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An astronaut recently returned from space travel with the observation that "everything seems smaller now." I know what he means. It was precisely my experience returning home from a 9,000 mile road trip across America. "Smaller" as in more achievable, less daunting rather than insignificant. Imagination often has its own agenda. When I imagined this journey, as I did many times over decades, I worried about the long flat stretches of the Great Plains, the heat and desolation of the deserts, the rough inclines of the mountains. Now that I have travelled that road and many of its detours, all those apprehensions have become a part of my experience. They have not disappeared. They have been absorbed, made real and so, less fearsome.
I managed to skirt most of Kansas, but the vast fields of grain that stretch across Oklahoma were never boring to me; they were a lazy afternoon on the porch compared to the winding mountain roads of Arkansas and Tennessee.
My son joined me for part of the return trip from California to the Texas Panhandle. We watched the desert unfold like an endless stretch of butcher's paper from the golden rolling hills of Southern California. The temperature outside climbed from 90° to 100° to 108°. A road sign cautioned us to turn off the air conditioner to avoid breakdown. We complied, opening the windows to a ceaseless hot wind, laughing in wonder at a situation never anticipated. My son's i-Pod played the soundtrack to our own adventure film as we marvelled at the mysterious desert, with its long straight roads running perpendicular to the highway leading to... what? Yes, the desert was hot and huge and devoid, by nature, of the comfort of trees and open water. But it held life against brutal odds. Adaptable life with deep-rooted mesquite and perfectly camouflaged creatures laid low against a crusty earth.
In Arizona, the desert held a life lesson: that in what looks like an endless flat repetitive landscape, a small road can lead to a marvelous canyon sculpted by eons. The Petrified Forest and Painted Desert are lesser-known attractions than the Grand Canyon, but no less affecting to the human heart. If I learned one thing about beauty on this trip, it was: it's all about the light. Light changes everything and is ever-changing.
Another thing I learned was that you can never travel the same road twice. On the westward part of the journey, with my daughter as companion, we found the Petrified Forest with serendipitous good fortune, a half hour before the gates closed for the night. We were so taken by it that we returned the next day for a longer look and a walk among the richly hued fossilized trees. Aiming to treat my son to the same experience, I failed miserably. We arrived at the western entrance later than planned but with enough time to allow at least a car-window view of the canyon. On the road to the park, I overshot the turn-off and ended up in the turning lane of oncoming traffic. A trooper appeared as if on cue. After checking my documents, she let me go with a plea to "drive safe." Meanwhile, we had missed the deadline and my chance to show my son a sight I had so enjoyed with his sister. Only later I realized it had been our experience I missed by trying to recreate the previous one.
Starting out, I had figured this trip to be my once-in-a-lifetime, Now I'm planning to do it again, on another route, with my husband this time, keeping in mind the lessons I've learned.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Back in 2006, when officials decided to grant tax abatements to the Millennium Pipeline Company, the company agreed that as a way to help the affected communities it would commit $100,000 a year for 10 years to spur economic development.
At the time, the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) joined seven other counties in the state in agreeing to grant the company significant tax abatements as they expanded the gas pipeline from 12 inches to one that was 30 inches.
During the run-up to the decision, the company said that if it did not receive the tax abatements from all of the counties, it might decide not to proceed with the expansion project, which would have meant significantly less tax revenue for many municipalities.
In Sullivan County, the pipeline runs through Bethel, Cochecton, Delaware, Forestburgh, Fremont, Highland, Lumberland and Tusten, and politicians in several of those towns argued that the company had no choice but to expand in the present location, because negotiating rights of way for a new line would be prohibitively expensive. Some town officials, therefore, argued that the tax abatement should not be granted. The IDA, however, chose to grant the abatements.
At a meeting at the government center on April 7, Jennifer Brylinski, the executive director of the IDA, told lawmakers that the agency had received two of the $100,000 payments from the company, and was now considering ways of administering a loan fund to help support economic development. She said that Sullivan Renaissance has been helping the agency with the process.
Lawmaker David Sager, however, noted that the amount of tax abatements to Millennium would be worth over $15 million to the company over 15 years, while company payments to the county would only amount to about $1 million.
Alan Scott, CEO of the IDA, defended the tax abatements. He said, "In my opinion, all the towns really should have jumped into approving and supporting this project because the assessed value of the pipeline was running down. So after a period of two years, the tax benefit was actually increasing, and is increasing for the life of the project. So the schools, the towns and the county are getting more tax revenue than they would have gotten if we had allowed the previous project to run out, and if Millennium had not started replacing that pipe."
Sager said he disagreed. He said, "They wanted a bigger pipeline because they knew they would be transporting more natural gas. This never made sense to me, and it's one of the reasons I ran for the legislature in the first place; so it's great that I get to sum it up in one of my last months in office." Like other officials, he said the company was going to replace the pipe regardless of what happened and it was unnecessary to give the company large tax abatements.
At the time, the officials in Tioga County decided not to follow the other counties and chose not to grant any tax abatements on the project. A spokeswoman for the Tioga County Industrial Development Agency said in a phone interview on April 8, that the policy remains in place today and Millennium pays full taxes to all municipalities.


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When you choose Green Power for your home or business, you're supporting clean energy from renewable sources like wind, biogas and sun. Yes, sun.
The Pacific Northwest is actually a great place to go solar. Never mind the permacloud: we get more hours of sunlight than Germany, the world's largest solar power producer, and solar panels operate very efficiently in our cool climate. This year, Green Power is working to add more solar power sources, both in our program portfolio and in your community.
The Green Power Program also purchases renewable energy generated by wind, landfill gas and agricultural waste. When you make your contribution of $4 to $12 a month, PSE buys clean energy on your behalf from independent producers in our region. Your commitment to purchase green power makes it possible for these energy innovators to secure funding, sustain their businesses and create jobs—making a brighter, cleaner future for everyone.
The program is voluntary, requires no contracts, and you can cancel at anytime. Signing up is easy. It costs as little as $4 more per month above standard utility rates to offset a portion of your electricity, $10-12 to offset 100 percent of the average homes' usage.
PSE does not make a profit from the Green Power Program. All revenue goes back to further support independent resource projects and grow voluntary demand for cleaner energy options.
Be part of our program—sign up today!
Visit the Green Power Program Frequently Asked Questions page. or follow us on Facebook.


