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Oldspeak: "Secret Courts", "Secret Evidence", "Secret Interpretations of Laws", "Secret National Security Directives", Due process/evidence-free, unconstitutional surveillance, indefinite detention, & execution of citizens accused of being "terrorists". These are classic conditions that exist in totalitarian/police states. Basic rights assured for hundreds of years, have slowly in this post 9/11 world have been stripped away. Largely in secret. All while the power of the Unitary Executive expands."
Bush and Obama Have Set Us Back 800 Years
NBC News reports:
Legal experts expressed grave reservations Tuesday about an Obama administration memo concluding that the United States can order the killing of American citizens believed to be affiliated with al-Qaida — with one saying the White House was acting as "judge, jury and executioner."
"Anyone should be concerned when the president and his lawyers make up their own interpretation of the law or their own rules," said Mary Ellen O'Connell, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame and an authority on international law and the use of force.
"This is a very, very dangerous thing that the president has done," she added.
Glenn Greenwald, a constitutional lawyer who writes about security and liberty for the British newspaper The Guardian, described the memo as "fundamentally misleading," with a clinical tone that disguises "the radical and dangerous power it purports to authorize."
"If you believe the president has the power to order U.S. citizens executed far from any battlefield with no charges or trial, then it's truly hard to conceive of any asserted power you would find objectionable," he wrote.
Senator Wyden said:
Every American has the right to know when their government believes that it is allowed to kill them.
Top constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley notes:
In plain language, [the Obama administration memo] means that [any Americans can be assassinated if] the President considers the citizens to be a threat in the future. Moreover, the memo allows killings when an attempt to capture the person would pose an "undue risk" to U.S. personnel. That undue risk is left undefined.
I think I've seen that movie before …
Given that drones are being deployed in the American homeland, some fear that the war is coming home.
Indeed, the military now considers the U.S. homeland to be a battlefield. The U.S. is already allowing military operations within the United States. The Army is already being deployed on U.S. soil, and the military is conducting numerous training exercises on American streets. (For more background, see this, this, this, this, and this.)
Similarly, the White House has claimed the unilateral power to launch pre-emptive cyber-strikes against foreign nations. As FireDogLake notes:
Like with the drone program, President Barack Obama is presiding over the creation and development of a power that previous presidents never imagined having. The national security state is effectively appointing him and all future presidents the proverbial judge, jury and executioner when it comes to cyber warfare.
As Greenwald makes clear, virtually all of the U.S. efforts regarding so-called "cyber-security" are actually efforts to create offensive attack capabilities.
And given that the government may consider normal Americans who criticize any government policy to be terrorists – and that the military is fighting against dissent on the Internet – it is obvious that the cyber-attack capabilities are coming home to roost.
Of course, indiscriminate drone strikes are war crimes (and here and here) , and cyber-attacks are a form of terrorism. But that won't stop the U.S. … because it's only terrorism when other people do what we do.
As Greenwald noted last year:
We supposedly learned important lessons from the abuses of power of the Nixon administration, and then of the Bush administration: namely, that we don't trust government officials to exercise power in the dark, with no judicial oversight, with no obligation to prove their accusations. Yet now we hear exactly this same mentality issuing from Obama, his officials and defenders to justify a far more extreme power than either Nixon or Bush dreamed of asserting: he's only killing The Bad Citizens, so there's no reason to object!
Greenwald notes in an article today:
The core distortion of the War on Terror under both Bush and Obama is the Orwellian practice of equating government accusations of terrorism with proof of guilt. One constantly hears US government defenders referring to "terrorists" when what they actually mean is: those accused by the government of terrorism. This entire memo is grounded in this deceit.
Time and again, it emphasizes that the authorized assassinations are carried out "against a senior operational leader of al-Qaida or its associated forces who poses an imminent threat of violent attack against the United States." Undoubtedly fearing that this document would one day be public, Obama lawyers made certain to incorporate this deceit into the title itself: "Lawfulness of a Lethal Operation Directed Against a US Citizen Who is a Senior Operational Leader of al-Qaida or An Associated Force."
This ensures that huge numbers of citizens – those who spend little time thinking about such things and/or authoritarians who assume all government claims are true – will instinctively justify what is being done here on the ground that we must kill the Terrorists or joining al-Qaida means you should be killed. That's the "reasoning" process that has driven the War on Terror since it commenced: if the US government simply asserts without evidence or trial that someone is a terrorist, then they are assumed to be, and they can then be punished as such – with indefinite imprisonment or death.
But of course, when this memo refers to "a Senior Operational Leader of al-Qaida", what it actually means is this: someone whom the President – in total secrecy and with no due process – has accused of being that. Indeed, the memo itself makes this clear, as it baldly states that presidential assassinations are justified when "an informed, high-level official of the US government has determined that the targeted individual poses an imminent threat of violent attack against the US".
This is the crucial point: the memo isn't justifying the due-process-free execution of senior al-Qaida leaders who pose an imminent threat to the US. It is justifying the due-process-free execution of people secretly accused by the president and his underlings, with no due process, of being that. The distinction between (a) government accusations and (b) proof of guilt is central to every free society, by definition, yet this memo – and those who defend Obama's assassination power – willfully ignore it.
Those who justify all of this by arguing that Obama can and should kill al-Qaida leaders who are trying to kill Americans are engaged in supreme question-begging. Without any due process, transparency or oversight, there is no way to know who is a "senior al-Qaida leader" and who is posing an "imminent threat" to Americans. All that can be known is who Obama, in total secrecy, accuses of this.
(Indeed, membership in al-Qaida is not even required to be assassinated, as one can be a member of a group deemed to be an "associated force" of al-Qaida, whatever that might mean: a formulation so broad and ill-defined that, as Law Professor Kevin Jon Heller argues, it means the memo "authorizes the use of lethal force against individuals whose targeting is, without more, prohibited by international law".)
The definition of an extreme authoritarian is one who is willing blindly to assume that government accusations are true without any evidence presented or opportunity to contest those accusations. This memo – and the entire theory justifying Obama's kill list – centrally relies on this authoritarian conflation of government accusations and valid proof of guilt.
They are not the same and never have been. Political leaders who decree guilt in secret and with no oversight inevitably succumb to error and/or abuse of power. Such unchecked accusatory decrees are inherently untrustworthy (indeed, Yemen experts have vehemently contested the claim that Awlaki himself was a senior al-Qaida leader posing an imminent threat to the US). That's why due process is guaranteed in the Constitution and why judicial review of government accusations has been a staple of western justice since the Magna Carta: because leaders can't be trusted to decree guilt and punish citizens without evidence and an adversarial process. That is the age-old basic right on which this memo, and the Obama presidency, is waging war.
We've previously pointed out the absurdity of the government's circular reasoning in the context of indefinite detention:
The government's indefinite detention policy – stripped of it's spin – is literally insane, and based on circular reasoning. Stripped of p.r., this is the actual policy:
- If you are an enemy combatant or a threat to national security, we will detain you indefinitely until the war is over
- It is a perpetual war, which will never be over
- Neither you or your lawyers have a right to see the evidence against you, nor to face your accusers
- But trust us, we know you are an enemy combatant and a threat to national security
- We may torture you (and try to cover up the fact that you were tortured), because you are an enemy combatant, and so basic rights of a prisoner guaranteed by the Geneva Convention don't apply to you
- Since you admitted that you're a bad guy (while trying to tell us whatever you think we want to hear to make the torture stop), it proves that we should hold you in indefinite detention
See how that works?
The Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves, as the separation of powers they fought and died for is being destroyed. We've gone from a nation of laws to a nation of powerful men making laws in secret, where Congressional leaders themselves aren't even allowed to see the laws, or to learn about covert programs. A nation where Congressmen are threatened with martial law if they don't approve radical programs.
Indeed, Bush and Obama have literally set the clock back 800 years … to before the signing of the Magna Carta.


text:
Politicians and Election, Vote in Freedom, Actively Participate in Democracy, Vote for Change, Online referendum
Denis Lebel
> Canada > Politicians > Conservative Party of Canada > Denis Lebel
Denis Lebel is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!
Denis Lebel - for
Le ministre dans le cabinet du Stephen Harper depuis 2008. | The Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
Denis Lebel - against
Click, if you do not support Denis Lebel. Say why.
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Related polls > Michaëlle Jean, Stephen Harper, Dorian Baxter, Sinclair Stevens, Jason Kenney, Jack Layton, Miguel Figueroa, Michael Ignatieff, Jim Hnatiuk, Anna Di Carlo, Sandra L. Smith, Elizabeth Evans May, Peggy Nash, Blair T. Longley, Alison Redford, Andrew Skinner, Gilles Duceppe, Leona Aglukkaq, Peter Penashue, Paul Martin, Jr., (Denis Lebel) and more...

subset: commoncrawl


text:
First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama will be animated into a popular Disney Junior show.
Starring as herself, Obama will appear in a special episode of Doc McStuffins titled "Doc McStuffins Goes to Washington," on Oct. 5.
In the episode, the characters of the show get a special tour of the White House with Obama.
U.S. & World
"You are here because you inspire me," she tells the children characters in a sample of the episode. "You are reaching high for yourselves and your communities and making the world a better place."
The episode airs on Child Health Day and it is said that parts of the show will promote the "Let's Move!" initiative.
The "Let's Move!" initiative was announced Feb. 9, 2010 by the First Lady. She said during a speech on Sept. 16, at the South Court Auditorium at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, that nearly 9 million kids attend "Let's Move!" "active schools," where they get 60 minutes of exercise every day.
The show is a well-known program on the Disney channel. The main character's name is Dottie "Doc" McStuffins, who fixes toys as practice to be a doctor like her mother in the show. She offers kids friendly health tips on basic personal hygiene.
The First Lady also hosted a Veteran's Day themed episode of the show last year at the White House.


