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Name: Stanford
Gender: male
Age: 25
Location: Green Bay
I was wondering if you have any suggestions for a homemade dildo?
Do you actually want to craft a dildo yourself? Or is this more a question about what might be readily available to safely bugger yourself with?
If you want to make one yourself, there are several "Make-your-own-dildo" kits out there. You can find them online. They supply you with everything you need to make a latex dildo cast of your own dong. And from that the dildo is made. How fun! But wait, what if you are princess tiny-meat? Cloning your you own willie will satisfy no one, no how. Unless you know someone with a more ample endowment that will lend you his hog for the mold, this is probably not the way for you to go.
A trip to the supermarket might be your next best bet. People have been stuffing fruits and vegetables in every possible orifice for as long as there have been fruits and vegetables…and orifices to stuff. Bananas, zucchini, corn cobs, cucumbers, and well the list goes on and on. One word of caution, make sure that whatever you're poppin' in your pooper is long enough that you can keep hold of it while you are workin' your magic. You definitely don't want it to let whatever slip past your sphincter and lodge itself inside your rectum. There's nothing more embarrassing than a trip to the emergency room to have someone fish whatever you got in there out of you bum.
If you're the least bit competent as a woodworker you could fashion something pleasurable from a hardwood, like maple or oak. The do-it-yourself craftsman will be able to make the exact size he needs and wants. He'll take pride in sanding, buffing and curing his creation with olive oil before use.
No woodturning tools? Not to worry. A trip to the local Homo Depot may be the answer. Look for wooden dowels. They come in many widths and lengths. Since doweling is often made of a softer wood, the dildo craftsman will be able to round off the top of the dowel using a rasp with relative ease. But because the wood is soft, he'll have to seal his creation in a smooth varathane or polyurethane finish. Never, ever insert uncured or unfinished wood. Besides the danger of splinters, untreated wood is very porous and you'll never get the damned thing clean after the first use.
Another word of caution; some people are allergic to various materials or polishes. So test all materials first.
Here's a dildo-making project just about anyone can do. Make your own beanie baby dildo. You will need several latex condoms, water based lube and whole dried beans or peas. Take a condom fill it with the dried beans and/or peas and tie off the end. Coat the condom with lube and slip it into another condom and tie that one off too. If you want to be super-safe, add a third condom. The beauty part of using dried peas or beans is that, should the condoms break while you're pleasuring yourself and you lose some of the contents in your love cave, you'll be able to eliminate them with ease with your next bowel movement. And there's nothing toxic in dried beans!
But what if you want something more stiff? Building a dildo out of modeling clay might be the answer. You can find this material at your local crafts store. You can be very creative with the shape and size. You'll also be able to flare the end of the thing so there won't be a worry of it getting past your sphincter. Before the clay dries, consider pressing dried beans into the shaft for some added texture. Once your new phallus is completely dry you can finish it with a polyurethane seal. However, I encourage you to use a condom over your newly created cock substitute. Even with a sealed dildo like this one.
Name: Heidi & Werner
Gender: couple
Age: 32 & 34
Location: Arizona
My husband and I have been married for 12 years, we love each other very much. About five years into our marriage, while on a retreat for couples, we discovered we are both bisexual. As a consequence we gave each other permission to explore our same-sex interests. For the most part this has worked out really well. At this point in our marriage, however, we'd like to move beyond the casual semi-furtive affairs we've been having and embrace polyamory. Problem is we don't know any other people who are living in successful polyamorous relationships. Is polyamory a viable option even for a few lucky souls?
Congratulations on living a successful marriage, especially since you guys are taking such a non-traditional approach. That can't be easy. I wish there was a way the two you could bottle whatever it is that you apparently have in spades that allows you to make such an honest assessment of yourselves and your marriage. You must be remarkable people. I'm so glad that you took the time to write.
As a matter of fact, I know a bunch of very successful, long-lasting polyamorous relationships. Most are comprised of people already on the sexual fringe — queer folk, currant and former swingers and kinksters. However, they all tend to keep the dimensions of their relationships relatively private. It takes a lot of psychic energy to live polyamorously, exponentially more than in a traditional marriage. This tends to leave less psychic energy for flying in the face of the popular culture. Of course the down side of this is there are, as you suggest, few good public role models for polyamory.
Connecting with other like-minded people is less of a challenge these days than in years past thanks to the marvels of the internets, don't cha know. And being bisexuals, as you are, my make things even easier. I suppose you know this already, but for those in my audience who don't, polyamory is not the same thing as swinging. Swinging is more about recreational or sport sex; partners having consensual casual sex with others, either other couples or individuals. Swinging is also generally a heterosexual phenomenon. Female bisexual behavior is allowed and even encouraged. The same cannot be said about male bisexual behavior. This seems like an unfortunate double standard to me, but in this respect swinging reflects traditional sexual mores.
Polyamory, on the other hand, connotes more of an emotional bond, a relationship that exceeds pure sport fucking. But not surprisingly many polyamorous relationships evolve from more casual swinger connections. So let's not knock that.
If you both are seriously into polyamory you'll have an easier time of it too. The downfall of many budding polyamorists has to do with the reservations one or another in the couple may have about the lifestyle. The one with reservations may play along for a while thinking that this new venture will grow on him/her, but it doesn't. Some folks are monogamous and it's breed in the bone. Others are non-monogamous, equally breed in the bone. Trying to convert one or the other to an alternative way of thinking is simply not gonna happen.
The big bugaboo in any type of relationship will be jealousy. You guys seem to have avoided that poison, and again congratulations. The couples retreat you mentioned my have provided you the communication tools you needed to open yourselves to one another in an honest and forthright way. These communication skills will be particularly useful in forming polyamorous relationships too. Whatever the configuration of your future relationships, all parties must allow for and invite an honest and open exchange about passions, desires and needs. And from time to time each individual in the polyamorous relationship will prioritize these things differently. Expect lots of diversity. For more about this see my friend, polyamorous proDOM, Mistress Matisse's column HERE!
There's no "one way" to be polyamorous. Some people express their polyamory by having one primary partnership with one or more satellite relationships. They prefer monogamy with one partner but have an open relationship with others. Some polyamorists live in triads or loosely structured groups. Some people express their polyamory by having all partners and lovers as part of an extended family— raising kids together and taking care of elders together. Strong polyamorous relationships carried a number of my closest friends through the worst of the AIDS crisis in the mid 80's. While you guys seem pretty clear on what you want for yourselves, you may want to be on the lookout for potential partners with incompatible passions needs and desires.
As we all know, a big part of effective communication in a relationship is exploring and expressing feelings. Another part, one that is often overlooked, is the art of negotiation. How do partners and lovers negotiate for what they need and want? "I want to try something new with someone new." "My lover and I need some private time." Mature people are flexible, but they also have healthy boundaries. Giving your partner the freedom to share him/herself intimately with others as he/she desires is easier when it is based on the guidelines that you and your partner agree to first. Of course these will need to be readjusted from time to time as new situations evolve.
A secret to successful polyamory is working to maintain a strong primary partnership, in your case, with each other. The more comfortable and secure you guys are with one another, the easier it will be for you to free one another up for others. When the primary relationship is healthy and safe, the polyamorous relationship will add to the support structure, not diminishes it.
Interestingly enough, not all polyamorous relationships are sexual in nature. For example, one person in the group relationship may have a sexual connection with another, while that person enjoys a platonic relationship with that someone else.
One thing for certain, you guys will have to decide what sort of people will be positive additions to your lives. And that will entail a good deal of trial and error. Like my daddy always used to say, "ya gotta walk through a lot of manure before you find the pony." Remember not everyone who aspires to polyamory is capable of it, nor is everyone one who is capable of being polyamorous suited to be with everyone else who is.
For more about this timely topic I refer you to the two podcasts I did with the insanely marvelous Cunning Minx of PolyWeekly. Look for them HERE and HERE!
Good luck ya'll


