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Sorry, get out your reading glasses!
The other day my boy was bashing his 2x4 and he yells "DAD!, It stopped!" I quickly saw that the battery was unplugged and it's hold down bar was cracked (xl-5 model w/bar and 2 clips), which I thought was strange but I have xtra's so I plugged him back in and clipped the batt back down without removing the body. So tonight I'm working on his 2x4 pede. He's almost 7 (spoiled i know) =) The thing started out as an xl-5 but I built it into a vxl for him. He runs a 5000mah 20c 2s venom lipo.. I figured I'd re-lube the gearing tonight cause it's been a while and we've been bashing in slushy/sandy/dirty conditions. So while watching that new "piranah" movie I took the whole rear end off, did my thing, and put it back together. I figured I'd take her out for a spin.....Didn't even make it out of the garage when I noticed the steering was lame/sluggish, etc.. Upon closer inspection I saw the steering servo case is cracked off it's mounts, the front bulkhead is cracked @ one of the mounts and the chassis is cracked @ both points the bulkhead connects to it. I didn't even notice it while I was working on the rear! and if yo've seen the new Piranah movie you wouldn't blame me!...The car is Totally Wrecked BAD! I played it cool and asked him what he hit the other day. He said "Remember? The curb?.. Turns out he didn't just lose a battery in a bad flip but smacked a curb probably doing 40!.... That's my boy!


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In seriously worrying about the future of state education in this country?(38 Posts)
As a teacher, and a mum, I'm worried. Part of me thinks I'm being unreasonable worrying, as surely things will turn out ok in the end. Part of me, having read the changes that academies bring (not having to follow national curriculum, no standard pay and conditions for teachers, influence by sponsors who will presumably have their own agendas, no LEA support so if the roof springs a leak, or a sink hole appears...) is really concerned. I am considering looking for a job in private education so I can get a reduction in fees and school my children that way, something which makes me sad as I have really enjoyed working in state schools, making a difference to children who don't have much support at home, seeing them grow and achieve their goals. We were planning on buying a house in an area with good schools. Now I think maybe we should save our money and just buy a nice house somewhere less expensive, then put the extra by for schooling.
So - aibu worrying this much? Do you think it will be ok? (Hoping desperately to be told it will be...)!
Just to add, having read it back - I have always chosen state schools in disadvantaged areas, and enjoyed helping those in the class who don't have support at home (usually because parents are too busy working just trying to keep a roof over their heads!). I know schools in more wealthy areas are full of children with lots of support at home!
YANBU to be worried. I'm a teacher too & have always been worried about the way state education is heading (when I started 12 years ago I hoped I would see things improve but they gradually get worse & worse). I think it would take a very brave government and/or minister for education to turn things around now. Definitely not prize idiot Michael Gove! Since becoming a mummy 4 months ago I have a different aspect to my view on all this & hope I can find a state school with the kind of ethos I value when the time comes. But like you, one of the most treasured parts of my job is reaching out to children who really need support & not sure I could give this up. It's definitely a tough one. X
I feel the same. My kids are at state primary school. But it's not very good. I feel I have to supplement a lot at home, and don't always have the time. We are also thinking of not moving house as planned to be near good secondaries (and bigger house, and family) but to use the savings for private education which I don't really approve of.
Dh went private all his life. I went to a terrible state school. We are both high achievers. He doesn't want our dc to go private. My db is a teacher and he lives his job but says he would never send his dc to state school because of all the changes and lowered standards.
Standard pay and conditions do loads to harm education, it means there's no incentive for the best teachers to teach in the worst areas, because they'll have a much easier life and cannot be rewarded more for working in those. So they'll work at those with the most support, increasing the division between good and bad, and increasing the difference in house prices between those schools which people think are "good and bad". By removing the standard conditions, they can be paid more and have a reason to help those with less support.
At least if the schools in poor performing areas can pay more or offer better conditions then they attract the better teachers.
You're absolutely right to worry. I'm really concerned that we're going to see another mess like what happened with private nursing homes when big companies bought them up, asset-stripped them, and then disappeared when they had extracted all they could out of them financially. When that happens to schools there won't be any local authority safety net, because LA education departments won't have been maintained without any schools to supervise. It's a potential disaster in the making for hundreds of thousands of children.
Sorry fredfredgeorge - not trying to start an argument but I strongly disagree with what you said. Some teachers choose to teach in catchment areas that are more deprived, some choose to teach in those that have more affluent families & others at private schools. This is not because the best teachers seek out schools where they can be paid more - it's to do with our beliefs & our passions. In order to decide which teachers are 'best' to pay them more, there would be even more pressure on achieving good results - driving 'good' teachers away from the deprived schools & encouraging them to teach the higher ability sets within their schools. This, IMHO, would make the situation far worse, not better. What is your perspective? Do you teach? And if so in what type of school? X
I'm a teacher in Scotland and just as worried although we're going in completely the opposite direction with regard to educational policy.
If it wasn't for the fact we are literally experimenting on real children it would be fascinating to see what happens a decade from now. As it is, I worry. The children are at the chalk face of radical change that isn't proven.
enjoy having qualified teachers - they will be replaced soon
YANBU - it is a big concern of mine
oh and the best teachers are the ones who's passion for education as a force for change motivates them to work in the most deprived areas - as my Grandfather, Mother and step father did
I always get annoyed with the assumption that a school is bad because of the teachers. There are poor teachers in every school. There are outstanding teachers in every school. Private schools for example often take the candidate with the highest qualifications but that does not mean that they are the best teachers. Some are brilliant teachers and some are not.
What makes a difference to a school is the pupils and their families. A school with an affluent area usually means that the pupils come from a home where high educational achievement is the norm, where parents have the time, money and energy to help with homework and provide enriching after school activities like music tuition and can also offer the pupils a safe, happy nurturing environment. Not always but usually.
In some of the deprived areas there are problems that have a negative impact on a childs education. That may be poverty for example.
To answer the op - YANBU
I have huge concerns too. Everything is just down to the bottom line on a balance sheet now.....
I qualified about five years ago. It took me a while to find my feet in teaching but I love it - how lucky I am to teach a subject in depth whilst at the same time see young people at their funniest, warmest - challenge you, frustrate you and change you, somehow.
I started off in the state sector, but this year I started in a private school - somewhere I thought I wouldn't be yet. In the short three years I worked in a good state school, rural, lovely willing and friendly children, I became disillusioned with the state sector. I am so sad at what I saw happening.
Very good teachers - years of experience, undermined and not trusted, new initiatives rolled out and then quietly forgotten, OFSTED and it's rigid rules on 'progress' and what makes a good/ outstanding question - apparently having forgotten all the wonder and spontaneity at the heart of learning. An SMT obsessed with targets and borderlines and tracking and data, grades imposed on a child that were impossible, no longer trusted as a professional. In the very short time I have taught, I know 8 teachers in my collection of schools who have left through disillusionment or stress. They were fantastically hard working, and I learnt so much from them. Being told I am not a teacher but a "facilitator of learning" about summed it up.
Being in the private sector is no better or worse in some ways - there are many of the same issues. At least here I feel there is some breathing space, YANBU.
No. As it is UK state education is almost the worst in Europe. It's getting worse. What else do you need to know?
That depends entirely on your measuring system corygal. In what ways do you believe their education is better than ours? X
I don't think you are being unreasonable but I do wonder if part of the problem is that you have made life difficult for yourself (I mean that kindly, not critically) by choosing to teach in deprived area.
I am a secondary head of department in a fairly affluent school. The children aren't rich, mostly, but come from solid, working homes and most stay on to do A levels at sixth form. I cannot put into words how much easier and pleasanter my life is from my last job, which was dire!
For what it's worth, I'd personally never want to have my children in a school I taught at.
Yorkshire - it's the OECD's measuring system, not mine.
OECD is the Europe-wide surveying organisation that monitors and predicts, among other things, Europe's institutions and economics as well world growth, the world's health, you name it.
When you hear an economic growth prediction on the news, it's either the Federal one (US) the Bank of England or the OECD - ie the one people take seriously.
Ofsted frameworks scare the shit outta me. Having witnessed both a Y7 history class and a Y13 A level Bio class this week, I seriously think wikipedia would be a better alternative. (Im not entirely joking either)
I do a better job of educating my children than the system (and I make a marked distinction between the system and their teachers).
JMHO - teachers should be allowed to teach, not facilitate
>soap boxy moments<
Excellent schools here in the Highlands of Scotland but some worries, as a parent and a teacher, about our new curriculum. FWIW, however, I think parents and their input have a lot more influence than teachers do. If you are interested and supportive it will go a long way, in spite of concerns about the school.
nineteen years in inner city comprehensives. will probably see the school where i work turn academy when the current head retires.
worried about changes eg to gcses/i b and wondering what will ever happen to the pupils who just aren't going to get five plus including english and maths, no matter how spiffing the teaching.
SparklyAntlersInMyDecorating - you are describing 'my' school. which is sad because it probably means what you said applies in all schools.
Corygal which OCED rankings are you referring to because they rank countries by at least 50 different measures. I suspect what you are referring to are PISA ratings, the most recent being 2009 (new ones should be published this year).
In these the following European countries ranked lower than the UK in reading - Portugal, Italy, Latvia, Slovenia, Greece, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Croatia, Luxemburg, Austria, Lithuania, Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Montenegro and Albania.
Hungary was ranked equally with the UK.
The UK got a point score of 494 for reading (in a range of 556-314). Other countries with marginally higher scores are Denmark (495), France and Ireland (496), Germany and Sweden (497), Liechtenstein (499) and Poland and Iceland (500). The rest (5 countries) scored in the low 500s (i.e. 501-508). The only one that was significantly higher is Finland with a score of 536.
I'm not arguing that all is hunky-dory in the UK education system and that it shouldn't be improved, but it isn't 'almost the worst in Europe'
You are right to be worried. The quality of education of kids leaving school has been a concern for years. The first place to start in remedial action is the teachers. Pay them properly, make sure they have Masters Degrees and get rid of the idiots.
Im wondering if Secondary schools have moved on at all since i was at School in 1980 (which was truly awful). My DD in year 7 is already saying there are subjects and teachers she dreads, even a whole day in the timetable she dreads! why? A child should want to go to school and be excited by it.
Yanbu. Both dh and I teach, I've already moved to the independent sector and dh is now considering it despite his ultra left wing views. Teaching in an academy is making his life not worth living.
I have seen a decline in all sorts of things in the last ten years of being a teacher. Partly the climate of fear based on being a good or bad results has had a negative impact on teaching. Now we (me) spoon feed students so much they don't think/have the same independent ethic that I found even five years ago. This is not good for them in the long term regarding taking responsibility for themselves.
Don't get me started on the cuts to the arts in schools....
Don't get me started on 'unqualified teachers'. It takes five years to be fully qualified.....that is not nothing. Plus the training when I did it was rigorous.
I am going on maternity leave this year but when I go back I am going to do everything I can to get an independent job so my oldest son can go to a private school. I am sure that there are just different problems but the small class sizes and facilities are swaying me.
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Wednesday, May 2, 2007
© Copyright 2015 Gwinnett Daily Post
Gwinnett County's football talent is so vast that it now will support its own all-star game.Organizers announced plans for the Rivalries of Gwinnett All-Star Football Game on Tuesday, with the inaugural event scheduled for Dec. 21 at Brookwood High School. The idea is the brainchild of local coaches Dave Hunter, formerly the head football coach at Brookwood, and Dacula head coach Kevin Maloof. Those two petitioned the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association as far back as three years ago for a Gwinnett all-star game, but the senior-only event wasn't approved by the GACA and the Georgia High School Association until this year. The Touchdown Club of Gwinnett - Hunter is the club's executive director - will run the game, which likely will rotate from school to school each year. Gwinnett's football coaches met Tuesday night to finalize plans for the game. "I think people will be excited about it," said Hunter, who plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to charity. "Now that we've got it, we think it's going to continue to get better and better. We want to showcase the players around here. There's a lot of talent here and some of the I-AA, Division III or NAIA don't get seen. This gives (college scouts) a chance to watch them practice and play for a week." The rivalry theme is based on the division of the county along rivalry lines - Brookwood opposite Parkview, Greater Atlanta Christian opposite Wesleyan, etc. One team will feature players from Brookwood, Collins Hill, Dacula, Duluth, Berkmar, Wesleyan, Buford, Shiloh and South. The other squad will have athletes from Parkview, Central Gwinnett, Mill Creek, Norcross, Meadowcreek, GAC, North Gwinnett, Grayson and Peachtree Ridge. No more than six players per school can make the game, and each Gwinnett program is guaranteed of having at least two players in the game. Each team will feature 33 players and they will don dark teal and white jerseys, similar to those of the Jacksonville Jaguars, in an attempt at neutral colors. Players who are named first-team All-County or players of the year by the TD Club of Gwinnett earn automatic entry into the game. The remainder of the rosters will be selected by the county's coaches. For the inaugural game, Hunter will coach one team and longtime Central coach Tally Johnson will lead the other. Gwinnett's head coaches will serve as the two's assistants. Although the GHSA permits players to compete in two all-star games per year, football players selected to the GACA North-South All-Star Game aren't eligible to compete in the Gwinnett game. The teams will practice from Dec. 17 to 20, at 11⁄2 hour intervals in shoulder pads and helmets. The practice sites haven't been selected as of Tuesday.
More like this story
- County's best go head-to-head on gridiron ( December 18, 2009 )
- County seniors get another chance to shine ( December 21, 2007 )
- County all-star game Dec. 19 ( October 29, 2009 )
- Rosters announced for Gwinnett All-Star game ( December 12, 2007 )
- Coaches announced for Gwinnett all-star game ( October 6, 2011 )


