text:
Phew. Politics. Phew. |
Written by OHmommy | |
Saturday, 24 October 2009 00:00 | |
Why now? Why politics again? Because the situation, at hand, has become quite comical to me. People across the nation have openly bashed conservatism and the questions that many respectful republican citizens have asked the current administration. Why? Because it goes against our leader's ideas and it seems as if everyone else is under Obama's trance unwilling to look at what is really going on. (Stop rolling your eyes at me - I can see that - I do have a point) As one of the most liberal American leader, to date, Obama has asked Americans to email The White House with fishy accusations and recently attempted to delegitimize Fox news channel (his White House press secretary Robert Gibbs stated it was because "that's our opinion)." I can only imagine the field day NBC, CBS, and ABC would have on this, if the tables were turned. Never in our history has a president, who vowed to be a transparent leader, asked to stop a media source because it's was against his "opinion." The government of socialist President Hugo Chavez has recently cracked down on the media too, closing 200 radio stations many of which in his own words were "sick" and encouraged that viewers "turn off the illness." Because they ultimately did not support him or his opinions and caused "his" people to needlessly worry about things that were accusations. How dare I compare Obama to Chavez? Both men got upset when media, whatever format, started to spread "criticism" about them and threatened to shut down the source. I don't care what the media source is and what the message they were spreading; this country was founded on the freedom of speech. My parents and I left our birth country that silenced my father's political views. How could this be happening here, a silencing of opposing opinions? Leave it up to the people to research and decide on their own. That is the most beautiful part of living in a true democracy and should never be silenced. It's almost as if the Obama has assumed a Nixonian paranoia thinking that everyone on the other side is against him. Our rich history is full of stories of citizens criticizing our presidents. Get over it Obama and start making the changes you promised! You have the majority of votes to make things happen!!! I, as a conservative, forced my child to watch TV on the day of the inauguration knowing very well that history was made. I was proud. Only thing now is that, nothing has really changed and the actions of the administration are causing me super paranoia of a socialist government to come. I. Am. Afraid. Nothing has happened but the nit-picking of people opposing in opinions. Perhaps the only liberal journalist that actually senses trouble in the administration is ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper. The rest of the journalist fill mainstream media with rainbows and unicorns stifling the majority of Amercian's political curiosity. Even sites like BlogHer, a community I am very proud to be a part of for women who blog, is headquartered in the uber-liberal San Francisco and continues to fill their site with predominately liberal sources in regards to politics. They recently interviewed Nancy Pelosi (democrat, the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives, also from San Francisco). Woot. Woot. To woman in power! But, boo on Pelosi and her extreme views who never actually answered pressing questions posed by my fellow bloggers while on conference call with www.blogher.com. But I digress. Gah. I've had enough. There are so many things happening within the current administration that I'm not cool with. I am in the vast minority online. I know this. No need for me to hide behind my computer screen because that would do no good for my children. What would I be teaching them? If you disagree with the leader just silence yourself and play along with the majority because they might be right? I am not okay with where the current administration is leading us. I am following in my father's foot steps, voicing my opinion out loud, questioning the politics of our great nation and in hopes that it will bring answers. Or changes. I don't know what else to say. I am just very distraught tonight and have been holding it in for some time now. Hoping I don't end up in Siberia. Phew. |
Last Updated on Thursday, 13 May 2010 19:56 |
You are so inspiring and I am so glad to see someone not be a blind sheep!
We may disagree on things but you certainly haven't lost me as a reader.
Bravo to you for using your voice to ask them.
Apparently we need to start talking politics during gymnastics :-)
Personally, I prefer the transparency.
I think, as a whole, we Americans have the mistaken idea that we are "free". While we do indeed have certain freedoms that other countries do not, we are far from free. We live in an illusion of freedom, and everyone seems to have their own interpretation of it.
I understand your frustration, as I to am frustrated, but for very different reasons.
Frankly, I'd love to move to Canada.
Think we can arrange something?
I agree with you on this subject, and I'll be linking to this post soon. Thank you for having your voice!!
and just fyi,the president does not hate white people like Kanye said GW hated black people.but being the free america we live in,we still watch box news and buy Kanye's music."We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union..." The government is made of We the people.
Bravo to you for forcing your kid to watch history - I gave mine a choice.
Just like Obama is a leader and should take advantage of having the majority of votes and DO things instead of worry about media. THAT is my point. What a joke it is that he is worried about opposing opinions.
Well, I find it disheartening that the administration is trying to ostracize conservatives and Fox news. Conservative, Liberal, or Independent, we are all Americans and have the inherent responsibility of criticizing anything we deem unjust.
I'm not a fan of the Glenn Beck's, Ann Coulter's, or the Al Franken's but I would never tell people not to listen to them because I disagree.
It's just Un-American.
How is the Administration trying to ostracize conservatives?
I haven't been able to find one statement by the Administration that outright states or insinuates that Americans should not criticize the government. If, however, you would like quotes from the Bush Administration verbalizing those thoughts let me know!
Here's the quote from President Obama:
"I think what our advisers have simply said is that we are going to take media as it comes," Obama told NBC's Savannah Guthrie. "And if media is operating basically as a talk radio format then that's one thing, and if it's operating as a news outlet that's another. But it's not something I'm losing sleep over."
Your first link is an article that paints the comments as trying to "undermine" conservatives. I disagree - I think they are calling it like they see it.
That said, I do understand where you are coming from. Regardless I would much prefer the current situation to the past:
The second link is basically stating that the whole dust-up is benefitting Fox financially!
Never in our history has a president, who vowed to be a transparent leader, asked to stop a media source because it's was against his "opinion."
Has any other President vowed to be transparent?
Leave it up to the people to research and decide on their own.
Right, and that is what Fox *claims* to do, & yet they have been caught in ludicrous lies, many times, deliberately spinning stories WAY far to the right. Now, granted, some or many of these websites will have a liberal bias, but: google "fox news caught lying". Tons of results. If you sub in "abc", there are a tenth as many results: nearly 65k vs. ~6k. NOW, google results don't have to be the end-all and be-all, and certainly, as you said, you are in the minority online, so that makes sense that there would be more anti-fox websites.
I have read many stories of the current health care system letting people down, terribly. It is so NOT right that people can lose their homes or life savings because of a medical accident!
Anyhow, I applaud you for saying your piece; for bravely linking to it in a liberal-leaning community. &, indeed, I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend your right to say it, quite vigilantly!
Jeremiah, just above me in comments, made a great point: "how quick did we forget the last 8 years or better yet the last 30 years"
So, indeed: what is this ideal America of which you speak? Have you seen it in the last 8 or 30 years? As far as I've seen, Obama has greatly increased our liberties as compared to his predecessors!
He's still got a ways to go, clearly, but it takes time to clear away the muck that Bush instituted.
I hope we get some good news soon. The passing of the Matthew Shepard act today was quite heartening, for me.
I think we all know that this is not how censorship works. Call me once O'Reilly has been disappeared.
(and good luck getting rid of me as a reader, Comrade. Not going to happen.)
Like when SNL did the Obama skit last week and I tweeted how funny it was and a flood of tweets from liberals came in saying that were not amused. OMG. Are people serious?
I watched Campbell Brown the other day when this Fox business started and she laughed while saying that Fox didn't do serious news like them. Directly after? A story about Miley Cyrus and Twitter. When Michael Moore was on CNN- somehow everyone was totally okay with his statement that as a democracy we should spread wealth around to everyone. No questions were asked, he was just allowed to spew propaganda. Now that's what I call hard hitting, non biased news. Yeah right.
When you are the President, you are the President of everyone. Not just the ones that watch the news shows that love everything you do. By alienating Fox, you are also alienating a large part of your country. Here's to equality, right?
To me, the worst part is that when anyone is critical of the administration, they open themselves up to being labeled a racist. It is assumed that because I disagree with Obama in pretty much all policy areas, I must be a racist. They can not look past the fact that it's not the color of his skin, it's the color of his policies. They seem to forget that I could have carefully considered his views, regardless of his color. I'm surprised no one has gone there with this post, but I see it coming your way.
Whatever your thoughts are, you need to voice them. I don't care if you are pro or against. This country is great because of the good People, not the government.
Way to stand up and keep standing tall.
Great, well thought out, well linked post.
The fact that the President has an opinion about a news source that he makes public scares you?
You do realize that that Fox News was called out on not being a legitimate news source - that's it.
When the last Bush Administration was "reigning" they didn't vocalize anything, they just did. Like when they would appear on Fox and no other news channel.
Here's an interesting article you might like:
To me, though, regardless of whether you agree with the party in office or not, questioning their decisions and the motives behind them is 100% essential. It isn't about being for or against them, it's about making sure that they ALWAYS have the country's best interests in mind. I'm pretty conservative in my views, but I was not terribly worried when he took office. The longer he's in, the more worried I get.
Obama was not who I voted for(neither was McCain FTR) and there are a lot of issues I disagree with him on.
The same could be said for Fox News. There are a lot of issues I disagree with them on. I can't watch anything beyond headlines on that channel or my blood pressure sky rockets.
HOWEVER...calling for the silencing of a news outlet (however biased and untrustworthy may find it) is against the principles we were founded on. Not Christianity, but Freedom. Freedom of speech, Freedom of press...freedom to know wtf our gov't is up to.
But I see I've stepped on my soapbox, so allow me to hop off, and reassure you that I won't make fun of the fact that you watch Fox...much:p
I really and truly think that people who get all their news from Fox are about as educated as people who get their news from The Onion (and I include my parents in this group). I mean come on, what other "news" channel has organized protests against any administration? If they want to be thought of as a legitimate news organization then they need to act like one.
But, Obama is the "the most liberal American leader to date"? To quote Inigo Montoya "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." I'm pretty sure that title goes to FDR with LBJ following... I think even Carter was more Liberal then Obama is. While he may be in the top 10 liberal presidents there is no way he is the most liberal. And, the guy doesn't even have a year in office under his belt yet - to declare him the "most", "best" or "worst" in anything while other presidents served a full 4-8 years is impossible. ...
I was scared for the future of our country when GWB and Co. steamrolled a push to war in Iraq…For a long time I was unsure if I even wanted to have children in a country where the decision of putting the lives of our volunteer military in danger is based on lies and spin. I protested against the war at every chance I had. I wrote letters, I called congress, I spoke with my vote at as much as I could. I was scared for the future when that administration continued to alienate the US from our foreign friends. I was scared for the future when that administration contented to cut funding for programs and protections for the poorest among us at the same time as they gave enormous tax cuts the the uber-weathly. I was scared for the future when they weakened and eliminated laws in place for years that protected our environment and our shared National spaces.
But now? We have an administration that wants to reduce the military presence in a part of the world that was never a threat and finally concentrate on an area that is. It gives me hope that this administration has worked very hard and has gotten farther then any previous administration in making real and necessary changes to how we pay for healthcare. It makes me proud that they have taken broad strokes returning morals to our military and it's treatment of prisoners. I feel safe in the work they are doing to repair broken ties to other countries and to see them build new bridges.
