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Category: Life
I am still here
I had several emails from WordPress (which is what this web site\blog is based on) about updating to the new version 4 so I decided as I am currently off work I would update it. It was then that I realised that my last post was on December 31st 2013. So here a few lines of what's has happened over the last 12 months. My legs are still a major source of aggravation, done very little riding, I have just purchased a TACX Turbo Trainer to try and get some fitness back. The wife has had a her shoulder Operation (on Monday, which is why I am off work) at long last. It was cancelled on the day of the operation back in May while she was waiting to be admitted to the hospital due to a leg infection (that is the short version of the story). Life has carried on much the same as it was prior to my last post.
No Music today but here is a recent mugshot of me (trying out new features in word press 4 really)
the last one…
Well for 2013 at least.
Went to the gym earlier today, first time in a couple of months (despite my calf twinging last week), did not push it and was not able to do the same amount of workout as I was doing previously. Had a horrible feeling in my right knee, I could feel my knee moving around, it was not painful, just not a nice feeling.
Due to the gale force winds and rain I have not been out at all over the Christmas and New Year period, hopefully that will change for the better in the coming year. We escaped any major damage in the gales since before Christmas, living on top of a hill help against flood water. Only damage we had was a trellis fell off the wall.
Unfortunately the plant was all wrapped around the trellis so I had to cut the bush off at ground level, will see if it starts sprouting at root level in the spring.
I am not going to get reflective and look back over the past 12 months, it was crap and I would prefer to forget about it, as somebody once said you cant change the past but you can change your future, that where I am looking.
Going to finish the year on a cheerful toon
nearly christmas
It is only a couple of days till the big day and I don't think I have felt less Christmassy before. I just seem to be going through the motions at the moment, I have tried to get in the mood but I just does not seem to be there.
For the first time in years the wife is working Christmas eve (and the day before as well) so I will be on shopping and errants duty those two days. It does not help that we don't get paid until Christmas eve, so there will be an early morning raid on the supermarket on Tuesday. I think it is going to be a long week.
Went for the ultra sound scan on my calf's last week, doctor only had it down to look at my right calf (which tore about 8 weeks ago) but I informed him that the left one was also a problem and that it tore about two weeks ago. After scanning both calf's he was able to confirm that the left calf had torn but could only see indication of previous damage in my right and that was it. Now it is back to my GP to see what he says.
I had to go to head office on Thursday to complete a job that would take me about 20 minutes (it is a five hour round trip), but it meant I would not have to rush around when I was back in work in the new year (a new wood router is being installed). When I got to the factory the desk that was going to be built to house the PC turned into a large metal cabinet, problem one, some of the cables were now too short. Problem two, I went to hook the PC upto the network and nothing, dead, a quick word with the electrician who wired the new network sockets in and he told me that they had not been connected up yet despite me being told that it was all ready for me to connect it all up. So the electrician got the hump as it had to leave what he was doing and connect the network up. It was while this was happening that a major incident happened. I heard somebody had collapsed, it was only when I went outside that I noticed the three paramedic cars, one ambulance and the emergency helicopter!! Turns out the guy had a major heart attack, the four first aiders at work kept the guy alive doing cpr (the paramedic words, he could not praise them enough for what they did) until the first paramedic arrived. It was nearly an hour before the guy was stable enough to be put into the ambulance and driven to where the helicopter had landed (about quarter a mile way) and taken to hospital.
After the ambulance had left the paramedic called everybody together and explained what had happen and what they had witnessed (the incident happen in the middle of the factory in clear view of everybody) and the (then) current status of the patient. It was a quiet sombre affair but the paramedic could not praise the first aiders enough for the work they did before he arrived. Last I heard the patient was serious but stable and sedated in intensive care. Hope he pulls through, it is never a good time for anything like that to happen, it even harder at Christmas time.
Well as it is Christmas (even if I don't feel like it) and there a lot of tunes I could choose for "the post tune" but I decided to keep it short simple.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Can I get a new body please
So there we were out shopping early on Saturday morning not a care in the world, getting on with the the jobs that needed to be done so that we could have the rest of this lovely sunny weekend to do what we wanted.
Walking through the doorway of the aquarium shop and TWANG, it sounded loud enough for the whole shop to hear but nobody was looking at me apart from the wife who was trying to work out why I had a grimace on my face as I did my best one legged flamingo impression.
I don't know what I have done, all I know it is my right calf again, it is just like I have seriously pulled the muscle again. I have had this happen many times, it exactly the same feeling I get when my right calf cramps up when riding. Today it does not feel as bad but I still know it is there especially if I try to stretch my right calf. I have considered dehydrations as a possible cause (causing cramps)and have started to keep a record of what I am drinking. It is early days yet but I don't think it is but I need to record even if it just to discount it. I think another visit to the doctors is in order but not until I have a bit more of my drinking record. Alternative is to trade my body in for a new one, unfortunately there are not many takers!!
Needless to say there has been no bike riding this weekend, I had planned a long ride which had several early turn off available if fitness or injury were to cut short the ride. I would had loved to do the ride a the local mountain bike club were doing but I knew 30 miles up some big hills that I could not beat 18 months ago is definitely a no go at the moment.
Last weekend we went back to Cleeve Hill where we held the charity recovery ride and met up with Tazz again and Jon. It was a lovely sunny day but blowing a hoolley on top of the hill, (18 to 33mph). In fact we actually had to ride (as in pedal) down one hill as the headwind was so strong, the consolation was we actually got blown up another hill earlier. It was a good day with friends but not a lot of cycling.
This Wednesday was the day of funeral, and it went as well as can be expected, the day was sunny and cloudy. Now starts the task of moving on.
The fish tank, this simple job of putting everything together is becoming a pain in the butt. Having purchased the sand and the rock I laid everything out in the new tank as I wanted and then filled the tank with water. I took my big filter off the old tank, washed it all out, fitted new media and put it on the new tank………………where it promptly sprang a leak all over the new carpet, thankfully it was only a small leak. Further investigation revealed it was the main seal between the top and bottom of the filter. In the hunt for a new rubber O ring I was offered a new pump. I really needed to get a pump on the tank so I went for the new filter. This is all up and running although I have to shorten the hoses, as they were all coiled up and to long when I first set the tank up. So now I have to take the hoses off and shorten them.
With the lid on and pumps running came my next problem, condensation in the tank lid. I have a plan, I have purchased a bit of polycarbonate sheet and currently waiting for the lid clips to arrive so I can fit my diy condensation tray.
With all this sunshine there could only be one song to end this blog.
In Memory
After posting my blog last Sunday I decided to have an early-ish night ready for the week ahead, at 1am the phone rang, it was the hospital requesting us the come to the hospital quickly. We quickly dressed and I rushed the wife to the hospital dropped her off and then rushed back home (our son was still in bed a sleep, it did not seem right to disturb him). Just after getting home the wife phoned me, she was to late, her father had passed away a few minutes after the phone call from the hospital.
At the ripe old age of 85, William (Bill) Edwards had led a happy and fulfilling life, spending time in the RAF (his national service) and then in civilian life working as a butcher and then as a milkman until his retirement.
He leave behind his wife Edna, daughters Karen (my wife) and Sally and grand children Kristianne and Ryan, he will be deeply missed by all. The funeral is on Wednesday 29th.
It has been a tough few weeks for all the family…………….


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Pension schemes: Enhanced Lifetime Allowance (Pension Credit Rights) (APSS 201)
- From:
- HM Revenue & Customs
- Part of:
- Pension schemes forms and Pension scheme administration
- Published:
- 8 September 2014
Use form APSS 201 to notify us of the intention to rely on pre-commencement pension credits or pension credits from previously crystallised rights.
Enhanced Lifetime Allowance (Pension Credit Rights) (APSS 201)
Ref: APSS 201 https://public-online.hmrc.gov.uk/lc/content/xfaforms/profiles/forms.html?contentRoot=repository:///Applications/SpecPersTax_iForms/1.0/APSS201&template=APSS201.xdp
Enhanced Lifetime Allowance (pension credit rights): notes to help you complete the notification form (APSS 201 notes)
Ref: APSS 201 notes PDF, 87.9KB, 2 pages
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Use form APSS 201 to notify your intention to rely on paragraph 18 Schedule 36 of the Finance Act 2004 (Pre-commencement pension credits) or Section 220 of the Finance Act 2004 (Pension credits from previously crystallised rights).
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Published: 8 September 2014

