tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43512355208703251772024-03-27T02:38:05.418-04:00Are we there yet?Just when you thought the journey was over...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.comBlogger406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-3980353161978581092017-03-23T18:17:00.000-04:002017-03-23T18:24:02.960-04:00Bikes May Use Full Lane<br />
There exists a bit of irony with this sign because there are two meanings here, literally.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSCZB5nmIlr1c_bG73gK9Ga_ZuxjxQ_Qk-BSmDBroh6rHW4FFmmJxOFnsKiZQGaFoYGHFXPji8p_VrJRtek3CyM3FBYX2Uip-hhzOjCpqlNfJaoiJuQxp8Qz41NUpfpJp44pc-mYBU24/s1600/BMUFL-only.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSCZB5nmIlr1c_bG73gK9Ga_ZuxjxQ_Qk-BSmDBroh6rHW4FFmmJxOFnsKiZQGaFoYGHFXPji8p_VrJRtek3CyM3FBYX2Uip-hhzOjCpqlNfJaoiJuQxp8Qz41NUpfpJp44pc-mYBU24/s320/BMUFL-only.png" width="318" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Biker Perspective</u></b></div>
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You have permission to use the full lane whenever you like. Bikes <b>may</b> use full lane.</div>
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<b><u>Motorist Perspective</u></b></div>
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Beware of idiots. Bikes <b>may</b> use full lane.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-45099624897111204402017-03-17T16:24:00.000-04:002017-03-17T16:24:41.785-04:00Why Good Programs Get Cut From Budget<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_53Xb_VADcfwv1_QVhd9kwEOpyRlRc2TBhEigctRyGWYQYEbCyW2vEImrVmtASQ2qrvJ1Hm0DPfymw1PnWCn-JoAe8NNiDaWTaMmD8tF-ZUdSWqaG8gk8KdZOF73OeCcnQBn5JRdBsSc/s1600/2017+budget.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_53Xb_VADcfwv1_QVhd9kwEOpyRlRc2TBhEigctRyGWYQYEbCyW2vEImrVmtASQ2qrvJ1Hm0DPfymw1PnWCn-JoAe8NNiDaWTaMmD8tF-ZUdSWqaG8gk8KdZOF73OeCcnQBn5JRdBsSc/s200/2017+budget.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
It comes as no surprise to me that cuts made by the Trump administration are upsetting many people on the left and the right. Why is it that some programs get cut from a budget and others do not? Why would a wonderful program which goes to such a great cause get defunded? How heartless can people be?<br />
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There are many programs out there and when it comes time to make the cut, nobody wants their group of people to suffer. So, let us assume that every single program is a good program, or else why in the world would it have ever gotten a green light to proceed, correct? But if we can agree that we need cuts, let's not decide based on who has the most heartwarming cause or helps the most likable people.<br />
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I don't want to throw money in a jar for a program that promises to feed the hungry year after year with literally no established results. So, if we can agree on this, let's look at why a great program might get cut before another program that doesn't sound AS great!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41_7fKNF56A5nhK9D9Mhyphenhyphenq8-FVMCti_5INy3TsiTz_8Of4vjZB4Y93PUqCGda3WUg4qQsEbXhd37NPuiLn7NyiortxDcsRiKVmpvYK-lG3ey7niUoFFNSjEd3ZWbW13HM8zBj6Di6q5k/s1600/toilet+money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41_7fKNF56A5nhK9D9Mhyphenhyphenq8-FVMCti_5INy3TsiTz_8Of4vjZB4Y93PUqCGda3WUg4qQsEbXhd37NPuiLn7NyiortxDcsRiKVmpvYK-lG3ey7niUoFFNSjEd3ZWbW13HM8zBj6Di6q5k/s200/toilet+money.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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When program cuts are made, the first thing to look at are the goals and objectives of the program. Have they been met? Why make cuts in some programs and not in others? Because programs funded by the people (taxpayers) must perform toward their original promised goals and objectives and prove to be effective based on measurable data. To see what that looks like, note the following example:<br />
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<b>Goal</b><br />
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The goal is a universal and idealistic vision. It is a promise to whomever is funding the campaign/project/journey (taxpayers), that it will increase or decrease X by some factor.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Our program goal is to increase productivity in the classroom by 25%. We will do this by implementing a regimented nutrition program in public schools. </blockquote>
This means that showing a correlation between a regimented nutrition program and an increase in productivity is prudent, right? <i>Fair enough.</i><br />
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<b>Objectives</b><br />
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Objectives are those completed tasks which will impact, in a positive way, the goal. The objectives, once measured, will show the increase or decrease in X, which was the goal.<br />
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<ol>
<li>Establish a baseline classroom productivity scale. <i>Word</i>.</li>
<li>Make public schools decrease the amount of fatty foods served in their lunch programs. <i>Nobody will complain about this one.</i></li>
<li>Public schools will remove vending machines from cafeterias. <i>Meh, okay.</i></li>
<li>Provide public schools with wheat grass supplemental snacks during recess. <b>OMG, please!</b> <i>But okay, let's see what you got.</i></li>
<li>Conduct an annual classroom productivity survey to measure against the established baseline. <i>Duh!</i></li>
</ol>
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<b>Measurement of Success</b><br />
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Believe it or not, success doesn't just happen. Accomplishing goals and objectives isn't as straight forward as winning the Superbowl. It's not as concrete as winning a spelling bee.<br />
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When there are objectives to meet, those objectives must be measured to show success. Measurable data can either prove or disprove that the objectives had an impact on the goal. So, it is important to collect this data to determine the success of a program.<br />
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Are we able to produce the results that will show our program has been a success?<br />
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Oh, I'm sorry. Were we supposed to be measuring data somewhere?</blockquote>
<b>CUT!</b><br />
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Don't blame Trump. Blame the program administrators for not producing measurable results!<br />
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Please read the following language pulled from the actual Trump budget cuts proposal:<br />
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<b>Economic Development Administration</b> ($221 million): The Trump budget says it has "<u>limited measurable impacts</u> and <u>duplicates </u>other federal programs."<br />
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<b>Minority Business Development Agency</b> ($32 million): The White House says this minority business incubator program is "<u>duplicative</u>" of other programs in the Small Business Administration.<br />
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<b>McGovern-Dole International Food for Education program</b> ($202 million): Trump's budget says the program — a sort of Third World school lunch project — "<u>lacks evidence</u> that it is being effectively implemented to <u>reduce </u>food insecurity."<br />
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<b>21st Century Community Learning Centers program</b> ($1.2 billion): The formula grants to states support before- and after-school and summer programs. "The programs <u>lacks strong evidence</u> of meeting its <u>objectives</u>, such as <u>improving </u>student achievement," the budget says.<br />
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<b>Community Development Block Grant program </b>($3 billion): CDBG has been a bread-and-butter funding source for local communities for 42 years, totaling more than $150 billion in grants over its history. "The program is not well-targeted to the poorest populations and <u>has not demonstrated results</u>," Trump's budget says.<br />
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What cut programs have you puzzled and/or fuming?<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-48478747224872075972017-02-28T08:45:00.000-05:002017-02-28T08:45:20.173-05:00Goodbye Hollywood, I'm off to The Daytona 500!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwqfZQTLxEmG53TQcpKpcIhCIDf6pPQEnv57XHUT3dRlTGWecxuDyg5Ynp8Yy_YhUD4uboBGRzPT-MdxMXxMB_HRyhemhyphenhyphenWARuzsY3d8b5BdGPFC3To1G-9LWCIudVOcVOfQFsYHF7J8/s1600/IMG_0128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwqfZQTLxEmG53TQcpKpcIhCIDf6pPQEnv57XHUT3dRlTGWecxuDyg5Ynp8Yy_YhUD4uboBGRzPT-MdxMXxMB_HRyhemhyphenhyphenWARuzsY3d8b5BdGPFC3To1G-9LWCIudVOcVOfQFsYHF7J8/s320/IMG_0128.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I look so short without heels on!</td></tr>
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Yes, I boycotted the Oscars. Just like I boycotted the NFL, the Grammys, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. I refuse to watch any show which chooses to use its platform for anything other than its intended purpose: entertain everyone while patting themselves on the back for a job well-done. They've all gone political.<br />
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Instead, I chose to spend some time with Charles at the Daytona 500 race. I had so much fun and I didn't have to sit around listening to a bunch of Hollywood elites bashing our country and our president. Thank goodness for NASCAR. :P<br />
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Unlike these awards shows, I've never even watched a NASCAR race on television, so this was a novelty for me to actually BE there in the stands, taking photos, filming flybys, and drinking beer. Talk about stress-free living and camaraderie. Quit whining and get out there and have some fun with your fellow Americans, and quit listening to this consistent message in the media that everything is going to hell.<br />
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You know what? The Daytona 500 sold out of seats this year. Can you say that about any NFL games, including the Super Bowl? I heard the Oscars had the lowest ratings since 2008. Ouch.<br />
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Enjoy the photos, and leave me some comments. All are welcome, just be kind to each other!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1oG8K-PYebfiFuOGNNoT8NfSgPk3V4Tnki1C3ZZU7tHGdKEbGVXvKugYyxKIfgiIX0CSuBtqIEjiYmX0nEFGfoCczKlwaxl4oZB-dHDborboWX67UTtLSsbAyy8-eRMmtgNqCGrGfsM/s1600/Daytona2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1oG8K-PYebfiFuOGNNoT8NfSgPk3V4Tnki1C3ZZU7tHGdKEbGVXvKugYyxKIfgiIX0CSuBtqIEjiYmX0nEFGfoCczKlwaxl4oZB-dHDborboWX67UTtLSsbAyy8-eRMmtgNqCGrGfsM/s320/Daytona2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had just got on the tractor trolley that took us to the buses.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0MXtqDZq8xa3Fa7cnZrOjgQMhHX4Y-_OwC909KwdURvk7jv4wK2f6U7p7Q4Xw9j9hOD2b_eVel5iks9H2s_suWJqgUv6J_m_dN9uLhUrtcew4itkfVsOXYnbEoKbVKbmhF8XDyBejek/s1600/IMG_0138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0MXtqDZq8xa3Fa7cnZrOjgQMhHX4Y-_OwC909KwdURvk7jv4wK2f6U7p7Q4Xw9j9hOD2b_eVel5iks9H2s_suWJqgUv6J_m_dN9uLhUrtcew4itkfVsOXYnbEoKbVKbmhF8XDyBejek/s320/IMG_0138.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a camera that likes to be creative and it spit this out. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBU7xFQI9x0ATwAALFCG5jfN20G1PffAOiFZkD7hv3rRy8bYOJMPgApIgiETNWGpGeM4mbIvbBgSVBQkjjlwFOWOP8-hl6Oz6xrB2bYddcDniYexHF9ctOsrmGdTyKjo2-9BAF3L_nzA/s1600/IMG_0140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBU7xFQI9x0ATwAALFCG5jfN20G1PffAOiFZkD7hv3rRy8bYOJMPgApIgiETNWGpGeM4mbIvbBgSVBQkjjlwFOWOP8-hl6Oz6xrB2bYddcDniYexHF9ctOsrmGdTyKjo2-9BAF3L_nzA/s320/IMG_0140.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the stadium before the race.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJRkZIyJsHC2EwWS4uDI6u6KE3QVMQUOSh9dpaKyswtSC0oyEFmX6J7IbN-YTjbuyztB-uaMk1t6ALay3n1UxptUWf6BDlx2_EBaQzWG_Ps3z4UlzTl2Zo79i4_cuEfz_YQWop7Ve6PI/s1600/IMG_0147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJRkZIyJsHC2EwWS4uDI6u6KE3QVMQUOSh9dpaKyswtSC0oyEFmX6J7IbN-YTjbuyztB-uaMk1t6ALay3n1UxptUWf6BDlx2_EBaQzWG_Ps3z4UlzTl2Zo79i4_cuEfz_YQWop7Ve6PI/s320/IMG_0147.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to enter the Daytona International Speedway <br />
stadium for the first time ever.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here we are!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05OAyOsevTiqYgqQDk9W5hkLZvI0nCzYaTQ6wYnFj6yJXu1gx6O0TrWorE4WPmSvhNyBTSwwrhGvjZAOtSRU-QCSJYNZAg1opKK9Cg0K0R1ljt35mvjobnmdXydnS9ysuzF0LRSxVp-0/s1600/IMG_0164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05OAyOsevTiqYgqQDk9W5hkLZvI0nCzYaTQ6wYnFj6yJXu1gx6O0TrWorE4WPmSvhNyBTSwwrhGvjZAOtSRU-QCSJYNZAg1opKK9Cg0K0R1ljt35mvjobnmdXydnS9ysuzF0LRSxVp-0/s320/IMG_0164.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what sold out looks like. THIS is living life and not <br />
whining about politics. Don't give yourself ulcers!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0MtGZxPtSYh539crkc98yfh6wrqN7rpWw5tNO0wGCVsd9NKRREp0mrc5mMsg6eBR-6RwTuRVibdCxUJx-kYFM9u9zasaBlA_ZrrEoNJZe1xHn5T9HGGjGHjGahIczEpBgSmrg6iCqac/s1600/IMG_0186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0MtGZxPtSYh539crkc98yfh6wrqN7rpWw5tNO0wGCVsd9NKRREp0mrc5mMsg6eBR-6RwTuRVibdCxUJx-kYFM9u9zasaBlA_ZrrEoNJZe1xHn5T9HGGjGHjGahIczEpBgSmrg6iCqac/s320/IMG_0186.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creative Zoom this is called. Love it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting to see shit talking and fighting, but it never happened.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the better close up photos I took.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited crowd.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was hard to capture photos this clear <br />
when the cars were going so fast!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The side of the track where most of the crashes happened.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had seats high enough, we could see the backside.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pit stops were amazing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My guy, Keselowski in the Miller Lite car! lol</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun has gone done and we are in the shade....cool out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blimp is last because that's when it showed up! Last.</td></tr>