Are you sure about that? Because my brother shipped out just last Friday for a 15 month tour in Iraq (I assume that is the non-threatening part of the world that you were referring to). And our military has been asking Obama to send back up troops to Afghanistan and he has been delaying - while our soldiers wait and continue to fight and die without their necessary resources. Police officers don't even go in without enough back up. That looks like the opposite of what you just descirbed.
"At a House Appropritions subcommittee hearing Sept. 24, 2003, Army Gen. John Abizaid, chief of the U.S. Central Command, did not dispute the estimate that 40,000 troops were without the newer design, and said the $300 million was needed to buy more of the vests.
Abizaid: Now, I can't answer for the record why we started this war with protective vests that were in short supply. But I can tell you that by November, every soldier that's serving in Iraq will have one. It's very important."
It can hardly be categorized as "convenient", it's a fact.
If I understand you correctly we can only look to the present and we can't look to history?
Which mistakes are the Obama administration making that make you feel badly?
When was Iraq a threatening part of the world to the US? Was it when we invaded and occupied the country AFTER our government conspired to lie to their people and the world?
It may be a threatening part of the world now but certainly we must be willing to take responsibility for that.
The fact that the Bush administration lied in order to occupy and invade a country, at least in part for profit (Blackwater), that it is hardly convenient but morally reprehensible. That they did not ensure that those fighting for their profit were not protected is a travesty and something that should never be forgotten.
You do fail to mention (or answer) that I did ask you what mistakes you feel that the Obama administration is making that make you feel badly?
We (not just you and I but we as a community, a group of people, those being represented) can never have a productive dialog without facts.
As to the "you started it" feeling that you may perceive, I think it is exasperation that it took 8 YEARS to get us into this multi-faceted nightmare. We heard no voices of dissent from Bush supporters only undying support. People that did speak up were called unpatriotic, traitors, told to leave, told that they were supporting "the enemy", etc...
Now that we have a new President of 9 MONTHS people somehow are shocked that things aren't different, are pissed when changes are proposed, don't want to look back at the role they played in the creation of this mess.
So I am assuming this is what you are referring to:
"...our military has been asking Obama to send back up troops to Afghanistan and he has been delaying."
I'm sure that you couldn't have forgotten that more troops were sent to Afghanistan earlier this year under the Obama administration.
I'm sure that you understand that the military has been asking for more troops to Afghanistan almost from the beginning.
I'm sure that you remember that the military was taxed when we invaded and occupied Iraq.
I'm sure you realize that this "war" against an unknown enemy has been going on for 7 years.
continued below...
Stephanie (Part 2),
I hope you have read history and realize that the problems in this region began a long long time ago. The US involvement in the region in the '80's is the basis for the current cluster-f*#@.
I want to believe that you had reservations about our country attacking another without basis. The Afghani people did NOT attack our country. The power vacuum, devastation and empty promises that we left in the '80's allowed for Bin Laden to grow from an ardent supporter of the US to one who wanted to fight back.
I am sure that you must be following the current news that the latest election has been another cluster f#*% and sending in more troops without a proper government in place might very well possibly cause even more deaths.
I can only assume that you understand that the larger issue is way past black and white.
This you might really be interested in:
In addition to the troop surge earlier in the year (21,000), another 13,000 were just approved (10/13/09) by Obama.
Side rant: I don't think we should call them troops. I think that this is a convenient euphemism to make us forget that troops are soldiers. When "troops" are attacked, killed or put in harms way it doesn't outrage us like it would it were reported that soldiers died, etc...
"Nie z zajmuj sie tym bo sie nie znasz"
"My" sie na tym znamy i my Tobie powiemy czym masz sie zajmowac i gdzie jest Twoje miejsce.
Alez wlasnie Ona sie tym zajmuje,przyszloscia "branzy "cloth" i przyszloscia swoich dzieci.
Przeciez jak sie tym nie zajmie to niedlugo bedziemy chodzic ubrani jednakowo, bo bedzie tylko jedna "prawidlowa" fabryka Odziezowa (Cloth),jedna prawidlowa szkola, jedn ":dobry lekarz" ,jedna telewizja jeden "Wielki Przywodca",ktorego nie mozna krytykowac.
To idzie i tylko takie glosy ja Ten moze cos zmienic i nie dopuscic do tego ze bedziemy "przyjaciolmi dla nieprzyjaciol"
He then said that in socialist Poland there was only one "right" brand of clothing, one "right" school, one "right" doctor. It was those things that could not be criticized.
I love that your dad just gave someone the smack down in polish
This political environment right now is charged big time. There is such an extreme arc to where people fall and everyone is getting all worked up so quickly.
I hope Obama makes better changes. Right now, I don't know if it will happen.
I know you're aware of the lies that are being perpetrated as TRUTH by Fox news, The Drudge Report, and other so called 'news sources' that conservatives/republicans turn to and repeat not as OPINION, but as FACT. And it's not.
Obama is not trying to shut them up, he's trying to make sure that he is able to address them and make sure people know what's REALLY going on. No one's going after bloggers or trying to shut down Fox News. I think it's a GREAT thing that he's trying to make sure his public knows the truth and this obviously IS in the interest of transparency.
This post, and the last post in which you mentioned this, it just fuels the fire and spreads more lies. Whether you intend it or not. And this has nothing to do with me being liberal, this is just me hating that people are twisting this.
Ok. Love you!
Im not trying to do anything here but merely posting my honest opinion. The links I included are all credible sources. I want Obama to succeed. Im just not happy with where I think things are going.
Ok. I love you more!
Fox is not a NEWS source, it is an ENTERTAINMENT source. If Fox is given access to the White House Press so too should The Daily Show.
The Bush Administration was brilliantly subtle with their disdain for reporters - with any hard hitting questions, they just didn't call on them. Of course, it's easy to be called out for freezing reporters out so the best solution was to hold fewer (almost no) press conferences!
One other thing, you have voiced your dissenting opinion,. You have received "bravo" and "kudos" for doing so.
When citizens voiced their dissenting opinion from 2000-2008 they didn't hear "bravo" they heard "you unpatriotic bitch, leave if you don't like it!".
That right there is a change I think everyone can appreciate!
I recently declared my opinion that Barack Obama is incredibly similar to Benito Mussolini and that made some people real mad, but you know what, he is, so, I'm going to say it. You can disagree if you want and that is your right, but it is my right to dislike him and recognize his fascist tendencies.
I didn't vote for him.
I love America. You are so right. We lose our freedom when we don't fight to keep it. So keep stating your opinion!!!
I'm curious, is this something you have been concerned about since the the Patriot Act was enacted in 2001?
What about when President Bush signed it into law in 2006? Were you protesting, worried, blogging and speaking up it then?
I'm also curious, what freedoms exactly are slipping away now?
And this is an honest to goodness question that I hope will not offend you...
Is your blog sponsored at all by anyone? Are you paid for ads, etc.?
I admit I do lean more towards the liberal column but I do have some views that are moderate, a few that could even be construed as conservative too -although some of my conservatism tends towards money issues but definitely not those espoused of a social nature. I believe whole-heartedly in Gay Rights, also in the freedom of choice for women.
I know there is a drastic need for changes to be made to our healthcare system -DRASTIC changes!
In the meantime, keep talking, Pauline. Don't shut yourself down and stifle your beliefs, your opinions. I, like most everyone else who comes to visit your place, sure as Hell wouldn't desert you for speaking your piece, your mind, opinion, etc! (Sorry for writing a book here -but this was something I HAD to respond to and you know me by now, the longest-winded commenter ever, maybe.)
When I criticized President Bush I was instantly "unpatriotic"- the word of the administration themselves.
Yes. There is a Liberal majority and from what I've seen President Obama is urging them to vote and pass the ideals you are talking about. This comes down to those Congresspeople to stand up and Act. The President is ONE branch and we have 3 governing branches. It's time to be mad at our own representative and tell them we want change.
I think I'll shut up now. Please know that despite my being far left and your conservative beliefs, I do not unsubscribe to your blog for that reason. I love that I live in a place that we can openly discuss and disagree. I respect your opinion and the fact you take stands against for what you personally believe in.
Pauline, what a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately the silencing of Fox and conservative talk radio is just the tip of the iceberg. We now have czars that have been appointed to offices with NO Congressional oversight. What Wall Street executives did to make our economy tank should be criminal, but to now have a "Pay Czar" dictating how much they can earn is the beginning to them dictating what we can earn. Kenneth Fienberg said yesterday, " That he believes that every publicly traded company's executives pay should be regulated." Sadly this redistribution of wealth is exactly what our founders warned against and has failed every where in the world it has been tried and yet it seems as though our government is going to try to shove it down our throats. Where is the tipping point? When are we as a freedom loving nation going to wake up to what's happening around us? It blows my mind that there are those that don't see it. I understand it more here in Communist California where the Government employees, utilities, water and electric, not to mention our State legislators vote themselves raises and unsustainable pensions and never really produce anything. I don't know where the tipping point is. I do know this, I will be attending the next TEA PARTY in our area. I encourage everyone that is as fed up with what's happening to this Country as Pauline, myself and a growing number of Americans to stand up and be heard. TIPPED OFF!
There is no silencing going on. The Administration took a stance about an entertainment program disguising itself as a news program.
Talk radio was only referred to as comparing Fox "News" to talk radio.
President Richard Nixon appointed the first "Czar" - really a special advisor which now had a new name. I believe that President G.W. Bush appointed 47 Czars.
Is the idea of a Czar or special council all of the sudden distasteful? Why?
Why were the companies whose executive pay was cut targeted? Oh yeah, they took government money instead of going bankrupt. They have not yet paid back that money. They have made no moves toward change. They have the people's money and the people deserve better.
I tried to find the quote you refer to made by Kenneth Fienberg yesterday. Can't find it. Would you provide a link?
Where were these people who are all of the sudden concerned about change and their fears how these changes are impacting freedoms during the Bush/Cheney years?
Patriot Act? Patriot Act that became law? Illegal war? The President lying to the American people and people dying as a result? Budget surplus depleted? Bush tax rebate? I could go on but I'll stop myself!
I stand corrected-it was Sen. Schumer. (Reference finance.yahoo.com/.../... )
Arnold is no Conservative,never has been, nor is CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC or MSN any more Journalistic than Fox, they just happen to worship the current administration. Back to Arnold, our communist legislature is a much larger part of the problem than an ineffective Governor whose biggest concern is being liked and making everyone happy.
As far as the pay cuts go, rather than cut the pay of the crooked top twenty five, why have they not been fired? More importantly, if our government has the power to dictate wages in the private sector, (oh I forgot these institutions are no longer private sector as they are owned by the government,)what's to say that that middle managers won't be next? What about the obscene amount of money that athletes or entertainers make? Fiscally irresponsible airline executives? Where does it end? It's a slippery slope.
Ok, throw all the bad guys out. How are you going to attract this country's best and brightest to lead the largest companies when they have no incentive going in knowing their income is capped. There is no profit motive.
Schwarzenegger isn't a conservative? Repealing the "car tax"; no increased tax rates (the emergency reimplementation of the car tax 5 years later not withstanding). Let's just say I beg to differ.
Calling the legislature communist is just a way to shut down an argument. That type of fear mongering is designed for bullys. If you have something to say (like facts) say it.
So you are arguing that the pay cuts weren't enough? You'd rather the government fired them?
The obscene amount of money anyone makes isn't an issue unless they are given a government bailout.
I wouldn't label executives that ran companies into the ground and required billions and billions of dollars to keep afloat "the best and the brightest". I wouldn't hire them to run a dog walking service.
The profit motive comes in stock incentives.
As a scary Liberal, I don't have blind faith in my government, which is why I'm ACTIVE in my government.
As for your comment earlier, I reiterate: NO ONE is silencing Fox. Last I checked their FCC clearance has not been yanked nor their station taken over by scary liberals.
