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Egypt Security Watch
ESW Week in Brief: May 11-17, 2019
On May 16, the Armed Forces' General Command issued an update on the Sinai Peninsula, claiming that 47 individuals were killed in counter-terror operations and another 158 arrested over a span of about two months. No details were provided on suspected affiliation or involvement in terror activity for those killed.
Civilian casualties were reported last week after the military clashed with militants in Sheikh Zuweid. Mada Masr's reporting also implied that a power outage that affected Sheikh Zuweid last week was a result of militant activity.
The Cairo Criminal Court sentenced two men to death for their role in a 2017 attack on the Mar Mina Coptic Orthodox Church.
Wilayat Sinai claimed responsibility for two improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in Arish.
The Armed Forces Releases Update On Security Operations
A May 16 statement issued by the Egyptian Armed Forces said that 47 suspected militants had been killed and another 158 were arrested in northern and central Sinai over a span of about two months. The statement also reported that the military had destroyed 29 suspected terrorist hideouts. The update acknowledged that five Egyptian soldiers had been killed in combat during the reporting period. When tallied with the two previous 2019 updates, the Armed Forces have reported a total of 152 suspected militants killed and another 400 arrested in 2019 operations.
Civilians, Infrastructure Reported As Collateral Damage in Sheikh Zuweid
Mada Masr reported that three Sheikh Zuweid residents, including two children, were killed or wounded this week, apparently unintentionally. This is not the first report of such collateral damage. In October 2018, one civilian was killed and another was injured when artillery shelling destroyed a Sheikh Zuweid home. Mada Masr's article on the violence this week cited data from the North Sinai Social Solidarity Directorate that an estimated 621 civilians were killed and another 1,247 were injured from stray bullets and shelling between July 2013 and mid-2017.
In addition to the human costs, clashes with militants disrupted power lines throughout last week in and around Sheikh Zuweid. An electrical tower in nearby Qabr Umayr was reported damaged on May 5 by an official Facebook page. Repair efforts faltered as technicians contended with a fatal accident and threats from militants. By May 9, blackouts continued into daylight hours, forcing Sheikh Zuweid's residents to rely on electric generators.
Cairo Criminal Court Sentences Two Mar Mina Church Attackers to Death
The Cairo Criminal Court sentenced two men to death for their role in a 2017 attack on the Mar Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, which was claimed by the Islamic State. In the operation, one militant opened fire in the sixth-century church and an adjacent Christian shop. Though accounts differ between the government, independent media, and the Islamic State, the attack reportedly killed at least nine people. The attacker, one of the two sentenced to death, was injured as police responded. The other individual to receive the death sentence was sentenced in absentia. Two others were sentenced to life in prison, four were sentenced to 10 years, two were sentenced to three years, and one defendant was acquitted as part of the same verdict.
Last week, the Court of Cassation rejected an appeal and upheld death sentences for 13 individuals convicted of involvement with the terrorist group, Ajnad Masr. Egypt's application of the death penalty and executions have been on the rise in recent years amid evidence of due process violations; recently, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Egypt to halt all executions until such violations were addressed.
Wilayat Sinai Claims Two Attacks
Wilayat Sinai claimed two attacks near Arish this week. On May 11, the group claimed an IED attack on a tank near Arish. On May 13, the group announced that it had executed a military spy, operating out of Arish's Malik al-Musamir neighborhood.
In January 2018, Wilayat Sinai made a similar claim of responsibility for an incident in which it executed a military spy in Rafah. In addition to conventional operatives embedded in urban populations, the Armed Forces has also partnered with the Sinai's tribesmen to obtain local intelligence in more rural areas.


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Paul McCartney coming to New Orleans in 2019
By Shan Bailey
NOLA Weekend
Paul McCartney returns to the Smoothie King Center on May 23, 2019 for one night only as part of the "The Freshen Up" tour 2019. Tickets go on sale Monday, September 17 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.
Photo courtesy: SMG New Orleans
"The Freshen Up" tour is McCartney's first outing following the release of his brand new studio album, "Egypt Station," released September 7 on Capitol Records and generating rave reviews.
The Paul McCartney live experience is everything any music lover could ever want from a show: Nearly three hours nightly of the greatest moments from the last 50 years of music, dozens of songs from McCartney's solo, Wings and of course Beatles catalogues that have formed the soundtracks of our lives.
McCartney and his band have played an unparalleled range of venues and locations throughout the Americas, the UK, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and all points between: outside the Coliseum in Rome, Moscow's Red Square, Buckingham Palace, The White House, a free show in Mexico for over 400,000 people, the last ever show at San Francisco's Candlestick Park where The Beatles played their final concert in 1966, a 2016 week in the California desert that included two headline sets at the historic Desert Trip festival and a jam-packed club gig for a few hundred lucky fans at Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace, and even one performance broadcast live into Space!
Featuring McCartney's band of the last 15+ years – Paul "Wix" Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums) –and constantly upgraded state of the art audio and video technology that ensures an unforgettable experience from every seat in the house, a Paul McCartney concert is never anything short of life-changing.
American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, September 11 at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, September 13 at 10 p.m. local time. Tickets go on sale Monday, September 17 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone 800-745-3000, and the Smoothie King Center Box Office.
For further information, please visit Paul McCartney's website.
2018 New Orleans Fall Festivals & Major Events Schedule
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Black Moon is Near
On the final day of September a rare lunar event that hasn't happened in over two years, will; a black moon. There was first a supermoon, blood moon, and now a black moon. Friday night is when this phenomenon will happen. You might stare at the sky for hours and never see it. Since the moon will be black and the sky will also be the same color it's almost invisible.
"The black moon is a somewhat unusual celestial event — they occur about once every 32 months," said Joe Rao of Space.com.The last black moon was in March 2014, according to AccuWeather.
Friday night you will be able to enjoy the night sky without the glare of the moon. "The new moon officially occurs at 8:11 p.m. EDT (5:11 p.m. PDT) on Friday. But it will take a few more nights before you'll start to see the moon as a silver sliver when the crescent moon increases in size, ScienceAlert reports."
Not everyone was taking it all in stride. England's Express newspaper said that Friday's Black Moon could "bring with it worldwide destruction and the second coming of Jesus Christ."On the final day of September a rare lunar event that hasn't happened in over two years, will; a black moon. There was first a supermoon, blood moon, and now a black moon. Friday night is when this phenomenon will happen. You might stare at the sky for hours and never see it. Since the moon will be black and the sky will also be the same color it's almost invisible. "The black moon is a somewhat unusual celestial event — they occur about once every 32 months," said Joe Rao of Space.com.The last black moon was in March 2014, according to AccuWeather. Friday night you will be able to enjoy the night sky without the glare of the moon. "The new moon officially occurs at 8:11 p.m. EDT (5:11 p.m. PDT) on Friday. But it will take a few more nights before you'll start to see the moon as a silver sliver when the crescent moon increases in size, ScienceAlert reports."Not everyone was taking it all in stride. England's Express newspaper said that Friday's Black Moon could "bring with it worldwide destruction and the second coming of Jesus Christ."
source:http://www.usatoday.com/


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Judge Sides with Atheist Group, Strikes Down Pre-Court Prayer as Unconstitutional
By Editor on May 25, 2021 No Comment
(Christian Headlines) — A Texas judge's practice of opening his court sessions in chaplain-led prayer violates the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on government establishment of religion, a federal district court ruled Friday.
Judge Wayne Mack, a justice of the peace in Montgomery County, Texas, created a chaplaincy program in 2014 allowing volunteer chaplains to "assist the Court system and Law Enforcement with grieving families on tragic death scenes or death call notifications." Chaplains also were allowed to offer an invocation for Mack's court sessions.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), which calls itself an organization of "atheists, agnostics and skeptics of any pedigree," sued Mack in federal court, arguing that the prayers were unconstitutional. FFRF represented an attorney who is a member of the organization and who frequently argued cases in Mack's courtroom.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt issued a 15-page decision siding with the atheist organization. Hoyt was nominated by President Reagan. Mack's attorneys say they will appeal.
Judge Sides with Atheist Group, Strikes Down Pre-Court Prayer as Unconstitutional added by Editor on May 25, 2021


