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Will need to rent a car in Cape Town and also in Johannesburg which we will drive to Kruger. What do I need to know about insurance? We have an American Express as well as visa and mc. I know when we went to Ireland last year, we were advised to take additional insurance as the only credit card that provided insurance benefits there were some Mastercard World cards.
Just wondering if anyone here has done the research and found out if insurance provided by any of the above credit cards would be sufficient.
Is it cheaper to rent a car in town than at the airport?
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Help with car rental and insurance questions - South Africa
Will need to rent a car in Cape Town and also in Johannesburg which we will drive to Kruger. What do I need to know about insurance? We have an American Express as well as visa and mc. I know when we went to Ireland last year, we were advised to take additional insurance as the only credit card that provided insurance benefits there were some Mastercard World cards.
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We rented a car for a month in Cape Town last year - I researched my credit card (and personal auto insurance) policies and concluded we were fine to decline coverage and use Amex or Visa (but we're Canadian so our credit card offers aren't necessarily the same).
Re personal auto insurance - we have a rider for rental cars but it did not include ex North America/Europe but your auto insurer might include SA.
I looked at all the major companies (more than once!) and in the end the best price was Alamo/National - mainly due to the absence of a high second driver fee. There are some local budget companies (with older rental vehicles) but I was happy with the price I got and the convenience of picking up/dropping off at the Cape Town airport. (price was about $35/day for a small car)
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Be careful to read the small print, and check what's excluded, eg 1-car 'collisions'. (say, when avoiding an animal or person. One reason not to drive at night!), or driving on gravel roads.
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We just returned from seven weeks in Southern Africa including South Africa where we rented cares in Johanesburg and Cape Town. We relied on American Express. Call them and they will email you printed details of their coverage including all exclusions. Only additional insurance we purchased based on Amex rules was liability. In addition, I do not believe their coverage includes full size SUVs.
Beware of corrupt cops who set you up for bribes by pulling you over for perceived infractions. The pattern goes like this: you are pulled over for x, y or z and asked for your license, then told you have to go with them to the police station immediately to pay the fine. When you protest that you are in a hurry and don't want to do this, they offer you the alternative of paying the fine at a discounted rate on the spot. This goes right into their pocket. Instead of falling for this shakedown, tell them that you know it is your right to accept the ticket and to go to the police station at a later date to settle the account. If it is an alleged speeding infraction ask them to see the digital photo and data of your alleged infraction. This usually puts an end to the shakedown.
Also ask for identification so you can be sure you are dealing with a real cop and not some entrepreneur who has put on an orange vest to collect "fines." Never give a cop your US State license. Before the trip, go to AAA and get two or three copies of an International Drivers License. When pulled over, hand over the International license which is valid in South Africa. Using this technique, you will still have a license if they refuse to return your license to you.
Beware also at returning cars at JNB. There is a STOP sign just before you enter the final Return Car lanes. Cops line up there to stop tourists returning cars with this shakedown. It really is a horrible problem for South Africa. Getting stopped by one of these corrupt cops leaves a very bad taste with you after having had a wonderful time in their beautiful country. Talk to your rental agent before taking the car to get the latest information.
Other than that have a wonderful time in a beautiful country.
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This SA cop scam, has it ever happened to you?
And if you argue and refuse the cop, would you rather have a bullet in your head?
regards - tom
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Yes, Boudecca, has it ever happened to you?
We've traveled extensively in rented cars all over South Africa. In our many years of driving there, we've been stopped exactly once, for speeding, (the sign was pretty hard to see) and were given the option of paying on the spot. It wasn't a reduced fee or anything; paying on the spot is done all the time by South Africans.
I wonder if this is urban legend.
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cary- how many tourists have been shot by police in SA? very few if any, I would guess.
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My not be real police, may be impostor.
If it's only one and it's me, that's one too many!!!
And again boudecca, ever happened to you or to someone you personally know?
regards - tom
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You've been watching too much "Police Chase 24/7"
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Is there a satellite TV channel that broadcasts nothing but world wide live police chases?? That would be AWESOME, a sure winner!!!
regards - tom
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The eyes of the world were on South Africa this year. It may have happened, but I don't remember a single report of police scamming or shooting any tourists.
It makes for a good story to tell when you get home, but not very representative of most visits to the country.
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Hi Buckeye. Yes, I did alot of research in 2008 for our self drive trip through South Africa and found the CC auto insurance coverage not adequate. My conclusion came from talking to a car rental company here in the US, the one we used in S.A.,the CC companies, reading posts here and on TripAdvisor. The best solution I found was to purchase trip insurance that included the car rental coverage I felt comfortable with. I can look up all my details which I saved if you need more info.
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I was just looking at travel insurance. Without insuring the trip (put in $0 in the trip cost prompt), but with a three week car rental insured at $50,000, $50,000 med insurance and $1 million evac/repatriation, plus all kinds of other stuff if we die, the premium is $122 for two, not each, under 50 year olds. I was unable to do it through insuremytrip.com like I did last time, but had to go to the separate insurers to compare. $122 is less that I'd pay for the CDW for the three weeks, so it's a bonus. But, when I looked into renting through Avis there is some insurance included in the rental. So, see what you are comfortable with. Travel health insurance for me is a must as our insurance doesn't cover international.
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"paying on the spot is done all the time by South Africans"
Although thankfully I don't get may speeding or other traffic fines, as a South Africa that's news to me! That's not an option with either the "old" system, or the new AARTO that is being piloted in some areas. Unless of course the trap happens to be outside a Metro or SAPS office or station. In which case payment might be made there.
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Have never heard of a Tourist being shot by a member of the South African Police and While there are corrupt police officials all over Africa this type of Shake down as it has been described would be the exception to the rule rather than the norm as boudecca describes. I have lived here my whole life and travelled South Africa and Africa extensively. The rental companies will offer you different insurance coverage options I would advice on taking the most extensive and this will cover every eventuality. The price with the major car rental companies will be the same at the Airport as in the cities. The Well known established companies are Budget, Avis, Europcar and Hertz.
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Arthur, the one time we got a speeding ticket in South Africa we were allowed to pay on the spot. This was in 2004 or 2006 or so, in a small town somewhere between Johannesburg and Kruger Park.
In Swaziland we paid on the spot in February of this year, as did others caught at the same speed trap, and also many years ago, either 1980 or 1987. I know it's usual in Swaziland and Lesotho, and I sure thought it was the norm in South Africa too.
(I realize this sounds like we drive through Africa like madmen, but it really isn't so; we've sped, accidentally, 3 or 4 times in 30 years.)
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We personally had the experience twice in South Africa on our last trip. First time we were stopped for allegedly speeding in Acornhoek traveling between Hoedspruit and Kruger on the main road on July 28, 2010 just before the turn to Sabie Sands. We were definitely not speeding, climbing hill in second gear with other cars speeding past us. Our second experience was just outside JNB on September 14,2010 for allegedly not stopping at a stop sign when we did, in fact, stop at this sign. While we were pulled over we saw two other rental cars also pulled over by different cops. Reported the JNB experience directly to Avis. Manager went to location and got the cops' identification to report it to the local precinct head. Avis management confirmed this was not an isolated event.
I only report this as a warning to others not to be surprised by this activity as we were.
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Celia, I still don't think that was ever a standard procedure. I suspect that your donation didn't reach its intended destination.
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In any event, I've never ever heard of such a thing from my fellow South Africans or experienced it myself, it's certainly not "done all the time".
The only two fines that I can recall getting where I was actually stopped (one long ago, one this year) were dealt with in the standard way. Presentation of a summons for payment or court appearance later. I suggest that anyone asked to pay on the spot should start by assuming it's a bribe, disguised or not.
But I'll try and research this further if I can. And perhaps some other forum poster can verify that the Law allows payment at a road block/trap.
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Arthur, I admit we could have been scammed in the South Africa incident. And as I think back on it, I remember that my husband and I wondered at the time, and discussed the possibility that we'd been had. Looks like we were.
But in Swaziland, we were caught in a speed trap (at a spot where the speed limit changes sort of suddenly and the sign announcing it is sort of hidden) along with other motorists ahead of and behind us. The Swazi police -- there were four or five of them there -- filled out all sorts of forms and gave us copies, along with a receipt for the payment, listing the time and place and amount. So I do think that in Swaziland it's standard operating procedure. My "all the time" remark was based on the two experiences in Swaziland. Thanks for the correction!
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Celia, I was only referring to South Africa. And I have since found a reference to being able to pay outstanding fines at road blocks by cash or card, although I doubt that all or even many would be equipped to actually do that. perhaps just the major road blocks that are targeting motorists with outstanding fines. But where that can be done for old fines (where a summons has already been issued), one should perhaps expect that it could be done for the fine that has just been incurred.
I guess I was mostly reacting to the "done all the time by South Africans". I think that even if a valid "pay now" facility was offered, almost all South Africans (myself included) would want to delay things as long as possible. Also in the forlorn hope that somehow the problem would somehow go away! (But without payment of a bribe.)
In hindsight I wish there could have been such a payment facility for my most recent speeding fine that I mentioned earlier. It was in a different Province to where I live and work and I only realised later that there is no way to pay a fine in a different Province. It has to be done in the Province in which it was issued, or by mail. The latter has to be by money or postal order, or by bank guaranteed cheque. I was worried about the security of the former, so I went for the latter. So I had to go specially into my bank branch and get the cheque (fortunately covered in my banking package, but a cost for some), and then to a post office to send it registered mail. A pain all round.
I've gone into all this detail because it occurred to me that it would be at least as painful for a visitor to have to pay a fine in the same circumstances. So the advice is to find the nearest police station before leaving the Province. Or ignore the fine and hope it doesn't re-emerge at immigration if you ever visit again? (I never said that!) But if you're in a rental car I suppose there would be no escape. You'd get billed for the fine and I think an "admin" charge for taking care of it.
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Don't know if you are still monitoring this thread, but I just noticed the fine print in my rental car agreement for next moth says
INSURANCE WAIVERS for Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Loss Waiver (TLW) are MANDATORY. The minimum waivers to be taken must be collision damage waiver & theft loss waiver. Renters may not decline the waivers and use charge card/credit card insurance coverage.
This is on a pre-booked rental (but not prepaid) through the car rental company's US website.
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Cranachin - I checked the same thing when the CDW didn't come up as an add-on. But I couldn't see how much it paid for. So we'll still get added coverage with our travel/health insurance.
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Thanks so much for all your help - I have to admit I am still confussd but when my mind is a little clearer I will reread the posts. I had not checked the forum in a week or so due to personal commitments. Will let you know when I do
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The Bank of Japan on Tuesday revised downward its economic growth forecasts for fiscal 2011 from 0.3 to minus 0.4 percent, citing the impact of Europe's sovereign debt issues and the yen's appreciation.
At its two-day Policy Board meeting, the BOJ also lowered its growth projection for fiscal 2012 from 2.2 percent to 2.0 percent and members unanimously agreed to maintain the central bank's zero interest rate policy.
"Overall, there still is strong uncertainty remaining" over Europe, BOJ Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa said during a news conference following the Policy Board meeting. "As I have stated on previous occasions, (Europe's sovereign debt crisis) remains the largest risk factor" for Japan's economy.
While saying that Japan's economy will be on a recovery path in 2012, Shirakawa acknowledged that there are some domestic risks, including a possible electricity shortage in the summer, which should not be overlooked.
"We must watch those uncertainties closely," he said.
In October, real gross domestic product for fiscal 2011 was projected to grow 0.3 percent. But with Japan's efforts to recover from the March 11 disasters overshadowed by the ongoing financial crisis in Europe and other issues, the central bank was forced to downgrade its predictions.
The BOJ noted that Europe's sovereign debt problem could result in a global economic downturn, particularly through its impact on global financial markets. Citing other economic risks, the bank added it remains uncertain whether emerging economies can grow while simultaneously keeping prices stable.
The ultralow interest rate, maintained by a unanimous vote, will leave the key short-term interest rate at zero to 0.1 percent. The board members also agreed to leave unchanged the BOJ's credit and asset-purchasing program at ¥55 trillion.
On the domestic front, the BOJ said business fixed investment has been "on a moderate increasing trend" while noting that private consumption has remained firm. The economy should see a moderate recovery in the first half of fiscal 2012 as overseas economies pick up, it said.
The BOJ said it will steadily implement the purchase of financial assets through its ¥55 trillion fund to increase market liquidity.
The virtually zero interest rate policy will continue until price stability is in sight, it added.

