Просмотр исходного текста страницы Tom Gallagher The First Openly Gay Foreign Service Officer

<br>They laugh a lot. Carolyn seems like the answer: All he needed was a regular woman, the right one, and those bad thoughts would go away. Now he’s found her. When hostilities between Israel and Egypt burst into war in 1967, Eilts keeps the embassy open. It’s the most exhilarating week of their lives; Carolyn turns their house into a sort of soup kitchen and emergency shelter for the embassy staff working across the street. When it’s over, they sit down in the quiet house and look at one another, saying, Damn, this is boring, and a beat later they laugh at themselves. Carolyn is the perfect foreign service wife, ready for adventure, prepared for anything. He hasn’t felt the temptation to go cruising, either. The country’s strict fundamentalist interpretations of Islamic law punish homosexual behavior with lashings, with stonings, with death, and while there probably is some sort of gay culture here, it’s not visible to him. The American set socializes almost exclusively with Saudi businessmen and their wives. There are precious few opportunities to encounter strangers. Tom loves his wife, and he loves his job, and his secrets—well, he doesn’t think about them very much these days. Coming here was the worst mistake of his life. Tom and Carolyn arrived at the Kaduna consulate in the northern part of the country in 1968, just as the Biafran war [http://www.broowaha.com/search/settled settled] into a stalemate. They were unprepared for what they found: Eighteen months earlier, the American expats had witnessed a violent countercoup that killed thousands of Igbo secessionists, and no one was managing well. The other two foreign service officers at the post were raging alcoholics; the consul’s secretary sat at her desk crying all day while she typed. The couple had to piece all of this together from rumors and gossip, because no one talked about it openly. Sometimes they took it out on the new arrivals. The first year, just like in Jeddah, he was stuck with a supervisor who hated him. The guy got fired—in delicate State parlance, selected out—but not before leaving Tom with a spiteful, nasty evaluation. He hated Tom so much, in fact, that he tried to make Carolyn miserable too. She taught in a small Catholic school; the guy decided that she could no longer accept a salary because it required paying taxes to the Nigerian government. Tom didn’t think it was a big deal; he’d done similar work as a volunteer in Eritrea, after all. Carolyn didn’t agree. She’d gone to Harvard. She had more education than he did. It was her goddamned money. So that went well. He’d dragged Carolyn to Nigeria because he was determined to save his marriage, and it was not working. The State Department had wanted to reward him for his hardship service with a plum post, and they could have been in France instead—Carolyn loved France; she’d done her Fulbright in Bordeaux. But he wanted to control himself, he wanted to not have sex with men, and the prospect of the streets of Paris terrified him. Forget Paris, he told personnel, though he didn’t tell them or Carolyn why; send me to Africa. By now it’s clear to him that it isn’t going to work. Sex is becoming more and more of a chore, his urges more urgent. What’s going to happen when they go home? Then, one day, the mail comes. American magazines arrive a week or two after they’re published in the States, fourth-class mail. Among them is a copy of Time with a banner on the cover, and a word he’s never seen before: "The Homosexual in America." At home, it seems, someone—some street kid, some sissy, some freak, who knows? —has hurled a brick at the cops, and now it has bashed straight through Tom Gallagher’s closet door. The State Department wants to send him to Paris again, and this time he’s not sure he can turn it down. But the day before he and Carolyn are supposed to leave in July, he goes to his personnel officer and tells her that he won’t go. You can’t say no to Paris, she says. He says it again, I’m not going, and then, because he is lucky, he walks out with a desk assignment in D.C. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Not a hot job, but good enough for now. He abruptly tells Carolyn that he wants a divorce. There’s no other way to do it, because he’s not going to tell her about his feelings for men.<br> <br>Landscape contractors can commiserate with the wasted time spent stuck in traffic, burning gas to get to the next job. But what if that traffic could be a source of new business instead of headaches? What if your trailer or vehicle could promote your services for you? The right wrap can do that. "Vehicle wraps are perfect for landscape trailers, specifically, because whether your company is residential or commercial, the trailers are (parked) in front of your clients' neighbors every time you provide service," says Torri Westmoreland, who started In-Depth Wraps with her husband in Atlanta 18 years ago. According to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, a single vehicle wrap can generate between 30,000 to 70,000 impressions each day. That’s more than 2,000 impressions per dollar invested - giving wraps the lowest cost per thousand impressions compared to outdoor ads, radio, television or print media advertising. But your mobile billboard might only be in front of someone’s eyes for a few seconds as they drive by, so it’s critical to maximize your marketing potential. Here are six tips from the pros to enhance your brand image with a wrap. The biggest mistake Westmoreland sees is when companies just want to "put some stickers on a trailer" before thinking carefully about the brand story they want to tell. Capital Wraps, a vehicle wrap company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, helps clients define a strategy by filling out creative briefs to define their ideal customers and the message they want to send. "You have to have a clear understanding of what your company is and how you want to portray it," says Keoni Denison, director of business development. The imagery on your wrap should showcase solutions for your target demographic, whether it’s young families playing in the backyard, older couples relaxing on the patio or perhaps a pristinely landscaped entryway. Consistency is key but that doesn’t mean repeating the same image on every side of each trailer. 2. …but keep it short. Once you decide what to depict on your wrap, pare down your message to the bare minimum. "Design it so you can get most of the key information in less than three seconds as you’re driving down the road," Denison says. "Who are they, what do they do, and what’s their contact information? One of the biggest mistakes Westmoreland sees is too much info crammed into wraps, like a full list of services instead of a few. "A vehicle wrap is not a brochure. It’s a moving billboard, so you want the least amount of information with the highest impact," Westmoreland says. "One area where we might recommend putting additional text is on the rear, because when someone is stuck behind you in traffic, you have extra time with their eyeballs. 