text:
News from WTOP
News from the AP
Mike Causey
Shows & Panels
Shows & Panels
- Agency of the Month
- Business of Government Hour
- The CFO Agenda: Delivering value from financial transparency and audit efforts in the public and private sector
- Cloud-Driven Data Insights in Government
- CXO Surveys
- Disaster Resilience for America
- Federal News Countdown
- Government Perspectives on Mobility and the Cloud
- Reducing Risk in the Cloud
- Reimagining the Next Generation of Government
Shows & Panels
- AFCEA Answers
- American Readiness: Renewable Power and Efficiency Technologies
- Ask the CIO
- The Business Case for Cloud Computing in Government
- Cloud-Driven Data Insights in Government
- Connecting the Dots: Digital Authentication in Government
- Cybersecurity Game Changer: Real-Time Event Processing in Government
- Data-Centric Approaches to Government in the Cloud
- Delivering the Digital Government Mission
- Federal Executive Forum
- Federal News Radio's National Cyber Security Awareness Month Special Panel Discussion
- Federal Tech Talk
- The Future of Government Data Centers
- Government Perspectives on Mobility and the Cloud
- Industrialized, Interoperable and Insight-driven Federal Health Panel
- Innovation and Tech Superiority through Acquisition Reform
- Mitigating Insider Threats in Virtual & Cloud Environments
- Moving Agency Applications to the Cloud with PaaS
- Reducing Risk in the Cloud
- Security in the Age of Targeted Attacks
- Air Traffic Management Transformation Report
- The Business of Cloud
- Cloud First Report
- Data Driven Cloud Series
- Disaster Resilience for America
- General Dynamics IT Enterprise Center
- Gov Cloud Minute
- Government in Technology Series
- Homeland Security Cybersecurity Market Report
- The Intersection: Where Technology Meets Transformation
- Modern Mission Critical Series
- National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
- The New IP for Federal IT
- The Social Platform Solution for the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Technology Insights
- The Cyber Security Report
- The Next Generation Cyber Security Experts
Shows & Panels
- Cloud-Driven Data Insights in Government
- Disaster Resilience for America
- F-35 Lightning II Program
- Government Perspectives on Mobility and the Cloud
- On DoD
- Pentagon Solutions
- Reducing Risk in the Cloud
- Reimagining the Next Generation of Government
- Transforming Business Operations at the Defense Department
Next few weeks critical to defining DoD in second Obama term
Friday - 11/9/2012, 5:50am EST
In some ways, a second Obama term is likely to mean some degree of continuity in the Defense Department. But the shape and size of the government's largest and most complex department over the next few years will depend to a large degree on what happens over the next few weeks.
The presidential election, whatever its outcome, was bound to have some impact on the resources DoD would have available over the next several years. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had promised to increase Defense spending to 4 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. President Obama had sketched out his plan for the next 10 years of Pentagon spending several months earlier, including $487 billion in reductions to previously-planned defense spending in compliance with the debt ceiling agreement the White House and GOP lawmakers struck in the summer of 2011.
But as part of that same agreement, another half trillion dollars' worth of cuts will hit DoD beginning Jan. 2 unless the president and lawmakers arrive at a deal to undo sequestration.
"There are a lot of question marks out there," Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters Thursday. "This is really the Congress of the United States that needs to answer the question of when sequestration will be ended. We hope to avert sequestration before it kicks in."
Those question marks make it hard to foresee what the impact of a second Obama term on DoD will truly be, said Todd Harrison, the senior fellow for Defense budget studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
George Little, press secretary, DoD
"Sequestration is really the big unknown right now. This huge fog bank really just prevents us from seeing much beyond Jan. 2," he said.
Nonetheless, Harrison said while the sequestration debate that will happen in the lame-duck session of Congress has little to do with Defense and more to do with disagreements over tax policy and entitlement spending, it's unlikely that DoD will escape the debate without further cuts beyond the $487 billion agreed to last year.
"If anything, it's just because of history. The Defense budget has gone through three cycles of spending since World War II, and it looks like we're coming off of one of the peaks in those cycles," he said. "If historical trends hold true at all, we could be looking at a 20 or 30 percent gradual reduction in spending over the next decade. Given the fact that we have a near-record federal deficit right now, it seems reasonable to assume that Defense is going to be part of that deficit reduction effort."
Gradual spending cuts preferred
That gradual spending cut would be preferable, from DoD's perspective, to the indiscriminate 10-percent, across-the-board decreases that would happen immediately next year under sequestration. Pentagon officials have consistently maintained that the problem with sequestration isn't just the amount of the cuts, it's the fact that the process robs leaders of any discretion to prioritize.
Harrison thinks with the cuts on a gradual slope, the Obama administration's defense policy in a second term will still hew closely to the strategy it rolled out in January.
Todd Harrison, senior fellow for Defense budget studies, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
"We're going to see a lot of continuity, as one would expect when the administration has not changed. We will have to see some tweaks to that strategy though if the budget is reduced either from sequestration or some other deficit reduction deal," he said. "DoD has made it pretty clear that the strategic guidance they put forth last year was tied to the budget, and they wouldn't be able to execute it without that budget. And I think that's true."
But Tom Donnelly, a defense and security policy analyst at the American Enterprise Institute believes DoD has a lot more to worry about from the outcome of the lame- duck negotiations. He predicts the big cuts contemplated under sequestration represent a ceiling, not a floor for defense spending in a second Obama term, even if Congress and the President negotiate a deal to alter the makeup of the cuts.
"Over the past year, we've pretty clearly seen that neither party made the defense budget a top priority. That was essentially reflected in the Budget Control Act and its sequestration provision," he said. "What I would really be afraid of is that the Republican leadership in the House and the White House would work out some sort of short-term or long-term budget deal that would essentially lock in the defense cuts in order to minimize the sacrifices to tax revenues and entitlements."
Even though the Pentagon's military and civilian leaders have said consistently that their new defense strategy simply can't be executed with the funding levels sequestration would leave them, Donnelly thinks that view is subject to change. "I've been doing this long enough that I can see the 'risk-o-meter' being manipulated enough to support whatever the budget is," he said.
And, Donnelly added, the defense strategy leaves enough wiggle room for DoD leaders to make more cuts in the coming years without scrapping the defense strategy and starting over.
"By reducing the standard of sufficiency to the 'one war' construct, to use the shorthand term, they'll be able to say that lower standard allows further cuts to be made," he said. "The argument will be that if all we're going to do is fight one war at a time and not get involved in any extended counterinsurgency or peacekeeping operations, we can stand to cut some more."
No 'political appetite' for large defense cuts
But Russell Rumbaugh, a former congressional staffer who was responsible for defense budgets on the Senate Budget Committee said he thinks it's highly unlikely that any political deal over deficit reduction will target DoD for abrupt or significant reductions.
"I don't see a big political appetite for large defense cuts," said Rumbaugh, who now directs the Stimson Center's budgeting for foreign affairs and defense program. "Do I think large defense cuts could be done as part of a grand bargain? Yes. But the grand bargain itself seems like a very difficult reach. The important point to remember here is that while entitlements are part of our fiscal crisis, they're not part of the fiscal cliff. Discretionary spending is at risk right now because of the debt deal, but entitlements for the most part are not."
Russell Rumbaugh, senior associate, Stimson Center
But Rumbaugh said if DoD is asked to absorb cuts on the scale implicated by sequestration, it certainly wouldn't be unprecedented for a military coming out of a war.
"If you smoothed it out and didn't take it all in the first year, it would look an awful lot like previous defense downturns. So it's not unreasonable to think that it might happen. But to get that in an agreement up front would require it to be rolled up in this grand bargain that includes entitlements and taxes," he said. "Right now it looks like we can expect defense spending to be roughly at the current level, but I'd expect that every year, it'll be drawn down just a little bit more so the President and Congress can try to free up some resources. You'll see downward pressure on defense, but not a fundamentally different level."
Aside from budget issues, another big DoD change that's speculated to happen in the coming weeks or months involves a switch in leadership at the very top. At 74, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reportedly would like to return more permanently to the northern California home from which he shuttles to Washington each week.
At the Pentagon Thursday, spokesman George Little declined to provide further fodder for those press accounts.
"There's always a temptation to engage in Washington parlor games after an election," Little said. "Secretary Panetta is focused squarely on the missions of the Department of Defense. He's not focused on his personal future."
Like much of the rest of the Obama administration's political appointees, DoD's civilian leadership has been relatively stable over the course of the president's first term.
But AEI's Donnelly said we should expect to see departures soon by not just the Defense secretary but some other high-level appointees such as military service secretaries.
"Panetta was kind of a caretaker guy anyway, and there are other people at the deputy and undersecretary level who have been there for four years and are just exhausted," he said.
CSBA's Harrison said whoever the new Defense secretary is, he or she will have a lot on his or her plate.
"The next secretary really will have an opportunity to put his or her thumbprint on the future of the department," he said. "There are a lot of major decisions that have to be made, such as following through of this pivot to the Asia-Pacific region. What does that really mean? What kind of new capabilities are we going to invest in or not invest in? A lot of those decisions are going to be made in the next couple years. The next secretary of Defense is going to have a lot of room to influence those major decisions."
Report: White House could blunt impact of sequestration - at least for a while
Who will stay and who will go in Obama's second term?
Study: DoD sequestration cuts would slam federal workforce, delay pain to contractors
Campaign advisers lay out candidates' competing defense strategies


text:
Miss Dior Cherie L'Eau
Miss Dior Cherie L'Eau
WFor Women
Please enter a valid e-mail address.
