Pakistan praises China’s timely help for flood victims

Pakistan praises China’s timely help for flood victims

BEIJING, Dec 25 (APP): The timely Chinese help from all segments of society greatly contributed to mitigate the sufferings of the people hit by worst floods in the history of Pakistan. The Chinese government, entrepreneurs, NGOs, individuals as well as students from universities, colleges and even from schools, all contributed to help their Pakistani brethren in this hour of need. “We are very pleased to receive you and your colleagues at Pakistan Embassy”, said Ambassador Masood Khan while addressing a reception hosted for Mr. Zhou Yushu, President of Hongder College, Inner Mongolia on Friday evening. The students of the college, also running Little London English School had contributed over RMB 150,000 for the flood-affectees. In his address in Chinese Mandarin, Ambassador Khan said that we are very grateful for the Hongdar College and Little London School for the generous assistance given to the Pakistani floods victims. The Hongdar College has very bright future, he said adding that we are looking forward to the promotion of ties between Hongdar College and Pakistani education institutions. Pakistan and China, Ambassador Khan said are close friends, our friendship is all weather and time tested. Referring to the speeches delivered in Chinese language by himself and other counsellors in the reception, Ambassador Khan said it demonstrates love and affections that Pakistani people have for Chinese. Earlier, the President of the College Mr Zhou Yushu said that the recent visit of Premier Wen Jiabao to Pakistan will help further consolidate our all weather, strategic and time tested friendship. He said that Pakistan and China are friends and they share their joys and sorrows. The students of Chinese institutions, he said were touched with the widespread devastation  to life and property by massive floods and generously contributed from their pocket money to help floods victims in Pakistan.

 

Chinese cultural show marks anniversary of China-Saudi diplomatic ties English.news.cn   2010-12-26 20:16:43 FeedbackPrintRSS RIYADH, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese culture show was put up in the Saudi capital Riyadh as both countries mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The three-day event, sponsored by the kingdom's Culture and Information Ministry in tandem with the Chinese Culture Ministry, is being organized at Riyadh's huge King Fahd Culture Center. Saudi Culture Minister Abdulaziz Khouja said the show reflected friendly relationship between the two counties, hailing deeply- rooted ties binding his country and China. A 30-strong Chinese delegation, which included artists and musicians, has arrived in Riyadh to take part in the event. Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming paid a landmark visit to Saudi Arabia in early 2010, during which he said both countries are going to boost the two-way trade volume to 60 billion U.S. dollars by 2015.

Chinese dialects vanishing in China

Mandarin threatening even native tongues as major as Cantonese

By Peh Shing Huei, China Bureau Chief

Tongue-tied

BEIJINGHUA

While similar to Mandarin, this dialect is distinguished by a strong accent and unique vocabulary that can be unintelligible to non-native ears. A growing cosmopolitan mix and the influx of rural migrants have diluted the dialect in the capital.

CANTONESE

Over 1,000 residents staged a rare demonstration in Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, after officials proposed switching TV programming from Cantonese to Putonghua in July. Parents in Guangdong have been abandoning Cantonese in favour of Putonghua in the belief that Mandarin will help their children achieve better grades in school and also get better jobs.

MANCHURIAN

It used to be the language of the Manchus, China's rulers for more than 200 years from 1644. Sinicisation of the Manchus led to a decline of their language, with Beijinghua and then Mandarin taking its place. Fewer than 100 people speak the language today.

TIBETAN

Thousands of Tibetan students in western China protested against proposals to curb or eliminate the use of the language in local schools in October. It was the largest demonstration since the March 2008 riots.

TUJIA

The sixth largest ethnic group in China, with a population of more than eight million, mostly in central Hubei and Hunan provinces. Most, however, prefer to use Mandarin today, leading a Chinese Academy of Social Sciences scholar to predict earlier this week that the Tujia language could become extinct in just 10 years.

BEIJING - CHINA'S numerous native tongues are slowly vanishing, with even major dialects spoken by tens of millions under threat from Mandarin.
The country's three biggest cities - Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou - are seeing their mother tongues increasingly being drowned out, a trend experts believe may not be reversible.
shpeh@sph.com.sg
Additional reporting by Lina Miao
Read the full story in Saturday's edition of the Straits Times.

get your study on!

get your study on!

