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Well after not posting for a while I thought I'd go for it, so here's yet more pics of my efforts so far...firstly my older obesums, sadly, no flower buds this year (one plant budded two years running and all dropped before maturing) but lots of caudex growth on all 4. No signs of dormancy again on the big ones, an odd shed leaf but nothing noticable, my young seedlings always stay in leaf.
Thanks for looking in, Gill from the UK. |
Follow-Up Postings:
Gill, They all look so nice and plump.how old are the big guys? Most of my seedlings all tall and skinny. Must be the U.K. water. Sharon |
- Posted by greenclaws UKzone8a (My Page) on Tue, Nov 15, 11 at 10:31
Hi Sharon, the 3 in the green pots were from seeds in Feb 08, the red pot one was May 09, the arabicums June 11 and the obesums July 11. Number 3 and 4 have have had the leader pinched once as they were getting leggy, especially No 4 as it had no signs of laterals until it was decapitated. I have fed them at each watering when I give them a thorough soaking. I let it drain through then tip the run-off back in again, drain and then pour it away. Note the stretch marks on the belly of No4, it got too big for its own skin at one stage and something had to give, lol!! Keeping them drier now, but they are in need of a drink at the moment. Can't say it's the UK water that's keeping them short & chubby as I've been drinking it for quite a while now and I'm 6ft, haha! Maybe it's time to nip out the tips of your skinny guys....if you want chubbier bases that is. Maybe try a few and see what results you get. Have you raised them out of the compost a little at each re-pot time? I do it annually and it's surprising what has been going on underground each year come spring. Thanks for looking in, Gill from the UK. |
- Posted by greenclaws Ukzone8a (My Page) on Tue, Nov 15, 11 at 15:28
Hey there Karyn, am fine thanks, hope you are too! Wish mine will flower at some point, was really hopeful for this Sept as that was when plant #1 budded 2 years in succession and then dropped them all, but have no signs on any yet. Seems they decided to fatten up their little bellies and extend their arms instead. Like your flower btw. The seeds for plants 1/2/3 were sold as solid pink obesums. I know I later bought some 'Noble Concubine' and 'Star of Luck' seeds but mixed the labels up and plant 4 is one of those. I since found out they don't come exactly true from seeds though, so could be anything...or nothing. Any flower would be a bonus for me here! Best wishes, Gill from the UK. |
Gosh, your plants look like they just got home from the beauty parlor. They are so perfectly groomed and petite that they look like bonsai plants without the wires. It's cool that they branched when you pinched the top. A few of them together would look like a forest! Good job! Penny |
Gill, I love to look at your adenium, and arabicum small ponsai type plants. They are beautiful. They look very good without bloom, but I hope they will bloom their head off for you soon. Let say, next year, keep your finger across and keep hoping. My baby adenium grow so tall, but I didn't want them grow that way, I want caudexs to grow big like your. Marie |
- Posted by greenclaws UKzone8a (My Page) on Thu, Nov 17, 11 at 10:00
Thank you all for your kind words, it's a great encouragement to me. Penny, 2 of the the baby Black Pearls already have little stubs of branches forming now, lets hope they do well. Marie, I will admit to be very envious of your adenium collection as I think they are fantastic. The fact that you rarely see plants for sale here in the UK (I have only seen one so far) makes me even more determined to do well with seed sown plants as it's my only method of obtaining tham. The Black Pearls are said to be fast growers, so hopefully, come spring they should put on some good growth. As you say...fingers crossed! What I would really like to do is to have the courage to root prune the big guys severely and put them in proper bonsai type shallow pots, but I'm a whimp! The thought of doing that fills me with dread, but I think they would look better and maybe even grow better do you think? Spring would be the best time to do it when they are growing strongly, so I have plenty of time to pluck up enough courage between now and then. |
Gill, Your adeniums look really healthy. Perhaps you can take one of them and do a severe root prune and place in a shallow pot. See if it grows well, if so do another until you have each of them trimmed and in shallow pots. Good luck. |
- Posted by greenclaws UKzone8a (My Page) on Fri, Nov 18, 11 at 9:52
If only I could find or was clever enough to make some of those pots that Mr.Caudex has for his fat plants! That really is a bad case of 'pot envy' syndrome! The 4 largest appear to have a good root structure as they have all got white roots poking out of the drainage holes. I did buy a shallow one holed bonsai pot earlier this summer but when I got it home it looked far too small even for plant #4. I need to look at some bonsai sites as I'm sure there must be some info on the ratio of the sizes of plant to pot somewhere. LadyL, good point your raise there but would you wait till spring seeing as... 1/ they are in full leaf 2/ show no signs of going dormant 3/ still put out the odd leaf 4/ have never yet gone dormant 5/ its going to get colder here before it gets warmer Any thoughts on this are appreciated as always, thanks...Gill from the UK. |
All beautifully grown plants, very much like the first one ! Kudos ! |
- Posted by bikerdoc5968 6 SE MI (My Page) on Sun, Nov 20, 11 at 10:58
These all look so great... When the weather warms up here in Michigan, I want to try my hand at growing some from seed. Any particular vendor in the USA for seeds? Any tips as to type of media for the seeds, watering, etc? Then once they germinate, what next? And "root pruning", what's that all about? Just want to be as successful as I can out of the box. Thanks |
- Posted by greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a (My Page) on Sun, Nov 20, 11 at 11:24
Hey, Gill! If you re-pot in a shallow container, the growth will slow down considerably.
Josh |
- Posted by greenclaws Ukzone8a (My Page) on Mon, Nov 21, 11 at 18:45
Greenjay, thanks, glad you like my efforts so far, my fav is #3. Bikerdoc, hope someone from the USA comes in to help you find a good seed supplier as I'm from the UK. As for the germinating media I tend to use a 50/50 mix of cactus and general purpose potting compost. The seeds need to be soaked in warmish water for 4 hours or so before lying them on the surface of your pots and covering with just a sprinkling of mix. Keep them moist but not saturated and in the mid 20'sC. If fresh, they should pop in a matter of a few days, mine come through in 5/7 usually. They grow quickly once through and need to be kept moist for several weeks after sprouting. When around and inch or so high and with a couple of sets of true leaves I re-pot mine individually into 30% cactus mix, 30% potting compost and 30% horticultural grit...it needs to be very fast draining. I let mine dry out before I water again which can be every other day even here in the UK! Give them as much light & warmth as poss. Josh, thanks for the heads up on the root pruning... I will certainly now wait a while before I chop them as I'd certainly like them to put on some more growth yet. |
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Trace: Climate Change: Can we be pre-emptive?
