text:
Social Network of African American Conservatives & Moderates
If you are a Black conservative, you have most likely been called some of the most vile, hateful, racist things imaginable. Even worse, your very existence has been notably scrubbed from the annals of the mainstream media. Those that cry out loudly and often for tolerance, mutual respect and civil discourse are the very people who call for our silence, demean us as racists and idiots, and even threaten us with physical violence.
My first tea party was an eye opening experience. I attended thinking I would meet many enraged, unhinged citizens and wondering if I would run into at least one other minority. What I found was a diverse group of peaceful and patriotic citizens who truly had no concern for race. Their only goal was to make their voices heard and express their dismay at the antics of a run-away congress that have been recklessly spending away our futures over the years. Even with all the passion and the clear distaste for our government's policies, the atmosphere was more akin to a street fair or a festival than a protest. There was a main stage set up for speakers and campaigning politicians (Republican and Democrat alike). Many people, including some elderly, had set up lawn chairs and coolers. Sign-holders weaved leisurely in and out of the crowds, stopping to take pictures of some of the more creative signs and chat with each other. Vendors lined up along the outer ring offering refreshments, pocket Constitutions and various petitions. Young mothers pushed strollers and old folks pushed walkers, but nobody pushed each other. It was a serious cause and yet, kindness and good humor permeated every interaction. About 20% of attendees were visible minorities. As we came across each other, we stopped to talk and share our experiences. I asked one woman of Phillipino decent if she had managed to be filmed by any of the dozen or so news crews lurking around. She told me no, whenever she tried to move in close with her sign the cameras immediately left. That seemed to be a running theme for the day. News crews willfully refused to interview any of us minorities who asked if they would dare show our faces on their evening report of the "racist" Tea Party movement.
I met so many kind and interesting people that day. Americans. White Americans, Asian Americans and yes, Black Americans. All proud to be there, making themselves heard, together. When we parted ways at the end of the day, the lot we had descended on by the thousands just hours earlier showed absolutely no signs that anyone had ever been there. All trash was put away and organizers made sure to clear equipment quickly and cleanly. I heard the owner of the lot telling some stragglers that it was actually CLEANER than it was before the Tea Party ever got there! Now compare that image to protesters in Wisconsin. 'Nuff said.
It was that day that I realized the mainstream media had been lying to me about the true nature of the Tea Party. These weren't monsters. These were concerned citizens with legitimate complaints who felt their voices were being ignored through the voting process. Which of course begged the question "Why would the media lie about this and make up such awful things about people who are clearly peaceful, law-abiding citizens?" That answer requires much more time than I have left at this point, but it is worth considering that the attack on the Tea Party movement has not let up at all. Despite a dire lack of evidence to support their claims, and even a hefty finder's fee offered up by Andrew Breitbart for recorded evidence, the mainstream media has not backed away from their tired narratives in any form. In fact, they've doubled down on their bigotry and ignorance. Well, I, for one, am done letting the pseudo-journalists at MSNBC, CNN and the Huffington Post tell my story. I am done hoping for objectivity in their reporting. They cannot be counted on. Tax day is fast approaching, and that means Tea Parties. This Tea Party season I am calling on all Black conservatives to make a concerted effort to attend their local tea parties. Carpool, caravan, show up with friends and family. Show up in numbers that cannot be ignored. Show up in support and defense of our tea party brothers and sisters who have been unfairly labeled as racists and bigots. Show up with your cell phone cameras, camcorders and ipods. Become citizen journalists ala James O'Keefe, Lila Rose and Andrew Breitbart. Record the truth, and then send that truth out in waves over the Internet. Post it on social media. Email it to your friends, family and news outlets. Talk about what you saw. Let the voice of the Black Conservative be heard, loudly, proudly. No longer will we wait to be treated with the kindness and respect that we know we are obligated to show others. This is OUR people. This is OUR story. Go tell it. I'm right behind you.
Views: 36
@Chris - "The tea party has been so stigmatized by other blacks that I think they are frightened to be seen there."
This is exactly why we need to get out there with our own cameras and show the truth ourselves, so others can see and learn and be inspired. This is perhaps one of the most important battles our country will ever face, politically speaking. We need boots on the ground and we need them now. That means we've got a LOT of recruiting to do!
Thanks David!
© 2015 Created by Chris Arps.