3. Know your budget. The most common misconception about wraps, Denison and Westmoreland agree, is assuming that they’re all or nothing. Don’t overlook the potential of partial wraps to maximize limited budgets. "As long as the design is effective, it’s not necessary to cover every square foot of a trailer," Westmoreland says. If your budget can only wrap either a truck or a trailer, Westmoreland might lean toward the trailer. "Trailers are the easiest opportunity for vehicle wraps because they’re literally rolling billboards. You have fewer obstructions and body angles to consider, versus wrapping a truck," she says. You wouldn’t cover up a billboard at night, so don’t hide your vehicle wrap. "One thing we tell all of our clients after we give them back the keys to their baby is not to hide it," Westmoreland says. She encourages clients to show off their wraps at community events, tradeshows and other high-traffic areas. Wrapped trailers can boost your brand visibility, even when you’re off the clock. "Take your truck or trailer with you wherever you go. If you’re off on the weekend, go park it somewhere great, like an outdoor event or festival," she says. 5. Keep your fleet clean. Make sure your wrap presents the best image possible by using quality material and protecting it over time. "Most landscaping companies use their vehicles until they cannot use them anymore, so the longevity of the wrap is critical," Westmoreland says. Inferior materials can fail or fade within a year, Denison says. Even if they hold up, they could pull the paint off your trailer when you remove them. Both In-Depth Wraps and Capital Wraps rely on premium material that lasts about five years. During that lifespan, proper care helps preserve wraps against the elements. Denison recommends a silicone-based spray wax after installation, followed by routine cleaning with soap and water. In fact, Westmoreland says wraps tend to get more attention right after a wash. "If you’ve got dirt, salt or clay creating a layer of grime over your moving billboard, then your message is harder to see - and it says something about your company’s reputation," she says. "You wouldn’t hand someone a crumbled-up business card with coffee stains on it. 6. Drive targeted growth. Vehicle wraps can be key to unlocking growth. Denison’s clients have reported that their call rate increased by 75% in one month after wrapping a vehicle. Another client gets "an additional 10 calls a month by having their car out on the road - which is 120 calls a year, and 600 calls over a five-year period," he says. Some of In-Depth Wraps’ customers generate half of their business through vehicle graphics, according to the company’s website. One client even uses wraps to build new business. "It sounds like putting the cart before the horse, but it works," Westmoreland says.<br><br>The park outside of my apartment has always been a curiosity. Built in the middle of Soviet-era housing projects, it provides a hint of green in a sea of gray cement. The trees of the park grow thick enough to block out the outside world, but if you look closely enough you can see groupings of joggers running around the park’s trails. I’ve been watching the joggers for the past couple of weeks. Dressed in drab running gear, they looked exhausted but tranquil. As if by running they had managed to tap into something primal, something that brought peace to their lives. I desperately wanted to be one of them. Life wasn’t going great. I had quit my job to become a freelance illustrator and what was once my hobby had become a daily chore. Most of my time was spent avoiding drawing and watching whatever half-baked series the algorithm recommended to me. I was smoking more, sleeping less and the idea of taking personal responsibility about how I use my time weighed me down into bed. Starting to jog every day and quitting smoking were my New Year resolutions. I would get a regular exercise routine going, clear out my lungs and maybe, just maybe, fit in meditation and a healthy diet somewhere along the way. In the end none of that happened. In the end I met the Neon Man. I woke up January 1st with a splitting headache and a mouth that tasted like an ashtray. Whatever excitement I had about living a healthy lifestyle was washed out with the booze I had drank on New Years. Yet I knew that if I didn’t stick to resolutions on the first, I wouldn’t stick to my resolutions on the second. I binged through a handful of motivational videos, listened to monologues about how I am the master of my own destiny and how through hard work I can make a better life for myself. By noon I was out the door, high on self-help tapes. Being the master of my destiny was a lot harder than the motivational video made it seem. By the time I reached the park I already felt like I was teetering on the edge of death. Crossing the road I was narrowly missed by a bus, my mind was completely focused on the act of moving my heavy feet. There was a distillery in my mouth that wanted out, my muscles burned and my head spun. I collapsed three benches into the park entrance. Leaning back on the bench I could feel every cigarette I smoked last night tap my lungs goodbye. For a couple beats I felt like I might be on the verge of a stroke. But as my breath returned I calmed down. Sitting there, covered in a thin layer of sweat, I watched the joggers. Even though I had not managed an actual run, I felt like getting to the park was a reasonable start. Even sitting there felt calming, outside of the passing bus-lines, it felt like I was in some little bubble protecting me from the city. The joggers occasionally tripped or had to slow down to catch their breath, but it felt like we were all engaged in some peaceful primordial ritual. I watched the tranquil wave of gray tracksuits. Then I saw the Neon Man. He jogged past the other runners with surprising speed. His stubby form didn’t make him look like a good candidate for physical activity; his arms were too short, his legs were too pudgy, yet he outpaced the most athletic looking of runners. Clumps of fat bounced around in his neon green jogging suit. He sped past everyone else on the trail and headed straight towards me. " He had a pair of wrap-around sunglasses on his head, the kind that I would imagine a step-dad who is really into fishing to wear. I could see a reflection of myself in them. " a mirror image of me asked. This set him off. He started stomping on the ground in anger. " His stomps got heavier. With every stomp his whole body jiggled. Layers of fat bounced up and down inside of their neon green prison as the pounding of his feet grew faster. There was something odd about his yelling, as if the words didn’t really hold any meaning for him, as if he was simply trying to make noise to frighten me. Before I could come up with an answer his angry stomps turned mobile, he jogged away from me. He disappeared behind the trees and his voice soon faded.