subset: commoncrawl


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Truly independent panel of citizens only way to achieve ethics reform
By L.D. DAVIDSON
For The Sunday Gazette
The insider's game is playing out again in Albany. Budget time has arrived. Once again it is the season for double-talk from New York state political leaders about their willingness to do actual ethics reform.
As it is, the culture of public corruption in Albany is entrenched. The pattern of politicians posturing with platitudes about their willingness to enact real ethics reform goes back to even before the days of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Ethics reform has become the headless horseman of New York state politics.
The basic problem is that it is not in the interest of legislators and governors to take the relatively simple steps needed to clean up New York state politics.
no incentive
No incentive exists for political insiders to change a rotten status quo when that status quo serves their own private interests. This same dynamic also prevents effective campaign finance reform as well as reapportionment reform.
The more than two dozen prosecutions of state legislators in the last few years indicate that the public needs an independent ethics panel. But what does independent truly mean?
It means creating an ethics panel NOT selected by either a governor or legislative leaders. In fact, no elected state official should be allowed to have ANY input whatsoever on an independent ethics panel.
Positions on such a panel should be selected from independent New York state voters on the basis of a competitive civil service test. Moreover, each of 12 members of the ethics panel should be restricted to one term of six years with staggered elections every two years.
Only a truly independent panel of members with no ties to elected New York state politicians can provide an ethics oversight process that might have a chance to reduce the scope of corruption in New York state government.
The panel itself would have to be given the authority to send indictments to grand juries comprising randomly selected citizens. Otherwise, the panel could too easily be corrupted by political insiders.
I was amused recently to read comments by Theodore Roosevelt about his experience as a young, ambitious New York state assemblyman in the Albany of 1882. He could have been writing about Albany in 2014.
Roosevelt estimated that about one-third of the state Legislature was blatantly corrupt. Furthermore, he wrote about members of the Legislature openly trading influence with corporate backers, being given bills they were bribed to sponsor.
Many other bills were sponsored that seemed to be in the public interest, bills that made their sponsors look sincere, but proposed by legislators who "had not the slightest intention of passing them."
Roosevelt even wrote about an invitation to a private lunch with his Uncle James at which he was told that it was "a good thing he had dabbled in reform" but "now was the time to leave politics and to identify with the right people." His uncle explained that there would always be an "inner circle" of corporate executives, politicians, lawyers and judges "to control others and obtain the real rewards."
today's media
Today most media can be relied upon most of the time to report empty political rhetoric as if it reflects actual policy intention. Often it doesn't.
We can gauge the gravity of the public information problem when regional newspapers with good reputations start running blueberry pie-eating contests on their front pages.
The public perception — according to opinion polls whose independence certainly deserves to be questioned — is that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is popular because he gets things done.
Meanwhile, in reality, on the three biggest issues facing New York state, he has gotten next to nothing done beyond rhetoric: no meaningful ethics reform, no campaign finance reform and no new reapportionment rules so election outcomes can't be fixed by a small group of insiders. He has also made a huge mess of New York state public educational policy and practice.
Moreover, his administration has overseen a major transfer of public money to private corporations and businesses through tax breaks and economic development grants. He has graced New Yorkers with a major expansion of gambling.
Political lesson
The political lesson from Cuomo's first term is that rhetorical stances can be effective screens for actual policies. As far as the latest rhetoric from the governor and the legislative leaders about ethics reform goes, I'll believe it is sincere when it becomes actual law.
Many people actually care about having cleaner government. Among informed people who have access to quality information, albeit an ever more challenging problem, patience is at a low point.
People want politicians who are not corrupt, and private business leaders who can compete without funneling off public money, and media leaders that provide higher value news information.
We need a fully independent ethics panel. We needed it in 2001, in 1970, in 1925, in 1882 and we need it more than ever in 2014, especially when quality news is vanishing amid junk information and expanded advertising.
L.D. Davidson lives in Amsterdam and is a regular contributor to the Sunday Opinion section.


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The Office of Residence Life is committed to the personal and academic success of each residential student.
Our mission is to provide a safe, interactive and well maintained living and learning environment that promotes the personal and academic success of each individual student while preparing them to be engaged citizens.
Take a virtual tour of the living spaces across our citywide campus in English, Spanish, Khmer or Mandarin and see where you could live.


