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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178206461815083872014-11-03T20:21:39.146-06:00Way Out Charlotte PikeDispatches from out where real people live.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-46133266749441527382014-11-02T07:07:00.001-06:002014-11-02T07:07:58.397-06:00SpookerLet's talk about something else. It gets wearisome watching what's going on with our corrupt political leadership and our increasingly stiff-necked society. Sometimes you just have to be reminded how great a gift life is.

I've been Catholic from the cradle, but my faith was really born with my first child and confirmed with the next one and it has been reconfirmed every day of their lives. The next greatest proof of God is dogs.

I've been missing having a dog since my brilliant little faithful and scrappy poodle Tank was put down last year. I had just gotten Erin-Tops and even at the end when he went completely blind, Tank insisted on going for walks at my feet, bumping into things and being stabbed by thorns along the way, but smelling every inch of the rich scents of game and earth out here in the country.

Losing Tank was hard but there were some ways it made life easier. He watched my every little move and knew what I was going to do next before even I did. There was no free will with him. If I varied off the prescribed way I was supposed to do things, I was likely to trip over him.

Recently by chance I read one of the greatest pieces of dog-literature I've ever experienced. I heard somewhere about literature that reading about other people's lives makes you understand your own life better. This one really hit home, the short story "A Man and his Dog" by Thomas Mann about the dog Bashan. I happened upon it in an old collection of his shorter works. I realized as I eagerly read each page how much I lacked for not having a dog with me. Then every time I took a walk through the woods around the property I longed for the companionship of a Bashan. I borrow or babysit dogs out here and we always have a good time, but it's not the same as having one of my own. I have even dreamed lately about having a dog again.

(There is a stand-alone book translation of the Thomas Mann story available entitled Bashan and I. Click on the title to see a picture of the kind of dog in the story and read more about it.)

Friday night a week ago, I kept thinking I was hearing something in the dark outside. I got a flashlight and shone it around the edges of the clearing around the house. Finally I spotted it: two yellow eyes reflecting back at me. I held the light on them until they closed, then slowly opened again. I walked out into the yard and the eyes didn't retreat, but all I could make out was a form in the scrub brush of what I took to be a coyote. It was kind of spooky. I didn't think more about it, and went to bed.

As soon as the sun comes up, I've got a habit of glancing out the windows every time I pass one, hoping to catch a glimpse of the deer or turkey or other animals that chance through the yard occasionally. So I know what it's supposed to look like out there without thinking about it. And as soon as there was light last Saturday morning, something caught my eye. There on the ground next to my Jeep was a lump that didn't belong. The first notion that popped into mind was of a sweater that had been dropped in a pile there. Of course, that made no sense. I am in the middle of nowhere!

I stepped outside to see better. My God, it was a curled up dog. The air was not quite freezing but cold as kraut anyway and at first I thought the dog was dead. But he raised his head and stared at me. Later I realized that stare said, "This is my last chance." I had a moment of indecision, but only a moment. I was in the house and back out in a flash with one bowl of food and one of water. And in a quicker flash this skeletal, mangy mongrel was on the food and it was gone, and then it was the water's turn.

Here he is. Heartbreaking, no? Most likely he had been dumped out of a car down at the highway. How could any human being do this? I think he'd been on his own for a week or more. I'm not sure he would have made it another night. He wouldn't let me come near him without food that day, but by the next, he was wagging his tail.

If you didn't click to look at the Mann book before, go back and do it now. Spooker's resemblance to Bashan is uncanny. It turns out, Spooker is no common mongrel. He is a Treeing Tennessee Brindle. One day he will be a beautiful, full grown hound dog. And he has filed papers to adopt me as his faithful companion. I accept.

I don't yet have a photo that does justice to the progress toward recovery in just this week's time: the tail wagging, the walking with me through the woods, the barking at an unknown car, the watching my every move in the house... but I can tell you, it is all a miracle, and to me, it is proof of God.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-25271782916528264792014-10-19T06:53:00.001-05:002014-10-19T06:53:38.664-05:00Ebola: Obamacare's First House Call.The future of U.S. Healthcare is here and now and we are seeing it played out before our disbelieving eyes in the shockingly inept way the federal government is responding to the threat from Ebola.

I need not detail the willful incompetence of the Obama administration in protecting the American public from this disease. From the fact that Bloomberg's anti-Slurpy health advisor is at the top of the Center for Disease Control to the political hack who has been appointed "Ebola Czar," they have been turning the Hippocratic Oath on its head: "First, do harm."

What continues to perplex me is how we got to this place. How did we get to the point that our nation's supposed best and brightest are pretending that the government takeover of the health care system will reduce costs? That supporting Islamists in the Middle East will lead to peace? That attacking the successful will help the poor? That our defense department, our state department, in fact every department of government, has as their organizing principle fighting the boogeyman of global warming?

With each new revelation of this government's stupidity/malfeasance, I experience another spasm of disbelief, like a Soviet prisoner getting electric shock therapy. How, how, how? I'm tired of it.

The fact is, despite our education and the internet and sophisticated, cosmopolitan lifestyles, as a human race we just haven't gotten one whit smarter. I saw a Facebook post this morning linked to by a liberal friend. The woman was complaining of nightmares, what with Ebola and ISIS and people who don't believe in global warming science! Jeez, Louise! Since when did science become a matter of faith? Since when did science prevail by consensus? And how about believing in God, and keeping science where it belongs as a discipline, not a theology.

It may seem I'm getting far afield from the original point, but I am not. Dr. Obama and the leftist cabal running this country and exploiting the divisions of race, immigration, and social status are at the root of the nightmares through which that woman and all of us are living. Unfortunately, as they have said about Ebola, it is likely to get worse before it gets better.John Arrahttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-75463671872567480032014-09-22T06:10:00.000-05:002014-09-22T06:10:41.901-05:00What will Putin do?

Any American who's had a loved one with a debilitating mental illness or addiction will feel right at home with the Obama administration. Every possible way they can spite themselves, despite the good will of those around them, they do.

Time for economic recovery? Let's put in socialized medicine. Need friends in the Middle East? Let's foment rebellion against every dictator in the region who is holding the Islamists at bay. Have a chance finally to heal the vestiges of racial hate in America? Throw an Eric Holder into the fray.

Now we aim to arm the Syrian Rebels. Oh, only the good ones, not the Islamic State ones. Right. And Congress is enabling this idiocy just like a good Samaritan handing $20 to a "Will Work for Food" panhandler.

Anybody with a working brain can see that this is yet one more counterproductive step with our guns aimed squarely at our own feet in a long line of such miscues, intentional or otherwise. Whatever the motive, it can only help the cause of the Muslim Brotherhood. And most likely, end up being a mortal threat to Assad.

So what will Putin do? Will he continue to back Assad? Will this provide his chance to go toe to toe with Obama on the battlefield and show who's the real man? This is the real question. This is the World War III question.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-8327009979747661282014-08-25T05:22:00.000-05:002014-08-28T05:40:22.599-05:00Book Review: The Bully Pulpit

Now that I am frequently in my Jeep an hour at a time, I enjoy listening to the Great Courses series. My choices tend toward history. I highly recommend courses by the historians Mark Stoler and J. Rufus Fears. They do not drone. They have a knack for personalizing the facts, for leading you to why this happened and where things went wrong and who was behind the mess without spoon feeding it. It's great, involving, compelling history. Nothing, unfortunately, thrills my nerdy little soul more.

But I have to say, I can be thrown off a good history now and then by a peccadillo (which rhymes with armadillo and that stands for... never mind). For example, I recently bought a course on the history of biblical Israel. The professor has a nice voice and she knows her ancient history and she had plenty of great information to impart. But she insisted on saying "B.C.E." throughout instead of "B.C." In case you don't know, B.C.E. is the newish, supposedly neutral historical way to designate the era "Before Christ." It stands for "before common era." There's not even anything to capitalize in that. And there's nothing neutral about it. Even if you're not a believer, even if you don't accept Christ's life as fact, the very concept of Christ marks the most pivotal turning point in world history. To deny that as a historian is absurd, and using "B.C.E." is just a passive aggressive way to make a statement of one's religious feelings or lack thereof. It's like Vanderbilt University renouncing and renaming Confederate Hall without tearing down the building or the Brown faculty eliminating the Columbus Day holiday but renaming it Fall Break or some such. It's historical revisionism and hypocrisy of the worst sort: that done sanctimoniously and judgmentally.

I do not digress. This has everything to do with why I would not normally have read, much less purchased, The Bully Pulpit - Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Most of us know her from TV as a featured commentator giving historical perspective in federal election coverage. I have to say I enjoy watching her and the information she brings to the table. So she's sort of a cross between a big time historian and a big time journalist.

That in itself wouldn't throw me off, but I suspected already and you don't have to read far into this book to know, that the two passions of the author are progressivism and agenda journalism. It is a complete and total paean to any and every possible way to see American history through the lens of leftist ideology. So if you choose to read this book, accept and ignore this irritant, like the lady spewing "B.C.E." over and over again. As for how I ended up reading it, the book was a gift, so I figured I had nothing to lose by forging past her politics to get to the meat of the thing.

First and foremost, Ms. Goodwin does an outstanding job of painting the two divergent personalities: Roosevelt, the type A, charismatic man of intense passions and Taft, his erstwhile best friend and chosen successor in the presidency, the fat and affable judicial intellect, a sort of tortoise to Roosevelt's hare. I ended up admiring them both, but I'd probably rather go fishing with Taft. Roosevelt would be too busy, casting and recasting and trying different lures. I like to just sit there and watch my bobber. Taft would be all about that.

