Yeah, the cutest pair I ever knit, that not only were a perfect fit but made use of my many soaker scraps, saving me $30+ for yarn for a new pair? The same soakers that Knittykid actually danced around with happiness for?

Sit down. Here they are now:

Felted!!!!

The suspects?

The Skeptic
My Mom
My Grandma
Little Man
Knittykid (not that the last two do the laundry, but they do occasionally throw something in the basket)

This is what happens in the first weeks after you have your third baby and you are lucky enough to have people who love you doing all the laundry. My guess is that they got tossed in with the boys laundry by mistake, but ooooh, what an "ouch" this one was. At least Spinner will be able to grow into them!

Mom, if it was you, I still love ya'!!! :-)

Only 39 percent of likely voters in Ohio approve of the bailout, according to a poll conducted by the University of Cincinnati for the Dayton Daily News and seven other Ohio newspapers.  Read more...

1. Baby Shower Poems - LoveToKnow Baby

   ... Baby Shower ... a Seed Poem. This poem can be given to baby shower guests along with ... Comment on Baby Shower Poems (Displayed with your comment) (Will ...

   baby.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Baby_Shower_Poems

2. Baby Shower Sayings - LoveToKnow Baby

   Baby shower sayings can be used for invitations, thank you cards, ... You can personalize these poems or use our suggestions. [edit] I Can't Be With You Poem ...

   baby.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Baby_Shower_Sayings

3. Baby Shower Poem Ideas and Invitation Wording

   Cute Baby Shower Poem Ideas for Invitation Wording ... Click below to see Baby Shower Poems from other visitors to this page...

   www.cutest-baby-shower-ideas.com/baby-shower-poem-ideas.html

4. Free Baby Shower Poems and Verses

   Free Baby shower poems and wording for invitations, cake decorating, gifts, ... There several different baby shower poem and verse links for you to visit. ...

   www.cutest-baby-shower-ideas.com/baby-shower-poems.html

5. Baby Shower Poems, Invitations

   Including Free printable games and information to help you plan the shower with the least effort. Also find recipes for shower food plus original baby poems

   www.babbee.com/baby_poems

6. Poems for Baby Shower Poems, Invitations

   ... shower with the least effort. Also find recipes for shower food plus original baby poems ... Poem sheet F. Invitation to a shower. Please come to a Baby Shower ...

   www.babbee.com/baby_poems/02.html

7. Survival of the Cutest Baby Shower Poems!

   Free and Fun Baby Shower Poems for baby boys, girls, and twins! ... Here are some delightful and cute poems and baby shower sayings. ...

   www.plan-the-perfect-baby-shower.com/baby-shower-poems.html

8. Hip Baby Shower Verses and Sayings

   ... ideas for Baby Shower Verses and Sayings for shower invitations, baby announcements, and baby cakes. ... Take a look at some more Baby Shower Verses & Poems...

   www.plan-the-perfect-baby-shower.com/baby-shower-verses.html

9. Baby Gifts with Poems | New Baby Gifts | Pregnancy Shower Ideas | Party ...

   Baby Gifts with poems: Framed poems and footprint handprint poems make ... Free Baby Shower Poems, Baby Footprint Poem, Child Handprint Poem, Frames and More! ...

   giftfornewbaby.com/babypoems.html

10. Baby Shower Gifts on Sale | New Baby Gifts | Pregnancy Shower Ideas ...

    Baby shower gifts on sale including baby shower favors,games,poems and decorations. ... purchased a Uncle Brag Book & a Poem for an Aunt from giftfornewbaby. ...

    giftfornewbaby.com/bagiwesa.html

11. poetry

    baby poem, baby shower poem, free baby poem, baby footprint poem ... These poems are great for scrap booking with family photos to celebrate twins! Twins Poem ...

    www.welcomebaby.com/poetry.htm

12. Baby Shower Central Poems and Cake Inscriptions

    Baby shower cake inscriptions, thank you poems, invitation poems, craft ... write on the cake, bring a book invitation poem or the thank you poem from baby? ...

    www.babyshowerscentral.com/poems.shtml

13. Baby Shower Central - Over 100 FREE Baby Shower Games

    ... 100 free baby shower games, printable baby shower games, craft instructions, poems, unique ideas and ... If a poem is listed as "author unknown" and you know ...

    www.babyshowerscentral.com/craftpoems.shtml

14. Baby Shower Poems

    Here is A Great Book of Baby Shower Poems Hopefully one day a book of my own poems will appear here, but in the ... Poems visitors. Baby Shower Poem. MY ...

    www.squidoo.com/babyshowerpoems

15. Baby Shower Poems

    How I used baby shower poems to introduce myself to my new neighbors. ... the poem that set it apart from the mostly unimpressive baby shower poems that I ...

    www.squidoo.com/baby-shower-poems

16. Baby Shower Poems - Nice poems for baby shower invitations and ...

    Below are some nice poems that we use on some of our baby shower favors: Poem #1 ... Poem #3. I'm really glad that you could come to my baby shower. ...

    www.101babyshowerideas.com/bspoems.htm

17. Baby Shower Ideas - Baby Shower Party Ideas - Supplies

    Baby Shower Favors to Make - Here are some favor you can make for ... Baby Shower Poems - Baby poetry that is good for invitations and personalized favors. ...

    www.101babyshowerideas.com/index.html

18. Perfect Baby Poems | Guide for Baby Shower Poems

    ... baby poems like experts. If you really want to write baby shower ... The answers to the questions below will become a beautiful baby shower poem by themselves. ...