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Serko Appoints Independent Board Directors
Serko Appoints Independent Board Directors
Simon Botherway, Claudia Batten and Clyde McConaghy join Darrin Grafton and Bob Shaw to round out Serko's new Board
5 May 2014 - Serko, an Australasian leader in business online travel booking and expense management, today welcomed Simon Botherway, Claudia Batten and Clyde McConaghy to the company's board as independent directors. Simon Botherway will be appointed chairman of the board.
"I'm delighted with the calibre of our new Board, and the range of skills, experience and perspectives they will bring to the governance of Serko" said CEO, Darrin Grafton.
"Bob and I have spent a great deal of time looking for the right group of individuals to help us navigate through the next phase of Serko's growth and we're pleased that Simon, Claudia and Clyde have agreed to join us."
"Serko has ambitions to be an international player and has its immediate sights set on becoming a significant force in the Asian corporate travel booking market."
Simon Botherway, Serko's new Chairman said: "I'm pleased to become part of a great Kiwi company with exciting potential. I believe Serko has the product portfolio, the market reach and the right management team in place to achieve its goals. Clyde, Claudia and I are looking forward to making a meaningful contribution to the company."
Simon Botherway
Based in New Zealand, Simon Botherway holds extensive experience in corporate governance, banking and investment management. Simon has been a member of the Securities Commission, a Chair of the Financial Markets Authority Development Board, a Director of Fisher and Paykel Appliances and the Electricity Authority Establishment Board.
Based in the United States, Claudia Batten has notable entrepreneurial experience. Claudia was part of the founding team of Massive Incorporated, which was sold to Microsoft in 2006. She also co-founded Victors & Spoils, which was majority acquired by Havas Worldwide. Claudia is a strong supporter of the New Zealand start-up scene and, in 2013, was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award from Victoria University in recognition of her commitment to New Zealand and her achievements in technology.
Based in Australia, Clyde McConaghy over has 20 years global business management experience. Clyde is currently a Non-Executive Director at Infomedia Limited and a Non-Executive Director at Integrated Research Limited, both listed on the ASX. He was previously a director of The Economist Intelligence Unit based in London, and a founding board director of World Markets Research Centre Plc, listed on the LSX.
About Serko
Serko is Australasia's leading online travel booking company for businesses and government agencies. With its HQ in Auckland New Zealand, and with offices in Sydney Australia, Xi'an City China and Gurgaon, India, Serko employs more than 90 people.
Serko Online is an online booking engine used by administrators and travellers to book flights, accommodation and car hire from the broadest possible set of travel providers. The engine guarantees that travel bookings comply with corporate travel management policy without limiting the users' choice of travel provider.
Serko is part of the Mundi Global Alliance that provides corporations with the ability to book air travel, car hire and hotels anywhere in the world. Working with the best-in-class local providers in the USA and Europe Mundi is the only true 'global' travel provider for multi-national organisations.
Visit www.serko.com for more information


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HANA Reports $19M Churchill Handle Decline
A horseplayers group that organized a protest of Churchill Downs reports handle is down $19.3 million through the first 14 race days at the Louisville track.
A horseplayers group that organized a protest of Churchill Downs reports handle is down $19.3 million through the first 14 race days at the Louisville track.
Keeneland announced April 28 that all-sources handle for the 15-day meet that ended April 25 totaled $141,119,476 compared to $161,990,603 wagered during the 16-day spring meet in 2013.
The pari-mutuel model needs to be updated in order for horse racing to grow handle.
With the harsh winter of 2014 finally abating, Thoroughbred racing's key economic indicators of wagering and purses declined only slightly in March, according to figures released by Equibase Co.
Despite an increase in race days, wagering on U.S. races in January of 2014 was similar to the amount of handle on U.S. races in January 2013.
The New York Racing Association posted a 2.3% average daily total handle gain for 2013. The increase follows a 2012 season during which NYRA posted sizable gains in all handle categories.
The Churchill Downs fall meet saw a double-digit percentage decline in average daily wagering at this year's 25-day stand that wrapped Saturday, Nov. 30.
Assiniboia Downs ended its 60-day season of live racing Sunday, Sept. 22 with a 6.74% increase in wagering by bettors outside of the province.
Wagering and attendance both declined slightly during the 40-day 2013 meet at Saratoga Race Course that concluded on Labor Day, Sept. 2.
Compared with 2012, average all-sources handle declined 17% at the recently completed Ellis Park summer meet, a decrease the track attributes to new competition and fewer off-track outlets in the state.
The New York Racing Association reported that all-sources wagering was up less than 1% and attendance down slightly during the first half of the 40-day meet at Saratoga Race Course.
Betfair Hollywood Park showed gains in both all-source handle and daily average handle during the 49-day spring/summer stand that was the penultimate meet before the track ceases live racing.
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club reported increases in every key statistical category during the first five days of the California track's 2013 meet.
Considering a Triple Crown was not on the line, the New York Racing Association reported some solid numbers for the June 8 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) day card.
While the biggest wagering card of the year saw a 1% decline in handle, U.S. racing managed to register a strong month of May as pari-mutuel handle was up 3.57% compared with the same month last year.
Keeneland concluded its 2013 spring race meeting April 26 with a number of records, including all-sources handle and most wins by an owner, trainer, and jockey.
The Arcadia, Calif., track received final handle figures for its winter-spring meeting April 25. Handle improved 3% to $710,813,700. That increase came during a first quarter that saw U.S. handle decline 2.81%.
All-sources handle for the season was $141,735,025, up 12.52% compared with the 2011-12 meeting that produced $125,963,850. This year's daily average handle from all sources was $1,629,138, or 13.81% higher.
Wagering on United States races dropped 2.02% in January when compared with the same month in 2012, according to the Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators released by Equibase Feb. 4.
In its first full year receiving added money for purses from the Resorts World Casino New York City at Aqueduct Racetrack, the New York Racing Association registered strong pari-mutuel handle in 2012.
Ramblings about pari-mutuel takeout rates, handle, slots, data, and whatever else.
Woodbine Entertainment Group announced Dec. 20 that handle on the Woodbine 2012 live Thoroughbred meet, which concluded Dec. 16, showed impressive growth over the 2011 season.
With the number of U.S. race days in October down 7.86% from the comparable month a year ago, wagering on U.S. races fell 8.79%, according to the Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators from Equibase Company.
Attendance of 34,619 at Santa Anita Park Nov. 2 for the first day of the 29th Breeders' Cup World Championships represented a 14.7% decline when compared with the first day at Churchill Downs a year ago.
Racing continues to show some growth in 2012. In September, handle on U.S. races improved 2.6% and purses were up 13.77%.
Turfway Park struggled to fill fields early in the meet and missed a big-handle day in the Kentucky Cup Day of Champions as handle and purses fell at the fall meet.
Evangeline Downs' recently concluded spring/summer Thoroughbred season recorded solid numbers including increases in average nightly handle, average nightly on-track handle, and total on-track handle.
Attendance and handle, both ontrack and all-sources, were up substantially from 2011 figures for the Aug. 25 running of the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.
Benefiting from several exotic wager carryovers, handle at Del Mar soared during the five days ending Aug. 19 and remains well ahead of last year at the same point in the boutique meet.
With 22 of 40 racing days in the books, all-sources handle on Saratoga races climbs; attendance and field size are fractionally down as wet weather causes 26 races to come off turf.
While all-sources wagering increased 7.6% during the first three weeks of the annual boutique meet at Saratoga Race Course, the upstate New York track reported attendance had dipped by 1.9% through Aug. 6.
On track handle, total handle, and attendance posted increases from 2011 after four days of racing at Saratoga.
Del Mar posted healthy handle numbers across the board during its first five days of racing from Wednesday through Sunday, July 22.
After posting record wagering on this year's Kentucky Derby and Oaks, the 38-day spring meet at Churchill Downs ended with a 3.31% decline in total and average daily handle.
Tampa Bay Downs ended its 86th racing season with a decline in average daily all-sources handle during the 92-day meet that began Dec. 3, 2011, and ended May 6.
After posting a rare gain in December, wagering on North American racing took a small step backward in January, with total handle from all sources down 1.1% from January 2011.
The Southern California track also reported its average daily handle up 9.5% but complete figures are not yet available for the 26-day Autumn meet.
Total wagering during the recently concluded 21-day fall meet at Churchill Downs fell 3.9%, with a large portion of the difference coming during the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships.
The Friday card had declines in attendance and handle coming off a record year in 2010 at Churchill Downs.
New York Racing Association reported that attendance for the first four days of its Saratoga meeting was up 2%, while all-sources handle rose 10%.
Two purse increases and continued success with a night racing program highlighted the 38-day spring meet.
Have you ever watched National League MVP Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds at the plate? Tom Lamarra offers thoughts on topics ranging from the Medication Summit to Handle
Wagering on U.S. races fell 7.8% during the month of May as the declines in Thoroughbred racing continue, according to figures released June 4 by the Equibase Company.
Key economic indicators for North American racing in March and the first three months of 2011 reflected a continuation of the trend in which wagering is down but purses are up.
The solution is and has
always been about building
 a better product to
 a new generation.
Thoroughbred industry marketer Fred Pope outlines a plan to reward the owners of the most popular horses with bonus purse money.
Wagering on Thoroughbred racing in the United States fell 7.3% and purses declined 6% in 2010, continuing the trends seen in recent years as the industry remains mired in recession.
Hollywood Park finished its 30th fall season on Dec. 19 with a slight decline in ontrack attendance and a 4.2% drop in all source wagering.
The attendance increased 33.7% from a year ago to 45,764.
Total wagering remained close to last year's comparable figure while attendance and ontrack handle inched upward despite two rainy days through the fourth full week of racing at Saratoga.


