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Published on April 18th, 2012 | by Jules IKEAHacker
17BYGEL flowers
Materials: BYGEL + NJUTA + some nuts and bolts
Description: Some day I noticed that the hook of the colorful BYGEL cups fits exactly on the guard rails in front of my window.
First I planned to fill them with real flowers but I do not particularly have green fingers. So I needed a more durable solution.
During a second visit to IKEA I got the idea to use the colorful NJUTA shower sponges as flowers.
The result is a very colorful everlasting window decoration.
How I made them:
- I used a 40cm screw thread as the stem
- next I melted a hole in the bottom BYGEL cups that fits the thread
- the screw thread is fixed with washers and nuts
- I removed the cord from the NJUTA sponges and fixed the sponges with some hot clue onto the thread
- very important: beware of not putting the flowers up in a boring pattern and keep the colors mixed!
~ Patrick Mast, Amsterdam
17 Responses to BYGEL flowers
Great idea, I bet they look great from the street level as well – Are they attached to your guard rails in anyway apart from the hook? If not I would put a small hole in the back and tie them on with some fishing wire or clear plastic string in case the wind took them off.
oh, that ties in nicely with yesterday's window herbs hack. I bet you could use the BYGEL for planters, too.
Though i do really like the loofahs as flowers. So bright!
my balcony is too windy for that but it is a great idea!!
flowers for black thumb
How fun! Love the cheerful effect of the translucent Bygel. Using bath sponges instead of plastic flowers: Brilliant!
This looks so cool. And it gives a interesting view from outside. Very clever.
For safety you might tie them to the rail wit a tierip. Punch an extra hole in the bygel, put tie rip around
Wow! You didn't just create a hack, you turned it into a fun art project!
They remind me of truffula trees! Very cool looking!
This is too cute! Wow!!
Trieste is a too windy town, but your idea is absolutely fantastic!!
do you use them to collect rain water for watering your real flowers? Seriously, what do you do with the rain water in the buckets?
there are hole in those buckets, i see in the pictures.
northern design, always good looking -
I think this looks brilliant. A contender for 2012′s Hack of the Year?
I love this. *_* And it must look great from the street and other buildings.
i've seen them..
and i can say they also
look brilliant if you're
a passerby. -
These flower look gorgeous, I guess you put a smile on the face of everybody down the street!


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$18 for a Rattan Scarf Hanger - Shipping Included ($39.99 Value)
Rattan Scarf Hanger - Shipping Included
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Limit 1 per customer, may purchase 1 additional as a gift. Shipping is included. Product will be shipped to address entered at checkout within 2-5 weeks after purchase- no voucher redemption is necessary. Valid for continental US residents only; Cannot ship to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Canada or PO Boxes. Please call 1.800.990.6771 for inquiries. Not valid with other offers. Will receive a randomly chosen color.

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Intercourse with the Canaanites forbidden. (1-11) Promises if they were obedient. (12-26)
Verses 1-11 Here is a strict caution against all friendship and fellowship with idols and idolaters. Those who are in communion with God, must have no communication with the unfruitful works of darkness. Limiting the orders to destroy, to the nations here mentioned, plainly shows that after ages were not to draw this into a precedent. A proper understanding of the evil of sin, and of the mystery of a crucified Saviour, will enable us to perceive the justice of God in all his punishments, temporal and eternal. We must deal decidedly with our lusts that war against our souls; let us not show them any mercy, but mortify, and crucify, and utterly destroy them. Thousands in the world that now is, have been undone by ungodly marriages; for there is more likelihood that the good will be perverted, than that the bad will be converted. Those who, in choosing yoke-fellows, keep not within the bounds of a profession of religion, cannot promise themselves helps meet for them.
Verses 12-26 We are in danger of having fellowship with the works of darkness if we take pleasure in fellowship with those who do such works. Whatever brings us into a snare, brings us under a curse. Let us be constant to our duty, and we cannot question the constancy of God's mercy. Diseases are God's servants; they go where he sends them, and do what he bids them. It is therefore good for the health of our bodies, thoroughly to mortify the sin of our souls; which is our rule of duty. Yet sin is never totally destroyed in this world; and it actually prevails in us much more than it would do, if we were watchful and diligent. In all this the Lord acts according to the counsel of his own will; but that counsel being hid from us, forms no excuse for our sloth and negligence, of which it is in no degree the cause. We must not think, that because the deliverance of the church, and the destruction of the enemies of the soul, are not done immediately, therefore they will never be done. God will do his own work in his own method and time; and we may be sure that they are always the best. Thus corruption is driven out of the hearts of believers by little and little. The work of sanctification is carried on gradually; but at length there will be a complete victory. Pride, security, and other sins that are common effects of prosperity, are enemies more dangerous than beasts of the field, and more apt to increase upon us.
Deuteronomy 7:1-26 . ALL COMMUNION WITH THE NATIONS FORBIDDEN.
1. the Hittites--This people were descended from Heth, the second son of Canaan ( Genesis 10:15 ), and occupied the mountainous region about Hebron, in the south of Palestine.
the Girgashites--supposed by some to be the same as the Gergesenes ( Matthew 8:28 ), who lay to the east of Lake Gennesareth; but they are placed on the west of Jordan (Josh 24:11), and others take them for a branch of the large family of the Hivites, as they are omitted in nine out of ten places where the tribes of Canaan are enumerated; in the tenth they are mentioned, while the Hivites are not.
the Amorites--descended from the fourth son of Canaan. They occupied, besides their conquest on the Moabite territory, extensive settlements west of the Dead Sea, in the mountains.
the Canaanites--located in Phoenicia, particularly about Tyre and Sidon, and being sprung from the oldest branch of the family of Canaan, bore his name.
the Perizzites--that is, villagers, a tribe who were dispersed throughout the country and lived in unwalled towns.
the Hivites--who dwelt about Ebal and Gerizim, extending towards Hermon. They are supposed to be the same as the Avims.
the Jebusites--resided about Jerusalem and the adjacent country.
seven nations greater and mightier than thou--Ten were formerly mentioned ( Genesis 15:19-21 ). But in the lapse of near five hundred years, it cannot be surprising that some of them had been extinguished in the many intestine feuds that prevailed among those warlike tribes. It is more than probable that some, stationed on the east of Jordan, had fallen under the victorious arms of the Israelites.
2-6. thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them--This relentless doom of extermination which God denounced against those tribes of Canaan cannot be reconciled with the attributes of the divine character, except on the assumption that their gross idolatry and enormous wickedness left no reasonable hope of their repentance and amendment. If they were to be swept away like the antediluvians or the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, as incorrigible sinners who had filled up the measure of their iniquities, it mattered not to them in what way the judgment was inflicted; and God, as the Sovereign Disposer, had a right to employ any instruments that pleased Him for executing His judgments. Some think that they were to be exterminated as unprincipled usurpers of a country which God had assigned to the posterity of Eber and which had been occupied ages before by wandering shepherds of that race, till, on the migration of Jacob's family into Egypt through the pressure of famine, the Canaanites overspread the whole land, though they had no legitimate claim to it, and endeavored to retain possession of it by force. In this view their expulsion was just and proper. The strict prohibition against contracting any alliances with such infamous idolaters was a prudential rule, founded on the experience that "evil communications corrupt good manners" [ 1 Corinthians 15:33 ], and its importance or necessity was attested by the unhappy examples of Solomon and others in the subsequent history of Israel.
5. thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, &c.--The removal of the temples, altars, and everything that had been enlisted in the service, or might tend to perpetuate the remembrance, of Canaanite idolatry, was likewise highly expedient for preserving the Israelites from all risk of contamination. It was imitated by the Scottish Reformers, and although many ardent lovers of architecture and the fine arts have anathematized their proceedings as vandalism, yet there was profound wisdom in the favorite maxim of Knox--"pull down the nests, and the rooks will disappear."
6-10. For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God--that is, set apart to the service of God, or chosen to execute the important purposes of His providence. Their selection to this high destiny was neither on account of their numerical amount (for, till after the death of Joseph, they were but a handful of people); nor because of their extraordinary merits (for they had often pursued a most perverse and unworthy conduct); but it was in consequence of the covenant or promise made with their pious forefathers; and the motives that led to that special act were such as tended not only to vindicate God's wisdom, but to illustrate His glory in diffusing the best and most precious blessings to all mankind.
11-26. Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day--In the covenant into which God entered with Israel, He promised to bestow upon them a variety of blessings so long as they continued obedient to Him as their heavenly King. He pledged His veracity that His infinite perfections would be exerted for this purpose, as well as for delivering them from every evil to which, as a people, they would be exposed. That people accordingly were truly happy as a nation, and found every promise which the faithful God made to them amply fulfilled, so long as they adhered to that obedience which was required of them. See a beautiful illustration of this in Psalms 144:12-15 .
15. the evil diseases of Egypt--(See Exodus 15:26 ). Besides those with which Pharaoh and his subjects were visited, Egypt has always been dreadfully scourged with diseases. The testimony of Moses is confirmed by the reports of many modern writers, who tell us that, notwithstanding its equal temperature and sereneness, that country has some indigenous maladies which are very malignant, such as ophthalmia, dysentery, smallpox, and the plague.
20. Moreover the Lord thy God will send the hornet among
22. lest the beasts of the field increase upon Ruler could have given them possession of the promised land at once. But, the unburied corpses of the enemy and the portions of the country that might have been left desolate for a while, would have drawn an influx of dangerous beasts. This evil would be prevented by a progressive conquest and by the use of ordinary means, which God would bless.


