text:
Is the Economy Improving? Views from Everyday Folks
Published on - February 1st, 2010 (by J.D. Roth)
On Friday night, we had some good frugal fun. Kris and I got together with a group of my old high school friends to go bowling and eat pizza. It was just like the good ol' days — but with a bunch of grade-school children added to the mix.
Over pepperoni pizza and root beer, the conversation turned to the economy. I asked my brother Jeff how the family box factory is doing. "To be honest," Jeff said, "we're about to finish our best month since October 2008. And if you look at actual daily sales, this will be our best month since February 2008. It's our best month in two years."
"That's great," I said. "Maybe this means the economy has finally turned a corner."
We've believed for years that sales at Custom Box Service are a fairly accurate barometer of the economy's overall health; our sales always reflect where the country's economy will be six months down the road. Sales at the box factory started to erode in autumn 2007, for example, before falling off a cliff in March 2008. Things bottomed out last February, with our lowest sales since the company incorporated in 1995. So, if the company's sales are finally improving, we take that as a sign that the U.S. economy is on the road to recovery.
"How's your business been doing?" Jeff asked our friend Ron. Ron's family owns a wholesale nursery, and their sales have been down too.
"Rotten," Ron said. "Last year was awful."
"I think the economy's been bad all over," Kris said. "I just spent a week in eastern Oregon for work. It's been a while since I was in Pendleton, and I was shocked at how many empty storefronts there were. A lot of places have gone out of business."
"I keep waiting for things to turn around," Ron said. "Just today we got a huge order, which is a relief. It's an order we expected last fall. I'm just glad it finally came through. "
"Yeah," said Jeff. "I think a lot of people put off ordering because they were letting their inventories run low. But that just made things worse. Our sales were down so much last year that we couldn't fund employee pensions and Christmas bonuses were a lot smaller than usual. At least we didn't have to lay anyone off."
"But January was a good month," I said. "That's a good sign, right?"
"Yeah," Jeff said. "And another good sign is that some of our suppliers are raising prices. In fact, we think some of them will be going up 15%!" — Fifteen percent is a huge price increase for paper — "So maybe that means things are turning around. Or maybe it's just a sign that there's inflation in the future that'll make things worse. I guess if you were optimistic, you could say these are signs of an improving economy. It's definitely a step in the right direction, but it could just be a brief peak on the roller coaster of the Great Recession."
I, for one, am an optimist. (Not just about the economy, but all things.) I think things have finally turned a corner. Unemployment is still lagging behind (as it always does and always will), but from my perspective, the economy seems to have hit bottom, and is finally beginning to show some signs of improvement.
When I got home from bowling Friday night, I dug out the numbers for the most recent poll from Get Rich Slowly and MoneyRates. Since mid-January, visitors to both sites have been answering the question, "Where do you think the economy sits right now?" Here are the results based on more than 1200 responses:
- 2% — Strong growth. Full Steam ahead!
- 15% — On solid ground and growing some, thank goodness.
- 43% — Stagnant. Not growing, but at least not getting worse.
- 20% — Not horrible, but looks like it's going downhill.
- 21% — Free falling. I'm bracing for the worst.
In general, GRS and MoneyRates readers aren't yet optimistic. Many of you think things are stagnant still, and nearly as many think conditions are getting worse. Fewer than one in five believe that the economy is actually improving.
A poll is one thing, but I'd like to hear your actual thoughts. How do you feel about the current economy? Do you think we've finally hit bottom? Or are things still getting worse? How has the recession affected you and your family? What do you think it'll take for things to get better?
I heard a quote from a journalist that summed up anecdotal accounts of the economy the best. It went something like
"the economy is doing okay when I have still have my job and feel secure about it".
I like to think things are starting to make a rebound, I hear a lot less about people complaining about jobs and the economy in general. For me this recession hasn't really taken much of a toll.
The value of my home has neither depreciated or appreciated which is both bad and good. The biggest thing affecting me has been the drastic drop in my 401k and retirement accounts. I look at it as a blessing in disguise though since I am now buying into my funds at much lower prices. I still have a long time to recover so I hope to see this work out well for me.
I work at an academic medical center.
We've had a total hiring freeze since Feb 2009. It was lifted (a little bit) in Jan 2010, and we can once more at least submit requests to start hiring people to fill badly needed positions–all of which have been empty for over a year.
Also, a COL increase in staff pay that was scheduled for April 2008 but which didn't happen is supposed to happen (hopefully!) in April 2010.
So yes, things are looking up.
I personally feel the economy is stagnant. Husband & I are still working. My pay is the same; he got a 3% increase last year which was quickly eaten up by a 22% increase in medical insurance premiums (because of that he actually ended up making less than before the pay increase). We have been working on paying off CC debt these past few months, but rates have increased, so the principal is being paid down slower than it was a year ago.
We are very thankful we are still working and able to pay the mortgage & other bills and put food on the table (who knew teens could eat so much). I think when I see more job want ads in the paper/on-line, more houses being sold instead of sitting on the market for months on end and less foreclosure/auction listings upwards of 2+ full pages (a lot in this area), I might become a bit more hopeful that the economy is turning around and starting to grow some again.
I'm an optimist too. But I am more of a long-term optimist on this question and a short-term pessimist.
My take is rooted in a belief that the cause of the recession/depression is the relentless promotion of Buy-and-Hold Investing for over 30 years. If you look at the historical record, you see that there has never been a time when The Stock Selling Industry pushed this "idea" without causing an economic crisis. Going back to 1900, we have never seen an economic crisis that was not preceded by the widespread promotion of the idea that you don't need to pay attention to the price of stocks when buying them.
If that's the problem, then the solution is for us all to come to accept that the $12 trillion in funny money that we were treating as real at the top of the bubble was all just a bull market fantasy. There are millions of businesses that never would have been started if we had been giving people accurate information about the value of their portfolios. Those businesses are vastly undercapitalized (through no significant fault of their owners) and will continue to fail until the capitalist system has completed its work of :"punishing" businesses that are started with inadequate capitalization. It will probably take another five years for this process to be completed.
The good news is that I believe that the economic devastation we will experience from our belief in Buy-and-Hold is going to be so great this time that there will be little taste for continued promotion of it in the wake of the economic collapse we have caused for ourselves. Putting Buy-and-Hold behind us would be like removing a ball and chain from an economy that has been lusting for far greater levels of productivity for three decades now.
In the old days, most middle-class people did not invest in stocks and these sorts of "ideas" did only limited damage to our economic and political systems. My belief is that we are a society going through growing pains. There are now millions of middle-class people investing in stocks. If millions of middle-class people are going to invest their retirement money in stocks, we are going to need to permit them access to information about how to invest in more reasonable ways that what The Stock Selling Industry has been putting forward for the past three decades.
We will survive this. But my belief is that it is going to need to get a whole lot worse before we will be willing as a society to take the steps we need to take to get things pointed in the right direction once again.
Mr. Sam and I are both very busy at work, and have been for some time, but neither of us received bonuses or an increase in pay (I did get back some of my salary that was cut last year but I'm not counting that as a pay increase ). Both of our companies should be thinking about hiring people but neither are (as far as I know).
The real estate market, at least here in So. Fla., is moving. Houses that are priced right are selling and seeling quickly many with multiple offers. I think that is a good sign.
It is also season here in So. Fla., time when the snow birds are here, last year season was quiet. This year it seems to be more normal, lots of bad drivers going slow with their blinkers on, lots of people in the restaurants, the society balls seem to be close to normal (raising similar monies as events in 2007-2008 season, and a couple have raised more). Shops seem busy too but not sure how many people are spending big money, for So. Fla. the season (which includes the holiday season) is the time when retailers do the vast majority of their business. I'm attending a charity event in a couple of weeks at a fashion house and it will be interesting to see if people are buying (I won't be, never do).
I'm an optimist too, and I think the economy is slowly getting better but without jobs its going to be a slow recovery.
beforewisdom is dead on. We don't care so much about the general economy as we do about our own personal economies. When my kids ask me what the "Great Recession" was like a couple decades down the road, I'm not going to have anything interesting to say–because I kept my job, I kept my home, I didn't really have to cut back in any measurable way. And that's what I think makes it so hard for Congress to get public support for economic stimulus (or bailouts, depending on your take) or fixing healthcare or whatever. We all look at things through our own lens. If you're not the one fighting with your healthcare provider, then it doesn't seem like anything's wrong with the system. If you have your job, then you don't feel like trillions need to be spent to fix the economy.
I feel I'm probably the poorest person reading your website, with an 8 person family and an average monthly income of about 1100 dollars.
In the past 2 years.
My honey has been laid off twice. He hasn't been able to find a job at all, despite being highly qualified for a variety of things that are usually not only in demand. But high paying demand. He finally signed up for school and is halfway to getting a degree in welding and being a journeyman.
Both of the parents I was babysitting for cannot afford a babysitter anymore. One, a single mother, lost her job and is living with her mother. The other, her husband lost his job and is staying at home with their son.
My house depreciated almost 40 thousand dollars.
My electric bill went up 8% in spite of a multitude of energy saving measures. It comes out that the power company raised their rates.
The local water company tried the same thing. There were protests in the streets practically when the whole town's bill went up an average of 20 dollars.
There are 2 houses on my street for sale, both of them fairly decent and in a good neighborhood. Both have been empty for at least a year.
Robberies and home invasions are up, unemployment is up. Gun sales are up.
It's not a very good time to be living in some places. If you have a steady job, with say, tenure. Awesome. Otherwise, those blue collar guys are having a very hard time of it. My family included. It's a good thing I've got some serious hippy/homesteader leanings and can do things like sew and cook from scratch (not to mention budget within an inch of my life) or we'd have lost our house long since.
IT is picking up. I keep a good list of contacts, both for headhunters and "known-good" tech workers, and this is the first time I can recall being completely tapped out of good tech workers. I keep in contact with several IT recruiters, and I have 3 very nice positions for both junior and senior level Linux admins, as well as some DBA and dev slots, and I can't put forth any names.
From about February of last year until September, I received maybe 2 recruiter calls. After September, I started getting more, and now I'm fielding about two a week.
Sounds like recovery, to me.
We get mixed signals about the economy here in Canada. The government would have us believe everything is getting better and that we're much better off than the U.S., but our economy is so closely linked to the U.S. I don't think we're going to pick up a lot until our neighbour-to-the-South does as well. However, our housing market is booming in some places enough to worry economists that people can't afford to buy, or that we'll create a bubble.
To me, the economy looks stagnate because my industry is still hurting, hiring and wages have been frozen for over a year and a half, and the costs of everything seem to be going up (like my rent!) It's starting to feel like the economy is an excuse to raise prices and exploit employees.
I think that things are getting better everyday, we may not see the economy comletely rolling, but yes it is improving. Specially January 2010 brought many jobs and the job scene is actually looking to be "recuperating". For me, I paid off my car loan, stil have a stable full time job, sufficient emergency funds .. I am waiting for the banks to shoot their interest rates but I know it's gonna take some time.
I would love to think that the economy is getting better and more people will be able to prosper. But I suspect that if there is a little upturn, it is only the prelude to another dip. There hasn't been any event or change that would actually account for a better economy — the stimulus money hasn't done much stimulating, and there hasn't been any solution to things like the rising cost of health care and other serious drags on the economy. Maybe the new plans Obama mentioned in the State of the Union address, like the tax benefits to small businesses that hire new employees, will have an effect — but those won't happen unless the Congress agrees and acts…
Short term, probably. Long term, it's kind of one big structural problem.
@ #5 Rob Bennett: The selling of the idea of "Buy and Hold" is the cause of the recession? What's your definition of "buy and hold?" I believe you may be confusing causation with correlation.
I believe proper "buy and hold" strategies incorporate value investing, which is price conscious, dollar-cost-averaging, which buys more shares at lower prices, and diversification. Following these time-tested practices would have netted a return during the so-called "lost decade" of more than 4%, which is not exciting but certainly not negative and it outpaces inflation.
@JD: My anecdotal evidence is that my investment advisory firm just had the best quarter in revenue since opening for business in 2006; 80% of the unfinished or long-time unsold homes on my street have sold in the past two months (although for low prices); and a neighbor out of work for 18 months (he's a research PhD professor) just had 2 promising interviews and says grant money is flowing again.
It's quite a relative statement to say that the "worst is over." The "worst" is likely over; however, the "worst" was horrific. I would characterize the current environment as challenging and cautionary, much like a mild recession. I believe we are now moving out of recession but will still feel recessionary pressures for up to two years.
Of course, perception is everything. I'm an optimist like you. My net worth is lower today than it was three years ago but I am happier, and therefore "richer," than I've ever been.
Thanks for the insight and "street views."
Kent @ The Financial Philosopher
I'm optimistic that we've seen the bottom and we're in the midst of recovery. But I do think it will be a couple years before we (everyday people) start to really see and feel the impact which won't be until companies are hiring and home values are rising again.
I think it's picking up.
An old associate came to me asking if I could do a part-time programming gig for him. I've gotten gigs here and there over the last 18 months, but this is the first time in at least that long that someone has come looking for me with a project.
Also, at work everyone got a 2% raise this year, there was no raise last year.
I think that short term it's headed down a little after what feels like a brief respite, but that over the next 6-8 months it will improve. Of course I have no basis whatsoever for thinking that — it's just a feeling. I would like to see less craziness overall once things do improve though.
I am optimistic. The recession has not hugely affected my family. That is a blessing. But we have been tightening up on spending across my entire family! Excess is truly out and I think that is how it will be for years to come. Saving is very important so we can continue to enjoy our current lifestyle. Family vacations are still in, just saving up to pay for vacation before going.
JD, just to let you know, when I tried to visit your link to the Custom Box Service website, my virus scanner blocked it and indicated that the website attempted to upload a virus to my browser. You might want to have your brother's IT guys double-check their web server.
Hi JD, I am optimistic. In many ways 2009 was the best year I've had. I spent way less than I ever have in my life, but I paid off a good chunk of debt in the process. I think that the economy has hit bottom and we'll inch along in the "L" shape Suze Orman described last year. There is no quick fix — no "V" shape on the horizon and I appreciate that because I hope that we learn something from this downturn. I hope we learn it and it sticks this time — Get. Rich. Slowly!
I'm an optimist. However, I the reality is based more on a state by state basis. For instance, I live in California: A state known for it's bubble economies. I think we are usually the first to go into a recession and the last to come out of one.
However with that said, my husband and I have been lucky, we have been able to maintain our life style on a slightly reduced salary, and even pay off a bunch of credit card debt. I'm hopeful for a good year this year, but I'll be okay (financially) if the recovery doesn't affect CA until next.
The idea that dollar-cost averaging is buying more shares at "lower prices" is one of the most ridiculous financial myths perpetuated by the financial services industry. You're buying shares (essentially) regardless of price. If you had $1,200 to invest in Company X, why would it ever make sense to put in $100/mo for 12 months if you feel that, right now, the company is undervalued (which is the basis for investing, right?). I'll tell you why — so your broker earns a nice commission on 12 trades. Dollar cost averaging is a joke.
To Rob's point, "Buy and Hold" certainly lifts the price of some shares. If everyone invested in a Vanguard Entire Market Index Fund, that's going to boost the prices of all stocks, regardless of value. Now think about when the recession came — everyone dumped their stocks, but more importantly, their MUTUAL FUNDS/INDEX FUNDS. The index sells of everything, regardless of whether it's priced fairly or not. Thus, you get into a situation like March 2009, where everything had been dumped, regardless of long-term value, and it made for a great buying opportunity on dozens of solid, valuable companies (AAPL, MSFT, etc).
@Rob Bennet:
"My take is rooted in a belief that the cause of the recession/depression is the relentless promotion of Buy-and-Hold Investing for over 30 years."
Ooooo, I'm sorry Rob, the correct answer we were looking for was "cheap credit." We also would have accepted "misguided affordable housing initiatives." Thanks for playing, we have some lovely parting gifts for you.
On a personal level, we're getting mixed signals. The brother-in-law finally got a new job after almost a year unemployed. Father-in-law's company can't keep up with orders and has rehired a bunch of layoffs. The cousin's wife got laid off from her waitressing job because many of the restaurants and bars in town went out of business.
Private industry seems to be picking up. State and local are making further cuts. There is a big chance I won't be getting a raise next year, despite having escaped those cuts last year and the year before. They're doing more furloughs and talking about cutting kindergarten to half-days. Federal government is doing ok, but state and local are lagging behind. Hopefully things will turn around.
As of the January meetings, economists thought we were on the path to recovery, though they were more focused on talking about health care than the economy. I hope that the government doesn't go all Herbert Hoover and keeps channeling Keynes, because their spending does have real impacts.
@5 Rob
My opinion on the recession is actually opposite of yours. To me, buy-and-hold is what keeps prices stable.
