The Sound of Silence: How you can pursue greatness in the still morning

<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/AVvXsEgoBcMsIsJPkv98niAu5xWyyhygczEp8O1xxfhyphenhyphenq6AGZ-DhBsrTpmmQ5Ob-0R2Wnjluy70y0nLcWBm5t6bC1HlkWsdrPrZHp1buFFhTuX4OYf99pfOBTxsXM_S2HMUlB05hxD9hTcA8iKOk/s960/Photo%252520Sep%25252024%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525206%25253A06%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="375" id="blogsy-1380019852693.1956" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBcMsIsJPkv98niAu5xWyyhygczEp8O1xxfhyphenhyphenq6AGZ-DhBsrTpmmQ5Ob-0R2Wnjluy70y0nLcWBm5t6bC1HlkWsdrPrZHp1buFFhTuX4OYf99pfOBTxsXM_S2HMUlB05hxD9hTcA8iKOk/s500/Photo%252520Sep%25252024%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525206%25253A06%252520AM.jpg" width="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my favorite chair in the den this morning as I listen for purpose in the silence.</td></tr></tbody></table> <p> Great strength can be found in the quiet moments before the day starts. The time where no cat mews and the night's dew rests quietly upon the ground. Before the tyranny of the noise and the barrage of notifications and matters of nonimportance glare at you with self important demands.</p> <h3>Hearing your purpose in the silence...</h3> <p>Yet, through the quiet, I can hear the whisper of the true priorities of this day speak to my heart and mind and settle my spirit. To demand that those among us who don't get the mornings and don't like them become morning people is silly. But I would be remiss if I didn't at least point out that much time and peace awaits you if you'll set that alarm earlier and get up before anyone else stirs. The younger your children are, the more you need this time alone. The more you work with kids, <strong>the more you need this time alone.</strong></p> <p>For, to me, truly, this time isn't time spent alone. It is time spent with my Maker and myself - two essential people with which I must get along for this life to amount to much besides the reorganization of dust.</p> <p><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jTHJGcM9-Yk/Uj4U61Y_yfI/AAAAAAAENKo/c3MTIqpRC4U/s505/forest-nature-wallpaper.jpg" target="_blank" style="text-align: center; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="356" id="blogsy-1380019852698.693" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jTHJGcM9-Yk/Uj4U61Y_yfI/AAAAAAAENKo/c3MTIqpRC4U/s500/forest-nature-wallpaper.jpg" width="500"></a></p> <p><strong>Light your fire before the darkness comes...</strong></p> <p>I cannot depend upon the completion of an ever <strong>growing task list </strong>to determine if I'm a woman of worth. The <strong>compliments</strong> of fellow human beings are not enough kindling to start and keep the fire in my heart going.</p> <p>No, my fire must be <strong>lit with a purpose </strong>that is struck deep within my soul as my calling combusts with the oxygen of a heart still enough to hold onto a vision that transcends the menial scratchings upon my planner pages. </p> <p>That is a fancy way to say that we can lose our vision of the forest as we wander among the trees and yet, for a teacher and a Mom - the dark forest is indeed very dark and very engulfing.</p> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4eYP-CtTqJE/UgQFftukL2I/AAAAAAAAIXU/SdTeCrps1Fg/s2048/Hot%252520Air%252520Baloon%252520-02.jpg" target="_blank" style="text-align: center; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="357" id="blogsy-1380019852705.9353" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4eYP-CtTqJE/UgQFftukL2I/AAAAAAAAIXU/SdTeCrps1Fg/s500/Hot%252520Air%252520Baloon%252520-02.jpg" width="500"></a><h3>Seeing the view high above the trees...</h3> <p>The bigger trail can only be seen as I jump in the balloon of perspective in the early morning and look down upon the meanderings of life from far above. There, I'm able to refocus and see the bigger purpose in the trek I must walk that day. </p> <p>I'm able to have quiet conversations with Upper Management about the bats that flit around my mind to frighten me into a retreat from tasks worth doing. </p> <p>I'm able to see that I am a person of worth with a purpose despite the fact that the world and the burdens I carry often make me feel like the unappreciated pack mule at the rear who keeps being tossed yet another trinket to carry on the journey as proud horses toss their manes at the front of the entourage and eat from feedbags full of golden grain and honey.</p> <p><strong>The questions common to all humankind are often best asked in the quiet...</strong></p> <p>You don't have to be a teacher or parent to identify with the <strong>ponderings of purpose</strong>. These are things common to the human race. Questions of self worth and the ability to bear up under the load are questions common to us all. Yet, many of us bear burdens we were not meant to carry and look for meaning to be reflected in broken mirrors. </p> <p><strong>When is the last time you've listened to silence? </strong><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">The still ringing of hearing nothing but the turn of the page, the click of the keyboard, or the quiet muffled sound of a car driving past your house? </span></p> <p>Silence and the pursuit of quiet time alone has been one of the most defining practices of my life and this morning as I listened to the silence, I heard, in the quiet, the thought that perhaps there are others of you wishing to serve who are pouring from pitchers of water about to run dry lest you take a minute to dip more water from the well.</p> <p>This time is something you must create for yourself but my own time spent praying, reading, and journaling is the most important time of my own day. When I started doing this around age 27, it made a profound difference in my life and still does. </p> <p>Quiet time each morning <em>doesn't make me perfect,</em> it makes me <strong>purposeful</strong> and intentional about living a life that is too short to do everything. It helps me choose.</p> <h3><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oKij9CYW9hI/S98nP7ywFxI/AAAAAAAABFQ/PQv98Yl9rAI/s380/ist2_2865661-appointment-book-calendar-and-pen.jpg" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 23px; text-align: center; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="253" id="blogsy-1380019852647.2979" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oKij9CYW9hI/S98nP7ywFxI/AAAAAAAABFQ/PQv98Yl9rAI/s380/ist2_2865661-appointment-book-calendar-and-pen.jpg" width="380"></a></h3> <h3>Make an appointment now...</h3> <p>I'm hoping that<span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.3em;"> all of you make an appointment with yourself today, tomorrow, and the next to truly hear the sound of silence. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.3em;">For in such sounds, you may just hear the tinkling of your calling and find your purpose and passion yet again amidst the tyranny of a noisy, distracting world that won't leave you alone to catch your breath.</span></p> <p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

