Array by seeing that sin and Satan are allowed power in me that I might know my sin, be humbled, and gain strength thereby; You do not play in convincing me of sin, Satan did not play in tempting me to it, I do not play when I sink in deep mire, for sin is no game, no toy, no bauble; Let me never forget that the heinousness of sin lies not so much in the nature of the sin committed, as in the greatness of the person sinned against.
link

Then consider that whether you’re producing a service or product, the operation needs to be “efficient”:A highly efficient factory that takes raw materials (or in services, data) and produces products (information) that are custom tailored for each and every customer (stakeholder – in commercial radio, this includes listeners, advertisers/sponsors, investors). [1]As media laws allow newspaper or television station owners to buy radio stations, and with merchant bankers Macquarie owning a chunk of regional commercial licences, USA radio writer Steve Warren reflects on this situation by writing: “Many of today’s (commercial) stations are supported by money from investors who are not broadcasters.”Warren’s concern is that “In being accountable to investors, all decisions are supported by volumes of research. Page 79: What role should research play?radioactive*dc – the “development cycle” in action:DC Phase I : Dirty Data PusherDC Phase II: (coming soon)DC Phase III: (coming soon)DC Phase IV: (coming soon)

link

CDeez NutzAs expected, the new Butch Walker album is well worth your hard earned money, but the real surprises of the week are the used albums I picked up. Justin TimeA thank you goes out to Justin who not only bought me a hearty dinner at Chipolte, but also accompanied me in swimming in his pool, used CD shopping, watching a subpar Saturday Night’s Main Event, counting how many of the top 500 albums we own (102 combined), and running up to Meijer.
link

First of all, let me tell you about My INDIA, My Kerala My Palakkad and My Edathanattukara.My KERALA the “God’s Own Country”The state of Kerala is situated on the western coast in the far south of India. bus stand.District Head Quarters: PalakkadArea : 4,480 Km Population : 26,17,072 Literacy : 84.31 % Palakkad Taluk : [Taluk Headquarter: Palakkad]Akathethara, Elappully I, Elappully II, Kannadi II, Kannadi, Keralassery, Kizhkke Puthussery Kodumbu, Kongodu I, Kongodu II, Malampuzha I, Malampuzha II, Mankara, Mannur, Marutha Road, Mundoor I, Mundoor II, Naduvil Puthussery, Padinjara Puthussery, Palakkad III, Palakkad I, Palakkad II, Parali I, Parali II, Peruvenbum, Pirayiri, Pulpally, Puthupariyaram I, Puthupariyaram II, YakkaraChittoor Taluk : [Taluk Headquarter: chittoor]Ayiloor, Chittoor, Elavancherry, Ezhuthempathi, Kayaradi, Koduvayur I, Koduvayur II, Kollencodu, Kollencodu II, Kozhinjampara, Kozhippaty, Moolathara, Muthalamada I, Muthalamada II, Nalleppally, Nandiyode, Nellyampathy, Nenmara, Ozhalappathy, Pallassana, Pattancherry, Perumatty, Puthunagaram, Thathamangalam, Thekkudesom, Thiruvazhiyadu, Vadavannur, Vadekarapathy, Valiya Vallompathy, Vallangi, Vandithavalam,Alathur Taluk: [Taluk Headquarter: Alathur]Alathur, Erimayur I, Erimayur II, Kannambra I, Kannambra II, Kavasserry I, Kavasserry II, Kizhakkencherry I, Kizhakkencherry II, Kottayi I, Kottayi II, Kunnathur I, Kunnathur II, Kuzhalmannam I, Kuzhalmannam II, Mathur I, Mathur II, Melarkode, Peringattukurissi I, Peringattukurussi II, Puthukode, Tharoor I, TharoorII, Thekurissi, Vandazhi I, Vandazhi II, Wadekkamcherry I, Wadekkamcherry II,Mannarkkad Taluk: [Taluk Headquarter: Mannarkkad]Agali, Alanallur, Kallamala, Karakuriss, Kottathara, Kottopadam, Kumaromputhur, Mannarkkad, Padavayal, Palakayam, Payanedum, Porussery, Puthur, Sholayur, Thachanattukara, Thachapara, Thyachanattukara,Ottappalam Taluk: [Taluk Headquarter: Ottappalam]Ambalapara I, Ambalapara II, Anaganadi, Anakkara,Chalavara, Chalisserry, Cherpulassery, Kadampazhipuram I, Kadampazhipuram II, Karipuzha I, Karipuzha II, Koppam, Koppam, Kulukkallur, Luckeydiperur I, Luckeydiperur II, Muttuthara, Nayalasserry, Nellaya, Ongallur I, Ongallur II, Ottapalam I, Ottapalam II, Parudur, Pattaithafa, Pattambi, Shornur I, Shornur II, Sree Krishanapuram II, Sree Krishnapuram I, Thirumittakode I, Thirumittakode II, Thiruvegapuram, Thrihhiradi II, Thrikkiradi I, Thrithala, Vallapuzha, Vaniyamkulam I, Vaniyamkulam II, Vellinezhi, VilayurEducation:Government CollegesGovernment College, Chittoor,Government Samskrita College, PattambiGovernment Victoria College, Palakkad,Private CollegesM.E.S. College, AlathurS.N.College ShornurV.T.Bhattathirippad College,MannamProfessional CollegesN.S.S.Engineering College, PalakkadPolytechnic [2]Government Polytechnic, PalakkadInstitute of Printing & Technology, ShornurTrainingN.S.S Training College, OttapalamGovernment Sangeetha College, PalakkatTeachers Training Institutes [7]Total Schools:931Industry:Total Registered factories: 2004 (Total employees: 24,823)Total Registered Small Scale Units: 17,293 (Total employees: 84,955)Geographical NatureThe 32-40 Km Gap at the 960 Km long western ghat is causing the weather and the life style of the district. Attractions:79 Km from Thrissur and in Palakkad district is famous for ‘Tippu Sultan’s Fort walls’.Kunthipuzha: The tributary of Bharatapuzha originated from Silent Valley where the National park situated.Malampuzha: 13 Km from Palakkad.
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Array by seeing that sin and Satan are allowed power in me that I might know my sin, be humbled, and gain strength thereby; You do not play in convincing me of sin, Satan did not play in tempting me to it, I do not play when I sink in deep mire, for sin is no game, no toy, no bauble; Let me never forget that the heinousness of sin lies not so much in the nature of the sin committed, as in the greatness of the person sinned against.
link

Then consider that whether you’re producing a service or product, the operation needs to be “efficient”:A highly efficient factory that takes raw materials (or in services, data) and produces products (information) that are custom tailored for each and every customer (stakeholder – in commercial radio, this includes listeners, advertisers/sponsors, investors). [1]As media laws allow newspaper or television station owners to buy radio stations, and with merchant bankers Macquarie owning a chunk of regional commercial licences, USA radio writer Steve Warren reflects on this situation by writing: “Many of today’s (commercial) stations are supported by money from investors who are not broadcasters.”Warren’s concern is that “In being accountable to investors, all decisions are supported by volumes of research. Page 79: What role should research play?radioactive*dc – the “development cycle” in action:DC Phase I : Dirty Data PusherDC Phase II: (coming soon)DC Phase III: (coming soon)DC Phase IV: (coming soon)

link

CDeez NutzAs expected, the new Butch Walker album is well worth your hard earned money, but the real surprises of the week are the used albums I picked up. Justin TimeA thank you goes out to Justin who not only bought me a hearty dinner at Chipolte, but also accompanied me in swimming in his pool, used CD shopping, watching a subpar Saturday Night’s Main Event, counting how many of the top 500 albums we own (102 combined), and running up to Meijer.
link

First of all, let me tell you about My INDIA, My Kerala My Palakkad and My Edathanattukara.My KERALA the “God’s Own Country”The state of Kerala is situated on the western coast in the far south of India. bus stand.District Head Quarters: PalakkadArea : 4,480 Km Population : 26,17,072 Literacy : 84.31 % Palakkad Taluk : [Taluk Headquarter: Palakkad]Akathethara, Elappully I, Elappully II, Kannadi II, Kannadi, Keralassery, Kizhkke Puthussery Kodumbu, Kongodu I, Kongodu II, Malampuzha I, Malampuzha II, Mankara, Mannur, Marutha Road, Mundoor I, Mundoor II, Naduvil Puthussery, Padinjara Puthussery, Palakkad III, Palakkad I, Palakkad II, Parali I, Parali II, Peruvenbum, Pirayiri, Pulpally, Puthupariyaram I, Puthupariyaram II, YakkaraChittoor Taluk : [Taluk Headquarter: chittoor]Ayiloor, Chittoor, Elavancherry, Ezhuthempathi, Kayaradi, Koduvayur I, Koduvayur II, Kollencodu, Kollencodu II, Kozhinjampara, Kozhippaty, Moolathara, Muthalamada I, Muthalamada II, Nalleppally, Nandiyode, Nellyampathy, Nenmara, Ozhalappathy, Pallassana, Pattancherry, Perumatty, Puthunagaram, Thathamangalam, Thekkudesom, Thiruvazhiyadu, Vadavannur, Vadekarapathy, Valiya Vallompathy, Vallangi, Vandithavalam,Alathur Taluk: [Taluk Headquarter: Alathur]Alathur, Erimayur I, Erimayur II, Kannambra I, Kannambra II, Kavasserry I, Kavasserry II, Kizhakkencherry I, Kizhakkencherry II, Kottayi I, Kottayi II, Kunnathur I, Kunnathur II, Kuzhalmannam I, Kuzhalmannam II, Mathur I, Mathur II, Melarkode, Peringattukurissi I, Peringattukurussi II, Puthukode, Tharoor I, TharoorII, Thekurissi, Vandazhi I, Vandazhi II, Wadekkamcherry I, Wadekkamcherry II,Mannarkkad Taluk: [Taluk Headquarter: Mannarkkad]Agali, Alanallur, Kallamala, Karakuriss, Kottathara, Kottopadam, Kumaromputhur, Mannarkkad, Padavayal, Palakayam, Payanedum, Porussery, Puthur, Sholayur, Thachanattukara, Thachapara, Thyachanattukara,Ottappalam Taluk: [Taluk Headquarter: Ottappalam]Ambalapara I, Ambalapara II, Anaganadi, Anakkara,Chalavara, Chalisserry, Cherpulassery, Kadampazhipuram I, Kadampazhipuram II, Karipuzha I, Karipuzha II, Koppam, Koppam, Kulukkallur, Luckeydiperur I, Luckeydiperur II, Muttuthara, Nayalasserry, Nellaya, Ongallur I, Ongallur II, Ottapalam I, Ottapalam II, Parudur, Pattaithafa, Pattambi, Shornur I, Shornur II, Sree Krishanapuram II, Sree Krishnapuram I, Thirumittakode I, Thirumittakode II, Thiruvegapuram, Thrihhiradi II, Thrikkiradi I, Thrithala, Vallapuzha, Vaniyamkulam I, Vaniyamkulam II, Vellinezhi, VilayurEducation:Government CollegesGovernment College, Chittoor,Government Samskrita College, PattambiGovernment Victoria College, Palakkad,Private CollegesM.E.S. College, AlathurS.N.College ShornurV.T.Bhattathirippad College,MannamProfessional CollegesN.S.S.Engineering College, PalakkadPolytechnic [2]Government Polytechnic, PalakkadInstitute of Printing & Technology, ShornurTrainingN.S.S Training College, OttapalamGovernment Sangeetha College, PalakkatTeachers Training Institutes [7]Total Schools:931Industry:Total Registered factories: 2004 (Total employees: 24,823)Total Registered Small Scale Units: 17,293 (Total employees: 84,955)Geographical NatureThe 32-40 Km Gap at the 960 Km long western ghat is causing the weather and the life style of the district. Attractions:79 Km from Thrissur and in Palakkad district is famous for ‘Tippu Sultan’s Fort walls’.Kunthipuzha: The tributary of Bharatapuzha originated from Silent Valley where the National park situated.Malampuzha: 13 Km from Palakkad.
link