The past month, I attended the START- Regional Workshop on Southeast Asia Climate Change and Health Issues in Taiwan with representatives from about 15 different countries, mostly South East Asia. Here I reflect the synthesis of my understanding during the event. My background in natural resource management and recent work research interest in climate change adaptation kept me conveniently aligned with impact on land and water dynamics, inadvertently discounting the climate change impact on human health. Mankind evidently is bearing the burden of climate change along with other global challenges like increasing population, poverty, hunger, AIDS, war and disasters These all somehow intricately link both on the context of 'cause' and 'impact' with humankind. Dr. Louis Verchot, Scientist from Center for International Forestry Research, Indonesia puts it as '… climate change seems an additional stress to an already overtaxed system'.
Source: http://trace.apcc21.net/guest-articles/climate-change-and-health-can-we-be-preemptive/

subset: commoncrawl


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Horror Façade
posted on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:00 AMAmorosa doesn't even seem to really try to make sense. All it offers audience is an illusion: a collection of elements that one has come to expect from a horror movie. But it refuses to do the work to give those pieces any weight. Solid production masks those deficiencies for a little while, but it isn't long before the cracks begin to show. Amorosa often looks very good, but it falls apart almost as soon as you start thinking about it.
Years ago, Amorosa (Angel Aquino), her husband, and her two boys Amiel and Rommel (Martin del Rosario and Enrique Gil) got into a car accident. Her husband died in the accident, leaving her alone to take care of her boys. In the present, she decides to move her family to a remote pension house. But once there, she discovers that the house is home to an angry spirit seeking revenge for sins committed years ago. And as she deals with the fear of this spirit popping up everywhere, she struggles to reconnect with Rommel, who hasn't been the same since the accident.
Amorosa is the kind of horror movie that has its main character standing in a doorway, inches from the safety of the outdoors, and then has her inexplicably running upstairs, trapping herself inside the house with the threat. It is the kind of horror movie that has a vengeful ghost that can seemingly kill anyone at anytime, but only has her pop up when it's most convenient. Though the ghost supposedly has a purpose, she seems to spend most of her time popping up behind the main character, even though that doesn't serve her purpose in any way at all.
In concept, the film offers a couple of interesting threads. The relationship between Rommel and Amorosa offers a complex dynamic that could have been mined for all sorts of strange, psychological drama. But in practice, the movie loses itself in the nuts and bolts of the narrative. It falls apart as it pursues silly twists and allows its characters to act irrationally. Strange comedic beats dilute the film's effect as well. To its credit, the movie manages to look good as it navigates its narrative mire. The ghosts are a little indistinct, but the movie gets a lot out of the scenery. It's not nearly enough to make up for the overall clunkiness of material, however.
Angel Aquino puts up a fair performance. She's able to make something out of her character's instability, but it doesn't quite pan out in the end. Her character makes too many dubious choices, and the actress doesn't seem to know exactly how to react. Enrique Gil ably plays the angst of his character, but struggles in the more tender moments. He plays it too large, losing the nuance that he fields when playing up the anger. The supporting cast is given to playing things cartoony, their presence taking the film farther and farther away from reality.
The more you think about Amorosa, the worse it gets. The material just can't stand up to any scrutiny, the most basic components of the story falling apart at the slightest hint of reason. As a whole, the film just feels like the façade of a horror movie. It presents a compelling face, made up of all the easy touchstones associated with the genre: a remote setting, vengeful ghosts, familial connections, and themes of guilt and redemption. But go any deeper, and there's just nothing there.
My Rating:


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Wed, Dec 23, 09 at 15:24
I have a tree in my yard that turns all the shrubery under it and the trees around it black. Anyone know what it is and what can be done aside from cutting it down. |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by louisianagal z7bMS (My Page) on Wed, Dec 23, 09 at 17:07
Many times when a tree or shrub gets black it is becoz of a scale infestation. Can also be aphids I beleive. The scale or the aphids excrete a liquid called honeydew. It is sticky and sooty mold then grows on it. If you google scale or aphids + honeydew + sooty mold you will certainly get lots of hits to explain the connection and see if that seems to be the problem. Look closely at the tree and the shrubs for the infestation, look on the bark and on the undersides of the leaves. I've seen this on crape myrtles and on various types of magnolias. Even better would be to take some of the black parts to a master gardener or county agent. You can google your parish and master gardeners or county agent, also called extension service. This can be treated in various ways. You should use the least toxic method. You can also hand remove scale and/or prune some of the infected branches, and you can physically remove ahphids with a strong hose spray and some use a soapy water spray. Good luck. |
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Narrow your search
Microsoft's upcoming event should fill in a lot of blanks on its upcoming new software.
On January 21, Microsoft will stake out the future of Windows, giving us a glimpse of what its software will look like on mobile devices. A successor to Internet Explorer may also be in store.
Technically Incorrect: After an ESPN baseball writer tweets his creationist views, he is suspended. This week, basketball color commentator Bill Walton tries to persuade play-by-plan man Dave Pasch about science. Pasch is unimpressed.
One grand-prize winner and two runners-up will walk away with some sweet D-Link gear.
Announced at CES, Yale's newest smart lock turns NFC-equipped phones into digital keys.
While it sounds significantly different form the original Aurvana Live, the new Aurvana Live 2 is also a very good over-the-ear headphone value.
The SpaceX CEO wants to build a satellite network high above Earth that would speed up the Internet and bring access to underserved communities. And he'll use the profits to help colonize Mars.
Watch what happens when Nils Bremer shoots off fireworks under the icy surface of a frozen lake in Sweden. Then, obviously, don't try this at home.
The search giant says its interest in SpaceX is rooted in satellite imaging, as well as other "space-based technologies."
Users of the Pivotal Tracker 1 activity tracker have complained of syncing problems and data loss. Pivotal Living hopes to ease the pain with a free year of access to its mobile app.


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San Francisco (18-10) at Pepperdine (15-13)
GAME NOTES: The San Francisco Dons have won three straight games, and will look to improve on that streak as they travel to face the Pepperdine Waves in a West Coast Conference clash at Firestone Fieldhouse.
San Francisco is 11-5 in the West Coast Conference this season, and has just two games left on the docket. The Dons have fared well recently against conference competition, winning three in a row and four of their last five games, including a 64-59 defeat of Pacific on Saturday.
Pepperdine had lost three games in a row before a 72-69 win over Loyola Marymount last Thursday put a stop to the skid. The Waves are 8-8 in conference action this season with two games remaining on the regular season slate.
San Francisco has a pretty firm grip on the all-time series with Pepperdine, 72-50. The Dons beat the Waves earlier this season, 76-66, and have won six of the seven previous matchups with Pepperdine.
San Francisco fought to a 12-point advantage at the end of the first half against Pacific on Saturday. The Tigers managed to battle back in the second half and shave seven points off the Dons' first-half lead, but came up short in the end by five points. Avry Holmes scored a team-high 15 points with five assists in the win for San Francisco, while Cole Dickerson notched a double- double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Mark Tollefsen chipped in 11 points for the Dons, who shot 47.8 percent from the floor.