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* Jazz
Soul LP Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks
LP (Item 39064) Motown, 1974 — Condition: Near Mint-
Gatefold
LP, Vinyl record album
Motown (label)
Soul (CD, LP)
Solid 70s work from Eddie Kendricks – still super-strong in the vocal department, but perhaps a bit less spectacular on the arrangements, at least in comparison to some of his other work at the time. The cuts are less in the boogie mode than in a complicated lush soul style – and although the record's got plenty of work by dancefloor arrangers like Leonard Caston or Frank Wilson, many of the tracks are in a mellow intimate mode. The biggest exception to this might be the groover "Let Yourself Go" – but the easy side comes through more than enough on tracks like "If", "If You Think", and "Time In A Bottle". Other tracks include "Shoeshine Boy" and "Please Don't Go Away". © 1996-2022, Dusty Groove, Inc.
(Cover has a cutout notch, but is in nice shape otherwise!)
Arista, 1978. Near Mint-
LP...$14.99
Eddie Kendricks, vintage 1978 – and still very much in the great grooving mode he brought to his earlier solo material for Motown! Even in this giant dancefloor generation, Eddie's got something very special and unique – a voice that can still sound as heartbreaking on a groover as it ... LP, Vinyl record album
Tamla/Motown, 1977. Near Mint-
Smooth mellow grooves, in the style that Eddie pioneered, and which he still did better than most. The album's a great batch of tracks with production by Leonard Caston, who also produced some of Eddie's earlier works, and the set's pretty darn great all the way through. With the cuts "Someth ... LP, Vinyl record album
Love Keys
Atlantic, 1981. Sealed
An overlooked solo gem from Eddie Kendricks – recorded at a time when he was years past his solo Motown fame, but still burning strong on Atlantic Records! The set was recorded down in Alabama, and gives Eddie a slightly different setting – one that unlocks some really rich aspects of ... LP, Vinyl record album
Here, My Dear
Motown, 1978. Very Good+ 2LP Gatefold
Wonderful stuff – and one of our favorite-ever Marvin Gaye albums! This is the legendary two-record set that Marvin wrote and recorded as an alimony payment to his ex-wife Anna Gordy (the story's pretty long, and we won't get into it here – suffice it to say that when stars get a ... LP, Vinyl record album
Nightshift
Motown, 1985. Near Mint-
LP...$9.99
By this point in their career, The Commodores have lost Lionel Richie and any sort of funk credibility they had from their early years – but they also somehow manage to reemerge with a great new talent for a sweet mellow groove! The title tune "Nightshift" was one of those tracks ... LP, Vinyl record album
Motown, 1970. Very Good
A seminal step forward for this legendary group – easily one of the greatest albums they ever cut! With ABC, the Jacksons are expanding their sound with the club-oriented grooves of the time – using Holland, Dozier, and Holland on many cuts, trying for a similar soaring groove as some ... LP, Vinyl record album
Motown, 1983. Very Good Gatefold
One of Lionel Richie's biggest records ever! Titles include "Can't Slow Down", "All Night Long", "Penny Lover", "The Only One", "Running With The Night", "Hello", "The Groove", "Love Will Find A Way" and "Stuck On ... LP, Vinyl record album
Diana Ross & The Supremes & Temptations
On Broadway – Original TV Soundtrack
Motown, 1969. Near Mint- Gatefold
... LP, Vinyl record album
The Commodores tenth album – as you might guess from the big X on the cover – and a set that features some of the last great moments of Lionel Richie with the group! The album's a bit overlooked, but has a really great groove – kind of a middle ground between The Commodores' ... LP, Vinyl record album
A record so big they dropped the "Ross" from Diana's name – just to show how large the lady was living at the end of the 70s! The album was a key set in the solo years of Diana's career – a back to basics dancefloor effort done with impeccable production by Bernard Edwards ... LP, Vinyl record album
Mary Jane Girls
Only Four You
Motown, 1985. Very Good+
A lasting classic from the funky female foursome who were one of the biggest acts on Motown in the mid-80s – working here with super tight production and arrangements from Rick James – who also wrote all the songs on the record too! The girls' look is a bit dated, but their sound has ... LP, Vinyl record album
Motown, 1967. Very Good-
A classic 60s album by the Four Tops – really one of their better efforts of the period – a record that finds the group working some soulful magic on a couple of their best known tunes, as well as adding a dose of deeper emotion to some hit songs of the time! Like other Motown success ... LP, Vinyl record album


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Establish a Business Account
Wholesale Trade Shows
RIO GRANDE TRADING
1920 Central Ave SW | Albuquerque NM 87104 | P:505-242-3739
Mon-Fri 10-5
Experience, Integrity, Service
When you shop at Rio Grande, you have the confidence that comes with buying from one of the most trusted names in the industry.
Established in 1994, Rio Grande Trading was purchased by Lynn Atkinson in 1998. Over the past 20 years Lynn and his team have transformed a small pottery shop into a 7,000 square foot showroom featuring one of the best selections of Southwest Native American Jewelry and Art in New Mexico.
A 3rd generation trader born in New Mexico and raised in New Mexico and Arizona, Lynn has over 50 years experience in both retail and wholesale Native American Arts & Crafts. Building his business on a foundation of integrity, respect for the Native American artists, and an entrepreneurial spirit, Lynn carries on the tradition, legacy and integrity associated with the Atkinson name.
Erin Atkinson (daughter #2 to Lynn) returned to the family business in 2018 as COO. After acquiring her M.A. from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR, Erin stayed in Portland and further developed her business leadership skills in the private sector and nonprofit sector. Erin returns with a passion for carrying on the family legacy and a love of the Native American arts.
Matt Smith, General Manager
Adele Ramirez, Jewelry Manager
Matt spent most of his youth in Michigan before moving to Gallup at the age of 15. In 2018, Matt celebrated 26 years working with Lynn. Rising through the ranks from sales assoociate at our small western wear store in Gallup, Matt is now the General Manager and has been instrumental in turning Rio Grande Trading into the incredible operation you see today. During his years in Gallup, Matt learned conversational Navajo and you will often find him enjoying conversations with the local Navajo silversmiths in their native tongue. An experienced, dedicated and charismatic leader, Matt works with his team, customers and suppliers to ensure that every experience with Rio Grande is exceptional.
Annie Johnson, Retail Manager
With over 20 years experience working with Native American Arts & Crafts and Southwest Gifts, Annie is an experienced Manager with a passion for customer service and the art native to the American Southwest. Annie joined the RGW team in 2015, bringing her exceptional skills in customer service and merchandising to round out the management team. Those who work with her know that no one is a stranger to Annie, as she ensures that every guest who enters Rio Grande Wholesale feels welcome and valued. Annie's commitment and expertise have created a unique and memorable experience, resulting in satisfied and loyal customers.
Born and raised in New Mexico, Adele began her career in Native American art at a young age, and offers over 34 years experience in wholesale Native American Arts & Crafts. For 20 years, our wholesale customers have come to appreciate and depend on Adele's keen eye, product knowledge as well as her trademark smile. A passion for the jewelry, respect for the artists and the highest level of dedication to customer service have made Adele a well known and respected fixture in the industry.
Wholesale Sales & Support:
Richard Vittitow
Tina Keyohara
Nina Keyohara
Jeanette Archuleta
Retail Sales & Support:
Vanessa Gatsch
Gregg Potteet
Martina Ramirez
© 2023 by Rio Grande Wholesale, Inc., created with Wix.com


Investment defense is coming of age.
a) Emphasize income and capital gains. PIMCO Total Return Strategy.
c) Combine A and B along with careful bottom-up security selection to seek consistent alpha.
a) Emphasize income we believe to be relatively reliable/safe.
b) De-emphasize derivative structures that are fully valued and potentially volatile.
c) Combine A and B along with security selection to seek consistent alpha with admittedly lower nominal returns than historical industry examples.
All investments contain risk and may lose value. Investing in the bond market is subject to certain risks including market, interest-rate, issuer, credit, and inflation risk. Derivatives may involve certain costs and risks such as liquidity, interest rate, market, credit, management and the risk that a position could not be closed when most advantageous. Investing in derivatives could lose more than the amount invested. Swaps are a type of derivative; while some swaps trade through a clearinghouse there is generally no central exchange or market for swap transactions and therefore they tend to be less liquid than exchange-traded instruments.
This material contains the current opinions of the author but not necessarily those of PIMCO and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This material is distributed for informational purposes only. Forecasts, estimates, and certain information contained herein are based upon proprietary research and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. ©2012, PIMCO.


