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After considerable thought, Thomson described and sketched out a design of an eagle rising with a 13-striped shield on its chest. In its feet it clutched an olive branch and arrows. In its bill, the eagle held a scroll with the words "E Pluribus Unum" on it. This design was selected. The original eagle sketch was not great; the eagle looked a bit chicken-like and had droopy wings. Fortunately, the artwork was improved so the eagle's wings stretched upward. The die for the Great Seal was made.
Although you have probably heard that Ben Franklin argued for the Wild Turkey to be the symbol of the United States, he did so after the Bald Eagle had been chosen. In a letter to his daughter in 1784, he wrote that the Bald Eagle is "a Bird of bad moral Character" and that it did not get its living honestly, preferring to steal fish from the Osprey. Franklin went on to write that the turkey is "a much more respectable Bird" and therefore a better representative of our country.
But the Bald Eagle had won, and we have had the eagle as our emblem since 1782. I think most Americans are quite happy with that. Nonetheless, Oberholser, in his The Bird Life of Texas (1971), noted that ever since that year, "Americans have been doing their best to exterminate both the winner and the runner-up."
The Wild Turkey was hunted without regulation well into the 1900s. Its numbers were reduced drastically by hunting and by severe habitat loss. However, by the middle of the century, active restoration projects were in place for the turkey.
Likewise, a federal law giving "complete protection" to the Bald Eagle was passed in 1940. Unfortunately, the law was widely ignored. Eagles were routinely shot and trapped on the off chance that one might kill a chicken or attack livestock.
Just when people were coming around to the idea of protecting the Bald Eagle, in the 1950s, another factor came into play. Pesticide usage was soaring. DDT, in particular, was piling up in our waters. Fish stored the DDT (as DDE) in their fatty tissues. Animals eating the fish concentrated the pesticide in their tissues. Predators, at the top of the food chain, had the highest concentrations.
High levels of DDE interfere with reproduction, especially in birds. The DDE damaged egg production in many species. Bald Eagles affected by the chemical begin laying defective, thin-shelled eggs. These weak eggs were crushed by the incubating adult. No offspring meant that the population plummeted. Southern Bald Eagles were so reduced in numbers that, by 1971, there were only four nests in the state of Texas.
In other words, they were almost gone.
It took a ban on DDT, habitat restoration, public sympathy and even captive breeding programs to bring back the Bald Eagle. Perhaps also, the damming of many of the rivers in Texas helped. The newly-formed lakes provided prime habitat for Bald Eagles. Not only were there lots of fish for the birds to feed on, nesting spots were abundant. Large trees and cliffs ringed the lakes.
Aerial surveys of the trees surrounding Texas lakes were begun in 1981. Flying just below the tree tops, in and out of coves, and along limestone cliffs, required intrepid pilots and sturdy observers. It was not easy work. Many of those observers, if they could stand the conditions on the surveys, would have been great candidates for the astronaut program! These surveys documented a rise in the number of nesting Bald Eagles. Year by year, there were more of the birds breeding in Texas. Gradually, the breeding range of Bald Eagles inched further and further southward.
In the fall of 2011, a pair of Bald Eagles flew over the residence of Joel and Vicki Simon, who live on the shores of Lake Corpus Christi. The Simons watched the birds and soon a nest was discovered. It could hardly be overlooked. It was massive! Eagle nests are six feet across and more than three feet deep. It was situated in a tall oak near the north end of the lake on private land. This big nest was big news for birders!
The eagles were nesting again in South Texas. This nest was in Live Oak County. Some biologists say this is the southernmost Bald Eagle nest ever in the state of Texas. Certainly, it is the first in more than 50 years.
Sadly, this Live Oak County nesting failed in early February 2012. A freak storm with high winds and hail came through. The parent birds were startled off the nest, and the eggs (or tiny chicks) were killed. The eagles abandoned the nest and were not seen again.
That is, not until early October of 2012. The Simons first saw an eagle perched near the old nest. A week later, a second eagle arrived. Eagles mate for life and, year after year, return to the same nest. They spruce up the nest with a few new sticks and start again. It seems we again have Bald Eagles nesting in Live Oak County!
So far, everything is going well for the eagle family. As of this week, at least one healthy chick is being fed regularly by the parents. Joel Simon thinks from the amount of fish being brought to the nest, that there are actually two chicks! Wouldn't it be great if two eaglets fledged this spring?


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Am I the only one who misses the old days? It's no secret that I'm a fan of all things technological, yet (considering the last few days) I now see that my dependence on an electronic connection to the world-at-large has rendered me all but helpless when unforeseen events cause it to crash. I thought I had grasped this during Hurricane Sandy, but that disaster affected millions and I took some small comfort knowing that I was not alone.
With Sandy behind us, I blithely went on about my business until last week, when a snowplow inadvertently severed my lifeline. In an instant, I was hurled backward in the time machine, and left without a phone, a television signal and (oh, the horror!) my beloved Internet connection.
I wasn't home when it happened, but doubt that would have made any difference. My "service" provider had me under its spell with a bundle I purchased when I took up residence at Green Acres. It did seem like the most economical choice at the time, but I hadn't considered how a plow could, in a domino effect, cause such an epic failure that left no back-up system in place. Okay, then. First on the list was notifying said "service" provider, who expressed horror at my plight and promised to "get right on it!" Frighteningly, without my computer humming, I was clueless about my schedule and began frantically riffling through loose scraps of paper to find notes I may have jotted down before my electronic existence ceased. Since I had been promised that my problem would be attended to "immediately," I cancelled my plans for the day (via a quick trip to a friend's phone) and sat back, waiting for the rescue troops to arrive.
Unconcerned about the future, I made notes, using old-fashioned pen and paper. Remembering that I had a commitment to appear at the seventh annual "Thunder Blood Bowl" (www.crmcny.org [2]) on the 24th, I scribbled away. Checking a post-it I had attached to a mirror (where I would be sure to see it), I noticed that the event is heralded as "one of the largest blood donor drives held in Sullivan and surrounding counties" and that while Dharma and I would be representing The River Reporter, Thunder 102 (www.thunder102.com [3]) would be sponsoring the drive at the Monticello Casino & Raceway along with the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org [4]).
Noticing that several hours had elapsed with no repair truck in sight, I glanced at my watch as a mild sense of urgency approached. "I can't miss 'American Idol!'" I shrieked at the dog and wondered why I had not mastered the art of smoke signals while at Camp Arrowhead, lo those many years ago. Promises notwithstanding, seven o'clock came and went and the sun set on another day without cable. Like an idiot, I checked the phone line, which was (duh) still dead, and revved up the truck, determined to find a television signal and my precious vocal contest, which I (sigh) can't live without.
Ensconced on someone else's couch, trusty iPad in my lap, I surfed. I read my email and updated my status on Facebook. "I'm experiencing a nightmare," I wrote, "and am unplugged, up the creek without a paddle. If you need to reach me, you can't." I typed and turned my attention to someone wearing a fright wig and singing the 'Star Spangled Banner' while twirling a baton.
Before taking my leave, I checked in with the folks responsible for my line repair, and informed them that no one had shown up. "I'm sorry to hear that, sir," said the operator (who is based in Queens, NY), "but I see here that your account has been 'red-flagged' and that help is on the way. They'll be there tomorrow for sure."
Friday came and went. After another promise, Saturday bit the dust.
"No service on Sunday," chirped the operator from Middletown, "and Monday is a holiday, so I'm afraid you're out of luck." Having noted that I was due to join the Yarnslingers (like 'em on Facebook) at Café Devine (them, too) in Callicoon on the 27th, I figured that I still had plenty of time to tweak the piece I would be reading and made note that "Be Mine Forever" was coming up at the Alliance Gallery in Narrowsburg (www.artsalliancesite.org [5]) on the 26th.
This annual ode to love, which pairs poetry and photography, is a perennial favorite and is on my list, along with the "Look Twice" exhibit ongoing in Livingston Manor (www.catskillartsociety.org [6]). Day five. No phone, no net, no TV, not a single luxury.
Today, I'm sanguine (look it up!), while jonesing for entertainment. Guess I'll pretend it's the Dark Ages and I might actually read a book, but I'm not making any promises.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Horse Judging Team placed 122nd and is composed of Dalton Brown, Courtney Myers and Travis Anzaldua.
Myers led the team with a score of 305.
The Meat Judging Team, composed of HC Neel, Derek Ressman, Dalton Brown, Anthony McGuill, and Jared Skrobarcek placed 38th.
HC led the team and placed 89th.
Kodye Neel competed in the Beef Skillathon at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Kodye placed 4th in the intermediate division. HC placed 19th in the Senior division.


