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Tuesday, 28 June 2016

Election 2016: Crackdown on welfare payments cornerstone of Coalition's final budget costings

Extract from ABC News

Updated 26 minutes ago

The Coalition has announced a plan to claw back $2.3 billion in savings - largely by cracking down on welfare payments - as it unveils its final budget costings.

Key points:

  • The Government plans to overhaul checks and balances in the welfare system to recoup just over $2 billion
  • Commonwealth owed about $3.5 billion in welfare debt due to fraud and overpayments
  • Labor sceptical about how much money the Government would be able to claw back
The Government predicts it will save just over $2 billion by intensifying its efforts to identify welfare fraud, and using technology more effectively to ensure people receiving Centrelink payments and pensions are not overpaid.
The Coalition said the savings would allow it to pay for its election promises, and lift its bottom line by just over $1 billion since the budget in May.
Treasurer Scott Morrison said the Commonwealth was owed around $3.5 billion in welfare debt due to fraud and overpayments.

The figures broken down:

  • The Coalition says its election promises over the past eight weeks have cost the budget $1.2b
  • To offset that, it will crack down on welfare, bringing in $2.3b over four years
  • The Treasurer says that means a $1.1b boost to the budget
  • He says Labor will increase the deficit by $16b over four years
"We are not weakening the system, we at strengthening it, so those entitled to the payment and support which are important get that support, but ensuring that the system doesn't have the leakage and the waste and the overpayments or the abuse of the system which at the end of the day cost Australian taxpayers," Mr Morrison said.
He said the Coalition would overhaul the checks and balances in the system and use technology more effectively to recoup the money.
"Our existing integrity measures are successfully identifying and recovering fraud and overpayments, and we will build on these ... I think every Australian would expect the Government to be doing that," he said.
Opposition's Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen said he was sceptical about how much money the Government would be able to claw back.
"Obviously, we would need to know exactly how many people would be affected and how it is different to the $5.7 billion in savings announced since the 2015/16 budget from better compliance," Mr Bowen said.
"This Government has a habit of announcing compliance measures with very significant amounts of money attached to them."
Labor's Finance spokesman Tony Burke said now the Coalition had released its full costings, voters faced a stark choice between the two parties.
"The Government is offering the worst of all worlds in these figures. They have continued deficits with no structural reform," Mr Burke said.
"Both sides of politics hit surplus in the same year. Both sides of politics have deficits across the forward estimates. But only one side of politics - that is Labor - is dealing with the structural deficit.
"Our reforms, year on year, make structural improvements to the budget. Their changes, year on year, see the budget deteriorate structurally."
But Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the Coalition's announcements demonstrated its resolve to bring the budget back to surplus and exercise fiscal discipline.
"Since we came to government we have made more savings to the tune of $10.3 billion and in this costings announcement here today we can again show that the frugal, modest commitments we have made in this campaign are more than paid for by genuine savings in other parts of the budget," Senator Cormann said.
"Unlike the Labor Party, which has been making unfunded spending promises after unfunded spending promises in this campaign, and Labor putting up the size of the deficit, putting the Triple-A credit rating at risk."

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Saturday, November 12, 2011

Project 38: Traveling Woman

This project was completed in May, 2011.

Traveling Woman is a very popular pattern that's been around a while. The designer re-released the pattern with a host of matching patterns and directions for making the shawl in other sizes and yarn weights. I used the free version to make my own, at long last!

It's a nice little shawlette, and the yarn really makes it. It was also a quick knit, taking me only three days to complete.

Pattern: Traveling Woman by Liz Abinante (the free version; there is also a pay version available)

Yarn: Alina Shea Creations Vines in "dancing in the rain", the club yarn from February 2011.

Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) nickel-plated Knit Picks interchangeables.

Rav Page

Mods: I did 3 repeats of Chart A. it's been a while, so not sure if that's a mod or not....

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Project 37: Deathly Hallows Illusion Dishcloth

This project was completed in May, 2011.

This dishcloth was my first try at illusion knitting. Very cool!

Pattern: Deathly Hallows Illusion Cloth by Jenn Bragg

Yarn: Natural color is a Peaches & Creme cone of cotton in Ecru; blue is Lily's Sugar & Cream in cornflower blue. I used 34.4 yards of ecru and 38.4 yards of blue.

Needles: Size 8 (5.0mm) boye aluminum circular needles

Rav Page

Mods: none

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Locals, read this! and WIP Wednesday, November 9, 2011

My Tour de ... tour.... ends tonight, as Stage 4 is ending in a few hours and this is all I have.

Oh well, I stuck it out as long as I could and that was far longer than I expected! And now I'm a sock knitter!!

But, right now, this sock knitter wants to look at lace.

This is a variant of the very popular pattern Ishbel, where the lace is started first thing instead of having a stockinette triangle. The variant is a free supplement to the actual Ishbel pattern, which needs to be purchased to make the shawl. Also,

Meanwhile, I've finished the first bobbin with half of my purple rain batts I started spinning the other day.

Back in August some areas near where I live were hit very hard by flooding from Hurricane Irene. Here in town we were fine, but some of the lower-lying areas of the city near the river were flooded and the nearby Schoharie Valley had historic flooding, destroying homes, farms, and businesses.

This morning I learned about a not-for-profit corporation called Schoharie Recovery, based right in Schoharie and working to match skills, volunteers, and donations with the people who need help.  This weekend there is a fundraising event for Schoharie Recovery from a local spinning guild in conjunction with the Home for the Holidays weekend.  There's more information over here.

As for me, as soon as I got off the phone with the organizer to say I'll be there Sunday for sure and probably part of Saturday too, I started spinning up this corriedale roving so I can donate it to sell.

Every little bit helps, right? Of course I want to help, but sometimes it's hard to figure out how to help. This time it was easy.  Maybe I can get some holiday shopping done too!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Project 36: Dane Shawl

This project was completed in May, 2011.

Another lovely free pattern on Ravelry! This is called Dane Shawl.

It's supposed to be a shallow triangle, based on traditional Danish heart-shaped shawls.  I blocked mine to more of a triangle and less of a heart shape.

I think every comment about this shawl in person has started with the colors.  It's all in the yarn, Plymouth Zino.  It's a sock yarn, but it's a fingering weight single (just one ply) and it just seemed like it really would work well as a triangular shawl.

Pattern: Dane Shawl by Jane Tanner (free)

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Zino in color "8", all 436 yards of it

Needles: Size 6 (4.0mm) nickel-plated Knit Picks Options

Rav Page

Mods: I liked the written bind-off but ran out of yarn with about 3 inches to go. So I tinked back a bit and switched to a very loose regular old knit 1, pass old stitch over new stitch, repeat bind-off. I had enough yarn left from that to weave in as the tail, and that was that.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Monday, Monday

I'll  apologize right now for getting that song stuck in your head...

I've been longing for some spinning wheel time since,  oh,  the last time I used it,  and I finally gave in because I couldn't stand waiting anymore.  My wheel is a Kromski Minstrel, a double drive that I've been using primarily as a single drive because I'm a newish spinner and it helps me not lose control.  So my double drive band snapped a while back and I kept tying it back together a little shorter until it kept splitting to the point where I couldn't get it to work on my largest whorl.  So yesterday I got out the hemp I've had kicking around the craft room for ages and made a new drive band. Then, I got to work!

Fiber is a batt called Purple Rain from Old Sheep Studio on Etsy.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

WIP Wednesday, November 2, 2011

We're up to Stage 4 of the Tour de Sock, and much to my surprise I'm still in it!! This stage's pattern is Technical.

Now, in case it's not obvious from the picture, I need to get back to work while I have two brain cells to clang together. This one is tricky!!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

WIP Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Here's what I've worked on in the past week! Evenstar is the big purple blob (I'm at 61% complete right now, and for full points I need to hit 75% by October 31). The latest Tour de Sock pattern came out today, which is the rainbow and black colorwork sock on top there. And sneaking in just to spice things up, I cast on a Tappan Zee sweater on Sunday for those times when I just need something simple! Like a sweater!! Sigh.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

WIP Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Hey, look, a WIP Wednesday! Well, surprise surprise, I've been continuing to work on socks for the Tour de Sock. The first stage was from October 1st to October 9th and I made it - turned them in on the afternoon of the 9th, putting me in 64th place.

Calable by Regina Satta, Stage 1 Tour de Sock.

I'm thrilled to have survived the first Stage, and since my personal goal is accomplished now I can balance the rest of the sock race with my other crafting deadlines.  Which is why I have knit an entire sock and started the second one since the pattern for Stage 2 was released on Monday evening, of course...

Tuesday morning:

2011-10-11 11.04.25.jpg

This morning:

2011-10-12 08.32.51.jpg

The end of this stage is the 22nd ACK it's actually the 18th!! with plenty of other things I need to do and Rhinebeck between us. We'll see!

Edit: The Stage 2 sock is Phellogen by Glenna C.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Back again...

