text:
- Feyisayo Anjorin
- Johannesburg
- South Africa
Freelance Director, Afro-Carribean Media Group
This conversation is closed.
If one's reasoning is not based on love, one is more likely to make wrong choices than right ones.
We've got the best of us, we've got the worst of us; and we've got everything in-between.
I have not seen any human society that sees love as a vice. There have been debates about who should be the first object or subject of our love; and we argue about priorities and preferences about love; some hold on to ancient wisdom, some would think wisdom is as new as fancy gadgets.
Love is desirable; we seek it and give it, and we proclaim it without shame.
If no voice is strong enough to smother the glory of love, could we be right to say that love is the ultimate guide?
Barry Palmer
Nov 25 2012: When dealing with ethical choices, one of my major guidelines is, When in doubt, do the loving thing. Sometimes it is difficult to determine what that should be. Looking back, it was not always the best choice, but I have never regretted doing the loving thing. It is always a choice I can justify, and feel satisfied that I did the best I could under the circumstances. It is not an absolute, but as you say, it is more likely to produce right choices.Dec 8 2012: Good love can make this a heaven on earth. When we have been raised well and grown up a loving person, we can encourage everyone else to the same 'position'.
- +4
"The essence of love is loving others than oneself, wishing to be one with them and devoting oneself to their happiness."
Love is the base, the 'material', the motive.
How we apply that, use it, is giving shape or form to that Love.Nov 26 2012: Hello Feyisayo:>)
I believe that at any given time, we are coming from a place of love (respect, appreciation, gratitude, compassion, empathy, humor, joy, curiosity etc.), or a place of fear (hate, disrespect, lack of compassion and empathy, greed, etc).
In my perception and experience, love opens all channels and sources for information, so it is more likely that the choices and decisions we make while in a state of love will be more successful....that is how it has been for me in my 60+ years of the life adventure.
Some folks seem to perceive love as seperate from logic and reason. For me, love is the foundation of all that is, and strongly supports everything in the life experience when/if we open our heart and mind to that possibility:>)
Nov 26 2012: I love the point you made that 'love opens all channels and sources for information'.
According to Albert Einten: "Love is a better teacher than a sense of duty".
Nov 27 2012: I love that you love that point Feyisayo:>)
Coming from a place of love causes me to feel open hearted, open minded, curious and ready to receive information without conditions....unconditional love. Love draws people to us, and connects all of us.
When I have felt, at times in the past, that I was coming from a place of fear, I felt closed up in my heart and mind....unwilling, or unable to receive or give anything.
People sometimes perceive love and fear to be seperate from reason and logic, when in fact it is all connected.Dec 6 2012: I agree Feyisayo, that love is a very good teacher, opening up many possibilities, WHEN/IF we recognize and acknowledge ALL the possibilities.Nov 26 2012: I love the point you made that 'love opens all channels and sources for information'.
According to Albert Einten: "Love is a better teacher than a sense of duty".Nov 26 2012: I love the point you made that 'love opens all channels and sources for information'.
According to Albert Einten: "Love is a better teacher than a sense of duty".Nov 30 2012: When we "do good to others", we act on our own understanding of "good". How do we know that what we do to others is, actually, "good" for them? We cannot even rely on their own words - people often beg for harmful things: drugs, alcohol, etc.
"Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
This is one of the toughest commandments to practice right. Should we give money to a drug addict if we know for sure he will use it to buy drugs? What if person asking to borrow money from us is wealthier than we are and we would have to deny our children a Christmas present to borrow money to that person?
Does reasoning help at all in these cases? Or shall we go with the "gut feeling"?
Nov 30 2012: Wisdom is a neccessity.Nov 30 2012: How do we know that what we do to others is, actually "good" for them?
Ask them, and genuinely listen.
Arkady, look and listen to your own questions...
Give to the one who asks, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow? Whose words are those?
We have the ability to think AND feel for a reason...to use both...and all other sources of information.
Roy Bourque
Nov 28 2012: That was the claim of a messiah. Love of God for us, our love of God and for each other has no law against it.
- +2
The only problem I see in this is when we love for the wrong reasons. If love is selfless, it opens doors to mutual cooperation. Everyone works to each other's benefit. When love of self is greater than love for others, then it becomes corrupted. Soap operas are built on selfish love. It creates a society that implodes on itself.
Tough love is another issue. We all need to know what the rules are to succeed. Yet some think that rules were made to be broken. Tough love doesn't feel like love to the one being corrected, even though the intent is the help the person become a better person.
When love comes from the one who gave it (the creator of us all), then I fully agree with you.
Nov 28 2012: Yes, we can only give what we have; when we recieve the love of our creator, we are able to love with a pure heart.
Dec 6 2012: Roy and Feyisayo,
There certainly is no "law against" any kind of love, and there certainly are limitations created when one says love is "the claim of a messiah", or we can only give/receive love when it is from a creator.
This belief serves to seperate and divide perple, rather than bringing people together, which is a direct contradiction of what "pure", unconditional love is!
I totally agree with you Fayisayo, that we "can only give what we have", and many people have "pure", unconditional love in their/our hearts without the belief in a creator/god.Nov 29 2012: Hello Roy and Feyisayo:>)
How can we "love for the wrong reasons"? That would not be real love would it? Do you have an example?
I don't have the example of soap operas for reference....don't watch them!
I agree that we need to know what the rules are , and I do not agree with using "tough love", which can be abused and mis-used. While the basic concept may have had some value, the idea has been WAY misused, misunderstood, misinterpreted, etc. Again....I ask.....is that real love?
When I volunteered at the shelter, and answered the hotline, it was not uncommon for women to call in to say that she was beaten, with broken bones, and the abuser (brother, father, husband, boyfriend, lover, etc.) told her that he really loved her, and he was practicing "tough love". While volunteering with offenders of violence and abuse in correctional facilities, I often heard them tell the story of why they were angry and assaulted their loved one...."tough love"....you know?
Yes, it is good to have boundaries and rules, AND it is not good to force them on others with "tough love". I believe that term has no beneficial value because it has been so misused.
What do you mean..."when love comes from the creator"? Either the creator is all loving and loves all of us, or not? If you believe in a creator, when does he/she/it withhold love?
Nov 29 2012: Colleen,
You have made the distinction between real love and what some people claim as love. That is why I responded to Fayisayo as I did. Many don't know the difference and regard many forms of abuse or lust as a form of love. These people don't know what real love is. I wanted that to be brought into the topic so that people think about what real love is.
Nov 29 2012: Yes, I made the distinction because your comment says that we can "love for the wrong reasons", and "Tough love doesn't feel like love to the one being corrected, even though the intent is the help the person become a better person".
In my humble perception, neither being in love for the wrong reasons, or tough love are "real love". I realize that some folks perceive abuse or lust as a form of love, which is why we don't need to encourage it as if it is real love.....that is why I made the distinction.
What are, in your perception, some of the "wrong reasons"?
I ask again...what do you mean when you say..."when love comes from the creator"? Either the creator is all loving and loves all of us, or not? If you believe in a creator, when does he/she/it with hold love?
Jimmy Strobl
Nov 29 2012: I second Colleens question,
- +1
"what do you mean when you say..."when love comes from the creator"? Either the creator is all loving and loves all of us, or not? If you believe in a creator, when does he/she/it with hold love?"
But I can make an attempt to answer part of them already. God is a "he" because Roy is a christian and therefore he believes in the holy Father. Perhaps god withholds love from those who do not worship him or believe in him. On the other hand Muslims believe in the same god as Jews and Christians and I'm really wondering who god is withholding love from when it comes to... say Israel - Palestine...Nov 30 2012: Jimmy brings up a good question/thought/feeling...
Which creator? Which god? Yes, according to teachings, whatever creator one believes in is going to withhold love from everyone else who may believe in a different creator, or maybe no creator at all. This behavior, from people and gods we are told are unconditionally loving!!!
That is an idea which has only served to seperate humankind throughout history. We're told that the creator (take your pick regarding which one) will send everyone who does not believe in "him" to an eternity in hell simply for denying "his" existance? Or believing in a different god? That is contradictory, and makes no sense. The holy books and teachings of the churches (supposedely coming directly from a god) tell us that we are all one. THEN we are told by church leaders that some of us are simply going to hell because we do not believe in a god, or do not believe in the "RIGHT" god to be saved! THIS IS NOT LOVE...IT IS CONTROL.
Roy Bourque
Nov 30 2012: Colleen,
- +1
I noted your distinction because you understand real love. Not everyone does. Many claim to love, but are not capable of expressing real love, because love to them is based on lust and control. They call it love, and that is what I mean when I say they love for the wrong reasons. Granted it isn't real love, but they can't tell the difference because that is the only concept of love that they know. There are far too many cases of abuse or rape in which the aggressor claims that love drove them to it. Relate that back to Fayisayo's idea and you'll understand why the distinction must be made. An abuser claims that love is the reason even when they have no concept of what real love is.
You noted a kind of tough love that isn't love, but abuse. That is a counterfeit form of tough love. They are trying to force another to change their ways through force or bodily harm. The principle of tough love was never intended to harm the other person. It was to provide restrictions that would hinder the other person from causing harm to themselves or others (this pertains to people of addiction or those prone to destructive tendencies). Working from a hotline, you are only going to get the victims of control freaks. They call it tough love only because that is what they are being told it is by the abuser.
As far as love from the creator, many have no concept of what that is. As Fayisayo says, you can't express what you don't have. It's not that the creator doesn't love them, it is that they are incapable of recognizing it, and therefore, incapable of expressing it to others. What they conceive love to be isn't love at all, but they think that it is and act on it as if it was.
Nov 30 2012: Roy,
Thanks for the response.
*Yes, I do indeed understand real love.
*I understand that everyone does not recognize love.
*We do not know for sure what everyone's expression of love is based on.
*It is not reasonable to judge "them" based on YOUR perception of what "real love" is.
*To judge others, based on YOUR perceptions, is not "real love".
*I understand the concept of "tough love", and I understand how it is mis-used.
*No, working on the hotline did not produce only "victims of control freaks".
*You are limiting yourself with your own preconceived ideas.
*I agree that we cannot express what we do not have in ourselves.
*In my perception, we can have love in our hearts whether or not we believe in a creator.
*"Real Love", is not contingent on belief in a creator.
*In fact, the kind of love we are told comes from a creator, is "tough love" and/or abuse.
*What genuinely loving person or god, would send loving people to an eternity in hell simply because they did not accept that person/god as the creator? That is controlling.
*I totally agree with you Roy..."What they conceive love to be isn't love at all, but they think that it is and act on it as if it was".
*Righteous, domineering, demanding, controlling, abusive people or gods, are not practicing "real love".
*Real love does not have unrealistic conditions.
Thanks for answering my question....in a round about way.
Again, you presume to know what "they" do, based on YOUR beliefs, which seems to put you in a more enlightened...smarter....more informed...dominant position? Only you know for sure why you would want to do that.
Roy Bourque
Dec 6 2012: Colleen,
- +1
I realize that I did not answer your question "which creator, which God would withhold love?"
The creator doesn't withhold love from anyone. People withhold love from themselves or each other based on distorted notions of who or what the creator is. The power of deception, to which religion warns each and every one of us, still rules. They have not overcome it because they do not understand it.
Regardless of the spin that religion puts on it, there is only one creator, the source from which all things come. Though there be many names and many notions, there is only one true source. When one tries to distinguish their creator from another, they are substituting religious doctrine for pure creative energy. Everything that exists, including the entire spectrum of life, can all be reduced to a common denominator. That common denominator is the source from which all creativity flows. It is the same for everything and everyone. It knows no distinction.
Anyone who has had a spiritual encounter with the creator knows that there is only one source for all that is, or was, or ever shall be. Science knows of the source through quantum physics, though it doesn't regard it as creator even though all creative processes emanate and evolve from it. Right brain thinkers of the ancient world did regard it as creator and left clues as to how to experience it. Those clues have been twisted and misconceived throughout the ages into the modern religions of today, distorted by human fears, lusts, and greed. Only a false god would withhold love.
One cannot truly love until one has felt love from the source itself. It can't come from belief, it can only come from experience. That was the point that I was trying to make.
Dec 6 2012: Roy, I understand the point you are trying to make and you are preaching.
The topic of this discussion is:
"If one's reasoning is not based on love, one is more likely to make wrong choices than right ones".
I respect YOUR beliefs as YOUR beliefs. I agree that people withhold love from themselves and each other based on distorted notions, which in my perception, you are distorting even more because of your beliefs. Love, and the ability to reason based on love, is not contingent on a belief in a creator or a god.Nov 27 2012: Divine love has been replaced by human love over the centuries due in part to the absence of a divine God. The vacuum left behind means love has become a kind of objectivized, reductionist shadow of its former self - dwelling more on obsession, lust, sex and infatuation - mainly as a means to procreate our own species, rather than the unconditional love that is the mediator, and the one related to empathy.
I think we make too many choices based on the infatuation and lust for someone or something. And furthermore if we can't get what we lust for, it easily turns to jealousy, envy and anger - which then proves that it probably was not love in the truest (divine) sense, in the first place.
Divine love should be our ultimate guide, but the God from whence that kind of love came, has politicized and commercialized itself out of existence in the minds of many.
Nov 27 2012: Thanks for your response. But I dont think the God which you have called the source of 'divine love' could commercialize and politicize itself out of existence.Nov 27 2012: Thanks for your response. But I dont think the God which you have called the source of 'divine love' could commercialize and politicize itself out of existence.
Nov 27 2012: I think divine love, whether ascribed to a God or just to an overwhelming sense of awe and respect for the universe, is there in all of us - even in the most militant of atheists. It's just that it has become dormant during the protracted era of the Enlightenment and the related notion that science will give us the answers to everything there is to know. Science answers a lot of things, but as far as consciousness is concerned, gets nowhere near any understanding of it in the logical sense.
It's because of this that I cannot substantiate what I'm about to say with evidence, but I'm convinced that our capacity for love (in the divine sense), has moved psychologically from the central right hemisphere over to the left. It has moved from the spiritual to the political - from the altrustic to the commercial. We've become 'unbalanced'.
Many people see religion now as faux spiritualism, and God as a politician - a facilitator of war and hate (the exact opposite of what he should represent). We see this happening on a grand scale when Presidents and Prime Ministers using one hand to turn to 'religion' while the other hand commits horrendous atrocities at the same time - usually to consolidate commercial interests. This kind of reasoning has led to very wrong choices, and is clearly not based on anything even related to love.
Love needs to return to its spiritual home. That home is still there. It's just waiting for the right stimulus.Dec 8 2012: Very very very important title, yes, love can end the wars, it can unite people and bring tolerance and peace. True love comes with selflessness, compassion and clear mind, it needs attention. Attention to other people, attention to yourself and the things around you. But maybe the most important part is, loving without expecting something in return. Because it is the barrier against courage and commitment. If people can truly feel it by heart and act according to that everyone will gain love as a consequence.
. .
Dec 1 2012: Love is the ultimate guide.Nov 30 2012: Since this is a philosophic question then no answer can be wrong. Although some cannot be supported they are the choice of the responder and is right to them.
- +1
I have opted to the Mormon saying "Choose the right" and the youth are given rings that have CTR on them as a reminder.
Reason or "reasoning" is associated with thinking, cognition, and intellect. Therefore reasoning is dependent upon many factors such as culture, education, religion, and the ability to synthesize.
To answer your question: love is but one element that would go into decision making. The ability to make more right decisions than wrong decisions would, in my opinion, be dependent on the amount of information available to the decision maker.
All the best. Bob.
Nov 30 2012: I totally agree Robert...love is but one element that goes into decision making, and the ability to make better decisions may be dependent on the amount of information one is willing to consider.
Nov 30 2012: thank you.
As ever, Bob.
Nov 30 2012: My pleasure as always:>)Nov 30 2012: We can base our choices on love. But can love be a choice? Can we decide to love, consciously commit to love?
Another quote from Alan Watts:
"Never pretend to a love which you do not actually feel, for love is not ours to command."
To this one I tend to disagree. Can we "fake it till we make it?"
Nov 30 2012: We should not fake it till we make it; we should recieve the strength we've been given to live it.
Nov 30 2012: Sometimes, love requires some strength, doesn't it?
Nov 30 2012: Sometimes it does.Nov 30 2012: YesNov 30 2012: Re: "a successful life is based on commitments as feelings are unreliable."
Interesting thought. Feelings are usually juxtaposed with reason and knowledge. What do you think about reliability of those? Do you think, our commitments are or should be based on reason and knowledge?
Do you think all feelings are unreliable or are there feelings we can rely on? And how do we know that we commit to the right thing if not from our feelings?
Dec 1 2012: We should be like an expert conductor, directing feelings, reason and knowledge as in an orchestra.Dec 1 2012: I like that image a LOT Feyisayo, and I often speak about "orchestrating" our lives. Just as the good conductor brings in the different parts of the orchestra when needed, we can engage the different parts of ourselves...all together, (reason, knowledge, feelings used all together) or in sections. When we know the music (ourselves) we know what "parts" to engage in any thought, feeling or action/reaction:>)
When you say that feelings are unreliable Feyisayo, it feels like you are saying that one "part" of the orchestra is not good enough, and I do not believe that to be true:>) I believe that is where knowing ourselves (all parts of the orchestra) and trusting ourselves (that all parts are working well) is important. I cannot figure out why you say feelings are unreliable.Nov 30 2012: I believe we CAN concsiously choose love
Faking love simply sends mixed messages.
It feels better to live love:>)
We have opportunities in every single moment to practice loving thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
Nov 30 2012: Would you say, love is a skill that can be learned or taught? Or is it "we have it or not" deal?
Nov 30 2012: I believe we all have the ability to love, and we need to recognize the possibility in ourselves. I believe love has to start with our "self" because we cannot give something away that we do not recognize in ourselves.
I believe practices or skills can be taught and learned which may bring us closer to love. What do you think?Nov 30 2012: I think, love is more of a willful decision rather than a "feeling" (despite everything said in the discussion of free will). What they call "butterflies in the stomach" in cheesy TV shows isn't love. I think we can make a conscious choice to love. And it takes a lot of practice to do it well.
Nov 30 2012: OK...I think it can be a feeling, which manifests because of a decision to consciously love.
And perhaps the butterflies in the stomach can be a side effect of some forms of love? I sometimes experience butterflies in the stomach from excitement, curiosity, joy, etc....all of which embrace love:>)
I think you're right about it being a conscious choice and it may take practice to express love....AND...It's a REALLY interesting and fun thing to practice on a regular basis:>)Nov 30 2012: Feelings are good if they lead to commitment to love; a successful life is based on commitments as feelings are unreliable. Love is about choices, and sometimes it is hard work.Nov 30 2012: Dear Feyisayo
My feelings are reliable BECAUSE I make that choice, and BECAUSE feelings are very much a part of love.
I do not agree that it is hard work...maybe that is because my mom taught me about unconditional love when I was a wee little lass. As long as we say it is "hard work", that is the reality we create for ourselves......so.....start recognizing joyous love in the heart and you may discover that it is not "hard work" at all!!! :>)Nov 30 2012: Re: "And perhaps the butterflies in the stomach can be a side effect of some forms of love?"
Forgive me my materialism regarding the "butterflies in the stomach", but those seem to be an effect of hormones to me. That seems to be the kind of "love" that disappears once the excitement is gone and people are left to deal with responsibilities - kids to feed, houses to maintain and pay for, etc.
To me, love has to do more with dirty diapers and chores than serenades and poetry. For the most part it's not that "glorious" and does not feel good at all.
Nov 30 2012: This is why there are many divorces these days; not a few people base their love on the intensity of feelings.
It is sometimes hard to comprehend the responsibilities that comes with the commitment to love.Nov 30 2012: Yes, butterflies in the stomach CAN be an effect of hormones. You are talking about a romantic love or relationship. I speak about a universal unconditional love, which I think Feyisayo was addressing with this topic?
When I say I get butterflies in the stomach from excitement, curiosity and joy, I may be talking about a sun rise, sun set, walk in the woods on a beautiful day, etc. etc.Nov 30 2012: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Note, even greater than faith. Reasoning is not even listed...
It's interesting that Greeks distinguished 4 different kinds of love: storge (affection), eros (romance), philia (friendship), and agape (unconditional love). When decisions are based on eros, they might not be the best ones. I guess, you meant agape in your question, right?
Nov 30 2012: Agape strengthens us for philia, eros and storge.Nov 30 2012: I agree that unconditional love strengthens and embraces all other forms of love.Nov 27 2012: Hello Feyisayo, personally I think that love, all by itself is nothing, except if it is formed by wisdom. We can love to do something, but if there is no knowledge as to how, nothing is going to get done. This is the case when either is missing.
Love I think motivates us and wisdom tells us how.
Swedenborg says we are all born with four loves. The love of self, love of the world, love of the neighbour and the love of God. In fact, in that order.
The object of our whole life is to reverse that order. As you say, some are better in achieving that than others.
If you don't mind I'd like to leave a link to a book that deals with love from one end to the other. From Divine Love (and Wisdom) all the way down to our love of self. I hope this helps.
BTW you may know several instances in the Bible where a first-born is made less important than the second one. (Jacob and Esau and Joseph's sons) That is to portray the relationship between love and wisdom and/or charity and faith. The one that comes first is like the learning stage, the next is the application, the use.
In simple terms. Getting a drivers license comes first but being a good/save and useful driver is most important. Faith may come first as to what is regarded as good and evil, but living a life based on (whatever) faith is most important.
So yes, love is most important because it is our drive, and thus also, we are what we love, not what we know.
Nov 27 2012: I love your conclusion 'we are what we love'.
Thanks very much for your contribution.Nov 27 2012: I love your conclusion 'we are what we love'.
Thanks very much for your contribution.Nov 27 2012: Feyisayo, Personally, I do not believe that love is the ultimate guide to make the right choices...I wish it was...as it is easy to make choices governed by love.
Right choices are usually justified by reasoning based on righteousness/doing the right thing...which is comparatively difficult to practice in our daily lives.
Nov 27 2012: I doubt if love (just as righteousness) is as easy as you think.
Not so many people would go the extra mile when it becomes inconvinient.
Nov 28 2012: "'Not so many people would go the extra mile when it becomes inconvenient"
Feyisayo, based on love, people will go the extra mile even if it is inconvenient ..love overrules inconvenience and it becomes the initiative.
However, my reasoning was regarding the right and wrong choices. When we judge our actions (right/wrong choice), do we stop and ask ourselves 'is it based on love?' or 'is this the right thing to do?'
Dec 1 2012: I agree Madhavi that love usually overrules inconvenience.
Why does a choice have to be based on love OR the right thing to do? Can a decision not be based on love AND the right thing to do?Dec 1 2012: Feyisayo,
How can love ever be an inconvenience?
Dec 1 2012: There are times that we have to make certain sacrifices to keep our commitment.Dec 1 2012: Yes, and how about loving that opportunity? Whether something is a "convenience" or "inconvenience" is a perception....is it not? I embrace the idea of doing what I love, or love what I'm doing. I do not feel that I ever make sacrifices to keep a committment. I LOVE the process of "being" human, and giving/receiving in relationships is part of the human life process.
Dec 1 2012: I agree with you. Thoughts about 'convinience' and 'inconvinience' usually results from the feeling that things have to be loveble and lovely before they are worth loving.Dec 1 2012: True Feyisayo,
So the idea of convenience/inconvenience comes from expectations? How we think/feel things "should" be? So, if we change our perception of how things "should" be, and let go of our expectations, there really is no such thing as convenience/inconvenience? That feels like unconditional love to me:>)Dec 1 2012: Madhavi,
Why do you say doing the right thing is difficult to practice in our daily lives?
Dec 1 2012: Dear Colleen,
When we are faced with obstacles/unforeseeable circumstances, sometimes we are faced with two choices- doing what is right, doing what is easy/comfortable. Doing what is right is not easy..the reason why we have many issues of moral concern in our society.
The reply option was not available in your earlier question "Can a decision not be based on love AND the right thing to do?"
Yes , this would be ideal.
Dec 1 2012: I agree Madhavi, that life offers challenges, and sometimes we have more than one choice regarding how to deal with the challenge. Often times, how I look at the circumstance may change my perception. I honestly don't understand why you say that "doing what is right is not easy". How about if we perceive what is "right" as the more comfortable choice? If we change our perception of the challenge we can create the "ideal".....in my humble opinion:>)Dec 1 2012: " If we change our perception of the challenge we can create the "ideal"."
Well said Colleen!Nov 26 2012: I'm delighted to read Colleen Steen's comment; she understands the characteristics of the love I'm reffering to, and I have no doubt that she lives in love.
The book of 1 Corinthians chapter 13 (in the Bible) also listed the characteristics of the love I speak of.
From these references I think love can be well defined.


