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We like life insurance and more specifically we like cash value life insurance. Doesn't really matter which type of cash value life insurance it is, whole life insurance universal life insurance truth is both accomplish some magnificently great things.
But neither Brantley nor I started our careers with the appreciation we now have for life insurance. No, instead we were both very excited to be working in the "securities" industry and were much happier to hold investment licenses than we were to hold insurance licenses.
What caused us to make the shift away from practices that were securities focused and instead more insurance focused?
While I don't personally consider cash value life insurance a complicated subject, I admit that when the prospect of using life insurance as an income or savings tool first came to my attention my first thought was "how is that even possible?"
I mean, life insurance is insurance. It's an expense just like car insurance. You pay a premium and that premium goes to the insurance company. How can paying a premium result in my having any money? No thanks, I'll talk about that sexy mutual fund of the year that Morningstar is gushing over with their five star rating.
Oh the embarrassing ignorance.
Incapable (actually unwillingly, let's be honest) of understanding how life insurance really works and can be leveraged as a phenomenal retirement tool or savings vehicle, I embarked on my career as a financial
advisor professional consultant thingy and only really accomplished confusing the hell out of everyone I spoke to about what exactly I did.
I could talk about investment products. But most people didn't care because I always had to tell them that investment performance was always a guess and maybe the fund or investment strategy that I liked would work, but then again maybe not.
And then 2008 roared along and one of the nastiest market fallouts in modern time took place.
2008 was evil. And trying to sell securities was brutal. People were scared and they didn't want to talk about investing in the stock market. In fact the stock market itself didn't even matter. If it even remotely wreaked of Wall St. people turned their nose up and walked away, and for good reason.
So, with traditional investments out the window, and needing something to focus on and talk to prospective clients about, I did what any good capitalist does and sought out another option.
I did have this life insurance thing I knew about, but that was difficult. People didn't understand it and, while it appeared to work, no one likes talking about life insurance…right?
I began focusing heavily on life insurance (more whole life insurance in the beginning because I worked for a career mutual insurance company and I learned early on that universal life insurance was a dirty word…liars) and talking about it with people.
I ignored the resistance and confusion and pressed on to spread the word of what these products did.
Then I made a fascinating discovery regarding policy blending that I pieced together myself (no one bothered to show me, probably because no one knew how).
I quickly found myself in a position where I became the go to guy regarding cash value life insurance and how it could be employed as complement to ones portfolio and used as a retirement or savings strategy. And people (potential clients) where coming to me to learn what I knew and buy life insurance from me.
We've covered the multitude of benefits that cash value life insurance brings to the table. And there's a ton of other content on the Insurance Pro Blog that goes even deeper into additional benefits. But the one thing that both whole life insurance and indexed universal life insurance bring to the table that no other assets I've found accomplishes nearly as well is a strong return given the risk exposure that remains extremely liquid.
Nothing offers the safety of principal with as much liquidity and can yield as well as cash value life insurance, nothing.
It's not just about the market neutrality (thought it's strong I assure you), and it's certainly not about the likely return (stocks will almost surely win long term). I've said before that personal finance is more about the over all strategy than anything else, and cash value life insurance is the best weapon at your side in your mission through your own personal financial life.
It brings so many options and so many benefits to the table it's hard not to become fanatical about it—if you can understand it. And I can assure you understanding it can take some mental processing power. But, like most things, the effort to develop the understanding is well worth the work for the rewards of understanding and owning properly implemented cash value life insurance are substantial.
Brandon launched the Insurance Pro Blog in July of 2011 as a project to de-mystify the life insurance industry. Brandon was born in Northern New England, and he currently calls VT home. He attended Syracuse University and graduated with a triple major in Economics, Public Administration, and Political Science.


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You may have already experimented with pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, where you buy ads that show up on Google search results and hope that searchers click them, visit your site, and buy your product or service. There is another facet to PPC which involves affiliate marketing, but it can be a little difficult to explain to a friend or family member what you do for a living.
a�?Well, I buy ads on the side of Google and if someone clicks on my ad and buy bentyl fills out a form, I get $15.00, and if it costs me $1.00 a click, and it takes twelve clicks before someone fills out a form, then I make $3.00.a�?
Hmmma��Perfectly clear, right?
Welcome to the world of PPC arbitrage. What buy antibiotics online in uk. does this even mean? Most likely, the only place youa��ve ever heard the word "arbitrage" before is in the movie a�?Wall Streeta�? or an IRS tax video on stock options. Basically, arbitrage allows you to take advantage of a price difference between two markets. You buy an item at a low price and sell at a second (higher) price, with your profit being the difference between the two prices. The word "arbitrage" originates in the French language and literally means a decision by an arbitrator or referee.
It can be tough to make money in PPC these days, and the arbitrage market is no different. You need every tool at your disposal to beat out the competition and remain a Viagra Soft online profitable arbitrageur. The first step to being among the best is to automate as much as possible. This begins with finding keywords that are going to convert for you. Some of the top keywords research tools currently available include SpyFu, Ispionage, and Wordstream. These tools aggregate data from Google and can tell you exactly what keywords your competitors are bidding on. Google will tell you what terms are searched for, but won't tell you how much your competitors are paying for these keywords. However, since the Internet is open, these companies collect all this data and allow you to see your competitorsa�� exact ads, when the ads are running or have been changed, and all the keywords and landing pages associated with the ads. Imagine that, being able to see only your competitors successful campaigns. If you are not using a tool like these, your chance at profit in this market is greatly diminished.
The next step is to build your campaigns once you know what keywords are working for your competition. For this, there are a number of new and lesser-known tools that can build your PPC campaigns in minutes. Among these are Wordstream, Speed PPC, and LP Gen. The services will take the keyword lists you have gotten from the services above and craft them quickly into expertly made AdWords campaigns.
Finally, the last step is to manage all of this data. Yes, you can do it on purchase Lasix your own, working with Excel spreadsheets like people did five years ago, but you may end up spending so much time managing and trying to stay on top of all the data that your profits will suffer. Instead, investigate something like Clickable, which offers a fully automated bid management system that interfaces directly with Google, Yahoo, and MSN and allows you to change bids and ads across all three search engines with one click. It also tells you whether you should change your bids to exact match or broad match based on its large database of successful campaigns. Other companies that offer bid management are Acquisio and Click Sweeper, however these products are for very large accounts.
PPC arbitrage, like all Internet marketing, is not a one, two, or three-step process. But if you do your research acquire doxycycline, acquire zithromax. and stay on top of the latest and most powerful tools out there, then you will find the success you desire.

subset: commoncrawl


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Catalan Aubergines/Eggplants
Similar to ratatouille, but different. :-) The paprika makes it different; using smoked paprika makes it extra-special!
Prepare the eggplants/aubergines by peeling them and cutting into cubes (about 1-inch).
Heat the oil in a frying pan add the cubes and sauté for a few minutes
Add the chopped onion, crushed garlic and paprika to the eggplant/aubergine in the frying pan and fry over a low heat for a further 5 mins
Add the chopped tomatoes; season with salt and pepper
Cover the frying pan and cook for a further 15 minutes (checking that the eggplant/aubergine is well cooked and tender).
Place in a serving dish and garnish with a chopped fresh parsley.
Print Recipe (without
the ads)


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Today while working away at work, one of my follows, Terry @docmidnight Grant, owner of @3rdcoastcomics and basically Encyclopedia Comictannica, posted the following tweet:
It was pretty harmless I'd say, but I quickly thought of the recent heroes from Avengers obviously and I figured that the Cap himself, Steve Rogers probably wasn't a comic book reader and was probably indifferent to them:
Now, this is with only really remembering the recent origins from the movie and the animated Avengers movies. Again, I don't need to remind you that Terry is good at his job, so I was a little hesitant with my statement, but I figured "Hey… Steve was a little guy but wanted to do big things. His main focus was the war at the time." Terry's argument was similar in that Rogers was a little guy bullied, of course he read comics!
Well, Terry, you were right, of course. Using the Earth-616 as our actual cannon, since it is basically what the comics are supposed to be, I looked up his biography. On wikipedia.
By early 1940, before America's entry into World War II, Rogers is a tall but scrawny fine arts student specializing in illustration, and a comic book writer and artist, a career he willingly set aside upon his transformation into Captain America. Despite some forays into graphics, Steve Rogers never created another character.
Well, shit. I'm eating my words. Hard.
Mr. Grant, I respectfully bow down to your greatness, which was the obvious destination where this was headed when I first thought to question Captain America's geekiness.
And while I have you here, dear reader, let me point you to something else the great Terry Grant learned me about…
The Hero Initiative. It is a financial safety net for comic creators created by a consortium of comic publishers. This provide medical aid and assistance with living to our older generation of comic creators. People probably without any retirement backups, etc. Terry pointed to an article by The Comics Reporter about at least donating the cost of a movie ticket for every comics-related movie you go see, like The Avengers. Or any movie!
Check out what you can do here.
In summation, Terry Grant is ALWAYS RIGHT, and DONATE to The Hero Initiative to show your appreciation for our comic books/movies.
Short URL: http://is.gd/CapAReadsComics
Posted in Blog, Charity, Geekery | No Comments »
Leave a Comment


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We love to pass on great ideas, and below are several that our customers have shared with us. They make each piece of Inspirational Arts more personal and give it extra special meaning. We hope they inspire you! Paring any of our 5" x 7" prints with a personal photograph; Great for weddings, anniversaries, teacher gifts and more!*We have personally found the best selection of these ready frames at AARON BROTHERS ART & FRAMING.Pre-cut mats, glass and all at affordable prices...just make sure that the two openings are 5" x 7"* RESTING ON HIS WORDPillow CasesThese make wonderful gifts for all ages, and the *embroidering idea makes it a personalized gift! *We do not offer this service at this time . Please see our Links page for an embroiderer in your area*Whether you have a child going off to summer camp, a friend going through a difficult time or a loved one fighting cancer, it's our prayer that they are each encouraged and comforted by the power of God's written Word. Having the person's name embroidered on the pillow case makes God's message even more personal. With the Cheer, Dance, and Class designs, names are typically embroidered in the primary school color.
*Additional sport symbols can be added as seen with the football helmet above and the baseball bat and ball below*
Below is our new "Mr. & Mrs." gift set made even more specialwith the bride and groom's monogrammed initials...LOVE this idea!!
This customer had all the grandkids names embroidered. Great gift for grandparents!


