Architectural Designs

Free Dog House Plans for Two Dogs? I have two golden retrievers, and I would like to build a dog house for them given the cold temperatures. Does anyone have any idea where I could find plans online or elsewhere for free that would help me accomplish this task? Thanks everyone.

Where can I find free plans and directions to build a dog house?

Where can I find good free dog house blueprints/plans? I can't seem to find any online! We'd like to build a large house for two dogs, preferably 2 room or two door. Any help would be greatly appreciated! :) Thanks!

free plans to build a medium size dog house? how size will be 28 inches in width and 34 inches in height

How can i make an insulated dog house? My dogs are outside dogs,so I want it to be insulated. I want to build it so any websites with free plans would help. They are large dogs.Any Ideas,how to use insulation,or plans would help. Best answer gets 10 points!

Dog House????????????????????? Does anyone know were i can find plans to build a dog house? FOR FREE!!! Thanks

Kennel building plans: Flooring ideas and things to consider? When building a kennel what are some things that ewe would really need? Like easy to clean floors, air conditioning, indoor/outdoor runs...? What kind of flooring would be best for the kennels, grooming room, and office? What would ewe have in ewer dream kennel? Here's what eye want my future one to look like- http://www.flickr.com/photos/39338952@N06/3638934173/?rotated=1&cb=1245359468063 So, what are some things to consider? Oh, and in the future I want to be a trainer and boarder. And my own breeding dogs will be in the kennel some of the time. I will rotate who gets free run in the office, who is in the house, and who is in the kennels. Cages and kennels are two different things, I would be in the kennel more than in my house.

Kennel building plans: What kind of flooring and things to consider? When building a kennel what are some things that ewe would really need? Like easy to clean floors, air conditioning, indoor/outdoor runs...? What kind of flooring would be best for the kennels, grooming room, and office? What would ewe have in ewer dream kennel? Here's what eye want my future one to look like- http://www.flickr.com/photos/39338952@N06/3638934173/?rotated=1&cb=1245359468063 So, what are some things to consider? Oh, and in the future I want to be a trainer and boarder. And my own breeding dogs will be in the kennel some of the time. I will rotate who gets free run in the office, who is in the house, and who is in the kennels.

How to build a pigeon hutch? I want to build a bird hutch for keeping pigeons for dog training. Can anyone refer me to a site with some free plans, or explain the best way to build a hutch (as in expensive and easy as possible)? I want to build something small, as i will not be housing more than 6-12 birds at a time.

Two questions: Is it wrong to leave my dogs outdoors while I am away at work? And...? Do you know of any GOOD dog house plans (free) available on the internet or in how-to books? I've been searching all evening with minimal luck... I just can't see leaving two active 18 month old standard poodles cooped up in their crate when they could be romping and playing in their big fenced yard. Are you thinking I should crate them instead of letting them stay outside while I'm away? They go nuts everytime I try to leave the house with them indoors, crated or not. So, I've always let them out when I leave. Now its wintertime and cold, though they don't seem to think so, and I want to build them a nice insulated doghouse so they can be warm should they desire to get out of the weather. FYI:I have found them sleeping in the barn or under the deck in the past when it rains and I am away; they are standard poodles who seem to think they are yard dogs. Now, don't go nuts on me; they have been fine and are obsessed with being outdoors. I thought about getting a doggy door but that might not be smart if I'm not home. Kind, understanding advice is all I'm seeking. Don't bother to answer if you just want to start in on me. Y-a-r-d, fenced yard; safe, two-acre fenced yard. In the country.

Can I use an air horn on my neighbors dog? My neighbors have a dog that although is very nice and friendly barks non stop when they are not home. We live in a condo building so there are frequently people jogging by, cars driving by, or other condo owners walking their dogs since none of us have a back yard. Due to these reasons the dog is constantly barking and since they are in the unit below me I get to listen to this all day long and it drives me crazy. My plan is to sit outside on our shared patio and when someone walks by and the dog starts to bark blow off an air horn in the window that the dog is barking out of. Now for anyone that thinks this is horribly mean to the dog, feel free to suggest other more humane alternatives. My question is can I get in trouble for blowing an air horn at a dog, I don't want to do anything that will end up with the police at my house... is there a website where I could look up what is and what is not considered animal cruelty?

Family dog. for a young family? So myself and my partner are looking to buy a pup. We do not have kids yet but plan to in the next few years so we want a breed that is known to be good around kids, yes training and socialising will occur from the moment we get the pup. Low small prey drive as we have a rag doll cat. we also have an elderly maltese shitzu, both of which are accustomed to sharing their lives with a pup my sisters before she moved out. We are after a smart and affectionate dog, We did look at both the labs and golden retrievers but the shedding of those 2 is a bit full on for us, we are currently building a new house and as bad as this may sound want a breed that isn't going to cover the house, We are happy with a bit of hair that is to be expected with any dog, but not after a breed that is notorious for shedding. Exercise wise we will have a reasonable sized back yard and a maltese shitzu to run around with although he is getting on in years, and I plan to take the dog for nightly walks of at least 30 mins, the odd one may be missed so a dog that is happy with that. e.g. not a farm dog. We live close to the beach and have lots of wetlands to go for walks when we do and plenty of places for of leash runs. I want an exercise buddy but not a jogging partner. Probably looking at a medium sized dog don't want a small dog. puppy classes and obedience will be attended so a dog that will enjoy that. Have been looking at flat coated retrievers, soft coated wheatens, staffordshire bull terriers, boxers, english bulldogs, but please feel free to tell me of any breed you think will suit us and why. thank you I said some hair is fine I just don't want a notorious shedder such as the golden, and exercise that half an hour doesn't include playtime in the backyard with us that will be the on the leash walk around the town time. training classes etc etc will be added on top of that. i don't want a small dog not with kids, I am getting a pup we rescued the maltese shitzu and although he is a great dog now i want to raise the dog myself train him from a pup and get him used to our lifestyle etc. the older dog and the cat have both been living with a puppy for the past year they can handle pups. All i am asking for are breeds to do my own research on that would seem to suit our situation.

House hunting and family stress? My fiance and I are currently living with my parents. We moved in a little under a year ago, and since they graciously let us stay with them rent-free, we've saved up enough money to by a home of our own. This should be a really exciting time for us, but unfortunately, its been the most stressful experience for both of us, especially me. Since we've lived with my parents, my car ended up having so many mechanical problems that it would make more sense buying a brand new car, so I'm having to get rides from everyone. We sleep in a small guest bedroom so everything we need is in that room, or the 2nd bathroom. Its a very small place, but we're so grateful that my parents let us stay there that we don't mind. We contributed and help around the house as much as we can. I cooked dinner at least 4 times a week for everyone, we buy groceries weekly so they don't have to provide all of the food, we clean up after ourselves and our dog, we do the dishes after dinner every night, help out with the bills if they are high, etc. But no matter what we do, it seem like its not enough. Before I walk into the house from work, I brace myself to be chewed out by my mom for something like the dog had an accident, or I left a dish out on the counter last night. I can't relax when I'm home because I'm constantly stressed out about being in my parents way or not helping out enough. We recently had a deal on a house that we decided against because the builder raised the price. My mom tried to negotiate with me that I should take the house but take a few things out ( the things that made us choose that house) so they'll lower the price. When I told her we pretty much decided against it, should got so annoyed she started chewing me out for a completely different subject. Both me and my fiance decided that this house is one we want to raise a family in, so we'll be in the house for a while. We found an area with good school district but doesn't have a lot of housing options except for empty lots. We wanted to see if we could have a house built, but that would take time. When I told my mom about the plan, she had a horrified almost disgusted look on her face. I know that this is a huge financial (and stressful) decision we're making, but I don't think I can take anymore stress from my mom. I can't find peace anywhere in my life, except with my fiance. I'm honestly thinking about just settling for a house that I'm really not thrilled about, instead of building one just so I can have some relief. Moving out into an apartment for less than 6 months just seems like a waist of money, but we're considering that option even if it means dipping into the house fund. What else can I do other than what I'm doing now to cause less stress while living in my parents house? Please help...I need help.

Leaving a dog/puppy alone, is this a good idea? I have had a dog for a few years now and love her to bits but she doesn't like to walk/play or anything and I would like a dog that did, I am planning on getting a Cavalier king charles spaniel and I have thought long and hard about it and decided even though I am out quite a big part of the day that it would still work out and a dog would rather have a home and be left alone a lot but get walked, fed and loved, rather than nobody adopting it and it gets put in a shelter. I would be getting up in the morning and taking the dog out for a 20 minute walk then chuck it a few balls etc whilst I get ready for school. The, it would be left alone (with access to the back garden by a dog flap) Our garden is completely enclosed with NO way the dog can get out or anyone else can get in) It would have the whole run of the house (for various reasons we can't confine it to one room or a crate), I would then get back and take the dog for a 30min-1 hour walk, I would also be chucking it balls and stuff whilst doing homework and I have lots of free time in the evening and it would also go for another 5 minute walk to the shop and back. It would then be put in a crate to go to bed about 10 o clock and when it is a puppy we would let it out a few times during the night but as it gets older he will eventually last the whole night. E.g first week-4 times a night second week-3 times a night third week-2 times a night 4th week-2 times a night 5th week-1 time a night 6th week-1 time every other night 7th week-no times unless he whines and needs to. When he is a puppy it would be during the summer holidays For the first two days we would settle him in and play with him I, for these two days, would be at home all the time but shut the dog in one room by itself for 5 minute intervals at various times of the day For the next four days I would also stay at home with him but shut him in a room for various 10-15 minute intervals. When I let him out he would be rewarded with a treat each time to say well done as long as he didn't rip anything up. For the next two days I would leave him in one room for 25 minutes then take him out, reward him, then pop out to the shop, leaving him with the run of the house with my other dog there too for 10 minutes. Gradually, we would build it up until he is left alone for the full 8 hours (with somebody checking on him during the day)probably me) Fussing over him, then rewarding him, then leaving him again. Ok, sorry it is so long I just want to be sure it is ok! Any tips welcome (: If what I have said isn't clear, please just ask what I have meant when I have said whatever isn't clear. And my dog would be there the whole day every day, and somebody would check on it I mean my current dog would be there all day every day. And that somebody, once a day would come and check in and make a quick fuss of the dog, then reward it, then leave again. Also, the dog would have loads of toys to play with and a basket to lay in. We couldn't have baby gates or anything |(due to various reasons) But if we could keep the dog downstairs by training him that he is not allowed upstairs then that is what we would do but if not, he would just have to have the whole run of the house! The crate is too small to keep him in for the day. Only big enough for him to sleep in.

How to get some free time? (long question 10 points best answer)? I have just moved abroad and I am living in a student boarding house. A new guy moved in early last week and we started talking with going to the same school. The thing is, he wants to hang out ALL the time! Like we will go out for a few hours and come back. I will want to just go chill out in my room. But he always pushes me to hang out longer. Saying oh I have nothing to do and other things to make me feel guilty. On Saturday I was going to meet my boyfriend (the one day a week I can see him) and he was hinting around to come with us. Complaining he was bored, and where were we going to go and asking could he meet my boyfriend. When I told him where we were planning on going he was saying "oh I want to go there so bad!" (may not sound like he is pushy through this, but trust me he is) Luckily my boyfriend called me early so I was able to just sneak out to go meet him. We had a test yesterday and I had to cancel just one afternoon and night hanging out and he started saying I study to much, I don't want to have fun, I must be boring etc. Even though he hasn't even bothered studying and knows nothing of the course (even got kicked out the test) Another thing is, he always hints at me to pay everything! I am a student just like him and 4 years younger. He gets hungry and suggests a restaurant to eat, then when we go he always complains about the prices. The first time I just offered to treat him as a welcome present but I think he expects it all the time now. Another thing is, he has had EVERYTHING happen to him 10x worse than any other person. He is 26 years old and has: broken his back, his ribs, his nose, his teeth, both his legs, his left arm, his shoulder, dislocated his shoulder, been hit by a car 4 times, been to hospital every year. He has had is own company, raised police dogs, built machines, built home made bombs, shot guns, he has a photographic memory, he is amazing at remembering numbers and so many more things... He says all these things and I find a lot of them cross each other out but I don't say anything. It's not just with me, it's with other people as well. They might say oh when I was younger blah blah happened just to talk and have a giggle, but he jumps in and makes a serious story about something that happened to him 10x worse. Plus after all these accidents I don't see a single scar on him and his teeth look like nothing has ever happened to them. (he told me he doesn't go dentists, so thoughts on him having them fixed went bye bye) I feel like he is a total liar, unless he has had the worst luck in life. He has other friends, but he seems to have latched on to me, telling everyone I'm his best friend. When really he annoys me! I went for a nap yesterday and he knocked on the door. So I didn't answer it, he even asked the land lady had I gone out and she came to see if I was in and I had to answer the door. It's like I can't even have some time alone! How can I just try and break away from him? He is a good friend, but in small doses, I can't handle a whole day of him which he expects =( (he isn't interested in me as a girlfriend, he is madly in love with one of my friends he met after knowing her... for 2 hours. Seriously, he talks like he has loved her for years)

I'm 18 and in a month's time I'll be living completely alone in this house. Panic.? My mum's moving somewhere near London with her boyfriend for work, but doesn't want to sell this house so I'll be here completely alone, looking after the dog and cat. I'm really really really rather worried that I'll start to feel lonely/afraid. I've never lived alone before, ever. I don't think I could get any friends to stay over very often either - maybe every other weekend or something for a party, but otherwise no. Everyone's got plans for summer/live too far away etc. I don't really spend much time with my mum but it's nice knowing there's someone else in the house at night. I have some questions - How do I prevent myself from getting bored/lonely and freaking out? How do I keep the house safe? We live in England near the city and it's not a very very good area, although there hasn't been any crime here because it's quite built up (the house is the 2nd in a terrace). How do I keep myself busy (for free - clubs etc are out of the option)?

Building a chicken coop? Hi I'm planning on getting a few chickens, approx 4-5 (5 max) and i'm looking into building a cheap chicken coop. We have a lot of wood at the back of my house - old bed slats - a LOT of them, maybe 50 or so. to build this as cheap as possible i'm planning on using either an old bed frame, or desk as a base for the coop (free ones that people are advertising). the chickens will have an enclosed area for when they aren't supervised (we have an area approx 5x5 meters fenced off) and full run of the yard when i'm home (its a massive area but i would have to keep chickens and dogs supervised for safety - i hear chickens can be nasty) So my question is, how big should a coop be for about 5 chickens? i know they are happy to sleep shoulder to shoulder. i just want an approx measurement for a sleeping area, i will add a nesting box and food/water spot/door etc onto that. this is just so i can get a decent sized desk or bed frame to convert. Any extra info is appreciated.

Husband wants to move, I don't want to, House is not ready.? HI, I have a big problem. Finally after eight years of being isolated in a small town, my children and I are happy. We have friends, people that we can depend on, and positive relationships. We also have laid down roots, and have a family doctor (which is hard to come by rurally). My husband and I bought an 134 year old house and two rentals. All of our money has gone into fixing up the rentals, and our house has suffered. He doesn't want to spend money on fixing it up, he doesn't want to hire anyone but himself. He is extremely passive aggressive. I have been the caretaker/worker at the rentals, but to compound things, I have Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia. He tires me out, and my friends are a integral part of my support system. He says his main motivation is to move closer to work (which would free up three hours per day) thus to be able to spend more time with the family. His situation at the moment is that he has changed from being the sole driver to now carpooling with four other people. I found that when he wanted to move from my home town, I followed blindly. Three years were spent in a hellish small town. We moved here 8 years ago, and until 5 years ago, I was quite unhappy. Now that things are so positive, I really don't want to move. I can understand that freeing up 3 hours of his time would be beneficial (I ALSO USED TO WORK THERE. ..), but simultaneously, the time that he is at home on weekends, is spent with him surfing the Internet looking at things. Nothing is ever good enough for him, he is cyclical, every season change he looks for a new vehicle, a new house, a dog, you name it. So the time isn't spent productively with us as a family anyhow. His plan is to move us into the country and build a house (I could see myself living in a trailer for the rest of my life). Which would be isolating. I casually mentioned the other day that we have such good friends, and he retorted by saying "yeah, but we are moving". He says this every time I mention something positive about where we live. This has been on going. He lives in a pipe dream, as my house is in the gut/reno stage (and has been for the past 7 years with no changes). I am embarrassed to have anyone over, as the house is really a disaster, and no amount of cleaning can cover up the fact that the place is in desperate need of walls and work. Any improvements, I have done, which he gets angry at. As soon as I am happy, it seems like he wants to take that away. I actually listed our houses on a website, just to shut him up. (no takers). He is extremely frustrating, if I agree in principle with him, it seems to quiet him. Yet, he is scaring our kids (11 and 15) with his remarks about moving. Almost as if we always have to be ready for impending doom, because if we enjoy anything, the "we will be moving" rears it's head. What are the best strategies to deal with someone so obsessed by an idea that is in reality quite out of the question (unless he truly wants to take a loss on our principal house). He hasn't listed with any agents, and he hasn't taken the steps to ready the house, but constantly rambles on about it. How can I tell my kids to ignore their father when he is talking about moving? I have suggested that he stay with relatives during the week in order to save him on time and energy. (Doesn't happen). I have suggested to him couple therapy (won't go), I do have a Psych background, but CBT doesn't seem to work on him. One tactic I have thought of is either the reverse psychology, or not saying that I enjoy this small town. If he had asked me 5 years ago to move, I would have gone willingly. All your answers are giving me hope and making me feel as if I am not selfish. Thank you. One thing, the rental houses abut our property, back in the day, they were severed, and to sell, we would have to sell the whole kaboodle. Believe me, I have thought about it, it would bring expenses down so much and working on this place would be manageable. (High maintenance special needs tenants, and I don't ever want to be dubbed a slum lord). LiFH Yep, welcome to my world. Try living with it.

would you consider this song a free verse poem? The House That Built Me I know they say you can’t go home again I just had to come back one last time Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam But these handprints on the front steps are mine Up those stairs in that little back bedroom Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar I bet you didn’t know under that live oak My favorite dog is buried in the yard I thought if I could touch this place or feel it This brokenness inside me might start healing Out here it’s like I’m someone else I thought that maybe I could find myself If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave Won’t take nothing but a memory From the house that built me Mama cut out pictures of houses for you From Better Homes and Gardens magazine Plans were drawn and concrete poured Nail by nail and board by board Daddy gave life to mama’s dream I thought if I could touch this place or feel it This brokenness inside me might start healing Out here it’s like I’m someone else I thought that maybe I could find myself If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave Won’t take nothing but a memory From the house that built me You leave home and you move on and you do the best you can I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am I thought if I could touch this place or feel it This brokenness inside me might start healing Out here it’s like I’m someone else I thought that maybe I could find myself If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave Won’t take nothing but a memory From the house that built me

I need information about Alaskan Malamutes please? My husband and I are considering adopting an Alaskan Malamute puppy. We've owned adult dogs before, but for both of us, this will be our first time ever owning a puppy. Are Malamutes good dogs for a dual-working child-free household with one adult German Shepherd (he's got a really mellow temperament and doesn't mind other dogs at all)? We don't have a yard (live in an apartment building), but plan to move in May into a "real" house. So while we're here, is a Malamute pup (born yesterday) going to be ok being crated for 4-6 hours at a time? I know he'll prefer being out, but because we work, we'll have to crate him. Also, how are adult Malamutes with children? We plan to start having children in a few years, so that's important. I'm a firm believer in adopting a dog for LIFE and not giving it away when it turns out to be a lot of work. And lastly, because we've never owned a puppy before, does anyone have any tips on training puppies? Thanks! Thank you for the answers so far. My Shepherd is old and also very submissive. But even so, I don't want any trouble between the two dogs. Would neutering the Malamute help that (the Shep is already neutered)? Well in either case, we'll probably look at females then. Thanks :)

Help me build my idea for storage!? I need extra storage when I move next month. I want to build something that would be like a closet/storage unit, but free standing. I want it to look nice, it will be in the dining room. What I have in my head looks similiar to an armoire. About 6+ft tall, and maybe 4-6ft feet wide?? Two doors on the front, inside 2-3 shelves with lots of space on bottom. What would this be called and where can I find plans to build it?? Or buy it would be even better! And incase you were wondering, it would be used to store things like the dog food, board games, toilet paper/paper towels.. the things I currently have in a builtin closet, but at the new house I dont have much storage.. Thanks so much!

looking for....?????? plans or directions for free on how to make a barn style dog house, Its needs to be tall. here is a link to a pic,, http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tjdesigns.com/images/Doghouse_Line_Up.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.tjdesigns.com/DogHouses.html&h=220&w=800&sz=11&hl=en&start=12&um=1&usg=__cCpxfbC01ijWKW6s-1Lzumdsta8=&tbnid=XlIYxiqdq43GhM:&tbnh=39&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbarn%2Bstyle%2Bdog%2Bhouse%2Bpic%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBR_enUS286US286%26sa%3DX either the large or extra large, I have a bunch of wood, and I don't have the money to buy a dog house so I need to build one, thanks! the dog house is just going to be for my to goldens for a few hours when I'm at work, I can't buy the plans cause I don't have a credit card or anything to pay online, and the dog house I can buy locally are around 300. I don't have that. thanks!

What do you do with your dogs while you are at work? I'm 17 and I've had a dog all my life. I currently have a jack russell. He is without a doubt my best friend. I'm purposely living at home during college so that I don't have to be away from him. And when I move away after college (planning on moving to Washington state, just outside of Seattle) I hope to have dogs of my own- preferably one German Shepherd and one white Husky. I love big dogs and need a dog that can be my running partner, not one that only wants to walk. I'm also going to have a large, fenced-in yard built so the dogs will have plently of space to run around. I am curious though, would it be horrible of me to leave my two dogs at home while I go to work 5 days a week? Would they be happy? What do other people who work outside of the house do with their dogs? P.S- I am not having kids. I am sure of this. I've had WAY too many bad experiences with kids. And my love for dogs is my top priority. So I will be devoting all of my free time to my dogs.

What do you do with your dogs while at work? I'm 17 and I've had a dog all my life. I used to have two jack russells, but sadly one died a while ago. I still have my one, though. He is without a doubt my best friend. And he's the best company anyone could ever keep. I'm purposely living at home during college so that I don't have to be away from him. And when I move away after college (planning on moving to Washington state, just outside of Seattle) I hope to have dogs of my own- preferably one German Shepherd and one white Husky. I love big dogs and need a dog that can be my running partner, not one that only wants to walk. I'm also going to have a large, fenced-in yard built so the dogs will have plently of space to run around. I am curious though, would it be horrible of me to leave my two dogs at home while I go to work 5 days a week? Would they be happy? What do other people who work outside of the house do with their dogs? P.S- I am not having kids. I am sure of this. I've had WAY too many bad experiences with kids. And my love for dogs is my top priority. So I will be devoting all of my free time to my dogs.

when will 12 days of Christmas tickets go on sale and how do I get them? I love your show. It always brightens my day and I would be so lucky to get tickets to your 12 days of Christmas. On this Saturday, the 1st of October, I am moving me and my dog (a 100 lb Newffie) to another state as my ex-husband is draining me dry emotionally, financially and I need to get away from him. So I am putting my house on the rental market--it is about to kill me to get it ready for renting out but I have to keep going as I have no help I feel I could call upon to do this kind of grunt work--i.e. replace a broken toilet, paint until you can't stand it anymore, fix all those rainy day projects that you did not fix on those rainy days. I have only seen the 12 days once and they seem phenomenal. Just the energy, laughter and fun you bring in that hour uplift me and encourage me to go forward with what I need to do. I worry that my Newffie, a rescue, will have trouble adjusting to the change especially with his 'master' no longer in the picture. I think Mo has assumed the Alpha dog role so I need to learn how to assert myself as the boss around here. I love him to death and long for the hikes we will have once we move to the Appalachians. He never tires but first he has to help me clear our own back yard. I have no running water. Cabins at the rate I could afford usually have out houses so I feel fortunate to have a toilet inside that you flush the old fashioned way. The cabin is only one room but I have room to expand if I ever have the money to do so. I am a free lance writer but my creativity has been squashed by this man in my life who thinks we can be buddies and wants my address so we can keep in touch--right!!! My friends think I am brave or crazy to move to the mountains alone but it has always been my goal to retire to the mountains. I love the colder climates and would probably melt if I choose to go to a warmer climate. I would love to have a ticket for one of my friends I am leaving behind so that it is more fun, more memorable, more unbelievable, more outstanding, more generous, and more and more and more. I am on disability now with very little income. The purchase of this cabin came at the expense of the little house my parents built when they were first married but with 100% equity in both houses I inherited from my father, I think he would not mind and would prefer that I be safe, comfortable and happy. Instead of a friend, I could invite my sister to come along as we have been estranged upon the death of our parents. There are so many reasons I would love to be on your show. I love watching the fun everyone is having--dancing, cheering, moving to the groove. My life lately has not been much fun and leaving my home is hard but necessary. It is hard moving a three story house into a one-room cabin. I will have to be very particular about what I use inside. I have a lot of outside furniture to use in order to enjoy nature, peace and quiet and the inspiration that those things bring to a writer's thoughts. My plans are to build a deck out back of my house--the kind that is not attached to the house but is just a platform. I am not sure if I am going to have email where I am nestled in the mountains. Or TV, or internet. I am one lot short of being on the water line of my subdivision. My agent keeps suggesting I purchase that lot as well so that I can take advantage of the water line. Right now I have to go down to the bath house to shower. Mo will definitely have to accompany me for a while until I get used to doing so. About Mo: he looks like a bear and I am worried that on our excursions he might be mistaken for one so I am making custom hunting vests for Mo to wear. All bright colors and so forth. There will be no way he can be mistaken for a bear dressed like that! My son wants me to carry a shotgun rather than my 22 rifle as a 22 would only make a bear mad. I would not want to hurt any of the bears in the area but if it comes down to me, Mo and our safety--then the bear would lose out. I have put off trying to change out that toilet long enough. I also have a tub inset and surround that I need to put in and which are very heavy. So much to do before I want to leave on Saturday morning. I did see a couple of places that accept pets so Mo and I won't have to camp out on the trip to our new home. Please consider me for the opportunity of purchasing tickets for the 12 days. They look extraordinary--nothing like you see any where else on TV. Thanks for the consideration. SarahBerh White whitesarahbeth@yahoo.com P.O. Box 32, Augusta West Virginia Unsure of phone number yet or Assigned address but my cabin is on lots 50 and 51 in the Elkhorn Subdivision Looking forward to hearing from you one way or another. Again I want to say how much joy you bring to my afternoons and how it recharges my batteries to get up and do more to get this old house ready! Thanks so much.

Good plan for my new puppy? I'm going to ask this question again, because I didn't get very helpful answers the last time I asked. I have had a dog for a few years now and love her to bits but she doesn't like to walk/play or anything and I would like a dog that did, I am planning on getting a Cavalier king charles spaniel and I have thought long and hard about it and decided even though I am out quite a big part of the day that it would still work out and a dog would rather have a home and be left alone a lot but get walked, fed and loved, rather than nobody adopting it and it gets put in a shelter. I would be getting up in the morning and taking the dog out for a 20 minute walk then chuck it a few balls etc whilst I get ready for school. The, it would be left alone (with access to the back garden by a dog flap) Our garden is completely enclosed with NO way the dog can get out or anyone else can get in) It would have the whole run of the house (for various reasons we can't confine it to one room or a crate), I would then get back and take the dog for a 30min-1 hour walk, I would also be chucking it balls and stuff whilst doing homework and I have lots of free time in the evening and it would also go for another 5 minute walk to the shop and back. It would then be put in a crate to go to bed about 10 o clock and when it is a puppy we would let it out a few times during the night but as it gets older he will eventually last the whole night. E.g first week-4 times a night second week-3 times a night third week-2 times a night 4th week-2 times a night 5th week-1 time a night 6th week-1 time every other night 7th week-no times unless he whines and needs to. When he is a puppy it would be during the summer holidays For the first two days we would settle him in and play with him I, for these two days, would be at home all the time but shut the dog in one room by itself for 5 minute intervals at various times of the day For the next four days I would also stay at home with him but shut him in a room for various 10-15 minute intervals. When I let him out he would be rewarded with a treat each time to say well done as long as he didn't rip anything up. For the next two days I would leave him in one room for 25 minutes then take him out, reward him, then pop out to the shop, leaving him with the run of the house with my other dog there too for 10 minutes. Gradually, we would build it up until he is left alone for the full 8 hours (with somebody checking on him during the day)probably me) Fussing over him, then rewarding him, then leaving him again. Ok, sorry it is so long I just want to be sure it is ok! Any tips welcome (: 1 hour ago - 4 days left to answer. Additional Details If what I have said isn't clear, please just ask what I have meant when I have said whatever isn't clear. And my dog would be there the whole day every day, and somebody would check on it 1 hour ago I mean my current dog would be there all day every day. And that somebody, once a day would come and check in and make a quick fuss of the dog, then reward it, then leave again. Also, the dog would have loads of toys to play with and a basket to lay in. We couldn't have baby gates or anything |(due to various reasons) But if we could keep the dog downstairs by training him that he is not allowed upstairs then that is what we would do but if not, he would just have to have the whole run of the house! I am going to train him to stay downstairs, but you can NEVER guarentee the dog will learn this. 1 hour ago The crate is too small to keep him in for the day. Only big enough for him to sleep in. And we would have taught him not to chew on any wires, I will be with him all day for the first few weeks and he would have been taught what not to chew, whilst I am there watching him in case he does chew something he is not supposed to. I think, thats if I am going to leave him for 8+ hours on weekdays then I shouldn't keep him in a crate or one room for that long. Plus, my other dog has the run of the whole house and has done for years so it would be cruel to have one dog with the run of the hosue and the other confined to one room/crate etc. And my dog has got so used to having the whole house we couldn't start putting her in a confined space, it wouldn't be fair. Our hosue is a funny layout, if we had a kitchen leading to the garden then they would be kept in their but our house is a really strange layout and doesn't work like that. The doors to the bedrooms would be kept shut. They are the only rooms with doors (except our tiny bathroom) sorry my posyt is long but I care about my puppy to be Thanks 트리쉬 I like reading long posts too for some strange reason haha! Yes, my dog is the one that doesn't enjoy walks or playing etc. I reread my post and it is quite confusing! Thanks for helping, you will get best answer when it lets me award best answer!

This is really long but in order to understand you must know my full story having problems with my landlord? Hi, I'm a mother of two I moved into a 3br unit 2 years ago. My first issues which was minor at the time is that prior before I moved in I had a chihuahua, I knew that he had mentioned absolutely no dogs but I decided to keep him til I find him a home so when the landlord found out I had a dog he said very bluntly for to get rid of it that if other tenants found out I had a dog they would want one too an it be unfair for them. So I did as he told I got rid of a dog I had for 4 yrs. My second incident with my landlord started when he would come into my home unannounced because he had said there was a leak coming from my apartment that needed immediate attention. Sometimes he would come in while I am in the shower other times would be maintenance worker. At that point I contacted a free legal advocate who told that he has to give me 48 hrs in advanced notices I contacted my landlord an told him that I spoke to someone an that from now on he has to give me advance notice to enter. He agreed problem solved. So my next issues came shortly after my boyfriend decided to store he scooter into the basement landlord found out because tenants were complaining about gas smell, so I told my boyfriend he can't have it down there landlord said remove it. My boyfriend did so. Then my boyfriend parked it in front of the front steps outside , landlord found out an said it was blocking other tenants from entering ( which it wasn't ) so to avoid anymore conflict my boyfriend again moved it , now to the back of the house surprisingly landlord complained so we moved it away from the house completely. Ok so next issue again he had mentioned over the phone that some tenants were feeling unsafe in the building because another tenant had told he that I leave the door unlock which is totally untrue if I didn't care about the safety of the building why would I have told him to replace the entire lock when I first moved in. The lock was broken off. I mentioned that to him an he said yes true you did tell me to replace it so I ask what's the problem then? So soon after that I got a phone call again saying some tenants are complaining about noises from my boyfriends car radio being loud, but there's nothing wrong with playing your radio during the day. He said that the tenants want to move because of me I told him if they want to move it's because of the drug activity and prostitution going on here its not a good neighborhood to begin with. So with that being said I told him that even I was planning on moving out as well he replied "oh would you please " I said excuse me , he said he'll pay me . So I told him its no rush but I will be moving out. Now with every conversation whether it's simple repair I need he always asking me any luck with apartment search or am I still moving ? He even send me a 30 days notice to quit. He claims its being played late at night, well the music isn't coming from his car it's coming from my apartment, yes there were times I played music on birthdays an get togethers didn't know there were anything wrong because other tenants does it as well. I notice for quite a few months now that a tenant who just moved in next door has a dog, I spoke to my landlord an told him I was confused about the pet policy are we allow to have dogs? He said I absolutely can't have a dog that only reason why they can is because that they wanted to move out and said that they'll stay if they can have a dog so he allowed them to due to that. I told him that's very unfair and ridiculous, he said it's not that its stated in the lease that no dogs what so ever I said well don't they have the same lease he reply " yes but he changed it because they wanted to leave. I couldn't believe my ears, I mean really it's not about the dog but I just feel I'm being treated very unfair. And pressured into moving when I feel I've done nothing wrong . I pay my rent on time, I clean out in the property trash etc. I keep to myself , meaning I don't associate at all with neighbors or other tenants. All I do is care for my kids and once and while have my boyfriend sleep over. Please tell am I missing something here am I doing something illegal ? Thanks in advance for your time. The dog was staying at relative for awhile before, I had the dog for 1 day and ask him if it can stay , he said no so I got rid of it . Now i'm in the wrong wow!

