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Farmers with operations in Iowa received $321 million in Trump administration subsidies in the first four months of this year specifically to stave off financial woes of the trade wars, but several producers said they're worried the prolonged disputes are on the verge of causing lasting damage to overseas markets for agricultural commodities, especially for soybeans.
The Trump administration launched a $12 billion "Market Facilitation Program" in 2018 to counter the impact on farmers from the president's increased use of tariffs. It included about $8 billion in direct payments to farmers who got caught in the cross hairs of retaliatory tariffs, especially from China.
With the trade wars continuing, the administration launched a $16 billion follow up — with nearly all of it earmarked for direct payments to producers — and President Donald Trump indicated in a recent tweet the subsidy could continue if China does not capitulate soon.
Using government data obtained under a Freedom of Information request, the Environmental Working Group conducted an analysis showing how the first segment of the trade aid program worked out.
From when the program began in 2018 until April 30, Iowa producers received nearly $979 million in payments in all.
Iowa-specific data for only the first four months of this year — Jan. 1 through April 30 — from the Washington-based nonprofit shows:
• $321 million in direct payments flowed to Iowa, second only to Illinois.
• The aid flowed to more than 23,000 Iowa producers, but the top 1 percent of recipients got 9.5 percent of the money.
• Linn County producers received $3.52 million (about 1 percent) and Johnson County producers received $2.73 million (less than 1 percent.)
• The top programs getting payments in both counties were soybeans, corn and livestock. Soybean payouts went to 207 producers in Linn County and 180 producers in Johnson County.
Twenty-nine percent of farms in Iowa did not collect any of the trade-aid payments, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Bob Ryan, 36, of Ryan, received about $4,000 in Market Facilitation Program payments in 2018 for soybeans. He missed out on another $3,200 for pigs because the period of time the government chose for counting pigs for an $8-a-head payment was when Ryan already had sold one batch and had not restocked.
He doesn't like that Trump has touted himself as the savior of farmers.
"I don't think anything could be further from the truth," Ryan said. "He started this trade war with really the only leverage being farmers, particularly soybean farmers."
Ryan said he doesn't trust Chinese companies that own hogs in the United States to not attempt to profit from the bailout, or to avoid tariffs by routing hogs through Canada or South America for export.
Last year, Chinese owned pork producer Smithfield said it wouldn't take any trade bailout money after critics, including Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, complained.
Smithfield, owned by Chinese company WH Group, would have qualified for $240,000 in pork payments, the Washington Post reported.
Brazilian-owned JBS, the world's largest meat processing company, won $78 million in a previous program, the USDA's Trade Mitigation Program, which made direct payments to farmers and $1.2 billion in food buys from farmers and ranchers who would normally use international markets, according to an analysis from the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting.
Jason Schildroth, 39, and his brother, Tyler Schildroth, grow corn and soybeans on Gen3 Farms near Reinbeck.
"We're farming some ground that our grandpa farmed," Jason Schildroth said.
Soybean prices were $1 to $1.50 per bushel below profitable levels last year because the local grain cooperative wasn't able to sell to Chinese markets, he said. Gen3 participated in the Market Facilitation Program to avoid losing money.
The Environmental Working Group's data shows the farm received $125,000 from Jan. 1 to April 30 from it.
"Without the MFP help, it (soybean crop) would have been sold at levels below our break even," Schildroth said. "We don't have on-farm storage that would allow us to keep a whole crop until prices rebound."
Schildroth agrees the United Sates needs to get tough with China, which has been accused of stealing intellectual property and even Iowa-grown corn seeds.
But the longer the trade war lasts, Schildroth fears the foreign market will dry up.
"China is getting its soybeans from Brazil right now," Schildroth said. "You read that they can't fulfill their entire need from South American production. As a U.S. soybean farmer, you hope that's a true statement, but you don't know. Will they start buying soybeans from us again or is that market just gone?"
Total U.S. soybean exports in the 2018-2019 growing season dropped about 20 percent to 46.3 million metric tons from the previous year. At the same time, Brazil and Argentina's combined soybean exports rose almost 10 percent to 86 million metric tons, according to the USDA.
Farmers in Brazil are converting more land from sugar cane and pastureland to soybean production to satisfy Chinese demand.
Still, the trade wars hit at the right time for Brazil, which was coming off a bumper soybean crop. Brazilian inventories now are dwindling and the next harvest still is months away. And farmers in Argentina may cool to more sales to China and decide to hold on to their beans as a hedge against economic uncertainties at home.
Yet even if China faces trouble meeting its huge demand for soybeans, the trade dispute between it and the United States may persist.
The USDA has authorized the next round of trade aid — $16 billion, with as much as $14.5 billion going directly pay farmers for their losses.
The first payments will come later this month, the USDA said, although farmers have until Dec. 6 to apply.
• Comments: (319) 368-8664; email@example.com
Bloomberg contributed.


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During the deployment, our team provided knowledge transfer of the new technology and monitoring systems was completed at the same time as the installations taking place.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Larry King has been one of many great hosts that I have really studied and even had the pleasure of meeting. Rather than "gotcha journalism" where a host is trying to catch the person being interviewed off guard or ask shock based questions Larry takes a different approach.
His interviews always come from a place of sincere curiosity and respect for the person being interviewed. His questions and comments always reflect both what he personally wants to know as well as what he believes his audience wants to know.
I call the is the art of agreeability and the power of avoiding absolutes. It's about knowing when to go along for as long as you can. When you are conversing with someone, interviewing them, pitching them and even coaching them I find that there are some conversational responses that can be very effective when it comes to establishing good rapport.
They include statements like:
- I mostly agree with you
- That's more right than it is wrong
- I don't entirely disagree with you
- You have a point that a lot of people would agree with
- Your not alone in that opinion
- That mostly makes sense
- You're asking the right questions
- You're putting the odds in your favor
- I can see why you think that way or feel that way
- I've heard a lot worse ideas
The world has become very polarizing and although there is a time for tough love and head on "truth telling" you can accomplish so much more with relationship building based on love and understanding.
Suggestions are another powerful way to avoid conflict. Here are some examples of making suggestions in the form of questions:
- What if you (fill in the blank) ?
- What would it feel like if you could (fill in the blank) ?
- Why wouldn't you just try (fill in the blank) ?
- What concerns you the most about (fill in the blank) ?
- What's the worst thing that could happen?
- What's the best thing that could happen?
- Any reason why haven't you tried (fill in the blank) ?
- What if you tried (fill in the blank) ?
- What did you learn from (fill in the blank) ?
The power of finding common points of believing and living is more effective than you might currently realize. I'm not saying Larry uses the phrases I reference here rather I am just saying that we can learn from Larry's kind approach and success.
There's a lot that goes into leveraging the art of agreeability and it's just one of many things that will be taught at my next event, Speaker Media Mastery. Coming to the Scottsdale Plaza Resort June 24th-26th, 2019.
How to Sign Up:
- Attend all 3 days for $97 so you can find new referral friends, clients, speaking opportunities, and interview opportunities.
- OR, Attend all 3 days for $997 as a VIP which includes meals with me and other VIP's as well as other bonuses like interactive materials and promotional services at the event. Use the coupon code 'ICON' and that $997 becomes $497, that's the discount I am passing along to you


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We are pleased to announce that during the 2014-15 season the Columbia County Youth Orchestra will be playing alongside with the Columbia County Orchestra. This will be a great opportunity to expose the youth orchestra members to more advanced music and technique through a mentor program.
Register on line HERE.
For 3rd year level thru advanced students.
All instruments needed.


text:
Z. Hradílek, L. Juřica, J. Gurecký, and P. Krejčí (Czech Republic)
Multi-criterion analysis, weight, reliability, investment,
return rate
Methods of multi-criterion analysis are used for selecting
the most acceptable from offered variants. In power
engineering practice, we can use the multi-criterion
analysis for example for selecting the most acceptable
device, which we need to replace by a new device
(remote-controlled disconnector in this paper). Remote
controlled disconnectors are very expensive, and thus we
are not able to replace all hand operated disconnectors
with these remote controlled disconnectors.
This paper deals with the economic return on an
investment in the new devices increasing the reliability of
distribution network and shortening the duration of
Important Links:
Go Back