Other Brands by Christian Dior
- Aqua Fahrenheit
- Dior Addict
- Dior Addict Eau Delice
- Dior Addict Eau Sensuelle
- Dior Homme
- Dior Homme (New)
- Dior Homme Intense
- Dior Homme Sport
- Dior Star
- Diorissimo
- Dolce Vita
- Dune
- Eau Sauvage
- Eau Sauvage Extreme
- Eau Sauvage Parfum
- Escale A Parati
- Escale Aux Marquises
- Fahrenheit
- Forever And Ever Dior
- Higher
- Higher Energy
- Hypnotic Poison
- Hypnotic Poison Eau Secrete
- I Love Dior
- Jadore
- Jadore L'Absolu
- Jadore L'Eau
- Jadore L'Or
- Miss Dior (Cherie)
- Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet
- Miss Dior Classic
- Miss Dior Eau Fraiche
- Miss Dior Le Parfum
- Poison
- Pure Poison
- Design House: Christian Dior
- Fragrance Notes: Fruity notes, Caramel, Floral Notes, Gardenia, White Musk, dry woods, Bigarade Orange, Patchouli
- Year Introduced: 2009
- Recommended Use: casual
No reviews written for this product
Miss Dior Cherie L"eau is by far the best fragrance I have ever used .So clean and fresh, really uplifts my day !
Written by Kerry on April 11, 2014Read Review details ►
clean scent.....but it is very mens aftershave type scent.....had to return for original sexy dior cherie....very manly soapy fresh....if thats your thing....this is it!
Written by reina on May 24, 2012Read Review details ►
Miss Dior Cherie is a wonderful fragrance. I have been wearing it as my signature fragrance since it was introduced. Many people have stopped me along my way to ask what fragrance I am wearing. It is very versatile, sexy, intriguing. Have been told several times it is the nicest scent on a woman that there could be. I wear the body lotion as well and it really lasts a long time. Love It!
Written by slh1024 on February 15, 2012Read Review details ►
This fragrance is so beautiful.....soft, feminine, perfect blend of citrus and floral. It catches your attention but doesn't do it in a strong fashion, more of a pretty whisper! Love it!
Written by Anonymous on April 09, 2011Read Review details ►
i luv this fragrance a lottt....
Written by Daphne on July 04, 2010Read Review details ►

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Athenaeum Videos
The Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum was conceived as a place where students and faculty could gather for intellectual discourse in an intimate and relaxed setting and integrate their academic and social lives. While events are primarily for students, the Athenaeum hosts lunches, dinners, and receptions for academic classes, student organizations, and official functions of the college. The following are videos of select Athenaeum events.Page 1 2 3
Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum
Claremont McKenna College
385 E. Eighth Street
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 621-8244
Fax: (909) 621-8579
Email: email@example.com
Campus Location
385 E. Eighth Street
Claremont, CA 91711


text:
Beauty & Fashion
Beauty & Fashion
Beauty refers to a combination of qualities that pleases one's aesthetic senses (particularly sight) and gives the mind pleasure and satisfaction. Beauty is often an amalgamation of size, shape, color, form and — if concerned with a person — personality. Many things can be perceived as beautiful such as people and animals, physical geography and manmade structures, art forms, etc.
Fashion is a popular and prevailing custom or trend in styles of dress or ornament (although it can also refer to cosmetics or manner of behavior). Different fashions and their influence on beauty and status have been a reality since ancient times. Nevertheless, the fashion industry that mass-produces clothes began in the Western Hemisphere during the 19th century. After the advent of the sewing machine and the factory system near the turn of the century, the fashion industry grew exponentially and spread internationally.
Over time, popular conceptions of what constitutes human beauty and what fashion is in vogue has drastically changed. This change has in turn had a significant influence on cultures worldwide. (Photo: Shutterstock)


text:
[ Skip Main Nav ]
We're helping make your business degree more affordable — and your dream of graduating more achievable. Now, thanks to our Phoenix Scholarship Reward Program, you can earn reduced tuition as you progress through your undergraduate degree program from the School of Business.
Choose from among a broad range of undergraduate programs designed to prepare you for today's career opportunities, including accounting, management, finance, human resources, marketing — and more.
Show us your commitment to make it to graduation with your bachelor's degree, and we'll help you save as much as $10,000 along the way.
Find the undergraduate program that meets your goals and career interests. Then contact us for more details.
Associate degrees:*
Associate of Arts concentration in Accounting Fundamentals
Associate of Arts with a concentration in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism
Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB)*
BSB concentrations*:
Global Management
Human Resource Management
Project Management
Public Sector
Service Sector
Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship
Sustainable Enterprise Management
Other bachelor's degrees:
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Bachelor of Science in Management
*Maryland residents completing undergraduate degree programs will earn an emphasis rather than a concentration in a particular area of study.
For our Phoenix Scholarship Reward Program, you control your educational destiny. As long as you stay in school — and consistently work toward completing your associate or bachelor's degree as described below — you'll remain eligible for this program.
For an eligible student in an associate degree program, the minimum scholarship award is $104.17 per credit, and the maximum total award is $3,750 for the degree program — provided the student meets and maintains scholarship eligibility throughout the degree program. This reflects a maximum savings of 15.8 percent off the total maximum tuition of $23,700.
For an eligible student in a bachelor's degree program, the minimum scholarship award is $104.17 per credit, and the maximum total award is $10,000 for the degree program — provided the student meets and maintains scholarship eligibility throughout the degree program. This reflects a maximum savings of 17 percent off the total maximum tuition of $58,800.
Students who successfully complete an associate degree program and continue on to a bachelor's degree program thereafter may continue to receive scholarship benefits if they meet and maintain eligibility requirements up to a maximum of $10,000 for the bachelor's degree program.
These amounts are based on a student entering the University with zero transfer credits. Actual maximum tuition reduction amounts may vary based on such factors as the total number of credit hours taken, education modality and campus location. The scholarship award is a credit toward tuition costs only and does not include any other fees or costs of the degree program.
An Enrollment Representative who specializes in the School of Business will be happy to speak with you about your degree program options. When you're ready to enroll, he or she can also walk you through the details of this scholarship program and explain the potential savings you'll earn in your specific degree program.


text:
A Hans Strijdom High School schoolboy has been suspended from all rugby for three years after knocking a provincial referee unconscious during a match.
According to the Beeld, the incident occurred during a schoolboy game in Mookgophong earlier this month. Referee Chris de Beer (37), a member of the Blue Bulls Rugby Referee's Society, was unconscious and had to receive medical treatment from paramedics on the field.
The 17-year-old schoolboy, who is currently in matric, pleaded guilty at a disciplinary hearing this week and received a 10-year ban, of which seven years were suspended.
President of the BBRU Louis Nel said the schoolboy had been 'banned from anything associated with rugby'. He added that the committee had taken two extenuating circumstances into consideration, namely the fact that it was the boy's first offence and that his mother was seriously ill.
It's also been reported that De Beer has resigned from the referee BBRU's referee society because of his unhappiness about the outcome.


text:
Donate | Español
Articles related to breast cancer surgical procedures and recovery.
Chemotherapy & Biotherapy
Hormone Therapy
Articles related to hormone therapy treatment and side effect management.
View More
Facing a new cancer diagnosis or changing the course of your current treatment? Let our cancer nurses help you through!
Learn More


text:
There has been speculation on Friday that Pfizer might be looking to acquire Wyeth for 68 billion dollars. This morning PFE confirmed that it will indeed purchase WYE for $50.19/share - $33 in cash in addition to 0.985 shares of PFE. Despite the tough credit environment, Pfizer could still afford to get the financing to pay such a steep price since its balance sheet is conservative with over 26.8 billion in cash and equivalents for the quarter ending September 28, 2008. Furthermore pharma companies are seen as recession resistant enterprises, which makes lending to them a lower risk activity.
Various sources report that the deal could be financed through a compbination of debt and stock. Wyeth shareholders could receive up to $50.19/share in cash and Pfizer stock. Check out my recent review of Pfizer.
The major issue with Pfizer has been its inability to bring to market new blockbuster drugs, which would replace the revenues that the company would lose as a large portion of its drugs lose their patents around 2011-2012. Lipitor, which accounts for a quarter of company's sales, is losing its patent in 2011. Despite spending between $7.2 and $8.1 billion annually on R&D over the past four years, Pfizer has not come out with any blockbuster drugs to replace the revenues its will lose from its major drugs that will be losing their patents. Some analysts estimate that Pfizer will lose 50% to 70% of its revenues by 2015 if it doesn't bring new drugs to the market. Despite major cost cutting initiatives, the potential losses in revenues could potentially put the dividend payment in danger. Most recently Pfizer failed to increase its dividend to shareholders for the first time in 42 years. Right after the merger announcement, Pfizer's board also announced a 50% cut in its quarterly dividends to $0.16/share.
If Pfizer acquired Wyeth, it would be able to achieve an extra 23 billion in sales from Wyeth's portfolio of drugs. Wyeth's revenues are more diversified and unlike Pfizer the company does not rely on a single drug for a large portion of sales. Furthermore WYE has one of the best new product pipelines in the pharmaceuticals industry with over 60 news products in development. Some of the most important new drug launches include Tygacil, Torisel, Lybrel and Pristiq. Wyeth got three drugs approved last year -- antidepressant Pristiq, Relistor for constipation caused by narcotic painkillers, and the hemophilia drug Xyntha.
Some analysts are questioning whether a Pfizer/Wyeth merger is the best action for both companies, as it provides only a temporary solution to big pharma's long term problems of focusing only on a handful of major blockbuster drugs which are harder to come, instead of creating multiple smaller partnership with biotech firms in order to capitalise on a wide portfolio of other drugs with lower revenues, which could grow much faster. It definitely seems as if Pfizer has been able to acquire its way in the drug business by merging with and acquiring rivals, including Warner-Lambert in 2000 and Pharmacia in 2003, instead of actually inventing useful drugs for treatment of diseases such as heart problems. Despite the fact that these two mergers have benefited earnings and revenues, Pfizer's stock has lost more than two thirds of its value from its 2000 highs.
