text:
It never ceases to amaze me the self-righteous attacks that blindly follow a social media post about a so-called egregious injustice. Some grammatically incorrect hash-tag that as a result of that attention, gains trending status resulting in everyone feeling socially compelled to inject their two cents regardless of knowledge, experience or basic understanding of the particular topic.
These are often received as calls to action in which many cases are perceived as a blanket of immunity for mob bullying and, pardon the pun, open season on individuals whose beliefs or practices, while not illegal, are disagreed with.
This weeks social aggression and resulting cyber bullying is directed at a successful dentist who traveled legally and freely to Africa and paid an extraordinary amount of money to hunt and take a lion as a trophy. Is the dentist a risky law-skirting hunter with a bad reputation for questionable kills? Maybe. Does this behavior of paying money to get something one wants warrant death threats? No.
Just like the cheerleader from Texas Tech University, Kendall Jones, who went on a safari with her Dad or Melissa Bachman who both legally killed lions. The real "bad guys" here are the greedy that will break the law for a quick payday and those that are forgetting the laws of the United States do not extend to Zimbabwe, Africa.
While in the recent years lions have become less socially popular trophies, they are still widely known as the king of the jungle and one of the earth's apex predators. Which, in itself, is pretty ironic since the male lion is pretty lazy and expects his pride and harem of lioness to hunt and feed him.
Cecil the lion was part of study by Oxford University and had a GPS collar as part of the study. While it makes my heart warm that lions other than Alex are considered celebrities, they are still wild creatures and being on a preserve does not equate to being harmless or tame despite the cool videos circulating of lions hugging and playing with humans. The killing of a collared lion is ethically and legally wrong but mistakes and misjudgments are made at times and why there are rules, practices and repercussions based on laws and investigations.
Did Walter Palmer, the dentist from Minnesota, deliberately set out to murder Cecil the Lion in a grudge killing or was his desire to have a lion in his collection? That's something we will never really know. What we do know is that in Zimbabwe there are extremely strict laws that govern such hunting.
Permits are given to land owners in the form of pest and overpopulation permits and only citizens who have been awarded "Professional Hunter" licenses can guide hunts and the harvesting animals. In this case, professional hunter Theo Bronchorst and landowner Mr. Honest Trymore Ndlovu committed a criminal act and have both been charged.
According to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, the Victoria Falls Police have their investigation well in hand. The irony of the landowners name shouldn't be lost here either. If a criminal act was committed then due process and the governing laws of the land will prevail. This will happen with solid police work and does not require the American conscience or self-deploying cyber douchebags.
Just because you disagree with a person's beliefs does not give you the "right" to force them out of business, ruin their livelihood and publicly shame them into succumbing to your idea of what you think is acceptable. Freedom of speech gives you the right to think and say that you think Walter Palmer is a jackass for killing Cecil the Lion. But, should he be run out of business and or have his life and family threatened?
I'm a guy that spends a solid amount of time in the outdoors and also help run a charity called Veteran Outdoors that takes wounded veterans out on dream adventures. Many of these are hunting excursions that provide a reality to a warrior that he or she can and are still capable of basic human necessity. Should we be victims of cyber bullying as well because we condone conservation initiatives and responsible hunting.
Blindly following a hash tag might make you feel like you are being a social warrior but it often times just makes you the greater violator of another's rights than the original perceived oppression.
What if I started the hashtag #StopSoyOppression? I mean really, how dare Soy Bean farmers continue to plant, nurture then kill the innocent soybean plants purely for a group of humans to have a substitute for meat. How many plants need to die to ease the conscience of those meat haters? This oppression on innocent plant life should not be tolerated and screw boycotting, let's put the names of known soy bean farmers out there and publically shame them into planting pecan trees so every person can have their own precious set of nuts.]]>
I wish we didn't have to talk about this. I wish it hadn't come to this, but the reality is the world we live in, the front lines are anywhere and everywhere. The events in Chattanooga Tennessee have made it clear that even the places we're supposed to feel safe, are not going to be safe until we defeat the ideology of Jihadist Islam.
For those not familiar, on Thursday July 16th 2015, Kuwaiti born Mohamed Youssef Abdulazeez a 24 year old resident of Chattanooga shot up a recruiting station wounding one Marine, then drove 7 miles away to a Naval Reserve center and killed four Marines before he was killed. The Marines were Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan, from Springfield Massachusetts; Lance Corporal Skip "Squire" Wells, from Marietta Georgia; Sergeant Carson Holmquist from Grantsburg Wisconsin; and Sargent David Wyatt of Chattanooga Tennessee, and sadly two days later PO2 Randall Smith succumbed to wounds.
I wish that I could echo the Secretary of Defense, and say that this was "a senseless act of violence," but I know better. This was, in the very least, a calculated thought out attack. The shooter targeted only Marines and Navy personnel, and attacked two targets that were widely dispersed. That he was alone is little comfort, and indeed, is even more worrying. We can defend against terrorist cells, and groups, but we really can't defend against the individuals that are determined to hurt us.
So let's talk frankly, and be honest with ourselves. This isn't an isolated incident. Fort Hood was targeted at least twice that we know of. Recruiters have been targeted before and we know that ISIS (IS, ISIL, Daesh whatever) and other Jihadist groups want to target American landmarks and events We also know that al Qaeda and ISIS are trying to compete for the hearts and minds of Jihadis.
As if the string of attacks around the world weren't evidence enough that we are in serious trouble this most recent attack should be a wake-up call to everyone. We need to acknowledge that, far from going away, the problem is getting worse. We need to accept that isolationism isn't going to work, can't work, in our interconnected world. We also need to acknowledge that the drone program isn't a cure all. The threat is real, and as of right now, we're all targets.
Jihadis don't acknowledge the Geneva Conventions. They don't care about attacking what the conventional military considers legitimate targets. They're going to lash out at any and all targets of opportunity. Anyone who served any amount of time in Iraq of Afghanistan will tell you, infrastructure is the place they like to hit.
Jihadists love to hit places where people gather; markets, schools, places of worship, governmental service buildings and any other place where there will be a crowd. The attacks are always designed to shake the confidence of the civilian populace, instill as much terror as possible, and to heighten tension. When military targets are struck they're not going after the high speed death machines, they're going to target the people that don't have much experience shooting back. They'll attack supply routes, bases, and lines of communication.
We, as a community, need to be prepared. Not just the Active and Reserve components, but the Veteran community as well. Our country will need us to be calm, cool, and collected. They will need us to provide leadership when crisis arrives. America hasn't had to face this kind of threat in well over a generation. We, who have been and done, need to act as shepherds, and guide the flock to safety.
I have no doubt that the debate about the troops being unarmed on bases will be reignited. People will doubtless call for service-members to be armed at all times. That is not an argument that I want to get into. What I will say is that constant vigilance is the watchword now. Keep your head on a swivel. Be aware that you are a target, like it or not.
I wish I could say what happened was isolated. I wish I could say things are getting better. I wish a lot of things. We need to prepare for what comes. Things might get worse. We might see the actions of the cowardly in Chattanooga repeated. Be ready. Be vigilant. Whether you realize it or not, your country still needs you now more than ever.]]>
Ordinarily, this is the point where I'd make mention of being intoxicated. That's usually my way of tacitly apologizing for the bile and filth that I just spewed up on your screen when you clicked the link.
Tonight, I've got a cup of coffee, fresh batteries in the vape, and I'm cuddling a rifle older than my grandma's kickstarting dildo. That's right, I have a teddy rifle. Deal with it.
Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I'm fucking pissed. It's not enough that some scumbag goes and shoots up recruiting centers in Chattanooga. It's not enough that five servicemen have lost their lives in this senseless and largely preventable act of violence, or that everybody seems determined to tiptoe through the goddamn tulips rather than call the little shit a terrorist.
Hey, fucknuggets: chances are he didn't just wake up with a headache and decide to start hosing down recruiters with bullets. He might have just been pissed because some Marines ran a train on his girlfriend the night before, but Occam's razor says it's highly freaking unlikely.
There's plenty of room to rant right there. I could go on for pages, but I'm not. The following days and weeks are likely to be a media shit show until something else new and shiny pops up and the ratings whores move on to something else, maybe koalas getting ebola or some shit. The vicious furry bastards are due for some comeuppance anyway.
No, tonight I'm spooning my Lee Enfield because some of those ratings whores have decided to use this tragedy as an excuse to further their agendas and call for further pointless gun control measures.
Let's go ahead and get this out of the way: yes, this sort of thing pops up every time someone shoots up a public place. And yes, servicemembers are pretty well used to being used as tools for someone's political agenda. None of that is new.
It is, however, frankly disgusting that they use the death of four Marines and a sailor to justify calling for renewed bans on assault rifles.
If you're going to use someone's death as a bullet point in your poorly thought out op-ed, at least have the goddamn common courtesy to make sure it's something they would want.
Do you really think Marines would want their memory to be used for that shit? I have no clue; the dead can't speak. But if we once again apply Occam's razor, that most magnificent tool for cutting through bullshit, it's several orders of magnitude less likely than Donald Trump getting invited to any Cinco de Mayo parties run by actual Mexicans next year.
I've got an uncle who spent several years in the Marine Corps. My high school JROTC program was run by Marines. I've had several Marine drinking buddies, and gotten my ass kicked by a few. One thing that they all had in common was that they were fighters.
You want to get fucked up in a New York minute? Go to a bar outside Camp Lejeune and make jokes about ASVAB waivers. It doesn't matter how many buddies you have with you, you're probably gonna get swarmed by every swinging dick in the place. Hell, even the guy that managed to come out of boot camp weighing 110 pounds soaking wet is probably gonna jump in the fray, though he's more likely to end up being used as a club by the resident silverback gorilla.
Don't get me wrong, I'm proud as hell of who I am and what I've done, but by and large, no one can hold a candle to the Marine Corps when it comes to sheer bullheaded belligerence.
Now look me in the eye and tell me that someone coming from that would want Americans to be less capable of fighting back when manure hits the air circulator.
If you want to stop random cum stains from shooting up recruiting centers or armories, you don't take away assault rifles. You don't declare them Gun Free zones and hope for the best. You let the recruiters gun up and stay alert. I'd bet money that, all over the country, a significant chunk of them are saying fuck the rules and doing just that. Next time some wannabe Jihadi comes a knockin', the local police are going to be scraping little pieces of him off the sidewalk for weeks.
In the mean time, here's a hearty fuck you to all those bleeding hearts out there that have the gall to use dead servicemen to stump for an agenda. Just know that when you're sipping on your organic gluten free soy mocha double latte, your wife's probably getting railed by a Marine.]]>
So this past weekend Donald "The Donald" Trump said something incendiary that has shocked the American people, or at least some of them, and has taken the media and campaigns by storm. He insinuated that Sen. John McCain wasn't a war hero, and made the comment that he didn't like people who were captured. Thus earning him the title of DOUCHE OF THE WEEK (I hope you read that to yourself in an awesome announcer voice).
Now before we go too much further I'm going to need to have a few adult beverages, it's not every day I have to sit down and write about Donald Trump, but sally forth I shall.
You see I have no love or respect outside of basic humanity for old Donald. I care for him about as much as I'd care for manscaping my nether region via dunk tank acid bath. To me he's always been an abrasive blow hard with the substance of a Kim Kardashian physics book. His ultra-hyperbolic statements and rhetoric take more of monopoly on salt mining than the traditional grain of salt. Also typically when anyone who prefers to be referred to in the third person begins to talk I go to my happy place (riding on the back of Falcore from the Never Ending Story) until the self-aggrandizing is over.
This weekend's statements weren't a shock to me. If anything they absolutely confirmed my impression of "The Donald." I've racked my brain trying to think of a time where Trump didn't exaggerate, expressed any nuance in understanding of an issue, or let his actions speak for themselves.
In attacking John McCain in his roundabout way, Trump demonstrated that although he proclaims to support veterans, when presented with one who disagrees with him he loses respect fairly quickly and viciously. I'm not sure it would be fair to call Trump a draft dodger, but the military school student and athlete miraculously made it through High School and University athletics only to develop a temporary case of bone spurs on each heel right before he was to sign up for the draft, then upon his eligibility received one of the highest draft numbers possible.
Again, I don't want to call him a draft dodger or any such thing, but a concerted effort was made for him not to serve his country. Which there is no shame in. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve in an all-volunteer military.
What really has incised me is not that Trump attacked McCain—that's his modus operandi, to attack and lambaste anyone who speaks out against him, in bombastic fashion. No, it's that Trump never under any circumstances backs up his words with actions. The largest insult he hurtled at Sen. McCain wasn't questioning his status as a Hero, or his attempts to diminish the horrific nature of McCain's service. It was that he made the statement that he hadn't done enough for veterans.
Most of us know the hurdles and pitfalls of reintegration, navigating the VA, hell even combating the public stigma of war time service. We know what hasn't been done and what needs a lot more work, and I say this as no fan of McCain, but he's done more in a month than Trump has in a life of pontificating. Outside of helping to build a Memorial in NYC for veterans and a parade for veterans in 1995, Trump doesn't really have a track record of action on Veterans issues…….well outside of lip service.
"The Donald" isn't just the DotW because he insulted and diminished one of our own. He's the Douche of the Week because behind all of his talk and rhetoric, there is not a single ounce of substance. He villainizes illegal immigrants, but employs them and takes no responsibility for their hiring by his sub-contractors in the construction of his buildings. He constantly accuses people of being inept and stupid, but the man has been through more bankruptcies than a twenty year member of the E-4 mafia with 6 ex-wives and enough children to field a football team. And now he insults one of our own, for his service in and out of uniform, without ever putting his words into actions.
That's why Trump is The Douche of the Week, because despite all his proclamations, and condemnations, he's done nothing of substance. Except throwing stones in a glass house dressed as a pot calling a kettle black.]]>
"Surround yourself with winners or people working desperately hard to win. And when I say, 'win,' it's not about being loaded or famous or anything that most people see as valuable – it's about the relentless pursuit to be exceptional. When you have that drive and surround yourself with people who have it, you end up experiencing things previous thought unimaginable."—Nick Palmisciano (President of Ranger Up)
It's a simple question to ask but extremely difficult to answer—"What is success?" Some believe its fame and fortune. Some would argue otherwise.
Success is a subjective concept. It is a subjective concept often filled with perceptions—false and real perceptions.
We may read about a person hitting the lottery—truly winning a lottery ticket, winning a large sum in a law suit, or creating a product or brand which got them millions. Does "hitting the lottery" mean such person to be successful?
What about those we see on television? Are actors and actresses, news anchors, correspondents, interviewees, etc. automatically successful just because we see them on television?
I have written several books. I have been interviewed on an array of media outlets. I have also been seen on television shows and in movies alike. I can tell you, with full disclosure here, that I have earned my share of wealth. But does any of that mean I am necessarily "rich?"
Some would assume by disclosing the aforementioned that I am a successful person. They would be wrong.
Yes, I am a published author. Many of the books I have written have received rave reviews however I do have a few books that were complete disasters. Yes, I have been interviewed on several media outlets—never once was I paid to do those interviews and with time, I realized I was being used for the insight I had on specific topics—often used for some political agenda. And yes, I have been a part of production crews for television and movies. But again, some of them really assisted in my career while others, you guessed it, were complete disasters.
With every disaster which I was a part of, I learned. The learning curves were, at times, overwhelming.
What I have done or been a part of, what I have succeeded in fulfilling and what I have actually failed in, is not what has made me successful. In fact, I often wonder whether I am truly successful, mostly in part because I contemplate what the word success really means.
Success, per the relation to ones assessment in life, is subjective and perceptually derived. But make no mistake about it; I firmly believe through my own self-assessment that I am a successful person—more now than I ever was.
I no longer make the money I once did but I have enough to live the life I wish—a non-monetarily concept of a "rich" life—a non-greedy, happy life, capable in ensuring my family has food in their mouths and a roof over their head. Of note, the food my family eats is not that of steak and lobster. No, I'm talking about Mac N' Cheese, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Meatloaf, etc…you know, the good stuff people can eat, make a mess on the table, and laugh out loud as a family simply enjoying the moment. And, we do this under the roof of an old quaint 1890's farm house.
I no longer, or shall I say rarely, do media interviews. I do not miss the television or radio media world one bit. From my experiences, there is always an agenda and it's often filled with negative connotations against some political opposition sensationalizing matters to stir up the masses. I became frustrated with what I saw on the news and what I was asked to provide my insights on. Making the decision to no longer do those interviews has made me much happier than I once was when I did them.
I no longer just pick up the phone and go on some television or movie set when asked. I am relatively selective on the sets I work on these days even though the payouts are normally ridiculously large. Big Hollywood sets can be great and make no mistake about it; I have made some exceptional friends on such sets and being on such has helped fill my wallet. But, they can also be filled with egotistical back stabbing jerks.
The bigger the set, the more likely one will encounter issues despised. I am a huge fan of independent filmmaking yet rarely does such low budget independent film making put any significant dollar amount in one's pocket. But guess what? More often than not, I take the lesser money making venue over the headache driven money machine.
Hopefully people will learn that I place a large value on happiness when it comes to my self-assessment on this thing called success. Money does not bring about true happiness—look at the magnitude of wealthy individuals who are utterly depressed. But it is people, good caring supportive people, people who can differentiate wealth from "rich," who make me happy.
Nick was quoted above claiming one should surround themselves around people working relentlessly to win—relentlessly trying to be exceptional. I couldn't agree more. But being exceptional is also understanding what makes a person happy-Morales, values, living a life with a true smile and being surrounded around like-minded individuals.
Take your bumps and bruises. Fall. Then, look around you and see who is willing to extend a helping hand to assist you back up on your feet. Reach for that hand then smile. Smile because you know someone is there beside you.
Me? I have had my fair share of up's and down's and I will surely have many more. But I am surrounded by people, good loving and caring people who wish me happiness and exceptional health no different than how I wish for them.
Of note, not once was it mentioned of goals or benchmarks and timelines. To me, while those aspects are important, they are not nearly as important as the self-assessment. It's a subjective concept but only you can be the one to truly determine whether you are successful or not.
Four incredible children, a loving wife, a quaint old 1890's farm house, food in our bellies, an exceptional support echelon of like-minded individuals…yeah, I'm doing alright. Actually, I'm doing better than just alright. I'm doing great and I am happy. I am truly "rich."
I am successful.]]>
After Baghdad fell and the main fighting was over in 2003, my Marine Corps counterintelligence team was moved to Al Kut in southern Iraq. For the majority of the summer of 2003, HET (HUMINT Exploitation Team) Three was in Al Kut on a tiny, postage stamp-sized base on the eastern side of Tigris, just north of the city. We were remote, the main Marine force of Third Battalion/Twenty-Third Marines (3/23, a reserve unit) was on the western side of the Tigris on an old Iraqi air base. They were at least forty minutes from us, across the bridge. We were on our own.