Inspiration productivity The Sound of Silence: How you can pursue greatness in the still morning

The view from my favorite chair in the den this morning as I listen for purpose in the silence. Great strength can be found in the quiet m...

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Today's Teamster News 09.24.13

<a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/warehouse-workers-georgia-join-local-528" rel="nofollow">Warehouse Workers in Georgia Join Teamsters Local 528</a>  teamster.org   ...On September 11, warehouse workers at Americold in McDonough, Georgia voted to become Teamsters...<br /><a href="http://www.teamsters117.org/teamsters_at_darigold_leaflet_walmart_shoppers" rel="nofollow">Teamsters at Darigold Leaflet Walmart & Sam's Club Shoppers at 10 Locations</a>  Teamsters Local 117 ...Teamster production workers and lab technicians, employed by Darigold, distributed leaflets at ten Walmart and Sam’s Club locations throughout the day to inform consumers about the company’s multiple violations of federal labor law and the growing threat of a potential lockout or strike...<br /><a href="http://www.rochesterhomepage.net/story/wegmans-employees-disgruntled-over-retirement-payments/d/story/J6ycqi0VN0O0GYqsDyk2pw" rel="nofollow">Wegmans Employees Disgruntled Over Retirement Payments</a>  Rochester Homepage   ...Dozens of people were outside Wegmans' company officers Friday practicing picketing over disagreements with Wegmans on retirement payments and wages. Current warehouse and driver employees are represented through the Teamsters Union...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/average-american-family-pays-6000-year-subsidies-big-business" rel="nofollow">The Average American Family Pays $6,000 a Year in Subsidies to Big Business</a>  AlterNet   ...That's more than an insult—it's an attack...<br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/09/23/white_house_rebuffed_union_pleas_to_ditch_walmart/" rel="nofollow">White House rebuffed union pleas to ditch Walmart</a>  Salon   ...Labor leader says allies in the Administration tried to persuade First Lady to dump retail giant -- but were denied...<br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/23/us-bankofamerica-hustle-idUSBRE98M11H20130923" rel="nofollow">Bank of America goes to trial over U.S. mortgage fraud charges</a>  Reuters   ...Bank of America Corp heads to trial this week over allegations its Countrywide unit approved deficient home loans in a process called "Hustle," defrauding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the U.S. government enterprises that underwrite mortgages...<br /><a href="http://one%20big%20trader%20lost%20millions%20betting%20on%20romney%2C%20study%20finds/" rel="nofollow">One Big Trader Lost Millions Betting on Romney, Study Finds</a>  Washington Wire   ...A <a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2322420">new academic paper digging into presidential betting</a> in the final weeks of the 2012 election finds that a single trader lost between $4 million and $7 million placing a flurry of Intrade bets on Mitt Romney—perhaps to make the Republican nominee’s chance of victory appear brighter...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/23/child-labor-drop_n_3974870.html?utm_hp_ref=business" rel="nofollow">Child Labor Dropped By One-Third Over The Past Decade, But UN Officials Urge Faster Progress</a>  Associated Press   ...The number of children doing hazardous work dropped by half to 85 million from 2000 to 2012, but the rate of progress isn't fast enough to meet the goal of having no child laborers by 2016...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/20/suicides-great-recession_n_3962766.html" rel="nofollow">Suicides Spiked One Year After Great Recession: Study</a>  Huffington Post   ...The Great Recession resulted in 5,000 additional suicides worldwide in 2009, according to a recent study -- the first to look at suicide trends globally in the wake of the crisis...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-23/why-100-000-salary-may-yield-retirement-flipping-burgers.html" rel="nofollow">At 77, He Prepares Burgers Earning in Week His Former Hourly Wage</a>  Bloomberg News   ...At the height of his corporate career, Tom Palome was pulling in a salary in the low six-figures and flying first class on business trips to Europe. Today, he juggles two part-time jobs: one as a $10-an-hour food demonstrator, the other flipping burgers…<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/23/why-are-47-million-americans-on-food-stamps-its-the-recession-mostly/" rel="nofollow">Why are 47 million Americans on food stamps?</a>  Washington Post   ...There's a fairly basic question underlying <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/19/heres-how-the-house-gop-would-cut-39-billion-from-food-stamps/" rel="nofollow">the current food-stamp debate</a> in Congress. Why has the program grown so rapidly over the past few years — to the point where 47 million people, one-sixth of the country, now receive food stamps?...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/buy-house-make-your-payments-then-discover-youve-been-foreclosed-without-your-knowledge" rel="nofollow">Buy a House, Make Your Payments, Then Discover You've Been Foreclosed On Without Your Knowledge</a>  AlterNet   ...This should never happen, but it did, thanks to the sordid mortgage servicing industry...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/22/chiquita-colombia-lawsuit_n_3971616.html?utm_hp_ref=business" rel="nofollow">Chiquita Asks Court To Block Suits Blaming Banana Giant For Violent Deaths</a>  Associated Press   ...Faced with potentially billions of dollars in legal liability, Chiquita Brands is asking a federal appeals court to block lawsuits filed against it in the U.S. by thousands of Colombians whose relatives were killed in that country's bloody, decades-long civil war...<br /><a href="http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130923/EDIT07/309239997/1021/EDIT" rel="nofollow">Ag-gag resurfaces, threatens whistleblowers</a>  Fort Wayne Journal Gazette   ...Opponents of ag-gag legislation reasonably fear that it obstructs First Amendment rights. Such legislation also protects illegal and unethical practices while punishing whistleblowers...<br /><a href="http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/major_police_union_to_sit_out_race_for_governor.html#incart_river_default" rel="nofollow">Major police union will sit out race for New Jersey governor</a>  Star-Ledger   ...In a blow to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono, one of New Jersey’s two largest police unions has decided to sit out the election for governor...<br /><a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-hardest-hit-20130920,0,4470130.story" rel="nofollow">Florida offers to cut loan balances for 'underwater' homeowners</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Orlando Sentinel   ...Florida homeowners with "underwater" mortgages may now qualify to have as much as $50,000 chopped from their loan balance under a new program announced Friday by the state...<br /><a href="http://www.statejournal.com/story/23496625/amazon-to-collect-6-pct-sales-tax-in-wva" rel="nofollow">Amazon to collect 6 pct sales tax in WV</a>  Associated Press   ...Amazon will start collecting a 6 percent sales tax on purchases shipped to West Virginia starting Oct. 1...<br /><a href="http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/BART-prepares-for-another-possible-worker-strike-4834109.php" rel="nofollow">BART prepares for another possible worker strike</a>  Associated Press   ...As another potential strike looms, <a href="http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Bay+Area+Rapid+Transit%22" rel="nofollow">Bay Area Rapid Transit</a> officials are preparing other ways to get commuters to work, including possibly allowing managers to drive a limited number of trains...

