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|Forum topic by dennis mitchell
|posted 11-05-2008 05:54 AM
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|69 replies
3994 posts in 4548 days
Topic tags/keywords: pros economy question
I'm scratching my head in this new reality. Hoping I don't end up having to put on the orange vest and work for the enemy. What are you fellow pros doing to survive. I could feel it coming, just because we only need so many houses, but it sure seems worse than even grouchy old pessimist me expected. A while back I started building kitchens just because it was more labor intensive. Even though I made less money. That seems to have come to a halt. Which in many ways might be a blessing. Creation comes out of destruction. I have a chance to reinvent myself. So maybe my country does to. I've checked out Ebay and Esty…only a few seem to be making a living. I've followed a few fellow LumberJocks craft sales experiences. They did better than me, but I really want to make a living at this thing. Woodworking has given me a great life. I'd really hate to stop. I've always treated furniture as a passion, maybe I'll have better success if I treat it like a business. So what doors open in a recession? I'd like to hear about changes you are making for your woodworking career.
69 replies so far
#1 posted 11-05-2008 06:11 AM
A good question Dennis. Business has faded for me as well. So, like you I am thinking of how to re-invent myself as well. I am thinking of moving to Galveston, to help rebuild the area and maybe make some money in the process. They will be rebuilding for several years, so it will be work for many people for some time.
It will be interesting to hear what the rest of the community is going to do.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
#2 posted 11-05-2008 06:26 AM
I can relate to your dilemma. I've done casework and closets for a living for 7 years. My business was growing 30% a year and life was good. This year it is off 60%. That's a tough pill to swallow. The only thing that is helping me keep my head above water is repeat business from my large customer base. I have also taken on jobs this year that I would normally turn down. I had a past customer call and ask me if I could build a 12×14 shed with attic in his back yard. I got it done, but I never want to do something like that again. I'm still doing closets, but not as many and not as large. Work just comes sporatic right now. I also have endcap displays in three Lowes stores and I haven't had a lead in the past four months.
This is the reason I started doing craft shows. I have this fully equipped shop and lots of time on my hands, so I started building stuff and going to shows. This is has potential, but I don't think it could ever replace the cash flow that I was getting from my closet business.
I have an Etsy store, but have only sold three things this year. Sales though my web site were starting to increase, then they dropped off to nothing, but people are still buying at shows. The ones that survive all this will be known as master dog-paddlers….
-- I don't make mistakes, only design changes....www.dgmwoodworks.com
14179 posts in 4217 days
#3 posted 11-05-2008 06:34 AM
I'm selling alot less, but staying very busy building up inventory. Granted, woodworking is a glorified hobby.
-- keeping myself entertained ... Humor and fun lubricate the brain
4444 posts in 4196 days
#4 posted 11-05-2008 02:48 PM
In our case, both the saddle shop and wood shop just stopped getting calls around the first of May. I have over $20,000 in inventory at The Cabin Company and Flynn's Saddle Shop in Boise. Nothing has sold while I was in Wyoming all summer and fall. I will be going in to talk to these people in the next couple of days. I think small things are still moving a little. Maybe there is something I can do for the winter. At this point, I see little hope of reviving either shop to full time work. I don't feel like investing anymore time or capitol into the business at this time. There are better craftsmen than myself who are working at the local stop-and-rob to get by. Since I'm approaching 62, I see little hope of any really good employment either. So far, I've managed to stay busy and productive but as the economy worsens, it will become increasingly difficult for we older hands to compete for scarce jobs. Maybe Obama can turn it around but I think it will be a long uphill battle. Good luck everyone.
-- Thos. Angle, Jordan Valley, Oregon
#5 posted 11-05-2008 03:09 PM
Back when in the 80 when the market crashed "black Monday" I was making great money in construction, everything dried up. I decided to try something new. I went into computers, I started at the bottom in an electronics store, assistance manager. 1.5 years later I was contracted to Lotus Development, from there I went to IBM and now am looking at a relatively good retirement at 50 years old by making a few good job moves. It took me 18 years to get here from that bad "Monday" but it was a fun ride. Yeah a lot of it was pretty hard but I am here now. You may have to try new things, you can always go back to construction but you may find that wood working is a lot more fun when you do it for fun and not for a living. I am not sure I believe that last line :) I still miss the construction sites and comradery of the crew. It is not as enjoyable talking to a bunch of stuffed shirts at white collar job as it was in the old days of construction but the pay is a hell of a lot better and there are a few good people at work, it is not all bad. of construction but the pay is a hell of a lot better and there are a few good people at work, it is not all bad.
Good luck and as the song says "the best oppertunities are the ones tha tnever kniock".
-- "so much to learn and so little time"..
#6 posted 11-05-2008 03:20 PM
For me, as an observer of this craft I think that North Americans must stop importing goods for the landfills.
Life over the last 40 years has become increasingly superficial with the primary goal of pure opulence rather than a focus on quality.
Moreover, they could fill it up with offshore crap on payments too.
Moreover is this mindboggling "sense of entitlement".
This coming back to reality now upon us is growing to be painfully and protracted.
Making a living during the adjustment means taking on some of the smaller neighbourhood tasks instead of doing what you like in the shop.
In 40 years of business here I have never had a single offer to clear my snow from the sidewalks. Same at home. Yet clearing the walks probably pays better than carpentry or cabinetmaking.
Your next machine purchase may have to be a snowblower and a trailer but it's a small price to pay for your independence.
Go Figure?
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
#7 posted 11-05-2008 04:15 PM
I being a realist, made my living with Ma Bell for thirty years. Towards the end with them I was saving close to 20% of everything I made so I could become an independent woodworker. I now sell my "art" at arts and crafts shows. I have seen this economy affect my sales for the last 5 years. It didn't just start the other day.
"Forgive them for they know not what they do", you say as you watch a union loyalist hide his "buy American" sign in the trunk of his car while in Walmart. I'm afraid this can only get worse with our new government wanting to punish success and hard work. I think anything American can only get more expensive as business tries to keep up with new taxes and regulations.
The American people have spoken. I just wish they hadn't spoken so loudly for me. It will be my goal not to give this new government one more penny than I have to. This is not something I'm used to doing. Being one that has lost 1/3 of his net worth in the market (it will come back), I don't wish to support the spending machine in Washington. So for this reason, I've decided to do a little less with my "art".
Because remember, I did plan for this retirement. Now I think I might just live it.
-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke". http://woodstermangotwood.blogspot.com/ (my funny blog)
6866 posts in 4213 days
#8 posted 11-05-2008 05:08 PM
Hi guys;
I get emails from professional woodworkers on a regular basis, asking for advice on how to survive in these economic conditions. Some are giving up after thirty plus years, which is a very hard thing for anyone to do.
Unfortunately I am not a business whiz so I really don't have any answers to give them. More often than not, it's a failure not so much on their parts, but a failure of the leaders of this country who make some of the dumbest decisions possible. There is an obvious lack of common sense in the decisions made, and no apparent conscience regarding the outcome it has on the average person.
For example, when they decided to double the minimum credit card payment, they pretty much signed a death warrant for many families. In an economic climate that was already very difficult, they added the final straw to the burden. People already in a tough financial spot, were thrown to the wolves. This is not to say that frivolous spending, or spending beyond your means is a good financial plan, but the fact remains the timing of such a move was horrible.
When the cost of living is going up in every area possible, and people are stretched to the limit, they decided to add to the load. How creative! How anyone could view this as a good move is beyond me. This single act closed many businesses, since their customer base no longer had the disposable income they once did.
It's scary to think these people are supposed to be intelligent, and capable of making decisions based on the good of the country.
Consider President Bush's comments when being interviewed at the Olympic Games just a few months ago. When questioned whether it was a good time to make comments criticizing China's Humanitarian Policies, considering America's problems, his response was, "First off, America has no problems". HELLO, are you paying attention, or are you so far removed from the citizens you represent, that you really don't know.
It's not a matter of the business owners suddenly forgetting how to run a business, it's a matter of the effects caused by changes made by our elected officials, which in turn changes the ability of being able to run a business.
Two months ago large cabinet shop near me had a two year backlog of work in the commercial sector, in addition to a healthy mix of high end custom work for residences. They were demanding overtime, (politely), from their workers in an attempt to keep up with the workload. Now, just two months later, they're laying off their people. They didn't "forget" how they got so successful, they simply had the rug pulled out from under them. Orders were being canceled faster than they were coming in.
Now they are caught in a position of having grown to meet demand, which means incurring a very large overhead. Much of this overhead is required to operate a business within the law. Now the income is gone, but the overhead remains. They have to decide if they should continue maintaining this overhead, which permits them to continue being in business, but eats away at their capital, or give up. If they stick it out, but the economy doesn't revive quickly enough, they'll be bankrupted. Or they could close up shop and save what capital they have. Great choice. And this is after at least twenty years of being in business, and having a nationally recognized name.
When General Motors stock is at it's lowest point since 1951, how can a small business owner expect to survive. We don't have the financial expertise, or the business management teams, or any of the other tools these large companies have at their disposal.
Unfortunately, as the Three Stooges used to say, we're all "victims of circumstance".
As my friend Tom Angle pointed out maybe the incoming President can revive the economy, but it will take some time to see any results coming from even the best plans and efforts.
Well, thanks for letting me vent!
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
1426 posts in 4108 days
#9 posted 11-05-2008 05:17 PM
Dennis – this is a question that I think all pros and semi-pros are pondering right now. I'll throw in my thoughts. These are ideas, not answers, so you may want to take this with a grain of salt!
I had a boss once who often said, "Build for the masses, eat with the classes. Build for the classes, eat with the masses." Now he basically lives on his huge catamaran in the Mediteranian. I don't think that "build for the masses" means make things everyone needs. I think it means make things everyone can afford. A lot of people will spend up to about $100 on impulse. Is there something you can make five or 10 a day and sell for under $100? Or make 50 a day and sell for under $20? Some guys build several hundered tops a day. Some guys make a living at wine balancers and back scratchers. Maybe it's not what feeds your soul, but maybe it will keep you in woodworking until times are better.
Another thing that I'm looking at closely is other hobbies and crafts. People will spend a lot of money on their hobby, even when times are tight. The catamaran guy was working 9-5 in his metal shop, until he started making gun safes – not everyone needs a safe, but people who have guns will spend money on them. So what items do other crafts and hobbies use that are built out of wood? Or better, what niche isn't being filled that could be filled with a wood item?
How about gift-type items? 'Tis the season! You build beautiful furniture … maybe you could scale it down to beautiful jewelry boxes?
Like I said … they are ideas, not answers.
-- http://www.peteroxley.com/woodworking -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --
2658 posts in 3760 days
#10 posted 11-05-2008 05:17 PM
Still working and punching a timeclock I feel that I am standing on top of a flag pole on one foot and the wind is blowing something fierce… Even though good wood is very expensive where I live I can take refuge in the shop and breathe as I work the wood. Outside the shop door the world seems crazy but inside there is the wood, my hands and a natural connection to time past and hopes for the future. Woodworking is something personal and it also needs to be passed along to others so even if we have to break braches of a tree while we are straving we need to keep moving forward and learn the wood.
(Maybe my next project should be a soap box.)
-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings
#11 posted 11-06-2008 12:47 AM
I been through this a few times in other industries, and have ridden the bear up and down here since the '70's. My father and father-in-law have been doing it here since the '20's. They beat financial caution into me through my entire lifetime, and those lessons have always stood me well. I could have retired last year from IT work, but hung on because I knew I would end up doing air cover for my kids, who are just now graduating from college. There's lots of things I would rather be doing, but I was taught to not turn up my nose at a steady paycheck. Any steady paycheck.
My daughter is a newly minted lawyer, and the very small firm she just joined is already seeing a definite downturn. In the oil bust in Colorado in the '80's a lot of lawyers ended up doing Para-legal work. A bunch of Geologists and Mineral Landsmen I know ended up working for the IRS. Believe it or not, nothing I have seen, including major national recessions in the U.S. and Europe came close to what we went through here '85 – '95. So far this still seems mild compared to weekly newspaper lists of thousands of repo-ed homes and neighbors loading U-hauls in the middle of the night and disappearing.
I guess my question is what are the alternatives? The people of the U.S. built up a LOT of personal debt besides mortgage payments. It could be a long time before that all gets worked down.
I would suggest that you all not be too finicky but suspect you also already knew that.
-- ShopCat
3994 posts in 4548 days
#12 posted 11-06-2008 02:07 AM
Thanks for the input. I really expect to see some hard times coming up. I'm just glad I didn't invest in a lot of expansion and expensive tools. Hopefully people will begin to value craftsmanship again. Hopefully we can learn to live with in our means. Then again I was listening to the radio and they where talking about creating a whole bunch of incentives to get the construction industry rolling again. I guess we will never learn. Houses are shelter not investments. I think the best thing for America is if house prices fell and we let them fall. Maybe then my kids could afford a house with out getting a 65 year mortgage. If rent wasn't so high then maybe the local hardware store could compete with the big orange box. How much of the cost of a hamburger is the fact that the store sits on a half million dollar lot? It seems to me every time the government fixes something the small guy gets screwed. I was checking the small business bureau web site and they consider a manufacturing out fit with 499 employees to be a small business. Then again we voted in the same congressmen and senators one more time! We change presidents from a big business to a big government and then back again and keep expecting different results. I guess I'll stop ranting for a while. I just hate to see my "craft" suffer and more important I hope my fellow craftsmen can survive and enjoy the time off.
#13 posted 11-06-2008 06:07 AM
Therein lies an interesting saga. I have pondered those issues for a lifetime, and in the process read many books. To store the books required shelves, and one very efficient way of building shelves is to create built-ins.
Now, after many books, and many built-ins I have concluded all the built-ins I created +twenty years ago were done all wrong. So far as book storage goes, I actually have a few empty shelves, so rebuilding the shelves will not solve a storage problem. None the less… there are many times when the more woodworking I do, the less happy I am.
I'm not sure that man was totally intended to be happy.
-- ShopCat
#14 posted 11-06-2008 06:19 AM
life will never change
for 5 thousand years men and women have seen mountains and climbed them. When they climb up the mountain they get naked due to inclemant climate or twisted boss with whipand everybody climbing up, if they climb high enough, gets naked due to twisted boss and when you are at the bottom and looking up you see nothing but @$$h0/$ and when you reach the summit and look down you see nothing but smiling faces?????
we need a purge and thus this financial meltdown, for those who bought a house and couldnt afford it, for those who gave the loan to those who couldnt afford it…..........its like seperating the wheat from the chaff…......it was bound to happen
I think if folks live within their means and finally realize that they really arent that special, that they might not deserve a car, a meal, and/or the simple pleasures we all take for granted, that some one out there really wants what we have and works harder for it, longer for it, that capitilism is a double edged sword and that we are not exclusive to it…...........
the world is changing
be thankful for that!
Three cheers for Obama
He isnt afraid
Nor am I
-- "Good artists borrow, great artists steal"…..Picasso
#15 posted 11-06-2008 07:27 AM
We have been lead to believe that we can have it NOW and pay for it LATER and do it all over again. Well, the hole in this concept finally gave to a big tear in the fabric and many who have foolishly believed they could have all the newest, latest, bigest, nicest stuff to be had on their tiny paycheck are in a big MUCK. The banks marketed the endless lines of credit that gave a false sense of worth to those who didn't have a clue. But can we really blame them for our own stupidity if we know we only have a certain income but we keep buying more to enjoy it NOW!? I don't wish to see any family lose their home to foreclosure, but didn't you really think that it was a little risky buying all that house, all that car, all those gizmos that were a bit too expensive? Do the math, it's not that hard: $$$ – $$$$$ = not enough $$.
We actually under bought in our home, as it was a fixer-upper and not real large, but not real small, just right for a starter home. We were both hesitant in getting more house than we could handle in payments, although a bigger, fancier one would be delightful to live in, the mortage could have been twice or thrice what we are paying now. We were even looking to purchase farmland to have more freedom and luxury of spacious bounderies. Our hesitation to buy something too far to commute to actually has saved us. We both worked downtown DC and needed to commute within a reasonable distance from work to home as the jobs pay better in the city, so you pay the price of commuting. Because we settled for a comfortable home and have been fixing it up ourselves gradually as finances allow, we have been able to stay within our means. Of course one always drools about the bigger and better, but I'm quite happy with what I have and will keep fixing up my little castle.
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
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RCMHangout Festival 2013.
The first ever RCM Hangout Festival took place over the weekend (27th – 29th September). It was one of the first online only music festivals. No tickets, no mud, and no queues at the bar. This was the festival you could watch from the comfort of your own sofa. All performances were streamed exclusively live, right