text:
"Erasing the Stigma" is a multi-media dance performance that sheds light on the study of mental health and explores the various struggles of those affected by mental illness.
The event is the newest performance put on by Art for Awareness and will be happening October 4, 5, 8, and 9 at the Adam Scott Auditorium, in collaboration with the Peterborough Dance Collective, the Schizophrenic Society of Ontario, and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
"Art for Awareness is a newly-formed local group of talented and passionate people whose mission is to raise awareness of social issues through various arts performances," explained Marsala Lukianchuk, the Director of Art for Awareness.
Rachel Bemrose, the co-founder of Art for Awareness and Dance Choreographer for "Erasing the Stigma," elaborated in an interview on the group's mission and their goal behind producing the performances.
What caused you to form this organization in the first place?
A group of local artists came together and wanted to use the arts as a vehicle for addressing social justice. Hence, [Art for Awareness], AFA, was formed. We decided that every year we would focus on a specific issue. This year, it was mental health. We chose the broadway musical, Next to Normal, as our first show which we performed in April and are following up with "Erasing the Stigma".
Where did the arts aspect of your organization come in to play?
It really was what brought us all together. We had worked on community shows in different capacities, like as actors, singers, dancers, musicians, directors, choreographers, tech crew, stage crew, and costumes. We just felt that using our talents for the greater good of society was a fulfilling idea.
What is the story behind "Erasing the Stigma"?
"Erasing the Stigma" is an original piece that I developed in collaboration with many artists, dancers, and especially my film editor, Andrew Root. As a teacher, I had encountered a large number of people affected by mental illness in the past ten years, and I felt that many of those people were afraid to get the help they needed because of the stigma that is often associated with it. The show is intended to tell the stories of the brave people who came forward to be interviewed.
I hope this helps others understand that they are not alone and that there are places and people who can help. One of our interviewees was actually an audience member from Next to Normal who came to speak with us afterwards about the profound impact the show had on her. The stories are captured on video as well as in music and dance. We are also showcasing it during Mental Health Awareness week to bring a voice to this issue.
What is your hope for the future of mental health awareness?
My hope is that it becomes more normalized so that people aren't embarrassed or afraid to get help. Someone with pneumonia isn't going to refuse antibiotics, whereas someone with a mental illness is embarrassed to even admit they need help. I also hope that people will start to realize the importance of staying mentally healthy themselves. Finally, I hope that it may help at least one person who comes to see the show.
Is there anything else you would like to add about Art for Awareness, "Erasing the Stigma", or mental health in general?
As a new group, it's always tough to expand your audience base. I really hope that we get some students out on October 4, 5, 8, and 9 to see the show. The CMHA [Canadian Mental Health Association], Schizophrenia Society, and LYNX will all have representation at the show to help people if anyone has questions. It's a great opportunity for art and education to come together.
Tickets for the show can be purchased at Black Honey (217 Hunter St W.), or at the door on the day of the event for $10. Shows start at 8 p.m. and are perfomed at the Adam Scott auditorium. One-third of the proceeds raised from this event will go towards the LYNX: Early Psychosis Intervention Program, a program focused on identifying, diagnosing and treating early stage psychosis in youth.


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CHICAGO -- An alligator found swimming in Lake Michigan with his mouth taped shut is now has a new home with the Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest, Ill.
The alligator, who has since been named Dave, stopped by WGN Morning News Friday. His mouth was not taped shut during his on-air appearance, and he hissed quite a bit at anchors Larry Potash and Robin Baumgarten. But as Wildlife Discovery Center curator Rob Carmichael says, David is behaving exactly as an alligator should!
"He's strong. He's healthy. His infection is under control, and he's acting exactly the way we like to see. He's being very pampered," Carmichael said.
David was discovered by a fisherman earlier this month, and photos of the alligator posted to social media quickly went viral.
The alligator is believed to someone's abandoned pet, and it's unknown how long he was swimming for in the lake.
David will be at the center's Croctoberfest event this Sunday. Click here for more information.


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Here are some quotes about respect to help inspire you to treat all people respectfully, all the time.
"I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university." -Albert Einstein
"There is a basic level of respect that says 'You are a living being and therefore you have value,' which we should give to all people (and, frankly, animals too). You don't even need to like someone to give them at least this level of respect. Everyone deserves a basic level of respect." -Matthew Vasko, Founder, Century of Compassion
"We all require and want respect; man or woman, black or white. It's our basic human right." -Aretha Franklin
"We must raise our boys to respect girls and women. It is our responsibility to grow men who will see and treat women as equals. The perceptions men have of women formed when they were boys. So, teach boys to respect females' minds and bodies. In the long view, the path to equality for women and protecting women from abuse is through the minds of our boys." -Matthew Vasko, Founder, Century of Compassion
"When we give respect, we get it back in return. When we respect children and teens, they learn to believe in themselves and us. They feel valued and loved. We feel valued and loved." -Marilyn Price-Mitchell Ph.D.
"Respect is a solid foundation upon which to build constructive relationships. No matter how different a person is from you, if you treat that person with respect they are more likely to respect you in return. Upon this foundation, trust and mutual understanding can be built. So, treat every person you meet with respect and you'll be amazed by the results!" -Matthew Vasko, Founder, Century of Compassion


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Chapter VIII. A Kind Offer
"Nan!" called Freddie from under a big fur robe, as he sat in the warm straw of Mr. Carford's sled next to his sister.
"Yes, what is it?" asked Nan, bending over him to look at his face in the gathering dusk of the winter afternoon. "Are you warm enough, Freddie?"
"Yes, I'm as warm as the toast Dinah makes for breakfast. But say, I want to ask you――do you think we'll meet Santa Claus before we get home?"
"No, Freddie. The idea! What makes you think that?"
"Well, it's near Christmas, and we're out in a sled, and he goes out in a sled, only with reindeers of course, and――"
Freddie's voice trailed off sleepily. In fact he had aroused himself from almost a nap to ask Nan the question. Flossie, warmly wrapped up, was already slumbering in Bert's arms.
"No, I don't believe we'll meet Santa Claus this trip," said Nan. "He is only supposed to travel at night, you know, Freddie."
"That's so. Well, if we do meet him, and I'm asleep, you wake me up: will you?"
"Yes, Freddie," promised his sister, and she looked across at Bert and smiled. The two younger twins were soon both soundly slumbering, for being out in the cold air and wind does seem to make one sleepy when, later on, one gets warm and comfortable.
Mr. Carford sat up on the seat in front driving the sturdy horses, while the string of bells around them jingled at every step.
"Wasn't that a queer story of Snow Lodge?" asked Nan of Bert, in a low voice.
"It surely was," he replied. "It seems too bad to have the place all shut up, with no one to use it this winter. It would be just great, I think, if we could go up there for the Christmas holidays. We could go up right after Christmas, and not come back until the middle of January, for school doesn't open again until then. Wouldn't it be great!"
"Fine!" agreed Nan. "But I don't s'pose we could. Mr. Carford doesn't want Snow Lodge used, I guess. But he gave us a good time at his house."
"Indeed he did," agreed Bert.
On glided the sled, the bells making merry music. A light snowfall began, and Mr. Carford urged the horses to faster speed, for he wanted to get back home before the storm broke.
"Wake up, Freddie!"
"Wake up, Flossie!"
Nan and Bert gently shook their little brother and sister to arouse them. The sled had stopped in front of the Bobbsey home.
"Is it――is it morning?" asked Flossie, as she rubbed her eyes.
"Did Santa Claus come?" demanded Freddie, trying to wiggle out of Bert's arms.
"Not yet," laughed Mr. Carford. "But I think he soon will be here. Can you manage them, Nan――Bert?" he asked.
"Oh, yes, we often carry them," replied Nan. "They'll soon be wide awake again, and they won't want to go to sleep until late to-night, on account of the nap they've had."
Mrs. Bobbsey was at the door waiting for the children Flossie and Freddie soon roused up enough to walk in.
"Won't you come in?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey of Mr. Carford. "I can give you a cup of tea. Mr. Bobbsey just came home. Perhaps you'd like to say 'how-d'ye-do.'"
"Thanks, I'll come in for just a minute," was the answer. "Then I must be getting back before the storm breaks. And I'll tie my horses, too. I can't risk another runaway," Mr. Carford said with a smile at Bert.
Mr. Bobbsey greeted the caller cordially, and the children were soon telling their parents of the nice visit they had had.
"And Miss Carford can make almost as good cookies as Dinah!" cried Freddie.
"Ha! Ha!" laughed Mr. Carford. "I'll have to tell my sister that. She'll be real proud."
Bert, looking from his father to Mr. Carford, wondered what could have once taken place between the two men. That there was some sort of secret he felt sure, and up to now there had been no explanation of the strange words used by the aged man at the time Bert and the others caught the runaways.
"I haven't seen you in some time, Mr. Bobbsey," said Mr. Carford, after they had talked about the weather.
"No, I've been very busy, and I suppose you have also. Have you been at Snow Lodge lately?"
"No, and I don't expect to set foot in the place again. I guess you know why. And I want to say now, that though I was rather cross with you when you tried to get me to change my mind about that matter, some time ago, I want to say that I'm sorry for it. I realize that you did it for the best."
"Yes," said Mr. Bobbsey, "I did, but I know how you felt about it. I believed then, and I believe now, that you made a mistake about your nephew Henry."
"No, I don't think I did," was the slow reply. "I am afraid Henry is a bad young man. I don't want to see him again, nor Snow Lodge either. But I'm glad you tried to help me. However, I have come about a different matter now. How would you and your family like to spend the winter there? How would a vacation at Snow Lodge suit you?"
No one spoke for a few seconds. All were surprised at the kind offer made by Mr. Carford.
"A vacation at Snow Lodge!" said Mr. Bobbsey slowly.
"Do you mean it, Mr. Carford?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey.
"I certainly do," was the answer. "I have told your youngsters something about Snow Lodge, and they seemed to like the place. I heard them talking among themselves, on the way back here, how they'd like to go there.
"Oh, that's all right――no harm done!" exclaimed Mr. Carford, as he looked at the blushing faces of Nan and Bert. "I'm glad I did overhear what you were saying. It is a shame to keep that place locked up, and I'm just beginning to realize it.
"I don't want to go there myself, but that's no reason why others shouldn't. So, Mr. Bobbsey, if you like, you can take your whole family up there to Snow Lodge, near the lake, and in the woods, and stay as long as you like. Here are the keys!" and Mr. Carford tossed a jingling bunch on the table.


