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Israel's Netanyahu: We Will Not Let Iran Get Nukes Even if We Stand Alone
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A water rescue was underway in Rotorua tonight after four people on an overloaded boat were pulled from the water. A St…


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Give me Yeast and Watch me Rise!
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It wiggled and wobbled. It knew not its purpose, still it glided over the white surface. The image looked like a flower, then it was given hands and soon a face appeared. It was the pen in my hand - just making indistinct lines on paper. Then, it found a path and started making words. The words became a voice, speaking of life.
Everyone must have something you are passionate about. It is that passion that drives you on, without it you could just sit in a place and dwindle. The discovery of that passion is essential to self-fulfilment. I found my passion in writing and as I gained insight into the issue of women rights I started writing gender-sensitive stories and articles that explored the confines limiting women all over the world. My personal vision is to achieve excellence in all that I do - to hone my writing skills; to write books; to make my voice heard on pressing issues that will impact positively on women and men all over the world.
As a budding academic, I see education as one of the ways in which a woman is empowered. While shopping for ingredients to bake bread, I went into one of my frequent introspective moments. I looked at the middle-aged woman measuring the flour. She was uneducated like most women traders who stopped attending school at the primary or secondary school level. However, she had a means of livelihood which is something not all uneducated women have. In my community, there is an influx of teenage illiterate mothers, sometimes single parents with no form of employment and who sometimes take on unstable menial jobs or the age-long profession of hawking their bodies.
At home, as I mixed the sugar evenly into the flour, a vision began to form in my mind. I was going to make whole wheat bread but not everyone has to bake or eat that kind of bread. There is banana bread, corn bread and white bread. In a similar vein, not every woman would be able to go through a "four-walled" educational system. In Nigeria, the government often sets up measures to curb problems - a method of treating the symptoms and ignoring the disease itself. In the past some female politicians have embarked on programs to rehabilitate sex workers. This is a good thing, but why are there no measures in place to help them in the first place before they resort to prostitution?
As I ruminated on this issue, the idea of a skill-based educational system was birthed in me. It is often difficult for some women or girls who have had their education interrupted at a particular level due to financial constraints and other cultural barriers, to return to a formal school system. Most times, they are already too old and feel out of place or they have become stuck in old ways to learn something radically different. I dream of a system which will adopt this kind of people, where they can learn skills that can lead to empowering enterprises. The women would be taught to read and write and tutored in the area of their interests such as tailoring, hairdressing, trading, commercial transportation, etc. After the training, they would be given funds to set up their own businesses. The failure of adult education in Nigeria is mostly due to its unfit curricula. I once heard of a program that met that description of unfitness - they were teaching uneducated women to use the computer when they could not even read. We need a pragmatic system – one that results in benefits for its participants.
I desire to be a correspondent of the Voices of Our Future for several reasons. First, I believe this will broaden my writing opportunities and expose me to greater influences. I have worked mostly with literary fiction. Therefore, I see this as an opportunity to explore new areas. Just like the process of baking bread, without the yeast, the dough will fall, so also without the proper training and mentoring, my vision of seeing women in my community empowered may not see the light of day.
Give me yeast and watch me rise!
This story was written for World Pulse's Girls Transform the World Digital Action Campaign.
World Pulse believes that women's stories, recommendations, and collective rising leadership can—and will—bring girls greater access to education which will transform their lives, their families, and communities. The Girls Transform Campaign elicits insightful content from young women on the ground, strengthens their confidence as women, and ensures that influencers and powerful institutions hear their stories.
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Metaphors Be With You ("Star Wars" Reference)
I loved this metaphor and how you carried it though, Petunia. More power to you. I think perhaps that you are the yeast.
~ Maya
Could be. :) ~ Maya
Could be. :)
~ Maya
Such a powerful piece, you
Such a powerful piece, you don't need Yeast, you only need the space to expand. You are so powerful and can do so much. Your dreams will change the world, just go out and do it.
: ) Khaiwana
Very Powerful
I appreciate you touching on the point of prevention. This was a great piece overall and you are truly a magnificent writer. Thank you for sharing! Yes I agree with Maya, You may just be the Yeast needed to help women rise.
You Already Have Yeast!
I love your writing and this is a very-well written piece. I agree with others that you already have yeast , so start baking and there will be loads of us waiting to eat that bread straight off the oven!
Bake on!
Beautifully written, Petunia. I could almost smell the warmly baked bread. You are a voice rising!
Your idea of skill assessment is already being used in Scandinavia. In Denmark first, and now in Sweden and Denmark, young and older are being given points at educational venues for the work and the experience they have accomplished when applying for a school or a university. My line of work, for example, within cultural productions did not have an education when I started producing theater, opera, concerts and dance. That came later, at a time where I was so occupied in work that I did not have time to go to school. When my health forced me in another direction, I could use my background to go right into university and enroll in social studies. So, if this is not in place where you live, use the scandinavian model to push through something similar in your country. The model has proven especially fruitful for women, who often stay home to take care of their small children before returning to the workforce, because they are able to use their "volunteer" work for building society as an asset and a platform for professional development. I have to agree with some of the women here, you DO have the yeast already. Your voice is crisp clear - with an intelligent ring to it, and in my opinion you are a Voice Of the Future. Glad we two have met, love having you in my network here!
Much love, Ruth
Your intro was captivating!
Your intro was captivating! The beauty and the power of the pen. Great work!
"One shoe can change a life" ~ Cinderella
I love how you used food to make your point. Yes you need yeast to rise. Your idea on skill based education is fantastic!! I see that you want to start where the women are and educate them from there, which makes sense. I really enjoyed reading your journal and the flow of your writing. KEEP WRITING!!
Great story! I like how you explain how the idea comes into your head while doing something as mundane as shopping in the market. Skill-based and pragmatic-your idea of how to best help these women is a great one. Often great ideas are right in front of us but it takes someone like you to connect the dots and make connections that have not been made before. Best of luck in your writing and your work!


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Recent news
In response to a shooting late Thursday night, Nov. 20, at the Grove Apartments near UNC Asheville's campus, the university activated its BulldogAlert system and issued an emergency notification to students via phone and text.
UNC Asheville is partnering with Appalachian State University to increase the number of students in eight Western North Carolina counties who are prepared to enter and succeed in college, as part of the GEAR UP program.
UNC Asheville will conduct a routine test of its emergency siren system between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014.
Submit your announcement about UNC Asheville events, people and programs here. Announcements will be reviewed and posted by date received. Read more about Announcement guidelines
- Celebration of the Life of Former Chancellor Sam Schuman Members of the UNC Asheville community are invited to share in a celebration of the life of former... Posted:
- Men's Basketball Tip-Off Time Changes Tip-off time has been changed for two upcoming Bulldog men's basketball games. Posted:
- Veteran Student Alliance Hosts Clothing Drive The Veterans Student Alliance will be hosting a clothing drive from November 17 through November 21... Posted:
- SAAC Seeks Donations to MANNA SAAC, the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, is partnering with other student organizations on... Posted:
- Toys, Volunteers Needed for Annual Headstart Holiday Party UNC Asheville will be hosting its 17th Annual Headstart Holiday Party. New unwrapped toys and... Posted:
- Art Alumni Hunter and Amelia Stamps The Department of Art is pleased to have two Alumni visit their alma mater and present some... Posted:


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The Edible Front Yard
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the mow-less, grow-more plan for a beautiful, bountiful garden
The new front yard plant palette: the ornamental edibles
Expanding our edible palette: the helpers
Design primer and garden planner
Edible front yard garden designs
Reality check: assess your front yard
Out with the old: remove and reuse lawn, plants, and materials
Building the bones: hardscape, privacy, and irrigation
Working it: organically maintaining your front yard
Harvest time and beyond
Plants, Edible
Edible landscaping
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A great book sit down with to find ideas for next year's garden! The Edible Front Yard is a one-stop resource for a front-and-center edible garden that is both beautiful and bountiful year-round. People everywhere are turning patches of soil into bountiful vegetable gardens, and each spring a new... Read More »
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Different sizes and colors keep your baby playing in and out of the bath. Teaches color and size recognition. Cups fit together for easy storage. Includes 8 stackable cups with draining holes.