text:
Campbell: Biology in Focus | 9780321813800
ISBN-13: 9780321813800 See more
Author(s): Lisa A. Urry; Michael L. Cain; Steven A. Wasserman; Peter V. M...See more
Price Information
Rental OptionsExpiration Date
- Apr 6, 2016$68.99
eTextbook Digital Rental:180 days
Our price: $68.99
Regular price:$167.80
You save:$98.81
Additional product details
In 900 text pages, Campbell Biology in Focusemphasizes the essential content and scientific skills needed for success in the college introductory course for biology majors.
Each unit streamlines content to best fit the needs of instructors and students, based on surveys, curriculum initiatives, reviews, discussions with hundreds of biology professors, and careful analyses of course syllabi. Every chapter includes a Scientific Skills Exercise that builds skills in graphing, interpreting data, experimental design, and math—skills biology majors need in order to succeed in their upper-level courses. This briefer book upholds the Campbell hallmark standards of accuracy, clarity, and pedagogical innovation.
Marketing Promotion
Three Ways to Study
with eTextbooks!
- Read online from your computer or mobile device.
- Read offline on select browsers and devices when the internet won't be available.
- Print pages to fit your needs.
CourseSmart eTextbooks let you study the best way – your way.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A long-running embezzlement scheme by the former city comptroller in Dixon, Ill., uncovered last year, will end up costing Minneapolis-based accounting firm CliftonLarsonAllen $35.15 million.
The payment from one of the nation's leading accounting firms stems from work it started doing for Dixon in 1988. That was a few years before Rita Crundwell -- the comptroller -- began quietly looting city coffers in a scheme uncovered last year.
Crundwell stole about $54 million over 22 years, siphoning city funds into bogus accounts that she controlled. When she was arrested in April 2012, federal authorities said she had used the money "to finance her own lavish lifestyle, including operating a horse farm."
Authorities seized her home, farms near Dixon and Beloit, Wis., two bank accounts, a $2.1 million motor home, seven trucks and trailers, three pickup trucks and a Ford Thunderbird convertible.
Crundwell, 60, earned an annual salary of $80,000.
She is serving a prison term of almost 20 years at the federal facility in Waseca, Minn., after a guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.
CliftonLarsonAllen had served as the city's auditor, Paula Meyer, Dixon's finance director, said Tuesday. The accounting firm didn't have an office in city hall but handled the bookkeeping monthly, and the payroll twice a month, she said.
There was a high level of trust in Crundwell, Dixon Mayor Jim Burke said Tuesday.
To cover her tracks, she told people she was selling show horses -- sometimes for $400,000 or more, Burke said. "But how she got around all the stuff with the annual audit, I don't know."
Regarding CliftonLarsonAllen, he said, "The size of the settlement kind of speaks for itself."
The settlement, reached last month, totals $40 million. The other cash coming to Dixon includes $3.85 million from Fifth Third Bank and $1 million from another accounting firm.
In a statement issued on Sept. 25, CliftonLarsonAllen CEO Gordon Viere said the fraud allegations against Crundwell present "an opportunity for all the affected parties to evaluate how they occurred."
He added that the firm believes "there was a shared responsibility that resulted in Ms. Crundwell's fraud continuing undetected, and the right thing to do is reduce the harm experienced by the taxpayers of Dixon and put this matter behind us. Reaching a fair settlement for taxpayers is important to CliftonLarsonAllen."
A merger with another firm last year brought in more expertise in working with public bodies, "increasing the likelihood that such fraud will be detected promptly," the company said in the statement.
The firm that exists today resulted from numerous mergers and acquisitions. But the Larson and Allen in the name refer to Rholan Larson and John Allen, who started the firm in the Minneapolis suburbs in 1953.
CliftonLarsonAllen now employs 3,600 professionals, including more than 1,500 CPAs. The firm has clients across the country, including businesses and government, and has offices in 14 Minnesota cities.
Dixon, population 15,700, is about 100 miles west of Chicago. In addition to the $40 million settlement, the city hopes to recover about $10 million from the sale of Crundwell's assets. But the city owes attorneys who worked on the case about $10 million, Mayor Burke said, so the bottom line settlement for Dixon still will be near $40 million -- substantially more than the city's operating budget of about $10 million.
Burke was cautious Tuesday. With the settlement, he siad, "There's this common perception that we'll have all kinds of money to throw around, and people wonder, how did we get by while this was going on?"
But in fact, he said, the city was incurring debt to keep operating while Crundwell embezzled.
In addition to its annual budget, the city has about $12 million in operating debt, Meyer, the finance director, said Tuesday.
"There's a lot of things this money can be spent on that won't be very exciting," she said.
John Welbes can be reached at 651-228-2175.