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Posted 4 years ago
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The case serial number is 7253190 the wording on case cover is " nawco in the middle of a state outline then under it, it says security 10 karat gold filled railroad model. the movement says "Crescent St. Waltham Mass." serial number 13048686 The movement doesn't fit snug it moves around when the watch is handled. that's why I don't believe it's the right case for the movement. Any help would be seriously appreciated.


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New details have surfaced about the proposed Doc Rivers-to-Los Angeles trade, and these developments paint the deal in a whole new light.
Many have speculated that Rivers desired to leave Boston because he did not want to be part of a rebuilding process. That much is true, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reports, but it was the Celtics, not the coach, that initiated talks with other teams.
According to Bulpett, who cites a "person with knowledge of the situation," the team asked Rivers, who was reportedly mulling whether to return for a 10th season in Boston or step away from coaching, if there were any coaching vacancies around the NBA that intrigued him.
Rivers reportedly passed on the Nets but said he did have interest in coaching the Clippers, upon which he learned that the team had already engaged in preliminary discussions with Los Angeles. The Clippers chose not to renew head coach Vinny Del Negro's contract in May after the most successful season in franchise history.
The reported package of two trades, which has been nixed by the NBA as a violation of the league's collective bargaining agreement, would have sent Rivers and Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles and brought DeAndre Jordan and an undisclosed number of draft picks to Boston. Bulpett reports that the proposed deal would also give Rivers some control over the Clippers' player personnel.
The NBA prohibits the trading of coaches in deals involving players or transactions contingent on player movement. ESPN reports that the Clippers now have their sights on acquiring Rivers in a stand-alone deal before attempting to pursue Garnett.
Rivers, like many Celtics fans, is reportedly growing tired of the negotiations, and Bulpett's source claims he may pull himself out if a deal is not completed by Friday morning. Should the deal fall through, Rivers will have the option of returning to the Celtics or taking time off from coaching, likely to work as a television analyst.
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/8/2013 (1466 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The second annual BBQ & Blues Festival runs this weekend at the Red River Exhibition Park. Musically, the big act will be David Wilcox. Food-wise, the star attraction will be barbecue, specifically meat that's been cooked low and slow until it's pull-apart tender and packed with complex flavours.
The Winnipeg Free Press Pit Masters Championship is a Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned event, and competition is fierce. Twenty-six teams will compete for a $10,000 prize payout in this big cook-off. Many competitors have pricey customized smoker rigs that can hold hundreds of pounds of meat. They guard their cooking techniques and secret ingredients as if they were nuclear launch codes.
If you've tasted good barbecue, you'll understand what the fuss is about. Barbecue, as it originated in the American South, is a complex mix of science, art and religion, and it shouldn't be confused with grilling, which is the hot-and-fast outdoor cooking most of us do in our backyards.
Last year, at the inaugural BBQ & Blues fest, I got to sample some of the offerings. The chicken was smoky, crisped on the outside and moist inside. The ribs were meltingly good but not sticky.
I can't hope to replicate the mysterious alchemy of southern barbecue, but we don't live by meat alone. And while meat is the big star at most barbecues, the sides are the hardworking supporting players. Sides I can do.
Barbecue, as hardcore practitioners will tell you, has its own culture, rooted in the elemental human act of gathering around fire. Barbecue is all about history and tradition, and you can see that in the side categories as well. Baked beans, roasted corn, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, cooked greens, slaws and quick breads are all time-tested, well-loved dishes.
Coleslaw is popular because the crisp vegetables and vinegary dressings help cut the richness of barbecue meat. In our version, red cabbage adds colour, and dried cranberries, pecans and apples add some unexpected flavour.
Cornbread is a popular side, and as with barbecue meat, there are a lot of fought-over regional variations. Our version is Midwestern style, with a little sugar and a mix of yellow cornmeal and flour, which produces cornbread that is slightly sweet with a densely moist texture.
Finally, our baked beans pick up on classic barbecue flavours with a mix of spices, molasses, dark brown sugar and bourbon -- lots of bourbon. We've gone low-and-slow by cooking them in a crock pot. (This is good for hot summer days when you don't want the oven on.)
You will need to start ahead. The beans have to be soaked overnight and then cooked for at least a day. Fortunately for this make-ahead dish, the beans actually taste better after sitting and being reheated the next day. Beans are also good if you need a vegetarian option for your barbecue. (Just omit the bacon and cook the onions in vegetable oil.)
At the BBQ & Blues Festival, the Pit Masters Championship specifies four big-meat-eater categories of chicken, pork ribs, pork (including pork shoulder, Boston butt or picnic) and beef brisket. Competitors are allowed to add a little lettuce or parsley or cilantro for garnish, but that is it. According to the strict official rules, "kale, endive, red-tipped lettuce, lettuce cores and other vegetation are prohibited."
So this weekend's competitors are pretty limited as to what they can put on their barbecue plates. Fortunately, we civilians can do what we like. Bring on the sides.
Red Cabbage and Apple Slaw
1 small head (about 6 cups) red cabbage, shredded
125 ml (1/2 cup) dried cranberries
30 ml (2 tbsp) balsamic vinegar
15 ml (1 tbsp) apple cider vinegar
15 ml (1 tbsp) honey
5 ml (1 tsp) Dijon mustard
45 ml (3 tbsp) olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
125 ml (1/2 cup) chopped pecans, lightly toasted and cooled
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and chopped
Place cabbage and cranberries in large serving bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, honey, mustard, olive oil and salt and pepper. Pour dressing over the cabbage mixture and refrigerate for 60 minutes to let flavours blend. Before serving, add pecans and apple and toss again. Serves 6-8.
Tester's notes: Vinaigrette for coleslaw tends to be more vinegary than a standard salad dressing. This one uses honey and apple cider vinegar for a slight sweet-and-sour taste.
250 ml (1 cup) all-purpose flour
250 (1 cup) yellow cornmeal
60 ml (1/4 cup) brown sugar
20 ml (4 tsp) baking powder
3 ml (3/4 tsp) salt
60 ml (1/4 cup) butter, melted and cooled slightly
250 ml (1 cup) buttermilk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Preheat oven to 220 C (425 F). Grease a square 22x22 cm (9x9 inch) pan. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, brown sugar, baking powder and salt, whisking thoroughly to break down the lumps of brown sugar. In a small bowl, combine melted butter, buttermilk and eggs. Add to flour mixture and stir gently only until blended. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until top is dry and edges very lightly browned. Do not overbake.
Tester's notes: This is a nice basic cornbread. It's good with barbecue and just as good the next day for breakfast, spread with jam.
Barbecue Baked Beans
500 g (1 lb) dried small white beans
8 thick slices of bacon, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
500 ml (2 cups) water
250 ml (1 cup) bourbon
250 ml (1 cup) dark brown sugar
175 ml (3/4 cup) of your favourite barbecue sauce
60 ml (1/4 cup) ketchup
45 ml (3 tbsp) molasses
30 ml (2 tbsp) grainy mustard
60 ml (1/4 cup) apple cider vinegar
15 ml (1 tbsp) Worcestershire sauce
In a large pot or bowl, cover beans by 7.5 cm (3 inches) of water and soak overnight. In the morning, drain, discarding any discoloured or misshapen beans. Put beans in a large cooking pot with fresh water and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 60 minutes. Drain. In a large heavy pan over medium heat, cook bacon until it begins to crisp and fat is rendered. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. In same pan, cook onion until soft and golden, about 5-8 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat. In the slow cooker, combine water, bourbon, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, ketchup, molasses, mustard, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce and stir. Add drained beans, bacon, onion and garlic mixture and some of the bacon fat. Cover and cook for 10-12 hours on low heat, stirring occasionally. When beans are cooked, turn off heat and let beans sit, uncovered for 1-2 hours, to let liquid thicken. Serves 4-6 as a side dish.
Tester's notes: Crock pots can vary, and the cooking time could be as low as 8 hours or possibly as much as 14 hours. Basically, you want the beans to be tender but not mushy. Check every so often to see how the beans are progressing. The liquid, after the sitting time, should be thick and syrupy.
The bourbon does add a deep, dark flavour, but you can replace it with water or tomato juice or broth. I used a hickory-flavoured barbecue sauce to play up the smoky taste.


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A first look to Hippo CMS
I have taken a look at Hippo CMS and I presented this product to all my italian collegues in Sourcesense in a web conference. After my session we shared our comments on the product and we started a brainstorming.
A first look to Hippo CMS showing all the main interfaces and tools available in the product.