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Corporate artful dodgersJuly 29,2014In recent decisions, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court has made clear its view that corporations are people, with all the attendant rights. They are entitled to free speech, which in their case means spending lots of money to bend the political process to their ends. They are entitled to religious beliefs, including those that mean denying benefits to their workers. Up next, the right to bear arms?
There is, however, one big difference between corporate persons and the likes of you and me: On current trends, were heading toward a world in which only the human people pay taxes.
Were not quite there yet: The federal government still gets a tenth of its revenue from corporate profits taxation. But it used to get a lot more a third of revenue came from profits taxes in the early 1950s, a quarter or more well into the 1960s. Part of the decline since then reflects a fall in the tax rate, but mainly it reflects ever-more-aggressive corporate tax avoidance avoidance that politicians have done little to prevent.
Which brings us to the tax-avoidance strategy du jour: inversion. This refers to a legal maneuver in which a company declares that its U.S. operations are owned by its foreign subsidiary, not the other way around, and uses this role reversal to shift reported profits out of American jurisdiction to someplace with a lower tax rate.
The most important thing to understand about inversion is that it does not in any meaningful sense involve American business moving overseas. Consider the case of Walgreen, the giant drugstore chain that, according to multiple reports, is on the verge of making itself legally Swiss. If the plan goes through, nothing about the business will change; your local pharmacy wont close and reopen in Zurich. It will be a purely paper transaction but it will deprive the U.S. government of several billion dollars in revenue that you, the taxpayer, will have to make up one way or another.
Does this mean President Barack Obama is wrong to describe companies engaging in inversion as corporate deserters? Not really theyre shirking their civic duty, and it doesnt matter whether they literally move abroad or not. But apologists for inversion, who tend to claim that high taxes are driving businesses out of America, are indeed talking nonsense. These businesses arent moving production or jobs overseas and theyre still earning their profits right here in the USA. All theyre doing is dodging taxes on those profits.
And Congress could crack down on this tax dodge its already illegal for a company to claim that its legal domicile is someplace where it has little real business, and tightening the criteria for declaring a company non-American could block many of the inversions now taking place. So is there any reason not to stop this gratuitous loss of revenue? No.
Opponents of a crackdown on inversion typically argue that instead of closing loopholes we should reform the whole system by which we tax profits, and maybe stop taxing profits altogether. They also tend to argue that taxing corporate profits hurts investment and job creation. But these are very bad arguments against ending the practice of inversion.
First of all, there are some good reasons to tax profits. In general, U.S. taxes favor unearned income from capital over earned income from wages; the corporate tax helps redress this imbalance. We could, in principle, maintain taxes on unearned income if we offset cuts in corporate taxes with substantially higher tax rates on income from capital gains and dividends but this would be an imperfect fix, and in any case, given the state of our politics, this just isnt going to happen.
Furthermore, ending profits taxation would greatly increase the power of corporate executives. Is this really something we want to do?
As for reforming the system: Yes, that would be a good idea. But the case for eventual reform basically has nothing to do with the case for closing the inversion loophole right now. After all, there are big debates about the shape of reform, debates that would take years to resolve even if we didnt have a Republican Party that reliably opposes anything the president proposes, even if it was something Republicans were for just a few years ago. Why let corporations avoid paying their fair share for years, while we wait for the logjam to break?
Finally, none of this has anything to do with investment and job creation. If and when Walgreen changes its citizenship, it will get to keep more of its profits but it will have no incentive to invest those extra profits in its U.S. operations.
So this should be easy. By all means lets have a debate about how and how much to tax profits. Meanwhile, however, lets close this outrageous loophole.
Paul Krugman is a columnist for The New York Times.MORE IN CommentarySure, you can buy your uncle a necktie that he wont wear, or your niece an Amazon certificate... Full StoryA lot of serious long-term national issues simply werent addressed in the recent national election. Full StoryI have written on the anomaly of the separation of the private and public sectors in our society,... Full Story
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Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Mauritania
|Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in [[{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Mauritania| |6}} {{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Mauritania| |7}} {{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Mauritania| |8}}]]
|As a Peace Corps Volunteers, you will have to adapt to conditions that may be dramatically different than you have ever experienced and modify lifestyle practices that you now take for granted. Even the most basic practices— talking, eating, using the bathroom, and sleeping — may take significantly different forms in the context of the host country. If you successfully adapt and integrate, you will in return be rewarded with a deep understanding of a new culture, the establishment of new and potentially lifelong relationships, and a profound sense of humanity.
| See also:
Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyles by Country
Pre-Departure Checklist
For information see Welcomebooks
|[[Image:Flag_of_{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Mauritania| |6}}{{#if:{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Mauritania| |7}}|_{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Mauritania| |7}}|}}{{#if:{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Mauritania| |8}}|_{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Mauritania| |8}}|}}.svg|100px|none]]
- 1 Communications
- 2 Mail
- 3 Telephones
- 4 Computer, Internet, and E-mail Access
- 5 Housing and Site Location
- 6 Living Allowance and Money Management
- 7 Food and Diet
- 8 Transportation
- 9 Geography and Climate
- 10 Social Activities
- 11 Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior
- 12 Personal Safety
- 13 Rewards and Frustrations
Few countries in the world offer the level of mail service we consider normal in the United States. If you come here expecting U.S. standards, you will be in for a lot of frustration. Mail takes a minimum of two weeks to arrive in Mauritania. Some mail may simply not arrive, and some letters may arrive pre-opened or with clipped edges because someone has tried to see if any money was inside (this is rare, but it does happen). Although we do not want to sound too discouraging, communication can become a very sensitive issue when one is thousands of miles from family and friends. We think it is best to forewarn you about the reality of mail service in this part of the world. Advise your family and friends to number their letters and to write "West Africa," "Airmail," and "Par Avion" on the envelopes.
Despite the potential delays, we strongly encourage you to write to your family regularly (perhaps weekly or biweekly) and to number your letters. Family members typically become worried when they do not hear from you, so advise them that mail is sporadic and that they should not worry if they do not receive your letters regularly.
Sending letters and packages by airmail is always quicker and more reliable than surface mail (usually sent by boat), which has been known to show up years later!
People visiting in the U.S. can carry mail back and put them in a mailbox when they arrive. This is usually quicker and more secure than relying on MauriPost. If you want to send mail this way, bring plenty of U.S. postage stamps with you so that letters are ready to mail upon arrival in the U.S.
Your address during training will be:
"Your Name," PCT
Corps de la Paix
Nouakchott, Mauritania
West Africa
Although you will not be in Nouakchott during training, your mail will be brought to you at the training site. Once you have become a Volunteer and are at your site, you may have your mail sent directly to your address there.
While local telephone service is becoming more widely available inside Mauritania, it is still a bit unreliable. Generally, long-distance service to Europe and North America is good but expensive. You, your family, and friends should be prepared to rely mostly on letters and e-mail for communication.
More and more professional Mauritanians are using cellular phones, especially in the capital and larger towns, and they all subscribe to one of the two cellular companies in the country. It is highly unlikely that a cellular plan bought in the United States will cover Mauritania and the surrounding region, with or without roaming charges. Therefore, we strongly discourage you from bringing your phone along. You may want to purchase a cellphone once you are in-country. One advantage you have here is that it costs you nothing to receive a call on your cellphone (local or international).
Computer, Internet, and E-mail Access
E-mail is available in Nouakchott and in all regional capitals. Because you will probably have limited access (Volunteers average a visit to the capital once every month), one option is to arrange for Volunteer friends posted in sites with Internet access to print out and send you your e-mail. Most Volunteers set up a Yahoo, gMail, or Hotmail account before leaving home, giving the e-mail address to friends and family. There is access to the Internet in Mauritania through commercial outlets in Nouakchott and most regional capitals. Some governmental organizations in the regional capitals may also have Internet access and usually are willing to let Volunteers check their e-mail. DSL Internet service is currently available in two of Peace Corps/Mauritania's 10 regional satellite offices. It is expected that high-speed Internet service will continue to expand to the regional capitals.
Housing and Site Location
Peace Corps/Mauritania will provide Volunteers with funds to secure safe and adequate housing in accordance with the Peace Corps' site selection criteria (see the chapter on Health Care and Safety for further information). Housing may range from a one-room hut with no electricity or running water to a larger house with several rooms, running water, and electricity. The Peace Corps will pay for any necessary security and hygiene improvements, including a water filter.
Peace Corps/Mauritania asks host communities and agency sponsors to provide Volunteers with housing that includes a private bedroom and bath/latrine facilities. You may share a compound or a house with a host family, but the Peace Corps will ensure that you have at least one room to yourself.
Unless you are posted to a regional capital, you will most likely not have running water or electricity. This means that you may collect your water from a well or a borehole and spend your evenings reading by candle, lantern, or flashlight. You will need to be very flexible in your housing expectations as there are no guarantees of available (or continuous) electricity or water.
Living Allowance and Money Management
As a Volunteer in Mauritania, you will receive four types of allowances.
The Peace Corps gives you an allowance to cover your basic living expenses. This living allowance is reviewed at least once a year through a survey of Volunteer expenses to ensure that it is adequate. Paid in local currency every quarter, it ranges from the equivalent of $140 to $396 a month. The allowance is intended to cover your food, rent, utilities, household supplies, clothing, recreation and entertainment, transportation, reading materials, and other incidentals. You might find that you receive more remuneration than your host-country counterpart or supervisor does.
A vacation allowance of $24 per month is paid in ouguiya. It is automatically included in the quarterly deposit to your bank account.
You will also receive a one-time settling-in allowance of roughly $290, paid in local currency at the end of pre-service training, to buy basic household items for your eventual site.
If the Peace Corps requires you to travel, you will be given additional money for transportation and meals. This amount is established by the post based on the current cost of transportation and lodging.
Most Volunteers find they can live comfortably in Mauritania with these four allowances, although many Volunteers bring money (cash or traveler's checks) for out-of-country travel. All Volunteers are strongly discouraged from supplementing their income with money brought from home. The living allowance is adequate, and Volunteers are expected to live at the economic level of their neighbors and colleagues.
Credit cards can be used at only a couple of establishments in the capital, but are very handy during vacations and for travel outside of Mauritania (as are ATM cards). Volunteers have found that bringing new $100 bills brings the best exchange rate when changing money. For safekeeping, Volunteers can store money, personal passports, and other valuables in the Peace Corps safe in Nouakchott. However, the Peace Corps' liability for stored items is limited, so consider your decision to bring valuables carefully.
Food and Diet
Volunteers often struggle when adjusting to the Mauritanian diet. The typical Mauritanian family eats either rice and meat or rice and fish for lunch (depending on proximity to the river or ocean) and couscous and meat, pasta and meat, or couscous with bean sauce for dinner. The abundance of vegetables in the Mauritanian diet varies according to the season and each family's cooking habits. Given that meals in Mauritania tend to be very starchy and oily (meats are almost always cooked in oil), many female Volunteers experience weight gain during their two years of service. Conversely, male Volunteers often find keeping weight on to be a challenge.
Vegetarian Volunteers sometimes have difficulty maintaining a meat-free diet in Mauritania. Very few local dishes are served without meat, and it is often difficult to find alternative sources of protein. However, meeting dietary challenges is almost always possible if Volunteers are willing to be resourceful and flexible. Cooking for yourself is always an option but will cause you to miss out on the Mauritanian family experience. In the case of being invited to share a meal with a Mauritanian family, you will find that your host can be very accommodating if you explain any restrictions when you are invited to their home.
Getting around Mauritania can be challenging. Taxis (taxis brousses) are the main modes of travel among towns and often entail squeezing into a Peugeot 504 with eight or nine other people or sitting on top of luggage in the back of a pickup truck with 20 other people. Driving anywhere long distance is likely to entail rumbling along sandy roads through the desert. If you are required to travel for work or medical reasons, the Peace Corps will reimburse your travel costs. Some Volunteers use their settling-in allowance to purchase bicycles. Peace Corps/Mauritania provides helmets to Volunteers and they are required to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. For your safety, Peace Corps/Mauritania prohibits Volunteers from driving or riding on any two- or three-wheeled motorized vehicle (such as a motorcycle) for any reason. In addition, Volunteers are not allowed to own or drive private cars in Mauritania. Violation of any of these policies may result in termination of your Volunteer service.
Geography and Climate
Mauritania is situated on the Atlantic Ocean in northwest Africa. It is bounded on the northeast by Algeria, on the east by Mali, and on the south by Senegal. Mauritania also shares a long border with the former Spanish Sahara, control of which is contested by Morocco and an insurgent movement, the Polisario, supported principally by Algeria. The northern five-sixths of Mauritania is desert—for the most part uninhabited (the region known as El Majabaat Koubra). The majority of Mauritania's interior population lives in the narrow strip of Sahel and savanna that sits between the Senegal River and the Sahara Desert. This area of the country generally gets more rain and is a bit cooler, if more humid. A narrow strip of savanna near the Senegal River that is used for the majority of Mauritania's agricultural initiatives quickly gives way to the more sparsely vegetated Sahel. Farther north is the Sahara Desert, which stretches to Mauritania's northern and eastern borders.
Mauritania has three main seasons: the hot season from April to July, the rainy season from August to November, and the cold season from December to March. Keep in mind that hot, cold, and rainy are relative terms and that seasons probably do not vary as much as the ones you are used to in the United States.
Social Activities
Social activities will vary depending on where you are located and may include taking part in local ceremonies like weddings or baptisms, storytelling, and parties and dances. Some Volunteers visit nearby Volunteers during the weekends or make an occasional trip to the capital, although it is expected that Volunteers will remain at their sites to accomplish the second Peace Corps goal of cultural exchange.
Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior
One of the difficulties of finding your place as a Peace Corps Volunteer is fitting into the local culture while maintaining your own cultural identity and presenting yourself as a professional at the same time. It is not an easy thing to resolve, and we can only provide you with guidelines. You will be assigned to a Mauritanian government ministry, and you are expected to dress and behave as your colleagues do. While some of your counterparts may dress in seemingly worn or shabby clothes, this is because of economics rather than choice. The likelihood is that they are wearing their "best." A foreigner wearing shabby, unmended clothing is likely to be considered an affront.
Peace Corps/Mauritania has instituted the following dress code, required for the Nouakchott office, the Kaédi training center, and other official functions. Peace Corps/Mauritania requires for office-type work assignments that men wear collared shirts and pants. Pants on women are appropriate, but they should be worn with shirts that hang to mid-thigh. Ankle-length skirts (not simple wraps), long dresses that cover the shoulders, mulafas (full-length veils worn by Moor women), or boubous (robes worn by local men or women) that go to the ankles are also appropriate. As temperatures are usually quite high, buying clothing that is mostly or all cotton is highly recommended. Volunteers can wear any kind of shoes or sandals (with or without socks) except plastic shower flip-flops. As you will be walking a great deal (mostly in sand), sturdy sandals that can easily be removed are highly recommended. Clothes should always be clean, not unduly wrinkled, and free of tears.
Personal Safety
More information about the Peace Corps' approach to safety is outlined in the Health Care and Safety chapter, but such an important issue cannot be overemphasized. Statistically, Mauritania is one of the safest countries in the world. That said, as stated in the Volunteer Handbook, becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer entails certain safety risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar environment (oftentimes alone), having a limited understanding of local language and culture, and being perceived as well-off are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Most Volunteers experience varying degrees of unwanted attention and harassment. Petty thefts and burglaries are not uncommon, and incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, although many Volunteers complete their two years of service without personal security incidents. The Peace Corps has established procedures and policies designed to help Volunteers reduce their risks and enhance their safety and security. These procedures and policies, in addition to safety training, will be provided once you arrive in Mauritania. At the same time, you are expected to take responsibility for your safety and well-being.
Rewards and Frustrations
The developmental and human accomplishments of the Peace Corps are frequently not tangible or easily measured. Progress is often frustratingly slow. Through the Peace Corps, thousands of Volunteers have been given the opportunity to have a hand, even if only a small one, in shaping how some of the world's neediest people live. At the same time, the world has been given a personal view of individual Americans putting their ideals to work.
The excitement and adventure of the Volunteer experience are, in some measure, a result of its unpredictability. There will be unexpected joys as well as unexpected disappointments. You could find plans for a health clinic canceled at the last minute because the Department of Health has been reorganized. Your plan to dig a well might be held up by a quarrel between local groups over who is to do the digging or because the required materials cannot be delivered as scheduled. The official to whom you were supposed to report might be replaced by a successor who knows little about a scheduled project. Such variables can erode the enthusiasm, the patience, and the idealism of a Volunteer. Your success will often depend upon determination, patience, and the ability to find another way. The Volunteer always has to be able to come up with a Plan B. A big part of the Peace Corps is the challenge to remain flexible, energetic, and hopeful at a time when it would be easy to give in to cynicism or indifference.
Ideally, a Volunteer's lifestyle and work should merge. Accepting the community and being accepted by it are essential for success. In both their daily lives and jobs, a Volunteer must take care to avoid the inherent appearance of arrogance in the position of an outsider who has come to bring change and "improvements." Volunteers find that as they live and work, they learn from the people of their host country at least as much as they teach them. In so doing, they can enhance their effort to achieve the third goal of the Peace Corps by bringing their host country experiences home to the United States.


