text:
Deans denies over-confidence is to blame for Wallabies’ defeat

2011-08-09 00:00

AUCKLAND — Wallabies coach Robbie Deans believes that although his players had full respect for the All Blacks on Saturday, they went into the match with the wrong mindset.

The two teams had been engaged in a war of words in the run-up to the Tri-Nations fixture — with backroom staff and players from both sides of the Tasman Sea joining the verbal ruck, and All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen saying that the Wallabies “probably don’t even respect” his team.

Now, in the wake of a humbling defeat, Deans has claimed that over-confidence was not the cause of his team’s 30-14 loss to New Zealand.

“I would suggest our guys got ahead of themselves when you look at how we played,” Deans is reported to have told the Australian.

“In terms of the suggestion [that the Wallabies were cocky] I don’t agree with the suggestion in terms of lack of respect, but our decisions in the game would suggest we didn’t enter the game in the right frame of mind.”

The Wallabies coach instead blamed the result on poor decision making from his players.

“It’s about where you go to and when. We went to the edge [to the sidelines] a lot, unnecessarily, which allowed them to set their defensive line and make our life difficult. You’ve got to do the work first before you go there. There are no easy routes and especially not when you chase the same routes,” said Deans.

“We weren’t great. We weren’t smart and I think we’ll be better for that and this opponent is as good as it gets. But for all of that we left a lot of points out there, whether it be kicks at goal or whether it be not converting a lot of threatening situations. And yet we weren’t far away.”

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text:
Rosberg eyes life beyond 'driving in circles'

2017-01-23 08:55

Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg said there was more to life than "driving round in circles" and hinted he was considering investing in electric cars after his shock retirement.

Rosberg 'curious' to watch successor Bottas

2017-01-18 10:43

Newly-retired Formula 1 World champion Nico Rosberg says he is looking forward to seeing a 'great battle' between Mercedes' new driving duo in 2017.

Berger: I thought Rosberg was still drunk

2017-01-16 18:30

F1 legend Gerhard Berger said he was so surprised of Nico Rosberg's retirement that he thought the champion was still drunk from his celebrations.

Zetsche's first thought: Not Lewis again

2017-01-12 21:34

Receiving a call from Toto Wolff in the wake of the Abu Dhabi GP, Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche has revealed his first reaction was "oh again, something with Lewis."

Ecclestone: No one can blame Rosberg for retiring

2017-01-09 19:26

Bernie Ecclestone says he can understand why Nico Rosberg made the “bold decision” to quit F1 at the end of the last campaign.

Rosberg retirement even caught trainer unaware

2017-01-05 19:00

According to Nico Rosberg's personal trainer Daniel Schlosser, he was just as surprised as anyone else when his client announced his retirement.

Red Bull's Ricciardo rules out Mercedes move

2016-12-21 09:12

Australian Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has officially ruled out a move to Mercedes next season, saying he's committed to Red Bull for the next two years.

I lost title three times in my head - Rosberg

2016-12-15 21:28

Nico Rosberg says that he lost the world title "three times in my head" in the season-defining race in Abu Dhabi.

Horner: Merc 'absolutely favourites' for 2017 title

2016-12-15 10:12

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has no doubts that Mercedes remain the favourites to win the 2017 Formula 1 Championship despite Nico Rosberg's surprise retirement.

'More money would not have made me happy' - Rosberg

2016-12-14 10:00

Nico Rosberg insists that Mercedes has been "understanding" about his late decision to quit the team and Formula 1.

Rosberg eyes life beyond 'driving in circles'

2017-01-20 21:02

Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg says there is more to life than "driving round in circles".

Here are F1 driver line-ups for 2017

2017-01-16 19:06

Valtteri Bottas has been named Lewis Hamilton's new team mate at Mercedes. Here are driver line-ups for the 2017 Formula 1 world championship.

Bottas replaces Rosberg at Mercedes, Massa back at Williams

2017-01-16 18:22

Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas will race alongside Lewis Hamilton at the Mercedes Formula 1 team this season.

Rosberg 'pleased' with Laureus nomination

2017-01-12 10:42

Nico Rosberg has been nominated for the Laureus World Sport Award's 'Breakthrough of the Year' category following his maiden F1 World title.

'Rosberg could have told me' - Hulkenberg on Mercedes F1 seat

2017-01-09 12:40

Nico Hulkenberg says one of his goals in F1 has always been to move to a bigger team, perhaps Mercedes in the future.

Mercedes to 'unveil the beast' in February

2017-01-04 17:14

Mercedes, Formula One's dominant team, have announced the date where they will present their 2017 car at Silverstone.

F1: Hamilton and Mercedes reportedly still at odds

2016-12-19 11:14

Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team are still at odds after the Brit lost the 2016 Formula 1 championship in Abu Dhabi.

No word on Rosberg successor until 2017 - Mercedes

2016-12-15 16:46

Mercedes will not name Nico Rosberg's replacement until January 2017, the team said, amid reports they are chasing Valtteri Bottas from Williams.

Vettel could jump ship to Mercedes in 2018

2016-12-15 10:05

Sebastian Vettel may not replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes in 2017, but the door has not yet closed on 2018.

Rosberg dreaming of quiet Christmas...and movie stardom?

2016-12-13 14:30

Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg was looking forward to a quiet Christmas before plotting his next bid for the big time ... as an action hero movie star.

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text:
Iraq suicide bomber hits Sunni mosque

2013-07-19 15:03
(File, AP)

(File, AP)

Multimedia   ·   User Galleries   ·   News in Pictures Send us your pictures  ·  Send us your stories

Baquba - A suicide bomber struck a crowded Sunni mosque north of Baghdad on Friday, killing 20 people, police said, as Iraq struggles to contain the worst violence since 2008.

The bomber detonated explosives in the Abu Bakr al-Sadiq Mosque as the imam gave the Friday sermon in the town of Al-Wajihiyah, east of Baquba, the capital of Diyala province, a police colonel said.

The attack also wounded 40 people. A doctor confirmed the toll.

Areas near Baquba have been hit by a number of attacks in recent days, including a bombing on Tuesday that targeted worshippers leaving a Sunni mosque in Muqdadiyah, northeast of the city, killing four people and wounding 15.

The latest unrest brings the number of people killed in attacks in July to more than 450, and upwards of 2 700 since the beginning of the year.

Iraq has faced years of attacks by militants, but analysts say widespread discontent among members of its Sunni Arab minority, which the Shi'ite-led government has failed to address, has fuelled this year's surge in unrest.

Read more on:    iraq

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text:
According to the Media, Most Economic News is Bad News

Regardless of economic data, press accounts are typically negative and pessimistic.

The economy has been growing at a very strong clip since October 2001. Real estate prices are at their highest levels in history, as are homeownership and Americans’ average net worth. Unemployment also is lower than the average during any of the past three decades. Yet Americans are very down, and one third even think the economy is in a recession. Is consistently negative media coverage influencing public attitudes? Might headlines like “Job growth less than expected” and “Jobs come up weak” have something to do with the gloom being felt across the country?

The Labor Department announced unemployment numbers for October on November 4, and despite a decline in this rate and an addition to payrolls, the media reported the gains as “surprisingly meager,” “stalled,” “damped,” and “disappointing.”

As measured by the gross domestic product, the economy has now grown by 3 percent or more for 10 straight quarters – a feat that hasn't been achieved since the mid-’80s and never occurred during the “boom” years of the ’90s. The unemployment rate now stands at 5 percent.

But consumer confidence as measured by the Conference Board, a non-profit economic research and forecasting organization, is at 85, its lowest reading since October 2003 when unemployment was 20 percent higher than it is today. At the same time, according to Scott Rasmussen of Rasmussen Reports, "34 percent believe the U.S. is in a recession." And, a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll stated that 61 percent of Americans disapprove of the way President Bush is handling the economy.

Regardless of what economic data is released by the various government agencies responsible for such things, the media tend to report it as bad news. When the press make pessimistic predictions that don’t pan out, rarely will they revisit them or explain why they were wrong. And when data is reported that is better than expected, the press will often downplay it by suggesting that the numbers are preliminary but could be revised lower later. When such revisions actually improve the picture originally depicted, this too is largely ignored. Some examples from coverage of the latest jobs numbers:

  • “Job growth was surprisingly meager last month, the Labor Department reported yesterday, in a sign that business executives have become worried that the economic damage from high energy prices might be growing.” The New York Times
  • “U.S. job growth stalled last month, the Labor Department reported yesterday, suggesting that employers remained cautious about hiring because of high energy prices.” The Washington Post
  • “The nation's job market rebounded last month from hurricane-related losses, although the payroll gain was far below expectations as high energy prices may have damped hiring in regions not directly hit by the storms, the government reported Friday.” The Los Angeles Times
  • “Job growth resumed in October but came in well below economists' forecasts, due to softness in the labor market nationwide, rather than disruptions from Hurricane Katrina.” CNN/Money

These same media outlets completely ignored their own gloomy and, as it turns out, faulty predictions made for the labor markets and the economy shortly after Katrina hit New Orleans. For example, as reported by The Free Market Project, the Los Angeles Times’ Joel Havemann wrote on September 3, 2005: “Katrina's effects — not only on the Gulf Coast regions where it struck but also on the national economy via higher energy prices and disrupted ports — could result in the loss of as many as 500,000 jobs.”