I view this merger very positively as a major development for Pfizer, which has spent the past few years mostly returning capital, instead of working on developing projects that would sustain current dividends and even promise increases in the future. The current acquisition will most probably lead to unchanged dividends for several years and Pfizer losing its dividend aristocrat status, as its board announced a 50% reduction in dividends. Most companies that are kicked out of the prestigious dividend index stop increasing their payments to shareholders because they are saddled with debt after acquisitions in their field. The good news is that at least the dividend payment is typically maintained in such cases. If the deal goes through, Pfizer shareholders will benefit in the near term. Without changing the company culture to actually create the drugs in house without paying a premium by acquiring rivals, Pfizer would face similar problems several years down the road, as some of Wyeth's drugs face increased generic competition in the future, as they lose their patents.
Full Disclosure: None
-Is Pfizer (PFE) a value trap for investors?
-Dividend Aristocrats in danger
-Dividend Aristocrats List for 2009
-2009 Dogs of the Dow
Monday, January 26, 2009
Pfizer's deal with Wyeth could be a blessing for shareholders, not as good for long term growth
There has been speculation on Friday that Pfizer might be looking to acquire Wyeth for 68 billion dollars. This morning PFE confirmed that it will indeed purchase WYE for $50.19/share - $33 in cash in addition to 0.985 shares of PFE. Despite the tough credit environment, Pfizer could still afford to get the financing to pay such a steep price since its balance sheet is conservative with over 26.8 billion in cash and equivalents for the quarter ending September 28, 2008. Furthermore pharma companies are seen as recession resistant enterprises, which makes lending to them a lower risk activity.
Posted by D at 5:35 AM
Labels: dividend analysis, stock analysis
7 comments:
- AnonymousJanuary 26, 2009 at 1:51 PM
It's difficult for me to see how Pfizer shareholders will benefit from this acquisition. As you correctly point out, Pfizer's share price is down over 2/3 in less than a decade, despite several similar mergers and acquisitions. Why will it be any different this time? As a dividend investor, I'm also disappointed to see the dividend cut in half. Fortunately, I had the good sense to sell last Friday.ReplyDelete
I had an order in to sell as soon as I heard the rumour. IMO this deal doesn't fit strategically with the direction PFE was heading with their portfolio of products that was announced in 2007. R&D doesn't scale well at all and while the revenues from WYE drugs will help, PFE sold their consumer health division to JNJ, so are they now going to keep WYE's?ReplyDelete
I didn't expect them to cut the dividend 50%, but this doesn't look or smell right for me so I'm willing to sit out and make this a "SHOW ME" stock.
I think the merger will actually hurt Pfizer. It looks like they were desperate and took the first deal that they found. Pfizer looks like they overpaid for Wyeth. It's a solid company but they are paying 68 billion in a recessionary environment. A few years ago they sold out of the same division for much less. The enterprise value for Wyeth is 55 billion.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 26, 2009 at 7:02 PM
What a shame. This stock no longer provides me with what I bought it for..... rising dividend income.ReplyDelete
Sell order has been placed.
PFE, see ya in 10 years if you make Mergent's again, and you have a new trustworthy CEO.
As I see it, PFE is now realizing that it is has alot of its drug patents expiring soon and there is very little that is coming in the pipeline to replace the hugely successful drugs that have retained its bottom line all this time. They are looking to into WYE because of their stock of research ready drugs that can hopefully cover their deficit once the patents run out.ReplyDelete
Thanks for all your comments. PFE's performance yesteday was pretty bearish.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 28, 2009 at 5:53 PM
what about all the poeple that bought shares at a higher price, and have seen the shares fall for years. Now we have to wait for a recovery, or a new drug, while getting half of the dividend. They had all that cash is a bad economy, to pick and choose some biotech companies to help with new drugs. Instead they are deeper into debt. Not happy about the share price or the dividend cutReplyDelete
Popular Posts
I try to assemble my dividend portfolio by mixing three distinct types of dividend growth stocks. The first group consists of higher yield...
Ben Graham is one of the most successful investors of all time. He is the father of value investing , and the mentor of super investor Warre...
After scooping up some shares in 3M (MMM) last week, I didn't expect to make more purchases this month. After all, April is usually an expe...
My favorite saying is that " The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is today ." This is why I am care...
I expect that sometime around 2018, my forward dividend income will exceed my monthly expenses . I find dividends to be a more stable and de...
There are many risks to investing . One of the major risks that could ruin a portfolio's chances of generating adequate dividends are p...
My goal is generate a sufficient stream of dividends that exceeds my expenses. In order to achieve that, I try to identify companies that h...
As many of you know, I have several brokerage accounts. In an earlier article I discussed that I do this, in order to protect my capital ...
In my investing, I try to put money to work every single month. I am extremely lucky that I have never had any material amount of debt, that...
I have been overdosing on everything about Warren Buffett in the past two-three years. This has spilled over to learning more about Warren'...


text:
Today, Epiphany, officially marks the end of the Christmas season (it's actually Christmas Day for Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian calendar), and I'm quite relieved to have it all over. Have taken down my Christmas decorations, which I always find sad... but this year there was a grim feeling of relief in doing so.
2012 went by so quickly. Maybe it was because, for me, it was an eventful year: a new car, new place, and a new job.
As far as genealogy goes, it was quite a "slow" year... for the past several months I've felt like I've exhausted online resources-- that, basically, I've found out as much information as I can from the internet, and that making any further discoveries will require actual travel.
Between having to work and being broke, travel isn't happening anytime very soon, so I've been trying to walk away from genealogy a bit and concentrate on other things.
So what I'm hoping for in 2013 is to be able to break down some of the brick walls in my family tree, particularly regarding my more recent ancestors. My goal is to fill in my family tree up to third great-grandparents, but that's proving difficult on my father's side; his father was Jewish, and I can currently only go back to my father's paternal grandparents. With Jewish vital records from the old country being practically non-existent, it's doubtful that I will ever be able to go back any further.
My paternal grandmother's Irish ancestry likewise stops at Ellis Island; good luck trying to trace Fitzgeralds and Ryans in Ireland!
On this side, I have my great-grandmother, Mary Elizabeth FITZGERALD (23 May 1879- 15 Mar 1954), as the daughter of Thomas FITZGERALD and Rose KILEY... but I can't find a birth record for Mary, or a marriage record for her parents (there is one that might be theirs, but this Rose's maiden name is listed as Connolly, not Kiley). So basically, I can't be sure of Mary's parents names or their parents' names. If I could find Mary's birth record, it would be a huge help.
I would also like to actually be able to obtain some photos of my ancestors; I don't have very many. There used to be a few, but disappeared in a move; apparently, they might have gotten sent to my sister, who lives away. But I've been asking her for two years to check and to send them to me if she has them, and she never does.
I've really gotten to hate having to depend on other people to send me stuff, because seldom do they follow through. Meanwhile, I've sent photos and records to distant cousins I found online, and sometimes never even got a "thank you."
Genealogy can be frustrating.
Anyway, here's hoping for happy, healthy, and genealogical-discovery-filled new year!


text:
In 1980, Alberto Salazar got a sore knee. He'd been training for the 10,000m Olympic trials, and developed an iliotibial band problem that just wouldn't go away. So, he did what many runners are taught to do when injured. He jumped in the pool. For two months, swimming was his primary activity, combined with a bit of cycling. He swam so much that he nearly gave himself an overuse injury from that.
When the knee finally improved, he had less than a month before the trials. Nevertheless, he came out of the water to snag a third-place finish and a spot on the team. Due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the team never went to the games, held that year in Moscow, but Salazar's training had worked. "It was obvious that the cross-training, all of that swimming, had really retained a high level of fitness," he said.
Salazar's is the type of story that has long sent wounded runners into the pool or onto exercise bikes or stair climbers. Not only does active rehab preserve fitness but, doctors increasingly say, it appears to speed healing.
Yet, most runners, having healed the injury, return to a single-minded love affair with running. While monogamy is generally regarded as a good thing in marriage, there are growing indications it may not be as beneficial in sports.
There are at least three major benefits to cross-training, even when you're not injured. Kelly Liljeblad is a Colorado-based athlete and online coach (ontrackhealth.net) who sports a 2:32:27 marathon PR and was third in last year's USATF 10-mile championship. Running is her primary sport, but a few years ago, she took up cross-training to combat a string of injuries and subsequently became a professional triathlete.
Like many top runners, she doesn't believe that biking and swimming can truly replace running training. But they can help you get more bang from your run-training buck. "Biking or swimming can make you stronger and balance your body out," she says, "so you [can] handle a higher workload with less injury risk. You stay healthier, so you probably can handle more mileage and intensity in your running."
Cross-training is also useful for those who can't put in elite-level mileage. Pete Pfitzinger advocates it in Advanced Marathoning, noting that those who can't consistently reach the level of weekly running mileage they'd like should consider incorporating some form of aerobic cross-training into their training programs.
Elite coach Brad Hudson (whose trainees include 2008 Olympic marathoner Dathan Ritzenhein) agrees. "I'm a strong believer that you've got to run to be a good runner," he says. "But not everybody can put in elite mileage. It comes down to what you can absorb." Aerobic cross-training can therefore be used on recovery days, he says, to add volume to your program without the pounding that comes with additional running. "More training is good, for the most part." In other words, if it's a choice between: (a) running too much and risking injury; (b) taking the day off; or (c) impact-free aerobic cross-training, the best choice for most serious runners is "c."
Cross-training is also of benefit for masters runners, and the higher up the age ladder you go, the more important it becomes. That's because age diminishes the shock-absorbing characteristics of your muscles, says South African exercise physiologist Timothy Noakes. Age also slows muscular recovery after hard training, requiring even the most competitive runners to add extra recovery days to their schedule.
But a lot of runners resist it. In one of the more personal sections of his classic, Lore of Running, Noakes talks of coming to grips with the need to temper his running with cross-training as his body aged – his own battle with what he calls the "committed runners' prejudice against any activity other than running."
With time he came to enjoy other sports for their own sake, especially bicycling. One of that sport's great advantages, he found, is that it increases the range of terrain you can explore.