How can two months fly by so quickly??

A quick rundown of what I've done since my last post:

- I finished two sweaters in July.
- I can no longer close the fiber drawer. This could be because it is stuffed, or because something fell behind it. Or both. Probably both.
- I spent the first 10 days of August hustling to finish two items for the fair that I'd entered when one was nearly finished and the other not begun. I finished everything..
- It paid off, because I won ribbons on all six categories I entered.
- Including the Grand Champion Wool Product.
- Holy crap.
- I made a sample for Bittersweet Woolery to display in her booth at various fiber fests this fall. It was an extremely rewarding experience as I finally got to meet the dye mistress and help her out too.
- September was kicked off in style with a trip to WEBS.
- It also was the beginning of my third term as Headmistress of the HPKCHC.
- Allergies were bad.
- Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival, however, was good!

(click through for notes)

- ...............
- Sorry, got distracted looking at the fiber....
- Anyway, now it's October and the newest superfunawesome thing is that I'm up late and then up early because my kids are trending to different sleep schedules, which means that right now I need more coffee.
- And I joined the Tour de Sock to force myself to be a sock knitter. The competition benefits Doctors Without Borders, and the competition part is to try to stay in the game as there are deadlines for completing six pairs of socks in October and November.  This will effectively double the amount of handknit socks I've made since I started knitting socks in 2004. So far I should make it to Stage 2, but only if I stop talking and get to work!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Project 35: The Golden Snitch

This project was completed in May 2011.

In the HPKCHC this term, Quidditch was split into four quaffle matches between houses in May and later hallows or horcruxes in June and July.  The first quaffle match was to make a golden snitch.

Near instant geeky gratification!

Pattern: The Golden Snitch by Melissa Mall (free pattern)

Yarn: Stitch Nation Full o' Sheep in honeycomb and Red Heart Super Saver in soft white, roughly 15 yards total.

Needles: Boye crochet hook, size G (4 mm)

Mods: None that I can recall!

Monday, July 18, 2011

April Stashdown Report

April was busy - I only finished one project. But I did sell off some stash on Ravelry!

And I got some very pretty stash additions.

Younger Yarn Sexy String in Alice Longbottom 430 yards

Younger Yarn Fiber 100% Punta Wool in Daydream Believer

Younger Yarn Fiber of the Month Club for April 2011 - Superfine merino in "Sidewalk Chalk"

Wollmeise Sockenwolle 80/20 Twin in Pfauenauge (peacock) and Petit Poison No. 5 medium - a "We're Different" grab bag. 1020 yards total

And last but not least, Alina Shea Creations yarn club April 2011 - Yin and Yang base (50merino/50silk) in "A Year Ago".  I only got one skein, but purchased one of the extras she put up for sale in May (so I get to confess about this one twice...) 430 yards

So much yarn, so little time.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Project 34: Lehmus-Huivi

This project was finished in April 2011.

The second leaf shawl component of my Nerd Wars dissertation was the Lehmus-huivi shawl, a pattern that had been translated from the original Finnish.

I'm not sure if this is a pattern modification or a mistake that I corrected, but I kept the three edge stitches on both sides and the band across the top at the bindoff in garter stitch throughout.  I found the chart a little confusing on those points, and garter stitch works!  So that is what I did.  I think it worked.

I gave it sunlight and watered it regularly, and it grew into this!

Pattern: Lehmus-huivi (free pattern available in Finnish and English on the designer's website)

Yarn: Left Coast Yarns Merino/Nylon 80/20 blend in Forbidden Forest, 396 yards of a 400 yard skein

Needles: Size 6 (4.0mm) Knit Picks Options nickle-plated interchangeables

Rav page

Mods: I used fingering weight yarn and larger needles than the pattern indicated for a shawlette. Also, the chart only prints with the Finnish directions, and there is a small error in the chart that is corrected in the English instructions.  If you can get as far as I did in that first swatch, you've got it made.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

March Stashdown Report

Yes, yes I am aware that it is currently July.  I'm catching up here as best I can...

Here's what I finished in March!

2011-03-31 11.42.30.jpgIMG_6380IMG_63862011-03-31 23.57.49.jpg

And the lovely yarn I brought home in March:

This is 440 yards from Kara (dnatheory) who was my upstream swapper for the Staff Swap last term.  She dyed it herself!  Isn't it lovely?

This is Alina Shea Creations Shmerino in Whispers of Spring, the yarn club shipment for March 2011.

And just before month's end, I was given a gift pattern on Ravelry for Cassidy, a cabled sweater in worsted weight.  I wanted to start it for my Spring11 OWL in Herbology, so I needed to find appropriate yarn quickly.  I mentioned in the Stash Knit Down group that I was not finding anything good in the stash and what I was looking for just in case someone had what I needed... and KarinMT (of The Periwinkle Sheep) had just the thing!

Seven skeins of Cascade 220 Superwash, ready to go live at my house.  We met at a grocery store we both frequent and made our swap.

I made some great stuff in March and got some lovely yarn as well, but the best part of March was that it was the first month since I started tracking my yarn yardage in and out in January 2010 that I finally managed to have more yards out than in.  The net decrease was over 1600 yards! I am moving in the right direction!!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

WIP Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Behold, the triumphant return of WIP Wednesday!  Here's a quick look at what I've got going today.

2011-07-13 13.12.14.jpg

A sweater blocking in pieces while I finish the second sleeve! I'm trying to get it finished by this weekend.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Project 32 and 33: More Quidditch Hats!

On the last day of the Winter11 HPKCHC term, I finished up two more charity hats for Quidditch.  This time I pulled out all my wool scraps and worked on making scrappy but fabulous hats.

Errrr.  Well.  They look better in person.

This one used up as many blues and purples as I could coordinate together - lots of my little bits and bobs of dyeing practice over the years:

and this one got pinks and earth tones:

2011-03-31 23.57.49.jpg

To turn them in on time, I was up late and the camera was not cooperating so we got camera phone pictures. But, I managed to make two impressively not ugly in person hats using up roughly 435 yards of yarn that will warm some heads on the other side of the world.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Project 31: Emily Shawl

This project was finished in March 2011.

I love how this shawl came out.  It's an unusual construction, which is how it became part of my Nerd Wars dissertation last spring.  The yarn is a silky, drapey thing that I only regret I do not have more of. It blocked nicely and looks great as a yarn and pattern match.  I almost - almost! - wish I hadn't given it away!

Pattern: Emily Shawl by Mandy Moore, published in Knitscene Winter/Spring 2010

Yarn: Alina Shea Creations Grassy Feet (65% superwash wool, 35% bamboo) in Summer Fun, the June 2010 yarn club offering

Needles:  Size 7 Knit Picks Options nickle-plated interchangeables

Yardage: 324 yards

Rav page

Mods: none

I enlisted the help of then-three-year-old Spike to photograph the back.  He did it well!

Sigh.  I might have to make another one of these.  In addition to being part of my Nerd Wars dissertation, I turned this project in to the HPKCHC for Charms, March 2011.

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The Real Market Inefficiency

Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2017 6:55 am

The Real Market Inefficiency

Postby jackky Fri Oct 13, 2017 3:44 am

Without question, probably the most incredible achievements in baseball within my lifetime was the Braves winning 14 consecutive division titles between 1991 2005. Theres an asterisk, since in 1994 the season ended early using the Braves six games back, but what doesnt count officially doesnt count officially, and its not really like 14 out of 15 is much le s impre sive. Anyhow, another contender is this: since 2008, the Yankees have won the most games in baseball, with 564. The Rays have won the second-most games in baseball, with 550. Over that span, the Yankees have out-spent the Rays by more than 800 million dollars.
Theres been concern within the distinction between the Haves and also the Have-Nots, which problem is alive and well today, using the Dodgers having established themselves like a league elite. When it comes to payroll, baseball is far from a level field, and I po se s a pet theory that over time, as teams get smarter and smarter, the differences between them will get smaller and smaller, and succe s Sammy Watkins Jersey will correlate increasingly more with spending. Lower-budget teams, at this time, need to focus on so-called market inefficiencies. But while its easy to get caught up within the details, probably the greatest market inefficiency of all is spending big bucks generally.
None of you have to be reminded that there is a relationship between team payroll and team succe s. Obviously there is, and there has been, there presumably always is going to be. Money enables you to do things other teams cant afford, good things, which is the key reason why many people are concerned about the current condition of payroll imbalance. But if you grant the relationship, the key question asks of their strength. A strongly positive relationship suggests an i sue. A weakly positive relationship suggests that things are type of okay.
I grabbed team data from 2004-2013, covering the entirety from the last decade. I collected winning percentages, and that i collected Opening Day payrolls. For each season, I examined the connection, and the important bits are in the table below. Were taking a look at winning percentage vs. money spent.
YearR^2Slope$m/Win20040.290.00144.520050.230.00096.520060.290.00106.020070.250.00087.420080.100.000610.620090.230.00106.220100.140.00079.420110.170.00078.820120.040.000415.720130.110.000511.5The average from the second column is 0.18. The average slope is 0.0008, meaning typically, an additional million was worth an extra 0.0008 of winning percentage. The final column is just the average cost, in millions, of a single extra win. Its another Ryan Davis Jersey indicator from the flimsine s from the relationship. Mainly thanks to the Rays and the As and, recently, the Pirates, money is a le s significant factor than a single might otherwise expect. It might seem like its a little sample being skewed by a number of exceptions, however, those teams are actively proving whats greatly po sible Logan Thomas Jersey .
Spending more helps more than it hurts. It will help under it ought to, were everyone and everything behaving optimally. And that could be the very i sue. If you think about this within the basic form po sible, players are relatively cheap through their first six or seven many years of team control. When they debut within their early 20s, that point runs out somewhere in the vicinity of 30. Then when players get paid free-agent money, theyre usually getting worse, their peaks directly behind them. And the top players demand long-term contracts, sometimes as much as and exceeding 10 years long, and those have ended up pretty poorly in the past. Youd just pretty much always rather take a photo on a guy in the 20s than you are on a guy in the 30s.
When a team has more income, it can convince itself to spend it, and thats practically beginning from an inefficient place. It could save money on the proven player, or it could save money to have a star player while the star is actively fading. When you have le s cash, you cant manage to be not cold and objective, and you cant afford so much to worry about labels like proven or durable. Having le s money can make you be bold, if sometimes a little unfeeling. If the Rays had more income, perhaps they wouldnt have traded James Shields like they did. Perhaps they wouldnt be turning over so hard about trading David Price. The Shields trade was, without question, brilliant for that organization. As long as other teams would rather act conservatively, theres an environment to become taken advantage of.
Some time ago I had been studying a theory that cap teams within the NHL arent really at an advantage over teams that spend lacking the cap. Spending le s, in theory, forces a team to make smarter decisions, while spending more, in theory, allows a group to become a a bit more carele s. This really is pretty Tanner Vallejo Jersey much exactly the same idea, even though I cant really prove it, it makes intuitive sense, a minimum of because of the way things are at this time. Teams with big bucks dont take enough benefit of it. Teams with le s money have to be more vigilant about maximizing their results. Individual factors are overvalued and undervalued, however the real inefficiency is simply spending more. The ways in which thats done are just subgroups.
It might be that baseball might have only a limited number of succe sful smaller-market teams, since there are only so many cheap, good players for everyone. Maybe there isnt room for another Tampa Bay or Oakland. Maybe theres room for just one, but not another 2 or 3. Its nothing like every single team in baseball can think about cutting back and expecting promising results, and really theres only likely to be more spending with all the money making its distance to the sport. The overall financial landscape has not been Marcus Roberson Jersey more healthy.
And this may be a blip in order to a far more worrisome MLB future. Spending limits around the draft arent good for lower-budget teams. Spending limits on international markets arent good for lower-budget teams. Teams, by and large, are still getting smarter, and just what were seeing are older players hitting free agency and much more young players getting extended before they get to the market. Teams, all teams, very highly value the draft picks they may lose by signing certain free agents. If everyone puts an appropriate premium on talented, cost-controlled youth, its likely to be much tougher for smaller-market teams to take advantage of your competition.
But a minimum of at this time, and at least for the past few years, theres been a big difference between everywhere payrolls, and theres been a smaller difference between high and low effective payrolls. The poorer teams happen to be made to act more rationally by their own financial constraints, and also the richer teams have just allocated to things they maybe shouldnt have spent so much for. Its good, of course, to po se s money. Better to convey more from it. But the underdogs have strengths of their own.

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Thursday, March 17, 2016

Something New

Hello Everyone,
There is something new to see here on our blog every couple of weeks. Show and Tell is a fun section to scroll through to get inspiration and see what your quilting friends are accomplishing. There's a new Finish It Club section highlighting some of the projects that people are completing for the monthly challenge. Upcomimg Classes has information about this year's Spring Retreat happening April 21 and 28. And be sure to share the information about our Outdoor Quilt show in May that appears below. Happy Stitching!

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Sunday, January 13, 2008

How can you talk to these people?

In another group, I have encountered the first of their kind for me, personally. Oh, I knew they existed, and I've seen and read their absurdities in the press. But even after 40+ years of involvement in organized religion, I have never personally encountered a young earth creationist.

He is a decent fellow, college-educated and a retired commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, and yet--the earth is 6,000 years old and Noah's flood carved the Grand Canyon. Now this issue becomes more important with a GOP caucus-winner who thinks Jesus rode dinosaurs, but on a personal level, how do you deal with these people?

I am just amazed that some people could walk into a natural history museum in 2008 and look up at the dinosaurs and say, "Timmy, ignore what the exhibit signs said about all those millions of years. We know that the Lord God made them on the third day of creation, about 2:00 on the afternoon. Praise the Lord."

I grew up in the Methodist church, and my Sunday School teacher was also my 1st grade teacher. She recognized early on that I was an odd child, as I would ask in Sunday School (6 years old) how big a boat Noah would have needed for two of everything, and what if one of the two died on the boat? I still hear dear Mrs. Morse telling me, "it wasn't a real boat. It is an ancient story about a time when floods in the river valleys were very common and dangerous in that part of the world, and how God loves us."

Pretty damn good explanation.

I still see no conflict whatsoever between science, history and faith. Jesus told us to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's. Today, I think he would expand his list to include geologists, physicists and archeologists as well as Caesar. Even Paul (who had his own issues) recognized that the Old Testament stories were allegorical. Science and history cannot challenge faith (if I happen to believe that "John's" words in 3:16, usually seen behind goalposts are true, that cannot be rationally challenged. Middle eastern mythology CAN however, be challenged by science and history, and it gets CREAMED.)

I won't even bother discussing how ridiculous the "science" of a young earth is. But even from a theological standpoint, there are just way too many conflicts to confound even the most since literalist.

There is a difference between Pauline theology (Paul knew none of the "Gospel stories," was unfamiliar with any claims of virgin birth, and in many ways portrayed Jesus as an object acted upon by God) and Gospel Christianity. From there you can even drill down and find differences between the Synoptic Gospels (M, M and L) and the Johanine version.

Another problem for Biblical literalists is that they treat as revealed texts things which either 1) weren't texts or 2) weren't viewed by the authors as revelations. The Old Testament was reduced to writing centuries after the origin of these tales, particularly the historical narratives of the Pentateuch, and the anonymous writers did not claim to be expressing revealed truth (as compared to the Quaran, for example.).

The creation story in Genesis is profoundly important because it allegorically disposes of polytheistic faiths. It is significant that the one god creates earth, sky, water, flora and fauna, rather than a multitude of deities identified with the various aspects of life in other faiths. By clinging to literacy, they miss the point.

In NT terms, Jesus of course wrote nothing, and nothing was written about him contemporaneously (the "gospels" were recorded between 30 and 70 years after his death.) [note there is also the problem of the non-canonical gospels, most notably Peter and Thomas, and the Gospel of James, which was a fictional effort to discredit non-Roman claims to primacy). The epistles were generally correspondence filled with theological interpretations, social mores and practical problems (most of what Paul wrote about the strictures of Mosaic law came from one basic question--was Christianity a sub-sect of Judaism? Jesus preached only to the Jews, but Paul carried the message beyond. There were several aspects of Judaism which were unpalatable to Hellenistic Gentiles. While quite willing to absorb other faiths, they, for some reason were not fond of ritual sacrifices, stoning, and for the men, one unpleasant practice on adults w/o anesthesia.) Not even Paul claimed that he was writing revealed truth.

In other words, they don't need to claim literal truth to proclaim their faith. Doing so, in my view, shows irrational thought, a lack of intellectual honesty and intellectual laziness. I repeat the question at the beginning?

How can one deal with these people?

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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Council of Conservative Citizens, Descendants of the KKK, Urge Tea Party to Flaunt Its Racism

What tangled webs the right wing weaves. The NAACP issued a resolution urging the Tea Party to reject its racist elements. Ben Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP, explained its position on Hardball with Chris Matthews, noting that the infamous Council of Conservative Citizens, a white supremacist group that traces its lineage to the KKK, boasted of its influence within the Tea Party.
JEALOUS: — you know, and you see those old themes and then you go to the Web site of the Council of Conservative Citizens, which is a — which is (INAUDIBLE) —
MATTHEWS: Well, that is an old — that‘s an Dixie crowd, obviously. Yes.
JEALOUS: I mean straight up. They say that black people are not genetically equipped to participate in democracy.
MATTHEWS: But that — but that group isn‘t associated with the Tea Party. That‘s the old like —
JEALOUS: Yes, they are. No, no. Yes they are.
MATTHEWS: I thought that was the old White Citizens Council with a new name.
JEALOUS: Exactly. And you go online and — and they celebrate their participation in the Tea Party.
MATTHEWS: Let‘s get to some elected officials here.
Here is a typical CCC-Tea Party entry:
Leftist Florida state attorney fires prosecutor for speaking at TEA Party rallies.
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Skip Jarvis ordered a prosecutor to stop speaking at TEA Party rallies and then fired her when she refused. Skip Jarvis issued a textbook Soviet style statement declaring that state employees “can’t take a position against the state!” Soviet Commissar, I mean Florida State Attorney, Skip Jarvis Phone: ———
Matthews treated mention of the CCC like a hot potato. If anyone doubts Jealous, simply research the issue, you know, journalistic due diligence, that sort of thing. In response to the NAACP resolution, wingnut smear merchant Andrew Breitbart released a phony, heavily edited videotape purporting to show “reverse racism” by Shirley Sherrod, a USDA official.

