News for today's 2018: 01/06/13

And The 2013 Oscar Goes To...

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Cheeeers All.  With the Oscar nominations coming out this week, I thought I’d let you know what some of my favorite movies are.<br /><br />And by favorite, I don’t mean all technically good and what not, but movies that if they come on TV, I would watch again and again even though I have seen them 10,000 times.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrPDideJVVoKA4IP8W3OO9Igw_vBONvknKcz5Joajz8OauEDOjeV4uXITSP2qzR_h_G9tDjHIRgR1ElAySdekYyKbM5zic06I4Wmi2a-qqV8ZVEkYmQYdVxQKO-OT82ruGHK6OubTDLk/s1600/christopher-lee-as-count-dracula1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrPDideJVVoKA4IP8W3OO9Igw_vBONvknKcz5Joajz8OauEDOjeV4uXITSP2qzR_h_G9tDjHIRgR1ElAySdekYyKbM5zic06I4Wmi2a-qqV8ZVEkYmQYdVxQKO-OT82ruGHK6OubTDLk/s400/christopher-lee-as-count-dracula1.jpeg" width="270" /></a>And without further adieu, and in no particular order, the Mattscars go to….<br /><br /><b><i>Dracula: Prince of Darkness</i> (1966)</b><br /><br />Hands down my fave Dracula movie of all time.  Although I don’t spend my days trying to write “new and creative ways to portray vampires”, I am a Draculaphile.   Christopher Lee was THE best Dracula ever, annnnnd…although filmed in 1966?  This movie contains some major, “not so implied” lesbianism.  Oh yeahhhhhh, Baby!!<br /><br /><b><i>Napoleon Dynamite</i> (2004)</b><br /><br />Are you kidding me?  This movie is so stupid and so eclectic (in a literal sense, not a sarcastic sense) that my now 18 year old son and I still say to one and other, <i>“Your mom goes to college.”</i>  Oh my God, the disturbing dryness of it all is a hoot.  When the opening scene has Napoleon tossing out a plastic Superman with fishing line tied to its neck out of a school bus window so the action figure careens down the road, you just know that this movie is gonna be good.<br /><br /><b><i>Shawshank Redemption</i> (1994)</b><br /><br />Who doesn't like this movie?  Communists, that’s who!!  Oh…and Republicans, because they think the warden was just trying to get his fair share from the government and what is wrong with that?  However, there is nothing better than watching a movie where a guy in prison sticks it to THE MAN and the sticking it to THE MAN doesn't involve having anal relations with a cell mate.<br /><br /><b><i>Kelly’s Heroes</i> (1970)</b><br /><br />I am a freak about WWII movies and this one is one of my favorites.  Great cast and great storyline.  A group of disenchanted U.S. Army regulars want <i>“a piece of the action”</i> and successfully attempt to heist gold from a German controlled bank in France.<br /><br />A great cast that includes Don Rickles, Gavin Macleod (no seriously, he was funny), and a hilariously drugged up Donald Sutherland as, Oddball, balance the seriousness of Clint Eastwood who gives some hilarious looks like he did at this year’s GOP Convention.  Although during this movie, he was acting, and not a prisoner of ideology and senility.<br /><br /><b><i>Stalag 17</i> (1953)</b><br /><br />Just like the aforementioned movie, a star-studded cast of William Holden, a young Peter Graves, and a host of others, make this a great flick.  The acting is beyond awesome.  The entire film has funny moments, grungy moments, and serious moments, and just as WW II movies should end, the bad guy, in this case a German spy in a German prisoner of war camp amidst Americans, gets his due in the end.<br /><br /><b><i>Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House</i> (1948)</b><br /><br />Are you serious?  Have you never seen this movie?  If you haven’t, you don’t know what funny is.  Cary Grant (in all of his bisexual glory), and Myrna Loy are hilarious, as he as a successful businessman decides to build their perfect home in the country and move away from the bustle of NYC.  The laughs pile up, due to the price and the problems they incur while getting their perfect home built.  Melvyn Douglas and Reginald Denny are a hoot as well. <br /><br /><b><i>Groundhog Day</i> (1993)</b><br /><br />I think many people have come around, but maybe some STILL do not think of Bill Murray as an “actor.” Pffffft…The man is the bomb, and Groundhog Day is a GREAT movie.  Funny, poignant, and cute.  And Andie McDowell in this movie?  Cute…As…Hell.  And Andie McDowell in this movie?  Cute…As…Hell. And Andie McDowell in this movie?  Cute…As…Hell.<br /><br /><b><i>Braveheart</i> (1995)</b><br /><br />Mel Gibson is a major league asshole, and yet, Braveheart, is a major league cinematic home run.  I love it as much as I loathe the 14th Century Brits.  Nothing like a ragtag team of haggis eaters beating up on a group of backstabbing, pretentious stocking wearing men.  Alba Go Braugh!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN4KH8goaWygoPwED0W1bQWPHkQPh9T9AX2agjQfnqv2RmD1PAwPbzNpIv57Ciice6b9pJlLXQBBM-YbuBIRTSIS9mWZIBr1127xm2qrRTYZPa-ZKV-Ny9Jj4Y89l7bRW6fdv1cqc3tc/s1600/Inigo+Montoya+Sexy+Funny+Princess+Bride.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN4KH8goaWygoPwED0W1bQWPHkQPh9T9AX2agjQfnqv2RmD1PAwPbzNpIv57Ciice6b9pJlLXQBBM-YbuBIRTSIS9mWZIBr1127xm2qrRTYZPa-ZKV-Ny9Jj4Y89l7bRW6fdv1cqc3tc/s400/Inigo+Montoya+Sexy+Funny+Princess+Bride.gif" width="400" /></a><b><i>The Princess Bride</i> (1987)</b><br /><br />This may be my favorite movie of all-time…I vacillate on that.  It is so sweet, so cute, and so damn funny. Great cast, great story, and to this day, I quote lines from that movie every day.  After all, who doesn’t like mimicking Inigo Montoya saying, <i>“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”</i><br /><br /><b><i>Glengarry Glen Ross</i> (1992)</b><br /><br />Holy Cow…A dark movie with an all-star cast…Pacino, Lemmon, Baldwin, Arkin, Ed Harris (yeah, he needed his first name used), Spacey and Jonathan Pryce (yeah, him too).  So depressing, so dark witted, and so wonderful.  Who knew that selling real estate could be so cut throat?  This movie has afforded me my fave line whenever anyone leaves the house door, our refrigerator door, or the cooler door at the Beer Mine open….<i>“Always Be Closing!!  Always Be Closing!!”</i><br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><br /><i>Matt-Man</i><br /><br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com"><i>mattmaniws@ymail.com</i></a><br /><i><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a></i></div>