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Originally introduced as a key component of analog synthesizers, envelope controlled filters came into prominence in the early 1970s with the release of the legendary Mutron III. Envelope filters are wah-wah type sliding filters that are triggered by an input voltage. Unlike standard wah pedals whose center frequency is controlled by moving a treadle, an envelope filter's center frequency is controlled by playing dynamics, allowing for an almost unlimited variety of effects based on expressive nuances in a player's performance.
The AF-9 Auto Filter represents the state-of-the art in analog filtering. Like the original Mutron III, the AF-9 uses a CdS Photocoupler (HTV #P873) rather than a VCA at the heart of its circuit. The unique sound of Photocoupler circuitry provides a liquid, shimmering, vowel-like filtering that cannot be produced with other components, giving the AF-9 superior sound quality with lower noise levels than the competition.
The AF-9's Threshold control determines when the effect will trigger, while the Peak control boosts the center frequency for more dramatic filtering (like a Resonance control on a synthesizer). Selectable Range control (Hi/Low) determines the overall tone of the AF-9, while the Drive (Up/Down) control determines the direction of the filter sweep. Three selectable Filter types (Hi Pass, Band Pass, and Low Pass) and a frequency range of 100 Hz Ð 4 KHz allow the AF-9 to function with virtually any instrument or input signal.
From simple wah-wah's to outer-space noises, the AF-9 provides the most desirable swept filter effects in a compact, user-friendly package.
|Brand New
U.S. Customers can pay via credit card, or PayPal. Merchandise paid for via PayPal will be shipped to PayPal verified addresses only. Sorry, absolutely NO international credit card orders or international PayPal payments will be accepted. Overseas customers can pay via Bank Wire Transfer ONLY. Merchandise paid for with Bank Wire transfer will be shipped upon written verification of funds from our bank. (approx 7-10 business days) Bank Wire Transfer fee's & all shipping fee's additional.
We ship all over the world and beyond!!!! BRING IT!!
We offer a 24 hour approval period once merchandise is delivered.


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Meshugga Beach Party -Twenty Songs of the Chosen Surfers
The sound this holiday is Hanukkah surf rock, didn't you know?
we miss jamiem here in the office so i had to give her, and these very classy yet fun place card holders, a nod.Tags: entertaining, home decor, tables, silver, decorations, party, holidays, hanukkah, HannukahAdded 9 Years Ago from Crate and Barrel
Take dreidel and combine it with poker, and you've got an awesome update on the traditional dreidel game! Fun for adults as well as the kiddies and perfect for Hanukkah/Holiday parties.Tags: games, gifts, fun, party, poker, gifts for him, hanukkah, party games, HannukahAdded 9 Years Ago from Popjudaica
If your Juicy Couture charm bracelet is filling up, be sure to squeeze in some holiday spirit while you still have room! I love this limited edition dreidel charm - what a fun way to commemorate Hannukah 2008!Tags: accessories, jewelry, gold, orange, Juicy Couture, charms, charm bracelets, girl, hanukkahAdded 9 Years Ago from Nordstrom
Last year in LA, there was a major shortage of Chanukah candles. Shop early and make sure you have enough to last 8 nights! Crate & Barrel's hand-dipped menorah candles are as beautiful as they are festive.Added 9 Years Ago from Crate and Barrel


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/7/2014 (1126 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The dream of breathing new life into a long-vacant Main Street heritage building has turned into a nightmare for a local developer.
Mark Buleziuk, an auctioneer and owner of Space2Work.com, a Winnipeg boutique development firm, and his wife, Shelley, decided nearly four years ago to spend several million dollars on revitalizing the 100-year-old Scott Block at 272 Main St. The plan was to restore the building's original heritage features and turn it into a modern retail/office complex with a completely renovated interior and new elevator and mechanical systems.
However, the city's historical buildings and resources committee was told last week those plans hit a major roadblock after changes were made to the floors in the building which rendered it unsafe to occupy. So the city has refused to issue an occupancy permit until the problem is corrected.
The committee was told Buleziuk has since filed a lawsuit in Manitoba Court of Queen's bench over the allegedly botched renovation work. In the meantime, he's stuck with a building he can't rent out, and he has told city officials it's cost-prohibitive for him to continue carrying a vacant building that isn't generating any rental income.
He wants to sell the property, but potential buyers have said they're not interested in purchasing it if it has a historical-building designation.
Last Thursday, Buleziuk appeared before the city's historical buildings committee asking that the building be removed from the historical buildings list, even though it was at his request that it was added to the list in 2012.
However, the advisory committee, which consists of heritage and planning experts from the private sector and all three levels of government, concluded there is no justification for delisting it. So it's recommending the city's standing committee on downtown development and heritage deny Buleziuk's request.
City Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, who chairs the historical buildings committee, said the features of the building that led to it being designated a historical building are still there and won't be affected by any remediation work that needs to be done to make the building safe for occupancy.
"So from the committee's point of view, there is no justification whatsoever for delisting it," she said. "It's a heritage asset that's important to the streetscape and for a number of other reasons, and the city has to protect its heritage assets."
The committee members also took the position Buleziuk's financial issues have no bearing on the heritage status of the building, she added.
Heritage Winnipeg, which presented the Buleziuks with a Preservation Award earlier this year for exposing and restoring the building's original facade, is also adamantly opposed to it being delisted.
Executive director Cindy Tugwell, who attended last week's committee meeting, said the group fears if the building is delisted, it will be demolished to make way for a new development.
"Why else would you go for a delisting?" she added.
She's also worried about the precedent it would set, fearing it could lead to other building owners asking to have their buildings delisted because of the cost to maintain the designation.
"A historical designation is convenient when they (building owners) want tax credits or grants, but not convenient if they run into problems and want to (tear) it down," she added.
Tugwell said it's her understanding the structural problems arose when they poured new concrete floors and made them too thick, and the extra weight has made the building structurally unsound.
Buleziuk and city officials were unavailable for comment. Gerbasi said the matter now has to go before the standing committee on downtown development and heritage at either its September or November meeting.
"Ultimately that committee will decide (whether to delist the building)," she added.


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Update to Google Nexus 7 (2013) keeps your sister away from your games
So far, those precious few who have received the update aren't reporting any changes. The newer build of Android 4.3 probably includes the usual bug fixes and stability enhancements. Yeah, okay, we snuck a peak at the image below. But because we did,we know that the update lets you create restrictive profiles so that your younger sister doesn't mess up your game of Candy Crush Saga. And the update also secures the tablet in a kiosk setting.
If your Nexus 7 (2013) received the update, let us know what changes you've spotted by dropping us a message in the box below.
source: AndroidCentral
5 Comments
1. woodshop20 (Posts: 459; Member since: 14 Sep 2013)
No update to keep brothers out too? Useless. Uninstalling immediately.
2. Berzerk000 (Posts: 4275; Member since: 26 Jun 2011)
I don't even have a sister! Useless.
3. madmikepr (Posts: 138; Member since: 09 Aug 2011)
this should be in every tablet :) +1
4. iliketech (Posts: 75; Member since: 17 Aug 2011)
yes this is a Great feature and I would buy this tablet listing this as a major reason to do so versus the competition that does not have this feature... I leave my tablet out where others that live in my house can use it, but have deleted all my personal account syncing because others can cruse all my contacts, calendar, etc.. I'm thinking with this feature it would be like my windows PC in that when I log out of my user id and someone else comes along to use the pc then they would log in using their userid, and thus not be able to view/modify my data and programs. I think this is a Great Feature and long overdue. Thanks Google!


