News for today's 2018

Up on the roof

5:46 AM Tukiyooo 0

<span style="font-size: large;">To clean the glass roof of the studio we have to climb out our attic on to the roof. It's such a great view from up there (but a little scary!).</span><br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7vJ3fMkOrEn9F9FRiExlXiu-qG-9Ai2izBl2rjM7G08MBrpWWKUkNJfQNCiTKS1KsxbzjK8NyKT3yVWvnh-7CgLlP7DcO2ytNJlSX47TuPoEVQh5jHkLWAjdWqkj0Wj9IBl903pVLfNl/s640/blogger-image--563701420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7vJ3fMkOrEn9F9FRiExlXiu-qG-9Ai2izBl2rjM7G08MBrpWWKUkNJfQNCiTKS1KsxbzjK8NyKT3yVWvnh-7CgLlP7DcO2ytNJlSX47TuPoEVQh5jHkLWAjdWqkj0Wj9IBl903pVLfNl/s640/blogger-image--563701420.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Hard work for Ciaran - my job was to pass him things as he needed them.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOM5uCWVyEt-lHrKirxCSvVd1aRnUbb39uBv7x-MpOeO-UmLqUkkuWiUHeE_5QzJTN9tevICLo96KrE_AIgFAG0wtCSF333TF1TSxD8UhJBojGy_pRV_B6xUq9FjqRGRiL1pFh6M_vzy3/s640/blogger-image-903506946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOM5uCWVyEt-lHrKirxCSvVd1aRnUbb39uBv7x-MpOeO-UmLqUkkuWiUHeE_5QzJTN9tevICLo96KrE_AIgFAG0wtCSF333TF1TSxD8UhJBojGy_pRV_B6xUq9FjqRGRiL1pFh6M_vzy3/s640/blogger-image-903506946.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;">It's a lovely sunny day in Ireland (Indian Summer!) and the tiles were very hot to touch.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOBi4zzRHffxNY7Gr-74QhEhm74G9vwfi8ZTB3-QaTLp5yA_29e9h2i2oDNkFzKpalDyiwa-e6LJScx_vBP6MBvOB5P_Tq5o1zIQIBwtlYiq2qf1zY8ieQfvSBZVGQxwQrEwol-4LFsEW/s640/blogger-image--1858535602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOBi4zzRHffxNY7Gr-74QhEhm74G9vwfi8ZTB3-QaTLp5yA_29e9h2i2oDNkFzKpalDyiwa-e6LJScx_vBP6MBvOB5P_Tq5o1zIQIBwtlYiq2qf1zY8ieQfvSBZVGQxwQrEwol-4LFsEW/s640/blogger-image--1858535602.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;">It's so quiet up on the roof - I like the calmness...</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVEPL3ZQZ2zSLh8ylfAcGsADy8YJC5tXLINL4J-xohs3yRp5b__UkaVd8z5drJW9IAZd39c7si09ogt-dMYnCLHdRpfyBsNhTSVRQ1q6wQZrtzlVsFBWzEkN51JxXYS9J4qKf4sBlmS0R/s640/blogger-image-263016534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVEPL3ZQZ2zSLh8ylfAcGsADy8YJC5tXLINL4J-xohs3yRp5b__UkaVd8z5drJW9IAZd39c7si09ogt-dMYnCLHdRpfyBsNhTSVRQ1q6wQZrtzlVsFBWzEkN51JxXYS9J4qKf4sBlmS0R/s640/blogger-image-263016534.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">A well deserved drink!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgQP7lrLpdIIIBFKq5-453xTLu17VBRrNPq0j7jOnbHPnmzRbZ3jslVRIitWe5FEQtwdBprKPWA0M1CRlBBvUOEhMyAaV-dF9wl5cfq0qXUnkioTiATpezrxQCtOiPO63tsk1sKZi9Z1i/s640/blogger-image--443619258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgQP7lrLpdIIIBFKq5-453xTLu17VBRrNPq0j7jOnbHPnmzRbZ3jslVRIitWe5FEQtwdBprKPWA0M1CRlBBvUOEhMyAaV-dF9wl5cfq0qXUnkioTiATpezrxQCtOiPO63tsk1sKZi9Z1i/s640/blogger-image--443619258.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever been up on your roof?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think we may need to invest in a power hose that we can just spray the windows to get them clean, in the future.</span></div><br /><br /></div></div></div></div>

Up on the roof

To clean the glass roof of the studio we have to climb out our attic on to the roof. It's such a great view from up there (but a little ...