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Yes, I'm technically supposed to be on bereavement leave this week (and yes, I am on leave...), but I also have time on my hands, well more than I do when I'm working full-time, and I've also of course been checking my school email address.
Yesterday my principal emailed us with the "official" kindergarten writing assessment date: May 18th! As a kindergarten team we have been using a 4-Star Writing rubric in our classes. There are stars for:
-Starting sentences with a capital letter
-Using an endmark
-Using spaces
-Words that match the picture
While I love the idea of coloring in the stars, I've been trying to come up with something even more visual for my students. So, I made our new editing checklist! Take a peek, and let me know what you think! I'm hoping that the animals (and alien!) will be easy for students to remember when they are writing on the assessment since we have to take down our rubrics.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Our New Author's Editing Checklist
Labels: writing
5 comments:
- Jonelle Bell said...
I love this!!
A Place Called Kindergarten
- May 4, 2011 at 7:27 PM
- Alex said...
Thanks!! :)
- May 10, 2011 at 9:43 PM
- Claudia Dell said...
i really like that.i was looking for this.Essay Editing Checklist. thanks
- October 23, 2012 at 3:18 AM
This is adorable! What font did you use?
- February 19, 2014 at 11:31 AM
- Jovette Francoeur said...
I love this checklist! May I have permission to use it and share it as an example during workshops? I will obviously give you credit. Thank you!
- June 3, 2014 at 1:26 PM
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#1. How did you decide on your shop name?
Originally, I was selling my jewelry under the name of Young Designs (this was before I started on Etsy); but I thought that was kind of unexciting and wanted to think up a different name. I was sitting on my bed, looking at the sunset, when all of a sudden "SilverSunshine" popped into my head. I fell in love with it and have been using it ever since!
#2. When did you start crafting?
I mark the date around age 12, which is when I first started using a sewing machine. I began selling doll dresses when I was fourteen, and I was sixteen when I was first introduced to jewelry-making by a lady from my church.
#3. What or who inspires you?
I probably get inspired most by looking at jewelry-making magazines, like BeadStyle; or retail jewelry catalogs, like Sundance (their stuff is so pretty!). Really neat beads or components in bead supply catalogs will inspire me too.
#4. Do you have a day job?
Not at the moment--I don't work during the school year because I am in college, but I am currently looking for some part-time summer work.
#5. What is the item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?
Oh boy--I don't know! I enjoyed making all of them! If I had to choose one, though, I suppose it would be my "Jena" earrings, simply because my favorite color is red and I love wire-wrapping.
Hannah is offering this beautiful bracelet as the give away prize!!
The rules are the same as always:
~For another entry - grab my button on the sidebar and add it to your blog, let me know.
~For an extra 5 entries - purchase something from Hannah's shop - then leave a comment telling me what you purchased! Good Luck Everyone!!


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She looked blankly at him.
You may be wondering why he thinks -- as do I -- lot numbers are so important. After all, So-and-So's 2003 vintage is So-and-So's 2003 vintage. Well, yes and no. If So-and-So makes a small amount of a given wine, just enough to fill one holding tank, it is. However, if the production is too much for one tank (tanks range from 2 to about 200 hectoliters and are proportional to the size of the winery; in terms of bottles this translates to between about 260 and 26,000), then the winemaker will obviously have to put the wine into several tanks. At which point each tank becomes a distinct entity, and though the winemaker will likely try to treat them alike, things can vary from one to the next.
How? First of all, the tanks may not be bottled all at once. Perhaps as needed if the wine in question is intended to be light and zesty, say a simple Dolcetto, or working around the winery's other commitments (say a tank at a time) if the wine is to be laid down prior to release. The differences in tank time can result in slight differences in the various lots.
Second, wines in different tanks can evolve differently, even if they're treated alike: One tank may be in a slightly cooler spot in the building. Something settles out that doesn't in another that is a little warmer. In this case the differences in the lots can be minor, but they can also be substantial.
Or the wines in the different tanks can receive radically different treatments. Some friends of mine tried leaving one tank of one of their white wines on the lees for longer than the others, to see what would happen.
The wine from the normal lots was brassy gold with gold highlights, with an elegant bouquet with floral notes, warmth, sea breezes, and hints of white chocolate; on the palate it was smooth, full, round, and crisp, but not tart, with rich fruit that led into a clean persistent finish with slight bitter almond notes. A big wine with tremendous finesse.
The special lot was obviously cut from the same cloth, but on steroids: Intensely charged brassy gold with gold highlights, and floral notes laced with sage, herbs, almost caramel-like sugary overtones, and bitter almonds in the bouquet. Pleasing but somewhat biting, and so powerful that the individual nuances interfere with each other. On the palate it was huge, with tremendous fruit and a powerful, very long, finish with extremely intense bitter almond overtones.
The same label, but two different lots and two very different wines.
"In retrospect, we should have called the special lot something else," says the winemaker, adding that they burned their fingers badly: The experiment confused their customers. Those already familiar with the wine, who thought they knew what they were getting, were quite upset by the special bottles, while those who discovered the wine by buying a special bottle were equally upset to discover that most of the wine was lighter.
Lots are, alas, not always created equal.
Returning to Vinitaly, a Red tasted yesterday:
Rivera Rupìcolo Castel del Monte DOC 2004Lot E643DUE
This is a blend of Montepulciano and Nero di Troia, and is deep ruby with black reflections and cherry rim; the bouquet is powerful and elegant, with rich red berry fruit supported by fairly intense stewed bell peppers with some greenish overlying spice. If you're used to the standard international varietals you'll find it decidedly exotic, but also pleasant. On the palate it's full, warm, and rich, with fairly intense red berry fruit mingled with harmonious grilled peppers and supported by ample slightly dusty tannins that flow into a long warm finish with cedary spice and fruit that carry on at length.
It's quite pleasant, in a slightly aggressive key, and will drink very well with succulent red meats, especially grilled meats along the lines of lamb, and will also work well with hearty roasts. Expect the bottle to go quickly.


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In its report, "U.S. Internet Advertising 2008-2012 Forecast and Analysis: Defying Economic Crisis," IDC said the Internet will go from the No. 5 advertising medium all the way to No. 2 in just five years, making it bigger than newspapers, cable TV and broadcast TV, and second only to direct marketing.
IDC said video advertising will attract the most new marketing dollars. Its revenue will grow sevenfold from $500 million in 2007 to $3.8 billion in 2012, a compound annual growth rate of 49.4%.
Search advertising will remain the online advertising format that garners the most revenue over the forecast period.
—Carol Krol


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Friday, January 11, 2013
excuse my absence
28 comments:
gorgeous!!!! What a beautiful quilt, everything about it is simply perfect. Love the little addition of pink to the binding.ReplyDelete
It looks so beautiful!!! Love the pics! Thanks so much for the link back!ReplyDelete
It is absolutely beautiful, your daughter is a lucky girl!ReplyDelete
From front to back and binding, it is a winner. Yep. Missed ya.ReplyDelete
so excited to see you back! and a wonderful quilt of course!ReplyDelete
This is a really pretty one. Makes me rethink my decision what to do in January. I don't want to start a new quilt, but I still haven't got my own swoon one....ReplyDelete
Beautiful, Nettie! I'm glad you're back on the blog.ReplyDelete
What an absolute beauty! The colors are great too and not overly girly. Someday I'll have to send a quilt out. I do love that quilting style.ReplyDelete
p.s. welcome back!
Yay! Welcome back and what a way to come back! Love this quilt! Everything about it is beautiful. The pattern, the fabrics, the quilting, the binding! You hit it out of the park!ReplyDelete
Love that backing with the swoon! Your daughter did great there!ReplyDelete
Wow! Lucky girl...I thought you made it for yourself.ReplyDelete
Don'tcha hate moving. It just sucks up so much of your life and energy. I hope you're loving Texas, so that it feels worthwhile! :)
- AnonymousJanuary 11, 2013 at 4:23 PM
This is beautiful! I love the binding and the backing - they suit the top so well.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 11, 2013 at 4:30 PM
it is beautifulReplyDelete
That Swoon is gorgeous! Good luck getting everything (and everyone) settled in. :-)ReplyDelete
love the quilt! and the backing is so sweet. congratulations on your move, and i look forward to seeing you on your blog more : )ReplyDelete
LOVE Swoon and yours is just gorgeous!ReplyDelete
Beautiful quilt! When I finish my next large quilt, I might need to try your machine quilter :)ReplyDelete
Looks great, and welcome back to blogland!ReplyDelete
Your swoon quilt is really gorgeous! I love the backing too, and the binding. I made the swoon quilt also. I have been thinking about making it into a baby quilt because I just love the quilt block :)ReplyDelete
oooh marvellousReplyDelete
Your Swoon turned out lovely!ReplyDelete
the quilt is gorgeous and HEY WELCOME BACK. nice to see a post pop up from you!!!ReplyDelete
Really lovely quilt!!! J.ReplyDelete
I love the quilting and the binding! So glad to have you back in Texas!!!ReplyDelete
This is gorgeous! Lucky little girl!ReplyDelete
The Quilt is beautiful! I found your blog via Stitched in Color! I'm a fellow Texan too! What part of the state are you in?ReplyDelete
HAppy to be your newest follower!


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Carved Teak Cheese Board - 12.5"
This serving board is made from teak, with an intricate carved design on the handle. It's smooth and lightweight, with beautiful hues shown throughout the wood grain. Perfect for displaying cheese and hor d'oeuvres, or simply putting on display in your kitchen. It was made from sustainably sourced teak wood in Bali by an artisan named Cun. Approx 12.5" x 12.5" (also available in a smaller size)


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Betsy Foxman
Betsy Foxman is a Professor of epidemiology and the Director of the Center for Molecular and Clinical Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (MAC-EPID) at the University of Michigan. Dr. Foxman is a Molecular Epidemiologist; her work focuses on the epidemiology of acute, chronically recurring bacterial infections, particularly urinary tract infections, otitis media, and lactation mastitis. She and her collaborators work on describing the transmission system, characterizing antibiotic resistance, and identifying the genetic variability of uropathogenic Echerichia coli, Group B Streptococcus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus mutans. Dr. Foxman is past president of the American College of Epidemiology, past chair of the American Public Health Association Epidemiology Section, and first past chair and founder of the Michigan Public Health Association Epidemiology Section.
Biography Updated on 10 May 2007


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Clairefontaine Papers
Page and paper options
The infographic below shows all page layout options offered by Clairefontaine. Please note the subtle differences offered by pages with margin and/or boxed/formatted page layouts as opposed to regular lined/grid etc. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us before ordering.
Click on the image below for more detail.