    www.coolest-baby-shower-idea.com/baby-poems.html

19. Great Ideas For Baby Shower Thank You Poems

    If you are looking for the cutest baby shower thank you poems, here is the right place. Tiips, ideas and examples, ... Boy(Girl)" baby shower: Smart Baby Poem ...

    www.coolest-baby-shower-idea.com/baby-shower-thank-you-poems.html

20. Need a poem - Baby Shower Community Forums

    Need a poem, but haven't the time The poem lady can write you the perfect rhyme Birthday, bar mitzvah or any shower Let her make you the toast of the hour jill ...

    babyshower101.com/forums/index.php?action=vthread&forum=8&topic=624

21. Diaper poem - Baby Shower Community Forums

    A friend is throwing a "Diaper well" baby shower and needs a poem to go on the invitaion. Anyone have any ideas? ... Here are two poems I wrote for different ...

    babyshower101.com/forums/index.php?action=vthread&forum=8&topic=453

22. baby shower poems, baby announcements

    CHILDREN'S abd baby POEMS. Includes Poems about mothers ... baby announcements & baby shower poems. cute baby poem collection for all occasions ...

    www.indianchild.com/baby_poems.htm

23. Baby Shower Thank You Poems

    Baby Shower Thank You Poems. Baby Shower Thank You Poems ... MORE BABY SHOWER POEMS ... games baby shower favors Unique Baby Gift ideas BABY POEMS Baby arrival ...

    www.indianchild.com/baby_shower_thank_you_poems.htm

24. baby shower poems, poetry & ideas

    or another poem for babies by Christina Rossetti:- Angels at the foot, And Angels at the head, ... Thanks for visiting baby shower poems. ...

    www.poem4today.com/baby-shower-poem.html

25. Free Poems for your special day

    well known Footprints poem, poems for a baby or bridal shower, teacher poems, ... Ideas & free poems for every occasion - baby shower, birthday, ...

    www.poem4today.com

26. How To Find Baby Shower Poems | How To Do Things.com

    Whether you are hosting a baby shower or just attending one, you may want to use a baby shower poem. We'll help you find the best assortments of free poems online as ...

    howtodothings.com/.../a2787-how-to-find-baby-shower-poems.html

27. Baby Shower Poems and Invitations in the Yahoo! Directory

    Yahoo! reviewed these sites and found them related to Baby Shower Poems and Invitations ... Exhibits a poem, Footprints of Tomorrow, for the nostalgia of a scrapbook. ...

    dir.yahoo.com/.../Parenting/Baby_Showers/Poems_and_Invitations

28. Baby Showers in the Yahoo! Directory

    ... these sites and found them related to Baby Showers ... Babbee Baby Showers. Printable baby shower games, shower food recipes, baby poems, etiquette, and ...

    dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Families/Parenting/Baby_Showers

29. Baby Shower Candy Poem Game

    ... the blanks of this baby shower candy poem using the names of popular ... to order one of Jill's custom poems are just below the baby shower candy game. Enjoy! ...

    www.diva-girl-parties-and-stuff.com/candy-poem.html

30. The Poem Lady

    The poem lady writes personalized poems for the special occasions in ... (see required information above this form)* Baby Shower Candy Poem by the Poem Lady ...

    www.diva-girl-parties-and-stuff.com/the-poem-lady.html

31. Baby Shower Announcements Sayings & Poems

    Lists many poems and sayings about baby's arrival, ranging from birth announcements to candle verses. ... A Baby Shower for (NAME). We're expecting you. Poem-B&A-12 ...

    www.perkydesigns.com/baby_shower_announcements_saying.htm

32. Scrapbooking Poems: Baby

    ... poems about ... A baby shower poem 15-May-06. A baby will make 12-Apr-06. A Celebration of ... poem 25-Dec-06. Dear Little One 29-Jan-04. Dream Baby, Dream ...

    www.scrapbook.com/poems/cat/6.html

33. Poem: A baby shower poem

    ... you to share in mommy s shower but you see i m very busy ... Resources >> Poems >> Baby >> A baby shower poem. Email It. Email It. Link. Link. Favorite ...

    www.scrapbook.com/poems.php?mode=doc&id=10903

34. Baby Poems

    ... baby poems and baby shower ... baby shower poem to attach to a baby gift. Baby Shower ... Baby Boy Poem. Baby poems should include verses for both ...

    www.poemsource.com/baby-poems.html

35. Baby Shower Poem

    ... event, the baby shower. Invitation Poems ... Poems for Baby Shower Activities ... the whole baby shower theme, include a poem about how it was made special ...

    www.ezinearticles.com/?Baby-Shower-Poem&id=128547

36. Amazing Free Baby Shower Poem

    ... free baby shower poem available right ... Baby Shower Poem. I can't help but think about ... Princess Baby Shower Poem. Pretty and pink, that's how my ...

    www.amazing-baby-shower-ideas.com/baby-shower-poem.html

37. Amazing Free Baby Shower Poems

    ... free baby shower poems available ... Baby Shower Poems. My body may not ... Detective Baby Shower Poems. I have a miracle inside me, though all you ...

    www.amazing-baby-shower-ideas.com/baby-shower-poems.html

38. Baby Shower Poems - Unique Baby Shower Poems

    Baby Shower Poems on any baby shower invitations. ... Send Baby Shower Poem. I'm trading in my ... Send Baby Shower Poem. The forecast says ther'll be showers ...

    www.babyshowerday.com/baby-shower-poems.php

39. Baby Shower Invitations - Unique Baby Shower Invitations

    Baby Shower Invitations. Unique baby shower invitations, baby shower poems & baby shower tools. ... collection of unique baby shower poems, select your own ...

