text:
Mortgage Grapevine
Political: Let's talk NFL Football. Aaron Rodgers... Captain Bias
Click Here
So Rodgers says the MVP should go to a quarterback and not a Viking. Talk about bias! I hope the Vikings kick his ass this weekend. Probably not going to happen.
Do the Browns have a coach yet?
If you live on the east coast, you could actually go to the Redskins and Ravens games the same day. That would be interesting to do.
I want to see Manning vs. Brady.
Don't think the Vikes are strong enough. Falcons are beatable. Not sure about the NFC. Seahawks and Niners have good defenses.
by the voice of reason January 4, 2013 2:43 PM
A Running Back would probably say the MVP should go to a Running Back and a Kicker will tell you it should go to a Kicker and etc etc
Let Rodgers spout off all he wants. You cant tell me he and his team are not a little bit nervous for this game. Not because it is a playoff game, but because the Vikings have shown they can stay with GB.
Take away 2 moronic throws by Ponder in the Red Zone in week 13 at Lambaugh which turned into picks and we win there too.
I dont know how this game is going to turn out, but this isnt a cake ride for GB. My biggest concern is that this is the coldest game Ponder has ever started as QB in. It will be interesting to see how he handles cold hands and a football that feels like a rock.
Nobody, including me, thought the Vikings would be where they are with 4 games to play in the season and the hardest 4 remaining games of any NFL team. They needed to win out and did. They play well with their backs against the wall. Should be a fun game to watch, I hope.
by Unfair and Imbalanced January 4, 2013 3:18 PM
Maybe Rodgers needs to do a "discount double check".
by Mulligan January 4, 2013 3:21 PM
The Vikings need to win the turnover game and score td's and not fg's. Maybe the cold weather slows Rodgers down but if the pack commits to the pass they will kill the Vikings. I think the Packers have run the ball too much this year. I'm hoping for 30 mph winds and real cold to even things out. Throw in some snow.
What is wrong with the Texans? Big fade....
by the voice of reason January 4, 2013 4:06 PM
Should be an interesting game. For the Vikes to have a shot I think AP needs to have a monster game around 200 yards and keep Rodgers off the field. Still think Green Bay can put up too many points against them though.
by ConservativeMe January 4, 2013 4:24 PM
TVOR, no the Browns do not have an NFL coach yet. Come to think of it, they haven't had one in the past 13 years.
If they get the guy I think they will, they still won't have an NFL coach yet.
The Vikes played very well this year but this will be the end of the run. GB is on a mission.
The Texans' D is all beat up. That's the problem. They won't cover the spread this weekend but they'll get the win.
Ravens fell apart, Cinci is coming into their own but I don't think the Red Rocket has what it takes and Flaco needs to prove he can win.
Flip a coin with the Redskins and SHawks. #5 Offense going up against the #4 Defense. A healty RGIII, Skins all the way, but with a bum knee, I don't know but if I had to pick, I'd go with the Skins based strickly on coaching.
by doccustodian January 4, 2013 4:40 PM
CM first, TVOR 2nd
AP has already had 2 huge games against GB this year and I expect him to do the same again. I dont care what the long haired freak Clay Mathews says. He says he wont have a big game. When its cold and youre tired late in the game, the last thing you want is to have AP come at you and run you over. Thats gonna hurt.
Also, Rodgers only lit us up when our CB Winfield went down during that second game. As soon as he left, we put some shit bag in there that didnt have a clue and Rodgers exploited him. Winfield WILL play tomorrow night so Rodgers wont be able to play pitch and catch on that side of the field anyways.
Forecast is for 19-20 degrees at kickoff with temps dropping as the game goes on. Possible flurries too but it should be just your typical cold night here in the Upper Midwest.
by Unfair and Imbalanced January 4, 2013 6:06 PM
I'm pulling for you. It would be nice to see the Vikes win. It's tough to be against the team that has the far superior QB with the league the way it is these days.
by ConservativeMe January 4, 2013 7:00 PM
Thanks CM
Im even fine with a loss. It was a step in the right direction just getting to the playoffs.
This is the 2 greatest weekends of the year, other than opening of ducks and deer. We get 2 NFL playoff games on Saturday and Sunday for two weekends in a row.
Memo to my wife. Dont bug me.
by Unfair and Imbalanced January 5, 2013 11:21 AM
This is the 2 greatest weekends of the year, other than opening of ducks and deer. We get 2 NFL playoff games on Saturday and Sunday for two weekends in a row.
Memo to my wife. Dont bug me.
by Unfair and Imbalanced January 5, 2013 11:21 AM
This is the best weekend. Gonna go walk the dogs around 4:00 PM and let the first part of the game record on DVR. Pick up a pizza and park my ass on the couch for the rest of the day.
Hope your wife gets the memo...
by ConservativeMe January 5, 2013 11:53 AM


text:
From Alki to Endolyne, the West Seattle Art Walk is brought to you by your local West Seattle merchants. Dozens of merchants in the West Seattle Junction, Alki Beach, Admiral District, Morgan Junction, Fauntleroy District and Delridge are displaying art and showcasing artists the second Thursday of EVERY month, 6-9pm!
AKANumber 113ActiveSpaceFeturing Architecture, Art, Wine, and Beer.
Post a Comment

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Panasonic FX550 - a swanky-looking touch screen compact camera with 25mm wide angle lens; it looks the part and has the specs to match. So how does the FX550 fare when put to the test? The What Digital Camera Panasonic Lumix FX550 review investigates...
Panasonic Lumix FX550 review
Panasonic Lumix FX550 Review
The Panasonic Lumix FX550 (or FX580 as it's known Stateside) is Panasonic's latest 12.1 megapixel compact camera. The FX550 incorporates a 3in touch screen and wide angle 25mm lens to boot. If you're looking to review which wide angle compact to buy this year then the Panasonic FX550 is a sure-fire contender. Read on for the What Digital Camera Panasonic FX550 review…
Panasonic FX550 Review: Features
The Panasonic FX550 is choc-full of top features. From the 3in touch-screen LCD – you can tap away with either the provided stylus pen or less dainty fingers – to the wide angle 25mm lens with 5x optical zoom; that makes the FX550 capable of 25-125mm (as a 35mm equivalent). Add Mega Optical Image Stabilisation to help avoid soft images from movement, fully manual controls (PASM) and a large array of scene modes – including Panasonic's 'intelligent Auto' (iA) – to cater for the novice through to the more knowledgeable photographer: the Panasonic Lumix FX550 already sounds like a winning combination. There's even manual ISO controls, a 720p HD video mode (1280×720), face recognition, particularly clever AF-tracking and even some panorama stitching software bundled into the box for further good measure. Those across the Atlantic may know the FX550 as the FX580 – they are one and the same camera, albeit with different names.
Panasonic FX550 Review: Design
The Panasonic FX550 comes in either black or a smart-looking silver (pseudo-brushed aluminium, as pictured). We at What Digital Camera think that either option would be a fine purchase, and at a relatively small and thin size the Lumix FX550 can easily slip into a bag, coat or pocket without excessively protruding…
By-and-large the FX550 has intuitive controls throughout use, with the notable sell-point being the inclusion of a touch screen LCD – which, at 3in, is more than large enough to fumble around with fingers or, as would be proper, use the provided stylus (though it is a bit plasticy and lacks the finish of the rest of the camera). The FX550's semi-retro look doesn't attempt to throw unnecessary curves or buzz-word designs into the fray either; plumping for elegant simplicity (though, sorry ladies, not available in hot pink).
If the touch screen option gets a little too much for you then the Lumix FX550 also offers quick access menu buttons too. Better still, for added ease of use, you can use the camera's d-pad to select options or utilise the touch screen as you please – sometimes it feels easier to chop and change between the two. As Apple iPhone users (or other touch screen devices) will only be too aware, the touch screen revolution is in full swing and Panasonic fully takes charge of that technology here. However, when sliding some manual settings (such as shutter speed which varies from 60-1/12000th/sec) things can get a little fiddly to land on the precise setting of your choice.
Panasonic FX550 Review: Performance
The Panasonic FX550 is an all-round performer. The What Digital Camera Panasonic Lumix TZ7 review shows that Panasonic's output is consistently high-calibre, and the FX550 is no washout when it comes to getting the shot.
Scene modes appear in abundance – some 'fun' options such as pinhole, film grain or black and white effects. Others assist with soft focus, portraiture, night shots; even 'baby' and 'pet' scene options. 720p HD video is a nice option to have and records at a good 30fps rate, only without the functionality of using the zoom whilst recording. Most notably the FX550 provides fully manual PASM options too. From manual to shutter or aperture priority, you can set up shot as you wish – the only thing really lacking here (and this is being very pernickety) is some kind of manual focus option (an electronic control via the zoom would have been nice) which would put some extra-special icing on the cake.
Panasonic's intelligent Auto (iA) mode also features as a forefront feature of the FX550. The goal of this is to auto adjust ISO, utilise image stabilisation, face detection and intelligent scene selector (the camera 'judges' what you are looking at and chooses a scene accordingly) to gain the best possible shot whatever you're up against. In practice, as with all cameras, there are limitations to how far this can be extended.
The Panasonic Lumix FX550 also makes use of AF tracking – it's a clever mode where you can see your prime subject on the LCD screen (might be your pet dog to the left hand side, for example) and you can click to track using your finger. If successful a yellow 'target' will float over the subject and, should the subject move, track it around the screen to ensure that, when you do finally press the shutter, the AF tracking point will best focus and expose your target subject (assuming he's not run out of frame). Very nifty indeed.
Lens-wise it's fantastic to have a 25mm wide angle compact camera and the Lumix FX550 is no exception. Panasonic has been touting wide angle compacts for some time now and seems to have successfully carved its own niche into the market where other manufacturers are playing catch-up.
Panasonic Lumix FX550 Review sample image – wide angle (click for fullsize image)
Perhaps a slight, if not the only, real niggle with the Panasonic's performance is the occasionally temperamental autofocus. It's not inaccurate, but can be a little slow to gain focus. Also the otherwise advanced AF tracking can fail to pick up the subject you wish to track, depending on the complexity of the scene and how much subject movement there is. Finally the screen can be a little overly-reflective in bright light – particularly if you're smudging fingers against the FX550's touch screen.
More info:
Panasonic Lumix FX550 – image quality & value for money
Panasonic Lumix FX550 – verdict
Image Quality & Value For Money
The Panasonic Lumix FX550 utilises Panasonic's in-house Venus Engine V – the fifth incarnation of the imaging concept that, fundamentally, is a bunch of clever algorithms to attain the best image quality possible. The FX550 houses a small 1/2.33 CCD sensor and crams 12.1 megapixel capability into that small space. Sensor nodes require as much space as possible to 'breathe' and let as much available light in as possible. Sometimes too many megapixels on a sensor can actually hinder the image quality, particularly when dealing with higher ISO sensitivity.
This is perhaps where the Panasonic LX550 comes a little unstuck, though not significantly – it's more a small hurdle in an otherwise decent performance. In bright light on auto or at low ISO settings the image quality is good; it drifts somewhat at the upper echelons of ISO 800-1600, there image quality deteriorates significantly.
The Panasonic FX550 also comes with a Leica 5x optical zoom (25mm-125mm) lens which delivers quality results. Whilst, as is inherent in the small compact camera format, the aperture range is limited and depth of field widely uncontrollable due to small image size, it's the ideal snapper for a wide range of subjects – moreso due to the built in flash for those darker moments (though the range is limited).
Panasonic FX550 Review – Value For Money
The Panasonic FX550 retails at £300, though hunt around on the web or in some high street stores and this can be cut down to as little as £240-270. Considering the rechargeable battery, wide angle lens and the touch screen, you're picking up a lot of clout for your finest hard-earned sterling. It's up there with the best of 25mm wide angle compact cameras.
If image quality is a real significant buy-in then you may wish to consider the Canon IXUS 990 – though this lacks the range of manual options and touch screen. Pound for pound the Panasonic FX550 has got quite the edge.
Quite simply the Panasonic FX550 (or FX580 for those across the pond) is an excellent little compact. Its simple design makes for easy functioning, further championed by the 3in touch screen, AF tracking and 25mm wide angle lens.
On occasion the autofocus may be a little slack, but with the fountain of other options that the Lumix FX550 puts on the table it's forgivable; especially when considering the excellent AF-tracking mode to ensure your subject (however non-stationary) is in focus. Image quality is good in decent light and, although less reasonable in dimly lit conditions, there is always the flash there to save your shots.
Find the Panasonic Lumix FX550 at the right price and you'll have a wide angle compact with manual modes to be proud of. At around the £250 mark you'll be hard pressed to find a much better deal. In short: What Digital Camera recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC FX550.
Quite simply the Panasonic FX550 (or FX580 for those across the pond) is an excellent little compact. Its simple design makes for easy functioning, further championed by the 3in touch screen, AF tracking and 25mm wide angle lens. On occasion the autofocus may be a little slack, but with the fountain of other options that the Lumix FX550 puts on the table it is forgivable; especially when considering the excellent AF-tracking mode to ensure your subject (however non-stationary) is in focus. Image quality is good in decent light and, although less reasonable in dimly lit conditions, there is always the flash there to save your shots.Find the Panasonic Lumix FX550 at the right price and you will have a wide angle compact with manual modes to be proud of. At around the £250 mark you will be hard pressed to find a much better deal. In short: What Digital Camera recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC FX550.