Ms. Goodwin sets the scene well, giving context to the two men amid their contemporary American society at the turn of the century. These are the two presidents who, tragically, ushered in the bumbling Woodrow Wilson through the breakdown of their friendship and Roosevelt's launch of a disastrous third party bid. America, though in a period of prolonged prosperity after the Civil War and before the world wars, was roiling with social unrest and change. The obvious comparison is to today's world and, I would say, our current bumbling president, but the important thing to remember is that it is comparison, not equivalence. The progressivism of that day is not at all what is passing for progressivism today. Progressivism then was good sense, like eliminating child labor, establishing the forty hour work week, including women in the vote. Progressivism today is rank leftism.

Once I managed to get past the author's grinding ax--progressivism, progressivism, progressivism-- I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style, wealth of facts and details, and presentation of the personalities who drove American history out of the horse and buggy and into the automobile. (Curiously, it was Taft who loved the new invention while Roosevelt despised it.) Looking for a good, long read into history? Go get it, but don't buy it as a metaphor for politics today hook, line, and sinker. And be careful to steady the boat when Taft steps in.John Arrahttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-56046485421729141632014-08-20T05:57:00.000-05:002014-08-20T05:57:47.744-05:00Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off"Now even Taylor Swift is being accused of racism because of her new video for her pop song, "Shake It Off."

On the contrary. Taylor Swift has huge talent and a huge sense of humor. Or more precisely, whimsy, which is something direly lacking in today's world of pure cynicism, sarcasm, and begging to have a chip to carry on one's shoulder. And she's living proof a la the Jackson Five of the America of opportunity, the antidote to the dismal world of rapperism and occupation.

Judge for yourself. I choose whimsy, hope and change, not rage, hope and change.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-54407531570196025742014-07-23T19:41:00.001-05:002014-07-23T19:41:11.176-05:00The Nobel Prize for Savoir-Faire...

...should be awarded to whatever Egyptian official had the presence of mind to order John Kerry and his entourage subjected to metal detectors before his meeting with the Egyptian president. What a meet comeuppance for the pompous one and the Obama administration who left the Egyptians in the lurch when the Islamists took over. It's no wonder those guys figured out how to fit the stones of the pyramids together so perfectly.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-32435815095066567992014-07-06T07:16:00.000-05:002014-07-06T07:19:04.628-05:00Movie Review: Dinesh D'Souza's Movie "America"Frankly I didn't make it all the way through D'Souza's previous "2016" movie. The ground it covered was all familiar to me. I felt its purpose was more to educate the ignorant about the nature of Barack Obama than to talk to someone like me, who was already convinced of his ineptitude. I was watching it on a laptop and I couldn't stay with it.

For someone continuing to study and puzzle over this man and what is happening to our country, however, this new film is not to be missed. D'Souza puts it perfectly in saying that Obama didn't create the movement, the movement created him. In this "America," D'Souza helps make sense of it all.

D'Souza treats or interviews several guiding lights from the current progressive side of things and features archival television and movie footage of many key events and progressive leaders in modern American history. It is not dry. In fact, most of this is very interesting. Footage of Saul Alinsky is especially revealing, as is examination of Howard Zinn's largely unchallenged take on American history. (I remember reading his book in high school, and, even then as a liberal-leaning young nincompoop, thinking that this guy's lens wasn't very clear. But his seminal book has become like a Bible for those who want to believe the worst about America.)

I think the film really shines in its historical reenactments. D'Souza uses the device of asking what the world would be like if America didn't exist, and visits several characters in American history, some well known and some who are not, but should be. I especially liked George Washington's character. I'm not sure he ever really spoke in the movie, but the actor very successfully conveyed the dignity and charisma that made men follow him and took the Constitution from theory to reality. I was also very taken by the potrayal of Lincoln. In short segments with iconic figures, it is very hard I think to achieve the suspension of disbelief necessary for dramatic affect, but this movie does it brilliantly.

I've been to several movies, documentary or otherwise, where I did not feel I got my money's worth. Not this one. The cinematography showcasing America's beauty is worth the price of admission alone. But I'd also like to think it will change some minds. Those people whose appreciation of history is slight and whose idea of news is watching Jon Stewart are the ones who need to see it for that to happen, but I think unfortunately only the conservative choir is the main audience who will see it. If you are in that choir, you owe it to yourself to go see it while it's in the theaters; it plays great on the big screen.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-83113279343160458922014-07-01T07:21:00.000-05:002014-07-01T07:21:16.870-05:00The Hobby Lobby case is not about contraception.Every time I heard the Supreme Court's decision handed down yesterday re Hobby Lobby, the newscaster got it wrong. And so did most conservative talk show hosts, at least those I heard. The issue is not about contraception; it is about abortion.

Among the many types of "contraception" mandated by Obamacare for insurance policies are the various forms of morning after pills like "Plan B" which, instead of preventing pregnancy as birth control pills do, actively poison a pregnancy. And the Obama administration has made no secret of its advocacy for full blown abortion, so it is logical to expect that an outright abortion mandate follows.

Many reasonable persons of faith consider abortion to be murder. These people are not extremists, or even just outside the mainstream if the polls that consistently show over 50% of Americans opposed to abortion are correct. Thus sponsoring insurance policies that literally fund genocide is for most people, unconscionable.

If it's legal and the parents decide an abortion is appropriate, then let them pay for it, but don't make me take my treasure and fund what I consider a moral atrocity with it. It has nothing to do with anybody's imagined "war on women." There is no such thing, except within Islam.

Hobby Lobby had the moral courage to stand for religious liberty expressed through private property rights and thank God, it was affirmed by the Supreme Court yesterday.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-91026946396971733552014-06-13T11:49:00.000-05:002014-06-13T11:49:07.621-05:00Don't impeach Obama.Impeachment is useless, especially with a feckless Congress. Someone needs to arrest the bastard.

His sins against everything America stands for are easy to enumerate, obvious to any thinking person who is faithful to the Constitution and prizes individual liberty. Those alone might be impeachable.

But standing idly by while over ten years of sacrifice of American blood and treasure goes right down the toilet in Iraq? That's not just incompetence nor stupidity That's not just negligence nor wrongheadedness. That's a high crime. That is a betrayal of hs duties as Commander in Chief. That is treason.

The libs loved counting the bodies of American soldiers brought home in caskets fighting for the cause of liberty in Iraq. Over four thousand.

Seems to me, they should count for something.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-80781759529951179352014-06-11T05:33:00.002-05:002014-06-11T05:33:52.633-05:00Another faux crisis.

The supposed humanitarian crisis of children streaming across the Mexican border is another Fast and Furious - a fake crisis cooked up by really, really cynical zealots in and around the Obama administration who figure if their logic for open borders won't work, then maybe casting open borders as "for the children" will.

If anybody thinks for more than two seconds about this, they will realize that thousands of children don't just show up at the border, having trekked across the deserts of northern Mexico with the dream of making it to America.

They didn't suddenly strike out toward America because they heard that amnesty was imminent. It wasn't an unintended consequence of Obama's and Cantor's and etc.'s political discourse about immigration reform.

They came in buses. They were rounded up from all over Mexico by the Mexican government, which is only too happy to have a way to get rid of them. And for that to happen, U.S. government officials simply have to be complicit. Just as the Justice Department - with impunity - put guns into the hands of the drug cartels in an attempt to subvert the Second Amendment, the Feds are having children stream across the border in an attempt to liquidate our national sovereignty.

These are sick people. Not the immigrants - they're just pawns and orphans. I mean that these are sick, vile people running our country. It's time they were exposed and rooted out. Perhaps Eric Cantor's defeat in Virginia is the first sign that just that thing is about to happen. It was such a surprise that no one was even paying attention and no dirty pool was played by either the Republican or Democrat parties. The voters got one honest for a change.

The crisis is at the top, not in the Tea Party, not on the border. And it's time for the deportations to begin.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-83905618759585743102014-05-26T06:19:00.000-05:002014-05-26T06:19:13.675-05:00The President was missing in action...

 ...the night of the Benghazi attack, when two of our diplomatic corps and two CIA operatives were killed by raging Islamists in that Libyan city. Our head diplomat was dragged through the streets and beheaded. We had military assets available to intervene, but someone either gave a stand-down order or no orders were given at all. The White House refuses to disclose where President Obama was that night nor what he was doing. Hillary Clinton's "what difference at this point does make?" seems to be as much of an official response as we're going to get.

 Hmm. Hillary Clinton stonewalling for an administration missing in action...

 Sounds familiar...

 Has anyone checked Monica Lewinsky's whereabouts that night???John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-15183194295395352502014-05-19T06:01:00.000-05:002014-05-19T06:30:16.687-05:00Two Rich Old Fools
Who's worse?<o:p></o:p>

The old fool, socially retarded, perhaps a little senile, who gets mixed up with a gold digger one third his age who entraps him while he's having a fit of jealousy, then exposes his vitriol to the world for her fifteen seconds of fame and fortune…<o:p></o:p>

…or the rich old fool, who is in complete control of his senses, yes even venerated as one of the world's sharpest investors, who has funded the abortion industry to the tune of over a billion dollars?<o:p></o:p>

To me it's no contest. Donald Sterling's bigoted words are nothing compared to Warren Buffett's genocidal activism. Buffett's support of the abortion juggernaut, Dan Gainor estimates, pro rated by the typical cost of an abortion, is directly responsible for nearly three million deaths of babies in the womb, a highly disproportionate percentage of whom are minorities.<o:p></o:p>

I hope Donald Sterling wins in court against the sanctimonious hypocrites casting stones at him from all around. I love that he's told the NBA to shove their two and a half million dollar fine where the sun don't shine. He did nothing illegal, just ugly. And I reserve the right to do that myself without persecution. It's called being human.

