text:
I'm impressed by the number of genres we're seeing in this contest. You Sparklers have range! Today's story, by clarissavandell, is science fiction. Enjoy!
"Epperly, you have to do it today."
Before entering his office, Dr. Epperly turned to his comrade, a bald man in black with a firm expression on his face. "Not today. Maybe another month with her, but not today. James, there's so much we learn without cutting her open; we have the clues we need, all we have do is put it together."
"The FBI does not like to play games. You may like riddles, puzzles… but do you know what I had to go through just to let you take care of her in the medicinal wing? In the same wing as your experimental drugs? It's now or never; the FBI's breathing down my neck about spies in the government, Russia or Korea infiltrating us. If they find another 'organic robot' or whatever you call it, they won't be happy."
Evan just shook his head. "I wouldn't feel comfortable, James… she has nerves, she feels pain… It would feel wrong… like carving up a human being…"
"They aren't human. It's a robot that happens to have organs." James sighed then adjusted his sunglasses. "Listen, we can't rely on nuclear weapons every time with have a disagreement with North Korea. We need to know what they're up to. We need to know if this thing is one of their secret projects or not. Got it?"
Dr. Epperly nodded, and muttered a goodbye to his colleague. As soon as the agent was out of sight, the doctor entered his office. The room was filled with steel carts, glass syringes, and other works of a dedicated scientist. Lauren sat on the cot against the wall. She looked bewildered, and Dr. Epperly realized that while he was gone, she had one of her episodes. "Lauren? Do you remember anything?"
She seemed like a healthy human being, despite a fraction shaken; her hair was healthy and long, a deep gold in color. She wore neutral clothing, perhaps too big, but comfortable; a white tank and shorts suitable for the desert, where they had found her. "I don't," she said. Her white teeth clicked together on her 't's, and her head seemed to droop lower and lower the more they talked. "I was someplace hot. And now I'm here. Who are you?"
"I'm Dr. Epperly, but you can call me Evan." He waited, patient while Lauren processed thoughts in her mind. He had gone through this many times with Lauren, even though his career had nothing to do with Lauren. He worked with drugs, used to administering medicines and recording results. But Lauren had requested to stay with him, and her origin was too mysterious to pass up.
"I don't feel like talking," she finally said, as Dr. Epperly knew she would. "Would you leave?"
He nodded, and started for the door; one step, then to two, three, four-
"Wait." He turned around, and found her at the medicine cabinet, as expected. "What is this for?" she asked, holding a vial of something. Insulin, this time. "Is it a medicine?"
This was the first clue that Dr. Epperly had. The questions kept coming, and Dr. Epperly answered them as best as he could, but he imagined that whoever had sent her wanted her to ask these questions. She never asked the same question twice. If only he could bring out her secrets… Yet whenever he asked, she became either cold and distant, or else she became angry.
"It's for people who can't break down blood sugar."
"What is that?"
The doctor tried to repress his smile; she seemed perhaps nineteen, yet her continuous questions gave the impression that she was very young. "Sugars in the food we eat are absorbed into the bloodstream. Some people can't absorb it into their body from the blood, so they take insulin." He watched as she traced her finger around the bottle, reading the label with her brown eyes.
Cameras, the doctor reminded himself. Those eyes were hooked up to a computer somewhere in her skull, and her ears were most likely tiny microphones.
Why was she here? What was her purpose?
Glass shattered on the floor. Epperly looked back at Lauren in time to see her collapse to the ground, her limbs shaking in convulsions. The doctor did nothing; this had happened so many times in the last few months, and all his interference ever seemed to do was harm her. He told himself that his job required him to take the tranquilizer from his pocket and walk toward her.
Still, the humanitarian in him worried for her.
"I don't know how her mind will react to the surgery… she has what looks like epileptic seizures, which might be the result of electric components exposed to certain areas of the brain." Epperly stared down at Lauren, unconscious on an operating table. "I don't know if the memory loss is a result of the seizure, or if it's the other way around."
James stood across the room, watching. "I know what you're thinking. You're qualified for the job, but you're young. You're nervous… there's not a girl in there, remember, there's a robot. Somebody built her."
"I know."
"When you work here for as long as I have, you accept that some days you have to do things you aren't comfortable with. I've killed men plenty of times. All you have to do is open her up, look around, and sew her back up…" James sighed. "…Nobody said it was easy."
Epperly sighed, and then started hooking up machines to the girl. "Alright."
A steady rhythm of beeps from her brain activity was soothing. Her heart monitor was showing steady waves, and a mild tranquilizer flowed through a needle in her arm. Dr. Epperly put one last stitch in the incision at Lauren's ear, and then took up the knife again. A phone lay off the hook next to him, connected to the man in charge of international technology. "Microphones, as expected," he told the man on the line. "I'm… about to commence with cranial inspection."
"At last, Epperly, we've been waiting for this. This should be where all the important circuitry is, then?"
"Yes." A thin line near the scalp, that was all he needed, he told himself. A thin line… The weight of the knife in his hand was a discomfort; the metal was cool, like the barrel of a gun about to fire.
Electrons, firing in his mind, sounded off the words.
It stopped there, and Epperly found his hand over her scalp, small knife firm in hand. Achingly lowering the instrument, the doctor's left hand rested beside where the incision was to be.
Warm skin under his left hand and cold steel in his right, Epperly made a decision, and hung up the phone. It immediately rang again, yet the doctor didn't pick it up again. He peeled the girl's eyelid back, gentle as possible. "You really are quite lovely," he said, then set his knife down. "I don't want to hurt you, but they need answers from me. And I can only get those answers from you." He let her eyelid fall back over the camera concealed there, then pulled the IV from her arm.
It only took a few minutes, and she stirred a bit; she blinked, and set a stare on the doctor. "What… Where am I? Who are you?" She struggled to sit up on the table, feeling at the wires attached to her skin.
"My name is Evan, and I'm a doctor here. Who are you?" he asked, determined to find out.
"I don't…" she paused before she could finish the sentence, and her teeth clicked together once. "Dr. Epperly, this is the commanding intelligence personnel from the GLIES-581-C sector, and after careful thought, our superiors have allowed contact through the modified organism you call 'Lauren'," a voice said through her mouth. It wasn't Lauren's voice, but seemed harsher, like a machine.
"Glees, 85… never mind. I work for the FBI, and we need to know which country has developed this technology," the doctor said, his voice hesitant. This was good, right? He was getting answers, right?
"Dr. Epperly, we are from GLIES-581-C. We have managed to send a partially functioning modified organism through many light years, and we have permission to grant your request for answers. We are communicating over many light years in space, and we are currently facing a war on our planet. Our weapons are well developed, but we are facing a severe depletion of our population.
"We managed to discover the process of producing a modified organism, such as the one you see now. The technique isn't perfected, but it serves to create our emissary to your planet."
Lauren stared the doctor with blank eyes, and waited for a reply. "So… you're from another planet," he said.
"Then why are you here? To invade us? Make friends? Why?"
Another click from her teeth. "To gain information. Our people are dying from new diseases, from violence, and we need to learn ways to keep them alive. That's why we requested to stay with you."
"To learn about medicines," Dr. Epperly said, blinking a few times. "But… why tell me now? Why go to me, instead of the FBI?"
"We hoped to scope out the nature of your planet before establishing contact with your top organizations. And we have been both astounded and pleased with the care you've shown for our modified organism, despite its obvious differences from your species." She looked up. "Agent James, a pleasure."
Epperly turned around, and saw his friend in the doorway, wearing a perplexed expression. "…Is that her? They sent me down here when you cut off the phone line…"
"They're aliens," the doctor said. "They sent Lauren here to find out about medicine for their planet. That's why she wanted to stay in the medicinal wing."
"He is correct." Lauren looked to the doctor, then back to the agent. "We understand your organization will want to contact us."
"Uh… yes."
"We will contact you. We are willing to negotiate; our weapon technology might be of some use to you?" James nodded, eyes wide. "Good. Listen on your radio receivers. We shall depart from the modified organism now." Lauren turned her head to the doctor. "Goodbye, Dr. Epperly."
Her teeth clicked one last time, and then the machines started beeping, wild pitches that mingled with the sound of feral screaming from the girl. Epperly started to rush to her side, stopped only by his friend latching onto him and holding him still. The girl's screaming stopped, and she sank back on the table, eyes starting to close as her heartbeat slowed, and her brain activity trailed off. Soon there was only one long tone, and a pair of flat lines.
James released Evan, and the doctor found himself over the body, trying to resuscitate her with frantic compressions to her chest. "It's too late, Evan."
The doctor turned back to the agent, his eyes watering. "Why did you hold me back?"
"She wasn't going to live. She was a tool of theirs, a living body with only a computer that allowed her to live."
"You don't know that!"
"She wasn't a person, God damn it! You're a scientist; you can't get caught up in cases like this, it does things to you!" James sighed, pitying the doctor. "You've got to let this pass, Evan. I'll call for an autopsy, and then we can figure out how they got her to work. It's science, right?"
Evan was silent for a few seconds, sorting through emotions, James guessed. "It's just a shame…" James shook his head, then exited the room, leaving the doctor alone with the girl and his thoughts. "Such a shame."
Based on "The Scientist," by Coldplay
How did you like the story of Laura, Sparklers?
To review the contest rules and read past finalists, go here. Remember, the deadline to submit stories is March 31!


text:
Glam Cabled handknit mini bag ArtFire Artisan shepardsfaith handmade Bags & Purses Purses Knitted
Such beautiful cables!!!
Stores »
Such beautiful cables!!!
We are a community of shoppers sharing our best finds from across the web.
© 2015 ThisNext, Inc. ThisNext is a member of BUZZMEDIA Entertainment, a division of BUZZMEDIA.
Create your own free digital magazine at our new site Glossi.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Asked by George Melly what it was like going around his 1961 Tate Gallery retrospective, Max Ernst said the pride he felt was like that of a prize stud bull being taken to see his progeny. In Ken Scott's comedy, Starbuck (apparently the name of a famous Canadian bull that sired 2,000 calves) is the pseudonym chosen by David Wozniak, a French-Canadian butcher of Polish extraction, who has precisely the experience Ernst fancifully described.
- Starbuck
- Production year: 2011
- Country: Rest of the world
- Cert (UK): 15
- Runtime: 103 mins
- Directors: Ken Scott
- Cast: Antoine Bertrand, Julie LeBreton, Patrick Huard, Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse
After having sold a large amount of his bodily fluids to a Montreal sperm bank while a young man, he's confronted by 533 adult children, 142 of whom have launched a class action to discover the identity of their biological father. Come! Come! you might well say. The film's French-Canadian director has much queasy fun confronting David's predicament and its effects on his tight-knit Catholic family and his pregnant fiancee. One way and another, it makes a man of him and it gets increasingly sentimental as it drags on.