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The last cardinal direction we will explore is the East.
Sitting in the east direction is the element of fire, the season of summer, the human world, the sun as the heavenly body, our human aspect of spirit and spiritual, and the self-expression of illumination, enlightenment, pleasure, beauty, and medicine.
The east sings of the expansion of fire and is stabilized by the element of fire. Summer models this expansive stabilization perfectly with its fire and heat of the sun and the full expansion of life's vibrancy and joy! Our spirits love expanding, manifesting beauty and pleasure through engaging life at the edges of the unknown and unfamiliar.
Among all creatures, the humans are the only world who were created with a free will, agency of choice, and self-determination. We determine our reality. It is also only the humans who have the genitalia for experiencing full body orgasm at will. These two features distinguish us from the other Worlds. With that comes authority, responsibility, and power. It is our choice whether we exercise these in beauty and for recreation or in pain and for destruction. To become "Humans" requires four evolutionary steps into maturity –
- Willingness to assume authority
- Ability to take full responsibility
- Desire to co-empower self, life, and others
- Knowledge to stand fully accountable
Hope is our gift when we are balanced in this direction.
#knowledgethatworks #directions #elements #seasons #worlds #powers
For more information about DTMMS and its programs and workshops, please visit www.dtmms.org


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Cuban crisis
· major Cold War confrontation between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) over Soviet-supplied missile installations in Cuba, regarded by many as the world's closest approach to nuclear war
· after Castro's revolution on Cuba, Eisenhower's administrative anulled diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1960, because Cuba abused American soldiers on ambassys, took over American property and supported guerrilas in Latin America
· on April 17, 1962, a group of Cuban refugees, trained and equiped in USA, landed on the Cuban coast, in the Bay of Pigs; Castro's soldiers were waiting for them and 2,000 Cuban refugees were captured or killed by 20,000 Castro's army
· in October USA had leaerned that Soviet Union had begun missile shipment and spy planes overflying Cuba had photographed Soviet-managed construction work by August 29; and the first ballistic missile was spotted on October 14.
· after a week of secret consultation with his advisers, during which options of invasion, air strikes, blockade, or diplomacy were discussed, on October 22 US President John F. Kennedy announced his intention of placing a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent the arrival of more missiles.
· Kennedy demanded that the Soviet Union dismantle and remove the weapons, declaring that US naval forces would intercept and inspect ships bound for Cuba to determine whether they were carrying missiles.
· Soviet vessels en route for Cuba turned away to avoid the quarantined zone, while communication between Khrushchev and Kennedy was opened through diplomatic channels. After several days of negotiations during which nuclear war was feared by many to be a possibility, Khrushchev agreed, on October 28, to dismantle the missile sites and return the weapons to the Soviet Union, offering the United States on-site inspection in return for a guarantee not to invade Cuba
· Kennedy halted the blockade and also secretly promised to withdraw US missiles recently stationed in its NATO partner Turkey


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Heartfelt Condolence! Well-known NBA Broadcaster Craig Sager Dies at the Age of 65!
Quick Information
- Date of Birth B - 1951-06-29, D - 2016-12-15
- Nationality American
- Profession Reporter
- Birth Name Craig Graham Sager Sr.
- Zodiac Sign Cancer
- Ethnicity/Race White
- Father Craig Sager
- Sister/s Candy Menzemer
- Son/s Craig Sager Jr., Ryan Sager
- Daughter/s Riley Sager, Krista Sager, Kacy Sager
- Relationship Status Married
- Wife/Spouse Stacy Sager (m. 2001–2016)
- Divorce/Split Yes (Once)
- Ex-Wife Lisa Gabel (m. 1980–2001)
- Gay No
- Dating/Affair No
- Net Worth $9.5 Million
- Career 1972–2016
- High School Batavia High School
- College Northwestern University
- Height/ How Tall? 6'2" (1.88 m)
- Weight N/A
- Hair Short
- Hair Color Dark Brown
- Eye Color Blue
NBA's reporter for Tuner Broadcasting, Craig Sager passed away on Thursday, 15th of December, at age sixty-five after battling relentlessly with cancer and work.
He was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in April 2014 at MD Anderson Hospital forcing him to take a leave for 11 months fighting off cancer, but soon the disease returned in March of 2016. He continued his treatment over time while still working as side liner reporter, as he usually does.
Caption: The late and great Craig Sager in one of his unique attires in ESPY Awards during the summer of 2016.
Photo: Credit: yahoo.com
Craig's body, however, took a toll by the constant strain and pressure of his workload, but like an optimistic fighter he responded:
"I'm optimistic and I never complain. It's something you have to do, so why complain? I'm a gambler. I like to beat the odds."
Remembered by his extravagant attire all around the world, many didn't share his optimism, especially his fans and family who worried dearly about his health condition.
Even basketball stars such as Charles Barkley, George Hill, Jalen Rose are one of the many celebrities who are mourning in honor of late Craig Sager.
RIP Craig Sager. A true legend who will be missed around the league. Thoughts & prayers go out to his family. Gonna miss him. #RIPCraigSager pic.twitter.com/U7riSBJeT2— Basketball Forever (@Bballforeverfb) December 15, 2016
Moreover, Craig's daughter shared a memory of her father on Twitter with a series of photos over the years for his loyal sports fans.
If my dad was right and time really is how you live your life, then that son of a bitch outlived us all. #SagerStrong forever pic.twitter.com/Fkb0RcbfJq— Kacy Sager (@THESagerbomb) December 15, 2016
David Levy, the current president of Tuner, expressed his deep sorrow for the loss of a beloved employee. He stated,
"Craig Sager was a beloved member of the Turner family for more than three decades and he has been a true inspiration to all of us," Turner President David Levy said in a statement. "There will never be another Craig Sager. His incredible talent, tireless work ethic and commitment to his craft took him all over the world covering sports."
Craig was undoubtedly an iconic reporter with his loud bursting colors on his blazer and his personality on air. The loss of a legend has significantly affected many individuals, and it's sure the world will surely miss this unique reporter for eternity.


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Monday, July 5, 2010
We wondered if the indoor/outdoor thermometer was going to burst. The outside probe is under the patio roof - it was really only about 115 that day. We have the air set at 82 which is very comfortable except in the Arizona room. Since that was enclosed after the original house construction, it doesn't have AC and is not concrete block. It's hot, although maybe not as hot as this says since the thermometer is mounted on one of those outside walls.
"So what do we do in this heat?" you may ask. Well if there is any work to be done (laundry, cleaning, whatever) we do that first thing in the morning. Any errands must be run as early as possible. Ron doesn't even have his normal projects because they involve working in the hot garage.
Since walking around the neighborhood is out, we joined the local 'multi-generational center'. They have a huge selection of exercise equipment. Ron walks around the indoor track and uses the weight lifting equipment. While I take advantage of the treadmill.
I never realized how boring treadmills are. There are five TVs mounted in a row on the wall, each one with closed captioning. Unfortunately, I think I must have ADD, because the setup just overwhelms me. My eyes flip from one to the next and by the time I leave, I'm just dizzy.
We also walk the mall which I actually like better. No picture since I'm sure you know what a shopping mall looks like.
We've been taking advantage of one of our community pools. Now this is my idea of exercise. While there, I met some ladies who are making Christmas stockings for homeless kids and asked if I wanted to help. I thought, "Okay, sew them together and slap some trim around the top. Easy!"
But, no. These ladies are over-achievers. They really have a system going. When I reported for duty, they asked what I wanted to do - cut, trace patterns, paint, trim. I said that maybe I could handle cutting them out and gluing trim around the top.
I also have homework - I take them home to sew.
Here's Carol who is spearheading the project with her youngest assistants. The goal is 1000 stockings and we're right on schedule at halfway there.
Here are some of the finished stockings. They'll be stuffed with a combination of practical items and a fun item. They did 500 last year and said the rewards were unimaginable.
7 comments:
It is interesting to see what goes on in Phoenix in the summer if you don't go to an air conditioned office and you aren't John McCain campaigning in his first election (remember that story from the last campaign?). In Colorado we exercised inside in the winter. In Arizona that's for summer. How much longer?ReplyDelete
I'm glad you are keeping busy and finding ways to deal with the heat.ReplyDelete
Christmas in July!! = ) The stockings are beautiful.
Hope you can head to the COOL soon!!
YEAH for you! I wish everyone would do some kind of volunteering. The rewards are immeasurable.ReplyDelete
I love the stockings (and anything Christmas) but I sure do miss you guys.ReplyDelete
The pool looks like the perfect way to spend this hot summer, its the same here only figure in the humidity and the thunderstoms--ReplyDelete
The stocking project seems to be a very good cause, I know it will be rewarding!!
Stay COOL
Glad to see that even though you're still stuck in AZ, you are not letting any grass grow under your feet. Of course, with that heat, it's probably dead and not growing anyway! ;c)ReplyDelete
How cute!! How is Ron's finger by now? Are you going to be hitting the road?ReplyDelete