Today's Teamster News 09.24.13

Warehouse Workers in Georgia Join Teamsters Local 528   teamster.org   ...On September 11, warehouse workers at Americold in McDonough, Geor...

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It Was A Matter Of Time

Somebody needs a good slap upside the head for a little over reacting here.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/09/23/suspended-student-may-be-expelled-for-rest-of-the-year-for-playing-with-toy-gunin-his-own-yard/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=ShareButtons"><b>Suspended Student May Be Expelled for Rest of the Year for Playing With Toy Gun…in His Own Yard</b></a><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>A suspended seventh-grade student in Virginia Beach, Va., could be expelled for the rest of the school year for shooting an airsoft gun with a friend in his yard as they waited for the bus to come.<br /><br />Khalid Caraballo, 12, and his friend, Aidan, were suspended for “possession, handling and use of a firearm” because they “shot two other friends who were with them while playing” with the airsoft guns, WAVY-TV reported.<br /><br />Caraballo answered “no, sir,” when asked if he took the toy gun to the bus stop or to school.<br /><br />“We were in our yard. This had nothing to do with school,” the student said.<br /><br />Caraballo’s mother, Angel, said being punished for “possession, handling and use of a firearm” was “pretty harsh” for a toy that she bought for $25.<br /><br />Tim Clark, Aidan’s father, told the news station that the school neglected to use common sense in the incident that occurred off school property.</blockquote><br />This zero tolerance bullshit don't fly when the activity has absolutely nothing to do with school assholes.<br /><br /><br />You overzealous motherfuckers have stepped way beyond your boundaries this time.<br /><br />

It Was A Matter Of Time

Somebody needs a good slap upside the head for a little over reacting here. Suspended Student May Be Expelled for Rest of the Year for Playi...