text:
View up to date information on how Illinois is handling the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from the
State of Illinois Coronavirus Response Site
Illinois Department ofCentral Management Services
This is an alphabetic listing of all position classification titles utilized in Agencies, Departments, Boards and Commissions under the jurisdiction of the Governor of the State of Illinois. It includes the position title code, equal employment occupational code, position title, salary plan and the applicable rates of pay.
Labor forms and contracts.
The Pay Plan provides administrative rules pertaining to compensation practices and policies applicable to state employees covered by the jurisdiction of the Personnel Code. The Pay Plan also provides the pay schedules and salary ranges for position classifications included in the Classification Plan.
This is the law that provides the basis for the civil service merit system in Illinois. It embraces all positions of employment in the service of the state unless specifically excluded by legislation. It empowers the Director of Central Management Services to promulgate Rules and carry out this law, and creates the Civil Service Commission to monitor its proper administration and to conduct hearings.
The Personnel Rules, together with the Classification Plan, Pay Plan and body of Classification Standards, make up the administrative rules and these have the force and effect of law, subject to the interpretation of the Director and review by the Civil Service Commission. Personnel Rules consists of classification and pay, merit and fitness, conditions of employment, general provisions and extensions of jurisdiction.
The state holiday calendar is a list of state holidays when State of Illinois agencies will be closed.
A comprehensive human resources information system for Personnel Officers and Agency program managers. The site is password protected and available only to state agencies through the Enterprise web.


text:
It is almost impossible to accurately describe what is in each book. If you would like a better description or are looking for something in particular, please email us and we'd be happy to send a picture of the index page or describe the projects included.
| Home | About | Win! | Contact | Links | Shipping | Privacy |
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The Runaway Quilt
Make Your Own Quilt Labels! Volume 2
Christmas Quilts & Crafts
Feathers That Fly
EQ5 Simplified
EQ5 Drawing
EQ5 Block Book
Log Cabin Christmas Wreath Wallhanging
Foolproof Curves
Fast Fabric Bowls
Embroidery Machine Essentials
EQ 5 Color Book
EQ5 Quilt Design Book
Pajama Party
PE Design Version 6 Guidebook
Delectable Mountains
Traditional Two-Block Units
Peppermint & Hollyberries
Machine Embroidery on Paper
The Bishop's Daughter
Embroidery to Embellish Everything
Twosey-Foursey Quilts
PE-Design 7 Class Notes
3 Little Kittens
Charming Bags
EQ6 Pieced Drawing
EQ6 Block Book
Beyond The Basics Quiltmaking
Piping Hot Curves
Easy Traditional Quilts Stars
Adventures in Circles
Miniature Double Wedding Ring
Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Dyeing
Celtic Fantasy (Rhapsody Quilts)
The Rest is Easy
Instruction Book Brother #634
The Sewing Revolution Inst. Book
Super Simple Quilts #3
Color-Splashed Quilts
Positively Pineapple
That Patchwork Place Quilt Collection
Simple Strategies for block swap
W.O.W. Bags
Quilt Challenge
Three-Dimensional Embroidery
Terrific Table Toppers W/P Lose
Applique Petal Party
Hand & Machine Applique
Believing Tree
Little Retro Aprons for Kids
Twist-and-Turn Bargello Quilts
A Year of Paper Piecing
Tile Quilt Revival
EQ6 Applique Drawing
Pieced Applique More Blocks
Quick Diamond Quilts & Beyond
Fusible Magic #10728
Rotary Cutting Revolution #10711
Fabric Dyer's Dictionary #10731
Me And My Sewing Machine #10759
The Gentle Art Of Quiltmaking
Trade Winds
Photo-Fabric Play
Little Girls , Big Style #10770
Quilt Remix #10741
Inspired to Sew by Bari J.
Super Simple Quilts #4
Christmas Traditions
Your Machine's Decorative Stitches
Creative Sewing Techniques By Machine
Countdown Calendars
Maverick Quilts
M'Liss Rae Hawley's Precut Quilts
Summer at the Lake Quilts
Sew Simple Logs
Sew Simple Pineapple
Modern Mix #10795
Special Delivery Quilts
Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts
One Line at a Time Encore
Modern Quilting Designs
New English Paper Piecing
Zakka Style
Quilt Blocks Around The World
Shadow Trapunto Quilts
Sliver Quilts
Applique With Attitude
We Love Color
Quilted Gifts From Your Scraps
Hexa Go-Go
Thread Magic Garden
Connecting Design to Stitch
Stop. Go. Quilt. Sew!
Fresh Perspectives
Little Stitches
Pixel Play
Sweatshirt Transformations
Sneaky Piecing
15 Minutes of Play
Doodle Quilting
Star Quilts
Make Your Own Quilting Designs
Fix-It and Forget-It Pink Cookbook
Pillow Pop
Beautiful Building Blocks Quilts
The Essential A-Line
A Quilting Life
Curves For Cowards
Diamond Traditions
Sew A Backyard Adventure
Circle Pizzazz
Fabric, Paper, Thread
Stitch Zakka
Three Patterns Book 2 Double Strip
Datekeeper Modern Quilts
Datekeeper Quilted Masterpieces
Diamond Chain Quilts
Instruments of Praise
A Kid's Guide to Sewing
A Month Of Sundays
Art Quilt Maps
Brave New Quilts
Quilt Essential
No Math Quilt Charts
Quick & Easy Hexie Quilts
Small Town Lies
More Twist-and-Turn Bargello Quilts
Modern Bee
Scrap Quilting
Sew Modern Baby
Filler Up Quilting Designs
Becoming A Confident Quilter
Twister Chasers
Color Essentials Crisp & Vibrant
Modern Color
Quilts Made With Love
Zentangle 5
Baby Boutique
The Modern Applique Workbook
Little Paper-Pieced Projects
Visual Guide to Working in a Series
Quilt Lab The Creative Side of Science
Adding Layers
Essential Sewing Reference Tool
Me & My Sewing Adventure
We Love To Sew Bedrooms #11028
At Home With Modern June
Playful Petals
Make + Love Quilts
Wonder Wheel of Color
Home Sewn Celebrations
On The Run Again
You Can Quilt It!
Hexagons, Diamonds, Triangles and More
Simple Shape Quilts
Table Please Part Two ATH550B
Geese Migrations
Panel Quilts - We Did The Math
Gravity (Block of the Month)
Machine Quilting with Style
Big Book of Scrappy Quilts
The Potting Shed
Big Book of Baby Quilts
T-Shirt Quilts AQS8664
Bees N' Blooms
Town Square Quilt Book
365 Free Motion Quilting Designs
Farm Girl Vintage
Redesigned: In Red, White & Black
Shadowland Quilt Book Book-01
Modern Views with 3-Yard Quilts
Love To Sew Mug Rugs
Imagine Art To Heart
The Gallery DLL 80G
Windy Day Book
Walk Master Machine Quilting
Rulerwork Quilting Idea Book
The Cake Mix Quilt Book Volume 1
Karlee's Coloring Book
One Block Wonders
Fabulous Fractures
3 Yard Quilts
Strip Pieced Bargello Quilts
Jelly Roll Bargello Quilts
Urban Jungle Quilts
Easy Does It 3-Yard Quilts
Fast & Fun 3-Yard Quilts
Easy Peasy 3-Yard Quilts
Name That Quilt !
Modern View 3 Yd Quilt
3 Yard Quilt for Kids
Fast and Fun 3 Yd Quilts
Quilters 10in Square Precut Companion
Beyond the Tee, Innovative T-Shirt Quilt
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text:
Out of Order: Sandra Day O'Connor
The first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, Sandra Day O'Connor has learned firsthand the inner workings, history, evolution, and influence of the nation's highest court.
The retired justice now shares those insights in a discussion of her new book Out of Order. O'Connor sheds light on the centuries of change and upheaval that characterize the history of the Supreme Court. She also provides vivid portraits of justices such as Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Thurgood Marshall, William O. Douglas, and current Chief Justice John Roberts.
Nominated by President Ronald Reagan as an associate justice of the Supreme Court, O'Connor took her seat in 1981. She retired in 2006.
Co-presented by the Truman Library Institute and the Federal Court Historical Society.


text:
As the official airline of the 5th World Water Forum, Turkish Airlines is providing a 20% discount on flight prices for Forum participants, to travel to Istanbul in March. This discount is effective for tickets purchased from Turkish Airlines offices all around the world. To make the discount effective, passengers must be able to show a confirmation of their registration when booking their ticket. Please note that Turkish Airlines 5th World Water Forum Account Code is BB601A.
You can view the Transportation Plan which will help you to find your way to, from and within the Venue.
Transportation Plan (.pdf)
Forum VenueRegistrationGroup RegistrationAccomodationTourist Information


text:
Frequently Asked Questions: Who Must File and Which Form to Use
Q: How do I get a copy of last year's tax return?
A: A taxpayer can get copies of his/her return or a transcript (often all that is needed) by calling the IRS at 800-908-9946 or referring to these instructions. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide does NOT keep records.
Q: I withdrew $350 from an IRA. Can I use the 1040EZ or do I need to use the 1040?
A: If you have a filing requirement, you will have to use either Form 1040A or Form 1040 to report the IRA distribution.
Q: I have not yet filed my last year's taxes. How much trouble am I in?
A: If you owe additional tax you will probably have a failure-to-file and a failure-to-pay-on-time penalty plus interest. There are no penalties if you are due a refund. However, you have only three years from the due date of the return to file and claim a refund.
Prior year forms and instructions are available here.
Q: My mother was informed by both the IRS and a tax adviser that she didn't have to file returns. Consequently, since her income has been the same, she has not filed a return for a few years. I've never heard that anyone was exempt from filing a tax return and would like to know if this is true.
A: Yes, it is possible. Whether you have to file is a function of your taxable gross income, filing status, whether you are at least age 65, whether you are someone's dependent and whether you have self-employment income. You can find the actual filing requirements in IRS Pub 501 under the heading "Who Must File."
Q: I am retired and collecting Social Security benefits. I have other income and it is possible that some of my benefits will be taxed. Which form do I need to use?
A: Forms 1040 and 1040A are the only two forms that have a line where you can report taxable social security. The instructions for both those forms have a worksheet that you may use to calculate taxable social security.
Q: I am a full-time college student. My parents claim me as an exemption. I work part time for the college. Do I have to file a tax return?
A: Whether or not you have to file will depend upon whether your earned and/or unearned income exceeds certain limits. See the two sections in IRS Pub 501 called "Self-employed Persons" and "Dependents."
If you find that filing a return is not required, you should file a federal income tax return to obtain a refund of any income tax withheld from your pay.
Through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program, AARP Foundation is providing online tax counseling as a public service, and cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided. Your taxes are your responsibility. You are solely responsible for what you do in your own tax situation.
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program is a volunteer-run, free tax-preparation and assistance service offered to low- and middle-income taxpayers with special attention to those age 60 and older. Our volunteers are trained and IRS-certified to understand individual federal-tax issues. Our volunteers provide tax assistance as a public service and cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided.