    babyshowerday.com

40. Baby shower Invitation poems

    ... baby shower invitation poems to use for handmade baby shower ... We will look forward to baby's birthday! Baby shower poem for mother. Becoming a new mother, ...

    www.do-it-yourself-invitations.com/baby-shower-invitation-poems.html

41. Baby Shower Wording with Poems, Thank You Cards Verse Wording Ideas ...

    Baby Shower Thank You Cards; Verse Wording Ideas with Special Poems by Nicholas Gordon ... Bridal Shower Invitations. Wedding Party Planning. Baby. Graduation. Party ...

    www.myexpression.com/ArticlesBaby/BabyShowerThankYouPoems.cfm

42. Cross Stitch Poem for a Baby Shower Gift

    ... since I've attended a baby shower and I recall a poem that was crossed stitched ... RE: Cross Stitch Poem for a Baby Shower Gift. Post By Jana from Texas ...

    www.thriftyfun.com/tf24426213.tip.html

43. Sonogram Frame Poem

    Baby Gift - Extensive selection of unique baby gifts, baby shower gifts, baby ... Frame Poem. TERISONO$24.99. Style: PHONE: 704-723-9250. Best Baby Shower, Inc. ...

    bestbabyshower.com/tehasofrpo.html

44. Baby Shower Guest Cards

    Baby Gift - Extensive selection of unique baby gifts, baby shower gifts, baby ... Poem reads: Loving Thought For My Baby Shower Guests. I'm so happy you are here ...

    www.bestbabyshower.com/babshowguesc.html

45. Baby Shower Poems Secrets!

    I just was researching "baby shower poems" on Google and came across this neat ... shower poems samples" or "baby shower poems ideas" or "baby poem ideas" (you get ...

    babyshowerpoems.blogspot.com

46. Baby Poem

    Baby Poem. FindGift.com is a free service dedicated to helping people find ... these baby shower poems by adding your own special title to the baby poem, and ...

    www.findgift.com/gift-ideas/pid-57136

47. Baby Boy Poem

    ... these baby poems by adding your own special title to the baby boy poem, and your ... Baby Shower " Baptism " Bar Mitzvah " Bat Mitzvah " Birthday " Breakup ...

    www.findgift.com/gift-ideas/pid-57135

48. Baby Shower Poems

    Baby Shower poems are often used as part of the shower, there are some ... want to create their poems and a baby shower gift poem on a handmade card makes ...

    www.baby-shower-depot.com/babyshowerpoems.html

49. Baby Dedication Poem - Beautiful Baby Poem - Baby Shower Poem

    A beautiful, heartfelt baby poem to use at baby dedication services, baptisms, baby showers, and other celebrations. ... best friend just had her baby shower. ...

    behappy4life.com/babypoem.html

50. Baby Shower Centerpieces - Toys & Baby: Find, Compare, Read Reviews ...

    ... place to comparison shop for Baby Shower Centerpieces - Toys & Baby Compare products, compare prices, read reviews ... Baby Shower Poems - It is a great way to ...

    shopping.yahoo.com/t-Toys-Baby-0/baby-shower-centerpieces

para mas diversion y malas fotomanipulaciones y fotomontajes...

visita este link http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/

• When Main Street Melts Down: Nonprofits Are Worried
  Minnesota Public Radio
• Minnesota Nonprofits Seek Upside in Downturn
  Star Tribune
• Charities Are Bracing for a Long, Hard Winter
  TIME Magazine
• Foundations and Charities Harmed by Economic Turmoil
  Chronicle of Philanthropy
• Consumers Expect Companies to Keep Giving in Tough Times
  Chronicle of Philanthropy
• Past Sheds Light on Recession Giving
  Philanthropy Journal
• How Bad Is It?
  Chronicle of Philanthropy (requires paid subscription)

Local stories:

• Midterm Report: Jerome Artists Show
  Star Tribune
• Tyler Area Community Foundation Looking for Board Members
  Marshall Independent
• Lismore Area Community Foundation Off To a Big Start
  Nobles County Review
• SMIF Getting Ready for Early Childhood Boost
  KEYC-TV
• Shubert Theater Receives $1.5 Million Challenge from Kresge Foundation
  Star Tribune
• Real Estate Pro Warns Nonprofits: Beware Trojan House
  MinnPost

National stories:

• Nonprofit Groups Will Face More Scrutiny, State Regulators Told
  Chronicle of Philanthropy
• Congress Vows $100 Million to Red Cross After It Asks For Aid
  Washington Post

This is an article worth reading from the BBC that the destruction of the rainforests is costing more to the global economy than the banking crisis.

Nature loss 'dwarfs bank crisis'