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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/36335
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- Title
- CCi Digital Futures report: the Internet in Australia
- Author(s)
- Ewing, Scott; Thomas, Julian; Schiessl, Julianne
- Abstract
- This report presents findings from the first survey of the Australian component of the World Internet Project (WIP), a collaborative survey-based study of the social, cultural, political and economic effects of the internet and other new communications technologies. Founded at UCLA in the United States in 1999, and now based at the University of Southern California's Annenberg Center, the WIP has more than 25 partners in countries and regions all over the world (see Appendix III for a list of partners). The Australian partner for the WIP is the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Innovation (CCi) at the Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University. CCi was established in July 2005 and has an ambitious research agenda organised around three key themes: creative innovation; innovation policy, and creative human capital. A central question motivating our research at the Centre has been: How does Australia build a 'creative' economy and society, suited to the economic, social and cultural conditions of the 21st century? This problem lies behind our interest in a better understanding of the dynamics of the internet: we believe that broadband and other 'new internet' technologies will be vital enablers for the emergent creative economy. Our survey of 1000 households conducted in August 2007 is the first step in filling a substantial gap in our understanding of the dynamics of the Internet in Australia. While there are widely available data on the numbers of Australians who access the internet, where they access the net and whether they have broadband or dial-up access (for example see ABS, Household Use of Information Technology 2004-05 Cat No 8146.0), there is almost no detailed, publicly available data on what people are doing online in Australia and how this varies across different sub-populations. Of particular interest are the differences between those users relying on dial-up access and those with broadband access (the Household Broadband Adoption Report undertaken for DCITA in January 2004 provides some older, basic information on this topic.) The role of broadband in the wider development of the creative economy leads us to a concern with the creative uses of the net, and especially the ways that consumers of information are gradually also becoming producers of content. Creative applications of networked content tend to require comparatively high levels of technical skill on the users' part, and are markers of growing digital literacy. The increasing presence of user-generated content on the net also implies that users are gaining more from their online experience. So what are the characteristics of those people who are producing online content now? Is this creative activity related to age, gender, experience and skills or speed of access? There are also a series of further issues we are keen to pursue: the diffusion of broadband in Australia and reasons hindering take-up; the effects of internet usage on the consumption of other media; the uptake of social web technology; video usage; news consumption online and how it is changing; and the impact of the 'always on' element of broadband as people move from gaining news online to entertainment. [Introduction]
- Publication type
- Report
- Research centre
- Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences. Institute for Social Research. ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation
- Publication year
- 2008
- Keyword(s)
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- Unless otherwise noted this report is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence. You are free to copy, communicate and adapt this work, so long as you attribute the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation and the authors. For more information see http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au.
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- Research for this project was supported by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (Grant no. CE0561908).
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Homemade Christmas Gifts: 14 Gift Ideas & DIY Home Dcor
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"Pretty, yet simple to make how I would describe this bracelet. Any girl would like to make this and wear one. This would be a great group project for girls to make together at a sleep over or a birthday party. I think I'll have to make one for me too."
"Get a life.Quit your bickering."
"Speaking of gadgets...More than anything I would like to find a clicker or counter that I could click with my foot. When I am working with my hands and doing multiple pieces, it would help if I didn't have to stop at every one to count it on a hand clicker. And the finger one just gets in my way. Any help?"
Plastic Bag Wreath
By: Michelle Moons
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Go Green with this great recycled Christmas craft. You can make this wreath using what you already have around the house - plastic bags! Follow these simple instructions to make the Wreath Made With Plastic Bags. This is a fun and thrifty project that crafters of all ages will enjoy...and a great way to use up all those plastic bags once your holiday shopping is done! This Wreath Made with Plastic Bags will surely shock your guests when they discover that it is handmade.
- Wire 12 gauge strength
- Plastic bags (about 20)
- Hot glue gun
- Miniature ornaments
- Silver beading or cording
- Bend wire into a circle about 12" circle.
- Place bags in front of you.
- Cut 2" strips of plastic to tie around the wire form.
- Put all the strips around the wire until the wreath is full.
- Place miniature ornaments around the wreath with hot glue.
- Make a bow with silver beading and drape the rest of the cording around the wreath.
If you're looking for more decorations to make, you can learn How to Make a Mini Christmas Tree that will look adorable on any surface of the house.
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mulberrygalprinces s
Jul 12, 2016
Boy does this bring back memories. I use to make these 30 years ago. I had for gotten all about them. I made one for Halloween out of black bags and tissue ghosts. It came out great and afterward I could toss it without feeling badly. Thanks for awakening my memories.
emyhoffert 8212445
Dec 21, 2013
I made these about 40 yrs ago with green plastic bags and some blue ones from laundromat then sprayed with hairspray and sprinkled glitter on them, they were beautiful.
bethlord78 2740322
Nov 22, 2013
Nanabiki you beat me to one of my suggestions! Use a coat hanger and not those whimpy ones from the dry cleaners. I've found that the hook tends to break off as you twist it into position. My other suggestion is if you get the newspaper, a lot of times they put them in plastic bags. Sometimes colored. I got lucky one year and for awhile they delivered in orange bags! Woo-hoo! I made a wreath for halloween. I folded them in half lengthwise, then folded each on accordion style and just made a small hole with a yarn needle to give it an easy start. Then I just pushed the bags onto the coat hanger, which had been previously untwisted, and just kept putting them on until I felit was fluffy enough. Then with the glue gun and and some heavy duty black thread, drape the thread around to look like a spider's web. Then for the spider, I thought a golden spider, I made a huge knot by wrapping some gold string I had around my fingers like I was making a sewing knot and pulled some leg pieces out and then glued one to the web in the middle and hung one down from the wreath. Kids loved it and as they say, sometimes less IS more. Fasten the coat hanger.
songbirdsix 458248 4
Nov 25, 2012
I have made these wreaths since I was about 6 yrs old and this is how I do them. I lay out a plastic garbage bag flat and unopened. I also sometimes use green bags when I can find them but you can use any color you like. I cut strips about an inch and a half wide and about 6-7 inches long, the strips are doubled because I do not open the bag and cut so the wreath will get fuller as you go along. Next all you do is tie each strip in a knot on the hanger and twist and fluff as you go along. The trick is to push the knots tight together as you go and this will make a very bushy and real looking wreath. the wreath in this picture is very sparse compared to how I make them but you can do them however you wish. Next use a glue gun to add your fave mini ornaments, I would use artificial holly and leaves and a few shiny bulbs or bows. But use whatever makes it yours! It will take a lot of strips to make it fuller but this is a fun , easy project to do by yourself or have your kids make. I always got very nice complements from friends who thought it was store bought! Hope this helps those who had questions about this project!
sarmstrong0204 173 4608
Jan 04, 2013
Good pointers. However, I do like the idea of using up-cycled shopping bags as opposed to buying new trash bags for this purpose. Additionally, you can sometimes find pretty colors in shopping bags which would make pretty wreaths for seasons other than Christmas, too. Many stores use beige bages which might look like straw. Whichever you use, don't forget to recycled your wreath once you no longer use it.
Sep 29, 2011
@ronmetevier 9511207, I apologize, but all of our projects are user submitted. We suggest you try contacting the pattern designer directly for help. The designer is specified in the byline. --Editor of FaveCrafts
ronmetevier 951120 7
Sep 28, 2011
Sometimes you do not put enough detail into your instructions & this is one of those times!! It's like we have to do trial & error to see what works 7 what your talking about! You did not address some of the questions of this...which I would like to know the answeres to also!
Jul 23, 2011
I made this wreath and to answer your question the strips are about 1.5" wide. They don't have to that exact measurement but I the wreath is full with those measurements with the 2 inch long strips and 1.5" wide strips.
Jul 10, 2011
The instructions direct to cut 2" strips. How wide and how long should each strip measure? Thanks
Candy BakerMcMille n
Feb 12, 2012
width 2 inches length 2 1/2 or 3 inches long.tie in a knot and just keep going decorate as u feel fit I used bells and pepermint candies and red and green bows gave them away for christmas gifts :) Candy
Jun 11, 2011
You can use a wire coat hanger.
marjeanann 4694562
Apr 07, 2011
do you tie each strip in a bow or just tie them on in a knot? Do you trim when wreath is complete? Thanks. I've been working on it. MJ
eastbayexile 24149 52
Dec 05, 2010
Genius is in the simple things!
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Policy note based on MAMS for a forthcoming World Bank Public Expenditure Review is in progress. The note will explore the consequences of alternative scenarios for government spending levels and allocations (especially between infrastructure vs. human development), foreign aid, and domestic tax collection. The analysis is carried out by Hans Lofgren and Praveen Kumar. Expected completion in the fall of 2010.
Return to Overview and News page.