text:
VPN and Endpoint Security Client -- IOS SSL VPN
Securely widen your network's reach to wherever employees need access. Cisco IOS SSL VPN, the industry's first router-based Secure Sockets Layer VPN solution, offers "anywhere" connectivity not only from company-managed resources but also from employee-owned PCs, contractor or business partner desktops, and Internet kiosks. Cisco Secure Desktop, a component of SSL VPN, provides data theft prevention even on noncorporate devices.
SSL VPNs offers remote-access connectivity from almost any Internet-enabled location using a standard Web browser and its native SSL encryption. Required software is dynamically downloaded on an as-needed basis, thereby minimizing desktop software maintenance. Cisco IOS SSL VPN supports clientless access to applications such as intranet content, email, network file shares, and Citrix. The Cisco SSL VPN Client enables full network access remotely to virtually any application.Benefits
- Increases employee productivity -- Enables anytime anywhere access to corporate resources
- Provides secure remote access -- Offers data theft prevention even on noncorporate devices
- Enhances business efficiency -- Reduces costs associated with deployment and management by using a single, easy-to-install, easy-to-use secure communications solution
- Controls access to business resources -- Prevents unauthorized access to information assets by providing identity-based access control


text:
Stitching Steel Into Streamliners (Feb, 1947)
Stitching Steel Into Streamliners
Budd's new assembly line rolls out cars like cans.
By MORTON C. WALLING
AS YOU stand on a catwalk high above the plant you can scarcely see where it ends, dim in the distance, five city blocks away. The workmen dwindle to mere specks, the gigantic U-shaped welders become tiny tweezers. Toward you stretch three long, silver caterpillars: assembly lines. Here and there comes a flicker of blue flame from an arc welder, reflected and reflected again from shining stainless steel. Occasionally there is a rumbling medley of thumps from shot welders; otherwise there is only a low hum from the thousands of workmen and machines.
Here is modern technology in action—the assembly-line system the auto industry made famous. But as the great cranes swoop down along the line and the silvery bodies roll nearer and nearer you can see they are too shiny for automobiles—and too big. Each is as long as half a dozen motor cars—a stainless steel railway coach.
For this is the plant of the Budd Company, where the high-speed step-by-step assembly techniques they have long used in making all-steel auto bodies are applied to railway cars. And the result will be a new standard of comfort in railway travel, at a reasonable cost. By the application of Detroit methods to Philadelphia, what starts out as stacked rolls of stainless steel, varying from 1/10 to 1/4 inch in thickness, emerges a short time later. as a finished railroad car, ready to be towed out and put behind a locomotive. In between are some quarter-million shot welds, 200 rivets—and some highly intelligent engineering.
The first stainless steel train, the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy's "Pioneer Zephyr," was built by Budd in 1934. Up until the beginning of the war, when all railroad-car production stopped, Budd had built and sold 47 complete trains to 14 railroads. So the firm is an old hand at this big job.
Budd-built railroad cars—except for their trucks, end underframes, and miscellaneous decorations and fittings—are made entirely of welded stainless steel. By a method of electrical stitching, called "shot welding," strips and sheets of stainless steel literally are "sewed" together with rows of uniform spot welds.
Shot welding, a Budd development first used in 1931 to produce the first stainless steel airplane, is a form of electrical-resistance welding. Time and the current, and there-. fore the heat, are automatically controlled. The result, according to Budd engineers, is a strong weld that changes none of the characteristics of the surrounding metal, and that can be made just about as rapidly as the operator can move his U-shaped welding tool. In the course of the production of a railroad car, more than a dozen different types of shot welders are used, ranging in size from a few feet in length to fifteen.
This combination of strong welds and stainless steel gives Budd cars a heavyweight's strength with a welterweight's body. In a recent test, Budd research engineers placed a standard 118,000-pound stainless steel coach between the jaws of one of the world's most powerful compression-testing machines. The project was to squeeze the car along its main fore-and-aft axis until it buckled in much the way that it might in a head-on wreck. The "big squeeze" was applied slowly so the stresses and strains could be studied. Finally, when the first signs of buckling appeared, the testing ma-chine's gauge showed a pressure of 1,865,000 pounds—more than three times the 500,000-pound standard for safety required by the Association of American Railroads!
Part of this strength is built into the cars at the beginning of the assembly line where, at the No. 1 feeder, the stainless steel for the roof and side panels is corrugated. This work is done by a battery of large draw benches similar to the benches used in drawing wire except that the material is flat instead of round. The ribbon of flat stainless steel is pulled through a series of powerful roller dies until just the right corrugation is obtained to provide maximum stiffness.
When a desired length has been drawn, the corrugated sheet is cut off with a tooth-less Carborundum saw, called a radiac. Except for the cutting operation, the drawing is a continuous process. When one roll of stainless steel is used up, the end of a new roll is welded to it. A novel rolling welder is used for this operation. A metal welding wheel is simply rolled across the joint and the weld is made.
The center sill or main under backbone of the car consists of four 1/4-inch formed sections of stainless steel. After being drawn to shape, the sections are moved to an assembly jig where, once they are clamped firmly in place, a motor-driven "walking welder" resembling an animated drill press moves along the assembly and automatically makes the more than 3,000 individual shot welds that bond the section into a strong 58-foot-long beam.
Once the roof and side panels and the center sill are ready, the main assembly begins. The center sill is placed in still another jig where a "silent riveter"—a king-size pair of hydraulically operated jaws-squeezes rivets into place easily and noiselessly with its 50-ton pressure to fasten the end underframes to the ends of the center sill. This complete underframe unit is then moved by overhead crane down the line where floor beams and floor are welded into place.
While this operation is in progress, complete car roofs are being fabricated, water-tested for leaks, insulated, soundproofed, and fitted with wiring and air-conditioning ducts. To make it easier for the workmen and to speed the operation, all work done on the inside of the roof is done with the roof upside-down. This is also true of the installation of air brakes, plumbing, heaters, generators, and other equipment on the underside of the floor and underframe assembly. When a roof or a floor is complete with auxiliaries, four 10-ton cranes maneuver into position 100 feet overhead pick up the member as if it were a toy, turn it over in mid-air, and deliver it right-side-up to the first main assembly position. There, roof, side frames, ends, and underframe meet and are shot-welded together to become a skeleton car. Mounted on temporary trucks, which are elevated to make under-the-car work easier, the car then begins its step-by-step progress down one of three pairs of railroad tracks that form the final assembly lines.
From that point on progress is rapid. The cars literally grow as they are moved from position to position along the tracks by portable electric winches, and different teams of expert craftsmen go to work. Stainless steel fluting and side paneling are added. Doors and windows are installed. They enter a special water-test chamber where for two hours they are sprayed with water at 45-lb.-per-sq.-in. pressure to simulate the conditions of a car, speeding through a driving rain at 80 m.p.h. Interiors are installed and painted. Linoleum floors are put in place. Permanent trucks are jockeyed into position and mounted with the help of hydraulic jacks that can lift the end of a car with less effort than you can lift the front of your automobile with a bumper jack. If the car is a coach, seats are installed. Then, entering another test chamber farther down the line, the car's air-conditioning system is given a thorough two-hour check to make sure that everything is functioning properly.
Finally, the car is cleaned, preened, pol ished, and inspected. The next stop is a spur track just beyond the large sliding doors that mark the end of the "line" where a waiting switch engine takes it to the main line for delivery to one of the 16 national railroads who have coaches, sleeping cars, and double-deck observation cars on order for the comfort and pleasure of America's railway travelers.
From a hundred feet up in the building's roof, the plant resembles a giant's bakery with railroad cars for loaves. It has a giant's capacity too. Fifty-one 85-foot cars can be in progressive stages of assembly in the three lines at once. Soon a fourth will be added to produce a double-deck observation car. car. Today, full production is almost entirely a matter of getting in materials and getting up to speed. When it is reached, stainless steel in rolls stacked at one end of the plant in the morning will find itself eight hours later, wrinkled, welded, and part of a smart new 56-passenger streamlined coach or an ultramodern all-bedroom sleeping car, well on its way down the assembly line.