By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News website, Barcelona Losses are great, and continuous, says the report The global economy is losing more money from the disappearance of forests than through the current banking crisis, according to an EU-commissioned study. It puts the annual cost of forest loss at between $2 trillion and $5 trillion. The figure comes from adding the value of the various services that forests perform, such as providing clean water and absorbing carbon dioxide. The study, headed by a Deutsche Bank economist, parallels the Stern Review into the economics of climate change. It has been discussed during many sessions here at the World Conservation Congress. Some conservationists see it as a new way of persuading policymakers to fund nature protection rather than allowing the decline in ecosystems and species, highlighted in the release on Monday of the Red List of Threatened Species, to continue. Capital losses Speaking to BBC News on the fringes of the congress, study leader Pavan Sukhdev emphasised that the cost of natural decline dwarfs losses on the financial markets. "It's not only greater but it's also continuous, it's been happening every year, year after year," he told BBC News. Teeb will... show the risks we run by not valuing [nature] adequately." Andrew Mitchell Global Canopy Programme "So whereas Wall Street by various calculations has to date lost, within the financial sector, $1-$1.5 trillion, the reality is that at today's rate we are losing natural capital at least between $2-$5 trillion every year." The review that Mr Sukhdev leads, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (Teeb), was initiated by Germany under its recent EU presidency, with the European Commission providing funding. The first phase concluded in May when the team released its finding that forest decline could be costing about 7% of global GDP. The second phase will expand the scope to other natural systems. Stern message Key to understanding his conclusions is that as forests decline, nature stops providing services which it used to provide essentially for free. So the human economy either has to provide them instead, perhaps through building reservoirs, building facilities to sequester carbon dioxide, or farming foods that were once naturally available. Or we have to do without them; either way, there is a financial cost. The Teeb calculations show that the cost falls disproportionately on the poor, because a greater part of their livelihood depends directly on the forest, especially in tropical regions. The greatest cost to western nations would initially come through losing a natural absorber of the most important greenhouse gas. Just as the Stern Review brought the economics of climate change into the political arena and helped politicians see the consequences of their policy choices, many in the conservation community believe the Teeb review will lay open the economic consequences of halting or not halting the slide in biodiversity. "The numbers in the Stern Review enabled politicians to wake up to reality," said Andrew Mitchell, director of the Global Canopy Programme, an organisation concerned with directing financial resources into forest preservation. "Teeb will do the same for the value of nature, and show the risks we run by not valuing it adequately." A number of nations, businesses and global organisations are beginning to direct funds into forest conservation, and there are signs of a trade in natural ecosystems developing, analogous to the carbon trade, although it is clearly very early days. Some have ethical concerns over the valuing of nature purely in terms of the services it provides humanity; but the counter-argument is that decades of trying to halt biodiversity decline by arguing for the intrinsic worth of nature have not worked, so something different must be tried. Whether Mr Sukhdev's arguments will find political traction in an era of financial constraint is an open question, even though many of the governments that would presumably be called on to fund forest protection are the ones directly or indirectly paying for the review. But, he said, governments and businesses are getting the point. "Times have changed. Almost three years ago, even two years ago, their eyes would glaze over. "Today, when I say this, they listen. In fact I get questions asked - so how do you calculate this, how can we monetize it, what can we do about it, why don't you speak with so and so politician or such and such business." The aim is to complete the Teeb review by the middle of 2010, the date by which governments are committed under the Convention of Biological Diversity to have begun slowing the rate of biodiversity loss.

To see really fucked-up Photoshop jobs, try Photoshop Disasters. Minutes of fun!

It was staggering to realize that in Dec 2004 when the great tsunami hit and claimed approx 225,000 lives - that the total recorded deaths of the first half of 2008 surpassed had already exceeded that.  The tally for the 1st months of 2008 has reached 229,000 deaths.

2008 is not yet over and I wonder how many more precious lives would be claimed.

Earthquakes in China and in other parts, massive flooding in India, Bangladesh and Caribbean and United States.... and still many more people are unreached without any help from the flood victims of Myanmar whose government is too proud to receive help.  And people are still dying and the resources are dwindling and the world economies are melting along with the polar ice-caps.

These are indeed sobering times.

It is difficult to look and watch for any interesting and encouraging news item on any broadcasting channels worldwide.  It seems as if the whole world is just being tossed and fro from one bad news to the next and it seems that there is no respite in sight.

The whole world is in agony right now.

And our only hope in this very discouraging times is Christ alone.

May we know you more in these times of trouble and difficulties.

May we put our confidence and trust in you alone despite what we see and hear.

May our eyes see how you are going to redeem these painful circumstances that we are all going through.

May our eyes be ever fixed on Jesus who is the Alpha and the Omega.

In your precious name,

AMEN

Today, after writing the post on the libraries, I decided I was finally feeling brave enough to take stock of my loss and see where I need to go from here.  Here are the final statistics:

Of the 278 books I've read in the past five or so years, I owned 115 when I lived in Florida.  Of the 115 I owned, 22 made it to Iowa - leaving me with a deficit of 93 books.

When I moved from Iowa to Florida, I lost quite a bit more than that because I had the complete set of Dean Koontz, James Patterson and John Saul's works.  In Florida I had started buying the titles that were my favorites from each author rather then buying each book again. 

I keep a detailed list of all the books I read, alphabetised by author.  I have a box next to the author's name to check once I own the book.  I also rate the books for my own use later when evaluating an author overall.  It is sad to have so few checks in the "Own" column now.

Often I wish I had kept a list of books I have read since childhood but I didn't.  I know I read the Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew series but there were other books in there as well.  My son, since becoming more of an avid reader in the past two years, also keeps a list of all the books he reads.  He doesn't own any because he doesn't have enough space to keep them - he uses the library a lot.  I can only imagine how many books would be on my list if I had kept one since childhood.  {sigh}

October 8 is the International Day for Disaster Reduction. The United Nations system observes the day 'to raise the profile of disaster risk reduction, and encourage every citizen and government to take part in building more resilient communities and nations'.

Disaster risk reduction (abbreviated as DRR) is the common term for many and varied techniques that focus on preventing or minimising the effects of disasters. DRR measures either seek to reduce the likelihood of a disaster occurring, or strengthen the people's ability to respond to it.

DRR is not just another lofty piece of developmentspeak. Unlike many other development measures that are full of cold statistics and/or hot air, this one directly (and quietly) saves lives, jobs and properties.

And it gives people peace of mind - we can't put a value on that. That was the point I made in a blog post written in December 2007, on the third anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami. Taking the personal example of J A Malani, an ordinary Sri Lankan woman living in Hambantota, on the island's southern coast, I talked about how she has found peace of mind from a DRR initiative.

