Oh yay, it's raining. Damn, why did I open my balcony window, now my room's wet. I love rain. Rain is beautiful. Dark, windy, gloomy and wet. It's just so fucking beautiful, I could sit here and stare out of the window at the rain and the world passing by all day long.

Sigh, I got so much I want to say, so many insecurities, so many doubts, so many fears, but at the same time so much hope and love for you as well. I just don't know how to put my feelings into words. Sigh.. It tears me apart inside.

I've put the past behind me. It's just the present now, and I'm just hanging by a moment here with you. The future is so blurry, I'm so damn scared of it, yet I'm looking foward to it. Cuz I've got fear, but I've got hope as well. Why do they always come in twos? Haha. Sighhh.

It's raining heavier than ever now.

How I wish you could see the potential, the potential of you and me
It's like a book elegantly bound, but in a language that you can't read - just yet
You gotta spend some time--love, you gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find--love, I will possess your heart

There are days when outside your window, I see my reflection as I slowly pass
And I long for this mirrored perspective, when we'll be lovers, lovers at last
You gotta spend some time--love, you gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find--love, I will possess your heart

Haha and I don't mean this song in a vietnamese stalker-ish way. I mean it in a spe shuhhh way for you, spe shuhhhhh girl. Love (:

          In that conversation, Jesse Jackson made a couple of inappropriate comments regarding Barack Obama.

      It seems that Jesse Jackson takes issue with the way that Sen. Obama speaks to the African American population.  He said it made him want to rip off his n--s.  Then later, it was also revealed that he allegedly, also used the other "N"- word. 

       On the view, Elisabeth Hasselback made a comments saying, that she felt it was inappropriate to use that word in private or in public.  Wow, did the other "ladies" of the view take issue with her.

        The focus of tension towards Elisabeth was nothing less than hostile.  Sherri Shephard said, "don't you dare tell me, not to use that word".  She also said to Barbara Walters, "I don't want to hear that word comming out of your mouth".  Sherri said that to her, after Barbara phrased a question to her; about, whether it made a difference whether a white person said the "N"-word or whether another African American said it.  That was harsh Sherri...definately.  Doesn't that feel like a bit of reverse racism; OR IS THAT THE WHOLE POINT?

          When Elisabeth was overcome with emotion, Barbara Walters told her to take a breath and let someone else talk.  It was rude of Barbara and dismissive of the depth of Elisabeth's convictions on the subject.   The balance of conservative/liberal general opinions is off on that show. Topics often feel one sided as opposed to a real collection of multiple views.

          Yes, Elisabeth does talk too much on subjects that she feels strongly about.  Part of that I am sure, is because she is the only "voice" of conservative republicans on the show.  However, I can honestly say, there are days when some of the other co-hosts are guilty of the same thing...dominating the conversations.  Most of the time, I can do without watching The View...it often turns into a circus of people talking over the top of each other.  There seems to be less respect given to each other as time goes on.

       Whoopi started out being calm in my opinion; but, when the others jumped all over Elizabeth like a trampoline...Whoopi got worked up and became short with Elisabeth as she tried to clarify her statements.  She said that Elisabeth, had to understand that black people were hurt by that word because of the history of it...and so, black people now "own" the word and have given the word new meaning.  Many people feel that it is ok...as long as African Americans use the word towards one another...but, no white people have the "right" to use it at all. 

       Basically, the show came across with the impression that the other co-hosts felt that Elizabeth, nor any white people, have a right to be offended by the use of the "N"-word in their presence. 

         In my opinion, it feels like verbal abuse to hear that word; used towards another human being.  I think that is what Elizabeth was trying to convey, that it is almost like visiting a friend who's spouse is verbally abusing them.  By keeping quiet, you feel as if you are condoning such behavior.  By speaking out against people using that word towards another person...Elizabeth stepped on to a racial landmine, that she had no idea existed between her, and her co-hosts.

         Sherri Shephard also said that in her family, the "N"-word was used as a "term of endearment".  Elisabeth's point was, that she had a difficult time understanding why using a word that had such a negative history, as a term of endearment, was a good thing.  I think Elisabeth was getting flustered because of the intensity of the hostility directed at her comments, by her co-hosts.  She wasn't making herself clearly understood.  But, truly, why would someone want to be called a word that, for many people, was connected to a demeaning, violent, hurtful and dismissive way of life in our country's past; and, often present society ?