text:
Truly Awesome Jacketby Brian - verified purchaser
After riding a ZX6R Ninja and a BMW R1150R Rockster, I purchased a H-D Softail Deluxe. So my next step was to purchase a Leather Jacket to match the bike. I'm extremely pleased with my decision to go with the River Road Caliber. The Jacket has the classic look, but much more. The leather is extremely thick, and still maintains a very soft feel. The zip-out liner provides great versatility for all weather. And there are plenty of pockets for cell phones, wallets, etc. I've owned many leather jackets, and this is certainly at the top of my list of favorites. I am extremely pleased with my purchase. This is a quality product.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Pro Touring is the new Pro Street. Road warriors that can pull triple duty on the street, through the corners, and even down the drag strip are being built all across the country. By adding state-of-the-art technology to 40-year-old street machines, '60s-era cars can ride like a dream and go toe-to-toe with new Corvettes. Tubular control arms, coilover shocks, overdrive transmissions, and thin-wall tires combine to create some of the most versatile hot rods out there.
Some of the Pro Touring qualities that appeal to the masses include a sleek, low-to-the-ground body matched with some of the widest skins tire companies can manufacture. A thick rear tire can both fill out a wheelwell for that needed eye appeal and make a necessary contact patch at 150 mph. In 1972, the General did not suspect gear heads would be jamming in 315/35ZR20 tires out back and now we all are being faced with cutting and grinding to make this happen.
For years, people have performed frame notches and created inner tub extensions mainly for giant Pro Street tires. As of late, the g-machine boys have jumped in on the action--so much so that Detroit Speed & Engineering decided to make life simple with deep tubs for the '68-'72 Nova and many other hot rod applications. Designed specifically to accommodate 315mm-wide tires, DSE's stamped steel, 18-gauge tubs take the headache out of such projects, yet still provide a factory look to the untrained eye.
Provided with the mini-tubs, DSE packs an installation CD with all the information and templates for cutting and grinding. Also, they explain the proper way to perform the frame notch on both sides of the rear framerails to allow for the 315s. Talk to any "old school" fabricator and they will explain to you the countless hours that were needed to cut the old tub out, slice a line down the middle, and weld a 2-inch extension back into place. Though still a job that takes a great deal of time and over $1,000 in labor at your favorite chassis shop, this install is something you could perform yourself with the proper tools and some higher level metalworking skills. Follow along as we make some room for some large skins out back.