text:
You can help to save lives and reduce human suffering after disasters by sharing proven guidance within your community, schools, parishes, sororities and fraternities about needs-based assistance and how Smart Compassion does more good for more people more quickly and with less hassle and expense for donors and relief workers. Sound good? It is enormously good. Here are a few tools to get started:
Repurpose with a purpose
Want to localize the message? Select one of our print PSAs to convey the best way for your community to support international disaster relief.
You can customize the PSA to suit the needs of your organization or a local effort. Also, be sure to visit USAID CIDI's "Guidelines" for sharing with others who want to do lasting good in the most effective ways.
These tools in your hands can make a positive difference for people affected by disasters, and for others like you who want to help. Thank you for partnering with us and with relief workers everywhere to save lives and reduce human suffering all over the world.
Print Public Service Announcements
Online Banner Ads
Customizable Print Public Service Announcements
Add details on about your own fundraising event and add your organization's logo to these customizable PSAs.
NOTE: Click in the area above the USAID CIDI logo to add your own text, or to the right of the logo to add an image. Then save the PDF to your computer to save the details. These are sized to easily print on a home or office printer.
More resources for informed giving
Demonstrating Smart Compassion: What You Can Do
You can help to save lives and reduce human suffering after disasters by providing proven guidance within your community, schools, parishes, sororities and fraternities. Sound good? It is enormously good.
Help Where It's
Needed Most Toolkit
This toolkit was developed by the AdCouncil to help organizations effectively communcate the benefits of monetary doantions in support of disaster relief efforts.
Greatest Good
Donation Calculator
How much do you think it costs to send bottled water to Kinshasa? Find out »


text:
Katech Inc.
Well known for both racing and high-performance street engines, Katech is one of the most respected names when it comes to Gen III and IV motors. The company has proven itself time and again since it first became involved with the Corvette C5R factory racing team, and its line of performance street engines is a natural offshoot from this success. As we've hinted, several different LS7 packages are available (depending on your intended application), so be sure to have a look at the company Web site (www.katechengines.com) for more detailed information.


text:
My complaint is about people complaining about other people complaining.
My complaint is about people complaining about other people complaining.
Down to about an hour and a half to go before this gets going. I've bought the webcast and will be posting text in my normal fashion through out.
I can't wait to see Steve "Wont All-American" Bell vs Dan Dennis
Gold is an idiot.
Even though we don't have a full version of the line ups out (and the line ups will almost definitely change anyway) I figure I'll get this thread out and started.
Main Card
125: #4 Zach Sanders (Minnesota) v. #5 James Nicholson (Old Dominion)
133: #4 Steve Bell (Maryland) v. #5 Daniel Dennis (Iowa)
141: #2 Nick Gallick (Iowa State) v. #3 Alex Krom (Maryland)
149: #2 Lance Palmer (Ohio State) v. #5 Kyle Borshoff (American)
157: #1 Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) v. #2 Matt Moley (Bloomsburg)
165: #4 Jon Reader (Iowa State) v. #6 Andy Rendos (Bucknell)
174: #2 Chris Henrich (Virginia) v. #7 Stephen Dwyer (Nebraska)
184: #4 Max Askren (Missouri) v. #5 Josh Patterson (Binghamton)
197: #1 Jake Varner (Iowa State) v. #2 Craig Brester (Nebraska)
285: #5 David Zabriskie (Iowa State) v. #6 Mitch Monteiro (Cal-Poly)
Sanders b d.
Dennis by d.
Gallick by d.
Palmer by d.
Burroughs by as much as he wants to win by
Reader d.
Heinrich d.
Askren d.
Varner d.
Zabriske d.
To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.
We as wrestling fans are our own worst enemy. Too often we as fans demand far too much from wrestling instead of accepting whatever they give us.
Who cares if you just bought tickets to see Anthony Robles in California and your plane tickets don't get refunded. How much more selfish could you be expecting him to wrestle?
No matter who is wrestling or how much it costs you should spend whatever it takes, or you are not a fan.
To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.
Just announced that Nick Gallick is out with a head injury.
I think they're just going to have Duenas step in and wrestle Krom.
Lance Palmer has corn rows.
Looks like we're doing the feature bouts first. Giesen v. Francois is our first bout.
Last edited by JensenS; 11-22-2009 at 05:18 PM.


text:
Active Broadband heads to IMS over DOCSIS
Active Broadband Networks said its service management system now supports the IMS Rx interface as specified in PacketCable 2.0.
The support for the interface paves the way for the delivery of IMS services over DOCSIS networks by providing support for PCMM policy control via the Diameter-based Rx interface, the company explained.
Active Broadband supports PacketCable 2.0 policy control in the company's Active Resource Manager (ARM) platform, which translates IMS policy control requests into PCMM policy actions in the CMTS.
The ARM also determines network topology using a method the company has devised that it says ensures the accurate identification of the network elements where PacketCable 2.0 services are being delivered.
The ARM's integrated PCMM policy application manager and policy server component uses this topology information to direct policy control actions to the appropriate CMTS and cable modem.
"A PCMM gate request for a policy control action must be sent to the controlling CMTS for the specified cable modem, but without accurate network topology information, the PCMM policy server won't know where to send the request," said Chris Gunner, chief technology officer, Active Broadband Networks. "Our unique solution for accurate and timely topology acquisition enables PCMM policy actions to be directed to the right device, enabling operators to deliver carrier-grade IMS services over DOCSIS."


text:
Post Game Quotes
Jan. 31, 2013
Head Coach Melissa McFerrin
"We held them to 23 first half points. Shoring up our defense was a goal. I let the team set their own defensive goals for this game and they set the goal to get three straight possessions with a stop 10 times - they did it 11 for the game."
"I thought Ariel Hearn did a really good job on (Jessica Kuster). The only time she really struggled to go no-touch on Kuster was when they posted (Kuster) up on the elbow. Then she went 6-foot-2 on 5-foot-8, but otherwise, Ariel did a good job on her."
"I thought in the first half, we missed a lot of opportunities to get out in transition with all the dead ball rebounds. We have to get a hand on those and bring them in."
"I thought Nicole did a great job with Kuster on her. We basically tried to use Kuster as a screen since she wasn't going to leave Nicole's side, and that opened some space inside."


text:
For most of the high schools in Montgomery County, Bucks County, and Philadelphia, the admissions counselors at Penn State Abington are happy to serve as your Penn State representative - for any Penn State campus and major.
Please contact us to answer your questions, help your students, or set up a high school visit:
Montgomery County High Schools
Philadelphia High Schools, A - L
Philadelphia High Schools, M - Z
The Penn State Web Counselor System (WCS) is a free service that gives access to schools to view and submit student credentials securely via the Web. The system also provides counselors with up-to-date information on the status of their students' applications.
Log-in for Current WCS Members
Becoming an Electronic Partner


text:
It is literally a shameful study in contrasts. First it was Karnataka, reeling under severe drought, which allowed a group of MLAs to go Down Under on a 'study tour' paid for by the public. Not to be outdone, Uttar Pradesh followed suit, dispatching a similar group on a riotous tour to the UK and Europe while hundreds of refugees of the Muzaffarnagar riots shivered in the cold. Facing heat on their return, here's what the MLAs had to say:
Reporter: There has been a lot of public anger about this junket by Karnataka MLAs, funded by tax payers, to Australia and New Zealand. How can you justify it?
A Karnataka MLA: It was a very taxing visit. It was a long flight and the airline did not serve bisi bele bhath, or dosa and idli-vada-sambar, so you can imagine the sacrifice we had to make.
Reporter: What were you supposedly studying?
MLA: There were strange animals that we had never seen, hopping around or clinging to trees. There were also strange two-legged animals on Bondi Beach who had a lot of flesh on display. We had to avert our eyes since we are all vegetarians, but it all merits a closer study, so we have asked for another tour to reinforce our findings.
Reporter: What findings? The drought has made so many farmers poor.
MLA: On Bondi Beach, we saw how people can survive with so few clothes. It's a lesson in survival. In Australia, the Aborigines also survive in arid conditions. Of course, we never saw any Aborigines —they don't frequent five-star hotels or drive the limousines we used, but we were told they manage very well.
Reporter: What about New Zealand, what was your takeaway?
Second MLA: Takeaway? We never ordered any takeaway, we ate in the best restaurants
Reporter: I meant what valuable inputs did you return with?
MLA: I still haven't opened my bags but thanks to inputs from my family, what I brought back was very valuable…
Reporter: You went on a junket to Istanbul, London, Amsterdam and Greece while people in the camps in your state were freezing. What do you have to say?
An Uttar Pradesh MLA: Why do you think we went to those countries in winter? To see how people cope with freezing conditions. We returned with some cold facts.
Reporter: What were these cold facts?
MLA: On currencies and fluctuation. And as the British pound is worth over Rs 100, it didn't …continued »