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Tested by and for Women. Specific last, collar shape and sole hardness based on Women's input.
Climadry® bootie construction keeps your foot dry for at least 8 hours, in the weather conditions under which the product is expected to perform for this category.
A perfect combination of the right compounds, the cutting-edge geometry and the appropriate density to provide the best winter grip.
Provides excellent step-in cushioning
Specific lines designed to appeal to Women
The mix of 3 materials in an extra thin construction protects up to -18°C / -1°F


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Have you ever been envious of a rider's silky smooth cadence? We'd wager big bucks it came from riding rollers. And with the Nashbar Parabolic Rollers you'll have the perfect means to sharpen fitness, improve bike handling skills, as well as eliminate any roughness from your pedal stroke. As an added bonus, especially for those totally new to roller riding, the parabolic-shaped drums with ramped edges are the ideal introduction as their design makes it quite easy to stay in the center of the rollers while riding. Sealed bearings ensure super smooth operation while still being quiet enough to enjoy your favorite tunes or videos without cranking the volume. But don't think of using rollers just for indoor training, take them to a race and find out how awesome they are for getting warmed up!
Riding rollers is a perfect way to keep your mind occupied and engaged throughout a workout - balance and riding in a straight line are key - while the fitness and buttery pedal stroke will pay dividends when you hit the roads or trails outdoors.
(based on 22 reviews)
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So far so good
By Jason
from Miami Beach, FL
About Me Casual/ Recreational
Comments about Nashbar Parabolic Rollers:
It took me about 20 minutes to get the hang of it, but then it became second nature. It folds up for storage. Very stable. Smooth ride.
Comment on this review
(0 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Plastic hinges break
By DrSmile
from New York, NY
About Me Avid Cyclist
After 2 years of frequent use, the plastic hinges broke. If you don't ride or sweat on these a lot I'm sure they'd last a lot longer. I put a few thousand miles on them for sure. If the hinges were metal and the nuts and bolts were stainless this would be a bargain. Nashbar did say they would give me a gift card for the purchase price if I sent them back, but I chose to make my own frame from wood instead.
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
By KW
from St Louis, MO
Day 1 was a little hard to use...had to build some confidence. Day 2...much better, rode for about 15 minutes. I've now had these rollers almost a month and ride them pretty much an hour to an hour and a half every day. I'll be in much better shape in March when I can get outside!
(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Great stuff high quality product
By Pedalin Dave
from Lancaster, Pa
About Me Competitive Cyclist
I use this in my basement when the weather outside is not good for riding. Far more engaging and entertaining that a stationary trainer. The parabolic shape has saved me from more than a few possible spills, great product easy to learn on
By Bruno
from CT
I was skeptical at first...I bought my first road bike spring of 2013 and was only able to log about 125 miles on the road (I do hit the trails as well on the mountain bike and was pressured to buy a road bike) but getting on these was literally a 2 minute learning curve. I set it up in the basement in a door way and rode the first few miles with just regular shoes...now I ride clipped in and I even set up an old tube tv about 6 feet in front of me to help pass the time. Setup was quick...had to move the front roller foward, feels durable, rides smooth...keep the tires above 100psi. When you get close to the edge of the rollers you'll hear it as its a smooth finish and the rubber from the tire will squeel/squelch. Over all I'm happy and hope to benefit from them over the winter season.
Great Product!
By MattK
from Seattle
Very easy to set up. Since this is my first experience with a trainer, there's a bit of a learning curve to riding on it. I've found the flanges on the rollers help me stay on. Adjusting the size is easy, but do take note of the maximum wheelbase.
Great buy
By pennytone
from flushing toilet NY
This is my first time ever using rollers so I don't have anything to compare it to. I have no complaints about this item, they are quiet which is important to me because I live in an apartment building. They also come fully assembled, the spacing was perfect for my bike, I ride a 52 but the rollers are adjustable for a very wide range of sizes.
Great value for money
By Russ dar
from St louis
Great product reasonably priced was easy to set up , rollers take a little getting used to but after a couple of hours not bad at all , these are good rollers for a beginner who would rather be outside but can now ride inside
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Great Rollers
By Jim E
from Grottoes Va
These rollers are perfect! I get a great workout AND improve form without traffic and hill hassles. Any instability or lacking in form are the part of the rider... Not these rollers. Take the time to learn to use them. I'm glad I did!
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
A slightly higher end roller alternative
By Dirtroadie
from Indianapolis, IN
Since we have cold winters here, I bought the Nashbar parabolic rollers for use when the temps are below freezing or when the roads are wet and nasty. There is almost no assembly required and Nashbar delivered insanely fast--much quicker than their estimate. It is attractive and colorful and it seems to be well made. Follow the manual and set the wheelbase adjustment carefully. The parabolic shaped rollers do help prevent accidentally drifting off the side of the unit, especially when you are learning. The downside is that the parabolic lips hang down fairly low and will probably rub against most carpets. This can be dealt with by placing a piece of plywood or other support under the unit if using it on carpet is necessary. All roller units are fairly tough on tires, so I would heartily recommend against using high end tires. Resistance is not adjustable, but for my bike and tires, the resistance seems to be slightly higher than average outside riding conditions, and I think that is a good place for it to be.
Item No. » BN-PR11