Dickerson has put together a solid season for himself, leading the Dons in scoring with 14.4 ppg, and in rebounding at 7.5 rpg. Kruize Pinkins chips in 12.7 ppg, and Holmes adds 11.9 ppg. Matt Glover leads San Francisco in assists on the year with 91 total, followed closely by Holmes' 82. Tollefsen rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.5 ppg.
Pepperdine got a significant contribution from Stacy Davis in the contest with Loyola Marymount, in which the Waves had to fight off a late Lions rally that fell just short. Davis had a huge game with 27 points and 12 rebounds for the double-double. He connected on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor, and added two blocked shots, two assists and a steal to his stat line. Malcolm Brooks contributed 15 points and Malte Kramer scored 12 off the bench.
Davis has really come on strong for the Waves this season, especially in recent weeks with several huge performances. Davis leads the team with a 15.1 ppg average, hitting 47.5 percent of his shot attempts from the floor. His 7.6 rpg mark is tied for the team lead with Brendan Lane. Lane is second on Pepperdine's roster in scoring with 13.6 ppg, and Brooks is third at 10.2 ppg. Jeremy Major tops the squad with 125 assists and 37 steals.
San Francisco got the best of Pepperdine the last time out, and has really dominated the series in its recent history. Since they'll be making a push in the last few weeks for a top seed in the West Coast Conference, the Dons will be gunning for the finish line.
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Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is one of baseball's very best players over the last half-decade. An elite defender and on base machine, he makes his team better and his teammates richer. Without Chutley to around to pad his juicy RBI total, maybe Ryan Howard doesn't land a contact quite so franchise-crippling.
Utley is back being Utley in 2011, getting on base more than any other second baseman in the National League. After missing the first 50 games of the year he has already amassed 2.7 Win Above Replacement, putting him on a nearly 9 WAR/700 plate appearances pace. Very impressive but it also highlights one of WAR's great strengths – the value placed on remaining healthy.
Wins Above Replacement is a catch-all counting stat which values offensive production, defense, and playing time with consideration given to the position played. It might well be the perfect counting stat and it is one we reference often here at Getting Blanked.
The playing time feature is key, as a player like Utley can and must be penalized for missing time with injuries. Every time Chase nurses a wound, somebody like Wilson AlvarezValdez needs to play second base. In that very situation this seasons, Valdez posted an ugly .246/.281/.303 line until Chase Utley took over every day.
We can't ignore Utley's shortcoming – his health – when considering his dominant play. He clearly offers so much for his club that even when playing just 100 games this year, he still ranks as one of the best second basemen in baseball. We can only count what he does when using a number like WAR, as it credits him for being on the field.
WAR works both ways as it credits a healthy player like Prince Fielder, who hasn't played fewer than 157 games in any of his 5 full big league seasons. He ranks just behind a player like Kevin Youkilis by WAR, despite Youkilis being a far superior base runner and defender. Youk only plays 145 games a year, meaning the Red Sox must dig into their bench for reinforcements while Youk makes his annual trip to the DL.
As players age, their inability to remain healthy really started to take its toll. While Chase Utley remains one of the most productive players in baseball now, health concerns and decline go hand-in-hand. He is certainly not the only member of the Phillies in that boat. They're a team that must win now while the Wins Above Replacement still roll in from their aging core.


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Find a pet to adopt |
My name is Kodiak ADOPTION PENDING!
Facts about Kodiak ADOPTION PENDING
- Breed: Husky Mix
- Color: Gray/Silver/Salt & Pepper - With White
- Age: Puppy
- Size: Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
- Sex: Male
Kodiak ADOPTION PENDING's Info...
I am already neutered, up to date with shots, good with kids, and good with dogs.
Kodiak is a 5 month old Siberian Husky that was saved from the kill shelter in Arkansas. He is awesome. he is gorgeous and fully vetted. he is neutered and gets along with other dogs and children
please fill out an application on our website at www.packleadersrescue.com
Other Pets at Pack Leaders Rescue of Connecticut
Why Adoption is a Great Option
Kodiak ADOPTION PENDING, a Manchester Husky puppy was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Husky for sale in Manchester, or seeking a Husky puppy from a breeder in Manchester.
- Rescues and shelter volunteers in Manchester already know the personality and tendencies of their pets. This means they can match you with the right pet. That will makes it much easier transition to owning a pet for yourself and your new pet.
- On average adoption fees are much less than you'd pay a Manchester breeder, or pet store. Plus most often rescue pets have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, had a round of vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. That is a lot of savings!
- You will become a hero, and give a needy dog or cat a loving home. In fact, there are even Husky breeders who help with Husky rescue. One puppy or kitten adopted in Manchester paves the way for another one to be saved.


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Castile-La Mancha
Castile–La Mancha
Autonomous community (pop., 2005 est.: 1,894,667) and historic region, central Spain. Established in 1982, it encompasses the provinces of Toledo, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara, and Albacete and covers an area of 30,681 sq mi (79,463 sq km). Its capital is Toledo. The watershed of the low-lying Toledo Mountains bisects the region; land to the north is drained by the Tagus River, and the plains of La Mancha to the south are drained by the Guadiana. In the 20th century, emigration to Madrid depleted the population. Agriculture dominates the economy. See Castile; Miguel de Cervantes.
Variants of CASTILE-LA MANCHA
This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on Castile{ndash}La Mancha, visit Britannica.com.
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Sponsored by: Desert Diamond Casino
Jan 20, 2014 6:37 PM by Brian White
TUCSON - University of Arizona head swimming and diving coach Eric Hansen has stepped down from his position, Director of Athletics Greg Byrne announced on Monday.
Hansen served as head coach of both the men's and women's programs for two-and-a-half seasons (2011-13) and as an assistant for three seasons (1996-99).
"I have decided to resign my position as head swimming and diving coach at Arizona," Hansen stated. "After taking a leave from the program in October, I came to the decision that it would be best for me to step down and pursue other interests. I want to thank athletics director Greg Byrne and the current athletic administration for the opportunity I was given."
"I want to thank Eric for serving as Arizona's head swimming and diving coach," said Byrne. "Although Eric will no longer serve as head coach, he remains very supportive of Arizona swimming and diving, and we thank him for his service to the program. Associate head coach Rick Demont will serve as interim head coach until a new head coach is named. We plan to open the position and conduct a national search. I'm confident we will find an excellent head coach to lead our swimming and diving program."