Relationship confusion please help? Okay so heres the story. I met this girl about a year ago and we got along pretty well, and we gradually became closer friends. In August we went to PrideFest together and my freshman health teacher asked us if we were dating. we said no and laughed it off, but a bit later she said "that was kinda weird, but i mean, i would totally date you" and i said so too and we went back to my house, ate dinner and went to the glee movie. that evening i thought a lot about things and realized i had a bit of a crush on her, and it had been building for a while, but i suppressed it because i didnt think she'd ever like me back. a couple weeks later i got on facebook late at night and she chatted me and said she wanted to ask me something and it was okay if i said no, and she asked me out. i thought about it and realized the feelings i had been suppressing were still there, so i said yes. theres been a lot of drama at my school with lesbians who are way too open about their problems and excessive pda, so we decided it was best to just not act very different at school. that was fine, but we were both so busy that we rarely had time to spend together. we both have free periods at the same time and we have open campus so we would plan to go out during those times, and i would make sure to get everything done that i needed to so i was free. but she would always cancel because she had homework, or she was tired. i understand that we go to a school where the work is challenging, and she has add so her meds sometimes make her tired but it happens every single time and i just dont think she's giving nearly as much as i am. when we are together, usually its around friends and she just sits on her laptop on tumblr and reading glee fanfiction. i read fanfics too, but not to the point where im pretty much antisocial. she came over to my house once as well, but she just sat reading fanfics and hanging out with my mom and my dog, while i made her dinner. and saturday at our homecoming dance, during the last song she didnt even glance at me and asked her freaking ex to dance, and when he rejected her she just left. we danced together a couple times that night, but she wasnt even paying attention to me, and she kept turning us so she could make hearts at other people. since then she has barely spoken a word to me, and she wont answer my chats. i dont know what i could possibly have done wrong, and it doesnt help when she wont even talk to me. im the first girl she's ever dated, so it could be just a little weird for her, but we've been together for about a month and a half and that awkward stage shouldnt still be there. we haven't even kissed for fuck's sake. sometimes i think she might just want to break up but she isn't saying anything and im just confused, and on top of that i think im falling in love with her despite all the shit she's putting me through and i just don't know what to do! sorry for this being so long, i wanted to make sure i said everything necessary. please help!

Veterinarian Business questions! Please help!? okay for all you veterinarians out there can you help me answer these questions? where is the best college to go to? I was thinking of University of Pennsylvania (Penn). Is that a good school? For my business where should i put it. I want to have it in Hickory,Pa. It is a very rural area with MANY farms and animals. Is that a good place? Right down the road is a large town with ALOT of people. I wanted to move to Hickory too. I was thinking of owning a farm myself. My vet office and my house would be connected. between the office and my house I wanted to have a Intensive Care unit. Is that a good idea? Also I wanted to have a VERY BIG barn to home my animals and sick farm animals. Along with that in the back of my vet buisness(connected) i want to have kennels. they would be seperated- DOGS -- CATS-----BIRDS/SMALL ANIMALS. Im going to have many acres of land. Also for the dogs Im going to have a fenced in acre of property- for rthem to run free. Inside i will have a pond and many other activities.Is that a good idea? one of the last things i want to do is have a guest room and a therapy building. Ia that good? what types of grades do i have to get to become a vtererinarian. Im 11 in 6th grade. AND IM DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT THESE PLANS! I already have 100 acres bought for when i get older. I have a 3.9 in school. Im a straight A student. Im in Pre-Algerbra. there are 3 different classes- 5th grade review- 6th grade math - Pre-algerbra. what should i be doing now? please help me! Also im going to have a shelter for adoptable animals. good idea or not?

Could this be my totem? I've had atleast 6 dreams so far this year where I saw a wolf. One dream: had two female wolves. I was at the safari park which has a pack of wolves. I went to the back, which is accessible to the public, but in the dream, the fencing was half missing from a section in the back. The two female wolves paced by it several times. Second dream: I was with students from gradeschool at the International Wolf Center two wolves were in an open glass enclosure inside the building. At first, I thought they were Shadow and Maya, the dominant pair. The wolves came up to the glass and allowed me to pet them. I left with my group to see somethin else, then returned to find Aidan and Denali, the pups in the enclosure. Third dream:I went to the IWC with the zoo crew. Outside, there was an enclosure with one wolf. This wolf looked like Matsi and Wyakin (Living with Wolves) combined. The sign said the wolfs name was Maya. The wolf came to me and allowed my to pet it, and followed me as I went inside. Fourth dream:Went to IWC with zoo crew again. I saw the center as it is, mostly. I felt like I knew my way around, and began to look for the wolves. Suddenly it changed as my dad and I entered a room. A free-roaming wolf was there, so was a big cat. My dad was hanging on a cliff as the cat or bear (can't remember which one) came at him. The wolf went after the cat/ bear as a keeper and I helped my dad. Fifth dream: Dream: My friend & I were goin to movies but decided not to since there were dogs in it that looked like my dogs who get ripped apart by a werewolf. We were at my house, I was going to let the dogs out but noticed a large black werewolf pacing outside the back door, walking like a wolf. Chance (schnauzer mix) of course rushed to the door acting tough while Aurora (Siberian husky) acted happy to see another "dog".  Then, i was going through my movies, trying to find my werewolf ones. Apparently, I was being followed by a werewolf planning to turn me.

Should I be worried that my boyfriend has not proposed yet? I have been dating my boyfriend for six years and we have lived together for 5, I am 27 and he is 28. I am not sure my boyfriend will ever ask me to marry him. We had a rocky start to relationship we fought a lot in the first year or so mostly over one of his ex girlfriends who still wanted to be in the picture but have been pretty solid since. We love spending time together, hang out all of the time, I still don't feel bored at all and we love each other a ton. But, I keep waiting for our relationship to go to the next level, meaning marriage, a house... kids, a dog. But besides living together things have kinda stopped progressing. I have been trying to advance my career, and working really hard to do so, in order to create a better life together. He despite all of his talent has seemed to stop trying to make progress, he has passed on a few job opportunities. Even thought he says he wants more, his actions make it seem like he is ok living like a collage student forever. He hardly ever talks about his future plans and if I try to talk to him about plans, job moves etc, he usually tries to avoid the topic. I see a lot of my girlfriends in relationships that are younger than my own and I see that their boyfriends are doing things with them that we still have yet to do, getting engaged, buying cars together, getting joint bank accounts, or joint credit cards to help one each other build credit so they can eventually buy a house... Again when I bring up any of those things he usually does not have much to say. I don't ask him all of the time or anything like I am not wanted to have a fight but I have been feeling like our relationship has been long enough and I am starting to worry that I am wasting my time or that he just does not see himself getting married any time soon. For Valentines day he got me a key ring as a joke...get it key 'Ring', even though it was kinda funny I was hopping for a real ring. Is this a case of "why buy the cow when the milk is already free"? Even though I love him am I waiting for a dream that just wont happen?

Ideas for quarantining a stray, pregnant cat? Long story short, there's an abandoned, stray cat in my neighborhood. She's extremely friendly and sociable, so I plan on bringing her home with me so that she can deliver her kittens in a safe place. I plan on adopting the kittens out only to approved homes as indoor, neutered cats. I also hope I can adopt out the mother after I have her spayed, but realistically she will probably take longer to adopt out than the kittens, and she'll probably grow on me in the meantime. However, I have two dogs, two cats, and a rabbit. The dogs and cats have free roam over my house except for my bedroom, and my rabbit is free-roam in my bedroom. Because I don't want to stress this cat out by forcing her to tolerate and mingle with the other cats and dogs while she is pregnant, I want to keep her in my room. At the same time, I recognize that my rabbit is a prey animal, and that while my own cats have never hurt my rabbit, this cat may not feel the same way. So, how best to quarantine this cat in my room, so that she is both comfortable, and all of the animals are safe. I'm considering building something using cubes and zipties, like these... http://www.binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/CoolHabitats/tabid/71/Default.aspx But I've only ever found cubes online, so it may take me a while to get them. Or, I could buy a pen like these... http://www.amazon.com/Wildwhiskers-Outdoor-Feline-Funhouse/dp/B000AL5C1Q/ref=sr_1_18?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1307897044&sr=1-18 http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14629&cmpid=08csent&ref=3665&subref=AA But I want a cheaper option... What do you think? Any cheaper options? Any ideas? -Alika613 Innocent, the problem is that she lives in a barn that is boarded up and can't be entered without breaking into it. I'm pretty sure that is where she will want to have them. The other problem is that if I leave them without taking her in, and socializing and neutering them, the feral cat population in my neighborhood will grow.

Can you help me find my dream,plan and goal for my life? I am making a dream,goal and plan for if and when I win that PCH SWEEPSTAKES, I AM GOING TO PAY ALL THE BILLS,THEN BOOK A PLANE FOR FLORIDA FOR THE 3 OF US,KENNY,BINGO MY DOG, AND OF CAUSE MYSELF AND GO AND LIVE A LIFE OF LUXURY, THEN WHEN WE COME BACK I WILL BUY A BIG PIECE OF LAND, HAVE A NICE HOUSE BUILT TO OUR LIKINGS WITH A 2 CAR GARAGE. I WILL THEN GET HORESES,COWS,BILLY GOATS, CHICKENS, ROOSTERS CATS, DOGS AND LET ALL THE DEERS RUN FREE ON OUR PROBITY. MAYBE EVEN HAVE A COUPLE OF CHILDREN AND LET THEM HELP WITH ALL THE CHAWS, OF CAUSE WHEN THEY GROW UP. SO THIS IS MY QUESTION, CAN YOU HELP ME WITH ALL OF THAT , DREAMING, GOAL, AND PLANNING. THANKYOU YOUR DEAR FRIEND marilynh89

Why can't liberals leave me alone? Sleeping in my house is safe. The house was built according to zoning laws enacted by my city which makes this house able to withstand earthquakes…My electrical system has to be installed by a professional and the house have to be livable overall. The police and fire departments and ambulance are on duty. Those public service agencies are paid for by taxes and benefit everyone. I live in the Southeast, and the Tennessee Valley Authority supplies power to my house. The TVA was a massive government program bringing power to the very poor rural area of the Southeast. I live near a nuclear power plant which are 100% backed by government insurance because they simply cannot buy private insurance. Power plant land is often times subsidized by lowered taxes for the utility so the power plant itself is receiving government subsidies every year so it can operate. So Uncle Sam has a big hand in producing his power at every level and of course the electrical grid is massively subsidized and backed by government dollars. I get up at 6 a.m. and fill my coffeepot with water to prepare his morning coffee. The water is clean and good because some tree-hugging liberal fought for minimum water-quality standards. I refuse to acknowledge that the massive opposition to the clean water and clean air acts came from Republicans. With my first swallow of water, I take my daily medication. My medications are safe to take because some stupid commie liberal fought to ensure their safety and that they work as advertised. All but $10 of my medications are paid for by my employer’s medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance – now I get it too. But with Universal health care now into law, It can only get better thanks to those damn socialist liberals. I prepares my morning breakfast, bacon and eggs. Bacon is safe to eat because some girly-man liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry opposed by Free Market Conservatives. The government has mandated safe levels of lead in his mugs and plates…the government mandated other things such as the treatment of those animals on those farms and the pesticides and herbicides used to grow his food. I remembers some chemicals taken off the market once proven unsafe despite those corporations fighting tooth and nail to NOT have their product removed from the market. I look at my dog and remembers China producing tainted dog food and sending us toothpaste with chemicals and am thankful that I got none of that because it is illegal here…but China does not have those government regulations. The Free Market there allows such things. In the morning shower, I reach for my shampoo. The bottle is properly labeled with each ingredient and its amount in the total contents because some crybaby liberal fought for this right to know what I was putting on my body and how much it contained. I dress, and walk outside and take a deep breath. The air I breath is clean because some environmentalist wacko liberal fought for the laws to stop industries from polluting our air. I walks on the government-provided sidewalk to subway station for his government-subsidized ride to work. It saves me considerable money in parking and transportation fees because some fancy-pants liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor. I begin my work day. And have a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some lazy liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. My employer pays these standards because my employer doesn’t want his employees to call the union. I don’t remember the book The Jungle nor do I recall child labor laws and weekends off of work which unions and Liberals fought for. I just know the road to my family in the hills was recently repaved…paid for by tax dollars and that gets me back home quicker when am done with the family. If I get hurt on the job or becomes unemployed, I’ll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some stupid liberal didn’t think I should lose my home because of this temporary misfortune. I remember the workers in the West Virginia mine that had the boss that focused more on production than safety and the result there was 29 dead…but the boss became a millionaire 20 times over….every year. We don’t need those big-government liberals ruining our lives! After all, I’m a self-made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have.

How can I keep my 12 week beagle calm during an 8 hour car ride over Thanksgiving? I have a 12 week beagle named Wizzard Iv had him since 8 weeks- and the day I brought him home he was good in the car everything was fine, he just sat there looking around. then there was some drama after the first week i had him, his previous owners had decided they wanted him back and they would give me another puppy from the litter he was born from, and I said no, and while out with my mom for my birthday dinner they came and took him and replaced him with another puppy, I called them talked to them told them it simply would not work out that If I couldn't have Wizzard I was sent interested in a puppy from them, even if they were free [because they were] So i returned the pup and they asked me if i had parvo in my yard i said no because iv never owned a dog before and iv lived in this house since it was built so they told me Wizzard was not eating or playing that they thought he had parvo so they gave him back to me said i can have him until he "goes" :I so i brought him home and that's when the car trouble started, he yelped and cried and just wouldn't be quiet, then when i took him to the vet he was crying/yelping and when i took him to petsmart, he was a little better but still was loud, with thanks giving coming up Im going to california to visit my family, for 3 days and hes coming with me, what would you recommend I do to show him the car isn't bad that its fun and such, I plan on starting this training with taking him to the park in the car so he sees that the car means good out comes, and that its okay. p.s he never had parvo when i brought him home he ate well and played he was a ball of energy! also, Im NOT going to have him boarded for those 3 days, its just out of the question for me, honestly. note: he is well trained in my opinion, he knows sit/lay down/roll over/shake he can walk well on a leash. he just has yet to learn quiet xD

Is this good enough, it sucks that leap year is every four years, but is it good enough? My husbands birthday was on February 29th. It is so sad. His parents are divorced and his mother celebrated his birthday every 4 years and his Dad celebrated it on the 28th. Is this fair that his mother wanted him to be born on that date, he was 10 weeks pre-mature and he gets a birthday every four years? According to his mother, he will be celebrating his 8th birthday in 4 years, which I think it is sad. We are getting married in March, and I think it is sad, the way his mother treats him with gifts. His Dad, is the best. When I am with his brothers and sisters and half sibling and step siblings, who ALL live with his Dad, they make me feel like I am in Cheaper By The Dozen or 19 Kids and Counting or Yours Mine and Ours. They are so loving. Especially his step-mother. She is happy and they are like the best family, ever. They are like normal parents and they give birthday gifts every year, not every four years. His mother abused him by verbal, his mother just hates him. I am not serious, she even admitted it. She has a good job, she is not poor, she can afford birthday gifts all the time! She had my husband when she was 14, she is 42 years old! She has a good retirement plan and she had rich parents, who gave her a lot of money. She still refuses to care for my husband and love him. Is that sad ^? Well this year, he wants to forget about his mother and focus on other things. Tonight, we will have a special dinner. I will take him and we will eat with nobody, last night we had a family birthday dinner (and we had a ball/fun time). And I am getting him 2 puppies. I found both at the pound for free, they were cute, they are different breeds, person at pound said they get along great! They will be 8 weeks old today, and I cant wait! We will go to church at 2:00 pm, we will change once we are home and pack up. I am taking him to the beach for 5days, where the pound is located. We will leave the house at 4:30 pm. We will go to a fancy restaurant in fancy clothes at 5:30 pm, while on road. We will eat and have a small cake for dessert. Then we will arrive at the beach condo at 9:30 pm and enjoy a few days. The condo is his Dads so no money :). Road Trip is like $400 and dinner will be $100, but we are fine. I had a budget of $1,500. I got a little extra money at work, so I made it his gift. We will open a gift I got him in the condo and have some whine. Then we will change in PJ's and watch a movie or play video games. Then we will just enjoy 5 days of the beach, we will walk on the beach, take some photos for the wedding, relax, go mini golfing and go to an arcade. We will also go rock climbing and do fun/romantic/interesting things. We will mostly be inside and enjoy the sun set. Then on Friday, we will leave. I will tell him we will have time to look at the pound for an hour or two and we go in. We go to see the English Bull Dog (female) and the Puggle (female) and I will tell him it is ours. He will flip out and get them. We will keep on driving and stop at a Pet Smart, buy supplies and all. Then on Saturday, the next day, at night, he will do a work thing from 3:00 pm- 6:00 pm Then he will come home at 7:00 pm, then we will have a surprise party. I spent about $1,500 on this WHOLE thing and it was my extra money. I bet he will do something special for my birthday, and we might make a baby on the way. Please dont call me spoiled. It is our extra wedding money that we had for the budget of the wedding, the extra honey moon money, the extra work money from work, and some money I saved just for him. I have seen my friends who spent like $4,000 on their husband/wifes birthday. My friend, got her husband an ice sculpture, that would melt in like 3 days or less, for $5,000. Oh, and it was, like a small sculpture. I just build memories for my husband for his birthday, and make up some years his mother ruined for him!

Where can I find good free dog house blueprints/plans? I can't seem to find any online! We'd like to build a large house for two dogs, preferably 2 room or two door. Any help would be greatly appreciated! :) Thanks!

I'm 18 and in a month's time I'll be living completely alone in this house. Panic.? My mum's moving somewhere near London with her boyfriend for work, but doesn't want to sell this house so I'll be here completely alone, looking after the dog and cat. I'm really really really rather worried that I'll start to feel lonely/afraid. I've never lived alone before, ever. I don't think I could get any friends to stay over very often either - maybe every other weekend or something for a party, but otherwise no. Everyone's got plans for summer/live too far away etc. I don't really spend much time with my mum but it's nice knowing there's someone else in the house at night. I have some questions - How do I prevent myself from getting bored/lonely and freaking out? How do I keep the house safe? We live in England near the city and it's not a very very good area, although there hasn't been any crime here because it's quite built up (the house is the 2nd in a terrace). How do I keep myself busy (for free - clubs etc are out of the option)?

This is really long but in order to understand you must know my full story having problems with my landlord? Hi, I'm a mother of two I moved into a 3br unit 2 years ago. My first issues which was minor at the time is that prior before I moved in I had a chihuahua, I knew that he had mentioned absolutely no dogs but I decided to keep him til I find him a home so when the landlord found out I had a dog he said very bluntly for to get rid of it that if other tenants found out I had a dog they would want one too an it be unfair for them. So I did as he told I got rid of a dog I had for 4 yrs. My second incident with my landlord started when he would come into my home unannounced because he had said there was a leak coming from my apartment that needed immediate attention. Sometimes he would come in while I am in the shower other times would be maintenance worker. At that point I contacted a free legal advocate who told that he has to give me 48 hrs in advanced notices I contacted my landlord an told him that I spoke to someone an that from now on he has to give me advance notice to enter. He agreed problem solved. So my next issues came shortly after my boyfriend decided to store he scooter into the basement landlord found out because tenants were complaining about gas smell, so I told my boyfriend he can't have it down there landlord said remove it. My boyfriend did so. Then my boyfriend parked it in front of the front steps outside , landlord found out an said it was blocking other tenants from entering ( which it wasn't ) so to avoid anymore conflict my boyfriend again moved it , now to the back of the house surprisingly landlord complained so we moved it away from the house completely. Ok so next issue again he had mentioned over the phone that some tenants were feeling unsafe in the building because another tenant had told he that I leave the door unlock which is totally untrue if I didn't care about the safety of the building why would I have told him to replace the entire lock when I first moved in. The lock was broken off. I mentioned that to him an he said yes true you did tell me to replace it so I ask what's the problem then? So soon after that I got a phone call again saying some tenants are complaining about noises from my boyfriends car radio being loud, but there's nothing wrong with playing your radio during the day. He said that the tenants want to move because of me I told him if they want to move it's because of the drug activity and prostitution going on here its not a good neighborhood to begin with. So with that being said I told him that even I was planning on moving out as well he replied "oh would you please " I said excuse me , he said he'll pay me . So I told him its no rush but I will be moving out. Now with every conversation whether it's simple repair I need he always asking me any luck with apartment search or am I still moving ? He even send me a 30 days notice to quit. He claims its being played late at night, well the music isn't coming from his car it's coming from my apartment, yes there were times I played music on birthdays an get togethers didn't know there were anything wrong because other tenants does it as well. I notice for quite a few months now that a tenant who just moved in next door has a dog, I spoke to my landlord an told him I was confused about the pet policy are we allow to have dogs? He said I absolutely can't have a dog that only reason why they can is because that they wanted to move out and said that they'll stay if they can have a dog so he allowed them to due to that. I told him that's very unfair and ridiculous, he said it's not that its stated in the lease that no dogs what so ever I said well don't they have the same lease he reply " yes but he changed it because they wanted to leave. I couldn't believe my ears, I mean really it's not about the dog but I just feel I'm being treated very unfair. And pressured into moving when I feel I've done nothing wrong . I pay my rent on time, I clean out in the property trash etc. I keep to myself , meaning I don't associate at all with neighbors or other tenants. All I do is care for my kids and once and while have my boyfriend sleep over. Please tell am I missing something here am I doing something illegal ? Thanks in advance for your time. 1 hour ago - 4 days left to answer. Additional Details The dog was staying at relative for awhile before, I had the dog for 1 day and ask him if it can stay , he said no so I got rid of it . Now i'm in the wrong wow! 44 minutes ago

This is really long but in order to understand you must know my full story having problems with my landlord? Hi, I'm a mother of two I moved into a 3br unit 2 years ago. My first issues which was minor at the time is that prior before I moved in I had a chihuahua, I knew that he had mentioned absolutely no dogs but I decided to keep him til I find him a home so when the landlord found out I had a dog he said very bluntly for to get rid of it that if other tenants found out I had a dog they would want one too an it be unfair for them. So I did as he told I got rid of a dog I had for 4 yrs. My second incident with my landlord started when he would come into my home unannounced because he had said there was a leak coming from my apartment that needed immediate attention. Sometimes he would come in while I am in the shower other times would be maintenance worker. At that point I contacted a free legal advocate who told that he has to give me 48 hrs in advanced notices I contacted my landlord an told him that I spoke to someone an that from now on he has to give me advance notice to enter. He agreed problem solved. So my next issues came shortly after my boyfriend decided to store he scooter into the basement landlord found out because tenants were complaining about gas smell, so I told my boyfriend he can't have it down there landlord said remove it. My boyfriend did so. Then my boyfriend parked it in front of the front steps outside , landlord found out an said it was blocking other tenants from entering ( which it wasn't ) so to avoid anymore conflict my boyfriend again moved it , now to the back of the house surprisingly landlord complained so we moved it away from the house completely. Ok so next issue again he had mentioned over the phone that some tenants were feeling unsafe in the building because another tenant had told he that I leave the door unlock which is totally untrue if I didn't care about the safety of the building why would I have told him to replace the entire lock when I first moved in. The lock was broken off. I mentioned that to him an he said yes true you did tell me to replace it so I ask what's the problem then? So soon after that I got a phone call again saying some tenants are complaining about noises from my boyfriends car radio being loud, but there's nothing wrong with playing your radio during the day. He said that the tenants want to move because of me I told him if they want to move it's because of the drug activity and prostitution going on here its not a good neighborhood to begin with. So with that being said I told him that even I was planning on moving out as well he replied "oh would you please " I said excuse me , he said he'll pay me . So I told him its no rush but I will be moving out. Now with every conversation whether it's simple repair I need he always asking me any luck with apartment search or am I still moving ? He even send me a 30 days notice to quit. He claims its being played late at night, well the music isn't coming from his car it's coming from my apartment, yes there were times I played music on birthdays an get togethers didn't know there were anything wrong because other tenants does it as well. I notice for quite a few months now that a tenant who just moved in next door has a dog, I spoke to my landlord an told him I was confused about the pet policy are we allow to have dogs? He said I absolutely can't have a dog that only reason why they can is because that they wanted to move out and said that they'll stay if they can have a dog so he allowed them to due to that. I told him that's very unfair and ridiculous, he said it's not that its stated in the lease that no dogs what so ever I said well don't they have the same lease he reply " yes but he changed it because they wanted to leave. I couldn't believe my ears, I mean really it's not about the dog but I just feel I'm being treated very unfair. And pressured into moving when I feel I've done nothing wrong . I pay my rent on time, I clean out in the property trash etc. I keep to myself , meaning I don't associate at all with neighbors or other tenants. All I do is care for my kids and once and while have my boyfriend sleep over. Please tell am I missing something here am I doing something illegal ? Thanks in advance for your time.

Why can't liberals leave me alone? Sleeping in my house is safe. The house was built according to zoning laws enacted by his city which makes his house able to withstand earthquakes…My electrical system has to be installed by a professional and the house have to be livable overall. The police and fire departments and ambulance are on duty. Those public service agencies are paid for by taxes and benefit everyone. I live in the Southeast, and the Tennessee Valley Authority supplies power to my house. The TVA was a massive government program bringing power to the very poor rural area of the Southeast. I live near a nuclear power plant which are 100% backed by government insurance because they simply cannot buy private insurance. Power plant land is often times subsidized by lowered taxes for the utility so the power plant itself is receiving government subsidies every year so it can operate. So Uncle Sam has a big hand in producing his power at every level and of course the electrical grid is massively subsidized and backed by government dollars. I get up at 6 a.m. and fill my coffeepot with water to prepare his morning coffee. The water is clean and good because some tree-hugging liberal fought for minimum water-quality standards. I refuse to acknowledge that the massive opposition to the clean water and clean air acts came from Republicans. With my first swallow of water, I take my daily medication. My medications are safe to take because some stupid commie liberal fought to ensure their safety and that they work as advertised. All but $10 of my medications are paid for by my employer’s medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance – now I get it too. But with Universal health care now into law, It can only get better thanks to those damn socialist liberals. I prepares my morning breakfast, bacon and eggs. Bacon is safe to eat because some girly-man liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry opposed by Free Market Conservatives. The government has mandated safe levels of lead in his mugs and plates…the government mandated other things such as the treatment of those animals on those farms and the pesticides and herbicides used to grow his food. I remembers some chemicals taken off the market once proven unsafe despite those corporations fighting tooth and nail to NOT have their product removed from the market. I look at my dog and remembers China producing tainted dog food and sending us toothpaste with chemicals and am thankful that I got none of that because it is illegal here…but China does not have those government regulations. The Free Market there allows such things. In the morning shower, I reach for my shampoo. The bottle is properly labeled with each ingredient and its amount in the total contents because some crybaby liberal fought for this right to know what I was putting on my body and how much it contained. I dress, and walk outside and take a deep breath. The air I breath is clean because some environmentalist wacko liberal fought for the laws to stop industries from polluting our air. I walks on the government-provided sidewalk to subway station for his government-subsidized ride to work. It saves me considerable money in parking and transportation fees because some fancy-pants liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor. I begin my work day. And have a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some lazy liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. My employer pays these standards because my employer doesn’t want his employees to call the union. I don’t remember the book The Jungle nor do I recall child labor laws and weekends off of work which unions and Liberals fought for. I just know the road to my family in the hills was recently repaved…paid for by tax dollars and that gets me back home quicker when am done with the family. If I get hurt on the job or becomes unemployed, I’ll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some stupid liberal didn’t think I should lose my home because of this temporary misfortune. I remember the workers in the West Virginia mine that had the boss that focused more on production than safety and the result there was 29 dead…but the boss became a millionaire 20 times over….every year. We don’t need those big-government liberals ruining our lives! After all, I’m a self-made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have.