Writes blogs, articles, reviews, and many other types of online content.
Has the most experience with sales, science, writing, pet, finance, heating and air conditioning, green energy, and smart technology topics.
Interested in animals, sci-fi, gaming, history, art, and interesting facts on any subject.
Laura also took several chemistry and psychology courses.
Experienced with writing product descriptions, buying guides, and blog posts promoting a product. Can research and write about a wide variety of products.
Writes about cities, resorts, wedding or party venues, and more. Usually, focuses on the amenities and attractions nearby.
Composed reviews and comparisons of new and classic cars, trucks, and SUVs. Also wrote about related topics like washing vehicles, defensive driving, and car accessories.
Experienced with writing blogs with diverse subjects for many sites. Creates every blog to appeal to its own website's audience.
Experienced with writing brief or detailed product descriptions for individual items and groups of products.
Writes in-depth articles on many subjects and completes research to find useful information for readers.


Controversial gay activist based in the United States (US), Bisi Alimi, is the news again. This time around, he came all out for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in Nigeria.
Alimi, who is not ashamed of showing off his male husband on social media, took to his Facebook profile to send a note of warning to gay men in Nigeria.
He disclosed that his outburst on social media is not meant for them but for his own personal benefit. He did not end there but further disclosed that his activism is personal and owes them nothing. Amidst his Facebook rant, he added wished them good luck.


1. Name cannot - absolutely cannot - appear anywhere on the Top 10. Or 25. Yes, cannot be in the Top 50. We'd like a name and I'd visit the Social Security site to check its rank.
2. The middle name should be Colombian. Latin American. We wanted the middle name to honor the culture into which the baby was born.
Claire's name was ultimately suggested by my mom. She said she'd always wished she had named a girl Claire. (She had five chances, and I do wonder if I'd be someone a little more polished, a little more resolved with a name like Claire). I liked Clara but Justin and I decided that Claire was nice. Our nanny, Francis, calls Claire Clara, and I like that.
I think Claire was ranked 65. Even that was a little iffy for me. I am a Sarah and graduated in a small class of 92 with seven or eight other Sara/hs. I did have a moment of doubt when a friend of mine told me of two baby girls born to friends of his, both named Claire.
Oh, and I think I had an understated third rule: No stupid nicknames. If I give my child a nice name, I'd like them to be called that nice name. This eliminates more names than you might think. Even so, when Justin spoke with his father after Claire was born, saying that her full name was Claire Juliana, I heard my father-in-law say, "Oh, CJ." And I thought: No! Hideous! No, no, no! Initials are not names. Claire is Claire.
Jude. I really like this name. I like this book in the Bible, and I like this name. I also live in a very, very anti-Semitic region of the world and am not sure a little boy named Jude is the best idea. But then again, we'll probably leave before he begins school.
Timothy. Justin's middle name. I really, really want to be able to consider this. But when I think of Timothy, I think of McVeigh's last meal before execution: two pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream. I still like mint chocolate chip, but Timothy is linked to that odd fact which in turn makes me think about what kind of person McVeigh might have been if or if and how sad it all is.
Ziad. For a middle name. I love this! In Arabic, Ziad means enlarging. Not sure what to do with that. Then I googled Ziad and learned that one of the September 11 masterminds shared that name. Well, probably every name is linked to something unsavory (illegal, wrong, frightening, criminal). Will keep looking.
Then there are names ruined by former students. Ask any expectant teacher about ruined names and they'll likely rattle five off without pausing for breath. And then there are names that went to pets first. I like the name Jeremiah with a possible nickname of Miah, but my in-laws have a cat named Maya. I also like the name Oliver, but we had a cat named Oliver. I wouldn't want my son to think I'd named him after an orange cat with a white belly.
So we have names we toss around. I still call my belly Boy. I am comfortable with waiting to meet the little guy before giving him a name, but Justin is a planner and needs to arrive at the hospital armed with a first and middle name to bestow. Whenever we finally choose a name, we'll keep it quiet until the birth. I'll know its meaning, popularity, and whether it risks a dopey nickname. I'll picture it on report cards, resumes, and under yearbook photos and signed in Christmas cards (because someday we'll send those). I'll imagine whispering the name Good night, Mama loves you, and yelling the name Get down here for dinner! And when I finally meet my baby boy, I'll say, "Welcome to the world, ____."
Can't name a kid blank though.
"just call me sally" :) I remember that vividly, too funny!
+1 on the teacher comment...so true.
After I read this post to Jason, he wanted me to suggest the names Ethan or Wayne.
I agree it is tough naming your child when you are a teacher.


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Tag Archives: Joyce Vieira
Socialize social media!
Calls for Facebook to be "broken up," as in a recent New York Times Op/Ed, are impotent. The most relevant historical example of a government mandated monopoly break-up was AT&T/Ma Bell in 1982, where the Bell System was split into separate companies to provide local telephone service, while AT&T continued to be a provider of long distance service.
The breakup of AT&T's Bell System resulted in the creation of seven independent companies (bold-typed below), and here's what happened to them:
1) NYNEX was acquired by Bell Atlantic in 1996, and is now part of Verizon Communications
2) Pacific Telesis was acquired by Southwestern Bell Corporation in 1997, and is now part of AT&T
3) Ameritech was acquired by Southwestern Bell Corporation in 1999, and now part of AT&T
4) Bell Atlantic merged with GTE in 2000 to form Verizon Communications
5) Southwestern Bell Corporation was re-branded as SBC Communications in 1995, and then re-acquired AT&T in 2005
6) BellSouth was re-acquired by AT&T in 2006
7) US West acquired by Qwest in 2000, which in turn was acquired by CenturyLink in 2011
As we can see, AT&T eventually re-acquired most of its lost pieces, and their monopoly has been re-established on a higher level. The innovation of cell phone technology has allowed a few competitors into the market such as Verizon, T-Mobile, Centurylink, etc.
AT&T wrangled concessions in their 1982 agreement with the US government, that allowed them to enter the computer market. By the mid-to-late 1990's this became the internet service provider & cell phone industry. The result today is that a few major technology companies control the internet & mobile communications– through shared monopoly agreements.
What millennials need to understand is that back in 1982, the touchtone telephone was the primary way people communicated news & gossip over long distances. The telephone system, which AT&T monopolized until then, was the era's equivalent of the cell phone Facebook & internet. Of course, the only way anyone knew who to call was by having a phonebook. That's the equivalent of Google & every other search engine today.
Eventually under capitalism, it will become one telecommunication giant in control. To the liberal reformists/apologists who always get a prominent voice in the New York Times (and all other fake media outlets) the question must be put forward, "Then what?"
Facebook is a technology platform that revolutionized media and how people interact online. It's the users who deliver the content that drives everything. Stop censoring it, and let the users be the moderators. That's much more democratic that Mark Zuckerberg using algorithms and an army of censors to de-platform those of us he doesn't like.
Here's a quote from Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes cited in the NYT Op/Ed to illustrate this point. "Mark [Zuckerberg] alone can decide how to configure Facebook's algorithms to determine what people see in their News Feeds, what privacy settings they can use and even which messages get delivered."
Fakebook is now a corporate dictatorship, which takes its instructions from the US deep state. This is a conscious ruling-class policy, meant to counteract the revolutionary potential of social media.
Miscellaneous #MeToo feminist commentary:
'I feel powerless': Brazilian MMA fighter opens up after punching 'masturbating' fan
Published: 29 Apr, 2019
This story published by Russia Today was shared widely on social media, so I feel compelled to express myself here. Evidentially, Brazilian MMA fighter Joyce Vieira was doing a bikini photo-shoot on a beach in Rio de Janeiro, when a man later identified as Josenei Viana Ferreira, was openly pleasuring himself while watching Vieira. Thankfully, there are no photographs nor video of the alleged incident.
The upshot is, if Joyce Vieira (above) was any kind of martial artist, she would have kicked him in the balls. Then he would have gotten his comeuppance, and she wouldn't feel powerless afterwards. When you are a poser & don't know what to do; you feel regret, anger, and blame others instead. With that said (and since she has no idea how to handle this situation), this jerk-off should be made to publicly apologize to her face, because that is WAY out of line. Am I being fair here?
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Posted in Economics, Film & Mass Media, For Women, Politics	| Tagged Joyce Vieira