38 minutes ago


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Mon, Jul 15, 13 at 18:10
Found some yellow donut peaches at the farmer's market with completely yellow skin and yellow flesh. No reds, pink or orange tones, just yellow. The flavor was reminiscent of mango. Who is growing these? I think one cultivar may be 'Harvest Moon'. Want scion. Badly. |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by scottfsmith 6B-7A-MD (My Page) on Mon, Jul 15, 13 at 19:14
It sounds like TangOs.. Scott |
TangOs from NJ breeding program is yellow. The rest of the country can buy a tree from Adams County Nursery. But those in CA are, I think, shut out there. Many are probably privately held or limited releases to big commercial growers. I'm thinking there are probably hundreds of the later being grown in CA now. |
- Posted by franktank232 z5 WI (My Page) on Mon, Jul 15, 13 at 22:08
If its that good I can't wait...have about 10 out on the tree sizing up nicely! |
- Posted by Itheweatherman USDA 8b, Elevation 2 (My Page) on Tue, Jul 16, 13 at 0:02
"Found some yellow donut peaches at the farmer's market with completely yellow skin and yellow flesh...The flavor was reminiscent of mango..." About four or five years ago I bought a few pounds of pluots that tasted like a very sweet mango. Best pluots that I ever had. |
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Men's basketball: Jack Cooley ready to be a leader for Notre Dame this season
By Mark Lazerus Sun-Times Media November 5, 2012 11:08PM
FILE - In this March 16, 2012, file photo, Notre Dame's Jack Cooley (45) shoots over Xavier's Andre Walker (54) during an NCAA tournament second-round college basketball game in Greensboro, N.C. Notre Dame coach Mike Brey is counting on Cooley to lead a squad that returns all five starters and adds 6-10 Michigan State transfer Garrick Sherman and freshmen forwards Cameron Biedscheid and Zach Auguste. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Updated: December 7, 2012 6:22AM
SOUTH BEND — Jack Cooley had the flu, and it made Jerian Grant sick.
Notre Dame was playing at Maryland on Dec. 4 last year, less than 15 miles from Grant's hometown of Bowie. Cooley missed the game, the Irish lost, and Grant confronted the 6-9 Glenbrook South grad and laid into him.
Come on, Jack, that was my hometown team that we just lost to. I really wanted to get that win. You can play through some sickness.
"I was mad at him," Grant said.
Cooley got the message. On and off the court, physically, mentally and vocally, it was time for a change.
It happened almost overnight. Cooley's flu got better, his game got better, and the Irish got better.
Four days after Maryland, Cooley — who had 12 points and 15 rebounds in his previous four games combined — put up 22 points and 14 rebounds in a win over Maine. He had 22 and 9 two nights later against Dartmouth. He went on to post 11 double-doubles against Big East opponents, leading the Irish to a surprising 22-win season before a first-round NCAA Tournament exit. He was even named the Big East's Most Improved Player.
But the improvement on the court was nothing compared with the improvement off of it. Cooley put down the video games and picked up more game film. He stopped working out on his own early in the morning and joined the team for group workouts. And he stopped sitting quietly in the corner and became a vocal force in the locker room and on the court.
"I'm just now focused on solely the basketball and school — they're the only two focuses in my life right now," Cooley said. "And it's working out pretty well."
Coach Mike Brey never saw it coming.
"I'm shocked and so pleased to see the maturity of this guy," Brey said. "His teammates were down on him as a young guy — there were days he didn't want to do it, days he was tired. Now, he's really respected. When he says something, they're going to listen to him. I never thought we'd get to that point."
Neither did his teammates, who didn't know what to make of the Luke Harangody look-alike who only seemed to show up when he was required to.
"It was weird," Grant said. "Nobody ever really saw him on the court or with us. He was always by himself. But eventually, he started being one of the guys, and I think that really helped."
While Grant singled out the Maryland game, and Brey pointed to a double-overtime win at Louisville in which Cooley — never known for his conditioning — played 43 minutes and had 18 points and 10 boards, Cooley said everything really clicked into place in the five-day span between a bad loss at Rutgers on Jan. 16 that dropped the Irish to 3-3 in Big East play, and a home game against No. 1 Syracuse on Jan. 21.
That's when Cooley realized somebody needed to start yelling and screaming and whipping this team into shape. That's also when Cooley realized it might as well be him that did it.
"I thought, I need to step up because something needs to change," Cooley said. "That's when the change happened with me, and that's when the change happened with the team."
Indeed, the Irish came out and knocked off the Orange 67-58 behind Cooley's 17 points and 10 rebounds, triggering a nine-game Big East win streak that thrust the Irish into the Top 20 and set the stage for great expectations in 2012-13.
Now, as a senior, it all comes easier for Cooley — the physical play on the court, the time commitment off the court, and yes, the vocal leadership in the locker room, in the huddle, and in his teammates' faces.
This is his team now. And Cooley 2.0 is out to make sure none of his teammates resembles the unreliable original.
"I definitely get into people's faces when things aren't taken as seriously as they should be," Cooley said of the occasional screamfest. "It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. It really came pretty natural. It's a little frightening, really."


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Has anyone done a polyurea garage floor? According to the marketing information, the product I'm looking at is 4x stronger than epoxy and has a 15 year warranty. Its called Citadel. I'm going to have this done - it is not an option to do this myself. Thanks, |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by garageandbeyond (My Page) on Sat, Sep 27, 08 at 1:19
Citadel is a reputable company. A competitor and freind installs their system. Polyurea or Polyaspartic systems are very strong and very durable. They are a great solution for garage floors but not the only one. Not all concrete are the same and most cannot be approched with the same solution. This is why many industrial resin companies have many, many formulations. From my experience, polyaspartic systems work best on newer, less damaged slabs. The reason is that most 1 day polyaspartic sytems are paper thin and do not cover flaws very well. Properly installed, you should have a very durable, easy to clean, low maintanance floor. Good luck. |
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[2013/12] Received Ph.D degree.[2013/09] Received 2013 Jimmy H. C. Lin Invention Award. More.[2013/07] "Wireless Access Network Selection Game with Negative Network Externality" has been accepted to IEEE Trans. on Wireless Communications. More.[2013/04] Received 2012-2013 University of Maryland Distinguished Teaching Assistant.[2013/04] Received 2012 University of Maryland Invention of the Year. More.
About me
I received Ph.D. degree from the Department of ECE at University of Maryland, College Park, under the supervision of Prof. K.J. Ray Liu. I have held a summer internship at MediaTek Wireless Inc., Woburn, MA, in 2011. I received M.S. and B.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
My research interests are in the broad area of wireless communications, networking and signal processing. Currently, I'm working on resource allocation in Time-Reversal systems and wireless network association problem using tools from optimization, game theory, and communication theory.


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Please keep in mind that although intercollegiate football is an honorable sport populated mostly by "student-athletes" who would really rather be absorbing Plato and the mysteries of calculus in a lonely carrel of the campus library than tearing the heads off the opposition, a couple of inconsistencies have crept into the game.
Like the fact that North Carolina and Georgia lost ten games between them this season--five apiece. Still, they are headed for postseason play, as are 6-4-1 Louisiana State, 7-4 UCLA and 7-4 Iowa. Oh, well. At least universities don't award philosophy chairs to those backslapping hardware salesmen in red blazers who hand out the bowl bids. Good thing, too: These guys would drop the Schopenhauer course in favor of the Bear Bryant course.