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If you enjoyed this article and would like to receive future articles in your inbox --- <a href="http://eepurl.com/dPOew">Subscribe to our free newsletter</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com01801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA29.185169 -81.0705279999999683.6631344999999982 -122.37912199999997 54.7072035 -39.761933999999968tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-4214650759781279082017-01-11T10:38:00.000-05:002017-01-11T10:38:17.271-05:00Plotting vs Pantsing Smackdown<br />
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There are two modes of story writing that I've come across. The one that sells, and the one that tells. The first one I think needs structure or else most readers won't get it, they won't stay engaged. I consider myself in the group of most readers. Most readers want to immerse in the story world and feel that arc upon which the protagonist journeys. We all understand that.<br />
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I read over at <a href="https://killzoneblog.com/2017/01/what-happens-when-you-just-write-without-truly-understanding-how-a-story-should-be-written.html" target="_blank">The KillZoneBlog</a> where they discuss an article in <i>Writer's Digest</i>, "Just Write". The article indicates that by our own experiences we have a natural ability to write stories. And so comes the argument of what method of story writing makes for great content, <a href="http://thewritepractice.com/plotters-pantsers/" target="_blank">plotting or pantsing</a>, for what the industry deems <i><span style="color: purple;"><b>sellable</b></span></i>.<br />
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Today, I'm going to be an advocate for the Pantser. Most folks who want to write have a passion to write. Not to tell a story, but to write, in any form. The story is just the most common and accessible means to doing just that. Writing is what we love to do. But, as mentioned at The KillZoneBlog, you don't just write a story, especially fiction. You must first understand the underlying mechanics of what makes stories work *cough* said the author of a story structure book to the novice writer. If you believe that, you haven't judged many writing contests. The talent pool is swimming with creative young writers who can tell great stories. Their imaginations are phenomenal.<br />
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What I like to argue, is for a great work of art to come to fruition, the writer must unleash the story within. That is, the telling of the truth. No form or structure is going to allow for the next great novel to come alive with as much impact. Story structure is what makes the reader get that familiar feel of a story. The beginning/middle/end, a call to journey, the crisis, the denouement, whatever. It's what sells as a good read. Anyone wanting to write <i>for a living</i> must know this, learn it and apply it. Or you can fall back on the <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2011/09/no-resolution-resolution.html">no-resolution resolution</a> structure.<br />
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But a story that tells is different for me. The telling of a great story, even in fiction, is one that spills truth. It's one I deem a creation that forms from the implanted seed which grew inside the artist. The only way to spill truth for a writer with a story, is to be unbound from traditional forms of storytelling. How did S.E. Hinton, at such a young age, bang out <i>The Outsiders</i>? Or how did Mary Shelley pen <i>Frankenstein</i>? Do you think she was aware of story structure, or do you think she just wrote what was already within her? I think the latter. She'd endured the birth and death of her baby before she was 18 years old. The story was in her. It wasn't birthed from a formulaic presupposed rendition of the cookie cutter storyline. Though I'm sure publishers polished it up a bit after she wrote it.<br />
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Be careful not to provoke the artist into changing their vision. They shouldn't strive to fit a structure before they begin to write. Some guidance is great, but the gifted writer should write without scrutiny or the presupposition that they are incapable of producing greatness without guidance or structure. What came first? The story or the structure? No story should be bound by traditional and formulaic structures before writing it. <a href="http://www.write-bros.com/writers-dreamkit.html" target="_blank">The Writers Dream Kit</a> contains over 32,000 story forms. I wonder how we discovered those forms. Were they written first?<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-60240770356171699782016-12-23T14:35:00.000-05:002016-12-23T14:35:42.617-05:00Memorializing Maggie R.I.P<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbHfSFRKMUyU9qFwo9aZ5KtqxOVUgEDne2cn8rAB3Qq7aUzvqU5N6WEnf1s6XATKW0aXOLotgzXpsBBisjSFnIMxAJXE9XgZEY2qMqE1NkIC_QFouJiiglCaV9Kif-zfjns5mFmPcmGw/s1600/IMG_4799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbHfSFRKMUyU9qFwo9aZ5KtqxOVUgEDne2cn8rAB3Qq7aUzvqU5N6WEnf1s6XATKW0aXOLotgzXpsBBisjSFnIMxAJXE9XgZEY2qMqE1NkIC_QFouJiiglCaV9Kif-zfjns5mFmPcmGw/s200/IMG_4799.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie's favorite napping position</td></tr>
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I am so sad to say that <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2010/09/all-about-maggie.html">Maggie</a> has passed away. On Friday, I took her to the emergency hospital at the advice of our family veterinarian. My 13-year-old English bulldog had a prolapse or hyperplasia. Whichever it was, she had her insides hanging out of her vagina. It was very scary, so I won't bother with visuals.<br />
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The vet on duty recommended Maggie get spayed in order to decrease her estrogen levels. The following Monday, she underwent surgery and I brought her home. She was very groggy, but she came out of the anesthesia the next morning. After walking around the house a bit, she went back to sleep and didn't wake up.<br />
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It's tough to lose a member of the family at this time of year. Here are some of our previous Christmas photos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIS0WNsJTRqsdFcrIfKZ8Ul6iVmjSALrPNgXAl3ME-X8wdBsy-zHKVLk5s_JXxCAUn3SQ2Bs1LndPpW0EZJILsa4Fum750lRPI9JF9A6JetLb9zhZ6MxAXemYYFCGG90H0N2klX_f3Ckg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIS0WNsJTRqsdFcrIfKZ8Ul6iVmjSALrPNgXAl3ME-X8wdBsy-zHKVLk5s_JXxCAUn3SQ2Bs1LndPpW0EZJILsa4Fum750lRPI9JF9A6JetLb9zhZ6MxAXemYYFCGG90H0N2klX_f3Ckg/s200/photo.JPG" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas 2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Eve 2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRhMbk8H1Qtdnl1YXmj0Jie-4qrSK2WtbJr8L2yiV2fI0fR6Imd1flaB5C8aLrQxZ3lb-jbYgzI6sDvAA07wVK66Mb0hLejssJ1OqAHo9bldIcARagPIfeMLzYCee6PCXh2rPrjOG89o/s1600/Chelsey+Maggie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRhMbk8H1Qtdnl1YXmj0Jie-4qrSK2WtbJr8L2yiV2fI0fR6Imd1flaB5C8aLrQxZ3lb-jbYgzI6sDvAA07wVK66Mb0hLejssJ1OqAHo9bldIcARagPIfeMLzYCee6PCXh2rPrjOG89o/s320/Chelsey+Maggie.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very young Chelsey and Tenay. Maggie at a year old.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie let the new puppy climb all over her (2016)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie had the patience of a Saint! (2016)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqf_PFcfoH8sG4_lGBRaoCYx6NpNf79YGkoeNtszdmLSw3tCfxmE9s7TNBT0MHR6peN4Q8uLo2ncJL8PWTlpQP8gVCCEIEK_lCmcR13rz7IoxK5r2nJUvzS9TCKu6m7-S0Tlan2jwnhQ/s1600/Maggie+mentor.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqf_PFcfoH8sG4_lGBRaoCYx6NpNf79YGkoeNtszdmLSw3tCfxmE9s7TNBT0MHR6peN4Q8uLo2ncJL8PWTlpQP8gVCCEIEK_lCmcR13rz7IoxK5r2nJUvzS9TCKu6m7-S0Tlan2jwnhQ/s320/Maggie+mentor.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New puppies are super exhausting. (2016)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOBZwX8VyG46TVynRTl6X6sHmOH59c1yp8zwflJ83mzcViNt2gM1SoNot1UnfZLuHUePX-Xn9nkvXrCiVlseqa8i3zpM2DTWeAdGS_S0LIjXTklft70XqNI0g2elqGpmOOglpf86rWsU/s1600/Maggie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOBZwX8VyG46TVynRTl6X6sHmOH59c1yp8zwflJ83mzcViNt2gM1SoNot1UnfZLuHUePX-Xn9nkvXrCiVlseqa8i3zpM2DTWeAdGS_S0LIjXTklft70XqNI0g2elqGpmOOglpf86rWsU/s320/Maggie.jpeg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She always loved a great butt scratch! (circa 2011)</td></tr>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-76007430279556292322016-12-13T13:14:00.001-05:002016-12-14T08:47:08.388-05:00Creepy Elf on the Shelf - Don't Do This!!This is not a rant. I only have a few words to share. It's about this elf on the shelf motif used to get children involved in the spirit of Christmas. You know, the idea that Santa Claus is watching them so they better be good or else they won't get any presents? Yeah, that elf is a spy.<br />
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Some responsible parents like to get creative and spice it up here and there to keep there kids excited. I can imagine the awe in children as they discover the family elf has met a new friend and invited them over. Or maybe the family elf has decided to explore other areas of the home. After all, staying on the shelf in one position is just boring. This isn't an option in a family home where the parents are far from boring people, right? We can't have that!<br />
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Creative and well intentioned trends start off as simple competitions. I get that. But social media will be there to taunt folks into stepping it up a notch. Then we run into some serious issues. And you wonder why your millennial needs therapy.<br />
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Here are my ten inappropriate elf on the shelf displays and the reasons why I think they are inappropriate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RlDTklzjhxiecgOaDnEx817TwqX4xHQWexIsyaHp0ixeerubQWlmTi0sCEv9LQpxmdmnYTAgrLSM46K-lETTi4w-ciATeuoYuBs10errNGMhnYU9vMEm6sNjiDKVtKgAjFkdmQxHzUc/s1600/elf+pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RlDTklzjhxiecgOaDnEx817TwqX4xHQWexIsyaHp0ixeerubQWlmTi0sCEv9LQpxmdmnYTAgrLSM46K-lETTi4w-ciATeuoYuBs10errNGMhnYU9vMEm6sNjiDKVtKgAjFkdmQxHzUc/s320/elf+pie.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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You think you're clever now, but one day they will be old enough to watch American Pie and they will never visit you again during the Christmas holidays. The grand kids will be off limits.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8nVajV8z45bI1NNdDsVa6iiN_4kKmZR-ycrGhv4DWl_iPxKTIErZzOpKXdWAGwtu961_X_i-PpWcdcPoIfbW5tmbF59oQtSBK-l0WYBIoFTB71iJdfeFmDx0EgJVJjCvR17aJyVllyI/s1600/elf+and+elmo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8nVajV8z45bI1NNdDsVa6iiN_4kKmZR-ycrGhv4DWl_iPxKTIErZzOpKXdWAGwtu961_X_i-PpWcdcPoIfbW5tmbF59oQtSBK-l0WYBIoFTB71iJdfeFmDx0EgJVJjCvR17aJyVllyI/s1600/elf+and+elmo.jpg" /></a><br />
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You would be better off to have the family elf kill off a giant stuffed spider or some other creepy victim. Never Elmo or any Sesame Street character for that matter. This is absolutely inappropriate. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWwD83Jz8Lvt84GHQX-kmatwydc18zJGuRsqtM-LYaDegbmhNeDTIhH2goRJ_yuTKcKq_Tgc-zPueXX40RFrm89p7Dl9oUssRUpwN4acy0cereATXg6-hdLjsEbH26UoU36OBJGGJq24/s1600/creep+elf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWwD83Jz8Lvt84GHQX-kmatwydc18zJGuRsqtM-LYaDegbmhNeDTIhH2goRJ_yuTKcKq_Tgc-zPueXX40RFrm89p7Dl9oUssRUpwN4acy0cereATXg6-hdLjsEbH26UoU36OBJGGJq24/s320/creep+elf.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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You know there is absolutely nothing wrong with this display, except for the fact that the family elf is capturing the scene for his own sick pleasure, further teaching your children that the objectification of young girls is okay. So inappropriate!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEc35CdZLRW3AoiftbOv7imTD5iZcN5X5Rr60JL9MHHE9X6CyLDzrI3IqkPZ-s73v8GqGw6oeb59_KqTRsf6b0FMYh1eIbqpQgR13aZqDiwBQjOHLqylkfPKSEuAKNJlFFWX4b35RVBI/s1600/elf+family+photos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEc35CdZLRW3AoiftbOv7imTD5iZcN5X5Rr60JL9MHHE9X6CyLDzrI3IqkPZ-s73v8GqGw6oeb59_KqTRsf6b0FMYh1eIbqpQgR13aZqDiwBQjOHLqylkfPKSEuAKNJlFFWX4b35RVBI/s320/elf+family+photos.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">After the last three displays I shared, do you see how this is inappropriate? </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOew9U8p-tgVIY8uRdRBDSUx5_tgHphLdwwmLzpIRJcHPpPs42wAA7eh_hYaO4rtDfkTwGDy_Invao6bLrt8Qiv1gJhzPDr1QDeIE38mmaY87vImqXSLC5lqW05l8qlnoS6tF4lDyuj08/s1600/elf+shavings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOew9U8p-tgVIY8uRdRBDSUx5_tgHphLdwwmLzpIRJcHPpPs42wAA7eh_hYaO4rtDfkTwGDy_Invao6bLrt8Qiv1gJhzPDr1QDeIE38mmaY87vImqXSLC5lqW05l8qlnoS6tF4lDyuj08/s320/elf+shavings.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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The family elf teams up with the infamous bad boy, Chucky. Together, they encourage children to commit cannibalism. Yes, Frosty the snowman came alive you ignoramus!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvKGwXhA62G4A-Uhe54aCVa7Dc0m4ktRo4wCBVlkYrufNVNfTTz9BIZ0lWAllIkAuUBtYO5mwqFjLBg4YzHf96RjU2qzR7G9QpvjVUT4bCh28gWn12zezJOxO46cDzFMgY3qFfHgRfbA/s1600/elf+toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvKGwXhA62G4A-Uhe54aCVa7Dc0m4ktRo4wCBVlkYrufNVNfTTz9BIZ0lWAllIkAuUBtYO5mwqFjLBg4YzHf96RjU2qzR7G9QpvjVUT4bCh28gWn12zezJOxO46cDzFMgY3qFfHgRfbA/s320/elf+toilet.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
And you wonder why your kids seem to think everything belongs in the toilet. This, exactly this. Congratulations.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh62Kjak81TOuz_EQ9tDX-RiAwKC4kSg-lEf7scvnJ8DWfGZ3qn1Ri219pAh4kcenJ8gF2C9siuzmbeFS3cu8zsYb7ir1t2rQTggEYPCyI0fmXriDndqKv3TSMJceOfwhXpHsZUCNXzo/s1600/elf2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh62Kjak81TOuz_EQ9tDX-RiAwKC4kSg-lEf7scvnJ8DWfGZ3qn1Ri219pAh4kcenJ8gF2C9siuzmbeFS3cu8zsYb7ir1t2rQTggEYPCyI0fmXriDndqKv3TSMJceOfwhXpHsZUCNXzo/s320/elf2.jpg" width="226" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
Suddenly little Johnny has stopped brushing his teeth? You don't say! Now he's a teenager and smells like shit all the time. You know they learn poor hygiene somewhere, right? Gee, I wonder where.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2C5y_TpkNwKtzlLxZGVThJKPGe52nEu9B1LpiomvFRsdy73qnl7AZjtzXBhoPBeGL2yMM83cC5oq26jSPN3nZC5298Vlh_hvZ958cAXs4w0lQcPVj2IGdVyZ5MctWbTADXHBT0BrGkY/s1600/elf3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2C5y_TpkNwKtzlLxZGVThJKPGe52nEu9B1LpiomvFRsdy73qnl7AZjtzXBhoPBeGL2yMM83cC5oq26jSPN3nZC5298Vlh_hvZ958cAXs4w0lQcPVj2IGdVyZ5MctWbTADXHBT0BrGkY/s320/elf3.jpg" width="314" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