CIA director: U.S. must embrace foreign language learning - ACTFL SmartBrief

www.smartbrief.com

Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta called last week for a stronger focus by the U.S.

CIA Director Urges Stronger Focus on Foreign Languages

By Erik Robelen on December 9, 2010 3:35 PM | 2 Comments | Recommend

At a national summit yesterday, Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta called for a strong national commitment to ensuring that Americans master foreign languages, saying the issue is vital to U.S. security and competitiveness.

"A significant cultural change needs to occur," he said, according to a CIA press release. "And that requires a transformation in attitude from everyone involved: individuals, government, schools and universities, and the private sector."

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan also spoke at the event, which was jointly hosted by the CIA and the University of Maryland's Center for Advanced Study of Language. In his remarks, Duncan defended a plan to consolidate an existing federal foreign-language program into a broader, competitive fund.

Panetta said that foreign-language skills offer an important window into other peoples and cultures.

"Mastery of a second language allows you to capture the nuances that are essential to true understanding," he said. "This is not about learning something that is helpful or simply nice to have. It is crucial to the CIA's mission."

In May 2009, Panetta launched a five-year language initiative that aims to double the number of CIA analysts who are proficient in foreign languages and increase by half the number of officers serving in other countries who have the needed proficiency skills.

In a recent story I wrote about growing efforts by the Chinese government to promote—and help pay for—Mandarin language instruction in the United States, I noted that the University of Maryland's language center administers the federal STARTALK program. That initiative, launched by President George W. Bush in 2006, provided about $20 million this year for K-16 summer programs for teachers and students in "critical need" languages viewed as vital to U.S. national security, such as Chinese, Arabic, and Russian. More than half that money went for Chinese-language programs.

Secretary Duncan also highlighted in his remarks the importance of promoting foreign-language instruction in U.S. schools, saying it is "spotty and unfortunately on the decline."

He noted, for example, that the proportion of elementary schools teaching foreign languages has dropped to about one-quarter, and that only 10 states require high school graduates to study a foreign language.

"The United States is a long way from being the multilingual society that so many of our economic competitors are," he said. "My message to you today is that K-12 schools and higher education institutions must be part of the solution to our national language gap."

But whether Duncan himself is part of the solution appears to be questionable to some advocates for a strong federal commitment to the issue. That's because as part of the Obama administration's budget request for fiscal 2011 and its proposal to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, federal aid for the $27 million Foreign Language Assistance program at the Education Department would be merged into a larger, flexible spending pot focused on promoting a "well-rounded" education.

Last May, a coalition of 17 organizations, including the American Councils for International Education and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, wrote a letter to Senate budget leaders opposing the plan.

"We believe this approach to be a step backwards in federal support for a critical national need, at a time of severe and growing shortages of Americans with foreign-language skills in government, health care, law enforcement, business, and many other professions," they wrote.

Duncan acknowledged concerns about that proposal in his remarks.

"I recognize that the plan to include funding for foreign-language education [in a new] competitive program with other subjects may make some of you in this room nervous, even if it means you can potentially compete for significantly more funding than in the past," he said.

Of course, the concern is with that qualifier: "potentially." Since a number of existing federal programs—from Arts in Education to Teaching American History—would essentially be competing for the same pot of money, there's also the potential that foreign-language aid could decline as a result.

"I urge language educators to participate in this process and demonstrate the impact of their programs on student outcomes," Duncan said. "Multiple, small pots of funding perpetuate the status quo, but they don't lead to the transformative change we need."

District judge: Parts of healthcare law ruled unconstitutional - WLOX-TV and WLOX.com

the people have spoken....

District judge: Parts of healthcare law ruled unconstitutional - WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - The News for

www.wlox.com

The Obama administration's healthcare law has been ruled unconstitutional, the Associated Press has reported.

San Diego Reader | Magnet School Students Fly to China

San Diego Reader | Magnet School Students Fly to China

www.sandiegoreader.com

San Diego Reader covers politics and the arts and entertainment. Comprehensive listings of movies, events, theater and music, restaurant and film reviews, and free online classified ads.

Maybe we all really can get along?

One of the major things I have learned since returning to college in the fall is that politics of governments does not equal the hearts and minds of that countries citizens. I also have learned that by really learning about other cultures you become more aware of how similar we really all are at the core of our being.

