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Feb 03 2009
Day 345: A Before and After…And a Bedroom Discussion
Let's start Tuesday with a quick before-and-after. Because you know what they say about Tuesdays: They were made for before-and-afters!
Ahhh. My Tuesday is officially complete.
Meanwhile, in other Lodge news:
Here's the hallway that leads to one of the bedrooms. I like the starkness…the plainness. Or do I just fear buying mirrors? Is my "plainness" just an excuse for me to avoid buying accessories?
And now we're getting down to the nitty-gritty. The four bedrooms in the Lodge have…beds. Mattresses. Clean white sheets. And that's it. Flat screen TV's will eventually go on the walls, but first we need bedding. Chairs. Things on the walls.
Tell me if you think this idea is stupidly hokey and dumb and really, really lacking in creativity—sort of like "Let's have an Easter wedding, and all the bridesmaids can wear different colors of PASTELS!!!!!!".
Sorry. But I think I might have had that thought once. I've been angry at myself ever since.
Since the bedrooms are all generally the same, what if I changed them up by creating a different "theme" for each room? Now, when I say "theme" I don't mean that Bedroom 1 would be Teddy Bears, and Bedroom 2 would be Holly Hobbie. I mean that Bedroom 1 would be (hypothetically) "Cowboy"—more masculine, rustic bedding, photos of chaps and cowboys on the walls, a pair of worn boots and reins here, maybe a saddle there. Bedroom 2 would be "Cowgirl"—floral quits, feminine (but not overly) color scheme, nature/floral photos on the walls, photos of the girls working cattle. Bedroom 3 would be…Horses. Bedroom 4 would be…Manure? Just kidding. Maybe cattle? Ranching history? Ranch landscape?
Or should the themes be more about the surrounding elements? Bedroom 1 is Earth, Bedroom 2 is Sky, Bedroom 3 is Fire, etc.?
Or do you like the Holly Hobbie idea? I really want the bedrooms to be a haven for those staying there. I want guests to feel like they could stay forever.
And who knows—maybe Holly Hobbie is the answer?
Pioneer Woman
P.S. I'm almost finished with my "Lodge Resources" post, and will also be discussing my living room decisions in the coming days. Lots happening behind the scenes. Translation: I keep forgetting to take my camera up there. I need to have it surgically attached to my hand, but then what would I do in the shower?
P.P.S. I was just kidding about the Holly Hobbie thing. I only mention that because once I joked about possibly putting up a blackwatch plaid wallpaper border with a golf theme and having bright pink furniture and I got a couple of concerned emails.
1264 Comments
Erin On Wednesday, February 4 at 1:57 pm
Earth, sky, fire etc.!
Lynn On Wednesday, February 4 at 2:01 pm
I'm partial to keeping the bedrooms very serene and Zen and reflective of the prairie outside. It's too easy to overdo the cowboy theme.
Erin On Wednesday, February 4 at 2:03 pm
When you said 4 bedrooms, I immediately thought of a "Four Seasons" theme, one for each room. I don't know, maybe kind dumb, but I also like your "Cowboy" "Cowgirl" idea too!
jessica On Wednesday, February 4 at 2:11 pm
i like the crispness and cleanness of the white linens on the bed. my favorite hotels are the ones that have awesome white, soft sheets. big down comforters are fun too! makes me want to sleep all day…and you can bleach EVERYTHING …after all the manure gets everwhere…and one bleach to holly hobby and we are all white anyway… it all looks beautiful!
Amy On Wednesday, February 4 at 2:11 pm
I'm not crazy about the theme idea – but I would find a way to include your photography. Maybe all of your favorite pictures of cows go in one room, horses, another, dogs, landscapes. That way it's not so much a theme but a showcase of like things. Or, is that the definition of a theme?
Or, just find some cute strawberry shortcake sheets and call it good.
Christina On Wednesday, February 4 at 2:14 pm
I'm the world's least inspired decorator, but something someone said flashed in my head – wouldn't it be cool to do before-and-after or historical/present day pictures of each view in each room. The room on the north side of the building, you do shots of that view – all northern – etc.
Good luck!
tallie On Wednesday, February 4 at 2:21 pm
I am a huge fan of the Earth elements idea especially since you have the perfect number of rooms. Yes do that. It would be really cool if you had a wall water fountain in the water room and torches or big sconces with candles in the fire room… maybe I'm going too far with this idea…
Judi On Wednesday, February 4 at 2:29 pm
I love the earth, sky, water, fire ideas. They just set the tone and palette, but you don't have to take it to the extreme (seashells in the water, clouds on the ceiling,etc.). Each room would have it's own "mood"; I wonder which one would be the most popular? Oooo…four rooms, four seasons? Four rooms, four punks? But it is a ranch, so maybe that theme appeals to you more. Does MM get a vote?
Jeanmarie On Wednesday, February 4 at 2:29 pm
Now I'm really impressed, it seems the world is fast turning into 'Pioneer Woman".
My two cents, the element theme, with the ranch thrown in. The elements can establish the color scheme.
tracy reinhardt On Wednesday, February 4 at 2:40 pm
I rarely comment – for some reason I felt compelled to say…me? I love simple clean lines but that hallway? That hallway just looks undone. All it needs is one thing… A picture rail…or one of those shaker rails with pegs to hang random stuff off it but it needs something… The other thing is I love the theme idea — Ranch themes. Common themes… but not the theme of elements. I fear you will be constantly explaining yourself and after the thousandth time you will so regret it…probably way before. Most men arent subtle enough to get the whole element-as-theme even if you spell it out. Save yourself the migraine …
Paula On Wednesday, February 4 at 2:44 pm
I love the idea of the themed bedrooms!
I think #4 should be about your family's history!
kma On Wednesday, February 4 at 3:10 pm
Meh, I'm not crazy about the theme thing. How about each room in a different color? Subtle colors, of course, with common denominators, but accented in different colors. Or – four bedrooms~four kids. Each kid could design his or her own decor!
pam On Wednesday, February 4 at 3:14 pm
I love the theme idea Keep it fun!
Leigh On Wednesday, February 4 at 3:20 pm
This calls for a roadtrip. Here's a place that does what you're talking about well. I love this place. So peaceful, so restful. You must take MM and check it out. If not, take the girls for a couple of nights. So well done!
Nebraska Wife of a Farmer On Wednesday, February 4 at 3:21 pm
This past summer, we stayed with relatives in Colorado who put us up in their guest house. The bedrooms were all done in different themes and we loved it (especially my girls!). It felt like we were staying in a bed & breakfast. Anyway, it's something different your guests probably wouldn't do in their own homes, so it will be a "real getaway" for them. Go for it!
Karen On Wednesday, February 4 at 3:24 pm
Decisions, decisions! I like the idea of cowboy and cowgirl…what about cowboys and indians? Beautiful rugs, baskets, pottery etc. I love the shapes, colors and images of the native culture. ( I don't want to sound insensitive…Native Americans is correct. )
Beth On Wednesday, February 4 at 3:31 pm
You could do Ethel Mermen and Lucille Ball rooms, you could do movie themes (a submarine room?) and you could even do outhouse themes for the bathrooms. When can all of us come for a visit?
Kim On Wednesday, February 4 at 3:39 pm
You have done a wonderful job with the lodge!!!!!! I love it!
I think the hallway is fine the way it is. I would'nt add a thing.
Less is best.
Bedrooms, I think for guest should make them feel comfortable and be inviting. A bed that looks comfortable with soft bedding and alot of fluffy pillows. A chair to sit in should be comfortable and invite you to sit down and rest.
I think pictures that are warm and not to busy. I dont however like going for over night stays as a guest and have someones Aunt Bee staring at me in a photo on the dresser. I just think it should be somewhere the guest will feel comfort! light colors are relaxing. Think peaceful.
The rest of the lodge says so much about the ranch and it is beautiful. Let the bedrooms be about the guest. Ask friends and family members what makes them feel comfortable when staying away from home. Maybe add a basket of goodies like slippers, robe, lotion, and a toothbrush (just incase they forgot one) with a note that says thank you for being our guest!
I am sure whatever you decide to do will WOW us all!
Eq4bits On Wednesday, February 4 at 3:40 pm
Love the 'ranch' themes and perfect for the Lodge. Though when you first mentioned themes an image of 'themed' suites for lusty getaways first popped into my head.
Karate Mom On Wednesday, February 4 at 3:41 pm
I know that you have a bajillion and one ideas already, but I love the "surrounding elements" ideas for the bedroom themes. Plus, it honestly seems that you'd maybe save yourself some sanity on trying to find accessories because it could be more of a color/feel type of thing rather than a "Look! There are chaps on the wall! This must be the cowboyroom!" feel.
However, since you LIVE on a ranch, it's probably a lot easier to come across those types of accessories than it is for us city folk!
Erin Glee On Wednesday, February 4 at 3:42 pm
I think the Holly Hobby and Teddy Bear ideas are good. You know the old joke~ guests are like fish:they start to stink after a few days. You don't want anyone getting TOO comfortable. OOOH!~ the Ghandi Room…. just need a blanket on the floor for that one! And Fakirs sleep on a bed of nails….an International feel….
Leadia Jarvis On Wednesday, February 4 at 3:43 pm
What about themes based upon some of your favorite "country" songs? You could have the "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" room…your own beautiful photos, the colors of morning (yellows/blues/greens) to decorate around. And of course, for ambient noise, the piped in sounds of you singing the theme song of the room.
JC On Wednesday, February 4 at 4:00 pm
There is an interesting book, "Women Who Charmed the West", by Anne Seagraves that might make a fun jumping off point for a cowgirl bedroom. Cowboys room, of course, needs some John Wayne influence. Huge photos of your horses in black and white, cropped to show only ears, whithers, etc. for the horse room and same style for cow room. (Is that where you will put the heifers who visit?)
Lori in Michigan On Wednesday, February 4 at 4:06 pm
Theme rooms kind of scare me (I have a sister who can completely take a theme where it should never ever go!) that being said I think it could be done very nicely if not over done and I would go with the elements/nature kind of theme!
leslie h (in MD) On Wednesday, February 4 at 4:13 pm
I'm with all the people who said, "No TVs in the bedrooms." Heck, why would anyone want to stay in a bedroom to watch TV when they could hang out in the rest of that beautiful place! Spend your TV money elsewhere!
And I'm not so sure you need a frilly or feminine room of any kind. Stick with your ranch-related plan – cows, horses, chaps, cowboy boots and hats, etc. I do like Miz Boo's idea of Hudson Bay blankets at the foot of each bed. And rustic quilts seem an appealing idea, too. Just keep it simple.
Marge On Wednesday, February 4 at 4:17 pm
