have been terrified by the movie for months, on the other hand, are more than happy to see that it was an illusion…
Well, we WISH we could take credit for any part of this, or just post it directly, but it's a Wired.com Exclusive clip from the Javier Botet featurette on the Mama DVD/Blu-Ray. Click the big red link below for the never-before-seen footage!
Watch Jessica Chastain Kiss Mama in This Exclusive Clip/Underwire/Wired.com
SEE! Proof the CGI was mainly limited to the hair/clothes floating effect!
SEE! The only actor who could portray Mama in the feature film and give you the worst nightmares!
SEE! Javier Botet out of make-up, being interviewed, to possibly help you sleep a little better by reminding you it's just a movie.*
Not to mention some very creepy concept art (it must be a co-incidence that one of the drawings looks like a relative of the Attic Monster/Medieros Girl from REC and REC2), Botet wandering around the set semi-casually in full makeup and costume (other than the CGI sensors/trackers wrapped around his bald head, making him look like the world's scariest Christmas decoration), and we start to see him being swooped around on wires before the clip fades out. We do get to see over two minutes of amazing, never-before-seen footage, though. He does that horrifying, speedy crawl backwards, then they (apparently) reversed it to make it look extra creepy and unnatural.
You can watch the entire Javier Botet 'bringing Mama to life' (or death, as it were) featurette when the Mama DVD/Blu-Ray releases on May 7th… just in time for Mother's Day.
*This will help, until the next time it's the middle of the night, you can't sleep, and you hear a strange noise.
Related articles
- Yo "Mama" (2013) DVD/Blu-ray Release Date is May 7th – PACKED With Bonus Features! We've Got The Details Here (horrorboom.com)
- DVDs coming out May 7 (newsobserver.com)


text:
The Little Giant 511082 ES50D-SMPX-LG is a pre-assembled simplex system. It consists of a sewage ejector pump and a basin. This system collects sewage, effluent, drainage or seepage water in its huge basin and pumps it to a pipe on a higher level. This pump has a discharge size of 2" (51 mm) and it can handle up to 2" solids. It has a 1/2 hp permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor with thermal overload protection. This Little Giant 511082 ES50D-SMPX-LG Simplex System can pump 120 GPM at 5' head pressure and up to 48 GPM at 15' head pressure. It features a vertical diaphragm switch. This pump comes with a 10' cord. The voltage needed to run this pump is 115V single phase. Its 20" x 30" polyethylene basin has ribs for added strength and it comes with a structural foam cover. For more details, you can refer to the specification sheet. The Little Giant 511082 ES50D-SMPX-LG Simplex System is covered by a limited warranty for a period of 24 months. This product bears the CSA mark for meeting the standards. Little Giant has proven their excellence for over 70 years by producing reliable pump solutions, packaged system options, and accessories.
|Little Giant
|Mpn #


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rudy Giuliani, the front-runner in the Republican presidential race in Florida, is viewed by his party's primary voters there as the best candidate to lead the fight against terrorism, a survey released Wednesday says.
Rudy Giuliani is the leading candidate to fight terrorism in the minds of Florida GOP voters, a poll found.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll conducted Sunday and Monday showed Giuliani, who is often introduced as "America's mayor" for his role after the September 11, 2001, attacks, was viewed by 53 percent of poll respondents as the best candidate to address terrorism.
The former New York mayor enjoys a large lead over his opponents on the issue. Nineteen percent of respondents viewed Sen. John McCain of Arizona as the best candidate, while 10 percent picked former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee. Fourteen percent chose one of the other candidates.
The poll found that Giuliani would finish first if the Florida Republican primary were held today. Giuliani would garner support from 38 percent of likely primary voters, ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 17 percent. McCain and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson tied for third place with 11 percent apiece.
On other issues besides terrorism Giuliani does not fare as well. Giuliani was viewed as the best candidate to handle the war in Iraq by 33 percent of of those polled, just 1 percentage point more than McCain. Thompson was viewed as the best candidate on the issue by 10 percent of respondents. All other candidates were in single digits.
On economic issues, 34 percent of respondents viewed Giuliani as best, while 27 percent chose Romney. Ten percent thought Thompson would be the best candidate to handle economic issues.
The remaining candidates were in the single digits. On the issue of illegal immigration, a hot-button topic in the Republican race, Giuliani led McCain by 10 points -- 27 to 17 percent. Thompson was at 12 percent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was at 11 percent and Romney was at 10 percent. Interviews were done with 300 likely voters in the Florida Republican primary.
The poll had a sampling error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points. E-mail to a friend
All About Rudolph Giuliani • Terrorism • Florida


text:
Stream of Consciousness is the name applied specifically to a mode of narration that undertakes to reproduce, without a narrator's intervention, the full spectrum and continuous flow of a character's mental process" (Abrams 299).
I'm leery to call what follows as stream of consciousness. But this is what my internal dialogue looks like. It's innate for me to add periods and press the return key, even if it is in my Notes section. Does that mean it's not stream of consciousness? Here it is. You be the judge.
I write about the little things because it's the little things that keep us up at night. We wonder why we didn't get the party invite, some of us even at 40+ still wonder. We worry about how our voices sound and how we look in video. You know who you are.
I write about the little things because they turn into big things. Little indiscretions turn into major experiences that we wonder how tf we got into. Small slides of behavior turn into whole acts of disrespect.
I write about the little hints because that's what's relatable. I save the big things for books: abuse, drugs, flaws of Christianity. Yes. The little things are daily. It's where annoying coworker meets zen philosophy. It's where wrong job choice meets law of attraction. I want to have discussions in the middle of those spaces. I want to know why you haven't talked to your dad in 12 years and I'll tell you what happened with mine. Hmmm…is that little or big? I guess it depends on the size of the hole in our heart.
After re-writing this as-is, I've decided it is stream of consciousness for me. You see if I were writing a final, public version, I wouldn't use wonder twice. I would revise hints to things and probably not use things so much. I would capitalize Zen and Law of Attraction. I would have used the phrase "Christianity's flaws," not "flaw of Christianity" because one rolls off the tongue and the other doesn't.
I would've titled this "The Little Things" or "Why I Write." And I would've given more examples. For instance, I write about why people have a fifth drink when they should've stopped at two; three more drinks can turn a small decision into a fiasco or a lifetime regret. I would keep the rhetorical question in the end and add this: what I've learned is they're all little things. What we choose to hold on to and how we decide to respond makes them seem larger than life.
Also, if I were being all formulaic and precise, I would end with an MLA citation for that beginning quote 😉
Looking forward to hearing what you think about stream of consciousness or the topic.