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In the book of Judges, Jephthah serves as the ninth judge, or deliverer, who makes a bold vow to God (See Judges 11.29-40). Jephthah makes a conditional deal with God; if he gets something, then and only then will he do something for God in return. Upon his decision to barter with God, his tragic vow turns into a moral dilemma where he must either sacrifice his daughter or break his vow. Each option carries with it further consequences. Given Jephthah's moral dilemma, he must choose an available option with varying costs. Once his choice to sacrifice his daughter has been completed, he still stands in a morally condemning state. Upon examining the ethics of the situation via historical context, textual interpretation, and the theological significances, may one see the dilemma and all the possible consequences, how it could have been avoided, and how it applies to believers today.
The Ammonites oppressed the Israelite tribes east of the Jordan River for an eighteen-year period (Judg. 10.8). This may help qualify the date for the events. The conquest of the Transjordan occurred in 1406, forty years after the exodus, so Jephthah's communication to the Ammonites must be dated close to 1106. Since the oppression lasted for eighteen years, that puts the oppression beginning at 1124.[1]


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My wife and I have read the great articles here and helped us feed our baby only breast milk since born. He gained 4 lbs in his first month. Thank you
The baby is now 5 weeks old. Today the milk looks allot more white and not so much wattery as the previous weeks. why is this?
Also, My wife wants to know why she has more milk in the Right breast than the Left?


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First lesson: use tools that work for you.
Coming in this sessions: hints, tips, ideas, automation suggestions and inspirations. Kitt says she's lazy, efficient. First thing she does: Alfred (app launcher: cmd+space on Mac, Gnome do on linux). Alfred lets you do shell scripts, workflows, file or groups, applescripts, and search filters. 15 commands you need to know: Continue reading


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Prompt, secure access to full statements:
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Research & Publications †
( † Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)
Edward Soltesz, MD, MPH, is a cardiovascular and heart transplant surgeon in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Cleveland Clinic's Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute. He is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and American Board of Thoracic Surgery in general and cardiothoracic surgery.
Dr. Soltesz is the Program Director for Cleveland Clinic's residency and fellowship training programs. He also is the Course Director for the American Austrian Foundation/Open Medical Institute Cardiac Surgery Medical Seminar held annually in Salzburg, Austria. Additionally, as the Director of Cardiac Surgery Affiliate Program Quality and Process Improvement at Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Soltesz oversees quality and outcomes of more than 15 affiliated programs and 45 surgeons.
Specialty interests: adult cardiac surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, high-risk coronary bypass surgery, valve repair and replacement, endovascular aortic surgery, minimally invasive hybrid treatment of atrial fibrillation, and complex re-operative aortic and heart surgery, heart transplantation and assist devices.
Number of Procedures Performed: Cleveland Clinic performs more than 4,000 heart surgeries each year. Cleveland Clinic performs more than 4,000 heart surgeries each year. Of these, Dr. Soltesz performs approximately 375 surgeries per year. Dr. Soltesz specializes in the Maze procedure, having performed more than 210 since joining Cleveland Clinic, as well as the sternal-sparing right-anterior thoracotomy aortic valve replacement.
Success rates: Among top U.S. hospitals for cardiac surgery, Cleveland Clinic's volume is the highest with the best quality outcomes. You can view success rates for specific procedures at http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/about-heart-vascular-institute/treatment-outcomes.aspx
Education and Training: A native of Cleveland, Dr. Soltesz graduated as valedictorian of St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland and received a full academic scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross. There, he obtained degrees in both Classics and Chemistry, was awarded the British Marshall Scholarship, and graduated summa cum laude as the class valedictorian. Dr. Soltesz then went on to receive his medical degree from Harvard Medical School where he was awarded the Harvard National Scholarship.
Dr. Soltesz stayed at Harvard to complete his residences in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He was awarded the Mannick Research Award for his NIH-funded research in cardiothoracic imaging and is the author of several peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts in this area. During this time at Harvard, Dr. Soltesz also earned a Master of Public Health from Harvard University School of Public Health with a focus on clinical effectiveness.
Dr. Soltesz then returned to Cleveland to complete an additional fellowship in complex aortic and endovascular surgery at Cleveland Clinic, where he was subsequently appointed to the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in 2008.
Research, Publications and Speaking: Dr. Soltesz is the author of numerous articles in the areas of minimally invasive valve surgery, optical imaging in cardiac surgery, near-infrared fluorescence imaging, and complex valve surgery.
Dr. Soltesz's research program focuses on large-scale assessment of cardiac surgical outcomes from a public health perspective, quality improvement and safety, clinical outcomes of valve surgery, and heart failure. He is widely published in the areas of minimally invasive surgery, cardiac surgical outcomes, heart failure, and optical imaging in cardiac surgery, and has papers in The New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and Annals of Thoracic Surgery. In addition, he is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and serves as a guest reviewer for many other journals. He has lectured and served as a visiting professor both nationally and internationally
About Dr. Soltesz: I enjoy heart surgery because it truly affords the opportunity to care for very sick patients and make them feel better and live longer. It is gratifying to be able to develop relationships with my patients, and I consider it a true privilege to enter their lives and help them in the way I've been trained.
Leisure time activities: Spending time with my wife and 3 children, continually trying to improve my tennis game
adult cardiac surgery, complex aortic and endovascular surgery, complex coronary disease, heart failure/heart transplantation/ventricular assist devices, minimally invasive valve surgery, reoperative cardiac surgery, minimally invasive maze procedure
Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.
To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.
As of 4/13/2016, Dr. Soltesz has reported the financial relationships with the companies listed below. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.
Consulting and/or Speaking. Dr. Soltesz receives fees of $5,000 or more per year as a paid consultant, speaker or member of an advisory committee for the following companies:
Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.
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Robert Cox, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension agent, horticulture
If you're thinking about planting trees or shrubs this fall, be aware that in the metro area, they need to be in the ground by October 15. At higher elevations, planting must be done sooner.
Though spring is the best time to plant, fall works well if you're willing to properly prepare soil, and to water the new transplants through dry winter periods.
Before purchasing trees or shrubs, ask these ten questions about yourself and the plants you want.
For more information about selecting, planting, and caring for trees and shrubs, contact your county Colorado State University Cooperative Extension office
Photo of Serviceberry shrub: Judy Sedbrook
Contact Us | Disclaimer | Equal Opportunity
© CSU/Denver County Extension Master Gardener 2010
888 E. Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO 80210
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E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Date last revised: 01/05/2010