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More stories on: Rebellion
Not all of them, obviously. That would be an awfully long video.
Rebellion offers seven reasons to upgrade to Zombie Army Trilogy
Even if you own Nazi Zombie Army and its sequel, Rebellion reckons Zombie Army Trilogy is worth your cash.
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is still far out fund-raising his presumptive Democratic rival in this fall's election contest for governor, though state Sen. Barbara Buono is starting to make up ground.
Mr. Christie has raised more than $6.5 million for the race, while Ms. Buono has brought in $2.6 million, according to figures provided by the campaigns.
The Republican governor now has about 2.5 times the funds that Ms. Buono has raised. The gap between the two has tightened since the previous filing earlier this month, when Mr. Christie had more than three times the campaign cash.
The reports filed last week with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission will be made public Friday. They are the last submissions before New Jersey's primary on June 4. Neither candidate faces a serious primary challenge.
Ms. Buono is accepting public funds, providing $2 for every $1 raised. She will need a fundraising surge to receive the maximum of $3.5 million in public funds allowed under the law. Ms. Buono has raised $1.1 million through private means so far and would need to bring in about $800,000 by next week to reach the maximum amount. Also, Ms. Buono has raised about $360,000 a month in private funds, campaign filings show.
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If she doesn't hit the target, Ms. Buono would be the first major party nominee not to receive the maximum amount for public matching funds.
"Senator Buono has received support from all across the state and we're confident we'll have the resources to compete and win in November," said campaign spokesman David Turner.
Mr. Christie has declined to accept matching funds for the primary, though he has yet to state whether he will accept the public money for the general election. Candidates can receive a maximum of $8.2 million in public funds for $4.1 million brought in privately.