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Cobb County Drug Attorney
Are you in need of a Cobb County drug attorney? You want someone with a wealth of courtroom experience and a proven track record of success. You want Kilgore & Rodriguez, a pair of Cobb County drug attorneys with years combined legal experience.
In Georgia, laws prohibiting the possession, sale, or intent to distribute marijuana and certain other drugs are codified as the Georgia Controlled Substances Act. The law categorizes drugs into five "schedules."
Schedule I drugs have no currently accepted medical use and include heroin, LSD, and MDMA (ecstasy).
Schedule II includes drugs that have a high potential for abuse and dependence, but may have some recognized medical use under severe restriction, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone (Percocet) and hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab).
Schedules III, IV and V include a wide range of drugs with a lower potential abuse and may be possessed when lawfully prescribed, such as Ketamine, Alprazolam (Xanax), Clonazepam, Diazepam (Valium) and Carisoprodol (Soma).
Any amount of marijuana (even residue in a pipe) is unlawful to possess in Georgia.
The law recognizes two kinds of possession: actual possession and constructive possession.
A person who knowingly has direct physical control over a thing at a given time is in actual possession of it. For instance, if cocaine is found in your pants pocket, that's evidence of actual possession.
If a person is not in physical possession of a drug, but knowingly has both the power and the intention to exercise authority or control over it, he has constructive possession of it.
The penalties for drug convictions in Georgia can be severe:
- Possession of one ounce or less of marijuana: misdemeanor (up to 12 months in jail)
- Possession of greater than one ounce of marijuana: felony (up to 10 years in state prison)
- Sale or possession with intent to distribute of marijuana: felony (up to 10 years in prison)
- Trafficking (possession of 10 pounds or more of marijuana): felony (from 5 to 30 years in prison)
- Possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, hydrocodone, oxycodone: felony (from 1 to 30 years in prison)
- Sale or intent to distribute any amount of cocaine, methamphetamine, hydrocodone, oxycodone: felony (5 years to life in prison)
- Trafficking (28 grams or more of cocaine or methamphetamine): felony (minimum of 10 to 25 years in prison)
- Your property (money, vehicles) can be seized by the government if connected to the unlawful possession or sale of drugs.
The Cobb County drug attorneys at Kilgore & Rodriguez employ a simple philosophy in drug cases. We seek to have the evidence suppressed or excluded by finding where police may have violated the defendant's constitutional rights in the way his person or property was searched, or in how the contraband was seized. Evidence of marijuana or other drugs can be thrown out if it was discovered or seized from a person, vehicle, home, hotel room, purse, or cell phone in a way that violated the defendant's Fourth Amendment right to be free from unlawful search and seizure. No evidence equals not guilty.
When there is no basis for requiring that evidence be suppressed, the Cobb County drug attorneys at Kilgore & Rodriguez look for any possible factual or legal defenses to challenge the criminal charges.
- Did others have equal access to drugs found in the car or residence?
- Is the evidence of possession mere spatial proximity?
- Is there a legal presumption that the contraband belonged to someone else?
- Were the drugs found in someone else's clothing, car, or apartment?
- Was the defendant merely present in the vehicle or room when the drugs were found?
- Can the State prove that seized material is actually contraband?
- Can the State prove you were the person in video?
- Can the State prove you had knowledge that drugs were present, or that you had intent to possess or distribute them?
- Does the defendant have a lawful prescription?
- Are drug treatment options a viable alternative?
At Kilgore & Rodriguez, our priority in drug cases is always the same: get the evidence excluded, get the case dismissed, and keep our clients out of jail. If you've been arrested on drug charges, call the skilled and experienced Cobb County drug attorneys at Kilgore & Rodriguez today.


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Mother India Trailer (2015)
28 April 2015
A lady with no child is inauspicious. People don't want to get too close to me," Jhuma says bitterly. Friends and family are fully aware that Jhuma and her husband Niladri have not been able to conceive, but they still ask how old their child is and what school he goes to. They are trying to "humiliate me", Jhuma explains. After eight years of marriage their situation is becoming desperate. "We've been to many doctors and many gods. Now we are going to Hyderabad." Out of place and overwhelmed in the cosmopolitan city, Jhuma and Niladri examine the diagram on her desk warily
Watch the official Mother India 2015 trailer in HD below or find more Mother India videos on Vidimovie.


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The Barbary Mark
Chapter 8
It was past midnight when Nonie heard a discreet tapping behind the screen—I should lie naked on the bed, and see if we can stir up a reaction, she thought uncharitably, but instead said softly, "Yes—come in; I am awake."
The necromancer entered, dressed as a guard again, and despite herself, she felt a pang of regret upon seeing him, as she stood to fasten on the hated headdress. You hardly know him, you nodcock, she scolded—take hold of yourself and recall, if you please, what is at stake.
When she was ready, he did not move toward the secret door, but instead stood still, regarding her with an air of concern. "What has happened?"
In the process of concocting a mild response, somehow other words came out. "I have discovered you have multiple wives." So much for discretion—it was hard to believe she was considered to be a decent spy, in some circles. "It is a grievous blow."
He looked into her eyes for a moment, his own holding a trace of some unidentified emotion. Why, I think I've finally thrown him, she thought. And I can't be happy about it, because I should never have said such a thing, to begin with.
He tilted his head slightly, in his now-familiar manner. "It is the way of things."
"It is indeed—at least hereabouts, and I will say no more." She adopted a teasing tone, lest she give him the impression that she'd transferred her affections from Jamie—another reason she'd been a fool to make such a confession to him. Besides, there was no point in batting her eyes at him in the first place; she was not going to tie her star to a Muslim man with multiple wives who was willing to double-cross Napoleon—although the last was more an asset which could be toted up in his favor, despite its recklessness. It was strange enough that she felt they were so compatible; obviously, they inhabited different worlds and if anyone thought for an instant that she would be willing to live in this miserable backwater, they were very much mistaken.
With her poise firmly restored, she asked, "Shall we go?"
She had the impression he was going to say something, but then thought the better of it. "Yes. Please follow me."
As they passed through the embedded door, she asked, "It that an orange, that I'm scenting?"
He dropped his chin in acknowledgement and silently drew an orange from within his robe—apparently, he would have shared it with her, but for her unruly tongue.
As she followed him down the crude steps, she found that her unruly tongue had no intention of behaving itself, any time soon. "I hope I haven't torn it. Do you think we can we be comfortable again?"
There was a small pause, and then his voice floated back from the darkness before her. "I have not been comfortable since the moment I saw you."
His tone was not teasing or flirtatious, but instead, was very grave. She made no response, because she was being foolish beyond measure, to goad him into a veiled declaration of affection that was doomed from the start—not to mention that he was doomed, something she should try to remember, for heaven's sake.
When they came to the juncture with the cross-tunnel, he bent to light the lantern, but instead of going forward, he paused, and looked out into the dark passageway whilst she stood beside him in the flickering shadows. After a moment, his quiet voice echoed off the walls, "What is it that you are trying to compel me to do?"
Acutely embarrassed, she stammered, "Nothing—pray do not think—"
He turned to her. "No—not that. I meant with regard to your work, here; what is it you try to accomplish, through me?"
She stared at him for a moment, a bit taken aback by the question, and bitterly regretting her comments, which had not only had caused this confused awkwardness between them, but had jeopardized her assignment, to boot. "What do you mean? I don't understand."
Leaning in, so that he could watch her face in the lantern light he asked, "You speak Gaelic?"
"Labhraím gaeilge," she agreed, thinking this a bit off-topic.
"As does Mr. O'Hay?"
Ah—he didn't miss a trick, this man; he was wondering why they hadn't spoken in their native language, in front of him. "Well, yes—but mostly we speak English to one another."
There was a long, silent pause, whilst she knew he found her explanation lacking. "I am willing to help you, but you must not interfere with my work. Can you tell me what it is you seek to accomplish?"
Since she couldn't very well tell him they were intent on bringing all his well-ordered plans down in ruins, she struggled to choose the right words. "I'd rather not; it is possible that we are working at cross purposes, you and I." It was as close as she could come to telling him his underhanded activities were known to her—perhaps she could scare him away from his wicked ways, and he needn't suffer for them.
He thought this over, his eyes upon hers. "I see."
She took a breath, and quelled any further conversation—she shouldn't have said what she already had, and—truly, this time—she would say no more. "I'm afraid I have my orders."
"I understand." He turned, and led her into the tunnel, and didn't raise the topic again. She followed in thoughtful silence, a bit taken aback by his willingness to confront her on these delicate matters. She was now aware that she should assume he knew exactly what was afoot—that he wasn't fooled by anything; it was almost as though he'd given her a warning to beware, much the same as she'd given him. What was truly alarming was the undeniable fact that she wasn't, in fact, alarmed by this realization—she would wager her life that he would do her no harm, come what may.
After they emerged from the tunnel into the twisting alleyways of the Kasbah, he let her into a small, gated courtyard that smelled faintly of spices and burnt oil, as though it was a dining area of some sort. After opening a battered wooden door that hung on old leather hinges, he stood back and indicated she should enter. Once within the cramped kitchen area, the lantern light revealed a crude table, where Jamie was in the process of devouring a hearty bowl of some sort of stew. As she came in, he looked up with a grin. "Trust you to see to my stomach—many, many thanks."
Shamelessly taking the credit, she laughed and noted that his eyes strayed behind the necromancer, to see if anyone else accompanied them.
"Is it the large-breasted messenger that you seek?" She spoke in Gaelic, just to serve the necromancer right.
He laughed, and answered easily in the same language, "She's a beauty—who is she?"
"I cannot say her name aloud, because she is married to the mark."
His eyes alight, as though they spoke of inconsequentials, he responded, "Is that so? Now there's a disappointment."
Preaching to the choir, she thought, but cautioned, "Best beware; the religious beliefs hereabouts do not take kindly to adultery."
But Jamie was Jamie, and was undaunted, as always. "It's not a real marriage; not according to our religious beliefs." With an air of self-satisfaction, he turned back to his meal.
Nonie placed a hand on his arm and behaved as though she was concerned. "Turn your attention to more important matters, if you please. I think the mark is aware that he is a mark."
Pausing, he placed his hand upon hers, as though soothing her. "Well that's a fine kettle of fish—now what?"
"We've little choice but to press on—perhaps we can outfox him; they still seek the pearls, after all."
Jamie's gaze held hers. "He can't know what your assignment is, surely?"
"I can't imagine he does, but be wary, and take nothing on faith."
He paused. "Do you think he's a danger to you?"
After a moment's hesitation, she thought she may as well confess, "No—in fact, I believe he is rather fond of me."
"Is he?" Jamie lifted her hand from his arm, and kissed it tenderly. "Don't be stupid, Nonie—too much is at stake."
"No—I have no illusions, but it's a factor to consider."
"Then he's more like the Normandy mark than the Flemish mark."
With a trace of brave sadness, she reflected, "The poor Normandy mark; no doubt he still stands at the roadside, and waits for me to return from Paris."
But Jamie had little sympathy and shoveled in another mouthful. "Man's an idiot—doubtful he's still alive." Without looking up, he added, "Any sign that this one has taken the bait?"
"No, he seems completely impervious to hints about sunken treasure." She gave Jamie a wan, brave smile. "And I don't know whether it's worth it, to keep pretending that I'm only here to sway you from your foolish, besotted path."
He looked into her eyes and nodded, with all appearance of sincerity. "Well, that was a faint hope to begin with. Aditi knows every bed-trick in the book."
As though dismayed, she shook her head. "And by the looks of her, it's a weighty book."
He bowed his head with a stubborn expression, sorry, but resolute. "Lord—it's exhausting, is what it is."
"Do spare me the details." She sighed and rubbed his arm with sad affection. "Then you'd best get back before Aditi gets restless, and finds a worthy substitute."
"Tell me more about the other girl—the mark's wife."
"Sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander," she reminded him with no sympathy. "Best to stand down; it would not end well, my friend."
In the midst of this touching scene, there was a coded tapping at the door, and with a long stride, the necromancer answered. Another man stood without, and the two had a murmured conversation.
"That's my fellow," Jamie informed her in an undertone, as he finished up the bowl of stew with two quick spoonfuls. "Works at the slave market; brought me here, but doesn't say much. I don't think he's a native, but I have no other impressions."
The necromancer shut the door, and motioned for Jamie to rise. "We must leave quickly, and by the other way. We are being watched."
"By who?" asked Nonie and Jamie at the same time, turning to him like two hounds on point.
"Come," he said, and indicated they were to follow.