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He's from Spain and dude is no joke when it comes to playing tennis. Even though he lost to Roger Federer, it wasn't by much.
Here's his official website: http://www.vamosrafael.com
I hope
He's from Spain and dude is no joke when it comes to playing tennis. Even though he lost to Roger Federer, it wasn't by much.
Here's his official website: http://www.vamosrafael.com
Face wise he's alright. I do love his body though. It looks like he's got a nice ass!
"Maybe we're not supposed to be happy. Maybe gratitude has nothing to do with joy. Maybe being grateful means recognizing what you have for what it is. Appreciating small victories. Admiring the struggle it takes to simply be human. Maybe, we're thankful for the familiar things we know. And maybe we're thankful for the things we'll never know. At the end of the day, the fact that we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate." -Grey's Anatomy
He does have a nice ass, he kept pulling his shorts out of it during the match today on cbs, his shorts were too long though...he is very cute, but at 18, he'a bit too young...I'll give him a few years.....
I know! i hate those damn pants/shorts he wears. I can't stand them and for some reason it seems like the spanish men are doing it for some reason because Feliciano Lopez is also wearing those ugly things. (He's another hottie btw!)
"Maybe we're not supposed to be happy. Maybe gratitude has nothing to do with joy. Maybe being grateful means recognizing what you have for what it is. Appreciating small victories. Admiring the struggle it takes to simply be human. Maybe, we're thankful for the familiar things we know. And maybe we're thankful for the things we'll never know. At the end of the day, the fact that we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate." -Grey's Anatomy
is Rafael related to Rosario Nadal? (question for our spanish jubbers)....
He is totally hot! Nice muscle buns, a good bulge in the pants, what more could ya' ask for?
You should post some fake nude pics of him one day, so we can see his nude stature. He's 6'1, so he should be pretty muscled up to blow somebody, or to rub his '12 inch penis around your rectum. He'll make it nice and cummy!
no. not at all.
Exactly what SoFine169 stated.
Rafeal is hot in those outfits he wears like to have peak in those shorts and see what size uncut cock is there.
hate the pants. his face is just ok... love the body.
its just about the ass. thats it.
Not just hot but sizzling!
He's playing great tennis over in Rome this week!
nadal hot?? whatta fuck!!??? are u fucking kidding me? come on!!!!!!
lovin' cock 24/7
He's decent looking, he's a pretty good tennis player, and he's got a GREAT ass.
I've got some decent pics of him in my tennis gallery that shows off his best ASSet.
At the risk of sounding like a dirty old man (tho' I AM , I think he's WAAAY hot; face, ass, biceps, hair, the whole "package". The girlie pants have got to go, but at least he & Moya -- how'd ya like to have a 3sum with those two?? -- are popularizing the sleeveless look, AND have the guns to show off. Guys like them shouldn't even wear clothes...
His face is kind of horsy looking (extreme features) but the body and ass are smokin'!!!!
i agree doetim =)
No, he's not .He's just okay okay. He is probably the only player who wears a cut-sleeved shirt and still look unhot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He's smokin!
It's a bit like Roddick. Both have almost plain faces in photographs, but when you see them playing on television, I dunno, it puts their face in context or something, and they are a lot more handsome and charasmatic.
Also, Nadal's ass is a miracle.
Apologies to Wilehart1978. Raffy was indeed 18 when that post was made back in April 2005. LOL Ooops....
Nadal is one of the hottest guys around...I'll admit that his face is not for everybody, but his body is awesome. The best part, though, is to see him play..he has so much energy...
Here's a pic of him that I love
I'm glad Nadal is out of the open. Youzhny is much better looking.
he has one of the most unfortunate faces i've seen in quite a while.
He looks like Predator's younger brother sometimes. But the guy giving the massage is fit. Don't you wish you had his job?
I don't care that much about his face, he has an amazing body and his butt it' even better!!!!
Unfortunate Faces?????
This is exactly the kind of "face fascist" shyt I hate most by some gay men..
If you didn't like his looks , was it really that important for you to take the time to submit that nasty ass comment? I would think that ugly faces wouldn't hold your interest long enough to give a damn....
Try stepping outside of your realm of stupidity!
he can come over and fuckl me but he has to bring his raquet
The face is a fug but that booty...WOWWWW
Es mas majo!
HOT BODY, but I wouldn't let him touch me unless he brought a paper bag to cover his head.
Dean: "It takes two to... have hard-core sex."
He does have the most hideous face. There's something so nasty about a guy having that good a body and such an ugly face.
His face may be lacking but the rest of body and package sure looks nice.
I'd do him. God anymore pics of him in his undies. Doesn't look to have a large package but his ass is amazing!!!
I love Nadal! Can anyone make a fake pic of him?
An excellent example of how long hair makes an atrractive man look unattractive
Rafael Nadal "SPORT WEEK" La Gazzetta Dello Sport
Scans courtesy by www.olimpodesnudo.com
this photo are very hot
His features are firmly on the 'striking' side, which can be good or bad.
I think he's very handsome, and it translates better when he's being interviewed or on court. He's like Andy Roddick in that he can look dodgy in photos, but very charming indeed when in real life.
And his ass is just incredible. I'd give my left arm to rim him...
I can't believe I am saying this because I am a Federer fan. But Rafael Nadal is NOT ugly. I think some people are really harsh. Rafael has an amazing body and he's decent looking he's not drop dead gorgeous but his face isn't cracking mirrors either. Andy Roddick many people say is attractive but to me I don't see it. I also find Roddick's attitude to be disgusting and that to me makes him very ugly.
Roger Federer to some many not find him attractive but I do. I like his personality as well. Everyone's got our personal tastes though.
Rafael has one of the most unfortunate faces I've seen. Fortunately for him, that booty makes up for it.
I`ve seen him up close at wimbledon..........hes much cuter than those pics for sure.
Thai & asian guys heaven! GAY THAILAND - ASIAN FORUM
check out this hot guy, he is 20 years old!! from spain (i must go there)..
see the arms!! wow
many spanish guys are super super hot. i lived in spain for six months and the eye candy was great


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North Dakota organically grown by family farmers we know and trust. One of civilization's first cultivated staples. High quality vegetable protein, rich in fiber, iron, and manganese. Loaded with antioxidants. Great with grain, in soups, stews, salads, dips, curry, and as Indian dahl.
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the meridian way
Based in the rolling welsh hills in Denbighshire, we've been making nut and seed butters for over 30 years. At Meridian we're committed to producing foods that make you feel great because they are delicious. We select the finest, simplest ingredients so that you can enjoy nature's energy
nuts about nuts
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Because we're nuts about nuts, we squeeze more nuts into our nut butters than anyone else. How? We use the whole nut, and we don't use any palm oil or sugar. So not only are our nut butters a great source of natural energy, they also help to protect the environment of Orangutans. All worth being a bit nutty about, wouldn't you say?
our rainforest pledge
The Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) currently provides care and rehabilitation to around 800 orangutans with the support of 420 highly devoted staff. All of our efforts focus on rescuing orangutans which have been displaced from natural habitat or kept illegally as pets, and rehabilitating them for reintroduction into safe areas of natural forest.
try our recipes
Our nut butters are delicious as an energy laden spread packed full of nutrients or use them as an ingredient to give your dishes a real nutty twist.
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Production Site: Meridian Foods, Corwen, North Wales
Press Contact: Coco PR, Madeleine Waters