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Audio: Tom Elliott responds to comments by Gerry Adams on hunger strike event
Published: 31 Jul 2014 16:300 comments
Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott has responded to comments by Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams who told today's Impartial Reporter that "republicans have no wish to hurt others" as his party prepares to hold a hunger strike parade in Derrylin on Sunday.
Responding to the comments, Mr. Elliott said: "If Mr. Adams doesn't want to cause offence, if Sinn Fein doesn't want to cause offence, then they shouldn't have this event".
Mr. Elliott also responded to the decision by the Parades Commission today to impose restrictions on Sunday's parade claiming it had given "misleading information" to families of IRA victims.
Listen to our interview with Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott here:


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Though the accident at Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) construction site on C.M.H. Road on Friday did not result in any casualty, it yet again highlighted that safety norms are anything but up to the mark in the ever-growing construction industry in Bangalore. This is the eighth recorded accident at a Metro site alone since December 15, 2008.
What is alarming is that the manpower of the Labour Department to inspect safety standards at construction sites as stipulated in the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, is abysmally low.
There are only six labour officers to monitor safety standards in the entire city. What is more, none of them are technically qualified to testify for the safety of any construction site or determine the reasons for failure of safety equipment when an accident occurs because they are not engineers.
Pending proposal
Meanwhile, a proposal sent by the department seeking that engineers from the Department of Factories and Boilers be notified to monitor safety standards at construction sites is still pending with the Government. According to Labour Commissioner M.S. Ravishankar, this move will augment the manpower and also ensure that inspections are done by technically qualified people.
Earlier, following an accident in another Metro site which claimed a labourers life, the Karnataka Human Rights Commission had suggested to the Government that a standing technical committee be set up to undertake quick investigation into accidents at construction sites. This too is yet to be considered.
An estimated eight lakh construction workers are employed in Bangalore alone, while the total number of workers throughout the State is estimated to be over 13 lakh. Only 75,000 among them are registered with the Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, which entitles them to a clutch of health and compensation benefits.
A recent seminar by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority had focused on issues related to construction workers and recommended that registration with the board be made mandatory for every construction worker and the responsibility fixed on builders.
Previous accidents at Metro sites:
1. December 15, 2008, at CMH Road
2. January 2, 2009, on Old Madras Road
3. January 11, 2009, on MG Road
4. January 29, 2009, at Rajajinagar
5. On May 23, 2009, at Rajajinagar
6. July 8, 2009, near Lalbagh West Gate
7. August 3, August, on CMH Road


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they won't be back until spring and i'm missing the leaves already.
"What a person believes is not as important as how a person believes."
~ Timothy Virkkala
they won't be back until spring and i'm missing the leaves already.
"What a person believes is not as important as how a person believes."
~ Timothy Virkkala
Posted in complaint department, life, nature, ny city life, nyc
Tagged houston street, New York City, NYC, photography, subway, winter
"I remember walking across Sixty-second Street one twilight that first spring, or the second spring, they were all alike for a while. I was late to meet someone but I stopped at Lexington Avenue and bought a peach and stood on the corner eating it and knew that I had come out out of the West and reached the mirage. I could taste the peach and feel the soft air blowing from a subway grating on my legs and I could smell lilac and garbage and expensive perfume and I knew that it would cost something sooner or later — because I did not belong there, did not come from there — but when you are twenty-two or twenty-three, you figure that later you will have a high emotional balance, and be able to pay whatever it costs. I still believed in possibilities then, still had the sense, so peculiar to New York, that something extraordinary would happen any minute, any day, any month."
~ Joan Didion
back on retreat! well, sort of. . . i'll be spending a good part of the summer out of the city and i'm currently enjoying another week at my friend susan's house in upstate ny, which i refer to as susan's resort. the resort is on a mountain in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees, amazing landscapes and all kinds of wild beasts. everyday, rain or shine, i am compelled to go for a long ride to take pictures.
on today's journey i was listening to wayne dyer speak about the tao by lao tzu. tao is chinese for 'the way'. i've listened to this cd many times over the last several years and never get tired of wayne dyer speaking about lessons of the tao, which of course any taoist knows, cannot actually be spoken of. if you don't get that – no worries. to simplify the idea, i can only suggest that it says something along the lines of, 'we need do nothing for all to be done perfectly'.
after driving for about an hour or so, i realized that i hadn't noticed any real photo ops. this has never happened before. i always see something photo worthy on my excursions up here in god's country. maybe i was so into listening to wayne, i had driven right by places that i normally would have stopped for a photo or two. how unusual. i decided to pay particular attention to the scenery and looked carefully so that i would be sure not to miss any beasts hiding deep in the woods. driving about 5 mph for the last 10 miles home, i looked and looked as i listened to wayne talk about finding peace through the tao and how all that is, is already perfect, ect. . . .
as i drove up the driveway of susan's resort, i was astonished that i had arrived home picture-less. normally this would have upset me but i felt happy to have had the opportunity to listen to wayne talk about the tao suggesting that to be one with what is, is the way to peace or, (in my words) all things happen for a reason & if you just go with that, you'll have peace.
when i got out of the car, i let ivan out of the back seat and then went around to the passenger side to get my bag and my camera. i almost laughed out loud when i discovered my camera wasn't in the car, but had been sitting on the kitchen counter inside the house the entire time.
wouldn't that just be the way of it??
"The wise man is one who, knows, what he does not know."
~ Lao Tzu,
Tao Te Ching
Posted in amazing people, God, inspiring, nature, New York, Photography, Spirit, thoughts, Universe, zen
Tagged Lao Tzu, new york, photography, Retreat, Tao Te Ching, wayne dyer, woods
i want to take this time to publicly thank the city for it's sheer awesomeness! just imagine all of the greatness that is unfolding on this tiny island as i write . it's almost hard to wrap your head around it all . . . .
Posted in inspiring, life, Love, New York, ny city life, nyc, Photography, Spirit, thoughts, Universe
and what would you do to prepare if you absolutely knew it was going to manifest for you?
i am going to meet many amazingly wonderful people, one of which will be my future husband, get and sell the shot that will launch my photography career, write, write & write some more, do my best at the work i love which will compensate me beyond my wildest dreams, be aware and act on every opportunity to serve and finally, stay present and see the joy in every second of every day.
as you can see, i've got a lot to do right now so we'll touch base again later, ok?
many miracles, peace, love & joy to all!
"All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness … the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives."
~ The Dalai Lama
Posted in career, family, giving, God, inspiring, life, Love, Photography, Spirit, thoughts, Universe
Tagged happiness, joy, life, love, peace, photography, right action, right speech, right thoughts, The Dalai Lama
"Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was."
~ Dag Hammarskjold
Posted in New York, nyc, Photography, thoughts
Tagged art exhibit, dag hammarskjold plaza, new york, NYC, photography, statue
being sick in the city is never fun, (this previous post explains it clearly) but for the last 3 days, i've been dizzy. being dizzy in the city is never fun either, but it is definitely worse to be dizzy when the general assembly is in session at the united nations. although 1st avenue is closed to traffic most of the time, the cars, trucks, suv's, fire engines, motorcycles, ambulances and hazmat vehicles are all equipped with ear piercing sirens.
(obama's brigade)
why they feel the need to use the sirens when there is no other traffic and i am trying to be zen in the city, is a mystery. when there isn't a dignitary and his / her entourage passing by with sirens blaring, you can clearly hear the sound from the helicopters that are swarming the city. and even above the helicopters, i hear people protesting.
i totally respect their right to peacefully protest and i'm sure they don't know how dizzy i am feeling and, i bet they are all very nice people who would tone it down a bit if they only knew – but i cannot walk the 5 blocks down there right now & explain the whole thing to them. i should have said something yesterday when i took the picture but i was pretty sure i would be feeling all better by today. . .
i like these people's method of protest much better:
the falun gong people are very quiet protesters. i have to admire their tenacity and patience to sit all day in silence with the all the screaming going on down there at the UN.
ivan doesn't seem to be bothered by any of it. of course he's presumably not dizzy – but i think i'll join him for a nap anyway.
"To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind."
~ Buddha
Posted in humor, life, New York, ny city life, nyc, thoughts
Tagged Buddha, Falun Gong, General Assembly, new york, NYC, NYPD, photography, Tibet Protest, United Nations
Posted in life, New York, ny city life, nyc, Photography, Spirit, thoughts
Tagged new york, NYC, occupy wall street, occupy washington square park, photography, quotes, voltaire, warhol
Posted in life, Photography, thoughts
Tagged Albert Einstein, nyc graffiti, photography, random thoughts
dog: i'm not going
girl: you want me to drag you there?
dog: yeah, drag me.
girl to stranger: he doesn't want to go
dog: that's right.
girl: this isn't funny. i said get up now!
dog: nope.
girl: please . . . please get up.
dog: staying right here.
girl: you're being ridiculous – people are taking pictures!
stranger: is he ok?
girl: yes, he's just being a dope.
stranger: let me help.
girl: omg – thank you! you're my new bff.
dog: i hate you.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
– Lao Tzu
Posted in family, humor, ny city life, Photography, thoughts
Tagged dog won't go, funny dog, golden retriever, NYC, photography, west 18th street
Posted in humor
Tagged NYC, photography, wonderful people
how cool is this? a giant post-it-note desk.
i want the kind of brain that thinks this stuff up.
imaginary conversation:
stranger: "what do you do for work?"
me: "oh, nothing. i invented the post-it-note desk. after that i retired & now i spend my time doing photography and philanthropy.
"You can't wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club."
— Jack London
Posted in humor
Tagged photography
it's 91 degrees and 1,000% humidity above ground, and i'm about to leave my air conditioned apartment and take the subway downtown. i'm a little scared, although i have not heard of any subway / heat related deaths so far today and it's already 1:15. should i fail to return, i leave you with this; my favorite photo:
wish me luck.
"The purpose of our lives is to be happy."
~ H.H. Dalai Lama
Posted in humor
Tagged 57th Street & Lexington Ave, H.H. Dalai Lama, happiness, ny heat wave, NYC, photography
you are invited to make up your own story about this image and send it to me.
many thanks in advance!
"If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is good."
~ Dr. Seuss
Posted in humor
Tagged dr. seuss, funny feet, green grass, imagine, photography, submit your story, write
and we're off to the park to see what's replaced the april tulips!
He who does not get fun and enjoyment out of every day…needs to reorganize his life.
~ George Matthew Adams
Posted in ny city life, Photography, thoughts
Tagged photography
just at the end of my block, i get to see this at night.
life is good. :)
Posted in ny city life, Photography
Tagged long island city, NYC, pepsi sign, photography, queens
"The art of listening needs its highest development in listening to oneself. Our most important task is to develop an ear that can really hear what we're saying."
– Sydney J Harris
Posted in thoughts
Tagged listening, photography, Sydney J Harris
Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height.
– George Carlin
Follow @zen_city
Posted in humor
Tagged airplanes, NYC, photography, random thoughts, zen
85 and sunny – a good time was had by all.
"Simplicity is indeed often the sign of truth and a criterion of beauty."
– unknown
Posted in humor
Tagged breeze team dancers, central park, NYC, photography, photos, wildlife, zen in the city
walking through the city can take your mind off anything. you can do a walking meditation and become invisible to the people passing by, tuning out all of the traffic and noise or you can walk up the avenue with an intention to connect with people – depending on what you need at the time. after sitting at the computer for several hours, sometimes i want a little conversation or mental stimulation and just get up and walk out. there's always something going on, someone to talk with or something to do without having to make specific plans.
i just did that and ran into a neighbor who was on his way up to 68th street to buy some pound cake at rite aid. i took the walk with him and learned quite a bit. i learned that pound cake at rite aid is half the price it is at shop rite (not that i plan on ever really needing that information, but you never know when those types of fun facts will come in handy. . .). i learned that he is married to a paranoid schizophrenic and pays $156.00 a month rent to live on the corner of 1st avenue and 50th street. he has a one bedroom apartment and pays almost $2,000 less a month than i pay for a studio just 2 blocks away. although he has no stove and i do. i found out that he's 68 years old and plays the lottery regularly. he used to be a doorman but now walks dogs in the neighborhood for a living so he can stay close to home in case his wife has an attack. she calls him every 10 minutes or so to tell him that someone is trying to break into their home. he can usually talk her down over the phone but sometimes he has to rush home to assure her that she's safe. she called 3 times on our walk to rite aid.
i'm back home now and feeling grateful. i love this town.
"Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing."
– Wayne Dyer
Posted in humor
Tagged New York City, NYC, photography, pound cake, walking meditation, wayne dyer