The extent to which we were alone was made perfectly clear the day Uday and Qusay Hussein were killed.
The team had a satellite dish and a tv in the squad bay-style room that served as our quarters, courtesy of excellent scrounging in the Al Kut bazzar with our linguist. We had a few english channels, Al Jazeerah, and of course Al Manar – Lebanese Hizballah's propaganda channel. There was also an Eastern European music channel that played a lot of Polish ghetto rap. It was weird.
But, during the day on July 22, 2003, nothing came on about Uday and Qusay getting killed. If 3/23 HQ knew, they didn't radio the news to us.
Evening fell. Some of the team, well, not our lieutenant or team chief, had been boozing' for several hours, and smoking hookah (just tobacco, no hash!). Being Counterintelligence had its perks back then. We had brands of foreign beer we'd never seen before and rot-gut Lebanese whiskey. Tough on the stomach but it got the job done.
Just before dusk, small arms fire started in the city. AK-47's, pistols. We barely looked up from our beers and hookah, celebratory fire is perfectly normal in Iraq. Weddings, funerals, births, Iraqis took any celebration as an excuse to fire weapons into the air. It was disconcerting at first, but we eventually got used to it. It turned into just another part of the Iraqi background noise, like the daily call to prayer wailing from the mosques.
Being mid-summer, it was hot as shit even though it was getting dark. We were all stripped down to our green silkies and flip flops in the 100+ degree weather and the last thing we wanted to think about was enemy fire. We hadn't been shot at in a couple of months. Well, once or twice, there had been a few pot shots, but nothing serious. No real attacks. It was late-July, the war was over, right?
But that night the small arms fire started to increase. Slowly at first, then, as dusk turned to night the gunfire became almost constant. Heavy machine guns started opening up, red tracers began streaking across the sky over Al Kut, explosions from what sounded like RPG's sounded in the distance and orange glows flashed from the heart of the city.
The lieutenant started to freak a little bit, he thought the Iraqis were about to come over the wire and kill us all. Actually, we all thought that was a real possibility. The company of Marines holding the base were sober, of course (they didn't have access to booze), but even so, the tiny base only had some concertina wire and a berm to protects us. If any concerted effort was made to overrun the base, we were all dead, there's no way we could fight off a serious attack given the relatively poor defensive posture of the base. No one was coming to help us, not that they would be able to get to us in time from the airbase.
And, of course, considering the team was… not sober, we were definitely fucked if any Iraqis actually came over the wire.
Our lieutenant ordered us to get into our battle gear. Considering the amount of fire we didn't bother putting our uniforms, we just ran back into our barracks in nothing more than shorts and flip-flops. We grabbed our weapons, threw on our helmets and body armor and ran (stumbled) back outside to take positions against what we thought was an imminent enemy attack.
I crouched against the barracks wall. Well, leaned, mainly. I had to have looked ridiculous in my helmet, armor, silky shorts and flip-flops. Holding my weapon, and swaying, hoping I wouldn't have to fire it. And, maybe kinda hoping I would. I guess it's kind of like drunk driving, fun as hell, but dangerous and stupid as fuck.
Dusk turned to full darkness, and bullets and explosions cracked all around us and throughout the city. A handful of muzzle flashes popped from across the road and the Marines in the overwatch position on the roof above me opened up with the .50. The Ma Deuce thumped out, and brass rained down around us for a hot minute.
The muzzle flashes stopped quickly, and when the 50 cal fell silent, almost on-cue, one of our linguists stuck his head out of the main barracks room, where they'd all been watching satellite TV.
"Hey, guys!" He shouted cheerily. "Fucking Uday and Qusay are dead! Army killed them today! Whoo hoo!"
Celebratory fire explained. We weren't under attack (aside from a few pot shots). The Shia in Al Kut hated Saddam and his sons. Uday and Qusay had murdered and tortured the Shia for decades, and now the Iraqi Shia celebrated. In style. With explosions. And heavy machine guns.
I slumped back against the wall, clutched my rifle to my chest, and whispered an idiot's prayer of thanks.
Back in early 20014, President Obama famously dismissed the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS, which is effectively Al Qaeda 2.0) as a "JV team." This happened shortly after the terrorist organization seized the strategically-important Iraqi city of Fallujah …which maybe should have been the first indication that the organization was anything but "junior varsity."
In the time since the President's ill-chosen words, ISIS (also known as ISIL, or simply IS) has exploded across both what was Syria and Iraq, demonstrating extreme staying power and even adopting the trappings of a traditional state. Meanwhile, the rest of the world, especially the US, has come up empty. As a multi-tour veteran of the war in Iraq it pains me deeply to say this, but I've come to the conclusion that when it comes to the current situation in Iraq, ISIS isn't the "JV" team, we are. Here's why.
1) They have a plan . . . we don't
Our President has admitted at least twice that "we don't have a strategy" for winning in Iraq. The first time he said it was back in September of 2014, when he stated, "I don't want to put the cart before the horse, we don't have a strategy yet." Despite this claim, he loaded up the figurative "cart" with more than 3,500 US troops and shoved it headlong out into the free-fire zone, formerly known as the country of Iraq, leaving the "horse," and any semblance of a strategy to actually win, back at home.
More than 10 months later, the President admitted AGAIN that he had no plan for ISIS, stating that almost a year later that the US still does not have a "complete strategy" to counter ISIS. How is that even possible? Mr. President, aren't you the Commander in Chief? Can't you order your people to produce a complete strategy if they haven't already done so? They were pretty good at drafting up plans for fighting Ebola in Africa or doing disaster relief in Nepal, where there were absolutely zero US citizens being killed and zero national interests being threatened. So why now, more than a year in, do we not have a national strategy to beat ISIS?
Now I know right about now some of you are thinking, "But . . . but . . . what about 'disrupt, degrade, destroy?'" Sorry folks, it takes more than military buzzwords to form a coherent strategy. And how can it be a strategy when the President himself keeps saying that we don't have one?
On the other hand, however, ISIS has always been clear on their intent. Even if the name of the organization has changed, their goal has never wavered: an Islamic state — a caliphate — in which Islamic law reigns supreme. Simple enough. And they are not afraid to tell the world what their strategy is, or to ruthless set about making it happen.
2) They found a way to get the Sunni tribes to fight "for" something . . . we never did.
Inside Iraq, ISIS draws strength from the Sunni minority in western and northern Iraq. They have mobilized these tribes and set them to deadly purpose, in a way we never seemed to be able to do. About the best we could manage with Iraq's Sunnis was to get them to stop fighting us and (sometimes) get them to fight against Al Qaeda. We never got them to fight "for" something. ISIS has. Now we're doubling down on the failed strategy to "train Iraqi forces" in the hopes that they will be able to salvage what is left of the state of Iraq. Well, I watched that movie for more than 10 years, and I already know how it ends. So does ISIS.
3) Their support is growing… ours is waning
ISIS continues to draw recruits from all over the world. They own us on social media. Our counter-narrative, if it even exists, seems to have zero impact. We had almost no influence inside Syria before ISIS's emergence, and now we have none. Our influence in Iraq was overtaken by ISIS on the Sunni side and by Iran on the Shiite front.
"But what about the Kurds?" They gain the most not from an Iraq based on the US model, but on a fractured state that would allow them a fully independent Kurdistan. Everyone wants our money and our weapons, but none of them want our advice, or support our image of what Iraq should be.
4) They're winning… we aren't.
ISIS is winning. Take a look at a map: they took and so far have held Fallujah, Mosul, Ramadi, and other strategically-important cities in northern and western Iraq. They even took Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's birthplace, and were only dislodged with a combined effort that included military forces from Iraq, Iran, and the US, as well as Shiite militias. ISIS is taking and holding territory almost at will, and they are knocking on the front door of Baghdad. We're knocking too, but the government doesn't want to let us back in . . . and I'm not sure I blame them.
5) They want to win . . . we, apparently, don't.
We say things like "It is not possible to know at this time the precise scope or the duration of the deployments of U.S. Armed Forces." But for ISIS, it's entirely possible to know what it's going to require and how long it's going to take to get to their desired endstate. Their perspective is more along the lines of "everything we have, for as long as it takes, until we win or die." That type of clarity of purpose and long-term commitment is completely absent on the US side.
What now?
ISIS is going to win in Iraq. There. I said it.
I'm not alone in this thinking either. In fact, many prominent thinkers are starting to plan for this eventuality. It doesn't have to be that way, but that's the direction we're all heading. ISIS has a plan. They are organized. They motivated the Sunnis in a way we never could. Their support is growing. They are currently winning. And, most importantly, they WANT to win. We don't have any of that going for us.
Back on that fateful day in 2014, President Obama said about ISIS: "If a JV team puts on Lakers uniforms, that doesn't make them Kobe Bryant." You're right, Mr. President, it doesn't. And it doesn't take Phil Jackson to know that in the current conflict in Iraq, ISIS isn't the "JV team" . . . we are.]]>
I get it, you're a veteran. You're proud of that, and you want everyone around you to know it. You have the t-shirts, the hats, and the bumper stickers to prove it. Your Facebook profile sports a picture of you in uniform. You might even have a sign in your yard announcing to the world that you're a vet. I get it, because I'm a veteran too.
And because we are both veterans, I want to ask you for two things. The first is to ask if I can shake your hand and say thank you for standing with me and all of the rest of our brothers and sisters in arms as part of that .01% of Americans who have what it takes to serve in the military and preserve our country and our way of life through the profession of arms. I'm immensely proud of that, and I'm glad you are, too.
The second thing I want to ask you is to just turn it down a notch.
If you're saying or doing something to constantly remind the rest of America that we are better than they are, or that they owe us something, you are wrong. If you're reinforcing negative stereotypes about us, particularly that we're all broken, mentally unstable, or otherwise victims of our time in the service, you're not helping. And if you're using claims of service-related disabilities to excuse your shortcomings or behavior, you're not doing yourself or the rest of us any favors.
As a veteran, there are certain things we are entitled to based upon our military service. We're entitled to the benefits we earned, we're entitled to the gratitude of those who want to give it, and we're entitled to bear the honor (and responsibility) of being called "veteran" for the rest of our lives. But while we are "entitled" to certain things from the government, the American people as a whole don't "owe" us a damn thing. And we need to stop acting like they do.
The cops and judges don't owe it to you to cut you a break when you make a bad life decision, especially if that decision is related to something that's not allowed in the service either. And they definitely don't owe you a break if you keep making that decision over and over again. If you are being honest with yourself, you know your fellow veterans would be even harder on you for representing the rest of us that way.
Your classmates and online friends don't owe it to you to defer to your judgment over theirs every time there is a political disagreement. I hate to break it to you, but just because you served overseas does not make you a geo-political expert of any sort. Welcome a good debate, and be the consummate professional even if the other person is not.
People you meet in bars don't owe you free drinks or their phone numbers because you're a veteran. Sally may be impressed that you served, but she also might be impressed by the guy with the Harvard Law degree sitting down the bar from you. Danny might think it's cool you did some time downrange, but he spent the last four years in South Sudan with the Peace Corps, and he didn't even get to carry a gun. Sometimes you're not the coolest kid on the block. Deal with it.
Businesses don't owe you discounts. I love going to Home Depot and getting that 10% discount when picking up supplies for my next doomed-to-failure DIY project, and I appreciate that they offer it – but I certainly don't hold it against a business who doesn't do the same.
Your neighbors don't owe it to you to fundamentally alter their lifestyle around your needs and preferences, even on New Year's or the 4th of July. After living the rough and tumble lifestyle of a service member, do you really want to be treated with kid gloves for the rest of your life? I don't. I would rather go next door, grab a beer, teach little kids how to blow stuff up (safely!), and enjoy our exceptional American lifestyle. After all, isn't that why we put on a uniform in the first place?
In short don't confuse what we are all "entitled" to by custom, contract, and law with what we are "owed." In or out of uniform, veteran or not, we are all Americans and we are all in this thing together. We need to stop stiff-arming the American people and start extending our hand in friendship. And we start that by ceasing to think that they owe us for our service to them.
Something has been bothering me for a couple of years now and as the 4th of July is right around the corner, I keep getting slapped in the face with it so figured it was time to share my thoughts.
I keep getting tagged in Facebook posts with pictures of veterans holding signs asking for consideration from their neighbors in terms of fireworks. The caption usually reads:
"Combat Veteran Lives Here, Please be Courteous with your Fireworks."
On the surface this seems like a pretty benign statement and sign but to me it's a slippery slope and one that offends me more and more when I think about it.
Full disclosure: a veteran I know made a sign like this a year or two ago and his picture went viral. We had a pretty strong debate about it at the time but now I am seeing it more and more and even campaigns promoting it so felt like I needed to share on a larger scale.
There is no doubt in my mind that Fireworks scare the crap out of a combat veteran. I remember my first New Years Eve back in the states after a tour in Iraq, being startled and mentally transported back to war. It sucked! This, however, was temporary and being that my son, whose birthday happens to be New Years Eve, was so excited and fascinated by the fireworks, I made the decision to put my personal issues aside and drive on for his sake. Which brings me to my point.
Less than half of one percent (.45%) of the American general public have served during the Global War on Terror and of this group a much smaller number have actually seen direct combat. I am not stating this to belittle anyone's service but to provide context. If such a small percentage of the public are afflicted with this dilemma why are we asking everyone else to pander to us?
Yes, I used the word pander, because that's what we are doing. This seems like it is more of a "Hey, Look at me!!" attention grab than a real request. It is a culture of need and entitlement we, as a community, keep promoting because we want everyone to know how special and different we feel we are.
Even though fireworks originated in China, we here in America have done all we can to make them our own. In fact one of the largest producers of fireworks is located only miles from where I live in Central Texas. We line up and buy from roadside vendors and find safe locations to shoot these off every year.
So doesn't it seem selfish and self-serving to ask our country to not celebrate what made us great and with those that did it. Is every fireworks display as bad as the first one I experienced after returning from a combat zone? Honestly, no, but that's just me and I cannot speak for others. I do know however that if it's that bad, closing the blinds and turning up the music/TV or putting on headphones can probably solve the problem instead of guilt tripping our neighbors into not celebrating the freedoms we truly enjoy here.
The American public, for the most part, truly stand with and behind those that serve. Many of those that have shared these pictures and sites with my friends and I do so out of kindness and wanting to show support to the veteran community with the sweetest and best intentions.
This is part of the gap between the veteran community and everyone else but this is a gap that can be bridged and would be one of the easiest to do. Yet, for some strange reason we as a community allow this wedge to be driven and directly sabotage the effort to bring us back together. We as a community need to stop looking for ways to separate us from everyone else and pull up our big boy pants get back to celebrating freedom with our friends and neighbors.
So go get your self some bottle rockets, roman candles and mortars; find a safe location and "Lite 'em up!" Freedom on Brothers and Sisters and show why there is not much better than blowing things up!
I submit to you, those holding the signs will also be the first to tell you a story about this one time they blew something up and how epic it was and how that freedom boner lasted forever!]]>
Successfully celebrating special occasions while forward deployed (Iraq or Afghanistan, take your pick) is typically a thing of deliberate ingenuity and will. Unless you are a Brit, Aussie, or German, there are no beer and brats, and the imagination meter needs to pause solidly in the redline. For those bereft of aforementioned imagination, do not despair! As each holiday approaches throughout the year, I will be providing a step by step guide to celebrating U.S. holidays (love me some 'Merica!) for our deployed personnel. Of course this is just a helpful guide, and in no way the only way to do things….just the best….and most original….because it's my way…..or the highway…..now I'm just rambling…..too much Sangria….never drink while writing…..stream of consciousness flowing….huh? What?
Okay then, without further ado, the first official guide to surviving and thriving on a deployed Holiday; The fourth of July.
Step One: You need a grill. Any old grill will do. If, perchance, you do not have said grill, then a burn barrel and chicken wire will work just fine. Cut barrel in half, lengthwise, and lay chicken wire over your new grill body. Charcoal is usually found at your local PX trailer, but scrap wood will work in a bind. Cooking oil and gasoline are NOT great ideas for starting this fire, no matter what your NCOIC says.
"Sir, don't be a pansy, just light the gas…"
Step Two: Get some grub for the new grill. There are certain words that should be forever linked to the concept of NCO resourcefulness. "Acquire," "Procure," and "Appropriate" all come to mind. Equip your procurement team with an alibi and an escape plan, but it always makes things easier when you have an NCO willing to put his charm into overdrive and hustle the local DFAC employees out of the goods. Thanks, Glynn, for the burgers, wings, steaks, chips, cookies, and sodas. Your outstanding "procurement" skills are second to none.
Annex 1 to Step Two: Keep a stock of sauces and spices for procured DFAC food….you will need them.
Step Three: Get sponsored! Our office was "sponsored" by the most giving and generous supporter you can imagine, our good friend Emilie. Emilie mother-henned us for over 15 long months in Iraq. With that being said, let me segue for a moment:
Thank you Emilie.
Thanks for planting your patriot garden.
Thanks for sending all of those care packages and letters of support.
Thanks for somehow managing to vacuum-seal fresh, homemade pies and send them all the way to Iraq.
Thanks for sending us all the homemade cookies and treats, and the stuff to make our own.
Thanks for sending us two red velvet cakes for our 4th of July celebration, one from scratch and the other from the box, and letting us guess which was which. And thanks for the "office Olympics" games you sent that we played on the 4th. One of our brothers dominated us on that day in doorjamb basketball. That man, our brother, is not with us anymore, but the memories will always live on.
Thanks for sending us the bits and pieces of home that kept our spirits in America while our feet were in Iraq, and kept our hearts high on that 4th of July.
Step Four: Think outside the box in all things. When my wife asked me what I missed the most after the first seven months of deployment, I believe she expected an answer somewhere along the lines of "You baby," or "Your sweet kiss," or "The kids, I miss them so much." While all those things are true, that was not the response I gave (that would have been too cliché anyway!). The response I gave my wife was, "Chili's Chips and Salsa." Wow, who says that? But I was honest, and honesty paid off! My wife, the saint that she is, then proceeded to send me six bags of seriously foam-packed Chili's Chips, and a box with a blender, chili powder, lime juice, dehydrated cilantro, and canned tomatoes. The chips and salsa we enjoyed on the 4th, a dozen of us surrounding a plastic Rubbermaid bowl; each grinning ear to ear, was the best I have ever had.
Step Five: Surround yourself with good people to share in the festivities. This part is the easiest, for they will already be all around you. It is a given that deployed Soldiers miss their families, friends and neighbors during the holidays, but God has granted the Soldier this. You will spend your time with the best people that the world has to offer. Your holiday will be spent among the heroes – The Brave, The Selfless, The Loyal, The Honorable.
Okay, so this step by step guide to the deployed 4th of July is as much a trip down memory lane as it is a guide. I confess that as I write this I am overcome with a longing, a nostalgia that is hard to describe and even harder to define; A longing to be back with my brothers, sharing our own brand of suck, making the most of a bad and lonely situation. For out of these moments, when the rest of the world is enjoying the joy and laze of the Holiday, our bond is strengthened and purified. We are not only celebrating the 4th of July, we are living the history it represents.
Today I salute you, my brothers and sisters far from home, and thank you for embodying this Holiday that we celebrate. For being the true standard bearers of liberty and freedom, and for keeping watch while we celebrate here at home.
Have a funny story about a 4th of July deployment? Have a supporter you'd like to thank? Use the comments below to tell your story and thank your supporter. Happy 4th of July!


