bridges

 I was rushing thru the pedestrian amongst a throng of people when the clouds without warning opened up and poured its burden upon us! Rain! Just my luck! Within seconds I was soaking wet and shivering to the bones. The wind was thrashing the trees and garbage was flying all over. The used to be dry streets were flooded in minutes. I ran the rest of the way and reached the other side of the street without much mishap until I looked down at my feet and found them submerged in dark murky gushing water. I looked around and found to my dismay that there wasn’t any dry land! The canopies at the sidewalks were packed with people seeking shelter from the onslaught of rain. With determination. I just had to move on.  I was on my way to meet with a supplier for a wedding I was handling. But as I passed by a glass window of a parked car. I was shocked to see my appearance! My jeans and shirt were plastered to my shivering body. I had goose bumps all over me because of the cold; I was staring straight at a raccoon eyed Indian for the water smeared my mascara all over my face; but my hair was the ultimate description of messy for my long curly locks were plastered to my head making me look like a wet poodle! No wonder the people I come across with shake their heads at me in pity. I could just imagine what were on their minds. What would my supplier think when she sees me now?  I found a sheltered door of an office and decided to duck out of the rain. I decided I’d ride a cab the rest of the way. My files and documents were safely tucked inside a waterproof envelop so I wasn’t worried. Its being late to an appointment that makes me upset. The rain wasn’t dwindling at all in fact it was coming down in sheets not raindrops! How could I have missed this? I should just have brought my trusted umbrella and I wouldn’t have been in this predicament. But who would have guessed the weather would turn 360 degrees in just a wink of an eye. It was sizzling hot that early afternoon when I left the house. Geeez. I was even wearing my sunglasses! I looked from left to right across the street and at the corner but there wasn’t a cab on sight. One or two passed by but their occupied signs were flashing on. I rummaged thru my bag for my cell phone and looked at the time. Darn! I’m late! I dialed my supplier’s number and when she answered. I was shouting at the phone to be heard through the pouring rain and I was straining my ears to hear her as well. Heck! She was stranded somewhere as well because of the rain. So looking at both our situations we decided to reschedule our meeting another day. Sigh! That went well but what about me here right now? I thought.  A cab went by but didn’t see me waving. I was standing less than a meter from the rushing river that used to be a street. But from where I was sheltered a passing cab couldn’t see me at all. I had to move forward but I wasn’t wearing my trusted boots for times like these. Instead on my feet were my dainty pink strappy sandals…  Be brave Sofia! I said to myself. A shoe is just a shoe. So I inched forward and closed my eyes as I could feel the rain pound on my head and the street water swirl up halfway between my ankles and my knees. in my mind. I was thinking… It was like I was hit by a big wave! And when I looked down at my shirt the white was now tinged with black and brown muddy water! A big pick up truck just drove pass me without consideration of anyone on the sidewalk! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!! I clamped my teeth so hard in anger I was afraid I’d break them! The s@#?!@*>#$!!!!! I waved my fist at the vanishing truck cursing under my breath when out of nowhere the glistening white paint of a cab appeared in front of me! I must have been immobilized and dumbstruck at my sudden luck that the driver opened a window and asked if I would ride or not. Ehh oooh… of course! I scrambled clumsily inside. Dripping wet and making puddles on the leather seat The driver turned off the air conditioner and for that I was eternally grateful. We were traversing thru the streets and from the safe and comfortable confines of the cab I looked out the window and saw so many people with different reactions to the rain. There were those I saw who looked just the way I must have looked in the rain just a few hours ago; some were just standing under the canopies of buildings not moving an inch just to keep themselves dry and warm; those who were in their cars must have felt the way I was feeling now safe and comfortable; but what fascinated me were the children and a few grown ups who were thrashing in the flooded streets like as if they were playing at sea! They were running around making paper boats splashing diving and doing back floats! Wow! Amazing! At first you’d think these people are really into something dangerous! Can you imagine the bacteria these waters hold! But if you look closely at their faces you’d find the radiance of sheer happiness and joy! You could almost hear their hearty laughter as you look at the way their faces light up in pure delight!   How different people react to the rain. To most the rain is a nuisance an unwelcome presence in our daily lives especially when you find yourself stuck in flooded streets; wet to the bones with your clothes sticking like second skin and your hair plastered to your face; when the roof leaks and drips water inside the house; when the canals overflow and waste and garbage are floating all over; when the kids get sick due to bacterial infection brought about by such weather conditions; when transportation is scarce and you’re going somewhere; when flooded water flows inside the house; when the rain brings with it wind thunder and lightning things get even worse.  But the rain also brings delight to others. It gives them a chance to stay home and read a book share a cup of coffee or tea with a friend or just simply to cuddle and snuggle with someone dear. To some the rain gives them the time to think and meditate on life’s many adventures from the past present and future; a time to reminisce and recall blissful or poignant moments. Others become nostalgic; still there are those who believe that the rain is always a blessing from heaven. To those kids playing under the rain on the streets the rain is a time to grab the chance to enjoy and be happy and just maybe for an instance forget their personal miseries and frustrations in life.        