<br><br>They were held at hotels on South Beach, which now is a very "in" place. My fraternity stayed at the Haddon Hall Hotel. I finally got my ‘40 Ford coupe. But I only got to enjoy it for three months. Then I graduated, sold my car and joined the Navy. But, before I end my reminiscing, I want to tell about downtown Miami. We always took the bus down Flagler Street to First Avenue. That’s where the dimestores where located. There was Kress and Woolworth’s and maybe one other. Dimestores were, I think, more or less the forerunners of K Marts. On the corner of Flagler and First Avenue, the bus made a turn and went to Southeast First Street, where the bus stop was for heading back out of downtown - over the Miami River and headed west. At that corner, probably the busiest in Miami in those days, a police officer Sullivan, who came to be known as "Smiling Jimmy Sullivan" directed traffic. He became so famous from that seemingly simple job that he ran for sheriff of Dade County - and was elected. My fondest memory of downtown Miami is the ROYAL CASTLE. It was located, if memory serves me correctly, on Northeast First Street around first or second avenue. It was open 24 hours a day,  [http://www.cogjoint.com/index.php/2013/02/leroica-americana rotulacion de vehiculos] seven days a week. Just a little walk-in place with a counter and maybe a dozen stools. No tables and no air conditioning, but a perfect place to stop in for a late night snack. The big draw was their hamburgers. They were small, grilled with onions and served on a warm roll. The price was 15 cents. They smelled heavenly, and they were delicious. You washed them down with "Birch Beer," (root beer) served fresh from a tap in a frosted mug for five cents. No sales tax in those days . Twenty cents bought you a tasty meal. There were six Royal Castles in Miami then, and I also frequented the one on Flagler Street near 12th avenue. A great place to go before or after delivering papers. The most popular movie theater was the Miami. On Saturday nights they ran midnight movies. It was a very cool thing to go to one - although nobody said "cool" in those days. Another theater was the Olympia. They had stage shows. I remember seeing my first life entertainment there, plus a movie, all for 25 cents. Then there was the State theater. I know it was on Flagler Street - most everything was in those days. I believe it was on the corner of First Avenue. They played a lot of detective movies. I remember the Charlie Chan ones. Charlie and his "Number One Son" were supposed to be Chinese, but were played by caucasians made up to look oriental. Couldn't get away with that in these politically correct days. And there were "Whister" movies. I think the star was Richard Dix. You never saw his face, just his feet walking. And there was the Royal Theater, I think on SE First Street. In the 10th grade the Reeves boys and I frequently skipped school and went there to see a double feature. Nearby was Jan the Magic Man, where you could buy all kinds magic items and tricks and gags like fake vomit or dog poop. Also close by was Mayflower Doughnuts, where their slogan was "Always keep your eye on the doughnut, not upon the hole". Burdines was the premier department store . It was great to go in there just to enjoy the air conditioning, a great reprise from Miami’s heat and humidity. And it always smelled so good in there. A few blocks away, on Miami Avenue, was the town’s other main department store, Richards. Not as snazzy as Burdines, but their merchandise was cheaper. And, on Miami Avenue there were always a number of small shops. Some of them seemed to continuously be holding a "Going Out of Business Sale" for years on end. There was a movie theater on Miami Avenue, too. I can’t remember the name, but I went there when I was only 14 to see "The Outlaw". It was banned by the catholic church and my mother would have been very upset if she knew I had gone to see it. By today’s standards it was pretty tame, but in those days, Jane Russell’s cleavage was scandalous. By the time I got to high school and had a car, we went to drive in movies. I remember one was on LeJeune Road.<br><br>Her hands leveled around her waist to keep her just as close, but given the way she practically melted against her, it wasn't difficult. "Should we talk about it later? " Teddy asked weakly, the second she got a chance to breathe. And just like that, any amount of tension between them melted away. Her arms wrapped around Teddy's neck, completely enveloped in the lawyer as she felt the wonderful way she reciprocated. So simply things melted away into something so much more beautiful. How could she not kiss her? Even when she took a moment to breathe, Natalie didn't dare create any more distance than absolutely necessary, so much that she felt those words against her lips, and the sweetness behind them. Natalie managed, just as quietly. She didn't dare want to push too far again. It was hard to decide what was next. Teddy could see the aftermath of her own actions an the way they reserved her counterpart, and she wished for nothing more than a way to reverse that entirely. It was an overwhelming subject; one that seemed to come up at the worst time and so she must have seemed like someone who needed to dictate when she was willing to talk about it. "It’s not about me being comfortable." Teddy reminded her, careful to be gentle about her approach. She was still completely wrapped up in her; it was hard not to get lost in that. Now wasn't the time to point out she specifically bought this house because of the ample spare space for such a future. Careful hands applied generous pressure to pull her back. At the very least, getting away from the door was a positive first step. "Ask me anything." She offered then, almost positive she'd regret it if she didn't try. Teddy was so particular with her words, and it was that meticulous care that offered clarity. A gentle reminder was still a reminder, and Natalie felt herself nod in acknowledgement. It had just been bad timing, but now she wanted to talk about it. Or was willing to. It took so little from Teddy to get Natalie to move. She'd follow the lawyer through anything, a few steps further into their home seemed like so little to ask of her, she couldn't not comply. Especially when she said that. Like put on the spot, Natalie had to take a moment for her buzzing mind to settle on just one question. Proposing such an open question set Teddy up for a myriad of potential mistakes. Natalie, especially in her current state, could have conjured up anything and Teddy would have been forced to take it. Small steps drew them both into the kitchen, because she was sure she couldn't do this well without at least one glass of wine. The question gave her pause given how tame it was. She was slow to ease her hands away, but she couldn't drag herself away just yet. "I know you don't have any siblings, but I love my brother more than anything. If I didn't have him, I wouldn't have made it through everything." Teddy tried to explain. It was a straightforward question; one that neither of them had approached yet. At least, not directly. As they reached the kitchen, she stood still as Teddy slowly eased herself away, but she had to be thankful the lawyer didn't completely step back so quickly. She smiled at that answer, because it was so sweet and so perfect. The corner of her mouth twitched upward at the thought. She'd never voice that her family was lacking in anything - there was so much love between them - but having a sibling might have made her childhood a little less lonely. It was clear that Natalie agreed with her even before she could manage to say so. The expression she likely couldn't help but wear told an obvious story, but it was still gratifying to actually hear it out loud. The last thing she wanted was any kind of difficulty because she thought one child was enough. She stepped away enough to reach for a glass, but she filled it with water and settled it before her counterpart instead. "I don’t know. I've never thought about it realistically." Teddy admitted, and it was hard for her to admit not knowing something. But here, it just felt safer to do so. A glass filled with water was placed in front of her, and Natalie only barely glanced down at it.