The steep declines came in the first full session since the U.S. Congress approved a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry, as lending came to a virtual halt and investors shifted their focus to the crumbling outlook for the economy and profits.

But the market cut almost half its losses in the final hour of the session, as traders speculated the sell-off may trigger a coordinated global response to thaw credit markets. The Dow plummeted as much as 800.06 points -- a record intraday point drop for the blue-chip average -- as it slid 7.75 percent to its session low at 9,525.32. By the closing bell, though, the Dow had recovered 430.18 points to end down 3.6 percent. The S&P financial sector sub-index, which had earlier been down more than 8 percent, closed down 4.2 percent.

The energy sector skidded as the price of oil dropped to an 8-month low below $88 a barrel on expectations that a recession will further hamper global fuel demand. (headlines & market commentary by Reuters)

ETF/CEF Discussion: With all the carnage in the markets today, it is not unexpected that RSI failed to come up with any picks today. RSI has been signaling the need for a flight to safety and away from equities.

My recent “Deep Scan” study has shown that virtually all ETF/CEF funds are exhibiting bear trends, as measured by long-term Hurst Channels. These trends have been accelerated in recent weeks and months but they have been forming since last August 2007. The exception is in the area of short funds where almost all short and ultra-short funds are in bull trends, again starting around August of 2007. The other exception is in the sector of US Treasury funds, which are running counter to the bear trend of equities. I am quite convinced that we are in a secular bear market in equities, possibly one that is on par with past secular bears. Today we saw a lot of “get me out at any price” market action coming in from many participants, both big and small.

Two questions have been asked:

1. Is it too late to sell my equity holdings?
2. Should I buy the short funds?

My answers:

1. I have sold all my equities because they all hit their stop-loss levels. I also believe the markets/economy will get worse before it gets better. That is, I see no sign of a break in the downward sloping Hurst Channels. I have moved my money into US Treasury and cash/money market funds as a safe haven. Remember Warren Buffet’s first rule…Don’t lose money! Yes, selling out now represents a loss. However, not selling now potentially represents a even bigger loss. This is a complex dilemma but my solution is simple. Move to safety and out of harm’s way. After the dust settles we may have a clearer picture.  With today's carnage my portfolio of 72% US Treasuries and 28% money market/cash was up 0.6%.
2. Short funds have had a stellar run up in recent days and weeks. I would hesitate to buy them at this point. However any positive market rally might be a good opportunity to speculate on short funds. Again I stress the word speculate.

Sorry for the late posting of this blog tonight, I was unavoidably detained. I hope to release the full Deep Scan report in the next couple of days…stay tuned.

Markets routed in global sell-off

Stock prices collapsed around the world on Monday amid growing fears that the credit crisis would trigger a global recession.

The wave of selling swept through markets despite a scramble by governments to tackle the crisis, leading to rampant speculation that co-ordinated emergency rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and other central banks might be in the offing. Full read: http://tinyurl.com/3utq6r

Germany takes hot seat as Europe falls into the abyss

We face extreme danger. Unless there is immediate intervention on every front by all the major powers acting in concert, we risk a disintegration of global finance within days. Nobody will be spared, unless they own gold bars.Full read: http://tinyurl.com/4zh837

Lehman's Fuld: Where was our bailout?

Richard Fuld, the disgraced head of Lehman Brothers (LEHMQ.PK), said he would wonder "until they put me in the ground" why the U.S. government did not rescue the 158-year-old Wall Street firm and claimed regulators knew the full scale of its condition far before its collapse. Full read: http://tinyurl.com/4rez7j

On the way back home Sunday, we thought about going back to Flagstaff the way we came, through Williams, but decided to go through the mountains, instead. It's a much prettier drive, and about 10 miles shorter (although it takes about the same amount of time as going through Williams).