Forex Groups - Tips on Trading

Related article:
http://sofiamonologues.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/rain-oh-rain/

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

 I was rushing thru the pedestrian amongst a throng of people when the clouds without warning opened up and poured its burden upon us! Rain! Just my luck! Within seconds I was soaking wet and shivering to the bones. The wind was thrashing the trees and garbage was flying all over. The used to be dry streets were flooded in minutes. I ran the rest of the way and reached the other side of the street without much mishap until I looked down at my feet and found them submerged in dark murky gushing water. I looked around and found to my dismay that there wasn’t any dry land! The canopies at the sidewalks were packed with people seeking shelter from the onslaught of rain. With determination. I just had to move on.  I was on my way to meet with a supplier for a wedding I was handling. But as I passed by a glass window of a parked car. I was shocked to see my appearance! My jeans and shirt were plastered to my shivering body. I had goose bumps all over me because of the cold; I was staring straight at a raccoon eyed Indian for the water smeared my mascara all over my face; but my hair was the ultimate description of messy for my long curly locks were plastered to my head making me look like a wet poodle! No wonder the people I come across with shake their heads at me in pity. I could just imagine what were on their minds. What would my supplier think when she sees me now?  I found a sheltered door of an office and decided to duck out of the rain. I decided I’d ride a cab the rest of the way. My files and documents were safely tucked inside a waterproof envelop so I wasn’t worried. Its being late to an appointment that makes me upset. The rain wasn’t dwindling at all in fact it was coming down in sheets not raindrops! How could I have missed this? I should just have brought my trusted umbrella and I wouldn’t have been in this predicament. But who would have guessed the weather would turn 360 degrees in just a wink of an eye. It was sizzling hot that early afternoon when I left the house. Geeez. I was even wearing my sunglasses! I looked from left to right across the street and at the corner but there wasn’t a cab on sight. One or two passed by but their occupied signs were flashing on. I rummaged thru my bag for my cell phone and looked at the time. Darn! I’m late! I dialed my supplier’s number and when she answered. I was shouting at the phone to be heard through the pouring rain and I was straining my ears to hear her as well. Heck! She was stranded somewhere as well because of the rain. So looking at both our situations we decided to reschedule our meeting another day. Sigh! That went well but what about me here right now? I thought.  A cab went by but didn’t see me waving. I was standing less than a meter from the rushing river that used to be a street. But from where I was sheltered a passing cab couldn’t see me at all. I had to move forward but I wasn’t wearing my trusted boots for times like these. Instead on my feet were my dainty pink strappy sandals…  Be brave Sofia! I said to myself. A shoe is just a shoe. So I inched forward and closed my eyes as I could feel the rain pound on my head and the street water swirl up halfway between my ankles and my knees. in my mind. I was thinking… It was like I was hit by a big wave! And when I looked down at my shirt the white was now tinged with black and brown muddy water! A big pick up truck just drove pass me without consideration of anyone on the sidewalk! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!! I clamped my teeth so hard in anger I was afraid I’d break them! The s@#?!@*>#$!!!!! I waved my fist at the vanishing truck cursing under my breath when out of nowhere the glistening white paint of a cab appeared in front of me! I must have been immobilized and dumbstruck at my sudden luck that the driver opened a window and asked if I would ride or not. Ehh oooh… of course! I scrambled clumsily inside. Dripping wet and making puddles on the leather seat The driver turned off the air conditioner and for that I was eternally grateful. We were traversing thru the streets and from the safe and comfortable confines of the cab I looked out the window and saw so many people with different reactions to the rain. There were those I saw who looked just the way I must have looked in the rain just a few hours ago; some were just standing under the canopies of buildings not moving an inch just to keep themselves dry and warm; those who were in their cars must have felt the way I was feeling now safe and comfortable; but what fascinated me were the children and a few grown ups who were thrashing in the flooded streets like as if they were playing at sea! They were running around making paper boats splashing diving and doing back floats! Wow! Amazing! At first you’d think these people are really into something dangerous! Can you imagine the bacteria these waters hold! But if you look closely at their faces you’d find the radiance of sheer happiness and joy! You could almost hear their hearty laughter as you look at the way their faces light up in pure delight!   How different people react to the rain. To most the rain is a nuisance an unwelcome presence in our daily lives especially when you find yourself stuck in flooded streets; wet to the bones with your clothes sticking like second skin and your hair plastered to your face; when the roof leaks and drips water inside the house; when the canals overflow and waste and garbage are floating all over; when the kids get sick due to bacterial infection brought about by such weather conditions; when transportation is scarce and you’re going somewhere; when flooded water flows inside the house; when the rain brings with it wind thunder and lightning things get even worse.  But the rain also brings delight to others. It gives them a chance to stay home and read a book share a cup of coffee or tea with a friend or just simply to cuddle and snuggle with someone dear. To some the rain gives them the time to think and meditate on life’s many adventures from the past present and future; a time to reminisce and recall blissful or poignant moments. Others become nostalgic; still there are those who believe that the rain is always a blessing from heaven. To those kids playing under the rain on the streets the rain is a time to grab the chance to enjoy and be happy and just maybe for an instance forget their personal miseries and frustrations in life.        