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Best Care Pet Hospital
Best Care Pet Hospital is a full-service veterinary medical facility, located in Omaha, NE. The professional and courteous staff at Best Care Pet Hospital seeks to provide the best possible medical care, surgical care and dental care for their highly-valued patients.
We are committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, preventative health care and health-related educational opportunities for our clients. Best Care Pet Hospital strives to offer excellence in veterinary care to Omaha, NE and surrounding areas. Please take a moment to contact us today, to learn more about our veterinary practice and to find out more information about how Best Care Pet Hospital can serve the needs of you and your cherished pet.
Learn More
Our Services
Many pet owners are terrified by the thought of their pet undergoing anesthesia. In some cases, this fear and uncertainty can prevent pets from receiving the medical care they need and deserve. Rest assured that your pet will receive safe, comprehensive, advanced anesthesia care from our staff of caring professionals. From major and minor surgeries to diagnostic procedures, we can meet your pet's anesthetic needs.
There is nothing more important to us than your pet's safety, so we perform a variety of pre-anesthetic tests to carefully screen patients and tailor our anesthetic protocol specifically for your pet. Our trained staff and doctors monitor your pet before, during, and after anesthesia to help ensure the best possible outcome. We also take time to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have about the medications, monitoring, and care your pet will receive. When you trust our dedicated health care professionals to manage your pet's anesthetic care, you can rest assured that safety, efficacy, and comfort are always foremost in our minds.
Learn More
- Anesthesia
- Behavioral Medicine
- Boarding
- Emergency and Critical Care
- Grooming
- House Calls
- Laser Therapy
- Nutritional Counseling
- Parasite Prevention and Control
- Rabbits and Small Mammals
- Reptiles
- Surgery
- Vaccinations
- Bathing
- Birds (Avian Medicine)
- Dental Care
- Fully Stocked Pharmacy
- Hospice and Euthanasia Services
- Laboratory
- Microchipping
- Pain Management
- Puppy and Kitten Care
- Radiology (X-Rays) Reptiles
- Senior Care
- Ultrasound
- Wellness Exams
Meet Our Staff
Michael Bosilevac DVM
Dr. Bosilevac has been practicing Veterinary Medicine since 1991 and is the owner of Best Care Pet Hospital. He enjoys all facets of Veterinary Medicine and is our primary provider of care for exotic and avian pets. He enjoys spending his time with his family and golfing. Dr. Bosilevac cares for patients at both Omaha locations.
Michael Howard DVM
Dr. Howard has been with Best Care Pet Hospital since 1994. He graduated from Kansas State University and is a loyal Wildcats fan. He practices general medicine and enjoys seeing a variety of patients. His family includes his wife, 2 children, and 2 cats, Teddy Totts and PeeWee.
Dr. Joni Brunssen
Dr. Brunssen grew up in south central Kansas. She received her bachelor's degree in Animal Science Industry from Kansas State University and worked 8 years for the USDA ,during which time she transferred to Omaha.
Deborah J Appleby DVM
Deborah J. Appleby DVM (aka Dr. Debbie) is the newest addition to our veterinary team. She has been a veterinarian in Omaha for 15 years.


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I want you to take a few seconds toimagine the following scenario:
You come in from a hard day's work and as soon as you get through your front door, your woman gives you a HUGE SMILE and looks really pleased to see you. You smile back, take her hand, pull her in close and give her a big kiss and a cuddle.
She makes dinner (whatever your favourite food is) and you share some conversation and a little wine (or a couple of beers) with your food. Then you relax for half an hour on the sofa – either listening to some music or watching television. Next, things get interesting…
You look at her and she looks at you and she takes your hand and demands that you take her to the bedroom. So… being the cool guy that you are (who is always willing and able to SATISFY HIS WOMAN) you take her to the bedroom and have sex with her. But you don't just have any old sex – no, no, no… you have really dirty, really naughty sex. You have the kind of sex that every man wants (but not many men ever get).
You get all the BLOW JOBS you could want and your woman even WANTS you to give her ANAL SEX. And remember – this happens every night (not just once a week or once a month like it is for many couples). Sounds pretty good, right?
Now, what if I told you that there is a way to make the scenario I described for you above a REALITY? Would you like to know how to do that? I thought you would. So pay close attention, because what I'm about to share with you has the power to take your SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS to the next level.
Naughty Sex – How To Make Your Woman Give You Everything You Want In Bed (Blow Jobs Included)
In order to get EVERYTHING you could ever dream of in the bedroom, the secret is actually very simple. Here it is…
Seriously, when you give your woman amazing sex – she will willingly do pretty much ANYTHING you want in the bedroom. Give her great sex and all the blow jobs you could ever dream of will be yours. You'll also be much more likely to get her to want ANAL SEX and even group sex (if that's your thing).
Now, let me tell you how to give your woman amazing sex… First, you must know that amazing sex is not giving your woman one clitoral orgasm using your tongue or fingers. You can give her an ORGASM that way – but that is not amazing sex (it's just OK sex).
Amazing sex is the kind of sex that causes your woman to brag to her friends about how good you are. Amazing sex is the kind of sex that makes your woman think of you as "the best she's ever had". And to give your woman amazing sex, you must give her many types of orgasm. Give her clitoral orgasms, VAGINAL orgasms and MULTIPLE orgasms.
Give her orgasms so hard and so powerful they bring a tear to her eye. Give her orgasms that make her scream your name so loudly it wakes the neighbours. Basically, give her sexual pleasure like very few men know how to give a woman. Do that and she will be eternally grateful, meaning that all the BLOW JOBS and other naughty things that you want from your woman in the bedroom, will become yours. Guaranteed.
In order to give your woman great sex and lots of ORGASMS, you must do several things that the "average man" does not do. For starters, you must respect your woman outside of the bedroom. Only when you respect your woman will she fully open up to you and surrender to you in the bedroom.
Next, you must always tell the truth and be a man of your word. This builds TRUST. Once you have a basic level of trust, you can then go on to build SEXUAL TRUST with your woman. Without sexual trust your woman will never get really naughty with you in the bedroom.
So if you want all the blow jobs and anal sex you could ever imagine – never lie or be dishonest with your woman.
INSIDE THE BEDROOM you must take control and lead your woman. Women are sexually submissive and they like strong, sexually confident, manly men. When you become that kind of guy and take control of your woman, she will love you for it.
Please remember that you must only TAKE CONTROL inside the bedroom. Your woman does not want you to control her outside of the bedroom. In fact, men who try to control their women outside of the bedroom are the exact opposite of what women want. They are weak, needy and insecure.
To give your woman great sex you must also TALK DIRTY. Women love dirty talk because it stimulates their mind (and for women, sex is very mental). Many men are afraid to talk dirty, but you must "step up" and use your voice in the bedroom if you want to become "the best your woman has ever had".
There is no other option. Other things you must do to give your woman great sex are to use techniques like The Welcomed Method and The Deep Spot Method to give her orgasms like no man will have done before.
And also remember to do things differently each time you have sex with your woman. Make love to her in many ways and in many locations – otherwise things will get boring. And if you allow the sex to get boring – your woman will stop wanting it. I'll finish by giving you two powerful examples from my own personal life.
With my first girlfriend (before I really worked out what great sex was) I had the kind of frustrating sex life that many men have and perhaps that you have right now. I wanted more sex than my girlfriend and I didn't know why. What's important to note is that at that moment in time I thought that giving her one clitoral orgasm each time we had sex was enough. How wrong was I!
Anyway, I split up with her and met a new girl. This time things were very different. I educated myself and I gave this girl incredible pleasure. I gave her clitoral orgasms, vaginal orgasms and multiple orgasms EVERY TIME we had sex. I also sometimes gave her squirting orgasms and even orgasms with no touching.
Now, let me ask you a few questions…
– How many blow jobs do you think I had with this girl?
That's right… as many as I wanted.
– Do you think I had anal sex with this girl?
You bet I did.
– And do you think this girl wanted as much sex as I did?
Truth be told – sometimes she wanted MORE THAN I DID.
Now I think you'll agree that is a massive contrast between those two relationships. And all I did to make the change was some learning. I taught myself how to give women incredible sex. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it.
After-all, a man's greatest pleasure is pleasing his woman. Are you pleasing your woman?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6690947


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Photo by Mitchell Feinberg
This spicy upscale popcorn combines two international ingredients: ground French peppers and Spanish almonds.
- Yield
- Makes about 8 cups
- 1 teaspoon piment d'Espelette or Hungarian hot paprika, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
- 1/4 cup peanut oil
- 3/4 cup whole roasted Marcona almonds*
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon piment d'Espelette and 1/2 teaspoon salt in small bowl and reserve.
- Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1/2 teaspoon piment d'Espelette and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Combine popcorn kernels and peanut oil in large deep pot with lid. Heat over medium-high heat, occasionally swirling pot so that popcorn kernels are coated with oil. Cover pot. When popcorn kernels start popping, rotate pot over burner until all kernels have popped. Remove popcorn from heat. Immediately add melted butter mixture and Marcona almonds to pot. Cover pot. Using oven mitts, firmly hold pot and lid together and shake until popcorn and Marcona almonds are well coated with melted butter mixture. Transfer popcorn mixture to serving bowl. Sprinkle with reserved piment d'Espelette-salt mixture and serve.
- Tender Spanish almonds that are usually sold roasted and salted; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and natural foods stores and online from latienda.com.
Ingredient tip:
Piment dEspelette is a coarse chili powder made from the Espelette pepper. It's available at specialty foods stores and from zingermans.com.
Per serving (1 cup): 225.4 kcal calories, 79.4 % calories from fat, 20.2 g fat, 6.8 g saturated fat, 22.5 mg cholesterol, 10.7 g carbohydrates, 2.5 g dietary fiber, 0.4 g total sugars, 8.2 g net carbohydrates, 3.2 g protein


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ANNUAL MANUAL- Outings: Shopping
It used to be that hardcore shoppers had to hit the road to get any satisfaction. Well, those days are over now that Charlottesville has more "shopportunities" than ever before. Whether you prefer chic boutiques, thrifty finds, or the wonder that is Target, all you need is your wallet and an urge to spend.
The Corner: From flirty frocks at Duo to fleet footwear at Ragged Mountain Running Shop to apparel and gear from UVA sports paraphernalia shop Mincer's, there's something for everyone.
Downtown Mall: Charlottesville's historic downtown mall is the place to stroll, stop for a bite, soak up Charlottesville's relaxed atmosphere. Check out Spring Street, Elsie Garden or Eloise for women's apparel and get the kiddies looking sharp at the newly expanded Petit Bebe at the corner of First and Water Streets. For funky and a bit more affordable (new and vintage) women's wear, check out Bittersweet two blocks south of the Mall.
Barracks Road Shopping Center: The place to go for the Banana Republic/Old Navy/Barnes & Noble fix.
Seminole Square Shopping Center: Draws discount fans with Marshall's and Big Lots.
Charlottesville Fashion Square: The region's only indoor mall unveiled its swanky $8.5 million renovation five years ago and houses J. Crew, Abercrombie and Fitch, and other mall regulars. Other big shopping plexes include Rio Hill (T. J. Maxx), Albemarle Square (Circuit City), and on the town's east side, Pantops Shopping Center (Rose's, Radio Shack).
Hollymead Town Center: Complex on 29N opened three years ago and is best known for its biggest tenant, Target.
World Market: Located on Emmet Street by Best Buy.
West of town: Shopping's scattered as you head west, but if you're taking the scenic ride out 250 toward Crozet, there are a few places to stop and shop along the way: pick up dinner fixings at Foods of All Nations, stationery at The Lime Tree. Coming soon: a Harris Teeter and other stores in the new Blue Ridge Shopping Center next to Blue Ridge Building Supply in Crozet.