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5 Best Red White & Blue Sweets for 4th of July
Posted on July 3, 2011 by Glutenfreeda
Nothing says 4th of July like red white and blue! Here are five fabulous patriotic dessert ideas to conclude your holiday celebration, including several GFCF/vegan options!
Red White and Blueberry Muffins
Gluten free, dairy free and absolutely delicious!
Red White and Blue Sunday
Rich creamy ice cream and fresh berries make for the perfect summertime dessert! Easily dairy-free using coconut or soy milk-based ice cream.
Very Berry Cheesecake
Elegant and sophisticated, who can say no to cheesecake?!
Berries Jubilee
Serve a la mode, great for the whole family.
Blackberry Rhubarb Crisp
Sweet, tart, smooth and crunchy – the perfect combination of flavors and textures for a sweet summertime treat.
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Planned outdoors space
- Display and cultivation
- Produce food crops
Gardening is the activity of growing and maintaining the garden. This work is done by an amateur or professional gardener.
structural enhancements
water features
ponds (with or without fish)
dry creek beds
Pallet garden
- pallet
- 2 large bags of potting soil
- Plants
- small roll of landscape fabric
- staple gun and staples
- sand paper
- Prep and smooth pallet, sand if needed
- Landscape fabric securely attached to the board
- Fabric should be taut but not in danger of tearing.
- Smooth the fabric out and staple every two inches along the edge
- Repeat on other sides areas
- Push the soil into the pallet between the slats and smooth
- Repeat with the second bag of potting soil.
- Plant items (plants completely covering)
- Leave the pallet flat on the ground for a couple of weeks (watering when needed), roots can start to grow in and hold
- Water your pallet regularly
Zen rock gardens
"Dry landscape" gardens
Zen gardens are Japanese rock gardens, influenced by Zen Buddhism. Gravel or sand, raked or not raked, symbolizes sea, ocean, rivers or lakes. Rock / alpine gardens use rocks or stones, along with plants native to rocky or alpine environments.
Plants and trees
- changed with season
- sculpted to maintain and enhance experience
- structure determined by the architecture
Zen garden's layout:
- gravel/sand (ocean)
- rocks (islands)
Xeriscape gardens
Implementing practices such as planting native species of grass and other vegetation that require less water
Landscape with reduce water
-Attractive landscape with water-efficient plants.
- Little or no maintenance
- full advantage of rainfall retention
Xerogardening is gardening in ways that eliminates the need for water from irrigation.
- Low or no supplies of fresh water applications
- Low water consumption of imported or .
- Less time and work for maintenance
- Gardening simpler and less stressful
Flower gardens
External articles
- In Widtsoe, J. A., & In Stewart, G. (1918). Western agriculture. St. Paul, Minn: Webb Publishing Company
- French, T. E., & Ives, F. W. (1915). Agricultural drawing and the design of farm structures. New York [etc.: McGraw-Hill book company.


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This dish is always a favorite when family and friends get together for special occasions. it is very similar to paella but made with basmati rice and Turkish spicy sausage SUCUK.
It is a kind of feel good dish that so nice to make. I serve it as a main mail with salad or one of the hot dishes at a party.
- First I pan fry the CHICKEN TIGHTS (4 or 6 depending on how many people.) Add little water and cook the chicken pieces for 10 minutes, set aside.
- Then chop 1-2 large ONIONS and brown them in oil in a large frying pan or wok.
- Transfer chicken tights into the wok.
- Add 1 or 2 cups of BASMATI RICE and stir with onion for a minute or so. Add pinch of TURMERIC and CHILI PEPPER to taste.
- Add hot WATER or STOCK ( 2 cups of water for 1 cup of rice ), some SALT to taste.
- At this point, add some VEGETABLES that you like. ( corn, peas, peppers )
- Bring it to boil, then turn the heat to low to simmer.
- Add SUCUK or SPICY SAUSAGE slices on top. Cover and simmer for 20- 30 minutes until the rice is cooked.
- Add cooked PRAWNS 5 minutes before the cooking time ends.
- Sprinkle with CHIVES or SPRING ONIONS just before serving.
NOT: Chicken tights are best for this dish as they are not so dry.
Use any spicy sausage instead of sucuk.


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- 2 lb beef mince
- 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tbsp black pepper
- 1 large loaf of ciabatta
- Burger toppings of your choice (Lettuce, tomato, onions, mustard, ketchup etc!)
- 8 slices cheddar
- 4 gherkins, to serve
- On a large tray, mix together your mince, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Shape into a long flat patty that is slightly larger than your loaf of bread. Bake for 20 minutes at 400°F.
- Slice your bread in half horizontally and lay down half your cheese slices. Bring out the cooked patty and lay on top. Cover with more cheese.
- Brush the top half of the bread with butter and bake both pieces for 5 mins at 350°F.
- Bring out, dress the burger side with your toppings of choice and cover the other with sauce. Place the top on the burger and press down. Pin with 4 gherkins on cocktail sticks.
- Get yer mates round!
- Enjoy!


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Review of The Gabby Douglas Story on Netflix Instant
You probably remember gymnast Gabby Douglas from the 2012 London Olympics, but how much do you know about her story? She was the first gymnast to win the Individual All-Around and Team competitions in the Olympics and man, does she have a story to tell! If you have Netflix, make sure you watch The Gabby Douglas Story! It's a family-friendly T.V. movie with an average of 4.3 stars based out of over 15,000 ratings. It was released in 2014 and stars Regina King as Natalie Hawkins (Gabby's mother), Sydney Mikayla as the young Gabby Douglas, Imani Hakim as the teenage Gabby Douglas and Brian Tee as Coach Liang Chow.
The Story of Gabby Douglas
The film begins with her birth, how she nearly died and the health struggles she faced the first few years of her life. Being the youngest of four children living in Virginia Beach was hard on her parents and her mother especially since her father couldn't hold a job. She made the hard decision to leave Gabby's father and moved in with her mother until she could get back on her feet. She taught her kids to "Make today better than yesterday" and this was a family motto that kept all of them going through the years.
Gabby's older sister had taken some gymnastics classes and taught her everything she knew, but she was too old to focus on gymnastics by the time their mother could afford to begin paying for sports. All of Gabby's siblings recognized her talent and sacrificed a lot for her so she could continue training and competing. She was 12 when Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin dominated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and she made up her mind that she was going to train with Liang Chow and win the Olympics. Her mother thought she was crazy since Chow lived in Iowa and she couldn't afford to send her, but Gabby never gave up.
God was opening doors that Gabby's family didn't realize or fully understand. Missy and Travis Parton felt God was calling them to provide a home for a young gymnast who would love to train with Chow. Gabby couldn't believe it, but felt the sacrifice of leaving her family when her mother turned to fly back to Virginia, leaving her in Iowa. As the only black person in the part of Iowa where she lived for two years, there were many emotional and challenging moments, but her host family was a true Godsend.
Just 210 days before the Olympic trials Gabby nearly gave up on her dream and crushed her mother's heart. Her older brother played a pivotal role in encouraging her to continue and realizing that her family was with her and fully supporting her.
What Surprised Me About Gabby Douglas
I knew that Gabby Douglas had moved to Iowa for training, but I did not realize her true situation and how her determination moved her forward. The movie shows how her family stood behind her, but she had to push hard to coach with Liang Chow.
How I Rate The Gabby Douglas Story
I give The Gabby Douglas Story five stars and couldn't stop watching it! I dreamed about becoming a gymnast when I was young and vividly remember the 1996 Summer Olympics with the Magnificent Seven with Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Jaycie Phelps, Kerri Strug, Amanda Borden and Amy Chow. The movie portrayed Gabby and her family well, including her determination and their struggles.
Gabby Douglas' Accomplishments and Life After the Olympics
Gabby Douglas is a great role model and she has stayed focused on her goal of continuing her Olympic career regardless of the challenges she may face. As one of the Fierce Five with teammates McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, Jordyn Wieber and Aly Raisman, Gabby was heavily in the spotlight, but took it all gracefully. Since the 2012 London Olympics, Gabby has had small acting roles and written two books published by Zondervan: Grace, Gold, and Glory (co-authored with Michelle Burford) and Raising The Bar. What I admire most about Gabby is that she has held fast to her faith and I think she realizes how influential she is, especially with young girls.
Faith of Gabby Douglas
Gabby has been very outward about her faith, but not trying to use it in order to gain attention. She is a Christian and has attested to how her faith has helped her through life. In an article with the Religious News Service from 2012 that was published on HuffingtonPost.com, Gabby said that looking back at the footage of the Olympics she was moving her mouth and that was when she was praying. Gabby also took the rain before the competition as a sign that God was getting ready to make big things happen for her. During the Olympics, Gabby was the target of media outlets criticizing aspects of her appearance, especially her hair. Her response was Tweeting Romans 12:19 "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'" (ESV).
I am more than excited to see what Gabby Douglas does next and how her faith continues to move her forward as an athlete.


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$1M bond for Dolton man charged after prostitution sting:
Earlier this month 22-year-old Guillaume Thomas was ordered held on $1M bond for allegedly prostituting an underage girl on Backpage in the Chicago suburb of Lansing, Illinois. Not a lot of details on this one but reports say that Thomas has been charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor and trafficking in persons. I can only imagine what atrocities this assclown committed in order to get such a high bond.
The good news, if there is any, out of this arrest is that this happened in Cook County. If you'll recall the Cook County Sheriff's Office was one of the most proactive opponents of craigslist's erotic services section and in my opinion were a major part of getting it shut down. The sheriff's office has stated that they are in the process of trying to make a case against Backpage. I can only hope that they are successful where other law enforcement agencies and legislatures have failed.