subset: commoncrawl


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When a seed begins to sprout –
Two summers ago I fell in love with the city of Madison, Wisconsin, while attending a governor's conference for Slow Food. While Chicago hosts no shortage of fine farmer's markets, I was blown away by the Madison farmer's market, held in a square anchored by the glorious capitol building. One of my twin nieces is attending college there and she has a strong interest in environmental sciences. While we had lunch, I tried my best to coerce her into joining the University of Wisconsin chapter of Slow Food. We had all agreed at the conference meetings that it is extremely important to the future of the Slow Food movement that its vision is embraced by these young students, whose vibrancy and energy will lead to the dedication to continue the cause. At the time I tried to view my suggestions through her eyes, the intellectual college student listing to her aunt, most likely humoring her. I figured that my suggestion probably got lumped into one of those categories of helpful advice like ?If your room was neat and organized, you would not believe how much easier it would be to concentrate on your homework!? So I was delighted to receive an email the following year (a seed takes awhile to sprout) saying she was going to a Slow Food potluck that night.
Since then, we have had several outings with the family to Madison, which we always plan to coincide with a trip to the Saturday farmer?s market. While picking up my niece, she offered me an unusual snack, made from saltine crackers, melted butter and chocolate chips. ?Michael Pollan says that its okay to eat junk food, provided you MADE it. Michael Pollan ? Yes, I went to see him speak yesterday, and he was AWESOME.? We planned to see him speak at the market on Saturday, yet she was interested enough of her own volition to attend his lecture the day before. I just was so proud, it is the best feeling when to see a small planted seed come to fruition. So when you think the next generation is not listening, don?t be fooled, the intelligent ones are! Then we proceeded to the market to buy tomatoes to slow roast and freeze for the winter, corn to blanch and freeze and all sorts of other goodies to ?set aside.? The enjoyment of the bounty of the harvest has to be one of life?s greatest pleasures.


