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I'm looking for a good / reliable website that will tell me about any plant, tree, flower etc… On how big it gets, how to trim it, what kind of fertilizer, when to fertilize if needed etc… Can anyone suggest a website for me? Thanks in advance. Scotty |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by love_the_yard z9A Jax FL (My Page) on Sat, Jul 6, 13 at 10:51
Scotty, Floridata is an excellent site for basic plant information with a huge database. See link below. There are several others but GardenWeb prohibits posting links to some of them. Carol in Jacksonville |
Here is a link that might be useful: Floridata
I use Floridata all the time - very informative. Here's another useful site for me: http://ntbg.org/plants/ |
Here is a link that might be useful: Learn all about tropical plants
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Welcome to USDA Rural Development
Rural Development works with private lenders to guarantee loans which provide funding options to communities throughout rural America. Most loan guarantees issued by Rural Development are from 80-100% of the amount of the loan.
Investors choose to work with Rural Development for various reasons. Since loan guarantees issued by Rural Development are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, many lenders consider Rural Development programs to be a relatively risk-free way to expand portfolios.
Additionally, loans made possible by partnerships between Rural Development and private lenders improve the economic health of rural communities. The continued well-being of rural areas provides a benefit for lending institutions by creating more opportunities for investment.

subset: commoncrawl


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Closed Thread
Results 1 to 7 of 7
Thread: Redirected to Google UK?
13th October 2008, 02:15 AM #1
Redirected to Google UK?
Okay, so whenever I try to go to Google I am redirected to Google UK...
This is happening in every browser..
So I'm just wondering what I can do to fix this? (I don't know what I did to change it in the first place?)
13th October 2008, 02:24 AM #2
Re: Redirected to Google UK?
Yeah thats normal.
Google will redirect you to the national website. The main search will still be the same thing.
13th October 2008, 02:29 AM #3
Re: Redirected to Google UK?
I'm in the US.. (Perhaps I should have mentioned that.)
13th October 2008, 02:30 AM #4
Re: Redirected to Google UK?
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13th October 2008, 02:32 AM #5
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Re: Redirected to Google UK?
Just go to http://www.google.com/ncr
Hope it helps!
13th October 2008, 02:36 AM #6
13th October 2008, 02:37 AM #7
Re: Redirected to Google UK?
They normally redirect you based on your IP's location.
But you can click on "Go to Google.com" on the UK site, and it will bring you back to the Google US main site. Once you clicked that, it will save the setting in a cookie and it will always bring you to Google US automatically until either you cleared the cookies or you click on "Go to Google UK".


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Breakfast Topic: Character slots
Some players with less severe altitis may not know it, but there are limits on how many characters you can have: ten per server, 50 per account. Ten is a good number for the per-server limit, at least right now; you get one of each class, plus one more for a bank/AH alt. But what are we supposed to do if we want to make a Death Knight? Delete one of our beloved alts? Pay to transfer a character? Start the DK on a different server (if that's even possible)? CM Nethaera tells us there are no plans to add more character slots, although she notes that people are unhappy with it and that she'll relay that to the devs. Are you going to run up against the character limit in WotLK?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Expansions, Features, Alts, Wrath of the Lich King


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Yumsters! 2
Not only are these Yumsters crazy for strawberries, they can rock the bongos. For the love of fruity music, help them earn money by cleaning gardens to promote their band. To really skyrocket, Yumsters need the best equipment to win the ultimate grand prize at the fairy town music showdown. Get fruitilicious in five vibrant locations of Yumsters 2, a sweet Match 3 puzzler.
- Match 3, drag-n-drop
- Adorable characters
- Win the grand prize!
Game System Requirements:
- OS: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8
- CPU: 600 Mhz
- DirectX: 7.0
- Hard Drive: 54 MB
Game Manager System Requirements:
- Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or later
The Big Fish Guarantee:
- Quality tested and virus free.
- No ads, no adware, no spyware.


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Sun, Mar 18, 12 at 14:58
We have had a couple bids on painting our oak kitchen cabinets and all our oak woodwork white. With the two bids one is using oil based primer and then 2 coats of enamel paint on the cabinets. For the trim they use oil based primer and then 2 coats of paint. The other bid uses lacquer paint for everything and a clear coat on the cabinets. I had never really read or heard much about lacquer paint so I am confused on what will be the best for durability and aesthetics reasons. Any help will be appreciated. |
Follow-Up Postings:
Enamel paint doesn't really signify what kind of paint it is, just that the paint is a washable paint, meaning that a protective skin forms on top of the paint. Enamel paints could be latex, acrylic, oil or lacquer really. I would use BIN primer (shellac based) or any other number of acrylic primers that are designed to stick to slick surfaces (bonding). I would then topcoat with a 100 percent high quality acrylic paint, probably in satin. Some perfer semi-gloss. The reason I would choose acrylic is because it won't yellow like oil or lacquer or crack in the joints as easily. |
That makes sense about the yellowing. Have you had any experience with the sprayed on lacquer paint on oak cabinets? Will the lacquer yellow over time? |
Yeah, it will yellow. Also, I don't really think lacquer will hold up any better than an acrylic paint overall. |
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by Fr. George Morelli
My January Chaplain's Corner article last year called New Year resolutions a "useless waste of mental and spiritual energy." More than ever, I want to make the same point. However, I want to substitute a more functional alternative: making a commitment. The word 'commitment' brings up notions such as a 'binding' course of action, allegiance, dedication and loyalty. What better way to start the new year than by re-committing ourselves to respecting the personhood of others by overcoming any ways we have slipped into unthinking habits of rudeness. The word respect derives from the Latin word rēspicere, which means, "to look back, pay attention to." In this case, to pay attention in a Godly way to the person with whom you are interacting.
The highest value of what it means to be a person is told to us in Sacred Scripture in the Book of Genesis (1: 26), a book that is sacred to Christians, Hebrews and Moslems alike. We read, "Then God said, "Let us make man according to our image and according to our likeness."" The person, therefore, is an icon of God, a consequence of His creative act in making us a finite mirror of His Divinity. Our Eastern Church Fathers would consider the meaning of personhood to be in our relationship with both God and mankind. To make this practical, the more we become committed to respecting others, to really paying attention to them as persons, the more we become like God.
The presentation below was given to the Clergy Retreat of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, November 08-11, 2011, in Scottsdale, AZ. An in depth discussion of many of the Retreat topics can be found in the articles I have written, which are posted on: Orthodoxy Today [www.orthodoxytoday.org/archive/morelli] and the Antiochian Archdiocese [www.antiochian.org/author/morelli] website. The high technology, secularist society we live in today poses many challenges to living Christ's teachings, being committed to His Church, and living a Christ-like life family life. Even greater challenges are faced by the successors of the Apostles, the bishops and priests who are called to shepherd Christ's Church in the modern world. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, may this resource be of some assistance to all called to minister to our communities in Christ.
"Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy." (1Cor 4: 2) "The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain." (Pv 31: 11)
"Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy." (1Cor 4: 2)
"The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain." (Pv 31: 11)
Developmental psychologist Eric Erickson (1964a) conjectures that during infancy the continuity of comforting sensory experiences with adults promotes a sense of trust that serves as a root for the resolution of the successive challenges the individual will confront over a lifespan. Erickson goes on to suggest that the appropriate proportion of trust over mistrust produces hope. He states, "Hope is both the earliest and the most indispensible virtue inherent in the state of being alive." (Erickson, 1964b).