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This week, TIME LightBox takes a deep look at the different types of photography produced in space, the tools used by astronauts and their robotic counterparts, the scientific and sociological implications of photos made by the space program, and how space photography fits into the pantheon of photography proper. Plus, we'll show you some really breathtaking and, in some cases, rarely seen, images – because what is more breathtaking than photos from space?
Reid Wiseman is not the first astronaut to share photos from space with the Earth-bound public; nor is he the first astronaut to use social media to do so. He is part of a long line of intrepid space travelers – human and robot alike – who have made images in the final frontier and shared them with us back at home, from Buzz Aldrin's photo of Neil Armstrong on the moon, to the Apollo 8 astronauts' live Christmas eve television broadcast, to Chris Hadfield's YouTube cover of Space Oddity, to Galileo, Voyagers I and II, and Curiosity Rover recording images from deeper parts of space.
Wiseman is, however, aboard the International Space Station at a moment when communication platforms available to astronauts are more instantaneous and visual than ever before.
Wiseman, a Baltimore native and former naval aviator, traveled into space on May 28, 2014 from Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. He had, up to that point, shared much of his training across Twitter and had begun experimenting with Vine; he continued to do so through the launch itself and then as he began his life on the International Space Station, which orbits the Earth in 90 minutes.
In a video chat with TIME's Jeffrey Kluger on July 9th, Wiseman said of his social media presence, "I think the astronauts have always wanted to share their journey with as many people as possible. And I think Apollo, with the tools they had, they did a phenomenal job. We're just lucky to live in this day where, when I take a photograph with a camera… we can email it straight into our Twitter feeds, and it just makes it so much easier to share this experience… It's almost just become a little collateral duty of ours, so you don't even think about it through the day, it's so easy. But it's appreciated and we really enjoy doing it."
Part of Wiseman's success on these platforms is his relatability – he's struck a tone of constant awe and incredulity at his daily life on the space station that one wouldn't expect from a highly trained and capable flight engineer. He's also made his sharing extremely visual – he seems to send a constant stream of TwitPics and #SpaceVines to a growing following of over 150,000.
Finally! #SoyuzTMA13M selfie @astro_alex @msuraev pic.twitter.com/mI8YkfcoWc— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) June 2, 2014
His steady social presence has both its supporters and detractors. Setting those opinions aside, he has found a way to create excitement around an expedition fraught with political tension using photography and video as a starting point for communication and for activating and engaging a wide, universal audience.
Mia Tramz is an Associate Photo Editor at Time.com. Follow her on Twitter @miatramz.


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- Custom designed exclusively for WHBM. Handcrafted with nickel-free and lead-free metal.
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Diversity and cross-cultural issues in Dominican Republic
|Diversity and cross-cultural issues in [[{{#explode:Diversity and cross-cultural issues in Dominican Republic| |5}} {{#explode:Diversity and cross-cultural issues in Dominican Republic| |6}} {{#explode:Diversity and cross-cultural issues in Dominican Republic| |7}}]]
|In fulfilling the Peace Corps' mandate to share the face of America with their host countries, Peace Corps is making special efforts to see that all of America's richness is reflected in the Volunteer corps. More Americans of color are serving in today's Peace Corps than at any time in recent years. Differences in race, ethnic background, age, religion, and sexual orientation are expected and welcomed among our Volunteers. Part of the Peace Corps' mission is to help dispel any notion that Americans are all of one origin or race and to establish that each of us is as thoroughly American as the other despite our many differences.
|See also:
In fulfilling the Peace Corps' mandate to share the face of America with our host countries, we are making special efforts to see that all of America's richness is reflected in the Volunteer corps. More Americans of color are serving in today's Peace Corps than at any time in recent years. Differences in race, ethnic background, age, religion, and sexual orientation are expected and welcomed among our Volunteers. Part of the Peace Corps' mission is to help dispel any notion that Americans are all of one origin or race and to establish that each of us is as thoroughly American as the other despite our many differences.
Our diversity helps us accomplish that goal. In other ways, however, it poses challenges. In the Dominican Republic, as in other Peace Corps host countries, Volunteers' behavior, lifestyle, background, and beliefs are judged in a cultural context very different from their own. Certain personal perspectives or characteristics commonly accepted in the United States may be quite uncommon, unacceptable, or even repressed in the Dominican Republic.
Outside of the Dominican Republic's capital and tourist centers, residents of rural communities have had relatively little direct exposure to other cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles. What people view as typical American behavior or norms may be a misconception, such as the belief that all Americans are rich and have blond hair and blue eyes.
The people of the Dominican Republic are known for their generous hospitality to foreigners; however, members of the community in which you will live may display a range of reactions to cultural differences that you present. In particular, there are still subtle to overt forms of racial discrimination that are seen on a regular basis towards darker-skinned persons due to the historical tensions between Dominicans and Haitians.
To ease the transition and adapt to life in the Dominican Republic, you may need to make some temporary, yet fundamental compromises in how you present yourself as an American and as an individual. For example, female trainees and Volunteers may not be able to exercise the independence available to them in the United States; political discussions need to be handled with great care; and some of your personal beliefs may best remain undisclosed. You will need to develop techniques and personal strategies for coping with these and other limitations. The Peace Corps staff will lead diversity and sensitivity discussions during pre-service training and will be on call to provide support, but the challenge ultimately will be your own.
- 1 Overview of Diversity in the Dominican Republic
- 2 What Might a Volunteer Face?
- 2.1 Possible Issues for Female Volunteers
- 2.2 Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color
- 2.3 Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers
- 2.4 Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers
- 2.5 Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers
- 2.6 Possible Issues for Volunteers With Disabilities
- 2.7 Possible Issues for Married Volunteers
Overview of Diversity in the Dominican Republic