Do the ranch theme…..cattle, horse, cowboys etc, but be sure to have your photos on the walls. I love the floors, by the way. Each time you post a photo I notice the floors!
Linda On Wednesday, February 4 at 4:21 pm
Heh, Ree,
Forgot one thing – I think, one thing – oh, well, here goes – I want a pic of that mad, mad cow, in the bathroom. The one that says "Who you lookin' at"? That's how I feel first thing in the am., anyhow. A good laugh to start the day.
Jay On Wednesday, February 4 at 4:32 pm
perhaps something from this collection from Pendelton?
Shirley On Wednesday, February 4 at 4:41 pm
I like the themes around ranch life, with the cowboy and cowgirl bedrooms.
I personally have a John Wayne room in my house. Walls look like western sunsets(as seen in movies) the bed has a denim spread and shams, and the window has a stagecoach curtain, also denim.
Nicci On Wednesday, February 4 at 4:51 pm
I think the theme idea is great, and I think each room, while different, can still fit into the whole rustic/lodgey theme of the house.
rebekah On Wednesday, February 4 at 5:15 pm
I think the themes sound like a great idea. Cowboys, horses, cattle….. CHARLIE. just teasin'
Molly On Wednesday, February 4 at 5:31 pm
I like the idea of themes, but I think you shouldn't be so literal. If the rooms are to be a haven for everyone who stays in them, tastes will vary greatly and, thus, "cowboy/cowgirl" will not necessarily be a relaxing atmosphere for everyone. I much prefer the idea of using the elements. Just my $0.02, of course.
Melanie On Wednesday, February 4 at 5:36 pm
It is easy to say, "You get the cowboy room tonight" or whatever you choose, I like the themed idea. PERSONALLY, I would do themes involving color families, since ranch/cowboy themes are colorful. Just have the bedspreads or something have the dominant color or somethin'… someday I'll be in something bigger than a 2 br apartment, and by golly, I'm going to do themed guest rooms.
judi mitchell On Wednesday, February 4 at 6:08 pm
I think you should definitely go with the themes and you should use your great photography for wall pictures.
You could have an Ursela room!!!!
brandie On Wednesday, February 4 at 6:18 pm
i like the idea of themes – IF (and you KNOW that's a big IF) it is done tastefully and beautifully. which i know you would do! as i sit here thinking of things that come in fours (there are four rooms, right?), my mind goes to your four darling punks, then to the four generations of your ranch (at least i think that's what i read in the post the other day) and i think that both of those would be great ideas. then, as i think about your post the other day, my mind goes to the incredible pictures of the horses during the different seasons. what about the four seasons, decorated subtley according to the ever changing landscape around you? then you could put up fabulous photos of those beautiful horses during the different seasons. and of the punks on ice, with the fall leaves, in the summer sunshine as well. i think that would be fabulous and so personalized to you and your family!
Jacki On Wednesday, February 4 at 6:21 pm
Have you ever seen http://www.pineconehill.com ?
It is fabu, elegant but still with a country charm. Some prints are real girley but they look great mixed in with the plainer fabrics.
Just a thought…
mommymae On Wednesday, February 4 at 6:35 pm
i have a holly hobbie pillowcase you can borrow.
Anne On Wednesday, February 4 at 6:48 pm
There are so many wonderful 'vintage' cowboy/girl fabrics out there. Throw a few of those on the beds. Add a photo or two and call it good. I vote for pillows w/themes…then if you get tired of them…or someone (punk) uses them to pillow fight and ruins them…they are easy to replace. I know your punks wouldn't do that … but maybe you will have some unrully guest punks at your house.
hikchik On Wednesday, February 4 at 6:57 pm
I like the theme idea, but only if you are not literal. You can call one the Cowboy room and make it masculine, call another the cowgirl room and make it feminine, but please please please don't get cheezy literal. What about naming the rooms after significant family members? What are some of MM's ancestor names? Don't you know a lot about them because there is a book? Name them after his family members and design it with them in mind in a manner you feel best represents them.
I stole this idea. There is a bed and breakfast in Bonaparte Iowa that named their rooms after people who founded the town of Bonaparte. Check out their site.There are pictures of the room and although very simple, some of the rooms might be idea starters for you.
Cheri H. On Wednesday, February 4 at 7:18 pm
I like the "theme" idea. I like Cowboy, Cowgirl, but maybe Horses and Ranch could be combined and make the fourth a Garden room, not really frilly just cool gardening stuff, maybe some antique garden tools, a neat old bench, some of your awesome insect, flower, garden photos. Maybe even a cool old ladder in the corner. I saw an old apple tree ladder at an Anthropology store just this week I loved it.
C.Bug in O.C.
annie On Wednesday, February 4 at 7:38 pm
Hey PW,
The above link is to some horse comforters at the Company Store. They are ranch-tastic.
Susan B On Wednesday, February 4 at 7:47 pm
Pick one color scheme for all rooms- so things can move between rooms and spaces if you need them too- I used tans, red, brown & black for my guest rooms- we use all the colors in all the rooms, but some are more tan, some more red etc- towels are color coordinated.
Express your theme with art and a major accessory or two-
That will help you from getting things over done!
Kori On Wednesday, February 4 at 7:53 pm
I Loved Holly Hobby!!!! But I think you should definitely go with the ranch themes. I really like the "seasons of the ranch" idea someone else mentioned… have you thought of a "Charlie" room???
Katherine On Wednesday, February 4 at 8:02 pm
Oh, I miss my childhood Holly Hobbie room…
When I first started reading your blog, I read a couple of posts about your family's pioneering ancestors. What did her bedrooms look like? I love the romantic idea of pioneering–the softer side like quilts, a little bit of porcelain and wrought iron, rustic and simple decorating… Take some of the best ideas that you liked about her house, and add them to your bedrooms in small ways…
crystal On Wednesday, February 4 at 8:10 pm
Hi Ree,
While I think the ranching ideas would be fun -cowboy, cowgirl, etc, I really like your elements ideas. Earth, Water, Fire, etc. Great idea, and there are SO many ways you could play with it!
Can't wait. Good Luck!
knitmomma On Wednesday, February 4 at 8:19 pm
Awesome! I vote for the earth/sky/water theme idea – I can't see cowBOYs being comfortable in a room themed "cowgirl". Of course, you would know better than I!!!
Lisa On Wednesday, February 4 at 8:20 pm
Well, if you had a Princess themed bedroom I can tell you one 4 year old girl who would be thrilled to come sleep in it!
Steph On Wednesday, February 4 at 8:20 pm
Theme's!!! ICK ICK ICK ICK!!! If you really want your guests to feel welcome then decorate the bedrooms like a high end hotel. Really nice high count bedding, rich colors, lots of lg. pillows to recline and watch the big screen TV (nice touch there by the way) and framed PW prints (the sunken canoe is my personal favorite). I consider many of your shots to be great pieces of art.
My folks did the theme thing in their 2 guest rooms and (at the risk of repeating myself) IICCKK!!!!!
Catherine On Wednesday, February 4 at 8:28 pm
One theme: RANCH ANIMALS: 1. Kids -or humans (bi-peds?) / 2. Dogs / 3. Mustangs & 4. Cattle.
Rachel On Wednesday, February 4 at 8:47 pm
oooh, i love the cowboy, cowgirl, horses, etc. idea! i would stay in the horse room, definitely.
Adriana On Wednesday, February 4 at 9:06 pm
I work for a lady who has a beautiful house. She has three guest bedrooms and she just used different fabrics for the shams,bed skirts, and curtains… but they are all brownish fabric. It's really nice… then she has two bed tables, an armoire, and a nice hamper. maybe a chair or two
Kelly Jo aka GotGRITS On Wednesday, February 4 at 9:13 pm
I like the ranching theme rooms especially with the history of the family involved. A friend of ours used the branding irons for the curtain rods.
Cindy On Wednesday, February 4 at 9:46 pm
I like the "Elements" idea, Earth, Sky, Fire, BUT you still need to incorporate all of your photographs that tie into the theme. Your rainbow picture would be in the Sky bedroom.
Shannon cullip On Wednesday, February 4 at 9:57 pm
We have themed rooms in our B&B and people just love it. We are in Alaska so we have Fishing, Iditarod, Alaska Heritage (Native art), Denali (old climbing gear, pictures of the mountain), & the Sitka room (which represents South East Alaska, and used to be called the Southeast room, but people always thought we were talking about Florida, which didn't really fit.) Anyway, it is a real thrill with my guests, and it is fun to shop on ebay for just the right item to fit the theme!
Baba On Wednesday, February 4 at 10:03 pm
Themes can be fun if they don't go overboard. Mix it up a bit with other things in the color scheme.
Stacy On Wednesday, February 4 at 10:03 pm
Has to be a ranch theme of course! However, the seasons on the ranch would be a cool idea as well.
If you would put up some of your photography, I know a place that does a laminate type mounting. You can dust it, wash it, whatever you need to to keep it clean. It probably would be better than having something framed and matted. I live by Wichita and can help you out with you if you are interested.
Angie from Oz On Wednesday, February 4 at 10:18 pm
What's wrong with Holly Hobbie. She was my first love. I had a Holly Hobbie shirt which I would sit by the washer waiting for and then I would put it on wet. Luck I live in Queensland the sunshine state. I also had a Holly Hobie cloth doll which at age 3 I lost. I cried for weeks. Being the type of girl that was much more interested in my brothers Tonka trucks, helping my dad to chop the heads of the chooks or jumping around in the pig sty. This really surprised my mum. But I loved Holly like no other. I miss her to this day.
Lisa On Wednesday, February 4 at 10:22 pm
Great idea!
jeri On Wednesday, February 4 at 10:23 pm
Ilike the idea of an earth themed room, a sky themed room, etc. Just by going with that, the rooms would have different colors
Eileen On Wednesday, February 4 at 10:24 pm
I like the idea of rooms celebrating the elements–in fact, I love the idea. Given the general theme of the lodge, the cowboy, cowgirl, etc., theme might be over the top. Whatever you decide, I've no doubt it will be lovely.
The Jillybean On Wednesday, February 4 at 10:38 pm
I like the theme…cowboys, cowgirls, etc. After all…People are coming to stay at the Ranch, not the Hilton. And if they are coming to the Ranch, that means they want to be immersed in it…well, except for the manure.
Amy On Wednesday, February 4 at 11:27 pm
How about pick a COLOR for each room and see where that takes you?
Cindy On Thursday, February 5 at 12:06 am
I vote for your first and second theme ideas. I think the first one would be fun, and the second one relaxing.
Heidi On Thursday, February 5 at 12:51 am
Oh, I like the themes idea. I crack up when people tell you to keep it simple and not to go overboard or cheesy. Hello! People! Have you seen everything else PW's done? It's beautiful and classy ! Why do we feel the need to give advice – like don't be cheesy? Okay, enough of that. I like your theme idea and I also like eclectic and definitely use all of your gorgeous pictures. Maybe you need a Black Heels/Tractor Wheels room for couples? Some of the cool vintage cowboy/cowgirl prints? I know you'll do great and I can't wait to see what you come up with.