Array-ne

Speculation surrounds oil peak?-?Business?-?The Washington Times, America’s Newspaper

By Patrice Hill
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published November 25, 2005

——————————————————————————–
Thanksgiving marked the day that some analysts thought global oil production would have reached its peak, ushering in a new era of fuel shortages.
These petro-pessimists were using the same formula as the one that accurately predicted the apex of U.S. oil production in 1970.
Matthew Simmons, author of Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy, is one of them. He thinks Saudi Arabia has pumped much of its usable reserves and will start to experience production declines.
Even analysts who are more optimistic warn that chronically high prices and occasional supply crunches are likely in the years ahead. The world’s consumers are using up nearly all the oil being produced today, and the outlook for growth of supplies is uncertain.
In terms of prices, I think the risk is … its going to explode,” Fatih Birol, chief economist at the International Energy Agency, told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York last week.
Mr. Birol thinks plenty of cheap oil remains to be discovered, but it lies mostly in politically volatile nations of the Middle East. He is hopeful that those countries will spend the billions of dollars needed to increase their supplies and satisfy the growing appetite for fuel.
“The bulk of the growth needs to come from very few … countries in the future, namely Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait” and the United Arab Emirates — the countries where the lions share of the worlds remaining oil reserves lie, he said.
Two of the top four producers — Iraq and Iran — are not expected to increase supplies any time soon.
Persistent sabotage of oil facilities in Iraq has cut production below the 2.5 million barrels per day produced before the U.S. invasion in March 2003. Meanwhile, a U.S.-led economic embargo has reduced investment in new oil facilities in Iran.
Saudi Arabia, the largest producer with the biggest reserves, plans to increase production to 12.5 million barrels a day from about 11 million today. Smaller Persian Gulf states also seek to expand output.
Mr. Birol said he is not sure these increases will satisfy rising world demand, especially as oil consumption grows rapidly in China, India and other developing nations.
The United States, the worlds biggest consumer, has done little to increase the fuel efficiency of its auto fleet, Mr. Birol said, and efforts to curb demand in other major consuming countries also has been elusive. This puts consuming countries on a collision course with supplier nations, he said.
Consumers are becoming more resistant to higher oil prices, he said, because they are increasingly dependent on cars, airplanes and other forms of petroleum-fueled transportation.
There are no easy and economic alternatives, he said. This is a new era from the consuming countries’ point of view.
Mr. Birol said the share of oil from the Middle East will increase to 44 percent from 35 percent by 2030 if countries in the region make all the investments needed to increase supplies.
He thinks Saudi Arabia, in particular, can boost production to 18 million barrels a day by 2030 to meet a projected world demand of 120 million barrels a day. Demand today is 82 million barrels.
U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman expressed confidence this week that the Saudis can supply the world with the oil it needs.
But some oil analysts question whether Saudi Arabia has the massive reserves of more than 263 billion barrels that it proclaims.
Speculation that the world is reaching Hubbert’s peak, named after a Shell geologist who correctly predicted in 1956 that U.S. oil production would crest in 1970, has been fueling the energy bulls on Wall Street and bolstering oil prices for the past two years, said Bill Miller, investment strategist at Legg Mason Wood Walker Inc.
Production has peaked in the U.S., so it is not far-fetched to believe it may be about to globally, he said.But Mr. Miller remains skeptical, partly because of resistance from consumers and businesses when the price of premium crude exceeds 5 per barrel.
Market forces are at work to curtail demand and increase supply, he said.
Cambridge Energy Research Associates also rejects dire predictions about the end of the oil era. Suppliers are ramping up to meet and even exceed demand through 2010, and technologies will bring new oil sources to light, the energy forecaster says.
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-ne Payton Mannings throws three touchdown passes in awesome victory that takes them through into the play - offs - Superbowl beckons.Patron Saint of this Blog, The Venerable Jack Straw, who squired the Whore on Terror and took in his first game of American Football with her in Alabama will be relishing this result…
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-ne The 2 preggie Moms - Alison at about 35 weeks and me at 34 weeks with Jamie.
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-ne Well, in hopes of forcing myself to write on a more regular schedule, and also in hopes of making myself more comfortable with people actually reading what I write, I might be posting chunks of fiction in here from now on in addition to regular blog entries. Just be gentle with my fragile ego…Anyway, this is part of a short story I’m working on called 46 18 22 35 12 3. Like going to the gas station for a Coke and purchasing a Florida State Lottery Ticket on the side. My half-girlfriend, Stella, she hated riding in my car because she said that watching the asphalt go by beneath her seat freaked her out. I called Stella my half-girlfriend because I didn’t really like her enough to want to be introducing her to people as my full-on committed girlfriend. How was I supposed to call her when she didn’t have her phone? The only phone number she’d ever given me was her cell phone number. I think I got us a gig, there’s a bar in St. Pete that’s looking for a band to play standards on Friday and Saturday nights…yeah, so the guy wants to hear us play sometime next week, give me a call and I’ll go ahead and call Ray and Scott.” I knew it was Stella, but I really didn’t feel like talking to Stella right then, so I just ignored it. I had bought a lottery ticket that day, hadn’t I? Even though I knew that the lottery was nothing but a pipe dream at best and a waste of money at worst, I still wanted to check my ticket. I moved an irritated Collins from my lap and retrieved the ticket, shoved into the billfold of my wallet. The fifth number popped out just as I glanced down at my ticket. My ticket read 46 18 22 35 12 with a jackpot number of 3. 46 18 22 35 12 3 were the numbers floating across the bottom of my television screen in little white balls. 46 18 22 35 12 3 were the numbers printed on my creased little ticket, the very same one I had bought earlier that day when I’d filled up my car with gas and a can of that new, really shitty Diet Coke with lime. Who’d have thought that a gas station without regular Coke would have the winning ticket in the Florida State Lottery? It was time for a commercial break, leaving me sitting there in my banana-peel boxers wondering if I actually held a straight ticket to seventy-six million dollars in my hand. Wasn’t there some number I was supposed to call to redeem the ticket? “First of all, the only number you ever gave me to reach you at was your cell phone number. I glanced down at my lottery ticket and couldn’t help smiling - “46 18 22 35 12 3.” I told her, then hung up the phone. I looked down at my lottery ticket again. the number I was supposed to dial to redeem the ticket, I assumed.
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For those that would argue that Kobe didn’t ask for Shaq to be traded, well the truth is, he didn’t demand that he stay either.From what it looks like, Kobe wanted to be the undisputed leader of the Lakers. The issue at hand is Lakers Loyalty.The term loyal is defined as firm and not changing in your friendship with or support for a person or an organization, or in your belief in your principles.In the sports world, there is nothing more taboo than lack of loyalty.That’s why it pains me when I admit that my loyalty in the Lakers has been shook.The truth is, as much as I try I can’t feel enthusiasm for a one man team. Cause I’m a Los Angeles Lakers fan, I like to wear my Lakers gear, and not feel embarrassed by what it represents.That’s why I believe that by criticizing the Lakers, at this point in time, I’m actually being more loyal than most so called fans.REAL fans shouldn’t support a one man team. They’ve made horrible, idiotic moves.But if fans keep coming to games, and buying the merchandise, they can argue that they are only giving the fans what they want.So until the Lakers make a move to change the make up of this one man team.
link

But being the married bitch that I am now, when my pregnant wife wants to watch a movie, I gotta appease her, it’s the least I could do for making her carry my unborn child in her belly.The artistic genesis of the the musical production of Rent probably has as much drama in it, as the actual play itself. A modern day adaptation of the opera La Boheme, the play tells of artistic modern day Bohemian youth struggling through life, and love in New York, cast against the background of Drug use and the 90’s AIDS crisis.Adding extra emotional Gravitas to the production is the shadow of the untimely demise of the musical’s playwright: Jonathan Larson. The material demands a strong artistic vision when translating it to film, more importantly an interesting idea, to bring the material to life, which is why stylized directors like Spike Lee, and other independent film makers were at one time attached to the project.Ironically, one of the strengths of the movie, is also one of it’s shortcomings. The truth is, it’s almost been 10 years since the actors first performed the play, most of the cast is a little long in the tooth to be singing about No Day But Today , and play young 20 year olds who protest big business corporations, and rail against the man.
link

Array-ne

Speculation surrounds oil peak?-?Business?-?The Washington Times, America’s Newspaper

By Patrice Hill
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published November 25, 2005