The Peace Corps staff in the Dominican Republic recognizes adjustment issues that come with diversity and will endeavor to provide support and guidance. During pre-service training, several sessions will be held to discuss diversity and coping mechanisms. We look forward to having male and female Volunteers from a variety of races, ethnic groups, ages, religions, and sexual orientations, and hope that you will become part of a diverse group of Americans who take pride in supporting one another and demonstrating the richness of American culture.
What Might a Volunteer Face?
Possible Issues for Female Volunteers
Female Volunteers should know that Dominican society has elements of machismo. Men often hiss and make comments to women walking by, and women must learn to deal with this by completely ignoring men who behave in this way. Most female Volunteers never fully accept this sexual harassment, but, rather, develop a tolerance within which they are able to function effectively. Dating for American women in the Dominican Republic is also a sensitive subject. The Dominican culture follows its own guidelines as relates to male-female relationships; for example, female Volunteers who live alone should not invite males into their home unless they have intentions of beginning a serious relationship with the man.
Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color
In rural sites and even in some cities, Volunteers are usually the only foreign resident and receive extra attention, especially because of their racial or ethnic background. Volunteers in certain areas of the country are more prone to racial discrimination than others. African-American Volunteers in the northwest or near the Haitian border, for example, may be asked for their passports. Most Volunteers of color say that despite initial confusion regarding their nationality and discrimination, they are well-received in their communities.
African-American Volunteers may face some unique challenges. They are sometimes mistaken for Dominicans or Haitians. If seen as Dominican, this can lead to an expectation of Spanish fluency; if seen as Haitian, it can result in poor treatment by Dominicans. African-American Volunteers should be prepared to face mild cases of discrimination and racism. However, Volunteers should remain open-minded and calm. Many of these situations are due to lack of education and the history of the Dominican Republic. On the other hand, misidentification with black ethnic groups other than Haitians, such as members of the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean population, may lead to faster acceptance. Female African-American Volunteers should also be prepared to face issues concerning their hair. The straightness of a woman's hair is considered an important quality by many. Though natural hairstyles are accepted, they are not as highly looked upon as straight hair. Relaxers, usually manufactured locally, are available for Volunteers who wish to use them. US brand name hair products may be available but they may be more expensive.
Hispanic American Volunteers may be surprised to find that some Dominicans are unaware that not all Hispanic Americans are of Mexican origin. Because there is a small population of Dominicans of South Asian descent, some Asian-American Volunteers have been misidentified as Dominicans, especially in urban areas.
Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers
Approximately 5 percent of Volunteers in the Dominican Republic are seniors. The vast majority of other people in the Peace Corps community are in their 20s. Service in the Dominican Republic can present significant social and logistical issues for senior Volunteers. Dealing with family emergencies, maintaining lifelong friendships, and arranging power of attorney for financial matters may be more problematic for older Volunteers than younger ones. Still, senior Volunteers find Dominicans, the Peace Corps staff, and fellow Volunteers to be very welcoming.
Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers
Homosexual or bisexual Volunteers are not able to express their sexual orientation as openly as they may have in the United States because of cultural differences and machismo in the Dominican Republic. Because of prejudice against homosexuals in Dominican society, it is wise to know your community and co-workers well before disclosing your sexual orientation.
While there are certainly homosexuals in the Dominican Republic, they do not have the level of acceptance found in much of the United States. Although some Dominicans consider homosexuality immoral, their view of homosexuality among foreigners may be quite different from their view of homosexuality among nationals. Styles of hair and clothes and earrings on men may be considered inappropriate by Dominicans.
Most Dominican homosexuals probably have migrated to larger cities, but many Peace Corps Volunteers are posted in small communities. Relationships with homosexual or bisexual host country nationals can happen, but as with other cross-cultural relationships, they may not be easy.
Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers
Volunteers are frequently asked about their religious affiliation and may be invited to attend a community church. Volunteers not in the practice of attending church may be challenged to explain their reluctance, but it is possible to politely decline if the church or religion is not one of your choice. Most Volunteers find effective ways to cope with this and feel quite at home in the Dominican Republic.
Possible Issues for Volunteers With Disabilities
As a disabled Volunteer in the Dominican Republic, you may find that you face a special set of challenges. In the Dominican Republic, as in other parts of the world, some people may hold prejudicial attitudes about individuals with disabilities and may discriminate against them. What is more, there is very little of the infrastructure to accommodate individuals with disabilities that has been developed in the United States.
As part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps Office of Medical Services determined that you were physically and emotionally capable, with or without reasonable accommodations, to perform a full tour of Volunteer service in the Dominican Republic without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or interruption of your service. The Peace Corps/ Dominican Republic staff will work with disabled Volunteers to make reasonable accommodations in training, housing, job sites, or other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively.
Possible Issues for Married Volunteers
Being a married couple in the Peace Corps has its advantages and its challenges. It helps to have someone by your side to share your experience with, but there are also cultural expectations that can cause stress in a marriage. It is important to remember that you are in a foreign country with new rules and you need to be open-minded about cultural differences. A couple may have to take on some new roles.
A married man may be encouraged by Dominicans to be the more dominant member in the relationship, be encouraged to make decisions independently of his spouse, or be ridiculed when he performs domestic tasks. A married woman may find herself in a less independent role than she is accustomed to or may be expected to perform "traditional" domestic chores such as cooking or cleaning. She may also experience a more limited social life in the community than single Volunteers (since it may be assumed that she will be busy taking care of her husband). Competition between a couple may become a difficulty, especially if one spouse learns faster than the other (e.g., language skills, job skills). There also may be differences in job satisfaction and/or different needs between spouses. Younger Volunteers may look to couples for advice and support. Married couples also are likely to be treated with more respect because the community sees marriage as a responsibility. They may be asked when they will have children.