text:
How Many Witches Were Executed?!?
Jess Blumberg commits a significant error in a new article on the Salem Witch Trials. Once again a journalist with the support and authority of some magazine makes unsubstantiated and indefensible claims about the witch trials. This post takes Blumberg to task.
UPDATE: The editors at Smithsonian.com have corrected Blumberg's original article.
Posted by Darin Hayton on 10/27 at 03:50 PM


text:
"Motivational Business Processes" is an uplifting motivational track. Starts with simple chord progression with straight kick and builds up to electric guitar solo, rock drums and strings / piano arpeggio. This royalty free music have an inspiring innovate mood and will be good as a background in commercials, presentations, business videos.
Two versions are included, as heard on preview:
Full version 2:15
No drums version 2:15
To All Videohive Authors: Hi! You are very welcome to use any of my previews in your project (please, do not forget to link to the music in your description, and drop me back e-mail, so I could update my item description too with the link to your item). Thanks!
For any questions please contact me – firstname.lastname@example.com
Maxvic Music – all kind of atmospheric, ambient, inspirational, motivational, melodic, driving, emotional and uplifting music beds. This royalty free background music suitable for commercial presentations, promo movies, romantic videos, sentimental films, podcasts, You Tube videos, Vimeo videos, music for games, apple apps, business advertising, inspirational personal stories, inspirational company stories, optimistic and peaceful atmospheric videos, personal holiday movies, as a background music for films about science and nature etc…
Common Mood: relaxing, calm, positive, atmospheric, inspiring, confident, romantic, sentimental, powerful and driving, motivational with vibes of success and happiness
Thanks for visiting and Good Luck with your projects!


text:
Suppose is
- holomorphic with respect to the variable and measurable with respect to the variable
- such that there is a function with for any and . (this is a "domination" of )
Then the function is holomorphic, and .
(I didn't specify the intervals or domains, this is whatever you want)
This theorem is quite powerful. It shows for instance that the "integral function" is indefinitely differentiable, using only a domination of the function (and not of its derivatives).
In your situation, you'll probably have to apply this theorem to compact subsets of the domain (otherwise you won't be able to get the domination).


text:
Creative Process
Lady Muck's List
I write great lists: To Do, Errands, To Email, To Call. A well-crafted list can be beautiful. My problem is that I treat the list as the finished product. If it sits there long enough I begin to resent it.
And I don't even want to tell you how caught up I can become in deciding whether to ex off, check off, or cross out and if I should use highlighters or colored pens to prioritize.
As much as I love planners, list writing, and making notes etc., and given how good I am at organizing 'things', I am really quite terrible at managing my time and accomplishing tasks, especially anything free-floating, ie without deadlines and only important to me. I despair of this every day. I don't know how to begin.
In college I would copy over my class and reading notes, highlight and bookmark reading assignments, and stack everything up tidily on my desk. And then go for a walk. I'm not kidding. It's as though my only responsibility is to set up the task. Then, apparently, my work here is done. Like Lady Muck I wave my hand – holding a list – go forth and make it so.
Something is missing in me, I'm telling you. I really cannot relate to the utilization and management of time. I have a subconscious lack of faith in the human ability to create structure and effect change in the huge unknown territory that is time. I always think, "But will that happen? How do you know?" There are so many unknowns. What if you call everyone on your To Call list and no one answers? Does that count? Can you check/ex/cross it off? See? Or if you can't check/ex/cross it off, you just lost half an hour accomplishing nothing. Half an hour you can never get back. Time is laughing at you. Right now.
It is possible to make it all way too complicated. You can have too many lists and you should never, ever have more than one calendar. I have lists there, and a calendar here, and then I don't like that calendar so I get a different one, which changes nothing. And somehow my calendar never meets my list. I never can figure out which thing on the list to do now and when to stop that and start the next thing.
When I do choose a task from my list and finish it, I am surprised, as though it had nothing to do with me. When I have plans with a friend and I get ready and get there and she is there, too, it surprises me in the same way. It feels as though it had nothing to do with me. Time, to me, is not reliable. Time is not something you can count on.
It's okay you can say, "That's really weird." I know.
So in a Tweet from Lifehacker I found a link to Bullet Journal and thought I would give it a try. I recommend watching the video first as it explains it best. The Bullet Journal system is just that, a system. It is not a finished, perfect list, it is a work in progress, always. I want so much to trust that it will work. And it seems so simple, right?
Not to me. I think it is telling that when I read the web page (twice!) I was very confused and kept saying out loud, "I don't get this, I just don't get it." There was nothing tangible I could grasp. I really did not begin to conceptualize it until I read it four times. And then I still felt like, "Well, yeah, but how are the things actually done?" Maybe a time management system should come with drones. Lady Muck, waving her list…
This has to be called something, but I don't know what. Nuts, I think, would be the colloquial term.
But I am stoked to give Bullet Journal a try. I set up a wide ruled hardback compo book 📓 (love those) as a bullet journal and when I look at it, I am hopeful and emotional. Help is at hand. I begin to believe. I really feel like getting stuff done.
© Margaret Grant and magoffleash, 2012-2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.