——————————————————————————–
Thanksgiving marked the day that some analysts thought global oil production would have reached its peak, ushering in a new era of fuel shortages.
These petro-pessimists were using the same formula as the one that accurately predicted the apex of U.S. oil production in 1970.
Matthew Simmons, author of Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy, is one of them. He thinks Saudi Arabia has pumped much of its usable reserves and will start to experience production declines.
Even analysts who are more optimistic warn that chronically high prices and occasional supply crunches are likely in the years ahead. The world’s consumers are using up nearly all the oil being produced today, and the outlook for growth of supplies is uncertain.
In terms of prices, I think the risk is … its going to explode,” Fatih Birol, chief economist at the International Energy Agency, told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York last week.
Mr. Birol thinks plenty of cheap oil remains to be discovered, but it lies mostly in politically volatile nations of the Middle East. He is hopeful that those countries will spend the billions of dollars needed to increase their supplies and satisfy the growing appetite for fuel.
“The bulk of the growth needs to come from very few … countries in the future, namely Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait” and the United Arab Emirates — the countries where the lions share of the worlds remaining oil reserves lie, he said.
Two of the top four producers — Iraq and Iran — are not expected to increase supplies any time soon.
Persistent sabotage of oil facilities in Iraq has cut production below the 2.5 million barrels per day produced before the U.S. invasion in March 2003. Meanwhile, a U.S.-led economic embargo has reduced investment in new oil facilities in Iran.
Saudi Arabia, the largest producer with the biggest reserves, plans to increase production to 12.5 million barrels a day from about 11 million today. Smaller Persian Gulf states also seek to expand output.
Mr. Birol said he is not sure these increases will satisfy rising world demand, especially as oil consumption grows rapidly in China, India and other developing nations.
The United States, the worlds biggest consumer, has done little to increase the fuel efficiency of its auto fleet, Mr. Birol said, and efforts to curb demand in other major consuming countries also has been elusive. This puts consuming countries on a collision course with supplier nations, he said.
Consumers are becoming more resistant to higher oil prices, he said, because they are increasingly dependent on cars, airplanes and other forms of petroleum-fueled transportation.
There are no easy and economic alternatives, he said. This is a new era from the consuming countries’ point of view.
Mr. Birol said the share of oil from the Middle East will increase to 44 percent from 35 percent by 2030 if countries in the region make all the investments needed to increase supplies.
He thinks Saudi Arabia, in particular, can boost production to 18 million barrels a day by 2030 to meet a projected world demand of 120 million barrels a day. Demand today is 82 million barrels.
U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman expressed confidence this week that the Saudis can supply the world with the oil it needs.
But some oil analysts question whether Saudi Arabia has the massive reserves of more than 263 billion barrels that it proclaims.
Speculation that the world is reaching Hubbert’s peak, named after a Shell geologist who correctly predicted in 1956 that U.S. oil production would crest in 1970, has been fueling the energy bulls on Wall Street and bolstering oil prices for the past two years, said Bill Miller, investment strategist at Legg Mason Wood Walker Inc.
Production has peaked in the U.S., so it is not far-fetched to believe it may be about to globally, he said.But Mr. Miller remains skeptical, partly because of resistance from consumers and businesses when the price of premium crude exceeds 5 per barrel.
Market forces are at work to curtail demand and increase supply, he said.
Cambridge Energy Research Associates also rejects dire predictions about the end of the oil era. Suppliers are ramping up to meet and even exceed demand through 2010, and technologies will bring new oil sources to light, the energy forecaster says.
link

-ne Payton Mannings throws three touchdown passes in awesome victory that takes them through into the play - offs - Superbowl beckons.Patron Saint of this Blog, The Venerable Jack Straw, who squired the Whore on Terror and took in his first game of American Football with her in Alabama will be relishing this result…
link

-ne The 2 preggie Moms - Alison at about 35 weeks and me at 34 weeks with Jamie.
link

-ne Well, in hopes of forcing myself to write on a more regular schedule, and also in hopes of making myself more comfortable with people actually reading what I write, I might be posting chunks of fiction in here from now on in addition to regular blog entries. Just be gentle with my fragile ego…Anyway, this is part of a short story I’m working on called 46 18 22 35 12 3. Like going to the gas station for a Coke and purchasing a Florida State Lottery Ticket on the side. My half-girlfriend, Stella, she hated riding in my car because she said that watching the asphalt go by beneath her seat freaked her out. I called Stella my half-girlfriend because I didn’t really like her enough to want to be introducing her to people as my full-on committed girlfriend. How was I supposed to call her when she didn’t have her phone? The only phone number she’d ever given me was her cell phone number. I think I got us a gig, there’s a bar in St. Pete that’s looking for a band to play standards on Friday and Saturday nights…yeah, so the guy wants to hear us play sometime next week, give me a call and I’ll go ahead and call Ray and Scott.” I knew it was Stella, but I really didn’t feel like talking to Stella right then, so I just ignored it. I had bought a lottery ticket that day, hadn’t I? Even though I knew that the lottery was nothing but a pipe dream at best and a waste of money at worst, I still wanted to check my ticket. I moved an irritated Collins from my lap and retrieved the ticket, shoved into the billfold of my wallet. The fifth number popped out just as I glanced down at my ticket. My ticket read 46 18 22 35 12 with a jackpot number of 3. 46 18 22 35 12 3 were the numbers floating across the bottom of my television screen in little white balls. 46 18 22 35 12 3 were the numbers printed on my creased little ticket, the very same one I had bought earlier that day when I’d filled up my car with gas and a can of that new, really shitty Diet Coke with lime. Who’d have thought that a gas station without regular Coke would have the winning ticket in the Florida State Lottery? It was time for a commercial break, leaving me sitting there in my banana-peel boxers wondering if I actually held a straight ticket to seventy-six million dollars in my hand. Wasn’t there some number I was supposed to call to redeem the ticket? “First of all, the only number you ever gave me to reach you at was your cell phone number. I glanced down at my lottery ticket and couldn’t help smiling - “46 18 22 35 12 3.” I told her, then hung up the phone. I looked down at my lottery ticket again. the number I was supposed to dial to redeem the ticket, I assumed.
link

For those that would argue that Kobe didn’t ask for Shaq to be traded, well the truth is, he didn’t demand that he stay either.From what it looks like, Kobe wanted to be the undisputed leader of the Lakers. The issue at hand is Lakers Loyalty.The term loyal is defined as firm and not changing in your friendship with or support for a person or an organization, or in your belief in your principles.In the sports world, there is nothing more taboo than lack of loyalty.That’s why it pains me when I admit that my loyalty in the Lakers has been shook.The truth is, as much as I try I can’t feel enthusiasm for a one man team. Cause I’m a Los Angeles Lakers fan, I like to wear my Lakers gear, and not feel embarrassed by what it represents.That’s why I believe that by criticizing the Lakers, at this point in time, I’m actually being more loyal than most so called fans.REAL fans shouldn’t support a one man team. They’ve made horrible, idiotic moves.But if fans keep coming to games, and buying the merchandise, they can argue that they are only giving the fans what they want.So until the Lakers make a move to change the make up of this one man team.
link

But being the married bitch that I am now, when my pregnant wife wants to watch a movie, I gotta appease her, it’s the least I could do for making her carry my unborn child in her belly.The artistic genesis of the the musical production of Rent probably has as much drama in it, as the actual play itself. A modern day adaptation of the opera La Boheme, the play tells of artistic modern day Bohemian youth struggling through life, and love in New York, cast against the background of Drug use and the 90’s AIDS crisis.Adding extra emotional Gravitas to the production is the shadow of the untimely demise of the musical’s playwright: Jonathan Larson. The material demands a strong artistic vision when translating it to film, more importantly an interesting idea, to bring the material to life, which is why stylized directors like Spike Lee, and other independent film makers were at one time attached to the project.Ironically, one of the strengths of the movie, is also one of it’s shortcomings. The truth is, it’s almost been 10 years since the actors first performed the play, most of the cast is a little long in the tooth to be singing about No Day But Today , and play young 20 year olds who protest big business corporations, and rail against the man.
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Array-ne and today was a much better day than yesterday, much much better, 4th hour kinda sucked, danae kept making fun of lauren, and then i kept telling them to stop calling eachother names, then danae said i was coloring the poster wrong, at lunch today made me remember why i like having guy friends, theyre so amusing when being stupid, jesus and trevor were playing nut ball at lunch, with a mountain dew bottle, that was one of the best things to watch, and in photogrphy i had alot of fun, after putting my prints on the cardboard, julianna and i made a card for theas mom, who had back surgery not too long ago, and since thea was home with her mom today we made a card for her too, i drew happy rainbows but julianna said i did it backwards, and said we both failed, i said we didnt, and she said i was in denial, then like five minutes later i asked if we could go to eqypt and couldnt stop laughing for like ten minutes and i had no idea why i was laughing, but it was amusingafter school cassie and i went to rite aid, i got some make up and some sunglasses, yay for being shallowanyways good day to be had by all, or atleast me
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-ne Ok so maybe I’m a bit odd but this really made me laugh. As I’m rarely with cash I’m usually forced to buy two of my usual Iced Carmel Lattes.
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-ne We received this in a recent email: On Monday, September 11th, 2006, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States.Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flagon this fifth anniversary of our country’s worst tragedy.
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The only ones who will feel the hurt of higher prices so much that they are forced to stop smoking are the poor, who I think make up the majority of smokers, and even then it could take months to years to see a difference as they struggle to give it up - all the while feeling the hurt as they are forced to pay more for their addiction.Prop 87 states that though the tax on oil would raise the price of gas even further, the proceeds from the increased revenue would go to research for alternative sources.
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Array-ne and today was a much better day than yesterday, much much better, 4th hour kinda sucked, danae kept making fun of lauren, and then i kept telling them to stop calling eachother names, then danae said i was coloring the poster wrong, at lunch today made me remember why i like having guy friends, theyre so amusing when being stupid, jesus and trevor were playing nut ball at lunch, with a mountain dew bottle, that was one of the best things to watch, and in photogrphy i had alot of fun, after putting my prints on the cardboard, julianna and i made a card for theas mom, who had back surgery not too long ago, and since thea was home with her mom today we made a card for her too, i drew happy rainbows but julianna said i did it backwards, and said we both failed, i said we didnt, and she said i was in denial, then like five minutes later i asked if we could go to eqypt and couldnt stop laughing for like ten minutes and i had no idea why i was laughing, but it was amusingafter school cassie and i went to rite aid, i got some make up and some sunglasses, yay for being shallowanyways good day to be had by all, or atleast me
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-ne Ok so maybe I’m a bit odd but this really made me laugh. As I’m rarely with cash I’m usually forced to buy two of my usual Iced Carmel Lattes.
link

-ne We received this in a recent email: On Monday, September 11th, 2006, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States.Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flagon this fifth anniversary of our country’s worst tragedy.
link

The only ones who will feel the hurt of higher prices so much that they are forced to stop smoking are the poor, who I think make up the majority of smokers, and even then it could take months to years to see a difference as they struggle to give it up - all the while feeling the hurt as they are forced to pay more for their addiction.Prop 87 states that though the tax on oil would raise the price of gas even further, the proceeds from the increased revenue would go to research for alternative sources.
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Array When you look at the distant landscape, it looks like zig zags — I believe there was a fabric with that kind of imagery which I hadn’t gotten before as nothing could be that even. We headed into Idaho and stayed there for an evening and got caught up with shopping, laundry and showers although we did have showers in Washington. The weather kept getting worst until we got to Glacier when it was very overcast, cold and then rainy. By the time we got to the other side, it was sunny with lingering clouds in the mountains. That also made it freezing, freezing cold I might add.We did get to see quite a bit of the park. Again, I have been more than amazed with the variety and number of wildflowers that I have seen along the side of the road.I tried to get pictures on the blog and Picasa said they had gone but they never appeared!!I will try to get some on later tonight!!
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Aguilera, The Wrath of Godfor Tyler - who will get it.Next week: Gwen Stefani as Kaspar Hauser!
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It Televisions also fully immerse viewers in lifelike Blu-ray movies, it transforms your viewing best experience.Pricing of The 47-inch models is available for ,999.[via: trendygadget]