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Our Icelandic sheepskin rugs are probably the best sheepskin rugs you can buy. Each rug is a combination of a dense shorter length wool combined with a very long (4"-8", 10-20cm) main coat. The processes used for tanning comply with all European directives to ensure the protection and preservation of the environment. Because of the harsh environment in which Icelandic sheep live, you can be certain that their fleece will be the warmest available; soft, fluffy and long.
Compared to the more common sheepskin rug that you will see for sale, the Icelandic sheepskins are far less common, and in great demand both for furnishings, and fashion, and so we are only able to obtain a limited amount.
Please remember that these are totally natural products and as such the shape, size and colouring can vary between rugs. This is particularly true with the mixed coloured options.
Related posts
Related products


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|This 7 pound bag of Red Lentils (Masoor Malka)
is packed with inexpensive, healthy nutrition!
|These red lentils cook up quick and taste delicious!
All lentils are incomplete proteins and should be combined with something, such as rice, in order to provide you the complete amino acid profile that you need to sustain your good health :)
As you can see in the first picture that I posted at the top, I was able to get a 7LB bag of these delicious lentils for just $8.99. This makes about 70 1/4 servings of lentils - remember, they expand when they cook. So if you have a large appetite and manage to eat a full cup of cooked lentils as part of whatever you're making, that's 17.5 LARGE servings - costing 51cents per serving of healthy, high fiber and delicious carbs, fiber, and protein.
One cup of red lentils contains 60mg Sodium (4% DV), 108g Carbohydrates (36% DV), 28g Dietary Fiber (112% DV), 8g Sugars (20%), and 11g Protein (88% DV). One cup also contains trace elements, vitamins, and minerals - including 60% DV of Iron :)
Try some red lentils - they're healthy, delicious, and very very affordable :)
|Try some red lentils or Masoor malka as the Indians call them, today!
You won't be sorry that you did :)


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Ok, so here's where my head has been this last week.... it may or may not (who am I kidding?) have something to do with that monthly cycle.
My thoughts over the last few weeks:
I'll put most of my crafty stuff in storage.
Wow, it's actually going to happen, we're moving overseas semi-temporarily.
Today I'll have a quick sort through my stuff.
There's not as much stuff as I thought, that's great!
And... a lot of it isn't actually as nice as I once thought.
That particular fabric is awful, why do I still have it?
That, also, is awful.
I am a hoarder.
I knew I was a hoarder.
I know, person X will like that.
No, they won't.
Throw it out.
But what if person Y would like it.
No, they won't.
They might.
Throw it out.
No, I'll put it in a 'potentially throw out' box.
Oh! There's that perfectly folded pile of old ripped jeans I hoarded.
They smell funky.
Out they go.
That was easy. Next.
I remember I used that fabric for a dress.
Oh, and that pretty one for a skirt.
Must keep it.
No, must gift it.
It's all too much.
About a month ago I made a pretty skirt, I mentioned it here but I wasn't fully 'sold' on it. So, as you do, I didn't post any pics of it.
I've now worn it a few times since and begun to really like it. So much that I am planning on making another one. I've bought the fabric, just need to find the right pair of jeans to sew it to. The pair I had in mind don't fit 'right' so the next skirt will have to wait.
This skirt was made from an op-shopped sheet and an old pair of jeans that had worn through in the thighs. There ain't no 'thigh-gap' on this chicky.


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A layman's view of the world of Gymnastics, from admiration to condemnation, adoration to irritation and everything inbetween.
Saturday, 9 June 2012
US Nationals Day 1: a super-quick summary
6 comments:
USA is much weaker on vault than I expected. Besides Maroney's amanar which is always a piece of art and Price's which is very dynamic all the others were so scary. Jordyn's amanar was one of the scariest vaults I've seen, she's very lucky to survive this without getting injured.ReplyDelete
I'm praying for Gabby to win the AA, and I'm also praying the judges open their eyes and see Raisman's "leaps" shouldn't be credited. Then Sarah could win floor if she has the performance of her life. Praying for her too, I want her to win FX and BB
As a whole, the "team" doesn't look great. So sad for Nastia...highlights: Sacramone's beam, Sloan's joy, Maroney's vaults and Sarah Finnegan.ReplyDelete
Jordyn recently said in an interview that she won't be adding her DLO to FX, unfortunately. She said they were just playing around with it as an idea, but in the end decided not to add it in. BTW, I thought the EXACT same thing about Alicia when she pulled a sheep jump out of nowhere--it looked shockingly stunning! Can't wait to see how everything shakes out tomorrow :-)ReplyDelete
Christina: Agreed. Those Amanar's are not looking very good are they. I think Maroney's chances are looking quite good at this point given that apparently even Wieber can struggle with a 2.5 sometimes.ReplyDelete
Saozinha: yeah I was really happy to see Alicia looking that good. I really can't see it leading to a second Olympics, though.
bigfan: thats a shame! it looked great in that video. Still, I love her floor as it is. I am just relieved she isn't changing her music, I got panicked during podium training when it seemed like she was performing to something else.
I have just been thinking about this Olympic team, especially with the speculation today that Liukin has guaranteed berth to trials, and I think there is more potential for fan disappointment than ever before, and people's reputations and popularity could really be at stake.
What I mean is, with more people discussing this on the internet than ever, and less people on a team than ever, and possibly more legitimate hopefuls competing for the same spots that ever, everything is so overcharged. Imagine if Nastia gets put on the team to go up last on bars, but doesn't do a dismount (or falls off, whatever)and USA lose the team tital (a stretch I know, but lets pretend), then there is the potential for so much animosity because there will have been someone left behind who could have specifically NOT fallen on bars. Same for anyone, really, but I really do not envy the pressure on any one of those girls.
Just watched Day 2 and I can't believe they're taking Nastia to trials. I was willing to forgive USA Gymnastics for keeping Chellsie out of Nationals, seeing as she did mess up. But to exclude her for one bad routine, and then keep Nastia after she botches 3 out of 4? That reeks of favouritism.ReplyDelete
On the plus side, Bross nearly kept that Patterson together tonight! :)
We all appreciate your information. Keep posting these kind of nice blogs.ReplyDelete
phen375 reviews | weight loss pills | phen375 weight loss | weight loss products


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Last week there was a frenzy of good and bad media on "one laptop per child"
Prof Negroponte had an innovative idea before everyone else came into the picture. His philosophy is a noble one "the future is shaped by children" so let's help them get educated. This project is not about laptops. It is about enabling children in developing countries to have access to primary education - something that they do not necessarily have access to.
This is not a project about parachuting laptops, but about putting in place an education programme…. It is done in conjunction with ministries of education and not in a vacuum.
I think there are lots of people out there who do not know enough about this project and its potential. Perhaps OLPC may wish to carry out an awareness building campaign by providing more background information about the programme so that everyone can finally understand the programme's objectives and potential.
Let's help OLPC make this come to fruition. If you can, donate a laptop.


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The Expendables 3 - Third trailer
In The Expendables 3, Barney (Stallone), Christmas (Statham) and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson), who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became a ruthless arms trader and someone who Barney was forced to kill… or so he thought.
Stonebanks, who eluded death once before, now is making it his mission to end The Expendables – but Barney has other plans. Barney decides that he has to fight old blood with new blood, and brings in a new era of Expendables team members, recruiting individuals who are younger, faster and more tech-savvy.
The latest mission becomes a clash of classic old-school style versus high-tech expertise in the Expendables' most personal battle yet.
The film stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes, Mel Gibson, Dolph Lundgren, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kellan Lutz, Antonio Banderas and Kelsey Grammer.
The Expendables 3 opens in UK cinemas on August 14, 2014.
Expendables review l Expendables 2 review l Dolph Lundgren interview l The Expendables in Cannes l Watch The Expendables 3 trailer
Watch the third trailer:
Next trailer: The Judge teaser


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In a less high-profile Coke victory, Aare Evisalu, chief of staff of the Estonian Armed Forces, announced that Coke and McDonald's Estonia have won a $200,000 catering contract to feed hungry troops on a joint exercise starting Sept. 14 between the Estonians and Russia's border guards. By a strange quirk of fate, the exercises will be held around Estonia's Lake Pepsi.
The global shoe campaigns: "Just Do It" from Nike, Reebok's Planet Reebok, and now Sprandi's "Get What You Want." Sprandi? M&C Saatchi says the Hong Kong shoemaker is launching a "global" campaign (but mostly in Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic) to build a famous global brand. Unable to compete with Nike, Reebok and Adidas on athletic performance, Sprandi will zero in on why young males want to buy good-looking shoes to look good. "To attract young girls," reveals Alan Jarvie, M&C's Hong Kong creative director. "That is a universal truth from Moscow to Mombai."
Miuccia Prada, who took her Italian family's leather business into the fashion industry with seriously trendy items like the Prada nylon backpack, is extending the luxury brand. Look for Prada's first skincare products and fragrance in 1998, possibly working with Estee Lauder.
L. Gordon Crovitz, the Dow Jones & Co. exec who radically transformed the company's sleepy Far Eastern Economic Review in four years as both editor and publisher, is leaving the magazine business to become managing director for Asia of Dow Jones Telerate, an electronic price and news service for the financial community.
Where are they now? After a long career at Interpublic Group, where he is still director of creative communications, Barry Day chronicles in his new book, "This Wooden `O'," the byzantine struggle waged for more than 40 years by U.S. actor Sam Wanamaker to rebuild Shakespeare's round, wooden Globe Theatre along the Thames River. With the Globe finally open in London, Barry's next project is a book on Noel Coward.
In an unusual brand extension from subway to cameras, the London Underground camera is aimed at the tourist market. For $34, each camera features a subway map and is color coded to match the buyer's favorite subway line. A poster and leaflet campaign by Smith Stuart Advertising is themed "Smile-picture yourself in London."
There are ad agencies who take international creative awards seriously, and then there is Colenso Communications in New Zealand. A perennial hot issue is the way crafty agencies concoct ads that haven't really run to impress awards juries or clients. Or friends-like BBDO-owned Colenso's low, low budget commercial for local Italian restaurant and agency hangout Valerio-denounced as a scam at the Cannes ad festival. Creative Director Martin Brown admits cheerfully, "It was made as a favor for our friend Valerio ... and to make sure we never have to pay for lunch in Auckland ever again."
Contributing: Christina Hoag, Caracas; Amy Barone, Milan; Geoffrey Lee Martin, Sydney; Juliana Koranteng, London.