Sunday: Teen victim of fatal BRP fall to be remembered at Lewis Ginter Gardens

5:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

Last week a 13-year-old girl from Richmond died in a fall over a cliff onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. The official report from the <a href="http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=6800">National Park Service</a> follows:<br /><blockquote><b>Blue Ridge Parkway </b> - <b>Teenager Dies In Fall From Cliff</b><br /><br />Blue  Ridge Parkway dispatch center and Humpback Rocks visitor center  received multiple reports of a young woman who had fallen approximately  50 feet down a cliff onto the parkway <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_628677754" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">on Sunday</span></span> evening, September 15th.  There was a rapid response from park rangers and interpretive staff,  Waynesboro and Wintergreen rescue squads, and medically trained  visitors who witnessed the accident. <br /><br />The patient, a 13-year-old girl,  was flown by helicopter to University Medical Center in Charlottesville,  but succumbed to her injuries. She had been picnicking with family and  friends at Humpback Rocks picnic area and had hiked out to an overlook  to view the sunset. She and another youngster had scrambled down from  the overlook and were climbing along the top of the cliff when she fall. [Submitted by Kurt Speers, Ridge District Ranger] </blockquote>The victim was identified as Alexandra Babeva. In a tribute, her sister Alissa wrote the obituary that appeared in the <i><a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/obituaries/babaeva-alexandra/article_5ff20352-24df-5470-9c34-4cba1992f771.html">Richmond Times-Dispatch</a>:</i><br /><blockquote>Oh, darling. Although we  weep for the time you lost, we cannot mourn the time you lived. In 13  years, you learned enough to fill lifetimes. With those endless words of  yours, you told the world into existence. Your love always lived beyond  you, such a little being could not possibly hold the return. Now, we  love for you. I live for you. Tbl CBET. Everywhere, the people you knew  keep you as sweet, soft whispers. Reminding us to smile truly and look  deeply; you will tell us how to see the smallest of the small and the  biggest of the big. You flew, my baby, you never fell. <br /><br />For anyone  wishing to reflect Sasha's beauty through nature's divinity, our family  invites you to enter the <b>Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens at 11 a.m.  Sunday, September 22, 2013. </b>Written by Alexandra's sister, Alissa.  Arrangements by Bliley's-Staples Mill.</blockquote><i>H/T to Merlot</i>

Sunday: Teen victim of fatal BRP fall to be remembered at Lewis Ginter Gardens

Last week a 13-year-old girl from Richmond died in a fall over a cliff onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. The official report from the National Pa...

Today's Teamster News 09.22.13

4:46 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://mtstandard.com/news/local/local-teamsters-no-st-james-healthcare-settle-strike-averted/article_5e50027c-2271-11e3-9af2-0019bb2963f4.html" rel="nofollow">Local Teamsters No. 2, St. James Healthcare settle; Strike averted</a>  Montana Standard   ...Local Teamsters No. 2 and St. James Healthcare have settled their long-ranging collective bargaining issues — thus averting a Sept. 23 strike...<br /><a href="http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/09/20/5229676/teamsters-continue-to-lawfully.html" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Continue To Lawfully Picket Funeral Home Giant SCI</a>  Teamsters Local 727   ...Since pickets began on July 2, SCI has continued its history of bargaining in bad faith with its employees, even after meeting for ongoing negotiations on Sept. 17...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/community-teamsters" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Women’s Conference Closes with Focus on Activism</a>  teamster.org   ...The 2013 Teamsters Women’s Conference in New Orleans closed on Saturday with a call to action from the 1,000 Teamster women in attendance, as well as from their fellow Teamsters throughout North America...<br /><a href="http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2013/09/obamas-corporate-export-council-ignores-dismal-export-data-backs-more-of-the-same-trade-deals.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eyesontrade+%28Eyes+on+Trade%29" rel="nofollow">Obama’s Corporate Export Council Ignores Dismal Export Data, Backs More-of-the-Same “Trade” Deals </a> Public Citizen   ...Somehow the room full of corporate representatives and government officials, “<a href="http://trade.gov/pec/">the principal national advisory committee on international trade</a>,” which exists to “promote export expansion” and “discuss and resolve trade-related problems,” made it through two hours of prepared speeches without once acknowledging that we’re <a href="http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2013/02/obamas-export-promise-falls-18-years-behind-schedule-as-exports-decline-under-ftas.html">18 years behind schedule to meet Obama’s goal to double exports</a>...<br /><a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2013-09-20/5-years-after-financial-crisis-big-banks-are-still-committing-massive-crimes" rel="nofollow">5 Years After the Financial Crisis, The Big Banks Are Still Committing Massive Crimes</a>  zero hedge   ...The executives of the big banks invariably pretend that the hanky-panky was only committed by a couple of low-level rogue employees. But studies show that <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jul/09/fraud-bosses-206m">most of the fraud is committed by management</a>...<br /><a href="http://wallstreetonparade.com/2013/09/jpmorgan-found-to-have-violated-both-banking-and-securities-laws-in-920-million-settlement/" rel="nofollow">JPMorgan Found to Have Violated Both Banking and Securities Laws in $920 Million Settlement</a>  Wall Street on Parade   ... This is where the high risk trading was done, in the insured bank, using insured deposits. It is this aspect that has stunned Congress and brought in the FBI and Justice Department...<br /><a href="http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/beat-the-press/few-jobs-means-bad-jobs?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+beat_the_press+%28Beat+the+Press%29" rel="nofollow">Few Jobs Means Bad Jobs</a>  Center for Economic and Policy Research   ...There are always employers offering bad jobs, but workers don't take them in a good economy. In a bad economy they have no choice...<br /><a href="http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/09/founder-of-.html" rel="nofollow">Founder of Beanie Babies to Plead Guilty to Tax Evasion</a>  TaxProfBlog   ...<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ty_Warner">Ty Warner</a>, CEO of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ty_Inc.">Ty Inc</a>., which makes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beanie_Babies">Beanie Babies</a>, has agreed to plead guilty to tax evasion and pay $53.6 million in penalties in one of the largest offshore tax evasion cases in history...<br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-19/how-germany-s-alw-got-busted-for-the-largest-food-fraud-in-u-dot-s-dot-history" rel="nofollow">The Honey Launderers: Uncovering the Largest Food Fraud in U.S. History</a>  Bloomberg   ...Andrew Boutros, assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago, had put together the case: Eight other ALW executives, including Alexander Wolff, the chief executive officer, and a Chinese honey broker, were indicted on charges alleging a global conspiracy to illegally import Chinese honey going back to 2002...<br /><a href="http://madeinamericathebook.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">Loss of Economic Exceptionalism</a>  Made in America   ...the U.S. does not provide more upward mobility than other nations do; if anything, young Americans’ economic fortunes are more tied to those of their parents than is true in other western nations...