Erickson's understanding is also very descriptive of a functional marriage. Beck (1988), for example, considers trust one of the three major components of a functional relationship - commitment and loyalty being the others. Beck considers them "a force for stability" that, once developed, "protect[s] the closeness, intimacy, and security of the loving bond."
Beck (1988) goes on to give examples of attitudes or beliefs that indicate basic trust:
President's Message: Society of St. John Chrysostom - Western Regionby Fr. George Morelli
Winter 2009
If you turn on any news-program or look at the front page of almost any newspaper no one living in today's world can miss the egregious personal, social, political and religious brokenness surrounding us. It is also so easy to perceive this brokenness as being the problem and responsibility of others. However, in the Eastern Church there is no such thing as a solitary sin. Even an infraction done in total privacy is a wound to the totality of mankind created by God. Just as an injury to any part of our body actually affects the entire body, so too, all of us are affected by the sins of even the 'least' one who makes up God's human creation.
Because the Church is mystically "Christ's Body," how much greater are sins that injure the Church? The sinfulness of separation, the brokenness of those who make up the Body of Christ is a glaring violation of Our Lord's priestly prayer at the last Supper: "Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." Separation is a wound, scandal, illness, infirmity, and thus a dreadful sin. All of us are affected by this wound and all of us are called upon to heal this wound. A theme of one of the great feasts of the beginning of the civil calendar year is the Gospel passage from St. Matthew (4:17) read on the Sunday after the Theophany: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The first step in healing any sin is repentance. Repentance means a change of mind and heart. But there is prior step we have to do that enables us to repent.
Fall 2009
Are we on the cusp of the fullness of time in which a confluence of forces, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, will bring down the wall of separation between the Eastern, Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Churches under the omophorion of the Bishop of Rome? Why pose the question in this way? In the past many international theological consultations have taken place. These consultations involve theologians from the Churches. The Bishop of Rome has also met with individual Orthodox patriarchs and bishops. The wall of separation remains. However, as noted by a 'monk of the Eastern Church': "human barriers do not reach up to heaven."
Now it seems a next step has been suggested following a meeting, described as "remarkably harmonious," between Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Hilarion of the Moscow Patriarchate. (See page 3 for details. http://lightoftheeast.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/ssjcnewsfall09-11.pdf) Both men are described as scholars, theologians, liturgists, and lovers of music. In addition, Archbishop Hilarion is a world famous gifted composer. Also, following a meeting between the Archbishop and Cardinal Kasper, the Cardinal suggested that a conference of Orthodox European bishops could possibly form a partnership in dialogue between the Churches in the future. A conference of Orthodox bishops would elevate succeeding talks from one on one encounters of individual Patriarchs to a more unified Orthodox witness, voice and consensus.
Summer, 2009
In a recent interview Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev, new head of the Department of External Church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, noted an ongoing problem that the church lacks a bridge to the outside world. He notes: "A person will have to surmount his own numerous barriers separating him from the church world – barriers psychological, cultural and linguistic." To accomplish this task he perspicaciously notes that the church has to break down the "… mechanism of alienating people … expecting indifferently that they will come and surmount all the barriers on their own." Archbishop Hilarion notes that accomplishing this task will involve both clergy and active lay people.
Promoting dialogue between Eastern and Western Christian, making known the history, worship, spirituality, discipline and theology of the apostolic churches, is the stated goal of the Society of St. John Chrysostom (SSJC). The Society is one part of the body of Christ, as in the words of St. Paul: "As it is, there are many parts, yet one body." (1Cor 12:20), which acts to work and pray that the Apostolic Churches will seek the unity Christ desired. We know this from His prayer for His Body, the Church at the Last Supper: "Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." (Jn 17:11). Archbishop Hilarion points out that the Church does not use "aggressive and importune methods of mission," as do some Protestants, but we are to announce Christ to the world by the witness of our example. We can become missionaries in the sphere of our own personal life.
Spring 2009
A recent report released by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life indicated that Americans are more ready than ever to change or drop their religious traditions and that many are unaware or unconcerned with doctrinal distinctions. Particularly disturbing in this report is that Catholics and Orthodox, the Churches founded by Christ Himself, tracing in unbroken succession from the Apostolic tradition, are among the groups with a low percentage of respondents who hold that they are the one true faith leading to eternal life.
However, did not Jesus Himself say: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me?" (Jn 14:14) Did not St. Paul tell the first Christians: "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it?" (1 Cor 12:27) Did not St. Paul tell the Hebrews (10: 23-25): "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some...?" Did not Christ Himself warn us of the dire consequences of wasting Godly gifts when He said: "Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required?" (Lk 12:48) This is especially true for the apostolic churches who have the greatest gift of all, the Eucharist, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord God and Savior Himself passed down to us from Christ to the apostles in an unbroken succession to our bishops. Christ did this when He ordained His apostles by saying: "Do this in remembrance of me." (Lk 22: 19). These are not relativistic statements; they are the cornerstone of the Body of Christ - the Church.
Even a casual look at the world today would reveal an abundance of self-centeredness and fixation on ideologies. Compassion is well hidden. This despite many of the world religions and the findings of psychologists teaching that mercy and compassion lead to favorable personal and social outcomes. The Hebrew prophet Ezra tells us," For if you return to the Lord, your brethren and your children will find compassion with their captors, and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him." (2Chr 30: 9). Buddha taught that, "Compassion is that which makes the heart of the good move at the pain of others. It crushes and destroys the pain of others; thus, it is called compassion. It is called compassion because it shelters and embraces the distressed." [http://www.compassion.ancientfountainofyouth.com/about.html].
Our Eastern Church Father St. Isaac of Syria links compassion to an essential characteristic of God Himself: "God's holy nature is so good and compassionate that it is always seeking to find some small means of setting us right." St. Isaac also points out that, "Among all God's actions there is none which is not entirely a matter of mercy, love and compassion: this constitutes the beginning and end of His dealing with us." (Brock, 1997).
...but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through... kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love.... (2 Cor 6:4,6)
In a recent Smart Parenting essay on the spiritual and practical aspects of love (Morelli, 2011), I start out simply with St. John's most profound yet un-complex understanding of God: "God is love." (1 Jn 4:16). This love is shown in the relation of the persons of the Holy Trinity amongst themselves, God's creation and continuing care for His people, and the self-emptying (kenotic) love Christ has for us by His incarnation, passion, death and resurrection for our salvation. I then go on to point out that we must understand the meaning and application of Divine Love in our families and to the world. We have to emulate in our own lives this same love and model this to our children and others by our behaviors, which should be:
a set of actions that are aimed at the good and welfare of the other. Love means having truly beneficent care for the welfare of others in thought word and deed.
In a follow-up essay, (Morelli, 2011b) I point out that if love is understood in this way, we would be given one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, peace. And in turn, children disposed to peace in working through their relationships with others.