Do you believe that if McCain had been elected that there would have been a 10 day economic turn-around?
I would love to see links to your posts & comments from September, October & November of 2008 crying foul over the Bush bailouts.
Then, trying to have a legitimate and knowledgeable discussion with a school of minority students (obv, as a white teacher) re: the president. So very hard! It ALWAYS seems like it is a race issues.
So, please, please continue following in your father's footsteps!
NEVER stop speaking your mind, NEVER.
I, too, am scared of the direction that this country has taken and I continue to be amazed at the people that continually sing the praises of the current administration. I find it amusing that they've made it their personal mission to bring Fox News down. Don't we have more pressing matters at hand?
I admire the President and First Lady for wanting change. We ALL want change. I just don't think this is the best way to get it.
I do respectfully disagree with this particular opinion...but I see the points you're making and think it's great that you're passionate about it. I love a good debate on politics! And I think we should all feel very lucky that we're allowed to have that right. I wish more people actually put this much thought into their political stance.
Don't listen to people that say stupid crap like "stick to writing about kids and clothes."
To all of the commenters who are scared about the direction of this nation I will tell you about scared. My husband has been deployed for 3 of the 6 years that we have been married. I often go to bed wondering if my sweet baby daughter will know her dad.
Last week 8 American soldiers died in Afghanistan. Fox gave the fallen soldiers a quick 10 second mention, and proceeded to give the woman who gave birth in her sweatpants mere minutes of air time. Luckily I only encounter Fox news at the gym.
Maybe you should stick to writing posts about your adorable children and being a mom. Just a thought.
I'm glad you voiced your opinion. I voted for this president and was SO very happy to see BUSH fly away from the White House on inauguration day but that doesn't mean I agree with everything this president is doing or will do. Personally, I think our government has some MAJOR issues right now, on both sides of the spectrum and so I pray about it a lot. I know that won't fix things but it certainly won't hurt.
Were you disgusted when President Bush depleted the budget surplus ($236 billion) left to him?
Were you disgusted with the President Bush cuts ($2.5 trillion so far)?
Were you disgusted to learn that if President Bush had "stayed the course" of what was left to him there would have been a $5.6 trillion surplus?
Were you disgusted with the financial cost ($700 billion thus far) of the war in Iraq?
You and I have talked about this before and you know how I feel. We think a lot alike.
I have been on every single conference call that BlogHer and the Sunlight Foundation have sponsored with our elected officials, including the call with Speaker Pelosi. I was the first one out of the gate to ask her a question and all I got was more of the same. Each call it's been the same. More rhetoric and NO CLEAR ANSWERS!
I have been telling myself that I would write about these calls and my experiences after each one. It still hasn't happened because I'm having a hard time containing my anger at being marginalized by someone with a superiority complex.
I'm in the thick of this health care reform drama and I very much have a dog in this fight. We make great money, as a family, have health insurance, and yet, my illness is bankrupting us...but I don't want what's currently on offer, shoved down my throat because it won't do us any good. Apparently we make too much money, according to Pelosi, et all. Yeah, tell my kids that when we uproot them because we've been foreclosed on.
Medical treatment or our house? No one should have to live this nightmare and no one should have to wonder if their gov't is really being transparent. Period.
It is really scary all that is going on these days!
Bravo for standing up and speaking out--you must get that for your brave dad
And whether I agree with you or not, I wouldn't stop reading a blog over the writer's political opinion.
Unless it was a political blog. 'cause, well, duh
Is it alright if I blame the flu, the sick children, and the codeine for my total mind melt there?
Anyway, well done... I always love your political posts - you do it very well!
Here are several links:
www.youtube.com/.../ - A video of several occasions he discusses a single payer system
www.youtube.com/.../ - The speech quoted in the above clip
www.youtube.com/.../ - While he "backtracks" here - clearly by the end of his statement he discusses "down the line"
www.youtube.com/.../ - on the Today show during the campaign - Backtracking again.
Clearly he has future plans... I am not so sure that the current proposal IN AND OF ITSELF is so bad, but I am very afraid of the doors that it opens and the future direction that it advocates.
Thanks for the links.
I watched each video in it's entirety trying to find support for what you stated earlier:
"...if the current proposed plan isn't "socialized", its intent is to go in that direction as quoted by Obama himself"
He never states that he wants "socialized" medicine, he states that he is a proponent of a single payer health plan, he stated that if he were building a plan from scratch then he would build it as a single payer system.
Help me out, at what time stamp does Obama state that he wants socialized medicine?
Second, pardon me for not using the appropriate semantics on my first statement that just came off the top of my head, commenting on a blog that I read for entertainment. I should have used the term "single payer system", which whether or not you want to admit to it, would in fact be this country's version of socialized medicine. Is there anyone else that you would speculate to run a single payer system other than our government? Not likely... that would be socialized medicine. So, terminology aside, we are only talking semantics here.
"First of all, you have way to much time on your hands to spend the whole day debating..."
And yet, you are here debating with me. Would you like be the pot or the kettle?!
If I were debating to support your view then I would be "brave" but because you and I don't agree then I have too much time on my hands. Interesting...
I do believe that language is vital, especially in situations like this. If statements that are false are argued then it's all just leading to misunderstanding. When facts are substantiated and then debated, only then can real progress be made.
I don't agree that "single payer system" equals socialized medicine. Of course to have a real debate we would have to define what you mean by "socialized medicine".
What single payer means is publicly funded healthcare.
So in your terminology, the following publicly funded services are our country's version of socialized institutions:
Schools, roads, 9-1-1 operators, police, firefighters, public health officials, transportation, military, broadcasting, utilities, etc...
Are you afraid of the above too? Are you afraid of what they might lead to?
One last comment - And, yes you can fairly call me the kettle - Just know that the comment wasn't meant to be derogatory, I am just blown away by your tenacity and in all fairness, your bravery. Do not assume that I do not think you brave for expressing your opinions. I do not align myself completely with either political party and strive to give respect to all opinions.
On this, I do disagree and while you make a great point in listing publicly funded institutions, there is a difference between publicly funded and publicly run. While a single payer system refers to the funding, who do you think they propose to run it? I highly doubt that it will be anyone but a government agency or someone closely tied to government interest. Yes, that is my own speculation but it is also an example of the doors that open with going down the road towards a single payer system and that is exactly where my fear lies.
As a general rule, I am not overly impressed with much of what the government runs and unless Obama overhauls everyone, kicks them out and a whole new set of lawmakers is elected, I do not see that my opinion will change.
As far as I am concerned the jury is out. The one thing I do know is that I NEVER want to see the day come that I don't have fair options and choice in the healthcare I receive - I do not want the government to make my medical decisions for me.
Thanks for the debate and asking tough questions - I respect your opinion as I hope you can respect mine.
If you don't want someone making your healthcare decisions, should I assume you do not have health insurance? Because they are the ones deciding right now and they have to make a profit, it's not evil, it's just the way it is right now. But people are dying because of it. Something has to change, something big.
In addition to people dying, people are going bankrupt because of this and ending up in such dire health that the government has to step in and cover them!
I saw a piece about a man who had a job but no health insurance - he could not afford it nor could he get subsidized care because he made too much money. He could not get treatment for his diabetes. He ended up blind and losing a kidney. Now he is covered by 2 government policies and he can no longer work. Because of his health issues the amount of money being spend on his care is outrageous it would have been much better spend on preventative care and it would have been much cheaper.
I have a family member that went to their state's program for the self-employed. Its supposedly a way for entrepreneurs to gain access to a large pool for group insurance. The quote for a family of 5 healthy people (no pre-existing conditions but that doesn't matter because it's group insurance) was $30,000/year. THAT is not tolerable.
Who has called you a racist?
You aren't the first person to mention this is this thread.
My first inclination is to think that "vibe" must be something you are bringing to the table. However, that inclination is wrong. My first inclination should be to ask WHO called you that and/or said those things to you?
I love how liberals always say that Fox is all lies and conveniently forget the lies and omissions of the mainstream media. When I heard that Obama was targeting Fox, I was scared. Just one more step towards the total control that dems have been wanting for so long. Because *they* know what is best for everyone.
2010 can not come soon enough. There are enough people who are really unhappy with how things are going and the folks in DC are going to get some big surprises.
What do you mean by "targeting"?
Here's a documentary that you might find interesting:
I do consider myself "liberal" or "progressive". I was one of the people on the streets protesting the wars. I saw the numbers of people and was aware of the many events. I noticed how the news did not report on these events accurately (in my mind) or at all.
I felt that the "mainstream" media has a bias too. I felt that their bias was toward "conservatism".
I hear people on the "right" claiming that the mainstream media is biased. I hear people on the "left" claiming that the mainstream media is biased. Maybe that's a good thing? If all sides think there is a bias might that mean that neither side is being represented more unfairly than the other?
And by attack, I mean that Obama and his henchmen went on no less than 6 shows this past weekend and said that Fox was not a real news organization and should not be taken seriously. Past presidents may have been more selective about their press engagements, but none have ever gone so far as to openly attack the only station on tv that dares criticize them.
If the internal memos of John Moody directing the organization's news, direction and boundaries aren't enough I'm not sure what would be!
I'm confused though - did we watch the same documentary? Jon Stewart was not interviewed, they showed a clip from The Daily Show. They also showed clips showing President Bush, Ari Fleisher, Bill O'Reilly, etc...
You wanted to know if there was more - yes A LOT more.
If you watched it, you would have seen the interviews of 15 former Fox "News" employees exposing the Fox "News bias and tactics, Bob McChesney: Founder of the Free Press/author of "The Problem of the Media"; David Brock: President/CEO Media Matters for America; Gene Kimmelman: Senior Director of the Public Policy & Advocacy Consumers Union; Av Westin: Former Vice President ABC News; James Wolcott: Former Staff Writer for the New Yorker/Cultural Critic for Vanity Fair; Peter Hart: Media Analyst for "Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting"; Bernie Sanders: Congressman (I-VT); Jeremy Glick: Son of Port Authority Worker who died on 09/11; Eric Alterman: Media Critic, Author of "What Liberal Media?"; John Nichols: Author of "Dick: The Man Who is President"; Chellie Pingree: President of Common Cause; Jeff Chester: Executive Director of Center for Digital Democracy; Larry Irving: Former Assistant Sect'y of Commerce for Communication & Information; Len Hill: Independent Producer; Malkia Cyril: Executive Director of Media Youth Council; David Goodfriend: Founder of Air America Radio and Wally Bowen: Founder & Executive Director of the Mountain Area Information Network.
So Obama spoke his opinion and that's an attack. Does that mean that you are attacking me because you are stating your opinion? I wouldn't categorize it as such and I sure hope you wouldn't.
Fox "News" isn't a real news organization, they are an entertainment outlet. If they are considered a news organization so too should be The Daily Show.
Some of Fox "News" own hosts have admitted that they aren't journalists or aren't "practicing" journalists (quotes and description mine, referring to O'Reilly's quote below), but entertainers, commentators, etc...
GLENN: "Now remember, I'm not a journalist"
Sean Hannity:
"Sean is not a journalist - Sean is a conservative commentator," said Bill Shine, Fox's senior vice president of programming.
Letterman: What you do is mostly commentary?
O'Reilly: Now it is, yes.
Starting at around 9:16 bit.ly/27jmO9
Your last sentence sounds to me like you would be okay with Obama's opinion as long as he didn't share it.
For me, I prefer honesty.
Cuz surely hell has frozen over when OHmommy has gone and gotten political!
LOL! Bravo girl!
Couldn't agree more!