bank criminality corporate tax avoidance funeral directors Jobs JPMorgan negotiations TPP Today's Teamster News 09.22.13

Local Teamsters No. 2, St. James Healthcare settle; Strike averted Montana Standard ...Local Teamsters No. 2 and St. James Healthcare ha...

Punjabi by Nature

3:42 AM Tukiyooo 0

<span style="font-size: large;">We visited Bunjabi by Nature (formerly Bunjabi Balti) last night for dinner.  Ciaran had Indian BBQ while I had a traditional Indian dish of a variety of curries - along with dessert of pancake and yoghurt on the plate!  Both of us really enjoyed our meals and tastes parts from both plates. I think I liked the mango prawn curry the best.</span><br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZDfLUY8n5Vc56AsNLfx83bYKNPUnXzpmy3SfDkgktoZfTvPIi3jW5v3z559DMjbVwPEuAETuublLBrWqfKtJW07yspq99xR1U82HXb84CyuUaH3h5OvSSKVgWV-HxBStv8aPaBxBN8tD/s640/blogger-image-40985818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZDfLUY8n5Vc56AsNLfx83bYKNPUnXzpmy3SfDkgktoZfTvPIi3jW5v3z559DMjbVwPEuAETuublLBrWqfKtJW07yspq99xR1U82HXb84CyuUaH3h5OvSSKVgWV-HxBStv8aPaBxBN8tD/s640/blogger-image-40985818.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHw3aN89YUusj0uR76XlJ4G76BnRmNYVO6J4qYhR-uwuzgDonlYvwVoFcO5MPcP-snCnzClxFSsoozIPVyrxAlkq4hHdSstKUZYoYX1tChrusYRTk1JIb-rSDwNyE02yyR687tZHeWyw7/s640/blogger-image-184567527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHw3aN89YUusj0uR76XlJ4G76BnRmNYVO6J4qYhR-uwuzgDonlYvwVoFcO5MPcP-snCnzClxFSsoozIPVyrxAlkq4hHdSstKUZYoYX1tChrusYRTk1JIb-rSDwNyE02yyR687tZHeWyw7/s640/blogger-image-184567527.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CXbmeF1entY1D2_V1pF2309wSyRaam4iUoG18ijhdZteq5jWYT_bUESFRg9datz9XZvPXvL8BKIXGTuSSFOpHzbE47UyLUTeHpZ7-2w9jRb0WEO0E8W4Fs0OPGH_jGCNTSQXeHESIGlY/s640/blogger-image-518356473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CXbmeF1entY1D2_V1pF2309wSyRaam4iUoG18ijhdZteq5jWYT_bUESFRg9datz9XZvPXvL8BKIXGTuSSFOpHzbE47UyLUTeHpZ7-2w9jRb0WEO0E8W4Fs0OPGH_jGCNTSQXeHESIGlY/s640/blogger-image-518356473.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoO3xo-c2GM3Km0rsiJZ_nTatbbRJmiBFiOU8xCvWco1MQN1-p1gGPFRxyB2aOET-M55WtXAw2ChOpQYcGq576jVpSl6towRnKoelvqENAhjB2gJnkuuDhEfh2GnIRmuSasn9nFinVKhDZ/s640/blogger-image-1594895253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoO3xo-c2GM3Km0rsiJZ_nTatbbRJmiBFiOU8xCvWco1MQN1-p1gGPFRxyB2aOET-M55WtXAw2ChOpQYcGq576jVpSl6towRnKoelvqENAhjB2gJnkuuDhEfh2GnIRmuSasn9nFinVKhDZ/s640/blogger-image-1594895253.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DK18MPE7IoZ4iDstSxUli1sSzWTbsRn05UBXFVCGP7QVmWhElF-bCNqZXJe55BfKdMCJ76sEIkiFLVCSCskwMiew0eBCHp_lzpFt1k4Qji_qzmj70g8djUuzqIdiPqsInbc9o6bNVR_m/s640/blogger-image-142518222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DK18MPE7IoZ4iDstSxUli1sSzWTbsRn05UBXFVCGP7QVmWhElF-bCNqZXJe55BfKdMCJ76sEIkiFLVCSCskwMiew0eBCHp_lzpFt1k4Qji_qzmj70g8djUuzqIdiPqsInbc9o6bNVR_m/s640/blogger-image-142518222.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div>

