text:
Water is probably the most misused resource known to mankind. From the earliest times, it has been consistently polluted with human and animal waste – often unknowingly, when privies were dug too close to wells. A centennial history of Nashville I read some years ago revealed it took two cholera epidemics for the city fathers to realize water purification was needed. Boston first tackled the problem in 1875.
I learned the importance of water treatment from my grandfather, who was superintendent of the Madison Suburban Utility District from 1935 to about 1959. He was always concerned with water testing and his chlorinator. My father recalled the years before the TVA dams, when he helped his father drag the water plant intake pipe further and further into the drying Cumberland River during summer droughts. All this impressed me because, as an asthmatic, I need a whole lot of water.
Now almost everybody takes clean, drinkable water for granted, despite a former Nestle CEO proclaiming that it should be a commodity handled by businesses, not a natural human right. I've signed petitions against this and stopped buying Nestle products, but the worst danger water-loving humans face is from industrial chemicals that make water unusable.
The West Virginia chemical spill is just the latest example of how corporations misuse our vital resource without concern for human beings or environment. Freedom Industries' tanks along the Elk River were not regularly inspected, because West Virginia is an anti-regulation state. Many citizens probably have second thoughts about this policy, since some have been driving 60 miles to take a shower. Few seem to trust the information given by official sources – with good reason. Two weeks after the spill reported by citizens, Freedom Industries admitted there were TWO chemicals in the leaking tank. (Query: Were these two chemicals safe to mix together?) Further, not much information is available on either chemical. The company has, naturally enough, filed for bankruptcy.
This story comes on top of reports of fracking damage to rural water supplies that have triggered lifelong gag orders on young children. When are we going to realize our water supplies are no more infinite than our Earth is?


text:
May 13, 2009
NIU head women's basketball coach Carol Owens is at the USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. for USA Basketball Women's
U19 National Team Trials May 14-17. Owens, the head coach of USA Basketball's U19 Championship Team, will be observing 27 of the nation's top 19-and-under athletes, including seven from the squad that took home the gold at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.
"I'm excited to get started with trials," Owens said. "We have so many great athletes who will be competing hard for a spot on the team. I'm actually happy that I don't have to pick the team because I know it's going to be a tough decision for the committee. This is just the first step in what we need to do in order to defend our gold medal and I'm looking forward to the entire process."
Over the next three days, the committee will evaluate the invitees and determine who will be invited to training camp, which will take place July 8 in Colorado Springs. The eventual 12-member roster will be announced prior to the team departing for Thailand.
Two-time defending FIBA U19 World Championship gold medalists, the USA will look to capture its third straight gold medal at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship, scheduled for July 23 - Aug. 2 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship features 16 national teams comprised of athletes 19-years-old or younger (born on or after Jan. 1,
1990) that qualified through their FIBA zone tournaments. Included in the field of nations are: Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Japan, Lithuania, Mali, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia and the USA.
Fans can follow Owens' journey from the Trials to Thailand through her blog at www.niuhuskies.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
We have everything for the car driver, for cyclists of every age, and we help equip families for their leisure time.
Automotion provides a range of high quality, affordable products and services to meet the needs and pockets for your life on the move.
We provide excellent on-site support - nothing is too much trouble, we make life easier for you and we're here to help you when you need us most. We aim to exceed the expectations of our customers - and we do, as they come back time and again!
Opening Times
Mon - Fri : 09:00 - 17:30
Sat : 09:00 - 17:00
Sun : CLOSED


text:
Later this month, Comicpalooza returns to the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. Asides from being the biggest comic book convention in town, Comicpalooza is also known to hosting video game tournaments for appropriately themed games Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Injustice Gods Among Us. Through Nate Guerrero and Insomnia VGC, they will also be hosting tournaments for Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition 2012.
Each Saturday tournament is $10 to enter, but you will need to purchase a convention pass to enter the venue. Sunday features a SF4 3 man team tournament. Entry for that event is $10 if you did not enter a tournament on Saturday. If you did enter an tournament on Saturday, then the Sunday tournament is free. Comicpalooza is posting up over $1000 in bonus prize money for tournaments on both days, including a winner take all $500 pot for the team tournament on Sunday. Even if you aren't entering the tournament, the comic convention will have lots of cool guests like the cast members of Marvel Agent of Shield, Power Rangers, and Doctor Who.


text:
Article ID: 991 - Last Modified: December 4, 2010
How do I produce structures that are probable at pH 7 with Epik?
In the Epik panel, specify the structure source, select "Predict states" for the analysis mode, ensure that 7.0 is entered in the pH text box and that Generate tautomers is selected, and start the job.
To ask a question or get help, please submit a support ticket or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Type the words or phrases on which you would like to search, or click here to view a list of all
Knowledge Base articles


text:
The Community Legal Information Center (CLIC) provides you with free legal information in 11 areas of the law:
- Student Legal Services/Juvenile Rights
- Chico Consumer Protection Agency
- Women's Law Project
- County Jail Law Project
- Disabled and the Law
- Environmental Advocates
- Family Law Project
- Housing Law Project
- Misdemeanors, Tickets and Traffic
- Penal Law Project
- Workers' Rights Project
CLIC is a student-run, non-profit organization that has been providing legal information to students and community members for over 40 years. CLIC also provides paralegal internship opportunities with students working directly under CLIC's four supervising attorneys.
Office Hours:
School Year:
M-Th 9:00am - 5:00pm; Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm
M-Th 10:00am - 3:00pm; Friday - Closed
M-Th 10:00am - 3:00pm; Friday - Closed
25 Main Street, Suite 102
Chico, CA 95929
Phone: 530-898-4354
Fax: 530-898-4911


text:
Time: 50 minutes
Description: The driver sets the stage for how things will go on the school bus and throughout the students' day. Safety starts with the driver and a driver's attitude predicts how the students will behave; a driver's "baggage" shouldn't get carried on to the school bus. Drivers also need to pay attention to other drivers and their attitude changes and know what to do to get help. At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:
Handout: #1 Tips for Maintaining a Good Driver Attitude
Could be presented with: Student Management
What the Pupil Transportation Supervisor Can Do
Additional Resources


text:
I was asked the other day by one of my Bingo Players to tat her a round tablecloth. Ugh... ok... it might take me a few years but ok. now all I need is a pattern. do any of you have a pattern you are willing to share with me?
I was asked the other day by one of my Bingo Players to tat her a round tablecloth. Ugh... ok... it might take me a few years but ok. now all I need is a pattern. do any of you have a pattern you are willing to share with me?
You might like to look at this thread: http://www.intatters.com/showthread....in-Translation
It's a long thread; you can see the tablecloth gradually growing. Look particularly at Post #55, where there's a picture of the completed tablecloth in the pattern book. My jaw dropped when I saw that!
The pattern is from an antique pattern book called Priscilla Tatting 2, reprinted as a Dover book, Tatting Patterns, edited by Julia E Sanders. It's possible to get Priscilla Tatting 2 in PDF form, but mine somehow omits the tablecloth. I decided I would buy the Dover book, and I'm quite happy I did. It's full of lovely patterns, and it's much easier to do them from a physical book. (Right now I'm gearing up to do the Victorian Trellis Doily, on p. 19 - much smaller! )
Your Bingo friend has a really good friend in you. I hope she appreciates you appropriately.
The first thing that comes to mind is to use larger thread and really big shuttles. Depending on the size of the finished project, you may be able to adapt a doily. Those done in rounds, where some of the rounds are repeated, lend themselves to being enlarged simply by continuing established patterns. Some doilies are really quite large done in smaller thread. By doing one in a size 10 or larger, you can gain a few inches without adding any rounds to the pattern.
You can also join motifs together until you get to the size you want. Choose a motif that won't drive you crazy and that will join together smoothly. Or, you can use a few different motifs that fit together nicely. Quite frankly, you can use just about anything you want to. The tablecloth that Grace mentions uses several different motifs. You can see from this one example how different motifs can be used together for a quite striking effect.
Happy hunting.
Blessings <>< Lynn
Brighten the Corner Where You Are
Oh my. My first thought is not the most charitable I will admit - but anyone who truly appreciates the work that goes into this craft would not have the gall to ask a friend to do a project that large and time-consuming so I would be assuming that it would not be a good idea to proceed, your many years of work will probably not be appreciated.
Now, let's make an assumption that you absolutely adore this person and couldn't give a fig whether or not she will really appreciate your efforts. May I suggest that you go with a very 40s 50s idea and add lace to a linen cloth? The following ideas will still be a lot of work, but not nearly as much as a full lace cloth would be.
First image is from a book so pattern likely available. Second is an old ebay auction, no real useful information, third is available on Etsy at the moment for £1,237.33 (includes napkins) which gives you an idea of the scale of what your friend has asked for.
Please post queries to the help forums first.
I will take a few weeks to respond to private messages or emails
See Twitter for site issues and updates
Following Kersti's suggestions, I did a tablecloth a few years ago that was made of four handkerchiefs. It's very similar to the first picture in Kersti's post.
You can use pretty much any edging that can join to itself. (But I'm with Kersti, only go ahead with this if you really want to or if you can charge the earth for it)
A fully tatted cloth is nice.... but I also like the ones that have fabric and tatting mixed....
good luck and keep us posted on your progress....
Enjoying Life.
I'd like to teach you a new word - "no".
Ive had requests like that from people in the past. My response is usually "no, sorry, but I can teach you how to tat and support you while you make your own if you like."
I normally wouldn't jump in so bluntly but they way you've posted it makes me feel that you don't really want to do it and I wanted to back up that part of your thinking and say its ok to say no to requests like that, even to the best of friends.
But if you were already thinking of attempting it... In any case, let it bring you tatting joy, not steal it.
GraceT you read my post so well. :) I am just learning how to tat and feel like she thinks I do more then I do or that i dont have a life. This lady I do not know other then she comes and plays at the Bingo hall I volunteer at. I'm having problems just making my mom a doily for Christmas. ( I made one and as I was smoothing it out right after I got done with it it began to unravel where I added more thread to it.)
Sounds like it was quite a casual request, then. Would it be all right not to take it seriously? Have the tablecloth out there like Mt. Everest, but take your time to approach it, and it's okay if you never actually climb it! Meanwhile, I hope you are successful in fixing your doily for your mum.
I myself have only finished one doily so far! I'm getting near the end of a second one, which was actually the first one I started, a long time ago. I think I tatted too loosely in the beginning rounds. Then I tatted too tightly. Now, I'm somewhere inbetween... I think no one will notice.