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Tuesday, June 15, 2010
How to Make an Orange Alligator Smile
A few things nudged my ailing, embattled, Gulf-oil-syndrome soul towards good cheer this past week. One was hearing my favorite song in the world on a homemade CD that John, visiting me on Sunday from Boone, brought with him as a present: For some reason, the lyrics and melody of "Lady in Red" light up my heart like no other--and I had not heard it in a very long time. Now I own it, and could easily play it for you right now, if you were here. [Illustration: "Lady in Red," painting by VJ Helm]
The second bright moment was seeing the new film "Babies," directed by Chris de Burgh. For immediate raising up from the dead, I recommend this hilarious movie. Enjoy the African baby, Ponijao from Namibia, who happily drinks from a mud puddle, while Hattie, the baby from San Francisco, participates in her mother's yoga class, and the Mongolian baby, Bayarjargal, drags his prone but patient cat on a string across the floor of the family yurt. The film follows four babies around the world from their birth through their first year. There is no dialogue, but it's an opportunity for unremitting laughter, and I frequently howled. This was a welcome change from weeping.
Then came my chance discovery during the week of a poem in the New Yorker, which spoke directly to my emotional state when I found it:
To live each day as if it might be the last
Is an injunction that Marcus Aurelius
Inscribes in his journal to remind himself
That he, too, however privileged, is mortal,
That whatever bounty is destined to reach him
Has reach him already, many times.
But if you take his maxim too literally
And devote your mornings to tinkering with your will,
Your afternoons and evenings to saying farewell
To friends and family, you'll come to regret it.
Soon your lawyer won't fit you into his schedule.
Soon your dear ones will hide in a closet
When they hear your heavy step on the porch.
And then your house will slide into disrepair.
If this is my last day, you'll say to yourself,
Why waste time sealing drafts in the window frames
Or cleaning gutters or patching the driveway?
If you don't want your heirs to curse the day
You first opened Marcus's journals,
Take him simply to mean you should find an hour
Each day to pay a debt or forgive one,
Or write a letter of thanks or apology.
No shame in leaving behind some evidence
You were hoping to live beyond the moment.
No shame in a ticket to a concert seven months off,
Or, better yet, two tickets, as if you were hoping
To meet by then someone who would love to join you,
Two seats near the front so you can catch each note.
--By Carl Dennis
In my local paper, an essay by a writer, Linda Hopkins, who lives in the Appalachian mountains of Stuart, VA, expresses exactly what I am feeling:
"...I wake up to this darkness every day--I feel it coming closer and closer...as though the oil were flowing into my back yard. There are times it overpowers all my thoughts...Now when I look at any unsullied seashore, I see those grim images [in the news] and can no longer view it without a vision of the oil hell of the Gulf of Mexico...People tell me to turn away from the news when I tell them how it upsets me. But I must watch, I am part of this tragedy being played out. Because I drive a car, use gas and oil in myriad ways. I have been complicit in the making of this undersea monster. To look away would be the act of a coward."
It's hard to look, and very hard not to look. Meanwhile today, U.S. scientists have significantly boosted their estimate of how much oil is leaking into the Gulf. I just listened to President Obama's crisis speech delivered at 8pm from the Oval office. It lasted exactly twenty minutes. Not one word said about plugging the well or stopping the spill. They were the words of a man who still has not yet looked the Medusa in the face. It's as if. after your favorite Grandma has died, the doc were to try to reassure you by saying, "We are doing everything we can to bring her back from the dead, and we won't stop until we succeed."
Would you believe him?
Posted by Suzi Gablik at 8:14 PM
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I am the Lorax, and I'll yell and I'll shout for the fine things on earth that are on their way out!
- Dr. Seuss
- June 16, 2010 at 1:18 PM
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My lovely friend, Justine along with her partner in crime, Sophia have started a new company called Paperhearts Studio offering custom designed paper goods and the dreamiest calligraphy you'll ever see. Justine has forever amazed me with her talents (especially when she gets a pen in hand) and Sophia's style is equally as beautiful. I'm so happy and excited for them!
|all images above via paperhearts studio
Go check out their brand new site and blog for some more eye candy:
Paperhearts Studio
Heart Letters by Paperhearts


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Year: 1995
Number of items: 9.
1995) A Distributed Framework for Distance Learning in Anatomy: The Digital Anatomist Interactive Atlas. (
1995) Digital Anatomist Interactive Atlases. (
1995) Enhancements of Anatomical Information in UMLS Knowledge Sources. (
1995) Shape-Based Models for Interactive Segmentation of Medical Images. (
1995) The Digital Anatomist Series: 3-D, Segmented, Dynamic Atlases of Body Regions. (
1995) The Potential of Computerized Representations of Anatomy in the Training of Health Care Providers. (
1995) Visualization of Brain Surface Features Using Registered Partially Segmented MRI Scans. (
1995) Volume Rendering of Multi-Spectral MR Data for Brain Language Site Mapping. (
1995) Web-Based Access to an Online Atlas of Anatomy: The Digital Anatomist Common Gateway Interface. (
This list was generated on Thu Jan 17 06:01:03 PST 2019.


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But it seems that now that she's finally come out of her shell, her intellect is coming into question after many of her questionable comments on the show.
[READ: Recap: 5 Life Lessons Revealed During RHOA Season 6, Ep. 7 + Watch Full Video]
In a preview of the next episode of RHOA, the ladies head to Savannah where they tour a few monumental tourist spots and Porsha is caught on tape (yet again) saying one of the dumbest comments ever and the net is buzzing about it. [Sidebar: As if that '265 days a year comment' wasn't bad enough… ]
Watch Porsha's 'Undergraound Railroad' statement, shed a few tears, then read an outraged fan mail letter about the situation below… Continue Reading…


text: I am so happy.. I got First Place in the Ghirardelli CHocolate Bake off at their 17th Annual Ghirardelli Fextivel 9/8-9/9/12 (today) The main Judge, a Pastry Chef at Just Desserts in San Francisco was soo nice. He really took the time to explain why he liked my entry. Bsides the taste, he thought that the presentation was also great. That it somewhat complimented the judges also..and not something slapped together the last minute.. I made Parisian Macarons filled w/ Ghirardelli white chocolate ganache w/ rose water and fresh raspberries AND semi sweet ganache w/ toasted Hazelnuts that I toasted and grounded .. I decorated the top w/ melted white chocolate piped.. I thought that since Ghirardelli ALSO makes white chocolate, why not use both white and semi sweet. I got a gift basket worht $180.00 and a gift card for $150.00 He made my day..I am so happy today.. /img/vbsmilies/smilies/bounce.gif here is my entry :


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It's official, as confirmed from Notch's Twitter and Rock, Paper, Shotgun, the 1.3 update will be released on Tuesday, February 22nd.
It's confirmed that one of the new craft-able items added will be a bed. However this won't just be for cosmetic purposes. Ever wish it was daylight so you could make a quick run over to your garden for more wheat? Ever wish that stupid gold clock would turn just a little bit faster so you could get back to exploring? Well the bed does just that. Right-click on it and you will sleep through the night, making it instantly day time :)
There are other things that will (hopefully) be included in the update, but what I'm rooting for is this:
This Redstone repeater would make traps/music setups SO much smaller and easier to work with. Cross you fingers guys, we will find out on Tuesday!


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Letter of the Day | Road to hell paved with good intentions
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Prime Minister Andrew Holness means well. At least, that is the prevailing sentiment regarding his most controversial decision to date. I would hesitate to affix any other intent to the prime minister's actions. The ill-fated decision to appoint Bryan Sykes, to act as Jamaica's chief justice, until he fully proves himself, whatever this translates to, has rightfully heightened interest in a process which is routinely smooth and without controversy.
As stated at the outset, Mr Holness' decision to break with tradition, and perhaps, as some say, with Constitutional law, is rooted in a noble endeavour aimed at bringing more accountability on behalf of a citizenry whose constant refrain is, 'we want justice'. It must be pointed out that however noble the pursuit, the ends cannot justify the means. It is no secret that there exists a very low case disposal rate within our court system. This backlog can be attributable to a host of longstanding factors, chief of which relates to resource constraints.
One does not have to get entangled in legal jargon or wranglings to note that this decision begs for not only an appeal, but reversal. In making his announcement, Mr Holness stated that he was, "from a different age with a different way of thinking." Regardless of the times to which one belongs, some things are timeless, among them is the fact that justice must not only be done but also seen to be done.
Noel Matherson


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order by popularity | order by alphabet
Related Information for Tensnake Tensnake is Marco Niemerski. Born in Hamburg in 1975, Marco grew up listening to disco, soul, boogie, funk, 80s pop and Balearic. His older brother introduced him to a more dancefloor-inspired influences from Larry Levan to Junior Boys Own, Romanthony to Masters of Work.He founded the label Mirau in 2005 but Tensnake's first taste of critical acclaim came with the release of In the End (I Want You to Cry EP) on the label Running Back in 2009. The EP was voted number one on djhist.. read more