Punjabi by Nature

We visited Bunjabi by Nature (formerly Bunjabi Balti) last night for dinner. Ciaran had Indian BBQ while I had a traditional Indian dish of...

Wanna See What A Government That Just Had The Shit Scared Out Of Them Does?

2:57 AM Tukiyooo 0

Wanna See What A Government That Just Had The Shit Scared Out Of Them Does?

Go Here.

A Tight Ass Is A Frugal Person

1:40 AM Tukiyooo 0

A Tight Ass Is A Frugal Person

Why pay for a whole pair of pants when you don't need to?

ARGENTINA’S STUNNING POLICY TURNAROUND

1:11 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGqNF7hoMRjyo9ur227BzPVjeNDC6gf21kpsfO85mlexumtwyaFH5bzsPmRb9JvgZHbmkbGOjLDg_GCsDnVUqVuh3tDylb0Aj8FKZfZA1nMPpilDy5tRu31MpAXYNdHJCRvJk73JFvDnn/s1600/hf_121475_shale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGqNF7hoMRjyo9ur227BzPVjeNDC6gf21kpsfO85mlexumtwyaFH5bzsPmRb9JvgZHbmkbGOjLDg_GCsDnVUqVuh3tDylb0Aj8FKZfZA1nMPpilDy5tRu31MpAXYNdHJCRvJk73JFvDnn/s400/hf_121475_shale.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">US COMPANY CHEVRON REGAINS FOOTHOLD IN ARGENTINA’S OIL SECTOR</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What a difference a year makes. Fiercely nationalistic Argentina is again allowing foreign oil firms back into the country.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chevron and state energy firm Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales (YPF) signed an <a href="http://www.lanueva.com/economia/nota/e82a3972b1/10/148685.html"><span style="color: blue;">agreement to develop</span></a> the Patagonian Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas deposit formations in Neuquén’s Loma La Lata and Loma Campana. Before the deal is finalized Neuquén’s provincial government must first analyze the joint venture. Neuquén’s Energy Minister William Coco told journalists that the agreement was signed in the YPF offices in Puerto Madero by YPF’s Miguel Galuccio, and Chevron President John Watson.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information: </span></b></span><br /><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>   <br /><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ARGENTINE SHALE GAS PRODUCTION COULD ALTER THE SOUTHERN CONES GEOPOLITICAL LANDSCAPE</span></b></span><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;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/03/argentine-shale-gas-production-could.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/03/argentine-shale-gas-production-could.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ARGENTINA: CORPORATE INTEREST VERSUS IMPARTIALITY</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/malvinas-30-years-on_30.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/malvinas-30-years-on_30.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiP1zoxPdT5ZuutBSx_HLjhp37d4cel7iw7tVjkUYl53Q2YaEw1-UmucSZ2oSR-PX1IFlNE6tqxqVva5trtuD5yn7F7aYWL6VpecOlqcuW_pfQUbMPNnvlhNs7FFBYzscS9naJxcqwcaoN/s1600/shale-gas-south-america.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiP1zoxPdT5ZuutBSx_HLjhp37d4cel7iw7tVjkUYl53Q2YaEw1-UmucSZ2oSR-PX1IFlNE6tqxqVva5trtuD5yn7F7aYWL6VpecOlqcuW_pfQUbMPNnvlhNs7FFBYzscS9naJxcqwcaoN/s320/shale-gas-south-america.jpg" width="246" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The agreement represents a stunning policy turnaround by Buenos Aires. The Vaca Muerta discovery was announced in December 2010 by SPANISH firm Repsol’s Argentinean subsidiary Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales YPF ARGENTINA. Two years later President Cristina Kirchner’s government nationalized it, leading to Repsol, which had majority ownership of YPF since 1999, about six years after YPF was privatized, filing a number of massive lawsuits. Foreign investment in the country’s oil and natural gas sector promptly dried up, and Cristina Kirchner’s government, unable to fund Vaca Muerta’s development, is now seeking substantial foreign investments.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">  SHIFT TOWARDS USA</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chevron’s stake in the deal is $1.24 billion. Following the announcement of the contract Argentina YPF’s shares rose 3.53 percent on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange (BCBA) and 2.33 percent on the New York Stock Exchange. One unanswered question – how will Repsol view the deal?