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Classroom Management-Parts 1 & 2. Six hours PD credit; lunch provided. This training was created and is taught by JCTA members who are classroom teachers. Learn strategies to help you be more successful in your teaching. Saturday, April 15, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Register at PD Central.
Diversity-Module 1: Understanding Diversity
Session Goals:
• Define diversity
• Understanding the dimensions of diversity
• Experience how group membership affects self-perception and perception of others
• Reflect on how diversity affects our students, co-workers, and communities
This training was developed by the National Education Association and is led by JCTA Teacher Cadre members; 2.5 hours PD credit; dinner provided; Wednesday April 26, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Register at PD Central.


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Maybe that sounds silly, or maybe I'm just getting older & more nostalgic (probably true), but here's my theory:
The sun was shining bright & it felt so warm on my face, through my car windows. Surely, I've felt this warmth many times before, but I'd forgotten how good it felt until at that moment, because it's been awhile since we've had a nice, sun-shiny day. I then realized I would be home with enough time to get some exercise in outside, for the first time in months.
Immediately, a hopeful sense that longer, warmer days are just around the corner came over me.
It wasn't until I felt the warmth of the sun again, until I realized how much I appreciate & look forward to the season that's about to come: Spring.
It's nearing the end of winter, and we've all got cabin fever. We're growing tired of itchy scarfs & clunky boots -- and salt coated vehicles that could be washed every other day. Soon though, Spring will roll around & we'll feel SO thankful for warmer temps & budding flowers.
Spring gradually transitions to Summer, and we're SO thankful for hotter days, hours and hours of sunshine, & all the fun outdoor activities on the horizon.
Then just when we're feeling "over" the humidity, Fall sets in and we're SO happy to feel the crunchy leaves beneath our feet & admire the beautiful array of Autumn colors.
Just when we think God couldn't make Nature any more beautiful, the first winter snow storm leaves our Earth covered in a shimmery white blanket, and we think: Now this, this is amazing.
This cycle happens over & over again, year after year, and season after season.
And this is why I think a changing of the seasons, is the only way that we really feel thankful & appreciate the previous season.
Isn't that so true in life, too? We often don't appreciate something until it's gone.
We reflect back on a previous year, and think "man, that year really sucked". But then we more closely examine parts of our so-called "really sucky year," and we find a silver lining. Without doubt, there were a lot of great moments in that year too -- we just didn't fully appreciate them until they were over... much like the seasons.
I'm learning to appreciate the seasons -- look for the silver living -- and BE thankful.
We are lucky to live in this life, full of wonderful seasons.
What season is your favorite?


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Forging a fiscal cliff deal
Really, it shouldn't be so hard to put together a deal on the fiscal cliff, right? Yes, both sides have drawn lines in the sand, but we are down to the end of the year and it should be possible to put together some kind of scaled-back deal, shouldn't it?
So, let's start with taxes, what we call the Bush tax rates and the Bush tax cuts.
First, on rates. The President doesn't want to extend them for top income earners, the Republicans want to extend them for all working Americans.
The GOP can't stand the $250,000 income threshhold put forward by the President, Republicans have talked about a $1 million figure – so maybe we could grab something in between, like between $500,000 and $700,000.
Okay, that's solved.
Now we throw in some extras that have to be part of the deal, like the yearly patch to make sure the Alternative Minimum Tax does not grab too many Americans.
Sooner or later, the Congress will need to approve a larger tax reform law so they can write that out of the tax code, but that's not going to happen this year.
You might have to add in something on the Medicare "Doc Fix" and provisions to extend long term jobless benefits, something being sought by Democrats.
To placate Republicans, a final deal might need to include the "tax extenders," a group of business and personal tax breaks that never are made public, but just get "extended" a year or two at a time.
As for other tax breaks, many lawmakers would probably want to extend the Bush tax cuts that expanded marriage tax relief provisions and the child tax credits, along with stimulus measures that bolstered the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Remember, we are putting together a bipartisan deal here, not a one-sided tax and budget plan, or a plan that will balance the budget. This is a political deal.
One thing Republicans badly want is to prevent a big increase in estate taxes from 35%-55% and a drop in the exemption level from over $5 million to $1 million – maybe that kind of provision could be horsetraded for something Democrats want.
On the spending side, it's hard to believe that both sides can agree on something big at this point in time, but maybe they decide to hold off on some of the scheduled across the board budget cuts?
Maybe instead of $100 billion this year, make the savings $50 billion, but leave in place the cuts in future years to show that you are serious about deficit reduction. Will there be extra spending reductions as well? Hard to say.
But you can also include some handshake deal to consider true budget changes in 2013 along with entitlement reforms.
You can get all that ready to be passed by January 2, and we all give out high-fives and then convene the new Congress the next day.
Once you're done with that, then you use the Hurricane Sandy disaster aid bill that will soon be approved by the Senate to add in all kinds of legislative extras like a Farm Bill extension and more.
Okay, that's a back-of-the-envelope effort to solve this fiscal cliff impasse and put the wraps on the 112th Congress.
If you don't like the details, it is understandable – but compromise means you have to accept some things you don't like.
Or if you don't want to compromise, you just stick with what the Congress has already voted to do.
Remember, the Congress and the President agreed two years ago to extend the Bush tax rates and cuts until the end of 2012. That deadline is almost here.
Remember, the Congress and the President agreed last August to $1.2 trillion in automatic budget savings over 10 years, if lawmakers couldn't agree on any other plan. And that's where we are now.
This shouldn't be that hard to solve, but it is politics, and that means there are deeply held beliefs on both sides.
"I see no reason to change my opinion from that which I held when I last saw you," Speaker Joseph Cannon wrote to President Theodore Roosevelt in a 1903 letter.
In other words, it isn't the first time American politicians have been at loggerheads and it won't be the last.


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Thursday, 12 December 2013
5 comments:
- Cyril Rogers12 December 2013 at 12:58
Well, Mr. Sullivan, us "naysayers", in the absence of any details, can concede only that the Premier has negotiated a reasonably good deal on the loan itself. However, as you so candidly point out, we are still on the hook for any additional equity injections...if and when the project goes over budget. Of that I am certain, given the history and nature of such undertakings.ReplyDelete
The biggest challenge may yet come from Hydro Quebec's court challenge and I have very little faith in our government's ability to win that case....so, as you asked, where will the additional power commitment to Nova Scotia come from? I will dare to speculate and say that Holyrood may very well see an uptick in output in future years. Then, instead of producing power for us in the range of 10-12% per year, we may very well see it going into the 25-30% range. So much for reducing our reliance on oi!. Alternatively, if they continue with their plan to mothball Holyrood, they will have to look at wind and/or upgrade the transmission lines from Central or the Bay Despoir dam. All of these things could have, and should have, been don, to allow for the closure or upgrade of Holyrood....for our own purposes. Now, we are doing it totally for the benefit of Nova Scotia.
I totally subscribe to your view that Peter McKay has done a tremendous job of delivering this project for the benefit of Nova Scotians. We, in the meanwhile, are left holding the bag, and our people will be paying for Nova Scotia's cheap power for decades. I always felt that the feds would come through on the loan guarantee....if it were to benefit Nova Scotia. Otherwise, they would have broken their promise to our province.....the only one I have ever wished they would break.
When I hear politicians of any stripe saying this is a good project for us, I have to ask: "What are you drinking?" Because, all of the available evidence indicates this is a monstrous deal for us....in a negative sense. I truly hope people like you and I are wrong....but every indicator suggests we are being sold out by our own politicians and the business elite.
Regardless of any cost over runs we have mortgaged the future of this province for absurdly expensive electricity we likely don't even need. The phrase " too green to burn" comes to my mind as I bow my head in shame to be a Newfoundlander. After 64 years of confederation is this what we have come down to, a bunch of backwater hicks too green to burn? Ed Martin, Ms. Dunderdale, et al., will be salted away in a few years and likely well taken care of, but the bulk of Newfoundlanders will toil in servitude to pay back the billions misspent in our name. There will be no revolution and likely few protests to compare with what is happening in Kiev, but when the oil runs out and the energy warehouse looks a little empty I hope people remember that it didn't have to happen like this.ReplyDelete
John Darryl Pippy
When I hear politicians of any stripe saying this is a good project for us, I have to ask: "What are you drinking?" Because, all of the available evidence indicates this is a monstrous deal for us....in a negative sense. I truly hope people like you and I are wrong....but every indicator suggests we are being sold out by our own politicians and the business elite.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous16 December 2013 at 03:02
Yes, the make-work project would have gone ahead without the Loan Guarantee. If Ed Martin (the real Premier) is willing to go ahead with billions in overruns barreling down the track, he is willing to go ahead for the cost of a "mere" additional billion or so in borrowing costs.ReplyDelete
He can explain it all to the judicial inquiry in 2018.
I would love it if student loan forgiveness applied to me. I am graduating in a year and I'm afraid of the debt. I currently don't have a job to pay the minimum payback amount.ReplyDelete
Obama Student Loan Consolidation


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wedding part one
8 comments:
OMG. Your wedding was one of 'those' Pinterest perfect weddings wasn't it?!?!?! Shoot. If only Pinterest had been around for my wedding! Love these pics! It look absolutely gorgeous! I'm eagerly awaiting the rest!ReplyDelete
-Amanda | Living in Another Language
this looks so gorgeous! I can't wait to see moreReplyDelete
oh man, your wedding was gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the pictures with us :) I love all of the signs and personal touches.. you guys did a great job!ReplyDelete
I love this! Thanks for sharing your day with us and I completely agree that a wedding should last a whole week long!!!ReplyDelete
Looks gorgeous! Love it!ReplyDelete
Need to pin this! :)
cuuute! and your photographer did an amazing job!ReplyDelete
happy almost anniversary you two cuties :)
Oh love all those details shots, those are my favourites when it comes to wedding photography. So beautiful.ReplyDelete
Bonnie Rose | A Compass Rose
YAY!! I'm so excited to look through all your wedding pics!!! :) Love this venue too!!ReplyDelete