text:
Upload Photo
The career of Andy Pettitte
Andy Pettitte won five World Series titles and 240 games in his major league career (203 of them with the Yankees) before retiring in 2010 and returning in 2012. Here's a look at some of the most significant moments in a memorable career.
Newsday.com now uses Facebook for our comment boards. Please read our guidelines and connect your Facebook account to comment.
Giants training camp 2015 Haskell Invitational 2015 UFC 190: Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia MLL semifinals: Lizards vs. Cannons PBC at Barclays: Danny Garcia vs. Paulie Malignaggi NYCFC vs. Impact UFC 190: Rousey vs. Correia weigh-ins Mets and Yankees who debuted in 2015 Notable sports deaths in 2015 MLB trade deadline deals 2015 UFC 190 Q&A with Aldo, Werdum and RDA 5 questions facing the Jets heading into training camp

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The funk of 40 thousand years.
Sixteen-year-old me would be disgusted with current me.
If all the world's a stage, these women will help you dress for it.
The attraction of street gangs.
Kiernan Shipka discusses her favorite musicals and being a Mad Men kid.
The unvarnished story behind the Pink Ladies.
Yoo-hoo! August's theme is GIVE AND TAKE, and we'd like to take into consideration whatever submissions you have to give about that! (Even/especially if they're as cheesy as we just were.) Send pitches to firstname.lastname@example.com. ✴
Rookie is a website for teenage girls. With monthly-themed content, we update three times every weekday, and once a day on weekends. Click here to find out where to send stuff you'd like us to see. Learn about the people who write this thing here.