       I think using words like that, only serves to inflame resentment and violence.  Getting touchy about who uses the word seems ignorant to me.  Why would anyone who respected themselves, want to use the "N"- word as a way of greeting, a term of endearment, or as a way of connecting to another person.  Just knowing that some people use the term as a weapon should inspire African Americans to demand that NO ONE CALL THEM SUCH A NAME...out of a matter of respect. 

        I fail to see how redefining the word gives the word new power.  It is still an ugly word, just because of it's connection to it's former usage.  If someone used that term to refer to anyone in my family then, i would feel that they were demeaning them and attempting to de-value who they are as a person.  

           This conversation on The View, was the equivilent of taking the temperature of our country's race relations...unless we find better ways of communicating what we think and feel...the future is going to be no further along, in healing the hurts in anyone's hearts or minds.  No matter what tone of voice is used with that word...it "feels" like an insult...not a term of endearment! 

This is the entrance where you are greeted by a modern stainless fountain and some cool patterned carpets. I had banners signs made so that each artist would get recognition for their work and so that families could see...and be as proud of them as I am.

Then you step inside...this is looking back out

When you walk in, you can see 4 movable walls which accommodate 8 pieces of work. The ends, where the wood is, actually open to become a storage unit as well. I have clear acrylic sleeves on each end to supply the viewer information on both the work they see and the Artist themselves. The silver sides have been painted with liquid stainless steel  and then clear coated for protection. Each and every wall is edged with metal and all the tops have hooks so that all the art can be suspended from wire...rather than having holes put in walls. After suspension, I use museum wax and a level to make sure each piece stays in place.

Upon entering the Studio gallery, you turn right and are faced with you first view of artwork on the movable walls and a quick view of the gallery.The reception desk, on the left, has been accented with a special patterned aluminum...one I fell in love with long ago an had to incorporate. All the furniture in the Studio is made from Baltic birch plywood. Above the reception desk...in a place of prominence...are my Father's beautiful 1940's hand carved bamboo fishing poles. I took great delight in people pondering them at the opening...Here you see Lori's work prominent.

When you turn around you are faced with lovely floating glass cubes. They are really attached to wall...but the illusion of hanging from the stainless tubing is kinda fun. On the right side, the flat screen holds my portfolio. Below, in the 2 glass jewelry cases and also the one  to the left of them, Kweli's one-of-a-king jewelry sits glittering.

In the glass cubes: On right and left double boxes: Cathy's beautiful fused glass in a myriad of colors. In the center cube and below in the jewelry case that's center, Audrey's amazing pine needle basketry...and Audrey is 87 years old folks.  The left jewelry case of the 3 holds Gina's hand etched and hand dyed velvet shawls...and they are to die for. Next to the shawls...in the same case, are Darcy's hand made, one of-a-kind Rosaries..and they are very clever and unusual.

Then, on the left side, Jim has his documentary Tibetan photos of the Amdo Tribe and their handicrafts are displayed below. These items are my pride, my joy and they give me the greatest sense of well being.

Standing back to look at it all...

Then as you turn, you see the very back free standing wall built over the existing windows. You can see Yumiko's light green canvases...and then Laura's work

Then looking back from the corner of the room back from Laura's work toward Yumiko's

Then if you were to look into the movable wall isles...you would see MaryBeth's work

And Jim's work on the right (in addition to what's playing on the flat screen)

Then my own work on the back movable walls...hey, note that red sold dot on "Laundry Day"!

Behind mine, on the back sliding door wall is Shiela's work...

and past Shiela's are Kweli's paintings...

I took this photo a little later so you could see the closets we built to hold out custom Studio T-Shirts..."Damn Blind Monkey" shirts are flying off the hangers... also the silver aluminum chairs hold guests who would like to review portfolios of work on the flat screen behind the reception desk. On that desk you see 2 water colors by Cynthia. On the wall shelf... I sell devil Ducks (after collecting them for years myself). On the easels, from left to right are works by MaryBeth, Shiela and Laura.