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This combination medication is used as part of a total treatment program to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It may help to increase the ability to pay attention, stay focused, and control behavior problems.
This product is a combination of stimulants (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine). It is thought to...
Read moreMost people are familiar with some of the common side-effects of Adderall: loss of appetite, headache, stomach upset, weight loss and... Read more »
Adderall is a commonly prescribed stimulant medication to treat symptoms of ADHD. This medication helps to improve attention and decrease... Read more »
This week I researched how different foods, such as those high in acidity or fat, may impact the effectiveness of ADHD medications. I... Read more »
NBCNews reported yesterday about the nationwide shortage of ADHD Medications, stating, "In the past two weeks, federal Food and Drug... Read more »
It's hot outside and that means your home is probably hotter than normal. Although you probably haven't given it much thought, those high... Read more »

subset: commoncrawl


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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Carrying a message of tolerance and love, a new imam for Huntsville, Alabama, has finally filled a severe gab in spiritual guidance in the Muslim community's daily life, with a commitment to advance the cause of moderate Islam in the US.
I want to represent Islam so that the people in America can see Islam as good, to see the truth of the religion, Imam Ragab Abdelmoneim told All Alabama website on Friday, May 17.
Islam is a religion of tolerance, peace, love, moderation - this is a message for all over the world.
Tell World About America, Islam: US Imams US Imam Revives Mosque Community Role Young Imams Present American IslamNative Imams Draw US Muslims to Mosques |
The 32-year-old imam was welcomed at the new imam for Huntsville Islamic Center earlier this month, to offer spiritual guidance to more than 200 families in the congregation.
An Egyptian national, the imam relocated with his wife, Walaa Abuhany, and their daughters Tasbeeh Abdelmoneim, 3, and Abrar, 9 months, in the US.
Teaching for years at Al Azhar University in Cairo, where he was also a graduate student, Abdelmoneim has already begun classes in the Qur'an for the youth of the congregation.
For Huntsville Muslim community, finding an imam was not an easy task.
The assignment of Abdelmoneim followed a two-year search for a suitable imam.
It took them two years till he was suggested by friends of Mohamed Elhady, a Huntsville engineer who is also the congregational president, in Cairo.
Completing all the US visa requirements for Abdelmoneim and his family took another year.
We needed a spiritual leader to explain things and to comfort people, Elhady said.
But we had to be very careful to find someone who is not connected to any extreme ideas. Good Citizens
For Alabama Muslims, the imam had to be capable of dealing with a diverse American Muslim community, to present a true image of US Muslim citizens.
In America, I have found Islam in the actions of the people, said Elhady, who emigrated from Libya to the U.S. more than 30 years ago when Muammar al-Gaddafi came to power.
At the heart of this country, there is equal opportunity. This is Islam, he added.
We want to educate our kids to be good citizens, to be a good addition to this country.
The United States is home to a Muslim community of between six to eight million.
A recent Gallup poll had found that the majority of US Muslims are patriot and loyal to their country and are optimistic about their future.
Suffering a shortage in colleges to train imams in Islamic theology, the US has been facing a problem in the numbers of imams.
Opened in California in 2009, Zaytuna College was the country's first Muslim university.
Imams hold degrees in Islamic theology, and until recently, the only institutions that offered this course of study were outside the US.
Reproduced with permission from OnIslam.net


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Network President and CEO Joe Clayton speaks at a press event at the... News Photo 1590860922013,Business,Consumer Electronics Show,Corporate Business,Dish Network,Event,Finance,Horizontal,Joe Clayton,Las Vegas,Mandalay Bay Convention Center,Merchandise,Nevada,President,Press,Retail,Talking,Technology,USA,Waist UpPhotographer David BeckerCollection: Getty Images News 2013 Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 07: DISH Network President and CEO Joe Clayton speaks at a press event at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center for the 2013 International CES on January 7, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs from January 8-11 and is expected to feature 3,100 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 150,000 attendees. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)


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"The juiciest burgers I have ever made—and a lot of flavor for such a simple recipe. Got my man card back. Thanks!" – jadesdog06
"Best kabobs ever. The marinade is fantastic. This will be my go-to summer kabob recipe!" – Lynny
"Out-of-this-world good! This recipe is a keeper, and probably the best one on this site for shredded beef (I've tried a few)!" – Kathy F.
Recipe of the Day
Thai Beef Salad
Seared and marinated beef is served atop a crisp lettuce and cucumber bed in this salad bursting with fresh Thai flavors. — Mick
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Chili, brats, and more to feed your hungry football fans.
Cheer on your team with a little something sweet.
Delicious recipes, party ideas, and cooking tips! Get a year of Allrecipes magazine for $7.99!
See how to beef up a meal with versatile ground beef.
See how to make the pride of Western New York, the Beef on Weck sandwich.
See how to make spicy, saucy, shredded barbecued beef.