text:
Voted "Best View of Savannah," Aqua Star inspires romance with shimmering reflections of the Savannah skyline glistening off the river. Take a free ferry ride from River Street, or cross the bridge for free parking while enjoying some of the freshest local catches and Pacific specialties, all presented in...
Junior Suite
Our Junior Suite features bay windows capturing magnificent views of the river and historic district. Decorated in signature Westin furnishings and featuring classic tones of sage green, chocolate brown and warm tan, the parlor is approximately 300 square feet and contains an additional 42" plasma TV, lounge chair, desk, chair and sleeper sofa.
Our Junior Suite parlor offers the option of conversion to a one-bedroom king, a one-bedroom double, or a two-bedroom king/double. The bathroom features Westin's rejuvenating Heavenly Bath®, with its fully customizable shower, plus refreshing bath amenities. And when bedtime rolls around, the Westin Heavenly Bed® promises the best sleep of your life. The parlor also features an additional full bath.
Full Screen


text:
Bill Purvis Leadership
"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always be where you've always been." -Dr. Bill Purvis (1974)
Bill Purvis Leadership is a monthly mentoring program for those unique people with a serious passion to grow and reach goals in life. Life gives us honest feedback based on our efforts, choices and strategies of the past. A better life and better results are possible, but most people won't make the effort to improve. They would rather make excuses, complain about their situation, or envy those living the life they want.
By implementing the Biblical truths contained in each Bill Purvis Leadership lesson, you will experience growth on a personal, professional and spiritual level that only God could have planned. Begin the journey to reaching your full potential today.
Featured Sample Lesson:
Unleashing the Power of Personal Growth
In this lesson Dr. Purvis talks about the importance of embarking on a committed, continual personal growth journey.
Mentoring Minute
Start your personal growth plan with the Mentoring Minute. For complete lessons and coaching tips check out the Bill Purvis Leadership program.


text:
Barbara Ann Peterson, 67
Barbara Ann Peterson
of Silverdale
April 23, 1942
to Nov. 12, 2009
Barbara Ann Peterson passed away at her home in Silverdale on Thursday, November 12, 2009 after a courageous year-long battle with Plasma Cell Leukemia. She was 67 years old.
Barbara Ann Berndt was born on April 23, 1942, in Burbank, CA, to Herbert and Lucille (Olsen) Berndt. She graduated from John Burroughs High School in Burbank in 1959, and became a Registered Nurse at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. She married Ron Peterson in Burbank on November 20, 1965, making their first home in Sherman Oaks, CA. After working at various hospitals in Southern California, she discontinued employment outside the home in April 1969 to devote herself to raising her family. She moved with her husband to the State of Washington in 1974, where she continued to be a mother to her three children. She resumed working outside the home in 1983 with Kitsap Regional Library, retiring as the Outreach supervisor in 2004.
Barbara was a faithful follower and servant of Jesus Christ her entire life. She was baptized at Valley Baptist Church in Burbank, and was a charter member of Agoura Baptist Church in Agoura, CA. At Sylvan Way Baptist Church, Barbara was a Sunday School teacher and the first Commander of the AWANA club at its inception. At North Kitsap Baptist Church, she was a Guards leader in the AWANA club. At Crossroads Neighborhood Church, Barbara developed and oversaw the SS Heavenbound Sunday School program. At Faith Community Bible Church, Barbara applied her library skills to the Lord's work by organizing the church library, and continued to work with the AWANA program. Barbara enjoyed studying with Bible Study Fellowship, and had been attending Silverdale Baptist Church since 2007.
As a wife, mother, and grandmother, Barbara was wholly devoted to her family. A talented seamstress, she made countless pairs of pajamas, Halloween costumes and Christmas pageant costumes, fleece jackets and blankets, and "quillos" for her grandkids. She also made countless costumes for the Nutcracker ballet of Irene's School of Dance in Silverdale. Even while battling leukemia, she made a quilt as a graduation present for her oldest granddaughter. When her kids graduated from high school, she worked outside the home to finance their college educations. She was a wonderful cook, and loved hosting family dinners at her house. She baked dozens of birthday cakes for her children and grandchildren, and always had a cookie jar that was full of homemade cookies. She enjoyed working in her garden, camping with her family, going to Leavenworth for the annual snow trip, and doing jigsaw puzzles with her children and grandchildren.
Barbara enjoyed gathering with the ladies of the Red Hat Society and with her friends for the monthly "Lunch Bunch". She was a fantastic woman, always willing to do what she could for others. A friend from Nursing School recalled that "I don't think I ever heard her say an unkind thing in all the years I've know her."
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister-in-law, Johnetta Berndt.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 44 years, Ron; her brother, David Berndt of Burbank, CA; her son, Paul Peterson of Bremerton; her daughter Lisa and son-in-law Rich Alcorta of Bremerton; her daughter Kristi and son-in-law Jim French of Spokane Valley; and her grandchildren Breanne Peterson, Emily Peterson, Caleb Alcorta, and Elisabeth Alcorta.
Friends and family of Barbara are invited to a memorial service to celebrate Barbara's life at Silverdale Baptist Church on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Barbara requested that donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Subscribe to the Kitsap Sun
Need Help? Call us at 1-877-304-7764.
Monday-Friday: 5am-6pm / Saturday: 5am-8pm / Sunday: 4am-11am