This is but one example of how Andrew Breitbart, the wingnut blogger who ambushed Shirley Sherrod, influences the debate on race against the truth and a cowed MSM. Breitbart fed Fox News the phony video, and Fox being Fox ran it unquestioningly. Breitbart refused to apologize for nearly destroying an honorable woman’s career. He even had the audacity to claim innocence of the practice. To date, the only Fox News host to man up and apologize for running the phony story is Bill O’Reilly.

This is part of a pattern of fabricated Fox “news” sowing fear in its lily-white audience (fewer than 2% of Fox viewers are black) against African Americans. Only Rachel Maddow has given this practice, blowing the lid off the faux toxic “journalism” of the right, the coverage it deserves. The Tea Party racism and its associations with extremist fringe racist groups is not a matter of speculation. Yet Breitbart’s aggressive smoke-and-mirrors right wing pushback has succeeded in neutralizing one of the most disturbing aspects of the Tea Party from objective and thorough coverage in the MSM. What Breitbart does isn’t journalism; it’s right wing advocacy propaganda. By injecting a false equivalence into issues of vulnerability to the right, its propagandists (Breitbart, Fox, Limbaugh, et al) obfuscate the issue sufficiently that truth is the ultimate casualty.

And it’s not the first time Breitbart has done this. Dumping ‘Fox Lies and Videotape’ on a jittery MSM cowering in the corner is part of his MO. He loves bullying and browbeating liberals into submission. After his yelling match with David Schuster, in which David was screwed by MSNBC management, some MSNBCers (except their primetime trio of Ed Schulz, Keith Olbermann, and Rachel Maddow) seem skittish around the Breitbart story, echoing their MSM colleagues.

Big Eddie fears no one, and that’s what progressives admire most about the combative, take-no-prisoners populist fighter for the middle class. Eddie said he cornered Breitbart out in the hall and invited — challenged — him to go on ‘The Ed Show.’ Breitbart weaseled out claiming to be “tired” or busy or … whatever. This is typical of how bullies behave. If you show them any weakness a la Tamron Hall rolling over for a racist Son of the Confederacy (“I really press them for an answer” –- yeah, right), the Breitbarts of this world with their keen smell for fear, will pounce. The minute you look bullies in the eye the way Big Ed did, and say “put up or shut up, asshole,” they wilt. Because that’s what bullies are: They’re cowards who prey on the weak. I challenge every one of MSNBC’s hosts to do as Big Eddie: Issue an open invitation to Andrew Breitbart to come on and explain himself, no holds barred — not only about Shirley Sherrod, but about the ACORN tapes and his role in other likely illegal ventures.

Your move.

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Friday, February 18, 2005

So here we are with time on our hands at last. Tomorrow, England face Australia in the Grand Finals, and though it's slightly mean, I hope England wins, simply because it would take the edge off losing - at least we'd have lost to the world champions. I'm also proud of the team because they fought a good fight - in a round where many proposition teams chose to run unfairly narrow definitions in order to get an edge over the opposition, we ran a hard but fair case, a fought bravely down the line, and lost to a better team. I still maintain that this team was world champion calibre - but then again, so are at least 4 other teams here, and someone has to be knocked out. I just wish it hadn't been us ...
vandalised sign
Vandalised Sign

We went on a long overdue shopping trip today, and took the public train. A relatively efficient system, though the warnings against vandalism are obviously not working ...

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Monday, July 11, 2005

Sick, again.

I started to feel ill at work today. It was a familiar feeling - the start of a pain in the back of thee throat, the heat building up, the chills. By the time I left work, I was feeling distinctly unwell. I went straight to the doctor, where I had to wait 2 hours - I couldn't complain though, since an old man right before me (behind me actually, but the doctor moved him up the queue) emerged from the room with a cathether , holding his pants in one hand and a bag of urine in another. The poor man was standing in his boxers, and when he told the receptionist that he was going to walk home, I felt very sorry for him, and very worried. I imagined him walking home in his underpants like that, but he told the receptionist that he lived just behind the clinic. I wanted to follow him for a while, to see that he was going to be alright, but after I got and paid for my medicine, there was no sign of him when I stepped out.

I'm taking no chances this time - lots of water, lots of rest, lots of medicine from the doctor. Maybe I can take this time to paint up some of the many figures I've got ...

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ThistleDew Farm

ThistleDew Farm
Established 2009

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Which do you prefer?

Do you prefer...
Superman or Batman -

Johnny Quest or Speed Racer -

Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck -

Snow or Rain -

Woods or Ocean -

Sweet or Tart -

Muted or Bright -

Cross Country or Down Hill -

Situps or Push Ups -

Strawberry or Cherry -

Red or Blue -

Shopping or Hiking -

Fly or Drive -

Inside or Outside -

reading or phoning -

cats or dogs -

drive or walk -

Down or Foam -

Carnations or Roses -

cake or pie -

Off with their heads!

Monday, December 29, 2008

I'm Back -

I'm back and the password wasn't that hard to figure out - but it was really long.
"Terri is great, beautiful, clever and sooo smart" That's what I tell her all the time so it stood to reason that was my password!

What fun to come back to a giggle! I was so worried that everyone would have forgotten about me while I was gone - you know out of sight out of mind!

What a loyal group you are!

The holidays are almost over - sigh....I returned to a house that is looking suspiciously like a home. The insulation is nearly finished and most of the drywall is up. This week they should be taping and mudding and then a week or so until painting. I have the colors picked out and working on the draperies and upholstery fabric.

The master bedroom will be Prairie Grass (dark sage). With the wall the bed will be on as Bronze Essence a metallic paint (medium sage). The chair rail will be Ancient Bog (deep sage)
The master bath will be Bubble Tea (very light terra cotta/beige).

The great room area will be Timeless Taupe (medium taupe/light brown)
We'll have a dark wall in the game area of the great room - Belgian Chocolate (ymm)
The rooms off the dark wall (craft room, guest room, The Princess Boudoir, and Guest Bath) will be Morning Fog (very light spa blue/green).

The dining room area off the great room will be Bubble Tea on top and Timeless Taupe below the chair rail. The chair rail will be Naked Clay (a deep pink toned clay).
Transitioning into the kitchen which will be Bubble Tea. The cabinets will be a mahogany color and the counter top will be a black with brown and gold highlights granite.

The flooring will be neutral toned tile in the great room/kitchen and beige with chocolate flecked carpet.

I can't wait to see my color palette come to life!
Hopefully I'll have pictures tomorrowish.

Happy Holidays!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

While The Cat's Away...

Well, Melissa is out of town right now, and I miss her! So, I thought I'd come over here and wreak some havoc on her blog just to keep things interesting!

First, I added myself as an author, so it will be more obvious when I conduct a blatant take-over (like right now!). Oh, don't worry - I added her as an author to my blog, too, so that you can tell when she sneaks over and does the same to me!

Second, I changed her password so she'll have to guess what it is to access her blog again. Third, I messed up all her settings so she'll think she's doing one thing but she's really doing another! Won't that be funny??? Okay, okay - just kidding on those last two!

Anyway, it's kind of quiet around here without her. A person could get used to that... actually, no, a person like me couldn't. Instead, it might drive a person like me CRAZY!! I need noise and life and laughing and silliness. I need my friend back! Sigh.... :(

Merry Christmas, everyone !

Friday, December 19, 2008

Advanced Warning - Santa Claustaphobia

'Twas the week after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).

I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
You never heard, "No thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt

I said to myself, as only I can
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"

So away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
"Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie - not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore
But isn't that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

We're Insulating! Hurray!

Yes folks, you heard it right - the hippie life may actually be coming to a close! One day soon, we'll be moving into an actual house - with plumbing, and heat, and a stove! Oh happy day.

Super Hubby is insulating even as we speak. Thursday the dry wallers come to work their magic and turn a building into a home! We've picked out colors and nobody has any bruises - there was even some compromising! I can't wait to start painting - or watching Super Hubby paint because I am not up to the standards our house deserves when it comes to painting walls! I am very messy! I often have to have textured walls to cover the drips!