The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings (Ps 144: 17)
Even a casual reader of the articles I write cannot help but notice the spiritual emphasis, based on the example of Christ Himself, that I place on kindliness, forgiveness and Godliness. (Morelli, 2006b, 2007a, 2007b) Therefore, it should come as no surprise how spiritually upsetting a recent opinion piece by a Russian journalist which was forwarded to me:
One value that the . . . Orthodox Church does not have enough of is kindness and compassion. The upholding of ritual and rules often supplants genuine feeling and compassion. Among Orthodox priests there are many who would sternly tell a woman, "cover your head" in church, oblivious to the fact that the woman is trying to calm down her crying child and has no time to find or readjust her headscarf. A sad young woman who comes to a church to seek solace may hear: "You can't wear trousers here." I have witnessed such scenes myself and I can imagine how many souls have been turned away by such uncharitable severity. As long as the . . . Orthodox priest does not become a shepherd first and an administrator second, the faith of many . . . will remain a dream and not a source of spiritual fortitude.i
What a sad account about some who are supposed to pastor the people of God! Now I would like to dismiss such stories as isolated incidents or mere accidents. Unfortunately, I myself have been subjected to similar treatment by hierarchs and priests, and I have witnessed laity being similarly treated. Regrettably, I have also heard numerous complaints from pious individuals visiting parishes and monasteries describing very similar situations.
The display of anger is so common that it frequently goes unnoticed. Rather, it has become the expected response to any slight, no matter how trivial or harsh, given to someone by someone else in society. Some "getting back at" or "vengeance" is the norm. No one is exempt, parents, coaches, athletes, referees, police officers, teachers or those acquitted of a criminal offense. Interestingly, a recent news report noted that displaying anger at subordinates, especially combined with the use of scatological words, has also become the required norm to be an effective leader. [http://www.blogging4jobs.com/business/swearing-makes-you-a-better-leader/]
Psychologically, anger occurs because we perceive ourselves to be "intruded on" to the extent that it justifies aggression, vengeance, and retaliation. To display this level of anger we have to have to see ourselves as very 'important.' St. Basil tells us "Anger nurses a grievance. The soul, itching for vengeance, constantly tempts us to repay those who have offended" [St Basil the Great, Homily 10]. I am so important, so above others that I have the "right" to act uncharitably toward others. Note that I am making an important distinction between annoyance, which in fact could motivate a useful adaptive response such as being more focused or trying harder, with real anger.
There may be some who would perceive angry individuals as effective leaders, but, in general, psychologists have found damaging boomerang effects for anger displays: relationships are fermented, people will tend to retaliate; it cognitively distracts from solving problems, and even if what I am angry about has some truth to it, my over-reaction lessens my credibility.
"... learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Mt 11: 29)
There is so much in the teachings of Christ and His Church, that if one is committed to be a follower of Christ that one of the major virtues that would be nurtured would be a firm commitment to truth. Consider the approbative words Jesus told the Samaritan woman: "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him." (Jn 4: 23) St. John (8: 22) records Jesus very strong assertion: "...you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." During the Divine Liturgy, after reception of the very Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ, the choir (congregation) chants: "We have seen the true light ...found the true faith..." It would appear, Christians should not get away from what is the truth. (Morelli, 2010a) Of course this focus on truth would certainly extend to how the husband-wife--father-mother relate to each other in a blessed marriage when they create a domestic church, a little church in their home, and this extends to their children as well.
There is no doubt that most readers have heard the aphorism: 'money is the root of all evils.' This apothegm is actually a popularization of St. Paul's instruction to St. Timothy (1Tim 6: 10): "For the love of money is a root of all of evils. . . ." Of course, there is much wisdom in this teaching. However, we must consider that there is a vice that precedes and nourishes this 'root' of money, and all the other vices as well. St. Hesychios the Priest writes: ". . . the crown of all these, pride." (Philokalia I). St. John Cassian (Philokalia I) suggests the reason. He says ". . . it acts like some harsh tyrant who has gained control of a great city . . . . as a result regard[s] himself as equal to God." Such people, says the prophet Isaiah (14: 14), say to themselves "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High."
There is agreement among world religions on the deleterious nature of pride. The Hindu scripture states: "Those who know truly are free from pride and deceit (Bhagavad-Gita 13:7)." In the Koran it is written (Surah 96: 6-8): "Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds, In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient. Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all)." In the Buddhist tradition we read: "Free from . . . overbearing pride, principled, trained, a 'last-body': he's what I call a Brahmin [the elite]. (Dhammapada, 26)."
By Fr. George Morelli
I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will. (Phlm 1: 14)
In today's secular society there are two extreme views of those serious followers of Christ who apply Christ's teachings on tolerance and forgiveness in their lives. One view is that such Christians are wanting in courage by failing to call for retribution and vengeance for crimes society may rightly find abhorrent. On the other hand, committed Christians are viewed as intolerant if they choose to reject values and practices that are un-Christ like. The Christian response can only be understood by deepening our understanding of the Holy Trinity and the relationship of the Persons of the Holy Trinity among themselves.
What we know of the essence of the Godhead, the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God, is magnificently summarized by St. John Chrysostom in his Divine Liturgy: "for Thou art God ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, ever existing and eternally the same." The Holy Spirit-inspired Church and its early Councils undertook the task of trying to understand and express the relationship between the veiled prototype of the Holy Trinity contained in the Old Testament Scriptures and God as One-in-Three as revealed by Christ Himself. McGuckin summarizes that it consisted of a "theology of three perfectly coequal divine persons (hypostases), all sharing the selfsame divine nature (ousia). . . more succinctly . . .a vision of God where the Son and Holy Spirit were homoousion with the Father though hypostatically distinct."
God's Essence
A common human experience is that when one is absorbed in work or activity that one deems worthwhile, time seems to fly; one is often so deep in concentrated focus as to 'forget about self;' the opposite of this is the experience of listlessness. On a purely human level we could consider the words of Hindu teacher Gandhi regarding such absorbing work: ".. . finding satisfaction in work is our best hope for happiness in life."i However, there is a higher matter to be considered, a Divine element to 'worthy work.' King David links the work we do to our purpose in life: "The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; thy steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of thy hands." (Ps 137: 8). So, what is ultimately meaningful will be that which we do that carries out our purpose in life; and at the same time it will be a Godly act. In his Epistle to the Corinthians (1Cor 3: 9,13-14) St. Paul tells us: "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building … each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward."
The title of this Chaplain's Corner is a verse from one of the last prayers said during the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (the Mass) in the Eastern Church. Many will recognize it is an almost verbatim quote from St. James' Epistle (1:17). Among these "good and perfect" gifts is heroism. This brings up the issue of who is a true hero. Few in the United States, as well as the wider world, are not aware of the shooting which took place at the School Board Meeting in Panama City, Florida on 14 December, 2010. While not as dramatic as the crash water landing of a disabled A320 Airbus in the Hudson River,i nevertheless the actions by some that day were heroic in their own way. A reportedly mentally ill individual, whose wife had been fired from her position as a teacher, entered the school board meeting room with a loaded gun, and painted a large letter V on the wall (for Vengeance). He then let the female school board members go and started shooting at the male members.
The board Superintendent, Bill Husfelt, called out to the shooter and said "Take me." [The firing] had been his decision, and he had had to sign the termination papers. He even started to rise from behind the Board desk to make himself a target, hoping the others would be let go. At one point, one of the female board members re-entered the room and tried to hit the shooter from behind with her over-size pocketbook. In the meantime, a retired police officer and Chief of Security for the School District, Mike Jones, entered the meeting room, crouched below the rear spectator seats, but still in the line of fire, and, in order to try to save the life of the school board members still in the room, opened fire on the perpetrator, hitting him several times.