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USA PRESSURING RUSSIA INTO PASSING UN RESOLUTION ON SYRIA ALLOWING MILITARY FORCE

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font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <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;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><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/AVvXsEhNICLzZysmPizJUNoiLclvanzxzkZ8aYErFPeK0ewH2MGyYOEj2VKip1y3r43leis42gCRw-5SQ_a6bja6Q-qxZf0eyPPEbw3m7L_oRHjtfs8XmpqNrp1Sm9FXDJXdN-GlofGhbuvvQGO7/s1600/14diplo-articleLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNICLzZysmPizJUNoiLclvanzxzkZ8aYErFPeK0ewH2MGyYOEj2VKip1y3r43leis42gCRw-5SQ_a6bja6Q-qxZf0eyPPEbw3m7L_oRHjtfs8XmpqNrp1Sm9FXDJXdN-GlofGhbuvvQGO7/s400/14diplo-articleLarge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo NY Times</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CLOSE RESEMBLANCE TO THE LIBYAN UN RESOLUTION "TRAP", RUSSIA AND CHINA STEPPED IN WHEN APPROVING THE RAID ON LIBYA BY US COALITION FORCES </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";"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVES ON SYRIA</b></span>. Via RT</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 US is pushing RUSSIA into approving a UN resolution that would allow for military intervention in SYRIA, in exchange for AMERICAN support of SYRIA’S accession to OPCW, RUSSIAN Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.</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;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Our AMERICAN partners are starting to blackmail us: ‘If RUSSIA does not support a resolution under Chapter 7, then we will withdraw our support for SYRIA’S entry into the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This is a complete departure from what I agreed with Secretary of State John Kerry',”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> RUSSIAN Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Channel 1's Sunday Time program. </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";">Chapter 7 of the UN charter would allow for potential military intervention in SYRIA. </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; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">WESTERN COUNTRIES BLINDED BY 'ASSAD MUST GO' ATTITUDE</span> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; 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 head of RUSSIA’S Foreign Ministry went on to say he was surprised by the West’s <i>“negligent”</i> approach to the conflict. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Our partners are blinded by an ideological mission for regime change,”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> said Lavrov. <i>“They cannot admit they have made another mistake.”</i> </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";">Slamming the West’s intervention in LIBYA and IRAQ, the foreign minister stated that military intervention could only lead to a catastrophe in the region. Moreover, he stressed that if the West really was interested in a peaceful solution to the conflict that has raged for over two years, they would now be pushing for SYRIA’S entry into the OPCW in the first place, not for the ouster of President Bashar Assad. </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 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-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><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";">Background Information</span></b><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="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";">RUSSIA AND CHINA LEFT OUT OF THE LIBYAN EQUATION</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-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-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/09/libya-doomed-from-day-one.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/09/libya-doomed-from-day-one.html</a></span></div></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;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am convinced that the WEST is doing this to demonstrate that they call the shots in the MIDDLE EAST. This is a totally politicized approach,”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> said Lavrov.  </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";">IF MILITANTS COME TO POWER, SYRIA WILL NO LONGER BE A SECULAR STATE</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";">The RUSSIAN foreign minister pointed out that in the case of a military scenario, militants would come to power and SYRIA would no longer be a secular state. Up to three quarters “<i>of these guys are Jihadists</i>,” including the most radical groups such as Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of IRAQ and LEVANT, who want to create an Islamic Caliphate in SYRIA and in neighboring territories, Lavrov said. </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";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i>If our western partners think at least two steps ahead, they cannot but understand it,</i>” Lavrov noted. </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";">As to why the West would want that, Moscow has so far received no clear answer, but hears “mantras” on the necessity to promote democracy and protect human rights, said the minister. That is important, but “responsible politicians should be guided not only by that. Not to care about stability in a key world region is absolutely irresponsible,” he added. </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";">According to Lavrov, some experts alleged that “<i>someone is attempting to create a guided chaos</i>” in the region for their own benefits. However, the foreign minister said he personally sees no possible advantages that Western countries would gain if they were behind moves to stir up instability. </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";">“<i>There’s only an attempt to grasp a straw, and turn a blind eye to the fact that the world is changing and becoming multipolar</i>,” Lavrov concluded. </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; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">'A REPEAT OF GENEVA 2012' </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; 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";">Lavrov harked back to last year’s Geneva accord which was agreed upon by the international community, including RUSSIA and the US. However, when the resolution went to the Security Council the US demanded that Chapter 7 be included. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“History is repeating itself. Once again in Geneva an agreement has been reached which does not contain any mention of Chapter 7. But the Security Council wants to redo the document in their own way to include it.”</span></i><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="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";">He called on the West to observe international law and stop writing resolutions motivated by their <i>“geopolitical ambitions.”</i></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";"><i> </i> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">‘BOTH SIDES MUST HAND OVER CHEMICAL WEAPONS’</span> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; 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";">Sergey Lavrov has also insisted that opposition forces take part in the decommissioning of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The solutions currently being worked out at the OPCW suggest that all stocks of SYRIAN chemical weapons must be brought under control and ultimately destroyed.”</span></i><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="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";">Lavrov further charged that the West was <i>“not telling the whole story”</i> by asserting that chemical weapons are only possessed by the regime, and not the opposition. </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";">He added that the available information provided by the ISRAELIS confirmed that on at least two occasions, the rebels had seized areas in which chemical weapons were stored and those arms might have fallen into their hands. </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="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfa9Gp3bfyTSeafviDlde-U4Cnluw2qpKpUHUxXKxix8dErXIzOdr8H0j6w4ARlGSGPlQhdABIjA-kjOeJVwSb1ocLOGUKTEtpRIckKWuEm67m9ISw7Cxh0WSKdrq3Yqza3PrYpfhK-fbO/s1600/0608-UN-Syria-resolution.JPG_full_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfa9Gp3bfyTSeafviDlde-U4Cnluw2qpKpUHUxXKxix8dErXIzOdr8H0j6w4ARlGSGPlQhdABIjA-kjOeJVwSb1ocLOGUKTEtpRIckKWuEm67m9ISw7Cxh0WSKdrq3Yqza3PrYpfhK-fbO/s320/0608-UN-Syria-resolution.JPG_full_600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"According to our estimates, there is a strong probability, that in addition to home-grown labs in which militants are trying to cook up harmful and deadly concoctions, the data provided by the ISRAELIS is true,”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the Russian FM said. </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;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Preparatory work for OPCW inspectors to assume control of chemical weapons storage sites requires that those who fund and sponsor opposition groups –  including extremists –  demand that they hand over the [arms] which have been seized so that they can be destroyed, pursuant to the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><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="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";">Lavrov added that RUSSIA was not a guarantor for the disarmament of SYRIA’S chemical weapons, as SYRIA’S commitments fell under the auspices of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which is internationally administered by the OPCW. </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";">Lavrov said RUSSIA and the US were working out a draft resolution to be submitted to the OPCW, although several points were yet to be agreed upon. </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";">Earlier in September, Moscow said it would submit data to the UNSC proving that the chemical weapons in a Damascus suburb were used by the rebels.  These “purely technical” documents were handed over to RUSSIA by the Bashar Assad government and are being examined by RUSSIAN specialists. This data “<i>is an addition to what we already know and to what is known to…independent experts who give their assessments and confirm that the opposition regularly resort to provocations, attempting to accuse the regime of using chemical weapons</i>” and this way get foreign military support, Lavrov said.  </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";">BRITAIN AND FRANCE QUICK TO JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON </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";">The UN expert team, who investigated the August 21 attack in SYRIA, presented a report on their findings, in which they described the ammunition and substances they discovered on the scene, but made no conclusions regarding who was behind the incident. </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";">However, the US, along with BRITAIN and FRANCE, moved quickly to repeat their accusations against the SYRIAN government.  “<i>Such an approach is neither scientific, nor professional but rather politicized and ideology-driven</i>,” the RUSSIAN foreign minister stressed.  </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";">According to Lavrov, it was no secret that they did not need any report. Long before the document was prepared, they stated that they already knew everything from their intelligence findings – which have never been presented to the public in full, the RUSSIAN minister noted. </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";">“<i>What they did show to us does not convince that the [SYRIAN] regime is linked to the episode with the use of chemical weapons,</i>” Lavrov said. </span></div>

