My Fucking Internet Connection Was Out, Again.

This has been an ongoing problem ever since I moved into this fucking place.<br />I, or rather, my wife, had the repair guys out here two or three times and they couldn't find anything wrong.<br />The sonofabitch goes on the blink and stays out until it damn well feels like coming back on.<br /><br />I finally got pissed off last year and called the motherfuckers and reamed some ass.<br />I told them to send somebody out here that knew what the fuck they were doing because there IS a problem and I want to know what the fuck it is.<br />I'm tired of playing nice with you assholes and getting shined on.<br /><br /><br />You send somebody out here while I am here so I can talk to the guy and you can quit blowing smoke up my wifes ass.<br /><br />So, bigger than shit a van shows up and this young guy gets out while I am here before I gotta go to work.<br /><br />He starts in where the cable comes to the house.<br /><br />I'm thinking you should start at the fucking pole and work your way in but whatever.<br /><br />So he is taking connections apart and I am fucking around in the garage because that's where all that shit is.<br /><br />He gets up on a ladder and takes a connection apart and looks at it. Nothing wrong there.<br /><br />He goes to put the fucker back together and gets shocked,....<br /><br /><br />Houston, we have a problem.<br /><br />TV cable is not supposed to have 110 volts running through it obviously.<br /><br />So he starts tracing the cable with a hand held gizmo that detects electricity by the electric field around the wire.<br /><br />After a bit he calls the guy they should have sent out in the first place, the old guy who has seen it all.<br /><br />He shows and up and they put their heads together for a minute and then the real diagnosis starts.<br /><br />They followed the cable through every room in this house, front to back.<br /><br />Somewhere, inside the motherfucking walls, it is either rubbing up against a live wire, or what my personal thoughts are, some dickhead ran a screw or a nail into the wall that went through the 110 line into the cable and shorted them together.<br /><br />Short of yanking every cable out of the wall there is zero chance of ever finding where it is so here I sit.<br /><br />This is a rental house and neither I nor the owner wants to go through all that..<br /><br />If it was my house it would already have been done.<br /><br />I'd have yanked every inch of that shit out until I found it and been done with the irritating fucking thing.<br /><br /><br />So my lack of posting is not just me being a lazy fuck, this time......<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi342RjZTWPJCh7SiHzb1zBUd04DWlbLuegHw-uGPBmSwRvXTvfbXhCbPgw4mpR_3S1-6PkGa_RcvCzUejiL6AeiLUfqknbu2uZArr4TiL0ixL1S0i4e2OddmdDwkwmfkKYHeLK8CTPFf/s1600/http:__www.photoshoproadmap.com_Photoshop-blog_wp-content_uploads_2013_08_steammmm1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi342RjZTWPJCh7SiHzb1zBUd04DWlbLuegHw-uGPBmSwRvXTvfbXhCbPgw4mpR_3S1-6PkGa_RcvCzUejiL6AeiLUfqknbu2uZArr4TiL0ixL1S0i4e2OddmdDwkwmfkKYHeLK8CTPFf/s640/http:__www.photoshoproadmap.com_Photoshop-blog_wp-content_uploads_2013_08_steammmm1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />

My Fucking Internet Connection Was Out, Again.

This has been an ongoing problem ever since I moved into this fucking place. I, or rather, my wife, had the repair guys out here two or thre...

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Teamsters celebrate Truck Driver Appreciation Week

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fAwWgZQIVn39gZG4g-Z4fTngm0-f-io2vPqGRXfno-5i94w7R3yHnw2EnknJn0gcFPdtgAZQt92VembWIewS60huc9ztTUoZ5pwXBdqIN8C0HhV1YlH_6njlvZq4K8BKoxDgFey45TM3/s1600/Knights+of+the+Highway+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fAwWgZQIVn39gZG4g-Z4fTngm0-f-io2vPqGRXfno-5i94w7R3yHnw2EnknJn0gcFPdtgAZQt92VembWIewS60huc9ztTUoZ5pwXBdqIN8C0HhV1YlH_6njlvZq4K8BKoxDgFey45TM3/s320/Knights+of+the+Highway+(2).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div>We're celebrating <a href="http://www.trucking.org/Appreciation_Week.aspx" rel="nofollow">National Truck Driver Appreciation Week</a> over on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/teamsters" rel="nofollow">Facebook page</a> with photos old and new of trucks and truck drivers. Many of our readers posted some great comments, which we thought we'd share with you:  </div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/westendorchestra">James F. Giles</a> Everything everyone in America owns, eats, or uses got here on a truck - thanks, Teamsters. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/richard.lapointe.771">Richard Lapointe</a> Made the seniority list in Feb 1971 in Cambridge, MA and retired last year with an awesome pension after 42 years of service with several companies. God bless the Teamster's Union. It's always been the working class that made this country great. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nunzio.santuccio">Nunzio Santuccio</a> Keepem rolling !!!! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ray.roehrig">Ray Roehrig</a> Retired Local #500, Philadelphia, PA. Proud to be a Teamster! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/greggjodi.gomes">Greggjodi Gomes</a> I am proud to be a part of Local 407 Truck Drivers Union Cleveland ,Ohio--- thank you for all you do for me and my family !! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mike.porchiazzo">Mike Porchiazzo</a> Truckers make the world go around! It's a long lonesome road in the lifetime of a trucker! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jenjen726leo">Jennifer Young</a> proud daughter of a Teamster Driver!! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/larry.katra.73">Larry Katra</a> My stepdad was a union steward and saw him save many guys jobs over the years.The Teamsters was a great union and still is. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/frank.milatzo">Frank Milatzo</a> In '62 I was just learning how to drive big rigs, joined the Teamsters 25 years ago after freight: got deregulated and couldn't make any money as an independent trucker. Best move I ever made </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lenore.lopez.7">Lenore Lopez</a> I appreciate truck drivers, I wish more employers would respect the physical and mental demands of the job. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/wayne.robertson.77964">Wayne Robertson</a> Funny how when I'm on 2 wheels I worry less about them than I do the soccer mom in the grocery-getter. But I'm not invisible to them, and the living they make depends on their safety and courtesy!</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sandie.hawley">Sandie Hawley</a> where would we be without truckers, God bless em. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.mansfield.90">Jennifer Mansfield</a> My Daddy, Oklie J Huggins, 1928-2008. Teamster Truck Driver for 44 yrs.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ken.caccamise">Ken Caccamise</a> I have a story about the old days and how different than they are today. Today we have spring loaded brakes. When the air brake lines are disconnected from the tractor the brakes are set, that means "on." Back years ago before spring loaded brakes when you lost air the wheels freewheeled, brakes off. A retired union O/O I spoke with this summer was in the middle of a story when he said something that caught my ear. The story was about running NYC. Just below Mount Pocono on PA 611 there's a steep downward grade. A tractor trailer's drive shaft snapped off coming down that grade and went threw the decking behind the cab cutting the brake lines, loosing all the brakes. The driver crashed and was killed. Talk about a dangerous job. I will say that without the Teamster's these problem might still exist today...</blockquote>

Teamsters trucks Teamsters celebrate Truck Driver Appreciation Week

We're celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation Week  over on our Facebook page with photos old and new of trucks and truck driver...