<br><br>Kim Kardashian showed off her newly trim and very svelte body again on Wednesday as she stepped out in San Diego in a beige wrap-around shirt dress. The reality star, 35, who recently declared she'd hit her goal weight of 120 pounds following the birth of son Saint West, appeared slimmer than ever in the thigh-skimming number. The mini dress that was belted at the waist accentuated her still curvy figure while revealing the extent of her weight loss and the results of her commitment to wearing a waist trainer. KIm, who's been in the Southern California oceanside city celebrating her grandma MJ's 82nd birthday, looked relaxed as she made her way to her waiting vehicle despite the throngs of photographers and fans swarming around her. Share 917 shares She wore a same color body suit under the long-sleeved outfit and matching sandal heels. She left her dark hair loose and rocked an oversized pair of black sunglasses. Find them at Farfetch! Kim Kardashian is making the most of her incredible post-baby figure and this tightly belted jacket is another reminder of how tiny her waist is. But as ever we're focused on the footwear. Kim's shoe collection must rival that of Imelda Marcos but even with access to the most high end of designer brands, she still makes room in her enormous walk-in wardrobe for some heels designed by her husband Kanye West. His Yeezy line is super casual with distressed sweats and tees and much of it is in neutral tones that could help you stay hidden in the desert. And that goes for his shoes as well. These sandals are a subtle beige but we have to say we do love that chunky wooden block heel. The good news for any fans of Kim's (or Kanye's) style is these beauties are available to buy now at Farfetch. Click (right) to take a closer look or shop our edit below for more takes on the neutral trend. Ego has a dead ringer that won't break the bank. Kim, along with sisters Khloe, Kourtney and Kendall Jenner had traveled to San Diego for a big family gathering for MJ held Tuesday night and hosted by her daughter, Kardashian momager Kris Jenner. Kim brought along daughter North West, three, and seven-month-old son Saint West, her children with rapper Kanye who himself was absent. And on Wednesday Kim left the heavy lifting to younger half-sibling and doting auntie Kendall, 20, who was seen carrying little North to the car. You're on camera: Kendall held on tightly to the tot, whose dad is Kanye West as photographers and cameras from their E! Kendall, who has a part-time gig as a model in addition to her role on the family's E! She wore a black patterned neckerchief tied tightly around her neck and had her hair tied up into a very high top knot. She completed the look with a pair of very pointy black shoes embellished with silver markings, sunglasses and a splash of bright red lipstick. North was dressed in a matching pale pink tank top and shorts with her hair in the braids her mom made a global trend. Fashion forward: The 20-year-old rocked an off-the-shoulder white top and black wide-legged cropped pants with very pointy black shoes embellished with silver markings. Khloe, 32, also opted for a strapless outfit pouring her curves into an off-the-shoulder black jumpsuit. Like Kendall, she wore bright red lip color and also emphasized her brows with thick dark pencil as well as adding lashings of black mascara. Her dyed blonde hair was loose with a side parting that revealed her darker roots as it was swept to one side across her head. The reality stars were headed to the famed Del Mar racetrack just outside San Diego to enjoy a spot of horse racing. And naturally the KUWTK cameras came too, documenting their day for their show. Once at the track, North kept a tight hold of her mommy's hand. The little girl, who had on a pair of pink ballet shoes, had some new plush toys with her too. Given the family was planning to spend the afternoon watching the gee-gees, North carried with her two little gray ponies with bushy tails. The trip to Del Mar marked the second day of celebrations for octogenarian birthday girl MJ, who showed up in a funky fedora. Kris' mom wore a long white 'brick patterned' top over a pair of white slacks paired with some open-toed silver flats. She added a flowing gray and black lightweight scarf, sunglasses and three-rope necklace. Joining Kim, Khloe and Kendall trackside were Kourtney Kardashian and her estranged partner Scott Disick as well as the birthday girl MJ herself. The family gathered at restaurant tables high in the stands overlooking the dirt race track where seven horses have had to be euthanized so far during the week's meet. Scott looked ready to party as he posed for a Snapchat video in a white unbuttoned shirt and white jeans with a rose-patterned red and white jacket. Meanwhile, before lunch, Kris Jenner, 60, and her toyboy and bodyguard Corey Gamble, 35, stopped by her mother's new store in San Diego. Kris looked every inch the entrepreneur and businesswoman that she is in a classy black and white dress. The outfit that fell to her knees featured a low-cut v-neck, back split and long sleeves that seemed to be slightly padded at the shoulder. She added a pair of shiny black pumps with stiletto heels and carried a shiny black leather clutch purse. Her dark brunette hair was sleekly styled and she accessorized with some diamond stud earrings. Corey was dapper in a dark blue suit with light blue shirt that he left unbuttoned and black shoes, and also wore diamond studs. He placed a protective hand on her hip as he escorted her from their vehicle and entered the boutique.<br><br>I really cared about a lot of these people but figured they would just laugh at me or think I’m crazy if I told them anything like this. The shame I experienced just got worse and worse with every failed attempt to get sober. I could no longer look in the mirror. Who is this monster I had become? I thought that if anyone I loved would see me like this, they would never love me again. But throughout all this, God never stopped loving me. He was always there to help pick up the pieces of my shattered life and empty soul. A week later, I packed up all my stuff to go to my mom’s place and get into rehab. I looked at the GPS to see what time I would be arriving; when else? 3:33. But this time, I knew I was seeing it because I had decided to get help. I had a week until I could get into inpatient treatment, and I watched a pastor preach online. During the sermon, the pastor had said that God had given us a miracle. And we need to go out and share it instead of leaving it on our bookshelf. I looked at my bookshelf and saw my folder with part of the story I am telling you right now written in it. I got into treatment and was shocked at how they wanted us to check in every morning in group, none other than physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This was crazy to me, and I knew I was finally in the right place. They offered church services at the rehab facility I was in. I met this kid in rehab who gave me a hat that said, "Not of this World." I went to church that Sunday and the