I'm all for encouraging kids to earn an allowance so they can buy themselves the things they want. But the family elf is sitting on a jar of baby food, so I think the kids are a little young for parents to start indoctrinating them into this sordid thing. They need to be old enough to actually work for their allowance, don't you think?</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMooikud2Ny-Uz-4BgQk7Rr_58EngnLr8_YpDX8Ls4LecjG0ZLf9_TEwMsCiTuy7aK3Z2rhlYp21Fw8eSUSKIro5xhC6TEFwGLOCnmqTDAPNtBUQfWnObGqJfao-oy4poACURFwXOgYM/s1600/elf7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMooikud2Ny-Uz-4BgQk7Rr_58EngnLr8_YpDX8Ls4LecjG0ZLf9_TEwMsCiTuy7aK3Z2rhlYp21Fw8eSUSKIro5xhC6TEFwGLOCnmqTDAPNtBUQfWnObGqJfao-oy4poACURFwXOgYM/s320/elf7.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;">How to be Classy 101. Because a wine glass is commonly displayed with a roll of toilet paper and a can of Glade air freshener. The kid who grows up in this household is going to be a true romantic, I can almost guarantee it.</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4opUzhKx7ack6m6EcNiO4qfWRnimv-f_4q_8Nt_qGhwFTtruYHj11gL_dfC0ErJKq-VMmiJXurHFDPkOtOIBlB0gcIdhrUxO0JRYUepQHiTwTdevf3mpa-uXHINhyphenhyphenJAAwbzhr9n8IIo/s1600/Elf-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4opUzhKx7ack6m6EcNiO4qfWRnimv-f_4q_8Nt_qGhwFTtruYHj11gL_dfC0ErJKq-VMmiJXurHFDPkOtOIBlB0gcIdhrUxO0JRYUepQHiTwTdevf3mpa-uXHINhyphenhyphenJAAwbzhr9n8IIo/s320/Elf-8.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
Because breaking the law is so inappropriate. I don't know that this household has any children in it, but I'm guessing they didn't just go out and purchase a Barbie doll because this was just such a cool idea they had to spend upwards of $30.00 for that perfect display. No, they have children. And yes, this is inappropriate.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbR_-ueqHs33DSb5eq6PsJ0EnQj4gqZu-KnP5nSBMpUumiAyBtKBSE7c__UM4R4oPnEDs3w1K2GSDZxon1XAv2shvVind3Rb1J8HSTHUKp34aGq5w0wWchbqs8kZs3Ass1uVVB-6iFCic/s1600/elf+scaring+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbR_-ueqHs33DSb5eq6PsJ0EnQj4gqZu-KnP5nSBMpUumiAyBtKBSE7c__UM4R4oPnEDs3w1K2GSDZxon1XAv2shvVind3Rb1J8HSTHUKp34aGq5w0wWchbqs8kZs3Ass1uVVB-6iFCic/s320/elf+scaring+kids.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
If you don't want to traumatize your kids, now or in the future, stay away from inappropriate displays with your family elf! Yes, kids are resilient. But they have memories like you wouldn't believe.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Do any of you have a favorite elf on the shelf display? Please share them in the comments below. I won't get onto you if it's inappropriate. There are no small children out here in the Blogosphere! 👀<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-8006934875699396012016-12-08T15:28:00.000-05:002016-12-08T15:28:13.053-05:00More English Bulldog Photos - Macey!!I couldn't resist!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYWXfuAWRAvp6IYTwclBWRkqARf2jcAc9kWLSqzh_4CeeAPcSTDeyC7mG7MOb514gBPp9qmjXFXhrgCQncoqkO1Ek1MLZ-26R92GJFJczSDfXfirKdoDpj9y473XR_9DwC2IAMMHgdnk/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYWXfuAWRAvp6IYTwclBWRkqARf2jcAc9kWLSqzh_4CeeAPcSTDeyC7mG7MOb514gBPp9qmjXFXhrgCQncoqkO1Ek1MLZ-26R92GJFJczSDfXfirKdoDpj9y473XR_9DwC2IAMMHgdnk/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Power puppy on couch</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcT7MMyO8WbemykUGSlvINGR5pyx3b3RIk2h6rx1u8ehvc6xXRbywB9ukO0Ib0GBf9OhsDsL6qJB6RRg2BsEs4vrjHzAG813PuNw5y5ZJ-HTG4id0NbxLaBiDRNtuCxkGW41sntScW0k/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcT7MMyO8WbemykUGSlvINGR5pyx3b3RIk2h6rx1u8ehvc6xXRbywB9ukO0Ib0GBf9OhsDsL6qJB6RRg2BsEs4vrjHzAG813PuNw5y5ZJ-HTG4id0NbxLaBiDRNtuCxkGW41sntScW0k/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What happened to all the power?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrlV39nYt2nMFH6glXJAmb_kD0BBcB4oxq3E6NczzFHu17mGkqNOVdKqyQt4AKUpivrcAMah05pU5CNl7lflVQpvNYio__CeT2E99kh05dworm_SHeIINahuCAcf4WiREqadhN3fXBrU/s1600/IMG_1560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrlV39nYt2nMFH6glXJAmb_kD0BBcB4oxq3E6NczzFHu17mGkqNOVdKqyQt4AKUpivrcAMah05pU5CNl7lflVQpvNYio__CeT2E99kh05dworm_SHeIINahuCAcf4WiREqadhN3fXBrU/s320/IMG_1560.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She knows she's not allowed to touch the decor.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7zLX5U4EUmDA4m1RE6sHNv7lJ8h1H3hXq2XjjjZ5l86uBJ_JmaiEvNJq1_wCn5ATZckazvJ6UadAkRQ4B4zexKXWd3Vw_WFDqwrfYeH-MxsZwyocOs8Z_zUVl5Yrp_2ykMCF7PyHGIA/s1600/IMG_1582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7zLX5U4EUmDA4m1RE6sHNv7lJ8h1H3hXq2XjjjZ5l86uBJ_JmaiEvNJq1_wCn5ATZckazvJ6UadAkRQ4B4zexKXWd3Vw_WFDqwrfYeH-MxsZwyocOs8Z_zUVl5Yrp_2ykMCF7PyHGIA/s320/IMG_1582.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But she does it anyway!</td></tr>
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<br />Merry Christmas! Or, Happy Holidays! Whichever pertains. Just be safe out there.<div>
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:)</div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-3398705564788358342016-11-22T10:24:00.000-05:002016-11-23T10:29:16.564-05:00What Can Be Worse Than Turning 50?I thought turning 50 would be devastating, but it wasn't. Not when compared to all the other things that happened the first thing in the morning on my 50th birthday.<br />
<br />
Every morning, I ensure Macey makes it from the kennel to the back door in less than 15 seconds. This is the amount of time it takes for her to register a full bladder. That didn't happen this morning.<br />
<br />
I had been so proud of her, too. She has never made a dropping in her kennel until this morning, the morning of my 50th birthday. Did I mention that I'm 50 today?<br />
<br />
Not only did Macey make a rather large deposit, but it was a loose one. She was so distraught over it that she tried to escape it, trampling it again and again. I can only imagine from the looks of things, she must have made several attempts to rid her paws of the foul smelling goo.<br />
<br />
This cleanup job would need some forward thinking. The longer I stood there and contemplated my first moves, the more Macey yiped with anxiety. I made a decision. I would clean the ten-pound puppy first, put her outside, and then tackle the rest of the mess in a methodical approach. I was not prepared for the sheer force of puppy power when I opened the kennel door. Macey sprang from her cage and plowed into my arms.<br />
<br />
Fuck me, right?<br />
<br />
So, I cleaned and disinfected everything, including her squeaky toy and tug rope. I placed a new puppy training pad in the kennel. I brought Macey back inside to feed her. I bumped the glass beaker off the table and it fell onto the ceramic floor, shattering it into a thousand pieces. The loud noise scared Macey. She sprinted across the kitchen to the other side and pissed on the floor.<br />
<br />
Now, if you're having a bad day, cheer up! It could be worse. You could be turning 50.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBJa3oD4gyX1XF9FqLAJEJXwYHJxOWP-VxnUHMHuPpsIOQ7b3yIx6X9Yzuy9-gp8UOl5YpXRMMWFeqX8w2J35k3i85np97vFACV96UXd34I2s_6qscRpUfxISHpb02MXs5cZpbrBPUEk/s1600/shameful.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBJa3oD4gyX1XF9FqLAJEJXwYHJxOWP-VxnUHMHuPpsIOQ7b3yIx6X9Yzuy9-gp8UOl5YpXRMMWFeqX8w2J35k3i85np97vFACV96UXd34I2s_6qscRpUfxISHpb02MXs5cZpbrBPUEk/s640/shameful.png" width="368" /></a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-58198815321184647622016-11-12T13:42:00.000-05:002016-11-12T13:45:44.455-05:00Raising a Nation - The Working ClassCharles C. Camosy is an associate professor at Fordham University. He wrote an article at The Washington Post to which I responded with a comment that turned into my own article.<br />
<br />
This was Professor Camosy’s headline and lead:<br />
<br />
<h3>
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/11/09/trump-won-because-college-educated-americans-are-out-of-touch/#comments" target="_blank">Trump won because college-educated Americans are out of touch</a></h3>
<h4>
Higher education is isolated, insular and liberal. Average voters aren't.</h4>
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>My comment:</b></span><br />
<br />
Hello Professor Camosy,<br />
<br />
I am an educated U.S citizen and I consider myself in the working class, not an elite with an Us vs. Them stance on everything, including political views. During my undergraduate studies, I recall having to complete some rather diverse courses that clearly were designed to make my educational experience a well-rounded one. I'm not sure how Fordham University designs its programs, so I will just explain my experience and how I've managed to change my point of view on many different topics throughout my life, based on my experiences, and not on any prejudices.<br />
<br />
From my undergrad studies, the courses that remained with me throughout the years were those which taught me the different world views of others: American Social Problems, Ethnic Literature, and Western Civilization. These courses taught us how to think about and rationalize other viewpoints which were vastly different from our own.<br />
<br />
American Social Problems required the student to argue debate topics which went against their personal beliefs, and their grades depended upon thorough research on the pros or cons of whatever topic they were given in their assignments. We had to debate controversial subjects like affirmative action, welfare, abortion, capital punishment, the legalization of marijuana, and the legalization of prostitution.<br />
<br />
It was not difficult to make arguments for abortion one week and then two weeks later argue against capital punishment. In this manner, students were encouraged to research the other side of every issue in order to prepare themselves for rebuttal. It was not difficult to argue one side while my husband played "devil's advocate" to try and make me falter on my assigned position. In this manner, students were encouraged to argue productively and without feeling like they were being personally attacked. After all, it was the professor who made the assignments.<br />
<br />
Ethnic Literature provided many articles and essays written by people of all different cultures, including ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. These stories were written by authors who tell of their own culture and from the perspective of one who experiences that culture on a daily basis. Through the lens of others, we as students could experience those same stories as we were encouraged to immerse ourselves in those roles.<br />
<br />
I won't go into more, but my point is to share with you why I feel that my educational experience helped me to embrace differences of opinions and to respect those who do not experience the same as what I've had the privilege of learning - back before colleges became havens for sensitive elites. For this reason, when I see college protests such as those happening on campuses throughout our nation, where students are upset because of the outcome of our 2016 presidential election, it leaves me a bit concerned. Has academia been in such a decline that students have not been properly groomed to reason outside the boundaries of its institutions?<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaglsaL6PAn_ZrJPQsKo6g3-Z7vONdOA8UA1jZYd_K3k7nsSXnCnoeN-EgOoVVo-QTQ62T59DAz_JGG7cNa51jKBJSm-eVepIwC1z36HZ4QqWiWBRHcP9pbFxy7u7OTEw7Pxm7UyCz0o/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-12+at+11.26.19+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaglsaL6PAn_ZrJPQsKo6g3-Z7vONdOA8UA1jZYd_K3k7nsSXnCnoeN-EgOoVVo-QTQ62T59DAz_JGG7cNa51jKBJSm-eVepIwC1z36HZ4QqWiWBRHcP9pbFxy7u7OTEw7Pxm7UyCz0o/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-11-12+at+11.26.19+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I’m not stating these things to be negative. It’s when I see news about <a href="http://freebeacon.com/politics/colleges-offering-therapy-students-traumatized-election-results/" target="_blank">students being given therapy dogs</a> because they are so traumatized by this outcome, it does beg the question. Does it not?<br />
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Are institutions of higher learning seriously insulating our college students from the real world and are they not preparing them for the larger world view they will need for their future?<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-87760445452100447402016-11-09T10:00:00.000-05:002016-11-09T10:00:21.632-05:00A New Member of My Family - Welcome Macey!Hello Blogosphere!<br />
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I'm so excited to introduce a new member of my family today. But first, I want to acknowledge the end of a very divisive and painful election season.<br />
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To some, today is a day of somberness, maybe even despair. To others, it's a day of reckoning and joy. But either way, it is the first day of another chapter in <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/search?q=+America" target="_blank">America</a>. The days leading up to my decision to find Macey were filled with the anxiety of possibly losing America in an election that would make history like no other event in the world. We had the option to choose someone who served 30 years in public office, leading a campaign on steadiness and unity. We also had the option to choose a business man who never held office a day in his life, leading a campaign on cleaning up Washington and rebuilding America. I so wanted change and I was afraid it would not happen. I did my part. I voted.<br />
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No matter who you voted for in this election, you remain and will always be my American partners. We are in this thing together, as we were with all Presidents of the past. We will see what unfolds in our future, but I have trust in our political system and I believe hope is around the corner.<br />
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With the looming election weighing heavy on my shoulders, I scoured the Internet in search of the one who could make me feel confident and content with my choice, no matter the outcome of the election. When I saw her, I knew she belonged to me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv4iLxc2SXO9j-TuH2XX9Qwyt76txc3PxswToOSxi4-xXzLBKrYW_styUWG0t8IZEXx2A2WZoXd0wNrrgAiKv1pqn8LWnmRX8rt0xQEmhQPt-MhMioyFSpCTLvz4LO23HgEHCBQOr-3g/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv4iLxc2SXO9j-TuH2XX9Qwyt76txc3PxswToOSxi4-xXzLBKrYW_styUWG0t8IZEXx2A2WZoXd0wNrrgAiKv1pqn8LWnmRX8rt0xQEmhQPt-MhMioyFSpCTLvz4LO23HgEHCBQOr-3g/s200/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>