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Moral Monday protests gain momentum in North Carolina

<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsWNwFDljhnwZTYe7PucGGLImGYLBdqQ4uJyIevjAS0YgfMAmxX4nsq50u40gaB3BYf5XixdGCqLUW6fr83Emqt9PgSvS4slVjsUyJ2EOq8abQpwIRpZSLfBxBQQMToy2XjIIT7Ezrtz4/s1600/9-16moralmonday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="They marched around the governor's mansion in Raleigh." border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsWNwFDljhnwZTYe7PucGGLImGYLBdqQ4uJyIevjAS0YgfMAmxX4nsq50u40gaB3BYf5XixdGCqLUW6fr83Emqt9PgSvS4slVjsUyJ2EOq8abQpwIRpZSLfBxBQQMToy2XjIIT7Ezrtz4/s400/9-16moralmonday1.jpg" title="Students held signs protesting the policies of Gov. McCrory and the Legislature." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students took the lead on the march around the governor's mansion.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two Moral Monday events drew more than 500 people who protested North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and his legislative allies for curbing voting rights, slashing education spending and refusing federal dollars to expand Medicaid. The rallies held yesterday marked the 18th week since late April that North Carolinians gathered to protest the state</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> government’s actions. About 925 people were arrested during the demonstrations for nonviolent civil disobedience. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At a </span><a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/09/16/3202013/college-naacp-groups-bring-new.html" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">youth-led demonstration in Raleigh</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, some 250 people marched around the governor’s mansion to demand a roll back on </span><a href="http://www.teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/07/teamsters-participate-in-largest-moral-monday-protest.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the voter suppression and education cuts enacted</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in July. Some also carried three children’s coffins to honor the memory of four little African-American girls killed in a Birmingham, Ala. church bombing 50 years ago yesterday during the height of the civil rights movement in the South.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>College students from around the area came to the protest to show they are concerned about the state’s future. They held signs reading “We will fight for our future,” “Reinvest in public education,” and “Take your hands off our voting rights.” Dylan Su-Chun Mott, a member of the University of North Carolina’s Student Power group, said </span><a href="http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2013/09/moral-monday-0917#print" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">students need to stand up and be heard</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[The UNC-system Board of Governors] is trying to tell us that the only thing we are in school for is to get jobs. … More importantly, we are learning to be fully participatory citizens in this, our great democracy.<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Meanwhile, </span><a href="http://www.news-record.com/news/local_news/article_8a8ab91c-1f3e-11e3-bf27-001a4bcf6878.html" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">about 300 people gathered in the small town of Wentworth</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in north-central North Carolina. to protest education and Medicaid cuts. The event was held in the district of Senate leader Phil Berger.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rev. Nelson Johnson of Greensboro’s Beloved Community Center said that Berger and other elected officials have forgotten the main purpose of government:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mr. Berger, government and our democracy is supposed to work for the people and not against the people.</blockquote> Week after week, North Carolina residents are pushing back on an agenda crafted by <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/02/heres-billionaire-trying-to-destroy.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">state budget director Art Pope</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, a multimillionaire who helped underwrite the campaigns of Gov. McCrory and his cronies in the Legislature. It is largely modeled on the pro-corporate, anti-worker platform of the </span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Legislative Exchange Council</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">McCrory says the changes will help everyone in the state, </span><a href="http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2013/09/12/your-handy-guide-to-the-seven-most-common-myths-from-the-gop/print/" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the numbers just don’t bear this out</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>In fact, they show the state spent $100 million less on public schools, cut taxes only on out-of-state corporations and the wealth and made benefit cuts that hurt low-income citizens, not help them.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ncnaacp" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">next rally is scheduled for Yadkinville</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> on Sept. 23.</span></div></span></div></span>

ALEC art pope education cuts Gov. McCrory Medicaid Moral Monday North Carolina voter suppression Moral Monday protests gain momentum in North Carolina

 Students took the lead on the march around the governor's mansion. Two Moral Monday events drew more than 500 people who protested Nor...

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The Main Weight Loss Surgery Options Fort Worth TX Have

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Helene Norris</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>If you are looking for weight loss surgery options Fort Worth TX hospitals can provide you with anything that you need. Obesity is becoming a major problem. Many medical resources have similarly been channeled towards handling this manageable condition. If things get out of hand, a surgical procedure can always come in handy, although it should be the last choice. Patients, however, have a verity of techniques to choose from.<br /> <br /> Individuals can always go for gastric sleeve when they are looking for long-term options. This procedure does not involve the use of implants or even rerouting of the intestines. Instead, it employs the use of laparoscopic techniques to get rid of as much as 60% of the volume of the stomach. The portion left is small and can only accommodate small amounts of food.<br /> <br /> Once the patient has recovered, another operation such as gastric banding or gastric bypass can be performed. This will lead to even increased efficiency of reducing weight. One needs to be monitored carefully by the assigned surgeon to reduce health risks.<br /> <br /> Gastric banding is another alternative. This minimally invasive procedure involves limiting the amount of food allowed into the stomach. The upper gut is enclosed by a silicone gastric band with an expandable inner collar. This forms a pouch that that leads to the intestines. The food, therefore, stays longer in this region and one does not feel any hunger.<br /> <br /> Because the procedure uses laparoscopy, only small incisions can be made into the stomach as opposed to cutting one large hole. There are only to techniques used in this treatment that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The most available is the Lap-Band System, but the Realize Band is also becoming quite common.<br /> <br /> Gastric bypass very quick results, but is also a long-term solution. It is a simple procedure that simply involves the size of the stomach being reduced to a desirable level. This method also relies on laparoscopy. The walls of the actual stomach are used to create a side pouch. The intestines are then conveyed to enter into this section.<br /> <br /> The patient can stay for many hours without taking food, as he/she will be feeling full. In most cases, significant results are noticed just within 24 months. By five years, the individual should have a stable body size that can be maintained in the long-term.<br /> <br /> If one has undergone gastric bypass but they are still gaining weight, then they can try revisional bypass. This is expected in some patients, but further gains can be stopped through this procedure. The problem is normally the enlargement of the pouch. Endoscopic surgery is the most common remedy, which involves the insertion of instruments to reduce the size of the pouch and the small intestine.<br /> <br /> Another new minimally invasive surgical procedure is gastric plication. This technique can reduce the capacity of the stomach to just about three ounces. It does not use any implants and it is also reversible because it does not involve the removal of portions of the stomach. No rerouting and reconnecting is required as well.<br /> <br /> You can surely not run out of <A href="http://www.antoniocastanedamd.com">weight loss surgery options Fort Worth TX</A> hospitals have. However, you need bariatric surgeon to guide you. This will ensure the best results.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>You can visit the website <a href="http://www.antoniocastanedamd.com">www.antoniocastanedamd.com</a> for more helpful information about The Main Weight Loss Surgery Options Fort Worth TX Hospitals Can Provide </div><br /> </div><br />

The Main Weight Loss Surgery Options Fort Worth TX Have

By Helene Norris If you are looking for weight loss surgery options Fort Worth TX hospitals can provide you with anything that you need....