Heading back toward Flagstaff I took several shots of the snow covered San Francisco Peaks. They looked especially pretty with the fall colors of the trees below. On our last stop to shoot the peaks the clouds had finally cleared giving me the best shot of them!

Är vi tillräckligt ödmjuka inför dessa mängder av olika utbud som presenteras av våra mångkulturella förorter. Kan vi ta emot all denna kultur, hinner vi med, orkar vi och förmår vi.

Vad händer med den svenska kulturen?

Vad är kultur?

Tänker bland annat på exempelvis alla nya skapelser som i en del fall efter en kort tid står dold av tistlar och ogräs. Eller alla dessa fornlämningar i våra kommuner som nu ligger glömda efter att fått en kort tid av upptäckter, inga skyltar, ingen upplysning. Och det finns massor av sådana företeelser,

Det är den ena sidan, den andra är alla dessa ungdomar som presenterar sin nya musik dans mm, var hittar vi dem inom våra kommuner?

 Är det kultur?

Allt det som visas på flotta konstsalonger är det verkligen konst?

Kan Sverige verkligen förvalta all denna kultur som växer upp som svampar ur backen och är det inte upp till var och en att tolka och förvalta det man själv tycker är kultur.

you know... just to keep things interesting.

Punisher: War Zone é apenas o segundo longa-metragem realizado pela moça. Uma baita responsabilidade. Vamos ver se ela consegue vencer esse desafio, afinal de contas, uma coisa ninguém pode negar: ela é batalhadora!

Os posteres que ilustram este texto podem ser baixados em ótima resolução. Para ampliá-los, basta clicar em cada um deles e salvar em seu computador.

CLIQUE AQUI para ir ao site oficial do filme e AQUI para ler mais sobre o Justiceiro e ver fotos em boa resolução. Para fazer downloads de papéis de parede do vigilante da Marvel, CLIQUE AQUI.

Problems and challenges are the stuff of life. Meeting these challenges and solving these problems provide us with a sense of meaning and purpose. Overprotective parents cheat their children out of the adventure of meeting challenges and solving problems, along with the satisfaction that comes from these positive experiences.

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WHO STOLE MY BABEY!!! YOU THIEVE!!!

...my one and only PRADA has left me...

I had a strange feeling that i left something on the coach, but didnt realised i forgotten to pick my babey from the seat. my fault..my mistake.

I've been mourning for 2 days and shall mourned for another 2 days until i get my SIM and a phone...

so stay patient! you'll get to dial my beautiful 012-8X8X88X number very soon!

till then...cry for me. :P

The 400 wealthiest Americans have increased their net worth by $670 billion over the last 8 years, according to Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. This is staggering. When you hear Sarah Palin's new buzz phrase, redistribution of wealth, this is what they are trying to hide. The redistribution has already begun. It's the few taking from the many. As they try to smear Obama as a socialist, they are selling fascism.

Publicly subsidized, privately profitable! -Propagandhi

• Our economy has lost jobs for 9 straight months.
• Last week, the Dow dropped 777 points in a single day. That is $1.2 trillion being pulled from the market at once.
• This week, nothing has changed in the markets.

Bill Ayers is an interesting name to be thrown around. I think it makes a great comparison to names like Thomas Muthee, or the Alaskan Independence Party. If there were an episode of VH1's 'Where Are They Now?', then the entire argument of Bill Ayers is quickly engulfed in the wave of shock that comes from understanding where Muthee, the AIP and the Palin family stand now.

• Ayers, who committed his crimes in the 1960s is now a professor in the College of Education at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Senator Obama was 8 years old when Ayers was a member of the Weather Underground, and Obama has denounced Ayers' actions.
• Palin, on the other hand, has given a speech to the Alaskan Independence Party as recently as 2008 and her husband was a card-carrying member of the secessionist group. Their website boasts the motto: Alaska First - Alaska Always. AIP founder Joe Vogler says "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I have no use for America or her damned institutions." He's also stated "the fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred of the US government. And I won't be buried under their damn flag....when Alaska is an independent nation they can bring my bones home." That is the founder of the group Palin addressed this year.
• Pastor Muthee, who has blessed Sarah Palin's campaign began as a witch hunter in Kenya. She's also gushed about how he prayed for God to "make a way" for her campaign. He prayed for God to bring finances to the campaign, in front of a congregation. How does that qualify for a tax exemption?