"...for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Cor 3:6)
Up front I want to make clear that in no manner, shape or form is anything that I am writing meant to abrogate or ameliorate the commandments of God. In fact, just the opposite, my intent is to suggest a pastoral practice which would enhance keeping Christ's commandments. After all, we have it from Christ Himself: ". . . If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (Jn 14: 15).
What I am suggesting is that the best way to keep the commandments is to first focus on understanding their spirit, their meaning, and then make connections to the letter, that is to say, the written code. This approach is both psychologically and spiritually sound (Morelli, 2005). I am making the suggestion that this is an effective way to approach the commandments in workshops, catechesis and especially in pastoral aid given to penitents in the Holy Mystery of Confession.
The Eastern Church considers "passions" as dispositions to sin. In the Western Church they commonly number seven and are called the deadly sins. One of these passions, envy, is many times hidden or concealed behind a facade of false joy for the good others have come upon, but at the same time there is great inner pain and resentment in the hearts of the envious towards those they begrudge. Envy is actually the last listed of the10 Commandments, but near first on the list of its evil consequences. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's." (Ex 20: 17). The writer of the Wisdom of Solomon tells us of the primal importance of envy. It led to the first ancestral temptation, sin and its consequences: ". . . but through the devil's envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his party experience it." (WSol 2:24).
The Western Church Father Blessed Augustine described envy as a "diabolical sin."[i] Our Eastern Church Father St. John Chrysostom considered that "envy arms us against one another. . . . "[ii] St. Gregory the Great tells us that envy engenders conflict: "From envy are born hatred, detraction, calumny, joy caused by the misfortune of a neighbor, and displeasure caused by his prosperity."[iii] Envy is a refusal of charity, which is to say, of love, and is itself is rooted in pride. The pious followers of Islam see envy as an evil and will seek out Allah to be protected ". . . from the evils of the envious when they envy." (Sura 113:5).
The New Covenant
Prophet JeremiahThe New Covenant was actually foretold by the Prophet Jeremiah (31: 30-34) in the Old Testament:
Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, `Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
In the book of Psalms, David writing of the priesthood of the New and Eternal Covenant tells us:
The People of the Old Covenant
Abraham about to Sacrifice IsaacThe people of the Old Covenant, the Hebrews, from the time of Abraham up to the present day, take very seriously that they are the "Chosen People". God's words to Abraham were quite specific:
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. (Gen.17: 1-7)
Noah's Ark
Connections: The Church and the Temple (The Building-Structure)
The Church, the Body of Christ, is related to the Temple (church building). The Temple is a vessel carrying the body of Christ to union with God, that is to say salvation, deification, to becoming partakers of the Divine Nature (2Pt 1:4).
The central part of the Temple is called the nave [Latin: nāvis, ship: from its rectangular appearance], a reference to Noah's Ark which, as recounted in Genesis (6-9), was built by Noah at God's command to save himself, his family, and the earth's animals from devastation.
Also, the temple building is related to St. John's description of the "New Jerusalem," The Kingdom of God, in the Book of Revelation (21: 14-27). The mission of the Church, the Assembly, is to be the ship of our salvation.
Suggestions and Resources for an Interconnected Curriculum Based On 'Connections'
The Four Evangelists: Ss. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John on a Russian Gospel Book
Some of the material below repeats a few of the points made above. This model catechetical lesson on "The Church" material is meant as a guide and illustration of how the topic can be approached.
The Church
Linking Scripture and the Church Fathers
In Sacred Scripture, (Old and New Testament), reference to: Ekklesia (assembly). In the Old Testament we read of the creation of the assembly of angels. The writer of the book of Job speaks of the creation of the angels: "when the stars were born all the angels in a loud voice sang in praise of me" (Job 38, 7).
Prophet Job
Orthodox Church founded by Christ
Christ who is begotten and sent from the Father and sanctified by the Holy Spirit -- can only be known by acquiring and living one's life according to The Mind of the Church. As St. Paul tells us: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2. 5). The Mind of Christ and His Church was sealed by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and has passed down to the Church to the present day.
The Mind of Christ and His Church expressed in Sacred Tradition
Let me recount St. Paul's words: "I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you" (1 Corinthians 11:2). St Paul told the Ephesians "you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone . . . " (2:19,30).
The Ministry of the Apostles
Must be in continuity with the Apostles and union with their bishop successors
by V. Rev. Fr. George Morelli, Ph.D.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . . ." (Mt 28:19)
Although Christmas is a national holiday by act of Congress (5 U.S.C. 6103),all in Western countries know Christmas is under attack and that any religious significance is being marginalized from its celebration. Unfortunately, many Americans, and others throughout the world, hold to the value system summarized by the well-known adage: 'money talks but everything else walks.' Our only hope for retaining some sense of a transcendent God, and the recognition due Him for the blessings we receive throughout the year, may be Thanksgiving Day. In 1863, following the irregular local, regional and national recognition of this feast since its first celebration by the Puritan-Protestant Pilgrims and indigenous Native Americans in 1621, President Abraham Lincoln made an official proclamation: "I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, . . . to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."


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King James Version (KJV) | New International Version (NIV) |
23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible , for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? | 23 And who is like your people Israel--the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? |
The King James Version is in the public domain. (The King James Bible Version Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Students are grouped by age and/or experience. All students will complete the NY State Safe Boating course while learning to sail. Experienced students will sail independently within a specific area of the bay under the watchful eye of their instructor. By the second week, these sailors will be racing their 23-foot sailboats and performing other boat handling skills. Other activities include: rules of racing, plotting courses, reading charts, and anchoring.
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My Profile
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Member since Oct 2008
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Reviewed Chunky Banana Bran Muffins
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Cars > jason67chevelle's Garage
About jason67chevelle's Garage
About me and my passion for cars
a love all kinds of car's but im really a chevy guy.i love fast car's but also like car show's and stuff like that.
My first car
my first car was a 67 rs/ss camaro that was recked in the driver's door.i traded it for a 63 chevy II.
Car I wish I still had
the 67 camaro that i traded off.
My dream car
i have my dream car right now.it's a 67 chevelle.it's apart right now but when im done it will be bad,i mean 1600hp worth of big block procharged hp.
- Type of racing: drag racing(outlaw type racing)
- Driver: pat musi
- Driving song: i can't drive 55
- Car movie: two lane blacktop
- Car magazine: nmca
— Profile last updated: Aug 26, 2006
jason67chevelle's Garage Comments 1 – 3 of 3
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Read comments on jason67chevelle's garage (3)
- Nov 4, 2006 at 4:18 pm
- Ahh The V8 Vega !! Built one in the early 80's (not near as nice or fast as yours). Hold on and try to keep it stright!!
After a few low 13 second passes in mine the doors would not close properly!!
Looks like you built yours right!
Hope the 67 turns out just as nice.
- Aug 23, 2006 at 12:00 am
- runs 8's... nice!!!
- Aug 22, 2006 at 11:20 pm
- love the vega!!!!