text:
The Bombay high court has taken up the issue of old tenants unwilling to vacate their houses, which are being evicted by builders/developers using illegal ways, so that they are able to develop the property.
A division bench of Justice VM Kanade and Justice AK Menon said: "We are witnessing that old buildings are systematically being taken over by builders and tenants are harassed."
To address this issue, the court directed the Mumbai police commissioner and the state government to be made parties to a petition filed by a resident of Nepean Sea Road, M Merchant. Merchant has alleged connivance of developers with Mhada officials stating that their intention is to declare Ram Mansion, the three-storey structure he lives in, as dilapidated.
The bench also said: "We are not amused that such things are happening increasingly; a situation is created such that tenants are made to leave. We want to do something about this."
The court thus adjourned the petition by a week and allowed the petitioners to amend their plea.
Rima Merchant, an advocate and also a resident of Ram Mansion, argued that the building, which was built in 1923, is listed in the proposed heritage list as a Grade II structure.
In 2010, a developer purchased the property and since then they have been trying to evict the tenants.
Merchant argued "Since 80 per cent of the property is in the possession of the developer they are trying to illegally damage and destroying it."


text:
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(S$),MYR (RM), ¥ (YEN) for model SC205. The Axco Check Writer
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text:
This plugin takes an existing image (i.e. a petal) and creates a new one by placing the original repetitively in the new one while rotating and scaling the successive copies (typically rotating the golden angle of 137.5° and scaling down just a little bit each step) resulting in beautiful forms that resemble the work of nature (i.e. a flower)
It can be also used to create animations of spiral falling objects, and other funny things.
This python plugin reads names and addresses from a MySQL database and creates golden mailing labels (with optional return label).
I created this script out of the desire to have golden text on my wedding invitation and save the date envelopes. I may have taken this too far :-)
WARNING: Some understanding of SQL required.
Screen shots & Examples added (03-18-08)
The completed envelope(s) are either displayed or exported to a png or jpeg file. I found windows preview far more capable of printing than the GIMP (sorry everybody).
Unless otherwise noted, the rights for the individual plugins are with their respective authors. Logo image by Jakub Steiner.