Forex Groups - Tips on Trading

Related article:
http://sofiamonologues.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/rain-oh-rain/

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

MANCHESTER. N. H. (AP) - Presidential hopeful Barack Obama on Tuesday told high school students that when he was their age he was hardly a model student experimenting with illegal drugs and drinking alcohol. Yawn. Him and eighty percent of his fellow students. And most of the remaining twenty percent are lying. -Bill Quick Meh. Doesn’t mean he didn’t use drugs - just means He wasn’t very good at it - as with almost everything. His only apparent talents lifelong have been those of far too many professional politicians - lying and getting elected. Obama simply answered the challenge that wasn’t being asked apparently in an act to appear “relatable” and possibly to de-fuse a negative item that wasn’t visibly negative to begin with thus handing opponents a convenient (though small) stick with which to hit him. He’s a political bumbler on this one anyway… Note: Daily Pundit uses the Akismet e-mail filter which has been known on occasion to start flagging regularcommenters' submissions as e-mail for a while until we can hit it around enough to dress its mind. If you're having problemslike this you can bypass Akismet by registering. Your comments are still very welcome whether you register or not. The onlydrawback of not registering is if Akismet flags your mention as spam it may take us a while before we see it and fix it. Tags allowed:<a href="" title=""><abbr title=""><acronym title=""><b><blockquote have in mind=""><code><em><i><img src="" alt="" /><li><ol><s><strike><strong><sub><sup><ul> come up aren't you just a ray of sunshine! -- Glenn ReynoldsSocialism is the opiate of the crowd media...-- Bill Quick - 6/2/2008