I received my ribbon iron and will try it out soon and post about it (I won the ribbon iron in a giveaway. Very cool!

I am catching up on a few things and then Friday afternoon it's off to Windy Meadows farm in Louisville KY and then up to my Mom's in central Indiana. This will be my last post until December 29th. I hope you all have fabulous holidays! I hope I get the last four gifts done before Dec 25th and I hope none of my siblings are leaving Mom's before Christmas, because their gifts won't be done!!!!! It is sad, but I have procrastinated this year - actually I didn't get the creative ideas until late - it's not my fault that the Muse didn't speak to me in a timely manner, who can control a Muse?

Happy Holidays!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Scrumble Crochet Purse

If you have a lot of this...

Or this....

Or maybe some like this....

I told you I had a large yarn stash....and this is just the stuff I have out while we're building.

You can turn it into this.....

Here's the tools you'll need.

This is what your work area will look like...

When I have scrapes left over I now group them into color groups,
then when I'm getting inspired to make a scrumble purse I can pull out the color boxes and decide what colors work.

Then I decide on a pattern for the purse shape and sew the lining which doubles as the template. I like to put a small pocket inside the lining - I'm cool to my customers that way....I have trouble keeping track of my phone, so I need the pouch! I am very precise about the liner don'cha know!

The next step is to lock up the precision monster and let the free spirited chi loose.
You must abandon all ideas of keeping rows straight, counting your stitches and making things neat and tidy. It is helpful to get out a stitch book for inspiration.

Now gather together several different hook sizes, some safety pins, and about three different colors of yarn and many textures of those colors. Add a pair of scissors and you're ready to start.

Just start crocheting little swatches of patterns using combinations of stitches, twisting the stitches over and around, increasing, decreasing, big hook, little hook - just get crazy! The pieces should be various sizes, I usually don't make them much bigger than 3-6 inches with some smaller. Leave a tail long enough to sew the piece to its neighbor - no need to "finish off", neatness does not count in this game...I told you to get rid of the precision monster!

Crochet, and crochet, and crochet. I usually keep the yarn box available and sew a piece when the mood strikes me - since the pieces are only 3-6 inches you can whip one out during a commercial break or while you're waiting for the macaroni noodles to boil.

Sometimes the pieces start to look like things!

Sometimes not....

When you have a pile of pieces start putting them on the purse liner, puzzle fashion - to me this is the hardest part.
My first bag I spent hours putting the pieces just so, rearranging and I just plop them down, assess them as I turn my head to the side and then go on to the next piece. After you have filled some of it in... walk away for a few minutes and check out my blog....come back and see if you like what you did. If not - scramble the pieces and put the puzzle together a different way. If you like it, safety pin the pieces together. If you ever wanted to be an acupuncturist, you will love this part. After a bit you will know immediately if you've selected the proper spot for the piece. You'll be able to place and pin in one smooth action - which will reduce the traffic on my blog - so take your time getting that accomplished!

The handle sometimes can be tricky. It's hard to find the right one as my source selections are limited. I use handles from old purses, store bought ones from Hobby Lobby, or felted ones. I crochet a piece right around each handle end and then sew that to a piece in place. I use different methods of closures, sometimes magnets, sometimes a bobble at the end - whatever strikes me. Once you have all the spaces filled on your liner and safety pinned together you are ready to put it together.

Turn the piece over (leave the template down to refer to now and then). You will be sewing the pieces together with a tapestry needle and yarn which matches the pieces you're putting together. This is the part I really like - don't worry about weaving in the ends, they'll be hidden between the back and the liner!!!!! Hurray! After you've sewn the pieces together check to make sure you haven't left any gaps - fix these and sew them up.

Tips: You should not make pieces to fit spaces until you have filled up most of the liner with the puzzle pieces. The idea is to be free spirited and if you make pieces to fit spaces, you are cramping the spirits style.

You should keep some continuity to make it appealing - to many color variations can be distracting - it is really the texture and the stitch variety that makes people do a double take.

You should not crochet the pieces together ever! This will make it lumpy and hard to shape!

Remember the finished edge of the liner will be inside - I don't finish the outside edge 'cause you won't see it and I'm lazy - or my inner free spirit is which is what is left when I hide the precision monster!

I am working on this one for an 11 year old.

Her sisters is already done.

This one is an ongoing project

So is this one....

This is my first one, I made a crocheted dress for myself and Ashley aka The Princess and used the scraps to make a matching purse. I wore the outfit to my brother's wedding two years ago...the purse and dress are still around....

Scrumble is fun - set the free spirit loose and have at it. What have you got to loose? Except some of this...

Monday, December 8, 2008

Hurray - I'm a winner!

I won - hurray - Kimberly was having this neat giveaway - a ribbon iron! I won. I submitted a million things I could do with the ribbon iron and Kimberly took pity on me!

This is an awesome gadget. You should check Kimberly out - she has a really cute site as you can tell by her headline picture!

Coincidence? I think not!

It appears that Susie and Leedra were right - the "D" episode has not gone away!
This was an innocent "gift" from a co-worker who stated she won the shirt as a boobie prize but thought I might like it!!!!!

If only they remembered the good things as long as they do the errors!

If you're not getting the reference please read my post from November 25th. It is tooooo embarrassing to mention again!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Hurray - Mildred received her giveaway!

Doesn't Mildred look great - if I do say so myself! Oh, and Harriet looks lovely too, posing with Mildred.

Mildred designed the hat and I made if for her as the winner of our ThistleDew giveaway!

It was so much fun to be inspired by you all! What a fun activity!!!!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Maintain Don't Gain

Just thought I'd update you on Santaclaustraphobia. I made it through Thanksgiving with out gaining - even though Ashley aka The Princess and I laid in bed reading books and eating bonn bonns. Ok, they weren't bonn bonns they were pretzel sticks and white queso dip for me and cheese puffs for her....

Our group started a yahoo group called Maintain Don't Gain to commiserate together. There was this weird recipe - but you know me - weird is my middle name (well not actually, my middle name is Joy - my Mom was so happy I wasn't a boy she put Joy in my name. Background: I have two older brothers and my Aunt had two sons who are similar in age so my Mom was worried her maternal line was cursed! - hence the joy when I was born! - and of course I've been one every since.)

Turkey Beer Chili - here's the recipe. I'm going to try it - you do too and let me know how yours turns out - better yet, lets make it a competition - you make and post about your favorite weird chili and comment on my blog and we'll see what we come up with.

1lb ground turkey
1lb turkey sausage
2 cans pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
2 4oz cans chopped green chilis (drained)
1 can diced tomatoes (with liquid)
1 can/bottle beer, best with pale ale's
1/2 teaspoon salt
at least 2 teaspoons bottled hot pepper sauce
2 cloves garlic
1 medium onion, chopped
a touch of cheddar cheese

Brown sausage in skillet, set aside in cooking pot. Brown ground
turkey, onion & garlic in skillet sausage was cooked in. Drain & add
to cooking pot. Add all other ingredients EXCEPT PINTO BEANS & simmer
1 1/2 hours. Add rinsed beans. Serve with cheddar cheese on top.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Muffin Post before it's to late....

Terri made some awesome energy muffins and gave me one, which I took for breakfast this morning. I am blogging about it very quickly because I am certain she laced it with arsenic.... The tricky thing about arsenic is that it takes a while to catch up to you, so you see, I really don't know how long I have until it keels me over,..anyway, the muffins were really good. Packed with fiber, flax seed, fruit, wheat....very yummy. She was looking for an alternative to sugary breakfast foods that are portable. She gets up really early and her breakfast wears off before lunch....these are the perfect solution.

Since it's been a few hours since I ate the muffin, it appears I'm safe for another day, concerning the arsenic.

If you haven't watched Arsenic and Old Lace as a stage show, you really should or check out this link which is a synopsis of the play/ is hilarious - CHARGE!!!!!

I hope all of you had a great T-day holiday! I did. The best thing about the weekend was I had plenty of time to bond with Ashley, aka The Princess. The weather was mostly rainy and living the hippie life in a motorhome encourages closeness and bonding! Lucky for me Ashley has turned into a very entertaining reader with a very theatric reading voice - especially for an eight year old. Her oration is engaging and she has a nack for different voices and mimicing accents. Last summer on NPR they showcased a competition of dramatic poetry reading. I am going to look into it and see if she can start pursuing that as a goal....what fun! I'm not real sure where she gets the drama from.....

We read Roddy Doyles The Giggler Treatment....totally hilarious, it's about dog poo! As you know everyone poops and it makes a hilarious topic for a children's book!

We also read The Miraclous Adventures of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo - this was another non-stop read. Each chapter forced you to read on to either "rescue" Edward or see what would happen next. It was a heart wrenching tale - and a must read if you have any child in your life from 7-12. It is a great read aloud.

We've just started E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan, it is as good as Charlotte's Web. I had not read this growing up and wonder why popular culture has skipped over it and went for Stuart Little, also by White.