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Superbly Simple Lamp Is Made from a Storm-Felled Branch, Not Much Else
Photos Courtesy of Reclaiming Brooklyn
This design is called the "Branch Lamp," and the name pretty much sums it all up. It's made from a branch felled by one of the tornadoes that hit New York City last autumn, with some metal shims, a spun aluminum shade, and lamp cord, and a light bulb. The lamp is the work of Harris Hine, who, with Emily Vislocky, is behind Reclaiming Brooklyn, a design firm that uses materials found in the New York area.
Hine's work is reminiscent of the storm-felled branch lamps we featured a little while back, but both are original takes on a simple, clever idea.
The Branch Lamp's lighting system can be adapted to any piece of salvaged wood as well as to living trees, which is perfect if you have living trees in your office or house.
But to get one of these babies for yourself, you'll have to empty your pockets: the floor lamps start at $1,000, and the lighting system goes for $500. Pretty steep for a branch and some aluminum and wire. Don't have the cash? Make your own lamp.
For more stories like this, follow me on Twitter.
More simple, upcycled lamps:
Jar Lamps By James Shaw Light Up the Ordinary
Every Lamp In Buenos Aires Restaurant Made With Recycled Wine Bottles (Photos)
LED Desk Lamp Made from Recycled E-Waste
Awesome Steampunk Solar Lamp Made From Scrap Parts


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My friend, how often is it that we focus so much on getting to a destination that we fail to enjoy the journey? I know, I know. Life is hectic and fast paced. But, wouldn't it be a shame to arrive and realize that there was scenery along the way that we missed. Often at the end of life or in the journey toward our goals and purpose, we miss so much. We focus on the bumps in the road, the detours and even the Nay Sayers who say that we shouldn't even take the journey. But, when we travel Interstate and roads toward planned trips and destinations, we continue to travel in spite of the inevitable and eternal construction, the detours and the bumps in the road. Airplanes have delays and turbulence. Bus trips are long and taxing. Train rides are filled with people that we may not care to be around. Travel by ship runs into rough seas and storms.. Yet, we buy the tickets and sign up for the ride, anyway.
Let me encourage you to do the same on the road of life. But, un-pack your bags for the journey. You only get one carry-the one that will include all of your life skills to manage turbulence, rough seas, and storms of life. What skills should you pack in this carry-on that must be with you at all times? Of course, you can't leave it unattended, because just like in commercial travel, unattended bags can lead to big trouble for us. Someone else gets the opportunity to control our life and travel!
Pack the ability to manage your emotions without letting them manage you. Pack some financial management so that the world of consumerism doesn't consume you. Pack some love and time for your family. Pack some focus so that you can plan and execute the travel plan to your destination. And, don't forget some time management so that you won't sleep through your stops along the way-stops for rejuvenation, connections, and mentoring appointments.
Don't foget to unpack negativity and negative people. Unpack anger and unforgiveness. Unpack self-doubt and most of all, the words "I can't". This heavy baggage will only delay your arrival at your destination.
So, how can you make the journey of life toward our education, marriage happiness, our healthy and well-mannered children, our career, and our journey toward our eternal destination more enjoyable? The same way that we make our travel by car, plane, bus, or train more enjoyable. We take with us things or do things that will make the trip pleasant. We take games and books. We talk to each other. We listen to music. We listen to podcasts. We eat. Wow! In the spiritual, we can do the same things. Talk to God as you journey. He'll order your steps and be your GPS. Learn to play the game of life, recognizing that there will be bumps in the road, trials and tribulations, sorrow as well as joy. No one is exempt. Spend travel time listening to and reading things that will feed and nourish your soul. And, by all means, eat healthy. Eat of the Word of God as well as foods that are healthy for your temple (body). Smell the flowers along the way and be a flower on someone else's journey with your smile and kind words.
We're all on this highway of life. When I pass your way, make my journey more pleasant. I'll be sure to do the same for you. Peace! And, until next time, be blessed.


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Discussion in 'Politics' started by 2cents, Aug 24, 2006.
The Control Paradigm http://peswiki.com/index.php/Site:LRP:The_Control_Paradigm
Aaaah, a place for delusional idiots to gather
Know what the biggest conspiracy of all is? How the hell you get several hundred government agents to work together, to pull something off like 9/11, without a single person leaking what was going on.
Yes sir, some shadowy figured went around for years, interviewing people, and it went sorta like this.
Shadow figure: So Joe, you wanna help us blow up the twin towers filled with thousands of americans?
CIA Joe: Wtf? Are you nuts?
Shadow figure: Ok, ill take that as a no, but dont ever talk about this again ok?
All those people on the planes, their families, and hundreds if not thousands of shadowy government officials, have kept this perfectly quiet and gotten away with it. Riiiiiiiiiiight.
People are really stupid.
LOL. Stupids not the word. INSANE is more apt. Betcha 99% of the conspiracy "theorists" are Dems. And they wonder why mainstream Christian, white, married professionals avoid them like the plague......
The pattern of the typical conspiracy article is so funny.
It just like Dark Ages logic.
a) Observe something you dont understand
b) Make up explaination, such as witchcraft
a) Observe molten material in the twin towers rubble
b) Assert thermite had to be used.
Idiots. They argue from ignorance on every point.
They only prove they are stupid, point after point after point.
the sad thing is that this wiki is actually pretty interesting:
i suppose the conspiracy section is their Chit Chat equivalent...
some good fun though!
it only took 2 government agents. one of them is dead.
no heart attacks. just kidding.
You're saying... you're saying witchcraft brought down the buildings?? That explains everything
Witchcraft? I think not!
Bush clearly knew it wouldn't remain a secret if he used an internal agency, so he had to contract the work to an outside entity that would leave no tracks to the Oval Office.
This picture taken by the AP shows who Bush & Cheney decided could best accomplish their nefarious aims....
Where the hell is bsmeter??? This should give him the mother of all woodies!!
Bush, smart enough to pull off a grand conspiracy that demolishes WTC 1 & 2 and involves thousands of people, but too dumb to plant WMDs in Iraq.
Separate names with a comma.


text:
Now the Big One isn't much of a seafood eater– are your kiddos that way too? He likes chicken, pork and beef, well, on most days, but seafood isn't his preferred dish. Mellow Man and I like to have fish now and again, and find those days that the Big One is away from home to be the perfect opportunities to have a little seafood. That means that fish is a relatively rare dish in our home. Plus, Mellow Man and I like different kinds of fish. I'm partial to the delicate, flaky white fishes like flounder and sole while he prefers the meatier, steakier fishes like Mahi Mahi, tuna and swordfish. We both agree that this Ginger Honey Salmon recipe is very tasty.
I needed to find some tasty recipes to cook salmon, particularly on the grill. I found one that I liked at All Recipes, and tinkered with it a bit (I always seem to!) We both liked it, so I've made it a number of times now, so I thought I would share it here.
Ginger Honey Salmon:
- 1/2 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 Green Onions minced finely
- 1-2 lbs salmon filets
Mix marinade in small bowl. Whisk thoroughly until honey is fully dissolved into marinade, it will take a minute or so, but you want everything to be well blended. Pour over salmon filets in appropriate pyrex dish (or you can add everything to a gallon sized storage bag. Let the salmon sit in the marinade for an 30 minutes or so, and then flip the salmon over to allow to marinade for another 30 minutes). Cook on grill until the Salmon is done to your satisfaction, as some like it more well done than others!


text:
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Bring Back the Past
19 comments:
- Heartsdesire said...
How great to see this book back in limited print. I bought my copy when it first came out and have been enjoying it ever since. Along with your newer books and patterns. I never noticed your lack of quilting expertise. I thought this was the way you wanted them to look. Someone once told me that if you are a perfectionist, then you should find another hobby instead of quilting. So sometimes when my seams don't exactly match or the quilting isn't precise, I don't care. Who needs the pressure. I quilt because I love it.
- Thursday, June 09, 2011 4:03:00 PM
i love this book! :-)
i just bought the e-version a month ago ~
& actually love looking at it on screen,
because the colours are so radiant.
why not buy a package of pretty bookplates,
& offer a signed one to anyone who wants you to "sign" their ADQ for them?
i know Alicia Paulson over at www.rosylittlethings.typepad.com has done this in the past.
- Thursday, June 09, 2011 4:44:00 PM
- Country Log Cabin Quilter said...
I have the "real" book and have enjoyed it very much. I love the one with the embroidery in the middle - I made 2 of them. I am a doll bed/doll quilt lover, so your books are just up my line.
- Thursday, June 09, 2011 7:14:00 PM
- Sue said...
It's such sweet news. I am so glad I have a copy of the book before it went out of print the first time :)
- Thursday, June 09, 2011 8:11:00 PM
- The Civil War Quilter said...
That's great news for those quilters who don't already have it. I bought mine from the first printing and love it.
- Thursday, June 09, 2011 8:24:00 PM
- WoolenSails said...
I might have taken that out from our library, so looked it up and put it on order. With the heat kicking up, it would be fun to work on some small pieces.
- Thursday, June 09, 2011 9:39:00 PM
- Lee Prairie Designs said...
Hello Kathleen,
I have all of your books that you have written and made many of your adorable quilt designs.
Thank you for your gift of creating and sharing with others who share the same passion of little quilts.
Blessings, Carolyn
- Thursday, June 09, 2011 9:41:00 PM
- Karen said...
Congratulations, Kathleen...even though you won't profit monetarily, it is quite an accomplishment to have your book republished. I have two copies of this one, along with your three newer books and enjoy them all so much. I love your little quilts. They capture that antique look that doll quilts are suppose to have.
- Friday, June 10, 2011 5:07:00 AM
- Lori said...
How fun to revisit your first book and the adorable little quilts!!
- Friday, June 10, 2011 9:02:00 AM
- Anne said...
I happened to stop by Amazon the day the book was initially offered. At that time, the book was supposed to ship in one to two months. I quickly placed my order, and then noticed that afternoon that the book could ship a bit sooner. Got an email from Amazon yesterday informing me that the book will ship next week! My persistent hunt for this book paid off when I found a new copy for a fraction of what people had been demanding for used ones!
I know I will love it!
- Friday, June 10, 2011 9:42:00 AM
- Beth said...
I have made almost every one of the quilts you showed in this post! Love that book.
- Friday, June 10, 2011 1:52:00 PM
I'm very happy because I just found it on Amazon.fr! I'll receive it in about a month, during the summer.So I'll have the four books, the collection is complete.
- Friday, June 10, 2011 2:29:00 PM
- Merilyn said...
I was lucky enough to find ADQ in an obscure little quilt shop some time ago and love it! A quilty friend of mine wants a copy so I have ordered a print-on-demand copy, it will make a great surprise gift!!!
I hope your recovery is coming along at a steady pace after all the excitement of the recent graduation!
- Friday, June 10, 2011 4:37:00 PM
- Fleur de Lis Quilts said...
I'm so very happy that the book is back in print. I have a copy but would love to pick one up for a quilting friend. She keeps borrowing mine, lol. It will be the perfect gift for her. Thanks for letting us know.
- Friday, June 10, 2011 7:35:00 PM
Don't change a thing! Of all my quilt books, your books are the ones I look at again and again. They are so charming! And doll quilts are a quick project that gives you a sense of accomplishment in a short amount of time. And a perfect way to use up precious scraps. Thanks for sharing your gift; you inspire us all!
- Saturday, June 11, 2011 10:36:00 AM
- Louise said...
I had purchased your book when it first came out and gifted it to my very young great niece as she was beginning to sew and quilt. I am very happy to see it available once again. I ordered mine already..
- Sunday, June 12, 2011 11:04:00 PM
- Beginning Quilting Now said...
Great news about the book. The doll quilts are so adorable and yes, the book is a must-read.
- Monday, June 13, 2011 1:23:00 AM
- Truffle queen said...
I'm one of the lucky ladies who has the book! AND next Tuesday I'm going to be REALLY lucky to have you sign it (I HOPE you will!) at my Prairie Star Quilt Guild meeting! I can't wait!!
- Monday, June 13, 2011 9:33:00 AM
- YarnAndYearn said...
I am one of you 'newer' fans and have all three latest books, and am thrilled to discover that the first is now available. I have just been to Amazon and bought myself a copy. Take care and mend well.
- Tuesday, June 14, 2011 5:54:00 PM