text:
Chevrolet Military Discount is currently being applied to vehicle pricing.Not Eligible?
Chevrolet College Discount is currently being applied to vehicle pricing.Not Eligible?
* The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price excludes destination freight charge, tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Click here to see all Chevrolet vehicles' destination freight charges.
***The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Includes destination freight charge and gas guzzler tax.
4. MyLink functionality varies by model. Full functionality requires compatible Bluetooth and smartphone, and USB connectivity for some devices. MyLink on Camaro does not include CD player.
5. Go to gmtotalconnect.com to find out which phones are compatible with the vehicle.
7. If you subscribe after your trial period, service will automatically renew and bill at then-current rates until you call SiriusXM to cancel. See SiriusXM Customer Agreement for complete terms at siriusxm.com. Other fees and taxes will apply. XM satellite service is available only in the 48 contiguous United States and D.C.
11. Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. Services vary by model and conditions. OnStar acts as a link to existing emergency service providers. Not all vehicles may transmit all crash data.
14. Not compatible with all devices.
To allow you to do an accurate price comparison with prices featured on other Internet sites, GM provides Internet pricing both with and without the Destination Freight Charge (see prices including Destination Freight Charge below). To get full pricing details, go to our Build Your Own section.


text:
Magale Library Second Floor | see full schedule
The Student Resource Center is designed to help all Centenary students improve their academic performance. The SRC offers assistance in a variety of areas, including:
- study skills
- time management and motivation
- individual academic needs
- tutoring in many intro-level subjects, including writing
If you've used our tutors recently, please feel free to give us feedback about your visit by using our online comment card, which can be accessed from any page with the left-hand navigation buttons. We truly appreciate your honest critiques.
More Information
For more information about the Student Resource Center or to request individualized assistance, please contact Crystal Roberts email, Student Resource Center Coordinator.
Student Resource Center
Centenary College of Louisiana
2911 Centenary Blvd.
Shreveport, LA 71104


text:
- Home /
- Baseball Gear /
- Umpire-Equipment
Free Shipping on All Orders Over $89.99
There are no products matching the selection.
You have no obligation to purchase the product once you know the price. You can simply remove the item from your cart.
You have no obligation to purchase the product once you know the price. You can simply remove the item from your cart.
When shopping for baseball equipment the landscape can become cloudy and confusing. We have chosen some of the best baseball gear by some of the most well know Manufacturers as well as some brands that you may have not heard about. Our extensive line of Baseball Bases as well as Batting Helmets and Baseball Field Equipment has made us well known from individual shoppers to large institutions. We also carry a full line of other Sporting Goods including an extensive line of Football Equipment
Top notch Baseball Umpire equipment is a neccesity for all Umps. SportsFan Outlet proudly provides some of the newest technology in Chest Protectors Masks and Shin Guards. We also carry the tried and true staples of Umpire Uniforms from Smittys. Our selection of chest protectectors from Champro and Scutt, as well as the lightweight masks is second to none. If your looking for Home Plate Gear, or field apparel, we feel confident that we can meet your every need. If you also ref football please take a look at our football referee gear and apparel. Free shipping on orders over $89.99.
You have no items to compare.
Results Refined by...
- Remove This Item Color: Blue
Show more
- Florida State Seminoles
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Georgetown Hoyas
- Georgia Tech Y. Jackets
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Northwestern Wildcats
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Oklahoma Sooners
- OK State Cowboys
- Virginia Tech Hoakies
- Washington Huskies
- W. Virginia Mountaineers
- Wisconsin Badgers
- TCU Horned Frogs
Show more
Show more
Show more
Baseball Gear
Show more
- Football Equipment
- Sporting Goods
- Display Cases


text:
Sinfonia in F Major From Cantata No. 79Item #: AL.00-19582
Our Price:
Unrated ( Be the first to review this item )
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by Rick England.
Full Orchestra. Voicing/Format: Conductor Score & Parts. Level: Grade Level 2. 9x12 inches. Published by Alfred Publishing. (AL.00-19582)
Free Shipping on this item in orders above $199
In Stock
Found in: Children's Orchestra Sheet Music, Classical Orchestra Sheet Music
This masterful arrangement for young orchestra features brass playing the slow chorale, while strings and woodwinds play Bach's ingenious counterpoint. The level of writing is just right for your intermediate students, yet the full, mature sound will satisfy more advanced players. Outstanding!


text:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse
and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health, is the primary U.S. agency for conducting and supporting research on the causes, consequences, prevention, and treatment of alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol problems and disseminates research findings to general, professional, and academic audiences. Additional alcohol research information and publications are available at www.niaaa.nih.gov.The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.