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Events » Adult Education Classes » Drawing Class
Drawing Class
Natural Beauty: Deconstructing Flowers
Date: Friday, May 17, 2013
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Educator: Jamie Sweetman
Type: Drawing Class
Celebrate the beauty of nature with artist Jamie Sweetman as she leads a series of drawing classes in the galleries and garden. Students practice essential drawing techniques aimed at better understanding natural forms.
Like Monet's Giverny, the Norton Simon's garden is home to a wide variety of plant life. In this third session, participants devote the evening to drawing en plein air in the Museum's garden, studying the formal structures of plants and flowers to create works inspired by the splendors of nature.
Meets in Entrance Gallery | All levels of experience are welcome. Each class is $20 ($16 for members), and space is limited to 18 participants. All materials and admission to the galleries on the day of class are included. | Online registration is required. For further information, contact the Education Department at (626) 844-6980.


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November 29, 2011
Give Through Your IRA
A great opportunity to support Yellowstone through an IRA Rollover ends December 31, 2011
If you are 70 ½ or older and do not need your withdrawals from your IRA, find out how your charitable giving just got easier!
The IRA Charitable Rollover, which will expire on December 31, 2011, originally passed in 2006 as part of the Pension Protection Act.
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Sky-high lacquered cork wedge with deep tan leather upper. 'Jill' from Dolce Vita steps into spring with serious style.
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Choose the period
Today, my boss "borrowed" my prescription sunglasses off my desk. She crashed her car because they made her dizzy, and thinks I should pay for the damages. FML
by whateven / 01/08/2013 at 12:45pm / United States (Pennsylvania) / Work
Today, I was at a party with my crush. The collar on his shirt was sticking up so I fixed it for him. He gave me a hug and said, "Aww you're so good to me. You're like my mother. You can be my college mother." I got mother-zoned. FML
by shiney100893 / 01/14/2013 at 7:56am / Ireland (Dublin) / Love
Today, after applying for a job at a tanning salon, I was told they don't hire "naturally tan" people. I'm black. FML
by Anonymous / 01/21/2013 at 7:48am / United States (Maryland) / Work
Today, it's been two months since I got a kitten. He loves to hide, and then surprise me by jumping out of his hiding place. It was quite a surprise when he launched himself out of my bag during class. FML
by Kitten_Love / 01/28/2013 at 2:52pm / Animals
Today, while having sex with my boyfriend, he reached out onto my dressing table to grab the lube. He missed, and found the hand sanitizer instead. I'm not sure who is in more pain. FML
by tingles / 01/19/2013 at 8:20am / United Kingdom (Solihull) / Intimacy
Today, I heard an owl near my house. I got excited, as they are not common in the area, and I listened intently to try and locate the source of the sound. After a few minutes, I realized I was not listening to an owl, but to my mother's sex noises. FML
by movingout / 01/26/2013 at 6:50pm / Australia (Victoria) / Intimacy
Today, my boyfriend and I decided to try some "prolonging gel" to help him last longer between the sheets. Surprisingly, it worked, and he lasted 3 times longer than usual. I can now enjoy 4 whole minutes of sex. FML
by Anonymous / 01/11/2013 at 12:17am / United States (Mississippi) / Intimacy
Today, my sister's boyfriend called while she was out. The second I answered he tried to have phone sex with me. When I explained to him that I wasn't my sister and that we just sound the same on the phone, he replied, "Don't care, let's keep going." FML
by Awkward... / 01/29/2013 at 4:40am / United States (Texas) / Intimacy
Today, instead of the traditional midnight kiss, my husband handed me divorce papers. FML
by Sarah / 01/01/2013 at 10:15am / United States / Miscellaneous
Today, while I was having sex, he stopped, looked at me all seriously and said, "Permission to climax, ma'am?" FML
by Anonymous / 01/14/2013 at 12:58pm / United States (Virginia) / Intimacy
Today, during the countdown to midnight, I looked for my girlfriend so I could kiss her as 2013 began. I found her just in time to see her making out with some guy she swore was "only a friend." FML
by Anonymous / 01/01/2013 at 2:50am / Australia (New South Wales) / Love
Today, a pregnant woman got on the bus. There were no free seats, so I stood up to give her mine. An obese man pushed past her, waddled over, and oozed into my seat. I said it was for the pregnant lady. He called me a "sexist bitch" and claimed he needed it more. FML
by protoplasm stole my seat / 01/25/2013 at 8:24pm / New Zealand (Waikato) / Miscellaneous
Today, my boyfriend broke up with me at my grandma's funeral. FML
by good job bf / 01/10/2013 at 11:06pm / United States (Pennsylvania) / Love
- Today, my boyfriend and I were messing around. When he slipped his hand down my pants, he scratched… Today, I walked in on my mom, legs spread and changing her tampon, all while she was carrying on a… Today, my girlfriend decided to invite her best friend over for a threesome. This would've been the…


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By Kevin Wilson
The Zia soccer team is looking to earn respect in the Lone Star Conference this year, one practice and one song at a time.
Members of the inaugural Eastern New Mexico University women's soccer team are preparing for a 15-game regular season, starting Aug. 30 against College of the Southwest at Alamosa, Colo.
The team is comprised of members of the now-defunct ENMU soccer club, freshmen and transfers brought in by coach Travis McCorkle.
The blueprint for building a new soccer program, McCorkle said, starts with finding a balance between skill and team chemistry.
"I think you try to find the best players you can," said McCorkle, who will also coach the men's soccer team when it opens play in 2004. "The prototype player you look for are girls that create a good atmosphere. The atmosphere you create is the one you recruit future players from."
Some of McCorkle's players were an easy sell, as they were soccer club members pushing to create a team that would compete with the rest of the Lone Star Conference.
Junior Amy Barbour was part of that movement, as she was a two-year member of the club.
"It's very gratifying knowing that it counts now because we've been pushing for it," Barbour said. "It's nice to know we're getting respect for what we're doing."
Whether or not the Zias can get respect from the rest of the Lone Star Conference is a toss-up right now. McCorkle, who was an assistant at Angelo State, is no rookie to the LSC. His players are, however, and he's looking to make that a rallying point.
"I'll be looking to use my experience in the Lone Star Conference to help us out," McCorkle said. "We know more about the other teams and the other teams don't know much about us, so we'll try to use that to our advantage."
The Zias open LSC play Oct. 3 at Texas Woman's University, and will be at home for a four-game homestand starting Oct. 10.
Recruiting is typically tough for a coach starting a new program, but some of the Zias said that McCorkle's enthusiasm during the spring recruiting period was convincing enough.
"I've never been part of a new program before," said Angelina Green, a Las Cruces native that transferred to ENMU from Cochise College in Ariz., "and I think it would be exciting to help build and grow a new program."
McCorkle expects the team to go through some early struggles, as opponents with experience will simply have a greater familiarity between teammates. To alleviate as many of those struggles as possible, McCorkle said the team is working on ice-breakers and team activities.
"I think they've gelled pretty quick," McCorkle said. "I'm not aware of any attitude problems, so thing are good in that aspect."
Tuesday's practice concluded with the girls singing McCorkle a song they wrote about being the Zia soccer team, set to the tune of "American Pie."