sermon was about how Jesus said that he was a king that was not of this world. I finally started telling people about Jesus and my faith. I was no longer ashamed of it. The opportunity came for me to move 2,000 miles away from my house, to Prescott, Arizona. It is the "recovery capital" of the country. Everything started to make sense once I learned more about addiction and about how it is an addiction of the mind, body, and spirit: a mental obsession, physical craving, and spiritual malady. Looking back, I can see how God had been showing me, this whole time, what I needed to do. I laugh because he was actually taking me through the first 4 steps of AA without me even being aware of it. Step 1. We admitted we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable. Not only was my life unmanageable on drugs, but it was without them too. Take away the drugs, and I’m still the problem. Drugs were my solution. The problem is that as an addict, I have a mental obsession, physical craving, and a spiritual malady. Step 2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourself would restore us to sanity. Step 3. Made a decision to turn our lives and our will over to the care of God. I decided to go to rehab. Step 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Part of this step is writing a fear inventory. In Chasing Mavericks, Frosty has Jay write an essay about his fears. He needs to do this before he is ready to surf Mavericks. I now realize God can use difficult and sometimes even painful situations for good. I am actually happy I went through all of this. If I didn't experience this misery, I would have never been broken enough to seek God. I spent my childhood resenting my mom for being mentally ill and forcing God on me. God allowed me to know what it was like to be crazy myself while on drugs. I can't imagine what it would be like to have children and try to teach them about God without feeling like I was forcing it on them. Looking back, it's not that she was mentally ill that was the problem. I no longer believe she is mentally ill. Just because she says God talks to her does not make her mentally ill. Who am I to judge her experiences? This was the problem: I believed she was very self-absorbed and not there for me emotionally. Being a drug addict, I know what it's like to be selfish trust me.<br><br>It isn't easy to qualify for food stamps or medicaid, or unemployment, for that matter. Everyone who believes poor people have it made should waste no time in giving everything they have to charity, quitting their jobs, and being poor so they can get everything they want for free with no effort exerted, no strings attached. What an education awaits them! Even that education won't be free, and may come at a very high price. Have you ask yourself whether or not the corporations (most are multi-million dollar ventures) we subsidize indeed NEED our tax dollars? Or do you think they're deserving, unlike lazy slothful individuals who just don't want to work? Food stamps and other pubic assistance programs are on the Republican list to be cut even more this fall. Most people on food stamps are elderly, handicapped, and/or children. Yes, and our enlisted military people are on that list too, or were if they haven't been cut already. Surprising how many self described good Christians just hate paying their $30 a year so poor people can have some dry rice and dry beans. Several states have recently passed laws about what can be bought with food stamps and even canned beans are not allowed. It's been nearly 7 years since the crash of 2008 when bankers were given bonuses for creating this mess. When will anyone think it's time those bankers were held accountable for the parts they played in creating so many homeless people including children? They literally stole 7 Trillion dollars from Americans and tax payers. That's real money. Why is everyone so focused instead on the poor schmuck who gets $139 a month in food stamps instead of the perpetrators of this heinous crime that destroyed lives all over the world? Shyron, thank you for coming by. As most governments readily admits, the problem of homelessness is not going away. It is in fact growing even as the economy is said to be improving. I read in our local paper that thee are at least 5,000 homeless veterans in Denton County alone, and that doesn't include non vets. Put your feet up and stay cool --both of you . Stephiesmith92, agree with what you say. If no one objects, nothing changes. Thank you so much for stopping by and taking time to read and comment. I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. I only discovered your comment las' night. For some reason I wasn't notified I had received it and it was only in looking at a more recent comment that I was notified about that I saw yours here. HP is fully in charge of that, but I am so sorry I didn't see it sooner. It happens every so often for who knows why? Thank you again, and I hope you're having a great week. I think they are passing the laws because there are always people that take advantage of any situation. I recently read an article where a "homeless" man had 60k dollars on his person. Just as people abuse the welfare system, there are simply people that don't want to be an adult and prefer to be taking care of. So its kind of a double edged sword, I'm sure there are many homeless people that really have hardships and require assistance and then there are some that really don't and choose to live that way. It's difficult to distinguish the two. Au fait, this is an awesomely sad article. I felt compelled to come back to reread and share this again. Blessings and hugs dear friend. This was really sad to read through. People turn a deaf ear to issues like this because it makes them uncomfortable, or they just don't know how to help. I think people should voice their opinions to their local government and speak to attorneys who are also for the cause. If you don't speak up nothing will be accomplished. It's disgusting that laws have been passed making life more difficult for these people. DeborahDian, thank you for sharing that information here. I'm glad someone is finally doing something to help these people instead of ticketing them, beating them up, shooting them, and setting them on fire -- oh, and passing another law to make it illegal to exist while being poor. This is such an important article! In Los Angeles, they were able to find apartments for 3000 homeless vets last year and they are on track to finding apartments for 6000 more homeless vets this year. After that, they plan to try to find housing for other groups of homeless people.