text:
Movie Ticket Invitation
Item# 19115
This colorful kid's invitation features four little kids leaning against an oversized movie ticket. The orange background continues to the back of the card. This year celebrate your little ones birthday with a movie theme birthday party featuring their favorite movie, popcorn and candy.
Card size: 5" x 7", paper thickness: 130 lb. card stock
1. After placing your order, an online proof will be available for your review the next business day.
2. Login to your 'Order Status' account at www.myexpression.com
3. Click -> to review your proof
4. Review carefully, and simply click 'Approve' or make changes.
We will not print until we have a Final Approval! A delay in the approval of your E-Proof will delay the production turn around time of your order!
Digital printing press delivers high resolution digital images that rivals the 4 colour offset printing press that is used on traditional mass-produced stationery.
Digital print output quality is outstanding, with an emphasis on rich, vibrant color and unsurpassed detail with crisp, clean text.
This means you get the best print quality for graphics, text and photographs. With this exclusive design, we offer premium quality print output since this order is always printed on-demand.
The use of a laser printer is not recommended due to the heat process involved, which tends to interfere and distort the image of your customized finish digital print-out.| Inkjet Printable: No (?)
Traditional inkjet printer may have difficulties to properly self-feed and tends to smear the ink due to heavy card stock involved.


text:
Is the US VC Model Broken
Is the US VC Model Broken
I have been suggesting for some time that the US VC model is, indeed, broken.
Here is a survey of US VCs who seem to conclude the same thing…and they tell us why!
peHUB: Is the Venture Capital Business Broken?
It's a GREAT time to be an angel. Find a group and jump in!


text:
Our Choice Tender Fillets are the most tender cuts available. Tender Fillets are generally referred to by the French name "filet mignon." The tenderloins' inherent tenderness comes from the fact that it rests protected within the loin, and is not used by the animal very much while in the pasture. This beautiful cut is a portrait of elegance and allows you to experience a 5 star restaurant experience without ever leaving your home. Please Note: Each Package Contains (2) 4oz Steaks. Order accordingly. QTY: 1 = 2 steaks, QTY: 2 = 4 steaks, etc.
- 100% All Natural
- USDA Choice Angus Beef
- Aged a Minimum of 21 Days
- Professionally Hand Cut Steaks
- Certified Humane
- Vegetarian Diet
- Product of USA
Charcoal Grill
- Layer coals once glowing, we recommend having separate areas of two and three layers of coals.
- Test intensity of heat by holding your hand above the grate. You should only be able to hold your hand over the grate for 2 seconds.
- Let coals continue to heat until the grate is very hot. Additional 3 to 4 minutes.
- Oil grate by moistening a paper towel with vegetable oil, using tongs to hold the towel, rub it all over the grate.
- Place meat on grill over high-heat area, cover the grill. Grill meat for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until deeply brown but not charred.
- Once steak is nicely seared, move to section of grill with low heat, cover the grill and grill-roast for 10-15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches your preferred doneness, see below:
- Very Rare: 110-115 F
- Rare: 120-125 F
- Medium Rare: 125-130 F
- Medium: 130-135 F
- Medium Well: 140-145 F
- Well Done: 150-155 F
Disclaimer: The USDA defines a minimum safe internal temperature of 145 F for steaks, chops, and roasts. At 145 F the meat will be cooked to medium doneness, if you prefer your meat less done follow the guide above.
Gas Grill
- Preheat all burners, then adjust so you have one section at full heat, another at moderate heat, and a third with no heat.
- Follow same instructions for cooking on a charcoal grill, moving the meat if it cooks too quickly and chars.


text:
Public catalogue of all growings of GMOs in a EU member state
The European Union supports transparency in the cultivation of GM crops. For this purpose, every country must install a public register listing all sites where GMOs are grown. Although this is an important tool for aspects of biosafety (concerning field trials) and for both co-existence and traceability (concerning commercial cultivations), many farmers fear that such a register will enable opponents of GM crops to find and destroy their fields. Access to precise data on site locations has been limited in some countries, therefore, to people with a reasonable interest – i.e. farmers and beekeepers in the neighbourhood of GM cultivations.
See also:


text:
Sunday, May 29, 2011
YW lesson #21 lm3 Learning to Share the Gospel
7 comments:
- jane said...
I seriously want to be in "Your" class!!!!!! jane
- June 3, 2011 at 11:17 PM
- Cathy said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- June 11, 2011 at 7:39 AM
- J-ME said...
Cathy Thanks for letting me know. I think i have it fixed now! Just make sure you click on the picture 1st. It will make the image large in it's own window THEN right click image and save to computer from there? Let me know if that doesn't help and I'll just email you a digital copy! Thanks
- June 11, 2011 at 8:17 AM
- Cathy said...
Thank you so much!! It worked great. What a cute idea, thanks again!
- June 11, 2011 at 9:08 AM
- Mel said...
I think this is a great idea and it isn't a "stretch" at all. I'm going to tell my girls that when they put on their lip gloss I hope they're reminded that people look to them as representatives of Christ's church, so whatever comes out of their mouths should reflect that. I'll also tell them to open their mouths and share the gospel. I like the shiny lip gloss metaphor, thank you!
- June 11, 2011 at 2:54 PM
- Ginelle said...
Very cute idea! I didn't think of anything like that while preparing for this lesson. I like it! Thanks for sharing your idea. :)
- June 24, 2011 at 3:43 PM
- Emily said...
I love this idea! I actually found some cheap lip shine's which makes it work even better. Thanks so much I am sure the girls are going to love this one.
- June 24, 2011 at 4:23 PM


text:
Happy Hump day good friends how are you today?
its the most miserable weather here in Cornwall today.
I really dislike misty rain, so the card I'm sharing with you
lovely peeps is a hopeful card, in hope that spring will soon be here
and the bees and the flowers will colour our world.
I really can not wait to see white fluffy clouds in a sky of blue
instead of dank grey sheet with this awful wet stuff
dropping from it lol. So without further ado
This adorable little bee is from Clearly Whimsy Stamps
by artist and illustrator Krista Heij-Barber called Just Bee-Cause.
Have a lovely day peeps and I will se here agin soon ttfn


text: hawkfan89 967 Posted June 22, 2015 I use a site called random.org. basically I assign each team with a rating from 1-5 based on a number of factors such as their success the previous year, the age of the players, etc. I enter each team into a list as many times as corresponds with their rating, for example, if Boston is rated 4, and Hamilton is rated 2, to determine the standings, I enter Boston 4 times, Hamilton twice etc. The standings are determined according to who appears first on the resulting randomized list. In the playoffs, I go series by series, entering each team in a particular series 4 times (in a best-of-seven) with one extra for the team with home ice advantage. If there is a rating difference greater than 2 points between two playoff teams, the higher rated team gets another entry. In a best of seven, the first team to appear 4 times wins the series.After all this randomization, I add my own narrative to it. I make up any injuries, suspensions, breakout seasons etc depending on the results of the season. Hopefully this make some sense to some people, or at least it explains that there is a process behind it. I'm still trying to make the system work better. Essentially I run this in a somewhat similar way to Veras' AFA simulation football league. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
The Fashion Folio is of course open and encouraging of all sorts of fashion and designs. Throughout its history, there have often been additional special categories,just for a fun change of pace.
So, in keeping with that, we are happy to announce that Castle Blood will be hosting a special category: Classic Universal Monsters.
Re-imagine one of the characters from any of the classic monster movies (1954 and earlier) in to how you would like to see them.
1st place 50.00 cash prize, 2nd place 25.00 and third place 10.00. Each winner will also receive a Castle Blood goodie bag.
Be sure to mark your entries if you want to be in this part of the competition.
Castle Blood also sponsored this contest in 1997 at Costume-Con 15 in Baltimore, and in honor of its many Canadian cast members, is pleased to do so again.


text:
Empire Thugs Family has finally released the visuals for the highly anticipated collaboration between their act Jupitar and SarkCess Music's Sarkodie. The song titled "Enemies" released exclusively on Pulse Music in December, 2014 has received a huge online and radio impact since its release.
And finally, the visuals directed by Xbills Ebenezer of Xpress Philms if finally here to hit your screens. The song was produced by Mix Masta Garzy. Watch and don't forget to share!