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Lemon law applies differently to all different types of vehicles because of the ways the laws are structured. For example, the law may be different for each of the following: cars, trucks, motorcycles and an RV.
If you believe that you own a vehicle that was sold to you as a lemon, there is help available to you. The Law Offices of Howard D. Silver has been specializing in lemon law cases for decades and can help you get the compensation you deserve.
For help with your case, please contact our Los Angeles firm today by calling 818-597-2610.
New Car Lemon Law
It is important to know whether your car will technically be considered a "new motor vehicle." Your rights and protections under the California Lemon Law will vary depending on whether your vehicle will legally be considered a "new vehicle" or a "used vehicle."
Even if your car is not a "new motor vehicle" by California Lemon Law Standards, you may still have the same protections if the vehicle is still under the warranty provided by the seller. There is more information about lemon law at our Lemon Law FAQ page.
According to the California Lemon Law, a vehicle is technically considered a "new motor vehicle" if:
- It was bought or used primarily for household, family, or personal reasons
- It weighs under 10,000 lbs. and is primarily used for a business that is registered as a partnership, LLC, corporation, or association
- It is still covered by the manufacturer's warranty
- It is the chassis and/or chassis cab of a motor home
Frequent Causes of New Car Lemons
Irresponsible Manufacturers
Defects that turn new vehicles into lemons are usually not caused by the consumer. Instead, they are typically the direct result of an automaker's design or assembly of the vehicle. Defects can be so severe that multiple repair attempts do not fix the problem.
Frequent New Vehicle Lemon Defects
Defects in new cars that make the vehicle a lemon are as varied as there are cars on the road. The problem may occur during the first week the consumer has the car or not show up until one year later and 10,000 miles on the odometer. Either way, if the defect cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, the consumer may be entitled to his money back or a new car.
Common defects include:
- Seatbelt failure – belts may be easily ripped or latches may not hold correctly, however, this may not be known until an accident or hard stop
- Defective airbags – like seatbelts, these safety devices may not deploy properly
- Defective brakes – brakes may lock up, stop too hard, not stop hard enough, or fail completely. The problem can occur when the vehicle is new or several years old
- Accelerator problems – the gas pedal is defective or the vehicle does not accelerate properly
- Electrical/environmental problems – this includes air conditioning, clock, radio, system readouts, and much more. Oftentimes, these defects are not noticeable at first or short out unexpectedly after frequent use
- Door locks – problems with door latches and locks can occur in relatively little time, but may not be known at first as the doors on cars are not regularly used while sitting on the lot.
Used or Leased Car Lemons
Although the California lemon law only applies to used or leased cars if the vehicle is still covered by the manufacturer's warranty, you still have significant legal rights if the vehicle has an express written warranty issued by the seller. In fact, if your used car cannot be conformed to the terms of the seller's warranty after a reasonable number of repair attempts, you may be entitled to a replacement vehicle or a refund of your money.
The nature of settlements in used car lemon law cases varies based on the specifics of your case. Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- A refund of the money you paid for the used car
- Loan or lease cancellation for the balance owed on your account
- Incidental costs such as rental and towing fees
- Finance charges on your loan
- Vehicle registration fees
- Attorney's fees and legal costs
- A civil penalty equal to two times your out of pocket damages
Used Car Implied Warranties
Here are two types of used car implied warranties:
- Merchantability – This essentially says that the seller has sold a product that does what it's supposed to do. If you purchase a car to drive, then it should drive. This concept applies to all consumer products that come with an express warranty. If you buy a lamp, then it should turn on. If you buy an automated mixer, then it should be able to mix. And so on.
- For its intended purpose – This applies when there is a special purpose you intend to use the product for. For example, you tell the used car dealer the vehicle you are buying must have snow tires because you're moving to a cold climate where there is a lot of snow. Instead, the seller puts regular tires on the car and you can't use the vehicle.
As-Is Warranties
When you buy a used vehicle "as is", it means the dealer assumes zero responsibility for repairs or service, irrespective of any spoken statements about the car. In fact, "as is" and warranty are inconsistent terms.
There is no such thing as an "as is" warranty. That said, the seller cannot misrepresent the vehicle, lie about it, or hide key facts about its condition (such as whether or not it was a lemon that was repurchased by a manufacturer or a salvage vehicle). In other words, "as is" doesn't mean fraud is okay.
Motorcycle Lemon Law
A defective motorcycle can be a huge hassle, especially if it spends more time at the repair shop than on the road. But more importantly, these defects can compromise your safety. If your motorcycle continually experiences issues which the dealer is unable to resolve, you may have a "lemon."
In order to file a motorcycle lemon law claim, you must meet the following criteria:
- You purchased or leased your motorcycle in the state of California
- Your motorcycle has a warranty that provides coverage for the defect you have encountered
- You brought your motorcycle to the manufacturer or to a repair shop authorized by the manufacturer to get the defect fixed a reasonable number of times, but the problem has not been resolved
Tips for Protecting Yourself When Buying a Motorcycle
Whether you're buying a new motorcycle off the lot or obtaining the ride secondhand from someone you've met on Craigslist, understand the implications of your purchase contract in the event that you encounter motorcycle warranty problems later. Ask questions, such as: Is the bike covered by a third party service contract? Are the seller's guarantees built into the contract or just verbally promised? Does your motorcycle come with the original warranty, or does it come with a renegotiated warranty?
- Thoroughly inspect your prospective bike before purchasing.
- Take a good test drive.
- Be diligent when it comes to your warranty.
- Document everything about your purchase, warranties, etc. to ensure you can prove anything that goes wrong with your motorcycle.
Motor Home Lemon Law
California consumer protection laws cover motor homes that are defective. If the chassis, chassis cab or that portion of a motor home devoted to its propulsion cannot be repaired, it is presumed that the RV is a lemon if one of the following criteria exists:
- The motor home is out of service for repairs for more than 30 days in the first 18 months of ownership or 18,000 miles (whichever occurs first)
- There are two or more unsuccessful repairs for a problem that could lead to death or serious injury in the first 18 months of ownership or 18,000 miles (whichever occurs first)
- There are four or more unsuccessful repairs done by the manufacturer or dealer for a problem in the first 18 months of ownership or 18,000 miles (whichever occurs first)
In addition to the chassis, cab or portion of the motor home devoted to its propulsion, if the living quarters of your RV are defective and cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, you also have the right to receive your money back or a new replacement motor home. Therefore, you are still protected if there is a problem with your generator, bathroom, slide-outs, kitchen, or other part of the living quarters.
Seek Help from Our Experienced Lemon Law Attorney
If you are struggling because your vehicle may be a lemon or has had to have multiple repairs, our attorney can help. Contact the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver today for a free consultation. Our lawyer can help you seek compensation whether through arbitration, a settlement, or a trial.
Contact us today by filling out the contact form on this page or calling us at 818-597-2610. We proudly serve clients in Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, San Bernardino Counties, and all throughout California.


text:
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- adj. Lacking a definition or value
- adj. That does not have a meaning and is thus not assigned an interpretation
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Not defined or explained; not described by definition or explanation.
- Not having limits distinctly marked or seen; not definitely limited; indefinite.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adj. not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
In a 224-page quarterly report to Congress, Neil Barofsky, the Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (undefined, undefined%), acknowledged that TARP had stabilized the financial system.
Genentech's (DNA: 92.04, 0.29, 0. 32\%) talks to sell itself to Roche (RHHBY: undefined, undefined, undefined\%) have hit a snag over dueling interpretations of arcane SEC rules but the conflict is unlikely to derail the deal, The Wall Street Journal reported.
"Regardless how you file your taxes, if you legally tie-the-knot with another individual your" modified adjusted gross income "(MAGI: undefined, undefined, undefined%) threshold is a lot lower.
But many details about his plans — including services he believes need to be cut — remain undefined
Clearly, "values", undefined, is going to be the buzzword for a while.
There was a certain undefined confidence established between them.
I'm going to leave that term undefined for now, except to say vaguely that entities are composable if we can easily and generally combine their behaviors in some way without having to modify the entities being combined.
I click on the edit button and all I see is the word undefined in the window and none of the original text.
The long-standing state law limiting the tax exemption to refinancings with the "same lender" left that term undefined, but the Virginia attorney general's office has twice opined that "same lender" means the current holder of the debt.
Loan recording mess in Va. allows homeowners who don't qualify to get tax break
And just as the original Gang of 14 did, leave those terms undefined, so it's up to the nominee to judge whether they want to risk their appointment by being too cute.


text:
A Visit to Rusty's House
Despite the far drive from downtown Orlando, going out to Rusty's house to get some good photos always seems to work out. Rusty works hard and plays hard and there is definitely no shortage of either when going out to his house in Clermont.
Taking a dip in his chlorine-free pool after a hot day is always fun
Marek is a pretty cool kid to hang out with
There is a motocross track right up the street
The fully loaded X-star puts up quite a nice wake
Watching Rusty hit double up after double up is pure entertainment
you never know what kind of crazy rail setup he'll have
Rockstar in any flavor
And his old school jetski is classic
wow that jetski is old… was it built in the 90's! vintage.


text:
A passion for people. That describes CMI Consulting and staff perfectly.
As a premier human resources consulting firm, CMI Consulting enjoys a reputation of
providing the utmost in quality and service to client organizations with
whom they work.
We truly "love" our clients and they know
that. We value our partnerships with them and try to provide
them with the utmost in care and service. We do believe that
we are the best at what we do and we are constantly setting
the bar higher to maintain that status. Just as continuous
improvement is important to our clients - it is important to
us. We are extremely proud of the fact that our business has
been built on referrals.
CMI has clients nationally and globally, in addition to a large base in Kentucky. CMI works with diverse
clients in a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, food / beverage, service-related,
pharmaceutical, construction, financial, medical, and more.
More than anything, CMI Consulting and staff want to make a difference in people's lives. "Our reward for doing our
best for a client, is in knowing that we did our best, and that people's lives are impacted in
a positive way. When we can help make life better or easier for someone, we've accomplished our goal. That makes us want
to come to work every day and do it again.".
Because, at the end of the day, that's what it's really all about at CMI Consulting
helping people.
153 Prosperous Place, Suite 1A
Lexington, KY 40509
(859) 296-2800 phone
(859) 296-2801 fax