text:
Highlights 2014
Advisory Board
We are happy to announce two new members of our Advisory Board. Welcome to our Center!
Dr. Scot Dowd
Adjunct Associate Professor, Animal & Food Sciences
Ginger Light
Bayer Crop Science LP
This month our Core Facility has acquired a new -20 freezer and a new Mass Spectrometer Orbi Trap. We are happy to be adding to our inventory and look forward to serving our customers. Give us a call!


text:
- Location:
- Peoria, IL
- Party Albums:
- 16
Kocktails without Kids (47 photos)
Sign In or Register Now
I threw this party last summer for all of my stay at home mom friends. The kids were home for the summer and we were in desperate need of a "Mommy Time-Out." I came up with the theme "Kocktails without Kids" and went from there.
I designed mini wine bottle labels and placed them over the existing labels. Then I hand delivered each wine bottle and that served as the invitation!
Guests were greeted at the front door by a welcome table that inlcuded a cocktail and a wreath I made. I lined the entry way with black and white striped wrapping paper and candles.
The food table was full of miniature sized food including, ceaser salads, baked tortellini, bruschetta, kabobs, and spinach artichoke dip.
I turned a $5 tv cart I found at Goodwill into a pretty bar car that held wine, vodka and mixers.
The dessert table showcased local favorite sweets. I placed them on my black writing desk and placed a vinyl chandelier as the back drop.
Guests took home a bottle of Starbuck's coffee for the morning!


text:
LOS ANGELES – UCLA (21-7, 10-5) will close its home schedule against Oregon State (15-12, 7-8) on Sunday evening in Pauley Pavilion. Game time is 6:00 pm (PT). UCLA's game versus Oregon State will be nationally televised by FOX Sports 1 and available on AM 570 (KLAC). The Bruins have three regular-season games remaining and currently occupy second place in the Pac-12 Conference standings.
Venue: Pauley Pavilion (13,800)
Tipoff Time: 6:02 pm (PT)
TV: FOX Sports 1
TV Talent: Rob Stone (play-by-play), Jarron Collins (analyst)
Radio: AM 570 (KLAC)
Radio Talent: Chris Roberts (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
SIRIUS Satellite Radio: Channel 85
SIRIUS XM Radio: Channel 85
The Bruins will close their home schedule against Oregon State in Pauley Pavilion on Sunday evening (6 p.m., PT). UCLA looks to even the season series against Oregon State after having dropped a 71-67 decision in Corvallis, Ore., on Sunday, Feb. 2. Prior to Sunday evening's game, UCLA will honor its three senior basketball players – Aubrey Williams, David Wear and Travis Wear in a special "Senior Night" ceremony.
Senior twin brothers David and Travis Wear have been mainstays in UCLA's rotation each of the last three seasons after having transferred to UCLA in the summer of 2010 from North Carolina. David has averaged 8.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in 94 career games at UCLA. Travis has posted averages of 10.0 points and 4.9 rebounds in 87 career games for the Bruins.
UCLA has scored at least 75 points in each of its last 16 home games (14-2 record in that span), the longest active streak among any NCAA Division I program. Overall, UCLA has gone 15-2 in Pauley Pavilion this season, averaging 86.4 points per game in its home arena.
- UCLA enters Sunday's game in sole possession of second place in the Pac-12 standings (10-5 conference mark).
- UCLA ranked eighth, nationally, in scoring and was second among Pac-12 teams (82.9 ppg), through Feb. 27.
- The Bruins have won 20 games or more for the 31st time in the last 39 years (since John Wooden retired in 1975).
- Currently in his first season as UCLA's head coach, Steve Alford has guided his teams to at least 21 wins in each of the last seven seasons (this year at UCLA and in each of his six seasons at New Mexico, 2007-08 through 2012-13).
- Kyle Anderson (14.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 6.9 apg) has become UCLA's first player to average at least 10.0/5.0/5.0 since Bill Walton finished his senior season (1973-74) with 19.3 ppg, 14.7 rpg and 5.5 apg.
- UCLA's roster features seven players who have scored at least 20 points in one career game, with six of those seven players having registered at least 20 points in one game during the 2013-14 season.
Bryce Alford scored a career-high 31 points in UCLA's 87-83 double overtime loss to Oregon in Pauley Pavilion on Thursday evening. The Bruins erased a 65-59 deficit with 49 seconds to play. Alford scored eight points and Zach LaVine added three in the final minute before David Wear nailed a buzzer-beating three-pointer off a full-court inbounds pass from brother Travis Wear, sending the game to overtime tied, 71-71. UCLA played without its top two leading scorers, Jordan Adams and Kyle Anderson, who were serving one-game team-issued suspensions.
Bryce Alford's 31 points versus Oregon is the second-highest single-game total for any freshman in school history. Don MacLean set the school's single-game freshman record with 41 points against North Texas on Dec. 30, 1988. Rod Foster and J.R. Henderson each had one 28-point game as freshmen.
Kyle Anderson, a 6-foot-9 guard, is among 30 players listed on the midseason watch list for the John R. Wooden Award and is one of 15 finalists for the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year Trophy. In addition, he's listed as one of 23 players on the midseason watch list for the Bob Cousy Award (point guard of the year). Anderson was among five players to be named a "midseason" first-team All-America selection by The Sporting News.
No player in the country has averaged as close to a triple-double as has Kyle Anderson (14.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 6.9 apg). Through games played Feb. 23, Anderson was the nation's only player averaging at least 10.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 6.0 apg. In addition, Anderson is the only player to rank in the top five (in his conference, BCS conferences only) in rebounds, assists and steals and be among the top 15 scorers (includes AAC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC).
Sophomore guard Jordan Adams leads UCLA with 17.2 points per game, the seventh-highest scoring average among Pac-12 players (through Feb. 27). Adams scored a career-high 30 points against Morehead State (Nov. 22, 2013) and registered his third double-double of the season at Colorado with 14 points and 13 rebounds (Jan. 16). He finished second in scoring for UCLA last season, averaging 15.3 points per game as a freshman. Adams has scored in double figures in 24 of UCLA's 27 games and has registered at least 20 points in 10 games.
UCLA leads all Pac-12 teams in assists per game (17.4), steals per game (9.7), assist turnover ratio (1.63) and turnover margin (+4.2), through games played on Feb. 27. The Bruins have committed the third fewest turnovers per game (10.68) of any Pac-12 team. UCLA's defense has forced the highest average of turnovers among Pac-12 teams (14.9). Kyle Anderson (185 assists, 87 turnovers) has accounted for 37.9 percent of UCLA's total assists.
Kyle Anderson became the fourth player on record in UCLA history to register a triple-double (13 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists) in UCLA's 81-70 win over Morehead State on Nov. 22, 2013. That marked UCLA's first triple-double since Dec. 18, 1995, when Toby Bailey had 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Stephen F. Austin. Since UCLA consistently tracked assists as a statistic beginning in 1971-72, the Bruins have had four triple-doubles (including one point-rebound-block effort from Jelani McCoy).
Kyle Anderson has made 22 of 44 three-point attempts (50.0 percent), a strong increase over his freshman year totals (8-for-28, 21.1 percent). Anderson shot a perfect 5-for-5 from long range in UCLA's 74-69 loss to Utah on Jan. 18. That marked UCLA's first "perfect" effort from three-point range with a minimum of five attempts since Ray Young went 5-for-5 from downtown on Feb. 22, 2003, in UCLA's 93-84 loss to Stanford.
Norman Powell enters UCLA's game against Oregon State as the Bruins' third-leading scorer, averaging 11.3 points per game. Powell's 55.0 overall field goal percentage ranks seventh among Pac-12 players (through Feb. 27). The junior guard from San Diego, Calif., has scored in double figures in 18 games this season, leading UCLA to a 15-3 record in those contests. Powell has played in more games in a UCLA uniform (96) than any other current Bruins' player.
Kyle Anderson has become UCLA's first player since 1994-95 (Charles O'Bannon) to register at least 200 rebounds and 100 assists in one season. A sophomore in 1994-95, O'Bannon finished the year with 201 rebounds and 110 assists (Anderson has 232 rebounds and 185 assists). Since UCLA officially recorded assists (1973-74), Anderson, O'Bannon and Bill Walton are UCLA's only players to have logged 200+ rebounds and 100+ assists in one season.
The Bruins have averaged 82.9 points through 28 games, the program's highest per game offensive output through the first 28 games in any season since averaging 88.0 ppg after 28 games in 1994-95, the last year in which UCLA won the NCAA Championship. Earlier this season, UCLA compiled a seven-game streak of at least 80 points scored in victories. That feat had not been accomplished since the 1994-95 campaign (streak from Feb. 22-March 17, 1995).
UCLA does not currently have any major injuries. Noah Allen missed 12 games after suffering multiple fractures to his face in a collision sustained with a player from Oakland (Nov. 12) in the game's final minutes. Wanaah Bail missed UCLA's first five games recovering from left knee surgery which was performed on June 28, 2013. Travis Wear missed UCLA's first three games after having underwent an appendectomy on Oct. 28, 2013.