From the back wall where the flat screen is, you can see the reception desk...grand central. My lobster chair is the only color I allowed myself, to not take away from the art itself...

Lastly, my little kitchen area. The stainless table was my desk in my former Printing Scheduler life! Ha!

"There are times in the history of our nation when our very way of life depends upon dispelling illusions and awakening to the challenge of a present danger. In such moments, we are called upon to move quickly and boldly to shake off complacency, throw aside old habits and rise, clear-eyed and alert, to the necessity of big changes. Those who, for whatever reason, refuse to do their part must either be persuaded to join the effort or asked to step aside. This is such a moment. The survival of the United States of America as we know it is at risk. And even more - if more should be required - the future of human civilization is at stake."

With these words, climate crusader Al Gore opened a powerful speech delivered in Washington DC on 17 July 2008, in which he issued what he called 'A Generational Challenge to Repower America' to take bold steps towards solving the climate crisis.

At one point he told fellow Americans: "We're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that's got to change."

Having outlined the environmental, security and economic implications of America's addiction to oil, Gore challenged his nation "to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years".

I was immediately reminded of President Kennedy's pledge to Congress on 25 May 1961 where he said:
"I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him back safely to the earth."

In fact, later on in his speech Gore referred to this saying: "When President John F. Kennedy challenged our nation to land a man on the moon and bring him back safely in 10 years, many people doubted we could accomplish that goal. But 8 years and 2 months later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the surface of the moon."

Al Gore's full speech, according to a video recording posted on YouTube, lasted 27 minutes -- but the We Campaign has released the highlights of the speech running for 5 minutes:

Read the text of his full speech on the We Campaign website.

Read The New York Times coverage of Al Gore speech

The We Campaign is a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort founded by Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. Our ultimate aim is to halt global warming. Specifically we are educating people in the US and around the world that the climate crisis is both urgent and solvable.

College: the best four years of your life.  Or so was advertised. And I do love college.  The small liberal arts school-cum-conservatory that I chose in the middle of the midwest is a place that I love.  However, I find college to be a sort of truncated adult life.  I live on my own, pay for things on my own, but I know that the majority of the bill is being picked up by parents 13 hours (by car) away.  And I know that sitting and discussing issues of history and art and English may be personally satisfying, but it gets me no closer to a job and a real life.

The thing about real life is that I have no idea what I want to do.  I suddenly want to leave college and just get on with it, on with real life and adult-ness.  But all the careers that I think about are ones deemed "impossible."  I deem them impossible and everyone falls into lock-step behind me.

One of my friends wants to work in arts administration, installing and uninstalling art exhibits in galleries without permanent collections.  Another friend wants to work in corporate law dealing with bio-chemical patents.  I want to be a comedian, a writer, an actress, a bohemian.  I want to just be.

And what a ridiculous notion that is in the face of reality.  I want to be.  What does that mean?  It sounds moronic to my own ears.  Therefore, when asked, I say that I want to work in broadcasting.  It still doesn't sound smart - I don't go to a communications school, but it makes more sense.  I have (and in the past had) internships with various broadcasting outlets.  It makes sense.  It doesn't sound the best, but it isn't the ephemeral dream of just being.

To fill up the days of my rusted-out summer, I am reading about travel - my first passion and love.  I read the blogs of men and women and families and teens who are living abroad - in Paris, in London, in Mexico, and beyond.  I'm reading books written in the style and the romance of the expats of Paris.  I am dreaming of a time when I can do it all.

Here in this in-between time, stuck in the frozen liquid space of childhood with the torrents of rain that are reality bearing down on me, I take refuge in the one place where life has always worked out - the cloud space of fantasy.

Inevitably, without any real plan for life or goals to speak of, I should fail.  I should be a massive failure, forever living in my cloud space and, more immediately, my parents' basement.  However, with an optimism  that can only be described as "uniquely American", I have feeling that it will all work out.  My dreams will become realized.  My cloud space will be reality.  I am antsy for the future to start.  I'm ready to get going.

I finally got down to Sandwell Valley to plan the courses for the SEE on 28 August. Well, I'd done some armchair planning months ago, but as you might expect I've had to revise a few of my ideas. Thanks to the wet summer it's a jungle out there. Getting the runners off the paths (and getting them back alive!) is a real challenge, and the brambles are even starting to sprout across the paths.