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Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI) is one of the world's largest video game publishers and distributors. Along with primary competitor Electronic Arts (ERTS), ATVI develops software for the PC and video game console markets. The company is home to the popular games: Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Starcraft. The company reported net revenue of $4.3 billion and net income of $113 million in 2009.[1]
Prior to acquiring Blizzard, Activision's focus was on console games. However, because of rampant piracy of these single-licensed games, the company had a difficult time making profits overseas in countries like China. The acquisition of the online gaming giant Blizzard allowed the company to expand its reach into countries like China because online games charge a recurring monthly fee instead of a single upfront purchase. The company's World of Warcraft game had 11.5 million active users in 2009, 1 million of which were located in China. Long term growth in the online gaming industry will be important as China's online services are growing by 30% annually, half of which is represented by online gaming.[2]
The video gaming industry has grown rapidly in the last two decades, with striking similarities to the movie business. Large publishing houses (production studios) support development studios (writers, directors, artists, etc.) through a long development cycle (filming and editing), during which a game (movie) makes no money. At the end of development, the publisher (production studio) licenses the game for distribution, promoting it in magazines, and reaping most of the revenue. However, if a game fails to sell well, the publisher will not recoup its initial investment. Mindful of this fact, dominant publishers such as Activision Blizzardand Electronic Arts (ERTS) have largely stayed to a simple formula - develop successful concepts for game franchises, and then launch a series of sequels.
Activision Blizzard is a developer, publisher, and distributor of video games. It sells software for a variety of gaming platforms, such as the PC, XBox, Playstation, Wii, and other portable devices.
The company runs its business under three operating segments:
WoW is a massive online role-playing-game in which players control an avatar and interact with other players by going on quests and fighting monsters. Since WoW's release in 2004, the game has grown into the world's largest online game and has 11.5 million active users. In order to keep the game new and challenging, Blizzard has released several expansion packs to accompany the main WoW game. In 2009, World of Warcraft sales accounted for 98% of this segment's revenue. The company also has the Warcraft III game, a real-time-strategy game.
Starcraft, which the company first released in 1998, is a real time strategy game which is still popular in countries like Korea where tournaments featuring thousands of players are held every year. After 12 years, in the summer of 2010, the company released the long anticipated Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty.
Lastly, in 2008, the company announced that it was creating a sequel (Diablo III) to its Diablo franchise, a single-player role-playing game. Diablo II was released in 2000.
In 2008, Activision acquired Vivendi (EPA: VIV)'s video game division, Blizzard, in a stock deal that will result in Vivendi owning the majority of Activision shares. The addition of Blizzard, which publishes the popular World of Warcraft and Starcraft online games, created a larger company than primary competitor Electronic Arts (ERTS) and allowed Activision to be a key player in both its traditional market, console gaming, as well as the growing online space.[4] In 2009, Vivendi and its subsidiaries owned approximately 57% of Activision Blizzard's outstanding shares of common stock.[5]
Activision has historically focused on franchise hits as well as tie-in games to other entertainment media, such as the Spider-man 3 games. The company's stable financial position makes it capable of supporting these blockbusters which require funding as they are under development for long periods. However, there is more underlying market appeal from several franchises, rather than just sequels for only a few franchises. Although acquisitions are an option, they are expensive, and Activision seeks to continue creating new products on its own.
Each gaming platform's software must be developed independently, and games are partially tied to platform sales, as characterized by EA's' anticipation of a PS3 victory and subsequent mismanagement of their portfolio during the Wii launch year. The underallocation of Wii games and overallocation of PS3 games was particularly poor timing given the Wii's blockbuster sales and the PS3's relative poor performance, since console sales aid in game title sales. ATVI has found itself scrambling to launch more Wii titles to match software demand, promising franchise hits on the Wii platform. This is a challenge because underlying technologies and development platforms for each are different.
As suggested by the merger discussed above with Vivendi Games, both ATVI and Vivendi (EPA: VIV) see online gaming as an area of opportunity. Online gaming typically is more social, and allows for community building and virtual relationships, wrapping end-users up in an immersing world and compelling them to spend their money. This arena offers new revenue models as well, with subscription being the norm, reminiscent of Software as a Service, although other ad-based models are also being explored. While potentially lucrative, the new segment presents its own challenges, with higher development costs. poop.
Online gaming also posses a great opportunity for company's to capture the rapid growth of the industry overseas, especially in countries like China. China's online services are growing at 30% a year, half of which is attributable to online gaming.[2] Studies are estimating that the Chinese gaming industry will grow from $2.75 billion in 2008 to $8.9 billion by 2013.[6]
Both developers and publishers compete with Activision Blizzard, although they may have different target segments. Most similar in operating structure is Electronic Arts (ERTS), which has the largest portfolio of blockbuster games, including many sports titles, and other game franchises with long histories of success.

subset: commoncrawl


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It has come to my attention that some people on here don't know how to use Photobucket. On some of the posts that I have wanted someone to look at my bucket they have told me it doesn't work. This has made me think that we need to post to these people how to use Photobucket to look at trade lists on there. When someone tells you to "Look at my bucket" they will have a link in their sig. When you click on this, it will take you to the main part of their library. Some people have cards
So, as I have gotten back into collecting, I have noticed that more and more GU, EU, RU, auto, numbered, and other sorts of cards have appeared. This got me excited to start collecting again. But as card collecting evolved so did the internet. It brought us things like Ebay, Craigslist, this forum, and other new and exciting websites (get your minds out of the gutters guys). But with sites like Ebay and Craigslist the value of all cards were shot down when it came time to sell them. Beckett
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Good evening, London. Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of every day routine -- the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration, thereby those important events of the past usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful bloody struggle, a celebration of a nice holiday, I thought we could mark this November the 5th, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat. There are of course those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression.
And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease.
There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now high chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent. Last night I sought to end that silence. Last night I destroyed the Old Bailey, to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than four hundred years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives.
So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you then I would suggest you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot. -- V for Vendetta
The year is 2020 and the world is plagued by environmental plight. Great Britain is ruled by a totalitarian corporate state where concentration camps have been established to house political prisoners and others deemed to be enemies of the state. Executions of various undesirables are common, while other enemies of the state are made to "disappear." And, of course, the television networks are controlled by the government with the purpose of perpetuating the regime. Most of the population is hooked into an entertainment mode and are clueless.
V is a bold, charismatic freedom fighter who seeks revenge against the government officials who tortured him and disfigured his face. He urges the British people to rise up and resist the government. V tells them to meet him in one year outside the Houses of Parliament, which he promises to destroy. And as November 5 approaches, V's various resistance schemes cause chaos and the people begin waking up to the tyranny around them.
V organizes the distribution of thousands of Guy Fawkes masks, resulting in multitudes, all wearing the masks, marching on Parliament to watch the destruction of Big Ben and Parliament. Unfortunately, V does not make it to the finale. He is killed and dies in the arms of Evey, a young girl he befriended and whose eyes he opens to the reality of the world around her. Accompanied by the "1812 Overture," Parliament and Big Ben explode as thousands watch, including Evey. When asked to reveal the identity of V, Evey replies, "He was all of us."
With the film V for Vendetta, whose imagery borrows heavily from Nazi Germany's Third Reich and George Orwell's 1984, we come full circle. The corporate state in V conducts mass surveillance on its citizens, helped along by closed-circuit televisions. Also, London is under yellow-coded curfew alerts, similar to the American government's color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System.
In speaking of the graphic novel upon which the film was based, the director James McTeighe said, "It really showed what can happen when society is ruled by government, rather than the government being run as a voice of the people. I don't think it's such a big leap to say things like that can happen when leaders stop listening to the people."
Clearly, as I show in my book A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State, we have reached a point where our leaders have stopped listening to the American people. However, what will it take for the government to start listening to the people again?
We are -- and have been for some time -- the unwitting victims of a system so corrupt that those who stand up for the rule of law and aspire to transparency in government are in the minority. This corruption is so vast it spans all branches of government -- from the power-hungry agencies under the executive branch and the corporate puppets within the legislative branch to a judiciary that is, more often than not, elitist and biased towards government entities and corporations.
We are ruled by an elite class of individuals who are completely out of touch with the travails of the average American. We are relatively expendable in the eyes of government -- faceless numbers of individuals who serve one purpose, which is to keep the government machine running through our labor and our tax dollars. Those in power aren't losing any sleep over the indignities we are being made to suffer or the possible risks to our health. All they seem to care about are power and control.
Sadly, we've been made to suffer countless abuses since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In the name of national security, we've been subjected to government agencies such as the NSA, FBI and others listening in on our phone calls, reading our mail, monitoring our emails, and carrying out warrantless "black bag" searches of our homes. Adding to the abuse, we have had to deal with surveillance cameras mounted on street corners and in traffic lights, weather satellites co-opted for use as spy cameras from space, and thermal sensory imaging devices that can detect heat and movement through the walls of our homes. Soon drones will be filling the skies in order to corral our free speech activities and further spy on us. That doesn't even begin to touch on the many ways in which our Fourth Amendment rights have been trampled upon by militarized police and marauding SWAT teams empowered to act as laws unto themselves.
"We the people" have not done the best job of holding our representatives accountable or standing up for our rights. But there must be a limit to our temerity. What will it take for Americans to finally say enough is enough? The First Amendment guarantees us the right to "assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances." Nonviolent, public resistance is often the only recourse left to those who want to effect change in the cumbersome, often corrupt, bureaucratic governmental process.
The time to act is now if we are to make any meaningful move towards regaining our freedoms.


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Anne Hathaway Confirms 'Robopocalypse' Involvement!
Anne Hathaway has confirmed that she will play the female lead in the upcoming sci-fi film Robopocalypse, as long as the film moves forward into production.
"If Robopocalypse happens I will be in it" the 29-year-old actress told Empire, "and I believe it's quite real, though you never want to hang your hat on anything."
"Whenever I'm taking time off, I always joke to my team that I'm on vacation unless Steven Spielberg calls. And I was on vacation and [he] called. So I was like, 'OK, put my money where my mouth is'," Anne added.
Robopocalypse, based on Daniel H. Wilson's sci-fi novel, will be directed by Spielberg and is rumored to star Chris Hemsworth and Ben Whishaw.
ARE YOU EXCITED for Anne Hathaway to join Robopocalypse?