text:
Best of Enemies
A rich, extraordinarily fascinating account of the Buckley-Vidal debates that's sure to have many viewers' minds constantly shuttling between then and now.
A rich, extraordinarily fascinating account of the Buckley-Vidal debates that's sure to have many viewers' minds constantly shuttling between then and now.
T.S. Spivet is a messy, warm comedy about grief, family and imagination. It's also ironically about being seen and rarely heard.
"The Ballad of Narayama" is a Japanese film of great beauty and elegant artifice, telling a story of startling cruelty. What a space it opens…
Patrice Leconte's "Monsieur Hire" is a tragedy about loneliness and erotomania, told about two solitary people who have nothing else in common. It involves a…
A reprint of an article by Greg Carpenter about the Confederate Flag.
A report on the July 23rd Columbia Links fundraiser.
Scout Tafoya's series continues with a double feature of films by Peyton Reed.
An FFC looks at the gross gender politics of "Pixels."
An FFC looks at the gross gender politics of "Pixels."
An obituary for Dr. Mohamed Abdel Kader Hatem, the grandfather of FFC Wael Khairy.
An interview with the director of "The OceanMaker," and the short film itself.
An interview with Joel Edgerton, star/writer/director of "The Gift."
The trouble with "Million Dollar Arm" is not limited to its title, which suggests a cheesy horror thriller about an overpriced artificial appendage that is coming to get you. This supposedly uplifting true-life baseball tale never quite strikes the necessary emotional sweet spots that these types of inspirational sports movies shamelessly if effectively milk, despite a pitch with great potential: Opportunistic sports agent out to save his struggling company attempts to sniff out untapped baseball talent in far-off India by staging a reality TV-show contest.
The plot suggests an intriguing triple play that combines the outside-of-box thinking of "Moneyball," the can-do gumption of "Jerry Maguire" and the mass-of-humanity chaos of "Slumdog Millionaire" underscored with music by the Oscar-winning A.R. Rahman. And for about half the movie, it almost succeeds.
But there is a gaping hole where "Million Dollar Arm"'s heart should be that widens to crater-size in the second half. And that hole is named JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm), a self-centered, arrogant serial model-dater who exhibits a near-sociopathic lack of concern for the welfare of others. For some reason, we are asked to cheer for this exploiter of two sheltered teen athletes as he drags them from their small Indian villages, flies them to Los Angeles and then expects them to sit around his coldly contemporary high-priced bachelor pad in between training sessions for a major league tryout.
They don't speak English. They know next to nothing about the game they are supposed to be playing at professional levels. They don't even know how elevators work. Yet they remain steadfastly loyal to "Mr. JB, Sir," a man who does little to help them to overcome their culture shock and homesickness save for tossing them a couple of power bars for breakfast every day.
By all rights, this movie should belong to Bernstein's discoveries, the inscrutable Dinesh (Madhur Mittal, who was Dev Patel's criminal brother in "Slumdog") and outgoing Rinku (Suraj Sharma, the star of "Life of Pi"). If the audience is pulling for anyone, it is these two brave strangers in a strange land. Although the 2008 sports drama "Sugar" already explored this fertile ground in its story of a Dominican baseball player, it still would be a more enriching account.
At least with his just-so jaw stubble and shark-like smile, Jon Hamm keeps us watching initially as he steps up to the plate and makes his case for a post-"Mad Men" career as a leading man on the big screen. In a way, it helps that his Bernstein is cut from the same smooth-talking seductive cloth as his ad whiz Don Draper.
I didn't even mind the incredibly corny "a-ha" moment when Bernstein, feeling defeated after losing a major client, mindlessly flips through TV channels. He suddenly spies Susan Boyle performing her astonishing rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" on "Britain's Got Talent" before switching over to a channel showing a cricket match. A couple back and forths with the remote, and he concocts the idea of inviting young Indian players to compete for a chance to become the next great MLB pitcher.
Just ignore the fact that Boyle's 2009 performance aired a year after the "Million Dollar Arm" contest first came into being. Screenwriter Tom McCarthy –whose previous storytelling efforts such as "Win Win" and "The Visitor" were several steps above what he serves up here—certainly did.
The scenic trip to Mumbai and beyond that follows, including auditions right next to the Taj Mahal, proves diverting enough to mask most of Bernstein's severest character flaws. It's only when he is back home that he becomes nearly impossible to tolerate—until an implausible though entirely predictable third-act conversion suddenly has him turning into a patriarchal Mr. Sensitive.
It isn't exactly a good sign that scene-stealer first class Alan Arkin grouchily naps through most of his early scenes as baseball scout Ray Poitevint, who assists with finding the fresh recruits. Still, a snoozing Arkin is better than most awake actors, and Poitevint's ability to hear how fast a pitch is thrown turns into one of "Million Dollar Arm"'s better shticks.
Besides Arkin, the ever-reliable Bill Paxton shows up as Tom House, a rule-breaking Zen master of a coach. Asif Mandvi of "The Daily Show" plays Aash, the practical yin to Bernstein's pie-in-the-sky yang as his American business partner of Indian descent. Pocket-size Bollywood star Pitobash is baseball fanatic Amit, who basically volunteers to be Bernstein's unpaid intern, manages to not overdo the cute factor in what would have been called a "Bronson Pinchot Role" a couple decades ago. And, most importantly, there is Lake Bell, whose warm and inviting presence provides a much-needed female counter balance as Bernstein's lissome med-student tenant next door.
What is the final score for "Million Dollar Arm"? It may earn a few runs early in the game, but is far from a satisfying grand slam of family entertainment.
This message came to me from a reader named Peter Svensland. He and a fr...
An obituary for wrestler and actor "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.
An interview with Jason Segel, star of "The End of the Tour."
A review of Netflix's totally ridiculous but kind of amazing "Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp."