Nell Henderson of the Washington Post wrote the same day: “Hurricane Katrina, by forcing an exodus of workers and families from New Orleans and surrounding areas, appears likely to rank alongside Sept. 11, 2001, and the Arab oil embargo of 1973 as one of the nation's most serious and sudden economic shocks – particularly in terms of job losses – in recent memory.”

However, when the September unemployment report came in much better than the media had been forecasting – showing a loss of only 35,000 non-farm payroll jobs instead of the hundreds of thousands that were forecast – the press downplayed this number by stating that it was too early to tell just what the real impact of Katrina was. Here’s how CNN/Money categorized the September data: “Still, economists cautioned that it was premature to say damage to the job market from Katrina was minimal, noting it could take months to assess the full impact of the storm.”

Well, it’s now a month later, and the September report indeed was revised – for the better. Instead of what many predicted in the press, the Labor Department’s November 4 announcement showed that the nation lost only 8,000 non-farm payroll jobs in September as opposed to the 35,000 initially reported. Add to that 56,000 jobs created in October. Adjusting the October gains with the September losses, that means 48,000 new non-farm payroll positions have been added since Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast – instead of the hundreds of thousands that Americans were told by the media would be lost.

Nevertheless, Americans turned on their television sets the evening of November 4 to hear Brian Williams of NBC’s “Nightly News” state:

“Back here at home this busy Friday night, news on the economy and the job market, still struggling to recover from a brutal hurricane season. Employers boosted payrolls by just 56,000 last month. That's well short of what economists were forecasting.”

And, they opened their Saturday newspapers to learn why getting too large of a raise can actually be bad for them. As reported by the Associated Press’s Jeannine Aversa:

“A wage barometer that economists monitor for signs of inflation picked up strongly.

“Workers' average hourly earnings rose to $16.27 in October, up 0.5 percent from September. Wage gains are good for workers and can fuel spending, an important ingredient to the economy's good health. But a rapid pickup in wage growth can lead economists to fret about inflation.”

This is the largest monthly increase to average hourly wages since February 2003, and the AP and other media outlets depicted it as negative due to its inflationary potential. However, for several years the media have been reporting that the jobs being created in the current recovery are low-paying, and that as a result, wage gains are not keeping up with inflation. In fact, a Google search of the phrase “wages lagging inflation” produced 188,000 results.

Nicholas Riccardi of the Los Angeles Times wrote about this in April in an article entitled “Wages Lagging Behind Prices”:

“For the first time in 14 years, the American workforce has in effect gotten an across-the-board pay cut.

“The growth in wages in 2004 and the first two months of this year trailed inflation, compounding the squeeze from higher housing, energy and other costs.”

As a result, after years of being told that they weren’t earning enough money to make ends meet, Americans are now being informed that receiving too much of a raise is also a bad thing. As such, it appears that whatever economic data is released, the media tend to report it as a cataclysm. Is it any wonder the public is so gloomy?

Free Market Project

Noel Sheppard
Noel Sheppard
Noel Sheppard, Associate Editor of NewsBusters, passed away in March of 2014.


WARC-Truncated: length

text:
Daimler AG plans to look at additional cooperation projects with Tesla Motors Inc. as the maker of Mercedes-Benz luxury cars targets Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s sales lead.

Daimler, which will use a Tesla drivetrain in an all- electric version of the Mercedes B-Class compact, owns a 4.3 percent stake in the Palo Alto, Calif.-based manufacturer and plans to keep the holding to maintain ties.

Search cars

“We should look at more cooperation so we like the stake,” Chief Financial Officer Bodo Uebber said today at a press conference in New York. Uebber is in New York meeting with shareholders to give them an update on the Stuttgart, Germany- based company’s plans to grow revenue and profit margins in the coming years.

Daimler Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche has vowed to surpass BMW in sales by the end of the decade after Mercedes dropped to third behind Volkswagen AG’s Audi in 2011.

Underpinning that goal are plans to develop 13 all-new models in the next eight years, including the GLA compact sport-utility vehicle due in showrooms in early 2014.

BMW is looking to keep ahead of the competition by rolling out new models like the i3 electric city car and the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car in the coming months.

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Tesla is an important piece of Daimler’s technology strategy as the German automaker looks at more applications for electric-powered cars, Uebber said. The company currently sells an electric version of the Smart city car and has rolled out a battery-powered version of the SLS gull-wing supercar.

‘Good Fit’

“Mercedes, with respect to the electric car, it’s a very niche operation for them,” Alan Baum, an auto analyst at Baum & Associates in West Bloomfield, Mich., said by telephone. “The product Tesla provides actually fits rather well with them, and the relationship between the companies has been a good fit.”

Daimler has bought battery packs and electric motors from Tesla for its Smart EV minicar and is readying an electric Mercedes-Benz B-Class hatchback using Tesla technology.

Harald Kroeger, Daimler’s vice president of electrics, electronics and e-Drive, is a member of Tesla’s board.

Tesla’s Model S sedan, priced from about $70,000 to more than $100,000, is the top-selling vehicle this year in eight of the 25 wealthiest U.S. ZIP codes, according to Edmunds.com, citing analysis of new-car registration data from R.L. Polk & Co. All eight communities are in California, Edmunds, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based automotive data company, said Oct. 31 in a statement.

Margin Target

In addition to boosting sales, Daimler plans to cut 2 billion euros ($2.7 billion) in costs through 2014 to rival BMW in profitability. Mercedes has a long-standing target of generating operating profit equivalent to at least 10 percent of sales. The goal, which was originally targeted for 2010, was indefinitely postponed last year.

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“We can once again close the gap with our competition on sales and margins,” Uebber said. “There is more and more confidence in our long-term strategy” and results in 2014 and 2015 can be “even better.”

Mercedes posted an operating profit margin of 7.3 percent for the third quarter, up from 6.4 percent in the second quarter. BMW, which reports third-quarter earnings Nov. 5, reported a profit margin of 9.6 percent from automotive business in the quarter ended June 30.

Daimler forecast that fourth-quarter operating profit will rise as the Mercedes CLA coupe, E-Class sedan and flagship S- Class win customers in a sign that Zetsche’s strategy is gaining traction. Third-quarter earnings before interest and taxes jumped 16 percent to 2.23 billion euros. Nine-month delivery growth at Mercedes exceeded gains at BMW and Audi.


text:
Longtime teacher's aide at LI elementary school

Business manager, bookkeeper for plumbing and hardware store

PhotosRecent notable deaths See also50 LIers we lost in 2015See alsoSee more LI, U.S. obits

Former preschool director and teacher

WWII radarman on USS Gillette destroyer escort

Retired NYPD officer, funeral home employee

Read more obituaries.

Place an obituary notice.

Place an In Memoriam notice.

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text:
10 Celeb Couples With Out-of-Wedlock Kids
Don't worry, Kim and Kanye, you're not alone
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 5, 2013 6:30 AM CST
Matthew McConaughey, a cast member in "Bernie," poses alongside his wife Camila Alves at the premiere of the film on the opening night of the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival, June 16, 2011.   (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

(Newser) – Rob Kardashian seems a little scandalized by the fact that his sister Kim and Kanye West are having a baby even though they're not married—but they're far from the only ones. Get ready to be shocked, Rob, because ABC News lists nine more couples who found themselves in the same situation:

  • Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson weren't married when she gave birth to daughter Maxwell Drew—and now she's pregnant again, and they've still yet to wed.
  • Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves recently had their third child together, but she was the first of the three to be born after they tied the knot.
  • Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have been engaged since 2009, but are waiting for same-sex marriage to become legal before getting hitched. They're expecting their first baby in the spring.

  • Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied announced their pregnancy and engagement at the same time, and they didn't wed until more than a year after their son was born.
  • Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber have been together since 2005, and have two sons together, but they've yet to get married.
Click for the complete list.

My Take on This Story
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text:
Heat Wave Claims 49 Lives
Triple-digit temperatures take toll in Midwest, Southeast
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User
Posted Aug 19, 2007 11:48 AM CDT
A young girl plays in the fountain at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Aug. 15. 2007. A heat wave continues in Southern California with National Weather Service reporting area...   (Associated Press)
camera-icon View 3 more images

(Newser) – The heat wave sweeping across the Midwest and Southeast has claimed at least 49 lives over the past week. Officials in Alabama and Memphis reported the 10 most recent deaths on Saturday, mostly elderly citizens. The weather forecast for next week predicts some relief from the triple digit-temperatures that has baked the two states for more than a week without a break.

Memphis's senior centers are coordinating shuttle services and extended opening hours to get the elderly into air-conditioned environments. In Alabama, a nuclear power plant had to cut back output because the water it uses from a nearby river to cool down the reactors was too hot. But some are taking to the heat philanthropically: an anonymous donor gave over 20,000 bottles of water for kids to drink on school buses.


text:
Eddie Cibrian

15 Stories

10 Ugliest Celeb Breakups

YouTube and cross-dressing and tell-alls, oh my!