The more I learn about other countries the more I begin to respect that just because they have difference's, whether religious, political, ethical, etc, doesn't make them "evil".

I also feel that with proper diplomatic relations we can solve more problems then by sheer force. I was happy to see Obama really trying to use this approach from the beginning of his administration.

I came across this article from USA Today which shows that if we are willing to unclench an extended fist others will follow.

Iranian leader welcomes 'honest' talks with United States

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's hard-line president said Wednesday that his country welcomes talks with the United States should the American president prove to be "honest" in extending its hand toward Iran, one of the strongest signals yet that Tehran welcomes Barack Obama's calls for dialogue.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments come after Obama said his administration is looking for opportunities to engage Iran and pledged to rethink Washington's relationship with Tehran. At his inauguration in January, Obama said his administration would reach out to rival states, saying "we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

Last month, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rebuffed Obama's video message on the occasion of Nowruz, the Persian new year, in which the president reached out to the Iranian people. Khamenei said Tehran was still waiting to see concrete changes in U.S. policy.

But Ahmadinejad offered a more conciliatory tone Wednesday.

"The Iranian nation welcomes a hand extended to it should it really and truly be based on honesty, justice and respect," Ahmadinejad said in a speech broadcast live on state television.

Ahmadinejad, however, said Obama will meet the fate of former President George W. Bush if he is proved not to be honest.

"But if, God forbid, the extended hand has an honest appearance but contains no honesty in content, it will meet the same response the Iranian nation gave to Mr. Bush," Ahmadinejad said.

Iranian leaders have struck a moderate — but cautious — tone about Obama since his election in November. Ahmadinejad sent Obama a message of congratulations after he was elected — the first time an Iranian leader offered such wishes to the winner of a U.S. presidential race since the two countries broke off relations.

Diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Iran were cut after the U.S. Embassy hostage-taking that followed the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The revolution toppled the pro-U.S. shah and brought to power a government of Islamic clerics.

The United States cooperated with Iran in late 2001 and 2002 in the Afghanistan conflict, but the promising contacts fizzled — and were extinguished completely when Bush branded Tehran part of the "Axis of Evil."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sad, sad world....Fox News report Unemployment by the Numbers: How Bad Is It Hurting?

Unemployment by the Numbers: How Bad Is It Hurting?
Friday , March 06, 2009
More people are unemployed in America than live in Ohio or go to church in Texas.
Unemployment statistics don't usually leap off the page, but the latest report from the Department of Labor offers some astounding figures. More than 651,000 jobs were cut in February, continuing a steep drop that has raised the unemployment rate to 8.1 percent, its highest level since 1983.
Matched up against some of the latest stats made available by the Census Bureau, those numbers really do begin to add up.
• 651,000 jobs were axed in February, a number larger than the populations of:- Baltimore- Seattle- Denver- El Paso- Washington, D.C.
• 12.5 million people are unemployed in the U.S., which is more than the number of:- people watching ABC's "Lost" this season- women attending college- male scientists and engineers- Americans who grow herbs- people who played tackle football in the past year.
• 12.5 million people is also a number larger than the populations of 45 states, including- Ohio- Pennsylvania- Michigan- Virginia
• 4.4 million jobs have been lost since the recession began in December 2007, which is larger than the population of the entire San Francisco Bay Area.
• 2.6 million jobs have been lost in the past four months, which is like every Presbyterian in America getting the ax in one winter, or about the number of senior citizens in Florida.
• 8.6 million people have been forced to work part-time for economic reasons, which is more than the population of New York City, or more than the number of people who try to quit smoking every year.
The roll continues, and it is a stark one: construction companies eliminated 104,000 jobs in February, factories cut 168,000 jobs, retailers sliced nearly 40,000, professional and business services got rid of 180,000, financial companies reduced payrolls by 44,000, and leisure and hospitality firms chopped 33,000 positions.
Despite all the doom and gloom in the Labor Department's numbers, at least one sector had a pretty rosy February: the government boosted its number of employees last month.
Click here to see the Labor Department report.

Small victories are still sweet ones

I just came across a story from Biloxi, MS (near where I grew up) that said that a couple that was sueing its insurance company for not paying on their claim for the destruction of thier property during Hurricane Katrina actually one their case. They weren't going all crazy asking for billions of dollars, only what the policy should have paid for the damages in the first place. Finally, some justice for the little guy.