And The 2013 Oscar Goes To...

Cheeeers All. With the Oscar nominations coming out this week, I thought I’d let you know what some of my favorite movies are. And by favor...

Bike Town

7:16 PM Tukiyooo 0

<p>Key West is what I would consider a bike friendly town.</p><p>Here are a few photos of cyclists in KW.  I think there is something very timeless about people on bikes.  </p><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWFT9lqme03UxwmSLav_B_YEyS54fTWz_dcl23X0DLHHQDB14hKi-1jEastgA2SqeTm90_XAfLWE9bKCZRJF-i_aEur4mL6pnJkY1IO5goE0hSR1ruSzqmpWILes5rCUCj_syXKF9oCLm/s1600/20130106_152458.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWFT9lqme03UxwmSLav_B_YEyS54fTWz_dcl23X0DLHHQDB14hKi-1jEastgA2SqeTm90_XAfLWE9bKCZRJF-i_aEur4mL6pnJkY1IO5goE0hSR1ruSzqmpWILes5rCUCj_syXKF9oCLm/s400/20130106_152458.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy3hLncCMymsYtZcurbh19fOwubFek3GxbyIMcMk1-mkY1ZdRjQpGJYiGXNcyhoePesLIl5m_NG4NDl0lL1y2nDR90-cfkmwcsTN8RUWXRhvYE97EiBCJJMEEL1-xVlsbOt-tigCYtb3P/s1600/20130106_152024.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy3hLncCMymsYtZcurbh19fOwubFek3GxbyIMcMk1-mkY1ZdRjQpGJYiGXNcyhoePesLIl5m_NG4NDl0lL1y2nDR90-cfkmwcsTN8RUWXRhvYE97EiBCJJMEEL1-xVlsbOt-tigCYtb3P/s400/20130106_152024.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FqbO_6GBlm-2YEDpG4NyO8rCbMom_QU9GMWf5pdiF9kl04Dy2bekD1WaXdDamwHy12FiNaXda3vbfjFswOef1WihMY1lSJ760MiGdgJvh_y67PkLS4vE-nKl7qz74ViwYnSp5IUKVr68/s1600/20130106_144134.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FqbO_6GBlm-2YEDpG4NyO8rCbMom_QU9GMWf5pdiF9kl04Dy2bekD1WaXdDamwHy12FiNaXda3vbfjFswOef1WihMY1lSJ760MiGdgJvh_y67PkLS4vE-nKl7qz74ViwYnSp5IUKVr68/s400/20130106_144134.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qIvZfOvLiyFj4s9Hlh2aEgOK92SQTgwr_Chkqs5fD30FXMaHnWVMf5F3keOFYH1Bu2kMajoYGUw2zWvBRA-l3bFhyphenhyphenPeYiqLv8Q4-WA_mX_G3Y5TrAhww1Hv5mTEyNRYWkfbFqJu3MhPY/s1600/20130106_132402.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qIvZfOvLiyFj4s9Hlh2aEgOK92SQTgwr_Chkqs5fD30FXMaHnWVMf5F3keOFYH1Bu2kMajoYGUw2zWvBRA-l3bFhyphenhyphenPeYiqLv8Q4-WA_mX_G3Y5TrAhww1Hv5mTEyNRYWkfbFqJu3MhPY/s400/20130106_132402.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQarywV5AoQXaaTtzVQJrSdNAzr1rcCm4ks_Zi0FdOX89EYDUze1_4e9Kt7DsNLMYY6OtvBdW8mBUezUFt0jNrrSmqmUhyNFIXT-rqrx2xtp207Evr5pM3hP0RBArcWPQW2CoM3ZW8yJKL/s1600/20130106_143459.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQarywV5AoQXaaTtzVQJrSdNAzr1rcCm4ks_Zi0FdOX89EYDUze1_4e9Kt7DsNLMYY6OtvBdW8mBUezUFt0jNrrSmqmUhyNFIXT-rqrx2xtp207Evr5pM3hP0RBArcWPQW2CoM3ZW8yJKL/s400/20130106_143459.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1IusbLLOcnoB2OF0qHOeu3FB0rtcIfznVLz-fYM-hfKWWEDUsbI5m0T2OtnhbpDPpKBvY-0lofeaTfACBe-DelE0AvSxGeC0Cs8sTqbeveKJzH6kV4NuG3S0OWaLm5VQBUOxtd2AqFXW/s1600/20130106_143452.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1IusbLLOcnoB2OF0qHOeu3FB0rtcIfznVLz-fYM-hfKWWEDUsbI5m0T2OtnhbpDPpKBvY-0lofeaTfACBe-DelE0AvSxGeC0Cs8sTqbeveKJzH6kV4NuG3S0OWaLm5VQBUOxtd2AqFXW/s400/20130106_143452.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYD5cbd1dCr0RHvI4rRjyqjNO9bCKwXfSpGtBRdEl7CSMKOftWVdFR1nTIQ5a-RGeEBNsAuHfs0Y3BdwDgtHVXzuhyphenhyphen5RdhzINzF_uXylk_s-T84n_c7E9UMjyMlZrFYyeKzPR2UaNVDN0/s1600/20130106_132316.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYD5cbd1dCr0RHvI4rRjyqjNO9bCKwXfSpGtBRdEl7CSMKOftWVdFR1nTIQ5a-RGeEBNsAuHfs0Y3BdwDgtHVXzuhyphenhyphen5RdhzINzF_uXylk_s-T84n_c7E9UMjyMlZrFYyeKzPR2UaNVDN0/s400/20130106_132316.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihQYKxN4TiCyPrrsffrsCPDG8F5OKFL4FcbpmZSbjCg2_ZIXRAzq9NgjTW_vmIDDFpkLyRYbn8ZNQtyRG8AoLruJ54CPtC4ZNCai6d47wke81Cc0_UWmeQmURZ9gP0jBWwe1fHyn1CBHE/s1600/20130106_152020.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihQYKxN4TiCyPrrsffrsCPDG8F5OKFL4FcbpmZSbjCg2_ZIXRAzq9NgjTW_vmIDDFpkLyRYbn8ZNQtyRG8AoLruJ54CPtC4ZNCai6d47wke81Cc0_UWmeQmURZ9gP0jBWwe1fHyn1CBHE/s400/20130106_152020.jpg" /> </a> </div>