The housing market and the stock market are kept in check when the house/company's interests and the owner/stockholders interests are aligned.
Fast forward to the last two decades where a jump in technology enabled access and communication into a group of investors. All of a sudden, you've got exponential growth in the amount of speculators that only cause chaos to the system, driven by their own greed and desires only for profit.
Before computers, you needed capital to speculate. You could take a $100k loan with no money down or trade on margin. People in the stock market or real estate wasn't in it as a get-rich-quick scheme, but rather as a long term investor because the process took that much time.
In the 90′s, all you needed was a computer and internet access to trade on the stock market. Trades were executed within minutes, whereas a traditional broker took a hefty commission and possibly days to fulfill it.
Today, real estate can be bought and sold in days. There are plenty of speculator out there that "flip" houses: buy run-down houses, repair half-ass and put on a new paint job, and sell it at a profit. I think Detroit was auctioning cheap housing in an attempt to lure people back to the city. What happened? Only speculators looking to make a profit were able to purchase ready to live-in homes, driving away real families that would live in those homes because they don't have the capital to compete.
Today, you can have a server, and a fiber optic connection to the stock market, and initiate trades at the micro-second to take advantage (and screw up the system in the process) of the fluctuations in the stock prices.
Like I said, this is just my opinion, and correlation does not always imply causation. This is my 2 cents on the cause of this recession.
As many noted before me, I see this as a very personal question.
By most people's standards, my wife and I have been lucky to avoid most of the troubled economy. However, we entered the downtown with a house and lifestyle we could support with 1 of our jobs, money in the bank, retirement planning in place, etc…
But, with that being said we, too, have lost out. Our house is worth slightly less than it was 2 years ago, we have not seen any pay increases, our company's no longer match our 401k contributions, interest rates on liquid cash are below inflation, and we both face serious concerns about our job security.
It feels like we are still weathering the storm…
All I can say is that the hubby and I have educated ourselves over the last year and that everyone should look up the FEDERAL RESERVE. Who exactly are they? Do you know how much fiat money they are printing? I'd like to think I'm an optimist, but once you start learning certain things about how our monetary system works it can scare the heck out of you.
We've been incredibly lucky or blessed in that it seems that we have taken all the right steps financially so far, we're young and will our mortgage paid off within a year after only 6 years.
Whatever you do, get of debt and start saving in something with true value…
Well, just today my husband began his first full-time job since getting his master's degree in May, so things are looking up, at least personally! He's a landscape architect, which I think is a bit more connnected to how the country is doing economicaly. The work of landscape architects isn't always a need but often times a want.
I don't think things are necessarily getting better or worse….they are CHANGING.
I lost my job of 14 years on Friday. I knew it was coming. Fortunately, this turns out to be more of an opportunity for me than a set back. I have been working part time on a home based business, and after three years, I have had the best January sales ever. I now have time to focus solely on growing my business, and I am taking the stance that I am not unemployed, I am now self employed!
People are changing the way they do business, they are changing their spending habits, they are more choosy about where and who their money goes to (which is part of why I believe my sales are up), they are changing the way they save and invest, they are much more cautious about credit and they are learning new life and survival skills.
The best thing is that people are finally realizing what is most important and necessary and are returning to their communities and families for support and are paying more attention to local business.
It appears the economy is improving quite a bit. This year my husband and I are both receiving generous bonuses at work. Our bonus structures are unusual as his is paid in February, and mine in March.
Our behavoir has changed though due to the way the economy has been the last two years. Instead of us each going out and purchasing new automobiles, boats or other toys with those bonuses, we will put the funds into savings instead.
DH and I have weathered things very well at our jobs. Our raises last year were about 0.75%, but our company didn't lay anyone off (unless you count contractors that were allowed to expire). For the most part we haven't been participating in the recession.
But we have taken some hits on our rental. The real estate sales market around here is pretty soft, but the rental market is worse. You can find renters, but the rent doesn't cover costs. We have just held on and put money into it as needed. It is what it is and as long as we can tighten our belts and make the payments, that's what we do.
We have gotten some great deals as we have seen this as an opportunity to buy stagnant inventory. We got new furniture and tools at great prices. It's been hard to save with so many good deals on things we really want especially since our jobs are stable and our savings are doing well.
I know others will disagree, but I think part of the reason people are starting to be more optimistic is because Washington hasn't gotten much done lately. No matter what the policies, businesses have a tendency to sit back and wait when things are in a state of flux until they know what the rules will be. Whether you agree or disagree with the healthcare bill it would have been a big game changer, so planning for the future with it passing was one thing, not passing was another, so you just sit back and wait.
I worry the most about inflation, specifically about my mom as her pension is only modest and not set to increase with inflation. If things take off I'm young enough that I have time for my income and home value to stabilize. But others in my family are in the opposite position.
I agree with Pop (#7) – 20 years from now I'll have nothing exciting to say about the "Great Recession" personally other than I was unemployed for 12 weeks after grad school and we lived on one income for a while.
In the past 14 months, I've increased my salary from a grad school stipend to a full-time job with benefits and over 2.5x pay. DH negotiated an 11% raise. We consolidated my remaining student loan balance at 1.75%. We saved in 401Ks, Roth IRAs, an account for our next house, and a CD ladder.
The only thing for us that went the way of the economy as a whole is the fact that our house is still 8% less than our mortgage (and down about 17% from the purchase price). Personal economy is the key.
It seems to me that I hear people talking about the economy improving and leaving out some really important emphasis. My concern is that I mostly hear that unemployment is always a lagging indicator which in an academic sense is true; however, it seems that every week more than 475,00 people lose their jobs and/or appply for unemployment benefits.
I just cannot utter the words "economic improvement" when almost half a million more people are jobless every week. Also let us not forget all the under-employed people out there and the chronically unemployed people that stop being counted. My guess is that real unemployment number is somewhere between 15-18% and that is just horrible.
Unless you work for Goldman Sachs or another financial institution that is giving its employees lavish bonuses, I do not see how anybody can say with any amount of credibilty that the economy is improving.
Hopeful, but Realistic
My company is still doing very poorly, but since we are highly dependent on government spending and construction in Cali, well… it is what it is. But they recently brought back our health insurance and are hiring someone to take the place of 3 people that quit, so that's good.
Of course, I'll be quitting my job in June to move to new york. We'll see how things are out there.
Husband was let go over 13 months ago. Self-employed now and struggling to "start up. I've survived 2 major layoffs, reduced hours (32) and a 17% pay cut that affected everyone across the board.
Both hubby and I feel the economy is sluggish at best. There is an unspoken "fear factor" out there. Almost like a puppy that has had his nose smacked once too often. You want to believe that things are improving but just when you do, something comes along to trip you up again.
I feel inflation is just a breath away (food, energy)and while our standard of living is managable…the days of "easy money" are over.
As a state employee in education, I feel that things are actually getting worse. The Governor has proposed additional furlough days to all state employees on top of what we've already had. No cost of living increase in over 2 years, employee contributions to benefits has increased about 15%, complete freeze on new or replacement hires, and major cuts to programs. Very few job opportunities out there even if I wanted to move.
My brother was laid off two months ago and reports that in his area (marketing) there are very few positions to apply for; my father has been laid off for 3 years (from HR work) and working a temp contract job under constant threat that he could be dropped; my mother has her own therapy practice and has had such a client reduction that she is barely paying office rent.
Strangely, my husband (an artist) is doing the same as last year. You'd think that would be a luxury expenditure and get cut from people's budgets, but he seems to be doing alright.
From my perspective, I'm not seeing improvements yet.
What's your definition of "buy and hold?"?….I believe proper "buy and hold" strategies incorporate value investing, which is price conscious, dollar-cost-averaging, which buys more shares at lower prices
Thanks for your helpful feedback, Kent.
We are in 100 percent agreement that a Buy-and-Hold approach that incorporate a value investing element would be the best possible approach for investing in stocks. Where we differ is on the question of whether dollar-cost-averaging fits the bill.
I say that it does not. Stocks were insanely overpriced for the entire time-period from January 1996 through September 2008. Those who practiced Dollar-Cost-Averaging were buying some shares when stocks were selling at two times fair value and other shares when they were selling at three times fair value. The proper thing to do if you were seeking good long-term results was to avoid stocks altogether until prices returned to levels where the long-term value proposition for stocks was equal to or greater than the long-term value proposition for far safer asset classes (TIPS were paying 4 percent real at the top of the bubble; that's a return five full percentage points above the likely long-term return for stocks at the prices that applied at that time).
This is why I say that Buy-and-Hold was the primary cause of the economic crisis. Stocks were overvalued by $12 trillion at the top of the bubble. That's #12 trillion that has been taken out of the retirement portfolios of middle-class investors over the past 10 years. You cannot take $12 trillion from the middle-class and not expect an economic crisis. We live in a consumer society. When people's retirement accounts are demolished, they become afraid to spend. It is going to take years or possibly decades to recover from a problem that would have been avoided had the "experts" been telling us all along that we need to take price into consideration when setting our stock allocations.
We had a good discussion of these questions at the Get Rich Slowly forum last week, Kent. You might want to check out that thread to learn more about the various arguments both pro and con re what I am saying here:
Still struggling here. Company is barely hanging on and clients just aren't ready to pull the trigger on any spending or new contracts. We are trying everything in our power to hang on in hopes that 1 of the 20 deals on the table will come through.
I'm an optimist by nature, but feel less optimistic about 2010 than I did a month ago. Seems like it's going to be a year of ups and downs.
I thought it was getting better until I heard about a paper factory closing & 150 people loosing their jobs.
I've been lucky – I work for local govt so my job is stable. But health insurance went up a lot this year- office copays are so high now I try to consolidate doctor trips (and I do not want govt health care). We didn't get pay increases and our MANDATORY retirement contribution went up because of the stock market (any ideas on how to get out of mandatory retirement withdrawals – has to be un-constitutional especially if they are investing it in the stock market). So I'm actually bringing home less then I was 2 years ago while my utilities have all gone up – I've cut corners by eating less but that'll only go so far.
But I know 3 people who can't find work at all so I know I'm lucky despite my grumbles.
There's rumors the local packing plant is going to lay people off & I worry for those people & how it will affect the rest of us.
If it's picking up for a box company that's a good sign though. It means something has been ordered, needs to be boxed up & shipped. So maybe things are starting to move.
We always have lived modestly so although we had a 12 percent decrease in pay last year we never had trouble paying our bills. However, there was no "fun extra money". I have become very discouraged by people wanting to just walk away from so much and DO OVER when many of us cut back and acted responsible. I now ponder ads I see for "Just sign and drive away" or "buy with no payment until 2014″. Makes me wonder if people really learned anything. I think I am bitter.
My opinion on the recession is actually opposite of yours. To me, buy-and-hold is what keeps prices stable.
Thanks, Steven, It makes me feel good when someone presents the opposite of the view that I hold because I feel that that takes some pressure off of my shoulders. If people get to hear both sides, I feel that the chance that they can figure out the realities is then much greater. My views are obviously minority views. I see your comments as providing a helpful balance.
If there are others with questions or comments about my view that the promotion of Buy-and-Hold was the primary cause of the economic crisis, I will do my best to offer brief responses where I think I can be helpful. However, I don't want a discussion of my views on this question to come to dominant this thread, which has a somewhat different focus.
If there are community members here who would like a more in-depth discussion of the question of whether Buy-and-Hold caused the crisis or not, I hope you will consider asking J.D. to entertain a Guest Blog Entry from me on this topic. I would be thrilled to write one and to be able to participate in a full discussion of the question in which all points of view could be fairly and fully explained.
@ Adam #22: I'm not sure I understand how one can say that "dollar-cost averaging (DCA)" does not allow for buying shares at lower prices. I'm quite open minded to look at evidence you might share against this common principle.
Perhaps I should have said, in my comment #14, that dollar-cost averaging allows for buying of shares at a range of prices, both high and low, over long periods of time, when prices are fluctuating, as compared to buying shares in a lump sum and holding them for a long period of time.
Furthermore, in a decade with so much volatility, which include long periods of falling prices, certainly DCA beats a lump-sum investment of say $12,000 purchased on 1/1/2000 compared to $100 invested every month for 10 years.
The problem with abstract concepts, such as "buy & hold" or "dollar-cost averaging," is that anyone can cite evidence (and do it intelligently) either for or against it.
My primary point here is that people should define what they mean by terms when making an argument.
For anyone looking for a true cause of any recession, it's not investment strategies, wall street, or politicians — it's human behavior.
For any "evidence" one needs, simply read what philosophers have been saying about human behavior for more than 2500 years.
The environment changes but human behavior never does…
"There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontent. And there is no greater disaster than greed." Lau-tzu (604BC – 531BC)
i work in the construction industry, and it is still really bad. there is work out there, but most people are bidding at or below their break even level. it is great for the tax payers, but not for the people i work with.
I actually got a new job in September 08, as the markets were collapsing. It is safe for the next few years anyway.
What I find difficult is that my retirement savings have taken a big hit and though I will recover to some extent, I don't think I will ever make that money up to the point that I will ever get to where I would have been. Unless there is little or no inflation (which doesn't seem likely) I just won't be able to afford as nice a retirement as I was planning. So for me, I feel like I am worse off.
@ Kent #42:
I understand the logic of DCA, but I personally feel it hoses people out of well-earned money by taking a huge cut in broker fees. Even if you are on a low-cost broker like Scottrade, if you are investing $100/mo and paying $7 in commission, that's a 7% loss off the bat that you keep repeating every month.
It also encourages less sophisticated "investors" to blindly pump money into the same stocks/mutual funds/index funds without regard to cost. Maybe a rational investor would do it differently, but DCA is oversimplified "investing."
After reading these stories I feel very blessed. If it wasn't for the news reports and blogs such as this, I wouldn't have even noticed the recession. The news reports have scared us a bit and we've cut back on spending unless we can get a good deal. We bought a vacation home because the price was cut in half due to a short sale. We also are having our current home completely remodeled because the labor and materials are cheap.
I am an optimist because I have to be. I am completely disabled by doom and gloom; if I had a negative outlook on life I would never get out of bed. (This is why I don't watch the news or discuss politics.)
Our personal economy is hanging in there or looking up a bit. At work our customers have finally burned through the inventory they've been living off of for the last year or so, and are starting to buy again. Everyone in the trenches got raises and bonuses although the company hacked costs to the bone last year. The bosses have been fairly realistic; they told us last year that '09 would be a turkey, and they're telling us now that '10 looks better, though we'll have to stay lean and mean.
Hubby's work has done nothing but grow all the last 2 years, even though it's a luxury industry. I guess wine is a pretty safe business; people drink whether things are good or bad.
I'm not sure if it's really getting better out there. My cousin has been looking for IT work down south for the past year and they want you to have all these certifications and pay you $10/hr.
I work at an academic medical center performing IT work and we are constantly growing. Every week I come in there's some new project that comes along. In the end, all of the projects will help attract more clients to the medical center.
In the past two years, I only seen management take the axe. This was due to the overabundance of directors and vice presidents. People being paid six-figures to manage a few people.
There are many open positions throughout the hospital and we still received a cost-of-living increase in the past year.
I've always heard that box sales and the stock market lead economic recoveries (or rather are leading indicators of an economic recovery). The stock market has recovered. It isn't back to wear it was, but where it was was overinflated anyway. I think its fair to say with the recent correction most stocks are evenly valued.
However I think we have a false sense of recovery. Things will not be like they were for a long time. We were on a huge bubble, not just a housing bubble, but a credit bubble. A lot of luxury businesses and excess businesses (like extra restaurants and stores that the population really couldn't support) have closed. Companies have reduced costs. In other words everything is more streamlined. When you don't have access to unlimited, undocumented credit then you have excess. So our economy will be working under control (read steady or slightly improved growth) for a number of years. That sounds good, but it isn't for those who don't have jobs and those who may have been caught in the housing crunch. Things aren't going to improve for a number of American and World citizens. But I think the tourniquet has been applied and the bleeding has stopped.
My personal economy is stagnant due to being on disability (it could be much worse). I am in a pessimistic mood these days because unemployment is still very high in Oregon and I will need to have something going by the summer for me to survive when I get off disability. My business is slowing picking up, but not anywhere close to where it needs be for me to live on that alone.
Yes, I hear different stories for different people,. It seems those who've always done well wasn't affected very much by the recession.