text:
Court sets high standard to seal records
The Columbus Dispatch - July 25, 2012 04:45 PM
The Ohio Supreme Court has set a high standard to meet before court records can be sealed to protect the fair-trial rights of criminal defendants.
In a unanimous opinion issued today, the justices ruled that a visiting judge violated court rules by allowing filings in a public-corruption case to be filed under seal without notice to the public or an opportunity to object.
The visiting judge in Mahoning County was ordered to release two documents the justices found he sealed in violation of court rules (see Rule 45) that state "court records are presumed open to public access."
The justices rejected the judge's rationale that the records could be withheld from the public, in the interest of not tainting potential jurors, because he did not rely on the records in making rulings in the case. There is no such exception to permit the sealing of documents, the high court responded.
The ruling came in a case filed by The Vindicator of Youngstown and TV station WFMJ, which objected to the secrecy in a since-dismissed case in which some county officials were indicted for accepting bribes from officials of a company that wanted to continue leasing office space to the county.
The justices used their opinion to again remind judges that several avenues are available -- short of hiding court records and filings -- to ensure that pre-trial publicity does not prejudice potential jurors. Questioning of prospective jurors, changes of venue, jury instructions and the sequestration of jurors can protect fair-trial rights, the court said.
Attorneys for company officials indicted in the bribery case argued that the bill of particulars and another document submitted in the case should remain secret as attorney work product or the product of discovery -- the evidence that prosecutors must share with the defense.
Neither the bill of particulars, the grand jury's recitation of who committed what offense when, or the other document were exempt from release, the court ruled.