Bike Town

Key West is what I would consider a bike friendly town. Here are a few photos of cyclists in KW. I think there is something very timeless a...

Epiphany In Pahrump: A Glimpse Of The Future Church?

6:59 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Worship was in fine form at St. Martin’s in the Desert, Pahrump, Nevada this Epiphany morning. For those who don’t know, Pahrump is a desert town situated between Las Vegas and Death Valley. Surprisingly it boasts at least one winery. I heard there was a second but have not seen it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">A lovely crèche was in the front of the nave. Three children processed bearing figures of kings and camels to complete the Nativity scene. The big deal about today’s service is that we received 9 new Episcopalians – all adults. To put this in context, that means we received as new members about 20% of those present.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Today’s vestry meeting was taken up mostly by discussion of community social ministries – a report on the monthly Teen Night hosted for community teens by St. Martin’s, the Stand For Children program hosted by St. Martin’s, the collection of school supplies for low income students, a $1,000 gift to Meals on Wheels because there is a waiting list of senior citizens needing that service. Most of St. Martin’s energy and attention is pointed outward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">We did go over the proposed budget, which will be presented to the annual meeting. It included the assessment paid to the Diocese plus a substantial additional contribution to support Ministry Development around the Diocese. The vestry expressed gratitude for the training the Diocese has provided them in the past. They want to support our effort to offer programs to other congregations. They want more training themselves, but mostly they see their contribution as “paying back” or “paying forward” for what they have been given. It’s sort of like the Eucharist – a giving back and receiving again. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The proposed parish budget for this year is a deficit budget, but the vestry wasn’t too worried about that. They adopted a deficit budget last year and wound up with a surplus. So they are hopeful. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">But the St. Martin’s vestry was concerned that other congregations in Nevada may be struggling financially. They had heard about this in table conversations at Convention. They wanted to know if they should send support to struggling congregations out of their deficit budget. I assured them that the Diocese would take care of that and they had done their part by paying in their assessment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">St. Martin’s has a generous line item in their budget for outreach. They have another line item to support the operating budget of Camp Galilee (our diocesan camp & conference center). That line item does not include the money they send to Galilee out of their education budget to pay the expenses of sending children from Pahrump to camp. Some of these children are members of St. Martin’s. Some are just kids in town who need a week of camp at Tahoe. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">There was talk about the upcoming MLK Breakfast where St. Martin’s has sponsored a table and Rev. Julie will give the invocation. They will do another project later in the year for the Bishop’s Big Hairy Audacious Goal, probably a Stand For Children event. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The vestry did not discuss The Knitting Nancys of St. Martin’s. But we did talk about them over the coffee hour. They had been featured in the national newsletter of The Seaman’s Institute for the sheer volume of gifts they produce for people who need them. None of this even mentions the prayer and study being done by St. Martin’s members of The Episcopal Community.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Oh bricks and mortar issues. There was a bogus rumor last year that our church in Tonopah was up for sale. So St. Martin’s members expressed some anxiety during the coffee hour for the well-being of our congregation in Tonopah. I wish there were not rumors that the Diocese is closing small churches. But I like it that one small church cares about another. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Being a bishop, I did my best to find fault with them. So I challenged the vestry on the budget to provide continuing education funds for their priest. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Covered,” they said, “it’s under ‘training’.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “What about her costs of attending clergy conference?” I shot back. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“It’s under ‘business travel’,” they replied. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“And her Convention costs?” (I was scrambling.) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“We pay full fare for both clergy and lay delegates,” they said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“How about a Basic Discipleship class?” I asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Done and dusted,” they said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “How about following that up with a Gifts Discernment Workshop?” I countered. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Calling you this week to schedule it. And by the way how are you coming on another Lenten mission discernment program as a sequel to the one we did last Lent?” they replied. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">I was defeated. So I gave up and went home. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Congregational Life Office of The Episcopal Church featured St. Martin’s in the Desert in a documentary film last year as an example of a congregation that is growing and flourishing because they are connected to their community. When they gather to sing and pray, they have a tangible sense of mission. Their mission field is right there in Nye County. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Having failed to nail St. Martin’s for any failures, I was left with nothing to say this morning but to commend them for actually acting like Christians. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Epiphany In Pahrump: A Glimpse Of The Future Church?