text:
Welcome to our international Industrial Equipment and Supplies page. It provides the most recent market research, trade leads and event information. Our worldwide team of Trade Specialists is prepared to assist in increasing your export sales. With team members in key manufacturing regions of the U.S. and in foreign markets, trade specialists and industry experts are standing ready to aid your firm.
With the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, many small and medium-sized manufacturers are beginning to explore opportunities to increase market share outside of the U.S.
This industry has been a big part of the U.S. economy for decades, and has provided well paying jobs for a variety of skill levels. The industry's position is now challenged by global competition, changes in technology, and worldwide economic conditions. To maintain this important sector of the U.S. economy, we strive to provide assistance to increase the industry's competitiveness.
Sign up for Industrial Equipment & Supplies email updates
|Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week -- Automotive Parts/Services Eq., Automobile/Light Truck/Vans, Computer Software, Electronics Industry Prod/Test Eq., General Services, Trucks/Trailers/Buses
|Event Summary:
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) is the largest exhibition in the United States for car aftermarket products manufacturers from all over the world. No other trade show offers attendees the opportunity of meeting over 4,000 innovative U.S. and international exhibitors from all parts of the world. More than 115,300 professionals from every corner of the global automotive aftermarket community attended the 2012 show. Also, throughout the week, there will be seminars, workshops, industry get-togethers, social activities, receptions, and dinners, which have all been packaged to help attendees to network with exhibitors and other industry professionals to exchange ideas and build business.
|Chamberlain Eke, Lagos
Commercial Specialist
Phone: 234-1-4603414,460 3400, ext.3414


text:
Oct 19, 2009 9:41 AM
This Prada Logo Key Ring ($150) is a great way to organize and keep all of your important keys in one safe and stylish spot. The famous logo is a great way to hold your home and car keys and the best part is that every time you go to grab your keys, you'll see Prada staring right back up at you. Okay, maybe it's weird how happy that makes us...we'll look into it.
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


text:
Aug 20, 2009 10:18 AM
Whether plagued by dorm life or living like a bachelor or bachlorette, the Crunch Laundry Can ($26) is stylish and extremely durable in the harshest of conditions. Designers Paul Rowan and Cassie Zhento made it specifically it to maintain its fine cylindrical form or crunch down for easy storage while being inventive and fun. We like the black and white sparrow-in-foliage pattern, but if you're feeling argyle, dotted tulips, or stripes, they're also available.
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


text:
In the High Desert of Southern California, riding a motorcycle to the nearest U.S. Bankruptcy Court, is one of America's best business turnaround ,corporate restructuring experts and CEOs:Patrick Rettig.
His track record for small business turnarounds over the last 20+ years as CEO of The Rettig Corporation includes saving more than 800 small businesses -most of which are located in the western states with annual revenues below $20 million.
The legal team at The Rettig Corporation has not lost a case in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the last 20+ years either..
When asked how he found the "turnaround niche" Rettig candidly admitted," I was a single dad with a 4yr.old daughter to support and I needed a job."
He continued," Everywhere I looked, companies weren't doing that well .I knew if I worked for them I probably wouldn't get paid,. so I started talking to business owners about their problems."
When asked what happened from talking to business owners about their problems Patrick said," I started helping these business owners solve their problems. Soon after, I began talking to their creditors and that launched my corporate restructuring business. That was 25 years ago."
To describe how Patrick finds his clients he declared," People come to me. I don't have any competition.The company owners who find me are usually the owners of businesses that other experts have "Left for Dead" and I am there for them when "they have no other options."
The beginning phase of a turnaround is emotionally charged and Patrick explained," One of the most important first things I do with my clients is to calm everyone down. so they can come together.Once that happens, we can develop a turnaround plan and move forward with the solutions they need to keep their businesses alive and ultimately helping them be profitable.
Rettig is clear, ".These businesses need a plan , a solid restructuring strategy. The truth is not everyone likes all of the things required to turn the company around."
With such a long track record of success in restructuring corporations, why isn't Patrick Rettig known everywhere in America? The simple answer seems to be his strict adherence to client privacy. .
If asked for his resume by the courts, Rettig states he has 25yrs.of experience in corporate restructuring without divulging names of his previous clients.
Most executives envy of his results, and want to know how he achieved them..
When asked about his company mission Patrick said," While maintaining the letter of the law, our mission is to do whatever it takes to overcome insolvency, save your business and build profitably."
To get to the core of Patrick's talent with turnarounds he'll tell you, " I look at Balance Sheets and use them as a roadmap of where businesses are and where they have been. I get to know people and understand their problems.."
To explain his process further Patrick said,"When I understand where they have gone wrong, I can help them make changes and find the necessary solutions to keep their business. I don't want to own their business or to take a piece of their company. "
What seems to make Patrick stand out from others is the way he conducts his business efforts. " I believe in family first and business first and am always supportive, yet slightly detached."
He continued." I am on everyone's side, not just one side or the other. I know I am doing this with the best intentions of helping all of the parties succeed."
When asked if he ever gives up on people Patrick emphatically said," No. I never give up on people. If they don't want to work with me, they can fire me and I'll go.I am and have been fighting to save America's businesses. I am here to stop that downward spiral that takes everything away that people have built "
He continued," I work to help people with second chances. I also let the business owners know that they shouldn't ruin the second chances they receive."
Patrick shared his insights about emotionally brutal situations become when people are having money troubles and how we treats clients."I help save people's dignity and self-esteem."
The strategies he uses to restructure companies are not always what his clients might expect and he says,"Some of the steps needed to save a company are hard.Nobody knows for certain what will happen .I operate with faith and trust. As I take business owners through the turnaround process , I ask my clients to simply hold me accountable just one day at a time."
When asked if he has any rules for his clients he said,"Yes, my rule is : They must pay me for my work. I set the rate on a case-by-case basis and they will know what that fee is going to be. When I take them on as my client, the first two weeks I work for free. After that , I expect to be paid."
Although his Rettig Corporation has not lost a case in court, they have ended some client relationships which according to Rettig has happened by his uncovering the truth about where they are spending their money."
He clarified by stating," When I find out where the money is going, sometimes clients don't like my discovery of the truth. If that's the case we probably won't be working together much longer."
It's not very often that you hear this sort of offer and so I asked him to explain ."I tell people if you need my services : call me. I will discuss the "Hounds" snapping at your heels, the ghosts that haunt your every thought. Together, with clear directives, we will dig out of the big black hole of financial hopelessness. If you do call, we will share a quiet , confidential conversation, possibly the most important exchange of your life."
To speak with Patrick Rettig is to understand how serious and how laser- focused he is on helping people to save their companies. He says," I work with people every day who are the people who keep America going. These are the people who have employees and people who are supporting their families and spending money in our economy."
Patrick is candid about what it's like to work with companies that need to be turned around," My clients come to me when things are terribly wrong. One of the first things I have to do is calm down things emotionally."
Patrick Rettig is passionate about working with entrepreneurs and says," Entrepreneurs are nutty people who have little or no fear because they went into business without knowing they couldn't do what they have already accomplished."
As a business restructuring guru, Patrick proceeds daily on his mission to turn around as many small businesses as he can with a heart-felt conviction and unstoppable energy . He knows that his work of turning around small businesses is saving companies, helping to rebuild relationships and helping protect our American dreams of owning profitable businesses.
Patrick Rettig and his team at The Rettig Corporation take a heart-felt approach to restructuring companies and rebuilding lives along with finances.
http://www.TheRettigCorporation.com. 760.662.9668


text:
** Cutting into diamond shape: (I can't tell you how many times I've done this wrong and made chocolate Christmas squares.) With a sharp knife make diagonal slices about 1" wide across the pan lengthwise. Then make slices about the same width parallel to the short side of the pan.
A Tale of Two Holiday Spirits
This time of year I'm torn between two personalities: grumpy, bah-humbugy versus jolly, jingle-belly.
by Karin Duncker • More.com Member { View Profile }


text:
Around 7pm, on February 27, members of Pumping Station One, a 'hackerspace' for tinkers, inventors, and machinists, opened their doors to a group from the downtown Harold Washington Library and took them on a tour of their space and of the various tools and creative projects contained within.
Many of the members of the tour group were employees and volunteers for the Harold Washington's "Innovation Lab", a space containing 3D printers, milling machines, and laser cutters that library members can learn to use in weekly workshop events. Since they were strangers to personal manufacturing and the 'Do it yourself' aesthetic, the member of Pumping Station One welcomed them as kindred spirits, and eagerly guided them through their complex.
"When you get right down to it, Pumping Station One is a 'Do-ocracy'." board member and unofficial spokesperson Adam Dezack explained as he walked people through the rooms of the hackerspace. "If there's something you want to do, do it!" As he went on to clarify, full members of Pumping Station One (for a minimum $40 dollar a month fee) can pursue practically any project that interests them, regardless of experience, and are only limited by a majority vote to approve purchases of materials and tools. "I've never seen this backfire on us." Adam clarified.
As the tour group wound their way through the electronics lab, the kitchen/micro-brewery, and the wood/machinery shop and smithy, there were volunteers stationed along the way that talked about some of the projects they were working on.
Elizabeth and Bart, 'Computer Numerical Control' experts, demonstrated the Taz and Lulzbot 3D printers, based on open-sourced designs and hardware, before drawing attention to their 'Quantum Delta', a small, tripod-like 3D printer that they'd designed and built entirely from scratch. They later ran a 3D printing workshop for some of the children in the tour group, guiding them through the process of making bird/letter pendants.
Andy, an aficionado of laser etching and robotics, showed off the Pumping Station's personal laser cutting machine ("La-zers!" He pronounced, with a sinister cackle), and helped interested parties make custom name tags. A volunteer named Ryan, sitting next to a large jug of liquid nitrogen, used a large scanning electron microscope donated by a local hospital to get magnified images of near-microscopic etchings on a circuit board. "We're the only hackerspace in the country that has a functioning scanning electron microscope." He explained.
Finally, right in the back of the forge area, a group of volunteers distilled some cinnamon with vodka using chemistry equipment an an open flame, and produced a sinus-blasting vintage of schnapps for the older member of the tour group to sample.
Everyone in the tour group seemed to enjoy looking behind the scenes of Pumping Station One and seeing what it's members got up to regularly. The young kids on the tour particularly enjoyed themselves: one of them declared that she wanted to be an inventor when she grew up.


text:
Skydiving.com now has a network skydiving location serving Rockvale and Fremont County in Colorado. Call Skydiving.com at 1-800-617-7948 for details, free information and specials on skydiving in Rockvale, CO today!
Popular Tags for Skydiving Rockvale:
Skydiving Rockvale, Skydiving in Rockvale, Sky Diving Rockvale, Skydive Rockvale CO, Skydiving 81244, Rockvale Skydiving, Skydiving Rockvale Colorado, Skydiving near Rockvale, Skydiving in Rockvale Colorado, Rockvale Sky Diving, Skydive 81244, Skydiving Rockvale CO, Skydive Rockvale, Skydiving Fremont County, Skydive in 81244, Skydiving CO, Sky Diving Rockvale CO, Rockvale, Colorado
Sign up for our newsletter and receive updatesand specials on skydiving across America!