(Newser) - Admit it: You kind of love when a Hollywood split gets ugly. Well you're in luck, because Radar has rounded up 30 of the nastiest celebrity breakups ever :
  • Mary Harvey accused Steve Harvey of cheating on her ... on YouTube. A judge finally ordered her to take the videos down.
... More »

LeAnn Rimes' Birthday Gift to Self: Rehab

Not, her rep insists, for an eating disorder

(Newser) - All the cheating drama and comments about her weight appear to have taken a toll on LeAnn Rimes: The country star checked in to a treatment center yesterday—the day after she turned 30—for 30 days "to cope with anxiety and stress," her rep tells People . She... More »

Lights Out for Playboy Club

Mr. LeAnn Rimes is out of a job ... and the oh-so-sexy Brian Williams swoops in

(Newser) - Who do you find sexier: Playboy bunnies or Brian Williams? If you went with the former you're out of luck, because NBC's 10pm EDT Monday time slot is about to be filled by the latter. The Playboy Club has officially become the first cancellation of the fall season.... More »

LeAnn Rimes, Eddie Cibrian Get Hitched

Couple told invited friends, family to alleged engagement party

(Newser) - LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian invited pals to an alleged engagement party yesterday—then just went ahead and got married, reports People. The couple exchanged "personalized" vows in front of a crowd of 40 at a private California home. "I'm looking forward to settling down," Rimes... More »

Eddie Cibrian, LeAnn Rimes Engaged

'I was shocked! We are blessed,' tweets Rimes

(Newser) - Cheaters may or may never prosper, but they do get engaged: LeeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian, who began a torrid double-marriage-busting affair on the set of a made-for-TV movie, are officially tying the knot. The couple is "very happy," reports Celebuzz, and Rimes is sporting a 5-carat rock.... More »

LeAnn Rimes on Cheating: 'It Happens Every Day'

Safe to say she's happy with the outcome of her infidelity

(Newser) - LeAnn Rimes has already made it clear that she has no regrets about the ultimate outcome of her cheating scandal—and it seems her attitude has not changed. What happened to Rimes and co-star Eddie Cibrian, both of whom were married when they met and fell in love, “happens... More »

Shape Apologizes for Putting Rimes on Cover

Magazine's editor: We didn't mean to tout 'husband-stealer'

(Newser) - Who knew LeAnn Rimes offended so many people? Enough readers complained about her appearance on the cover of Shape that the editor-in-chief actually apologized, TooFab.com reports. Rimes, of course, cheated on her husband with also-married co-star Eddie Cibrian, ultimately breaking up both marriages . In an email to subscribers who... More »

LeAnn Rimes: Cheating Worked Out in the End!

She feels bad, but not all that bad

(Newser) - LeAnn Rimes talks publicly about her cheating scandal for the first time—and though she feels bad and all, she's really not sad about how everything worked out. She calls her affair with Eddie Cibrian—which ultimately broke up both of their marriages—“selfish” and tells People , “I... More »

10 Women Who Cheated

Did anyone see it coming from Whoopi?

(Newser) - Jesse James and Tiger Woods are getting a lot of heat for sleeping around while married, but men aren’t the only ones who cheat. The Frisky rounds up 10 famous female cheaters:
  • Whoopi Goldberg: Admitted Wednesday on The View, while discussing James, that she “screwed around” while married
... More »

Rimes Announces Divorce

(Newser) - After a much-publicized affair that ended the marriage of a co-star, LeAnn Rimes says she, too, is filing for divorce. “After much thoughtful mutual consideration, Dean and I have agreed to move forward with dissolving our marriage,” Rimes, 27, writes on her website of Dean Sheremet, whom she... More »

Rimes' Marriage Hits Skids, Too

Plus, Mr. Winehouse gets his own headline

(Newser) - Days after Eddie Cibrian’s wife announced their separation, Cibrian’s Northern Lights co-star—and rumored lover—LeAnn Rimes’ hubby is addressing reports their marriage is also over, the New York Daily News reports. Dean Sheremet recently Twittered, “Thanks to everyone for all the support through a very difficult... More »

Wife Dumps Rimes' Alleged Lover

Plus, Kennedy and Love Hewitt not engaged quite yet

(Newser) - Eddie Cibrian is rumored to have strayed with costar LeAnn Rimes—and now he’s paying the price. Wife Brandi Glanville left him after catching the cheating pair together again, she tells Us, adding, “Eddie and LeAnn deserve each other.” Cibrian was quick to shoot back a statement... More »

LeAnn Takes High Road on Rumors

Rep calls 'stalker' comment defamatory

(Newser) - LeAnn Rimes responded to accusations that she's stalking her co-star and rumored lover—by not really responding. The singer tells People, “I’m a classy woman, I’m never going to battle anything out in the press.” Earlier yesterday, Rimes’ rep called the stalker comment, leveled by Eddie... More »

Jon & Kate Surface, Play Nice

Plus, LeAnn Rimes caught with costar again (sorta), and more

(Newser) - Beleaguered reality couple Jon and Kate Gosselin celebrated their sextuplets’ fifth birthday yesterday, their first public appearance together in 2 weeks, Us Weekly reports. Their bodyguard—Kate’s alleged lover—joined in the festivities, held a week late because Kate reportedly spent their actual birthday, on Mother's Day, at a... More »

LeAnn Rimes Cheating With Her Co-Star

Pair, both married, caught kissing off Lifetime movie set

(Newser) - Country singer LeAnn Rimes is having an affair with co-star Eddie Cibrian, reveals Us Weekly. Security cameras caught the couple holding hands and kissing over dinner last week. They also checked into a hotel for three hours, the magazine reports. Both are married and star together in the Lifetime movie... More »

15 Stories


text:
Central Valley Meat

2 Stories

USDA Recalls Beef Meant for School Lunches

Plastic pieces found in meat

(Newser) - If you sent your children to school for "hot lunch" this morning, you’ll want to see this… or maybe you won’t. The USDA recalled beef after small pieces of plastic were found in it—but it’s who the meat was meant for that’s grabbing headlines.... More »

McDonald's Dumps Beef Plant Linked to Abuse

Joins In-N-Out in exodus over video of abused cows

(Newser) - McDonald's is quickly backing away from the California beef plant linked to animal abuse in an undercover video that's reverberating around the meat industry, reports ABC News . The fast-food joint joins In-N-Out as the second major chain to dump Central Valley Meat after the feds shut it down,... More »

2 Stories


text:
home decoration

3 Stories

What Your Xmas Lights Say About You

They say you're a pretty princess

(Newser) - Your neighbor’s yard is strewn with lit-up Santas, blinking stars, and a waving snowman. Think he’s trying to tell you something? It turns out he is, psychologists tell the Chicago Tribune. They consider decorations a manifestation of our need to communicate. “It’s a very basic tendency... More »

Miss. Cops Bust Pap for Stalking Jamie Lynn

But photog says he was 200 feet away

(Newser) - A paparazzo who once photographed Britney Spears’ bare nether regions was charged Tuesday for stalking the pop wreck’s pregnant teen sister Jamie Lynn, the AP reports. Authorities say Edwin Merino wouldn't leave the ready-to-pop Jamie Lynn, 17, and her baby daddy alone; he says he was shooting from a... More »

Baby Diva? Mariah Reportedly Nesting

Newlywed songbird reportedly getting help feathering nest from J.Lo's baby boutique

(Newser) - Baby could soon make three for newlyweds Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, the New York Daily News reports, after hearing from sources that Carey, 38, has commissioned celebrity baby boutique Petit Tresor to design a nursery around a butterfly theme. For inspiration, the store is sending the couple pics of... More »

3 Stories


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Female Jhadis Released Document Related To Women

February 6, 2015 9:43 AM

5 0

A document detailing how women should live in Islamic state has been released by al-Khanssaa Brigade, an all-female branch of Islamic State.

According to the details in the document, the women should be married off at the age of nine years, they should stay at their respective homes and be veiled, and the one and only purpose of their survival and existence should be motherhood.

Read more

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Trip to DC for Pope: ‘Really awesome’

September 23, 2015 6:07 PM

5 0

Cait Palmiter got up shortly after 4 a.m. to stake out a spot to see Pope Francis in Washington, D.C.

In the early morning hours, she and fellow travelers made their way to the park south of the White House known as the Ellipse, and staked out their spot to wait.

Read more

To category page


text:
Problem with skinny jeans - level 1

Problem with skinny jeans - level 1

26-06-2015 07:00

A woman is moving house. She needs to move her things. She squats for hours. She wears skinny jeans.

The jeans make her legs swell. She must go to hospital. Doctors help her. After four days, she is fine.

Skinny jeans are popular, but they are not healthy.

Difficult words: squat (to sit with your knees bent under you and your bottom just off the ground), swell (to get bigger because something is wrong).

You can read the original story and watch the video in the Level 3 section.

Do you wear skinny jeans?

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Crius Announces 2% Distribution Increase for Fourth Quarter 2016 and Intends to Continue to Increase Distributions in 2017

TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2016 /CNW/ - Crius Energy Trust (the "Trust") (TSX: KWH.UN) announced today that the Board of Directors of Crius Energy Administrator Inc., the administrator of the Trust (the "Board") has approved a 2% increase to distributions paid on units of the Trust ("Units"), representing an annualized increase of $0.0149 per Unit and a total annualized distribution of $0.7578 per Unit. Accordingly, distributions on Units for the months of October 2016, November 2016 and December 2016 will be paid at a rate of $0.0632 per Unit, representing a 2% increase over the previous annualized distribution rate of $0.7429 per Unit.