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The U.S. has too many lawyers, entertainers, would-be sports players,
writers, government workers, etc. We have a dearth of plumbers,
electricians, carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers, nurses, indigenous
American MDs, skilled factory workers and engineers. Our educational
system is not training our students for jobs in the 21st century. Our
youth, our future, are unable to meet the demands of our market-based
Too many of our youth get caught up in glitz, glamour and shortcuts; the life of Aesop's Hare. Yet that is not the way that the United States achieved prosperity. The United States of America is the greatest country in the history of the world due to the hard work, moral striving and unprecedented diligence of its people; the life of Aesop's Tortoise. Many of our Founding Fathers were craftsmen themselves, and they understood the value of being skilled at a trade, working hard and toiling long hours until they achieved excellence at any given thing.
Contemporary American culture is all about the easy dollar and simple life; it is the rare soul who wishes to let blood, sweat and tears for the sake of achievement, and it is those rare few who are the success stories we take pride in who continue to build and strengthen our nation. The question is, if we take so much pride in the few of us who prove hard work and diligence pays time and time again, then why are there so many of us who scoff at the notion of commitment to continued excellence and execution?
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.


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What Are Some Fun Things To Do In Virginia Beach, Virginia?
sort by best latest
I live only about 80 miles from there. I go there all the time. I, too, enjoy the beach, but walking down the strip to shop and look around is one of my favorite things to do. Also, if you aren't terrified of heights, go parasailing! I've done that twice there and it is a lot of fun. They also have dolphin watches which can be quite interesting. Again, I really enjoy walking down the strip. During the summer their is a lot of life down there to watch and absorb. You will especially think so if you live pretty far away. If you are spending quite a long time there (a week or so), I'd recommend maybe spending the day at First Landing Park (if I have that name correctly..if not, it is something close to that). The water is bayside, but they have a nice beach. This is highly recommend if you have youngsters going. Here they can enjoy the sand and water without worrying about getting too crushed by the waves! Plus, it gives the adults a little peace of mind, not having to worry AS much about the kids. Also, they have a lovely campground at this park. You may want to check it out for future reference if you're a camper. Again, they have kids activities while camping, as well, like KIDS NIGHT WALKS.. and stuff like that.
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- Product 463267
Giardinelli GS512 Alto Saxophone
- Write a Review
For the professional player, the Giardinelli GS512 Alto Saxophone is the perfect combination of looks, sound, features, and value. Large, hand-spun b...Click To Read More About This Product
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Built for the discerning professional player.
For the professional player, the Giardinelli GS512 Alto Saxophone is the perfect combination of looks, sound, features, and value. Large, hand-spun bell flare creates big, bold sound. Beautiful hand engraving, sculptured metal thumb hook, and a gorgeous artistic design makes this alto sax a treat for the eyes as well as the ears. Includes two necks"a yellow brass neck for focused, smooth sound and a nickel silver neck for brighter, bolder tone. Necks are matched and fitted to each individual instrument and serial numbered accordingly. Lacquered yellow brass cap and ligature come standard, as well as a hard rubber #5 facing mouthpiece with Giardinelli logo. An amazing value with all the features and quality that professional players demand.
- Large, hand-spun bell flare for big, bold sound Beautiful hand engraving
- Sculptured metal thumb hook
- Includes 2 necks" yellow brass neck for focused, smooth sound and a nickel silver for brighter, bolder tone
- Necks are matched and fitted to individual instrument
- Lacquered yellow brass cap and ligature
- Hard rubber #5 facing mouthpiece
A professional saxophone with features you'd only expect from a much higher-priced instrument. Call or click to order now.
Reviewed by 3 customers
Comments about Giardinelli GS512 Alto Saxophone:
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Comments about Giardinelli GS512 Alto Saxophone:
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Comments about Giardinelli GS512 Alto Saxophone:
I got this Sax in 8th grade, it's a really goos sax except you might want to buy a new mouth piece. The one that comes with the sax is pretty poor.


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Usually a Secured credit card that is reported to all three credit bureaus is where someone will begin when building credit. Capital One may be a lender to check with and read as much as you can about credit as the knowledge is necessary to do this right.
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Our unrivaled flight teams are responsible for the transport of critically ill and injured patients. They bring all their training and critical thinking to bear in each moment of each situation.
As a Transport Nurse or Transport Paramedic, you will encounter individuals (and their family members) on what is most likely the worst day of their lives, and you will care for them from point of origin to destination, perhaps beyond.
You'll have an incredible opportunity to implement your skills, knowledge and expertise in a high energy high impact environment of transport. Your confidence, clarity and compassion will prove as necessary—and lifesaving—as your education.


text: For those who have horses with severe allergies and sweet itch. As we know, the "fly sheets" sold in the U.S. really don't address the issue of sweet itch. I am considering becoming a rep for this sheet. They are a bit pricey..about $280, which includes shipping (may be a bit less...working on converting the euro to dollar!) but considering what we spend on useless fly sprays, medicines, etc, plus the aggravation and the poor miserable horse, it would be worth it! Is there a market in the U.S. for such a rug? I think so, but only because I have a horse that suffers from sweet itch!