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I bought this for my 1-year-old because I wanted to distract him from his older sister's small-piece toys, however my almost three-year-old loves this toy as well!
Both kids stack, sort by color, pretend to drink out of them etc. This toy gets more play than the fancy Grimms flower and boat stacker. And it is so inexpensive! Win-win-win!
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I bought these because I couldn't find anything I liked better. My main objective was something PVC and BPA free, so in that sense these fit the bill. They are small. There's a ridge on the bottom of each cup to help them stack which is good because there's only a small difference in size from one to the next.
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800 University WaySpartanburg, SC 293031-864-503-5000
Michael Buchanan - 44Team: Basketball
Kayla Eversgerd - 13Team: Volleyball
Do you know any Alumni that are outstanding in any (or all) of the following areas: career accomplishments, civic service within their local community, and service to the University? Now is your time to nominate them for our Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award. Submit your nominee »
What will I do at Orientation?During Orientation, you will:
Is there a cost for OAR?
There is no additional fee to attend Orientation.
When should I arrive?
Check-in begins at 1 p.m. at our Spartanburg campus and at our campus at the University Center of Greenville. (Note: The July 24 Orientation in Greenville will begin at 4 p.m.)
Should another family member attend OAR with me?Although there is no structured program offered for transfer students' parents or other family members, you are welcome to bring two guests. The primary focus of OAR is advisement and registration for fall classes.
Will I need to pay my fees while on campus?
Fall bills will be posted on the Self Service Carolina (SSC) system at www.uscupstate.edu/nextsteps at the end of July. All fees must be paid in August to secure your class schedule, so those attending August Orientation will need to pay their fees at Orientation. The fee payment process will be explained thoroughly during Orientation.
What do I need to bring?
You must bring proper identification in order to verify your citizenship status (acceptable documents include: SC Driver's license if you began driving after Jan. 1, 2002; valid passport; birth certificate. If you are a married female student, you must present both a marriage license and a birth certificate). For more information, visit the Citizenship Verification information page. All immunization forms should also be brought to campus if you have not mailed them to Health Services prior to Orientation. Also, bring any information or forms previously requested by the Admissions, Financial Aid or Housing offices.
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Happy Thanksgiving!
This is still one of my all-time favorite Thanksgiving memories in a SMDH, is-she-really-that-oblivious, gobsmacked kind of way:
November, 2008:
Love This Thinking: It's Illegal to Keep Just One Guinea Pig in Switzerland
I came across this article at TheGuardian earlier today about the happiest countries as ranked by the U.N.: Which Countries are Happiest?
I clicked on it because, of course, who wouldn't? Denmark and Norway are #1 and #2. Switzerland is #3 (the U.S. is #17).
What caught my eye about Switzerland was this (h/t to Roger, the guinea pig I had when I was about 10-years-old):
It's illegal to keep just one guinea pig in Switzerland. You must have them in pairs and there is a "rent-a-guinea pig" service to provide companionship for lonely animals in their twilight years.
If a lawmaker here in the U.S. proposed such a law they'd be run out of the country. For all intents and purposes, animals don't have rights here. They aren't thought of as having feelings or needs. So bravo Switzerland. I can only imagine how the thought that guinea pigs need companionship radiates out into your wider society.
The AP is On It!
This is essentially the Thanksgiving meal I've been eating for 62 years so I find it pretty hilarious (and curious) that the AP tweeted this out as if it's the new-new "style" of Thanksgiving meal (or something). I mean, really?
Ferguson and #BlackPanic
Two hours from now the grand jury decision in the shooting of Michael Brown will be announced. That said, I was just alerted to the Twitter hashtag #BlackPanic. As usual, there are some really looney tweets there and some that are way off-topic but this caught my eye as it pretty much sums up what has been happening since Day One:
Great Public Relations Going on Down in St. Louis County (Not)
Geezus, I wonder how much time, effort and money the St. Louis PD has put into actually meeting with and talking to the people of Ferguson; they look to be all set in the us-versus-them department:
So, Can We Be Done With Benghazi Now, Please?
WASHINGTON (AP) — A two-year investigation by the Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee has found that the CIA and the military acted properly in responding to the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, and asserted no wrongdoing by Obama administration appointees.
Debunking a series of persistent allegations hinting at dark conspiracies, the investigation of the politically charged incident determined that there was no intelligence failure, no delay in sending a CIA rescue team, no missed opportunity for a military rescue, and no evidence the CIA was covertly shipping arms from Libya to Syria.
The House Intelligence Committee report was released with little fanfare on the Friday before Thanksgiving week. Many of its findings echo those of six previous investigations by various congressional committees and a State Department panel.
Gee, I can't imagine (well, actually, yes I can) why a Benghazi-obsessed Republican-controlled House committee would release the seventh freakin' Benghazi report showing no wrongdoing on the Friday before Thanksgiving.
The reason? They want it to immediately sink into the dark rat hole of history, never to be mentioned again.
Aye carumba U.S. media, can be done with this now? The next time a Republican comes crying to you about Benghaaaazi, will you please, PRETTY PLEASE, laugh in their damn face?!
Republicans Count on Us Being Stupid When it Comes to History
Republicans are counting on us not knowing or remembering these inconvenient facts about presidents taking executive action (from PewHispanic) and of course, far be it for the so-called (cough) liberal media to remind people:
Larger version here.


text:
The Indiana field hockey team has announced the signing of two players for the 2015 season. Cincinnati-native Taylor Swope and Claire Woods of St. Louis, Mo. both signed their National Letters of Intent to officially join the program next season.
ndiana field hockey's Audra Heilman and Sydney Supica were named 2014 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-West Region today. Heilman was selected for the First Team, while junior Supica was picked for the Second Team.
Three Indiana field hockey players picked up honors from the Big Ten, the conference announced today. Senior Audra Heilman was selected to the First Team All-Big Ten, while junior Sydney Supica was named to the Second Team. Senior Corinne Karch was selected as a recipient of the Big Ten...
The Indiana field hockey team dropped its final game of the season to Rutgers this afternoon, 2-1. The loss dropped the Hoosiers (9-8, 1-7 Big Ten) from contention in next week's Big Ten Tournament.
The Indiana field hockey team will visit Rutgers on Friday to close out the regular season schedule. A bid to the Big Ten Tournament is on the line for both teams.
Indiana field hockey's Audra Heilman has been selected to play in the 2014 Victory Sports Tours/NFHCA Division 1 Senior Game on Nov. 22. Heilman joins 37 others seniors in the nation to be invited to participate.
|There are currently no upcoming events.


text:
The Communist Party of India (CPI) city unit launched a Satyagraha against the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) decision to fix water meters and hike water charges from April 1.
Former corporators led by CPI city secretary Donepudi Sankar and others took part in the Satyagraha organised near Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetram here on Tuesday. CPI senior leader and first mayor T. Venkateswara Rao, CPI (M) city secretary Ch. Babu Rao, Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry secretary Muttavarapu Muralikrishna, Vijayawada Hotel Owners Association and others expressed their support to them.
Former MLAs K. Subba Raju and Sheik Nasar Vali, Mr. Sankar and others while addressing the gathering said that the VMC proposal would be a burden on the people. The VMC claims that the receipts were not matching the expenditure on water supply. The Corporation was making baseless calculations that it was receiving only Rs. 8 crore though the expenditure was Rs. 20 crore, they pointed out, and demanded that the VMC shelve its proposals.