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Observations: The QandO Podcast for 30 Jan 11
In this podcast, Bruce, Michael, and Dale discuss the situation in Egypt.
The direct link to the podcast can be found here.
As a reminder, if you are an iTunes user, don't forget to subscribe to the QandO podcast, Observations, through iTunes. For those of you who don't have iTunes, you can subscribe at Podcast Alley. And, of course, for you newsreader subscriber types, our podcast RSS Feed is here. For podcasts from 2005 to 2010, they can be accessed through the RSS Archive Feed.
Challenging the media narrative and the results of the challenge
Bains, a long time commenter here at QandO, and someone who I enjoy reading, put out a rather lengthy comment on the post about the CBS News poll that showed the majority rejected the narrative that heated political rhetoric caused the Tucson shooting. I thought I'd give the bains comment some further visibility because it has some tasty parts that I think deserve discussion. Here's the comment in its entirety:
I'm noticing something else at play here. A theory of mine that recent events support, perhaps even validate. This will be long so please bear with me.
In 2008 I was in an argument with my father. I was lamenting that if only the media did its job, the nation might have a better idea of just who Barack Obama was, and where he wanted to take this nation. As with many of my friends, and evidently a good number of voters, he would have none of my criticism. Pop was, and still is, mired in a hatred of George W Bush. As such, he entirely missed the point I was trying to make. When news media becomes an advocate for a person, or a position, or a policy, we can not trust that media. It is not just that they are no longer 'objective'; no, they have become willing disseminators of propaganda. Most here know this.
In a fit, I said that his reliance upon the MSM would come back to bite. All the blowback to the partisan blame-naming that we have seen over the past several days is a good indication of that "bite".
No, it is not that the MSM is heavily biased leftward (they are). Rather, that those who have studiously ignored, and many have denied, this bent have seriously damaged their own cause. When one agrees with an author, or commenter, or pundit's point of view, it is quite easy not to call them out on the inaccuracies they use in promoting their cause. And for forty years, the major media outlets have rarely been taken to task for their inaccuracies. That the narrative was acceptable was/is all that is important – facts be damned. And for a long time, this worked: Bork was Borked, Gingrich shut down the government, Limbaugh was responsible for the OKCity bombing, Reagan and Bush's support of Israel caused 9-11, Humans cause global warming, and evil corporations (supported entirely and only by the right) caused all of our economic woes.
Instead of saying "wait a minute MSM, what proof do you have to make that statement" far too many folks nodded in agreement. Not because of a compelling argument, but because of an overwhelming agreement with how the conclusion could change the course of politics. Bork et al were/are bad solely because their views were/are in opposition to the enlightened, and therefore, brilliant judgments of the political "vanguard" – the Left.
Now what this has led to is a media, and the political left ill-suited to make compelling arguments. All this time, they have been living in an intellectually cloistered tabernacle, only hearing praise for all their illogical and un-provable prognostications. All their "brilliant" arguments are merely juvenile and facile, applauded only because they "proved" the proper position (approved by the 'right' cocktail circuits in the 'right' locations with the 'right' dignitaries approving).
Pundits of this ilk, say Paul Krugman and many others, have been living in a world of masturbatory bliss. Egos massaged, they willingly shelve any intellectual acumen for further gratification. They proudly spout the approved line, support the approved policy, advocate the approved politician, fighting evil in the name of (party approved) decency and Nobility. Hell, a Nobel Prize proves they must be brilliant (and Noble)! But therein lies the (nasty sandpaper) rub. There will come a time when they will not be able to hide their intellectual inadequacies behind a screaming choir.
This is why we see, I surmise, Krugman, his hosting broadsheet, and so many others, going off the deep end regarding the shooting in Tucson. They are loosing their grip on the narrative, and are petulantly lashing out at those who are more and more willing to reject not just the politically motivated narrative, but also those who mindlessly foist that narrative.
Bains' theory is similar to the thoughts I've had (although I'd hesitate to call mine a theory, so ill formed are those thoughts at this moment) about the state of the media. I think bains raises some interesting points. As my brother has said to me, the internet's democratization of publishing and commentary is as "important as Gutenberg's invention of moveable type". The more I observe what is happening, the more I agree. Bains takes that a step further to point out the impact and implications that "invention" is having.
Gutenberg took the Bible away from those who controlled it's narrative at the time – the Church. It was the beginning of the end of the Church's power. No longer were they the sole possessors of the written word or the narrative. Now many, many more could directly possess what only the wealthy church could previously possess (since Bibles at the time were all hand made and hideously expensive) and they were also able to offer their own (and competing) interpretations as well.
For a few centuries, the "media" has been – in some form or another – pretty much the sole provider of "news". It chose the topics, it chose how they were treated and it chose how they were presented, followed up and talked about. Or, as bains points out, they controlled the narrative.
That's big power. And for the most part, they had no competition except within their own industry. So people like Krugman, et al, became used to having their opinion accepted as "the" opinion and were able to push whatever narrative their ideology demanded as the "common wisdom".
But there was a true revolution brewing that they missed completely. As Al Gore's internet stood up in the mid to late '90s a challenge developed to the "official narratives" that were then considered conventional wisdom. No longer were the keepers of the narrative unchallenged. The first thing I remember – and this was before blogs or just as blogs were beginning to develop – was the "Tailwind" scandal where CNN's Peter Arness was brought down over a lie that US troops used poison gas in Cambodia (I believe – this is from memory).
Then came Rathergate, when blogs came into their own and destroyed the story a major news organization was pushing as true and accurate. It wasn't.
Since then and with the rise of the democratized press, bains theory seems to describe well what has and is happening. Krugman seems to me to be the perfect example of the establishment media's reaction to the situation.
Certainly there have been vast changes in the media itself. The rise of radio then television. The death of "appointment TV" with the rise of cable news. Etc. But all of those still had an insular media in charge of the narrative and able, for the most part, to do what bains describes.
Not anymore – with the bar to entry lowered so that anyone with an internet account can challenge the big boys and their narrative the monopoly on information deemed "news" is over. The decision as to what is or isn't "news" is not something the traditional media can dictate anymore. Proof of that are the many stories essentially ignored by the traditional media, kept alive in the blogosphere and finally and reluctantly covered by the MSM.
Anyway, seemed a great topic for discussion – go for it.


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Speedster Juan Pierre Latest Addition to "New Look" White Sox
It is now official. The Sox have acquired speedy outfielder Juan Pierre from the Dodgers for two minor league pitchers (rumored to be John Ely and Jon Link). The Sox will only be paying about half of the $18 million owed to Pierre over the next two seasons.
So the search for a leadoff man is over as the choice is Pierre over the likes of Scott Podsednik, Coco Crisp and Brett Gardner. The latest Sox addition, 32, hit .308, had a .365 on-base percentage with 30 stolen bases in 425 plate appearances last season.
The Sox certainly have a decidedly different–and much more speed-oriented and versatile–roster for 2010. More moves might be on the horizon with a DH perhaps in the offing, but with Pierre, Mark Teahen, Omar Vizquel, Andrew Jones and J.J. Putz added to recent additions Alex Rios and Jake Peavy, I already see us as the favorites in the A.L Central.
2 Comments
This deal sounds like a one year rental with Trade Deadline possibilities due to the 2012 contract amount.
But that can be a great thing. You get a guy who has stolen more bases than anyone in baseball, and half his salary is paid for by his old club.
Also it gives the White Sox extra options on their defensive side of the ball, plus a nice piece off the bench when he is not starting games.
Sometimes moves like this one end up being the cornerstone of the whole thing coming together for a team.
Rays Renegade
I love this move. While I hate to see Scott Podsednik as a former member of the White Sox, I think Kenny made the right choice. We now have what Ozzie has been asking for! Speed…….defense……….and most of all……Pitching!!!!! Anyone else can't wait for spring training to start?