USA PRESSURING RUSSIA INTO PASSING UN RESOLUTION ON SYRIA ALLOWING MILITARY FORCE

Photo NY Times CLOSE RESEMBLANCE TO THE LIBYAN UN RESOLUTION "TRAP", RUSSIA AND CHINA STEPPED IN WHEN APPROVING THE RAID ON LIBYA...

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Partisan Troll are Ruining Twitter

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Hola Libtards and Rethugs! Sunday night I was watching the Emmys when the category for best writing for a variety show came up. As each of the shows like “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” and Jimmy Kimmel reeled off their looooooooooooooong list of writers I noticed something interesting. Basically the intros went like this “White Guy” “White Guy” White Guy” “White Guy” “White Woman” “White Guy” “White Guy” and finally “White Guy.”  <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/AVvXsEjKK6aL7sgTmESUfAIkANBh5HMRzYwwr1PuPFFYawzBRJKBeMrj_gDEw45lgCxZaZchs8VxH6qtJ9zPPSElXVJcq5c4LvrIFP-pMfQlqC8DkpSXO4YwkOWrDu9Th4kjPEZVV2BibHjfKOZO/s1600/colbert+report+writers+emmys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK6aL7sgTmESUfAIkANBh5HMRzYwwr1PuPFFYawzBRJKBeMrj_gDEw45lgCxZaZchs8VxH6qtJ9zPPSElXVJcq5c4LvrIFP-pMfQlqC8DkpSXO4YwkOWrDu9Th4kjPEZVV2BibHjfKOZO/s1600/colbert+report+writers+emmys.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sheeeeeeeeeeeit …. <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid" target="_blank">IWS Radio</a> has more diversity in ONE correspondent than Colbert has on his whole freaking staff. (There was a woman up there somewhere with them but she isn’t in this pic. The second time they went up, there was a second woman, but I suspect they just grabbed her out the audience so they would look more diverse. They would have grabbed a black and/or Latino too IF THEY COULD HAVE FOUND ONE IN THAT AUDIENCE.)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I was struck by the lack of diversity on these writing staffs especially given the liberal bent of these shows and how much they love to lecture others about diversity. So, I Tweeted “Funny how the ‘lecture everyone else about diversity’ shows can’t find any black, Latino and only one woman writer.” Or something close to that. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, turns out that some far left-wing extremist partisan was trolling twitter and decided to respond to me: “I wasn’t aware that these businesses that produce those shows were liberal to any degree. You’re evidence?” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Oooooooooo … She nailed me! Wow! I was knocked on my heels for minute there. We all know that no “business” is ever anything but evil and conservative. I guess she was trying to imply that the corporations that own the networks that these shows are on are conservative so the shows are also? Or maybe she was ignoring the leftward lean of the shows and talking about the parent companies only? Or maybe she considers anything to the right of Chris Hays to be “conservative?” We’ll never know because she never elaborated. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, I hit back with “The Daily Show and Colbert Report are raging right-wing shows? I had no idea.”  ZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It was at this point that she realized she was completely wrong so she did what everyone in that situation does. She got personal and ignored my original point by telling me “You do appear to be out of ideas!”  HAAAAAAA!! Wooo this chick is almost more than I can handle! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Okay, so it was apparent to me that this was going to go nowhere and I had found yet another person who isn’t interesting in any real discussion if it challenges her “My side is pure and perfect and always right” world view. I decided to try, just once to see if she would address the lack of diversity issue I had tweeted about. After another exchange where she once again resorted to name calling I asked her “Are you bothered by the lack of  black, Latino and women writers on these HUGE staffs or are you so partisan that you can never criticize your … uh … OUR (I am for the most part Team Blue) side?” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Her sad little response was “Oh, you make it too easy.” This is what people say when they agree with you but can’t admit it. They pretend to be sooooo intellectually superior that they can’t even be bothered to answer. <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/AVvXsEglnFkGAI-sDsFW2aCM9hXqBaN_CTsa7KtC9_pj5XRYgsqo-eNKKrhdQvnkslu4HqqXhhBVkFuGB_FgtSuHrwvzaUOKoIkbMJLd4rr_Vgnk55Y8vOU8qYXEVsoYbVEqSPqUh8DIyLvie7nd/s1600/Colbert+Report+Writers+No+Blacks+No+Latinos+One+Woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnFkGAI-sDsFW2aCM9hXqBaN_CTsa7KtC9_pj5XRYgsqo-eNKKrhdQvnkslu4HqqXhhBVkFuGB_FgtSuHrwvzaUOKoIkbMJLd4rr_Vgnk55Y8vOU8qYXEVsoYbVEqSPqUh8DIyLvie7nd/s1600/Colbert+Report+Writers+No+Blacks+No+Latinos+One+Woman.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">See there’s Colbert’s token female writer! I told you she was there somewhere. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The obvious truth is that YES she is bothered by the lack of diversity on these writing staffs. She can’t admit it though because if she does she would be acknowledging that her side isn’t as pure and perfect as she pretends it is. She’s not alone either. Democrats suddenly are totally in favor of all kinds of stuff they used to be opposed to. From support of the surveillance state to ignoring lack of diversity to support for launching an unnecessary, unprovoked war of choice with Syria, extreme partisans like this Twitter Troll have decided to copy the republicans by refusing to ever admit that maybe, just possibly, someone on their side might be even the slightest bit wrong about anything EVER! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This is why we can’t have nice things America. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jayman68" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Partisan Troll are Ruining Twitter

Hola Libtards and Rethugs! Sunday night I was watching the Emmys when the category for best writing for a variety show came up. As each of t...