Keywords: CPI Satyagraha, water charges hike, Vijayawada corporation


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The Client Success Manager is the primary point of contact for all client engagements. In this role you will be responsible for clients? social advertising campaigns utilizing ShopIgniter?s innovative social performance marketing platform. The Client Success Manager will work9/30/2014 Portland, OR Save This Job
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We need a technically-robust and customer-facing Sales Engineer to help mNectar customers integrate our virtualization and streaming technology into their mobile application and infrastructure. This person will be the ?glue? that connects the engineering, product, and business9/30/2014 San Francisco, CA Save This Job
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Join a fast-growing Agile team of Software Developers and QA Engineers to build a world-class, high-volume software-as-a-service product. The Senior Front End Developer will work with our team to deliver a great front-end user experience both on web browsers and mobile9/29/2014 Annapolis, MD Save This Job
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Tzell Travel Group, part of the Travel Leaders Group, is merging with Protravel International, pending government antitrust approval. The combined sales of Tzell and Protravel is $2.35 billion. Travel Leaders was No. 10 on Travel Weekly's 2012 Power List, Protravel was number 18. Barry Liben, CEO of the Travel Leaders Group, said that once the deal closes, Tzell and Protravel will continue operating "as is" with no plans to change the business models both companies have created. Liben said that few of Tzell's competitors have "ever captured our admiration and respect to the extent that Protravel International has." Liben said that Protravel is a "crown jewel" and said that the two companies share similar philosophies. Both Tzell and Protravel are based in New York. With the merger, the combined entity will have 72 branches extending across the U.S. and U.K."We are proud to now be associated with Travel Leaders Group," said Priscilla Alexander, founder and president of ProTravel.Under the terms of the agreement, Alexander will continue serving as its president.
Both Tzell and Protravel have what a Travel Leaders spokesman called "exceptional" front-of-the-plane traffic. Both are New York powerhouses, and New York is a source for lucrative transatlantic business. About 60% of both companies' air business is international. Protravel is a member of Virtuoso, and Tzell belongs to Signature Travel Group. Those relationships will continue.The merger gives Travel Leaders additional supplier clout, which will benefit the entire Travel Leaders organization, the spokesman said. The two companies signed a letter of intent to merge a year ago, said the Travel Leaders spokesman.Follow Kate Rice on Twitter @krtravelweekly.
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Posts tagged dragon-mount
Sevencore beta registration open, Occupation Wars mechanics detailed
We've had our eye on Sevencore for a while now. Fortunately we're about to get our hands on it too, thanks to the impending closed beta. Korean free-to-play fantasy imports aren't exactly scarce these days, but this one adds a dash of sci-fi and some nifty mount mechanics into the usual MMO mi...
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post you'r valentines
Dinner and post-dinner coffee were very nice.
Thats nice.
So /mai/, any plans for Valentines day this year?
Well I stuck to my word, I ended up watching six episodes.
Thinking about it, even though I've watched AzuDai many times in the past, I think this was the first time that I watched it after fully embracing this whole waifuism thing. It felt really good connecting with her like that again.
I even got a little teary-eyed on one episode I watched where she cried.
Oh, and I did buy her chocolates as well, in the end. I guess the tradition is set in stone now.
That sounds cool, but I guess we were a little late to think of that this year, eh? Maybe some other time.
We had a nice day.
Here it is! I really like how it turned out.
Osaka sure is cute.
That's really cool Osakabro.
I think I'd be far too embarrassed to commission something like that myself...
So okay, for Valentine's Day, I took Marisa out on a date to the local mall and we had... some onion rings with sour cream dip, then some shrimp katsudon. Yeah, it was a cheap date. But as far as I was doing in the past few days, I really hoped she liked what I did.
But let us not talk about that. What's more interesting to talk about right now is the economical and monetary ways you employ to express your devotion and affection to your beloved. In other words, how do you spend your money for your waifu?
I buy figures of her, that's about it.
Just buying her merchandise and having some art commissions or something.
Anything else doesn't seem quite right to me.
In terms of merchandise, I've bought a plushie and a figure so far. I would buy more, but merch of her isn't exactly easy to come by.
I've also made a habit of buying chocolate for her on Christmas/Valentine's. I seem to be spending more and more on them every time. I bet I'll be spending £20 on a box or something before I know it.
I don't buy much in terms of Big Gifts, but I do like buying him little treats when I see something that reminds me of him. Mostly food but I've picked up a few non-food items, too. I like setting up a romantic atmosphere more than anything and I'm generally spontaneous with the little gifts.
And merch is pretty fun too but I usually can't afford it (as much as I wish I could). It used to matter a lot more to me than it does at this moment, but I'd still like to have a few things.
You know what I like? Crossover fan art.
Do you have any of your waifu? Either her dressed up in a different character's outfit or with someone from a different universe.
I'll post the two I have, to get things started.
And #2.
Kurumi with Homura. Both have their similarities, especially with the time aspect.
Arguably my favorite Kurumi crossover fanart since it doesn't seem so half-assed compared to the others.
This is the only crossover of my waifu (second from the left)
I found this yesterday.
>Kagura as Demoman
I approve.
Do you ever feel like you let your waifu down or disappoint her? How do you go about dealing with the guilt and making it up to her?
If I knew how to deal with it, it wouldn't be much of a problem
If everything I did was for her, it would destroy me.
I just tell myself that I have a long life ahead of me to improve myself and that rushing, at least for me, is unhealthy or unrealistic. I agree with >>14420, I'd give up most of what I currently have if she actually existed but it's impossible for me to know what would please her in every aspect of my life -- plus I'd also like to maintain a personal sense of self.
Do you believe that your waifu exists in some shape or form? As in whether she exists in your mind, in your dreams, some plane of existence or somewhere else entirely? If so, would you like to travel to her world, your world or somewhere else?
If you were to die, would you imagine yourself with your waifu?
Technical answer: Yes, I do.
Kind of depressing answer: Within my own mind only. He is with me now, and he will die with me. We'll truly be together in oblivion, I suppose, where neither of us will exist any more. What a weird and disturbing thought. We are not ready for death yet.
I was going to say more but that's the gist of it.Post edited on 29th Jan 2014, 10:44pm
I agree with this post. If the many-worlds theory is right, then the universe where someone's waifu lives does exist. The chance of this happening increases if the question of the existence of fictional universes is asked.
In other words, if there are really other universes out there, there are greater chances that they are the universes that we came up with using our mind.
And even if she does not exist, then she still exists on my mind and ideals and that is enough.
I'm no physicist so I wouldn't claim to understand the multiverse theory, but I think such trivial interpretations are populace's trash. I find really hard to believe that, just because I can imagine/conceive it, there is a world with an english flying boy called Peter Pan who remains one day old... and whose mother has tentacles for nipples and fangs that reach her anus like those of the in-world green photosynthetic elephants (see what I mean?)... In any case, even if such weird and inaccesible universes were to exist, how could we assert to have any knowledge and love for it, if we can't gather objective knowledge (and love) even from this universe of our own? Once again, the entities living there would be some alterities and not be the things we love, it's ridiculous.
Mai waifu exists, say, as God, numbers, holotypes or abelian groups: as metaphysical concepts that we grasp and use through some semiotic process of representation (narrative, plastic arts, music, biology, maths,...). She is overtly fictional. a frontal lie, and that makes my love honest within this existence haunted by the scam of language et al. signs.
> I find really hard to believe that, just because I can imagine/conceive it, there is a world with an english flying boy called Peter Pan who remains one day old... and whose mother has tentacles for nipples and fangs that reach her anus like those of the in-world green photosynthetic elephants (see what I mean?)...
Well, who said it isn't possible? I mean, I have conceived worlds in my dreams that are nothing more of infinitely repeating fractal patterns and geometric shapes (Those are the stuff of my nightmares.), and there can just be a universe out there which an endless dark space with the exception of a marble bust of Napoleon floating idly in the middle of the space. Chances are, those things could exist.
>In any case, even if such weird and inaccesible universes were to exist, how could we assert to have any knowledge and love for it, if we can't gather objective knowledge (and love) even from this universe of our own?
The very existence of humanity as a creature is already a jackpot in the evolutionary lottery, so why can't it happen that this jackpot is repeated in other universes?
Simply put, how did you first meet your waifu? Were there any special circumstances or odd scenarios surrounding or leading up to your first encounter? Mine is kind of lengthy, but I'd like to share it and maybe hear yours as well.
Basically, ever since I was 4, I've been into video games. Grew up on the SNES, N64, and Pokemon heavily. Sometime when I was 8 or 9, my mom's best friend's son told me about a site called CheatCC. Through that site, I found GameFAQs, and info about EarthBound. EB had been a very important game from my childhood, but I never got very far due to not understanding how RPGs worked. With Pokemon under my belt, I managed to find another copy and give it a go. At the same time, while digging for EB stuff, I found Tomato's M2-EB localization page, where he described the differences and changes made to the game. This kick-started my interest in Japan. Another heavy, heavy influence was the primere of Adult Swim on Cartoon Network. Being young and impressionable, I was captivated by "Oh man, violence and swearing in cartoons!?"