text: Why should you head south to ski during the summer? Valle Nevado, which is the biggest resort in Chile, has nearly 7,000 acres of skiing, breathtaking views of the high peaks of the Andes and Santiago, and a diverse international ski scene. Plus, it's easy to access via a flight to/from Santiago using LAN airlines or a handful of other carriers.


text:
In 1956, Forrest Gander was born in Barstow, California. He attended the College of William and Mary and received an MA from San Francisco State University. He holds degrees in both geology and literature.
Gander is the author of several collections of poetry, including Eye Against Eye (New Directions Press, 2005); Torn Awake (2001); Science & Steepleflower (1998); Deeds of Utmost Kindness (1994); Lynchburg (1993); and Rush to the Lake (1988).
He is the editor of Mouth to Mouth: 12 Contemporary Mexican Women Poets (1993), a bilingual anthology of contemporary Mexican poets, and the translator of No Shelter: The Selected Poems of Pura López Colomé. He also cotranslated Immanent Visitor: The Selected Poems of Jaime Saenz with Kent Johnson.
Gander edits Lost Roads Publishers. His collection of essays, A Faithful Existence, was published in 2005.
"Forrest Gander is a Southern poet of a relatively rare kind, a restlessly experimental writer," wrote poet Robert Hass.
Gander's honors include a Whiting Award, two Gertrude Stein Awards for Innovative North American Writing, and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and Yaddo.
Gander is professor of English and comparative literature at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.


text:
Rain is a pain but Rockies still take the Game
6-11-10 Blue Jays vs Rockies Game One
Weather: 58 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 8 mph, In from RF.
Time: 1:55 (2:25 delay).
Attendance: 31,101
My friend Todd and I have been trying to attend a game together for a long time.
"T"s the guy I had the Rockies/Giants bet with last year.
One bet turned into two bets. The most wins between each team overall(loser had to wear the other's jersey for a day), and most wins when the Giants and Rockies face each other(loser had to cook hot dogs for the people we work with).
I won the overall and he won between our two teams.
We settled on Todd wearing a Rockies jersey for this Rockies game and I would buy him a hot dog at the game. Todd has been staying away from meat and up to today it's been a month since the man has eaten any beef.
I convinced him to eat a Denver Cheesesteak during the game instead of a hot dog. He totally killed it.
Both bets are now paid off. We do not have a bet going for this season.
Todd and I hooked up after I got off work and headed for the downtown for a drink and a bite to eat. Upon walking up to the "Old Blake Street Tavern" we discovered it was closed and was re-opening today at 3pm in it's new location just up the street.
At this point it was 2:55 so we waited🙂 Here are a few shots of the inside:
We asked about food and drink specials but were told there were none as this was their opening week??
Great atmosphere, very cool staff, great place to go before or after the game or to watch a game. While we were having a bite to eat and waiting for batting practice it started seriously raining. It lasted thirty minutes or so and then the clouds seemed to break up.
At that point we headed over to the Rockpile gates to get in line for batting practice.
First in line that is. Well we were until we found out that batting practice had been cancelled five minutes before we were set to go inside(we then bailed). The sad part of that was the sun was out and it was some of the best weather we had seen all day.
When we finally entered Coors Field it was still somewhat sunny. All systems were go.
The beer was ready.
But dammit the infield tarps were out.
Everything was wet.
The game gets rain delayed before it starts to rain. We all knew it was coming.
Todd and I walked around and I took pictures.
Dan and Emily.
Another interesting Rockies outfit.
Because of "T" we have a "Coors Field Crack of the Game" "T" spotted it.
Dancing in the rain.
Todd and the foul pole next to our seats.
The rain literally came down in sheets.
We ran into Robert and hung out for a while over by the Rockpile. Out of nowhere John walks up and hands Robert a game rubbed game baseball.
We were all like WTF?? Then John explained that he had read about Robert's run of bad luck snagg'n lately on the Rant and he wanted to help a brotha out.
We all got a good laugh out of that.
Robert kept the ball and spent the next hour bragg'n how he was the only one to snag a baseball today. It's true, that ball counts.
I like that John, keep up the good work.
With the weather delay in full effect Robert, Todd and I headed back to the Blake Street Tavern to ride out the storm. Forty-five minutes later we heard the game was starting so we marched back to Coors and stood on the concourse waiting for the rain to stop.
It never really fully stopped raining so we headed down to our wet seats anyway. Here's Todd and another fan sporting two teams stuff who sat beside us.
In the second inning Todd Helton hit a foul ball along the first baseline. I stood up and that ball was sailing right for me. At the last second it curved into the seats directly to the left of me and hit one of the chairs and bounced down.
There were a few seconds of chaos and in the end the guy sitting next to me with the red arrow above his head scored the ball.
Had he not been sitting there I would have gloved that foul ball easily. That was fun.
In the third inning Aaron Hill hit a home run to left field. I mention to Todd that it looked like Robert had snagg'd that ball. Five minutes later Robert called me and I said "Did you see me miss that Todd Helton foul ball by a foot?"
Robert yelled at me "No, did you see me get robbed of that Hill home run ball?"
I said, "What?" Robert excitedly informed me that after he had posession of the home run baseball another guy swiped the ball from his hands.
Here is Robert's side of the story in his own words:
Here's a picture of the guy who went home with that ball. This picture was taken and labeled by Robert.
Here's the link to the video: Aaron Hill's Two Run Homer.
I really didn't take any game pictures because it was raining so hard and cameras are expensive.
Here are some video clips from the game.
Spillborghs solo homer in the second.
Gonzalez's solo homer in the fifth.
Great day, strange weather. In the end they call the game after 6 innings and the Rockies get the win 5-3 over the Blue Jays. By the time Todd and I made it to the truck I was soaked head to toe.
One thing I'm learning about Ubaldo is he likes to pitch in warmer weather. Cold or rain has the ablility to throw him off his game.
Quote from Ubaldo : It wasn't easy to be out there. I didn't have any feel for any of my pitches, even my fastball. I was trying to throw hard and I couldn't. … The ball just slipped out my fingers most of the time. Everything was wet. I couldn't push off the mound."
My next entry will be about the upcoming "Bloggers without Borders" during the Rockies/Red Sox game on Tuesday, June 22nd. I will swap places with "Dr Rocker" writer of Sox Rocker which is his Red Sox blog.
Also…. If you haven't seen the very cool email from Mark Strittmatter in the last Rant entry you should go back and read it.
I'm "D" The Rockpile Ranter here to tell you that I still hate the rain, still love the Rockies and every now and then wish they would have put a retractable roof on Coors Field.
Thanks to "T" for a great day.
5 Comments
Hey D,
That was really cool of Strittmatter. One of the things I luv about our organization is that they are in touch with those who support the team….the fans. I luv being a Rockies fan!
On another note, I am in such a black funk…..got out-voted to go to the game today. I was totally ready to go, had my rain gear in the car and the family unit decided they didn't want to go because of the weather😦 I'm totally hating life right now because the weather was fine down at Coors. I must have done something to piss off the baseball Gods and need to figure out how to make amends ):(
R-LUV-Agreed, I'm still blown away from Strittmatter's email. You know the dude cares if he takes the time to write to you and explain. I wanted to go to the game today, but I stayed home and I'm finally caught up on my blogg'n…D
Gah. . . of all the miserable games I've been to, that was the miserable-est. (Well, except for maybe that extremely miserable May 13 Nats game, which turned out to be a loss, LOL) The whole thing was so strange, since we had driven over from Aurora in bright sunshine! Oh well, what ya gonna do.
On another note, I must respond to the above poster's comment: rl, I am so sorry that you were not there today. I know how much you were looking forward to it. Hang in there, friend.
And D, I cannot believe that I've now been to EIGHT games and not talked to you once! This is so not cool! K and I went to Thursday's game and sat in the RP for the first time ever. He was hoping to see The Ranter! :0)
Hey D,
I have seen that ball thief a few times in the Pavillion. I will keep an eye out for him when I am at Coors Field. Went to the game on Sunday when the sun and the Rox bats came out! Woohoo….tacos tonight! Didn't get any balls, no BP, but my son got autographs from Daley, Flores, and Jimenez.
LUVMYROX-I'm going Fri, Sat and Tues coming up. You making any of those?
TRIPLETROX-Another nice score. I'd love for this guy to try and pull a HR ball out of my hand. See he may have one of my hands tied up but the other one is free to defend🙂.
I hate people like that…D