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USER EDITORlordbowler
Donald Glover revealed in an interview that there were actually eight giant cookies that were baked the night before taping for Troy to carry throughout the "Tranny Queen" scenes.
Britta is a vegetarian.
Britta used to live in New York.
Goof: right before Abed pulls out the picture of Britta, Jeff takes the shot of alcohol, but in the next scene Jeff is holding a shot glass that is still full.
Goof: In the scene where Britta plays Jeff's voice mail for Professor Slater (19:25-19:45), the phone begins the scene as a Samsung Gravity but switches to a Motorola ROKR E1.
Troy reacts with surprise to learn that Annie is Jewish. However Troy was present when Annie said that she is Jewish in Comparative Religion.
The sketch comedy troupe that Pierce goes to for help is actually from Donald Glover's (Troy) other project called Derrick Comedy.
Right before Troy and Britta start their duet, Madame Leclair tells the accompanist (a man with silver hair) to play something modern. But when Britta takes off her teapot hat and throws it, a woman with dark hair is playing the piano.
When Britta takes off her 'teapot' hat and throws it off stage, it hits the piano player, who promptly pushes it away with her left hand.
Dean Pelton reveals that the school has a watch list for physically attractive students and faculty. According to the Dean, Jeff is ranked #2 and Professor Slater is ranked #7.
This marks the third episode to feature Abed and Troy's 'La Biblioteca' rap. It first appeared in episode 2, "Spanish 101", and again in episode 9, "Debate 109".
Lyrics to Chang's Rap: I am Señor Chang, and I'm so ill! / This is a warning: I can't be killed! / All in your cabeza, without a chasa / Not another teacher with this much flava! / Chang!
It's revealed that Jeff is 33 years old.
Goof: Troy is mistaken -- Jehovah's Witnesses may, in fact, consume alcoholic beverages, provided that they do so in moderation (i.e. drunkenness, the misuse of alcohol, is considered the sin -- 1 Corinthians 6:10). Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), however, abstain from drinking of alcoholic and/or hot beverages. Also, Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in celebrating religious holidays (which Troy does in this episode, as well as Dia De Los Muertos a few episodes earlier). Another tenet is to limit friendship and contact with those who are not fellow members of the church (something Troy certainly does not do on this show).
All of these things put together suggest that Troy has either been "disfellowshipped" (their version of an excommunication), or simply doesn't know enough about his family's religion to know what beliefs to adhere to.
Abed is Muslim, Troy is a follower of Jehovah's Witness, Shirley is Christian, Annie is Jewish, Jeff is agnostic, Britta is an atheist, and Pierce claims to be Buddhist but isn't.
The Spanish rap ("La Biblioteca") bit being filmed at the end of this episode is originally done by Abed and Troy in the episode "Spanish 101".
Pierce's Rap Lyrics: East side, West side, North side, South / Vaughn's breath is so bad, his butt's mad at his mouth / This rap is by Pierce, Vaughn is dumb / He wears diapers to bed and sucks his mother's thumb / And when he wakes up, stupid wishing he was me / He has a big poop breakfast with a glass of pee / Then he goes to school where he's stupid again / And everybody hates him even all his friends / When you come after Pierce then the battle is on / So this rap goes out to stupid Vaughn.
Goof: When Troy tells Annie that Randi is the name of the girl he would like to date, he says "Thanks for your help", gives her a strange look, and drops his finger. However, as the camera angle changes, it shows Troy with his finger still in the air and moving his lips as if speaking.
Lyrics to Vaughn and Pierce's Britta Song: Saying bye to Britta was the hardest thing to do. But when someone's a b!tch and a liar, there ain't nothing left to woo. I'm getting rid of Britta, I'm getting rid of the B. (She's a no good B...) I'm getting rid of Britta, I'm getting rid of the B. (She's a GDB...)
Movie posters in Abed's dorm room include those of Batteries Not Included, Stand By Me, It Came from Beneath the Sea, Back to the Future, Vibes, and Short Circuit 2.
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witty remarks, issues with authority, goodie two shoes, dumb friends, dry humor


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It's really blissful for Manisha Koirala to walk down the streets, shop and bargain after having stayed in bed battling +ovarian cancer. These small joys of life are a welcome change for the actress, who has now recovered from the disease.
"I do love shopping on street fairs…have a lemonade, fresh corn…bargain a bit for antique jewellery..,felt great to walk on the street," the actress of "Bombay" and "1942: A Love Story" shared her feelings through her post on Twitter.


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CBS chief Leslie Moonves raised the stakes in broadcasters' fight with Dish Network this morning in an appearance at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media, Communications and Entertainment Conference. Dish's Hopper DVR — which can automatically skip over ads in recorded network TV shows — "can't exist," he says. If the company continues to promote it then "we will just not be on Dish." CBS invests millions on episodes of some shows and can't "have the people at Dish say we can pull out the ads." CBS and the other major broadcast networks are suing Dish, alleging that the Auto Hop DVR feature infringes on their copyrights. Dish chairman Charlie Ergen says the technology simply automates what DVR owners can already do with their remote controls.
Les Moonves Vows To Drop Dish Network If It Keeps Pushing Ad-Zapping DVR
22 Comments
How is this any different than the 30 skip button I already have? Is he gonna take away my fast forward button, too? Ah, Les…
huge difference. 30 second skip is not targeting specific content within the broadcast. With 30 second skip you can even jump through parts of the broadcast too.
With AutoHop, Dish is basically getting the DVR to modify the display of the original broadcast by removing commercials. These are copyrighted broadcasts, so who knows what's really legal there.
30 second skip, that is…
And more people will learn how to pirate television
Programmers don't "drop" operators – it's the other way around. CBS would "pull" their signal.
Nothing says "My business needs to be disrupted" quite like saying a service "can't exist". Innovate, don't litigate Leslie.
It seems like DISH is making more enemies with television network than friends. First it was WE network and now one of the big three, CBS. Networks thrive on commercials and sponsors. That is how they are able to keep the money flowing.
Also I watch WE sometimes and they are constantly running commercials about how they are not on Dish anymore. It is an interesting marketing ploy.
I think DISH may need to take a step back and recollect themselves before they make any more foes.
Who the f runs Dish? They're idiots, and they're destroying their service.
It won't kill people to push the skip button 4 times.
I love how Dish came out and said none of their users are interested in AMC content. Who would want to watch Mad Men, Breaking Bad or The Walking Dead? Student films, they are.
And CBS needs to finally come into the 21st Century, this isn't 1950 anymore and Paley isn't running the network. They are so much behind the rest of the networks in technology. No wonder their audience is so old.
As for WE if no one is watching the channel why carry it? It's all about numbers just like the Soaps on ABC, if you don't have the audience, why produce it, just so a few people can watch it?
Moonves' arrogance never ceases to amaze me. As usual, viewers' needs & preferences don't matter in the least. Yes, I can use the FF button & do. But I don't want one corporate executive dictating what I can and can't buy or use. Just like I don't want a local TV station dropping programming based on the management's views. Viewers can change channels & turn off the TV if they object to something. It should be the viewers' choice what they view or don't view in their own homes…not anyone else. That's the real issue here. Adapt, Moonves, the old OTA networks' programming dominance is dying; adapt, innovate, create instead of using heavy-handed threats & tactics. CBS cares.
My thoughts exactly! The viewer should have a choice…the networks should target their ads anyway and stop fighting lawful technology. The hopper only works with recorded content. There is a new company offerring "live" commercial skipping…that is, when an ad comes on, the technology allows the viewer to fill the space with whatever he/she wants: music, another tv show (that is not in commerical), or a blank screen. When the ad is over, your primary viewing program comes back on. The times they are a changing! Mytvchoice.com
I'm all for advancement in tencnology, but I gotta say I'm with Moonves and the networks on this one. Networks obviously can't control what people do in their own homes, and we all FF through the commercials when we record a program. But it's ad revenue that make the programs we watch possible. No commercial sales, no shows. So to have a corporation offer technology that undermines the revenue that makes it possible for networks to create original programming and thus for cable companies and DISH to offer their services, seems inane.
the networks are their own worst enemies…they drive the price up for producing content by paying these "entertainers" crazy money…and making things so unaffordable…we all have to sit through polident ads. it's called greed.
And I should have made sure "technology" was spelled right. lol
When it comes to broadcast networks, it actually isn't the viewers' choice what they view and what they don't. CBS is procuring the viewer's attention and selling it to advertisers. It's the old adage–if something is free, you're the product. Moonves is doing what he needs to as a network head. And it really isn't that hard to change the channel during commercial breaks. If you want to watch a show all the way through with no interruptions, buy the DVD. At least that way the talent gets more of a cut.
… and when I was growing up the remote control was dad telling me to get up and change the change the channel … technology moves on … adapt Leslie.
Les will go the way of the dodo bird… I don't have have DISH or their Hopper, but I do have a 30 second skip button with my AT&T U-Verse. Can't remember the last time I watched T.V. other than sports the wasn't time shifted or saw a commercial, it's been years. Even Monday Night Football I paused for a half hour before starting so I could zap through commercials and I'm a technology challenged 52 year old! Les needs to think forward!
Direct TV pulled Viacom from. Viacom shares took a hit. Viacom claimed a victory but it's simply not true. They lost out.
CBS pulling their shows from Dish will only hurt CBS in a time of declining audiences. And Dish has simply changed Hop from automatic to optional so there is now no case, unless CBS wants to sue 20 million people for choosing to remove the adds. And Apple just won a patent for its Apple TV software that will remove the adds similar to Dish's hop.
And the terrifying truth about all of this is the entire Eco system that is the basis of the monetized system, is all predicated on Neilson, which is as archaic as this type of rethoric.
And if Content is king ,google is king kong. Google has plumbed in over one million viewers into its new optical fibre delivered streaming system. Why not use one million viewers than a sample of only seven thousand bias viewers.
CBS will become like a land line in our homes, rarely if ever used and only used by old folk who like the things the way they were. Unless they change lanes and realize the potential they truly have at their finger tips in this brave new digital world.
Europe is imploadong and along with its ability to afford current license fees. They will soon ask CBS to lower fees dramatically. Add to this the fact that European audiences are watching live broadcast of shows like CSI before the West coast feed, this destroys the resale value. There is a storm coming for broadcast TV and it starts now. Audiences, according to Neilsob are declining up to 20 percent this season.l already.
Networks have had a bumper year because of the electio but have also reduced pilot spendong by 50 percent. That's fifty percent less agented business, 50 percent less money for WGA not to mention DGA clients an crews.
Less Moonvess is trying to protect not only CBS but everyone who works in the business he loves. But sadly it's not going to work.
He's like any great captain going down with his ship. Bless him. And all that sailed in him.
Also to try and force people to watch what they don't want to watch is not only a foley it's simply not possible.
Thanks for the excerpt of that interview David. As an owner of a Hopper and as a DISH employee, I find that interview to be of particular interest. Mr. Moonves, are you really prepared to take this action? Are you willing to cut off 14 million customers who actually pay for the right to watch CBS and the other "free" networks? Why don't you just cut off your nose? Why do you have so much spite for your face? I hope you consider that I wouldn't have to use Auto Hop if there weren't 20 minutes of commercials for every hour of TV. I have a limited amount of TV time each day, so I literally don't have time to sit around and wait for my show to come back from commercial. That said, I don't watch much CBS anyway; I think that's an older (geriatric) demographic.
Stupid stance. You can't ultimately win this one less because for the satellite / cable distributors the viewers are the customers and the customers like being able to skip commercials.
I got my first dvr 13+ years ago so it is not like you have not had notice and time to modify your business to keep up with what viewers want. But then you are only losing 10%-15% of your audience each year.
When I see network execs say things like this it just makes me want to torrent all the shows I watch because someone has already removed the commercials. I pay thousands of dollars a year for the tv shows in my house and if I want to zap or skip your 70 year old advertising model that is on you.
Frustration about watching 20 minutes of commercials per hour is understood. But, are you willing to pay more money to replace revenue from these commercials to watch top-notch content? I doubt it.
It's a simple equation:
content revenue = subscription fees + commercial advertising.
If people skip commercials, subscription fees go up and vice versa. But, consumers want it both ways–low fees and few commercials–which is not going to happen unless the content quality is dramatically decreased.
The purpose of CBS and other broadcasters is not to make everyone happy at any expense. If it was, then they would just have no commercials, no re-transmission fees from cable / sat, etc and Santa Claus would magically pay for NFL football, scripted shows, etc for everyone to watch. But, this isn't realistic because great content is very, very expensive.
Commercials are a compromise and effective solution in an imperfect world. Just like taxes are.
I agree with you Dish act like they are Gods I love Amc had them since 1980's I am getting ready to drop them!