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Find exactly what you're looking for with the web's most powerful recipe filtering tool.
I live in Carrollton, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas.
I enjoy cooking, gardening, swimming, scrapbooking, rubber stamping and spending time with my husband, Tony, and daughters, Giovanna-10 and Arianna-9. I enjoy cooking lots of Italian dishes, especially risotto. I also enjoy baking cakes and cookies.
I like to travel and a few of my favorite vaction spots are The Outer Banks, St. John, Hot Springs, and snorkeling off Mexico. One day, I am hoping to travel to Europe and visit Italy, Germany, Asia and the Ukraine.
I have my own photography business-- www.rhondacinellophotography.com
Asian-- Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese...
I am told I make good lasagna, four cheese ziti and risotto. (My husband loves Italian food!)
My favorite restaurant-- Pen Pao in Chicago.


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Home › Academics › Colleges › College of Engineering and Natural Sciences › Departments and Schools › Department of Geosciences
Dr. Indurani Dayal Meshri was honored in memoriam and inducted into the Engineering and Natural Sciences Hall of Fame on April 22, 2010.
A pioneering, award-winning woman in her field, Dr. Indu Meshri earned her doctoral degree in geochemistry from the TU Department of Geosciences in 1981. She was the second woman to receive her PhD from the department - a legacy she carried on in her mentorship and encouragement of female scientists around the world.
She had a long and productive research career at Amoco Research Center in Tulsa, serving 22 years as a geochemist. She became one of the world's leading experts in basin modeling, and her research led to numerous patents and the development of 3-D modeling that successfully predicts the permeability and porosity of rocks in oil and gas reservoirs. Her dedication to research, commitment to service and deep love of her family and friends served as a model for a life well lived.
The faculty of the Department of Geosciences consists of tenured, tenure-track, visiting and instructional faculty who are focused on providing a world-class educational and research experience to our students. The Department of Geosciences is committed to premier undergraduate education and focused, high-quality graduate and undergraduate research. Exceptional students will find a stimulating environment for research and interaction with faculty. Our undergraduate program provides students with broad experience in the sciences and the ability to think critically and communicate effectively. Our graduate program offers research and training opportunities that prepare students for a wide range of professional careers.
Faculty members are all highly regarded in their individual fields and are actively conducting research with students around the globe. The major areas of research emphasis of the faculty are:
Department of GeosciencesKeplinger Hall M231PH: (918) 631-2517FAX: (918) 631-2091


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Tracey Thorn gets remixed on new "Opposites" EP
On August 31, Tracey Thorn will release Opposites - a special digital-only EP of experimental remixes of tracks from her acclaimed new album Love And Its Opposite.
If the album, produced by Ewan Pearson, was heralded for its unadorned and direct honesty, the remixes are deliberately oblique reinterpretations that throw a new sidelight on three of the album's key tracks.
"If the remixes for the last single 'Why Does The Wind?' were aimed at the dancefloor, these are perhaps aimed more at the head." says Tracey. "People often only remember the dance remixes I have been involved with, and forget the great futuristic re-works of my voice over the years by people like Photek, Omni Trio and Howie B. If my versions of my songs are often plain and direct, these mixes add question marks and blind alleys, and I like that. It adds a different colour and makes them closer to my work with Massive Attack perhaps."
For the EP, the album's closing track, 'Swimming' (featuring Nashville's Cortney Tidwell) is remixed into a psychedelic West Coast journey by Visionquest. Fronted by Detroit's Seth Troxler, Visionquest is Seth plus American sparring partners Ryan Crosson and Lee Curtiss, who all ran the influential Tesh Club together before Seth moved to Berlin to become resident DJ at the city's pivotal Club der Visionare and Weekend Clubs in 2008. The move has made Seth one of Europe's most in-demand DJs of late. Cortney and Tracey's backing vocals are looped into a swirling head-swim before the track locks onto a killer Fleetwood Mac groove for a deep Balearic summer ride.
WALLS are Sam Willis (from influential electronic music blog, Allez-Allez) and Alessio Natalizia (Banjo or Freakout). Their recent debut album on German uber-label Kompakt has been one of the year's sleeper hits. Mixing the same influences that pepper the album, their rework of 'Kentish Town' is a woozy blissed-out dream, part Krautrock, part Eno-esque ambience.
Kwesi Darko aka Blue Daisy runs Camden Town's Black Acre and has turned it into one of the labels to watch over the past few months. The imprint has delivered a string of inventive post-dubstep soundscapes for forward-looking dancefloors and afterhours parties alike. Drawing on dub, hip-hop and rich synthetic orchestration, Blue Daisy's take on 'Late In The Afternoon' is blunted and cinematic, heavy on sub-bass and twinkling stressed-out FX.
Tracey Thorn's Opposites EP will be available beginning August 24 exclusively on Beatport and then on the usual digital outlets beginning August 31. Download a free MP3 of "Kentish Town (Walls Remix)" and feel free to share!
1. Swimming (Visionquest Remix)
2. Swimming (Album Version)
3. Kentish Town (Walls Remix)
4. Kentish Town (Album Version)
5. Late in the Afternoon (Blue Daisy Remix)
6. Late in the Afternoon (Album Version)