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On 16 April 2012, Kirchner introduced legislation for the partial renationalization of YPF, under which the state would purchase a 51 percent share, with the national government controlling 51 percent of this package and ten provincial governments receiving the remaining 49 percent. Ten days later the ARGENTINEAN Senate approved the takeover with 63 votes in favor of the measure, three opposing it and four abstentions. Buenos Aires alleged that Repsol was underinvesting in ARGENTINA’S hydrocarbon sector, which the government believed contributed to the decline in the country's total oil production. Prior to the expropriation, some provinces had rescinded exploration and production licenses from YPF claiming underinvestment as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The agreement is a pragmatic marriage of convenience for both parties. According to a <a href="http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=AR"><span style="color: blue;">June 2013 report</span></a> by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ARGENTINA has 2.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and technically recoverable shale oil reserves of 27 billion barrels. While ARGENTINA produces more natural gas than any other country in SOUTH AMERICA, its output has declined over 10 percent from peak levels in 2006 and it is now the continent's largest natural gas consumer. While earlier ARGENTINA was a net exporter of natural gas to neighboring countries, it became a net importer in 2008. Buenos Aire’s conundrum is how to revive its energy exports, and the past 16 months have proven that the country and YPF lack the resources to develop their energy reserves.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PROTESTS OVER THE AGREEMENT STARTED IMMEDIATELY</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RH4frWXg7sr4oSWp9XC21j10DF1hkxLM4aGMEA85c-LPB9WbWo4rcbxK1GGmVvsi5L8pqGbC3-yOHCj_WzU_F_AyxYtxPC-ktosBM1XvJAQ-neicwH33_d9jzvFZ8N9DhV3Csfe_NrDL/s1600/2013-07-23T201801Z_1_CBRE96M1KE500_RTROPTP_2_ARGENTINA-CHEVRON.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RH4frWXg7sr4oSWp9XC21j10DF1hkxLM4aGMEA85c-LPB9WbWo4rcbxK1GGmVvsi5L8pqGbC3-yOHCj_WzU_F_AyxYtxPC-ktosBM1XvJAQ-neicwH33_d9jzvFZ8N9DhV3Csfe_NrDL/s320/2013-07-23T201801Z_1_CBRE96M1KE500_RTROPTP_2_ARGENTINA-CHEVRON.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Neuquén drilling rig</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Guillermo Pereyra, secretary general of the private oil and gas workers union of Río Negro, Neuquén and La Pampa, which has been pressuring the government for a 30 percent profit sharing scheme increase in their members’ salaries <a href="http://www.lanueva.com/elpais/nota/4466a22034/22/148978/nota.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">immediately denounced</span></a> the agreement, describing it as "unconstitutional" and emphasized that the arrangement needed to be ratified by the Neuquén legislature, asking that the "secret clauses" of the agreement be made public before ending by noting that the hydrocarbon resources belong to the provinces rather than the state.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Clearly put on the defensive, Neuquén governor Jorge Sapag<a href="http://www.lanueva.com/elpais/nota/8149d98e61/22/150803.html"><span style="color: blue;"> defended the agreement</span></a> by noting that the nationalized YPF "can do no more and needs partners to provide capital."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GOVERNMENT OVERHAULS FISCAL INVESTMENT TERMS TO STIMULATE FOREIGN CAPITAL ENTERING THE COUNTRY </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Argentina is undoubtedly taking a leaf out of neighboring Colombia’s playbook of the past decade, when the government overhauled its fiscal investment terms, which stimulated foreign capital to enter the country’s energy sector, helping nearly double production to its current level of approximately one million barrels of oil per day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The consequences of the government's abrupt policy change may surface in October's mid-term elections, a vote that will determine whether Kirchner maintains control of Congress. Political blood is in the water, as her opponents are already accusing her of “flip-flopping” by ceding too much to Chevron. One constituency that she will undoubtedly lose is the members of the country’s fiercely nationalistic unions. Should be interesting - and don't forget those lawsuits.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: x-small;">By. John C.K. Daly via Oilprice</span></div>

ARGENTINA’S STUNNING POLICY TURNAROUND

US COMPANY CHEVRON REGAINS FOOTHOLD IN ARGENTINA’S OIL SECTOR What a difference a year makes. Fiercely nationalistic Argentina is again all...