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The scarecrow belongs to The Flaming Blue Gallibaggers (unit 45), from Hampshire and the other is the Motley Moo contingent badge (unit 47), also from Hampshire.
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Not taking into account the availability of wifi, bookstores, food, TSA lines, separated terminals, walking distance between gates and other factors of misery is probably proof that this is a useless study.
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Array When you look at the distant landscape, it looks like zig zags — I believe there was a fabric with that kind of imagery which I hadn’t gotten before as nothing could be that even. We headed into Idaho and stayed there for an evening and got caught up with shopping, laundry and showers although we did have showers in Washington. The weather kept getting worst until we got to Glacier when it was very overcast, cold and then rainy. By the time we got to the other side, it was sunny with lingering clouds in the mountains. That also made it freezing, freezing cold I might add.We did get to see quite a bit of the park. Again, I have been more than amazed with the variety and number of wildflowers that I have seen along the side of the road.I tried to get pictures on the blog and Picasa said they had gone but they never appeared!!I will try to get some on later tonight!!
link

Aguilera, The Wrath of Godfor Tyler - who will get it.Next week: Gwen Stefani as Kaspar Hauser!
link

It Televisions also fully immerse viewers in lifelike Blu-ray movies, it transforms your viewing best experience.Pricing of The 47-inch models is available for ,999.[via: trendygadget]

link

The scarecrow belongs to The Flaming Blue Gallibaggers (unit 45), from Hampshire and the other is the Motley Moo contingent badge (unit 47), also from Hampshire.
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Not taking into account the availability of wifi, bookstores, food, TSA lines, separated terminals, walking distance between gates and other factors of misery is probably proof that this is a useless study.
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Array-ne Gertrudis - El ángel de las Llaves es el que se acerca a ti con su llavero en la mano, dispuesto a abrirte la puerta que tú quieras.
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-ne
Αφού λοιπόν μεσολάβησε η εκπαίδευσή μου ως μηχανικός, είμαι έτοιμος για το ταξίδι μου στον Ναύσταθμο Κρήτης. Ο πλήρης τίτλος της ειδικότητάς μου είναι Μηχανικός Γ
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Por sobre todo colaborar y asociarse para que en solidaridad se pueda comprar lo que es beneficioso para todos.Es una educación constante que se corresponde con el derecho inalienable del acceso a la información, a que se debe sujetar la persona cuando intenta mejorar su forma de vida y así defenderse de quienes con su actuar perjudican a la economía, la salud o al medio ambiente de nuestra sociedad.Existe una Subsecretaría de Defensa de los Derechos de los Consumidores a nivel Nacional además de distintas Direcciones a nivel de las Provincias, y se crearon Asociaciones que defienden y protegen a los consumidores, donde cualquiera que ve violado sus derechos puede consultar.El Sistema Municipal de Defensa del Consumidor de la Municipalidad de La Plata, Está conformado por la Oficina Municipal de Defensa del Consumidor y el Juzgado Municipal de Defensa del Consumidor que se encargan, respectivamente, de la etapa conciliatoria y de la etapa resolutiva del procedimiento administrativo establecido por la Ley 13.133 de la Pcia.
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-ne Pregadeira de espeto com contas de vidro.Preço: 4 cores(Foi feita por encomenda)
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-ne Los que buscaban aun más qeu busquen en comentarios: ya tienen su respuesta.Por cierto, a ti, si, a ti, tambien te mandaria a galeras.
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-ne 昨天在看到一则好笑的新闻，标题是“不满悬赏广告破坏教师形象，教专今日或反击”。新闻开头就说：“全国教师专业职工总会预料将在明日举行新闻发布会，以行动表达该会对精武华小董事长王国丰刊登悬赏50万令吉以举报雪隆华小校长贪污者广告已破坏教师印象的不满。”看到这新闻，我心想，教专职工总会的领袖们是不是不识字，看不懂近日有关事件的新闻报导和评论？或者他们没有看，根本没有看到王国丰的悬赏广告里只字没提“教师”两个字？或者他们看三大华文报，只看到校长职工会的全版广告，以为王国丰悬赏要揭发的是“1288名校长和三万名教师”。再看下去，原来的消息来源是教专前任总秘书西华苏巴马廉。这位印度大兄大概什么华文报都没有看，所以他说王国丰的悬赏广告“同时破坏了老师的形象，引起教师不满，因此准备发起行动表达不满。”写有关中文报的广告的新闻，引的是一个没有读华文报的印度大兄的谈话，难怪会写出这样好笑的新闻来。还好，我们只读到好笑的新闻，没有看到教专做出好笑的事情来。教专的领袖们毕竟是认识字的。他们知道王国丰的悬赏广告要揭发的只是贪污的校长，不是全体1288名华小校长，当然更不是全体三万名华小教师。“教师”两个字根本就没有出现在悬赏广告中。今天的没有更正昨天那则“教专不满悬赏广告破坏教师形象”的新闻，但是对教专的记者会作了正确的报导。今天在第三版以大标题“别将教师卷入风波”，小标题“教专不满校长登广告”来报导这则新闻。新闻开头说：“全国教学专业职工会不满全国校长职工会不久前刊登的广告，因为有关广告有误导社会人士之嫌，让人以为教师也涉及贪污。”新闻报导教专总秘书骆燕萍说，教专强烈反对校长指示教师兼顾贩卖部事务，以及代表校方贩卖书本和代收卖书钱。她说，教师不应成为课本销售员。校长职工会如果诚恳和理智，早在人们指出他们的错误时，就应该及时在三大中文报章登广告向全体清白的校长和三万名教师道歉，不要等到教专出面讨回公道时才来道歉。迟了一步会显得没有诚意。新任校长职工会会长彭忠良说：诚意是最重要的！不过不要紧，不怕慢只怕站，教专出来讨回公道之后，校长职工会如果知错能改，现在及时向清白的校长和全体教师道歉，还来得及，还是可以争取到大家的谅解。如果不道歉，再拖下去，我想对校长职工会是不利的，因为教专之外，1288位校长中的清白者，也可能随教专出来澄清。接下来可能会有某县的三个五个华小校长，又某州的十个八个华小校长联合举行记者会，堂堂正正的说：“我们没有贪污，我们没有把回扣放进自己的口袋，我们不是大树的枯枝，不要把我们拖下水！”。所以我说，校长职工会领袖们应该快点拿出诚意和勇气来，及时向全体清白的校长及老师们道歉，免得太迟了被指为没有诚意。解决问题，诚意是最重要的。做错了事，就要认错，就要勇敢地道歉。我们不是这样教育我们的孩子的吗？不要硬撑了。
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Array-ne Gertrudis - El ángel de las Llaves es el que se acerca a ti con su llavero en la mano, dispuesto a abrirte la puerta que tú quieras.
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-ne
Αφού λοιπόν μεσολάβησε η εκπαίδευσή μου ως μηχανικός, είμαι έτοιμος για το ταξίδι μου στον Ναύσταθμο Κρήτης. Ο πλήρης τίτλος της ειδικότητάς μου είναι Μηχανικός Γ
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Por sobre todo colaborar y asociarse para que en solidaridad se pueda comprar lo que es beneficioso para todos.Es una educación constante que se corresponde con el derecho inalienable del acceso a la información, a que se debe sujetar la persona cuando intenta mejorar su forma de vida y así defenderse de quienes con su actuar perjudican a la economía, la salud o al medio ambiente de nuestra sociedad.Existe una Subsecretaría de Defensa de los Derechos de los Consumidores a nivel Nacional además de distintas Direcciones a nivel de las Provincias, y se crearon Asociaciones que defienden y protegen a los consumidores, donde cualquiera que ve violado sus derechos puede consultar.El Sistema Municipal de Defensa del Consumidor de la Municipalidad de La Plata, Está conformado por la Oficina Municipal de Defensa del Consumidor y el Juzgado Municipal de Defensa del Consumidor que se encargan, respectivamente, de la etapa conciliatoria y de la etapa resolutiva del procedimiento administrativo establecido por la Ley 13.133 de la Pcia.
link

-ne Pregadeira de espeto com contas de vidro.Preço: 4 cores(Foi feita por encomenda)
link

-ne Los que buscaban aun más qeu busquen en comentarios: ya tienen su respuesta.Por cierto, a ti, si, a ti, tambien te mandaria a galeras.
link