text:
Selena Gomez "Loved" Dissing Justin Bieber to David Letterman: Report
Selena Gomez is getting in some low blows against Justin Bieber — and doesn't have any regrets.
The Spring Breakers star gleefully told David Letterman on March 18 that she has made the Biebs cry, and apparently she's glad she said that.
"Selena loved dissing Justin during Letterman," a source tells Hollywood Life.
"She feels great these days, because she looks hot, and has a hot new movie Spring Breakers out, and she has had great success with the The Wizards Return," the source adds. "Everyone is rallying around her."
Meanwhile, her ex isn't doing so well lately.
"Justin is turning into Lindsay Lohan, what with all the partying and him canceling his concert," the source says. "She feels that he has become less popular, and she's just turning into a bad bitch with worldwide fans."
"She feels like she is on top of the world because she is," the insider continues.
Wow! We're loving this feisty new Selena. But a note to self: Never get on her bad side.
Source: Hollywood Life


text:
Related blog posts
SIZING: Button sizes refer to the button's diameter. Thicker or domed buttons may require a longer buttonhole. For exact button measurements, print our Button Sizing Chart, and then check the size before placing your order.
RETURN & EXCHANGE POLICY: Buttons may be returned by mail in their original condition for britexfabrics.com online store credit. We do not accept online button exchanges in-store. See our Return Page for additional details
. FREE SHIPPING: All domestic orders over $80 qualify for free USPS 1st Class shipping!