Worship was in fine form at St. Martin’s in the Desert, Pahrump, Nevada this Epiphany morning. For those who don’t know, Pahrum...

Montagne Jeunesse Review and Giveaway!

2:20 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-doLD8zp2C78/UOn3_Q1tNpI/AAAAAAAAEh0/s5xD0x8eA8o/s1600/Monpackage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-doLD8zp2C78/UOn3_Q1tNpI/AAAAAAAAEh0/s5xD0x8eA8o/s320/Monpackage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doesn't it feel so relaxing and soothing to get a facial?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's face it though, without gift cards or coupons they sure are pricey!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I understand that you want the clean and healthy glow on your face as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well not try one in the privacy of your own home?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can with <a href="http://www.montagnejeunesse.com/">Montagne Jeunesse</a> facial cleansing masques that open up your pores, gets rid of oily skin and blemishes!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They have many varieties to choose from.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their products include peel off masques, moisture and purifying masques, deep cleansing masques, facial scrubs and self heating masques.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you know they have products for men as well!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They have them in all skin types too.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oily, Dry, Sensitive Combination, mature and normal skin types.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Strawberry Souffle-</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gj8ncyCS84I/UOn4IQXUFBI/AAAAAAAAEh8/wzqFUikMllU/s1600/strawberry+souffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gj8ncyCS84I/UOn4IQXUFBI/AAAAAAAAEh8/wzqFUikMllU/s320/strawberry+souffle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gently apply this sweet scented souffle masque with the calming scent of vanilla for supple smoother skin!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Hot Chocolate-</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jGV8NauweIQ/UOn4SXxeYcI/AAAAAAAAEiE/vw3bWzWljlA/s1600/hot+chocolate+masque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jGV8NauweIQ/UOn4SXxeYcI/AAAAAAAAEiE/vw3bWzWljlA/s320/hot+chocolate+masque.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beware Do not Eat! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I suggest warming up some hot chocolate while applying this so your not tempted to eat it LOL.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ready?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apply the chocolaty masque with the exotic scent of oranges leaving you oh so refreshed!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smells so delicious with the decadence of chocolate and citrus oranges, and I can feel it working already and it's only been on for not even a few minutes!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Virgin Olive-</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txW6u0qQTgU/UOn4Z5iCm9I/AAAAAAAAEiM/Q6OHFzaUp98/s1600/virginolive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txW6u0qQTgU/UOn4Z5iCm9I/AAAAAAAAEiM/Q6OHFzaUp98/s320/virginolive.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">infused with Shea and cocoa butter to rejuvenate into healthy and smooth looking skin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Green Tea-</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IT3l9ZbleoU/UOn4jBHHUdI/AAAAAAAAEiU/APZBjkzTYbQ/s1600/greentea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IT3l9ZbleoU/UOn4jBHHUdI/AAAAAAAAEiU/APZBjkzTYbQ/s320/greentea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">made with green tea and root ginger with squeezed lemons to detoxify your skin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Talk about healthy skin! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div>1. Enter to win by telling me how you keep your skin looking refreshed? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Want an extra entry? </div><div style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>2. Follow my blog.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>3.Then also follow me via Twitter, here. https://twitter.com/kelli_bliss </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>4. then tweet about the giveaway and make sure you use #montagnejeuness</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>5. leave me a link here to your tweet.</div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find them online as well!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/montagnejeunesse"> www.facebook.com/montagnejeunesse </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or here.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/montagnejeuness"> www.twitter.com/montagnejeuness</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

Montagne Jeunesse Review and Giveaway!

Doesn't it feel so relaxing and soothing to get a facial? Let's face it though, without gift cards or coupons they sure are pricey! ...