Jury Returns Verdict In USAA Insurance Case

PASCAGOULA (WLOX) -- Friday morning, a jury awarded almost a million dollars to a Pascagoula couple suing USAA Insurance. James and Gladys Lisanby sued the USAA for paying them less than $42,000 on their $800,000 homeowners policy.

USAA's lawyers argued the couple's policy did not cover water, even if it is wind driven. But the jury ruled that the insurer should have paid more on the couple's claim.
The jury ordered USAA to pay $909,641 to the couple for damage to their home, garage and cottage.

After the verdict was read, the judge dismissed the jury until
Monday when punitive damages against USAA will be considered. Danielle Thomas is in Pascagoula covering this story and will have more later today on WLOX News.

Faith: Mississippi is Their Mission

The Signal

Original source: http://www.the-signal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=52977&format=html

Faith: Mississippi is Their Mission

Members of Grace Baptist Church work to rebuild what Kiln, Miss. lost.
By Tammy Marashlian Signal Staff Writer

The destruction of Hurricane Katrina may be out of the minds of most Americans, but for Grace Baptist Church, rebuilding the southern states that were torn apart by the 2005 storm has turned into a series of relief missions focused on aiding the area’s devastated churches and families.

Right after ringing in the New Year in 2008, a team of Grace Baptist members took a trip to the small Mississippi town of Kiln to frame the building for the city’s First Baptist Church.

But that mission wasn’t a one-time thing for the Valencia church.
For the past couple of years, members and leaders of Grace Baptist have been visiting Mississippi to offer hands-on help that goes beyond dropping change into an offering plate on Sunday.

However, before giving any help, Grace Baptist had to get in touch with families in need by traveling to Mississippi.

Paul Leitzell, administrative pastor for Grace Baptist Church, said after Hurricane Katrina hit in August of 2005, the church saw a need to go down to the area and understand what needs could be fulfilled.

“We didn’t want to hit and run,” Leitzell said. “We wanted to make a long-term commitment.”

Knowing they could cause more damage by visiting the area unprepared, members and leaders from Grace Baptist conducted a series of “survey trips” to Mississippi to meet with contacts from Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization that offers assistance to people in need.

“We tried to assess where we could make an impact,” Leitzell explained.
After getting an understanding of what could be done, Grace Baptist took on the major project of building a home for the family of Pastor Willie Tebo in Mississippi.

But rather than traveling to the state, in 2006 Grace Baptist Church dedicated the patio space of its hilltop church to building the framework and walls of the house.

In coming up with blueprints, Leitzell said the structure was built so that it could be taken down and driven across the country to the town, and then reassembled on site.

As a personal touch, Leitzell said Grace Baptist members and supporters signed their names on the framed home as a way for the Tebo family to remember them.

One of the assemblers was Stephen Beckwith, a Grace Baptist member who has been part of the mission trips since 2006.

“We got it completely sealed from weather, dry wall and plumbing,” Beckwith said.

From there, Leitzell and Beckwith said the relief work continued to include a 2007 visit to build a garage for the Herron family, a local family that had adopted children over the years, and the donation of care packages to 200 families in need.

Grace Baptist’s charity work was topped off earlier this month when Beckwith and six other men framed a church for the First Baptist Church of Kiln.
During the six days in the small town, the seven men applied their construction skills to securing a hurricane-resistant structure.

While there, the group found that the people of Kiln and the church members had faith in God, despite the trauma that Katrina had created.
“I was definitely expecting people to be totally devastated,” Beckwith said. “It definitely was the opposite of my expectations.”

Although Beckwith said he’s been to Mexico to do charity work, he had never taken part in a relief trip on the same level as the Mississippi one.

He hopes the visits to Mississippi will become annual, but understands that planning additional trips will be difficult financially and time-wise.
Regardless, Beckwith said, “We all want to go back.”

Justin Klopfenstein was also on Beckwith’s team that went to Kiln.
Although he had been part of the logistical planning for the previous trips, this was his first time he went to Kiln.

“It was an eye-opener to just how much work has to be done,” he said, noting that the focus has always been on the city of New Orleans rather than Mississippi.

“If nothing else, you see just how people can help other people,” he said.
Even though Klopfenstein had never been to Mississippi, the Grace Baptist member is familiar with doing charity work as he previously spent summers teaching English to people in the Czech Republic.