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We had a few names to consider. Those names were carefully bounced back and forth between me and Charles. In contention, Baxter, Dallas, Bella, and Stormy rolled off our tongues.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDV3HglrupQm1Xils1peql2_Uqy2wg1UNiEfrpIVpnjmOwrYVerNILyJM7K70XRDIHWX9eSUGrbyPXHVYr_eeUWtPJpfZjzWotq7q3Gq7KzUuqSlEITAbXo4uZiDb9pl2fZ1hdI1lo6M/s1600/Bella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDV3HglrupQm1Xils1peql2_Uqy2wg1UNiEfrpIVpnjmOwrYVerNILyJM7K70XRDIHWX9eSUGrbyPXHVYr_eeUWtPJpfZjzWotq7q3Gq7KzUuqSlEITAbXo4uZiDb9pl2fZ1hdI1lo6M/s320/Bella.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like a Bella here.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq3vAcA1px8U_1Vxw_bgDPuwy7bnxVYRadFPVV_Ni-ezg-gORDjnPVm1dVAfBm23OMMUCKiRNODWIjdflrmbPNiPvw5YL8izSJcy2QnQmGfFCRFRyiixYQCZlMZscsX67hXW-fW6S7MM/s1600/Dallas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq3vAcA1px8U_1Vxw_bgDPuwy7bnxVYRadFPVV_Ni-ezg-gORDjnPVm1dVAfBm23OMMUCKiRNODWIjdflrmbPNiPvw5YL8izSJcy2QnQmGfFCRFRyiixYQCZlMZscsX67hXW-fW6S7MM/s320/Dallas.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely Dallas.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa8DQspuv7oy4-Ulu7pmEbbdBQjX8uK9DWUs2Bgt1QXW2q5iPoVVD8ItxcihyBW76BrpH_C9vUOSwKB17otHYv0W_d28Y8xIVKXARxJmZEBBlvhZF23zPGFBBZOIviGlu5bkxXqf0vEg/s1600/Stormy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa8DQspuv7oy4-Ulu7pmEbbdBQjX8uK9DWUs2Bgt1QXW2q5iPoVVD8ItxcihyBW76BrpH_C9vUOSwKB17otHYv0W_d28Y8xIVKXARxJmZEBBlvhZF23zPGFBBZOIviGlu5bkxXqf0vEg/s320/Stormy.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stormy is so contrasting to this level of calm.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Uy8ee6xAGVvigOlHacYSO8RCQCH_IEJoO1l_KWJmpbLvl-k2U9OqwfBXxLejnR6kQe5sUzR08YufgGDAOjWWUOBIrapZDlqelgS8RQSjYuVc2wFeJaNFzzkEROheZyWC6t40XQMyRW0/s1600/Baxter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Uy8ee6xAGVvigOlHacYSO8RCQCH_IEJoO1l_KWJmpbLvl-k2U9OqwfBXxLejnR6kQe5sUzR08YufgGDAOjWWUOBIrapZDlqelgS8RQSjYuVc2wFeJaNFzzkEROheZyWC6t40XQMyRW0/s320/Baxter.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baxter is so noble!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />In the end, and during the hours that unfolded on election day, I settled on Macey. From the <a href="http://www.sheknows.com/baby-names/name/macey" target="_blank">baby names site</a>, and I quote:<div>
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People with this name tend to be quiet, cooperative, considerate, sympathetic to others, adaptable, balanced and sometimes shy. They are trustworthy, respecting the confidences of others, and make excellent diplomats, mediators and partners. They are often very intuitive. They like detail and order, and often find change worrisome. They may sometimes feel insecure or restless.</blockquote>
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I think in these tumultuous times, I need something like this in my life, and Macey appears in all instances capable of bringing a balance into this family and into my world. What do you think? Comment below!<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-28067990090842658532016-10-28T08:49:00.001-04:002016-10-28T11:07:48.042-04:00My First Ever Demolition DerbyYou all know that I'm one to try new things, right? Get ready for this one!<br />
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<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/safXrwDPpjM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/safXrwDPpjM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Okay, so I wasn't sure what I was going to experience, but sitting in the stand and watching the showboating, careening of metal, and mudslinging of pure earthly product, was actually a lot of fun. It reminded me that not everything in life that you create must be kept hidden away and protected from damage. The things you create produce no glory if others cannot see it and challenge it with their own creations. </div>
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Here's a 9-minute video of the last heat of the demolition derby. We were up high enough to avoid the assault of flying dirt and debris, but the air reeked of smoke and burning rubber. Somehow, it was nostalgic and comforting.</div>
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When was the last time you experienced something for the first time? I guess I need to get out more often. :)<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-53079902681954267062016-10-13T15:03:00.000-04:002016-10-13T15:03:20.333-04:00A Movement Mainstream Media is Ignoring - Part 3I checked the media online to try and get some crowd numbers and see if the momentum is still going for the Trump rallies after the <a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-10-13/wikileaks-releases-another-2000-podesta-emails-part-6-data-dump" target="_blank">WikiLeaks</a> and mainstream media October surprises. Apparently, the people are starting to realize the one-sidedness of the media because the ground game seems to tell a different story.<br />
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The first three photos are of the live speech in Ocala, Florida. Ocala is a small town of roughly 57,000 people. At the live event, there were approximately 15,000 people. That means 26% of the Ocala residents showed up to watch the Donald in 85 degree weather!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr8bjPYMqAM_dPPXIcadfFQpOXPcmT5TUaRJQEqxc4SEBvLlwNLfzralLThdM4XENCPCg2OtIUnAOf2gLE3AmqAKDULfnx0yU40pwpLNHuRsrDYra3IHKqs4IX6qUjH6rISLEgYEN67U/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.07.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr8bjPYMqAM_dPPXIcadfFQpOXPcmT5TUaRJQEqxc4SEBvLlwNLfzralLThdM4XENCPCg2OtIUnAOf2gLE3AmqAKDULfnx0yU40pwpLNHuRsrDYra3IHKqs4IX6qUjH6rISLEgYEN67U/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.07.45+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just watch the numbers jump on the bottom <br />right of the screen...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMct8xDLvPgi8ThXdYBWE1w5yoGUdQNx-S74-a3ja21J1BjZEc284Q1HOoJXK1COZ9YNBEMVVp_DHFiZk1EFuJeDT462N8sXDnHFX30TJQOnp-iNDNrahHDhqjf9WtrdU9lUG-IwsQcw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.22.51+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMct8xDLvPgi8ThXdYBWE1w5yoGUdQNx-S74-a3ja21J1BjZEc284Q1HOoJXK1COZ9YNBEMVVp_DHFiZk1EFuJeDT462N8sXDnHFX30TJQOnp-iNDNrahHDhqjf9WtrdU9lUG-IwsQcw/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.22.51+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See that jump? Watch for the next one.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZlSfMvC32TGbEfAlFH6DHQHfPqi52II0vUcp8eHSKYGpAoSkS_dNrFPmqYyCxzEzin02lg2ro4xsA_uUq1s8NUuA7c4DstxKKpkO4pRd49IoBBgbfRFoY9SJTjd2gIJTWLicaRuj9L0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.30.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZlSfMvC32TGbEfAlFH6DHQHfPqi52II0vUcp8eHSKYGpAoSkS_dNrFPmqYyCxzEzin02lg2ro4xsA_uUq1s8NUuA7c4DstxKKpkO4pRd49IoBBgbfRFoY9SJTjd2gIJTWLicaRuj9L0/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.30.49+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are people watching at work!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6MmgL3y5CttJsRRxoK-tSJHbhzJoP5kmyWiVrmPNpEeJvI5hPs0H4tlYLwsTJSeTklq1No7-hDPYd5Q4R-TVinm9QKAYL0IC22-Y32e58-nim0absYQJ7Xu6oV4ee2olnNzGQdCQSaU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.58.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6MmgL3y5CttJsRRxoK-tSJHbhzJoP5kmyWiVrmPNpEeJvI5hPs0H4tlYLwsTJSeTklq1No7-hDPYd5Q4R-TVinm9QKAYL0IC22-Y32e58-nim0absYQJ7Xu6oV4ee2olnNzGQdCQSaU/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.58.03+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26% of Ocala residents showed up at Trump rally.</td></tr>
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However, let's look at Orlando, Florida, where the population is roughly 255,000 people. Hillary Clinton held a rally there in December of 2015. A bigger pool of people wouldn't you say? </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizveBLWPPdFfc1b3sl0CIe49eW4qCtljPNcqWrHmO5_UdoYz3JtpF01tyzA9A-HwjYjlfDWjgQ885BAuHzf_9LZLxY85N0fENIlGdUfu4TNaARAPppl4mxQh9IuTtWKCSJftp1-g_lDE0/s1600/hillary+orlando.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizveBLWPPdFfc1b3sl0CIe49eW4qCtljPNcqWrHmO5_UdoYz3JtpF01tyzA9A-HwjYjlfDWjgQ885BAuHzf_9LZLxY85N0fENIlGdUfu4TNaARAPppl4mxQh9IuTtWKCSJftp1-g_lDE0/s320/hillary+orlando.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can pack a room tight, but it's not going to <br />make the crowd bigger!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPLFhJQvMHgVsCAp57h7YK1_SOlXydYlWhGeI6uTg21O9xUcH65U96mFykY2e1mGrwF95zAayVXumLgrz7sT4Ly3U_SGSxqmJIx690o5fwCYXAYVtPcr_o6RG3OV3bXzxnHj3fR0bNdI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.53.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPLFhJQvMHgVsCAp57h7YK1_SOlXydYlWhGeI6uTg21O9xUcH65U96mFykY2e1mGrwF95zAayVXumLgrz7sT4Ly3U_SGSxqmJIx690o5fwCYXAYVtPcr_o6RG3OV3bXzxnHj3fR0bNdI/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.53.05+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at them, packed in like sardines! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NEfNT-ecuJoey-_iLdpBHPiGORcsuDak-HXn2auGFdsqbJ7iXOqgQ5XTxZiC-Y_0Dd08L8nwNkDSATMXs4nQMNYaetYlCJ3nPxGsWP3wR1JzctKn5TwbGplbJ-Q7PZDyTnvW9ldJ8H0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.58.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NEfNT-ecuJoey-_iLdpBHPiGORcsuDak-HXn2auGFdsqbJ7iXOqgQ5XTxZiC-Y_0Dd08L8nwNkDSATMXs4nQMNYaetYlCJ3nPxGsWP3wR1JzctKn5TwbGplbJ-Q7PZDyTnvW9ldJ8H0/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+1.58.43+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is another shot of the Ocala rally for Trump. <br />The other two thirds are to the right and not in the photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68xbeZr5r8f1y0ZhL0jvfqqk2lR2tHancOiHKQX0KidqzmqpgXZc80OIKhugdtnExTsfJuiy60xhm511AFg7-zhV0_lCIywPOt_fmaKm8T2JIt6j69wOB3XkQIAIiJu8zn91RfXrAUOY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+11.29.59+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68xbeZr5r8f1y0ZhL0jvfqqk2lR2tHancOiHKQX0KidqzmqpgXZc80OIKhugdtnExTsfJuiy60xhm511AFg7-zhV0_lCIywPOt_fmaKm8T2JIt6j69wOB3XkQIAIiJu8zn91RfXrAUOY/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+11.29.59+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Mike Pence, and he's only the Vice Presidential <br />GOP nominee.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYp05FE3Mz3o8qHi3KSZeJO7kcz2HbDCQbahdLzx-vGfy99cIYqGlYDdMcPw6RJ_y-FxbnwTbWAVLZZiCRZDzIr4nfrO-KPnMm0MzeCicBarGSk-kJH4mDPiqIMEjHn9jl3_7WXfVVrs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+11.30.33+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYp05FE3Mz3o8qHi3KSZeJO7kcz2HbDCQbahdLzx-vGfy99cIYqGlYDdMcPw6RJ_y-FxbnwTbWAVLZZiCRZDzIr4nfrO-KPnMm0MzeCicBarGSk-kJH4mDPiqIMEjHn9jl3_7WXfVVrs/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-10-12+at+11.30.33+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Mike Pence crowd at Liberty University. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The two photos below are other Hillary Clinton rallies with poor turn outs. I'm sorry, but it was really hard to find photos of Clinton's full audiences. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgVpQUS8ncDoEEV_B7lkaZn93p5i1Rldhi6h2Fd1qE7ZP4Z1R0MviOSlxy9cKgGc7CBcrNe5GtVkAihu9A_zqXqXa2mXJ8CyvLhazMvexw-_yMk_Y08T6vtgKteqvyR4f1ULMZgLuf-Y/s1600/hillary+NC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgVpQUS8ncDoEEV_B7lkaZn93p5i1Rldhi6h2Fd1qE7ZP4Z1R0MviOSlxy9cKgGc7CBcrNe5GtVkAihu9A_zqXqXa2mXJ8CyvLhazMvexw-_yMk_Y08T6vtgKteqvyR4f1ULMZgLuf-Y/s320/hillary+NC.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granted, she's not speaking yet, but look how <br />they have it roped off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXBU7-O4egX2-AxVT6LUe0iteZiadVr5Q6SxI70JsuVNOrgbRRVRqpRCkc5djdtxCGHJ4PQntWWPPbhd5EhOmgsaCloYyJFbwl9hu3LVB9jGqM-qvuhO_NVOr7GlO4GjmQV67MaIOQAg/s1600/hillary+ohio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXBU7-O4egX2-AxVT6LUe0iteZiadVr5Q6SxI70JsuVNOrgbRRVRqpRCkc5djdtxCGHJ4PQntWWPPbhd5EhOmgsaCloYyJFbwl9hu3LVB9jGqM-qvuhO_NVOr7GlO4GjmQV67MaIOQAg/s320/hillary+ohio.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's it, pack em all into a small room so that <br />we look crowded.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't like how the media tries to influence the public. Aren't they supposed to be unbiased and just report the numbers? Instead, we have to rely on these photographs to tell us what the ground game looks like. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The polls that come out in the mainstream media show that Hillary Clinton is winning. With the exception of a poll that I took this afternoon. It was the first poll I took that I had to confirm my email address before I could see the results. I know, you're ready to see those results, right? They're at the bottom of this post. But first, some more Trump crowds.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGtzh1j045s7mbYIWqre69cwq_PziMN0J4HPVm6DyHMY62pwxN1QY3YbewO4Jek65LAzEH7DCG4YHJNAN2tYrw7JBaNkqOukim-43vLOfXeCov7JDWCIDqfwb57y0kQd8-T-otgiwwl4/s1600/trump+lakeland+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGtzh1j045s7mbYIWqre69cwq_PziMN0J4HPVm6DyHMY62pwxN1QY3YbewO4Jek65LAzEH7DCG4YHJNAN2tYrw7JBaNkqOukim-43vLOfXeCov7JDWCIDqfwb57y0kQd8-T-otgiwwl4/s320/trump+lakeland+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what a winning ground game SHOULD look like. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zGLXLOuhGB6uxSWJKiBbKtTq49Cw_Lfi-9x5OAxQbgLnAjwWfwuHazvn1IWk7A7IF_tfLNiTTHTtL933Qh2QGDVhcvTNxs1pEqa5hENAa5qJSLhLKDPIQdF8YPbc5goLUFa4gt_TnO8/s1600/trump+lakeland.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zGLXLOuhGB6uxSWJKiBbKtTq49Cw_Lfi-9x5OAxQbgLnAjwWfwuHazvn1IWk7A7IF_tfLNiTTHTtL933Qh2QGDVhcvTNxs1pEqa5hENAa5qJSLhLKDPIQdF8YPbc5goLUFa4gt_TnO8/s1600/trump+lakeland.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know he's unrehearsed and a bit crude, but he's <br />for sure got a following.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdr95VMFENRv_EosDFkgnIy8BL75GFPs9ku4TgsFBEODg8c8RQj321Z5paIucTe-ibAZXF0nTLOI_NMFCl3NkraRTTh6IHZHpS_u0enzHn74GY8o8oLhUzujH-pqtkWEBZFHfz1uSs_x0/s1600/trump+nc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdr95VMFENRv_EosDFkgnIy8BL75GFPs9ku4TgsFBEODg8c8RQj321Z5paIucTe-ibAZXF0nTLOI_NMFCl3NkraRTTh6IHZHpS_u0enzHn74GY8o8oLhUzujH-pqtkWEBZFHfz1uSs_x0/s320/trump+nc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a crowd of people who are fed up with the status quo. <br />Out with the politicians and let's rebuild America!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />And now the latest poll results of those folks with confirmed email addresses (real people).<div>
<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeUzrQ1bhYHQ1JBkb3lNB7PGLSYoLwE2_bOBfs7CoQMEvVublkr1lYGHOBIKJiWTw-C0iF3ELykOOze5zR3l57YuIkho5V09ktfBZALdjoglA-m-n1DQA-sXP9hAGM8FCqa_ftAQ7gyU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-13+at+2.55.31+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeUzrQ1bhYHQ1JBkb3lNB7PGLSYoLwE2_bOBfs7CoQMEvVublkr1lYGHOBIKJiWTw-C0iF3ELykOOze5zR3l57YuIkho5V09ktfBZALdjoglA-m-n1DQA-sXP9hAGM8FCqa_ftAQ7gyU/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-10-13+at+2.55.31+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-movement-main-stream-media-is-ignoring.html" target="_blank">The Movement, Part I</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-movement-mainstream-media-is-ignoring.html" target="_blank">The Movement, Part II</a></div>