<br><br>Owning a car can be expensive. The average car payment can be roughly $482 per month. It would be nice to be able to have some help offsetting that expense. Did you know you can earn cash with your car? There are several companies that will pay you for driving your car. Earning money for driving your car can be a great way to help cover car ownership expenses, like car payments, insurance, maintenance costs and more. Getting paid to drive your car usually comes with certain requirements. How to Make Money Driving Your Car1. Most venues that will pay you to drive your car have certain requirements. They want your car to be clean and in good shape. They expect you to have a valid driver’s license. You have to have car insurance, and you need a clean driving record too. Do you fit into the parameters above? If so, you might be able to make money one of these five ways while driving your car. The world’s on a never-ending chase for modern convenience. To meet that need, there are many apps that will pay you to deliver groceries and other goods to people. They help people who can’t or don’t want to leave their home to do the shopping themselves. And they help people who are too busy to run errands. People’s busy schedules provide a great benefit for side hustlers. It’s the ability to earn money driving their cars. Here is some information about a couple of companies that will pay you to deliver packages or other goods. Use this information to help other people while using your car. According to its website, Instacart is an "on-demand grocery delivery service". This means that customers order groceries through Instacart. Instacart sends independent contractors to deliver the groceries. You’ll start by applying to be a driver with Instacart. After that, you’ll meet with a local Instacart employee who will interview you. In addition, they’ll explain how the process works. Basically, Instacart shoppers do the shopping and independent contractors do the delivering. Have a valid U.S. You need to be eligible to work in the U.S. Instacart says their drivers make "up to" $25 an hour. However, that wage can vary based on a number of factors. Instacart has dozens of locations all over the United States. However, they have more locations in the Eastern half of the U.S. You can deliver food from almost anywhere by becoming a Dasher with DoorDash. Some Dashers use the extra money to pay for vacations, their wedding, or other large purchases. It’s a great side hustle that can fit into any busy schedule. This is because you can choose when you want to work. Know that you’ll make more money with these types of side hustles if you have a fuel-efficient vehicle. The less you are paying out for fuel purchases, the more profit you’ll earn by driving your car. Similar to DoorDash, Postmates is an on-demand delivery service looking for delivery partners with a great attitudes. As a Postmate, you may deliver a meal, grocery order or liquor order. Their website says that their drivers can earn up to $25 per hour! It is free to sign-up and fast to get started. To become a Postmate, all you need to do is download the fleet app onto your phone, create an account, and once you are verified, set-up direct deposit. It is fast, simple and gets you making money on your own time. The best part is that their are no commitments and you can cash out instantly anytime you want! Similar to Instacart, Shipt is also an on-demand grocery delivery service. Independent contractors that work for Shipt need to shop for a client’s groceries. Then they deliver them to their specified home or business address. After downloading the Shipt app, drivers get notifications of grocery orders. They get to see the total dollar amount of the order. Then they decide whether or not they want the order. After accepting an order, the driver heads to the grocery store and shops for the customer. They then deliver the grocery order to the customer. They get paid a base pay of $5, plus a 7.5% commission of the total grocery order. In addition, they get to keep any tips they earn. There are certain requirements you need to meet to drive for Shipt. You must possess a valid U.S. Shipt claims its drivers make between $15-$25 an hour on average for deliveries.<br><br>Deathstorm had quickly imprisoned them in The Firestorm Matrix while Batman dragged what was left of Cyborg off the field. Fortunately, Professors Stone and Morrow believe they can keep Victor alive. Batman then learns that Nightwing has been unmasked and takes his leave with Catwoman. Elsewhere, Lex Luthor is having control issues with the underdeveloped Superman clone he revived. Although it is super-powerful, it is super-stupid. He attempts to communicate with one of his secret satellites and locates Ultraman in battle with Black Adam. In moments, Adam is nearly dead and thrown into the ocean, but it's clear the Syndicate Leader has weaknesses as his nose bleeds. He acquires Metallo's position and heads there. The Rogues are caught defending Central City when Deathstorm and Power Ring appear. But soon, Power Ring goes crazy and attacks anyway, not needing explanations. In the heat of the battle, Deathstorm uses his power to separate the Rogues DNA from their weapons; this means their powers are gone, or at least failing. Most of them manage to escape into the Mirror World, but Captain Cold is left teleported elsewhere. The Rogues fight Power Ring and Deathstorm in Central City. Escaping, he learns what happened and also finds Luthor's location. Once he gets to him, though, Luthor is facing Black Manta, carrying the body of Black Adam out of the water. Black Adam loses to Ultraman. After brief conversation, an uneasy truce appears: Cold, Manta, Adam, Luthor, and the B-Zero Superman clone may have just joined forces. 3. Basically Power Ring attacks and Deathstorm messes with the Rogues' Powers. Captain Cold is separates from his Ice Gun Powers and returns to normal. He ends up in Metropolis and is scene with Lex Luthor and subject B-Zero. The remaining Rogues escape through a mirror teleportation and end up in Metroplis, facing Parasite. Again, they have to escape using Mirror Master's teleportation. When the right themselves, they're facing Poison Ivy in a park. 3 - Appears to connect continuously to the previous issue. Poison Ivy has them trapped in Gotham City, but all she wants is to make a deal. She poisons Trickster with a kiss and then offers to let him live if Mirror Master can get sunlight on her plants. Mirror Master and Heatwave head to a Wayne Warehouse, grab some parts and head back. Once at the garden, Mirror Master attempts to use the mirror on a satellite. It only works for a few minutes. Trickster is now back up and he brings Mirror Master back. Unfortunately Ivy is not happy with the results. As well, Mr. Freeze shows up with Clayface! 12. Once again, it appears some Gotham City villains want help from the Rogues. This time Mr. Freeze and Clayface want the help of Weather Wizard. Unfortunately, he's been knocked out. The Rogues battle them, but Trickster, who has been knocked a distance, encounters Zsasz, who he disables. He then takes an armored car back to the fight scene. Now, Black Mask and his goonies are in the fray; they also want the Rogues for some reason, but at the end, Heatwave sacrifices himself so the rest of the Rogues can escape in Trickster's armored vehicle. Trickster, Mirror Master, and Weather Wizard drive off, jump a bridge, but then face The Royal Flush gang who - not surprisingly - want the Rogues so they can collect a bounty. 25 - Grid tells Owlman that Ultraman is en route to Metallo. 