text:
- Home
- News
- Sports
- Classifieds
- Obituaries
- Special Sections
- Games
- Local Guide
Ferdinando Moniz
PAWTUCKET - Ferdinando Moniz, 80, passed away on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013. He was the beloved husband of Maria T. (Gomes) Moniz for fifty-one years.
Born in Madeira, Portugal, he was a son of the late Joao and Maria (Camara) Moniz. He came to the United States in 1969 and settled in Central Falls before moving to Pawtucket over thirty years ago. Ferdinando was employed by Larson Tool until retiring, and was a member of the Madeira Club, Central Falls.
Besides his wife, he leaves six children, Fred G. Moniz of Cumberland, Augusto C. Moniz and his wife, Guida, Jose C. Moniz, Ana L. Barbosa and her husband, Joe all of Pawtucket, Jorge D. Moniz and his wife, Christine of Cumberland and Sammy D. Moniz of Pawtucket; ten grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.
His funeral will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. from WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in the Church of St. Leo the Great, 697 Central Ave., Pawtucket. Interment will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery. VISITATION will be Wednesday 4 - 8 p.m.


text:
A collection of news and information related to Kate Moss published by this site and its partners.
Top Kate Moss Articles see all
Displaying items 1-1
Retail Therapy: Visit the artists at homeStory | Apr 23, 2014 | 1:22 PMArt escape: This Saturday and Sunday, join 12 local Festival of Arts exhibiting artists at their studios and homes along Pacific Coast Highway from Laguna Beach to San Clemente. Those who visit all 12 locations will be entered to receive a piece of fine art, an artist workshop or two tickets to the Pageant of the Masters. Information and open times: artalongthecoast.com.


text:
BOSTON (MarketWatch)—Most retirees and those saving for retirement can relax slightly now that Congress has passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 or ATRA—the compromise bill designed to avert the fiscal cliff.
Discussion of that law, which President Obama signed late Wednesday, has focused mostly on taxes, many of which will rise for the wealthiest 1% of Americans.
But while 99% of taxpayers have avoided the worst of the fiscal-cliff scenarios, it doesn't mean they won't still have work to do to adjust their portfolios and saving strategies to the new reality. The possibility of slower economic growth, reduced entitlement benefits and higher expenses remains a looming challenge for future retirees.
Big tax bills can devastate your retirement savings. MarketWatch's Robert Powell and Andrea Coombes talk about strategies to employ before and during retirement to lower your taxes.
Check out the new
MarketWatch Retirement
RetireMentors: In-the-trenches advice
Ways to boost Social Security payout
Retire here, not there: California
10 things your 401(k) plan won't tell you
Many should consider opening Roth IRAs or converting their traditional 401(k)—if they are able—to a Roth 401(k), say experts. And many should consider upping how much they contribute to their retirement accounts, as a way to reduce their current taxable income. (The IRA contribution limit for 2013, for instance, is now $5,500 for those below age 50 and $6,500 for those 50 and older.) Still others should contemplate adding tax-free investments such as municipal bonds to their portfolio.
Tax changes affect mostly the top 1%
To understand the broader impact of the deal on their portfolios, taxpayers first have to grapple with the tax implications. On this front, most retirees and would-be retirees have less reason to worry than they did at the end of 2012, at least in the short term.
"It's status quo for the vast majority of taxpayers," said Rande Spiegelman, vice president of financial planning at the Schwab Center for Financial Research. "The highest earners will pay additional taxes, but likely won't have their retirement prospects materially impacted. The lowest level will likely still enjoy the government entitlements they've come to expect."
ATRA raises taxes on income, dividends and long-term capital gains for households that make more than $450,000 a year and individuals who make more than $400,000. For the wealthiest, dividend income and capital gains will be taxed at a 20% rate, up from 15%, and the true rate will be 23.8% as a new Medicare surcharge on the wealthiest takes effect. (See related story.)
Under the bill, Americans at all income levels would see a two-percentage-point jump in the employee portion of the Social Security payroll tax.
But for income earned below the $400,000/$450,000 threshold, the 2012 rates would be permanently extended. All told, the income and investment tax hikes in 2013 could affect fewer than two million households.
Recession avoided?
Some experts also predicted that the economy would not fall back into a recession in the wake of ATRA, as some feared would happen if there were no deal. "This compromise will not solve the longer-term debt and deficit problems facing the United States," wrote Gary Thayer, the chief macro strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors. "However, it will prevent major tax increases on most Americans, and will, therefore, likely keep the economy from falling into recession. Continued modest economic growth should give lawmakers more time to address the longer-term issues."
But just because the short-term outlook seems rosier doesn't mean that people saving for or living in retirement should rest easy. Here's some advice experts offered recently in this column, "Retiring on the edge of the fiscal cliff: 10 ways to protect your retirement savings."
Income tax diversification is key
At a minimum, experts say, retirees and investors will need income-tax diversification. In the face of the continued possibility of rising tax rates, it is going to be more important than ever to have some sources of future income that are not subject to income tax, such as Roth accounts. Having a Roth IRA will let retirees and others shift back and forth between taxable and nontaxable income from year to year, depending on one's circumstances.