'Evaluating Last Mile Hazard Information Dissemination Project' (HazInfo project for short) was an action research project by LIRNEasia to find out how communication technology and training can be used to safeguard grassroots communities from disasters. It involved Sarvodaya, Sri Lanka’s largest development organisation, and several other partners including my own TVE Asia Pacific. It was supported by International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada.

Recently, IDRC's inhouse series 'Research that Matters' has published an article about the project. Titled "For Easy Sleep Along the Shore: Making Hazard Warnings More Effective" its blurb reads: "In Sri Lanka, a grassroots pilot study combines advanced communication technologies with local volunteer networks to alert coastal villages to danger coming from the sea."

The article has adapted a lot of the information and quotes I originally compiled for a project introductory note in April 2006.

The outcome of the project's first phase, which ended in mid 2007, is well documented. My own reflective essay on this project is included as a chapter in our book Communicating Disasters: An Asia Pacific Resource Book, published by TVE Asia Pacific and UNDP in December 2007.

TVE Asia Pacific also made a short video film in late 2007. Called The Long Last Mile , it can be viewed on YouTube in two parts:

The Long Last Mile, part 1 of 2:

The Long Last Mile, part 2 of 2:

The recent IDRC article ends with this para: "A related challenge concerns the shortness of any society’s attention span. In the absence of frequent crises and alerts, how can a nation — or even a village — sustain the continuing levels of preparedness essential to ensure that, when the next big wave comes rolling in and the sirens sound, its people will have the motivation and the capacity to act? The follow-up project seeks to address this worry by preparing the hotels and villages to respond to different types of hazards, rather than only to the relatively rare tsunamis."

Watch this space.

Download pdf of IDRC's Research That Matters profile on Last Mile Hazard Warning Project

The prophet Ezekiel was given specific words concerning the upcoming Babylonian conquest of Judah. What God had to say was straight to the point and could be understood by anyone if they choose to listen. When God tells us disaster is coming, He does not make it difficult to understand. The words given by Ezekiel at the time all came to pass. But, the words remain for us today as a “type” of what is coming. That which happened to Judah and Jerusalem SHALL happen to the United States of America as well as Israel VERY SOON. Hear Ye the Word of LORD reading from the TANAKH from Ezekiel 7:

“The Word of the Lord came to me;

You, O mortal, [say] Thus said the Lord God to the land of Israel: DOOM! DOOM is coming upon the four corners of the land.

Now doom is upon you! I will let loose My anger against you and judge you according to your ways; I will requite you for all your abominations.

I will show you no pity and no compassion; but I will requite you for your ways and for the abominations in your midst. And you shall know that I am the Lord.

Thus said the Lord God: A SINGULAR DISASTER; A DISASTER IS COMING.

Doom is coming! The hour of doom is coming! It stirs against you; THERE IT COMES!

The cycle has come around for you, O inhabitants of the land; the time has come; the day is near. There is panic on the mountains, not joy.

VERY SOON I will pour out My wrath upon you and spend My anger on you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will requite you for all your abominations.

I will show you no pity and no compassion; but I will requite you for your ways, and for the abominations in your midst. And you shall know it was I the Lord who punished.

HERE IS THE DAY! See, the cycle has come round; it has appeared. The rod has blossomed; arrogance has budded,

Lawlessness has grown into a rod of wickedness. Nothing comes of them, nor of their abundance, nor of their wealth; nor is there preeminence among them.

THE TIME HAS COME, THE DAY HAS ARRIVED, Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller mourn—for divine wrath shall overtake all her multitude.

For the seller shall not return to what he sold so long as they remain among the living. For the vision concerns all her multitude, it shall not be revoked. And because of his guilt, no man shall hold fast to his life.

They have sounded the horn, and all is prepared; but no one goes to battle, for my wrath is directed against all her multitude.

The sword is outside and pestilence and famine are inside; he who is in the open shall die by the sword, he who is in the town shall be devoured by famine and pestilence.

And if any survive, they shall take to the mountains; they shall be like doves of the valley, moaning together—everyone for his iniquity.

All hands shall grow weak, and all knees shall turn to water.

They shall gird on sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; every face shall betray shame, and every head shall be made bald.

They shall throw their silver into the streets, and their gold shall be treated as something unclean. THEIR SILVER AND GOLD SHALL NOT AVAIL TO SAVE THEM IN THE DAY OF THE LORD’S WRATH—TO SATISFY THEIR HUNGER OR TO FILL THEIR STOMACHS. Because they made them stumble into guilt.

For out of their beautiful adornments, in which they took pride, they made their images and their detestable abominations—therefore I will make them an unclean thing to them.

I will give them as a spoil to strangers, and as plunder to the wicked of the earth; and they shall defile them.

I will turn My face from them, and My treasures shall be defiled; ruffians shall invade it and defile it.

Forge the chain, for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of lawlessness.

I will bring in the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses; so shall I turn to naught the ride of the powerful, and their sanctuaries shall be defiled.

HORROR COMES, AND THEY SHALL SEEK SAFETY, BUT THERE WILL BE NONE.

CALAMITY SHALL FOLLOW CALAMITY, AND RUMOR FOLLOW RUMOR. Then they shall seek vision from the prophet in vain; instruction shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.

The king shall mourn, the price shall clother himself with desolation and the hands of the people of he land shall tremble. I will treat them in accordance with their own ways and judge them according to their deserts. And they shall know that I am the LORD.”