"Management and the Board are very pleased with the ongoing positive impacts of the Company's growth strategy in our deregulated energy and solar businesses, evident by the fourth 2% distribution increase for the year," commented Michael Fallquist, CEO of Crius Energy. "With strong prospects for ongoing growth and a very conservative payout ratio, the Board is confident that it will be able to continue increasing distributions in 2017, and will re-evaluate further distribution increases beyond the end of next year."

Today, the Board declared the Trust's monthly distributions on Units, each in the amount of $0.0632 per Unit, through the fourth quarter of 2016. Such distributions are payable for each of October 2016, November 2016 and December 2016 to unitholders of the Trust as set forth below.

Record Date

Distribution Payable

Distribution Amount per

October 31, 2016

October 27, 2016

November 15, 2016

November 30, 2016

November 28, 2016

December 15, 2016

December 31, 2016

December 28, 2016

January 16, 2017

About Crius Energy Trust

Crius Energy Trust was established to provide investors with a distribution-producing investment through its ownership interest in Crius Energy, LLC (the "Company"). With over 940,000 residential customer equivalents, the Company is a comprehensive energy solutions partner that provides electricity, natural gas and solar products to residential and commercial customers. The Company connects with energy customers through an innovative family-of-brands strategy and multi-channel marketing approach. This unique combination creates multiple access points to a broad suite of energy products and services that make it easier for consumers to make informed decisions about their energy needs. The Company currently sells energy products in 19 states and the District of Columbia with plans to continue expanding its geographic reach.

The Trust intends to continue to qualify as a "mutual fund trust" under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). The Trust will not be a "SIFT trust" (as defined in the Tax Act), provided that the Trust complies at all times with its investment restriction which preclude the Trust from holding any "non-portfolio property" (as defined in the Tax Act). Material information pertaining to the Crius may be found on SEDAR under the Trust's issuer profile at or on the Trust's website at

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and actual results may differ materially from the conclusion, forecast or projection stated in such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include but are not limited to, the ability of the Trust to maintain a distribution on Units, the ability of Crius Energy, LLC to continue completing acquisitions and continue its organic growth strategy, Crius Energy, LLC's results of operations, financial position or cash flows, customer revenues and margins, customer additions and renewals, customer attrition, customer consumption levels, general and administrative expenses, treatment under governmental regulatory regimes, the Trust's objectives and status as a mutual fund trust and not a SIFT trust, the Trust's distributable cash and the Trust's expectations and estimates regarding the payment of distributions to Unit holders. Such assumptions, expectations, estimates, risks and uncertainties are discussed under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Special Notes to Reader – Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors" in the Annual Information Form of the Trust dated March 15, 2016, and under the headings "Financial Instruments and Risk Management" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of the Trust dated August 10, 2016. Consequently, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statements will materialize. Readers should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Crius Energy Trust

For further information: Michael Fallquist, Chief Executive Officer, Crius Energy Trust, (203) 663-7545; Roop Bhullar, Chief Financial Officer, Crius Energy Trust, (203) 883-9900; Kelly Castledine, Investor Relations, Crius Energy Trust, (416) 644-1753

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text:
New Tools to Study Forest Fires, Traffic Jams, & Other Problems

Article ID: 505971

Released: 9-Jul-2004 4:10 PM EDT

Source Newsroom: Carleton University

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Newswise — The control of forest fires has developed into a complex science costing millions of dollars internationally. In the U.S. more than 10 million acres of forest burn annually while, in Canada, over 8,000 fires last year claimed more than 1.5 million hectares. Experts around the world are continuing to research new and innovative ways of battling forest fires.

At Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, Systems and Computer Engineering Professor Gabriel Wainer has created a software toolkit that can be used to define very complex physical systems. One of the applications is intended to predict the spread of forest fires. Dr. Wainer points out that his simulation research can also be used for other purposes such as predicting traffic flow. "We could use the toolkit to reprogram traffic lights that would move the traffic differently and prevent traffic jams." Another use is the examination of wireless communication patterns e.g. predicting ad hoc communication networks. "We can look at coverage and the shortest pathways to get from point A to point B."

"What we've done with the fire spread models is to build on other researchers' work and design a computer simulation model considering various factors such as wind speed and direction, terrain, slope, and forestfighter participation, in order to study how these factors will affect the spread of a forest fire. You could use this toolkit to predict whether a town is endangered or where to place a forest fire team in order to combat a fire most effectively."

Dr. Wainer says the toolkit is now ready to be used in different applications in collaboration with industry and government agencies. "Of course, we will then have to make more adjustments and changes as we continue to upgrade our product."

Dr. Wainer notes that the fire spread application implemented in his toolkit is a continuation of work that has been conducted for decades. He said it began in 1972 when an American researcher at the USDA Forest Service, R.C. Rothermel developed a mathematical model to predict the spread of forest fires. "He is now viewed as the godfather of this research." Researchers used this model to devise various theories about the best way to examine fire spread. "Researchers at the University of Arizona developed a discrete event fire spread model and we then took their research and condensed about 50 pages of their computer codes into a simple one-page model using higher level language that allows the user to focus more on the actual problem than issues related to computer programming." Dr. Wainer continued: "This toolkit is easier to use as it is simpler to make changes and modify. Practically, someone could add a couple of lines that introduces different factors such as 'What if it is raining?' or 'What if a firefighter is placed here at this point and time?"

Last year, Carleton University signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Arizona to signify an ongoing relationship that would lead to an important exchange of research, faculty, and students in all disciplines. This partnership is the largest Canada-U.S. alliance for both schools. "I already had some dealings with faculty at the U of A before we struck this agreement," points out Dr. Wainer, "but this collaboration is really helping us to move forward in this field of research."

Dr. Wainer recently returned from a European Simulation Symposium that allowed him to compare notes with colleagues in France and Germany. He was hired by Carleton University in 2000 as an Assistant Professor of Systems and Computer Engineering. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Aix-Marseilles in France and his M.A. at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. He is the author of two books "Methodologies and tools for discrete-event simulation" (in Spanish, 2003) and "Real-Time Systems: concepts and applications" (in Spanish, 1997) along with several journal articles.

Dr. Wainer's research project is just one of a number of amazing research projects now underway at Carleton University in Canada. A major new international facility for underground science called SNOLAB, which will feature the deepest underground laboratory in the world, is now being constructed. It will transform the already renowned Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) experiment into a permanent, world-class research facility. Carleton is the administrator of this project that will help people better understand the basic nature of our universe and its evolution. As Carleton's David Sinclair, director and principal investigator of SNOLAB points out: "We can only imagine where the results of this research will take us." Construction is expected to be completed by 2007. The project is a collaborative effort among six Canadian universities and several international partners.

Carleton University, Canada's Capital University, has seen its sponsored research grow fourfold in the past four years to the tune of $100 million. Earlier this year, Carleton's Sprott School of Business won the Institutional Best Overall Research Performance Award from the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada. In October 2002, Alcatel selected Carleton as its first Canadian Alcatel Global Research Partner. A list of Canada's top 50 research universities published November 4, 2003 in the National Post puts Carleton third among comprehensive universities in Canada in research funding.

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text:
New Castle County Police are investigating a homicide at the Fieldcrest Apartments just before 10 p.m. Thursday.

Police were called to the area of the 700 block of Peachtree Rd. for a report of shots fired. When they arrived, they found a man lying on the ground. They started CPR and the victim was taken to Wilmington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

County police detectives are still conducting interviews and trying to figure out what happened. They say anyone with information on the incident should call New Castle County Police at 302-395-8110.


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New York Shitty Day Starter: Bloomturd

It would appear that someone isn’t very keen of Mayor Mike’s 1,000,000 trees initiative.

Miss Heather

2 Comments on New York Shitty Day Starter: Bloomturd

  1. no no on Thu, 30th Jul 2009 9:56 am
  2. Ah. Kent avenue. When the city rezoned this area in 2005 , they forgot to bother to pre-think the consequences of additional traffic needs like widening Kent avenue. Then they added a couple of bike lanes to the mix. Now there isn’t enough room for all of it. The city’s idea is to make Kent avenue one way, and leave southbound trucks with no way to go but down small or already overburdened streets. SAY NO to this craptasticly dangerous idea , by signing this petition , please.

  3. rowan on Thu, 30th Jul 2009 6:01 pm
  4. That is a very hefty poop.

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!

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text:
TODAY: NAG Town Hall Meeting

March 26, 2009 by
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg

nag 3-26-09 meeting

This item was brought to my attention by my buddy over at Brooklyn11211. Among the items to be discussed at this meeting will be their North Brooklyn Story Project which, as it would happen, is still taking volunteers. Why not take some time out of your evening tonight and learn more about what NAG is cooking up for our community?