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I thought I'd post a blog showing a technique I haven't seen elsewhere. This is from a recent post of mine at the SqlTeam forums.
The problem: you have two tables, each containing mutiple rows of data per "SetID". You need to compare the two tables to see which sets have complete matches.
First, the DDL and the data:
create table #t1
(SetID int not null,
Attribute varchar(10) not null,
Value int not null,
constraint t1_pk primary key (SetID, Attribute))
create table #t2
(SetID int not null,
Attribute varchar(10) not null,
Value int not null,
constraint t2_pk primary key (SetID, Attribute))
insert into #t1
select 1,'a',1 union
select 1,'b',2 union
select 1,'c',3 union
select 2,'a',4 union
select 2,'c',5 union
select 2,'d',6 union
select 3,'a',9 union
select 3,'b',10 union
select 4,'z',2 union
select 5,'a',4 union
select 5,'b',2
insert into #t2
select 100,'a',1 union
select 100,'b',2 union
select 100,'c',3 union
select 200,'a',4 union
select 200,'c',5 union
select 200,'d',6 union
select 300,'a',1 union
select 300,'b',2 union
select 400,'c',5 union
select 400,'d',6
So, we want to return find out which sets of rows from table1 match a set of rows in table2. There must be no missing or extra rows in either, and of course all attribute/value pairs must match.
With this data, note that SetID 1 from #t1 should match SetID 100 from #t2, and setID 2 from #t1 should match setID 200 from #t2.
To begin, we will start with a cross join of all the data in #t1, with each possibile matching SetID from #t2:
We will UNION that with all data in #t2, with each possible matching SetID from #t1 (basically, the opposite of the first one)
union all
t1.SetId as t1ID, t2.SetId as t2ID, t2.attribute, t2.value
#t2 t2
cross join
(select distinct SetId from #t1) t1
Look at those results. Doesn't look like much, but now we can GROUP BY t1ID, t2ID, attribute and Value and return the count of each:
t1ID, t2ID, attribute, value, count(*) as Matches
(above SQL with the union all) a
group by
t1ID, t2ID, attribute, value
Look at those results as well. Note that because of the GROUP BY, we know if "Matches" = 2 we have a match between #t1 and #t2 for that attribute/value pair.
So, we need to add one more layer to the above query, and ensure that we return only t1ID and t2ID's where ALL matches = 2. By definition, if the MIN(Matches) for each t1ID and t2ID = 2, then there must be none less than 2:
t1ID, t2ID
(the previous SQL) a
group by
t1ID, t2ID
min(Matches) =2
and voila ! that's our result. Only EXACT matches for sets of data between #t1 and #t2.
Any feedback ? is there a better / easier way to do this? let me know! (should this have been an article? is it too long for a blog?)
- Jeff
Print | posted on Friday, October 03, 2003 1:59 PM |
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Shots fired outside club in Greensboro
Vehicle found shot but no victims
Shots fired outside club in Greensboro
Vehicle found shot but no victims
Police are investigating an incident early Friday morning in which shots were fired outside a strip club.
The incident was reported around 2:30 a.m. at The Kave at 2438 Randleman Road.
Officers found one vehicle shot but no victims, Greensboro police said. Police also contacted area hospitals, but none reported treating gunshot victims.
Numerous fired and unfired bullet casings were found in the parking lot, Greensboro police said.
Investigators determined that a fight had begun inside the nightclub.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Crimestoppers at (336) 373-1000.


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There remains an eerie consistency to UCLA's basketball rivalry with Arizona.
"Their fans didn't like us and the feeling was vice versa," said Ed O'Bannon, who played for UCLA from 1992 to 1995.
Said Jordan Adams, who leads the Bruins in scoring this season: "Their fans don't like us much and we don't like them."
Some things never change, and hard feelings when UCLA and Arizona play are one of them.
The Bruins and Wildcats have clawed at each other for 20 years. Conference titles, be it as part of the Pac-10 or Pac-12, have hung in the balance. National attention often fell on Tucson and Westwood as the college basketball powers in the...


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Josh Reynolds Speaks
Josh Reynolds Speaks 7" (Moo-La-La, 1997)
When I first started this recently neglected blog, one of my friends suggested that I post the Josh Reynolds 7" I put out. Good idea, I thought. I wonder if I can find the disc that the record was mastered from, as it might have a better sound to it. Found the disc and no, not better sound, but that is unimportant for now.
So who is Josh Reynolds and why make a record of him? Here is the story: During the 1990s, Sacramento had a very vibrant DIY punk scene. There were cool places to play, a lot of bands, zines, and places to hang out. The Midtown area had yet to be gentrified, lent itself to bike riding, and had house with great porches that encouraged drinking beer. Being in the shadow of San Francisco, Sacramento had a slight inferiority complex. That coupled with its small town nature made a very unpretentious, very kicked back place. As such, it drew others who thrived on that kind of atmosphere.
Josh Reynolds appeared in Sacramento some time in the mid 90s, as part of a small influx of out of town punks. We got a few from Santa Cruz, one or two from Philly, one from Little Rock, and a few other cities. Though from Tennessee, Josh came in a surge from Portland. Once here, he immediately found that the lazy days and wet nights suited him fine. After drinking with him one evening at one of our many punk houses, we started to hang out regularly. I'd show up at his place at 4 pm and ask whiskey or tequila? If it was warm out, we'd go with tequila, figuring that the Mexicans who invented it live in desert land and it is made from cactus, therefore it must be the thing to drink when it is hot. After all didn't Warren Oates guzzle the stuff during Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia? We would walk to the corner mart, get a couple pints of hard stuff and walk around and drink. The more Josh drank, the more he told stories and when he told stories you shut up. Josh not only had crazy tales to tell, but he told them so great that those drinking with him would listen for hours.
After story session number 106, I figured that I needed to put a record out of Josh's tales. The way I figured it was that storytelling is just as much a part of punk culture as music, zines, art, and fashion. Yet it is the one thing that is unrecognized. Perhaps that is because its main storytellers we know from print. Zines like Cometbus or oral histories such as Please Kill Me seem to take the place of storyteller...kind of. They are not the same as sitting around and listening to someone reel off a tale of punk rock fucked-upness. I knew that every scene had at least one guy or gal who was the resident storyteller. At parties or shows they would bullshit with their friends and usual wind up with a small audience listening to some riff on shoplifting or a crazy drunken show. Of course, no one calls it storytelling or the people listening an audience. But that is what it is. I figured that what Josh was doing needed to be documented because it was just as much of an insight into American punk rock circa 1997 as a record or a zine. It was punk rock anthropology.
So I asked Josh to come up with a tale, which was easy as he had a few that he liked to tell over and over (each time a bit different), and set a date to record him. We both felt it was important that he do it in front of people. Not a big crowd but a dozen folks at a punk house. So we got some beers and invited people over. I set up a cassette deck and a couple mics - one for Josh and one for the audience - and rolled the tape. The first time we did it, Josh was so excited that he kept knocking the mic around. That session was ditched. A couple weeks later we got some more people together and did it again. This time Josh cooked.
Tape in hand, another friend and I went to his place and slowly started editing things. Josh had a coughing fit at one point, knocked the mic off the stand at another, and then there were a few "ummmm what was I saying". I wanted to cut that out. Plus I had 28 minutes of tape and was told the most I could put on each side of a 7" was 11 minutes, fidelity be damned. Computers being what they were in 1997, it took weeks to edit the thing down to 22 minutes. And technology being what it was, when we finally burned it onto a cd, what we got was something with parts that distorted. Ack! The project was creeping along and Josh was about to move to Seattle so I said fuck it and sent the thing off. I pressed 300 copies and sold about 100. Unfortunately the public was not quite so enthusiastic about punk rock anthropology as I was!
But, you, perhaps you are. I've chopped the thing up into four bits. Part 1 & 2 are side one of the 7". Parts 3 & 4 are side two. The fidelity is not great. There are parts that are too quites and parts that are too loud. Listening in headphones might be your best option.
I've lost track of Josh, but I believe he now lives in New York City. I am sure he still tells stories.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4


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Omaha tows 188 vehicles in anticipation of snow
Omaha tows 188 vehicles in anticipation of snow
Omaha police have towed 188 illegally parked vehicles from city streets in an effort to clear streets for snow removal.
The Omaha Police Department says it recently conducted a citywide sweep of unlawfully parked vehicles for towing, with each of the four police precincts participating.
The department says dead-storage vehicles violating local storage laws were tagged for removal, and towed after 48 hours if they were still in violation. Unregistered vehicles were towed immediately.
Officers tagged more than 430 vehicles, issued tickets for more than 200 violations and towed 188 vehicles.
The National Weather Service reports there is a chance of snow in Omaha on Saturday.