text:
Women's Snowboard Boots
Free Standard Shipping On Orders Over $50. Free 2-Day Shipping On Orders Over $150.
Boa® Lacing
Boots featuring the quick and easy Boa® closure for effortless lace adjustment.
Burton x Frye® Snowboard Boot
$399.95 $279.96
Starstruck Boa® Snowboard Boot
$199.95 $139.96
Speed Zone Lacing
Boots featuring the fast entry, exit, and adjustment of Speed Zone™ lacing.
Ritual Snowboard Boot
$259.95 $181.96 Limited Stock
Emerald Snowboard Boot
$229.95 $160.96
Day Spa Snowboard Boot
$199.95 $139.96
Mint Snowboard Boot
from $118.96
Support Local Ritual Snowboard Boot
$259.95 Limited Stock
Support Local Emerald Snowboard Boot
$229.95 Limited Stock
Traditional Lacing
Boots featuring the tried and true performance of traditional laces.
Sapphire Snowboard Boot
$229.95 $160.96


text:
Edwin Anderson, M.D., SLUCare physician and infectious diseases researcher, will present "Vaccines for Living" at the next 60-Minute Check-Up on Monday, June 27. The event will be held from 2-3:30 p.m. at the St. Louis County Library Headquarters, located at 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
|Edwin Anderson, M.D.
Sponsored by SLUCare, the physician practice of Saint Louis University, and the St. Louis County Library, the monthly 60-Minute Check-Ups are part of the department of internal medicine's yearlong centennial celebration. The free events are designed to provide information to keep you healthy as well as resources to help you learn more about health-related issues.
Anderson will discuss the four most important vaccines for older adults: influenza, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), shingles and pneumoccal. He also will explain why vaccines become increasingly important as people age.
"As we get older, our immune system is not as active as it used to be. And many older adults have chronic diseases such as lung disease or Type 2 diabetes, which makes them more susceptible to serious influenza-related complications," Anderson explained. "Staying up-to-date on your vaccines is a simple way to prevent illness and live a healthier, longer life."
St. Louis County Library reference librarian Christina Pryor also will talk about library resources available to help people improve their health.
Because space is limited, reservations are recommended. To reserve your spot, call the St. Louis County Library at 314-994-3300.
Upcoming series events include "Exercise in Older Adults" on Monday, July 25, "What Type of Arthritis Do I Have" on Wednesday, Aug. 31, and "Asthma, Hay Fever and Food Allergies" on Monday, Sept. 26.
Read more about the department of internal medicine's yearlong centennial celebration.
SLUCare, the physician practice of Saint Louis University School of Medicine, is the only academic medical practice in St. Louis that is fully accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care Inc. This accreditation is a voluntary process through which the quality of SLUCare services and performance is measured against nationally recognized standards. To schedule an appointment, call 314-977-4440 or 1-866-977-4440. More information is available at www.slucare.edu.


text: Peter in Milan with Daby Toure Daby Touré is a new signing to Real World and can currently be seen supporting Peter Gabriel on tour. He is seen here performing "In Your Eyes' at the recent Milan show. Daby Touré microsite Peter Gabriel tour dates Share : Tweet ‹ The Life Of A Support Band New Tour dates added ›


text:
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Recently, we received a note from one of our customers in the mid-east, requesting a recipe for kashk. She described it as "a thick yellowish-grey paste with "cheesy" scent." She said the closest taste would be a blue cheese sauce or a roguefort dip. She had made a delicious eggplant casserole with it - Kashke Bademjan.*
Her note reminded me that we had posted a request for kashk recipes in the October 2011 Moosletter and had received no replies. So, I decided to open the discussion again here in hopes that we will receive some comments and recipe suggestions about this elusive delicacy.
According to Wikipedia:
Kashk (Persian), keshk, kishk, or kishik is a large family of foods found in Iranian, Kurdish, and Arab cuisine.
In modern Iran, kashk is a thick whitish liquid similar to whey (a dairy product) similar to sour cream, used in traditional Persian/Iranian cooking. It is available as a liquid or in a dried form, which needs to be soaked and softened before it can be used in cooking. Kashk was traditionally produced from the leftovers of cheese-making (more specifically, the milk used to make it).
Traditional dishes containing kashk include "Kashk-e Bademjan" (a dish of grilled aubergines (eggplant) mixed with kashk) , "aash-e reshteh" (a noodle broth with various pulses), "halim bademjan" *(similar to kashk-e bademjan, but with minced meat) and "aash-e kashk" (a broth). (Wikipedia)
A few days after she sent us her note, our customer (who wishes to remain anonymous) found a recipe for kashk in a Persian cookbook - Food of Life and sent me a copy of it. I also found a couple of recipes online - Persian Cuisine From Javane's Kitchen and Daei Mansoor.
Summarizing the 3 recipes, I came up with the one below. (I have not tested it.) However, I would welcome any comments you may have about different ways to make kashk. If you have your own recipe, send it to email@example.com so we can share it in a future issue.
You will need:
8 cups plain (whole fat) yogurt
1 tablespoon sea salt
Cheesecloth or butter muslin
Make sour yogurt by storing it for 1 or 2 days at room temperature (or until it tastes sour).
Place it in a blender with 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon salt. Mix until smooth.
Pour into a pot, bring to a boil and simmer the yogurt (with the top off the pot) until thick, (this may take up to 4 hours).
Drain through 2 layers of cheesecloth or 1 layer of butter muslin until all the liquid has come out (at least 1/2 hour). (You may hang it, press it under some weight or use our new Greek yogurt maker.)
Roll it into walnut-sized balls and place them on a cookie sheet to drain for a couple of hours.
When dry, store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze the little balls of kashk in separate baggies to use when needed.
*Kashke Bademjan
From Persian Recipes
Ingredients (2-4 people):
1-2 large eggplants
approximately 1 cup kashk
1 medium onion
1 - 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons dried mint
Peel the eggplants and cut them up into circles (with a thickness of approximately 1/4" each). Rinse the cut pieces and add some salt to the eggplants. Heat oil on the stove (medium-high heat) in a frying pan and fry the eggplants until golden (both sides need to be fried). If you can't fry all the pieces in the frying pan at once (which may be the case) just set the fried eggplants aside on a plate until they are all done.
Mix the tomato paste with 1/2 cup hot water. Add pepper and salt (as desired) to the tomato paste and water. In the same frying pan, or in a different one, add all the eggplants and pour the liquid mixture over all the eggplants and cover the pan. Allow the eggplants to cook for 10-15 minutes on medium heat.
Peel the onion and finely chop the onion up into pieces. Fry the onion in oil until golden then set aside. Then, fry the dried mint in oil, as well. After you place the eggplants in a serving dish pour the Kaskh over the eggplants and sprinkle the onions and dried mint over them. Its ready to be served.
7 comments:
- rhysmhor said...
I wonder if Kashk is a bit like "Puck" - a ubiquitous cheese product you can get here in Europe in Turkish/Middle Eastern delis? It comes in glass jars with pry-off lids which can be reused as perfect arabic mint tea glasses. The product is white, thick but not as thick as cream cheese, and a little bit sour.
You can see an image of it here: http://www.hashems.com/store/dairy/puck-cheese
- May 23, 2013 at 12:15 PM
- rhysmhor said...
I wonder if Kashk is similar to "Puck", a ubiquitous cheese product you can get here in Europe in most Turkish/Middle Eastern delis?
It comes in little glass jars with pry-off lids that make excellent arabic mint tea glasses.
It is white and thick, but not the thickness of cream cheese. I must admit i always suspected the consistency of it - somehow just a little tooooo smooooth.
You can see an image of the product here: http://www.hashems.com/store/dairy/puck-cheese
- May 23, 2013 at 12:22 PM
- Jeri said...
That's a good question. It sounds like kashk from your description and it looks like it in the jar. Does anybody know?
- May 23, 2013 at 5:41 PM
- Elena said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- March 1, 2014 at 9:27 AM
- leostrog said...
I think i succeeded to repeat original sour taste of Kashk.
I began to make it as basic yogurt, but before adding a starter I added lipase.
After ending of process and for get a thick and creamy mass, I added a little salt and drained the yogurt with cheesecloth.
Received product have a distinctive sour/salty taste and "cheesy" aroma.
- March 1, 2014 at 9:28 AM
- Jeri said...
Congratulations, Elena! Happy cheese making!
- March 1, 2014 at 10:13 AM
Hi, I like to add extra recipe for you , the left over water that you drain from kashk, if keep boiling it and adding some flour or starch to thicken it you will end up with beef bouillon ,which in Iran they call it (gara gourout) do not forget to add extra salt .
- June 24, 2014 at 11:26 AM


text:
Great club! The spin you get is absurd. I've been golfing for over 5 years and never thought one club could change a round. As long as you know how to swing, you will easily knock off 6-8 strokes a round with this thing.
This is the best hitting wedge I have used to date. I have now bought it in 3 different lofts and love all 3. It gets you out of tough situations and gets you tight on the green. All around winner.