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Mary Pickford Blogathon Announcement
40 comments:
- Ivan G Shreve Jr said...
Hey -- this will provide the perfect opportunity for me to unwrap my copy of Stella Maris! Excellent idea for a blogathon, K.C.!
- April 22, 2012 at 6:24 PM
- Ivan G Shreve Jr said...
Um...I hate to nitpick, but that first banner says the blogathon will be held on 2102. With my love of cheeseburgers and other fried foods, I can promise you I won't be around for that. :-)
- April 22, 2012 at 6:27 PM
- Citizen Screen said...
I know about Mary's role in the history of film and Hollywood. But am (shamefully) not familiar with her films. I'd love to participate in this, if possible. My film of choice for discussion is "Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove" (1934), her last film.
Let me know if this choice/submission is acceptable.
- April 22, 2012 at 6:33 PM
- Anonymous said...
This is wonderful. I share Mary's films with LA school kids in our Mobile Film Classroom Silent Film bootcamp where we teach kids how to make their own silent film. They connect with her right away. I'd like to write how Mary makes an excellent role model for today's girls, through her performances and her life story. Mary was a totally modern woman.
- April 22, 2012 at 7:10 PM
- KC said...
Yikes. Thanks Ivan. I'm delighted my proofreading lapse didn't scare you away.
Aurora-- That sounds great!
Manon-- Mobile Film Classroom Silent Film bootcamp? Where were you when I was a child? I'd love to interview you about that for the blog some day. For now though, yes, your topic sounds fascinating!
- April 22, 2012 at 7:30 PM
- Anonymous said...
KC -Where was any program like this when we were kids? It's the technology that makes it possible. The Mobile Film Classroom has been the primary educational outreach of the Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education. While I don't want to draw you into the current 'kerfuffle' between us and MPF, I do want to say we will continue the Mobile Film Classroom programs. Kids need to know about classic cinema as part of what it means to be literate in the 21st Century.
- April 22, 2012 at 7:35 PM
- KC said...
Oh yes Manon, I'd rather just focus on the program. If you'd like to chat, I'd love to feature it. Just shoot me an email at email@example.com.
- April 22, 2012 at 8:14 PM
- Anonymous said...
Wow love to get in on this and discuss her version of The Little Princess!
Also, if anyone's interested in doing her life I recommend the book Pickford: The Woman Who Made Hollywood. I read it for a film class and wrote a few papers on her and this book is fantastic!
- April 22, 2012 at 10:00 PM
- Mythical Monkey said...
Wait, the blogathon isn't in 2102? Well, then I'm going to have to pick up the pace a bit.
I'll send you an amended banner in a minute or two.
In fact, I meant to do more but last week the time just seemed to melt away. Why, I didn't even get to see last Sunday's episode of Mad Men until Saturday night ...
- April 23, 2012 at 6:37 AM
- Mythical Monkey said...
Oh, I see -- you've already fixed it.
Or I'm truly dyslexic ...
- April 23, 2012 at 6:39 AM
- Mythical Monkey said...
And count me in -- how about a review of Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley, which would actually fit in with my outlined plan of future posts!
- April 23, 2012 at 6:41 AM
- Lê said...
Hi, KC!
I'd love to do a review about Mary's Sparrows, from 1926.
- April 23, 2012 at 1:19 PM
- KC said...
Sounds good Journeysinclassicfilm. Thanks for the book recommendation.
Monkey--I couldn't figure out how to fix it, so I took it down. It's the one with her reading the newspaper. I liked it because of the "It's about time line." Do you think you could send a version for this year? No biggie if you don't have time! Good movie choice. I figured this event wouldn't take you too far off your usual path!
Le--Sparrows is the movie that got me interested in Pickford! I'm delighted you'll be covering it.
- April 23, 2012 at 9:09 PM
- Stacia said...
Hey, I'm in! I'd like to do Secrets (1933), primarily because I know where my copy is (for once!) I'll post about this tonight. And now to finish my email to ya...
- April 24, 2012 at 2:57 PM
- KC said...
Ah the swan song Stacia--that'll be great!
- April 24, 2012 at 9:55 PM
- Matthew Coniam said...
I'd be happy to expand my Cameos review of Kiki if that's any use - haven't checked to see if anyone else has bagged that one or not...
- April 26, 2012 at 7:03 AM
- KC said...
Matthew--that would be great! I don't mind if people double up on films, but Kiki is still uncovered. As I recall, your Cameos review wasn't glowing. I'm curious to learn more about it.
- April 26, 2012 at 1:39 PM
- Matthew Coniam said...
Then I shall!
It will give me a chance to be a little more generous than I obviously seemed... I love it, basically. It's just that it's the damnedest thing you ever saw.
- April 26, 2012 at 2:10 PM
- KC said...
Okay Matthew, I read the review again, and I'm sort of getting the love. Just a hint of it though. So now I definitely want to hear more. It sounds like the sort of movie I would obsess over.
- April 26, 2012 at 8:09 PM
- Chris Edwards said...
Hi KC. I just dropped you a Facebook note with an idea for this. Not sure how often you're on FB, tho...
Chris Edwards (Silent Volume)
- April 27, 2012 at 11:51 AM
- KC said...
Chris--thanks for getting in touch. I'm looking forward to your post!
- April 27, 2012 at 9:55 PM
- Author David W. Menefee said...
This should be fun! The first silent movie I ever saw featured Mary in a Biograph one-reeler. I've loved her ever since. -David W. Menefee, author of the new Mary Pickford book, SWEET MEMORIES.
- April 28, 2012 at 6:00 AM
- FlickChick said...
KC - I'd love to do a post on "The New York Hat" if that's okay with you!
- April 28, 2012 at 4:38 PM
- KC said...
I'm curious to know what movie that was David!
FlickChick--"The New York Hat" would be great. That's one of my favorite Biograph Pickford flicks.
- April 28, 2012 at 9:13 PM
- Kevyn Knox said...
The Most Beautiful Fraud in the World would like to jump on the Pickford bandwagon here, so count me in. I will probably do a career overview kinda thing instead of any specific film.
- April 29, 2012 at 7:07 PM
- KC said...
That would be great Kevyn. Thanks!
- April 30, 2012 at 8:48 AM
- Anonymous said...
Count The Hollywood Revue in! I'd like to do a review of My Best Girl.
- April 30, 2012 at 10:46 AM
- KC said...
Good choice hollywoodrevue! Such a charming flick.
- April 30, 2012 at 12:07 PM
- Page said...
Who doesn't love Mary? I'll probably do a profile of her and not a review if that's okay.
Going to go add a banner at my place right now.
- May 5, 2012 at 9:36 AM
- KC said...
Page--If it is going to be anything like your typical profiles, I am beyond excited! So happy you will be doing this.
- May 5, 2012 at 4:35 PM
- Brandie said...
Don't know how I missed this, but I would love to throw my two cents in on The Poor Little Rich Girl over at True Classics.
- May 5, 2012 at 11:22 PM
- KC said...
Wonderful Brandie. I just watched this on Pub-d-Hub the other night. The scenes with that bratty playmate are hilarious!
- May 6, 2012 at 9:20 AM
- Timothy S. Brannan said...
I have only seen one Mary Pickford film in my life, but it has had such a profound effect me and my writings that I would be remiss if I didn't participate in this.
I will have a post ready on my blog for June 1st!
- May 10, 2012 at 9:29 AM
- KC said...
Sounds good. Thanks Tim!
- May 10, 2012 at 2:57 PM
- HughMN said...
Manon told me about this, and it sounds GREAT. So you can count me in. If I can finish packing, I think I might enjoy writing something about Mary and her mother Charlotte as producers. They were really quite a team.
Director of Archive, Library and Legacy
Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education
- May 10, 2012 at 8:00 PM
- KC said...
Wonderful! So nice to have you on board Hugh. Mary and her mother were definitely an amazing team when it came to any sort of business. I'm glad Charlotte will be getting some attention.
- May 10, 2012 at 9:16 PM
- WhatHappnd2Hollywood said...
I would love to participate! It said to sign up leave a comment, let me know what else I need to do (if anything) Love this idea! :) Thx whathappend2hollywood.blogspot.com
- May 11, 2012 at 10:07 AM
- KC said...
That's great WhatHappnd2Hollywood! If you want to share what you'll be writing about, that would be cool, but you don't have to. Glad to have you.
- May 11, 2012 at 9:45 PM
- Anonymous said...
Just to mention here that I'm planning to do a piece about 'Daddy Long Legs' - looking forward to it! Judy
- May 23, 2012 at 12:47 PM
- KC said...
Thanks for making it official Judy. I'm so glad you are covering Daddy Long Legs. It's one of my favorites!
- May 23, 2012 at 1:59 PM


