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'Shameless' Frank the Plumber   (2013)

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Season 3 Episode 9
Aired ~ 17 Mar. 2013
Running Time | 56 Minutes
Type |
Genres | Comedy, Drama
View Seasons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Release Information

Directed by | Mark Mylod
Cinematography by | Kevin McKnight
Edited by | Regis Kimble

Starring ~ William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, Justin Chatwin

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Stunt Double: Laura Wiggins
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"Shameless" Frank the Plumber - modified: [90799][2666316]


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OUT NOW! Shop the latest drop of Gosha Rubchinskiy

Brand new A/W 17 menswear pieces have landed from menswear designer Gosha Rubchinskiy!

Rubchinskiy’s latest drop is available now on our SHOWstudio/MACHINE-A e-store, always fast-selling, be sure to grab before the items go!

Visit our In Fashion interview with the designer to find out more about the inspirations and references that influence his designs.

To find out about future drops follow SHOWstudio's blog or subscribe to MACHINE-A!

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Dura Fast 40 Pickleball (Outdoor White) DOZEN

Dura Fast 40 Outdoor Pickleball (White)
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    • Tammy Stamper
    • July 24th, 2010

    Dear Zach & Shelly,
    Your website inspired me to explore combining my experience and talent with my husband Skip and his strengths in business and real estate sales.I am interested in developing a more comprehensive web presense that tells a story of who we are and what we do. Please call or email me so that we can get together soon to discuss further.
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SImply Sophie

Hi and thanks for stoping by.

My name is Sophie, i'm 26 years old and living in berlin, germany. On this litte site i want to create and share posts about Photography, Lifestyle, creative stuff and sometimes food - a good mix, isn't it? I want to improve my photography and this website is here to motivate me, i want to share pictures and be creative.

I hope you like this little space. Leave comments, follow me on my social media accounts and just talk to me. xx


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Gain City Expo 2011 @ Singapore Expo 23 – 25 Sep 2011 UPDATED 24 Sep 2011

Gain City Expo 2011 19 Sep 2011
Gain City Expo 2011 19 Sep 2011
Past Event

Oh no, the event has ended. Don't miss out again, get the latest sales via our newsletter, Facebook, Twitter or RSS feed!

Starts23 Sep 2011 (Fri)Ends25 Sep 2011 (Sun)
Location Singapore Expo

Gain City will be having a sale at Singapore Expo from 23 – 25 September 2011, 11am to 10pm at Singapore Expo Hall 5B.

In addition to trade-in options at high value with up to $500, you can also meet your favourite Mediacorp DJs and get free gifts with purchases.

See ad images for more details.

Click on thumbnail[s] to enlarge. Sales on 23 – 25 Sep 2011

(Updated 21 Sep with “21 Sep Eset NOD32 Antivirus, Smart Security 4” image)
(Updated 22 Sep with “Philips iPod Docking Station Coupon.jpg” and “Sansui Portable DVD Player Coupon.jpg” images)
(Updated 23 Sep with “23 Sep Air Conditioner, TV, Postable, Washer, Washing Machine, Canon DSLR EOS 600D, Samsung Digital Camera MV800” and “23 Sep Air Conditioner, TV, Washer, Fridge, Nikon Digital Camera D3100 DSLR” images. Also listed are Fujifilm JX200, Sony DSC-WX7, Notebooks, Viewsonic Viewpad 10S 3G, Acer Aspire AS4755G-2434G75M8CS, Dell Inspiron N4110, Printer, Desktop PC, Starhub, Wii Console Black, Ninja Blade, OTO Cyber Indulge CD-1880)
(Updated 24 Sep with “24 Sep Air Conditioner, LED TV, Washing Machine, Dryer, Canon EOS1100D Digital Camera DSLR, Sony NEX3D, EOS550D” and “24 Sep Limited Deals, Air Conditioner, TV, Fridge, Canon EOS50D DSLR Digital Camera” images)

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Life drawing

Only one today. The drawing didn't look too good to start with and rather than start another as I normally do, I decided to try and save it with shading. That didn't go too well but I persevered and eventually it looked OK. I like the area around her shoulder at the top as the shading there is more subtle. I was quite relaxed once I got to that area but time seemed to fly this morning and I would have liked to have done a couple of more sketches.

On the way home I took a detour past the art shop (as you do!) and bought some darker pencils. I went over the outline with a 5B to see what it would look like. I think I'll try using some softer pencils next time and see what happens.

Casey said…
Hi Felicity, This looks really good to me. I was wondering how you're doing with the Anthony Ryder book - I've just started reading it and I'm not sure I truly understand the "envelope". Is it helping you to draw better or is there a learning curve that slows you down for awhile? It looks from this drawing that you've got the contour down perfectly though.

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First Century is History

Last Saturday I rode in the Superior Vistas tour in Bayfield, WI. Many thanks to the organizers for a well-run event. The pizza and ice cream at the finish was first rate!

So goes my first century [100 mile ride] of the season. Miles 30 through 80-something were in the pouring rain. I noticed the field thinning out after 60 miles – as the sensible people turned toward the fore mentioned pizza and ice cream. I thought about following them.

But I didn’t.

There’s something about thinking that I might throw in the [sodden] towl that keeps me going. I flirt with failure, and after a short dance find another partner.

At mile 95 I saw a sign for ice cream the way a desert traveler sees a lake of water shimmering in the distance. I slowly applied my brakes and came to a stop. Forgetting to unclip from my pedals…I fell over sideways and rolled [now unclipped] down an embankment. A rider passing by shouted, “Dude is your bike okay?!”

When I arrived at the finish I changed out of my bike clothes and examined a nasty chafe on my backside. Water, road grit and my bike shorts mixed together did their work: a crescent shaped furrow an inch and a half long. Three days later its cause for some concern. Pray that it will heal up in time for the Habitat 500!

My finishing time was 5:47:27, and 53 minutes faster than my personal best. The course climbed 3932 feet – including 3 categorized climbs. I was pleased to see an average HR of only 144…I think I’m ready for the next 1500 miles.

We’re just a few bucks short of $1500 in fundraising.

Grace and courage friends…Pastor greg

One thought on “First Century is History

  1. PG, I read this tonight and laughed until I cried. I woke John up and read it to him,too.
    BEEN THERE! I am glad you are safe and pray for your continued safety. Blessings!

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Scaling Drone Operations Across the Enterprise

Manager of Client Success at Skyward

You’ve run a successful drone pilot program and your enterprise sees potential for speeding up projects, improving safety, or getting better data at less cost. You’ve gotten the go-ahead to build capacity.

What should you know about scaling drone operations from one or two pilots to potentially dozens of pilots and hundreds of flights?

As Skyward’s customer success manager, I’ve helped dozens of companies scale up their drone operations over the last couple of years, and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned. Continue reading →


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User Journal

Journal Bible_Study_Guys's Journal: Introduction / FAQ 27

As it says in the Bio, this is an account shared by TechnoLust, glh, and eugene ts wong. We are going to attempt to do a Bible study in this journal every week. We will leave comments enabled for discussion. The email associated with this account is also shared by us, so you can reach us at that address.

Who's crazy idea was this?
That would be mine. (-TechnoLust) I noticed that there are a great many journals about religion and moral issues around. Most people are very vocal of their opinion. I have always felt that God would use me to reach people in nontraditional ways. I felt that this would a good way for people to get together and discuss their ideas and beliefs with anonymity. Many people are more willing to talk about religion if it is anonymous.

What makes you think this will work?
Faith. :-) Actually, I just think that people want to discuss (notice I didn't write argue) religion and the Bible, and this seems to be an interesting venue in which to do that.

Why a shared account? Why not just do it your journal?
Some of my /. friends are Christians and would be interested in this. Others would not, and I didn't want them to stop reading my journal because they weren't interested in the Religion stuff. I also wanted to reach outside the FortKnox circle, if that's possible. :-) Because of my work schedule, I might not be able to dedicate enough time every week, and I didn't want to miss weeks or have the lessons suffer. So a shared account fixes a lot of these problems.

Why do this on slashdot?
Several reasons... All of the people that I think would be interested are already here. People who might otherwise never come to something like this might stumble across us here. The interface is familiar. Most people that would be interested are going to be on /. anyway, so adding us to their friend list and getting a message when a new lesson is available is not a big deal.

How are you going to deal with the ever-present trolls?
We will maintain a "friends" list of people who are posting in the journal, and a "foe" list of people who are trolling this journal. If you want, you can turn "friend of friend" & "foe of friend" modifiers on, and read at +1 or higher, so you won't see the trolls in the journal. Since this will be religious discussion, I imagine we'll get some bad trolls.

Why don't you guys do a lesson about...?
If you would like to participate in preparing Bible study topics or suggest a topic of study, email us at the address above. If you have questions, send those, and we will try to periodically do a Q&A session. If you would like to help, but don't have ideas for a topic, then pray for us.

So, are you guys starting a cult, or do you just think you are so perfect you need to tell everyone else how to live?
No, we don't want to start a cult, or the First Church of Slashdot. [If you are interested in joining a slashdot cult, click here. :-) ] We just want to discuss the Bible and religion. I don't think I'm perfect or better than anyone. I'm not sinless, just forgiven. You don't have to agree with everything we say, (that would make for a pretty dull comment section) but if you disagree, don't just say, "You guys are wrong!" Tell us why you think we are wrong, and explain your side politely and intelligently. I don't claim to be a minister. I've had no formal training, but I do love God and I think this is something He wants me to do. -TL

There's no religion topic icon, so are you randomly picking an icon when you post?
No. We will try to pick an icon that somehow relates to the lesson. It may even be that a /. story under that topic triggered the lesson.

This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Introduction / FAQ

Comments Filter:
  • Just add the .com If you need a normal address, email me there, and I'll send it to you. Disclaimer: I won't be throwing it out anytime soon, so it isn't really that disposable.

    On an unrelated note: I'm surprised at how quickly someone has already trolled this journal.
    • No, I knew trolls would be a problem. People who have no religion are tormented because they know SOMETHING has to be responsible for all this. Since they are tormented, they want to make sure those of us who know the truth and are happy get some torment as well. So they try to make us question our beliefs. All it does for me is make me glad I have the back bone to post logged in. :-)
      • I think a lot of it is fear. People fear what they don't understand. Some non-religious people don't understand how one could be religious.

        Yes, some non religious people are tormented by the need for an explanation, but many are not.

        I am not a religious person, but I will probably follow Bible_Study_Guys journals and I may even ask some questions.
        • Great! Questions are more than welcome..

          I'm sure we will be posting more detail on this journal soon.
        • I think a lot of it is fear.

          I don't think its either. I think people troll religious people for two very opposite reasons:
          1.) The amish factor - Religious people are not going to 'attack' you, personally. Its in their creed not to. So they take the beating and 'turn the other cheek' (heh, mathew reference...)
          2.) The upset factor - One thing religious people don't enjoy is being told they are wrong, and it disturbs some of them noticably. There's nothing better to a troll than to see someone have a reaction to what they say (its the whole point of them trolling, right?).

          Honestly, having a science background is nice in this respect. I am a Christian, but if someone wants to come and tell me I'm daydreaming, I'll listen to all their arguments, just never truely agree to them. I like to keep an open mind, its easier to show certain people the way of Christianity if you know how they think and what they think.
          I also enjoy understanding other religions. I've taken out coworkers to have an understanding of hinduism and buddhism. Interesting stuff, IMHO.

          BTW - This will be the best forum for your questions. You will get realistic and laid back comments that should (hopefully) be easy to read and keep you comfortable. I know to most people getting a 'tv evangelist' answer can make you comfortable and will tune most people out :-D
      • People who have no religion are tormented because they know SOMETHING has to be responsible for all this.

        Yes, and I am the one responsible for all of this. Fear me, for I am Elkobim, the god of the dice.

        I hereby declare that nobody is going to be tormented for not believing in god. However, you must sacrifice dice for me.

        Thank you very much.

        I find the idea of "bible study guys" horribly ridculous.. The unproductivity associated with talking about ancient, unimportant stuff is equal to the importance of trolling in slashdot..

        Btw: What's with the "Foes of friends" thingie? I can't agree with it. You can't just put people under your threshold because the commune decided they are "bad people". It's a perfect manifestation of groupthink.
        • ...then don't read it. Those of us that know better will "waste" our time on it, and it doesn't harm you in the least. The foes of friends thing only works if you add this account as a friend. If you don't choose to do so, it won't affect you. All of these things we are doing are offered as choices, we are forcing no one to do anything they do not wish to. If someone wishes to read the trolls, all they have to do is change the foe of friend modifier, or not log in. We just know that some trolls have a tendency to use foul language, and offer our readers a way to filter it.

          BTW - Unproductivity is not a word (check I think the word you were searching for was unproductiveness.

    • are you kidding? I thought to myself, "They're going to need their own special access to cope with the trolls and idiots".
  • I just warn you, unless warned I have a lot to say. :-)

  • (distorted guitar starts)

    Repent, repent, repent ye sinners

    What do you think you got, when you thought you had a lot
    But all your feelings are dead?
    And who do you think you are, when you're reaching for the stars
    But all your feelings are dead?

    Must you make a decision, between sex and religion
    Why can't you love God in your bed?

    Well, Jesus Christ is in your bed tonight, to bring you back from the dead

    How are you gonna fight for what you think is right
    If all your feelings are dead?
    And what can you know of love, from the eyes of a child to the heavens above
    When all your feelings are dead?

    It's a tragic condition, sex and religion, makin' a manic mess in your head

    Jesus Christ, or any son of the heatless light
    When all your feelings are dead

    I raise my hands high up into the air
    Get down on my knees and start-a-prayin'
    When love walks in, my body begins
    I feel my promised land comin', but I gotta go to Hell now
    And those creatures, evangelist preachers
    The ones that take money, for the promise of hope
    Well, they are dangerous, I'm not dangerous
    Brain washing us, and we're not gonna take it

    I just wanna know, oh, Lord, how it is so
    How is it that you can take my sins away?
    Oh, Lord tell me, so I can see the light again
    I don't think anybody can take my sins away

    How can the truth be known, if we got little black holes in our souls
    And all our feelings are dead?

    Are we imprisoned by sex and religion
    Or is God the one that's trapped in our mess?

    Jesus Christ, or any son of the heatless light
    To bring you back from the dead

    [evil voice] So remember now folks, when you kneel to pray
    Blow a little kiss to the hypocrites
    Good God knows when you turn the other cheek
    Which direction you're pointing it

    A great song. I encourage you all to hear it. ;)

Money can't buy happiness, but it can make you awfully comfortable while you're being miserable. -- C.B. Luce


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Submission + - Rackspace goes on rampage against patent trolls (

girlmad writes: Rackspace has come out fighting against one of the US's most notorious patent trolls, Parallel Iron. The cloud services firm said it's totally fed up with trolls of all kinds, which have caused a 500 percent rise in its legal bills.

Rackspace was last week named among 12 firms accused of infringing Parallel Iron's Hadoop Distributed File System patents. Rackspace is now counter-suing the troll, as the firm said it has a deal in place with Parallel Iron after signing a previous patent settlement with them.

This discussion was created for logged-in users only, but now has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Rackspace goes on rampage against patent trolls

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can make you awfully comfortable while you're being miserable. -- C.B. Luce


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Submission + - GIMP 2.4 Released 3

Enselic writes: After almost three years since the release of GIMP 2.2, the GIMP developers have just announced the release of GIMP 2.4.

The release notes speaks of scalable bitmap brushes, redesigned rectangle/ellipse selection tools, redesigned crop tool, a new foreground selection tool, a new align tool, reorganized menu layouts, improved zoomed in/zoomed out image display quality, improved priting and color management support and a new perspective clone tool.
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GIMP 2.4 Released

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  • Entry #3 on my top-ten list of open-source apps. This is a kick-ass program that does everything an amateur graphic developer needs. Kudos to the Gimp team.
  • I've recommended some artists to try gimp instead of proprietary stuff. The major complaints were about drawing tablet support. Gimp has tablet support, but the options available to the artist are very limited. Also, there are no smoothing algorithms for tablet-drawn strokes - a pretty major drawback if you draw on the computer instead of scanning things in.
    Other than that, gimp is awesome - and almost everything you can think of is available as a plugin - I've already tried the new context-sensitive resizi
  • I teach Photoshop in addition to using it for work, and I always recommend that students keep a copy of GIMP on their USB disks. At our college, not all of the labs have Photoshop, and in the real world, some of these students are going to be freelancers, meeting at clients' homes, etc. So having a portable image editing package like this is a real miracle.

    Also, at the end of my two-day Photoshop class I invariably get people wondering what they can do if they'd rather spend the money on like, I dunno, th

Money can't buy happiness, but it can make you awfully comfortable while you're being miserable. -- C.B. Luce


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It’s summer time and the living is easy.  The season of sun, relaxation and vacations is finally upon us.  But if your little ones aren’t sleeping well, an easy living summer does not apply to you, my friend.  If your summer is more likely to be filled with meltdowns and tantrums than rest and rejuvenation, we need to talk.

We’ve heard parents tell us that they just don’t want to deal with their child’s sleep over the summer.  We get it.  It takes hard work and consistency to make sleep a priority for your family but since we know the benefits of well-rested children, we urge you to re-think your plan to deal with it in the fall.

iStock_000006149414Small (1)

 Here are 5 reasons why summer is the perfect time to rest easy:

1. You’re on holidays! When you speak to a SleepWell Baby Consultant about SleepWell Sleep Planning, you’ll be told that it’s best if you can stay put for a least a few weeks, until your little one gets the hang of the new routine.  If you have days off work during that time, the process will seem more manageable.  Think of this as an opportunity to lay the foundation for independent sleep skills before your little one returns to child care and life gets busy again.  Look at this time as an investment in the health of your child and your family.  And of course, sleep when your baby sleeps, even if that baby happens to be more of a toddler.

2. Company coming?  No problem!  Ask Grandma and Grandpa to come for their visit while you’re working through SleepWell Sleep Planning.  The more hands on deck the easier the process will be all around.  Team up with loved ones who care about your child and allow them to support you as you work through your sleep plan.

3. A schedule means more freedom, not less.  Some people feel that having little ones on a sleep schedule is just too limiting.  We disagree.  When you respect your child’s need to sleep according to her circadian rhythm she will take longer, more restorative naps and wake less often during the night and early morning.  Once your child is napping and going to bed at age appropriate times, you can schedule in your summer activities when she is rested and can really enjoy them. Any parent knows that taking your overtired little ones on a picnic is really no picnic at all.

4. Have a little fun in the sun.  Let’s be honest, whether you plan to stay close to home or are looking to get away, children who are chronically overtired are not a whole lot of fun.  Want to remove meltdowns and tantrums from your summer agenda?  Teach those little ones to sleep and their behaviour will be more adaptable and predictable.  Whether you find yourself travelling the globe or filling the backyard paddling pool, your child will be a happier version of herself if she is well-rested.

5. There’s no time like the present to realize that sleep is not selfish.  Some parents tell us that they just need to get some sleep so they can be a more patient and happier parent.  This is not a selfish statement.  Sleep is critical to the health of all members of a family.  If you, dear mother or father are chronically overtired, you are not able to live to your true potential.  Your children need all of you, not just that tiny bit you can muster after you haven’t had a good night’s sleep in years.  Once your children are sleeping well your outlook will be as sunny as the season.

So what are you waiting for?  Pull out the flip flops, bring out the beach umbrella and spark up the barbeque.  Then give us a call.  It’s summer, the perfect time to rest easy!

Alysa Dobson is a Certified Child Sleep Consultant with SleepWell Baby.  She works with families to help them get the sleep they need.  Alysa offers support to parents with children ages 4 months- 8 years old through both in home and remote consultations.  She can be contacted at alysa@sleepwellbaby.ca.
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Children and families thrive when they get the sleep they need. Helping families is my passion.

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Pushcart XLI: Barry Lopez, “The Invitation” from Granta #133

Granta art by Nick Clements

Granta art by Nick Clements

When I was young, and just beginning to travel with them, I imagined that indigenous people saw more and heard more, that they were overall simply more aware than I was. They were more aware, and did see and hear more than I did. The absence of spoken conversation whenever I was traveling with them, however, should have provided me with a clue about why this might be true; but it didn’t, not for a while. It’s this: when an observer doesn’t immediately turn what his senses convey to him into language, into the vocabulary and syntactical framework we all employ when trying to define our experiences, there’s a much greater opportunity for minor details, which might at first seem unimportant, to remain alive in the foreground of an impression, where, later, they might deepen the meaning of an experience.

Complete essay available online at Granta

As I read this essay, I kept thinking, “I’ve read about something like this, recently.” It took me a while to pull it out of my overloaded and sometimes unreliable memory. The Chinese Thought mooc, of course! Confucians see language – including the behavioral language of ritual – as the means of perfecting the individual to full humanity, whereas Daoists feel it’s a distraction from what is essential. “The Way that can be spoken of is not the enduring Way,” wrote Lao Tzu in the Dao de Jing in the 4th century BCE. “He who speaks does not know.” Yes, Prof. Slingerland pointed out the irony of a book dissing language, but that’s how Dao rolls.

Most importantly, he didn’t stop with examining ancient texts, but related the concepts to contemporary neurological, social, and behavioral science. In this case, that meant a guest lecture from UCSB psychology professor Jonathan Schooler on his theory of verbal overshadowing: attempts to describe nonverbal experiences tend to make the experiential memory less accurate on subsequent recall. In its simplest form: if you show someone a face, and ask them to describe it in words, they will be less likely to recognize the face a few moments later than if they did not need to put language to the impression.

Lopez goes beyond this in a paean to the primacy of experience Lao Tzu would appreciate: a broadening of pertinence from the immediate event to what was seen a half hour, or three days, before (tracks of a caribou, for instance), and to later events. The event of seeing a bear isn’t over when the bear is no longer seen; it might never, technically, be over, in much the same vein as the Butterfly Effect.

He also advocates grounding experience in a place. It’s too bad Orion didn’t get to publish this article; it’s exactly their “Nature, culture place” brand (and may the Universe forgive me for using the word “brand” in that sense, it just happens to be appropriate to syntax and semantics).

A grizzly bear stripping fruit from blackberry vines in a thicket is more than a bear stripping fruit from blackberry vines in a thicket. It is a point of entry into a world most of us have turned our backs on in an effort to go somewhere else, believing we’ll be better off just thinking about a grizzly bear stripping fruit from blackberry vines in a thicket.
The moment is an invitation, and the bear’s invitation to participate is offered, without prejudice, to anyone passing by.

I’m not sure I want to participate in such an event, apologies to Lao Tzu and Lopez; I’m not much of a nature person to begin with, and the bear’s a dealbreaker. But I understand the point, the distancing of us from not only nature, but from reality. And again, we have this triad of will, nature, and body that’s been humming around for the past several pieces: the will to experience nature without culture’s safety nets around the body. The willingness to experience.


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Snack Mix Gift Container - Christmas

$ 8.50

Ho, Ho Ho a Snarfing we will go! This adorable 9 oz container will look great under the tree or make a great stocking stuffer. So affordable (and can be personalized at NO additional charge) you can get one for everyone you know!

Available in all flavors as well as gluten free.


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Heather and Mark: a 360 Video of Homelessness In Toronto

January 17, 2016 by socialaction2014

* this is a 360 video and will only play correctly in Chrome or in YouTube app.

Heather has cancer. When she found out she started to use drugs and quickly became addicted to crack cocaine. Soon afterwards she lost her children and the apartment they were living in. Heather currently is in a rehab program and has some sobriety, but it is really hard to stay sober while experiencing homelessness.

Mark is 39 and has lived on the streets off and on since he was 10 years-old. He is disabled and can’t work. While we were talking I could see he was shaking from the cold. No one should be living outside, especially in cold weather.

Together they panhandle to get a hotel room each night. But not for them. Heather will do whatever it takes to get her dog “Lucky” inside.

Heather shares about criminalization, which is growing in U.S. and Canada. She explains how they get tickets for being homelessness and do not have the money to pay the fines.

Ironically few years ago I met Billy just a few blocks away who shared a similar story http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/2011/0…

One thought on “Heather and Mark: a 360 Video of Homelessness In Toronto

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Archive for October 15th, 2014

October 15, 2014, by Lisa Bryant of VOANews

Europe’s largest economy, Germany, slashed its growth forecast and France faces growing calls to cut spending, amid fears Europe may sink back into recession. EU finance ministers are calling for […]

Funding woes delay new Chernobyl cover

October 15, 2014, by Deutsche Welle

“There’s no precedent for this anywhere in the world,” Jochen Flasbarth said. “Of course there is uncertainty.” The Germ ...

Experts divided over whether sanctions against Russia are working

October 15, 2014, by VOANews

After several rounds of international sanctions against Russia for its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in March and support of pro-Russian ...

World football officials: Albania-Serbia violence ‘inexcusable’

October 15, 2014, by VOANews

The head of European soccer’s governing body has strongly condemned the violence that erupted during Tuesday night’s Albania-Serbia qualif ...

  • Putin, Poroshenko to meet in Milan in bid to find peace
    October 15, 2014, by The Kyiv Post

    At the Asia-Europe summit in Milan on October 16 and 17, Ukrainian President Perto Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected to discuss enforcing the September 5 Minsk cease-fire agreement, […]

  • Bulgaria sacks honorary consul in Ukraine
    October 15, 2014, by The Sofia Globe staff

    Bulgaria’s caretaker Cabinet has decided to relieve of duty the country’s honorary consul in Ukraine, Ivan Avramov, the government’s media service said on October 15. Avramov is a Ukrainian citizen […]


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The Amendments: Nineteen

The Nineteenth Amendment rectifies a wrong in earlier voting qualifications.  It has one mission, and that is to give women the right to vote:

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

There’s not alot of commentary to make on this amendment, given that its pretty straightforward and only has one clause in it (Well, two but the second is pretty standard in Amendments as it gives Congress the power to enforce the amendment).

This amendment was first introduced in 1878, but only passed by congress in 1919.  It was ratified in only 13 months.  There were lawsuits claiming that the amendment usurped states rights during the early years, but since enough states ratified the amendment, they were shot down. (Leser Vs. Garnett WIKI).

Interestingly enough, there were some states, particularly newer states to the union, that already had some sort of voting laws in place to allow women to vote prior to this amendment.  New Jersey actually allowed it from the start, but revoked in 1807.  Many of the original states did not offer any voting rights to women till after this amendment.

2 thoughts on “The Amendments: Nineteen

  1. Pingback: New Series: The Articles of the Constitution | Sokorra’s Blog

  2. Pingback: The Amendments: An Intro | Sokorra’s Blog

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– Amen

“The Lord has set his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over everything” (Psalm 103:19)

“You have this faith and love because of your hope, and what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven. You learned about this hope when you heard the message about the truth, the Good News that was told to you” (Colossians 1:5-6)

“People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do, you will be blessed. Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12)

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Customers Reviews

Garden shed biuld by Ron and Ben Thanks again for all your assistance. We really love how the house turned out and had a lot of fun with the entire project. It was not hard to put it together and you didn't have to be an engineer to do it. The instructions are good, illustrations clear and all the pieces and parts arrived safely. Like you said, when it was delivered it took about 30-45 minutes for my son and I to unload it by hand into the garage (which wasn't a big deal). The next day I went through piece by piece, identifying and consolidating all the parts. This was a major aid in assisting us as we read and worked through the construction steps. We took out to the site, only the pieces we needed each day. The extra boards supplied came in handy, as we did have to swap out 2 that we just couldn't get to fit right.

 Ron and Bev, Colimbia, SC

  Iowa Whales Shed I love this shed, it looks fantastic. I'm glad that you have assembled. I'm using it as my little cabin next to the lake. A lot of people coming and first they are asking what's it? Then they are telling how nice it looks and asking again how I'm always getting this stuff.

Erin, Goose lake, IA

  Garden shed in Maine First, let me say how impressed I am with our 12' x 12' shed. I purchased this from you in August of 2011 hold all of my family's equipment and belongings at our summer home in Boothbay ME. It was very easy to build, the only tool I needed was a rubber mallet until I finished the roof. The shed sat from Dec of 2011 when I closed the summer home for the season, until June of 2012 and protected my belongings better than I could have dreamed of. The shed is completely water tight, as well as critter tight which is so important as well. This Spring I had the lawn replaced with sod and later in the summer hosted a lawn party, the shed was one of the topics of conversation all night. My neighbors and friends in Maine love the shed, and of course I gave all of them your contact information. I am so happy that I purchased this shed from you, I look forward to many, many years of use from it.

Chris, Boothba,y ME

  We are very satisfied with your product and we will buy another shed soon. Very enjoyable just sit and relax and watch the birds and the flowers grow.

 Siegfrid, Ramona, CA

  Let me say we could not be happier with our solid build shed. We had neighbors from all over coming to look at it as I put it up and finished it. Your help in shipping the product and the instructions online were greatly appreciated.

 Susan, Los Angeles, CA

  I knew I needed a storage shed for tools and lawn and garden equipment, but I felt the barn type structures detracted from our backyard landscape design. As soon as I saw the Bristol model wooden shed, I knew I had the solution to having enough storage space and a very pleasant and functional design. Everyone who sees it is impressed and comments on its unique design. I couldn’t be happier my choice and also the shed’s high quality construction.

Brian, Sonoma, CA

  We use this new Bristol Garden shed as a get away to relax with our Nordic spa. We like it a lot.

 Robert, Elmira, NY

  We absolutely love our shed, which we call my wood shop. Here are a few outside views and some detail shots. They all show the modifications I did: moving the window to a side wall, pulling the lower half of the side walls in to 10 feet across (to meet the city requirements of a max 10x12 ft footprint without a permit!) and adding a sliding cabinet that would not fit inside with the 10 x 12 requirement. With regard to the side walls being pulled in, only the wall with the new window placement needed support from below because the lengthwise integrity is compromised by the window. Notice the triangular supports, the finishing touch of small pieces added to the exterior corners to make both the 10 ft wide walls and the 12 ft wide walls look complete and natural. Enjoy...I sure am.

Dvight, Sant Cruz, CA

  Optima shed kit from SolidBuild We did purchase one of your 10 x 10 sheds last year for our backyard, overall we have been very happy with the purchase. We have a small house in the counrty and needed a guest bedroom, since we are far away from hotels, so we decided to add a cabin to the yard for guests to stay in. After researching several online options, and shopping at the local home improvement stores, we decided to purchase from you, even though it was scary to order blindly online. Our shed arrived pretty quickly, and the big truck blocked the entire roadway to unload, and drew several neighbors out of thier houses to watch; we live in a very small community and any activity is cause for the neighborhood to get together and gawk in the street. Anyhow, I am a 5'1" woman, and I assembled the shed by myself, completely alone, within about 4 or 5 hours. Of course, the shed kit we ordered did not have a roof, so that assemble time did not include roofing, but I still think that is incredible!!!!! I was very impressed, and my husband was even more impressed when he got home from work and saw what I had done.! Our "cabin" sits up off the ground on a platform that we built out of recycled lumber, and for the roof we bought cedar fence boards, and covered those with tar paper and 3 tab shingles; the cedar boards inside look and smell real nice, and were very inexpensive. We painted the outside of the cabin to match the color of our house and garage, and we caulked around the bottom, and also caulked around the door and window. We live in a VERY wet environment. Now when our friends come to stay, we have a wonderful little "cabin" for them to stay in; it has a queen size bed inside, and we have stocked it with board games and books. We did not run eletricity to it; so for lighting we use battery powered camp lanterns, and for heat in winter - you just have to snuggle! It allows us and our guests to have some privacy, even when they are staying for several days, and they can bring a pet if they want. We even built an outhouse, so it has its own restroom!

Larisa, Westfir, OR


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Summer in the City*

A model of the pier A stick of Brighton rock A bargain from Primark A genuine linen frock… Chips on the seafront While seagulls parade -Don’t look now: Be very afraid… Those beady eyes and polished beaks Surveying the humans, those sideshow freaks Walking along like Kings of the Prom Without so much as a […]

Good Old Sussex By The Sea*

The Palace Pier is back in town! Grab your beach gear! Come on down!! -Not forgetting your brolly and mac: It’s good to anticipate a weather attack Typical of British holiday resorts, Where Kiss-Me-Quick hats can still be sought But brollies and macs are much more the ticket For those imbued with British holiday spirit, […]

Because You’re Worth-ing

Dear Worthing, We were close friends for so many years: I grew to love your quirkiness, your foibles and your fears. So believe me when I say I’m speaking from the heart -a place of real caring- But I don’t know where to start… Perhaps, to begin with, your need for some attention, Though please […]


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T Will Survive!*

At first, she was stalwart, took the Leavers’ side Kept thinking she and hers could live sans Europe by their side She spent so many words trying hard to persuade Tory politicians Along with various aids. And now she’d vexed, like Humpty Dumpty Faltering at the helm like some nautical numpty She should have listened […]

Track & Field*

I’m feeling slightly overwrought By serial footage of competitive sport… As if the football season Was not sufficient reason For sitting on the sofa, glued to the screen Wondering what might happen And then, what might’ve been; Not really understanding the draw, Much less, the business of keeping score Until I caught crossed paths with […]

League Division *

Every since I was a young girl I watched lads chase the ball From playground to park to stadium and even the church hall(!)¹ My father tried to interest me, my brother having failed To raise his enthusiasm for this game of Alpha Males. (That said, he followed suit with a love of ballroom dancing, […]

Match Day*

Mothers, don’t let your babies Grow up to be cowboys,* Whatever incarnation that entails. From guys riding rough-shod on ranges To the Suits doing door-to-door sales. Don’t let them grow up to be idle, either- The kind with Opinions That sit, drink and mither… With political vows They proudly espouse With voices triumphant, A little […]

Damp Squib…

Remember, Remember, The Fifth Of November Gunpowder, Treason And Plot! The setting of fire to anything Is possibly best forgot… Recalling Sixties safety adds, Their message vivid learning, With images of kids and pets All victims of burning. I never quite transcended This poignant, scarring presage, Leaving me with cowardice Emblazoned as a message. So, […]

For Sophie (Pride Brighton/2015)

If David and Goliath Were Davina and Gwyneth What kind of story Might have beginneth? How many tales can you recall Where women and girls Get to have it all…?- Where female people truly reveal Uncompromising leadership appeal, The kind of things in fairy tales Unquestionably attributed to the males? Don’t get me wrong, guys, […]


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Bhakti Expressions

H S Shivprakash is a brilliant poet who writes in Kannada. He has been a from: wikipremier poet and dramatist in Kannada for decades running. A poet of unique voice, he beats no trodden path, or perhaps he retraces the lost paths. Persistent in his search for alternative traditions to the hegemonic ones, Shivprakash has not hesitated to turn against the mainstream literary practices. Serving as a professor at JNU, Delhi, Shivprakash has also edited Indian Literature for some time. While he has a special liking for the vacana tradition, he has taken to explore the Sufi, bhakti, and other diverse mystic traditions in both life and letters. Shivprakash’s poems are not attempts to retrieve the bhakti form of writing poetry but that of bhakti spirit. More often Shivprakash’s poems explore the ‘narratives’ of the bhakti, sufi and other mystic personalities. Here again, he usually wanders far into the untrodden ways to steer away from the hegemonic fields. His poetry is a poetic rendering of the history of marginal forms of life.

Here is an excerpt from his article on Bhakti traditions “Transmutations of Desire and Power in Bhakti Expressions”.

One of the challenges associated with viewing India , as unified literary space is to trace continuities between creative practices in far-flung times and spaces of the many-tongued subcontinent. In this context, the study of various Bhakti movements assumes great significance for the simple reason that, as pointed out by Manager Pandey, Bhakti is the first and greatest pan-Indian literary and cultural movement across languages and regional barriers which altered cultures of people at large. The socio-historical and at times even the philosophical aspects of this pan-Indian movement have received sufficient scholarly and critical attention; at the same time, the literary and aesthetic dimensions of the movement have not yet received the attention they deserve. Because Bhakti mode of expressions dominated Indian creative psyche for well over a millennium, the study of patterns of continuities and divergences of the enormous body of literary and aesthetic practices relating to Bhakti can go a long way in helping us understand India as a common literary and cultural space.

A judicious mixture of synchronic and diachronic approaches is necessary to arrive at a comprehensive view of the achievements of Bhakti movements.  The obstacles are many, however. As Manager Pandey pointed out again we do not have in India the likes of continental critics of the west – Rene Wedlock or George Steiner, for example – whose scholarship extends over several languages, classical and modern.   This is true of literature on Bhakti, too.  For instance, even an eminent authority like V Subramaniam, who has written the most comprehensive account of Bhakti movement from a comparative perspective, can be accused of lopsidedness. For his superb analysis of Tamil Bhakti in relation to North Indian Bhakti passes silently over Karnataka, the next door neighbour of Tamil Nadu. The Karnataka experiment pioneered the subaltern forms of expressions of urban artisan Bhakti that paved the way for Nirguna Bhakti of North and of Orissa. Neither does he say anything about Sakta Bhakti whose paradigms are considerably different.

Attempts made to synthesize Bhakti in classical Bhakti texts also suffer from shortsighted view. For instance the typology of Bhakti worked out in Narada Bhakti Sutra in the form of nine types of Bhakti, though it relates Bhakti to mundane ways of relating, ignores some forms of labour-centered expressions characteristic of artisan Bhakti.

Such lopsidedness results from a) the enormous volume and bewildering variety of Bhakti expression and (b) our own limited familiarity with this vast material.

More here.

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Well, let’s back up to Thursday and the Paolo Nutini concert:

Disappointed that he played so many songs from his new album because I love the old stuff so much!! I suppose that’s gonna happen with so many years in between releases :(. He did makeup for it with 2 awesome encores!

Sunday afternoon walk with the pup:

Summer makes me so happy.  Enjoy your week :).


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Snapper fishing bites with super-short season

Salt Water Fishing

There’s a new record in the fishing world – but this is not an advantage; nor is it a bragging rights moment that makes individuals delighted in a high-five sort of way.

This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) gets no such love from private recreational anglers– the folks who may be getting hooked by the shortest ever federal red snapper season, which ranges from– don’t blink– June 1 through June 3.

Three days. Really? That’s simply seventy-two hours. Or 4,320 minutes.

To frame this, the overall recreational fishing sector consists of private individuals and for-hire vessels (charter boats). The latter group gets a 49-day season (June 1 through July 19). The commercial sector– an extremely contentious topic we’ll save for later– operates on “catch shares”; essentially, the privatization of a public resource.

Most who fish the Gulf– and actually see what’s out there– think there’s ample snapper to validate longer leisure seasons. Significantly tighter harvest constraints of shorter seasons and the two-fish per individual daily bag limitation (minimum 16 inches) have, no doubt, relieved the pressure given that the types was declared over-fished in the late 1980’s. However, the feds specify that 2016 saw the total leisure quota gone beyond by 129,906 pounds, with the private angling part exceeding its 57.7 percent share of the leisure pie.

Adjusting for these 2016 overages lead to the shortened personal recreational season. Notably, longer red snapper seasons (67-365 days) within the Gulf borders, which extend out 9 nautical miles from land and catches in state and federal waters are counted against the overall recreational fishing quota.

In accordance with NOAA, private anglers are expected to gather almost 81 percent of the private angling quota during these state seasons. With the federal management of Gulf red snapper bogged down in claims of flawed data collection and doubtful science, public outrage is nothing new.

Many leisure anglers believe that individual states can do a better task of handling red snapper in federal waters out to 200 nautical miles. That image stays unsure, but citizens can voice their opinions regarding the present state of management through an automatic system established through Keep America Fishing (a branch of the American Sportfishing Association).

The system provides a standardized letter to lawmakers in assistance of a just recently introduced expense that resolves much of the most important obstacles dealing with saltwater leisure anglers in federal waters. For information on the history and present state of Gulf red snapper management, go to

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Blog Archives

Just Say No Politely

Hello everyone. I just joined an online community forum website to get connected with other moms. Today I was solicited by another mom for a tarot card reading and to join her group. My first thought was just to ignore it, but of course Holy Spirit told me to just say no and to do it politely. I’m currently taking an apologetics course, which is all about defending the Gospel of Jesus Christ so this little “surprise” is right on time. God gave me the following tips to include in my response and I hope you will use them as well as you turn people down politely.

1) Ask Holy Spirit for the words to say or type.

2) Thank them for contacting you.

3) Try to connect with them somehow and show your understanding.

4) Give them scripture to back up your objection.

5) Do not condemn or judge them at all.

6) Be honest and don’t sugarcoat the Word because Hell is real.

7) Show them godly love and tell them God loves them.

8) PROOFREAD!!!!  Always proofread what you type. We don’t know if they will accept or reject our message. I’d rather be criticized for my faith in Jesus, than in my grammatical skills.

So are you curious as to how I responded? Well continue reading. I pray this post will bless you real good. Be blessed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Good morning

Thank you for the invite. That was so kind of you to think of me. I have a prophetic gift from the Most High God so I understand your appreciation for the spiritual and things that have yet to come to pass. However, I do not engage in practices of divination or sorcery, omen interpretations, witchcraft of any kind, spell castings, tarot, palm and any other kind of reading, nor do I seek mediums, spiritists or those who consult the dead. By participating in these activities, we show that it is more important to know our future apart from God, than getting to know God, who is our Alpha and Omega. He knows the beginning and the end. He holds the very future in the palms of His hands. He knows your heart’s desires and the fears you harbor and try to hide from everyone else. He even knows you better than you know yourself. He knows you inside and out. He even knows the number of hairs that are upon your head. He knows everything about you and wants you to know what’s in His heart, which comes by having a personal relationship with Him, which comes only by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. God loves you so much that He sent His one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

The following words I say are out of love and not to condemn you . . . If you continue to send invitations and engage in divination, it will lead to your death and destruction. It is not my heart’s desire that you should perish, but that you come to the knowledge of the Truth. Only God knows the future and I hope to see you one day in mine. I would rather know the One in whose hands my future is secure, than to be anxious in having to know what’s going about to happen. Besides, that takes all the fun out of living. If we are so focused on our future, how can we expect to appreciate and be thankful for today, the present, which is a gift from God. That’s something to consider. Thank you again.

Crystal Awkward


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Djibouti By andrew hornback

The geological theme of location is the exact or relative point of to where it is. The relative location is next to Eritrea. The capital of Djibouti is Djibouti City and the exact location is 11.5721° N, 43.1456° E.

Djibouti City
Djibouti City
Djibouti City
Djibouti City

The continent that Djibouti is located on is Africa.

African aerial picture

”Djibouti is, in essence, a vast desert wasteland. From the narrow coastal plain, the land rises in the north to a small series of mountains. Central and south Djibouti is covered by a stony desert and scattered volcanic plateaus crisscrossed by deep, time-worn troughs, some with shallow salt water lakes.” It includes islands, wadis, and volcanoes such as doumeira islands, we'ima wadis, and the ardoukoba volcano.

Climate: Djibouti climate is hot all year and is about 29 degrees Celsius in the day. Which is a tropical desert climate, but it becomes semi desert in the south central highlands.

Tropical desert

The countries that border Djibouti are Eritrea to the north, Somalia to the east and Ethiopia to the south.

This is Ethiopia one of the bordering countries of Djibouti

One of the major bodies of water that is found in Djibouti is called lake Assal.

Lake assal

PLACE - physical and human differences.

Salt,Perlite,Gypsum,Limestone,Gold,Granite,Pumice, and Petroleum are some of the natural resources found in Djibouti.

Afar people, Issa, gadabuursi, dur, isaaqi, and djiboutians are some of the cultures in Djibouti.

Afar person

The religions of djibouti includes Muslim, the Sunni branch of Islam, and orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity.

New Years, Labor Day, Christmas, and Independence Day are fixed holidays.

New year
Independence day

Djibouti government is a semi-presidential republic.

Currency: Djiboutian franc

GDP per capita: 1,668.34 USD (2013) World Bank

GNI per capita: 2,180 PPP dollars (2005) World Bank

GDP growth rate: 5.0% annual change (2013) World Bank

Internet users: 9.5% of the population (2013) World Bank -from google

The party system and parliament are dominated by the conservative People's Rally for Progress.

Djibouti hosts the only enduring U.S. military presence in Africa. -

Human environment interaction is the relationship between people and their environment.

About 23000 tons of assorted vegetables are produced by Djibouti like tomatoes

There is a lot of travel helper jobs there like translators ,but also have safety jobs like fire fighter, or government officials

Fire fighter

The Djibouti francolin and the Beira are two endangered species of Djibouti, they are endangered because their home is in poor condition

Deforestation, desertification, water pollution are some of the problems Djibouti faces and their solution is that they forgot to care.

Region is the part of the world you live in.

"This nine year education is now compulsory. In order to enter into the secondary educational system of three years, a Certificate of Fundamental Education is required." This is the education in Djibouti.

Building school
Building school
Building school

872932 is the population and the population density is 38.30.

The area of Djibouti is 8,958 mi².

The capita GDP of Djibouti is 1,668.34 USD.

The life expectancy for males is 61.8 and for females it's 65.3.

The countries literary rate is 67.9%, 78% for males, and 58.4% for females.

The climate region is dessert.

Movement is the transfer of people and information.

Djibouti's exports are coffee, salt, hides, dried beans, cereals, other agricultural products, chalk, and wax. Their imports are from France.

"The Djibouti flag was officially adopted on June 27, 1977, after gaining its independence from France. Blue is symbolic of the Issa people, green the Afar people, and the red star in the white triangle represents unity." -from

Flag of djibouti

The people of Djibouti got their independence by following the lead of the rest of Africa."France, which had colonized the country, had named it French Somaliland. On 27 June 1977, Djibouti gained independence from France. At the time, it was the last of France's colonies in Africa. The country changed its name to Djibouti, after its biggest city, and it became known as the Republic of Djibouti."-

Djibouti has technology like computers and broadband for education.

Broadband speed settings

The popular mode of transportation in Djibouti is too go to yoboki for the easiest of transportation is the bus.

In current news Djibouti has a Chinese naval base near it now and DP world wins case over Djibouti over bribe.

naval base
naval base
debate about base
naval base

Djibouti is a great place to visit if you want to see a beautiful site then go to the horn and if you want desserts go everywhere else and getting hot then go to the lake Assal.

Beautiful site

A life in a high schooler in Djibouti is going homeschool or going to a French school Djibouti itself grade only goes for 9 years and then stops so you would stay home and learn or go to a French school learn and after that you would eat learn and leave or stay home.

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4 rules for “thinking big” when creating a mobile experience

by on May 28, 2013

In the digital age, a brand’s marketing strategy cannot be separated from the tools they use to communicate with their consumers.  These tools are social channels such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, as well as their branded mobile app.  When designing marketing campaigns, brands need to think about how this digital medium shapes the way they communicate.  Two-way conversations between brands and consumers are becoming increasingly more important than top-down conversations from brands.

Instead, brands need to think holistically about how their app opens up new ways to communicate with their customers. Here are the top four rules when creating a mobile experience:

1. Create meaningful experiences

Have you ever used an app that has a sleek, delightful user experience?  How has that experience affected how you feel about the brand that created that app?  Simply making an app usable isn’t enough; it’s a basic requirement for a compelling user experience.  Instead, brands need to think about the bigger picture and how this digital experience will change how their users feel about them.

2. Show the features benefits

Your users want to know whey they need to use their app, not what the brand gets out of their fans engaging with their product.  What does the product enable them to do?  Does your app have an interactive element that’s fun for users to engage with or interesting content that they might want to share?  Understand the primary reason that your audience wants to engage with and craft experiences to maximize user engagement and interest.

3.  Give them a reason to engage

As with other social media channels, brands cannot force people to use their app.  In fact, even encouraging them to use to app and share content may be detrimental to engagement.  The mobile experience has to be something that your users enjoy using, sharing with friends, and, most importantly, returning to.

4.  Focus on goals not numbers

Before designing your digital campaign, think about what you want the end goal of the product to be.  Do you want to get feedback from a core group of fans? Increase engagement through mobile by targeting a larger audience segment? Or, maybe you want to entertain your customers through interactive digital experiences that are designed to build engagement and long-term loyalty.  Most brands focus on metrics before they think about qualitative measurements like customer loyalty and engagement.

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Last week we started learning new music at The Special Gathering Vero and Melbourne choirs.   I am the director of three of the six choirs at Special Gathering, a ministry within the intellectual disability community.  Our choirs sing in local churches and during our chapel services.  Our purpose in traveling to other congregations is to educate the church to the spiritual needs of people who are mentally challenged.

Trying to keep the choirs more interested in newer music, I often let them choose the new songs.  Because our members memorize the music, it takes a bit longer to teach them the words and melody.  Therefore I begin about three or four months before they will preform the songs.  This new music contains the songs we’ll be singing in the summer and fall.

During the time we were going over the new selections, Anna kept wandering away in her mind.  Lucy and Nancy were nodding off.  Only Sheila was awake and perky during the half hour that we were rehearsing the new numbers.  After we had sung the new pieces once, maybe twice, we jumped into the older music that we knew.  Immediately, Anna was centered. Lucy and Nancy woke up with smiles.  Their grins returned and they were laughing and happy to sing our older melodic friends.

When I went back to college as an adult, I was taught something that I had not previously learned at school.  One professor lectured, “We all learn better in bits and pieces.  A few minutes here and there; and we will absorb new information better than sitting down and cramming in one long stretch.”  As a child, I didn’t make excellent grades.  Therefore, I wasn’t considered a good student; but during those years, I did learn how to learn.  In reality I wasn’t memorizing facts; but I was learning the essence of learning.

Each afternoon, I came home from school and did my written work while watching TV.  When I was studying for tests, however, I did that while washing dishes or taking a shower.  I was absorbing bits and pieces.  In addition, because I was a more tactical learner, I would better able to associate and assimilate the facts I needed while doing another task.  Sitting in a quiet room armed with only bare facts accomplished nothing except to pile unneeded stress on me.

If you are wanting to learn, it is important to take it easy.  Take the time needed.  The Bible tells us that we learn about God’s ways “line upon line, precept upon precept.”  Turns out that all of us who learn, learn best the way God prescribed.  It is interesting that Isaiah gave us this valuable information more than 2,400 years ago.


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Tag Archives: US Politics

White House Reveals Details on Military and Wall Ahead of Budget Proposal

The White House discharged a few subtle elements of two of the bigger parts of the 2018 spending it will send to Congress on Tuesday. Cash it needs to spend on the military and a southern fringe divider will be a piece of a list of things to get that will fill in as the opening offered in arrangements over subsidizing the administration one year from now.

As Mr. Trump picked up amid a month ago’s transactions for subsidizing the administration through the 2017 financial year, the White House regularly does not get its direction when managing Congress, especially when votes from Democrats are required. Congressional spending boards of trustees are relied upon to make their own particular spending recommendations in June, and numerous Republicans have as of now flagged that the draconian cuts Mr. Trump needs to make to household projects are nonstarters.

Mr. Trump will get the chance to put more particular numbers on some of his huge guarantees in the financial backing discharged one week from now. However, the organization offered some new insights about how Mr. Trump needs to approach supporting the military and building the divider that he has guaranteed to develop along the fringe with Mexico. Senior authorities of the Office of Management and Budget offered a review of where a portion of the cash the president is asking for would go.

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Eldrazi Taxes by mikebrav on MtGO

Creatures (24)
4 Eldrazi Displacer
2 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Reality Smasher
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
4 Thought-Knot Seer

Non-Creature Spells (11)
1 Batterskull
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Mox Diamond
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Umezawa’s Jitte

Lands (25)
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Cavern of Souls
4 Eldrazi Temple
3 Karakas
1 Mishra’s Factory
5 Plains
4 Wasteland

Sideboard (15)
1 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Disenchant
1 Dismember
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Path to Exile
1 Ratchet Bomb
4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Thorn of Amethyst

Death & Taxes has been a very powerful and popular deck in Legacy for quite some time. The combination of taxing creatures and mana denial has seen it have good game against most of the format. Additionally, as new cards are printed, the deck gets stronger and stronger. The deck we’re featuring today takes the deck in a slightly different direction, taking inspiration from a Modern deck that incorporates Eldrazi into this strategy.

Much of the traditional Death & Taxes deck is still found here. Thalia, Guardian of Thraben represents a major issue for many decks in the format, and has solid applications even in matchups where it doesn’t shut the opponent down. Thalia, Heretic Cathar is seeing more and more play as the format turns into a midrange battle, as it’s excellent at keeping this deck on the front foot and delaying the opponent’s board progress. Stoneforge Mystic remains as a valuable member of this deck, searching out equipment that can take over the game on their own. In this deck, these equipment are Batterskull, Umezawa’s Jitte, and Sword of Fire and Ice.

To separate this deck from the more traditional Death & Taxes lists, this deck plays a powerful Eldrazi package that helps this deck be card advantageous and tricky to beat. Thought-Knot Seer has already proven its power in the format, stripping the opponent of their best card while adding a sizable body to the board. Reality Smasher aids this deck’s beatdown game plan, posing tricky questions to opponents that want to block or remove it. Lastly, Eldrazi Displacer helps this deck be card advantageous, as it has several impactful creatures that it can blink for value.

In Legacy, fair decks that don’t have counter spells or discard spells are more or less forced into playing other disruption, and that’s certainly true of this deck. Phyrexian Revoker would otherwise not be found in decks like these, but being able to shut down some matchups makes it a difficult to cut card. Chalice of the Void, on the other hand, is a card this deck is very excited to play, as it can easily produce two mana on turn 1, through the two-mana lands or Mox Diamond. A Chalice on 1 can shut down some decks in the format completely, and severely limits the power of others.

Here are the changes I would make going forward:

-1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar

+1 Phyrexian Revoker

-1 Phyrexian Revoker

-1 Path to Exile

+2 Thorn of Amethyst

This is day 341 of Spellsnare.com’s 2017 Deck of the Day column, where each day we’ll feature a different Standard, Modern, or Legacy deck that caught our eye. You can read day 340 here, where we featured a Standard deck that aims to add aggression to Temur.

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Dispatches from the wilds of Proseambique – Scale

People who imagine immortality is boring suffer from a lack of perspective. Oh, sure, things that are once-in-a-lifetime for most people become routine; you see Halley’s comet so many times that eventually you don’t even bother looking up; you love every newborn son and daughter from the moment they’re in your arms, but you long ago gave up trying to remember their name; and your soul-mates become a long succession of faces slowly fading in the photo-album of your memories – but these are little things. Things that do not matter. Minor amusements – the domain of mortals.

It took ten-thousand years to turn desert lynxes into something you could share space with on your couch; ten-thousand years to turn wolves into chihuahuas. This is the kind of time you have to play with. So you breed, and refine, and breed, and refine with all the patience of the undying. You do the work of two hundred men, one after another other, and feel the satisfaction of two hundred lives well spent.

Until finally your miniature elephant curls up to sleep in your lap while your pocket-bear chews quietly on one of your socks, under the coffee table where she thinks you can’t see her.

Who could ever think that boring?

Published in: on July 28, 2011 at 11:59 pm  Leave a Comment
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Dispatches from the wilds of Proseambique – The Axe

The doctor gives it to him straight.
“Your heart’s shot. You’ll be lucky to get another month out of it.”
This is no great problem, of course. Replacing a heart is a relatively straight-forward affair. They can grow a new one for him from some DNA taken from a skin sample in just a few days. Robotically-assisted surgery has a higher than 99% success rate. The thing is, though, it’s really not worth it.
“Sure, we can replace your heart… but the rest of you… well, you’re getting on now. We put a new heart in you and you’ll just be back in a year for a new set of kidneys, or new eyes, or… it’ll just be one thing after another. It really makes a lot more sense to transfer you into a new body, fresh grown. No more aching knees or weak eyes. We can even iron out this genetic heart defect. In the long run, it’s a far better course of action.”
He looks down at his hands, the lines of 80 years etched into them. These hands that held his son for the first time. He raises them to his lips, these lips that his wife kissed for the last time. He remembers debating the Grandfather’s Axe with her back in their university days, the thought brings a lump to his throat. Immortality, he’s learnt, is more letting go than hanging on.

Published in: on July 3, 2011 at 1:48 am  Comments (2)
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Ta Da! Here It Is...

Spectacularly trivial.

500th Post!!

Nothing important to anyone, not even me, but it's an event of sorts, and I managed to be aware of it. So now it's duly noted, and whatever, right? **grins**

On with your day now.

( 4 comments — Leave a comment )
Jun. 1st, 2004 08:48 am (UTC)
It just happens so fast. Our baby's all grown up. How did this happen.

*throws confetti*
Jun. 1st, 2004 08:49 am (UTC)
Whoo hoo!
Jun. 1st, 2004 09:15 am (UTC)
I love round number thingummies like this! Congratulations :;hugs::
Jun. 1st, 2004 01:06 pm (UTC)
Congratulations on the milestone!!!
( 4 comments — Leave a comment )


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Repost Chapter 6 - What Dreams May Bring

Chapter Six of What Dreams May Bring. Another year has gone by. Why not stop in and see what's going on with our little family and their friends?

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January 2009 – What’s A Word Means Glowing?

Oh, what a year this promises to be. Buffy personifies that bugaboo word of Spike’s… effulgent. She positively glows at three months pregnant. Whatever magic Molly and Willa worked that allowed this second miracle must have had an added little kick, because the Bennetts aren’t the only family expecting. Molly is due a month after Buffy.

Xander and Spike walk around like a pair of preening peacocks, both thrilled at the prospect of becoming new parents. Spike revels in every minute change in his wife’s body while Xander looks forward to the birth of his first child.

More children rock!

February 2009 – Cookie Dough

Willa and Mama have a new favorite activity… baking cookies! They enjoy the time together, mother and daughter, and Buffy has a maddening yen for the raw dough. Doesn’t matter what kind: sugar cookies, chocolate chip, or oatmeal raisin – it’s the unbaked dough she craves. She doesn’t touch the finished product. That she leaves for Papa and Willa. Spike never objects.

There’s nothing quite like a house that smells of home-baked cookies. They now have a steady stream of after school play-dates from Willa’s pre-school friends. It’s milk and cookies taken to a whole new level.

Domestic Buffy. Who knew?

March 2009 – A Walk In The Park

Molly and Buffy have a designated girls’ day out once a week. When the girls are in school and the husbands are otherwise occupied, they wile away their days taking long walks at the zoo and the botanical gardens. Something about being pregnant makes them want to seek out life in nature.

The zoos are fecund with life as Spring gets underway. New babies are being born daily and Buffy brings her camera to capture the moments. She thinks it will make a lovely children’s book.

It’s a lovely way to spend the day. Both women are healthy and active.

April 2009 – What’s Up With That?

Buffy has a rare day home alone. Spike is at pre-school with Willa, spending the day reading the children’s favorite books. Father Goose is always a big hit.

When Spike brings their daughter home, Willa runs straight to her room after kissing her Mama hello. Looking to her husband for an explanation, she can see he’s worried.

“I was readin’ to some of the tots when the window broke across the room. One of the little kids was under it an’ I couldn’t get there in time because of the sunlight.”

“Was the child hurt badly?”

“Willa pulled him away.”

“She did a good thing, Spike. Why are you so upset?”

“Mite was in my lap when the glass shattered. She made it to the other side of the room before the glass fell.”

“It could be a fluke. A one off adrenaline burst kind of thingy,” offered Buffy. “Were the other kids upset? Or the parents?”

“Only one upset was the mite. Said her tummy hurt from runnin’ so fast an’ it made her feel funny. Now she won’t talk.” He shook his head. “Gonna have to keep a close eye on the girl… see if anythin’ else happens.”

May 2009 – To Bitch, Or Not To Bitch

It’s back to yelling and screaming but this time Willa isn’t worried. Mama explains about mood swings and Papa assures her that it will pass. Mama still loves them both, even when she’s furious.

Grandpa Angel is over for a visit; something he’s taken to doing once a week. The room goes silent when he makes mention of how cute Buffy looks with her rounded little belly. Spike actually quails and Willa almost pulls him over in her attempts to get him out of the room.

Angel swears he won’t step foot in that house again until Buffy has delivered.

Papa spoils his wife until she’s ready to scream, but her eyes say she understands. He’s trying to make up for not being there when she was carrying Willa.

Spike joins Buffy on the bed after some whispered words in the mite’s ear. She runs into her room and comes back bearing a badly wrapped gift. “Made it and wrapped it all by myself,” she states proudly.

Carefully removing the hand-colored paper, Buffy holds the oddly shaped piece of clay in her hands. “What’s this, my sweet girl?” she asks.

“It’s my heart, Mama. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you.”

Seven months pregnant and Buffy’s beginning to resemble a weeble. She’s packed on weight around her hips and belly and swears she’ll bounce back up if she falls on her ass. Spike just looks at her with adoration in his eyes.

Just before Willa’s due home from school, Spike runs to the bathroom at the sound of his wife’s hysterical screaming. “What’s the matter, luv? Is it the baby?”

She can’t speak, just points to the bloody crotch of her panties and sobs brokenheartedly.

A quick call to Molly to make arrangements for Willa and they’re off to the hospital.

A sonogram shows a normally developing fetus. The reason for the bleeding is placenta abruptio, a slight detachment of part of the placenta from the uterine wall. Buffy’s obstetrician, Dr. Lecher, isn’t worried.

“Even though it’s scary, the actual amount of bleeding is slight. Bed rest until the bleeding stops is my recommendation.”

They go home a few hours later, shaken and quiet; the possible loss of this child making it all the more precious. A call to the Harris household and Willa’s taken care of for the night.

They sleep spooned together, Spike’s arms protectively wrapped around her belly.

June 2009 – Life Goes On

A few weeks’ bed rest and Buffy’s a new woman. Fat and happy, she revels in every ounce and inch she gains. They finally relax and enjoy the balance of her pregnancy.

She waddles now, her walk ungainly and awkward. Spike has to help her into and out of chairs and they joke constantly about a crane to haul her out of their tub.

Willa promises next time they have a baby, Papa will carry it. Spike has nightmares for a week.

Molly promises not to throw a baby shower. There will be time once the child is born healthy.

July 23, 2009 – A Child Is Born

Three o’clock in the morning and Buffy’s dreaming of floating in a warm bath. Her serenity is shattered when she feels herself being shaken. “What, Spike? Why are you bothering me?” she mumbles, unable to shake the eerie sense of déjà vu.

The answer is much different this time. “Your water broke, pet. Guess our little mite thinks it’s time to make an appearance.” Both are glad Auntie Dawn is staying over for just such an occurrence.

Buffy nervously asks: “Spike, did I ever tell you how long Willa’s birth took?

They make it to the hospital in record time.

It’s either a by-product of being a Slayer, or just Buffy, but she’s fully effaced and ready to deliver within two hours of arriving at the hospital. From the first mild labor pain in the car to the last handrail bending pain on the delivery table, Spike helps his wife focus on her Lamaze breathing.

Buffy’s focal point is a picture of Willa taped on the wall. The contractions don’t hurt any less this time but having her husband at her side makes all the difference.

She huffs and she puffs and she finally gets to push.

It’s a girl!

No sooner is Tara Rose Alexis Bennett born than Buffy is told to push again. The entire room is in shock; from the obstetrician to the parents. More huffing and puffing and Tyler Liam James Bennett joins his sister.

The children are placed in Buffy’s arms for a moment, so Mama and Papa can bond with their new babies.

Sooner than they’re ready to give the children up, they’re taken away to be cleaned, measured and tested. Perfect in every way.

While his wife is cleaned and wheeled to her room, Spike calls home. Willa and Dawn whoop with delight.

When Spike arrives to drive Buffy and the twins home, there’s a brand new mini-van, fully equipped with the latest in car seats for the three children, courtesy of Grandpa Angel. Nothing but the best for his grandchilde’s children.

The house, trees, and hedges are festooned with pink and blue balloons; a large banner proclaiming ‘It’s Twins!’ is taped to the garage.

Family and friends cluster around the car as it pulls into the driveway, anxious for a first glimpse of the little ones. Mama and Papa beam with pride, as Willa scrambles into the van to meet her siblings.

Xander and Molly watch all the fuss and bother taking place with a happiness that matches Spike’s and Buffy’s own. They will never mention it, but each is happy for the parts they played in enabling the conception. Thanks were never a part of their motivation.

The senior Bennetts sit upon the couch like reigning monarchs as their children are passed around. Dawn takes picture after picture to record the momentous occasion.

But the one that will take centerstage on the wall is of Willa sitting on the stuffed red wingchair, one arm wrapped around Tara and one around Tyler.

August 2009 – Another Child Is Born

Two straight weeks of hundred degree plus temperatures have everyone’s tempers stretched to the breaking point. Four o’clock in the afternoon Molly’s water breaks. She calls Xander home from work and they drop Treena off at the Bennetts’ as they head to the hospital.

Ten hours later and there’s no news from the hospital. Buffy places a call to the maternity ward, but since she’s not family they won’t give her any information.

Three hours later, Xander calls with some scary news. The baby is breech and in distress and Molly is headed for an emergency c-section. He’ll call later.

William Giles Harris makes his way into the world on August 28th, 2009, just as the heatwave breaks. As he’s lifted from his mother’s body, he gives a lusty yell, relaxing both parents. The child is whisked away for testing and cleaning, and then placed in an incubator per hospital policy for all c-section babies.

Molly is stitched up with no further complications, and with a final kiss to her brow, Xander goes to make the all important phone call.

There’s dancing and celebrating galore in the Bennett household that morning. Treena wonders why she only has one new sibling.

September 2009 – About Face

It’s been a long, sleepless night. If one baby isn’t squalling, the other is. They’ve been nursed, diapered, and rocked, but nothing seems to appease the little ones. At their wits’ end, Papa places Tara and Tyler in their bassinets, hoping they’ll tire themselves out and fall asleep to the nursery tunes playing nearby.

They awaken several hours later to the sound of utter silence… and no bassinets. Panicking, Spike and Buffy run to Willa’s room. She’s standing in-between the babies, cooing and stroking their arms and legs, and singing to them… in gameface, complete with blue eyes and fangs.

Spike is stunned, and very worried about his wife’s reaction. Buffy walks over to their daughter and scoops her up into her arms, gently tracing her brow ridges and little fangs until she giggles. “Tickles, Mama.”

“This is new, sweetie. How long have you been able to copy Daddy’s gameface?”

“Since the glass broke in school,” she whispered. “Makes the babies stop crying, too.”

Spike ruffled her hair. “Did a good job, mite. They’re asleep, like you should be.”

The babies are wheeled back into the master bedroom, and Willa goes back to bed.

“We’ll talk in the mornin’, bit.”

Buffy sets the intercom for the twins, and goes downstairs with Spike. Since neither of them will be sleeping anytime soon, they head for the kitchen and the solace of hot chocolate.

“Did Willa go into gameface at school, Spike? Were you worried about how I would react?”

“Never saw her do that, but can’t say I didn’t think about it,” he admitted.

“She’s our daughter, baby. If she takes after you, I’m not going to love her any less. After all, I love you.”

Spike thought he couldn’t love her any more than he already did. He was wrong.

October 2009 – The Fall Classic

It’s finally happened. Buffy’s gotten herself hooked into Spike’s sports obsession, and they settle down to watch the World Series games. Who are they rooting for, you might ask? The Yankees, of course. Is there any other team? This year they battle the Chicago Cubs, who haven’t won a Series in so long it’s painful.

The twins babble noisily in their playpen, adding to the cacophony of sounds from the cheering, ranting and clapping fans as play keeps them engrossed. Willa claps loudest when Derek Jeter comes to the plate.

Yankees take the Series, four games to three, of course.

November 2009 – Reach Out and Touch Someone

Will Harris and Willa, Tyler, and Tara Bennett have been keeping their parents on their toes and far too busy for get-togethers. While they mourn the lack of time, the telephone has become their new best friend. Five minute chats take the place of hours long evenings but it’s enough… an oasis in the midst of turmoil.

Angel has resumed his weekly visits. The mites have worked their magic on Grandpa, and the old man has mellowed considerably. His Armani look has given way to faded old jeans and soft t-shirts, however. Even an old vampire can learn new tricks.

Angel brings a gift with him every time he visits; the gift of time off. He relishes his role in his family’s life and is happy to be left alone with the children. Knowing he is providing a respite for their parents as well as himself refreshes his spirit and determination to make the world safe for Christmas and puppies, as Spike once put it.

He tests Willa’s newfound abilities, working with her to control her gameface, which she does with ease. Her strength and speed still come and go, but he enforces her parents’ words. ‘Be proud of yourself.’

On a rare night that finds everyone gathered together, they get a surprise visitor. Willa goes running to the door, shouting “Grandpa Giles!” before the door opens. Perhaps it’s not such a surprise after all, as Mama wonders about their phone bill.

He lays his packages down, the burden of his years lifting at the delighted hugs and kisses from his makeshift family. He dutifully inspects each new child, even if he lingers just the tiniest bit longer on his namesake.

Angel and Giles have long since made their peace, and reap the benefits of letting the past fade away.

December 2009 – Ho, Ho, Ho!

Spike curses silently while pushing the double stroller through the overcrowded mall. He glances over at Willa, holding tightly to Buffy’s hand. Her little face is glowing with the excitement of seeing Santa.

Spike didn’t want to see her disappointment with a skinny, pimple-faced youngster with a pillow stuffed in his pants.

This year’s Santa is a kindly old man, rotund with a real grey beard. Balancing Willa on his knee, and a baby in each arm, he asks: “What do you want for Christmas, little girl?”

She smiles for the picture, then says: “I have everything I want already.”

Mama and Papa gather their munchkins from the sweet old man. Willa can’t help herself and gently tweaks the man’s beard before sliding off of his knee. He winks at her as they wave goodbye. With any luck, the picture will be mailed to them sometime before Christmas.

Exiting the hellish mall, each silently reflects on their daughter’s words as all the madness and commercial nonsense of the holiday fades into the background. They buckle their most precious possessions in their seats.

Truer words were never spoken. Out of the mouths of babes, indeed. I have everything I want already.

( 3 comments — Leave a comment )
(Deleted comment)
Jan. 26th, 2011 02:16 pm (UTC)
It's so nice to see Spike and Buffy get such a nice happy-ever-after kind of story. I like the almost "fairytale" quality of the writing too...like we're being told a legend.
Jan. 26th, 2011 06:24 pm (UTC)
¡Yay! Bumpies for Willa! She will be fierce!
( 3 comments — Leave a comment )