We got our books from the Public Library - I'm a big fan of library's and I'll bet their readership is way up with this economy.

I also had some time to catch up on my crocheting - finished a custom order scarf and working on those scrumble bags I keep saying I'm going to post a how to about....maybe this week!

Once you're done here pop over to Brandyanne's - she's having a giveaway!


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ThistleDew Farm

ThistleDew Farm
Established 2009

Sunday, February 6, 2011

If you want to move to the next level in transforming your workout and your body composition - you have to enter this giveaway - or maybe just buy the darn thing outright....sounds very intriguing. Check out 26.2's blog for more info.

Headed out on a 5-10 mile run, I'll decide somewhere down the road exactly how far....


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Thorpe Acquires Empire Refractory Specialists, Inc. (Birmingham, AL) - Thorpe Plant Maintenance & Engineering Thorpe Plant Maintenance & Engineering

Thorpe Acquires Empire Refractory Specialists, Inc. (Birmingham, AL)

Thorpe Acquires Empire Refractory Specialists, Inc. (Birmingham, AL)

HOUSTON, January 1, 2013 – Thorpe Specialty Services Corporation is pleased to announce the acquisition of all of the assets and business of Hueytown (Birmingham), Alabama-based Empire Refractory Specialists, Inc. (“Empire”). The management, project staff, superintendents and all employees of Empire are being retained and the business unit will operate as Thorpe Plant Services, Inc. out of its existing facilities at 1273 24th Avenue, Hueytown, AL 35023. Mr. David Hampton will serve as Manager of the Birmingham Branch.

Thorpe Plant Services is a subsidiary of Thorpe Specialty Services Corporation (“THORPE”), headquartered in Houston, Texas and a portfolio company of the CapStreet Group. THORPE and its affiliates provide products and specialty service for the design, fabrication, installation and maintenance of refractory and acid-resistant lining systems and other heat processing equipment throughout the United States and the world. THORPE serves a diverse customer base operating in the refining, petrochemical, steel, alumina, utility, coke calcining and waste incineration industries among others, and has branch offices in Houston and Beaumont, Texas, Gonzales, Louisiana, and now Birmingham, Alabama.

The acquisition of Empire strategically expands THORPE’s engineering, refractory and specialty services into the lime, cement, pulp/paper and steel dust recycling industries in the Birmingham region. Further, this acquisition brings additional Brokk demolition equipment and operator capacity to the Thorpe service offering.

In addition to continuing Empire’s long-standing commitment to quality products and excellent customer service, THORPE will provide additional resources for growth and enhanced project support. We are excited about the business development opportunities this strategic acquisition will afford.

Thank you for your past support of Empire. THORPE appreciates the opportunity to continue this valuable relationship by providing the same high level of competitive products and services that you have come to expect from Empire.

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Bert Olivier
Bert Olivier

The power of dissent

At certain times in history, sometimes protracted events have occurred that demonstrated the power of dissent – that (as far as we know) uniquely human capacity to express strong disagreement with some or other aspect of the political, social or cultural status quo, whether this is done peacefully or, in some cases, violently, in a manner that could (and sometimes did) result in revolutionary conflict. (At the outset I should note that I am not here using the term, ‘dissent’, in the very specific philosophical sense employed by philosopher Jacques Rancière.)

Think of the slave revolt against the might of Rome, led by the slave gladiator Spartacus around 73-72 BCE, or any number of rebellions and revolutions in the course of history, including the French Revolution that started with the storming of the notorious prison, the Bastille, in 1789, as well as, some time before that, the American Revolution that erupted in 1775, having been triggered by the so-called Boston Tea Party in 1773. Add to this the American Civil War of the late 19th century, related to northern dissent surrounding the practice of slavery. When, in the early 16th century, Martin Luther distanced himself from what he saw as malpractices within the Roman Catholic Church of his time, it was another case of dissent, which gave rise to a different kind of religion within Christian ranks.

These are only a few instances, among the most visible ones (given the sustained, violent conflict involved), to which could be added many others if one scoured history for examples. Here in South Africa the protest and resistance against the practice of apartheid, which took many forms, from literary and philosophical dissent, to peaceful resistance, to guerrilla warfare against the apartheid authorities, are a further instantiation of dissent. When Frantz Fanon resisted the colonial authorities in Algeria, in word and deed, it was dissent. What one witnesses in Britain at present, in the shape of citizens protesting against Brexit, is also a sign of dissent. And what one witnesses within the ranks of the ANC in South Africa at present, when some brave members of the ruling party speak out against what they see as corrupt and power-hungry practices on the part of other members, also deserves the name of dissent.

It is true, of course, that dissent need not appear in such publicly conspicuous ways; it manifests itself in households, virtually on a daily basis, where subordinated women engage in dissent – sometimes silently, at other times vociferously – regarding the patriarchal oppression they experience (sometimes literally) at the hands of their husbands or partners. As Foucault has pointed out, before (some) women gained institutional power through emancipation, they always had the sexual power of their bodies to resist those who dominated them; that, too, is dissent. Today, in excessively patriarchal countries – such as Saudi Arabia – where the emancipation of women is but a distant, albeit beckoning, ideal, dissent assumes many guises, such as a woman openly driving a car in a courageous demonstration of independence.

It should already be apparent from the above that dissent, although not always recognised as such, is ubiquitous, and everyone who reflects about this would probably be able to pinpoint a manifestation of it in their own lives. Personally I recall several instances of dissent on the part of some members of the university faculty and senate in which I have served, for example, in the face of motions that seemed to some of us unacceptable for various reasons.

In the work of one of the most (justly) celebrated novelists of the 20th century, John Fowles, who died not so long ago, one encounters the following thoughtful reflection on the seldom acknowledged value of dissent (A Maggot, Vintage 1996, Kindle edition, Epilogue, location 9209): “Dissent is a universal human phenomenon, yet that of Northern Europe and America is, I suspect, our most precious legacy to the world. We associate it especially with religion, since all new religion begins in dissent, that is, in a refusal to believe what those in power would have us believe – what they would command and oblige us, in all ways from totalitarian tyranny and brutal force to media manipulation and cultural hegemony, to believe. But in essence it is an eternal biological or evolutionary mechanism, not something that was needed once, merely to meet the chance of an earlier society, when religious belief was the great metaphor, and would-be conforming matrix, for many things beside religion. It is needed always, and in our own age more than ever before.”

The novel from the epilogue of which this is taken – and which I cannot discuss at length here – is an astonishing hybrid: part quasi-historical, part science-fiction. The excerpt from the epilogue, above, makes sense against the backdrop of its subject matter as well as the era in which it is set, namely early eighteenth-century England. The fictional narrative ends with an account of the birth of someone who was destined to become an historical person of note – Ann Lee, who was also known as Mother Ann, the leader of the so-called Shakers (so called because of their ecstatic dance-shaking, which can be regarded as a kind of sublimation in Freudian terms), who dissented from orthodox religious conventions in the belief that these were misguided, and that a new, radically different religious practice was called for.

Fowles’s marvellous historical reconstruction of socially stratified, oppressive 18th-century English society in A Maggot provides the context within which the phenomenon of Ann Lee – a female religious leader at a time when women were still regarded as naturally and constitutionally inferior to men – may be understood as the embodiment of dissent. The extremity of her dissent, and that of the Shakers, can be gauged from their rejection of sexual intercourse between men and women, including man and wife (which is probably what led to their denunciation of marriage in the end). It is as if Lee’s disgust with the extant world of 18th-century England found its expression in the refusal to support the reproduction of the human race in a world that she and her followers considered degraded, and hence unworthy of perpetuation.

What I would like to stress here, however, is Fowles’s allusion (in the excerpt, above), on the basis of his reference to religious dissent of the kind encountered on the part of Ann Lee, to the very nature of dissent, namely: “…a refusal to believe what those in power would have us believe – what they would command and oblige us, in all ways from totalitarian tyranny and brutal force to media manipulation and cultural hegemony, to believe”. This allusion makes the relevance of A Maggot for the present era in which we live conspicuously significant, to say the least.

Regarding “media manipulation” we face a constant barrage of images and other means of persuasion from the mainstream media that supposedly testifies to the fact that we live in a world where ‘human rights’ are prioritised, but side by side with images of celebrity and other elites’ affluence, one cannot ignore the images of abject poverty and destitution that populate our screens, usually in relation to some humanitarian effort to alleviate social and economic suffering. In other words, human societies the world over are marked by ostensibly ineradicable inequality. This resonates with Fowles’s words (also from the epilogue): “In so much else we have developed immeasurably from the eighteenth century; [but] with their central plain question – what morality justifies the flagrant injustice and inequality of human society? – we have not progressed one inch.”