text:
Kinamax WCM-6LNV Web Cam
- Frame Rate: 30 frames per second
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- Interface Type: USB 2.0
- Image Sensor Type: VGA
Available FromWhy are these offers here?
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Consumer Reviews
Showing 1 Product Review From Shopping.com
Have one and i use it everyday seems to work for what I need it for. I only use it for chatting with friends Read full review »
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Sabrent USB 2.0 6 LED Night Vision 1.3 MP Webcam WCM-6LNV
Enjoy video chatting in any lighting condition with the Sabrent Night Vision Webcam. It can be used in low light or even total darkness. This USB night vision webcam is equipped with six infrared LEDs that give out bright light to effectively capture pictures in low-light conditions. It features a built-in microphone and a 1.3MP camera that lets you take snapshots, create video/audio or use it for video/audio conferencing. This Sabrent web camera has a universal USB 2.0 interface and easily mounts to a PC monitor or a notebook. It also comes with PC camera software for viewing and editing images.
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text:
Your Cat, Your Life
The Scoop
Cat News, Politics
Meow-Out-Loud Humor
Cat Chic
Gear and Glam
Your cat loves a clean toilet -- don't we all? Catster's singing Cat Lady, Sarah Donner, explains why.
Cat Breeds
Foods & Treats
Health & Care
Behavior & Training
Cats & Cleaning
Cat of the Day
Miss. Kitty
16-year-old Female
Brad O'Farrell
Nov 24th 2010
0 Contributions
What does the Internet love more than gifs? Scottish fold cats. Could you IMAGINE if one day the Internet had a post of nothing but Scottish fold gifs? WELL YOU DON'T HAVE TO. THAT DAY IS TODAY. THAT POST IS THIS ONE.
Tip: Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute and is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats.
Our Most-Commented Stories
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text:
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is delighted with the progress this season of young left-back Gael Clichy.
"He assisted Adebayor, after the last one against Everton, which means two in two matches," said Wenger.
"Actually, his improvement has been quite steady. Today we can notice he has no more gaps in his play.
"He is awesome in the quality of his passes, in his long passes, in his technical level. He can get out of any situation.
"I would say now he looks experienced. He really achieved a great last match."


text:
Originally posted by snoopyuk
why are the latests posts not showing up ????
Originally posted by Niall197
As to a steam reserve, what would the point of that be ? Signalling & points will be out due to EMP. There may be considerable track damage in urban areas. The existing diesel locos, Class 37's & 47's, were perfectly capable of being started even if the cab electrics had been fried. There was little if any trackside utilities on either mainlines or suburbans networks to maintain these locos & a diminishing number of BR staff capable of operating them.


text:
1. At a Journal Workshop
by Ira Progoff
The permanent reference for working with the intensive journal process, At a Journal Workshop contains descriptions of the journal sections, ... More
See All Softcovers | Hardcovers
2. The new diary.
by Tristine Rainer
The New Diary is about a completely modern concept of journal writing. It has little to do with the rigid daily calendar diary you may have kept as a ... More
See All Softcovers
3. A life of one's own.
by Joanna Field
4. A Life of One's Own
by Marion Milner
How often do we ask ourselves, 'What will make me happy? What do I really want from life?' In A Life of One's Own Marion Milner explores these ... More
See All Softcovers | Hardcovers
5. One to One: Self-Understanding Through Journal Writing
by Christina Baldwin
For years I've been telling friends about the therapeutic powers of the act of writing. Now at last I have a book that I can recommend. Judith Guest, ... More
See All Softcovers
6. Journaling for Joy: Writing Your Way to Personal Growth and Freedom
by Joyce Chapman
Journaling for Joy enables you to take a close look at who you are and what you want. In an original approach to journaling, Joyce Chapman guides you ... More
See All Softcovers
7. The New Diary: How to Use a Journal for Self-Guidance and Expanded Creativity
by Tristine Rainer
8. One to One
by Christina Baldwin
9. Communicating with Myself: A Journal
by Jacquelyn B Carr
10. My story to yours: a guided memoir for writing your recovery journey
by Karen Casey
Reflecting on and telling our stories is a time-honored tradition in recovery circles--whether in silent meditation, speaking out at meetings, or ... More
See All Softcovers
11. Life-Study: Experiencing Creative Lives by the Intensive Journal Method
by Ira Progoff
12. Your Corner of the Universe: A Guide to Self-Therapy Through Journal Writing
by Andrea Campbell
13. Healing Through Writing: A Journaling Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Growth
by Anthony D Parnell M S W
"In my more than 30 years of clinical practice, I have worked directly with child and adult patients suffering from a wide range of mental and ... More
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14. At a Journal Wkshp C
by Ira Progoff
15. Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness
by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD
Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of the widely praised Wherever You Go, There You Are shows how the power of mindfulness can bring profound changes to your ... More
See All Softcovers | Hardcovers
16. Your Present: A Half Hour of Peace
by Susie Mantell
Warm narration carries you effortlessly into soft relaxation, releasing the harmful effects of stress, gently restoring balance. Slow down, sit back, ... More
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17. Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple
by Russell Simmons, Chris Morrow
Master entrepreneur, original hip-hop mogul, and "New York Times" bestselling author Russell Simmons shares the most fundamental key to success- ... More
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18. Arriving at Your Own Door: 108 Lessons in Mindfulness
by Jon Kabat-Zinn
In Coming to Our Senses, internationally renowned author Jon Kabat-Zinn wrote the definitive book for our time on the connection between mindfulness ... More
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19. The Possible Human
by Jean Houston, Ph.D.
In what has been called "an intellectual and spiritual feast", acclaimed pioneer in human development Dr. Jean Houston offers readers a tour of the ... More
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20. Quantum Consciousness: The Guide to Experiencing Quantum Psychology
by Stephen Wolinsky, PH.D., Kristi L Kennen, Wilson Colin (Preface by)
This adventure into far-reaching psychological thought provides more than eighty exercises-designed to be done alone, in pairs, or in a group setting ... More
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21. Seven Masters, One Path: Meditation Secrets From The World's Greatest Teachers
by John Selby
An unusual guide on how to meditate. This fascinating book will appeal to those with no knowledge of meditation who are interested in its therapeutic ... More
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22. Get Some Headspace: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day
by Andy Puddicombe
As a former Buddhist monk with over 10 years of teaching experience, Puddicombe has been acknowledged as the U.K.'s foremost mindfulness meditation ... More
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23. Cutting the Ties That Bind
by Phyllis Krystal
24. Looking at Mindfulness: 25 Ways to Live in the Moment Through Art
by Christophe Andre
25. True Belonging: Mindful Practices to Help You Overcome Loneliness, Connect with Others & Cultivate Happiness
by Jeffrey Brantley
Written by the authors of the Five Good MinutesAE series, Jeffrey Brantley and Wendy Millstine, True Belonging presents inspirational quotes, ... More
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text:
Special to the Times
The Minford Local School district announced its seventh annual Athletic Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on August 24 prior to the start of the Minford-Rock Hill varsity football game.
The induction ceremony on the field will be preceded by a reception in the Middle School Cafeteria from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The public is invited to come and meet the Inductees at the reception.
The Class of 2012 includes four new members: Lester Brafford, Bill Powers, Cheryl Preston-Bolender, and Ron Goodson.
Lester Brafford is this year's historical candidate. He graduated from Minford High School in 1950 after lettering twice in basketball and three times in baseball. Mr. Brafford was the county free throw champion and ended is career with 697 points.
Bill Powers is a 1979 graduate, was a four-year letterman in track and lettered twice in football. He earned All-SOC honors in football in 1978. Powers excelled as a pole vaulter on the Falcon track and field team. He won the pole vault at SOC meet in both 1978 and 1979. He finished sixth in the state in 1979.
Following high school, Powers continued his track career at Marshall where he was the indoor Southern Conference Pole Vault Champion in 1981 with a vault of 15 feet. That was the Marshall indoor record until 1990. Mr. Powers also finished second at the Outdoor Southern Conference Championships in 1981.
The third member of the class of 2012 is Cheryl Preston-Bolender. She graduated from MHS in 1983. She was a four-year letter winner on the Lady Falcon basketball team from 1980-1983. She was named to the SOC First Team three times in her career and scored 1,371 points.
Preston-Bolender continued her basketball career at Shawnee State where she earned Honorable Mention All American honors in 1985. Preston-Bolender also earned four varsity letters from the track and field team.
Ron Goodson rounds out the Minford Wall of Fame Class of 2012. Goodson is a 1987 graduate of MHS where he was a standout on the soccer team, earning four varsity letters.
Goodson earned two track and field letters as well. He was twice named to the SOC soccer First Team and was named his team's most valuable player in 1986 and three times was voted the team's Best Offensive Player. Goodson holds the Minford single season goal record at 47 and his 117 career goals is also a Minford High School Soccer record.
Following high school, Goodson continued his playing career at Rio Grande where he was named the team's MVP in 1988 and was named to the All-Mid Ohio Conference First Team. He then transferred to Shawnee State where he ended his career with 44 goals. Ron Goodson is now the head coach at Shawnee State University where he has coached 49 all conference players, 19 NAIA Academic All Americans, and nine Academic All-Ohio players.