-ne 昨天在看到一则好笑的新闻，标题是“不满悬赏广告破坏教师形象，教专今日或反击”。新闻开头就说：“全国教师专业职工总会预料将在明日举行新闻发布会，以行动表达该会对精武华小董事长王国丰刊登悬赏50万令吉以举报雪隆华小校长贪污者广告已破坏教师印象的不满。”看到这新闻，我心想，教专职工总会的领袖们是不是不识字，看不懂近日有关事件的新闻报导和评论？或者他们没有看，根本没有看到王国丰的悬赏广告里只字没提“教师”两个字？或者他们看三大华文报，只看到校长职工会的全版广告，以为王国丰悬赏要揭发的是“1288名校长和三万名教师”。再看下去，原来的消息来源是教专前任总秘书西华苏巴马廉。这位印度大兄大概什么华文报都没有看，所以他说王国丰的悬赏广告“同时破坏了老师的形象，引起教师不满，因此准备发起行动表达不满。”写有关中文报的广告的新闻，引的是一个没有读华文报的印度大兄的谈话，难怪会写出这样好笑的新闻来。还好，我们只读到好笑的新闻，没有看到教专做出好笑的事情来。教专的领袖们毕竟是认识字的。他们知道王国丰的悬赏广告要揭发的只是贪污的校长，不是全体1288名华小校长，当然更不是全体三万名华小教师。“教师”两个字根本就没有出现在悬赏广告中。今天的没有更正昨天那则“教专不满悬赏广告破坏教师形象”的新闻，但是对教专的记者会作了正确的报导。今天在第三版以大标题“别将教师卷入风波”，小标题“教专不满校长登广告”来报导这则新闻。新闻开头说：“全国教学专业职工会不满全国校长职工会不久前刊登的广告，因为有关广告有误导社会人士之嫌，让人以为教师也涉及贪污。”新闻报导教专总秘书骆燕萍说，教专强烈反对校长指示教师兼顾贩卖部事务，以及代表校方贩卖书本和代收卖书钱。她说，教师不应成为课本销售员。校长职工会如果诚恳和理智，早在人们指出他们的错误时，就应该及时在三大中文报章登广告向全体清白的校长和三万名教师道歉，不要等到教专出面讨回公道时才来道歉。迟了一步会显得没有诚意。新任校长职工会会长彭忠良说：诚意是最重要的！不过不要紧，不怕慢只怕站，教专出来讨回公道之后，校长职工会如果知错能改，现在及时向清白的校长和全体教师道歉，还来得及，还是可以争取到大家的谅解。如果不道歉，再拖下去，我想对校长职工会是不利的，因为教专之外，1288位校长中的清白者，也可能随教专出来澄清。接下来可能会有某县的三个五个华小校长，又某州的十个八个华小校长联合举行记者会，堂堂正正的说：“我们没有贪污，我们没有把回扣放进自己的口袋，我们不是大树的枯枝，不要把我们拖下水！”。所以我说，校长职工会领袖们应该快点拿出诚意和勇气来，及时向全体清白的校长及老师们道歉，免得太迟了被指为没有诚意。解决问题，诚意是最重要的。做错了事，就要认错，就要勇敢地道歉。我们不是这样教育我们的孩子的吗？不要硬撑了。
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Array-ne Below are the top 100 films made in America that the AFI found to be the best of the best. I placed into bold the films I have seen. I think a big reason for being able to see a lot of these films is because DVDs are now being released featuring these titles, along with the fact that Turner Classic Movies gives a great line up of films every so often. So how does everyone else rank on the film list? Do you think there should be a film on this list that didn’t make it? Yes, I know there is a great deal of controversy around the movie, but as a social and historical tool, it is a film that did a lot to the movie industry and to the nation’s history. All the Presidents Men,” 1976.
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-ne I found this at Alyson’s blog, Bibilophiles Anonymous.Look at the list of books below:Bold the ones you’ve readMark in blue the ones you want to readCross out the ones that you wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole (or use red coloring)Finally, italicize the ones you’ve never heard of.If you are reading this (and haven’t participated yet), tag, you’re it!1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)12. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)14. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Rowling)17. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)58. Ulysses (James Joyce)To be fair, some of the books I read as a student and wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole today (anything Dickens) and there are books that I feel I should read such as Little Women.
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Any of you that have a problem with this, well at least I don’t take pictures in my apartment all the time, or pull Google image searches and write all of two words per post.
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-ne From The Chicago Sun-Times…—————————-U.S. must be committed to ending poverty, injusticeBy RALPH MARTIREHow does society benefit from poverty, or from the social or economic injustices it generates? For black males, 86 percent who graduated college had jobs, compared to 57 percent of high school grads and only 33 percent of dropouts. In 2006, the wealthiest 1 percent claimed nearly 20 percent of America’s income, while the bottom 20 percent of income earners got a paltry 3.4 percent. Which seems more tiny than tidy when you realize it’s only 15 percent of the total federal budget, and a minuscule 2.9 percent of the U.S. economy. Doubling that investment would cover all our uninsured, for the low, low cost of 1.4 percent of our economy. Instead, over the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the wealthiest 1 percent in America will receive trillion from tax breaks — more than the bottom 80 percent of income earners, combined.Poverty and injustice benefit no one and harm everyone.
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-ne
Good move – “Escape From Suburbia” – Official world premiere:Toronto. June 28, Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street W. The curtain rises at 7:00 p.m. sharp!Join director Gregory Greene and producer Dara Rowland for this special performance.Tickets may be purchased in advance on the site below, starting June 8 or at the Bloor Cinema box office the day of the show from 5:45 p.m.All reserved tickets will be held at the theatre box office on June 28 after5:45 p.m.News alert – YesMen strike oilEXXON PROPOSES BURNING HUMANITY FOR FUEL IF CLIMATE CALAMITY HIT - Conference organizer fails to have Yes Men arrested(Text of speech, photos, video: http://www.vivoleum.com/event/GO-EXPO statement: http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2007/14/c5086.htmlPress conference before this event, Friday, Calgary : http://arusha.org/event/7214Contact: mailto: fuel@theyesmen.orgMore links at end of release.)Imposters posing as ExxonMobil and National Petroleum Council (NPC) representatives delivered an outrageous keynote speech to 300 oilmen at GO-EXPO , Canada ’s largest oil conference, held at Stampede Park in Calgary , Alberta , today.The speech was billed beforehand by the GO-EXPO organizers as the major highlight of this year’s conference, which had 20,000 attendees. In it, the NPC rep was expected to deliver the long-awaited conclusions of a study commissioned by US Energy SecretarySamuel Bodman. The NPC is headed by former ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond, who is also the chair of the study. (See link at end.)In the actual speech, the NPC rep announced that current U.S. and Canadian energy policies (notably the massive, carbon-intensive exploitation of Alberta ’s oil sands, and the development of liquid coal) are increasing the chances of huge global calamities. But he reassured the audience that in the worst case scenario, the oil industry could keep fuel flowing by transforming the billions of people who die into oil.We need something like whales, but infinitely more abundant, said NPC rep Shepard Wolff (actually Andy Bichlbaum of the Yes Men), before describing the technology used to render human flesh into a new Exxon oil product called Vivoleum. 3-D animations of the process brought it to life.Vivoleum works in perfect synergy with the continued expansion of fossil fuel production, noted Exxon rep Florian Osenberg (Yes Man Mike Bonanno). With more fossil fuels comes a greater chance of disaster, but that means more feedstock for Vivoleum. Fuel will continue to flow for those of us left.The oilmen listened to the lecture with attention, and then lit commemorative candles supposedly made of Vivoleum obtained from the flesh of an Exxon janitor who died as a result of cleaning up a toxic spill. The audience only reacted when the janitor, in a video tribute, announced that he wished to be transformed into candles after his death, and all became crystal-clear.At that point, Simon Mellor, Commercial & Business Development Director for the company putting on the event, strode up and physically forced the Yes Men from the stage. As Mellor escorted Bonanno out the door, a dozen journalists surrounded Bichlbaum, who, still in character as Shepard Wolff, explained to them the rationale for Vivoleum.Weve got to get ready. After all, fossil fuel development like that of my company is increasing the chances of catastrophic climate change, which could lead to massive calamities, causing migration and conflicts that would likely disable the pipelines and oil wells. Without oil we could no longer produce or transport food, and most of humanity would starve. That would be a tragedy, but at least all those bodies could be turned into fuel for the rest of us.”"Were not talking about killing anyone, added the NPC rep. Were talking about using them after nature has done the hard work. After all, 150,000 people already die from climate-change related effects every year. Thats only going to go up - maybe way, way up. Will it all go to waste? That would be cruel.Security guards then dragged Bichlbaum away from the reporters, and he and Bonanno were detained until Calgary Police Service officers could arrive. The policemen, determining that no major infractions had been committed, permitted the Yes Men to leave.Canada ’s oil sands, along with liquid coal, are keystones of Bush’s Energy Security plan. Mining the oil sands is one of the dirtiest forms of oil production and has turned Canada into one of the world’s worst carbon emitters. The production of liquid coal has twice the carbon footprint as that of ordinary gasoline. Such technologies increase the likelihood of massive climate catastrophes that will condemn to death untold millions of people, mainly poor.If our idea of energy security is to increase the chances of climate calamity, we have a very funny sense of what security really is, Bonanno said. While ExxonMobil continues to post record profits, they use their money to persuade governments to do nothing about climate change. This is a crime against humanity.Putting the former Exxon CEO in charge of the NPC, and soliciting his advice on our energy future, is like putting the wolf in charge of the flock, said Shepard Wolff (Bichlbaum). Exxon has done more damage to the environment and to our chances of survival than any other company on earth. Why should we let them determine our future?(About the NPC and ExxonMobil: http://ga3.org/campaign/lee_raymond/explanationAbout the Alberta oil sands: http://www.sierraclub.ca/prairie/tarnation.htmAbout liquid coal: http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/liquidcoal/)Why this matter cannot be put off any longerThe urgency of the matter is that NASA’s top climate scientist James Hansen says we have perhaps 10 years left before it’s too late to act, at which point the warmed earth and oceans will start emitting massive amounts of methane, accelerating the warming effect further. This will cause forests to start dying en masse, and the Greenland ice shelf will start raising sea levels.All of these effects have already started, but they are expected to accelerate in coming years. The recent IPCC report confirms that this matter is very urgent and that warming is occurring 50% faster than first thought. This is the biggest long-term problem facing all of humanity: it endangers the lives of hundreds of millions and half the world’s species.Toronto Life Magazine just came out with an article (May, 2007) predicting that in 40 years Toronto would look like a Third World city, thanks to climate change.For information on the tipping point see:http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19125713.300-one-degree-and-were-done-for.html And for those who are sceptical regarding the economic costs, please refer to the Stern Report, which provides information on the considerable cost of inaction:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6096084.stmLetter to Steven Harper from U-of-T studentThis letter is from Shayla Duval, a student at University of Toronto and a member of Students Against Climate Change. Her letter is excellent and worth sharing.Dear Stephen Harper,I am writing to you because climate change is the most serious issue humankind has ever faced, it keeps me awake at night thinking about it, and I feel that your government is not taking the issue seriously. The notion that we can’t meet the minor emission goals set by Kyoto is completely ridiculous and disheartening to me, considering that Kyoto is just a tiny first step in the fight against climate change. If we want to prevent climate change from reaching the critical point at which it will fall out of human control (once we hit the 2 degree increase in temperature) we will need to reduce our country’s carbon emissions by 93% in the next ten years or so. Banning incandescent light bulbs does not an effective, multi-lateral agreement make; we need to get back in Kyoto , and help it develop further rather than trying to kill it.I’m also concerned that your environmental minister John Baird is continuing to argue that meeting Kyoto targets will cause some kind of economic disaster. The idea that reducing the gases that lead to global warming will trigger economic disaster has been denounced as a myth by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In fact, the IPCC said that stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 could be accomplished at a cost of only three per cent of global GDP or less. The fact that your government continues to argue against this makes me suspicious that there is collaboration with oil and mining companies, and that these interests are being put above those of the Canadian public.Your government’s clean air agenda isn’t cutting it either, and Canadians know it. For one thing, there are large chunks of it still missing: you forgot to include the exact sector-specific reduction targets for air pollutants, and the exact level of efficiency that we will be requiring of our vehicles by 2010. You also missed the part where we specific which stringent, dominant North American standard we’re going to be benchmarking our auto regulations against. It doesn’t take much to realize that this agenda is just political rhetoric.With the sad state of Canadian environmental initiative as of late, I’m embarrassed to call myself a Canadian. I don’t want to be part of a country that is so disrespectful of the environment and human lives. Please start taking some REAL action on climate change, and stop insulting the intelligence of Canadians with your token policies and greenwash.Sincerely,Shayla DuvalSee Shayla’s blog: The Environmentally Concerned IndividualWhy the Provincial emissions plan is problematicThe targets are weak. The Province’s plan doesn’t go far enough to reduce emissions. Climate sciencists such as James Hansen says roughly 90% is needed. Aiming for 80% by 2030 would be good under the circumstances, but the Province is short of even that. This is not enough to avert the tipping point of 2 degrees increase above pre-industrial temperatures. Not one of the provincial parties actually advocates the cuts to emissions that the science suggests is necessary to avert disaster. OCAA reports that shutting down the coal plants would help Ontario meet 80% of its Kyoto targets.The method for achieving targets is weak. There is considerable criticism of emissions trading schemes due to their lack of enforceability and because they appear to reward polluters. Furthermore, the provincial emphasis on voluntary reductions by industry and consumers is insufficient. Tough regulations on energy rates are needed to achieve conservation. This means an end to public subsidies for rates to industry and big corporations.Insufficient public investment in public transportation and renewable energies. There is some investment in renewable clean energy sources but not nearly enough. Much more is needed. Germany ’s 22,000 wind turbines produce more power than Ontario needs; why hasn’t Ontario invested in more wind turbines?Lack of stricter standards to restrict vehicle emissions. Ontario is far behind Californian and European emissions standards.The coal-plants need to be shut down. Premier McGuinty promised shut them down in 2007. This promise has not been kept, and the coal plants still do not have “scrubbers.” Raising hydro rates will reduce consumption.The Portlands Energy Centre and plans to build more nuclear reactors at Darlington are highly problematic: more GHGs in the first case (methane is a major GHG), and a whole host of problems in the case of nuclear power (waste disposal, safety, cost, GHG released through uranium mining and construction). Yet the Province is going ahead with these plans, despite major problems with old reactors never adequately addressed through environmental assessments or public consultation.In summary, the Liberal plan could accomplish far more than it actually does. It could aim for 80% GHG cuts by 2030 (and even that would be risky - the goal should be 90% by 2020 or better); it could use stronger mechanisms for achieving those cuts; it could impose much stronger regulations on big business’ profligate use of cheap energy, in order to achieve conservation goals; it could shut down the coal-fired power plants.Ontario also needs to stop exporting its power to the U.S. Mandatory carbon taxation represents a good solution. Germany has shown that the standard of living does not have to be compromised to cut emissions to less than 50%. Why doesn’t Ontario implement carbon taxation?These are but a few possible measures. All the good solutions, spelled out in detail by clean energy experts (Ontario Clean Air Alliance and others), exist and are on the record. Why are these solutions not being adopted?Draft platform for discussionA 95% reduction by industrialized nations by 2017 (based on the report by NASA’s James Hansen) is actually required to guarantee that the tipping point is avoided.Negative consequences of climate change include: one billion eco-refugees by 2050 AD, floods displacing 150 million, drought, increase in malaria