<div>
<br /><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogspot.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6556abaa45e85e01ad85effcd&id=ce7a2518bf" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Smiley face" border="0" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7cB_ggxm8CrnB_rFt58snCSjZr2O6_-dX6NFA0UuaCP6skH10fxjqZiQ-agobKSIsyqfCkpra6QP9yNT0lxNctfskVaA7EghaKGMHt8IBKPxxWtAInBfCbKX7gxfMcHwU8InevbgVZ0/s1600/subscribe.png" width="84" /></a>If you enjoyed this article and would like to receive future articles in your inbox ---
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-5142399816150049942016-10-03T14:21:00.001-04:002016-10-13T15:05:22.901-04:00A Movement Mainstream Media is Ignoring - Part 2For those who enjoyed this <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-movement-main-stream-media-is-ignoring.html" target="_blank">first post on the #movement</a>, I'm adding the crowds of both candidates from their respective rallies in Toledo, Ohio. Hillary Clinton chooses small buildings because she needs to fill to capacity to make a decent crowd. Likewise, Donald Trump must accommodate his larger crowds, so he opts for stadiums, auditoriums, airplane hangars, and runways. This is how the mainstream media keeps the candidates equal. But we know the truth, right? ;)<br />
<br />
Trump's crowds are "yuge", believe me.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_a2fZzs0gVkDAWFhzmTGqVBRYUjyoYS8TFqAdy1B2VOACemb-4bMf-k55RXvaqY5W3CUqWnTXfs2GTO6iNOERsXktwS0dREGErYIst2W-b9c_P0cR1JmvzrQ1jio4qrSqeY4Aa-9BPA/s1600/hillaryohio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_a2fZzs0gVkDAWFhzmTGqVBRYUjyoYS8TFqAdy1B2VOACemb-4bMf-k55RXvaqY5W3CUqWnTXfs2GTO6iNOERsXktwS0dREGErYIst2W-b9c_P0cR1JmvzrQ1jio4qrSqeY4Aa-9BPA/s320/hillaryohio.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Don't let the size of the photo fool you. Small crowd.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EKUV0WZm3aHtADvkQbeXfYeuvr3RxnUmYGX_lDF-7vipMWAScgWQKAeYMxkdNeoIMigENcZVLeoPKk6hATivxvynoMpW4RvR3YbUvj3y8_SOtmzagt_iP-VdyGJdNTzUyP6FTYjPFCU/s1600/trumpohio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EKUV0WZm3aHtADvkQbeXfYeuvr3RxnUmYGX_lDF-7vipMWAScgWQKAeYMxkdNeoIMigENcZVLeoPKk6hATivxvynoMpW4RvR3YbUvj3y8_SOtmzagt_iP-VdyGJdNTzUyP6FTYjPFCU/s320/trumpohio.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Likewise, this small photo means nothing. Look at the crowd!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Please share using the share buttons at the bottom of this post. Thank you all!<br />
<div>
<br />
<a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-movement-mainstream-media-is-ignoring_13.html" target="_blank">The Movement, part III</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogspot.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6556abaa45e85e01ad85effcd&id=ce7a2518bf" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Smiley face" border="0" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7cB_ggxm8CrnB_rFt58snCSjZr2O6_-dX6NFA0UuaCP6skH10fxjqZiQ-agobKSIsyqfCkpra6QP9yNT0lxNctfskVaA7EghaKGMHt8IBKPxxWtAInBfCbKX7gxfMcHwU8InevbgVZ0/s1600/subscribe.png" width="84" /></a>If you enjoyed this article and would like to receive future articles in your inbox ---
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-29949967880987477292016-10-01T10:49:00.000-04:002016-10-13T15:04:23.077-04:00A Movement Mainstream Media is IgnoringI'm inspired by the 2016 presidential election process between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. What's most fascinating to me is how the media responds to America's obvious desire for content they are not getting, and all for political reasons.<br />
<br />
I logged into Youtube yesterday to check out the live streaming of both candidates at their respective September rallies. To be fair, I didn't want to rely on the polls and mainstream media to report any movement in popular America. I wanted to see for myself. And, in light of all that I know about trends, the media spin, and influence, I thought it might be fun to put together this picture story. It speaks for itself.<br />
<br />
Like and share this blog post when you see the implication. :)<br />
<br />
Polls can be skewed, but an audience and their reactions speak volumes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicm5F59w8RkY-KfHOFj_Cbv8vpf6EFTpkDCW8Z8FBM2ofmx1KG1I5L2V7rKFNMNLmWBDei8SI-2xKCCYIbK3ESC_6X_BuBv74-TQ5_Gu84eJcFF0j5EwRSluFNq9jiUSoesi5ET1BDl8g/s1600/Online+Viewers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicm5F59w8RkY-KfHOFj_Cbv8vpf6EFTpkDCW8Z8FBM2ofmx1KG1I5L2V7rKFNMNLmWBDei8SI-2xKCCYIbK3ESC_6X_BuBv74-TQ5_Gu84eJcFF0j5EwRSluFNq9jiUSoesi5ET1BDl8g/s320/Online+Viewers.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small online showing. Look at the likes vs. dislikes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ec-RPDCDMvHdsfFeQTNpC9XjmYivUnLUsPvSwZW8aAT9xndlzEWHF1bCmBKeIxNXOAF5Spfe3MYPANzwiU6UM8rFfEQaV7oSLu7Glz9_NyWEtjzZ1ty608ZCWW66JpviSSwDCzQ1Ttc/s1600/Trump+Live.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ec-RPDCDMvHdsfFeQTNpC9XjmYivUnLUsPvSwZW8aAT9xndlzEWHF1bCmBKeIxNXOAF5Spfe3MYPANzwiU6UM8rFfEQaV7oSLu7Glz9_NyWEtjzZ1ty608ZCWW66JpviSSwDCzQ1Ttc/s320/Trump+Live.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A much larger online audience with opposite reactions.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This is a much different picture than what the mainstream media is reporting. I don't understand how to explain the media's indifference to the obvious movement of the American people. Please share this and let's hope this goes viral!<br />
<br />
If you enjoy this movement, <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-movement-mainstream-media-is-ignoring.html" target="_blank">look at part II</a>. <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-movement-mainstream-media-is-ignoring_13.html" target="_blank">The Movement, part III</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-68401972670173157432016-09-22T06:00:00.000-04:002016-09-22T11:09:13.579-04:00Leadership is Missing in AmericaThe last time I wrote a controversial piece was the jury deliberations in <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-state-of-florida-vs-george.html" target="_blank">The State of Florida vs. Zimmerman</a> case. Pundits lost the message as they set out to start another narrative about gun ownership. The media loves to have two sides to any controversy. It creates drama and tension for their ratings, but it's still not a solution to a problem.<br />
<br />
<br />
I think people speaking out about <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2016/09/21/nfl-ratings-drop-faster-than-colin-kaepernick-hearing-the-national-anthem/" target="_blank">Kaepernick's right to protest</a> isn't a solution either. All you manage to pull off is discover how many supporters each side has in their court. Kaepernick is an ignorant young man. He protested on the only stage he has and it just happens to be a large stage with a captive audience. It was a controversial thing to do and this fact is diluting his message. Those types of protests are ineffective. How does this help the communities that are deteriorating?<br />
<br />
<br />
These communities are in need of strong leaders to serve as role models. Leaders don't burn down buildings, loot businesses, and disrespect the American flag. Leaders evolve and rise to the top, but nobody is taking the lead inside these communities. Athletes with large stages protest but never step foot in the communities that are in trouble. And the leaders in the NFL community? From nowhere are they heard. Sad, isn't it? Let's put this in perspective here:<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In 2012, the NFL fined the San Diego Chargers $20,000 because they failed to surrender towels on time when directed to do so by an NFL official.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In 2014, the Cleveland Browns general manager used an electronic device many times. The NFL suspended him for the first four games of the 2015 season. The team incurred a $250,000 fine.</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
If these athletes are so passionate about making a difference, they should get involved. If black lives matter, go to the office of the Mayor and demand more. Go to the local leaders in the legislature and protest. Campaign to throw out ineffective leaders. The lazy way out is to sit out the national anthem while collecting millions from your fans and sponsors. This is why I'm <a href="http://until%20they%20step%20up%20to%20lead%2C%20i%27m%20boycotting%20the%20nfl./" target="_blank">boycotting the NFL</a>. Maybe when the <a href="http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/09/20/are-athlete-national-anthem-protests-costing-nfl-viewership/" target="_blank">network ratings drop</a>, the sponsors will wake up.<br />
<br />
<br />
There is a bigger issue here than black lives or blue lives. It's about leadership and the lack of it in places where it's needed the most. When are the leaders going to step up and do something about it? There are <a href="http://urbanintellectuals.com/2014/04/08/10-black-celebs-who-give-back/" target="_blank">generous black celebrities</a> who use their wealth and power to help out black causes. Yet, the communities that need the most are those where it seems the only folks who visit are the cops.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
These young athletes could use a reminder from Dr. King.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.</blockquote>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSgIvbE55uP7dwC-agF445aroiol4VSNdZBbGob_mD_DdyAJmZxjhtzIqV2SznGQJ4PoHZP1feQ469oVM95MGlVTkK_lTpzEk_Z7Qro3L_3rED5XHB31ZHNBxMwq0npAfxGJVFF4punc/s1600/mlkwithflag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSgIvbE55uP7dwC-agF445aroiol4VSNdZBbGob_mD_DdyAJmZxjhtzIqV2SznGQJ4PoHZP1feQ469oVM95MGlVTkK_lTpzEk_Z7Qro3L_3rED5XHB31ZHNBxMwq0npAfxGJVFF4punc/s320/mlkwithflag.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-64242561846563082662016-09-15T14:40:00.000-04:002016-09-15T14:40:50.228-04:00HASHTAG boycott NFL - Fail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZxpXO32V8bOctiyqJD2Sn-0owyx12BR6ELMyr5YseMlPH9oU7sLqWvvr-Beqe99eay5SPzGBhRXpVxRKDaBCH2jj9FUwA0jvhTSbqTGxEAYbhjjLA4Khn0RAL8UvXRjAd7M8vi_Lseg/s1600/boycott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZxpXO32V8bOctiyqJD2Sn-0owyx12BR6ELMyr5YseMlPH9oU7sLqWvvr-Beqe99eay5SPzGBhRXpVxRKDaBCH2jj9FUwA0jvhTSbqTGxEAYbhjjLA4Khn0RAL8UvXRjAd7M8vi_Lseg/s320/boycott.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I understand that many are upset with the protests occurring
during the national anthem at NFL games. Athletes refusing to stand for the anthem chaps my ass as well. I won't mention names because I think
these guys already get plenty of the attention they crave. I'm writing
this post, not to lambaste the players for protesting by sitting during the
anthem, but to say, "Really, America?" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's the point. Hash tags are great and social media is a
valuable tool to make your point. But, hash tags and trending on Twitter do not
make #BoycottNFL speak louder than the acts of the protesters. If you're still
attending games and tuning in, then you only have yourselves to blame. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These players have the freedom to protest how they wish, but
they can still be swayed by the consequences of their actions. Capitalism is what
gives these players their stage. This is how Capitalism works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you buy something like a game ticket,
it's called demand. When they get paid millions to play, it's called supply.
Stop using Twitter as if it were some magical device that will end offensive behavior by trending a message. Instead, stop buying tickets and tuning into these games. People think
that the more outrage they show on social media the more impact it will have. Maybe it will get the word out, maybe it won't. What percentage of those outraged will actually boycott the NFL? I hope 100%! Who's with me? There's still college ball. :)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_uNQBwTKc55DtEQBl8qjuSKd6DUZvjwgnvue10Psz5ocIEVjiTI8ZCj8u1AZ8NsXmvgZtTnJM1mgT42KQ0NrvYpahqfQCCyymVICLHCq47AXgyZhmcdGvqHxD7DMJSctlt-Jq4meh1E/s1600/boycottNFL-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_uNQBwTKc55DtEQBl8qjuSKd6DUZvjwgnvue10Psz5ocIEVjiTI8ZCj8u1AZ8NsXmvgZtTnJM1mgT42KQ0NrvYpahqfQCCyymVICLHCq47AXgyZhmcdGvqHxD7DMJSctlt-Jq4meh1E/s320/boycottNFL-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, I know there are plenty of players who show respect and
they shouldn't be punished for the few who decide to basically put their finger
to the society who feeds them, all too well. In my day, if one part of your
group acted up, the entire group paid for it. When one group member didn’t do
their assignment, everyone in the group got a poor grade. When enough of that
shit happens, trust me, those few acting up will assimilate as the team sees
fit. Until you decide to stop feeding the problem, the problem will remain. These NFL teams aren't going to get the bad apples
in line as long as they are getting fed by the same hand (sports fans). See
what I mean? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Put your money somewhere else for the time being and watch these
teams kick some petulant children in the ass. Until then, these things will
spiral out of control. These athletes will continue to bring in multi millions
from sponsors, because society can’t get enough of these wonderful athletes and
celebrity douche bags.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks for tuning in, but I'm tuning out (of the NFL). See you next time!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="http://blogspot.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6556abaa45e85e01ad85effcd&id=ce7a2518bf" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Smiley face" border="0" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7cB_ggxm8CrnB_rFt58snCSjZr2O6_-dX6NFA0UuaCP6skH10fxjqZiQ-agobKSIsyqfCkpra6QP9yNT0lxNctfskVaA7EghaKGMHt8IBKPxxWtAInBfCbKX7gxfMcHwU8InevbgVZ0/s1600/subscribe.png" width="84" /></a>If you enjoyed this article and would like to receive future articles in your inbox ---
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-85668124547723336182016-09-07T10:50:00.002-04:002016-09-08T08:40:49.607-04:00Hurricane Hermine AftermathThere are five things I'd like to share in the aftermath of <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/01/weather/tropical-storm-hermine/" target="_blank">Hurricane Hermine</a>, because these days off from work bored me to tears and now I have the writing bug again. Here's to another <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/search?q=+labor+day" target="_blank">Labor Day</a> weekend disaster!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>1. Hurricane Damage</b><br />