text:
Geneva Hotel, Miami
- Free continental breakfast and WiFi
Main amenities
- 45 guestrooms
- Near the beach
- Beach cabanas
- Valet parking
- 24-hour front desk
- Coffee/tea in the lobby
- Air conditioning
- Daily housekeeping
- ATM/banking services
- Concierge services
- Tour/ticket assistance
What's around
- In South Beach
- Lincoln Road Mall (0.6 mi / 0.9 km)
- Art Deco Welcome Center (0.6 mi / 1 km)
- Lummus Park Beach (0.7 mi / 1.1 km)
- Anchor Shops (0.1 mi / 0.1 km)
- New World Symphony Park (0.4 mi / 0.6 km)
Everything was great. The air conditioning could have been better. The lady who works at…
Recommended hotels
Enter dates to check prices
Hotel Info: 020 3027 9803from £43
- 15th St. South Beach Hostel
- Suite, 2 Double Beds
- Deluxe Two Beds
- Standard One Bed
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 45 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 2 floors
- 24-hour check-in
- Check-out time is 11 AM
Required at check in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
- Minimum check-in age is 21
- Minimum Spring Break check-in age is 21
Travelling with others
- Children (14 years old and younger) stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
- Pets allowed (dogs only) *
- Specific rooms only *
- 1 per room
Extra people
- Rollaway beds available, charges may apply*
- Free WiFi in public areas
- Free WiFi in rooms
- Valet parking *
Nearby One Star Miami hotels
In the hotel
- Free continental breakfast
- Coffee/tea in the lobby
- Beach cabanas (surcharge)
- Beach sun loungers
- 24-hour front desk
- Concierge services
- Tours/ticket assistance
- ATM/banking
In the room
- Air conditioning
- Iron/ironing board
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Soundproofed rooms
- Private bathroom
- Shower/tub combination
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Flat-screen TV
- Premium TV channels
- Free WiFi
- Free long-distance calls
- Refrigerator
- Daily housekeeping
- In-room safe
Top Miami hotels
Recently reviewed hotels in Miami
- Sonesta Coconut Grove MiamiFrom
- Blue Moon Hotel, Autograph CollectionFrom
"A great location just 200m from the Art Deco welcome centre and right next to the top nightlife. A nice comfortable, quiet hotel with a pleasant bar and small pool. Just the job…"Jul 28, 2015
- Hilton Miami AirportFrom
- Hyatt Place Miami Airport West/DoralFrom
"First time is stayed in a Hyatt Place but will definetly return especially for the excellent complimentary breakfast!"Jul 27, 2015
Nearby hotels
Special features
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Golfing nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
- Parasailing nearby
- Scooter/moped rentals nearby
- Scuba diving nearby
- Segway rental/tour nearby
- Snorkeling nearby
- Surfing/boogie boarding nearby
- Windsurfing nearby
Geneva Hotel, Miami's small print
Pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation.
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
Mandatory fees
Deposit: USD 50 per stay
Pet deposit: USD 100.00 per stay
Spring Break deposit: USD 100.00 per stay (for stays between 05 03 - 31 03)
Optional extras
Early check-in can be arranged for an extra charge of USD 50
Late check-out can be arranged for an extra charge of USD 80
Valet parking costs USD 25.00 per day with in/out privileges
Rollaway beds are available for an additional charge
Pets are allowed for an extra charge of USD 250 per pet (may vary based on length of stay), plus a one-time cleaning fee of USD 200
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.


text:
Here are the userpics for june17. Get notified when they upload a new one.
Keywords: girly, happy
swimming pool, ludivine sagnier
|Keywords: fighting fire with fire (sarah lucas)
|Keywords: huddled, sleep (by wiley wiggins)
|Keywords: rainer maria
by danielle st laurent
|Keywords: thinking
julie delpy, before sunrise
by coolsnak3
Some changes have been made to LiveJournal, and we hope you enjoy them! As we continue to improve the site on a daily basis to make your experience here better and faster, we would greatly appreciate your feedback about these changes. Please let us know what we can do for you!


text:
Related Links
Relevant offers
National News
Newtown's children have been showered with gifts - tens of thousands of teddy bears, Barbie dolls, soccer balls and board games - and those are only some of the tokens of support from around the world for the town in mourning.
Just a little over a week ago, 20 children and six school employees were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Twenty-year-old Adam Lanza killed his mother, attacked the school, then killed himself. Police don't know what set off the massacre.
Days before Christmas, funerals were still being held on Saturday (local time), the last of those whose schedules were made public, according to the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association. A service was held in Ogden, Utah, for 6-year-old Emilie Parker. Others were held in Connecticut for Josephine Gay, 7, and Ana Marquez-Greene, 6.
A horse-drawn carriage brought the miniature coffin of Marquez-Greene to The First Cathedral church in Bloomfield, Connecticut, where 1000 mourners gathered to bid goodbye.
The service included a performance by Harry Connick, Jr, who has played with the girl's jazz saxophonist father, Jimmy Greene, the Connecticut Post reported.
Family members remembered her as wild-haired child with her own love of music.
"Ana had a song," said the Reverend Paul Echtenkamp of Glory Chapel International Cathedral in Hartford. "It just came out of her."
In Ogden, people tied pink ribbons around trees and utility poles in memory of Emilie Parker. Her father, Robert Parker, was one of the first parents to publicly talk about his loss and he expressed no animosity for the gunman. Dozens of emergency responders paid their respects at the start of the service for Gay at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Newtown, walking through the church and up to the altar
All of Newtown's children were invited to Edmond Town Hall, where they could choose a toy. Bobbi Veach, who was fielding donations at the building, reflected on the outpouring of gifts from toy stores, organisations and individuals around the world.
"It's their way of grieving," Veach said. "They say, 'I feel so bad, I just want to do something to reach out'. That's why we accommodate everybody we can."
The United Way of Western Connecticut said the official fund for donations had US$2.8 million in it on Saturday. Others sent envelopes stuffed with cash to pay for coffee at the general store, and a shipment of cupcakes arrived from a gourmet bakery in Beverly Hills, California.
The Postal Service reported a six-fold increase in mail in the town and set up a unique post office box to handle it. The parcels come decorated with rainbows and hearts drawn by schoolchildren.
Some letters arrived in packs of 26 identical envelopes - one for each family of the children and staff killed or addressed to the "First Responders" or just "The People of Newtown". One card arrived from Georgia addressed to "the families of 6 amazing women and 20 beloved angels". Many contained cheques.
"This is just the proof of the love that's in this country," Postmaster Cathy Zieff said.
Peter Leone said he was busy making deli sandwiches and working the register at his Newtown General Store when he got a phone call from Alaska. It was a woman who wanted to give him her credit card number.
"She said, 'I'm paying for the next US$500 of food that goes out your door,"' Leone said. "About a half hour later another gentleman called, I think from the West Coast, and he did the same thing for US$2000."
At the town hall building, the basement resembled a toy store, with piles of stuffed penguins, dolls, games, and other fun gifts. All the toys were inspected and examined by bomb-sniffing dogs before being sorted and put on card tables. The children could choose whatever they wanted.
Jugglers entertained the children, a dunk tank was set up outside and the crowd of several hundred parents and children sang an enthusiastic rendition of Happy Birthday to one child. A man dressed as Santa Claus was in attendance, and high school students were offering arts and crafts such as face painting and caricatures.
Newtown resident Amy Mangold, director of the local Parks and Recreation department, attended with her 12-year-old daughter, Cory. She acknowledged that most people here could afford to buy their own gifts but said "this means people really care about what's happening here. They know we need comfort and want to heal".
She pointed to two people across the room. "Look at that hug, that embrace. This is bringing people together. Some people haven't been getting out since this happened. It's about people being together. I see people coming together and healing."
Many people have placed flowers, candles and stuffed animals at makeshift memorials that have popped up all over town. Others are stopping by the Edmond Town Hall to drop off food, toys or cash. About 60,000 teddy bears were donated, said Ann Benoure, a social services caseworker who was working at the town hall.
"There's so much stuff coming in," Mahoney said. "To be honest, it's a bit overwhelming; you just want to close the doors and turn the phone off."
Mahoney said the town of some 27,000 with a median household income of more than US$111,000 plans to donate whatever is left over to shelters or other charities.
In addition to the town's official fund, other private funds have been set up. Former Sandy Hook student Ryan Kraft, who once was Lanza's babysitter, set up a fund with other alumni that has collected almost US$150,000. It is earmarked for the Sandy Hook PTA.
Rabbi Shaul Praver of Congregation Adath Israel is raising money for a memorial to the victims. He said one man wrote a check for $52,000 for the project.
Several colleges, including the University of Connecticut, have set up scholarship funds to pay for the educations of students at Sandy Hook and the relatives of the victims.
Town officials have not decided yet what to do with all the money. A board of Newtown community leaders is being established to determine how it is most needed and will be best utilised, said Isabel Almeida with the local United Way, which has waived all its administrative fees related to the fund.
She said some have wondered about building a new school for Sandy Hook students if the town decides to tear the school down, but that decision has not been made.
And while the town is grateful for all the support, Almeida said, it has no more room for those gifts. Instead, she encouraged people to donate to others in memory of the Sandy Hook victims.
"Send those teddy bears to a school in your community or an organisation that serves low-income children, who are in need this holiday season, and do it in memory of our children," she said.
Sponsored links
Auckland dairy owner's killer to be sentenced
Car hits cow in north Auckland
Police offer $50,000 reward in West Auckland murder case
Fire on grounds of Auckland school
SPCA Auckland still closed to cats
Baby Leo's father charged with assaulting former trustee
Early alarm saves property from going up in flames
Man arrested for theft of $10,000 worth of equipment from iMend-iT
Identity of man sought over stolen dragons
Doctor receives grant to aid drug discovery
Auckland teacher barred for having sex with student
Artist's ironic approach to New Zealand flag designs
Killer gran's appeal dismissed
Police detention of women and children unlawful - IPCA report
MH370 mystery: Indian Ocean debris to be tested in France
Australian surfer Mick Fanning chased from water by shark in return to waves
Former Origin great Billy Moore feeling heat after Polynesian 'coconut football' slur
Johnsonville boy gets rheumatic fever from living in cold, damp rental house
Students given timeouts at Wainuiomata High School for incorrect shoes
The totally enduring legacy of Clueless
The perils of being bad at remembering faces
Barry Watkins recalls 1971 shark attack in St. Clair, Dunedin
Aussie cricket great Shane Warne slams AFL anti-racism star Adam Goodes
Wellington SPCA inspectors to start using body cameras
What happens to your body after you drink a can of Coca Cola
Convicted double murderer Scott Watson has psychologist report complaints rebuffed
MH370: Officials 'confident' plane debris on Reunion Island is from a 777
Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear presenters sign with Amazon for new car show
Baby Leo's father charged with assaulting former trustee
Police offer $50,000 reward in West Auckland murder case
Auckland teacher barred for having sex with student
Car hits cow in north Auckland
Man arrested for theft of $10,000 worth of equipment from iMend-iT
Auckland dairy owner's killer to be sentenced
Social media 'overreaction' after alleged abduction of Elm Park student
Pompe disease sufferer calls for funding
Four pulled from burning Auckland house
Cathay Pacific fined for boarding unauthorised passenger on flight to New Zealand