While we're discussing radicals, how about those who bomb abortion clinics? Clearly this is one terrorist group that has Senator McCain's sympathies.

John McCain is as mentally fit as Grandpa Simpson and Sarah Palin is as intellectually curious as George W. Bush -- at best. All of these ridiculous spurious links brought up by the Palin-McCain campaign are to distract us from some of the worst economy ever seen by "Joe Six-Pack" as Palin likes to describe us.

Are you better off today than you were 8 years ago?

She is down to 98lbs and looks as fragile as glass. She told us she is so sad. Sad for what is to come, what she's lost so far (work, time, etc.) and what she stands to lose. She's scared.

I'm scared too. I cannot consider the worst...but I can't not consider it anymore either. I'm so scared. I don't want to lose her. She is the heart of my heart and I don't think I can live without her. She has changed my life and influenced me more than any other person, family or not, that I've ever known.

I don't know what to do. I don't know how to stop this. And I am afraid of what's coming next.

Her results from her MRI and CT will be discussed with her tomorrow, along with (hopefully) a treatment option. But her chances of survival are 5-15%.

FIVE to FIFTEEN PERCENT!

I cannot, I cannot, I cannot.

I can't!

WordCamp started at 9:30 on a beautiful Sunday morning in New York. Did anybody show up?
O, ye of little faith! About 100 of us spent more than 8 hours in a conference room at Sun Microsystems in midtown. Well before the day ended, some of the bloggers announced that they had found a bar where people could continue their education in the finer points of WordPress after hours. Those of us who had to catch buses back to New Jersey never found out how many were sober when their training was complete. Clearly WordCamp was a success.

A hundred people on a Sunday morning? Was WordCamp, like, free?
It cost $30. But that got you bagels and Danish for breakfast and a sack lunch: a sandwich, salad, fruit, and an oversized chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookie. And we got some nice stretchy orange-and-brown WordPress T-shirts that, so they would fit you even if you ate a lot of the mini cherry pastries at breakfast.

Why do you think so many people showed up for WordCamp?
I’ll quote Matt Mullenweg ma.tt/about/, founding developer of WordPress, who dealt with that question during his keynote address: “I believe WordPress users are smarter and more attractive than the general population.”

Was that Matt’s best joke?
No. Matt’s best joke was his entertaining imitation of how the CNN anchor Anderson Cooper almost got blown away while reporting on a recent hurricane. “They should get, like, a heavier person to cover hurricanes,” Matt said, leaning to one side. [Note: My notes say that Matt actually said: “They should put, like, a heavier person to cover hurricanes," but my version sounds better, don't you think?]

So Matt’s jokes were the best part of WordCamp?
The best part of WordCamp was that the program had something for everybody. At least a third of the participants said that they considered themselves Web developers or designers. Most of the rest were rank-and-file bloggers like me. A few said, in effect, that they didn't have blogs yet but had come realize that this was a tragic mistake that they planned to undo.

What did you learn about WordPress from WordCamp?
WordPress is one of the largest open-source projects on the Web along with Firefox and a few others. It has about 4 million blogs, and version 2.7 will come out in November. The most popular page among bloggers on WordPress is the stats page. The most popular plug-in is Akismet spam protection.

WordPress also offers a lot of colorful, free themes, which combine display and plug-in features and help to determine the look of your site. Unfortunately, some con artists on the Web falsely claim to offer legal alternatives to these. If you download their fake themes, they put evil codes on your site that load it with spam or worse. So if you don’t like the free WordPress themes, you should buy a Premium theme from WordPress or have somebody you trust design one for you.