As for what draws him to do charity work, he said, “I enjoy it, first of all. It’s a lot of fun to help people.”

He also sees the experience as a way to share the teachings of Jesus Christ and a message of hope.

Ultimately Klopfenstein believes the relief work is a way to bring people together.

“That’s the coolest thing I could bring back,” he said. “Seeing two separate churches coming together ... helping each other in a time of need.”

tmarashlian@the-signal.com
Copyright: The Signal

Study: Blondes Make Men Act Dumber

OMG This is hysterical!!!.....

Study: Blondes Make Men Act Dumber
Monday , November 19, 2007

While blondes may have more fun, a new study suggests that fair-haired ladies may be making those around them dumber.

Researchers found that men's scores on general knowledge tests drop when they are shown photos of blonde women, the Sunday Times of London reported.

Upon further inspection, it was found that the test subjects were not distracted by the light hair, but driven by social stereotypes to "think blonde."

"This proves that people confronted with stereotypes generally behave in line with them," Thierry Meyer, joint author of the study and professor of social psychology at the University of Paris X-Nanterre, told the Times of London. "In this case blondes have the potential to make people act in a dumber way, because they mimic the unconscious stereotype of the dumb blonde."

The study indicates a belief by scientists that stereotyping is a powerful driving force in interacting with others.

For example, previous research found that people talk more slowly in front of the elderly, the Times reported.

State of the world today

I know that Brandi isn't the first to suffer an untimely death, but what is going on in the world, specifically the United States today? In the last few months (and years) our news has been one report after another of a wife, mother, girl friend, sister, daughter, friend being murdered. Usually around the point that they have had enough with their significant others shit. They have a common thread: they want a better life for themselves and their children, and just when they can see that light at the end of the tunnel they are snapped away from those that love them. Why?

I know women have been abused for centuries, but why the sudden rash of killing them? Is it because women today are stronger then in previous generations and knocking them around wasn't enough so now they shut them up permanently? Are we such a feared species that we are being eliminated by the opposite sex? Why are we seeing countless stories of women being murdered? Is it because the ones left behind aren't afraid to speak up when their loved one has been wronged? Is it because we left behind are fighting tooth and nail to bring their perpetrator to justice, or at the very least getting their story out to the masses?

What is going on? If you have some answers please enlighten me. I pray that Stacy Peterson is found safe and sound as well as all of the others out there missing. I wish I had the power to start an Army of loved ones to take back our lives. An Army of angels trying to save those who need saving. I wish I had that power. Maybe one day. Until then I pray.

Update on the search for Brandi. Thank U to all that prayed.

Today the Texas Equasearch traveled to Kiln, MS to begin a search for Brandi through the wooded and often swampy terrane that surrounds our little town in South Mississippi. I logged on tonight to see if there was any word from the search since I am in Ohio and not close enough to go search with them. I really hoped the ending was different. At least her family has closure. I can't even phathom the pain and emptiness that her children, family and friends are feeling right now. I barely knew her and I am crying right now. In our small town we were all joined even if we weren't there every day we feel the pain of our "family" in the little town of Kiln, MS. I feel like a part of me is missing. I kept praying and hoping they would find her even though something in my heart had a bad feeling it wouldn't turn out well. I have conveyed my feelings to
Andrea on the whole situation so I won't rehash it here and tarnish this angels farewell. Brandi as you are watching down from heaven I hope that you can guide the police and justice system to who did this to you. God bless you and your family.And thank you to all my "friends" that sent well wishes and prayed for her safe return.Enough of my rambling between streaming tears...here is the story:Volunteers search Hancock County for missing womanAssociated Press -

November 10, 2007 4:44 PM ET BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (AP) - Authorities believe a body found today (Saturday) in tall grass near a powerline clearing is that of a woman who has been missing since Aug. 3.Dozens for volunteers joined the search for Brandi Hawkins Laurent, a 29-year-old mother of 2 who was reported missing by her husband.The Sun Herald newspaper reported Saturday that a positive identification has not been made.However, sources told the paper that the body was tentatively identified from tattoos. Laurent had tattoos on her back and on both legs.Laurent's husband, Leo Laurent, told investigators he and his wife had argued before she left their home on foot in a remote area. He said she left with only the clothes she was wearing.The body was located Saturday by a small party of searchers on horseback about 10 a.m., off Road 528 in the Fenton-Dedeaux Road area.Although the autopsy and lab tests still remain, the disappearance of Brandi Laurent had changed before noon from an official missing person case to a possible murder.