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I thought I was going to love this from the blurb, the whole tech industry side of things spoke to me but saying that, I can't say that it was everything I thought it would be…nope but was that in a good or bad way I can hear you cry! Well, let's just keep you guessing a little longer shall we!
I would have to say that once the story got going it was almost impossible to put down. Taylor is a hacker, a master of the dark web, the place that he has called home for longer than he cares to admit. Stepping up to the plate to accept sole responsibility when the FBI track him down and try to get him to turn over everyone he is involved with, his future hung in the balance but all that seems a world away now that he is ready to unveil his revolutionary technology to the world!
Or does it because with the world watching his unhackable system falls prey to the worst he could imagine…its hacked and with a team at his disposal he sets out to scour the earth to find out who had the audacity to hack him…little does he know that his world is about to be rocked yet again because in the middle of nowhere, he discovers the culprit the mysterious Harper Watson and boy does she have a plan!
So, line the glasses up ladies because this is where the fun and games began!
There is so much going on in the book that finding where to draw the line isn't easy but the mystery and intrigue leave nothing at the door, they are both so utterly engaging that I simply couldn't get enough of them.


I noticed in my stat logs that nearly everyday someone comes across a particular post on this blog.
The post deals with when a Christian hurts. I felt compelled to re-post it.
"hurting christians, real hurt" <~~~ I see at least one of these searches nearly every day. But, to be honest those are the ONLY special searches that come in. The only other searches that bring people here are my name or my church name.
So I think that's pretty cool with the hurting Christians thing.
I get that one or some version of it 2-3 times per week.
This is a great post, Herb…although sometimes it's really hard to believe that there is an end to the tunnel. And the questions get overwhelming…especially when you wonder if God really isn't in all of this then what is the point to all the crap we go through? Why push through if there really isn't a purpose for the pain?
But that's the point – there is purpose – to be used in the redemptive process of someone else.
When things start to feel overwhelming and it appears all is forsaken I remind myself of what the Apostles said when Jesus asked if they were going to leave Him too? They replied, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. I remind myself that "feelings" and "appearences" are not reliable and I must trust the big picture is in the trustworthy hands of my Father.
yup – I have disciplined myself to avoid getting overwhelmed by present circumstances – and I counsel that way too. But it's easier said than done for sure.
Yep, Christians certainly do hurt. Sadly, in my humble opinion, the church (I am speaking in general terms here) hasn't done a great job to help hurting Christians. We tend to spiritualize the problems or minimize them. We need to learn to truly listen to people's hurts and give them the gift of presence. The church should be a place of healing – for everyone!
Right on, man. We don't have to find a solution to make a difference in someone's life.
This is so good Herb and so needed. I love hearing your heart on this.