Another piece of bad news was that in China censors have sometimes removed as many as 80 percent of WordPress posts.

Did anybody mention that rumor that the CIA uses WordPress?
Isn’t that fascinating? It’s true, apparently. Matt said in his speech that the U.S. government agencies that have WordPress blogs include the following: the Air Force, the Army, the CIA, the Coast Guard, the FBI, the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security. And he wasn't joking the way he was about Anderson Cooper and the hurricane. That so many government agencies use WordPress shows you how secure it is compared with some other blogging platforms. Will the Oval Office be next?

You'll find more WordCamp New York wordcamp.info/2008/10/05/october-2008-upcoming-wordcamps/ and on the New York WordPress Meetup wordpress.meetup.com/169/calendar/8858860/.

© 2008 Janice Harayda. All rights reserved.
www.janiceharayda.com

thanks, shannon   fitnessmarketing@comcast.net

“The Christian God can easily be pictured as the same god as the many gods of ancient civilizations.”

“Question with boldness the existence of God.”

“My mind is my own church.”

“Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religions.”

“I think vital religion has always suffered when orthodoxy is more regarded than virtue.”

These all may seem like the inflammatory ramblings of the Right Wing's favorite whipping boy Bill Maher, and not quotes from our Founding Fathers (Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, George Washington and Ben Franklin, respectively. Look it up.). But they serve sort of the thesis statements for Maher's documentary “Religulous.”

Now whether you wish to take theological advice from a former actor whose previous cinematic body of work includes the Mr. T opus “D.C. Cab” and “Cannibal Women and the Avocado Jungle of Death” is your own call.

The topic of religion has been a frequent target for Maher's “Real Time” talk show, and he makes no attempts to conceal his disdain for organized religion of any kind and the harm done to humanity in its name. In “Religulous,” he sets out on a global nomadic quest in an attempt to understand why his belief in non-belief is so marginalized.

He has hired “Borat” director Larry Charles to accompany him on this religious crusade...( hmm, maybe “crusade” may be the wrong word when talking about Christianity... how about “deity safari?”). Maher overturns stones of such fringe-dwelling pit-stops of faith as a Trucker's Chapel, The Creationism Museum and a “gay conversion” center as well as attempting to tackle the big boys such as the Mormon Tabernacle and the Vatican.

Maher's past as a comedian comes in handy throughout, as his wit certainly cuts through some of the deeper discussions. But his trademarked snark is exactly what may cause the film to fail to convert anyone who does not already worship at Maher's altar. He is not aided much by Charles, who edits the film that often leaves it open to criticism that he is stacking the deck in his star's favor.

Granted, many of the subjects are far out of Maher's comedic league, and it is doubtful that he needed any help decimating certain guests who willfully jam their own feet in their mouth.

The results are frequently hilarious, make no mistake.

But by choosing this filmmaking method, Charles leaves Maher wide open to the oft-cited criticism of Maher's smug, self-satisfied delivery is too off-putting to welcome new members to his congregation, which is obviously the film's intent.

And if that does not seal the deal, Maher's strangely serious polemic rant at the film's conclusion certainly will. As Maher himself begins the film, he admits that he “does not know” the answers, but preaches to the masses just like so many of the religious charlatans he spent the past 90 minutes railing against, with absolution and certainty.

“Religulous” does open doors to conversation, which is always healthy. But when you preach with condescension that your view is the only valid one on the table, you sound exactly like those you mock.

more to come on this soon......

amazingness!

-liz

(Regarding what is to follow in this post: I still know that I could be blowing this all out of proportion because of the intense emotions I'm feeling over my other friends. I'm feeling very, very vulnerable...so this could just be a completely invalid fear...and I hope, so sincerely, that it is.)