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Moneris is a Splynx add-on. It's used to pay invoices and proforma invoices with Moneris Payment Gateway - https://www.moneris.com/.
You can install splynx-moneris via Linux shell or via web-interface.
Installation via Linux shell
Use following commands:
apt-get update
apt-get install splynx-moneris
Installation via web-interface
- Open Config / Integrations / Add-ons
- Click Update (apt), then Refresh, then install.
After installation, add-on should be configured. Open Config / Integrations / Modules list, click
API domain - Splynx URL.
API key, API secret - default values. Don't change them without need.
Splynx URL - Splynx URL.
Payment method - when customer pays by using this add-on, the payment will be with this payment type.
Group of bank statements - Group bank statements (Finance / Bank Statements / History) monthly or daily.
Service fee to:
- Payee - customer won't pay Additional service fee.
- Additional service fee - customer will pay Additional service fee.
Additional service fee - if Service fee to=Additional service fee, here you have to specifyAdditional service fee percent.
Fee message - Additional service fee description.
Fee VAT - Additional service fee VAT percent.
Transaction fee category - transaction category of the Additional service fee.
These settings can be different for each partner: Select Country - country. Select payment currency - currency. Store Id, API token, HT Profile ID - these values you can find in Moneris portal.
Payment process
After successful configuration, customers can pay their invoices using Moneris system in Finance / Invoices:
If everything went well, you will see status of invoice as "Paid" (portal and admin).


text:
Price: $50.00
Quantity: 1 available
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Title: Edward Livingston Youmans: Interpreter of Science for the People. A Sketch of His Life. With Selections from His Published Writings and Extracts from His Correspondence with Spencer, Huxley, Tyndall and Others.
Categories: Astronomy,
Publisher: New York:, D. Appleton, 1894.: 1894
Inscription: Signed
lbs: 3.00 lbs
Seller ID: Z1721
Keywords: Astronomy