How 9/11 Made Us Stupid...by Tomas Friedman...

Not long ago, the satirical newspaper The Onion ran a fake news story that began like this:
"At a well-attended rally in front of his new ground zero headquarters Monday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani officially announced his plan to run for president of 9/11. 'My fellow citizens of 9/11, today I will make you a promise,' said Giuliani during his 18-minute announcement speech in front of a charred and torn American flag. 'As president of 9/11, I will usher in a bold new 9/11 for all.' If elected, Giuliani would inherit the duties of current 9/11 President George W. Bush, including making grim facial expressions, seeing the world's conflicts in terms of good and evil, and carrying a bullhorn at all state functions."

Like all good satire, the story made me both laugh and cry, because it reflected something so true — how much, since 9/11, we've become "The United States of Fighting Terrorism." Times columnists are not allowed to endorse candidates, but there's no rule against saying who will not get my vote: I will not vote for any candidate running on 9/11. We don't need another president of 9/11. We need a president for 9/12. I will only vote for the 9/12 candidate.

What does that mean? This: 9/11 has made us stupid. I honor, and weep for, all those murdered on that day. But our reaction to 9/11 — mine included — has knocked America completely out of balance, and it is time to get things right again.

It is not that I thought we had new enemies that day and now I don't. Yes, in the wake of 9/11, we need new precautions, new barriers. But we also need our old habits and sense of openness. For me, the candidate of 9/12 is the one who will not only understand who our enemies are, but who we are.

Before 9/11, the world thought America's slogan was: "Where anything is possible for anybody." But that is not our global brand anymore. Our government has been exporting fear, not hope: "Give me your tired, your poor and your fingerprints."

You may think Guantánamo Bay is a prison camp in Cuba for Al Qaeda terrorists. A lot of the world thinks it's a place we send visitors who don't give the right answers at immigration. I will not vote for any candidate who is not committed to dismantling Guantánamo Bay and replacing it with a free field hospital for poor Cubans. Guantánamo Bay is the anti-Statue of Liberty.
Roger Dow, president of the Travel Industry Association, told me that the United States has lost millions of overseas visitors since 9/11 — even though the dollar is weak and America is on sale.
"Only the U.S. is losing traveler volume among major countries, which is unheard of in today's world," Mr. Dow said.

Total business arrivals to the United States fell by 10 percent over the 2004-5 period alone, while the number of business visitors to Europe grew by 8 percent in that time. The travel industry's recent Discover America Partnership study concluded that "the U.S. entry process has created a climate of fear and frustration that is turning away foreign business and leisure travelers and hurting America's image abroad." Those who don't visit us, don't know us.

I'd love to see us salvage something decent in Iraq that might help tilt the Middle East onto a more progressive pathway. That was and is necessary to improve our security. But sometimes the necessary is impossible — and we just can't keep chasing that rainbow this way.

Look at our infrastructure. It's not just the bridge that fell in my hometown, Minneapolis. Fly from Zurich's ultramodern airport to La Guardia's dump. It is like flying from the Jetsons to the Flintstones. I still can't get uninterrupted cellphone service between my home in Bethesda and my office in D.C. But I recently bought a pocket cellphone at the Beijing airport and immediately called my wife in Bethesda — crystal clear.

I just attended the China clean car conference, where Chinese automakers were boasting that their 2008 cars will meet "Euro 4" — European Union — emissions standards. We used to be the gold standard. We aren't anymore. Last July, Microsoft, fed up with American restrictions on importing brain talent, opened its newest software development center in Vancouver. That's in Canada, folks. If Disney World can remain an open, welcoming place, with increased but invisible security, why can't America?

We can't afford to keep being this stupid! We have got to get our groove back. We need a president who will unite us around a common purpose, not a common enemy. Al Qaeda is about 9/11. We are about 9/12, we are about the Fourth of July — which is why I hope that anyone who runs on the 9/11 platform gets trounced.

Things are about to get Crazy!

Things are about to get Crazy!