Revolving Credit vs. Disposable Personal Income (Musical Tribute)

9:20 PM Tukiyooo 0

The following chart shows the 10-year moving average of the natural logarithm of the ratio of revolving credit to disposable personal income.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hYJLAVqZM16w_pD4jovqVrzrW56Ypky-Zzg8gkMH5HpJDXf9QeGg0grCGrE-VCHd_ohxE5TWGWzFIm3orazncNSJcLqkPdPCrvNd4FOlTkBcHA8w2fqcvQoi0a7FYFE2g_1Y6jvK18U/s1600/Revolving+Credit+vs.+Disposable+Personal+Income.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hYJLAVqZM16w_pD4jovqVrzrW56Ypky-Zzg8gkMH5HpJDXf9QeGg0grCGrE-VCHd_ohxE5TWGWzFIm3orazncNSJcLqkPdPCrvNd4FOlTkBcHA8w2fqcvQoi0a7FYFE2g_1Y6jvK18U/s320/Revolving+Credit+vs.+Disposable+Personal+Income.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />When using natural logarithms, constant growth is seen as a straight line. We aren't seeing a straight line though. Instead, we're seeing a nearly perfect upside down parabola.<br /><br />Over the long-term, this particular growth engine is done. Stick a fork in it.<br /><br />The future's so bright I gotta roll over in symphony. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathy">Pun intended.</a>)<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-cDozNJ2Oyw" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=mDf">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

Revolving Credit vs. Disposable Personal Income (Musical Tribute)

The following chart shows the 10-year moving average of the natural logarithm of the ratio of revolving credit to disposable personal income...

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Person of the Week!

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">The IWS Person of the Week is actor, singer, songwriter, writer, director, dancer and all-around awesome dude Joseph Gordon Levitt! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaN3WWN_-UiwvnYxJiER_zmjwlGoAFKnrxP3PP6XIGldPbyL-x3j770zFvS7X7i_eQ2oKy-0NdLjLhhycCJ0OGB5HzJba6ECLw4CSvqIl5YiiDyQBD8JEEUwaEe4F1yiBSExnzaWgoiGm/s1600/Joseph+Gordon+Levitt+Hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaN3WWN_-UiwvnYxJiER_zmjwlGoAFKnrxP3PP6XIGldPbyL-x3j770zFvS7X7i_eQ2oKy-0NdLjLhhycCJ0OGB5HzJba6ECLw4CSvqIl5YiiDyQBD8JEEUwaEe4F1yiBSExnzaWgoiGm/s400/Joseph+Gordon+Levitt+Hot.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s not enough for this dude to be incredibly talented and super damn good looking either! Oh no! He has to be BFF’s with Zooey Deschanel too … <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfJSvtAVgxtVmg2nd_gnm96Ij_yHWhG_yxQbcjPBwZc6UNcF7-AdA3A7LoyN3VWCnj92s-3qjmaLAueRzE1_wd7sjYo37ogy62N_twtxQzoV79BBUOPcV900i2oJ3VQ8nyXQ2NvQi89AK/s1600/Zooey+Deschanel+Joseph+Gordon+Levitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfJSvtAVgxtVmg2nd_gnm96Ij_yHWhG_yxQbcjPBwZc6UNcF7-AdA3A7LoyN3VWCnj92s-3qjmaLAueRzE1_wd7sjYo37ogy62N_twtxQzoV79BBUOPcV900i2oJ3VQ8nyXQ2NvQi89AK/s400/Zooey+Deschanel+Joseph+Gordon+Levitt.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">But wait that’s not all! He also wrote, directed and is starring in his latest movie “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2229499/" target="_blank">Don Jon</a>.” It’s a movie about a guy, played by JGL, who is a sex addict. And, since he’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt and can do wants he cast Scarlett Johansson as his girlfriend in the movie. OF COURSE HE DID! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvG5Me-VpgBL5U9CArGlAoNb54ftCQ6QNvpwO98f6nmtOfCZjw1WXh_cbfpzV-EWPqZUMPEadAbO9wri8RgQAX-7vbwrTEI3YVummL6oSjtlxHfzVmU7t8Zk6SDJWHcQ3SgQiHC7hSGovf/s1600/Joseph+Gordon+Levitt+Scarlett+Johansson+Lovers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvG5Me-VpgBL5U9CArGlAoNb54ftCQ6QNvpwO98f6nmtOfCZjw1WXh_cbfpzV-EWPqZUMPEadAbO9wri8RgQAX-7vbwrTEI3YVummL6oSjtlxHfzVmU7t8Zk6SDJWHcQ3SgQiHC7hSGovf/s400/Joseph+Gordon+Levitt+Scarlett+Johansson+Lovers.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have nothing but admiration and respect for JGL and his amazing talents, but writing this has made me decide to hate him. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3zVuxfqAOkeouNuKXz1NWy8IzleIDV066SBdGi2kvF4izROWyHOzENvtKp3OVEKeeiCEsS4tvimtj-4TwScC_5mR-_-lYwY6Q0U6afzl22ofhYT72BzgErkaKjQzWraTKpqMuqr8SslI/s1600/Joseph+Gordon+Levitt+Nude+Hot+Sexy+Shirtless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3zVuxfqAOkeouNuKXz1NWy8IzleIDV066SBdGi2kvF4izROWyHOzENvtKp3OVEKeeiCEsS4tvimtj-4TwScC_5mR-_-lYwY6Q0U6afzl22ofhYT72BzgErkaKjQzWraTKpqMuqr8SslI/s400/Joseph+Gordon+Levitt+Nude+Hot+Sexy+Shirtless.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Congrats on being named IWS’ Person of the Week though dude! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Also, don’t forget to listen to the “<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/09/22/overrated-and-underrated-show" target="_blank">Overrated andUnderrated Show</a>” on IWS Radio at 12 Noon on Sunday! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Person of the Week!