Simply said, there are but two bowl games this year that will contribute drama to the big picture of college sports--and perhaps to the bigger picture of the world beyond the gridiron. Both contests carry significances, symbolic and otherwise, that are worth noting, and we'll get to them in a minute.
But first, the obligatory local color, dim though it may be:
On December 27, the Zoomies of Air Force, well-behaved boys all and perennial bowlers, will face Texas Tech in Tucson at something called the Copper Bowl. As you may have surmised, this is strictly a minor-league affair, and the kids from Lubbock, who went 8-3 in the Southwest Conference's final year, are favored by a solid four points. But that underestimates the team discipline and sturdy will of Fisher DeBerry's undersized Falcons: Over the years, they have upset such as Notre Dame and Oregon in big games, and there's a good chance they'll do it again against the Red Raiders. If not, just pack the whole Air Force club off to Bosnia and be done with it.
Surprise. After 200 seasons of staying home for the holidays, Colorado State returns to the December 29 Holiday Bowl in San Diego for the second straight year. Credit head coach Sonny Lubick, who transformed the Rams into the college football phenomenon of 1994, with keeping his upstarts focused again this year. Give equal due to CSU's all-American defensive back Greg Myers, who won national postseason honors for his exploits on the field and in the classroom, for providing team leadership. However, the 8-3 Rams have drawn Kansas State in the Holiday, and that's bad news. The nation's lesser pride of Wildcats were ranked as high as number seven in the 1995 polls, beat powerful Colorado on November 18 and deserve every bit of their nine-point favoritism over CSU. Last year it was Michigan that spoiled the Rams' dream; this year it will be K-State.
As for the Golden Buffaloes, who are headed for the Cotton Bowl, what more can you say about a team that lost highly touted quarterback Koy Detmer to injury early in the season, lost (again) to Nebraska, but still managed to keep its first-year coach? Now that 34-year-old Rick Neuheisel, who looks younger and fresher than most of his players, has resisted the blandishments of his alma mater, UCLA, and vowed to stay on in Boulder, his troops should have added incentive to roast themselves some Ducks on New Year's Day in Dallas. Oddly, Oregon (9-2) and Colorado (9-2) have already met twelve times in the past (each team won six), but the Buffs appear to have the speed, class and form to shut down the Quack Attack and score at will themselves. Tricky Rick's boys are six-point favorites; go ahead and make that twenty-six.
Now let's move on to the real Light and Darkness--two major bowl games packed with melodrama and barely disguised meanings:
The Rose Bowl, which often holds the same fascination most linebackers have with math class, promises to be something special this year. Northwestern is one of the nation's toughest, least compromising academic schools (this grad will attest to that), but the former doormats of Big Ten football lost a record 34 straight games in the 1980s, and before 1995 they hadn't had a winning season for 21 years. In its earliest days, Northwestern was even defeated by a pickup team from the Denver Athletic Club. As for the Rose Bowl, the Wildcats have been there just once--in 1949. They haven't played in any bowl game since.
So when head coach Gary Barnett, a former assistant at Colorado under Bill McCartney, stood up at the halftime of a Northwestern basketball game three years ago and announced that he would "take the Purple to Pasadena," Wildcats fans (all 300 or so of 'em) quietly ignored him and stuck their heads back into their biology textbooks.
This year Barnett made good on his pledge. Astonishingly, Northwestern opened the season by beating Notre Dame in South Bend (first time since 1961), later took out Michigan in Ann Arbor (first time since 1959), and then manhandled Penn State and Wisconsin en route to an 8-0 conference mark. Aside from an early season collapse against lowly Miami of Ohio, the only disappointment in the Wildcats' miraculous 10-1 season was that Ohio State wasn't on their 1995 schedule. But when Michigan upset the Buckeyes at season's end, Northwestern defied 200-1 preseason odds by winning the Big Ten outright for the first time since 1936. They finished the year ranked third in both college polls.


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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Updated: March 9, 2013 6:14AM
DNA has been such an effective tool for solving crimes that many people are pushing to expand the data bank that holds people's genetic fingerprints.
A bill has been introduced in the Indiana Legislature, for example, to allow DNA samples to be taken from anyone accused of a felony, convicted or not. The Michigan Senate is debating a bill that also would expand the number of people whose DNA can be dumped into the data bank.
Illinois has a stricter standard, allowing DNA to be taken from some arrestees, but only for more serious crimes.
Now, the question is going to the U.S. Supreme Court, which will take it up this month. The court would be wise to adopt a limited approach, allowing DNA to be collected only from those accused of violent felonies and only if a judge or grand jury has agreed the case has merit.
Many of us would recoil from the idea of entering every newborn into a national DNA database, though that eventually would be a superb tool for tracking criminals.
If we're law-abiding, our genetic blueprints should be private. In the wrong hands, the potential for misuse of such a data bank is great. It could be used, for example, by employers, insurers or government to weed out people whose DNA is associated with physical or mental health problems.
The problem with collecting DNA from all accused felons is that an arrest is not evidence of guilt, but often based on the judgment of a single police officer.
That's too low a threshold.
Moreover, it seems unwise to lower standards for DNA collection while not knowing how far science might progress in using our DNA to track us. Last month, people who had anonymously donated DNA to research were surprised to learn geneticists could easily identify who they were simply by using Internet sources.
DNA is an excellent crime-fighting tool, but must be used cautiously.
Sun-Times Media


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MUTKA: Coaching stability should prop up Crusaders defense
By John Mutka Post-Tribune senior correspondent August 25, 2013 7:08PM
Valparaiso University safety Alex Grask. | Michael Gard/For Sun-Times Media
Updated: August 25, 2013 10:36PM
What many successful college programs have in common at any level is stability. When athletes are dealing with a coaching merry-go-round just defining their roles can be a major headache, let alone performing on the not-so-friendly fields of strife.
Defensively, Valparaiso has been dealing with that, which might explain understandable confusion on that side of the football. Not this year, though. Defensive coordinator Tyson Silveus has returned, which merits a collective sigh of relief.
Safety Alex Grask appreciates the continuity implicit in the status quo.
"Since I've been here we've had three or four different defensive coordinators," said the senior from Naperville, Ill.
What does that mean?
"There's no guessing," he said. "We know exactly where we're supposed to be so we can play faster."
Hesitation can sabotage any defense, especially one as young at VU's was last year.
Grask emerged as a defensive leader along with linebacker Pat Derbak. They ranked 1-2 in tackles, but the Crusaders gave up more points than Wall Street on a bad week.
"Hopefully, he'll play with a chip on his shoulder," said Coach Dale Carlson, referring to Grask.
Derbak shares Grask's enthusiasm. He stresses the importance of team unity.