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Monday, July 11, 2011
Being a Mom and a Writer
I loved being home with my children, and wouldn't have had it any other way, but it left little free time for either of us.
Throughout the baby and toddler years, I thought about writing. I thought about it a lot, actually, but I never did it. Not once. It seemed that if I had a child age three or younger in the house I couldn't write.
Around this time I remember reading that John Grisham used to work his crazy attorney schedule AND get up at dawn to write for two hours before work. Later I read about Stephen King's writing routine in his book, On Writing. He's very disciplined and writes 2,000 words a day, no matter what. Both John and Steve made me feel like a complete loser. I had more free time than either of them, and yet, I couldn't manage to do one tenth of what they were doing.
But then I realized that neither of them was doing what I was doing either.
Time, energy, and money. All three are finite resources. Kids are notorious time suckers, and they do a number on their parents' money and energy too. If you've got kids, you don't need a hobby--you're covered.
When my youngest was in preschool, I finally made the time to write. I took a non-credit class at the local tech college one night a week, and I also joined a critique group that met two evenings a month at the Hartland Community Center. It kept me on track with my writing, because I knew I had to bring pages to the next meeting. I still felt a little guilty spending money and taking time away from my family, but I felt, selfishly maybe, that I needed to do this, so I did it anyway.
Later, when I began freelance writing, especially during the time I got regular assignments from the community newspaper, I was able to justify my writing time because I was getting paid. I couldn't say the same for my novel writing, but I snuck it in anyway--it was my heart's desire. I'd always thought of myself as a writer, even during those long years when I wasn't writing a word. Now that I had a chance, I was going to do it every second I could.
I can only speak for myself, a mom of three who was home full time and whose husband worked long hours. Writing under those circumstances was difficult if not impossible. Personally, I need balance in my life to write. And silence. To work on a novel I need to immerse myself in that fictional world and I'm not able to do that if I'm sleep deprived or my kids are in crisis. And when your kids are little that describes most of the time. Seems like someone is always teething, or needs to be quizzed on their multiplication tables, or is sad because they weren't invited to a birthday party or whatever. Shoes get misplaced and field trip permission slips vaporize and a person can spend hours trying to get caught up. Added to that, if you're a writer of fiction, you probably have an acute sense of empathy. Taking on the joys and sorrows of your kids can be both emotionally draining and energizing. And that wreaks havoc on the balance I was talking about earlier.
When I first started writing this blog post I thought it was going to be about the importance of carving out writing time for yourself. I was going to say that I should have been more selfish in those early years. I should have just told my husband that I just needed every Saturday morning for writing, but you know what? The more I think about it, I'm not sure that's right. Even if I could go back in time and change my sense of entitlement, my circumstances would have been the same. It wasn't uncommon for Greg to have to work into the evening or on the weekends. Some years we only had one car. And frankly, by the time the kids went to bed, I was spent. That's just the way it was.
Even now that my kids are ages 16, 19, and 23, I still have to set time aside for them on occasion. This past spring, my daughter Maria had her wisdom teeth removed. She's legally an adult and her boyfriend Sam took off work to go with her. In theory, I could have handed her the insurance card, wished her luck, then headed out to the library with my laptop. I never would have done that though. It's a mom thing. It doesn't matter how old your babies are, when they're going through something, especially a medical something, you want to be there.
(It went fine, by the way, and it was nice to have both Sam and me there--afterward he kept Maria propped up by the exit, while I went to get the car. On they way home, through her gauze-filled mouth, she told us, rather loopily, that she hadn't been to the zoo in a really long time. She was quite sad about it. "The last time I went to the zoo, the bats weren't there. We couldn't see the bats at all..." Later, she had no recollection of this conversation, but she did confirm the part about the bats.)
This struggle to find time to write when you're raising kids is an age-old problem. And if you work outside of the home, it's far worse. Writer friends who have other, non-writing jobs have the stress of their career on top of everything else.
Sometimes it seems the world is conspiring against you.
But if you wait, it gets better.
Unless it doesn't because something else happens.
I know, I'm not much help. What I can tell you is that having kids adds another emotional layer to your life, one that you can tap into and use in your writing.
Another thing I'd like to add is that it's okay to say no to other non-family, non-writing related requests. This may seem like obvious advice, but as a people-pleaser it took me a long time to get to that place. It's true that if you don't plan your time, other people will be happy to do it for you. So feel free to just say no! And if that's too difficult, you can always use my mom's classic line for taking a pass, "Sorry, that won't work out for me."
And most importantly, if you want to write, set aside time to write. But if life truly interferes, don't beat yourself up for it. Stephen King may write 2000 words a day, no matter what, but his wife, Tabitha, is also a writer and I'm willing to bet she has a different story.
36 comments:
- RJ Keller said...
What a brilliant, honest post. Balancing family and writing is without a doubt my biggest challenge. It doesn't matter which is getting my full attention, there's such guilt, even though my kids are teenagers.
"if life truly interferes, don't beat yourself up for it."
I REALLY needed that today. Thanks Karen. - July 11, 2011 at 7:42 AM
- Karen Wojcik Berner said...
I totally identify with your blog today, Karen. Trying to balance staying at home with the kids and writing has been precarious for several years now.
I thought things would get a little better as they got older, but we are in the junior high and high school years, and, while I have more time to write, the house is like Grand Central Station. Now I am having more of a problem trying to focus so I can write. Yikes! - July 11, 2011 at 7:44 AM
- Stacey Cochran said...
With a four-year-old and 3-month-old in a two-wage-earner household and a writing career to boot, I needed to read this today. Thanks, Karen, and thanks, RJ, for linking from FB. This was inspiring to read.
- July 11, 2011 at 8:35 AM
- Therese said...
So true, Karen! Even for a blog post, I need time and quiet...and this summer, with all 4 at home...not much of that happening! :)
- July 11, 2011 at 1:03 PM
- Sheri L. Swift said...
Thanks Karen, for reminding us that it's okay to be a mom! Lol! Now I'm finding that grandparenting can be nearly as busy, and I have to remind myself that it's okay to be selfish and take time out for my future and all the things I had put off while raising my own. I guess that life happens no matter what stage we're in. ; )
- July 11, 2011 at 2:46 PM
- Karen McQuestion said...
RJ Keller, you are welcome. And I hear you about the guilt. Every now and then I make a list of what I did accomplish on a certain day, because all too often I focus on what didn't get done. It helps me to see that I'm not completely worthless. :)
Karen, I also thought it would get easier when they got older, and it did, but it got harder as well. Situations still need to be monitored,if you know what I mean. It was Grand Central Station at my house too when my older son was in high school. One day, a relative observed a teenager walk through the front door said, "They don't knock?!" and I said, "Are you kidding? Do you know how often I'd have to stop what I'm doing to answer if they did?"
Stacey, I have no idea how you get any writing done, frankly. Thanks for weighing in and letting us know it doesn't just apply to moms. And if anyone wants to see Stacey's very cute editorial assistant check this out: http://twitpic.com/5omcrl
Therese, your house must be really hopping this summer! I've often thought it would be nice if the parents could siphon off some of that energy for themselves. The kids have way too much and we always seem to fall a little short. - July 11, 2011 at 2:47 PM
- Karen McQuestion said...
Hi Sheri--very astute!-- " life happens no matter what stage we're in." So true.
- July 11, 2011 at 2:49 PM
- Sean McCartney said...
Great post Karen. I always set aside the hours of 10-midnight and write away. I wish it were evryday but, you are right, sometimes kids neds things, and we take care of those things.
Sean McCartney
The Treasure Hunters Club - July 11, 2011 at 8:35 PM
- annebingham said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- July 11, 2011 at 10:32 PM
- annebingham said...
Yes, yes, YES.
Boy, does this make me feel better about all those years, Karen!
(And remember, Stephen King had that whole substance ingestion thing going on, too. Short term solution...) - July 11, 2011 at 10:33 PM
- annebingham said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- July 11, 2011 at 10:35 PM
- Karen McQuestion said...
Sean, if you're writing from ten to midnight, you're a better person/writer than me. My brain shuts down sometime before then.
Hey Anne, I'd totally forgotten about the substance ingestion. I don't have anything comparable which puts me at a distinct disadvantage. - July 12, 2011 at 5:34 AM
- Jon Olson said...
Nice post. On top of time, you have convince yourself that it's a thing worth doing, and if you don't know any writers, that's a toughie.
Jon Olson
The Petoskey Stone
The Ride Home - July 12, 2011 at 7:00 AM
- Jacqueline Howett said...
But if life truly interferes, don't beat yourself up for it.
Enjoyed the read. I don't have children, but sometimes I find one must simply live life before one can write about it! - July 12, 2011 at 9:50 AM
- HS said...
Great post on balancing writing time and your "real job", whether that's a paid job out of the house or the often more demanding job of raising kids. It's inspiring to here about someone who can be successful doing it.
- July 12, 2011 at 1:30 PM
- HS said...
Oops, of course I mean "hear", not "here". I am a writer after all. :-)
- July 12, 2011 at 1:32 PM
- Karen McQuestion said...
Jon, that's a topic for another day, and something I grapple with all the time. Does the world really need another book, esp. one by me in particular? Am I just whistling in the wind?
Jacqueline, I agree about the importance of living life so that you can write about it. In fact, that's my favorite excuse for not writing. :)
HS, I think that's why so many writers dream of quitting their day jobs. Employment saps us of our time and creativity. How much better to have that mental space for our writing. - July 12, 2011 at 1:41 PM
- Pale Rambler said...
Are you sure we aren't related?
Three kids, a non-writing daytime job, and the many different responsibilities life chooses to throw at us are the very reasons I didn't give writing a serious attempt for 20 years. Now that our daughter is heading to high school and our boys can pour their own chocolate milk (although we encourage grape juice), I've been taking advantage of a few stolen hours each week.
But I would take your "if life truly interferes" statement even further. If life truly interferes, not only shouldn't you beat yourself up, you should fully embrace the interruption.
The computers and notebooks will be there for me whenever I'm able to devote the time. Our children, however, will spread their wings soon enough and be gone from our daily routine. I wouldn't want to miss any of it.
Mark - July 12, 2011 at 1:59 PM
- Karen McQuestion said...
Touché, Mark!
- July 12, 2011 at 4:15 PM
- Kirk Farber said...
Nice to hear your thoughts on balancing kids and writing, Karen. We've got kids on the brain lately (don't have any yet) and I've been thinking a lot about how the time/energy factor will affect writing. I did start getting up really early to write before work, and that's nice because I use my best energy first before the sap of the day-job takes over. We'll see how long that lasts. As long as there is coffee, I guess. Sweet AA Kenya coffee. Mmmm.
- July 12, 2011 at 11:13 PM
- Bill B said...
But if you wait, it gets better.
Unless it doesn't because something else happens.
Ha! Thanks for the great post, Karen -- and from the comments it's apparent that it's helpful to many folks and on many levels. Add me to the list of "needing to hear this today." And yes, the distractions (um, "life") will likely continue. There's always something new, even with kids in their 30's. And there's taking care of elderly parents & neighbors, and on & on. Of course there are good stories in all of those experiences, too, although sometimes it's appropriate to keep them at the level of being passed along to family & friends.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts, Karen. I'll go along with RJ's comment, "What a brilliant, honest post." ツ - July 13, 2011 at 9:39 AM
- Karen McQuestion said...
Kirk, I never took up the coffee habit and at my age I'd rather not start something that might be addicting. Still, if it helps increase my word count, I might consider it. :)
Hey there, Bill B.! I can always count on you to add something insightful to the conversation. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. You and RJ are way too kind. - July 13, 2011 at 8:29 PM
- Dave Thome said...
As a dude who stayed home with just one kid for years one through three, I can say that...three is a really sucky age. I wrote a bunch of screenplays during the evenings in those years. When you've got only a few hours, you tend to make use of them.
Also...is "loopily" a word? - July 14, 2011 at 4:45 PM
- Karen McQuestion said...
Okay, Mr. Journalism, you caught me. I know that "loopily" is not technically a word, but since it's my blog, and I liked the way it sounded, I used it anyway. What does Joe Konrath say? Oh yes, "My house, my rules."
- July 14, 2011 at 4:50 PM
- tmsouders.com said...
I'm a stay-at-home-home mom and a writer. And boy are you right (fo all the erasons you mentioned). It' so difficult carving out writing time, and to be honest, so that my kids and husband suffer as little as possibible, I write in the evening when my husband's at work and the kids are asleep (if they're asleep) and nap time--basically every free moment I have is spent writing, which is great, but so tiring. I love writing but it's a lot of work! This week I've been preparing and uploading my debut novel on Amazon, B&N etc, and have been working so much more than usual. My husband feels neglected, and my kids (one and three) have been cooped up inside most of the day. I feel awful that it's consumed so much of my time,their time, eventhough that isn't the norm. Thank you so much for this post though, because it reminded me that what I'm doing at home is extremely difficult (not everyone can do what we SAHM's do), plus writing just adds another element of difficult. I need to relax.
- July 14, 2011 at 7:40 PM
- Karen McQuestion said...
tmsouders, if your kids are one and three and you're also writing, you deserve triple gold stars on your chart. Someday when they're older you'll look back and wonder how you got it all done.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Peace. - July 15, 2011 at 12:24 PM
With a teenage boy post exams the stress and arguments knock the toddler years into a cocked hat. I used to write on the train when I was commuting regularly, but now I work nearer home I get less time to write. Last week, though, I decided to edit my second book, transferring it from the page to the computer, and with a bit of discipline I have managed 6,000 words this week and taken some really good streamlining decisions. Thanks for the permission not to beat myself up about it, though!!
- July 16, 2011 at 2:17 AM
- kathleen shoop said...
Such a great post! I actually got a lot more writing done when my children were underfoot. Now that the day extends into the evening with activities and school obligations I feel like I'm more scattered and have less focus than ever! So funny how everyone's creative lives play out. Thanks for the great insight into your writing life.
- July 16, 2011 at 2:49 PM
- Karen McQuestion said...
David Pearce, thanks so much for leaving a comment and also for using a phrase I wasn't familiar with "knock into a cocked hat." I just Googled and spent three happy minutes learning something new. :)
Hey, Kathleen--we meet again! It is indeed interesting to compare notes on our respective creative lives. I think it's heartening too, to learn that we're not alone. - July 17, 2011 at 10:26 AM
- Marcia (123 blog) said...
Karen, I love this post.
I coach time management (!) and I often say you make time for what's important. That's true.
But by the same token, some seasons are just crazy crazy busy (I have twins who turned 2 two weeks ago) and like you say, no matter how well you're intentioned, something's gotta give.
I'm not a fictional writer - I write this kind of stuff - goal-setting, organising, time management :)
Lovely to get to know you. And LOVE your mom's standard line. - July 23, 2011 at 1:44 PM
- Karen McQuestion said...
Hi Marcia! You have twins who are two?! You get a pass from me for just about everything. At the end of the day if everyone is clean and fed, you're a success in my book. Anything else you get done is a bonus. :)
- July 25, 2011 at 10:58 AM
- Melissa F. Miller said...
Karen, I am so glad I found your blog! Although I sense my productivity will take a hit as I go through all your old posts. :)
I have been laboring under a boatload of guilt because the second book in my series is not finished yet. Every e-mail or review I get that asks when the next book will be available first THRILLS me to pieces and then stresses me out beyond belief.
But, I am a practicing attorney (my husband and I have a two-person practice) and have three kids, ages 5 yrs, 3 yrs, and 11 months.
Most days, something has to give. And usually that thing is writing.
I try not to obsess about it, but it's hard.
(The flip side of this coin is that I actually owe the fact that the first book is finished and for sale to the baby! When she was a newborn and woke up to nurse in the middle of the night, after she fell back to sleep, I'd make a pot of coffee and write until the sun and her older brothers rose. I never thought I'd be disappointed when one of my kids started to sleep through the night, but now that she sleeps, so do I!)
Anyway, love your blog and your thoughts on being a mom and a writer.
Melissa - July 27, 2011 at 9:26 AM
- Christina said...
Christina Zawadiwsky - Sylvia Plath used to get up at five a.m. to write, before her children were up (but then she put her head in an oven and died, too - seriously, no joke)!
- July 27, 2011 at 6:10 PM
- Karen McQuestion said...
Melissa, thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your experiences. If you're working as an attorney, have three small children and get ANY writing done, you're a far better person than am I.
When my youngest was a baby and up all night, it never ocurred to me to write. I wasted a lot of hours watching terrible television.
Christina, I don't think Sylvia Plath will be my role model... - July 28, 2011 at 3:28 PM
- Barbara Sissel said...
I am way late to comment but I love this post. It sounds so familiar to me. I was there too with the kids and all the stuff of home. Even now my kids are totally out of the house, but they still require time and somehow they still come first. As you say, it's a mom thing.
- August 12, 2011 at 3:11 PM
- Karen McQuestion said...
Barbara, I think there's no getting around it--if you have people you love in your life, there's going to be unplanned intrusions. But that's the stuff that life is made of and our writing is richer for it.
- August 13, 2011 at 9:48 PM