text:
I am not getting any sound from my computer (running Windows XP). I tried to turn up the volume from the start menu but it will not let me do anything. Why is this? I am unsure if I have any sound drivers installed or what is going on. Can you help me?
If you simply mean you tried to increase the volume but did not have the controls, it sounds (no pun) to me like as you said, the drivers are not installed.
First things first, if you did have the controls but you meant that it didn't do anything, make sure:
This is especially true if they have been working in the past but recently suddenly stopped.
Now If the above fails, First check that the drivers are installed:
If you see any, it means that something does not have a driver installed. Either look at the website either of the manufacturer of either the system (if off the shelf) or motherboard (if self built or from a small builder).
Alternatively, you may want to look at the audio chip makers website for the driver direct. As there are many, I can't really advise further - but if you give more details of your machine, I can try to find where you need to go.
Lastly, if you have a


text:
Yesterday was the third Saturday in March, which means that it was National Quilting Day! I spent the day catching up on a couple of projects!
Kristy at Quietplay, designer and host of the Sew kitschy paper pieced bom released her March pattern a couple of weeks ago and I finally had a chance to get this adorable block stitched together. Her Mixing bowl pattern can be downloaded for free in her Craftsy shop for a limited time and all the details of her bom can be found here!
The Retro-Kitchen style of the Sew Kitschy patterns remind me of JuneCleaver from the 1950's TV show "Leave it to Beaver." "Leave it to Beaver" depicts a picture perfect reflection of a postwar suburban family in a world seen through the eyes of a child. Barbara Billingsley plays June Cleaver, a loving stay at home mom dedicated to her family and is often shown in her kitchen chopping vegetables, basting a roast, or icing a cake. She always looks glamorous in her pretty dresses worn with pearls and high heels. I can just see her holding this paper-pieced mixing bowl and stirring up a little cookie dough for her 2 sons, Wally and Beaver!


text:
Sep 15th 2015
Wasatch Community Gardens
Tomato Sandwich Party at the Grateful Tomato Garden Read More
Tomato Sandwich Party at the Grateful Tomato Garden Read More
The 24th year of the Downtown Farmers Market kicks off on Saturday. Read More
How Liberty Heights Fresh got its start Read More
Backyard agriculture with BUG Farms Read More
How Cuisine Unlimited keeps its produce as fresh as possible. Read More
Need help finding a gift for the foodie on your list? Want to support local farms? Then this might be just for you. Read More
The Downtown Alliance is looking to show off Utah's winter produce at the new "Pop-Up" Winter Farmers' Markets. Read More
Page 1 of 1:


text:
How Do You Get
From: "-Brit-"
To: "Positive Atheism" <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Sent: December 19, 2003 7:58 PM
Subject: Exactly how do you get unbaptized?
I was just wondering exactly how you can get unbaptized. I read your letter from RJ, but I'm still confused. I understand that I have to write a letter to the church I was baptized at, but what else?
I'm also having trouble explaining to my Mom that I'm an atheist. She just refuses to believe me, or something. So I was wondering if you could help me formulate an educated list of reasons why "god" is not real. I know that is a lot to ask but it would really help me out. Thank you for your time.
From: "Positive Atheism Magazine" <email@example.com>
To: "-Brit-"
Subject: Re: Exactly how do you get unbaptized?
Date: December 23, 2003 11:56 PM
Leaving Religion, and Leaving Well Enough Alone
You don't have to do a thing to become an atheist. You can if you want, but you don't owe them even so much as an explanation. They cannot possibly be interested in knowing the truth, so why bother giving it to them? Why not just keep this matter to yourself and your close friends, the people who matter, the people who do care about you (not to mention caring about the truth). Deconverting to atheism, to me, is about getting on with my life. It's not about those who are no longer part of my life, and it's certainly not about trying to make them twitch (as fun as that might seem at the moment).
By telling them you run the risk of their trying to "set you straight," as we like to say (with quotation marks around it, of course!). And rumor has it that some groups, specifically Mormonism, will not take you off their rolls. When they gloat about how many members they have, you're still counted even if you've announced to them that you've since converted to Islam -- or become a Satanist, for that matter!
The last church I was a member would not free me of my membership (in their eyes) unless I joined another church and convinced the new church to write them a member! This was one of those "once saved, always saved" neo-Calvinist sects. (Don't ask!)
Yeah, Madalyn Murray O'Hair of American Atheists used to do this! Of course, she just loved to get under people's skin! What she did was this (and this is purely from memory: if my description is a slight deviation from the truth, keep in mind that I said above also applies both to and about Madalyn): if you'd give a specific donation to her organization she'd send a letter to the pastor along with a "debaptism" certificate. The logic was that since baptism is a bunch of religious hocus-pocus, she could simply say that someone was "debaptized" and it would be so! In other words, her frivolous practical joke known as the "debaptism" was every bit as legitimate as their serious ritual wherein The Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is said to literally enter your body and become one with you. (Gag!)
Can you imagine being a pastor and getting a personal letter from Madalyn Murray O'Hair, along with a suitable-for-framing certificate on fancy paper announcing that one of your parishioners had deconverted to atheism? I think that's what was so exquisite about her "debaptism certificates" (or whatever she called them): they came from Madalyn Murray O'Hair herself! And I hear she'd personally put them together and write each letter individually and everything.
I don't know if American Atheists does this any more. They might, but it wouldn't be the same, it really wouldn't, not with The Great Nemesis signing the letter and the certificate!
Even though I'm no Madalyn Murray O'Hair, if one of our readers sent us, say, a half-dozen fins or so and asked us to do that, I'd come up with something that was more than worthy of the gesture: a suitable-for-framing certificate on good paper (one copy for each of you) and a personally written letter, reflecting, as best I can, the feelings you now experience in attempting to show just how wrong it can be to indoctrinate a youngster -- all the while empathizing with the desire to do what's best and only knowing what our parents did for us -- rather, did to us!
I will attempt to explain some of that below, something that would convey to a parent or a pastor the rightness of leaving religion behind as a natural part of growing up. Such a letter would need to be absolutely reasonable and at the same time utterly incriminating: it is wrong to pick a child's religion for her the way we humans tend to do to our children -- like giving The Lord yet another brownie point or a feather in His cap, if you will.
On Being an Atheist
As for being an atheist, the bottom line is that being an atheist is no big deal whatsoever. It's the antithesis of religion in a number of ways, of course, but the one manner in which most of us (including yours truly) have trouble seeing is that religion is almost always at least something in the religious person's life, if not the all-encompassing central point of the person's life.
Atheism is never the central point of someone's life (if they're healthy). In fact, most atheists seldom (if ever) even think about their atheism. Many become offended if you call them "an atheist" because you are thereby identifying them with what they are not, rather than with what they are!
My atheism is important to me only because I work at trying to reduce or eliminate bigotry against atheists. One of the things I do in my attempts to accomplish this goal is to study the history and especially the meaning (the definition) of atheism, particularly what atheism means to the various types of atheists who exist. By understanding what atheism is and what it means to various atheists, I hope to disseminate and popularize this information. My thinking is that maybe doing this might "demystify" atheism in the minds of theists.
(Demystify is a word I picked up from film producer Spike Lee: see if you can find his Playboy Interview, because this word is full of meaning; by understanding what Spike Lee meant when he used it in Playboy you can get a glimpse of what I'm trying to do here.)
However, in all this, my atheism -- the fact that I am not religious -- is seldom on my mind. I don't go around thinking about the fact that I am an atheist. Two or three friends who know me well can expect me to make off-hand remarks here and there, very cynical stuff that rolls off my tongue through the course of whatever we're doing together (shopping or whatever: I'm crippled, so when I go shopping it's with a friend).
So two or three people who know better will hear these remarks such as the one I made about the Salvation Army bell ringer today as we went to Fred Meyer. What I said was this: "They let some but not all religions panhandle in front of their store." So what? It's what I said and we both thought it was funny because we've both watched me grow and developed my awareness of antiatheist bigotry and the dominance (and sheer greed) of organized Christianity. We watched my friend grow from having been wholly unaware of her religious outlook (precisely because she's an atheist of the kind I described above) to being able not only to defend her atheism (if need be) but to transcend the differences between herself and her other friends. I wouldn't make a remark along these lines with anybody else except this one friend. One other friend is a Baptist minister, and occasionally we discuss religion. A third friend is very well studied and an atheist, and we spend hours each week discussing history and current events -- and religion -- sometimes, but not very often.
Besides this, the only time I even talk about my atheism (when I'm not sitting in this chair, that is, when I'm not "on duty") is when someone finds out that I'm an atheist and starts laying into me about my atheism (about what they think my atheism necessarily means). Then (and only then) will I defend the true definition of the word (the traditional definition that thinking atheists use) and perhaps even describe what it is about religion that I would need to have explained before I could convert.
Indoctrinating Children into the Family Religion
You are in a different situation because (I assume) you once believed and now no longer believe. Or better: you once thought you believed, but once you reached the age where you became capable of critical thought, you realized that you don't really believe after all: you only thought you believed. This is the problem when parents indoctrinate their children at a very young age: the children are converting without their own consent -- parents are turning them into Christians without their permission!
This is no different (morally) from how the sex laws work: for me to have sex with a 15-year-old is rape, not because she doesn't want to have sex with me but because she literally cannot want to have sex with me: she is not old enough to make such a decision; she has not attained the level of competence that it takes to decide for herself whether or not she wants to do this; she cannot tell the difference between her own desires and what may or may not be coercion on my part. (Or so our laws hold.)
Similarly, when a parent indoctrinates a child into religion, she is expecting a conversion from someone who has not gained the skills to think critically about the subject of religion. She literally places a Confession of Faith into the mouth of someone whose confession is not worth the amount of energy it took to vibrate the air molecules when forming the sound of that audible confession! Why? To answer that, we need only determine precisely what it was that the kid was confessing: He or she was saying the equivalent of, "I am an obedient kid: I did what my parents told me to, because I know that if I don't I will experience rejection, which I find emotionally painful."
Very few children are capable of understanding what the Cross was (supposedly) all about. Very few adults have bothered to study, to do the work it takes to find out what the Cross was (supposedly) about. Fewer still have critically examined the claims that the Cross even happened, as a historical event, in such a way as to be able to argue the issue with a learned atheist (like you will probably end up being simply because you'll have to just to keep the peace and for your own peace of mind; but remember, most atheists are not learned in this respect: we'd rather not think about religion at all).
When indoctrinated kids say, "I believe [such and so]," they are (generally) saying, "I want to believe [such and so]": it is an expression of desire, not a description of how they think. They are saying, "I want to believe for social reasons; that is, I want to fit into my community, to not stand out as a rebel: I want to keep from hurting my family," etc.
Religion is Contrived; Atheism is Natural
They are not saying, "I have completed a critical study of the claims and the facts, comparing the one with the other, and have determined that the evidence in favor of the Gospel stories (as we currently have them) being truthful and historical accounts outweigh the objections in such an overwhelmingly lopsided and unbalanced way that I have no choice but to fall before them in abject fear, trembling at the fact that this universe was, in fact, created by the ogre-god depicted in the Bible (New Testament as well as Hebrew Scripture), and I'd better start trembling and ACT the part of act the part of loyal subjects.
I am slowly working on a book and the drawing on the cover will be a rip-off of the famous Rube Goldberg cartoon motif showing religion to be the "contraption" that it is! Religion is more than just a human invention, it's a contraption-and-an-half! This is shown (for example) in that Christian dogma despises the natural emotions and ultimately the natural state: being born is not good enough, you must be "born again." The ways of the flesh (the human passions) are shunned in favor of a pie-in-the-sky promise. The natural man is juxtaposed against the "spiritual" whatever that means). In many of the Bible-based movements, Christian "Love" (note the capital "C") is not the human emotion but has only to do with obedience to the sect.
The ultimate statement of atheism harkens from one of the former centers of the American Freethought movement, Missouri, the "Show Me" state! Show me! Show me that granting assent to your god-claim is the right thing for me to do, the honest thing for me to do, the truthful thing for me to do.
This is the message repeated again and again in our Forum: the religious person is obligated to explain to the atheist why it is that we ought to believe; the atheist has no such corresponding obligation. The religious people know this, of course, but when it comes down to it, they inevitably try to pass that obligation on to us, shackling us with the burden of explaining ourselves for being fully natural, fully human.
Yes, atheism is natural: theism is the added attraction that comes later, after we've learned to talk. Atheism is not taught but simply is. Atheism is what we are when we're born; atheism is what we remain if nobody teaches us to think like theists. Atheism is what we return to when we realize what a mistake it was to dabble in the occult. (And I dare anybody to explain the difference between Evangelical Christianity and what Evangelicals call "the occult" in a way that a preponderance of atheists will even understand, much less accept!)
It's Not Your Burden to Refute Religion, But --
Did you notice that I haven't said one thing about what's wrong with the theological aspects of theism, the claims they make, etc? I realize that's your question, but it's not your answer! The issue is not history and textual criticism but morality, truthfulness, and the honest pursuit of knowledge with the willingness to follow Truth wherever she may lead.
Your Mom has you on the defensive and that's backwards: she is the one who is called on by her own religion to defend the faith, to be ready to give an answer to all who ask her why she believes the way she believes. Likewise, she is the one who is called upon by Logic itself to prove the truthfulness of her existential claim. (This is a claim that a thing, such as a "God," exists.)
Religion is belief; atheism is without belief. Something that is (something that exists), needs explaining if anything needs to be explained at all, and thus she must explain her belief. You don't need to explain what does not exist, which is your belief. Your belief is nonexistent, it is not a belief that no gods exist, but is an absence of a belief in gods, period.
If you do want to try to explain to her why you don't believe any more, and if you want to try to help her understand, there are plenty of resources for you on the Internet, and I'll give some to you now (and reiterate them at the end). But its more important that you understand the nature of atheism and the role that you play in the discussion of the god-question.
I discuss this role in our FAQ centerpiece, "Introduction to Activistic Atheism" ("Intro"). I also created a reasonably understandable page on the Burden of Proof based upon a book chapter by atheistic philosopher George H. Smith. It is necessary for we atheists to come to as complete of a grasp of the principle of the Burden of Proof as possible if we are to engage in discussions about the god-question. Finally, I wrote a second FAQ centerpiece piece called "Why Advocate For Individual Activists?" (with Juan De Gennaro) that tries to show why I think organized atheism gives a fallacious understanding of atheism and why I think that atheism is really nothing worthy of our attention as atheists except in the context of distinguishing ourselves from theists and in the quest to reduce the stigma and bigotry that is everywhere leveled against atheists.
(I have more on this but since the illness I've lost track of where all my notes are and will need to do a lot of work just to find them again so I can put together my third FAQ centerpiece. I will probably simply rewrite the first centerpiece, removing the religion section and inserting a segment on the Burden of Proof.)
We have Thomas Paine's Age of Reason, which very powerfully conveys the idea that Biblical Christianity is wholly degrading to the very idea of a loving, all-powerful God. Paine's message is that if there were such thing as a God (and Paine believed there is), then He would surely be offended by the picture drawn of Him in the Bible!
Joseph Lewis shows just how gratuitously pornographic the Bible gets in places. Mark Twain shows how gratuitously pornographic the very idea of "God" can get, if you let it! Emma Goldman shows how gratuitously pornographic the act of believing can become, that the more fundamentalistic religions, put into practice, often resemble violent crimes such as rape, robbery, and assault.
And that's just the moral aspects: there are Bible absurdities and contradictions from American Founding Father Thomas Paine, as well as historical contradictions, scientific problems, and on and on. The Bible is a bi-i-ig problem, as is the verifiable history of the Roman Catholic Church.
We have many, many works online, and what we have is just a drop in the bucket compared to what's out there. Our affiliate, the Internet Infidels, is a literal library of Freethought material.
(If I were healthier and not committed to doing so much work on PAM, we have, in Multnomah County, perhaps the largest collection of Freethought literature in any public library in the world: I'd go in with a laptop and scanner, or even a microfilm camera, and grab the stuff and post it so that people could read it. My dream is to become a strong enough nonprofit to allow students and others to visit Portland for a week and go spend 40 hours each just archiving this material before it disappears forever. Others could convert it to e-text, and I have some great software that makes doing that child's play.)
It's no secret that the Bible and Christianity are not telling us the truth, regardless of how much of a secret they want to make it out to be! Check our Articles Section, and check our Historical section (especially the "Miscellaneous" and "Tributes" Sections). Check out our Letters Section. Take a tour of my Monthly Editorial Columns (Alert: Slow load: Java application!), and check our our FAQ Section, which is, for the most part, a "Best Of" the Letters Section.
Your Mom will refuse to believe because what she hears is unbelievable to her ears. If she's like most religionists, she has been indoctrinated into thinking that if you aren't religious you will end up being evil. If she's a fundamentalist, she's been indoctrinated into believing that if you're not religious you will spend eternity sizzling away in the Christian Hell forever and ever, amen.
In addition, she believes that "God" will provide. To her, this means you're just going through a phase and you'll snap out of it some day, just like she did. The problem (for her) is that these are not the 1950s or 1970s (whenever she grew up) and today's culture -- especially today's youngsters, the teens, the twentysomethings -- are much closer to catching on to what happened in Europe when that entire continent renounced the Christian religion wholesale.
One of our senior partners is a student in The Netherlands, and told me that fully 64 percent of the university students in Holland wrote down "atheist" in the "Religion" space on some form they fill out for school! There are more atheists in the Dutch universities (per capita) than there are Evangelical Christians in the United States (per capita).
Meanwhile, there are two things at issue, here, and I handled them in one of the RJ letters. First, this is your family. As statistics would predict and the way friendships and relationships go these days, the family revolving around one's mother will be part of one's life for much longer than anybody else. (This is not cut-and-dried, but is a trend with many exceptions.) For this reason, I recommend being extra careful not to hurt their feelings in any way. If this means taking Mom to church now and then, what's the cost, really? If it means lying to her, that is something you'll have to decide for yourself, based upon your own values, what you can life with, etc.
The rule of thumb, here, is first to realize that people are going to hate atheists because that's how they've been trained to behave. They don't know any better and though it is possible to change most people, it takes a lot of work and the prospects of your success are dubious at best. Understanding this, we then assess just how important this or that relationship is to us, and then we behave according to how much we care whether or not this relationship endures.
As for providing "ammunition" against the god-claims of the theists, keep in mind that most people convert and deconvert based upon the emotional fluctuations that we all go through; we rarely make a decision to alter our core values based upon rhetorical arguments. And that's all they are, really, rhetoric.
We're dealing with a claim made by the theists that they themselves cannot prove to be true: it's merely worthy of their own assent, and that's all it's worth. We atheists cannot disprove any claims of this nature: it is logically impossible to disprove a claim that a thing exists. This means that the person making the claim is responsible for proving his or her case, and the one listening has no obligation to prove or disprove anything. All we as atheists can do is listen and then decide if their claims are worthy of our assent.
In my case, the answer is no, the ones I've heard have not been worthy of my assent: I have been given no reasons to believe that they are telling the truth when they make these claims. But I keep listening nonetheless, just in case my fallible brain might have missed something. That's doubtful at this stage of the game, really, since I've fielded at least five thousand individual god-claims over the years and can count on my fingers the ones that sounded realistic even at first glance!
There are several Letters listed in our Faq Section that cover some of the arguments and why I find them unsatisfactory (or why a letter-writer finds them unworthy of assent). We have some of the historical writings, such as Thomas Paine and Robert Ingersoll, both of whom have written extensively on the Christian god-claim. The Internet Infidels has many articles, most of them more modern than what we have, and you can spend a full year's worth of man-hours investigating this question just on their web site alone!
If you do have any specific questions, particularly, if you have any claims that they make that you do not have the answers to, feel free to send those in and ask us to help you out with them. We might not have the answers, but we will probably be able to show you that the theists making the claims don't have any answers either, meaning that their claim is unworthy of belief.
Thanks for writing! I hope this wasn't overwhelming for you!
Cliff Walker
Positive Atheism Magazine
Eight years of service to people
with no reason to believe


text:
Case EvaluationQualify your case in
just 5 minutes.
Legal Options
More Topics
Time Limits for Lawsuits
Lawsuits filed in the U.S. Legal System have an expiration period, or a Statute of Limitation, after which time the injured party is prohibited from filing a case. The statute of limitation is different from state to state and for each type of lawsuit, but generally ranges in time from 2 years to 6 years. Like other cases, there is an Accutane lawsuit time limit or Accutane lawsuit statute of limitations.
Statutes of Limitation are designed to guard people and companies from being exposed to lawsuits forever and to make sure valid lawsuits are filed while evidence and memories are still fresh. If you file your claim within the required time, the Statute of Limitation has no effect on your case.
In the case of Accutane lawsuits or drug injury lawsuits, the statute of limitation usually begins when a person is injured, but in some cases may not start until the injured person discovers, or should have discovered, that the drug caused their injury. This starting point varies from state to state.
If you have taken Accutane and have developed Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns Disease, it is important to speak with an attorney immediately to find out how much time you have to file a claim. Your attorney can protect your rights and preserve necessary evidence. Time to file a lawsuit for your damages is limited under any circumstance.
Even if your lawsuit has not expired, it is important to contact an Accutane attorney prior to the date your Statute of Limitations expires. If you wait to contact an attorney until a week or month before your case expires, they may not have proper time to research your case and prepare it for filing. Therefore, there is a greater risk that an attorney will not be able to take your case if you wait.