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My vegetable container garden rests directly on well drained soil. I would characterize the ground as sand or coarse sand. Is there something I can do to the interface between the container and the ground to enable earth wicking drainage? Would a half inch layer of something on the ground just below the container help wick draw water from the container to the ground? Would something like clay chips (floor dry, Turface, kitty litter) help draw water from the container and introduce it to the soil below? Or would sand be a better interface. 1/8 inch sand or perhaps a little finer? 1/16 inch sand? What would be the best drainage hole configuration? Some of my containers have one inch holes only on the bottom. The black nursery pots have bottom and side holes.. Does it make a difference? I know the side holes won't assist in earth wicking. Is a container on the ground a container? or is it a raised bed? a hybrid? Thanks Zeuspaul |
Follow-Up Postings:
Z...do I understand the bottom of the soil mix in your container touches the ground soil? If this is the case....you are good! My 10 inch pipe containers are on a concrete stepping stone. That wicks, as well. I would say drainage holes within 1 or 2 inches of the bottom would be fine. Your water will drain out through the native soil....if I am reading you right. |
It is the water remaining in the soil after gravity has drained all it can, that could pose a problem. You have not indicated the mix you are using which would determine how much of a problem you may have. If your pots had no bottom you would have soil to soil contact and your pots would in effect be raised beds. If you have a one inch drain in your pot you have soil to soil contact for that one inch and how well it will drains will depend, again on the mix used. Al |
I am experimenting with various mixes. If I use 511 or the gritty mix I don't think earth wicking would be necessary or make a difference because the potting soil is designed to drain fully. I have assembled the ingredients for these mixes and plan on using them in some of the containers. The question is for mixes that don't drain as well as 511 or gritty. I have a few yards of mushroom compost that I have been using as the base for some mixes. My bell peppers and basil are doing much better in this compost mix in 5 and 15 gal containers on the ground than the same plants are doing in my garden. I want to experiment with earth wicking to improve the drainage of a compost mix. The mushroom compost drains quickly but I am sure there is a perched water table. The container garden ranges from 5 to 15 gal. I am adding 20 and 25 gal containers with plans for bottomless containers. I am working on a form design for a 24 inch diameter x 24 inch tall poured concrete *pipe* to use as a bottomless container. My question is for the plastic black nursery pots in the 5 to 25 gal range with a peat or compost based mix with soil to soil contact. Should they rest directly on the existing granular well drained soil or would a layer of absorbant soil like Turface or kitty litter on top of the existing ground assist in draining the container? Thanks for the responses Zeuspaul |
Z...I would say again....you are good. Why would you want an absorbent/wet mess at the bottom of your container? I have been using free irrigation pipe (I like 10-12 inch diam) for my tomatoes. They work well. The tomato roots run down 3 feet in no time! |
- Posted by HeyJude2012 10b/24 San Diego (My Page) on Sun, Jul 28, 13 at 1:54
Hi Fireduck...do you have a photo of your set up? I have a tiny square patch of ground. I planted 4 tomatoes that are just not thriving. My soil is so poor even with amendments. Everything else I have are in pots. I would love to find a way to use my little square effectively. Thank you! Jude |
I do not see any advantage of putting your containers on a really porous surface like gravel to increase drainage in the container. Any interface with a different material will be an added barrier to the passage of water. Most plants in containers setting on the ground will soon have their roots finding their way through the drainage holes into the native soil. The connection of your container soil with your native soil will act as a wick on the water in the container. Al |
Fireduck, where does one find 12 inch drainage pipe? How tall are your bottomless containers? What kind of soil do you use? Fireduck said Why would you want an absorbent/wet mess at the bottom of your container? Because it's better than having the wet mess inside the container. I have learned from reading this forum that containers can develop a pearched water table if the soil inside the container does not drain well. I have no wet mess outside the container. Water drains quickly into my coarse soil. Calistoga said I do not see any advantage of putting your containers on a really porous surface like gravel to increase drainage in the container. I have been doing a little reading on soil water movement at the site linked below. A quote After the upper layer becomes saturated, water enters the underlying layer (Figure 3.8b). The practical implication of this demonstration is that in shallow soils underlain by sands, like those found in the Platte River Valley, water movement is actually slowed by the underlying coarse sand and gravel layer. My understanding is the coarse sub layer has no draw due to capiilary forces. A quote referring to a clay sub layer What happens to water movement if the upper soil layer is underlain by a finer textured material like clay? As Figure 3.9a illustrates, water moves rapidly into the clay. Compared to the overlying layer, the smaller pores associated with clay layer have a greater attraction on the water. This causes the clay to wet immediately when the wetting front reaches the layer. Although the clay layer wets rapidlyÂ, the small pores hold the water tightly and effectively retard the advance of the wetting front. The slowing of the wetting front causes lateral water movement in the overlying coarse soil. Finally, after the clay layer is saturated, the wetting front will move below the clay, Figure 3.9b. The situation illustrated in Figure 3.9 is typical of soils with buried claypansÂ. The claypan restricts the downward (or upwardÂ) movement of water. If a claypan is at or near the soil surface, excessive runoff may become a problem during rainfall or irrigation events even though the soil below the clay pan is dry. A subsurface clay layer also can cause the soil above it to become fully saturated forming a perched water table. Perched water tables often cause drainage and aeration problems in the upper soil layers. My take is a non saturated clay sub layer draws water from the container due to capillary forces. However a *normal* clay layer would saturate quickly under a container. It seems to me a thin layer of clay chips (kitty litter) perhaps mixed with a little similar sized grit placed on a well drained base would not saturate. Wouldn't it then use the capillary force of clay to draw water from the container reducing the perched water table inside the container? Thanks Zeuspaul |
Here is a link that might be useful: Water movement in soil
Your reference 'Water Movement in Soil' is very good. However it is water movement in containers we are discussing. On this forum' tapla' has much information offered that is relevant to water movement in containers, and is easy to find. It is very easy to assume that there is no difference. Al |
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Loading Contact Form 7 quickly and efficiently on WordPress
Tutorial on loading contact form 7 quickly and efficiently on wordpress. Recently when i was busy optimizing my site, i found out that most of the page load was being taken by Contact form css and javascripts.
I was not aware that the Contact form 7 plugin was loading its stylesheet and scripts on each and every page of my site. I had implemented contact forms on only 3 of my pages, so i wanted it to load only on those 3 pages and not on all of them.
Fortunately Paul had already written a post about doing just that. I merely had to copy paste the code on my site for it to work. It was really that easy.
Loading Contact form 7 efficiently on WordPress
Here is the code which i used (to be pasted in your functions.php):
/** Remove contact form 7 */ add_action( 'wp_print_scripts', 'my_deregister_javascript', 100 ); function my_deregister_javascript() { if ( !is_page(array('Contact', 'Hire Us', 'Write for us') ) ) { wp_deregister_script( 'contact-form-7' ); } } add_action( 'wp_print_styles', 'my_deregister_styles', 100 ); function my_deregister_styles() { if ( !is_page(array('Contact', 'Hire Us', 'Write for us') ) ) { wp_deregister_style( 'contact-form-7' ); } }
In the ispage array line, please remove and add the appropriate page names on which you want to enable contact form 7. After you have made the changes, just click on Update file and Voila, you are done!
To check if it is working, just open a page and right click and then select View page source. If you are not seeing any contact form 7 variables, then its confirmed you have implemented the code correctly.
Note: Also make sure to check your contact page and other pages on which you are using contact forms, that cf7 css and scripts are loading properly, otherwise your users won't be able to send mails to you.
The above method was about loading contact form 7 efficiently on WordPress. Now here is how you can load it more quickly.
Loading Contact form 7 quickly on WordPress
I am sure you already are using the WordPress Total Cache plugin. If you are not, then i suggest you to give it a try, you can find the official repo here.
After enabling it, go to the minify tab and add the contact form 7 stylesheet and javascripts. By doing this you are combining and minifying the cf7 files and fetching it as one file. This means there are fewer requests and less data to be downloaded.
Also note, a cache plugin like the one discussed above also makes sure that your js files have to be downloaded only once i.e. the first time a visitor visits your site.
The next time he opens another page on your site, your js files will already have been cached in the browser. This method will speeden up your site considerably.
Did you like this tutorial about loading contact form 7 quickly and efficiently on wordpress? If you did, then do consider subscribing to our newsletter for further such updates!
Credit: Technically easy


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By the middle of the week, you may need a break! Check here for some websites that may keep you entertained for a little while!
Silly solutions to life's everyday problems.
See all the daily Newspaper comic strips in one place!
When you know your favorite show is on a certain CHANNEL but not what dial number that would be for your cable provider, use LocateTV.com
FuntasticFace.com is a website that lets you upload any picture of your friends and turn them into people they never thought they'd be!
Free daily Personal finance e-mails for women. Practical tips, empowering ideas and the occasional kick in the pants.
A do-it-yourself guide dedicated to helping you prevent, eliminate or remove common annoyances from your life.
This site can help you learn how to audition, and where they're looking for actors!
1000 Awesome Things is just a time-ticking countdown of 1000 awesome things. Launched June, 2008 and updated every weekday. Published as The Book of Awesome in April, 2010.
Sunday 10a-2p


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Are US Hybrid Sales Peaking Already?
samzenpus posted about 8 months ago | from the already-there dept.
377cartechboy (2660665) writes The Toyota Prius is pretty darn popular, especially in California. One might think that hybrid sales are on the rise as gas prices continue to fluctuate, but it seems hybrid sales in the U.S. might be peaking. Researchers at IHS Automotive found that U.S. hybrid sales haven't kept pace with the rest of the market. In the automotive world, conventional wisdom states that adding a model to a brand or segment will increase sales--but that hasn't happened with hybrids. The number of hybrid offerings has almost doubled from 24 in 2009 to 47 in 2014--but U.S. hybrid sales haven't dramatically increased. In fact, hybrid market share actually declined from 2009 to 2010, and then again from 2013 to 2014. So if consumers aren't buying hybrids, what are they buying? It seems some hybrid early adopters are now switching to plug-in hybrids or electric cars stating that these models are just nicer to drive.


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Mon, Mar 25, 13 at 12:07
I just received this plant, and it is probably very common, but I don't know what it is and really would like to take care of it properly. I don't know much about it except that it has long green fronds edged in red, and it's stem reminds me of a palm tree? |
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- Posted by sunnycelina none (My Page) on Mon, Mar 25, 13 at 12:56
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Satisfactory academic progress is defined as:
Unsatisfactory performance will result in academic warning, probation or suspension.
Occurs after one semester (including summer session) of failing to meet the satisfactory academic standing requirements.
While on Academic Warning:
Occurs after one semester (including summer session) of Academic Warning and failing to meet the satisfactory academic standing requirements or probation standards.
Occurs when a student on Academic Warning has not met the satisfactory academic requirements (cumulative GPA 2.0 and cumulative 67% completion rate), but have met a term goal of a 2.5 GPA and 75% completion rate.
Transfer credits from other institutions ARE ONLY calculated as part of Satisfactory Academic Progress at MSU for completion rate. In other words, students' LOCAL GPA and cumulative completion rate will determine their academic standing.
The student will be notified of his/her probationary status by a email from the Academic Vice President's Office.
The Student Relations Coordinator for the College will send a follow-up email with additional information about Academic Warning/Probation policy and procedures. Students should make their first of three appointments with the SRC's Office by the fifth day of classes. (Located in the College Dean's Office AH 226 (507)389-1712)
All information for both the University Policies for Suspension and Probation and the College Probation Advising Plan can also be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.


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It's impossible to take a rubbish screenshot of Metal Slug Anthology, because there's never a moment when it's not kicking off.
Aliens are flying in blazing lasers all over the place, gruesome guts fly as commando dudes get sliced in half and massive explosions fill the screen. Just look at these eight new Wii screens.
See the chaos? That's what we're all about. This is the one game that we DON'T want to use with any motion controls whatsoever. And with a list of controller configuration options - including a Classic Controller option - we won't have to.
Metal Slug Anthology will be keeping it old-school on Wii and PSP from March.