text:
the male organ used to reproduce or to pleasure the vagina
"my wife love my man-gina deep inside her vagina"
by love2ride August 02, 2006
what is formed when a man takes his genetalia and tucks them between his legs, leaving an empty area where his penis would otherwise be.
Buffalo Bill had a really gross mangina scene on Silence of the Lambs
by MVL November 11, 2005
1. the result of a man tucking his penis between his legs, creating the illusion of a female pubic area.
2. also, male anus.
2. also, male anus.
Please refer to "Silence of the Lambs" starring Jodi Foster and Anthony Hopkins for a true mangina visual.
by hopedenevue October 14, 2008
when a guy tucks his genitalia in between his legs.
I tricked my friends when they saw my mangina.
by Jester Chester May 14, 2008
That funny little thing looking at you when you pull ur dick and balls back
Whilst in the bath with his little sister timmy found that if he pulled his and and testicles back his genitles looked like his sister's so he stapled them there...mangina
by Sam_big_penis May 06, 2008
the act of a man tucking his "package" inbetween his legs and showing his friends
hey you guys did you know i have a mangina
by taten July 27, 2007
1. created by placing the penis in between the legs of a male. Gives the effect of a vagina, hence the name mangina.
2. Known as the sex organ of "man-whores"
3. Known as man-pussy
2. Known as the sex organ of "man-whores"
3. Known as man-pussy
by Day Men December 05, 2005


text:
Jonathan Winters Presents 200 Years of American Humor
TV SpecialAlternate Title: 200 Years of American Humor
More in Television
TV Highlights
What's On This Week
A daily updated summary of the week in TV.
Program Overview
Executive Producer: George Spota
Genres: Comedy, Historical
Genres: Comedy, Historical
Program Synopsis
A bicentennial survey of humor in American throughout its 200-year history.
What's On Tonight
- Unpacking and Decoding the World of Animation
- Hitting All the High Notes in Munich
- Lynn Anderson, Singer of 'Rose Garden,' Dies at 67
- Amazon Pushes to Deliver More Prime Time
- Brooklyn Academy of Music Announces $25 Million Project to Link 3 Spaces
- The Price of Thomas Heatherwick's Imagination
- To Live and Not Die in L.A.: 'Fear the Walking Dead' on AMC
- Hans Hofmann's Murals Add a Blast of Color to a Muted Legacy
- 'Game of Thrones' Could Wrap After 3 More Seasons
- ArtsBeat: Amy Schumer, Louis C.K. Among Jon Stewart's Final 'Daily Show' Guests


text:
Excellent Pediatric Neurologist! He has been my son's doctor for 10 years. Brilliant, kind, observant, great bedside manner and faithfilled! a 10 in our book!!!
A doctor who genuinely seemed to care about what I had to say. Definitely refreshing. Office staff was very attentive. Nicole was amazing.
Very helpful and thorough. I have not had a seizure in 6 years and the does not make me feel footy. I learn something new every visit. My favorite doctor! His secre... Read more
he extends himself in many ways to melp me.always there when I need him.
I was a patient of Dr. Anselmi for over 13 yrs. Great doctor & very knowledgeable. Helped me with my seizures. Debbie is the only person that has been nice & helpful... Read more
Excellent physician
When my husband was rushed to St. Peter's University Hospital suffering a full blown stroke, the angels were with us as we were blessed to get Dr. Jeffrey Greenberg ... Read more
One of the most caring, kindest and brilliant doctors I have ever met. I have been going to Dr. Fitzpatrick for years and he and his staff are top notch. He is very ... Read more
Horrible experience, never put any money in this man's pocket. It is clearly all he is after. I sent the following message to his office after my one and only visi... Read more
Great Doctor and staff, very helpful, nice interactions
Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest health news and tips.