Heidi On Thursday, February 5 at 12:54 am
Wow, what a dramatic difference in those top two pictures. Where was the kitchen before?
elizabeth On Thursday, February 5 at 1:34 am
I'm not so sure about themed rooms. I usually choose a comforter or bedding that I love and then choose complimentary art, lamps, paint, ect. I think it would be nice to have some of your photographs framed and hung on the walls in the bedrooms. I believe good taste is just surrounding yourself with things that you love and that make you feel at home. (even if holly hobby is involved)
Angela T. On Thursday, February 5 at 1:42 am
Just my opinion, but I think you should just "keep it real". You take gorgeous photos of everyday ranch life all the time. Use them. Decorate it as if you intended to live there. What would make you feel most welcome? Personally, I think the best way to make someone feel like a welcome guest is to make them feel at home…not like they're staying at a hotel. "Theme rooms" can work, but please, please don't go the cheesy route.
Gwen On Thursday, February 5 at 3:25 am
Definitely go for the ranch history & family theme! I Love It!
Anny On Thursday, February 5 at 3:46 am
Hi there from sunny South Africa.
I would stick to the things I love. The history of the ranch for one. I love combining the old with the new. Even only using old (I mean antique) newspapers or pages from old books in collages with photos for wall decorations – that always catch attention and makes a room feel warm and fuzzy! Then maybe something from nature for another room, take the colourscheme from the plants and use pictures and drawings from that, with interesting books about nature conservation or a specific place or plant. And what about the dogs?! they are such a part of the family….
Brenda C. On Thursday, February 5 at 5:03 am
I think you should make your on bedside lamps from a pair of MM old boots! I think that would make for a great heirloom!
Love ya!!!!!
Cyndi On Thursday, February 5 at 5:24 am
I like the cowboy, ranch history, cowgirl, wild west theme idea.
BTW I also like the stark hall
Jeanne A On Thursday, February 5 at 6:54 am
quilts on all the beds—–not to practical if they need to be washed a lot—
Debi On Thursday, February 5 at 7:16 am
I like the "cowboy", "cowgirl", "ranch" idea better than the other.
Angela On Thursday, February 5 at 7:43 am
Not so keen on the theme idea. Agree with 397!
Patti O'Donnell On Thursday, February 5 at 7:58 am
I love the theme. Have you ever seen the sisters on the fly retro rv trailers and how they are done. Too cute and very inviting. Check them out at: http://www.sistersonthefly.com/
A few quilts would also be nice but then I don't think a home is a home without quilts.
Tammigirl On Thursday, February 5 at 8:27 am
If I had 4 bedrooms to decorate in themes I'd probably take a page from the library hotel in NYC. They have a poetry room, a romance room, a fairy tail room, a classics room, museum room, logic room, (Lord knows I could use one of those) a philosophy room. Those are just to name a few. The books and decor are different for each room.
Rebbie On Thursday, February 5 at 9:25 am
We stayed in a cabin in Colorado last year that had theme bedrooms: horses, fishing, I forget what the other two were. It was fun for the kids to run and pick which room they wanted to sleep in, and I'll bet the owners had a blast decorating them.
Cathy On Thursday, February 5 at 9:34 am
I wish I could jump on the 'theme' hay wagon but the Lodge in itself is really a theme. I would choose a color palate for each room and use the color as your jumping off point. Sure you can add a saddle here and a cow pie there …but I would rather the color dictate the room rather than the 'things'.
Jessie On Thursday, February 5 at 9:58 am
My sister-in-law modeled her guest room after a luxury hotel room. I loooove staying in that room when we go visit. Just sayin'.
Cath On Thursday, February 5 at 10:03 am
I like the theme idea – but maybe NOT ranch (gasp!) since it is all around you all the time anyway. I do like the Earth, Sky, Water and a 4th – but what? Fire? Ack!
What about 4 different places that mean something to you? 4 US cities? 4 world cities? or areas, or places, etc?
Andrea On Thursday, February 5 at 10:21 am
I really like the elements idea- you could make it ranch-flavored. Earth, Water, Sky, Fire, Wind, maybe even Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall themes.
mooncrazy On Thursday, February 5 at 10:49 am
Good grief, if you do pastels or Holly Hobbie I think I shall come out there and beat you with the cat.
It's a ranch house and ranch history would be perfect. Take the number of bedrooms and divide up the history with pix and ephemeral from that era.
Holly Hobbie, sheesh.
Dona On Thursday, February 5 at 11:18 am
I like the elements idea for a theme. I am thinking something a bit different but in parallel with the rest of the lodge would be good. You already have such a beautiful lodge with a cowboy theme going. I personally would be afraid of overdoing a good thing. But then again you have been so much bolder in your designs than I ever would have. Do what makes you happy.
doodles On Thursday, February 5 at 11:34 am
once again I urge you to get out some of your beautiful photos and theme it up all ya want………..what are the old style spreads……..nubby material……..name escapes me at the moment but that would work.
Doesn't it depend on whose staying in these rooms or do you care………….friends, kids, women, just cowboys??? or all of the above.
amy j. On Thursday, February 5 at 12:16 pm
I like the them idea too…don't do the them in anything other than wonderful paintings and YOUR photos to reflect it…keep colors similiar. I love the idea of the boy/girl take on the cowboy/cowgirl theme!!! Quilts to reflect the feminine and masculine is wonderful!
(I can't wait to stay there, wink, wink)
Mary On Thursday, February 5 at 1:02 pm
I would try using both in the rooms. I would also use some of your photos. mix – cowboys / fire / reds ( with oranges/blacks) , cowgirls / water / white (pure)( with purples/yellows/pinks ), horses / sky / blues ( blues and browns are great together, cattle / earth / greens.
Happy decorating.
Day On Thursday, February 5 at 1:16 pm
Not that you need another opinion, but…you have the privilege of being a part of ranching history in your county. I'd lean towards cowboy/cowgirl theme with snippets of photographic, memento, etc. type history thrown in just to anchor every thing to the soil without looking (or smelling) like a museum. I love the way you blend the modern/rustic/ranching look altogether!
kate On Thursday, February 5 at 1:27 pm
Themes. Hmm. That's tough. It kind of makes me think of those hotels with room themes. freaky. But you would probably do it with a bit more – umm, not sure what the word to use here. More artistic perhaps? If you go with the theme thing, I would do the "surrounding elements". Of course, if I had to say what I would do . . . I would skip the theme thing. I'm thinking I don't like the whole theme thing . . . just something about it just ain't right.
xoR On Thursday, February 5 at 1:41 pm
Okay here goes.
Did anybody come up with this yet…
How about murals painted on that long wall across fr the beds-
Paint wall with huge window accent color
And wall with the beds on it another warm color but subdued.
Two HUGE chairs with a "coffee mug high" table between them. A barrel or two with some color in it – like flowers or dried something…
I like the starkness of the hallway also. but warm up those rooms. Add more rugs in there.
Rahxy On Thursday, February 5 at 1:50 pm
I love the lodge bedrooms! The theme ideas are great.
My grandparents have a pretty large "lodge-esque" home in the hill country, and they went with a mildly themed decor.
Some rooms are more cowboy-y, some are more indian-y, etc. (My family is native american, so I think its acceptable? ) I don't think it looks campy at all, it's very cozy and warm. Always loads of fun to visit!
wendy On Thursday, February 5 at 2:18 pm
what about picking something natural in your surrounding area or a historical character in the local history… or something related to the land & its occupants…
livestock room (horse or cattle room – hang harnesses on the wall kind of thing… and photos)
things you grow (photos of things you grow or that are native to the area) – dried flowers & herb wreath over the bed…
The Land – photos of the landscape, rock formations, etc..
The people (cowboys, indians, whatever photos of people from the area would work).
megan On Thursday, February 5 at 2:25 pm
I vote against the themes! It does seem too B & B ish. I would rather that things mix and match and you could move things around as needed. I think you get some great quilts in colors that you love and soft soft wonderful blankets. Add large artwork that is simple but striking. I think antiques are a great way to decorate – find something fun and funky – kids toys, antique packaging is always a neat addition, This space cries for large items.
Vicki Pendleton On Thursday, February 5 at 3:07 pm
I love the elements idea. Water, Fire, Earth, Air…That would be awesome!
April T On Thursday, February 5 at 4:02 pm
love the cowboy, cowgirl, horses, cattle, ranching, etc. themed idea. I had to laugh at the Easter wedding because I actually had all my bridesmaids wear different color pastels but I got married in the summer, I hadn't even thought about it relating to EASTER!!! ha ha ha. They wore peach, lavender, sky blue, buttercup, and light sage green. I still think it looked really pretty.
liz On Thursday, February 5 at 5:08 pm
speaking as the person who had a mountain climber/backpacker theme as a teen—complete with full wall mural and climbing equipment on the other full wall, my vote is for sticking to surrounding elements. a person can go overboard of there's too much of a theme.
Kristin On Thursday, February 5 at 5:12 pm
Oh, Hollie Hobby most definitely! Nothing says LODGE like Hollie Hobby. teehee
I think the theme idea is a great one. It certainly would make it easy to let your guests know which room is theirs (ie. Jim Bob, you and your wife will be in the Cowboy room this week) and it would add some nice variety. You don't want to be too hotel-like, now do you? ;0)
Cheryl from Kentucky On Thursday, February 5 at 5:38 pm
Bed and Breakfast, that is what I think this wonderful place should be…
Nia On Thursday, February 5 at 5:49 pm
Nia On Thursday, February 5 at 5:52 pm
PW– I would find some great art for each room, and call it that. Its win-win-win — you get to choose some great art and give the rooms a name without being slave to a "theme." as much as I like the idea of a "jungle room" you really can take things too far.
Sudee in Florida On Thursday, February 5 at 11:50 pm
I did have different colored pastel dresses on my bridesmaids, but I got married in August, not at Easter. It was very pretty, but all my wedding pictures are black and white, so I can't exactly look at them and enjoy the colors ( I guess colored pictures weren't that handy 44 years ago). Oh well, it was pretty then. I think the western themed rooms sound perfect for a ranch. How about horses, cattle, dogs, and barns? That way you can throw in pictures of all of you involved with all of them.