Cars > jason67chevelle's Garage


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Pardon The Pessimism. (But This Needs To Be Addressed)
Let it be known that my favourite band is completely without question, The Strokes. Having said that, today a very disturbing question popped into my head, it was, "I know that Albert talked about the band going and meeting in NYC on Feb. 11th and others had hinted towards this also (such as Jules & Nick writing, Nikolai's interview)...but where's the evidence that any meeting or further recording is being done right now?" Maybe I'm missing a huge sign right in front of my face or something, but from what I can see everyone celebrated on Feb. 11th and then just went back to not knowing any news about the band. Is there an article(s) out there or anything that can lead to further proof that the band even met? I hate to be a pessimist, and not that thestrokes.com ever gets updated but I would think such an event would be more meaningful to the guy's, even just a little Feb. 11th update would have been nice. Anyone agree?


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How To Mount a Post Vice?
Posted 23 November 2012 - 01:48 AM
Once more into the fray,
Posted 23 November 2012 - 02:23 AM
Are you going to tie the post vice onto a bench or do you want it portable/moveable?
If you dig a hole in the ground and bury it, it will be VERY stabile (LOL), just kidding!! Find a short piece of pipe that will go around the end of the post (at the bottom), weld it to a piece of scrap plate, drill a couple holes through the plate and lag bolt it in position below wherever you are going to mount it (to a bench).
Don't overthink the mission. "Mounting a Post Vice"!! K.I.S.S.
Posted 23 November 2012 - 06:35 AM
Posted 23 November 2012 - 08:05 AM
Posted 23 November 2012 - 09:03 AM
I took over a blacksmith shop (I was never a blacksmith unitll I took over a shop, I am a welder by trade) and the Historical Society had all the tools etc. This leg vise (I didn't know exactly what it was) was ONLY mounted to the table top. That long "post" aka "leg" was simply dangling there.
Needless to say, it did NOT operate very well and I couldn't understand what folks saw in a vice like this. Yes, everytime I grabbed ahold of that long bar to tighten/loosen (the jaws) the vise would tilt/swing and pivot on (bench) mount.
The odd thing was, this vice was installed in 1972 and in use since then by many a blacksmith whom operated this shop. That was almost FOURTY YEARS of operation.
So,,,,here I am, with ZERO smithing experience and I take a look at this stupid set-up and have to scratch my head. I am no mechanical engineer, and this stood out like a sore thumb.
So, my point is, how many of you experienced smiths operate your shop with that leg swinging around side to side as you operate the vice jaws????????
Apparently many do........obviously.
Posted 23 November 2012 - 09:30 AM
Posted 23 November 2012 - 09:40 AM
Fourty years of use and nobody had thought to correct this.
Makes you wonder.
Makes me wonder who installed the thing too.
Posted 23 November 2012 - 10:11 AM
"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right." Henry Ford
Posted 23 November 2012 - 10:13 AM
Posted 23 November 2012 - 11:10 AM
When I set up my post vise I was faced with two potentially incompatible issues. The jaws of the vise are supposed to be at the height of your elbow to permit easy filing (forearm horizontal) and the post is supposed to be mounted to the floor to carry the force of the blows to an immovable object (the earth). I'm a fairly tall guy (6' 2 1/2") and the height of my elbow left the bottom of the post some distance off the ground. I mounted it to the wall of my shop at the preferred height and placed a 4x4 vertically under the post (with a large washed to spread the force) to correct for the difference in height.
One thing I have always wondered about is whether the elbow height rule is for machinists and may be disregarded by blacksmiths. If so, I don't know the rule of thumb for how high or low to mount a vice. The above described mounting has worked well since 1995.
George M.
Posted 23 November 2012 - 11:17 AM
I have seen countless examples of people leaving things as they found them because they assume the person who set it up before them knew what they were doing. Psychology texts teach about this behavior trait.
Yes. That is the ONLY reasonable explaination I could come up with. Still doesn't explain why the original installer would do something like that, but I don't care. I have it fully operational now and shake my head at all forerunner smiths who operated from this shop since 1972.
Posted 23 November 2012 - 06:13 PM
Tall for filing and such ( im also on the tall side a 6' 6"
I hava a seven inch vise mounted low for striking and ground Vs in the jaws for firmly holding hardy shanks on some of my tooling.
All of the vises are mounted on 4 or 6 inch heavy wall square tubing somewhere between 4 to 5 feet deep in the foor in concrete.
When I hit them they DONT move.
I prefer dirt floors over concrete.
My floors are dirt ,covered with about 4 inches of rock dust ( granite dust ) which is like crusher run without the little pieces of rock
Posted 23 November 2012 - 06:55 PM
Even if you don't use them right around the forge and anvil you might want to consider them at the drill press, grinder, etc..
George M.
Posted 23 November 2012 - 07:22 PM
SReynolds, keep in mind that in 1972 and for many years after blacksmithing in America was all but dead (excepting the farriers and industrial smiths and the lucky few who found ABANA in the early years). There was NO ONE who could tell your precursor the how and why of leg vise detailing. We have revived an all but dead vocation. Praise rather than curse your forefathers for swimming into the ocean of ignorance and coming back with a badly mounted leg vise.
Posted 24 November 2012 - 01:43 AM
Once more into the fray,
Posted 14 January 2013 - 05:59 PM
One more thought regarding the shop that SReyonlds moved into. Several mentions were made of putting a block or some such filler underneath the post to raise it. Perhaps the original smith had something similar placed but the museum or whatever it is that runs your shop removed said block sometime in that fourty years. No telling what someone may "steal" to fill another purpose. So it may not have been the smiths that worked there at fault.
Member of BAM!!
Posted 15 January 2013 - 05:58 PM
Hey guys, Could anyone help me figure out how to mount a post vice? I just finished cleaning up the vice I got for free. It's an old Indian Chief with 4 1/2'' jaws. The Threads of the screw are in excellent condition, don't think the previous owner used it much. I used a process called electrolysis which works awesome to remove rust, look it up on YouTube if you need to clean up some old metal. If you need pictures of the vice I can post those. Alright, Thanks.
The rule of thumb, or elbow as stated by George is correct. My work was accomplished on an 8" face railroad post vise.
You'll want to make sure the vise is mounted securely to a post that has a diameter large enoough to hold the vise, and the weight of the work you're working on. My vise could hold material weighing several hundred pounds (wagon wheel). You can buy treated telephone pole culls. They've been treated specifically to be placed in the ground, so they last a long time.
Make sure the placement is optional for the work you'll be doing. Prefereably, if your right handed, place the vise on your right, and far enough away from any work area or sharp eges of other equipment so the lever isn't impeded. But, close enough that your hot work can be clamped in without losing too much heat. You will have to dig, and if you have a mechanical auger, the better, or you'll have to dig, and dig some more to place the post. Anywhere from 3-4' is deep enough. You can go deeper if you care too.
Don't use concrete or cement to secure the post vise in the ground. You will regret it when you have to dig the post out. As it ages, weather conditions, humidity, and the torque which transfers from the vise to the post, it will eventually create weak points and the post will start to split and you'll have to replace it- which means...dig out the concrete or get the backhoe and chain the post and wrench it out.
To secure the post in the ground, use dirt and clay only, with a few pebbles and small rocks mixed in damp layers. You can add a little sand which will fill in any air pockets as the post settles. Tamp each layer down solid with the edges with a 2x4. Use a level to keep the post plumb to a degree. You can also wrap the post in scrap leather, wire (Piano wire is great if you can acquire some) or both to keep it from splitting prematurely. Especially, if you're using 1/2" or greater lag screws securing the vise 4" or deeper into the post.