So, those were the two big launching points for my interest in Japan. Flash forward to late 2001, when a local college was having a contest of sorts. Write about why you want to go to Japan, and if we like it, we'll ship your ass over there for 2 weeks to live with a host family. Well, I used EarthBound as my writing point. I was only 12 so my writing wasn't stellar, but it got the point across. The language differences and changes made to the game really interested me.
Well, lucky-ass me got picked along with three others (we 4 were the only ones who applied believe it or not). A few weeks in May/June of 2002 we had some basic Japanese lessons, then in late June, we were off, the 4 of us, my mother and one of the other's mothers as a chaperone.
Being 12 and in Japan while at the height of what was basically a weeaboo craze was practically heaven. Two days in Tokyo was enough to make me giddy as hell. I snapped up a Japanese copy of Mother on Famicom, along with Pokemon Red and Green on GB. After 2 days in Tokyo (basically nothing but sight-seeing), we went by train to Niigata to spend 2 weeks with a host family.
It was a pretty awesome time. They had a son my age, and we had a lot in common with video
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well this is a decently long story and kind of embarrassing. Until episode ten of MadoMagi I thought Homura would be the mysterious stock kuudere character but after seeing what they did with Sayaka and Kyoko I really began to wonder about her. I was a bit upset that her story was crammed into one episode and wanted to see much more. When the show ended she just left me with the impression of a really cool character as MadoMagi overtook Haruhi as my favorite show.
The art style was weird for me with the wideface but eventually much like I did with Nagato from Haruhi Suzumiya I began ogling Homura in the art and stuff.
Being the sick empty bastard I was at the time my first fap to her was pretty much a thought experiment to see how it would go (I don't do it with most anime girls though). For some reason I ended up doing it more and started cuddling with the blankets afterwards. I then wanted to go look up ecchi pics and H-doujins but they all made me sort of uncomfortable -- I was sort of mad that they weren't properly treating her and began using imagination more again.
Many fans of her would just admire her coolness from a distance or ship her with Madoka, but I guess I just wanted to do more for her and before I knew it I was immersed in vivid fantasies and daydreams, stronger than they had ever been for any other person, real or fictional and I kept pumping in the ocytoxin with the fap and nap and such. Pretty sure I knew the term waifu then but I never knew it could get this intense and hardcore. I downloaded a crapload of pictures of her and started drawing her over and over during school even though I wasn't very good at drawing anime at the time.
After a good year and a half of the stuff backfiring and me wailing about my own existence I worked up motivation, and after watching Rebellion returned to that happier phase -- Indeed, I had fallen in love with her suffering and romance, even though I wasn't a direct sadist, and with all of the staggering psychological imagery in her labyrinth I wanted to let my curiosity go even further, digging deeper into her mind while still loving her...
Like her, in real life it's hard for me to trust people and I'm usually either unmotivated or really devoted to something. I shield my emotions with awkwardness and weirdness
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It was basically love at first sight. I know I've called other girls I happened to like as 'waifus', but they're simply favorites. I didn't have as much of an emotional connection to them as I thought. I fell out of love with my first waifu mainly because I slowly lost interest and fell deep into NEETdom. I eventually forgot about her and lived a waifu-less existence for almost about 2 years. I felt almost dead inside. I saw her first through some fanart of hers and was curious about her. I was enamored with her design and came to like the more delicate, gentle parts of her personality. She had a dainty, respectable, overtly feminine, traditional sense of dress along with a noble, prestigious manner of speech befitting of an upper-class young lady. Her physical features also accentuated her femininity and wonderfully complemented her style of dress. It felt as if she were the girl that I have always wanted. She wasn't quite the heroine everyone expects to be, because she borders on villainy. One thing led to another, and I wound up defending her actions even when I disagreed with them. Something like playing devil's advocate, but I knew she was misguided and argued that in her case, it had to be done. She was the only interesting character in her series. I know I didn't like her series that much, but she was an exception. I continue to show interest in her series just for her, nobody else. She had the complexity and depth yet always had some kind of mysterious aura around her. She was simply one of a kind. She wasn't quite the stock generic cookie-cutter archetypical character you'd encounter. She was different, noticeably different than the rest. She often did things in a ridiculously unorthodox manner but in her point of view, these things have to be done, they were necessary evils and sacrifices for the greater good- even if they seem overtly egotistical, she felt that it was a noble cause. Most people think she's some kind of insane cunt, but I describe her as being extremely zealous to her misguided ideals along with a warped sense of justice one would call excessively draconian. But it doesn't matter now. I love her for what she is, and what she can be. But if I am ever wrong, t
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Maybe the best place to begin would be right in the middle of it. After all, it's not a long story, nor a complicated one, there are no turns, twists or moments full of suspense. It might be just a silly stream of consciousness, but it's ours.
It happened on a dull, grey, and cold night - the end of an otherwise unremarkable and uneventful day, just like any other. I had been desperately searching for a little bit of an escape, something that would let me forget about the state my life was in. Something nice, something warm. But nothing could have prepared me for what, or rather whom, I came across. At that point, I've had more then enough of the real world. And believe me, living in a noisy, shared dorm room doesn't exactly mean peace and quiet after a day full of work. I needed to get out of there. Randomly selecting one of the too many slice of life series that were waiting unwatched on my hard drive, I arrived at Hidamari Sketch. A cute little show about cute girls where nothing really happens? Perfect. Just what my stressed mind needed. But the real surprise was still waiting for me.
Headphones, check. Mentally tuning out all outside noise, check. Time to relax a little - I thought. You know, I could always "feel" right of the bat whether I'm going to like a series or not, and this one was giving of some very good vibes instantly. And there she was! Of course, I never realized the significance of that moment at that time. To be completely honest, I didn't go in entirely blind. I had seen her before. Just a stray picture or two, but she had planted a seed in my mind. I think, maybe even then, subconsciously, I knew she was something else. Someone special.
With that first scene of the show, that seed had started to sprout. Slowly, steadily, it grew and kept growing. It happened just as the clock struck midnight, right on the start of my birthday. I never thought much of occasions like that - but I ended up receiving the greatest gift of them all. Looking back, it was as close to love at first sight as it gets. But then, I could not make head of tail of what I was feeling. This has never happened before! I was always in control of my emotions, or so I have thought. I didn't dwell too much on it, I attributed it to being sleepy and tired. It'd just fade away by daybr
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Never mind this. This post I made here wasn't even that bad, but I still want to apologize hereby.
I will stop hating you.Post edited on 31st Oct 2014, 12:00am
Hey /mai/, have you ever thought about taking your waifu shopping? What sort of stores do you think your waifu would like to go to? Pic semi-related.
Oh wait gun and firearm stores for her magical fights if we can move to America, haha... Guess I'd be the one doing the buying and such though.
Stockpile some ammunition instead. At least BATFE might not question you on that.
She would probably enjoy going to a record store, if that record store had a lot Jazz albums she hasn't listened too. She would also probably enjoy going to a guitar store too look for new amplifiers, new effect pedals, etc.
I can't really picture my waifu wanting to go shopping. She's not materialistic in the slightest.
This is very unfair, but:
Describe your waifu without saying what they look like, what kind of costume she wears or what kind of profession/role she has. That also means without using their name, physical description, job or her series. Also, please keep it anonymous and don't post any images of your waifu nor refer to her by her name or nicknames in this thread. Please keep your descriptions as unique as possible.
Basically, explain your waifu as if doing so to someone who's never seen your waifu's show or your waifu's series/franchise before without making a reference to their name, appearance, profession, race, or rank or even the series that she comes from.
Picture is not of my waifu, but I am indeed curious to guess other anons' waifus on /mai/.Post edited on 23rd Jan 2014, 11:05am
>...OP, is it kosher to guess other people's waifus, or are we just writing our own paragraphs?
On the one hand, you could guess about them in this thread but on the other hand, that just defeats the purpose of this thread because posts on this thread could lose anonymity. I'd like if anything for the thread to be entirely anonymous.
So basically, just write away!