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Bali Hai Golf Course
Recognized by GolfWeek as one of the "Top 40 Resort Courses in America," Bali Hai transports golfers to a tropical island paradise. The course features seven acres of water hazards, a total of 4,000 trees, including 2,500 stands of towering palms and 100,000 tropical plants. Transition and out-of-play areas are accented with Augusta white sand and black volcanic rock outcroppings.
- 5160 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89119
- (702) 450-8191
- (888) 427-6678


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Pope Francis opens the discussion on supporting some civil unions
In an interview with Corriere della Sera, an Italian daily newspaper, Pope Francis opened the discussion for supporting civil unions within certain circumstances. One example would be if the civil union ensured that both people were received health care.
Although the pontiff reiterated church teaching that defines marriage as between "a man and a woman," he said, "We have to look at different cases and evaluate them in their variety."
According to Catholic News Service, this is the first time that a pope has ever indicated the possibility of accepting civil unions.
Pope Francis also addressed other controversial issues in Wednesday's interview including contraception, the role of women, and the devastating clergy sexual abuse scandal.
It will be interesting to see how others react to the pontiff's comments in the upcoming days.
Here's the original interview with Corriere della Sera (in Italian).
A recent U.S. Catholic Sounding Board asked if it was time to separate church and state marriages. Here are the article and the results from February 2014.
Image: Flickr photo cc by Catholic Church (England and Wales)


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Why Was NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at the Metrodome for the Vikings – Titans Game?
There was a buzz around the Metrodome as the Vikings played host to the Titans. Word spread that someone big in the NFL ranks was in the stands, and it turns out those rumors were correct.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in Minneapolis on Sunday, sitting in the stands, among the fans, taking in the matchup. So, why was he in town? Here's what he had to say.
I was invited a couple of months ago by the Minneapolis Business Partnership and I'm staying overnight and going to be meeting with them in the morning. I thought I would take advantage of the opportunity to come here and go to a Vikings game.
Goodell not only attended the game, but he mingled with fans - sitting in the stands, and meeting with those tailgating before the game. This is somewhat abnormal for the commissioner of a major professional sport. When asked why he felt the need to surround himself with the fans, he had the following to say:
Well, I think it is important because what we do is for the fans. We have to work every day to earn their trust and to do everything possible to make the game better and they have a lot of good suggestions. The let you know about it, and that is good.
When asked how his experience among the fans has been, he offered the following:
They were great. They love the game. All they want to do is focus on the game of football. That's what we try to do is let them focus on the game of football and make it a better experience for them.
Goodell also commented on the potential of a Super Bowl being hosted in Minnesota, suggesting there was a possibility between the years of 2018 and 2020.


text: sports — The Idle Rich Does McNabb want out? Updated: February 23, 2009 — 8:28 PM EST Popular Stories Betrayed by faith: Five sisters, abused by one priest, tell their story Sep 20 - 5:00 AM Early morning fire guts century-old Pennsylvania church Sep 22 - 4:25 PM Donovan McNabb reportedly told Eagles management that if the team doesn't get better players, he may consider going as far as to ask the Eagles to trade him. (David Maialetti/Staff file photo) by Rich Hofmann, DAILY NEWS SPORTS EDITOR Twitter icon @TheIdleRich | Mail icon email@example.com Close icon Rich Hofmann DAILY NEWS SPORTS EDITOR Mail icon email@example.com Twitter icon @TheIdleRich Why, it seems like just yesterday that people were calling him a company man. My, how our Donovan has grown! Gone are the days when Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb asks for offensive weapons on Monday and then claims he was really asking for weapons in every phase of the game on Tuesday. Forgotten, it seems, are the times when every assertion was accompanied by three modifiers and two qualifications. The post-graduate degree he was so, so ready to put on display, his MPA (Masters of Passive Aggressiveness), has been stuffed into a drawer. Because now, it seems, McNabb wants weapons or he may want out. That is the gist of a report on ESPN, quoting sources (wink, wink). The story asserts that Eagles coach Andy Reid and president Joe Banner indeed had a long meeting with McNabb and agent Fletcher Smith last week, a meeting that Reid and Banner refuse to acknowledge took place. Then, the key sequence: "…if the Eagles aren't successful in significantly upgrading… not only may McNabb drop his request for a new contract he may consider going as far as to ask the Eagles to trade him." And so it continues, the transformation of a quarterback. Things have been different since McNabb came back from being benched after a horrible mid-season stretch. There was the time he pointed to the name written on the back of his shoulders during that one game. And there was the time he picked up the sideline telephone for a goof. And there was the indignant assertion that the benching had nothing to do with the improvement in his play. And there was the repeated insistence that there would be this meeting after the season, and that he would be doing the talking. There was a hesitancy to make too much of it, but the personality – after 10 years – was seemingly transforming before our eyes. I've been saying and writing for a couple of months now that McNabb really has a lot of power here, if he is willing to wield it. Because there is no way the Eagles can go through a season with McNabb as their quarterback if he goes public with a trade request. Dealing with an unhappy Lito Sheppard is a pimple on the Eagles' pigskin compared to this. On WIP, Anthony Gargano calls him McMope all the time. Can you imagine what it would be like for six months if he's really moping? If this is really how it went down – if McNabb really did the "or else" thing – it would be stunning. It kind of makes you wonder what Terrell Owens thinks. Published: February 23, 2009 — 8:28 PM EST


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43 CFR 426.2 - Definitions.
As used in these rules:
Acreage limitation entitlements mean the ownership and nonfull-cost entitlements.
Acreage limitation provisions mean the ownership limitations and pricing restrictions specified in Federal reclamation law, including but not limited to, Sections 203(b), 204, and 205 of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 ( 43 U.S.C. 390aaet seq.).
Acreage limitation status means whether a landholder is a qualified recipient, limited recipient, or prior law recipient.
Commissioner means the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Compensation rate means a water rate applied, in certain situations, to water delivery to ineligible land that is not discovered until after the delivery has taken place. The compensation rate is equal to the established full-cost rate that would apply to the landholder if the landholder was to receive irrigation water on land that exceeded a nonfull-cost entitlement.
Contract means any repayment or water service contract or agreement between the United States and a district providing for the payment to the United States of construction charges and normal operation, maintenance, and replacement costs under Federal reclamation law, even if the contract does not specifically identify the portion of the payment that is to be attributed to operation and maintenance and that portion that is to be attributed to construction. This definition includes contracts made in accordance with the Distribution System Loans Act, as amended ( 43 U.S.C. 421).
Contract rate means the assessment, as set forth in a contract, that is to be paid by a district to the United States, and recomputed if necessary on a per acre or per acre foot basis.
Dependent means any natural person within the meaning of the term dependent in the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 ( 26 U.S.C. 152) and any subsequent amendments.
Direct when used in connection with the terms landholder, landowner, lessee, lessor, or owner, means that the party is the owner of record or holder of title, or the lessee of a land parcel, as appropriate. However, landholdings of joint tenants and tenants-in-common will not be considered direct under these regulations.
Discretionary provisions refer to Sections 390cc through 390hh, except for 390cc(b), of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 ( 43 U.S.C. 390aaet seq.).
District means any individual or any legal entity established under State law that has entered into a contract or can potentially enter into a contract with the United States for irrigation water service through federally developed or improved water storage and/or distribution facilities.
Eligible, except where otherwise provided, means permitted to receive an irrigation water supply from a Reclamation project under applicable Federal reclamation law.
Entity, see definition of legal entity.
Excess land means nonexempt land that is in excess of a landowner's maximum ownership entitlement under the applicable provisions of Federal reclamation law.
Exempt, except where otherwise provided, means not subject to the acreage limitation provisions.
Extended recordable contract means a recordable contract whose term was extended due to moratoriums established in 1976 and 1977 on the sale of excess land.
Full cost or full-cost rate means an annual rate established by Reclamation that amortizes the expenditures for construction properly allocable to irrigation facilities in service, including all operation and maintenance deficits funded, less payments, over such periods as may be required under Federal reclamation law, or applicable contract provisions. Interest will accrue on both the construction expenditures and funded operation and maintenance deficits from October 12, 1982, on costs outstanding at that date, or from the date incurred in the case of costs arising subsequent to October 12, 1982. The full-cost rate includes actual operation, maintenance, and replacement costs required under Federal reclamation law.
Full-cost charge means the full-cost rate less the actual operation, maintenance, and replacement costs required under Federal reclamation law.
Indirect, when used in connection with the terms landholder, landowner, lessee, lessor or owner, means that such party is not the owner of record or holder of title, or the lessee of a land parcel, but that such party has a beneficial interest in the legal entity that is the owner of record or holder of title, or the lessee of a land parcel. Landholdings of joint tenants and tenants-in-common will be considered indirect under these regulations. A security interest held by lenders, who are not otherwise considered a landholder of the land in question, in a legal entity or in a land parcel will not be considered an indirect interest or a beneficial interest for purposes of these regulations.
Individual means any natural person, including his or her spouse, and including other dependents; provided that, under prior law, the term individual does not include a natural person's spouse or dependents.
Ineligible, except where otherwise provided, means not permitted to receive an irrigation water supply under applicable Federal reclamation law regardless of the rate paid for such water.
Intermediate entity means an entity that is a part owner of another entity and in turn is owned by others, either another entity or individuals.
Involuntary acquisition means land that is acquired through an involuntary foreclosure or similar involuntary process of law, conveyance in satisfaction of a debt (including, but not limited to, a mortgage, real estate contract or deed of trust), inheritance, or devise.
Irrevocable election means the execution of the legal instrument that a landholder subject to prior law provisions submits to become subject to the discretionary provisions of Federal reclamation law.
Irrevocable elector means a landholder who makes an irrevocable election to conform to the discretionary provisions of Federal reclamation law.
Irrigable land means land so classified by Reclamation under a specific project plan for which irrigation water is, can be, or is planned to be provided, and for which facilities necessary for sustained irrigation are provided or are planned to be provided.
Irrigation land means any land receiving water from a Reclamation project facility for irrigation purposes in a given water year, except for land that has been specifically exempted by statute or administrative action from the acreage limitation provisions of Federal reclamation law.
Irrigation water means water made available for agricultural purposes from the operation of Reclamation project facilities pursuant to a contract with Reclamation.
Landholder means a party that directly or indirectly owns or leases nonexempt land.
Landholding means the total acreage of nonexempt land directly or indirectly owned or leased by a landholder.
Lease means any arrangement between a landholder (the lessor) and another party (the lessee) under which the economic risk and the use or possession of the lessor's land is partially or wholly transferred to the lessee. If a management arrangement or consulting agreement is one in which the manager or consultant performs a service for the landholder for a fee, but does not assume the economic risk in the farming operation, and the landholder retains the right to the use and possession of the land, is responsible for payment of the operating expenses, and is entitled to receive the profits from the farming operation, then the agreement or arrangement will not be considered to be a lease.
Legal entity or entity for the purpose of establishing application of the acreage limitation entitlements means, but is not limited to, corporations, partnerships, organizations, and any business or property ownership arrangements such as joint tenancies and tenancies-in-common. For purposes of the information requirements specified in § 426.18 only, trusts will be considered to be legal entities.
Limited recipient means any legal entity established under State or Federal law benefiting more than 25 natural persons. In order to become limited recipients, legal entities must be subject to the discretionary provisions through either district contract action or irrevocable election.
Nondiscretionary provisions means sections 390cc(b) and 390ii through 390zz 1 of the RRA.
Nonexempt land means either irrigation land or irrigable land that is subject to the acreage limitation provisions. Areas used for field roads, farm ditches and drains, tailwater ponds, temporary equipment storage, and other improvements subject to change at will by the landowner, are included in the nonexempt acreage. Areas occupied by and currently used for homesites, farmstead buildings, and corollary permanent structures such as feedlots, equipment storage yards, permanent roads, permanent ponds, and similar facilities, together with roads open for unrestricted use by the public are excluded from nonexempt acreage.
Nonfull-cost entitlement means the maximum acreage a landholder may irrigate with irrigation water at a nonfull-cost rate.
Nonfull-cost ratemeans any water rate other than the full-cost rate. Nonfull-cost rates are paid for irrigation water made available to land in a landholder's nonfull-cost entitlement.
Nonproject water means water from sources other than Reclamation project facilities.
Nonresident alien means any natural person who is neither a citizen nor a resident alien of the United States.
Operation and maintenance costs or O&M costs mean all direct charges and overhead costs incurred by the United States after the date that Reclamation has declared a project, or a part thereof, substantially complete to operate, maintain, provide replacements of, administer, manage, and oversee project facilities and lands.
Ownership entitlement means the maximum acreage a landholder may directly or indirectly own and irrigate with irrigation water.
Part owner means an individual or legal entity that has a beneficial interest in a legal entity, but does not own 100 percent of that legal entity. A lender, who is not otherwise considered a landholder of the land in question, with a security interest in a legal entity or land owned by a legal entity shall not be considered a part owner under these regulations.
Prior law means the Reclamation Act of 1902, and acts amendatory and supplementary thereto ( 43 U.S.C. 371et seq.) that were in effect prior to the enactment of the RRA, and as amended by the RRA.
Prior law recipient means an individual or legal entity that has not become subject to the discretionary provisions.
Project means any irrigation project authorized by Federal reclamation law, or constructed by the United States pursuant to such law, or in connection with a repayment or water service contract executed by the United States pursuant to such law, or any project constructed by the United States through Reclamation for the reclamation of lands. The term project includes any incidental features of an irrigation project.
Public entity means States, political subdivisions or agencies thereof, and agencies of the Federal Government.
Qualified recipient means an individual who is a citizen or a resident alien of the United States or any legal entity established under State or Federal law that benefits 25 natural persons or less. A married couple may become a qualified recipient if either spouse is a United States citizen or resident alien. In order to become qualified recipients, individuals and legal entities must be subject to the discretionary provisions through either district contract action or irrevocable election.
Reclamation means the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Reclamation fund means a special fund established by the Congress under the Reclamation Act of 1902, as amended, for the receipts from the sale of public lands and timber, proceeds from the Mineral Leasing Act, and certain other revenues.
Recordable contract means a written contract between Reclamation and a landowner capable of being recorded under State law, providing for the disposition of land held by that landowner in excess of the ownership limitations of Federal reclamation law.
Resident alien means any natural person within the meaning of the term as defined in the Internal Revenue Act of 1954 ( 26 U.S.C. 7701) as it may be amended.
RRA means the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982, Public Law 97-09293, Title II, 96 Stat. 1263, ( 43 U.S.C. 390aaet seq.) as amended.
Secretary means Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Standard certification or reporting forms mean forms on which landholders provide complete information about the directly and indirectly owned and leased nonexempt lands in their landholdings.
Water year means a 365-day period (or 366 days during leap years) whose start date is specified within a contract between Reclamation and the district or through some other agreement between Reclamation and the district.
Westwide means the 17 Western States where Reclamation projects are located, namely: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.