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You can see it on the horizon, but you're too busy to address it right now. You're juggling life – a family, full-time job, pets, financials and everything else that goes with it. So when spending time with your aging parents, you probably can't imagine incurring something the size of their waning independence. And so it's easy to let it go, for now.
But the hard reality remains: most Americans do not have a plan for their aging loved one. When the problem with Mom or Dad worsens, many families endure the chaos and stress of trying to find a solution.
It doesn't have to be this way. Don't wait any longer. Find peace of mind by preparing yourself for what's ahead.
The first step toward maintaining your aging parent's well-being is to come up with a plan of care. With each passing year, your elderly parent may only require more assistance. A trusted caregiving agency can give an honest and experienced perspective on what to expect. Planning early for Mom or Dad will help you make better decisions.
Did You Know?
You want the best for your mom and dad, so it's time to think about how to address the challenge of caring for them when they can no longer care for themselves.
The plan must be sustainable and realistic. Daily pressures from your work and personal life will prevent you from adequately addressing the needs of an aging parent. You're already a mom to growing children, a wife and a worker. When assuming the role of family caregiver to your elderly loved one, you represent the sandwich generation. You're dealing with extra emotional, financial and legal stress. According to 'Caregiving in the U.S.' by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP Public Policy Institute, "On average, caregivers spend 24.4 hours a week providing care to their loved one. Nearly one-quarter provide 41 or more hours of care a week (23%)."
Don't risk exposing yourself to dangerous burnout. Instead, a professional caregiver has the training to offer daily assistance to mom or dad. You can also rely on the caregiver to give you much-needed respite care.
A professional caregiver provides essential personal support for your aging parent. This person is a fully-trained professional. Compassion and patience underscore quality caregiving at home. When your mom or dad needs help with grooming, dressing, or preparing meals, the professional caregiver serves as the solution. The dedicated hire can also provide medication reminders, so your aging parent won't forget.
The benefits of the professional caregiver include better health and potentially lower medical bills for your parent. "Elderly Americans receiving home care generally need fewer trips to doctors and hospitals. As a result, home care reduces overall health care costs…" according to the joint report by the Home Care Association of America and Global Coalition on Aging.
As your elderly loved one ages, it's essential to keep stimulating his or her cognitive and social abilities. The friendly professional caregiver can energize your aging parent. This person is trained to support the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of the elderly. The professional caregiver offers a host of care services that can including teaching mom or dad the basics of texting, surfing the internet and social media. Your aging loved one won't feel lonely or depressed. Instead, Mom or Dad will learn how to stay connected with you and the world.
Older people fall every second of every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The likelihood of a fall increases with age, up to 37 percent in people 85 years or older. So, it's smart to hire a professional caregiver to prevent a fall before it happens to Mom or Dad. You will get a thorough assessment of the risk factors.
Meanwhile, the professional caregiver provides customized care for Mom or Dad experiencing dementia or Alzheimer's. Your aging parent can avoid dangerous situations like keeping the stove on or getting lost while going to the grocery store.
It's natural to worry about your aging loved one; however, you can feel good knowing a professional caregiver is present, especially if you live a distance from Mom or Dad. Long-distance services give you the option to send care when you can't be there.
Planning now for your elderly loved one will save you from panic, guilt and stress. Don't wait for the dizzying chaos of a parent's life event that changes everything. Planning for home care services right now can save you from having to react to an incident, but instead allow a plan your family made to unfold as it should.
Click here for more ways to be proactive, including knowing the signs of decreased independence of which you cannot ignore.
Other Articles
Please pass along our thanks to Tim, Chris, Linda, and Theresa for all they have done.
Please pass along our thanks to Tim, Chris, Linda, and Theresa for all they have done.


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Director, Psychological Services CenterProfessor of Psychology
DEC, College Edouard Montpetit, CanadaB.A., McGill University, CanadaM.A., Ph.D., Long Island University
My work of the last two decades has focused on the training of well rounded, culturally aware therapists and scholars through teaching, training and supervision. Some of my areas of specialization in private practice relate to the creative process with a focus on "writer's block". One of my priorities has been to maintain an accessible practice in which I treat patients who face a wide variety of social and psychological challenges, since I strongly believe that psychotherapy is not a luxury for the few.
Psychotherapy and the creative process.
Supervision and training of student therapist
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This awesome photo is of a newly discovered deep sea worm, Swima fulgida. Measuring just over an inch long, this little guy lives 9,000 feet underwater and escapes predators by flinging homemade "bombs" at its enemies.
This is one of two new species discovered by researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. The creature uses its tiny bristles to swim through the water. Like many deep-sea organisms, it's bioluminescent, but not completely - you can see a tiny black patch near its mouth. That area is actually the worm's gut, and the researchers suspect that it's meant to hide the sight of its own bioluminescent prey being digested.
These worms also have to worry about larger predators, and it possesses a pretty awesomely ingenious escape mechanism. When a predator approaches, the worm will drop one of its "bombs", which are those tiny green structures just behind its head on the photo on the left. Somewhat disappointingly, these bombs don't actually explode - they simply glow for a few seconds after being detached from the rest of the worm. That sight, however, is enough to keep the predator distracted long enough for the worm to make a hasty retreat.
For some more beautiful photos of the newly discovered species, check out the BBC.


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Need to integrate Salesforce and QuickBooks? You got it! Apatar's On-Demand solution for Salesforce and QuickBooks integration is an intuitive tool to synchronize your on-demand and on-premises data. It's time you no longer need to move or update lists of accounts/customers between your Salesforce and on-premises QuickBooks manually. Apatar's On-Demand solution for Salesforce and QuickBooks integration will take care of it and make sure that both systems have no double entries. Forget about errors caused by duplicate data or by incomplete information. Leave custom programming, design, and coding behind. Sounds like a dream? Try it out and you'll see.
Apatar offers a pre-built solution that will help you one- or two-way synchronization of data between Salesforce and your desktop instance of QuickBooks. The solution was designed to avoid writing duplicates into Salesforce so that your data stays clean. No coding! No tables and fields matching! Just enter your Salesforce.com access details, add an application to your QuickBooks Web Connector and click Update! Did you ever think it could be that easy?!
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Summer is nearly upon us and with it brings festival season. We have made Camp Bestival our UK summer break for the last three years and this year will be no different.
Perfect for children of all ages (we have even been with a new born baby) it really is the highlight of the summer. Camp Bestival 2016 brings Outer Space adventures with Fatboy Slim, Tears for Fears, Jess Glynne, Mr Tumble, The Chuckle Brothers, The Clangers (apply for a place at their meet-and-greet here.), the World's biggest bouncy castle and a whole galaxy of astronomical amusements.
If you are considering joining us, take a look at this fab video from Bambino Goodies and our photo gallery from last year.
Visit www.campbestival.net for ticket information. See you in Outer Space!
I am an official Camp Bestival Ambassador and am provided with a family ticket to attend. All views are my own and in no way influenced by the organiser. Camp Bestival is simply THE BEST.


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SAMJ: South African Medical Journal
versión On-line ISSN 2078-5135
versión impresa ISSN 0256-9574
SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.101 no.5 Pretoria may. 2011
Launch of the southern African human genome programme
To the Editor: The Southern African Human Genome Programme (SAHGP) is a ground-breaking national and regional initiative that aims to unlock the unique genetic character of southern African populations. Through generous support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the SAHGP was officially launched on 27 and 28 January 2011. Its vision is to improve quality of life by understanding human genetic diversity, to be achieved via the following objectives:
1. developing capacity for genomic research in southern Africa
2. establishing a sustainable resource for genomic research (including a regional sample repository and database)
3. translating the information and knowledge into improvements in human health.
The SAHGP includes scientists, medical practitioners, biostatisticians, ethicists, government representatives, lawyers and industry representatives, and is managed and led by southern Africans (emphasising the critical importance of sovereignty); its outputs will benefit southern African populations. The SAHGP will therefore focus specifically on southern African genomes; one of its most important objectives is to build local capacity for genomerelated research to ensure that this programme remains true to its objectives of being Africo-centric and is sustainable.
Evidence suggests that humans evolved in Africa; consequently, the African gene pool is likely to hold import information regarding the selection of genetic variants in response to changing environments. However, this information has not been fully examined in Africa so as to understand population-specific disease burdens and the efficacy of various treatments. The programme aims to make a significant contribution to understanding DNA variation among southern Africans and how this affects the health of the people of the region. Potential long-term benefits include new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent the numerous diseases that affect the people of the region and so alleviate the significant burden this causes.
A significant amount of biological material (including animal, plant and human) has left South Africa over the past few decades. In a country with the potential to build skilled resources, it is important that much of the work be done locally. It is imperative to forge collaborations nationally and internationally, in the public and private sectors, and to remain mindful of the social, ethical and legal contexts. Understanding the pathogenesis of disease in an indigenous population is best done by the people intimately familiar with that region. Southern Africa has some very specific disease patterns that need to be recognised, studied and analysed in a local context, taking into consideration local population structures.
The programme will pool research efforts at a national and regional level and ensure that benefit sharing is achieved. The requisite co-ordination between funders, stakeholders and researchers, and the infrastructure and skills that are needed to obtain the information and analyse it, as well as the sheer quantity of information, make it imperative to run the project at a national and regional level. To ensure its independence, the SAHGP will be structured as an independent non-profit entity which will directly manage its partnerships with national and international collaborators and allied research initiatives such as Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa), the African Society for Human Genetics, and the Southern African Society for Human Genetics, all of which aim to build genetic and genomic research and service-based capacity in African countries.
In its first phase, the programme is jointly co-ordinated by Michael Pepper and Michèle Ramsay, who may be contacted for further details (firstname.lastname@example.com and firstname.lastname@example.com).
The SAHGP core group members are Soraya Bardien-Kruger and Louise Warnich (US), Alan Christoffels (UWC), Jeffrey Mphahlele and Philippus Venter (UL), Hugh Napier and Michael Pepper (UP), Raj Ramasar (UCT), Michèle Ramsay and Himla Soodyall (NHLS/Wits) and Jasper Rees (UWC/ARC).
M S Pepper
Unit for Advanced Studies, University of Pretoria; Extraordinary Professor,
Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria; and
Professeur Associé, Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland


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This is a much over due public apology. I acted like a complete and total douchebag. My comments, ignorant to the situation or otherwise, were uncalled for, unprovoked, out of line, and just plain ........ed up.
Your very lucky to have such a lovely wife, and the making of a very strong base for a family, we should all be so lucky (non pun intended). One of my biggest problem is Rod is never wrong, if im not perfect its a shock to my entire world. I know, im suprised too.
Had i taken the time to reflect on my own attitude and actions before i had opened my mouth than i would have realised that you sir are a better man than i am ever going to be. Maybe had i taken a lesson from you my relationship wouldnt have fallen out from under me.
So, to you, and more so to your wife, you have my deepest apologies, im an .............. in more ways than i will ever know. At the time i made it even worse than it originally had been, and Govtcheez was right: You shouldnt have been banned, and i shouldnt have been given rights to the forums back.
So with that said, i'm sorry. I'm sorry to everyone else, with a few exceptions, you know who you are.