Hear Ye the Word of the Lord:

There is a singular disaster coming! With it comes the hour of DOOM for this world. As the cloud rises the forces of evil will embark on their mission to destroy and devour.

What goes around comes around America. You have sold your soul to the gods of this world and have forsaken the God who made you great. You await the same judgment as Judah in Ezekiel’s time and current day secular Israel. God will not be mocked. God will not allow His name to be used to justify evil and greed and corruption. God is not happy with you America for you have abandoned Him and run after the gods of pleasure and wealth.

Hear Ye the Word of the Lord:

Horror is coming and there is NO SAFETY. CALAMITY shall follow CALAMITY and there will be no one to help you. Earthquakes, hurricanes, terrorist attacks, financial collapse and diseases are knocking on your door. There is no turning back the anger of the Lord once His remnant is taken out of this world. The only thing holding back all this from happening is the remnant of the one true church, the true bride of Christ. SHORTLY this bride will leave to be with her Lord and all you just read SHALL COME TO PASS.

Scoffers will scoff and say it will never be. Doubters will doubt and say it cannot be. Fools will laugh and say it is all a joke. All will perish and no one will be there to help them.

People of the Lord: The messages from the Lord are getting more dramatic by the hour. These are NOT the times to sit back and blow off these words as those of paranoid fear mongers. There is a message our Master is trying to deliver before it is too late. AWAKE and LISTEN. REPENT and DRAW NIGH unto Him while we can. His arms are open to take us and protect us from the coming storm.

Behold, He stands at the door and is knocking. His words are sharp and powerful and indicate that time is of the essence. He has spared us twice in the past three weeks from certain destruction. He is holding open the invitation a little while longer. Please do no slam the door in His face this time. Please, for your sake, for the sake of your family and for your eternal destiny DO NOT REJECT HIM.

ARISE and STAND, BE NOT AFRAID. The salvation of our Lord draws near.

]]> http://lezleevictoriah.wordpress.com/?p=177 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:11:57 +0000 lezleevictoriah http://lezleevictoriah.it.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/first-responders-their-families/ [/caption]

my husband is a first responder. so is my son. many people's husbands, wives, sons, daughters, and family are first responders. this may mean they are a police officer, a firefighter, an ems technician, an ambulance driver, in the military, or even one of many, many support services that keep all these occupations [and many others] operating. whoever the first responder is, they put a lot on the line and there's generally no argument about that. they have made commitments to put the safety and welfare of others ahead of themselves. they are, no doubt, the everyday hero's of our world.

yet.... i never realized what exactly the families of some of these first responders go through.

i understand everyday what it is like to kiss a husband in law enforcement goodbye never knowing what the day will bring. however, this past fall, i understood what it was like to watch your military son leave to serve his country in iraq. and this past month, when hurricane ike hit houston, i understood the burden of responsibilities that fall upon the families of these first responders when they are away on extended shifts taking care of everyone else's families.

for almost 3 weeks, my husband worked 12 hour plus shifts, often bunking at his station because there was no time to make the 45 minute turned 3 hour commute home and return back again on time  [due to debris, flooding, and road closures]. i was left with a damaged house to clean up, kids to take care of, and a numerous host of things that in ordinary circumstances, would be difficult enough with him at home. we had no power and we were told the drinking water was not safe. we had to try to find food as we had been advised to stock up for only 72 hours. well, 72 hours turned into weeks. i have a daughter with diabetes who must have her insulin and whose insulin must be kept cold. i have rheumatoid arthritis but had to pick up, in some cases, whole trees, and move them to a safer place as designated by our community association.  my children and i raked the yard for 3 days only to redo it all over again each morning thereafter as nightly winds scattered more debis across the neighborhood. we ate cold canned food, went to bed at sundown and got up at sunrise.

please don't take this the wrong way, i am not complaining! i am thankful that we were not injured, the damage to our home and neighbors was not worse, and we all came out of it ok [which many, unbeknown as a result of the almost absent media coverage, did not] . complaining isn't what this blog is about. i am simply relaying one story, my story, as an example of what millions of first responders families go though.

to break it down a little, let's take just one institution of first response: hpd. the houston police department employees over 5,000 officers. that is 5,000 families who were without a family member during this [and many other] crises. multiply this by all the differing professions that first responders occupy, taking into account all of the crisis interventionists, per se,  in all the world and you have a whole bunch of families that end up in need themselves. families that for the most part, never complain, never ask for special assistance, and in fact, forgo much help in order to allow their first responder to do his or her duty. and, might i add,  this, in addition, to the fear such families often face regarding the fate of their responder during the crisis itself, is an issue that needs some attention.

i heard a really sad story during hurricane ike [and there were and continue to be many], but this one was about a first responder, a police officer and his family nonetheless. no, he wasn't injured physically but you could say he was injured financially, socially, and i'm sure, motivationally. this police officer, who shall go unnamed, called his station to report that a huge tree had fallen though the roof of his house and that he needed to attend to it to ensure the safety of his family. his supervisor's response was that he must "come in" or suffer the consequences. well... he chose to make sure that his family and kids were safe, their belongings protected from the elements, and that they had somewhere to sleep. as a result, he was suspended.suspended, i am sure, without pay and his record blemished for the rest of his career.

in the 'duty to put others first", do these families not count?

something is wrong here.

somewhere, somehow, we need to learn to take care of each other and in doing so, not forget the caretakers themselves.