I believe in divine justice, if not peace and justice. I believe Donald Sterling's ineptitude will be forgiven. And I am certain that Warren Buffett will get his due reward in due time.
John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-15579272322610575112014-05-12T05:16:00.000-05:002014-05-12T05:18:03.303-05:00I agree again with Pope Francis...

…though I'm not sure he agrees with me.<o:p></o:p>

 Wealth, as he said, does need to be redistributed. And indeed it needs to be redistributed from the rich to the poor. And in fact, as he mentioned, the state has a big role to play in effecting this. In my mind, this redistribution of wealth is what <st1:country-region><st1:place>America</st1:place></st1:country-region> is all about: opportunity. The pursuit of happiness. This is exactly what freedom and free markets do.<o:p></o:p>

 So I am 100% in agreement with Pope Francis that the status quo is stultifying social mobility. Between taxation and regulation and limitation of freedom, governments worldwide are inhibiting access to, and thus the benefits of, free markets to individuals and in effect, vast classes of people. <o:p></o:p>

 Here are the exact words of his address to the U.N. that has caused such an uproar:

 "A contribution to this equitable development will also be made both by international activity aimed at the integral human development of all the world's peoples and by the legitimate redistribution of economic developments by the State, as well as indispensable cooperation between the private sector and civil society."

 It is his use of the word "redistribution" combined with the word "benefits" used elsewhere in the speech that has the leftists giddy and the casual listeners on the right frothing at the mouth. But the truth is, even with this line in the speech, it is no condemnation of capitalism nor endorsement of socialism. Even this single sentence is quite fuzzy in its meaning, and I think intentionally so.<o:p></o:p>

 I think Pope Francis wants to shake everybody up and make the point that things have got to change from top to bottom and side to side if the increasing gap worldwide between rich and poor and the increasing concentration of wealth among the few is going to be addressed. I think he is speaking very effectively the way Jesus did in his arguments with the authorities and in his parables: leaving more questions in his audience's mind than dictates, causing introspection and thus leading more likely to change in their hearts.<o:p></o:p>

 In poking everybody's sensibilities this way, he runs the risk of feeding fuel to the "anti-papist" fire and being labeled a "liberation theologist" and accused of hypocrisy because of the Catholic church's wealth. Similarly he leads with love for homosexuals rather than condemnation. And inclusion for the divorced rather than isolation. He is about forgiveness and love, and if that confuses things regarding dogma and some people twist his words for political gain, so be it. (Think of Pilate's loaded question and Jesus' deft answer: "Are you the king of the Jews?") I don't think Pope Francis gives a flip what people may think about him in this way. I think he cares strictly about making a point that needs to hit home.<o:p></o:p>

 Although his life in socialist, fascist <st1:country-region><st1:place>Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region> has certainly taught him that that form of state is anything but benign, I'm not sure that he'd agree with me that the best way to reach his goal is by reducing the role of government to the minimum, either. I think if I had a chance to talk with him, he would leave me examining my premises rather than with a prescription.<o:p></o:p>

 Gee, I wish I could have been a fly on the wall when he and Obama met. The White House version of their discussions differed dramatically from the <st1:country-region><st1:place>Vatican</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s. Wonder why??? No doubt Pope Francis brought up the "culture of death" (abortion) which is also cited in his address to the U.N., among other topics surely uncomfortable to Obama. It is worth noting that Pope Francis cites Zacchaeus the rich tax collector as the type of rich whose wealth needs to be redistributed, a government functionary.

 It's all about seeking the truth. And to my mind Pope Francis is one world leader, maybe the only one, doing exactly the job he should do in that regard.

Click here for the full text of the Pope's address the U.N.
John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-75233244769047096582014-05-02T06:14:00.000-05:002014-05-02T06:14:00.230-05:00Where's the pot of gold?Does the pot of gold lie on the left end of this rainbow, or the right?

Let's see. The left is characterized by anger and incompetence and envy and Godlessness, race baiting and spying and cronyism and abortion, waffling and weakness and deficits and unemployment...

The rainbow may be a little fuzzy, but I think the choice is clear.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-24763028538452847602014-04-07T06:42:00.001-05:002014-04-07T06:42:06.859-05:00Jews, WASPs, Catholics & Mass Hysteria.We know from the Old Testament that Jews have had a problem as a people from day one with chasing after false gods. Their Christian brothers and sisters have inherited the gene as well. How long will the chosen people worship Beelzebub?

At this point six years into the Obama administration the problem is not that a person is liberal or conservative. Liberalism in the original sense of the word was a very good thing, the kind of thinking that got the western world out of the Dark Ages and into Enlightenment and eventually spurred history's first major democratic republic based on private property and individual freedom. To think liberally, to want society to evolve and progress, to seek peace and prosperity for everyone - these are not bad goals. In the argument between today's liberal and conservative, it really boils down to a reckoning of the manner of getting there, not whether social progress is the desired end.

The real problem today, the one which is supposedly causing gridlock in Congress and has America split down the middle politically, is the stubborn messianic belief in Obama that even some well educated, well meaning folks are having a hard time shaking in the face of the devastating facts.

Obama is a liar. There is no question of it. There is film, and if there wasn't film, there is memory, because he has repeated his lies over and over again so that we couldn't miss them and in order to influence many ignorant and many well educated people to vote for him. He and key figures in his administration are liars, corrupt, incompetent to effect positive change in America, and feckless in their ability to deal with world affairs from Palestine to Putin.

The lying is not just about Obamacare. It's about the IRS, about Libya, about Fast and Furious, about even the unemployment numbers. Less than 7%? Give me a break. More people than ever are unemployed, on food stamps, on disability, on Medicare, and we're supposed to believe not just that unemployment is under 10%, but closer to 5%! It's more like 20% when the numbers are not jiggered. There's no doubt the IRS has been persecuting conservative groups. Any moron can see that what happened in Benghazi was sheer, conscious dereliction of duty for which someone should be serving a prison term, and Fast and Furious was nothing less than reckless homicide on a massive scale.

And 7 million people enrolled in Obamacare? Right.

The facts indicate that the Obama administration is corrupt from top to bottom, from east to west, and inside to its core. Yet supposedly well educated, well informed people continue to support it. My liberal friends.

I can forgive mistaken judgment. I could have been wrong about him when I recognized Mr. Obama as a con man from the get-go. But now it's a matter of facing facts, and I just can't swallow any more support for Obama from the thinking left. That there are special interest groups, minorities and such who do, that will never change. But for the informed, the educated, the privileged - there's no excuse. It's time to melt the golden calf, if not in the name of God then at least for the sake of social and political sanity.John Arrahttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-36746109444743967312014-03-17T19:42:00.001-05:002014-03-17T19:45:36.719-05:00Pardon my Ukrainian...

...but how in the world did we get such a pussy as president???

I'm sorry about the crude language but there's just no other word to describe this guy. I'm not sure anybody even uses that word any more, but we teenage boys sure knew what it meant in the 70's. He's just talk and bluster and can't stand up to a strong breeze. In Texas he'd be known as all hat and no cattle. He's passive aggressiveness personified, railing against the one per cent to cheering crowds of high school and college students who have no idea what he's talking about, hiding behind a shield of charging racism to fend off all critique, bending the laws to his will with his corrupt Department of Justice and IRS to persecute his domestic enemies.

Vladimir Putin, among others, has long ago called his bluff. After the talking was done there was no line in Syrua, no help in Libya, no backbone in Egypt, and no teeth in the deal with Iran, among other namby-pamby policy in world affairs. So there will be no democracy in Crimea, and stay tuned, no doubt all of the Ukraine eventually.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-35692058294613577362014-02-15T05:05:00.000-06:002014-02-15T05:05:54.242-06:00If Colorado can defy Federal law...

...by allowing recreational use of marijuana, why can't Tennessee defy Federal law by allowing us to purchase 100 watt incandescent light bulbs? Or at least 60 watt???John Arrahttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-51645647046184653532014-02-03T06:25:00.001-06:002014-02-03T06:25:09.739-06:00There are (almost) no atheists on Valentines Day.

If Forrest Gump was right that life is like a box of chocolates, then here is a chocolate for you this Valentines Day.

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." - 1 John 4:16

There is no more important single sentence in the Bible.

Even if you think you don't believe, or if you feel you don't know enough to believe in God... If you love your children, your parents, your spouse or friend or even a puppy, then you've found God.

If you are in a church that is preaching materialism, political activism, racism, sexism, envy, blame... anything other than love... then maybe you need to find a new church. Remember, religion is of people; faith is of God. If you are not in a church then just keep loving and maybe a church will catch up with you. Just don't wallow. Take action. Share some love. Be a seeker.

So here's another chocolate to leave with you: "Seek, and ye shall find." - Luke 11:9

Happy Valentines!John Arrahttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-27332629540474887022014-01-20T05:30:00.000-06:002014-01-20T05:30:01.172-06:00We are not alone. This week was a hard one. I was feeling raw Saturday morning, kind of like the weather. Twenty-something degrees. An uncomfortable breeze. And I was waiting for a plumber on the front porch at Erin-Tops because it was colder inside than out. He was going to look at the situation under the house caused by the recent hard freeze. It had taken out my water supply and left me looking for a bill from the water company that I dread seeing in the mailbox.

 But I didn't just find a plumber, I made a new friend. We hit it off right away, sharing a laugh about another customer, a sweet older lady who, he said, you could put the phone on the porch yonder and hear her just fine from twenty paces. And I got an inspiring story to boot. He thought to tell me because, when giving him directions, I had mentioned the stone pillars at the bottom of the driveway.