The IWS Person of the Week is actor, singer, songwriter, writer, director, dancer and all-around awesome dude Joseph Gordon Levitt! It’s not...

Signs of fall in our rainy yard

5:38 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I33FpsYZs3LJCsb9D7mGuaK6MVHZWFmyZmxDpgKM2ugGVEHlNN4PkjRWIMdEvHdac8ZmofkQUN6epXm897MqVmHnlpkP3md-sLLHX3Sxq4STyVnTHT7MKaUofnEbDLhP5mIDFRixdZvP/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I33FpsYZs3LJCsb9D7mGuaK6MVHZWFmyZmxDpgKM2ugGVEHlNN4PkjRWIMdEvHdac8ZmofkQUN6epXm897MqVmHnlpkP3md-sLLHX3Sxq4STyVnTHT7MKaUofnEbDLhP5mIDFRixdZvP/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc_N5XgOjTWreHANhqg1J0zMqXsZeCihEN4licQX3VVhYGHbfDBbGqyyOaf28ROjWids7ap34fCfxp7v_TVULd0PpD3dkGBQMHCTipQNibOKz7B5Zn4HHWViV1eJEvmBQzaeiK4PwkyPG/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc_N5XgOjTWreHANhqg1J0zMqXsZeCihEN4licQX3VVhYGHbfDBbGqyyOaf28ROjWids7ap34fCfxp7v_TVULd0PpD3dkGBQMHCTipQNibOKz7B5Zn4HHWViV1eJEvmBQzaeiK4PwkyPG/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nSyHOpPmY9Hk8SOB2FwspA7ETl7_w16F86zNzgM74zzy16vTpMObMP-UqKbDl10zh_Ww7UIDTGNRSJIwN0URrcUQXWMXxLsM0dqAd_h6MqgYamMXRXfjy3b3CqK9VtkAaDyUdCGxPaTi/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nSyHOpPmY9Hk8SOB2FwspA7ETl7_w16F86zNzgM74zzy16vTpMObMP-UqKbDl10zh_Ww7UIDTGNRSJIwN0URrcUQXWMXxLsM0dqAd_h6MqgYamMXRXfjy3b3CqK9VtkAaDyUdCGxPaTi/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Tomorrow is the first day of fall but the signs are already there....</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />September 21, 2013

fall in Shenandoah Valley photos by Lynn R. Mitchell Signs of fall in our rainy yard

Tomorrow is the first day of fall but the signs are already there.... Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell September 21, 2013

Signs of fall at Frontier Culture Museum

5:32 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfXiIH6JRo8gK1-oKctBFMYPR7epuiieaQ4j8j8bCA08TKMTKti-Lccy-Rm9hSRLafO-mtN0Bg7PrTO9bqGN95RsfxgzMnFXgs9OXiQwI0TtBczQlbGw9FDSk1Q9JEMJmdkBNPb8Yyjp0/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfXiIH6JRo8gK1-oKctBFMYPR7epuiieaQ4j8j8bCA08TKMTKti-Lccy-Rm9hSRLafO-mtN0Bg7PrTO9bqGN95RsfxgzMnFXgs9OXiQwI0TtBczQlbGw9FDSk1Q9JEMJmdkBNPb8Yyjp0/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZPICCVlEJk1LDVfGPh0nG4Ff-_BoTG8jehXC98PJbl6SnoYKYm5cvGYrl_rZl4pmV4uXWqBiH4diH_AnXLgb8y_aK0ex-69fngRvepQZXveZKKvU_YmE6Rg_OEtK9PrcHLMkD7ZnWg2R/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZPICCVlEJk1LDVfGPh0nG4Ff-_BoTG8jehXC98PJbl6SnoYKYm5cvGYrl_rZl4pmV4uXWqBiH4diH_AnXLgb8y_aK0ex-69fngRvepQZXveZKKvU_YmE6Rg_OEtK9PrcHLMkD7ZnWg2R/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />September 20, 2013

Signs of fall at Frontier Culture Museum

American Farm Blue Ridge Mountains Frontier Culture Museum Lynn R. Mitchell Shenandoah Valley Staunton tourism Virginia Is For Lovers Signs of fall at Frontier Culture Museum

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell September 20, 2013

Adorable ... Grandpa W makes granddaughter giggle for first time

5:13 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0" height="245" id="msnbc45a932" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" /><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=53060657&width=420&height=245" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="msnbc45a932" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" width="420" height="245" FlashVars="launch=53060657&width=420&height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></div><div style="background: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; width: 420px;"><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; color: #5799DB !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;"><br /></a></div>Absolutely adorable ... former President George W. Bush makes his five-month-old granddaughter Mila giggle for the first time.

family George W. Bush Jenna Bush Hager Mila Hager NBC Today Adorable ... Grandpa W makes granddaughter giggle for first time

Absolutely adorable ... former President George W. Bush makes his five-month-old granddaughter Mila giggle for the first time.