The Valley was really quiet (oops, I forgot the M5!) and I had a great three hours before the rain set in. I still need to go back, and I'll do it on a sunny day in the summer holidays, to get a better idea of where the action is. I must mention what a boon it is having such a great map, only recently updated by Alison Sloman.

2010

·         Toy Story 3

·         Alice in Wonderland

·         Iron Man 2

·         The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

·         Shrek Goes Fourth

·         Thor

·         The Last Airbender

·         Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part I)

·         Bond 23

·         The Smurfs

·         Robocop

·         Gears of War

·         Clash of the Titans

2011

·         Spider-Man 4

·         Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: (Part II)

·         The First Avenger: Captain America

·         The Avengers

·         The Bear and the Bow

]]> http://moviem.wordpress.com/?p=31 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:53:26 +0000 jpnavarro http://moviem.wordpress.com/?p=31 The Pink Panther 2 - 6th Febuary. 2009

X-Men Origins: Wolverine - 1st May, 2009

Hannah Montana: The Movie - 1st May, 2009

Star Trek - 8th May, 2009

Angels & Demons - 15th May, 2009

Terminator Salvation - 15th May, 2009

Fast and Furious - 5th June, 2009

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - 25th June, 2009

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs - 4th July, 2009

G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra - 7th August, 2009

The Princess and the Frog - 25th December, 2009

        So then, why is it when the truth is staring us in the face about the health of our planet and the danger we are in with global warming; and the impact, that it is having on the world around us...most of us are not changing our daily lifestyle habits in a way that will help to prevent or slow down the destruction of our earths environment? 

        Denial has been a mainstay for many years by governments, scientists; not to mention corporations.  As individuals we have to demand from our leaders more information and more action regarding protecting our environment from destruction.  We also, as individuals...have to change the way that we live...making greener choices in both big and small ways.  Those same leaders in the areas of government and science are now willing to admit that the greenhouse gas situation is critical.  Corporations are a bit more reluctant because the cost to operate their business is going to increase with greener business practices.  Still, if we don't start demanding it...it will take too long to ensure that changes are made with enough time to make a difference.

       What can we do to insure that the earths environment is going to be safe and healthy enough for our children, and our grandchildren to survive?  We can make changes...we can sacrifice a bit of convience to gain a better atmosphere for our loved ones to live in.

        Former Presidential hopeful Al Gore has been creating an awareness for quite sometime...he has withstood public ridicule from those who are less informed about the seriousness of the issue.  He has been getting plenty of professional support in recent years about his message.  Check out some, of what he has to say here:  http://www.algore.com/

        Other celebrities are working towards not only awareness but action.  Some are touting alternative energy sources, others are encouraging making the choice to hybrid vehicles, still others are working towards educating the public about using renewable building supplies.  Each of those things are important and valid. 

       Some companies are taking a responsible path in how they package their products with less packaging.  Some are harnessing solar energy to power their buildings.  Many individuals are backing the goal of increasing wind power to bring some additional renewable power to compensate for the increasing demand for electricity on the power grid.  There are things we all can do.  So, are you ready for the truth of the matter of global warming and the greenhouse gas issues or are you going to settle for the painful consequences?

        Read also: http://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/green-group-of-eight/or http://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/the-earth-cries/ or http://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/smart-people/

BPol was recently proposed to ESA, unsuccessfully, and I'm now at a meeting in the US where a number of possible future CMB satellites are being discussed. A launch in the 2020s is expected. There are also a host of ground-based and balloon borne projects planned between now and then.

Planck will draw the line under temperature fluctuations. The current target is polarization which, it is hoped, can say something about the the inflationary epoch in the first 10-30 seconds after the Big Bang. Exciting stuff, even if it is going to take us a long time to see what the results are!

We each selected a cookie off of the square plate in the center of the table.

"You know," Jenny said, "these things aren't actually Chinese."

"I bet a lot of so-called Chinese food isn't actually Chinese," I said. "I personally don't care as long as it tastes good and doesn't kill me."

"Dear, if the news has taught us anything, it's that anything can kill you."