text:
This year's legislative session brought some good news for the city of New Orleans: a dedicated funding source to help pay the cost of servicing Harrah's Casino. That's the topic of this week's commentary by Eyewitness News Political Analyst and Gambit columnist Clancy DuBos.
Clancy DuBos / EyewitnessNews Political Analyst
NEWORLEANS-- In Greek mythology, Sisyphus had to push a large boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, before having to push it back up again and again, forever.
State Rep. Walt Leger, D-New Orleans, probably felt a lot like Sisyphus in recent years. Every year since 2010, Leger passed a bill to give the city a dedicated source of $3.6 million owed by the state, annually, for municipal services to Harrah's Casino.
And four straight years, Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed Leger's bill.
What's especially frustrating is that fact that the money was promised, in writing, as part of a deal to legalize the land-based casino more than 20 years ago. It's supposed to repay the city for police, fire, sanitation and other services that keep the casino operating, because the city gets none of the taxes that Harrah's pays the state.
Finally, this year, Jindal signed Leger's bill. New Orleans no longer has to beg for the money it is owed.
At long last, Leger's boulder stayed atop the hill.


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Discount Tickets to Young Frankenstein in the Phoenix & Philadelphia areas.
If you have a sense of the ridiculous, you'll love these ridiculously cheap tickets for Mel Brooks' classic musical Young Frankenstein. See the show for less in Savvy Cities (links below).
"Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend" and "Puttin' on the Ritz" are just a few of the Franken-tunes we like about this show. Decent seats are reserved at killer prices for this hilarious musical, so if you want them, "walk this way."
Mr. Brooks wrote the show's music and lyrics by himself and collaborated with Thomas Meehan on the book, which includes such outrageous but beloved elements from the movie as a hunchback's shifting hump — right shoulder in one scene, left in another. —New York Times review
Young Frankenstein Ticket Deals
PHOENIX area
DEAL: Young Frankenstein Discount Tickets — $16.50 (reg. $33.00). Sign in first (free) with the deal source. Then print a voucher and go.
WHEN: February 13 – March 1, 2015. See the deal website for whats available now.
WHERE: Fountain Hills Theater Mainstage, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268.
PHILADELPHIA area
DEAL: Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein Discount Tickets — $29.50 (reg. $59.00). No coupon or promo code needed. Simply sign in free, choose your tickets, and print a voucher.
WHEN: January 17 – February 22, 2015.
WHERE: The Candlelight Theatre, 2208 Millers Road, Wilmington, DE 19810.
SAVVY TIP: This show is recommended for ages 10 and up.


text:
US says Manning leak hurt human rights work
More News from Associated Press
FORT MEADE, Maryland— A U.S. State Department official says the 250,000 diplomatic cables that soldier Bradley Manning disclosed through WikiLeaks hurt the department's ability to advance human rights because some foreign citizens were endangered and some activists became reluctant to seek U.S. help.
Acting Assistant Secretary Michael Kozak testified Friday at Manning's sentencing hearing. Prosecutors are trying to show that the leaks harmed U.S. interests, while the defense says they didn't. Manning has said he leaked the material to expose wrongdoing by the military and U.S. diplomats.
Manning faces up to 136 years in prison for leaking classified information to the anti-secrecy group while working as an intelligence analyst in Iraq in 2010. The 25-year-old was convicted Tuesday of 20 of 22 counts, including Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud. He was acquitted of the most serious charge, aiding the enemy.
Kozak said the cables identified people who had worked with the United States, putting them at risk of death, violence or incarceration. He said the department helped some of those people relocate.
"We had a moral obligation" to protect people who had spoken to diplomats in confidence, Kozak said.
He declined to say publicly how many people his working group determined to be at risk. He said he would provide the number in a session closed to spectators and reporters that followed his open-court testimony. Prosecutors requested the closed session to protect classified information.
Kozak said the greatest damage to State Department human-rights efforts was a "chilling effect" on foreign activists seeking U.S. help.
"They can't be sure now whether what they say to us is going to remain confidential or whether it's going to be broadcast around," Kozak said.
Earlier Friday, the department's former computer chief testified that it wasn't her fault that the diplomatic cables were stolen and leaked.
Manning's top-secret security clearance gave him access to a classified government computer network that included the cables.
"I believed that the intent of the system was correct: If you're on a system and you're cleared to handle classified information, that you're going to handle it appropriately," said Susan Swart, now chief information officer for the International Monetary Fund.
She said that after WikiLeaks began publishing the leaked cables, the department quickly moved such material to a more restricted network, where users had to justify their desire to read the cables.
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text:
Kilkea Castle
Kilkea castle was built in 1181 by Sir Walter de Riddlesford and later, by marriage, came into possession of the Earls of Kildare who resided at the stronghold for more than 700 years.
It is rumoured that the 11th Earl of Kildare, known as "Wizard Earl" is still haunting the walls of Kilkea castle. He was highly interested in alchemy which caused lots of suspiciousness at his time and so he was suspected possessing magical powers. He died in 1585 and is supposed to return to Kilkea every 7th year.
In the late 1960's the castle became a hotel/ restaurant. That's why, unfortunately, only the exterior can be admired today (unless you've got 250 €uros for a room).
Kilkea castle can also be booked for weddings and conferences and does have a golf course, too.Related to:
- Castles and Palaces
- Historical Travel
- Luxury Travel
Great for blowing off the cobwebs.
Donadea Forst park is situated in County Kildare about 30 miles from Dublin. To say that it is forest is stretching the definition somewhat. Quite when a wood becomes a forest I have no idea - ut tghis place still strikes me as being on the woody side.
Apart from the annoying 4 euro car parking charge, a walk around this delightful place is just the ticket. There are a couple of walks to consider. The shorter (1 mile) walk heads around the lake area, whilst the longer walk around the perimeter of the forest is just over 3 miles in length. All walks are on broad paths suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
A couple of other features of the place that may interest visitors :
There is a monument to the 9/11 terrorist attack. It is a moving piece - thoughful, appropriate and contemplative. This monument has led to more American visitors taking a break from the bussle of Dublin, 'recharging their batteries' at the same time.
Near the entrance to the walks there is a 'Hansel and Grettlish' cafe without picnic table and the like. Serves coffee and cake even in the depths of winter.
Watch a Morning Training Run
It was pure magic! The horses came silently out of the mist as in a dream. And, for me, it was dream come true. Not that I love the racing - no, but the idea of man and horse enjoying life together. It is obvious that the animals were eager to run, but they were calm and composed.
(There should just be 5 photos. I don't know why they copied so many times. 2 attempts to correct this were not successful. Any suggestions?)Related to:
- Horse Riding
- Family Travel
walk around the town
Driving from Athlone (Baile Atha Luain) through Tullamore and Kildare (Cill Dara) to Glendalough (Gleann da Loch) is quite an adventure. You never know if the road will be a full two lanes, one and one-half, or a bridge where only one vehicle can pass at a time. Three times we came across sheep on the road. Kildare has the National Stud Farm, and the region with its many house farms is reminiscent of Kentucky. We saw several thatched cottages as well. Of course, we stopped in Kildare for our daily fix of historic ruins and churches.
photos from our trip thru here.Related to:
- Arts and Culture
- Historical Travel
- Castles and Palaces
Cill Dara
Kildare is one of the oldest towns of Ireland and famous mostly for St. Brigid of Kildare and the present cathedral which was built in 1223 by Ralph of Bristol.
St. Brigid, the founder of the original church that was built at this spot in the 5th century, is one of the 3 most famous Irish saints (along with St. Patrick and St. Columcille). She built the small church close to an great oak tree (Kildare derives from Cill Dara - Church of the Oak). And as the number of St. Brigid's followers grew, the church was extended into a monastery and in 484 AD St. Conleth became the first Bishop of Kildare.
The cathedral has been restored and enlarged many times since then and has, in 13th century, even been fortified to become both, a place of devotion and defence.
Today's cathedral houses many treasures, including an altar frontal designed by John Ninian Comper. At the cathedral's graveyard you can find a 32 metres high Round Tower (which can be entered and which is one of the last that has been erected in Ireland), the ancient High Cross of Kildare and several medieval tombs.Related to:
- Historical Travel
- Religious Travel
St. Fiachra's Garden at Irish National Stud
Another garden on site is St. Fiachra's Garden; the Patron Saint of Gardens.
We didn't have time to visit this garden but from what we could see it looked very peaceful. The concept of the garden seeks to present to the visitor a natural environment which inspired the spirituality of the 6th and 7th centuries monastic movement in Ireland. In the center there are monastic cells.
I can imagine that the walk through this garden takes more time if you want to fully enjoy and relax.Related to:
- Family Travel
- Religious Travel
Japanese Gardens - at Irish National Stud
Surprisingly horses are not the only things to visit at the Irish National Stud. It is also the grounds for the Japanese Gardens (which seemed a bit out of place in Ireland) and the St. Fiachra's Garden.
The Japanese Gardens were beautiful. Lovely walk.... the Gardens were planned to symbolise the 'Life of Man' and you will need the handout map if you don't want to miss anything.
Of course there is an extra fee to enter the Gardens.Related to:
- Family Travel
- Romantic Travel and Honeymoons
- Religious Travel
Irish National Stud
Visit Ireland's finest thoroughbreds..... Lovely visit with a guide who explains the history and the breading process. You can see the love they have for their horses. When the breeders get too old, they still have a home there for the rest of their life. Not too far from Dublin, makes a great day trip.
Their most famous thoroughbred is Indian Ridge, which is pictured on the postcard on my Kildare main page.Related to:
- Arts and Culture
- Family Travel
- 1
County Kildare Hotels
The Courtyard
Main Street, Leixlip, County Kildare, Ireland
Satisfaction: Excellent
Good for: Families
Osprey Hotel
A friend booked the Osprey for me and I must say I was absolutely delighted with her choice. We...more
K Club Dublin
We had a fabulous visit to The K Club. The Hotel has a rich charm with it's welcoming décor and the...more
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text:
Intel® Xeon® processors make distributed-intelligence possible.
IoT smart city applications demo industrial lighting and environmental data monitoring in city parks.
Pecan Street Inc. conducts an energy research project with utilities, businesses, and homeowners.
Increase automation with connected intelligence to maximize production efficiency .
Provides service edge solution for interconnectivity that increases revenue potential.
Learn how intelligent digital advances and signage solutions enhance shopper experience.