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Zeus: God of DIY BotnetsResearch and Analysis: Doug Macdonald
Editor: Derek Manky
Zeus Botnet Overview
Zeus is a toolkit that provides a malware creator all of the tools required to build and administer a botnet. The Zeus tools are primarily designed for stealing banking information, but they can easily be used for other types of data or identity theft. A Control Panel application is used to maintain/update the botnet, and to retrieve/organize recovered information. A configurable Builder tool allows to create the executables that will be used to infect victim's computers. These executables are usually detected as ZBot by anti-virus software.
There is no single Zeus botnet. The toolkit is a commercial product that is sold to many different users, and distributed freely to many more. Each of them can create one or more botnets of their own, so the number of Zeus botnets is likely quite large.
The latest version of the toolkit typically sells for about $700 USD to trusted buyers, with the bot source code possibly available for a much larger sum. After a few months the new toolkit version is released as a free "public" version, which is probably meant to serve as a promotion for the commercial version. The public version may not include all of the latest functions, and the documentation is minimal. Modified versions of the public toolkit have also been offered for sale at lower prices by third party developers, sometimes known as "modders".
Configuration and Bot Creation
The first step in building a bot executable is to edit the configuration file. The configuration tells the bot how to connect to the botnet, and it also contains information on what user data to gather and how to do so. The configuration file is in two parts, as described below.
Static Configuration
The StaticConfig is compiled into the bot by the Builder tool. It contains information that the bot will need when it is first executed. To update the StaticConfig the bots must be ordered to download a new bot version.
The available settings are:
- The name of the botnet that this bot belongs to.
- The amount of time to wait between dynamic configuration file downloads.
- The time interval between uploads of logs and statistical information to the drop server.
- The URL where the bot can get the dynamic config file.
- A URL where the bot can check its own IP address, to determine if it is behind a router or firewall.
- The encryption key that is used to hide information transmitted within the botnet.
- A language ID list that tells the bot to go into a dormant state if the infected computer's language is on the list.
Dynamic Configuration
The DynamicConfig is downloaded by the bot immediately after it is installed on a victim's computer. This file is downloaded at timed intervals by the bot, and can be used to change the behaviour of the botnet. Most of the entries control how information is collected from the infected computer.
Available settings include:
- A URL where the bot can download a new version of itself, if the command to do so is given.
- The URL of the drop server where logs, statistics and files will be uploaded and stored.
- Information used to inject additional fields into web pages viewed from the infected computer.
- A list of URLs where an emergency backup config file can be found.
- A set of URL masks used to cause or prevent logging of information.
- A set of URL masks to indicate that a screen image should be saved if the left mouse button is clicked.
- A list of pairs of URLs that are used to cause redirection from the first URL to the second.
- A set of URL masks used to collect TAN (Transaction Authentication) numbers - used by some banks for online authentication.
- A list of IP/URL pairs that are inserted into the infected computer's hosts file to override DNS lookups.
Building the Bot
Once the configuration file is ready the Builder tool is used to build the encrypted dynamic configuration file and the bot executable file. The Builder first checks the computer it is running on to see if the Zeus bot is installed and gives the user the option to clean the system. This is probably meant to make it easier to test configuration settings. The Builder will then report system information as seen in Figure 1 below:
Figure 1: Zeus Builder - Information
Using the Builder, the aspiring botnet master can click the "Build config" button to compile the configuration file into its encrypted form. An option to edit here is also provided. When this file is ready it is placed on the server where the bots have been told to look for the DynamicConfig. Distributing the configuration file this way makes it easy to update the settings in the future. The image below shows the Builder output after the config has been built. If any error occurs during the build it is detailed here.
Figure 2: Zeus Builder - Compiling configuration
Then, by clicking the "Build loader" button, the distributable form of the bot executable can be assembled and saved. The button can be repeatedly pushed to produce internally identical bot executables with different encryption. The sizes of the PE file sections are also changed in each new build. The image below shows the information displayed by the Builder after the bot has been built.
Figure 3: Zeus Builder - Assembling configuration and binary
Because new versions of the same bot configuration can easily be created it is fairly easy to keep enlarging the botnet when anti-virus software begins to detect the earlier versions.
Bot Distribution and Installation
The Zeus bot has no built-in capability to spread to other computers. In most cases a spam campaign is used to distribute it, either as an attached file or a link. Some type of social engineering within the spam message is used to trick the victims into executing the bot. A wide variety of these tricks have been seen, often in forms that are persuasive and difficult to detect. The large number of social engineering tricks is a result of many individuals attempting to seed their own botnet, using the common Zeus platform.
The lack of worm-like spreading capabilities makes the bot suitable for targeted attacks, since the bot is less visible and less likely to be detected. In targeted attacks, it can be sent to the intended victim in various disguises until success is achieved.
When the bot is executed on a victim's computer it goes through a number of steps to install and configure itself, and to connect to the botnet. The filenames given here are for the tested version, and sometimes are changed in new versions. Outlined below are the steps taken upon initial execution:
- The install function searches for the "winlogon.exe" process, allocates some memory within it and decrypts itself into the process.
- The bot executable is written to the hard drive as "C:\WINDOWS\system32\sdra64.exe".
- The directory "C:\WINDOWS\system32\lowsec\" is created. This directory is not visible in Windows Explorer but can be seen from the command line. Its purpose is to contain the following files:
- local.ds: Contains the most recently downloaded DynamicConfig file.
- user.ds: Contains logged information.
- user.ds.lll: Temporarily created if transmission of logs to the drop server fails.
- Get new config file (DynamicConfig) from server (default 60 minutes).
- Post harvested data (user.ds) to server (default 1 minute).
- Post statistics to server (default 20 minutes).
Botnet Command and Control
Control Panel Installation
The Zeus Control Panel application is mainly used to track the state of controlled botnets and to send script commands to the bots. It also provides an organized way to view and access information collected by the bots from infected computers.
The Control Panel is an open source PHP application that can be run on an IIS or Apache web server. Some additional software, most of which is specified in the documentation, is also required. A MySQL user with appropriate permissions must also be set up. When the system is ready the Control Panel code can be copied into the web server directory. The install page can then be accessed from a browser. If any errors are made when filling in this form, the user is given a helpful message. Once this form is completed the remainder of the setup is done automatically.
Figure 4: Zeus Control - Installation configuration
Botnet Administration
After logging into the Control Panel, the initial page is displayed, as shown in Figure 5 below:
Figure 5: Zeus Control - Index
At the left is a menu where various pages can be accessed. At the right is a summary of information about the botnet. Notice that multiple versions of the bot can be administered with one version of the Control Panel.
If the "OS" item on the menu is clicked we get a list of operating system versions in the network with a count of bots for each version. The next menu item is "Bots", which initially displays the "Filter" form. Here the user can select "Inside NAT" or "Outside NAT", "Online" or "Offline", etc. to filter only the most interesting bots.
Figure 6: Zeus Control - Display Filter and Bot List
Clicking "Accept" results in a list that displays some basic information about each of the bots. The "Bot ID" is an automatically generated unique identifier for the bot. The "Comments" field shows any comments that have been added by the user.
The "Bots action:" drop-down menu allows some more information to be obtained, for example the selected "Full information" option results in the additional details displayed in Figure 7. The user can add comments here, and the "Used" field can be set. The purpose of these seems to be to allow more exclusive filtering of the bots displayed on the list shown above.
Figure 7: Zeus Control - Full Information
The next item on the main menu is "Scripts", which displays a list of scripts that have been set up by the user. These scripts are used to send one or more of the built-in commands to the bots (see Communications below).
Figure 8: Control Panel - Script List
Clicking on "Add New Script" or on one of the script names causes the edit dialog to be displayed. Here status of the script can be set to "Enabled", so that it will be distributed the next time the bots check in. The range of distribution can be limited to one bot or one botnet, or to the listed countries. This is important for location based services (LBS). In the context field one or more script commands can be entered.
Figure 9: Control Panel - Script Edit
If the script has been sent to any of the bots, an information box shows each successful transmission to a bot and whether it failed or was executed. Badly formed scripts fail at the bot, not at the Control Panel, which seems to do very little checking.
Clicking the question mark next to "Context:" displays a list of currently available script commands with explanations. The commands can be used to collect more information, to make changes to the botnet or to give greater control of the infected computer.
Figure 10: Control Panel - Script Commands
The "Reports:" section of the main menu contains two options for handling information stolen from infected computers. Information other than files are put into the MySQL database, and can be viewed by clicking the "Search in database" option. The image below shows the search dialog and some information that has been found.
Figure 11: Control Panel - Database Search
Figure 12: Control Panel - Password Capture Report
Among the first items in the list are some with captured login information. An example of the details these entries contain can be seen in Figure 12. The second option in the "Reports:" section is "Search in files". This is where files that are sent back from the bots can be found. As usual a search dialog is provided, because the number of files coming in from a large botnet will be very high.
Figure 13: Control Panel - Files Search Dialog
Figure 14: Control Panel - Files Search Results
Figure 13 shows an unrestricted search, with all the files that have been sent by the bots and the directory structure they are held in. There is a main directory for each bot. Screen captures are placed in a "screens" folder, under another folder named with the URL being viewed when they were captured. These are the screen captures made when the left mouse button is clicked.
Certificate files that were captured when the getcerts command was given are located in the "certs" folder.
The file autorun.inf was uploaded using the command "getfile D:\autorun.inf", so it has been placed inside a folder named "D:", based on its original path.
By clicking on a file name, any of the files can be downloaded or viewed. Alternatively, the checkboxes can be clicked for the items the user wants, and the "Create archive and download" option can be chosen under "Files action:".
Under the "System:" section of the main menu, the "Information" item shows some version numbers for the Control Panel installation. The "Options" item allows changes to some setup options, including the botnet encryption key. Before the encryption key is changed, the bots must be ordered to download a new bot build with the new key.
Figure 15: Control Panel - System Options
Figure 16: Control Panel - User Options
Figure 16 shows the "User" item in the main menu, which allows password and language changes for the primary user. There is also an option to change the format of the screenshot images. The Control Panel provides a powerful and easy to use GUI interface for the botnet. Since Zeus is a commercial product, this kind of feature has the advantage of making it more desirable to prospective buyers, especially relatively non-technical buyers.
Botnet Communications
All Zeus botnet communications pass between the bots and one or more servers. Only one physical server is needed, but additional ones can be used to distribute bot file updates and fallback configuration files.
Data sent through the Zeus botnet is encrypted with RC4 encryption. In this implementation a key stream is generated from the botnet password, and is XORed with the data. The same password is used to encrypt all data that is passed through the botnet. Changing the botnet password requires that all of the bot executables be updated to a build that includes the new password. The dynamic config file also must be updated and the server password changed from the Control Panel.
When a computer is infected with the Zeus bot, its first communication with the server is a request for the dynamic config file. Unlike other data sent through the network, the config file has already been encrypted by the Builder application and can be sent without further processing. Figure 17 shows the config file being requested by the bot, returned by the control server.
Figure 17: The bot gets the dynamic config file
When the config file has been received, the bot will retrieve the drop server URL from it. The bot then HTTP POSTs some basic information about itself to the drop server, to log in and indicate that it is online. As long as it is running, the bot continues to HTTP POST encrypted logs and statistics to the server at timed intervals. By default logs are sent at 1 minute intervals and statistics are sent every 20 minutes.
Figure 18: The bot POSTs basic information
When a bot posts data to the server, the server replies with an HTTP/1.1 200 OK response. The Zeus server conceals an encrypted message as data within the response. This data field is used to send commands (scripts) to the bot. Below is an example of the default data when no command is being sent, which is the most common case.
Figure 19: The server reply to the POST contains some data
When a command script is being sent by the server, the data size will be considerably larger than the standard response. Figure 20 shows a sent getfile command, resulting in 82 bytes of encrypted data.
Figure 20: The server reply to the POST contains a command
Web Page Injection
One important feature of the Zeus bot is its ability to dynamically inject dynamic into web pages viewed from an infected computer. This is done on-the-fly, as data passes from the server to the client browser. A snippet of the configuration data for this is shown below. It does a fairly straight forward search and insert operation:
set_url http://www.bank.com/login.html GP