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Another Annus Horribilis
December 31, 2015 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: capitalism, crony capitalism, Economy, income inequality, leap year, Middle East, New Year's, Paris, San Bernardino, terrorism, unemployment, wages	3 Comments
Years always seem to end in the dead of winter, when the trees are bare and the skies are gray and the prairie winds blow bitterly cold, and thus far 2015 is proving no exception to that desultory rule. In this case it seems altogether apt, as 2015 has been a desultory year. Even the most determined optimist would find it hard to identify much good news from the past six months of headlines, in any section of the paper.
The economy sputtered along steadily enough that the Federal Reserve has hiked interest rates a teensy-weensy bit, and the unemployment rate didn't seem so bad if you just excluded all the underemployed and the huge number of people who'd given up on finding any sort of work, but the working stiff's wages were still stagnant and even the investor class was having the hardest time making a profit since the legendarily hard times of the Great Depression. The global state of affairs further deteriorated, with the Middle East exploding in an even greater than usual hatred and the deadly repercussions being felt as far away as Paris and San Bernardino, refugees from that troubled region and Central America and elsewhere in the Third World pouring into the west in such numbers that they overwhelmed the resources and generosity of the First World, and elite western opinion blaming it all on capitalism. Academia went utterly mad in 2015, government regulations proliferated at an unprecedented rate, the popular culture offered no compensatory movies or songs or novels or dance crazes that we noticed, and our favorite sports teams suffered frustrating seasons.
The new year that starts tomorrow promises an extra Leap Year day, an inevitable spring, and a long and leafy summer that will lead to an autumnal Election Day that could possibly put some of this right, but the past year doesn't make us hopeful. So far the Democrats seem more riled up about impoverishing the rich than enriching the poor, and the polls predicts that they'll nominate a woman who has parlayed political influence into extraordinary wealth to make the point, so there's little chance for progress there. Meanwhile the Republicans, until recently infuriated by crony capitalism and Russian arrogance and a shallow popular culture, are threatening to nominate a man who brags about buying off politicians and revels in the praise of Vladimir Putin and was the star of a long-running reality television show to make their point. The infuriation of 2015 will make level-headed decision-making difficult in 2016, although we can hope the warmer weather will help.
The Schlong Ride to the Presidency
December 30, 2015 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: Bill Clinton, boasts, character issues, Hillary Clinton, schlonged, sex scandals, Trump, vulgarity, Yiddish	2 Comments
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are having a nasty spat, and there's a sex angle to the story, so that's currently the big news of the presidential race. So far Trump seems to be getting the better of it, but no one is likely to emerge unscathed from such a tawdry affair.
The brouhaha began with Trump telling one of his constant interviewers that Clinton got "schlonged" in her last presidential campaign. If you're from outside New York City or are otherwise so goyish you don't speak even a bissel of Yiddish, "schlong" is a low sort of synonym for penis, and the past tense verb form is pretty much self-explanatory. Clinton could have taken the high road and ignored the remark, but that would have been entirely out of character, and she could have rightly objected on the grounds that Trump was using language ill-suited to presidential politics and being downright vulgar, but that would not seem so damning after the past seven years of presidential rhetoric and late night comedy show appearances, so instead she indignantly accused Trump of sexism. The alleged schlonging was by The First Black President, too, so some quarters of the press helpfully chipped in with accusations of racism, and we expect that somebody thought to accuse the self-described Presbyterian of cultural appropriation for using a Yiddishism, and in verb form at that, and the first wave of stories had all the usual outrage.
Clinton's inevitable accusation of sexism offered Trump an opening, however, and he shrewdly seized the opportunity to remind the public of Clinton's role in smearing the many women who have made allegations of everything from sexual harassment to sexual assault to outright rape against her husband. The press was obliged to report it, and although most media did so with the usual outrage the charge still stung. Former President Bill Clinton's countless extra-marital schlongings aren't merely metaphorical, and have done more damage to public standards than anything Trump might blurt out during an interview, and Hillary Clinton's enabling role in all the tawdry scandals belie her claim to feminist glory. Throw in all the financial scandals that belie her populist warrior image, and all the lies told to obscure her incompetence and corruption, and the character question is very much a legitimate issue in the race.
Trump is quite right to raise the issue, but he's the wrong person to do so. The billionaire real estate mogul and reality television star is thrice-married, boasts of his womanizing past with the same shamelessness as when he boasts of his wealth, has a long history of making disparaging remarks about the physical appearance of women he dislikes, and the fact that Bill Clinton is arguably even worse is damning with faint praise. Throw in his shameless boasts of buying off politicians to aid his gambling business and using the bankruptcy laws four times to pay less of his boundless fortune to his creditors than he promised, as well as his penchant for vulgarity, and his own character issues become a legitimate issue in the race.
Still, we'll concede that Trump has once again proved to you can say the things that were previously thought unsayable. One can only hope that someone more eloquent and admirable can take advantage of that.
What's Not in the News
December 29, 2015 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: deal, exchanges, Iran, Media, news coverage, nuclear, Obamacare, primaries	2 Comments
There's not much in the news this time of year, what with all the newsmakers being off on their expensive vacations, so now is as good a time as any to take notice of what's not there. In the eerie silence of the current news cycle we can't help noticing that several important stories seem to have prematurely vanished.
That awful deal with the Iranian government regarding its nuclear weapons program has largely gone unmentioned since President Barack Obama announced it was done, even though that's not the end of the story. So far as we can tell nothing has yet been signed by either side, there's no still public agreement about what's been agreed to, even the United Nations admits that Iran's recent inter-continental ballistic missile test violated any understanding of agreement, despite the administration's infuriating pleas for leniency on behalf of the totalitarian theocracy, and Congress is wisely proceeding with fresh new sanctions that disagree with the whole awful deal. Given that the deal makes an Iranian bomb inevitable, which in turn would set off a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and thus make Armageddon imminent, one would think this would be getting more attention.
Obamacare is just as bad as ever, too, although that's no longer news. By now the public knows that it won't be getting an average $2,500 a year savings and won't be able to keep its plans or doctors and that all the other promises that were made won't be kept, but that was already obvious when the public went ahead and re-elected Obama back in '12 and the media are no longer obligated to mention of that. They are forced to mention that premiums are going up, more plans are set to be cancelled, the poor who were supposed to benefit are paying ever more for less coverage, major insurers are pulling out of the exchanges and leaving the rest of the suckers in the long-predicted "death spiral," and few seem to expect the law will survive into the next decade. Even the Republican presidential candidates rarely mention Obamacare, however, and even the most conservative news media don't seem to ask about it.
Most of those Republican candidates also go unmentioned, of course, and judging by all the "Bernie" bumper stickers we're seeing we think there's more going in in the Democratic race than you'd know from reading the news. Perhaps when the all the newsmakers and news reporters get back from their vacations we'll start to find out more about Donald Trump's latest insulting "tweet" and all the reasons that Hillary Clinton's latest scandal isn't really that a big deal, but we can always hope they'll starting paying attention to other things. In some cases the silence is becoming deafening.
'Twas the Monday After Christmas
December 28, 2015 By The Central Standard Times in Culture Tags: Christmas, family, I-35, Texas, tornados, weather	1 Comment
Christmas is entirely over, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are still a few dreary business days away, the weather has taken an awful turn, and suddenly spring seems far, far away. That's pretty much the news, so far as we can tell from our usually busy sources, and after a long drive back from our kinfolks' home in south Texas we're too worn out to formulate any of those big think pieces that are supposed to fill these slow news days.
Although it's only of more or less purely personal interest we will note that the long drive up and down that hellish stretch of I-35 was well worth the intermittent traffic jams and blemished scenery and grueling distance. We caught up with both the paternal and maternal sides of the family, who are all fine company, and with the cutest and most polite children, and it sure beat another plastic pouch of microwaved turkey and a round at Kirby's Beer Store. We can also recommend that if you're heading north from San Antonio the big bypass around Austin has unblemished Hill Country scenery blasting by at 85 miles per hour with no traffic jams and is well worth the extra few miles and few bucks of toll.
There was some driving rain along the way, and a few freakish winter tornados just a couple of counties to the east as we crawled through the Dallas-Fort Worth sprawl, but we're sure the Paris climate accord will solve that sort of thing soon enough. Somehow we heard that former Sen. Jim Webb might for president as an independent, which raises all sorts of interesting possibilities, but this is now time to sort out what those might be. The stock markets re-open tomorrow, which might yield something, but in the meantime the president is enjoying another swank Hawaiian vacation and the Congress is off doing God only knows what, the college football games haven't yet gotten underway, and there's no reason not to stop writing right now and enjoy another bowl of our famously red-hot chili.
Good News for Christmas
December 25, 2015 By The Central Standard Times in Culture Tags: Christmas	Leave a comment
These are fearful times, but on this day all the news that's fit to print can be found in The Gospel According to Luke, chapter two, verses eight through eleven:
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
All we can add is our humble thanks to you for your readership, and our best wishes that you have a merry and joyous Christmas.
On Texas, Christmas Eve, and What Else Matters
December 24, 2015 By The Central Standard Times in Culture Tags: bad news, casinos, Christmas Eve, Ernest Tubb, family, global warming, good news, Honky-tonk, Texas	Leave a comment
Our holiday travels have now taken us deep into the heart of Texas, where most of the paternal side of the family now resides, and as much as we hate to be away from God's own Kansas it's good to be here. The weather is warm even by heart-of-Texas standards, which will no doubt encourage all the global warming alarmists, while reassuring all those social justice warriors who worry that a "white Christmas" is somehow racist, but we're nonetheless enjoying the warmth of family on a Christmas Eve.
The drive down unlovely and casino-clogged and incongruously up-to-date I-35 was surprisingly grueling — who knew that a jaunt through relatively tiny Temple, Texas, would be even slower than the legendarily clogged Dallas-Fort Worth area or even out-of-control Austin — but for the most part we enjoyed a respite from the even more grueling news of the day. Most of the drive was spent listening to ancient family lore and the music of Ernest "Texas Troubadour" Tubb and Jim Ed Brown and Hank Snow and other mellifluously nasal old-time honky-tonkers on the folk's newfangled Sirius radio system, and except for a brief update from the Fox News station and a quick reading of the news after our beloved aunt somehow recalled the password for the internet wi-fi that a more tech-savvy daughter set up for her we mostly ignored all the latest political and economic developments. Given what we found on those brief looks at the news, it was probably best to stick with the old-country music.
Barring something unexpectedly catastrophic, we'll stick with Christmas carols and old-time country music and family lore today, and we urge you to do the same. There's still good news out there, even if you have to turn off the news to hear it.
OKC is Doing OK
December 23, 2015 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: Brick Town, downtown, MAPs, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Thunder, pay-as-you-go, public-private partnership, referenda, renovation, sales taxes, socialism	Leave a comment
A holiday gathering of our extended family drew us down to the greater Oklahoma City area on Tuesday, and we are pleased to report the town is booming. Perhaps it's just the Christmas season that's put us in such a generous mood, but we'll acknowledge that taxes and government have apparently had something to do with it.
Oklahoma City is a politically and culturally and religiously conservative town even by prairie standards, which largely explains its recent prosperity, and of course the most recent oil boom also has a lot to do with it, but even our most rock-ribbed Republican kinfolk will concede that a series city government-run and taxpayer-financed Metropolitan Area Projects have also played a part. The "MAPs," as everyone calls them, renovated the Civic Center Music Hall, a convention center and the state fairgrounds, built a new main library and a canal that helped turn an abandoned warehouse district into the thriving drinking-and-dining area called Brick Town. Such improvements have prompted private investment, which has been helpfully coordinated with the very pro-business City Hall. The National Basketball Association's Thunder is now the city's first major league professional sports team, if you don't count the University of Oklahoma Sooners football squad, and the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers baseball team is playing in a gorgeous new stadium. There's a privately donated collection of impressionist art that was privately donated, big time shows are now routinely scheduled at various venues in the revived downtown area, and just about any chain restaurant you might want to eat has at least one location.