We both cracked open our possibly-non-Chinese fortune cookies and pulled out the stiff strips of paper wedged inside. Holding her fortune in front of her with both hands, Jenny read, "The smart thing is to prepare for the unexpected." Her deep voice exploded into a bubbling laugh. "Oh man, I love these things. They're so vague."

"How do you prepare for the unexpected anyway?" I asked.

"Well, that's the thing. How can you?"

"Watch the news, maybe," I suggested.

With a wry smile, Jenny said, "Yeah, exactly. What's yours say?"

I looked down at the fortune in my fingers and blinked. I turned it over and squinted at it. The fortune was blank. My fortune was a blank slip of paper. I held it out to Jenny, and she grabbed it eagerly. After inspecting it herself, she laughed again.

"What the hell? You didn't get a fortune?" she wheezed.

I couldn't help but laugh myself. "That doesn't bode well for my future," I said.

"Wow. I've never had that happen to me. I don't think I've ever heard of that happening to anyone."

"I guess they don't have very good quality control over at the fortune cookie plant," I said, taking back the fortune and folding it in my fingers.

"That has to be a first. You should frame it."

That's where the idea came from: not the cookie, really, but the thought that it was a first.

I haven't spent much time around new parents or babies, but from what I gather, when a baby comes into the world, every little thing it does is cause for a celebration. There are all kinds of baby books designed for the express purpose of logging all of a newborn's "firsts": first smile, first bath, first projectile vomit. After a person gets to a certain age, these accomplishments are not quite so impressive anymore (especially the last one). Once you get to be an adult, your life is measured more by the big moments: promotions, fortieth birthdays, bowling league championships. A lot of the kinds of little things that cause jubilation when you're an infant just begin to pass you by.

When I got home from the restaurant that night, I did frame my fortune. Or rather, I glued it to a piece of black construction paper and tacked it to my bulletin board over a handwritten label that read, "My First Fortuneless Fortune" and the date. Maybe the blank fortune wasn't the first of its kind in the history of the world, but that wasn't the point at all. Just because billions of babies have learned how to walk and smile before doesn't make the first time your own baby learns those things any less special. It occurred to me then that, if you think about it, every moment of every day, something is starting. A "first" is taking place. If we could just be there to see it and recognize it, we could spend every day of our lives witnessing the birth of something, even something as comparatively small as baby's first sneeze.

I have to say, I like this idea because, quite frankly, I'm a little bored with life right now. I'm only twenty-two, but I feel sometimes like there's nothing left for me, nothing new to see, nothing beyond the routine. I feel stuck. So this blog is my attempt to ward off those devil-dogs of jadedness through...not positive thinking, exactly, but through heightened awareness of my own life and the world around me. Because things are moving and changing all the time, even when it looks like they're standing perfectly still.

That said, this is my journal of Little Firsts, my grown-up baby book, and my attempt to see the world with a little more excitement. And why shouldn't I be excited? If fortune cookies have anything to say about it, my future is wide open.

Note: For New Rome, the primate city is a proposed new city, at the present site of Rome, New York, called New Rome. Hopefully, Albany can fade away quietly.

Let's continue moving forward, be strong, and have faith, in each other and in what we are doing. Our kid will soon join the fray. c",)! Let keep it up without losing touch on the ground where we stand, and we can overcome any challenges. c",)!

Thanks for choosing me. Thanks for believing in me. Thank you for the life you are giving me. c",)!

One year we have turned things around, for the better! c",)! Imagine what we can do for a lifetime. c",)!

I love you, Mimimi! (mwahugs!) c",)!

-Frances B

I used to settle. Try my hand at something, get bored, give up and despair. Now I'm saying to myself, God has given me one life and one life only. So much time had passed since I actually acted (for faith without works is dead) on the promises made to me by the Lord. I actually had to pray and ask for reminders about my own dreams!  Of course, there are some things about where I am that I don't quite "get" right now, but somehow they will all work together for my good. Why? Because I love Him and am "called according to His purpose." If it's true of me, it's also true of you... if you trust Him as your own. ...Simply trusting and believing this truth will spare us from clamoring after "greatness," this mysterious new virtue that's become so popular lately. Greatness is serving. Greatness is doing whatever the Lord told you to do. Greatness doesn't tell everyone how great it is.