PIN:	<input type="text" name="pinnumber" id="pinnumber" />

The set_url parameter identifies the page to be attacked, data_before contains the text to search for before the injection point and data_inject has the text that will be injected. Figure 21 shows a login page before and after injection.
Figure 21: Login form before and after injection
This is a just simple demonstration. In practice more elaborate deceptions can be created, for example the injected changes could pretend to deny access and ask victims to confirm their identity by filling in additional fields.
Below is the HTML source before injection. The data_before search text is highlighted.
<INPUT id=username name=username>

<INPUT type=password name=password>

<INPUT type=submit value=Submit>

The following is the HTML source after injection, with the code inserted from the data_inject field discussed above.
<INPUT id=username name=username>

<INPUT type=password name=password>

<INPUT id=pinnumber name=pinnumber>

<INPUT type=submit value=Submit>

As you can see, ZBot can steal information through various methods, from simple keylogging to custom data from injected forms, and screenshot collection. The following is a video we have put together that shows a clean system (firewall enabled), infected with a ZBot variant. The video then shows the symptoms of an infection (firewall disabled, security alert) and goes on to display some typical user activities under watch, then retrieved at ease through the control panel:
As you can see from the virtual keyboard session, each click on the form will send a separate image to the drop server(s). This can then be sequentially extracted to form the entered password, as can be seen in Figure 22 below:
Figure 22: Virtual keyboard session, retrieved images
Screenshots can be used for many purposes, from virtual keyboards to sniffing decrypted, confidential data (think PGP encrypted documents). Of course, they won't capture masked passwords -- which is what the keylogged / form retrieval task is used for. Figure 23 (left image) below shows the retrieved form data on the drop server, taken from the Facebook session in the video demonstration - note "firstname.lastname@example.com" followed by "myfacepass". The image on the right shows the associated screenshot retrieved from the session. It should be noted that this attack is not limited to Facebook, and is merely an example.
Figure 23: Stolen form information and associated screenshot
Fortinet continues to monitor in-the-wild Zeus / ZBot attacks, and continuously will release antivirus detection for these when they occur. Generic detection is also available for future variants, while FortiGuard web filtering will help guard against malicious controller domains.

subset: commoncrawl


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There is a website formerly known as Expert Village that is now eHow.com. The people who run this website are absolutely experts as you can for sure tell by their former name. They know how to do a whole ton of stuff and sometimes they post videos on YouTube showing you how to do those things. One thing they know how to do really well is flirt. Are you worried that maybe you're not the best at flirting? Well worry not anymore, because you're about to get taught how to do it by a guy who looks like Hal Sparks with a soul patch. If you're looking to get f**ked like super efficiently, I strongly recommend watching the whole thing. But if you're in a hurry and you just need a quick HJ to get by you can totally just watch 1:28 to 1:47.
Oh he's good. All of all of our things (your and mine and his) are absolutely COVERED in all kinds of gross stuff. Was it good for all of us? Yes, it was. Remember when he wanted to eat OUR F**KING EYEBALLS OUT OF OUR FACES?!! That was so hot.
Thanks, @meganganz


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Driver Autographs, Partner Displays, Live Media, Award-Winning Social Interaction and Mascot Challenge Highlight RFR 2013 Spring Fan Day
Concord, N.C. (May 20, 2013) – As part of its ongoing commitment to top-line fan engagement, Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) will host its annual Spring Fan Day on Thursday, May 23rd at its World Headquarters in Concord, N.C.
The event leads into one of the most exciting racing weekends of the year, and fans attending will have the opportunity to meet all of the RFR drivers, as well as interact with RFR partner displays, grab a bite to eat and receive free samples.
Sirius XM NASCAR Radio will broadcast live from the event and drivers, fans and partners will take part in an 'all day' Google+ Hangout live from RFR's award-winning social channel. In addition fans can take part in unique interactive social media activities, including scavenger hunts to win RFR prizes.
Fans looking to take part in the autograph sessions should arrive at 8:00 a.m. to pick up tickets. Autograph sessions will begin at 10:00 a.m. with team owner Jack Roush, Greg Biffle, Trevor Bayne, Travis Pastrana and Chris Buescher.
Two-time Nationwide Series Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will sign autographs at 11:30 a.m., followed by fan favorite Carl Edwards at 12:00 noon.
Several RFR partner displays will be on site and fans will have the chance to check out RFR race cars, interact with Miss Sprint Cup and take part in an epic mascot challenge featuring Lugnut (Charlotte Motor Speedway), Tony The Tiger (Kellogg's), Rameses (University of North Carolina), Tim E. Gator (Kannapolis Intimidators), Bump and Run (Bristol) and the 3M Pit Bull.
RFR corporate headquarters is located at 4600 Roush Place in Concord, N.C.
The Roush Fenway Spring Fan Day runs from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Fans who stop by can take advantage of extended gift shop hours throughout Charlotte race weekends.
For more information visit: www.roushfenway.com
Roush Fenway Racing is the winningest team in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series' with championship drivers Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Trevor Bayne and Travis Pastrana. Having celebrated 25 winning years in 2012, Roush Fenway is the leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, pioneering motorsport's first team-focused TV show and its award-winning marketing campaigns for RickyvsTrevor.com, "25 Winning Years" and Google+. Visit http://www.RoushFenway.com, circle on Google+ at +Roush Fenway Racing, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.