text:
You didn't do anything wrong!!!
You didn't do anything wrong!!!
Proud mom of 2:
DD 5/2008 nursed for 3 years and 3 months.
DS born 8/2011 nursing like a champ
Sorry for the short responses...always, always, always NAK or holding a baby
I am Lea (middle name)
Mama to Dominic born on 3/23/09
Wife to G 4/27/07
We're blessed to have been for 3 years and counting! Proud to with our squirmy worm
"My home is not a place, it is people."
-Lois McMaster Bujold
First time, SAH mom to my precious daughter born October 2009
Nursing 27 months and counting... I still love nursing so much and am SAD thinking the end can come anytime now...
Perhaps its just a new stage? A new part of the ever changing "dance" between the nursing mother and child?
Our nursing relationship has changed and evolved here. DS2 (25 mo) no longer nurses at bedtime or naptime or first thing in the morning. But he still likes to come find me AFTER having breakfast with DH to come lie with me and get some "mommy milk". I started the day today with both kids lying on me. Big kid getting his mommy snuggles. Little kid nursing while snuggling.
One big plus - it's been MUCH easier for others to do his bedtime or naptime. I've been able to be away at bedtime and be pretty confident that DS2 will go to bed for a babysitter.
DS1: bf 7/2006 -> 4/2009; multiple food allergies
DS2: bf 9/2009 -> ???; multiple food allergies
Breastmilk Donor - http://hmbana.org/index/donatemilk
Click HERE to learn about baby led solids (BLS) / baby led weaning (BLW)
Just to update: Not much has changed. Joe still nurses in the middle of the night, and has yet to skip a night entirely. But he is going through a really negative phase lately, with lots of "NO MAMA!" and even "NO MAMA MILK!!" But when it's 4 a.m. and he comes into bed with us, he's usually all too happy to get a little midnight snack from mama. It has been hard, because it's not the gradual, loving weaning that I imagined for us, but I'm proud of him too. I'm hoping we keep these last few sessions for a long while yet.
You can call me JoMo!
Mom to baby boy Joe, born 5/4/09 and breastfed for more than two and a half years, and baby girl Maggie, born 7/9/12.
And I should add that in addition to learning to say "No mama milk!" Joe has also learned to say "Mama milk pees." and "O' side." He's speech delayed, so those words are music to my ears. I hope he'll keep nursing a while longer.
You can call me JoMo!
Mom to baby boy Joe, born 5/4/09 and breastfed for more than two and a half years, and baby girl Maggie, born 7/9/12.
Update again: Man, he's hardly nursing AT ALL anymore! Sometimes he'll suck for a while at night, but just as often, he'll just lie there playing with my hair until he goes back to sleep (playing with my hair seems to be the new comfort nursing ). He just seems pretty over it. Sometimes he sucks so shortly and so little that it almost doesn't count as a nursing session at all for that night.
I didn't think I'd be sad to see him weaning at 29 months! But I am. We have started TTC #2, and I'm coming to terms with the likelihood that if I get pregnant, Joe will just stop nursing for good. That may happen in the next month or two anyway.
On the other hand, I suppose it's a blessing that Joe is naturally self-weaning, and I don't have to wean him before he's ready. I'm just so torn about it.
You can call me JoMo!
Mom to baby boy Joe, born 5/4/09 and breastfed for more than two and a half years, and baby girl Maggie, born 7/9/12.
I think there is a lot to be happy about. And Proud of. And no matter when it happens, it's always bitter sweet. I am sure another baby to nurse will certainly help quell that.
Way too lazy for formula
Thank you for being a good role model to me. I probably wouldn't be here still nursing if I hadn't watched your journey with Joe. Thank you so much for that.
Baby Girl Born 2/17/10 to her two mommies
BF from day one. I looked up one day and realized I'm nursing a toddler!


text:
Michelle and Jared become parents and the rest of the family arrive back home from their big trip. Watch the seaon finale.
The cast gives you a behind-the-scenes look at My Big Redneck Vacation. Join the fun.
Tom Arnold is in for a surprise when the Clampets come knocking on his door.
Giant redwoods, deep-sea fishing and mud wrestling are on the menu when the family visit San Francisco.
The family joins in a Navajo powwow and learns about a very different way of life. Watch it now.
Will the family make contact with aliens at Area 51? Check it out.
Michelle's mom takes her daughter-in-labor to the hospital while Jared races his way... Read Full Summary »
Doug, as always, finds a "world's largest." This time it's the world's largest doughnut... Read Full Summary »
The Clampets get an amazing scenic look at the Giant Redwoods before crossing the Golden... Read Full Summary »
Spice up your website with free banners. Get them here.
First the Hamptons, then England. Now the Clampet family explores America in a cross-country road trip.
The family visits the Hamptons, and Michelle and Jared get hitched. Enjoy photos.
The family enjoys a European vacation. View photos.


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"I have been listening to you on EWTN for about one year now. I left the Catholic Church 42 years ago and have been attending Protestant churches. After many struggles during this last year, I finally went to confession on Sunday. Thank you all so much for helping me on my journey home."
"Your threats do not terrify us, for Christ is our life, and death is our gain."