text:
…another edition of Cassidy's Culture Combat Column
The City of Glenn Falls has gained the attention of national media after their eccentric mayor has petitioned the city council to rename the town after his favorite rock band, The Phish.
The bill, specially designated by the mayor with catalog number 420.24/7, will rename the town to "The Phishbury Township" if the controversial bill passes.
Besides the name change, the mayor has proposed to rename most of the major streets in the town. Main Street would become Antelope Rd, Maple Drive would become Yem Drive, and Elm Street would change to Kyndbud Lane. Also, the local grocery store is asked to restock with "AC/DC" stenciled shopping bags. The reason for this measure is unclear at this time.
Mayor "Diamond" Jack Johnson (D-Stoner), a longtime "phan" of the Phish, made the startling proposal at city hall during the latest city council meeting. After order was restored following an uproar by elected officials and citizens present at the meeting, Alderman Bud Williams voiced tremendous outrage and vowed to defeat the bill.
The Phish are a perverted acid pop funk metal group that has stolen the innocence of American youth since their two founding members split from the Grateful Dead in 1987. Bass guitarist and lead singer Phil Lesh teamed with Trey Pistachio to create the psychedelic supergroup and cause a teen sensation within the American pop music circuit.
Since this time, whirlwind tours and festivals draw children and middle-aged sex fiends by the hundreds of thousands to their concerts where an assault of overbearing noise, blinding strobe lights, and the acrid aroma of marijuana-laced air creates a freak out orgy rarely seen in a civilized society.
"Renaming the town would have a devastating effect on the economy of Glenn Falls," said Alderman Williams. "Not only will maps and letterheads need to be reprinted, there is a tremendous stigma associated with the wanton drug, sex, and gang violence culture that the band represents."
Mayor Johnson created a firestorm in June of last year when he declared Glenn Falls an "open city" for wayward The Phish-headz in the area for concerts at the nearby Saratoga Springs Music Theater. The staggering cost of cleanup and damage to local businesses was in six figures. Parents and authorities complained of the resulting drug addictions and juvenile delinquency that The Phish concerts so commonly leave in their wake.
A recall attempt to remove Johnson failed although many voter irregularities and ballot box stuffing allegations have yet to be heard in court.
Photo credits: Mayor Johnson, By David Shankbone, Licensed under, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/, Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/shankbone/6157391697/in/photolist-ao7f2P-32ezJg-2K9yy-5Hnhhe-519SCN-8gyCxa-ngmP9-7Y2AD1-eYfSHH-83fJTq-nco11-rb7rCK-7FnyTG-6kV3cX-5HrAhJ-4q3EVf-k9a1ox-FSVzR-6JKzB5-iJ5zE-4HXGuy-9pK6NS-e8jUo1-nMVVKk-7bdN8G-fmqdTj-Fs1MX-5roDnx-5roDgn-5roD6B-jg4o4V-kNHAg-9KNoU-8puywX-cuASe5-a5XP9g-4P9uTJ-3jKSNz-7gf88a-bstdsG-6bWTUm-axyCJw-6b983W-N9Xzm-duguNE-3MZVm8-8H8VGk-6aVRrR-5rrUXT-7zFBws
Glen Falls, NY City Hall, By Unknown, Wikipedia Error: "Could not load image details (error: http)," Licensed Under, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/, Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo,_Oregon#/media/File:Toledo_city_hall.jpg
City of Phishbury Flag, Courtesy of Mayor Johnson
Cassidy Pen
Create Your Badge


text:
State legislatures take action in 2013 as billions of dollars of life insurance policies are abandoned by seniors on a Medicaid spend-down path
By Chris Orestis
Life Care Funding
In today's stressed economic environment, policy owners need to understand that a life insurance policy is more than just a death benefit. It is a legally recognized asset that can help them in a number of ways, and simply walking away from a policy is their worst possible option.
The long-term care benefit conversion option is designed to serve a large but ignored population. This population of middle market life insurance policy owners with polices under $500,000 of death benefit value end up either lapsing or surrendering their in-force life insurance because they can no longer afford to pay the premiums and/or they are on a Medicaid spend-down path. Owners of small face policies with an immediate need for long-term care are not ideal candidates to purchase a long-term care insurance policy.
As an alternative to policy lapse or surrender, the long-term care benefit conversion is an immediate option to use their life insurance policy to pay for long-term care. The in-force life insurance policy can be converted to a long-term care benefit account in as little time as 30 days and then administered by a third party with payments made every month directly to the enrollee's choice of long-term care provider: home health, assisted living or nursing home.
For families with the need to pay for long-term care but who are unable or unwilling to keep their life insurance policy in-force by maintaining premium payments, the long-term care benefit conversion option is a much better choice than abandoning a policy. Policy owners use their legal right to convert an in-force life insurance policy to enroll in the benefit plan and are able to immediately fund their care through a guaranteed monthly payment stream for the entire benefit period.
Providers of long-term care services such as nursing homes, assisted living communities and home health agencies have been quick to embrace this alternative form of payment. State governments are also realizing that there is tremendous value to be found in converting life insurance policies to help pay for the costs of long-term care.
Life insurance policy is legally recognized as an asset of the policy owner, and it counts against them when qualifying for Medicaid. If a policy has anything more than a minimal amount of cash value (usually in the range of $2,000) it must be liquidated and spent towards cost of care before the owner will qualify for Medicaid. Any death benefit retained by the estate is exposed to probate action by federally mandated asset recovery action totake back any amounts spent on Medicaid-covered long-term care. All state Medicaid applications specifically ask if the applicant owns life insurance and requires full policy details. Failure to disclose and comply is fraud.
The owner of one or more policies has a variety of options to consider:
- A policy with more than a minimal amount of cash value must be surrendered back to the insurance company, with the proceeds spent down on care.
- A policy with no cash value does not need to be liquidated, but the death benefit will be subject to federally required Medicaid recovery efforts to return the money spent on care.
- Many states will exempt a small "final expense" policy if the full death benefit value is assigned to a funeral home.
- Third-party assignment or transfer of a life insurance policy for less than its fair market value is a violation of asset transfer rules if done within the 60-month (five-year) look back period.
- A policy owner has the legal right to convert a life insurance policy into a long-term care benefit plan at its fair market value and extend their spend-down period by covering cost of care as private pay, while preserving a portion of the death benefit until exhausted.
Instead of abandoning the policy and going immediately onto Medicaid, the life insurance asset is spent down in a Medicaid-compliant fashion — while preserving a portion of the death benefit for the family during the extended time period. Understanding the implications of billions of dollars in asset value that could be converted and spent on long-term care instead of just being abandoned, state legislatures across the country have begun taking action to educate the consumer about their legal rights to convert a life insurance policy.
- In 2011, the state of Connecticut introduced study bill SB 1153, an act "establishing a task force to study life insurance policy, annuity conversions and the provision of certain notifications by life insurance companies."
- In 2012, Louisiana passed study bill SCR-66, "to establish an advisory work group within the Department of Insurance to examine options that may be available to allow an insured under a life insurance policy or contract holder of an annuity to fund long-term care benefits." The Louisiana work group has concluded their meetings and a legislative proposal has been issued.
- In 2012, the state of Florida passed HB 5001, "to examine methods to allow an insured under a life insurance policy or the contract holder of an annuity to convert the policy or annuity to a long-term care benefit. The agency shall submit a report of findings and activities of the work group, including recommendations and proposed legislation, no later than January 15, 2013." The Florida study group has concluded their meetings and a legislative proposal has been issued.
It is common sense that the best interest of policy holders is to make decisions with full disclosure of their rights and options. In today's stressed economic environment, policy owners need to understand that a life insurance policy is more than just a death benefit. It is a legally recognized asset that can help them in a number of ways, and simply walking away from a policy is their worst possible option. Expect more legislative action like this to be introduced throughout the country, and as we enter 2013, legislative action on the findings of these study groups has begun.


text:
I am interested in progressive politics, citizen participation, real democracy and a full range of public policy issues from an Albertan and Canadian perspective.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Some Priority Concerns Raise Questions in the Alberta Budget
The Wildrose Alliance will say we have a spending problem and dire consequences will befall us is just wrong on the facts and misleading in the analysis. More on that in subsequent posts I expects. Bottom line is there is not deficit in this budget. We earmarked cash in the Stability Fund to pay for much needed infrastructure to responds to years of neglect and to catch up to the population growth we ignored in the Klein days. Using that designated cash on hand to build schools and hospitals and roads is not creating a deficit.
What I really want to do is direct your attention to an excellent editorial in the Edmonton Journal of Saturday Feb 26. The title captures the mood of the piece "Budget Rich in Troubling Questions." I think there are some unsettling questions Albertans need to ask themselves about if we are paying our way for the necessary public services we demand from government. We also have to revisit the "huge handouts ...to oil and gas companies...in the drilling stimulus program."
Read this editorial carefully and consider if these policies make sense to you on incentives and royalty breaks. Do we really need them or should Albertans start acting like the owners of our resources and have a more mutually beneficial business-like and not serf-like relation with those we license to develop our resources.
1 comment:
So why don't you ask an expert and why didn't the Edmonton Journal? I would think that incentives mean alot for small Canadian independent businesses, particularly when the commodity price for natural gas remains unprofitable, and considering the ratio of dry-holes to striking pay-dirt. Consider how many dry holes were made before the Leduc discovery. Imperial Oil only had the kind of heft to be able to drill was it 450 dry holes? They were ready to give up when they thought, 'let's take one more chance!' No, I'm inclined to not want to fool around with incentives. In a way, that's worse than altering the royalties. At least with royalties, you've already hit pay dirt, so you can withstand the royalty. But without incentives, I think alot of plays wouldn't get drilled; but why didn't the Journal ask a driller?ReplyDelete


text:
Hints from Heloise 9/3/2014
This question gets a fair shake
Dear Heloise: We got some new salt and pepper shakers. One has a few tiny holes; the other has lots of bigger holes. Which one holds the salt?
— Cynthia M. in Tennessee
This is an interesting question, and one that comes in often! According to the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, it is your preference! There is no law that I know of, so don't worry if someone tells you otherwise.
Since many people are watching their sodium intake, it is generally agreed that the shaker with fewer holes is for salt. The other thought is that because salt flows more easily than pepper, it should be placed in the shaker with smaller holes, so the pepper has the larger holes to come out of. Bottom line, though, is that it is your decision — unless you buy shakers that are clearly marked "S" and "P," saving you from having to decide anything.
— Heloise
English muffins
Dear Heloise: Here is a hint for readers who like English muffins but prefer to eat only one half at a time: Separate the muffins in halves and stack them, back to front. Place them back in the plastic sleeve and then freeze. One half at a time can easily be separated from the rest and toasted as needed.
— L.N. in Maryland
Tomato juice
Dear Heloise: Could you please tell me the ratio of water to tomato paste when attempting to make tomato juice? With the cost of canned tomato juice, it would be nice to be able to mix this up instead of paying the high cost of tomato/vegetable juice.
— Cydney M. in Texas
This is easy as pie and will save you a lot of money! Mix 3 parts cold water with 1 part tomato paste. Now all you have to do is make your own adjustments so it tastes the best to you. Place this mixture and any other ingredients in a blender and blend until it is smooth.
Try adding salt, pepper, other vegetables and spices to really make this juice your own.
— Heloise
Mini peppers
Dear Heloise: Sweet mini peppers are my newest addiction! Packaged in bags, they are red, orange and yellow. Mini peppers have lots of flavor, which makes them a great snack. These have hardly any seeds and can be eaten right from the bag, but I always rinse mine before eating them. I toss some on the grill and use them in salads to add color and crunch.
— Juan in Laredo, Texas
Reuse cups
Dear Heloise: The individual plastic cups for applesauce and other fruit treats are perfect for gelatin. I place six in my muffin tin and make gelatin as usual. I fill the gelatin to the rim of the plastic cup. Since I now live alone, I find this a handy way to portion out my meals. The same process can be used for instant puddings.
— Thelma D. in California
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 210-HELOISE or email it to email@example.com.
Lifestyle Columnists Archive
- Oct 30, 2016 | Busy November at the Mockingbird branch
- Oct 26, 2016 | Bruce Kreitler: Ants, borers and sapsuckers like trees
- Oct 26, 2016 | Ashley Jolly: It is good for the body and the mind
- Oct 23, 2016 | Sons of Destiny series offers romance and magic
- Oct 23, 2016 | Jane Rowan: Getting in the know about diabetes
- Oct 22, 2016 | Texas Reads: A quick look at some new Texas books
- Oct 19, 2016 | Rolling over vacation time counterintuitive to productivity
- Oct 19, 2016 | Bruce Kreitler: Planning tree planting now
- Oct 16, 2016 | Resources available on preventing underage drinking
- Oct 16, 2016 | Larry the Answer Guy: A tale of two Coopers
Staff Blogs
Janet Van Vleet
Tommy Metthe
Tim Chipp
Greg Jaklewicz
Nellie Doneva