text:
Over 400 house lots were distributed in a new Bartica housing scheme on Saturday during a ceremony which saw Minister Irfaan Ali and regional Chairman Gordon Bradford clash over the region's role in the process.
A statement from the Government Information Agency on Saturday said that a 'One Stop Shop' was held in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), which saw the distribution of over 400 houselots for the new Five Miles Housing Scheme.
Infrastructure for the scheme totalled $251M and the contract was divided into two lots: $138M and $113M and respectively awarded to BK International and Ivor Allen.
GINA said it was a 'per household' investment of more than $700,000 and a per capita investment of close to $180,000.
It added that this development will bring direct benefits to more than 1, 400 people. GINA said that the Ministry has in its system more than 800 house lot applications for Region Seven.
GINA said that the Ministry will commence discussions with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the Local Government Ministry shortly to identify a new location for which additional funds will be sought to accommodate the remainder of the applications.
"Rest assured that this is not the end in terms of the housing development. This is just one aspect that would ensure that we meet the full housing demand here in Region Seven, particularly Bartica," Minister Ali said, according to GINA.
GINA said that during his remarks, Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford accused Government of not holding enough consultations with the regional authorities before allocating lands in the region.
Bradford said that while he had no objection to developments taken to the region, he feels that the regional authorities should be more involved.
GINA said that Ali strongly refuted this statement and argued that former Regional Chairman, Holbert Knights was involved in all aspects of the process, which was conducted in an open and transparent manner.
Ali added that the RDC was given a copy of the Bill of Quantities to help in the monitoring of the process, which is the standard procedure by which the Ministry operates.
"At the end of the day we have to serve people…staff from the Ministry came here on several occasions over the construction period, sometimes for as long as three days, and fully involved the RDC. We believe in working together at the Ministry of Housing and Water and we understand the role the various stakeholders play in the development of the various regions and communities. We will never allow ourselves to be driven by cheap politics," Ali declared.
Ali said that the Ministry has proposed a Community Development Plan for Bartica and in this scheme, focus will be placed on the tourism and services sectors.
"We believe that this region has tremendous potential in the tourism sector but we need to develop our services so that we will have the right skill level and we could have an efficient services sector to propel the region's tourism development", Ali said.
He said that government is in the process of approving two massive investments in the tourism sector in Region Seven, one in White Water, where a developer is constructing a 25-room facility. He also referred to garbage collection problems.
"You cannot look to the future; developing a strong tourism sector and not deal with the garbage problem," the Housing Minister stated.
Triumph NDC orders halt to ground-shaking works
The Chairman of the Triumph Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) yesterday instructed workers employed on a private site, reportedly intended to build a first-floor pool, to cease operations, just two days after residents called on authorities to halt its construction.
Operator crushed to death by bulldozer at Mahdia
A 55-year-old man was crushed to death yesterday afternoon by the bulldozer he was operating at Mahdia, Region 8.
Buddy's employee robbed of $2m
Armed bandits yesterday robbed an employee of Buddy's of $2M, moments after he had returned from a city bank and the police later recovered the suspected getaway car in Middle Road, La Penitence.
Businessman shot in daylight robbery on Irving St
An East Bank Demerara businessman was on Monday afternoon shot and robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash and valuables after he was attacked by two gunmen while at the traffic light on Irving Street, Georgetown.
Design contracts signed for sanitary landfills at Bartica, Linden, Mahdia
Design contracts for sanitary landfills were yesterday signed by the Ministry of Communities for Bartica, Linden and Mahdia.