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The Wonders Of Fruit Diet Regime

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Vanessa Summer</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Have you ever attempted eating fruits fresh from the tree? If you have not tried, attempt it now to make a distinction for your wellness. Did you realize that fruits are the safest foods to eat because they belong towards the low calorie foods category? Apart from being low calorie foods, they also give a bunch of fiber that is excellent for cleansing purposes and for supplying you a feeling of fullness soon after eating fruits.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> How does fruit diet plan performs? Properly, with this diet regime you may just have to limit your food intake to fruits only. Consuming only fruits everyday will lower your calorie intake. Lowering of calorie intake inside a provided period of time will permit loss of weight. Don't be concerned about nutrients deficiency because these fruits are wealthy with nutrients and minerals that your body wants for it to function effectively. The primary component of the diet regime is focused in your weight loss that is why you might be just allowed of around 1,500 calories everyday.<br /> <br /> If you want to lose excess weight, you'll want to know the two categories of food. These are classified as high concentration foods and low concentration foods. Amongst the high concentration foods are meat, dairy goods, grains and all junk foods which might be loaded with high concentration of calories. The other category includes fruits and vegetables starting from the tiny blueberries identified in cooler atmospheres for the most exotic fruits in the tropics. It only implies that you just want not watch the level of low concentration foods you eat. You'll need not to consume less but consume all you need given that they may be lowly concentrated with calories.<br /> <br /> Fruits contain fruit sugars. It doesn't coincide using the common glycemic index diet because you must consume foods which only belong for the low glycemic index. Since fruits have fruit sugar, they're not qualified into the new glycemic index for excess weight loss. But think twice. Let's find out why fruits nonetheless belong towards the weight loss fruits.<br /> <br /> Naturally, fruits do have sugar but this sugar contained by fruits is just simple sugars. There's a misconception that fruit sugar is broken down quickly than the gradual breaking of the complicated carbohydrates. As an alternative, complex carbohydrates sugars break down quickly than the fruit sugars. This indicates that fruit sugars only will need a bit amount of insulin to be broken down and employed by the body for energy.<br /> <br /> This explains why fruits are better sources of power due to the fact the physique is going to be ready to sustain the insulin demands for breaking down the sugar into glucose. Thus, it is important for you personally to avoid complex carbohydrates which call for a whole lot of insulin for breaking down sugar which makes the blood sugar levels in an unstable type. Fructose, the sugar of most fruits may be the simplest sugar which doesn't will need insulin since in the lower intestinal wall, slower absorption of fructose is currently occurring.<br /> <br /> You'll find nevertheless a whole lot of positive aspects from consuming fruits or becoming in a fruit diet. Even when you'll find negative sides of fruit diet plan, you will find also a lot of health benefits from the fruits you will consume. Just a thought, our forefathers emerged from a llifestyle that is consuming primarily raw foods from the forest which are mainly fruits and vegetables. Do you assume they had been ready to reach an age of 100 if fruits usually are not healthful and beneficial to consume? Believe once again!<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Lose weight naturally with <a href="http://www.maquiberrysuperberry.com">Maqui berry</a> supplements. Subscribe here now: <a href="http://www.howtoloseweightfastq.com">http://www.howtoloseweightfastq.com</a></div><br /> </div><br />

The Wonders Of Fruit Diet Regime

By Vanessa Summer Have you ever attempted eating fruits fresh from the tree? If you have not tried, attempt it now to make a distinction...

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RED hot momma!

Just had to share.  About a year ago, I almost got rid of this red skirt because I couldn't even get it up past my fat thighs and I thought I would never ever get into it again.  But, Red = hope and I kept it for a reason.  And today, SHOCKINGLY I am in it.  I just LOVE it.  What do you think?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58yJ-Esew5Lo19gTQfpvbWi979fD5yltT0wJrUEiXauoJId8NbPkiZoiu_SCkQmBzoJI64q6GhoFKwz_guzwrg9foNGrowUclA-AD485y9Se66MdGsNEqWtG6crREQrJ9xbgZuH13s08/s1600/IMG_0244%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58yJ-Esew5Lo19gTQfpvbWi979fD5yltT0wJrUEiXauoJId8NbPkiZoiu_SCkQmBzoJI64q6GhoFKwz_guzwrg9foNGrowUclA-AD485y9Se66MdGsNEqWtG6crREQrJ9xbgZuH13s08/s320/IMG_0244%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />#belviq, #weightloss

RED hot momma!

Just had to share.  About a year ago, I almost got rid of this red skirt because I couldn't even get it up past my fat thighs and I thou...

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Everything About Treadmills

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Helen Matugas</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Need For Exercise<br /> <br /> Combining mobile devices, automated gadgets, fast foods and an inactive way of living today is leading more individuals to become overweight, out-of-shape and generally unhealthy. With fat and levels of cholesterol rising and immunity and stamina levels decreasing, exercise is becoming more important than ever. One way to come up with a consistent workout routine is to have a treadmill in your house. Give thought to checking out some <a href="http://www.ziggs.com/Blog/Candy_Thompson_842469"> exercising merchant websites</a> for a handful of fitness ideas.<br /> <br /> Treadmills And Their Advantages<br /> <br /> What sets the treadmill apart from other equipment is its ease of use-simply hop on it, and you're good to go. Such cardio-intensive exercise can help you burn more calories than a cycling machine or other gym workouts. There are lots of treadmill workout programs to lose weight, build muscle or just enhance stamina. The treadmill's simplicity of use and wonderful benefits make it the top choice for the person who wishes to up their health and fitness level.<br /> <br /> Know Your Treadmill Better<br /> <br /> Treadmills differ in form and shape, but they are all loaded with a feature that lets you manipulate its speed. Apart from speed adjustment, most versions let you tune their parts and features to help you achieve your workout goals faster. Variations in treadmill features add enjoyment to your workouts, making you more inspired to stick to them.<br /> <br /> Modern treadmills have many inbuilt workout programs. There's a program for weight reduction or endurance conditioning, which you can select before you begin exercising. You don't need to tinker with the treadmill as you exercise since it automatically does its adjustments for you. Whether you want the increase to be constant or set to a particular plan is under your control.<br /> <br /> There are predetermined workouts, because of a heart rate monitor, meant to monitor your heart rate. Heart rate monitors might be designed for gripping or clipping. Strapping your monitor on is more easy though, hence this is what the modern treadmills come with. This means that, it can record your cardiovascular fitness level and the intensity of your workout.<br /> <br /> Spare yourself the trouble of keying in your own personal exercise settings by saving them in the treadmill's built-in memory. This is primarily useful if you share the treadmill with others. Furthermore, the most recent treadmill models will let you keep track of your exercise history and past fitness values too.<br /> <br /> Today, the most high-tech treadmills have the technology called iFit Live. In this situation, you can practice for an event without ever leaving the comforts of your home. With the iFit Compete Live course, you are able to pit yourself against other treadmill users training on the same course. For this to work, you just need a treadmill compatible with iFit Live plus an Internet connection. Manufacturers fully understand mixing exercise with entertainment, so they added full-color touch screens and music-playing capabilities on their treadmills to suit this requirement.<br /> <br /> The Treadmill Anatomy<br /> <br /> The treadmill is primarily composed of an electrically operated conveyor belt. Because the belt is designed to move backward, you have to move in a forward motion and coordinate its speed so you stay on it. Because the belt extends up to the frame of the treadmill, you get to stay on it irrespective of your body weight. You may change the deck's angle as needed. This increases your workout's intensity level and adds variety.<br /> <br /> Because of the damping elements positioned under the deck, treadmills don't break down even if exposed to certain amounts of shock. A cushioned belt reduces the jarring impact on your feet while in motion; the tension in the cushioning can be tweaked for your convenience and resistance requirement. You can tell alot about the quality of a treadmill by checking out its motor, belt, deck, and rollers because these are the bare bones that make up the equipment.<br /> <br /> The frames of treadmills are usually folded or not. Go for the foldable units if you'll be doing exercises at home. The running deck can be folded up to meet the treadmill arms. These sturdy, compact units often come with a heftier price tag than other models. The non-foldable models are most suitable for public use, such as training studios, as they can manage more frequent usage.<br /> <br /> Treadmills And Their Types<br /> <br /> Apart from the selection of features, there are treadmills designed for different user types and usage. A treadmill built only for walking will be cheaper compared to a jogger's treadmill; a running treadmill is the priciest. Bear in mind who will be employing the treadmill and their weight since some treadmills aren't exactly for heavier individuals. A person's height is another angle to think about when picking treadmills. If your home gym treadmill will be used by the entire family, consider the increased wear and tear that the machine will go through. You're more well off obtaining a treadmill that can survive daily stress; it lasts much longer and is more pocket friendly in the long run.<br /> <br /> In Conclusion<br /> <br /> The innumerable health and fitness features about a treadmill make it an essential piece of equipment for your home gym. Yet there are things to consider before you purchase one for your needs. Throw in the user types, regularity of usage, and purpose into the mixture of choosing the proper treadmill for you. what you desire but also the one that won't burn a hole in your wallet.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Selecting the appropriate exercise machine is often a overwhelming process. <a href="http://guidetofitness.bravesites.com/"> product forums</a> are helpful places to get going with. Research what others have said and you'll see that these models are best rated of their kind.</div><br /> </div><br />