and tropical diseases, mass extinction of species (up to 53% estimated), massive agricultural failure and famine, wars over scarce resources, possible worldwide economic failure, massive deforestation (including loss of Amazon and Congo rainforests), ocean acidification, loss of plankton (base of marine food chain), coral bleaching.At 19 tonnes of Co2 emissions per capita per annum, Canada has one of the worst records in the world on greenhouse gas emissions.The expansion of the Alberta oil sands project from one to five million barrels per day would guarantee that Canada fails to effectively its greenhouse gas emissions.The Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-30, the NDP’s reworking of The Clean Air Act which Al Gore called a “fraud”) has not yet become law because it requires Canada to comply with Kyoto standards and the Harper government continues to refuse to abide by Canada ’s Kyoto commitment. See http://www.ndp.ca/page/4570 Please note that the Clean Air Act is NOT the same thing as the Clean Air and Climate Change Act.The Harper government just signed a non-binding pact with G8 nations to work towards a 50% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050 AD through voluntary action (i.e. no strict government regulations on polluting industries). This is insufficient to avoid the “tipping point.”Given these facts, Students Against Climate Change urge the following:The adoption of a program of carbon taxation for all sectors of society.A moratorium on all clear-cutting in Canada because trees act as carbon sinks. This is to be coupled with green transition jobs project for loggers.Shut down the monumentally destructive Alberta oil sands project, and also implement a “green” jobs transition project for those workers. Currently the government is planning to expand the oil sands project from 1 to 5 million barrels of oil production.End to all tax subsidies to oil and coal and mining exploration and production (approximately .4 billions per annum).Following on the Homes Not Bombs model, pull Canadian funding for new weapons research and development and funding, and put all such funds towards social housing and especially restoration of existing housing stock through subsidies for green renovation projects designed to reduce carbon emissions and energy waste.End to all short-haul air flights in Canada , and increase funding for railway transit, to improve safety standards, as an alternative. Fallback position: legislate mandatory carbon offsets for all air travel.Massive public funding in clean alternative energy sources (excluding nuclear energy and biomass fuels, which are both problematic for several reasons). Clean energy sources, include wind, solar, wave and natural gas. Example: Germany ’s 22,000 wind turbines produce more electricity than what Ontario currently uses.Ban cars (except for hybrid taxis) in the downtown cores of major Canadian cities, coupled with an increase in funding for public transit, and higher taxes on gasoline, with all funds going into clean renewable energy sources. Fallback position: restrict car travel in the downtown of urban cores where public transportation systems exist, through increased parking fees and/or tolls; the City of Toronto is currently examining.Precedent-setting legal challenge against Harper over KyotoFriends of the Earth Canada (in Ottawa ) have launched a lawsuit against the Federal government over their failure to act in accordance with Kyoto .This lawsuit is important and needs to be supported. Something similar was launched in the U.S. against the Bush carbon criminals and the good guys won at the Supreme Court! So it will probably win here.This case is major news. They are fundraising to support the action. If you give money to environmental causes, give to this one. It is very worthy.First global warming lawsuit in Canada: http://www.foecanada.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=318&Itemid=135The perennial question: compromise or absolute standards?(Opinion piece by Paul York)Failing to cut emissions by 90% by 2030 could be problematic because even one more degree of global warming will cause a massive positive feedback effect to accelerate out of control, eventually driving temperatures up to 4 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures (or well above). The sciences and common sense dictates immediate and massive cuts in emissions.Every degree’s increase will mean death for tens of millions of people and billions of animals. Allowing the global temperatures to go up further is an act of mass murder. We do not have to investigate too deeply to discover that this is not an exaggeration: drought, floods, hurricanes, disease, famine – the list of possible catastrophes is mind-boggling.The concessions and compromises environmentalists make for the sake of getting any movement at all is understandable, but (in my opinion) inadvisable because it loses sight of the what the the science dictates, and what conscience dictates. The moral imperative that taking a stand on this matter implies is beyond dispute.Through self-censure and compromise in deference to what is realistic we step onto the slippery slope of a political game mastered by those who are willing to sacrifice the planet for profit. If you are not prepared to take a decisive moral stand, why be concerned with social and environmental justice to begin with?Constant compromise erodes the soul eventually; why not stand up for what is absolutely good and just and right all of the time? To do otherwise lends itself to the danger of a Faustian pact, in my view. Of course, each person must act of their own free will on this matter.Tuesday Protest at Queen’s Park – more informationVisit the following link for more information and a sample letter to be sent to Premier McGuinty, John Tory and Howard Hampton to encourage the closing of Ontario coal plants. http://ontario.indymedia.ca/twiki/bin/view/Ontario/GLOBALWARMINGANDSHUTTINGDOWNONTCOALPLANTSBELOW: From the Ontario government’s own website:Recent reports conclude that in 2005 more than 29 million minor illnesses, 59,000 emergency room visits, 16,000 hospital admissions and more than 5,800 premature deaths in Ontario were caused by smog.It is estimated that in Ontario the environmental, health care and societal costs of smog are 0.8 billion annually. If the current trend continues, these figures would rise to more than 38 million minor illnesses, 87,000 emergency room visits, 24,000 hospital admissions and 10,000 premature deaths by 2015.2003 Liberal Campaign Platform:Air pollution kills 1,900 of us every year and many of us do not trust our water. Cleaning the air we breathe and the water we drink will go a long way to improving the health of all Ontarians. That is why we have committed to replace our coal-burning plants, Ontarios biggest single sources of air pollution, with cleaner energy sources.”Dalton McGuinty (Hansard - September 23, 2002):”You may be prepared to sit on your hands for 13 years while 1,900 people die a premature death every year, while 13,000 people, mostly kids, have to go to emergency rooms. The single greatest cause of admission into Ontario hospitals today, Premier, you should know is asthma, aggravated by bad air. Taxpayers are spending over $1 billion annually on health care costs and lost work days.” Here is an excerpt from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance the Toronto-based NGO that did a lot of lobbying against the coal plants for years:Nanticoke No. 1 source of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate changeOPG coal plants are Ontario s pollution giantsFebruary 1, 2007 - The staggering emissions from Ontario
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Array-ne Below are the top 100 films made in America that the AFI found to be the best of the best. I placed into bold the films I have seen. I think a big reason for being able to see a lot of these films is because DVDs are now being released featuring these titles, along with the fact that Turner Classic Movies gives a great line up of films every so often. So how does everyone else rank on the film list? Do you think there should be a film on this list that didn’t make it? Yes, I know there is a great deal of controversy around the movie, but as a social and historical tool, it is a film that did a lot to the movie industry and to the nation’s history. All the Presidents Men,” 1976.
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-ne I found this at Alyson’s blog, Bibilophiles Anonymous.Look at the list of books below:Bold the ones you’ve readMark in blue the ones you want to readCross out the ones that you wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole (or use red coloring)Finally, italicize the ones you’ve never heard of.If you are reading this (and haven’t participated yet), tag, you’re it!1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)12. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)14. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Rowling)17. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)58. Ulysses (James Joyce)To be fair, some of the books I read as a student and wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole today (anything Dickens) and there are books that I feel I should read such as Little Women.
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Any of you that have a problem with this, well at least I don’t take pictures in my apartment all the time, or pull Google image searches and write all of two words per post.
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-ne From The Chicago Sun-Times…—————————-U.S. must be committed to ending poverty, injusticeBy RALPH MARTIREHow does society benefit from poverty, or from the social or economic injustices it generates? For black males, 86 percent who graduated college had jobs, compared to 57 percent of high school grads and only 33 percent of dropouts. In 2006, the wealthiest 1 percent claimed nearly 20 percent of America’s income, while the bottom 20 percent of income earners got a paltry 3.4 percent. Which seems more tiny than tidy when you realize it’s only 15 percent of the total federal budget, and a minuscule 2.9 percent of the U.S. economy. Doubling that investment would cover all our uninsured, for the low, low cost of 1.4 percent of our economy. Instead, over the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the wealthiest 1 percent in America will receive trillion from tax breaks — more than the bottom 80 percent of income earners, combined.Poverty and injustice benefit no one and harm everyone.
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Good move – “Escape From Suburbia” – Official world premiere:Toronto. June 28, Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street W. The curtain rises at 7:00 p.m. sharp!Join director Gregory Greene and producer Dara Rowland for this special performance.Tickets may be purchased in advance on the site below, starting June 8 or at the Bloor Cinema box office the day of the show from 5:45 p.m.All reserved tickets will be held at the theatre box office on June 28 after5:45 p.m.News alert – YesMen strike oilEXXON PROPOSES BURNING HUMANITY FOR FUEL IF CLIMATE CALAMITY HIT - Conference organizer fails to have Yes Men arrested(Text of speech, photos, video: http://www.vivoleum.com/event/GO-EXPO statement: http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2007/14/c5086.htmlPress conference before this event, Friday, Calgary : http://arusha.org/event/7214Contact: mailto: fuel@theyesmen.orgMore links at end of release.)Imposters posing as ExxonMobil and National Petroleum Council (NPC) representatives delivered an outrageous keynote speech to 300 oilmen at GO-EXPO , Canada ’s largest oil conference, held at Stampede Park in Calgary , Alberta , today.The speech was billed beforehand by the GO-EXPO organizers as the major highlight of this year’s conference, which had 20,000 attendees. In it, the NPC rep was expected to deliver the long-awaited conclusions of a study commissioned by US Energy SecretarySamuel Bodman. The NPC is headed by former ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond, who is also the chair of the study. (See link at end.)In the actual speech, the NPC rep announced that current U.S. and Canadian energy policies (notably the massive, carbon-intensive exploitation of Alberta ’s oil sands, and the development of liquid coal) are increasing the chances of huge global calamities. But he reassured the audience that in the worst case scenario, the oil industry could keep fuel flowing by transforming the billions of people who die into oil.We need something like whales, but infinitely more abundant, said NPC rep Shepard Wolff (actually Andy Bichlbaum of the Yes Men), before describing the technology used to render human flesh into a new Exxon oil product called Vivoleum. 3-D animations of the process brought it to life.Vivoleum works in perfect synergy with the continued expansion of fossil fuel production, noted Exxon rep Florian Osenberg (Yes Man Mike Bonanno). With more fossil fuels comes a greater chance of disaster, but that means more feedstock for Vivoleum. Fuel will continue to flow for those of us left.The oilmen listened to the lecture with attention, and then lit commemorative candles supposedly made of Vivoleum obtained from the flesh of an Exxon janitor who died as a result of cleaning up a toxic spill. The audience only reacted when the janitor, in a video tribute, announced that he wished to be transformed into candles after his death, and all became crystal-clear.At that point, Simon Mellor, Commercial & Business Development Director for the company putting on the event, strode up and physically forced the Yes Men from the stage. As Mellor escorted Bonanno out the door, a dozen journalists surrounded Bichlbaum, who, still in character as Shepard Wolff, explained to them the rationale for Vivoleum.Weve got to get ready. After all, fossil fuel development like that of my company is increasing the chances of catastrophic climate change, which could lead to massive calamities, causing migration and conflicts that would likely disable the pipelines and oil wells. Without oil we could no longer produce or transport food, and most of humanity would starve. That would be a tragedy, but at least all those bodies could be turned into fuel for the rest of us.”"Were not talking about killing anyone, added the NPC rep. Were talking about using them after nature has done the hard work. After all, 150,000 people already die from climate-change related effects every year. Thats only going to go up - maybe way, way up. Will it all go to waste? That would be cruel.Security guards then dragged Bichlbaum away from the reporters, and he and Bonanno were detained until Calgary Police Service officers could arrive. The policemen, determining that no major infractions had been committed, permitted the Yes Men to leave.Canada ’s oil sands, along with liquid coal, are keystones of Bush’s Energy Security plan. Mining the oil sands is one of the dirtiest forms of oil production and has turned Canada into one of the world’s worst carbon emitters. The production of liquid coal has twice the carbon footprint as that of ordinary gasoline. Such technologies increase the likelihood of massive climate catastrophes that will condemn to death untold millions of people, mainly poor.If our idea of energy security is to increase the chances of climate calamity, we have a very funny sense of what security really is, Bonanno said. While ExxonMobil continues to post record profits, they use their money to persuade governments to do nothing about climate change. This is a crime against humanity.Putting the former Exxon CEO in charge of the NPC, and soliciting his advice on our energy future, is like putting the wolf in charge of the flock, said Shepard Wolff (Bichlbaum). Exxon has done more damage to the environment and to our chances of survival than any other company on earth. Why should we let them determine our future?