4 is next. With glimpses into the origin of Owlman, the Villain kills most of the mobs in Chicago, leaving one to organize crime for him. He then returns to Grid, gets an update, and convinces Nightwing to join him after a scuffle. Owlman says it will come down to him or Ultraman; he wants to remove the rest of the Crime Syndicate. Once Nightwing agrees, he pretends to stay captured, but we learn Superwoman was spying on them. 11 - In J'onn's travel, he ends up in Gotham City. The issue starts where he is being attacked by Clayface. Suddenly, he's surprised to see Star Girl back; she's helping him beat back his opponent. Sensing there are some weird things going on in Gotham, J'onn convinces her to leave, but not before Desparo starts tracking them. They get as far as Denver, Colorado when Desparo lays a trap, making the city appear under attack with one of his illusions. The heroes get through the fight, but are separated when Desparo physically attacks Manhunter.<br><br>I've been meaning to give you all a write up on my experience with Autoflex which is a spray wrap product. There were a few bumps and bruises along the way to get the result that I was going for but the final product makes me extremely happy! The reason I'm sharing this is so that you have information on this option in case you are considering a wrap of any kind. A while back I came across this excellent thread from member M2PDX on his decision to go from Black Sapphire to San Marino Blue with Autoflex since that color wasn't a factory option to him. 1530010 so please check it out if you want to learn more about what it is and how it works. Though I had it ceramic coated, after a while I started to get a little tired of the BSM cleaning process and I felt like I could only really enjoy it when it was spotless (which as you know is approximately 6 seconds after driving away). In addition to that I had amassed a nice group of CF goodies for the car but the whole affair was low contrast and I started pining for a blue color with pop. My two favorites were SMB and Atlantis Blue, and thus began the mental ping pong of how and whether to pursue it. On one hand, I loved my car exactly as it was: suspension, exhaust, aero, interior mods, speakers/sub, etc. I didn't want to have to undo those since I had done everything myself, and I also knew that it might be tough to find a good candidate - especially in Atlantis. Lastly, I own the car and I didn't want to pay VA [http://topofblogs.com/tag/sales%20tax sales tax] on a new one after just 18 months so I opted to put some of that money toward a wrap instead. The gloss vinyl wraps I had seen looked cool but they could never pass as an OEM finish, and matte/satin isn't my thing so I started researching options with Autoflex. The nearest authorized installer would never return my phone calls or emails and I started to look out of state. Liquid Wrap Labs was about 5 hours away in PA and his work on instagram looked good from afar so Jon (the owner) and I began to discuss the job. He was very knowledgeable and was able to match OEM paint codes with a small upcharge from his tint supplier and he found the Atlantis mixture without issue and Autoflex allows the installer to replicate or adjust factory pearl/metallic. He indicated that the ceramic coating would need to come off but otherwise it was good to go, so last summer during a week long work trip around the country I dropped off the car on a Monday and picked it back up on a Friday. He had a GTR and Ferrari 430 in with it so I felt comfortable leaving it in his hands. The result I got back was not great. I won't go into a ton of detail but basically he got behind and I pushed him to deliver it - the job was rushed and some mistakes were made. The car looked fantastic from 20 feet away but up close there was inconsistency, overspray, extensive surface peel, and not enough luster to merit the high gloss name. I was really disappointed driving the 5 hours home but we talked it out over the next few weeks and worked out a remedy. He offered to peel and redo the whole thing and this time I asked him to flow coat the finish which, if you're not familiar, means clear coating, multi-stage wet sanding, polishing and then respraying several layers of clear followed by another full polish. I also asked him to ensure that there was absolutely no overspray in areas like door hinges and washer nozzles under the hood. I paid for the materials but otherwise Jon did the job at his cost. He had also moved locations since the summer and had a new state of the art paint booth this time which made me confident he could deliver a great result. This time I said to keep it until it was done and just over a week after drop off a buddy and I drove back up to get it. I kept Jon on ice for a couple minutes while I walked around and inspected it but eventually I started laughing because of how ridiculously awesome it turned out. Take a look and judge for yourself. I'm including a few pics others took and my own iPhone pics of the nitty gritty stuff including doors so you can see where it starts/ends. This stuff is essentially really advanced plastidip and you need to be able to peel it after 3 - 5 years of use, so spraying into hinges and trim areas is not a good idea. So far I've had it for a month and it definitely gets a lot of attention. I'm not sure I factored that into the equation but people absolutely react to this color so I find myself having to talk about it a lot more. Overall though I think it looks great and I'm totally happy with the outcome. If you consider doing this make sure you go through an authorized installer, allow up to a full week for the job, and pay the extra money for flow coating and a full polish. Best thing is, when I'm done with it I can go right back to pristine Black or change to another option. Cost for this was around $3k FYI.<br><br>This morning I went out to my garage, got into the driver's seat of my car, inserted the "key thingy," turned it clockwise, and just like that, the car started. The old cars did not have an electric starter. The Model T Ford was an example. The T-models, even through the 1920s, usually would not have the electric starter, with its expensive battery, wiring harness, fan-belt-driven generator and so on. My Grandpa Clement was a Model T owner and driver, but he was never known to be a skilled operator. To start a Model T, you would make sure the transmission was in neutral, then you would set the spark level on the steering column to "retard" (or have someone do that for you), then you would get the crank out of the toolbox, go to the front of the car, insert the crank until it engaged with the slots on the front of the crankshaft, and start giving the motor a whirl until it fired up. With the T-model you had to be careful how you held the crank, because even with the spark advance on retard, the motor might kick back on you and break your thumb. You didn't want to wrap your thumb around the crank handle, you wanted your thumb out of the way, so that if the crank took a whip the wrong way it would throw your hand away. One of the skills you learned, usually, in operating a Model was the skill of shifting down at the right moment, to prevent killing your motor while climbing hills. That was a skill my Grandpa never learned. He was known to take on a hill in "high" and just let the motor lug until it died. That meant "scotching the wheels" with rocks or chunks of wood, getting out of the car, cranking the motor again (all so unnecessarily), then getting the kids to push while Grandpa got the car going up the hill again. My Mom always wished that her Daddy would let her do the driving because she knew how to shift down to "low" and how to tell when the motor was lugging too much and needed a shift down. She tells of telling her Daddy, "Daddy you need to shift to low!" But the