Forex Groups - Tips on Trading

Related article:
http://dailypundit.com/?p=28454#comment-196935

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

The Bush administration must create an overall strategy for U. S foreign aid programs that reconciles the conflicts between humanitarian and national security objectives according to a new report prepared by the Republican staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee under The Polish investment-consulting affiliate Inwest Consulting plans to draw nearly EUR 100 million to develop projects in the Ukraine in 2008 - 2009. KALUGA (Reuters) - Germany's Volks­wagen opened its first car plant in Russia on Wednesday marking a milestone in Russia's accelerating foreign investment go four days before voters choose a new parliament. >> This upcoming Thursday the iPhone is being released in France. The iPhone will also change as an unlocked unit just like in Germany though at a surposedly lower price. Didier Lumbard. France Telecom's CEO said "The target is a little under MOSCOW. December 10 (RIA Novosti) - Gazprom [RTS: GAZP] has won a tender to prospect and develop an oil and gas field in Libya and will invest $100 million in the project the Russian energy giant announced Monday. Sixteen companies Willard Advertising has brought on two senior creatives from communicate agencies in Moscow to boost its advertising firepower in Moscow and Kyiv in front of major pitches for new business with international clients. In details>> Tech is approve all alter. Even in this choppy market the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite leads other market indexes nicely. But the way to make money on tech stocks is to find the small ones with the big futures. One investment In a bunco time a new player will appear in the Ukrainian market of business press. The launch of the first issue of Chistaya Pribyl (The Net Profit) business analytical weekly magazine is scheduled for December. For the moment one Everybody knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But thanks to those Russian pass temperatures there's the overwhelming temptation to swap the time you would act to prepare a proper meal for a few more precious Speaking about joining the WTO (World Trade Organization) it is worth mentioning that the situation in our industry looks rather worryingly," said Vladimir Yevsyukov. President of the Association of Fat-and-Oil and Soap Industry Companies (Russia) while speaking at a round-table For the non-rookies this year's analyse supplements the $23.2 billion paid in bonuses last year the $21.5 billion in 2005 and the $18.6 billion earned.

Forex Groups - Tips on Trading

Related article:
http://en.redtram.com/go/67058628/top100/

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

Report Urges Foreign Aid Strategy That Bridges Security. AltruismBy Walter PincusWashington affix cater WriterThursday. November 22. 2007; Page A27http://snipr com/1u1p1The furnish administration must create an overall strategy for U. S foreign aid programs that reconciles the conflicts between humanitarian and national security objectives according to a new inform prepared by the Republican staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee under the direction of ranking minority member Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.)."The president should design a national foreign assistance strategy that explains both the national security requirement and the humanitarian imperative that drive our government's investments in foreign aid," the report says. It also says the effort "should be designed to put to be lingering and out-of-date distrust between security advocates and those who focus on humanitarian concerns." As the foreign aid budget has grown from $14.9 billion in 2001 to a preserve communicate of $24.5 billion this year the Pentagon's share of bilateral aid has grown from 7 percent of that be to about 22 percent. In Honduras for example the Defense Department's foreign aid program is nearly as large as that of the State Department the report says. It also noted that Congress repeatedly has reduced President Bush's foreign aid requests and that "insufficient funding for foreign assistance in the civilian agency budgets reinforces a migration of foreign aid authorities and functions to the Department of Defense." The inform also criticizes the express Department arguing that Secretary of State Condoleezza sieve's establishment last year of a director of foreign assistance to centralize decision-making has resulted in a "lack of transparency" for aid cater in the field and "weeks of extra paperwork differing priorities between post and headquarters as well as inconsistent demands." After visiting U. S officials in 24 countries the committee cater reported that agreement between Washington and the field "is at a low ebb" when it comes to assistance programs while "policymakers in both the executive and legislative branches appear demanding deaf and sometimes schizophrenic" to employees overseas. One problem is that Washington's "new enthusiasms from democracy promotion to HIV/AIDS prevention erupt regularly change surface though from the field perspective they have long been a priority," the report said. It points out for example that while the furnish administration's Millennium Challenge program of 2004 directed new funds into countries such as Mongolia and Honduras it was at the cost of reductions in core programs already underway there ad_icon Underlying many of the complaints is the report's believe that the U. S. Agency for International Development has become "the neglected stepchild in D. C but in the field it plays either the designated hitter or the indispensable utility infielder for almost all foreign assistance launched from the post." Once independent but now part of the express Department the agency should be reestablished as separate from the director of foreign assistance the report said. The USAID administrator alone should be responsible the agency's calculate and programs the report said. That would leave the director of foreign assistance to provide "strategic direction to all foreign assistance," according to the report which suggests that the director should have the rank of deputy secretary of express. That person's responsibilities should include "oversight of all government agencies' foreign aid programs so the inconsistencies" can be taken to Rice or the White House. While the top Pentagon aid programs cerebrate on Iraq and Afghanistan the Defense Department also offers aid in other arenas the report states. For example. Pentagon anti-drug assistance originally authorized for Peru and Colombia has expanded to 14 countries. Combatant Commander Initiative Funds originally limited to small public works programs in Iraq can now be used worldwide. The report warns that although much of the Defense Department programs are done "ostensibly with the concurrence of the Secretary of State change surface greater embassy scrutiny is needed to ensure that the foreign aid is coordinated at post." It points out that it open one Pentagon schedule in a Middle East/North African country that focuses on counterterrorism and military training from U. S soldiers "demonstrated little sensitivity to the anti-American sentiment in the country and the level of radicalization among the local populace."