text:
Categories > Celebrities > My Chemical Romance > Life on a tour bus
who licked who's ass?1 Reviews
dont worry, there isn't actually an ass licking in this chapter!
"Well...I...erm...I guess so...if you want us to be..." I mumbled, no! That had come out all wrong, that made it sound like I didn't really want to, please say she didn't hear me.
She did hear me.
"Well, to be honest...I really really like you Bob, more than I've ever liked any man before in my life. Your special to me and I love spending time with you...I do want us to be together, but if you don't want us to be then just say so..." She said quietly. I stared at her in dis - belief.
"Joyce I feel the exact same way - I would love for us to be together! I really would!" I said earnestly. I took her other hand and stared in her eyes, she smiled at me.
"Really?" She asked.
"Really." I replied and then I leaned forward and kissed her, it was amazing, it was slow and romantic yet passionate, no tongue though. Not that it really mattered.
The rest of the date was wonderful and we had loads of fun doing stupid things like running through a small brooke and trying to catch a dragon fly, I got stung by a bee and it hurt like hell but Joyce found some wierd leaves and she put them on the sting and it stopped it hurting. Like putting a doc leaf on nettle stings.
When I got back to the tour bus I felt great.
I walked inside, I had been gone for about four hours. Mikey and Ray were playing chess. Gerard was sketching and Frank was fast asleep on the end of the sofa, curled up like a cat.
"HEY BOB!" Cried Mikey.
"SSSSHHHHHHH!" Whispered Ray urgently, pointing at Frank.
"Oh yeah...sorry" Whispered Mikey.
"Hey people, how are we all?" I asked, going to get a drink, I gulped down some juice while they all replied in the posotive.
"How was your date?" Asked Mikey, I walked over and sat down next to Mikey, examining the chess board, figuring out who was winning.
"It was fine thanks...really great...we...we've agreed that we're like...together." I said, I just had to tell someone, Gee, Ray and Mikey stared at me.
"Together...like boyfriend and girlfriend?" Asked Ray, I nodded my head.
"Yeah...by the way Ray's winning." I said, Ray grinned, Gerard mumbled a 'congratualtions' before continuing to sketch. Mikey looked down at the chess board.
"I'm not very good at this game." He said sadly, Ray leaned back happily, I peered at the board for a moment.
"Come on Mikey its your turn." Said Ray, Mikey stared at his peices and then at Rays.
"Erm..." He mumbled, I sighed, there was one obvious move he could do.
"Thats it - I'm pairing with Mikey" I said, shifting closer to him and going to move his knight.
"Hey! You can't do that, if he gets a partner then I do! - Gee, get your butt over here." Said Ray, Gerard didn't even bother glancing in our direction, he merely continued to sketch as he replied -
"You can bugger off." I laughed and Ray frowned.
"If I don't get a partner, then neither does Mikey." He said.
"Why? Scared he's gonna win?" I challeneged, Ray went red.
"What!? No way! I could beat both of you losers with my eyes shut!" He boasted.
"Then whats the problem?" Asked Mikey. Ray scowled.
"Fine, I'll just win anyway" Said Ray. I chuckled and moved Mikeys knight, taking one of Rays castles.
"Thats not fair!" Cried Ray. I raised an eyebrow.
"Why? Did I cheat?" I asked. Ray looked un - comfortable.
"No...its just..." He mumbled.
"He's being a sore loser." Said Mikey, Ray glared at him.
"I'm still winning Mikey...now, its my turn" Ray looked closely at the board.
"So, you and Joyce are an item then? I think you make a cute couple." Said Mikey. I grinned at him.
"Thanks Mikey, how are you and Alicia?" I asked. "By the way, I'm sorry about saying you have phone sex" I added. Mikey laughed.
"Don't worry about it! And we're fine, she's going to be at one of our shows in Paris. So we'll see eachother then" He replied.
"Aaaawww, Paris - the city of lovers no?" I said in a bad french accent. Mikey chuckled.
"Yeah, just dont you forget that Joyce is there aswell!" He said, I nodded.
"Thats a good thing in my opinion" I said, Mikey laughed.
"Your turn" Said Ray finally making a move. Mikey looked at the board, he suddenly frowned and leaned close to my ear. I knew he wanted to ask me something about the game so I leaned closer to him.
"Erm...am I right in thinking I can put Ray in check mate?" He asked. I looked back at the board, after a while I suddenly realised Mikey was right and I nodded my head. Mikey grinned, Ray was looking confused. Wow, I wouldn't have noticed that, Mikeys not too bad at the game after all.
Mikey took the move, he leaned back, folded his arms and gave an evil grin. "Check . Mate." He said happily, Rays jaw dropped and he stared at the board, there was no way out of it.
"I win." Said Mikey, I gave a small cough. "Oh, sorry, I meant, we win." Mikey corrected himself. Ray shook his head.
"No way." He mumbled.
"Yes way." Said Mikey.
"Gerard Way!" Gerard quicly added. I grinned, Gerard was still sketching, he always added in little parts of a conversation for no good reason. Mikey turned to Ray.
"I KICKED YOUR ASS!" He cried happily, Frank gave a small yawn and opened his eyes, he looked around at us, looking slightly confused.
"What?" I asked him.
"Who licked who's ass?" He asked, we looked at eachother before bursting out laughing.