"You can't have 10 guys in the right spot," he said. "One guy messes up and it's seven points."
He doesn't plan to be that one guy because of his high football IQ.
"I study a lot of film," said the senior outside linebacker. "My experience allows me to play faster."
Derbak has started 22 straight games for VU. The Crusaders have won only twice in that stretch, but he has no regrets.
"Other than the wins not being there I don't have any complaints," he said. "I stayed to help turn this program around."
Each game often boils down to five or six plays. One breakdown can blow up an otherwise strong team effort.
"We have a lot of senior leaders who know what it takes to win," Grask said. "It's time to step up."
Valparaiso's improved comfort zone on defense can make a difference, especially in heartbreakers like last year's losses to St. Joseph's (36-34) and Davidson (28-27).
Silveus acknowledges the importance of repetition, which makes it easier for a defense to become instinctive.
"They don't have to learn a whole new system," he said. "They're much more comfortable. It's good to be on the same page."
Defensive concerns start with the front four, which was overpowered much of the 2012 season. Opponents rushed for an average of 258 yards, burning the Crusaders for 45 points a game.
Recognizing the need to beef up, the Crusaders zeroed on on defensive linemen.
"We recruited seven or eight," Silveus said. "A lot bigger kids. It's going to be a work in progress."
To name a few newcomers: Jon Powell (6-3, 320), Matt McGinnis (6-4, 230) and Jon Coyne (6-3, 255) spring to mind.
n n n
SEC: Same old, same old with this conference dominating the polls again. If defending champion Alabama slips, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas A&M, LSU and Florida are waiting in the wings. All six are listed in preseason dandy dozens.
An early reason for football TV addicts to salivate: Alabama at Texas A&M on Sept. 14.
Mediocrity: Here's an indictment of the Wrigley Field mentality. Only Cubs fans would give a standing ovation to pedestrian outfielder David DeJesus, who returned shortly after being traded away after less than two years on the North Side. Meanwhile, they booed ex-Cub Alfonso Soriano mercilessly until he departed for New York, where he has single-handedly revived the Yankees' sagging playoff hopes.


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Mon, Jul 30, 07 at 15:22
After doing some considerable research on gutter protection systems, I have boiled it down to these two, and would really appreciate any feedback on either one, positive or negative. Each has its special features, and both reps claim their product is "the best." So, would love to hear from people who have had either installed, especially if it was installed a while ago (any clogs? service, etc.), and how they are faring with the systems. |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by Jakeheinz(email@example.com) onSat, Oct 18, 08 at 9:18
I installed guttershell on my home and have been extremely happy with the product. We live in an area with a lot of trees and had to clean our gutters on a weekly basis in the fall. After installing it, I no longer had to clean my gutters! It's definitely a lifesaver and I'd recommend it to anybody. |
you can also check out the product at their website |
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Quick tagSimilar
Ship fitting - Built on December 5, 2010
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Stats assume all skills at V. Use EVEHQ for detailed combat simulations.
This feature is currently in Beta.
How to fund this loadout with PLEX:
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It works, awesome to see or fly in combat.
Don't believe me, EFT it |
How many times will people post 100mn fits? Your fit sucks just as bad as theirs because it is UNMANUVERABLE. These fits only have one purpose and that is to bump things like hell.
This fit is bad, but not because the afterburner. Fit a web and some resists.


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The real dump is next door in the East Gallery, which is filled with the BMoCA-originated Fertile Waste. Six artists were chosen for what museum director Cydney Payton calls "mini-residencies"; using the East Gallery as their collective studio, the six took trash collected from around Boulder and turned it into an assortment of installations, sculptures and wall pieces. One of the exhibit's sponsors, the Boulder County Recycling and Composting Authority, suggests viewing these artworks as a kind of "soft" reuse of refuse. Unfortunately, few pieces transcend their lowly origins: Garbage in, garbage out.
Denver's Brad Evans and Tim Jag, an artist from San Francisco, supervised the other participants, requesting that they "create projects using...found materials." Evans himself contributes the largest and most engrossing piece: "Waste Composite," a floor-and-ceiling installation in which a green path leads the visitor through piles of debris including a lawn mower, while overhead hang aluminum cans held in Plexiglas cases. Simpler, and much easier to understand, is Evans's "And Baby Makes 3," which lines up three shopping carts with clothing laid out to symbolize a man, a woman and a child.
Jag was the most prolific of the participating artists. Among the most engaging of his pieces is "Jar Transformer/On Site Alchemy," a shelf bearing a row of jars filled with multi-colored liquids that have been back-lit. Also intriguing is "Prize Stories 'Grouping,'" with the spines of old books lined up in a metal frame hung on the wall.
But other pieces in Fertile Waste are a complete waste. In "Rake for Niccolo," a work devoid of any artistic, conceptual or narrative content, San Francisco's Christian Spruell takes a pair of Styrofoam cups stuck with dirty white pushpins and places one on top of a cassette tape. Critics sometimes degrade contemporary art as looking like something anyone could do--and that's certainly true here.
Fortunately, that's not the case with The Entelechy of Reality, a solo show by Josh Bemelen in the upstairs Union Works Gallery. The installation begins even as the viewer climbs the stairs. A ceiling-mounted conveyor belt of meat hooks hung with used clothing creates an eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere that's heightened as the installation proceeds. In addition to those disturbing meat hooks, Bemelen has used two wall-hung, moving boxes filled with body parts made of cast latex. And then there's that clear plastic maze filled with dead cockroaches. (The roaches were supposed to be alive, but they died off in the heat of recent weeks. Luckily, Bemelen was talked out of his original idea: using mice, which no doubt would have met the same sorry fate.)
Bemelen is a student at the University of Denver, where he's a protege of Lawrence Argent, an installation genius. Although you can see the influence of the master in Entelechy (the title refers to an Aristetolian concept regarding self-fulfillment), this installation is much rawer than Argent's work, less fully jelled.
Like the pieces in Fertile Waste and do it, every part of Entelechy was created specifically for its BMoCA debut. So it's not surprising that the museum was very busy in the days leading up to last month's opening, with volunteers and artists working around the clock. Are these three shows worth all that coordinated effort? As any conceptualist would tell you, it's the thought that counts.
do it, Fertile Waste and The Entelechy of Reality, through August 30 at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 1750 13th Street, Boulder, 443-2122.


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See Ya REAL Soon!
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tampa! An hour from the Mouse!
Posts: 1,294
If I haven't budgeted for it, then I cannot afford it.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: NJ
Posts: 367
I'm sure you don't do this... however I have this one friend that i don't speak to anymore because she cried poverty all the time. She would do things like come out to hang with us then say she couldn't afford to have a drink, then one of us dummies would buy her one out of feeling bad she was sitting thr while we enjoyed our drink.. later down the line we found out she was actually in a much better money situ then any of us.. she would just say " i can't afford it/ I have no money" which is fine... till you start accepting gifts from other people under false statements..