Forex Groups - Tips on Trading

Related article:
http://inthenameofdemocracy.org/en/node/244

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

construe in The Washington Post. November 22. 2007. Excerpts: "The furnish administration must develop an overall strategy for U. S foreign aid programs that reconciles the conflicts between humanitarian and national security objectives according to a new report prepared by the Republican staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee under the direction of ranking minority member Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.)...... As the foreign aid calculate has grown from $14.9 billion in 2001 to a preserve request of $24.5 billion this year the Pentagon's overlap of bilateral aid has grown from 7 percent of that be to about 22 percent...... Congress repeatedly has reduced President Bush's foreign aid requests and that 'insufficient funding for foreign assistance in the civilian agency budgets reinforces a migration of foreign aid authorities and functions to the Department of Defense.'.... The report also criticizes the State Department arguing that Secretary of express Condoleezza sieve's establishment last year of a director of foreign assistance to centralize decision-making has resulted in a 'lack of transparency' for aid staff in the handle and 'weeks of extra paperwork differing priorities between post and headquarters as well as inconsistent demands.'"mention: Having been a Peace Corps Volunteer and a U. S. Government functionary in the foreign assistance programs for 25 years. I am personally sorry to read about the problems in the foreign affairs programs. As a citizen at this time in which our foreign assistance is so important to our foreign policy. I am glad to see the calculate increase but I am sorry to see Congress keeping funding drink. I don't evaluate the Department of Defense should be a major bring for foreign development assistance. Let us wish that the next administration reverses many of the Bush administration's efforts in foreign assistance. JAD

Forex Groups - Tips on Trading

Related article:
http://stconsultant.blogspot.com/2007/11/report-urges-foreign-aid-strategy-that.html

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

The Fitch bond rating affiliate thinks that Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) $1.7b of bonds (presently AA- with shelter Outlook) presently is likely to be a strong investment despite the large extra borrowing and annual payments it is undertaking to the express DOT in return for a 50 year toll lease of I-80. The raters say that the Pike's new debt ordain be acquired gradually giving the opportunity to observe its strength. "PTC has maintained strong debt function coverage above 2.4 times (x) since 2001 and solid unrestricted cash balances. While coverage levels have been strong. Fitch expects debt function coverage levels to fall as the PTC manages both existing obligations on the mainline Fitch raters like the 25% change magnitude in tolls authorized by legislation for 2009 and the 3% increases annually but say the Turnpike's detailed financial plan is not available so their judgement is reserved. They are also reassured that the Turnpike has much reduced obligations to Penn DOT if opponents in the express or US government's block I-80 tolling.