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I want to pick a fight… All of you who call yourselves Christians, but don't follow Christ, this is for you. This is for all of you who say you believe in God, but live like He doesn't exist.
You'll notice something about my writing. I don't refer to 'Christians' very often. The label is good, but the people who identify with the label are, too often times, Christians in surveys only. Or Christians in theory only. Or Christians because I believe in God only. Or Christians because that's how I grew up only.
There's a growing chasm (in terms of numbers) in our culture today between the 'nones' (those who identify with no religion) and those who identify as a Christian. More and more people are dropping the act and referring to themselves as what they really are – not following Jesus at all.
The State of Nominal Christianity
Nominal Christians like to talk about their belief in God, but they rarely talk about following Christ. You know why? Because believing in something is safe. Believing in God can mean any number of things. And they act like mere belief is some commendable thing. Really? You acknowledge there is a God. Good. Why do you live like there is no God?
If you truly believed that the Creator-God exists and is all-powerful, all-present, transcendent, and holy then why in the world would you live a single day without honoring Him with your life? Why in the world would you ignore the greatest act He has done since creating humanity in sending Jesus?
Nominal Christianity likes Jesus as the One coming to save, but they don't like Jesus as the One calling them to take up their cross. They like their life too much. They're lives scream of the rich young ruler who walked away from Jesus sad because he had a lot of great stuff that he didn't want to let go of to follow Jesus. They're okay with reading the Bible until they read something that hurts a little. They like the way they think and they arrogantly believe that the Word of God is only for those super-religious people.
Nominal Christianity believes in God because they want to avoid hell. They're not in it for a relationship with their Father in Heaven, they merely want a pass to heaven. This is why they refuse to invest any time or energy into their relationship with God – they simply see it as a transaction. I believe in you, you save me from hell. Now we're done, right?
Jesus and the Nominal
Jesus was always running into issues with a group of religious people called, the Pharisees. They created all kinds of rules around their faith. Instead of following what their Scriptures actually taught, they made up their own stuff and taught that.
Jesus called them out with Scripture and said this:
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" (Matthew 15)
You say you are all about God, yet you worship me in vain. You teach a bunch of stuff from men as if it is from God.
My fear is that nominal Christianity isn't even trying to worship God in any way. The Pharisees tried and failed. Nominal Christians honor God with their lips (or maybe just their mental assent), yet don't worship Him at all.
Count the Cost
Jesus had moment after moment where he would have a large crowd following Him and then He would turn to them and challenge them to an actual commitment.
There are a lot of people who are in the crowd, watching Jesus do some cool miracles, but Jesus sees right through their facade. He challenges them:
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14)
You want to follow me? There's a big cost. Are you willing to follow now?
Are You a Nominal Christian?
If you are, you must fall to your knees and repent. You must worship your God with your
whole being, not just your belief. He demands that we come to Him with everything we are.
Jesus never set out to be your Savior only. He set out to be your Lord and Savior. There's a massive difference and I contend that you can't have one without the other.
This isn't about doing good things in order to find favor with God. This is about laying your whole life at the feet of Jesus in worship, repentance, and true faith. Neither you nor I can do anything to find favor with God.
What we can do is respond to God being God. What we can do is respond to what God has done for us.
Nominal Christian, please stop aligning yourself with demons.
"You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!" (James 2:19)
Fall to Jesus feet. Worship Him. Serve Him. Love Him.
Enough with the act.


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Can I watch movies rented through iTunes on multiple Apple TV's?
If I buy more than one Apple TV, say 2 or 3 and have them in different rooms connected to different televisions in my home while using my one iTunes account on all 2 or 3 Apple TV's, can I watch a movie I rent from iTunes on all 2 or 3 Apple TV's? Or can I only watch the rented movie on the Apple TV I used to rent the movie from iTunes on?
- Asked by Chad K from Edmonton
1 Answer from the Community
Best Answer:
yes- I typically rent on the pc and then all of my apple tvs have access to the rental- I don't know if you can watch the same movie on multiple Apple TVs at the same time though.. I usually am in one place :)
- Answered by David S from Fairhope
- Feb 7, 2014

subset: commoncrawl


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Export DepartmentAnnie NguyenPhone: +84 - 8 - 35144637/+84 - Fax: +84 - 8 - 84835144638
618/B3-B4 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Str., Ward 25, Binh Thanh Dist.Ho Chi Minh CityVietnam, 70400Web Page Link: http://www.toboc.com/vietproductscorp725492
Size: 89x89x72
Part : one corner chair, seat and back cushion
Material :
- Coffee wicker
- Alu frame, powder coating
- Seat cushion & back cushion: full of cotton wool.
This chair is made from brown wicker and covered with light brown cushion. This is a part of the corner sofa set.
Payment : L/C at sight or T/T
View All Products posted by


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is it possible to compile for ARM processors? If so, how?http://fritzing.org/forum/thread/976/
You'll need to setup a cross compiler, and then compile. I have a few systems around I can help test if you build a usable package.
Some cross compiling/setup examples.http://www.acmesystems.it/arm9_toolchainhttps://developer.ubuntu.com/en/snappy/guides/cross-build/http://events.linuxfoundation.org/sites/events/files/slides/Shuah_Khan_cross_compile_linux.pdf
maybe you can execute the operation similar to this, used as an example only.http://docs.opencv.org/2.4/doc/tutorials/introduction/crosscompilation/arm_crosscompile_with_cmake.html
On a pi (which runs linux already) you shouldn't need a cross compiler. Downloading the Linux sources and building on the target machine should work (you would need to install all the dependencies from the repository for the pi first). It may take a long time to complete but I don't see why it wouldn't work (although also haven't done it ). The developer blog has instructions for compiling from source. Its possible (I'm running on Windows not Linux) that the standard Linux install compiles to install (although it may also be a binary image which would be X86 specific). Trying a linux install may be the easy first step, and if that fails look to the sources. Easiest of all would be to check the repository for the PI and see if someone else has already ported Fritzing, if they have an install from the repository will be easiest of all.
Peter Van Epp
I want to say I believe there is a package in the repos. But is it an older version, 0.9.0? Not sure, but I think there is one in there.


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|Last week at story time the kids painted coffee filters, which the librarian turned into hot air balloons on the window--Rhett was so excited to find his masterpiece.
|We finally took advantage of the library's museum pass and took a trip to the Nature and Science Museum--5 kids four and under and two adults is no joke, but the boys had so much fun together.
|Yearly trip to the pumpkin patch! We snuck it in right before they closed, which ended up being the perfect time to go. Rhett's favorite part was the hay maze--he did it at least five times!
|Our fall tradition four years running--crazy we've been in Colorado this long!


text:
In this week's compliance bulletin, Scotgen appeals against the revocation of its energy-from-waste permit, DEFRA's report on Aarhus compliance comes under scrutiny and read the cover feature in this month's ENDS Report: The Devolution's in the Detail.
Visit our dedicated compliance page or follow me on Twitter @Isabella_ENDS for the latest environmental news and analysis.
Scotgen appeals permit revocationSEPA's decision to revoke the permit of a troubled energy-from-waste plant in Dargavel is being challenged
Sussex hotelier forced to pay £135k for damaging SSSIThe owner of an Eastbourne hotel has been sentenced for illegal activity on a protected conservation site
UK compliance with Aarhus comes under scrutinyA report showing how the UK has implemented the Aarhus Convention is at odds with recent consultations on judicial review
NI plans to trim pollutant inventoryRegulated sites in Northern Ireland will have to report fewer substances to the national pollutant register
The devolution's in the detailWith increasing devolution of powers and the prospect of independence, Isabella Kaminski analyses the divergence in regulation between the four UK nations