Such quality-of-life improvements has made it easier fur the city to lure all sorts of big and small business, which has helped diversify a local economy that was previously prone to the boom-and-bust cycles of the oil business, and no one seems to mind the slightly socialistic aspects of the MAPs. Conservative concerns have been allayed by a strict adherence to a pay-as-you-go policy, with the entire city chipping in through slight increases in sales taxes, and it was done at the local level and with the blessings of the voting public. The first $350 MAP payed for all those much-needed renovations, and the second paid for $700 million is in more desperately needed renovations to the local public schools, and the third will spend $777 million on trails, parks and sidewalks, which for some reason have long been rare in this city. That third one passed with only 54 percent of the vote, and there seems to be a sense that the next one will be a tough sale, but for now most Oklahoma Citians seem pleased with the results if not all of the methods. The city is adding jobs and new residents at a fast clip, and the old-timers like their city even better.
We would like it better, too, and we've had a soft spot for the city for all the years we've been coming here for the extended family gatherings. Mainly we like the extended family, who are mostly a politically and culturally and religiously conservative bunch, but we do like the city they've made.
On the Darkest Day, and the Days After
December 22, 2015 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: darkest day, Democratic primary, drunk neighbor, Lucretia Borgia, Republican primary, sluggish economy, summer solstice, terrorism, vernal equinox, winter solstice	1 Comment
The news usually takes a holiday around Christmastime, and thus far we're relieved to see that this year is no exception to the rule. We can't quite break our yearlong writing habit, however, so we'll briefly note the significant fact that the winter solstice occurred early this morning.
We don't attach any pagan sort of significance to the event, but we're always happy to see it arrive nonetheless. As the old song says, it's a long, long way from May to December, but the days grow short when you reach September, and it starts a slow and dreary slide into the darkness of winter, and while there's still plenty of darkness and cold left until that long awaited vernal equinox it's good to know that at least from now until the arrival of that gloriously sunlit summer solstice the days will grow imperceptibly yet incrementally longer. This astronomical certainty somehow heartens us, even as we glumly consider everything else we might write about.
The news is still out there, of course, even if the newsmen and newswomen are polite enough and preoccupied enough with personal matters to pay it as little attention as possible. There's still the matter of whether a "Santa Claus rally" will soothe the stock markets' recent freakout about an interest rate hike that can only be measured with a micrometer, and what that says about an economy that's sputtering into a seventh straight Christmas shopping season of sluggish growth and stagnant wages. There are still at least few hundred million crazy people around the world who are trying to kill us, too, and that ongoing debate about how many of them we should welcome in our country as honored guests. The President of the United States assures us that none of it is quite so alarming as the threat of anthropogenic global warming and attributes any discomfort Americans might have about all this to cable news and racism, even as he prepares to take a carbon-spewing jet ride to Hawaii for another lavishly taxpayer-funded vacation, and the two front-runners in the ongoing contest to replace him are a man who sounds suspiciously like your drunk neighbor and a woman who makes Lucretia Borgia look like one of those Little Sisters of the Poor who are being forced by federal law to purchase contraception coverage in their mandated insurance plans.
Put it all together and it seems like the darkest day, but there's something almost astronomical about these news cycles. Starting today the sunset comes about a minute later, so in a mere ten days there's an extra ten minutes, and a month from now provides a whole half-hour of extra daylight. Just a month or so from now the Iowa caucus might reshape the Republican race, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation might even come down on that Borgia-esque woman in the Democrat race, and although you'd never know it by what they teach in American history these days the country has been through dark days before and found its way back to sunshine. Just three days from now is an even more significant date, when we'll join with family to celebrate the age-old good news that still trumps all the bad, and in the meantime we will be hopeful.
The Democrats' Shrewdly Boring Show
December 21, 2015 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: apology, Bernie Sanders, black lives matter, climate change, computer, culture of rape, debate, Democratic National Committee, Democratic primary, e-mail, hacking, Hillary Clinton, reality show, terrorism	1 Comment
The Democrats might well be pursuing a sensible political strategy, but from a television programmer's point of view they simply have no idea how to put on a reality show. Saturday night's debate, carefully scheduled against football games and other more compelling fare to make sure no one was watching, is a perfect example.
We had high hopes for the episode, given the intriguing plot twists that had somehow seeped into the news prior to the broadcast, but they were quickly dashed by a group hug reminiscent of the final "Mary Tyler Moore Show." Those who are still following this yawn-fest already know that someone on the campaign staff of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the plucky David character in the tale, had been caught reading confidential material on the computer system of former First Lady and Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who plays the role of Goliath in this all-too-familiar storyline. There was briefly some uncharacteristic acrimony, with Clinton likening the incident to the Watergate break-in, and Sanders grousing that the Democratic National Committee's threat to deny him access to the party's voter records was just its latest attempt to sabotage his upstart campaign, but it all ended with Sanders' groveling apology for the fired employee's actions and Clinton's magnanimous forgiveness. If the Kardashians or the Real Housewives of Wherever or the Republican Party behaved so wussily their reality shows would have been cancelled several seasons ago, but somehow the Democrats always get renewed.
To those who have been following the more action-packed cage match that is the Republican primary, it all seems unaccountable. There are plausible reports that the Sanders staffer inadvertently wound up with access to the DNC computer, which is apparently about as fool-proof as that Obamacare web site or the unsecured and illegal e-mail server that Clinton used for all her diplomatic electronic correspondence as Secretary of State, so Sanders had some pretty good spin if it he'd been willing to use it. He'd already declared that he was "sick and tired of hearing about her damn e-mails," and of course he's not going to make any more general complaints about the Democratic party's apparent high-tech incompetence, but still, it's hard to imagine even the most genteel of the Republicans passing up such a golden opportunity.
Even the viewers who are still rooting for Clinton will admit that she's thoroughly dishonest, corrupt, ruthlessly amoral and entirely self-interested, just like all the most popular characters on all the reality shows, and just like all the ones who are the last to be kicked off the island or wind up with the hunky bachelor, and Sanders strategy of ignoring those unpleasant facts are hard to explain. Sanders is an unmitigated kook whose only domestic policy is to rip that goose wide open and grab all the golden eggs and whose foreign policy is to pretend that people aren't trying to kill us, but at least he's honest enough to concede that he's a socialist and there's little doubt he actually believes all that nonsense he spouts, which is pretty refreshing these days and is no doubt the source of Sanders' limited appeal. He should pressing that advantage rather than retreating with an apology, and exploiting the plain fact that the Democratic Party is indeed thwarting the democratic process on Clinton's behalf.
Sanders probably spends more time with Democrats than we do, so perhaps he's correct in assuming they're not quite so fed up with their party's leadership as the Republicans clearly are with their own, but he'd surely benefit from stirring that pot at least a little bit. He's probably also right that his supporters don't regard Clinton with the same seething hatred that Republicans have for her, or for their own inter-party opponents, but given that Clinton is nearly as far left as he is his only advantage is on the character issue. A Democratic Party that demonizes wealth in general and Wall Street in particular and is suddenly more concerned with climate change and student debt and a "culture of rape" and "Black Lives Matter" than terrorism is expected to nominate a woman richer than Romney with a war chest of Goldman Sachs donations who flies around in private jets and charges universities $300,000 for a half-hour speech and enabled her husband serial sexual assaults and supported his mass incarceration and other tough-on-crime stances. That's all Sanders has, given that Clinton is pretending to be as far left as he is, and it's the reason he's ahead in New Hampshire and within shouting distance elsewhere, and if he's too high-minded to address this crucial point, just as he's too high-minded address himself to that radical Islamic terrorism thing, there's really no reason for him to stay in the race.
The obvious conspiracy theory for the right, which at least imbues some interest in the Democrats' boring race, is that Sanders is only following the pre-written script needed to fill the obligatory time in a contracted-with-the-networks show about a supposed democratic process. By now it's starting to seem plausible, but we do find him quite convincing in the role, and we know from countless conversations that his supporters are entirely on board. They'll all glumly switch to Clinton if she wins, but only for fear of whatever crazed right-wing monster those hated Republicans come up with, so we think there's still a chance of an embarrassingly real race, and that in any case Clinton will not emerged unscathed.
No matter how gentlemanly the Vermont socialist treats the former First Lady, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is continuing to look into that unsecured and illegal e-mail server of hers, and her assurances that none of her classified communications were breached by China or Russia or the surprisingly savvy IT guys in ISIS are surely undermined by the revelation that some stoned hippy-dippy staffer on the Bernie Sanders campaign was reading her campaign's most cherished voter information, and sooner or later even the most compliant press will be forced to write something about. Whatever crazed right-wing monster the Republicans come up with will say that's no lady, that's Bill Clinton's wife, and make sure to spend enough money that the matter will be brought to the public's attention. Throw in all the subpoenaed e-mails that demonstrate how Clinton didn't know how to use e-mail, and her public excuses about not wanting to use multiple devices and not knowing what "wiping a server" means or any of that other newfangled gadgetry, and of course that famously failed Obamacare web site, and at the very least she'll look rather out-of-date.
Dishonest, corrupt, ruthlessly amoral and self-interested are one thing, but out-of-date is also the death knell for reality show star. If the Republicans can come up with a crazed right-wing monster who somehow managed to stay on the island didn't get fired by the the star of "The Apprentice," the Democrats would probably do well to go with that apologetic Bernie guy.
An Awful Deal and Its Political Implications
December 18, 2015 By The Central Standard Times in Politics Tags: brinksmanship, budget deal, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Planned Parenthood, Republican primaries, Syrian refugees, talk radio, Ted Cruz	1 Comment
Anyone who's been paying the slightest attention to the Republican presidential nomination race has by now noticed that the party's rank-and-file are in full tar-and-feathers revolt against its elite leadership. The big budget deal that newly-fledged House Speaker Paul Ryan has negotiated is not like to sooth things.
Although Donald Trump's latest "tweet" is probably getting more attention, the deal is just awful by any rock-ribbed standard of Republicanism. There's $1.1 trillion dollars of spending, which is bad enough, and it includes full funding for Planned Parenthood despite revelations of its baby-parts business, continued contributions to the Green Climate Fund that pays American penance for the country's alleged global warming sins, no reins on the Environmental Protection Agency's power-grabbing "clean waters" regulations over the puddle in your backyard, and money for all those "Syrian" "refugees" that the Obama administration wants to import from the most crazed areas of the Middle East. Even the big business wing of the party is betrayed by the deal, with provisions to spare some financial institutions from the burdens of the Dodd-Frank monstrosity dropped and Sen. Elizabeth Warren's bossy Consumer Financial Protection Bureau still exempted from any congressional control, so it's hard to imagine any portion of the party outside of Washington that will find it acceptable.
Part of the deal is another deal that extends about $600 billion of business tax breaks, which is fine by traditional Republican thinking but only of immediate importance to the affected businesses and their employees without any commensurate spending cuts is not likely to satisfy the rest of the part. There's something about allowing the export of American oil and a couple of other reasonable provisions that have enraged some of the more far-left Democrats, enough for Ryan to make the strange boast that nobody is happy with the deal, but we can't help but noticing that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid seem very eager to get it passed. Our fellow Republicans will like notice as they warm their tar and pluck their feathers, too.
This might bolster the front-running Trump, who will surely have something scathing to "tweet" about it, and it could play to his strength as a legendarily tough negotiator, which even such strident critics as ourselves cannot dispute, but it's more complicated than that. His surging rival is Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who has earned a reputation as one of the few congressional Republicans willing to engage in the government shutdown brinksmanship that this deal was clearly intended to avert, and Trump has lately criticized Cruz for being a "a bit of maniac" in his opposition to similarly awful deals in the past, although he backed off that after his talk radio pals who had cheered Cruz on each time stopped gushing, so if Cruz is deft he could also easily benefit from the party's outrage. There's a case to be made that the current deal isn't so awful for the party as the fall-out from another round of government shut-down brinksmanship, which would bring down such opprobrium from the press that even Trump's "tweets" could not drown it out, and if the more-or-less "establishment" candidate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio can successfully make that case he might wind up the beneficiary. That's a tough case to make to the typical Republican primary voter these days, however, and Rubio already has a tough case case to make regarding his past heresies on the all-important illegal immigration issue.
The deal isn't entirely done yet, with crucial votes awaiting in Cruz' and Rubio's Senate, so we're eager to see how it plays out. The deal itself should be the big story, and there should be some way of working out something better within the current political arrangement, but that doesn't seem very likely. At this point we're only hoping that it will help an enraged Republican party make better choices in the future, and if Ryan's lousy deal at least makes that possible we'll at least give him and that creepy new beard of his some scant amount of credit.