Cross-training can be taken like medicine, or in the spirit of adventure. Here are several ways in which you can experiment with it, some more gentle and impact-free than others.
Playing the Field
Real-world advice on cross-training as a regular part of your routine
In 1980, Alberto Salazar got a sore knee. He'd been training for the 10,000m Olympic trials, and developed an iliotibial band problem that just wouldn't go away. So, he did what many runners are taught to do when injured. He jumped in the pool. For two months, swimming was his primary activity, combined with a bit of cycling. He swam so much that he nearly gave himself an overuse injury from that.


text:
Just a Consumer!
- +
- Stainless Steel is the way to go for durable wear and tear. I have bought other products and have never had a problem with a Year or ten being able to read them.
- −
- Reviewer left no comment
Published on: May 12 2015
It looks like you are shopping from outside of the US and Canada. To help us customize your shopping experience, please tell us where you will be shipping your order.
I'm shipping to
Learn more about the dogIDs International Shipping Policies.
Product ID: DSC-TG
Our primary delivery methods are US Postal Service, FedEx and UPS. Orders ship based on their estimated production times, which are listed on the product's page. We will send you an email notification with tracking information once your order is shipped. Then you can go to the carrier's order tracking page to check on the status of your shipment.More Shipping Info
If for some reason you are not satisfied with the product you receive, contact us by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com or calling 800-720-8247. We will help you with each step of your return. Our products ship from various locations, so be sure to contact us before returning any items. We will either replace the product at no charge or give you a refund. Return shipping costs are your responsibility.More Info
We use the latest fiber laser technology to engrave our tags. Many pet tag manufacturers use lower power CO2 laser engravers that do not actually engrave the metal but rather mark or laser bond on the metal. This type of laser marking does leave a clean dark mark but will eventually be illegible as the metal from the tag wears down. We at dogIDs use a high power fiber laser to engrave our tags which actually vaporizes and removes the metal so it is actually engraving instead of marking or laser bonding. This allows us to engrave deeply into the metal with pristine detail and a nice contrasting engrave color...Excellent looks with a true engrave that will NEVER wear off of your dog's tag. Engraving guaranteed for life...PERIOD!Learn more about our free engraving
At dogIDs, our mission is to support and improve the health and safety of furry friends across the world, and give them the unconditional love that they provide us on a daily basis. Each day, we focus on providing high quality, personalized dog products and helpful blog posts to help you and your pet.Learn More
Estimated Production Time: 1-2 Business Days
Disc Dog ID Tags
These round Disc Dog ID Tags are a perfect way to keep your dog identified without all the extra flair. With your choice of 2 sizes and 4 high quality materials, you are sure to find something that will work for any pet. The highlight of these tags is their engraving potential. With the ability to add 4 lines of up to 15 characters per side, you have tons of room to fill with important information. You can even choose your favorite font! So, keep your dog safe and easily identifiable with these high quality engraved hang tags.
Product Highlights:
Available Sizes:
Available Metal Types:
All engraving is free and guaranteed for the life of your pet!


text:
December 19, 2012
University announces College of Sciences leadership changes
Provost Larry Long has named Dr. Ben Bruner, assistant professor of biology, and Dr. Ron Smith, assistant professor of mathematics, chairs of their respective departments effective June 1, 2013.
Bruner replaces Dr. Mike Plummer, who agreed to serve as biology department chair until the end of the 2012-13 school year. Bruner, a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University, came to Harding in 2008. He has a Ph.D. from University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; his research focused in the area of immunopathology.
"Ben Bruner is a bright, young leader who has the potential to continue the good work already going on in the biology department and to advance those programs further," Long said. "In the context of our growth at both the undergraduate and professional levels in health sciences, Bruner's leadership will be instrumental to our work."
Smith, who has served in the mathematics department since 2007, will replace Dr. Steve Smith, who is stepping down from the position after 27 years at the conclusion of the spring 2013 semester. Ron Smith came to Harding in 2005 to serve as secondary math specialist in the Cannon-Clary College of Education. In 2012, he completed his doctorate in mathematics education at University of Tennessee.
"Ron Smith is a solid teacher and a committed professional in the field of mathematics education," Long said. "He brings the skills and experience that will allow him to do a very good job as chair of the mathematics department. I look forward to working with him in that capacity."


text:
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Animalistic or Human Nature? Or are Both the Same?
All my life, I knew I was a lesbian. At the age of four years old, I fantasized about Marie Osmond. Shut up—I fantasized about her babysitting me or something, and maybe a little kiss here and there. I really didn't know what sex was, but I knew I woke up shaking and quivering at the age of four not knowing what took place. Call it animalistic, call it human nature, or call me a heathen straight from hell---this is what happened at my very early age.
Don't psychoanalyze me or even entertain the thought of child molestation, because that wasn't the case. I was never touched by an adult 'in that way'. I was always taken care of in a parental type of loving way.
"Oh you must have blocked it out." Oh give me a break. The only thing I blocked out were the intense orgasms brewing inside me when I was a little tyke running-a-muck. (Or at least tried to anyway.)
Getting back to 'knowing' I was born like this… I used to watch television thinking how beautiful the women were, and how all men seemed to look alike in soap operas, as I sat home playing, while my mother took care of me. The men always had that part on the side of their hair, all wearing the same suits (so it appeared) and all had the general mannerisms. The women were pretty, and their hairstyles were all unique and done up so beautifully. I was drawn to them physically, and emotionally I felt the need to be around women for the nurturing aspect of it.
"Well what made you decide you were gay at the age of nineteen?" People ask me. I didn't decide to "be gay", I was always gay. I decided to come out of the closet and be comfortable with myself, instead of constantly trying to hide my feelings. It was like being in jail.
At the age of eight years old, I was caught making out with a friend who lived near me. My mother quickly shut the door and later explained that I should never do that again.
"But we were playing house, ma!"
"Well it's not normal and you're way too young to be kissing anyone—especially another girl. It's not natural!" My mother said, as she was ready to start dialing up her gossipy friends for some much needed advice.
Scientifically speaking, if it isn't a gene, then what explains all these sexual feelings and desires I had towards women at the age of four years old and on? I never was exposed to any pornographic material, nor did I fantasize about things I've seen that weren't suited for my young eyes.
Some of my closest friends tell me they have never masturbated until reaching a certain age in their twenties. Some even say that they have never experienced an orgasm before. Do I believe them? Sure I do. Why wouldn't I? I totally believe that everyone is born differently than another; unique in their traits, the way they were built and designed for their purpose in life.
Here's where my problem comes in. Now, I dated men before. I have never been hurt by a man—ever. I never had a bad experience with a guy. A lot of people will say, "Oh, well she probably was really hurt by some man, which led her to this lesbian lifestyle." Wrong. The men in my life were always respectful towards me and treated me nicely.
I think men are beautiful. Some I actually have to turn my head and say, "Wow! He's hot!" I'm human. It's normal to appreciate the beauty of any gender, in my opinion.
"Oh well you're going to hell for being a homosexual! Repent and give up your sinful nature!!!" Freaky radical Christian bible thumpin, holy rollin', holier than thou nutjobs will spew out to me.
God has a purpose for everyone. I was born gay. I know I was. I have proof – just from my life alone. I know God loves me, He accepts me 'as is'. Unconditional love bypasses the flaws of sin; and imperfection. It overcomes the idiosyncrasies of human nature; the flaws of life that come to play each and every single day. To me, this is why Jesus died for us on the cross. God knew, that we were all going to be imperfect. If my parents can accept me, what makes anyone think that God can't?
I have some making remarks about the book I published. The people making these 'remarks' have not even read my book, but are they're already bashing it. My book is not only for the gay and lesbian community, but it deals with relationship issues, for straight and gay people. It deals with a break up that I recovered from—through prayer. It mainly focuses on the miracles that God places in your life, if you make Him the person you lean on the most. It's mostly about God…not about homosexuality. It's foundation is unconditional love, and how prayer works through the rough patches. It explains how to pray, and how to listen as well; to be aware of the small messages that come through from God.
Maybe my purpose on earth was to be a lesbian, who has a love for Christ; to demonstrate that even as sinners, we are free to come to Him… Religion has placed a bad stigma on those who are imperfect. And who are the people in the world who are imperfect? ALL OF US. We all fall short.
You can debate me until you're blue in the face that God doesn't love me, or God doesn't accept me. I know the truth—which is God's unconditional love…for me…and for you.
Now religion put aside for those who are atheist or believe in another God, we have to start focusing on loving ourselves and treating ourselves with the most utmost respect. Why are we relying on these holy rolling freaks to decide what's good for us? Oh, they're saving our souls and making sure we go to heaven. To tell you the truth, these people don't give a rat's ass about your destiny, once the afterlife has opened its doors for you. These people want some sort of reward—possibly a shiny gold halo or a pair of wings they've been wanting from heaven's Macy's department.
Give me a break. These people are in for themselves---and themselves only. They're selfish, judgmental and full of self-righteousness. Are these the people you truly want to take advice from? Or do you want to take advice from someone who relates to you; someone who is imperfect---a human---who will understand and have compassion for whatever circumstance you are going through?
People who criticize your life are the ones that are unhappy with their own. They have nothing better to do than to judge every single sinful seed that falls off your 'fruitful' or 'fruitless' tree and crush it with all their might. Who's to even say that your tree isn't 'fruitful'? Just because you are without child or not serving some man who calls himself a 'husband', when he's actually a self-serving bigot with no desire but to control you?
Like I said, don't judge a book by its cover, and especially mine. And I speak to those who have already criticized my book, without opening one page. It's hypocrisy and judgments in its finest form.
I realize I have a lot of straight readers out there. But I am sure that you have either a family member, or a friend who is living a homosexual lifestyle. The best thing you can do for them is to accept how they are, because they're not going to change just because someone says it's wrong. God will convict people's heart, if He feels this is not the path that should have been taken. Don't we trust God anymore? I certainly do, and I know I have a mission out there to tell people suffering through the painful bigotry that God loves you no matter what. God is there for you—waiting for you to come to Him.