NAG Town Hall Meeting
March 26, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Swinging Sixties Senior Center
211 Ainslie Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211

I can only hope the “Seedballs” project will be brought to the table. I realize this is sophomoric but I cannot read, much less write, this word without giggling like a school girl. Good times.

Miss Heather

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!

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Richard and Julie's House

This brand new 300sq metre luxurious cliff top beach house has spectacular 280 degree water views up and down the coast of Northland New Zealand. Close to many of the finest beaches New Zealand has to offer. Safe anchorage at Mahinepua Bay.

Per night
$345 - $550

Contact Us

Perfect beach accommodation for 2 families or larger groups. Consisting of 3 bedrooms with king/queen size doubles or singles, it comfortably sleeps 6 people, while boasting additional 2 single beds and a fold out double bed in the downstairs rumpus for 3 extra guests.

Read more

Enjoy its generous living and dining spaces, fully equipped kitchen, indoor and outdoor fireplaces and extensive decking with alfresco entertaining area. This house offers incredible coastal and water views and a 8ft dinghy at the bottom of the cliff.

Steps in front of the house lead to the water and access to the bay which is perfect for kayaking. Located only a 15 min walk to the sheltered Mahinepua Beach, and with plentiful fishing and diving at your doorstep!

Visit our website

Get directions

Physical address

Richard and Julie's House, 95C Mahinepua Rd, Matauri Bay, Northland, 0478, New Zealand.

Opening times

Business hours:
Months of operation:
All months of the year

Facilities and Features

  • Sky - communal
  • Pet Friendly
  • BBQ Facility
Number of rooms:

Pricing and Conditions

Per night $345.00 - $550.00

Contact Us

The content on this page was created by Amazing Accom

This website helps visitors connect with providers of great New Zealand tourism experiences. It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider meets certain quality standards or legal obligations. Please contact this business for more information. See also: terms of use.


text:
Sylgja default clothes replacer Deluxe Edition by Aurelio Magherelli
Skyrim » Companions
Added: 17/12/2011 - 08:08PM
Updated: 22/01/2012 - 10:07AM

114 Endorsements

v3 Latest version

1,632 Unique D/Ls

6,403 Total D/Ls

63,843 Total Views

Uploaded by AurelioMagherelli

Last updated at 10:07, 22 Jan 2012 Uploaded at 20:08, 17 Dec 2011

by AurelioMagherelli

Now boost her stats while making her a follower!
In the optional section

NEW IN V3 Deluxe Edition:
Changed her default clothes to Emperor
Replaced her pickaxe with an enchanted shock Glass Dagger
Added a Glass Bow so she doesn't glitch back to Hunting Bow
Added Circlet of Extreme Marksman as default
Changed her npc type to Human Missile
Added 3 Spells:
Conjure Familiar

Of course this is mainly, almost exclusively for those who married her and moved her to your house, you can find old less intrusive versions (lots of them) in the download section.

Some time ago I made this mod:

because I like Sylgja in game.
I resorted to swapping the meshes of minerclothes.

Turns out tho, making an .esp that changes Sylgja's clothes specifically is quite easy.

With this .esp ONLY Sylgja's default clothes are changed.
Meaning, whenever she defaults to her outfit she'll wear this.
No more mining clothes.

Also, you may use my other mod at the same time, doesn't matter.
I suggest the other one, the chef or merchant variant, so that other female miners (Annekke, Daighre, etc) have something better as default than sucky miner clothes.

If you want to make her a follower, download the optional file, then open console, click on her and type "bat sylgjafollower". Done.
If you make her a follower you then can give her armor, weapons and equipment easily. Not to mention take her out of the house once in a while, poor thing.
At the same time the bat will boost her following stats:
Health to 300 and
Light Armor
One Handed
all to 90

Now added a make her essential bat.
Pretty useful since she's pretty weak compared to other followers.

I'm open to requests, I can make any outfit if you want.
I could add armor defaults, but I don't see the point. It's much better to just give her one yourself after you make her a follower.
She unequips it when in the house or at the mine.
She only equips it when you go questing with her (after a cell load).

To get rid of the pickaxe, give her a knife, she should equip that one instead.
Unless of course, you let her keep her miner job.

If you already changed her outfit a 'resurrect' command might be required in order for her to load her new default clothes.
Or just try to leave her at home, change game cell (fast travel, etc) then she might have respawned correctly.

No textures are included in my mod, just a .esp
The textures you'll get are whatever you have installed for each outfit.
Most of the clothes you see in the screens are from Swagrabbit's mod.
All credits go to him.

Drop the .esp in your Skyrim/Data.
Enable it either from launcher or plugins.txt located in X:\Users\XXX\AppData\Local\Skyrim
Drop the bat file in your Skyrim/Data.

Disable the esp


text:
Photo of Scooby Wright III
Drafted By: Browns

Combine Results

5.59 ?
  • 4.90 SEC
    Top Performer
  • 22 REPS
    Top Performer
  • 31.0 INCH
    Top Performer
  • 113.0 INCH
    Top Performer
  • 4.47 SEC
    Top Performer

Draft Analysis:

The Zach Thomas comparisons are legit with this guy. He has some size/athletic limitations but injuries pushed him further down boards than his talent alone suggests. --Mark Dulgerian

  • 6'0" Height
  • 30 1/2" Arm Length
  • 239LBS. Weight
  • 9 3/4" Hands

Philip "Scooby" Wright III (his dad gave him the nickname, calling him his "little Scooby-Doo") was simply the best defender in college football in 2014, winning the coveted triple crown of national awards: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award and Chuck Bednarik Award. The unanimous All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year ranked among the top five players in the country with 163 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and six forced fumbles. He was a one-man wrecking crew. Wright showed some glimpses of that talent in his freshman season, where he started 12 games, making 83 tackles, 9.5 for loss, and an interception straight off the bus as a two-time California All-State pick. His junior year was much more of a struggle than he expected, as he played just three games due first to a torn lateral meniscus in this left knee and then to a sprained right foot. His final game in a Wildcat uniform was one to remember, however, as he racked up 15 stops, 3.5 for loss and two sacks against an option team in the New Mexico Lobos in the New Mexico Bowl. Wright was a two-star recruit despite his successful high school career due to a perceived lack of athleticism, but doubters of his ability to play in the NFL have hopefully learned their lesson.

Pro Day Results

40-yard dash: 4.87 seconds
Vertical: 35 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 4 inches
Short shuttle: 4.55 seconds
3-cone: 7.25 seconds

Possesses elite instincts. Appears to head in direction of the play like he knows the play call. Extremely active and always on the balls of his feet and ready to hunt. Plays with an insane amount of competitive fire. Flows quickly to point with downhill action and looking to disrupt. Is often able to force cutbacks or alter the running backs track. Can time snaps and shoot gaps making him a dangerous blitzer. His 2014 season, which included 163 tackles, 29 tackles for losses, 14 sacks and six forced fumbles, is widely considered the most productive for a linebacker in college football history. Explodes with hips into tackles and finishes with his feet. Play speed is faster than timed speed thanks to combination of instincts and burst to the ball. Shows plus lateral agility with ability to engage in, shed, or beat the block.

Needs to learn to harness his energy and passion to improve his body control. Will end up on the ground a little too often due to revved up motor. Average athlete with below average straight-line speed. Plays upright. Needs more bend in his waist and knees to improve his pad level and leverage. Can improve his tackling. Will get run through at times due to leverage issues. Stiff change of direction creates arm tackling situations and missed tackles. Gets caught guessing sometimes and will vacate his run fit.

Draft Projection

Rounds 5 or 6

Sources Tell Us

"I hope he falls to us because I will do everything in my power to get him drafted. Make Zach Thomas your comp for him. They are the exact same guy." -- AFC East area scout

NFL Comparison

Zach Thomas

Bottom Line

Scooby Wright probably wont tear up the combine with eye-popping athletic numbers and his injury-plagued 2015 season put his name on the backburner as far as draft discussions, but his instincts, production and overall competitive fire make him one of the safer second day bets in this draft. He could make a late move up the draft board for teams who value elite production.
-Lance Zierlein
Grade Title
9.00-10 Once-in-lifetime player
8.00-9.00 Perennial All-Pro
7.50-7.99 Future All-Pro
7.00-7.49 Pro Bowl to All-Pro Ability
6.50-6.99 Good NFL Starter with Pro Bowl Potential
6.00-6.49 Chance to become good NFL starter
5.70-5.99 Could become early NFL starter
5.30-5.69 Backup or eventual starter
5.15-5.29 Developmental prospect or special teams potential
5.01-5.14 Back end of the roster
5.00 50/50 Chance of making the roster


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Main Content
New York Jets 22" x 17" Desk Calendar

New York Jets 22" x 17" Desk Calendar

Out of Stock
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.

  • Details
    • Material: 100% Paper
    • Measures approx. 22" x 17"
    • Printed artwork
    • Officially licensed
    • Imported
    • Brand: John F. Turner


text:
Police investigating stabbing in Indian Brook

Published on June 8, 2014

INDIAN BROOK - RCMP are investigating a stabbing incident that occurred early this morning in Indian Brook.