<br />
I'm sure everyone in the Blogosphere has heard about Hurricane Hermine. It made landfall southeast of Tallahassee last Thursday and reached wind gusts of up to 64 mph in my neighborhood. Here are some photos to show the extent of the damage.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp9eiTJfq9oAjIsOn9Ew3jura9vBdgTVhllp-pSgj9U7ViXIv-SChAan4dY67hZJnxmIf0_W831LHj79Dr8CwrtKGpUo84n3Gjph7WAqwQLZT9NXncMfKCJ4chFxfcpJbCfp1pcO1_as/s1600/damage4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp9eiTJfq9oAjIsOn9Ew3jura9vBdgTVhllp-pSgj9U7ViXIv-SChAan4dY67hZJnxmIf0_W831LHj79Dr8CwrtKGpUo84n3Gjph7WAqwQLZT9NXncMfKCJ4chFxfcpJbCfp1pcO1_as/s320/damage4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the main road heading to my subdivision</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtuCYnfofxVcILOOK-RFMaAKcgwldB4usR305ng4ajRedOrZvMKhhagRdSXHIz7TIEe_H8BtMnqBNQSwadj-xC4bvnZuh8bWB6YrQ7H2f5yE7u-jopOBxyJ224V8BhRz6gznYsskO8gA/s1600/damage5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtuCYnfofxVcILOOK-RFMaAKcgwldB4usR305ng4ajRedOrZvMKhhagRdSXHIz7TIEe_H8BtMnqBNQSwadj-xC4bvnZuh8bWB6YrQ7H2f5yE7u-jopOBxyJ224V8BhRz6gznYsskO8gA/s320/damage5.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Power lines down!! Lost power in 80% of Tallahassee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jTOu5W0Dtjd7KYLg5JESUlGqDSvYtdk33mgnq3VPV3-5aV6_6MYBiZ5TaOvdWZdoUEURwrGfWXUQlqjI0X0mtwGBreWLHAWIoiVXJYEtwwQPHQeuOHWhFLhMLSbO63tk2l5-fW5yaYI/s1600/damage6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jTOu5W0Dtjd7KYLg5JESUlGqDSvYtdk33mgnq3VPV3-5aV6_6MYBiZ5TaOvdWZdoUEURwrGfWXUQlqjI0X0mtwGBreWLHAWIoiVXJYEtwwQPHQeuOHWhFLhMLSbO63tk2l5-fW5yaYI/s320/damage6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck Lake Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXoASoHm-NNMx4MfOyxGQzZVrvU1Rf8LUYbv4OStQe7W-JZ48kH8Ew_dJHUUS4sn1nQZOeiAaoBvdiVWhRjXuqMQw572leV6k4A8LiscoilmaMveFBT7_vEx6mmT1C1Z7vmY6EBaZAHA/s1600/damage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXoASoHm-NNMx4MfOyxGQzZVrvU1Rf8LUYbv4OStQe7W-JZ48kH8Ew_dJHUUS4sn1nQZOeiAaoBvdiVWhRjXuqMQw572leV6k4A8LiscoilmaMveFBT7_vEx6mmT1C1Z7vmY6EBaZAHA/s320/damage+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My back yard, not too bad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpb52r3-HJ3JI2hipki86ecPw8gJLN97DT5bRjMe4xA10CcPaXj9FcDDz_K2loZW6Byy0wNwmyLVx7kgFxl90PEjtPhGwrD_KsoJDO1YH1R2qghFNZW4Lh8-kg0NTSUGOw7-0yjpFyaU/s1600/hh+damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpb52r3-HJ3JI2hipki86ecPw8gJLN97DT5bRjMe4xA10CcPaXj9FcDDz_K2loZW6Byy0wNwmyLVx7kgFxl90PEjtPhGwrD_KsoJDO1YH1R2qghFNZW4Lh8-kg0NTSUGOw7-0yjpFyaU/s320/hh+damage.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Think I might need a new canopy...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSO5YKpu8beJrbpLHoEx-U7ZiZrL9a13Pvhh4TFnfjZ2O5RraIz2HuVwwJqXjRYh8sLxdINajVoAvRySvHVZVW2cI-RpmjljhEipvxt40EraTZCokTgpMnJaJbTqtM6kXTBkHNYIJJhk/s1600/damage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSO5YKpu8beJrbpLHoEx-U7ZiZrL9a13Pvhh4TFnfjZ2O5RraIz2HuVwwJqXjRYh8sLxdINajVoAvRySvHVZVW2cI-RpmjljhEipvxt40EraTZCokTgpMnJaJbTqtM6kXTBkHNYIJJhk/s320/damage3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tree was uprooted. Had to secure it.</td></tr>
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<b>2. Jeep Shopping</b><br />
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A couple days after the hurricane, I visited a used car lot to look at a 2006 Jeep Wrangler (black). It wouldn't start without a battery jump, and touch-up paint dotted every 6 inches of the body. Sure, the vehicle was 10 years old. But, if you have that many spots to "touch up", put the damned Jeep in a body shop and get a real paint job.<br />
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"I'm thinking I'll paint it pink and get a zombie decal on the side."<br />
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"I won't ride in it if you do that." Charles shut <i><b>that </b></i>down quicker than Elly May Clampett could hog-tie a wild boar!<br />
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Okay, fine. I'll get a Barbie decal instead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4eXZ7gAaCHZIcQplBHjwdneBLeyh7Xa6JBlRTmuqF-JeSKE00ymNVHtrUyBCc92QPL1SdnF19qtzaxiNiI9rOwtpJqPSddeApm9CvWVyiuOQLIYdsKZi1Cf-_58Zt_ZgUAE-Ru6a5Ac/s1600/pink+jeep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4eXZ7gAaCHZIcQplBHjwdneBLeyh7Xa6JBlRTmuqF-JeSKE00ymNVHtrUyBCc92QPL1SdnF19qtzaxiNiI9rOwtpJqPSddeApm9CvWVyiuOQLIYdsKZi1Cf-_58Zt_ZgUAE-Ru6a5Ac/s320/pink+jeep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>3. The Doggie Door Incident</b><br />
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The two bigger dogs figured out how to use the doggie door. But, my 4-pound Yorkie (<a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2010/09/all-about-biscuit.html" target="_blank">Biscuit</a>) didn't want to bump her delicate nose against the plastic flap to let herself in. Then one day, she managed to climb her way inside when we weren't looking. She did this several times, but only when nobody was around to witness it. I finally captured the mystery on video this weekend.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwZ5jp_SssfSZSwWbyaB4tva-isALB-rAG7prMPF1Pl70z7eVrWazwGnnbgSqlgvaUtjcC3iU_YpZHFbfqMaw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b>4. Candy Crush and Lasagna</b><br />
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During the power outage in Tallahassee, I was in Thomasville, GA playing Candy Crush while my boyfriend worked all day. It is the quickest way to get my OCD fix. Only it wasn't a fix because I quit the game early. I got frustrated. I couldn't beat level 158, so I reverted back to level 112. I couldn't manage to beat that level either. So, I made a lasagna. I recommend the Barilla Oven Ready brand, because you don't have to boil the noodles. Go figure...<br />
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<b>Got bored with Snapchat</b><br />
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With the lasagna done, there wasn't a whole lot left to do. I spent most of Saturday at my boyfriend's house. This is me when I get bored. Snapchat is the most entertaining app when you have nothing else to do.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwX_Pym-_Xvd7NNExFP16A5G9AlWeGDR6BK_LX6CO8GjD-5dme4zQlMe2FEG7hbh4VqA0EDG8p6xAMm-a9rYQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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That's all I have to share for now. What was your Labor Day weekend like? Share in the comments!<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-37070049849967284482016-08-23T11:14:00.000-04:002016-08-23T11:14:14.721-04:00Missing In Action - Mission Complete!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzin2ULQ4th7efaPR6OZhY11t-OTA3Vpt01V1l7_TJCpjjxsUAWqmsW7z9JKFnCrrSaH7oFU1xgTYU3M4Gch_HvEQgMyzPrG6eEdZ_OwNinGLHwZdhuywK2ResdquNHNn4zBZAslVDGqY/s1600/hillary-in-bosnia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzin2ULQ4th7efaPR6OZhY11t-OTA3Vpt01V1l7_TJCpjjxsUAWqmsW7z9JKFnCrrSaH7oFU1xgTYU3M4Gch_HvEQgMyzPrG6eEdZ_OwNinGLHwZdhuywK2ResdquNHNn4zBZAslVDGqY/s320/hillary-in-bosnia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sorry for having pulled a Hillary on you all. I was busy with graduate school. If you were concerned that I was attempting to hide my plethora of health issues by avoiding contact with the public, I can assure you, I'm fine.<br />
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I know, I know. I feel like I've been dodging everyone out here in the Internets with my M.I.A. status, unlike being under sniper fire in Bosnia. The idea is to remain out of sight and mind just long enough for the Donald to open mouth and insert foot, <i>again</i>.<br />
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What do you mean that's not gonna happen? He hired <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellyanne_Conway" target="_blank">Kellyanne Conway</a> as his Campaign Manager?! <b><i>FUCK!</i></b><br />
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In all seriousness though, I posted this to let you all know that I have officially completed my Master of Science in Communications. I appreciate my loyal fans out here in the Blogosphere. In between assignments, I did manage to steal a few moments to visit my favorite spots. I've enjoyed reading your blog articles and fun stories over the past year and a half, and now I'm back to contribute where I can. And, Donald...play hard and be nice! :)<br />
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#hillarysHealth #wheresHillary #TrumpTrain #TrumpPence16 #Trump2016 #NeverHillary<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-86917027017554574002016-08-02T15:12:00.000-04:002016-08-13T15:03:54.837-04:00My Daughter in Thailand - Part III<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">Here they are. More pictures to share with you all. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">Chelsey is finally back at work and earning a paycheck, but as promised, I'm sharing the last of the photos from Thailand. Here's Part III from her </span><a href="http://loopabroad.com/" style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;" target="_blank">Loop Abroad</a><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;"> trip. I'll link </span><a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2016/07/my-daughter-in-thailand-part-i.html" style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;" target="_blank">Part I</a><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;"> and <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2016/07/my-daughter-in-thailand-part-ii.html" target="_blank">Part II</a> in case you missed them!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8OR2TT2Tu7gofqK_RtvACJUQ9m3JatYBoKJgLTbkfRLyjaw_iYYw3bVRmXXRVBQX4e62FFoRijDti5I43mVZGPVQhcIC6KdpUtU3_dYWyIk5d3TUP8bCL2NCltcMM-ERlDgYcZfp-Yk/s1600/IMG_0848.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8OR2TT2Tu7gofqK_RtvACJUQ9m3JatYBoKJgLTbkfRLyjaw_iYYw3bVRmXXRVBQX4e62FFoRijDti5I43mVZGPVQhcIC6KdpUtU3_dYWyIk5d3TUP8bCL2NCltcMM-ERlDgYcZfp-Yk/s320/IMG_0848.PNG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqvefSf53ozk7TgazVy7TLgP76kqQwRgBz2Hblmh4iHQKpMoECm0cTkh6syr4vwh4NJeo_6w0jWuNsJ5RziyI98VE0Bp8GTpcxZd69Gsc2RsVB6fnvqS21tOH_-uBg2fVqvZ9k-ng7LU/s1600/IMG_0847.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqvefSf53ozk7TgazVy7TLgP76kqQwRgBz2Hblmh4iHQKpMoECm0cTkh6syr4vwh4NJeo_6w0jWuNsJ5RziyI98VE0Bp8GTpcxZd69Gsc2RsVB6fnvqS21tOH_-uBg2fVqvZ9k-ng7LU/s1600/IMG_0847.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqvefSf53ozk7TgazVy7TLgP76kqQwRgBz2Hblmh4iHQKpMoECm0cTkh6syr4vwh4NJeo_6w0jWuNsJ5RziyI98VE0Bp8GTpcxZd69Gsc2RsVB6fnvqS21tOH_-uBg2fVqvZ9k-ng7LU/s320/IMG_0847.PNG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">Some more touristy stuff for you. These two and the next two photos were taken in Doi Suthep - Chiang Mai. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1apZ_r9t5W-z3vmOjlUo3UFOL1FL4GDD32Vs4ujazOlYBsbnxfPHDmG-5pLfzZisqZ95E19MatwykULumFWqnXe6ekM0WH8gva0HUcSJTdKCGmmpIU6hO9YGCwvEnaUWK6WbzZwZh7Qc/s1600/IMG_0851.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1apZ_r9t5W-z3vmOjlUo3UFOL1FL4GDD32Vs4ujazOlYBsbnxfPHDmG-5pLfzZisqZ95E19MatwykULumFWqnXe6ekM0WH8gva0HUcSJTdKCGmmpIU6hO9YGCwvEnaUWK6WbzZwZh7Qc/s320/IMG_0851.PNG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">The one below is referred to as the Golden Spire. The real temple exists in Bangkok, but I'm not sure why. I'll need to do some research on that!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGIJoLsYo5FUC0U9alrdUcD8iIG8BaAyOkE_026d4NTj6WxhiE09FSaDi2mE6lfyVqnELefUyKaUUEvJKvTG8LNptlPTNPlx0pzeeuSos7ZZmz83nmOECVMATnvyQBgYugBsS2xgGQFk/s1600/IMG_0856.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGIJoLsYo5FUC0U9alrdUcD8iIG8BaAyOkE_026d4NTj6WxhiE09FSaDi2mE6lfyVqnELefUyKaUUEvJKvTG8LNptlPTNPlx0pzeeuSos7ZZmz83nmOECVMATnvyQBgYugBsS2xgGQFk/s320/IMG_0856.PNG" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUEmdTJpeGs0qQ5Whzjig34sWu0eo-ECfaohaaJATqDX0d0rfZ2p8VvGsdzBNkMSW0l-IpiQ57nDobxOCtgPfBZWkg0kkR7ssoWaYVXqtH4gT86_89cvJ00rIS_pwHv_090N-6EiLC14/s1600/IMG_0853.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUEmdTJpeGs0qQ5Whzjig34sWu0eo-ECfaohaaJATqDX0d0rfZ2p8VvGsdzBNkMSW0l-IpiQ57nDobxOCtgPfBZWkg0kkR7ssoWaYVXqtH4gT86_89cvJ00rIS_pwHv_090N-6EiLC14/s320/IMG_0853.PNG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">Here's Chelsey looking all thuggish and tatted up. </span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">Yantra tattoos are believed to be magical and they bestow mystical powers, protection, and good luck on to the bearer. The three main effects of a Yantra tattoo: to make the bearer more eloquent, to ward off evil and hardship, and to invoke fear in everyone around the bearer. The tattoo only confers its powers so long as the bearer observes certain rules and taboos, such as abstaining from a certain type of food. If that food happens to be cheeseburgers, then it wore off when she child stepped back onto US soil. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsmYm-Z4RIqLRFI5zzziGoyTjRG8JXAfe3qWZ4UrSnkvuXDwNyynQVPgYhmLqOorae-YYPlZLKpHAR4q7raDC07ZTlElS2144tjVh5NU10XQayQjyNg4ChuxGTovA5x6lmx7cdt2z1ss/s1600/IMG_0857.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsmYm-Z4RIqLRFI5zzziGoyTjRG8JXAfe3qWZ4UrSnkvuXDwNyynQVPgYhmLqOorae-YYPlZLKpHAR4q7raDC07ZTlElS2144tjVh5NU10XQayQjyNg4ChuxGTovA5x6lmx7cdt2z1ss/s320/IMG_0857.PNG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the voice of a thug, "PEACE!!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDHjKWEElNkntCil_C-SaoP_ySooYRGEe_VijNu9eOCP47_6FsIbn0swtIRW-EVDkABEcnhyphenhyphen89ulZfDTAzBMPd-RGFuH2e8FnGjuxPXHirCo114h6P2_cL5uVDWBeo_xAI3zyu7wWtzQ/s1600/IMG_0862.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDHjKWEElNkntCil_C-SaoP_ySooYRGEe_VijNu9eOCP47_6FsIbn0swtIRW-EVDkABEcnhyphenhyphen89ulZfDTAzBMPd-RGFuH2e8FnGjuxPXHirCo114h6P2_cL5uVDWBeo_xAI3zyu7wWtzQ/s320/IMG_0862.PNG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gang is all here!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">This looks like a rice field to me, but I could be wrong. It's beautiful either way, even though the water looks a bit murky.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">I received a lot of videos of the elephants, but I didn't know how to save the Snapchat videos to my phone. Here are the majority of the elephant pictures Chelsey sent via Snapchat.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3HmNgsNstvqSr4HNJkAwGq5waFfp7W2zPuv4ZsPqopJI3umOgTM61WX6QKXMvl3tqUb-a6XrXhaiK7nXdkLttstnx5aLEpAhy9pKY-BS7Nt4qclcnhLyuskG0Er99NpLA83RMkho_Oc/s1600/IMG_0872.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3HmNgsNstvqSr4HNJkAwGq5waFfp7W2zPuv4ZsPqopJI3umOgTM61WX6QKXMvl3tqUb-a6XrXhaiK7nXdkLttstnx5aLEpAhy9pKY-BS7Nt4qclcnhLyuskG0Er99NpLA83RMkho_Oc/s320/IMG_0872.PNG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">Thanks for visiting and I hope you've enjoyed a taste of Thailand. Thanks to the Loop Abroad folks for keeping my daughter safe and making sure that she had a productive experience.</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-34701328658343587252016-07-26T01:00:00.000-04:002016-07-26T08:40:19.997-04:00My Daughter in Thailand - Part II<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">So many more pictures to share with you all. Chelsey is finally home in the United States, but I haven't even shared some of my most favorite photos from Thailand. Here's part II from her <a href="http://loopabroad.com/" target="_blank">Loop Abroad</a> trip, as promised. Here's <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2016/07/my-daughter-in-thailand-part-i.html" target="_blank">Part I</a> in case you missed it!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbFTyoGAuC5b-6oAL_9LJoVE6fOzjCkLi0U1p8Fsx75HfmNQ7vQP5YkdfimwD5uh-NYT4zGcaykCd6GNRr1GSWqlSbuGD8sKnoxEw2uXRE5Cr4ZSF87ihrHHazcVmBggJKu0tgfmL-Fs/s1600/IMG_0823.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbFTyoGAuC5b-6oAL_9LJoVE6fOzjCkLi0U1p8Fsx75HfmNQ7vQP5YkdfimwD5uh-NYT4zGcaykCd6GNRr1GSWqlSbuGD8sKnoxEw2uXRE5Cr4ZSF87ihrHHazcVmBggJKu0tgfmL-Fs/s320/IMG_0823.PNG" width="180" /></a><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">I can only guess that this is some sort of tea indigenous to Thailand, like Japan and their green tea called Sencha. Or Korea and their Ginseng tea. Whatever it is, I love the cup! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CNa6XBZbGVV3VFtXUAs-vLG1jtD9S3WRmg3Mz5tMsBsRSio5RNS9LYnLVno-1tFhUV3dsJD6-uAysq1Q_J2DwqwHSU5DiAo2A90owbasCQ-Hu59xDttQ1A5i1m6gfuOg_JOZzJ-nVVk/s1600/IMG_0825.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CNa6XBZbGVV3VFtXUAs-vLG1jtD9S3WRmg3Mz5tMsBsRSio5RNS9LYnLVno-1tFhUV3dsJD6-uAysq1Q_J2DwqwHSU5DiAo2A90owbasCQ-Hu59xDttQ1A5i1m6gfuOg_JOZzJ-nVVk/s320/IMG_0825.PNG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did you really make these?<br />