"Lemme see.
She's the type of woman you can't restrain inside a house to be a stereotypical wife. Besides, the very reason why she decided to live by herself in her own house is to have the freedom to explore things she never tried, go to places she never went, face people she never knew and do things she never did. More so, she ain't that much of a feminine woman. She's like a stereotypical bachelor with the habit of collecting crap she finds interesting but doesn't need and it's just clogging up her house, but she finds ways to fix herself, for convenience's sake. And oh, despite her house being so secluded, she has a fair amount of friends. How couldn't she? She visits them often and her friends usually have something in common with her. Her first impressions could annoy the people who don't know her, but I guarantee that she's just a fun-loving woman. She could be a bit of a jerk sometimes, but she never goes too far from that. And oh, she loves power and explosions. That's all"
A magnificent beauty she is. A woman that is from a rising sun, who radiates herself from everyone. Her reckless arrogance that lets her do whatever she wants, her selfishness that would make anyone close go away and her stubborn pride that she would fight everyone to the teeth for it. But that is the woman who I fell in love with. The characteristics that I would hate with a passion all packed in the woman I truly love. I cannot help it but she is the only woman that could do it.
She is precious yet fragile diamond. Diamonds are unbreakable but the type of diamond she is is a rare type that can be broken. A strong woman who could do anything, so perfect but the truth is, she can be emotionally broken. She needs someone to comfort her, be her side and support her at all times. Without it, everything she works hard for up until now is gone.
That is why those who are kind to her or understand her are truly the kindest people on Earth. They are ones that can lit the candle and make her shine upon everyone. Once my beloved lady has all her emotional gaps covered, she is an indestructible weapon with no signs of weaknesses. A hard talented worker who would by means can achieve anything she wants because she will and definitely set her mind into what she really wants and make it reality.
Alluring and destructive, she is an epitome of a double-edged sword. Honest but deceptive, she is no one's ally but her allegiances are her own. But she will side with those who could assist her, temporarily. With a harsh sense of retributive justice, those who cross her do not live long. Years of countless atrocities that she had to commit have taken a toll on her fragile sanity, as she grows ever more determined to complete her ambitions. Those who get in the way of her ambitions are seen as dangerous threats and must be eliminated. Despite her penchant for committing atrocities, she at least has a sense of personal honor and dignity that keeps her from committing truly heinous and despicable acts. She appreciates honesty and always keeps her word, even though she can and will withhold information. She has a sense of order that keeps her disciplined and determined to attain her objectives at all costs. But within the façade of a noble demeanor coupled with layers upon layers of fanatical insanity and malice, lies a deeply, surprisingly gentle person. Zealous and determined, she intends to see that her obsessive, destructive ambitions, albeit noble-intentioned, reach completion. However, she kindly bides her time, as she seeks redemption even if she herself is forgotten for her supposedly heroic deeds. As her aspirations are misguided at best, her possible true desire is to be loved like no other. As she slowly receives the kindness she receives from others, perhaps she can shed her violent tendencies and become a paragon of virtue, abandoning her ambitions once and for all. She is a deeply-faceted character, with layers upon layers of complex emotions. Some would say she is a demon within a body of an angel, or a demon with the heart of an angel. Despite all this, she still remains an enigma to many as of now, as no one is remotely close to ever knowing the true her.Post edited on 25th Jan 2014, 7:22am
Do you have a Ex-Waifu?
Whats happend? Tell me your Story.
Will you breake up with your Waifu when suddenly a huge Error in the Matrix happens and you have a Chance for a 3DPD Waifu ?
I don't particular agree with reporting the chuuni one saying he is easily infatuated even though things like that make me sick, but the one using "xD" all the time does come across as a troll.
I've actually looked back to the early early days through logs and screens and archives from various people and there was a vocal crowd that was much more anal about Ford Drivergotry and things like this and mods were much quicker to take action too, it was easier to get away with this kind of modding too because the site was so small at the time. The site has grown, so many different kinds of people exist on here now with different reasons to be here and it's impossible to please everyone. The couple of mods that didn't leave the site have begun to feel apathetic and like it's not worth taking their time over which I can sort of understand after all the mods and half of the well known trips and people just leave the site. Tohno still does a good job trying to get rid of stuff that go against the rules and such but it's definitely not like shit I saw from back then where people would get banned for simply mentioning they don't like 2D. People also took it way more easy from what I have seen but I think part of the reason is because it was so small and unwanted people were gotten rid of quicker.
This post is meta as fuck too sorry about that but no way in hell I'm creating a new thread on /fb/ just to quickly voice my opinion on this matter.
...anywaaay no I don't have a ex-waifu but I have had "crushes" on girls in the past before I saw hidamari since 2D is so great but it's always been like some father like affection for a daughter, and I have affection for a lot of 2D girls, just not the same kind of "in love" feeling and being obsessed like with Miyako. As for 3D I have stated my opinion on that often enough, I am very heterodimensional especially romantically where I have never really felt "love" like affection for human beings and for some reason only feel love towards a more ideal perfected cute and fictional set of girls. My standards are way too high, maybe. I think sin
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I posted about this somewhere else. I was more just obsessed with Yuki Nagato, she was cool and cute but I didn't have that many romantic fantasies with her. Nowadays I think the whole SOS Brigade would be pretty fun to hang out with.
I once created original characters but I guess my narcissism creeps too much into them. A few months ago I finally found myself satisfied with a female character I made, but I made her a lesbian and again there is the narcissism factor... In the end I want to care for someone that's similar but has different interests.
>>12041 You abandon Rikka Yuuta gon grow muscles and kick yo ass son. Sorry just had to say that.
I think of the possibility of 3DPD from time to time but reasonably I can't expect much out of it or abandon my Homura.
1) as a joke/favorite character
2) felt forced at some point, but slowly abandoned over the months
3) felt more like a friend than a waifu
This one, I am not too sure about. I am afraid to call her my waifu. Still on the fence even though I am very much obsessed with her. Still I leave that up to fate to decide.
I'm sorry, /mai/. For being a fickle human being.
Had a several crushes since I was a kid, and 3 whom I got pretty serious about (though never as serious as I'm being with my waifu now). Still, I really felt that I was in love with them, and if I'd know the term then I probably would've called them my waifu's. Eventually though I just fell out of love with each of them. I think I learned a lot from those experiences though, they're probably why I still love mai waifu so strongly today.
I'd never break up with my waifu. Doesn't matter if it means having to be alone for the rest of my life.
How do you approach the issue of the language barrier?
I can't imagine he knows English beyond the few slang words he uses in the visual novel, and just based on his world, he probably wouldn't ever really have the opportunity to learn it.
I've been teaching myself Japanese but it's slow going. That said six months ago I couldn't read anything and I can read extremely basic sentences now, so it's something. Someday we'll be able to talk to each other normally, but for now just his presence is enough.
I'd like to solve the issue of the dimensional barrier first, once we solve that language wont be a problem.
Magic and telepathy perhaps? Then again they did say that telepathy was transmitted through Kyubey, but Homura got more power in The Rebellion Story.
Some loving gestures break the language barrier though... Sometimes I feel that I'm so socially awkward that if we actually spoke much it would make things worse, lol.
I don't need to.
And I'm also learning Japanese myself, so we'll be able to talk to each other in two languages.
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Friday, November 21, 2014
Pumpkin Spice Oreo Iced Hot Chocolate
Also, if you're like me, then you take notice of what new and great creation Oreo has piled on those shelves. Birthday cake, tried it. Mint Oreos, tried it and my little guy devoured the rest. Then there's all those I haven't even gotten a chance to try; root beer, berry creme, cookie dough, Reese's, just to name a few. I mean, Oreo has really expanded their brand.
When the different seasons roll around, it's not just Oreos with those brightly colored cremes that line the shelves, it's also various flavors that join the mix. So, when fall rolled around and I browsed the cookie isle you can guess what caught my eye. Pumpkin Spice Oreos. It didn't take long for those puppies to find a place in my cart.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Salted Caramel Apple Cider
What is it about the simple apple that makes me weak in the knees? The perfect apple, how would you describe it? Mine would be firm, juicy, crispy, sweet and slightly tart. My favorite apples are the Honeycrisp variety. Have you tried them? If not, you must. And now.