text:
Japanese J League Standings
J League News
Kashima Antlers win J-League title for the eighth time
Kashima Antlers earned their eighth J-League title by beating Urawa Reds 2-1 in the second leg of the final on Saturday.
Urawa Red Diamonds 1-0 Kashima Antlers
Urawa Red Diamonds secured a narrow 1-0 win over Kashima in the first leg of the J-League final.
Should Shinji Kagawa leave Borussia Dortmund and return to the J.League?
Rumours in the Japanese media link fringe Dortmund playmaker Shinji Kagawa to a move back to the J.League. Should he do it?
Highlights: Osaka 1-0 Hiroshima
Gamba Osaka held on for 1-0 victory over Sanfrecce Hiroshima at home.
Godzilla tries to take penalty before J-League clash ... fails badly
Godzilla tried to take a penalty before Kawasaki Frontale hosted FC Tokyo in the Japanese J-League capital derby but it didn't go as planned.
Tampines' Hafiz Sujad strives for Ryan Giggs' consistency for Singapore
Tampines midfielder Hafiz Sujad refuses to entertain thoughts of stardom as he continues to strive for consistency for the Singapore national team.


text:
As anybody who knows me already knows, buy cialis I'm a big fan of my hometown teams…. Seahawks, nurse Mariners, Supersonics, and even the Washington Husky teams. And while every team has its ups and downs that fans must contend with, the downright futility of Seattle's professional teams are well documented.
The Sonics hold Seattle's only major pro-sports championship, way back in 1979, in the era of Downtown Freddy Brown, Jack Sickma, and Gus Williams. There was the blip of Xavier McDaniel (X-man) in the 80's, and they had a hot streak in the 90's with Gary Payton and the Reign Man. But despite mostly mediocre seasons, fans still turned out to Key Arena. And don't let David Stern tell you otherwise… Key Arena is a great place for fans to watch a basketball game. You're right on top of the action and there isn't a bad seat in the house. David Stern used to believe the same. Of course this year, it was painful to watch the Sonics. Clay Bennett has done what he could to put the worst product on the court as possible (final record: 20-62) , perhaps in part to discourage fans from coming and strengthening his case to take the team home to Oklahoma City. So while most NBA fans are paying attention to the Lakers/Celtics series, I'm monitoring the Sonics/Seattle federal trial along with other fans to see if the only major Seattle team with a championship leaves. Yes, I know the Seattle Storm won the WNBA title, but that's not the same.
How about the Mariners? I've followed the M's from its first year playing in the Kingdome in 1977. I remember watching games from the cheap left field bleachers, when the tickets cost $3.75, and listening to Dave Niehaus' play-by-play on the radio while I was doing yard work growing up. I've attended spring training games in Arizona regularly over the last 12 years. And I think I've been to every single home playoff game they've had (which haven't been many). The team had two magical years… They won 116 games in 2001. But 1995 remains the miraculous year. They staged a remarkable comeback to tie the Angels and win the West with a one game playoff. And I will always remember the decisive 5th game against the Yankees, and the wide grin on Ken Griffey Junior's face on the jumbotron as he scored on Edgar Martinez' 11th inning double to win it. That win probably saved the Mariners in Seattle. But it is telling that an AL Division playoff win is the high point of the franchise. And after a tantalizing season in 2007, I had high hopes this spring for a contending team. But today, on the heals of being swept by the Washington Nationals, the first shoe finally dropped with the Mariners announcing that they're firing GM Bill Bavasi. It certainly won't be the first change, since at the current pace of 24-45, the Mariners are on pace for their worst record in their entire history.
So, for me, it's time to start anticipating the start of the NFL season. No, the Seahawks haven't won a Superbowl yet (I watched them lose to the Steelers in Superbowl XL). And yes, they finally cut the cord with Shaun Alexander, so the running game will be a question mark. And yes, they had what looked like an unremarkable draft. But it's another new season, and fortunately for the Seahawks, they are in the hapless NFC West, so they should be contenders again this year. Thank goodness…. I need something to look forward to!
6/19 update: Seattle Mariners just fired manager John McClaren


text:
1. What To Watch For As Free Agency Begins
We asked our NBA experts to give us three things to watch for as free agency begins. Here are their answers:
Henry Abbott, TrueHoop:
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
The key thing is: Are they intent on playing together? If so, Miami is the favorite. On the other hand, if each just wants to maximize his own chances of winning a title, the threesome could split up, in which case the Chicago Bulls are the most likely destination for James. The other key is whether or not somebody will take Loul Deng's contract from the Bulls in a sign-and-trade for a superstar. If so, the Bulls become the heavyweights.
Kevin Arnovitz, TrueHoop:
1. Sign-and-trades take over the process after a few top names choose their destinations.
2. A slew of salary dumps as teams stretched for cash trade capable players with large deals to teams with cap room to absorb those contracts.
3. More teams at the bottom of the standings will exercise restraint, preferring to adopt the Oklahoma City model of developing young talent and preserving financial flexibility.
John Hollinger, ESPN.com:
1. Cap moves by teams that still need to clear space. Several teams are close to but not quite at the threshold where they could offer two (or in Miami's case, three) max free-agent contracts. One or two small trades can get them to that point. If they make one of those deals it's a good sign they've been tipped off that their player is coming. Either that, or like the Clippers with Kobe Bryant a few years ago, it's a sign they've been duped.
2. Teams without cap space working sign-and-trade possibilities. Dallas and Houston will be the two most active teams on this front, but Cleveland should be, too, and others (Toronto, Phoenix, Boston) could also get in on the game. Since players have an incentive to work sign-and-trades rather than sign a straight free-agent deal, the teams with cap space don't necessarily have the upper hand.
3. LeBron. Let's face it, he's still the first domino. It's unlikely anything else happens until he makes a decision.
Chad Ford, ESPN.com:
1. A long queue forming behind LeBron. I don't expect any team with serious cap room to make a major signing until LeBron indicates where he's going. If he's indecisive, the whole process and all of the top free agents in it are in limbo until he decides.
2. Lots of pairing up. With so many teams clearing space for two free agents, I think we'll see pairings in Chicago, New York, New Jersey and Miami. Given that there are roughly eight great free agents out there that's going to take care of most of the marketplace.
3. The other shoe to drop. We've had some minor trades as teams try to get more room under the salary cap. I expect that we'll see a flurry of trades once the free-agent landscape is clearer. There are a lot of teams looking to improve, and a lot of teams with cap room who will be shut out of a top free agent. I think we could see an extraordinary amount of dealing after July 8.
Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com:
1. Does David Lee take the money and run? Lee is the Knicks' primary sign-and-trade asset, but if a team presents him with a take-it-or-leave-it offer on the first or second day of free agency, especially if it is worth behemothian bucks, he's probably going to have to take it, which will adversely impact the Knicks' chances of getting Chris Bosh.
2. When is LeBron James going to say something publicly? At a certain point, perhaps July 3 or 4, it will behoove everyone for him to state where he stands. Otherwise people will be making decisions off misinformation or disinformation. And if he truly wants to be a global icon, one who is revered, he can't leave the public uninformed for too long.
3. Where does the salary cap come in? Back in mid-April, NBA commissioner David Stern said it was projected to be at $56.1 million. But in July, the league said it could be as low as $50 million. If it comes in at $57-58 million, the players' union could have a stronger case if they charge the owners with collusion.
Free Agency Dimes past: Wade | Bosh | Playoffs | Coaches | LeBron | Lottery | Sidekicks
2. Latest On LeBron; Carmelo Trade?
3. Expert Roundtable: Who's Going Where?
How will it all go down? We asked our experts for their best guesses on where the top 10 free agents will land this summer.
Where will LeBron James sign?
Henry Abbott, TrueHoop: Chicago Bulls. Though if playing with Wade and Bosh trumps all, he'll end up in Miami. More likely than 50/50? No.
Kevin Arnovitz, TrueHoop: Chicago Bulls. They are the only team in the field that features youthful assets (Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah) and the cap space required to sign an additional max contract to play alongside James. More likely than 50/50? No.
Larry Coon, special to ESPN.com: Chicago Bulls. Big city, a team that's clearly his to lead, and a nucleus that can be competitive right away all add up to the biggest free-agency defection since Shaq in 1996 -- but nobody really knows the mind of LeBron. More likely than 50/50? No.
Chad Ford, ESPN.com: Chicago Bulls. They offer the best combination of a huge market and a chance to win now with a young supporting cast. More likely than 50/50? No.
John Hollinger, ESPN.com: Chicago Bulls. I see Chicago and Cleveland as slight favorites, but Miami, New York and New Jersey are very much in the game. More likely than 50-50? No, not even close.
Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com: New York Knicks. He has done some of his best flirting at Madison Square Garden. (I was a witness.) More likely than 50-50? No.
• Find out where our experts predict other top free agents will land here.
4. Daily Dime Live
ESPN.com writers and TrueHoop Network bloggers are chatting with fans, giving their opinions about free agency -- all in Daily Dime Live.
You must be signed in to post a comment
5. Why LeBron Could Stay Put
Can the Cleveland Cavaliers keep LeBron James? It's the flip side of the hottest question in sports: Where will LeBron go?
In recent weeks, I've detailed how the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks will make their respective pitches to LeBron when July 1 arrives.
Today, June 30, it's Cleveland's turn to have its case heard.
It's not the option with the most sizzle, but the Cavs have a number of built-in advantages -- thanks to the collective bargaining agreement and LeBron's personal story -- that still make them the team to beat. LeBron has said the Cavs have "the edge" in keeping him, although he's been careful not to signal that his return is a sure thing. The Cavs will need to persuade LeBron to return.
Here's a look at the Cavs' pitch to LeBron:
• To read the full column, click here.
6.NY, NJ To LBJ: See The Future
Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z get to go first, and they can personally deliver the news that workers started pouring concrete this week at the site of the New Jersey Nets' new arena in Brooklyn.
The New York Knicks' Jim Dolan and Mike D'Antoni get to go second, selling the notion of being the greatest superstar ever to call the Mecca of Basketball his home -- a home that has already been built and is undergoing a three-year renovation.
The pitches will come Thursday in or around the city of Akron, Ohio, and it remains to be seen whether there will be news helicopters hovering over the limousines as they make their way from the airport to the designated meeting site (that's what happened in San Antonio in 2003 -- a few days after LeBron James was drafted -- when Jason and Joumana Kidd came to town to be wooed by the team Jason had just lost to in the NBA Finals.)
The fact that the Nets are being allowed to speak to James first, on Thursday morning, would seem to be a gesture of respect from James toward his hip-hop mogul friend, Jay-Z, who retained his small ownership share in the New Jersey franchise when a majority stake in the team was sold this spring by Bruce Ratner to Prokhorov.
• To read the full column, click here.
7.Shaq Was In LeBron's Shoes
If there's one person who can provide some perspective on what LeBron James and his advisers are about to go through, it's Leonard Armato. Armato was Shaquille O'Neal's agent during the 1996 free-agent derby that resulted in O'Neal's leaving the Orlando Magic to sign a seven-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers that was worth more than $120 million. It became the most momentous free-agent move in NBA history, as O'Neal went on to win three championships and one Most Valuable Player award during his stay in Los Angeles. I gave Armato a call on the eve of the most significant free-agent marketplace since that summer 14 years ago.
"First thing I would say is, it's not over until it's over," Armato said. "There's always tons of speculation about what's really happening.
"Usually when there's a decision of this magnitude, the free agent would always try to be logical and make a well-reasoned decision. They're going to say, 'I have an open mind.' It's what happens during that period when the mind is open.
"I'm sure LeBron hasn't 100 percent decided yet. It's going to be influenced by those meetings he decided to take."
• To read the full column, click here.
8. Free Agent Slot Machine
The ESPN Free Agent Slot Machine results are based on the likelihood of each potential scenario for each player and team, as provided by ESPN.com NBA experts.
• Click SPIN for another possible outcome
LeBron Tracker
Where will LeBron land? We're keeping tabs on the King. Here's the latest. LeBron Tracker »
Complete 2010 Free-Agent List
9.What Knicks Bring To The Table
Although Donnie Walsh has long gone to great lengths to make clear that his 2010 strategy does not revolve around any one player, to Knicks fans there's nothing like the idea of getting LeBron James. On Thursday, they will get their opportunity to make that pitch.
When they do, they will have a lot of things to sell that are widely known: A very rich owner, perhaps the best local market in the world, and a coach who's famously fun to play for.
But there are three less-discussed elements to their pitch -- some that make the Knicks look good, and one less so.
• Read the full blog entry, click here