subset: commoncrawl


text: books-and-comics Comments 7 7 Jobs Thor Would Be Terrible At By Becky Ferreira and Kyle McCoy Nov 6, 2013 Back 7 of 8 Next More More Slideshows 7 Famous REAL Giants from History The 10 Most Dangerous Schools From Fiction Should I Watch This? Back Next more > Back Next more > Tags: movies, slideshows, thor, books-and-comics, loki, marvel entertainment QUIZ: How Well Do You Know Your Thunder Gods? QUIZ: How Well Do You Know Your Thunder Gods? 10 Songs That Are Delightfully Geeky 10 Songs That Are Delightfully Geeky Related Posts movies Check Out the Super-New, Super-Cool Trailer for Avengers books and comics Graphic Detail: Journey Into Mystery-Fear Itself games 3 LEGO Reasons We Wish We Were Still Kids movies Fall And Winter Movie Trailers That Have Us Psyched Write your own comment! Write your own comment! Please log in first Email Password Remember me Log in Create an account | Lost password ...or log in using


text:
One week after a court ruling, Colchester's selectboard members said they still haven't decided if they'll appeal. If the result stands, the town may be forced to pay back millions to cottage and camp owners.Cottage and camp owners won a lawsuit against the town of Colchester last week. A judge agreed with their double-taxation claim, and has ordered them repaid. At Tuesday's selectboard meeting, Colchester residents wanted to know how that would affect the books."Do we have an idea at this point how much it actually could affect us?" asked Joe Purvis. The selectboard didn't say how much it will cost to pay back the 43 building owners but offered to get back to him later.The plaintiffs only lease the lakeside property their homes are on, but had been taxed for their prime locations, as had the land owners. More could come forward following last week's ruling. Ultimatley, that might cost Colchester millions in returned tax dollars."I was always concerned with the (tax) methodology," said Colchester resident Pam Loranger, "as they make the joke, it's not the money, it's the principal, but in this case it really is the principle."Purvis and Loranger encouraged the board not to appeal the Superior Court's decision if it will only cost the cash-strapped town more money. "Just keep in mind not throwing good money after bad," said Purvis.Selectboard members said they still haven't decided what they'll do. "Right now our main concern is that we have all of our 'I's dotted and our 'T's crossed before we make a decision," said Selectwoman Renn Niquette.Boardmembers said two thirds of the tax dollars at issue in the lawsuit would actually go to the state's education fund, not municipal coffers. Many said they're frustrated that the state didn't join their fight."Since the court decision we've been asking the state what's their position and will they help us," said Town Manager Al Voegele, "and to this date as of this afternoon, we have still yet to get a reply from them."The town is likely to makeup for lost funds by increasing the property tax on area land-owners in the future. As part of the court ruling, the judge contends the property has been undervalued. However, the town cannot enact higher tax rates retroactively.
Related Stories:
Colchester may appeal camp ruling
Court rules Colchester must repay some camp owners
Colchester camp owners challenge assessments
PO Box 4508
Burlington, VT 05406-4508
Primary Phone: 802-652-6300
Primary email: email@example.com


text:
Published three times each year Providence Heart Beat is your source for program news and service updates within the Providence Health Care family.
You'll also read about inspiring patients and incredible physicians and staff who show their commitment to offering the very best to our region.
Read Providence Heart Beat online now
Subscriptions to Heart Beat are free. Just send us an email with your name and address; we'll send the new Spring/Summer 2014 issue to your home, and add you to our mailing list.
Want to receive Heart Beat via email? Subscriptions are free. Just sign up below; we'll send the link to the most recent copy and add you to our email list.