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 01/06/2013

11:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<ul class="diigo-linkroll">      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://mrsmcconnellsblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-12-reflections-on-2012-conclusion.html">Mrs. McConnell's Blog: Top 12 Reflections on 2012 - conclusion</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">IN her final set of reflections, Sandy uses a new feature, that of Google plus tagging in a blogger blog, which is how I found what she wrote! IF you use blogger, use the plus and tag people and we'll find you more easily than the traffic type things. Finally an advantage for being on blogger besides just tight integration with Google.  I love how her work with edtech and ipads is part of what she's done. With all she's been through: layoffs, cancer, adding onto her house - I think I've found a new hero and definitely someone I"ve added to my PLN. I've known of her work, but now I"m a fan.  Sometimes, when you open up, share and reflect, you connect on a deeper, more personal level than if you pretend like life is perfect. TEachers, lets stick together and encourage each other.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/inspiration">inspiration</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/all_teachers">all_teachers</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://mrsmcconnellsblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-top-12-reflections-on-2012-pt-2.html">Mrs. McConnell's Blog: My Top 12 Reflections on 2012, pt. 2</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Even more inspirational, here Sandy shares how she worked hard to find a place where students are treated with compassion and inclusion and how she found someone to work with her. She also built onto her house and had surgery on a thyroid tumor. I think that some people think that innovators have it easy and they'll just work when it is easier. Sandy didn't have it easy at all and look at what she's done. I find her reflections so heartwarming and hope some of you will share your stories. We should draw strength from one another.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reflection">reflection</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/all_teachers">all_teachers</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://mrsmcconnellsblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-top-12-reflections-on-2012-pt-1.html">Mrs. McConnell's Blog: My Top 12 Reflections on 2012 pt. 1</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Sandy McConnell has created a nice set of reflections for 2012, something I think all admins should want their teachers to do, where she shared her views, what she has done, and how she's improved. Such retrospection on a year is a powerful way to mark learning and remember. She's done so many things, but particularly I like how she didn't let the fact that she was temporarily laid off stop her from learning and moving forward. IF you're having a tough time, you might want to read what Sandy is and has done. She inspires me. Wow. I"ll link to all of her sets, because I"d like you to read them all.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reflection">reflection</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/best">best</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/practices">practices</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/all_teachers">all_teachers</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=145599">QR Codes in Elementary School - LiveBinder</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">A very useful livebinder by some teachers on QR codes in the elementary school with information and guides. I've found this is pretty updated even though the first page has a description from 2010. Very useful if you want to use them in your classroom or library at the elementary level.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/qrcode">qrcode</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/history">history</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/elementary_teacher">elementary_teacher</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.activehistory.co.uk/Miscellaneous/menus/history_mystery/qr.php">How to set up a QR Code Treasure Hunt</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Simple instructions that history teachers will love for setting up a QR code scavenger hunt. My favorite app is i-Nigma for scanning qr codes -it just works.  "	A QR-Code Treasure Hunt is a fun, simple way to get students using their mobile devices to continue learning outside of lesson time. Here's how we set one up at the International School of Toulouse with some guidance on how to do the same with your own students using the QR Treasure Hunt Generator at ClassTools.net."</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/history_teacher">history_teacher</a></p>                                <ul class="diigo-comments">                  </ul>                      </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/gwynethjones/qr-codes-in-the-elementary-classroom">QR Codes in the Elementary Classroom</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">A nice presentation by Gwyneth Jones about QR codes in the elementary classroom and library. If you're looking for ideas and simple explanations, this is a great slideshow.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/qrcode">qrcode</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a></p>                                        </li>  </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='http://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 01/06/2013

Mrs. McConnell's Blog: Top 12 Reflections on 2012 - conclusion IN her final set of reflections, ...

FRANCE CHOOSES THE PATH OF AUSTERITY

6:15 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUjOpNqvuQwiISP2pOzCjlN_C4xxuMG4TSrJuz3vlF4wO8Tj_RjTETAE2BfAG7_PEz-wr5I-qC2FIJi4C57w_jRb9anjhNwvZu6-sh1g241_zU-ebVTcQP4ndxKV06VjoBrbwWiZ8EbH7/s1600/the-international-monetary-fund-imf.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUjOpNqvuQwiISP2pOzCjlN_C4xxuMG4TSrJuz3vlF4wO8Tj_RjTETAE2BfAG7_PEz-wr5I-qC2FIJi4C57w_jRb9anjhNwvZu6-sh1g241_zU-ebVTcQP4ndxKV06VjoBrbwWiZ8EbH7/s200/the-international-monetary-fund-imf.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc5AqqGCaJluMWhWpl7xS7vPsZgt5v08nHSL18tQoHFlj7-iQ81iVdV0tqXpnWgH-o5J4DVqfZClFLWMOnEe4zC6Q6FsffVMnRdJhyphenhyphen1aBfvXAgHpWdmCQHQmdgd0txMoZVmtXNKjeSGm6/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc5AqqGCaJluMWhWpl7xS7vPsZgt5v08nHSL18tQoHFlj7-iQ81iVdV0tqXpnWgH-o5J4DVqfZClFLWMOnEe4zC6Q6FsffVMnRdJhyphenhyphen1aBfvXAgHpWdmCQHQmdgd0txMoZVmtXNKjeSGm6/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">HAS THE NEOLIBERAL MODEL LED EUROPE TOWARD DISASTER?