text:
Welcome Nicola , I can assure you that this forum is a great place to improve your math - I have only a few months staying on here but it helped me a lot
Hi. I'm Nicola, a student of civil engineering in Trento (Italy). I am passionate about mathematics and phisical: for this to be a bit of years I hangs out in various forums italian mathematicians. Tonight I discovered this and so I decided to register me. I hope to stay well here.


text:
3 posts tagged with Webcomic by loquacious.
Displaying 1 through 3 of 3.
Hey! Listen!
Ganondorf has a simple request for Christmas, via Brawl in the Family. (An Musical number in web comic form. Audio and Zelda required.) [more inside]
Cap'n Crunch is a gateway drug!
Breakfast of the Gods: The Last Good Morning. A serialized webcomic featuring the sugary, crunchy stars of your childhood - destroying your childhood dreams one after another. Via Monkeyfilter.
Page: 1


text:
For reservations call 978 . 546 . 9667.
Reservations are taken for dinner only beginning at noon on the day of your reservation.
For our outdoor seating, we consider the weather conditions for the day.View weather conditions
There are eight metered parking spots outside our door, at the end of Bearskin Neck. Metered and street parking are also available throughout town.
68 Bearskin Neck . Rockport, MA 01966
Located on the tip of historic Bearskin Neck, My Place by the Sea showcases New American cuisine highlighted by fresh local seafood and an unrivaled romantic setting. Multiple-level seating areas offer breathtaking views of Rockport's craggy New England coast—the perfect venue for sipping, savoring and celebrating indoors and out.
Award-winning Chef Kathy Milbury and co-owner Barbara Stavropoulos created a one-of-a-kind dining experience when they took the reins of this elegant waterfront eatery in 2000. Kathy's passion for local and sustainable cuisine and Barbara's eye for design have perfectly captured Rockport's rich history as a local seaport and an artist colony.
Come for the food. Savor the views. Create memories.
Photography by Kindra Clineff Photography
My Place by the Sea has been featured in several prominent publications and won several awards:
In an interview with People magazine, pop star Sam Smith heaped praise on My Place By the Sea, referring to it as his "favorite restaurant."
Selected as one of the top 6 seaside dining spots in America by Timberland.
Reviewed in the Boston Globe North
Named one of the top eight restaurants in New England in by Yankee magazine
Featured on Chronicle's "A Food Find"
Les Dames d'Escoffier Awards: Best Chef and Best Proprietress
TV Diner's Platinum Plate Award


text:
New Videos
Subscribe to the Sneaker News Youtube Channel
August 27, 2012 BY John Kim / 16
It's not often the high-end likes of Prada makes its way onto a Sneaker News headline, but their collection of bubble-cushioned classy footwear called the Prada Levitate definitely has some cross-over appeal. From the midsole down, you'll notice that what gives this series the 'Levitate' name is the transparent construction that without question looks something right out of Nike's playbook, but with prices starting at $660 (expected from a label of Prada's reputation), the target demographic might be above the 'sneakerhead' threshold. The uppers, however, don't stray from classic shoe designs as you'll see popular icons like the Wingtip, Penny Loafer, Plain Toe Oxford, and Chelsea Boot, but again, you can't help but feel like this 'sport' design has been done before – namely Cole Haan's breakthrough 'Lunar' series. Is this just the next step of infusing 'classy' white-collar builds into streetwear? Check out all the models and colorways below and head to Nordstrom to pick up your own pair of Levitates.
Filed under: Hybrid
Tags: Prada Prada Levitate
Look like some shit you would see on #FakeFiles
If I was Tom Cruise these'd be great..
what the hell are you doing prada.this shits not classy at all
ummmmmmmmmmmm NO...fkn bouncers in the club would be like NO U CANT GET INN WIT THOSE!!!lol
Umm no. I stopped rocking with Prada after that patent leather shit. Cole-Haans are better IMO.
There's something about Air units and dress shoes that doesn't flow right with me.
Let's be honest, I'm not droppin' six bills+ for a pair of shoes, much less these things, looking like you glued a waffle maker on your soles or somethin'
I would cop 2 pair... da blk on Blk & rusty brown wingtips are dope. And da air unit subtle to da colorway... da others make da air unit noticeable & u dont really want dat in a business shoe... but I might cop a pair. And 600 da a good pair of dress shoes dat are durable & versatile isn't bad.
These have a VERY unique feel to them. i'd rock the wingtips though.
Air bubbles and "dress" shoes together don't really do it for me.
Did they really have to make the cushions visible?
those silver ones look straight
I fucks with Prada but I really don't see me rocking these except for maybe the last two pair
Subscribe to the Sneaker News Youtube Channel