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Monday, January 31, 2011
At A Loss
Here's what's going on.... She has been having a very, very hard time going to sleep at night. Sometimes she's up for hours in her room just laying there. She's not really a problem in there (except for when she comes out for random requests from time to time) but I feel bad that she's going through this. I was resolved to just cutting out her afternoon nap (though the thought alone killed me). The problem with this is that she becomes sleepy in the afternoon and very grumpy in the evenings without the sleep. I'm assuming that that just takes time for her to adjust though.
However, my whole plan went down the drain today. She slept for 20 minutes in the car at 1:15 this afternoon and when we got home she was grumpy and miserable. Her attitude and bad mood continued until 7:30 when she asked to go to bed. I thought she would drift quickly off into dreamland but I was wrong.. It's almost 10 and she is still tossing and turning in her room. I'm at my wits end!
She has no caffeine so that's definitely not the culprit and her sugar intake isn't such that she should be wired until all hours of the night. She was unable to sleep last night and was up until after 10. On top of that, she woke up abnormally early this morning at 7:15 so she should be exhausted.
I'm wondering why in the world this child won't sleep! It wouldn't bother me if Adrienne wasn't going to be moving in her room in a few weeks. I know it's silly but I have such major anxiety over this whole situation because I fear that instead of having one child up until 10 that I'll have 2. I love my children but come on, sleep is a vital part of our existence.
Does anyone have any insight on this?? Please, please, please share your tips with me. I'm in desperate need here!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Celebrating 5 Years!
Wow, how has it been five years already? When we first got married 5 years sounded like such a long time but the years have flown. Life before marriage seems like a faint memory now! I had a great life before John but my best memories and most treasured moments have been within our marriage. It sounds so cliche but I seriously feel very, very blessed to have married my best friend. My husband just "gets" me... Even the overly emotional, disorganized, and irrational side of me. It's such a blessing to have someone who knows me and loves me that deeply.
I remember on my wedding day my mom told me, "Just wait to see how much your love for John changes through the years." I didn't fully understand what she was saying but she's so right. I once thought I loved him so much but that love has magnified through the past 5 years. On top of loving him as my best friend and soul mate, I now love him as a father to my daughters and the amazing provider that he is. My mom was so right... Those are new aspects of John that I wasn't aware of on our wedding day.
I am so thankful for a Godly husband to share this crazy life with! I feel very excited about our future together and I love knowing that I have this wonderful man trudging through the ups and downs of life right along with me.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Talking Up A Storm
Not only does Miss Adrienne love being a copycat but she loves to put her own spin on what we say and make it silly. Today I said, "Love you, Guys!" And she first repeated that and then said, "Love you, Cereal!" She then went on to make a whole list of things she wanted to say "I love you" to. Meanwhile, both girls were cracking up and Adrienne was so proud that Brooke appreciated her silliness.
The most precious thing that Adrienne has been saying is "Mama." Sure, she's been saying it for quite some time now but when she looks at me and says, "Help me, Mama" or "Love you, Mama," my heart swells with love for her. She's been saying a lot, also, "Want you, Mama." It's so nice to be wanted that much by someone... And so VERY often. Lol. She's a really good girl:-)
Tonight she had me cracking up because she kept lifting the bottom of my shirt up and saying, "Baby, where are you?" She would then kiss my belly and say, "Wake up!" I don't really think that she fully grasps that there's a baby in my belly but she's been hearing us talk about it so much. She's going to be a great big sister.
Where in the world did my baby go? How is she old enough to be speaking in sentences? If only I could slow time down so I can soak all of these precious moments up to the fullest!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Big Spender
Brooke has collected quite a bit of money in her almost four years of life. She even has a bank account for her all her riches. We joke that she has more money than we do! Lol. So today when we were getting ready to go to Wal Mart for some groceries she asked to bring some of her money along. My first thought was "no way!" I couldn't fathom my little girl spending her own hard earned money but John quickly reminded me that that's why she gets an allowance. Then he helped her get her bright yellow purse and together they threw in some of her money.
When we got to the store we followed our usual routine... Divide and conquer. I rushed off to get groceries like I was on Supermarket Sweep or something and John took the girls to look at fun things. When we reunited, Brooke excitedly showed me her prized item that she was going to buy... A silly little light up toy that spins. To her it was something wonderful to behold! She clinched onto it tightly until it was time to put it on the conveyor belt and pay for it. The grand total of her first purchase? A mere $4.32. She fumbled through her little purse, spilling out one dollar bills without even knowing it, and proudly surrendered her earnings to the the cashier. She was beaming with pride and so excited. It was one of those moments that I just started at here with amazement over how much I love her. I can't describe it.
My little girl is getting so big and her independence is growing by the day. It really is hard to see her as anything more than that tiny baby I gave birth to but seeing her with her spending her own money made me realize that she is anything but that. Oh how I love her!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
"In Sickness and In Health"
He came home from work yesterday morning running a 103 degree fever and that never happens for him. He was complaining that his head was pounding but he still dug us out of the snow that we had gotten that night. The fever has been awfully high and persistent so he finally let me take him to the doctor this morning. Sure enough, he has strep throat. UGH!!!! He has been sicker than a dog and has literally slept, only to wake up for more medicines to get his fever down. He also has barely eaten anything or had much of anything to drink. I feel so bad for him because he's one tough cookie so I know he must be really, really sick to be acting this miserably.
I've decided that as awful as it is to have sick kids, it's worse having a sick husband. When he's sick, I'm pretty much on my own and don't really have anyone on my "team." When the girls are sick it's horrible... Don't get me wrong... But at least he has energy to help me out with them. I really just miss his company and friendship right now but he needs to rest and I'm sure he'll back to usual in no time.
You know how it is when your kids have a stomach bug you can convince yourself your stomach hurts? Well right now I can't decide if my throat hurts. Lol. It really doesn't but I keep swallowing and evaluating if it's sore or not. I've been sterilizing everything like a mad woman and using lots and lots of bleach to try to kill any germs that might be hanging around here. The last thing we need is for me to get sick.. Or the girls for that matter.
I've asked this before but is this EVER going to end? I'm so sick of having my family so sick! We have all of these gift cards from Christmas for various restaurants and we've used none of them because we haven't all been well at one time to go out to eat together. Friday is our anniversary and we have plans for a nice night out but I'm trying not to get my hopes up until it actually happens. You never know with this family!
Alrighty, I'm off to get some more drugs for my man. Hopefully he wakes feeling much better tomorrow! I'm praying that the rest of us steer clear of this, too!
Friday, January 21, 2011
9 Weeks and Counting!
I have so many anxieties going through my mind right now. First and foremost, I'm so NOT looking forward to the actual C-Section. Last time was really awful for so many reasons... I kind of "lost it" once I got into the operating room just because I was so afraid and then Adrienne was sick and I couldn't even be with her for the first 24 hours of her life. All of those factors have me worried sick but I'm trying to tell myself that worry is a sin and NOT of God so I should knock it off! I've been having random C-Section related nightmares for the past couple of nights and I know it's because my mind is focused so heavily on it.
I'm also starting to feel like time is quickly running short for Adrienne to be my "baby." I remember feeling very unsettled before Adrienne was born because I didn't want to misplace Brooke too much but she did wonderfully. Adrienne is actually more content and easy-going than Brooke ever was (if that's even possible!) so I'm confident that she'll handle it well. Change is just hard for someone like me to process. I like to be in control of things but that's just not life!
In addition, I'm beginning to feel tons of pressure to get everything done to prepare our home for a new baby. Cupboards and closets should probably get hit with some organization and I should probably start going through all of our newborn clothes to figure out what we'll need to buy. Next month Adrienne will be getting her big girl bed to match Brooke's (they'll be sharing a room) and so that's a huge burden to me right now. Will Adrienne transfer okay? How will it impact nap time and bedtime? There is just so much to be done and I know my busy mind won't rest until I do it!
Most importantly, however, I can't wait to meet my Bailey girl. I'm more curious about who she is with each passing day. Now that she's bigger and I can feel her movements almost constantly, I'm more mindful of her presence. I can't wait to enjoy her and have all of the sentiments of a newborn baby. She will be our last baby so this process has been a little bittersweet for me. When it's all said and done, however, I think it will just feel great to know that our family is complete.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Returning to Normal
Today was a VERY exciting day because we got out of the house! We just went to Target and got popcorn and walked around. Ah, the simple things in life! We also went to my sister's house for lunch and the girls were thrilled to be able to play with their cousins again. There was virtually no fighting between all the kids (a rarity) and I could tell that absence really had made all of their hearts grow fonder.
Another wonderful thing about today was that we actually got to go to church again! We're used to being there twice a week and it had been almost 2 weeks since we had gone. It was nice to receive so many warm welcomes from everyone and to feel missed. I also got to play the piano again which was wonderful because I always hate not being able to be there to play.
Ya know, it occurred to me mid-post that I'm probably jinxing myself here! There are all sorts of nasty viruses and bugs going around and I'm just praying that my girls don't catch any of them. I'm not sure that I'm up for another 2 weeks cooped up with sick girls. I tell ya, it's so hard to keep them healthy in the winter months!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Pneumonia, Take 2
It's been kind of a hard morning for me because she's very sick. Her oxygen levels were in the low 80's and they like them to be over 95. In addition, her heart rate was over 160, which is apparently dangerously high. The plan was to admit her into the hospital unless they could easily bring her numbers back to a good spot. After several treatments she responded well and they armed me with an antibiotic and some more medicines for our breathing machine and sent us on our way. However, now that I'm home, I'm worried sick about my girl. I have a pretty bad case of asthma so you would think I could easily spot a child in distress but honestly, I didn't notice anything abnormal about Adrienne's breathing other than a little wheezing. They told me to bring her to the hospital immediately if her heart started racing like that again or if she was struggling to breathe but I find myself questioning my ability to even realize when that is. I'm almost wishing that they had just admitted her for the night because I'm so worried that something is going to happen.
I feel so heavy hearted right now. Knowing that I have one baby who is very sick and another who still sounds awful just puts a pit on my stomach. Adrienne's fever has been pretty high and both girls are receiving breathing treatments throughout the day. It's just overall a lot of work. I'm not complaining but I actually just feel extremely bad for them because it's eating up their whole life right now! Brooke had me cracking up this morning... "Mom, are we going anywhere today?" I told her that we would still be staying home and she said, "But can't I still have a matching bow in my hair?" Lol. Yes, my sweet little drama queen, a matching bow would be just fine:-)
It stinks because our amazing pediatrician who we trust so, so much will be not be in the office tomorrow due to Martin Luther King Day so I'll have to wait for the girls to be rechecked by him later in the week. Who knows? Maybe by then they'll be all better and we won't need to see him. Something tells me that's wishful thinking though!
Good is still good. Life is still wonderful. Being a mommy is still the best job ever, hands down. We'll get through. We always do!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Lessons Learned
Through it all, I'm so proud to say that I'm growing more and more content to be home. I've mentioned before that not being able to get out much has always been a challenge for me to deal with but these past couple of weeks have been teaching me a few things:
*I'm SO lucky! The fact that God has given me a husband who provides for us so that I don't have to work outside the home is just incredible to me. He has so much drive and motivation to work extra shifts in order to give us niceties and that means the world to me. Because of John's hard-working attitude, when my girls are sick I don't have to pick between them or going to work. Instead, I can simply devote every second of my day to them without fear of losing my job or getting behind.
*I am blessed to have children who are very healthy. Sure, they're sick right now, but some parents sit in hospital rooms day and after day with chronically sick children who may never get better. This, for us, is temporal, and I don't want to take that for granted.
*My girls are happiest... At home. It's nice to be out and see people but home is where they are them true selves and where we spend the most time laughing.
*An entire morning can be eaten up by throwing them in the tub. Holy cow! We wake up, eat breakfast, play for a bit or read some books, and then it's bath time. They often stay in there for over and hour and laugh hysterically together.
*There is never a shortage of things to do at home. Looking back, that is one of the biggest reasons I always hated being "cooped up" because I would fear that I would be bored. For a busy girl like me, that's not a fun thought! However, I'm more busy than ever. We're always baking something or doing one fun activity or another. We keep quite busy! Sometimes I'll wake up and think "What in the world will we do today" but that worry quickly disappears once we start moving.
*Just because you're home doesn't mean you can't look your best! The temptation has always been for me to not really fix my hair or do my make up when I know I'm "just" staying in but I find that I feel so much better when I still devote a few precious minutes for myself, regardless of our plans for the day. During the girls' hour long bath (on average), I try to do my hair at least and it does wonders for how I feel. It's the little things!
*I absolutely love being a mom. I've always known that but whenever one of my girls is sick, it just reaffirms that to me. I love that when my nurturing, compassionate side is called upon that I get joy out of it. My daughters want only ME when they're sick (unless, of course, Daddy is around) and I so enjoy being that go-to person for them.
After being a stay-at-home mom for right around 4 years now, I never thought I would get to this point. It's been my prayer that God would show me to be content within the walls of my home and I feel like I'm really coming to a good place with that right now. I still really enjoy getting out and interacting with people but I'm realizing that a day at home isn't wasted or any less exciting than the days where we get to bust out of here!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Are You Ready to Save Some Money???
Here are the steps I would take to get started-
1. Start getting the Sunday newspaper each week. Some weeks the coupons are so good that I actually buy 2 papers. For example, Gillette gives awesome $4 off coupons that make men's razors free with the right deal so I always make sure to get several papers on those weeks. Other weeks you might use none of the coupons but make sure you hang on to them until they expire because you might be able to pair them with deals in future weeks.
2. Sign up for a CVS Extra Care Card. It's free and simple and only takes a few minutes in the store. In addition, go online and sign up for their email list and you will receive awesome money-saving emails. I got a FREE $4 coupon on my birthday!
3. There are other drug stores that offer the same types of rewards system as CVS (Rite Aid, Walgreens) but in my personal opinion, it's best to get started with just one drug store. It can be overwhelming at first and when you're trying to juggle three different stores worth of deals, it can be a bit much. I did CVS only for my first year and about three months ago I threw Rite Aid into the mix.
4. Now, for the actual money saving part... As I alluded to earlier, CVS (and the other drug stores) have these amazing things called Extra Care Bucks. If you look in their ad each week, it will tell you the items that give you these wonderful treasures. (Slight exaggeration, maybe??) The goal is to buy items that give you ECB using ECB from other purchases. For example, this is what I did this week...
*I had 12 ECB left from last week (it might take a few weeks of actual out of pocket spending to gain ECB but that's to be expected) so I got my CVS ad and looked for items that would yield around the same amount of ECB.
*They were running a sale on Air Wick where you received $10 in ECB if you spent $20. I didn't need Air Wick items but I used the coupons in Sunday paper that brought my total down to $11. I then applied my ECB from last week, paid only a dollar for all of that stuff, and was then given $10 in ECB in return.
*I turned right around and used a Huggies $3 off coupon, a CVS email coupon that gave me $4 off of $20, along with my newly acquired ECB and then got a jumbo box of Huggies Diapers for $3. Oh yes, and I got 3 ECB after that.
*When it was all said and done, I walked out of CVS spending under $5 for diapers (which are always nice to stock pile!), along with other household items that I can put away for future uses. Such a great feeling!
5. Another thing to remember is that Buy One Get On Free (BOGO) sales combined with BOGO coupons= FREE! I always watch my BOGO coupons like a hawk and am eager to jump on any sales that I can use to get such items for free. This week I got $10 worth Of Stay Free products absolutely FREE because of this.
6. I consider myself to be a amateur in the coupon world. There are many bloggers out there that put my knowledge to shame! Use them to your advantage. My favorite sites include... MoneySavingMom.Com and ChaChingOnAShoeString.Com. These women will give you weekly scenarios for money saving (though I think it's more fun to come up with my own!), along with online deals, frugal recipes, etc..
I hope that this has answered some of your questions! It may seem daunting at first but once you get going and start saving massive amounts of money, you'll most likely be hooked like me! Don't hesitate to ask me more questions if I've confused you at all:-)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Update on Brookie
I had a gut feeling that she wasn't okay so I took her in to her pediatrician (because we had gone to the Walk In on Wednesday) and sure enough, her bronchitis has turned into full fledged pneumonia. Poor princess! They were going to send her for a chest X-Ray but the doctor said that the treatment would be the same regardless so he didn't want to put her through that. He gave her a stronger antibiotic along with some medications for the breathing machine. I'm hoping to have my happy, healthy, energetic girl back in no time!
Heaven help me if there's more sickness lurking next week. We've been put through the ringer!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
More Sickness:-(
It's been a rough couple of nights as she is up a lot with fevers and constant coughing. The coughing really never ends and she has actually thrown up a couple of times due to the forceful nature of the coughs. Her little eyes are all puffy from getting such little amounts of sleep so she's an altogether heartbreaking sight lately! She really doesn't get off the couch much which is so weird because I'm used to her being full of energy!
John has been off and he's absolutely incredible. He has a way with Brooke that just calms her down and he has really helped take a lot of the stress off of me. Unfortunately he has to go back in tonight and I'm NOT looking forward to being without him. I'll make due though.. It's not like I have a choice.
Between last week's reoccurring stomach bugs and now this, I am one fried mama. By some miracle the house is clean and laundry is done so that's good but I'm just ready for two healthy girls again!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Frugal Living
About a year ago I felt really convicted about our grocery spending and that I wasn't really doing much to help defray the costs. I used to just go to the grocery store and buy whatever sounded good but for a good while now, things have been really different. I am on a grocery budget that really helps me stay in check and I enjoy it. John gives me a lump sum in cash once a month and I love it that way because I try to do only one big trip once a month and then go every week for sale items, fruits, milk, and bread. It works out great! We use debit cards for everything else but I find that I keep a closer hold on my grocery money when it's given to me in cash.
On top of implementing a new budget, I clip coupons with the best of them and watch the sales guides like a hawk! Ya see, I have learned that if I can get most of the necessary household items for free then my grocery budget is that much more generous. I can afford steaks and the occasional treat of crab legs or shrimp because I've planned wisely. I'm not trying to make it seem like our budget is that meager, but really, we're spending a significantly lower amount than we were. That is definitely something to be proud of!
Just today I went to CVS and got about $65 worth of stuff for $4.32 with $3 back in Extra Care Bucks. Amongst the items purchased in that trip was a jumbo box of Huggies for Adrienne. Heck yeah! I get such a sense of pride being able to come home with all of these items without spending much at all. Many times I don't spend anything (thanks to Extra Care Bucks) but diapers aren't something that I can get 100% free.
Being a stay-at-home-mom, I feel like the only way I can "make up" for creating no income for our family is to save us money when I can. Clipping coupons and deal seeking take time but when you see the money start falling off your grocery bills, you'll get why I'm addicted. It's nice, though, because now that I have such an enormous stock pile, I can be more laid back and not get so worked up about catching every deal. I'll take a few weeks off here or there but the truth is, I could take a year or more off from supplying my stock pile and I wouldn't run out of anything. No joke! I would have DEFINITELY been prepared for Y2K! Lol
Saturday, January 8, 2011
A Series of Unfortunate Events
It all started on Monday night when Brooke began to throw up. She threw up about 2 times but was seemingly fine after that. We kept her home from gymnastics on Tuesday morning just to be courteous of the other people but she really was okay.
Over 48 hours later, Adrienne fell sick on Wednesday night. From 10:30 that night until about 1, she threw up 5 times but was completely fine the next morning. She wanted to eat breakfast and kept every bit of it down. Oddly enough, Brooke started to complain that her belly hurt and was very lethargic on Thursday evening but has thankfully been fine since then.
Yesterday morning came and both girls seemed to be going great. We had a nice morning at home but because John was working a double, my dad picked us up and took us to dinner with the family. We had a nice night and apart from Adrienne not eating well (which is not unusual), it was a typical night. About 12 last night I was about to close my eyes for the night and what do you know... Adrienne started throwing up again. The worst part was that it didn't even wake her up so when I tried to reach in her crib to get her, she pitched a fit and threw herself back down, landing in the mess. It was a nightmare. I gave her a quick bath and cleaned her up and let her sleep with me until I knew she was done throwing up. She didn't end up getting sick again, thankfully, and was in her bed a few hours later.
So here we are on Saturday morning... And if I wasn't so tainted from the horrible experiences we've had this week I would say that both girls seem 100 percent fine. However, I happen to wonder if we'll be doing this all over again in another 48 hours? That seems to be the trend. Every time one of them coughs I'm after them with a bowl because in my house, you just never know.
Ya know, we've been fortunate with our children... They never get ear infections (each girl has had maybe 1 or 2), they don't catch all of the colds or respiratory infections that spread like wildfire, and they have really good overall health. HOWEVER, they seem to catch any and every little stomach virus and they always have a very hard time getting over them. I'm not sure how much of is the fact that their bellies are sensitive... They both had nasty reflux as babies, Brooke can't eat certain foods without it sending her to the bathroom, and Adrienne is lactose intolerant. Even so, why would that make them more susceptible to all of these nasty stomach bugs? I don't get it.
So, yeah, it's been a long, long week. I could definitely win an award for the most laundry detergent used or the most time spent scrubbing stains out of clothes, but who's counting?? I'm truly exhausted and fried and my saving grace so far is that John and I have remained healthy. KNOCK ON WOOD!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Amazing Baked Oatmeal
All you need is:
*3 cups of rolled oats
*1 cup of brown sugar (although I cut the sugar in half and added homemade apple sauce and honey to compliment the sweetness)
*1 tablespoon of cinnamon
*1 teaspoon of salt
*2 teaspoons of baking powder
*1 cup of milk
*2 teaspoons of vanilla
*1/2 of melted butter (I cut this by half, too)
*2 eggs, beaten
You simply mix all the dry ingredients and then add the wet ingredients. I seriously think it took me about 3 minutes to prepare! All you do after that is bake it for about 30 minutes on 325. I baked ours last night and then this morning, all I had to do was cut it into individual squares, pour a splash of milk over it, and then microwave it for 30 seconds. It was absolutely incredible!
There are countless variations of this, too! I am most excited for blueberry season when I can add fresh blueberries. I had thought to put some dried cranberries or raisins in it but with my kids, the more simple the better. I think even a mushed up banana would be great in there, as well.
The girls really love dry cereal but I don't love feeding it to them because I don't feel like it has much nutritional value or like it keeps them full. This was a great alternative that I could feel good about feeding them.
Ah, I just love being a housewife. Feeding and taking care of my family makes me feel so happy and I get a huge sense of pride from doing so. I guess that's evident from that fact that I'm so overwhelmingly excited over something as simple as baked oatmeal! :-)
Monday, January 3, 2011
My Achin' Back
I've read up on it and everyone keeps telling me that it's just sciatic nerve pain from where the baby is laying. It sounds like a pretty routine problem and I always feel like my doctor will think I'm a hypochondriac for calling about every little ache or pain so I've just been waiting it out. I'm going on Wednesday for my glucose testing and 28 week appointment so I'm eager to see the doctor then.
I can deal with this but I just feel bad for the girls because it's hard to get down on the floor to play with them and it's hard to pick them up. Adrienne is pretty independent but she still likes to be held by her mama sometimes. Luckily the pain is minimal while sitting so we can snuggle all we like. I just hope they don't feel as frustrated by all of this as I do!
This pregnancy has been the most difficult of my pregnancies, by far. The morning sickness was worse, the awful breathing issues combined with bouts of bronchitis and pneumonia, insatiable thirst and excessive dizziness, and now this. It's so funny though because the little princess is kicking like crazy right now and I instantly know that it's all worth it. Heck, you could multiply all the negative aspects of this pregnancy by 100 and I would still say it's worth it.