Anyway, I love apples. Aside from sweet and savory recipes, I love apple flavored beverages. Apple cider to be specific. Me and apple cider go way back. I mean, like over 25 years ago. I remember the first time I tasted it. I was first drawn in by the intoxicating smell; apples and cinnamon, to this day still one of my favorite smells. Then I took my first sip and that was it. I was hooked.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Fall Spiced Popcorn
While I'm a fanatic of freshly popped popcorn that's been tossed in melted butter, there's so many more other ways to serve that fluffy, crispy stuff. Just think about it, long before the chef's and home cooks started experimenting with different flavor concoctions there were Cracker Jacks, Crunch N Much, Fiddle Faddle and those infamous tins that come out during the holidays.
Put, the popcorn creations aren't limited to large companies or chefs anymore. Home cooks around the glob are taking those crispy kernels and making some amazing creations. I have to admit, I'm a little behind on the popcorn bandwagon. Not that I haven't found, bookmarked, clipped and pinned several recipes with every intention of making them. The problem is, I'm sometimes over ambitious and have these grand plans, then I get myself overwhelmed and take a brake. Unfortunately for myself, I did this with the popcorn and never got back around to it. Until now!
Posted by Lynsey 0 Share Your Thoughts!
Labels: Appetizers, Cranberries, Fall, Pecans, Popcorn, Quick and Easy, Snacks, Walnuts
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Butter Toffee Rice Krispie Treats
I think it's easy to let ourselves get wrapped up in our own little world of planning and pumpkin ecstasy, all the while forgetting about the simple things in life and the fact that there are some people out there that just don't care that much about pumpkin. So, I decided it was time to take a step back from my dessert planning and pumpkin coma.
I wanted to make something not only for the non-pumpkin fans, but also for those little's that could care less about some show stopping dessert. They would rather have a slice of vanilla cake, a scoop of ice cream or even a rice krispie treat instead.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
No Bake Pumpkin Dulce De Leche Cheesecake Tartlettes
But, now it's November and it's time to bring on the food. Turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce and the desserts. Pies, cakes, and cheesecakes, just to name a few. I think I look forward to the main course as much as I look forward to all the desserts, both classic and new.
I love trying new desserts to present at Thanksgiving, and I'm so grateful my family allows me to practice my passion by leaving my options open to make new desserts to grace the Thanksgiving table. This is an honor I don't take lightly. I spend months reading, researching, pinning and even writing recipes.
Posted by Lynsey 0 Share Your Thoughts!
Labels: Caramel, Cheesecake, Fall, No-bake, Pumpkin
Monday, November 10, 2014
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Crescents with Maple Glaze
But, while I could take one of everything, there is one pastry in particular that I have a weakness for. The simple, yet amazing cream cheese danish. I'm not sure what it is about it, but I'm a sucker for fluffy, flaky pastries that are filled with that tangy cream cheese filling. If I see one of those in the case, it's done. There's no question what I'm walking out with.
During the fall, it's no news to you, I love pumpkin. When the weather starts cooling off I start counting down the days until it's actual okay to break out the pumpkin. Once that time finally rolls around, the pumpkin fest begins.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Apple, Bacon, White Sharp Cheddar Grilled Cheese
What is it about melty, gooey cheese sandwiched between two buttery, slightly crunchy pieces of toast that is so irresistible? Besides being irresistible, it's also addicting. Let's take it one step further and just say it's the epitome of comfort food.
While I love the basic grilled cheese, I can't help but play around with it. I love playing with different cheeses, cheese combinations, as well as adding different ingredients to kind of change things up from time to time.
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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.comments2014-11-26T15:00:01.438-08:00Xtremehorticulture of the email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-63293014125246109752014-11-23T20:19:24.768-08:002014-11-23T20:19:24.768-08:00I am entering this from an email that was sent to ...I am entering this from an email that was sent to me. Please feel free to contact this guy. He is an Aussie and has a lot of experience with bottle trees.
Att: Bob Morris…That was a great answer to the Bottle Tree query about watering.

I grow Bottle trees……I am happy to assist with any queries you may have with Bottle Trees.

My site is: www.bottletrees.info
<br Xtremehorthttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-80993028155719318622014-11-18T18:57:01.955-08:002014-11-18T18:57:01.955-08:00TEXAS GIANT BLUE FIG , EVERY THING IN TEXAS IS BIG...TEXAS GIANT BLUE FIG , EVERY THING IN TEXAS IS BIG !!!firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-24814744216674722852014-11-18T10:37:19.046-08:002014-11-18T10:37:19.046-08:00Why joshua trees have roots? Which is easier? Wate...Why joshua trees have roots? Which is easier? Watering the roots or using a spray bottle to deliver water to the tree. It is a waste of time.Xtremehorthttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-83747180939520413412014-11-17T14:31:46.841-08:002014-11-17T14:31:46.841-08:00you say watering any part above ground is a waste ...you say watering any part above ground is a waste of time. Out in the desert where do you think the trees get there water from, not a drip system, it comes from the sky, so why would watering anything above ground be a waste of time? Watch one when it rains and you can see the leaves open up to catch all the water they can and absorb into the tree.
firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-58876395331164563282014-11-11T17:30:49.785-08:002014-11-11T17:30:49.785-08:00I went back and reread it and I guess I did not gi...I went back and reread it and I guess I did not give enough information. The climate in Las Vegas is normally cold enough to provide enough chilling hours for daffodils. In unusually warm winters then you may see a reduction in the number of flowers. When you are planting new bulbs in the fall make sure that they have received pre-chilling treatment or they may not bloom in the spring. As a Xtremehorthttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-71005977415988549672014-11-06T13:55:35.341-08:002014-11-06T13:55:35.341-08:00Watering is so often misunderstood by homeowners a...Watering is so often misunderstood by homeowners and professionals alike. Think of watering this way - if you are thirsty, do you take out a juice glass and perhaps drink just 3 oz of water or do you grab a good size glass, fill it to the top and drink it all down and perhaps refill the glass? Obviously, you take a big, hefty glass of water and drink it all down at once to take care of your email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-86544890806133613422014-11-04T13:16:19.468-08:002014-11-04T13:16:19.468-08:00How often do you water?How often do you firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-25970148524083020922014-11-04T13:15:12.415-08:002014-11-04T13:15:12.415-08:00Wow! Great story. When I used to do volunteer work...Wow! Great story. When I used to do volunteer work at the botanical gardens in Phoenix, they said to give very little water or they would fall over or explode.
how often do you firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-44136046500910731042014-11-02T12:30:12.241-08:002014-11-02T12:30:12.241-08:00I live in Southern California and have a tree that...I live in Southern California and have a tree that was on the property when I moved here 40 years ago. It was a twig entwined in another big tree of another variety (not pomegranate) When that tree had to be cut due to disease the pomegranate flourished and produced nice fruit. It is hard for me to tell when they are ripe so I just wait until they pop open. This outside of these are pale firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-79400063550759114802014-10-26T20:40:50.688-07:002014-10-26T20:40:50.688-07:00Morning Bob, Saw my bucket this morning ...Morning Bob,

 Saw my bucket this morning in the paper. Must be ESP because yesterday I thought I should email you about the number of times I should fill the buckets. You nailed it. I wanted to tell you that some very healthy and very green grass is appearing around five of the six buckets. Not going to cut it as they seem to look like an oasis in the desert. The one firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-17097928365312952642014-10-23T18:04:37.067-07:002014-10-23T18:04:37.067-07:00I use a similar setup for temp watering newly plan...I use a similar setup for temp watering newly planted fruit trees. One 5 gal on either side of the hole. Home Depot's orange buckets can be had for $3 or less on special and I stock up. I noticed Lowe's finally matched HD's price with their blue buckets in my area. Not yet Ace Hardware white buckets. Lids cost as much or more than the bucket so I rarely cover them.