Let people of hatred mumble and grumble about your lifestyle. Let them judge you, while you live a life of peace and happiness. Let them say whatever it is that they want to, for you know in your heart where you stand, and where you stand with God. That's the most important thing to remember.
It may not even be homosexuality that you're dealing with. Maybe it's an addiction. Do you think God hates you just because you have an addiction with alcohol, drugs or sex? God loves all His children—He says so Himself.
Be calm, be still…and let God handle the rest.
82 comments:
- Bossy♥'s YOU said...
I for one honeslty beilve people are born gay. I knew form the time I was tot when I dreamed about marrying "ponch" from Chips that was wasnt.
Now my best friend on the other hand, had dreams of marrying "Janet" from Three's company.
God loves us all, thats the whole purpose of HIM being God and all..
Rock on my gay little hottie you:)
luv ya Deb;)
- ~Deb said...
Janet!!! hahahaa....I had a thing for Chrissie! You're too funny!
- limpy99 said...
I'm sure there were lots of valid and important point in here, and that as usual you presented a well-written, thought provoking argument, but I lost everything after Marie Osmond.
- The Stevo in H-Town said...
I forgot...which one wuz Donnie?
- ~Deb said...
Come on!!! I was four years old and Marie Osmond wasn't that bad looking back then... Really... I have much better taste in women now...(I think?)
- Taylor said...
Great post Deb!!!
Who the heck is Marie Osmond? An actress or something???? *googles it*
Hmmm... she's OK-looking. I prefer modern chicks, Kiera Knightly for example even if she stole my man. Damn it all! Why did she get to kiss Johnny Depp though?! Johnny is mine... MINEE!!!! Especially when he's in Jack Sparrow form. MINE!
sorry... bit off topic. hehe.
Good post.
LOVE *hug*
- ~Deb said...
For the love of God, this was back in 1978!!!! Come on now!
- grace said...
You are exactly right!!! God loves you and all of us exactly as we are....and He indeed did design you to be the unique individual that you are. Yeah...I believe that homosexuality is not God's plan or design for us...BUT...neither are alot of other things that we approve of or are a part of in the Christian culture that you and I share. Your relationship with God belongs to YOU, not me...and I for one do trust Him to lead and guide you in your journey. I have no condemnation for you. I've already told you my belief, 'nuff said. Oh...and I will refer to you as gay, not homosexual and I will respect your civil right to form a union with your partner and enjoy benefits as such. I'm kind of an "odd duck" in the Christian world....oh well. OH...and...just so you know, I'm a sinner, always have been, always will be. As I continue to grow in Christ, He continues to reveal things to me that I need to let go of...but, the reality of the situation is that I'm not going to be perfect in this age. All I can do is continue to put my hope in Christ and do my best to love others as He does. You didn't ask for my advice...but...if you are angry with "Christian" folks who don't treat you with love and respect, this is your struggle right now. And you know (i feel i'm sort of preaching to the choir here) that the best thing for you to do is to pray for them and to ask Christ to help you love them even if they don't demonstrate love towards you.
I'll stop now.
- ~Deb said...
No Grace, don't stop---that was the best advice you could have given me...or anyone! Thank you!!! I appreciate your thoughts and beliefs.
- luckysevn said...
~deb, grace is so right - God has told us that doing his work would not be easy, and they we would face persecution because of it... you, my friend, are probably facing a little more than most of us have to in order to bring others to Christ, but you're doing a commendable job!
My cousin is going through this right now - he won't come out b/c he feels his family will be crushed (for religious reasons). He seems to be forgetting that his uncle has been out for YEARS and his family accepts him... suppressing this has given him nothing but a bad case of depression, OCD, and a desire to avoid church like the plague. What a shame...
- TrappedInColorado said...
You say "Unconditional love bypasses the flaws of sin; and imperfection. It overcomes the idiosyncrasies of human nature; the flaws of life that come to play each and every single day." You make it sound like being gay is a sin, imperfection, and/or a flaw of life. I know you did not mean that so just publish a correction and all will be fine. :)
BTW: See where Kettle One came in last at the World Vodka competition in Sweden? Bummer for you. ;)
- Rev. Smokin Steve said...
Marie Osmond?
I would have nailed her too.
- J R Estelle said...
This paragraph right here is something some of my friends can't grasp, because I'm a lesbian and therefore, MUST hate men.
I think men are beautiful. Some I actually have to turn my head and say, "Wow! He's hot!" I'm human. It's normal to appreciate the beauty of any gender, in my opinion.
I totally agree. And I think being a homosexual is a compounded effort of nature and nuture working as one. I might even go out on a limb and say that it's part of a plan to control population in a safe, humane way.
- Madelene Rose said...
What worries me and upsets me is some societies and religions - such as mine... do not, will not and shant accept me. I don't know where to turn to tell you the truth. Half the time, u dont find anyone; most are closet. People get jailed if they come out, persecuted and shunned. their lives literally are ova.. You're lucky to be where you are and with people who accept you :)
- samuru999 said...
I just found out recently my nephew is gay. I had an idea he
was... but noone in his family
talked about it.
I am so very proud of him!
He has a wonderful life with a
partner now.
He has always been my favorite
nephew amongst 4 other nephews.
His family supports him totally, and that makes me so happy...
as my brother had a little difficult time with it for a while.
Of-course my nephew knew he was
gay since he was a young boy.
Have a great day!
- Casually Me said...
Why would people be upset that you are happy? Are these unhappy people that are jealous? Nothing wrong with being gay. Nothing wrong with being merry. Ok, playing it's a terrible thing. Kidding again. When a good looking woman marries an ugly guy, do people tell her she could have done better? When a fat chick marries a doctor, do people tell him he should have went for the supermodel? People, as a rule, are idiots. If you are happy, then fork the rest of them. No one has the right to say what you can do with a consenting adult. Nope, not even the corrupt politicians with misstresses and hookers that are unfaithful to their wives, nope not even those pious guys.
- dreamer said...
my gay odyssey
- JJ said...
I think we're finally getting to the point where we realize it's not a choice anymore than being hetero is.
I had serious issues with Marie Osmand, too, but it wasn't until I saw Bat Girl on TV that I understood what my purpose in life was.
No, not to wear a cape.
- Geek said...
Thank you.
- ~Dawn said...
Let people of hatred mumble and grumble about your lifestyle. Let them judge you, while you live a life of peace and happiness. Let them say whatever it is that they want to, for you know in your heart where you stand, and where you stand with God. That's the most important thing to remember
And they all said, "Amen!"
- Taylor said...
That lady, Marie Osmond looks like this chick on a build board in the city... even though it's not.
- The Stevo in H-Town said...
Which one wuz Marie?...
- Romeo Jensen said...
First off... who the heck is Marie Osmond???
okay... the lesbien 'choice' matter!
I totally get this... I mean... I didn't choose to be this incredibly good looking... well hung... stud muffin that I am... I just always ways!
Now about this 'inside lesbien baseball' if you will... So like... when you're doing it... how do you know which one of you is supposed to 'Fake It' like ALL Hetro-sexual women do?
Just curious?
Women don't fake it when they are touched in the right spot.... hehe
- Åsa said...
Deb! As always you put things well. I recently heard that studies have shown that being gay is not a choice: it's something in the brain that makes people gay or straight. And for all you religious people out there who believe God created man: this is God's creation. To quote an 80ies poster: not all men are created equal. (only the poster had a very nice looking, half naked man on it and has nothing to do with this post). And I've said it before: it's hard enough to find someone to love: let people be happy when they do find someone. Why are some so involved in other people's life styles anyway? There's war, global warming and child molesters out there: spend some of that energy on those issues instead.
- ~Deb said...
Lucky: Thank you. It's sad when family members will shun one another just because someone came out of the closet. To me—this is not a sign of unconditional love. "I will love you if you're straight." ←-Conditional.
Trapped: In the bible, everything is a sin. From eating shellfish, to sitting on a couch with a woman who is menstruating to marrying a single woman who had a divorce.
Smokin' Steve: She was quite a looker---and on top of that, she never aged! She's still beautiful, however, my taste in women have now changed of course. She was hot back then, right?
J r estaelle: A lot of people get confused with the concept of lesbians and them hating men. I can only speak for myself---but I love men. Where would we be without them? I think they are beautiful and so interesting---many of them! I love all the men in my life, and I do not regret for one minute being with my ex-boyfriends in the past. I just couldn't love them the way they needed to be loved. When lesbians start manhating---it's definitely a sign that they've been hurt before or they have some sort of issue with them. It's sad really.
Madelene Rose: Over where you live Madelene, it is much worse! I couldn't imagine. Now tell me if I'm wrong, but isn't the death penalty an option for being a homosexual over where you are? I'd be hiding in the closet myself. Sorry you have to go through that. How do you feel about your region being so strict on it? And do you ever have relations with women---or have a girlfriend there?
Samuru: He's very fortunate to have such a supportive family. That's terrific. That--------is unconditional love right there! Thanks for sharing that!
Casually: People who harp on homosexuals obviously have some sort of 'issue' with it themselves. For instance, there is one person who continually focuses on issues of homosexuality and how God will punish us all, however, she was once a lesbian herself. So does this make her a hypocrite? Or does this mean she is still living in the past---or does this person simply have too much hatred to look past the person and who they really are…not just their sexuality?
Dreamer: ?
JJ: Hey, batgirl was one hot mama! But I'm sure you would have looked fabulous in a cape. ;)
Geek: Welcome. (For wha?)
~Dawn: I do let them…I also like to tell my views too, because sometimes people get the wrong impression and outlook on how we really are; leaving us with a bad name. Thanks Dawn.
Taylor: Hey girl! Never seen it …
Stevo: Don't make me smack ya! ;)
Romey: Oh, …..WAY past your time buddy. That's only because I'm seasoned…as you put it… (ha) Women only fake it when something's not going ~right~ OR taking too long. I suppose nobody faked it with you…since you don't take that long…so I have heard…(mua ha ha)
~Dawn: **G** You are so right!