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text:
How I Saved My Marriage
By Guest Blogger Alisa Bowman
About four years ago, our toddler ran away from us at the grocery store. I chased her into the pasta aisle where she was holding a big jar of red sauce. My heart rate sped up as I realized I was about to become that parent, the mother who watches her child smash a jar onto the floor of aisle 6 and then walks away as if nothing happened.
In that moment, I understood why parents do things like that. It all became clear. They are just too exhausted, unappreciated, overwhelmed and resentful to have to deal with one more mess.
That is why I sweet-talked that jar of sauce out of my kid's sticky little hands as if it were the most precious and fragile family heirloom. I got it back on the shelf. Then I realized that my daughter had run away again.
After I finally tackled her and put her in a football carry, I found my husband. I was still out of breath from chasing her down. In his trademark snotty voice, he said, "While you were having a good time, I have been here trying to figure out what to buy."
That night I came home and started writing a novel about a woman who kills her husband and gets away with it.
Another time my husband took our daughter, then 2 1/2 to the mall. He didn't bother to ask her if she needed to go to the bathroom. Therefore she peed her pants. He didn't pack an extra outfit, either. So after removing her urine soaked clothes, he carried her out of the mall and put her in her car seat naked. When he got home he said in that same surly voice, "Because you didn't put an extra outfit in the car, she had to sit in her car seat naked."
That night I planned his funeral down to the lamb on a stick I would serve the mourners.
I could tell you dozens more stories. What's interesting about them is that, in isolation, none of them sound all that bad. When I talk about them, many people look at me and say, "You wanted him dead over that?"
No, it was never over just that. I would plan his funeral over dozens of insults, slights, misunderstandings and hurtful incidents that had spanned over many years. I did it because, for us, nothing was going on in the bedroom other than him snoring and me punching him in the arm when he did so. Nothing was being said over dinner, either.
The life had drained out of our marriage slowly and steadily.
Each new argument was like a paper cut. Taken alone, it wasn't a big deal. When added to all of the other problems, it was nearly lethal.
By the time our daughter was nearly three, I was planning my escape. On Mother's Day I had dinner with a divorced friend. For 45 minutes, I ranted about my husband and tried to convince her that he was evil—a mistake, a person not good enough for me, someone I should have never married in the first place.
She listened patiently.
Then she asked, "What have you done to save your marriage?"
I got tongue tied and then red in the face.
And then I admitted that I had tried nothing. She made me promise to try something, marital counseling perhaps. If it didn't work, then "sure," she said, "get a divorce."
I didn't try marital counseling. I decided to read my way to a better marriage instead. I bought book after book. I studied Internet site after site.
And I tried tip after tip.
Oddly, some of it worked. Slowly over time, I was struck with three revelations.
- My husband wasn't as evil as I'd once thought. Clueless and unable to read my mind? Yes. Evil? No. The man actually wanted to make me happy. He just didn't know how.
- He wasn't the source of all of our marital problems. I was. Once I learned how to be assertive without being aggressive, I was able to improve every area of our marriage—including our sex life.
- He didn't piss me off on purpose. His surly tone was usually a result of his own inability to communicate coupled with a fear of confrontation. He had no idea I found his tone so scary and condescending. When I told him about it, he was floored.
It wasn't until later, after we renewed our vows, that I was struck with two more revelations.
The fourth one was this: More people want their spouses to conveniently drop dead than anyone suspects. I learned this after I started talking about my own death fantasies. Some people stared at me blankly when I talked about it, only to pull me aside later and whisper, "I've so been there." Others laughed loudly and told me and everyone in the room about theirs.
The fifth revelation came as I started talking to couples who had been married for 20, 30, 40 or 50 or more years about their marriages. "Did you ever go through a rough patch?" I asked. Usually one or both of them would laugh and say, "Oh yes did we ever! Let me tell you…."
After they finished telling me about all of the hard times, I would ask, "Do you regret staying together?" Not once has a couple answered that question with a, "Yes."
If you are currently in what I have come to call The Planning The Funeral Stage of Marriage, that should give you hope. I hope my story gives you hope, too. So should the stories of a growing number of couples who are fighting for their marriages and finding ways to make it work.
More and more couples are realizing that being happily married is not a mysterious sensation spread through fairy dust. Rather it's a skill. You can either learn and perfect that skill now with your current spouse, or you can learn it with the next one. Either way, to be happily married, you've got to perfect it.
Here are a few tips:
- Practice the art of communication. Communication is a skill, one that improves with practice. Practice it everywhere you go and during every conversation you have. Listen with all of your attention and rephrase what you think you heard to make sure you got it right. Practice asking questions and see just how much information you can get out of someone. Practice asking for what you want in a low voice, slowly, without tension.
- Be the change you want to see in your marriage. If you want more conversations, start them. If you want a spicier sex life, spice it up yourself. If you want to be heard, improve your delivery. It's a lot easier to change yourself than it is to change your spouse. And by changing you, your spouse will change, too.
- Get over the idea of fairness. This is a tough lesson, but an important one. The process of saving your marriage isn't fair. There are going to be times when you have to do most of the work. Get over it.
Remember, deciding to work on your marriage requires a leap of faith, because you truly will never know the results until you try. But I encourage you to take that leap for your partner and yourself. No matter where it leads, you will never regret trying.
Alisa Bowman is the author of Project: Happily Ever After, a memoir of how she saved her marriage. She is also the creator of ProjectHappilyEverAfter.com, a gathering spot for recovering divorce daydreamers.
Tell us, have you been close to the end of the lifeline on your marriage? What did you do? Share YOUR tips to a happy marriage. Feel free to comment anonymously so perhaps your story can help others.
Other articles you might enjoy:
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[…] you reach a point of no return. Although you may feel isolated and misunderstood, looking for people who've been in your shoes might give you hope and spark a few ideas. You can also look for ways you can do your part in the […]
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I think your article is right on point Alisa! for years I blamed my spouse for all our problems but when I realized I need to work on myself and become a better person which in turn makes our relationship better is when I started to see change…actually it was from lots of personal development and reading I did. One of the best books I read to really start making changes to improve my marriage was from Darren, http://www.howtosaveyourmarriagetoday.com There are some great articles there!
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text: Grover's reflection becomes animated during the song "Monster in the Mirror."An animated version of Super Grover appeared in The Street We Live On, in a story on Elmo's TV.An animated Grover appeared in segments for Sesame Street English.An animated Grover appears in Jewish story retelling segments in the 2010 revival of Shalom SesameGrover appears in animated form in a series of Sesame Street Road Safety Campaign ads.Grover appears in CGI form in a commercial for PortAventura's Costa Caribe Aquatic Park (2013).Grover as he appears in the animated Galli Galli Sim Sim spin-off series Chamki ki Duniya.Add a photo to this gallerySee also Grover Super Grover Retrieved from "http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Grover_(animated)?oldid=930296" Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you've made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. Categories: Animated Characters Sesame Street Characters


text:
Production at
The Curragh mine produced 2.24 million tonnes of coal during the quarter, comprising 1.5 million tonnes of metallurgical coal and 725,000 tonnes of steaming coal.
Production across the company's Bengalla and Premier coal operations were both down on the previous quarter.
Quarterly production at the company's Premier mine was 10.8 per cent lower compared to the previous quarter due to lower demand from Premier Coal's major customer Verve Energy.
Wesfarmers' share of coal production from the Bengalla operation for the quarter was 520,000 tonnes, 3 per cent lower than the previous quarter due to operating in a less productive section of the mine.
The company said construction works to expand metallurgical coal production at the Curragh mine is due for completion in the first quarter of 2012.
The upgrade is expected to take annual metallurgical coal production at Curragh to 8.5 million tonnes annually.
The Australian Financial Review


text:
Would you recognize your city from 200-plus miles above earth?
(MORE: Don't Let the Northern Lights Disappear)
The Canadian Space Agency's Commander Chris Hadfield tweeted photos of the United States that he'd taken from his post on the International Space Station.
Commander Hadfield has been shooting awesome photos and video during his time at the ISS.
His latest subjects include Myrtle Beach, S.C., as well as Dallas-Ft. Worth and Chicago (see if you can spot each city's major airport in the photos).
(MORE: How to See the Dazzling Pan-STARRS Comet)
Check out the slideshow above for the five photos he took of the U.S. Thursday, followed by some of his other incredible photos of earth from space.


text:
Recipe by echo echo
Came across this at the Newman's Own website. Chicken and pineapple salsa and red curry paste--three of my favorites together! They say if necessary you can substitute 1 tsp curry powder plus 1 tsp chili powder for the red curry paste in the recipe. Don't mistake cream of coconut for unsweetened coconut milk. Cooking time is time to both cook and chill rice (although I would make the rice in a rice cooker rather than on the stove and omit the salt).
Top Review by Baby Kato
Delicious Echo just delicious. This Thai fried rice is the bomb. I love the addition of the pineapple salsa, I'd never tired it before in rice. I followed your recipe but made my own coconut milk and added minced fresh ginger and some leftover jumbo shrimp to the dish. Thai is my favourite cusine and I love red curry, so this dish was screaming out my name. Thanks for sharing this tasty tasty treat, which I will be enjoying often...kudos
See Discussion:3 Reviews
Ingredients Nutrition
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 cup newman own pineapple salsa
- 1⁄2-1 teaspoon red curry paste
- 4 teaspoons oil
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 medium onion, chopped fine
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick strips
- 1⁄2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunk (about 1/4 pineapple, chopped)
- 2⁄3 cup chopped fresh basil
Directions See How It's Made
- In 2-quart saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil; add rice and salt.
- Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 18 minutes.
- Chill in 1-quart covered bowl at least 2 hours until cold.
- Whisk pineapple salsa and red curry paste together until smooth.
- In nonstick 12-inch skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium heat.
- Add eggs and scramble; remove from skillet and set aside.
- In same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over medium heat.
- Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and tender.
- Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
- Increase heat to medium-high; add chicken and cook 4-5 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- Add chilled rice, coconut milk and salsa mixture to skillet and mix well.
- Add pineapple cubes, scrambled eggs and 1/3 cup basil, tossing to mix well.
- To serve, remove skillet from heat; spoon contents into a serving bowl; garnish with remaining basil.


text:
Wow, I have not posted -anything- in foreeeeveeeer! But the very idea of goin through all the pictures I've taken in the past year to see if there is anything of decent quality is daunting. Hmm, what to do what to do.
School started again, I could definitely see I was slipping back into that funk I was in last year. Gah, it's so annoying. That feeling of just not being happy and knowing it has to do with the start of school and not being able to do anything about it because you know in a month or so it'll pass.
Is change really that hard for me to handle? Or is it just school is hard to handle. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
I can feel that urge to go out with friends and drink more but also that urge to just not do anything with anyone. Though there is definitely one person here excluded from that. It's kind of weird. I mean I'm glad I have her but I don't understand why she's the only one I enjoy seeing sometimes. The only person I'd lunge out of bed to hang out with. I suppose she's just that cool, lol.
She was talking to me today about how she doesn't understand why she gets so angry so quickly sometimes. And how it's only towards the people she cares about, it's always over something trivial, and that it seems it's somehow connected to how those people she argues with seem weaker to her than herself.
Of those people I am not one, and we mused about that. She couldn't quite explain why she doesn't get mad at me. Something about how I just say stuff and that's it. I think she may have meant that I don't over-talk. I just say what I mean to say and that's it. I don't try to justify it because I don't feel I need to. That and I think it's also because I'm really mellow. I don't get angry but when I do it doesn't last very long at all, hour tops, really. Or I'm only angry when I talk about the thing I'm angry at but once I stop talking about it I move on.
So it's weird. I move on emotionally quite quickly but when it comes to changes in life (routine?) I'm not fully equipped to handle it. Odd. Odd. Odd.
I'm hitting the 22 marker next weekend. That just feels weird. I will officially be past all the truly positive markers age-wise, I hit the teen years, I gained the ability to drive, to vote, to drink and now there's just the markers of time gone past; 30 years gone by since I was born, 40, 50 60, 70, 75 three-quarters of a century gone by, provided I live that long.
Okay so, one of these days soon, I swear, even if it is only for my own benefit, I will put some stuff up! *puts on determined face*