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Hate to admit it, but Gilbert is being outplayed by Adams.
Still have faith in Gilbert though- he was good last season. Not a bad spot to be in if DeCastro & Gilbert are not certainties to step in next season..
Schiavone's Race Career:
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"Before you can win a game, you have to not lose it." -- Chuck Noll
I love the way Redman and Dwyer have been pushing the pile forward when you think they are stopped. I know this will probably result in a fumble here and there but it fires me up when they do it. I can only imagine how it riles up the offensive linemen.
One could almost agree to your statement if those three could actually be healthy together more than two weeks in a row. Still way too many unknowns for that group to dismiss Mendenhall as redundant. The reality is he did it better longer than the three your mention. Heck, Rainey got a rib bruise and you would have thought that a Giant put a .45 cal round in his chest the way he collapsed and rolled around in pain. IMO the jury is still out whether his great talent can survive in the NFL.
Mendy is still very much needed and will thrive under Haley.
Playing Fantasy Football does not qualify you to be the in the front office or on the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are professionals and you are not!


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[OS] HUNGARY/CT - Thousands take to streets to protest Hungarian government
Released on 2012-10-12 10:00 GMT
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Oct 23, 2011, 19:51 GMT
Budapest - At least 10,000 Hungarians gathered Sunday in the capital to
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From the latest issue of Acoustic Guitar: "I've also learned a lot from a few books on writing. Pat Pattison's Writing Better Lyrics was recommended to me by Gillian Welch a few years ago and I understood why as soon as I dove in..." Read More
I'm out on the road this summer, on a tour that'll take me through Australia, New Zealand, LA, San Diego, Portland and finally the Rocky Mountain Song School. I love seeing old friends and meeting new faces. The seminars are mostly focusing on the relationship between lyric and melody, but also on the new information in my 2nd edition of The Essential Guide to Rhyming. Here is a link to an interview I gave with Jonathan Feist: jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/2014/05/22/why-rhyme-an-interview-with-pat-pattison/
Coursera is still running with strong numbers. So far over 200,000 folks have signed up for the course. A bit mind-boggling, but I love it.
I hope to see you down the road.
Write Fearlessly,
Pat Pattison
Kudos for Pat
"I count myself lucky and proud to have studied with Mr. Pattison. I would not be the writer I am today without his teaching and his unique and comprehensive understanding of language, rhyme, rhythm, and structure."
Pat Pattison does the impossible. He takes the mystery out of songwriting without taking the heart out of it.
- David Wilcox
"I took a class with a great teacher named Pat Pattison... I learned a lot in that class...and I still read that book, Writing Better Lyrics. I think it's great."
"This was the best 2 days a songwriter could spend. By lunchtime Saturday, after two and a half hours, I learned more than I had in 35 years of playing and writing music. And it just kept getting better."
"Working with Pat on my songs has been an essential part of my songwriting process. Pat is a master at asking the right questions to pinpoint what may seem like small tweaks, but in the end, are huge revelations, taking my songs to a whole new level. I honestly believe that Pat is the best songwriting teacher out there. Working with him has made me a much better writer, performer and singer. I'm always afraid to bring him new material, because I know something I think is done, once put to the Pat test, just needs a bit more work. But in the end, the SONG is better for it. I bring him as many songs as I can! He is an essential mentor for me."


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Preparing to build up a new singlespeed and need to make room by clearing out some parts. Prices are firm, I do my best to research the lowest prices for new/used parts and I think these reflect that. I'm on the Cape, just minutes over the Sagamore Bridge.
2011 Fox 32-Series 100mm RLC fork. 15QR, Kashima coated, 1 1/8" steerer is 8 3/4" long. For 26" wheels
Saw limited use, in excellent condition. Love the fork, but it won't fit my new frame.
2012 XTR CS-M980 11-34 titanium 10spd cassette. Brand new takeoff. Lightweight, alloy spider that won't damage your freehub, and more durable than Sram's XX..Compatible with Shimano and SRAM 10spd derailleurs and chains.
2012 XTR M980 10spd shifter set. Can be used as 2x10 AND 3x10. Brand new takeoff
Thomson 90mm 0deg stem. Test fit, went with a different length. Could be mistaken for new.