text:
Boys Basketball
- News
- Scores & Schedule
- Photos
- Standings
- Rankings
- Leaders
- Honors
- Roster
- Stats
High school sports: Nearly 650 athletes taking talents to next level
More than 640 high school athletes from the 2015 graduating class are moving on to play college sports on either an academic or athletic scholarship. Read more »
Class of 2015: Utah high school athletes with college scholarships
Here's a look at the 645 high school seniors from the 2015 graduating class who received an athletic and/or academic scholarship to play college sports. Read more »
Gallery of champions: All 94 state championship teams from the 2014-15 school year
Photo gallery of every Utah high school state champion. Read more »
What You May Have Missed
Most Popular Across Site
- Polygamous Montana trio applies for wedding...
- UTubers: Vocal Point director, mom dance to...
- U. cornerback Hatfield arrested for...
- First Presidency sends letter with counsel...
- Sister missionaries relocated from Provo MTC...
- LDS Church donates to Utah Pride Center's...
- Ask a Chef: 3 funeral potato recipes that...
- Brad Rock: Hatfield, Natson incidents may...
Most Commented
Across Site
In High school sports


text:
Dr. Carl Friedlander
Last Modified: November 1, 2001
This document is an attempt on my part to provide people with my view of the history of my past almost four and a half years. During this period I have been dealing with brain cancer and a collection of related drug induced side effects. I hope that it can provide useful information for those who read it. I know it will aid me by providing me with an opportunity to vent some of my frustration.
I suspect that I am more fortunate than many in that I started with an extremely supportive group of family and friends. Despite the fact that we are distributed across the country, when either good or bad things happen I can count on support from all my family, close friends and coworkers. There is something about having such strong positive support from family and friends that has made the past four and a half years seem somewhat surreal in nature. As I write this, it is hard for me to believe that it has been such a long time.
Like everyone else who has battled, fought, or struggled against some form of cancer, the process and history is often an interesting part of the experience. I hope that my reactions to various events and the reactions of others are an important message from this story. This experience has involved and stressed a large number of individuals. From my sister and her family, my brother and his family, my parents, wife, children and coworkers, no one has been unaffected. Of course, the immediate family of my sons and wife have been most completely affected and without my wife's help and inspiration I would never have reached today's status.
<p our="" family="" has="" held="" together="" through="" the="" surprisingly="" difficult="" process="" of="" multiple="" trips="" to="" dozens="" doctors,="" numerous="" mri's="" and="" other="" scans="" three="" surgeries.="" no="" one="" experienced="" more="" or="" been="" supportive="" than="" my="" wife.="" it="" is="" often="" hard="" for="" me="" believe="" accept="" how="" extensive="" her="" support="" been.="" after="" four="" a="" half="" years="" courage,="" far="" too="" easy="" take="" daily="" help="" granted.="" wife="" me,="" started="" november="" day="" in="" 1991="" when="" i="" had="" first="" "out="" body="" experience",="" relatively="" mild="" seizure.="" remember="" feeling="" faint="" while="" helping="" prepare="" dinner.="" sat="" down="" at="" dinner="" table="" put="" head="" on="" arm="" rest.="" next="" thing="" remember,="" called="" 911="" because="" simply="" would="" not="" respond="" anything="" she="" said="" did.="" we="" some="" basic="" cpr="" training="" from="" boy="" scouts="" cub="" scouts.="" knew="" wasn't="" having="" heart="" attack="" hadn't="" stopped="" breathing.="" but="" seizure="" disorder="" part="" list.="" this="" gentle="" was="" be="" harbinger="" many="" exciting="" events="" that="" were="" yet="" follow.
I have been accused of being far too positive about events that occur in my life. Calling that first seizure a "harbinger of exciting events" is one of those examples. I admit to being the type of person who is always looking for the good in things and not very interested in the bad. Some of that positive attitude stems from my natural belief that life is a positive experience. I don't see much reason to be negative about things that I can't affect. I try to operate with a few simple rules about the goodness of life.
Looking back, it seems like it took my wife and me a surprisingly long time while working with our local neurologist to develop an understanding that the problem with which we were dealing was a brain tumor on the left side of my brain that was potentially cancerous and likely to affect the performance of my reasoning and speech production. Meanwhile, because of the slow rate of tumor growth, we reasoned that we were dealing with simple astrocytoma or anaplastic astrocytoma. I was fortunate enough to have the time to search for just the right surgeon and/or tumor removal team. With help from my sister, my wife and I started visiting brain tumor groups in the Los Angeles area and settled on a group at the University of Southern California that had a minimally invasive approach for surgical biopsy.
In February of 1992, I had my first stereotactic biopsy at USC and found myself less than excited to discover that we were dealing with anaplastic astrocytoma. I have to admit that my usual positive approach to the world was shaken. My first reaction was something like "I'm dying." It took a day or so and time with my wife and family before I developed my second reaction which was closer to "What comes next."
What came next was radiation treatment and two years of relative quiet while MRI's showed no change and I worked at the day to day process of day to day. In my free time, I went to work on better understanding me and my disease.
I also went to work on trying to understanding what part of my brain had been changed. I felt that I needed to understand where gaps in my cognitive functionality had developed. I wanted to be able to deal with those holes and organize my activities so that I operated as normally as possible. I took advantage of help from my sister's access to research libraries and used her help in developing pointers to a number of research papers. I read as much as I could of the literature that was available about anaplastic astrocytoma. I worked to develop both long term and short term expectations on both the disease development and the cure potential.
After two years of unchanged MRI's, I had my first dramatically changed MRI in June of 1994. A second biopsy revealed that the change in the MRI was due to radiation necrosis, not recurrent tumor. Radiation necrosis is not an unexpected reaction to the radiation treatment that had killed the tumor. We started the process of low dosage steroid treatment to manage the necrotic effect of pressure within the brain. Past history had indicated that after a relatively short period of steroid treatment, the necrosis would resolve.
We waited patiently for a year. Each MRI showed no change. Although the radiation necrosis was not resolving, there was apparently no recurrent tumor. As I have said, you have to be a positivist. However, after nine months, I became convinced and concerned that my intellectual functionality was increasingly degrading. I could not read nearly as well and I was increasingly losing my ability to read and write research papers. Extensive testing with a neuropsychologist confirmed my suspicions.
A third biopsy was performed in April of 1995. Although the tissue collected from this third biopsy suggested the presence of cancerous activity, there was no definite evidence of that fact and the tissue could not be grown. The inability to grow the tissue suggested that there was no tumor activity. Meanwhile, it was clear that we needed to increase the steroid dosage because the radiation necrosis was not being managed with lower dosages of steroids. We increased the steroid dose to 24 milligrams of decadron daily and after a short period, reduced it to 18 milligrams daily. I was also referred to an oncologist.
It's a bit of a surprise how quickly you can collect the set of physicians whose job it is to help you deal with all the small and large pieces of the problem. The neurologist who manages my seizure medication is distinct from the oncologist who is waiting for a good reason to start a chemotherapy regimen. There are follow-ups with the neurosurgeon, the radiation oncologist, the opthamologist and my regular internist.
We started working with the oncologist because it had become clear that non-surgical cancer cures would lie in the use of chemotherapy. Fortunately or unfortunately, the lack of evidence for recurrent tumor suggested that chemotherapy was not indicated at this time. After a long conversation with our oncologist and based on my understanding of some of the literature that we had read, we decided to try Tamoxifen. It is apparently a low risk anticancer approach that has been working well for breast cancer and seemed like it might be worth a try.
As is often the case, the cure can be worse than the disease and one side effect is the development of blood clots. Clotting in the legs hit just as we were passing the magic dosage level of 200 milligrams. The 200 milligrams per day level is the dose needed to get high enough drug concentrations across the blood brain barrier. Two weeks of hospitalization and Heparin were needed while the Tamoxifen slowly left my system. With the support of people at the company, I kept on working by using email and being frequently visited. The good news was that I was able to work fairly well once I had my portable computer set up and attached to the phone. It was like working from a remote office. This experience also helped me recognize the depth of understanding that I had built up regarding the details of my disease. I started to recognize the lack of understanding that was available from many of the physicians with whom we were working. Not many people have tried high dosage Tamoxifen therapy.
It is now almost a year later. I am living at 18 milligrams of decadron daily and continuing to search for information about the use of long term high dose steroids. After almost a year of high dose steroids, I am beginning to learn the side effects and constraints of that drug in addition to the side effects and constraints of all the seizure control drugs that are part of my daily drug regimen. The loss of energy and inability to climb stairs hit relatively quickly in the high dosage regimen. The development of hardening lenses in my eyes from steroid cataracts has been a bit of a surprise. It is yet another of those items with which one learns to deal. The weight gain and water retention becomes a frustration and one does get tired of buying larger clothes despite exercise programs and careful diet. I often find myself complaining about the fact that I have not heard my voice in over a year. Everyone else assures me that I still sound just like I always have. I have heard recordings of my voice before and after. However, the steroid induced changes in the shape of my mouth and face have changed the way my voice sounds to me. The positive news is that I wake up every morning and go to work every day and I am fortunate that I enjoy where I work and what I do. The steady, though slow gain of weight over the past year and my increasing inability to climb stairs, run, or jog leaves me especially frustrated. As do my visits to various physician offices. I have to say that one of the most frustrating parts of my visits to various doctors is the treatment that I get from the nurses. It is interesting how easy it is to separate and classify their performance. There are the more modern and younger nurses who are more business like and are interested in you, but recognize that you are there to receive information and exchange status. They recognize that you would not be there if it were not for this disease against which you are fighting. Then there are those who seem to think that what you want to hear is how good you are looking. It is as though they feel that by reassuring you about your physical appearance they have contributed to your well being or sense of well being. What they don't seem to understand is that I do not need or want their reassurance regarding my apparent sense of well being. I have been on steroids for two years now, I weigh 20 pounds more than I would like, my face doesn't look like it did, my body doesn't come close to the form it had even 1 year ago, I have lost most of the hair on my legs as a reaction to the Tamoxifen, I have had to transition to trifocals because the steroid cataracts have affected my vision, I have difficulty getting up off benches and soft chairs, and yet, when I walk into the doctor's office the nurse tells me how good I look. Sometimes I want to scream at her, "No I don't! I look horrible! If I looked good, I wouldn't be here!!" I sometimes wonder if it is my fault for generally operating in too positive a manner. Perhaps if I always entered with a frown instead of a smile then I would receive a different response. I have thought about dressing up using extensive moulage and walking in with a cane. I suspect I would still be told how good I look.
I have changed the way I think about my relationship between work and home. I try not to travel and be away from my family as much as was once my habit. I try to manage my home time so that I have more time to watch my kids grow up and so that I have the time to do things with all the members of my family. I try to enjoy life's moments that I would otherwise have let slip through my fingers.
My greatest frustration remains my current existence. There seems to be no solution to the radiation necrosis dilemma. For the foreseeable future it is likely that I will not be able to reduce the level of steroids without agreeing to a surgical answer to the existing necrotic effect. Further, there is increasingly little expectation that there will ever be a reduction of the necrotic effect on its own. Lastly, the likelihood seems extremely low that I will maintain my current level of intellectual performance in the face of the surgery required to remove the necrotic tissue.
So, what does one do? Well, as long as I get supportive positive interactions with my physicians and from my family, we continue to fight for improvement and to watch with the hope that things will improve. When I get aggressive, noncommunicative interactions, I respond with the same negative interactions with which I have been treated.
I am a scientist with a scientific bent and so I spend my time as effectively and productively as possible. Finally, I have little time to waste and no time to waste with individuals who are not willing to work positively with me. I demand the best from all those with whom I work. I demand the best from myself. I am like everyone else who is working on solving the problems of living with cancer and the results of its treatment. I fight the daily process of living the best life I can and enjoying as much of that life as I can. I am always looking for fun and excitement in everything I do. If it is not fun then it is not an important part of life.