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For someone who can't even talk, Gavin has certainly taught us many valuable lessons.....
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Happy 1st Birthday Gavin!
8 comments:
- Annette Selden said...
There is much to celebrate today! Gavin's life, God's using this little baby to teach us all so much in one year, faithful parents and their example, and God's sustaining grace.
Happy birthday, Gavin! We are thankful for you! May God bless you with many more years filled with love and happiness.
Annette Selden
- September 15, 2007 at 10:33 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! What a day to celebrate. May God continue to bless Gavin and strengthen him every day. We pray for God's blessing on the family as well. Love The Hilton's
- September 15, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Happy First Birthday, Gavin! God bless you!
The Schneider Family
(friends of Pam Souter)
- September 15, 2007 at 3:41 PM
Oh Happy Day!!!! Congratulations little buddy!!! You are definately a trooper and have no idea how much you have taught all of us this year!!!! We love you!!
(Go MSU...lol)
the Klumpps
- September 15, 2007 at 5:17 PM
Life is not what we would have planned for Gavin but I want to share with you Psalm 139. Alicia your concerns have been heavy on my heart since I read your posting yesterday. As I have gone through our daily routines the last couple of days I have had you on my mind and in my prayers. But when I read Psalm 139 today I couldnt' help but think of you and Gavin.
Please take a few minutes to read it and we do praise God for Gavin in his own way. You have witnessed to so many people through your care pages, Gavin's voice, and people you have come in contact at the hospitals. People who you would have never met otherwise. I think of the passage in the NT where Jesus was questioned, who sinned that this man was blind, this man or his parents, adn Jesus answered, "neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.". John 9:1-4. May God continually be revealed in you and Gavin. May you find comfort in LD #1, He is our only comfort in LIFE and in Death. We are not our own but we belong to HIM. Alicia and Joel, thank you for your testimony this past year through the LIfe of Gavin. GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS.
God's blessings to you as you celebrate Gavin's first birthday!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Patt Ybema and family
We hope we can get together with you at the farm for a cookout sometime soon and now we could do a hayride with the boys. :)
- September 15, 2007 at 8:35 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, sweet Gavin!!!
The Heckel Family
- September 15, 2007 at 9:25 PM
We hope you had a wonderful birthday Gavin...We think of you often, and pray for you even more!!
Love, Cari and Mark
- September 15, 2007 at 11:38 PM
- Julie said...
Happy Birthday!! You are an amazing little guy, Gavin VanderWall. In your short life, you have touched so many hearts!! May you always feel loved and happy because you have the BEST family there is.
Julie, Tim & Rena
- September 17, 2007 at 10:13 AM


text:
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This comedy will entertain your students.
It's an excellent way to practice listening and other skills.
I hope your students and you enjoy this episode and the worksheet!
Have fun :)
Upload date: 2017-08-04 13:49:31


text: I saw a post yesterday on another topic that indicated that Verizon had discontinued the "forced" $9.99 data package for 3G multimedia phones in Sep 2010. I called Verizon and told them I was an upset customer and explained my grandson's enV2 that is on our plan had a $9.99 deduction being made even though we had blocked data access on his phone and that I did not think it was right they had removed this requirement but had not advised customers. My CSR was amazing, she went right to work and I ended up getting a $80 credit to my current bill. Guess they would have continued to collect the charge until he changed phones. No more 3G multimedia device category for Verizon starting in Q4 - Phone Arena


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Hello folks,
Yeah no need to mention it, I know, I left this blog unattended for quite a long time. To justify my absence, I was going to explain in details that I had been kidnapped by extraterrestrials who didn't have an internet connection aboard their spacecraft, hence the absence of new posts.
However, I refrained to do so at the last minute feeling that the story would cut no ice with my readers (despite the fact that intergalactic temperatures are typically close to a good -273.15 C).
Anyway, we are now in 2013 AD and hopefully more cartoons and music will come.
For today, here's some jazz piece that I recently composed.
I'm not sure if I actually have already heard the theme or a similarly sounding theme somewhere.
If you know of any similar theme, please let me know.
I couldn't find a title, so since I was cooking pasta when trying to find a name, I just named it 'Al Dente'.
Hope it's not too hard on the ears !


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I have chosen some famous arguments to pull apart. First the Cosmological Argument, then the Ontological Argument, and finally the Fine Tuning Argument.
Lets jump into it with the Cosmological Argument (the Argument form Causation). This was Thomas Aquinas' argument. It goes:
Premise 1: There is an order of causes (of existence) in nature.
Premise 2: Nothing can be the cause of itself.
Premise 3: Hence, everything that is caused must be caused by something else.
Premise 4: There cannot be an infinite regress of causes.
Conclusion: Therefore, there must be a first, uncaused cause, which is God.
Personally I would agree with the 4 premises, but the conclusion doesn't follow. Why must there be an uncaused cause? Why must it be God? There is no evidence for God. There is evidence that the Universe (pre-Big Bang) was a tiny dot of energy. This could be the uncaused cause (assuming that there is one). I think that this is due to the lack of knowledge of the Big Bang in Thomas Aquinas' time. In current Cosmology they have found, what is called by the media the "God particle". In scientific communities it is called the Higgs Boson Particle. It is the smallest particle that we have ever discovered and it could help us to explain the origins of the Big Bang (saying it is increasingly possible that an uncaused cause is not necessary). However, Bertrand Russell might ask, why doesn't the first cause need a cause if the Universe needs one? As this argument progressed it was changed into how Dr. Craig presents it today. Which is:
Premise 1: The Universe is not eternal and had an absolute beginning.
Premise 2: Any Universe must have a past spacetime boundary.
Premise 3: Even if our universe is part of a multiverse then that multiverse must have had an absolute beginning.
Premise 4: There must have been a Transcendent cause for the Universe coming into being.
Premise 5: The Universe began to exist.
Premise 6: If the Universe began to exist, then the universe has a transcendent cause.
Conclusion: The Universe has a transcendent cause.
Where do I start? I would accept premise 1, 2, 3 (although the multiverse has not been proven so I am on the fence on that one), and 5. So that leaves me to object against premise 4, 6, and the conclusion. So lets start at premise 4:
Again, why must there have been a transcendent cause to the Universe? It seems that this little tid-bit just came out of nowhere. For example if I said "There must have been a unicorn that caused the Universe to come into being." It just seems so random. Lets assume that it is not random, it could still be replaced with the pre-Big Bang Universe. It is not transcendent, but rather IS the Universe we live in. We know that the pre-Big Bang Universe created the 'stuff' that we are made of in the Big Bang! So premise 4 should be rewritten as "There must have been a non-transcendent cause for the Universe coming into being."
This being the case it will change the whole argument! But lets take a look at premise 6 individually, and then how our changing of premise 4 acts on premise 6 (spoiler alert: they are the same).
So with premise 6 the transcendent cause is less random because it popped up in premise 4 (so it follows). But, that doesn't make it right. As we can see with scientific research (Hubble's Law and Black Body Radiation to start) there is no identifiable transcendent cause for the Universe to begin to exist. So (as our updated premise 4 would have us believe) premise 6 should be rewritten like this: "If the Universe began to exist, then the universe does not have a transcendent cause."
Let me mention for a second, that there cannot be an infinite progression of things. The Universe had a finite beginning. So why then does it seem that there must be an infinite being behind this? So that this infinite being could cause the Universe to come into existence? Why does it HAVE to be God? The answer – it doesn't. David Hume concluded that this argument is not conclusive proof for God. Hume seems to suggest that the universe might have existed for eternity, and this infinite series does not require an additional cause or explanation that is outside of the series.
If we talk about quantum fluctuations we realize that particles can come from nothing. These particles (and anti-particles) can spontaneously appear and destroy each other without violating the laws of energy conservation. It has been proven that this happens all the time, all around us. So then an argument can follow:
Premise 1: If it is possible that quantum fluctuation can produce particles from nothing, then the Universe could have come from nothing (when it was still extremely small).
Premise 2: It has been proven that quantum fluctuation is possible (and is happening all around us).
Conclusion: The Universe could have come from nothing.
The argument above shows how it is really unnecessary for an uncaused first cause, or a first cause at all. I think that it is quite a scary thing to hear, and naturally many people will fight this notion due to fear or cognitive dissonance.
These two changes really alter the conclusion in the opposite direction of God. If you were to keep the changes I made to premises 4 and 6, but keep the transcendent cause conclusion, it wouldn't follow logically. So the conclusion must be that "The Universe does not have a transcendent cause." The new argument goes like this:
Premise 1: The Universe is not eternal and had an absolute beginning.
Premise 2: Any Universe must have a past spacetime boundary.
Premise 3: Even if our universe is part of a multiverse then that multiverse must have had an absolute beginning.
Premise 4: There must have been a non-transcendent cause for the Universe coming into being.
Premise 5: The Universe began to exist.
Premise 6: If the Universe began to exist, then the universe does not have a transcendent cause.
Conclusion: The Universe does not have a transcendent cause.
Next up is the Ontological Argument as Anselm of Canterbury uses it:
Premise 1: I have an idea of the greatest conceivable being.
Premise 2: That which exists in reality (and not in my mind) is greater than that which exists in my mind.
Premise 3: If the greatest conceivable being existed only in my mind, then it wouldn't be the greatest conceivable being.
Conclusion: The greatest conceivable being exists in reality.
One funny thing I want to mention about this argument is that Thomas Aquinas (yes the same one that formed the Cosmological Argument) objected to Anselm's Ontological Argument. Aquinas said that we cannot know the nature of God in the way that Anselm is suggesting. I would tend to agree with that, however I would say that if God exists then how is it possible to know his nature at all other than guess work? Further objection from David Hume says that we can't prove the existence of something only using a priori (relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge that proceeds from theoretical deduction rather than from observation or experience) reasoning. Furthermore, Immanuel Kant said in his Critique of Pure Reason that such necessary propositions are necessarily true only if such a being exists: If a triangle exists, it must have three angles. The necessary proposition, he argued, does not make the existence of a triangle necessary. Thus, he argued that, if the proposition "X exists" is posited, it would follow that, if X exists, it exists necessarily; this does not mean that X exists in reality.
So lets break down this argument piece by piece. I would agree that in premise 1 it is possible to have an idea of a greatest conceivable being, but not premise 2. Premise 2 is not necessarily true. Think about a blank sheet of paper and a pencil. Imagine an intricate design of a building, and then try to draw it out. Another example is pottery. Image a perfect bowl in your head then try to make one. It wont be nearly as good as you imagined. So premise 2 should really look like this, "that which exists in reality (and not in my mind) is not always greater than what exists in my mind."
This change of premise 2 (as we have seen) will change the result of the argument. Looking at premise 3, I would agree that if you could only imagine a greatest conceivable being in your mind then it wouldn't be the greatest conceivable being. That stays, but if we change premise 2 then the conclusion does not follow. In order to change this into a counter-ontological argument, a premise must be added in between premise 3 and the conclusion. It would look like this, "I can only think of the greatest conceivable in my mind."
going off of the change that I made, along with the added premise the conclusion would be, "the greatest conceivable being only exists in my mind, and not in reality." So now we have:
Premise 1: I have an idea of the greatest conceivable being.
Premise 2: That which exists in reality (and not in my mind) is not always greater than that which exists in my mind.
Premise 3: If the greatest conceivable being existed only in my mind, then it wouldn't be the greatest conceivable being.
Premise 4: I can only think of the greatest conceivable in my mind.
Conclusion: The greatest conceivable being exists in my mind and not in reality.
This would make it seem as though this being is a delusion of sorts. I will not say more on this argument, but will move onto the other one.
The Fine Tuning Argument as Dr. Craig presents it in his debate with Dr. Rosenberg:
Premise 1: The fine tuning of the Universe is due to either physical necessity, chance, or design.
Premise 2: It is not due to physical necessity or chance.
Conclusion: it is due to design.
This is a much smaller argument, but lets try to dissect it. I agree with premise 1 in that it is probable that one of those three caused the existence for the Universe. Craig's defense is that it simply makes more sense that a 'designer' created the Universe so it can't be physical necessity or chance. He also says that we are so complex that the human mind cannot comprehend the initial conditions of the Big Bang. This isn't bad proof, it is no proof at all and it neglects that there are human minds working on figuring this out (hence the Higgs-boson particle). Human minds CAN figure this out as they have figured out other things that religion says is impossible for us to comprehend (epilepsy, the origin of man, the age of the earth/universe, etc.). I would say that you could substitute physical necessity for design and make a much better argument. For example we have proof of the laws of physics. For example, gravity. We know gravity exists, however it is an imperfection in the Universe. If God is perfect, why then does gravity exist? In the early Universe gravity was an imperfection that caused everything we know to exist (allowed for the formation of stars and planets). So this points more toward physical necessity, so it follows:
Premise 1: The fine tuning of the Universe is due to either physical necessity, chance, or design.
Premise 2: It is not due to design or chance.
Conclusion: it is due to physical necessity.
This is good argument, but that doesn't make it true. Physical necessity is the best possible answer to why the Universe began to exist. Think about design, this designer would have to have made EVERYTHING in the Universe. The problem with intelligent design is the intelligent part. The human anatomy is a good place to go to for an example. We'll take the appendix for an example. The human body has no purpose for the appendix. It does rupture and cause a lot of pain and a hefty hospital bill. There is no intelligent purpose for the appendix to be in the human body. Surely an intelligent designer wouldn't put such a useless organ in an intelligent being. Why is there an appendix? It once had a purpose, but EVOLUTION made it so that the appendix is now useless, but still there. If you want to argue that this has no bearing on the actual Universe, ok. Let's talk about the Universe. This also has flaws that an intelligent designer would not put in it. The Universe, you may be interested to know, is not perfect like one may be led to think. One of those things is the force that we call gravity. After the Big Bang the gasses were spread evenly on the early Universe. It was this imperfection we call gravity that allowed for everything we know to exist. It is the force that held the early earth together, and allows for stars to exist as well. Black holes are also something that an intelligent designer would not put in a decently ran Universe. They are literally rips in the fabric of space and time. They are extremely destructive, not even light can escape a black hole. Why would a creator allow for such things? Answer: a creator wouldn't.