(About the NPC and ExxonMobil: http://ga3.org/campaign/lee_raymond/explanationAbout the Alberta oil sands: http://www.sierraclub.ca/prairie/tarnation.htmAbout liquid coal: http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/liquidcoal/)Why this matter cannot be put off any longerThe urgency of the matter is that NASA’s top climate scientist James Hansen says we have perhaps 10 years left before it’s too late to act, at which point the warmed earth and oceans will start emitting massive amounts of methane, accelerating the warming effect further. This will cause forests to start dying en masse, and the Greenland ice shelf will start raising sea levels.All of these effects have already started, but they are expected to accelerate in coming years. The recent IPCC report confirms that this matter is very urgent and that warming is occurring 50% faster than first thought. This is the biggest long-term problem facing all of humanity: it endangers the lives of hundreds of millions and half the world’s species.Toronto Life Magazine just came out with an article (May, 2007) predicting that in 40 years Toronto would look like a Third World city, thanks to climate change.For information on the tipping point see:http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19125713.300-one-degree-and-were-done-for.html And for those who are sceptical regarding the economic costs, please refer to the Stern Report, which provides information on the considerable cost of inaction:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6096084.stmLetter to Steven Harper from U-of-T studentThis letter is from Shayla Duval, a student at University of Toronto and a member of Students Against Climate Change. Her letter is excellent and worth sharing.Dear Stephen Harper,I am writing to you because climate change is the most serious issue humankind has ever faced, it keeps me awake at night thinking about it, and I feel that your government is not taking the issue seriously. The notion that we can’t meet the minor emission goals set by Kyoto is completely ridiculous and disheartening to me, considering that Kyoto is just a tiny first step in the fight against climate change. If we want to prevent climate change from reaching the critical point at which it will fall out of human control (once we hit the 2 degree increase in temperature) we will need to reduce our country’s carbon emissions by 93% in the next ten years or so. Banning incandescent light bulbs does not an effective, multi-lateral agreement make; we need to get back in Kyoto , and help it develop further rather than trying to kill it.I’m also concerned that your environmental minister John Baird is continuing to argue that meeting Kyoto targets will cause some kind of economic disaster. The idea that reducing the gases that lead to global warming will trigger economic disaster has been denounced as a myth by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In fact, the IPCC said that stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 could be accomplished at a cost of only three per cent of global GDP or less. The fact that your government continues to argue against this makes me suspicious that there is collaboration with oil and mining companies, and that these interests are being put above those of the Canadian public.Your government’s clean air agenda isn’t cutting it either, and Canadians know it. For one thing, there are large chunks of it still missing: you forgot to include the exact sector-specific reduction targets for air pollutants, and the exact level of efficiency that we will be requiring of our vehicles by 2010. You also missed the part where we specific which stringent, dominant North American standard we’re going to be benchmarking our auto regulations against. It doesn’t take much to realize that this agenda is just political rhetoric.With the sad state of Canadian environmental initiative as of late, I’m embarrassed to call myself a Canadian. I don’t want to be part of a country that is so disrespectful of the environment and human lives. Please start taking some REAL action on climate change, and stop insulting the intelligence of Canadians with your token policies and greenwash.Sincerely,Shayla DuvalSee Shayla’s blog: The Environmentally Concerned IndividualWhy the Provincial emissions plan is problematicThe targets are weak. The Province’s plan doesn’t go far enough to reduce emissions. Climate sciencists such as James Hansen says roughly 90% is needed. Aiming for 80% by 2030 would be good under the circumstances, but the Province is short of even that. This is not enough to avert the tipping point of 2 degrees increase above pre-industrial temperatures. Not one of the provincial parties actually advocates the cuts to emissions that the science suggests is necessary to avert disaster. OCAA reports that shutting down the coal plants would help Ontario meet 80% of its Kyoto targets.The method for achieving targets is weak. There is considerable criticism of emissions trading schemes due to their lack of enforceability and because they appear to reward polluters. Furthermore, the provincial emphasis on voluntary reductions by industry and consumers is insufficient. Tough regulations on energy rates are needed to achieve conservation. This means an end to public subsidies for rates to industry and big corporations.Insufficient public investment in public transportation and renewable energies. There is some investment in renewable clean energy sources but not nearly enough. Much more is needed. Germany ’s 22,000 wind turbines produce more power than Ontario needs; why hasn’t Ontario invested in more wind turbines?Lack of stricter standards to restrict vehicle emissions. Ontario is far behind Californian and European emissions standards.The coal-plants need to be shut down. Premier McGuinty promised shut them down in 2007. This promise has not been kept, and the coal plants still do not have “scrubbers.” Raising hydro rates will reduce consumption.The Portlands Energy Centre and plans to build more nuclear reactors at Darlington are highly problematic: more GHGs in the first case (methane is a major GHG), and a whole host of problems in the case of nuclear power (waste disposal, safety, cost, GHG released through uranium mining and construction). Yet the Province is going ahead with these plans, despite major problems with old reactors never adequately addressed through environmental assessments or public consultation.In summary, the Liberal plan could accomplish far more than it actually does. It could aim for 80% GHG cuts by 2030 (and even that would be risky - the goal should be 90% by 2020 or better); it could use stronger mechanisms for achieving those cuts; it could impose much stronger regulations on big business’ profligate use of cheap energy, in order to achieve conservation goals; it could shut down the coal-fired power plants.Ontario also needs to stop exporting its power to the U.S. Mandatory carbon taxation represents a good solution. Germany has shown that the standard of living does not have to be compromised to cut emissions to less than 50%. Why doesn’t Ontario implement carbon taxation?These are but a few possible measures. All the good solutions, spelled out in detail by clean energy experts (Ontario Clean Air Alliance and others), exist and are on the record. Why are these solutions not being adopted?Draft platform for discussionA 95% reduction by industrialized nations by 2017 (based on the report by NASA’s James Hansen) is actually required to guarantee that the tipping point is avoided.Negative consequences of climate change include: one billion eco-refugees by 2050 AD, floods displacing 150 million, drought, increase in malaria and tropical diseases, mass extinction of species (up to 53% estimated), massive agricultural failure and famine, wars over scarce resources, possible worldwide economic failure, massive deforestation (including loss of Amazon and Congo rainforests), ocean acidification, loss of plankton (base of marine food chain), coral bleaching.At 19 tonnes of Co2 emissions per capita per annum, Canada has one of the worst records in the world on greenhouse gas emissions.The expansion of the Alberta oil sands project from one to five million barrels per day would guarantee that Canada fails to effectively its greenhouse gas emissions.The Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-30, the NDP’s reworking of The Clean Air Act which Al Gore called a “fraud”) has not yet become law because it requires Canada to comply with Kyoto standards and the Harper government continues to refuse to abide by Canada ’s Kyoto commitment. See http://www.ndp.ca/page/4570 Please note that the Clean Air Act is NOT the same thing as the Clean Air and Climate Change Act.The Harper government just signed a non-binding pact with G8 nations to work towards a 50% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050 AD through voluntary action (i.e. no strict government regulations on polluting industries). This is insufficient to avoid the “tipping point.”Given these facts, Students Against Climate Change urge the following:The adoption of a program of carbon taxation for all sectors of society.A moratorium on all clear-cutting in Canada because trees act as carbon sinks. This is to be coupled with green transition jobs project for loggers.Shut down the monumentally destructive Alberta oil sands project, and also implement a “green” jobs transition project for those workers. Currently the government is planning to expand the oil sands project from 1 to 5 million barrels of oil production.End to all tax subsidies to oil and coal and mining exploration and production (approximately .4 billions per annum).Following on the Homes Not Bombs model, pull Canadian funding for new weapons research and development and funding, and put all such funds towards social housing and especially restoration of existing housing stock through subsidies for green renovation projects designed to reduce carbon emissions and energy waste.End to all short-haul air flights in Canada , and increase funding for railway transit, to improve safety standards, as an alternative. Fallback position: legislate mandatory carbon offsets for all air travel.Massive public funding in clean alternative energy sources (excluding nuclear energy and biomass fuels, which are both problematic for several reasons). Clean energy sources, include wind, solar, wave and natural gas. Example: Germany ’s 22,000 wind turbines produce more electricity than what Ontario currently uses.Ban cars (except for hybrid taxis) in the downtown cores of major Canadian cities, coupled with an increase in funding for public transit, and higher taxes on gasoline, with all funds going into clean renewable energy sources. Fallback position: restrict car travel in the downtown of urban cores where public transportation systems exist, through increased parking fees and/or tolls; the City of Toronto is currently examining.Precedent-setting legal challenge against Harper over KyotoFriends of the Earth Canada (in Ottawa ) have launched a lawsuit against the Federal government over their failure to act in accordance with Kyoto .This lawsuit is important and needs to be supported. Something similar was launched in the U.S. against the Bush carbon criminals and the good guys won at the Supreme Court! So it will probably win here.This case is major news. They are fundraising to support the action. If you give money to environmental causes, give to this one. It is very worthy.First global warming lawsuit in Canada: http://www.foecanada.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=318&Itemid=135The perennial question: compromise or absolute standards?(Opinion piece by Paul York)Failing to cut emissions by 90% by 2030 could be problematic because even one more degree of global warming will cause a massive positive feedback effect to accelerate out of control, eventually driving temperatures up to 4 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures (or well above). The sciences and common sense dictates immediate and massive cuts in emissions.Every degree’s increase will mean death for tens of millions of people and billions of animals. Allowing the global temperatures to go up further is an act of mass murder. We do not have to investigate too deeply to discover that this is not an exaggeration: drought, floods, hurricanes, disease, famine – the list of possible catastrophes is mind-boggling.The concessions and compromises environmentalists make for the sake of getting any movement at all is understandable, but (in my opinion) inadvisable because it loses sight of the what the the science dictates, and what conscience dictates. The moral imperative that taking a stand on this matter implies is beyond dispute.Through self-censure and compromise in deference to what is realistic we step onto the slippery slope of a political game mastered by those who are willing to sacrifice the planet for profit. If you are not prepared to take a decisive moral stand, why be concerned with social and environmental justice to begin with?Constant compromise erodes the soul eventually; why not stand up for what is absolutely good and just and right all of the time? To do otherwise lends itself to the danger of a Faustian pact, in my view. Of course, each person must act of their own free will on this matter.Tuesday Protest at Queen’s Park – more informationVisit the following link for more information and a sample letter to be sent to Premier McGuinty, John Tory and Howard Hampton to encourage the closing of Ontario coal plants. http://ontario.indymedia.ca/twiki/bin/view/Ontario/GLOBALWARMINGANDSHUTTINGDOWNONTCOALPLANTSBELOW: From the Ontario government’s own website:Recent reports conclude that in 2005 more than 29 million minor illnesses, 59,000 emergency room visits, 16,000 hospital admissions and more than 5,800 premature deaths in Ontario were caused by smog.It is estimated that in Ontario the environmental, health care and societal costs of smog are 0.8 billion annually. If the current trend continues, these figures would rise to more than 38 million minor illnesses, 87,000 emergency room visits, 24,000 hospital admissions and 10,000 premature deaths by 2015.2003 Liberal Campaign Platform:Air pollution kills 1,900 of us every year and many of us do not trust our water. Cleaning the air we breathe and the water we drink will go a long way to improving the health of all Ontarians. That is why we have committed to replace our coal-burning plants, Ontarios biggest single sources of air pollution, with cleaner energy sources.”Dalton McGuinty (Hansard - September 23, 2002):”You may be prepared to sit on your hands for 13 years while 1,900 people die a premature death every year, while 13,000 people, mostly kids, have to go to emergency rooms. The single greatest cause of admission into Ontario hospitals today, Premier, you should know is asthma, aggravated by bad air. Taxpayers are spending over $1 billion annually on health care costs and lost work days.” Here is an excerpt from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance the Toronto-based NGO that did a lot of lobbying against the coal plants for years:Nanticoke No. 1 source of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate changeOPG coal plants are Ontario s pollution giantsFebruary 1, 2007 - The staggering emissions from Ontario
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Array-ne Ao descobrir que Ilo e El comandante são as mesmas pessoas, lembre-me de um fato ocorrido: A minha casa ficava em frente a lateral do cine Dois irmãos e como sempre eu só dormia após meia-noite.
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E do nosso saudoso Albino Mello, a quem devemos uma grande homenagem de agradessímento pela nossa Praça da Conceição.É como disse a nossa amiga Regina: ONDE FICAVA Á NOSSA GLORIOSA FURIOSA!!! Mas, só serve aquela em que o nosso saudoso Betinho está fora da da fila na outra calçada, isso é: NA CONTRA-MÃO.Será que tinha tomado todas???
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Com certeza não será somente um reencontro de gerações, mas um momento de compartilhar sonhos realizados, de reatar laços talvez perdidos no tempo e que agora virão revestidos de emoções e de descobertas. Mas acima de tudo, um momento de renovação onde descobriremos (se é que já não o sabemos..), a importância do eterno companherismo, da amizade e que a vontade de fazer acontecer está acima de todos os obstáculos..
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Sentiram saudades até dos momentos de lágrimas, de angústias, dos finais de semana, etc, enfim…do companheirismo.As pessoas se perdem no tempo.É a vida.Esse reencontro acontecerá para que não deixemos a vida passar em branco.Vamos colorir!!!
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Da esquerda para a direita: O sobrado onde foi a Pensão de Dona Irene, Escritório da Petrobrás, Quartel do Batalhão de Engenharia, Casa do Estudante, etc., ficou fora da foto, casa de Leão Xavier, casa de Pedro Ciriaco, casa de Luiz Xavier, casa de José Coelho (pai das moças mais bonitas da minha geração), casa de Fernando Melo, sobrado de Seu Nascimento, casa de Amaro do Vale , Farmácia de Aldfredo Teixeira.No fundo Casa de Adalberto Mendonça, casa de Romão Pinheiro, casa de Dona Ritinha, casa de minha Mestra (era assim que a mesma era chamada), casa de Tomaz Gonzaga e loja de Raimundinho Reis.
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-ne Recebi dois emails de Everaldo (Alagamar) pedindo para retificar um erro numa legenda. É Mário filho de Candu e Everaldo Mariano Irmão de Ségio Picolé do Alagamar.Convidamos todos os macauense a participar da pelada (futebol) no Sábado, dia do encontro, às 9:00hs.
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Array-ne Ao descobrir que Ilo e El comandante são as mesmas pessoas, lembre-me de um fato ocorrido: A minha casa ficava em frente a lateral do cine Dois irmãos e como sempre eu só dormia após meia-noite.
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E do nosso saudoso Albino Mello, a quem devemos uma grande homenagem de agradessímento pela nossa Praça da Conceição.É como disse a nossa amiga Regina: ONDE FICAVA Á NOSSA GLORIOSA FURIOSA!!! Mas, só serve aquela em que o nosso saudoso Betinho está fora da da fila na outra calçada, isso é: NA CONTRA-MÃO.Será que tinha tomado todas???
link