Everything About Treadmills

By Helen Matugas Need For Exercise Combining mobile devices, automated gadgets, fast foods and an inactive way of living today is le...

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Today's Teamster News 09.17.13

<a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/lincare-drivers-join-local-170" rel="nofollow">Lincare Drivers Join the Teamsters Union</a>  teamster.org   ...Drivers with Lincare Inc. in Marlborough, Mass., voted unanimously on Sept. 16 to join Teamsters Local 170 in Worcester, Mass...<br /><a href="http://fleetowner.com/safety/legislation-would-prevent-shortcuts-setting-sleep-apnea-regs" rel="nofollow">Legislation would prevent shortcuts in setting sleep apnea regulations</a>   Fleet Owner ...Trucking interests, including the Teamsters Union, are applauding legislation introduced late last week that would prevent the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from taking shortcuts in the process if they intend to set standards for screening and testing professional drivers for sleep apnea...<br /><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/15/3629437/culinary-union-warns-of-citywide.html" rel="nofollow">Culinary Union warns of citywide strike in Vegas</a>  Associated Press   ...The Culinary Union has issued a written warning to Wall Street investors, saying a citywide strike by Las Vegas hotel workers is possible if contracts aren't inked soon with two major companies...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/16/rich-poor-employment-gap_n_3933757.html" rel="nofollow">Rich-Poor Employment Gap Now Widest On Record</a>  Associated Press   ...The gap in employment rates between America's highest- and lowest-income families has stretched to its widest levels since officials began tracking the data a decade ago, according to an analysis of government data conducted for The Associated Press...<br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-lower-class-20130916,0,5616335.story" rel="nofollow">Amid slow economic recovery, more Americans identify as 'lower class'</a>  Los Angeles Times   ...A small but surging share of Americans consider themselves 'lower class,' a surprise to some researchers and activists despite the bruising economy... <br /><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/agriculture/322469-house-gop-moves-forward-with-bill-cutting-food-stamps" rel="nofollow">House GOP moves forward with $40 billion cut to food stamps </a> The Hill   ...House Republicans on Monday introduced a food stamp reform bill that they say will cut $40 billion from the program over 10 years....<br /><a href="http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Corporate-Greed/CFPB-Warns-Employers-About-Payroll-Card-Abuse" rel="nofollow">CFPB Warns Employers About Payroll Card Abuse</a>  AFL-CIO Now   ... The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warned employers yesterday about the misuse of prepaid payroll cards and that they cannot require workers receive their wages via prepaid cards.  ..<br /><a href="http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/09/16/larry-summers-withdraws-from-fed-chair-race/" rel="nofollow">Larry Summers Withdraws From Fed Chair Race</a>   Fire Dog Lake   ...In a stinging rebuke to the forces of financial deregulation in general, and the Robert Rubin clique in particular, Larry Summers withdrew his name from consideration for Chairman of the Federal Reserve after it became clear he could not be confirmed... <br /><a href="http://www.icij.org/offshore/american-fugitive-used-big-banks-shuffle-more-1-million-offshore-records-show" rel="nofollow">American Fugitive Used Big Banks To Shuffle More Than $1 Million Offshore, Records Show</a>  ICIJ   ...An American wanted on organized crime charges in New Jersey and New York shuffled more than $1 million around the world through accounts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Australia’s ANZ Bank, confidential records show...<br /><a href="http://truth-out.org/news/item/18835-the-us-federal-deficit-continues-to-shrink" rel="nofollow">The US Federal Deficit Continues to Shrink</a>  truthout   ...The federal budget deficit has been plummeting in size over the last few years; however, judging from polls, most Americans do not know that – indeed, their concern over the deficit has grown even as the annual deficit has shrunk significantly...<br /><a href="http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2013/09/third-world-watch-deadly-brain-amoeba-found-in-us-tap-water.html" rel="nofollow">Third World Watch: Deadly Brain Amoeba Found in US Tap Water</a>  Naked Capitalism   ...The US now ranks 27th in life expectancy among 34 advanced economies, down from 20 in 1990.But in addition to the considerable health dangers of stress and weak social bonds, more obvious public health risks may be coming to the fore. Strained municipal budgets means reduced public services...<br /><a href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-720?source=ra" rel="nofollow">POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL: Additional Authorities Could Benefit Implementation</a>  GAO   ...To install positive train control (PTC)--a communications-based system designed to prevent certain types of train accidents caused by human factors-- almost all railroads are overlaying their existing infrastructure with PTC components; nonetheless, most railroads report they will miss the December 31, 2015, implementation deadline...<br /><a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2013-09/16/c_132725838.htm" rel="nofollow">Week-long strikes against austerity, reform begin in Greece</a>  Xinhuanet   ...Greece's labor unions launched on Monday a new week of strike action, the most extensive this autumn, against austerity and reform measures introduced to tackle Greece's crippling debt problems...<br /><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/20130910phoenix-pension-spiking-rules-vary.html?nclick_check=1" rel="nofollow">Phoenix pension ‘spiking’ rules vary for city employees</a>  Arizona Republic   ...While retiring Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos considers converting roughly $200,000 in unused sick leave to enhance his pension, the city is fighting rank-and-file municipal employees in court to keep them from doing the same thing...<br /><a href="http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130915/NEWS/309150029/Groups-may-seek-privatized-liquor-sales-Oregon?nclick_check=1" rel="nofollow">Groups may seek privatized liquor sales in Oregon</a>  Statesman Journal   ...Grocery stores and convenience stores may get behind a ballot initiative to privatize state-run liquor stores now that the Oregon Liquor Control Commission has decided to let liquor stores sell wine and beer...<br /><a href="http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/22533215-418/no-cinch-for-right-to-work-ruling-in-indiana-supreme-court.html" rel="nofollow">Right-to-work ruling faces rough road</a>   Post-Tribune   ...They couldn’t stop it in the General Assembly, and they failed in federal court. But last week, opponents of Indiana’s right-to-work law finally had reason to celebrate, when Lake Superior Court Judge John Sedia ruled the law unconstitutional...<br /><a href="http://www.progressiverailroading.com/mow/news/Wisconsin-DOT-provides-grant-loans-for-four-freightrail-projects--37714" rel="nofollow">Wisconsin DOT provides grant, loans for four freight-rail projects</a>  Progressive Railroading   ...Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Friday announced the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will provide grants and loans totaling nearly $11 million for four freight-rail improvement projects...