Because I can't even roll that tight.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkJ6ZdTLkanwwczGbQMaGP86L5o7tV73n6ttXHOSM9D2rtPIcMRdnOoX_q82yg_xlSpjb25iRmC3oNt5wVM3PDT4-e5J_tGzozFBSAlp9Zx59PUupICWhyj7L6KgE8sAzjlJ_CuZ7Tsk/s1600/IMG_0827.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkJ6ZdTLkanwwczGbQMaGP86L5o7tV73n6ttXHOSM9D2rtPIcMRdnOoX_q82yg_xlSpjb25iRmC3oNt5wVM3PDT4-e5J_tGzozFBSAlp9Zx59PUupICWhyj7L6KgE8sAzjlJ_CuZ7Tsk/s320/IMG_0827.PNG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think these are purple orchids.<br />
Not sure what they did with these.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoyI1dg7Y1yE2RTuseDtF_7xl5TIPBIJyIHrpINogXIh4t5sATfqPN-vDvZDhDbrVsrhkPk7tHSV4h3MBTX3H6TJf40uMifUXfWWf_Ujp_65QgAddDVvQa6XOc0N6sLGyoOFlXkODe7w/s1600/IMG_0828.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoyI1dg7Y1yE2RTuseDtF_7xl5TIPBIJyIHrpINogXIh4t5sATfqPN-vDvZDhDbrVsrhkPk7tHSV4h3MBTX3H6TJf40uMifUXfWWf_Ujp_65QgAddDVvQa6XOc0N6sLGyoOFlXkODe7w/s320/IMG_0828.PNG" width="180" /></a><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">In Hinduism, Ganesha is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshiped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">This fountain is gorgeous and I love the Thai architecture and lights as the backdrop. This is almost like being there.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXcCkCZuZ5uNvHn4ejGvEyhI0_KZTJ2myDBMO9rlvaZ0pgbCH6AjMFeHuJrNI8sGVggbr9TPXAdA8lMglZXSvz3YF5ptiGy_0ISTgogOf7sD4_9iIRxoawjYXwrN7-YgGmQB0TBTi9zY/s1600/IMG_0830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXcCkCZuZ5uNvHn4ejGvEyhI0_KZTJ2myDBMO9rlvaZ0pgbCH6AjMFeHuJrNI8sGVggbr9TPXAdA8lMglZXSvz3YF5ptiGy_0ISTgogOf7sD4_9iIRxoawjYXwrN7-YgGmQB0TBTi9zY/s320/IMG_0830.JPG" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She looks so lovely and refreshed here.<br />
I know the flight must have been a doozy!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">Thai version of Mountain Dew. I would have guessed this one even if she hadn't given the hint.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">One of the things I enjoy most about seeing photos of different countries is their culture. The most captivating pictures are those taken unencumbered by traditional media coverage. It looks like they are grinding corn or something.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtV4P24bH2ttf0_Tn6FY7-DKRzr2HqPW1bZ4yAK7vHUk1nEJ89CjHc-yskUL0cX3kGCdl5-VeEDBPeaBVr8xdpeY2m35-qkg7eELlW9Fe_LBMDbGTS5ZTIKMjo7DBIyfS-HxPucQjHHk/s1600/IMG_0835.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtV4P24bH2ttf0_Tn6FY7-DKRzr2HqPW1bZ4yAK7vHUk1nEJ89CjHc-yskUL0cX3kGCdl5-VeEDBPeaBVr8xdpeY2m35-qkg7eELlW9Fe_LBMDbGTS5ZTIKMjo7DBIyfS-HxPucQjHHk/s320/IMG_0835.PNG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOGbK5uHc73f16lQiiZRn5JDO59hMJAWzx66mmg93YaM4bmjQ1GgG7KIKqX2w_G8C6xuenUkQutuPcN9EiRzxOT9hs4sCo1gj08zM8JBxZkbLswAWv8sEfAyYfbgdXgMOFbo8dWzaSgc/s1600/IMG_0840.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOGbK5uHc73f16lQiiZRn5JDO59hMJAWzx66mmg93YaM4bmjQ1GgG7KIKqX2w_G8C6xuenUkQutuPcN9EiRzxOT9hs4sCo1gj08zM8JBxZkbLswAWv8sEfAyYfbgdXgMOFbo8dWzaSgc/s320/IMG_0840.PNG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making new friends in Thailand.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtviNxj0OTI8KTZA06KX2b4ayL7VOyHGTeJ5bFhfVc7ePLyR18vI-GFC0vwLhSiZrBEjAVcIn6V9ifbsFcMGO5cAY6a5kaolPbnd1zbNRIg3mtOcGwdJQuReRBXyPmgcEdC23I_Botyak/s1600/IMG_0842.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtviNxj0OTI8KTZA06KX2b4ayL7VOyHGTeJ5bFhfVc7ePLyR18vI-GFC0vwLhSiZrBEjAVcIn6V9ifbsFcMGO5cAY6a5kaolPbnd1zbNRIg3mtOcGwdJQuReRBXyPmgcEdC23I_Botyak/s320/IMG_0842.PNG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's paint! No, she did not get this tattooed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIY2JSzBnzmp8My3t4i3c5C3veQkEHfW4buwZQ-Edv8TJ9UQBe55cAwjtyyEwopACsWZLK1Q5Dq_kTTpC6B-jdnG8tzoe5xobXaut2qLX7mW40My3yaCV21E9ZAspC1l6bNtX5UB0W0g/s1600/IMG_0846.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIY2JSzBnzmp8My3t4i3c5C3veQkEHfW4buwZQ-Edv8TJ9UQBe55cAwjtyyEwopACsWZLK1Q5Dq_kTTpC6B-jdnG8tzoe5xobXaut2qLX7mW40My3yaCV21E9ZAspC1l6bNtX5UB0W0g/s320/IMG_0846.PNG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These fish eat the dead skin off your feet.<br />
They are getting pedicures, maybe?</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">I'm so happy to have her home. I will post more photos in part III of Chelsey's Loop Abroad trip to Thailand soon enough. Stay tuned!</span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-88031161624309779692016-07-19T09:19:00.000-04:002016-07-26T08:38:00.875-04:00My Daughter in Thailand - Part I<div style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; margin-top: 2px;">
My daughter made some serious progress in her life this Summer. She is living in <a href="http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/thailand.htm" target="_blank">Thailand </a> for two weeks. </div>
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She registered for a program with <a data-cke-saved-href="http://loopabroad.com/" href="http://loopabroad.com/" style="background-image: linear-gradient(transparent 50%, rgba(31, 111, 153, 0.498039) 50%); background-position: 0px 1em; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-size: 2px 4px; text-decoration: none;">Loop Abroad</a> to learn about big animal care on an elephant sanctuary. The trip serves two goals: learning to care for big animals and building memories. Part of learning is the experience you gain. The best part will be the cultural one of being in a country far unlike what she's accustomed. </div>
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I like the Loop Abroad outlook on life and the reason they formed this organization. It is especially important for young adults.</div>
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How would our lives have been different if we'd traveled more, experienced more, known what was out there, and spent more time around people who truly love what they do before we'd tried to answer the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?"</blockquote>
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This is her picture story. Don't forget to read the captions.</div>
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Chelsey is about to leave Tallahassee and head to JFK International Airport. She will then leave the United States with her Loop Abroad classmates and guide masters. Talk about a nervous mommy!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smiles on the outside. <br />
Nervous bundle of mess on the inside!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No longer traveling alone! *EXHALE* I'm going to be fine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'd just received the same text message<br />
from Verizon.<br />
"You've used up 90% of your 12 gigs."<br />
The next cycle is 2 weeks! W...T...F??!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning about spirituality and Buddhism.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, culture!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can make the same thing out of red bell peppers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most beautiful smile!! =)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning art and culture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking in the landscapes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The food.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The food, part II.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexCGwsGY-kmVKKFe0cR9TLbsKf3f0ujrsY15r7ZDrB0mOUgxbWdZ0ufQaAw2UH5qFR9DxlLKHEcBo3tUdb4-t2e3Rrnk5GpUU3aGQBpVWu6Gga_VXTJFLR47pNJJoIdYVlpVIJfnzDC0/s1600/IMG_0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexCGwsGY-kmVKKFe0cR9TLbsKf3f0ujrsY15r7ZDrB0mOUgxbWdZ0ufQaAw2UH5qFR9DxlLKHEcBo3tUdb4-t2e3Rrnk5GpUU3aGQBpVWu6Gga_VXTJFLR47pNJJoIdYVlpVIJfnzDC0/s320/IMG_0822.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wildlife? That looks like a pretty pampered <br />
and domesticated animal to me!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">This is not the last of the photos. She's still in Thailand and I have enough for <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2016/07/my-daughter-in-thailand-part-ii.html" target="_blank">part II</a> and part III, so stay tuned if you'd like to see more of Thailand and Chelsey's adventures abroad!</span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-5078423470598482472016-06-24T11:15:00.002-04:002016-06-24T16:19:41.981-04:00The Mudslide and the Hemingway AppI used the Hemingway App to proof this piece for passive voice and clarity. Great tool now that Microsoft removed their passive voice feature from Word 2016.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b>The Mudslide</b></span><br />
<br />
I was sick last year with the flu. I ran a fever which I can’t tell you how high because I’d given up on looking for a thermometer. I slept on the sofa the evening my fever broke, and I dreamed something frightening. I experienced a mudslide.<br />
<br />
This was no ordinary mudslide like the countless ones you might see on the evening news. It did not contain debris like collapsed houses, uprooted trees and power lines. It was smooth and dark, like a giant Tootsie roll. Don’t laugh, because that’s not what I would call frightening.<br />
<br />
It all started while I was at some resort, by myself. It was a couples resort and I was there alone and something did not feel right. The ambiance was off. The aftermath of a disaster appeared before me and it was calm, like the eye of a storm. Everybody stood around and looked relieved as if they’d just escaped death!<br />
<br />
People smiled at me, their eyes lit up as if giving thanks for my presence. And then this man motioned for me to climb out of this pit. He lifted the net which covered the opening of the pit. I reached for his hand and tried to climb out, but my shoe lace got tangled up in the net. At this point, the net came alive and climbed up my leg to snatch me away.<br />
<br />
Terrifying screams sprang from all directions as the man pulled me from the pit. He grabbed a knife from a sleeve on his hip and sliced the net away from my laces. With a violent hiss, the pit sucked the net in like a vacuum cleaner consuming a hair ball.<br />
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Leave a comment and let me know what you think of this piece and if you believe the Hemingway App would be useful to you. <a href="http://www.hemingwayapp.com/" target="_blank">Try it here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx1MqMaqlRfq6fob83H-CM5LBcVgLfFocPrIelpTtfIU2S6yNMkUJijl6rHLf3q6LrjHJDncr7PDEyhZfHqMzZ2Tskf9Zx7riVEq8fCdjwYjRTEmaoPubqt5W-y2ZeHjveVHuDq16rYM/s1600/My+Story+Screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx1MqMaqlRfq6fob83H-CM5LBcVgLfFocPrIelpTtfIU2S6yNMkUJijl6rHLf3q6LrjHJDncr7PDEyhZfHqMzZ2Tskf9Zx7riVEq8fCdjwYjRTEmaoPubqt5W-y2ZeHjveVHuDq16rYM/s320/My+Story+Screenshot.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I won't show you the original, it was horrendous. :) I changed my mind. Look at the photo just above.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-40464447101384324382016-06-11T22:11:00.000-04:002016-06-11T22:12:50.118-04:00My New Orleans Experience 2016I'm breaking away from my studies to give a quick update on the NOLA vacation. I finally chose the pictures I want to share. They are the most memorable.<br />
<br />
Well, a few weren't, but I'm sharing them anyway because they're just fun moments. It's not my first <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2012/06/blast-from-past-nola.html" target="_blank">rodeo in New Orleans</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6m0c0S-tv_UVrGQVckXx-2Pr75oy5tMrB_rx1wZs1Z5SL2fj1XnJWleTUqaqaPjmURHZeSt_CBBnirve-ZJyO_blEFULRXiysr26fFnsxbg3cgc-Np0V6Smy9zq5Lxi2cs_peTpIzVI/s1600/front+of+fountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6m0c0S-tv_UVrGQVckXx-2Pr75oy5tMrB_rx1wZs1Z5SL2fj1XnJWleTUqaqaPjmURHZeSt_CBBnirve-ZJyO_blEFULRXiysr26fFnsxbg3cgc-Np0V6Smy9zq5Lxi2cs_peTpIzVI/s320/front+of+fountain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Orleans: sexy man, art, fountain. <br />
Who <b><i>wouldn't </i></b>enjoy this?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm not going in chronological order, not unless I discover that my storytelling isn't making sense. I never said I was a good storyteller. So here we go!<br />
<div>
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVUYB3hqXH6iMzXaoDby_hpIbN__AMzQxVTNoeDB7IRmt3JvTiZhXfAsBoJbLrJh5WOrUp2hP4qqEa6ZLmxUJOy_rQKsoObj263L0AFA6AZkDOPN8wIkhuBqpifD9d7RHvb0zYnQX4Fo/s1600/all+three+ladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVUYB3hqXH6iMzXaoDby_hpIbN__AMzQxVTNoeDB7IRmt3JvTiZhXfAsBoJbLrJh5WOrUp2hP4qqEa6ZLmxUJOy_rQKsoObj263L0AFA6AZkDOPN8wIkhuBqpifD9d7RHvb0zYnQX4Fo/s320/all+three+ladies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: Kathy Henderson Tradewell (my sister), me (duh), and <br />