text:
antique ticking, old coverlet, and old quilts. I love vintage fabrics! I recently found a plastic sack full of vintage hand-embroidered pillowcases and towels in a junk shop in TN, with "Ten dollars for whole bag" written on it. I later found similar pillowcases in an antique shop for fourteen dollars a pair.
Antique French Lavender Transferware Plates. I like the idea of using an old dish rack for a buffet.
Lilacs Cottages, Old Dishes, Country Cottages, Vintage Dishes, Antiques French, Lavender Cottages, French Lavender, Dishes Racks, Lavender Transferwar
vintage dishes
Lilac cottage
Country Cottage.
Lavender cottage
mismatched vintage china
Dinners Plates, Vintage Plates, Pretty Plates, Vintage Dishes, Bedrooms Design, Vintage Teas, Vintage China, Old China, Bedrooms Decor
vintage dishes
This Insignificant #bedroom design #bedroom decor #Bed Room #BedRoom
vintage tea plates. #vintage #china
Pretty plates
Vintage plates.. Love
anyone have old china for dessert or dinner plates, mix and match for vintage look?
Just plain C O U N T R Y
Teas Time, Teas Cups, Color, Shabby Chic, Vintage Teas, Ana Rosa, Teacups, Old China, Teas Parties
Teacups: shabby chic
Vintage tea cups!
turquoise paint color Ana Rosa
tea and coffee tastes better in old china.
Tea cups and lovely turquoise color with natural wood top.
Tea Time.
In the novel Shabby Chic at Heart, Tara loves mixed china and chippy teal colored wood furniture.
Kitchens Window, Idea, Vintage Lace, Lace Curtains, Lace Doilies, Window Dresses, Window Treatments, Valance, Window Covers
love this idea: valance made of doilies
DIY- Lace Doily Valance
window love. Great idea for kitchen window!
window dressing
window coverings
vintage lace curtains or doilies. doing this for my bathroom window!!
think this may have to be my new kitchen window treatment...
Dress forms
Fashion Shoes, Dress Form, Sewing Rooms, Industrial Design, Vintage Dresses Form, Dressform, Antiques, Vintage Decor, Vintage Style
Collection of antique dress forms in a sewing room.
Vintage manicans #vintage #decor #design
just #industry design #industrial design #Industrial Design| http://modern-industrial-508.blogspot.com
vintage dress forms - Google Search
Delicious antique dressforms!
vintage style dress form - Google Search
1957 - Christian Dior evening coat,
Dior 1957, Traditional Christmas, 1950S, Vintage Fashion, Christian Dior, Vintage Coats Dresses, Beats Gifts, Dior Vintage, Christmas Gifts
Christian Dior 1957 floral vintage evening coat
Amazing embroidered coat ?Dior mid 1950s.
Do you still worry about the Christmas gift? This can help you get the beat gift for you dear. What are you waiting for? Hurry up http://monclerforchristmas.blogspot.com/
OH! Christmas is coming and the great discount of Moncler is still waiting for you. During our traditional Christmas, we will provide the lowest price for you!!!!!http://monclerforchristmas.blogspot.com/
Vintage Kitchenware, Vintage Kitchens, Kitchens Stuff, Antiques Kitchens, Kitchens Utensils, Cooking Utensils, Old Kitchens, Kitchens Gadgets, Kitchens Tools
Grey antique cooking utensils
Antique kitchen utensils
Vintage Kitchen Tools
old kitchen utensils
Vintage kitchenware utensils
Old Kitchen stuff
Mercury Clocks, Vintage Clocks, Alarm Clocks, Old Clocks, Vintage Wardrobe, Clocks Ticking Tock, Antiques Clocks, Vintage Silver, Clocks Old
~ Antique Clock ~
vintage clock
vintage silver alarm clock
Balancing Act
Vintage Teacups Art, Teas Time, Teas Cups, Photography Prints, Fine Art Photography, Vintage Teacups Prints, Teas Art, Teas Parties, Teacups With Polka Dots
pretty tea cups
Tea art
Balancing Act: Teacup Fine Art Photography Print
Tea time♡
tea parties!
photo collection
Photo Collage, Idea, Photo Display, Photo Wall, Families Photo, Old Pictures, Families Trees, Vintage Photo, Old Photographers
Vintage photo collection. Good arrangement for the family photo wall.
#old pictures - Vintage photo collection
ψ Family Trees ψ diy genealogy & ancestry ideas - ancestry family photo display
vintage photo montage. I knew that we collected old photographs for a reason.
vintage photo collage
Vintage Posters, Fashion Vintage, Beaches Life, Vintage Prints, Vintage Summer, Vintage Maps, Blue Lagoon, Vintage Travel, Beaches Art
Blue lagoon Sailing
vintage beach art
vintage summer love
Maps Beach life
vintage travel
Vintage map
vintage poster
Love the dreamy washed-out look of this vintage print
...#fashion #vintage
"If I had no voice and I had no tongue I would dance for you like the rising sun."
Vintage Music Photography, Old Records, Rise Sun, Let Dance, Company Picnics, Dance Dresses, Vinyls Records Photography, Dance Vintage, Swings Dance
Ancient Silverware, Faces Books, Vintage Pretty, Pretty Plates, Life Style, Vintage Cutlery, Silverware Addiction, China Dishes, Vintage Silverware
Close-up of ancient silverware on decorated china dish by Laura Stolfi
via face book...
flatware on a pretty plate
vintage silverware and china
Vintage pretty
Vibek Design, Farmhouse Style Kitchens, Kitchens Shelves, Farms Houses, Glasses Jars, Country Farmhouse, Country Kitchens, Vintage Scale, Mason Jars
Gorgeous vintage kitchen shelves with controlled palette
Country kitchen
Blue glass jars
The vintage scale is almost mandatory, and what's better than old Mason jars to store staples?
beautiful vintage details add to this country farmhouse style kitchen
VIBEKE DESIGN. Boy they know their way around the "farm house" look.
Antique silverware | Anna Dobrydneva Photography
Wedding Inspiration
Card catalog at the library
Old Schools, Libraries Cards, Remember This, Childhood Memories, Cards Catalogue, Schools Libraries, Kids, Libraries Books, Library Cards
library card catalog...fond childhood memories!
Want to blow a kids mind? Tell them that the research paper due next week has to be done using ONLY the library card catalogue and the Dewey Decimal System! NO COMPUTERS OR SEARCH ENGINE ALLOWED! Think they'd appreciate us "old farts" a little more then? In today's world, having to do a research paper the old school way is far worse than having "to walk to school, in the snow, up a hill both ways"!
I <3 old school library card catalogues. #reading #library #books #classic
library card catalogue Remember this well as I worked in the school library for a time...
Vintage elegance
Hydrangeas Colors, Shabby Chic, Silver Trays, Vintage Wardrobe, Purple Hydrangeas, Dark Purple, Silver Platters, Hydrangeas Bush, Green Flowers
life on a silver platter!!
Purple hydrangea in silver tray
❥ my favorite hydrangea color
Love these colours, neighbours have a hydrangea bush with these..
dark purple bloom
#purple and green flower on antique white tray
Floral Vintage
Flowers Dresses Outfits, Floral Bedroom, Vintage Floral Dresses, Dresses Vintage, Cute Dresses, Vintage Dresses, Alexis Floral, Floral Vintage, Vintage Style
Floral Vintage Dress #Vintage Styles| http://vintage-styles-186.blogspot.com
Full skirt and rolled up sleeves~ vintage floral dress and pretty floral bedroom.
Cute dress.
The Alexis Floral Vintage #Vintage Styles| http://vintage-styles-743.blogspot.com
Swimwear fashion [1950s]
Beaches, 1950S Swimsuits, Vintage, Fashion 1950, Bath Suits, Bathing Beauties, Bath Beautiful, 1950 S, 1950S Swimwear
1950s #swimwear #vintage
Swimwear fashion [1950)
Vintage 1950s bathing suit fashion at the beach, swimsuit.
1950s Swimsuits
bathing beauties #vintage #beach
Vintage Handkerchief Curtain Panel
Vintage Hanky, Ideas, Window, Bathroom Curtains, House, Handkerchiefs, Shower Curtains, Vintage Linens, Vintage Embroidery
re-purpose vintage embroidery - use vintage hankies - I did this years ago with embroidered things. Still hanging as a shower curtain, although it is wearing. Oh, used his and her pillowcases as the center!
Love this idea ~ use vintage hankies to make a beautiful window treatment.
Or a summer shower curtain. Goes w/nothing in my house, but so cute. Vintage embroidered linens, some edged in crochet, are recycled to make a patchwork curtain. By Rosehip http://rosehip.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c01b353ef01901efe22e4970b-800wi http://rosehip.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c01b353ef01901efe11ba970b-800wi
(Beautiful Handkerchief Bathroom Curtain) Maybe I could use some of my vintage linens I inherited from my mother and grandmothers to make a shower curtain. I would just need to use it with a plastic liner. -CAB
Lovely ladies from the 1950s
Rollers Girls, Rollers Derby, Vintage Rollersk, Roller Skating, Rollers Skating Girls, Photo, Retro Rollers Rink, Vintage Style, 1950S Rollers
Pretty Roller Skating Girls | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
1950s Roller Skating Girls #girlsonwheels #roller #girls #oldschool #vintage #50´s
1950s Roller Skating Gal #Vintage Styles
Heirloom recipes
Grandma Recipes, Antiques Recipes, Recipes Boxes, Metals Recipes, Heirloom Recipes, Gramma Recipes, Comforter Food Recipes, Favorite Recipes, Old Recipes
Mom's old recipe box
Grandma's Recipes
favorite recipes
i have always wanted an antique recipe box. just like this with a latched lid.
Gramma's recipe box
who still uses a floral metal recipe box?
Comfort food recipes handed down through generations.......
beautiful antique decanters...
Antiques Glasses, Antiques Bottle, Vintage Bottle, Beautiful, Collection, Old Bottle, Glasses Bottle, Jars, Vintage Perfume Bottle
vintage perfume bottle beauty
Beautiful antique bottles ****
Pretty old bottles collection
beautiful collection of glass bottles
Beautiful antique glass bottles
Antique glass jars
Beautiful vintage(?) bottles
via umla


text:
Fire crews rush to battle Moutere blaze
Relevant offers
Fire ripped through the Moutere Hills Community Centre yesterday leaving its interior a blackened and charred mess.
Former centre chairman Steve Mitchell was shocked at the damage.
"It's just gutting for the whole community to take a look inside it's heartbreaking," Mr Mitchell said. The alarm was raised by a woman who went to open up the centre this morning for the school holiday programme, he said.
"She went in the main entrance and turned the lights on and heard some popping and cracking, turned around to walk out and the ceiling panels started to collapse."
Mr Mitchell said the woman escaped unharmed.
Fire crews from around the region raced to the centre to fight the blaze, which appeared to be in the open-plan centre's ceiling. Smoke initially poured out of the centre's split level roof line and any open windows until it was brought under control at about 9.30am.
At the scene Upper Moutere chief fire officer Fred Ewers said it was difficult at this stage to say how the fire started but it appeared to originate from the building's kitchen area in the southwestern corner. "Then it's travelled along the function room to the main entrance in the northwestern corner."
Three fire crews at a time entered the building in breathing apparatus to fight the fire with high pressure water sourced from tankers and a nearby stream. A fan was used to blow the toxic smoke out of the building.
Mr Ewers said the building's open plan layout meant there was probably considerable smoke damage throughout the structure.
Crews from Appleby, Upper Moutere, Motueka, Stoke, Nelson and Mapua attended the fire along with the region's HazMat command centre.
Local resident and Ranger Rugby Club member Steve Berkett said the fire was a "bloody shame".
Mr Berkett - also a policeman in Nelson - said the centre was always busy and the hub of the rural community. Mr Mitchell said he was pleased no lives were lost, and impressed with the fast turnout of police and fire crews to the scene. "It's only material damage, and I'm sure Upper Moutere will rebound - it's a pretty robust community. But it's gutting."
The Moutere Hills Community Centre and Sports Complex was built in the Upper Moutere domain in October 2005 to replace the old local hall and to provide better facilities for the Upper Moutere sportsground.
A school holiday programme had restarted yesterday. An outdoor movie was scheduled to run on Thursday night and the Sarau Festival, showcasing Moutere produce, art and crafts was scheduled to be staged there on February 3.
The centre was a reflection of a successful community hub and was held up as a good example of what communities could achieve, said Tasman District Council's former corporate services manager David Ward, who at the time was a main driver of the project on the council's part.
The centre was built as a largely local initiative where residents in the area agreed to directly fund the original building costs in conjunction with a large contribution from the TDC.
Tasman District councillor Judene Edgar said the building cost $2.4 million to build, and was the hub of the community.
It had taken about six years of planning and fundraising to get the centre built, with funding coming from the council's community facilities rate. The community had raised 20 per cent of the building's costs, while the council had provided 80 per cent.
It is the second major fire in the region in the past week.
Seven fire appliances and 30 firefighters were called to a serious fire in a storage facility in a building next to the Elma Turner Library and Prego Mediterranean Foods last Wednesday.
Sponsored links
Garin College principal John Boyce retires
Speed limit at dangerous Stoke intersection cut
Couple to build dream home on once-abandoned land
Exterior taking shape on House for Hospice
Cuddle cot fundraiser to help grieving families
Children's GP visits free at all practices across region
Nelson Women's Club lets in the men for calendar launch
Henley School repays helping hand to Big Brother Big Sisters
Fisherman urges public to back rescue helicopter winch fundraiser
TDC serves notice for Best Island road
Man wanted in connection with burglary and police chase
Westport man charged with stealing boats
Nelson teacher aide admits sexually grooming 14-year-old student
Nelson teacher aide admits sexually grooming 14-year-old student
Fusion of talents spices up the Cantina
Garin College principal John Boyce retires
Speed limit at dangerous Stoke intersection cut
Cuddle cot fundraiser to help grieving families
Masked Parade brings book characters to life
Letter fuels grey battle for power
Thai flavours hit Nelson waterfront
Parents of missing Dutch tourist keep searching
Couple lucky to escape Stoke house fire
Craft brewing capital title under threat
Incentives to boost Nelson's inner-city living
Embattled Grey Power president withdraws from fight
Couple to build dream home on once-abandoned land
Garin College principal John Boyce retires
Speed limit at dangerous Stoke intersection cut
Logging transport firm Waimea Contract Carriers to trade on despite $16m debt
Nelson teacher aide admits sexually grooming 14-year-old student
Cuddle cot fundraiser to help grieving families
Fusion of talents spices up the Cantina
Nelson hockey community in shock after coach dies during game
Activists aim to awaken Nelson public
Nelson Women's Club lets in the men for calendar launch
Fisherman urges public to back rescue helicopter winch fundraiser
Do you agree with the city council's decision to put a 30-minute limit on buskers' performances?Related story: (See story)