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Focus of Review The importance of inputs from already existing literature in every academic discourse cannot be overemphasized. Such inputs in the form of references, quotes and citations assume greater significance, especially if their emphases are relevant to what is being studied at the present. This is why it is imperative to evaluate previous findings by scholars to provide framework and foundation for the present study. According to Ohaja (2003:70), "the literature review is a discourse on the topic with the help of contributions from previous scholars and writers". It usually presents an overview of the field in a way as to provide a background for the work and draws a possible conclusion that may or may not be vindicated by empirical verifications. It gives an insight necessary for location of the present study in the context of previous research efforts. The ownership of media organization is always warranted by socio-political and economic imperatives of societies. In Nigeria, the ownership and control of the media has been a reflection of the various stages of transformation in the society. Thus, Nigerian Constitutions have, at different periods, guaranteed both private and government ownership of the media.
Credibility, in itself, is identified as a critical factor in any communication environment. Its components, among others, include trustworthiness and expertise. However, the implication of low credibility on mediated messages is a negative phenomenon which can spell the death of a media organization. In this chapter, therefore, we shall review the related literature under the following sub headings: i. Media ownership in Nigeria: Historical perspective ii. iii. iv. The print media ownership in Nigeria Electronic media ownership in Nigeria
Credibility: Its components Media ownership and credibility: A critical analysis Implications of low credibility on media organization
Media Ownership in Nigeria: Historical Perspective The literature on ownership influence on media contents in Nigeria are not in acute shortage. Some of them go further to unequivocally suggest that government ownership is opposed to press freedom. However, conspicuous in their absence are well structured researches that incorporate and interlace credibility and ownership studies in a holistic and coherent manner. Rather, scholars have tended to concentrate on historical exegesis of media evolution in Nigeria, designating government ownership as a negative phenomenon and private ownership as the best that can happen to mankind. This is fundamentally flawed The media in this context cannot be taken to be one of the communication outlets available to media practitioners. According to Dominick (1996:27) our definition of mass media will include not only the mechanical devices that transmit and sometimes store the message (TV cameras, radio microphones, etc) but also the institution that use these machines to transmit messages. Dominick (1996) further maintains that the mass media of television, radio, newspapers, magazines, sound recoding and film refer to the people, the policies, the organization and the technology that go into producing mass communication.To Bello (1998:1), "mass media involves not only the transmittal, but also the creation/publication, gathering and distribution of the news, information, messages and other forms of communication designed to reach the general public". The overall motive of the media, he argues, is to set standards, ideals and aims of the masses. Mass media, as noted by McBride et al (1981:62), "has opened the doors to larger audiences, expanded sources and resources for information and entertainment, and supported important cultural and social changes". Hence, the motive for establishing and controlling the media include public interest, profits, power and knowledge (Okenwa, 1998:1). Though, agreements and disagreements still surround the effects or no-effects potential of the media, there is a consensus among scholars that mass media performs the following functions in the society: surveillance, interpretation, continuity, entertainment and mobilization (McQuail, 2005: 97). Print Media Ownership in Nigeria The print media ownership in Nigeria is largely an admixture of private and government ownership. According to Dinkpa (1997:19), "private ownership of newspapers first emerged before government joined the business". Christian missionary societies were the first owners of the printing press in Nigeria with the establishment of a printing press in Calabar. In 1859, Rev. Henry Townsend, a white missionary from Sierra Leone, started the first newspaper in Nigeria called Iwe Irohin. The paper was published in Abeokuta in Yoruba language. Another privately owned newspaper was the Anglo-African established in 1863. This paper was founded by Robert Campbell, a Liberian emigrant in Nigeria. Omu (1978:19) contends that "the goal of Anglo-African was to exploit the growing interest in western education and enlightenment in Lagos in the 1860s by providing cheap and accessible materials which could educate, inform and entertain its readers". In 1880, Richard Beale Blaize, a wealthy Sierra Leonean established the Lagos Times. Other newspapers founded by foreigners include the Iwe Irohin Eko founded by Andre Thomas on November 3, 1888; the Weekly Times established by John Payne Jackson, a Liberian-born businessman, on May 3, 1890: the Lagos Weekly Record, founded by J. P. Jackson; the Standard founded by George Alfred Williams on September 16, 1894; the Lagos Echo founded by J. S. Leigh on September 1, 1884 and the Lagos Reporter founded by Victor Manson on September 12, 1898 (Ogunsiji, 1989:9). The common denominator of all these papers was that their owners were alien dominated.
Indigenous private owners started venturing into the press after the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914. A Yoruba lawyer, Kitoye Ajasa founded the Nigerian Pioneer in 1914. Ernest Ikoli started the African Messenger in 1921, and in 1925, Herbert Macaulay established the Lagos Daily News which became the first paper to exist along the west coast as a daily newspaper. The Daily Times Newspapers was launched in 1926 with Ernest Ikoli as the editor and Duse Mohamed Ali launched the Weekly Comet in 1932 (Dinkpa, 1997:20). Perhaps, of all the indigenous newspapers, the West African Pilot stood head and shoulders above all others. Established by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1937, after escaping the wrath of the British colonialists in the Gold Coast (now Ghana), Zik's philosophy or motto was "show the light and the people will find the way." He attacked racialism, advocated universalism, and his was noted for sensationalism. Zik was the first newspaper publisher to introduce chain ownership of newspapers in Nigeria. On attainment of independence in 1960, another phase was opened in the history of the press in Nigeria. Government ownership of the press began. Starting with the Western Region in 1960, the Daily Express and Sunday Express were established in partnership with Roy Thomson of Canada, to serve the interest of Yorubas. The Tafawa Balewa government founded the Morning Post in 1961 for the purpose of providing adequate publicity for the government. In 1966, the Northern Region government established the New Nigerian newspaper. By 1974, almost all the then 19 states of the federation had newspapers of their own. Although, the history of magazine ownership is not as exhaustive as that of the newspapers, their contributions to the development of information dissemination have been noteworthy. The Nigerian Magazine, born in 1939 by the Federal Office of Information, was the first magazine in the country. In the 70s came Newbreed, Drum and Spear, and in the 80s and 90s, Newswatch, This Week, Tell, The News and Ovation, among other magazine (Dinkpa 1997:23). Electronic Media Ownership in Nigeria For over 50 years after its official commissioning on 1st December 1935 in Lagos, radio broadcasting was the exclusive preserve of government. The first radio station in Nigeria, which took the name, Nigerian Broadcasting Service in 1952, belonged to the Federal Government. It later became the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation at the prompting of nationalist politicians in 1956. The WNTV (Western Nigerian Television Service) was established as the first television station in Nigeria in 1959. The ENBS (Eastern Nigerian Broadcasting Service) came on air in 1960 and the NNBC (Northern Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation) hit the air waves in 1962. All these were regionally oriented broadcast stations, designed to advance the interest of their owners, the regional governments. The expansion in the number of stations followed the pattern of state creation till date, as a replacement of regions and their governments (Owuamalam, 2006:9). The 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, vested the ownership of broadcast stations solely on governments. Consequently, there are more than 40 state owned radio and television station in Nigeria. There is also a national radio, formerly known as Radio Nigeria but now, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN). It operates a network of more than 30 radio stations located in various states of Nigeria. The external broadcasting need of the country is satisfied through the Voice of Nigeria which has an international reach and appeal. (Owuamalam 2006:9) However, the promulgation of decree No. 38 of 1992, establishing the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), ended over fifty years of government ownership of broadcasting in the country. Private ownership of stations in Nigeria therefore becomes possible. The 1999 Constitution vested the ownership on the people, who apply to the president, to be given a license to operate a station, cable or satellite distribution stations in Nigeria. Currently, there are more than 20 private broadcasting stations in Nigeria with many awaiting their license to commence transmission. Notable among them are Minaj Broadcasting International (MBI) and African Independent Television (AIT) (Owuamalam 2006:10) 2.3 Credibility: Its Components According to Savolain (2007:2), credibility studies date back to early 1950s in America. The studies were and still are to find out how modifications in sources' characteristics influence people's willingness to alter their attitudes to certain topics. This approach focuses on qualities of sources as well as contents. Results show that trustworthiness of sources affects acceptance of the message and changes opinion.
Ordinarily, the New International Webster Dictionary of the English Language defines credibility as "the capacity of being believed, the capacity as of government or public official of maintaining the public confidence that its report of the conduct of public affairs is worthy of belief". The above conceptualization is similar to that of Udoakah (1998). Writing on "Mass Mobilization Communication for Development", Udoakah (1998:46) avers: For a government or any institution or person to succeed in any mobilization, it has to be seen as credible otherwise, people would not be willing to listen to its message. The credibility of government comes from its ability to provide citizens welfare and solve other problems satisfactorily; it comes from the expertise and trustworthiness of its officials.
Apart from this; the message must bear a stamp of credibility. Facts alone do not persuade always, though they may elicit some kind of behaviour or rationalize an action. Facts become more persuasive when they are supported by events or actions.(italics, mine) Media credibility is a complex concept. Researchers from various countries have used a wide range of approaches to evaluate it and to understand its component. Savolain (2007:3), for instance, notes this situation in his study on "Media Credibility and Cognitive Authority" conducted in Tampere, Finland. He discovers that, though credibility is difficult to define unambiguously, the quality of information, believability of media, reliability and trust worthiness of information are some of the components with which it has been associated. In their study in Miami, USA on "The Credibility of Newspaper, Television and On-line News", Abdulla et al (2002:12) added twelve other dimensions to the components of credibility. According to the researchers, "the components of credibility include: fairness, completeness, accuracy, respect for privacy, watch for peoples interest, concern for community, separation of fact from opinion, trust, concern for public interest, factual, level of training and truth".
Similarly, the European Society of Professional Journalists, SPJ (2010) is of the view that credibility and codes of ethics are Siamese twins. The Society situates itself on the assumptions that "public enlightenment is forerunner of justice and foundation of democracy and that professional integrity is the cornerstone of journalists' credibility." Hence, as code of ethics, the society expects its members to: seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently, and be accountable. (SPJ 2010:2) Media credibility, therefore, can be conceived as performing ones roles competently both to the audience and to the stakeholders in the industry. It involves formulating a workable agenda that can satisfy the information and entertainment needs of the audience, and at the same time bring returns to media owners. The objective must be service defined in the user perspective. In the final analysis, "it is only those who know something we don't, and who know what they are talking about are cognitive authorities". (Wilson 2009:14). Credibility and Media Ownership: A Critical Analysis Credibility implies performance in the service of the audience. It includes all that can be done to build public trust and confidence in the mediated message. It is dependent on the judgment made by the audience, and its question is strategic to an effective communication process. The benefit derivable from it is that it places a stamp of reliability on the affected media organization.
Governments, media practitioners and scholars have, at different times and places explored, ways through which media credibility can be built and maintained. While some of these efforts have resulted in the development of certain media theories or philosophies, others have translated into principles, generalizations and standards advanced as codes of conduct for media practice. The Nigerian Press Council, NPC, for instance, makes this point clearer when it states in preamble to Code of Ethics for Nigerian journalists that: Journalism entails a high degree of public trust. To earn and maintain this trust, it is morally imperative for every journalist and the various news media to observe the highest professional and ethical standards. In the exercise of his duties, a journalist should always have a healthy regard for the public interest (NPC 1998). Thus, in the codes of conduct for the Nigerian journalists, the Council first provides for editorial independence as the cardinal principle, for maintaining public trust, stressing that "decisions concerning the content of news should be the responsibility of professional journalists". But Dan Agbese, the editor in chief of Newswatch magazine, has pointed out that no publication, no matter how independent it may claim to be, can escape servicing certain vested interests, either knowingly or unknowingly. These interests may be commercial, political, communal, and tribal or even religious. The result is that the gathering and dissemination of news is secondary to certain other interests. (Agbese, 1995). This brings the question, how does ownership interfere with the decisions concerning the editorial contents of news and to what extent? This question is a tough nut to crack. However, scholars agree that newspaper publishers do influence the editorial policies of their papers but the degree varies from paper to paper and from owner to owner. There are instances where publishers in collaboration with editors of their newspapers, have trimmed, killed, slanted or displayed a reporter's story in such a way as to support an official version. (Ogunsiji, 1989:175). Similarly, commentators on media matters like Abubakar Jika (1984) claim that the freedom of the newspapers starts where fundamental interest of owners ends. According to him, "it is obviously true that mass media owners exert a threatening control over the press, whether a mass medium is managed by a board of directors, appointed by private owners or by a public corporation established by the government" (Nwogbunyama 2009:52). Two major areas identified by Nwogbunyama (2009:52) in which owners influence media contents and indeed credibility, include: Financial Control: Media owners control the media by their decision to invest or not to invest. It is obvious that fund is the live-wire of any organization. It has been discovered that government owned media suffer irregular subventions that lead to their epileptic state. The method of their funding has been described as faulty and inadequate resulting to the media operating far below capacity with obsolete facilities and equipment. Appointment of Principal Staff: Ownership influence transcends beyond the proprietor's interest to invest. The publishers' interest is reflected in the appointment of staff. Careful selection of a team that will dance to the dictates of the publishers ensures that the publishers' interest and dreams are not wished away. Gaullden (1967) cited in Nwogbunyama (2009:53) agrees that as long as a publisher has decent respect for law, he may do what he likes with his newspaper and his staff. Therefore, media owners appoint people who may be willing horses to dance to tune they are likely to dictate, even at the expense of expertise and public trust. 2.5 Implications of Low Credibility on Media Organization Credibility is considered a desideratum for both government and privately owned media organizations. It flows from the reputation built by a media firm over time, through effective discharge of corporate responsibilities (Udoakah 1998:17). Believes that source of communication must be credible if a positive response is what is desired. Conversely, credibility gaps exist when the confidence of the audience in the mediated message begins to dwindle. This can be as a result of the quality of reporting, careless, biased and speculative reporting or deliberate falsehood. Haruna (2008:1) argues that "speculative reporting, sometimes verging on fiction, not only destroys public confidence in the media, but can also be dangerous to the stability of the nation". Low credibility therefore implies loss of public confidence and trust on media organizations brought about by performance excesses on the part of the affected medium. In other words, people will tend to regard the message from such a media outfit with ambivalence, skepticism and outright doubt. As a corollary to the above, communication between a mediums organization which has low credibility and its audience will hardly be fruitful. It will be difficult for such a medium to mobilize the audience for development purpose. For such institution or person to succeed in mobilization, "it has to be seen as credible; otherwise people would not be willing to listen to its message" (Udoakah 1998:46). Low credibility therefore, means selection by the audience, of alternative media sources with perceived higher credibility. This will result in loss of profits and good will on the part of the affected medium, which can ultimately lead to death of the organization.
Abdulla et al (2002). The credibility of newspaper, television and on-line news. School of Communication, University of Miami. Retrieved Dec. 24, 2009 from http.com.miamied. Agbese, D. (1995). The commercial imperatives and news management. Daily Times, June
Anaeto, S. G., Onabanjo, O. S. & Osifeso, J. B. (2008). Models and theories of communication. Lagos: African Renaissance Books, Inc. Baran, S. J. (2009). Introduction to mass communication: media literacy and culture. New York: (5th ed.) MacGraw-Hill.
Bellow III, J. R (1998). Definite ruling. A paper submitted to securities and exchange commission, Philippines on March 19, 1998. Retrieved Dec. 24, 2009 from www.google.massmediaandinternet.com Dinkpa, P. (1997). Media management in Nigeria. Lagos: Clear Copy Ltd. Dominick, J. R. (1996). The dynamics of mass communication. (5th ed.) New York: McGraw Hill Companies Inc. Haruna, G. (2008). Nigeria: corruption-how far can the media go? Retrieved February, 9, 2010 from www.allafrica.com/storeis.
Hovland, C. I., & Weiss, W. (1951). The influence of source credibility on communication effectiveness. Opinion quarterly 15:633-650. MacBride, S. et al (1981). Many voices, one world. Ibadan: University of Ibadan press. McQuail, D. (2005). Mass communication theory. An introduction. Berverly Hills: Ca Sage publications. NBC (2006). The national broadcasting code. Abuja: National Broadcasting Commission. NPC (1998). The Nigeria press council Nwogbunyama, E. (2009). Media organization and management. Enugu: Zik chuks Publications. Ogunsiji, M. A. (1989). Introduction to print journalism. Lagos: Nelson Publishers Ltd. Ohaja, E. U. (2003). Mass communication research and project report writing. Lagos: John Letterman Ltd. Okenwa, S. N. (1995). Perspectives in media management. Enugu: Zik chuks Communications.
Okereke, C. (2003). Method of social investigation. Owerri: First Word Publication Olson, J. M. & Zanna, P. (1993). Attitudes and attitude change. Annual Review of Psychology, 44:117-154. Omu, F. (1978). Press and politics in nigeria 1880 1937. Bristol: Western Printing Services Ltd. Owuamalam, E. O. (2006). Introduction to broadcasting. Owerri: Top Class Agencies Ltd. Savolain, R. (2007). Media credibility and cognitive authority: the case of seeking orienting information. Retrieved, 24 Dec. 2009 from www.britainnica.com
Severin, W. and Tankard, J. (1991). Mass communication theories. New York: Hastings House. Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), Code of ethics. Retrieved 19, April 2010 from www.spj.org.ethicscode.asp The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The New international webster dictionary of the english language, 2003 Edition. Trident Press International. Udoakah, N. (1998). Development communication. Ibadan: Stirling Horden Publishers (Nig) Ltd. Wilson, P. (2009). Second-hand knowledge. An enquiry into cognitive authority. Retrieved April 19, 2010 from www.britainnica.com.