Asa: Studies did show that, but it's still scientifically not proven "at this point". I do still believe that we were born with this regardless of what science or research says. And, some people think that we are just as bad as child molesters and rapists. That's the scary part.
- Åsa said...
How can someone compare child molesters and rapists with consenting adults?! That's beyond me.
- ~Deb said...
They think that all homosexuals are 'perverts'---even ones who have been together more than a decade...and are monogomous. They feel that two people of the same gender is not natural---the same as incest, the same as bestiality and the same as any other disturbing act. They're radical Christians who are close-minded and feel that God is all about putting people to death...when in fact, God is all about love, and forgiveness.
- normiekins said...
oh my...alll these younging's not knowing who marie osmond is....YIKES....i'm hetero and i've always had a crush on Renee Russo....! God loves ya Deb!
- ~Deb said...
Who's Renee Russo?
- say it hot said...
Capitol post Deb!
I can also provide proof that you are a lesbian...I've seen you in action and TRUST ME. You're no heterosexual.
As far as whether or not it is a choice to be gay, I can only speak for myself.
In my family there are at least 6 gay peeps. Me, my brother, my Dad, 2 cousins, an uncle - all except for the uncle come from one side of the family.
There is obviously a gene in my big, fat italian, gay family.
I love them, I love it, I love your blog and I love ya.
*cops a feel*
- ~Deb said...
*Looks up at Amy with a 'one eyebrow up look'...*
Your family is definitely proof of this gene! You have a terrifc, loving family who absolutely adores you. You're very fortunate.
Seen me in action, huh? ;)
- Bossy♥'s YOU said...
just stoppin by to wish my fav hot lesbian a happy weekend:)
- Mark said...
Let me ask you, Which do you feel is the foundation for homosexual acts, good or evil? If you could give me reasons with examples, for your answers, it would be appreciated.
- ~Deb said...
Hey Bossy! Have a terrific weekend too! Been hectic here today--will catch up with you this weekend!
Mark, which do you feel is the foundation of heterosexual acts? All are the same if before marriage, right? It's all a sin. Premarrital sex is a sin period. How many people do this? How many people marry other people who have had a divorce in the past? That's a sin too. Do you really feel that God is going to throw all His children into hell? I certainly don't believe so, and I believe that God said, "Oh wow, this is way too much for the humans to handle. Jesus! Go down and save them!" He loved us that much! Thanks for your comment. I hope that helps.
- Mark said...
again Deb, please answer my question.
Which do you feel is the foundation for homosexual acts, good or evil? If you could give me reasons with examples, for your answers, it would be appreciated
and to answer your question: Good.
- jali said...
Another great post!
I remember squeezing my legs together to get that "good feeling" when I was about 8 or 9 years old.
My first kiss was this very agressive very big girl from my block - Yuck!!! I kind of avoided her after that.
My first crush was on the cartoon character. "TopCat" (I was odd - it's true)
I'm hetero, but I've been aroused when watching lesbian porn with my partner or reading lesbian porn. I don't consider myself bi-curious.
I'm not a Christian, but I play one on TV.
I think this is a TMI response, but I'm going to leave it as is.
- Mark said...
and by acts, I mean the sexual acts.
- JD said...
i'll never forget the great comments you've left on my blog, so for that alone, i'll give you the benefit of the doubt anytime. love your blog and the way you write, you go girl. ;)
- ~Deb said...
Mark, to me, being intimate with someone you love is a 'good' thing. I hope that answers your question. Thanks again for stopping by.
Jali, a cartoon? (hehe) That's cute. My first kiss was from a very big intimidating girl too...so I can relate. I was eight years old. Yikes!
Jd, thank you. You know, just because someone is Christian does not mean they have to 'act' holier than thou. It's fake and I wonder what the real person acts like behind closed doors. I'm an open book---and I don't believe in 'faking' my personality. Thus---my comments on your blog. ;)
- Madelene Rose said...
Actually, death is not the accurate legal procedure. It is jail time and psychological treatment. It's hard, cuz you never find anyone and the ones you might like aren't so... Blah. I dated a man before, and for years and I do not like him very much. AnywayI feel that it getting easier for us since we have many, more than you think and Americans who work here accept us. Few people from the region do but mostly we're either pitied or hated.
Anyway, its hard to find anyone u love and get along with regardless of your gender or preference. Although, I find men easy to get since I am a bit of a flirt and they come like a... stampede of elephants. *sigh*
I'm not saying i won't date a guy or marry one because I was with one for yrs and it was good at times. IDENTITY CRISIS MADDIE!
Will you put me out of my misery and email me your sign? I will reply on your love life. Hurry! STAT! LOL
Me - Single and not looking anymore. I'm too busy at the moment.
- Big Mama said...
Hey ~deb I totally and wholeheartedly agree with everything you said! AMEN! I didn't choose to be hetero, I didn't just wake up one day and decide that I love the males... Nope, I was just born that way. I always knew, ever since I was caught kissing Kevin Borden in the corner of the kindergarten classroom behind the building blocks. I figure it has to be the same regardless of gender preference. You have always been one of my fav writers. (((((~deb)))))<---hugs
- Mark said...
Deb says,
Mark, to me, being intimate with someone you love is a 'good' thing. I hope that answers your question. Thanks again for stopping by.
It does not answer my question. Why won't you answer?
Again..Which do you feel is the foundation for homosexual acts, good or evil? If you could give me reasons with examples, for your answers, it would be appreciated. By 'acts' I mean the sexual acts.
- Mark said...
Deb, take your own advice Be calm, be still…and let God handle the rest.
now please, your an author, you write books to Help people for heavens sake! it ain't that hard a question.
Which do you feel is the foundation for homosexual acts, good or evil? If you could give me reasons with examples, for your answers, it would be appreciated. By 'acts' I mean the sexual acts.
at lest one?
- Tai said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- Tai said...
If I may be so bold, Mark...your question isn't actually all that clear (at least not to me).
How can you give 'reasons with examples' to your question?
If one says, "I feel the foundation for homosexual acts (sexual acts) is GOOD" how does one then continue on with examples?
I'm sure "Because it feels nice" won't suffice.
What are you looking for? Biblical reasoning perhaps?
- Mark said...
perhaps you are on to something.
examples would be nice, it feels nice could apply to a child molestor, a 'sheep lover' etc.. but Deb is not!
Again, nothing hard, just a heart felt answer.
Again, Which do you feel is the foundation for homosexual acts, good or evil? By acts, I mean the sexual act. If you could give me reasons with examples, it would be appreciated. At lest one example should not be that hard for Deb an author of a book that helps people grow closer to God, I would think.
- Burfica said...
I couldn't agree more. As long as we try to be good people, and live the best possible life we can. Making choices for the good, and loving, then god knows and it all comes out in the end. No matter your color, gender, preference, or religion.
It's all up to him anyway, why do idiots try to judge and say it's what god wants??? I want proof that he told them dirrectly.
- Mark said...
proof? Do you actually think an all knowing God would give us His Holy word (Bible) to confuse us about His boundaries for our lives? If His authority is not contained in the Bible, then where is it?
Those idiots you speak of...is it possible they have studied the validity of the Bible,
prayed, and submitted to His will and not their own a possibility? I am very educated, I ask questions, and I will die knowing the truth my friend. The truth has Nothing to do with what's in my earthly heart and fleshly desires. If it was found there, the death of Christ would be a joke! worthless! and meaningless!
- Mark said...
Again, nothing hard, just a heart felt answer.
Which do you feel is the foundation for homosexual acts, good or evil? By acts, I mean the sexual act. If you could give me reasons with examples, it would be appreciated. At lest one example should not be that hard for an author of a book that helps people grow closer to God, I would think.
- say it hot said...
Mark, why are you fixated on the sexual aspect of homosexuality?
The foundation of homo and hetero sex is love. Love is good. It is a gift.
If you need reasons and examples of why love is good, then I am sad for you because you must be a very lonely person.
- As always... Rachael said...
How is it that so many people don't know who Marie Osmond is??? She's an icon of the 70s!!!
- SmileDragon said...
Wow, what a wonderful post.
- ~Deb said...
Mark, here's what I believe… Since almost everything we do is practically a sin, God said, "Wow, my children can't handle all of this on their own…I'm going to give them my son, so He can save them."
I believe that Jesus paid the price in "full". God loved us that much. I accept that.
Now, two people who love one another with all their hearts, and who want to share their love in a physical way is a beautiful thing. This is not "evil" in my beliefs. What may be considered 'bad' or 'unhealthy' is being promiscuous and spreading disease; hurting yourself as well as others.
Being with a partner monogamously, in a loving relationship is "good". How can that be wrong?
Let me ask you this… Why do most radical Christians rush over to the sexual aspect of a homosexual relationship? I haven't even stated that my partner and I even have sex. So what makes you think we engage in sexual activities? (Trying to make a point here.) Relationships are not based on sex…Sex is just a bonus. But radical Christians will rush over immediately "assuming" things. In any case, what I am doing, and what other couples are doing behind closed doors should be their business only.
Do you think God is going to throw every person into the depths of hell? Think about this… What about a single woman marrying a divorced man? That's a sin. What about premarital sex? That's a sin. What about looking at a woman in a sexual or arousing way? (That's considered the SAME as having sex with her in the biblical sense.) That's a sin. How about gossiping? What about a white lie or stretching the truth? Have you ever looked at another person's Mercedes and thought, "I wish I had that", and fussed over who makes more money? Have you ever said, "Oh my GAWD!!!" ????? Using the Lord's name in vain is in the ten commandments. Get this----homosexuality is not. But---this is why God gave us Jesus. Will you accept that? Jesus paid the FULL PRICE! How great is that??? I'm so grateful that God loved us so much, that He gave His only son to save us from our physical nature beating up our souls. Now we can rest.