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Who's Online:
I love stories like these! They're awesome!
Author's Response: I was beginning to think that interest in this story was on the wane. Thanks for your enthusiasm and support. Chapter 20 is in preparation.
Finally got around to reading another chapter, must be the slowest i've ever read a fanfic but i just keep forgetting. its still really good and i'm enjoying it. i will eventually read all posted chapters but at the moment i'm working up courage to post one of my fics, blessings keep up the good work!!
Author's Response: Thanks for the review. I hope you're enjoying the spring weather and look forward to reading your upcoming fic.
sorry about the delay, i'm catching up with the chapters. i've spent alot of time lately trying to improve my artwork and have been taken away by harry potter and twilight fanfiction.
i still love your story though, i never thought i would ever see Arwen behaving like she did in this. Aragorn is very understanding and wise, i like this portrayal of him, as lots of stories seem to only have him work things through with a blade and not his head.
keep up the good work, thanks for writing x
Author's Response: Thanks, elfenears. To tell the truth, I hadn't originally planned to have Arwen behave in this fashion, but then realized that if Frodo's personality could be negatively altered by the One Ring, then Evenstar could be likewise affected by Liv Tyler's mysterious pendant.
I've always considered Elessar to be thoughtful and insightful. Consider the scene in the third film where he receives his kingly crown. Just before turning to address the gathering he heaves a great sigh of resignation, as if thinking, "Now the REAL work begins!" It would probably take the better part of his reign to institute and carry out the social and economic reforms necessary to return the kingdom to a semblance of its former prosperity and glory. He would, of necessity, have to pursue such goals with honesty, energy and determination. That's how I've always tried to portray him in the Fourth Age.
I'm presently in the midst of my autumn chores and have to take a break from writing for a couple of days. Hopefully, I'll have Chapter 13 finished before the end of the month. Thanks again for reviewing.
Another great chapter, i'm sorry i havent been reviewing as quickly as i used to, real life and internet problems have stopped me devoting so much of my time to fanfic as i once did. thanks for the extract about eowyn you sent way back and glad you have recovered from hospital!!!. i will review the next chapter when i have settled my newest pet in this week.
all the best x
Author's Response: Thanks for reviewing. I understand how people can get very busy during the summer, as well as beingslowed down by life's vicissitudes, so there's no need to apologize about having other things on your schedule which take priority. Chapter 10 should be ready for posting soon.
great chapter, sorry to hear you are going into hospital, hope you recover vey soon. thanks for writing.
Author's Response: Thanks, elfenears. I've already written the outlines for most of the scenes in Chapter 8, so I'll be able to get started on it soon after I'm back home.
another great chapter with lots of interesting bits that i want to hear more about. keep up the good work x
Author's Response: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I hope to have the next chapter posted soon.
ooo i didnt realise you had added more chapters since the first, sorry. i shall read them now and add this to my fave's so i know when you update. great chapter and discriptions of the handmaidens reactions. thanks and keep up the good work
Author's Response: Thanks for your support. I was a bit disappointed that this sequel hasn't received as much attention as the original story. Maybe it's a bit too cerebral with not enough action. Anyway, I'll have Chapter 5 posted soon.
its great to see you back writing and a sequel to such a great story. i love how you describe buildings and even objects very detailed and through. also very apt how the cleaning women were the first to be suspected of thieving the necklace, nobody's worried about them.
cannot wait for the next installement, thanks for writing x and dedicating it to me, that was very nice of you.
Author's Response: Thanks, elfenears. How could I resist dedicating the sequel to you? You were, after all, the most avid reader of the original story.
Yes, I seem to have a penchant for geographical and architectural detail in my stories. This can be said even of fan fiction I wrote in my youth, although the descriptions were not quite as sophisticated. My father was a tool engineer and I followed in his footsteps. I have no doubt that this contributed significantly to my style of writing. I just hope it isn't to the confusion of my younger readers. I must confess, however, that I leave most of my characters physical appearances to the imaginations of my readers.
Keep in mind that the Custodians assistants are ignorant of the history behind the enigmatic Evenstar pendant and it's connection to Liv Tyler and her two former handmaids. That will change shortly.
Interesting start. Been a while since I heard from you too. Saw this on the most recent board thing and thought - considering there's nothing else to do at seven o'clock in the morning, I might read it so I did and it was very interesting, you've always been good with words and making everything sound right to fit the time-period in which it is set. Anyway, I need to finish my breakfast, hope to hear back soon - Breia
Author's Response: Thanks for your kind words, Breia. I actually made some sketches of the interiors of a couple of large public libraries to come up with a credible description of the Minas Tirith Archives. Keep in mind, this isn't the city's only repository of historical information. This is not the same archive Gandalf visited when he researched the history of the palantiri.
I'm in the middle of my autumn chores right now and have little time for writing. I'm also way behind on my correspondence. Hopefully, I'll be posting here again by late November or early December.


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Veterinarian Discusses the Importance of Pet Insurance
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A True Veterinarian Hero
I would like to share with you my experience with a True Veterinarian Hero. My sister lost her cat of 15 years about 6 months ago. Antelyes Animal Hospital in Middle Village NY arranged for the cremation. My sister then
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Tru Hero Veterinarian Sweepstakes
This week concluded the acceptance of new entries for our Tru Hero Veterinarian sweepstakes. We received nearly 100 entries, all of which were so very heartwarming and some tear-jerking. It was very difficult, but we narrowed them down to five
October 7, 2011
Tagged with: cat, contest, dog, veterinarian
The Importance of Preventative Care Plus Pet Insurance
Last month, Brian Lowney wrote an article for South Coast Today called Owning a dog: Early care saves pain and cost. The article gives a great overview of why it is so important to participate in preventative care in order
Tagged with: Pet Insurance, preventative care, veterinarian, wellness


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What You Should Know
|Star Rating
|2 or More Patented Ingredients
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Revercel is a company that creates and markets several different anti-aging products. The official website states that over 20 years of clinical research has gone into the development of all of their products. Their line of products claims to combat the signs of aging by working to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and even reversing the aging process by working to heal the skin at the cellular level, providing a renewed look of healthy skin.
Product Features
The products in the Revercel line are: Eye Perfection Serum with Retinol, Glycolic Corrective Gel, Intensive Repair Serum with Retinol, and Vita-C Infusion. These products range in price from $$55 to $82.50 and are known to contain Retinol, a relative to Vitamin A that may cause skin irritation in some people who use it. These products all work to repair damaged skin cells and improve skin elasticity which will decrease the occurrence of skin wrinkles and lessen the appearance of current wrinkles. Other ingredients such as CoQ-10 are well known and highly popular ingredients used in various anti-aging product formulas. The fact that this product has nothing new and different to offer the market makes us doubt its superiority to other, more cost effective options. Those who decide to use prodcuts containing Retinol should protect their skin from the sun as it will make it more sensitive to UV rays and susceptible to sun burn.
The Good
- Full ingredient listings are disclosed to the public via the official website.
- The Revercel products can be ordered easily, directly from the manufacturer website.
- There is an official website that provides many details on the entire line of Revercel products.
The Bad
- Chemicals that may cause skin irritation are present in the Revercel product formulas.
- No information is provided to convince us why the Revercel products are better than other products on the market that contain similar ingredients.
- The products in the Revercel line are very expensive compared to similar products on the market and therefore may not be as attainable for many consumers as others.
- There are no free trial sizes of the product so people must purchase the product at full price and return it within 30 days to get their money back if they are completely satisfied with the product.
The Bottom Line
The lack of evidence that this line of products is superior to others of its kind leads us to believe that we have no reason to recommend it over the others. There is no real evidence to prove that this line of products will work better than ones that are developed and created in a similar manner, and therefore we recommend finding another product in a more reasonable price range.


text: I have been forgeting to take my meds for the last couple of weeks. Last week I can remember not doing so on atleast four different days. I always ask myself everyday in the afternoon did I take the pills, but lately, for whatever reason I have started to answer yes. I used to check but I always seem to flashback to seing myself taking them. I guess my brains recycling a memory and that is starting to worry me because I go through the day in pain feeling like I am getting worse because I clearly can remember taking the pills. I only notice somethings not right when I take my nighttime meds and see the whole days worth just sitting there. I feel like I am now truly losing my mind. I know I just need a new way of remembering to take them, but I cannot think of any right now. Notes dont work, I forget to read those. Any advice would help. I know it will take time to recondition my brain but I need help that will get me started on the right track.


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Hotels in 93553 - Pearblossom CA
Only hotels in 93553 zip code are listed below. Search for cheap and discount hotel rates in Pearblossom, CA for your upcoming leisure or conference / group travel. We list the best 93553 hotels and motels so you can review the Pearblossom hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. Hotels in Los Angeles county and area code 661 are also listed.
93553 Hotels/Motels & Accommodations
Next: Show All Available 93553 Hotels with Pricing >