text:
UNCW Leadership Studies Students Continue Partnership to Provide Troops with Free Calls Home
Thursday, October 18, 2012
UNCW Leadership (LED) Minor students continue their traditions of partnership and support for Cell Phones for Soldiers by collecting phones throughout October. There are as many as 369,000 troops serving in the U.S. military overseas who deserve the ability to talk to their loved ones back home. Every $5 given is the equivalent of 2.5 hours of FREE talk time. On average, Cell Phones for Soldiers distributes 12,000 calling cards each week to military bases, care package programs, deployment ceremonies and Veteran Association hospitals.
The UNCW and Wilmington communities can contribute and old and gently used phones on the UNCW campus through Oct. 26. Collection boxes have been placed in nine different locations on the UNCW campus - Admissions Office, Cameron School of Business, Center for Activities & Involvement (CAIC), Computer Information Systems Building (CIS), Fisher Center Information Desk, Friday Annex, Randall Library, Wagoner Hall and Watson College of Education.
The Leadership Studies students kicked off the community effort on Oct. 12 at the New Hanover vs. Laney High School football game and successfully collected more than $200 in donations. Cell phones as well as monetary donations will also be collected at these upcoming events: Oct. 17 at the UNCW vs. Georgia State Soccer Game beginning at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 19 and 20 at the Ghost Ship (Battleship, North Carolina) beginning at 6 p.m. and at Fuzzy Peach (250 Racine Drive Wilmington, NC 28403) in late October.
"Each year we have been humbled by the amount of people and organizations like UNCW's LED minor students that take the initiative to support our troops," said co-founder Brittany Bergquist. "We have also watched the communication gap between our armed forces and their loved ones continue to grow as more troops are deployed for their third or fourth tour overseas."
Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. (CPFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing deployed and returning troops cost-free methods to communicate with family while serving in the United States military. From the recycling of used mobile phones and cash donations, the organization has raised more than $7 million, collected more than 8.3 million cell phones and provided troops overseas with more than 114 million minutes of free talk time. For more information visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com or find them on Facebook - www.facebook.com/JoinCellPhonesforSoldiers.


text:
I'm really rooting for Munoz here, always been a fan.. I was really looking forward to seeing him smash Bisping, this is a much tougher match-up in every way.. If he beats Machida holy shit throw him in for a #1 contender fight.. And if Machida wins, well he will probably see Weidman if he retains, or Henderson/Belfort winner?
Fedor Emelianenko is the Greatest P4P MMA fighter to ever walk the earth, hands down.
Jeezus, Machida at 185 definitely upped his resemblance to Ryu lol.
Machida via fucking sick ghost whisper. What a ninja.
WOW! Machida baby!! Great fucking Sportsmanship by Lyoto, absolute class act. headkick KO thru his gloved hand... damn thats power
What a beast. I kinda gotta feeling Munoz was hesitant to pull the trigger on his friend. Hate to see either lose. Loved the sportsmanship in not throwing any unnecessary shots as well
Machida didn't look too happy after he KOed him
Great Sportsmanship by Lyoto tho
Thats part of my point though. You know its going to be extremely close, especially when you commit to throwing the strike while the fighter is still down. If your opponent is anywhere close to that grey area its your duty as a professional to throw a different strike or even lift your opponent up slightly to pull him off the ground and take that option awat from them.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


text:
Knoll Freight Fee:
$187.05 | More Product Information
Ships in 6-10 weeks.
2Modern's Complimentary White Glove Delivery includes inside delivery to room of your choice plus package removal. If assembly is needed/required, please contact our customer service team at 888-222-4410 for an estimate.
The Bird Chair is an astounding study in space, form, and function by one of the master sculptors of the last century. Like Saarinen and Mies, Bertoia found sublime grace in an industrial material, elevating it beyond its normal utility into a work of art. Harry Bertoia's wire chairs are among the most recognized achievements of mid-century modern design and a proud part of the Knoll heritage.
Welded steel rods; polished chrome with stainless steel connections
This product is available in more colors and finishes. Please contact our sales team at (888) 222-4410 or email@example.com.
Please note, this is a custom item. 2Modern makes every effort to accommodate product returns with a generous return policy. However if an item is customized or made to order, such as this product, 2Modern cannot cancel the order after 48 hours of placement or accept a return.
Ships in 6-10 weeks.
This item ships to anywhere in the continental US. For shipments outside the continental US, please click here. For large items please contact us for any requests for inside delivery, assembly or packaging removal. Please read our return information.
Name kind of says it all. Thin is in. Powder-coated...
Chipper chair seeks derrieres for at-home or cafe canoodling. Chipper...
Honeycomb is a light and easy-to-use folding versatile chair. It...


text:
Store Connectivity
The customer is king! This old saying is still true. Customers expect more service and information at stores. Retailers face tough competition and are looking for solutions to stand out. They want to bond with their customers in the long term and keep them satisfied.
This requires intelligent solutions that will always keep up communication between a retailer's stores and the head office so that employees at the stores can respond quickly to customers' wishes. Networking of all business processes is the key to success.
Related topics


text:
Located just 24 miles from Manhattan, this Hudson Valley landmark hotel creates the perfect backdrop for your next group, meeting or special event.
49 East Sunnyside Lane | Tarrytown, NY 10591 | 1-800-553-8118
© 2015 Tarrytown House Estate and Conference Center. All Rights Reserved.
It appears you are using an older web browser! While using our site, you may encounter some trouble along the way. For PC users, we recommend upgrading to the latest version of Internet Explorer or Firefox. For Mac users, we recommend the latest version of Safari or Firefox.


text:
Top Searches:
Horoscopes |
Salaries |
Washam |
July 22, 2013
Links: Australian Glass and the Pacific Northwest at Museum of Glass
Wsu Master Gardeners of Pierce County at Master Gardener of Pierce County
The Shape of Things by Neil Labute at Dukesbay Theater
All events for today »
Submit an event | All events
The three-day music festival Zaire '74 and the emerging musical crossover between Africa and America is documented.
Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and brief strong language.
Visit the official site
Cast: James Brown, B.B. King, Muhammad Ali, Don King, Celia Cruz
Produced by: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Leon Gast, David Sonenberg
Directed by: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte
Written by:
Running time: 1hr 33min
Opens: Jul 10, 2009 NY


text:
Your email address will not be published or ceded to third parties for commercial ends.
The campsite will have access to all data concerning this opinion; if it is considered opportune, it will leave an answer or respond directly to the email address in order to make any necessary personal clarification. If you do not wish to exercise this option, please indicate so by emailing: firstname.lastname@example.com.
When you send your opinion, you will receive an email with a link, you only have to click once to activate your opinion. If you do not click on the link we cannot guarantee your opinions will be published. A minimum of 6 months has to pass before you can give your opinion on the same camping again.
Every opinion is reviewed by our personnel. We do not count those that seem to come from the establishments themselves, or those that contain inappropriate comments, insults or personal accusations that are out of place. The aim of this small filter is to show relevant, useful information for future users.
This opinion may be shown in other portals managed by CampingData technologies with the aim of making the time you have spent help a maximum number of people.


text:
Jump to content
|Last action by
|How is Windows 10... even remotely close to being complete? in Microsoft Beta (Windows 10)
|Ruins of the Soviet space shuttle program in Science Discussion & News
|Ultimate Xbox Games Sale, full list. in Microsoft Console
|Tyson Fury to fight Wladimir Klitschko in October in The Sporting Arena
|Origin Game Time and On The House in Computer Gaming
Posted 19 December 2012 - 08:37
Posted 19 December 2012 - 18:26
Posted 20 December 2012 - 00:47
I thought Journey was excellent. I enjoyed Journey more than I enjoyed Fellowship. I thought that the reviews were too critical, honestly.
The review I read on The Verge was especially over the top critical of the film. They complain that the pace of the film is too slow and there is too much over explaining that is done, and then complain about not spending enough time describing the Shire.
The Hobbit, as a movie series, is clearly a prequel. As a prequel, the movie expects the audience to be familiar with the three LoTR movies. There is no need to cover ground already covered in the original 3 movies again in a prequel.
Posted 31 December 2012 - 04:12
Posted 31 December 2012 - 04:40
Posted 02 January 2013 - 05:12
Posted 02 January 2013 - 06:37
Posted 30 March 2014 - 21:50
I'm a little surprised that there's no similar thread for Desolation of Smaug here... But anyway, being a big LoTR fan I am quite positive that I'll enjoy every damn movie that features Tolkien's stories (and made with the same quality, of course). I didn't expect to see anything else after LoTR, but The Hobbit was a great surprise, Unexpected Journey and Desolation of Smaug. I really wonder why some people are saying that these movies are too long...for me they're too short! I love the legends, artifacts, characters, everything is pictured quite beautiful by Peter Jackson, his team and the actors. It really gets you INSIDE that world for a few hours. And after the movie ends, I'm like "that's it???? DAMN YOU!", every time...
This year, The Hobbit will end, and unfortunately I've read that this will be the end of all the movies featuring Tolkien's universe. Too bad, I wished these adventures will never end...