With today being the birthday of a man who has the shown outstanding integrity through a momentous 90 years, all that is left to say is, “Happy Birthday, Nelson Mandela!”

If anyone wishes to have a hand in creating the world’s biggest birthday card ever, why not click on the following link….after reading the rest of this blog of course:

Nelson Mandela Birthday Wishes

On the technical front, an area of interest lays in future technologies.  My feeling is that after the amazing 3D experience of watching U2 in the cinema, the next few years will see rapid development in bringing 3D to the TV.   After that, it is almost certain that one will be having a 3D experience on the home/workplace computer screen.

Feel free to advise on any development in the 3D home/workplace computer area....I would love to hear details.

Seriously are we kidding here!  They are going to let a family suffer because Spherion Corp is greedy. This is absolutley ridiculous and if there is someone out there who thinks this is fair, then you better make sure that you have followed all the rules for your policy and that while you are sick no one switches insurance companies. "Watch out" if Spherion is doing it so are others. What an example of what we as a society have become.

Shame on Spherion and any other company who try decide a family's future for their own gain.  Spherion had a responsiblity to let that family know they had not completed all of the requirements.  Again I say shame on you spherion corp.

By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer Sat Jul 5, 11:04 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Dying of cancer, Thomas Amschwand did everything he was told to make sure his wife would collect on the life insurance policy he had through his employer.

"He was obsessed with dotting every `i' and crossing every `t'," Melissa Amschwand-Bellinger recalled about her husband, who died in 2001 at age 30.

But Spherion Corp., the temporary staffing company where Amschwand worked, told Amschwand-Bellinger she would not receive any of the $426,000 in benefits she believed she was due. When she went to court, Spherion succeeded in getting her lawsuit thrown out. The Supreme Court on June 27 refused to review the case.

Amschwand-Bellinger received a refund of the few thousand dollars in insurance premiums she and her husband dutifully had paid. The total, she said, would not cover the costs of his funeral.

The story has played out often under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Designed to protect employee benefits, the law has been used by employers as a shield against suits.

Federal appeals courts, interpreting Supreme Court decisions dating to 1993, consistently have said companies that offer health, life and retirement benefits under ERISA cannot be sued for large amounts of money, or damages. Instead, they can be sued only for typically smaller sums such as Amschwand's insurance premiums.

Several federal judges have bemoaned the unfairness even as they have felt constrained to rule in favor of employers.

"The facts ... scream out for a remedy beyond the simple return of premiums," Judge Fortunato Benavides of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in the Amschwand case. "Regrettably, under existing law it is not available."

The Bush administration has argued that the appeals courts are misreading the precedents and has asked the high court at least twice to clarify the earlier rulings. So far it has refused.

Congress, which could amend ERISA to make clear such suits are allowed, also has taken no action.

The result, in the view of ERISA experts, the administration and some lawmakers, is perverse.

"The beneficiary under the policy didn't get the promised benefit," said Colleen Medill, an expert on ERISA at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "To say we're just going to return your premiums, that's a total farce. That's not what they paid the premiums for. They paid them for the benefits."

Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said at a recent hearing that before ERISA became law, employees clearly could sue for benefits in state courts.

The court rulings, said Leahy, D-Vt., have left people "more vulnerable than they were before the law was passed."

Spherion's decision to deny benefits to Amschwand-Bellinger turned on an odd set of facts. Spherion, which employs about 300,000 people, switched insurers after Thomas Amschwand was diagnosed with a rare form of heart cancer. The new policy did not take effect until an employee worked one full day. Spherion never informed Amschwand of the requirement.

Amschwand asked repeatedly whether there was anything else he needed to do and was told no. He asked that the new policy be sent to him. Spherion never did so.

He died without returning to work. His widow said he easily could have worked a day if that was what it took to activate the new policy. Spherion could have waived the one-day-of-work provision, as it did for other employees but not for Amschwand.

Spherion spokesman Kip Havel issued a brief statement when contacted by The Associated Press after the high court declined to review the case. "We are pleased the court has made its decision and the matter has finally been resolved," Havel said.

The court also recently turned down an appeal from Louis Gerard "Gerry" Goeres, who sued Charles M. Schwab & Co. over hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement plan benefits.