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In Oregon, Non-Departmental adoptions are defined as adoptions that finalize in Oregon for a child who is not in the custody of the Department. These adoptions are categorized as:
When a petition to adopt is filed in an Oregon court, the petitioner is required under Oregon statute to serve a copy of the petition and other pertinent documentation upon the Director of DHS within 30 days. These documents can be mailed to:
Department of Human Services
Attn: Independent Adoptions
500 Summer Street NE, Ste. E-71
Salem OR 97301
Department of Human Services
Attn: Independent Adoptions
500 Summer Street NE, Ste. E-71
Salem OR 97301
DHS must submit the appropriate waivers to the court prior to finalization. Once service is complete upon DHS and the petition and accompanying documents are reviewed, a waiver of the 90-day waiting period, adoption home study and/or placement report requirement may be issued. .
Adult adoptions
Adult adoptions do not fall under the jurisdiction of DHS. Individuals who want to file an adult adoption petition are encouraged to get an adoption attorney to assist them in processing their adoption. The petition is filed with the court of jurisdiction. DHS is not served a copy of the petition and DHS does not issue a 90-day waiting period waiver/waiver of the home study.
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
If a child has to be moved interstate for the purpose of adoption, Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) rules may apply. Approvals must be given by both sending and receiving states before a child can be moved from one state to another. Exception to this rule are first degree relatives. If ICPC violation is established, DHS informs the court in writing, which may impact the adoption process. For more information call ICPC at (503) 945-5671.
Indian Child Welfare act
Voluntary adoption registry
Print the Voluntary Adoption Registry home page to comply with the notification requirement per ORS 109.353. View sample format (PDF) to complete proof of verification.
Or, see sample below:
A SAMPLE FORMAT TO USE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ORS 109.353 (Please do not file this sample with the court; re-type it accordingly.)
In The Matter of the Adoption of:
(Full Name of Child)
Court Case Number:
This statement is to verify, pursuant to ORS 109.353, the following persons have been advised of the adoption registry established under ORS 109.450 and have been given information on how to access those services.
Name of petitioner(s):
Date notified:
Name of birth parent(s):
Date notified:
(When birth parents cannot be located, the petition or affidavit should state the court is requested to waive this requirement upon a finding of good cause.)
Signature and title of person submitting verification and date.
Home studies & court reports
A home study is required for any adoption in which DHS does not (or cannot) issue a waiver of the home study requirement. A placement report must be waived when a biological or adoptive parent retains parental rights. DHS may issue a waiver of the placement report requirement for other categories of adoption as outlined in OAR 413-140-0032(3). When a placement report is required for an independent adoption, DHS will assign the placement report to an Oregon contracted adoption agency authorized to perform this work. The prescribed format for a placement report can be viewed at this link: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/children/publications/placementreport.pdf.
Out of State home studies
To validate an out-of-state home study for a private agency or independent adoption that will finalize in Oregon, the home study must be approved with a certificate of approval by an Oregon licensed adoption agency in accordance with Departmental rules and regulations.
Home study & post placement report fees
The fee for an adoption home study is determined and made payable to the licensed adoption agency chosen by the petitioner to complete the study. The post-placement report fee is $800 and made payable to Oregon DHS at the time of filing.
Fee Change Notice:Effective February 1, 2014, in accordance with Oregon Administrative Rule 413-140-0047, DHS is raising the fee for an independent adoption placement report from $675 to $800.
Adoption Advertising and Intermediaries also known as Facilitators
The state of Oregon limits or regulates the use of adoption advertising or intermediaries, also known as adoption facilitators under the following statutes: ORS 109.311(3) & (4); ORS 418.300; ORS 418.215, and ORS 163.537. For instance, ORS 109.311(3) states that, "A person may not charge, accept or pay or offer to charge, accept or pay a fee for locating a minor child for adoption or for locating another person to adopt a minor child, except that Oregon licensed adoption agencies licensed under ORS 412.001 to 412.161 and 412.991 and ORS Chapter 418 may charge reasonable fees for services provided by them." For more information on this subject, view Advertising and Use of Intermediaries or facilitators in Adoptive Placement
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Morley Family Papers
The extensive Morley family papers center on the versatile author Christopher D. Morley (1890-1957), Haverford class of 1910. They also focus on his brothers, Haverford president Felix (1894-1982) and London editor Frank (1899-1985) as well as their parents Frank Morley, a professor of mathematics recruited by Pres. Isaac Sharpless, and Frank Morley's wife, Lillian. Included in the collection are letters, diaries, manuscripts and musical scores. Published works of Christopher Morley are housed in Magill library.


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i wonna boyfriend and im 12 and if i get one should i give him a bj
Debra Haggerty, HIV-Carrying Skank, Busted for Giving 12-Year-Old a Blow Job
But Debra wasn't ready to resign herself to the fact that her flower would no longer bloom. So she was over at her sister's house the other day when her gaze fell upon a 12-year-old boy. The lad inflamed her womanly desire to such passion that she just had to give him a blow job.
Police say she unzipped his pants and fellated him to volcanic arousal. We're not sure if the two are related, but Debra forgot that 12-year-old boys aren't inclined to keep these kinds of things a secret.
When police came calling, they discovered that Debra is also HIV-positive. So they charged with sexual assault with a deadly weapon -- the weapon being her saliva.
See our last story from the Sex Crimes file: Martin Jonassen Busted for Chasing His Bound, Naked Daughter into Liquor Store.
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you could say, she blew him like his stick was a blow dart gun.
that is a whore, an HIV infected whore, apparently, she is a cumsucker!!!! No one wants a dead flower.
SICK look at the face nasty..... so glad so got caught.
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So gross. Hope the boy doesn't contract this horrible disease, he's to young to have to deal with something like that. She's a nasty pedo who needs to get locked up.
Good lord people. Lighten up on Pete. He may be a low-down dirty, quasi-liberal, yankee Wanker,....sorry, I forgot, this is a defense of Pete.
He collects these stories and writes very clever, interesting and wry commentary.
Calm the F Down! He didn't give the kid a blow job.
Would you have him introducing the story as, "The female subject at that time is alledged to have placed her mouth upon the VICTIM's penis..."
It wouldn't make what happened any better, the bitch less crazy or ugly, but would make for a very BORING read.
Direct your outrage to the criminals, not he who is simply the bearer of bad news.
Absolutely disgusting. She is a pedophile and should get the same trewatment a male doing the same thing would get for it. Also it should be attempted murder thrown in for the HIV. She was probably feeling resentful about her own situation and wanted to ruin a young persons life for a kind of get even in her nasty soul.
Now I'm all pissed off- FUCK YOU whom ever is condemning this woman for her HIV- is her behavior over the top out of line OH HELL yes- punish her for that! and yes punish her for said act when she is knowingly infected (if she knows) with a deadly disease----- but know this----- people with cold sores are rarely careful, I , in fact, have a virus in my spine that damages my tendon membranes- I'm diseased- But I am extremely careful with my fluids as to not pass that virus along. You can not expect the average person to feel and know what the ripple effect of their actions are. So she has HIV- she's supposed to automatically KNOW and be educated ---- "hey! you need to change how you interact with others in every aspect of your life!!!!! You need to be aware and rational at all times, you are 50+ years old and need to change everything about YOU *poof* ....
I don't condone her actions, I pity her uneducated mindset. There is not a sign in front of her eyes "attention cootie carrier- you are infectious!" it's ripple effect, general public can see this with HIV spread and expect those to change.... and not with bad parenting. Well hell- burn the woman for being shitty- why is not as much heat put on shitty parents?!?!? Because we as humans say "well- they don't know better, let it slide" Hey you! person who is condemning- she doesn't know better either! Don't hate her for not knowing better, EDUCATE EVERYONE...
like washing you hands used to be laughed at-, well magically it prevented the spread of disease *gasp ah Oooo* hmmm.... well it's a big jump here people but try to keep up, education and better parenting will do the same for people that soap and hot water did for disease
poor kid??!! he's the one who let her lick his stick!!!! wth!
Well, here's hoping she gets a good long time behind bars
You are going to have to apologize for bad things you're saying about this gorgeous lady PEOPLE! . Can't you fuck with someone I hate? Come on she trying so now you have to, and when Boo and shannie find out it can get ugly, Boo is gets fisty and might try to use you as a glove for her ass wiping.
Poor kid! Nasty skank face whore! Use Craigslist like a normal nasty ass disease riddled flea bag who cant get laid
Oh-Oh....am I missing something here? So now Pete is a pedophile because he carries "writes" stories about the crimes....so by logic has he done every topic, in every thread that he has has ever written about with to much description? Maybe he is just comfortable with his audience and makes a slip from "journalism" to casual "talk"..why is something now being read into it?
wait this is village voice media right that owns Back Page that basically deals in trafficking young girls and boys to sex offenders..wow i think i'm kinda done here...Pete are you a pedophile?
LMAO. I missed this.
Thank you Tim! I most certainly agree!
she sucked a little boy's pecker with her nasty infected mouth.Education be damned,her mindset be damned.This hag should be shot,put out of OUR misery and buried in a vat of acid.You don't get to do things like this period! i'm sorry about your situation and i'm glad you are well and not sharing .... but i feel strongly that this crone has lived long enough and should be done away with ASAP. sincerely yours the mom of an 11 year old boy.
I don't condone granny cocksucker
Wouldn't a Bhoebe JuiceStache involve your bodily fluids?
He's a child, genius. Thats why adults are supposed to be responsible.
clearly the kid didn't know about the 10 foot pole rule.
What, Illusions? Is someone once again besmirching my uncompromising journalistic stylings? I shall hurl them into submission with a thousand adverbs! And I shall show no mery by unleashing a fountain of exclamation points!
You've been around here a long time, KimBev. You know I'm not a pedophile. I have no problem having anyone criticize something I write. It keeps me humbled, which St. Peter endorses because he's always saying I'm a loudmouth and a know-it-all.
But do you really gotta imply I'm a perv who traffics kids to sex offenders? Don't you think that's just a little out of line?
To borrow a line from Dan Akroyd... kimbev69 you ignorant slut. If you have been playing on TCR for a while you should have read the articles that bust the myth that backpage helps in trafficing teenage sex slaves.
And if you had been following Pete very long you would know he has several daughters and wouldn't truck that sort of crap. Please go back to a site that doesn't require you to think.
writing 101: sensationalism!
I don't think Pete's a pedo, he's just a journalist who wants people to click on his links. Now, if we're looking for pedos on this site, *cough* pedobear *cough*
And on a related note, the woman was charged for sexual assault with a deadly weapon because HIV is spread through blood. If she had bleeding gums or a cut inside of her mouth, then she could have spread HIV to the poor boy.
You know, I've wondered the same thing myself after seeing the descriptions on some of these posts. Too much detail.
There are some grandpas out there, who would most likely take real exception with that Josh. lol
that was for humor- I never rode his face- we exchanged bio's and used condoms. My husband can make his own decisions
Go get 'em Pete. I gotcha your back.
i never got that vibe from you Pete. to be hoenst i get more of a" shit happens,i'll tell it how it is,and i'll throw a little humor in it to make a shitty story less shity by putting down the offender in the funniest way possable" kind of vibe.
Actually, Chibitsuki, I'm just a guy who sits in his basement all day pounding out stories (it least I actually own the basement; it's not my mom's). So sometimes you just get a little slappy and decide you have to spice things up if only to amuse yourself and break the rut of work.
Plus, I try not to take myself too seriously. My hair isn't really good enough to be a real journalist.
HIV is actually spread through bodily fluids, as in saliva.
I don't get that vibe from pete. I like the way pete just lays the story out there.
I'm only talking about this story.....
it's great when women talk about getting all slippery
And just what are you doing while back there, ill? What are you, some sort of PERV? lol
And I'll add this (_)(_)===========> stab em where it counts.....
Here let me throw in this "!!!!!!!!!!!"
Me too, My2!
::wave wave:: yep thats how I see him too
Thanks for putting my thesis into words, Numbers. You do it better than I could.
Actually, that would have been a nice compliment to Sange's post, but I wonder what happened to her? Iceberg has no real nutritional value. Romaine actually has a lot of vitamins. Spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, and broccolli all have a lot of vitamin A, some iron, and some vitamin C. Cabbage is loaded with vitamin C. The only good source of vitamin B is red meat but you couldn't eat enough of it to get your needed amount, so I get the Vitamin B liquid in the dropper. I really think it makes a difference in your anxiety level. You can also get muffin tops called "Vitamuffin" at Safeway which come in cornbread, chocolate chip and oatmeal cranberry. They only have 100 calories and 50% of your daily recommended vitamins. Much better calorie to vitamin ratio than cereal. And they taste good b/c even my kid likes them.
The best low calorie sources of protien are Greek Yogurt, fat free cream cheese, and eggbeaters, next chicken. Even spinach has some protein. I just look all these things up on that Calorie King site. It will tell you all the nutritional information of a lot of things, even Restaurant chain meals, and 7-11. It's free and unpretentious, unlike Dr. Fatasses book.
set the b.s alarm to defcon level 5
spinach has more vitamins
I'm a little concerned my blistering handsomocity will be a bit too much for the ladies in the crowd, Josh. I'm also concerned it will consume and inordinate amount of bandwidth.
Why thank you, Chibitsuki. So kind of you to say.
Tim, St. Peter is not very happy with you for talking like that.
I think it would b really cool to turn this into a dieting tip site, Halloween. Anyone up for a discussion on the virtues of iceberg lettuce vs. spinach?
You could always go with the Jane Velez big fake puffy wig look. Nancy Grace is only on b/c the political correcties needed a representative from the animal kingdom. And the all time Mr. Polished, Dr. Phil, rude, ugly, bald and oblivious enough to think he should be giving other people advice on how to diet and behave.
Not really sure good looking hair, or even necessarily a human look is a prerequisite for celebrety but if you got a labotomy, a bull horn and jammed a porcupine up your ass I'd think you have a real good chance of fitting in.
YOUR NOT HELPING ......lmao:P
I'll bet that's not all you are pounding down in your basement, you PERV!!! LOL :)
as do I
Tomato, tomahto. You're still a journalist XD whether you're in the newsroom with a swanky hairdo or in the basement of your house. But spice all you like, I enjoy your writing style!
DAMN!! and 2 snaps !!! :)
need to post your pic in your profile pete
and based on the few teeth i see,oral bleeding doesn't seem so far fetched. yuck!
Uhh... I was premed in college and my mom's a nurse practitioner. If there's presence of blood anywhere, be it in saliva or a bit of lung someone's coughing up, then there's a risk for HIV transmission. Pee is typically sterile unless there's an infection and saliva is a bunch of amylase meant to break down proteins in the mouth and antibodies and bacteria. Sexual pre-ejaculate or mucous membranes on the other hand can pass HIV to another individual.
So as a rewrite, here are two ways she could have passed HIV to the poor boy: she sucked off another guy who was HIV positive before coming to the 12 year old or she had bleeding in her mouth. Nevertheless, I hope it was neither and the boy doesn't get HIV.
Actually HIV isn't spread through saliva, at least not readily. You would have to drink gallons of it to catch something.
I dunno. Sometimes the pairing of an inappropriately "sexy" pic with a story about sexual assault of a child is ... concerning. See:


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Peoples Party is rejected at the Registrar's Office
The Registrar of Political Parties has rejected Vice President Joyce Banda's new party, Peoples Party.
In a move that was widely expected the Registrar says it has given the party instructions and details on why the registration was rejected.
There is already Maravi Peoples Party registered and it was unlikely the registrar was going to allow the Peoples Party to register in that name as it stands.
The Peoples Party, however, sees foul play and claims they are being victimised and have since advised their lawyers to challenge the decision in court.
This stand for the Peoples Party may be ill-advised.
There were other parties such as PPM, who also complained that the symbols of the new Peoples Party were exactly those used by PPM and were going to challenge the registration.
It is not clear why Peoples Party chose to go ahead with registration when it was clear there would be conflict with these other parties.
Joyce Banda has to take her Peoples Party back to the drawing board.


text: Its importance varies by products, industry and customer; defective or broken merchandise can be exchanged, often only with a receipt and within a specified time frame. Retail stores often have a desk or counter devoted to dealing with returns, exchanges and complaints, or will perform related functions at the point of sale; the perceived success of such interactions being dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest,"[2] according to Micah Solomon From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue.[3] From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. A customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer has of the organization.


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Activist Post
Biotech giant Monsanto has been declared the Worst Company of 2011 by NaturalSociety for threatening both human health and the environment.
The leader in genetically modified seeds and crops, Monsanto is currently responsible for 90 percent of the genetically engineered seed on the United States market.
Outside of GM seeds, Monsanto is also the creator of the best-selling herbicide Roundup, which has spawned over 120 million hectares of herbicide-resistant superweeds while damaging much of the soil. Despite hard evidence warning against the amplified usage of genetically modified crops, biopesticides, and herbicides, Monsanto continues to disregard all warning signs.
In a powerful review of 19 studies analyzing the dangers of GMO crops such as corn and soybeans, researchers revealed some shocking information regarding the safety of these popular food staples.
Researchers found that consumption of GMO corn or soybeans may lead to significant organ disruptions in rats and mice – particularly in the liver and kidneys.
This is particularly concerning due to the fact that 93 percent of U.S. soybeans are known to be genetically modified. Ignoring this evidence, Monsanto continues to expand their genetic manipulation.
Monsanto's Genetic Manipulation of Nature
What is the answer to this problem, according to Monsanto? To further genetically modify Bt to make it a super-pesticide, killing the resistant insects.
Tests, however, have concluded that further modified Bt toxin provided 'little or no advantage' in tackling the insects, despite extensive time and funding put into the research. It seems that Monsanto's solution to everything is to further modify it into oblivion, even in the face of evidence proving this method to be highly inefficient. The research shows that this will undoubtedly lead to insects that are resistant to the most potent forms of Bt and other modified toxins, resulting in the use of even more excessive amounts of pesticides in order to combat pests.
Superweeds Infesting Over 120 Million Hectacres of Farmland
Thanks to Monsanto's best-selling herbicide Roundup, farms across the world are experiencing the emergence of herbicide-resistant superweeds. The heavily resistant weeds have an immunity to glyphosate, an herbicide that Roundup contains. These resistant weeds currently cover over 4.5 million hectares in the United States alone, though experts estimate the world-wide land coverage to have reached at least 120 million hectares by 2010. The appearance of these superweeds is being increasingly documented in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Europe and South Africa.
Of course, once again, the resistant weeds are so resistant to roundup that they require excessive amounts of herbicides. It is no surprise that the company is refusing to accept responsibility for the escalating cost of combating the weeds, stating that "Roundup agricultural warranties will not cover the failure to control glyphosate resistant weed populations."
The World Says No to Monsanto
|Non GMO Heirloom Seedbank
Anibal Huerta, President of Peru's Agrarian Commission, said the ban was needed to prevent the "danger that can arise from the use of biotechnology."
France is the latest nation to say no to Monsanto's GM corn maize, even in light of an overturned ban. It all began when France's State Council overturned the ban on Monsanto's GMO maize stating that it was not sufficiently justified. The organization then attempted to justify its decision by saying that the government did not give enough evidence to justify a ban. Under law, an EU country can only unilaterally ban a genetically modified strain if it can scientifically prove it is a risk to the health of humans, animals, or the integrity of the environment.
Even after the ban was overturned, it surfaced that French legislatures were planning to launch new restrictions regarding the use of Monsanto's 810 maize on French soil. Even Nicolas Sarkozy, the current president of the French Republic, voiced his opposition to Monsanto's GMO maize:
'The French government keeps and will keep its opposition against the cultivation of the Monsanto 810 maize on our soil,' Sarkozy said.Worst Company of 2011
In nominating Monsanto the Worst Company of 2011 we are hoping to raise awareness over the threat that Monsanto poses to human health and the environment. Genetically modified organisms will only continue to threaten all living creatures if not stopped. It is through spreading the word that real change will come about, and declaring Monsanto the Worst Company of 2011 is a great way to highlight all of their reckless actions.
Explore More:
- Merck vs Monsanto | Fighting for the Worst Company Award
- Monsanto's Roundup Spawns Superweeds Consuming Over 120 Million Hectares
- Flashback: Forbes Magazine Declared Monsanto Company of the Year
- France Takes Stand Against GMOs, Monsanto Despite End of Ban
- EPA Finds Monsanto's GMO Corn Ineffective, Creating Resistant Rootworms
This article may be re-posted in full with attribution.
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Destinee Quinn sang "Cowboy Take Me Away" on The Voice season 5 blind auditions night 2. She's adorable! Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera turn around. Who did she pick as coach? Watch the video here.
Christina: It was destiny me and you. I'm fresh, I'm back, you want me. Adam: They showed zero emotion.
Download: Destinee Quinn – Cowboy Take Me Away
Destinee Quinn chose Team Christina Aguilera!