 He asked if I knew the other house down the highway a bit that also had stone pillars. He said one night some years ago, his daughter had been driving home in her Jeep on a wet night and skidded out at that driveway. The Jeep smashed into a tree, sending its hardtop flying and throwing her clear across the highway. Neighbors heard the crash and ran to help. A Life Flight helicopter was called in and carried her to Nashville.

 When my friend finally got to the hospital, he knew it was bad because a priest came into the room at the same time he did. The doctors told him she was in a coma and recovery wasn't likely. People just don't recover from the kind of injuries she sustained, they said.

 Meanwhile one of the men who'd been on the scene of the accident told him that while they had been waiting for the Life Flight, a woman stopped her car and came over to his daughter and prayed over her. The man said it was the most beautiful prayer he'd ever heard. And then the woman got back in her car and drove off. No one knew her.

 My friend's daughter did recover. And in just a short time, she was back at her job in an animal clinic. Talking to the doctor about it one day, her grateful father called it a miracle. The doctor said, "Thank you for saying that. We can't these days because it might offend somebody. But nothing short of a miracle is what saved your daughter."

 I got chill bumps when my new friend was finished with his story. It had nothing to do with the temperature. You can draw your own conclusions. But that little story reminded me that there are angels all around us. It is up to us to allow them into our life. If we do, they may just save it. Somehow, despite the temperature and the chilling story, I felt warmer inside by the time my new friend left to take care of his next customer.John Arrahttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-33184876828615278732014-01-06T05:34:00.000-06:002014-01-06T05:34:47.003-06:00Book Review: Brave New World  "Because our world is not the same as Othello's world," explains the Controller to the Savage in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. "…The world's stable now. People are happy. They get what they want, and they never want what they can't get. They're well off; they're safe; they're never ill; they're not afraid of death; they're blissfully ignorant of passion and old age; they're plagued with no fathers or mothers; they've got no wives, or children, or lovers to feel strongly about; they're so conditioned that they practically can't help behaving as they ought to behave. And if anything should go wrong, there's soma."

 Such is the utopia Huxley imagined for the year 632 AF (After Ford). Huxley's book was first published in 1931. In the Foreward to my edition that Huxley wrote just after World War II, he notes that he missed predicting nuclear fission. I would add with the benefit of about 80 years of hindsight, he also missed the computer. They're still keeping data on index cards in Brave New World. With all the spying going on these days, we may do well to go back to that.

 But he erred in little else spotting the trends of the modern progressive march of civilization, very early on in the game. In the Brave New World, everyone belongs to everyone else ("It takes a village…"). All babies are conceived in test tubes, selectively bred to come out as one type of human being from the lowest workers, Epsilons, to the smartest from whom the Controllers are chosen, the Alpha Pluses. The children are brought up in state institutions, carefully programmed with Pavlovian precision to like what benefits an orderly society and to detest what doesn't, including especially family, faith, and individuality. All are conditioned to consume as much as possible to keep the factories humming. The few remaining human beings who actually procreate and fend for themselves are the Savages, confined to a reservation in the boonies.

 The women are "pneumatic" and they wear contraceptive belts. Any accidental pregnancies are terminated by abortion centers. All social diseases have been wiped out and sex is purely for recreation, with as many different partners as one can schedule, and sex-play is promoted among the children from the earliest ages. Thanks to careful breeding and science, everyone looks young for as long as they live. When it does come time to die—poof!—they disappear into a dying center.

 And as the Controller says, for anything that goes less than perfectly, there is Soma. Soma is doled out carefully to everyone. It can be taken at a low dose to relax you if you're nervous and at a high dose as a sleeping pill, bringing nothing but pleasant dreams. Yet it is non-addictive and comes with no hangover the next day. The only side effect is that if you take too much of it, your life is shortened. Hmm. Nice point.

 I nominate Huxley for Genius of the Twentieth Century. He called it right. One need only look at politics in the "Free World" to see that everything driving the agenda now is about having no pain, fearing no God, and turning one's life over to the state. Or at consumerism to see that it is all about looking young, sex appeal (and performance), and… in some way… being happy, or at least child-like.

  Personally, I'm happy enough with the imperfections that make me an individual. And if I didn't appreciate this book when I read it as a teenager, I certainly do now. I wonder how many schools are still requiring it. My guess is, when the new progressive order is fully enforced in 2014 CE or so, it will be among the first books warmed up by the thought police to Fahrenheit 451.
John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-5165414821099175422013-12-23T06:29:00.000-06:002013-12-23T06:29:01.560-06:00It's the Sovereignty, Stupid. Remember James Carville's famous remark about Bill Clinton's race against George H.W. Bush? "It's the economy, Stupid." That's an anachronism now, no longer relevant, a moot point. The real issue now is sovereignty. Personal sovereignty, state sovereignty, national sovereignty.

 Sovereignty is the only truth left. Because the powers that be—in this case the Obama administration—have discovered that when you can't deliver a good economy you just lie about it and buy everybody off.

 For example, take the unions. They are not only getting Obamacare exemptions for Christmas. Let's try to remember in all this talk about helping the poor by raising the minimum wage, that the unions are really the only entities gaining from it, not the poor. The working poor will lose jobs because of a higher minimum wage. But union members' wages are indexed to the minimum wage, so when the minimum wage goes up, so do their hourly salaries.<o:p></o:p>

 The whole minimum wage issue, as with just about everything else that becomes a lead story on NPR, NBC, ABC, Fox, and so forth, is just a diversion from the real problem: sovereignty. Congress, Democrat and Republican, has been bought and sold. The economy is artificial, their so-called civil rights work for homosexuals and illegal aliens and the uninsured is all a sham to distract from the real purpose. And basically there's nothing we can do about any of it in an immediate sense. Even voting in state elections is Quixotic. Activist courts will just declare decisions that they don't like unconstitutional as has been amply shown lately in California and Utah, where votes overwhelmingly against allowing gay marriage have been undone by judicial fiat.<o:p></o:p>

 If you'll strip away all the posing and chatter, it's sovereignty that's really under attack from the established powers, who find personal privacy, property rights, faith, and individualism in general, to be very inconvenient impediments to their plans.

 Their plans? What plans? And who are "They"? Well, "They" are not necessarily the one-worlders, not necessarily some sort of Bilderberg cabal who are pulling all the strings. "They" are whatever entity is at the controls behind the curtain, issuing regulations, making taxes, setting policy. Turning the old axiom on its head, "They" are already absolutely corrupt and the only thing standing in the way of their dystopian dreams is gaining absolute power.

 Who "They" are, is not "Us"—the individual souls who run small businesses, who raise families, who keep our faith, our opinions, our individual destinies in spite of fashion. "They" don't really have a plan other than to get as much from "Us" as they can, whether through debt creation (for example, taxing the next generation to pay for today's excesses), through dependency (look at the millions added to the food stamp program, the unemployed, the disability rolls, and now in a big way, Medicaid), or by thought control (look no further than Paula Deen and Phil Robertson for egregious examples).<o:p></o:p>

 And speaking of egregious examples, take Obamacare. This gargantuan piece of legislation is perhaps the greatest victory over individual sovereignty ever successfully executed. The botched rollout is telling of the operators' incompetence, but hardly matters. Despite Rush's hope that Obama fails, he has not failed. He has pulled off the heist. I really don't get the impression that Barack Obama is losing any sleep over a botched rollout, do you?

 Any adult who has owned so much as a beat up old car knows that debt makes you a slave. Once you owe a bank or whomever a sum of money, you are not free until you've paid that money off. So now under Obamacare, we are all obliged to pay for health insurance of their design whether we want it or not. If we don't, the federal government has the power to tax us and, coincidentally, to portion out whatever health care they think is appropriate. And this burden falls especially to the younger generation which is already saddled with debt for their education, a debt owed, not coincidentally, to the federal government, just as most likely will be the mortgage on the house they buy one day, if they can ever afford to do so.

 Sovereignty, essentially, is being in control of one's own destiny. Each time we give up a portion of our sovereignty we become more a slave and less of a sovereign child of God exercising free will by acting on conscience. The sad part is, we too often do so voluntarily or more likely, ignorantly.

 Between now and the next presidential election in 2016, we can only hope that a candidate steps forth who taps into the rage that will boil to the surface when enough people finally figure out that in essence their freedom has been robbed from them.

 Whether America survives as the beacon of hope for the world boils down to whether its people will fight for their individual sovereignty—including, politically speaking, the sovereignty of their states to make their own laws and their nation not to be subject to the laws of foreign nations—or become willing slaves of outside entities. It's the sovereignty, Stupid,.And if watching all that is going on these days is not inspiring you to take on the fight to protect what you are losing… Well, then you, Comrade, and all of Us, are lost.
John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-51651795713045695742013-12-09T07:13:00.000-06:002013-12-09T10:09:48.911-06:00End Emissions Testing in Nashville

At Thanksgiving dinner I scrupulously avoided bringing up politics. That's a good thing because there were some liberals in attendance. And one thing you don't want to do when the Pilgrims and Indians are sitting down to dinner is to incite a discussion on, say, the ethical and practical pros and cons of scalping as a war tactic.

So I was quite pleasantly surprised when my left-leaning in-law relative brought up the emissions testing program in Nashville originally known as MARTA, a name we lifelong Nashvillians still love to call it with no small amount of disdain. He went into a short rant about it and all I had to say was, amen, brother.