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Best kitchen brands Best and worst kitchen brands
We've surveyed more than 3,000 kitchen buyers to bring you customer score ratings for a host of big-name kitchen brands such as Ikea, John Lewis, Magnet, B&Q, Homebase, Wickes and Howdens Joinery - as well as customer views on independent kitchen companies.
You can find out customer scores for each of these brands in the table below, as well as star ratings for factors such as customer service, quality of finish and value for money, so you can see the strengths and weaknesses of each brand.
Which? members should log in to unlock and view the scores in the table below - and if you're not already a member you can try a £1 trial to Which? to get instant access.
Our unique customer score ratings are based on how satisfied customers were with the brand overall, and whether or not they'd recommend it to a friend.
Kitchen shops reviewed | |||||
Brand | Customer service | Quality finish | Quality product | Value for money | Customer score |
Homebase | |||||
Howdens Joinery | |||||
Ikea | |||||
Independent DIY company | |||||
Independent kitchen company | |||||
John Lewis | |||||
Magnet | |||||
Moben | |||||
Wickes |
For in-depth information on each of the brands rated above, choose a company from the left-hand menu at the top of this page.
Best and worst installers
We asked customers who had used an installation service to rate the brand's overall service, plus the ease of arranging it and the time it took. In our table below, we've got ratings for three national brands plus independent kitchen and DIY (non-kitchen specialist) companies. The typical waiting time for a kitchen to be installed is between one and three months for their kitchens to be fully installed.
Overall installation customer score is based on how satisfied customers were with the brand, and how likely they were to recommend it to a friend.
Kitchen installation companies on test | |||
Brand | Ease | Time | Customer score |
Independent DIY company | |||
Independent kitchen company | |||
John Lewis | |||
Magnet |
Table notes
Kitchen advice
It's worth putting plenty of thought into planning your kitchen and thinking about everyday, practical needs as well as the style and design you want.
Our planning a kitchen guide has lots of advice on how to get the best layout and maximize space, plus top tips to help you make the most of your budget.
And if you're planning to buy new appliances, you'll need to know how much space to allow for these in your design. Our kitchen appliance size guide gives typical sizes for all the kitchen essentials, and we've got hundreds of Best Buy cookers, cooker hoods, hobs, ovens, dishwashers, fridge freezers and washing machines.
Common kitchen problems
40% of Which? members we surveyed experienced problems with their kitchen after it had been installed. The most common problems were:
- problems with sinks/taps 9%
- problems with electrical items 8%
- soft closure mechanisms on drawers not working 6%.
Survey respondents with Magnet kitchens are more likely to have experienced a problem than those with kitchens from other bran. 51% of Magnet kitchen owners reporteda problem, compared with 46% for customers of Homebase and John Lewis, 42% for customers of B&Q, 38% for customers of Wickes, 37% for Ikea customers and 35% for customers of Howden Joinery. However, a third of all problems were resolved within a week of them being reported to the company, with Howden Joinery responding the quickest, and B&Q taking the most amount of time to resolve the issue.
- Our planning a kitchen guide has lots of advice on layouts, budget and design
- See also our fridge freezer, fridge, freezer and freestanding cooker reviews
- Kit out your kitchen with the right toaster, kettle and coffee machine to suit you


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Quoted from brinyskysail You mentioned in another thread that you have some digestive problems - do you know if you lack HCl. I get horrible heartburn when I eat nutbutters unless I take HCl. Nutbutter seems to be the food that bothers me most in terms of low stomach acid. Hope you figure it out; peanutbutter rocks
Quoted from C_Sharp What happens when you eat peanuts?
Quoted Text No, I don't. HOw do I find out? And is HCL something I can take?
Quoted Text Funny thing is almond flour doesn't usually bother me, I don't think? But maybe because I use it with other ingredients?
Quoted from kangachick Hmm...thanks. It says I'm at least 67% chance I have it. I think maybe I need to order HCl and see if it helps?
Quoted from Andrea AWsec [quote=14350 chocolate or olive oil or earth balance.
Quoted Text Because I was told to avoid dairy and ghee is dairy! And I love the buttery flavor. Earth balance is non-hydrogenated, expeller pressed so I figure it can't be too bad for me..it has canola, palm, and olive oils in it.
Quoted from brinyskysail Ghee is good for any blood type or genotype; you're much better off with ghee.smart balance ingredients:expeller-pressed oil blend (soybean, palm fruit, canola, and olive), filtered water, pure salt, natural flavor (derived from corn - no msg, no alcohol, no gluten), soy protein, soy lecithin, lactic acid (non-dairy, derived from sugar beets), and naturally extracted annatto for color.ghee ingredients:clarified butterI don't know about you, but I'd go with the ghee


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From the most recent research to parachuting supporters, find out what's hitting the headlines.
Keep up to date with our latest research findings and thoughts on dementia research developments going on around the world on these pages.
You can also read about out what our amazing supporters have been up to. From quiz nights to mountain climbing, our fundraisers regularly feature in the press.
Our views on the most recent developments in government and research policy are also on these pages. And you can find out what our celebrity supporters have been doing to raise awareness of dementia research.
If you have a press enquiry please visit our Press Office page.


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Traditional Lion Dancers lead the New Year paraded on February 10... News Photo 161345007Arts Culture and Entertainment,England,Horizontal,Human Interest,Lead,London - England,New Year,Paraded,Public Celebratory Event,Traditional Lion Dancers,UKPhotographer Bethany ClarkeCollection: Getty Images News 2013 Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Traditional Lion Dancers lead the New Year paraded on February 10, 2013 in London, England. London's Chinese community celebrate the start of the Year of The Snake with traditional dancing, music and fireworks. (Photo by Bethany Clarke/Getty Images)


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The below provides a quick overview of the user submitted reviews for VYLmedia.
Use the tabs below to navigate to user reviews and user questions and answers sections.
VYLmedia has been rebranded as 1-VoIP and is owned by VoIPYourLife LLC. The reviews on this page are applicable to both brands so if you want to submit a review of 1-VoIP, please go ahead and do so.
The company offers business and residential voip services in addition to a SIP trunking solution. The residential plans are a bit more expensive than your typical VoIP service for the home. The plans do however include features that are not commonly offered by VoIP providers. Packages come with web faxing, email and cloud storage so if these features are something you want, then this package can be a good option. Otherwise, you may want to compare costs with other solutions that offer a pure and simple phone service.
VYLmedia reviews are listed in chronological order.
#129 : MAR 21st, 2013 : Francine
very happy with the service would recommend to friends and family, the only problem I experience is when I try to use my line as a fax also
#128 : MAR 21st, 2013 : Patrick
1-VOIPs customer service makes them standout. A human answers the call and their response to my small problems have been swift. Add this to the cost of their service, the call quality and unlimited calling to over 30 countries makes me a very happy customer. I am now paying less the half of the cost for just local calls from my old landline provider.
Len (May 29th, 2014) : I think 1-VoIP is excellent. Been using them over 5 years. Tech support is superb. You mention unlimited calling to 30 countries? Never ran across this feature. US/Canada is free and overseas fairly cheap, but free?
#127 : OCT 29th, 2012 : Jeremy
I switched from another VoIP provider to VYLmedia. Saving money was one issue but having a reliable connection for my home business and tech support that is available is what I need to grow my accounting business. VYLmedia customer service is just the answer for me. It doesn't matter whether I call at 8 am or 9pm, support is available. Granted, I do have to wait on hold longer than I like when calling but I guess I must hit "rush hour" when I call. What I like is that the person on the other end switched my features like I like and I didn't have to be transferred or get a manager's approval. I like that. It's such a better world now that I switched to VYLmedia.
#126 : MAY 17th, 2012 : Clint
Wow! Canadaian User. Use VOIP for corporate rentals. Chose VYL because they appear to have their stuff together. I prepay for a year at a time. Been with VYL for over 2 years now. Last year they actually "lost" my number, and the phone was cut off for 6 months after I had paid for my year. Never got a refund until almost a year later. It seems customer service, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and Technical service have never communicated to eachother...ever. I have had several phone conversations, and now many of them backed up by email, and I am still having problems with this company. First... they told me they have a signed document requesting them to port my number to another company, but they cannot produce or show me this document which I allegedly signed because it is against some crazy law in america. Then they told me they chad retrieved my number...all in the same conversation. Hmmm... Although very apologetic sounding, they got my number back on line finally and did not issue me a refund for the outage. I finally was told I got one, and it was backed up with an email. Nothing extra for all of the trouble and time I had spent emailing, gathering records, and phoning. I used the refund credit and paid the remaining amount for another year. Less than a month later I have since received threatening emails saying my phone is going to be cut off for a delinquent account. 11 phone coversations with 7 different people, and 14 emails. The SAVINGS ARE NOT WORTH THE HEADACHE of trying to keep your phone working continuously. I do not recommend this company, and like the other guy from Dec 6 2011 says. I highly suspect it is the owner and management. Streamline your company man and get your Accounting Systems Matrixed. Pay the extra $800.00 per year you cheapskate, or it's going to kill your business.
Len (Jan 12th, 2014) : Very surprising. I too, am Canadian and have used 1-VoIP/VYL for a few years. Excellent service. Tech support is always available with minimal wait time. I heartily recommend the company. I have taken the adapter to FL and overseas on several occasions giving me home numbers in these other locations.
#125 : MAY 8th, 2012 : Ron
I have had service with VYL for over 5 years now. Their customer service has always been great! Calling within the US and Canada is always reliable. Most of my overseas calls are to Korea and it is reliable 97-99 percent of the time. There have been about 7 times over the past 5 years when a call to Korea got dropped or the it would not call the phone in Korea at all (Note I call Korea almost every other day for about a hour or two at a time). At these times customer service has been very helpful determining what the issue was (usually outside of their control) and working to get it resolved as quickly as possible. Also, found out today, talking with customer service, that I can use a Bria app for Apple or Android and make a call using VYL service from my smartphone; just like you can with Vonage. Customer service provided all the settings I needed and it was easy to set up; app has a one time charge of $7.99. All in all based on my considerable time receiving service from VYL I recommend their service to others.
#124 : FEB 9th, 2012 : Carmelita
I have used VYLmedia for over 4 years and the service is very good. They actually have people that answer the phone at customer service and they have always been able to help me.
#123 : DEC 9th, 2011 : Tim
They make it very easy to get started. I saved some money but not alot. I can say that customer service is much better than what I got from AT&T. Would recommend them if features are the main concern.
#122 : DEC 6th, 2011 : Adrian
Pros If it were NOT for the quasi Owner, this company would be exceptional. Cons The owner. He is unable to take constructive feedback regarding his staff and when his technology FAILS! Was a customer with VYL Media from December 2006 to mid 2009. Left because the owner instructed his employees to be rude to me because I was complaining about call termination issues, perpetual outages, and extremely rude personnel. Today, Tuesday, December 6th 2011, almost exactly five years since I signed up I receive an Email asking me to PLEASE come back. At first I ignored the Email. Then I got a Follow- Up Email. Decided to act on it because of the nice sales pitch on the ad in my Email. Got Sales on the phone and they were pleasant enough. Told him about the history with VYL Media and asked him if all had improved and if owner is gone? He informed me that things were somewhat better. I told him I would seriously consider his company again as long as the owner would have ZERO contact with my account. Unceremoniously, I receive a Call-Back from the owner and he lit into me. He told me unequivocally that he was not ever interested in having me as a customer and to go elsewhere with my business. All the BEST in securing the BEST VoIP service for your needs!!!
#121 : OCT 12th, 2011 : Tracy
I originally thought their pricing was a little high but with the call quality I recieved and how easy it is to get started. I love it!!!
#120 : JUL 25th, 2011 : Roberto
1-VoIP is Awesome! The quality so really good. Customer service answers my questions and at this time not had any issues. Definitely recommend 1-VoIP
Here are some useful options that may be of interest: | ||
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Disclaimer: The opinions, views and ratings expressed in these VoIP Reviews are those solely of the reviewer who submitted the review. Whichvoip.com does not necessarily agree with any of the expressed opinions, view or ratings.
Total Number | 129 | 88 | |
Recommended: YES | 103 | 22 | |
Recommended: NO | 24 | 14 | |
Average Rating | 4.4 | 3 | |
Provider | $/mo | Details |
from $8.32 Unlimited |
(4.5) 79 Reviews |
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(4) 81 Reviews |
from $0.0198 per min |
(4.5) 38 Reviews |
from $5.99 Unlimited |
(4.3) 237 Reviews |