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- Tree Puncher
- Join Date: 1/10/2011
- Posts: 19
- Member Details
MINECRAFT CHALLENGE LISTI got the Idea of making a GIANT list of different Minecraft Challenges, if you have a Challenge, list the title of the challenge and all of the rules in the comment section bellow. I've been looking for a reasonable challenge and have yet to find one. Making an Organized list in the comments could make other challenge goers lifes slightly easier.
Thank's for your time = =
Creepers Go Boom...


text: Islamic greeting card background with mosque, calligraphy and arabic pattern for ramadan kareem or Eid al-fitr Mubarak template design vector. (2217) Once you download this file, Islamic greeting card with mosque, calligraphy and arabic pattern Free Vector. you can scale a vector image as large as you wish without a loss in quality. Please note, this vector is formatted as .Cdr / .ai / .eps file extension and require a vector graphic editor such as Adobe Illustrator (.ai .eps) or CorelDraw (.cdr) to be able to open and modify the file. Posted in: Greeting Cards, Islamic Tagged: abstract, ai, arabic, background, card, cards, cdr, crescent, design, download, eid, eps, free, freebie, greeting, greetings, holly month, islamic, kareem, moon, mosque, mubarak, pattern, ramadan, ramadhan, romadon, template, Vector Islamic greeting card with mosque, calligraphy and arabic pattern cdrai | | 0 Comments


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Se sei già registrato a Smau clicca qui
SMAU, Italy´s leading show dedicated to innovation, together with the Italian Trade Agency in Germany, presents the second edition of the event in Berlin dedicated to the innovation made in Italy.
The event will host an exhibition area with innovative startups and SMEs representing 'Made in Italy' innovation. The exhibitors will show their technologies and products, prototypes and services in the following sectors: Agrifood, Industry 4.0, Internet of Things, FinTech, Travel, Fashion and Design.
A program of B2B conferences and business events at Palazzo Italia will take place on 16th of June from 10.00 am; here, start-up companies will show their own products and services to the investors and visitors. There will be also specific panels dedicated to the investors.
Italian Embassy in Berlin: Tiergartenstrasse 22 – 10785 Berlin
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U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and John Kerry (D-MA) announced today that their legislation to improve access to the Internet and other technologies for blind and deaf individuals has passed the Senate Commerce Committee. The bill can now be considered by the full Senate.
"The Internet and mobile devices can open up doors for Americans with disabilities, giving people new tools to help them communicate, learn, or run a business. As the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act approaches, now is the time to ensure that every individual has access to today's innovative technologies. This legislation will help us achieve this goal and give all Americans the opportunity to fully participate and compete in the 21st Century marketplace."
"In the digital age, an inclusive America demands that no person with a disability is left behind either online or offline," said Sen. Kerry. "The goal of our bill is crystal clear. We must ensure that Americans with disabilities have every opportunity to access our shared communications infrastructure. Anything less than our best effort dishonors the Americans with Disabilities Act and all that's been accomplished over the twenty years since its passage."
The Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act will improve overall access to audio and visual materials on the Internet for the deaf and blind. Specifically, the legislation will:
* Create a one-stop shop for information on online products and services available to blind and deaf individuals;
* Close existing gaps in accessibility by requiring technology like smart devices, including an iPhone or Blackberry, to be hearing aid compatible;
* Require that programming shown on television also be closed captioned and video described when it is posted on the Internet. ex., nightly news, Razorback games, Lost;
* Require video programming devices, such mp3 players and DVRs, to be capable of closed captioning, video description and emergency alerts; and
* Authorize federal support for specialized equipment for deaf or blind individuals.
Source: http://pryor.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=2a04dd67-8530-410a-ac99-f7eb719c1887&ContentType_id=bc7e67ca-fd50-428e-8894-0c7779e63f05&Group_id=c07c4eaf-f7e9-46ef-94d4-6037533cdee9&MonthDisplay=7&YearDisplay=2010


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The Mac OS 9 Lives Forum is dedicated to...Installing, Maintaining, and Extending the functionality of Mac OS 9and Other Classic Mac OS Versions
I still have some really old discs with movies. I downloaded them ages ago when the G3 was still in its prime. They are all encoded using divx. Maybe i can find out the resolution, bitrate and codec they were made with since all of them play perfectly on the G3.
Hey guys. I was wonering if any o you have experience in converting movies to be watched on older machines like the iMac G3 or old iBooks. I am planning to convert some movies for a friend of mine that has one of my old iMacs. He's using both OS9 and Tiger. I am more interested in the OS9 part. What player would you use and how would you convert the files, in which format? I'll be doing the video conversion on my i5 iMac so it doesn't take ages.
Thanks for the link. I had read that article a while ago. It has some useful info though.I'm really amazed by how much the world has changed around us. Flash has become a resource hog, video codecs likewise... In 2006 i had an almost identical iMac as i described above, on my desk and i could still download torrents and watch a movie on the damn thing. Youtube still worked like a charm. What the hell is happening? I don't see any improvements to the video quality in general when i access youtube. I don't want all that crap in HD all the time. And video codecs... The usual video file you find on the web is still about the size of a cd. ~700 MB. Quality? Still the same i had back in the good old days when i started watching movies on something else besides my tv. If i want better quality, i get myself a 1080p file and that's it. I know you guys are audio professionals, but maybe someone can shed some light on this. Maybe i am just too damn ingnorant to see some hidden facts in all of this...
I wouldn't install Linux on any of my Macs. It's not worth it and the advantages are next to none.I have been an active developer in the Linux community for more than 10 years now, so the installation process of a ppc distribution doesn't scare me. It's just that if i wanted a Linux box, I'd have built one from scratch. I have plenty of PC parts to build a couple of them. I have no desire or time to do that.
2X AGP ATI Rage Mobility graphics with 4 MB of VRAM packed into a sleek handle-equipped "blueberry" or "tangerine" case with a 12.1" TFT active matrix display (800x600 native resolution).
ATI Rage IIc graphics with 2 MB of VRAM or ATI Rage Pro Turbo graphics with 6 MB of VRAM
display supports 640x480 at 117 Hz, 800x600 at 95 Hz, and 1024x768 at 75 Hz
I gave this friend one of my G3 iMacs. 400MHz model. He can't afford anything else and i thought that since i had two of them, he could use one. If i could give him a newer one, i would have done so. So he'll have to use it for a while.
@Mactron: What app did you used to test the I/O of the harddrives? We need to know the maximum I/O of these systems to find the best CODEC for that bitrate
I want to find the way to edit HD footage recorded with my Sony Ericson MT-15 XperiaNeo (1280x720 @30fps in H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10) (avc1) Planar 4:2:0 YUV) on FinalCutPro3 on OS9.
QuoteI want to find the way to edit HD footage recorded with my Sony Ericson MT-15 XperiaNeo (1280x720 @30fps in H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10) (avc1) Planar 4:2:0 YUV) on FinalCutPro3 on OS9. There isn't h264 or x264 in Mac Os 9.
To test the I/O of the hard drives I use QuickBench 1.5.
Mjpeg codec or mp4/divx/xvid with Avid Videoshop v3x or 4x and forget about FCP.FCP Its painfull slow, even in some of my "High End G4s" (1.5/1.66/.2.0 Ghz!)
it is amazing that in 4 months nobody is able to answer the qustion about the codec and format but discuss chinese bronze swords and toilet cleaning methods instead.
What kind of benchmark did you have in mind?
If you use UNCOMPRESSED video, teorically you can play HD on OS9
Not even ata-33 speeds. So, 33 Mb/s is out of reach.
Can we mount with toast DVD images to play with Apple DVD Player?
What is the OS9 BEST video player? I understand that divx and 3ivx are only decoders, not players. Am I wrong?
I remember back in 2001 I saw with some friends in my house MATRIX in DVD on a G4@400 pci on a 17 inch CRT and a pair of yamaha NS10.Almost a home cinema... Obviously was MacOs9.And the graphic card a rage 128 pro pci.
I Love to eat Bread when i work with my Mac.
btw im allergic to bread + wheatif i eat this it destroys my stomach ability to absorb nutrients
And the video card help on video decoding may be hard to measure, despite DVD playback that use a different mechanism.
Aiming to improve picture quality over standard editions, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment offered "Superbit" a premium line of DVD-Video titles having average bitrates closer to 6 Mbit/s. Audio quality was also improved by the mandatory inclusion of both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround audio tracks. Multiple languages, angles, and extra audio tracks were eliminated to free up more space for the main title and thereby to ensure the highest data rate possible. In January 2007 the Superbit line was discontinued.
So a bitrate of 6 Mbit/s should give stunning DVD quality. And that bit rate can come even from the CD from the slowest iMac400http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac_dv_400.html that has 24X CD-ROM. A movie in 2-3 rewritable cds.
DVD-Video discs have a raw bitrate of 11.08 Mbit/s, with a 1.0 Mbit/s overhead, leaving a payload bitrate of 10.08 Mbit/s. Of this, up to 3.36 Mbit/s can be used for subtitles, a maximum of 10.08 Mbit/s can be split amongst audio and video, and a maximum of 9.80 Mbit/s can be used for video alone. In the case of multiple angles the data is stored interleaved, and so there's a bitrate penalty leading to a max bitrate of 8 Mbit/s per angle to compensate for additional seek time. This limit is not cumulative, so each additional angle can still have up to 8 Mbit/s of bitrate available.Professionally encoded videos average a bitrate of 4-5 Mbit/s with a maximum of 78 Mbit/s in high-action scenes. This is typically done to allow greater compatibility among players, and to help prevent buffer underruns in the case of dirty or scratched discs.
CD-ROM CD-ROMX Rating Data Transfer Rate 1x 150 Kilobytes/sec 2x 300 Kilobytes/sec 4x 600 Kilobytes/sec 8x 1.2 Megabytes/sec 10x 1.5 Megabytes/sec 12x 1.8 Megabytes/sec 20x 3.0 Megabytes/sec 36x 5.4 Megabytes/sec 40x 6.0 Megabytes/sec 48x 7.2 Megabytes/sec 50x 7.5 Megabytes/sec 52x 7.8 Megabytes/sec
In April 2004, version 4.5 of Final Cut Pro was introduced and branded by Apple as "Final Cut Pro HD" due to its native support for Panasonic's tape-based DVCPRO HD format for compressed 720p and 1080i HD over FireWire. (The software had been capable of uncompressed HD editing since version 3.0, but at the time had required expensive video cards and high speed storage.)
Truth be told, i had totally forgotten about video cd. More than that, i can give him my firewire dvd-rw and i can fit at least 3-4 movies on a dvd using the vcd format. I had a few of those back in the day.
how do you capture or download youtube videos? i usually use .mp4 - which is what youtube itself uses - and that plays fine with quicktime and also with everything else.
he wants it playable on that laptop.


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Dec 16 2016 12:00pm
Opal Carew, Sheryl Nantus, Celia Aaron, Charlotte Stein, Calista Fox Excerpt: Filthy and Rich
Sensually dirty and filthy rich, these five smoking hot billionaire ménage stories will leave you breathless. Includes stories by New York Times bestselling author Opal Carew, Sheryl Nantus, Celia Aaron, Charlotte Stein, and Calista Fox.
Drilled, Opal Carew
When construction worker Danni goes to the latest job site over the weekend to redo some of her crew's sloppy work, she doesn't expect the billionaire owners of the company, Blake and Evan, to be working overtime as well. What starts out as a flirty invitation to cool down with a swim turns hotter than Danni could've ever imagined. Soon Danni finds herself longing for more than a casual fling with her billionaires, but how could they ever want more with a simple construction worker?
Three's Temptation, Sheryl Nantus
A woman who was torn between her two loves at college graduation—the tattooed bad boy and the star athlete—five years later regrets not choosing them both. When she and the now rival tech billionaires attend the same charity gala, old jealousies and passions return for a night they'll never forget…
Legally Screwed, Celia Aaron
When a lawyer goes into a mundane appointment for estate planning, she has no idea she's about to meet two super hot best friends who do everything—everything—together. And that what they want more than anything is to have her in their bed, over and over again…
Not Safe for Work, Charlotte Stein
"Employees must maintain clear boundaries between personal and professional relationships and conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to the office…" When Hartford brings in Abel Hernandez as the new CEO for his company Hartford Industries, he's prepared for Abel to shake things up…but not quite like this and certainly not with his personal assistant Amy, the one woman he's always wanted but never taken. He sees them breaking all of his precious rules, and he intends to reprimand them for it. The only problem is, it isn't anger he feels towards his two most trusted employees…it's possession. It's desire.
Possession, Calista Fox
Sylvia Carter's hot hookup with sexy Seth Lofton—billionaire owner of the Aspen-esque Bliss Mountain Ski Resort in Northern California—is only meant to be a one-night stand. But their explosive chemistry has them continually tangled up in each other. And when Seth's best friend, hotel magnate Noah Donovan, comes to town, he and Sylvia spark just as passionately.
Seth is considering selling the megaresort just as Noah plans to build a luxury hotel with an award-winning spa, which threatens Sylvia's new day spa. Their personal agendas create plenty of friction—but a fiery love triangle is a temptation none of them can resist. The emotional intensity is just as strong as the sexual burn, though they're still at a crossroads with their business dilemmas—until Seth and Noah make a pact to give the woman they're falling in love with everything her heart desires… But can Sylvia afford to take the bait?
Get a sneak peek at Opal Carew, Sheryl Nantus, Celia Aaron, Charlotte Stein, Calista Fox's Filthy and Rich (available January 3, 2017) with an exclusive excerpt of a selected scene.
- Legally Screwed by Celia Aaron
- Possession by Calista Fox
Three's Temptation by Sheryl Nantus
- Not Safe for Work by Charlotte Stein
- Drilled by Opal Carew
Legally Screwed by Celia Aaron
"You don't have to work." Gaines took my hand. "We'll take care of you."
"What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Like a mistress or something?"
Cade coughed. "No, not at all. But we'd rather put you on our payroll than see you spend another day in that place. Right, Gaines?"
"Yes. We'll provide for you. You don't have to worry."
"Provide for me? Do you two hear yourselves?" I rose and pulled my hand away from Gaines. "What is this, 1950? I can provide for myself, something I've been doing for a long time. I decide what job I have. I decide when I leave."
"We didn't mean it that way." Cade stood. "Please, let's just all sit down and talk about it."
"Talk about it? I met you two yesterday, and all of a sudden you know what's best for me and think you have the right to tell me what to do with my life?" The sheer absurdity of it hit me and I started to giggle. My laughter caught in my throat when I realized that this little fantasy of the three of us playing house was over. "I'm leaving."
"Leah, please." Gaines rose.
"No." I strode around the table and out into the main dining room. Maybe they had mistresses. Maybe I was just one of many. But I wasn't a fool, and I wouldn't let them control me.
I could feel them following behind as I wove between tables, and several of the diners glanced up as we passed. The maître d' opened the chrome front door for me, and I hurried to the elevator bank.
"Leah, please, slow down." Cade grabbed my elbow.
"This is all wrong. This whole thing." I waved at the two of them. "It was a one-night thing. Why are you even with me right now?"
Gaines drew his brows together. "Are you kidding? We told you. Women like you don't come along every day. It's been a day, but we know."
"What do you mean you know? I could be a serial killer, a closet klepto, a hoarder, a coke addict. You don't know me! Is this a game you two like to play or something? Find someone, make her feel beautiful and wanted, then try to get her under your thumb?" I jabbed the elevator call button so hard my knuckle hurt.
"Game? No." Cade grabbed me by my upper arms and pushed me until my back hit the wall next to the elevator. "That auction on the brownstones I told you about? We knew within five minutes that we had to acquire them. This tower?" Cade smiled. "I bought it on a handshake deal the first time I set foot in it."
He leaned closer. No one else stood in the elevator area, but someone could walk up at any moment. He was taking a chance. Cade and Gaines were easily recognizable, especially given the frequent news articles and gossip pieces about them. Cade didn't seem to care, because he pressed his body against mine, stealing my breath as he eyed my lips.
Gaines leaned against the wall next to me. "Do you know why we're so successful?"
My anger simmered, but desire began to mix with it. I struggled to catch my breath as Cade began pulling my skirt up. "Why?"
Gaines grinned and ran his hand along my thigh as Cade exposed me inch by inch. "Because we can always spot an undervalued asset."
The elevator opened and Cade pushed me through the doors. My back hit the wall, and before the doors even closed, Cade pressed his lips to mine. I ran my fingers through his hair, the fire inside me obliterating all the anger, the doubt from only moments ago. Gaines swiped a key card across the control pad, then joined us. Both men kissed my throat, their lips tracing trails of heat down my neck to my chest.
Sylvia's stomach fluttered. She didn't have to be standing to know her knees had gone weak. The sweet sensations mingled with the erotic ones, both incited by the incredibly sexy man who'd grabbed her attention at the party like nothing she'd ever known before and had yet to let go of it.
She was wholly captivated—something that had never happened in Sylvia's twenty-six years. Not that she hadn't had a one-night stand or two along the way, but nothing, nothing of this magnitude.
Seth Lofton was strapping and athletic. He had the most mesmerizing emerald eyes that held her enraptured as he filled her, stretched her.
"You feel amazing," she said as euphoria flooded her veins. He was thick and hard and buried deep inside her.
Her hips started to roll.
"Wait," he said in a gruff voice. "Not yet, baby. Just wait."
His jaw clenched. His abs and chest pressed to hers, her breasts nestling under his pecs. All of his muscles were bunched, his body as stiff as a board. She could feel his heart hammering and she bit back a grin that she could turn him on so powerfully.
"Jesus, Sylvia," he muttered. "I knew it was going to be a snug fit, but . . . Christ . . ."
He gradually began to pump into her. One of Sylvia's hands plowed through his hair, the other clutched a shoulder blade. She twined a leg with his. Draped the other over his lower back, tightening it so that all his hard angles were melded to her soft curves as she held him in place.
He kissed her throat as he plunged deeper. His hand slipped around to her backside and he palmed a cheek, tilting her pelvis to meet his languid thrusts. He was taking his time with her, eliciting a slow burn that she knew would erupt into an inferno any minute now.
The way he moved within her with his long, confident strokes and the love bites he left on her neck had Sylvia thanking her lucky stars she'd decided to attend the lodge's grand opening when she'd been hedging all week. What a tragedy to have missed out on this experience. To have missed out on this man.
His pleasure seemed to be wrapped solely around hers. He could have fucked her against the back of the door the second they'd entered the condo. But, no. He'd led her into his master suite and had set the stage for seduction with the fire in the tall hearth and the many candles with wicks that had never been lit prior to this evening. He'd said she was the first woman he'd brought here . . . and she believed him.
She couldn't explain why at first. But now that she was the beneficiary of his thorough attention to detail and fervent kisses, she had the feeling he'd been waiting for lightning to strike as much as she had.
And holy hell, did she feel the electric currents humming under her skin!
His hand squeezed her ass cheek and heat flashed through her. His fingers were strong, his skin mostly supple, though there were a few light calluses that proved the billionaire ski resort owner was no stranger to manual labor. And that excited her even more. He was a bit of a rough and tumble type, though he'd been sinfully delicious in his tux this evening.
Even more so stripped bare.
He drew her nipple into his mouth, hardening the peak. Sylvia moaned.
"You like my hands and mouth on you," he murmured against her breast.
"And your cock inside me."
A roguish grin played on his lips. "You want more?"
"I want it all."
He rolled onto his back, taking her with him while they were still joined. She maneuvered her leg away from his waist to accommodate the new position and straddled him. Her hands roamed his torso, over his cut abs, up to his wide chest and broad shoulders, then down his bulging biceps. He was beautifully sculpted and highly arousing.
His hands clasped her hips and he guided her into a quicker rhythm. Sylvia easily fell into step with him, rocking against him, loving how hot and hard he was inside her. She flattened her palms against his pecs and rode him with a fast, insistent pace that matched his.
"That's so good," she said as her head fell back on her shoulders.
"Fuck, you look incredible on top of me. Your hair and skin glowing in the flames. Your breasts . . . Jesus, you have gorgeous breasts."
"Stop flattering me. You've already learned I'm a sure thing this evening."
He let out a humorless laugh. "Would've fucking broke my heart if you weren't."
"I doubt it."
"Don't be too sure."
Warmth ribboned through her belly. Sylvia had not come to the pre-Christmas launch of the newly expanded Bliss Mountain Ski Resort looking for a man. But when high-voltage sparks flew from across a crowded room, sometimes they couldn't be denied.
Three's Temptation by Sheryl Nantus
She pulled her lips into a tight line and sat up, startling the two men. "I want to be dangerous."
"Excuse me?" Dane frowned. "Define."
She reached over and gripped the back of Blake's head, tugging him close for a hot, hungry kiss that sent a surge of heat through her body, all the way down to her toes.
A second later, after releasing him, she did the same to Dane, enjoying the eager look in Blake's eyes as he watched.
"I said I want to be dangerous," she said. "With both of you."
The guttural sound from Blake stirred her heart.
"I'm tired of dancing alone or with one of you. Let's dance together." She stared into a clump of pink and purple flowers. "Let's stop pretending. Let's turn some heads and spin some of them right around and off as we do what we should have done five years ago."
Blake reached behind her to punch Dane on the shoulder. "She's gotten even feistier over time. I love it."
Dane paused and she saw the businessman come back to the forefront, weighing his words before speaking.
He studied her face. "Are you sure? Because once this gets out there's no going back." He looked at Blake. "It could get really hot until things settle down and people move on to the next juicy gossip tidbit."
Blake rolled his shoulders back. "We've seen worse about us and others, when you think about it."
Dane looked at her, one eyebrow raised in question.
She nodded, digging her toes into the grass. "We can handle it."
"I hope so." Blake grabbed her waist and rolled over until they settled on a cool rock with her atop him. "Because I do plan to make this a yearly event along with the gala. Beats the hell out of shaking hands and schmoozing for donations." He laughed. "An hour of that and we sneak off to meet here." Blake wrapped his arms around her.
Emily gasped, slightly disoriented as she lay there, pressed against his chest. Gathering her senses, she sat up and straddled him, thrilling to the feel of running her hands along his slick toned abs.
She couldn't help stroking the small wolf's paw tattooed above his navel. "You still have this?"
Blake smiled. "Ugly as hell, but it's part of my past."
Emily touched the rough image, a far cry from the slick artistic creations she'd seen elsewhere. "Thought you'd get this covered up or removed."
He shook his head. "Never forget where you come from, my father said. He put that there when I turned eighteen, like his father did to him. Reminds me there's predators and prey, and I'm better off as a predator." His eyes narrowed as he studied her. "Like now."
His cock nudged against her front, already rising to the occasion. She instinctively rocked against it, feeling her desire rising again.
She couldn't hold back a laugh. "Aren't you ever tired?"
"With you? Here?" He locked eyes with her and she froze, caught in his hypnotic gaze. "Never."
Before she could reply he took hold of her hips. He easily lifted her up and slowly lowered her down on him, sliding into her with a satisfied moan.
"I'll never get tired of this," Blake said.
Emily let out a sigh as he filled her again, pulsing inside her with new purpose. She arched back, overwhelmed by the emotions washing over her.
As if they'd practiced it for years, Dane moved behind her, hands covering her breasts. He squeezed gently as he knelt, keeping his weight off Blake's legs.
"And you'll handle the two of us," Dane said as Blake swiveled his hips, shooting her senses into overload. "Every night from now on."
She wanted to say something, anything, but Dane found her nipples and pinched them, rolling them between his fingers as Blake thrust upward again, the two of them finding a perfect routine to drive her wild.
Emily let her head fall back onto Dane's shoulder, whimpering as her body rose and reacted, despite her exhaustion from the previous two orgasms.
"Once more," Dane ordered, his hot breath searing her skin. "Because we want it. Because we need it. Because we're demanding it."
Not Safe for Work by Charlotte Stein
"So glad you could join us, Ms. Elliot," Hartford said, as if everything were totally normal. Even though he had to pull away from the kiss he was giving Abel to do it.
His mouth was still glistening from it, when he addressed her.
His lips were still red, as if they'd been doing it for a while.
And even more arresting: they were both hard.
She could see the shape of their stiff cocks through their slacks, as clear as anything. Hartford didn't even try to hide it—though really, why should he? This was a real thing now. An ongoing liaison, between the three of them. When he called her and Abel to his home, he didn't mean to discuss company matters. He meant for this. He meant to fuck.
And god she wanted to.
The second she saw them, something inside her shifted.
She was wet before she went over to them. Wet before Hartford clasped the back of her head, and brought her mouth to his. Softly, tenderly—more so than she could ever have dreamed or hoped for. Our first kiss, she thought, so good and sweet it made her whole body fizz. Her nipples tightened a little more, her clit swelled against the confines of her silk panties. All Hartford had to do was run a hand over the front of her skirt and sensation poured through and from that stiff little bud.
And both of them knew it.
How could they not when she moaned like that into Hartford's mouth? When her body went limp in arms she hadn't realized were around her? She was practically spreading her legs before Hartford has so much as lifted her skirt, her mouth hot and greedy on his. There was no way they could doubt—and they didn't.
While Hartford kissed her, Abel started to unbutton and undo. He made short work of her blouse, her skirt, her bra, and once she was completely free, it was Hartford who went to touch her. He lifted a hand to her bare chest with just the slightest hint of hesitation. His eyes flicked to Abel briefly, his breath held just a little.
And then Abel nodded and he closed the gap. He cradled her breast in a way that made her moan. Softly, reverently, as if the feel of her was something incredible. It turned his gaze soft and his breath shaky—but best of all it urged him to do other things. After a second he actually dared to bend his head and lick, soft and sweet enough that it turned her moan into a sob. She almost brought her hands up, to push him into doing more.
But Abel got there before she could.
"A little wetter. A little more firmly," he said.
And Hartford looked up. He answered in an insanely hoarse and desire-stuffed voice, "Show me. Show me how you touch her."
So Abel did. His mouth joined Hartford's at her breasts, sucking at that sharp little point just as she liked it. Then just to top it off, it was Hartford who finished that sweet pull with a swirl of his tongue. Hartford who licked and licked at her, until her clit was an aching bead between her legs and her legs could barely hold her up.
They were trembling already. Every part of her was trembling already.
And it only got worse from there.
Now they were doing it together, mouths so messy and slick that she couldn't quite tell where one began and the other ended. She couldn't even tell if they were kissing her or kissing each other. But that just made it sweeter. Hotter. Harder to take.
She was moaning now, almost constantly.
And her hands had taken on a mind of their own. One of them was somehow in Abel's hair, and the other, oh god, the other was doing something very bad indeed. She didn't know how she'd started doing it, or what gave her the daring. But it was happening.
She was touching that shape between Hartford's legs.
More than touching, really.
She was pretty much fondling him. Stroking him. Making him groan. God, when she made him groan! It set her alight just knowing that she could do that to a man like him. All of his restraint was gone, all of his aloofness had disappeared, and she was responsible.
Or at least, partly responsible.
"Here, here, come taste this sweet pussy," Abel said, and Hartford just about lost his mind. He was on his knees before she could get out her groan of eagerness, hands fumbling to help Abel with her panties. She barely had time to part her legs a little wider, and his mouth was on her. Rubbing into her slick slit, tongue stroking quick and firm through her folds. One hand already on her ass so he could pull her closer.
And then, oh yes, the flat of that tongue working over her clit.
Not softly, not hesitantly—firm and fast, back and forth and back and forth until she was gasping. Bursting. Until she started creaming all over that perfect, chiseled face, unable to stop and unable to care.
"Doing what you do makes you feel closer to your dad," Evan observed.
Her gaze darted to his. "That's true."
All she'd ever heard from her family and friends was that she could do better for herself. This was the first time someone seemed to get it.
"He taught me how to do this kind of work, and to do it well," she said. "Every day as I do my job, I remember what it was like working with him. When he would show me how to do a task or improve my skill. It's like he's always there, just over my shoulder."
Even her mother didn't really understand it.
"I think it's great that you're doing what you love," Blake said.
"So you don't think I should pull myself up? Strive for something better?"
Blake shrugged. "What could be better than doing what you love? And with all those memories tied to it, I don't see why you'd ever give it up."
She tipped her head. "I'm surprised. I really thought the two of you would think differently."
"You mean that we'd be just another couple of wealthy assholes like your stepfather," Blake said.
She bit her lip. "Sorry. I shouldn't have judged you."
Blake smiled, an adorable dimple appearing on his clean-shaven cheek. "It's okay. It's not like we aren't assholes sometimes."
Evan chuckled. "Speak for yourself."
She swam to the walk-out steps in the deep end and sat on the lowest one, still up to her neck in the water. These two men were not what she'd expected. It made her feel warm inside that they understood how she felt.
Evan swam over and rested his hand on the pool's edge beside her so he didn't have to tread water.
"You look deep in thought."
The warm feeling inside Danni flared, turning into a rippling heat. She rested her hand on his shoulder, drawing him closer, then kissed him.
Immediately, her body blazed to life. Exciting tingles frayed the edges of her nerve endings as her lips moved on his. She pushed herself from the step and wrapped her arms around him, deepening the kiss. His mouth responded as his free arm encircled her waist, pulling her nearly naked body tightly to his.
Oh, God, the feel of his hard body against her . . . of being held in his strong embrace . . . made her melt inside.
When their lips parted, she stared at him in a daze.
"That was . . . nice," he said with a warm but almost stunned smile.
When she felt a hard ridge growing against her belly and realized he was as turned on as she was, her excitement shot through the roof. It was all she could do not to squirm against him.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, and his hard bulge nestled right in the cradle of her legs. Pushing against her steamy, hot, intimate flesh.
"You two look cozy," Blake said.
Her breath caught. She was here with two men, not just one. Would Blake quietly slip away or . . .
He moved in behind her.
His lips brushed the back of her neck and she tipped her head to give him better access. His hand glided down her side, then he pulled himself closer to her, sandwiching her between his and Evan's hot, hard bodies.
Oh, God. They both wanted her. Her heart stuttered at the feel of the two masculine bodies tight against her. And they seemed to be willing to share her.
Could she really do this?
Blake arched forward and both their hard cocks pressed into her. Arousal blazed through her like an inferno.
Oh, God, she wanted to feel their hands on her. To feel them both inside her. The intense attraction burned through her until she thought she'd go up in flames.
But she just couldn't.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to . . ." she said breathily. "I just can't do this."
Blake's lips brushed against her ear in a soft kiss and he immediately eased away.
"Of course, sweetheart," Evan said. "We won't do anything you're not comfortable with."
Copyright © 2016 by Opal Carew, Sheryl Nantus, Celia Aaron, Charlotte Stein, Calista Fox.
Learn more about or order a copy of Filthy and Rich by Opal Carew, Sheryl Nantus, Celia Aaron, Charlotte Stein, Calista Fox, available December 27, 2016:
Opal Carew is the author of Total Abandon, Pleasure Bound, Twin Fantasies and other erotic romance novels. "So why do I like writing erotic romance?" she asks. "I like being able to push beyond traditional boundaries." Opal loves crystals, dragons, feathers, cats, pink hair, the occult and all that glitters. While she writes, she listens to inspirational music, lights candles and keeps crystals near. Before devoting herself to her passion as a writer, Opal spent 15 years as a software analyst, and she has a degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo. She lives with her husband and two sons in Ontario, Canada.
Sheryl Nantus was born in Montreal, Canada, and grew up in Toronto, Canada. A rabid reader almost from birth, she attended Sheridan College in Oakville, graduating in 1984 with a diploma in media arts writing. She met Martin Nantus through the online fanfiction community in 1993 and moved to the United States in 2000 in order to marry. She loves to play board games and write haiku, although not usually at the same time. A firm believer in the healing properties of peppermint tea and chai, she continues to search for the perfect cuppa. In 2011 she won two second-place Prism Awards from the Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal chapter of RWA for her steampunk romance, Wild Cards and Iron Horses and the first volume of her superhero romance trilogy, Blaze of Glory.
Celia Aaron is an Alabama girl who loves to tell stories that are always hot and sometimes dark. In addition to being an unrepentant book hoarder, she has a particular affinity for dirty jokes and foul mouths. She lives with her husband and two sassy daughters, who put up with her antics and outlandish writing habits. She is the author of Bad Bitch, Hardass, and Total D*ck.
Charlotte Stein is the acclaimed author of over thirty short stories, novellas and novels, including the recently DABWAHA nominated Run To You. When not writing deeply emotional and intensely sexy books, she can be found eating jelly turtles, watching terrible sitcoms and occasionally lusting after hunks. She lives in West Yorkshire with her husband and their now totally real and completely nightmarish dog.
Calista Fox is a former PR professional, now writing fast-paced, steamy books to set your pulse racing! Her publishing houses include St. Martin's Press, Grand Central Publishing and Harlequin. Her debut SMP trilogy opens with BURNED DEEP and concludes with book four, starring the trilogy's secondary hero! She is an Amazon bestseller and has won many Reviewer's and Reader's Choice Awards, as well as Best Book Awards and other competitions with publication as first prize. Calista is a college graduate and teaches online writing classes. She is also a Past President/Advisor of the Phoenix chapter of the Romance Writers of America national organization.


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Derby announce the return of another former Ram.
Former Ram Horacio Carbonari is to become the latest former Derby County player to make a guest appearance back at the club next week.
Hot on the heels of Paulo Wanchope's return to Derby for the home game with Millwall on Saturday 8th March 2014 (3pm), Carbonari will be the Rams' special guest for the match against Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday 11th March 2014 (7:45pm).
The duo will be latest former Rams to return to the Club in recent months after Stefano Eranio, Ted McMinn, Igor Stimac and Mart Poom all visited Derby prior to Christmas - and will also attend Derby's #SignUpSunday event at the iPro Stadium on Sunday 9th March 2014.
Argentinian-born Carbonari joined the Rams in the summer of 1998 in a deal worth almost £3 Million from Rosario Central - and he went on to score his first goal for the Club in November 1998 in a 2-2 draw at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest.
He also scored the winning goal in the return fixture at Pride Park later in the season in a 1-0 success for the Rams - earning him cult status amongst the Derby faithful.
Carbonari possessed a thundering shot often seen at dead-ball situations and this led to him receiving the nickname 'Bazooka' - and he was a regular in the Derby side in 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/01. He fell out of favour in the next two seasons and spent some time on loan at Coventry City before returning to Rosario Central.
Prior to the game against the Trotters on Tuesday, Carbonari will be visiting the corporate areas of the iPro Stadium and a special hospitality package is available - allowing fans to enjoy his return, and the match, in style.
The package costs £75 + VAT and includes:
* Q&A + photograph/autograph opportunities with Horacio Carbonari
* Two course hot fork buffet
* Reserved Car Parking
* Complimentary matchday teamsheet and programme
* Hostess service
* Reserved balcony match view seating
To book your hospitality spot, or to discuss the package further, please call 0871 472 1884 to speak to a member of the Hospitality Team.
Alternatively supporters can book online at WeAreDerby.com/Hospitality.
Tweets by @ dcfcofficial


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(FORTUNE Magazine) – INVESTING IN PRISON
The investment tip of the decade surfaced the other day in NBER Working Paper No. 5119, a publication of the National Bureau of Economic Research. Written by economist Steven D. Levitt of Harvard, the paper gives all sorts of aid and comfort to folks who think too many bad guys are walking around when they need to be locked up, and offers nothing at all for op-ed sob sisters worrying that the U.S. must be a police state because its prison population, now over one million, is growing faster than its college population.
What Levitt has done is to examine crime and prison populations in the 12 states where lawsuits against overcrowding have left the statewide prison systems under court orders. Prisoner growth in these states has been substantially reduced, naturally, with notable effects on crime, also naturally. Levitt's regressions suggest that the release of each marginal prisoner is associated with 15 additional crimes a year. Based on other scholars' estimates of the cost of crime to its victims, he puts the benefit of preventing those crimes at about $45,000. The cost of imprisoning the bad guy averages between $25,000 and $35,000.
So we are looking at an extremely juicy ROI. Taking the $30,000 midpoint as our "investment," we have a 50% return. Would it be in poor taste to mention that this figure far exceeds any possible returns on sending additional kids to college?
Who is the biggest and therefore baddest liberal in the U.S. Senate? Again gravitationally tugged by this arguably fascinating question, your servant has created another puzzle in which you, dear reader, will be asked to figure out the answer. We have begun, per usual, by creating a spreadsheet listing the name, state, party, and latest liberalness ratings of each member of the Senate. The ratings are from stuff recently published by the Big Three liberal pressure groups-- Americans for Democratic Action, the AFL-CIO, and the American Civil Liberties Union--all of which doggedly track everybody's voting record and then convert it into an approval rating on a scale of 0 to 100. The puzzle itself serves up clues to the solonic antihero named by the computer as the biggest lib of all. Our past biglibs have been Paul Sarbanes of Maryland, Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island, and Pat Leahy of Vermont, all still in the Senate, although one of them has announced his impending retirement. Hint: The departing guy is a religious mystic, an advocate of the CIA's use of paranormal psychology in intelligence work, a descendant of the founders of Pelham Manor, New York, and not this year's winner.
Speaking of Pell, one has a score to settle. Our 1989 puzzle about him turned up in 1992 in the Pop Quiz section of The Sciences, a liberal journal of the New York Academy of Sciences. We hadn't previously whiffed any politics in this magazine but couldn't help noticing that, in the Pop Quiz version, our clues had been restated so as to tone down some cracks about liberals. And inserted among the final clues was a weirdly irrelevant warning obviously meant to distance the Academy from right-wingery. The warning: "Keep in mind that Fortune is decidedly conservative in its politics."
The worst of it is that, in the course of screwing around with our clues, they omitted one that was absolutely essential in getting to Pell. And then, trying to weasel out of this problem in the following issue, when they had to explain the puzzle's logic and solution, they made it appear that our original text had omitted this required clue--and that the puzzle was soluble only if one "interpreted" another clue to mean what it plainly didn't mean. All very tough on decidedly conservative puzzlemakers.
Clues to the present puzzle: (1) Al D'Amato of New York had a total score of 40; (2) The most liberal senator (hereafter Biglib) was one of eight receiving 100 ratings from both ADA and the AFL-CIO; (3) His total was 134 points higher than that of the most liberal Republican, James Jeffords of Vermont; (4) Six senators had total scores of 0; (5) Only four--Pat Moynihan of New York, Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, and the two Illinois Senators, Paul Simon and Carol Moseley-Braun--got 100 from the ACLU; (6) No Democratic woman scored below 262; (7) The two senators from Biglib's state together racked up 308 points; (8) Barbara Mikulski had an ACLU score 75 points higher than Bob Dole's but eight points lower than that of fellow Marylander Sarbanes; (9) Tom Harkin of Iowa did not get a single 100 rating; (10) Ditto for Chris Dodd of Connecticut; (11) Herb Kohl and Russell Feingold of Wisconsin had a combined total of 554, which is 546 points higher than the total for Oklahoma Senators Don Nickles and James Inhofe; (12) Biglib's name is mentioned on this page.
The answer is on the last page of this department.
We were 6 years old the first time we watched a schoolyard bully in action. It was a cement yard adjoining P.S. 166 in Manhattan, and we remember the holy terror quite clearly. We will warily not mention his name, however, as there is at least some possibility he is still alive after the years he has presumably spent brawling in bars and getting into tire-iron fights with motorists who cut off his car. Sociology being excluded from the first-grade curriculum, we had not yet assimilated "self-esteem" into our vocabulary. But thinking back on the lout years later, we were pretty sure he had more of it than we did.
We are surer than ever after reading an utterly fascinating report on self-esteem in the latest issue of Psychological Review, a journal published by the American Psychological Association. Written by Roy F. Baumeister and Joseph M. Boden of Case Western Reserve and Laura Smart of the University of Virginia, the report is titled "Relation of Threatened Egotism to Violence and Aggression," but its unique angle of vision is really foreshadowed in the subtitle: "The Dark Side of High Self-Esteem."
Friends, there really is a dark side--even if it is hard to discern in the endless public palaver on the subject. A Nexis search on March 26 yielded up 3,847 articles invoking "self-esteem" that had been added to the database just since year-end. A serious sampling of the articles turned up none questioning esteem's quintessential wonderfulness and centrality in human affairs. A Village Voice entry worries that low self-esteem leads innocent suspects to confess. An AP feature earnestly attributes a wave of suicides among French police officers to their low self-esteem. The New York Times approvingly reports that Little League coaches are now being trained to raise kids' self-esteem as well as bunting skills. Articles in the Arizona Republic and a lot of other places tell us that kids join violent gangs because they lack self-esteem.
The Psychological Review paper is long (29 pages), fact-freighted, and totally inconsistent with the above blather. Repeatedly noting the discrepancy between the pop psychology view of the case and the reality depicted in serious empirical studies, the authors firmly state: "In our view, the benefits of favorable self-opinions accrue primarily to the self, and they are if anything a burden and potential problem to everyone else."
Specifically, the profs tell us that high levels of self-esteem are often associated with violent, aggressive behavior. Their review of the research on violent youth gangs concludes with some news for the Arizona Republic: "Gang members apparently think, talk, and act like people with high self-esteem, and there is little to support the view that they are humble or self-deprecating or even that they are privately full of insecurities and self-doubts. Violent youths seem sincerely to believe that they are better than other people--" As for people with low self-esteem, long identified as our planet's greatest problem: "Depressed, self-deprecating, insecure, and shy people are underrepresented among criminals."
The authors are not of course stating that most people with high self-esteem are violent. It is the obverse that is true: that people who are violent--bullies, robbers, rapists, spouse beaters--tend to have high self-esteem. In the days before psychobabble took over, they were described as egotistical, arrogant, and conceited. In and out of schoolyards, their mindset can leave them thinking they are entitled to steal from and beat up others, also that they can get away with it.
The model put forward in Psychological Review focuses on a particular violence-engendering situation. The authors argue, persuasively, that the single most common trigger of aggressive behavior is a challenge to the elevated self-appraisal--a sign of disrespect, for example. The paper describes the obsession of both youth gangs and organized-crime gangs with "respect," and the heavy penalties suffered by those failing to proffer it. When high self-appraisals are unrealistic, they are especially likely to get challenged and precipitate violence. The most dangerous character of all is the guy who has an unrealistically high but somewhat unstable notion of his worth. The instability leaves him feeling sensitive and defensive about perceived slights, and ever ready to erupt.
One somehow doubts that Little League coaches will really succeed in raising self-esteem, but just to be on the safe side: Let's stick to baseball, fellows.
Of the 17 Senators mentioned, Pell has been stated to be a nonwinner. Of the remaining 16, five are Republican and can therefore be excluded too, since we know that the highest Republican score, attained by Jeffords of Vermont, was 134 points below the winner's (clue No. 3). We also know that the winner scored at least 262, the lowest ranking for any Democratic woman (No. 6), which means that Jeffords's score was at least 128, which means in turn that we can exclude fellow Vermonter Leahy, because if the total from the winner's state was 308 (No. 7), then Leahy's total could not have exceeded 180. The 308 total also bars Moynihan, since we know he got 100 from the ACLU (No. 5) and also know that the winner got 100 from both ADA and the AFL-CIO (No. 2), yet Pat cannot have had 300 since that figure plus D'Amato's total (No. 1) would bump the New York total up to 340. The 308 state cap combined with the 262 minimum similarly knocks out Simon and Moseley-Braun of Illinois, Sarbanes and Mikulski of Maryland, and Kohl and Feingold of Wisconsin. Since nobody gave either of them 100, Harkin and Dodd are also knockable outable.
Which leaves only flaming liberal Paul Wellstone. His perfect score: 300. (Minnesota Republican Rod Grams got the other eight.) Paul's decisive vote: an ACLU-approved "nay" on a counterterrorism bill--which some liberals with otherwise perfect scores felt obliged to support. They could be sorry now.


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About Me
To travel and affect others in positive ways
I think the best purpose in life is to have a positive impact on others. I finished my career in local government and now do volunteer work including being an elder with my church.
I have been lucky to not have to work so I!enjoy varied interests like sports and being licensed in massage. Work to stay fit and eat right!
A Christian trying to live like one, and from a liberal perspective.
Why I'm on Couchsurfing
Have hosted and surfed with 4 great people in Europe in 2010. This is a great place to meet locals and really experience an unfamiliar city, and add friends too.
Motorcycling, kayaking, bonsai, hiking, photography
- photography
- traveling
- volunteer work
- hiking
- kayaking
- sports
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- volunteering
One Amazing Thing I've Done
Jogged on the Great Wall
Teach, Learn, Share
Public Administration
Countries I've Visited
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$115.00 $230.00
This is a limited edition Canvas Art Giclee Print. It is wired and ready to hang.
This piece is available in multiple sizes and is also available as an artist-enhanced canvas print.
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Liberty Display Group designs and builds food service displays and merchandisers for a wide variety of applications. Built to suit, our containers are manufactured from a variety of safe, materials. Our food displays can also be printed with logos, pictures, or text to enhance the presentation of your products.
Our food service units are durable, easy to clean, and maintain their professional appearance even in high traffic areas. Highly functional, our displays and merchandising aids help to attract consumer attention and add to the appeal of your products. After a comprehensive consultation, our team will design & develop a finished product that enhances the presentation of your products, blends into your marketing plan, and fits within your budget.


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April 17, 2006
Since the September 11th attacks and the terrorist bombings that followed in Madrid and London, authorities across Europe are getting more powers to electronically eavesdrop, and meeting less public opposition than President Bush has over his post-September 11 wiretapping program, say observers.
Measures making it easier to eavesdrop across the continent include:
- Legislation approved by the European Parliament requiring telecommunications companies to retain phone data and Internet logs for a minimum of six months in case they are needed for criminal investigations.
- A terrorism law passed in Italy after the July 7 subway bombings in London which only requires approval for wiretapping from a prosecutor -- not a judge -- if an imminent attack is feared.
- Sweeping measures, passed in the Netherlands in September 2004, which lowered the threshold for bugging and surveillance.
- An anti-crime law introduced in 2004 that allowed prosecutors in France to apply for wiretaps when investigations are still in a preliminary phase, rather than wait for an investigating magistrate to take over the case.
Despite the increased measures, complaints are relatively muted compared with the criticism that has arisen in the U.S. Congress and among civil-liberties groups over the Bush administration's surveillance operations.
"There is clearly a legitimate role for surveillance. It's a question of what the safeguards are," says Ben Ward, associate director of the European and Asian division of Human Rights Watch. And Siebrand Buma, the Dutch Christian Democratic Party's spokesman on anti-terrorism and civil rights issues added, "people see the need to combat serious crime as worth the sacrifice of personal privacy."
Source: Victor L. Simpson, "Europeans 'see need' for power to snoop," Washington Times, April 11, 2006
Browse more articles on Government Issues


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Americans are putting a bigger share of their nest eggs into mutual funds than ever before. Mutual funds are swelling in 401(k)s and other...
NEW YORK — Americans are putting a bigger share of their nest eggs into mutual funds than ever before.
Mutual funds are swelling in 401(k)s and other plans offered by employers, according to a survey published recently by the Investment Company Institute (ICI), a mutual-fund trade group.
About a quarter of the $12.9 trillion U.S. retirement market was in mutual funds at the end of 2004, a record and about a percentage point higher than a year earlier.
Mutual funds managed a record $1.5 trillion in individual retirement accounts in 2004, though the percentage of mutual funds in IRAs has dipped since the late 1990s with the rise of securities held in brokerage and separately managed accounts.
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"Each year, what's striking is what a large pot of money it is," Sarah Holden, senior economist at ICI, said of the overall retirement market. "People are saving little by little, and even through the ups and downs of the market you see inflows to mutual funds which shows a commitment to saving."
Particularly popular are "lifestyle" and "lifecycle" funds. Lifestyle funds are geared toward different levels of risk, and lifecycle funds reallocate assets over time to meet goals set for a target date. About $103 billion was invested in lifestyle and lifecycle funds at the end of 2004, and two-thirds of those assets were held in retirement accounts, the survey reported.
ICI said that the biggest slice of the retirement market is made up of individual retirement accounts, which held $3.5 trillion at the end of 2004.
Traditional IRAs are most popular, funded with rollovers from employer-sponsored retirement plans and contributions.
Second only to IRAs are defined-contribution plans, which held some $3.2 trillion in assets at the end of 2004, according to ICI. Of these, 401(k)s were most prevalent, growing 13 percent between 2003 and 2004 to $2.1 trillion at the end of last year.
Other kinds of defined-contribution plans — including 403(b)s offered by many educational institutions and nonprofits, and 457 plans offered by state and local governments — held $1.1 trillion at the end of 2004, a 12 percent rise over 2003.
Old-fashioned pensions, or defined-benefit plans, haven't vanished. ICI said they held $1.8 trillion at the end of 2004, while federal, state and local government plans had a combined $3.1 trillion.


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20% off for a limited time.
Wish to get both addons cheaper? Don't use paypal? I accept steam gift cards.
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2017 09 10: Complete Auto Updater overhaul, temp-key system
2017 07 08: Added a logging system, bLogs support
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2017 01 05: 12 new features, damage overhaul, fancy particles, ....
2016 10 21: Added fuel system.
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All major vehicle packs are supported (over 1600 vehicles), which include:
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Youtube: VCMod sneak peak of the new features
Youtube: SAMOSTWANTED VCMod showcase
Youtube: VCMod Main+ ELS showcase
LoneWolfie - for helping me with screenshots, for being awesome and for modeling the VCMod health pickup models
TheDanishMaster - for moral support since start of development
SGM - HD textures, being a friendly chap
Creeper - Giving a hell lot of help with VCMod data
VCMod is updated almost daily. Updates frequently bring new features completely for free. Tiny bug fixes are done in the background.
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Buyer Rating:
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Big switch off
Charlie Weston's very frightening report (Irish Independent, February 23) regarding the numbers now unable to meet basic electricity charges tells us that the ESB is currently disconnecting 200 families a month for non-payment of bills. By way of mitigation, a spokesperson for the company insisted it had "a lower level of disconnections than Bord Gais and Airtricity" So that's what those who advocate "privatisation" mean when they talk about competition!
Will the Government tell us how those who cannot afford electricity could afford extra taxes such as the household charge, water charges; etc?
Jim O'Sullivan
Rathedmond, Sligo


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Consolidated Minerals advises that whilst performing scheduled maintenance work on a 11kV electricity transmission line at the Ghana mine site, a fatality involving an employee occurred late yesterday afternoon.
The local authorities and management are currently attending to the incident and the family members of the deceased colleague have been informed.
Other regulating authorities have been contacted and a full investigation into the incident has commenced today.
Managing Director of Ghana Manganese Company Limited, Jurgen Eijgendaal said: "We have been informed about the sad loss of our respected colleague. Our thoughts and sympathy firstly go out to the family, friends and colleagues of the person involved. Whilst all investigations are ongoing, we must reiterate that any loss of life at our operations is unacceptable. We will work relentlessly to build and improve the health and safety standards of our organisation."


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I was blown away last Sunday night watching this amazing film premier at the Richmond International Film Festival. Huge S/O to VSU, Jesse Vaughn, and all the wonderful people that work on this film to bring this important issue to light.
Across Virginia – from Hampton to Richmond, Petersburg to Lynchburg to Wise County and all points in between – approximately 17.8 percent of Virginia's population live in food desert. This documentary was produced by VSU as part of a study on food insecurity in the College of Agriculture. Produced by Jesse Vaughan & Cedric Owens – Co-Producer Dr. Jewel Hairston – Narrator Daphne Maxwell Reid.