So my answer is… It is "good"…because Jesus said so.
Thank you everyone for your comments...and reading my post.
- ~Deb said...
P.S. Sin is constant. We can repent and repent and repent. Sin will keep on and keep on and keep on as long as we are residing in our physical bodies. Jesus took that burden away.
- Mark said...
Again, Which do you feel is the foundation for homosexual acts, good or evil? By acts, I mean the sexual act. If you could give me reasons with examples, it would be appreciated.
Hi there say it hot, thanks for your thoughts. Love is also the reason given by child molestors, they really think they are loveing the child. Perhaps you should define love and maybe we will have agreement.
I am not fixated on any acts, I just would like Deb to answer a very simple question.
Which do you feel is the foundation for homosexual acts, good or evil? By acts, I mean the sexual act. If you could give me reasons with examples, it would be appreciated. At lest one example should not be that hard for an author of a book that helps people grow closer to God, I would think.
- ~Deb said...
You gave me a multiple choice question. I have answered you. If you cannot understand that, then maybe I should type a little slower for you, Mark?
- Mark said...
Thanks Deb,
you say Good and becuase Jesus said so. Where did he say so?
You also did not Provide One example. Nor did I assume you have sex.
You say God said"Wow, my children can't handle all of this on their own…I'm going to give them my son, so He can save them."
So you think God says 'WOW' and was surprised at something? An All Knowing, Almighty God..surprised? Where on earth do get or make such an absurd conclusion? no offense.
It is not uncommon for people like you Deb who realize they cannot turn to the real God (Bible), while living in a bad way, to make up a god that allows you to do what it is you want to do. Your god is in Your image. Your god is an imitation god, who condones imitation acts..(homosexual acts)
Heterosexual sex inside of a marriage can be blessed by God.
There is nothing dirty or shameful about sex that is blessed. You don't have to flaunt it in public, there is nothing dirty or shameful about it.
That is why you Deb could not answer my question with One reason or One example.
I believe you unknowingly perhaps are making a mockery of the death and suffering of Christ for your sins, when you ignore sin, minimize sin, and act no differently than before you knew Christ and what He did for you. It makes you Deb a false convert, and without Christ. I pray you will actually study God's word and rejoice in the blood of Christ. You can't be happy with the cleanising Blood of Christ, if you think you are good. It's like someone paying a $1.00 parking fine for you..big deal right?
Christ died for you, becuase it was You and I that deserved to Die! I have sinned all those things you mentioned! I am gulity and deserve death in God's eyes!
God's laws should convict your heart and have you dropping to your knees and crawling to the cross of Christ. What you do when you get to the cross, is up to you!
In addition, the Bible teaches us that God is not concerned with how well your earthly life is, i.e. Job, Money, Sex, Nice House, Car, Worldly Happiness and Pleasures etc...He is concerned about your Eternity, which will be spent with Him (Heaven) or Without Him (Hell!). Yes I said Hell. Imagine the apostle Paul, beaten, chained, bloody, and rejoicing in Christ! That's exactly what he did. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me"NASB.
Unlike many others at this point in their lives, I will beg God to forgive me and accept the blood of Christ as payment for my sins. I have been convicted by God's laws, and through Christ I have been saved from death.
It is that awesome joy and gratefulness that compels me to live for and obey God. Therefore I walk in His Righteousness, Not my own.
Until you realize and accept these Biblical truths, you will remain without God and will be subject to His Righteous judgment. You will remain a 'false convert' leading others away from God and into Evil's hand. Woe to those that do that!
thanks for allowing me time on your site. May God Bless you and draw you closer to the real Him.
- ~Deb said...
Thanks for your response. I appreciate your views and I do take it all in. Again, like I said, "in my beliefs" and which I have reinforced in my book with biblical passages, I believe that God saved us all.
We are going to keep sinning. Again...and again...and again...
The foundation of my intimacy with my partner is "love". To me, this is not evil.
To you, it is. Different beliefs. That's fine.
With all my heart, and my soul, I believe that God accepts me 'as is'. I am grateful. I love Jesus, and appreciate with ALL my heart that He has died for me, and for you...to save us.
Thank you for admitting that you are a sinner too. We all are. We all share the shortcomings of Christ. We can't all be perfect, but we can all be loved.
I believe God loves YOU..God loves me...and God loves everyone who reads this today.
God is love. I accept that, and cherish that. God blesses those who love Him; those who struggle with sin, yet come to Him regardless.
God's our father who has unconditional love. That means----love without conditions. He's more amazing than people realize. He is capable of accepting those who struggle more than others.
Foundation: Love.
God bless Mark.
- say it hot said...
Mark, she did answer your question, only you are so focused on how you will respond that you aren't even reading what she wrote.
FOUNDATION: Love
REASON: Because God and Jesus gave it to us as a gift to share with one another at our own free will.
EXAMPLE: Her relationship.
I don't know how she could have been more clear!
Maybe you should focus less on what two gay, straight, married, unmarried, etc. consenting adults do when they fall in love.
FYI: Last I heard, 70% of child molesters are admitedly straight men. Perhaps gay people should start lumping all heterosexuals into that 70% and claim that ALL heteros are molesters...how do you think that would feel?
- Mark said...
my last comment Deb, thanks for being kind with me.
you say God's our father who has unconditional love. That means----love without conditions
Deb, listen to me sister, that is a lie! That is a Lie Straight from the depeths of Hell! God's love and kingdom is Open to all, but one MUST come to the cross and Change! Make no mistake, we will still sin, but we will really Hurt and Repent when we do. As we grow closer in Christ, we will learn to Hate Sin as much as God does.
Please pray about what i just said!
In Him
- ~Deb said...
Mark: Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7...Is that a lie? God IS love. If you read the passages from Corinthians, you can see how unconditional love is. God is based on love. That is not a lie, Mark. He loves us unconditionally. It's written. We're human, therefore we sin. We all do, but remember, God is a loving and forgiving God. I'm not trying to pursuade your beliefs Mark, but I feel sad that you seem to have this view of God as an ugly and hateful master. He's not. At least, that's what "I believe", and will always believe.
I believe God loves YOU unconditionally. He sees past your flaws and shortcomings, as He sees past mine. In the end, you'll see how loving God really is. Even 'right now', you can see how God is all about love if you draw closer to Him.
Love to you...and please pray about what I said too. Again, I am taking in what you say as well, and praying on it too. I think your thoughts are insightful, but they are a bit scary to me. I understand where you are coming from though--I really do.
Thanks again, for commenting back. I appreciate it.
- Mark said...
ok I lied, another comment...thanks Deb!
Deb, Yes indeed God is love. Yes it is unconditional in the sense He will forgive any and all sins. My point, which I probably was not clear enough, is that He does require a change of heart which is acted upon and evident in our Lives.
I am not feared into His arms, I am loved and welcomed into His arms, because He showed me how evil I am(His laws and boundaries for our lives), and paid my due penalty. That is Godly love! It has nothing, and I repeat nothing to do with earthly love which is confused with our lusts(sin).
I understand we all sin. Going to heaven and being a disciple of Christ, is never about minimizing sin. God HATES sin, it COST HIM HIS SON. Lets Never take that for granted, ok? If people do, they will spend eternity away from God..Hell, that is a fact, that is a message from God Himself, the living Christ.
thanks Deb!
- Observer said...
Deb said... "in my beliefs" and which I have reinforced in my book with biblical passages, I believe that God saved us all.
OMG - Is this chick really a "Christian" who is an author of a book? Holy Mary mother of God! Good grief - what has Christianity resorted to?
What "biblical" passages could she possibly use to support this kind of blasphemy?
God's our father who has unconditional love. That means----love without conditions. He is capable of accepting those who struggle more than others...
With all my heart, and my soul, I believe that God accepts me 'as is'. I am grateful.
According to Deb's "beliefs" God's has unconditional love which means He must accept all the child molesters, fornicators, adulterers and rapists 'as is' too. It must be okay for them to continue what they are doing since we all are humans who sin and some just struggle more than others. God must just freely offer His love and forgiveness for all people of all lifestyles, even if you don't repent. Jesus died for the sins of mankind so we can ALL continue sinning - Yippy! Thanks Jesus!
The new Christianity: "Love without conditions" - Sounds like a heck of a bargain, where do I sign up?
By observing these comments it doesn't seem like Deb struggles with her "sin" all that much since according to her own "beliefs" God accepts her 'as is' even though she defies Him by living in perversion.
If the foundation of her intimacy with her partner is "love" – it is a foundation build on lies and quicksand that will no doubt crumble to the ground.
How many people are you going to take down with you Deb?
Observer- You are hardly one... You are an attacker.
You come to someone else's space and attack their beliefs. If you have such a problem with Gays, perhaps you need to seek counseling.
Take your Attacks and hatred elsewhere. Just as you would not like to be attacked in your home, don't come into Deb's home and attack her.
- Geek said...
Sry, I took a mental shortcut that didnt get to my hands. (some shortcut, Tense would say) Thank you for the post, put some perspective on a few things.
- Sapphire said...
I knew I 'liked girls' when I was 10. Probably before then too. I truly believe we're born homosexual or heterosexual.
- say it hot said...
"Dani said...
Hi Christine - Nice post (as always)
This is very fitting for lesbian Deb - Have you read her latest rant?
Check it out => Animalistic or Human Nature? Or are Both the Same?
I decided not to comment because I don't want to start anymore controversy or waste my time on deaf ears - but I thought you might have some good insights for her.
Take Care and God Bless!
Found this on another blog. Dani was itching to get some kind of comment on here. So now she has her army of the KKK members bashing ~Deb and her beliefs.
Why is she so fixated on ~Deb? Can't she leave her alone? Does she have a crush on ~Deb? Or maybe her past lesbianism makes her drawn to her? It seems to me she needs some counseling.
- Jaded&Opinionated said...