Hence the time is, as always throughout history, ripe for informed dissent in the face of such inequality and the injustice that it signifies. There is a huge difference between a world where certain countries, with high GDP figures, can claim that their citizens (at least the wealthy) enjoy a ‘good quality of life’, and a world where one could claim that social and economic justice prevails. That is but a distant ideal – for some.

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  • Male feminist tears
  • The lost sense of community: Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’
  • The age of anger
  • Equality and intellectual emancipation


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Tag Archives: Suzanne Hart

11 things I am grateful for

It was, quite simply, unthinkable. Not even the most paranoid would lie awake at night worrying about it, and yet it happened. A woman stepped into a lift in New York City, as millions of people do every day. Only this time, she got her foot caught in the gap between the lift car and…

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Friday, February 26, 2010

Our House of Mirrors

On the dusty ochre blacktop of the North County Trailway
in the hazy and humid air,
the rainpuddles seemed to hold a different world,
filled with luminosity, sky, trees.
Air, space, clarity.
Form, color, differentiation.

(but what a trick this is,
what an intimation of specialness
where everything is special after all.)

the seeming surface of the puddlewater
(its seeming mirrorshine and polish)
(its seeming uniformity and flatness):
all a function of my eyes' poor ability
to resolve the complexity
of the energy
and information reflected from it.

but: one inch to either side of the puddle,
the same light struck the blacktop path:
the same shadows,
Being reflected and absorbed
precisely as reflected and the water.
But the bumpy asphalt flatness
was mute and indifferent.

had I eyes the width of football stadiums
and the depth of lake baikal
blacktop would be sheerest silver to me.
Complicated clouds and blue sky
would fill this mirror, too.

the grassy field would
show the world to itself as well.
every surface, in fact, would
mirror every other,
an infinite regress of such size
and multiplicity
that imagination balks and fails.

This is happening right now.
But we can't see it.

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Thursday, March 6, 2014

Algebra Tiles App

The other day, I found an app called Algebra Tiles.  I tried it myself and just could not get it to work correctly so I put it on the back shelf.  Today, I had a student who got bored and wanted to just throw paper wads at the garbage can so I had him check it out and see if he could figure it out.  I showed him the factoring trinomials one and figured out how to do it.  So he tried to figure out the solving part of it.  He got it and I was able to use the app in my last period class (Algebra 1).  The students spent most of the period working on the app and I think it has clarified solving one and two step equations for many of my struggling students.  I think I will have my algebra II class try it tomorrow for a few minutes just to try factoring quadratics.  There are two other parts are substitute and expand.  I hope to get those understood so I can use the substitution with my Algebra I class for solving linear equations using substitution.  Now that I understand how to use it, I will be able to use it in several classes.


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Some major B&W print mixing!  Back to when I had shorter hair and some grey ombre(even though it's hard to tell)  I miss it:(

"BAM" Blouse:: H&M
Printed Skirt:: Urban Outfitters
"To the Hand" Clutch:: Urban Outfitters

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Meet The Author

A business/fashion graduate who loves to play dress up! I'm a PETITE(5' 2") gal who appreciates MODEST fashion (P.S. I pretty much live in skirts and dresses), a lot of what you will see here and what Thread-Mesh is all about. Modest doesn't have to mean boring. I love to put my own spin by playing with different colors, patterns, textures and accessories!


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Urdeths Boons

Servant of Fate and Time : If you are surprised, you may take a move action during the surprise round. If you are not surprised during the surprise round, you and each of your allies who are not surprised, may take a standard, move and minor action.

Utility Power :(Daily, choose one)

  • cast the Consult Oracle ritual as a standard action that costs no components, using your Arcana check instead of Religion.
  • Time freezes for your foes and your allies gain a moment to reposition. You and each ally within 10 squares of you can take a move action as a free action. Movement taken with this action does not provoke opportunity attacks.

Shadows Grasp : If your square is in dim light or darkness when you make your familiar active, you may choose to have your familiar become active in any other square you can see within 20 squares that is also in dim light or darkness. Additionally, you can use the Shadow Incarnates Active Benefit Shadowcast three times per encounter.
Attack Power (Encounter, Implement, Minor Action) Attack : Int vs Will, Target : One Creature adjacent to your active Shadow Incarnate familiar. Hit : Target is restrained (save ends). While the target is restrained your familiar gains +6 to all defenses. The effect ends immediately if your familiar is slain, it moves to a space not adjacent to the target, or enters passive mode.

Seven Mountain Stride : Your speed increases by 1. You and allies traveling with you gain a 50% bonus to your overland movement. You gain a +10 item bonus to your Athletics checks to jump. When jumping, you’re always considered to have running start, and the distance jumped is not limited by your speed.
Utility Power (Daily, Stance, Minor Action) Effect : Until the stance ends, your size becomes large, and your Reach increases by 1. While you are in contact with the ground, you are immune to forced movement, and cannot be made prone. If you’ve reached at least one milestone today, you may instead become Huge and increase your Reach by 2 instead of 1.

Lyneth —
Beguiling Tongue
: You may use Bluff in place of Diplomacy checks when interacting with non-fey creatures. After each extended rest you may choose one Daily Attack power you know. That power gains the Charm keyword. A Critical hit with this power also causes the target to be Dominated (save ends).

Martin —
Soul Sight
: You gain Darkvision, and a +6 item bonus on Perception and Insight checks.
Utility Power (Daily, Minor action) Effect : You gain Truesight 5 till the end of your next turn, and you do not require line of effect to detect the location of living or undead creatures within this range.
Sustain : minor

Urdeth Skulda granted each Epic hero a Boon in their quest to unlock their fates and take on the Dead of Winter.

Urdeths Boons

Three Tears Of Ardanthor Ardanthor


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COMMENTS ARE MODERATED: Please don't let that deter you from commenting, though. I LOVE to read your thoughts! I only ask that you keep it clean & respectful.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Finding Light in Times of Darkness - A New Meme

This past Sunday, I had another wonderful Holy Spirit moment. Our Communion song was Christ Be Our Light by Bernadette Farrell. It has been one of my favorite songs since my Contemporary Christian Ensemble days in high school. When our group first introduced it to the congregation, I soloed the verses, w/ the rest of the group joining the refrain. It's such a powerful song & has always held a special place in my heart.

(This video has some incredible photographs & pictures!)

Back to this past Sunday...

I had just returned to our pew to kneel & pray after receiving Christ in the Eucharist. I don't normally sing, preferring to spend that time reflecting on the wonderful gift of Christ I just received. Some days, I will listen to the words of the Communion song & if fitting, incorporate them into my prayers. This was one of those days, especially when verse two came...

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has pow'r to save us.
Make us your living voice.

Yes, our world is deeply troubled. Many are in such depths of despair that they see no light, only darkness. It doesn't help that we are constantly bombarded by all the bad stuff happening in the world, no matter which media outlet you choose (TV news, magazines, newspapers, or the internet). If something good has happened, it's not newsworthy in an editor's or station manager's eyes. The general public seems to thrive on the bad...the more awful & gory, the better!

During my Communion prayer time, I thank God for the gift of His Son & ask for the strength to carry Him to those I meet through the week. This week, in addition to that prayer, I asked for a way to illuminate His light to the world.

I got a response! YES...a prayer answered almost immediately!

I felt called to start a new weekly meme here on my blog. There is a lot of good stuff happening in this world, despite what we hear & read. This meme is to help us find & celebrate that good. It may not be an easy task, but I feel it is worth it, especially if I can touch just one troubled person in despair.

The guidelines are simple...share a recent story each week of something good. It can be a link or clip from the news (you may have to do a bit of digging, but I KNOW the stories are there!). Or, if you've encountered something in your own personal experiences, you can share those stories, too. Anything that will help bring hope back into troubled times. Post it on your blog & link it up here on my blog. If you don't have a blog, feel free to share your story in the comment section below.

I will start this next Monday, March 4, & will call this meme Light in the Darkness.

It's said that we humans tend to share negative experiences & stories with more people than we share the good ones. Well, I believe that needs to change. Will you help me?

JJ's Mom said...

I'm still getting back in the blogging groove. I've been absent for quite a while but am recommitting (for the 1000th time). I'll try to pop in next week....

Colleen said...

Great idea!! Count me in! I am all for spreading Christ's light in this world.
And I love that song too!


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Friday, 5 December 2014

A small snippet from Old Geezers 2

I'm trying to find a piece to use as a mouth waterer for Geezers 2. I was thinking of using some of this from chapter two. I hope it's confusing enough to make people want to know more.

‘I must have called the Defense Department twenty times. Even when I finally got through and played: pass-me-round-every-department-in-the-goddamn-building, all I got was some smooth talking asshole saying: “thank you, but you must understand that…” It’s driving me nuts!’ Obviously reading their blank expressions, Abe erupted with increased fury, much to the consternation of a passing guest who squeaked in fright before apparently recovering enough vitality to abandon her Zimmer frame and sprint away. ‘The bomb, the damned bomb! I told them it was going to go off, but they won’t believe me.’
‘Well of course they won’t believe you.’ Chet attempted, and failed to keep the sarcasm from his voice. ‘It’s not due to go off for another ten years. What do you expect? “Yes sir, a nuclear bomb is going to go off in Mexico City in ten years – we’ll look right into it.” Look,’ he glared at Abe, ‘it’s over, finished.’