text:
With the publication of recent books about atheism, the simultaneous attempts to blur the separation of church and state promised in our Constitution, and Americans' unending obsession with matters sexual, the question arises:
This question is at once hilarious, insulting, pathetic, and revealing. It only makes sense if you believe in two things:
1. Moral thought and behavior are essentially determined by the fear of punishment;
2. The definition of "morality" regarding sex is different than it is for other human endeavors.
And indeed, young children and emotionally under-developed adults do make moral choices based on the fear of punishment. Organized religion relies on and promotes this style of personality organization: "Do the right thing or God will punish you."
And what is the right thing regarding sex? Every organized religion has highly specific answers to this question. They mostly involve "God doesn't want you to do sex this way; God strongly prefers you do sex that way." And if you disagree with God about your sexual expression, see rule #1.
Organized religion typically imagines sexual "morality" as involving limitations. In most cases, the less sex you have the better God likes it; God, apparently, also wants you to limit the number of sexual partners with whom you do the right or wrong sexual acts.
So religiously-oriented people ask, in all sincerity, "if you're not afraid of being punished for doing the wrong sexual acts, how and why do you keep from doing them? And if you don't follow God's rules about which sex acts are allowed and forbidden (as interpreted by a priesthood or sacred commentary), how do you know you're making moral choices?"
So here is the adult version of atheist sexual ethics: Do not do unto others as you would not have others do unto you.
(Memo to religious people-does this sound familiar?)
In more contemporary and pragmatic language, atheists operationalize sexual ethics this way:
* Consent
* Honesty
* Responsibility
Of course, implementing this requires some thought. Are both people in a position to consent (consider alcohol, age, the pressure of status differences, etc.)? Does honesty cover not just telling the truth, but also not leaving things out? And do both parties have the knowledge, insight, and self-awareness to be able to take responsibility for their decisions?
Grownup atheists don't need to fear some metaphysical being in order to prefer doing what's right-all clear-thinking adults prefer doing what's right. And grownup atheists don't need a one-size-fits-all menu of sexual acts. They know that doing only the sexual acts on God's Preferred List is no guarantee of moral decision-making or ethical behavior. And they have experienced the deep satisfaction of ethical decision-making while rockin' the house with taboo sexual acts that would make seraphim and cherubim blush.
Is every atheist morally upright? Of course not. Does every atheist follow an honorable code of sexual morality? Definitely not.
But the question-can atheists have a code of sexual morality?-is very much like asking if blacks can really be good parents, or if gays can be expected to keep their hands off their fellow soldiers while showering or sleeping.
Just substitute the word "Baptist" or "Jew" for the word "atheist" to get a sense of how offensive and absurd the question is.
If I'm trapped in a foxhole-or a shower, slumber party, or abandoned farmhouse-give me someone who celebrates the human capacity for understanding and choosing what's right, rather than someone who needs to be told what's right, and then chooses it to avoid punishment.
As far as sexual decision-making being different from other kinds of decision-making? That sounds like something made up by people who believe that our sexuality is dangerous, and isn't really ours, and that our bodies are dirty. If I thought that, I'd also believe that less sex is better than more sex.
No, making choices regarding sex is like making other choices.
Some people want to maximize human respect.
Other people just want to stay out of hell. They're the ones who trivialize the majesty of sex.
(Note: Thanks to Greta Christina for her years of work in this area.)


text: Marcus Aurelius argues that a moral wrongdoing done from desire is worse than one done from anger because it's less "manly" to be mastered by pleasure than driven by anger (which he compares instead to a bodily convulsion). In this post I critically analyze his claim from numerous perspectives, from the Nietzschean to the feminist. [Read more…]


text:
Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz
UFC 183 watch video >>
Watch the official weigh-in for UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz live Friday, January 30 at 7pm/4pm ETPT. watch video >>
Kid Nate and Dallas Winston of http://BloodyElbow.com team up for a pre-fight hype video on the UFC 183 main event that pits Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz. watch video >>
Kid Nate & Eugene S. Robinson of http://BloodyElbow.com look ahead to this Saturday's UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz in the infamous and patented Care/Don't Care Preview. watch video >>
Kid Nate hosts as analysts Zane Simon and Connor Ruebush of http://BloodyElbow.com break down each fight on the UFC 183 fight card. watch video >>


text:
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/210447
- Title
- Superwealth in Australia: entrepreneurs, accumulation and the capitalist class
- Author(s)
- Gilding, Michael
- Abstract
- This paper examines the annual rich lists compiled by the magazine Business Review Weekly. Methodological considerations mean that the lists are tilted against old wealth spread around kinship networks, and towards new wealth assembled by individuals on the cusp of a speculative wave. Even so, the lists provide the best available profile of large private fortunes ('superwealth') in Australia. More than this, the lists highlight the private wealth of entrepreneurs, a group largely overlooked by sociological research on the capitalist class. Further, they highlight private accumulation as a pathway to business leadership among ethnic groups otherwise excluded through social closure. In this context, ethnic and religious diversity among entrepreneurs have necessarily problematised the institutions, networks and collective self-identity that once informed the cohesiveness of the capitalist class in Australia.
- Publication type
- Journal article
- Research centre
- Swinburne University of Technology. Social and Policy Studies
- Source
- Journal of Sociology, Vol. 35, no. 2 (Aug 1999), pp. 169-182
- Publication year
- 1999
- FOR Code(s)
- 1608 Sociology; 2002 Cultural Studies
- Keyword(s)
- Australia; Capitalism; Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; Networks; Private wealth; Superwealth
- Publisher
- Sage
- 0004-8690
- Publisher URL
- Copyright
- Copyright © 1999.
- Peer reviewed


text:
There are a total of 9 red discs and 7 black disks. The bags have been mixed thoroughly, so it is almost as if the contents have been dumped onto the ground and mixed. After mixing, there are 9 discs in the first bag. The probability of there being exactly three is:
The first three terms account for there being 3 red discs, and the last six terms account for there being 6 black discs.


text:
The British Academy administers one year Senior Research Fellowships to cover research leave or replacement teaching. These Fellowships are funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the Thank-Offering to Britain Fund but applications should be submitted to the Academy, as indicated at the link above. In addition, the BARDAs scheme offers opportunities for research leave.
The ESRC offers Professorial Fellowships which provide salary support, research assistance and a link to PhD Studentships.
The Leverhulme Trust offers the following funding for research leave to pursue a project


text:
Source: facebook
Silma nature reserve is situated in the Tagalahe and Noarootsi lakes area of Haapsalu. It was established in order to protect the local waters, wetlands and meadows and their plants and animals. The nature reserve centre is located in Saare manor in Pürksi. Silma is a key nesting site for aquatic birds and an important resting place for migratory birds. Saunja Bay is considered an important spawning area for freshwater fish in the region. Did you know...?
There are 6 viewing towers in Silma and a number of hiking tracks.


text:
Content tagged "games"
Friday, January 20, 2017 - Sunday, January 22, 2017
IAP 2017: Global Game Jam
"Come together, be creative, share experiences and express ourselves in a multitude of ways using video games."
Knowledge Games: How Playing Games Can Solve Problems, Create Insight, and Make Change
Schrier argues that knowledge games are potentially powerful because of their ability to motivate a crowd of problem solvers within a dynamic system while also tapping into the innovative data processing and computational abilities of games.
Saturday, April 23
MIT Open House, with CMS/W Events
On April 23, 2016, MIT hosts a campus-wide open house, welcoming the public into every department to check out the coolest of the Institute's work.
Friday, January 29 - Sunday, January 31
Global Game Jam 2016
The Global Game Jam (GGJ) is the world's largest game jam event taking place around the world at physical locations. Think of it as a hackathon focused on game development. The GGJ encourages people with all kinds of backgrounds to participate and contribute to this global spread of game development and creativity.
Tuesday, January 5 - Tuesday, January 26
Transforming the work place through serious games
Are you wondering how games will be used in your future workplace? Are you interested in changing the workplace through game design? This class is for you.
Podcast: Sarah Zaidan, "Celebrating the Female Superhero Through Digital Gaming"
Sarah Zaidan is a game designer, artist and researcher whose work explores how video games and comic books can engage in a dialogue with identity, gender and civic awareness.
Thursday, October 15, 2015 @ 5:00 pm
The Adventures of Ms. Meta: Celebrating the Female Superhero Through Digital Gaming
Sarah Zaidan is a game designer, artist and researcher whose work explores how video games and comic books can engage in a dialogue with identity, gender and civic awareness.
Podcast: Jane McGonigal discusses "SuperBetter" with MIT's Scot Osterweil
Jane McGonigal is the internationally acclaimed game designer and author, most recently of "SuperBetter: A Revolutionary Approach to Getting Stronger, Happier, Braver and More Resilient–Powered by the Science of Games".
Thursday, September 17, 2015 @ 7:00 pm
Jane McGonigal discusses her new book "SuperBetter" with Scot Osterweil
Join us and Harvard Book Store as it hosts Jane McGonigal to discuss "SuperBetter" with our own Scot Osterweil of The Education Arcade.
Friday, July 31, 2015 @ 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Presentations: MIT-Shenkar Meaningful Games Workshop
Attend the final presentations of the work created during the first MIT-Shenkar Meaningful Games Workshop!
Podcast and summary, Danielle Keats Citron and Brianna Wu: "Hate Crimes In Cyberspace"
What legal routes are available to people facing online harassment, and what policies might need to be changed to better address this issue?
EdTechX: Our Online Courses on EdX
"Design and Development of Educational Technology and Introduction to Game Design validated that project-based collaborative instruction can succeed in the virtual world."
In Medias Res, Spring 2015
"As this issue of In Medias Res testifies, however, the challenging weather has not slowed the pace of activities of the denizens of CMS/W!"
Monday, February 23, 2015 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Gonzalo Frasca: "Play, Videogames and Education Reform"
okidOkO's Gonzalo Frasca shows us how we should create games that are both useful and effective inside and outside the classroom.
21 Podcasts on Games
We've been the home of debate on the power, practice, and aesthetics of games. Ever since we began recording our games talks back in 2006, it's not hard to see how far the field has come.


text:
Britney Spears Planning To Retire After Las Vegas Residency?
International pop sensation Britney Spears is thinking about retiring after she finishes her Las Vegas residency.
The 32-year-old singer, who has just released her eighth studio album Britney Jean, has revealed she might give up music after her two-year stint at Planet Hollywood and wants to expand her brood.
During an interview with Mario Lopez, she said: "I might [retire], who knows ... I may have two more kids and get married ... I'd like to have more kids."
Spears has been dating lawyer David Lucado for eight months after splitting from then fiancé Jason Trawick and has two sons with ex-husband Kevin Federline, Sean Preston, eight, and seven-year-old Jayden James.
The Extra host wanted to know if Britney wants girls or more boys, but the singer said "as long as they're healthy," she doesn't mind.
She added: "I think it does kind of help with dating someone not in the business, I could kinda understand if you're dating someone in the business they'd understand what you're going through every day and stuff.
"I feel like the chemistry kinda speaks for itself when you date someone out of the industry."
The singer begins her Las Vegas residency on December 27th.