text:
UNT Scholarly Works - 2 Matching Results
Search Results
- Rediscovery of the Elements: Paracelsus
- Article describing the career and discoveries of Phillippus Aureolus Theophrastus Paracelsus Bombastus von Hohenheim. Tourist information regarding locations important to his life are visited and discussed.
- Rediscovery of the Elements: Phosphoro di Bologna
- Article recounting a visit to sites related to the discovery of phosphorescent stone (barium sulfide) in Bologna, Italy. Maps with driving directions are included.


text:
Bruce Jenner Opens Up After Kris Jenner Split: 'Nobody is Filing for Divorce'
Bruce Jenner has opened up after news of the split from his wife Kris Jenner became public.
"I'm doing great," the 63-year-old former Olympian told People. "Kris is happy, I'm happy. Nobody is filing for divorce."
"Kris has her own place and I have my own place. There's no animosity. Everything is good," Bruce added about how they are living in two different houses.
When asked if he would begin dating other people, Bruce replied: "No!," with a laugh. "We're not going there. I have my family, I have my kids. All my time is filled."
Kris and Bruce announced their split after twenty two years of marriage.


text:
Located 2,650 feet from the centre of Ouarzazate and just 1.2 miles from the airport, the Dar Bergui offers an outdoor swimming pool, a terrace and traditional Berber design.
Accessed by a private entrance, all rooms are air-conditioned and feature views of the Atlas Mountains or pool, a wardrobe and heating. They are complete with a private bathroom.
A Berber breakfast is available each morning and it can be served in the lounge or on the terrace beside the pool. Moroccan cuisine can also be enjoyed in the on-site restaurant.
Free Wi-Fi access is available in public areas and free private parking is possible on site. Taourirt Kasbah is 1.2 miles from the property and the Cinema Studios are less than 10 minutes away.
Sidi Hssain, 45000 Ouarzazate, Morocco
Sidi HssainOuarzazate, Souss-Massa-Drâa, Morocco


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So whether you love it applied on a tufted upholstery piece, like a chesterfield (yum), or on the modernist of seating; trust me you will catch yourself "petting" it like a sick fetish. And that's quite alright!
Willow Bee Inspired
I have a story to share about how a seat made of mohair continues to carry memories for me and a love of this luxury fiber that remains with me to this day. Growing up one of my Dad's prized possessions was a shiny black 1937 Chevy. When he took my siblings and I on a ride we knew we were to be at our best behavior.
Besides having fun standing by this car and laughing at the "fun house like" reflections it created of my siblings, I remember rubbing my hands over the back seat and feeling the texture of the mohair upholstery.
Stories are so important in our home and they can be added in so many ways. Even written using a fabric. Mohair is made from the hair of the Angora goat. It is durable, naturally elastic, flame resistant, crease resistant, and does not felt.
I haven't quite worked this fabric into my home as of yet. But I consider it a must. Mohair is so beautiful and takes dyes well.
Mohair isn't defined by style, just like other design classics. So whether you love it applied on a tufted upholstery piece, like a chesterfield (yum), or on the modernist of seating; trust me you will catch yourself "petting" it like a sick fetish. And that's quite alright!
Angora, from which Mohair is derived, is the most resilient natural fiber and is considered Eco Friendly because of its sustainability. Love this organic element of such a beautiful fabric.
The challenge of introducing this into one's home is that it needs restraint. For without restraint, something special becomes just something else.
There are a few things in the design world that I recommend using the "less is more" application. Mohair is one of them. Mohair is also one of those fabrics that is rarely considered in the design of a room. Not sure why?
Once you are introduced to this luxurious fabric you will be on a scavenger hunt to find the perfect spot for your home.
It is warm in the winter as it has great insulating properties, while remaining cool in summer due to its moisture wicking properties. So it has very few limitations even in the coastal areas. Enjoy!
Image Sources: Traditional Home, House Beautiful, Coastal Living, Pinterest, 1st Dibs, Boston Design Guide, Michigan Magazine, Decor Pad, Design Field Notes, Elle Decor, HGTV, St. Regis Hotel, Houzz, One Kings Lane, Upworld