text:
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
TGB Reader Preferences of Names for Old People
Last Thursday, we held a poll to see what generic (usually media) names and synonyms for old people we prefer and which ones we dislike.
First, my apologies to anyone who could not participate for technical reasons. It is the first time I've used Google Docs and I'm unlikely to do so again. Although only a tiny number could not respond, I had a whole lot of difficulties creating the poll – not the most user-friendly website I've ever run into.
In addition, I cannot find what write-in names were entered – 41 in the "like" poll and 19 in the "dislike" poll. After an hour, I had to give up trying to find them and get on with my life.
Okay, enough whining. Let's see what we learned.
There were 734 responses. Before I show you the full charts, here are the top five names we like in order of preference (respondents could choose as many as they wanted so the totals add up to more than 100%):
Elder (61%)
Senior (49%)
Older Adult (45%)
Older (man, woman, person) 39%
Old (33%)
And the ones we most dislike in order of (non)preference:
Geezer (89%)
Geriatric (83%)
Silver Fox (tie: 80%)
Golden Ager (tie: 80%)
Old Timer (74%)
Oldie (45%)
Although I personally dislike pretty much every name except elder and old/older (man, woman, person) I have a particular loathing for silver fox. I can't tell you why but I can't stand it.
A number of commenters last week questioned the need for what they call "labels." I submit that it's damned hard to talk about age groups without giving them names of some kind.
A few months ago, we discussed the lack of attractive clothing designed to fit the shapes of elder bodies. There is no way to talk about that without identifying the age of people in question. I mean, you can't say, "There is no good clothing for people" and have it make sense.
How could acne be explained without mentioning the age at which it is most prevalent? How would anyone know what kind of diapers are being sold without using words like baby and elder?
And what of medications that are safe for children or adults but may be harmful to old people?
There are many reasons to identify – that is, label - people by their ages. Age is as basic as sex, height, weight, hair color, etc. to our individuality.
Here is what is different among the names we use for various age groups. None of the words baby, infant, toddler, youngster, adolescent, teen, young adult, adult and even kid are pejorative or demeaning in and of themselves. They are neutral.
Not so for many names for old people such as geezer, coot, biddy and phrases like over the hill or no spring chicken, etc. that are disrespectful in and of themselves.
The cutesy-poo names and descriptions like golden ager, third ager, oldster and Portland, Oregon's transit designation of "honored citizen" are embarrassingly patronizing.
In American English, no other age group but old people are singled out for disrespect in this manner.
Here are the full charts with all the choices from the survey.
At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Norm Jenson: Prada
Posted by Ronni Bennett at 05:30 AM | Permalink | Email this post
OK! Grandpa Elder it is . .
My kids will learn to love it.
This quote from today's blog got me to thinking, "How would anyone know what kind of diapers are being sold without using words like baby and elder?", Of course we could use the word "adult" diapers to distinguish between the two,where "adult" takes the place of "elder". Extending this, we could use the phrase " Advanced adult" to signify a person who is "long in the tooth", or "over the hill".
This reminds me of activities in which I participated many years ago when feminism was more alive. We would make lists like this of terms used to refer to females. There were many derogatory and offensive words on those lists. I wonder why it's so hard for some people to speak kindly and respectfully of everyone and reject insulting, disrespectful and stereotypical terminology?
Bruce, Diapers!? Yikes . . . That's going to be the day. How about labeling them - "Heavy Duty", or "Industrial Strength"? Do you remember the SNL sketch on adult diapers?
The condescending, infantalizing phrase I fervently despise (is that strong enough?) is "X YEARS YOUNG." Because even to say the word old is an insult?
I was 10 years old, I was 65 years old, and I plan to live to be 93 years old. And if I should live to be 123 years old, and someone calls me young as a "compliment" I will whack him in the shins with my sparkly gold cane.
Dear friend,
I am guilty:-) I did not respond because personally all of those terms offend me! I am sixty-four and simply an adult:-)
You know what? I don't care what you call me as long as I'm still alive, I'll answer to anything.
Thanks Ronni. Nice stuff and worth the struggle.
Maybe you don't like the label Silver Fox for the same reasons I don't. For me, it brings up images of an old man trying too hard to be young and cool and get into women's pants who are 20-30 years younger than they are.
I remember once upon a time you said, "Every time somebody uses a euphemism about my age, I am demeaned." Which is why I like elder and old. Be bold. Be accurate.
Thanks for the reminder. Yes, I did say that but it is not just me. It is all old people who are demeaned by patronizing, euphemistic language.
With a huge smile on my face, I heartily endorse what HeronFeather says above:
"The condescending, infantalizing phrase I fervently despise (is that strong enough?) is 'X YEARS YOUNG.' Because even to say the word old is an insult?
"I was 10 years old, I was 65 years old, and I plan to live to be 93 years old. And if I should live to be 123 years old, and someone calls me young as a "compliment" I will whack him in the shins with my sparkly gold cane."
Maybe the names of diapers would be helpful i.e. Depends versus Huggies and Pampers...unless some company comes out with a cutsey name for our product needs. ..We have some friends that always greet us with "So how are the "whipper snappers" doing...That in itself is derogatory...usually used in terms of a naive young person...That is a term that inflames my ire.....along with all the other terminology. I just want to be known as the person I am and not reminded of how long I have been above the ground every time I turn around!!
Excellent comments. I too hate "X years young" and for the reasons stated by HeronFeather and Ronni.
@Jean, I think you nailed the objection to the term "Silver Fox." I have the same reaction.
I didn't get to respond, I suspect because the poll had been taken down for tabulation by the time I got to the post. I don't mind being a senior or senior citizen or older adult. Or 71 years old. Or a retiree. I don't like elder; it sounds like either an affectation or a church official. Silver Fox is a lecherous old man, and besides, its a masculine form that doesn't even apply to women (vixens). My bank groups me into its "55 and Better" category, which i sort of like.
What about Silver Sneakers?
That's what gets me into any class at the Y compliments of my health insurance company.
So many labels annoy me but this one does not. It sounds active and pays the fees.
I'm guilty! I'm one of the people who likes "Geezer." But I realize that I like it when my older friends and I say it to each other. (We also say "....but we're OLD!!!" sometimes in amazement.) When we're in Geezer mode, we're not taking ourselves very seriously. It's like we're owning the joke.
I also dislike Silver Fox for exactly the reason stated above. One I particularly loathe is "Young Lady" said by grocery clerks and so on.
I also loathe "Young Lady" (I wrote it in on the survey), favored by a checker at my local Trader Joe's. Maybe I should call him "Sonny Boy."
@Jean -- completely on point about "Silver Foxes" -- sleazy and slimy.
@Bruce -- of course you're right, "Adult" is just fine and more appropriate. Unfortunately the many disabled veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan may change the idea that only old adults need diapers.
I like Sir when being addressed by grocery store checkers and such. It's the way I was brought up. I do not care much for a clerk or bank teller using my first name like they know me.
Still at some point it is nice to be noticed and not ignored.
Interesting poll.
Great comments! I'm going shopping for a sparkly gold cane in case anyone DARES to call me a Silver Fox.
I favor "fully mature adult," be failed to think of it when responding to the poll. That seems to happen more often since I entered fully mature adulthood.
Someone mentioned this in the comments last week and I agree: Elder is a good enough term but it is not neutral because it is used in different cultures with meaning attached. And so, when I think of elder I think not every old person is an elder.
That is why I am most comfortable with old!
Silver Sneakers?
How about "wrinkley?" As the Brits say. Kind of amuses me.
I totally agree with the dislike of "X years young." On the other hand, I kind of perversely do like "geezer"--at least when I use it of myself. If memory serves, I did cast one of the write-in "votes" that got lost: "crusty old fart" (stolen from one my my culture heroes, the late, great folksinger U. Utah Phillips). I like the humor in it. I turn 67 this summer, but I don't think I'm too crusty--yet.
What is the difference between elder and elderly? None! They are both awful.
I also get squiggly about Silver Fox..it seems like Lounge Lizard goes right along with it. And X years young gets me too--
I do like geriatric..it's honest, its a medical term and hopefully will come into more use as we get away from the cutsie terms.
It has taken me time (hey, I'm old!), but I've finally posted my defense of the term "geezer." It's at my Geezer Guff website.
Verify your Comment
Previewing your Comment
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.


text:
Posts tagged "salafism"
Are Salafis "Conservative"?
by Alex Thurston The media's use of the term "ultraconservative" is also connected with some Salafis' support for implementing Islamic law in modern states. But Salafis are not the only ones to favor shari'a, nor are they always its most enthusiastic backers.
Salafism for Dummies
by Alex Thurston Suddenly, Salafism seems to be everywhere: mainstream Salafism, political Salafism, Wahhabist Salafism, Arab Salafism, Islamist Salafism, radical Salafism, and at least one instance of salafist-fundamentalist cage-fighting-ism.


text:
You are a Guest
Sign In
Got Plot?
Reviews Home
Submit Your Review
Browse Reviews
Toy Series
Superboy Review
Superman - Man of Steel (Kenner)
There was a sound of thunder and the world shook. There was silence in all present. Two gods, Superman and the monster Doomsday, lay broken and dead before them.
With the worlds greatest hero dead in the line of duty, Cadumus saw an opportunity to create a hero that they could control. After modifying human and Kryptonian DNA, and countless failures, Project 13 was completed. When he awoke, he broke out and fled the compound.
Project 13 learned of his origin and determined that he must take up the mantel of his predecessor. Dawning a homemade costume and 90's fad haircut, Project 13 set out to make his own heroic legacy with a youthful flare as the Metropolis Kid, later to be called by a resurrected Superman, Superboy!
During the 90's and early twenty-first century, Superboy had his own monthly title that showed his progression as a kid looking to make a name for himself to a hero dedicated to Truth, Justice and the American Way. And if he could get lucky on the way, that was a big bonus.
Mattel produced this action figure, which is incredible accurate to the comic book character, for the Man of Steel Superman toyline which had a tag line I still can't get out of my head!
Superboy is very detailed and wonderfully painted and detailed. The Teen of Steel had four points of articulation with a swivel joint head, shoulders, and legs.
His two weapons fit on too Superboy's hands rather snugly so they won't slip off to easily. The weapons are pretty cool looking with a nice level of detail.
The paint, like I said before, is spectacular! The S-Sheild is flawless with a nice glossy finish. The S-Sheild on the back of his jacket is even depicted with stitch lines along the edges. THAT is attention to detail!
Over all, Superboy gets five stars out of five!
Update Review
User Comments
No user comments found.
Submit your own review for Superboy
Superman - Man of Steel Toys for Sale on eBay
Site Contents, Images & Design Copyright ©2002-2015 Figure Realm, LLC


text:
|Lot Size
|3.4 acres
This is a great location if you are looking for privacy, multiple homesites for family or friends, or just enjoy the outdoors and would like a little nature with your home. This is a deep lot with two water taps already installed. Last recording of map has property divided into three lots with easement to all three lots for easy access. previously approved for manufactured home
|District Type
|School District
|Unified School District
|Wake County Schools
|This listing is priced
|Zip Code
|33% more than
|27501 Land for Sale
|33% more than
|Land for Sale in Angier
|69% less than
|Wake County Land for Sale
|33% less than
|NC Land for Sale
|Unified School District
|69% less than
|Land for Sale near Wake County Schools