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New York Times bestselling author to speak at Dordt College
November 19, 2012
Historian and New York Times bestselling author of One Second After, Dr. William Forstchen, will speak at Dordt College on Wednesday, November 28.
He will address the role that historical fiction can play in the teaching of history. The public is invited to attend his presentation, "The Historian, Historical Fiction, and the New York Times: Can They Meet in the Academy?" to be held at 8 p.m. in the Dordt College Ribbens Academic Complex room 1144 and 1148.
Forstchen is a faculty fellow at Montreat College in Montreat, North Carolina. He has published more than 40 books on topics related to history, historical fiction, and science fiction.
The presentation is sponsored by the Dordt College history and English departments with assistance from the Co-Curricular Committee.
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Application Process
Application Process
How do you apply to the Peace Corps? And even before that, how can you best research it? Is the best information on the main website or other websites? Who do I talk to? How long is the process and what are the steps?
There are so many questions, and many people who are thinking about the Peace Corps have no idea where to start. Who can blame them? There is so much information. Hopefully here, we can compile information that breaks stuff down simply.
Applying and Researching
How Do I Become a Volunteer? -- your top questions and the necessary qualifications for Peace Corps service
Steps To Applying -- explains the process step by step. Application, Interview, Nomination, Medical & Legal, Invitation, and Preparation for Departure links are all found on this webpage
Interview Questions -- a list of questions that you might be asked during your Peace Corps interview, as well as possible questions you may be interested in asking the recruiter
About the Peace Corps
What is the Peace Corps? -- this webpage contains links that explains the mission of the Peace Corps, facts, history, and more
What Do Volunteers Do? -- reviews the type of work that you may be assigned to in the Peace Corps. Although your first thought may be planting trees and building houses, the Peace Corps does much more than that. Did you know they also have IT, Business, and Youth programs to name a few?
Where Do Volunteers Go? -- lists the 8 regions that the Peace Corps serves, each with its own link to more information. Although you can't pick your country, you can request a region!
Who Volunteers? -- want to know where you'll fit in among the volunteers?
What Are the Benefits? -- although the key to the Peace Corps is to help others, there are also some perks to becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer
What About Safety? -- how does the Peace Corps take care of you, the volunteer? This page will briefly tell you
Advice for applicants --Additional Questions and resources to ask for


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I have a 10 3/4 month little boy, and I plan on nursing for one year. He is 27.5 lbs, and 33" tall- a big boy!! And he has never had anything but breastmilk and water (liquids), and won't take anything but water from a cup (never liked bottles!).
Anyway, I just finished my first period (which was awful!!), and now it seems that the milk in my left breast is completely gone. This has been going on for about 3 days now, and even though I continue to have him nurse on that side, I am practically dry. My right side gets practically engorged now, as it's doing most of the work- He nurses about 4 times a day, though only 2 "big" nursings (early morning and last feeding before bed).
Help! What is going on?? Should I just keep nursing on the right, as it's not too much longer before I'm weaning him? I am SO LOPSIDED!


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CNJ staff photo: Liliana Castillo Kenneth Davis' Pumpkin Patch includes a hay bale maze, sea of pumpkins and a pumpkin mountain. The display is made up of 6,000 pumpkins.
Freedom New Mexico
Just north of Clovis, a hay bale maze leads past a pumpkin mountain on the way to a sea of pumpkins.
Those are just a few of the activities available at Davis Farms Pumpkin Patch.
Kenneth Davis said he's been growing pumpkins for 21 years. In years past, he opened up the farm to elementary classes until it became a liability issue. This year, he opened the Pumpkin Patch as a new business.
Davis and his wife Jacqueline have been planning to add fall festivities to their farm for years, Davis said.
After hail damaged a crop of pumpkins, Davis put a crew to work making the mazes and mountain. Davis said 6,000 pumpkins were used to make the displays.
Davis said the couple missed having the children visit the farm and was glad when they were able to have them back.
The sea of pumpkins serves as a maze for toddlers, while the hay bale maze is more complicated. A hay ride takes you into the field to pick a pumpkin. The patch has been open for three weeks and will be open one more day from noon to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
But the fun isn't over yet, Davis said.
The couple plans to expand next year to include a hay bale castle, a corn maze and lights so activities can go on after dark.


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Jersey Couture Go You Mug
What can you say about the Jersey Couture Go You Mug? Diane & Co. want to dress you in their fabulous designs to make you feel as spectacular as you are. Wake up in the morning and drink a cup in the Jersey Couture Go You Mug. It's like having a little fashion angel on your shoulder.
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- Capacity: 11 Ounces
- Brand: DA - Oxygen
- Color: Black
- Made Of: Ceramic CA Proposition 65
Availability: In Stock
Ready to ship in 5 - 7 business days


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Jeff Bridges has a new album. And no, it's not what you're thinking. Remember, this is the man who convincingly and Oscar-winningly played a country musician in "Crazy Heart."Video: 'Little Bit of Love' for Jeff Bridges (on this page)
More evidence: the self-titled release arrives in stores thanks to respected Blue Note records, it's produced by the impeccably tasteful T Bone Burnett and features appearances by singer-songwriter credibility machines Roseanne Cash and Sam Phillips. So get those William Shatner thoughts out of your head. Bridges will still probably always be more known for his acting, but this isn't a joke.Story: Jeff Bridges is country solid on new album
Of course, the same cannot be said for every actor turned singer (or vice versa). Let's take a look.
Jennifer Lopez
Uses both acting and singing muscles with equal aggression, but chooses fewer hit film roles than hit singles. "Selena," and her best film, Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight," are notable exceptions, but have you seen "The Back Up Plan" or "Gigli?"
Stick To: Singing and being a surrogate mama to "American Idol" kids.
Eddie Murphy
At the height of his 1980s powers, he released the Rick James-adjacent jam "Party All The Time" and it moved insane copies in spite of how bad it really was. Since then he's only had serious opportunity to prove his vocal abilities in the movie "Dreamgirls."
Stick To: Acting
Gwyneth Paltrow
Like no one else in recent memory, this Oscar winner has managed a complete 180-degree image makeover from humorlessly chilly to loose, funky "Glee" MVP, selling the PG edit of that Cee-Lo song with the unrepeatable name and killing at hilariously impersonating historical figures like Wallis Simpson.
Stick To: Whatever she wants. The woman has a cookbook now, too.
Kevin Bacon
He's grown up on screen and we've followed every step he's taken. Except for those side trips to Bacon Brothers-land.
Stick To: Acting. Even when you're miscast in an "X-Men" movie.
Should Will Smith return to rapping?
Scarlett Johansson
Who could have imagined that the young sex symbol/serious actor possessed a husky alto singing voice this compelling?
Stick To: Acting. But keep on surprising us with music from time to time, OK?
Kevin Costner
Yes, he put out two country CDs. He also sang a duet with Amy Grant over the closing credits of "The Postman." You don't want to know about any of this.
Stick To: Acting
theGrio: Athletes who should stay out of rap
Justin Timberlake
He started out as a child variety show performer on "The Mickey Mouse Club" and sidestepped into pop stardom before returning to non-musical, mostly comedic, appearances in movies and TV. But he's kind of great at both now so it's not like leaving him off this list was even an option.
Stick To: Everything except a Paltrow-like cookbook.
Jamie Foxx
He's a comic. He's an actor. He's a singer. He's a talk radio host. He has an Academy Award. He's had a number one album. You know who else has accomplished that? Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand and Bing Crosby. And that's it. And even they never had talk shows. So if you have something to say about this, make sure you mention that fact.
Stick To: Whatever he wants.
Dave White is the movies critic for movies.com.
© 2013 NBCNews.com Reprints


text: Have you noticed that some of your brushes need a little extra TLC? Liquid foundations, longwear cream eye shadows and cream blushes can really take a toll and no matter if you're good about cleaning them once a week, the bristles don't feel as soft as they did when you first bought them. Not a problem! Add this quick step next time you clean your brushes and they'll be baby soft again. Here's how: (more…)


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Does it seem to you that time is flying by at epic speeds? Or is it just me?
I've been meaning to write about our trip to Florida. How the massive crowds at the theme parks made me want to stab people, but then the last few days at our favorite beach town soothed my soul {and feet}.
I was planning on writing about how awesome the kids did in school this year. They are some smart little cookies, you know.
I had intentions of writing about foster care. We are officially a licensed foster family now, since April. We waited and waited for our phone to ring, and wouldn't you know it, as we were in Florida going through the security line for Disney World, we got a call for two little girls. It didn't work out and they weren't placed with us, but a few weeks ago, we finally had our first placement. She is the most adorable baby and we are enjoying loving on her!
Did I mention that I survived another year of the three-kids'-birthdays-in-five-days week? Just barely. We pulled it off, though, and I now have TWO teenagers. Lord, help me.
Our oldest is taking his driver's road test next week. Lord, help me.
Oh, and today I discovered these beasts {tomato hornworms} mooching off my tomato plants. Okay, more like devouring them. What the hell. Don't mess with my tomaters.
So, like I said. I've been meaning to share all these things with you; but, I'm kind of tired. This having five kids thing is kind of exhausting. And awesome.


text: I am a first time mom of a 5 week old. He tends to have fairly long nursing sessions, 30 min + on each breast. He is gaining weight and filling diapers quite nicely, so I have no concerns that he isn't getting enough. However frequently after about 15 minutes or so he will start squirming and jerking his head back without releasing his latch. Sometimes he will do this while sucking, sometimes he will just clamp down. It happens more one side than the other. My breast is quite sore from being twisted and pulled. Has anyone else experienced this?