For see, I had a visit to MARTA in my immediate future for my 1978 Ford F-150, a big ol' rumbling truck we all love, a canary-yellow affair complete with racks rising from the side of the bed courtesy of its former life in the cabinet making biz. Although one of my relatives' arguments against MARTA was that no one ever fails it, we old-car drivers from the poorer side of the family quickly contradicted that notion. A trip through MARTA, besides the inconvenience, is always to be dreaded as a matter of high drama and great suspense for us.

As you can see from the photo, the Monday after an end-of-month holiday was not a good time to go. All those other vehicles and I had a thirty minute wait. Figure how much gas that used and the excess emissions that were donated to Nashville's air while idling in line. Not to mention the trip I had to make out Briley Parkway at high speeds to increase the odds that my engine would be running cleaner when I came through.

Sitting in that old truck on idle for a half hour will nearly kill a man with gas fumes. I was green by the end of the wait, but somehow it passed emissions testing with flying colors, leading me to tell the attendant it was a Christmas Miracle as I tried to kiss him on the cheek when he passed me the certificate. He deftly avoided my spontaneous burst of affection.

Even if we older vehicles might fail from time to time, let's face it: We all know that the emissions testing program is a complete waste of time and money and is doing nothing to solve the problem of smog and pollution, but in fact adding to it. It inconveniences every car owner in Nashville and causes the wasting of untold gallons of gasoline every year and wasted driving time, driving up emissions volume. It's a prime example of a draconian government mandate that sucks blood out of the body politic but which no one can seem to undo, like school busing, the ethanol gasoline program, and now the biggest turkey of all, Obamacare.

Who will stand up to the EPA and get this ridiculous program stopped? Whoever might do it, I think he or she is guaranteed to win the next mayor's race.John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-10236500436453098092013-11-25T06:14:00.001-06:002013-11-25T06:14:53.640-06:00Get ready to party like it's 20-0-9.The immediate danger of a failed presidency is deals like the one John Kerry announced with Iran over the weekend. Now that all the fake grandeur and style-over-substance has been stripped away by one scandal after another and the Obama administration has been revealed as a collection of shameless liars, looters, and tyrants even to the true believers, they will stoop to anything for legitimacy. If Saddam Hussein could be resurrected I'm sure they'd by shaking hands with him for the photo op, too.

What does it mean for us mere mortals? Watch out for 2009.

Anecdotally I can say from my own small-business experience that this year is looking and feeling a lot like 2008. We've been up and down all year. Granted, we're running a lot leaner than we were in 2008, so we're better prepared to handle the storm. But nobody wants to ride out a storm if they can just find a course around it.

Unfortunately after four long years, though we may be better entrenched, the country, the economy, in fact the whole world order is in much worse shape than when Obama took office. Leftist governments ascendant in Latin America, over 90 million body-able folks in the U.S. not working, double the number on food stamps since the administration took office, over 12 million supported to do absolutely nothing by the disability program, and now a Medicaid surge thanks to Obamacare, the great wrecking ball of the country's health care system now in full sail...

Yet the stock market is reaching record highs. Feels like a bubble to me. One consciously created with no conscience about it whatsoever by the Obama occupier/corporatist/fascist/socialist/label-it-yourself self-destruction juggernaut.

I hope I'm wrong but I believe we're poised for 2009 all over again, with a vengeance. And that spells trouble for everyone's personal investments and the security of the country as a whole.

Hold on tight. As Jack Bauer used to say, "This is gonna hurt..."John Arrahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-53170844757209437692013-11-18T06:39:00.000-06:002013-11-18T06:40:59.464-06:00BlueCross, BlueShield, BlueNopolyAllow me first to pat myself on the back for having called one right. I predicted here in a post dated September 30 that Obamacare would be delayed. Well, Mr. Obama has made a fine muddle of it, but one way and another the whole thing is sinking of its own weight and all of the critical requirements are being put off a year.

Just before the tide turned on Obamacare, I got a letter in the mail from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee "Vice President Regional Sales and Account Management" John Maki with this flyer which claims that "you now have more choices than ever when it comes to your health insurance."

Really? You mean, perhaps, that I can now have my health insurance in light blue or dark blue? Because I certainly don't believe this is choice that the President and the Democrats have rammed down my throat.

Not so fast. It wasn't just the President and the Democrats that inflicted this chaos on us, and I thank Mr. Maki for reminding me that behemoth insurance companies like BCBST were acting as surgical assistant to Dr. Obama as he eviscerated our health care system.

I was dumbfounded when I first heard that companies like BlueCross were going along with Obamacare. But over time, as I've watched the universe of providers shrink, it has become clear that the big insurance carriers' strategy was to be the last man standing. Not exactly with a monopoly on the insurance business, but with just a few large carriers left dividing up the health insurance business. And in fact, the smaller guys have all fallen out of the health insurance business, knowing that the massive and byzantine federal regulation renders their role impossible and unprofitable.

Except, it's not really health insurance any more. It's really just allocating diminishing resources to an expanded universe of people. The big guys like BlueCross are banking on the idea that the government is too incompetent ever to make it to single payer. By standing by while all this happens and greasing the right wheels, they will always own the market as the middle man of income redistribution via health care.

I pay my own health expenses right now through a Health Savings Account (HSA). In order to keep costs down, I have an $11,000 deductible. I am, thank the Lord, a very healthy person. In my worst years I have never come anywhere close to that ceiling. For the privilege of managing my own health and my own health care expenses but keeping a policy in place to cover a disastrous occurrence like a heart attack or cancer, I pay BCBST over $3,500 a year.

I have shopped around and there is hardly anywhere else to go any more. If I want what we used to call "hospitalization" insurance, BCBST is really about the only game in town. Even the individual plans being advertised so heavily by Farm Bureau are just BlueCross plans.

In this letter, Mr. Maki reveals, with a positive spin of course as if it's something good for me, that my plan will change on its anniversary date next year. Hopefully not. Because even though it's highway robbery as it is now, I know it will be worse if Obamacare is fully implemented.

Now that the Gordian Knot is finally being untightened, there will be a lot of villains scrambling for cover like rats jumping off a sinking ship. Let's not forget that huge insurance carriers like BCBST and AARP and others were complicit in inflicting this mess on the American people. Maybe there's a chance to reintroduce real competition into health care and the health care insurance market and benefit everyone with lower costs and greater access.

But a word of warning: If you've finally learned that Barack Obama is a shameless liar, take anything you hear from the insurance carriers with the same grain of salt. Especially if they send you a flyer trying to tell you that you have more choices...John Arrahttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-317820646181508387.post-39783960590900597412013-11-05T06:25:00.003-06:002013-11-05T06:25:55.665-06:00Book Review: Who Really Killed Kennedy?I can sum this book up really quickly: It's an excellent compilation of every plausible theory ever conceived of who killed John F. Kennedy other than, or in addition to, Lee Harvey Oswald. In fact from reading this book I figure there were so many people with good reasons to want Kennedy dead who were in Dallas on the day he was assassinated that it's a wonder half of them didn't kill each other in the crossfire.

On another level the book is very revealing about Kennedy as well. I have realized lately that I really haven't studied the last fifty years as history. Since I've lived through that period, I've just assumed I knew what was going on. But it is becoming increasingly clear how little we actually have known about what was going on from the media. Perhaps to a great degree out of willful ignorance.

The truth is that if you buy the idea that America has gone astray, its waywardness can be traced in great part to the actions of the Dulles brothers in the fifties, and in this book in particular, Kennedy stands out as the maverick who stood up to stop their secret wars, their promotion of the military-industrial complex, and the march toward one world government.

It's a good read in that respect, and Jerome Corsi is a thorough journalist and good writer. On the down side, however, it sure could have used a sharper editor. There are typos scattered throughout and in a couple of instances, the names of important sources suddenly change from one paragraph to the next.

But all in all, among the numerous JFK assassination books and documentaries coming out to mark the 50th anniversary, I believe this one is among the most worthwhile.John Arrahttp://email@example.com


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Wales Book of the Month
ú2 off!
Delme - The Autobiography
The autobiography of one of the heroes of Llanelli, Wales and Lions rugby, Delme Thomas. He reached the pinnacle of the game with his club, country and internationally during a 15-year playing career. He was chosen to be a part of the British Lions tour in 1966, despite not having yet been capped by his country.
Thomas, Delme & Gibbard, Alun; Y Lolfa; ISBN 9781847719584; ú9.95.
The Wish Dog and other stories. Haunting Tales from Welsh Women Writers
Anthology of wholly original ghostly tales from new and established Welsh women writers. Sometimes it's wise to be careful what you wish for. This collection of original stories takes the broadest possible look at the theme of ghosts and other chilling tales.
Thomas, Penny & Tillotson, Stephanie (editors); Honno; ISBN 9781909983090; ú8.99.
Relish Wales Second Helping
Relish Wales Second Helping champions 25 of the very best restaurants and chefs in Wales, who offer their own unique take on the freshest and best local ingredients in over 100 recipes for you to create and try at home.
various; Relish Publications; ISBN 9780957537057; ú20.
Great British Sewing Bee Sew Your Own Wardrobe
The book to go with the TV programme, it includes 5 full-size pattern sheets.
Evelegh, Tessa; Quadrille Publishing; ISBN 9781849494144; ú25.
Song of the Earth
Out of print for some while, the third of Cordell's trilogy that starts in Blaenavon with "Rape of the Fair Country" is available again.
Cordell, Alexander; Hodder & Stoughton; ISBN 9781473603745; ú8.99.
Fifty Years Within Station Limits
John M. Morgan served on the railways for more than half a century. This is his detailed account of the impact of the railways on a south Wales village community and its surroundings, from the beginning of the 20th century until it's end. The book also covers the period the author spent doing his National Service in Egypt.
Morgan, John M.; Y Lolfa; ISBN 9781847718297; ú7.95.
Bradshaw's Guide to Brunel's Railways - Swindon to South Wales
Brunel and Bradshaw were close contemporaries. One became Britain's most celebrated engineer, while the other brought the experience of rail travel to the masses through his timetables and guide books. In this book Brunel-expert John Christopher presents Bradshaw's original account as a continuous journey from Swindon to Pembrokeshire. 159 photographs, diagrams and maps
Christopher, John; Amberely Publishing; ISBN 9781445621777; ú14.99.
Creating The Vintage Look
Discover how to upcycle to make unusual and unique homeware with Creating the Vintage Look. Here, Ellie Laycock shows you how you can make truly beautiful objects from things you might otherwise have thrown away.
Laycock, Ellie; CICO Books; ISBN 9781782490425; ú12.99.
page structure last modified: Thursday, 30 October 2014