text:
Bicycle thread
View Single Post
Mr Head
PowerPoint ADV
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Orange County, CA
Oddometer: 7,834
Originally Posted by
Thanks Gummee! Yeah, shifters/brake levers are intergrated together, so it's looking like a seperate shifter won't do the trick. I'm definately going to try to clean out the shifter mechaninsim, maybe I'll get lucky. If that doesn't work, I saw a nifty looking singlespeed conversion kit from Nashbar. Gonna talk to the guys at my LBS too, they helped me get the Raleigh back on the road. Thanks for the tip re: the chainrings and cassettes, something for me to remember once I find this elusive thing called "fitness". As slow as it is, this bike can go faster than I'm currently able to pedal it!
That is the same as the early XT shifter/brake levers I updated off my old Rocky Mountain. The shifters didn't work that well, but worked a bit. I'll look around for the box of parts when I get home. I'm not so sure they still exist in my garage. They were sort of trashy when I [pulled them off.
I bought a $120 set of Performance wheels, (rim brake or disc), swapped out the brakes for V-brakes. Shifters for 9-speed along with a new XT take-off rear and a 9-speed cassette for the wheel. Maybe $300 total? Not more than that. The Take-off XT ran about $50 or so. The shifters were the most money I think, about $100 or so. The XT front V-brake was on sale a year or so ago, but never did get the rear I wanted. I can't remember if I paid for it or not.
Anyway, I think if I had it to do all over again, I'd just go spring for the full squishie Stumpie and have been done with it for a year. I would have broekn the ribs long ago so be all healed by now too.
"You don't go to Mongolia for the food."
- Sebastian & Kim
2010 KTM 990 Adventure R
My Life With The 990R
Mr Head
View Public Profile
Find More Posts by Mr Head


text:
Hattiesburg- Jordan Whittle was crowned the 2010 Mississippi Miss Hospitality. She was one of 29 contestants which competed Friday, July 30th and Saturday, July 31st at the Saenger Theater in downtownHattiesburg. Jordan Whittle represented Hattiesburg.
Jordan is the daughter of Tim and Donna Whittle. She attends the University of Southern Mississippi and studies marketing. She plans to further her education by attending graduate school with ambitions to eventually work in healthcare marketing. Jordan volunteers for programs such as, Forrest GeneralHospital's Spirit of Women, St. Jude Children's Research and Spirit Girls.
Whittle is the 61st Mississippi Miss Hospitality and is also the 13th Mississippi Miss Hospitality crowned inHattiesburg.
"I'm so excited to meet people and show others outside the state what Mississippi has to offer," said Mississippi Miss Hospitality Jordan Whittle. "I can't wait to be a representative for our state".
The first alternate was Kimberly-Joy Lockley of Lamar County. Second alternate was Natalie Bullard ofTippah County. Third alternate was Ellyn Burton of Ellisville. Fourth alternate was Candace Baker ofPontotoc County. Winning the award for Most Photogenic was Natalie Bullard of Tippah County. The award for Spirit of Miss Hospitality, which is voted on by the contestants, was Vaughan Simmons of Marion County.
"All these girls did an amazing job and represented their cities and counties with grace and dignity," said Pageant Coordinator, Traci Rouse. "Every year we are blessed with bright, talented young ladies in our pageant."
All 29 contestants competed for over $100,000 in scholarships and prizes. The theme for this year's pageant was "Hospitality is Always in Season" and featured several production numbers from different seasons.
The pageant is presented by VISITHATTIESBURG, the City of Hattiesburg, and the University of Southern Mississippi.View more articles in:


text:
Reston, VA (PRWEB) April 08, 2013
Qbase LLC, a leading provider of information technology services, business intelligence solutions, and geographic search technologies today announced a significant software upgrade to their MetaCarta Geographic Search and Referencing Platform (GSRP.)
Highlighting the new MetaCarta GSRP Software Version 4.8 is the initial release of the Human Geography Entity Data Module (HG EDM) which enriches textual information (found in reports and message traffic) to identify hidden relationships between people and geography. HG EDM enhances the MetaCarta product line with automatic geo-referencing that links people to maps, and maps to people. It provides invaluable knowledge to intelligence, national security, and commercial organizations.
MetaCarta with HG EDM allows users to:
"Understanding who influences areas of interest is critical for any data analysis, especially with intelligence activities. Being able extract that from unstructured text is even more important," said Ken Tomaselli, Senior Vice President at Qbase. "Our Human Geography Entity Data Module (HG EDM) provides this critical capability and enables our customers to further bridge the gap between people and places."
In addition to Human Geography support, MetaCarta version 4.8 expands its street address Geographic Data Modules (GDMs) to include China and Mexico. MetaCarta recognizes and extracts street addresses hidden in unstructured data and provides geographic coordinates for each address found. With the addition of China and Mexico, MetaCarta now understands how to recognize, extract, cleanse and geo-reference street addresses from ten countries (other countries include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States.)
Qbase also continues to expand its market-leading knowledgebase of geographic places. MetaCarta version 4.8 now includes over 30 million place names in its Base GDM.
MetaCarta GSRP Software Version 4.8 and the Human Geography Entity Data Module are both generally available. For more information, contact your Qbase MetaCarta sales organization.
About Qbase
Qbase, LLC is a worldwide provider of innovative decision support technologies and information technology professional services to support the mission-critical operations of our clients. For more information, visit http://www.4qbase.com, http://www.metacarta.com


text:
Ringnews24 reviews
- Written by James Tonks
Talk Boxing with fight fans at the KO Boxing Forum.
Ringnews24 Reviews
Some of the reviews left by our readers on Alexa.com, to read more reviews or to leave a review please Click Here.
"Great place to be for people who enjoy boxing, and the site also has a forum. From past fights to present, this site has it all. You will converse with people who actually were a part of boxing history. The only place on the World Wide Web that is an encyclopedia for boxing.
You'll find any and everything about boxing here: history, videos, bios, up-to-the-minute news and articles written by fans and forum members. The staff is very friendly, inviting and intellectually stimulating! The most amazing thing about the site is that it is fairly new. Your search for anything boxing related stops here.
My experience with the site has been absolutely great! I love it! Nothing to dislike about it or the people who are members. You'll enjoy the site no doubt. Everything I know of boxing I learned from both the site and the forum. "
Comments left by a Facebook user:
"RingNews24 is a vibrant boxing forum where fans from across the globe can meet in a friendly online community and talk about this great sport. We encourage members to be as active as they want on our forum which includes posting in our busy threads, writing articles for our news website, providing questions for our exclusive interviews and talking to fellow members in the shoutbox. Ring News 24 is dedicated to providing the boxing community with a great forum in which all are welcome."
Comments left by a Facebook user:
" Ringnews24 is a fantastic site for all boxing fans: it's constantly updated with both original content and press releases, it's clear and easy to read and the site doesn't talk down to its readers.
The writers, while not the biggest names in sports journalism, are passionate, accurate and know their stuff much more than some of the supposed professionals, in fact it's fair to say they seem to do more research for the site than some professionals on TV. If you are a boxing fan I cannot encourage you enough to check the site out for both news, reviews and previews."
Michael Readman:
"Ringnews24 is a fantastic boxing website and community. Highly recommended to all. With a vast array of breaking news, forum posts, boxing downloads, videos, interviews and competitions, what more can you ask from a boxing website?
There are many knowledgeable users in the forum and all are very welcoming, unlike many a boxing site I have used in the past, where a certain section of "Trolls" circle the pages looking for "fresh meat" to wind up.
I advise you to give it a look and sign up to the forums. Excellent site with a growing reputation that gets stronger each passing day."
"I find this site ideal for all boxing news and discussion and it is unlike other boxing sites in that it does not get infested with morons. I use it on a regular basis and find most users to be knowledgable - as long as it stay that way I will continue to use it"
"There are many good boxing sites on the Internet, but few have the in-depth quality of members, threads and articles that Ringnews24 has. This is a site that is free from all the usual trolls that this type of environment usually brings and it is a relaxed and fun site to visit. I would recommend the forum to both the knowledgeable and those eager to learn about boxing. The History section is quite possibly the best I have seen, and with the constant growth of Ringnews24 it is quickly becoming the only place to be."


text:
MRC: Media team up to misinform on 'gay' issues
What role did the media play in getting America to the point where last week the Supreme Court decided to impose same-gender "marriage" on all 50 states?
There is good reason why a pro-family leader is calling on provincial and national lawmakers in Canada to change the anti-discrimination laws.
Transgender people are demanding protection throughout Canada under human rights laws, but Brian Rushfeldt of Canada Family Action believes it's because people confused over gender want to be able to "do anything they want to." He cites an example in Ontario of why the system is not working.
"A man who "self identifies" – that's the term he's using – as a transgender, was in a ladies changing room," he tells OneNewsNow. "He stood there with a towel around him in front of a 70 year old woman who had come out of the pool and wanted to change into her street clothes."
And there were signs that the man was attracted to the woman. She was horrified and left. She then filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which responded by saying the man had a right to be in the changing room.
"The chief commissioner of Ontario is a lesbian activist and has been in that position for many years," he says. "I'm not surprised by this ruling, but she should not be given any power to make this kind of ruling. So we've got to get legislation to take the power away first of all. And if this continues to evolve in the way that it appears to be, we need to have legislation very specifically that would protect women's facilities."
Rushfeldt quotes Deuteronomy 22:5, which says the Lord detests it when a man wears women's clothing and a woman wears men's clothing.
What role did the media play in getting America to the point where last week the Supreme Court decided to impose same-gender "marriage" on all 50 states?