text:
For a friend of ours, turning seven, we made a sewing kit. It's on the elaborate side, as much for emergency embellishing as mending! We included embroidery floss, a tin of buttons and beads, patchwork squares, ribbons, shirring elastic, little scissors, a bit of tailor's chalk and tiny spools that we wound with coloured threads. We made the pin cushion to keep a few safety pins, straight pins and needles in a couple of sizes.
Sewing kits are very, very old fashioned, with telling names like 'housewife' given to them by soldiers. Hundreds of variations of vintage styles are available in markets and auctions. I'm quite fond of them for their reference to a time when people knew how to mend their clothing, and accepted that they might need to at any moment. Like a portable version of my sewing box I've assembled one of my own to keep on hand when someone has lost a button or torn their clothes.
Watch out for little sewing kits on the shop!


text:
Small World: Dial 'P' for personal policies
By Henry Precht
BN Columnist
Scene: The State Department Operations Center which sends and receives official calls from abroad. The Center's Chief is reporting to his boss on calls made by the president-elect.
Chief: He said he wanted to go down the country list, starting with "A" and talk to sovereigns. We dialed Albania but they were out and we were shifted to next-door Kosovo. Unfortunately, he learned that they had a gilded statue of Bill Clinton in the main square and hung up.
We moved down to Brazil, but the call to leadership was shifted to the national prison and he quickly hung up on that one too.
He asked that we try France and President Hollande.
Pres-elect: Hallo, Francois, sorry to hear you're pulling out of the presidency, but I've got an idea to cheer you up. I've seen those clips of you taking off on your scooter with a girlfriend in the late evening just as we would expect of any great Frenchman. Quelle joie!
What if my new friend Mitt and I came over for a night on the town with you? What? Yeah, he's married but he's also a Mormon. Heh-Heh. Any number can play. So, we'll pop over next week. Make sure you have three scooters and six helmets. Get it?
Chief: "See if you can find me Putin," he ordered. I dialed.
Pres-elect: How're you doing, Vlad? Listen. You're a master of global politics, and I'm just beginning. But I've got a deal you can't refuse: You want the Crimea; we want it back. What'd you say to a golf match between the two of us? Winner takes the territory. Sanctions lifted. If it works out we could try the same in Syria: if I win, Assad goes; if you win, we go.
No. Absolutely not. We are not playing shirtless. I've got my dignity. Remember, I'm a billionaire. Maybe I'll just buy Crimea for a price you can't refuse.
Chief: "Let's skip around on the list," he said. "Try Zimbabwe." So we got Robert Mugabe on the phone.
Pres-elect: Hey, Robby, thanks for your nice card. I thought you might be interested in the comment our State Department wrote on it, 'Ex-Freedom Fighter whose policies have ruined his country.'
If that's true, I've got a deal for you. Our friend Chris Christie is being pushed out of New Jersey. You come over and take over the state, ruin it, and I'll pick it up at a bargain price. Develop it and we'll make a killing — so to speak.
What's that — can't leave home? How about a fall back? I'll send you 800 recently-unemployed men from Indiana. They know all about growing corn out there. Maybe help you make air conditioners too if you got the electricity working. Great, it's a deal!
Chief: Then he said "Get me Gambia." I said the president had just been defeated after a coup and 20 years tyranny. "Get him on the line," he barked.
Pres-elect: Hello, Mr. Jammeh. I hear you've been cheated out of your reelection bid. Well, don't hang in there but cheer up because I have a better deal for you — help you recoup, so to speak.
You have a small country, plenty of sunshine, fresh water, friendly people, not too many terrorists. Need to put it on the map. What about spinning it into a rest camp or resort for ex-sovereigns and other defunct senior politicians? A kind of Mar a Lago East. Plenty of time for faking memoirs or plotting a return.
I think Obama might easily be the first to sign up. Far preferable to returning to murderous Chicago. Plus, he was born in the neighborhood. And the Middle East is chock full of men whose bags are packed and ready to go as soon at the temperature in the streets heats up a smidgen. Ex-leaders of France, Italy, maybe South Korea, already have open tickets.
Not least, we have several dynasties in this country whose time has run out. A basket of Bushes, as they say. And Clintons in good number. Bill is finished here. Yes, I know Hillary wasn't a sovereign, but she thought she was and that's enough. Stay in touch and grab Idi Amin if he's still circulating.
Henry Precht is a retired Foreign Service Officer.


text:
I have vegan/vegetarian food at Pangaea Cafe all the time now- various salads, soups, pockets, dips as well as their sandwiches and whatnot-
nice little place, cool owner
2743 Franklin Blvd. at Castro across from Gunther's is where it is
open til 8PM, closed mondayz
Also I do Calzones for Pieces, sometimes they are sold out but usually they are there on weekends also plan on having some brownies there as well
1309 21st St. is their address
Thursday, October 16, 2008
food at Pangaea, Pieces
Posted by Joshua Ploeg at 12:49 PM
2 comments:
- kittee said...
good to know, my friend, good to know.
- October 17, 2008 at 6:49 AM
Dear friends, Brahmakumaris are vegetarian... and emphasize that a vegetarian diet is especially beneficial in order to increase clarity, concentration and
the subtle planning that is demanded for spiritual evolution.There is Brahmakumaris meditation...that relaxes the mind...nurtures a healthy balance between inner and outer worlds... recharge... rejuvenate the inner-self... From Gita
- January 26, 2014 at 7:46 AM
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text:
If you send a damned fool to St. Louis, and you don't tell them he's a damned fool, they'll never find out.
- Life on the Mississippi
What is on the road from St. Louis, Missouri to Madison, Wisconsin? I'm about to find out. My two brothers and I are planning on making the trip, by bike, in three days next week.
The map suggests we'll see the following: a big river, some small hills, and a lot of nothing. But that's the nature of maps--they tend to be mostly space, when in fact there are millions of things swirling around through the unnamed ether.
The apparent point of travel, especially travel by foot or bike, is to get from A to B. The true point of travel, as every travel writer says, assuming profundity, is the opposite sentiment, captured in the mantra it's about the journey.
Like a lot of mantras, it's about the journey is not only a saying of the wise; it's also a coping mechanism for the foolish and unlucky. It's in the same category as the following:
- True beauty is on the inside.
- Cheaters never prosper.
- Don't cry over spilt milk.
- What doesn't kill me makes me stronger.
To get to profundity instead of just transporting from A to B, to remember that it is about the journey, sometimes the journey has to be hard.
This trip will certainly be hard, but not in the way the current Giro is hard, with its Dolomites, its snow, and its thousands of kilometers. It'll be hard because there are few places in America less glorious to ride a bike than from St. Louis to Missouri.
The views, the history, and the people of Illinois and southern Wisconsin are generally unremarkable up close. Right?
Then why, you ask, are three middle-aged dudes embarking on such a trip?
Because the eldest brother, who lives in St. Louis, insisted. The insisting went something like this:
Eldest: "I'm going to ride to Madison [where our parents live]. You should join me."
Youngest: "If we're going to ride, how about we go to Raw Talent Ranch in Matthias, West Virginia?"
Middle: "How about you come out to Portland and we ride in the mountains in the day and drink beer and visit food trucks at night?"
Eldest, firmly: "I'm doing it. St. Louis to Missouri. You can come if you want."
So, we bought plane tickets and perused maps of little towns and villages.
Towns like Alton, Illinois the birthplace and hometown of the world's tallest ever man, Alton Giant, Robert Wadlow, who stood 8'11" and was still growing even as he died, but unfortunately failed to quite reach 9', although achieving the height he did achieve put Alton on the map (until Alton gave us another kind of giant in Miles Davis).
|The Alton Giant
We then pass through Brighton (which, at .05% PacIslander, is relatively infested with them). Brighton prides itself on burgoo, a kind of stew made with various varmints, but if we want to visit the global center of burgoo, we'd have to deviate 50 miles eastward to the Burgoo Capital of the World, Franklin, IL (pop. 586).
|Palmyra, Syria
Miles 75 brings us to Waverly, whose claim is an annual "Old Fashioned Picnic" that includes an event called the "bumpy wagon." Our taints will, I anticipate, advise us not to partake.
Somewhere around Havana, Illinois, we'll stop for the night.
My brothers and I will start day two by riding through Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, which sits on the confluence of the Spoon and Illinois Rivers. Emiquon is America's second-largest wetlands restoration project, behind the Everglades. In 2008 volunteers planted 3,000 black walnut trees and turned off drainage pumps, allowing lakes and wetlands to swell. Take that, China!
On through Maryville, where three years ago Terry Sedlacek walked into the First Baptist Church and shot a man he'd never met, the Reverend Fred Winters. His family blame Lyme's disease for his "erratic behavior."
We'll then hit one of those Midwestern, perfectly as-the-crow-flies flat and straight roads running absolutely northeastward to the village of St. David, whose population is "mostly Croatian and Italian" but is also, so the census claims, 99.93% white and .17% African American. The Pacific Islanders that so peppered Southern Illinois with their pineapples and ukuleles are not to be found.
We then take absolutely ray-of-light straight I-78 by Big Creek Park (a misnomer if you ask me, since a big creek is, technically, a river) through Norris and Farmington, which was a Sundown town--that is, off-limits to African-Americans--through 1970. 1970!
Kewanee at mile 200.
"Hardware Capital of the World" (when hardware had nothing to do with computers) Sterling.
Freeport, where Lincoln debated Douglas in his losing Senate race.
Cedarville, birthplace of Jane Addams.
Mile 300: Orangeville, home to numerous fraternal organizations, and a thriving Independent Order of Odd Fellows chapter. No orange trees grow in this Orangeville.
Onward into Wisconsin and the "Swiss Cheese Capital of the US," Monroe, then a Belleville Rendez-Vous.
It's a foolish trip undertaken by three damned fools.
It will surely lead to misery and suffering. But in some ways, that's the point.
We leave on Memorial Day. Hopefully, our bikes and our bodies hold out, and we make it. If we do, I'll let you know


text:
and I, I'm not even looking for a way out.
9 Jan 2017
Monday Musings [5] - You Win
and I, I'm not even looking for a way out.
20 comments:
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hey there. I love getting comments on my blog... a lot. I want to know your thoughts, and receiving messages from my readers makes me really happy.
but please would you
be polite • be kind • use no bad words
thank you