text:
[Verse 1: Snoop Dogg]
Hard times and good times… when they're mixed together
It can only make you stronger… even live a little longer
I see the Gs on the corner, holding steel, think they're real
But oh, it's only a short life…
Pennies on their eyes 'cause they won't see tomorrow
Sometimes, I wanna run away, but I'm holding on to what I feel
In this life, we don't crush no deals, back in the day
Back in the day when I used to be a mindless kid
Now I'm on that holy bid, no regrets for the things I did
It's the only way, only way, only way…
To live with no regrets…
You know you'd better live with no regrets
[Verse 2: Snoop Dogg]
You can roll up your problems, smoke 'em like a champion
You can pray for a miracle, and still nothing can happen
I ain't never been sober, and I'm a predictor of the future
But oh, it's only a short life…
Pennies on their eyes 'cause they won't see tomorrow
[Verse 3: T.I.]
15 with kingpin, kilogram dreams – money talks
You ain't talkin' money, G,? Well we ain't talkin' 'bout a damn thing
(You know) Whip it 'til it's hard, serve it to the dope fiend
(You know) Or bring me 21-5, get a whole thing
On triple-beams they weigh up
You owe me, homie? Best pay up
Don't make me raise this AK up
You and your homie get sprayed up
My lifestyle wild – he ain't got a clue
Don't let this smile fool you, bruh, this what you'd better do:
Give me my R-E-S-P-E-C-T
'Fore I leave you D-O-A, you won't need no D-O-C
About my D-O-G, I swear to G-O-D
I push that line with no regrets, I won't lose one night's sleep
Sursa & Video: http://versmuzica.ro/versuri-muzica/straina/snoop-dogg-feat-t-i-no-regrets/


text:
Pricing & Availability
Photo Gallery
Schedule A Tour
Apply Online
Resident Login
Reserve at Capital Center provides you with a convenient location, spacious apartment homes filled with an array of practical luxuries, and the attentive service of a dedicated, on-site professional management team.
The welcoming community atmosphere at our Rancho Cordova, CA apartments, along with the elegant Resident Services Center, the fully-equipped gym, sparkling pool, jet spa, and proximity to shopping, dining, recreation and the freeway offer you a quality lifestyle at an exceptional value.
Experience Reserve and discover one of the finest rental communities in Rancho Cordova.


text:
The past few months have been pretty sweet for My Chemical Romance. They've maintained an improbable reign atop the "TRL" countdown with their "Helena" video, scored four Video Music Award nominations for the clip, headlined the Warped Tour and seen sales of their Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge album surge past the 825,000 mark.
So what's left for them to do? How about launch their first-ever headlining tour.
As announced late last week, My Chemical Romance will embark on a 28-city marquee-topping tour this fall, with OGs (original goth-punks) the Alkaline Trio and jokey pop-punkers Reggie & the Full Effect as supporting acts. And while MCR's label, Reprise Records, was rather tight-lipped about additional details last week, the first batch of dates on the tour have bobbed to the surface.
The first confirmed date is September 15 at the PromoWest Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio, with an additional 15 dates confirmed thus far (the band is slated to begin a British tour on November 1).
And for MCR frontman Gerard Way, September 15 can't come fast enough. When MTV News caught up with him recently, he was literally bounding with excitement as he discussed his band's grandiose plans for its tour, details of which had only been hinted at in previous months (see "My Chemical Romance Reanimate Helena For Online Video Game" ) and in the "Helena" video itself (see "My Chemical Romance Aim For Smashing Pumpkins Status" ).
"We'd talked about bringing out dancers for our headlining tour in the fall, but it's a big undertaking; you have to have a bus full of dancers. We've always wanted to do a big theatrical tour. But you have to do it in steps," Way said. "You can't just spring it on people all at once. So we've been working on video content and lighting for the fall tour — just some stuff we've never had. And hopefully with our next U.S. tour — which might be for our next album — we'll have some real theatrical stuff."
OK, so you can't blame the band for taking baby steps: Going from battle-of-the-bands showcase at New Jersey's Starland Ballroom to arena-rock spectacle in just a few short years is kind of difficult. And besides, Way said, if you want stadium-ready tunes and theatrics, you'll just have to wait for My Chem's next album.
"We've got about eight songs written for the next record, and we love all of them. It's a reflection of the band maturing," he said. "The band knows what it does well, and it still does that, but we're taking a few risks. Some slower tempos, some heavier stuff. There's more of the arena-rock element that was hinted on with the last record."
My Chemical Romance's fall tour dates, according to Reprise:
- 9/15 – Columbus, OH @ PromoWest Pavilion
- 9/16 – Cleveland, OH @ Scene Pavilion
- 9/17 – Ypsilanti, MI @ Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center
- 9/18 – Chicago, IL @ University of Illinois at Chicago Pavillion
- 9/20 – St. Paul, MN @ Myth
- 9/21 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave/Eagles Club
- 9/22 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
- 9/23 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Nokia Live
- 9/24 – San Antonio, TX @ Sunset Station
- 9/25 – Houston, TX @ Reliant Arena at Reliant Park
- 9/27 – Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Amphitheatre
- 9/28 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA
- 9/29 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA
- 10/2 – San Jose, CA @ Event Center Arena
- 10/3 – Reno, NV @ Reno Hilton Amphitheatre
- 10/5 – Orem, UT @ McKay Events Center


text:
It is Spring break. I'll be off planet for a while. Until my return, there are some posts scheduled to appear (below this one, for a while), so stay tuned! I'll let you know about my travels when I return. Comments are suspended until I return, due to the frequency of spam. Feel free to email me comments, or save them until I return.
On this day on Asymptotia...
- When Life Hands You... - 2016
- Wormholes! - 2014
- Science Films Galore! - 2014
- Rusty - 2013
- A Snowflake on Campus - 2012
- Shiny Parts - 2011
Some Related Asymptotia Posts (not exhaustive):


text:
The mission would consist of two 270 kg satellites - an 'equatorial' spacecraft (DSP-1) to be launched from Xichang in June 2003, and a 'polar' spacecraft (DSP-2) to be launched from Taiyuan in January 2004. The satellites would be equipped with European-built instruments in a Chinese spacecraft bus. Initial interface tests on the engineering models of the European instruments took place in April 2002.
Gross mass: 270 kg (590 lb).
First Launch: 2003.12.29.
Last Launch: 2004.07.25.
Number: 2 .


text:
Saints kicker Garrett Hartley is facing a four-game suspension for undisclosed reasons, a league source confirmed.
Obviously this revelation helps explain why the Saints decided to re-sign veteran kicker John Carney -- in addition to Hartley's struggles on the field. But we're not sure what the suspension is for or whether Hartley plans to appeal.
We'll update you as soon as we learn more about the situation.


text:
Xen To Become Linux Foundation Collaborative Project
The Linux Foundation recently announced that the Xen Project is becoming a Linux Foundation Collaborative Project.
The open source Xen virtualization platform, which is designed for cloud computing, has been under development for more than a decade. And, according to the announcement, the project is looking to The Linux Foundation to be "a neutral forum for providing guidance and facilitating a collaborative network."
According to Linux Foundation Executive Director Jim Zemlin's post on Linux.com, "Xen usage continues to grow and today the project is being deployed in public IaaS environments by some of the world's largest companies." Zemlin said, "Also about a year ago, the Xen Project's former host, Citrix, started focusing on formalizing Xen's governance practices and simultaneously looking for a vendor-neutral home where it could continue to flourish." In its own statement, Citrix reiterated its commitment to the project and to advancing the technology for Xen Project-based products, including its own Citrix XenServer.
As founding members of the Collaborative Project, the following companies will contribute to and guide the Xen Project: Amazon Web Services, AMD, Bromium, Calxeda, CA Technologies, Cisco, Citrix, Google, Intel, Oracle, Samsung and Verizon. The Xen virtualization platform is licensed under the GPLv2 with a governance structure that is similar to the Linux kernel. For more information about the Xen Project, visit: http://www.xenproject.org.
Issue 188/2016
Buy this issue as a PDF
ownCloud Forked
Founder of ownCloud launches the Nextcloud project.
HP Enterprise Unveils a Futuristic Computer
Will The Machine change the way future programmers think about memory?
CoreOS Announces Distributed Storage System
The new Torus distributed storage system is available under an open source license on GitHub
Google Beats Oracle in the Android Lawsuit
Juries decides Google's use of Java APIs Was Fair Use
Linux is the Largest Software Development Project in History
But if you are not using the latest Linux kernel, your system is insecure.
Linksys Says Yes to Open Source Firmware
Home routers will give room for custom firmware but still comply with FCC rules
OwnCloud Founder Resigns
Frank Karlitschek will continue to lead the open source ownCloud project
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS released
"Xenial Xerus" comes with a new packages format and several improvements for the enterprise.
MS Visual Studio Code Editor is Available for Linux
Linux users can now download and install the Windows code editor
Open Container Initiative announces Image Format Project
New initiative will address security and interoperability concerns around container technology.