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Editor's note: The rating on this review has been lowered from 7.8 to 7.4, due to changes in the competitive landscape, including the release of the TiVo HD. We have also published a note regarding the disparity between our rating and the product's user rating.
In April 2004, DirecTV was one of the first companies to offer a DVR that could record in high-def, the DirecTV HD TiVo. Its successor is the DirecTV Plus HD DVR, or HR20 for short, and despite the passage of some 29 months, they're pretty darn similar. Both allow all of the now-familiar "pause live TV, fast-forward through commercials, record any show you want at any time" goodness of standard DVRs, both can record two high-def channels at once, and both cost more at the outset than HD DVRs that are available for rent from your cable company. But there are also a few major differences. The HR20 dropped the friendly, smiling TiVo interface and replaced it with a new, perfectly competent menu system designed by DirecTV. It costs a lot less, works a lot faster, and does a good deal more than the original, too--namely, it can receive and record a whole range of new HD channels, starting with local high-def versions of the four or five major broadcast networks in 49 metropolitan areas (as of the time of this writing), representing a majority of the U.S. population. These channels and all future DirecTV HD channels will utilize MPEG-4 AVC compression, which squeezes more information out of limited bandwidth.
DirecTV's major competition, aside from the cable companies, is fellow satellite provider Dish Network, which has had its next-generation MPEG-4 high-def DVR, the ViP622, on the market since early 2006. Given recent changes in both companies' pricing packages, and the similar costs of their respective HD-DVRs (depending on current rebate deals, they both cost from $199 to $249 for new subscribers), you're not going to pay too much more for one or the other. Both companies offer substantially different programming options, which you can find outlined here, and for the most part we recommend choosing between the two based on your programming needs first. (Sports fans, keep in mind that cable will almost always offer superior local HD sports programming to satellite, while DirecTV's exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket package remains a big draw for football fans.) Programming aside, we did end up liking the Dish better, and both outclass the typical cable company DVR, hands down. No, the HR20 didn't deliver quite the same consistency of performance we've seen on some other DVRs, and judging from the opinions of CNET users, some work well while a significant proportion do not. Of course, we expect DirecTV's constant software updates to improve performance, but if you buy an HR20 now, you should be prepared for bugs. Providing you get a model that works consistently, as our review sample has, the DirecTV HR20 is a well-thought-out, easy-to-use conduit to DirecTV's programming.
The box
On the outside, the DirecTV HR20 gets all-silver coloring, a few important buttons, and numerous useless lights. Our eyes were immediately drawn to the circle in the center of the unit's face, which incorporates a four-way directional keypad and Select button, along with a circle of 12 bright blue LEDs. When the receiver is turned on, the LEDs glow steadily unless you fast-forward or rewind, which causes them to begin a mesmerizing rotation in the appropriate direction. Aside from the light show, the face also sports Power, Guide, Menu, and Record buttons (the last illuminates yellow during recordings) to the left and Active, Info, and Res buttons (the last, a very convenient option, toggles through 480i, 480p, 720, or 1080i outputs) to the right. The rectangular box measures about 15.1 by 2.8 by 12.3 inches (WHD) and weighs 9.5 pounds.
While the typical DVRs look relatively unobtrusive, the HR20's incidental sights and sounds became noticeable after awhile. The blue lights were distracting in a dark room when the box was within line of sight. (Tip: you can disable the lights by pressing the left and right arrows on the front panel simultaneously; doing so four times extinguishes the lights.) The DirecTV HR20 also runs noisier than any other DVR we've tested; its subtle computer-sounding whine was audible from about 10 feet away, and we noticed it a couple times during quiet passages in movies, for example. For this reason we'd prefer to stash it in a (well-ventilated) cabinet.
The remote
The remote's best feature, however, is RF capability. Like the ViP622's secondary remote, you can take the HR20's clicker across the house and still control the action. Now, Grandma can aim at the TV itself--instead of at the receiver--and still change the channel, or you can stash the blinking box inside a cabinet and still get full control. DirecTV claims a range of 200 feet, and we were able to control the receiver in apartment from outside in the hallway. The main downside to putting the box and the remote in RF mode is that it disables standard IR (infrared) reception capability, so you can't use an IR-dependent device such as a Slingbox.
DVR controls
Like any DVR, the DirecTV HR20 is always recording everything you watch, and it buffers the last 90 minutes of the show as long as you remain on the same channel; the ViP622 buffers an hour. Controls for live and recorded programs include pause, stop, play, fast-forward and rewind (three speeds for each); as well as slow motion, frame-by-frame, and a 30-second reverse skip. So far so good, but users will find one major thing missing compared to (hacked) TiVo and Dish: there's no true 30-second forward skip. Instead, when you press the skip button, the HR20 fast-forwards ahead 30 seconds for each button-press. Happily, DirecTV has seen fit to speed up the 30-second "skip" in one of its software updates, so the fast-forward takes only about 2 seconds instead of the 6 it took before. It also took moment for sound to come back on after a skip.
Lack of a true 30-second skip is a blatant concession to advertisers, since the most important part of most ads--the logo--will still be plainly visible during such a slow fast-forward. Compared to a real skip, the HR20's version is also a waste of time. On the other hand, we were happy to see that DirecTV added a fourth, extra-fast, conventional fast-forward speed, which is great for blasting through long programs.
We did like the HR20's unique ability to bookmark recorded programs. Pausing a recording during playback and pressing the green button creates a bookmark, denoted on the progress bar with a little notch, and we created 20 such bookmarks during an hour-long show with no problem. To move to a bookmark, you simply select it from the quick menu (see below) and the DVR jumps directly there.
General interface
As a whole, the HR20's user interface is among the best we've used, and certainly up to the tough competition. People used to TiVo might miss the animated graphics and plain-language menus, but we appreciated the HR20's relative simplicity and the speed at which it moved. The old DirecTV HD TiVo is positively pokey in comparison, although the menus of both Dish and TiVo Series3 move at about the same speed. DirecTV's blue-and-yellow color scheme is great for highlighting various items, and the use of tabs and left-hand navigation menus will be familiar to anyone who's spent time browsing the Web (Dish's graphics, with their rounded edges and oversized type, look antiquated by comparison). There's even a convenient Back button that takes you to the previous screen.
Our favorite interface feature is the context-sensitive, popup-style Quick Menu. Think of it as the "right-click" in Windows, which offers common options depending on what you're doing. If you're watching a live or recorded program, for example, the menu gives you audio options, favorite channels, your list of recorded programs (DirecTV calls it--confusingly--MyVOD), search, recent phone calls from the caller-ID function, help and settings, and parental locks. If you're in the EPG, the audio options disappear, replaced by category sort, date and time search, and pay-per-view options in addition to the others. From the MyVOD list, the options change to sorting, mass delete (a very welcome feature), and control of program groupings. Users unfamiliar with all the capabilities of the DVR will find the menu a great way to intuitively explore and access all of its functions. That's a good thing, because the thin manual included with the HR20 is brief to the point of uselessness about most of the receiver's capabilities.
Electronic program guide (EPG)
We found using the EPG itself, which goes out to 14 days, a generally satisfying experience, and the DirecTV HR20 offers better options for finding programming than any DVR we've seen yet. In addition to the usual title, person, and keyword searches, you can search for actual channels, a great option given the hundreds available--and much quicker than paging through the Guide. A convenient list of past searches is kept automatically, so you don't have to retype them.
We also love the numerous targeted genre searches, which, of course, include sports, news, movies, and specials, but also unusual subcategories such as award ceremony and finale. Tweakers will appreciate the option to search for audio/video criteria, including HDTV, Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround, wide-screen, letterbox, and more. It was a disappointment, however, when some of the searches incorrectly came up empty. We know for a fact that numerous movies are in wide-screen, for example, but that search was blank. The same went for our Dolby Digital search. (Although DirecTV said it would address this issue after our initial review came out, four months later these searches still don't work).
Other EPG niceties include the ability to jump directly to a date and time--again, much faster than paging through; a 12-hour jump-ahead or -back; a great HD tag right next to high-def show titles, which immediately indicates which shows are actually in high-def; and the ability to fast-forward, rewind, and so forth, in the little inset window. Finally, there's a cool Showings option in the program information screen, which can automatically search for upcoming episodes of any selected show.
We did run into some major snags though. First off, it takes longer to page vertically through the guide or move forward in time than with the other high-end DVRs we've tested; the delay of about 2 seconds as the guide loaded the next screen was annoying, especially when trying to blast through the list. We also didn't like that pressing the Guide button brings up not the guide itself, but an interstitial screen requiring you to filter the guide by various criteria: all channels; movies and events; sports; news and information; entertainment and music; family and kids; local; and HDTV. While some people might like the option to quickly narrow down the innumerable channels every time they look at the guide, we found it tiresome after awhile, and quickly got used to hitting Guide twice, which took us directly to the all-channels list. It's also worth noting that some of the filters, such as the genre searches, didn't function correctly; the HDTV filter, for example, included a handful of standard-def channels as well as some XM music channels.
As usual, the all-channels list showed numerous channels we couldn't receive, such as west coast feeds of HD channels, local sports channels, and international channels. Unlike Dish or TiVo, however, those unreceivable channels weren't clearly marked, whether on the EPG or a search results list--we had to select one to find whether or not it was active. There is supposedly a way to restrict the Guide to only channels I get, but it is currently disabled, according to DirecTV. Although the company originally told us it would enable channels I get by the end of 2006, it still has yet to do so.
The HR20 does let you create two different favorite-channels lists (Dish gives you four and TiVo one), one of which you could substitute in place of the default all-channels list. Unfortunately, given the hundreds of channels, creating your own custom I get list using the favorites function is a real pain (see Tips & Tricks above). It's worth noting that with most cable DVRs, you get no control whatsoever over the default Guide, so the HR20's level of EPG customization is better than nothing, just not yet as good as TiVo's or Dish's.
When programming the ATSC tuner, the over-the-air channels get mixed in with the satellite channels, and DirecTV provides EPG information for both. Unfortunately, when we used the setup menu to try to remove the OTA channels that we couldn't receive from the Guide, they remained, regardless. We hope DirecTV addresses this bug with more enthususiasm than it showed with channels I get.
Recording programs
Here the HR20 introduces another refreshing, simple change: when you press the record button, whether while watching live TV or from the Guide, the DVR just begins recording the current program or marks the future program for recording, no questions asked. Other DVRs, such as Dish and TiVo, usually give you a mandatory screen in which you must set recording options before the recording begins, and that often becomes a pain--especially with the Dish, which defaults to "all episodes" of a show. You can easily adjust recording options separately if you want, but often it's not necessary. We would have liked to see an automatic "overtime" extention of an hour or two for sports programs though, a feature found on Dish and some cable DVRs.
Of course, you can schedule the HR20 to record every episode of a particular show, just first-run episodes, or just repeats (TiVo users: that's the same as Season Pass). Search results, whether from keywords, actors, or other criteria, can be automatically recorded (known as Wish List to TiVotees). You can adjust how many episodes to keep and when to delete them. There's the familiar to-do list that shows the upcoming scheduled recordings and also a history that shows past scheduled recordings--unique, in our experience. It's easy to keep track of purchases, a.k.a pay-per-view, as well as automatically prioritize season passes. Conflicts, which can occur when you schedule a third recording that overlaps the first two, are easily resolved manually or via the Prioritizer. We also liked the ability to manually schedule a recording by channel, time, and length, an option missing from some DVRs.
Another bug DirecTV has yet to address is that the option to extend a scheduled recording past its standard stop time doesn't work consistently. When recording a basketball game, for example, we tried to set it to record an extra hour to account for possible overtime, and it failed to do so. On a couple of occasions, inserting this kind of "padding" actually caused the HR20 to crash. As a workaround, we simply recorded the shows that came on after the game, but of course, we'd like to see this feature function properly.


