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Did you know that there's a very important kitty holiday coming up? March 28th is Respect Your Cat Day! While cats aren't difficult to care for, it's easy for us to overlook some of their needs, and unintentionally disrespect them. Here, a Fort Collins, CO vet offers tips on how to respect your feline overlord.
Make sure that Fluffy has suitable entertainment options. Kitties can get bored, restless, and unhappy with nothing to do! Offer your cute pet lots of toys to push beneath the couch, and take time to play with her daily.
Make sure to keep Fluffy's litterbox clean. We recommend scooping it out daily, and replacing the litter about once a week. No one likes a dirty bathroom!
We know, coming to see us is definitely not one of your pet's favorite pastimes. Fluffy would probably rather be napping. However, your furball will look and feel much better with proper care. Keep up with your feline pal's regular appointments. At home, watch for signs of sickness. Call your vet immediately if you notice anything amiss.
Cats take their beauty routines very seriously, but that doesn't mean your kitty can't use a helping hand now and then. Senior cats and longhaired kitties in particular need some help with grooming. Ask your vet for specific advice.
While toys are very beneficial for our feline friends, they shouldn't be your furball's only source of entertainment. Make sure your pet has a good window view, so she can watch birds and squirrels. You may also want to leave a TV or radio on for Fluffy if you are leaving her alone. The sound of voices and music will provide mental stimulation, and keep her from being lonely.
Your four-legged pal will really appreciate having a few things that were specifically made to suit her needs. Offer your cute pet some kitty furniture that encourages her to jump and climb. Cat towers are great for this!
Cats may pretend to be independent, but at the end of the day, they are quite cuddly and affectionate, and are happiest when they feel loved. Spend time with your kitty every day, and pay attention to her.
Please reach out to us for all of your pet's veterinary care needs. As your Fort Collins, CO animal hospital, we are here to help!


text: Women's overall health can be an odd point. While each woman is quite special and has her own ideas of the items is and is not appropriate for her system, there is a lot of discussions politically and religiously speaking about what such a lady should and should not do with her body. Whilst it… Continue reading Women's Health Clinic

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- Home
- Dance
- Funky Diamonds
- Get It On
Get It On
Description: -
Get it on, pump it up to the max
Get it on, and get yourself ready
We'll have a party like it's gonna be the last
It's hard to take when life it's going wrong
No good to fake and play like you don't care
No time to waste, now set the record straight
Gotta change your style before it's too late
Come take your chance, let's move it up and down
Go out and dance, move all over the town
Now feel the force it's gonna be a blast
We'll have a party like it's gonna be the last
Everybody get up - up!
Everybody get down - down!
Everybody get wild - alright!
Everybody scream - whouu!
It's here and now for you to feel the flow
Let's start the show, it's time to let it go
Don't break the law, don't need no kind of drugs
To make you feel like you're stoned to the bones
Move it up, move it up - gotta way to take you higher
Move it up, move it up - like an AC DC wire
Move it up, move it up - gonna take you to the max
WE'll have a party like it' sgonna be the last
One, two, three, four, here we here we go
From house to pop from pop to hiphop
We're gonna slam the funk like Jordan on a dunk
Gonna kick it real hard till the end of the night
Make you feel much higher, make you feel right
Come on ya'll you gotta move like us
Cause me and my girlfriends are no young pop-fakers
Diamonds in the house and you know you can't break us
Get it on!
Typed from the lyrics booklet for Dancemania Diamond
Transliterated by LockeVanish
[Submit an English translation for this song]
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The Sunday Salon - Bookish Songs
Anyway, I thought I'd combine my two passions today and share with you a couple of bookish songs that I love: these are songs named after, inspired by, or about short stories or novels. You can click the links to listen to them:
- The Booklovers by The Divine Comedy: Trust the title - this is a song that will make any book lover smile.
- First Love by Emmy the Great: based on the Samuel Beckett novella of the same title, which I haven't read yet. Have you? My previous experiences with Beckett weren't very successful, but this song makes me want to give this novella a try.
- Charlotte Sometimes by The Cure: Based on the Penelope Farmer children's novel of the same name, and the reason why I read it.
- Holland, 1945 by Neutral Milk Hotel - From one of my favourite albums, In an Aeroplane Over the Sea, all of which was inspired by Anne Frank's diary.
- Ghost World by Aimee Mann - named after Daniel Clowes' wonderful book.
- A Good Man Is Hard To Find by Sufjan Stevens - You guessed it: Flannery O'Connor.
- Wrapped Up In Books By Belle and Sebastian - Not based in any particular book, but bookish enough to be included. Plus, I think you'll enjoy the video:
- Playground Love by Air - this song is part of the soundtrack for The Virgin Suicides, so yes, it's about the movie and not the book. But because this is a perfect adaptation, the song really captures the feel of the book:
What about you? Do you like music? Do you have any bookish songs you'd like to recommend? What are some of your favourite musicians or bands?
Have a great Sunday, everyone.


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Posts Tagged 'Harold Pinter'
Pinter by Sands by nancy cohen-koan
My first memory of Howard Pinter was sitting next to Sandy Mandel in a London theater and watching her head bounce up and down on her long neck during the Birthday Party. It was the same head that struggled to stay erect in front of the Trevi Fountain and at the opera at the Baths of Caracalla. We were young, it was our first trip to Europe and we hadn't gotten much rest. And Pinter was probably way too sophisticated for our backpacking sensibilities. A few years later, I was living in London in a flat with a guy who was great friends with the actress Vivian Merchant and was regaled with gruesome stories about her difficult marriage to Pinter. But I still wasn't tackling his material. In fact, it took me a long time to appreciate his nuanced style and even then I had to get over the fact that I read he hated Americans — for the government's policies…unfair, considering how Thatcher's actions in Grenada, had little effect on my lifelong Anglophilia.
But a few years back I participated in a workshop at Cuny with Harry Burton that dealt with Pinter's work with actors and my respect and admiration was deepened. And It was revived last night at a one man show at The Irish Rep called a Celebration of Harold Pinter, directed by John Malkovich and starring Julian Sands. Sands is truly a romantic actor… I loved him in Impromptu and A Room With A View, and have assiduously avoided seeing him in things like Warshlock . My gut feeling is that his comedic skills have yet to be exploited, though in this show, his improvisatory moments are very funny as well as his vulnerability.
Clearly Sands loves Pinter's poetry and does it proud. When he is Pinter, his voice lowers to a gruffy basso and brings the outspoken man right back to life. Celebration covers many aspects of Pinter's career, personality, politics and his very committed relationship to author Lady Antonia Fraser. Sands is so tight with Pinter that he was asked to read at the funeral ceremony in 2008, after Pinter succumbed to cancer. It is this kind of intimacy, both with the man and the material, that Mr. Sands brings to this show. Death is ever present in this show and Sands begins with a short poem that is equally cool and warm in its scope. Pinter emotionally takes no prisoners…his bold, raw style wouldn't support Broadway, but had its birth in a country where art has been traditionally more supported. It is such a pleasure to have a better understanding on "the curse of the Pinter pauses" and beats in his writing… I would like a sequel…. Perhaps with even more silence to fully take in everything that he says. Generously, Mr. Sands mentioned that Rufus Sewell will be playing Pinter in the West End next year. Hopefully, Mr. Sands will carry on with this show as he has done since 2011.