subset: commoncrawl


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bluefaith05's Mom Answers Activity
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Getting Pregnant > Coping with fertility problems (1 helpful answer)
Recent Activity | Asked | Answered
How soon after you take your first dose of Clomid can you become pregnant?
Most recent answer (11/14/2014):
When am counting my blessings in life i start with the blessing from Dr abulu the spell caster who helped me get conceive for my husband ...posted by leonardwilsonloans
Can clomid mimic early preganncy signs?
Most recent answer (09/04/2014):
I hope my post helps lot of people who are in the same boat as me .I am 26 yrs old have been ttc for a year almost .I have been on clomid...posted by groom3108


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Booking photo of Vanessa Lee.
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Recent Posts
POGO Asks Pentagon to Keep Tabs on Service Contract SpendingNovember 26, 2014
Why Critics of Transparency Are WrongNovember 24, 2014
Data on Oil, Gas, Mining Projects Often Incomplete, Missing or InaccessibleNovember 21, 2014
Awaiting Answers from DOE IG on Whistleblower's AccusationsNovember 21, 2014
Treasury Nominee Eligible for "Revolving Door" RewardsNovember 21, 2014
CMRR-NF Cancelled, but Questions LingerNovember 20, 2014
Corporate Political Spenders Get Lucrative PayoutsNovember 20, 2014
Pentagon Still Plans to Blow Through Its AllowanceNovember 19, 2014
Audit Faults State Dept's Kabul Embassy Security ManagementNovember 17, 2014
The (POGO) Blog
March 4, 2014
House Unanimously Passes Freedom of Information Improvements
Last week, the House of Representatives passed important legislation that will go a long way towards reforming the Freedom of Information Act.
Continue Reading House Unanimously Passes Freedom of Information Improvements
Topics: Open Government
January 31, 2014
Anti-Transparency Provisions Removed From Farm Bill
In a victory for communities across the country, the current version of the farm bill, which the House of Representatives passed Wednesday, lacks earlier provisions that would have kept the public in the dark about certain farming operations.
Continue Reading Anti-Transparency Provisions Removed From Farm Bill
Topics: Open Government
November 7, 2013
Farm Bill Debate: Corporate Privacy or Public's Right to Know
The Farm Bill has been in and out of the news for months, but one troublesome element has not yet received enough attention: harmful secrecy provisions.
Continue Reading Farm Bill Debate: Corporate Privacy or Public's Right to Know
Topics: Open Government
October 9, 2013
Haiti Recovery Cloaked in Secrecy
Three years after the earthquake in Haiti, there remains a startling lack of transparency about where millions in U.S. recovery funds went and what exactly was accomplished.
Continue Reading Haiti Recovery Cloaked in Secrecy
Topics: Open Government
October 7, 2013
Senator Worries Over Shutdown's 'Closed Government'
On Saturday, Senator Partick Leahy (D-Vt.) took to the Senate floor to speak about two troubling aspects of the shutdown: the crippled judiciary and decreased government transparency.
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Chris Pennie is a really funny fella. I'm not just saying this because he used to take one of my hot lady friends on motorcycle rides. He has no gimmicks, unless you count being a single dad with a hot body and glasses talking about what happened to that kid in high school that wore the beret. (Pennie assures me that beret boy is fine, "still not right, but he's ok.") Pennie started performing comedy five years ago in the trenches of Boston's notoriously tough open mics, which he began as a result of his constant complaining. "Every time I would complain about things that really bothered me, the people I was talking to would always be laughing by the time I was done. It was never on purpose, but I realized that I should do something with it."
Pennie, who grew up in Wilmington, is a lifelong confirmed bachelor, although not in the professor Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady kind of way (not that there's anything wrong with that), who recently made the change from part-time dad to full-time dad. He's also a Volvo technician, so you know he's safe. In the past year, Pennie has been a finalist in the Plymouth Rock Comedy Festival and Dick Doherty's Beantown Comedy Riots, as well as an invitee to the Laughing Skull Festival in Atlanta.
Tweet Feed
- Looking for comedy in your neck of the woods? Look no further in Boston and Worcester this Wkend Nov 21,22http://p0.vresp.com/njUxm4 #comedy Nov 19
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- Great Shows at Dick Doherty's Comedy Den below Howl at the Moon Boston this Week-800-401-2221 @coreyrodrigues @robbieprintz @whynoeasynames Oct 27
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The Arts Council of Fort Worth is seeking a dynamic and multi-talented individual with excellent communication and organizational skills for the newly-created position of Public Engagement Coordinator for the Fort Worth Public Art program. This position is responsible for public engagement, education and outreach efforts and external communications for Fort Worth Public Art and plays a vital role in encouraging local artist and community participation in the program. Key responsibilities include:
- Public engagement, education and outreach
- Print and social media
- Fort Worth Art Commission communication liaison
- FWPA Artist Registry recruitment and management
- Assists with artist selection and community engagement for public art projects
- Special projects and initiatives
For more information, and to view the full job description, visit our ABOUT: Arts Council page.
Tabachin Ribbon
Yvonne Domenge
Tabachin Ribbon, a sculpture donated to the City of Fort Worth by internationally recognized Mexican artist Yvonne Domenge, was installed on a public plaza near City Hall over the Labor Day weekend. The contamporary sculpture complements the historic Public Safety Building located at 1000 Throckmorton Street and other nearby historic architecture.
For more information on the artwork and artist, see our Featured Project page.


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46768 results for "new england patriots"
New England Patriots AFC EastTeam Page | GameCenter | Stats | Scores & Schedule | Roster | Depth | Tix
STND WINS LOSSES TIES PCT% STRK DIV CONF 1st 9 2 0 .818 W7 2-1 6-2Last Game - 11/23: Detroit 9 @ New England 34 (Final)Next Game: New England at Green Bay Sunday 11/30 @ 4:25 PM ET
Tedy Bruschi's Patriots chat at 9 a.m. ETESPNBoston.com
Every Monday after the New England Patriots play, Tedy Bruschi hosts a Patriots chat. Monday's chat is scheduled for 9 a.m. ET, and questions can be asked in advance. Catch up with Tedy then....Blog | November 23, 2014
Patriots/Packers matchups to know (QB/special teams)ESPN Stats & Information
There's a potential Super Bowl preview next week pitting the two hottest teams in the NFL -- the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots -- against each other. We're sure you're going to want to hear a lot about the matchups this week, so we're he...Blog | November 23, 2014
Detroit's defense struggles for first time this seasonMichael Rothstein
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - They had miscommunications that led to open receivers. Against a Hall of Fame quarterback, that was a crippling blow to the Detroit Lions' chances of beating the New England Patriots. The Lions had the top-ranked scoring and ov...Blog | November 23, 2014
Audio results for "new england patriots"
Mike LupicaNovember 23, 2014
The Dan Le Batard ShowNovember 21, 2014
Blazing Five: 11/21November 21, 2014
Sal Paolantonio, NFLNovember 21, 2014
Report card: New England PatriotsLee Schechter
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Here are the grades for the New England Patriots after their 34-9 blowout win over the Detroit Lions. Quarterback: The Patriots' game plan was to throw the ball and throw it a lot. Tom Brady didn't see James Ihedigbo on his lo...Blog | November 23, 2014
Patriots owner Robert Kraft's Nikes on sale MondayDarren Rovell
Patriots owner Robert Kraft will see his own limited-edition version of Nike's updated Air Force 1 shoe go on sale for $150 Monday morning.Story | Conversation | November 23, 2014
O-line continues to protect Tom BradyKyle Brasseur
FOXBORUGH, Mass. -- Even against the league's top defense on Sunday, the New England Patriots' offense couldn't be stopped. In putting together yet another blowout win with a 34-9 result over the Lions, Tom Brady seemingly led the charge once agai...Blog | November 23, 2014
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Sunday Double Check: Patriots RollNovember 23, 2014
Gray Held Out Of Pats' WinNovember 23, 2014
Sunday Blitz: Lions-Patriots RecapNovember 23, 2014
Game Balls: Detroit at New EnglandNovember 23, 2014
- 02:16
Darrelle Revis the queen piece in secondaryMike Reiss
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Much was said after the New England Patriots' 34-9 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Gillette Stadium, but it was hard to find a more decisive statement than what was delivered by cornerback Darrelle Revis. "This is ...Blog | November 23, 2014
Lions' offensive woes show how far they are from being a top team...Michael Rothstein
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford wanted to make one more play, extend one more drive to try for another improbable comeback. Stafford was pressured on fourth-and-10 from the New England Patriots' 25-yard line with 11...Blog | November 23, 2014
New England Patriots show they can win in variety of waysJackie MacMullan
The Pats are adapting each week, keeping their opponents guessing.Story | Conversation | November 23, 2014
Patriots WR Brandon LaFell says he's OKMike Reiss
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Observed and heard in the locker room after the New England Patriots' 34-9 win over the Detroit Lions: LaFell says injury not serious. Wide receiver Brandon LaFell left the game in the fourth quarter after making a diving catc...Blog | November 23, 2014
Jonas Gray: Moving on to Green BayESPNBoston.com
New England Patriots running back Jonas Gray was contrite in the locker room following Sunday's game, a victory he sat out after not making it to the team's facility on time Friday. He would not confirm whether his sitting out was a disciplinary ...Blog | November 23, 2014
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***BESTPIX*** New England Patriots v Indianapolis ColtsNovember 16, 2014
***BESTPIX*** New England Patriots v Indianapolis ColtsNovember 16, 2014
New England Patriots v Indianapolis ColtsNovember 16, 2014
New England Patriots v Indianapolis ColtsNovember 16, 2014
LeGarrette Blount makes immediate impact in returnLee Schechter
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- One week ago as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, running back LeGarrette Blount walked off the field early after receiving zero carries. Now back in a New England Patriots' jersey, Blount carried the football like he never le...Blog | November 23, 2014
Joe Lombardi will remain Lions' playcallerMichael Rothstein
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Observed and heard in the locker room following the Detroit Lions' 34-9 loss to the New England Patriots. During the week, Lions coach Jim Caldwell said he would not consider taking play-calling duties away from first-year of...Blog | November 23, 2014
Rapid Reaction: New England PatriotsMike Reiss
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A few thoughts on the New England Patriots' 34-9 victory over the Detroit Lions: What it means: The Patriots showed they can continue to win in different ways -- they played suffocating pass defense and aired it out on offense...Blog | November 23, 2014
Ups and downs for PatriotsMike Reiss
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- At an initial glance, and without the benefit of film review, a look at which New England Patriots players were "up" in Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions and which players were on the opposite end of the spectrum: Up Ry...Blog | November 23, 2014
Rapid Reaction: Detroit LionsMichael Rothstein
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A few thoughts on the Detroit Lions' 34-9 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. What it means: This was always going to be a struggle and perhaps the Lions' toughest game of the season. However, there should be...Blog | November 23, 2014