Wow! I just looked at my calendar from now until Thanksgiving and WOW! I am gonna be working it in a big way!

I started a class today which runs until Oct 13. It is a core class in my bachelor's degree so it is going to be a hard one with a lot of reading, writing and researching. I know I will like it once I get in a rhythm.

I just accepted a teaching position at my college that I got my associates degree through. So from October 1 – Nov 10th I will be teaching medical administration from 6-10 pm Mon, Tues, and Thurs. This will be my first class and thankfully it is small. I am determined to get over my fear of speaking in front of people. I will also have to plan lessons, create tests, and grade work.

I am still working full time at the non-profit as well, during the day.

I also have a son in pee-wee football through middle October and every other weekend my teens are with me for the weekend.

Oh did I mention that the battery of testing and visits to specialist begin now through middle October on my kidneys?

Oh and I have a house to clean, pets to feed.

And I am a mentor and surrogate big sister to several amazing students (and some of their awesome friends).

Also, I am trying to launch my business Shannon Anicas Creations.

Busy? Who me? Naw…ask me in a few weeks as I collapse on the floor in stress….lol

But for now, I will be on myspace less working and studying more. Wish me luck!

Ode to my kidneys

As far back as I can remember I have always had problems with my kidneys. As I had children they became over worked and often infected. This caused them to weaken. By the third pregnancy my kidneys began to rebel.

After the very difficult 3rd pregnancy and delivery they really became taxed. I lost a lot of blood during the emergency c-section so they filled me with IV fluids instead of blood to build up my volume. After that nightmare, I began retaining inhuman amounts of water because my kidneys weren't processing it fast enough. I went to the doctor and was told this was "pregnancy weight" and to stop eating start exercising. During my appendix surgery my surgeon said they couldn't believe the amount of fluid in my tissues and they sucked a lot out. It wasn't until I had gotten really sick that I lost 50 lbs finally.

I was doing ok until we moved from Ohio to Slidell, and I sank into a deep depression. I was put on medication that caused an adverse reaction and it caused me to retain 40 lbs of water in 48 hours. I was hospitalized and tested for everything. I had kidney studies done and they said my kidneys were dilated but "inconclusive" I hate that word inconclusive. I was put on fluid restrictions and give diuretics. Even on the max dose I wasn't getting rid of the fluid. We moved on to base housing because I needed to be around people instead of the isolation I was feeling. I spent the next year and a half putting on another 60 lbs. not all water but still I put them on.

Finally made head way on losing some weight and then we transferred to North Carolina. I joined weight watchers and lost 40 lbs. So I know that isn't water. But every time I do any activities my hands and feet swell worse then when I was pregnant. I still am swollen everywhere. I don't sweat like a normal person and I am in the bathroom a thousand times a day and night.

We move back to Ohio and I do a cheer because my doctor who actually listens to me is here, I am sure he can help. He tries, but every test is inconclusive. I get the horrid spasms in my kidneys so they put me on antibiotics for months at a time. I finally started feeling better, until 2 weeks ago.
It began with horrible pains in my upper abdominal area. It got worse as the day went on, and I realized I had kidney stones. I started drinking like the world was coming to an end and I was right I gave birth to five stones in 2 days. I thought it was over.

This Saturday, I started having the pain again, so I started the routine of bottle of water then bottle of cranberry juice every few minutes or so. I noticed that I was bleeding. Great. I call the doctor he says go to the ER. Last time I did this they were inconclusive and I got a $3000 plus bill that I can't pay and still no better. So I choose not to go and I stuffer through the birth of 2 stones and the continuing pain and bleeding.

I am really beginning to think my kidneys hate me. Anytime I find happiness they have to act up and get all rebellious on me. I hate it. I am going to get into m doctor this week and try to go to a specialist. I just hope all my borderline sickness and inconclusive results are enough to get someone's attention to fix me before it is too late.

PS I am accepting donations..... of icecream....

Finally a optimistic story on Katrina Recovery:Young Professionals Devoted to Rebuilding New Orleans

Young Professionals Devoted to Rebuilding New Orleans to its Former Glory

Wednesday, August 29, 2007
By Maggie Lineback

A few years back, the big acronym was "DINK," for "double income, no kids." In New Orleans, it's "YURP, " for "Young Urban Recovery Professionals." It's a small but growing trend in the population here in New Orleans — young professionals who have moved to the city after Katrina to help it rebuild and grow.