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Ebrill 2012
Every object tells a story
Inspired by the most inquisitive visitor ever who came and really tested my knowledge yesterday (perfect mental warm up for all the questions we'll get about the collections over the holidays) I thought it would be useful to give some suggestions for things to consider when exploring objects.
All objects have some kind of a story, and objects are all evidence of somewhere, something, or somebody ans as such all have stories to tell.
So when you're looking at an object for the very first time, thinking about some of these will guide your exploration:
Is it real or a model?
How old is it?
Is it man made or natural?
What might it have been used for/by whom/when/for what?
Does it remind you of anything you've seen before?
Some of our busy school visitors investigated and explored objects in the gallery, through careful questioning and research they discovered lots about their objects. Here is a selection of the labels they wrote
Noah's Ark
These photos are from february half term, but I'd forgotten to put them on the blog until now (in fact I thought I had put them on the blog already but I must have just popped a few on twitter...).
It may be hard to tell but the art work is based on the mural of Noah's Ark in the church here in St Fagans: National History Museum. I drew the ark on a large piece of paper and asked the children to add animals to it - some they had drawn themselves and some coloured in from pictures provided. I also drew a couple of pictures of a devil and a dragon based on those in the church and they went down a storm! I must remember to bring those nasty creatures back round about halloween!
There will be drop in art sessions over the may bank holiday, so please come by and say hello!
Pob cofnod
Amgueddfa Genedlaethol y Glannau
Amgueddfeydd, Arddangosfeydd a Digwyddiadau
Ffotograffau gan William Booth
Ffotograffau Hanesyddol (Esmee Ffairburn)
Gwaith Cloddio ym Mryngaer Llanmelin, 1930au
Linking Natural Science Collections in Wales
Project Sain Ffagan Amgueddfa Werin Cymru Project Creu Hanes


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Chelsea Co
>> See More Cybergirls
Galleries in Full HD!
Galleries in Full HD!
Tokyo-born knockout Chelsea Co made such an impression at her casting call that we made her Cybergirl of the Week in 2008. This fun-loving babe is a bikini model, and in her spare time, she's sunning her buns on the beach....
Get this complete pictorial in stunning resolution & HD video!
View Full Gallery!


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Iowa Rush Announces 2013 Signing Class on National Signing Day
Three Iowa Rush players have signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to continue their soccer playing career next year in college. Check out more info on each player below!
Mary Brandt, University of Northern Iowa
Mary has signed to play at NCAA Division 1 soccer program UNI. Mary currently plays for the u18 Iowa Rush Nike girls team coached by Daryl Brazeau. According to Brandt, she chose UNI because the school had a lot to offer and she could see herself as being a part of the team there when she visited. She is looking forward to playing for UNI Head Coach James Price, saying "I really like what he is doing to help the soccer program grow and get better." Her college recruiting process included many college showcase events and Regionals last summer which helped her get seen by many coaches. Mary said, "I am looking forward to the opportunity to continue with my soccer career and compete again other Division 1 schools. I can't wait to experience all the new things that will be coming my way."
C.J. Culligan, Simpson College
C.J. has signed to play at Simpson College, a NCAA Division 3 soccer program. C.J. currently plays for the U18 Iowa Rush Nike boys team coached by Matt Dryer. C.J. originally hadn't thought about playing soccer in college but with the help of Iowa Rush staff member Brian Duax and the Simpson College Head Coach Rick Isaacson, he will get to continue his career next year. He chose Simpson after visiting this fall, talking with professors on campus and learning more about his intended major- Computer Science. C.J. said, "I'm looking forward to going to college and the opprortunity I have to be apart of the college soccer team at Simpson."
Amber Nieland, University of Northern Iowa
Amber has signed to play at NCAA Division 1 soccer program, University of Northern Iowa. She joins Iowa Rush teammate, Mary Brandt, in UNI's 2013 signing class! Amber currently plays for the u18 Iowa Rush Nike girls team coached by Daryl Brazeau. Amber found the recruiting process pretty easy- "I knew I wanted to go to UNI and was lucky that Coach Price wanted me on his team." She visited UNI and was impressed by the soccer program, facilities and school, while visiting Amber thought "I can see myself playing here." Amber will have the opportunity to play with current Iowa Rush teammate Brandt, and former Iowa Rush teammates as well at UNI. She said, "I am looking forward to the experience of playing soccer at the next level."
Iowa Rush would like to congratulate Mary, C.J. and Amber! Best of luck to them as they continue their soccer careers next year!


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Ravens safety Ed Reed knows joys — and dangers — of playing football
BY ADAM L. JAHNS email@example.com January 31, 2013 6:50PM
Cincinnati Bengals v Baltimore Ravens
RAVENS VS. 49ERSe_SFlb5:30 P.M. Sunday, Ch. 2
Updated: March 2, 2013 11:47AM
NEW ORLEANS — A lot
of things seemingly have
overshadowed the
homecoming party of Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed this week.
Take Wednesday, for instance.
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis drew another massive crowd as more queries were made about banned substances. San Francisco 49ers receiver Randy Moss declared once again he thinks he's the best receiver ever. And Jack and Jackie Harbaugh held a jam-packed conference room captive while sharing stories about their sons, who are squaring off as coaches in the Super Bowl.
But this Super Bowl is about Reed's legacy, too. Like Moss, Reed is one of the best to play his position and is nearing the end of his career. Like Lewis, he is a leader for the Ravens and a spiritual man. Like the Harbaughs, this is a family event for him.
''He's definitely going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer,'' Ravens special-teams standout Brendon Ayanbadejo said. ''In my opinion, there's only two safeties who come up as the greatest safeties of all time: It's him and Ronnie Lott.''
Reed wasn't part of the Ravens' 2001 Super Bowl-winning team, but he has been a game-changer — 61 career interceptions, 1,541 return yards, seven touchdowns, 137 passes defended and nine Pro Bowl selections speak to that — since being drafted out of Miami in 2002.
''[Reed is] unique in his own right,'' 49ers quarterback Alex Smith said. ''He's so unorthodox in how he plays. It's not textbook safety play that you're used to seeing. He plays cover-2 different than anybody. He plays the middle different than anybody. It definitely requires a lot of film study because he doesn't play safety like anybody else.''
Reed's career has featured plenty of violent, injury-causing and illegal hits. It's the one controversial aspect of his 11-year career. Unlike others, though, he won't shrug off all the violence of the sport. He knows it has ravaged his well-being and says if his son wants to play the game, he'd educate him about concussions and the risks before allowing him to do so.
''If you have the knowledge and the information, maybe then you can make better decisions,'' Reed said.
Such comments make Reed seem genuine and introspective.
Reed is from St. Rose, La., which is just outside New Orleans. His return has set off plenty of memories, but they come with the perspective of a player nearing the end of his career.
''When you get to this point in your career and you get to the Super Bowl, everything comes up, especially coming home,'' Reed said. ''You think about everything.''
Those memories include losing his brother, Brian, two years ago. Brian jumped into the Mississippi River after encountering law enforcement and drowned.
But Reed prefers to maintain his privacy. Asked about his son, all Reed would say is that he has the same name.
''I don't really put my family in the media like that,'' he said. ''That's personal stuff.''
Reed's future is being scrutinized because he's going to be a free agent. There has been plenty of speculation he'll retire and plenty of questions about teams he'd consider playing for if he and the Ravens part ways.
''Who I really talk to is my dad and my doctor, if I'm physically able,'' Reed, 34, said. ''But it's all here. If I have the heart for it and I want to continue to play, then I'm going to do it.''
How would he want to be remembered?
''I just try to play the game and live right as best as possible,''
Reed said.
Reed calls himself just another safety, but that's not really accurate.
''Ray Lewis gets a lot of the attention — and rightly so,'' Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. ''He's been with the organization from 1996 on. But Ed's been here 11 years now. Ed is a fixture in Baltimore. He's a big part of who we are.''