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110 Lincoln Highway
Fairless Hills, PA 19030
(215) 486-7685
Sun-Thu 12pm-9pm
Fri-Sat 12pm-10pm
Our menu consists of classic flavors such as Chocolate, Vanilla & Strawberry. But it doesn't end there.
Over 60 Toppings are available everyday with a few new surprises weekly so it never gets boring!
Featuring Lavazza coffee & espresso with a variety of delicious twists to make it your own.


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Logging in. Wait please...
- at login time to check which of your friends are already on MapTalks,
- to pre-fill some of your basic data and preferences such as name, nationality, language, etc. (that you can confirm or change at any time),
- and every time you ask to publish something on, or send a message through Facebook.
MapTalks: when a map talks about your world
Share new destinations and amazing experiences with your friends.
MapTalks provides an original way of talking with friends and other community members about sights, events and situations of common interest. Based on a simple map, MapTalks allows you to locate any place and share comments, ideas and projects about it.
When you add a post to the map, it turns into a place for conversation involving potentially the whole community or just a small group of friends.
With MapTalks you can:
- Find ideas for planning your leisure time, getting tips from friends and other community members who have already been at your destination.
- Remember the places where the most important events of your life have occurred.
- Tell about your travels, showing visited sights and writing about your experiences.
- Organize an event by defining its venue on the basis of community's requirements.
- Send pictures and reviews of events (such as concerts, sports, etc.) you are attending (or have been attending).
- List locations of any kind for your private or public records.
- Share a thought or a picture taken at a magic moment in an amazing place.
How MapTalks protects the privacy of your maps
When you create a map, you can assign read and write permissions to users. In particular, you can nominate the so-called "collaborators" for a map, in practice a list of users who are allowed to provide content to your map, while people in your "followers" list and in the rest of community have more limited capabilities. This simple mechanism provides you with high flexibility to protect the privacy of your maps.
Do you have questions, suggestions or a problem to report?
MapTalks wants to be for you more than just another social website. In fact, MapTalks is like a big family where you can feel like at home, on your couch, together with your best friends. For you, MapTalks offers a direct line for assistance. If you have any questions, or want to report us a problem, do not hesitate to contact us by using the contact/feedback form (available on all pages of this site, once logged in).
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MapTalks is absolutely free and is supported financially through advertising, sponsors and donations. If you would like to sustain our project, we thank you in advance and invite you to contact us by using the contact/feedback form (available on all pages of this site, once logged in).


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Deck drive pulley replaces Scag 482791. Fits 2005 Turf Tiger model 31BSD.
OEM Replacement This part is aftermarket equipment designed to replace the original manufacturer's part numbers specified here. It is manufactured using high-quality materials, to the same specifications as the original part. | Scag 482791 |
Size | 5-1/2' OD, 1-1/8" ID, 1-43/64" height, 1/4" keyway |


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Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence's romantic dinner with ex Nicholas Hoult on Monday is sparking some serious dating rumors.
Lawrence, 22, and Hoult, 23, split in January after two years of dating. At the time, an insider told In Touch, "They're young and grew apart, but they remain friends."
Jennifer told Elle last year, "[My boyfriend] is honestly my best friend, and hopefully I'm his best friend too. He's my favorite person to be around and he makes me laugh harder than anybody."
Both stars have skyrocketed to fame in recent years. While Jennifer landed the coveted role of Katniss in the "Hunger Games" series and won an Oscar for "Silver Linings Playbook," Nicholas starred in "Warm Bodies" and "Jack the Giant Slayer." The twosome will be back onscreen together next year in the new "X-Men" installment "Days of Future Past."


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Want to see some of the most expensive artwork in the world? Then meet up with 92Y's Uptown Gallery Tour on Feb. 1, 2013 at 1 p.m. The $45 tour, for which tickets can be purchased online at 92Y.org, starts at Fifth Avenue and East 79th Street and will take you through the neighborhood's hottest showrooms.
92Y Uptown Gallery Tour


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She's also wary. The media have burned her organization before, publishing easy hit-and-run articles with the passion of a man planting C4 at an abortion clinic. That's why Sneeringer sets an iRock Mp3 recorder on the table. She's taping this conversation so that she could use the recording as evidence that she was misquoted or taken out of context. "I have the most politically incorrect job in the universe," she explains.
But we'll get to that. Sneeringer's story starts in Tampa, more than two decades ago. As a child living near the Gulf of Mexico, she was a tomboy, one of the guys, playing tackle football and stripping off her shirt when she was on skins. Her father was an alcoholic who kept pornography under the bed, she says, and her mother was his punching bag.
Sneeringer was 12 when her parents divorced. She and her older brother and younger sister went to live with an aunt. An older cousin, intrigued by Sneeringer's burgeoning womanhood, had his way with her. She began to hate men and cut her hair short. Sneeringer asked friends to call her Chris. "I believed that to be feminine was to be weak," she says.
Then Sneeringer fell in love. In high school, an older classmate became her best friend. They played sports together, talked at all hours of the night, and shared their deepest secrets. Her friend was 17 and she 15 when the two first had sex. Her new lover's name was Kim.
A senior in high school, Kim had received athletic scholarships to a number of universities. She declined them all and stayed in Tampa. Kim had to be with Chris. They'd been talking about marriage, about being together for the rest of their lives. "My dearest Kimbo," Sneeringer wrote in a letter, "You make it worth living. I want to spend the rest of my life with you because I love you more than anything."
But her mother found the letter before it was delivered. As Sneeringer ate breakfast, her mother dropped the note on the kitchen table. "Do you want to tell me what this is about?" she asked.
Her mother successfully ended the relationship. "I think she was just embarrassed to have a gay daughter," Sneeringer says.
A series of lesbian relationships followed. Some were serious, others flings. "I was looking for my mother's love in the arms of a woman," she admits. In 1989, Sneeringer began an affair with a married woman. It would be her last lesbian relationship.
At the time, she had begun to play on a church-sponsored women's softball team. The other players were there to have fun and raise awareness of the church, but Sneeringer was there to compete, to win at all costs. "My jersey said, 'Say Yes to Jesus,'" she remembers, "and I'm out there cussing like a sailor."
Eventually, her teammates were able to calm her and bring her into the church's fold. By fall 1989, Sneeringer had become a Baptist. Months later, she entered a faith-based program known as "reparative therapy." Its design was to convert her from homosexuality.
She went straight in 1990.
"I came to a place of believing that [homosexuality] wasn't God's plan for me," she says. Not long after the conversion, she moved to Fort Lauderdale and started working as a sports stringer for the Sun-Sentinel.
She discovered the fundamentalist Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale and began to volunteer for Worthy Creations, a small nonprofit organization that offers a conversion therapy similar to the one Sneeringer had undergone in Tampa. The ex-gay became the director of Worthy Creations in 1999 and currently runs programs for homosexuals and their families.
Stories such as Sneeringer's are controversial. In a society slowly accepting the idea that homosexuality is biological, conversion therapy stands to threaten the minority protection gays receive. The basis of anti-discrimination laws to protect gays assumes that homosexuality is genetic and unchangeable.
"I believe it is your genes," says Jay McLaughlin, health coordinator for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida. "I grew up knowing that I was gay."
Despite greater cultural acceptance of homosexuality, the current place for same-sex relationships in American society is being debated. At the same time that Hollywood released the box-office dud Gigli, a movie that in part touches on the possible fluidity of sexuality, President George W. Bush and the pope individually denounced gay marriage.
Meanwhile, organizations offering conversion therapy have been gaining momentum. Worthy Creations is part of an interdenominational Christian organization known as Exodus International. The Jewish, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Mormon religions all run similar conversion programs that recently joined under an umbrella organization known as PATH (Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality). The secular NARTH (National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality) anchors the organization with its scientific studies on the purported benefits of "reparative therapy."