LIVE FROM NASHVILLE III

4:15 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Good worship last night with an especially helpful sermon by the Rev. Stefani Spellars. Good worship this morning with especially excellent music led by Dent Davidson. For communion, Dent played a medley of Adoro Devote (Thomas Aquinas’ “Humbly I adore Thee, Verity unseen, whom thy glory hidest ‘neath these shadows mean.”) and Let Us Break Bread Together. It captured the vertical and horizontal themes of our cruciform communion. Just brilliant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then Tom Breidenthal, Southern Ohio, presented on formation for mission, starting with forming the right kind of character for reconciliation, specifically <b>the</b>reconciliation of people with Christ – so not the characters to be reconcilers, but rather to point the way toward the reconciliation done by Jesus. Tom sees this mission as something we are caught up in by God. So how can we prepare for it? Tom expressed hope that God will flip the switch for small congregations focused on their own survival so that they might give up survival strategies to become the Church. Until that switch flips every program gets distorted into a survival strategy. I will be saying in my panel presentation “He who seeks to save his life will lose it.” (Jesus). That is especially true for congregations. Survival strategies are inherently counterproductive. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Tom suggested that we can do “formation in expectation of mission.” It largely has to do with simultaneously embracing community and recognizing that community is the context for all our sin. He noted the perpetual tension between Christianity’s attraction to community and dread of corruption by it. Anglicanism came down strongly on the side of community with the Book of Common Prayer, though community is always at risk of collusion, exclusion, and panoply of faults and failings. So what are the practices that form us for humble, open community? Tom pointed chiefly to the Eucharist. I agree with his points. He speaks from the perspective of an excellent systematic theologian.  But I would add that there are practical skills we can learn through community organizing (IAF), reconciliation practice (Lombard Peace Institute), and behavioral covenants (Gil Rendle, Alban Institute) that will help us to effectively live out the meaning of our rituals. The translation of ritual values into practice requires an intentional formation. It doesn’t happen automatically. Too many folks practice the rituals faithfully, but don’t live their meaning (even in the context of church activities) and don’t appear to be aware of the disconnect. It strikes me that some strands of the anti-institutional movement aspire to create a more authentic community; other strands reflect our desire to flee the community because it is a place of trial; and some are caught between the two.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer, reported on the organizing of the 815 office staff to make them more accessible to dioceses for support programs. It all sounds favorable. There is a flap these days over the corporate name of The Episcopal Church and actually people talked more about that than the support structure. The corporate name is now, has always been, but may not ever be: Domestic & Foreign Missionary Society. Of course no one actually uses that name. It’s our corporate name, not our public name. The plan is to drop “Domestic & Foreign.” Some folks object to “Missionary.” Others like it very much. Either way, it’s already there. The change is dropping “Domestic & Foreign” – not adding “Missionary.” Reasonable people of good will are concerned about this issue. I personally am not that exercised about it one way or the other. I am more concerned with the diversion of a large amount of the money that once went into supporting various kinds of ministry – we lost our Latino Ministries grant for example – into the open ended Mission Enterprise Zone grants. That may yet turn out to be a great move. But at this point, it all still seems unclear. I will be relieved to see that grant program actually functioning. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Church Pension Group then reported on their progress in bringing the health insurance premiums for different dioceses toward the same amount and on the complex interaction of the denominational health plan with the Affordable Care Act. The denominational health plan is doing better on cost control than national rates; and they are making some progress on leveling the cost of insurance for some of us high premium dioceses like Nevada with other dioceses. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Two general observations: There is a trend in the personalities of our new bishops – that means newer than me, the folks elected in the past two or three years. They seem to be of a generally moderate disposition. I am not speaking of their theology or their politics. I honestly don’t know much about that. But generally, they seem to be differentiated personalities of even temperament. This is particularly interesting to me because of the level of reactivity and emotionality that I see around the church particularly via social media. I sometimes suspect that we got in the habit of an elevated level of drama during the first decade of this century but the issues we were churning over then are now, though not completely resolved, resolved enough that they no longer drive us out to charge barricades. But we are habitual barricade chargers. So we are rather casting about for things to fight over. But the issues of today are just not up to the task of sustaining our habitual passions. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I don’t know if it will be possible to redirect our energy from fight/flight conflicts into sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ through word and deed with a world so broken and so heartrendingly in need of salvation. But if it were possible, I suspect these new folks are the kind of leaders we would need for that sort of Church on that sort of mission. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

LIVE FROM NASHVILLE III

Good worship last night with an especially helpful sermon by the Rev. Stefani Spellars. Good worship this morning with especial...