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At A Glance: Attica Ambush Presented By Baumann Auto Group |
Tuesday, 21 August 2012 | |||||||||||||
Saturday, September 1stUNOH All Star Circuit of ChampionsPlus UMP DIRTcar Late Models & Dirt Trucks The 2012 season at "Ohio's Finest Racing" speed plant concludes with one last visit by the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions. Defending ASCoC Champion Tim Shaffer leads the likes of Dale Blaney, Paul McMahan, David Gravel, Cap Henry & Pete Miller III to Attica Raceway Park to battle it out for $5,000 to win against the tough local contingent of 410 sprint car drivers like Craig Mintz, Phil Gressman, Bryan Sebetto and Byron Reed.
CAMPING INFORMATION: Space for RV and tent camping is available. There is limited availablity for electric hook-ups. Electric hook-up is available for $10 per day. |
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 August 2012 ) |


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Call for Applications: Columbia-LSE dual MA/MSc in International and World History
The Columbia-LSE dual MA/MSc program seeks talented applicants for its Fall 2012 entry. This unique two-year program offers students an opportunity to work with preeminent historians in New York and London and explore the transnational forces that have shaped and continue to remake our world: migration, trade, technology, religion, epidemics, the environment, diplomacy, intervention and war.
What are your summer or post-graduation plans?
Dear Students,
You are invited to attend the Sustainable Development Brown Bag next Friday, January 27th! Come and speak with current student group representatives from Green Umbrella, EcoReps and Consilience and learn more ways to become involved on campus.
What: Learn more about environmental and sustainability related student groups on campus
Who: Elizabeth Kipp-Giusti (Green Umbrella); Aida Conroy (EcoReps); My Seppo (Consilience)
Now that you've been at Columbia for one semester, are there things that you wish you had time to attend or forgot from NSOP? Or maybe because of Irene, you couldn't attend? Student Development and Activities is launching Reorientation 2012 for the Class of 2015. This is an afternoon program where you can attend all or one session of the day.
Friday, January 20th
Sessions are:
In MATH, SCIENCE, HISTORY, ENGLISH, & LANGUAGES
Want to Build Community Service Experience and Empower NYC High School Students?
Make a Difference by Serving as an After-School High School Tutor!
Join the DOUBLE DISCOVERY CENTER!
Provide instructional support for students individually and/or in small groups
The Earth Institute, Columbia University is pleased to announce 12 research assistant opportunities for undergraduate students during the spring 2012 semester. Undergraduates from Columbia and Barnard will be able to serve as research assistants on exciting research projects related to sustainable development and the environment, and engage with distinguished faculty and researchers at the cutting edge of this burgeoning field.
The Physical Education Deptartment is giving the swim test 3 times a week from February 1st
The Office of Global Programs are pleased to announce two new staff members for undergraduate fellowship advising:
Paul Bohlmann, Assistant Dean of Fellowship Programs
From 1995 to 2011, Paul was the Director of Fellowships at Harvard, responsible for coordinating educational programs and application/selection procedures for college, national, and international fellowship competitions. We are delighted to have his wide range of expertise on the OGP team.


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Vickroy: Same-sex marriage law could be boon to wedding vendors
By Donna Vickroy email@example.com Twitter: @dvickroy January 18, 2013 4:12PM
Aimee Bachmann, owner and designer, holds larkspur at Windy City Flower Girls Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at 5419 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn. Local wedding businesses may prosper from passage of the gay marriage law. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: February 21, 2013 6:16AM
At a Tinley Park wedding show in early January, Creative Cakes bakery raffled off a wedding cake valued at $750.
Jim Hickey and David Blatzheim won.
"It's a huge savings," Blatzheim said.
The Evergreen Park couple are in the throes of planning an elaborate ceremony and reception to celebrate their civil union. Some 130 guests will be invited to the Chateau Bu-Sche in Alsip for the October event.
If Illinois' proposed marriage law passes in the meantime, Blatzheim said, things will continue according to plan, but they may tweak the text on their ceremony programs.
"We're calling it a wedding, regardless," Blatzheim said.
There may be a trend in the making.
"It's coming," said Cheryl Hooten, an ordained wedding officiant in Saugatuck, Mich. About half of the weddings she officiates are same-sex couples from the Chicago area.
"The same-sex marriage bill is near passing (in Illinois) and when it does, those vendors who aren't ready will miss out," she said.
The passage of similar laws in nine other states has opened up a lot of economic opportunity, Hooten said, beginning with the wedding business.
Since Illinois began giving out civil union licenses 18 months ago, more than 3,000 have been issued to same-sex couples in Cook County, said Courtney Greve, a spokeswoman for Cook County Clerk David Orr's office.
A bill allowing same-sex marriage already passed the Illinois Senate Executive Committee. Advocates say it is only a matter of time before the bill becomes law.
That's a potential boon for businesses that provide wedding cakes, flowers, entertainment and venues.
"We'd love it," said Amy Coghill, director of banquets and weddings at Silver Lake Country Club in Orland Park.
"It's about time," Coghill said. "And we would love to have another market."
At Windy City Flower Girls in Oak Lawn, owner Aimee Bachmann said, "There are a lot of gay people in the floral industry. It's nothing new to us."
Bachmann said she welcomes the prospect, as stereotypic as it might be, of being able to service a more unconventional, perhaps more creative wedding ceremony and celebration.
"If my gay friends got married right now, their ceremony would be really awesome and over the top," she said. "Creative people would love the chance to work with those kinds of events."
The industry trend, even among traditional couples, has been away from tried-and-true ceremonies anyway, Bachmann said.
"A good half of the weddings we service do not take place in a church," she said.
Marrying someone of a different faith, church restrictions or inconvenient schedules are among the many reasons many decide to exchange vows at city hall, at the hall where they'll hold their reception or in some other nonreligious location, Bachmann said. And she's hardly alone in that observation.
Beth Fahey said she also has noticed that about half of the couples for whom her bake shop supplies wedding cakes do not get married in a church.
Fahey, who co-owns Creative Cakes with her sister, Becky Palermo, said they welcome the addition of same-sex couples into the wedding arena.
"We're definitely hopeful for more tolerance, especially in the Southland, which tends to not be as open as some other communities," she said.
Fahey and Palermo have a half-sister who is gay, so there has never been an issue with the topic in their minds. But Fahey acknowledges others may not be so open minded.
"I really wonder how people in this business who believe gay marriage is against their religion will be able to reconcile this," Fahey said.
No doubt, some do that by turning same-sex couples away.
Fahey said, "Gay people have asked, 'Do you deal with gays?' because they've had bad experiences with other vendors. People have hung up on them."
Nevertheless, Fahey said, those in the wedding industry in Illinois need to prepare.
"We have to retrain ourselves for the standard interview process, we need to rework the language on contracts," she said. "No more assuming there's a bride and a groom. We can't go on assumptions anymore and we don't want to. We don't want to offend anyone."
Sam Carlson has been servicing same-sex couples' celebrations since he started in the formalwear business 38 years ago.
The general manager of Black Tie Formalwear, which has 11 locations including one in Oak Lawn, said, "It's a good thing. The potential is huge."
Carlson said should the law pass any time soon, the industry might even experience a rush, given how long many same-sex couples have waited for the opportunity.
As exciting as the financial boom may be for wedding vendors, Carlson said, the real plus comes in the recognition, both by society and the legal system, that a couple are committed to each other.
"Things like home ownership and health insurance benefits," he said. "Those are things that matter more than a wedding celebration."
Blatzheim said that a civil union ensures rights at the state level but for same-sex couples to enjoy all of the same privileges and responsibilities that traditional couples do, including Social Security and federal tax benefits, a federal law must be passed.
Last week, Hickey, a CT technician at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, and Blatzheim, a radiology student at Joliet Junior College, stopped in at Creative Cakes to design their wedding cake.
The guys, referred to as "groom 1" and "groom 2" in their cake contract, chose a multitiered creation with pillars and lots of swirls.
"It's going to be great," Blatzheim said.
Hickey said they are not offended by the current assumptions that every union consists of a bride and a groom.
"We've been very fortunate," Blatzheim said. "Most people are eager to make adjustments in the contracts. Most people have a really good attitude about it."