Terri Lanham Claunch (close childhood friend)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That picture above was taken at this place called "I forget." No, literally, I forget where we were. If my sister or Terri reads this post and reminds me, I will update the text and tell you where this was taken.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtfklP0GnwovYt3QOSM6B2J2Anq4sOB7t_sXGDzoZZ5GzaQre5MpY_FPJmAjdJEZQ7nAY4hdiKobsLb9KS6J9Aek3lWcWOW2WP7K4nx6dq5w-YBpTjKiGeMBXEt-pqzAXrxILzFX_WQE/s1600/drag+queens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtfklP0GnwovYt3QOSM6B2J2Anq4sOB7t_sXGDzoZZ5GzaQre5MpY_FPJmAjdJEZQ7nAY4hdiKobsLb9KS6J9Aek3lWcWOW2WP7K4nx6dq5w-YBpTjKiGeMBXEt-pqzAXrxILzFX_WQE/s320/drag+queens.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What man would get duped into being in this photo?<br />
Let me introduce from left to right: Charles Harding (my boyfriend),<br />
Mike Tradewell (my brother-in-law), and Stan Claunch (friend's husband). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
They didn't realize we were going to insist on going inside later in the evening. Don't worry, I got video. I will share it at the end of this post. DO NOT scroll down to see it! You must finish reading this post.<br />
<br />
I insist!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI27nfeeI-u5x2M98x-KVZWbnriQQcpWfokcW6VuEnTkorMVQwDqRRDJhVQQqNPBfVSw5UzDNPH3kVGqU_uJXNOkOT-flVNMotw9AZk48WKeKhpwHyadfMlIS3xYa1J2iObhLxWvp3RwA/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI27nfeeI-u5x2M98x-KVZWbnriQQcpWfokcW6VuEnTkorMVQwDqRRDJhVQQqNPBfVSw5UzDNPH3kVGqU_uJXNOkOT-flVNMotw9AZk48WKeKhpwHyadfMlIS3xYa1J2iObhLxWvp3RwA/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Yes, we realize we aren't supposed to take pictures.</span></td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Why do it? Because we can!</h3>
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Realize this, though. If taunted with signs, we will disobey. I'm saving up for <a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-art-of-sign-disobedience-part-i.html" target="_blank">The Art of Sign Disobedience</a>, Part II.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oQ-9bEuvUHCaMirP1i1MsBlnPblAFAlQLKo5k9ctQxoK0AYuPS7AIoyrxB3i5vbg8sH-_c3dx2nWV1F07ORjTfVVWN9wl3JeA8SsBX4aGT12iZPLNqYFtDUeYi_HV0G0G6VOeJUwbIM/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oQ-9bEuvUHCaMirP1i1MsBlnPblAFAlQLKo5k9ctQxoK0AYuPS7AIoyrxB3i5vbg8sH-_c3dx2nWV1F07ORjTfVVWN9wl3JeA8SsBX4aGT12iZPLNqYFtDUeYi_HV0G0G6VOeJUwbIM/s320/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somebody's dessert at Emiril's Nola Restaurant</td></tr>
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My dessert was beer, but just look at that! The folks at <a href="http://emerilsrestaurants.com/nola-restaurant" target="_blank">Emiril's NOLA Restaurant</a> know how to present food, there's no question about it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3L46jZ5lAlWBSFCgcODah3pDX_Am8SUHAA55baIZ7XrzVt2lGj_EP07ipWBoT4xNK6oxwLLrfhl_YccTGw70AkF38a3dBdzyyQgM8PwYtCMqb-z2WTP3Hc1Gpmyv-0GJT9XytRfyJfA/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3L46jZ5lAlWBSFCgcODah3pDX_Am8SUHAA55baIZ7XrzVt2lGj_EP07ipWBoT4xNK6oxwLLrfhl_YccTGw70AkF38a3dBdzyyQgM8PwYtCMqb-z2WTP3Hc1Gpmyv-0GJT9XytRfyJfA/s320/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles and I at NOLA Restaurant in New Orleans</td></tr>
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<br />
And later that evening...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSYY6Y6ZzJ0x9yDcD0COKpjWbKviDBnSz5HBZnOl0pYAmDVEQTtL6E_rs8CZeEuyf9_rNMBTARI5ls59e3Ttfesau2_3HMWOqp6pwnRXhdW3_TY1s23VfT7ASO7Q9TDyRkJC02yxUdWE/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSYY6Y6ZzJ0x9yDcD0COKpjWbKviDBnSz5HBZnOl0pYAmDVEQTtL6E_rs8CZeEuyf9_rNMBTARI5ls59e3Ttfesau2_3HMWOqp6pwnRXhdW3_TY1s23VfT7ASO7Q9TDyRkJC02yxUdWE/s320/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were no honeys hustling during the day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There we were. Hanging in the streets. The night life hadn't started yet. You know, the drinking, the naked women, the con artists wanting your money.<br />
<br />
One naked lady, breasts painted red, white, and blue, approached and asked us if we wanted to take a picture with her. I thought her motive was money so I simply stated, "No thanks." She looked heart-broken. But, damn. We'd already gotten conned into paying $40.00 for two hats we'll never wear, and a book I'll never read.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrYXW5atMWb8TqViY5FRk_nL6jAULT4nmGwDgsqUgTRTvBNGOWrUFfAKz6H-v7FTBDnJryTvxip6-_xrPlGunJd1HWGfEnQkyoVMMblg8f1JDj1OTmTKmbgdXZSPrHGG3wr1k0oMj2Ms/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrYXW5atMWb8TqViY5FRk_nL6jAULT4nmGwDgsqUgTRTvBNGOWrUFfAKz6H-v7FTBDnJryTvxip6-_xrPlGunJd1HWGfEnQkyoVMMblg8f1JDj1OTmTKmbgdXZSPrHGG3wr1k0oMj2Ms/s320/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting on the show to start!</td></tr>
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Remember "the real drag queen sign" at the beginning of this post? Yeah, that's where this photo was taken later that evening. I told you we would insist. Doesn't Charles look excited to be there? </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yX7D6HyT_OpUWoGQz98uMxvGKvr_cMLH_4O-Rk5GOjnp3latnhiMhIOl1AJraFQPVgezv1ngPKyOlM0YE-jgFLpAOkxO46CeLTCZEC4stgFyEcwib2ThhwDouQ8mxQh-va23d_e__ug/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yX7D6HyT_OpUWoGQz98uMxvGKvr_cMLH_4O-Rk5GOjnp3latnhiMhIOl1AJraFQPVgezv1ngPKyOlM0YE-jgFLpAOkxO46CeLTCZEC4stgFyEcwib2ThhwDouQ8mxQh-va23d_e__ug/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another touristy photo <br />
under the Bourbon Street sign.</td></tr>
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The people in the street started early the next day. We got our beads but didn't have to expose ourselves for them. How nice of you, sir. Here, I have $3.00 left. Spend it wisely!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFt4mp_R2s0NJxWb_JrVr_tuIMZ4_gzZI6qk_br63Dh0slHlEqD0K4dJtE6z962IyRsOGwbdITn_CEYeZsHG2Aq9C6Tl-50FPH9cYSwQtRXYZeWvnVr82cHWIHpeHkYIu1sSDL-WPmaDQ/s1600/NOLA+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFt4mp_R2s0NJxWb_JrVr_tuIMZ4_gzZI6qk_br63Dh0slHlEqD0K4dJtE6z962IyRsOGwbdITn_CEYeZsHG2Aq9C6Tl-50FPH9cYSwQtRXYZeWvnVr82cHWIHpeHkYIu1sSDL-WPmaDQ/s320/NOLA+2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two people being silly in New Orleans!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I'm not sure why it was so much fun sneaking photos of ourselves holding up masks. I think it was because the store owners weren't really aware of the things going on or they've just become immune to folks disregarding their signs. It felt like stealing. Recall <i>Breakfast at Tiffany's</i> with George Peppard and Audrey Hepburn when they steal masks?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6djvU_Sstyg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6djvU_Sstyg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Okay, so enough of that.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrwIXElOIP__eto4Feq1uwkpDADkLKauLqYXFAAX3yYTys-oWfCAGv-4D-TMcN85FVndzYmxML3mRPbhyphenhyphenvV2NS_WibBkT4bgfQv5dI3zVkeoqFVfWnVl4N_H11pVmMPTdlayOamrNcmc/s1600/shrimp+and+grits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrwIXElOIP__eto4Feq1uwkpDADkLKauLqYXFAAX3yYTys-oWfCAGv-4D-TMcN85FVndzYmxML3mRPbhyphenhyphenvV2NS_WibBkT4bgfQv5dI3zVkeoqFVfWnVl4N_H11pVmMPTdlayOamrNcmc/s320/shrimp+and+grits.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I ate shrimp and grits!</td></tr>
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I never have been a fan of grits, even cheese grits. But, for some reason, I don't know if it's because we were in New Orleans or what, but this tiny bowl of shrimp and grits was amazing! If you have a chance to visit <a href="http://www.cafefleurdelis.com/" target="_blank">Cafe Fleur De Lis</a>, this is what you need to order.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPluPocMkJHt5Vv6a5i4ffpgYZVBHbejLsV52v3r5HxgSuMvEFIJQ6MSDnLhT0sO74kXONBArris4poQ6D4rOV0ChunMiVK3G5uvVQAAB7x9Z_IVH1P-QIyVE1W9MFFCN-KI2y3fDp8e4/s1600/IMG_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPluPocMkJHt5Vv6a5i4ffpgYZVBHbejLsV52v3r5HxgSuMvEFIJQ6MSDnLhT0sO74kXONBArris4poQ6D4rOV0ChunMiVK3G5uvVQAAB7x9Z_IVH1P-QIyVE1W9MFFCN-KI2y3fDp8e4/s320/IMG_0654.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are Anonymous. We will find you and expose the truth.<br />
But first, I need another beer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I'm with Anonymous. Hilary Clinton, your lies will be exposed. Seriously though, that was one freaky mask, but I liked it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCGt6cCSxzdersl7k8lTrlj85_lTwqr3c1pOtxSGvw82ElYSE8nV108rn0OQtcsTFdtrJTrUUiXy49X3swmMBoiRqVT9tkneXFqm_JCaHoM8w_xGIZ9D5NyjKdH0g79HaSDDgQHEOZd4/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCGt6cCSxzdersl7k8lTrlj85_lTwqr3c1pOtxSGvw82ElYSE8nV108rn0OQtcsTFdtrJTrUUiXy49X3swmMBoiRqVT9tkneXFqm_JCaHoM8w_xGIZ9D5NyjKdH0g79HaSDDgQHEOZd4/s320/IMG_0590.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's like some fallen angel or something. Maybe a premonition<br />
of what was to come that evening? Who knows...</td></tr>
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There are so many props to find while hanging out on Bourbon Street. You never know what's right around the corner. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydVt518LX-0atWA_vGkF1D_2VcCmIJ2iQQ9ekFc-AiWQYf9_z-MDfEcgY2Vjo571mUJaejrMmOJ-BRya2cLvYuaByQWrHGSk8PwKR9RlLA__jfcPsXhyqfZI7hpetw_m6EzyLg70gEL4/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydVt518LX-0atWA_vGkF1D_2VcCmIJ2iQQ9ekFc-AiWQYf9_z-MDfEcgY2Vjo571mUJaejrMmOJ-BRya2cLvYuaByQWrHGSk8PwKR9RlLA__jfcPsXhyqfZI7hpetw_m6EzyLg70gEL4/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like maybe a demon or two?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It was so much fun just hanging out in New Orleans over the weekend. Every night seemed to be another party and everyone wants to hang out and take photos with everyone else. It's a very hospitable place out on the streets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2juZzgJn4DrWTDj8k6FPnsvqh3BzPhn3rM2fZXWSelwG2UNQcaCwX7nAhrTgLcItycpi_tamY1ga61deXTnXs2Xc93lVR80c210kTlJBAnQUNQPyUmBGlaTBxL70LYCIx5DIsQld1l-I/s1600/IMG_0662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2juZzgJn4DrWTDj8k6FPnsvqh3BzPhn3rM2fZXWSelwG2UNQcaCwX7nAhrTgLcItycpi_tamY1ga61deXTnXs2Xc93lVR80c210kTlJBAnQUNQPyUmBGlaTBxL70LYCIx5DIsQld1l-I/s320/IMG_0662.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This dude let me pose on his bicycle. It is not motorized, <br />
so I'm not really incriminating myself here. <br />
See the pedal?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That was my weekend trip a few weeks ago. I'm much rested and ready to get back to work and hit the books. What have you been up to Blogosphere?<br />
<br />
Okay, drag queen video...as promised.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-36297188076913137152016-06-04T23:51:00.002-04:002016-06-04T23:51:51.174-04:00Uber Experience in NOLA<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm not going to blog about school or work. Today, I'm
blogging about a different kind of progress. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This blog post is about my new best friend, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/uber/id368677368?mt=8" target="_blank">Uber. </a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is progress because Uber replaces a service (the commercial
taxi), which has monopolized travel and, in essence, has impacted
entertainment and tourism for so many years. I'm going to eventually share my
NOLA vacation, but first I need to share an experience with the Uber
phenomenon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I understand that Uber isn't everywhere, so when we arrived
in New Orleans and settled down, being that I'd experienced NOLA four short
years prior, I made an executive decision. Uber would be our mode of
transportation the duration of our stay. There existed the perfect scenario:
the meeting of three couples arriving in three different cars, each wanting to
spend time together in the great city of New Orleans, and possibly engaging in
the consumption of alcoholic beverages. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I gave consideration to the current state of the economy and
called on a local taxi service. They were booked and it would take 45 minutes
to get a ride, but then, they'd have to send two cars to pick up six people.
The cost estimate? A whopping $50.00.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Screw that! Ridiculous, right? </div>
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So, I contacted Uber, requesting an extra large vehicle to fit all six in my party. My driver arrived
in less than eight minutes. That's not the amazing part. I was able to track his progress toward my destination, including every turn he made and every mile he reached. What, what?! The cost at
peak time? Check it out in the photo.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyj4EsFKpiEHgd_KcY538jBMHLGtWnyMxlDhdlaqI8LqrvIna6Y-jbgrNSs1Mkb8kbLShwnzivHvaISs_ETYt6dJwynl94p_1KYMfD0BFujMq9SL72RJoWSrJKES6B9a9ikC1RvS6mWs/s1600/Uber.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyj4EsFKpiEHgd_KcY538jBMHLGtWnyMxlDhdlaqI8LqrvIna6Y-jbgrNSs1Mkb8kbLShwnzivHvaISs_ETYt6dJwynl94p_1KYMfD0BFujMq9SL72RJoWSrJKES6B9a9ikC1RvS6mWs/s400/Uber.png" width="225" /></a></div>
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I'm not saying you should use Uber as a means of <i><b>putting the finger to the current state of affairs in transportation
services</b></i>, but rather, consider it if you really want to get moving and
don't want to put up with the bullshit of being shafted by commercial tourism. Trust me, if taxi
cab drivers had their own vehicles, they'd be jumping on the Uber bandwagon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Trust that my group and I witnessed a few middle fingers expressing the
International language of love by taxi cab drivers as we entered Uber vehicles.
Was this their way of telling us that they disliked our choice of service? Will
Uber be the end of commercial services? Is this a formula of people taking care
of people? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth.
~Natalie Goldberg</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351235520870325177.post-25822695603028765662016-06-01T08:42:00.000-04:002016-06-01T08:42:22.911-04:00Staff Training Survey - Help Improve Your Organization<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I need respondents for my anonymous survey. It is short, it is fun, and it will help my Survey Design grade if I can get 200 respondents or more.<br />
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<a href="https://purdue.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6QgEom6O8tZ6hhj&q_sm=Blogger" target="_blank">Training Survey</a>: Please help with my Masters in Communication course - take this short survey and SHARE the link to this post via the share buttons below. THANK YOU!!<br />
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