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These are two ACTUAL screencaps. Both were taken from the first FIVE MINUTES of Thursday night's Grey's Anatomy. You're welcome.
After last week's cringe-tastic, surgery heavy, UGLY episode . . . thanks to which, I will never view this image in the same way EVER again . . .
. . . it was really nice to see Grey's getting back to it's roots this week — You know, surgery-lite; mushy-gushy relationship stuff / shirtless men HEAVY. I don't know about you, but I tend to prefer my Grey's simple and super girly. And a girly Grey's was exactly what I got!
"Give me an E – S -T -R- O -G -E-N! What's that spell?"
Couples really took center stage during this episode of Grey's. Heck, even this week's medical mysteries featured "couples" of some sort. Well . . . except for ONE medical mystery . . .
WOAH! This Disney Chick can ACT . . . so well that I can almost forgive her for that Princess Protection Program movie . . .
So, what are we waiting for? Let's get on with this girly boink-fest!
We're Having a Party . . . Everybody's Slutty!
The episode began with a PARTY at the Mer and Der House! It was a party to celebrate McDreamy!
For what reason, I am not entirely sure . . . for being Chief, I guess. The only problem was . . . it wasn't a very good fiesta. Karev, perhaps, said it best when he remarked, "This party blows."
For one thing, everyone looked all stuffy and uncomfortable, in their suits and "business casual" dresswear, i.e. dowdy dresses, that don't show anything above the knee. Who the heck has house parties like this? Your grandpa, that's who! And that's when it suddenly occurred to me. Our Greysies are getting OLD!
It's TRUE! Meredith proved it, when she said, "At my parties, we drank tequila and danced on tables!"
And that was true . . FIVE SEASONS AGO . . .
Remember the Boozy Slutty Dysfunctional Meredith of Season 1? Good times!
But it's not true now! The one good thing about the party, was that it offered us this lovely picture, of our suave and suited Grey's men, sipping scotch and poring over floor plans . . .
How very Ocean's 11 of them! Not this Ocean's 11, mind you . . .
. . . more like this one . . .
See what I mean . . . about the OLD?
Anyway, things improved quickly, when we LEFT the party and were delivered NOT ONE, BUT TWO, shirtless prelude-to sex scenes . . . The first one was between Bailey and her latelyMIA Gas Man . . .
Remember him? If you didn't before, I bet you won't forget him NOW!
The second scene, not-so-surprisingly, featured Mark "I-Get-More-Play-Than-A Slot-Machine-In-Vegas" Sloan.
What was surprising, was who he was with. It wasn't his current girlfriend, Teddy, nor his ex-girlfriend, Lexie. Nor was he with his "friends with benefits" gal pal, the recently single, Callie. Nope, Sloan was with . . .
. . . that annoying pixie-haired Mercy Wester chick, who hasn't been around for half the season?
Ummm . . . yeah, so McSteamy is coming out of the shower all steamy, after what was probably a fairly tepid round of lovemaking with Slutty but Boring Doc Reed, when, who walks in and catches them post-coitus?
You guessed it, his current girlfriend TEDDY! To Sloan's credit, he doesn't do that thing you see in romantic comedies, where the guy gets caught in the act of cheating, and he starts jumping around like a jack rabbit, sputtering, "It's NOT what you think!" (When it always is exactly THAT!)
Instead, he INVITES TEDDY TO JOIN THEM!
Way to go McSteamy! You may be a mental midget when it comes to the ways of women, but you sure are COOL!
Unfortunately, the producers cut away from the scene, before we can find out if Teddy accepts the proposition, but I'm thinking . . . NOT! Truth be told, Teddy is only interested in one threesome, and one threesome only . . . this one.
News Flash Cristina Yang, Owen is Just Not That Into You . . .
Hey, Yang! Wanna join my book club? We're reading one that you will LOVE!
Speaking of the World's Most Unhappy Threesome Ever, while Teddy is being cheated on by Mark, Owen is impulsively asking a drunk Cristina to move in with him, "because my therapist said it was a good idea." Now if that's not a ringing endorsement for romance, folks, I don't know what is!
Cristina instantly AGREES to this lame proposition, and I start to wonder whether the majority of her brain cells are housed in her scrubs. After all, it seems like such an uncharacteristically DUMB move on the part of a woman who, normally, is one of the most intelligent characters on this show. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time that a man made Cristina do less than brilliant things . . .
Meredith overhears this exchange, and is again faced with the moral crisis she dealt with last week. You see, Meredith is convinced that Owen's failure to follow Cristina's wishes, and help Teddy keep her job, was incontrovertible evidence that Owen is secretly in love with Teddy.
"I LOVE YOU . . . so I tried to get you fired. My therapist said it was a good idea . . ."
So, on one hand, she owes it to her BFF Cristina to let her know that her boyfriend is a poopy head . . .
. . . and, like all poopy, deserves to be unceremoniously dumped. On the other hand, the information she learned about Owen, came from Derek, and the confidentiality requirements associated with Post-It Note Marriages, are SERIOUS!
Nothing says loving like Sticky Paper, purchased in a 150-note multicolored pack (2 for $3.00!) at CVS . . .
So, Meredith decides to play King Solomon and split the baby . . .
. . . instead of outright telling Cristina about her poopy head boyfriend, she drops annoyingly coy hints of his emotional infidelity, throughout the episode. Initially, Cristina, who has always been a "shoot the messenger" type gal, gets pissed at Meredith, and denies that such infidelity exists. However, with the seeds of doubt successfully planted, and love triangles seeming to haunt her wherever she goes, Christina starts to question the nature of her relationship with Owen.
Ultimately, in a really great scene, Meredith confronts Owen about his feelings for Teddy. Meredith explains to Owen, that if he is a "good guy," he will come clean to Cristina about his throwing Teddy under the bus, when her job was on the line, and then lying about it. In true Grey's fashion, Teddy, of course, overhears all of this. But to her credit, no trace of a sh&t-eating grin can be found on her face, upon hearing the good news.
Nor does she break into song, belting out, "You really LIKE me! You think I'm SEXY! You want to DATE me!"
Color me impressed. Ultimately, Owen confesses his lie to Cristina. And when she outright asks him whether he is in love with Teddy, he says, articulately, "I don't know." (Perhaps he should get a new therapist. Because, clearly, the one he has now is not doing a good job, writing his "lines" for him.)
At the end of the episode, in a scene highly reminiscent of early Grey's, a torn-up Cristina crawls into bed with Meredith and admits that she and Owen are no longer moving in together. Meredith changes the subject, but does so in a sweet way, by showing Cristina the plans for her and Derek's house in the woods, where there is a separate room for Cristina to crash whenever she find herself in need of a hug . . .
Relationships are like ducks . . .
Things were going significantly better for new couple, Alex and Lexie, this week, at least, on the surface. After expending WAY too much mental energy on the recent sexual rendezvous of her ex- Sloan, especially, for a person who claims to be "over him," Lexie decides it might be a good idea to issue Alex an ultimatum on the state of their sort-of relationship. And, while normally, such an ultimatum, would have sent Alex running for the hills . . .
Running shirtless . . . (Oh come on, as if a picture like that EVER needs a proper recap tie-in to be included!)
. . . New and Improved Alex responds by making out with Lexie in public AGAIN. Once they are done swapping spit with one another, he tells her. "Yeah, we are a thing. Whatever." (OK, I'm thinking that Owen's inarticulate therapist is writing Alex's lines too. How about you?)
Later, when Meredith questions Alex about the nature of his relationship with Lexie, he explains that he is acting like . . . a duck.
Because ducks are sexy . . . (Awesome pic "borrowed" from marginalnotes btw)
Although the metaphor was, admittedly, a bit unclear, I think Alex was referring to the whole, "If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and acts like a duck, it's probably a duck" thing. In other words, act like you are in a healthy relationship, and soon you will actually find yourself in one. Ummm . . . yeah, I'm not so sure about that, Alex . . .
And apparently, Lexie isn't so sure either. When Mark professes his love to her, at the end of the episode, Lexie doesn't immediately jump his bones, but she doesn't put up much of a fight either. "I have a boyfriend," says Lexie, half-heartedly.
"But I'm telling you that you could have a husband," replies Most-Articulate-Male-of-this-Episode, Mark (maybe more like a Dad than a husband, but, like Alex says, "Whatever").
It's definitely a May – December Romance. But in terms of "couple names," "Sexie" TOTALLY kicks "Lalex"'s butt!
So they've got that going for them, at least.
The Medical Stuff
You know what was really interesting about this week's three "medical mysteries?" They all got SOLVED!
. . . and NOBODY DIED!
. . . and that burn victim chick got her hair back!
It was the happiest hospital day EVER at Seattle Grace! First, we got to meet an awesome star from Happy Days!
"What? You were expecting, The Fonz?"
It's Mommy Marion Ross! She still looks pretty good! And, apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought so! In a series of events that ONLY happens on TV, Marion Ross's character, Betty, is in the hospital, getting . . . something done . . . not sure what . . . when she runs into Cute Old Dude Henry, her long lost love, who she hasn't seen in 50-years.
They are eachother's "one that got a way." Now, with no more obstacles standing between them (because all of those obstacles, unfortunately, are now DEAD), Betty and Henry decide to move in together (once they get out of the hospital, of course), and give their relationship a go. I know, it sounds kind of lame, but it was actually really sweet. And Cute Old Dude Henry had a voice that sounded like it narrated fairy tales for a living, so that made it even sweeter . . .
We also got to meet a burn victim in the hospital, who was supposed to get a hair regrafting (she had lost most of it in a car explosion), when she learns that she has an infection on her arm, and needs her fingers amputated. At first, the doctors tell her that her infection will prevent her from getting the hair regrafting operation. But then, they decide, RISKS be damned, HAIR IS IMPORTANT!
And so they do the grafting during the hand amputation. Of course, had Burn Victim Girl appeared in ANY OTHER episode, aside from this one, this would have been a perfect opportunity for the writers to senselessly kill her off, and manipulate us fans into tears. ( And we know how Grey's LOVES the tears!) However, Burn Victim Girl was lucky, because she got to star in an episode entitled "Shiny HAPPY People." And because HAPPY people tend to be, more often than not, ALIVE, she got to live too!
Finally, in what was the best "medical mystery" of the episode, Demi Lovato . . .
HEY! What did I say about referring to that film again?
Sorry . . . Demi Lovato . . .
. . . enters the hospital as a teen diagnosed with schizophrenia, who was admitted to the hospital after, literally, trying to claw her eyes out! Everyone at the hospital thinks she's a TOTAL nutjob, except this guy . . .
Who, instead, assumes she must have some extremely rare disease. (After all, those have been conveniently traveling around Grey's in search of likeable guest stars patients since Season 1). Alex runs some initial tests on the teen, and comes up empty handed. He then confronts his girlfriend with the photographic memory, Lexie-pedia, with his patient's symptoms. Intially, she can't remember where, in the many medical books she has memorized, she saw the disease. "Lexie-pedia is FROZEN!" Alex complains. (I LOVE HIM!)
But then Lexie remembers that the disease can be found in some obscure medical journal from 2004 with a light green cover. In the next scene, we watch as Alex outfits the teen in this weird scary head gear, that makes her look like Johnny Five from those old Short Circuit films . . .
As if, on cue, Demi's eyes go all buggy, and she freaks out. So, of course, this was all Karev needed to diagnose her as having a small hole in her inner ear, that allowed her to hear everything that was going on inside her body. YUCK! Apparently, all this rare disease takes to cure, is a brief operation where the hole is plugged up. After the operation, we know that Demi is sane again, because she is wearing a bandage around her head that looks like a really stylish headband . . .
Dear Demi,
Now that your "sane," I'd really like my headband back.
Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl
In Other News . . .
. . . Callie and Arizona shared an impromptu sexy makeout session in the elevator . . .
Ooh, la, la!
But accomplished precisely NOTHING in terms of their relationship . . .
Boo, la, la 😦
Oh, and the Gas Man . . .
This pic NEVER gets old . . .
. . . told Bailey . . .
. . . that even though he sometimes flirts with random nurses, he saves all the GOOD flirting for her . . .
Shondra Rhimes, PLEASE don't make us fall in love with the Gas Man, if you plan to rip him away from us next season, in order to use him on your new pilot! (Although, I think it might be too late . . . because I'm in love already).
So, there you have it, "Shiny Happy People," in a nutshell. This was the LAST new episode of Grey's before the show airs it's purportedly "game-changing" two-hour season finale (with the hours entitled "Sanctuary" and "Death and all of His Friends," respectively) next week. Media sites have teased that the final two episodes of Season 6, will feature nothing less than a SHOOTING and a fairly major character death. Here's a sneak peak at the promo . . .
Thanks for the video, adam9316!
I'll admit it. I'm afraid . . . very afraid! See you next week!


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Kyle's brushes are available to Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Fresco subscribers.
Simply sign in to download. Adobe Fresco brushes are included with a Photoshop subscription. If you don't have Photoshop, come join us.
A brush with greatness. Meet Kyle.
International award-winning illustrator and designer Kyle T. Webster has drawn for the New Yorker, TIME, The New York Times, Nike, IDEO, and many other notable companies. Since he founded KyleBrush in 2014, his custom Photoshop brushes have become industry-standard tools, used by artists at Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, Weta Digital, HBO, and Cartoon Network. Kyle lives in North Carolina and teaches Life Drawing, Portraiture, and Digital Painting at the UNC School of the Arts.


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Thursday, 3 January 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
SYDNEY (Reuters): Australia skipper Michael Clarke declared himself fit to play before announcing a team featuring four fast bowlers on the eve of the third test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Clarke has been struggling with a hamstring injury but took a full part in training at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) before springing a surprise with the team selection for the match, in which the hosts can wrap up a 3-0 series sweep.
With the nation debating which of the fast bowlers would be dropped, Australian selectors decided to include Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird in a four-pronged attack.
"I'm fit and playing and we're going with four fast bowlers," Clarke told a news conference at the SCG. "There's a fair bit of grass on the wicket and the boys bowled really well in the last test.
"Bringing Mitchell Starc back in obviously helps our attack with the form he's in, and Mitchell Johnson's batting, he's batting as well as an all rounder now. "I'm confident we've got enough batting... and we have some extra bowling which is a real positive for us."
Starc returns after being rested for the innings and 201-run victory in the second test in Melbourne, which gave Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after their 137-run victory in the opening test in Hobart.
Siddle took 9-104 in the Hobart test to win the man of the match award, while Johnson, rested for the first test, claimed the same honour in Melbourne with match figures of 6-79 and an unbeaten 92 with the bat.
Bird also impressed on debut at the MCG but it was almost certainly Johnson's batting that earned him another shot at test cricket. The 2009 ICC Cricketer of the Year spent a year in the international wilderness rebuilding his confidence after being dropped at the end of 2011.
"He's one of the greatest athletes I've seen playing cricket, that's for sure," said Clarke. "Mitch's time away from the game freshened his body and also freshened his mind. He's as hungry as he's ever been. It feels like he's back bowling and batting well.
"He's fit and strong and he can bowl all day."
Starc comes back into the team as a numerical replacement for all-rounder Shane Watson, who was ruled out of the Sydney match with a recurrence of a calf strain. Mike Hussey, who has announced that the test will be his last, will bat at number five.
"When guys retire, it's always extra special to get that win in their last match and I'm certain this test match will (be) no different as regards Michael Hussey," said Clarke.
Uncapped all-rounder Glen Maxwell was named 12th man with Usman Khawaja remaining on standby in case Clarke suffers a relapse over the next 24 hours.
Clarke, who scored 329 against India in his last test at the SCG to kick off a 2012 in which he scored more runs than any other batsman, said he was certain he would play a full part in the match.
"I scored a century in Melbourne and I think my hamstring's better than it was in Melbourne," he said. "If I didn't think I could perform at my best I wouldn't take the field.
"It certainly won't be because of my hamstring that I don't make a big score."
Team: Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird, Nathan Lyon.


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A year later, bright hopes quashed on immigration
Susan Page, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – One year ago, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake and fellow members of the bipartisan Gang of Eight watched as the immigration bill they helped negotiate swept the Senate to chants of "Yes, we can!"
Now, as immigration legislation is still stalled in the House, the Republican senator puts the odds of enacting significant immigration legislation this year at "close to zero," its prospects further undermined by the flood of unaccompanied minors from Central America streaming over the southern border.
In an interview Tuesday with Capital Download, Flake urged President Obama to go before cameras to address families in Honduras, Guatemala and elsewhere who believe their children might be able to gain legal status in the USA. In 2012, the president took executive action permitting the so-called Dreamers -- young people who had grown up in the USA after being brought here illegally by their parents -- to work legally and get such official documents as driver's licenses.
"It would be helpful, I believe, if the president himself were to stand and say, 'If you come here, you will not be afforded any legal status; you will likely be deported,' " Flake told USA TODAY's weekly video newsmaker series. "That would carry a lot more weight than a directive from the secretary of Homeland Security or the vice president," who in recent days have tried to make that argument.
The belief that their children might be able to stay in the USA -- an argument sometimes made by human traffickers seeking payment to transport illegal immigrants -- is "the primary driver of the traffic northward now," Flake said. The spike in unaccompanied children making the dangerous and illegal journey has taken a humanitarian toll on them and strained U.S. resources to care for them in Texas and elsewhere.
It also has hurt efforts to overhaul the nation's immigration system. "It feeds the narrative, particularly on the Republican side, that the president is unwilling to enforce the law," Flake said, "and when the president takes unilateral action without working with Congress, anything that feeds that narrative makes it more difficult to move ahead with legislation."
Another hurdle: the defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a Virginia primary this month after his challenger attacked him as too willing to act on immigration. Though Flake argued that immigration wasn't the key factor behind Cantor's defeat, "I do think it did spook some Republicans."
Flake, 51, bucked the Republican leadership during his five terms in the House by advocating a comprehensive immigration bill. Elected to the Senate in 2012, he was one of four Republicans who joined with four Democrats in negotiating legislation that would have provided a path to legal status for some of the millions of undocumented workers in the USA, tied to border security.
When the measure passed the Senate 68-32 a year ago Friday, Flake was optimistic. "I thought if we had a big enough vote in the Senate," the political momentum would propel it through the House. "I thought that this would do it."
It didn't. "It's tough terrain over in the House on this subject and just in general," he said.
If the GOP gains control of the Senate in November's midterm elections, Flake hopes a Republican-controlled House and Senate will be able to agree on less sweeping measures on immigration that Obama would be willing to sign. "Maybe we do it differently, more like the House wanted to do it, piecemeal," he said.
Taking action is important for policy and politics, he said, warning that otherwise Republicans risk catastrophe in the 2016 presidential election.
"It's going to be difficult to win national elections if we don't deal with this situation rationally," he said. For former Florida governor Jeb Bush, support of an immigration overhaul could complicate his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, if he decides to make one.
"I think it makes it more difficult in certain states and in certain regions perhaps," Flake said. "Having said that, I think Republicans want to win not just primaries but the general election as well. I think it makes him far more electable in a general election."


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Neil Walker's HR in 11th ends scoreless duel as Pirates edge Tigers
DETROIT -- Jason Grilli has picked up a lot of saves in his years as a closer, but none tougher than what he had to do against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
Grilli came into the game in the bottom of the 11th inning with the Pittsburgh Pirates clinging to a 1-0 lead and the heart of Detroit's order -- Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder -- awaiting him.
"That's as good as it gets in any lineup in the game," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "That's why you have a closer."
For Grilli, it also meant trying to finish a game at Comerica Park -- a stadium where he had been booed relentlessly at the end of his four-season stint with the Tigers.
"I have nothing but great memories of this place," Grilli said. "This is where Jim (Leyland) turned me into a reliever, and despite what the media might think I love coming back here."
If the situation or the setting bothered Grilli, it certainly didn't show. He struck out Hunter, Cabrera and Fielder in order, ending the game as the clock approached 11:30 p.m.
"That's a great offense, and Miguel Cabrera is probably the best hitter in baseball right now," Grilli said. "So I was trying to not make a big mistake, but you can't spend much time thinking about that. You just go out there and win the game."
Grilli certainly impressed the first of his victims while posting his 21st save in as many chances.
"I faced him when I was in Minnesota and he was here in Detroit, and he's a different pitcher now," Hunter said. "He's smart and he's got a little deception going. He jumps out at you, and before you know it, the ball is gone."
Leyland knows just how far Grilli has come since moving to the bullpen in 2006.
"He's found a home and he's found a role and he's been terrific," he said. "That's 21-for-21, and to do that against the heart of our order -- that's impressive."
Grilli finished what Jeanmar Gomez had started. Gomez matched a career best with seven shutout innings in a duel with Detroit's Rick Porcello, who worked eight.
"I was just feeling really good today," said Gomez, who threw only 73 pitches. "Every one of my pitches was working, so I was working ahead in the count and down in the zone. That's what made it good."
The game was scoreless until Neil Walker -- the brother-in-law of Tigers center fielder Don Kelly -- homered off Jose Ortega (0-2) with one out in the top of the 11th.
"I've been swinging the bat really well on this road trip, and I've been getting the barrel on the ball just about every night," Walker said. "That kid throws hard, but he kind of floated a slider into the strike zone and I was able to drive it."
Mark Melanson (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless 10th inning for Pittsburgh.
Porcello also matched a career best with his eight innings and struck out a career-high 11 batters. Porcello isn't the first Tigers pitcher to dominate Pittsburgh at Comerica Park. Last season, Justin Verlander took a no-hitter into the ninth against the Pirates, two days before Max Scherzer struck out 15 batters in a 4-3 victory.
"Someone said to me today that we seem to strike out a lot in this ballpark," Hurdle said. "I told them to look at Detroit's pitching staff. Everyone strikes out a lot against those guys."
Gomez got some help from center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who made a running catch to rob Andy Dirks of extra bases in the third inning and another to steal a double from Fielder in the seventh.
Pedro Alvarez led off the eighth with a single and took second when Travis Snider walked -- the first time either team had put a runner into scoring position -- but Porcello got Clint Barmes to ground into an inning-ending double play.
In the bottom of the inning, Omar Infante got to second on a one-out throwing error by Barmes at shortstop. Reliever Justin Wilson retired pinch-hitter Brayan Pena on a ground ball, and struck out Dirks.
Walker singled off Joaquin Benoit in the ninth, stole second and took third on Pena's throwing error, but Garrett Jones flew out to end the threat. Victor Martinez almost ended the deadlock in the bottom of the ninth, but Starling Marte made a running catch of his liner at the fence in left.
Both teams put runners into scoring position in the 10th, but couldn't get a run across until Walker's no-doubt homer in the 11th.
"We had chances in the eighth, ninth and 10th, but we couldn't get the big hit," Hurdle said. "We finally got that in the 11th."
Game notes
The start of the game was delayed 1:13 by rain. ... The Pirates placed Jose Contreras (low back inflammation) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled reliever Bryan Morris from Triple-A Indianapolis. ... The Tigers have struck out 10 or more batters 28 times -- the second-highest total in franchise history behind last season's 50. Detroit is currently on pace for 91 double-digit games. ... Porcello pitched into the ninth on July 21, 2012 against the White Sox, but didn't record an out.
Series tied 1-1
Game Information
- Umpires:
- Home Plate Umpire - Larry Vanover
- First Base Umpire - Wally Bell
- Second Base Umpire - Manny Gonzalez
- Third Base Umpire - Tony Randazzo


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Just checked my MMSSTV program and only have Robot 24 and Robot 36.
Fred VE3FAL
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of MM Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 8:21 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] Terrestrial ISS SpaceCam1 SSTV Test
ISS Amateur Radio Status: October 9, 2008 By Miles Mann WF1F,
MAREX-MG News www.marexmg.org
Terrestrial ISS SpaceCam1 SSTV Test
Hi all In anticipation of the tentatively planed SSTV broadcast from the International Space Station during the upcoming Garriott mission, I have set up a simulated ISS SSTV FM SSTV beacon.
During evening hours this week, ill be transmitting SSTV images using the same type of hardware and software they have available on ISS for the SpaceCam SSTV project.
The station consists of the following: Kenwood TM-D700 dual band transceiver (same module that is on ISS) The ARISS developed VOX box that connects between the PC and the D700 SpaceCam1 Marex SSTV imaging software package (same software that's on ISS)
If you are in the New England area or along the Atlantic coast, try listening for the SSTV signals on 147.570 FM, using the SSTV format Robot-35.
The Antenna system is a 12-dBd gain and will be pointing from Lowell Massachusetts down the Atlantic coast.
Please send signal reports to Marex at [email protected]
How to work SSTV on ISS http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/howtouseiss.html
If you do not have a tracking program, here is a live link to NASA that will show you where ISS is located.
Tips on listening: http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/issvoicetips.html
Pictures of the Amateur Radio station on the International Space Station.
Marexmg Web page http://www.marexmg.org
ARISS Web page and other great Space projects http://www.rac.ca/ariss/
73 Miles WF1F MAREX-MG
Until we meet again
DOSVIDANIYA Miles WF1F
_______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected] Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb


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Leeds-based independent label Jealous Records has released singles by some of the most exciting bands in the country right now, and as if by some strange quirk of fate, several of them are heading out on the road - not all necessarily together - in the next few weeks.
First up are Dananananaykroyd (pictured), who are playing several dates over the next month or two, calling in at:
12 Glasgow Nice N Sleazy
15 Birmingham Sunflower Lounge
17 Dunfermline Carnegie Hall
18 Brighton The Great Escape
16 London Islington Academy (w/Neds Atomic Dustbin)
17 Leeds The Fenton
24 Liverpool Barfly (w/Deerhoof)
Experimental (and, more often than not, instrumental) noise terrorists That Fucking Tank also hit the high road starting this weekend, taking in:
7 Bradford Beehive
12 Stoke Underground (w/Your Codenameis:milo)
13 Nottingham Rock City Basement (w/Your Codenameis:milo)
20 Liverpool venue tbc
21 Leeds Common Place
1 Newcastle Upon Tyne Academy 2 (w/Your Codenameis:milo)
5 Bolton Dog and Partridge
6 Salford Salford Arms
7 Sunderland Independent (w/This Aint Vegas)
22 Leeds Library
Another Jealous-related band worth checking out this month is Copy Haho, who play the following dates:
11 Sunderland Independent This Aint
12 Glasgow Nice N Sleazy (w/Dananananaykroyd)
13 Aberdeen Tunnels
20 Glasgow ABC2
Hooray! Say The Roses play a spring-cum-summer triumverate of:
21 Leeds Brudenell Social Club
6 Newcastle Head of Steam
11 Bolton Dog and Partridge


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Most stolen car of 2012? The 'winner' is...
The most stolen car of 2012 isn't fancy, expensive, or even new. For the fourth year in a row, the 'winner' is the 1994 Honda Accord. Here's why the popular family car topped thieves' lists.
The singling out of the 1994 Honda Accord as the most-stolen car in the United States last year isn't exactly music to the ears of owners of the popular family car. According to the latest report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the 1994 Accord once again tops the list, making this the car's fourth consecutive appearance as the car thieves most love to steal.
The '94 Accord's lack of security features and its popularity as the main reasons why the car is so frequently stolen. In 1997, Honda began equipping its vehicles with immobilizer systems, preventing them from running unless the driver had the key.
The NICB compiles its annual "Hot Wheels" report by crunching data submitted to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) by law enforcement agencies across the country.
Number two on the list is also a Honda, the 1998 Honda Civic. A surprise entry in the top three is the 2006 Ford F-150 pickup, the first time a truck ranked so high on the most-stolen list since the NICB began tracking thefts in 2000. Two other full-size pickups, the 1999 Chevrolet pickup and the 2004 Dodge pickup, came in at spots number seven and eight, respectively. The 2002 Ford Explorer SUV ranked ninth.
Fourth place belongs to the 1991 Toyota Camry, another traditionally best-selling family sedan. Two other sedans, the 1994 Acura Integra and the 1994 Nissan Sentra, ranked in sixth and 10th place. The Dodge Caravan, the only minivan on the list, was the fifth most-stolen vehicle last year nationally.
As for the increase in thefts of later-model vehicles, the NICB says that's the result of thieves being able to illegally obtain replacement key codes for specific vehicles.
There is some good news though in that overall, thefts are decreasing. According to FBI crime statistics, thefts haven't been this low since 1967.


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I recently received an email from a reader (who prefers to remain anonymous), which read in part:
I'm transitioning from a full-time employee to a consultant just this month. I had a meeting with management where I detailed to them (via a 12 page document with charts, cost comparisons, time studies, etc.) that I could work with them under a retainer and provide 99% of what they really used me for as a full-time employee. I'd actually be saving them tens of thousands of dollars as well.
Today I see my prior position listed on a job search site, and I'm told that there will be a temporary retainer arrangement negotiated with me instead of a long-term one. My fear is that they want to find someone new and use the retainer to bring me in and teach them everything I did as an employee (a 10 year brain dump). That's not really good for my business, and it seems a bit unethical to me when I've offered a long-term commitment already.
Is this normal? What would the best course of action be in order to still keep this client but not consult myself out of a job?
How would you advise this consultant to handle the situation?
To my mind, the job listing raises a little red flag, but isn't necessarily a deal-breaker. Depending on the company, they might have headcount that they wish to keep. Perhaps they would hire someone to fill that, yet still keep our consultant on — presuming they have a budget for that. Or maybe they're just evaluating their options.
The bigger red flag here is the way they used the word "temporary" when referring to his retainer agreement. If that isn't a flashing "EXIT" sign, I don't know what is. It sounds to me like they aren't happy with the idea of having a consultant do this job, for whatever reason. They can only conceive of that arrangement as a transition to hiring another employee.
There's nothing unethical about their behavior, in my book. Announcing a change in your relationship with your employer opens the door for them to make more drastic changes. It would be nice if they were more up-front about it, perhaps.
Of course, there could be a misunderstanding here. Perhaps the client thinks that our consultant is edging his way out of their employ, and they're just trying to cover their bases. A candid discussion of expectations and desires might help resolve this. In that discussion, it might also be a good idea to underscore the reasons why a consultant would be appropriate for this position.
I replied to the consultant, asking him how they responded to his presentation originally. He replied that they seemed relieved to have his offer of a retainer, because they had probably expected him to quit and he would be difficult to replace. It seems to me that the thought of losing him put them into panic mode. Maybe they just need a little stroking to reassure them that he can be there for them just as much as a consultant as he was as an employee.
That said, it makes sense for our consultant to hedge his bets and develop other business as well. You don't want to base all or even most of your business on just one client, because they can pull the rug out from under you, too.
Do you perceive any nuances in this situation that I might have missed? Please leave your advice in the comments.


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When talking about crafts, images of glitter and glue at church boutiques and community festivals often come to mind. But the Contemporary Crafts Market (www.craftsource.org) is a cut above, boasting more than 200 artists from across the nation. The event draws visitors from as far as 100 miles away to view and buy wood, glass, jewelry, textiles, leather work, ceramics and more.
"You see things being made and designed and produced that you would never find in the retail stores because it's so innovative," said Roy Helms, the owner and managing director of CCM.
The three-day show has been presented every six months in Santa Monica since 1986 but is moving to the Pasadena Convention Center on Nov. 1. The summer Contemporary Crafts Market is scheduled for June 20-22 at the Pasadena Civic Center.
The move was necessary because CCM's home, the Santa Monica Civic, has been closed indefinitely for renovation due to lack of funds, Helms said.
"The kind of work we present requires a safe environment, out of the wind, out of the weather, so we were looking for some place that fit our size of show and would be an enclosed environment and the facility in Pasadena was exactly right. It's a beautiful facility with lots of parking, which is important, and it has all of the amenities that we need," Helms said.
The CCM accepts a variety of art work from sculptures to the "plastic arts," which are not works made from plastic but instead the tactile 3-dimensional arts, but does not allow paintings on canvas — though there is an exception for works on paper, Helms said.
Rancho Palos Verdes enamel jewelry artist Marianne Hunter (www.hunter-studios.com) was upset about CCM's move at first because the show was a tradition and she worried that it would lose its audience. But she asked her clients about it and all of them said they looked forward to coming to Pasadena.
Hunter, who has participated in almost every CCM, is now hopeful that the new venue will draw more people.
"I like the continuity and the cross-section of people — both artists and the people who come to it. Those relationships mean a lot to me," Hunter said.
Every morning of the show, Hunter says she arrives earlier than needed to set up her booth so she can walk the floor and see her fellow artists' work.
"I love watching how the different artists develop and the new things they are doing and the quality of the materials and the things I wouldn't have thought of that they do," she said.
The artists' own pieces are amazingly intricate. She works with ground glass the size of a grain of sand, moving it onto a pendant base and arranging it to create patterns and pictures in a process akin to sand painting. She also incorporates found objects, such as part of an earring, into her designs. Each piece can be worn as a broach or a pendant on a beaded necklace.
In 1967, Hunter recalls buying an enameling kit with her high school boyfriend to make jewelry. Hunter sold her pieces for a few dollars each and discovered that people responded to her work, so she kept with it.
"I have made dreadful mistakes, but also I don't have to shrug off the influences of a strong teacher," said the self-taught artist. "I make it up as I go along."
She begins by sketching out her design to plan the layers and ensure the proper fit of gemstones and other finds. Unlike most enamelers who work "wet," using water to provide more controlled application of the enamel onto the surface of the piece, Hunter does everything dry. This means she must have a very steady hand to transfer the miniscule pieces of powered glass onto the surface of her jewelry base and place them exactly as she likes. She continues to build up the powder, firing the piece in a kiln in between each layer. This adds dimension to the image she creates and the result is a pendant that looks almost like a painting in its exactness.
Hunter produces images of animals and other creatures, as well as colorful abstract designs. Her topics range from nature to politics, the environment and the need for peace.
"I try to make the world how I would like it in my work," Hunter said.
All of Hunter's jewelry is numbered and includes an engraved poem about the piece on its back. It takes about two weeks to finish a pendant and they cost between $5,000 to $17,000.
Hunter is currently creating a book about her work, which will feature photos of her designs with their corresponding poems. In between, she plans to be in her studio creating jewelry for more shows, including the Contemporary Crafts Market.
"The show (CCM) is an incredibly eclectic collection of art styles, media, outlooks and voices. The pieces are practical and useful, but handmade and will last. They are made in America and you can meet the person who made them," Hunter said. "The show is an educational and emotionally enriching experience. Art enriches your life, it's a gift you can give that comes with heart."


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HCC's electric vehicle charging station part of a growing network
By Peggy Manning • Correspondent
North Carolina is in the process of "paving" the electric vehicle highway and Western North Carolina is well on its way to being an important spoke in that wheel.
Haywood Community College has the only electric vehicle charging station west of Asheville, but several are popping up in Asheville and around the region.
"HCC had an interest in this technology and wanted to get in on the ground floor. However, the cost kept us from doing it until a grant became available," said Preston Jacobsen, HCC Sustainability Analyst and a member of the Asheville Area Electric Vehicle Committee that was formed to prepare the greater Asheville area for plug-in electric vehicles.
Advanced Energy Corporation helped secure the state energy office grant, with assistance in implementation from the Land-of-Sky Regional Council. The grant paid for 50 percent of the $6,000 cost of the station, installation and permit. HCC provided the matching money, along with some minor labor during installation of the unit.
While the college could have purchased the charging station a little cheaper from China or a company in California, Jacobsen said college officials thought it was important to buy local. The unit was manufactured by the Eaton Corporation in Arden and was installed by Security Inc. of Asheville.
Related Items
HCC opened its charging station to the public in January. It is located in the upper level parking lot of the student services building and is available for use for free until a method is determined for charging for the electricity used. However, the college has not noticed any significant change in utility costs since opening the center, Jacobsen said.
The station is a Level 2 charger, which means the unit can fully recharge an electric vehicle is six to seven hours.
Haywood Community College was a good location for a charging station not only because of its students and faculty but also because of its proximity to Interstate 40 and U.S. 74, Jacobsen explained. Motorists can use HCC as one of their stops to recharge their electric vehicles, he said.
"Electric vehicles are cleaner and much cheaper than gasoline vehicles," said Bill Eaker, Land-of-Sky Regional Council's Environmental Services Manager. "They can help reduce the use of petroleum and improve our air quality."
There are currently about 60 electric vehicle owners in the Asheville metropolitan area, which includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties, according to Brian Taylor, chairman of the Asheville Area Electric Vehicle Committee. He estimates there are 600 in the state.
That number is expected to soar to more than 10,000 people in the state within the next eight years, Taylor said.
Building the network
of charging stations
The town of Waynesville hopes to eventually house two charging stations at the public parking deck in its downtown district.
Town officials had hoped to receive part of a grant from the state energy office that provided for 25 electric vehicle charging stations in the Asheville area.
"We were looking ahead at providing charging stations for electric vehicles in our town fleet and at helping the local economy by offering this service to visitors in our area," said Waynesville's Assistant Town Manager Alison Melnikova.
The grant was more involved than the town anticipated, so plans are now on hold.
"The idea is not dead, but we have no immediate plans to install the charging stations," Melnikova said.
Western Carolina University also is exploring the possibility of installing a charging station on campus but doesn't have a target date yet, according to Lauren Bishop, energy manager at WCU.
"Our biggest hurdle is funding and grants are scarce now," she said. Federal stimulus money had been one source of funding for the charging stations, but that stream has dried up.
WCU has been working with Duke Energy and Land-of-Sky Regional Council's Clean Vehicles Coalition on possible grant funds and logistics.
"They have been very helpful with assisting us with the technical aspect so that we select the technology that best fits our needs. They are also helping us identify funding as it becomes available," Bishop said.
Throughout the greater Asheville area, there are 37 charging stations at 18 locations, Taylor said.
"Right now, the most feasible option for locating these charging stations is at destinations," Taylor said. "Nobody wants to hang out at a gas station for 30 minutes or hours while their electric vehicle is being recharged."
Eaker agrees. While there are efforts to put charging stations at state-owned rest areas, Eaker said commercial establishments along Interstate highways might be a better option.
"I'm not opposed to putting charging stations at rest areas, but it would be better to have them at restaurants, for example, where drivers could have dinner and then be on their way," Eaker said.
The N.C. General Assembly recently passed a bill that would allow the Department of Transportation to operate electric vehicle charging stations at state-owned rest stops along the highways if they are accessible by the public and a method for paying for the electricity consumed and the cost of providing that service is determined.
The N.C. Department of Transportation has already installed two electric vehicle charging stations at a state rest area near Burlington and two at a rest area near Benson. The charging stations are Level 2, and there is currently no cost for using the stations.
"I am fully supportive of this effort," said Rep. Ray Rapp, D- Mars Hill, of the rest area charging bases. "This is truly the wave of the future and will hopefully help end our dependence on oil."
How do owners keep electric cars 'gassed' up?
The best solution for recharging an electric vehicle is to plug it in when you get home, similar to the way you might plug in a laptop computer, so that it can recharge overnight, Taylor said. Electric vehicles come with charging systems that allow them to recharge from a standard 110 electric socket, so that the next morning you'll be ready to hit the road again.
Electric vehicles using lead-acid batteries can travel about 80 miles on a single charge. Lithium-ion batteries have a range of more than 220 miles per charge, but are more expensive.
To make the at-home charge easier for owners of electric vehicles, Progress Energy Carolinas is providing 150 residential customers with plug-in electric vehicle charging equipment as part of a new research project to determine if the electric utility grid will be able to handle a growing use of electric vehicles.
The Plugged In Program is funded through a smart-grid grant from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grant will cover the cost of the equipment and up to $1,500 of installation costs for a Level 2 charging station at a customer's home. Customers will continue to pay for the electricity used to charge their vehicle.
Meanwhile, North Carolina is one of 16 states to receive a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for the development of plug-in electric vehicle readiness plans in four regions across the state: Charlotte, Asheville, the Research Triangle and the Piedmont-Triad. Plans from each region will be combined to form the state's Plug-in Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan from the mountains to the sea.
A report prepared by Environment North Carolina, a citizen-based environmental advocacy group, however, calls for more work to be done to build the infrastructure of the charging stations. North Carolina currently ranks 10th nationally in the number of vehicle charging stations available to the public, according to the report.
For more information about Haywood Community College's electric vehicle charging station, contact Preston Jacobsen at 828.565.4033.


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Some may know, but I've moved across the country to California to follow my dreams. There's a lot of new things out here and a lot of cool people. It's … Continue reading I Miss God
Category: Woman
Way Maker
Story time: Recently I have been going through financial trouble. I am behind on my rent, I have exactly $11.28 in my bank account, and I've been eating peanut butter … Continue reading Way Maker
How the Holy Spirit Moved Me Today
Y'all, GOD IS GOOD!!! He worked in me today and it's too good not share! Check this out: I was diagnosed with chronic depression at the age of 12 and … Continue reading How the Holy Spirit Moved Me Today
Spring Cleaning
Recently I've been doing some "spring cleaning." I've been prioritizing the people and relationships in my life I'm going to put a substantial amount of energy and effort into. I'm … Continue reading Spring Cleaning
Hills and Valleys
These past few months I have been struggling with depression and anxiety. This is nothing new to me, as I was diagnosed with dysthymia (chronic depression) when I was 12 … Continue reading Hills and Valleys
Here's Hope
I've had a rough week and I'm sure some of you have as well. This verse is one of those "basic" Bible verses, but it holds so much meaning. It … Continue reading Here's Hope
God is SSOO Good!
Short Post: Right now I'm lying in bed and I'm overwhelmed by God's greatness. He has always had my back and has NEVER failed me. Even the times when I … Continue reading God is SSOO Good!
Let Go.
This is a quick post. I'm sure most of you have heard of Tyler Perry's "Madea." While she's very funny and a bit crazy, she always seems to give such … Continue reading Let Go.
Do you ever have those moments when it's 2 A.M. and you're laying in bed alone and have no one to talk to and you feel so lonely? Or how … Continue reading Singleness.
New Year. New Me.
In my last post I shared that I was gonna be starting a new series called "Me Time." If you wanna know more about it please go to my following … Continue reading New Year. New Me.


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The Texas School Book Depository was a private firm that distributed textbooks to schools in North Texas and Oklahoma from a non-descript 7-story, red-brick warehouse that had stood on the corner of Elm and Houston streets since 1901.†
Accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald began working at the depository as an order filler on Oct. 15, just a few weeks before the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.††
Oswald is believed to have fired three shots at Kennedy's presidential motorcade from a makeshift sniper's nest on the southeast corner of the sixth floor of the building.
"He worked principally on the first and sixth floors of the building, gathering books listed on orders and delivering them to the shipping room on the first floor. He had ready access to the sixth floor, from the southeast corner window of which the shots were fired," the Warren Commission report states.
After the assassination, a rifle and three shell casings were found on the floor near an open window on the sixth floor.††† Many witnesses to the assassination in Dealey Plaza recalled seeing a man with a rifle in the window.
Dallas County acquired the building in 1977, seven years after the depository moved out of the building. After a major renovation, the first five floors were put into use as a county administration building beginning in 1981 -- though the sixth and seventh floors remained unused.†
On President's Day 1989, The Sixth Floor Museum opened as a historical exhibition of the darkest day in Dallas' history and includes "two key evidentiary areas" that have been restored to their 1963 appearance -- including the sniper's nest.†
In 2002, the museum opened a gallery on the seventh floor and now occupies the top two floors of the 112-year-old warehouse.†
† Source: JFK.org - History of the Texas School Book Depository
†† Source: Archives.gov - Oswald at Window
†††Source: Archives.gov - Discovery of Cartridge Cases and Rifle


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Still not a peep from ESPN on Ben Roethlisberger's legal troubles—and once again no Blog Buzz on SportsCenter—so as long as Big Ben keeps his mouth shut they're standing behind their decision to not stand behind this story.
Why is that again? Just to be clear, here's a more official statement that ESPN gave to Pro Football Talk:
"At this point, we are not reporting the allegations against Ben Roethlisberger because no criminal complaint has been filed. As far as we know, this is a civil lawsuit that Roethlisberger has yet to address publicly."
The implication is that if there's no criminal action and the athlete himself (or herself) has not publicly commented on it, then ESPN considers it a private matter and not "news." Several readers have already called them on this point, mentioning the Shannon Brown case, the Tony Zendejas case (filed Monday), or the O.J. case, among others. However, in all those instances, ESPN could claim that there was a criminal complaint at least tangentially related to the story. But in all those instances, the story itself was about the civil case. They have also covered many, many purely civil cases like the NFL's current anti-trust fracas, the mess regarding the Dallas Cowboys practice bubble, and—the most glaring of all—the Roberto Alomar "AIDS rumors." It seems pretty clear that they're being selective with their enforcement.
It's also extremely disingenuous to say that Roethlisberger has yet to address the case publicly when an official statement from his lawyer—who is presumably authorized to speak on his behalf—was the very first thing we read about the case. ESPN routinely considers lawyers, agents, and even family members to be valid spokespeople and this is no different.
Athletes, like other celebrities or wealthy individuals, face frivolous lawsuits all the time. So at first glance, a prohibition on covering every complaint that comes down the road would seem reasonable. It doesn't take much, however, for a lawsuit like this to rise above a personal squabble into the realm of real news. Ben Roethlisberger is a national celebrity and a civil lawsuit is a matter of public record. No news organization anywhere would ignore a legitimate story based on the standard ESPN has set for themselves.
Dan Le Batard defended ESPN by saying that it's not being reported by "credible" outlets, which is clearly nonsense. Both of Pittsburgh's major newspapers have covered it. The Associated Press, the wire service that ESPN makes frequent use of, is covering it. Even ABC News, ESPN's parent company, has mentioned it. Roger Goodell, the Commissioner of the damn NFL, has addressed it. If it wasn't a news story before, it is now. There is no journalistic or ethical excuse for ESPN to remain quiet.
So why aren't they covering it? Some have suggested that ESPN is deliberately protecting Roethlisberger to preserve their access—access that could benefit both parties financially. Even if they aren't doing it intentionally, their statement sends a clear signal that as long he personally keeps his mouth shut, this case will never reach the airwaves of the biggest sports network in the world.
Perhaps they know what unleashing the ESPN newshounds would mean—Rachel Nichols doing standups in Lake Tahoe, Ed Werder prowling the streets of Pittsburgh, Chris Mortensen on the phones, Roger Cossack's floating head, Outside The Lines, Sports Reporters, thousands of radio jockeys flooding airwaves—and they aren't prepared to do that yet. It's too bad that not covering a circus just because it's a circus is not an option.
Sooner or later, of course, they won't have any choice. Training camps open soon. What if a reporter asks Ben about it and he says, "No comment." Is that addressing the situation? What if there's a settlement? What if there's no settlement? Would they refuse to cover a civil trial?
ESPN's stance is ultimately untenable and they know it. Caution may have been in order when the story first broke, but we are way past the point when this became newsworthy. They are the only major media outlet not covering it and every minute that goes by where they don't address the issue makes them look increasingly foolish and petty. When they do start reporting on this case, perhaps they can begin by explaining their own silence.
Last word on ESPN's civil lawsuit policy [ProFootballTalk]
Full Complaint against Ben Roethlisberger (Opens in PDF)


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In a letter Oct. 1 to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, more than 100 members of the House of Representatives have requested that USDA conduct additional analysis of the economic impacts that would result from passage of the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) marketing rules.
The changes promulgated by GIPSA under the Packers and Stockyards Act go beyond what Congress mandated in the 2008 farm bill, and would significantly change livestock and poultry marketing practices in the United States, warranting a "vigorous" economic analysis of the proposal.
"The analysis contained in the proposed rule fails to demonstrate the need for the rule, assess the impact of its implementation on the marketplace, or establish how the implementation of the rule would address the demonstrated need," the congressmen wrote.
The legislators have requested that USDA's Office of the Chief Economist conduct a "thorough" economic analysis.
Groups in favor of the request include the National Pork Producers Council and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.


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Made with rich soft Nappa leather, the Lyon messenger is designed and made to help you through your everyday pursuits. With a silhouette inspired by the famous Kanchanjanga Apartments in Mumbai, the bag stands out for its unique design sensibilities which run through the outer surface of the bag.
Functional outer zipper pockets, a secure laptop compartment and a trolley handle make it easier for you to transit through airports and get from one place to another.
*Compatible with all Laptops from 13.5 inches to 16 inches.
- Length: 15.8 inches
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- Length: 14.2 inches
- Breadth: 4 inches
- Height: 12 inches
- Nature & Colour of leather: Genuine Tan Nappa Leather
- Hardware: Industry approved YKK Zippers
- Strap Colour: Black Webbing
- Laptop up to 15.6"
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Although British designer William Yeoward could never be considered one of life's shrinking violets, his natural exuberance is always tempered by an innate Englishness, a respect for the classical coupled with the ability to understand that good design, whether of buildings, interiors, or products, should reference what has gone before.
Yeoward employed this broad view in the mid-1990s, with his debut collection of crystal. His strong, bold designs transformed the moribund crystal market, which had largely been relegated to bridal registries, and soon made fine crystal seem not only desirable but even hip, appropriate in such unlikely places as Santa Monica beach houses and minimalist Manhattan lofts. Yeoward's line soon expanded beyond drinking vessels and barware to include silverware, china, table linens, textiles, wallpaper, and rugs. Like his crystal, which was inspired by 18th- and 19th-century English originals, all of his work paid homage to the past, even as it was designed to be eminently practical.
The same is true of his furniture and accessories collection, which recently made its debut in the U.S. The comprehensive range, which evolved over many years, encompasses everything from upholstered chairs and sofas to games tables and consoles, as well as exquisitely detailed and colorful hand-embroidered pillows and a line of lighting that features witty crystal lamps.
As always, Yeoward's creations draw from Britain's history of design. The references here range from the pure neoclassicism of Robert Adam to the casual flower-bedecked fabrics and walls of Bloomsbury cottages to the sprightly zip of postwar English graphics. Still, each piece has been carefully designed to integrate into contemporary homes. Yeoward has injected an interesting smattering of midcentury Scandinavian simplicity, and even the most traditional designs have been streamlined. The entire collection falls in step with the very British philosophy that pieces of every period and style— whether country-house classical, minimalist, contemporary, or slightly rumpled bohemian— can be successfully combined. "Very few people start with nothing," the designer points out. "Rather, they augment and edit what they already own." The backbone of the collection, the upholstered furniture, is not only beautiful but also extremely comfortable. "The human frame must always be accommodated," he says. These pieces do so with brio: The reassuring shapes—wing chairs, button-tufted sofas, and slipper chairs—are filled with feathers and down. Meanwhile, patterns are combined with plain velvets; contrasting piping and studs create quirky juxtapositions that bring the pieces smartly into the 21st century.
"All my designs are meant to be used and enjoyed,"Yeoward says, "to slide in happily to any room without making a song and dance about it."


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In a TV season boasting at least half a dozen underappreciated comedies ("The Middle," "Raising Hope" and "Enlightened" among them), it is far rarer to see a quality drama fall through the cracks. But if ever a series deserved the kind of intense viewer attention normally reserved for a Sunday night on HBO, it would be "Southland" (9 p.m. Central Wednesdays) which began its fifth season this month on TNT.
You don't see cop shows like this on TV anymore. Stark. Naturalistic. Unafraid to let small moments count just as much as the big ones, sometimes even more.
When "Southland" premiered in 2009 on NBC, it was (and remains) an outlier in a television landscape preoccupied with forensics, elite crime-fighting units and a tunnel-vision narrative recognizable only in Hollywood terms, where there exists a seemingly endless supply of technology, databases and the capacity for deductive reasoning.
"Southland" showed considerable promise its first season on NBC, but it didn't have ratings. It made the unusual jump to basic cable, where the budgets are inevitably tighter. But on TNT, with a smaller ensemble, a more focused show emerged — one that embraced its reduced scale with clarity and certainty.
To understand its appeal is to recognize what it is not. For all the grim, explicit, cheesy imagery of a typical CBS procedural, "Southland" strips all that away to focus on police work at its most basic. (NBC's "Chicago Fire," a solid show already, would be smart to emulate this approach.) As smart as it is mordantly funny, it exists somewhere on the spectrum between "Hill Street Blues" and "The Wire," boosted by a shaky, hand-held-camera aesthetic borrowed from the long-running reality show "Cops."
What "Southland" understands is that you don't need elaborate plots. Life is complicated and often absurd, especially in law enforcement — something I'm reminded of every time I see the terrific opening credits, filled with grainy black-and-white archival police photos and that swelling, mournful melody. This is a world that looks very much like our own, where considerable sacrifices are made but strong moral codes and professionalism does not always prevail. These men and women are not immune to big, stupid, messy mistakes — choices made not because they are incompetent (or because they find themselves in a writer-contrived dilemma), but because they are three-dimensional human beings.
Grounded by the wonderfully complicated performances of Michael Cudlitz and Regina King (as longtime department veterans), the people on this show are as lost and messed up as the rest of us, grasping and hoping somehow it all makes sense at the end of the day. More baffling is the lack of Emmy nominations for Cudlitz (brooding and droll and one of the most effective understated performances on television) and King (whose superbly muscled and calm exterior belies a woman with a lifetime of doubts).
It is a show that works hard to be accurate about even minor details. That some patrol officers prefer their short-sleeve uniforms tailored close to their biceps. That wearing short sleeves at all is a privilege rookies must first earn. It is a show that real cops admire for what it gets right. (Retired Virginia law enforcement officer Lee Lofland analyzes the specifics each week on his website The Graveyard Shift, a terrific unofficial companion to the show.) Just as crucial, "Southland" has the restraint and quiet confidence to allow its action scenes to unfold without juicing the moment with music. The drama is obvious. No manipulation necessary. It is by far the most impressive and humanistic cop show on TV today.
Twitter @NinaMetzNews


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Expert's Rating
Our Verdict
At first glance, Speck's SmartFlex Card for iPhone 5 looks suspiciously like any run-of-the- mill iPhone case. In fact, its single-color, unibody appearance almost screams generic. On closer inspection, however, there's an important function built into this case that few others offer: A secure slot for holding currency and credit or ID cards. This setup is designed for traveling light—perfect for outings like neighborhood shopping, going to the gym or library, or picking the kids up from school. Even fully loaded, the case fits right into your pocket.
While it may seem ill-advised to carry important documents like a driver's license and major credit cards in the side-loading slot of this case—not to mention a $20 bill, that's exactly what I did for a couple of days as I tested this case. I'm pleased to report that, fortified by the case's tensioning system, no card or bill budged from its designated spot while I carried the case. But there's an easy way to remove these items if you need to—just push the cards out from the other side of the slot.
The SmartFlex Card is made of a resilient, hard rubber polymer material, and is thus a little more flexible and less protective than some of Speck's CandyShell line of decorative cases. It's also easier to remove from the body of the iPhone, thanks to the more flexible material. The case adds a bit more heft than some of the CandyShell models we've looked at. Happily, it has the same bezel around the front edge of the iPhone that prevents the touchscreen from making contact with most flat surfaces when placed facedown.
One major issue I had with this case is that the Sleep/Wake button is hard to press. The press-through button overlays are made of the same hard rubber material as the body of the case, so turning on my iPhone up was literally a two-handed operation for me. Not only was the button hard to press, but the overlay also didn't provide that satisfying tactile click, which I found bothersome. I had to rely on watching the screen to see if the iPhone woke up or went to sleep properly. Otherwise, it was easy to operate the volume controls and to wake up my iPhone using the Home button.
A complexity for anyone riding mass transit is that your iPhone will demagnetize your RFID bus or train pass, and the SmartFlex Card will not prevent this. However, you will not experience such issues with credit cards or other IDs. So you'll want to carry transit passes separately.
This case comes in only five colors—unique shades of green, red, gray, and purple accompany a tasteful matte black.
Note that to charge the iPhone in its case, you need to use Apple's Lightning charging cable. The case will not accommodate Apple's 30-pin to Lightning adapter.
Bottom line
The SmartFlex Card for iPhone 5 provides an attractive protective cover for your device and offers some cool extras. Being able to ditch your wallet at least some of the time, knowing that major cards and money are safely tucked into your phone, is a compelling selling point. However, the hard-to-use Sleep/Wake switch is a major drawback for me.


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Freedom is not something that anybody can be given. Freedom is something people take, and people are as free as they want to be.
~ James Baldwin
Freedom is that instant between when someone tells you to do something and when you decide how to respond.
~ Jeffrey Borenstein
The trouble with free elections is, you never know who is going to win.
~ Leonid Brezhnev
None who have always been free can understand the terrible fascinating power of the hope of freedom to those who are not free.
~ Pearl S. Buck
I preach deliverance to others, I tell them there is freedom, while I hear my own chains clang.
~ John Bunyan
The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.
~ Edmund Burke
The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.
~ Thomas Campbell
Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.
~ Albert Camus
There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings.
~ Hodding Carter
In this possibly terminal phase of human existence, democracy and freedom are more than just ideals to be valued – they may be essential to survival.
~ Noam Chomsky
A right is not what someone gives you; it's what no one can take from you.
~ Ramsey Clark
Freedom has a thousand charms to show,
That slaves, howe'er contented, never know.
~ William Cowper
You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free.
~ Clarence Darrow
Freedom is the oxygen of the soul.
~ Moshe Dayan
History does not teach fatalism. There are moments when the will of a handful of free men breaks through determinism and opens up new roads.
~ Charles de Gaulle
The only freedom that is of enduring importance is the freedom of intelligence, that is to say, freedom of observation and of judgment, exercised in behalf of purposes that are intrinsically worth while. The commonest mistake made about freedom is, I think, to identify it with freedom of movement, or, with the external or physical side of activity.
~ John Dewey
To begin with unlimited freedom is to end with unlimited despotism.
~ Fyodor Dostoevsky, in The Devils
Who would be free themselves must strike the blow. Better even to die free than to live slaves.
~ Frederick Douglass
Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation, are people who want crops without ploughing the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning; they want the ocean without the roar of its many waters. The struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, or it may be both. But it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand; it never has and it never will.
~ Frederick Douglass
No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.
~ Frederick Douglass, in an 1883 Civil Rights Mass Meeting speech in Washington, D.C.
Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us.
~ William O. Douglas
As far as your self-control goes, as far goes your freedom.
~ Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man's life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom.
~ Albert Einstein
We seek peace, knowing that peace is the climate of freedom.
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed – else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, in "Boston" Stanza 15
If you would enjoy real freedom, you must be the slave of philosophy.
~ Epictetus
We must not believe the many, who say that only free people ought to be educated, but we should rather believe the philosophers who say that only the educated are free.
~ Epictetus
We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.
~ William Faulkner
Ultimately we know deeply that the other side of every fear is a freedom.
~ Marilyn Ferguson
We have enjoyed so much freedom for so long that we are perhaps in danger of forgetting how much blood it cost to establish the Bill of Rights.
~ Felix Frankfurter
We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.
~ Viktor Frankl
Freedom lies in being bold.
~ Robert Frost, in an interview by Bela Kornizer of NBC news on November 23, 1952.
You have freedom when you're easy in your harness.
~ Robert Frost
Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err.
~ Mahatma Gandhi
None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
For every man who lives without freedom, the rest of us must face the guilt.
~ Lillian Hellman
The fact, in short, is that freedom, to be meaningful in an organized society must consist of an amalgam of hierarchy of freedoms and restraints.
~ Samuel Hendel
We feel free when we escape – even if it be but from the frying pan into the fire.
~ Eric Hoffer
It is possible to read the history of this country as one long struggle to extend the liberties established in our Constitution to everyone in America.
~ Molly Ivins
A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.
~ Thomas Jefferson
No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him.
~ Thomas Jefferson
A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned — this is the sum of good government.
~ Thomas Jefferson
I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.
~ Thomas Jefferson
I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to Heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.
~ Thomas Jefferson
Freedom is like taking a bath — you have to keep doing it every day!
~ Florynce Kennedy
We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.
~ John F. Kennedy
The wave of the future is not the conquest of the world by a single dogmatic creed but the liberation of the diverse energies of free nations and free men.
~ John F. Kennedy
People hardly ever make use of the freedom they have. For example, the freedom of thought. Instead they demand freedom of speech as a compensation.
~ Søren Kierkegaard
There are two freedoms, the false one where one is free to do what he likes, and the true where a man is free to do what he ought.
~ Charles Kingsley
Every right is married to a duty; every freedom owes a corresponding responsibility; and there cannot be genuine freedom unless there exists also genuine order, in the moral realm and in the social realm.
~ Russell Kirk, in Redeeming the Time (Wilmington: Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 1996), page 33
Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.
~ Abraham Lincoln
Him that I love, I wish to be free — even from me.
~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Most men, after a little freedom, have preferred authority with the consoling assurances and the economy of effort which it brings.
~ Walter Lippmann, in A Preface to Morals
Without general elections, without unrestricted freedom of press and assembly, without a free struggle of opinion, life dies out in every public institution, becomes a mere semblance of life, in which only the bureaucracy remains as the active element.
~ Rosa Luxemburg
Many politicians are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim.
~ Thomas Macaulay
I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.
~ James Madison, in a speech to the Virginia Convention in 1788
We are free, truly free, when we don't need to rent our arms to anybody in order to be able to lift a piece of bread to our mouths.
~ Ricardo Flores Magon, in a speech on May 31, 1914
There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life — happiness, freedom, and peace of mind — are always attained by giving them to someone else.
~ Peyton Conway March
If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom; and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that too.
~ Somerset Maugham
We have to call it "freedom": who'd want to die for "a lesser tyranny"?
~ Mignon McLaughlin, in The Neurotic's Notebook
Freedom means choosing your burden.
~ Hephzibah Menuhin
The sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection. That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinion of others, to do so would be wise, or even right… The only part of the conduct of anyone, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.
~ John Stuart Mill
Freedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them — and then, the opportunity to choose.
~ C. Wright Mills
We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.
~ Edward R. Murrow
Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.
~ Napoleon Bonaparte
Freedom is the will to be responsible to ourselves.
~ Friedrich Nietzsche, in Twilight of the Idols
The only way to make sure people you agree with can speak is to support the rights of people you don't agree with.
~ Eleanor Holmes Norton
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
~ Thomas Paine
If a man does only what is required of him, he is a slave.
If a man does more than is required of him, he is a free man.
~ Chinese Proverb
In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence.
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.
~ Jean-Paul Sartre
Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.
~ George Bernard Shaw, in Man and Superman, "Maxims: Liberty and Equality,"
If you want to be free, there is but one way; it is to guarantee an equally full measure of liberty to all your neighbors. There is no other.
~ Carl Shurz
How can you call a man free when his pleasures rule over him.
~ Socrates
My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.
~ Adlai Stevenson, from a speech in Detroit, 1952
Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.
~ Henry David Thoreau
It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have these three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence to practice neither.
~ Mark Twain
So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men.
~ Voltaire
The history of men's opposition to women's emancipation is more interesting perhaps than the story of that emancipation itself.
~ Virginia Woolf
To enjoy freedom, if the platitude is pardonable, we have of course to control ourselves. We must not squander our powers, helplessly and ignorantly, squirting half the house in order to water a single rose-bush; we must train them, exactly and powerfully, here on the very spot.
~ Virginia Woolf
No nation ancient or modern ever lost the liberty of freely speaking, writing, or publishing their sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in general and became slaves.
~ John P. Zenger


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Mass. congressional hopefuls stockpiling cash for special election
Election date to be set after Markey is sworn in
Sen.-elect Edward Markey hasn't formally resigned his U.S. House seat yet, but the Democratic candidates hoping to replace him are already stockpiling cash for the anticipated special election.
Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian will report raising about $308,000 during second quarter of the year while Milford state Sen. Katherine Clark says she's raised nearly $500,000 since the start of the year.
Medford state Rep. Carl Sciortino said he's raised about $350,000 since the start of the year while Belmont state Sen. William Brownsberger will report raising $386,000 during the same period.
Framingham state Sen. Karen Spilka said she's raised about $200,000 in the second quarter.
One Republican, attorney Frank Addivinola, is also running.
The date of the election will be set after Markey is sworn in Tuesday to fill John Kerry's old Senate seat.