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As a consultant who specializes in live performance and screened talent for a major talent buyer in a former life, a question I'm often asked by singers is, "How do I improve my stage presence? What do I do?" Most execs, when asked about stage presence, say something like, "You know it when you see it" which does not help you. Instead, I've compiled a list from being fortunate enough to observe some of rock's greatest performers up close during my career. Musical talent and looks aside, here are ten things the best performers do onstage that make them great front men. [Note: MusicBizAdvice.com articles are written keeping in mind the artist who typically asks us the question–in this case, a male rock singer in a band who performs live. But you can adapt it to many genres, and girls absolutely rock too.]
1. Cover the stage. Large or small, that whole stage is yours: use it! Downstage. Take a stroll Stage Right. Back to center. Upstage. Are people in the forgotten seats? Play to them. Downstage–maybe head Stage Left. Hang out there for a few. Back to your mark at center. If there's a loft or balcony, look up. Is there Industry in the loft? Surprise the hell out of 'em by acknowledging them like any other audience members. They may not respond, but that's OK, it's your stage not theirs. Go back and see the people Stage Right. Mix it up. Adjust your pace with the tempo of the music. If you play guitar and venture too far from your mic, give yourself time to get back for your next vocal part.
2. Claim your space and fill it. Gesture broadly; don't be half-assed about it. (This is vital for large stages, or when venue capacity is 10,000 or more, or when there's a wide distance between you and the audience.) For a smaller stage or more intimate venue, gesture less broadly but use your body language to claim your space. Think "Tall". This is what American Idol judges mean when they say "own it."
3. Feel the lyrics. …and make the audience feel them too. Often the best concert moments are during a sad song when the singer hits the zone so deep, he finishes with wet eyes. When American Idol's Simon Cowell says "it's about 'creating a moment'" this is part of what he's talking about.
4. Don't be afraid to make a fool of yourself. If the song calls for a fun mood, have fun!
5. Connect with people. Look them in the eye. Touch people's hands. If you're a male artist who attracts a mainly female fanbase and you see a guy in the audience, show your appreciation by shaking his hand or giving him a high five. (We still talk about the time one enthusiastic rock icon made a beeline for my ex, high-fived him, and said "How ya doin'?" before running off to another part of the stage.)
6. Sing to someone. Hell, dance with someone, if there's good crowd control and security. (Dancing with one person onstage is good. Accidentally bringing the whole audience up onstage with you is not.)
7. Work it on out. Think of the venue as a football field. The goal post is the back of the house, and the energy in the room is your football. As singer/quarterback, your objective during the set is to keep advancing that energy toward the back of the room.
8. Keep the energy up. Audiences are fickle. You snooze, and you lose 'em.
9. Play to the back of the house. And the front. And all sides. Resolve to leave no one in the house unrocked.
10. "Thank you and goodnight!" Tell them who you are, thank 'em warmly for coming out to the show, and get off the stage.


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Tricks of the Trade
From the June 2011 issue #190
Our winning Trick of the Trade this month is Mary Nickol's "Multi-use Bench Hook." Mary wins a $250 gift certificate from Lee Valley Tools.
To have your Trick considered for publication (we buy all rights to published Tricks), submit it via e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com, or by mail to Tricks of the Trade, c/o Popular Woodworking Magazine, 4700 E Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236.
Click here for the SketchUp model of Mary Nickol's Multi-purpose Bench Hook.
Our Tricks on Video this month is from Dan Urban – it's a clever way to keep cords in control as you work:
Carabiner Cord Holder
When I am using a corded tool such as a sander, drill or router, the cord gets in the way or catches on something. My solution is to attach a large carabiner to my belt or belt loop. I run the power cord through the carabiner, which puts it where I want it – out of the way. If I'm moving around a lot and need even more control, I attach a second carabiner to the belt loop behind me and run the cord through it as well. Carabiners can be found at your local hardware store.
Dan Urban
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
We tried it out, and filmed this video for your viewing pleasure.