text:
Pronunciation: Animela
Added on: 2010-01-24 Listened: 2 timesin: tipos de carnes bovinas
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text:
STARmeterSEE RANK
Up 277,478 this week
Jeff Davis (I)
Jeff Davis was born on November 18, 1933 in Henderson Tennessee, USA as Jeffrey Wyatt Davis. He is an actor, known for Man and Child (1956), Folies-Bergère (1956) and Have Gun - Will Travel (1957). See full bio »
More at IMDbPro » Represent Jeff Davis? Add or change photos


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George W Bush is to be a grandpa
congratulations to him, Jenna is having a baby
Congrats to the family! Such a blessing and wonderful news. May she have a happy and healthy 9 months.
Saw her on Today this morning.
Congrats to the family. He seems like he'd be a pretty fun grandpa.
Congratulations to them. I'm sure they're all very excited.
I heard them talking about it on The Today Show. They all seem very excited.


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Over the next two weeks, the Republicans and Democrats officially choose their nominees for president, which brings to mind this: Democracy is a funny thing. Funny as in weird.
In what other realm of human endeavor do we ask everyone to join together to decide what to do about critically important stuff, as we will for the November election?
Imagine being on a jetliner where the pilot dies, then holding an election in the air to decide what to do. Let's say 100 people favor appointing the co-pilot to take over, but 101 people vote to have the smiley-face flight attendant grab the controls instead, mostly because her jokes were funnier, and she had some nasty things to say about the co-pilot.
Or, God forbid, imagine you were diagnosed with a brain tumor. Would you poll as many people as possible to get a consensus on which surgeon should operate? Or would you ask a select few with more informed opinions?
Let's say you've avoided airplanes on which pilots drop dead, and you are spared the grief of a brain tumor. Instead, you must decide what to do with your life's savings for retirement. Will you fetch your clipboard and survey every person you can find at the grocery checkout stand, walking their dogs in the park and sleeping under a local bridge? No, probably not.
Then why is it that, when deciding national policy on the economy, jobs, health, education, welfare, war and peace and, yes, even financial planning for old age, it's automatically assumed to be a good idea that everyone who has drawn a breath for at least 18 years should have a say on the matter?
Such is democracy. The nation's founders understood the inherent limitations. That's why they set up a complex hybrid system that checks and balances the tyranny of the majority through elaborate republican representative mechanisms. This season that elaborate scheme will play out when what begins with individual voters very democratically each choosing a single candidate ultimately results in a convoluted republican representative device that would do Rube Goldberg proud – the Electoral College.
Needless to say, the concept of one-man, one-vote is considerably blurred by the time Electoral College electors do the actual choosing of a president after voters' ballots are counted, considered and even, as is entirely legal, not considered, as the case may be.
"Get out the vote!" seems so American. So patriotic. But admit it: so unwise. Or do you really believe the appeal of a smiley flight attendant and the uninformed majority's choice of a brain surgeon are good ways to go?
A political blogger recently posted the patently obvious: "[T]urnout will be so critical to this year's election."
But it's not just how many turn out to vote that is "so critical" to every election, but who those people are. Much was made four years ago that Barack Obama was vastly preferred by college-age voters, 18 to 21 years old. But those young people are four years older today, and perhaps four years wiser, if not four years more jaded by what has transpired since. In their place is a new crop of 18-to-21-year-olds, who were not even eligible to register to vote the last time we chose a president.
A hopey-changy campaign by a personable minority candidate, who tweeted and had a Facebook page, whipped up much youthful enthusiasm in 2008. That was then. This is now.
This presidential campaign may be as polarized as any in memory. As we enter the two-week period when Republicans and Democrats walk through their choreographed nomination rituals, the rhetoric already has risen to the lofty level of, "We think you stink even more than you think we stink!"
Alas, once again, the fate of the nation will be determined, not so much by the feverishly devoted at the ends of the political spectrum, but by what we endearingly refer to as the "muddled middle." Pollsters commonly refer to them as "independents," as in unaligned with political parties, or as the "undecided," as in clueless.
If this doesn't bother you, maybe it should. Considering the saturation level of political, economic and related news engulfing America 24/7, is it even plausible that people haven't had enough information yet to arrive at an informed decision?