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The novels of New York Times best-selling author J. F. Freedman combine gritty realism with gripping suspense. Bird's-Eye View is a vivid thriller that will keep listeners enthralled from start to finish.
Ex-collegiate professor turned loner, Fritz Tullis dropped out of academia for all the right reasons. He now spends his time thinking, drinking, fishing, and photographing birds from a sweltering, screen-windowed shack at the edge of a swamp in southern Maryland. One morning, spying on birds with his telephoto lens, Fritz spots a plane landing on an airstrip across the bay. When he witnesses a deadly gunfight erupt outside the plane, Fritz, against his better judgement, is compelled to investigate further. Narrator Tom Stechschulte deftly navigates through Freedman's winding story as the stakes get higher and higher and Fritz's once-quiet life is transformed into chaos.
©2001 Chesapeake Films, Inc. (P)2002 Recorded Books
"A Riveting Tale Read Masterfully"
This story features one of the most unique and rogue heroes I've encountered in modern novels. Fritz Tullis, a disgraced history professor at University of Texas, mopes home to the backwoods of Maryland's eastern shores to live with his wealthy 83 year old mother. He's the youngest of 3, born 18 years after his next oldest sibling. Spoiled, unappreciative and known as a careless thrill seeker, he makes a rundown shack on the property into a livable home.
A rare bird and a simple white lie to protect a lover's feelings lead him to stumble into a murder. From there it becomes a cat and mouse adventure, only who is the cat and who is the mouse.
One of the first novels I listened to on Audible was No Country For Old Men, read by Tom Stechschulte. I loved him then and he is equally wonderful here.
It's a fast read, an easy 4 star rating for me.
The book started out great, with what seemed like an original premise...then it derailed. Read only if you don't mind that police officers and government officials are portrayed as absolute imbeciles (there is no other explanation for how the main character is allowed to continue on his merry way, investigating a situation on his own with disastrous consequences for all). The main character is an imbecile too--so many of his actions are simply preposterous (two of the female characters mention his "boyish" nature...and he does indeed behave like a fifteen-year-old several times...perhaps his actions might have seemed more believable if he was indeed a teenager). The dialogue between him and the women of his life is painfully stilted and hard to listen to. The female characters are mostly stereotypes (the author uses the word "vulnerable" as a compliment when describing two of the female characters, need I say more?) Towards the end I was tempted to stop listening several times.
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Islamabad, Sep 21 (ANI): Concerned over the issue of match-fixing allegations levelled against the Pakistani cricket team, President Asif Ali Zardari met British High Commissioner Adam Thomson in the capital on Monday.
According to sources, President Zardari, who is the Patron in Chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said both sides should stop the blame game.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar refused to comment on the matter discussed at the meeting.
The president also asked Thomson to convey his request to the UK authorities to complete the investigation in MQM leader Farooq's murder case as soon as possible, The Dawn reports.
Babar said the president called upon the British Government and EU countries to further pursue the progress recently made at a foreign ministers' meeting of the European Union for grant of market access to Pakistani goods in Europe's markets.
He said that President Zardari also stressed the need for starting a 'strategic dialogue' between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. (ANI)