I Fascist Nationhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-16276686577097572052014-10-21T14:22:02.694-07:002014-10-21T14:22:02.694-07:00You are right, it will be hot in that house in our...You are right, it will be hot in that house in our desert climates. University of Arizona greenhouse people have told me to always use the tallest greenhouse you possibly can in the desert. This helps to get the heat off of the crops since heat rises and accumulates at the top of the house. The second thing to do is make sure there is some shade during the summer months. In cooler climates they Xtremehorthttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-21172273693811897782014-10-20T09:08:59.592-07:002014-10-20T09:08:59.592-07:00thank you for this post, bob! i love the photogra...thank you for this post, bob! i love the photographs of the beneficial insects. recently found a praying mantis on the wall of our house and kept my fingers crossed that he'd head into the garden. - Viviancontadinakhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-33742668387991984152014-10-18T15:31:45.715-07:002014-10-18T15:31:45.715-07:00Lovely Albizia Julibrissin! Lovely Albizia Julibrissin! The Backyard Gardenerhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-45588433806459629972014-10-15T15:35:20.390-07:002014-10-15T15:35:20.390-07:00I just put up a greenhouse in Tucson. It seems the...I just put up a greenhouse in Tucson. It seems the only way to keep critters from beating me to the vegetables. We have an automatic venting system and louvers, but it is still pretty hot inside (October) and yet the indoor temperature was 57.8 this morning...so no heat is being trapped inside. I can't garden outdoors because of the critter issue, so this is going to be a real challenge in firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-70782825278079932432014-10-04T16:37:17.599-07:002014-10-04T16:37:17.599-07:00What about quarter inch sized snails? What to do a...What about quarter inch sized snails? What to do about them? They are sort of pesky. What controls them?Charlie Michaelhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-57091835776255433842014-10-03T12:08:22.579-07:002014-10-03T12:08:22.579-07:00Do you take a Multivitamin. I do. Most people do....Do you take a Multivitamin. I do. Most people do. it Just like you or I, your tree and shrubs will benefit from nutrients that may be lacking in its diet. email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-15839161416933658952014-10-03T07:15:32.016-07:002014-10-03T07:15:32.016-07:00Keep up the good work and the great gardening!Keep up the good work and the great gardening!Xtremehorthttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-59564659657788184692014-10-01T11:58:15.337-07:002014-10-01T11:58:15.337-07:00I have Joshua plant the state land sold me. It has...I have Joshua plant the state land sold me. It has pups, and I want to move 1 plant. should I do it in spring or fall.

firstname.lastname@example.com@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-31806128709745555902014-10-01T10:54:01.281-07:002014-10-01T10:54:01.281-07:00Thank you so much Bob for the shout out about my h...Thank you so much Bob for the shout out about my humble little blog! I hope your followers find my blog to be another useful resource for growing in desert conditions.April Asherhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-42036183732599102492014-09-30T10:46:15.978-07:002014-09-30T10:46:15.978-07:00Thanks--they are a mess.Thanks--they are a firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-22421587790985290932014-09-25T04:19:31.058-07:002014-09-25T04:19:31.058-07:00The second photo looks to be mycorrhizal truffles ...The second photo looks to be mycorrhizal truffles which forma symbiosis with what appears to also be Eucalyptus leaves in and among the truffles. Pisolithus tinctorius are darker mocha brown when dried and compartmentalized with small honeycombed chambers full of chocolate brown spores. I always collected them especially after summer thundershowers.Kevin Franckhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-27848750430263980582014-09-24T15:55:58.321-07:002014-09-24T15:55:58.321-07:00this Tree is FINE for Las Vegas. BUT..... This is ...this Tree is FINE for Las Vegas.
BUT.....
This is WAAY too close to the wall for this poor little tree.
Move it before you will need to cut down this beautiful tree.Zirahttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-51420353332507758372014-09-23T16:54:39.755-07:002014-09-23T16:54:39.755-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178251735693144694.post-72982159530030367162014-09-23T16:31:23.716-07:002014-09-23T16:31:23.716-07:00Bob, I agree with you on your comment on Ambrosia ...Bob, I agree with you on your comment on Ambrosia Pomegranate. As opposed to most pomegranate varieties it seems to do much better under cool coastal or coastal valley conditions than desert. The variety I can recommend as a substitute is Parfianka. Truly one of the best if not the best variety all around.

Best, Tom email@example.com


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A study exploring the effects of age and menopause on urinary incontinence (UI) in midlife has identified a relationship between menopausal transition and stress UI.
The study included 1211 women followed up since their birth in 1946 and looked at their menopausal transition status and symptoms of stress, urge, and severe UI over 7 years from ages 48-54.
Women who were peri-menopausal were more likely to have symptoms of stress UI than post-menopausal women. Menopausal transition status was not associated with urge or severe UI. These relationships were not explained by age, childhood enuresis, reproductive factors, previous health status, body mass index and educational qualifications.
Source: Nursing Times


text: Mutual Funds and Other Investment Companies Chapter 4 McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Investment Companies Investment Company Act of 1940 which classifies into: Unit trusts – portfolio fixed for life of fund (unmanaged) Managed Investment Companies Closed End Open End – "Mutual Funds" About 90% of investment company assets are here. 4-2 Other Investment Organizations Commingled Funds – partnerships that pool funds (e.g. trust or retirement accounts pool into a common fund). Are like large investor open ended funds REIT (Real Estate Investment Trusts) – similar to closed end funds, but established by separate legislation and must invest passively in real estate Hedge Funds – not registered and not subject to SEC regulation. Used by "sophisticated" investors and financial intermediaries. Often use high leverage 4-3 Mutual Funds • Our goal in this chapter is to understand the different types of mutual funds, their risks, and their returns. • Around 1980, 5 million Americans owned mutual funds. • However, by 2001, 93 million Americans in 55 million households owned mutual funds. • In 2001 investors added $505 billion in net new funds to mutual funds. • In 2001, mutual fund assets totaled $7 trillion. • In 2002, mutual fund assets totaled 6.4 trillion. 4-4 Mutual Funds Mutual funds are simply a means of combining or pooling the funds of a large group of investors. The buy and sell decisions for the resulting pool are then made by a fund manager, who is compensated for the service provided. Like commercial banks and life insurance companies, mutual funds are a form of financial intermediary. 4-5 Mutual Fund Operations: Organization and Creation A mutual fund is simply a corporation. It is owned by shareholders, who elect a board of directors. Most mutual funds are created by investment advisory firms (say Fidelity Investments), or brokerage firms with investment advisory operations (say Merrill Lynch). Investment advisory firms earn fees for managing mutual funds. 4-6 Taxation of Investment Companies A "regulated investment company" does not have to pay taxes on its investment income. To qualify, an investment company must: Hold almost all its assets as investments in stocks, bonds, and other securities, Use no more than 5% of its assets when acquiring a particular security, and Pass through all realized investment income to fund shareholders 4-7 The Fund Prospectus and Annual Report Mutual funds are required by law to supply a prospectus to any investor who wishes to purchase shares. Mutual funds must also provide an annual report to their shareholders. 4-8 Services of Investment Companies Administration & record keeping Diversification & divisibility Professional management Reduced transaction costs (economies of scale in trading) 4-9 Investment Companies and Fund Types An Investment company is business that specializes in pooling funds from individual investors and making investments. An Open-end fund is an investment company that stands ready to buy and sell shares in itself to investors, at any time. A Closed-end fund is an investment company with a fixed number of shares that are bought and sold by investors, only in the open market. 4-10 Open-End and Closed- End Funds: Key Differences Shares Outstanding Closed-end: no change unless new stock is offered. Open-end: changes when new shares are sold or old shares are redeemed. Pricing Open-end: Net Asset Value(NAV) Closed-end: Premium or discount to NAV 4-11 Net Asset Value Used as a basis for valuation of investment company shares. Selling new shares Redeeming existing shares Calculation Market Value of Assets - Liabilities Shares Outstanding 4-12 Mutual Fund Costs and Fees Sales charges or "loads" Front-end loads are charges levied on purchases. Back-end loads are charges levied on redemptions. 