</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Despite the election of socialist François Hollande to the presidency of the Republic, FRANCE, far from breaking with the neoliberal model that has led much of EUROPE toward disaster, has chosen the path of austerity.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GEOPOLITICAL INFLUENCE: TROIKA IMF, ECB AND WORLD BANK: POLITICALLY UNPOPULAR, ECONOMICALLY INEFFICIENT AND SOCIALLY DISASTROUS?</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The austerity policies advocated by the EUROPEAN UNION - promoted primarily by GERMANY’S Angela Merkel - the International Monetary Fund and the EUROPEAN Central Bank have led to deadlock. They are politically unpopular, economically inefficient and socially disastrous. Wherever they have been implemented, whether in GREECE, IRELAND, ITALY, PORTUGAL, SPAIN and ARGENTINA - without a single exception - they have been unsuccessful, engendering an increase in poverty, unemployment, and public indebtedness as well as leading to the dismantling of the welfare state through the destruction of public services and a drastic lowering of state revenues.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">François Hollande’s election to the presidency of the Republic in May 2012 sparked some hope among FRENCH citizens for an alternative to austerity policies. But rather than significantly increasing the minimum wage and public investment - measures that would have boosted economic growth - the government of Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault adopted the "Pact for competitiveness" recommended by the Gallois report. This is a pact that has shown itself slavishly devoted to policies that have already demonstrated their ineffectiveness across EUROPE.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">FRANCES GOVERNMENT MEASURES WILL LEAD TO </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">REDUCTION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The government has in fact decided to implement the measures recommended by Louis Gallois, commissioner general for investment. In his opinion the policy would improve the competitiveness of French companies at the international level, stimulate the economy and create jobs. At the same time, President Holland has chosen to reduce the corporate tax by granting a tax credit of 20 billion EUR.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In order to do this, the Elysée has adopted two measures. As a first step, public expenditure will be reduced by 10 billion EUR. This means that public services made available to FRENCH citizens will be severely affected, with a direct impact on the quality of life of the most vulnerable elements of the population.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH576kBmteHZmvn2QZQLPMnpiQMEut600xRI92mwNTwx7JsAeWcZuNI9Bo5y7zyX0m5eGVNG55NzPzmSe-_Ty7GNgugkatp9ihAflb0D18zZpbLi-IhA4vS0VNyJbQEPmWFC-xmGa93q8/s1600/1352912503-european-protest-against-austerity-measures-paris_1596648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH576kBmteHZmvn2QZQLPMnpiQMEut600xRI92mwNTwx7JsAeWcZuNI9Bo5y7zyX0m5eGVNG55NzPzmSe-_Ty7GNgugkatp9ihAflb0D18zZpbLi-IhA4vS0VNyJbQEPmWFC-xmGa93q8/s320/1352912503-european-protest-against-austerity-measures-paris_1596648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The second measure is the most unpopular: Reneging on his campaign promise, François Hollande has made a decision to increase VAT, or value-added tax. Indeed, former President Nicolas Sarkozy had already raised the VAT using a differentiated formula in which the middle rate was raised from 5% to 7% and the overall rate from 19.6% to 21.4%. This represents an increase in VAT of 10.6 billion EUR, a cost that would necessarily be borne by FRENCH citizens.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">One of the first measures taken by the new National Assembly in July 2012 was to remove this VAT hike. Now, three months later, the Socialist government has reversed this decision by again raising the main VAT rates. Thus, beginning the first of January 2014, the overall rate will climb from 19.6% to 20% and the intermediate rate from 7% to 10%. Only the lowest rate will be decreased from 5.5% to 5%. Collectively, these measures represent a tax increase for the FRENCH population of 7 billion EUR, an imposition that will mainly affect the most vulnerable elements of the population. Indeed, this new tax will account for a loss in purchasing power of 260 EUR per person per year, in other words, 25% of the monthly minimum wage .</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">FRANCES FISCAL GIFT OF 20 BILLION EUR TO LARGE CORPORATIONS ALLEGEDLY WILL CREATE 300,000 JOBS IN BY 2017!!</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The increase in the VAT (+3% for products as necessary as gas, electricity, transport, books, or medicines not reimbursed by social security) will inevitably lead to a reduction in economic activity. Indeed, the loss of household purchasing power will result in a decrease in consumption and, thereby, a decrease in production. This in turn will cause an increase in unemployment, and consequently a decline in tax revenues for the State as well as an increase in the cost of allowances paid to the unemployed.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Furthermore, this plan will stimulate only 20% of the country’s economy. Indeed, in FRANCE, export production represents only one fifth of the wealth produced, while eighty percent of the country’s production is intended for domestic use. It is the latter that will be directly affected by the increase in the VAT </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">According to the Government, this fiscal gift of 20 billion EUR to large corporations will potentially create 300,000 jobs in FRANCE by 2017. However, this is highly uncertain and, in fact, it is contrary to all economic logic. Indeed, assuming that the number is correct, this means that 67,000 EUR will need to be allocated to cover the cost of each job created. However, the creation of a post of teacher, nurse, social worker or cultural attaché in the public service requires an expenditure of only 40,000 EUR yearly. Thus, had the State allocated 20 billion EUR to the public sector, 500,000 quality jobs would without a doubt have been created. This is 200,000 more than what is currently planned for and these are jobs that would contribute greatly to the improvement of public services and the welfare of citizens.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The measures taken by President François Holland and the Government of Jean-Marc Ayrault constitute an economic oxymoron and are doomed to failure. They fall directly in line with the austerity policies already implemented throughout EUROPE, policies that have led the most vulnerable elements of the population to disaster.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">By </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Salim Lamrani</span></span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><br />