text:
"The Science of Happiness" @ Heritage Museums and Gardens
When: Sun Aug 18th
9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Heritage Museums & Gardens | 67 Grove Street | Sandwich
This class will present both surprising and not-so-surprising information on the science behind happiness. What role do money, IQ, marriage, friends, children, weather, and religion play in making us feel happier? Is happiness stable over time? How can happiness be increased? Amherst Professor Catherine Sanderson will describe cutting-edge research on the factors that do (and do not) predict happiness, and provide all participants with practical ways to increase their own psychological well-being. So register now - while seats are still available! To register for the event, call 1-800-300-3438. Full price is $149, but our $119 special price is still available if you use our discount code "HAPPY119."
See more events with tags: sandwich science of happiness one day university heritage museums & gardens catherine sanderson


text:
To perform a search, enter a keyword, phrase or item number in the search field and click "search."
We offer two ways to locate information:
Red wines that are more fruit-forward and lighter in tannin and body.
Medium bodied reds that go down easy, with smooth tannins and supple fruit.
Wines where earthy and/or spicy dominate the flavors – typically medium to full body.
Full bodied wines that have concentrated fruit and are higher in alcohol and/or tannins. Some need age.
"67" isplays extraordinarily complex aromas of cassis, pipe tobacco, sandalwood and wild boar brush . On the palate, the wine is exuberant, with fresh cassis, blackberry and cocoa tones The integrated fruit is framed by fine-grained tannins and rewards you with a clean finish.
"A wine with currants, berries and hints of smoke. Full body, with fine tannins and a chewy finish. Give it a year or two to mellow. Made from 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, 5% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec."
90 Points
James Suckling
Three Saints wines are a vivid expression of carefully selected grapes from the Dierberg Family's vineyards which are located in three of Santa Barbara County's premium wine growing regions: Santa Maria Valley, Santa Rita Hills and Santa Ynez Valley.
The largest of California's wine growing regions, the Central Coast produces the majority of California's wine. The district sprawls out, covering most of the vineyard land between San Francisco and Santa Barbara. Smaller sub-AVAs of the Central Coast include Monterey Bay, Paso Robles, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains and many others. Notable Facts...Read More About Central Coast
Other Red Red wines are certainly not limited to Cabernet and Pinot Noir - or even Nebbiolo and Grenache. There are a multitude of grape varieties throughout the world, however, in a Darwinian sense, survival of the fittest only brings us wines made from grapes that can adapt to changing climates and winemaking techniques. Notable Facts Our other red wines primarily consists of...Read More About Other Red Blends
Ship on us for a month!
After your free trial, StewardShip is just $49/year.
*Some exclusions apply


text:
indiana escorts independentIndianapolis Escorts - The Eros Guide to Indianapolis escorts and female adult entertainers in Indiana
.The Eros Guide to Indiana Shemale Escorts and Indiana Transsexuals - Listings of Transexual Escorts in Indiana.Find Indiana Escorts by zip code - expensive companions personal escort ... Exotic Escort Vip Treatment Escort Independent Escorts-incall Companions exotic ...Dec 22, 2012
... LOGIN TO SITE >>>> Add your escort profile for free. Welcome to HUNGARY ESCORTS- DATING Directory - Escort Girls Guide. International ...About Independent Escort in Mumbai
. I am an completely dazzling ebony beauty who will tease you, tempt you and fulfil fantasies youve always dreamed of.57 Results ... Escorts - The Finest Independent Escorts Directory Ever. Home · Articles · Manage · links · Post Ad · Texas Escorts · Vegas Escorts · San Diego ..
.VIP independent escorts in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Bloomington, and Jeffersonville are at Slixa, the only escort guide you need.Directory of independent escorts, escort agencies, bodyrub and massage services in Indiana, USA. ... Indiana Escorts. Anderson. Mighty Mona - Mature Escort
...Listings of Indiana escorts, Indiana Shemales, independent and escort agencies and more on Redlight World Indiana Adult Entertainment.indiana escorts, female models, independent escorts and adult ...


text:
Give Now
WFIU Public Radio
WTIU Public Television
Choose which station to support!
A 75th-birthday tribute to saxophonist David Fathead Newman, featuring recordings with Ray Charles and Newman's covers of The Beatles and Stevie Wonder.
What is RSS? RSS makes it possible to subscribe to a website's updates instead of visiting it by delivering new posts to your RSS reader automatically. Choose to receive some or all of the updates from Afterglow:
Afterglow is a weekly one-hour radio program of jazz and American popular song hosted by David Brent Johnson and produced by WFIU Public Radio. Learn More »
David Brent Johnson hosts the weekly WFIU historical jazz program Night Lights and Afterglow as well. Learn more »
Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Dave Brubeck and Gerry Mulligan were just a few of the musicians who showed up to help inaugurate the Monterey Jazz Festival.
Read more »
Night Lights is WFIU's weekly program of classic jazz hosted by David Brent Johnson.
More from Night Lights »
Copyright © 2014, The Trustees of Indiana University | Copyright Complaints
1229 East Seventh Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405


text:
It disposes of 60 comfortable rooms, all of them exterior with free of charge WIFI access, free soft drinks minibar, free safe and private bathroom.
The hotel offers as well free of charge services as gym and sauna.
Our cozy restaurant La Cocina de Segovia, one of the best in Spain, has been recommended in many restaurant guides like Guia Michelin and has won gastronomy awards.
Hotel Services
-Free gym and sauna
-Free DVD movies rental at the reception
-Free daily press available in the lobby
-Room service
-Cafeteria La Taberna
-Restaurant La Cocina de Segovia
-7 meeting and banquet rooms
-Audiovisual equipment rental
- ADSL or WIFI access in meeting rooms
-Bellboy service
-Parking with direct access to the hotel.
-Laundry service
-Fax service
-Luggage storage
-Car rental
Room Services:
-Free soft drinks minibar
-DVD player with free movies available at the front desk
-Free safe box
- WIFI access Free of charge
-Air conditioning and heating
-Smoking and non smoking rooms
-TV with satellite channels
-Private bathroom with bath hairdryer and amenities
Other useful information:
Specially adapted for celebratory events and wedding banquets , we put at disposal of our clients a separate area(900 m2) that can hold up to 300 guests.
Hotel San Antonio El Real
Segovia, Spain Hotels & Resorts
Hotel or Museum? At the heart of Segovia city centre, next to the 'Acueducto Romano' is opening San Antonio el Real Hotel Monastery....
$61 Per Night
Vado Del Duraton
Segovia, Spain Hotels & Resorts
The Air-Conditioned City Hotel Comprises a Total of 22 Guest Rooms, Spread Over 3 Floors in the Main Building and 4 Floors in an Annexe Building. A Number ...
$113 Per Night
Los Arcos Hotel
Segovia, Spain Hotels & Resorts
Located in the city centre, five minutes walking from the Acueduct and just one sep from the historic area and its most important monuments. In its wide ...
$91 Per Night
Costa Blanca Climbing La Plantacion Hotel
Costa Blanca, Spain Hotels & Resorts
Mountain Hotel in Finestrat, centrally located to all Costa Blanca Climbing area. Sella, Calpe, Echo Valley, Puig Campana minutes away. Quality rooms with ensuite bath, a/c, heating, TV, swimming pool, private terrace view to mountain and sea....
$40 Per Night
Ada Palace
Madrid, Spain Hotels & Resorts
Ada Palace Hotel is the perfect option for holiday stays and business trip alike, owing to its location in the historic quarter of Madrid....
$55 Per Night
Hotel Celimar
.Spain, Spain Hotels & Resorts
Hotel Celimar gives you the possibility accommodations in a modernist building which was built at the end of the 19th century......
$49 Per Night
Barcelo Hotel Nervion
.Spain, Spain Hotels & Resorts
This downtown hotel is less than a mile from Guggenheim Museum and approximately seven miles from Bilbao International Airport. ...
$61 Per Night
Best Western Hotel Conde Duque
.Spain, Spain Hotels & Resorts
The Best Western Hotel Conde Duque is located in the center of Bilbao and directly opposite of the Guggenheim Museum. ...
$98 Per Night
Carlton Hotel
.Spain, Spain Hotels & Resorts
The Carlton Hotel offers elegant accommodations approximately five miles from Bilbao Airport and in the city center. ...
$130 Per Night
Hesperia Zubialde
.Spain, Spain Hotels & Resorts
The Hesperia Zubialde is situated across from the San Mames Stadium, approximately six miles from Bilbao Airport. ...
$54 Per Night
Bed, Breakfast, Bike, Ride @ GSheaven BMW Rental
Andalucia, Spain Motorcycle Tours
A holiday, just a weekend, a test before you buy all reasons to rent a BMW R1200GS Adventure, the ultimate motorbike to explore the roads of Andalucia. GSheaven is located in Alhaurin el Grande just 25km from Malaga Airport....
Starting at 230 Per Night/Room
Adventure Sailing
Galicia, Spain Sailing & Yacht Charters
We specialize in "of the beaten track" sailing. Our Mission is to offer affordable voyages of Discovery in areas where quiet and undisturbed nature are found while leaving a clean wake! "Great NEW Itinerary"...
Affordable Rates from 1,200 Per Week
Hotair Ballooning Tours in Barcelona, Catalunya
Barcelona, Spain Ballooning
Balloonrides, balloon rides, ballonfahrten, vols en montgolfiere, viatges en globus, vols en globus, viajes en globos, vuelos en globo, Balloon Outdoor Events, Balloon Outdoor Training Events, Balloon Outdoor & Corporative Training Events...
Starting at $200 Per Person
Birdwatching resort with ornithologist guide
Tarragona, Spain Birdwatching
Southgarden Birdwatching is headquartered 2 hours south of Barcelona, equidistant between the Natural Park of Ebro Delta (20 km), and Els Ports nat. park (25 km). Cozy and comfortable accomodation, stunning location, expert guide, and lovely weathe...
$100 Per Night
Spanish Language Courses in Madrid
Madrid, Spain Language Schools
Spanish language courses in Madrid offered to those interested in studying in IH Madrid....
Luxurious and Private Retreat for Romantic Getaway
Costa del Sol, Spain Health Spas & Retreats
DDG Retreat is located within a territory of over 4 hectares of land surrounded by tropical gardens and plants. DDG Retreat consists of 5 designer Bungalows. Each propery enjoys breath taking views and private territory,some with private plunge pools...
Starting at 128 Per Night
Escuela Delengua
Granada, Spain Language Schools
Our Spanish language school is located in the very centre of Granada, and offers more than just Spanish courses in Spain. We offer high-quality Spanish courses, that are accredited by the Swedish CSN. All teachers are native Spanish speakers and are ...
Canyoning and adventure in Sierra de Guara - Spain
Aragon, Spain Sight-Seeing Tours
Expediciones and its professional guides make you discover the canyoning in Sierra de Guara during our daily outdoor activities for everyone or adventure stays in Sierra de Guara in Spain: Descent of canyon, Via Ferrata, Hiking, multiadventure......
Starting at $60 Per Person
Explore the World on and with Hidden Trails
.Spain, Spain Sight-Seeing Tours
Choose from over 300 horseback riding vacations in 40 countries worldwide. From guest ranches, cattle and horse drives to rides from castles to castles in France or Gourmet Rides in Tuscany and African riding safaris....
$1,000 Per Week
Home Backpackers Valencia
Valencia, Spain Youth Hostels
Los mejores y más experimentados albergues de Valencia. Situados en el centro de la ciudad. Especializados en mochileros y grupos. Los más económicos de la ciudad. Disfruta de la verdadera vida española!!!...
Starting at 14 Per Night
|Link Code


text:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I have to admit, as a (druid) tank, this fight frustrates me a bit; it's especially nasty on Heroic, without the proper CC. My guildmates and I ran it a few times last night, though, and I discovered a good way of being useful: Cycloning and Bashing the living daylight out of as many of the mobs as I could while they whittled the rest down. I still wouldn't expect to one-shot the encounter on Heroic (without massive CC), but at least I feel a bit more crucial than I did before I realised the mobs had no true threat tables. At first, I just thought I was a bad tank!


text:
When asked about the existence of a Hogwarts graduation ceremony, JK Rowling confirmed. Seventh years ride the Hogwarts Boats back across the lake as they leave Hogwarts for the last time. Everything is full circle.
(Source: daedrashart, via dracoslittlewhorecrux-deactivat)
(via dramione13)
(Source: , via dracofly)
(Source: evgeniasummer, via dramione13)
THE MAGIC BEGINS - A Harry Potter Challenge » 5 - Favourite house/your house.
(via dramione13)
THE MAGIC BEGINS - A Harry Potter Challenge
» Day Four: Favorite Ship - Draco x Hermione
(Source: redhowlers, via dramione13)
(Source: slytheirn, via dramione13)
(Source: samheughan, via dracomalfoi-deactivated20120719)
The world is too heavy, too big for my shoulders, come take this weight off me now.
(Source: bellamyblarke, via dramione13)
(Source: fourchampions, via dramione13)


text:
I am ready for the spring—
when legs come out from hibernation
to form two perfect paths beneath sun dresses.
I am ready for the spring—
when the sun shines on flushed faces
to draw attention to eager lips and eager smiles.
I am ready for the spring—
when fruit and flowers fill the air with heady perfume
to convince the birds and bees and us to start love making.
I am ready for the spring.
But is spring ready for me?
I woke to the sound of songbirds
and turned to you in the pale morning light.
Maybe it was their music, but you seemed at peace
asleep in the warm spring air, asleep next to me.
Spring is my favorite season because
spring is the season of skirts.
Spring is my favorite season because
spring is the season of flirts.
Hello, followers. It is time to hibernate. Please join me in sleeping for the next few months. If we all hibernate together, none of us can be held individually responsible. Society will just have to adjust.
Seriously, I wish we hibernated through winter. But I don't want to give up time I have to live. So, to balance it out, like bears, I want to just take 30 minute naps all spring and summer.
(via skasaher)
We had spring weather over the weekend, and it might snow again today, but it's too late: I'm twitterpated.
I just noticed my queue is all beaches and palm trees. Spring is filling my head.


text: Joe Praml will read the poetry of Seamus Heaney. Seamus Heaney (4/13/1939 - 8/30/2013) was an Irish poet, playwright, translator, lecturer and the recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature for what the Nobel Committee described as "works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past. Upon his death in August, 2013, Mr. Heaney was called "probably the best-known poet in the world."


text:
Feature Article: Drilling for diesel
Pipeline common carriers file transport rates with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the same manner pre-deregulation trucking companies filed rates with Interstate Commerce Commission. "A representative rate from Houston to Nashville is $1.16 per barrel," says Baker, or almost 3 cents a gallon. "These rates are stable and don't change with short-term market fluctuations. In other words, if the price of diesel jumps 10 cents, Colonial's rates do not change."
With retail diesel hovering just below $3 a gallon in most Nashville locations as of late January, pipeline transport accounted for at least 1 percentage point of the distribution and marketing piece of the fuel pie.
From the Marathon terminal downtown diesel is trucked out to stations. According to carriers serving that terminal, pricing of diesel loads can vary from 1 cent a gallon for cross-town 7,500-gallon loads to about 5 cents a gallon for a 100-mile trip, or $3.75 per mile. Though there are many exceptions to the rule, including summer 2009 supply disruptions in Nashville, the majority of diesel in the region is unlikely to travel overland much farther than that.
Using Hedrick's Gordonsville, Tenn., stop, 50 miles outside of Nashville proper, as an example, $3.75 per mile would equate to 2.5 cents per distributed gallon, or just less than 1 percent of the price per gallon.
The Oil Price Information Service, which estimates margins for particular truckstops based on wholesale prices at and distance from the nearest supply source, put Hedrick's stop's estimated fuel margin at just 9 cents a gallon, as fuel was priced at $2.62 per gallon, quite low for the region (Hedrick's station was just a few weeks old at that point). After subtracting 2.5 cents for transport, the 6.5 cents per gallon estimated markup, just more than 2 percent of the total price per gallon, may have left little profit for the station after taking personnel, land, franchise and other fees into account.
"Being at the end of the distribution chain, [truckstop operators] have no control over the price they pay" for fuel, says Holly Alfano, vice president of government affairs for the National Association of Truckstop Operators. "They want to be able to recover their costs and make some kind of reasonable margin on the fuel that will allow them to stay in business. They also need to consider the prices their competitors are posting. They realize customers are very cost conscious when it comes to fuel prices. Customers will go elsewhere to save a penny a gallon."
More typical of Tennessee truckstops in OPIS' Jan. 18 spread report was an estimated margin of around 20-25 cents per gallon, more in line with the profit of "5.4 cents on every dollar of sales," or 16.2 cents per gallon at $3 diesel, says the API's Dougher, that is the oil/fuels industry's average profit.
A Crowded Piece of the Pie
Based on our analysis of this segment, for a diesel gallon traveling to the Nashville, Tenn., area from Houston, the snapshot here represents the pieces of the 30 cents a gallon the EIA estimates distribution and marketing costs and profits contributed to the price per gallon in the final quarter of 2009.
Compared to crude's share of the price, it's a small one, but within it, as within every piece of the fuel pie, there are a myriad of parties.
Barge transport of diesel, sources say, is a reality in movements to wholesale locations not near a pipeline. And in the "distributors" category, more than one entity might be involved in some situations. "In Cookeville," says James Hedrick, manager of the Wilco-Hess stop in Gordonsville, Tenn., "Lamb Oil is the BP distributor [or jobber] for middle Tennessee." Lamb might buy diesel from the manufacturer directly or, if in short supply, from another maker or distributor.
OverdriveOnline.com strives to maintain an open forum for reader opinions. Click here to read our comment policy.