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LIVE FROM NASHVILLE IV

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Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" 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:Calibri;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Yesterday, we worshiped and rested. For worship, we divided up into three groups. My group went to Christ Cathedral. It was a beautiful old building with traditional worship, incense, great organ, first-rate choir, and all the things that it is now popular to say are passé and dead. Maybe, but the Church was packed. There were lots of young adults. Their education and community ministry programs looked strong. I was pretty impressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Another group of Bishops joined the Church in the Park, an outdoor Eucharist celebrated primarily for homeless people who don’t like coming inside for things. The third Group worshiped with Karen refugees from Southern Myanmar, part of the extensive network of refugee resettlement ministries of the Episcopal Church. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=320541911419174&set=vb.100003901036306&type=2&theater">https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=320541911419174&set=vb.100003901036306&type=2&theater</a>(This link is slow but it’s worth the wait. Videographer: Bishop Brian Thom of Idaho)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">As we meet each other in these gatherings and as we worship in these different settings, we learn who we are as Episcopalians. We get a better sense of our identity when we meet the rest of our family.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Maybe today was exhausting or maybe it’s the cumulative effect of the past week. But I was just tired!!! Still the morning was inspiring. We had a panel on mission, featuring:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms and the Magdalene Program<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Mary Francis, the Evangelical Lutheran person in charge of church planting<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Tom Brackett, the Episcopal person in charge of emergent ministries<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I found Becca’s program serving women in recovery from trafficking and addiction to be profound and exciting. They also serve women who have endured rape as a genocidal act in civil wars. Her program does incredible work, explicitly as an expression of the gospel and without government grants. <a href="http://www.thistlefarms.org/index.php/about-magdalene">http://www.thistlefarms.org/index.php/about-magdalene</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I hope the example of Thistle Farms might teach us at Nevadans For The Common Good something about how to create and fund a sustainable safe harbor for sexually trafficked minors in Nevada. We have a good law now, but we still need a program to rehabilitate victims. Phoenix has one. Sacramento has one. But there is nothing in Nevada. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Mary Francis urged innovation and risk taking in general but particularly in church planting. Tom spoke more abstractly and metaphorically, but was essentially promoting emergent ministries. I found all the presentations engaging, creative, and inspiring. There were a few remarks about “aging bishops” repressing new initiatives that struck me as a bit fanciful. I am an aging bishop but I don’t recall repressing any creative new initiatives. I tried to prompt people to start emergent ministries for several years, even got a grant for it once, but got no takers. This year I finally found a priest willing to give it a try.  He is now running with it at The Peace Community In Action, which the Diocese of Nevada is helping to fund. I have been hearing for several years that we Bishops are constraining the liberty of people who want to do spiritual things in a non-institutional setting. But I just don’t know of any of us who are guilty of doing that. As I said, I am tired and aging enough to be grouchy; so I was less patient with the accusation today. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Over lunch I met with Bishops Against Gun Violence. We discussed our presentation at tomorrow’s session and upcoming events, particularly, Reclaiming The Gospel Of Peace, a major rally on the broader subject of violence in our society, appropriately held in Oklahoma City on April 9-11, 2014. Both the Presiding Bishop and Archbishop of Canterbury will attend. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">In the afternoon, we had a report on the Episcopal-Methodist dialogue working toward a full communion agreement such as we have the Lutherans, Moravians, and Philippine Independent Church. I am sure there will be some sticking points, but it looks promising. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">We then discussed the results of a church-wide survey on the assessment paid by dioceses to 815. The main questions, which are related, are what the percentage should be and whether there should be adverse consequences for those who do not pay it. Many different views were expressed but with great openness and interest in each other’s thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I was dragging by the time of the closing Eucharist. But the service began with rousing singing of a favorite hymn from my childhood, On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZewoGpd-L0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZewoGpd-L0</a>After a rather plodding afternoon of churchiness, hearing my fellow Bishops belting out On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand with real feeling restored my hope that we truly are here for the most important truth in the world. I left the Eucharist uplifted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then I went to dinner at a charming Cajun restaurant with Sean Rowe of N. E. Pennsylvania, Barry Beisner of Northern California, and Andy Doyle of Texas. They are intimidatingly smart and well read, but humble, humorous, and altogether congenial. I learn so much just being around them. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Tomorrow begins with a panel presentation on loss and new possibilities.  I am one of the panelists, so I’m a little nervous about that. But the House of Bishops is a forgiving audience so I know I’ll be ok. Still tired though.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><!--EndFragment-->

LIVE FROM NASHVILLE IV

Yesterday, we worshiped and rested. For worship, we divided up into three groups. My group went to Christ Cathedral. It was a b...

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Monday, Monday

<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.archidose.org/wp/">A Weekly Dose of Architecture</a> Updates:</span><br /><br />This week's dose features the <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/09/23/leaf-facade/">Leaf Facade</a> in London, England, by Squire and Partners:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/09/23/leaf-facade/"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Sep13-23.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The featured past dose is the <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2010/01/half-dose-73-leaf-house.html">Leaf House</a> in Sydney, Australia, by Undercurrent Architects:<br /><a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2010/01/half-dose-73-leaf-house.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1I2pY727Q28rtWzeBUmGTThTBWcHY9Pid9c8tXiFYJEBmYq743KLotCleuTWEKjhA0CGxnR6IsUMwYYhTg0gPhxzZn8z6BX7opKTPY5urpQJzrODzAminFuH7AUyRSUJcrQQmuCcCNA-/s1600/Leaf-House-Sydney.-Undercurrent-architects_02.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This week's book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/09/23/landscape-futures/"><i>Landscape Futures: Instruments, Devices and Architectural Inventions</i></a> edited by Geoff Manaugh (L):<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/09/23/landscape-futures/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/9788415391142_p0_v1_s260x420.jpg" title="This week's book review" /></a> <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2011/05/book-review-urban-future-manifestos.html"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/book-manifestos.gif" title="This week's book review" /></a><br />(R): The featured past book review is <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2011/05/book-review-urban-future-manifestos.html"><i>Urban Future Manifestos</i></a> edited by Peter Noever and Kimberli Meyer.<br /><br />: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :<br /><br /><b>**NOTE: The next doses on my weekly page will be 2013.10.14.**</b><br /><br />: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">American-Architects <a href="http://www.american-architects.com/en/pages/50x50">Building of the Week</a>:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/42835_Phipps_Conservatory_and_Botanical_Gardens_Center_for_Sustainable_Landscapes">Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: Center for Sustainable Landscapes</a> in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by The Design Alliance Architects:<br /><a href="http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/42835_Phipps_Conservatory_and_Botanical_Gardens_Center_for_Sustainable_Landscapes"><img alt="this week's Building of the Week" src="http://www.world-architects.com/files/projects/42835/images/CSL1.jpg" title="Current Building of the Week on american-architects.com" width="640" /></a>