2007 Port Orleans French Quarter
2006 Pop Century 2004 Port Orleans Riverside 2003 offsite |
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It's a small, small world.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,020
Okay, NOW I have read through all the replies. Just some thoughts...
1. Why is it comical that people claim to pay off their credit cards in full each month? I don't see everyone claiming they do. A far higher number carry a revolving balance, but don't admit it. Laughing about someone being responsible with credit is silly to me. We have never paid a penny of interest on a credit purchase, and I don't intend to unless something truly devastating happens and wipes us out completely, God forbid. 2. I also believe that tithing and giving offerings is important. When we made a decision as a couple to pay a full 10% of our gross income to the church, we were more blessed financially, spiritually, and emotionally than we had been when we didn't tithe or only gave a bit here and there. 3. I don't consider a quick trip to WDW a vacation either, only because I live 2 hours away and rarely stay overnight. I consider a vacation a trip that takes us away from home for several days and requires no cooking or cleaning on my part. So my single night at Sports in January was a just a jaunt for me, although it was more a vacation to my teenage brother and sister who I took to celebrate birthdays. 4. Like others here, I don't come from a rich family, but I am lucky in many regards- health, brain, opportunities. I was shaped by my faith, my family, and my generation (80s baby), but I worked hard to get to where I am, as did my husband. I did very well in school and got a now-defunct scholarship that paid 100% tuition to the in-state school of my choice, and I worked 3 part-time jobs at the same time while carrying a full course load to pay for my rent, insurance, gas, and groceries. My parents had 5 kids and one lower-class income and sacrificed a lot to be able to take us to WDW (one day only, driving home the same night) 4 times during my childhood. We carried in frozen bottles of water and shared counter service meals, and enjoyed every second. 5. Affording anything to me depends not only on my current resources, but on my interest or desire. We have a brand new home (purchased in 2008) with a mortgage less than 18% of our income that will be paid off in 13 years, 4 older cars with high mileage but no payments (one is DH's hobby, not currently driveable), and no kids yet (although baby #1 is coming in April!!!). Our only debt besides the house is a $5K privacy fence that is on a Lowe's card, being financed at 0% for 12 months, and will be paid completely before 10 months pass. This year, after tithes and bills are paid, money is put away each month into TSP, money market, IRA and other savings, we have been able to "afford" the following: dinner out 5 times a month on average, a quick trip to WDW and a night at Sports, a long weekend out of town for a women's church retreat, attending 2 out of state weddings and staying overnight, a new camcorder, throwing my best friend's baby shower, the $500 deductible for fixing my car after it got into a fight with a 5 point buck last week, and later this year a trip to CSR and Cirque with dinner at RR for my birthday, a surprise party for DH's 30th that will run me about $600, and a 5 day cruise for our anniversary. We are also considering buying a flatscreen TV, and DH will likely have a second spinal surgery before the year is up. I can afford it because I use coupons at the grocery store and save 30-40% each trip, book vacations with discount codes, shop year-round for birthdays and Christmas, buy big-ticket items on sale, keep the lowest plans for satellite and cell service, and plan as far ahead as possible. I can afford to buy a new car, to stay deluxe at WDW, to get Category 1 seating at Cirque, or to go on a longer cruise, but I choose not to spend my money on those things when the ones I have chosen will make me just as happy. Besides, our next trip to WDW probably won't be until this baby is about 4 years old... I'd like to do a week at CBR and go all out. Here's looking at you Rewards Dollars!
December 2009-Port Orleans Riverside DXDDP January 2010-All Star Sports QSDP December 2010- Coronado Springs DDP December 2011- POP Century MK 9Xs, HS 2Xs, EP 2Xs, AK 3Xs, BB 1Xs, CdS 1Xs |
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 2,336
I also have friends whom I have to just not talk to sometimes because they are so irresponsible with money it drives me nuts. They have an 8-month-old DD, and the one of them who was working full-time lost her job a few months ago & hasn't been able to find another full-time position yet. They both have some part-time work now, but not enough to replace the lost income. They also have no savings. Yet they still go out to eat, order take out, go to Starbucks, etc etc. Then cry that they can't afford to buy their DD a new car seat! It takes all my willpower not to say, "Well maybe if you stopped going to Starbucks every day you'd have money to buy the seat." I've tried suggesting gently that they need to keep better track of their spending & cut back on some things until she finds another job, but there is always an excuse for why they need to buy lunch out, etc etc. So I've given up. Thankfully they live in another state so I only talk to them on the phone/online & its easy to ignore the complaining about not having money. (P.S. - The grandparents gifted them the money to buy a new car seat, so they did get one.)
Me DW DD(5) DD(1) Sept 2014 Trip Report - In Progress 1983 (age 3): Buena Vista Palace 1988: Fort Wilderness Cabin 1991: Offsite 1997: All-Star Music 2002: All-Star Music 2004: All-Star Movies April 2006: All-Star Music May 2011: POP Century Sept 2014: Caribbean Beach Aug 2015: Art of Animation, Lion King Suite |
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,016
09/1995 First Trip EVER! Dixie Landings *** 09/1998 Senior trip at Contemporary *** 05/2000 Universal ***05/2001 Disneyland***
09/2010 POFQ ***09/2012 POR ***09/2014 Art of Animation |
Loving everything "DISNEY"
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 65
We don't use credit cards. We pay with ca$h for everything...if we don't have the ca$h, we don't buy it. Seems like "old times" but I have burned with credit cards and therefore won't do it again!
But - what I did do was something I thought was smart for our situation...I dedicated a specific bank account to our Vacations - and each paycheck a certain amount is deducted and put into that account. We then watch it grow and plan our vacations - this way, we can take regular vacations knowing what our budget is each year. It has worked for us so far and utilizing almost EVERY discount out there - our vacations can be LONG or SHORT depending on what we do on them! Thanks for starting this thread - it's been very interesting.
Sometime in 2012 - Disneyland Sometime in 2012 - Disney Cruise Line (2nd Cruise) October 2011 - Beach Club Resort/MNSSHP December 2010 - Grand Floridian Resort - Concierge/MVMCP SURPRISE May 2010 - Disneyland!!! February 2010 - Pop Century Resort December 2009 - Polynesian Resort - Concierge/MVMCP June 2009 - Wilderness Lodge / Disney Wonder 4-day October 2008 - POP Century / MNSSHP January 2007 - POP Century - My son's FIRST Disney Trip! Thanks for flying Southwest Airlines |
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Tewksbury,MA
Posts: 146
This was avery interesting post to read. I think evereyone is different with how they feel about affording things. For me, honestly, I would never be able to go on a trip if I had to rely on what I can "afford" to do. But personally I feel, like a lot of other people, that I only live once and I want to enjoy things while I can. I do everything I can all year to save what I can out of each weeks check. If that means not buying something or getting less groceries to me then I can live with that. Sometimes its a struggle but I wouldnt trade my annual vacation for anything.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 88
We budget for vacations, so whatever we need for a future vacation goes in that box prior to the trip. We were not always so responsible and racked up a decent debt on our honeymoon that we are still paying off, but we are three months from it being gone and I am excited how it will impact our future savings and habits. I don't regret our honeymoon or the debt. It was all we had at the time and the experience was something I would never give up. We probably could have paid off the debt a few months earlier had we not continued to save for vacations, but we have very demanding jobs and I think we would have gone off the deep end if we hadn't gone to Disney last year for our 1 year annivesary. It is a personal preference and it worked for us. I commend those that literally spent nothing on fun stuff to get where you wanted to be.