Com certeza não será somente um reencontro de gerações, mas um momento de compartilhar sonhos realizados, de reatar laços talvez perdidos no tempo e que agora virão revestidos de emoções e de descobertas. Mas acima de tudo, um momento de renovação onde descobriremos (se é que já não o sabemos..), a importância do eterno companherismo, da amizade e que a vontade de fazer acontecer está acima de todos os obstáculos..
link

Sentiram saudades até dos momentos de lágrimas, de angústias, dos finais de semana, etc, enfim…do companheirismo.As pessoas se perdem no tempo.É a vida.Esse reencontro acontecerá para que não deixemos a vida passar em branco.Vamos colorir!!!
link

Da esquerda para a direita: O sobrado onde foi a Pensão de Dona Irene, Escritório da Petrobrás, Quartel do Batalhão de Engenharia, Casa do Estudante, etc., ficou fora da foto, casa de Leão Xavier, casa de Pedro Ciriaco, casa de Luiz Xavier, casa de José Coelho (pai das moças mais bonitas da minha geração), casa de Fernando Melo, sobrado de Seu Nascimento, casa de Amaro do Vale , Farmácia de Aldfredo Teixeira.No fundo Casa de Adalberto Mendonça, casa de Romão Pinheiro, casa de Dona Ritinha, casa de minha Mestra (era assim que a mesma era chamada), casa de Tomaz Gonzaga e loja de Raimundinho Reis.