For 16 months, Schwab mistakenly refused to acknowledge Goeres as the beneficiary in the retirement plan of his domestic partner, Stephen Ward, a Schwab employee who died in 1999. By the time Schwab acknowledged its error, the value of the account had declined by more than $500,000. Goeres sued for the rest. Federal courts dismissed the suit. "Unfortunately, legal relief is not available," U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said in ruling against Goeres.

"You know the Schwab commercial, `Talk to Chuck?'" Goeres said. "I thought if Chuck knew this, he'd say, 'Oh my God, this is so wrong.' I live on naive dreams."

Schwab said in court papers that Goeres could have taken legal action soon after Ward's death, when he first was told he was not the beneficiary.

Amschwand-Bellinger said the cases show the need for either the court or Congress to provide "some sort of meaningful remedy for employees when employers have a breach of fiduciary duty."

A Texas native who lives in an unincorporated Houston suburb, she has since remarried and has an 18-month-old daughter. She is president and executive director of the Amschwand Sarcoma Cancer Foundation, which she founded with her first husband.

She recognizes that she is more fortunate than many others who have fought similarly futile battles for benefits under ERISA. "What if we had had children and I was a stay at home mom?" said Amschwand-Bellinger, who previously worked for a public hospital system. "What if I was 60 years old, with no skill sets, and I had to go back to work?"

When were we in Sec 3 again? Five, six years ago? It feels like it was only yesterday that we were still in SAS, enjoying the wild, rebellious teenage years :P I think the teachers hated 3B. We were such a notorious bunch. But most of us have turned out pretty well, I think. Haha. That picture was taken a few days ago when we visited the school, and found our old classroom empty. The current class was probably in the lab or something, and we quickly took advantage of the situation to snap a few pictures for nostalgia's sake.

Most of the teachers who taught us are still around, although quite a few have left already. It was great catching up with some of them, and we interrupted a few classes. It used to be that we were those students sitting in the class, and saw former students come to the school to visit; it's a role reversal.

The school looks so different now, after the renovations. It's a lot nicer, granted, and it's like, we could really have used some of those changes when we were still in school! There are new labs, the library has undergone an upgrade, the staff room shifted, the school hall's tiles changed..

Mrs. Anil roped us in to talk to her primary 5 kids about where we were now, and just sort of give advice on what they have to do if they wanted to choose their future career paths. So there we were, standing in front of 40 primary 5 kids.

As we went down the line and introduced ourselves, talked about what we were doing, and where we are now, I looked at their faces and thought, "Gosh. That was me - once upon a time."

I look at their faces and think back to us, when we were in primary 5. What did we know of then? We were carefree and innocent, living under our parents' discipline, protected and sheltered. We knew nothing of life. We were just a bunch of 10-year-old kids growing up, only just learning to find our feet, and barely begun the journey of self-discovery (or losing ourselves) in the process of growing up.

I look at their faces and thought of all the things that they have yet to experience in life... dealing with friendships, that chasm that sometimes comes between even the closest of friends (yeah, that person you call your best friend in primary school?); dealing with parents, and eventually learning that they sometimes really are wiser and better than you after all; first relationships, the trivial ups and downs of the teenage life... Seriously, some of those things we agonized over back in high school - were they really that important??

I guess coming back each year, and just catching up with everyone, seeing how everyone has grown in their own way, changed (for better or worse), makes you realize certain things every time.

There's an innocence that we can never return to anymore. That little girl sitting in the classroom ten years ago could never be able to fathom the same girl sitting right here, typing this out now, ten years later.

But this girl is thankful for everything she went through, whether it was a good or bad experience. This is where I am now, this is the person I have become. I might change ten years down the road, who knows - but I know the person I am right now.

And I wouldn't want to change that for anything else.

This part of my past has to do with this very blog. I noticed a post yesterday I had written about travel vlogging and thought I should explain why this never happened. The fact that it is one of my most active posts is what caught my attention. The reason I never went forward with this is that my camera doesn't do video nearly as well as it used to. Also because I hate to see myself on camera and this sort of thing takes a lot of that. Plus I never go anywhere worth vlogging about.