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Skip to comments.Pope to MPs: Stop gay marriage
Posted on 07/29/2003 11:27:12 AM PDT by Clive
OTTAWA - The Vatican is calling directly on Catholic politicians around the world to be true to their faith and reject the legalization of same-sex marriage.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops predicted yesterday the appeal may give pause to the federal Parliament as it considers just such legislation.
Catholicism is the dominant religion among federal politicians, as it is in Canadian society.
"What it may do is that it will cause some conscience problems for several MPs," said Monsignor Peter Schonenbach, general secretary of the conference.
But a spokesman for Martin Cauchon, the Justice Minister one of many Catholic MPs, said that Minister will base his vote on equality rights, not religion.
"His personal religious beliefs are not the issue here," said Tim Murphy. "He is the Justice Minister for all Canadians. The key things we have pointed out is that this is a fundamental issue of equality and there will be protection for religious freedom."
A federal bill legalizing same-sex marriage, and stating that religious institutions will not be forced to perform ceremonies, has been sent to the Supreme Court to determine whether it complies with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Liberal government has promised a free vote on the issue, meaning MPs can vote their conscience instead of along party lines. Several Liberal MPs have already expressed their opposition to gay marriage.
Same-sex marriages have been considered legal in British Columbia and Ontario since courts in those provinces ruled prohibiting the marriages violates the Charter of Rights.
On Thursday, the Vatican will release new instructions for Catholic politicians to oppose same-sex marriage, which has already been adopted in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Msgr. Schonenbach described the 12-page document, which is devoted entirely to the issue of same-sex marriage, as "a general reflection that pulls together things that have been said before."
Although the instructions do not specifically mention Canada, Msgr. Schonenbach noted that this country's plans have drawn significant attention from the Church and likely played a role in the Vatican's appeal. He noted he has done interviews with Vatican Radio on the issue.
The document builds on the Pope's approved guidelines for politicians, issued last January, calling on them to oppose abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage.
Those guidelines said laws safeguarding marriage between man and woman must be promoted and that "in no way can other forms of cohabitation be placed on the same level as marriage, nor can they receive legal recognition as such."
Jason Kenney, a Canadian Alliance MP who is Catholic and against gay marriage, said he doesn't think the Vatican's call will make much difference.
"Politicians who come from the Catholic tradition whose convictions are formed in part by their faith, this should be nothing new to them and they should already have taken that into consideration," Mr. Kenney said.
"They're all free to decide whether or not, and to what extent, they will form their conscience and actions in accordance with the Church teaching. It's up to each individual."
Mr. Kenney acknowledged that few politicians publicly declare their religious affiliation and are therefore not in a position where they have to answer to voters about faith. The appeal from the Vatican is not expected to sway other powerful Catholics in the Liberal government, including the Prime Minister and his heir apparent, Paul Martin, who intend to vote for the bill.
Mr. Chrétien, Mr. Martin and Mr. Cauchon all come from pre-dominantly Catholic Quebec, where the Church has a loose grip on the province's largely liberal society.
Mr. Chrétien has already come under fire from Marcel Gervais, the Archbishop of Ottawa, over the clash between his Catholic religion and his views on social issues. Most recently, the archbishop denounced the Prime Minister's pro-choice position on abortion.
The Vatican's directive, titled Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, expands on an appeal from religious institutions across Canada for the federal government to reject same-sex marriage.
As in the Canadian population in general, the Catholicism is the dominant religion in the federal Parliament, although exact records are not kept.
In the general population, 43.2% of Canadians identified themselves as Catholic in the last federal census, which makes the religion by far the most common. In second place was United, the declared faith of 9.6% of Canadians.
This month, a leading German cardinal condemned Germany's same-sex marriage law after it was upheld by the country's supreme court, calling it a blow to the family.
"Now the associations of homosexuals have a potent arm to obtain further concessions on the road toward full equality with married couples, including the right to adoption," Karl Cardinal Lehman complained in a Vatican Radio interview.
The Vatican is particularly worried about the waning influence of the Church in Europe. Drafters of a proposed constitution for the European Union ignored Vatican requests to include explicit mention of Europe's Christian roots.
On Sunday, the Pope lamented that the Church's message was being watered down in Europe.
But that's the real kicker, isn't it? For the past few decades, the Church has tolerated almost any and all moral dissent from the left with little or no comment, and almost never real action.
Want to be a rabid pro-abortion politician? Far be it from your bishop to say anything about it. Want to get divorce after divorce and still receive all the sacraments without comment? No problem. Want to make statements like all religions are valid paths to the same God? You won't hear a peep from your bishop saying otherwise.
So the real question is how many truly Catholic MP's even exist, in the sense of truly believing and following the teachings of the Church? I would guess it's a small fraction of the number who call themselves Catholic.
The modern Church culture of moral permissiveness, and failure to condemn sin, is now snowballing. And the Church finds itself without the moral authority necessary to put up much of a fight due to neglect of this duty for so long.
Precisely right. But I'll bet the first time these same politicians propose seizing Church property, they'll find themselves excommunicated--bell, book and candle.
Looks like the bishop of Ottawa condemned the PM. And in the US, the new bishop of Boston has been outspoken in the past about politicians who don't follow their professed faith. Also Bishop Weigand of Sacramento with Gray Davis, the bishop in North Dakota with Tom Daschle, Archbishop Chaput in Denver, all have confronted pro-aborts et al in the past year.
But you're right, that should be the norm, and it shouldn't be a new thing.
Well, there is at least one bishop who's not following the craven crowd.
While you're at it, why not excommunicate all the "catholic politicans" who support abortion too?
Take care of one problem and everything else will fall into place.
Pedophile priests "repent" only when they are caught. Forgiveness is fine but consequence deters repeat offenders (and defenders).
I'm no Catholic, but I like to see the Holy Father step in and put the smack down on these so-called "Catholic" cretins. Word up to Teddy K. and his so-called "Catholic" ilk.
J.P. II has put you all on notice. No excuses, now.
Reminds me of that Sam Kinison (Geez, I miss that guy. We need Sam now more than ever. I can only imagine his take on everything that's happened since September 11) routine with the Pope talking to the Gays:
"Suck the ----, lose the Kingdom. Romans I. Look, I didn't write the book, I just enforce it. C'mon, you got ---- on your breath, your stinkin' up the place, get outta here!"
But I'll still take his smack down on the pols over the homo-marriage issue.
Purging the Church of the infestation of pedophile priests ought to be the first item on the Church's agenda!
The document builds on the Pope's approved guidelines for politicians, issued last January, calling on them to oppose abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage.
Unless the Church is prepared to excommunicate pols like Kennedy, Biden, Dashole, and all of the other CINOs, then why bother issuing a "guideline?"
These seductions were gravely sinful and seriously wrong, but the campaign against a small number of priests, blown up with emotional issues that never properly belonged to the scandal, are an attempt to destroy the moral authority of the largest Christian church in the world. With that authority falsely questioned, the homosexual agenda to obtain the agenda's greatest prize - homosexual marriage - is almost in hand.
If you want to aid the enemy, support the campaign and buzzwords wrongfully applied to the campaign to destroy the Chuch. The campaign will not succeed (the gates of hell cannot prevail against it), but what most people do not want - the moral normalization homosexual relationships and marriage - may avalanche into unwanted reality. The spiritual harm that will follow that is unimaginable.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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Gary Jones, PhD
Professor, Philosophy
- Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara; Philosophy
- J.D., University of San Diego
- M.P.H., Harvard University, Law and Public Heath
- M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara; Philosophy
- B.A., University of California, Berkeley; Philosophy
Gary E. Jones, PhD, has been a member of the faculty since 1981. He has taught a variety of courses over the years relating to ethics and health care. His main area of research is health care policy, with an emphasis on the problem of the medically uninsured.
Scholarly Work
Jones has published several articles in the areas of philosophy of science and ethics, especially medical ethics. After several years of preparation, an interactive CD entitled "Law and Bioethics" was published in 2008, and the basis for on-line classes in Biomedical Ethics has been established. The CD was recently accepted by the largest domestic credentialing association for physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, as a basis for earning continuing education units. One of his current projects is an interactive CD entitled "Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing."
Areas of Interest
Jones has taught courses in logic, medical ethics, general ethics, philosophy of law, and legal reasoning. In addition to departmental classes, Jones has co-taught several courses in the Honors Program, including Biomedical Ethics, Ethical Issues in Genetics, Dead Man Walking (a class on the death penalty in the U.S.), and Disparities in Health Care.
Department of Philosophy
College of Arts and Sciences
Contact Us Email
Phone: (619) 260-4705
Fax: (619) 260-7950
Visit Campus Map
Founders Hall 162
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110


text:
More than just a ride - it's a 100 mile cycle ride linking Bath with historic Stratford-upon-Avon.
Transport to the start, ride back over two days, fully supported, with B&B hotel accommodation. Options to join at Bath for the complete ride, or Gloucester for just the Sunday.
An enthusiastic and experienced volunteer crew, comprehensive route maps, support vehicles and baggage transport for the journey - fantastic fun, raising money* for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The route is suitable for both novice riders, with some training, yet is challenging enough for seasoned cyclists.
Numbers of riders will be restricted so there will be plenty of opportunities to get to know fellow cyclists and the volunteers, all supporting this vital cause.
Enter online (with a deposit scheme to reserve your place) ... and order your event jersey.