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Choose the period
Today, I went to bed with a bra on. I woke up with no bra on. My brother had a friend sleep over last night. I wonder where my bra went. FML
by Anonymous / 12/31/2012 at 3:04pm / United States / Miscellaneous
Today, I walked in on my son and his friend comparing their penis sizes. They're 6. FML
by oh my son / 12/23/2012 at 1:02am / Canada (Ontario) / Miscellaneous
Today, it was my first time at the club. I saw a really cute girl. I finally worked up the courage to ask her to dance. Before I even got within five feet of her, she looked me in the eyes and vehemently shook her head. I did a 180. My friends saw everything. They are still laughing. FML
by divingconfidence / 12/22/2012 at 6:21am / United States (Minnesota) / Miscellaneous
Today, my house was broken into. The cop that came turned out to be a guy I fought over a girl with in high school. He sneered and said that everything appeared to be in order, and that I probably ransacked my own house. FML
by doblex / 12/20/2012 at 6:19am / United States / Miscellaneous
Today, I went shopping. At the counter, the cashier started flirting with me and asked me for my number. He was cute, so I gave it to him. After walking out of the store, I got a text that said, "I didn't want to say it out loud, but your pants are unzipped." FML
by Ren / 12/28/2012 at 2:49am / United States (Ohio) / Miscellaneous
Today, I took my 5-year old daughter to get a photo taken with Santa, when she asked the dreaded question of why this Santa looked different from one at the other store. Before I could placate her, some cunt of a kid yelled, "Because he's not real, dumbass!" FML
by still had to pay / 12/23/2012 at 4:36pm / Australia / Kids
Today, I had plans for a romantic night with my boyfriend, who is perfect in every way possible. We were going to have sex for the first time as well. Unfortunately, I had a dream last night about him shitting all over me and I can't look at him with a straight face. FML
by Anonymous / 12/17/2012 at 3:17am / United States / Intimacy
Today, I told my husband to tell me his wildest fantasy. He told me it was to put on fake antlers and "do it like deer". FML
by Kasey Eames / 12/23/2012 at 1:19am / United States (California) / Intimacy
Today, I confronted my 18-year-old daughter about her excessively lengthy showers. She said she didn't see the big deal, considering the water "comes free with the house." No dear, it doesn't. FML
by Jane / 12/22/2012 at 6:29pm / Canada (Ontario) / Kids
Today, I had to do a presentation in front of my entire school. I was very nervous, so I used the old trick of picturing everyone naked. Everyone then got a good view of my erection. FML
by Anonymous / 12/10/2012 at 3:41pm / Canada (Ontario) / Intimacy
Today, I found out my new girlfriend is a screamer. This would normally turn me on, except she sounds like she's being murdered with a rusty fork. FML
by Dontwaketheneighbors / 12/06/2012 at 9:24am / United States (California) / Intimacy
Today, I sent a cute, jokey text to my girlfriend saying, "Just in case the world ends, I love you." Not only did she dump me because I was an "idiot for believing in the doomsday", which I don't, she also wrote a Facebook status about it. Now everyone thinks I'm mentally unstable. FML
by Anonymous / 12/20/2012 at 7:37pm / Norway (Vestfold) / Love
Today, my boyfriend was dropping me off home and we were still in the car. When I went in to give him a hug, my hand hit his shoulder and I dropped my phone at his feet. Just as I pulled back up with it, my dad was staring at us from outside. He still appears to think I was giving him head. FML
by Anonymous / 12/11/2012 at 2:20am / United States (California) / Intimacy
- Today, my boyfriend and I were having sex and he thrusted too fast. It caused him to come out of me… Today, my bike brakes failed as I was going downhill. I ended up running a light and hit a car at… Today while walking to the shop under the blistering African sun, I stepped on something that stuck…


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Press Release
Leading palaeontologist speaks on evolutionary change
One of Australia's most recognised and respected palaeontologists has been invited to speak at the 116th annual meeting of the Geological Society of America.
Dr Kath Grey, who has been resident palaeontologist for more than 30 years at the West Australian Department of Industry and Resources' Geological Survey Division, will present the results of her studies of an asteroid impact that occurred at Lake Acraman in South Australia about 580 million years ago.
Dr Grey's results suggest that the event, known as the "Acraman impact", may have set the scene for the so-called "Cambrian explosion", one of the biggest evolutionary changes in the geological record.
"My evidence contradicts parts of the widely accepted 'Snowball Earth' theory, which claims that evolutionary changes resulted from a devastating ice age, when ice sheets completely covered the earth some 600 million years ago," Dr Grey said.
"Instead, it seems that the aftermath of an almost five kilometre diameter asteroid impact may have revolutionised the nature of life on earth. The impact itself would have created a crater about 90 kilometres in diameter.
"To put this in context, the asteroid would have been bigger than the Perth CBD and the crater would have extended from Rockingham, through Mundaring to Joondalup and Rottnest; the debris would have scattered beyond Geraldton, Mount Magnet, Merredin and Albany."
According to Dr Grey, the consequences of the impact would have been felt globally, with the main effect being the production of an enormous dust cloud.
"This dust cloud reached the stratosphere, blocking out sunlight and preventing photosynthesis, possibly for several months or even years," Dr Grey said.
"Life forms were fairly primitive at the time of the impact, however it seems to have severely affected the bacteria and simple algae that were the main components of the biota.
"As life began to recover from the event, new and more advanced forms of algae took over the vacant niches and evolved rapidly. Some of these new organisms belonged to types known to generate oil and gas in younger rocks and many played a significant role in increasing the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere.
"They formed the base of the food chain that allowed animals to evolve, so the changes that took place had a profound effect on later evolution."
About 6500 people will be at the Geological Society of America's meeting and Dr Grey is looking forward to presenting her findings to them.
"Many of the participants are from North America and I think they will include some of our biggest critics," Dr Grey said.
"Proponents and supporters of the 'Snowball Earth' theory will probably be there, so it will be interesting to hear their reaction.
"However, the meeting will provide an important forum to showcase and defend a significant piece of Australian scientific research."
Dr Grey graduated from Sheffield University in England in 1971 before she joined the Geological Survey of Western Australia, part of the Department of Industry and Resources. Her preliminary studies on the evolution of the algae 600 million years ago formed part of her PhD studies, completed in 1999 at Macquarie University in New South Wales, where she is also an Associate Researcher with the Australian Centre for Astrobiology.
Her work has greatly improved science's understanding of ancient life on earth including being instrumental in discovering some of the most convincing evidence of the earth's oldest fossilised stromatolites - near Marble Bar in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
In 2003 she was awarded one of the Geological Society of Australia's highest accolades, the Gibb Maitland Medal, in recognition of her world-class contribution to palaeontology and micropalaeontology and understanding of Western Australia's geology.
The 116th annual meeting of the Geological Society of America will be held at the Colorado Convention Centre in Denver from 7-10 November 2004.
Meeting Home Page | Registration | Technical Program | Field Trips | Courses & Workshops | Students | Events & Programs | Exhibits
GSA Home Page | Contact GSA | FAQs | Site Search | Site Map | Privacy Policy
© 2005 The Geological Society of America


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A beaver abode
March 1, 2012 —
A five-minute walk from The River Reporter office on Erie Avenue in Narrowsburg, NY leads to a site where a beaver has constructed a lodge from nature's building supplies gathered along the banks of the Delaware River. Although ice has threatened the structure several times, the mild winter has largely left the water in a fluid state, allowing the mound of saplings, branches and brush to remain intact.
Appropriately labeled "nature's engineers," beavers are North America's largest rodents, second only to South America's capybara, one specimen of which actually lives in Milford, PA at Country Ark Farm.
One of the beaver's most interesting features is its flat, scaly, shovel-like tail, which can be 15 inches long and up to seven inches wide. It stores fat in winter, serves as a rudder during swimming, helps regulate temperature, provides balance when the animal is transporting building materials and acts as a prop when the beaver is cutting down trees.
Beavers also use their tails to slap the surface of water to warn away potential predators. I've experienced this behavior repeatedly while paddling on Greeley Lake in Pike County, PA, where I've also observed beavers pluck lily pads from the lake's surface, roll them into cigar-like tubes and munch their way to the end.
Aiding in their watery building endeavors, beavers can remain submerged for up to 15 minutes and have valves that close off their ears and nostrils, lips that close behind their incisors to allow for carrying branches and a clear membrane that protects their eyes.
According to Paul Rezendes in his highly informative "Tracking and the Art of Seeing," beavers can also be extremely affectionate. "I have often seen them swimming in circles in one another's arms, rubbing noses, or cozily munching on a communal twig," he writes.