text:
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text:
The Global Intelligence Files,
files released so far...
Index pages
by Date of Document
Our Partners
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La Nacion - Costa Rica
Malaysia Today - Malaysia
McClatchy - United States
Nawaat - Tunisia
NDR/ARD - Germany
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Rolling Stone - United States
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The Yes Men - Bhopal Activists
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Community resources
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The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
[OS] GERMANY/EU/ECON - German lawmakers win full say on EFSF
Released on 2012-10-12 10:00 GMT
Email-ID | 3680713 |
Date | 2011-10-25 09:26:33 |
From | firstname.lastname@example.com |
To | email@example.com |
List-Name | firstname.lastname@example.com |
BERLIN | Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:42am BST
BERLIN (Reuters) - German lawmakers flexed their muscles to secure a full
parliamentary vote on Wednesday on euro zone crisis measures negotiated by
Chancellor Angela Merkel and her euro zone peers, a move senior
politicians said would give Merkel a stronger mandate.
The new vote comes just one month after Germany's Bundestag (lower of
house of parliament) approved greater powers for the euro zone rescue
fund, and should pass without problems, but it risks delaying Europe's
response to the debt crisis at a crucial juncture.
Merkel cannot agree to changes to the 440 billion euro European Financial
Stability Facility (EFSF) without approval at least from the Bundestag's
budget committee, as a result of a constitutional court decision last
However, Merkel's Christian Democrats' (CDU) floor leader Volker Kauder
demanded a full debate and vote by the German Bundestag (lower house of
parliament) rather than just a vote by the 41-member budget committee,
which might have been quicker and less risky while still meeting new rules
on consulting MPs.
"On such important questions it's good if parliament gives the chancellor
broad backing for her negotiations," said Kauder regarding the vote due
early on Wednesday, before Merkel returns to Brussels for a second,
decisive euro summit.
Major opposition parties the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens
welcomed the vote, and indicated they would back proposals aimed at
countering the debt crisis. But they stopped short of confirming they
would vote "yes," saying they needed to see documents detailing the
proposals first.
With criticism ringing in Germany's ears from the head of the Eurogroup of
single currency members, Jean-Claude Juncker, about it being slow to make
decisions, Merkel met the heads of the main parties to seek consensus.
Juergen Trittin, parliamentary co-leader of the opposition Greens, said
Merkel had told them the haircut for Greece would be "above 50 and below
60" percent and that leveraging of the European Financial Stability
Facility (EFSF) could be above 1 trillion euros.
Merkel will address parliament before the vote and before returning to
Brussels for what should be a more decisive summit on boosting the
firepower of the EFSF, raising the contribution of private banks to
Greece's rescue, and getting European banks to increase their own capital
to prevent contagion.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, head of the SPD parliamentary group criticised
the fact that lawmakers were still waiting to see full proposals.
"We are still not able to talk of concrete texts... Therefore I am not in
a position to talk conclusively or to tell you how the SPD will vote this
week in parliament," he told reporters.
The Chancellor's supporters praised her for getting France to drop demands
to use the European Central Bank to leverage euro crisis funds, and there
was broader support also for a leader often accused of dithering.
"Merkel's Battle for our Euro," was Monday's headline in the
mass-circulation conservative paper Bild, saying she taught France's
Nicolas Sarkozy "that the EFSF rescue fund cannot be used to print money"
to solve the debt crisis.
"The chancellor must stick to her guns -- in the interests of Germany and
of Europe," said the newspaper.
Her conservative bloc's chief whip, Peter Altmaier, said Sunday's summit
"made headway" on all three issues, including "using the EFSF to avoid
having to print money," and it should now be possible to produce the
"comprehensive" crisis response that Merkel and Sarkozy have promised by
the end of this month.
"The chancellor negotiated well in Brussels. She showed strong
leadership," Altmaier told reporters.
"The French president says he sees things just like Angela and I see that
as progress," said the conservative premier of Hesse state, Volker
Bouffier. "Germany and France must take the same line as the most
important two countries."
Sarkozy ceded to German insistence at Sunday's summit that the ECB should
not be used to fight the crisis, which poses an especially big threat to
French banks and France's triple-A sovereign debt rating.
Instead, an EU paper obtained by Reuters suggested the euro zone would
take up Germany's proposal of boosting the EFSF's firepower by using it as
a form of debt insurance, combined with seeking help from emerging market
economies like China and Brazil via a special purpose investment vehicle
(SPIV) to prop up the euro zone's secondary bond market.
Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said these two options, which had no
ECB involvement, were the only two left on the table for leveraging the
EFSF and would be discussed by the summit on Wednesday. He said they were
not mutually exclusive.


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Sarah KrauseIt's that time of year again, when select fruits and vegetables rule the Thanksgiving table. Sure, the turkey takes center stage and of course everyone loves the stuffing, and don't even get me started on the long-awaited yummy pies, but at this time of year, those other guys find their time to shine as well.
Step right up potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans and cranberries. Bring along your friends, Brussels sprouts, squash and anyone else to color the party delicious.
Not only is it tradition in most families to fix favorite fruit and veggie recipes at this time of year, but it's also healthier, adds essential nutrients and may even off-set some of those higher calorie items that tend to weigh down the table….and our bodies. I mentioned pie already, yes?
Each fall, I continually pull recipes out of magazines or off the web of delicious-sounding dishes I'd like to make. This year, I plan to make my traditional stand bys, corn pudding and garlic-roasted whole carrots, but also decided to make a tasty-looking Harvest Salad that is full of romaine, baby arugula, Bosc pears, Granny Smith apples and dried cranberries.
I wondered if anyone would miss my pan-fried Brussels sprouts with crumbled bacon, sliced almonds, dried cranberries and a drizzle of pomegranate syrup. I know my middle son will. He often asks for this and cheers when he sees I've brought Brussels sprouts home from the market.
"Brussels Sprouts seem to be having a comeback," mused my friend Mindy W. "People aren't as grossed out by them!"
My 9-year-old would certainly agree. Hope he doesn't miss them at our feast this year. Perhaps he'll be satisfied with a bite of Harvest Salad instead?
I was curious as to what my friends were planning to bring to their Thanksgiving tables this holiday? I wondered if they stuck to their tried and true produce recipes or if they planned to branch out? I took an informal survey of some of the girls I work out with, figuring it an appropriate time to talk healthy choices before a hard workout.
Tracy F. said she planned both sweet potato and Brussels sprouts dishes but also wanted to try the Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's green bean and tomato dish "because it sounded so incredible."
Ann H. also plans to make sweet potatoes but doesn't like them too sweet, plus her family always serves a green veggie, which will probably be green beans.
What about that infamous green bean and crispy fried onion casserole I used to beg my foodie family – to no avail – to make each year? Fellow workout buddy Summer E. said she definitely planned to have that on her Thanksgiving table.


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Hartford Hospital's Tallwood Urology and Kidney Institute in conjunction with the Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute presents a program on Kidney Cancer. The program is intended to provide information and support for anyone facing kidney cancer, caring for someone with kidney cancer or concerned about the risks of kidney cancer.
In this Seminar, you will learn:


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text:
Success in Seattle for Idaho Rush U16B at FWRL
The U16 boys made their second trek to Seattle to participate in the second round of Far West Regional League play January 3-5 at the Starfire Soccer Complex. The three game series was part of the Pacific Northwest Winter Classic Showcase, which concludes in Boise in early March.
Entering the weekend with a 1-1 record, the U16's opened up play against the PacWest Maroon 97's, beating the division leaders in a wet 2-0 match. Kamden Hundersmarck recorded the shutout in goal with six saves, while goals were scored by Muganza Katanga and Sam Rucklos.
The 16's came back on Saturday and blanked another tough opponent beating the Washington Premier 97's 3-0. Again, Hundersmarck recorded the shutout with three save and five corner kick defenses, with goals scored by Andrew Freemuth, Katanga and Rucklos.
With a chance to put control of the league title in their own hands, the team faced off against the Snohomish 97's with the winner potentially qualifying for an automatic bid to the Far West Regional Championships later this year. The teams battled to a 1-1 draw in the first half, with the 16's only goal coming from a Katanga shot from just inside the 18-yard mark. But Snohomish went on to score the only second half goal and take a 2-1 victory from the 16's.
With two games left in league play, Rush players Rucklos and Katanga lead the league in scoring with 5 and 4 goals each. The team, now 3-2 in league, next faces off against the Westside and Eastside Timber 97's March 8-9 at Optimist Field, where the potential for a 2nd place finish is up for grabs.


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Product ID: SA012GSS-SA024KSS
Our primary delivery methods are US Postal Service, FedEx and UPS. Orders ship based on their estimated production times, which are listed on the product's page. We will send you an email notification with tracking information once your order is shipped. Then you can go to the carrier's order tracking page to check on the status of your shipment.
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More InfoAt dogIDs, our mission is to support and improve the health and safety of furry friends across the world, and give them the unconditional love that they provide us on a daily basis. Each day, we focus on providing high quality, personalized dog products and helpful blog posts to help you and your pet.
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Estimated Production Time: 2 to 3 business days.
Popular West Paw Design Reknitz sweaters with new features! These eco-friendly dog sweaters are back in new colors, two new larger sizes and have a new harness access hole. Heavier reclaimed cotton yarn provides more stretch to easily slide on and off over your dog's head and legs. These simple, stylish dog sweaters are still good for the environment! Made in the USA from reclaimed cotton fibers, each sweater saves water and does not require fertilizers, insecticides, dyes...or even farmland!
The cotton yarn is derived from pre-consumer textile table remnants, that are cleaned and separated into raw fibers. The cotton fibers are then blended with 24% new acrylic fibres and spun into yarn for our sweaters. What's more is that the fibers are not re-colored, as the careful mixing of textile cuttings creates the eye-catching palette used in Reknitz.
Made specifically for small to medium breeds! Ensure your little pooch is warm for years to come . Available in 7 sizes, simply measure your dog from their collar to their tail to determine the recommended size for your four legged friend. Easy cleaning, machine washable cold/cold and dry on delicate. Made with pride in the USA.