text:
Category "Family Matters"
Category "Random Distractions"
August 12, 2010
winds of change
It's hot here in Minnesota, and humid beyond belief. It's probably not as humid as I hear it can get in the Carolinas, but my poor little window a/c units are taxed to the max,and it's still hot in my house. Heat and humidity gives way to thunderstorms at night--and a couple during the day too--and the kiddos don't sleep so well with all the excitement in the sky. But, I love this time of year! Summer giving way to fall is filled with renewal and opportunity for me, and I can't help but savor every day.
If you've been following my blog of late, most of my posts are about raising kids and finishing my PhD, and there might be a craft project or two thrown in. But, if you go back further in my archives, there's a few other topics that surface now and then, and I have written in the past about the Fighting Sioux logo/mascot issue that has been a major challenge for the University of North Dakota, my alma mater. With school starting in Grand Forks in a few weeks, I'm not surprised that my entries have resurfaced, and a few folks have asked for an update. Earlier this year, it was determined that the university will need to have a new mascot. The Englestad hockey arena, which has many built-in elements with the old logo, will likely remain the same.
The issue of this mascot has been a passionate one for people on both sides. Some have wanted to keep the mascot/logo for reasons of tradition and pride. Others, myself included, have wanted to change the mascot/logo for reasons of pride and respect for those native Americans who want the mascot/logo changed. Having not played sports at UND, I don't feel a strong connection to the mascot/logo, but I certainly understand how someone could feel that way, and I know that there are plenty of angry and disappointed alumni, students, and other supporters who will have a hard time making this change.
Other schools have made the change. UND has many exemplars out there to learn from, and I believe that the process of developing a new mascot/logo can be a healing process. I'm looking forward to following the process, and will post another update when there is something new to report.
. . .
This summer has been a lazy one for J, and it's taken me back to my own childhood, with unstructured hours of watching cartoons, reading books, and playing outside. Late this spring, I joined a health club with the primary purpose of taking J swimming, and we have done a lot of swimming, and now his only structured activity is swimming lessons. All of this has had the fore-hoped benefit of getting him relaxed and in a good place to start school this fall. He has even mentioned spontaneously things that he thinks will be true of his new school, like they will have good lunches. Not sure if that is true, but we'll find out soon enough. There's less than a month left before our new routine begins.
I have begun working out on a regular basis, and even after only a few weeks of this new routine, I am feeling addicted. I think my PE teachers in high school must not have been very good because I don't remember working up a sweat and feeling that great endorphin release that comes from a good workout. I've been going to the gym so much that C has decided to join me, and now it's truly a favorite part of our day together. We bring the kids to the gym's childcare center and spend an hour together. Well, half hour really because one half is spent on the bike (me) and the treadmill (C). But then we do strength training together, and that is fun!!
I've also been working on responding to C's anger and frustration with love and compassion. This takes practice. As you've read from other postings here, C has been suffering from an arthritic condition, and it has certainly taken its toll on him in many ways. The pain has made him angry, and most of the time his anger is not too far below the surgace, ready to pop up whenever it can. I have grown tired of resonding to anger with anger, and so I have decided to practice something different. I got a lot of guidance from Thich Naht Hanh's book, Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames. I'm still practicing--it's not easy.
And it's been a reminder that relationships, especially those with a spouse or a partner, take ongoing work. It's so easy to get into a habit of taking the other person for granted, and expecting that we don't have to exercise care and compassion with that person because they live with us, and they know us and love us anyway. But, in fact, I think knowing C and loving him is exactly why I want to not take him for granted and show him a little more love and compassion.
The winds of change are blowing my direction, and I am choosing to embrace this breeze.
Posted by chri1010 at 12:26 AM | Comments (3053) | Family Matters | Random Distractions
Category "Family Matters"
Category "Random Distractions"
November 1, 2009
Halloween redux
Last year, I learned the importance of letting your child choose his own halloween costume. It took awhile for that lesson to set in, though.
This year, I got it in my head that J and S would make a cute pair, if they had some kind of matching costume. You know, like Abbott and Costello, only younger. But J really would have none of it. He entertained my ideas, like J as a banana and S as a monkey (I know, I know), but he was doing that sort of listening that mothers do when their child is blathering on and on about pokemon this and pokemon that. You know, listening, but not really listening.
So eventually, we found ourselves in Target, and he was enthralled with the idea of spending his $10 allowance on a $9.99 red ninja costume. (We haven't really been able to teach him about sales tax yet, but he's starting to figure it out.) I thought that was the end of my matchy matchy costume for baby S, but then I remembered she has a papa!
I think this picture probably says it all. They had so much fun and the neighbors really were impressed with the two of them. I already have plans for next year. I figure I've only got a couple of years before S will have her own ideas about costumes, and hopefully I'll have it all out of my system by then.
In the meantime, J had a costume change of heart. For the last couple years, he's been asking for a Harry Potter-style owl, and I finally found one for him, a little stuffed owl finger puppet I got on a recent trip out of town. He was so excited about it, we had to go out to buy the makings of his owl trainer costume. See?
He's an owl trainer:
Now, this may not seem like much of a costume, and in fact, several neighbors thought he was a grunge rocker, but for J, this was a costume, as he is not at all into flannel shirts or shirts with buttons. In fact, he really wanted to get a second hand shirt, but the costume was so last minute, the second hand store was "closed to celebrate Halloween" by the time we got there, so we had to buy a new one. Maybe he'll wear it again. We'll see.
At any rate, a good time was had by all, and hopefully S won't hate us for dressing her up like a lobster. To her credit, she seemed to enjoy the costume, and once it was off, she had fun poking at the eyes and chewing on the antennae.
What was my costume, you might be wondering? Well, I have a standard Halloween costume each year. Suburban mom. Check it out!
Happy Halloween, everyone! I've already got a "bee" in my bonnet for next year! hint, hint
Posted by chri1010 at 11:12 PM | Comments (3386) | Family Matters | Random Distractions
Category "Random Distractions"
July 10, 2009
Can someone please just push the pause button already?
It's not supposed to be July, and the month is practically half over already!! I've got too much stuff to do, and not enough time to get it done. My night owl nature is hampered by a baby who thinks she needs to go to sleep at 830. And, so far, she's been going to sleep nursing, although maybe that's gonna change soon. We'll see. I think I could easily be one of those mamas who thinks she's gonna give up this nursing thing, and I'll say that for months, even years, and I'll still be nursing. Or, I might quit tomorrow. Na, not tomorrow.
I didn't go to my class reunion. If you went to my class reunion and you somehow found my blog via my Facebook page, and you somehow cared about me and what I'm up to enough to actually read my blog, well, then please leave a comment so I know you care. Because most of my friends from high school also did not go to the reunion. A few of you read this blog, and I know you didn't go (hi, Kay...I know you're lurking out there, and I'm glad of it). I don't know why you didn't go to the reunion but I know why I didn't go. I don't think much has changed since 1989 for many of the people in my high school class, and I'm not sure I have much in common with very many of them. Individually, a lot of the people I went to school with are nice enough people. Most of them didn't really give me much thought when I was in high school. I was kind of geeky smart and a little socially awkward, and maybe a little shy too. At any rate, I've looked at the pictures from Facebook, and I'm glad I didn't go. I'm glad I didn't take the opportunity to feel on the margins one more time. To feel excluded. To still have absolutely nothing to talk about with most people because I don't like beer.
I am, though, going to visit one of my high school friends tomorrow. She lives a little ways away from me, and she makes and sells girls dresses. The pictures of her dresses don't do them justice. They are adorable on, and every little girl I've ever given one to has not wanted to take it off. I'm looking forward to seeing her, and spending time with her twin boys and daughter. We don't so much talk about the good old days because we weren't actually that close in high school. But we have grown closer over the years, and she's a great friend. So, no need to reunion.
I'm curious, though, if you're reading this for whatever reason, did you go to your last high school reunion? Do you think you'll go to the next one? Why or why not?
Posted by chri1010 at 11:09 PM | Comments (2410) | Random Distractions
Category "Family Matters"
Category "Random Distractions"
June 29, 2009
There's something wrong if I'm blogging about blogging
but I do have to say this new Movable Type is nice, even if I'm still a little afraid of it.
In the meantime, I'm playing around a little and seeing how it uploads photos, so here's a silly one of baby feet and kid feet. I like how S is looking at me, even though I'm focusing on her feet. She's very aware of the camera--goofy girl!
Posted by chri1010 at 11:28 PM | Comments (2332) | Family Matters | Random Distractions
Category "Random Distractions"
June 27, 2009
A Sudden Turn of Events, Change is Hard
I was going to write an entry about my recent breastfeeding challenges (we're back to the clampdown, pullback, snap! and I have been contemplating the end of breastfeeding...but then we got baby orajel and life is good). But, I just logged in to my blog server, which just upgraded to a newer version of Movable Type, and HOLY SHIT! Things are totally different. I don't know my way around this place. I'm sure it's gonna be good, but I am feeling really OLD right now. Change, I can't take it!
Posted by chri1010 at 11:52 PM | Comments (6163) | Random Distractions
Category "Random Distractions"
May 26, 2009
I'm apparently spending too much time on Facebook
Posted by chri1010 at 10:12 PM | Comments (1563) | Random Distractions
Category "Because knitting rocks my socks!"
Category "Random Distractions"
May 27, 2008
Sock Wars III
So, awhile back, I heard about Sock Wars III, and thought it might be fun. After all, what could be more fun than knitters trying to "assassinate" each other by making such a deadly weapon as a pair of socks, right? I had to sign up!
So, the pattern comes out as promised, and it turns out to be a wee bit harder than I had anticipated. Not really difficult, mind you, but a little more thinking required than the mindless knitting it turned out that I've been up to these last few weeks.
Fortunately for me, my "death socks" arrived the other day, and my weapons in progress have been turned over to Princess Knitter in Seattle, WA, who is carrying on the good fight.
Posted by chri1010 at 10:24 AM | Comments (1240) | Because knitting rocks my socks! | Random Distractions
Category "Random Distractions"
February 25, 2008
Welcome, readers!
When I started this blog four years ago--a lifetime ago in blog years--I was writing a lot about my impressions of the Twin Cities, a place that we've been somewhat reluctantly, although less so now than ever, calling home. The transition to Minnesota has not been an easy one, but this is not another post in which I whine about the weather, MN nice, or the grocery stores.
In recent months, my blog has become more about knitting, a new obsession I picked up a few years ago as one way to cope with the long dark winters in Minnesota. I've gotten a little crazy about knitting in recent times, and my stash has grown to more fiber than I really care to admit. (But, sock yarn really doesn't count as stash, does it?)
I think I've probably lost a few readers over time, and gained others. For awhile, there were a few of us at the U of M who were all working on dissertations. We never have met, but we'd read each other's blogs, and be encouraging. Interestingly, right now I work one floor up from one of them and yet, we have never met in person. Blogging is sort of fun like that. But, I'm not really sure that SITBB still reads my blog these days. I'm not much writing about the philosophical ruminations in my mind, or even the mundane challenges of trying to start over on chapters 1-3. She's done with her degree, and moved on to the next stage in life, which includes some excellent collaborative posts for Black History Month, the Extended Version.
I didn't ever really start this blog to develop a readership, although I like that there are a few people out there who seem to wonder what I'm up to, and read about my latest knit project or my son's Chinese classes.
But, I DO enjoy checking up on my Site Meter once in awhile. I wonder what brings readers from Mongolia to my site. I chuckle when I see that a google search of "knitted gifts for bicyclists" somehow brought someone here. I'm not sure what my site has to offer on that, but I guess I write about knitting a lot and my husband DID get hit by a bicyclist, so who knows.
The Yarn Harlot (who, by the way, is coming to town in April, and I have ALREADY scored my free tickets) says that a blog is sort of like a visitor you invite over. A guest in your living room. I like that. And, I like that you've stopped by, even if this wasn't the living room you were looking for. I'd love to have you leave a comment, and tell me something about who you are, what you value in life, and what brought you to my site. But, if you'd rather just listen/read, that's fine too. Thanks for stopping by!
Posted by chri1010 at 12:20 AM | Comments (1928) | Random Distractions
Category "Random Distractions"
February 17, 2008
Whoo hoo! A new banner!!
I think i have a few kinks to work out of the banner, but I'm very, very satisfied. Let's face it--the extent of my programming knowledge is "make blog go." So, I'm not sure I'll ever really figure out how to stop the banner from repeating and get the Winter in the Cities part to be darker and better placed, but hey--I'm just so happy I have something nicer than the little snowflakes. Whoo hoo!
In case you were wondering how someone who only knows "make blog go" can have such an awesome banner, I got it from my very talented brother-in-law. He knew exactly what I wanted, and it was really fun working with him on this little project.
He's an excellent photographer, too. Check out his website: www.IAmWhatISee.com
Posted by chri1010 at 10:53 AM | Comments (2509) | Random Distractions
Category "Random Distractions"
October 14, 2007
Writing Pains...
Sometimes I hate writing. Sometimes it just feels so darn tedious. Right now is one of those times. Big deadline looming, which is good, because then I get get this writing done and over with. But, in the moment, I'm suffering a little. I can't wait to be done, so I can knit. Oh, yeah, and dissertate. That too. Stay tuned.
Posted by chri1010 at 9:40 PM | Comments (1943) | Random Distractions