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Dr. Scott Standard in the news…
'Talk of the Town' host continues on road to recovery
As the longtime host of NewsChannel 5's popular midday show, "Talk of the Town," Meryll Rose has grown accustomed to being greeted by loyal viewers and fans.
"Sometimes it still catches me a little off-guard, but people are always so friendly," the Brentwood resident says with a smile. "And it's nice to be recognized and appreciated."
"I just can't believe the cards, the messages of love and encouragement – from people I don't know. It has been so incredibly uplifting and certainly has aided in my recovery."
NewsChannel 5's Talk of the Town host
Appreciation is one thing. But nothing could have prepared Rose for the outpouring of love and support she received when an aneurysm caused her to suffer a brain hemorrhage on May 16.
"I just can't believe the cards, the messages of love and encouragement – from people I don't even know," says Rose. "It has been so incredibly uplifting and certainly has aided in my recovery."
May 16 started out like any other work day. She had just finished up at the NewsChannel 5 studio, and was changing clothes for an offsite shoot with The Tennessean's Ms. Cheap columnist, Mary Hance.
"There were no real symptoms, I just felt like my head exploded," she recalls. "My vision blurred, and I thought maybe it was a migraine. I'd never had one before, but I had heard people talk about the intense pain."
Determined to complete her afternoon assignment, Rose managed to collect herself and head to the car.
"There must have been an angel driving that car," she says a bit sheepishly. "The pain was terrible, and I quickly realized that I should not be behind the wheel."
Rose pulled over and called her camera man, Mike Radford, who took Rose directly to St. Thomas Hospital. There, doctors quickly determined that Rose had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, but had difficulty locating the aneurysm.
She spent the next eight days immobilized in the neuro-intensive care unit, undergoing countless tests. Finally, doctors located a small aneurysm on the optic nerve behind Rose's left eye. A team led by Dr. Scott Standard performed the successful craniotomy, and eight days later, Rose was released from the hospital.


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This is the Sainsbury´s Christmas 2014 advert. It commemorates the events that happened on Christmas Day in 1914, when the war (World War I) stopped for a while and German and British troops sang Christmas carols and played football together - this fact is known as the "Christmas truce of 1914"
Everything in the video has been made as accurate as possible, based on historical fact, from the insignia on the men´s uniforms to the depth of the trenches.
The chocolate bar featured in the ad is on sale at Sainsbury´s now and all profits will go to The Royal British Legion
The video below tells the story behind the Christmas ad: the stories told in the diaries of the soldiers, the interviews with the experts who advised the ad creators, the interview with the grandson of a soldier who was there…Click on CC to get the subtitles


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Glass beads are a very popular type of beads that is used for jewelry designing today. They are made from glass, but there are various techniques that are used in their creations. Basically, it is the technique which determines the kind of glass beads that will be produced. Different artisans work with different styles such as lamp working, furnace heating, blowing, molding, etc. No matter which kind of jewelry you want to create, glass beads are a perfect choice because of their versatility, appearance, colors, shapes and sizes. You can create bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings and much more with these amazing beads.
Glass beads are about beautification and simplicity. They can make any item of jewelry look elegant and stunning. There is just something about them that makes them different. Perhaps it is their charm that never lets them go unnoticed. They are available in so many different colors, shapes and designs. They can be used in the creation of homemade jewelry and given as gifts to loved ones. It is always nice to receive personalized gifts from people we love and this is exactly what you can create with glass beads. But choosing the right ones to suit the designs you intend to create is also important. For this, you should make yourself familiar with the different types of glass beads that are available to you. Let's take a look.
Alphabets – some people also refer to them as letter beads and they can be used to personalize any item of jewelry. These beads have alphabets carved over them so you can create names, initials or any other words with them that suit the interest or hobbies of the wearer.
Artistic – these are usually handcrafted beads. They come in various shapes, sizes and designs. They can be printed as well. But since they are hand made, they tend to cost more than the standard beads. The process of creating these beads is also time-consuming since all of them have to be made one by one.
Heart beads – jewelry that consist of heart shaped beads speak of emotions and feelings. The heart shape itself is very unique and when they are created out of glass beads, they have a kind of magical influence that cannot be matched by any other shapes. Heart shaped jewelry items are a perfect gift for Valentines Day.
Crystal – these are very fine quality glass beads which are expensive. They have a sparkling appeal which is pleasant to the eyes. These beads are magnificent and very elegant. They are available in different shapes, but the most common are rounds, cubes and diamonds.
Venetian – these beads are quite different from the others in the list of different types of glass beads because they have intricate patterns, exotic designs and vibrant colors. In some places, they are also known as Murano beads because of the fact they originated in the Murano Islands, which is a part of Italy. They are around from decades and very popularly used in the creation of decorative objects and jewelry items.
If you are looking to shop for glass beads, one of the best stores that you can check out is Pandahall. They have an impressive selection of beads to meet any jewelry designing requirements.


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500 craft beers is our way of professing dedication to your enjoyment. We select the local, the rare, the classic and the trendy so that your snifter, pint or koozie is always teeming with delicious liquid.
Our craft beer is delivered right to our stores so you get the freshest selection around. Visit your local ABC beer haven to browse hundreds of craft beers today!
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Fleshy, featuring crushed plum and blackberry compote notes lined with charcoal and tobacco details. Reveals a lightly tarry echo on the finish.
Goes Well With:
Region: ST EMILION
Country: FRANCE
Varietal: BORDEAUX BLEND
Sweetness: 2


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Getting to Mykonos By Sea
From Piraeus port, Athens' international hub, regular ferries and hydrofoils depart regularly throughout the day to Mykonos during low season months and five or six times a day, during the busier summer months. Travel times for the speedier boats takes between three and a half hours to four hours. The ferries take from six hours upwards.
Ferries and hydrofoils also depart from Athens' second port, Rafina which is located outside the city of Athens city. Rafina enjoys a convenient location, half an hour's drive from Athens International airport, El.Venizelos. Hydrofoils make the trip to Mykonos in two hours, whilst regular ferries complete the same distance in four and a half hours.
By Air
There are also daily flights, operated by Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines, departing from Athens International Airport El. Venizelos. The flight time from Athens to Mykonos is approximately 25 minutes. During the high season in the summer months, charter flights fly directly to Mykonos International Airport from major European major cities such as Paris, London, Rome, Milan, Munich and Berlin.
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- panoramic suite spectacular sea view
- belvedere suite spectacular sea view
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- six senses spa
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Biography: Jezebel is now a crazy 8 month old beagle puppy. We got her from a friend of a friend. She is still VERY puppy-like, but has been calming down a little. Although she still likes to "play" with her kitty brothers :)
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Search Tags: womens intermediate boards, cruiser boards, easy riding snowboards, forgiving ladies snowboards, f26-16-jp-sale, employee-picks1617,
Explores all obstacles across the mountain, enjoying anything coming across them on the hill.
Allows the ride to have the most flex in their equipment with soft easy flex from toe to heel.
This rider tends to carve the mountain and have less concern with riding switch.
Softer than most boards which allows the rider to be little more playful in the terrain park.
Great all mountain board for newbies
Posted by
Joey McCabe
Buckman's in King of Prussia
Great price and even better ride!
None that I am aware of
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BAGHDAD — A high-ranking Iraqi Army commander was among 18 soldiers killed on Saturday by suicide bombers and roadside explosions as they raided the training camp of a Qaeda affiliate in western Anbar Province near the Syrian border, Iraqi security officials said.The commander, Lt. Gen. Muhammad al-Kurawi, the head of the army's Seventh Division, was leading the operation at the desert camp, where the Qaeda affiliate, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, had been training new members in how to make roadside bombs, according to the security officials and a statement by the Ministry of Defense. Three other high-ranking army officers and 14 soldiers were also killed, and 32 others were wounded, after two suicide bombers detonated their explosive vests and 14 roadside bombs were set off, the security officials said.ISIS is an extremist Syrian rebel group that has clashed with other insurgents seeking to topple the Syrian president. It is the leading force for foreign jihadists streaming into Syria from Iraq and other countries.The raid began after the army received information about the training camp, the statement said. After firing rockets from helicopters, it said, soldiers stormed the camp, chasing the more than 60 militants gathered there onto narrow roads. The statement did not say whether any militants were killed.Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, in a statement posted on his website, said he was ordering more forces into the deserts of western Anbar to search for militants. The government must "hit them with an iron fist," he said.Elsewhere in Iraq, 13 other people were killed in sectarian violence. In Falluja, gunmen opened fire on a police checkpoint, killing three police officers and wounding three others, security officials said.South of Baghdad, three mortar shells fell on the road linking the capital and Karbala, killing three Shiite pilgrims on their way to visit a shrine to Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Arbaeen, the 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein, has been marred by deadly sectarian attacks in recent years.


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After the dust has settled from the NFL draft, newly drafted players had a chance to speak about their new opportunities Former Oklahoma Sooners' quarterback Landry Jones couldn't be happier that he has the opportunity to learn from Pittsburgh Steelers great, Ben Roethlisberger.
Jones was asked about how he felt about going to Pittsburgh, where they have a quarterback who is a proven winner. Here is Jones' response, via Anthony Slater of NewsOK.
"The thing about it is, I am going to go in there and compete as hard as I can and try to win a job. At the end of the day this is going to be a great opportunity for me whether I play quick or whether I have to sit and wait for a couple years. Getting to stand behind (Ben) Roethlisberger is going to be a huge opportunity for me. He is a guy who has been established in this league for a long time and I get to learn from one of the best quarterbacks to play the game. I'm just really excited to get to work with him and really excited about this opportunity."
Jones may not see the field anytime in the near future, but getting to be mentored by a quarterback that has two Super Bowl wins under his belt can only help him.
There is a lot of talk about whether or not Jones is being groomed to take Big Ben's spot when he decides to call it quits. Roethlisberger is 31 and in his prime, but has obviously been injury-prone over the last couple of years.
Jones has a chance to improve his game and continue to work on problem areas, so the chance is there for him to learn and to succeed. Jones' biggest test will be seeing if he can control his nerves under pressure.
Pittsburgh was a great spot for him to land, but now it's up to him on what he does with his chance.