Today's Teamster News 09.17.13

Lincare Drivers Join the Teamsters Union   teamster.org   ...Drivers with Lincare Inc. in Marlborough, Mass., voted unanimously on Sept. 16 ...

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A brownie day

<span style="font-size: large;">I'm on my coffee break, it's lashing rain - it's a brownie day!</span><br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMYovdPtIHrEQyIs76gIkpkVok9RztUPLi68rDBsGD7g4szNRZDbFlOrzfSUg1hL7twEnoj1SI6fillrIaPebkW6JnopCmh8DdwX7cNtq8MosOzNbEheZnTwHoeunGvRv3_GyMDbJFUXU/s640/blogger-image-1858882007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMYovdPtIHrEQyIs76gIkpkVok9RztUPLi68rDBsGD7g4szNRZDbFlOrzfSUg1hL7twEnoj1SI6fillrIaPebkW6JnopCmh8DdwX7cNtq8MosOzNbEheZnTwHoeunGvRv3_GyMDbJFUXU/s640/blogger-image-1858882007.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">I will have to brave the rain to buy fake flowers for my wreath making, later today.</span></div><br /></div>

A brownie day

I'm on my coffee break, it's lashing rain - it's a brownie day! I will have to brave the rain to buy fake flowers for my wreath ...

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Google Summit Buddy Registration offer, optional Pre-Summit workshop and more...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwa2Te6QAmQjbLKbvNfJ45KVYWnGWjeg9RDsl2XYX2amRANOZurlgssbMhA4yhKwvgDAx10uWyyWbXRyEA4pvymPXsQHRBrdAN4WfdC_ICQhyphenhypheniiewh6zTVNVqsBWQhvYlvzcTXb0lmsgo/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfwpt3ncadHvEEZFHVq7uMOnt4dcjOBA2hAcRGkz0hs1DIM-K9CPnX814dzFK2iNh5mKUwhc09lF569vEdm3hOLY876jiRo2VOjzUbOIt_Ql9B-APjwVsV82Yln8ha1uLD3wNniINC8c/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="240" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyCnsLAfbX4XVW0z-SY6ZgsUixacYp6zgh0Aiu4uw5ixeN0q3qpG5XTJG-hfyJYCxIOn9CCR868R3LQfYtwjXcdYkfNDkrWohBq8W03GSIJFJo85xg-_cMnyChvqDELiYA_jTZn86Mmc/s1600-h/image%25255B9%25255D.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifT94mVHKOP712xYQMvGGMfbks4BP-LoHiNpLoKFKtw41iwWM6X3j3p35XqSbyFfd-_3SPmoZ6iflAsG-TnaXETpB0HON-v_gTbaPc6gAc5Uo6DJWcOYxr7pR5KVB_DOqfeiwSvgCJ0j0/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Google in Education K-12 summit, which is being hosted by SchoolNet and Parklands College at Parklands College in Cape Town on 26th and 27th September, is just around the corner! We are all very excited about this event and the potential it holds for the South African educator. Have you registered? (<a href="http://za.gafesummit.com/">http://za.gafesummit.com</a>) In this email we want to emphasise the Buddy System that the Ed Tech Team have agreed to for any new registrations, and also point your attention again to the optional Pre-Summit workshop.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">More about the Buddy System</span></strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are still keen to attend the Google Summit but the price is holding you back, please find a colleague or friend that paid the early bird rate of $199 and ask if you can become their 'buddy'. This will entitle you to also register at the early bird rate of $199! There is no provision on the Google Summit website for this offer, so to participate please write to mathapelo@schoolnet.org.za with your buddy's name and email address (the one who has already registered and paid) plus your name and email address. Mathapelo will then compile a list to send to Chris Bell of the Ed Tech Team.   </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The optional Pre-Summit one day workshop </span></strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We bring your attention again to the Google Pre-Summit one day workshop which is an optional extra for $199 that you can attend at Parklands College the day before the Summit starts, should you wish to. (There will just be ONE full day workshop at the price of $199). You can read more about what this one day workshop offers on the website and register accordingly (<a href="http://za.gafesummit.com/pre">http://za.gafesummit.com/pre</a>). </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We look forward to meeting you at this not-to-be-missed Google Summit at Parklands College...we are very excited about it.</span></div>

Google summit Google Summit Buddy Registration offer, optional Pre-Summit workshop and more...

The Google in Education K-12 summit, which is being hosted by SchoolNet and Parklands College at Parklands College in Cape Town on 26th and ...

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Smartphone with Android 4.4 KitKat: Nexus 5

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Google will launch its next generation smartphone with next generation OS version in month of October. In mid of October a big event will be organise by Google to launch Android 4.4 Kitkat with Nexus 5. LG is manufacturer of hardware for <a href="http://pc-gadgetworld.blogspot.in/2013/09/images-and-features-leaked-nexus-5.html" target="_blank">Nexus 5</a>.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UTJ7CxRuwm8/Ujfwze7ixvI/AAAAAAAAAWo/OdpaxVpvA9U/s1600/nexus-5-render-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="nexus 5" border="0" height="282" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UTJ7CxRuwm8/Ujfwze7ixvI/AAAAAAAAAWo/OdpaxVpvA9U/s1600/nexus-5-render-2.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gdgt.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Google made agreement with Nestle for the name of <a href="http://pc-gadgetworld.blogspot.in/2013/09/android-44-kitkat-latest-versions-name.html" target="_blank">KitKat</a> and this gave name to the Android’s latest version. Android lovers will see same new and exciting features in Android 4.4 Kitkat. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: left;">Specifications of Android Kitkat:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li>New Gallery visualisation</li><li>New notification Widgets</li><li>New themes with Palette colours </li><li>For old phones Firmware is available</li><li>Changes in Fragmentation though screen re-sizing</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: left;">Technical specification of Nexus 5:</span></div><ul><li>Processor: 2.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800</li><li>OS: Android 4.4 KitKat</li><li>Display: 5-inch with full HD resolution</li><li>Charging: Wireless</li><li>Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, dual-band 802.11 b/g/n/ac, GSM / EDGE, and 7-band LTE</li><li>Battery: 2300mAh</li><li>Storage: 2GB RAM internal storage is not available yet</li><li>Camera: 13 Megapixel with optical image stabilization</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author" style="text-align: left;">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

android 4.4 KitKat LG nexus 5 Smartphone with Android 4.4 KitKat: Nexus 5

Google will launch its next generation smartphone with next generation OS version in month of October. In mid of October a big event will be...