2009 Port Orleans French Quarter (Anniversary Trip)
2007 Coronado Springs Resort 2005 Off-Site |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 220
I got to page 11 and then I decided to stop reading. It's amazing how many thrifty Dis'ers there are contributing to this thread.
For the rest of us, life looks different. Can my family afford to go to WDW this year? NO. But then again, can we afford to do anything according to the stringent standards of others? Not really, except maybe sit at home in the dark reading library books by candlelight. So we are going to WDW, it will be a first trip for DH41's and DD6. We may have tons of debt: car loans, student loans, credit cards etc. and we are so far underwater on our house that every day is a deep-sea diving adventure. But, we work hard, my DH works REALLY hard and my DD will only be able to experience WDW as an innocent child for small window of time so we are going. My parents both died relatively young. I was only 16 when my dad died. I would have loved to have had spent more time with him and had happy family vacation memories, but it didn't happen. Vacations were not a priority for my parents, my mother didn't camp and vacations were not deemed a worthwhile expense. My husband and I may never be out of debt or have enough to retire on or even pay for our DH's college tuition. But, I also may drop dead tomorrow. So as long as we are up to date on our payments and have some cash in hand, we can afford go on vacation. |
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,573
1988, 1990, 1994, 2000- offsite October 2007-ASMU/AKL September 2008 - AS Sports November 2013- Wyndham Bonnet Creek/AS Sports October 2014- DVC- Saratoga Springs/Wyndham BC |
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Mile High Rockies
Posts: 3,760
I had debt in my 20s - credit cards and student loan. I met my future DH and he is from a farm in Montana where they believe in cash only and no debt. I couldn't grasp it but was so jealous of how he didn't have debt - he even paid for his car in cash! So after years of dating we got engaged and I vowed to pay off my debt before we got married. I paid off everything and we went into our marriage with a mortgage as our only debt.
That was 10 years ago and I will never carry a balance that accrues interest on credit cards but I use credit cards for EVERYTHING. I don't pay any fees to have a credit card and I take advantage of the cash back cards. I use that extra cash for Christmas presents so that doesn't take a toll on us at the holidays. We put 15% of our income into retirement, we have beyond an 8 month emergency fund, and we track every single $1 that leaves our checkbook - every day, in a spreadsheet. That way, we can see how much everything costs and if we spend too much, we know where we need to cut back. So how do we afford Disney? I scrape every penny I can! We have a monthly budget and I'll forgo my dining out or movie or whatever so I can save that money for a vacation. I do have a vacation budget amount each month too so it is already built in to the budget but we watch our finances like a hawk - and there is nothing wrong with that. I also lost a parent when I was young (Dad was in an accident when I was 8 then in a coma for 5 years and died when I was 13) and I completely agree with spending time as a family together. Vacations are treasured times for me and my family knowing we are having fun and building memories. But I would never teach my children to go on a vacation and spend money if we didn't have it. They must also earn money to go on vacation and we remind them all the time that we are able to afford it. If you truly are that far in debt, take your vacation time and have all members of the family find 'free' things to do and stay at home. You are much better off teaching your children that lesson and having them carry on smart money management as they get older. |
BL6 Red Team Captain
Disneyland is my Home Birthdays are for kids of all ages I have always been a big Kermit the Frog Fan Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Northern California
Posts: 11,784
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,376
I think it also depends a lot on where you are in your life. I got married and had a baby at 19, and we made a LOT of poor financial decisions - two new cars when we were barely making enough to pay the bills, lots of times we'd let a utility payment ride until the next month because we wanted to buy something "fun", etc. We never racked up credit card debt but we didn't spend wisely, either.
At 31 I married for a 2nd time to a man who was 37 and a LOT more financially responsible than I am. In the five years I've been living with him we have never made a utility payment late, never carried a balance on a credit card, and only financed things we got at 0% interest. It's a whole different world, and while there are times when I'd like to have the "latest and greatest" of something, there's also so much peace in knowing that there's money in savings if the car breaks down, there's money in savings if something happens at the house. We aren't taking a vacation this year because we're saving up to go next year, and we can't afford to go this year. Could I fall over dead tomorrow? Sure thing - my dad died when I was 11, I know how that is. But I also know that my dad always made sure I had a roof over my head and food to eat, no matter what, even when he was dying of cancer. And I'll take that kind of stability as a kid over having gone to Disney World before I was 34. Obviously, that's just me. But I think the older you get the more you start realizing that you have to worry about the future, and things just won't "work out", and while sure, I was irresponsible in my 20's, I'm not willing to do that in my 30's or 40's. And DD16 has not suffered because she didn't go to Disney til she was 15. We took a lot of weekend trips and daytrips and those are just as special to her.
November 2016 - split stay PORS/Poly!
10-2013 - Pop Century / 4-2012 - Port Orleans French Quarter / 5-2010 - Pop Century |
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 823
Fortunately, I heard some fantastic financial advice before we were married that set us on a great path... we're not wealthy, but we're comfortable and debt free, except for the house, which will be paid off very soon, 18 years early. We have not had horrible things happen to us, but we've certainly had "bumps in the road" and we've been able to weather them well. My Dad died when I was 7 and my mom died when I was in my 20s. I think, like you, that has contributed to my desire to do and see everything possible now, because you never know if you can in the future. But it also makes me need financial security, as I don't know what my mom would have done with 3 very young children if she was left with no savings and lots of debt. I attribute our financial comfort to alot of things, including blessings, luck, and discipline... whatever the "bumps in the road" life has brought you, I hope you're able to turn the ship around soon. There are lots of great resources like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman... it's never too late. I hope you can find some relief from your debt and financial stressors (stress will kill you early for sure!) and then vacation carefree... for a very, very long time! |
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 285
I grew up on Disney. I am grateful that my parents feed the addiction that they created when I ended up a single mom at 21. My oldest is now 15.....and has two other siblings. I'm still a single mom....put myself through college and can afford to do Disney once or twice a year. No credit cards....or paid off in full when the bill comes. Disney is more that a vacation for me...it's an essential of life.
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HO HO HO and HEE HEE HEE by judy fouse
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