old T would go chug-a-chug-a until there was no more, and they would have to go through the old "scotch it and restart" rigmarole again. Back to our own family Chevys. We had a 1937 Chevy sedan, the one in which we had made our trip to California, Oregon and Washington back in 1947. Then, right after that trip, Dad traded for a new 1947 Fleetline Chevy. There wasn't much difference between our old car and the new one. The old car had the shifter in the floor and the starter was a push-lever beside the accelerator. The new car had a three-speed synchromesh transmission with shift-lever on the steering column and the starter was a key starter. The motors in the two cars were very little different, since Chevrolet had used the old 216-cubic-inch overhead valve six-cylinder motor for years in cars and small trucks. One of the keys to successfully driving an older Chevy was to learn how to use the choke. If you wanted an old Chevy to start and run, you had to set the choke in the right position, pump the gas pedal two or three times. Then, when the engine started you had to be alert to it's tendency to sputter and die. To keep that from happening, you would give the gas pedal a quick push to give it a little extra spurt of gasoline (that used the carburetor's accelerator pump to temporarily enrich the mixture). So you would often hear old Chevy drivers going "Vnnn, Vnnn, Vnn," repeatedly gunning the motor as they were getting ready to go. That wasn't just to show off how good the motor sounded; it was to help keep the thing running until it could warm up and settle down to run steadily. With our old Chevy, we would leave the choke pull about half-way out for the first couple of miles. That would usually warm the motor enough to open the choke full and run normally. Interestingly, all those things related to varying mixtures, timing, temperatures, moisture conditions and so on, still apply to today's cars and trucks, except that the on-board computers keep track of all that, and we pretty much just get in and go. They just don't make cars the way they used to. Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part article, the first of which ran last week (March 4, 2020). Jerry Nichols, a native of Pea Ridge, is an award-winning columnist, and a retired Methodist minister with a passion for history. He is vice president of the Pea Ridge Historical Society.<br><br>Guest, The rules for the P & N subforum have been updated to prohibit "ad hominem" or personal attacks against other posters. Vinyl Wrap a whole car for $120! JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. He does a great job, makes it look/sound effortless! I'm wondering how it's going to look though after a few hundred hours out in the sun. I'm wondering how it's going to look though after a few hundred hours out in the sun. He needs lots and lots of Aerospace 303! I remember this from Speed Racer! The bad guys disguised their cars like that and then used a knife to cut open the wrap when it came time to unleash their evil plot. I don't recall exactly what that plot was, but it was evil fer sure. Skipp to page 12 where a professional weighs in and it doesn't sound like such a great idea. Skipp to page 12 where a professional weighs in and it doesn't sound like such a great idea. Before I start I have to say you did do a nice looking install. To bad it will not look that way very long. Your method of application is short of what it takes to make one stay on. I already see a place on the front wheel well that is coming up and going to peel. Here are just a few points and just the tip of the ice burg. 1. Any vinyl you are going to get for $120.00 for enough to wrap a car is going to be cheap, hard to work with, and not last very long. 2. Take into consideration if you are going to have to remove it or not someday and the damage it is going to do to your car. 3. There is a reason shops charge good money to do vehicles. They are trained on the proper materials and know how they will act under different situations. And more important preparation before application like removing all wax and contaminates. Leave wax on a white hood where it gets heat and you will have a giant brown spot baked into your hood when you remove the wrap. They know when to use and not to use adhesive promoters and edge sealers to keep it from coming loose. Wrap vinyls are made to go on dry with ease without bubbles and wrinkles. They are also made to be removed with ease. Intermediate vinyls are a bitch to remove and you will cause damage to the paint taking it off. BTW Oracal is one the worst to remove I have found. Next is Intermediate vinyls are made different then premium wrap vinyls and have way different properties. The biggest is they shrink (really bad) and crack. Any low areas the vinyl was stretched into will lift in about 2 to 4 weeks and will tight as a drum head. When it is time to remove it will come off in little pieces the size of a dime. Good wrap vinyl will come off in one piece without chemicals that cause damage to paint. Just because the manufacture says it has removable adhesive does not mean it removes easy. Wrapping cars is not that new and if it was that cheap and easy you would see a whole lot less paint jobs. I am just saying do some research and learning before you screw up a good paint job for a worse looking fake one. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I have been slinging vinyl for almost 30 years and wrapped just about anything you can think of with every kind of vinyl known. Yep ha, cant wait to see a follow up pic. No he didn't, he explained in great detail that this wrap job probably won't even last that long and when he goes to remove it, it's going to be a huge undertaking that will most likely damage his paint. Consider a public service announcement for the "Ima do this to my Scion, yo" crowd. I could do it to my car and not give a damn about the paint since it is already screwed up. It does look good though, and I think the matte style goes good on the more expensive cars. He says on page one that he plans to have it on for about a year. The pro that chimed in is 100% correct. I used to do vinyl applications on signs and vehicles. Cheap vinyl will dry, crack, and shrivel very quickly and take paint with it. I read the artical wrong, woops. Do you know any installers in New York? I'd like to wrap my RX-8 R3. I don't get it. Why would you want to cover up a beautiful glossy paint job with some crappy matte finish plastic/vinyl crap that, in my opinion, looks like ass? What's next, removable crackle paint? There is a reason behind the madness. The guy waxed the car first. People who do this for a living spend hours getting rid of the waxes and such that are on the car before applying for a very good reason. I did not even read the threads. They guy just bought vinyl and applied it with out reading up about it at all? All aboard the fail boat. I did not even read the threads. They guy just bought vinyl and applied it with out reading up about it at all? All aboard the fail boat. Wow. I really dig that look, but wouldn't want to futz up my car paint. Wow. I really dig that look, but wouldn't want to futz up my car paint. You must log in or register to reply here. AnandTech is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. AnandTech is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.<br>