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You are here: Home1 / Home Building Basics2 / FARMHOUSE STYLE
April 13, 2020 /in Home Building Basics /by Bungalow Company
While it can refer to an architectural style, many people associate the term "farmhouse" with function rather than design or certain type of home decor. Calling a home a farmhouse is more likely to tell where its location and how practical the house will be rather than its specific architectural elements. However, it can also be a house style as well. Here's what people looking to purchase a farmhouse or those who already own one should know about this architectural style:
Click here to learn about other House Styles.
History of Farmhouse Style
Farmhouses, which have also been called "folk houses," were influenced almost completely by geography. During the 18th century, when these homes first began popping up, farmers needed a place to live that relied on function rather than ornate fixtures or luxury. There wasn't necessarily any specific design or material that farmhouses used. It often changed based on location, climate, and the availability of local resources.
For instance, a farmhouse built on the East Coast would most likely end up looking wildly different than one built in California with very few similarities in style or farmhouse decor. This is partly due to the fact that the owners built the folk houses themselves rather than relying on an architect.
Only the wealthy could afford to hire an architect, and even skilled labor workers had to rely on what they could scrounge up on their own. Many of the earliest farmhouses were even constructed with stone, mud, or logs.
It was only once the cross-country railroad system was built in the mid-19th century that it was possible for farmers to begin transporting materials across the country. They no longer had to rely on what was in the near vicinity. With this advancement, farmers could begin building their homes out of lumber, quarried stone, or even brick.
Once the design wasn't limited to local materials, the complexity of farmhouses changed as well. To some extent, farmers and builders could place some emphasis on design rather than just pure function. Wealthy landowners that might have had the resources to hire a team of builders or an architect usually constructed whatever style was more popular at the time.
For instance, while the Greek Revival was popular during the mid-1800s, many farmhouses blended elements of this style into their design. Once the early 1900s came around, many farmhouses began sprouting wraparound porches with Queen Anne railings and posts.
Although farmers only make up a small portion of the population today, farmhouses have retained some popularity. It's not uncommon for families or homeowners to purchase a classic farmhouse with a piece of land and modernize the house. Even if they don't find the style necessarily appealing, any homeowner that wants to buy a large strip of land will usually get a farmhouse as well.
It's important to remember that farmhouses, like many older homes, didn't have a building code that farmers had to abide by. Not all classic farmhouses might have been built well enough to last for hundreds of years. Some farmhouses might have structural issues, and require plenty of renovation before they're ready for modern living.
Types of Different Farmhouse Styles
Since a lot of homeowners and wealthy landowners took advantage of bare-bones farmhouses by combining them with other styles, there are a lot of different subcategories out there. What looks like a classic or traditional farmhouse might have specific elements that draw from another house style:
French Farmhouse
As a popular choice in the present day, a French farmhouse combines a range of different gray tones together. These types of homes usually include warm hardwood flooring, marble countertops in the kitchen, and other rustic accents to make the neutral colors pop. Architects who design a French farmhouse generally aim to make the space feel light and airy. Some of the cabinetry, dining chairs, countertops, or even kitchen island might include reclaimed wood or repurposed materials.
Using distressed wood, vintage accents, and handcrafted decorations and materials, the Rustic farmhouse design usually tries to bring this style back to its roots. The beauty of a Rustic farmhouse usually tries to be subtle, and use furnishings that feel as if they were taken straight out of the 1800s. It's not uncommon to see repurposed material or furniture in the living room that owners acquire from a flea market.
The "shabby chic" or "country living" look is often the aim of the rustic farmhouse design.
Scandanavian Farmhouse
Using minimalist fixtures, lights, and colors, one of the most popular parts of a Scandanavian farmhouse is the kitchen. With modern appliances and a sleek design, cooking in a Scandanavian farmhouse can feel like stepping into the future with the stainless steel appliances, sleek dining table, and open shelving. While there are usually some rustic or traditional elements in this subtype, they tend to feel contemporary.
Coastal Farmhouse
Designed to be breezy and light, the Coastal farmhouse is usually found in locations close to the beach and gains a lot of its inspiration from the ocean. Rather than feeling stuffy or even cozy, a Coastal farmhouse tries to make its space and design feel as open as possible. Whether it's open shelving, a metal countertop, or a sleek kitchen design, the Coastal Farmhouse can emulate the country style well.
A modern farmhouse usually tries to combine all the best elements of a Rustic farmhouse and make them feel more sophisticated. Many people associate modern farmhouses with taking a classic or traditional home and updating it to meet the standards of the twenty-first century.
In recent years, modern farmhouses have become incredibly popular among new homeowners or anybody looking to move out of the city and explore a lifestyle that's more rural.
Colonial Farmhouse
With elements from the Colonial style, these farmhouses draw on what was popular during the 18th-century. With brick fireplaces, wood flooring, and open rooms, a Colonial farmhouse usually uses a muted color scheme rather than a rich color palette.
Industrial Farmhouse
With metal fixtures and cooler metals, an Industrial farmhouse usually uses a neutral color scheme and natural wood when it's possible. Many people consider this to be a "masculine" take on the Farmhouse style, and in recent years, it's become more popular.
A traditional farmhouse, especially the kitchen of one of these homes, can make homeowners feel as if they're taking a step into the past. Many traditional farmhouses seek to preserve the original woodwork and furnishings from the original home design while making only minimal updates to the modern era.
Modern Farmhouse vs. Classic Farmhouse
While there are plenty of different nuances in the farmhouse style, some people or even designers can use the terms "classic farmhouse" or "modern farmhouse" interchangeably. While these types of houses can look similar, there are plenty of differences. It's important to know where they differ, especially for anyone who is looking to invest in a farmhouse.
While a modern and classic farmhouse can look exactly the same on the outside, their interior elements are typically what differ.
When people say traditional, rustic, or classic farmhouse, they're usually talking about the same home. Whether it's the earlier days of America or just constructed to mimic this style, a classic farmhouse focuses on key features such as natural wood elements, vintage furniture, traditional fabrics, and even apron sinks. While it might have a cozy or relaxed charm, the classic farmhouse was meant for functionality.
A modern farmhouse, however, takes many of these same elements and adds a more modern touch. With curved, sleeker lines and glossy accents, modern farmhouse plans usually try to include a neutral color scheme.
While it isn't the case all the time, a modern farmhouse will usually try and update appliances and fixtures inside of a classic farmhouse, so they're more sustainable. For instance, a new homeowner moving into a traditional farmhouse might do away with outdated appliances and replace them with stainless steel fixtures that require less maintenance.
It's important to remember that the modern farmhouse isn't always building a completely new building. A lot of the time, modernizing a farmhouse simply means working with what's already there and adding a few touches that feel contemporary.
Key Elements of the Farmhouse Style
Regardless of what subcategory or time period it's from, there are a few key elements of the farmhouse style that many of these homes share. On the inside of the home, most people can find these common elements:
Reclaimed barn wood
Handmade or handworked decorations
Exposed wood beams
Apron sink
Vintage furniture and decorations
Furniture that's arranged in a practical or functional manner
Muted color scheme
A formal area in the front of the house
Firehouses
Once they're outside of the home, most people can usually spot plenty of land or even livestock in the distance. However, they can also typically pick these elements out too:
A functional porch
Farmhouses made with wood also usually have clapboards too
L-shaped floor plan
Barn located near the home
Common Farmhouse Decorating Ideas
When it comes to decorating a farmhouse, there aren't tons of specific rules or guidelines to follow. Depending on the furniture that's already in the house, homeowners might already have an idea of what goes well in their living space and what doesn't.
When farmhouses first began popping up, the decor was not a primary focus. Farmers either made their own furniture or scrounged up what they could find. Locating furnishings that accented the home wasn't a concern, although most homeowners did try and make the most of their living space.
Even today, most farmhouse decor is about practicality. Many homeowners find hand-me-down furniture at flea markets, antique shops, or even yard sales. Wooden furniture that looks rustic might fit better in a farmhouse than something designed with a metal or industrial material.
Vintage pieces can often add a lot of value to a farmhouse, even one that buyers are in the process of modernizing. Besides functionality or practicality, farmhouse decor can also mean making the owner's life a little easier.
For instance, while a coal-burning stove might look attractive in the home, it can also be inconvenient to use. Even if homeowners are looking to keep their home as traditional as possible, updating a few modern appliances doesn't mean losing the integrity of the home.
What sets the farmhouse style apart from others is that it's practical. Farmers didn't give much thought to making their homes aesthetically pleasing, although many modern homeowners have found the classic farmhouse to be appealing. Whether they're looking to try and bring the farmhouse into the twenty-first century or preserve everything that makes it traditional, the farmhouse style is always evolving.
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Top Republican Breaks With Trump, Demands He 'Stop Tweeting' About Murder Conspiracy Theory
Cheney Warns Trump: Any Lies Under Oath 'Subject To Criminal Penalties'
Trump Calls Liz Cheney A 'Smug Fool' After She Suggests He Helped Plan Jan 6th
Liz Cheney Promises 'Many, Many Criminal Investigations' Into Trump's Role In Capitol Attack
Top Republican Breaks With Trump's Plan: Economy Won't Function 'If Our Hospitals Are Overwhelmed'
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (Wyo.) urged President Trump to stop tweeting about an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that claims MSNBC host Joe Scarborough murdered a staffer when he was in Congress in 2001 even while her family begs the president to stop causing them pain.
The staffer, Lori Klausutis, was found dead in Scarborough's district office after she fell and hit her head on the side of a desk, resulting in a fatal blood clot. Her death was ruled an accident, and the medical examiner concluded Klausutis had an undiagnosed heart condition that caused her to collapse.
Yet Trump has tweeted multiple times in recent weeks insinuating that Scarborough was to blame for the murder.
Klausutis's husband, Timothy, wrote a letter addressed to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey asking that Trump's tweets be removed. In the letter, Timothy wrote, "I'm asking you to intervene in this instance because the President of the United States has taken something that does not belong to him — the memory of my dead wife — and perverted it for perceived political gain."
The rare criticism from the third-ranking GOP leader came just hours after the president took to Twitter for the second day in a row to raise a conspiracy theory about the death of an aide to then-Rep. Scarborough (R-Fla.), despite pleas from the aide's widower to stop.
"I do think the president should stop tweeting about Joe Scarborough. I think we're in the middle of a pandemic. He's the commander in chief of this nation, and it's causing great pain to the family of the young woman who died. So I would urge him to stop it," Cheney told a handful of reporters after a news conference outside the Capitol.
Asked if Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, personally knew Scarborough, she replied: "The president should stop tweeting about it."
During the same news conference, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), a top Trump ally, was asked about the Trump tweets on Scarborough, who served in Congress from 1995 to 2001.
"I did not serve with Scarborough. … I don't know anything about the case itself," McCarthy told reporters.
Related Topics:liz cheney
'Cowboys For Trump' Leader Declares: 'The Only Good Democrat Is A Dead Democrat'
Hammer-Wielding Woman Targets Ecuadorian Doctor: 'You Mexicans, Get Out Of My F**king Country!'