12b-1 fees. SEC Rule 12b-1 allows funds to spend up to 1% of fund assets annually to cover distribution and marketing costs. Management fees: Usually range from 0.25% to 1.00% of the funds total assets each year. Are usually based on fund size and/or performance. 4-13 Mutual Fund Costs and Fees Trading costs Not reported directly Funds must report "turnover," which is related to the amount of trading. ((Avg Assets)/Sales) The higher the turnover, the more trading has occurred in the fund which increases costs. Turnover also creates capital gains for investors Mutual Funds may be "reimbursed" for order flow (increases trading costs, but is not a fee that is reported). So called "soft dollars" Benefit – a large trader like a mutual fund can get good allocation of IPO's 4-14 Expense Reporting Mutual funds are required to report expenses in a fairly standardized way in their prospectus. Shareholder transaction expenses - loads and deferred sales charges. Fund operating expenses - management and 12b-1 fees, legal, accounting, and reporting costs, director fees. Must provide hypothetical example showing the total expenses paid by investors through time per $10,000 invested. 4-15 Example: Fee Table 4-16 Example: Fee Table 4-17 Why Pay Loads and Fees? After all, many good no-load funds exist. Don't know any better? Or, You may want a fund run by a particular manager. All such funds are load funds. Or, you may want a specialized type of fund. Perhaps one that specialized in Italian companies Loads and fees for specialized funds tend to be higher, because there is little competition among them. 4-18 Investment Companies and Fund Types 4-19 Short-Term Funds, I. Short-term funds are collectively known as money market mutual funds. They hold money market instruments Money market mutual funds (MMMFs) are mutual funds specializing in money market instruments. MMMFs maintain a $1.00 net asset value to make them resemble bank accounts. Depending on the type of securities purchased, MMMFs can be either taxable or tax-exempt. Often allow "check writing" 4-20 Short-Term Funds, II. Most banks offer what are called "money market" deposit accounts, or MMDAs, which are much like MMMFs. The distinction is that a bank money market account is a bank deposit and offers FDIC protection. 4-21 Long-Term Funds There are many different types of long- term funds, i.e., funds that invest in long- term securities. Historically, mutual funds were classified as stock funds, bond funds, or income funds. Nowadays, the investment objective of the fund is the major determinant of the fund type. 4-22 Stock Funds, I. Some stock funds trade off capital appreciation and dividend income. Capital appreciation Growth Growth and Income Equity income Some stock funds focus on companies in a particular size range. Small company Mid-cap Some stock fund invest internationally. Global International Region Country Emerging markets 4-23 Stock Funds, II. Sector funds specialize in specific sectors of the economy, such as: Biotechnology Internet Energy Other fund types include: Index funds Social conscience, or "green," funds "Sin" funds (i.e., tobacco, liquor, gaming) Tax-managed funds 4-24 Index Funds Pioneered by Vanguard. Its "Index Trust 500", based on the S&P 500 is the largest mutual fund in the world (Inception: August 31, 1976) Very low costs – typically 20 bp or less for S&P 500 based funds. Higher for specialty indexes and international Low turnover (5% annually, versus 85% for the average managed stock fund) Tax efficient – it is typically near the top 20% of funds on an after tax basis 4-25 From Vanguard.com Statistical snapshots 71% of Vanguard index funds outperformed their respective peer-group averages over the ten years ended March 31, 2006. When Vanguard 500 Index Fund began operations in 1976, it was one of 360 U.S. stock funds; 149 of these no longer exist. 2005 expense ratios for funds tracking the S&P 500 Index: Industry average: 0.59%; Vanguard 500 Index Fund: 0.09% (Admiral™ Shares) and 0.18% (Investor Shares).Source of industry data: Lipper Inc. 4-26 Bond Funds Bond funds may be distinguished by their Maturity range Credit quality Taxability Bond type Issuing country Bond fund types include: Short-term and intermediate-term funds General funds High-yield funds Mortgage funds World funds Insured funds Single-state municipal funds 4-27 Stock and Bond Funds Funds that do not invest exclusively in either stocks or bonds are often called "blended" or "hybrid" funds. Examples include: Balanced funds Asset allocation funds Convertible funds Income funds 4-28 Mutual Fund Objectives: A mutual fund "style" box is a way of visually representing a fund's investment focus by placing the fund into one of nine boxes: Style Value Blend Growth Large Size Medium Small 4-29 Mutual Fund Objectives: In recent years, there has been a trend toward classifying a mutual fund's objective based on its actual holdings. For example, the Wall Street Journal classifies most general purpose funds based on the market "cap" of the stocks they hold, and also on whether the fund tends to invest in "growth" or "value" stocks (or both). 4-30 Mutual Fund Objectives 4-31 Mutual Fund Performance Mutual fund performance is very closely tracked by a number of organizations. Financial publications of all types periodically provide mutual fund data. The Wall Street Journal is particularly timely print source. www.morningstar.com has a "Fund Selector" that provides performance information 4-32 Mutual Fund Performance 4-33 Mutual Fund Performance 4-34 A First Look at Fund Performance Benchmark: Wilshire 5000 Results Most funds underperform Not fair comparison because of costs Adjusted Benchmark: Wilshire 5000 with passive management costs considered. The majority of funds still under-perform. 4-35 Consistency of Fund Performance Do some mutual funds consistently outperform? Evidence suggests that some funds show consistent stronger performance. Depends on measurement interval Depends on time period Evidence shows consistent poor performance. 4-36 Mutual Fund Performance While looking at historical returns, the riskiness of the various fund categories should also be considered. Whether historical performance is useful in predicting future performance is a subject of ongoing debate. Some of the poorest-performing funds are those with very high costs. 4-37 Closed-End Fund Performance A closed-end fund has a fixed number of shares. These shares are traded on stock exchanges. There are about 450 closed-end funds that have their shares listed on U.S. Stock Exchanges. There are about 7,000 long-term open-end mutual funds. 4-38 Mutual Fund Performance 4-39 The Closed-End Funds Discount Most closed-end funds sell at a discount relative to their net asset values. The discount is sometimes substantial. The typical discount fluctuates over time. Despite a great deal of academic research, the closed-end fund discount phenomenon remains largely unexplained. 4-40 Exchange Traded Funds An exchange traded fund, or ETF, Is basically an index fund. Trades like a closed-end fund (without the discount phenomenon). They are heavily traded. An area where ETFs seem to have an edge over the more traditional index funds is the more specialized indexes. A well-known ETF is the "Standard and Poor's Depositary Receipt" or SPDR. This ETF mimics the S&P 500 index. It is commonly called "spider." A list of ETFs can be found at www.amex.com. 4-41 Hedge Funds Like mutual funds, hedge funds collect pools of money from investors. However, Hedge funds are not required to register with the SEC. Hedge funds are not required to maintain any particular degree of diversification or liquidity. Are often highly levered. Hedge fund investors must qualify as "financially sophisticated" investors. Hedge fund managers have considerable freedom to follow various investment strategies, or styles. Hedge fund fees: General management fee of 1-2% of fund assets Performance fee of 20-40% of profits 4-42 Useful Internet Sites www.ici.org (reference for mutual fund facts and figures) www.vanguard.com (example of major fund family website) www.fidelity.com (website of largest investment advisory firm in US) www.ipsfunds.com (reference for "plain language" risk disclosure) www.mfea.com (reference for info on thousands of funds) www.morningstar.org (reference for one of the best mutual fund sites) www.vicefund.com (reference for "vice" funds) www.socialinvest.org (reference for "social conscience" funds) www.hedgefundworld.com (reference for hedge fund information) www.turnkeyhedgefunds.com (reference to start your own hedge fund) 4-43 Review: Mutual Funds Investment Companies and Fund Types Open-End versus Closed-End Funds Net Asset Value Mutual Fund Operations Mutual Fund Organization and Creation Taxation of Investment Companies The Fund Prospectus and Annual Report Mutual Fund Costs and Fees Types of Expenses and Fees Expense Reporting Why Pay Loads and Fees? Short-Term Funds Money Market Mutual Funds Money Market Deposit Accounts 4-44 Review: Mutual Funds Long-Term Funds Stock Funds Taxable and Municipal Bond Funds Stock and Bond Funds Mutual Fund Objectives: Recent Developments Mutual Fund Performance Mutual Fund Performance Information How Useful are Fund Performance Ratings? Closed-End Funds and Exchange Traded Funds Closed-End Funds Performance Information The Closed-End Fund Discount Mystery Exchange Traded Funds 4-45