text:
This item cannot be purchased online at this time, please call us or email us for further information.
Phone: (601) 362-7257
Fax: (888)623-5670
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
The Newco International Grand Adult Glider has a classic and timeless feel and style with the tufted back and velvet soft fabric. The glider swivels and glides for maximum comfort. The poly-filled cushion back and seat create a medium soft feel for extra support and comfort .The seat back measures 29" from the top of the seat cushion to the top of the seat back. The seat cushion measures 24" x 21" and is 19.25" from the seat to the floor. The velvet polyester fabric is easy to clean with mild soap and water. Coordinating tufted ottoman available to complete the look and comfort! Ottoman sold separately. This item is proudly made in the USA!
Review / Comments Write a review
Follow us for savings
Please Visit Our Store
When in Mississippi
©2015 Cullen's PlayPen Inc.


text:
College Hockey:Atlantic Hockey picks, Oct. 5, 2012
Welcome back! It's going to be tough to replicate the tight race we witnessed last year, but with almost every AHA team improved over last season, it's going to be entertaining for sure.
The Atlantic Hockey season preview will be published Monday, but things already get underway this weekend with Niagara and Bowling Green playing the first official game of the 2012-13 season (they'll have a three hour jump on the other two NCAA games). I'm picking the Purple Eagles to win the league this season (read more on Monday) so I'm looking for them to start the season on the right foot with a home win over the Falcons. Niagara 3, Bowling Green 1
Niagara plays again on Tuesday at Colgate, and I'm looking for the Purple Eagles to open 2-0 with a road win. Niagara 2, Colgate 1.
In exhibition play against Canadian opponents this weekend, Holy Cross (Saturday) and Sacred Heart (Sunday) host St. Thomas, Wilfred Laurier is at Mercyhurst (Saturday) and Robert Morris (Sunday), Rochester Institute of Technology (Saturday) and Canisius (Sunday) host Ottawa, York University is at UConn on Saturday and Air Force will host British Columbia on Monday.
Most teams play for real beginning next weekend, including the first conference game which has Niagara (yep) hosting Mercyhurst on Oct. 13
The following is a self-policing forum for discussing views on this story. Comments that are derogatory, make personal attacks, are abusive, or contain profanity or racism will be removed at our discretion. USCHO.com is not responsible for comments posted by users. Please report any inappropriate or offensive comments by clicking the "Flag" link next to that comment in order to alert the moderator.
Please also keep "woofing," taunting, and otherwise unsportsmanlike behavior to a minimum. Your posts will more than likely be deleted, and worse yet, you reflect badly on yourself, your favorite team and your conference.


text:
I've been really struggling to find words to write about my experiences here. I want to be honest but also culturally sensitive and I'm finding it hard to strike a good balance between the two. So I've decided to say stuff it, and I'm just going to write what I see and feel, the way I always do. On that note, here are a few observations I have about this extraordinary and bizarre (to me) place.
No One Follows The Rules (although there aren't really any rules)
Indians are bad arse. They just drive around, not indicating, not head checking, not wearing seat belts. It drives me bonkers. Our beautiful guide Anillha took us around Delhi and she made me j-walk in front of a police car. I nearly had a heart attack. In about five minutes I saw a guy light a bonfire on the side of the road, I saw a group of young men playing cricket on a median strip and I saw a women BREASTFEEDING HER CHILD while riding on a motorbike with out a helmet. My Type A personality is being tested in a major way.
I'm Pretty Terrible At Avoiding Delhi Belly
I have avoided it so far but how that's happened is beyond me. I spent the whole flight here avoiding eating the salad garnishes on my plane food because any fresh vegetables are washed in water that shouldn't be consumed by foreigners. Then I get off the plane and go to change my money. Once the cashier hands me a literal wad of cash I start counting to make sure it's all there. How do I do this? BY LICKING MY FINGER, flicking through the bills and THEN DOING IT AGAIN! Loser. I'm all 'No lettuce for me thanks, it's contaminated.' and then I lick the freaking money. It's like An Idiot Abroad over here.
Men Openly Stare
And by openly I mean they film us on their phones as we are walking by. I'm not finding it that confronting it's just that I'm used to Australian men wolf whistling or making a lewd comment. Here in India it's just a strong, silent and unwavering gaze often accompanied by mobile phone. I think it's that we're a motley crew of interesting looking foreigners. It's still a little creepy though.
The Interactions Here Are Sometimes Miss-leading
There's a lot of things being said that I miss because we need a translator. Indians don't tend to nod when they agree with you, instead they sort of tilt their head which looks like a shake to us Aussies. There have been several times when I thought something really bad was happening because there was lots of head shaking going between two people speaking in Hindi but it turned out fine. I also sometimes think that arguments are happening but they are really not. The body language here is fascinating.
Indians Are Hilarious
There's nothing like laughter to break down a language barrier and I've been laughing non-stop since I got here. I've laughed almost until I've cried with total strangers. I think they're just really enjoying us enjoying them. It's very beautiful. I had a giggle with a beggar kid yesterday when he scared the pants off Eden. I laughed until my face ached on the metro this afternoon (more about that later!) and tonight when our Tuk-tuk driver earnestly asked me if he was a good driver, we both broke into hysterical fits of laughter. Indian people love to smile and laugh and it's ridiculously contagious.
Delhi is Over Populated and Over Staffed
Every where I go, there's too many staff members. When we checked into our hotel there were three people behind the counter, none of which were actually doing anything. We then got taken upstairs to our rooms by one employee while four others carried four bags up the stairs. That's one bag each. Multi-tasking isn't a very big thing over here. Neither is hurrying. No one is ever in a rush which is sometimes really pleasant and other times extremely frustrating.
I'll be back tomorrow with a more detailed account of day two. Hint: It was extraordinary.
To sponsor a child visit World Vision.
18 Comments
If you hadn't decided to say stuff it, I wouldn't have bothered to read. Looking forward to the next installment.
- Author
Thank you for that. It's really hard to write about! x
fascinating! Can't wait to read more!
- Author
I'm posting every day (that I have internet!) so stay tuned!
India looks really vibrant, which is kind of how I imagined it would look!
Look, I completely understand the whole awkwardness of not wanting to admit that certain things about the culture make you uncomfortable. When I went to Russia I was just shocked and terrified of everything and everyone for the first week!
One of the reasons I don't think I could go to India is that I think the poverty would stress me out..I remember watching Slumdog Millionaire and it just upset me so, so much I almost stopped watching it… How are you doing with eating though? Indian food is amazing, but I can only imagine eating it must be a little like playing with fire ;P
- Author
I actually admitted my dirty little secret to the group yesterday – I don't like Indian food! I'm trying to eat very mildly but all the carbs aren't doing me any favours. Craving salad so badly.
Just got back last week – Im struggling to find the words to explain, like you said.. Its a very fascinating place, and there really arent words to describe most things you see there. I found the starring quite unerving by the end… just because I had guys chase me on their bikes etc etc… cant wait to read more about your adventures. x
- Author
It's such a bizarre and wonderful place. It's hurting my brain and really stretching me.
I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like. The noise, smells, colours, chaos and sheer in your face madness. I would love to be able to go as the people look wonderful but am unable to risk Delhi Beli due to a medical condition. Laughed my head off at the money counting. That is so me. Now break out the pashmina and use it as a barrier against all those germs! Stay Well x (Lynette…my Google + name is my nom de plume!)
- Author
Ha! I JUST bought a pashmina. Knew it would come in handy!
I understand your misgivings about being honest, but truly, you did perfectly fine! Just being stared at is enough to upset me, let alone seeing extreme poverty or being grabbed by strange little hands… I do get it intellectually, but I feel India would be far too great a sensory and sensitivity assault for me. I know I'm terribly wussy and boring but I don't know if I'lI ever do it! Go you girls!
- Author
Such a relief! It's EXTREMELY sensory. More so than I thought it would be and even worse now we are covering rural poverty.
I'm loving every word from you girls – not the mention the amazing pictures. Hanging on until the next post xx
- Author
Thank you! Glad everyone is enjoying it!
Hehehe despite being from India myself I know all of this all too well because I'm exactly like you (considered a foreigner). India is one of those places that gets under your skin – you end up hating it or loving it. 🙂
Warned you about the guys – it's a huge problem there given the sheer volume of men on the streets. Stare back – don't be afraid because they rely on women there being silent and 'used' to it (Horrendously called 'eve-teasing'). Be wary of men in crowded spaces – some will try and cop a feel – I used to keep a safety pin on me for that purpose 😀
I just watched The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel last night which reminded me of you guys there in India – glad to see you're having fun tho!
It's those cultural values and cues that we take for granted here. I can imagine its a lot to take in.
[…] Australian blogger is visiting India for World Vision. Follow her week: Day 1, Day 2, Day […]
[…] Australian blogger is visiting India for World Vision. Follow her week: Day 1, Day 2, Day […]


text:
X Factor Reveals Shocking Top Three Finalists After MAJOR Upset!
"X Factor" revealed its Top 3 on Thursday, and along with it came the biggest upset of the season so far.
For the first time this season, the judges had no say in the results and, instead, the finalists who will compete in next week's finale were chosen solely based on viewers' votes.
So, which of the four remaining acts amazingly fell just short in their quest for music stardom?
RELATED – L.A. Reid: I'm Leaving "X Factor"
Emblem3 (Simon Cowell's team) was the act heartbreakingly — and shockingly — eliminated, despite one of the presumed frontrunners for most of the season.
That means Carly Rose Sonenclar, Tate Stevens and, most surprisingly, Fifth Harmony will face-off next week in hopes of scoring that $5 million prize.
Who are YOU rooting for?
Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!
Like us on Facebook!


text:
North Georgetown Elementary School's Rising Stars drama club held its inaugural performance Friday at Sussex Central High School.
Led by third grade teacher Sarah Layfield, the Rising Starts performed a 13-skit show that the first-year drama club rehearsed after school for several weeks.
This spring, North Georgetown will offer a mini-drama camp for students in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2.
Among the Rising Star members who performed Friday were (front row, left to right) Ethan Rakes, Jacqueline Mazariegos-Lopez and Kylie Murray; (second row, left to right) Kenny Perez, Erin Farley, Erin Kay, Corey Agresta, Sarah Elliott and Alex Rakes; (third row, left to right) Jessica Manson, Jessica Lopez-Perez, Bethany Perdue, Rebekah Smith, Andrea Lopez, Rylee Pettyjohn and Emily Gutierrez; (back row, left to right) Mya Jones, Margaret Vazquez, Austin Joseph, Madison Jefferson, Ben Justice, Isabelkla Walters, Liberty Hanzer and Abby Slater.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Kurt Rosenwinkel: Chords
Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar)
The Remedy: Live at the Village Vanguard (ArtistShare 0077)
Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar), Mark Turner (tenor sax), Aaron Goldberg (piano), Joe Martin (bass), Eric Harland (drums).
Composed by Kurt Rosenwinkel.
Recorded: The Village Vanguard, New York, January 2006
Rating: 87/100 (learn more)
Rosenwinkel's debut release on ArtistShare finds him stretching out at length – two CDs comprised of just eight tracks total – in live performance at the Village Vanguard. He opens with "Chords," 16 minutes of high-energy jazz fueled by a rhythm section that supplies creative tension without firmly committing to either 6/8 or 4/4. Occasionally the players blend together, but more often they counter each other's moves in a series of engaging musical gambits. The composition is almost an "All Blues" from an alternative universe, reminding me of Miles even with the opening piano vamp and floating turnaround, but with everything topsy-turvy. Moods shift, textures change, rhythmic currents diverge. The jazz tradition haunts this track like a ghost hidden in the attic. Meanwhile Rosenwinkel presides above it all, with that new way of phrasing so popular with the current generation, the digital world replacing the analog, where you hit each note dead-center and send it flying out of the ballpark – pop, pop, pop! Pay attention to this release: it will give you a taste of the jazz zeitgeist of the moment.
Reviewer: Ted Gioia
If you liked this track, also check out
Related Links
- In Conversation with Kurt Rosenwinkel by Ted Panken
- Kurt Rosenwinkel Live by Tim Wilkins
Tags: 2000s jazz · guitar · village vanguard
Comments are closed.


text:
Scratchbuilt Victory -class Star Destroyer
Victory-class Star Destroyer is another vessel not seen in movies. It is predecessor of Imperial Star Destroyer, is 900 m long and has seen it's best years during the old republic. Although it's too slow to be too effective in ship-to-ship -combat, it still excels in one area: It is still the largest ship able to enter a planet's atmosphere. Combined with it's heavy weaponry, this attribute makes it excellent ground assault craft.
Self-made dragon decoration
While originally designed to be a self-made miniature, arrival of D&D minis retired this fun experiment; The scales are made of glossy glitter pieces, which makes it look really special :)
The dragon is built on a wire frame, using a sort of modelling clay for body and paper meant for those super-light balsa-wood airplanes for wings.
Star Wars exterior gaming terrain + Lambda -class shuttle
Steampunk diorama created from scratchbuilt gaming terrain
Steampunk interior models - a closer look
In my earlier post ( Steampunk diorama ), I promised to introduce these steampunk terrain items to you, so here we go.


text:
My dr said to ask as many woman as possible any question I can come up with. To help me make the decision to go through with this or not. To see how I feel about it after hearing the anwers to all my questions. Please do not judge or lecture me as to why or why I shouldn't have this done. Just please answer the questions. I will be posting this on my other birth boards as well. Thanks in advance!
How old were you when you had your tubes tied? How many kids did you have? Do you regret having it done? Has it affected your sex drive? Has it affected or caused depression to be worse? How do you cope/mourn the loss of being able to bear children? Was your DH completely on board or left the decision "up to you"? If given the chance to reverse the surgery, would you? If you've had the surgery reversed, why? Did you go on to have to have a hysterectomy? How long until you were fully recovered? Did you feel like you were forced/presured one way or the other to have the surgery done?


text:
Happy Thanksgiving, Fam! I hope everyone is taking this time to enjoy family and friends and especially good food! Here at Katori's Kitchen, I wanted to share a remix on a down-home Southern Thanksgiving favorite–the sweet potato pie.
I don't know about y'all, but though TDay can be amazing, every year it's often the start to a 5-7 pound weight gain for me that rolls through Christmas straight into the New Year. And since my New Year's resolution this year is NOT to make any resolutions (i.e. the #1 rez LOSE WEIGHT!), I've decided to be proactive and create a healthier version of a dish I can't do without. I'm calling it Agave Sweet Potato Pie.
Instead of using an entire cup of brown sugar, I've reduced it to 1/4 and replaced the rest with 1/2 cup of blue agave sweetener (473 calories). Though together with the reduced brown sugar amount, the calorie count equals 682 only 200 calories less than 1 cup of brown sugar, the agave is definitely a healthier substitute. With its low glycemic index, it's a much safer dessert for family members dealing with diseases like diabetes or hyperglycemia. Cutting out the half stick of butter knocks out another 400 calories. Replacing whole milk with low-fat Carnation cooking milk knocks out 5 grams of fat. My usual pie serving is 410 calories with 18 grams of fat. This one? 330 calories and 12 grams of fat. Hey, every bit counts 😉
:: Agave Sweet Potato Pie ::
3 medium sized sweet potatoes (boiled till soft)
1/2 cup of blue agave sweetener
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of baking powder
2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 cup of evaporated lowfat milk
1 9″ inch deep dish pie crust
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2) Remove skins from boiled sweet potatoes
3) Mix sweet potatoes, adding the blue agave sweetener, eggs, baking powder, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, ground nutmeg, cinnamon, and evaporated lowfat milk. Electronic hand mixers are amazing, y'all!!
4) Pour mixture into an oven-warmed pie crust
5) Cook for 40 minutes.
6 ) Serves 8. Enjoy!!
Photography :: SCOOP PIXELS


text:
NASCAR popularity hits the wall in mainstream media
You don't have to own the greatest memory to remember when NASCAR was in full boom. Just last decade, the race world was raging. Its television deal was 40 percent fatter than its previous contract. Racetrack owners were adding seats to their grandstands. Sponsors couldn't wait to have their logos affixed to a bumper or driver. Cities like Chicago and Vegas were hosting events. Toyota was joining the American automakers as a producer of cars. NASCAR had graduated from a regional concern, born of bootlegging, to an international phenomenon.
Los Angeles Times writer Jim Peltz hypothesized that NASCAR reached its apex in July 2006, when the Will Ferrell movie, "Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby", hit screens nationwide. Sure, it took huge shots at the race culture, but it was a feature film about stock cars, and it was hugely popular. It seemed as if hockey had been replaced in the "big four" of American sporting culture by 200-mph billboards that couldn't stop making left turns. As Peltz said, the term "NASCAR dad" crept into the political lexicon as a counter to "soccer mom" and as a coveted demographic for candidates to chase.
Ah, those were the days.
And there was no way they could last. They just couldn't. NASCAR had always been something of a niche sport, and as the newfound allure of the shiny cars and good ol' boys' rivalries dimmed, the numbers started to drop, abetted by the recession and racing's inherent limitations (monotony, too-long broadcasts, lack of marketable stars, etc.). Last week came the news that TV ratings for the first 13 races of the 2012 season were down four percent from last year. Only two of the races had increased viewership from their '11 counterparts, while five had double-digit drops. The coveted 18-to-34 male demographic was down to a 1.4 rating, from 1.8 in '11. And while major media outlets continued to cover the championship pursuit each week, there was little of the breathless attention that characterized the NASCAR climate in the middle of last decade.
It's possible to blame the economy, the ennui created by bland Jimmie Johnson's five straight Cup titles and a sense that pit-row confrontations involving drivers were somehow contrived for the drop in interest, but NASCAR just didn't have the legs. Before the 2011 season, I wrote an article for Sporting News' NASCAR preview magazine addressing the problems. No one within the racing organization made an effort to dodge the issue, instead choosing to talk about re-engaging the core fan and providing new technologies to help younger fans delve deeper into the statistical whys and wherefores of the competition. Race start times were changed to accommodate traditional NASCAR supporters, who used to head out for church Sunday mornings and head home for lunch and a 1 pm green flag.
Despite those well-intentioned and logical efforts, NASCAR continues to struggle. Attendance at those puffed-up speedways is down, and TV ratings continue to fall. Sponsors aren't as enthusiastic with their marketing dollars as they were seven-to-10 years ago. And media outlets are back to treating NASCAR as a secondary sport.
Frankly, that's not out of bounds. NASCAR always was a niche pursuit, and its swollen popularity was not organic; rather the result of a shrewd marketing approach by Bill France, Jr., who sensed that it was possible to create a worldwide brand. He was right – to an extent. Although NASCAR tied up an eight-year, $4.5 billion TV contract with Fox, Turner and ESPN that runs through 2014, it wasn't able to sustain its growth. Why should it? Even though NASCAR runs events in Dover, Del., and Long Pond, Penn., the metropolitan areas within a couple hours' drive of those sites are not racing hotbeds. Yes, there are race fans in the Philadelphia area, but you won't find too many folks at Geno's Steaks talking about the Chase for the Cup while the Eagles are playing ball. What was once a shiny new toy has lost its allure and returned to its previous status as an entertainment option with a somewhat narrow appeal.
This is not an obituary for NASCAR. Nor is it a call for media to ignore it. Rather, this is an acknowledgement that in a sporting landscape that is more competitive than ever, NASCAR has dropped back into the pack and is trailing football, baseball and basketball by a larger margin than it had been seven years ago. But it's still in much better shape than it was two decades ago. And contrast NASCAR's national status with its southern-fried personality in the 1960s and '70s.
Like golf, tennis, soccer and hockey, NASCAR has its place on the continuum, but it isn't an all-the-time thing. There will be moments that attract national attention, like a particularly exciting season-ending Cup competition or a burgeoning rivalry between a pair of drivers. But asking media to devote added space and time to something that is losing traction isn't right or reasonable. NASCAR will remain stronger than it was in the distant past, but it's unlikely it will rise to mid-2000s levels again.
No matter what Will Ferrell does.
Michael Bradley is a writer, broadcaster and teacher headquartered in suburban Philadelphia. His written work has appeared in Sporting News, ESPN the Magazine, Athlon Sports, Hoop and Slam, among others. He is a host on 97.5 the Fanatic in Philadelphia and contributes analysis for Yahoo! Sports Radio and Sirius Mad Dog Radio. He appears on CSNPhilly.com, writes a weekly column on Philadelphia Magazine's "Philly Post" and has authored 26 books. He teaches sports journalism at Saint Joseph's, Villanova and Neumann Universities.