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11 Items You Should Never Wear to Work
Why You Should Never Wash Your Jeans
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Big Age Gap With Your Spouse? Better Call A Divorce Lawyer
5 Retail Stores Where You Shouldn't Pay Full Price
Before You Think About Liposuction, You Must Read This


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2013 NBA Cares All-Star Weekend
Similar imagesView all
Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers paints his hand with other... News Photo 161776809Basketball - NBA Pro,Bench,Cleveland Cavaliers,Gulf Coast States,Hand,Horizontal,Houston - Texas,KaBoom,Kid,Kyrie Irving,Painting,Scene,Sport,Texas,USAPhotographer Gary DineenCollection: National Basketball Association 2013 NBAEHOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 15: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers paints his hand with other kids and places it on the bench at the 2013 NBA Cares Day of Service at the Playground Build with KaBOOM! on February 15, 2013 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)


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A Decade After His Death, Mitterrand Still Reigns
In his 14-year reign, Mitterrand hid his cancer from the public. He tried to prevent the reunification of Germany and ignored the AIDS epidemic. There were illegal wiretaps, in part to conceal the existence of a daughter he had with his mistress. Financial scandals and disclosures about his wartime service for the collaborationist Vichy government further tarnished his name.
He bloated the civil service, made high unemployment permanent, fixed the retirement age at 60 and set in motion a reduced workload than culminated in the 35-hour week. It was, said a recent editorial in Le Figaro, "an incredible collection of economic follies for which the bill is far from settled."
But that dark legacy has not stopped the flood of books, magazine and newspaper supplements, no fewer than six television films and documentaries and dozens of hours of commentary and speeches about his life.
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- Raleigh Trevelyan, Chronicler of a Notable Family, Dies at 91
- Former spokesman of B.C. anti-immigration group wants UBC history prof fired
- Harvard's Steven Shapin Wins History of Science Award
- Middle East Studies Association Fights a Rising Tide of Critics
- Juan Cole says the postwar Middle East governments were modeled on the Soviet Union, though not communist (interview)


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Fugitive lip biter arrested in California
Nov 6, 2014
Jonathan E. Benedict
Oct 30, 2014
Darrell W. Cook
Oct 2, 2014
Michael Polchies
Sep 25, 2014
Home » News » Crime
Woman fights return to NH to face charges in murder case
Michele Corson, 43, of Skowhegan, Maine, chose not to waive a hearing on fugitive charges on Friday, meaning a governor's warrant for her arrest will be needed to bring her back to New Hampshire, where she is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and one count of accomplice to first-degree murder.
Corson was arrested Wednesday for her alleged role in the death of Amanda "Amy" Warf. The 36-year-old Hampton mother's body was found inside a vacant concrete plant in Exeter on March 7.
Warf's ex-husband, Aaron Desjardins, 36, of Epping, is charged with first-degree murder. He is accused of slitting her throat, but has denied that he had anything to do with her murder.
Desjardins' wife, Sarah Desjardins, 34, of Epping, was also arrested Wednesday and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit murder and one count of conspiracy to commit hindering apprehension or prosecution.
She is being held on $250,000 cash bail.
According to Senior Assistant Attorney General Susan Morrell, Sarah Desjardins is accused of sending a text message to Corson asking her to bring a gun to New Hampshire before the murder.
Corson allegedly brought the weapon on March 6 "for the purpose of furthering the murder of Amy Warf," Morrell said Friday.
Morrell declined to reveal how the gun was used in the killing.
Sarah Desjardins also allegedly lied about her husband's whereabouts after the murder.
She is scheduled to appear in the 10th Circuit Court District Division in Brentwood on Friday at 10 a.m. for a probable cause hearing.
Corson is due back in court on Wednesday for a hearing in Skowhegan District Court.
- Innocent verdict in vehicle death of former Amherst Fire Chief - 1
- NH Guard Officer convicted of sex trafficking - 0
- MBTA sergeant facing a dozen charges after multiple arrests - 0
- Portsmouth mechanic arrested Friday on theft charges - 0
- Police looking for person who apparently abandoned dog Friday at Concord Dog Park - 0
- Police: Conn. woman falsely accused KSC student of rape - 2
- Jury acquits Mont Vernon driver, who was checking text, in death of former Amherst fire chief - 7
- Two injured in Rochester crash - 0
- Rochester man arrested on drug charge - 0
Police searching for person stealing from cars in ManchesterREADER COMMENTS: 0
- Police obtain warrants for suspect wanted in Dover, Manchester bank robberies - 0
- Abby Dion, 9, records a 10 in gymnastics meet - 0
- St. A skaters fall to Norwich - 0
- Monarchs lose in OT; win streak stops at 6 - 0
- College Football: Maine seniors want the coveted musket - 0
- College Hockey: Ice-making problem postpones UNH-PC - 0
- Pinkerton backfield a combination of power and speed - 0
- John Habib's City Sports: State Legion rejects Post 79's request for senior team - 0
- Tentative deal for old Manchester police station - 1
Physician reprimanded after baby's brain damaged in deliveryREADER COMMENTS: 0
Jury acquits Mont Vernon driver, who was checking text, in death of former Amherst fire chief
Offend someone? To jail with you!
Driver acquitted in Amherst ex-chief's death
A kinder, gentler House Speaker?
College Football: Wildcats are CAA champs
College Hockey: Providence blanks UNH
- Whom do you think bears the brunt of the blame for the mayhem this weekend in Keene?
- KSC students
- 37%
- KSC administration
- 2%
- Police
- 6%
- Visitors from out of town
- 18%
- A combination of any/all of the above
- 37%
- Total Votes: 2483


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The few enlightened teenagers that express great distaste towards the "Twilight" Phenomenon.
Ali and Betheny, the most violent Twaters I know, laid a beat down on some Twihards today.
Stinkcheeze tarafından 25 Kasım 2009, Çarşamba
The vulgar term that pilots have for the short field take off aircraft, the Twin Otter: Note: nearly all aircraft have at least one vulgar name
I could see some towering cumulonimbus up ahead so I handed the twater over to the copilot and checked the terminal forecast.
David tarafından 21 Kasım 2004, Pazar


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Rink is Under Construction in the Dome
Basketball season might be heating up, but it's about to get a lot colder in the Carrier Dome.
On Saturday, Nov. 22, the Dome — home to Syracuse University's football, basketball and lacrosse teams — will be transformed into an indoor ice hockey arena. The Syracuse Crunch will play the Utica Comets in the Frozen Dome Classic, the first professional hockey game in the Dome.
SU Basketball Reloads…Again
The thing about always having great players is that you're always going to lose great players.
A Tough Week for SU On and Off the Field
"There's still a chance"
As far as weekends go, this past one won't go down as one of the better ones for the Syracuse University athletics department.
They Work and Work, but Will They Get to a Bowl Game?
Players fought their "butts" off against No. 1 Florida State
As promised by head coach Scott Shafer, the Syracuse University football players fought their "butts" off against No. 1 Florida State Saturday, Oct. 11, and held their own in a 38-20 loss at the Carrier Dome.
Shafer Calls Meeting with No. 1 Florida State 'A Great Opportunity'
"I really look forward to the challenge ahead."
Syracuse University football coach Scott Shafer believes there's no obstacle that can't be overcome with old-fashioned determination and sheer will.
It Hasn't Been Easy for the Orange
And Now Comes a Tough Stretch
The hope – no, make that the expectation – was that the Syracuse University football team would defeat the University of Maryland Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Carrier Dome to set up a primetime showdown of 3-0 teams with SU against No. 9 Notre Dame Saturday at MetLife Stadium.
An Exciting Win
…perhaps too exciting
Maybe that early bye week for the Syracuse University football team wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Manager Gets Satisfaction from Teaching Young Players
Matt Michael interviews Chiefs Manager Billy Gardner Jr.
Syracuse Chiefs Manager Billy Gardner Jr. is a true baseball lifer. He grew up around baseball because his father, former major-league infielder Billy Gardner Sr., managed in the minors and then the majors with the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals. After two years as a minor-league player, Billy became a coach and has been a minor-league manager for the last 20 years.
Top Running and Biking Spots in CNY
According to Strava
Strava, a company that offers a free app to digitally track bike rides and runs via your smartphone or GPS system recently released a global heatmap of running and biking data using information from 77,688,848 rides and 19,660,163 runs.
A Perfect Summer for Golf
David Armelino sums up his favorite golf courses of the summer and what makes them unique.
What a summer it has been out on the golf course. I have been fortunate enough to get out and play nearly every week, or close to it, with my father and others joining in along the way.