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If you've watched my site lately, you may have seen my timelapse film Pagosa, that was featured on The Huffington Post, Petapixel, and Slate to name a few sites. It was easily one of the most popular videos I've ever created, and easily one of my favorites to work on. It's nice to take time for personal projects and just have fun shooting timelapses. Now, I've shot several timelapse films before, but they were always in JPEG, not raw, and I believe Pagosa was all the more beautiful because of the dynamic range the raw photos possess.
As I'm sure you can tell by all that, I am more in love with filming timelapses than ever before, so it was a real joy when Konova reached out to me and offered to send me their new Pan Tilt timelapse controller to review. I unboxed it a few weeks ago and have been having a lot of fun with it so far. As you can see from the video above, I was able to capture some really great timelapses around the Texas A&M campus. Now that I am in Dallas, I have my sights set on making an epic timelapse film of the city at some point in the future.
Intitially, I planned on making separate videos for the Pan Tilt Controller unboxing, setup tutorial, and review. After posting the unboxing video and using the Pan Tilt Controller, I decided it would be best to show people how easy it is to setup and shoot. There are a lot of companies making motion controllers now, and they are getting more affordable every day. Konova has hit upon this market at a good time though, and as you can see from the video above, this controller is a great deal. If you already have a Konova slider, then you're already have half the rig. The future expand-ability of having being able to use add-ons like the Pan & Tilt Smart Head and Slider Jib is a bonus.
If you're just getting into timelapse, or you've been shooting them for a while and really wanting a motion controlled kit that will allow for easy expansion, watch this video. The good quality and compatibility with other Konova products have made it a great addition to my gear bag. Plus, I've already been hired by people specifically interested in motion controlled timelapse videos. I would love to get a slider jib and Pan & Tilt head in the future. If you have any questions about this review, or need help with the setup of your controller, please leave me a comment or email me.
The Vivitar Case with pluck foam that I use to transport the Pan Tilt Controller is available on Amazon. I managed to buy it on Black Friday for $10, but now it is selling for $30. I've listed the specific Manfrotto tripod head that I use with my slider in the Technical detail section below.
:: Technical Details ::
- Pro Optic 8mm Fisheye // Amazon.com Page
- Canon 24mm F1.4L // Amazon.com Page
- Manfrotto 501HDV Head, 547B Legs – Tripod // Amazon Tripod Head Page // Amazon Tripod Legs Page
- Metabones Speed Booster // Amazon.com Page
- Konova K3B2 80cm
- Konova K3B2 150cm
- Xume Adapters
- Manfrotto Fluid Video Head Monopod // Amazon.com Page
- Genus ND Fader Filter // Amazon.com Page
- Sennheiser G3 Wireless Lapel System // Amazon.com Page
- Manfrotto 054 Ball Head with Q5 Release // Amazon.com Page
- Premiere Pro CC
Color Grading
It is a big help to me when you use any of the above product links to Adorama, Amazon, and B&H and when you get anything. It costs you nothing, and helps me keep my site running. I have bought from all of these websites and I highly recommend them for their service, quality, and shipping speed. I recommend them all personally.
Interested in having me film a review for you? Please contact me!


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Welcome to the Kindergarten Website!
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Kindergarten News
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2390 Nautilus Street
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 459-6074
All Hallows Academy - La Jolla
5 months ago
All Hallows Academy graduate Ciara Franke dual sport college athlete! ... See MoreSee Less
UC San Diego freshman stars in two sports — in the same seasonLa Jolla High alum Ciara Franke has become a dual-sport star at UC San Diego in swimming and water polo
All Hallows Academy - La Jolla shared La Jolla by the Sea's album.
10 months ago
All Hallows Academy wins Most Creative float in La Jolla Christmas Parade.The 60th Annual La Jolla Christmas Parade was another great success! We hope you were able to join in the festivities this year. Congratulations to the following float winners:
BEST OVERALL: Stella Maris Academy
MOST ORIGINAL: Ooh La La Dance Academy
MOST COLORFUL: Erling Rohde Plumbing
MOST CREATIVE: All Hallows Academy - La Jolla
SANTA'S FAVORITE: La Jolla Veterinary Hospital
MOST COMMUNITY SPIRIT: Windandsea Surf Club
BEST HOLIDAY SPIRIT: Great Dames of the West ... See MoreSee Less
All Hallows Academy - La Jolla
11 months ago
Red Ribbon Week is this week! 2nd grade has planned Red Ribbon Week Activities for the school starting tomorrow:
October 24th - 10:45 Kick Off Assembly (Parish Hall)
- Class Poster Contest Begins (Winners announced 10/30)
October 25th - $1 Donation to wear Red Ribbon Wristband all week
October 26th -Healthy Snack provided at Recess
-Obstacle Course during Lunch
-Jump Rope Contest
October 27th - 8:15am Mass, Drug Enforcement and Prevention Prayers ... See MoreSee Less
What's your favorite field sport? ... See MoreSee Less
All Hallows In The News
allhallowsacademy.com/blog/2017/10/09/all-hallows-in-the-news/ ... See MoreSee Less
All Hallows Academy - La Jolla shared a link.
1 years ago
Mary Skeen in the La Jolla Light. ... See MoreSee Less
School Begins August 23, 8:00 am
allhallowsacademy.com/blog/2017/07/27/school-begins-august-23-800-am/ ... See MoreSee Less
School Begins August 23, 8:00 amVisit the post for more.
July 17 to August 10, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
allhallowsacademy.com/blog/2017/07/27/summer-office-hours/ ... See MoreSee Less
Register now to attend a Catholic Estate Planning seminar on May 22nd (morning or evening session) in the Parish Hall. The event is being presented by All Hallows Church and the Catholic Community Foundation of San Diego. This FREE seminar offers attendees an opportunity to learn more about: Wills and Trusts, Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directives, Planned Giving and more. ... See MoreSee Less


text:
The brain
F001/3734 Royalty Free
Please login to use the price calculator
Credit: MEDICAL RF.COM/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.
Keywords: 3d medical illustration, anatomy, brain, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, cerebral hemisphere, cerebrum, colour, front view, frontal cortex, frontal lobe, human, illustration, landscape, stylised, telencephalon, white background, with skeleton
Licence fees: A licence fee will be charged for any media (low or high resolution) used in your project.


text:
By Julian Linden
NEW YORK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The emotion finally got to Mariano Rivera on Thursday.
r playing it super-cool during his 19 years in Major League Baseball, his final game at Yankee Stadium proved too much.
Baseball's greatest closer was reduced to tears, sobbing uncontrollably on the mound as the enormity of the occasion hit him. And he was not alone.
His team mates and the Yankees manager Joe Girardi were also overcome with raw emotion, as they embraced him on the field then in the dugout.
In the stands, which were packed as the Yankees faithful came out to bid farewell to one of their greatest champions, more tears flowed.
The crowd rose to their feet, chanting Rivera's nickname "Mo" as more than tens of thousands of camera flashes lit up the Bronx.
"It definitely was a magic moment," said Rivera, who rose from poverty in his native Panama to be one of the most revered players in America's favourite pasttime.
When the game was over, the 43-year-old returned to the pitcher's mound for one last time, scooping up a handful of dirt which he put in his pocket as the memories of his spectacular career came flooding back.
"I was bombarded with emotions and feelings I couldn't describe. Everything hit. I knew that was the last time, period," he said.
Girardi, his eyes still welling with tears long after the game had finished, told reporters: "This is as good as it gets.
"It's probably as special of a going-out for any player I've ever seen."
The raw emotion of Rivera's farewell added a touch of real poignancy to a game that had not gone as planned for the Yankees.
If the baseball gods had been kinder, Rivera might have been playing in another World Series, clinching the victory himself with a flawless final inning pitch.
But instead, there was nothing at stake for the Yankees because they had lost the previous day and were out of contention to make the playoffs.
Their opponents, the Tampa Bay Rays, were still fighting for a wildcard so could not afford to join in the sentiment, and thrashed the Yankees 4-0.
With the Yankees so far behind, Rivera did not have the chance to add to his record tally of 652 career saves.
Normally he would not have pitched at all, but this was a special occasion for the last MLB player allowed to wear No. 42, the same number as Jackie Robinson, the first black player to compete in the majors.
Girardi introduced Rivera into the game midway through the eighth inning. He entered the field, as he always does, as the strains of Metallica's 'Enter the Sandman' - Rivera's entrance song - blasted through the stadium's sound system.
Suddenly, the result of the game did not seem to matter. It was almost as though time stood still as Rivera produced some of his old magic, pitching an inning and a third.
He gave up no hits and no runs. The Rays applauded him just as warmly and enthusiastically as the people in the stands.
When his time was called, it came in an unexpected fashion that tugged at the heart strings. Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, two of Rivera's oldest friends, walked out on the mound together, to take him out of the game.
Pettitte and Jeter both hugged him and it was only then that Rivera, who has been on a seemingly endless farewell tour since announcing his retirement at the start of the year, finally lost control of his emotions.
"It was really cool and we've had some great moments here," said Pettitte.
"He broke down and gave me a bear hug and I just bear hugged him back. He was really crying, he was really weeping." (Editing by Greg Stutchbury)