text:
Washable Wool - Mattress Topper, King
Catalog Item # 63680
Reg $332.99
Ask a Question
Product benefits:
Wool benefits:
Product care:
1st choice: machine wash in cold water on gentle cycle and low agitation, air dry only.
2nd choice: use washable cover.
3rd choice: regular sunning and airing. The sun will naturally revitalize and disinfect wool bedding.
4th choice: spot clean with soft brush and mild detergent. Allow the product to air dry completely.
5th choice: dry clean on short cycle and limited moisture.
Technical Specs
Weight: 16 lbs.
Manufacturer: Sleep & Beyond
Mfg Part #: WKMT
Related Items
Be the first to review this product!
Ask a Question
Ask your question today to get answers from other owners of this product and Camping World staff members. If you have a question for customer service such as pricing, shipping or order information please do not submit your question through this form. Please contact Customer Service.


text:
When I went to write the article, I realized I really didn't know what a Sufi was. So, I looked up "Sufi Communities" and discovered that Mustafa's community was recently the center of a controversy so intense that Steven Colbert made a remark about it on his show! (I don't have TV and I guess I don't read the right newspapers, so I had missed it.)
Before I tell you about that, let me say a few words about Sufism; First, according to Wikipedia, "Sufism is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. Another name for a Sufi is Dervish. Mainstream scholars of Islam define sufism as simply the name for the inner or esoteric dimension of Islam. It is so different from the form of Islam we know most about that, in fact, "The government of Iran is considering an outright ban on Sufism, according to the 2009 Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom."
Unfortunately, most Americans don't know much about the Islamic faith. Because of what many consider to be bigotry, Mustafa's community was targeted and, some say, persecuted by local officials in Sidney Center, NY where the community lives (150 miles north of New York City). Amazingly, the citizens of that town rallied to the aid of the Sufi community and pressured the town supervisors to leave the community alone.
According to an AP article by Helen O'Neill published in the Seattle Times December 10th (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013650448_sufisnewyork12.html):
"They packed the civic center for a chaotic town meeting, where - as more than a dozen Sufis watched - about 150 locals yelled at their board. "Shame on you!" they cried. "Apologize!"
Mustafa, quietly continued to milk his cows and make his cheese while this tornado whirled around him. When I interviewed him, I had no knowledge of these political events and he never mentioned it ...
Where do you live?
|Seyh Efendi, founder of the community
When we first started milking sheep about 5 years ago, I started making sheep yoghurt and I really liked it. We have about 50 ewes in our flock and when it came time to wean the lambs, we thought- instead of letting the ewes dry up- why not get some milk?
Later we were given some dairy cows- they were Holstein and Jersey. So, I started making mixed sheep and cow yoghurt and it was even better. But I really wanted to learn how to make cheese.
|(at left) Cemal holding PINAR (Spring), (at right) Mehmet Ali holding Sari KIZ (Blonde Girl)
|Mustafa's Hellim (recipe posted next week)
I really like the process of making cheese and especially seeing people enjoy it. I started to look for recipes online - but had difficulty getting the results I wanted. In all honesty, it wasn't until I got your book that it all made sense - the recipes work, the instructions are clear and the results always consistent. Thank you!
|Mustafa's first big Farmhouse Cheddar on a stand he made for the picture.


text:
Daria™ Celebutante™
Daria™ Celebutante™ doll wears a chic city outfit, perfect for the model on the go. Light blue polyester charmeuse dress, featuring ruffles galore, is worn over a chiffon and tricot petticoat. A faux lynx fur plush stole lined with matching charmeuse warms her shoulders. Black mesh hose and mary jane pumps complete the ensemble.
Fashion designed especially for the ModelMuse™ doll body. Not for use with other dolls.
For the adult collector.
Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.


text:
CRESTVIEW — The memory of Staff Sgt. Pat Griffin has faded softly from his children's minds.
They don't really remember the daddy who sobbed as he tucked them in the last night before he deployed.
His wife, Michelle Griffin, has let go of the anger that defined her after Pat was killed in Iraq.
She bought a house, went back to school and slowly, step by step, made peace with the path her life has taken.
In 10 years, everything has changed.
"I just want a peaceful life," says Michelle, sitting on the back patio of the home she bought after Pat died. "It takes so much work I can't even begin to describe how much work it takes.
"I have to constantly put myself under a microscope if I don't want Pat's death to define who we are."
See a photo gallery of the Griffin family. >>
Pat was 31 when he was killed May 13, 2003, by shrapnel from explosive ordnance in Iraq.
As part of the 728th Air Control Squadron, Pat was Eglin Air Force Base's first and only casualty of the Iraq War.
When military personnel came to tell Michelle that Pat had died, she cursed them and tore the ribbons off their uniforms.
That emotion sustained her for years.
"Anger's a funny thing," she says. "Anger can get you through the day. It makes you say and do things you normally wouldn't.
"But it can be your friend. I was in so much pain, it helped me cope."
In the first two months, she lost 70 pounds. For the first year, she slept only in 15- to 20-minute increments.
Family members helped with the children, who were so young they dealt with Pat's absence by turning their faces toward the heavens and talking to him there.
"My world was gone," Michelle says. "I lost my identity as a wife; I lost my identity as a military spouse. And the one person I most wanted to talk to was the person I couldn't have.
"That right there kept me stuck for a long time."
'Instant best friends'
Michelle's first relationship to Pat was as his little sister's best friend. She was 8; Pat was 10. They lived next door to each other in the small town in upstate New York where Pat is buried.
When she was 15, Pat ran into her at the local bowling alley and asked the blonde, blue-eyed high school cheerleader if she would be his girlfriend.
No, she fired back, because you're a jerk.
By the next day, she had changed her mind. They became "instant best friends," who couldn't bear to separate when it was time for Michelle to go to college and Pat to join the military. They stayed together, working a series of low-paying jobs.
In 1997, they got married and started talking about whether Pat should enlist. One day, on his way home from work, he stopped at the Air Force recruiter's office and signed up.
"Who comes home from work and, on the way, enlists in the military?" Michelle asked.
"I found myself there and I just had to do it," he told her.
They arrived at Eglin on Sept. 11, 2001.
He was patient and gentle with their children, teaching Corey, who was 4, to throw a baseball and watching Toy Story with 2-year-old Makensie again and again and again.
They buried him with his small daughter's Buzz and Woody dolls.
In pictures, Pat is a smiling, soft-faced man with wire rim glasses.
For years, Michelle couldn't bear to look at his photos.
"I still struggle with looking back at my whole life," she says. "For a long time, it was just missing Pat, missing Pat."
Honoring Pat
Pat's death came at a particularly difficult time for his family. Michelle's mother had been diagnosed with cancer. Makensie had broken her nose and cut her finger to the bone in two separate accidents.
Michelle had blood poisoning and was sent home with an IV because she had no one to watch the children. Pat requested medical leave, but it was denied.
After he died, Michelle lashed out at squadron leaders. She grimaces recalling what people have told her from that time, about how the airmen designated to help were afraid to go to her house.
"I didn't know who I was mad at but I was mad at everybody," she says. "I'm embarrassed at how mean I was. I forgot they were hurting, too."
She found some comfort in knowing that Pat believed in what he was doing in Iraq.
"That's so hard about being a military widow," she says. "It hurts so much but you're so proud at the same time and they're conflicting emotions."
The squadron continued to honor Pat. They named the camp in Iraq after him, erecting a sign dubbing it Camp Griffin.
They renamed Nomad Way on Eglin Air Force Base to Griffin Way.
They put a monument in his honor outside of the 728th squadron on Eglin.
But over the years, there was little contact between Pat's family and the squadron leadership.
"They're used to the widow having a memorial, tying it up with a bow, moving back home," she says. "That's not me. I was a handful. I wasn't going to go away."
Now Michelle realizes her anger helped to alienate her from the people from whom she most wanted support.
"There's always been a part of me that's been sad the kids lost an opportunity," she says. "If I was one of them looking at me, I wouldn't want to deal with me either.
"No matter what they tried, I wouldn't have been happy with."
Moving Forward
A year after Pat's death, she bought the home in Crestview.
Later, she began to date a single father who had been in Pat's squadron. The two remain close and a framed picture of them sits on a shelf in Michelle's kitchen.
His kids call her Mom. Her kids call him Dad.
But they maintain separate households and plan to continue to do so.
"I'll never get married again," Michelle says. "Never. I'll never bury another man."
This spring, 14-year-old Corey asked about Pat's collection of NASCAR diecast cars. He doesn't remember making the rounds on Saturday mornings to find the latest models.
Michelle does. She has become the sole keeper of the memories.
It still hurts. She avoided Corey's request, terrified of opening the bins that had been sealed for nearly a decade.
Finally, at 11 o'clock one night, she got out of bed, went to the garage and opened the first box. Folded on top was Pat's World's Greatest Dad T-shirt. She smelled it, threw it down, closed the bin and walked away.
Then she talked herself into going back and finding the cars Corey wanted.
"This is not about you," she remembers telling herself. "This is about a boy who wants his dad's stuff. Don't touch it if it's not NASCAR stuff."
The next morning, she found Corey in the dining room with Pat's old collection.
"I said, 'Corey, the last person who touched this stuff was your dad. Does it make you sad?' " she asked.
"No," he told her. "It makes me happy."
Finding her own way
In 2009, Michelle went back to school, starting with just one class and worried that she would fail. Six years after Pat's death, she still wasn't sleeping most nights.
But concentrating on that first class, it was easier to let go of her grief.
"I was finding my own way," she says. "I was doing something that was just for me."
Next spring, she will graduate with two bachelor's degrees — one in social work and the other in criminal justice — and will immediately start graduate school.
She defines her life now by her quest for peace.
It's a step-by-step, slow march away from mourning what would have been and toward what is. She still catches herself trying to make decisions based on what Pat might have said or done.
"I have to stop listening to him and listen to myself more," she says. "If I concentrate on what Pat would do, I'm going to miss what I need to do.
"I'm not going to see it for what it is because I'm going to take advice from a ghost."
Her journey of healing led her back to Pat's squadron after hearing rumors last summer that it was closing and Pat's monument might be moved out of state.
She called and spoke to the commander, Lt. Col. Jon Rhone, who had never met Pat. He assured her he wanted her input on what to do with Pat's memorial.
He also invited her and the children to a formal party the squadron hosted in September to bring past and current members together one last time. Surprised and pleased, she accepted.
"This is what I've been wanting and I'm not angry anymore," she remembers thinking. "Maybe this is a good opportunity for the kids to be more involved with the squadron and where their dad worked."
Rhone said he hadn't realized Michelle and her children were still in the area. Once he learned that they were, he saw the party as a chance to reunite the Griffins with the squadron.
"I wanted to give Michelle and the kids an opportunity to see that we still remembered their sacrifices," he said. "It's even more important for our airmen to keep connected with the Griffin family.
"It's a reminder that any one of us could leave a spouse behind with a teenager and a pre-teen," he adds.
Corey wore a tuxedo. Michelle and Makensie got their hair done together. At the party, they were guests at the commander's table and received a large framed photograph of the Camp Griffin sign in Iraq.
Together, Rhone and Michelle decided to move Pat's memorial to the site of the Khobar Towers memorial on Eglin. A ceremony will be held dedicating its new location May 16. The next day, the squadron will be deactivated.
At Michelle's request, squadron members have taken on the role of big brother and big sister to Corey and Makensie, taking them on special outings.
"It's all worked out," she says. "It's helped with that closure, that peace I'm trying to find.
"For it to end like this with my kids being a part of it makes me really happy for them."
Last month, Michelle turned 40, marking the end of a decade mourning her husband and, she hopes, the beginning of a new era.
"It's not what I pictured. It's not what I wanted, but still it's a good life. Overall I'm happy, and I can say that for the first time in a long time."
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Wendy Victora at 850-315-4478 or email@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @WendyVnwfdn.