text:
Top 10 Tips For An Awesome ACL
It's easy to have an incredible time at ACL Festival. With more music, food, activities, and ways to have fun than ever, there's a lot to choose from. We went ahead and compiled a list of tips to help you get prepared, get to Zilker Park, and make the most of your time at the Festival. Here's our ten-step program for ACL mastery:
Need To Find The Box Office? We've Got ThreeWith three convenient box office locations, we've made it easy to redeem your wristbands before the rush!
- Our Zilker Park Box Office is OPEN! Get a jump start on your ACL weekend right now by redeeming your 3-Day Pass for a wristband at our Zilker Park Box Office, located on Barton Springs Road across from the main Festival entrance and open Monday – Thursday from 3pm to 8pm. On show days, go straight to either Festival entrance to redeem your 3-Day Pass for a wristband.
- At the airport? Redeem your 3-Day Pass for a wristband as soon as you hit the tarmac and grab your bags at Austin-Bergstrom International. Our ACL Airport Box Office is in the Baggage Claim near Carousel 5, and will be open Thurs., Oct. 7th from Noon to 7pm and Fri., Oct. 8th from 10am to 5pm.
- Ride the Free Shuttles! At our Republic Square Box Office – located at the corner of 4th and Guadalupe – you can redeem your 3-Day Pass for a wristband on Fri., Oct. 8th from 10am to 8pm. After that, just hitch a free ride on the ACL Festival shuttles to get dropped off at the main festival entrance on Barton Springs Road.
Go Green To Zilker ParkMake the earth-friendly choice when planning to get to ACL with multiple, car-free transportation methods. But a friendly reminder if you were thinking of driving down: there's no car parking around the Festival grounds. Please be considerate of the nearby neighborhoods (aka: Don't Park There!) Instead, try these options:
- Free Festival Shuttles run non-stop from 10am to 11pm for all three days of the Festival. Board at Republic Square (4th and Guadalupe) and get dropped off at the Barton Springs entrance. When you're done for the day, hop on for a return trip. Click here for maps & more information.
- Use some raw leg power to bike down to the Festival, where you can lock up your wheels on the free racks near either entrance (remember to bring your own lock!) If you need parts or repair, stop by the Mellow Johnny's Bike Station at both entrances for fix-ups, locks, lights, tubes, or any other last minute advice or gear.
- Scooter & Motorcycle parking is available off Robert E. Lee in the Barton Springs Pool parking lot for those hip wheels.
- Pedestrian pick-up/drop-off is located on Stephen F. Austin Drive at the north end of the Mopac footbridge. From there it's a short walk across the MoPac footbridge to the Lady Bird Lake Festival entrance.
- For you big city types, Taxis pick-up/drop-off on William Barton, just south of Barton Springs. Save some money–and some CO2–by sharing a lift with friends or strangers!
Respect The Chair-Free ZoneHelp us keep our Chair-Free Zones chair-less, by pitching your folding chairs outside of those areas in front of the stages. There's a lot going on, so patrons, security and emergency personnel need to be able to get where they're going. Everywhere else outside of those designated zones is free for your sitting enjoyment. If that chair or bag is becoming a burden, just drop it off for free at the American Airlines TM Bag & Chair Check next to the Lady Bird Lake entrance.
Stay Connected at ACL: Mobile Apps, Group Text, WiFi & MoreWe've got some cool tech to save you some runaround, help you stay connected to your friends, and allow you to squeeze every last drop of fun from your ACL weekend:
- Download our FREE 2010 iPhone and Android Apps! Manage your ACL Fest experience from the palm of your hand. Plan your custom schedule (or sync with your sched on our website), check out content from this year's artists, spec out our Festival Map, update your Facebook and Twitter, and much more.
- Group Text! No matter how many are in your party, it can be a chore to coordinate. Instead of chasing your chums, use GroupMe! A two-way "reply-all" text service, it allows you to chat with multiple friends at once via text message. It's the perfect compliment to our mobile apps.
- Connect to WiFi! Look for the CLEAR 4G Spots in the Festival and hop on the free WiMAX wireless connection. See The Map for locations.
- Power up! Charge your mobile device for free at the The ZYNC Zone and Honda Hybrid Zone.
Get Signed at ACL…KindaMeet, greet, and grab a John–or Jane–Hancock from dozens of acclaimed ACL favorites like LCD Soundsystem, Spoon, Band of Horses, Monsters of Folk, Deadmau5, The National and many more. Waterloo Records, Austin's flagship music retailer, will be hosting signing sessions – located next to the Festival Store. See the full ACL Autograph Schedule!
Hydrate Up & Cool DownJust because the temperature has dropped into the low 80s, doesn't mean the sun can't sneak up on you. Slather on an appropriate SPF sunscreen early & re-apply often. Patrons are allowed two factory sealed water bottles (up to 1 liter each) into ACL Festival per day. If you'd like to skip the plastic bottles, you can also bring an empty refillable container (like a Nalgene or SIGG bottle) and stock up at our new amazing free, triple-filtered water stations. Or pick-up some H2O natural spring water at any Festival bar for $2. With its eco-friendly paper packaging, you can refill it at a water station, or just flatten it and recycle. And every so often, come by to chill out (and freshen up) at our misting areas. All this – and much more – is clearly marked out on the 2010 Festival Map.
Kick Back & Relax at ACLSure, there's non-stop music and excitement at ACL Festival, but what if you want to kick back and relax a bit? We've planned for that, too. All over the park, you'll find great places to put your feet up and take a load off. Click here for the full list of Activities.
- Grab a seat and a cool craft beer, while you catch the weekend football games on the big screens at Rock Island Hideaway
- Cool off under the misting stations at one of the most popular chill zones in the park, the H-E-B Zilker Beach.
- Swing by the HOPE Farmer's market and sample some of Austin's local flavors. It's also the only spot at the Fest to grab a cup of Joe!
- Stroll through ACL Cares just east of the Barton Springs entrance to visit organizations who are making this world a better place. Find out how you can too.
Brush Up On Your Do's and Don'tsDo yourself a big favor and take a minute to run down our list of authorized and unauthorized items so you don't show up at the gates on your skateboard and a fistful of fireworks. For safety's sake, among other important considerations, you'll be told you can't bring them in the park. If you're unsure about something, our ACL Festival FAQs will fill you in on ACL's Allowed & Prohibited items, as well as rules regarding re-entry/ins & outs and other important details you'll want to know before the big weekend.
You Could Win Big At ACL 2010You might be taking home more than you bargained for from ACL Festival– in a good way. All weekend long, we've got great prizes and giveaways for fans:
- Share your favorite moments from the Festival this year with VH1's Top 20 Greatest Moments of ACL and you could win big! Follow @VH1 on Twitter, tweet a photo of your favorite ACL moment using #ACLtop20, and you'll be entered to win a trip on VH1's Best Cruise Ever – featuring Train, Lifehouse, Colbie Caillat, The Script, Austin's own Alpha Rev and more!
- Want a FREE collectible ACL t-shirt? You'll once again be able to help us keep Zilker beautiful by grabbing a bag from one of our four Rock & Recycle centers and collecting recyclables from around the park.
- Keep checking our Facebook or Twitter during the Festival and you could win cool swag from ACL artists, or free food and beverages from our Austin Eats restaurants.
- Stop by the Honda Hybrid Zone and enter to win a shiny, new 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupe. Just pop in your info at a kiosk and cross your fingers! Plus, play the decoder-card game for a chance to spin the prize wheel (for premium winnings) or to score an instant reward!
- Or pop into the State Farm Club 17k Tent for a chance to win ACL Festival VIP upgrades!