FRANCE CHOOSES THE PATH OF AUSTERITY

HAS THE NEOLIBERAL MODEL LED EUROPE TOWARD DISASTER? Despite the election of socialist François Hollande to the presidency of the Republic...

On the Way to Hospice, Surprising Hurdles - NYTimes.com

4:08 AM Tukiyooo 0

<base href="data:">I've often wondered why more families don't call hospice when a loved one has a terminal disease — and why people who do call wait so long, often until death is just days away.<br><br>Even though more than 40 percent of American deaths now involve hospice care, many families still are trying to shoulder the burden on their own rather than turning to a proven source of help and knowledge. I've surmised that the reason is families' or patients' unwillingness to acknowledge the prospect of death, or physicians' inability to say the h-word and refer dying patients to hospice care.<br><br>But maybe there's another reason. A study in the journal Health Affairs recently pointed out that hospices themselves may be turning away patients because of certain restrictive enrollment policies. It's possible, too, that physicians who know of these policies aren't referring patients whom the doctors fear wouldn't qualify.<br><br>Surprisingly, this randomized national survey of almost 600 hospice programs represents the first broad inquiry into enrollment practices, though it's been nearly 30 years since hospice became a Medicare benefit.<br><br>Nearly 80 percent of hospice programs, the study found, reported having at least one policy that could restrict access. "It represents a barrier to people who want hospice care but can't receive it," said lead author Melissa Aldridge Carlson, a geriatrics and palliative care researcher at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.<br><br>What kind of barriers are we talking about? More than 60 percent of hospices won't accept a patient on chemotherapy, and more than half won't take someone relying on intravenous nutrition. Many won't enroll patients receiving palliative radiation or blood transfusions; a few say no to tube feeding.<br><br>This made more sense a couple of decades ago, when Medicare developed the regulations requiring patients to forgo curative treatments when they entered hospice. Hospice patients must have a terminal disease, likely to cause death within six months, so such treatments were presumed futile.<br><br>But medicine evolves. Now, Dr. Aldridge Carlson pointed out, the distinction between curative and palliative treatments has grown blurry. "It's increasingly an artificial dichotomy," she said. "That's not the reality for most patients today with end-stage disease."<br><br>Chemotherapy, for instance, is often used to shrink tumors that cause pain; radiation can prevent nausea and vomiting for patients with bowel obstructions. Though neither will cure a terminal cancer, as palliative treatments they can improve quality of life. Blood transfusions can help anemic cancer patients feel better, too, at least for a while.<br><br>Why, then, would hospices not accept dying people using these treatments? First, these are expensive to provide. The national average Medicare reimbursement for hospice care is just $140 a day, the study notes, and it's not adjusted to reflect the cost of more complicated regimens. Besides, hospices worry about running afoul of Medicare regulations and being denied even that inadequate reimbursement.<br><br>This probably explains why the researchers found that smaller hospices were more likely than large ones to say no to patients receiving such treatments. "If you're a small hospice caring for someone with many medical issues and the reimbursement doesn't even cover the care – and then Medicare comes to take it back – that's a big hit," Dr. Aldridge Carlson said. Larger organizations with more patients and bigger budgets can better absorb the costs.<br><br>One bright note, though, is that almost 30 percent of the hospices studied offer some kind of open access enrollment without insisting on those prohibitions. Much more common in nonprofit hospices (a pity, because the real growth is in for-profit ones), open access usually means enrolling people who don't yet meet the Medicare criteria, then converting them to Medicare patients as they become eligible.<br><br>At Gilchrist Hospice Care in Baltimore, for instance, patients still using chemotherapy, radiation, transfusions and several other treatments can enter what it calls "expanded care," sometimes also known as "concurrent care." (At Gilchrist, however, such patients still must meet the six-month hospice eligibility requirement.)<br><br>"If you say, 'You can't get blood transfusions any more,' people say, 'Why would I go with your program?'" said Regina Bodnar, Gilchrist's clinical director. The hospice's concurrent program "is not so either/or."<br><br>People who enter hospice care with palliative treatments usually decide to forgo them anyway when they become less effective or more burdensome, Ms. Bodnar said, but "this allows people to make the transition over time." As the largest hospice program in Maryland, a nonprofit with generous donors, Gilchrist can afford this more flexible, but expensive, approach.<br><br>Could it be the future of hospice? That would require Medicare to make some changes in eligibility and reimbursement practices — a shift that might bolster Medicare's solvency, too.<br><br>"Hospice saves money because it keeps people out of the hospital," Dr. Aldridge Carlson said. Even more expensive outpatient treatments, like palliative radiation, are less costly than days spent in intensive care. Adjusting policies to allow more patients into hospice might bring costs down.<br><br>But as important, it could make the call to hospice a slightly less terrifying prospect and provide more families with the help they need at the end of life. "We need to take down the barriers to hospice care," Ms. Bodnar said, "and this is one way to do it."<br><br><i>Paula Span is the author of "When the Time Comes: Families With Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions."</i><div><br><a href="http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/hospice-obstacles/?src=recg">http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/hospice-obstacles/?src=recg</a><br><br></div>

On the Way to Hospice, Surprising Hurdles - NYTimes.com

I've often wondered why more families don't call hospice when a loved one has a terminal disease — and why people who do call wait s...

Age of Autism

4:03 AM Tukiyooo 0

Welcome to Age of Autism, the Daily Web Newspaper of the Autism Epidemic.  We are published to give voice to those who believe autism is an environmentally induced illness, that it is treatable, and that children can recover. For the most part, the major media in the United States aren't interested in that point of view, they won't investigate the causes and possible biomedical treatments of autism independently, and they don't listen to the most important people – the parents, many of whom have witnessed autistic regression and medical illness after vaccinations. We do all those things, and more.<br /><br><br /><br>We believe that autism is the defining disorder of our age, man-made and therefore preventable, and that it points to the truth about other problems that beset us, from ADD to asthma to Alzheimer's. We address those issues as well, along with exposing the special interests, bureaucratic inertia, and medical malfeasance that perpetuate denial and suffering.<br /><br><br /><br><a href="http://www.ageofautism.com/">http://www.ageofautism.com/</a>

Age of Autism

Welcome to Age of Autism, the Daily Web Newspaper of the Autism Epidemic. We are published to give voice to those who believe autism is an ...