At approximately 1 a.m., Indian Brook RCMP responded to a stabbing incident that occurred on Eagles Nest Road, Indian Brook.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a 33-year-old Indian Brook man was stabbed at a residence and then transported to Colchester Hospital where he remains with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing with Indian Brook RCMP and the North East Nova Major Crime Unit.


text:
Kebbi State Employs 4,300 New Teachers To Improve Slandered Of Education

The Kebbi State Government has called on
its 4,300 newly-recruited teachers to ensure
that they were committed and determined
to improve the standard of education in the

The Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Sani
Aliyu, who made the call on Wednesday,
said that the new teachers would be posted
to Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) located in
the rural areas and were expected them to
add value to the state’s school system.

Aliyu said arrangements had been made on
the deployment of the new teachers, adding
that “we have provided modern teaching
and learning equipment in the schools, to
enhance improvement in standards”.

He said the outgoing administration had
increased the number of primary and
secondary schools, while laboratory
equipment and reagents had also been

The commissioner said government would
continue to improve the state’s education
sector, especially the Girl- Child education.

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text:
The benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities

Diversity is an important part of running a successful business as well as to the culture of the workplace. If every employee were good at only one aspect of the business, the company would fail.One way that companies can improve the diversity of their workforce is by hiring individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.Companies that employ individuals with disabilities often find that these workers not only help broaden the skill set and increase the productivity of their workforce, but also enhance the workplace culture.Welcoming individuals with disabilities into the workforce is sometimes a difficult step for companies, but the benefits of diversity make the transition to a more diverse and accepting workplace well worth it in the long run.According to the U.S. Census, people with disabilities are the largest minority group, making up about 20 percent of the population. Therefore, companies that are not tapping this resource are significantly limiting their pool of qualified applicants.When a company does decide to welcome individuals with disabilities onto their workforce, it is important to make the new employee and existing staff aware and comfortable with the change.Providing resources, education and open forum discussions can help eliminate misinformation and previous prejudices.Companies that hire workers with disabilities also show customers, vendors and partners a higher level of social responsibility and adaptability. This will attract like-minded partner companies and consumers, and could ultimately lead to organic business growth.The correct placement of these individuals is equally important to the success of the employee and the business as a whole. When looking to hire an individual with a disability, it is important to look closely at the skills they DO have, rather than the ones they do not, and place them accordingly within the company.Workplace benefitsThere are countless benefits to hiring individuals with disabilities.For example, individuals with disabilities have a retention rate of 85 percent - one of the highest, according to national labor statistics.Companies often see productivity, performance and safety records improve when these workers are brought on board. Absenteeism, employee turnover, and apathy typically decrease as well, leading to overall improvement in the company's work environment. Additionally, individuals with disabilities are usually among the most enthusiastic and appreciative employees, and will raise the morale of their peers. According to an article in Diversity Clues, case studies show that workers with disabilities are self-motivated and have new and innovative ways of solving problems.Common mistruthsThere are many misconceptions surrounding the employment of individuals with disabilities. One common assumption is that the cost of hiring an individual with a disability is too substantial to justify the benefits. This is simply not the case.According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, "The majority of workers with disabilities do not need accommodations to perform their jobs, and for those who do, the cost is usually minimal. ... [T]wo-thirds of accommodations cost less than $500, with many costing nothing at all. Moreover, tax incentives are available to help employers cover the costs of accommodations, as well as modifications required to make their businesses accessible to persons with disabilities."Another misconception among employers is that the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 forces them to hire individuals with disabilities who are not qualified for the position or prevents these workers from being fired under any circumstances.In actuality, "[disabled] applicants who are unqualified for a job cannot claim discrimination under the ADA."The law also stipulates a number of conditions when workers with disabilities can be fired, such as when the termination is unrelated to the disability.Diversity in business is both an asset and a challenge. Businesses that accept the social and professional responsibility of hiring workers with disabilities can ultimately achieve greater purpose and productivity over time.By seeking out advice on how to build stronger communities and business networks through socially responsible actions, companies can establish sustainability and longevity for many years to come.Roy Gerstenberger, author of "The Benefits and Importance of Hiring Individuals with Disabilities at Your Business," is the executive director of Concord-based Community Bridges. He can be reached at 603-225-4153
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Books  General Natural History  Philosophy, Ethics & Religion

Animals and the Human Imagination: A Companion to Animal Studies

Edited By: Aaron Gross, Anne Vallely, Jonathan Safran Foer and Wendy Doniger

392 pages, 24 b/w photos, 1 table

Columbia University Press

Paperback | Apr 2012 | #198053 | ISBN-13: 9780231152976
Availability: Usually dispatched within 4 days Details
NHBS Price: £20.50 $26/€24 approx
Hardback | Apr 2012 | #198054 | ISBN-13: 9780231152969
Availability: Usually dispatched within 4 days Details
NHBS Price: £62.00 $77/€72 approx

About this book

Human beings have long imagined their subjectivity, ethics, and ancestry with and through animals, yet not until the mid-twentieth century did contemporary thought reflect critically on animals' significance in human self-conception. Thinkers such as French philosopher Jacques Derrida, South African novelist J. M. Coetzee, and American theorist Donna Haraway have initiated rigorous inquiries into the question of the animal, now blossoming in a number of directions. It is no longer strange to say that if animals did not exist, we would have to invent them.

This interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collection reflects the growth of animal studies as an independent field and the rise of "animality" as a critical lens through which to analyze society and culture, on a par with race and gender. Essays consider the role of animals in the human imagination and the imagination of the human; the worldviews of indigenous peoples; animal-human mythology in early modern China; and political uses of the animal in postcolonial India. They engage with the theoretical underpinnings of the animal protection movement, representations of animals in children's literature, depictions of animals in contemporary art, and the philosophical positioning of the animal from Aristotle to Derrida. The strength of this companion lies in its timeliness and contextual diversity, which makes it essential reading for students and researchers while further developing the parameters of the discipline.

The contributors succeed in making a range of complex issues in contemporary animal studies accessible -- and even engrossing -- to the ordinary educated reader, and the editors provide a richly intelligent mapping of the field.
- J. M. Coetzee, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

"Impressive and startling, this anthology shows the radical potential of edited volumes to break ground beyond the scope of monographs. Fascinating new studies in fields as diverse as philosophy, ethics, media studies, wildlife management, and children's literature challenge the 'animal/human binary' of Western thought. This borderline reveals itself to be neither ontologically fixed nor biologically stable. Rather, it is wondrously fluid and contingent, existing both within and without human beings. As Claude Levi-Strauss famously observed in culture and Paul Shepard has memorably mapped in cognition, we continue to 'think' with animals -- to imagine ourselves in relation to them, or, as Aaron Gross puts it, 'to self-conceptualize through animals in particular contexts.' The rich array of ideas offered here seems to suggest we can do nothing other than that. Yet at the same time we are moved 'to pause, put to rest, or surrender the categories animal and human.' It is to the editors' infinite credit that this paradox is left unmolested, thus emerging as an oracle."
- Kimberely Patton, Harvard University, coeditor of "A Communion of Subjects: Animals in Religion, Science", and "Ethics"

"Evocative and provocative, these essays deeply unsettle the Western tradition's assumption of an abyss between human and non-human animals. Probing contemporary biopolitics in relation to animals, they announce the necessity of nothing less than a mutation in thought. Here, the ethics of difference, vulnerability, and responsibility come face to face with the uncanny proximity and radical distance of animals. As this anthology shows, animals regard us, and we can't evade that call."
- Elisabeth Weber, University of California, Santa Barbara

"The editors do not simply take stock of the current state of animal studies. Instead, they have gathered together a number of interesting and original researchers who are themselves making novel contributions to the field. This anthology is an important book, both as an introductory text and as a volume that advanced researchers will turn to in hopes of finding inspiration and new ideas in animal studies."
- Matthew Calarco, Associate Professor of Philosophy, CSU Fullerton

"'Animals and the Human Imagination' soars. Intellectually exciting, smart, and accessible, this volume will intrigue and revolt, surprise and inspire. The opening overview by Gross is a tour de force and each essay fascinates. Collectively they offer an invitation to think in new ways about what we, perhaps wrongly, call our humanity. I can't imagine a better introduction to the essential new field of critical animal studies."
- Jonathan Safran Foer

"What the remarkable and academically diverse collection of essays in 'Animals and the Human Imagination' achieves is to point out how we have made animals vanish in our language and how we might bring them back into our collective vision again... This book will inspire more scholarly work on animals, but it will also supply fuel for activists who hope to treat animals more humanely -- not to say humanly -- in the world outside the academy."
- Wendy Doniger, Mircea Eliade Professor of the History of Religions at the University of Chicago, and author of "Women, Androgynes, and Other Mythical Beasts" (University of Chicago Press, 1980)

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Aaron S. Gross is a professor of theology and religious studies at the University of San Diego and holds a MTS from Harvard Divinity School and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He co-chairs the American Academy of Religion's Animals and Religion Group and has played a leading role in a wide variety of national and international animal-welfare campaigns since the mid-1990s. He founded the nonprofit group Farm Forward in 2007. He is the author of The Question of the Animal and Religion: Theoretical Stakes, Practical Implications

Anne Vallely is a professor of religious studies at the University of Ottawa. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, and her research focuses on the anthropology of South Asian religiosity, especially that of Jainism, and on the symbolic construction of human/non-human boundaries across cultures. She is the author of "Guardians of the Transcendent: An Ethnography of a Jain Acetic Community".