text:
You may be a zombie, but you still know how to rock out in the Rockabilly Zombie Adult Women's Costume. This retro style, polka dot dress features red blood stains, a sheer, shredded shrug, veined stockings and awesome tattooed sleeves.
If zombies were to ever go retro they'd look something like this Zombie Girl 50's Dress adult womens costume. The tattered black, red and white polka dot dress of this retro costume comes complete with a white belt and a white crinoline.
Make Up Tips Add colorful detail and enliven any costume with these handy Small Makeup Crayons. Show off your artistic side and craft fine lines, geometric designs or realistic stitches and wounds. Bring a vampire, clown or zombie costume completely alive!
Make Up Tips The base or canvas to any serious costume makeup, this Spirit Exclusive1-ounce tube of professional White cream is a must-have. From Clown to Vampire this product's range of applications is as limitless as the imagination. Face Painting 101: Begin with a clean face and pin a towel…


text:
Pakistan is passing through a critical phase of transition in its history. The change of top political, military and judicial leadership and holding of parliamentary elections makes 2013 an important year for Pakistan. Whether this transition will steer Pakistan towards peace or instability will hinge upon continuation of the democratic process, willingness to continue fight against homegrown terrorism and insurgency, normalization with India and withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
For the first time since its creation Pakistan is on the eve of seeing a democratic government completing its term in office in March 2013. National elections are due in Pakistan in April- May 2013. The President of Pakistan Asif Zardari will complete his tenure in September. In November, the army chief General Ashfaq Kiani's term will conclude. The chief justice of Supreme Court (SC) Iftikhar Chuadhry will also retire in December.
Assertive Parliament
Notwithstanding rampant corruption, poor governance, slowing economy and worsening security situation Pakistan has made a steady progress in last five years in consolidating the democratic process. The passage of the 18th constitutional amendment, which devolved maximum powers to provinces, and the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, which gave smaller province a bigger share in the national divisible pool, has expand the scope of parliamentary system in Pakistan.
Despite enormous differences between the government and opposition parties on various matters, legislation on key national issues was conducted in a bipartisan manner. The consensus with which the government and opposition parties passed the 20th constitutional amendment—detailing procedures about selection of the care taker set up, composition of an independent election commission and holding of free elections—is praise worthy.
For the first time, the business of foreign policymaking was conducted in the parliament. In retrospect the Pakistan army took the foreign policy decisions. The key decisions like normalization of relations with India, reviewing and rewriting the terms of engagement with the US, after NATO/ISAF air raid on a border check post in Mohmand tribal region killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November 2011, were taken by the parliament.
Civil-Military Relations
The civil military relations are also transforming in Pakistan. Despite corruption and incompetency of the civilian rulers the systemic compulsions have forced the military leadership to refrain from interfering in the political process. On 5 November 2012 addressing a gathering of military officers in army's General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi the army chief said, "As a nation we are passing through a defining phase."
He conceded, "No individual or institution had the monopoly to decide what was right or wrong in defining national interest and it should emerge only through consensus. We all agree that strengthening the institutions, ensuring the rule of law and working within the well defined bounds of the constitution is the right way forward."
Success against Extremism and Terrorism
It is during the period of incumbent civilian government that Pakistan got enormous success against the Islamist militants groups in FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province's Malakand division. Two major military operations codenamed Rah-e-Rast (Path to Salvation) in Swat district in March 2009 and Rah-e-Nijat (Path of Deliverance) in South Waziristan Agency in October 2009 enabled government to restore its writ in these areas. However, the fight against homegrown militants is far from over. The gains made in counter-terrorism operations are fragile and reversible. This fact has been acknowledged in the Pakistan army's 2013 military doctrine. The new doctrine categorizes the internal threat to Pakistan from the Baloch insurgents, sectarian outfits and Islamist militant groups as a more imminent instead of India.
Emergence of New Power Centers
The strengthening of the democratic process in Pakistan has been by augmented by the emergence of three new power centers i.e. independent media, powerful judiciary and a vibrant civil society. Their emergence has opened up a new dimension in Pakistan's political culture.
The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan has given various landmark rulings in last few years. The SC has not only held politicians accountable for misconduct and corruption but it has also questioned the illegal practices of the powerful military. For instance, it has sought answers from Pakistan army and the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) regarding illegal detentions of youth from the insurgency-hit southwestern Balochistan province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Media's role as a watchdog and opinion maker has enabled masses to make informed opinions about different government policies. As things are evolving in Pakistan at times both the SC and media have exceeded their limits as well. However, overall their presence has left a positive impact.
The vibrant role of civil society also gives a hope for future. The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) along with media were at the forefront of the popular Lawyers' Movement (2007-09). The lawyers' movement not only ended the ten year military rule of General (Rtd.) Pervez Musharraf but also succeeded in pressurizing the government to restore judges of the Supreme Court, unconstitutionally deposed by the Mushrraf regime.
Civil society also played a key role in galvanizing public support against the Pakistani Taliban when they attacked Malala Yousafzai, a teenage girls' education activist from Swat, in October 2012. Malala Yousafzai has emerged as a symbol of hope and courage in Pakistan who refused to bow down to forces of extremism and terrorism.
Most recently in January of this year Pakistan's civil society actively participated in the countrywide demonstrations protesting brutal killings of ethnic Hazara Shia community in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, by anti-Shia militant group Lashkr-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). On 10 January 2013 a twin bomb blast in Quetta left 87 people belonging to Hazara community dead. The Hazaras refused to bury their victims. They camped in freezing conditions with the wrapped bodies for over three days demanding justice.
Pakistan stands at cross- roads of its history. In the face of all odds in the last five years democracy has consolidated itself in Pakistan. Despite many challenges which Pakistan confronts today it has all the right elements in place to muddle through current disorder and instability. The continuation of the democratic process will allow state and society institutions to steer Pakistan towards peace and stability.


text:
Ashwagandha – Uses and Benefits
Ashwagandha – Uses and Benefits.
Ashwagandha – Uses and Benefits.
Methods To Treat Low Libido In Women Naturally.
Canines, Cats and kittens, And HorsAlso called Winter season Cherry and also Indian Ginseng, Ashwagandha is among the most effective herbs inside Ayurvedic health care program, dating back to over 3, 000 many years.
Widely suggested by simply Ayurveda, Ashwagandha can be commonly known as the healthy anxiety bronco buster as well as adaptogenic bracing. Its anti–inflamed, anti–oxidant along with sexy components target a host of health concerns.
Ashwagandha is an accomplished assemble acclimated for alleviative assorted bloom ailments. Due to its abundant bloom allowances Ashwagandha forms an important additive of abounding bloom products.
Alternative Medicine.
Ashwagandha – also known as Indian Winter Cherry has the Botanical name Withania Somnifera -It is a shrub belonging to Solanace family. It is grown in the western India, Gujarat, MP, Punjab and in Himalayas.
This article will explain the major uses of ashwagandha. Remember you should ask your doctor if it is safe to take the herb for your individual case.
A tonic for overall good health and stamina.
What is Ayurveda and Its Importance? Ayurveda is a traditional holistic healing. Translated from Sanskrit, Ayurveda means "the science of life". ayur means "life" and veda means "science. India system which largely depends on plant support to form ma…


text:
|4028 CountrySide 67218
KW ESTATE SALE Decorative items, New twin bed, Dressers,Desk, Couch's, Antique buffet,Treadmill, Lawn furniture, Drill press, Radial arm saw, Belt sander, Band saw sander, Lawn mower, Ladders, Life vest, Golf clubs, Hillside and Harry South on RooseveltMore info Email a friend
|10815 E 71st St S 67037
COOL DECOR SUMMER SALEOur Building is Full!Mid-century furniture, collectibles, antiques. Planters, outdoor furniture, wheel barrows, cool yard art, and concrete statues. Furniture, including chairs, tables, dinning room tables and chairs, mid-century hutch...More info Email a friend
Fountain is S of Kellogg and E of Hillside, HOUSE IF FULL 50% OFF! It must go so bring your truck photos at salebygayle.comMore info Email a friend
Antique Gallery in Delano M-Sat. 10-6; Sun. 12-5 Closed Wednesdays 1642 W. Douglas 260-6115More info Email a friend
DERBY ANTIQUE MARKET We will sell your furniture,tables,chairs kitchen items, art, & decor. Up to $600 BOOTH SPACE AVAILABLE 317 N ROCK RD DERBY (316) 789-8888More info Email a friend
22ST ANNUAL DOLL, BEAR & TOY SHOW Sat. July 11 9:00-4:00 Cessna Activity Center 2744 Geo. Wash. Blvd Info: Linda 316-776-0291More info Email a friend
Furniture- Dining ,Living, Bed Room & Office. Kitchen items and miscellaneous.More info Email a friend
SE See ad for Eastborough time capsule sale.More info Email a friend
|1245 N Illinois 67203
STARTS THURSDAY TOOLS, FURNITURE THU/FRI 8-6 SAT 8-3 A 2 Attics Estate SaleMore info Email a friend
|1908 E Marion Rd 67216
ESTATE SALE: Wed-Th, 8a-4p. Glass, WWII/Civil War, guitar, ukes, tools, toys, jwlry, records, fishing, crafts & misc.More info Email a friend


text:
Home CanopiesThere may be reasons why you can't install an awning on your home. The beams may not be able to support the weight of the structure. Covenants may prevent installation. There may not be room to extend it fully in the space you have. If you have one of these challenges, consider a canopy instead.
Home canopies made in the shape of a triangle, require little by way of structural support. They are lightweight and porous, letting both the breeze and the rain through, while blocking most of the harmful UV rays. You can combine several triangles to cover a larger area. Set up is easy and quick and you'll never have to bake in the sun or drown in the rain again.


text:
Free Minecraft Account – Minecraft Hack
Get A Free Minecraft Account Today!
Our team of 5 developers and hackers have recently developed a seal-proof hack to Minecraft that allows you to generate a Premium Minecraft Account with any Username you want, even if it's already taken!
1. Download Minecraft Hack(Below)
2. Install Minecraft Hack
3. Open Hack and input details, receive randomly generated password
4. Turn Hack on and put details into Minecraft
5. Enjoy!
When you start the Hack, you will see a selection for Username, Password, and an option to start the Minecraft Hack. The first thing you do is input your desired username into the Username textbox. This can be any username you want, whether it is taken or not.
Press Submit. The program then generates a random password that corresponds to your username for that session. Click the start button to start the hack. Leave the Hack up. Do not close it until you are done playing Minecraft.
Using the Hack:
Although I didn't have time to fit this into the Free Minecraft Account Video, I took this screenshot while playing on a random server using the Minecraft Hack. I had another developer on our team, John, use the hack to login with the username Notch. You can choose any name you want, but he chose Notch solely for this purpose: People going crazy.
While it is fun to portray Minecraft stars and heroes, you can't forget the fact that you're getting a Free Minecraft Account with unlimited name changes.
Download Now:
Note: You need to have Winrar to Install this Hack. If you don't have it, please download it HERE
If you get an application error upon launching, you need to download the Microsoft .Net 4.0 Framework HERE.