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"I'm on the road of least resistance;
I'd rather give up
Than give in to this."
– Promises, Promises, Incubus
Brugge/Bruges/Bruge: True to what I'd been told by various individuals prior to arriving in this quaint little Flemish town, Bruges indeed does have an antique museum-like quality to it. The cobblestoned streets and the ancient buildings date back to the 17th century, but the shops operating in these buildings are contemporary, newly-refurbished, with a surprisingly modern interior.
Sometimes it still amazes me how people could still live and work in 300-year old buildings; in my mind, anything (buildings included) older than a hundred year old is nearing its expiration date and should therefore (ideally) should be treated like a museum, preserved with special care. In Malaysia, I have yet to step foot in a building older than a century and a half old, so the fact that so many buildings here in Europe are simply ancient, yet well adapted to contemporary living, is still a concept I have yet to slowly grasp.
Although we were in Bruges last weekend for only a few hours, it was still more than enough to get a deeper than just a brief introduction to this city, and, quite frankly speaking, I could feel this city calling, trying to pull me back into its warm embrace. Sometime in the future, I know I will respond to its calling and come back — this time, for more than just a few hours.
Bruges, being an absolutely charming city, is basically formed of a network of canals and ancient cobblestoned streets lined with buildings from as far back as the 16th-17th century built in classical (well, I'm sure back then it must have been 'contemporary') Flemish architecture, which has strong resemblance to Dutch architecture if I'm not mistaken (though what do I know about European architecture? I'm no architect…).
I find that the highlights of my travels are usually when I've packed my map, guidebook, and camera in my bag and suddenly decided to take a chance to explore the small hidden cobblestoned streets that branch away from the main streets. I never know what to expect whenever I do embark on these impromptu hidden-streets exploration missions; sometimes I might reach a dead end, oftentimes I come across a quaint shop selling quaint souvenirs (like that scarf shop in Brussels I stumbled upon on my last day) or a warm cafe serving some of the best hot chocolates in town.
Of course, we mustn't romanticize things too much, and it is also important to remember that sometimes these hidden alleyways can contain unpleasant surprises too — particularly at night — so we should always be wary. Having said that, these streets are very much like life itself: at every turn, there's always a new surprise waiting for you, which is why it is important to take chances.