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KU Cancer Center building strength
No matter the outcome of NCI bid, state better off for treatment
Kansas University's Cancer Center, which faces one last hurdle this week in its ongoing quest to achieve National Cancer Institute designation, will remain focused on its mission regardless of the outcome.
"No matter how things shake out, we're going to be a better cancer center next year than we were this year and a better cancer center than that several years from now," said Roy Jensen, the director of the KU Cancer Center.
The cancer center at its core is a place where dedicated scientists and doctors collaborate on the best ways to fight cancer on research and clinical fronts.
Cures for tomorrow
The research programs at KU's Cancer Center are broken down into different categories: cancer biology, cancer prevention, cancer control and population health, and drug discovery and delivery and experimental therapeutics, said Lisa Harlan-Williams, assistant director for administration at the KU center.
Economic development analysts look to the center as a job creator for the area. Externally funded scientific research can bring in those high-paying jobs.
In 2010, the most recent year for which figures are available, the cancer center had 143 faculty members, 430 research staff in labs and 81 administrative workers, for a total of 637 jobs in the research sector alone, said Teresa Christenson, associate director for administration at the center.
The hours can be long. It's not unusual for Shrikant Anant, associate director of cancer prevention and control at the cancer center, to perform administrative duties during the day and then work on the research in his lab into the night.
The cancer center supports its research with four so-called "shared resources." A biospecimens shared resource, for example, keeps several tissue or blood samples on hand in case a researcher needs some for his or her research.
One such resource, the lead development and optimization resource, helps support the drug development and delivery operations, which KU officials see as one of the highlights of their research portfolio.
"It's definitely one of our differentiating aspects," Harlan-Williams said.
Helping cure patients today
Ever since a merger in June 2011 with the Kansas City Cancer Center, the KU Cancer Center has been able to greatly expand the number of patients it serves, bringing in 8,000 to 9,000 new patients.
"That's a pretty huge organization," Jensen said.
The numbers probably put KU in the top 20 of all the cancer centers in the country in terms of patients served.
KU's new clinical research trial facility will add the capacity to treat between 200 and 300 patients in Phase I Clinical trials, which offer for the first time the latest drugs being tested in humans.
Before the new building came on line, the cancer center had 11 Phase I trials in operation. The building will add the capacity to grow to 25 to 30 such trials.
Leaders at the cancer center said the whole thing has been possible because of the financial support received from the state, the philanthropic community and others, including the voters of Johnson County, who approved a sales tax that funded the new clinical trials building.
"I'm not aware of any other center in the country that has this level and mix of support," said Raymond Perez, who's leading the new clinical trials building.
In the end, leaders said, they're looking to provide a place where people can go to get the best cancer treatments. That's something the state and the region didn't have before KU's efforts.
"We're very proud of what we've built and what we've accomplished," Jensen said.


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William Steinberg, original name Hans Wilhelm Steinberg, (born Aug. 1, 1899, Cologne, Ger.—died May 16, 1978, New York, N.Y., U.S.), German-born American conductor who directed the Pittsburgh Symphony from 1952 to 1976.
Steinberg worked as an apprentice under Otto Klemperer at the Cologne Opera and in 1924 became principal conductor there. He conducted opera at Prague (1925–29) and Frankfurt-am-Main (1929–33) before he founded, with Bronislaw Huberman, the Palestine Symphony (later the Israel Philharmonic) in 1936.
In 1938 Steinberg went to the United States. He became assistant to Arturo Toscanini at the NBC Symphony. In addition to conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony, Steinberg concurrently served as music director of the London Philharmonic (1958–60) and later of the Boston Symphony (1969–72). He retired as music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1976 after building it into one of the strongest musical institutions in the United States.


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We are about to take our first tentative steps into the New Year. January comes with a time-honored sense of renewal. But this year, I forgot to renew my renewal. My hunch is that by the time the politicians and their enablers finish off 2011, we'll be ready to use our return tickets on the Mayflower.
My retirement plans have been postponed. I'd hoped to bid adieu to my productive years, settle back with a good book and live off home equity. But lately, my house is living off me. For a while, in theory, I was a wealthy land owner. Then reality and its mortgage deconstructionists poked their fool heads into my front door. I'm surprised that Bank of America didn't try to foreclose. (My mortgage is with Wells Fargo, but evidently that kind of detail has not stopped BofA from attempting to repossess every structure west of the Atlantic Ocean.)
Despite the fact that there is no inflation, that my salary is the same this year as last year, that I was able to refinance, reducing my mortgage by 2 points, despite the fact that the kids are grown and making their own way in the world — despite all this, it appears I am broker than ever.
Please explain to me why my two old cars got older and my auto insurance rates went up.
I've finally figured out e-mail and Gmail, and texting and MyFace and YourFace, and the correct number of times I have to press the "8" key to create the letter "v" when I'm attempting to send a cryptic message to one of my kids (the only communication method to which they will actually respond). Personally, I find the intermingling of human voices more satisfying. My preference would be to pick up a phone and place a call — except that everyone I call sends me to voicemail.
Last winter, the cost of heating the house with our ancient oil furnace was so prohibitive, not to mention a waste of fossil fuel, that my wife and I cleverly switched to electric room heaters, warming only those portions of the place we were actually inhabiting. This economizing got us a nasty note from our power company, stating that due to the sudden increase in our use of electricity, we'd been placed on the hog-consumer list and would be paying a premium rate for all future current.
Somebody has got to do something about the decline of everything.
We invented government to finesse a reasonable level of civility. We assumed that by pooling our good intentions, we would develop basic standards and systematize decency. But it turns out that government is staffed by people. Therein lies its flaw. When I think of people, I see unending examples of injustice, disinterest, self-serving sanctimony, greed, hypocrisy, ineffective good intentions and worse.
Please note that my observations about people also apply to corporations, which, as you know, the Supreme Court instructs us are people, too.
If pressed, I'll admit to being a glass-half-empty kind of guy. Perhaps someone will fill the glass and I'll start to feel hopeful about 2011. So far, the nicest thing about the New Year is that Mark Twain's autobiography is on the best seller list. Of course, Twain said he was an optimist who did not arrive. I'm a pessimist who did.
Charles Kraus lives and writes in Seattle. His e-mail is firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Christy Carlson Romano ("Princess Diaries 2"), Tom DeNucci ("Brotherhood") and William Forsythe have all joined the zombie feature "Infected" for Verdi-Corrente Productions says Variety.
The story follows zombies who infect friends and family that are still human. Though they understand the seriousness of the unnatural acts they commit, they are unable to stop.
Michael Madsen also stars. Glenn Ciano ("Inkubus") will direct.


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By Bob Kellogg at OneNewsNow
A university in Colorado has earned the "Speech Code of the Month" for the month of April by the Foundation of Individual Rights in Education.
Colorado Mesa University in western Colorado has designated a concrete patio near the door to the University Center as their "free speech" zone.
Azhar Majeed of F.I.R.E. says it's surprising many schools still have such "free speech" zones because so many "zones" have been overturned by the courts across the United States.
He recalls a similar attempt at Southwestern College, a public community college in California
"They also had a free-speech patio," Majeed says. "It's just amazing that a university thinks it can get away with restricting First Amendment rights in such a small part of campus."
On its website. F.I.R.E. points out that Mesa is attempting to shrink First Amendment demonstrations to a single patio on an 86-acre campus.
The college has approximately 10,000 students.
Majeed says the university's contention that they have the right to enact "time, place, and manner" restrictions is nothing but an abuse of that policy.
"Those are not some sort of magic words that a university can use to insulate it from a First Amendment challenge," he insists.
F.I.R.E. states that Colorado Mesa's free speech zone "violates the university's moral and legal obligations, as a public university, to uphold its students' First Amendment rights."
Schools: Colorado Mesa University


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from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- adj. Relating to the bone or cartilage below the epihyal in the hyoid arch.
- n. A ceratohyal bone or cartilage which, in humans, forms one of the small horns of the hyoid.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
- adj. Pertaining to the bone, or cartilage, below the epihyal in the hyoid arch.
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- In anatomy, pertaining to or noting certain lateral portions of the hyoid skeletal arch; the smaller and anterior cornu of the hyoid bone in man.
- n. In anatomy:
- n. In mammals, including man, the lesser cornu of the hyoid bone; that by which the bone is slung to the skull, situated at the junction of the greater cornu or thyrohyal with the body of the bone or basihyal. Flower. See cut under skull.
- n. In birds, the corresponding part of the hyoid bone, which, however, does not connect the bone with the skull, and is borne upon the glossohyal, not the basihyal: it is always small, often wanting.
- n. In ornithology, formerly, the bone of the compound hyoid, now known as the epibranchial; that bone which is borne upon the apohyal (of former nomenclature, now the ceratobranchial), and forms the terminal portion of the greater cornu.
- n. In fishes, the chief element of the branchiostegal arch, which bears most of the branchiostegal rays.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
The stylohyal (s.h.), epihyal (e.h.), and ceratohyal (c.h.) form the anterior cornu of the hyoid.
The hyoid arch consists of two main masses of cartilage, the hyomandibular (h.m.), and the ceratohyal
The right, great cornu is shown extending backwards from the body of the Hyoid and terminating beneath the letters Ep.Fig. 40 -- Extracranial portion of hyoidean apparatus of Dog, front views sh, stylohyal; eh, epihyal; ch, ceratohyal (these three constitute the "anterior cornu"); bh, basihyal, or "body" of hyoid; th, thyrohyal, or "posterior cornu."
He finds the representatives of other bones of the sternum in the large bones (_epihyal_ and _ceratohyal_, or the two pieces of the
Form and Function A Contribution to the History of Animal Morphology


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New month and new challenge at Scrap It Girl! This month's challenge is to use fabric - Wool, Burlap, Canvas, Felt, Fabric, Fussy or soft stuff..
While getting ready to take on this challenge I also thought about the new challenge at the Israeli blog "Yotzot mehakavim" - yo-yo flowers. I love making yo-yo flowers, so I decided to make a big layered yo-yo flower for my layout. I reached into my "I may use it one day" bin and found this old scrunched tank top. The color was very similar to the peachy scarf that Lila is wearing in the picture and scrunched fabric gave nice and warm feel - perfect for these winter pictures.
I cut two circles from the fabric, made two yo-yo flowers and layered them adding Prima jeweled flower center.
Supplies: patterned paper, sticker, tag (Amy Tan for American Crafts), sequin (Doodlebug), flower center (Prima), chipboard (unknown), paint (Honig), glitter glaze (Lil' Davis), washi tape (Bella Blvd), tissue strips (Studio Calico), pearls (Melissa Frances), staples
The chipboard dress form and flourishes are pained with acrylic paint and covered with a nice layer of glitter glaze. I found a tube of pink glitter glaze in the basement. Yeah! I love this stuff!
I sewed the flower to the page to make sure it is laying as flat as possible. I have to admit that this is my first layout of 2013. Between making projects for Samantha Walker Creative Team and keeping up with my Project Life I don't have any time left for traditional scrapbooking. But that's ok! I love my first layout and hope for creative 2013.
Now let's see what you will make for the challenge! You can submit up to two projects. Don't forget to link back to the challenge! You can win a lovely prize!


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Dipolog, Philippines [ show map ]
Hide photos
I'm here to meet guys from 35 to 55 years old for dating, friendship, marriage and serious relationship.
Looking and waiting you...i'm Honest, Loving, Sincere, Loyal Kindness heart, Respectful teaching from my Parents or Family to have good values, have a sense of humor, understanding and religious. i really waiting him for a long time until now, but i did not lose my hope to find him that he is good and fall in love like me.
I am also single, no kids, never been married but i love to have kids and husband to be with good and kindness heart, sincerity to each is always sharing for both, happiness every day, comfortable, laughing and smile is very important to the family that is has peaceful mind.
i want a person who is responsible and marriage minded for the same of mind, im serious and honest women have good heart and calm as like happily women and understanding, loving, and caring too.


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Oulu Glass
1695 Colby Road
Brule, WI 54820
(715) 372-4160
In Oulu : Open 9-5 daily Sun 12-5 May 1-Jan??
In Bayfield : Bayfield Artist Guild Daily9--5
In Bayfield : Bayfield Artist Guild Daily9--5
2 Locations:
Oulu Glass can be found at the main studio in Downtown Oulu, Wi
or at
the Bayfield Artist Guild at 200 Rittenhouse Ave in Bayfield.
Handblown glass, stained glass and Fused glass created by the Vojacek family. Classes and workshops in glassmaking available.
To the main Studio: Highway 13 West to Highway H and B watch for the Oulu Glass Gallery signs. OR follow highway 2 west through Iron River. Go 6 miles and watch for the Gallery signs then North


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My own experiences of fund-raising with ACS have been positive. Note the plural: experienceS. ACS does not do fund-raising once in a while. It does fund-raising all the time. Fund-raising is an ongoing activity woven into school life. To have a son in ACS means fund-raising and charity is a way of life.
You learn to make money. You learn to give it away.
Experience #1
The first time Smelly Boy was asked to fund-raise during a school trip to Malacca, he was sooooooo excited. He was given seed money to use, to buy goods from Malacca for re-sale in Singapore. Smelly Boy's little consortium of boys went one better. They bought cup noodles and sold it to the other ACS boys after lights out in the hotel.
In this manner, Smelly Boy's consortium doubled their seed money.
Then, they took their already doubled seed money and bought goods in Malacca. At this point, Smelly Boy's consortium decided to buy goods that would appeal specifically to nostalgic adults. They came back with a store of rabbit sweets, haw flakes and other things that form part of MY childhood. Needless to say, they sold out in no time because Teachers and Parents bought up their stocks, not in piecemeal, but in bulk.
In this manner, Smelly Boy and his friends doubled their already doubled seed money. Yes, I am deliberately mis-using the word "consortium". It is a hyperbolic use.
All the money that Smelly Boy's consortium made, was turned over to the school for use to send NEXT YEAR's boys to Malacca.
I mulled about that for a while.
Why did not the school tell the boys to raise funds for THEIR OWN trip? Why were the funds to be given to next year's boys? If the trips are always funded by last year's boys, then who funded the very very very first trip to Malacca?
Surely the school had to commit funds for the very first trip in order to start this cycle of ...
(1) ... boys making money
(2) ... boys giving money away to someone else
Why not get that first batch of boys going to Malacca, to raise funds for themselves? Why did the school even have to fund that first trip to Malacca?
It then struck me that there was method behind the madness. The school was ensuring that my son was learning very important life lessons.
(1) How to make money.
(2) How to give it away.
Experience #2
Smelly Boy and I made 75 crèmes brûlées for sale. They sold out quickly. Smelly Boy decided to branch out into selling bacon strips using his own money. The boys pooled some funds. They crossed the road to the provision shop and bought some packets of bacon. Soon, the inveigling smells of bacon filled the air of the ACS canteen. The boys did a 2nd roaring business in bacon strips.
At the end of it all, they gave to the school all the crèmes brûlées profits and kept the bacon profits for themselves. When I learnt about it, I made Smelly Boy surrender the bacon profits too. You see, Smelly Boy had not considered that the bacon was
(1) sold within the context of a fund-raiser and
(2) that it did not matter who had come up with the seed money and
(3) that all the customers had bought bacon under the assumption that the profits would go to charity.
Again, I was grateful to the school for giving my son the opportunity to learn some business ethics. It may be stressful for Smelly Boy to go around with a donation card but I see that as good training for the day when my son may have to...
(1) go around asking for a job
(2) go around selling stuff
(3) go around engaging customers
(4) go around getting abused by customers
It made me laugh to imagine this boy so stressed by having to sell carnival tickets that his Momma cannot sleep. Like that, how will the boy learn later to generate wealth? Or is a job supposed to miraculously appear that banks a salary into his bank account without him having to ask?
Experience #3
Smelly Boy's class teacher called up and asked me to buy a table at a gala dinner. At first, I thought she was a particular teacher from Smelly Boy's detestable/abhorrent/hateful primary school. So, I coldly said, "I don't think your school did very much for my son. I refuse to donate."
You know what? The teacher was very very gracious about it. She did not make me feel at all bad for refusing to donate. It took me a while to realise that it was ACS on the phone, and not the other worthless school. Unfortunately, by that time, I had said a few very very ungracious things to the poor Teacher! Get Stingy Petunia's money?! Not so easy!!
ACS(I) has taught my son well. I see values education. I see social development. I see top notch materials and teaching. Over lunch last weekend, Smelly Boy commented that tuition in ACS(I) is not a norm, and it is very important to attend classes because you really learn something. I don't have to state that despite the fact that tuition is NOT a norm in ACS(I), the school still pulls in stellar results. Clearly the school is doing its job very well.
Inasmuch as I hated/detested/abhorred Smelly Boy's primary school, I am DEEPLY grateful to ACS(I). Deeply. So, I apologised till red in the face and wrote my cheque contritely/happily/joyfully. I did what I was happy to do (even though it was not a whole table at the gala dinner). It was the least I could do to show my appreciation for the invaluable education my son is receiving.
Those who complain that ACS is elitist and materialistic in outlook do not understand ACS. As a community, ACS sees itself blessed. This arises from the rock solid belief that God provides and will always provide for ACS in the same way He provided the Israelites with food, water and good counsel deep inside the wilderness. Come on, God has provided since 1886, so He has had a fabulous track record of providing, no?
No matter how little or much ACS has, ACS will always be fund-raising for charity because it always feels it has enough since it KNOWS that God will always provide for it.
People happily donate ONLY when they are contented and grateful for God's provisions. It is not a question of how objectively rich or poor one is. There are ACS mothers living in HDB flats who spend hours making dumplings for an ACS fund-raising effort. The feelings of contentment and blessedness come from faith in God, NOT from what money is in the bank account. If you don't believe me - click HERE (a 98 year old homeless man donates thousands to build churches... now, I really doubt any ACS parent is homeless).
People donate only when they are contented with the blessings God has given to them. How much is enough differs for everyone. ACS lives its values. These values are...
(1) contentment in God's blessings
(2) charity
Sorry to Have Been Uncharitable
I was initially quite angry at that Stomp-y mother. In a flurry of Whatsapps flying around, I wrote very unkind things. Now, I am sorry.
It occurred to me that not everyone within the ACS community feels blessed. That too, is understandable. It may take time for some to come to the realisation that God provides. It may take never. These are the people who need our charity... and yes, charity does begin at home, with people in our own community. We should treat this mother, part of the ACS community, with love and forgiveness. Perhaps one day, God will touch her heart and she will feel blessed and contented too.
Then again, I am no angel either. I do not always feel contented. I do not always feel blessed. There are times (and many) when I behave like a stiff-necked Israelite, looking past God's manna, pure water gushing from the rock, quails dropping from heaven... and I complain. It is hardly a good example for my son to see.
Hence, I am very glad that ACS (in all its forms) has institutionalised these habits of...
- raising money
- giving it away
... thereby teaching my son what it means to be truly content with what he already has.
It is truly Values-In-Action. ACS lives and breathes these values in an idealistic way that is beyond the ability of normal human beings like me and that Stomp-y mother. I hope that ACS never ever changes this part of itself.
And then, very selfishly, I note that the school is equipping my boy with skills to ensure that he will always earn enough to be able in a position to give money away. For more on this... click HERE.


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The Song: "Refugee," Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Words & music by Tom Petty & Mike Campbell. Track 1 of Damn the Torpedoes, 1979.
When/how acquired: Gift bootleg cassette, c. 1981.
Listen/watch here.
If I were ever to make a playlist that tried to explain my life, this song would be on it. I live like a refugee. I admit it. I have for most of my adult life, even when I didn't need to. I don't need to. I can't seem to help it. At this point, which is midlife if I live to be 90, I probably ought to get some help for it.


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