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Big Zinnia (White) - Plant
The most brilliant white zinnia you ll ever see.
( 2 times booked in last 90 days )
The pack contains 5 bulbs each of
- Gladiolus bulbs
- Rajanigandha bulbs
- Zephyranthes bulbs
*Use coupon : FMTFRG
-High Quality 8 inch Plastic Pot with each plant.
-Offer Valid on orders with 3 or more Plants
Color: Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Purple, White, Multicolor
Bloom time: Summer
Height: 18 to 24 inches.
Difficulty level: Easy.
Planting & Care
Zinnia leaves are opposite and usually stalkless (sessile), with a shape ranging from linear to ovate, and pale to middle green in color. The flowers have a range of appearances, from a single row of petals, to a dome shape, with the colors white, chartreuse, yellow, orange, red, purple, and lilac.
Zinnias seem especially favored by butterflies, and many gardeners add zinnias specifically to attract them.
Sunlight: Full sun.
Soil: Rich, well-drained soil.
Water: Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, for young plants. Mature zinnias require less watering, as grown flowers are somewhat drought tolerant.
Temprature: above 50 F. (10 C).
Fertilizer: A 5-10-5 fertilizer in mid season will help to keep zinnia plants growing strongly.
- Zinnia care may also include watering in the early morning, which allows the foliage and flowers ample time to dry off before nightfall.
Ornamental use:
- Use in an annual or mixed border.
- Smaller zinnias are suitable for edging, window boxes or other containers.
- The narrow-leaf zinnia also works well in hanging baskets.
Zinnias are very popular for cut flowers.
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/zinnia/growing-zinnia-flowers.htm http://www.almanac.com/plant/zinnias


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Soccerfest XIV (Grapevine) May 16-19, 2013
U7-U19 boys and girls recreational teams; 5 guest players allowed for recreational teams; U11-U19 boys & girls competitive teams; 5 guest players allowed for competitive teams; U7-U10 boys and girls academy teams; 0 guest players allowed for Academy teams; 3 game minimum; Deadline: May 9, 2013; Entry fee: U7- U8 recreational $200; U9-U10 recreational $250; U11-U14 recreational $325; U15-U19 recreational $375; U7-U8 academy $375; U9-U10 academy $400; U11-U14 competitive teams $500; U15-U19 competitive teams $525. Contact: Dianne Hackney; E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com; Phone: 817-410-9950; for more information please visit www.gssasoccerfest.com.
Sanctioning Form
Tournament Website


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9. Don't forget to hear your son screaming, think it's only a bloody nose, then recoil in horror when you wipe at the little appendage and realize that the bottom part of it is no longer attached to his face. Actually, if you remember correctly, the words you used were, "Oh my God! What happened to your face?!"
8. Way to keep your cool.
7. Don't drive to the wrong ER, and especially, don't almost drive the wrong way down a one-way street so that two maintenance men on the side of the road have to do jumping jacks to get you to not make that error.
6. Don't spend 5 hours waiting, imagining yourself explaining exactly what happened to the ER staff as your son is introduced to his new foster family.
5. Don't forget the forensic evidence. They will bag it for you, and most likely use it as evidence against you in court:
4. Don't laugh when the ER nurse tells you that your son looks like Gary Busey's mug shot as he is waking up from anesthesia.
3. Don't be ashamed to tell the cosmetic surgeon that no, you will most definitely not be going to the cafeteria, thankyouverymuch, because you want to document his work for your blog:
2. Don't forget to remember just how much you love this little man. Seeing him hurt makes you realize once again that you'd do anything to make his little world all right.
2. Oh - one other thing. He will most likely never let you live this down.
1. Come on, you know yourself. You'd feel guilty for the rest of your life if he did.


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This may become one of the more attractive parts of all star weekend if they get the right players every year. Kobe and Lebron, you do what I do type. Should be interesting.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]NEW YORK (AP) -- H-O-R-S-E has galloped into the NBA's All-Star weekend.
The popular shooting contest will be part of TNT's coverage of All-Star Saturday night, the network announced Tuesday. Three NBA players, who will be revealed later, will take part.
The competition will take place outdoors at the NBA's All-Star Block Party in Phoenix on Feb. 14. The dunk contest, 3-point shootout and skills challenge are later Saturday night, and the All-Star game is Sunday.
If a player makes a shot in H-O-R-S-E, the next competitor must make the same shot or receive a letter. Players will have 24 seconds to execute their shots, and an NBA referee will rule if they're done properly. Dunking won't be allowed.
A player gets an 'H' for his first miss and is eliminated once he has all five letters of the word.
I would be laughing my ass off if they put Lebron in it.
This may become one of the more attractive parts of all star weekend if they get the right players every year. Kobe and Lebron, you do what I do type. Should be interesting.
my picks for contestants
1. DWade
3. Nate (so he could win em both....)
DaTPRiNCE...That EGYPTiAN Fella, #MeloMafia
I think Horse is a good idea for the All Star weekend. I think the NBA should also add a 2 on 2 tournament.
Jeremon Linbury
2-on-2 tournament isn't a bad idea....another one would be a legends vs current players 2 on 2 tournament like Dwade and Jordan vs Kobe and Magic that would be sick.
Nate would be good for the horse competition , but yea Kobe, Wade and Carter would be fun to watch.
it would be hilarious if at the tip of the trophy is a horse
DaTPRiNCE...That EGYPTiAN Fella, #MeloMafia
sheed winning
this event can either great or terrible
Yea I agree with putting kobe in. Maybe he can jump a moving car and take a jumpshot at the same time. Lol.
What I'm wondering is- will the players decline the offer to play HORSE?
They announced the participants today they are Durant,Mayo, and Johnson...good not great they coulda done better but I'll still watch Mayo got this one
DaTPRiNCE...That EGYPTiAN Fella, #MeloMafia
My moneys on durant. Longer wingspan can help him do acrobatic shots from behind the rim.
Durant is stinking up the place so far. Mayo is killin' it.
what a comeback by Durant he caught fire
DaTPRiNCE...That EGYPTiAN Fella, #MeloMafia
Good comeback from Durant. That was fun, but they need to get better players. Next year-Kobe, D-Wade, Durant.