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Legendary Gaspésie
In North American snowmobiling, a few destinations are legendary, their mystique spread through social media and word of mouth. One is the Quebec Maritime Region called Gaspésie.
Also known as the Gaspé Peninsula, it's bounded in the north by the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and south by the Bay of Chaleur (with a great view of New Brunswick from the lookout above the town of Point-à-La-Croix).
Gaspésie boasts oodles of snow, plus a sledding season that starts early and lasts well into April. This bucket list Canadian destination also delivers breathtaking scenery, panoramic lookouts and a superb network of wide, sweeping trails that may be the best you'll ever ride day after day.
Typically tabletop smooth with minimal traffic, these snow corridors also provide good access to English speaking services and amenities.
The premier Gaspésie route is Trans Quebec Trail 5. It follows the coastline to circumnavigate the eye-candy topography of the Peninsula. But that's just part of Gaspésie's sledding appeal. The picturesque Matapedia Valley on Quebec Regional Trail 587 in western Gaspésie is a standout - and so are the awesome wilderness Trails 595 and 597 through the heart of the Notre Dame Mountains, a northern extension of the Appalachian range (several interior trail loop options are shown on the Gaspésie Trail Map.)
If powder riding's your thing, connect with one of the boondocking outfits located in the Chic-Chocs, part of the northern Notre Dame Mountains (Aventure Chic-Chocs Mountain Riding).
Frankly, I've never figured out how to do all this in a one-week trip. To get on the snow sooner, our self-guided saddlebag tour launched from Hotel Universel in Rivière-du-Loup. It's located in the Gaspésie's neighbouring western region, Bas-Saint Laurent. We returned five days later after racking up 1,800 kilometres (1,118 miles).
First, we rode a mountainous Trail 587 through the Matapedia Valley, then picked up the Trail 5 loop counter clockwise along the south coast from Point-à-La-Croix east to the town of Percé (check out the famous Percé Rock and the Mont-Saint-Anne lookout behind the town church).
Going this direction, the going gets progressively more steep and stunning, culminating along the north shore. Here, the best lookouts are between Petite-Vallée & Saint Madelaine, and again from Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis & La Martre. You'll experience some long, high climbs and sharp descents on this section of Trail 5, so be prepared for popping ears!
Adding the equally alluring interior trail loops to this itinerary would tack on another couple of riding days to the five we completed. Considering the trailer drive to and from Gaspésie is a full day or more each way depending on where home base is, you're into at least a ten-day expedition to get it all done out of Rivière-du-Loup.
One alternative to cram more into your visit is to trailer farther east 200 kilometres (125 miles) past Rivière-du-Loup to stage within Gaspésie from Matane. While lengthening the drive, this launching point knocks a total of 600 kilometres (372 miles) off the ride we did - effectively two days, mostly in Bas-Saint-Laurent - so you could use these two days for more Gaspésie exploring.
Having visited Gaspésie multiple times, I should note that it's wise to allow a spare day or two for a snow bound layover. Massive storms can and do occur throughout the winter that temporarily bring all traffic - even mountain sleds - to a full stop until roads and trails are cleared again.
Also worthwhile to know is that Trail 5 on the south coast generally doesn't last as long as its northern counterpart, and that's when the interior trails provide excellent options. Finally, be prepared to be slammed by blustery winds in open areas along the north coast, and don't attempt Gaspésie without studs - or without a driver's side mirror affixed to your sled as required by Quebec law.
That all said, a one-week Gaspésie tour will blow your mind even if you don't have time to do it all. But that's good news, because then you'll have to go back for more real soon!
Planning Websites
* Quebec Tourism
* Gaspé Region
* Routing & Snow Info
* Trail Permits & Conditions
Maps Needed
* Gaspésie
* Bas-Saint-Laurent
Where We Stayed on Our Counter Clockwise Loop
* Hotel Universel, Rivière-du-Loup (fuel beside hotel) 1-800-265-0072
* Selectotel, Amqui (fuel down trail)– 1-800-463-0831
* Hostellerie Baie Blue, Carleton-sur-Mer (fuel nearby) 1-800-463-9099
* Auberge La Table à Roland, Percé (fuel up in Grande-Rivière) 418-782-2606
* La Délice Motel, Mont-Saint-Pierre (fuel up in Sainte-Madelaine) 1-888-797-2955
* Riotel Matane (fuel on way to hotel) 1-877-566-2651
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X out of 5 stars
I have the technical skill to publish a database of my entire music collection online, but I don't have the inclination to spend that much development time doing it. So instead, I'm letting Rate Your Music do it for me.
I spent the last few days pretty much putting everything online, including albums I don't even own anymore. I even went so far as to include vinyl and cassettes, the latter of which I sold off nearly four years ago. As of this writing, 1,273 albums are listed in my profile. Yeah, that's small beans compared to hardcore collectors.
It was incredibly easy getting started. The RYM database is already a number of years old, so I got (from my guess) half of my collection listed in a day. I had to spend a bit more effort with classical music and soundtracks, since no music-themed site can adequately handle the minutia of that metadata.
I wasn't very impressed with the Musicbrainz integration. The "Guess tracks" feature in the release addition interface could be more convenient if it made smarter queries to Musicbrainz. I know for a fact track listings were available for such artists as eX-Girl and ACO — because I contributed some of those tracks — but RYM was inconsistent on how it retrieved them.
I do like the "go!" feature. Searching and rating all on one screen is quite convenient. You do have to be quite vigilant about the search results you get — you might end up rating a pressing of the album from a country you don't live in. I managed to rate a number of Swedish pressings for albums.
Oddly enough, it's the option to list an album as something I once owned that attracts me the most. So far, the only such history I have is the Musicwhore.org archive. I've had to sell quite a number of albums over the years when cash got tight. I developed a bad habit of deleting those albums out of my personal database.
Filling in that backlog — especially the cassettes — gives me a sense of history. I had to cringe at some of my more rash decisions as I flagged them. (I knew Matthew, My Vitriol and Powderfinger were dead ends when I got them, but did that stop me? Oh, no.) What does it say that 1/3 of the stuff I list in my profile are things I no longer have?
Probably that I have unreliable taste in music. Maybe it's an indication of my listening maturity. Perhaps it's a sign of the general mediocrity of music. Or it just doesn't say anything at all.
I'm having fun with Rate Your Music. And I'm sure you'll have fun making fun of what I still have on vinyl.


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If a collection company calls you repeatedly, threatens litigation or tells you it can cause you to lose your driver's license, or contacts you or your employer after you write and tell them to stop harassing you, the collection company is violating laws and rules applicable to the collection industry. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), businesses must follow certain rules when attempting to collect a debt. The federal law also imposes penalties for violations and provides protections for debtors.
What Types of Debts Are Covered?
The FDCPA covers personal, family, and household debts, including money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. The federal law doesn't cover any debts incurred in the operation of a business.
Who Is Considered a Debt Collector?
Under the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who regularly collects debts owed to others. Collection agencies, attorneys who collect debts on a regular basis, and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them all fall under this definition and are subject to the law's requirements.
Can You Prevent Debt Collectors from Contacting You?
Debt collectors can contact debtors by a variety of means, including phone, letter, email, or text message, when seeking to collect a debt; however, they must disclose that they are debt collectors and may not contact debtors at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night, unless the debtor agrees. They also may not contact debtors at work after being notified that the debtor is not allowed to receive such calls.
Within five days of first contacting a debtor, a collector must send a written "validation notice" detailing how much is owed, the name of the creditor to whom the money is owed, and how to dispute the debt. To prevent future contact from the collector, debtors must send written notification within 30 days. The letter may also request additional information to verify the debt and/or state that the debtor disputes that all or some of the money is owed. Once the collector receives the letter, they may only contact you to confirm there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to pursue further action, such as filing a lawsuit.
Debt collectors may only contact third parties, such as employers, neighbors, or relatives, to obtain the debtor's contact information, i.e. current address. They may only discuss the debt with you, your spouse, and any co-signor on the debt. If you are represented by an attorney with respect to the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you.
What Other Practices Are Prohibited?
The FDCPA generally prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect debts. Below are several examples of prohibited conduct:
- Harassment: Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not use threats of violence or harm; publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies); use obscene or profane language; or repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.
- False Statements: Debt collectors may not make false or misleading statements when attempting to collect a debt. For example, they may not falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives; falsely claim that you have committed a crime; falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company; misrepresent the amount you owe; indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren't; or indicate that papers they send to you aren't legal forms if they are.
- Threats: Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that you will be arrested if you don't pay your debt; they'll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don't intend to take the action.
- Unfair practices: Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when seeking to collect a debt. For example, they may not: try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt – or your state law – allows the charge; deposit a post-dated check early; take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or contact you by postcard.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing the FDCPA. Debtors may also pursue legal action. Debtors must sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If successful, the collector may be required to pay for any damages suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. In addition, the court may order the debt collector to pay statutory damages of up to $1,000, even if you can't prove that you suffered actual damages.
If you are facing the threat of legal action in a connection with a debt, it is imperative to consult an attorney experienced in creditor collections who can help you resolve the matter. For businesses, it is also advisable to work with legal counsel to ensure that your debt collection practices do not result in costly FDCPA violations.
If you have questions, please contact us
If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss the matter further, please contact me, Robert Levy, or the Scarinci Hollenbeck attorney with whom you work at 201-806-3364.