I used this method, and my post vise was used daily for more than 13 years before the post had to be replaced.
Good Luck
just because no one understands you, doesn't mean you're an artist.
Posted 15 January 2013 - 08:39 PM
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I've worked with Kris Barrett over the past 3 years. My first experience with her as a teacher was through her Pilates for the Rider class. Taking Kris' class was not only fun; but helped me tremendously with my core strength, balance, flexibility and body position. I started taking lessons with Kris after I bought a new, very athletic horse that proved to be challenging once we got him home. Kris was always patient and positive with my sometimes-difficult horse; and the next year we were able to begin successfully showing. Kris' help was also invaluable when we started looking for a new eventing prospect for my daughter. Together we found a great match. My daughter and her horse had a very successful year at training level, and plan to move up to preliminary this year.
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I am an adult amateur rider who has been riding for 22 years and currently compete in both dressage and hunter/jumper. I started riding and competing in eventing and dressage. After retiring my event horse, I moved to jumpers with a young horse while dabbling in dressage with the same horse. After starting lessons with Kris, I became a more active dressage competitor. While concurrently competing this horse as a jumper, Kris moved us through the levels to where we are currently showing, 3-3 and 4-1. This is a great achievement considering that this horse is a talented horse but lacks rideability from a dressage perspective. Many other instructors would not have persevered to help me make it this far with this horse.
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I have the highest regard for Kris Barrett as a horse trainer and riding instructor. I was Kris' student at Webb Ranch in Menlo Park, CA, for two years. She also assisted me in the purchase of my new horse, a Lusitano from Brazil. In every way and every arena (literally), Kris demonstrates the highest integrity and professionalism. She is intelligent, dependable, and conscientious. She exhibited these qualities in the purchase of my new horse, expertly representing my interests to ensure I found the best equine partner to match my skill level and riding goals. In her teaching, Kris exhibits patience and kindness with horses and humans alike. I have witnessed her ability to train different types of horses and riders, and her inherent ability to adapt her techniques to match the unique needs of each horse or rider. A unique benefit of working with Kris is her ability to share her knowledge and experience of human body mechanics acquired through her training in Pilates, knowledge that provides a uniquely trained eye and method of instruction to improve a rider's form.
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Gwynne Dyer: Reports of Iran's nuclear ambitions sound like a repeat of Iraq eight years ago
"We will not build two (nuclear) bombs in the face of (America's) 20,000," said Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in response to an International Atomic Energy Agency report this week that accuses Iran of doing just that. He called Yukiya Amano, the head of the IAEA, a U.S. puppet, saying: "This person does not publish a report about America and its allies' nuclear arsenals."
Well, that's true, actually. Amano will never publish a report about America's nuclear weapons (only 5,133 of them now, actually). He hasn't said anything about Israel's, Britain's, and France's weapons of mass destruction either. And his report is largely based on information fed to him by Western intelligence agencies.
But apart from that, Amano is as impartial and free from U.S. influence as you would expect a career Japanese diplomat to be. Only cynical people will see any resemblance to Colin Powell's performance at the United Nations in 2003, when the U.S. defense secretary held up a test tube and assured us all that Iraq really was working on germ warfare.
Iraq was allegedly working on nuclear weapons, too: former president George Bush's famous "smoking gun," which also subsequently went missing. And on the basis of this "intelligence" about Iraq's "weapons of mass destruction," the United States and its more gullible allies invaded the country. Hundreds of thousands died, no weapons were found, and nothing was learned. Here we go again.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The same intelligence agencies are producing the same sort of reports about Iran that we heard eight years ago about Iraq's nuclear ambitions, and interpreting the information in the same highly prejudiced way.
Many people in the West realise that they are being hustled into yet another attack on a Middle Eastern country, but they don't really worry about it too much. After all, it will only be air strikes, and we all know that an air-only war is practically casualty-free for the side with air superiority. Look at Libya, for example.
But how many citizens of the United States or Britain know that Iran has ten times as many people as Libya? Maybe one in 10, maybe one in 20. How many know that Iran is a partially democratic, technologically proficient state with no history of attacking its neighbours, not a tinpot dictatorship run by a vicious loon? About the same number. How many realise that the war would not end with a few days of air strikes? Practically none.
The interesting exception to all this is Israel, where people do know those things, and where there is a vigorous debate about whether attacking Iran is a good idea. A lot think it is not, and that also goes for both of Israel's intelligence agencies, Mossad and Shin Bet. Meir Dagan, the recently retired head of Mossad, said last January that an attack on Iran was "the stupidest idea" he had ever heard.
So Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Ehud Barak, who do both want to attack Iran (or rather, have the United States do it for them), have gone public. If the Western powers don't act at once, they warn, then Iran will get nuclear weapons and Armageddon will be just around the corner.
There are two things wrong with this proposition. One is the evidence. If you believe it all, it shows that Iran wants the knowledge and equipment that would let it build a nuclear weapon very quickly if necessary: an Israeli nuclear threat, a military coup in nuclear-armed Pakistan that brings young Shia-hating officers to power, whatever.
The evidence does not show that Iran is actually building a nuclear weapon now, or has any present intention of doing so. And having the knowledge and equipment that would let you do so fast in an emergency is entirely legal under IAEA rules.
The other problem with the accusations against Iran is the logic behind them. Building a nuclear weapon now would be extremely costly for Iran in terms of economic sanctions, global diplomatic isolation and the like if it became known. But it would be completely pointless from a deterrence point of view if it remained secret.
Deterrence is the only logical reason that Iran would ever want nuclear weapons, since it would be suicidal for it to attack anybody with them. As Mahmoud Ahmadnejadi pointed out (above), it would have at the most a few nuclear warheads. The United States has thousands of them, Israel has hundreds of them, and even Pakistan has dozens.
If Iran's leaders were completely logical in their thinking, they wouldn't waste a minute thinking about nuclear deterrence. They'd just rely on the fact that their military can completely shut the Gulf to oil traffic and bring the global economy to its knees if anybody attacks them. However, they are still a lot more rational than their Western counterparts— or at least than their Western counterparts can afford to seem in public.
You heard about that recent exchange between French president Nicolas Sarkozy and U.S. president Barack Obama that went out on an open microphone? Sarko said "I can't stand (Netanyahu) any more. He's a liar." And Obama replied: "You're sick of him? I have to deal with him every day." What about? One gets you 10 that it's about bombing Iran.
'Iran has "no history of attacking it's neighbors" - yeah right.'
OK, so when exactly did Iran ever initiate an attack on its neighbours? Perhaps you could enlighten us.
Is it a good thing for regional stability for Iran to have such an aggressive nuclear program? Not at all. But then, it isn't good for Israel to have actual nuclear missiles either. Nor is it good for the US to be prosecuting wars on two of Iran's borders. However the world has survived these things, and it will survive a nuclear Iran just as it has survived a nuclear Pakistan and a nuclear North Korea, and a nuclear South Africa, and an (infinitely more dangerous) nuclear Soviet Union. This is Dyer's point, no more, no less.
To be fair, the world will survive an American attack on Iran as well, but I for one have seen enough wars of stupidity to last a lifetime, and really, does the economy need another five trillion dollar hit right now?
"Why would Iran build a nuclear weapon - um, to destroy Israel."