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Press release from CNW Group
Treasury Metals Drills 5.2 Metres at 18.6 g/t Au at Goliath Gold Project
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Treasury Metals Drills 5.2 Metres at 18.6 g/t Au at Goliath Gold Project08:17 EST Tuesday, December 11, 2012TSX:TMLTORONTO, Dec. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - Treasury Metals Inc. is pleased to report drilling results that indicate the presence of a high-grade mineralized shoot in the footwall at the Company's flagship Goliath Gold Project located approximately 20 kilometres east of the City of Dryden in northwestern Ontario. The shoot, located in the central part of the Goliath deposit, has been intersected approximately 50 metres behind the project's Main Mineralised Zone. New interpretation suggests it will form part of the project's mineralised C Zone gold resource. These results are considered significant since this would be the first high-grade zone encountered within the project's sparsely drilled C Zone that parallels the main zone. It has the potential to add mineable gold ounces to the project's planned open pit and underground stopes.The high-grade shoot was encountered as a result of extending previously drilled TL164 that was interpreted to have been cut-off short of intercepting the C Zone. Anomalously high gold values in TL11-220 (3.5 metres at 14.9 g/t Au) were interpreted to be substantially into the footwall beyond the Main Zone and determined follow-up possibilities in the C Zone. A subsequent database review indicates that as many as 80 previously drilled holes throughout the Main Zone (primarily drilled by Teck) have probably been cut-off before intercepting the C Zone as presently interpreted.Recent drill hole intercepts, summarized in the table below, define a high-grade area measuring roughly 100 metres along strike and 150 metres down-dip with an interpreted 70 -75 degree rake to the west. These are the first holes of the Goliath exploration program commenced in late October 2012. Further exploration drilling is being carried out to test the C Zone and possible further footwall extensions in the area of the proposed open pit. Additional results will be released for this drilling as assays become available.C Zone Drill Results: Drill Hole From (m) To (m) *Interval (m) Au (g/t) CommentsTL08-52-12RE 469.6 472.0 2.4 5.1 Re-entered TML drill holeTL164-12RE 485.3 502.4 17.1 5.9 Re-entered Teck drill holeIncluding 485.3 490.5 5.2 18.6 VG, pulp metallic assayTL12-278 363.0 377.0 14.0 1.9 Including 370.3 375.4 5.1 3.9 VG, pulp metallic assayTL12-279 435.5 440.2 4.7 3.7 TL12-280 424.0 474.0 50.0 0.7 Including 424.0 430.0 6.0 1.9 *Intervals do not necessarily indicate true widths. See attached map for drillhole locations. All depths and assays rounded to one decimal place. Typical sample interval approximately 1m; weighted averages use 0.3 g/t Au cut-off except for 'included' higher grade sections.Treasury Metals' President and Chief Executive Officer Martin Walter commented: "We are certainly excited about this new high-grade shoot since it occurs in an area with relatively little past drilling. Besides being open at depth, the shoot still has opportunity for further delineation along strike, and the upward extension into the future open pit still needs to be defined."The mineralization that occurs in the C Zone is associated with an enrichment of base metal sulphides in a felsic meta-volcanic rock described in core logging as a muscovite-sericite-schist and is also typical of the Main Zone. A low-grade gold envelope (< 0.1 g/t Au cut-off) up to 30 metres thick typically envelopes a higher-grade interval of 1.0 - 5.0 metres thick; mineralization is conformable to the foliation.Technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. John J. Chulick, a consulting geologist registered in the State of California, who is the Qualified Person for the Goliath Gold Project under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101.To view further details about the Goliath Project, an updated C Zone and Main Zone long section, please visit the Company's website at www.treasurymetals.com.Quality Assurance and Quality ControlThe Company has a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program to ensure sampling and analysis of all exploration work is conducted in accordance with the CIM Exploration Best Practices Guidelines. The drill core is sawn in half with one-half of the core sample shipped to Accurassay Laboratories in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The other half of the core is retained for future assay verification, and/or metallurgical testing. Other QA/QC procedures include the insertion of blind blanks and standards for every tenth sample in the sample stream. Selected quarter core duplicates were assayed for 5% of the samples. The laboratory re-assays 10% of all samples (pulps and rejects) and additional checks are routinely run on anomalous values including gravimetric analysis and pulp metallics. Gold analysis is conducted by lead collection, fire assay with atomic absorption and/or gravimetric finish on a 30 gram sample. Check assays by a secondary lab are completed as necessary.Forward-looking Statements This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expect, are forward-looking statements. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Treasury Metals disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws.SOURCE: Treasury Metals Inc.For further information: Greg Ferron Vice President, Corporate Development T: 1.416.214.4654 email@example.com Martin Walter President and CEO T: 1.416.214.4654 firstname.lastname@example.com


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Wil Petty email@example.com
May 30, 2014
All members of the Todd Volunteer Fire Department were cleared following an investigation into the department's finances by the Watauga County Sheriff's Office, as requested by the Watauga County Board of Commissioners.
"It has been determined that no evidence was found of any alleged criminal activity, alleged criminal intent, or criminal misconduct, as a result of this intense investigation regarding the Todd Volunteer Fire Department, its Board of Directors, Todd VFD command officers, members, and any individual fire fighter(s)," according to a May 30 release by the Watauga County Sheriff's Office, headed by Sheriff Len Hagaman.
According to the release, the Sheriff's Office was asked by the Board of Commissioners, through the Watauga County Manager's office to investigate the VFD's financial business and accounting practices, following a query from an annual audit performed by Bryce Holder, CPA and PA for Watauga County. The information the county asked the VFD to provide was not provided "in a timely matter."
In addition, the Board of Commissioners reported they had received a written request from a concerned citizen asking for a formal investigation by law enforcement and county funds be withheld from Todd VFD for the 2014-15 fiscal year.
Todd VFD fire chief Chris Welch said there was no surprise they were not found in violation.
"I knew we had not done anything illegal the entire time," he said. "That's really the only thing I can say about it."
The Todd VFD is a 501(c)(3) organization, governed by a Board of Directors. Volunteer Fire Departments are determined to be a private entity under state statutes 132 and 153A. According to the release, "part of the initial investigation included a letter from attorney Jak Reeves that verified this information."
While Todd VFD falls under those protections, the release said the VFD contacted the WCSO "to voluntarily and fully cooperate with the request; regarding any allegations of criminal misconduct."
"We knew we didn't do anything illegal, unless it was something beyond us," Welch said. "We made the one mistake, we didn't fill out the IRS return and that was the only thing we were guilty of not doing. I'm glad that the information is fully out there now."
The WCSO Criminal Investigations Section requested assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to help conduct the investigation.
According to the release, "All necessary and requested information and documentation were received, processed and thoroughly reviewed in concert with the Office of Watauga County Manager, the Watauga County Department of Finance and Bryce Holder."
The WCSO also contacted the North Carolina Department of Revenue and the IRS for their assistance in the investigation. All of the results were then presented to the Office of District Attorney for the 24th Judicial District, which covers Watauga, Avery, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties.
"Following the review by all appropriate federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, it is reported that the inquiry and investigation requested by the Watauga County Board of Commissioners has been completed," according to the release.
Wil Petty can be reached at (336) 846-7164 or on Twitter @WilPetty.


text:
Social media worlds are colliding. After Robert Griffin III put up a Facebook post defending himself against some criticism he frequently receives from fans, the sports media world naturally reacted to it. Now Griffin has reacted to the reaction, this time via Twitter.
Answer a fan question on Facebook & it is reported as an "issued statement to critics and fans".....SMH. Not the case people.— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 13, 2014
He added this a couple of minutes later.
All good tho pic.twitter.com/KHnftKciqp— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 13, 2014
So, what are we to make of this? There are a couple of schools of thought here. One has some fans cheering Griffin on, happy that he is addressing the myriad of criticism that he has come under in the wake of his disappointing performance that was a big part of the problem in the Redskins' 3-13 record in 2013. After all, you can't let shots at you go unanswered because then people hear them over and over without a response then the will believe that the criticism is accurate.
The other viewpoint here is that Griffin should just ignore the negative comments and go on about the business of getting ready for the 2014 season. The result of responding is usually just more of the same being thrown out there.
It doesn't seem as though the original Facebook post was anything out of line. Perhaps it could be described as a frustrated rant or maybe just plain speaking. But reacting to the reaction? That seems to be a bit much. If your statement is drawing a reaction that you didn't expect, it's best to get it out and move on.
They say that if you're explaining, you're losing. Griffin might be wise to learn that adage and move along.