The KFD is trying to organize a Community Emergency Response Team.  The Kirksville CERT will "teach citizens to survive in the wake of a disaster while waiting for professional assistance," and is available to any interested party.  What preparatastic skills will you be learning, you might ask?  After attending the classes, all participants will--well, should--be skilled in: 

• Disaster preparedness
• Fire suppression
• Medical operations (my favorite!)
• Search and rescue
• Disaster psychology
• Team organization

So, in the event that a massive snow and ice storm strikes this winter*, causing power lines to sever and set fire to nearby flammable objects and individuals to suffer ice-related injuries or become lost in the neverending whiteness, their dire situations unfortunatlely compounded by severe emotional distress and an unseemly lack of organized teams ready to assist with their rescue**, you will have the skills to pay the bills, my friend!

Classes will begin on October 9th at the KFD, at 6:30; if you're interested, give them a call at 660-665-3734 and get your worried self signed up to become part of the Kirksville CERT.  In the meantime, check out the KFD's neato "Fun Facts" section of their website to learn a few cool bits of information about firefighting history and tradition, or hit up the online "Emergency Preparedness" section of the site.

Cheers!

Casey

*A highly plausible occurance

**...not as plausible, but still theoretically possible

Cynthia McKinney was one of the few voices of reason during that time in
the Congress. Long an opponent of militarism and wars abroad, she also
called for explanations and accountability when information began to
come to light about multiple advanced warnings and apparent
foreknowledge of the imminence and methods of the attack inside
government intelligence agencies that still failed to prevent it. She
supported calls by the families of the 9/11 victims for an official
investigation in what was being termed a "failure of intelligence" even
though it more closely resembled a failure of response, of standard
operating procedures, and of government officials and agencies to
respond and prepare for, or even comprehend the source of these attacks.

With the formation of the 9/11 Commission at the insistence of the
families and the public, press attention and investigative journalism
began to reveal much more about the historical relationship of our CIA
and Pentagon with the same terrorists who were allegedly behind the
attacks, about the role the US has played in the history and
international relations in the Middle East since WWII, about illegal
covert operations that were hidden from the people and the Congress and
funded by profits from illegal drugs, about the obstruction of
investigations into the hijackers prior to the events, and about the
inexplicable failure of defenses during the attacks. When the official
9/11 Commission Final Report was released, it got wide attention and
acclaim from the press, but the families said that 70% of their
questions remained unanswered by this flawed investigation, and called
for more hearings to get at the truth and to establish oversight and
accountability.

Vilified and misquoted in the press at the time, McKinney had raised the
first of many serious questions about the events and accountability in
an atmosphere of denial. But she was vindicated when others began to ask
the same questions in light of the evidence. Unable to get the
Republican controlled Congress to allow further hearings, she organized
a day-long briefing on the remaining questions and the flawed
assumptions, investigation, conclusions and recommendations of the 9/11
Commission drawing on experts from across the country. A full transcript
of that briefing appears at:

http://archives.allthingscynthiamckinney.com/mckinney.house.gov/20050722transcript.pdf

Long an opponent of government secrecy and an advocate of transparency
in democracy, McKinney introduced legislation to release all the
government classified files on Dr. Martin Luther King's life and death.
When she discovered at another public examination of the 9/11 Commission
findings, held in New Yoirk City as a Citizens Commission, that every
footnote at the end of the official report refers to interviews,
documents and forensic materials that were sealed from public view by
the Commission until 2009, she began to call for release of the records
and evidence that are the only way to verify the conclusions of the
official investigation. Most of these files were not classified or
secret to start with. An effort to use the Freedom of Information Act to
file requests of all the agencies involved for each document failed to
release a single record to date. She continues to push for a release of
all pertinent records in the case.

At this point, Cynthia McKinney stands in full support of the 9/11
famlies groups and the public who are seeking to establish a fully
independent and transparent public investigation into the historical
background, the events, the official response and aftermath of 9/11. The
full truth is not yet known or established in this critical event that
has shaped American domestic and foreign policy in the last seven years
and may for decades to come.

McKinney is featured in a new British award-winning documentary called
The Elephant in the Room
(http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4701757632630708538) about the
public efforts to understand 9/11 and the Truth Movement.

She will be speaking out on these issues in New York City on the
anniversary of the attack. In the Truth TV section on this site there
are videos of her earlier comments about 9/11.

9/11
Press Conference
2:00pm
St. Marks Church,
131 East 10th Street (2nd Avenue & 10th Street, Manhattan)
New York, NY 10003

Vigil and Speeches
http://www.2008nowornever.com/events.html#911
6PM McKinney Speech
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South (this is just below West 4th Street so it's
just a few minutes away from the above)
New York, NY 10012

Buzzer Thirty event
http://www.boomantribune.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2008/9/1/205653/8542
8-9:30PM - Tentative
Waltz-Astoria
23-14 Ditmars Blvd. (Queens)
Astoria, NY 11105

9/12
1PM –- 5PM
http://www.2008nowornever.com/events.html#912
The Madison
27 W 24th St (Between 6th Avenue and Broadway)
New York, NY 10010

While all attention is diverted towards debates by candidates and in the Senate and House of Representatives, there is a tragedy of untold proportions brewing in areas devastated by the September hurricanes. There have been NO stories in either the written or broadcast media for many days concerning anything related to Hurricane Ike or Gustov. The unprecedented media blackout together with the mysterious lack of any prominent politicians showing up to supposedly promise aid if elected makes one wonder just what the agenda in this whole mess really is.

Never before has there been a disaster of the proportion of Gustov/Ike hit the United States and there NOT be relentless media coverage for weeks afterward. The media never covered Gustov and hightailed it out of Texas as soon as it was obvious there were not going to be 100,000 dead people and/or 50 billion dollars of damage.