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Newsboys' Peter Furler Asks, "Am I Worth Following?"
- Lizza Connor CCM Magazine
- 2005 7 Feb
How does it feel?
To be on your own
A complete unknown
With no direction …
— Bob Dylan, "Like a Rolling Stone"
Peter Furler's story today unfolds like any Bob Dylan song — long and meandering, colorful and weighty, slightly unbelievable, nevertheless, vulnerable and honest. From the Franklin, Tenn.-based psychiatric hospital-turned-recording-studio, the Newsboys front man relays his own epic of upheaval, downward spiral and, now, ascent.
This conflict between man and himself is a universal theme that makes for Pulitzer prize-winning literature and world-renowned art. For Furler, it's the stuff of inspired melody and lyrics. His band's latest album, "Devotion," released in November. Furler cites the follow-up to the Dove Award-winning worship CD, "Adoration," as a natural outgrowth of recent events in his life.
But the new CD release doesn't compare to the spiritual renewal he's experiencing, and it is, he says, "far more exciting than music."
Welcome to Struggleville
About four years ago, the Aussie-born singer/songwriter and his band, the Newsboys, comprised of Furler (lead vocals), Jeff Frankenstein (keyboards), Phil Joel (bass), Duncan Phillips (drums) and Bryan Olesen (guitars), were enjoying success beyond what they could have imagined — gold records, sold-out tours, the adoration of audiences and media alike. But things couldn't have been more broken under the surface. "Everything in my life was falling apart," Furler says.
His marriage was strained, and his faith had lapsed. Growing up a pastor's kid, Furler says, had a strange, lasting effect on him. Instead of attending youth group and Sunday services in his youth, he developed a bit of a rebellious spirit. Over the years, he'd moved away from reading Scripture with regularity.
"I couldn't judge my thoughts and attitudes or other people's opinion because I had nothing to judge them against," Furler says. "I didn't know where the truth was, and I was led all the wrong places."
And though he had the knowledge of biblical truth planted in him from earlier years, Furler says it wasn't evident in his life. "I knew Jesus was the way, but I was lost. I knew He was the truth, but there wasn't much truth in me. I knew He was the life, but my life didn't look any different than anyone else's," he says.
Furler plunged into a descent he calls a "crash in slow motion."
We Are a Beginning
"Sometimes when you get floored, that's the place where God likes to find you," Furler explains. He took to heart the famous 20th-century theologian Thomas Merton's words that "even the desire to desire God comes from Him." And although, Furler, a voracious reader, had acquired great knowledge of Merton, Chesterton and Augustine's work over the years, he hadn't returned to the source. Thus, he began petitioning God for a hunger for His Word.
Furler began building a new faith-based perspective as he devoured the Scriptures. God's voice became apparent in his life as he used the Bible as a gauge for others' opinions and circumstances. A new sense of peace settled on him, and his marriage was on the mend; yet something was still lacking.
As he searched the Word for the missing link, Furler says what struck him most was the value of community and the lack thereof in his own life.
"It's not good for man to be alone," he says, citing Genesis and the creation of man. "I had nothing against church; I just had no spiritual family."
Furler says his idea of church was riding around in his car on Sunday morning listening to audiotapes of Nashville-based Rev. Ray McCullum.
As he gained an understanding of the scriptural principle of community, Furler says God blessed him with friends "worth following," including the Rev. Rice Brooks, pastor of Furler's current church home.
"Accountability," once a term he'd associated with gossipy small groups and self-help circles, became a source of comfort once he began developing relationships with other godly men.
"You can explain the word 'accountability' to someone, and it just sounds like networking," Furler acknowledges. "But I've found that it just means living in fellowship with one another. Now when I go to church, I don't go for the music, the décor, the atmosphere. I go because it's people walking together in the light."
Personal Revolution
What Furler is finding these days is that "rock & roll is boring in comparison to the true church." This artist, who once viewed his purpose as entertaining audiences, is not the same person now, he says.
"In these last few years, I've lived my life, thinking, 'I've got to seek first the Kingdom and love my wife as unto the Lord. That's all I can do right now," he says. "I know who I am in Christ, and all the other stuff is going to burn away in a beautiful way."
"Newsboys was my 'food' for many years," acknowledges Furler, "but I was starving." What sustains him now is God's purpose. "I don't care about what people think or how our record [sells] because that's not my food anymore. It's about seeking God's Kingdom and having someone in my life who's gone before me, who'll stand by my side."
He recalls an influential, impromptu Bible study several years ago at the studio with Rev. McCullum. The whole band was present and had recognized the crisis brewing, Furler says. McCullum spoke truth that served as a healing salve for the band.
McCullum talked about the church, what it meant to live in community and how to use one's influence in one's respective peer group.
After that, something changed in the group's dynamic. Each member gradually locked into his respective church. The Newsboys members re-examined their relationships with each other. "Because of our pastors, [the relationships] are being restored," Furler says.
Newsboys keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein confirms the change. "Within the band, we've always been 'guy's guys,' who didn't encourage or compliment each other. But we are seeing the Lord do His work."
Furthermore, Frankenstein says Furler's personal testimony has inspired and reshaped the band. "The leader of any group sets the tone, and Peter isn't the same guy I met 11 years ago. He's opened up, and his personality has changed."
Frankenstein adds that the Newsboys have also realized what an example they can be to people and also mourns the fact that "we've neglected that.
"We didn't realize how much we were missing and how much more there was. I know there are people out there who are like us. I know there are fathers out in the audience struggling to keep their families together, and there are kids who are skeptical of the church. For us, as a band, [our goal now is] encouraging the church and other believers."
The Ground Beneath Your Feet
The dramatic change in Furler's relationships with his wife, his band mates and his Creator continues to humble and amaze him, he says. To maintain perspective, he measures his actions against one standard: "The greatest question I can ask myself now is, 'Am I worth following?'" Furler says. But he's quick to point out he doesn't need a multitude.
"Jesus told us to go into all the nations and make disciples. He didn't tell us to go sell records. The only way I can make disciples is if I am a disciple. That's how we are going to make a difference."
Furler says the most important thing he's learned from the experience is the importance of knowing Scripture and the value of memorizing it. "When the storms of life blew in, I was always blown over because I lacked that foundation," he admits.
"What you put in front of your eyes and in your ears will shape you," says Furler, "and we need to be shaped by God's Word. It's pure, it's living and active."
These days, Furler and his band are pointing audiences toward the devotional they use, "The Purple Book," co-written by Furler's pastor, Rice Brooks. "The Purple Book," slated to be in stores next year, outlines basic biblical doctrines.
Furler says he'd like to see the book, now free at Newsboys concerts, in the hands of a million people over the next year.
"If we are going to spend our time out on the road and leave our families, we want to encourage people to be a part of the church Jesus is building," he says. "Our music will be forgotten at some point, but the Word won't."
What's Next for the Newsboys?
Furler says restoration is a natural step forward.
The band's latest release, "Devotion," follows up the extremely popular worship record, "Adoration," and some question whether these rock & rollers are going in a new direction. Its 10 songs are upbeat and vertical in nature, and Furler employs some of the worship circle's best tunesmiths to co-write, including Tim Hughes and Steve Taylor.
But, according to Furler, there's no grand ideological shift that's taken place here. Rather, these songs are just conduits for relaying his recent experience. "Since I've been so excited about the church recently, there was definitely more of a corporate feel on "Devotion." But I just made this record. I didn't try to make a 'worship record,'" he says.
He does, however, cite one particular experience a few years back that changed his approach to writing songs. As he was sitting in his living room banging out tunes on his guitar, he felt a stirring in his heart.
"God was saying to me, 'Tomorrow night you're going to be in an arena filled with people. How will you lead them to worship Me?'"
"And I couldn't do it. I felt so convicted," he says. "That's when I wrote 'It Is You.'" Furler says from then on he approached his craft with an eternal perspective, and his songwriting hasn't been the same since.
He eschews the question of whether the Newsboys are jumping on some kind of worship bandwagon. "If you're writing a worship song for the wrong motives or to sell records, then … people can sniff that out. They know a phony. There are more worship records out there that don't sell than worship records that do sell."
As for the Newsboys' next release?
"I don't know what it will sound like yet," says Furler.
But he does offer one hint about the content. "I feel like it will be about restoration," he explains. "You adore something, often from a distance. To be devoted to it, you have to come a little bit closer. When you finally touch it, if it's something good, it will start to restore you. And that's what this process has been like for me. I've started to adore the things of God, now I've become more devoted to them, and they've begun to restore me."
© 2005 CCM Magazine. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Click here to subscribe.