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Heads of State, ministers and high-level representatives of over 40 countries as well as 11 international organizations have committed to taking decisive and urgent action to tackle the global illegal wildlife trade.
The London Declaration, announced by the UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague last week, includes action to eradicate the market for illegal wildlife products, strengthen law enforcement efforts and ensure effective legal frameworks and deterrents are in place. It also promotes sustainable livelihoods through positive engagement with local communities.
"IUCN welcomes the Declaration adopted by the London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade", said Dr Simon Stuart, Chair of IUCN's Species Survival Commission. 'It builds on previous agreements and is a further sign of the growing political commitment to combat the illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade. This declaration includes the actions that are needed to get this insidious trade under control, focusing improved benefits to local communities from conservation, greatly enhanced law enforcement, and action to reduce demand for wildlife products in consumer countries."
Illegal wildlife crime not only threatens the survival of species, but also people's livelihoods and national security, especially in Africa. The London Conference, in uniting political commitment across different sectors, including security, development and environment, through high-level engagement, has therefore delivered a timely boost to the fight against illegal wildlife crime.
During the meeting, delegates from a number of states reported on their heightened national efforts to tackle wildlife crime which, in many cases, have resulted in more arrests of poachers and significant seizures of illegal wildlife products. However, the continued involvement of well-armed, sophisticated and organized criminals threatens to overwhelm their species protection efforts and the new high- level political attention afforded by the London Conference was welcomed.
IUCN's President Mr Zhang Xinsheng who addressed the conference said "IUCN strives for a just world that values and conserves nature. We therefore commend this conference because it is not only addressing law enforcement and demand reduction as solutions, but it is also embracing the need to support local communities in pursuit of sustainable livelihood opportunities".
IUCN welcomes the announcement that Botswana will host a meeting in 2015 to evaluate the progress and challenges faced in implementing the London Declaration, and the earlier measures on which it is built.
Related links:


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MOSCOW – The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry says around 20,000 people have been forced to leave their homes since July in the wake of floods in Russia's Far East.
Ministry spokeswoman Irina Rossius said Monday that the evacuation is underway in three Far East regions, some 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) east of Moscow. Some of the evacuees have moved into emergency shelters.
Authorities estimate that another 14,000 people were also affected.
Alexander Frolov, chief of the Russian Meteorological Service, told news agencies on Monday that floods have reached their peak in the Amur region. But the situation is expected to get worse in two other areas.
Authorities say that the floods have caused an estimated 2 billion rubles ($61 million) in damages.


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Here are some stuff I seen since I last posted. Not saying when. Not saying where. I give and I give and I give and you people show no gratitude.
Stuff20 Apr
- Comments Leave a Comment
- Categories Uncategorized
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Alright? my name is Paul i am part of the succesful band baldmonkey and the reticents. I like seening birds. this is just a log really of what i seen. You could put up a poster advertising my site in your local youth club or drop in centre if you like.
Soz about the photo quality but I am too poor for a good camera.
baldmonkey solves you
"wow you really took time to make a video like this you're pathetic "
Eliezer Rosa, YouTube
"You may find it funny, we find it idiotic... This is wasting our time... I'd find something better to do..."
Debz "Debz" Croker, Assistant Picture Editor, The News
"Thank you for sending me a link to your blog... I much enjoyed reading your blog, thank you."
Steph Watson - Marketing Officer for the Hampshire and Isle Of Wight Wildlife Trust
"It must be incredibly difficult to write."
Wanstead Birder - wansteadbirder.com
"You're birdwatching; you're not supposed to be having fun."
Caveman Rich - Some Bloke
"Thanks Paul, great blog!"
Ben Andrew, Wildlife Enquiries - The RSPB
"I now only have one hand."
Kate Risley - Birdwatching Magazine
"Thank you very much for alerting us to your most excellent blog."
Ieuan Evans, Head of Membership & Volunteer Engagement - British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
"Great photo!"
Marianne, Receptionist - Barn Owl Trust
"Quote what ever you need."
José Alves - Project Jadrakan
"Another hilarious bird blog. Not. Bullied at school?"
Peter - Skipton
"...a birding blog with a difference"
The official twitter feed of Bird Watching Magazine
Cerys Matthews out of Catatonia and BBC Radio 6 Music via Twitter
"...it's certainly different..."
Tony Usher - Knutsford Ornithology Society
Mark Skevington - skevsblog.blogspot.co.uk
"Best goose-based song ever!"
Andrew Mackay - leicesterllama.blogspot.co.uk
"Your wren is a dunnock."
Mr Iveneverkilledapipit - iveneverkilledapipit.wordpress.com
"10/10 for effort."
Some bloke called Terence Warner.
"Spookily accurate..."
RSPB NEScotlandCoast via Twitter
Manuel Sánchez - clandestinebird.com
"Sheer class"
"Für die britischen Inseln ist ein neues Vogelbestimmungsbuch herausgekommen. Durch einen innovativen dichotomen Schlüssel läßt sich jede der in Großbritannien vorkommenden Vogelarten innerhalb von maximal 15 Sekunden bestimmen."
Toni_Maroni via the forums of www.birdnet-cms.de
"I've not visited it frequently."
Chris from rarebirdalert.co.uk
"Your site is complete rubbish - naturally I have created a link on my Hants page and another on my BLOGs page."
Bo Beolens from fatbirder.com
"You don't have to be a birder to read it, in fact it's probably best if you're not."
Rebecca Armstrong - Something to do with Birdwatch I think.
"Fascinating bird facts..."
Twitter feed for BTO
"...you, sir, are a genius"
buzzard13 - some bloke off twitter
"The Baldmonkeyseenabird Institute of Orthithloging Diploma Programme is wonderful. Despite not getting a single answer correct, I self-assessed and passed with an A* and now proudly call myself a certified ornithologying person. I have also been offered a place at Oxford University studying for a BSc(Hons) Bird Science."
Shackleford Hurtmore Esq, TBMSABIOOTCIOAGBS
"I think..."
Some woman called "Rebecca".
"People have been sued for a lot less…"
Mr Anonymous, Internet Lawyer
"...mildly hilarious."
Nichola Raihani, some sort of doctor
Give me some money
Free Bird Identification Book!
The Official BMSAB Twitter Feed
- RT @StopFundingHate: Today's Daily Mail claims yesterday's peaceful protest in London "shames Britain". Share if you think headlines like t… 2 months ago
- The Miscarriage of a Nation #ShorterMovies 7 months ago
- RT @marcuschown: Retweet if you are f**king annoyed that all these bigoted hate-mongers are stealing the word "Britain" and waving our nati… 9 months ago
- MAKE AMERICA GREEK AGAIN 10 months ago
- MAKE AMERICA SHAKES AGAIN 10 months ago


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Not if you're one of the three quarters of a million Americans who lost their jobs after September 11th. And certainly not if you're in the manufacturing sector that had already experienced fifteen straight shrinking months prior to September.
No doubt times are challenging. Amidst uncertainty and fear, people are struggling to regain a needed sense of balance in their lives.
The upcoming holidays unfortunately have a tendency to increase the already overwhelming perception of stress and pressure for many people. While joyous for many, this season often serves to emphasize loss, isolation and despondency for others.
In troubling times extra vigilance is warranted. I'm not referring to terrorist threats, but rather to an awareness of the feelings of those around us - our loved-ones, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Subtle hints are often overlooked. Withdrawal is especially worrisome - sometimes frightening.
Over the years, working with patients at the Mind-Body Wellness Center has provided many unique learning experiences. Our staff has witnessed phenomenal transformations in individuals who have taught us many valuable lessons. Their examples have demonstrated the true healing power of nurturing, support, camaraderie and friendship.
I'll never forget one particular example that occurred during a Pulmonary Rehabilitation session. The group was actively engaged in discussing personal strategies for promoting happiness and well-being. One gentleman in particular seemed rather despondent to the point of appearing annoyed. Actually his pent up frustration was about to explode.
Lashing out, he declared, "You don't know what it's like. Life hasn't been easy for me. I've struggled my entire life - two or more jobs at a time. I've raised a family and never expected much. I really looked forward to retiring someday and fishing. Now I'm too old and sick to fish, and (referring to his oxygen tank) I'm chained to an anchor. How can any of you expect me to be positive when I can't do what I've always wanted to do?"
His point was well-taken. It was heartfelt and painful.
Yet before we could even venture to answer his question, another statement took us by surprise. It wasn't a complex existentialist analysis of his problem, nor was it an attempt to reframe his challenge on a higher level. Rather it was simple and to the point. It didn't come from our staff either.
Another patient simply leaned over, tapped him on the shoulder, smiled and whispered, "get your stuff together. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning at 7:00 am. We're going fishing."
Our down-trodden patient was speechless - so was our team of health professionals. The answer was a gift of friendship, and a lesson for all of us. It was also precisely what BOTH gentlemen and our staff needed.
So perhaps it's time to learn from this example and to develop a healing perspective for this holiday season. Let's begin by asking ourselves how we can best serve those in need.
A meaningful starting point is no longer failing to respond to that look of despondency and frustration that's so prevalent these days. It clearly signals distress and potentially more.
Take a few extra minutes to be a friend to someone in need. Offer a listening ear and discover common ground. Realize a life-line may be only one phone call away.
If you know someone who's been laid off, consider spending time with them or inviting their family to dinner or an evening get-together. Supportive words and a meal nourish far more than you might expect. Encouragement is a time-tested healing elixir.
If you're aware of an opportunity for even part-time employment, share that information with a person in need. If there's anything to be done around your house, consider hiring someone who can benefit from the extra funds.
And instead of filling that long Christmas list with items soon to be forgotten, why not send a card indicating a charitable contribution to an organization you trust?
Finally reflect on the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The only way to have a friend is to be one." These are the times that can bring out the best in us. Tis the season to share joy, Thanksgiving and friendship with those in need - Mind Over Matter!


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Fashion Download: Get The Superstar DJs' Look
New York's Fashion Week is in full effect. VIBE is suiting you up with the hottest DJ-inpired looks and where to snag em.
To accompany the killer fashion as you shop through DJ style, Brooklyn's open-source label, Subdrive, tailors a chill #NYFW playlist.
Photo credit: Getty Images