text:
Monday, 4 March 2013
Handmade Danish 70s bunting - Al Eklund
The Danish designer Al Eklund is one of my all time favourites so I was very pleased to have come across this set of 70s cardboard coasters in it's original box. There were 21 coasters inside, I'm keeping most of them in the box but have used some to make bunting for my daughter's 5th Birthday this week. The bunting is incredibly quick and easy to make - you just sew straight through it with a sewing machine, making sure you leave long bits at each end.
5 comments:
- Vintage Sheet Addict said...
Lovely bunting Jane! :) x
- 4 March 2013 at 03:28
- Jane Foster Blog said...
Thank you!
- 4 March 2013 at 03:38
- Jo said...
Just perfect and in such good condition.
- 4 March 2013 at 04:33
- Susi said...
Super petty!!!
- 4 March 2013 at 13:02
- tomas adison said...
Great article and thanks for your work. You made an article that is interesting.
fostering children
- 7 March 2013 at 05:53
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Umbria Jazz: Days 1-3, July 10-12, 2009
"You know," said one American tourist to his friend as he walked past the tents on the first day of Umbria Jazz, "Ever since we got here last week this is all we've heard anyone talk about."
Small wonder. The 10-day, citywide festival is more than just the biggest thing that Perugia, the capital of the small Italian region of Umbria, sees every year. The dozens of artists and hundreds of music fans who swarm in from all over the world make it one of the most important jazz festivals in the Europe, featuring prime practitioners of every conceivable style. Where else can one see Wynton Marsalis and Cecil Taylor on the same bill? How many other places can boast six consecutive performances by the AACM's Great Black Music Ensemble on the same evenings that Freddy Cole, Maceo Parker, and Burt Bacharach can be heard just a few minutes away?
And those acts are just the icing on the cake. Umbria Jazz is also a major showcase for the formidable Italian jazz scene, featuring most of the brightest stars in that universe, as well as daily doses of free roots music in a program that bills itself as "Non Stop Music"only a slight exaggeration. For the jazz fan, then, this medieval city of 160,000 residents is, in mid-July, a veritable playground. As you may gather, this gigantic festival has few equals.
Chapter Index
- July 10Non Stop Music at Giardini Carducci
- July 10Jazz Aperitif with the Freddy Cole Quartet
- July 10Enrico Rava New Quartet featuring Gianluca Petrella
- July 11Enrico Pieranunzi Quintet
- July 11Tuck & Patti at the Caffe HAG Stage
- July 11Steely Dan
- July 12Renato Sellani and Massimo Moriconi at Bottega del Vino
- July 12Ashley Kahn and the Making of Kind of Blue


text:
Thick, rich and natural sounding, you can achieve both Vintage and modern rock tones with the Twister; developed by studio engineers, this is the real deal and is in a league of its own compared to most other pedals in its category.
POSTED: 06/14/2012 - 08:01 am
What makes this pedal Shine even more, is that it is touch sensitive, tracking your playing dynamics incredibly well. Play softly and it has certain characteristics, but play hard and different tonal and harmonic qualities ignite.
POSTED: 07/20/2011 - 08:15 am


text:
For more than 25 years, Queen's Alumni Educational Travel has provided Queen's alumni, family, and friends with unique educational travel experiences around the world. Join the "Tricolour Travellers" community and participate in our fully escorted tours featuring expert local guides and lecturers who deliver an immersive travel-abroad experience. Whenever possible, members of Queen's faculty are recruited to accompany specific tours, contributing their expertise and passion for discovery, and enhancing the overall educational value of the Tricolour Travel experience.
The educational focus of our itineraries means you learn as much as possible about our destinations. This is achieved through lectures, hands-on demonstrations, privileged access to special attractions, and special interactions with local residents. With independent time built into each itinerary, who knows what else you might learn as you pursue your own interests!
Our tours offer varying inclusions and are a great value for money; but what makes them particularly unique are the friendships forged with other members of the Tricolour Traveller family. Join us to make connections and enjoy camaraderie, convenience, and choice!
Perhaps you're not quite ready for an escorted tour? We may still be able to help. Whether it's a special getaway to celebrate a significant life milestone, or a fun vacation the whole family can enjoy, Queen's Alumni Educational Travel and AHI Cruises can help organize a your cruise Learn more


text:
Oblivion (Tom Cruise) Photo Gallery
Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack's mission is nearly complete. Living and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. View photos from Oblivion…
Roll your mouse over the left and right-hand sides of the image and then click to view more pictures.
Read our review of Oblivion or check out the posters and featurettes
Alternatively, watch the trailer
Recent Galleries:
- T2 Trainspotting Character Posters Gallery
- Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them UK Premiere Photo Gallery
- John Wick: Chapter 2 First-look Photo Gallery
- Marvel's Doctor Strange Character Poster Gallery
- The Magnificent Seven: Cowboys descend on West End - Photo Gallery
- The Shallows (Blake Lively) Photo Gallery
- Ben-Hur Character Poster Gallery
- The Legend of Tarzan: Margot Robbie Photo Gallery
- The Nice Guys UK Premiere Photo Gallery
- Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick attend Trolls UK Photo Call at Savoy


text:
I find that they can open as fast as/as easily as switchblades, but why aren't they as harshly regulated? I mean, I have to go through so much more trouble getting a tiny italian stiletto switchblade than a gigantic spring assist knife
Why aren't spring assisted knives as illegal as switchblades?January 23rd, 2010 by Leave a reply »
2 comments
Federal laws are kind of confusing, but seem to be limited mostly to interstate sales and transport. State laws vary widely. In Arizona for instance, switchblade knives are not illegal. I think most switchblade laws were made because, for a time, they were the favored accessories of street gangs. A lot of weird laws came out then. In Arizona, again for instance, having a nunchuck is generally a class 6 felony, whether openly or concealed, but carrying a concealed pistol without a license is a class 3 misdemeanor. Go figure.
As far as I know it is because a spring assisted knife can only be opened by applying pressure to the button on the side of the knife and once enough pressure is applied to the button to get the knife open about a quarter of the way open it is only then that the "spring" takes over and opens the knife all the way.
In an Italian stiletto switchblade knife, or any other switchblade knife, it opens automatically once the button is on the handle is pushed or for that matter they can be opened with the flick of the wrist so they open much faster thus making them so much more dangerous. A person is stabbed even before they see the knife if the user is good enough but with the spring assisted knife it does not open as fast because it needs the additional pressure and time to open it. Also some switchblades open from the top and spring assisted knives only open from the side.
Spring assisted knives are often considered utility knives or life savers instead of life takers as firemen, ambulance drivers, fishermen, and one armed people use them for the utility purpose. One example is that if a person is trapped inside a car then the spring assisted, (utility knife), can be used to cut off seat belts etc. in order to get the trapped person out of the car.
Hope it helps!


text:
MICHELIN Guide
An astonishing decor in which to enjoy some exceptional food. Brightened up at the start of 2015 as part of the renovation of the Hôtel de Paris, it will continue throughout the rest of the year. This is where Alain Ducasse made a name for himself, imposing his new culinary classicism, defined by exacting standards, masterful skill and a desire to let ingredients do the talking. A fabulous homage to the Mediterranean.
MICHELIN guide inspectors
Meal prices
Additional information
Useful information
Nearby restaurants
More restaurants in Beausoleil
Nearby hotels
More hotels in Beausoleil
Nearby tourist attractions
More tourist attractions in Beausoleil


text:
Took a teensie break from binge-watching Scandal over winter vacation. Ever since finding these gold frames at an estate sale a couple months ago, I've been wondering about what to put in them. I'm not a huge collector of prints or art, as I have that DIY mentality and always think I can do something myself. Note to self: get over it and buy an art print already! Falling back on my habits, I tried creating a modern monogram out of natural material to pair with one of these new-old gold frames. I love the mix of natural, modern, and classic so this DIY fits right with the style I have going on in my apartment. Follow along if you'd like to make your own! Also, if you're ever bored, hanging out in Cleveland, and it's a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday: your welcome. I don't think my fellow Clevelanders realize how good we have it in the estate sale realm!
Print out your favorite monogram, however large you'd like. This will be your base for the moss. I used Futura Bold for my "K" as I liked how clean and simple it would look paired with the natural fibers of the moss. I challenge you to explore what kind of letter fits your frame, your living space, and your personal style! As a side note, I believe I got this moss at Joann Fabric — it was left over from a project. Look in the area in any store where they have the fake flowers. This is usually sold in packets and people use it to cover up the floral foam when making arrangements. I…well, I use it to letter of course ;)
I'm pretty pumped this wasn't a catastrophe. Also, using frames that have space in-between the glass and the back is key. If you don't have a place to get something like this, try searching for shadowboxes on amazon. A classic monogram or a script one would look great paired in a minimal white frame as another option.
Happy crafting!