It didn't start as any kind of organized movement, but a group called "NOLA YURP" estimates there are at least 5,000 of these young people in the city. They range in age from 21 to 35 years old and come from all walks of life — they may be accountants or attorneys or architects. Some are young people who are from here. They may have gone to college out of state and decided to settle someplace else. Now, many are finding their way back home to help their family and their city.

But there's another segment of YURP who have no filial connection. NOLA YURP director Nathan Rothstein says it's a common story. In the two years since Katrina hit, many college students had the opportunity to visit New Orleans on Spring Break volunteer trips. They saw a real need. Then, once they graduated, these same kids decided to relocate to New Orleans.

Why do these young people come here? Rothstein says many feel like they can have the most impact in New Orleans. They can really make a difference here. They can directly help people who need it and also feel like they're a part of rebuilding a great American city.

Rebuilding comes in fits in starts. For every success story in New Orleans, there's also someone frustrated with the red tape and finger pointing that seems to abound. But, what is amazing is the spirit of New Orleans residents, new and old, and their dogged determinedness to get their city back on its feet.

Poor Kid! Steve Wallace OK After Attempted Mugging

Steve Wallace OK After Attempted Mugging

NASCAR Busch Series Driver Attacked in Indianapolis; Will Race in Canada Round.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007

MOORESVILLE, NC —19 year-old RWI Racing NASCAR Busch Series driver, Steve Wallace, is OK following being attacked in an attempted mugging Sunday evening in Indianapolis. Wallace suffered only minor cuts and abrasions in the attack and will compete as scheduled in this weekend's NASCAR Busch Series event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada.
Wallace was attacked by a group of at least three men upon exiting a convenience store in Indianapolis Sunday night, where he stayed to watch the running of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Wallace participated in the NASCAR Busch Series event at O'Reilly Raceway Park the previous evening.

Upon entering the convenience store, the men commented on Wallace's watch, a gift given to him by a sponsor after he earned his second career pole position at Nashville Superspeedway in June. After exiting the convenience store, Wallace was jumped and attacked by the group of men, who were attempting to rob him of his watch.

The men later fled the scene after being unsuccessful in robbing Wallace. A suspect was apprehended later that evening and is being held in an Indianapolis jail.

Howdy Folks!

Hello everyone! Sorry I haven’t been posting as regularly as I hoped, I have been working hard on getting the new site together, lots of self-promotion for my writing and photography and tons of homework in my new class.

All is great though! In fact it is better then I could have expected. Life is great and I love it!

Last weekend we attended a family party that was AWESOME! They had 4 bands that rocked the house like no ones business. Burden, Invisus Angelus, The No Hair Band, and White Horse were there to entertain and they did not disappoint. I had the privilege of photographing Burden and Invisus Angelus, which was a blast but my hearing has not been the same since. (Why is it that the best shots have me sitting in front of the amps and speakers during thrash metal?) Oh well pain for my craft is part of the fun.

I am also trying to catch up on the latest news and gossip so I can put out some cleverly witty posts. I am planning on getting a big glass of wine and reading this weekend. So beware of future posts! :)

I am also getting ready to submit my novel to the wolves, er I mean editors. Wish me luck!

Ok I better get back to work before I get busted…talk to everyone soon!

Fruits of our labor

Fruits of our labor
Well, it is official -we have veggies!

On Sunday, we picked our first zucchini out of our jungle of squash. Then while weeding our flower beds I discovered that we had carrots too. Looks like the seeds that got knocked over made their way to the flower bed. We had 2 super sweet baby carrots and a few really tiny things that should have been carrots. While grilling out John sliced the Zucchini, added a little Tony's, and threw them on the grill.

Then on Monday I went out to do my daily watering and we had 3 more zucchini's and 1 yellow squash. We had them with dinner tonight, again sliced, spiced and grilled.

It looks like our tomatoes will be a huge food maker. We also have 3 baby watermelons that are almost ready to be picked.

This has been the most amazing, fun and rewarding experience. It has also been a family experience for us. We planted together, we water together, we watch it grow together, we pick it together, and we eat it together. Not many things now-a-days allows for this family togetherness.

Well, as we close our day up we count our blessings and are grateful for what we have and dream of what is to come.