text:
The Buxton Spa Prize is an open art competition to celebrate the town's culture, natural beauty and heritage. Over 50 artists entered the first year in 2014. One of the Buxton Spa Prize is to make the town an internationally recognised centre for visual arts. 1st... Read more »
The star of ITV's Take Me Out and Channel 4's Phoenix Night, Paddy McGuinness makes his long-awaited return to stand-up with Buxton being announced as a new date on his tour. In his new show, Daddy McGuinness, the comedian will be sharing with audiences several... Read more »
Stone Cold Murders - By James Cawood Starring Nick Barclay and Freya Copeland. A tense thriller set in deep winter in the English Lake District. Olivia and Robert, owners of the Langstrath Country House Hotel, are enjoying the success of their first season... Read more »
Former BBC correspondent and ITV political editor John Sergeant is one of the UK's most popular and respected broadcasters. His career in journalism has been lengthy and accomplished and has seen him conduct interviews with Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony... Read more »
Treat yourself to a delicious three course Easter lunch for just £25 at The Old Hall Hotel. If you're fed up of chocolate eggs and would like something a little more sophisticated, we have a great Easter Lunch menu to please all the family. This fantastic offer... Read more »
To make a booking, or for more information, please contact reception on 01298 22841


text:
JULY 25 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." – Hebrews 4:12 I have found that when you don't apologize for the Bible but accept and teach the Bible, it goes through… Read More ›
In Collusion or Collision?
JULY 16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." – Romans 8:16 A farmer and his farmhand went duck hunting. The farmer said to his friend, "You're always talking about fighting with… Read More ›
"Why Doesn't God Obliterate Evil?"
JUNE 3 "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine." – 1 Chronicles 29:11 Have you ever… Read More ›
The Sin Of Pride
"The greatest characteristic of a saint is humility." ~ Oswald Chambers What is the first RECORDED sin mentioned in the Bible? Many of us might think of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. Yes, original sin did take… Read More ›
Believing the Lie
Its so easy to tell a lie – white or black depending on which school you went to I surmise. God of course doesn't tolerate lies of any sort – deception included – we can so easily fall into the… Read More ›
Tempted, But Not Beyond What We Can Bear
MAY 8 "For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." – Psalm 103:14 A factory mechanic builds a truck. He knows the chassis of that truck and knows the load it can carry. In the same way,… Read More ›
Jesus Saves the Best for Last
APRIL 28 "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way." – 1 Corinthians 12:31 Satan always gives the best first and the worst last. For example, Proverbs chapter 20 verse 17 says,… Read More ›


text:
Berger Managing Director Abhijit Roy said total land will be around 12 acres and investment in the initial phase was expected to be around Rs 60... ...http://businesstoday.feedsportal.com/c/33681/f/593013/s/48ae8eb6/sc/28/l/0Lbusinesstoday0Bintoday0Bin0Cstory0Cberger0Epaints0Eplanning0Etwo0Enew0Eplants0Ein0Eassam0C10C2223730Bhtml/story01.htm
The project will cover an area of 3.5 million square metres. It will be located between the 829 metres-tall Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower... ...http://post.jagran.com/dubai-to-build-worlds-longest-ski-slope-1438657254
NEW DELHI: The vagrant musician, belting out yesteryears Bollywood numbers or screeching a bhajan or qawwali in a strong nasal tone is part and... ...http://economictimes.feedsportal.com/c/33041/f/534022/s/48ae0d13/sc/14/l/0Leconomictimes0Bindiatimes0N0Cnews0Cpolitics0Eand0Enation0Cgovernment0Eto0Etrain0E30A0A0A0Ebeggars0Eto0Esing0Epaeans0Eto0Eswachh0Ebharat0Ebeti0Ebachao0Eother0Ecampaigns0Eon0Elocal0Etrains0Carticleshow0C48336570A0Bcms/story01.htm
Robotic High Put your hands together for the Team R Factor—nine young mech, tech and programming whizkids from India, who recently won the... ...http://www.dnaindia.com/academy/report-what-does-it-take-to-win-2110881
New Delhi: HCL Technologies Ltd , India's fourth largest software exporter, on Monday announced a decline of 2.8% in net profit to Rs. 1,783 crore... ...http://www.livemint.com/Companies/jybNBSEINzfYbBvA6L3ZZO/HCL-Tech-Q1-profit-drops-28-to-Rs1783-crore.html
Hasee Toh Phasee is an romantic...
46 Followers
Collects more info of New Release...
1 Followers
the new phase of lyf after our...
1 Followers
DLF Ultima Phase 2
1 Followers
UKN Esperanza Phase II Bangalore
1 Followers


text:
Lair Defense: Shrine by Elite Games Greedy humans are invading dragon's world again! They're well armed, and will not stop until they destory dragon's world … 1,000,000+ downloads, Rating 4.22 (35000) Free
Martin Eden by LUNLUN S.R.L. Martin Eden, by Jack London, in KIRA Deluxe edition. This is the first volume of the book. Here is the whole book: htt … 100+ downloads, Rating 5.00 (1) Free
Follow M-E (Follow the Line) by Karge Software Follow M-E is a game in which you have to follow the line as long as possible. If you follow the line with more then on … 10,000+ downloads, Rating 3.85 (146) Free
Fun Piano for kids by rubycell Kids Piano is the best piano learning app for your kids on Android! This kid piano game is specially designed for kids t … 500,000+ downloads, Rating 3.95 (4119) Free
Baby Names - Name meaning by AppDeveloper Welcome to the ultimate (Baby) Names App! This app features detailed information about the meaning of all your names! … 5,000+ downloads, Rating 3.35 (20) Free
Mahkota 90.5 FM by KLIKHOST PT RADIO MAHKOTA COKRODIHARJO BERSATU JL. JOMBANG 88 BABAT – LAMONGAN WEBSITE : www.radiomahkota.com EMAIL : radiom … 100+ downloads, Rating 4.53 (15) Free
Iltalehti – Päivän lehti by Iltalehti Päivän lehti on nyt Iltalehti Plus. Iltalehti Plus on Suomen suurimman uutispalvelun Iltalehden virallinen Android-näköi … 100,000+ downloads, Rating 3.18 (357) $5.01
Secret Phone by Global Developers Secret Phone is a phone hidden within your phone! Its completely hidden in every way, there will be no icon in your app … 5,000+ downloads, Rating 3.56 (245) Free
Blue Crystal Keyboard New by American Keyboard Themes Simple yet beautiful American Keyboard theme. Enjoy! Blue Crystal Keyboard is a keyboard theme that works only with Ame … 50+ downloads, Rating 5.00 (3) Free
hotstar live TV movies cricket Updated by Novi Digital Entertainment Private Limited Watch the latest TV Shows, Movies and LIVE sports on your Android device completely free of charge! No sign up fees, or … 10,000,000+ downloads, Rating 4.04 (400953) Free
Atooma - Smart Assistant by Atooma Inc. Atooma will transform your smartphone in a magical personal assistant! Thanks to Atooma -smart actions- you can automa … 100,000+ downloads, Rating 3.83 (4744) Free
Logistics Manager New by Stephen Brooks Logistics Manager provides news, insight and analysis for logistics and supply chain professionals within retail, wholes … 1+ downloads, Rating 0.00 (0) Free
K-State Wildcats Gameday New by SportsLabs The official K-State Wildcats Gameday application is a must-have for fans headed to campus or following the Wildcats fro … 1+ downloads, Rating 0.00 (0) Free
Control de Gastos Mensuales by GlobApp Una aplicación sencilla e intuitiva que le va a permitir administrar su dinero de manera fácil y rápida, brindando infor … 100,000+ downloads, Rating 4.20 (2202) Free
Euromaster Piergomme by Next Srl Benvenuti nel vostro centro Euromaster a Ripalimosani Il nostro team offre soluzioni professionali per ogni tipo di cli … 100+ downloads, Rating 0.00 (0)


text:
Welcome to Tacoma World!You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.
As a registered member, you'll be able to:
Quick Links: WTB: Hella 500FF's or something similar. FS (San Diego): HELLA RALLYE BLACK MAGIC 1000 OFF ROAD LIGHTS FA: Brand new Scan Gauge II FS: Extang Trifecta, bed cleats (4), toyota all weather floor mats.... Rocky Mounts bike carriers for sale For Sale: Brand New Kicker 10cvt12-2 Ohm 800 Watt Shallow Mount Car Subwoofer
- Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
- Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
- Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
- Access all special features of the site
FS 16" Steel Wheels with Center Caps & TPMS
Discussion in 'Buy / Sell / Trade' started by azn sensation, Apr 2, 2012.


text:
Jurnee Smollett Signs On for TRUE BLOOD Season 6
Following yesterday's announcement that Jurnee Smollett had signed on for a recurring role on NBC's new series Do No Harm - the actress has reportedly landed herself another job.
Indiewire reports that Smollett has also been hired as a series regular for the upcoming sixth season of TRUE BLOOD.
The actress will play Nicole Wright, "who is not concerned with money and more concerned with The Common good and doing what's right."
Smollett has previously been seen in LIGHTS, as well as EVE'S BAYOU. She also stars in Tyler Perry's upcoming film TEMPTATION, opposite Vanessa Williams and Kim Kardashian.
TRUE BLOOD was created by Alan Ball; based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris; executive producers, Alan Ball and Gregg Fienberg; co-executive producers, Brian Buckner, Alexander Woo, Raelle Tucker, Mark Hudis and Angela Robinson; co-producers, Christina Jokanovich, Marlis Pujol and David Auge.
The sixth season of TRUE BLOOD is set to kick off this June.
About Author
- Comedy Central Launches New SiriusXM Show THE BONFIRE WITH BIG JAY OAKERSON AND DAN SODER
- VIDEO: John Oliver Takes on Mandatory Minimum Prison Sentences on LAST NIGHT
- VIDEO: Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper & More in New WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER Featurette
- VIDEO: Jon Stewart Reworks GREASE Classic with 'Summer Trumpin'
- SXSW COMEDY WITH W. KAMAU BELL Debuts on Showtime Tonight
- EPIX to Premiere Comedy Special MARC MARON: MORE LATER, 12/4
- LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS Monologue Highlights - 7/22
- VIDEO: Why Did Ed Helms Bring a Llama Out on JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE? Find Out!
- VIDEO: Funny or Die Mocks Donald Trump in New 'POW' Video
- VIDEO: Jimmy Kimmel and Brie Larson Dramatically Read the Emoji Movie Script