text:
HillaBamaDramaRama: Welcome to "Democrats Gone Wild"
I call it HillaBamaDramaRama. It's the traveling circus that is the 2008 Democratic nomination contest between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. It's been mired by charges of racism and dirty politics, and it's turning into a major point of contention among normally congenial friends. The simple fact is, this race is splitting the party in half with the sort of vehemence not seen in Democratic politics since the 1960's.
I see it it my own relationships. There was a time when verbal sparring with my good pal Brian, a staunch conservative, was the extent of my political boxing matches. These days, I find myself increasingly engaged in Democrat-on-Democrat warfare. It's incredible, but I've not experienced this sort of passion and anger since 2004's Bush/Kerry main event. At first I thought little of it. Saw it as the standard-fare early primary season squabbling--jockeying for our preferred candidates' positions-- among the liberal intelligentsia. We're the ones who watch Hardball year-round and read the NY Times' op-ed page every day. We're junkies, and we think everyone cares about and follows politics as much as we do. But then we're brought down to Earth when we see people on Jay Leno who cannot name the vice president. Yet we're the geeks who know who Howard Wolfson, Bob Shrum, Ralph Reed and John McLaughlin are, and we love to mix it up and debate the landscape. But the debating has gotten intense, and it's pitting close friends who normally share ideology against each other as if we were crossing party lines. It's actually quite a fascinating phenomenon. As such, the party couldn't be any less unified. For the most part, those who like and support Hillary are not impressed by Obama and just aren't feeling the love. And those who back Obama seem to, well, hate Clinton. And I'm not exaggerating.
The intensity is so strong that many Democrats in both camps say they'll either vote for the GOP's John McCain or sit out the election entirely if the other candidate wins the nomination. And there you have the ultimate phenomenon: the steamy intensity of HillaBamaDramaRama has resulted in a new reality show: Democrats Gone Wild. They dislike each others' candidate so much that they'd rather go Red than support the other one. Whether it's rooted in sexism, racism, fear of the unknown or fearing the known, it's getting ugly and could likely cause Democrats the election if they don't start getting their act together.
Another phenomenon of HillaBamaDramaRama is the blurring of ideological lines between Clinton and McCain. The intensity of this primary battle has caused normally intelligent, practical people to utter things like, "There's no difference between McCain and Hillary...so I'm just gonna protest her behavior and vote for him." Huh? Wha? Does Hillary want to prolong the war? Bomb Iran? Overturn Roe v Wade? Outlaw gay marriage? Protect the gun manufacturers? Make permanent the Bush tax cuts? Appoint conservative judges to the Supreme Court? How could anyone--any sane, rational Democrat--truly compare these two polar opposites? The only answer? HillaBamaDramaRama.... Democrats Gone Wild
On another note, we could use your help at The The Adrienne Shelly Foundation. We are a tax-exempt, non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmaking lives on. We've established scholarships, grants, finishing funds and living stipends at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; Columbia University; American Film Institute; Women in Film; the Independent Feature Project; the Nantucket Film Festival; and the Sundance Institute. Your generous contribution will go a long way towards helping us achieve this very important mission. Thank you.


text:
Dischidia nummularia
Submitted by wellsy on Tue, 21/04/2009 - 20:15
Score: 0.0, Votes: 0
Dischidia nummularia
A fantastic plant that is well suited to just 'hanging around' in any orchid collection. In some spots this even becomes a weed on my orchid mounts but who really cares? I don't.
This one is found up north queensland in coastal 'tea tree' swamps (Melaleuca species) growing on the same branches as Dendrobium canaliculatum at times.
Vote Result
Score: 0.0, Votes: 0
I have a piece of Dischidia
Submitted by Loki on Sun, 01/11/2009 - 18:03.
I have a piece of Dischidia I've yet to identify properly... well, three different Dischidia pieces actually, but this one I was told was the "ant Dischidia", which I assume is Dischidia major, but the leaves really do look more like this one. I'm pretty convinced now the guy I got it from had it wrong.
I'll have to post pics at some point and see if anyone else can confirm IDs on them.
is this what is commonly
Submitted by morty on Tue, 21/04/2009 - 21:24.
is this what is commonly called a "button" orchid?
Submitted by wellsy on Tue, 21/04/2009 - 21:28.
I think I remember some of the non-orchid people up north calling it that?
Regards wellsy
Submitted by pawpaw on Tue, 21/04/2009 - 23:07.
A lot of people up north do call this plant the button orchid. It likes growing on the paper barks in north Qld. There is a number of species in this family, I have a few but can't get names for them. Most are very interesting will try and get some photos of mine tomorrow and show you.
Submitted by wellsy on Tue, 21/04/2009 - 23:12.
I'll look forward to that. Have you ever had the 'Ant Plant' Eric.
I used to grow that but it went where all the best plants go.
Regards wellsy
Oh boy
Submitted by migocab on Tue, 21/04/2009 - 23:18.
You and your weeds Steve. You must have a dense bush of weeds in your yard.
appreciate your weeds
Submitted by wellsy on Tue, 21/04/2009 - 23:29.
You gotta appreciate your weeds mate! Without them you are doing something wrong I reckon.
Yes I like to have my shed looking like a forest if I can manage it.
Regards wellsy
Ant plant and forest
Submitted by pawpaw on Tue, 21/04/2009 - 23:40.
I help a friend collect a few some years back when I had just started growing orchids but had a lot of foliage. I decide not to grow an ant plant after carrying out a few in a bag on my back. All I can say is I was glad they weren't as big as a lion. All they are is a set of teeth on legs and they weren't going to bite me again.
I must have jungle in mine snakes and all sorts of other things are found there.
comedy capers
Submitted by wellsy on Tue, 21/04/2009 - 23:44.
I can see it now Eric...comedy capers!
My mate bought my one (ant plant) back from the Cape...Iron Range or somewhere like that I think? He had the forethought to remove the ants first.
Regards wellsy
Submitted by pawpaw on Tue, 21/04/2009 - 23:50.
Hey, I was new at this at the time. I wasn't to happy but mt mate ( He still is) had a good laugh, he knew what was coming.It happen to him the first also.


text:
Sign In or Join
SoloTouch Sign Up
SoloTouch members have access to the chat, forum, custom profiles and other great features.
Story Categories
Premium Story Categories
- Premium Story Categories
Techniques Categories
Recommended Sites
Masturbation Blog Orgasm Videos Porn List Sex Stories Premium Sex Toys Straight Men Jerking Off Female Masturbation Statistics Amateur Female Masturbation Women Discuss Masturbation Real Girls Cumming Maximum Erotica
Solo Touch Info
- Resources
- About
Our Friends
Newest Members
- idontexist7825 06 Dec 2016
- Faladada 06 Dec 2016
- Calcium099 06 Dec 2016
- deusaderit1 06 Dec 2016
- Singe68 05 Dec 2016
- maroons22 05 Dec 2016
Featured Members
- aussiesusie 45 friends
- darlington 152 friends
- JOHNNY 6 friends
- Stephanie 10 friends
- SoCalStrokn 56 friends
- HotCockThrobbing 61 friends
- 37984 members
- 24472 friendships
- 4068 posts
- 39163 comments
- 2792 techniques
- 570 forum topics
- 42878 stories
- 5232 photos
Solo Touch Support - Solo Touch Contacts
If you need assistance or want to contact us about anything, please use the contact form. Otherwise, please bring any issues to the attention of any one of the site Moderators listed below:
Search Stories
Alternative Search
Submit Your Story
Signup Now to submit your stories, techniques, comment on others' submissions, chat, post to the forum and more...FREE.
Submit Story
Submit Story
Popular Story Tags
cum masturbation orgasm first time Mutual panties oral fingering brother sister caught suck watching sister public cock handjob mutual masturbation clit massage Solo pussy blowjob shower exhibitionist friends Masturbate Mom naked friend voyeur young brother finger aroused teen wife female cousin Wet mother porn son tits male Vibrator fantasy lesbian masturbating pee exhibitionism All Story Tags


text: The San Diego New Homes Directory is one of the most useful real estate sites on the Internet for finding San Diego East County Homes For Sale homes for sale in San Diego East County. New Homes Directory .com is the easiest place for home searchers to find new homes and new condos as well as the most efficient means for new home builders to get results promoting their new home communities in San Diego East County.In East San Diego County, homes for sale don't stay on the market long; after all, properties are notoriously higher the closer they are to the ocean, so buyers are eager to take advantage of a good deal in that's in close proximity to the renowned coastal area. If East San Diego County sounds like the ideal location for you, what city should you specifically set your sights on? May we suggest Santee?


text:
Baby Club Med® (from 4 to 23 months)
A gentle haven for little ones, safe in the experienced hands of their dedicated G.O®s. Focus on early learning activities and motor skills:
Movement: exploring motor skills, Baby Gym, walks in the fresh air
Making things: starting to make and create
Expression: musical awareness, stories and fairy stories
Games: early learning games, developing dexterity
Time to eat and sleep: lunch, tea and siesta
Petit Club Med® (from 2 to 3)
Fun and spacious premises with plenty of outdoor space. Your toddlers will have a great time with their friends, and explore a wide range of activities designed to introduce them to new experiences:
Sport: walks, gym sessions, water games, etc
Making things: painting, collage, coloured stickers, herbariums
Expression: dressing up, make up, fashion shows, listening to music, puppets
Play: outdoor games and board games
Rest time and siesta, lunch and tea
Evening: songs, games, nursery rhymes, shows
Mini Club Med® (from 4 to 10)
We've thought of everything possible to ensure your children have a unique, adventure-packed holiday, with discovery, sports and activities for each age group:
Sport: Little Tennis, Little Circus, Little Football (a fun approach to these activities), sailing, windsurfing, archery, etc
Making things: cookery lessons (e.g. Petit Chef Program®), nature activities, art and crafts
Expression: dance, preparing and taking part in shows, crazy signs
Play: group games, etc
Lunch and tea
Evening: after dinner with friends, participants enjoy dedicated entertainment.
Club Med Passworld® (from 11 to 17)
Exclusive, contemporary spaces specially designed for teenagers, where they can meet up and feel free to express themselves; a host of propositions and zero obligations, in the company of a dedicated G.O®:
Sports activities: flying trapeze, tennis, archery, sailing, windsurfing, etc
Creative activities: making objects, make up, graffiti
Artistic activities: dance, shows, crazy signs
Adventure and discovery: hiking, picnic, camping
Evening: "On the beach" movie night, beach party, films, shows


text:
Pioneer's new receivers play nice with iPod and iPhone
Pioneer just announced the VSX-819AH, VSX-919AH and VSX-1019AH A/V receivers designed to help users integrate their Apple portables into their home theaters. After plugging in a player, you navigate your media using a specially designed graphic user interface (GUI) and your normal remote. It supports album art, too so now is a good time to make sure it's all up to date.
To make up for the generally, well, kinda crappy sound that can come out of iPods, they built in their own Advanced Sound Receiver and Auto Level Control technologies. The former is designed to create a "more dynamic audio experience" from highly compressed digital files, much like Creative's Crystalizer. The ALC just regulates volume, which may or may not be a special enough feature to deserve its own acronym.
Prices range from $299 to $499 so these are obviously geared toward the more casual user, but Pioneer has been known to put out great products at lower price points so these will be interesting to check out.