Media coverage alerts Americans to areas of concern, interest and need. Without media coverage ignorance prevails and gives cause to apathy. The response from America as a whole to the September hurricanes has been anemic and has dried up along with the money in this country. As the entire financial aspect of this country constricts, so does the ability of relief and charity groups to do their jobs.

From one end of this country to another, charities are screaming for resources to keep doing what they are here for. From the greatest to the least, groups of all sizes are quickly running out of supplies and money to keep helping others. Of course this is due to deteriorating situation economically, but we cannot allow this to continue. If the safety net vanishes of private charities, then that only leaves the government programs such as FEMA to handle every aspect of disaster relief and recovery.

Is this what we really want in this country? Do we really want everything to turn into socialism? Do we really want the government to handle everything from banking to health care to retirement to disaster relief to providing for the disadvantaged? In our greed and selfishness along with our fear, do we really want to turn over to the government of the new USSA (United Socialistic States of America) the responsibility for everything the private sector used to provide?

By nature of the media neglecting to cover stories such as Gustov and the gasoline shortage in Atlanta together with its sudden departure from Galveston it has thrown the country into the dark regarding what is needed and where it is needed most. We need the media to get off its two track agenda and start doing its job. There is far more going on in this country than just the Presidential campaign and the bailout package in Washington.

Please keep the victims of the Gustov and Ike in your prayers and if there is any way to help them, please be aware the need is great. Please pray that within this great land, there remains a remnant of good hearted people who only want to reach out and help their neighbor in need. Please pray that somehow the word can reach out as to who needs what the most.

The United States has no idea there are still hundreds, if not thousands of missing people after Ike. The United States has no idea there are thousands of people living in temporary housing or evacuation centers out of money and with no home left to go back to. The United States has no idea of the scope and level of destruction and havoc the double barreled hurricane hits of September caused. Why? Because the media was gone with the wind and never looked back.

Everyone knows Texas is a Republican state so why should the liberal media bother to give it any press? Everyone knows that it would not benefit either McCain or Obama to visit the hurricane stricken areas for they are going Republican whether a candidate shows up or not. The selfish and self-serving ways of politics have trumped the critical needs in the areas devastated and thrown the burden of recovery squarely on the shoulders of FEMA. Have we not learned anything since Katrina?

]]> http://voiceselsalvador.wordpress.com/?p=57 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:58:52 +0000 voicesfromelsalvador http://voiceselsalvador.it.wordpress.com/2008/10/02/flooding-in-the-lower-lempa-jiquilisco-2/ Water levels in the Lempa River have continued to rise over the past three nights causing flooding throughout the area. Local organizations and Voices on the Border have been evacuating people affected by the rains as necessary. The September 15th dam desisted from releasing water for most of today, but threats of rain are forecasted for the weekend.

The world seems to be at the rock bottom.  If a big country can be in up side down state, can you imagine what the people in the third world countries would be like. 

Please do not panic.   There is always opportunity on the horizon.  We are in Period 8.  The ancient people had discovered 8 chi as the most prosperous chi. 

Let us take a look what the number 8 stands for.  8 is made up of two zeros.  It is from nothing to make something.  8 means wealth chi in Feng Shui.  It is from nothing that we can have wealth.

Period 8 chi  is in the ghost gate area.  Please do not be scare with the words “ghost gate”.  It means the energy is uncertain.  It is a changeable area.  The energy is in the area that the chi is unstable.  The ancient people called this a Ghost Gate.

There will be more disasters to come yet till the chi of Period 8 is over in 2017.  Please pull yourself together; you need the strength to help others.  You cannot fall to pieces because the stock market dropped to over 700 points and the well known banks collapse.  It is only money.  What we need to help people is their health and family lives.  Please make use of your talents to help other people now.

There are a lot of people suffer worst in other countries.  We need you to have strength to be more valuable to help others.  I have a number of students asking me to teach Feng Shui classes.  Yes, I will do this.  At the moment, there are people needing my help.  I am teaching the people who have suffered from financial loses to find money, so they can provide a roof over a wife and 3 young kids.

Period 8 chi has a way to make people to have financial cleansing.  If you are on the positive side of life, Period 8 would reward you.  People are in the cleansing mode and I helped them to top up their financial situation right now.

If you are in the up side down mode, please come and join us.  We are changing our thinking regardless what the news has been telling us.  We are following Napoleon Hills’ principles to make us stronger and focus on the positive things to better ourselves.  Napoleon Hills is the author of the book "Thank and Grow Rich".

Sure enough, we all make money.  It is miracle in this economic down turn that we can still make money.  If you are interested what we are doing, please drop us an email magicalfengshui@gmail.com

Kwai Lan

http://www.KwaiLanChan.com

http://www.FengShuiBestSeminars.com (free CD)

http://www.ImperialFengShui.com (free feng shui tips)

http://www.CrackingTheFengShuiCode.com (eBook with 38 years of tips)

Some have told me to “let it go”. Others have told me “it’s a lost cause”. Still others have accused me of being “crazy” and through it all, NO ONE has told me “keep it up”. What is this all about?

One month ago today a major hurricane hit the Louisiana coast near Grand Isle. Hurricane Gustov continued inland and hurricane force winds battered places as far away as Baton Rouge relentlessly. Meanwhile, down the road in New Orleans all the reporters from all the major news outlets were focused on watching a few waves overtop a few levees. With every ounce of their being they were hoping to see the levees break and their cameras provide live footage of the greatest flood of all time.

All the willing of all the media could not force the levees to break. After a day of anticipation, they were bitterly disappointed that there was no huge story coming out of New Orleans. With heavy heart they trudged to either St. Paul to cover the Republican convention they never wanted to attend, or to South Carolina on the off chance Tropical Storm Hanna might