Not all Christians are extremists, Deb. All extremists are dangerous, however, regardless of what their religion might be. Only you, and you alone, can know what your relationship with the Lord is. For anyone to tell you differently is the same thing as passing judgment. All sin is equal in God's eyes, none greater than another, and we're all sinners. But God's love is infinite. He sent us Jesus as His new covenant with His people, and Jesus tells us that the greatest thing we can do is to love one another. Period.
There are those who would have us live in fear of God. If you worship because you're afraid, that isn't faith. There are those who attack homosexuals because it makes them feel "right" and they'll tell you they're not being a bigot, nor are they passing judegment because they're just telling you the truth. They can tell themselves whatever they need to in order to sleep at night, but the fact is, they are equally as guilty of sinning as they accuse you of being. Only God decides. Jesus never speaks of homosexuality, not even once. Does that mean He is accepting? Maybe, maybe not. But what we do know is that He tells us to love one another, help each other ,feed the hungry, heal the sick, and in general, just take care of one another. People will wrap their hatred in the cloak of Christianity and feel justified for passing judgement. They're too busy being "right" to understand that God's love for us is greater than anything we can even fathom. All of us. We're all sinners, and He loves us anyway. Find comfort in that.
- ~Deb said...
Jaded&opinionated: I couldn't have said that better myself!
Thank YOU for your comment. That was beautiful!
- Jaded&Opinionated said...
You're quite welcome. Unfortunately, I know some of those who torment you all too well. They stalked me for a while, sent me threatening emails etc. Very Christian of them, huh? And they did this because I dared to disagree with their brand of Christianity. They called me a heretic and continually tried to get into a war of Bible verses to show that they were better Christians than I am. I refuse to do that. I will not use the Bible as a weapon against anyone just to prove that I am right. I will absolutely quote scripture when I think it is appropriate, but to use it to be that arrogant? Nope. No thanks. Don't let them get to you. Eventually, they crawl back under their rocks and post lengthy blog posts just to hear themselves speak and to show how righteous they are. They beg for attention, but don't give it to them. They don't have the power to question your relationship with God. If they somehow think they do, they're breaking some of the rules all by themselves. Tell them what I used to tell them....before you try to remove the speck from my eye, kindly remove the log from your own.
- ~Deb said...
It's sad that they waste their time arguing over 'beliefs'. It must be really stressful for them to put all that negative energy into someone else's life and beliefs. I really feel that God has a purpose for each individual. Each person has their own relationship with God. Who can argue with that?
- Jaded&Opinionated said...
Well said, indeed.
If they spent half as much engery helping others as they do damning people to hell, the world would be a much nicer place.
(And I say these things to you as a heterosexual, Christian woman.)
- Chloe' Gardner said...
Deb, What an absolutely moving post. I believe we are born either straight or gay- there is no choice. I have friends who are gay/lesbian who have ALWAYS known they were gay. They, too, have never been wronged by a man, or a woman, nor were they molested. It kills me that people make such assumptions about others.
The next time someone asks you if you're gay because you were molested by a woman, ask them if they're straight because they were molested by someone of the opposite sex!
- Leesa said...
You fantisized about Marie Osmond? I fantisized about her brother, Donny! You know, the purple socks! Wow.
Of course, I was ten at the time. Purple socks don't make me go weak in the knees anymore. Okay, they still do.
- Mike said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- Mike said...
Damn....you sure attract the wack jobs with their little hidden agendas. The Bible was written by men, not God. Although they may have been inspired by God I wish he/she had writen it them self.
- Natalia said...
We were talking about this with some people the other day and one of the guys said, to the dismay of the other guys, that he thought we are all percentages of homo/hetero. That he thinks that anyone who says they are 100% something are just kidding themselves. That in nature, we'd all be curious and experiment without judgement. I think he is right.
- Leesa said...
mike: You stated that "The Bible was written by men, not God." Actually, I think the Bible may have been written by highly intellegent ferrets.
- Video X said...
i seriously hate reading the nasty comments you get sometimes concerning this issue. seems you can't even write one post about your sexual orientation without getting the nasty comments.
i write stuff about making out with people, doing it, obsession with s&m etc...not often...but every now and then...and only once did i get a mean comment..and it wasn't even real...he totally backed off almost immediately.
regardless...no i don't think God hates. period.
enjoy your writing which I read now and then. This was a good post but two words stood out above the others and made me go "ARGH"..the words..."homosexual lifestyle". I hate those words. I find they fuel more anti-gay attacks. I don't see where gay lifestyles are any different than straight lifestyles. Gays works, play, have houses, pay bills, etc just like any straight person. So how is their lifestyle different and why does it need that label?
I see those two words as fighting words! that lead to anti gay attacks.
Just my badly written two cents.
Not meant to offend.
i know it is kind of late but i just came across this and would like to say a few things.
I dont hate homosexuals, and I dont agree with those who hate homosexuals
first off- i have astounding respect for you... i'm sure you already know that you have huge amounts of courage to do what you're doing. I also love how have discovered that God really does love you no matter what. This is basically the bottom line of life, that God loves EVERYONE. like you said, this is why He died on the cross. I wasn't sure if you were insinuating that homosexuality is a sin and that God loves you in spite of it, as you compared it to God loving everyone who is imperfect. So I don't want to go out on a limb and make the bold statement that it is a sin, but if this is what you were insinuating, then what's the next step? You mentioned God loving us many times, well God's love is so consuming that all we have within ourselves, every fiber within us, responds by reciprocating that love back to Him. What does this mean? In turn, we reciprocate His love to all of His creation as well. This is why I cannot stress enough how the "Christians" who merely hold the name and Don't live a Christian lifestyle, are the ones who bash on homosexuality. If you understand God's love, you will NEVER say God and hate in the same sentence! Or anything that implies God not being loving- this is His very nature.
What else stems from God's love? Aiming for perfection. Our goal is to spend our lives on earth shooting for perfection, because we love Him and don't want to settle into sinning just because we are weak but we should strive for perfection in His name. So daily, all of us humans battle our imperfections for our love for God. This might be the next step to your relationship with Him. If indeed you come to your own conclusion (not my saying) that homosexuality is a sin, or not godly in some way, maybe trying to deal with your own imperfection for God's sake will be what you decide to do. I'm not telling you to trash your own desires and what you've known all your life, I don't know your situation and can't speak for you. As long as there is no stagnant attitude in your goal of perfection, as long as you make your own pure effort to remove things which God may not like, you will have pleased Him. If you don't do this, by no means does He hate you or not love you, it's just a good way of expressing your love for Him. Just something for you to ponder about, and I pray that I didn't offend you. I also am battling my own imperfections. Although it may not be homosexuality, it makes me not an inch better than you but probably worse than you.
In Christ's love,


text:
My favorite highlighter! It's all glow, no gold streaks or heavy glitter. You just need a tiny bit of this to get a fabulous glow and with the amount of product you get, it's going to last forever. It can get heavy if not applied with caution! Can also be used to turn any matte shade into a shimmery shade.
This is the most highly pigmented highlighter I've ever used. You barely need to use any in order to get a beautiful golden glow to the face.The pan is also large so you really are getting good value for money, too! I have very pale skin, and although this product is very pigmented it still suits me where other tinted highlighters can make my face look dirty.
The colour of this highliter is a light gold, so if like me you have indian/ asian skin, it may look a little too bright so I recommend using this sparingly. The product is highly pigmented and with the right brush, it blends out beautifully to give a really nice soft finish. In fact, it gives a nice dewy glow that most highlighters (even expensive ones) don't give. Its such a great value product too as you get quite a lot product and the price is very affordable. I wish this would come in more colours because I really do consider this product as one of my favourites.
2 out of 2 users found this review helpful
Was this review helpful? Yes No
This has become my favourite highlighter of all time. I've set aside far more pricey products like Guerlain in favour of this. I applies beautifully and you can take it anywhere from very subtle to a far more "full on" look if you want (not my style at all but if you club a lot or go to a lot of "events", it's perfect). This also doubles as an eye shadow or eye brow highlighter. And the price is had to beat too. Great packaging, with a mirror – something you don't get with some higher end highlighters.
If you blend this out, it looks great but you really have to blend it out because there is so much shimmer. My favorite use of this is as eyeshadow, I use this and the Betty Lou Manizer to contour my eyes; the combination of the two results in a great neutral everyday look. I love how large the compact is, I can use this product liberally with no fear of running out. Although be careful with it, my Betty Lou started to crack near the hinge. I would say this is a powder version to a yellow toned champagne-y highlighter that Benefit would have.
I bought this a few months ago after reading and hearing all the great reviews. It's a great product if you know how to use it. I haven't really ventured to much into highlighting so for me it's a very big eyeshadow. I did try this a few times as a highlighter but I felt it had to much shimmer for my liking. I do however enjoy it for under the brow and the inner corner of my eyes. One thing I do have to mention is the packaging, it's a great looking compact with a big mirror great for throwing in your purse.


text:
Ariel Vromen
Ariel Vromen & Ehud Bleiberg
Anthony Bruno (book) James Thebaut (documentary) Ariel Vromen Morgan Land
Crime | Drama | Thriller
Chris Evans as Robert Pronge
Christa Campbell as Adele
David Schwimmer as Josh Rosenthal
Erin Cummings as Ellen
Garrett Kruithof as Stanley Kuklinski
Hector Hank as Earl
James Franco as Marty
Michael Shannon as Richard Kuklinski
Ray Liotta as Roy Demeo
Robert Davi as Leo Marks
Ryan O'Nan as Terry Franzo
Stephen Dorff as Joey Kuklinski
Winona Ryder as Deborah Kuklinski
Distributed by
Millennium Entertainment
Release Date
May 3, 2013
Los Angeles, California; New York & Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
Movie Description(Click Here To Hide)
The true story of Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man. When finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters have any clue about his real profession. Starring Michael Shannon, James Franco, Ray Liotta, Chris Evans, Winona Ryder, David Schwimmer, Stephen Dorff & Robert Davi.
Previous Next