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New York's Hot 97 radio personality Mister Cee reportedly appeared in court Wednesday (June 1) and has plead guilty to sexual-related charges dating back to a March arrest in Manhattan.
Originally reported as Mister Cee pleading his innocence, a new update claims the hip-hop veteran pleaded guilty to the charges.
[Editor's Note: This story has been updated since it's original posting.] XXLMag.com has learned that DJ Mister Cee plead guilty in New York Criminal Court this morning (June 1) to charges of public lewdness and exposure. (XXL Mag)
Prior to the update, Cee was said to have proclaimed his innocence in a Manhattan courtroom.
XXLMag.com has learned that DJ Mister Cee plead not guilty in New York Criminal Court this morning (June 1) to charges of public lewdness and exposure. As of press time it is uncertain when Cee is due back in court. (XXL Mag)
A police report detailing Cee's March arrest hit the Internet in early April.
Lebrun, known as "Mister Cee" on Hot 97, was nabbed along with Lawrence Campbell, 20, according to a criminal complaint sworn by Officer Lindsay Agard. The cop reported spotting Campbell (who used the name "Brooke-Lynn Pinklady" on his just-deleted Facebook page) "manipulating" Lebrun's "exposed, naked, and erect penis" with his "mouth and lips in an up-and-down motion consistent with oral sex." The duo was collared March 30 in a car parked on Manhattan's far West Side, two blocks from the Holland Tunnel. (The Smoking Gun)
Following the report, Cee's accomplice Brooke-Lynn aka Pink Lady defended his image and denied the allegations.
"I kinda just wanted to set the record straight and let everybody know that nothing, indeed, happened in that car," Brooklyn said in a self recorded video. "I feel like it's an Internet blog that got totally out of hand. A lot of things I read are just totally not true about me and my character. I'm not a transsexual, I'm a drag queen…I feel like the media in a whole has made me out to be this person, I feel just to get at him for some reason or to get a story. It's definitely not true. I'm definitely not a prostitute. I'm not, in any way, shape or form. I don't do things like that. I don't have sex for money. I don't need to have sex for money. I make enough money on my own…I feel like people, nowadays, will do anything and everything for money. This whole thing I feel like just a big a** entertainment scheme. I don't understand why I was brought into it." (YouTube)
In addition to receiving support from rap star 50 Cent, Mobb Deep's Prodigy said he had Cee's back no matter what really happened.
"I'm just hearing what people saying, and radio, so I really don't have that much of an opinion about it," Capital P explained in an interview. "But to each his own man, if it's really like that. It sounds crazy to me, like Cee is my n*gga. We f*ck with Mister Cee. That n*gga loves Mobb Deep and always shows us love, and plays our music all the time on the radio. He's one of the only ones that does that. It's few of them, and he's one of the main ones. So regardless of what, that n*gga shows us love, and we're going to show him love back. He's always going to get new music from us. That n*gga call, we always going to pick up like 'What's up? You good?' If he wants to do a party, whatever. Whatever Mister Cee wants to do, we f*ck with Mister Cee. That's what it is." (Complex)
Check out 50 Cent speaking on Mister Cee down below:


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- 22 Resorts
- Consistent Snow
- Diverse destinations
- Resorts open before those of many other states
- Home to Vail, Beaver Creek, Copper Mountain
Enter your start location for step by step directions:
Broken River Ski Area is a ski field maintained by the Broken River Ski Club located in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Nestled in the Craigieburn Range and adjacent to Craigieburn Valley Ski Area; Broken River offers terrain for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. Broken River is known for its warm inviting atmosphere, great off-piste terrain, quality snow and a backcountry feel.
Broken River is a 1.5 hour, 100km drive from Christchurch. The road is well maintained and two-wheel drive cars can access the base area. Check the snow report and be sure to carry chains in adverse conditions. RV's and campervans are not recommended. Once arriving at the base area, hop on the Tyndall Tramway to access the ticket offices and accommodation lodges.
Get email updates of snow reports, forecasts and conditions for Broken River Ski Area.
Get OnTheSnow on the go
Learn more
P.O. Box 2718
New Zealand
Phone: 64-03-318-7270


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Sheriff Log, Nov. 17 to 23
All calls were responded to within the county of Hood River.
Sheriff Log, Nov. 9 to 17
All calls were responded to within the City of Hood River.
Public Records: CIRCUIT COURT
Oct. 2014
Fire destroys two structures near Broughton lumber mill
A fire completely destroyed two buildings near the old Broughton Mill in Skamania County last Wednesday afternoon.
Team works together in runaway cliffhanger
Boy, 17, climbs down sheer slope, pulled to safety by Crag Rats and plenty friends
While spinouts and pileups dominated on Nov. 13, it was an actual cliffhanger that occupied about 20 emergency responders' day.
Marine Board honors Sheriff duo for life-saving river rescue
The Oregon State Marine Board honored Hood River County marine law enforcement deputies John Harvey and Sergeant Ricardo Casteneda for their life-saving efforts during the 2014 boating season. With their skills, expertise, timing, and teamwork, a life was saved on the Columbia River.
Sheriff Log, Nov. 4 to Nov. 9
All calls were responded to within the City of Hood River.
Body of Portland woman found at Swell City
Law enforcement is trying to figure out what caused the death of a Portland woman whose body was found Saturday at a popular windsurfing site located west of Hood River on the Washington side of the Gorge.
Police Log, Oct. 27 to Nov. 2
All calls were responded to within the City of Hood River.
Uncle: Mom of boy found dead got psychiatric care
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — An uncle of a 6-year-old autistic boy found dead after his mother told police she threw him from a bridge on the Oregon coast says the woman had been under intense emotional distress for years while caring for the child and more recently for her disabled husband.
Former HR resident arrested for alleged murder of son
Jillian McCabe, 34, accused of throwing son off Newport bridge
A woman who had recently lived in Hood River was arrested in Newport late Monday after allegedly throwing her 6-year-old autistic son off the Yaquina Bay Bridge, killing him.
Murder suspect Soto-Quintana won't see court until next year
A Hood River man accused of murdering the mother of his child won't go before a judge again until next year following the conclusion of a court appearance on Monday that provided no new information on the crime.
Sheriff Log Oct. 27 to Nov. 3
All calls were responded to within the City of Hood River.
Turkey Shoot returns Nov. 9
Odell Fire Department Volunteer Association will hold its benefit skeet shoot Turkey Shoot on Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to dark at Hood River Gun Club, on Tucker Road.
Truck driver seriously hurt in Hwy. 35 crash Tuesday
A California man received a serious injury Tuesday evening when he lost control of the commercial truck he was driving and rolled off Highway 35 near the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort.
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Brad Paisley with Randy Houser tickets
August 15, 2014 at 7:00 pm MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds :: Tampa, Florida
Currently we do not have any Brad Paisley tickets available.
Sometimes an event may have been announced, but tickets may not yet be available to anyone.
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2503 Bethel Church Rd
Prosperity, SC 29127-7779
(803) 364-3851
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The Delta Mandara Single-Handle Single-Spray Tub and Shower Faucet in Stainless is sure to enhance the beauty and functionality of your tub and shower. This faucet features a transitional style that is sure to complement almost any bathroom decor. The lever handle is easy to grasp, and it provides quick control of the water temperature and volume from a single location. This tub and shower faucet is ADA compliant.
California residents: seeProposition 65 information
|Assembled Depth (in.)
|6 in
|Assembled Height (in.)
|30 in
|Assembled Width (in.)
|7 in
|Bath Faucet Type
|Combo Tub and Shower
|Certifications and Listings
|ADA Compliant,CSA Certified,IAPMO Certified
|Color Family
|Stainless Steel
|Connection Size
|Diverter type
|Faucet Features
|No Additional Features
|Faucet Included Components
|Handles,Required rough-in valve
|Faucet type
|Bath Faucet
|Flow rate (gallons per minute)
|Handle type
|Manufacturer Warranty
|Lifetime limited
|Number of Faucet Handles
|Single Handle
|Number of Spray Settings
|Showerhead face diameter (in.)
|Showerhead type
|Fixed Mount
|Spout Reach (in.)
|6 in
|Spout Type
|Shower/tub diverter
|Spray Pattern
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Outside Delivery: Service includes delivery to area outside the house which is accessible by delivery equipment.
Threshold Delivery: Service includes delivery across your first doorway or threshold (ie. garage, backyard, deck, first room of the home).