Umm, no. Iran wants nukes for the same reason why all other nuclear powers wanted them: deterrence!
Can you blame them? Iraq and Libya gave up their WMD and North Korea did not. Which regime is still with us?
All you fools who believe the "madman" hype are the same fools who once believed that the Russians wanted us all dead and could nuke us 'any moment' during the Cold war. I used to believe the Russkies would nuke us and go all Red Dawn on N. America. Forgive me, I was a kid back then.
Luckily I grew up and my intellect evolved to realize that the good guys are just as corrupt and twisted as the bad guys. I realize that these so called "enemies" are actually just what our leaders want - an excuse to possibly move in and take whatever they want, as they've been doing since I was a kid.
Iran can do as they please. It's what we in the West have always done - without the consideration of others. Look in the frickin mirror FFS
Appeasement will fail in this case. Again.
Clearly the United States needs to be stopped.
Honestly, I really don't see the harm in a nation putting together what is essentially the geopolitical equivalent of a roadside safety kit. We cobble together a bag with some flares, maybe some dried food, a few tools and possibly an old cell phone or radio. We hope we never have to pull it out but in the eventuality that we do we are glad it's there. With Iran they want to do the same sort of thing; cobble together the essential components of a thermonuclear weapon...but just have em ready to be assembled. ...blindfolded preferably...sort of like during basic training in the army (only with a rifle as opposed to the enriched uranium and detonator combo). And hopefully the day never comes, but if it ever does and suppose Turkmenistan keeps borrowing the hedge clippers but never fucking returns them, no matter how many times you ask...then I think everyone would understand assembling and lobbing it over the fence. And if Turkmenistan (worrying about such an event happening) begins to bring the hedge clippers back, sharpened and oiled to boot, then maybe just maybe the world is a better more civilized place thanks to an pile of parts and bits of radioactive material...just waiting there, hoping to be assembled.
The US trains the dreaded secret police, the Savak, who terrorize their own people to keep a despot in power. Sound familiar? Same game as Vietnam, the Philippines, Iraq, too many countries in South and Central America to list.
Then Reagan's delivery boy Rumsfeld gives lots of weapons to Iraq to attack Iran in the 80's. It's a win-win for the US as they get rid of second hand weapons and then get to use the money to supply Ollie North's Contras in Nicaragua and punish the Iranians for nationalizing their oil.
And wasn't it just last week that America admitted to sending in many covert missions into Iran from Pakistan and Afghanistan and even Iraq over the past ten years? Um, isn't that tantamount to an act of war?
Sorry, Israel is not the only country which can claim hostile neighbours as an excuse to arm itself to the nuclear teeth and use pre-emptive strikes to protect itself.
I'd want to protect my people from those countries whose souls have been sold to the petro-chemical sociopaths too. Too bad that Canadians surrendered their sovereignty when they elected a former oil executive to 24 Sussex Drive.
I am with Dwyer and Phillips.
Washington, in his farewell address warned us also, of undue influence of foreign powers, and of entangling alliances, policies that safely guided the Republic for generations. We ignore the sagacious advice from these two President's at our peril.
The US is a "partially democratic" (read partially NOT democratic) regime.
Just who won the 2000 Presidential election?
Israel is not going to attack Iran they are just crying wolf again for more military aid. It's a numbers game. Israel has a jewish population 5.5 Million, Iran has a population of 75 Million.
Israel is a landmass the size of Rhode Island (at its slim point Israels border is only 9 miles wide). Iran is the size of Texas, Arizona and California combined.
Israel would have to be as crazy as most of us Europeans think it is to even dream of attacking Iran and if it did Iran could utterly destroy Israel with one hand tied behind its back. It's all a numbers game the the numbers don't look good for Israel.


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My son just married a gal with a three year old daughter whom I just adore. She turned three in Sept. It has been a long time since I've been around little ones. I have shopped and purchased the starter LeapFrog program for her for Christmas. Now I am not sure that I should have bought the Leapfrog Adventure one. I really don't know enough about this product to make a sane decision. She seems to be a bright child wanting to learn new things all the time. I know that you can buy books to build on to this program. Should I take the starter one back and exchange it for a more advanced one? I'd appreciate help from someone who knows more about this product than I do/ Thanks for your help. Out of Date Grandma |
Follow-Up Postings:
My MIL bought a Leap pad for my daughter for Christmas too! She also turned three in Sept. My thoughts would be to stick with the one you have. I think my daughter is well above average compaired to other kids her age (what mother doesn't?) Anyway, I think for my DD, she needs to learn the basics of reading first. If she doesn't learn phonics first, she won't be very successsful at reading. She may pick up on it really quickly and be ready for the next level soon but I still think it's best to build a strong foundation first. |
- Posted by Anne(email@example.com) onSun, Dec 16, 01 at 17:08
Poli, Thanks for the good advice. I think I will keep it and give it to her. Besides, I know that they plan to have more kids. She can always pass it down to a younger brother or sister when she "graduates" to the next level. Well, now I am finished with my Christmas shopping. Sure feels good. Happy Holidays to you, Anne |
- Posted by Lynn(email@example.com) onSun, Dec 16, 01 at 20:38
Anne, I hope you got the two detailed websites I sent to you about Leapfrog (Please no one write me about them I have deleted them from my favorites now). I tired to put them on this forum but after putting all the information needed I was cut off. So...I didn't try again, just sent the 2 website on hyperlinks to you. The second one showed lots of pictures and explained alot about the product. I know that can never be as good as hearing from someone who's child has used this product. Lots of luck! Lynn |
My son is 5 and my MIL got him a LeapPad. She got him 3 books. I don't see this as a toddler toy. We have lots of the LeapFrog products that ARE great for toddlers but I do not think this one is meant for the little ones. My son knows his letter and sounds and is reading simple, predictable books. I can't imagine that a 3 year old would find this interesting at all. If they have books that are more toddler oriented (with songs, ABC's, numbers, etc.) it might be ok for a toddler. The way Zack got it, it is more geared toward a child that already knows his letters and sounds, and is beginning to read. Mommabear |
- Posted by timberlysmom (My Page) on Mon, Dec 17, 01 at 12:26
Just a note, I was reading by the time I entered Kindergarten, actually my ABC books by the time I was 4 (so I'm told anyway! lol). I think that was attributed to the information being presented to me. I certainly think it's an OK gift for a 3 year old if they're interested in learing more :) |
- Posted by Heather_CA (My Page) on Tue, Dec 18, 01 at 17:01
My son got the Leapfrog book pad with three books for his third birthday (or third Christmas, can't remember, but they're two months apart). Anyway, he is now 4.5 and he doesn't really use them for the stories yet. HOWEVER, he does love the one that has extra things in the back like the U.S. map, musical instruments, the human body, etc. He can name about half of the U.S. states just by looking at a map now because of this book, not to mention various bones of the body and musical instruments. So, just because they're not reading or using it yet to learn to read, doesn't mean there's no value to them. I'm sure she'll do just fine with it. |
there are several levels of books from prereaders to chapter books. I think 3 1/2 and up would be a good age for the leap pad. My 4 yr DD is getting one for Christmas. She goes straight to the display at every store we go to and plays with it until I drag her away. |
I LOVE Leapfrog products!! We have the Baby Tad soft electronic dolls, misc other toys--they are WONDERFUL! My littlest sister-w/learning disabilities uses the leap pad and all it's accessories with great success! ~JEN, Early Childhood Spec and mom to 18mos old, 33wks preg w/#2 |
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love this light!