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The TWS Receiver
The OE Hi-Fi TWS Receiver has integrated an AMP chip in the circuit for better sound.
Same as the cables, we use structure designs to optimize the performance of a driver making the driver maximize its utility. One of our single driver IEM is now in design and will be ready soon.
IEM Adapter, MMCX/0.78 cable adapters we manufacture are sold globally.
Use these to convert a two-pin cable into an MMCX cable, or an MMCX cable into a two-pin cable. Or even a MMCX or two-pin cable to a 3.5mm headphone cable.
The Adapter with various connector plans and great sound quality is for pre-order!
All You Needed!
With a great sound performance achieved by German-made OFC material and a perfectly-calculated design, the 2DualOFC cable fulfills your every need for sound and experience. It is extremely soft and with a choice of 5 types of plugs and 2 kinds of connectors. All at a super reasonable price.
The Lightning plug is Apple original, not from 3rd party manufacturers. And the Type-C plug has been THX certificated with high sound performance.
About OEAudio®
OEAudio® makes high performance audio gadgets, earphones, cables which are currently selling in US, UK, JP, DE, CN. Products of us has extremely low returns and high reputation because of the quality. We have high margin as well as good service and lead time for distributors.


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We were recently contacted by Stuart, who advised that he was appalled at the commission of crimes against women and children in South Africa, and who wanted to do something to show his empathy and solidarity with the victims. With our approval Stuart and Zola entered a marathon, displaying our logo and creating awareness. Well done Stuart for finishing in 4hrs and 28mins! He is an inspiration to all and has shown how a little support can go a long way. All you need to do sometimes, is to care!
Stuart penned this short letter to all women in South Africa, which we would like to share with you:
After the kidnapping: Exclusive first interview with Baby Eden's Mom
Baby Eden's mom opens up in an exclusive interview about the recent ordeal where her 13 month old was kidnapped just a month ago. How does a family pick up the pieces and find good things again. Listen and be completely inspired.


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Bibi Haniffa posted:Django posted:Bibi Haniffa posted:
He was Burnham Chief of Staff and held some sort of portfolio in the Agriculture Ministry with responsibility for the continent of Africa. He lived in Africa for some time.
Seems Mr.Shiamkaran was a civil servant. I would suggest let him RIP.
Nah he was a big one in the Burnham government. Ask your PNC connections.
Me thinks you are getting personal ,with family connections ,this forum is not the place for that. I am suggesting again, let Mr.Shiamkaran RIP.


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Posted by panch (18.104.22.168) on February 07, 2002 at 08:21:19:
In a post of his on aina, the Black Eye of Assyria, Peter articulates, for him, the kernal of "truth" these guys hold against Islam. I'd heard this mentioned once before by two otherwise intelligent Assyrians. This is what comes of being handed over to priests at an early age, who not only fondle your privates, but screw your mind as well.
He claims, and others do too, that in Christianity the creed is near perfect and calls on righteous behavior and all of that, so that any abberations come about becuse "bad" people don't obey a "good" religion. In Islam, on that famous other hand, you have a bad religion being adhered to by I presume what would have to be "good" people, in that they are at least being faithful and true. In other words Islam enjoins rotten behavior, whereas Christianity demands decent and kind stuff.
You can jest see a priest laboring hard to come up with that...with one hand.
Aside from being the usual nonsense it presents an interesting picture of Christians. Now you have to remember that it was Christians in the form of the Byzantines who went attacking the territory where the Muslims and heretic Christians lived in the first place and got what they deserved. It was another passle of Christians in the Crusades who came marrauding and killing, even sacking Constantinople and murdering Jews all across Europe to the point that even a Pope or two complained that this was not really the Crusading spirit. In other words they were being too obvious about what was basically a theiving expedition with religious window dressing.
As far as I can tell in the last 500 years it has not been Muslim armies who have ranged across the face of the Globe killing and looting in the name of their Lord...but the Christians, who up till today are still at the same game. The picture Peter would present to us is that these are rogue Christians, including the Pope and several clergy as well as leaders who do things because "In God We Trust". He says these guys are all untrue Christians who didn't get the teachings right. Now what is it about Christians that allows for them to get such a "good" and "simple" message all wrong? How come they can't adhere to the simple precepts annunciated by their Prince of Peace? If the religion is so good and honorable and righteous, how come they don't get it...or want to "get it"?
Now given human nature...which is how Peter would excuse all these bloodthirsty Christians...what does it signify that Muslims who don't adhere to their own religious creed, which Peter will tell you "demands" bad behavior...turn out to be "better" human beans than Christians who adamantly refuse to listen to their "good" religion?
The instances he cites in the Koran which PROVE that Islam demands its followers to do bad things are ridiculously few and obscure to boot. There are none of the calls for bloodshed as in them Old Testicles and neither does the Koran begin and end with the spectacle of a "heavenly" father hunting down his unoffending son...god of love indeed, and with a final feast in which devoted followers drink the blood and eat the body of their Lord...
Since most humans aren't too faithful anyway, the Muslims act more decently when not following their "bad" religion. Their failure turns out to be a good thing and if you look around you will see hardly any Muslim extremism in the world today. But when Christians behave like normal people and don't adhere to THEIR religion...hide you children and get out of the way because here they come.
Muslim extremism has been carefully engineered for decades now. As we saw when the Trade Center was attacked and the rest of it...Americans had no trouble in feeling murderous rage and frustration, so much so that innocent people were killed in the mad rush for revenge. And Americans felt perfectly comfortable with it, downright self congratulatory...as if it was a virtue to seek revenge. How much more reson then do Muslims around the world, even Christians, as in Palestine, have to seek revenge against the United States for all the wanton killing by the Israelis...so bad that it has even come to their own army officers refusing to participate in the deliberate degradation of an innocent people...not to mention the killing of thousands of Iraqi children through the most inhumane ways devised since them other "bad" Christians, the Nazis, had their turn.
Peter uses these arguments and "proofs" to justify his hatred of Muslims and what he calls Arabs...as any racist in America could give you all sorts of "facts" as to why Blacks just had to be treated the way they were...or why women MUST be treated as they are. It is an excersize in justifying a deep seated hatred he feels for Muslims for some other reason...and he bends his meagre wits towards coming up with proofs and facts, as that other scholar from hell, Aprim does.
Conservative extremists in all three religions come to the fore in times of stress and change. All three religions have gone apeshit over the emancipation of women...the idea that a woman can control her body, choose whom to have or refuse...even a husband...that she can get abortions on demand, that she demands the right to CHOOSE what to do with her own body.
Marriage was nothing more than the lawful transfer of proerty to a legitimate heair...had nothing to do with Love or Romance. Women were chattle and as chattle they produced the next in line. No man wanted his three cows and a stick to go to the 'wrong" kid...offspring of a woman's equal right to screw whomever she wanted.
Just as much as the acceptance and liberation of Queers, the liberation of Women has set all the old farts in all three religions to waging their heads and warning of the collapse of civilization as they know it...and they are right and thank GOD. This is where Fundamentalism gets its drive and push and popularity. It is nothing more than an attaempt by the Boys to keep their status...as the West is afraid it will be overrun by impure forces. The White Fundamentalist drives this nation and He has learned how to co-opt certain minorities and women...holding out them goodies if they join the fight...as Judaisim has its reactionaries coming to the fore, matched by the scared guys in Islam.
Great Balls afire...that's what all of this is about.
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Sep 7, 2015
Bill and Brian get together to discuss Rod Stewart's third in a series of five wonderful solo albums for Mercury records that he released early in his career, Every Picture Tells a Story (1971, Mercury). After working with the Jeff Beck Group and running concurrent to his output with the Faces, Stewart found success with the b-side "Maggie May." With a unique rock-and-roll-meets-folk-with-a-little-soul songwriting and production style, this album stands out. Brian and Bill discuss how they were able to move past their own prejudices toward Stewart, why more people don't discuss the importance of Rod's early solo career, why unique sounds and instrumentation sound so good, and a track by track review of the entire album!


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Going Green: How to Fix a Cracked Fiberglass Shower Pan
Fiberglass shower pans crack with repeated usage. Here is how to fix them:
Fiberglass shower pans are repeatedly used, scoured, cleaned and this leads to stress and cracks in the pan. There are several ways to deal with this problem.
If the situation is bad, the best thing to do is replace the shower pan or install a liner over the top of it. Take this into consideration especially if the bathroom is on the second floor and the possibility of water leaking through your ceiling, wiring and onto your first floor is a possibility. Also, constant leaking can cause rotting of beams and growth of mold.
Fiberglass shower pan repair kits are available and include everything you would need to fix the problem, plus directions. One of the most popular kits is made by Bondo, the company that makes auto body repair supplies. The repair method basically involves cleaning the areas to be repaired thoroughly. Make sure all cleaning products are off the surface before you begin the repair. Apply fiberglass tape to the cracked area and then mix resin, hardener, and tint. Spread this over the taped area and smooth it as much as possible. Allow this mixture to harden. Sand the surface.


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|Matt's Mood
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|Virtual March on Washington
|VGA Planets
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|Jim Goad
|August 12, 2005
|Shiv Sena
|Beer Gut
|I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it
|I'm never watching the Today Show again
|Liberal media
|The Diary of Anne Frank
|Lyndon LaRouche
|Champagne Socialist
|All Fired Up
|US State Department's Top 10 Travel Tips