Jonathan Safran Foer is the author of "Eating Animals", "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close", and "Everything is Illuminated", all international bestsellers.

Wendy Doniger is Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor of the History of Religions at the University of Chicago and a member of the Committee on Social Thought. Her books include "The Implied Spider: Politics and Theology in Myth"; "Dreams, Illusions, and Other Realities"; "Other Peoples' Myths"; "The Cave of Echoes"; and the English-language edition of Yves Bonnefoy's "Mythologies".

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text:
Milt's a Pensive Lover!

Warning: This piece may contain elements of fiction, but it's a well-known fact that it's copyrighted and all rights are reserved, et al.
It may contain scenes of unabashed adult relations and empty resolutions. Then again, it might not.
All references to particular sources of entertainment and media personalities are fictitious... but may be based on real people, media, etc.
If you're under 18, go and help old ladies cross the street. Don't read on, you won't like it anyway.

If you like what you read here, or even if you don't, send me a message with all your adorations, comments to:

- removing the stated " $ " -
please put the story name in your subject line, else it'll be deleted before I even see it

Every ending brings with it a new beginning. Isn't that what they say?

It's a bit like my ruminations and pondering about life and death. Without death, there would be no new life. Without life, there would be no death. Why am I rambling on? Well...

People die and people die.

One of my projects for the winter was going to be a huge archive I was going to create of all the e-mails I've received over the years. I got bored of the idea soon enough, but I found I had a really long list of contacts. I mean, well over 50, which is astronomical for me. Anyway, I came to thinking that after having lost contact with these people, one by one, it was almost like they've died. In fact, I don't even know if they're still physically alive or not. Sure, many of the addresses would no longer be active, but one day, when I'm lonely and desperate enough, I'll send an e-mail to all those people. With the hope that some may not have written me off completely or that some might have a nice word to say.

Who knows what fate has in store for us all tomorrow. We might not even be here.

On Saturday afternoon, I eagerly walked up to the Munch as I was meeting Tassy for lunch. Even more eagerly as I'd not seen Caleb since last year.

At first, I thought I walked into the wrong café as Caleb wasn't there. However, my eyes weren't deceiving me - I was definitely in the Munch but Caleb was nowhere to be seen. I suppose he could be off with a cold or something...

Fortunately, Tassy was early, so I didn't have to sit around and twiddle my thumbs. The waitress came and took our order swiftly, and I felt obliged to ask:

"Where's Caleb? Is he off sick?"

"Who's that?" The waitress stared at me as I looked at her in amazement. "You mean the guy who worked here?"

I nodded.

"Oh, I don't know what happened to him. Apparently, he didn't show up after the holidays and Katie was left high and dry and I replaced him."

That's odd, I thought. What could have happened to him?

"Between you and me," she continued, "I recall the boss saying that he wasn't quite right just before the holidays. You know, like he had lots on his plate or something."

"But he would have told me, he wouldn't just disappear like that," I said. She shrugged and walked off.

I was worried. I was perplexed. But somehow, deep inside me, I knew that nothing too dramatic could have happened, so I tried not to show my concern and concentrate on Tassy.

Tassy was looking very well. Radiant, even. A bit like the cat that got the cream.

"I bet you're all excited about your new job, right?" I asked her.

"Oh, yes. It's going to be great. I'm looking forward to starting Monday week," she replied.

"So I guess they'll have to make a decision about your replacement fairly quickly, eh?" I smiled excitedly.

"Yes, if they know what's good for them! Don't worry, I put in a good word for you! Paws crossed, I might even get to show you the ropes if they start you before I go. Of course, you can ask me anything you're not too sure of as I know the place has its... quirks."

"Well, I don't want to get my hopes up too high, but it would be good to have some money in my pocket. I really want to renovate the kitchen this Summer as the floorboards have rotted and I worry that they'll break and mother will fall."

"Yes, and I have no doubt that you'll enrichen your collection of smut!"

"Of course! I will finally upgrade my computer and buy a DVD player!" I chuckled.

As we were about to dig into our meals, I heard a high pitched muffled squealing noise.

"What's that horrible sound?" I asked.

"Oh," Tassy was fumbling with her handbag, "that's my new phone."

"Yes?" she spoke into the phone.

Phone? Tassy with one of them cell phones? We were so against them and the whole yuppie set.

"Ok. I see... yes, see you Monday..."

"What's this, Tassy? You've become one of them?" Tassy put away the phone and continued with lunch.

"I'm afraid it's true - I had to sell out to get this new position," she said without flinching.

I was surprised and shocked. Tassy and I were people who stuck to our principles. I almost felt like a little kid who discovered that the tooth fairy isn't an old hag, rather just a limp wristed old queen.

"Anyway, that was work - my almost ex-work, that is. They said they've decided on the short list and will be calling for interviews for my position on Monday and hope to get the person started by Thursday," she stated.

"That's great. I mentioned in my letter to them that I can start immediately. I suppose that's one thing going for me."

The rest of the meal was fairly uneventful, but I felt there was something else wrong. Tassy wasn't her usual chirpy self - and I know that it was something more than the phone.

"Look, I have something to tell you," she began after we finished our meals.

What? There's more?

"OK, tell me," I looked at her. A sense of worry permeated me. I was worried about Caleb and also what Tassy had in store.

"Promise you won't be mad?" She was stalling.

"Why would I? I've had so many disappointments, one more won't be the end of me. Is it about work? Did you tell them that I'm gay or something?"

"No, nothing like that..." she sighed. "You remember Sergio?"

"Sergio... Sergio.... the name rings a bell..." I fought through the many layers of inactive brain cells to recall him. "Oh, I think I remember. Wasn't he the hot nurse at your hospital? The one you were going to match me up with?"

"Yes, the ubiquitous Sergio..."

"What about him?"

"Well. I went out with him a few times to check him out for you," she sighed. "Even brought him here some time ago. I wanted to call you so you can join us but..."

"Oh?" I was confused.

"He told me he was bi..."

"Yes, what's the problem with that?" I thought the next part would either make or break....

"He said that he was more attracted to me than to you. I'm sorry..."

"Well, no harm's done," I said, feeling disappointed but not overly worried. "At least I didn't embarrass myself."

"Yeah, but that's not all..."

"We've been seeing each other ever since. It's serious. That's why I took this other position, so I can move in with him."

So this was what had been bothering her. I don't really know why she thought it would worry me.

"I'm happy for you, Tass. What's the problem?" I flashed a smile.

"Well, I know how you'd feel disappointed in me... and that I'll be moving away so we won't be able to see each other often..."

"The only one I'm disappointed in at the moment is Caleb. The last time I saw him was when I visited him a few weeks back to use his computer," I told her.

"So you got up to some hanky panky with Caleb?"

"No, he was acting all weird after he saw some news report. I hope he's OK."

My mind wondered back to Caleb. Perhaps he decided to stay with his parents a while longer? Perhaps he got snowed in?

"Milt, didn't you hear the other thing I said?" Tassy interrupted my thoughts.

"Uh? What other thing?"

"That I'm moving!"

"Yeah, I heard that. Well, it's not like we see that much of each other. Besides, there's always e-mail, you know!" Yeah, e-mail.

"Yeah, plus when you get this job, you'll have the money to travel around the world... so I'm sure you'll come over and see me. Besides, I'll only be a couple of hour out of the other side of the city!"

Wow, do people really live that far out of the city? Surely that's where the cows go to graze?

"You want to go for a bit of a walk?" Tassy asked me. "Looks like the sun's coming out and from what I hear, they're expecting the snow storms to hit late in the week and they'll be here for a while, so it might the best time to go out there."

"That's a great idea, Tassy..." I replied. "Sure, let's go for a walk, but let's go to Caleb's house. I want to see if he's OK."

The air was crisp and we could see each other's breath. My woollen hat was irritating my forehead, but I wouldn't risk taking it off.

"I've been meaning to ask you. how's your writing been going?" She enquired.

"It's going well. I try and write things most days - you know, whenever anything interesting happens. At least it keeps me busy during these long nights."

"Aren't you talking to your mother?"

"What gave you that idea? Mother's probably the only one in the family I am talking to right now," I explained. "It's been so weird - the past few weeks - I feel so much more connected to her, you know."

"You mean to tell me you told her you're gay?" She smirked.

"Well, I haven't gone that far - yet! Who knows? Perhaps in a few weeks I'll reach the point where I'll tell her." I clarified.

"I'm sure she knows. All mothers know."

Yeah, I read that in a magazine as well.

"What happened to your snobby pal Collin?"

"I didn't hear back from him again. I guess he's living all gaily in his happy little home."

"So you didn't consider taking him up on his offer?"

"Well... perhaps for a minute. I think I'm too old to be seen as somebody's toy boy. Besides, mother needs me..."

I stopped in front of Caleb's house, which looked dim and quiet from the outside.

"We're here," I announced.

"Wow, he must be doing OK to have a place like this at his age," Tassy was impressed.

"I suspect his parents are financing it, but haven't asked him," I whispered to her.