This one is amazing
@134340 @allofemily Thanks! I think this quote applies here: "Great photography is always on the edge of failure" - Garry Winogrand
love it!
More Sprocket Rocket Fun
I'm getting the hang of my new Sprocket Rocket camera after the 3rd roll! I've found it helps to get very close to your subject if you want it to fill the frame. I was able to use 100 ISO film this time under broad daylight.
This photo was shot on film. Taken by marcus_loves_film with a Lomography Sprocket Rocket (available in our Online Shop) loaded with Fuji Provia 100F 35mm film in Lisle, United States. These tags describe this photo: 100iso, c-41", tetenal c-41, self-developed, x-pro, cross processed, and landscape. Date: 2012-11-24. Time: Afternoon. This photo can also be found in the album Sprocket Rocket w/Provia .


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Offsite resort guests are going to get access to Fastpass+ as well, as it is included with admission (this was stated early on). In fact, tomorrow at AK starts a full-blown test - NO regular Fastpass, Fastpass+ only.
There is no capacity to offer everyone at least three, and then increase that for higher tiers of guests.
Everything points to 3, and that's it. Occasionally, if the capacity vs. crowds allow it, you might get an extra.
Whether offsite guests will get to book in advance remains to be seen. Disney has in various ways implied it, but for tomorrows test they'll be doing it at kiosks only.
What we're starting to notice is that onsite guests get to pick FPs starting at 60 days from check-in - through the length of their reservation. So even if offsite guests get 60 days, onsite guests will get a "+" benefit similar to with ADRs.
In the long run, if they see FP+ being underutilized, they might offer more, either opportunistically, as a "bonus" for certain things, or just a flat one or two extra. It remains to be seen how this pans out. Knowing that there were guests out there that just "didn't get" Fastpass, I can't imagine how this will be simpler for them.


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KCMH airs PSAs (Public Service Announcements) for churches and other non-profit organizations - at no charge - for special events and activities (such as programs, seminars, banquets, concerts, revivals, etc.) for which there is no charge. We air these announcements as time, space and manpower permit. PSAs are also included on this website calendar and on our Community Calendar on the Sonbeam Drive Time program (as time and space permits). Information about the activity must reach the KCMH studio/office at least 2 weeks prior to the event. To submit your special event or activity you may fill out the PSA form.
Financial Peace Universary
Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Time: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Location: Christian Church of Mtn. Home - Mountain Home, AR
Christian Church of Mountain Home {located on East Side Centre Court (across Hwy 62 East from Peglar Real Estate Group) - Mountain Home, AR} is offering Financial Peace University starting on Tuesday, January 22nd, for nine (9) consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00pm. The classes will be taught via DVD by syndicated talk show host, Dave Ramsey. The enrollment fee is $100.00 - which reimburses the church for the required kit. {Those who have taken the course before (alumni) never again have to pay the registration fee - they can attend any or all sessions at no charge}. For more information you may call the church office at 425-8323. [Office hours are Tuesday thru Thursday from 10:00am to 4:00pm].
Other Dates Coming Up...
Tuesday, 03/05/2013
Tuesday, 03/12/2013
Tuesday, 03/19/2013


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Burying the Netbook
January 4th, 2013So in 2007, it was the year of the netbook. They were small and they were cheap, but they didn't have a lot going for them otherwise. They keys were squished together, performance was tepid, and the screen was just too small to manage Windows effectively. I recently read a report that some of those sacrifices were made as the result of edicts by Intel and Microsoft, but the end result was something that was cheap in every respect, but what did you expect for $300 or less? Predictably, Steve Jobs pooh-poohed netbooks as "cheap PCs," reminding everyone that "We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk. Our DNA will not let us do that." And of course a $599 Mac mini is not a piece of junk.
When Apple introduced the iPad in 2010, the netbook was on the way out, though it took a couple of years before two of the mainstays in that market, Acer and Asus, took the hint and phased them out. Yet there are still some tech pundits out there that claim that netbooks are only moribund, but may stage a resurgence of sorts. Or maybe not.
In the latter days, netbooks began to sport larger screens, more traditionally-sized keyboards; in essence, they became little more than cheap notebooks for those on a budget.
In case you're wondering, yes I did spend a brief amount of time on someone's netbook once upon a time. I found the thing near useless even when just making a few routine system changes in the wireless networking setup to recognize a new router. I presented a look of disdain that the netbook's owner couldn't miss. Knowing she had just bought the thing, I suggested she return it, and if she wasn't able to pay more than $300 for a computer, maybe look for something used in a more traditional form factor.
Nowadays, people buy loads of tablets, mostly iPads. Yes, the PC makers are still pushing all their notebooks, but even the slim, light Ultrabooks, highly touted as a better alternative to the MacBook Air, aren't doing so well. Yes, they seem to largely imitate the form factor of the Air with similar parts, but they just don't have the "it" factor that makes Apple's notebooks so successful. Or maybe more and more people just aren't so impressed by Microsoft's OS anymore. Recent trackings of Internet traffic don't show much of an uptake in Windows 8, but the raw figures won't be apparent until Microsoft releases their financials for the holiday quarter.
On the Apple side of the equation, despite some skepticism about the company's future growth prospects in recent weeks, it doesn't seem as if the company suffered any during the past quarter. Well, that is if you can believe a preliminary estimate, from Rob Cihra of Evercore Partners, which indicates that some 50 million iPhones were sold, along with 24 million iPads. Of those, 10 million were iPad minis, despite the fact that Apple's smaller tablet was essentially back ordered through the quarter. However, the same estimate suggests a minor dip in Mac sales, about 3%, due to the lack of availability of the new iMac. That is to be expected, and the flat sales will still stand in sharp contrast to PC land, where sales likely dipped to a reasonable degree. This despite the arrival of Windows 8, and lots of hopes and dreams on the part of PC makers and, of course, Microsoft.
Of course, you'll hear lots and lots of spin from PC companies and Microsoft as to what's really going on. It's not as if they will admit that their concepts of the future of the PC industry and the right products is necessarily the right ones. Microsoft still believes in the 1990's vision of Windows everywhere, that we must run the same OS, more or less, on a tablet as on a traditional desktop computer. And the smartphone interface should also be extremely similar, at least insofar as the tiled interface is concerned.
In other words, not dissimilar to the Zune music player.
Certainly I don't think it would be good for the industry for Microsoft to fail. Microsoft made a huge sea change in Windows 8, and even if the results aren't what people might accept, the company showed a big amount of courage in throwing out the traditional Windows user interface, even though it's still there in a separate environment.
In any case, while you will continue to hear a few people moan about the loss of netbooks, I hardly think there are really that many people who bought them other than to save money, and because they wanted something compact. It's not that they were terribly usable as notebooks, and you wonder what sort of mindset was involved in their creation, other than to make something as cheaply as possible with no indication that people would continue to buy them after the initial flurry of sales were over and done with.
The real question for 2013 is how will those "other" tablets continue to fare against the iPad. It appears the Amazon Kindle Fire might have done decently, but Amazon hasn't revealed actual unit sales. But that won't stop some industry analysts from making up their own numbers.
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