text:
Three Halloween Drink Recipes To Satisfy Your Candy Cravings
There will be a lot of cocktail and costume parties this weekend in honor of one of the best holidays ever created–Halloween! Arm yourself with these Liquor.com drink recipes (who can resist a Corpse Reviver?) to get your friends and guests in the mood for dressing up and getting down.
1. Absolut 100 Pumpkin Martini
2. Corpse Reviver No. 2
3. Jack-o-Lantern Punch
More Recipes Postings
Add Comment
1 Comment
The Big Drink 2014: 50 Cocktails to Try Before You Die
The Big Eat 2014: 100 Things to Try Before You Die
The 2012 Big To-Do SF: 100 Things To Do Before You Die
The Big Veg 2011: 50 Vegetarian (Or Vegan) Things to Eat Before You Die
The Big Sweet SF: 50 Treats to Eat Before You Die
50 Things to Do in Wine Country Before You Die


text:
Can Catholics Be Transcendentalists?
Note: this question is about the Transcendentalist movement of the 19th century, not the Transcendentalism of Eastern meditation practices.
When I was in high school, my sophomore English teacher made us read the works of Transcendentalism (e.g., Thoreau) and Anti-Transcendentalism (a.k.a. Dark Romanticism, e.g., Edgar Allen Poe). I'm a very slow reader and have never cared much for American literature, so I simply pretended to read it (sorry, Mrs. Roberts), picking up details here and there. By way of preface, both sides of the argument are incorrect. As a high school student, I was shocked by the rugged simplicity found in Thoreau's Walden. What seemed senseless then later became an obvious fact of life at my college seminary in a monastic setting. Out in the middle of nowhere with no means of transportation and little exposure to mind-numbing entertainment, my first semester came with a painful withdrawal from the usual pace of life. Over the course of the year, though, I found myself loving simplicity and the joy it brought me. Ever since then, I've had a strong desire to go out away from the hustle-bustle of the city and enjoy a simple life in the country, contemplating the transcendentals – truth, beauty, and goodness. Over the next few months, my family will be doing just that. It raises a question: is there a way to baptize Transcendentalism?
Transcendentalism seems quite a bit like secular humanism and Unitarianism combined, a boundless confidence in the goodness of human nature and a condemnation of the violence supposedly done to it by social structures, such as political bodies and organized religion. Anti-Transcendentalism, on the other hand, focuses to a Calvinist degree on the sinfulness of man and his inability to change for the better.
This debate is a classic one, shockingly similar to other debates in previous centuries, such as the divergent views on human nature in the American and French revolutions and even the tension of the internal struggle according to dualism (e.g., Manichaeanism). Is man good or evil? The solution, of course, is St. Augustine's: "For what is that which we call evil but the absence of good?" Man is good, as the transcendentalists believed, but he is not perfectly good. The evil that is in him, however, is not its own principle, but is a mere privation of good. Transcendentalists are more correct than Anti-Transcendentalists. What they say positively (that man is good) is true, just not entirely, while Anti-Transcendental teaching is true only negatively – man is not really evil, but is imperfect.
Below are a few of the basic philosophical points of Transcendentalism, along with corrections Catholics would need to make to baptize the movement:
- Simplicity of Life – On the surface, some traditional ways of living out Catholicism could appear very similar to traditional Transcendentalism. If confronted with both Thoreau and a Catholic hermit, outsiders would immediately notice simplicity. What correction would Catholicism provide? Our simplicity would be not merely to advance our own independence with a humanist intention, but to detach ourselves from worldly things so to love God better. Detachment would bring not only joy and closeness to God, but also authenticity of life – we would truly enjoy life, rather than its imitation.
- Meditation – Again, to outsiders the meditation of Catholicism, especially Franciscan spirituality, would seem reminiscent of Thoreau. His writing, after all, was clearly the result of meditation on the nature of the woods and Walden Pond, and we Catholics have long admired the beauty and order found in nature, and the many lessons it has to teach us. What correction would Catholicism provide? While Thoreau's spirituality was vaguely pantheistic, Catholicism would insist on seeing the Creator in His creation. The spark that lights our meditation might be some part of creation, but the ultimate object of our meditation is always God and His actions. Furthermore, we meditate by the aid of grace, and not simply by our own human powers.
- Solitude & Silence - Solitude and silence are wonderful things for the spiritual life, as any hermit will tell you, but not all men are ready for them. Men who are unprepared for them have been known to go mad. What correction would Catholicism provide? Despite the benefits of solitude and silence – universally good for all men in limited doses – Catholicism would urge moderation according to vocation. Married lay people may need some time in solitude and silence each day, diocesan priests perhaps a bit more, and monks quite a great deal more. We were made for different things and we have to respect that.
- Self-Reliance – There are few things more appealing to some today than self-reliance. In a time when we are so used to having everything done for us, many men are striving to relearn long lost techniques. Thoreau built his own cabin and grew his own crops. Self-reliance includes living within one's means, so as not to require more than you can provide. What correction would Catholicism provide? Rather than self-reliance simply as an exercise in humanism, Catholicism would point out that God has given each man special gifts. When we use those gifts, we glorify God who made it possible. However, it is also necessary to remember that because God has given each man special gifts, it seems logical to trade goods and services with those who have the gifts to produce them. We need not insist on doing it all ourselves. By relying on solidarity with others, and fair trade of goods and services, we can all live beyond the means of those things we can do ourselves, without being irresponsible or excessive.
Here are two things Catholicism cannot appreciate about Transcendentalism:
- Anarchism – One of the things Thoreau could not stand was government. Arrested for refusing to pay taxes (though he had good reason), Thoreau believed that man should be unhindered by societal regulations, left to his own self-government. Many hail him today as the greatest anarchist of American history and the father of civil disobedience. What correction would Catholicism provide? If civil disobedience is refusal to go along with what the people want and to suffer the consequences, encouraging others to do the same, then Jesus Christ is the real father of civil disobedience. He was obedient not to the state first, but to God. Nevertheless, He taught us to follow just laws. Anarchy is the antithesis of the Church's teaching on government. Thoreau would probably argue that God intended for man to be free and made him great for that reason, but Catholicism would respond that governments exist – even if some of them are bad governments – to keep men free and great.
- Spirituality vs. Religion – As a Unitarian, Thoreau was not a big fan of organized religion. He would have viewed them, as many do today, with the suspicion that, like government, they existed to reign in the human spirit. What correction would Catholicism provide? Of course, as Catholics, we know that not to be the case. Some will argue that religion, like government, keeps men in check. That is certainly true to an extent, but the real purpose of religion is not to herd the imperfect into a neat, orderly flock. Even a perfect person must practice religion because religion is the practice of his faith. Religion is what we do when we love God, plain and simple.
6 Comments
Great post. I have ususally been guilty of tossing out the baby vis-a-vis Transcendentalism. Thanks for helping me rethink my position.
Oops. that's *usually*
Thoreau, Emerson, et al. are brilliant minds and entirely full of wisdom. I am a Catholic, and an ardent fan of transcendentalism as a philosophical movement, just as I also love stoicism, Christian existentialism, and Thomism. But my being Catholic comes first over all these things.
I think your article is quite fair, and does a good job of highlighting the good and the bad in their thought (though I am confessedly very sympathetic to Thoreau's anarchism).
Transcendentalism also drew the great convert Orestes Brownson for a short while. Thoreau, however, never missed the Friday evening train into Boston from Walden Pond's Concord stop. Weekends in the city were a lot more fun than fishing all alone from a cabin by a lake in the woods. Unless you are a contemplative given to love of Christ in solitude, that is. If one's religion is "disorganized" it is not a religion. Neither is life a living if it is disorganized. Since Christ established it as a visible society with visible sacraments, the only truly organized religion is the Catholic religion.
Excellent – and so concise! It would have taken me reams of . . .kilobytes to hash this out.
Riddle me this: Since American Lit wasn't your favorite, do you suppose we could do the same with aspects of British Romanticism?
very well written indeed. Especially the Spirituality vs. Religion part…


text:
A new housing report out today indicates foreclosure rates in the fairbanks area are falling.
The figures – coming from corelogic – show foreclosure rates in september 2013 at nearly three quarters of a percent,
Down from this same time last year, the fairbanks rate is also lower than the national foreclosure rate.
That rate sits at over two and a quarter percent. The report also says the local mortgage delinquency rate is over two and a quarter percent – that's down from what it was at this time last year


text:
Six ingredients are all you need to make a savory side dish worthy of any main dish offering. Serve these wedges as grown-up fries tonight.
Oxmoor House APRIL 2009
1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. Scrub potatoes; cut each into 8 wedges. Place wedges in a large bowl. Drizzle with oil; toss well. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and pepper; toss until potatoes are evenly coated with spices. Arrange wedges in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
3. Bake at 450° for 20 minutes or until browned.
Go to full version of
Garlic-Roasted Potatoes recipe


text:
site search
wiki edits
wiki search
Poohs Grand Adventure
back to reviews
Poohs Grand Adventure
film/book review by
Games Of The Video
one of the best non-cannon Disney films
The film is
overlooked. People shy away from it because
it's a Disney direct-to-video sequel,
but in reality it's one of the
Disney films.
Don't get me wrong, it's not perfect. Some of the songs are bland, and the butterfly scene was pure
, but... The song
Forever and Ever
captures the childhood belief that everything will always be the way they are now: that Christopher will always be a child exploring the Hundred Acre Wood and Pooh will never
slowly descend amongst tons of garbage into an incinerator.
Later on, the song
Wherever You Are
is the exact opposite of this: it's Pooh coming to the realization that he has failed in finding his friend, that he has lost someone without any hope of ever seeing them again, and that
lasts forever.
Also, the characters. At the beginning, the characters have individual strengths as established in previous films. Tigger is confident in his strength, Rabbit in his intelligence, Piglet in his ability to (eventually) face his fears when his friends need him, and Pooh in his faith in Christopher Robin. Over the course of the movie,
every single one of them comes to the realization
that they ARE NOT SPECIAL. Tigger realizes he is
strong enough to succeed, and briefly displays the worryingly suicidal trait of being okay with plummeting down a gorge. Rabbit realizes that he is
intelligent enough, and the gang is subsequently hopelessly lost because of it. Piglet realizes he
overcome his fear, even to save his friends. And Pooh realizes that, no matter how hard he wishes, no matter how hard he tries, he can lose a friend.
. HOW MANY CHILDREN'S MOVIES DO THAT! When you need EEYORE as comic relief, you know shit happened.
they all get better.
Deus Ex Machina
.) The characters are
picked apart
and then put together again, better than they were before.
This was this troper's favorite movie growing up, and objectively remains so to this day, without
Nostalgia Goggles
. Much like
Toy Story
, it explores the idea that children grow up and leave their toys behind, but until then they can have many adventures together in the Hundred Acre Wood. Give it a watch!
Nice review, pretty much spot on with both pros and cons. Winnie The Pooh is about the one franchise Disney actually makes better with constant follow ups and spin offs, largely because they know how to stay true to or even develop the characters and universe. Only big complaint is, as said Eeyore feels like comic relief and about the one character that doesn't get deconstructed. Being
this admitedly would be difficult to pull off, but would have lots of potential.
comment #12806
Psi001 14th Feb 12
Aside from the
Blusterday Day
short and the entire
New Adventures
series, this has always been my absolute favorite installment in the Pooh franchise. You nailed why it's also probably the deepest, too.
One thing I loved about this film is the twist that
everything that made this a "grand adventure" (Scary rock, thorn forest, a deep gorge, Skull, the Skulasaurus) was actually all products of the characters' collective imaginations because the way Owl built up the quest scared them so much.
You'd think such a thing would come off as an
Ass Pull
but it's actually really clever and makes sense.
comment #12808
ManwiththePlan 14th Feb 12 (edited by: ManwiththePlan)
This was one of my first Winnie the Pooh movies and I still love it. This is about as close as you can get to Darker and Edgier with a series as innocent as Winnie the Pooh and do it right. The story is quite sad at times, especially at Despair Event Horizon parts, but then it pulls you back with some really nice heartwarming/tearjerker moments reminding the characters and the audience that the friendships the characters have aren't going to break no matter what and how each character is so much more than they think they are.
comment #19840
lordgodsservant 13th Jun 13
In order to post comments, you need to
Get Known
TV Tropes
TV Tropes Foundation, LLC
is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from
Privacy Policy