A couple of raps on the door resulted in some neighbour's dog barking. I didn't hear any movement in the house.

I tried again, only louder. Again, nothing.

"Perhaps he's gone out," I felt like I had to defend him. "Or he might be studying at his friend's place."

We turned to leave, only to notice that his letterbox hadn't been emptied in a few days as there were several items of mail in it.

That's weird. It's like he's disappeared off the face of the earth. How could he do this to me without saying goodbye? Wait, perhaps... no... no way... he couldn't have been murdered, could he?

"Well, this is it," Tassy declared as we arrived at her bus stop. I'd lost track of time and place and had no idea if Tassy had spoken to me at all on the walk back from Caleb's house. My mind was elsewhere. I was worried. Really worried.

"Yeah, so here we are.." I said, unenthusiastically. I knew I wanted to feel something more for this goodbye, but it happened so unexpectedly, and I had Caleb on my mind.

"Look, I know you're worried about him, but he'll turn up. It's not like he fell off the edge of the world or something!" Tassy smiled as her bus was pulling up.

"Yeah, you're right," I faked a smile what showed I'd be no good as an actor or a liar.

"OK, well, I'd better go home as I have things to pack..."

"OK, well, keep in touch..." we hugged gently "... and keep me up to date on your sex life. I wanna know which position Sergio prefers for when he dumps you!" I smiled.

"You wish!" Tassy laughed as she boarded her bus, phone and all.

So, there you have it. Another person walked out of my life. Another person as good as dead.

I rushed home and in where mother was cooking a roast.

"Have you watched the news today?" I asked her.

"Yes, why? You're not interested in the news. They said they expect a severe snow storm to hit us next week and say it's going to last a while," mother replied.

"No, that's not what I wanted to know!" I sighed. "I wanted to know about the murders. Have there been any more of them lately?"

"Murders? Oh, you mean those horrible ones, the Satanic ones that they keep talking about?"

"Yes." I rolled my eyes - trust mother to believe the hype that linked them to Satanism!

"They report about them every now and then saying they have fresh clues, yet they don't have any strong leads."

"But have there been any more lately?"

"The last one was... let me think..." she mumbled something to herself..."I think it was about the time of the blackout a few weeks ago. Yes, that's it. No more since then, thank God."

I breathed a sigh of relief and felt my heart resume its normal rhythm once more.

"Why are you interested in them?" She asked, concerned.

"That smells nice," I changed the subject. "When will it be ready?"

"I thought you had lunch with your friend..."

"Yes, our final lunch," I explained to her about Tassy moving, and she appeared to be distressed.

"What's wrong? She's not going to the other side of the world!" I informed mother.

"Yes, but. She's leaving. She's the only real friend you've had around here. Except for Miles, who you don't see much nowadays..."

Hmmmm... Miles....

"... and what about that other young man?" She continued. "What's happened to him?"

"I don't know. I think he's gone back to stay with his parents," I gulped.

"That's so sweet. That's the way it should be until he gets married." I couldn't help but smile at mother's naive thoughts about blissful family life.

I jumped onto the internet so kill some time until dinner was ready. Just to catch up with the smut and to send Tassy a thank you e-mail.

I noticed I had an e-mail from a strange address. It took me a moment to realise it was from Tassy's work and about the application I sent.

This is it, I thought, the details for the interview on Monday!

Woe my poor heart, which raced as I scrolled down the message:

Dear applicant,

Thankyou for your application.

Unfortunately, after careful consideration, your background and experience were not ideally suited to the role.

I do appreciate the time and effort you have taken in sending me this information.

Please also be advised that we have not retained any of your details.

We wish you every success in securing a new role.

Yours sincerely,

Madge Xonin

Woah... What? Had I read correctly? Surely this was a mistake?

For fuck's sake - I was the one who trained Tassy in the first place and they were saying that I wasn't suitable for the position???

My heart sank further and further into the abyss where I guess my soul would be located.

To make matters worse, I wanted to do a search on Caleb, just to make sure he wasn't in the news - but I realised that I don't even know his surname! Fuck!

Things weren't going to get better. I felt that things were going to get worse. Much worse.

I wasn't in the mood for dinner. I mostly toyed with my food.

Mother sensed that something was wrong, so when she asked, I told her I had a migraine. She said that I shouldn't have gone out on such a cold day.

I couldn't tell her about the job. I really couldn't. I had to retain a final shred of dignity. I never told her - or any of my family - of my struggle to find work. Yes, they think of me as just a lay bum, but I guess that's better than them seeing me for the hopeless unemployable loser I really am.

Even worse, I couldn't tell her about Caleb, and my feelings for him. If only she could read my mind...

The nihilistic days didn't get any better or easier. I felt like I'd lost all hope for finding work and even stopped looking in the ads on line. Defeatist? Perhaps.

Feeling inept and diffident, the only thing that would help me get through the day was food. I'd eat and sit and eat and eat some more. I didn't worry about my weight or size. Who cares? Caleb abandoned me, I couldn't even get a proxy date through Tassy.

"It's such a lovely day today," mother told me. "They said it's going to cloud over from tomorrow, so could you go and do some shopping for me? It might be the last we do until the weather fines up again. Grab as much as you can carry"

I told her I would. Food is nice. Food is good.

Naturally, I took the opportunity to walk past The Munch. Peeking in to see no Caleb. My heart sank further as I went by his place again - again, the place was deserted, and the mail was piling up.

I bumped into Miles at the supermarket - just what I needed. Actually, I realised that he and his big biceps could help me carry the groceries home.

"Hey, haven't seen you since we went out and you got all freaky the other time! How are you, buddy?" Oh, will he ever stop calling me his buddy?

"Yeah, I'm fine," I forced a grin. "Are you going home because I could do with a hand with the groceries?"

"Sure, anything for my buddy!"

I knew he was going to ask me for something.

He didn't mention it until we were on our way home, loaded with groceries.

"Hey, I know you don't want to hear this, but just hear me out. I'm going to organise a special night for you with the whores at Nestor's Palace. There are a couple of nice ones who have just started who I'm sure are right up your alley... if you come, it will be a night you'll never forget. I promise you!"

He never gives up, does he? Then again, it's not like I have anything more to lose.

"I don't know. At the moment, I'm not in the mood for anything like that," I mumbled glumly.

"Well, I can organise a good whipping for you, if you like!" He joked. "Seriously, I have special contacts who will make you very happy. Trust me!"

"Let me think about it," I said. "But right now, I'm not in much of a mood to think."

"Well, no thinking needed, just raw animal passion and action!" Miles rambled.

"Hmmmm..." He hadn't convinced me fully. I did have to think about it. How could I face the whores after my previous experience with them?

"OK, well, let me know what you think and when you want to go. It's the best thing for a cold winter's night, you know!"

We reached my house and I asked him in for a drink, but he said he was expected home, so he left.

"This will all keep us going when the famine begins," Mother was impressed by all the things I'd brought.

"Or if we get snowed in for a week!" I said.

"At least, I can die in peace knowing that you know how to shop!" She joked. I didn't like her joking about dying, though.

Nights when I have a shower are the special nights when I decide to spend some time ... errr.. Fiddling.

Recently, however, I hadn't been in much of a mood and the usual array of smut and erections hadn't been doing it for me. I blame the weather, to tell you the truth.

Anyway, on such occasions, I get weird ideas into my head. Kinky ones. Like the candle wax some time ago, my rough dildo work, the nipple clamps. This time, I had something else in mind.

One of the more unpleasant things about growing older is having to get certain things checked and some of the medical examinations aren't much fun, nor some of the procedures.

I decided to experiment. I wanted to slurp some hot, fresh sperm. I decided to try something I'd never even read about before - let alone seen! - a catheter j. o. session!

At the start, I felt nervous. Nervous yet excited. Doing something forbidden. Doing something that could possibly go wrong and create an injury - but tell that to all of those who've gotten a bit too friendly with their pet gerbils.

I found a very narrow drinking straw in one of the drawers one afternoon - I guess that inspired me. Carefully, I cleaned and disinfected it.

The heater on full so I removed what little I was wearing and sat up on my bed.

My cock, knowing he was in for some fun, was already hard - which made it far more difficult to put the straw into my piss slit. It didn't go very far in and I barely felt it... but I knew from the intensity of the excitement that it wouldn't take me too long to cum.

As soon as I felt my ejaculation boil over, I bent down, put my lips on the top end of the straw and gently began to suck.

Spurt after spurt spewed out - and not much of it came up the straw as my makeshift catheter slipped out of the slit.

I got to taste a few drops of my sperm, nice and hot and tangy it was... but in the end, I decided it wasn't worth going to all that effort, and wouldn't recommend it to anybody. The old legs in the air and cock aimed at the mouth is a better way of doing it.

Later on that night, I had a most unusual dream. I can't say that I can remember it very well. It was full of despair, a cry for help and a message - a plea if you will - that things were getting out of hand.

I wondered if it had to do with my experimentation, and somehow feeling guilty about doing it. Anyway, things were all ready way out of control - Tassy becoming a yuppie, Caleb missing, my infernal hated for my siblings, my employment situation, my increasing desire for self abnegation.

Things couldn't possibly get any worse. Right?