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No contest plea entered in fatal crash
Published 10:11 am Tuesday, January 22, 2019
By Debra Haight
NILES — A Niles woman faces up to 15 years in prison when she is sentenced in March for driving drunk causing death. Kyriea Jade Demorrow, 23, of Niles, pleaded no contest last week to driving while intoxicated causing death.
Demorrow was arrested shortly after the Sept. 15 incident on felony charges of driving while intoxicated causing death and failure to stop at a personal injury accident causing death. The latter charge has been dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Demorrow was driving on Pokagon Highway in Berrien Township when she hit and killed bicyclist Todd Harrington, 32, of Berrien Springs. The police report indicated that Harrington was struck from behind. She was arrested shortly after the incident as a witness observed the accident and retrieved her license plate number.
Kyreia Jade Demorrow
Berrien County Sheriff's Deputies went to her Knott Road home in Niles Township where they found her visibly intoxicated and the vehicle damaged on the passenger side. She told them that she had been drinking and had just driven from St. Joseph to Niles. She was not wearing any shoes and told deputies that she often drove without shoes.
Defense attorney Jack Banyon said his client is pleading no contest because of both civil liability and a lack of memory due to her level of intoxication. Her blood alcohol level was tested and found to be .229, which is nearly three times the legal limit. She was also found to have traces of marijuana in her blood.
The plea agreement announced last week calls for Demorrow to plead no contest to the drunk driving causing death charge with the failure to stop at personal injury accident causing death dismissed. The agreement does not include a sentencing recommendation.
She faces a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison when she is sentenced March 18 by Judge Charles LaSata in Berrien County Trial Court. She had been set to go to trial this week. She remains free on bond on $15,000 cash or surety bond awaiting sentencing.
Cass County commissioners look to make changes


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The Scottish midfielder spoke of his delight to sign on a season-long loan deal from Derby County.
"It was a really difficult decision for me to leave Derby," Began Craig. "I've been there for six years and had so many great times.
"I know the Gaffer here had phoned Gary Rowett a few times about me and I think with the Manager's record here and his experience, it made it a no-brainer for me to come to Cardiff.
Bryson has made 180 appearances in the Sky Bet Championship and it's no surprise that his performances at Derby made him Neil Warnock's number one transfer target of the summer.
With City top of the table, Bryson believes that the Club have done exceptionally well to achieve the 100% league record that they look to preserve tomorrow afternoon.
"I think to win five games in any league is a great achievement," he added. "But especially in the Championship where all the teams are so evenly matched.