The part of this post that has to do with the present is very exciting: I foudn out that my social awkwardness is not my fault! It's a chemical imbalance that I inherited! Yay! Now I can see where you would be saying "That's horrible! That's nothing to be happy about!" but when you spend most of your time thinking that you are a certain way and you exist in a vacuum but then find out that this does happen to other people  and it's not just because I work with computers.

And the future part...is...? I need to update my MySpace page? I guess I don't have a ton of stuff for the future to talk about because the future isn't here yet.

Stay tuned for the future.

July 18, 2028 — The latest installment in the Batman franchise puts the Caped Crusader in his most precarious position yet, as he fights to save his reputation after being framed in a sting operation designed to nab pedophiles.

As Batman Besmirched  begins, Batman is in the batcave training Robin (15-year-old Banana Martin, son of Gwyneth Paltrow and rocker Chris Martin) when he is summoned to a schoolyard on Gotham City’s upper west side. When he arrives, he is greeted by an undercover police officer and a news crew, and promptly arrested.

Yes, normally Batman would easily escape the handcuffs of Gotham’s finest, but this aging hero, still being played by Christian Bale, has slowed down a bit.

Baffled, Batman calls the Batcave from the Gotham jailhouse, and asks loyal butler Lloyd (Alfred has died) to look into the reasons for his arrest.  Robin and Lloyd (Richard Gere doing the sorriest excuse for a British accent since Kevin Costner played Robin Hood) discover that the Joker is the mastermind behind the plot to get the Dark Knight off the streets. 

As the story unfolds, we learn that the Joker is the president of the North American Man-Boy Love Association, and that he has increasingly affectionate feelings for the Boy Wonder, who he hopes to woo now that Batman is out of the way.  (The story still provides no clear answer to Batman's ambiguous relationship with Robin, but it's clear that the Joker is jealous.)

After Batman Forever and the disastrous Batman and Robin forced the franchise into a long holding pattern back in the 90s and early 00s, the Caped Crusader has been able to continue dazzling movie fans for more than 20 years, much like the James Bond films did in the 60s and 70s.  And until this film, Bale has managed to keep the sober hero looking buff and spry as he’s aged.   But it may be time for Bale to bail.  In this film, the 54-year-old actor's movements are stiff and appear to be hampered by a girth that is now starting to emerge. 

Meanwhile, Michael Jackson has taken on the role of the Joker with relish -- on par with previous portrayals by Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger and far above Dane Cook's version in the 2018 film Bedtime for Batman.  As he approaches the age of 70, Jackson is still devilishly animated.

Sure, given the plotline and the Prince of Pop's history, this casting of the Joker role is a blatant form of typecasting.  But it works.  Jackson is spot on with his portrayal of the Joker's mix of gleeful madness and forbidden longing, and his look is authentic -- especially given the fact that he only had to dye his hair green for the role and didn’t need to worry about face makeup.

Batman Besmirched opens in theaters and on the Web today.  

What should not have happened, did happen with a quote from Kungfu Panda - "Nothing is an accident" - Thanks.

Just an indicator of how I could have possibly defied one law against the another, possibly that is and it was not practically possible as one was designed to over ride another and to get over ridden.

Now, im awaiting to experience the rest that is going to happen, whether I would want it to happen or not.

Situated immediately north of Hong Kong, Shenzhen is a city that has gone from nought to 12 million in less than 30 years. Naomi Klein described the emerging megacity in Rolling Stone as a large industrial sprawl with a glittering and increasingly glamourous core:

"Newer neighborhoods like Keji Yuan are packed with ostentatiously modern corporate campuses and decadent shopping malls. Rem Koolhaas, Prada's favorite architect, is building a stock exchange in Shenzhen that looks like it floats ... a still-under-construction superlight subway will soon connect it all at high speed; every car has multiple TV screens broadcasting over a Wi-Fi network. At night, the entire city lights up like a pimped-out Hummer, with each five-star hotel and office tower competing over who can put on the best light show."

But there is, she says, a darker flip side to Shenzhen:

"Over the past two years, some 200,000 surveillance cameras have been installed throughout the city. Many are in public spaces, disguised as lampposts. The closed-circuit TV cameras will soon be connected to a single, nationwide network, an all-seeing system that will be capable of tracking and identifying anyone who comes within its range"