text:
What does Chelsea Houska look like without her extensions!? We know!
She says she feels naked without them, but I think it's spunky!
What do you think!?
She says she feels naked without them, but I think it's spunky!
What do you think!?
If she went a few shades darker with her hair and stopped tanning she would be really pretty. She will figure it out though. At that age and I did the same thing, bleach blonde and super tan. But all my hair is real :)
She is an insanely pretty girl. .. Naturally….
i wish she;d go back to the more natural look she had in her 16 and pregnant episode… i think this obsession with hair and tanning and make and looks, is really unhealthy . especially as a role model for Aubrey,
make up*
Yea she is beautiful, but I think it looks fucken ugly & nappy ..
Chelsea is stunning!!! She looks terrific bleached or Burnett. Me personally I love her with blond hair!
Everyone that is being negative saying she needs to stop tanning wearing her makeup the way she does is so
Pathetic! She is a spunky girl with a wild unique style. She's a cosmetologist as well!! Witch also exsplains her
Creative style. Almost every cosmetologist I know and have met are just out there! I dont mean that in a bad way at all.
My point is she's perfect and beautiful in her own unique way just like everybody else on this earth!
If she didn't tan, wear beautiful wild makeup, tease her hair, bleach it, dye it different colors,
And just be exactly who she is and do what she does…Then that wouldn't be Chelsea houska ya'll!!!!
She's perfect and I adore her:)
Please be respectful of others. Comments that contain threats or personal attacks will be moderated and/or deleted. Spam is prohibited.


text:
Once Upon A Time Characters In Their Hogwarts Houses [x] Gryffindor
Once Upon A Time Characters In Their Hogwarts Houses [x] Slytherin
Once Upon A Time Characters In Their Hogwarts Houses [x] Hufflepuff
Senior Year! Senior year! We're not just kids anymore!
Favourite films of all time → #3 TITANIC [1997]
"I got everything I need right here with me. I got air in my lungs, a few blank sheets of paper. I mean, I love waking up in the morning not knowing what's gonna happen or, who I'm gonna meet, where I'm gonna wind up.
Just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge and now here I am on the grandest ship in the world having champagne with you fine people.
I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you…to make each day count."
7 seasons of the most heterosexual cast.
I have a lot TMI/TID feels!!! So I want to share it with you!!
PACK ONE: Clockwork Princess book yeiii!! and a necklace of an iratze rune for your heart.
PACK TWO: A big poster of an official photo of the City of Bones Movie (the size depends of the pic ;) the winner is free to choose it!) plus a necklace of the fearless rune and other of the angelic power rune.
PACK THREE: A big poster of an official photo of the City of Bones Movie (the size depends of the pic ;) the winner is free to choose it!) and a double necklace of the parabatai rune.
- You don't have to follow me.
- Just like and reblog ONCE.
- No giveaway blogs.
- You don't need to be a TMI blog BUT you have to post/reblog about it.
- Have your ask box open so that I may contact you.
- Winners will have 48 hours to answer. If you don't answer I'll choose another winner.
- The first winner will be able to choose between the 3 packs. The second winner between the 2 remaining packs. And the third winner will have the last pack.
- Be willing to share your address so that I may ship it to you!
- Shipping worldwide.
- If you win CP2 and you already have it or you are able to buy it, please choose another pack :D
Contest ends March 20th! The winners will be selected by a random number generator and I'll contact them between March 22 - March 30. I'm going to contact you with my personal blog HATTU-AKI.
Any questions or stuff my ask box is always open
Good Luck!!
I don't know why I can't sleep. My mind is going a mile a minute, so I know that's part of it. I want to go home… I feel like, being away at school, is like a really long camping trip. Every minute of every day, no matter who I'm with or what I'm doing, I want to go home. I don't know what possessed me to come to a school 130 miles away from home when I've -always- had problems with being homesick. Always, even when I would just go away for two weeks. My mom says that if I make friends and do stuff it'll make it better, and I know it would, but I'm not interested in making friends. I don't make friends easily. I'm here for school. I'm here go do well in my classes. Making friends has never been a priority of mine in college. I already have my lifelong friends, I'm not interested in making more.
I just want to go home…
If any of my followers are on/awake, someone please message me. It's 5:15am here and I've been awake for two hours and I can't go back to sleep.
At least once in your life you need to be in a room with a bunch of people that spontaneously begin singing this song
I agree. It's the best.
Done! Check this off my bucket list!
High school cafeteria…one of my favourite memories ♥
Deathly Hallows midnight premiere. Fuckers made me be Snape, I had to start it.
His face. I cannot get over his face when she said she loved him.
Yes Damon, someone loves you AND you deserve it.
Delena is happening.


text:
At one camp, jubilation.
At the other, disappointment.
But at the end of the night, with 53% of the vote, John Barrow had won a fifth term serving Georgia's 12th District.
"I want to congratulate Lee Anderson for running a hard campaign," Barrow said Tuesday night. "I want to thank the voters all across the district."
Barrow defeated Republican challenger Lee Anderson Tuesday night in what many would consider an upset victory.
The district was re-drawn after the 2010 Census and includes more right-leaning counties.
But Barrow says the voters made their decision based on candidates' records, not their party affiliation.
"So many folks are telling me they usually vote one way on almost all the elections, but in my case they're making an exception," he says. "They've been able to tell from my record and the way I've conducted myself as a Congressman that I look out for what's in the best interests of the people I represent."
With his wife by his side, Anderson emotionally told his supporters Tuesday night he just didn't think the seat was in his future.
"I love you. God bless you, and God bless America," Anderson said to a round of applause.
Anderson refused to debate Barrow during the months leading up to Tuesday's election, a move he says he doesn't regret.
"I want the people to see the person, and get to know the person that they're voting for instead of watching a TV ad that tells lies about the person, "Anderson explained to Fox 54 in his first interview after his concession.
Now, it's Barrow on his way back to Washington, and he says he has a big job to do when he gets there.
"We have a lot of things to address," Barrow said Tuesday. "I will work with folks on both sides of the aisle and all sides of the issue to solve our nation's problems."
3933 Washington Road
Augusta, GA 30907
(706) 650-5400
FCC Public File
(706) 650-5400
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


text:
Ever since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, school shootings have been on the rise in the United States and not many with the power to change the direction of the country are doing enough.
In the United States, more than one school shooting has happened each week over the last 18 months, according pro-gun control advocacy group "Everytown for Gun Safety." After Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in December 2012 and killed 26 people, including 20 children, President Obama stated that "meaningful action" would need to be taken to right the wrongs. Following strong support from nearly 90 percent of the American people, President Obama presented Congress with a simple, common sense background check bill and it couldn't even pass the Senate were Democrats had majority control.
Everytown for Gun Safety also notes that most of the school shootings have happened not at colleges or universities, but rather at elementary, middle and high schools. The latest shooting occurred at Reynolds High School just outside of Portland, Oregon where two people were found dead, including the gunman.
With big money coming from organizations like the NRA, the United States continue to drag its feet unless something drastically changes in Washington.


text:
by Gemma Nisbet
I would have been barely ten or eleven when we met. Her name was Ally and she had big brown eyes, thick black hair and a reputation for being moody. It was the classic beginning to any love story: wariness, even dislike on my part, indifference on hers.
Except that my first love was not a person, but a pony.
Closet Romance
by Chris Boyd
"I guess this is the closest we can ever get to each other," said the naked girl as she lay in front of the naked boy.
"I wish I could be even more inside of you," said the boy as he drew a trembling finger slowly along her smooth curves.
"What, like double penetration?" said the girl turning slightly in the dark.
"No," said the boy with a sigh, "Not like that at all."
The naked girl listened for a while to the sound of soft earth hitting hard wood above them before she took her last breath.
The naked boy gazed blindly at the heavy roof two inches from his nose.


text:
Chicago, ILUSA
Hometown: Ipswich, England
May 20, 2010
Hi I'm Tara! I just moved to the city last week! I'm excited to be here, meet some positive people and lend a helping hand!
Yes, I have a service dog (Ace). We go to hospitals, schools, any where we can make a person smile!
who they really are. live a good life all the way around.
Yes. I can for one or two people (I own a truck)
Sure, anything that allows a service dog to be apart of.
Nice new pic :), its a I'm relaxing on a Friday afternoon kind of look :-).
Welcome !!!!
Looking forward to trying Panamanian cuisine. Thanks for organizing!
Hello Tara: What brought you from England to the United States? How does life here compare to your home country? (I think people from other countries are fascinating!) Stephanie
Hello Tara,
Welcome to the group. I look forward to meeting you at an upcoming event. I'm sure you'll enjoy our rides and also making new friends who love to cycle too! "
Hi Tara, welcome to the US. I hope your fitting in ok. Lots to see and do in the Chicago area. ...Charlotte
hi tara! who's your friend's son? feel free to join us today (tuesday) at 7:30 right after the kids class. hope to see you soon!
OH MY GOSH!! I just read that your bike was stolen. How awful!! Where did this happen? Have you started looking for a new one yet?
What!? Oh nooooo!! Aw Crap. Well, was it insured? Did you file a police report? When are you planning to shop for new one? :-)
Meetup members, Log in
By clicking "Sign up" or "Sign up using Facebook", you confirm that you accept our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy