text:
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Meet Koros.
He is a Greek Taraxippus.
In olden times the Taraxippoi (plural), also dubbed "horse-disturbers" were thought to be ghosts and were often blamed for frightening horses during a horse/chariot race. The term Taraxippus was also used to define haunted locations or locations that gave off a bad vibe.
In modern times, it was discovered that Taraxippoi were not ghosts. They are living entities. For whatever reason, animals, especially those considered to be livestock or farm animals seem to be more sensitive to the Taraxippoi. To our collective knowledge, they have never tried to frighten animals of any kind on purpose.
Anyone who works with these creatures will come to realize that, though they are vicious and often physical protectors, they would never harm an animal.
As modern day practitioners began to study the Taraxippoi and how they got their notorious history it was discovered that the many of the locations that were thought to be haunted by the Taraxippoi were treacherous or holy places. The tracks that were thought to be stalked by the "ghosts" bore sharp curves which would have been dangerous and difficult to maneuver for a fast moving horse and chariot.
It is now thought that these locations were given a supernatural connection as a warning and the poor Taraxippoi got thrown into the mix as the final "HA" perse.
The Taraxippoi are actually a race of nature entities. They do have a deep connection to animals and as I said above, especially livestock.
These entities are rare and extremely hard to befriend. For hundreds of years they were persecuted and abused by magickal people. Many of the old Taraxippoi can tell you stories of being trapped, bound and contained against their will.
It is because of this that most practitioners of today leave them alone. They can lash out when they feel threatened.
All of that said, there are exceptions, though as few as they may be.
Koros is a personal companion that MM purchased from our friend Falyon.
His abilities are quite diverse.
He can give warnings pertaining to trouble, danger or illness (you, your family and animals)
He can protect and will possibly attack people, entities or spirits that intend to cause you, your family or your animals harm.
He has minor healing abilities - especially when it comes to wounds
His other specialties include:
Acceptance among peers and coworkers
Promoting solid, lasting relationships
Connection and communication
Connection with your animals and beloved pets
Compassion and understanding
A connection with nature
An understanding of nature
Protection of property
Warding off negative energy build up
An understanding of your peers
Necromancy (connection to and communicating with the deceased)
Recognizing energetic collections and hauntings
Positive change and transformation
Finding hidden or obscure knowledge
Discovering truth
Understanding the true intent of your peers
Their abilities are kind of a mixture of psychic and personal.
For offerings, this breed likes anything from nature but especially have an attachment to trees and dirt.
The Taraxippoi as a breed are quiet natured entities. They are very easy going and yet at the same time, they are always looking ahead for possible interference.
They tend to be highly intelligent, broad-minded creatures.
For those who are gifted telepathics and/or lucid, Koros can conversate for hours about anything and everything. He is highly intellectual with many interesting experiences. He has an extremely curious nature about him and what you know, he wants to know. He loves experiencing life.
His vessel is one of MM's classic choices. His ring is sterling silver and copper. It is a handmade piece. It is a size 6.

subset: commoncrawl


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Arkansas Man Sentenced For Texarkana Bank Robberies
Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
TEXARKANA, Texas – A 49-year-old Cove, Arkansas man has been sentenced to federal prison for bank robbery in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales.
Joe Elva Whisenant pleaded guilty on June 20, 2013, to two bank robberies and was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider. Whisenant was also ordered to pay restitution of $23,153.
According to information presented in court, on July 24, 2012, Whisenant entered the lobby of the Wells Fargo Bank branch in Texarkana, Texas, and placed a black zippered bag on the counter in front of the teller and handed the teller a note demanding money. Whisenant then fled the bank with approximately $738. A short time later, he was arrested while driving a moped. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Aug. 1, 2012, charging Whisenant with bank robbery.
After Whisenant was arrested for the Wells Fargo robbery in Texas, law enforcement officers were able to obtain evidence connecting Whisenant to the Nov. 28, 2011, robbery of the Bancorp South Bank branch in Texarkana, Arkansas. Whisenant robbed the Arkansas bank of $23,153. A federal grand in the Western District of Arkansas returned an indictment on Jan. 13, 2013, charging Whisenant in that bank robbery. On Feb. 28, 2013, the case was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Texas.
These cases were investigated by the FBI, the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department, the Bowie County Sheriff's Office, and the Texarkana, Arkansas, Police Department. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen Hurst and Jonathan D. Ross.


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With Valentine's Day nearly upon us, love is in the air, and it's hard to think about a more romantic vacation option than a cruise. From beautiful sunsets and moon-lit strolls on deck to a romantic dinner or couples massage for just the two of you, there's just something about the sea that can make love blossom.
Tell us... what's the most romantic cruise you ever experienced, and what made it extra special?
Photo Courtesy: Azamara Club Cruises


text: The American dream was built along the banks of the James River in Virginia.The settlers who established America's first permanent English colony at Jamestown were not seeking religious or personal freedom. They were comprised of gentlemen adventurers and common tradesmen who risked their lives and fortunes on the venture and stood to reap the rewards-the rewards of personal profit and the glory of mother England. If they could live long enough to see their dream come to life.The Jamestown Experiment is the dramatic, engaging, and tumultuous story of one of the most audacious business efforts in Western history. It is the story of well-known figures like John Smith setting out to create a source of wealth not bestowed by heritage. As they struggled to make this dream come true, they would face relentless calamities, including mutinies, shipwrecks, native attacks, and even cannibalism. And at every step of the way, the decisions they made to keep this business alive would not only affect their effort, but would shape the future of the land on which they had settled in ways they never could have expected.The Jamestown Experiment is the untold story of the unlikely and dramatic events that defined the self-made man and gave birth to the American dream. Tony Williams taught history and literature for ten years, and has a master's in American history from Ohio State University. He wrote Hurricane of Independence and The Pox and the Covenant, and is currently a full-time author who lives in Williamsburg, Virginia, with his wife and children.展开


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tutorials & features
MSE's MAX and MINI MAX Big Deal on Shemar Moore starrer The Bounce Back
Last Updated: December 20, 2016 5:28 pm GMT
(Burbank, CA--December 20, 2016) When Key Grip Ernesto Perez signed on to work with cinematographer Ben Kufrin for the feature
The Bounce Back
, he knew they would be on a tight budget and would have to move quickly through multiple locations each day. One of the first tools he introduced Kufrin to was the Academy Award winning MAX and sister Mini MAX – because he knew they could move fast – and get great production value.
Ernesto Perez on set of The Bounce Back starring Shemar Moore
Perez has been using MSE gear for over 20 years and he owns everything from booms to C-stands and plates as well as loose gear. But MAX and MINI MAX have constantly been his go-to support in many different situations.
When he's shooting interior scenes in tight quarters (so many of the locations for
The Bounce Back
), he tucks MINI MAX in a corner and extends the arm out far enough to put a backlight where no other stand would be able to reach. "It's a great tool – and light to move," he says. "Every rental house that doesn't carry this tool shouldn't call themselves a rental house!"
When Kufrin wanted to do a wide shot of a car pulling up, Perez simply took a 20x20 frame with grid cloth and placed the first frame/ear into a Mombo Combo and grabbed the other ear on the opposite side of the frame using MAX, which was 14 feet away. Then he took both the Mombo and MAX and raised them both up about 12 feet in the air – and attached a baby grid clamp – adding one more Mombo to the pipe, where it wouldn't be seen by the camera. It was quick – safe and worked on the fly.
At another point Perez put a 6K over a 14-foot wall from a neighboring business yard – with MAX's arm – putting light in the yard in a place where only a crane would have worked. "We all know the cost – financial and time – that would have been," he comments.
That's because MAX is just so versatile. It can be positioned flush against a wall, into or around a corner. Work horizontally, eliminating the need for scaffolding and more. It will support lighting fixtures up to 175 pounds, allowing the user to place almost any light almost anywhere on set – back light, over set walls and in places where lifts are restricted such as roof tops, balconies etc. The eight-foot extension makes MAX even more versatile. MAX can be counterbalanced with either shot or sand bags and by using standard weight plates MAX can be moved around easily on flat, level surfaces.
"I keep telling people – check out MAX at Cinelease or Matthews – it can accomplish so much," adds Perez. "Of course, you also need a crack crew like mine – Best Boy Rafael (Chile) Pedegrina, Fernando Frousto, Aaron Smith, Baby Jesus, and Steve Orosco. They are always helping me think of even more creative ways to use MAX, MINI MAX and other MSE gear we bring on each shoot."
# # #
About Matthews Studio Equipment
MSE is a 46-year-old manufacturer of industry-specialized hardware, camera and lighting support. Its equipment is being used on entertainment productions and in major studios in over 90 countries around the world. The company has been honored with two Presidential "E" Award for outstanding contributions to growing U.S. exports, strengthening the economy and creating American jobs. Matthews has also been honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Technical Achievement. MSE offices are located at their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at 4520 West Valerio Street, Burbank, CA 91505.
More News From Matthews Studio Equipment »
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All Rights Reserved


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FACT, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE for CANCER TREATMENT. The address and phone number are near the top of their page. Tickets are $1 for 1, or $5 for 6. Anyone is welcome to purchase them. The afghan will be displayed at various fund raisers by F.A.C.T. and also in some local store windows in the area. The drawing for a winner will be in May 1, 2015.
Just wanted to give all of friends a head's up on what will be happening in the next several months. This has been in the works since earlier this year. Some of you are aware of a cancer help group called F.A.C.T. they give financial assistance to cancer patients for various things i.e. travel expenses to and from appointments/treatments. They do not pay 100% of the expense but they do pay a portion and it is a great help. They helped us when Roger was so sick. You have to have a doctor's okay and nurses sign to verify the appointments. They rely heavy on fund raisers and donations. They were a blessing to us, and I felt it was time to pay it forward. In my heart I know Roger would have wanted this. Tomorrow I donate a new hand-crocheted afghan/blanket that I made. F.A.C.T. will be displaying it at various fund raisers and sending out info on it with some of their mailings. There will be raffle tickets sold by F.A.C.T. with 100% of the sales going to help other cancer patients. They were a blessing to us and it is time for being a blessing to others in need. I will have details about ticket price as soon as I get it and anyone interested in buying a raffle ticket for this worthy cause can send me a message. I am doing this in memory of my husband Roger who passed away January 18th, 2013. He died of multiple myeloma cancer which was a result of his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. He fought the battle for over 2 years. I believe he is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Please know that none of the money comes to me, once again, 100% goes to F.A.C.T.


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Analysts expect Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to begin unloading more distressed mortgages from their portfolios after the Treasury Department accelerated their wind down.
Both government-sponsored enterprises will now be required to cut their retained portfolios by 15% annually over the next several years until hitting $250 billion. Treasury increased this from a 10% annual reduction. Fannie holds $672 billion and Freddie has $581 billion in their portfolios as of June, according to their latest monthly summary reports.
"However, it should be noted that the GSEs are currently reducing their investment portfolio at least this much," said analyst Sarah Hu of RBS Securities.
Freddie is already below its target for 2012, but Fannie still has to trim $20 billion this year, according to JPMorgan Chase (JPM) analysts (click on the graph below to expand).
After natural runoffs from prepayments and other reductions, Fannie may have to cut roughly $30 billion more by other means in 2013, while Freddie could get to its next target without making more sales.
More than half of the GSE portfolios are made up of delinquent loans and other mortgages securitized into private-label bonds.
The GSEs could sell more of these loans into rental programs, or they could bundle up previously modified mortgages on their books. Fannie has already started urging attorneys to foreclose faster after all possible options are exhausted, which could clear out more nonperforming mortgages.
In the second quarter, Fannie reported half the credit losses it suffered from one year prior, part of the major reason it turned its first consecutive profit in five years.
"However," Barclays Capital analysts noted Friday, "the primary driver of profitability was net interest income from the portfolio; as this was slated to shrink 10% per annum, it could not be counted on as a sustainable source of revenues."
Which is where the second part of the Treasury action came in. It eliminated the required 10% dividend payment from Fannie and Freddie each quarter and instead will sweep any and all profits into its coffers going forward. This will speed up the pay back and relieve market fears about a GSE capital shortage.
The Treasury will cap the bailouts given to the GSEs after 2012. Fannie and Freddie often had to take the money just to make the dividend payment, which now, no longer exists. Moody's had warned the GSE ratings could be changed separately from the U.S. sovereign ratings if the Treasury failed to provide more clarity on its support of Fannie and Freddie after 2012.
"With the change in support, we see virtually no chance of the post-YE12 capital supports being exhausted over a multi-decade period. This is primarily because of the high quality of the post-conservatorship guarantee book, coupled with our view that provisioning for legacy credit losses is essentially complete (also in line with the Q2 results)," BarCap said. "In our view, this puts to rest any worries about GSE credit risk even in intermediate/longer maturities."
It does place more pressure on Congress to get moving on housing finance reform sooner rather than later. Mortgage industry trade groups used the Treasury action Friday to renew their call to do so gently.
The government finances more than 90% of the mortgage market.
"We support efforts to protect the taxpayers, but want to emphasize the importance of ensuring continued liquidity that will provide the affordable mortgage financing necessary to support the housing market. It is critical that the transition of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's role in financing real estate does not limit the availability, or increase the cost, of financing," said Mortgage Bankers Association David Stevens.


text:
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spec. Ryan A. Gartner, 23, of Dumont, N.J., died Feb. 1 in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained in a non-combat incident. He was assigned to the 201st Military Intelligence Battalion, Ft. Sam Houston, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.
For more information the media may contact the 470th Military Intelligence Brigade Public Affairs Office at 210-295-6458.


text:
Feb 12, 2009
Retro Abomination: Super Gran
The first thing that actually struck me after loading the game was just how dreadful everything looked. I mean, come on Tynesoft, we all know the Speccy is a graphically limited machine, but at least it always managed to output some decently detailed graphics that didn't horribly flicker. Not so with Super Gran, despite it being a 1985 release. Everything is ridiculously blocky and badly drawn, moves sluggishly and flickers like there's no tomorrow. What's more, the only redeeming feature of the thing's graphics, the admittedly decent looking sprites' size, only contributes in reducing the game's playability and making for a horribly crammed playing area.
Then again, graphics don't make a game, do they? Of course they don't and that's where Super Gran spectacularly fails. The controls are shockingly unresponsive, the first three levels (ranging from a horrid shmup-like thing to a top down racing affair) I managed to see are dull, short and ridiculously tough and -adding insult to injury- the game has even managed to age horribly, making sure nobody will actually dare to find out if it really sported the 10 levels/screens the devs promised. Then again, the first level should be all you need subject yourselves too. It impressively manages to encompass all that is wrong with Super Gran in just one screen!
As for the sound, well, at least it can be easily turned off.
(Find out more about Super Gran and -god forbid- download a copy of the thing via World of Spectrum. It will be a most enlightening experience let me assure you.)
Related @ Gnome's Lair:
18 comments:
Well, unfortunately there were some really bad games fo Spectrum too...ReplyDelete
I see you've taken your own 'voyage to the bowels of the back catalogue'. What's it like down there?ReplyDelete
Not particularly shocking when over 15k games have been released for the thing, I'd say dear Barts,ReplyDelete
Well, Neil, mate, it's bloody terrifying. And quite a bit shocking too.
But the TV show itself sounded so promising. o_OReplyDelete
And it only has a Superness rating of 3? Hmm, doesn't sound too good. Looks just about as bad as E.T. for Atari. Good luck with your later finds.ReplyDelete
Yes, yes, promising. Just like the game's cassette inlay, oh Pacian!ReplyDelete
Ithmeer, I wouldn't say it's that bad. I mean at least there is a game to be found somewhere, albeit a not particularly playable one. Still, better Speccy titles will be discovered.
At least the poster looks good and retro!ReplyDelete
I admit, I'm a graphic whore of sorts... hhhmm I would have a very hard time staying with this game.
Then you'll just love browsing around the World of Spectrum...ReplyDelete
That was quite a disappointment, I see... :(ReplyDelete
Well, cheer up, you still have all the other awesome games for the Spectrum :)
Gnome is damn hardcore. I've never even seen a Spectrum in person.ReplyDelete
Spectrum People!!ReplyDelete
I've never seen them in person either!
Absolutely Nebacha dear. Lots of fine 7-bit gaming can be had...ReplyDelete
Oh, but Ross and Deitrix luvs... that's what eBay is for you know... Spectrums and Spectrum People.
gnome -ReplyDelete
The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) used to broadcast "Super Gran" once a week. My friends and I absolutely hated it - it took up precious programming space that could have been used for more important shows like "The Raccoons" and "Tintin".
The fact that they released a game based on the show is hilarious. This makes me even more want to pick up a speccy. Any suggestions on which model?
I think I quite enjoyed it back then, but it must have been when I was 6. Kept me wondering about the powers of my grannies, it did.ReplyDelete
As for the Spectrum, well the absolutely best choice is the original Sinclair 128k (usually referred to as "heatsink"), released before Amstrad took over. It's slightly more expensive and slightly rarer than other models but is by far the best.
Failing that, I'd go for the Spectrum + over the original Speccy due to better keyboard and reset button, that most definitely is a computer saver. The way I see it, the +3 is strictly for collectors and the generally handy +2 comes in some not particularly compatible variations.
Then I'll add the Sinclair 128k to my birthday list :DReplyDelete
You just do that Chris! And don't forget to add a tape recorder to the thing, eh?ReplyDelete
This game really was bad. There were loads of good games for the Speccy, but there were plenty of bad ones too. Supergran was really, REALLY bad.ReplyDelete
Can't disagree with you there. And cheers for dropping in!ReplyDelete


text:
Get This and
6 Million Other Stock Images
Bicycle next to a beautiful blue and white house at Guatape
Description : Bicycle next to a beautiful blue and white house at Guatape, Colombia
Photographer : anamejia18
Antioquia, baseboards, beautiful, bicycle, bike, blue, city, Colombia, colonial, color, colorful, cute, cyclist, decorated, decoration, facade, fun, Guatape, Guatapé, house, houses, multicolored, no, paint, paintings, people, picturesque, plants, plinth, pretty, small, South America, street, tourism, town, tradition, traditional, transport, transportation, travel, tropic, tropical, vacation, vehicle, wall, walls
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text:
There's now a more effective way to lose that weight and inches in just the right places. The secret is HCG and it is found in HCG Slenderize. HCG, a hormone found in pregnant women, has been proven effective in both women AND males for effective weight loss because it cuts down on your food cravings, signals your body to burn the excess (not the regular) fat, and restore your metabolism rate to its level when you were in your youth.
Now you may think that because this hormone is found in pregnant women, HCG Slenderize is only for women. Absolutely not! Men can take this as well. And this is taken orally, not through injections.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (or HCG for short) is a hormone produced during pregnancy. It is believed to reset the hypothalamus which then sends a signal to the body to draw out the stored fat and use it for energy production. In this order, the body normally uses first the carbohydrates, then the protein, then fats in energy production. But many times when those are used up, what is burned is regular fat, not the excess and abnormal fat. As a result, you could be losing weight and inches but in the wrong places.
With HCG Slenderize, the body seeks out that abnormal fat where you need to lose pounds and inches and burns that fat when producing energy. At the same time, your appetite is suppressed so you only eat normally without going on an eating binge. You will find yourself going on a 500-calorie diet a day. As a result, even without exercising, you see yourself losing weight day after day – up to 7 pounds a week. And you are shedding inches from the right places too.
Stop all those weight loss programs and fad diets and try HCG Slenderize. You'll discover what many previously obese people have found as the solution to their weight problems.


text:
For many people, the term "elder abuse" brings to mind a scam artist selling a bogus financial investment to older people. You may have seen ads from the local district attorney's office showing bruised faces of elderly people who have suffered abuse. But what does the term really mean?
The National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse defines elder abuse as "any form of mistreatment that results in harm or loss to an older person." It is usually categorized according to the specific type of abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, psychological abuse, financial abuse, and neglect or self-neglect.
This article focuses on physical abuse and financial abuse.
Physical Elder Abuse
Physical abuse can occur in just about any setting, from the elder's own home, to nursing homes, or anywhere the elder resides. With seniors being the fastest growing segment of our population, elder abuse is a problem across the country, in part because seniors are vulnerable. With families often scattered across the state, if not the country, it's common for adult children to live far away from their elderly parents. When they assume responsibility for the care of their parents, they must rely on caregivers who work in the facility their loved one lives in, or homecare workers who care for the elder at home. Taking care of elders in declining health can be difficult and frustrating, sometimes causing the caregivers to lose patience and take their frustrations out on the elder.
Family members are not exempt from these frustrations. In fact, family caregivers constitute a large percentage of elder abusers. Any physical abuse is inexcusable, but there have even been cases of abuse resulting in death, the most extreme and tragic consequence of the overwhelming burden of caring for an elder. When a family caregiver feels trapped with this long-term responsibility, especially when faced with the financial strain of paying for the care of a dependent parent or relative, the elder may be at risk for physical abuse.
Unqualified caregivers are another problem, as the work is physically demanding, the jobs hard to fill, and the pay may be low compared with other occupations. Also, the states generally do not license homecare workers, and there is no standard for training them—except for certified nursing assistants, many of whom work in long-term care institutions rather than in private homes. All of these factors contribute to a large number of unqualified, unskilled caregivers taking care of elders at home. Because home caregivers may work largely unsupervised, especially when the adult children live afar, there is ample opportunity to mistreat elderly clients.
Financial Elder Abuse
Financial abuse is a different kind of problem. The opportunity for abuse arises when an elder loses the ability to effectively manage his or her own finances. The decline may be gradual; that is, often there is no clear line of demarcation between the point when one can pay his or her own bills and handle money, and the point at which it is clear that the senior is no longer able to manage finances. People in positions of trust, such as adult children, grandchildren, and even unrelated caregivers can take advantage of the declining mental capacity of a vulnerable elder and prey upon this incapacity.
Greed is the common denominator in financial elder abuse, no matter who commits it. The ruthless taking of finances from a person who does not realize that he or she is being "ripped off" is the manifestation of greed. It is sad to witness, and sad to hear about. Caregivers from faraway places may believe that they can get away with this form of theft, as they can return to another country and not get caught. A family member with a drug problem might be able to persuade Grandma, who trusts him, to let him go to the bank and withdraw money, using a credible explanation without arousing her suspicion. I have seen family members persuade the elder to give them a "loan" of thousands of dollars, never intending to pay it back, or never able to do so. When the elder eventually really needs the money, and there is nothing, it is the elder who suffers.
What You Can Do if You Suspect Abuse
Elder abuse is a crime both in its physical and financial forms. Hitting, yelling, depriving the elder of assistance, threatening harm, and other forms of physical abuse must be dealt with immediately. A person who is suspected of wrongly taking the elder's money must also be dealt with immediately. Many counties across the country have some form of Adult Protective Services agency. If you believe or have evidence that an elder is being abused, call APS immediately. Other counties have similar services which should be utilized. Your local Area Agency on Aging is another resource to turn to if you suspect elder abuse. The district attorney's office will prosecute these abusers when sufficient evidence exists to get a conviction. The criminal court can order the abuser to make restitution in the form of money, but the court itself does not give money to the victim in a criminal case of financial elder abuse.
Victims of abuse also have what is called a "civil remedy," which is filing a lawsuit in court seeking a monetary judgment. The same law which protects elders against financial abuse protects against physical abuse and neglect. In some states the law gives lawyers incentives to accept cases of elder abuse and neglect by providing for attorneys' fees and other things which are generally not allowed in other kinds of civil cases. Such cases can be lengthy and difficult, but it may be the only recourse available.
Carolyn L. Rosenblatt, Attorney at Law, R.N., is a founder of AgingParents.com. She is a consultant and mediator, teaming with a psychologist, providing direct services and informational products for those caring for aging loved ones. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or at (866) 962-4464.


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Multiple GCC Residencies- Possible? (Doha)
Regards from freezing Beirut!
I've accepted a full time consultancy contract in Doha and will be relocating early next week. My employer started off a week ago my residency paper work, but that wasn't very successful due to my valid Kuwaiti Residency and which expires on Dec. 19th Protected content . Apparently, that Kuwaiti residency needs to be canceled in order to process my Qatari residency paper work....is this a common procedure? Is it not possbile to have multiple GCC residencies?
I've asked my employer and the HR Department to look further into this issue since I'd rather not cancel my valid residency. I'll end up in Doha on a visit visa till things become clearer.
Please advise as soon as you can.
Appreciative Amira:)


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Blame Bashir for this one.
In a previous post, I talked about how I wasn't yet free of academia. How it's still got hooks in me, in the form of papers that need to be published, and that won't get published until I get them out. Bashir noted that it was like Borg.
@scicurious it's like you're Picard getting all the borg technology out of his system.
— Bashir (@Bashir9ist) January 2, 2014
Borg, for those not familiar, are characters in the Star Trek universe. The most quoted phrase is 'resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.' Borg are partially cybernetic and act as part of a "hive" controlled by a queen. Like metallic, slightly slimy looking bees. But smarter (though I have always wondered why they have to look slimy). If you get assimilated into the Borg, it's very hard to leave, they give you all these cybernetic implants that influence your thoughts and dampen your feelings. Freeing someone from the Borg is a difficult experience, with lots of surgeries to remove the implants (for example your organs have to relearn how to function on their own). Often it's lifelong, and you are never truly free.
In particular, consider the character Seven of Nine, from Star Trek: Voyager. She was integrated into the Borg when she was 6. Grew up and lived her whole life as Borg. She then ends up on the Voyager, and they begin taking away her cybernetic implants. She begins to function on her own and build a life for herself. But some of the implants, esp the cortical node, can't really be removed well. She always has difficulty with some things, especially emotions. But she has some advantages as well, she can always sense Borg activity, for example.
(Seven of Nine. Pity her, she had emotional issues and had to wear a LOT of catsuits. Source)
De-assimilating from the Borg does, in a way, remind me of academia.
Obviously academia does not give you cybernetic implants in grad school (though if they are, they'd BETTER come with the health plan and a decent increase in stipend). But leaving academia and its culture behind can be jarring. I had been in it, in some way, my whole life. I believed that it was the best place. It is, in many ways, great. But it's also very much its own world. Some other careers may be similar, but I've only experienced this one.
There are so many things about academia that I have assimilated, and that, via slow and sometimes painful surgeries, I have to get rid of. Instead of cybernetic implants, maybe I shed them in a different way. Shreds of lab coat here, a nitrile glove there. A few examples:
1. I'm learning the outside way of behaving professionally. Emails in academia could get very passive aggressive or just out and out aggressive. Thankfully, it's a minority of people who do it, but in academia, that kind of behavior (along with other kinds of bad behavior) is often allowed to perpetuate, as long as the science is good. I know you don't do that on the outside. I know people who feel physically sick checking their email sometimes. I still catch myself questioning many emails I receive. Was it meant to be snarky? Is there another way to interpret that? What did I do? At the same time, though, I know I shouldn't need to be handled with kid gloves.
I also don't seem to know how to communicate casually, yet professionally. I alternate between hyper-formal, ultra passive prose, and one-liners. I know there's a happy medium in there somehow, but I'm still learning where it is.
2. I don't know when to quit. If you don't have every spare minute in academia filled (and by spare, I mean til at least 1am every night, a family can count as a hobby), you are not doing enough. Find more things to do. More projects, more grants, more papers. Outside, well, don't overload yourself! Because if you do, you do everything worse. Better to do less, and do it well. This is still a major, major shock to my system. My gut is always telling me to do more and more and more.
3. I don't know how to take criticism. Or rather, I know how I SHOULD take criticism. I know I do not take it well. This is odd, because I remember a time when I took criticism well. I did a lot of theater and music, it was something you HAD to take well. I took it, I improved, worked harder, fixed things, and did better. Sometime during grad school, however, criticism began to paralyze me. Every critique felt like a critique of me, as a scientist. Since a scientist was what I WAS, all criticism began to feel like criticism of me, as a person. Sometimes it was indeed phrased that way. You are careless. You are not smart enough, why don't you get this?! You are not focused.
I remember once, my aunt asked me what peer review was. I explained, and to show what I meant, handed her a review of one of my manuscripts. When she handed it back, she was on the verge of tears. She asked how they could be so mean to me. It was an accept with minor revisions. But it was full of things like "the authors do not grasp...", "the authors fail to state...", "the authors smell..." (ok, no). And I remembered when I first read that review. How my heart sank and my stomach hurt and my PI had to TELL me is was accepted. Because it surely did not say that anywhere on there.
Before academia, I would have taken criticism and said "I can be more careful, I will work on focus. Intelligence will just have to deal." But after academia...criticism still makes me work harder, but I first spend a period completely paralyzed by panic. Panic, gnawing self doubt, and shame. Why couldn't I do better? What's wrong with me? Why am I such a terrible person? Why am I not smart enough? Isn't there a way to make myself more careful, more smart? Outside of academia, I am relearning to take criticism. It is a long process.
4. When the professional is often personal. Not that there weren't professional standards in academia of course. But when all your colleagues are all your friends (and often your only friends) and are often also your significant others, well, things get mixed up. There were colleagues you couldn't work with because your friend had divorced them and it got ugly. And of course, you're all talking about work outside of work. Often, you feel like you don't know HOW to talk anything else but shop. Academia was my life. Soon you just become wrapped up in it, and everything else begins to lose importance. Outside, I've been relearning perspective.
5. You can be positive. So much of academia is based in criticism. It's important criticism. Science would not advance if we just said things looked nice and sent it along. You have to probe, you have to say "that's unacceptable with an n=3," you have to say "that explanation isn't adequate." It's incredibly important. But it also, over time, can make people really negative. Things you screw up become "how could you!?" and things you did right...well they were what you should be doing and deserve no praise. I've observed before that only academia could turn successes into mere not-failures. If you DIDN'T see something wrong with that talk you were just at, well obviously you don't know anything about the field! Too gullible! Cynicism makes you look smart.
This isn't the case outside. I love that I can be enthusiastic about my ideas...and that's ok! Other people are too! We work with ideas and refine them, rather than ripping them apart before building them again. The net result may end up the same. But the process is so much sunnier. Even when people don't like your idea, they say "well, I don't think we're interested in that," as opposed to "how could you attempt something so stupid." People are congratulated on their achievements...and you feel they HAVE done something good. Sure, it's your job, it's what you are supposed to be doing, but you're good at it, and that deserves praise. This, above everything else, has made me happy to be where I am.
I'm sure there are others, pieces of academia that I will shed over time. But I hope I keep the positive things. Seven of Nine could sense Borg. She could also act without panic in a crisis. I hope I will keep my academic remnants, my training, my questioning, my background and my ability to do research. I hope I will keep some of my cynicism, so I remember to look for the flaws and stick to careful interpretations. There are advantages to assimilation, after all.


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How Might Yahoo! Pipes Add Semantic Meaning to
Web Search
I've just been experimenting with Yahoo Pipes–very cool, quite intuitive–and I'm wondering if this might not offer another very useful layer to web semantics. Essentially semantic web is at its basest level about the various natural meanings attached to particular words, sets of data, etc. Pipes is a type of tagged data, linked sources that suggest more expansive meaning and intention.
It's like a 'still' (alcohol burner) for the web–distill your own web juice.
Filed under: Data, Language, Metadata, Semantic Web, Tagging, Yahoo Pipes | Leave a comment »


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Call us for more information on 0330 880 5066


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Fruitcake at Christmas, hot dogs on July Fourth, beer for St. Patrick's, turkey on Thanksgiving. And, the quintessential American food favorite for Easter?
Surpassing the hard-boiled matter once those decorated eggs are cracked, not to mention asparagus, jellybeans, lamb or ham, and selling at an annual rate of over 5 million is the beloved, almighty and ubiquitous colored-sugar marshmallow Peep.
Peeps have found purpose in the wide Pop Culture beyond its sweet taste and grainy-smooth mouthfeel. For a few years in the late 90s there was a kooky college kid craze of Spring Breakers popping Peeps in microwaves. Annual art contests are now conducted using Peeps.
Peeps are used in Ambrosia Salad recipes. They serve as a non-sticky version of the key ingredient to S'Mores. They're used as topping for dessert pizzas. They've been arranged onto long wires to substitute as bouquets of spring flowers.
There were experiments conducted to see how long it would take before a box of opened Peeps would completely harden into a brick – many of which failed due to weakened resistance of those who let their need for a sugar rush get the best of them.
They're used on wedding cakes and as a medium for sarcastic, allegorical tableaux. Any lingering doubt about the Pop Power of Peeps is, in fact, laid to rest this Easter season by the release just six days ago of an official portrait of the Lord Mayor of Lost Angeles, master of mid-century modernism himself Charles Phoenix, who posed with his visionary manifestation Astro Easter Tree, populated by a plentiful popourri of Peeps on am aluminum-wrapped styrofoam trunk.
All this Easterly irreverence is just fine by the company that makes them.
In fact, ever since 1995, it's been the manufacturer of Peeps itself, the Just Born Company of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which has been pushing the mushy old birds into the future, literally clipping off their former back wings and giving them full flight into the mouths and imaginations of Americans.
That was the year Peeps began rising to reach critical mass, the very first season when purple Peeps were introduced to the old-school line of pink, yellow and white ones.
Three years later, the company conducted a deft public relations contest, asking Peep-peoples around the globe to vote on the next color they wanted to eat: in 1998, the blue Peeps joined the pack.
Nostalgic Peepers fondly recall the simpler, earlier incarnations, and often point out that for many a long decade one could engorge at even the Winter Holiday Season upon what was technically Peeps-material, the yellow chick transmorgraphied into Santa Claus form.
Still, in an age when any kid can watch a Charlie Brown Christmas on any day of the year at any hour on an Android phone, another small chink in the overall destruction of disciplines such as patience and anticipation, that same sense of wait-for-it-once-a-year is now being practically upheld in the mass culture by Easter Peeps alone. Who cares if you can get a marshmallow Santa a full four months before Easter or how it tastes exactly the same – a Santa is not a Peep. Those neon candy baby fowl can only begin lo brighten the aisles at Drug Fair once the chocolate mint shamrocks are in the half-price bin but before the striped summer umbrellas appear. Peeps come but once a year.
All types of Peep innovations continued on into the new century, including the appearance of them also in green and orange and flavored in strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, and mint. The 21st century Peep, however, is basically the same: what has changed its how pervasive the Peep image has become. In just the last year, for example, the first of three Peeps Stores have opened in Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The Pope-mobile seems to have nothing over the new Peep-Mobile.
And for those inclined to dress like it was Halloween at Easter, there's even now an official Peeps costume.
The result is that over 1 billion Peeps are freshly-born annually.
The considerable effort to make us a Peeps Nation has been brilliantly shepherded by Ross Born, grandson of the original owner of the candy company.
The pinnacle of Peeps public relations came a decade ago when the company marked its 50th Anniversary in 2003.
In reaching the half-century benchmark, Peeps became to chirp a bit louder about its longevity, and the effort began to organize and disseminate the story of just how we came to love the sweet little things for public consumption.
Mid-Century Modern Peeps,
in the Time of Technicolor
The first part of the Peeps tale begins in a Technicolor Time, the the brightly-hued marshmallow birds landing right on schedule for the Mid-Century Modern Era.
In that uniquely American tradition of cross-cultural contributions, Samuel Born, the man who popularized the signature Easter treat was an Eastern European Jewish immigrant (as was the composer of the hit song Easter Parade, Irving Berlin). Born was born on September 10, 1891 and educated at the rabbinical school in Berdichev, Ukraine but relocated with his family to France where he went to work in a candy store they owned.
After immigrating to the United States in 1910, he made a huge splash in the world of sweets by inventing a machine that could rapidly insert paper sticks into the hard candies that became known as the lollipop. It earned him the key to the city of San Francisco.
By 1916, he was able to open several candy stores in New York but, eager to unleash his creativity and conjure up his own concoctions, he formed a candy company in 1923 which both immortalized his name and suggested the freshness of the product. He called it the Just Born Company.
In 1932, he and his brothers-in-law, fellow candy-makers Irving and Jack Shaffer bought a Bethlehem Pennsylvania factory and hired laid-off steel workers in town to come toil in his new land of sugar.
Acquiring other candy companies and their product lines as well as inventing entirely new ones, Just Born was soon home to such iconic mid-century sweets as Hot Tamales, Mike & Ike and Goldenberg's Peanut Chews.
By the time Sam Born died in 1959, his son Bob was already heading the company, having brought his personal taste for marshmallow into the mix.
In an interview several years ago the now-retired Bob Born admitted that the first efforts by the New Born Company to mass produce marshmallow Peeps had the bits of blob emerging on conveyer belts looking less like chicks and more like seals.
Trained as an engineer, but the company's second Easter season in 1953, he had succeeded in standardizing the form and size of the candy by mechanizing the assembly-line production of the product which he trademarked as "Peeps.:
Within a decade, the company foreswore its chocolate-making roots to wisely focus on the busy marshmallow season of early spring, introducing other shapes as well, like rabbits and eggs.
With three generations of warm and accessible family members running this privately-held and happy business of candy (Shaffer cousins continue on into a third generation of joint partnership as well) and maintaining its tenets such as fairness, community commitment, employee trust and support for them, it seems they see everyday as Easter. The company is also extraordinarily open to the media, even permitting cameras into the factory to see how Peeps are born.
Decades before the Born family infused their upbeat sensibilities into what is the admittedly optimistic nature of a product like Marshmallow Peeps, however, there was a darker shadow which seemed to circle over the earlier generation of marshmallow birds, a shocking scandal.
Well into the 1970s, more than twenty years after the Just Born Company first bought what was a long-established candy company located in Lancaster, not far from their own Bethlehem plant, they continued to package their Peeps in boxes which bore the of that now-absorbed company, a name behind which the full tale would unfold: Rodda.
Any attempt to decode the genuine yet mysterious beginnings of the Peep must begin with a look at the drive and determination of the man whose name graced the old boxes and whose factory had been producing marshmallow somethings for nearly a half-century before it was bought out by Sam Born in 1953.
In the process of searching out the primal origin of what is now the most beloved Easter candy, one stumbles into an ancient trove of candy association circulars, court battle abstracts and terrifying federal edicts.
In aggregate, this unexpected documentation proves that the candy manufacturer who may well have had a dark non-chocolate motive to calculatingly shroud the true identity of the earliest known manifestation of the being we now know as the Peep – and perhaps even obliterate the true nature of his relationship to it – is the very embodiment of holiday paradox.
This very same man, of whom a verifiably authentic photograph remains elusive even on the all-knowing, almighty Internet, was once the kiddies hero of a hundred Easter mornings before the very sweet they hailed him for fell in disfavor to – yes, the Peep.
That's right, the one and only mallow-making Roscoe E. Rodda is none other than the Father of the Easter Jelly Bean!
Old-School Wing-tipped Peeps,
in the Black-and-White Era
The tale unwraps back in another time, beginning in the black-and-white world of horse and bunny a long century ago.
Roscoe E. Rodda was born on June 1862 in Lake Superior, Michigan. He was the son of a copper miner from Cornwall, England. Established at a young age in the candy-making business in Ohio, he married in 1886, fathering two daughters and three sons. Four years later he opened a candy store in Cincinnati. The details of his early life were assiduously chronicled in 2008 by writer Janice Brown in her New Hampshire history website.
Roscoe and wife Luella moved early in the new century to the East Coast, living for a time in Baltimore, but he made his mark after settling in what was quickly becoming the national capital of snack food like pretzels and all varieties of candy, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He incorporated his Rodda Candy Company in 1908.
In 1910, the same year that Sam Born immigrated to the U.S., Roscoe Rodda began mass-manufacturing candy.
While he did open a small store which fronted the building where the sweets were being made, from the beginning he was thinking big, with the intention of making candy not just for small, local sales but for widespread national distribution.
It was no coincidence that the first known address of the R.E. Rodda Candy Company in Lancaster was 347 Church Street. That address was already sacred ground in Candy Land for it was here that none other than the legendary Milton Hershey had established his Lancaster Caramel Company headquarters, having bought the building on November 10, 1891 from his dear old Aunt Mattie.
By then, Hershey was already the undisputed Candy Emperor, rapidly expanding his kingdom by buying up adjoining properties on Church Street and those extending back to the road behind it. Before the century turned, Hershey's principality extended over 300 feet along what was likely the sweetest-smelling avenue in America and Rodda was getting a good daily whiff of it.
Hershey didn't stop at chocolate-covered caramels. The demand for his candy had spiked so rapidly that he soon purchased a factory to exclusively make caramel in a nearby town, outside of Lancaster, called Mount Joy.
Hershey, however, was a sugar visionary, seeing before any of the pack of competing county candy-makers that caramels were on their way out and chocolate the future. And so Hershey's chocolate became his sole driving focus. Everyone knows how that story ended.
Roscoe, however, had well-timed his arrival in Candy Land.
The Teens marked the dawn of a golden age for mass-produced and packaged sweets. Judging by the line of products he carried through the late 1920s as reported in the trade publications of national confectionary and candy manufacturing associations, Roscoe seemed intent on finding a way to knock Hershey off his Chocolate Throne.
With as much ferocity as the oil and railroad robber barons, the titans of candy protected their sweet empires with all types of corporate shenanigans, including hostile takeovers, shady bond deals and frivolous copyright infringement lawsuits meant to drain the resources of upstart competitors.
Rodda was rising by means which some legal documents suggest were rather unsweetened.
Holding substantial investments in a number of other candy manufacturing companies, his honest but wily efforts to bite off larger chunks of other enterprises were constantly undermined by equally ambitious confectioners envious of his sugary assets who used methods legal and otherwise. Roscoe co-owned the American Caramel Company in nearby York, Pennsylvania with partner Daniel Lafean, who served as its president. He had also acquired control of Headley Chocolate Company of Baltimore by purchasing over $150,000 worth of stock, thus coming to own more of the enterprise than was held by its founder William C. Bidlack and operating it jointly with the American Caramel Company.
Perhaps Rodda's most notable Candy War battle was brought to court by his estranged partner in 1916, with charges and counter-charges of fraud, collusion, breach of contract, and "secret and unlawful profits." Lafean had sneakily tried to seize the controlling interest of the American Caramel Company by buying up a majority of Rodda Candy Company stock.
Waiting in the wings to pay big money for the stock from Lafean was none other than William C. Bidlack, still sore at Rodda for acquiring control of his Headley Chocolate Company. He failed, but Roscoe couldn't rid Lafean from his house of sweets. The court ruled in favor of Lafean, deciding his contract with Roscoe still entitled him to his previous salary. The Caramel Company appealed but in 1921 the original ruling was upheld.
Still, not even the prospect of a world war had daunted Mr. Rodda.
While his case against Lafean was pending, according to research by the website candyprofessor.com, the Rodda Company quickly introduced a line of novelty chocolates in the shape of six different types of submarines, five varieties of torpedo-boat destroyers and four kinds of battleships.
As it turns out, World War I devastated the domestic market for chocolates, vast shiploads of it in candy-bar form being requisitioned by the federal government for enjoyment of U.S. servicemen fighting in Europe.
Undaunted, Rodda roared into the Twenties with an ambition he had already initiated. By then, Milton Hershey's chocolate company had been so hailed for so long as the leader in chocolate that an entire Pennsylvania town was named after him.
Almighty Hershey, however, was known as the general go-to house of chocolate. Rodda would forge a specialty market in chocolate that wax-mustachioed Milt had given scant thought.
Not long after entering the candy world, Roscoe had sized up the Easter season and saw opportunity. By 1922, he was heavily investing on packaging which made clear the territory he cornered as his own, a trade rag noting that, "To market candy in a more attractive Easter packing, Robert Gair Co., Inc., New York, designed and manufactured two similar appearing cartons for products of the R. E. Rodda Candy Co., of Lancaster, Pa."
Not surprisingly those products took the form of Bunnies and Chicks.
The influence of German tradition on American Pop Culture is often credited as the reason for why chocolate took the form of a rabbits and eggs at Easter.
In the ancient Teutonic pagan faith there was, in fact, a goddess who represented morning and birth and magically transformed animals into species other than their own.
Her name was Eastre.
The wild hare version of the rabbit was appropriated into Christian faith from this pagan pantheon of animal symbols as was the simple round, white egg which had been used in fertility rituals.
In regions like Pennsylvania, succeeding waves of German immigrants who heavily settled there continued their old-world Easter custom of exchanging baskets full of these eggs as a symbol of the day, along with non-edible figurines of the wild hare.
With his operations based in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country (a name given not to descendants of immigrants from Holland but from the German provinces), it hadn't taken Rodda long to adapt the German Easter custom to his product line.
By the time he published his 1925 trade catalog entitled Chocolate Covered Cocoanut Cream Easter Eggs and Easter Specialties, almost all of Rodda's featured items involved chocolate in variously playful incarnations, including the ubiquitous Easter Bunny and the less-appealing Easter Elephant, as well as other traditional Easter symbols like eggs and the Holy Cross.
In the catalog (a copy of which is preserved in the Smithsonian's American History library), however, there is not one mention of Rodda's marshmallow chicks.
Yet there is one small peep about marshmallow.
The clue is in the catalog, an inclusion of what was called a "Chocolate Covered Mellow Egg" (the word "mellow" being a common spelling variation of the word "mallow," as in marshmallow).
A honey-flavored candy in existence since the days of Ancient Egypt intended to sooth sore throats and reduce coughing, marshmallow was originally thickened with juice extracted from marsh plant roots which grew at the lapping edges of salt marshes and lakes.
By the 1850s, the medicinal intent took a sweeter turn, the marsh root juice being mixed with whipped egg whites and sugar, forming a mushy yet firm type of meringue when air-dried.
By the turn of the century, the marsh root juice was dumped altogether, with gelatin and gum arabic providing the same texture.
It continued to be made by hand until moulds were created to mass-produce what was now a candy growing in popularity. For some time, however, the challenge was to give the gelatinous mixture the right mix of emulsifers to hold it firm without sacrificing taste.
Precisely how the very first Peeps came into being, however, remains a persistent mystery but it manifested at some point well before the Just Born Company's 1953 purchase of the Rodda Company.
This is confirmed by Bob Born, who can still recall witnessing the arduous effort of Rodda candy-workers hand-making the marshmallow chicks and the great visual appeal to him of this particular item in the old company's candy line.
To turn out a limited amount of marshmallow chicks every Easter season, some eighty women, apparently most of them being German immigrants, undertook a back-breaking process.
It required them to spoon small batches of freshly-made marshmallow batter, which included whipped egg whites, into regular pastry tubes and then squirt out through the tiny fluted steel tip a uniform version of a small baby chicken, as if they were all freshly hatched from eggs.
In an era when the potential for salmonella poisoning from uncooked eggs was not yet a worry, the marshmallow chicks were not baked but rather air-dried. Start to finish, the process of turning out trays of Rodda marshmallow chicks entailed some 27 hours.
Anecdotal reports claim that many of the women developed muscular forearms from the annual ritual of having to repetitively hold the pastry tubes steadily while squeezing them firmly.
What seems curious about the Rodda candy-makers laborious process is the fact that in 1948 marshmallow-maker Alex Doumak has devised the more efficient "extrusion process" which allowed for the batter to be piped through long, narrow tubes.
For a company that had always striven for the competitive edge in candy, the Rodda factory seemed suspiciously reluctant about employing the new method and thus producing large quantities of the mushy baby birds for widespread distribution and public sale.
Instead, it appears that the Rodda forerunner of the modern Peep was only produced in a limited quantity once a year and sold directly through its storefront to loyal customers.
Why would the Rodda Candy Company tout its harvest of Easter sweets as the finest and most diverse, yet display what seems like a purposeful ambivilence about its marshmallow chicks?
In a 2012 reader comment written in response to an otherwise routine article on Peeps, one of Roscoe Rodda's two surviving grandchildren empathically affirmed, "I want everyone to know my grandfather never made a Peep." In another reader comment made within days of the other, she further clarified that, "Granddaddy died 1942, way before Peeps were invented or created, he had retired long before that as he was almost 81 years old at his death and died in our front bedroom in Falls Church, Virginia."
The granddaughter recalled her excitement when she first saw a box of Peeps for commercial sale, in a box marked with the family name. Her father Emmons, one of Rodda's three sons who had also worked in the candy factory "fumed" in reaction, adding that, "My father never made that quality of candy."
The power of family lore is hard to challenge. Born in 1891, Emmons Alger Rodda was at least 63 years old at the time that the first of the First Born Company Peeps would have first been sold boxed and in mass-produced numbers to the general public, in 1954. Records show that he had two daughters, one of whom had been born by 1917 and another born at some point after his second marriage in 1941.
On the premise that the daughter who was told her grandfather had never made Peeps was the younger of the two, Emmons would have made his claim to her sometime between 1954 and his death in 1977 at age 86 years old. She also pointed out that Emmons "worked in the factory and also was a candy maker before going to work for the gov't."
It is true that he was a resident of Lancaster, and employed as "a superintendent at the R.E. Rodda Candy Company," but that was according to his 1917 World War I draft card. He then moved to Virginia.
His absence from the candy company after 1919, however, is a significant period of time and there was more than a good chance that his memory of his father not doing any marshmallow-making was faulty, due to his absence durng the intervening thirty-five years until the first of the Rodda-marked Peeps appeared on the general market.
In one of her comments, Rodda's granddaughter also provided another clue, stating that by the time the Just Born Company bought it her grandfather had already "sold the company to the American Caramel Company, along with the use of his name."
Indeed, by 1930 the Rodda Candy Company was listed as a subsidiary of the American Caramel Company and shared the same address, still on Church Street but Rodda continued to hold a controlling interest of the caramel-making wing of the candy conglomerate which, under 1922 reorganization, was then separated its joint operations. It was a matter of confusing and complication business semantics, easy to confuse.
Not insignificant, however, is the fact that Emmons Rodda was employed at the company in the years from 1911 to 1915.
That's when the Black Sheep Peeps escaped from the factory, provoking a scandal that no company catering to kiddies would welcome, let alone want to be remembered as part of its otherwise sweet history.
At the candy factor, it was a dark period which had nothing to do with bittersweet chocolate. The most dreaded of federal violations was leveled at the Rodda Company: "Adulteration of Candy."
In time for the 1911 spring season, the Rodda Company sent a shipment of "Easter Joy" candy on March 8 to the state of Minnesota for public sale. All was smooth, until the boxes were opened and checked by a Food and Drug Administration inspector. The Candy Man was in trouble.
To quote from the federal register report on U.S. v. Rodda Candy Company:
On April 10, 1912, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the District Court of the United States for said district an information against the R. E. Rodda Candy Co., a corporation, Lancaster, Pa., alleging shipment by said company, in violation of the Food and Drugs Act, on March 8, 1911, from the State of Pennsylvania into the State of Minnesota, of a quantity of confectionary, styled and designated as "Easter Joy," which was adulterated.The product was labeled: "Originality. Workmanship. Purity. Trade Mark. Rodda Candy. Easter Joy Guaranteed under the Pure Food and Drugs Act of June 30, 1906. Serial No. 22134. Physical examination showed separated mineral to have greasy feel. Microscopical examination showed mineral foliated or having a thin plate-like structure. Adulteration of the product was alleged in the information for the reason that it contained talc, and, further, in that it contained a mineral substance consisting largely of aluminum and iron silicate."
For more than four years the case went on, until March 12, 1915 when the Rodda Candy Company neither admitted nor disputed the charges and made a nolo contendere plea. Finally, on May 28 of that year, in what seems to have been part of a larger plea bargain, the details of which were either unrecorded or the records of which have disappeared, Acting Secretary of Agriculture Carl Vrooman approved a court imposed fine of a mere five dollars.
Analysis of Easter Joy by the Agriculture Department's Bureau of Chemistry further showed showed a significant percentage of silicone dioxide, magnesium oxide and ash in the filling and coating of the mysterious candy.
All of which were used in small traces as emulsifiers for gelatinous foods such as – you guessed it, marshmallow. It certainly was not a product from his primary line of chocolate.
What marshmallow form did "Easter Joy" take exactly?
Other than the fact that it wasn't chocolate, based on its composition, it is difficult to tell.
Rodda used all sorts of trade names for his line of sugary surprises, from High Flyers, Bummers, Nifty Beans, Radium Sweets, Rainbow Rays, High Jinks and Boosters.
Over the years, the same products were often repackaged with new names.
And two names pop up like chicks pecking through eggshell. "Cotton Blossoms" and the more spot-on "Marshmallow Pups."
In fact, by the year of Rodda's death, a trade publication listed the company as making "marshmallow products."
Some twenty years earlier, in the 1922 advertisement shown at right, tucked into a Rodda Candly line is mention of "Marshmallow goods" at the very end, almost as an afterthought.
Was Easter Joy a candy-coated marshmallow egg? A marhmallow-shaped bunny? Or was it perhaps that suspiciously-similar-sounding Marshmallow Pup mushily malformed enough to resemble a Peep? Easter Candyland will, alas, likely never know what marshmallow Easter Joy looked like.
Any sour taste which may have lingered after the humiliating Black Peep Scandal of 1912, however, was surely sweetened by what nobody could dispute was Mr. Rodda's genuine Easter redemption: Jelly Beans.
"Father of the Easter Jelly Bean"
Within five years of the Easter Joy mortification, he picked the company up and gave it a new shine by declaring it to be "The Jelly Bean House of America."
A rudimentary form of coated fruit gelatin "balls" are traced to the William Schrafft Company of Boston in 1861, which urged loyal citizens to buy their little sweets by the pound, then donate them to the Union Army so soldiers could carry the snack in their uniform pockets without concern for melted candy in their pockets.
Others point to a 1905 Chicago Daily News advertisement for jelly balls and beans selling at nine cents a pound.
Significant, however, is the date of the ad. It appeared on July 5, a good three months after the Easter candy season.
By the time the 1925 Easter candy season rolled around, the Rodda Company was touting what it called it's "Celebrated Jelly Egg."
Roscoe indeed became Father of the Easter Jellybean by a smart marketing campaign which included him simply re-christening the jelly balls and beans as the "Jelly Egg," making it a natural for the spring candy season.
It was not merely the fact that the new form of Easter egg also came "assorted colors" or "all black," in regular old sugar or "spiced" flavor, a variety of sizes to which he ingeniously assigned names of different-sized birds ("Bantam [a type of chicken]," "Pigeon" and "Dove") and shining with a "beautiful polish," but that Rodda's was one and only, "The Jelly Egg with the Real Jelly Center.
And while the authentic and absolute detailed truth about the very first Easter Peep is likely to remain unknown and join the ranks of other endlessly-debated tales of American mythology like Plymouth Rock and Princess Pocahontas, there are millions upon millions of little yellow beings who must surely be thrilled by the annual arrival of millions upon millions of little yellow marshmallows shaped just like them.
Before Peeps began populating every store shelf in America at the beginning of spring, there was an annual tradition of widely permissible animal cruelty that had become an unfortunate Easter custom.
Through almost to the end of the 20th century, unthinking parents, eager to delight their own chickies were in the habit of buying real live baby chicks, newly hatched and then dunked in colored dyes to give their bare brush of feathers a variety of pastel colors.
If the chicks managed to avoid being stomped or poisoned by human food, they often only lived long enough to end up as roast chickens.
The practice of selling baby chicks and dying their feathers and skin still continues, though the numbers have reduced a degree.
Incapable of thinking all this through doesn't mean chicks don't feel the threat of danger, the pain of torture and the cruelty of intentional death.
For real Peeps, the fact that millions now focus on buying Marshmallow Peeps at Easter make for an especially meaningful celebration of life.
Related articles
- Hot chicks: At 60, Peeps more popular than ever (news.yahoo.com)
- Best Easter Idea Ever: Drunken Peeps (washingtonian.com)
- Sugary, marshmallow treat Peeps celebrates 60th birthday (nj.com)
- Just Born Launches Giant Peeps Marshmallow Bunny for Easter 2013 (shoppingblog.com)
- Hot chicks: At 60, Peeps more popular than ever (miamiherald.com)
- Homemade 'peeps'? These chicks rule (bangordailynews.com)
- Why Eat Peeps at Easter? (slate.com)
- Go Inside The Factory That Makes 2 Billion Marshmallow Peeps A Year (businessinsider.com)
- 5 things you didn't know about Peeps (dailynightly.nbcnews.com)
- Peep inside the Peeps factory to see how Easter treats are made (celebrate.today.com)
Categories: Americana, Food, Holidays, Myths
Tags: Easter, Lancaster, marshmallow Peep, Milton Hershey, Peep, Pennsylvania, Rodda Candy Company


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Oklahoma Moving Companies Quotes
Whether you are moving to Oklahoma for family in Altus, a job in the city, or a simple need for a quiet life in Stillwater, you are going to need a set of movers to help you with the process. You can, of course, do it on your own. There is just going to be a lot more pressure on your plate if you decide to do things that way. There are plenty of companies Oklahoma has to offer that will be able to assist you with all of your needs. You have to take the time to find the right one. Here are some tips that may help you do just that.
- Quote Comparisons
One of the easiest ways to analyze companies is to compare quotes from them on the internet. That will allow you to see a selection of different options to work with, and it will let you see what you might have to pay for their services. You may not go with the cheapest option based on company reputation, but at least this will give you a rough idea of what you would pay. That will be the true time to find out what you will pay.
- Customer Service
Customer service is an important feature. You should contact the company to see what kind of respect they have for you as a customer. If you feel like just another job, you need to go in search of someone else. Look back at your quote list and try to find someone that is going to make you a priority and be happy about it along the way. Oftentimes this will be the case with well established companies who have made a name for themselves based on high levels of service.
- Insurance Coverage
You may want to look for professionals that have a lot of insurance coverage for their moves. This will determine what kind of reimbursement you may get if your items are damaged. See what size of crew they have to make sure they are going to be able to handle your work, and you may even ask about what size truck they have. The more questions you can ask, the more confident you will be in the services you paid for. Establish your own confidence as soon as possible.


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Supplemental Health Insurance
The Bullock Agency facilitates coverage that protects your family's financial well-being during a medical crisis. Cash benefits are paid directly to the policyholder; use them as you see fit! Programs are guaranteed renewable and portable. This is YOUR insurance! We represent the top carriers in the industry, giving you the ability to customize your coverage by providing access to plans for:
Cancer: The select provider has benefits payable for initial cancer diagnosis, radiation, chemotherapy, cancer surgery, and experimental treatments. Wellness benefits are available for routine cancer screenings, as well as benefits payable for transportation and lodging, hospital stays, and much more.
Critical Illness: The select provider pays lump sum cash benefits for heart attack, stroke, paralysis, major third degree burns, end-stage renal failure, coronary artery bypass surgery, and major human organ transplant.
Accidents: The select provider has benefits payable for emergency treatment, x-rays, accident follow-up treatment, accident hospitalization, accident specific sum for injuries, accidental death, and much more.
Hospitalization: The select provider has benefits payable for hospitalization from $500-$3,000 depending on qualification. The insured must be hospitalized for at least 19 hours.
Dental: Having difficulty finding the right Dental Coverage? Let The Bullock Agency help! We give you a choice of carriers and affordable coverage that best suits your family's needs. Many of our carriers let you choose your own dentist instead of staying in a network, at no extra cost.
Short Term Disability: Provides benefits based on your financial needs and income. You can choose between term coverage and an elimination period.


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Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is available to those who already have Medicare Parts A and B coverage and live in the service area of the plan they are interested in joining. Those who have end-stage renal disease are not eligible to enroll in Medicare Part C.
Medicare Part C coverage consists of alternative health plans offered by private insurance companies. Advantage plans must offer all the coverage provided by Medicare Parts A and B. Additionally, they usually offer prescription drug coverage and sometimes offer other services, such as dental, hearing, vision, and health and wellness programs. Only hospice care is still covered by original Medicare when patients are in Medicare Advantage programs. Those in Medicare Part C pay an additional Medicare Advantage premium as well as their regular Medicare Part B premium.
Medicare Advantage plans typically have networks of doctors and other health care providers that patients must visit to maintain coverage. If it is necessary to see specialists outside the network, patients must have a referral from a doctor within the network or risk paying the entire fee out of pocket. The initial seven-month enrollment period for Medicare Part C is three months before the month of the 65th birthday, that month and three months after. Following the initial enrollment period, individuals can switch from Medicare Parts A and B to a Medicare Part C plan only during the open enrollment period, which was October 15 to December 7 in 2014.


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Here's a sneak peek for the new Recycling room that's coming to Club Penguin!
This room is being constructed right now at the Mine Shack. In it, we'll be able to recycle paper and things like that.
It will probably be open on April 22.
Related Posts:
Click here, to read "Construction at the Mine Shack Begins".
Click here, to see the Earth Day party log in screen picture.
Click here, to read more about this party.
Click here, to see a Earth Day party sneak peek.
-Cena12121, www.TeamClubPenguinCheats.blogspot.com
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Monday, April 19, 2010
Club Penguin Recycling Room Sneak Peek!
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My first Rock & Republic's shoe. Eyed this hottie at Kohl's 2 weeks ago while I was in Sheboygan. Couldn't stop thinking about it so I just had to go back to get it. Can't wait to rock this baby shoe!!!!!
Orginal price: $74.99
Sale price: $49.99
Purchase price: $2.81 (after my coupons)
*What a STEAL right??!?!?!?!!!!*


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Even though the world is progressing at a massive pace and many positive changes are happening world over, the political landscape of just about every country, it seems, is going against its people. The people in just about any country you name today are not happy with their government, and primarily because most of these governments are working for the benefit of the large-scale corporations who funded election campaigns or are indebted to their favors during the election. There are not many wealthy or influential people out there, with few exceptions, who genuinely want to uplift the low-income communities or work for the benefit of the people.
George Soros is one of the most famous public figures in the United States, who is not only a wealthy businessman but also a political contributor, thought leader, an author, a philanthropist, and a speaker. George Soros continues to propagate his idea of the open and democratic society in every way possible, whether it is the articles he writes, the seminars and conferences he speaks in, or the speeches he gives at large-scale public events. He has been using his wealth in a very meticulous manner to ensure that it is used to help make a positive difference in the world we live in and uplift the poor and needy people from their downtrodden conditions. Whether it is supporting the education of the students from the low income and black communities in the United States or the elsewhere or supporting the movements like Antifa or Black Lives Matter, George Soros has never been hesitant in coming forward.
It is because of his bold moves that he is also often criticized by the people and even the governments. Many of the world governments where he has outreach in through his non-profit organization, Open Society Foundation, feels that George Soros is trying to influence the politics of their countries. However, what he is trying to do is awaken the people from their complacency and ignite in them the passion for fighting for their rights. In the developed country as the United States, the people minorities and immigrants are oppressed and their rights not respected. It is because of such negativity that George Soros feel that Capitalism has rightly become a threat that people should be warned about. In a recent article, he wrote that people no longer have to worry about Nazism or Communism because Communism is what they should be actually concerned about today.
George Soros has given away a total sum of $32 Billion in his life to charitable causes and continues to give away as much as he can. The recent move of George Soros of giving away $18 Billion to his foundation, Open Society Foundation, brought him back to the limelight. He feels that it is the right way to use the fortune he has accumulated over the years. Open Society Foundation works with hundreds of organizations located in different parts of the world to help make a difference that promises a better future for the generations to come.
To know more click: here.


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Windows 10 unveiled by Microsoft
Successor to Windows 8 will be released next year, skipping Windows 9
Microsoft is trying to soften an unpopular redesign of Windows by reviving features from older versions while still attempting to nudge desktop users into a world of touch screens and mobile devices.
The company on Tuesday gave an early preview of the new Windows 10 software, which it aims to begin selling by the middle of next year. Although the current version is called Windows 8, Microsoft says it's skipping ahead to Windows 10 to emphasize its effort to move forward.
"Windows 10 represents the first step in a whole new generation of Windows," said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Microsoft's operating systems group.
Windows 8 was introduced two years ago as an answer to the growing demand for mobile devices. But many users hated it because its tablet-like design and controls weren't a good fit for many devices using keyboards and mice. Sales of personal computers continued to fall.
With Windows 10, Microsoft is trying to regain the loyalty of longtime PC users, while reaching out to consumers and businesses that are increasingly adopting touch-screen smartphones and tablets.
Analysts consider the success of the new Windows crucial for Microsoft and new CEO Satya Nadella, who must show that Microsoft can embrace mobile devices without sacrificing the traditional computing experience.
The new system will be a blend of the old and the new. For instance, it will have various controls that are familiar to users of older Windows systems, such as a start menu to quickly access apps. But this start button will also open a series of tiles that resemble what's found in Windows 8.
'This is what Windows 8 should have been'
Analysts said that more gradual transition is important if Microsoft wants to persuade users to upgrade.
"This is what Windows 8 should have been," said Carolina Milanesi, a veteran tech analyst at the research firm Kantar Worldpanel. "Here they are doing the right thing."
Microsoft executives signaled they got that message on Tuesday. They stressed repeatedly that using the next version of Windows won't be a challenge for businesses or consumers who have continued to use Windows 7 or even earlier versions.
The new software seeks to offer "the familiarity of Windows 7 with some of the benefits that exist in Windows 8," said Joe Belfiore, a Microsoft executive who oversees Windows design and evolution.
He compared it to buying a new car with a more powerful engine and a better audio system, without having to "learn a new way to drive."
Windows 10, for instance, will suggest new ways to use or navigate through files, without forcing users to abandon the old way, Belfiore said.
"We're designing the experience so that as you use it, the things you already know are familiar and present, but new value is presented to you at a rate that's easier for you to ingest," he said.
The effort drew tentative praise from several industry experts.
"They desperately needed to find a way to bridge that experience. I just wish they'd done that with Windows 8," said Rob Enderle, a tech analyst with the Enderle Group.
Milanesi said that while many businesses resisted upgrading to Windows 8, they can't avoid touch screens as younger workers are accustomed to using phones or tablets as their primary computing device.
Windows 10 will also be designed to work on a wider range of computing devices.
Microsoft currently has three main systems — Windows 8 for traditional computers and tablets, Windows Phone 8 for cellphones and Xbox for its gaming console. By unifying the underlying systems in Windows 10, software developers will be able to create apps for the various devices more easily. Consumers will also be able to switch devices more easily and avoid having to buy the same apps multiple times.
That doesn't mean the apps will always look the same. Developers will still be able to adapt apps for the various screen sizes, but won't have to start from the beginning for each version.
User interfaces may differ by device
User interfaces on the various devices may also differ, even as they share underlying technologies. For now, Microsoft plans to keep the current Xbox interface on the game console.
Enderle said Microsoft's effort to create a single platform should help lure more developers to write apps — something the company needs to boost usage of Windows tablets and phones.
Windows is the most widely used PC operating system in the world, but it is steadily losing ground as more people turn to smartphones and tablets, which primarily run on operating systems from Microsoft rivals Apple and Google. That's why Nadella wants to create one system that will run on all devices.
"It's certainly an ambitious goal, but it's also a little early to tell how it will work," said Michael Silver, a tech analyst at Gartner.
Apple and Google have both rejected Microsoft's approach of unifying the various systems, preferring to keep systems for PCs and mobile devices separate.
Microsoft also touted new security and management features for business customers, which represent a lucrative market for the company. Almost half of all PCs are used in the workplace, according to Gartner.
While a "technical preview" version of the software is being released this week, Microsoft said it won't be ready to talk about new consumer features until next year.
Microsoft declined to say how much the new software would cost or how it will be distributed. Analysts have speculated that the company might be considering a subscription model — as it has with Office software — rather than selling each new version of Windows separately.
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October 2011 New ProductsPosted in Product Reviews on October 1, 2011
Full Net
New from Safari Straps is a full-length net for the '04-'06 Wrangler. If you are looking to keep your dog or kangaroo in your Jeep but still have that open-air feeling, this is the way to go. The full-length net kit covers from the tailgate all the way up to the rollbar and the window nets cover the sides down to the inner wheelwells. Made from 2-inch high-strength nylon webbing and sewn on computer-controlled sewing machines these nets are strong and will provide an exceptional fit for your Jeep. Information: Safari Straps, 661/294-3000, safaristraps.com
It isn't often we are impressed into talking about something under an inch, but Power Tank's new Super Flow valve got us going. The new for 2012 Power Tanks can actually run a ¾-inch-drive air gun. This is in part thanks to the company's new HP250i and HP400i high-flow regulators. The 250i (left) for 2012 can flow up to 250psi and up to 45cfm and is easier to service and rebuild than the old one and available in an all-black finish. The 400i (right) Pro can handle CO2 or N2 and can run up to 400 psi with easier-to-read gauges and is also easier to service and rebuild. Information: Power Tank, 209/334-0898, powertank.com
American Way
These billet hood pins by Eddie Motorsports are really done the good-old American way with no corners cut and built with the best of materials. To start, they are CNC-machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and made to the strictest standards. They are fastened to the hood with four blind studs per pin and available in several varieties including machine-finish, brilliant polish, black, and clear anodized. The machined finish is shown here in both black and clear anodized. Optional aircraft-style push-pins are available for an additional cost. Information: Eddie Motorsports, 888/813-1293, eddiemotorsports.com
Max Comfort
If you read the recent release for heat-and-sound-absorbing liners for the JK Wrangler and thought you'd like to see it for your Jeep you aren't the only one. Insul-liners are available for all Jeeps with hardtops. These liners are proven to reduce the interior temperature of the hardtop. They are over 1-inch thick, made from a rigid, closed-cell foam, two layers of foil, a layer of soft insulation, and a marine-grade vinyl professionally stitched for a great finished look. They are made in the U.S.A. and available in many different colors to match your tastes. Information: Insul-liner, 352/895-4017, insul-liner.com
The GM Corporate 14-bolt axle is fairly bulletproof in junkyard-new condition. They are cheap to buy, easy to find, and cheap to build. However, there is a huge lip on the bottom of the housing that is a big rock magnet. A lot of guys shave the bottom of the housing, but many make it too complex, including welding and custom machining of the ring gear. This 3⁄8-inch-thick cover from Barnes 4wd is like a shave kit for dummies. Simply bolt the cover on, mark where to cut and bust out the reciprocating saw or angle grinder. No welding, no machining, and the cover is guaranteed for life. Information: Barnes 4wd, 828/551-7616, barnes4wd.com
Real Wheel
If you like the look of your factory wheels and want a set of beadlocks you don't have to ditch what you have, you can simply modify them. Or, more accurately, have them modified by the experts at OMF. The company has been adding fake lock rings and real lock rings to both new and used rims for almost thirty years. This experience has given them the skill to modify the often hard-to-modify factory wheels. So whether you want a real beadlock or fake, or just want to put together a beadlock that might be lighter than many current aftermarket offerings, OMF can do it. Information:OMF Performance Products, 951/354-8272, omfperformance.com


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The original reporter of the article Khaled Abu Toameh writing for the Jerusalem Post in his article Fatah uses false video as evidence is quite adamant who the culprit is.
But now I'm not so sure. Khaled Abu Toameh is celebrated by some for his objectiveness, he has revealed the media manipulation P.A. uses, on more than one occasion.
In a briefing by Toameh Telling the Truth about the Palestinians which appears in The Middle East Forum he puts forward the PA as ruthless and intimidating censor and manipulator of the press.
In what is uncannily a similar genre of story to the 'Honor killings' , in another story written in May 2007 Ramallah couple arrested for selling daughters , Toameh's story again cast a poor light on the Palestinian Authority.
Considering the expected ease and speed in which this story was 'disproved' is it just possible it was actually an attempt by Hamas to portray so called 'moderate' Fatah and the Israeli Media and the Israeli State by proxy as a group of manipulative co conspirators?
If we read the latest being written on this affair it seems the two 'witnesses' were apparently located in Gaza and were Fatah witnesses. Is it just a coincidence that now these two Fatah supporters are utterly unreachable on their mobile phones?
With out being too critical of the JPost reporter Khaled Abu Toameh it would appear he would make the ideal target to plant a story that would later blow up to embarass Fatah and the Israeli Media.
The story certainly wasn't easy to dismiss immediately as a lie, with the recent triple honor killing report Three sisters stabbed to death in Gaza 'honor killing' it would seem this latest story was certainly possible.
There's no doubt now, due to the vigilance of the blogosphere, that the story is concocted, the only doubt remains who was the actually concocter.
The obvious choice is Fatah, but something tells me this was a planted story by Hamas using former Fatah supporters possibly under some duress, and the story was calculated to self implode to bring a major embarrassment to both Fatah and the Jewish Media.
It smells, it smells really bad and I feel there never was any doubt it would be exposed as a lie, the question is who was supposed to be holding it when it was exposed as a lie?
My ten cents is Hamas was setting Fatah and the Israeli press up. Making that 'pesky' reporter Khaled Abu Toameh look foolish was just an added benefit.
But the irony is, the clumsiness of the story has quickly revealed the extent to which that Palestinians on either side of the divide are willing to go to cast an enemy in bad light.
: Honor Killing * Gaza video a fraud * Gaza Honor Killing * Gaza Honor Killing video * Honor Killing video * Pallywood * Islamic media manipulation * Palestinian media manipulation * Jewish * Mr Bagel * BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger * Jew