text:
Thursday, October 01, 2009
My (Almost) One-Year Anniversary.
It's sometimes hard in the big, bad blogging world to know whether or not people even read what you write once you hit that all-powerful Publish button. Sure, you get the occassional snarky comment, but it's hard to know if people take what you say to heart sometimes.
In the first 11 months of this blog, I've received some pretty cool "fanmail" I thought I'd share with you. My comments on said fanmail included, of course!
"You write with a kind of honesty that, really, is hard to come by these days."
Why thank you! I sometimes wonder how honest is too honest, especially with a blog that anyone can access and you write about people and situations that happen in your real life, outside the little bubble of the Web. But, the more I think about it, the more I feel like I'd be betraying myself - both as a person and as a writer - if I wasn't hands-down, bare-my-soul honest.
"So witty, so intelligent. I bet you scare all the boys!"
Hahaha! Scare all the boys? I'm sure I probably do, though maybe not for the right reasons. As I say on my disclaimer (read: I aced journalism law in college; I know what I'm doing) on this blogs main page: If I fall in love with you or you break my heart, you might find yourself in these pages. Sorry boys. These boys have been forwarned; I can't control how they choose to make themselves look (I'm a journalist, not a PR image consultant). But my goal IS to sort of scare them with my wit and intelligence, not in a mean sort of way. More like intrigue them with my wits, and maybe make them think, "Wow, there's so much more to this awesome, awesome girl than her physical disability. Where has she been all my life?" The answer, boys: I've been here all along. And I was probably in love with you too...you just didn't notice because I've perfected my subtle guy-gawking skills. But I'm comin' for ya!
"Your blog is hilarious!"
FINALLY! SWEET VICTORY!!! My mother has told me for years that I'm not funny, that I don't have a sense of humor. I kept telling her I do, and finally a few months ago, she told me, "You know, you are funny...on paper." Well, I'll take that as a compliment, I guess.
So tell me...what do you love best about blogging?
[Photo via Lisa Warninger Photography]
Posted by Melissa Blake at 8:30 AM
Labels: Entertainment and Media, Life, Random Fun
6 comments:
- Amanda said...
It is very surprising for me to think that you built you blog and following up to everything it is on only a year! Congratulations, and here is to another year :)
- October 1, 2009 at 1:07 PM
- Melissa Blake said...
I don't think I would be where I am had I not been featured as a Blog of Note in July, but THANK YOU!!!
- October 1, 2009 at 1:17 PM
- Gracie Grapefruit said...
I love it how your so honest, as said
And I like it that you seem to know the right thing to say about everything. Oh, and you always have the best pictures to ompliment your blogs :D
- October 2, 2009 at 10:31 AM
- Melissa Blake said...
thank you so much, Gracie! :)
- October 2, 2009 at 11:20 AM
- Hollehh said...
i simply adore you blogs, and I always smile a little when they show up on my starting page, you always brighten my day (:
- October 4, 2009 at 7:51 AM
- Cross Country Home Services said...
I would be where I am had I not been featured as a Blog of Note in July, but THANK YOU!!!
- April 9, 2011 at 2:52 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
The great new film "Lincoln," starring Daniel Day-Lewis and directed by Steven Spielberg, chronicles our 16th president's role in pushing for passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which Lincoln called "a king's cure" for the evils of slavery.
The great new film "Lincoln," starring Daniel Day-Lewis and directed by Steven Spielberg, chronicles our 16th president's role in pushing for passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which Lincoln called "a king's cure" for the evils of slavery.
Passed by Congress at Lincoln's urging and ratified by the states in his memory, the amendment abolished slavery, erasing the stain on our Constitution that had perverted our constitutional ideals of liberty and equality.
Just as significant is the role that Lincoln's Gettysburg Address played in presaging the guarantees of liberty and equality in the 14th Amendment, as recounted in great books by Garry Wills ("Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America") Charles Black ("A New Birth of Freedom: Human Rights, Named and Unnamed") and others.
At Gettysburg, Pa., 149 years ago today, in a speech that was hailed by a newspaper in Springfield, Mass., as "a perfect gem," Lincoln looked backward to the Founders, who "brought forth ... a new nation, conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." He called for a "new birth of freedom" to keep faith with our highest constitutional principles.
Tragically, Lincoln would not live to see this new birth of freedom enshrined in the Constitution. He signed the 13th Amendment upon its passage by Congress in January 1865 but was murdered three months later, before the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments became part of the Constitution.
These three amendments revolutionized our constitutional order.
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, striking out of our polity and Constitution the oppressive system that had made a mockery of the Declaration.
The 14th Amendment wrote into the Constitution the principles of the Declaration, guaranteeing all Americans substantive fundamental freedoms and making equality a constitutional right.
The 15th Amendment extended the promise of the 14th, forbidding racial discrimination in voting and helping to cement in the Constitution Lincoln's vision of a "government of the people, by the people, and for the people."
All three gave Congress a leading role in enforcing the constitutional rights they secured.
With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to decide blockbuster cases about affirmative action, the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act and possibly marriage equality, let's hope the justices remember how Lincoln captivated the nation and helped to transform the Constitution from a slaveholders' charter to a document that affirms liberty, equality and democracy as our highest constitutional principles.
They should all see "Lincoln," then reread his "perfect gem" of a speech. Come to think of it, we all should.
David H. Gans is director of the Human Rights, Civil Rights, and Citizenship Program of the Constitutional Accountability Center in Washington, D.C. The center's website is theusconstitution.org.
Comments are currently unavailable on this article
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders include anorexia (anorexia nervosa: self-starvation and refusal to maintain minimal body weight), bulimia (bulimia nervosa: binge eating followed by purging), and binge eating disorder (compulsive overeating without purging).
The exact incidence of eating disorders in adolescents, both nationally and in Colorado, is difficult to determine because most data are from self-reported surveys with very different methods of sampling and assessment. Although anorexia, in particular, was previously seen mostly in white, middle- and upper-class adolescent and young adult females, the prevalence in the past two decades includes a diversity of ethnic and socioeconomic groups in both genders. Current combined estimates indicate that five to ten percent of U.S. adolescent females and two percent of adolescent males have some form of eating disorder.
Specific questions on dieting and weight maintenance, either through exercise, diminished caloric intake, fasting, purging through vomiting or laxatives, or diet pills/other chemical aids were recently added to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Colorado teens seem to be conscious about the links between overweight, nutrition and physical activity.
Background Documents
Related Colorado Programs
Related Topics