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Hey President Hassan Rouhani, the Matt-Man Wants a Persianpalooza With You!!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Cheeeeeeeeeers Chuckleheads!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTJJ-eqCzKbaTomXt2BWXkM_VcEq6sXbDQ0ljyJCgau0lhyphenhyphenL5oNG3z6n3g6tzlys875LjdLlHVGRAgfARXtUUgYNaovbJaya7ggrMsXU8aQ17DZiKkEgucgasdoQT8azeLQ78ICAJi0YD/s1600/President+Rouhani+Iran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTJJ-eqCzKbaTomXt2BWXkM_VcEq6sXbDQ0ljyJCgau0lhyphenhyphenL5oNG3z6n3g6tzlys875LjdLlHVGRAgfARXtUUgYNaovbJaya7ggrMsXU8aQ17DZiKkEgucgasdoQT8azeLQ78ICAJi0YD/s400/President+Rouhani+Iran.jpg" width="400" /></a>As I am all about peace, and trying to end war and hostility around the world, I am writing today with an offer of a hearty handshake of friendship on one hand, and an olive branch in the other, both of which are directed at the recently elected President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani.<br /><br />So in order to help our two nations and indeed the world get along better, here is an open letter to President Hassan Rouhani…<br /><br /><i>Dear President Rouhani,</i><br /><br />My name is Matt Mahoney and I live in Springfield, Ohio, U.S.A.<br /><br />A few years ago when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to the U.S. to speak at Columbia University, I sent him a letter asking if I could go back to Iran with him in order to help build a more pleasant relationship between our two countries.<br /><br />You know…<br /><br />Just me, a typical American coming to Iran in order to speak with and “kick it” with typical Iranians for a few days to show that we Americans are not all that different from you Iranians.<br /><br />Alas…<br /><br />My letter to Dour-Looking, Sawed Off, Members Only Jacket Wearing President Ahmadinejad fell upon deaf ears and was totally ignored.  I was, as we say here in the States, a bit miffed.  I would ask you why he always seems so angry, but I gather it’s because he is only 5’2” tall, and well…I’d be angry too.<br /><br />So, anyhoo…<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PdIXLC104lT_R3u7Et6zeXHO6PnfZynftNqXFNIMwpPlEfR-Pk88Jvf-vDfZ1VF8vUtARLPdA6maweJ5s8PkfaD82Vqv52_9WWUq0btsJXE0NVBq1QsBJcA5PdMssobhU5SknZ0R-Q67/s1600/Presiden+Hassan+Rouhani+Nuclear+Weapons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PdIXLC104lT_R3u7Et6zeXHO6PnfZynftNqXFNIMwpPlEfR-Pk88Jvf-vDfZ1VF8vUtARLPdA6maweJ5s8PkfaD82Vqv52_9WWUq0btsJXE0NVBq1QsBJcA5PdMssobhU5SknZ0R-Q67/s400/Presiden+Hassan+Rouhani+Nuclear+Weapons.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />I think you and I would get along well together.  Sure, you are 64 years old, and I’m 48, but listen my new buddy, I have brothers and sisters your age, and older.  I am more than adept at relating to, and with, your wacky sexagenarian sub-culture.<br /><br />And plus, look at you and me…<br /><br />I have a buzzed head and wear an earring, and you have an ironic beard, and wear an understated, yet complicated turban.  From those observations as well as the number of microphones in front of your face, I surmise that we both enjoy walking our subtle, yet devil-may-care egos down the fashion runway of life.<br /><br />Amirite!? Damn right, I am!!<br /><br />You and I could go from village to village, town to town, college campus to college campus, and just engage with each other and the citizens of Iran, and bring our people closer together in the understanding that we all want to enjoy a world that is peaceful and prosperous.<br /><br />In our private meetings you and I could make fun of our nations’ allies.  I mean yes, we, the U.S., are aligned with the bland Brits and the milquetoast French, but your two biggest allies are led by a human freak show who rides shirtless on a horse, and a coward of man who gasses his own people!!<br /><br />Don’t tell me that there isn't any common ground there, my friend.  Hell, I’m sure, if we put our heads together that we could come up with a joke that goes like this…<br /><br />A Brit, a Frenchman, a Russian, and a Syrian walk into a bar, and the bartender says…<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf57k60CrLUI2NNXuU6Sd7KA5BxJMprfWh69_LmLL3r7_iAcuuq1e_Vx4dS33NCfy0QGLdHwl313hejF_wurZwoSa5RKBU_Ex_OITcMpLTb6-FK_nB80tLJuULDOgRRrkJrBN3LfNijkDV/s1600/President+of+Iran+Hassan+Rouhani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf57k60CrLUI2NNXuU6Sd7KA5BxJMprfWh69_LmLL3r7_iAcuuq1e_Vx4dS33NCfy0QGLdHwl313hejF_wurZwoSa5RKBU_Ex_OITcMpLTb6-FK_nB80tLJuULDOgRRrkJrBN3LfNijkDV/s400/President+of+Iran+Hassan+Rouhani.jpg" width="400" /></a><i>“Jesus Christ, how I long for a Canadian customer, at least they leave with a smile, and leave me with a tip.”</i><br /><br />So…There you have it President Rouhani.  I am more than willing to leave my comfortable digs here in Ohio and help you to shoulder the wheel-barrow of peace and understanding that this garden of life so desperately needs.<br /><br />If you are interested, let me know. You can always simply tweet me, because I follow you, and with all due respect, please allow me to say…<br /><br />I dig your tweets.<br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><i>Matt-Man</i><br /><br /><span style="color: blue;"><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a></span><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mattmaniws" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">My Facebook Page</span></a><br /><br /></div>

Hey President Hassan Rouhani, the Matt-Man Wants a Persianpalooza With You!!

Cheeeeeeeeeers Chuckleheads!! As I am all about peace, and trying to end war and hostility around the world, I am writing today with an offe...