Monday, Monday

A Weekly Dose of Architecture Updates: This week's dose features the Leaf Facade in London, England, by Squire and Partners: The featu...

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Mile High Club

No, not me silly...<br /><br />Bunch of girls at work are all giggly and silly again about another series of dirty books.<br /><br />First, it was 50 Shades.  I tried to like it, really I did.  I took one for the team and did finish the first book... just couldn't stomach the others.  I needed to read it for the upcoming "50 Shades of Crazy" evening of drunkenness for $1 margarita night.  And that became a bit embarrassing, leaving all of my employees with a starkly different view of me.  They were sitting there with their books and "oh what do you think this means...?" and i started answering them.  I'm not an authority on any of this stuff but i don't recall needing to google anything either. <br /><br />Then I got them off that and in love with Gideon of the Crossfire Series - Bared to You etc.  I can't remember if she was a virgin or not, but was of course beautiful and he a millionaire.  They're very well written and very hot so good stuff.  All was good in our little slightly perverted world, hard copies of the books making rounds between them.<br /><br />Here we go again, this time it's the Mile High books by R. K. Lilley.  Yeah, it's 50 Shades all over again.  Only this time, you guessed it, the main characters are flight attendants. She's a naive virgin, of course.  And an excessively orgasmic pain slut to boot.  He's a strapping hunk of a billionaire stalker, of course.<br /><br />It starts off well enough.  As expected, a grand series of improbable coincidences eventually get his hands in her pants.  Enough of a plot seems to be building for my liking, and even though the premise is silly, I can see reading through this.  Plus I bought a set of 4 (there might be more, i hear?) so I really needed to get through at least one.<br /><br />Then it happened.  Grammar.  Or rather lack thereof.  <br /><br />Now, while you read this, you surely must think there's no way I can possibly be concerned with grammar.  It's true to some extent.  See, my sentence structure is very incorrect and I know it.  But I'm floating somewhere in between spoken language and written. And it's a blog.  And nobody paid anybody to read this.  And if you did, kindly send the funds my way next time.  And frankly, i enjoy starting my sentences with the word 'and' lol.  The big thing, though, is my bad grammar doesn't affect the meaning of what i'm writing nor does it confuse.  My thoughts are confusing, not my words.<br /><br />I must add, as well, that I am not talking about a single mistake here or there.  It's the same mistake over and over again to the point that it's difficult to follow what she's saying.  When I have to put the book down because i'm overwhelmed with trying to decipher meaning, that's where it becomes a problem. <br /><br />The first issue, probably 20 pages in... Ms. Lilley, dear, there is a difference between the word 'desert' and the word 'dessert' and these are very important distinctions.  All would be fine, had we been enjoying dessert while we looked out over the views of the desert.  But no, we snacked on a sandy concoction while we admired the cheesecake in the distance.  Ok, whatever, leave it at that.  But no, I had to struggle over several paragraphs trying to sort out the details of that after dinner scene.<br /><br />I overlooked this, until this afternoon when i stumbled upon another inexcusable problem.  I don't think I hit page 100 yet!  I mean, I know not everyone understands these details.  It's not a big deal, really it isn't.  I just feel like somewhere along the line between rough draft and a published book available for purchase, that at some point somebody with a grasp of basic grammar would catch these mistakes.<br /><br />So what was it this time?  It's an issue with it and its apostrophes.  This ruined the book so badly for me that I had to stop reading.  My 3rd grade students already knew better than to turn in work like this.  My 6 year old (a very avid writer) sometimes asks if/when/where apostrophes were needed.  Since she's aware of that rules exist, I must assume that some adult along the writing and publishing pipeline should.<br /><br />In review:<br />Its = a possessive form of it, as in "Where is its handle?"<br />It's = a contraction meaning 'it is' as in "It's on the door"<br />Desert = a sandy place where cacti grow<br />Dessert = a sweet treat aftera meal<br /><br /> Off my soapbox now. 

Mile High Club

No, not me silly... Bunch of girls at work are all giggly and silly again about another series of dirty books. First, it was 50 Shades.  I t...

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