text:
A previous version of the story misstated the low point of the ISM survey and the target range for the Spanish auction. The story has been corrected.
LONDON (MarketWatch)—European stock markets ended slightly higher Thursday, trimming gains after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi offered no hints of further monetary easing for the troubled euro zone and a gauge of activity in the U.S. services sector slumped to its lowest level since December.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index (SXXP) closed 0.1% higher at 257.53, after trading as high as 259.86 earlier in the session.
The index traded in positive territory for most of the day, but was sent south in afternoon trade after the U.S. Institute for Supply Management said its services sector index fell to 53.5% in April, below analysts' expectations. April services sector growth slows sharply
Jobs: What to expect this summer
Reading the tea leaves behind weak private-sector payrolls for April as reported by ADP and other softening employment indicators: Is the Federal Reserve growing nervous about the U.S. economy? (Photo: Getty Images.)
Meanwhile, U.S. jobless claims data showed the number of Americans who filed for first-time applications for benefits last week declined by 27,000 to a seasonally adjusted 365,000, beating analysts' expectations. U.S. jobless claims drop 27,000 to 365,000
U.S. stocks traded lower on Wall Street.
In Europe, stocks had already started to wobble after ECB President Mario Draghi said the Governing Council had not discussed a rate cut at its policy meeting in Barcelona. The central bank president further said policy makers see current monetary policy as "accommodative" with real rates at negative levels in much of the euro area. Read about the ECB decision and Draghi.
"He has effectively suggested that there will be more time for us to see the effect of LTRO [long-term refinancing operations] and that time will allow the market to come back strongly," said Atif Latif, director of trading at Guardian Stockbrokers, in emailed comments.
He added that no new initiatives were mentioned and that Draghi "seems to be putting the onus back" on the governments.
Italian banks were among stocks hit the hardest. UniCredit SpA (UCG) lost 4.7%, Banco Popolare SC (BP) shed 4.6%, while Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (ISP) gave up 3.1%. The FTSE MIB index (FTSEMIB) fell 0.7% to 14,118.13.
The ECB will, however, in light of the current worries about the euro-zone crisis eventually need to provide more help to the economy, said Jaime Ramos Martin, European equities investment director at Standard Life Investments.
"If you look at the monetary conditions in Europe, the M1 has been going slightly up since the LTRO [long-term refinancing operations]. But if you look at Italy and Spain it has continued to go down," Martin said. M1, a narrow measure of the money supply, is made up of currency in circulation and overnight deposits.
"The ECB needs to think hard about introducing a more permanent LTRO facility. You can't have monetary conditions so tight inside the region. You need to do something when you have all these austerity measures and the risk of a credit crunch," he added, noting that any such measures are not to be expected in the short term.