Which part of the script should I use to draw a picture of? Lilo And Stitch Script Read the charges. Dr. Jumba Jookiba-- lead scientist of Galaxy Defense Industries-- you stand before this council accused of illegal genetic experimentation. How do you plead? Not guilty! My experiments are only theoretical-- completely within legal boundaries. We believe you actually created something. Created something?! Ha! But that would be irresponsible and unethical. I would never, ever... make more than one. What is that monstrosity? Monstrosity! What you see before you is the first of a new species. I call it Experiment 626. He is bulletproof, fireproof and can think faster than supercomputer. He can see in the dark and move objects times his size. His only instinct: To destroy everything he touches! So, it is a monster. Hey, just a little one. It is an affront to nature. It must be destroyed! Calm yourself, Captain Gantu. Perhaps it can be reasoned with. Experiment 626 give us some sign you understand any of this. Show us that there is something inside you that is good. Hmm? Meega, nala kweesta! So naughty! I didn't teach it that. Place that idiot scientist under arrest! I prefer to be called evil genius! And as for that abomination... it is the flawed product of a deranged mind. It has no place among us. Captain Gantu, take him away. With pleasure. Hmm. Uncomfortable? Oh... Good! The council has banished you to exile on a desert asteroid. So, relax... enjoy the trip and don't get any ideas. These guns are locked onto your genetic signature. They won't shoot anyone but you. Ow! Why, you...! May I remind the captain that he is on duty. Secure the cell! Aye, Captain. Captain on deck. All ahead full. Do... Does this, uh, look infected to you? Oh! Quiet, you. Gunfire in the cell bay! Open a channel. He's loose on Deck C! Red alert. Seal off the deck! Security, converge on door seven! Deadly force authorized. Fire on sight! There he is! Security to Bridge. It's in the ventilation system. He's headed for the power... grid. What was that? I don't think he's on the ship anymore. Confirmed. He's taken a police cruiser. Yeah... he took the red one. Yee-haw! Hmm?! That's it! We got it. We got it! Hyperdrive activated. System charging. He's engaged his H-drive! Warning-- guidance is not functional. Pursuit Commander that crazy trog is about to make a jump! Break formation! Get clear of that ship! Navigation failure. Do not engage hyper... Get me Galactic Control. Where is he?! He's still in hyperspace. Where will he exit? Calculating now-- quadrant section - - area . A planet called... Ee-arth. I want an expert on this planet in here now! What is that? Water. Most of the planet is covered in it. He won't survive in water. His molecular density is too great. No... Of course. How much time do we have? We have projected his landing at three hours, minutes. Oh, we have to gas the planet. Hold it! Hold everything! Earth is a protected wildlife preserve. Yeah. We've been using it to rebuild the mosquito population which, need I remind you, is an endangered species! Am I to assume you are the expert? Oh, I don't know about expert. Agent Pleakley at your service. Can we not simply destroy the island? No! Crazyhead! The mosquito's food of choice, primitive humanoid life forms have colonies all over that planet. Are they intelligent? No, but they're very delicate. In fact, every time an asteroid strikes their planet they have to begin life all over. It's fascinating, isn't it? With this, I've been able to study... What if our military forces just landed there? Well, that'd be a bad idea! These are extremely simple creatures, miss. Landing there would create mass mayhem and planet-wide panic! A quiet capture would require an understanding of - - that we do not possess! Who, then, Mr. Pleakley, would you send for his extraction? Does he have a brother? Close grandmother, perhaps? Friendly cousin? Neighbor with a beard? He got away? I'm sure this comes as no surprise to you. I designed this creature for to be unstoppable. Which is precisely why you must now bring him back. What? Me? And to reward you we are willing to trade your freedom for his capture. - - will not come easily. Maybe direct hit from plasma cannon might stun him long enough to... Plasma cannon granted. Do we have a bargain, Dr. Jumba? B-B-But it's a delicate planet! Who's going to control him? You will. Very good, Your Highness. I... I didn't quite... Uh, you're notjoking! So, tell me, my little one-eyed one on what poor, pitiful, defenseless planet has my monstrosity been unleashed? Mahalo nui ia Ke Ali iwahine O Lili ulani O ka Wohi ku Ka pipio mai o ke anuenue Na waihooluu a halikeole E nana na maka i ke ao malama Mai Hawaii akea i Kauai... O Kal'kaua he inoa O Ka pua mae ole i ka I' Ka pua maila i ka mauna I ke kuahiwi o Mauna Kea Ke 'maila i K'lauea M'lamalama i Wahinekapu A ka luna o Uw'kahuna I ka pali kapu o Ka auea Ea mai ke ali i kia manu Ua wehi i ka hulu o ka mamo Ka pua nani a o Hawai i O Kal'kaua he inoa O Kal'kaua he inoa Ka pua mae ole i ka I' Ka pua maila i ka mauna I ke kuahiwi o Mauna Kea Ke 'maila i K'lauea... One, two, three, four... ...M'lamalama i Wahinekapu... Ay-yi-yi. ...A ka luna o Uw'kahuna I ka pali kapu o Ka auea Mahalo nui ia Ke Ali iwahine O Lili ulani O ka Wohi ku... Ea mai ke ali i kia manu Ua wehi i ka hulu o ka mamo Ka pua nani a o Hawai I O Kal'kaua he inoa... He Inoa No Kalani Kalakaua Kulele. -Whoa! -Whoa! Stop. Stop. Lilo, why are you all wet? It's sandwich day. Every Thursday, I take Pudge the fish a peanut butter sandwich. Pudge is a fish? And today we were out of peanut butter! So I asked my sister what to give him and she said a tuna sandwich. I can't give Pudge tuna! Do you know what tuna is? Fish? It's fish! If I gave Pudge tuna, I'd be an abomination! I'm late because I had to go to the store and get peanut butter 'cause all we have is-is stinkin' tuna! Lilo, Lilo, why is this so important? Pudge controls the weather. You're crazy. Please! Please! Everybody calm down! Girls... Shh. Lilo... I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I won't do it again! Maybe we should call your sister. No! I'll be good! I want to dance. I practiced. I just want to dance. I practiced. Ooh, she bit me. Eww! I called your sister. She said to wait for her here on the porch. We'll try again on Sunday. Does this look infected to you? Yeah. You better not have rabies. If you have rabies the dogcatcher is going to have to cut... Are you going to play dolls? You don't have a doll. This is Scrump. I made her, but her head is too big. So I pretend a bug laid eggs in her ears, and she's upset because she only has a few more days to... Lilo! Lilo? Lilo? Oh, no. You better be home. Hey! Watch where you're going! Stupidhead! I found a new place to dwell... Oh, Lilo! Lilo! Open the door, Lilo! Go away. ...You make me so lonely, baby... Lilo? We don't have time for this. ...I get so lonely... Leave me alone to die. Come on, Lilo that social worker's going to be here any minute! ...You still can find some room For brokenhearted lovers to cry away their gloom Don't make me so lonely, baby Don't make me so lonely I get so lonely I could die... The bellhop's tears keep flowin'... You are so finished when I get in there! Well, they been so long on Lonely Street They ain't ever gonna look back... Oh, I'm going to stuff you in the blender push puree, then bake you into a pie and feed it to the social worker! And when he says, Mmm, this is great. What's your secret? I'm going to say... Love... and nurturing. Hi. Uh... You must be the, uh... The stupidhead. Oh! Oh... Oh, you know, I'm really sorry about that and if I'd known who you were, of course I never would've... Uh... I can pay for that. It's a rental. Are you the guardian in question? Yes. I'm Nani. Nice to meet you, Mister...? Bubbles. Mr. Bubbles. That's a strange... Yes, I know. Are you going to invite me in, Nani? Uh... I thought we could sit out here and talk. I don't think so. Right. Uh... ...It's always crowded... This way. ...You still can find some room For brokenhearted lovers to cry away their gloom You make me so lonely, baby... Uh... wait here. Hey! So... lemonade? Do you often leave your sister home alone? No. Never. Well, except forjust now. Uh, I had to run to the store to get some... Oh! You left the stove on while you were out? Low heat! Just a simmer. Mmm! It's coming along great. I found that this morning. Lilo! There you are. Honeyface... this is Mr. Bubbles. Nice to meet you. Your knuckles say Cobra. Cobra Bubbles. You don't look like a social worker. I'm a special classification. Did you ever kill anyone? We're getting off the subject. Let's talk about you. Are you happy? I'm adjusted. I eat four food groups and look both ways before crossing the street and take long naps, and get disciplined. Disciplined? Yeah. She disciplines me real good. Sometimes five times a day. -With bricks. -No... Bricks? Uh-huh, in a pillowcase. Okay! That's enough sugar for you. Why don't you run along, you little cutie. The other social workers just thought she was a scream. Thirsty? Let me illuminate to you the precarious situation in which you have found yourself. I am the one they call when things go wrong and things have indeed gone wrong. My friends need to be punished. Call me next time you're left here alone. Yep. In case you're wondering, this did not go well. You have three days to change my mind. -Blah. -Eww! Lilo! Why didn't you wait at the school? You were supposed to wait there! Lilo! Do you not understand? Do you want to be taken away? Answer me! No! No, you don't understand? No! No, what? No! You're such a pain! So why don't you sell me and buy a rabbit instead?! At least a rabbit would behave better than you! Go ahead! Then you'll be happy because it'll be smarter than me, too! And quieter! You'll like it, 'cause it's stinky, like you! Go to your room! I'm already in my room! Hey. I brought you some pizza, in case you were hungry. We're a broken family, aren't we? No. Maybe, a little. Maybe a lot. I shouldn't have yelled at you. We're sisters. It's ourjob. Yeah, well, from now on... I like you better as a sister than a mom. Yeah? And you like me better as a sister than a rabbit, right? Oh... Oh, oh, oh, oh. Yes. Yes, I do. I hit Mertle Edmonds today. You hit her? Before I bit her. You bit her. Lilo, you shouldn't... People treat me different. They just don't know what to say. I'll tell you what. If you promise not to fight anymore I promise not to yell at you, except on special occasions. Tuesdays and bank holidays would be good. Yeah? Would that be good? Oh! My camera's full again. Aren't they beautiful? A falling star! I call it! Get out! Get out! I have to make a wish! Can't you go any faster? Oh, no! Gravity is increasing on me. No, it's not! It is, too, Lilo. The same thing happened yesterday. You rotten sister! Your butt is crushing me! Why do you act so weird?! It's me again. I need someone to be my friend... someone who won't run away. Maybe send me an angel... the nicest angel you have. What we when hit? There it is. It stay jammed under the fender. We better call somebody. We're looking for something that can defend itself... something that won't die... something sturdy, you know? Like a lobster. Lilo, you lolo. Do we have a lobster door? No. We have a dog door. We are getting a dog. So nice to see your pretty face again! Jumba? We need your name and address at the bottom of the form... The kennel's back this way. Go. Pick someone out. Hello? Hello?! Are there any aminals in here? Hello! Hi. Hoh... ha... Hi... Wow! Oh, yes. Mm-hmm. All of our dogs are adoptable. Except that one! What is that thing?! A dog, I think. But it was dead this morning. It was dead this morning?! Well, we thought it was dead. It was hit by a truck. I like him! Come here, boy. Oh! Aah! Wouldn't you like a different dog? We have better dogs, dear. Not better than him. He can talk! Say hello. He... Hel... Dogs can't talk, dear. He did. Does it have to be this dog? Yes, he's good. I can tell. You'll have to think of a name for him. His name is... Stitch. Now, that's not a real name... Hmm. Uh-uh, uh-uh-uh. ...in Iceland... but here, it's a good name. Stitch it is. And there's a two dollar license fee. I want to buy him! Can I borrow two dollars? He's all yours. You're all mine. Well, what's he doing? Shh! Keep quiet. He's listening for us. How good is his hearing? I mean, can he... Why don't you run? Coming! I'm coming! Stop! I have just determined this situation to be far too hazardous! Don't worry, I won't hit her. No! That girl is a part of the mosquito food chain. Here! Educate yourself. Using a little girl for a shield. This is low, even for you! Whoo-hoo! Bah! Tear him apart with all both my bare hands! Have you lost your mind?! What is it, Stitch? We cannot be seen! Bad dog, barking at nothing! You can't shoot, and you can't be seen. Look at you! You look like a monster. We have to blend in. Okay, I got to get to work. Stick around town and stay out of the roads, okay? I'll meet you at : . Hmm? Oh! Ah! Okay, I guess we should be going. What about Stitch? My friends! What do you want? I'm sorry I bit you and pulled your hair and punched you in the face. Apology not accepted. Now get out of my way before I run you over. I got a new dog. His name is Stitch. That is the ugliest thing I have ever saw. -Yeah. -Yeah. Eww! Get it away from me! I'm gonna get a disease! Somebody do something! Oh, great! He's loose. His destructive programming is taking effect. He will be irresistibly drawn to large cities where he will back up sewers reverse street signs and steal everyone's left shoe. It's nice to live on an island with no large cities. Are you okay? Doo-doo... Doo-doo... You can shake an apple off an apple tree Shake-a, shake-a, sugar, but you'll never shake me -Uh-uh-uh -Doo-doo-doo No, siree, uh-uh... Uh-uh. ...Doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo I'm gonna stick like glue Stick because I'm... Stuck on you I'm gonna run my fingers Through your long, black hair... Hey, over here, little buddy. ...Squeeze you tighter than a grizzly bear -Uh-uh-uh -Doo-doo-doo Yes, siree, uh-huh Doo-doo-doo, Doo-doo-doo I'm gonna stick like glue Stick because I'm... Stuck on you Hide in the kitchen Hide in the hall Ain't gonna do you no good at all 'Cause once I catch ya and the kissin' starts A team o' wild horses couldn't tear us apart Try to take a tiger from his daddy's side... When you're ready to give up just let us know, heh? Whee! ...Uh-uh-uh... Yeah! This is you. This is your badness level. It's unusually high for someone your size. We have to fix that. Ay-yi-yi, Lilo! Your dog cannot sit at the table. Stitch is troubled. He needs desserts. Oh, you didn't even eat your sweet potato. I thought you liked them. Desserts! David! I got a new dog. Oh! You sure it's a dog? Uh-huh. He used to be a collie before he got ran over. Yum! Hey... Blah! Eww! Howzit, Nani? Did you catch fire again? Nah, just the stage. Listen, I was wondering if you're not doing anything this... David, I told you, I can't. I... I got a lot to deal with right now. I know. I just figured you might need some time... You smell like a lawn mower. Look, I got to go. The kid at table three's throwing poi again. Maybe some other time, okay? Don't worry. She likes your butt and fancy hair. I know. I read her diary. She thinks it's fancy? Blech! Oh! Mmm! Aha! Look what I find! Get restraints! Right. Ow! Take that! Hurry! Uh, hold still just a... Aah! Hey, Nani! Is that your dog? Uh... All is well. Please, go about your business. I'm okay. Oh, your head looks swollen. Actually, she's just ugly. Darling... He's joking. Ugly-- look at me... Uh, this is not working out. Uh, b-but... Mm-mm. Yeah? Well, who wants to work at this stupid... fakey luau anyway. Come on, Lilo. Did you lose yourjob because of Stitch and me? Nah. The manager's a vampire and he wanted me to join his legion of the undead. I knew it. This is a great home. You'll like it a lot. See? Uh, Lilo... Comfy. -Hey! -Hey! What is the matter with you? Be careful of the little angel! It's not an angel, Lilo. I don't even think it's a dog. We just have to take him back. He's just cranky because it's his bedtime. He's creepy, Lilo. I won't sleep while he's loose in the house. You're loose in the house all the time and I sleep just fine! Hey, what are you doing? Stop that, Stitch! Hey! Look at him, Lilo. He's obviously mutated from something else. We have to take him back. He was an orphan and we adopted him! What about O'hana? He hasn't been here that long. Neither have I. Dad said O'hana means family. Huh? O'hana means family. Family means... ...nobody gets left behind. Or...? Or forgotten. I know. I know. I hate it when you use O'hana against me. Mmm. Don't worry, you can sleep right next to me. Look how curious the puppy is. This is my room, and this is your bed. This is your dolly and bottle. See? Doesn't spill. I filled it with coffee. Good puppy. Now get into bed. Hey! That's mine! Down! Mmm! Be careful of that! You don't touch this! Don't ever touch it! No! Don't pull on her head! She's recovering from surgery. No! That's from my blue period. Mmm... There. You know, you wreck everything you touch. Why not try and make something for a change? Ah! Wow. San Francisco. Save me! Eek! No more caffeine for you. This little girl is wasting her time. - - cannot be taught to ignore its destructive programming. Ooh! Push that over. What are you doing? Nothing! Uh, say, I want to try it on. No! Share! Let me try it! Hey! Ow! You're justjealous 'cause I'm pretty! Don't move. A mosquito has chosen me as her perch. She's so beautiful. Look, another one. And another one! Why, it's a whole flock. And they like me! They're nuzzling my flesh with their noses. Now they're, um, they're.... I think it might be a koala. An evil koala. I can't even pet it. It keeps staring at me, like it's going to eat me. Hello? Nani? Hello? Are you there? Now, this is interesting. What? - - was designed to be a monster but now he has nothing to destroy. You see, I never gave him a greater purpose. What must it be like to have nothing... not even memories to visit in the middle of the night? Nah! Hmm. Hmm... That's the Ugly Duckling. See? He's sad because he's all alone and nobody wants him but on this page, his family hears him crying and they find him. Then the Ugly Duckling is happy because he knows where he belongs. Hmm... Want to listen to the King? You look like an Elvis fan. Nani. Nani! Uh... yeah? Look. We can't go on together With suspicious minds... ...cious minds... ...can build our dreams... ...On suspicious minds... Heard you lost yourjob. Well, uh, actually, I just quit thatjob because, you know, the hours are just not conducive to the challenges of raising a child... Hey! I am so sorry about that. What is that thing? That's my puppy. Really? Thus far, you have been adrift in the sheltered harbor of my patience but I cannot ignore you beingjobless. Do I make myself clear? Perfectly. And next time I see this dog I expect it to be a model citizen... capisce? Uh... yes? New job. Model citizen. Good day. You look like an angel... Mrs. Hasagawa? I'm here to answer your newspaper ad. Elvis Presley was a model citizen. ...Walk like an angel... I've compiled a list of his traits for you to practice. Number one is dancing. I can't talk now, dear. I'm waiting for someone to answer my ad. That's why I'm here. Hands on your hips. Now follow my lead. Ooh-hoo. ...You fooled me with your kisses... Ah! That's my want ad. I know! ...Heaven knows how you lied to me You're not the way... Whoa, whoa! Why is everything so dark? I am all about coffee. Let's move on to step two. ...Walk like an angel... Elvis played guitar. Here. ...Talk like an angel... Hold it like this, and put your fingers here. See? Now you try. ...and I make great cappuccinos and lattes with... I wish I could, Nani, but I just hired Teddy and with tourist season ending... Concierge-er-ing is my life. ...You look like an angel... I just love to answer phones... This is the face of romance. ...Walk like an angel... She looks like she could use some lovin'. ...Talk like an angel, but I got wise... Oh, we might have something. Good. Now kiss her. ...The devil in disguise... I'm sure Elvis had his bad days, too. I'm all about saving people? ...I thought that I was in heaven... Actually, I do think we have an opening. Really? Okay, this is it. ...But I was sure surprised... Time to bring it all together. Oh, that'd be so great! You have no idea how badly I need this job. ...The devil in your eyes You're the devil in disguise... It's all you! Knock 'em dead! ...The devil in disguise You're the devil in disguise... Don't crowd him! ...Oh, yes, you are The devil in disguise... The devil in disguise, oh, yes... Hey, knock it off! Hey, Lilo! Howzit... Nani? We've been having a bad day. Hmm... Hey, I might not be a doctor but I know that there's no better cure for a sour face than a couple of boards and some choice waves. What you think? I think that's a great idea. -Aloha e, aloha e -Aloha e, aloha e -'Ano'ai ke aloha e -'Ano'ai ke aloha e -Aloha e, aloha e -Aloha e, aloha e 'Ano'ai ke aloha e 'Ano'ai ke aloha e... There's no place I'd rather be Than on my surfboard out at sea Lingering in the ocean blue And if I had one wish come true I'd surf till the sun sets beyond the horizon Awikiwiki, mai lohilohi Lawe mai i ko papa he'e nalu Flying by on a Hawaiian roller coaster ride Awikiwiki, mai lohilohi Lawe mai i ko papa he'e nalu Pi'i na nalu, la lahalaha O ka moana, hanupanupa -Lalala i ka la hanahana -Whoo! -Me ke kai hoene i ka pu'e one -Whoo! Yeah! Helehele mai kakou e Hawaiian roller coaster ride There's no place I'd rather be Than on a seashore dry, wet free On golden sand is where I'd lay And if I only had my way I'd play till the sun sets beyond the horizon Lalala i ka la hanahana Me ke kai hoene i ka pu'e one It's time to try the Hawaiian roller coaster ride Hang loose, hang ten, howzit, shake a shaka No worry, no fear, ain't no biggy, brahda Cuttin' in, cuttin' up, cuttin' back, cuttin' out Front side, back side, goofy-footed, wipe out Let's getjumpin', surf's up and pumpin' Coastin' with the motion of the ocean Whirlpools swirling, cascading, twirling Hawaiian roller coaster ride... Oh, can't complain, Mom. I'm camping out with a convicted criminal and, uh... oh, I had my head chewed on by a monster! Wait... something is not right. - - is returning willingly to water. Oh, hold on, Mom-- another call. Mr. Pleakley, you are overdue. I want a status report. Oh, uh, things are going well. He cannot swim! Things are going well. Jumba, aren't they going well? Why will he risk drowning? Jumba? Jumba, help me out here. I would have expected you back by now, with - - in hand. Just a few things left to pack and, uh, we'll be... Hang up. We are going swimming. Huh? There's no place I'd rather be Than on my surfboard out at sea Lingering in the ocean blue And if I had one wish come true I'd surf till the sun sets beyond the horizon Awikiwiki, mai lohilohi Lawe mai i ko papa he'e nalu Flying by On a Hawaiian roller coaster ride Awikiwiki, mai lohilohi Lawe mai i ko papa he'e nalu Pi'i na nalu, la lahalaha O ka moana, hanupanupa Lalala i ka la hanahana -Me ke kai hoene i ka pu'e one -Yeah! Helehele mai kakou e Hawaiian roller coaster ride. Lilo! What happened? Oh... some lolo must have stuffed us in the barrel. Where's Stitch? Get off of her! What happened? Stitch dragged her down. We lost Stitch! Lilo? Lilo, look at me. Look at me, baby. Are you hurt? No. He's unconscious, but I think he's alive. David, take Lilo. This isn't what it looks like. We were... It-It's just that... I know you're trying, Nani but you need to think about what's best for Lilo... even if it removes you from the picture. I'll be back tomorrow morning for Lilo. I'm sorry. Nani? Is there something I can do? No, David. Uh, I need to take Lilo home now. We have a lot to talk about, Lilo. Thanks. You know, I really believed they had a chance. Then you came along. Lilo, honey... we have to, uh... Don't worry. You're nice, and someone will give you a job. I would. Come here. Aloha Oe, Aloha Oe E ke onaona noho i ka lipo One fond embrace, a ho'i a'e au Until we meet again. That's us before... It was rainy, and they went for a drive. What happened to yours? I hear you cry at night. Do you dream about them? I know that's why you wreck things and push me. Our family's little now and we don't have many toys but if you want, you could be part of it. You could be our baby and we'd raise you to be good. O'hana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind but if you want to leave, you can. I'll remember you, though. I remember everyone that leaves. L... L... Lost. I'm lost. Help! I don't like the ocean! Oh, look, a friendly little dolphin. They helped sailors in the war... It's a shark! It's a shark, and it ain't friendly! It looks like a dolphin. Tricky fish! Tricky fish! Oh, octopus, come and help me? An octo... octopus is worse than a shark! I hate this planet! Oh... little monster! Uh, Agent Pleakley here. I have lost patience with you both. Have you captured - - or not? Um... Uh-uh... Consider yourselves fired and prisonbound. Your incompetence is nothing short of unspeakable! But, uh... mm... We're fired! Now we do it my way! Your way? Oh... uh, wait! It seems I have overestimated Jumber and Blinkley. Uh, Jumba and Pleakley. Whatever. The mission is in jeopardy. This could be your chance to redeem yourself, Captain Gantu. How soon will you be prepared to leave? Immediately. Don't run. Don't make me shoot you. You were expensive. Yes. Yes, that's it. Come quietly. Mm... waiting. For what? Family. Ah! You don't have one. I made you. Oh... maybe I could... You're built to destroy. You can never belong. Now come quietly and we will take you apart. No, no, no, no, don't, don't run! Don't run! Lilo. I didn't hear you get up. Baby, what's wrong? Stitch left. Really? It's good he's gone. He didn't want to be here, anyway. We don't need him. Lilo... sometimes you try your hardest but things don't work out the way you want them to. Sometimes things have to change and maybe sometimes they're for the better... even if... Nani! David! I think I found you a job. You what?! Old man Kukhkini's store, but we got to hurry. Oh, um, okay. Lilo? Baby, this is really important. I need you to stay here for a few minutes. I'm going to be right back. Lock the door and don't answer it for anyone, okay? Things are finally turning around. Aw, David, I owe you one. That's okay. You can just date me, and we'll call it even. Come back here, you little...! Stitch? What is it? Shh! Oh, hiding behind your little friend won't work anymore. Didn't I tell you? We got fired this morning. New rules. Ha! Ooh. Oh, ooh! Ow! Ow! Ow! You ain't nothin' but a hound dog... What are we going to do? ...Cryin' all the time... Ooh! I love this song! Pliers. Screwdriver. Check. Come out, my friend from whomever you're hiding behind. ...Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit And you ain't no friend of mine... What the...? Ooh! Come on! What's the big deal? I'll put you back together again. I'll make you taller and not so fluffy! I like fluffy! No... No... No! Oh, leave my mother out of this! You could do with a makeover. I tried to give you my good looks but let's face it, something went wrong. No! Quick! Follow me! If we make it to... You're alive! They're all over the place! Running away? Here... let me stop you. You always get in the way! Where's the girl? What have you done to the girl? Hello? Cobra Bubbles? Aliens are attacking my house. No, no, no! No aliens! Blue punch buggy! No punch back. They want my dog! There's no need to alert the authorities. Everything's under control. Lilo, who was that? Oh, good, my dog found the chainsaw. Lilo! Don't hang...! Ha! You shouldn't play with guns. Oh, okay. Thank you. Oh, I just remembered. It's your birthday! Happy birthday! Merry Christmas! It's not Christmas. Happy Hanukkah! We're leaving Stitch? Trust me. This is not going to end well. -One potato. -Two potato. -Three potato. -Four. -Five potato. -Six potato. Seven potato, more. My... mother... told... me... you... are... it. Oh, I win! Thanks. Mahalo plenty. You won't be disappointed. I'll show up early to help with the morning deliver... Oh, don't turn left. No. One of them had a giant eye in the middle of his face. Oh, Lilo! Please don't do this. You know I have no choice. No! You're not taking her! I'm the only one who understands her! You take that away, she won't stand a chance! You're making this harder than it needs to be. But you don't know what you're doing! She needs me! Is this what she needs?! It seems clear to me that you need her a lot more than she needs you. Lilo! Lilo! -Lilo! -Lilo! Lilo! -Lilo! -Lilo! You ruined everything. You're one of them? Ooh! Get out of here, Stitch. Surprise! And here I thought you'd be difficult to catch. Ho-ho-ho. Silly me. Lilo? Lilo! There you go, all buckled up for the trip. And look-- I even caught you a little snack. No! Stop! Lilo. Aah! Okay, talk. I know you had something to do with this. Now where is Lilo? Talk! I know you can. Okay, okay. Where's Lilo? Lilo... Now all your washing is up! You're under arrest! Read him his rights. Listen carefully. Hello? Galactic Command? Experiment 626 is in custody. We'll wait right here. Huh? Don't interact with her. Where's Lilo? Who? What?! Lilo... my sister. Uh, sorry, we do not know anyone by this, uh... Lilo! She's a little girl-- this big! She has black hair and brown eyes and she hangs around with that thing! Uh... We know her. Bring her back. Oh, we can't do that. Uh-uh. That would be a misuse of Galactic resources. See, problem is... we're just here for him. So she's gone? Look at the bright side. You won't have to yell at anyone anymore. Come. O'hana. Huh? Hey! Get away from her. No! What did you say? O'hana means family. Family means... ...nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten. Yeah. Hey... What?! After all you put me through you expect me to help you just like that?! Just like that?! Ih.

Is it good to drink milk? The text is too long but worthwhile read....? "MILK" Just the word itself sounds comforting! "How about a nice cup of hot milk?" The last time you heard that question it was from someone who cared for you--and you appreciated their effort. The entire matter of food and especially that of milk is surrounded with emotional and cultural importance. Milk was our very first food. If we were fortunate it was our mother's milk. A loving link, given and taken. It was the only path to survival. If not mother's milk it was cow's milk or soy milk "formula"--rarely it was goat, camel or water buffalo milk. Now, we are a nation of milk drinkers. Nearly all of us. Infants, the young, adolescents, adults and even the aged. We drink dozens or even several hundred gallons a year and add to that many pounds of "dairy products" such as cheese, butter, and yogurt. Can there be anything wrong with this? We see reassuring images of healthy, beautiful people on our television screens and hear messages that assure us that, "Milk is good for your body." Our dieticians insist that: "You've got to have milk, or where will you get your calcium?" School lunches always include milk and nearly every hospital meal will have milk added. And if that isn't enough, our nutritionists told us for years that dairy products make up an "essential food group." Industry spokesmen made sure that colourful charts proclaiming the necessity of milk and other essential nutrients were made available at no cost for schools. Cow's milk became "normal." You may be surprised to learn that most of the human beings that live on planet Earth today do not drink or use cow's milk. Further, most of them can't drink milk because it makes them ill. There are students of human nutrition who are not supportive of milk use for adults. Here is a quotation from the March/April 1991 Utne Reader: If you really want to play it safe, you may decide to join the growing number of Americans who are eliminating dairy products from their diets altogether. Although this sounds radical to those of us weaned on milk and the five basic food groups, it is eminently viable. Indeed, of all the mammals, only humans--and then only a minority, principally Caucasians--continue to drink milk beyond babyhood. Who is right? Why the confusion? Where best to get our answers? Can we trust milk industry spokesmen? Can you trust any industry spokesmen? Are nutritionists up to date or are they simply repeating what their professors learned years ago? What about the new voices urging caution? I believe that there are three reliable sources of information. The first, and probably the best, is a study of nature. The second is to study the history of our own species. Finally we need to look at the world's scientific literature on the subject of milk. Let's look at the scientific literature first. From 1988 to 1993 there were over 2,700 articles dealing with milk recorded in the 'Medicine' archives. Fifteen hundred of theses had milk as the main focus of the article. There is no lack of scientific information on this subject. I reviewed over 500 of the 1,500 articles, discarding articles that dealt exclusively with animals, esoteric research and inconclusive studies. How would I summarize the articles? They were only slightly less than horrifying. First of all, none of the authors spoke of cow's milk as an excellent food, free of side effects and the 'perfect food' as we have been led to believe by the industry. The main focus of the published reports seems to be on intestinal colic, intestinal irritation, intestinal bleeding, anemia, allergic reactions in infants and children as well as infections such as salmonella. More ominous is the fear of viral infection with bovine leukemia virus or an AIDS-like virus as well as concern for childhood diabetes. Contamination of milk by blood and white (pus) cells as well as a variety of chemicals and insecticides was also discussed. Among children the problems were allergy, ear and tonsillar infections, bedwetting, asthma, intestinal bleeding, colic and childhood diabetes. In adults the problems seemed centered more around heart disease and arthritis, allergy, sinusitis, and the more serious questions of leukemia, lymphoma and cancer. I think that an answer can also be found in a consideration of what occurs in nature & what happens with free living mammals and what happens with human groups living in close to a natural state as 'hunter-gatherers'. Our paleolithic ancestors are another crucial and interesting group to study. Here we are limited to speculation and indirect evidences, but the bony remains available for our study are remarkable. There is no doubt whatever that these skeletal remains reflect great strength, muscularity (the size of the muscular insertions show this), and total absence of advanced osteoporosis. And if you feel that these people are not important for us to study, consider that today our genes are programming our bodies in almost exactly the same way as our ancestors of 50,000 to 100,000 years ago. WHAT IS MILK? Milk is a maternal lactating secretion, a short term nutrient for new-borns. Nothing more, nothing less. Invariably, the mother of any mammal will provide her milk for a short period of time immediately after birth. When the time comes for 'weaning', the young offspring is introduced to the proper food for that species of mammal. A familiar example is that of a puppy. The mother nurses the pup for just a few weeks and then rejects the young animal and teaches it to eat solid food. Nursing is provided by nature only for the very youngest of mammals. Of course, it is not possible for animals living in a natural state to continue with the drinking of milk after weaning. IS ALL MILK THE SAME? Then there is the matter of where we get our milk. We have settled on the cow because of its docile nature, its size, and its abundant milk supply. Somehow this choice seems 'normal' and blessed by nature, our culture, and our customs. But is it natural? Is it wise to drink the milk of another species of mammal? Consider for a moment, if it was possible, to drink the milk of a mammal other than a cow, let's say a rat. Or perhaps the milk of a dog would be more to your liking. Possibly some horse milk or cat milk. Do you get the idea? Well, I'm not serious about this, except to suggest that human milk is for human infants, dogs' milk is for pups, cows' milk is for calves, cats' milk is for kittens, and so forth. Clearly, this is the way nature intends it. Just use your own good judgement on this one. Milk is not just milk. The milk of every species of mammal is unique and specifically tailored to the requirements of that animal. For example, cows' milk is very much richer in protein than human milk. Three to four times as much. It has five to seven times the mineral content. However, it is markedly deficient in essential fatty acids when compared to human mothers' milk. Mothers' milk has six to ten times as much of the essential fatty acids, especially linoleic acid. (Incidentally, skimmed cow's milk has no linoleic acid). It simply is not designed for humans. Food is not just food, and milk is not just milk. It is not only the proper amount of food but the proper qualitative composition that is critical for the very best in health and growth. Biochemists and physiologists -and rarely medical doctors - are gradually learning that foods contain the crucial elements that allow a particular species to develop its unique specializations. Clearly, our specialization is for advanced neurological development and delicate neuromuscular control. We do not have much need of massive skeletal growth or huge muscle groups as does a calf. Think of the difference between the demands make on the human hand and the demands on a cow's hoof. Human new-borns specifically need critical material for their brains, spinal cord and nerves. Can mother's milk increase intelligence? It seems that it can. In a remarkable study published in Lancet during 1992 (Vol. 339, p. 261-4), a group of British workers randomly placed premature infants into two groups. One group received a proper formula, the other group received human breast milk. Both fluids were given by stomach tube. These children were followed up for over 10 years. In intelligence testing, the human milk children averaged 10 IQ points higher! Well, why not? Why wouldn't the correct building blocks for the rapidly maturing and growing brain have a positive effect? In the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1982) Ralph Holman described an infant who developed profound neurological disease while being nourished by intravenous fluids only. The fluids used contained only linoleic acid - just one of the essential fatty acids. When the other, alpha linoleic acid, was added to the intravenous fluids the neurological disorders cleared. In the same journal five years later Bjerve, Mostad and Thoresen, working in Norway found exactly the same problem in adult patients on long term gastric tube feeding. In 1930 Dr. G.O. Burr in Minnesota working with rats found that linoleic acid deficiencies created a deficiency syndrome. Why is this mentioned? In the early 1960s pediatricians found skin lesions in children fed formulas without the same linoleic acid. Remembering the research, the addition of the acid to the formula cured the problem. Essential fatty acids are just that and cows' milk is markedly deficient in these when compared to human milk. WELL, AT LEAST COW'S MILK IS PURE Or is it? Fifty years ago an average cow produced 2,000 pounds of milk per year. Today the top producers give 50,000 pounds! How was this accomplished? Drugs, antibiotics, hormones, forced feeding plans and specialized breeding; that's how. The latest high-tech onslaught on the poor cow is bovine growth hormone or BGH. This genetically engineered drug is supposed to stimulate milk production but, according to Monsanto, the hormone's manufacturer, does not affect the milk or meat. There are three other manufacturers: Upjohn, Eli Lilly, and American Cyanamid Company. Obviously, there have been no long-term studies on the hormone's effect on the humans drinking the milk. Other countries have banned BGH because of safety concerns. One of the problems with adding molecules to a milk cows' body is that the molecules usually come out in the milk. I don't know how you feel, but I don't want to experiment with the ingestion of a growth hormone. A related problem is that it causes a marked increase (50 to 70 per cent) in mastitis. This, then, requires antibiotic therapy, and the residues of the antibiotics appear in the milk. It seems that the public is uneasy about this product and in one survey 43 per cent felt that growth hormone treated milk represented a health risk. A vice president for public policy at Monsanto was opposed to labelling for that reason, and because the labelling would create an 'artificial distinction'. The country is awash with milk as it is, we produce more milk than we can consume. Let's not create storage costs and further taxpayer burdens, because the law requires the USDA to buy any surplus of butter, cheese, or non-fat dry milk at a support price set by Congress! In fiscal 1991, the USDA spent $757 million on surplus butter, and one billion dollars a year on average for price supports during the 1980s (Consumer Reports, May 1992: 330-32). Any lactating mammal excretes toxins through her milk. This includes antibiotics, pesticides, chemicals and hormones. Also, all cows' milk contains blood! The inspectors are simply asked to keep it under certain limits. You may be horrified to learn that the USDA allows milk to contain from one to one and a half million white blood cells per millilitre. (That's only 1/30 of an ounce). If you don't already know this, I'm sorry to tell you that another way to describe white cells where they don't belong would be to call them pus cells. To get to the point, is milk pure or is it a chemical, biological, and bacterial cocktail? Finally, will the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protect you? The United States General Accounting Office (GAO) tells us that the FDA and the individual States are failing to protect the public from drug residues in milk. Authorities test for only 4 of the 82 drugs in dairy cows. As you can imagine, the Milk Industry Foundation's spokesman claims it's perfectly safe. Jerome Kozak says, "I still think that milk is the safest product we have." Other, perhaps less biased observers, have found the following: 38% of milk samples in 10 cities were contaminated with sulfa drugs or other antibiotics. (This from the Centre for Science in the Public Interest and The Wall Street Journal, Dec. 29, 1989).. A similar study in Washington, DC found a 20 percent contamination rate (Nutrition Action Healthletter, April 1990). What's going on here? When the FDA tested milk, they found few problems. However, they used very lax standards. When they used the same criteria, the FDA data showed 51 percent of the milk samples showed drug traces. Let's focus in on this because it’s critical to our understanding of the apparent discrepancies. The FDA uses a disk-assay method that can detect only 2 of the 30 or so drugs found in milk. Also, the test detects only at the relatively high level. A more powerful test called the 'Charm II test' can detect drugs down to 5 parts per billion. One nasty subject must be discussed. It seems that cows are forever getting infections around the udder that require ointments and antibiotics. An article from France tells us that when a cow receives penicillin, that penicillin appears in the milk for from 4 to 7 milkings. Another study from the University of Nevada, Reno tells of cells in 'mastic milk', milk from cows with infected udders. An elaborate analysis of the cell fragments, employing cell cultures, flow cytometric analysis , and a great deal of high tech stuff. Do you know what the conclusion was? If the cow has mastitis, there is pus in the milk. Sorry, it’s in the study, all concealed with language such as "macrophages containing many vacuoles and phagocytosed particles," etc. IT GETS WORSE Well, at least human mothers' milk is pure! Sorry. A huge study showed that human breast milk in over 14,000 women had contamination by pesticides! Further, it seems that the sources of the pesticides are meat and--you guessed it-- dairy products. Well, why not? These pesticides are concentrated in fat and that's what's in these products. (Of interest, a subgroup of lactating vegetarian mothers had only half the levels of contamination). A recent report showed an increased concentration of pesticides in the breast tissue of women with breast cancer when compared to the tissue of women with fibrocystic disease. Other articles in the standard medical literature describe problems. Just scan these titles: 1.Cow's Milk as a Cause of Infantile Colic Breast-Fed Infants. Lancet 2 (1978): 437 2.Dietary Protein-Induced Colitis in Breast- Fed Infants, J. Pediatr. I01 (1982): 906 3.The Question of the Elimination of Foreign Protein in Women's Milk, J. Immunology 19 (1930): 15 There are many others. There are dozens of studies describing the prompt appearance of cows' milk allergy in children being exclusively breast-fed! The cows' milk allergens simply appear in the mother's milk and are transmitted to the infant. A committee on nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics reported on the use of whole cows' milk in infancy (Pediatrics 1983: 72-253). They were unable to provide any cogent reason why bovine milk should be used before the first birthday yet continued to recommend its use! Doctor Frank Oski from the Upstate Medical Centre Department of Pediatrics, commenting on the recommendation, cited the problems of acute gastrointestinal blood loss in infants, the lack of iron, recurrent abdominal pain, milk- borne infections and contaminants, and said: Why give it at all - then or ever? In the face of uncertainty about many of the potential dangers of whole bovine milk, it would seem prudent to recommend that whole milk not be started until the answers are available. Isn't it time for these uncontrolled experiments on human nutrition to come to an end? In the same issue of Pediatrics he further commented: It is my thesis that whole milk should not be fed to the infant in the first year of life because of its association with iron deficiency anemia (milk is so deficient in iron that an infant would have to drink an impossible 31 quarts a day to get the RDA of 15 mg), acute gastrointiestinal bleeding, and various manifestations of food allergy. I suggest that unmodified whole bovine milk should not be consumed after infancy because of the problems of lactose intolerance, its contribution to the genesis of atherosclerosis, and its possible link to other diseases. In late 1992 Dr. Benjamin Spock, possibly the best known pediatrician in history, shocked the country when he articulated the same thoughts and specified avoidance for the first two years of life. Here is his quotation: I want to pass on the word to parents that cows' milk from the carton has definite faults for some babies. Human milk is the right one for babies. A study comparing the incidence of allergy and colic in the breast-fed infants of omnivorous and vegan mothers would be important. I haven't found such a study; it would be both important and inexpensive. And it will probably never be done. There is simply no academic or economic profit involved. OTHER PROBLEMS Let's just mention the problems of bacterial contamination. Salmonella, E. coli, and staphylococcal infections can be traced to milk. In the old days tuberculosis was a major problem and some folks want to go back to those times by insisting on raw milk on the basis that it's "natural." This is insanity! A study from UCLA showed that over a third of all cases of salmonella infection in California, 1980-1983 were traced to raw milk. That'll be a way to revive good old brucellosis again and I would fear leukemia, too. (More about that later). In England, and Wales where raw milk is still consumed there have been outbreaks of milk-borne diseases. The Journal of the American Medical Association (251: 483, 1984) reported a multi-state series of infections caused by Yersinia enterocolitica in pasteurised whole milk. This is despite safety precautions. All parents dread juvenile diabetes for their children. A Canadian study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Mar. 1990, describes a "...significant positive correlation between consumption of unfermented milk protein and incidence of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in data from various countries. Conversely a possible negative relationship is observed between breast-feeding at age 3 months and diabetes risk.". Another study from Finland found that diabetic children had higher levels of serum antibodies to cows’ milk (Diabetes Research 7(3): 137-140 March 1988). Here is a quotation from this study: We infer that either the pattern of cows' milk consumption is altered in children who will have insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or, their immunological reactivity to proteins in cows' milk is enhanced, or the permeability of their intestines to cows' milk protein is higher than normal. The April 18, 1992 British Medical Journal has a fascinating study contrasting the difference in incidence of juvenile insulin dependent diabetes in Pakistani children who have migrated to England. The incidence is roughly 10 times greater in the English group compared to children remaining in Pakistan! What caused this highly significant increase? The authors said that "the diet was unchanged in Great Britain." Do you believe that? Do you think that the availability of milk, sugar and fat is the same in Pakistan as it is in England? That a grocery store in England has the same products as food sources in Pakistan? I don't believe that for a minute. Remember, we're not talking here about adult onset, type II diabetes which all workers agree is strongly linked to diet as well as to a genetic predisposition. This study is a major blow to the "it's all in your genes" crowd. Type I diabetes was always considered to be genetic or possibly viral, but now this? So resistant are we to consider diet as causation that the authors of the last article concluded that the cooler climate in England altered viruses and caused the very real increase in diabetes! The first two authors had the same reluctance top admit the obvious. The milk just may have had something to do with the disease. The latest in this remarkable list of reports, a New England Journal of Medicine article (July 30, 1992), also reported in the Los Angeles Times. This study comes from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and from Finnish researchers. In Finland there is "...the world's highest rate of dairy product consumption and the world's highest rate of insulin dependent diabetes. The disease strikes about 40 children out of every 1,000 there contrasted with six to eight per 1,000 in the United States.... Antibodies produced against the milk protein during the first year of life, the researchers speculate, also attack and destroy the pancreas in a so-called auto-immune reaction, producing diabetes in people whose genetic makeup leaves them vulnerable." "...142 Finnish children with newly diagnosed diabetes. They found that every one had at least eight times as many antibodies against the milk protein as did healthy children, clear evidence that the children had a raging auto immune disorder." The team has now expanded the study to 400 children and is starting a trial where 3,000 children will receive no dairy products during the first nine months of life. "The study may take 10 years, but we'll get a definitive answer one way or the other," according to one of the researchers. I would caution them to be certain that the breast feeding mothers use on cows' milk in their diets or the results will be confounded by the transmission of the cows' milk protein in the mother's breast milk.... Now what was the reaction from the diabetes association? This is very interesting! Dr. F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, the president of the association says: "It does not mean that children should stop drinking milk or that parents of diabetics should withdraw dairy products. These are rich sources of good protein." (Emphasis added) My God, it's the "good protein" that causes the problem! Do you suspect that the dairy industry may have helped the American Diabetes Association in the past? LEUKEMIA? LYMPHOMA? THIS MAY BE THE WORST--BRACE YOURSELF! I hate to tell you this, but the bovine leukemia virus is found in more than three of five dairy cows in the United States! This involves about 80% of dairy herds. Unfortunately, when the milk is pooled, a very large percentage of all milk produced is contaminated (90 to 95 per cent). Of course the virus is killed in pasteurisation-- if the pasteurisation was done correctly. What if the milk is raw? In a study of randomly collected raw milk samples the bovine leukemia virus was recovered from two-thirds. I sincerely hope that the raw milk dairy herds are carefully monitored when compared to the regular herds. (Science 1981; 213:1014). This is a world-wide problem. One lengthy study from Germany deplored the problem and admitted the impossibility of keeping the virus from infected cows' milk from the rest of the milk. Several European countries, including Germany and Switzerland, have attempted to "cull" the infected cows from their herds. Certainly the United States must be the leader in the fight against leukemic dairy cows, right? Wrong! We are the worst in the world with the former exception of Venezuela according to Virgil Hulse MD, a milk specialist who also has a B.S. in Dairy Manufacturing as well as a Master's degree in Public Health. As mentioned, the leukemia virus is rendered inactive by pasteurisation. Of course. However, there can be Chernobyl like accidents. One of these occurred in the Chicago area in April, 1985. At a modern, large, milk processing plant an accidental "cross connection" between raw and pasteurized milk occurred. A violent salmonella outbreak followed, killing 4 and making an estimated 150,000 ill. Now the question I would pose to the dairy industry people is this: "How can you assure the people who drank this milk that they were not exposed to the ingestion of raw, unkilled, bully active bovine leukemia viruses?" Further, it would be fascinating to know if a "cluster" of leukemia cases blossoms in that area in 1 to 3 decades. There are reports of "leukemia clusters" elsewhere, one of them mentioned in the June 10, 1990 San Francisco Chronicle involving Northern California. What happens to other species of mammals when they are exposed to the bovine leukemia virus? It's a fair question and the answer is not reassuring. Virtually all animals exposed to the virus develop leukemia. This includes sheep, goats, and even primates such as rhesus monkeys and chimpanzees. The route of transmission includes ingestion (both intravenous and intramuscular) and cells present in milk. There are obviously no instances of transfer attempts to human beings, but we know that the virus can infect human cells in vitro. There is evidence of human antibody formation to the bovine leukemia virus; this is disturbing. How did the bovine leukemia virus particles gain access to humans and become antigens? Was it as small, denatured particles? If the bovine leukemia viruses causes human leukemia, we could expect the dairy states with known leukemic herds to have a higher incidence of human leukemia. Is this so? Unfortunately, it seems to be the case! Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin have statistically higher incidence of leukemia than the national average. In Russia and in Sweden, areas with uncontrolled bovine leukemia virus have been linked with increases in human leukemia. I am also told that veterinarians have higher rates of leukemia than the general public. Dairy farmers have significantly elevated leukemia rates. Recent research shows lymphocytes from milk fed to neonatal mammals gains access to bodily tissues by passing directly through the intestinal wall. An optimistic note from the University of Illinois, Ubana from the Department of Animal Sciences shows the importance of one's perspective. Since they are concerned with the economics of milk and not primarily the health aspects, they noted that the production of milk was greater in the cows with the bovine leukemia virus. However when the leukemia produced a persistent and significant lymphocytosis (increased white blood cell count), the production fell off. They suggested "a need to re-evaluate the economic impact of bovine leukemia virus infection on the dairy industry". Does this mean that leukemia is good for profits only if we can keep it under control? You can get the details on this business concern from Proc. Nat. Acad. Sciences, U.S. Feb. 1989. I added emphasis and am insulted that a university department feels that this is an economic and not a human health issue. Do not expect help from the Department of Agriculture or the universities. The money stakes and the political pressures are too great. You're on you own. What does this all mean? We know that virus is capable of producing leukemia in other animals. Is it proven that it can contribute to human leukemia (or lymphoma, a related cancer)? Several articles tackle this one: 1.Epidemiologic Relationships of the Bovine Population and Human Leukemia in Iowa. Am Journal of Epidemiology 112 (1980):80 2.Milk of Dairy Cows Frequently Contains a Leukemogenic Virus. Science 213 (1981): 1014 3.Beware of the Cow. (Editorial) Lancet 2 (1974):30 4.Is Bovine Milk A Health Hazard?. Pediatrics; Suppl. Feeding the Normal Infant. 75:182-186; 1985 In Norway, 1422 individuals were followed for 11 and a half years. Those drinking 2 or more glasses of milk per day had 3.5 times the incidence of cancer of the lymphatic organs. British Med. Journal 61:456-9, March 1990. One of the more thoughtful articles on this subject is from Allan S. Cunningham of Cooperstown, New York. Writing in the Lancet, November 27, 1976 (page 1184), his article is entitled, "Lymphomas and Animal-Protein Consumption". Many people think of milk as “liquid meat” and Dr. Cunningham agrees with this. He tracked the beef and dairy consumption in terms of grams per day for a one year period, 1955-1956., in 15 countries . New Zealand, United States and Canada were highest in that order. The lowest was Japan followed by Yugoslavia and France. The difference between the highest and lowest was quite pronounced: 43.8 grams/day for New Zealanders versus 1.5 for Japan. Nearly a 30-fold difference! (Parenthetically, the last 36 years have seen a startling increase in the amount of beef and milk used in Japan and their disease patterns are reflecting this, confirming the lack of 'genetic protection' seen in migration studies. Formerly the increase in frequency of lymphomas in Japanese people was only in those who moved to the USA)! An interesting bit of trivia is to note the memorial built at the Gyokusenji Temple in Shimoda, Japan. This marked the spot where the first cow was killed in Japan for human consumption! The chains around this memorial were a gift from the US Navy. Where do you suppose the Japanese got the idea to eat beef? The year? 1930. Cunningham found a highly significant positive correlation between deaths from lymphomas and beef and dairy ingestion in the 15 countries analysed. A few quotations from his article follow: The average intake of protein in many countries is far in excess of the recommended requirements. Excessive consumption of animal protein may be one co-factor in the causation of lymphomas by acting in the following manner. Ingestion of certain proteins results in the adsorption of antigenic fragments through the gastrointestinal mucous membrane. This results in chronic stimulation of lymphoid tissue to which these fragments gain access "Chronic immunological stimulation causes lymphomas in laboratory animals and is believed to cause lymphoid cancers in men." The gastrointestinal mucous membrane is only a partial barrier to the absorption of food antigens, and circulating antibodies to food protein is commonplace especially potent lymphoid stimulants. Ingestion of cows' milk can produce generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and profound adenoid hypertrophy. It has been conservatively estimated that more than 100 distinct antigens are released by the normal digestion of cows' milk which evoke production of all antibody classes [This may explain why pasteurized, killed viruses are still antigenic and can still cause disease. Here's more. A large prospective study from Norway was reported in the British Journal of Cancer 61 (3):456-9, March 1990. (Almost 16,000 individuals were followed for 11 and a half years). For most cancers there was no association between the tumour and milk ingestion. However, in lymphoma, there was a strong positive association. If one drank two glasses or more daily (or the equivalent in dairy products), the odds were 3.4 times greater than in persons drinking less than one glass of developing a lymphoma. There are two other cow-related diseases that you should be aware of. At this time they are not known to be spread by the use of dairy products and are not known to involve man. The first is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and the second is the bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV). The first of these diseases, we hope, is confined to England and causes cavities in the animal's brain. Sheep have long been known to suffer from a disease called scrapie. It seems to have been started by the feeding of contaminated sheep parts, especially brains, to the British cows. Now, use your good sense. Do cows seem like carnivores? Should they eat meat? This profit-motivated practice backfired and bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or Mad Cow Disease, swept Britain. The disease literally causes dementia in the unfortunate animal and is 100 per cent incurable. To date, over 100,000 cows have been incinerated in England in keeping with British law. Four hundred to 500 cows are reported as infected each month. The British public is concerned and has dropped its beef consumption by 25 per cent, while some 2,000 schools have stopped serving beef to children. Several farmers have developed a fatal disease syndrome that resembles both BSE and CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob- Disease). But the British Veterinary Association says that transmission of BSE to humans is "remote." The USDA agrees that the British epidemic was due to the feeding of cattle with bonemeal or animal protein produced at rendering plants from the carcasses of scrapie-infected sheep. The have prohibited the importation of live cattle and zoo ruminants from Great Britain and claim that the disease does not exist in the United States. However, there may be a problem. "Downer cows" are animals who arrive at auction yards or slaughter houses dead, trampled, lacerated, dehydrated, or too ill from viral or bacterial diseases to walk. Thus they are "down." If they cannot respond to electrical shocks by walking, they are dragged by chains to dumpsters and transported to rendering plants where, if they are not already dead, they are killed. Even a "humane" death is usually denied them. They are then turned into protein food for animals as well as other preparations. Minks that have been fed this protein have developed a fatal encephalopathy that has some resemblance to BSE. Entire colonies of minks have been lost in this manner, particularly in Wisconsin. It is feared that the infective agent is a prion or slow virus possible obtained from the ill "downer cows." The British Medical Journal in an editorial whimsically entitled "How Now Mad Cow?" (BMJ vol. 304, 11 Apr. 1992:929- 30) describes cases of BSE in species not previously known to be affected, such as cats. They admit that produce contaminated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy entered the human food chain in England between 1986 and 1989. They say. "The result of this experiment is awaited." As the incubation period can be up to three decades, wait we must. The immunodeficency virus is seen in cattle in the United States and is more worrisome. Its structure is closely related to that of the human AIDS virus. At this time we do not know if exposure to the raw BIV proteins can cause the sera of humans to become positive for HIV. The extent of the virus among American herds is said to be "widespread". (The USDA refuses to inspect the meat and milk to see if antibodies to this retrovirus is present). It also has no plans to quarantine the infected animals. As in the case of humans with AIDS, there is no cure for BIV in cows. Each day we consume beef and diary products from cows infected with these viruses and no scientific assurance exists that the products are safe. Eating raw beef (as in steak Tartare) strikes me as being very risky, especially after the Seattle E. coli deaths of 1993. A report in the Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, October 1992, Vol. 56 pp.353-359 and another from the Russian literature, tell of a horrifying development. They report the first detection in human serum of the antibody to a bovine immunodeficiency virus protein. In addition to this disturbing report, is another from Russia telling us of the presence of virus proteins related to the bovine leukemia virus in 5 of 89 women with breast disease (Acta Virologica Feb. 1990 34(1): 19-26). The implications of these developments are unknown at present. However, it is safe to assume that these animal viruses are unlikely to "stay" in the animal kingdom. OTHER CANCERS--DOES IT GET WORSE? Unfortunately it does. Ovarian cancer--a particularly nasty tumour--was associated with milk consumption by workers at Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo, New York. Drinking more than one glass of whole milk or equivalent daily gave a woman a 3.1 times risk over non-milk users. They felt that the reduced fat milk products helped reduce the risk. This association has been made repeatedly by numerous investigators. Another important study, this from the Harvard Medical School, analyzed data from 27 countries mainly from the 1970s. Again a significant positive correlation is revealed between ovarian cancer and per capita milk consumption. These investigators feel that the lactose component of milk is the responsible fraction, and the digestion of this is facilitated by the persistence of the ability to digest the lactose (lactose persistence) - a little different emphasis, but the same conclusion. This study was reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology 130 (5): 904-10 Nov. 1989. These articles come from two of the country's leading institutions, not the Rodale Press or Prevention Magazine. Even lung cancer has been associated with milk ingestion? The beverage habits of 569 lung cancer patients and 569 controls again at Roswell Park were studied in the International Journal of Cancer, April 15, 1989. Persons drinking whole milk 3 or more times daily had a 2-fold increase in lung cancer risk when compared to those never drinking whole milk. For many years we have been watching the lung cancer rates for Japanese men who smoke far more than American or European men but who develop fewer lung cancers. Workers in this research area feel that the total fat intake is the difference. There are not many reports studying an association between milk ingestion and prostate cancer. One such report though was of great interest. This is from the Roswell Park Memorial Institute and is found in Cancer 64 (3): 605-12, 1989. They analyzed the diets of 371 prostate cancer patients and comparable control subjects: Men who reported drinking three or more glasses of whole milk daily had a relative risk of 2.49 compared with men who reported never drinking whole milk the weight of the evidence appears to favour the hypothesis that animal fat is related to increased risk of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer diagnosed in US men and is the second leading cause of cancer mortality. WELL, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? Is there any health reason at all for an adult human to drink cows' milk? It's hard for me to come up with even one good reason other than simple preference. But if you try hard, in my opinion, these would be the best two: milk is a source of calcium and it's a source of amino acids (proteins). Let's look at the calcium first. Why are we concerned at all about calcium? Obviously, we intend it to build strong bones and protect us against osteoporosis. And no doubt about it, milk is loaded with calcium. But is it a good calcium source for humans? I think not. These are the reasons. Excessive amounts of dairy products actually interfere with calcium absorption. Secondly, the excess of protein that the milk provides is a major cause of the osteoporosis problem. Dr. H egsted in England has been writing for years about the geographical distribution of osteoporosis. It seems that the countries with the highest intake of dairy products are invariably the countries with the most osteoporosis. He feels that milk is a cause of osteoporosis. Reasons to be given below. Numerous studies have shown that the level of calcium ingestion and especially calcium supplementation has no effect whatever on the development of osteoporosis. The most important such article appeared recently in the British Journal of Medicine where the long arm of our dairy industry can't reach. Another study in the United States actually showed a worsening in calcium balance in post-menopausal women given three 8-ounce glasses of cows' milk per day. (Am. Journal of Clin. Nutrition, 1985). The effects of hormone, gender, weight bearing on the axial bones, and in particular protein intake, are critically important. Another observation that may be helpful to our analysis is to note the absence of any recorded dietary deficiencies of calcium among people living on a natural diet without milk. For the key to the osteoporosis riddle, don’t look at calcium, look at protein. Consider these two contrasting groups. Eskimos have an exceptionally high protein intake estimated at 25 percent of total calories. They also have a high calcium intake at 2,500 mg/day. Their osteoporosis is among the worst in the world. The other instructive group are the Bantus of South Africa. They have a 12 percent protein diet, mostly p lant protein, and only 200 to 350 mg/day of calcium, about half our women's intake. The women have virtually no osteoporosis despite bearing six or more children and nursing them for prolonged periods! When African women immigrate to the United States, do they develop osteoporosis? The answer is yes, but not quite are much as Caucasian or Asian women. Thus, there is a genetic difference that is modified by diet. To answer the obvious question, "Well, where do you get your calcium?" The answer is: "From exactly the same place the cow gets the calcium, from green things that grow in the ground," mainly from leafy vegetables. After all, elephants and rhinos develop their huge bones (after being weaned) by eating green leafy plants, so do horses. Carnivorous animals also do quite nicely without leafy plants. It seems that all of earth's mammals do well if they live in harmony with their genetic programming and natural food. Only humans living an affluent life style have rampant osteoporosis. If animal references do not convince you, think of the several billion humans on this earth who have never seen cows' milk. Wouldn't you think osteoporosis would be prevalent in this huge group? The dairy people would suggest this but the truth is exactly the opposite. They have far less than that seen in the countries where dairy products are commonly consumed. It is the subject of another paper, but the truly significant determinants of osteoporosis are grossly excessive protein intakes and lack of weight bearing on long bones, both taking place over decades. Hormones play a secondary, but not trivial role in women. Milk is a deterrent to good bone health. THE PROTEIN MYTH Remember when you were a kid and the adults all told you to "make sure you get plenty of good protein". Protein was the nutritional "good guy”" when I was young. And of course milk is fitted right in. As regards protein, milk is indeed a rich source of protein- -"liquid meat," remember? However that isn't necessarily what we need. In actual fact it is a source of difficulty. Nearly all Americans eat too much protein. For this information we rely on the most authoritative source that I am aware of. This is the latest edition (1oth, 1989: 4th printing, Jan. 1992) of the Recommended Dietary Allowances produced by the National Research Council. Of interest, the current editor of this important work is Dr. Richard Havel of the University of California in San Francisco. First to be noted is that the recommended protein has been steadily revised downward in successive editions. The current recommendation is 0.75 g/kilo/day for adults 19 through 51 years. This, of course, is only 45 grams per day for the mythical 60 kilogram adult. You should also know that the WHO estimated the need for protein in adults to by .6g/kilo per day. (All RDA's are calculated with large safety allowances in case you're the type that wants to add some more to "be sure.") You can "get by" on 28 to 30 grams a day if necessary! Now 45 grams a day is a tiny amount of protein. That's an ounce and a half! Consider too, that the protein does not have to be animal protein. Vegetable protein is identical for all practical purposes and has no cholesterol and vastly less saturated fat. (Do not be misled by the antiquated belief that plant proteins must be carefully balanced to avoid deficiencies. This is not a realistic concern.) Therefore virtually all Americans, Canadians, British and European people are in a protein overloaded state. This has serious consequences when maintained over decades. The problems are the already mentioned osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and kidney damage. There is good evidence that certain malignancies, chiefly colon and rectal, are related to excessive meat intake. Barry Brenner, an eminent renal physiologist was the first to fully point out the dangers of excess protein for the kidney tubule. The dangers of the fat and cholesterol are known to all. Finally, you should know that the protein content of human milk is amount the lowest (0.9%) in mammals. IS THAT ALL OF THE TROUBLE? Sorry, there's more. Remember lactose? This is the principal carbohydrate of milk. It seems that nature provides new- borns with the enzymatic equipment to metabolize lactose, but this ability often extinguishes by age 4 or 5 years. What is the problem with lactose or milk sugar? It seems that it is a disaccharide which is too large to be absorbed into the blood stream without first being broken down into monosaccharides, namely galactose and glucose. This requires the presence of an enzyme, lactase plus additional enzymes to break down the galactose into glucose. Let's think about his for a moment. Nature gives us the ability to metabolize lactose for a few years and then shuts off the mechanism. Is Mother Nature trying to tell us something? Clearly all infants must drink milk. The fact that so many adults cannot seems to be related to the tendency for nature to abandon mechanisms that are not needed. At least half of the adult humans on this earth are lactose intolerant. It was not until the relatively recent introduction of dairy herding and the ability to "borrow" milk from another group of mammals that the survival advantage of preserving lactase (the enzyme that allows us to digest lactose) became evident. But why would it be advantageous to drink cows' milk? After all, most of the human beings in the history of the world did. And further, why was it just the white or light skinned humans who retained this knack while the pigmented people tended to lose it? Some students of evolution feel that white skin is a fairly recent innovation, perhaps not more than 20,000 or 30,000 years old. It clearly has to do with the Northward migration of early man to cold and relatively sunless areas when skins and clothing became available. Fair skin allows the production of Vitamin D from sunlight more readily than does dark skin. However, when only the face was exposed to sunlight that area of fair skin was insufficient to provide the vitamin D from sunlight. If dietary and sunlight sources were poorly available, the ability to use the abundant calcium in cows' milk would give a survival advantage to humans who could digest that milk. This seems to be the only logical explanation for fair skinned humans having a high degree of lactose tolerance when compared to dark skinned people. How does this break down? Certain racial groups, namely blacks are up to 90% lactose intolerant as adults. Caucasians are 20 to 40% lactose intolerant. Orientals are midway between the above two groups. Diarrhea, gas and abdominal cramps are the results of substantial milk intake in such persons. Most American Indians cannot tolerate milk. The milk industry admits that lactose intolerance plays intestinal havoc with as many as 50 million Americans. A lactose-intolerance industry has sprung up and had sales of $117 million in 1992 (Time May 17, 1993.) What if you are lactose-intolerant and lust after dairy products? Is all lost? Not at all. It seems that lactose is largely digested by bacteria and you will be able to enjoy your cheese despite lactose intolerance. Yogurt is similar in this respect. Finally, and I could never have dreamed this up, geneticists want to splice genes to alter the composition of milk (Am J Clin Nutr 1993 Suppl 302s). One could quibble and say that milk is totally devoid of fiber content and that its habitual use will predispose to constipation and bowel disorders. The association with anemia and occult intestinal bleeding in infants is known to all physicians. This is chiefly from its lack of iron and its irritating qualities for the intestinal mucosa. The pediatric literature abounds with articles describing irritated intestinal lining, bleeding, increased permeability as well as colic, diarrhea and vomiting in cows'milk-sensitive babies. The anemia gets a double push by loss of blood and iron as well as deficiency of iron in the cows' milk. Milk is also the leading cause of childhood allergy. LOW FAT One additional topic: the matter of "low fat" milk. A common and sincere question is: "Well, low fat milk is OK, isn't it?" The answer to this question is that low fat milk isn't low fat. The term "low fat" is a marketing term used to gull the public. Low fat milk contains from 24 to 33% fat as calories! The 2% figure is also misleading. This refers to weight. They don't tell you that, by weight, the milk is 87% water! "Well, then, kill-joy surely you must approve of non-fat milk!" I hear this quite a bit. (Another constant concern is: "What do you put on your cereal?") True, there is little or no fat, but now you have a relative overburden of protein and lactose. It there is something that we do not need more of it is another simple sugar-lactose, composed of galactose and glucose. Millions of Americans are lactose intolerant to boot, as noted. As for protein, as stated earlier, we live in a society that routinely ingests far more protein than we need. It is a burden for our bodies, especially the kidneys, and a prominent cause of osteoporosis. Concerning the dry cereal issue, I would suggest soy milk, rice milk or almond milk as a healthy substitute. If you're still concerned about calcium, "Westsoy" is formulated to have the same calcium concentration as milk. SUMMARY To my thinking, there is only one valid reason to drink milk or use milk products. That is just because we simply want to. Because we like it and because it has become a part of our culture. Because we have become accustomed to its taste and texture. Because we like the way it slides down our throat. Because our parents did the very best they could for us and provided milk in our earliest training and conditioning. They taught us to like it. And then probably the very best reason is ice cream! I've heard it described "to die for". I had one patient who did exactly that. He had no obvious vices. He didn't smoke or drink, he didn’t eat meat, his diet and lifestyle was nearly a perfectly health promoting one; but he had a passion. You guessed it, he loved rich ice cream. A pint of the richest would be a lean day's ration for him. On many occasions he would eat an entire quart - and yes there were some cookies and other pastries. Good ice cream deserves this after all. He seemed to be in good health despite some expected "middle age spread" when he had a devastating stroke which left him paralyzed, miserable and helpless, and he had additional strokes and d ied several years later never having left a hospital or rehabilitation unit. Was he old? I don't think so. He was in his 50s. So don't drink milk for health. I am convinced on the weight of the scientific evidence that it does not "do a body good." Inclusion of milk will only reduce your diet's nutritional value and safety. Most of the people on this planet live very healthfully without cows' milk. You can too. It will be difficult to change; we've been conditioned since childhood to think of milk as "nature's most perfect food." I'll guarantee you that it will be safe, improve your health and it won't cost anything. What can you lose? es esta pagina link http://notmilk.com/kradjian.html The most important information dissemination my. Not that, but I can make your text too long jajaja. If I write bad is that I am leading a translator jaja

Are these some of the hidden 'costs' of Obamacare (per the Wall Street Journal?)? Here are some of the groups on the menu if anything like the existing Senate or House health plans become law: • Young people. If the government mandates that everyone must have health insurance, healthy young people will have to buy policies that don’t reflect the low risk they have of getting sick. The House and Senate bills do let insurers set premiums based on age, but only up to a 2-to-1 ratio, versus a real-world ratio of 5 to 1. This means lower prices for older (and wealthier) folks, but high prices for the young. “They’ll have sticker shock,” says Rep. Paul Ryan, ranking Republican on the Budget Committee. • Small Businesses. Employers who don’t provide coverage will have to pay a tax up to 8% of their payroll. Yet those who do provide coverage also have to pay the tax—if the law says their coverage is not “adequate.” Amazingly, even if a small business provides adequate insurance but its employees choose coverage in another plan offered through the government, the employer still must pay. • Health Savings Account (HSA) holders. Eight million Americans, according to the Treasury Department, are covered by plans with low-cost premiums and high deductibles that are designed for large, unexpected medical costs. Money is also set aside in a savings account to cover the deductibles, and whatever isn’t spent in one year can build up tax-free. Nearly a third of new HSA users, according to Treasury figures, previously had no insurance or bought coverage on their own. These policies will be severely limited. The Senate plan says a policy deemed “acceptable” must have insurance (rather than the individual) pay out at least 76% of the benefits. The House plan is pegged at 70%. That’s not the way these plans are set up to work. Ray Ramthun, who implemented the HSA regulations at the Treasury Department in 2003, says the regulations are crippling. “Companies tell me they could be forced to take products off the market,” he said in an interview. • Medicare Advantage users. Mr. Obama and Congressional Democrats want to cut back this program—care provided by private companies and subsidized by the government. Medicare Advantage grew by 15% last year; 10.5 million seniors, or 22% of all Medicare patients, are now enrolled. The program is especially popular with those in badly served urban areas and with those who can’t afford the premiums for Medicare supplemental (MediGap) policies. A total of 54% of Hispanics on Medicare have chosen Medicare Advantage, as have 40% of African-Americans, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the Department of Health and Human Services. These plans tend to provide better coordinated and preventive care, and richer prescription drug coverage. But Democrats dislike Medicare Advantage’s private-sector nature, and they have some legitimate beefs with its unevenly generous reimbursement rates. This week Mr. Obama told the Washington Post that the program was “a prime example” of his efforts to cut Medicare spending, because he claims people “aren’t getting good value” from it. That’s not what others say. In January, Oregon’s Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski wrote the Obama administration expressing his concern about its efforts “to scale back Medicare Advantage” because the plans “play an important role in providing affordable health coverage.” He noted that 39% of Oregon’s Medicare patients had chosen Medicare Advantage, and that in “some of our Medicare Advantage plans . . . with proper chronic disease management for such conditions as heart disease, asthma and diabetes, hospitalization admission rates have declined.” The $156 billion in Medicare Advantage cuts over the next decade proposed by Mr. Obama will force many seniors to go back to traditional Medicare at greater expense. A new study for the Florida Association of Health Plans found that because Medicare Advantage plans have richer benefits and lower deductibles and copayments than traditional Medicare, seniors in that state would face dramatically higher payments if forced to give up their Medicare Advantage plans. Cost increases would range from $2,214 a year in Jacksonville to $3,714 a year in Miami. There are reasons that Blue Dog Democrats in Congress are leery of their party’s health-care reform plans. Many are in districts or states carried by John McCain, and they worry about the political fallout when these groups realize they will be paying for health-care reform. They also know that every government entitlement winds up becoming a money pit. In 1965, Sen. Allen Ellender (D., La.) dismissed promises that Medicare would be a modest program to save seniors from bankruptcy. “Let us not be so naïve as to believe that the Medicare program will not be increased from year to year to the point that the government will have to impose more taxes on the little man or else take the necessary money out of the Treasury,” he told colleagues. Ellender was right, and Ellender was right, and his warning is even more relevant in our era of skyrocketing deficits and Medicare costs. The only way the House and Senate health plans can pass is if the costs they impose on vulnerable parts of the population continue to be hidden. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052970203517304574306303720472842.html What do you think?

What is the most striking feature of the following narrative and why. Just looking for opinions.? Shurippak -a city which thou knowest, (And) which on Euphrates' banks is set- That city was ancient, (as were) the gods within it, When their heart led the great gods to produce the flood. There were Anu, their father, Valiant Enlil, their counselor, Ninurta, their herald, Ennuge, their irrigator. Ninigiku-Ea was also present with them; Their words he repeats to the reed-hut:1 'Reed-hut, reed-hut! Wall! Wall! Reed-hut, hearken! Wall, reflect! Man of Shuruppak, 2 son of Ubar-Tutu, Tear down (this) house, build a ship! Give up possessions, seek thou life. Despise property and keep the soul alive. Aboard the ship take thou the seed of all living things. The ship that thou shalt build, Her dimensions shall be to measure. Equal shall be her width and her length. Like the Apsu 3 thou shalt ceil her.' I understood, and I said to Ea, my lord: 'Behold, my lord, what thou hast thus ordered, I shall be honoured to carry out. But what shall I answer the city, the people and elders?' Ea opened his mouth to speak, Saying to me, his servant: 'Thou shalt then thus speak unto them: "I have learned that Enlil is hostile to me, So that I cannot reside in your city, Nor set my foot in Enlil's territory. To the Deep I will therefore go down, To dwell with my lord Ea. But upon you he will shower down abundance, The choicest birds, the rarest fishes. The land shall have its fill of harvest riches. He who at dusk orders the hush-greens, Will shower down upon you a rain of wheat.4 With the first glow of dawn, The land was gathered about me. (too fragmentary for translation] The little ones carried bitumen, While the grown ones brought all else that was needful. On the fifth day I laid her framework. One (whole) acre was her floor space, Ten dozen cubits the height of each of her walls, Ten dozen cubits each edge of the square deck. I laid out the shape of her sides and joined her together. I provided her with six decks, Dividing her (thus) into seven parts. Her floor plan I divided into nine parts. I hammered water-plugs into her. I saw to the punting-poles and laid in supplies. Six 'sar' (measures), 5 of bitumen I poured into the furnace, Three sar of asphalt I also poured inside. Three sar of the basket-bearers transferred, Aside from the one sar of oil which the calking consumed, And the two sar of oil which the boatman stowed away. Bullocks I slaughtered for the people, And I killed sheep every day. Must, red wine, oil, and white wine I gave the workmen to drink, as though river water, That they might feast as on New Year's Day. . . . On the seventh day the ship was completed. The launching was very difficult, So that they had to shift the floor planks above and below, Until two-thirds of the structure had gone into the water. Whatever I had I laded upon her. Whatever I had of silver I laded upon her, Whatever I had of gold I laded upon her, Whatever I had of all the living beings I laded upon her. All my family and kin I made go aboard the ship. The beasts of the field, the wild creatures of the field, All the craftsmen I made go aboard. Shamash had set for me a stated time: 'When he who orders unease at night Will shower down a rain of blight, Board thou the ship and batten up the gate!' That stated time had arrived: 'He who orders unease at night showers down a rain of blight.' I watched the appearance of the weather. The weather was awesome to behold. I boarded the ship and battened up the gate. To batten up the (whole) ship, to Puzar-Amurri, the boatman, I handed over the structure together with its contents. With the first glow of dawn, A black cloud rose up from the horizon. Inside it Adad 6 thunders, While Shallat and Hanish 7 go in front, Moving as heralds over hill and plain. Erragal 8 tears out the posts; 9 Forth comes Ninurta and causes the dikes to follow. The Anunnaki lift up the torches, Setting the land ablaze with their glare. Consternation over Adad reaches to the heavens, Turning to blackness all that had been light. The wide land was shattered like a pot! For one day the south-storm blew, Gathering speed as it blew, submerging the mountains, Overtaking the people like a battle. No one can see his fellow, Nor can the people be recognized from heaven. The gods were frightened by the deluge, And, shrinking back, they ascended to the heaven of Anu. The gods cowered like dogs Crouched against the outer wall. Ishtar cried out like a woman in travail, The sweet-voiced mistress of the gods moans aloud: 'The olden days are alas turned to clay, Because I bespoke evil in the Assembly of the gods, How could I bespeak evil in the Assembly of the gods, Ordering battle for the destruction of my people, When it is I myself who give birth to my people! Like the spawn of the fishes they fill the sea!' The Anunnaki gods weep with her, The gods, all humbled, sit and weep, Their lips drawn tight. . . . one and all. Six days and six nights Blows the flood wind, as the south-storm sweeps the land. When the seventh day arrived, The flood (-carrying) south-storm subsided in the battle, Which it had fought like an army. The sea-grew quiet, the tempest was still, the flood ceased. I looked at the weather. stillness had set in, And all of mankind had returned to clay. The landscape was as level as a flat roof. I opened a hatch, and light fell on my face. Bowing low, I sat and wept, Tears running down my face. I looked about for coast lines in the expanse of the sea: In each of fourteen (regions) There emerged a region (-mountain). On Mount Nisir the ship came to a halt. Mount Nisir held the ship fast, Allowing -no motion. .......................................... [For six days the ship is held fast by Mount Nisir.] When the seventh day arrived, I sent forth and set free a dove. The dove went forth, but came back; There was no resting-place for it and she turned round. Then I sent forth and set free a swallow. The swallow went forth, but came back, There was no resting-place for it and she turned round. Then I sent forth and set free a raven. The raven went forth and, seeing that the waters had diminished, He eats, circles, caws, and turns not round. Then I let out (all) to the four winds And offered a sacrifice. I poured out a libation on the top of the mountain. Seven and seven cult-vessels I set up, Upon their plate-stands I heaped cane, cedarwood, and myrtle. The gods smelled the savour, The gods smelled the sweet savour, The gods crowded like flies about the sacrificer. As soon as the great goddess 10 arrived, She lifted up the great jewels which Anu had fashioned to her liking: 'Ye gods here, as surely as this lapis Upon my neck I shall -not forget, I shall be mindful of these days, forgetting (them) never. Let the gods come to the offering: (But) let not Enlil come to the offering, For he, unreasoning, brought on the deluge And my people consigned to destruction.' As soon as Enlil arrived, And saw the ship, Enlil was wroth, He was filled with wrath against the Igigi gods: 11 'Has some living soul escaped? No man was to survive the destruction!' Ninurta opened his mouth to speak, Saying to valiant Enlil: 'Who other than Ea can devise plans? It is Ea alone who knows every matter.' Ea opened his mouth to speak, Saying to valiant Enlil: 'Thou wisest of the gods, thou hero, How couldst thou, unreasoning, bring on the deluge? On the sinner impose his sin, On the transgressor impose his transgression! (Yet) be lenient, lest he be cut off, Be patient, lest he be dislodged Instead of thy bringing on the deluge, Would that a lion had risen up to diminish mankind! Instead of thy brining on the deluge, Would that a wolf had risen up to diminish mankind! Instead of thy bringing on the deluge, Would that a famine had risen up to lay low mankind! Instead of thy bringing on the deluge, Would that pestilence had risen up to smite down mankind! It was not I who disclosed the secret of the great gods. I let Atrahasis 12 see a dream, And he perceived the secret of the gods. Now then take counsel in regard to him!' Thereupon Enlil went aboard the ship. Holding me by the hand, he took me aboard. He took my wife aboard and made (her) kneel by my side. Standing between us, he touched our foreheads to bless us: 'Hitherto Utnapishtim has been but human. Henceforth Utnapishtim and his wife shall be like unto us gods. Utnapishtim shall reside far away, at the mouth of the rivers!' Thus they took me and made me reside far away, At the mouth of the rivers.

my short story? I looked down in grief, with the tall wooden fence in front of me casting shadows upon my face. Its like prison but worse, everything would be downhill from here like the hill I am sitting on. For a moment everything got brighter, but it was just the sun. This has a meaning, I thought, maybe things can get brighter if I have hope. I can reach for the sky, with many possibilities, of course I couldn’t really reach the sky. If I could though I would be aloud if Aunt Emit saw me leave the yard, I would be punished Soon I had to just meet face with reality, I am nothing but a unlucky, unhappy girl living with her nasty old aunt. “Why? Why did fate have to be like this!?” Its just not fair to anybody. I stood up, went over to the rock pile and pick the biggest rock. After, I picked the one that felt right I took a deep calming breath. Prepped my tiny muscles at wiped it at the tall fence. A CLUNK filled the neighborhood, which wasn’t much of a neighborhood the closet house felt like one hundred feet away. If Aunt Emit heard it she would be very upset with me and probably wouldn’t let me outside anymore. “Never make any loud sounds outside!” she had once warned. I wasn’t quite sure I was ready to have my outside taken away from me. Not that I have a choice she forces me to go outside everyday before she goes to her mail office. It’s not that bad to be outside in the spring and fall, but the scorching summer was to much to handle especially without sunscreen. “No lotion will ever stop you from turning a certain color. Just be grateful your turning red instead of black.” she told me once. Honesty, I rather have summer than when winter comes around. I have a coat and snow pants she bought me two years ago. I have grown from than but its better than nothing. Sometimes, if I was lucky enough she would send me out with hot towels, hot coco, and heating packets. In summer, if her friends would come over to come into the pool, I wouldn’t be able to go outside, and would be forced inside for two days in my room. It wasn’t all that bad, actually kind of nice from the break of the summer’s heat. Enough of thinking about the other seasons I thought. Aunt Emit would be home in a few hours, I should get some rest. I got comfortable I rested my head down and felt my hair blow in the Spring breeze. “Yes! I am free, Aunt Emit can’t tell me what to do any-” My dream got interrupted but a familiar voice. “Trisha Jones, it’s mail time get you lazy butt in here! Don’t just sleep, I was busy at work all day and u just sleep?” “Well, I had nothing else to do.” “Now, you do! Your nine years old, less sleep more labor!” “Yes Ma’am.” I said in defense, it’s the only thing I could say. “How long will mail time mail time be today?” I said still confused from just waking up. “Oh, probably ‘bout three hours as a minimum, too bad there isn’t more for your weak lazy bones to sort.” Ugh. I hated mail time. Everyday Aunt Emit came home from her mail office she brought tons of letters in hurdles of bags. She would un-bundle the stacks and tell me, the misfortunate one, to sort all the letters that are being sent in alphabetical order according to the last name. I remember when I first started mail time. Aunt Emit was still bragging about her new top notch mail office. You’d think she would sort the mail herself, but she just thinks she’s too busy. She also thinks she has worked to hard from the days work at office, and needs to get some sleep. Ugh. I remembered first thinking. “How can I sort it if I cant even read, remember I got taken out of school right after-” I got cut off. “Do you know your ABC’s?” “Of course Daddy taught them to me during first grade . I would have learned much more in school if only I went to third grade. But I live with you now. But shouldn’t I still go to school and be able to out with you?” I asked knowing it was hopeless. Aunt Emit never has answered that question. For me, I was stuck sorting the mail. Forever. Thinking about the past realized how much, I, Trisha Jones missed out. I usually had this thought, it always made me sad. But I try to move on. “I’ll be inside in a minute, Aunt Emit” “Well I can’t wait a minute, so how about now!” “Yes Ma’am.” I marched right past her. Hmm, I thought, maybe I can lock the door and she’ll be out here forever just like me, but she probably has some house keys in her big old bag she lugs around everywhere she goes. Looking down from the misfortunate failure to my thought, I saw my shadow from the nice warm sun, and went inside. I got to the table I sort mail at and took a sear and the scraggly old chair. I started the job. Aunt Emit was right it did take hours, but at least it wasn’t a two day job. I looked through my pile, it seemed as good work. I straightened the pile, that started with the Abest’s and ended with the Zynox’s. I heard Aunt Emit was eating her big feast and preparing to bring my food into my room. When she left my room she came to see if I was finished. “Wow,” she said, “Nice work. You know you should work at a mail office .That’s when I let u move out…when your 65.” “ Wha- What?” she asked choppily from the tears begging to fall from stormy day. Without a second thought she rushed to her room. She ran up the un-carpeted stairs making huge clunking sounds from her angry stomping. I shoved my door, I felt as a giant crushing a door. Now in my room I ran to my run down bed. It wasn’t much of a room, more like a dusty attic with a old mattress with faded purple blankets. Nothing much else filled my room, I had an old nightstand that I use to place my lantern and spare batteries. I didn’t have many books. I had one about many jobs, one about animals, and the rest were sort of school books. I had one for reading and math, the other for science, social studies, and the arts. I know you’re thinking I can get school material from this but I read these books over and over memorized almost every word, but it’s first grade material. Inside the same nightstand, was the most special stuff to me. I had two photos and a book. The book was Cinderella the fairytale, my favorite book. I am always jealous of her I always think, her life turned out so great, she was free and she had a handsome prince. Maybe just maybe, I always thought, I can end up just like her. I mean, she was treated horrible too but then she just got lucky. Next were the two photos. The first was of my family, before fate had to hate me. We were all so happy at a little gazebo at a park, when I was 4. I was holding both Mom and Dad’s hands and I jumped in the air. Happiest, nothing was wrong. I sometimes remember that day I couldn’t stop smiling when I kept jumping in the air holding my parent’s hands, because I had no worries at all. Every time I looked at this photo I couldn’t help but smile, at how happy my family and I were. Suddenly after I look at it though I get sad. From the accidents that happened in my life. So, I always shook the thoughts away. The other was a picture of my best friend Emma. I haven’t seen her in four years though. I missed her. She would always comfort me when my father was drunk and would try to hurt me. “Oh Emma.” I wept. “ If only you could help me now. I miss you.” I couldn’t believe this. I can’t move out until I am 65, why, why is she always torturing me? Weren’t kids supposed to move out at age 18? At least that’s what it said in my job book. I sighed. If I moved out when I was 65 I would be old enough to retire. I will not let this happen. After crying for what felt as forever, though it was probably an hour, I felt hungry so I ate my food. I gathered some shirts and piled to make a little sort of chair. I pulled the plate of very little food that Aunt Emit had left during mail time, and put it by the shirt pile. The plate consisted of a chicken wing, small amount of peas, and a strawberry. The food wasn’t as bad as it could be. If it was a motel I would rate it 2 and a half stars. Many kids would probably consider themselves lucky to have this. I licked every last crumb and put my plate but the rugged garbage bin. I have decided to take my anger out in a safer way, so Aunt Emit wouldn’t hear me , with my “Questions for Aunt Emit” list. I haven’t actually wrote any questions down yet, because every time I didn’t have enough guts. I always felt she would come in, read the questions and laugh in my face. Even though I never wrote the questions down I knew them all in my head. So I eventually found a pencil and my list. I started to have cold feet about writing this list. Well I don’t care, I am just so mad, I thought. I thought and I began to write: Questions for Aunt Emit 1. Why are you always so mean? 2. Why do you make me go outside, when u go to work? 3. Why can’t I go to school or be seen by anyone? 4. Why can’t I have any fun? I couldn’t go this. I put my pencil down hid the list inside the nightstand, and jumped in my lousy bed and wept into my pillow to think about my life. It was horrible, I mean I am I kid! Actually I can’t be a kid, kids have fun. I am more like a prisoner, stuck in a cell. I have many of these kind of nights, especially since I have been here for two years. The crying finally made me sleepy and I dosed off. Having somewhat pleasant dreams for a change but my resting came to a halt when I heard a crash. I jerked up alert, it was my door somebody was coming in, stealing me. Free at last! Ugh. It was just Aunt Emit, I slowly fell back into my bed. “Get up.” “Huh Why?” I wondered “It’s time for me to go to work” she said like it was obvious. “But- But, its three a.m.” I reminded her in my sleeping voice “I know, its new to me too, every Wednesday I have to get to work at 3:30.” she stated grumpily. I didn’t want to get up, it was too early maybe I can complain like Emma’s sister always did. She always got her way, and ten more minutes to sleep. What do I have to lose, I considered. “Just ten more minutes?” I pleaded. “No, get up now before you have to sleep outside tonight! But I will give you 1 minute to get dressed, and get outside.” she said them slammed the door. So I did what I was told and started walking down the stairs. I received my small breakfast, and lunch for later, and headed outside. I began to eat my food of a slice of bread, granola bar and a mini bottle of water. Picking up the bread first, I devoured it, but I saved some water for later. Suddenly I get a chill down my spine. It would be scary to sleep out here in the dark all alone. Being outside was nice, sometimes boring. Aunt Emit said I could never make noise, since somebody might hear it. It just wasn’t right. I decided to go look for some bugs in the grass and in the rocks. There was no bugs in the grass, maybe just too much grass to see the mud below. I got up with grass imprints on my hands and went by the rocks. Carefully, making little noise as possible I got to the mud portion. I dug and dug, but nothing. I should just stop and go lay down like yesterday, I thought. Maybe just one more finger dig, maybe I will get lucky for once. So I tried it and there before my eyes was a little ball. From my animal book I knew what it was. It was a Rollie Pollie, as I called it. It got out of its ball shape. It peeked out of its ball, I couldn’t see quite how it looked yet, since it wasn’t sun rise. It was shaking as I was trying to hold it. It started to crawl, probably away from me. It tickled my hand, I kept rotating my hands so it could stay on. I rummaged the yard to find something to put it in. Nothing, at least until I went by the door. I remembered I had my plate from breakfast,. I licked the remaining crumbs and took a little sip of the water. As, I retrieved the plate I returned to my spot. Now, what do Rollie Pollies eat? Hmm. I threw some grass and leaves onto the plate. As, along with a stick for it to climb on, and some dirt to sleep on. sounds like my room, I thought ungratefully. I couldn’t help but forge a small giggle. Now I should name it, I considered. Well it’s a very pretty bug I thought. I had three names in the running. Mia after my favorite soccer star from my job book, Linda, and Suzie. They all sounded so pretty but I had to pick one. How stupid am I? I thought instantly, I should name it after my pretty mother, Rosanne. So it was settled, her new name was Rosanne. We played for hours and I later let her sleep. For the rest of the day I decided to watch the sun rise, watch clouds, and catch up on my sleep. Then it hit me, my birthday was soon! I stood up and did a little jump. Of course birthdays weren’t as good as they used to with Mom and Dad, but it was another year older. Usually when a kid thought of birthdays they thought of presents and fun but mine weren’t like that. I just usually didn’t have to do as much mail time, about a quarter, and got few strawberries that were dipped with chocolate(this was always my favorite treat.) But of course Aunt Emit was always mean to me Soon enough Aunt Emit was home, and called me in the house with the typical “Trisha Jones get you lazy bones in here now!” As I entered I knew my post with the mail. It didn’t take much time today maybe 30 minutes. We didn’t talk much, so I decided to break the silence before I went to go eat upstairs. “So.. Aunt Emit, do you know what day it is tomorrow?” I asked eagerly. I could tell she was thinking hard, “ Uh… Friday. Wait no Thursday …Is this a trick question?” “No, you silly,” I could see her hairy lip starting to rise with anger so I got right to the point, “ its my birthday!” “Oh.” she said. And after that nothing more so I went to my attic room. My meal obtained a meatloaf square and some corn. After that I was off to bed and fast asleep without a problem. When I did awake the sun was up. Hmm that is different I thought with curiosity. I jumped out of bed and run down the stairs as fast and my little feet could scurry, like normal kids on Christmas morning. Empty. Everything was still and empty. Her shoes, gone, her keys, gone, HER, gone. Interesting, I come to think of it. At first I thought it was a trap, that is until I reached the kitchen table. Every time I came in this room I sneezed from all the dust and wanted to puke from the run down, hideous wall paper. A yellow not caught my eye. As it read: Dear Trisha,  happy tenth birthday. I guess. Since its your birthday, today, and today only you may stay inside. There are a few rules 1. don’t make a mess 2.Don’t do anything that you shouldn’t be doing because I will find out about it. 3. Don’t make much noise. 4, Don’t leave the house. You can go outside in the backyard if you wish but whatever. 5. You will still have mail time today so enjoy the house and follow rules. Sincerely, Aunt( Maryann) Emit. P.S if this doesn’t go well….you will NEVER stay inside again and there WILL be a punishment. “Yes!” I shouted, “For all things good in this world, YES! I‘m alone” I haven’t been this happy since the picture in my room with my family. I could do anything I wanted to except get into trouble. For starters I made a small breakfast of colorful cereal with some blue bird on the colored box. Then got milk and poured it. If Aunt Emit was here I would NEVER be able to have this, but she’s not ☺. And I, for once ever since I lived here was never this happy. Maybe I can actually be a kid for this very day. I decided to go to the living room. Sat my well-rested body down. I pulled this little black box with buttons over that I barely knew about called a remote. I watched it here with Aunt Emit once, when she needed company on her birthday. It was some lovey-dovey movie, it wasn’t very much into my interest. I flipped it on and the television came to some channel with some weird sounding language going really fast. Not for me, click, the channel turned. Now it was some guy in a fancy suit on a map of the country. Wow, is he stuck up there? I turned it once more this time it was a yellow sponge and a pink starfish, in what seemed to be underwater. They were hitting their owns heads with a hammer! What the--?! This channel seemed for kids- the normal kind. It was very unreal but it intrigued my interest. Then the sponge which responded to Sponge bob went home in a pineapple. And the star was I guess name Patrick went home to a rock! This is so weird,. I thought! I watched this for awhile longer then it got too ridiculous I decided to do something else. I have always also wanted to listen to music on her radio/ boom box. I put the antenna up and scrolled along with the dial. As I randomly stop it was some very loud screaming and drumming. Why would I listen to that? I tried again. This time it was a girl singer being announced. The announcer said “ Up next we have Hannah Montana singing Life’s What You Make It.” I thought Montana was a stated I remembered from my text book. The name just sounded interesting so I thought I would listen to some of it. I waited while the intro was playing then I heard the words: “Don't let no small frustration Ever bring you down No no no no Just take a situation And turn it all around” she sang. I really listened to the words and thought, well I’m always said and frustrated. Maybe I need to turn it around and start doing something about it. I listened to the rest of the song and shut the radio off before the next song. I grabbed a pen and paper and wrote down those words that she first sang. I took the paper to my room and placed it in my nightstand drawer, where the rest of my important stuff stayed. So now what… I wondered. I decided there was something I needed to do. Building my courage took awhile like the Egyptians building those pyramids. But it finally happened, all confidence. I, Trisha Jones, was ready to make an entry across the hall into her room. I stealthily walked down the hallway. The floorboards crackled as I walked onto them. Always looking around my back, I felt like someone was going to pop out at me. In movies this part was when that scary and intense music played slowly. Finally, for what felt like hours passing, I made it into the which’s room. I have never been in here, except when I first came here, when given the tour of this evil house. It didn’t look much different at all. I looked around a bit. Finding old black and white family photos, some dog, and an empty picture frame. Hmm.. Why is it empty? I crept around a little bit more. Nothing much other then her big lumped bed in the middle of the room. Then I came upon her garbage can. I couldn’t do this any more somehow Aunt Emit would find out I was in here- or even I’ll find something scary. But the objects that I saw in the trash bin made me stay. A picture- a wedding picture to be exact. I examined it. As my eyes started to swell with tears, I knew who it was. It was my beautiful parents happy on there wedding day. Why would she throw this out. I thought as I was sobbing. Then it caught my tearful eye. There was a lady in the background. Someone that resembled Aunt Emit- wait! That is Aunt Emit. She was frowning and looked even more unhappy then she does now( which I thought she couldn’t get any more sulky.) But why? Why is she frowning so may questions, I decided I would add it to my list. I grabbed the picture and decided to take it. There was one more crumpled sheets that seemed to form a packet. But before I grabbed it I decided to run to her bathroom and grab some sheets of toilet paper to throw in the trash to show that I never took anything. As I was back to the trash, I retrieved the packet, then threw the toilet paper into the bin. I began to un-crumple the papers and began to read it. There was an address, which what seemed to be this house, sent to Aunt Emit. It was dated July 23, 1971. And before I could read any more I was disturbed by a loud THUD. Before I could think I rolled under her lumpy bed. It was the only instinct I could cope. It was the bedroom door, closed by Aunt Emit. I knew I would be pig meat if she saw me in here. Her first rule by me coming into this house a few years ago was, “ My room is off limits.” She threw her mail room coat down onto the bed and the covers rippled. Then she slammed herself down onto the bed-must have been in a bad mood- leaving my own head almost getting squashed. I wanted to yelp out in pain but I couldn’t, that would just bring more pain in my future. She took off her smelly old white gym shoes, leaving her blue socked feet uncovered. Without thinking, I covered my nose. I didn’t need to be nervous and unconscious. Whenever she took her shoes off, you have to take cover, because they always smelled. You would think they wouldn’t since she probably doesn’t even work hard at work, but trust me on this one, they smell. She sat there. And sat there. Then started mumbling and sighing. At first I paid no attention, but I realized I probably should incase it answers my questions. “So, it was a whole 10 years ago, this cute, little, lazy, girl was born. Oh I remember that day I went to go see her and got a whole lecture out of her mother, the evil mother of all time. The one that--” she stopped short. I twitched about to get out from under the bed and argue saying her mother wasn’t all those nasty things. But something, just something stopped her. But what was it? Her voice inside her, her mother, fate, or maybe just the fact if she moved she would be so dead. “Well,” Aunt Emit began to say, “better find that girl for mail time.” She got up left the door open and began shouting my name. “Trisha, Trisha, TRISHA” she began to yell abruptly. “Let me check outside.” she walked slowly down the stairs. This gave me about a minute to run back in my room and act like I heard nothing and did nothing bad. But I couldn’t budge. I was totally flabbergasted and dumbfounded. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, the wind was knocked out of me. I jumped I heard the outside door open and heard her begin to scream my name. Quick, I thought! I ran fast and quite to my room. Placed the picture and letter down. Body slammed back onto my bed and acted fast asleep. A few moments later I heard her come back upstairs, and heard her screaming so fierce and upset like the hulk destroying the city. “ Trisha Jones..If you don’t get doing mail time right now --” she started to say as she burst open my door. And was shocked to find me there asleep. I “awoke” very confused like a normal sleeper. “My, you’re a heavy sleeper.” she said impatiently. “Downstairs, NOW!” I rushed past her and into my seat for mail time. I was lucky it was never this quick. Aunt Emit told me happy birthday and I enjoyed my dinner strawberries and I ran outside to see Rosanne. She was there and I gave her part of my remains of the strawberry for my birthday treat. Later on, back inside Aunt Emit had a surprise for me. Wow this is my best birthday from ever living here. She pulled out of her mail bag a dirty, low on air ball. Right away I knew it was a soccer ball, from my sports book. At that moment I was just so happy. It brought back many memories of my daddy teaching me how to play soccer. He was the best! On his team as a little boy from England he knew everything about soccer and was the best. “As I was on my way home, I found this in a garbage can. I thought u wanted something to rest your lazy head on outside” she said. For an instant it was like we were friends for once, like she did love me and want me. “ You know,” she said “your father, why he was excellent at soccer back home in England.” I thought we would start this whole awkward talk about my father and where and what was happening now, and I could ask her some things. But no, she said that and went to her room. Whatever. So I just walked to my room and looked at the lyrics from the radio’s Hannah Montana. I practiced singing that verse over and over feeling great. I didn’t sound too good at first but I just needed to practice. After looking at that I went next to my amazing soccer ball. Examining it, until I heard my door creak open. It was Aunt Emit, and I thanked her for the ball. Then she questioned me about my day. She looked suspicious like she knew about the letter--I almost forgot about it! After she left I decided to wait awhile before I read the note. But when I did it was very dark. I went on the other side of my bed, so incase she did come in I could hide it. I opened the crumbled paper and it read…. Dear Mother, How are you doing? I am writing this letter to you to inform you on some very exciting news. You see, me and Rosanne went on a carriage ride the other day it was beautiful with the trees and everything. And while we were riding along. She told me her secret. And she said those three words that changed my life. “I love you.” Right then and there I knew she was the one so I bought a ring and the next date I purposed. She said yes. So we will be having a wedding soon. Mother you will love her. She is so nice and so sweet. In fact I have never meet anyone as kind and sweet as her. And I never loved anyone in the whole world as much as I love her. Sincerely, Scotty Jones. *************************************************************************************************** “Curse everything this new women my son calls his bride is stealing MY little Scotty. He loves her more then me. How dare he? And he used to say I was the sweetest and kindest. Now I, Jo Emit, am officially scarred. FOREVER…..” ****************************************************************************** This must have been when Aunt Emit found out about the wedding. Wow, Dad really seemed in love with her. I really miss my mom and dad. In fear that Aunt Emit would come in I put the paper stashed secretly away and went to rest. The next morning started typically, I ate, walked outside, and did almost nothing. I just said hello to Rosanne and that was about all. Later on I heard some yelling not to far into the distance. I heard “ Who wants to play forward?” And “ Kick it up the field Tom, come on!” I peaked through the fence and saw tons of guys right around my age in the horizon playing……SOCCER. I wish I was over there playing soccer I sure missed it. And everything Dad taught me about it and to play. Suddenly my brain hatched an idea, I can bring my pad of paper outside tomorrow and my soccer ball and train! This was going to be awesome. But for the rest of the day I just watched and remembered as much as I could. Like the tricks they did including the scissors, juggling, and the helicopter, so later I could practice. Ever since my birthday ,I thought, my life is a little bit brighter. But soon enough I was going to make it even more brighter. Aunt Emit came home and I did mail time. It probably took as long as it took Moses to cross the desert. Then I drudged up to my room and plotted down onto my bed, sneaking a peek into the draw with the suspicious picture and letter. In a starving matter I ate my meal of peas, mash potatoes, and half of a corn on the cob. Satisfied with the nights meal, I went to go read my favorite story Cinderella. Practiced my reading, then crashed into my bead with out a single twist or turn. The next morning I put my soccer ball into my bag also including pen and a pad of paper. And incase if I got bored I put my “Questions to ask Aunt Emit” list in my pocket. I gathered all my items and hit the backyard. Aunt Emit left in a huff-- I wasn’t really sure why though. For the first while I just practiced the moves from yesterday. It was hard to keep the ball in place, and it keep hitting the fence with a CLINK. But I kept practicing. What seemed to be the same time yesterday the boys from soccer arrived at the field in the distance. I listened to the coaches instructions and practiced every drill. It felt like I was on the team myself. After awhile of chasing after the ball, I decided to sit on my ball toward the fence and watch the rest of their practice. They were all very fast, and pretty good at soccer. I observed more. The boys almost scored a goal but the amazing goalie caught it just in time. Wow, he must have had some super power to catch it that fast, and he was pretty cute. It looked like his hair consisted of many colors like blonde, brown, and red in a shaggy formation. And his eyes--well I couldn’t see his eyes but I bet they were wonderful I thought I would do something else. I got up and acted like a model, I stiffened my back and walked an imaginary runway. Strutting my stuff I semi-shouted “I’m a model, and that’s what I will grow up to be!” The I held up a straight rock and sang the recited song “Don't let no small frustration Ever bring you down No no no no Just take a situation And turn it all around.” Then I thought, “I‘m a singer, and I can make that come true. Then I dashed over to my soccer ball and dribbled it up like I was about to score a goal. “Now I’m a soccer player. And with hope and skill, I CAN make it happen.” I kicked the ball and fell into the soft grass and giggled and laughed. And had a satisfying grin and sigh. For the last time I ran after my soccer ball and got ready to kick it hard against the fence and score a goal. Right before I followed my legs through I heard a BANG- I thought it was just the boys. But it was Aunt Emits car door.-- And that’s when the onset of trouble happened I kicked the ball and it whammed against the fence leaving the loudest mark. Then I saw her and the look on her face. She didn’t want to scream yet, probably the “neighbors” would find out about me. I grabbed my things instantaneously and ran for the house. Getting ready for the explosion I was about to hear. Without even saying anything first she grabbed my soccer ball and popped it faster then I could stop her. I let out a wail. She couldn’t be doing this. “YOU’LL NEVER BE GOING OUT AGAIN! SOMEONE COULD HAVE SAW YOU FROM YOU NOISINESS. HOW DARE YOU ALMOST DO THAT TO ME? FROM NOW ON YOUR STUCK IN HERE. NO ANYTHING. EVER! NOW GO TO YOUR ROOM AND STAY THERE UNTIL I GET YOU OUT IN THREE MONTHS!” she then steamed off into her room. I stood stiff, forcing not to cry until I made it into my room, but it was too late. I sobbed and sobbed so defenseless any I could do, it wouldn’t work. And right then and there I reached my boiling point. It was now I was fed up and I knew in my mind and heart I needed to do something. I got my pen out and stretched my leg out across my floor and wrote in big letters: I HATE AUNT EMIT 4EVER! I stood up opened my door just a crack and screamed so loud like an opera singer, so loud I was surprised it didn’t break glass. “ I HATE YOU!” I said so loud and long for it to make up for all the years she’s been doing everything mean to me. After that kind of scream I feel back onto the floor sitting on my behind. It was a few seconds before I heard her in the hall. I watched as the door opened and her giving me an evil glare. This was when, in the movies, the lasers beams came out of the villain’s eyes. Then she realized what my jeans said. In a hushed tone she spoke “Give me those pants.” I took them off put some pajama pants on and gave them to her. I bet she wasn’t flattered with the saying: I HATE AUNT EMIT. I guessed she was down by the dirty laundry room I’ve never been in. I went down there. It was either to apologize or yell at her more-- I wasn’t quite sure yet. But which ever I picked it didn’t matter because what I saw changed it all. I peeked open the door, I guess it didn’t make a sound over the roaring washer. I saw her back towards me and she was reading something. But it just wasn’t any something it was my note (“Questions for Aunt Emit”!) Oh no, I left it in there this morning. I gulped without making any more noise, and zipped back up the stairs and tried to fall asleep. Hungry, worried, and infuriated I couldn’t sleep. But I did make a plan to change my life around forever, and tomorrow would be my planning day. Instead of waking me up like usual Aunt Emit just made a big WHOP. She avoided talking to me at all. I was up and I ate. But as soon as she left it was time for me to stay in the house. I planned my timing right. I figured she got home about four o’clock so I had plenty of time since it was six a.m. I scoured the whole place for house keys to get back in. I checked almost everywhere. In the kitchen : not in there, In the T.V. room: not in there. I went upstairs into my room to grab my daddy’s letter and my parents wedding picture, to look at again outside. I also thought it might be a good idea to go into Aunt Emit’s room. I looked around and found myself to a drawer. Inside of it was my note that she found my pocket last night. And strangely there was another. It was addressed to me. Weird. So I snatched it to take outside. There wasn’t a key anywhere so I thought I could just leave it unlocked. I took all my stuff.- I would have taken my soccer ball is she hadn’t have popped it. I took my stuff and headed downstairs, to begin my planning of escaping. I began to open the door. But then I found myself covering my ears. BEEEPPP! It was the alarm. How could I be so stupid and forget about it? But I couldn’t dwell upon that now. I had two options: 1. Wait around until the police came, and deal with Aunt Emit later (which would get ugly.) Or 2. Run and escape now. I went for two. It wouldn’t be long until the police came. You see the alarm is what normal people put on before going to bed, and if someone would break in the alarm would go off. And of course the police came. But in this case were not dealing with a normal person. So I tried to throw all my stuff over the fence. The picture of my parents at their wedding floated back down so I bit it and began to climb. Strong from my new soccer muscles I buffed my way over the fence. Now was the part I was devastated. Where to go. I went to the nearest house. It was right by the soccer field. I knocked in a hurrying manner. Quickly they answered. It was the cute soccer goalie. He did have the cutest eyes that I could finally see. One was blue the other a hazel color. He stood there starring as if I was a freak. Stop dazing into his eyes I told myself as I snapped out of it. “Hhh-Hi” I managed to say. “Hello” he replied. “What do you want?” “Well..” I began to say remembering this was a serious time. “I live at that house over there.” as I pointed to Aunt Emit’s house, which the police would arrive any moment. I hurried “My name is Trisha Jones. What’s your name?” “I’m Jeremy, nice to meet you neighbor. Are you new to this neighborhood.” “Well it’s a really long story. But can I come in this is really urgent, I will explain to you what’s going on I promise. Jeremy remembered what his mom was telling him earlier before she left on her date. “Don’t talk to any strangers or anything. Promise?” she stated patiently “Mom, I am 11 I am old enough to know everything. Now go have fun on your date with the vampire dude.” I chuckled. “His name is Chuck, and I’ll be home in a little bit.” she said leaving in a scurry. I know what Mom said is important, but this girl looks dirty and scared. “Come in” he said. Leading me into some fancy room filled with light tan colored couches. “Thanks so much, ok well I have a long story to tell and I have people chasing after me, so lets get started. I told him everything from Mom and Dad, to Aunt Emit, to soccer, to The Police after me now. He sat and listened. “So you haven’t been to school in so many years?” he asked fascinated. “No, I haven’t I re-stated. “I’ve heard your story, now what?” he was confused. “Well I needed some where to stay for awhile so they don’t find me and take me back there.” “For right now, Done, but my mom is coming home soon. I’ll have her take it from there.” “Thanks so much.” I ran over and hugged him as a tear swelled up in my eye from his kindness. I held a deep hug and whiffed his cologne. We stayed and played video games. I wasn’t very good since I have never played them before. We had many laughs from his sense of humor- even though I was worried the whole time about Aunt Emit and the police. Soon enough Jeremy’s mom came home from her lunch date. She was steamed at her son about letting me in but after I told her the same tragic story I told Jeremy she was sympathetic and ran over to hug me. She was very nicely asking questions when there was a knock at the door. There was a trickle down my spine. Because without even answering the door I knew who it was. It was the police. They came and took me outside to their truck asked me why I did it and everything. Jeremy and his mother came out to help explain everything too. Aunt Emit was in the distance giving me a glare that spoke for it self saying “Don’t you dare spill the beans on me.” But it was time the police knew. They questioned her about if the things I said she did were true, but she didn’t fully agree to them. By this time I was in tears and so what half my soaked shirt. Nothing was going to change only for the worse. She going to deny everything and hurt me even worse inside but not this time. The police asked for proof, and that was my weak spot. Then Jeremy spoke up “Once at soccer practice I heard her ball thud against her gate then I saw her aunt about to like yell and hurt her. At this moment, Aunt Emit came forward about to bring me to the ground. “It’s all your fault for everything!!! That thud at the gate. See where we are now, all because of you. Now your discovered. This time she was about to tackle me, but the police held her back and took her into their car. Tears of joy sprung out of my eyes. My life would now be begging where it left off with my parents. Later that week, I had to go to court and prove Aunt Emit wrong. And of course I did. So now I was free, But there was still one problem. I had no where to go. No relatives. The court explained that Aunt Emit was my last distant relative. This all made sense why my mom had to send me to Aunt Emit. I still missed her very much, but she died doing a good deed to a friend, giving her heart to a friend with 12 kids that was about to die. And my father, of course I missed him, even though he hurt me. But he wasn’t allowed to have me so he was in some jail somewhere. It was at an adoption center I was staying until a family that loved me took me home. I didn’t mind it there. Better then Aunt Emit’s home any day. I played with kids all ages young and old. But one day it was time for me to leave, I was now with a family consisting of a Mom, a Dad, and a little brother age 4. They were the Johnson’s, my new loving family. They were moving and I suggested by the soccer field and Jeremy’s house. We found a beautiful house and they signed me up for soccer. And for Jeremy, the truth is he loved me back. And we both played soccer and practiced together. We were close ever since he helped me on the biggest part of my life. So did his mom. So life was good the way it should be. The way it left off before living with Aunt Emit. And of course my life ended happily and filled with my dreams, just like my favorite book and fairytale Cinderella “And this students, boys and girls, is my story of hopes and dreams. This was my life story as a little girl and as u heard I was going through the roughest things life could through at you. But I had hope and that is important to know you can do anything as long as you believe in it.” I said through the microphone, as the gymnasium roared with applause. “Any questions?” A little girl raised her hand and asked “ So did you ever become a soccer player like you hoped.” “Good question. Well this is my dream helping kids believe in their dreams. But right now I am a soccer coach on my daughter Chloe and son Josh’s soccer team. Now time for one more question I have to get home to my husband, and yes it’s the boy in the story Jeremy. A boy way in the back asked “ How did you keep on dreaming to leave through all those hard times with your aunt? “Well belief and a four letter word spelled H-O-P-E, hope.

am i the one with a problem? or is my girlfriend? my girlfriend and i have been together about a year,we met on pogo, anyways she was going through a divorce and her ex left her house in basic shambles(he started to paint the exterior lime green and left it unfinished-amongst every thing else he didn't finish around here) well i really liked her and being a skilled painter and tradesman i thought i'd repaint her 3,300 sq ft house it was a eyesore in a nice housing area(2 coats and caulking) for free. well i fell in love with her moved in and thought she was the one. she ended up giving her ex like 100,000 in the divorce plus a car,boat,stocks,motor cycle and all the crazy stuff he bought with her money(he didn't work for 18 yrs-he was a house husband wink-wink) she has a good job. well she decided to sell this house but it needs a compete makeover from ceilings to floors,(i am currently not working because this house is full time work,and i wouldn't have the energy needed to bring this place to value) i have painted 2,200 sq ft of the ceilings,finished 1 bedroom, pulled wall paper,skimmed out the walls 3 times and 2 coats of paint in the hall and huge stairway,stripped paint from doors and wood work her Genius ex thought would look good and sand,stain and varnish. i still have left a 580 sq ft br,2 other brs,3 bathrooms,lr,fam rm,kit,din rm,2 hallways and basement not to mention having to re trim the main floor.here is my problem she has 3 kids(17,15,13) w/ ex who have no chores or responsibilities they leave there crap whereever they want,leave there clothes in washer/dryer for days on end cant put there dishes in a dishwasher even,they open food and leave the wrappers whereever. the 17 yr old male doesn't help with anything he thinks hes above helping in the house hes in 11th grade and thinks hes running the house and his mom lets him,oh he had a couple yr old car that his mom put 1500 into but he decided he needed something better so she got him a loan and he has a credit card from her w/10,0000 on it, he stays out til all hrs of the morning since hes been 16(no curfew) brings friends home all hrs and on many days shown up for school late and she doesn't think anything of this behavior(this is a kid who wont mow the yard,shovel a small driveway or pick up his dogs poop when it goes inside which is daily,and he has to have his spot in the garage or hes frantic, the 15 yr old is on probation for truancy,has been caught shop lifting,vandalizing the local park,smoking,drinking,stole the car,has used pot and breaks into our bedroom,the 13 yr old recently moved in w/ the ex she was his way of keeping tabs on my girlfriend, she would act like she loved her mom so much then i'd hear her on the phone w/ex saying stuff about her mom i can't even say here but in general shes evil,well my girl and i went camping/fishing yesterday my first time since i met her and she bought a used tent(goodwill) and it had the wrong parts so instead of trying to fix it i said lets go home, when i go fishing i dont want to have to fix stuff to,i'd like to fish(she could of bought a new tent) she didnt even take the time to plan a meal for 1 nite of camping,well we get home and she tells me im ungrateful and unappreciative,she hardly helped planning anything but had the time to make sure her kid had parking room in garage when we got back otherwise hed get mad if he had to park in the driveway,and it offends her when i bring up her kids messes around the house,they wont even shut off lights shut doors throw there garbage away,if they do pick there room up they toss the garbage in the hall and it sits there til i mention it to my girlfriend,then im the bad guy cuz there not used to having to pick up after there selfs,i feel i have a right to say something being im the one fixing up the place,my girl has bought me a 575.00 boat,16 yr old van,cigs and tools(which i use to fix her house up) she cooks 2 maybe 3 times aweek,leaves her socks,shoes and what ever else around,i make most my meals,do my own wash, and pick up the house after her and her kids and dogs,oh when i met her,her back yard looked like sanford and son so i built wood shed and cut and stacked wood,moved tons of rocks her ex left in yard and finished building a retaining wall,am i the one whos unappreciative and self centered like my girlfriend says? any input would be appreciated sorry this is long and grammars bad

Will you vote for Hillary? Dear Mr. Ex President Clinton: I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, "Thank me, I voted for Clinton-Gore." So, I sat down and reflected on that, and I am sending my "Thank you" for what you have done, specifically: 1. Thank you for introducing us to Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky, Dolly Kyle Browning, Kathleen Willey, and Juanita Broderick. Did I leave anyone out? 2. Thank you for teaching my 8 year old about oral sex. I had really planned to wait until he was a little older to discuss it with him, but now he knows more about it than I did as a senior in college. 3. Thank you for showing us that sexual harassment in the work place (especially the White House) and on the job is OK, and all you have to know is what the meaning of "it" is. It really is great to know that certain sexual acts are not sex, and one person may have sex while the other one does NOT have sex. 4. Thank you for reintroducing the concept of impeachment to a new generation and demonstrating that the ridiculous plot of the movie "Wag the Dog" could be plausible after all. 5. Thanks for making Jimmy Carter look competent, Gerald Ford look graceful, Richard Nixon look honest, Lyndon Johnson look truthful, and John Kennedy look moral. 6. Thank you for the 73 House and Senate witnesses who have pled the 5th Amendment and 17 witnesses who have fled the country to avoid testifying about Democratic campaign fund raising. 7. Thank you, for the 19 charges, 8 convictions, and 4 imprisonment's from the Whitewater "mess" and the 55 criminal charges and 32 criminal convictions (so far) in the other "Clinton" scandals. 8. Thanks also for reducing our military by half, "gutting" much of our foreign policy, and flying all over the world on "vacations" carefully disguised as necessary trips. 9 Thank you, also, for "finding" millions of dollars (I really didn't need it in the first place, and I can't think of a more deserving group of recipients for my hard-earned tax dollars) for all of your globe-trotting. I understand you, the family and your cronies have logged in more time aboard Air Force One than any other administration. 10. Now that you've left the White House, thanks for the 140 pardons of convicted felons and indicted felons-in-exile. We will love to have them rejoin society (Not to mention the scores you pardoned while Governor of Arkansas). 11. Thanks also for removing the White House silverware. I'm sure that Laura Bush didn't like the pattern anyway. Also, enjoy the housewarming gifts you've received from your "friends." 12. Thanks to you and your staff in the West Wing of the White House for vandalizing and destroying government property on the way out. I also appreciate removing all of that excess weight (China, silverware, linen, towels, ash trays, soap, pens, magnetic compass, flight manuals, etc.) out of Air Force 1. The weight savings means burning less fuel, thus less tax dollars spent on jet fuel. Thank you! 13. And finally, please ensure that Hillary enjoys the $8 million dollar advance for her "tell-all" book and you, Bill, the $10 million advance for your memoirs. Who says crime doesn't pay! 14. The last and most important point - thank you for forcing Israel to let Mohammed Atta go free. Terrorist pilot Mohammed Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The Israelis captured, tried and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called "political prisoners". However, the Israelis would not release any with blood on their hands. The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, "insisted" that all prisoners be released. Thus, Mohammed Atta was freed and eventually thanked the US by flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center. This was reported by many of the American TV networks at the time that the terrorists were first identified. It was censored in the US from all later reports. Why shouldn't Americans know the real truth? What a guy!! If you agree that the American public must be made aware of these facts, pass this on. God bless America and THANK YOU (once again) for spending my taxes so wisely and frugally. SINCERELY, A US Citizen PS. Please pass along a special thank you to Al Gore for "inventing" the Internet, without which I would not be able to send this wonderful, factual e-mail. AND THE REST OF THE STORY Hillary Rodham Clinton, as a New York State Senator, now comes under the "Congressional Retirement and Staffing Plan," which means that even if she never gets reelected, she STILL receives her Congressional salary until she dies (Would it not be nice if all Americans were pension eligible after only 4 years?). If Bill outlives her, he then inherits HER salary until HE dies. He is already getting his Presidential salary until he dies. If Hillary outlives Bill, she also gets HIS salary until she dies. Guess who pays for that? WE DO! It's common knowledge that in order for her to establish NY residency, they purchased a million dollar-plus house in upscale Chappaqua, New York. Makes sense. They are entitled to Secret Service protection for life. Still makes sense. Here is where it becomes interesting. Their mortgage payments hover at around $10,000 per month. BUT, an extra residence HAD to be built within the acreage to house the Secret Service agents. The Clinton's charge the Federal government $10,000 monthly rent for the use of that extra residence, which is just about equal to their mortgage payment. This means that we, the taxpayers, are paying the Clinton's salary, mortgage, transportation, safety and security, as well as the salaries for their 12 man staff -- and, this is all perfectly legal! When she runs for President, will you vote for her? I didn't write this, I'm just passing it along.

A little memo to Bill and Hillary Clinton. Please let me know what you think of it.? Worse than you thought & worth remembering - this came from a Democrat Dear Mr. Ex President Clinton: I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, "Thank me, I voted for Clinton-Gore" So, I sat down and reflected on that, and I am sending my "Thank you" for what you have done, specifically: 1. Thank you for introducing us to Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky, Dolly Kyle Browning, Kathleen Willey, and Juanita Broderick. Did I leave anyone out? 2. Thank you for teaching my 8 year old about oral sex. I had really planned to wait until he was a little older to discuss it with him, but now he knows more about it than I did as a senior in college. 3. Thank you for showing us that sexual harassment in the work place (especially the White House) and on the job is OK, and all you have to know is what the meaning of "it" is. It really is great to know that certain sexual acts are not sex, and one person may have sex while the other one does NOT have sex. 4. Thank you for reintroducing the concept of impeachment to a new generation and demonstrating that the ridiculous plot of the movie "Wag the Dog" could be plausible after all. 5. Thanks for making Jimmy Carter look competent, Gerald Ford look graceful, Richard Nixon look honest, Lyndon Johnson look truthful, and John Kennedy look moral. 6. Thank you for the 73 House and Senate witnesses who have pled the 5th Amendment and 17 witnesses who have fled the country to avoid testifying about Democratic campaign fund raising. 7. Thank you, for the 19 charges, 8 convictions, and 4 imprisonment's from the Whitewater "mess" and the 55 criminal charges and 32 criminal convictions (so far) in the other "Clinton" scandals. 8. Thanks also for reducing our military by half, "gutting" much of our foreign policy, and flying all over the world on "vacations" carefully disguised as necessary trips. 9 Thank you, also, for "finding" millions of dollars (I really didn't need it in the first place, and I can't think of a more deserving group of recipients for my hard-earned tax dollars) for all of your globe-trotting. I understand you, the family and your cronies have logged in more time aboard Air Force One than any other administration. 10. Now that you've left the White House, thanks for the 140 pardons of convicted felons and indicted felons-in-exile. We will love to have them rejoin society. (Not to mention the scores you pardoned while Governor of Arkansas) 11. Thanks also for removing the White House silverware. I'm sure that Laura Bush didn't like the pattern anyway. Also, enjoy the housewarming gifts you've received fro m your "friends." 12. Thanks to you and your staff in the West Wing of the White House for vandalizing and destroying government property on the way out. I also appreciate removing all of that excess weight ( China , silverware, linen, towels, ash trays, soap, pens, magnetic compass, flight manuals, etc.) out of Air Force 1. The weight savings means burning less fuel, thus less tax dollars spent on jet fuel. Thank you! 13. And finally, please ensure that Hillary enjoys the $8 million dollar advance for her "tell-all" book and you, Bill, the $10 million advance for your memoirs. Who says crime doesn't pay! 14. The last and most important point - thank you for forcing Israel to let Mohammed Atta go free. Terrorist pilot Mohammed Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The Israelis captured, tried and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called "political prisoners". However, the Israelis would not release any with blood on their hands. The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, "insisted" that all prisoners be released. Thus Mohammed Atta was freed and eventually thanked the US by flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center . This was reported by many of the American TV networks at the time that the terrorists were first identified. It was censored in the US from all later reports. Why shouldn't Americans know the real truth? What a guy!! If you agree that the American public must be made aware of these facts, pass this on. God bless America and THANK YOU (once again) for spending my taxes so wisely and frugally. SINCERELY, A US Citizen PS. Please pass along a special thank you to Al Gore for "inventing" the Internet, without which I would not be able to send this wonderful, factual e-mail. AND THE REST OF THE STORY Hillary Rodham Clinton, as a New York State Senator, now comes under the "Congressional Retirement and Staffing Plan," which means that even if she never gets reelected, she STILL receives her Congressional salary until she dies. (Would it not be nice if all Americans were pension eligible after only 4 years?) If Bill outlives her, he then inherits HER salary until HE dies. He is already getting h is Presidential salary until he dies. If Hillary outlives Bill, she also gets HIS salary until she dies. Guess who pays for that? WE DO! It's common knowledge that in order for her to establish NY residency, they purchased a million dollar-plus house in upscale Chappaqua , New York . Makes sense. They are entitled to Secret Service protection for life. Still makes sense. Here is where it becomes interesting. Their mortgage payments hover at around $10,000 per month. BUT, an extra residence HAD to be built within the acreage to house the Secret Service agents. The Clintons charge the Federal government $10,000 monthly rent for the use of that extra residence, which is just about equal to their mortgage payment. This means that we, the taxpayers, are paying the Clinton 's salary, mortgage, transportation, safety and security, as well as the salaries for their 12 man staff -- and, this is all perfectly legal! When she runs for President, will you vote for her? How many people can YOU send this to?

Is anyone familiar with Konstantin Stanislavski??? Can anyone take notes on this: BUILDING A CHARACTER Constantin Stanislavski CHAPTER FOURTEEN Toward an Ethics for the Theatre I “THE TIME has now come to speak of one more element,” Tortsov began today, “contributing to a creative dramatic state. It is produced by the atmosphere surrounding an actor on the stage and by the atmosphere in the auditorium. We call it ethics, discipline, and also the sense of joint enterprise in our theatre work. “All these things taken together create an artistic animation, an attitude of readiness to work together. It is a state which is favorable to creativeness. I do not know how else to describe it. “It is not the creative state itself but it is one of the main factors contributing to it. It prepares and facilitates that state. “I shall call it ethics in the theatre because it plays an important part in preparing us in advance for our work. Both the factor itself and what it produces in us and for us are significant because of the peculiarities of our profession. “A writer, a composer, a painter, a sculptor are not pressed for time. They can work when and where they find it convenient to do so. They have the free disposal of their time. “This is not the case with an actor. He has to be ready to produce at a fixed hour as advertised. How can he order himself to be inspired at a given time? It is far from simple. “He needs order, discipline, a code of ethics not only for the general circumstances of his work, but also and especially for his artistic and creative purposes. “The first condition towards the bringing about of this preliminary state is to follow the principle I have aimed at: Love art in yourself and not yourself in art. “The career of an actor,” Tortsov went on, “is a splendid one for those who are devoted to it and understand and see it in the true light.” “What if an actor does not do this ?“ one of the students asked. “That is unfortunate because it will cripple him as a human being. Unless the theatre can ennoble you, make you a better person, you should flee from it,” Tortsov replied. “Why?” we asked in chorus. “Because there are a lot of bacilli in the theatre, some are good and some are extremely harmful. The good bacilli will further the growth in you of a passion for what is fine, elevating, for great thoughts and feelings. They will help you to commune with the great geniuses such as Shakespeare, Pushkin, Gogol, Moliere. Their creations and traditions live in us. In the theatre you will also meet modern writers and representatives of all branches of art, science, of social science, of poetic thought. “This select company will teach you to understand art and the essential meaning at its core. That is the principal thing about art, therein lies its greatest fascination.” “Exactly in what?” I asked. “In coming to know, in working on, studying your art, its bases, methods and technique of creativeness,” explained Tortsov. “Also in the torments and joys of creation, which we all feel as a group. “And in the joys of accomplishment, which renew the spirit and lend it wings! “Even in the doubts and failures, for in them also lies a stimulus to new struggles, strength for new work and fresh discoveries. “There is too an esthetic satisfaction which is never altogether complete and it provokes and arouses new energy. “How much of life there is in all this!” “What about success ?“ I enquired rather shyly. “Success is transient, evanescent,” answered Tortsov. “The real passion lies in the poignant acquisition of knowledge about all the shadings and subtleties of the creative secrets. “Meantime do not forget the bad, the dangerous, corrupting bacilli of the theatre. It is not surprising that they thrive there; there are too many temptations in our theatre world. “An actor is on view every day before an audience of a thousand spectators from such and such an hour to such and such an hour. He is surrounded by the magnificent trappings of a production, set against the effective background of painted scenery, dressed often in rich and beautiful clothes. He speaks the soaring lines of geniuses, he makes picturesque gestures, graceful motions, produces impressions of startling beauty—which in large measure are brought about by artful means. Always being in the public eye, displaying his or her best aspects, receiving ovations, accepting extravagant praise, reading glowing criticisms—all these things and many more of the same order constitute immeasurable temptations. “These breed in an actor the sense of craving for constant, uninterrupted titillation of his personal vanity. But if he lives only on that and similar stimuli he is bound to sink low and become trivial. A serious minded person could not be entertained for long by such a life, yet a shallow one is enthralled, debauched, destroyed by it. That is why in our world of the theatre we must learn to hold ourselves well in check. We have to live by rigid discipline. “If we keep our theatre free from all types of evil we, by the same token, bring about conditions favorable to our own work in it. Remember this practical piece of advice: Never come into the theatre with mud on your feet. Leave your dust and dirt outside. Check your little worries, squabbles, petty difficulties with your outside clothing—all the things that ruin your life and draw your attention away from your art.” “Excuse me for pointing this out,” interrupted Grisha, “but no such theatre exists in the world.” “Unfortunately you are right,” admitted Tortsov. “People are so stupid and spineless that they still prefer to introduce petty, humdrum bickerings, spites and intrigues into the place supposedly reserved for creative art. “They do not seem to be able to clear their throats before they cross the threshold of the theatre, they come inside and spit on the clean floor. It is incomprehensible why they do this! “It is all the more reason why you should be the ones to discover the right, the high minded significance of the theatre and its art. From the very first steps you take in its service train yourselves to come into the theatre with clean feet. “Our illustrious forbears in acting have summed this attitude up in the following way: “A true priest is aware of the presence of the altar during every moment that he is conducting a service. It is exactly the same way that a true artist should react to the stage all the time he is in the theatre. An actor who is incapable of this feeling will never be a true artist!” 2 A great deal of discussion was caused in the theatre by a scandal in connection with one of the actors. He was severely reprimanded and warned that he would be dismissed if he repeated the intolerable offense. Grisha had as usual a lot to say on the subject: “I for one don’t think the management has any right to mix into an actor’s private life!” Whereupon some of the others asked Tortsov to explain his point of view to us. “Does it not seem irrational to you to tear down with one hand what you are trying to build up with the other? Yet many actors do that very thing. On the stage they make every effort to convey beautiful and artistic impressions and then, as soon as they step down from the boards, almost as though they had been intent on spoofing their spectators who a moment ago were admiring them, they do their best to disillusion them. I can never forget the bitter pain caused me in my youth by a famous visiting star. I shall not tell you his name because I do not want to dim his glory for you. “I was present at an unforgettable performance. The impression he made on me was so tremendous I did not feel I could go home alone. I felt the necessity to discuss my experience with someone. So a friend and I went together to a restaurant. When we were in the midst of an excited conversation who should come in but our genius. We could not restrain ourselves, we rushed up to him and unloosed the floodgates of our enthusiasm. The great man invited us to join him at supper in a private room and there before our very eyes he proceeded to drink himself into a bestial state. Under the gloss was hidden such human corruption, such revolting boastfulness, deceit, gossip—all the attributes of a vulgar showoff. On top of that he refused to pay his bill for the wine he had consumed. It took us a long, long time to pay off this unexpected debt. And all the pleasure we got out of it was the privilege of conducting our belching and roaring host to his hotel where they were most unwilling to receive him in that disreputable drunken state. “Mix together all the good and all the bad impressions which we received from that extraordinarily gifted man and try to determine what result you get.” “Something like the hiccoughs you get from drinking champagne,” suggested Paul brightly. “Well, mind you don’t have the same thing happen to you when you get to be famous actors,” said Tortsov. “It is only when an actor is behind closed doors at home, in his most intimate circle, that he can let go. For his part is not played out when the curtain goes down. He is still bound in his everyday life to be the standard bearer of what is fine. Otherwise he will only destroy what he is trying to build. Remember this from the very beginning of your term of service to art and prepare yourselves for this mission. Develop in yourselves the necessary self- control, the ethics and discipline of a public servant destined to carry out into the world a message that is fine, elevating and noble. “An actor, by the very nature of the art he serves, becomes a member of a large and complex organization—the theatre. Under its emblem and hallmark he represents it daily to thousands nf spectators. Millions read daily in the papers about his work and activity in the institution of which he is a part. His name is so closely bound up with that of his theatre that it is scarcely possible to distinguish between them. Next to his family name that of this theatre belongs to him. In the mind of the public his artistic and his personal life are inextricably linked together. Therefore if an actor from the Art Theatre, the Maly, or another, commits a reprehensible act, any crime, is involved in any scandal, no matter what alibi he may offer, no matter what denial or explanation may be printed in the papers, he will be unable to wipe away the stain, the shadow, he has laid on his whole company, his theatre. This, therefore, obligates an actor to conduct himself worthily outside the walls of his theatre and to protect his good name both on the boards and in his private life.” 3 “One of the measures calculated to insure order and a healthy atmosphere in the theatre is to reinforce the authority of the people, who for one reason or another, have been put in charge of the work. “Before they are chosen and appointed you may argue, wrangle, and protest against one candidacy or another but once that person has been elected to a post of leadership or management it is up to you to support him in every possible way. That is only fair from the point of view of the common good. And the weaker he is the more you should support him. For if he does not enjoy any authority the main motive force of the group will become paralyzed. What becomes of a collective if it is deprived of the leader who initiates, pushes, and directs the common work? We love to decry, discredit, humiliate those whom we have raised to high places, or if a gifted person climbs above us we are ready to use all our strength to beat him down and yell at him: How dare you presume to stand over us, you climber! How many talented and useful people have been destroyed that way. A few, in spite of all obstacles, have achieved general recognition and admiration. But on the whole the brazen ones, who usually succeed in bossing us, have all the luck. And we growl to ourselves and stand it because we find it hard to arrive at any Unanimity and we are afraid to overthrow those who terrorize us. “In theatres, with few exceptions, this is vividly exemplified. The struggle for priority among actors, regisseurs, jealousy of each other’s success, divisions caused by differences in salaries types of parts—all this is strongly developed in our line of work and constitutes its greatest evil. We cloak our ambition, jealousy, intrigues with all kinds of fine sounding phrases such as ‘enlightened competition,’ but all the time the atmosphere is filled with the poison gases of backstage back-biting. “Out of fear of all competition and because of its narrow-minded envy actors meet any newcomer in their midst with fixed bayonets. If he can stand the test he is lucky. Yet how many are terrified, lose all faith in themselves, and go under? “How close to animal psychology all this is! “Once when I was sitting on the balcony of a house in a small provincial town I had an opportunity to watch some dogs. They also have their own limits, lines of demarcation which they are keen to maintain. If an outsider dares to overstep a certain bound and he is met by the combined curs of that particular district. he succeeds in giving a good account of himself he wins recognition in the end and is accepted in the district into which he had intruded. Or he turns tail and flees, wounded and maimed, from his own fellow creatures, “And it is this very form of brute psychology which is rampant, alas, in all theatres with few exceptions, and which must be destroyed. It is in force not only among newcomers but also among the groups of old timers. I have heard two great actresses going for each other not only backstage but during performances and in terms that a fishwife would envy. I have been witness to the conduct of two famous and talented actors who refused to enter the stage through one and the same wing or door. I have been told about two celebrated stars, a man and a woman, who for years played opposite each other without being on speaking terms. During rehearsal they communicated with one another through a third person. He would say to the man directing the play: ‘Tell her that she is talking nonsense,’ and she would reply through the same channel: ‘Tell him that he is acting like a boor.’ “Why is it that such talented people are willing to destroy the and fine work which they themselves originally built up? For the sake of personal, trivial, petty insult and misunderstandings? “Such are the suicidal depths to which actors sink if they are not able to overcome in time their bad professional instincts. I hope this will be an example and vivid warning to you.” 4 “Let us suppose that one actor in a well and carefully prepared production, either through laziness, neglect or inattentiveness, departs so far from the true performance of his part as to act in a purely routine, mechanical way. Has he the right to do this? After all, he was not alone in producing the play, he is not solely responsible for the work put in it. In such an enterprise one works for all and all for one. There ‘must be mutual responsibility and whoever betrays that trust must be condemned as a traitor. “In spite of my great admiration for individual splendid talents, I do not accept the star system. Collective creative effort is the root of our kind of art. That requires ensemble acting and whoever mars that ensemble is committing a crime not only against his comrades but also against the very art of which he is the servant. 5 Our class was to meet for a rehearsal in one of the greenrooms backstage where the regular actors of the theatre company met their friends. Afraid of disgracing ourselves before them we asked Rakhmanov to give us some advice about how to act there. To our surprise the Director himself appeared. He said that he had been much touched to hear of our serious attitude toward the rehearsal. “You will realize what you need to do and how you should conduct yourselves if you bear in mind that this is a collective enterprise,” he said to us. “You are all going to be producing together, you will all be helping one another, all be dependent on one another. You will all be directed by one person, your regisseur. “If there is orderliness and proper distribution of work, your collective effort will be pleasant and productive because it is based on mutual help. But if there is chaos and a wrong atmosphere for work then your collective enterprise can become a torture chamber, you will be getting in each other’s way, pushing each other around. It is clear therefore that you must all agree to establish and support discipline.” p “How do we support it?” “First of all, you arrive at the theatre on time, a half hour or a quarter of an hour before the rehearsal is called, in order to go over the elements which are necessary to establish your inner state. “If even one person is late it upsets all the others. And if all are late your working hours will be frittered away in waiting instead -f being applied to your job. That makes an actor wild and puts him in a condition where he is incapable of work. But if on the contrary you all have the right attitude towards your collective responsibilities and come to your rehearsal with proper preparation you will create a splendid atmosphere which will challenge and encourage you. Your work will go along hummingly because you are all helping each other. “It is also important that you take the right attitude towards the object of each individual rehearsal. “The great mass of actors have quite a wrong idea about their attitude toward rehearsals. They believe that they need work only at rehearsals and that they can be idle at home. “Whereas this is not the case at all. The rehearsal merely clarifies the problems that an actor needs to work on at home. That is one reason why I place no confidence in actors who chatter a lot at rehearsals and do not make notes on planning their home-work. “They pretend that they can remember everything without notes. Nonsense! Do they think that I do not know that they cannot possibly remember everything because, in the first place, the regisseur mentions so many details both major and minor that no memory could retain them, and, in the second place, they are dealing for the most part not with definite facts but with feelings stored up in emotion memory. To understand, to comprehend and recall them, the actor must find the appropriate word, expression, example, some means of description with the aid of which he will be able to evoke, to fix the sensation under discussion. “He will have to think about it at home before he will be able to find it again and call it forth from his inner being. That is a tremendous piece of work. It requires great concentration in his work both at home and also at rehearsal when the actor first receives the comments of the regisseur. “We, the regisseurs, know better than anyone else what credence to give to the assertions of inattentive actors. We are the ones who are obliged to repeat the same things to them over and over again. “That kind of an attitude on the part of certain individuals toward a joint piece of work acts as a great brake. Seven will not wait for one. Remember that. Therefore work out for yourselves the right kind of artistic ethics and discipline. This will force you to prepare yourselves properly at home in advance of each rehearsal. Let it be a source of shame and badge of disloyalty to you before your whole group if you are the cause of making the regisseur repeat something he has already explained. You have no right to forget the regisseur’s remarks. You may not comprehend them all at once, you may have to return to them in order to study them more thoroughly, but you may not merely take them in one ear and send them out of the other. That is a crime against all the other workers in the theatre. “Therefore, in order to avoid that misdemeanor, you must teach yourself how to work independently at home on your part. This is no easy task but it is something you must learn how to do thoroughly and well while you are in training here. Here I can take all the time which may be necessary to go into the details of that work but at rehearsals I cannot come back to these things without running the risk of their being turned into lessons. Out on the stage the demands made on you will be far stricter than in the class room. Bear this in mind and prepare yourselves for it.” 6 “How does a singer, a pianist, a dancer, start his day ?“ Tortsov asked at the beginning of today’s class. “He gets up, bathes, dresses, has breakfast and at a time appointed for this purpose he begins his exercises. The singer vocalizes, the pianist plays his scales, the dancer hurries to the theatre, to his practice bar in order to keep his muscles in trim. This is done day after day, winter and summer. A day omitted is a day lost and a detriment to the art of the performer. “Tolstoy, Chekhov and other great artists considered it a necessity to sit down every day at a given hour to write, if not on a novel or short story or play, at least in a diary, to record thoughts and observations. The main point was day by day to cultivate the most delicate and precise ways of rendering all the subtle intricacies of human thoughts and feelings, visual observations and emotional impressions. “Ask any artist and he will tell you the same thing. “Nor is that all: I know a surgeon (and surgery is also an art), who devotes all his free time to playing with the most delicate kind of oriental jackstraws. After tea, while conversing with others, he cleverly fishes out some item underneath a complicated pile of little sticks just to keep his hand in. “And it is only the actor who, when he has gotten up in the morning, dressed and breakfasted, hurries out into the street or calls on friends or does other personal errands, because that is his free time. “That may well be. But the singer, the concert pianist, the dancer do not have any more time. They have rehearsals, lessons, performances too. “Nevertheless it is always the excuse of the actor, who neglects his home-work on the technique of his art, that he has ‘no time.’ “What a pity! As I have said before, an actor, more than any other special artist, is in need of that work at home. Whereas a singer has to be concerned only with his voice and breathing, a dancer with his physical apparatus, and a pianist with his hands r an instrumentalist with his breathing and lip technique—an actor is responsible for his arms, his legs, his eyes, his face, the plasticity of his whole body, his rhythm, his motion and all the program of our activities here in the school. These exercises do not stop with graduation, they go on through your whole lives as artists. And the older you get the more necessary it will be for you to point up your technique and consequently to maintain a system of regular work-outs. “But since the actor has ‘no time’ for such practice his art at best will mark time or at worst run down hill because it consists of only an accidental technique drawn by necessity from unthinking, false, untrue, mechanical rehearsing or badly prepared public appearances. “And yet an actor, especially the ones who complain most about lack of time, those who play roles of second or third in importance, actually have more freedom than anyone else active in various artistic professions. “Just look at the schedule. Take an actor who plays in the mob scenes in, let us say, Tsar Fyodor. He must be ready by 7:30 p.m. He appears in the second scene (the reconciliation of Boris with Shuiski). Then there is an intermission. Do not think that the actor needs to use all of it to change his make-up and costume. No, indeed! Most of the actors keep the same make-up and change only their outer garments. Let us assume that ten out of the fifteen minutes normally assigned to an intermission is used up. “Following that is the short scene in the garden, a two minute wait and then the long scene in the Tsar’s chamber. It plays not less than half an hour, therefore if you add that to the intermission you have approximately thirty-five plus ten—forty-five minutes. “Then come the other scenes which you can calculate for yourselves and arrive at a general sum total. “That is how the matter stands for our colleagues who play in the mob scenes. There are also a number of actors who play bits or even larger parts which are episodic in character. After his episode is finished the actor is either free for the rest of the evening or he waits for another five minute appearance in the last act and the whole time is loafing around the dressing room and being bored. “That is the way actors divide their time when engaged in one of the more complicated and large productions, like Tsar Fyodor. “And now what about the large number of others who are not playing on this particular evening? They are free and they spend their time appearing in pot boiler performances. Let us make a note of that. “So much for the evening occupations. What happens during the daytime at rehearsals? In some theatres, take ours for instance, rehearsals are called for eleven or twelve o’clock. Until then our actors are free. And that is only right for various reasons that are connected with the peculiarities of our lives. An actor’s performance finishes late, he is wrought up and it takes some time for him to calm down sufficiently to go to sleep. At an hour when most people are sound asleep our actor is playing the last and most difficult act of a tragedy. When he comes home he takes advantage of the quiet to concentrate, without being interrupted, on the new part he is preparing. “So what is surprising about the fact that on the following morning when everyone else is already up and at work our tired actor is sound asleep after his long hours of wear and tear on his nerves? “He has probably been on a spree—is what many say about us. “And there are theatres, which pride themselves on keeping their actors on their toes with their iron discipline and model order—so-called. They have rehearsals at 9 a.m. (incidentally after finishing a Shakespearean tragedy at ii p.m. the previous evening). “Such theatres, which boast of their organization, do not take their actors into consideration and in a way they are quite right. Actors in those theatres can die three times a day with utmost comfort and they can rehearse three different plays every morning. “‘Tra-la-la. . . . boom, boom. . . .‘ the leading actress trills in a low voice to her partner in a scene, and adds: ‘I cross to the sofa and sit down!’ “To which the leading man replies in half tones: ‘Tra-la-la. . boom, boom. . . .‘ etc., and then: ‘I cross to sofa, drop on one knee and kiss your hand!’ “It often happens when we are on our way to a rehearsal at noon that we meet an actor from one of those other theatres who is strolling around after a whole morning of rehearsals. “‘Where are you off to?’ he asks. ‘To rehearsal.’ ‘What? At noon! At such a late hour!’ he exclaims not without irony and venom and obviously thinking to himself: ‘What a sleepyhead and shiftless creature!’, and then he says aloud: ‘What a way to run a theatre! Why, I have already finished my rehearsal. We ran through a whole play! We begin work at nine a.m.!’ This last is said with a touch of boastfulness by the mechanic-artist who measures with condescending eye our belated actor. “But I have said enough. I already know in that instance what so-called ‘art’ is in question in those theatres. “And now here is my problem: there are many managers in good theatres who are seriously trying to achieve a degree of genuine artistry who really believe that the so-called iron discipline and order of the mechanical actors is right and even ideal. How can such people, who judge the product and conditions of work of a real artist according to standards established by book-keepers, cashiers, and accountants, be put in charge of the direction of artistic accomplishment or even understand how it is to be carried on, how much nervous energy, life, and the highest spiritual outbursts are laid on the altar of their beloved art by true actors who ‘sleep until noon and are the cause of endless disorder in the schedules set up by the repertory office!’ “How can we get away from such managers with petty tradesman or bank clerk mentalities? Where are we to find people who understand and, above all, who sense what the main object of true artists is and how to deal with them? “Meanwhile I am putting more and more pressure on these already over-burdened real artists, regardless of whether they are playing long or short parts: I am asking that they take their last remaining free time—the intermissions and the waits between their entrances and the hours between rehearsals—to work on their technique. “For such work, as I proved to you by figures, there is plenty of time.” “But you want to exhaust the poor actor, and take away his last breathing spell !“ “No, indeed, I assert. The most exhausting thing for an actor is to loaf around his dressing room waiting for his next entrance.” 7 “There are many actors and actresses who do not take creative initiative. They do not prepare their roles outside the theatre by letting their imaginations and subconscious play on the character they are to portray. They come to the rehearsal and wait around until they are led along a path of action. After a great effort the regisseur can sometimes succeed in striking sparks in such passive natures. Or these lazy persons may catch fire from watching others take hold, they may follow their lead and become infected with their feelings about the play. After a series of such vicarious sensations, if they have any gift at all, they may be able to arouse their own feelings and acquire a real grasp on their parts in their own right. Only we regisseurs know how much work, inventiveness, patience, nervous strength and time it takes to push such actors of weak creative impulse ahead, away from their dead center. Women, in such cases, are apt to excuse themselves charmingly and coquettishly by saying: How can I help it? I cannot act until I feel my part. As soon as the impulse comes everything will turn out all right. They say this with a touch of pride and boasting as though that procedure were a sure sign of inspiration and genius. “Need I explain that all such drones, who profit by the work and creativeness of others, are an infinite drag on the accomplishment of the whole group? It is because of them that productions are often delayed for weeks before they can be released. They not only are slow in their own work but the cause of delay in that of others. Indeed the actors playing opposite them have to exert themselves to the utmost in order to overcome their inertia. This in turn produces overacting, ruins their parts especially if they are not any too secure in them anyway. When they do not get the right cues the conscientious actors make violent efforts to stir the initiative of the sluggish actors, thereby impairing the true quality of their own playing. They get themselves into an impossible state and instead of facilitating the performance they clog it up by making it necessary for the regisseur to deflect his attention away from the general to their particular needs. Consequently we see not only the one passive actress contributing exaggerated, false acting to the rehearsal instead of lifelike, true emotions, but also the men who are playing opposite her as well. It takes no more than two actors straying down the wrong path to deflect a third or even a fourth. In the end one actor can derail a whole performance that was running smoothly and send it tumbling down hill. Poor régisseur! Poor actors! “You may say that it would have been better to dismiss those actors with undeveloped creative initiative and corresponding technique, but it is unfortunately true that among them there are a great many with talent. Less gifted actors would not dare to be so passive, whereas the more gifted ones, feeling unimpeded, allow themselves more leeway; they sincerely believe that they are in duty bound and indeed have the right to wait for the favorable wind, the rising tide of inspiration. “From all of which it should be clear to you that no actor has a right to take advantage of the work of others during a rehearsal. He must provide his own living emotions with which to bring his own part to life. If every actor in a production would do that he would be helping not only himself but the work of the whole cast. If on the contrary each actor is going to depend on the others there will be a complete lack of initiative. The regisseur cannot do the work of everyone. An actor is not a puppet. “So you see every actor is obliged to develop his own creative will and technique. He, along with all the others, is bound to do his own productive share of work at home and at rehearsal, always playing his part in the fullest tones of which he is capable.” 8 “The problem for our art and consequently for our theatre is— to create an inner life for a play and its characters, to express in physical and dramatic terms the fundamental core, the idea which impelled the writer, the poet, to produce his composition. “Every worker in the theatre from the doorman, the ticket taker, the hat-check girl, the usher, all the people the public comes into contact with as they enter the theatre on up to the managers, the staff, and finally the actors themselves—they all are co-creators with the playwright, the composer, for the sake of whose play the audience assembles. They all serve, they all are subject to the fundamental aim of our art. They all, without exception, are participants in the production. Anyone who in any degree obstructs our common effort to carry out our basic aim should be declared an undesirable member of our community. If any of the staff out front greets any member of the audience inhospitably thereby ruining his good humor, he has struck a blow against our general objective and the goal of our art. If it is cold, dirty, untidy in the theatre, if the curtain is late in rising, if the performance drags— then the mood of the public is depressed, they arc not receptive to the main thoughts and feelings offered to them through the joint efforts of the playwright, the regisseur, the company and the actors. They feel they had no cause to come to the play, the performance is spoiled, and the theatre loses its social, artistic and educational significance. “The playwright, the composer, the cast, all do their share to create the necessary atmosphere on their side of the footlights, and the administrative staff does its part in creating an appropriate mood in the audience and backstage where the actors are getting ready for a performance. The spectator as well as the actor is an active participant in a performance and therefore he too needs to be prepared for his part, he must be put in the proper mood in order to be receptive to the impressions and thoughts the playwright wishes to impart to him. “This absolute dependence of all the workers in the theatre on the ultimate aim of our art remains in force not only during performances but also during rehearsals and even at other hours of the day and night. If for any reason a rehearsal is unproductive those who obstructed the work were undermining our general purpose. Artists can operate successfully only under certain necessary conditions. Anyone who upsets those conditions is being disloyal to his art and to the society of which he is a part. A bad rehearsal does harm to a part and a distorted part prevents an actor from conveying the thoughts of the playwright, in other words from accomplishing his main job.”

Do you like the Clintons for President? Remember this when she runs for President Bill & Hillary: Worth remembering and this came from a Democrat. Dear Mr. Ex President Clinton: I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, "Thank me, I voted for Clinton-Gore." So, I sat down and reflected on that, and I am sending my "Thank you" for what you have done, specifically: 1. Thank you for introducing us to Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky, Dolly Kyle Browning, Kathleen Willey, and Juanita Broderick. Did I leave anyone out? 2. Thank you for teaching my 8 year old about oral sex. I had really planned to wait until he was a little older to discu ss it with him, but now he knows more about it than I did as a senior in college. 3. Thank you for showing us that sexual harassment in the work place (especially the White House) and on the job is OK, and all you have to know is what the meaning of "is" is. It really is great to know that certain sexual acts are not sex, and one person may have sex while the other one does NOT have sex. 4. Thank you for reintroducing the concept of impeachment to a new generation and demonstrating that the ridiculous plot of the movie; "Wag the Dog" could be plausible after all. 5. Thanks for making Jimmy Carter look competent, Gerald Ford look graceful, Richard Nixon look honest, Lyndon Johnson look truthful, and John Kennedy look moral. 6. Thank you for the 73 House and Senate witnesses who have pled the 5th Amendment and 17 witnesses who have fled the country to avoid testifying about Democratic campaign fund raising. 7. Thank you, for the 19 charges, 8 convictions, and 4 imprisonments from the Whitewater "mess" and the 55 criminal charges and 32 criminal convictions (so far) in the other " Clinton" scandals. 8. Thanks also for reducing our military by half, "gutting" much of our foreign policy, and flying all over the world on "vacations" carefully disguised as necessary trips. 9. Thank you, also, for "finding" millions of dollars (I really didn't need it in the first place, and I can't think of a more deserving group of recipients for my hard-earned tax dollars) for all of your globe-trotting. I understand you, the family and your cronies have logged in more time aboard Air Force One than any other administration. 10. Now that you've left the White House, thanks for the 140 pardons of convicted felons and indicted felons-in-ex ile. We will love to have them rejoin society. (Not to mention the scores you pardoned while Governor of Arkansas ) 11. Thanks also for removing the White House silverware. I'm sure that Laura Bush didn't like the pattern anyway. Also, enjoy the housewarming gifts you've received from your "friends." 12. Thanks to you and your staff in the West Wing of the White House for vandalizing and destroying government property on the way out. I also appreciate removing all of that excess weight ( China , silverware, linen, towels, ash trays, soap, pens, magnetic compass, flight manuals, etc.) out of Air Force 1. The weight savings means burning less fuel, thus less tax dollars spent on jet fuel. Thank you! 13. And finally, please ensure that Hillary enjoys the $8 million dollar advance for her "tell-all " book and you, Bill, the $10 million advance for your memoirs. Who says crime doesn't pay? 14. The last and most important point - thank you for forcing Israe l to let Mohammed Atta go free. Terrorist pilot Mohammed Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The Israelis captured, tri! ed and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called "political prisoners". However, the Israelis would not release any with blood on their hands. The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, "insisted" that all prisoners be released. Thus Mohammed Atta was freed and eventually thanked the US by flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center . This was reported by many of the American TV networks at the time that the terrorists were first identified. It was censored in the US from all later reports. Why shouldn't Americans know the real truth? What a guy! SINCERELY, A US Citizen PS. Please pass along a special thank you to Al Gore for "inventing" the Internet, without which I would not be able to send th is wonderful, factual e-mail. AND THE REST OF THE STORY: It's common knowledge that in order for her to establish NY residency, they purchased a million dollar-plus house in upscale Chappaqua , New York . Makes sense. They are entitled to Secret Service protection for life. Still makes sense. Here is where it becomes interesting. Their mortgage payments hover at around $10,000 per month. BUT, an extra residence HAD to be built within the acreage to house the Secret Service agents. The Clintons charge the Federal government $10,000 monthly rent for the use of that extra residence, which is just about equal to their mortgage payment. This means that we, the taxpayers, are paying the Clinton 's salary, mortgage, transportation, safety and security, as well as the salaries for their 12 man staff -- and, this is all perfectly legal! When she runs for President, will you vote for her? How many people can YOU send this to? Unfortunately s ome will read it and not care but just maybe this will get through to others. Poet 1 B: and who do you think help fund the Clintons campaigns? China!

Do you like the Clintons for President? Remember this when she runs for President Bill & Hillary: Worth remembering and this came from a Democrat. Dear Mr. Ex President Clinton: I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, "Thank me, I voted for Clinton-Gore." So, I sat down and reflected on that, and I am sending my "Thank you" for what you have done, specifically: 1. Thank you for introducing us to Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky, Dolly Kyle Browning, Kathleen Willey, and Juanita Broderick. Did I leave anyone out? 2. Thank you for teaching my 8 year old about oral sex. I had really planned to wait until he was a little older to discu ss it with him, but now he knows more about it than I did as a senior in college. 3. Thank you for showing us that sexual harassment in the work place (especially the White House) and on the job is OK, and all you have to know is what the meaning of "is" is. It really is great to know that certain sexual acts are not sex, and one person may have sex while the other one does NOT have sex. 4. Thank you for reintroducing the concept of impeachment to a new generation and demonstrating that the ridiculous plot of the movie; "Wag the Dog" could be plausible after all. 5. Thanks for making Jimmy Carter look competent, Gerald Ford look graceful, Richard Nixon look honest, Lyndon Johnson look truthful, and John Kennedy look moral. 6. Thank you for the 73 House and Senate witnesses who have pled the 5th Amendment and 17 witnesses who have fled the country to avoid testifying about Democratic campaign fund raising. 7. Thank you, for the 19 charges, 8 convictions, and 4 imprisonments from the Whitewater "mess" and the 55 criminal charges and 32 criminal convictions (so far) in the other " Clinton" scandals. 8. Thanks also for reducing our military by half, "gutting" much of our foreign policy, and flying all over the world on "vacations" carefully disguised as necessary trips. 9. Thank you, also, for "finding" millions of dollars (I really didn't need it in the first place, and I can't think of a more deserving group of recipients for my hard-earned tax dollars) for all of your globe-trotting. I understand you, the family and your cronies have logged in more time aboard Air Force One than any other administration. 10. Now that you've left the White House, thanks for the 140 pardons of convicted felons and indicted felons-in-ex ile. We will love to have them rejoin society. (Not to mention the scores you pardoned while Governor of Arkansas ) 11. Thanks also for removing the White House silverware. I'm sure that Laura Bush didn't like the pattern anyway. Also, enjoy the housewarming gifts you've received from your "friends." 12. Thanks to you and your staff in the West Wing of the White House for vandalizing and destroying government property on the way out. I also appreciate removing all of that excess weight ( China , silverware, linen, towels, ash trays, soap, pens, magnetic compass, flight manuals, etc.) out of Air Force 1. The weight savings means burning less fuel, thus less tax dollars spent on jet fuel. Thank you! 13. And finally, please ensure that Hillary enjoys the $8 million dollar advance for her "tell-all " book and you, Bill, the $10 million advance for your memoirs. Who says crime doesn't pay? 14. The last and most important point - thank you for forcing Israe l to let Mohammed Atta go free. Terrorist pilot Mohammed Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The Israelis captured, tri! ed and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called "political prisoners". However, the Israelis would not release any with blood on their hands. The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, "insisted" that all prisoners be released. Thus Mohammed Atta was freed and eventually thanked the US by flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center . This was reported by many of the American TV networks at the time that the terrorists were first identified. It was censored in the US from all later reports. Why shouldn't Americans know the real truth? What a guy! SINCERELY, A US Citizen PS. Please pass along a special thank you to Al Gore for "inventing" the Internet, without which I would not be able to send th is wonderful, factual e-mail. AND THE REST OF THE STORY: It's common knowledge that in order for her to establish NY residency, they purchased a million dollar-plus house in upscale Chappaqua , New York . Makes sense. They are entitled to Secret Service protection for life. Still makes sense. Here is where it becomes interesting. Their mortgage payments hover at around $10,000 per month. BUT, an extra residence HAD to be built within the acreage to house the Secret Service agents. The Clintons charge the Federal government $10,000 monthly rent for the use of that extra residence, which is just about equal to their mortgage payment. This means that we, the taxpayers, are paying the Clinton 's salary, mortgage, transportation, safety and security, as well as the salaries for their 12 man staff -- and, this is all perfectly legal! When she runs for President, will you vote for her? How many people can YOU send this to? Unfortunately s ome will read it and not care but just maybe this will get through to others.

Do you like the Clintons for President? Remember this when she runs for President Bill & Hillary: Worth remembering and this came from a Democrat. Dear Mr. Ex President Clinton: I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, "Thank me, I voted for Clinton-Gore." So, I sat down and reflected on that, and I am sending my "Thank you" for what you have done, specifically: 1. Thank you for introducing us to Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky, Dolly Kyle Browning, Kathleen Willey, and Juanita Broderick. Did I leave anyone out? 2. Thank you for teaching my 8 year old about oral sex. I had really planned to wait until he was a little older to discu ss it with him, but now he knows more about it than I did as a senior in college. 3. Thank you for showing us that sexual harassment in the work place (especially the White House) and on the job is OK, and all you have to know is what the meaning of "is" is. It really is great to know that certain sexual acts are not sex, and one person may have sex while the other one does NOT have sex. 4. Thank you for reintroducing the concept of impeachment to a new generation and demonstrating that the ridiculous plot of the movie; "Wag the Dog" could be plausible after all. 5. Thanks for making Jimmy Carter look competent, Gerald Ford look graceful, Richard Nixon look honest, Lyndon Johnson look truthful, and John Kennedy look moral. 6. Thank you for the 73 House and Senate witnesses who have pled the 5th Amendment and 17 witnesses who have fled the country to avoid testifying about Democratic campaign fund raising. 7. Thank you, for the 19 charges, 8 convictions, and 4 imprisonments from the Whitewater "mess" and the 55 criminal charges and 32 criminal convictions (so far) in the other " Clinton" scandals. 8. Thanks also for reducing our military by half, "gutting" much of our foreign policy, and flying all over the world on "vacations" carefully disguised as necessary trips. 9. Thank you, also, for "finding" millions of dollars (I really didn't need it in the first place, and I can't think of a more deserving group of recipients for my hard-earned tax dollars) for all of your globe-trotting. I understand you, the family and your cronies have logged in more time aboard Air Force One than any other administration. 10. Now that you've left the White House, thanks for the 140 pardons of convicted felons and indicted felons-in-ex ile. We will love to have them rejoin society. (Not to mention the scores you pardoned while Governor of Arkansas ) 11. Thanks also for removing the White House silverware. I'm sure that Laura Bush didn't like the pattern anyway. Also, enjoy the housewarming gifts you've received from your "friends." 12. Thanks to you and your staff in the West Wing of the White House for vandalizing and destroying government property on the way out. I also appreciate removing all of that excess weight ( China , silverware, linen, towels, ash trays, soap, pens, magnetic compass, flight manuals, etc.) out of Air Force 1. The weight savings means burning less fuel, thus less tax dollars spent on jet fuel. Thank you! 13. And finally, please ensure that Hillary enjoys the $8 million dollar advance for her "tell-all " book and you, Bill, the $10 million advance for your memoirs. Who says crime doesn't pay? 14. The last and most important point - thank you for forcing Israe l to let Mohammed Atta go free. Terrorist pilot Mohammed Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The Israelis captured, tri! ed and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called "political prisoners". However, the Israelis would not release any with blood on their hands. The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, "insisted" that all prisoners be released. Thus Mohammed Atta was freed and eventually thanked the US by flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center . This was reported by many of the American TV networks at the time that the terrorists were first identified. It was censored in the US from all later reports. Why shouldn't Americans know the real truth? What a guy! SINCERELY, A US Citizen PS. Please pass along a special thank you to Al Gore for "inventing" the Internet, without which I would not be able to send th is wonderful, factual e-mail. AND THE REST OF THE STORY: It's common knowledge that in order for her to establish NY residency, they purchased a million dollar-plus house in upscale Chappaqua , New York . Makes sense. They are entitled to Secret Service protection for life. Still makes sense. Here is where it becomes interesting. Their mortgage payments hover at around $10,000 per month. BUT, an extra residence HAD to be built within the acreage to house the Secret Service agents. The Clintons charge the Federal government $10,000 monthly rent for the use of that extra residence, which is just about equal to their mortgage payment. This means that we, the taxpayers, are paying the Clinton 's salary, mortgage, transportation, safety and security, as well as the salaries for their 12 man staff -- and, this is all perfectly legal! When she runs for President, will you vote for her? How many people can YOU send this to? Unfortunately s ome will read it and not care but just maybe this will get through to others.

I ask Democrates, are we going to stand for the Left wing doing what the are doing?Glenn Greenwald?

Poll: Did you like The Oddysey or The Iliad better? I liked the Iliad better. This was my favorite part: Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, first fell out with one another. And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel? It was the son of Jove and Leto; for he was angry with the king and sent a pestilence upon the host to plague the people, because the son of Atreus had dishonoured Chryses his priest. Now Chryses had come to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and had brought with him a great ransom: moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo wreathed with a suppliant's wreath and he besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus, who were their chiefs. "Sons of Atreus," he cried, "and all other Achaeans, may the gods who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam, and to reach your homes in safety; but free my daughter, and accept a ransom for her, in reverence to Apollo, son of Jove." On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered; but not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away. "Old man," said he, "let me not find you tarrying about our ships, nor yet coming hereafter. Your sceptre of the god and your wreath shall profit you nothing. I will not free her. She shall grow old in my house at Argos far from her own home, busying herself with her loom and visiting my couch; so go, and do not provoke me or it shall be the worse for you." The old man feared him and obeyed. Not a word he spoke, but went by the shore of the sounding sea and prayed apart to King Apollo whom lovely Leto had borne. "Hear me," he cried, "O god of the silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest Tenedos with thy might, hear me oh thou of Sminthe. If I have ever decked your temple with garlands, or burned your thigh-bones in fat of bulls or goats, grant my prayer, and let your arrows avenge these my tears upon the Danaans." Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He came down furious from the summits of Olympus, with his bow and his quiver upon his shoulder, and the arrows rattled on his back with the rage that trembled within him. He sat himself down away from the ships with a face as dark as night, and his silver bow rang death as he shot his arrow in the midst of them. First he smote their mules and their hounds, but presently he aimed his shafts at the people themselves, and all day long the pyres of the dead were burning. For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people, but upon the tenth day Achilles called them in assembly- moved thereto by Juno, who saw the Achaeans in their death-throes and had compassion upon them. Then, when they were got together, he rose and spoke among them. "Son of Atreus," said he, "I deem that we should now turn roving home if we would escape destruction, for we are being cut down by war and pestilence at once. Let us ask some priest or prophet, or some reader of dreams (for dreams, too, are of Jove) who can tell us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry, and say whether it is for some vow that we have broken, or hecatomb that we have not offered, and whether he will accept the savour of lambs and goats without blemish, so as to take away the plague from us." With these words he sat down, and Calchas son of Thestor, wisest of augurs, who knew things past present and to come, rose to speak. He it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to Ilius, through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had inspired him. With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed them thus:- "Achilles, loved of heaven, you bid me tell you about the anger of King Apollo, I will therefore do so; but consider first and swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed, for I know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might, to whom all the Achaeans are in subjection. A plain man cannot stand against the anger of a king, who if he swallow his displeasure now, will yet nurse revenge till he has wreaked it. Consider, therefore, whether or no you will protect me." And Achilles answered, "Fear not, but speak as it is borne in upon you from heaven, for by Apollo, Calchas, to whom you pray, and whose oracles you reveal to us, not a Danaan at our ships shall lay his hand upon you, while I yet live to look upon the face of the earth- no, not though you name Agamemnon himself, who is by far the foremost of the Achaeans." Thereon the seer spoke boldly. "The god," he said, "is angry neither about vow nor hecatomb, but for his priest's sake, whom Agamemnon has dishonoured, in that he would not free his daughter nor take a ransom for her; therefore has he sent these evils upon us, and will yet send others. He will not deliver the Danaans from this pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl without fee or ransom to her father, and has sent a holy hecatomb to Chryse. Thus we may perhaps appease him." With these words he sat down, and Agamemnon rose in anger. His heart was black with rage, and his eyes flashed fire as he scowled on Calchas and said, "Seer of evil, you never yet prophesied smooth things concerning me, but have ever loved to foretell that which was evil. You have brought me neither comfort nor performance; and now you come seeing among Danaans, and saying that Apollo has plagued us because I would not take a ransom for this girl, the daughter of Chryses. I have set my heart on keeping her in my own house, for I love her better even than my own wife Clytemnestra, whose peer she is alike in form and feature, in understanding and accomplishments. Still I will give her up if I must, for I would have the people live, not die; but you must find me a prize instead, or I alone among the Argives shall be without one. This is not well; for you behold, all of you, that my prize is to go elsewhither." And Achilles answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, covetous beyond all mankind, how shall the Achaeans find you another prize? We have no common store from which to take one. Those we took from the cities have been awarded; we cannot disallow the awards that have been made already. Give this girl, therefore, to the god, and if ever Jove grants us to sack the city of Troy we will requite you three and fourfold." Then Agamemnon said, "Achilles, valiant though you be, you shall not thus outwit me. You shall not overreach and you shall not persuade me. Are you to keep your own prize, while I sit tamely under my loss and give up the girl at your bidding? Let the Achaeans find me a prize in fair exchange to my liking, or I will come and take your own, or that of Ajax or of Ulysses; and he to whomsoever I may come shall rue my coming. But of this we will take thought hereafter; for the present, let us draw a ship into the sea, and find a crew for her expressly; let us put a hecatomb on board, and let us send Chryseis also; further, let some chief man among us be in command, either Ajax, or Idomeneus, or yourself, son of Peleus, mighty warrior that you are, that we may offer sacrifice and appease the the anger of the god." Achilles scowled at him and answered, "You are steeped in insolence and lust of gain. With what heart can any of the Achaeans do your bidding, either on foray or in open fighting? I came not warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me. I have no quarrel with them. They have not raided my cattle nor my horses, nor cut down my harvests on the rich plains of Phthia; for between me and them there is a great space, both mountain and sounding sea. We have followed you, Sir Insolence! for your pleasure, not ours- to gain satisfaction from the Trojans for your shameless self and for Menelaus. You forget this, and threaten to rob me of the prize for which I have toiled, and which the sons of the Achaeans have given me. Never when the Achaeans sack any rich city of the Trojans do I receive so good a prize as you do, though it is my hands that do the better part of the fighting. When the sharing comes, your share is far the largest, and I, forsooth, must go back to my ships, take what I can get and be thankful, when my labour of fighting is done. Now, therefore, I shall go back to Phthia; it will be much better for me to return home with my ships, for I will not stay here dishonoured to gather gold and substance for you." And Agamemnon answered, "Fly if you will, I shall make you no prayers to stay you. I have others here who will do me honour, and above all Jove, the lord of counsel. There is no king here so hateful to me as you are, for you are ever quarrelsome and ill affected. What though you be brave? Was it not heaven that made you so? Go home, then, with your ships and comrades to lord it over the Myrmidons. I care neither for you nor for your anger; and thus will I do: since Phoebus Apollo is taking Chryseis from me, I shall send her with my ship and my followers, but I shall come to your tent and take your own prize Briseis, that you may learn how much stronger I am than you are, and that another may fear to set himself up as equal or comparable with me." The son of Peleus was furious, and his heart within his shaggy breast was divided whether to draw his sword, push the others aside, and kill the son of Atreus, or to restrain himself and check his anger. While he was thus in two minds, and was drawing his mighty sword from its scabbard, Minerva came down from heaven (for Juno had sent her in the love she bore to them both), and seized the son of Peleus by his yellow hair, visible to him alone, for of the others no man could see her. Achilles turned in amaze, and by the fire that flashed from her eyes at once knew that she was Minerva. "Why are you here," said he, "daughter of aegis-bearing Jove? To see the pride of Agamemnon, son of Atreus? Let me tell you- and it shall surely be- he shall pay for this insolence with his life." And Minerva said, "I come from heaven, if you will hear me, to bid you stay your anger. Juno has sent me, who cares for both of you alike. Cease, then, this brawling, and do not draw your sword; rail at him if you will, and your railing will not be vain, for I tell you- and it shall surely be- that you shall hereafter receive gifts three times as splendid by reason of this present insult. Hold, therefore, and obey." "Goddess," answered Achilles, "however angry a man may be, he must do as you two command him. This will be best, for the gods ever hear the prayers of him who has obeyed them." He stayed his hand on the silver hilt of his sword, and thrust it back into the scabbard as Minerva bade him. Then she went back to Olympus among the other gods, and to the house of aegis-bearing Jove. But the son of Peleus again began railing at the son of Atreus, for he was still in a rage. "Wine-bibber," he cried, "with the face of a dog and the heart of a hind, you never dare to go out with the host in fight, nor yet with our chosen men in ambuscade. You shun this as you do death itself. You had rather go round and rob his prizes from any man who contradicts you. You devour your people, for you are king over a feeble folk; otherwise, son of Atreus, henceforward you would insult no man. Therefore I say, and swear it with a great oath- nay, by this my sceptre which shalt sprout neither leaf nor shoot, nor bud anew from the day on which it left its parent stem upon the mountains- for the axe stripped it of leaf and bark, and now the sons of the Achaeans bear it as judges and guardians of the decrees of heaven- so surely and solemnly do I swear that hereafter they shall look fondly for Achilles and shall not find him. In the day of your distress, when your men fall dying by the murderous hand of Hector, you shall not know how to help them, and shall rend your heart with rage for the hour when you offered insult to the bravest of the Achaeans." With this the son of Peleus dashed his gold-bestudded sceptre on the ground and took his seat, while the son of Atreus was beginning fiercely from his place upon the other side. Then uprose smooth-tongued Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pylians, and the words fell from his lips sweeter than honey. Two generations of men born and bred in Pylos had passed away under his rule, and he was now reigning over the third. With all sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:- "Of a truth," he said, "a great sorrow has befallen the Achaean land. Surely Priam with his sons would rejoice, and the Trojans be glad at heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two, who are so excellent in fight and counsel. I am older than either of you; therefore be guided by me. Moreover I have been the familiar friend of men even greater than you are, and they did not disregard my counsels. Never again can I behold such men as Pirithous and Dryas shepherd of his people, or as Caeneus, Exadius, godlike Polyphemus, and Theseus son of Aegeus, peer of the immortals. These were the mightiest men ever born upon this earth: mightiest were they, and when they fought the fiercest tribes of mountain savages they utterly overthrew them. I came from distant Pylos, and went about among them, for they would have me come, and I fought as it was in me to do. Not a man now living could withstand them, but they heard my words, and were persuaded by them. So be it also with yourselves, for this is the more excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon, though you be strong, take not this girl away, for the sons of the Achaeans have already given her to Achilles; and you, Achilles, strive not further with the king, for no man who by the grace of Jove wields a sceptre has like honour with Agamemnon. You are strong, and have a goddess for your mother; but Agamemnon is stronger than you, for he has more people under him. Son of Atreus, check your anger, I implore you; end this quarrel with Achilles, who in the day of battle is a tower of strength to the Achaeans." And Agamemnon answered, "Sir, all that you have said is true, but this fellow must needs become our lord and master: he must be lord of all, king of all, and captain of all, and this shall hardly be. Granted that the gods have made him a great warrior, have they also given him the right to speak with railing?" Achilles interrupted him. "I should be a mean coward," he cried, "were I to give in to you in all things. Order other people about, not me, for I shall obey no longer. Furthermore I say- and lay my saying to your heart- I shall fight neither you nor any man about this girl, for those that take were those also that gave. But of all else that is at my ship you shall carry away nothing by force. Try, that others may see; if you do, my spear shall be reddened with your blood." When they had quarrelled thus angrily, they rose, and broke up the assembly at the ships of the Achaeans. The son of Peleus went back to his tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his company, while Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose a crew of twenty oarsmen. He escorted Chryseis on board and sent moreover a hecatomb for the god. And Ulysses went as captain. These, then, went on board and sailed their ways over the sea. But the son of Atreus bade the people purify themselves; so they purified themselves and cast their filth into the sea. Then they offered hecatombs of bulls and goats without blemish on the sea-shore, and the smoke with the savour of their sacrifice rose curling up towards heaven. Thus did they busy themselves throughout the host. But Agamemnon did not forget the threat that he had made Achilles, and called his trusty messengers and squires Talthybius and Eurybates. "Go," said he, "to the tent of Achilles, son of Peleus; take Briseis by the hand and bring her hither; if he will not give her I shall come with others and take her- which will press him harder." He charged them straightly further and dismissed them, whereon they went their way sorrowfully by the seaside, till they came to the tents and ships of the Myrmidons. They found Achilles sitting by his tent and his ships, and ill-pleased he was when he beheld them. They stood fearfully and reverently before him, and never a word did they speak, but he knew them and said, "Welcome, heralds, messengers of gods and men; draw near; my quarrel is not with you but with Agamemnon who has sent you for the girl Briseis. Therefore, Patroclus, bring her and give her to them, but let them be witnesses by the blessed gods, by mortal men, and by the fierceness of Agamemnon's anger, that if ever again there be need of me to save the people from ruin, they shall seek and they shall not find. Agamemnon is mad with rage and knows not how to look before and after that the Achaeans may fight by their ships in safety." Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him. He brought Briseis from the tent and gave her over to the heralds, who took her with them to the ships of the Achaeans- and the woman was loth to go. Then Achilles went all alone by the side of the hoar sea, weeping and looking out upon the boundless waste of waters. He raised his hands in prayer to his immortal mother, "Mother," he cried, "you bore me doomed to live but for a little season; surely Jove, who thunders from Olympus, might have made that little glorious. It is not so. Agamemnon, son of Atreus, has done me dishonour, and has robbed me of my prize by force." As he spoke he wept aloud, and his mother heard him where she was sitting in the depths of the sea hard by the old man her father. Forthwith she rose as it were a grey mist out of the waves, sat down before him as he stood weeping, caressed him with her hand, and said, "My son, why are you weeping? What is it that grieves you? Keep it not from me, but tell me, that we may know it together." Achilles drew a deep sigh and said, "You know it; why tell you what you know well already? We went to Thebe the strong city of Eetion, sacked it, and brought hither the spoil. The sons of the Achaeans shared it duly among themselves, and chose lovely Chryseis as the meed of Agamemnon; but Chryses, priest of Apollo, came to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and brought with him a great ransom: moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo, wreathed with a suppliant's wreath, and he besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus who were their chiefs. "On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered; but not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away. So he went back in anger, and Apollo, who loved him dearly, heard his prayer. Then the god sent a deadly dart upon the Argives, and the people died thick on one another, for the arrows went everywhither among the wide host of the Achaeans. At last a seer in the fulness of his knowledge declared to us the oracles of Apollo, and I was myself first to say that we should appease him. Whereon the son of Atreus rose in anger, and threatened that which he has since done. The Achaeans are now taking the girl in a ship to Chryse, and sending gifts of sacrifice to the god; but the heralds have just taken from my tent the daughter of Briseus, whom the Achaeans had awarded to myself. "Help your brave son, therefore, if you are able. Go to Olympus, and if you have ever done him service in word or deed, implore the aid of Jove. Ofttimes in my father's house have I heard you glory in that you alone of the immortals saved the son of Saturn from ruin, when the others, with Juno, Neptune, and Pallas Minerva would have put him in bonds. It was you, goddess, who delivered him by calling to Olympus the hundred-handed monster whom gods call Briareus, but men Aegaeon, for he is stronger even than his father; when therefore he took his seat all-glorious beside the son of Saturn, the other gods were afraid, and did not bind him. Go, then, to him, remind him of all this, clasp his knees, and bid him give succour to the Trojans. Let the Achaeans be hemmed in at the sterns of their ships, and perish on the sea-shore, that they may reap what joy they may of their king, and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult to the foremost of the Achaeans." Thetis wept and answered, "My son, woe is me that I should have borne or suckled you. Would indeed that you had lived your span free from all sorrow at your ships, for it is all too brief; alas, that you should be at once short of life and long of sorrow above your peers: woe, therefore, was the hour in which I bore you; nevertheless I will go to the snowy heights of Olympus, and tell this tale to Jove, if he will hear our prayer: meanwhile stay where you are with your ships, nurse your anger against the Achaeans, and hold aloof from fight. For Jove went yesterday to Oceanus, to a feast among the Ethiopians, and the other gods went with him. He will return to Olympus twelve days hence; I will then go to his mansion paved with bronze and will beseech him; nor do I doubt that I shall be able to persuade him." On this she left him, still furious at the loss of her that had been taken from him. Meanwhile Ulysses reached Chryse with the hecatomb. When they had come inside the harbour they furled the sails and laid them in the ship's hold; they slackened the forestays, lowered the mast into its place, and rowed the ship to the place where they would have her lie; there they cast out their mooring-stones and made fast the hawsers. They then got out upon the sea-shore and landed the hecatomb for Apollo; Chryseis also left the ship, and Ulysses led her to the altar to deliver her into the hands of her father. "Chryses," said he, "King Agamemnon has sent me to bring you back your child, and to offer sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaans, that we may propitiate the god, who has now brought sorrow upon the Argives." So saying he gave the girl over to her father, who received her gladly, and they ranged the holy hecatomb all orderly round the altar of the god. They washed their hands and took up the barley-meal to sprinkle over the victims, while Chryses lifted up his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf. "Hear me," he cried, "O god of the silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla, and rulest Tenedos with thy might. Even as thou didst hear me aforetime when I prayed, and didst press hardly upon the Achaeans, so hear me yet again, and stay this fearful pestilence from the Danaans." Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. When they had done praying and sprinkling the barley-meal, they drew back the heads of the victims and killed and flayed them. They cut out the thigh-bones, wrapped them round in two layers of fat, set some pieces of raw meat on the top of them, and then Chryses laid them on the wood fire and poured wine over them, while the young men stood near him with five-pronged spits in their hands. When the thigh-bones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats, they cut the rest up small, put the pieces upon the spits, roasted them till they were done, and drew them off: then, when they had finished their work and the feast was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, pages filled the mixing-bowl with wine and water and handed it round, after giving every man his drink-offering. Thus all day long the young men worshipped the god with song, hymning him and chaunting the joyous paean, and the god took pleasure in their voices; but when the sun went down, and it came on dark, they laid themselves down to sleep by the stern cables of the ship, and when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared they again set sail for the host of the Achaeans. Apollo sent them a fair wind, so they raised their mast and hoisted their white sails aloft. As the sail bellied with the wind the ship flew through the deep blue water, and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward. When they reached the wide-stretching host of the Achaeans, they drew the vessel ashore, high and dry upon the sands, set her strong props beneath her, and went their ways to their own tents and ships. But Achilles abode at his ships and nursed his anger. He went not to the honourable assembly, and sallied not forth to fight, but gnawed at his own heart, pining for battle and the war-cry. Now after twelve days the immortal gods came back in a body to Olympus, and Jove led the way. Thetis was not unmindful of the charge her son had laid upon her, so she rose from under the sea and went through great heaven with early morning to Olympus, where she found the mighty son of Saturn sitting all alone upon its topmost ridges. She sat herself down before him, and with her left hand seized his knees, while with her right she caught him under the chin, and besought him, saying- "Father Jove, if I ever did you service in word or deed among the immortals, hear my prayer, and do honour to my son, whose life is to be cut short so early. King Agamemnon has dishonoured him by taking his prize and keeping her. Honour him then yourself, Olympian lord of counsel, and grant victory to the Trojans, till the Achaeans give my son his due and load him with riches in requital." Jove sat for a while silent, and without a word, but Thetis still kept firm hold of his knees, and besought him a second time. "Incline your head," said she, "and promise me surely, or else deny me- for you have nothing to fear- that I may learn how greatly you disdain me." At this Jove was much troubled and answered, "I shall have trouble if you set me quarrelling with Juno, for she will provoke me with her taunting speeches; even now she is always railing at me before the other gods and accusing me of giving aid to the Trojans. Go back now, lest she should find out. I will consider the matter, and will bring it about as wish. See, I incline my head that you believe me. This is the most solemn that I can give to any god. I never recall my word, or deceive, or fail to do what I say, when I have nodded my head." As he spoke the son of Saturn bowed his dark brows, and the ambrosial locks swayed on his immortal head, till vast Olympus reeled. When the pair had thus laid their plans, they parted- Jove to his house, while the goddess quitted the splendour of Olympus, and plunged into the depths of the sea. The gods rose from their seats, before the coming of their sire. Not one of them dared to remain sitting, but all stood up as he came among them. There, then, he took his seat. But Juno, when she saw him, knew that he and the old merman's daughter, silver-footed Thetis, had been hatching mischief, so she at once began to upbraid him. "Trickster," she cried, "which of the gods have you been taking into your counsels now? You are always settling matters in secret behind my back, and have never yet told me, if you could help it, one word of your intentions." "Juno," replied the sire of gods and men, "you must not expect to be informed of all my counsels. You are my wife, but you would find it hard to understand them. When it is proper for you to hear, there is no one, god or man, who will be told sooner, but when I mean to keep a matter to myself, you must not pry nor ask questions." "Dread son of Saturn," answered Juno, "what are you talking about? I? Pry and ask questions? Never. I let you have your own way in everything. Still, I have a strong misgiving that the old merman's daughter Thetis has been talking you over, for she was with you and had hold of your knees this self-same morning. I believe, therefore, that you have been promising her to give glory to Achilles, and to kill much people at the ships of the Achaeans." "Wife," said Jove, "I can do nothing but you suspect me and find it out. You will take nothing by it, for I shall only dislike you the more, and it will go harder with you. Granted that it is as you say; I mean to have it so; sit down and hold your tongue as I bid you for if I once begin to lay my hands about you, though all heaven were on your side it would profit you nothing." On this Juno was frightened, so she curbed her stubborn will and sat down in silence. But the heavenly beings were disquieted throughout the house of Jove, till the cunning workman Vulcan began to try and pacify his mother Juno. "It will be intolerable," said he, "if you two fall to wrangling and setting heaven in an uproar about a pack of mortals. If such ill counsels are to prevail, we shall have no pleasure at our banquet. Let me then advise my mother- and she must herself know that it will be better- to make friends with my dear father Jove, lest he again scold her and disturb our feast. If the Olympian Thunderer wants to hurl us all from our seats, he can do so, for he is far the strongest, so give him fair words, and he will then soon be in a good humour with us." As he spoke, he took a double cup of nectar, and placed it in his mother's hand. "Cheer up, my dear mother," said he, "and make the best of it. I love you dearly, and should be very sorry to see you get a thrashing; however grieved I might be, I could not help for there is no standing against Jove. Once before when I was trying to help you, he caught me by the foot and flung me from the heavenly threshold. All day long from morn till eve, was I falling, till at sunset I came to ground in the island of Lemnos, and there I lay, with very little life left in me, till the Sintians came and tended me." Juno smiled at this, and as she smiled she took the cup from her son's hands. Then Vulcan drew sweet nectar from the mixing-bowl, and served it round among the gods, going from left to right; and the blessed gods laughed out a loud applause as they saw him ing bustling about the heavenly mansion. Thus through the livelong day to the going down of the sun they feasted, and every one had his full share, so that all were satisfied. Apollo struck his lyre, and the Muses lifted up their sweet voices, calling and answering one another. But when the sun's glorious light had faded, they went home to bed, each in his own abode, which lame Vulcan with his consummate skill had fashioned for them. So Jove, the Olympian Lord of Thunder, hied him to the bed in which he always slept; and when he had got on to it he went to sleep, with Juno of the golden throne by his side. Now the other gods and the armed warriors on the plain slept soundly, but Jove was wakeful, for he was thinking how to do honour to Achilles, and destroyed much people at the ships of the Achaeans. In the end he deemed it would be best to send a lying dream to King Agamemnon; so he called one to him and said to it, "Lying Dream, go to the ships of the Achaeans, into the tent of Agamemnon, and say to him word to word as I now bid you. Tell him to get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for he shall take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Juno has brought them to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans." The dream went when it had heard its message, and soon reached the ships of the Achaeans. It sought Agamemnon son of Atreus and found him in his tent, wrapped in a profound slumber. It hovered over his head in the likeness of Nestor, son of Neleus, whom Agamemnon honoured above all his councillors, and said:- "You are sleeping, son of Atreus; one who has the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep. Hear me at once, for I come as a messenger from Jove, who, though he be not near, yet takes thought for you and pities you. He bids you get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for you shall take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Juno has brought them over to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of Jove. Remember this, and when you wake see that it does not escape you." The dream then left him, and he thought of things that were, surely not to be accomplished. He thought that on that same day he was to take the city of Priam, but he little knew what was in the mind of Jove, who had many another hard-fought fight in store alike for Danaans and Trojans. Then presently he woke, with the divine message still ringing in his ears; so he sat upright, and put on his soft shirt so fair and new, and over this his heavy cloak. He bound his sandals on to his comely feet, and slung his silver-studded sword about his shoulders; then he took the imperishable staff of his father, and sallied forth to the ships of the Achaeans. The goddess Dawn now wended her way to vast Olympus that she might herald day to Jove and to the other immortals, and Agamemnon sent the criers round to call the people in assembly; so they called them and the people gathered thereon. But first he summoned a meeting of the elders at the ship of Nestor king of Pylos, and when they were assembled he laid a cunning counsel before them. "My friends," said he, "I have had a dream from heaven in the dead of night, and its face and figure resembled none but Nestor's. It hovered over my head and said, 'You are sleeping, son of Atreus; one who has the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep. Hear me at once, for I am a messenger from Jove, who, though he be not near, yet takes thought for you and pities you. He bids you get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for you shall take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Juno has brought them over to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of Jove. Remember this.' The dream then vanished and I awoke. Let us now, therefore, arm the sons of the Achaeans. But it will be well that I should first sound them, and to this end I will tell them to fly with their ships; but do you others go about among the host and prevent their doing so." He then sat down, and Nestor the prince of Pylos with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "My friends," said he, "princes and councillors of the Argives, if any other man of the Achaeans had told us of this dream we should have declared it false, and would have had nothing to do with it. But he who has seen it is the foremost man among us; we must therefore set about getting the people under arms." With this he led the way from the assembly, and the other sceptred kings rose with him in obedience to the word of Agamemnon; but the people pressed forward to hear. They swarmed like bees that sally from some hollow cave and flit in countless throng among the spring flowers, bunched in knots and clusters; even so did the mighty multitude pour from ships and tents to the assembly, and range themselves upon the wide-watered shore, while among them ran Wildfire Rumour, messenger of Jove, urging them ever to the fore. Thus they gathered in a pell-mell of mad confusion, and the earth groaned under the tramp of men as the people sought their places. Nine heralds went crying about among them to stay their tumult and bid them listen to the kings, till at last they were got into their several places and ceased their clamour. Then King Agamemnon rose, holding his sceptre. This was the work of Vulcan, who gave it to Jove the son of Saturn. Jove gave it to Mercury, slayer of Argus, guide and guardian. King Mercury gave it to Pelops, the mighty charioteer, and Pelops to Atreus, shepherd of his people. Atreus, when he died, left it to Thyestes, rich in flocks, and Thyestes in his turn left it to be borne by Agamemnon, that he might be lord of all Argos and of the isles. Leaning, then, on his sceptre, he addressed the Argives. "My friends," he said, "heroes, servants of Mars, the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me. Cruel Jove gave me his solemn promise that I should sack the city of Priam before returning, but he has played me false, and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to Argos with the loss of much people. Such is the will of Jove, who has laid many a proud city in the dust, as he will yet lay others, for his power is above all. It will be a sorry tale hereafter that an Achaean host, at once so great and valiant, battled in vain against men fewer in number than themselves; but as yet the end is not in sight. Think that the Achaeans and Trojans have sworn to a solemn covenant, and that they have each been numbered- the Trojans by the roll of their householders, and we by companies of ten; think further that each of our companies desired to have a Trojan householder to pour out their wine; we are so greatly more in number that full many a company would have to go without its cup-bearer. But they have in the town allies from other places, and it is these that hinder me from being able to sack the rich city of Ilius. Nine of Jove years are gone; the timbers of our ships have rotted; their tackling is sound no longer. Our wives and little ones at home look anxiously for our coming, but the work that we came hither to do has not been done. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say: let us sail back to our own land, for we shall not take Troy." With these words he moved the hearts of the multitude, so many of them as knew not the cunning counsel of Agamemnon. They surged to and fro like the waves of the Icarian Sea, when the east and south winds break from heaven's clouds to lash them; or as when the west wind sweeps over a field of corn and the ears bow beneath the blast, even so were they swayed as they flew with loud cries towards the ships, and the dust from under their feet rose heavenward. They cheered each other on to draw the ships into the sea; they cleared the channels in front of them; they began taking away the stays from underneath them, and the welkin rang with their glad cries, so eager were they to return. Then surely the Argives would have returned after a fashion that was not fated. But Juno said to Minerva, "Alas, daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, unweariable, shall the Argives fly home to their own land over the broad sea, and leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host, and speak fairly to them, man by man, that they draw not their ships into the sea." Minerva was not slack to do her bidding. Down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus, and in a moment she was at the ships of the Achaeans. There she found Ulysses, peer of Jove in counsel, standing alone. He had not as yet laid a hand upon his ship, for he was grieved and sorry; so she went close up to him and said, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, are you going to fling yourselves into your ships and be off home to your own land in this way? Will you leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host, and speak fairly to them, man by man, that they draw not their ships into the sea." Ulysses knew the voice as that of the goddess: he flung his cloak from him and set off to run. His servant Eurybates, a man of Ithaca, who waited on him, took charge of the cloak, whereon Ulysses went straight up to Agamemnon and received from him his ancestral, imperishable staff. With this he went about among the ships of the Achaeans. Whenever he met a king or chieftain, he stood by him and spoke him fairly. "Sir," said he, "this flight is cowardly and unworthy. Stand to your post, and bid your people also keep their places. You do not yet know the full mind of Agamemnon; he was sounding us, and ere long will visit the Achaeans with his displeasure. We were not all of us at the council to hear what he then said; see to it lest he be angry and do us a mischief; for the pride of kings is great, and the hand of Jove is with them." But when he came across any common man who was making a noise, he struck him with his staff and rebuked him, saying, "Sirrah, hold your peace, and listen to better men than yourself. You are a coward and no soldier; you are nobody either in fight or council; we cannot all be kings; it is not well that there should be many masters; one man must be supreme- one king to whom the son of scheming Saturn has given the sceptre of sovereignty over you all." Thus masterfully did he go about among the host, and the people hurried back to the council from their tents and ships with a sound as the thunder of surf when it comes crashing down upon the shore, and all the sea is in an uproar. The rest now took their seats and kept to their own several places, but Thersites still went on wagging his unbridled tongue- a man of many words, and those unseemly; a monger of sedition, a railer against all who were in authority, who cared not what he said, so that he might set the Achaeans in a laugh. He was the ugliest man of all those that came before Troy- bandy-legged, lame of one foot, with his two shoulders rounded and hunched over his chest. His head ran up to a point, but there was little hair on the top of it. Achilles and Ulysses hated him worst of all, for it was with them that he was most wont to wrangle; now, however, with a shrill squeaky voice he began heaping his abuse on Agamemnon. The Achaeans were angry and disgusted, yet none the less he kept on brawling and bawling at the son of Atreus. "Agamemnon," he cried, "what ails you now, and what more do you want? Your tents are filled with bronze and with fair women, for whenever we take a town we give you the pick of them. Would you have yet more gold, which some Trojan is to give you as a ransom for his son, when I or another Achaean has taken him prisoner? or is it some young girl to hide and lie with? It is not well that you, the ruler of the Achaeans, should bring them into such misery. Weakling cowards, women rather than men, let us sail home, and leave this fellow here at Troy to stew in his own meeds of honour, and discover whether we were of any service to him or no. Achilles is a much better man than he is, and see how he has treated him- robbing him of his prize and keeping it himself. Achilles takes it meekly and shows no fight; if he did, son of Atreus, you would never again insult him." Thus railed Thersites, but Ulysses at once went up to him and rebuked him sternly. "Check your glib tongue, Thersites," said be, "and babble not a word further. Chide not with princes when you have none to back you. There is no viler creature come before Troy with the sons of Atreus. Drop this chatter about kings, and neither revile them nor keep harping about going home. We do not yet know how things are going to be, nor whether the Achaeans are to return with good success or evil. How dare you gibe at Agamemnon because the Danaans have awarded him so many prizes? I tell you, therefore- and it shall surely be- that if I again catch you talking such nonsense, I will either forfeit my own head and be no more called father of Telemachus, or I will take you, strip you stark naked, and whip you out of the assembly till you go blubbering back to the ships." On this he beat him with his staff about the back and shoulders till he dropped and fell a-weeping. The golden sceptre raised a bloody weal on his back, so he sat down frightened and in pain, looking foolish as he wiped the tears from his eyes. The people were sorry for him, yet they laughed heartily, and one would turn to his neighbour saying, "Ulysses has done many a good thing ere now in fight and council, but he never did the Argives a better turn than when he stopped this fellow's mouth from prating further. He will give the kings no more of his insolence." Thus said the people. Then Ulysses rose, sceptre in hand, and Minerva in the likeness of a herald bade the people be still, that those who were far off might hear him and consider his council. He therefore with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus:- "King Agamemnon, the Achaeans are for making you a by-word among all mankind. They forget the promise they made you when they set out from Argos, that you should not return till you had sacked the town of Troy, and, like children or widowed women, they murmur and would set off homeward. True it is that they have had toil enough to be disheartened. A man chafes at having to stay away from his wife even for a single month, when he is on shipboard, at the mercy of wind and sea, but it is now nine long years that we have been kept here; I cannot, therefore, blame the Achaeans if they turn restive; still we shall be shamed if we go home empty after so long a stay- therefore, my friends, be patient yet a little longer that we may learn whether the prophesyings of Calchas were false or true. "All who have not since perished must remember as though it were yesterday or the day before, how the ships of the Achaeans were detained in Aulis when we were on our way hither to make war on Priam and the Trojans. We were ranged round about a fountain offering hecatombs to the gods upon their holy altars, and there was a fine plane-tree from beneath which there welled a stream of pure water. Then we saw a prodigy; for Jove sent a fearful serpent out of the ground, with blood-red stains upon its back, and it darted from under the altar on to the plane-tree. Now there was a brood of young sparrows, quite small, upon the topmost bough, peeping out from under the leaves, eight in all, and their mother that hatched them made nine. The serpent ate the poor cheeping things, while the old bird flew about lamenting her little ones; but the serpent threw his coils about her and caught her by the wing as she was screaming. Then, when he had eaten both the sparrow and her young, the god who had sent him made him become a sign; for the son of scheming Saturn turned him into stone, and we stood there wondering at that which had come to pass. Seeing, then, that such a fearful portent had broken in upon our hecatombs, Calchas forthwith declared to us the oracles of heaven. 'Why, Achaeans,' said he, 'are you thus speechless? Jove has sent us this sign, long in coming, and long ere it be fulfilled, though its fame shall last for ever. As the serpent ate the eight fledglings and the sparrow that hatched them, which makes nine, so shall we fight nine years at Troy, but in the tenth shall take the town.' This was what he said, and now it is all coming true. Stay here, therefore, all of you, till we take the city of Priam." On this the Argives raised a shout, till the ships rang again with the uproar. Nestor, knight of Gerene, then addressed them. "Shame on you," he cried, "to stay talking here like children, when you should fight like men. Where are our covenants now, and where the oaths that we have taken? Shall our counsels be flung into the fire, with our drink-offerings and the right hands of fellowship wherein we have put our trust? We waste our time in words, and for all our talking here shall be no further forward. Stand, therefore, son of Atreus, by your own steadfast purpose; lead the Argives on to battle, and leave this handful of men to rot, who scheme, and scheme in vain, to get back to Argos ere they have learned whether Jove be true or a liar. For the mighty son of Saturn surely promised that we should succeed, when we Argives set sail to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans. He showed us favourable signs by flashing his lightning on our right hands; therefore let none make haste to go till he has first lain with the wife of some Trojan, and avenged the toil and sorrow that he has suffered for the sake of Helen. Nevertheless, if any man is in such haste to be at home again, let him lay his hand to his ship that he may meet his doom in the sight of all. But, O king, consider and give ear to my counsel, for the word that I say may not be neglected lightly. Divide your men, Agamemnon, into their several tribes and clans, that clans and tribes may stand by and help one another. If you do this, and if the Achaeans obey you, you will find out who, both chiefs and peoples, are brave, and who are cowards; for they will vie against the other. Thus you shall also learn whether it is through the counsel of heaven or the cowardice of man that you shall fail to take the town." And Agamemnon answered, "Nestor, you have again outdone the sons of the Achaeans in counsel. Would, by Father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I had among them ten more such councillors, for the city of King Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands, and we should sack it. But the son of Saturn afflicts me with bootless wranglings and strife. Achilles and I are quarrelling about this girl, in which matter I was the first to offend; if we can be of one mind again, the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a day. Now, therefore, get your morning meal, that our hosts join in fight. Whet well your spears; see well to the ordering of your shields; give good feeds to your horses, and look your chariots carefully over, that we may do battle the livelong day; for we shall have no rest, not for a moment, till night falls to part us. The bands that bear your shields shall be wet with the sweat upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary upon your spears, your horses shall steam in front of your chariots, and if I see any man shirking the fight, or trying to keep out of it at the ships, there shall be no help for him, but he shall be a prey to dogs and vultures." Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans roared applause. As when the waves run high before the blast of the south wind and break on some lofty headland, dashing against it and buffeting it without ceasing, as the storms from every quarter drive them, even so did the Achaeans rise and hurry in all directions to their ships. There they lighted their fires at their tents and got dinner, offering sacrifice every man to one or other of the gods, and praying each one of them that he might live to come out of the fight. Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed a fat five-year-old bull to the mighty son of Saturn, and invited the princes and elders of his host. First he asked Nestor and King Idomeneus, then the two Ajaxes and the son of Tydeus, and sixthly Ulysses, peer of gods in counsel; but Menelaus came of his own accord, for he knew how busy his brother then was. They stood round the bull with the barley-meal in their hands, and Agamemnon prayed, saying, "Jove, most glorious, supreme, that dwellest in heaven, and ridest upon the storm-cloud, grant that the sun may not go down, nor the night fall, till the palace of Priam is laid low, and its gates are consumed with fire. Grant that my sword may pierce the shirt of Hector about his heart, and that full many of his comrades may bite the dust as they fall dying round him." Thus he prayed, but the son of Saturn would not fulfil his prayer. He accepted the sacrifice, yet none the less increased their toil continually. When they had done praying and sprinkling the barley-meal upon the victim, they drew back its head, killed it, and then flayed it. They cut out the thigh-bones, wrapped them round in two layers of fat, and set pieces of raw meat on the top of them. These they burned upon the split logs of firewood, but they spitted the inward meats, and held them in the flames to cook. When the thigh-bones were burned, and they had tasted the inward meats, they cut the rest up small, put the pieces upon spits, roasted them till they were done, and drew them off; then, when they had finished their work and the feast was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Nestor, knight of Gerene, began to speak. "King Agamemnon," said he, "let us not stay talking here, nor be slack in the work that heaven has put into our hands. Let the heralds summon the people to gather at their several ships; we will then go about among the host, that we may begin fighting at once." Thus did he speak, and Agamemnon heeded his words. He at once sent the criers round to call the people in assembly. So they called them, and the people gathered thereon. The chiefs about the son of Atreus chose their men and marshalled them, while Minerva went among them holding her priceless aegis that knows neither age nor death. From it there waved a hundred tassels of pure gold, all deftly woven, and each one of them worth a hundred oxen. With this she darted furiously everywhere among the hosts of the Achaeans, urging them forward, and putting courage into the heart of each, so that he might fight and do battle without ceasing. Thus war became sweeter in their eyes even than returning home in their ships. As when some great forest fire is raging upon a mountain top and its light is seen afar, even so as they marched the gleam of their armour flashed up into the firmament of heaven. They were like great flocks of geese, or cranes, or swans on the plain about the waters of Cayster, that wing their way hither and thither, glorying in the pride of flight, and crying as they settle till the fen is alive with their screaming. Even thus did their tribes pour from ships and tents on to the plain of the Scamander, and the ground rang as brass under the feet of men and horses. They stood as thick upon the flower-bespangled field as leaves that bloom in summer. As countless swarms of flies buzz around a herdsman's homestead in the time of spring when the pails are drenched with milk, even so did the Achaeans swarm on to the plain to charge the Trojans and destroy them. The chiefs disposed their men this way and that before the fight began, drafting them out as easily as goatherds draft their flocks when they have got mixed while feeding; and among them went King Agamemnon, with a head and face like Jove the lord of thunder, a waist like Mars, and a chest like that of Neptune. As some great bull that lords it over the herds upon the plain, even so did Jove make the son of Atreus stand peerless among the multitude of heroes. And now, O Muses, dwellers in the mansions of Olympus, tell me- for you are goddesses and are in all places so that you see all things, while we know nothing but by report- who were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans? As for the common soldiers, they were so that I could not name every single one of them though I had ten tongues, and though my voice failed not and my heart were of bronze within me, unless you, O Olympian Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Jove, were to recount them to me. Nevertheless, I will tell the captains of the ships and all the fleet together. Peneleos, Leitus, Arcesilaus, Prothoenor, and Clonius were captains of the Boeotians. These were they that dwelt in Hyria and rocky Aulis, and who held Schoenus, Scolus, and the highlands of Eteonus, with Thespeia, Graia, and the fair city of Mycalessus. They also held Harma, Eilesium, and Erythrae; and they had Eleon, Hyle, and Peteon; Ocalea and the strong fortress of Medeon; Copae, Eutresis, and Thisbe the haunt of doves; Coronea, and the pastures of Haliartus; Plataea and Glisas; the fortress of Thebes the less; holy Onchestus with its famous grove of Neptune; Arne rich in vineyards; Midea, sacred Nisa, and Anthedon upon the sea. From these there came fifty ships, and in each there were a hundred and twenty young men of the Boeotians. Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Mars, led the people that dwelt in Aspledon and Orchomenus the realm of Minyas. Astyoche a noble maiden bore them in the house of Actor son of Azeus; for she had gone with Mars secretly into an upper chamber, and he had lain with her. With these there came thirty ships. The Phoceans were led by Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of mighty Iphitus the son of Naubolus. These were they that held Cyparissus, rocky Pytho, holy Crisa, Daulis, and Panopeus; they also that dwelt in Anemorea and Hyampolis, and about the waters of the river Cephissus, and Lilaea by the springs of the Cephissus; with their chieftains came forty ships, and they marshalled the forces of the Phoceans, which were stationed next to the Boeotians, on their left. Ajax, the fleet son of Oileus, commanded the Locrians. He was not so great, nor nearly so great, as Ajax the son of Telamon. He was a little man, and his breastplate was made of linen, but in use of the spear he excelled all the Hellenes and the Achaeans. These dwelt in Cynus, Opous, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe, fair Augeae, Tarphe, and Thronium about the river Boagrius. With him there came forty ships of the Locrians who dwell beyond Euboea. The fierce Abantes held Euboea with its cities, Chalcis, Eretria, Histiaea rich in vines, Cerinthus upon the sea, and the rock-perched town of Dium; with them were also the men of Carystus and Styra; Elephenor of the race of Mars was in command of these; he was son of Chalcodon, and chief over all the Abantes. With him they came, fleet of foot and wearing their hair long behind, brave warriors, who would ever strive to tear open the corslets of their foes with their long ashen spears. Of these there came fifty ships. And they that held the strong city of Athens, the people of great Erechtheus, who was born of the soil itself, but Jove's daughter, Minerva, fostered him, and established him at Athens in her own rich sanctuary. There, year by year, the Athenian youths worship him with sacrifices of bulls and rams. These were commanded by Menestheus, son of Peteos. No man living could equal him in the marshalling of chariots and foot soldiers. Nestor could alone rival him, for he was older. With him there came fifty ships. Ajax brought twelve ships from Salamis, and stationed them alongside those of the Athenians. The men of Argos, again, and those who held the walls of Tiryns, with Hermione, and Asine upon the gulf; Troezene, Eionae, and the vineyard lands of Epidaurus; the Achaean youths, moreover, who came from Aegina and Mases; these were led by Diomed of the loud battle-cry, and Sthenelus son of famed Capaneus. With them in command was Euryalus, son of king Mecisteus, son of Talaus; but Diomed was chief over them all. With these there came eighty ships. Those who held the strong city of Mycenae, rich Corinth and Cleonae; Orneae, Araethyrea, and Licyon, where Adrastus reigned of old; Hyperesia, high Gonoessa, and Pellene; Aegium and all the coast-land round about Helice; these sent a hundred ships under the command of King Agamemnon, son of Atreus. His force was far both finest and most numerous, and in their midst was the king himself, all glorious in his armour of gleaming bronze- foremost among the heroes, for he was the greatest king, and had most men under him. And those that dwelt in Lacedaemon, lying low among the hills, Pharis, Sparta, with Messe the haunt of doves; Bryseae, Augeae, Amyclae, and Helos upon the sea; Laas, moreover, and Oetylus; these were led by Menelaus of the loud battle-cry, brother to Agamemnon, and of them there were sixty ships, drawn up apart from the others. Among them went Menelaus himself, strong in zeal, urging his men to fight; for he longed to avenge the toil and sorrow that he had suffered for the sake of Helen. The men of Pylos and Arene, and Thryum where is the ford of the river Alpheus; strong Aipy, Cyparisseis, and Amphigenea; Pteleum, Helos, and Dorium, where the Muses met Thamyris, and stilled his minstrelsy for ever. He was returning from Oechalia, where Eurytus lived and reigned, and boasted that he would surpass even the Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Jove, if they should sing against him; whereon they were angry, and maimed him. They robbed him of his divine power of song, and thenceforth he could strike the lyre no more. These were commanded by Nestor, knight of Gerene, and with him there came ninety ships. And those that held Arcadia, under the high mountain of Cyllene, near the tomb of Aepytus, where the people fight hand to hand; the men of Pheneus also, and Orchomenus rich in flocks; of Rhipae, Stratie, and bleak Enispe; of Tegea and fair Mantinea; of Stymphelus and Parrhasia; of these King Agapenor son of Ancaeus was commander, and they had sixty ships. Many Arcadians, good soldiers, came in each one of them, but Agamemnon found them the ships in which to cross the sea, for they were not a people that occupied their business upon the waters. The men, moreover, of Buprasium and of Elis, so much of it as is enclosed between Hyrmine, Myrsinus upon the sea-shore, the rock Olene and Alesium. These had four leaders, and each of them had ten ships, with many Epeans on board. Their captains were Amphimachus and Thalpius- the one, son of Cteatus, and the other, of Eurytus- both of the race of Actor. The two others were Diores, son of Amarynces, and Polyxenus, son of King Agasthenes, son of Augeas. And those of Dulichium with the sacred Echinean islands, who dwelt beyond the sea off Elis; these were led by Meges, peer of Mars, and the son of valiant Phyleus, dear to Jove, who quarrelled with his father, and went to settle in Dulichium. With him there came forty ships. Ulysses led the brave Cephallenians, who held Ithaca, Neritum with its forests, Crocylea, rugged Aegilips, Samos and Zacynthus, with the mainland also that was over against the islands. These were led by Ulysses, peer of Jove in counsel, and with him there came twelve ships. Thoas, son of Andraemon, commanded the Aetolians, who dwelt in Pleuron, Olenus, Pylene, Chalcis by the sea, and rocky Calydon, for the great king Oeneus had now no sons living, and was himself dead, as was also golden-haired Meleager, who had been set over the Aetolians to be their king. And with Thoas there came forty ships. The famous spearsman Idomeneus led the Cretans, who held Cnossus, and the well-walled city of Gortys; Lyctus also, Miletus and Lycastus that lies upon the chalk; the populous towns of Phaestus and Rhytium, with the other peoples that dwelt in the hundred cities of Crete. All these were led by Idomeneus, and by Meriones, peer of murderous Mars. And with these there came eighty ships. Tlepolemus, son of Hercules, a man both brave and large of stature, brought nine ships of lordly warriors from Rhodes. These dwelt in Rhodes which is divided among the three cities of Lindus, Ielysus, and Cameirus, that lies upon the chalk. These were commanded by Tlepolemus, son of Hercules by Astyochea, whom he had carried off from Ephyra, on the river Selleis, after sacking many cities of valiant warriors. When Tlepolemus grew up, he killed his father's uncle Licymnius, who had been a famous warrior in his time, but was then grown old. On this he built himself a fleet, gathered a great following, and fled beyond the sea, for he was menaced by the other sons and grandsons of Hercules. After a voyage. during which he suffered great hardship, he came to Rhodes, where the people divided into three communities, according to their tribes, and were dearly loved by Jove, the lord, of gods and men; wherefore the son of Saturn showered down great riches upon them. And Nireus brought three ships from Syme- Nireus, who was the handsomest man that came up under Ilius of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus- but he was a man of no substance, and had but a small following. And those that held Nisyrus, Crapathus, and Casus, with Cos, the city of Eurypylus,

newer horizon demanded in usa politicking. can non natural born + nonbinding resolution senate run pres U S ?