text:
- Thursday, 23 September 2010 21:20
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest Lawsuit News!
PHA Workers File Class Action Lawsuit
By Mike Holter
Â(LEGAFI) -- Philadelphia Housing Authority workers have filed a federal class action lawsuit claiming PHA forced them to contribute money and gifts for "lavish†parties that they were required to attend. The lawsuit also claims PHA deducted money from employees' paychecks to support nonprofits it established to lobby for federal funds, which directly violates state and federal law.
The class action lawsuit alleges PHA unlawfully deducted money from the paychecks of all non-union employees "under the pretext that the funds would be used for charitable purposes, but instead were improperly converted and used for the benefit of the defendants.†These deductions from members' pay allegedly continued from 2006 through September 2010, when the collection was terminated.
In addition to PHA, the lawsuit names Pennsylvania Institute of Affordable Housing Professionals (PIAHP), PHA-Tenant Support Services Incorporated (TSSI), the Executive Director for PHA, the Assistant Executive Director/Administration for PHA, the former communications Manager for PHA, PHA's Chief of Police and Public Safety & Risk Management, and the Director of TSSI.
PHA is required to annually report fiscal expenditures, including those involving its nonprofit entities, TSSI and PIAHP. It is also prohibited from using any federal funds for lobbying activities and is required to disclose if any funds other than Federally appropriated funds are used for that purpose. The lawsuit alleges PHA has not disclosed any of its lobbying activities since 2002.
The PHA class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of all current and former employees of the Philadelphia Housing Authority who contributed money to the defendants. Approximately 300 people are estimated to be eligible under the proposed class action lawsuit.
The class action lawsuit is seeking punitive damages along with an injunction barring the defendants from deducting or collecting funds from employees' pay or from contractors doing business with defendants for the benefit of any non-profit entity established by the defendants. It's also asking that penalties of between $10,000 and $100,000 for each infraction be imposed.
A copy of the Philadelphia Housing Authority Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.
Updated September 23rd, 2010
All updates are located in the Lawsuit News section of Legafi.Â
©2010 Legafi™
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners


text:
July 1, 2015
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina's unemployment agency has launched a free app that allows jobless residents to seek weekly benefits through their iPhones.
The Department of Employment and Workforce unveiled Wednesday what it says is the nation's first such app for smartphones. The U.S. Department of Labor did not immediately respond to voice and email messages.
State agency spokeswoman Adrienne Fairwell says the mobile application offers a convenience while also helping the agency reduce fraud.
The offering is an extension of the agency's move toward automation. People still must fill out initial applications for benefits either online or by phone. In-person help with unemployment claims ended last June.
Fairwell says the app became available for iPhones on Wednesday. The agency hopes to have it available for Android devices later this year.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


text:
Paging all Firemen!
View Single Post
LawnSite Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Vienna, VA
Posts: 23
Originally Posted by
1) I already have a 2wd Chevy Avalanche that is paid for
It's a good starter, when I and my dad started we had a mini van
Originally Posted by
2) a custon built 16x8 landscape open trailer with tandem axles ($2800ish)
If you can afford try and get a dump trailer, you WILL thank me.
It is a time saver + back saver, that is if you are doing more than just mowing lawns.
Originally Posted by
3) Echo handhelds (I'm not opposed to Redmax or Stihl, I'm just more familiar with Echo)
a) PE-280 edger
b) SRM-280 trimmer
c) PB-770H/T backpack blower
d) PAS-225 combo edger/trimmer as a backup
e) PB-255 handheld blower as a backup
f) and maybe a small chainsaw
Echos are great, I have a bunch of them and they have always been the most reliable ones of the bunch, Although they might not perform as well as other brands.
For Blowers on a start up, really you only need one (to save you money) the PB-770H/T will do fine, handhelds are a waste of money. But I really like the BR 600 (stihl) even though they break every year, all the time they save me are worth it plus they are light, if you have lots of leaves ask the dealer for the strap belt... it works great.
As for the trimmer/hedger, get the PAS-265 and the 3 attachments heads, it will be a multi use tool with professional quality, will save you money and space. I rarely use the metal head trimmer, the line is what I use.
In my opinion your backup will only frustrate you, that is if you ever get to use them. If you are buying equipment new, and just starting... trust me you won't need a backup.
As for a chainsaw, go Sthil... MS261 or MS362 (whichever your budget allows)
My opinion:
Sthil BR600
Echo PAS-265 + 99944200470 + 99944200545 + 99944200485
Sthil MS261 or MS362
Originally Posted by
4) a Toro 22198 Heavy Duty Recycler push mower
Depending on the use of your mower you might not need a professional one... out of 50 lawns I have 2 or 3 that need the use of it (maybe 40 minutes/week of use) I bought a GCV190 this year to replace my old mower, and I am very satisfied. but if you are using it a lot more than, that is a good entry choice
Originally Posted by
5) a 36" Toro Grandstand
I am an eXmark fan, (toro owns it now) so I think you are good with it.
Originally Posted by
6) a 61" Ferris IS5100Z
Unless if you are planning of using it for commercial sites (with LOTS of open spaces) I'd not use a 61".
A 48" or 52" will do a better job on tighter spaces. If you are planning on using on lot sizes up to 1/2 acre (if not even 3/4 acre), a 61" will just be too big and hard to do damage to the lawn/plants/everything.
Don't forget to allow for your budget for a trimmer (HCA-265), wheel barrows, tarps, shovels.... and so on if you are going to provide with more than just mowing services, which in my opinion is where you make your money.
View Public Profile
Find all posts by FDJ
Page generated in
seconds with


text:
Call Us to Find a Therapist: 1-888-563-2112 ext.1
Find a Therapist on Your Own:
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, commonly abbreviated as the DSM, is a book published by the American Psychiatric Association providing standardized criteria to the diagnosis of mental health conditions. The DSM is used widely by mental health practitioners in the United States to aid in diagnosing clients. For many decades, there was immense concern that psychiatric diagnoses were based upon the whims of psychiatric professionals and were not scientifically valid. Different practitioners might give the same client completely different diagnoses, which in turn would result in different standards and courses of treatment. The DSM is an attempt to correct for this potential problem.
Originally published in 1952 based upon data from psychiatric hospitals and practicing mental health clinicians, the DSM has undergone several revisions. The current incarnation of the DSM is the DSM-5, which was finalized December 1, 2012 and released in May 2013. It replaced the DSM-IV, which was published in 1994 and revised in 2000. You can find the latest in DSM news at www.dsm5.org.
The DSM-5 is organized into three sections, with 20 chapters that address specific disorders. The chapters are arranged based on common features among disorders. The DSM-5 dispensed with the multi-axial system used in the DSM-IV.
The DSM has been heavily criticized since its inception for incorporating social norms into diagnoses and turning unusual behavior that may not necessarily indicate mental problems into mental problems. For example, "gender identity disorder" was listed in the DSM-IV. Transgender activists argued that this should not be treated as a stigmatizing disorder, and they appear to have been heard: The term "gender identity disorder" was changed to "gender dysphoria," defined as emotional distress over one's gender, in the DSM-5. The DSM-5 was criticized for the secrecy surrounding its creation and for the American Psychiatric Association's decision to hire a public relations firm to promote it. Many people feel that the DSM names too many disorders and grants too much power to psychiatrists to stigmatize human behavior. Others argue that the DSM is influenced by pharmaceutical companies to label conditions that can in turn necessitate a need for psychotropic medication.
GoodTherapy.org supported Division 32's Plea to the DSM-5 Task Force, encouraging further review and consideration in the creation of DSM-5.
Last updated: 03-26-2014
By commenting you acknowledge acceptance of GoodTherapy.org's Terms and Conditions of Use.


text:
Welcome to CJPrimaryCare.com!
Founded by writing essay Drs. Brandon and Nico Roscoe, in an effort to better serve patients, Clearfield-Jefferson Primary Care Associates strives to be a breath of fresh air in the current healthcare climate.
CJPCA is a patient-oriented practice with the goal of creating and maintaining lasting relationships with both patients and our community (greater DuBois). Our entire staff works at creating a calm, welcoming atmosphere. The next time you visit, let us know how we are doing!
Our mission is to provide the best available health care to our patients, in a culture that both caters to and nurtures each individual's needs. We strive to accomplish this by partnering with our patients to provide the guidance and assistance they need in their often complex, life-long journey to health and wellness.


text:
Ancient Egyptian sculptors first fashioned block statues in the Twelfth Dynasty. Such statues show their subjects seated on the ground, with...
Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo
Hiroshige's 118 woodblock landscape and genre scenes of mid-nineteenth-century Tokyo, is one of the greatest achievements of Japanese art.
Miniature wooden masks constitute some of the most important insignia of the second-highest grade of Bwami. Generally these miniature masks,...
200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, New York 11238-6052
Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum
Wednesday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Friday–Sunday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.


text:
Physical Therapy at the Squirrel Hill JCC has arrived!
Physical Therapy at the Squirrel Hill JCC has arrived!
If you have walked in through the lower level of the Center in the past two weeks you have noticed a few changes. Allegheny Chesapeake Physical Therapy this regionally well-known and respected group has moved into the former Personal trainer room or "Human Sport Room" to be our ON-SITE Physical Therapy Group. We are excited to be collaborating with ACPT on program, staff education and member engagement to name a few. From preventing injuries, to rehabilitating injuries, to athletic performance, to improving activities of daily living; their addition to our center will bridge the gap between improper function and a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise.
ACPT hours will be as follows:
- Monday: 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Wednesday: 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Friday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Saturday: currently closed
- Sunday: closed
During off-hours the room will still be utilized for Personal Training, education and for advancement of our Wellness program. We regret that we could not find a home as of now for some of the equipment previously located in that room, however we are happy to assist anyone in customizing their workout with our two strength training lines located on the lower level. We have also been "upgrading" the lower level Personal Training room with new training aides and mats to meet your needs.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Sherree Hall at 412-521-8011 ext. 374.