text:
SFA Golfers Receive SLC Accolades
April 29, 2013
Senior Mitchell McLeroy and sophomore Blake Pugh have been named to the 2013 All-Southland Conference teams announced league officials Monday afternoon. McLeroy garnered first-team honors, while Pugh was named to the league's second team.
A three-time All-Southland Conference selection, McLeroy is earning his second consecutive first-team honor. McLeroy finished second in the conference a 73.00 stroke average over the course of the season. He recorded two individual titles this season, and had six top-10 finishes. McLeroy posted one of the best rounds of his career with he fired a seven-under 65 in the second round of the SFA Crown Classic. He finished the tournament carding a 10-under par 206 to win the event.
McLeroy played in all but one tournament during the season, and recorded the team's lowest score in all but one of those tournaments. He finished the regular season recording 13 rounds of par, or better, golf.
Pugh recorded second-team honors after a season that saw him record the team's second-lowest stroke average. He finished the year with a 74.52 average in 29 rounds of golf. The Southlake, Texas sophomore was the team's lowest scorer at the 2013 Southland Conference Championships when he rebounded from an opening round 82 to shoot five over in the final two rounds and finish tied for 12th. Pugh finished the season with nine rounds of par, or better, golf and four top-10 finishes.


text: The loves, who made their debut in 2010, had quite the heated relationship. "They've been fighting for a long time," a source told Us Weekly in May, just days after the Modern Family actress hit up NYC's annual Met Ball solo. The couple later reconciled and got engaged while celebrating the star's birthday in Mexico.


text:
Mikheil Saakashvili
Saakashvili arrived in Krakow on Sunday about an hour before the coffins of Lech Kaczynski and his wife were laid to rest in Wawel Cathedral's crypt.
Mikheil Saakasvhili first landed in Portugal, then travelled via Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. At each stop, the president's plane had to receive clearance to fly at low altitude because of the cloud of volcanic ash drifting from Iceland at higher altitudes.
The ash cloud made dozens of foreign mourners, including US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, cancel plans to attend the funeral.
Shortly after arrival President Saakashvili joined the funeral procession, which was on its way from St Mary's Basilica, where a solemn mass had been held, to Wawel Cathedral where the first couple were buried.
Saakashvili and his wife Sandra Roelofs walked to Wawel directly behind the coffins. Georgia's first lady, who made her journey from Brussels by land, arrived in Krakow earlier and attended the mass at St Mary's Basilica.
Lech Kaczynski has been posthumously granted the title of National Hero of Georgia and the Georgian authorities have decided to name a street in Tbilisi after him.
Temur Iakobashvili, Georgian state minister for reintegration, on Sunday described the death of Lech Kaczynski as a 'great' and 'serious loss' not only for Poland, but for Georgia too.
'President Kaczynski, as well as his team, those [other Polish senior officials], who have died in the plane crash, were great supporters of Georgia within the EU and NATO. The time will come when we will be able to speak openly about Mr Kaczynski's role, including during the NATO [2008 Bucharest] Summit. Now I can say that it was thanks to him that [Bucharest summit declaration] contains the wording that Georgia and Ukraine will become NATO members,' he told the Georgian public broadcaster's weekly program, Accents.
Civil Georgia


text:
Marolyn E. Keller, 87 years, of Petersburg, died Monday at Aspen Grove Assisted Living, while under the care of Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Friends may call 2-7 p.m. Sunday at the Capaul Funeral Home, Ida. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Pastor Ted Kerr of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Ida, will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, Petersburg.
Born Sept. 4, 1925, in Toledo, Ohio Marolyn was the daughter of Dr. Edward and Rachel (Bede) Bossler. A graduate of Northwest Ohio Practical Nursing School, she was employed by Flower Hospital for 20 years.
Marolyn and Raymond W. Keller Sr. were married Sept. 20, 1947, in Napoleon, Ohio. He died Nov. 15, 2010. Marolyn loved flower gardening, reading, and sewing. A seamstress, she made her granddaughter's wedding veil.
Survivors include: son Raymond (Bernadette), daughter Marlene (Gary) Finch; sister Judith Grimes; eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; brother Edward Bossler and sisters Carolyn Creekmore and Janet Burke.
Memorial contributions for Mrs. Keller, may be made to: Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Online condolences may be sent to: www.capaulfuneralhome.com.


text:
Camping Recipes
So Simple Mexican Dip
- 1 jar chunky salsa
- 1 can black beans, drained
- 3 Tbsp fresh chopped cilantro
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 large bag chips
Mix all ingredients and serve with corn chips.
Lynda Barger
VKR Program
Purchase your one year membership now for only $27.
Send a KOA Gift Card or check out what special deals our Partners have cooked up especially for you.
©2015 Kampgrounds of America, Inc.