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"G'day to all the good folk at Catholic Answers. Words cannot express the invaluable service you provide to the world. Your faith tracts are fantastic and should be a must-read. Catholics need to be equipped with the history and the truth."
"I protest that I do not intend to assert or determine anything that has not been manifestly determined by Sacred Scripture or by the authority of the Church. Wherefore I submit all I have said or shall say to the correction of Holy Mother Church and of all learned men."


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10 signs of summer depression
Published On: Aug 20 2013 11:43:49 AM CDT Updated On: Jun 21 2016 01:00:00 AM CDT
Depression can happen at any time of year, even the carefree days of summer.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms Of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms.


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Theater Review: Emotional war wounds go deepBy Jim LoweLindsay Raymondjack Photo
Robert Harte is James and Chris Caswell is Sarah, both journalists damaged by war, in Vermont Stage Companys production of Time Stands Still at the Flynn Center in Burlington.
Wars effects on those who observe it can be as tragic as the effects on the soldiers who fight it. In Donald Margulies powerful drama Time Stands Still, a photographer and a reporter attempt to piece back together their lives after being damaged in very different ways.
Vermont Stage Company, Burlingtons full-season professional ensemble, opened a deeply felt and emotionally riveting production of Time Stands Still on Wednesday at FlynnSpace that was not without its light and humorous moments.
In this contemporary tale, James has just brought home his girlfriend of eight years, Sarah, a photojournalist who is recovering from serious wounds suffered in a war in the Middle East. James is clearly devoted, cloyingly so, in part because he had had a breakdown in the same war earlier and left her there.
Into this scene comes their close mutual friend, Richard, a magazine photo editor, who has his new, much younger girlfriend in tow. James and Sarahs response to Mandy is polite but somewhat disdainful of her seeming superficiality.
James and Sarah both poke fun at Richards new relationship but gradually reveal themselves to be much more troubled than the new couple, and one much more so than the other. Their attempt to sort out their lives and relationship powerfully delivers the message that war, indeed, harms everyone.
Fortunately, it also delivers hope.
Vermont Stages production, deftly directed by Gregory Amos, delivers the real humanness of this emotional drama. The particularly fine cast proved most adept at ensemble acting, keeping emotions taut except for some wonderfully funny moments.
Chris Caswell delivered a fully dimensional and powerful performance as Sarah, the adrenalin-addicted photographer, who masks deep issues with an overly rational affect. She is well matched by Robert Harte as James, who, despite an overuse of his hands when talking, touchingly revealed the characters emotional damage.
Paul Ugalde presented a particularly dimensional performance as Richard, successfully blending his concern for his friends and his newfound joy. Kari Buckley proved convincing and perfectly natural as Mandy, whose lack of sophistication belies a deeply caring person.
Vermont Stages physical production was attractive, with a realistic loft setting by Blair Mielnik and appropriate costumes by Suzanne Kneller. Martha Goodes effective sound design, evoking the sounds of war, could have used more dramatic lighting, but John Paul Devlins design was certainly adequate.
Vermont Stages Time Stands Still proved a most powerful and rewarding theater experience.
Vermont Stage
Vermont Stage Company presents the Donald Margulies drama Time Stands Still Jan. 30-Feb. 17 at the Flynn Centers FlynnSpace, 153 Main St. in Burlington. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, plus 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $31.50, $26 for Wednesdays and matinees; call 863-5966 or go online to www.flynntix.org.MORE IN Central VermontMIDDLEBURY According to WebMD, Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes a persons muscles ... Full StoryTiffany Briggs and Kayla Jackson eyed each other across the table, clasped hands, and then it was... Full StoryMARLBORO Police are investigating a burglary on Higley Hill Road. Full Story
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The meeting will be held at the Summit Grove LDS Building.
The meeting of the district committee - comprised of volunteer adults responsible for carrying out the council program within the district. This steering committee is responsible for implementing plans to achieve district goals set forth by the council in the areas of membership, program, fundraising and leadership development.
If you have a question, comment, or suggestion, please e-mail: Valley District Director
Privacy Policy Technical Support. Copyright © 1998-2016. All rights reserved.


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I'll never forget that bald avatar that made me laugh every now and then. Thank you good sir.
Comon tien, i love yhu!?!?!
ur giving me permission to spam his VM?...
Wow o.O I never got to really chat or RP with you but thank you very much for everything you've done here ^^
I really do hope that you get back though :p :D
Originally Posted by Caliburn
I've lost all my friends
I'll Be your Friend Calburn :3
SEE YA NEVER.. mod i never talked to before.. >______>
No!!!ur one of my fab mods...
you will be missed . Good luck in everything you do bro.
Sad to see you leave. Take care of yourself
Goodbye Casey, you will most definitely be missed around here..
i'll be harrassing you on fb about this later
No Casey!!! come back T_______T
Just when i got MS you leave me in this cruel RP i can't bare a RP without you in it
In all honesty bro you will be missed, you were a huge part of my RP career, i used to ask you for literally everything regarding the RP, not just me but 99% of Rpers around here with the last 1% those who argue and never try to gain knowledge, i've known you for a long time and people like you in this RP are very rare, such as Scary Yamato, it's weird and odd to say, but for half of the time i feel you two were like a family to me even if this is an online forum, and losing a member of the family isn't easy at all, so if anything can be done to change your mind please say, or i will spam your profile for all eternity D:
Goodbye Zen. ^_^ You'll be missed.
Originally Posted by LonelyAssassin
I'll Be your Friend Calburn :3
So will I. But I heard Cali's mean...
Originally Posted by rikerslade
So will I. But I heard Cali's mean...
Just kidding
I can handle Mean people lol
Bye Zen
Thanks for the great work. You'll be missed
Goodluck in life, whatever you're going to aim for >_O
Bye Zen ^^
Zen.... DON'T GO!!! You did a lot for this site, and I'm sure everyone will always be grateful for your work, Zen-sama. I suppose this is good-bye.....
is it april fools and nobody sent out the memo.
this guy deserves praise for you are a legend.
We will miss you...
Forum Rules


text: How do i start building up a freezer supply so i can have some me time out of the house alone? I have a medela pisa and currently ebf. How often do i pump and when? Today marks one month of ebf for me!!! Yay, i made my first goal!! pumping a little wont mess things up will it?


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Red Bull gives you wings
Red Bull's effects are recognized throughout the world by a variety of people such as top athletes, busy professionals, college students and travelers on long journeys.View Red Bull Products
Giving Wings
Wings for Life
Wings for Life is Red Bull's chosen charity. The non-profit foundation supports cutting-edge research and clinical trials across the globe to find a cure for people with spinal cord injuries and improve their quality of life. Find out more here.
Red Bull Project Endurance
Endurance sport met endurance science in Death Valley. For five days, 11 scientists from around the world used six championship-level endurance athletes as test subjects, applying cutting edge technology to find the cutting edge. Find out more here.
Check out basketball All-Star Blake Griffin as he heads to Washington Park in Watts, California to bring together the best street ball dunkers from Southern California, giving wings to the local hoops community in the search for some "big-time dunkers. Find out more here.
BC One All Stars Performance Training Camp
See BC One All Stars undergo new methods of training at the first-of-its-kind training facility located at Red Bull's North American headquarters. The b-boy dancers were led through a custom program designed to pinpoint and perfect their training, nutrition and performance. Find out more here.


text: Started in 1971 by then-17-year-old Barbara Jeffe, Barbara's Bakery began as a small natural bake shop in Northern California. Jeffe used whole grains and oats just as nature intended—free from anything artificial. She carefully selected the best ingredients to deliver healthy foods with maximum nutrition. Barbara's Bakery's mission remains the same today: to nourish healthy people naturally. They remain committed to creating the best-tasting natural products free of artificial preservatives and ingredients, hydrogenated oils and refined white sugar. Find some of Barbara's Bakery product offerings at SwansonVitamins.com, including snack bars, cookies and cheese puffs.


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Shooting School
Whether a novice or crack-shot you will enjoy and benefit from time spent at the Gleneagles Shooting School in Perthshire, Scotland.
Clay pigeon target shooting
If you would like more practice on simulated teal, high pheasant or running hare or simply enjoy the exhilaration of our clay pigeon target shooting ranges, the Shooting School offers the very best in terms of sporting clays facilities and equipment. The Gleneagles Shooting School has a world-class reputation for providing an unrivalled sporting layout and the most expert instruction in sporting clay target shooting, at all skill levels.
Outwith these hours call 0800 389 3737(UK)