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13 Months?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Good evening blog friends!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello??? Anyone still there after my 13 month blog break? I can’t image why anyone would stick around, it’s been pretty boring around these parts lately! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here’s what’s been going on in my life the past 13 months:</span></div><ul><li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My last post mentioned a goal of weighing 162lbs by 8.31.12, well that didn’t happen because this happened:</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzIRx322gx0XRAF2aD3V57mErYkPhLHXk9eSdkTHfOe1WNS6CiqvKoiLX_6eN1Db2OZMgxn_8CUAMAOHNhhJ2w48AuLPd1v6etXPacK366yei1e843D-iLwZYgW4hNkGvuVOlr0T4LL4s/s1600/IMG_32864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzIRx322gx0XRAF2aD3V57mErYkPhLHXk9eSdkTHfOe1WNS6CiqvKoiLX_6eN1Db2OZMgxn_8CUAMAOHNhhJ2w48AuLPd1v6etXPacK366yei1e843D-iLwZYgW4hNkGvuVOlr0T4LL4s/s400/IMG_32864.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div></div></li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Yep, I was baking baby #2!</i></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had great intentions of having a healthier pregnancy than the first time around. I started out really well, but I quit working out week 14 and around week 20 I had already gained 17lbs. It didn’t stop there, I ended up gaining almost 50lbs again! {not good!!!} </span></div></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPivs9TL3SznoTCkcxHrxgoyKLaVK5bJqAB8XBZieTIE7BJOPj1v7TR4IhGEloreaRDMcDpybrmXqnsMLhJBEY1AQG4xWYTzkIGIrYIY01XCMeGhYCTX9LfQ0KIcROJbmyDqZktQrulveP/s1600/22+weeks,+3+days+11_4_12%5B5%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPivs9TL3SznoTCkcxHrxgoyKLaVK5bJqAB8XBZieTIE7BJOPj1v7TR4IhGEloreaRDMcDpybrmXqnsMLhJBEY1AQG4xWYTzkIGIrYIY01XCMeGhYCTX9LfQ0KIcROJbmyDqZktQrulveP/s400/22+weeks,+3+days+11_4_12%5B5%5D.jpg" width="246" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Something good did come out of that weight gain though; I got my sweet baby boy, Avery James! He made his arrival on March 7, 2013 weighing 9lbs 11oz and I completely fell in love all over again! Who knew you could love two little people SO much?!?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPvjZ7QMe248HpCg46jy-x2mE3vwar7j8eU9fhKyppfOINyXp70wyHdUFzJnffxoy7040dfjZ3YfWMXSDX8kKaDBc_-LqwmNJIP9pt9Kdfkrdx-PDPLarr6kbg77LolXg4PikcVnO3b8-/s1600/_dsc6552_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPvjZ7QMe248HpCg46jy-x2mE3vwar7j8eU9fhKyppfOINyXp70wyHdUFzJnffxoy7040dfjZ3YfWMXSDX8kKaDBc_-LqwmNJIP9pt9Kdfkrdx-PDPLarr6kbg77LolXg4PikcVnO3b8-/s400/_dsc6552_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div></li><li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I thoroughly enjoyed my 12 week maternity leave at home with my kiddos. I didn’t workout or track my eats though. After Memorial Day I went back to work full time and also have a small part time gig as well. </span></div></li><li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now here I am, Avery is over 6 months old and I still have 20lbs to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. AND…I’d like to lose about another 10-15lbs on top of that! So this mama has some work to do!</span></div></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’ve quickly learned that being a working mom of 2 is HARD WORK! I always thought I was busy before I had kids and then when Adelyn made her arrival, she filled up my time even more. Now that I look back I had SO MUCH free time before I had 2 kids, perspective is a funny thing! I’m not going to use that excuse anymore. I’m going to make time to work out, meal plan, and spend some time on me! {Goodness that sounds selfish!}</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stick around…or come back, <b><u>please</u></b>! Blogging was such a key part of my weight loss back in 08-09 and I want make it a key part once again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>

13 Months?

Good evening blog friends! Hello??? Anyone still there after my 13 month blog break? I can’t image why anyone would stick around, it’s been ...

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The Inflationary No-Fly Zone

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvINxwmgKpzVIRJ0y2_wHQEEPh2HN0qww6hCMO7HTW2yhD8WUjWfm4qlZF6PLzL3YTc2u_jH_fcMb0JBlSowprf1XKsvbDhOFzbvzRK_6gMUOyQOjEFGf5XMQj8buRrnGHJGP90BwzvI/s1600/PPI+No+Fly+Zone.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvINxwmgKpzVIRJ0y2_wHQEEPh2HN0qww6hCMO7HTW2yhD8WUjWfm4qlZF6PLzL3YTc2u_jH_fcMb0JBlSowprf1XKsvbDhOFzbvzRK_6gMUOyQOjEFGf5XMQj8buRrnGHJGP90BwzvI/s320/PPI+No+Fly+Zone.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />It's an exponential trend failure two-fer.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-fly_zone">No-fly zone</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>A no-fly zone (or no-flight zone) is a territory or an area over which aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in a military context, somewhat like a demilitarized zone in the sky, and usually prohibit military aircraft of a belligerent nation from operating in the region. Aircraft that break the no-fly zone may be shot down, depending on the terms of the NFZ.</i></div><br />No matter how hard we try (and we have made so many attempts), we cannot seem to punch through the record high set in July of 2008. Seriously. So close and yet so far!<br /><br />I find it very hard to believe that the PPI will permanently hug the border of the no-fly zone. Then again, I could be wrong. Perhaps there is a relationship between hugging and ZIRPing. Japan faced 20+ years of flat consumer inflation. We've seen roughly 2 straight years of flat PPI inflation.<br /><br />The Fed's ZIRP is the largest monetary operation ever mounted. Quite frankly, this kind of thing's never been attempted before in the United States.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DKDPX8PEiVk" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>It will be the largest airborne operation ever mounted. Quite frankly, this kind of thing's never been attempted before. We shall seize the bridges. It's all a question of bridges, with thunderclap surprise, and hold them until they can be secured.</i></div><br />The operation will continue until all the <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=3309817&type=member&item=221252907&commentID=124572503&qid=a7677caf-48f3-48b0-a16f-6f7868e66a3c&trk=group_most_popular_guest-0-b-cmn&goback=.gmp_3309817">bridges</a> can be secured. I have no doubts about that. Sigh.<br /><br />This is not investment advice.<br /><br /><b>Update:</b><br /><br />I wasn't happy with the ending point I chose on the second exponential trend in red. It's been updated to end at the short-term peak set in July of 2011.<br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/PPIACO">St. Louis Fed: Producer Price Index: All Commodities</a>

The Inflationary No-Fly Zone

Click to enlarge. It's an exponential trend failure two-fer. No-fly zone A no-fly zone (or no-flight zone) is a territory or an area ove...

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ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING

I have been sharing excerpts from God Of Our Silent Tears in the order they appear in  the book, because the book is an argument from our encounter with evil to a better image of God to an understanding of how God helps ("God who has brought us thus far on the way") to a call for us to respond to evil and suffering in a godly way.  But the occurrence today of yet another mass shooting, another multiple homicide, prompts me to share this excerpt out of order. As we were about to go to press, the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary sent me back to add this section to the end. I have argued that God's response to the pain we feel in this transitory life is a transcendent redeeming beauty which manifest as a serene center, as compassion, and as vitalizing spirit. I conclude that our best response to suffering, our own suffering and that of others, is to mirror God's response. This excerpt applies that mirroring in the context of Sandy Hook. Perhaps it has something to say to today's new tragedy.<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>925</o:Words> <o:Characters>5278</o:Characters> <o:Company>Episcopal Diocese of Nevada</o:Company> <o:Lines>43</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>12</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>6191</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch> <o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> 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Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Tms Rmn","serif";} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">                  Over the years of writing this book, tragedies have compounded, each one forcing me back to the existential drawing board – seeing my text on the computer screen exposed as pitifully inadequate in the face of flesh and blood sorrow. There have been natural evils – 230,000 killed in the Haiti earthquake of 2010; 70,000 killed in the Sichuan quake of 2008; the Pakistan flood of 2012; the Japan earthquake, tsunami, and Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2012. There have been human evils – atrocities in the Congo and Sudan; mass shootings at Virginia Tech, Ft. Hood, the Aurora Theater, the Sikh Temple, Tucson, and a one-room Amish school to name just a few.            <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">                        As this book goes to press, we have just witnessed the mass murder of elementary school children and their teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Again the question, “Where was God?” Again many interpretations are drawn. Absurd things are said, like “this is God’s punishment for the absence of prayer in schools.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">                        This book has not prescribed a neat formula to which such a thing can be reduced. The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary demonstrates that evil will not be reduced to any neat formula. But I will do my best to offer a glimpse into how the Trinitarian God responds and calls us to respond to horrific evils.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">                        The closer we are to this loss, the more we need to access some firm foundation of hope. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">                        <i>My life flows on in endless song<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">                        Above earth’s lamentation<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">                        I hear the sweet and far off hymn<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">                        That hails a new creation.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">                        Through all the tumult and the strife<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">                        I hear the music ringing . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The bereaved need a God of Eternity to hold their grief. We all do. And they need people who embody that faith for them when it is natural they should find it hard to find hope in their own broken hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">                        If we love our children as much as is humanly possible, God loves them infinitely. If we suffer at their deaths, God suffers infinitely. The Cross happened again in Newtown, Connecticut. We meet God at that Cross, the God who will someday redeem and resurrect. The victims need a God who joins them, who goes all the way into the hell of death and grief with them. And they need people who embody God’s compassion, who, in Wolterstorff’s words, “Mourn humanity’s mourning, weep over humanity’s weeping, [are] wounded by humanity’s wounds . . . .” In the moment of loss, it is possible to find God precisely because in that moment we can find each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">                        The friends and parents of the slain children and teachers will need more than hope and compassion to find their way into a future. They will need that mysterious infusion of strength and courage the Spirit offers. They will need the meaning-making process of spiritual growth and transformation -- an inner process manifesting outwardly in life for others. That meaning-making will take different forms for each person. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">                        The public discourse in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre is a desperate scramble to make meaning out of senseless loss. People are proposing gun control, improved school security, expanded access to mental health, and other ways to improve society, mostly good enough ideas. But to me they all seem too small, too utilitarian. Tragedy of this magnitude calls for more than a technical fix to reduce the likelihood of it happening again. The best way to invest with meaning the wave of mass murders we have experienced in recent years would be to repent from social violence. Reasonable regulation of firearms would be the most obvious pragmatic way to back off from our compulsive habit of violence. But gun reform is a far, far cry from enough on the one hand, and extraordinarily hard to achieve on the other. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">                        Our societal violence goes much deeper than legislation can reach. More than any other developed nation, we have embraced the meta-narrative the late Walter Wink called “the myth of redemptive violence.” The myth he describes is an ancient story line beginning with the Enuma Elish, the Sumerian creation myth. Marduk, one of several Sumerian gods, becomes king of the gods because of his combat skills.  He slays the sea monster Tiamat and creates the heavens form her body. The import of the Enuma Elish, as Wink reads it, is that meaning, value, and heroism lie in killing the enemy. Wink offered the gospel of Jesus Christ as the counter-narrative of “redemptive love.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">                        But for every movie, book, and TV program valorizing a Christ-figure, there are 100 valorizing a Marduk-figure. The catechism of American culture is a course in the myth of redemptive violence. So we live with fantasies of someday blowing away a villain. The myth of redemptive violence invests our human worth in our capacity to kill. So we, as a nation, invested our wealth in a nuclear arsenal that would destroy every living person on earth many times over. We incarcerate more people than any other developed nation. Unlike most modern democracies, we persist with the death penalty. From the video games we sell our children, to our sports, to our law enforcement, to our foreign policy, we embrace violence. In our pride and in our fear, we have made what Isaiah called “a covenant with death”—meaning we ground our safety and our self-esteem on our capacity to kill. Is it then any wonder that the canaries in this spiritual coalmine turn assault weapons on our people, killing federal judges, young adults at movie theaters, and first graders at their desks?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">                        When I think of a transformation that would give some modicum of meaning to the blood shed by our children, nothing less than a societal conversion from a model of valor like Marduk to a model of valor like Jesus will do. The Sumerian creation myth says the universe is born in bloodshed; hence, the Savior Marduk comes with guns blazing. The Jewish creation myth says the universe is procreated by a parental God who says “It is good;” hence, the Savior Jesus comes in love, even sacrificial love. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .05pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">                        So to draw the circle to a close, that is what this book has been about – the discovery of a better God, the kind of God manifest in a Jesus – not Marduk -- a God of serenity, compassion, and relational power to live for others.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">(God Of Our Silent Tears can be ordered on line from Cathedral Bookstore. </span><span style="line-height: 200%;">http://cathedral-bookstore.myshopify.com/products/god-of-our-silent-tears)</span><br /><span style="line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><br /></div><!--EndFragment-->

ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING

I have been sharing excerpts from God Of Our Silent Tears in the order they appear in  the book, because the book is an argument from our en...

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Senior Mechanical Design Engineer ( electron optics systems | high/ultra high vacuum systems) (# 109589)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Title: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Senior mechanical design Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Location: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Duration: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Fulltime<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Responsibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1. Develop and document designs for electron optics systems/subsystems from concept to completion and final release to manufacturing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2. Produce mechanical system/subsystem specifications in order to meet  performance requirements.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3. Design, modify parts or large scale assemblies using ProEngineer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4. Create detailed drawings using ProEngineer to be used for the manufacture of assemblies and components.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5. Participate/lead design reviews, error budget development, risk assessment and mitigation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">6. Perform structural and thermal FEA using ProMechanica.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">7. Evaluate vendor components, develop specifications, analyze/select materials and verify design accuracy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">8. Define test plans, perform testing and write test reports.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">9. Document testing, manufacturing and assembly procedures.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">10. Work with outside vendors and consultants to develop, analyze and fabricate components and subassemblies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11. Provide effective presentation and written evaluations to communicate concepts, designs, test results, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1. Direct experience designing systems/subsystems used for electron optics such as deflectors, objective lenses, vacuum chambers, gate valves, in vacuum positioning, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2. Familiarity with mechanical designs used for electron optics systems, wafer transport and high/ultra high vacuum systems is a must.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3. Ability to develop/conceptualize mechanical system/subsystems based on a set of requirements.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4. Familiarity with materials, manufacturing and cleaning processes used for making components for electron optics systems.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5. Should be able to perform basic structural and thermal FEA using either ProMechanica or SolidWorks Simulation.  The ability to perform complex analysis a plus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">6. Must have experience designing parts and assemblies for use in high and ultra high vacuum and in high voltage environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">7. Must be able to create 3D part/assembly models and detail drawings for fabrication per best practices using ProE.  Should be able to perform tolerance 8. analysis on designs to ensure budgets are met. Should have a thorough understanding of GD&T standards.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Working knowledge of vibration.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">9. Must be able to work with team members and with outside contractors, consultants, and machine shops.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Minimum Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 12 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Master's Level Degree with at least 8 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 5 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Please send your resumes to vinod.sanker@kla-tencor.com<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></div></div>

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer ( electron optics systems | high/ultra high vacuum systems) (# 109589)

Job Title: Senior mechanical design Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Fulltime Responsibilities: 1. Develop and document designs ...

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