text:
D2L free training videos for Version 10.1
Posted by Plamen Miltenoff on 23rd May 2013
Free training videos. See http://mnscuims.mnscu.edu/training.html for links to the videos. Version 10.1 Videos for Teachers From Desire2Learn Community Site: Content Overview User Progress Overview From Atomic Learning (free): 32 short videos–Content, User Progress, Discussions From MnSCU: Content Tool Changes in D2L Version 10.1 User Progress and Discussion Tool Changes in D2L Version 10.1 Version […]
Posted in Desire2Learn (D2L), training materials | No Comments »


text:
7 in-game cameos that actually make sense
Space Channel 5
Pop legend Michael Jackson plays a bit part as "Space Michael" in developer Sega's rhythm game Space Channel 5. (He gets a bigger part in the sequel.)
Saints Row: The Third
Actor Burt Reynolds plays the mayor of fictional city Steelport in ridiculous open-world action game Saints Row: The Third. Because of course he does.
Mass Effect 3
Famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin makes a brief appearance in the epilogue of developer BioWare's Mass Effect 3. He was the least controversial part of that ending.
Grand Theft Auto IV
Comedian Ricky Gervais appears in Grand Theft Auto IV's comedy club. You can watch him on TV in your apartment or catch the live show.
Vice City Stories
Another Grand Theft Auto gem: Musician Phil Collins appears as himself in the '80s-tastic Vice City Stories. You can go to an in-game Collins concert if you have $6,000 for a ticket.
Brütal Legend
Former Black Sabbath singer and anti-bat activist Ozzy Osbourne appears in Double Fine's adventure game Brütal Legend as The Guardian of Metal. This means he sells you upgrades.
Back to the Future
Although newcomer A.J. Locascio provides the voice for Marty McFly in Telltale Games' Back to the Future series, the films' star Michael J. Fox appears as two McFly relatives in the final episode.
Celebrities have been lending their voices and likenesses to video games for years, and you need only look at the voice-cast lists for big games like epic first-person shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops to see how prevalent they are.
But some appearances are more subtle, relevant or just straight-up awesome. Here are seven celebrity cameos that actually belong in their respective games.


text:
Generally, all manufacturers of children's products must have their children's products third party tested and certified as compliant with applicable children's product safety rules.
The Small Batch Manufacturers Registry is the online mechanism by which Small Batch Manufacturers can identify themselves to obtain relief from certain third party testing requirements for children's products. To register as a Small Batch Manufacturer, an applicant must attest that it satisfies two threshold requirements:
First, it must attest that its total gross revenue from the prior calendar year (e.g., calendar year 2014 sales to qualify for calendar year 2015) from the sale of all consumer products is $1,085,669 or less1.
Second, it must attest that it manufactured no more than 7,500 units of the covered product that qualifies the Small Batch Manufacturer for registration.
A small batch manufacturer is a qualifying small batch manufacturer if both of the following requirements are satisfied:
Income: A small batch manufacturer is defined as a manufacturer whose total gross revenues from the prior calendar year (e.g., calendar year 2014 sales to qualify for calendar year 2015) from the sale of all consumer products is $1,085,669 or less1.
The term "consumer products" includes both children's products and non-children's products even though third party testing requirements apply only to children's products. It does not include revenues from non-consumer products, like food, drugs, and other items not regulated by the CPSC, but it does include revenues from the sale of consumer products by other businesses the registering company controls, is controlled by, or with which it is under common control.
Covered Product: A covered product means a consumer product manufactured by a small batch manufacturer where no more than 7,500 units of the same product were manufactured in the previous calendar year (i.e., calendar year units of the same product manufactured in 2014 for calendar year 2015 qualification.)
It depends on the children's product and the materials used to manufacture that children's product.
Small batch manufacturers will ALWAYS be required to third party test for compliance with certain children's product safety rules (listed in group A, on the right hand side of this page).
Qualifying small batch manufacturers are NOT required to third party test for compliance with certain other children's product safety rules (Group B, on the right hand side of this page). Note, however, that all manufacturers, even those that are small batch manufacturers, must ensure that their children's products are in compliance with the underlying children's product safety rules in Group B and issue a general certificate of conformity (GCC).
Yes. Registration will be required every year. For calendar year 2015, we anticipate that registration will open in December 1, 2014. Registration is ongoing throughout the year.
Qualifying Small Batch Manufacturers that register now with the CPSC will benefit in a number of ways. After registering, qualifying Small Batch Manufacturers will not be required to third party test for the children's product safety rules in Group B until the Commission has provided either an alternative testing requirement or an exemption. In addition, registration will allow companies to document that they are entitled to such relief. A registered small batch manufacturer whose business information is published in the Small Batch Manufacturers Registry will be able to direct retailers to the CPSC website for immediate and easy confirmation of the company's status as a qualifying Small Batch Manufacturer. Through this process, retailers, in turn, will be able to avoid fraudulent claims of exemption.
The business name, city, and state of a registered small batch manufacturer will be made available to the public, unless, within fifteen calendar days of registration, a business provides CPSC with written notification pursuant to section 6 of the Consumer Product Safety Act. For more information on what this written notification must contain, please click here.
This page serves as the primary resource page for all information related to the third party testing obligations of small batch manufacturers. Please bookmark the page, and check back soon for additional information and guidance.
This communication has been prepared for general informational purposes only and is based upon the facts and information presented. This communication does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice and has not been reviewed or approved by the Commission, and does not necessarily represent their views. Any views expressed in this communication may be changed or superseded by the Commission.
1Note: that the Consumer Product Safety Act provides for this figure to adjust annually by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Department of Labor. See 15 U.S.C. § 2063(i)(3)(E)(ii). This figure will be adjusted upwards in early 2014 based on figures to be provided by the Department of Labor. The size of the adjustment is still unknown, but if your company's revenues are currently $900,000 or more, we recommend that you defer registering with the CPSC until the new figures are released. If you register before the release and your revenues exceed the maximum allowed amount as adjusted in 2014, you must notify the CPSC to cancel your registration or potentially face penalties.
Small batch manufacturers must always third party test for the following children's product safety rules (Group A):
Qualifying small batch manufacturers registered with the Commission are NOT required to third party test for the following children's product safety rules (Group B):
With respect to Group B, qualifying small batch manufacturers will need to ensure that the products comply with those regulations and issue a general certificate of conformity (GCC).
If you still have questions, you can consult with our Small Business Ombudsman.
Contact CPSC's Small Business Ombudsman
The link you selected is for a destination outside of the Federal Government. CPSC does not control this external site or its privacy policy and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information it contains. You may wish to review the privacy policy of the external site as its information collection practices may differ from ours. Linking to this external site does not constitute an endorsement of the site or the information it contains by CPSC or any of its employees.
Click Ok if you wish to continue to the website; otherwise, click Cancel to return to our site.