Autism Strains Yet Strengthens a Marriage - NYTimes.com

4:01 AM Tukiyooo 0

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Last summer, Nancy Clarke, 54, and Jay Petrow, 53, celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with family members in the backyard of their Westport, Conn., home. As Jay's brother, I was best man at their <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/13/style/nancy-clarke-marries.html" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">1987 wedding</a> at our parents' house in Southampton, L.I., and since then have watched as he and Nancy have taken on an extraordinary challenge — raising an autistic and seriously disabled son, William, who is now 19.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">For two decades Jay worked "10 to 10" as a magazine art director, and then five years ago decided to make a new beginning, starting a <a href="http://petrowgardens.com/" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">landscape design company</a>. Nancy, a Princeton graduate and former Wall Street trader, became a stay-at-home mom after William's birth. They also have a daughter, Anna, who's 15. Following is a condensed and edited version of our conversation about their marriage.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>Tell me about the first kiss.</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: We spent a weekend together with 10 other friends, which was the first time we met. I thought Jay was different — more approachable, someone I could be friends with. The ride back to the city took eight hours and it would have been much easier for Jay to drop me off first — I just thought he was being sweet by making me the last. As I was about to get out of the car I leaned across to give him a kiss on the cheek, but somehow the corner of my lip hit the corner of his lip and I got a jolt. It was like "Whoa!" and all of a sudden the weekend took on a different meaning.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: She still tries to re-enact that kiss every time. There was definitely electricity.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>A year and a half later, Jay proposed. How did that come about?</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: I had been getting a little impatient and I asked him if it's appropriate for women to ask men to marry them. He said, "Maybe, but I wouldn't do that if I were you." So I just let go of it.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: I told her: "When I'm ready to get married, I'll ask you. I don't want you to ask me."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: The night before my 29th birthday we went out to the River Café [in Brooklyn] and had a nice dinner. Afterward he got down on his knee and proposed. I was so stunned that I burst out crying.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: I decided I didn't want to live without her.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>Not long after, you both quit your jobs. Were you crazy?</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: We had been married for about three years when we decided to take a trip around the world — 20 countries in 14 months. This was an adventure I had always dreamed about, but I was so serious, making money, on "track." Jay bumped me off the track.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: We really wanted to see the world before the complexities and limitations of life engulf you, to step out of the normal routine of working hard, retiring and dying.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>Eighteen months after you returned, William was born. Things didn't work out according to plan, did they?</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: From the start everything was so hard with William. He didn't latch on. He didn't sleep. I'd held a lot of babies before, but it was so hard for me to hold my own; he just didn't koala into my own body. And then he started his head banging, out of frustration because he really couldn't communicate at all. Sometimes at home, other times in public.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: You could just hear his head hitting the wall and the floor so that —</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: — it created swelling and bruising. I couldn't bear to watch it and I couldn't stop him from doing it. I felt humiliated and like a failure.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: Just after he turned 2, our neurologist told us he wasn't "right" and likely never would be, that we had a big job ahead of us. I'm the kind of person who usually thinks things will work out, but now I was devastated. And I certainly didn't understand all the <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/features/health/100266159.html" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">stresses it would put on our marriage</a>. William always demanded so much time and attention that it was hard to find balance and passion with each other.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: I remember leaving the neurologist's office on the Upper East Side after he had given us the news, pushing William in the stroller and just sobbing. My older sister Susan was with me and she kept saying, "It's going to be O.K.," and I told her, "No, it's not going to be O.K. This can't be fixed."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>That was a long time ago. What's William like now?</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: Every night he wets himself, sometimes two or three times a night. He's 19 and man-size now. He also continues tantrums. Three years ago we had to call the local police because he got so angry and started throwing furniture around and broke the glass on the front door.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: Last night William unplugged all the wires to the Wii, VCR, stereo and DVD player that take hours to connect.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: It's unrelenting when he becomes manic and just keeps coming at you. "Do you want to play Wii?," sticking the remote in your face. "Where's the train? I want the train."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: I could see Jay was beside himself so I jumped in. Now when we're in the midst of a terrible situation like this, I know that it's going to be O.K. because we have each other.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>Was there a time when you didn't think it would be O.K. between the two of you?</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: I never wanted to get divorced, but the stresses got to be too much. I felt like I couldn't stay in our situation. Part of it was William and part of it was how stressed out Nancy was.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: I remember when Jay said: "Maybe we should consider a divorce. It just hurts so bad. I'm in pain." He also said: "If I were going to war I would want you to be in the trench next to me, but we're not soldiers, you're my wife."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>How did you get past those tough times?</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: We try not to think about what our lives could have been — what we're missing out on. Rather we focus on what we have, especially each other. That's really helped bring us together. We developed the ability to communicate about these issues, which really helps. So, too, does a sense of humor.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: I had to learn about balance, not a forte of mine, and that my singlemindedness about helping William had costs associated with it. That somehow, in spite of everything, we had to operate as a family, with everyone's needs taken together. This was and is still very difficult to manage.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>Anna was born four years after William. How did you have the courage to have a second child?</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: That was probably one of our hardest decisions because <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">autism</a> does have a genetic component. We were scared that we'd have another child with special needs, and that would have been pretty devastating.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: Brave and stupid are flip sides of each other. With Anna, I realized what a leap of faith it is to have a baby.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>And how did she turn out?</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: She did have special needs — she was in the "gifted" program during elementary school.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>I know William brings you joy too, I've seen it.</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: William is usually the life of the party — at weddings and bat mitzvahs — he loves to dance and often "gets down" with the bride. He's got certain music that he loves to sing to — Wilson Pickett, Tom Petty and David Byrne. He croons like Frank Sinatra, has the passion of Gladys Knight, is so full of life and joyful that it just makes me happy and proud that he's my son.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>I know you've been remodeling the house you've lived in for nearly 20 years. Is that a metaphor for your relationship?</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jay: No, not at all. I pushed for the house remodel after Nancy's sister, <a href="http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsday/obituary.aspx?n=susan-clarke-mcdermott&pid=149026642&fhid=2058#fbLoggedOut" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Susan, died from pancreatic cancer </a>two years ago. She was only 54. I said to Nance: "We might as well do it now because we could be dead tomorrow."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nancy: Susan's illness was really life-changing for us. Before that, it had been very difficult for me to leave William. But when she was diagnosed I knew I had to be with her. I looked at Jay and said, "I need to go." He said, "I know." She died four months later, and that time together was the biggest gift anyone could ever give me. My Aunt Mary always used to say, "Oh Jay, that's my angel."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>What exactly did she mean, Nancy?</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 24px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; ">Nancy: He's made of good stuff. He's just always completely there for me.</p></div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/booming/autism-strains-yet-strengthens-a-marriage.html?src=recg&_r=1&pagewanted=all&">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/booming/autism-strains-yet-strengthens-a-marriage.html?src=recg&_r=1&pagewanted=all&</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Autism Strains Yet Strengthens a Marriage - NYTimes.com

Last summer, Nancy Clarke, 54, and Jay Petrow, 53, celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with family members in the backyard of their ...