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Paul Kane
Washington Post Congressional Reporter
Thursday, July 10, 2008 11:00 AM
Don't want to miss out on the latest in politics? Start each day with The Post Politics Hour. Join in each weekday morning at 11 a.m. as a member of The Washington Post's team of White House and Congressional reporters answers questions about the latest in buzz in Washington and The Post's coverage of political news.
Washington Post congressional reporter Paul Kane was online Thursday, July 10 at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the latest in political news.
The transcript follows.
Get the latest campaign news live on washingtonpost.com's The Trail, or subscribe to the daily Post Politics Podcast.
Archive: Post Politics Hour discussion transcripts
Paul Kane: Alright folks, it's a Thursday morning, and as I type, the Senate once again is having another one of those so-called "cloture" votes on the housing bill -- the third one, at least, that they've had. It's a complicated parliamentary mess of a bill, but the actually might pass it tomorrow, we're told. And yesterday, the Senate passed a Medicare-doctors-price bill in the most dramatic fashion, with Ted Kennedy returning to the chamber for the first time since his brain surgery in early June. So, things are moving here in the Capitol, and there's a lot of swirling controversy out on the presidential campaign trail. Off to the questions.
Legality: How can Karl Rove simply ignore a subpoena from a House committee to testify? Have other political staffers attached the executive branch also been able to brush off a legal summons in this manner? Whatever happened to respect for the law of the land?
Paul Kane: Rove just blew off the House Judiciary Committee, which had subpoenaed him to appear to testify about information relating to the U.S. Attorneys firings and other Justice Department issues. The committee took some preliminary steps toward holding him in contempt of Congress, according to an e-mail report by my colleague Dana Milbank. Has anyone else ever done this -- completely dismissing a congressional subpoena and not showing for hearings?
Yes: Karl Rove has.
Rove did the same thing to the Senate Judiciary Committee last year, and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers did the same to House Judiciary last year. President Bush has claimed what amounts to a never-before-asserted theory of absolute privilege over his closest advisers. Again, this level of executive privilege never has been asserted before, and it is being battled out in the federal courts right now in a House civil lawsuit contesting this claim.
A ruling is expected on the matter later this year.
Washington: What is the difference between what Jessie Jackson said and what Ralph Nader said?
Paul Kane: The difference between Jackson and Nader couldn't be more important and more stark on matters of race. Jackson for most of the '70s and '80s was the leading black civil rights activist. His campaigns for president in '84 and '88, while unsuccessful, were trailblazing efforts that also helped launch the political careers of leading Democrats, such as Donna Brazile and Ron Brown. No, he is nowhere near as important and influential now, and his star is being eclipsed by other younger politicians and activists -- but on matters of race, his voice still matters.
Nader is a consumer rights advocate, so when he starts talking about racial issues it just doesn't carry the same weight.
Washington: Paul, you covered the special election in Louisiana where now-Rep. Don Cazayoux (D) picked up the seat. How much does the fact that Woody Jenkins has dropped out hurt Cazayoux's prospects in November? Thanks.
Paul Kane: Ah, a great question about a single House race, but one that is a true bellwether for how things might go in November. The national Republican attitude -- even before a single vote was cast in the early May special election -- was that Jenkins was a terribly flawed candidate and wasn't worth putting in much effort. They followed through with that lack of effort -- the National Republican Congressional Committee invested about $450,000 in Louisiana's 6th Congressional District, while it spent $1.2 million and $1.3 million in the special elections for seats in Illinois and Mississippi, respectively.
All three lost -- yet Woody Jenkins came the closest to winning. What does that tell you? Well, with the right candidate in November, this seat should be much easier for the Republicans to win. But in November the NRCC will be battling it out in about 50 different districts, and won't have the same ability to focus on the district the way they could in the special.
P.S. -- Jenkins told me at a crawfish boil before the special election that it would determine who held that seat for the next decade or so. He said Cajuns simply don't evict incumbents.
Bethesda, Md.: What's the swirling controversy on the presidential campaign trail? Is it that McCain skipped out on votes on Medicare and FISA, which were so important that Teddy Kennedy dragged himself off his bed to vote? Of course not.
washingtonpost.com: With Nudge By Kennedy, Medicare Bill Passes (Post, July 10)
Paul Kane: Kennedy's return to the chamber yesterday was really something special. Republicans and Democrats alike cheered him on, and GOP senators, such as Kay Bailey Hutchison, were just awestruck. Plain and simple, Kennedy turned that vote around. They had 59 votes without Kennedy, and he showed up and gave them 60 (the number needed to pass the bill) -- and as soon as Republicans like Hutchison realized the bill was passing, they lined up to vote yes. They wanted to be on the winning side.
Thinking of the Senate like a basketball game, Kennedy scored 10 points yesterday. His arrival meant 10 votes, taking it from 59 votes to 69 votes. I've never seen anything like it in the 8 years that I now have covered the Senate closely.
Washington: Hey Paul -- thanks for taking the question. I am hearing a lot of news about the latest congressional fundraising totals. With new numbers being reported by campaigns, any surprises?
Paul Kane: Here's one that surprises me -- Mitch McConnell will report another $3 million raised for the second quarter of 2008. That's going to put him at something like $10 million or $11 million for the election cycle so far. The record for a Kentucky Senate race had been $6 million. McConnell essentially already has doubled down on the Kentucky record. In this environment, with Republicans running for their lives, Mitch McConnell is leaving nothing on the table. If he loses this year, it won't be because he lacked the funding to do it.
Southwest Nebraska: Jesse Jackson said something stupid, but even more stupid was trusting Fox News. A number of people I know discount anything appearing in The Washington Post, it being a liberal rag and all. They probably wouldn't trust baseball stats from The Post. Has a large portion of the public been inoculated by the right so that they won't catch any "truth" you might print?
Paul Kane: If you look at today's sports section in The Washington Post, it will show that Phillies slugger Ryan Howard hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the eighth inning last night. It was his 25th home run. I trust the sports section, and I trust it because I saw it with my own two eyes on ESPN last night.
I also saw Jackson's comments with my own two eyes (thanks, YouTube). You can't blame Fox for Jackson's mistake. It happened. Just like Howard's bomb to win the game happened.
Re: Clinton's exes: Harold Wolfson and Mark Penn, two of Clinton's most visible strategist are each going teaming up with noted conservatives: Wolfson with Fox News and Penn with Karen Hughes. Why? Doesn't such a move play into the idea that Clinton wants Obama to lose?
Paul Kane: Washington is a bipartisan town in its essence, in its nature. In the late 1990s Jack Quinn, former counsel to Clinton and Gore, teamed up with Ed Gillespie -- then a former RNC staffer who would go on to be RNC chairman and a Bush counselor -- to form a massive bipartisan lobbying shop. Kevin Madden, spin doctor to such GOP stalwarts as Alberto Gonzalez, Tom DeLay and Mitt Romney, just signed up with the once all-Democratic consultant shop Glover Park Group. This is what happens here. I know this upsets people, but this is how it works.
Washington: Paul, for the life of me, I can't seem to get anyone to answer this question for me ... for all the talk of potential vice presidential choices for Sen. Obama, is there a reason that former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland's name hasn't come up? He seems to me to be a great fit, with a heck of a biography. Maybe not all that well-known, but he's a charmer, and has just about as great a war-story background as McCain.
Paul Kane: Since losing his Senate seat, Cleland has been pretty public about his own bouts of battling depression and possible late-forming post-traumatic stress. A Vietnam War veteran, Cleland would have a fit in his bio to be veep, but honestly I don't think his heart would be into the job. I think that 2002 campaign left him highly embittered with the political process -- particularly after he put a lot of emotion into campaigning for Kerry in 2004 only to see him lose.
Fairfax County, Va.: Tell us more about the Kennedy Medicare story. I am fascinated by what you wrote so far. It sounds like it is one for the history books. Surely it was not just that his vote took the number from 59 to 60, was it? A no-name senator could have done that. How much of a surprise was his arrival? Did people know he was coming? Did his current situation give senators more of a "big picture" attitude temporarily, letting them move on from the arcane details of the fight? And does all of those bode well for the reported Democratic effort to begin working through practical details on health care to have a bill ready, just in case, for January?
Paul Kane: The buzz about Kennedy's possible arrival basically started the night of June 26, when the Democrats fell one vote short of passing their version of the doctors' price fix for Medicare. Kennedy wasn't there, and he would have been the 60th vote. But there was never any confirmation of it. Close friends like Chris Dodd said they'd been told Monday he was thinking of coming down for the vote, but didn't know for certain until yesterday morning.
It was a closely held secret until minutes beforehand. Staff for Democratic senators got an alert urging their boss to get to the Senate floor early for the scheduled 4 p.m. vote, so that they all could be there to welcome Kennedy to the floor. I personally got a tip he might be coming early yesterday morning. Kennedy's office didn't return my calls. I found out for certain he was here when my old Roll Call colleague Emily Pierce happened to be outside the Capitol on a smoke break and saw Kennedy pull up in the car. (Smoking may kill, but sometimes it helps you get a scoop, apparently!)
What this means for a massive national health care bill in January ... well, I can't say for certain what the prospects are for that. That's just a much bigger issue than one senator -- even one with as big a legislative portfolio as Kennedy.
Washington: Assuming Obama made the mistake (in my opinion) of choosing Clinton to be his vice president nominee, would he also have to assume her campaign debt?
Paul Kane: Nope, her campaign debt is her campaign debt alone. The Hillary Clinton for President campaign is a separate entity that has to pay off its debts through its own efforts.
Butte, Mont.: Paul, can you help explain something to me? While, as a Democrat, I appreciate all Sen. Kennedy has done for our country, is the Senate so out of touch that they have not seen people with cancer come to work while undergoing treatment? People do it every day -- probably hundreds of thousands. What exactly was so amazing? He was driven there by a chauffeur, no doubt, walked in, voted, etc. It's not like it was an eight-hour day. What am I missing here? I get that his presence swayed votes (and again, I am glad about that), but geez -- a standing ovation? Tears? Perhaps this shows just how out of touch the senators are about health care in the U.S. Lots of people go to work while receiving cancer treatment.
Paul Kane: Butte -- senators are people, despite what is written and said about them. They are living, breathing human beings, with emotions and hearts and souls. One of their own -- a co-worker who has been with them for almost 46 years now -- was near death a couple weeks ago, and he appeared in their office yesterday to work.
If a co-worker of yours, who had been to many of your officemates the heart and soul of your office, if that co-worker had been near death from brain surgery and then showed up one day for work -- well, I'd hope that you would join your co-workers in a similar standing ovation.
Anonymous: What are Al Franken's chances of unseating Coleman? Will Jesse the Body throw his boa into the ring?
Paul Kane: At this point Franken's campaign has been stumbling from the ex-comic's self-inflicted wounds: not paying taxes, and old interviews with Playboy that are littered with controversial statements about women and minorities that he now says were meant to be humorous.
In a political environment in which every other Democratic challenger is turning their race into one of the GOP incumbent's behavior and connections to the Bush White House, this is a bad thing for Franken. As long as this race is predicated on Al Franken and what Al has done or said, he cannot beat Coleman. If he turns the race into a referendum on Norm Coleman, he can win.
Rockville, Md.: It seems that the fight over FISA was more heartfelt than the Iraq fight. Why is it so important to put a few telephone company executives in jail for things they may have done as early as the Eisenhower administration? I don't see it. But someone said they could sue for methods information so they could know exactly what statistical analysis is done with these intercepts. What is going on?
Paul Kane: I'm not sure what you mean by "heartfelt" in terms of Democratic opposition, but I'll say this: Back in February Nancy Pelosi took a deep breath and rolled the dice on FISA. Almost 70 senators had voted for a FISA bill that gave automatic immunity to the telecoms and did not have very strong new regulations on domestic spying.
She didn't like that bill, but the tides for the previous seven years had been that Congress always gave in to Bush on issues of national security.
Pelosi didn't blink -- rather than passing the Senate version of FISA, she instead pushed a bill that very day to hold the White House in contempt of Congress for its refusal to turn over documents and allow former aides to testify in the U.S. Attorneys investigation. And then she closed down the House for a planned weeklong recess.
It was a high-wire political act. When Democrats went home, they realized that they weren't getting killed on FISA, so they dug in for months. Ultimately, they gave in on a bill that many Democrats didn't like, but they leveraged that opposition to FISA for many concessions on domestic policy that simply were unthinkable six months ago.
Anonymous: I thought Hillary's vote against the new and improved FISA bill was interesting. It appears that Obama is running to the middle as Hillary runs to the left. What's Hillary up to?
Paul Kane: Well, Clinton had said she opposed the FISA bill while she was campaigning, so technically she was the one sticking to her guns.
Interestingly, the House Democratic leadership are the ones who came off as the hawks on FISA. Pelosi, Hoyer, Clyburn and Emanuel all voted for the bill. On the Senate side, Reid, Durbin, Schumer and Murray all voted against the bill.
That's just interesting, because usually the House is where the more ideologically motivated leaders end up, while the Senate is filled with folks moving more toward the center.
Phillies Phan: Hi, Paul. I am shamelessly hoping that if I open with the fact that our Phillies are still hanging on to first place this close to the All-Star break, you will answer my political question. Tom Delay was on "Hardball" last night, and it got me to wondering why he still is being treated as if he has any credibility while under indictment, and why he is not on trial or in jail. What's going on with his trial? Pardon the pun, but why the delay? My hope is that it's the prosecution that is holding up the show, thinking that if they wait long enough, George Bush won't be able to pardon him if he's convicted. Go Phillies!
Paul Kane: Okay, okay, you got me. I'll bite, because you are supposedly a Phillies Phanatic. DeLay is now a regular presence on many TV, radio and online media outlets. He has started a conservative group with former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell. And he gives really sharp, good quotes. I understand your point -- he left the House in disgrace -- but the reality is that the indictment you refer to has not been treated here among D.C. media types as a really legitimate indictment. It's about a complicated maneuver of campaign donations, and it was brought by a prosecutor with a so-so record of winning convictions. That indictment is now three years old, and there's no sign of when the trial is going to start.
DeLay's problem really lies with the ongoing Abramoff investigation, which the D.C. media treats very, very seriously. If DeLay is indicted in that probe, his career as TV prognosticator will be finished.
Chicago: "If a co-worker of yours, who had been to many of your officemates the heart and soul of your office, if that co-worker had been near death from brain surgery and then showed up one day for work -- well, I'd hope that you would join your coworkers in a similar standing ovation." Yeah, but it's how his presence "inspired" everyone else that troubles us. If a sick co-worker showed up at my office, I wouldn't do the equivalent of changing my vote on a crucial piece of legislation. Can you imagine it? "Oh my god, it's Bill from accounting! You know, if he can make it into work, then I'm going to finish that TPS report after all!"
Paul Kane: Bob: Looks like you've been missing a lot of work lately.
Peter Gibbons: I wouldn't say I've been missing it, Bob.
Emily Pierce smokes?: And that's rare? I just assumed you all chain smoked in some reporters alcove, while playing cards with your fedoras pushed back and sleeves rolled up waiting for Rosalind Russell to come in and tell you that Mr. Smith is about to lose it on the floor.
Paul Kane: Actually, very few reporters smoke around here in the Capitol. Come to think of it, only about a handful that I can think of smoke regularly, and they all seem to be my former co-workers at Roll Call. Maybe there's something in the office air at 50 F Street that makes people smoke.
As for the fedora, there is one reporter-dude who shows up once in a while wearing a fedora. My friend John recently yelled at him, "hey Drudge, what's up?"
So, no, not many fedoras up here.
Cambridge, Mass.: Paul, your powerful but graceful response to Butte is one for the ages -- or at least this age. It's the type of "reminding" and heartfelt statement that ought to be made every day in response to the broadcast and cable rants. But to read it just once was a gift. Thank you, and no question.
Paul Kane: Wow, I like Cambridge. Never been there, but I gotta love the place now.
They gave in on a bill that many Democrats didn't like, but they leveraged that opposition to FISA for many concessions on domestic policy that simply were unthinkable 6 months ago.: What concessions? The Democrats did what they do best, covered their own behinds. They are so afraid that if they don't kow-tow to Bush on Iraq and national security and another terrorist attack occurs, they will be blamed. Obama, whom I support, spoke at lengths about accountability in Washington -- but when push came to shove he put his political future above the accountability that the majority of Americans want. Obama's new type of politics in on thin ice.
Paul Kane: Bush wanted a $108 billion war supplemental bill. "108 is 108" was his mantra.
Democrats then got an additional $25 billion or so in basic domestic spending (shoring up Louisiana levees, veterans hospitals, etc.). They got an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance, which Bush said he would veto until 75 percent of both the House and Senate voted for more unemployment insurance. And the Democrats, over Bush's veto threat, started a new GI bill for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
These were major accomplishments.
Just 7 months ago, during the end-game negotiations for the fiscal year 2008, Democrats got stuck with basically no additional funds, gave Bush his war funds, and were on the verge of caving in completely on FISA.
I know many Democratic activists aren't happy, but the past seven months have been a remarkable turnaround of events.
Paul Kane: Okay folks, time for me to check out. Gotta run to the weekly Senate Democratic leadership press conference. It's been a blast -- I'll see you soon.
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