  A little long?

  1. I think it's perfect and not too long.

  2. I think it sounds great! I heard great things about Old Geezers 1 on Donna's blog. :)

  3. Thank you both. I'll tart it up just a little and then give it a try.


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Style & Beauty
Make-Up Bargains in the Drugstore Cosmetic Aisle – What’s in your Bag?
2/6/2017 5:28:03 PM

Lake Charles native Jessika See grew up participating in the pageant scene and has always been interested in make-up, beauty, and style. Two years ago, her Aunt Val, nearing the end of her battle with cancer, asked Jessika for a special favor. She wanted a make-over . . . hair, make-up, a new outfit. Jessika was glad to grant her aunt’s final request. "She was so happy, it was like a breath of fresh air had been breathed into her ailing body,” says Jessika. "She smiled from ear to ear and had a blast posing in front of the camera. She told me I have a gift for making women feel beautiful.” Soon after, Jessika decided to make a career as a professional make-up artist and started her business, J.See Make-Up. She is in high demand and works on location, specializing in weddings. Her business calendar is booked most every weekend of the year. "My goal is to help women feel beautiful from the inside out.”

Drugstore Dupes

Jessika says you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a winning make-up routine. Several of her personal everyday favorite cosmetics are inexpensive drugstore items. "There is so much affordable make-up out there that’s just as good as high-end products. Every woman wants to feel beautiful and should have that opportunity without having to break the bank.” But she does warn women that with make-up, you do often get what you pay for. "Sometimes the price tag does affect quality. Coverage and length of wear may be inadequate.

Jessika enjoys sharing tips and good deals on social media sites. Here’s a rundown of some of her favorite make-up bag bargains.

L’oreal Telescopic Mascara – This mascara can make anyone look like they have long lashes. It has an odd narrow brush that grabs each lash from root to tip. Build upon the lashes as the day goes on without clumping and flaking. $6-9.

Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation – Comes in several shades and two finishes -- matte/poreless and dewy/smooth. To find your right shade, Jessika suggests taking your old foundation bottle with you to match color. $6-8.

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer -- This product works as a concealer and highlighter all in one and is great for skin of all ages. The soft built-in round tip makes concealing under the eyes easy and smooth. Gives a very natural finish and feels light-weight with zero creasing. Also use to highlight between eyebrows and forehead. Another tip is to always buy concealer a shade or two lighter than your foundation. $6-8.

Elf Color-Correcting Powder– Use under the eye and other areas you highlight with concealer. Gives a bright flawless look under the eye. $6. Elf is one of Jessika’s favorite brands. She also recommends their blushes, $3.

Revlon Colorstay Eye Liner – Whether you prefer a stick, gel, or liquid liner, Jessika says all the best can be found at drugstores, but she especially likes this Revlon gel liner. $6. If you prefer a liquid liner, try N.Y.C. Liquid Liner in matte black. It has the perfect brush for that desirable effortless wing. Under $3.

N.Y.C. Liquid Liner in matte black – This liner has the perfect brush for that desirable effortless wing. Whether you prefer a stick, gel, or liquid liner, Jessika says all the best liners can be found at drugstores. Under $3.

NYX Microbrow Pencils -- Full sharp brows are all the rage. But for those of us not blessed with them, we fill in! $10

For eyeshadows, Jessika suggests buying individual colors, rather than pallets. "Shadows are packed with more pigment and you get more bang for your buck with individual shadows like the ones made by Wet n Wild for only .99 cents apiece!

For lips, Jessika likes NYX butter glosses, $5, and Elf matte lipstick, $3.

Jessika’s most important make-up bargain tip? Do your research! "When you find an expensive product you love but don't want to break the bank buying it, use your best friend Google to see if there is a popular drugstore dupe for that product.”

Posted by: Angie Kay Dilmore | Submit comment | Tell a friend

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Allen Craig hot zone - Through The Fence Baseball

Allen Craig hot zone

by Jon Sumple | Posted on Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
| 241 baseball fanatics read this article

Post By Jon Sumple (0 Posts)

Stat sheet: Born with a baseball in hand ... threw ball to dad in delivery room ... left-handed. Played ball until elbow blowout in college ... no clue what to do next ... became a sports writer. Season-ticket holder with Florida Marlins from inaugural season until move to Seattle in 2009 ... learning to love the Mariners.

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Through The Fence Baseball
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Saturday, February 27, 2010

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Serving 10 years

Unusual 10 years service plaque from Disneyland.
Size of frame is about 8.5 x 11.
Check out the fancy scroll work.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Congratulations Naomi and Scott

My friends had their Baby "Annabelle Marie Cheely" yesterday morning so a blog post was in order

Monday, February 22, 2010

New Job Badge

Going undercover down at the Acme Plant

Friday, February 19, 2010

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Dumpster Diving

Ok I admit it I cannot pass those large dumpsters people rent without at least pulling over and taking a quick peek. They used to drop them off at my old job at night and then pick them up in the morning. I usually had about 15 minutes to cross the street and take a look. Usually they were empty or full of trash but I did get a few things while I was there. So there I was heading out of my housing track and in one of the drive ways was a giant dumpster. I figured they were cleaning out the house so I stopped and talked to the guy that was doing the dumping. He was a little miffed at first but did let me go thru the dumpster and take what I wanted. Not much that time but got some early HO train stuff ,a nice old shipping crate and a few other odds and ends. That dumpster was picked up the next day. The other day a new dumpster arrive on the street so I know there must be more to come. Sure enough over the last weekend more treasures ( Junk) was filling up the bin. I did stop one night for a quick glance but started to think maybe the neighbors would not like me making noise at 10:30 pm so I cut my dig short. I finally went by yesterday and the man was there so again he let me go thru the dumpster. I got another crate a few spray snow cans and the found a nice box of travel stuff. This morning I went thru the box and Wow was there some great stuff from the area and also from florida. I took a few shots to give you and idea. I think to myself how much get dumped out never seen by us collectors. I get to go back on Friday to save about 200 issues on Popular science so look for a post after I get them home and maybe I will shoot a few undercover shots when I am in the house.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Show Shots

A few shots of the booth at the show this weekend

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

This Saturday Vintage Show

Thought I would let you all know I will have a space at the Inspiration show this coming Saturday.

Check out the website for more info.

Sunday, February 07, 2010

How I spent the Day

I have a new vintage show coming up next weekend and it has a recycle/reuse theme. I planned on bring some crates so I took to the task of bringing them all out of the garage and side yard. That way I could decide which ones to bring.

I am going to need a bigger van.

Friday, February 05, 2010

MM Tires Sights & Sounds

Also found this great 45 at the sale yesterday, I also added the music so take it for a spin

I just realized it's recorded in 33 RPM and I did it on 45 RPM. Oh well enjoy the timesaving 45 RPM version for now.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Estate Esky

I guess working nights has some advantages. If I can stay awake in the morning after dropping off my son at school I try and hit the local estate sales. Today I actually found something great for the Ad collection. It is a small celluloid Esquire Man very detailed and fragile. I have only seen a picture of one other of these a few years ago. He has some damage to his shoes but overall in good shape. I took a picture of him with another Esquire ad guy.


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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Looong Weekend!!!

We had a nice Thanksgiving & Donna worked on Friday. Saturday we were getting ready to make some paper ornaments with the boys when Donnas mom called... Her dad was back in the hospital. It wasn't really serious but when your dad is in his 80s & your mom isn't too far behind, you go to them!

At first we were all going to go & then I convinced Donna it would be better for just her to go. She would be going back & forth to the hospital with her mom & the cardiac floor is really no place to take 3, 2 year olds. So if I was going to be at the house alone with the boys I just assumed stay home with their toys, their beds, our child locks & patiently wait for good news & Donnas return.

So Donna headed down & the boys & I stayed home. Her dads blood pressure got really low & he passed out at home, her mom called an ambulance because he's had a couple of problems with internal bleeding & of course wanted to make sure he wasn't having any other kind of problems. He's had a lot of stomach issues lately also which is what led up to the passing out. They got his blood pressure regulated & ran some test, including a colonoscopy this morning. Nothing serious showed up in any of the tests & he was finally sent home this afternoon.

Donna arrived home just in time to dress the boys for bed & tuck them in. They of course were super excited she was home & did not want to go to bed so she hung out with them for a little bit in their beds.

The boys & I kept busy with a visit from their Aunt Mindy & little cousin Aliyah on Sunday & grocery shopping & a trip to the playground on monday but for some reason The weekend seemed to drag on forever!!! It feels like the holiday weekend was a month long & I am one tired mommy & happy to be off of single mom duty!

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