I am a good and decent friend. I am loyal, kind, forgiving. I build my friends up, I try hard not to let them down, I'm supportive...I would, and have, gotten out of my bed in the middle of the night to go to the aid of friend. When I care about someone, I put them first and I don't ask for much in return. I love my friends deeply, and instill them into my heart like they are family.

So, why am I treated by my friend like I'm nothing...nobody? Why am I cast aside like trash? I am confused. CONFUSED.

I know I have faults. But, I try to be upfront about them, and I would never harm someone I care for. I wouldn't want to hurt my friends for all the world. And if I ever do something hurtful out of a selfish moment, or a careless mistake, I am quick to apologize and ask for forgiveness.

I am having trouble writing this, I can't express myself. I feel used. I think I was used. It's not an unknown that I am a broken girl...with hurts that run deep. It's not unknown to my friends. So, it's especially heart-wrenching to know that someone could treat me in such a reckless manner. I am devestated right now.

I am losing everyone. And I'm breaking into pieces. I am watching as my dearest friends are leaving and fading and I cannot do anything to stop it. I know these people love me and will not harm but...but HE has and doesn't seem to care at all that he is destroying the strings of trust I built with him. He knows what kind of pain I'm dealing with in my other friendships...but he has chosen to forget me...to disregard me, to demote me to less than even a friend.

All I needed was to know that I was important...in the smallest way...and that he might, for a moment consider me and wonder how I'm doing. But he has new entertainment...actually, old entertainment. And I am no longer of any use to him.

I just wanted to know that I could trust HIM. I just wanted to know that I didn't have to worry that I would be hurt by him. But, I was so stupid. He doesn't need me anymore, so like a used up item...I've been tossed aside.

Why? I gave all of my fears to him...placed my trust in him...opened myself to him. Does he have no sense of loyalty? I NEVER walked away. even when I was sick with anxiety and fear. It would have been so easy to just say, "I have to get out, because this is too hard". I even considered doing that...but I never did, because I thought he wanted/needed to see that some people stick it out, even when things aren't ideal.

I think I have lost him as a friend. I think he'll be back...and he will chat and make crude jokes and talk politics, but he doesn't want my friendship anymore.

I don't know what I did. Whatever it is, I'm so sorry. I want my friend back...I really want my friend back.

We did tried a few method to wean but it was unsuccessful. Thank God, we finally found a creative way by having them to throw the pacifier on their own accord while we record it. It works for both of my children. It is a cold turkey method but with added fun... a least for us as parent! LOL.

What you need?

A camcorder or camera with video recording capability, a dustbin, and witnesses, dada and mama!

For my first child, it was impromptu. When she turned 2, we told her that you are a big girl now. It is time to stop sucking her pacifier. We put the dustbin in front of her. I took out the camera to record the "event". We gave her the pacifier and we encourage her to throw away. Without hesitation, she gently place it into the dustbin as opposed to my second child as he was a bit reluctant! We celebrated by clapping our hands and affirmation that she is a big girl now. Out of curiosity, she wants to view the video over and over again. It was great as it prepared her mentally that she did it on her own.

Comes nighttime, it will reveal whether our plan work or not. As usual in the bed, she was asking for pacifier. We took out the camera and show her the video a couple of time to send her the message that she has already dispose the pacifier. Of course, she cries a little and we were by her side patting her until she sleep. That went on the next 2 or 3 days. After that, she completely forgotten about it. Occasionally, we will let her see the video where we can laugh together.

Try it out, and let me know if works for you!

He did say he has a very high house payment, that is what he committed to when he thought his equity was going to go up even higher.  His plan of course was to refinance his home with higher equity and also easy qualifying requirements to get a lower interest rate and a lower payment. 

He finally told me that a family member had told him about this person that would advise him through the process and his charge would be only  $4,000.00.  I tried to explain to him that they hadn’t even finished designing the bail out plan.  We don’t even know who will qualify, or what the criteria for getting help will be.   He didn’t care, he simply was convinced that he will get a smaller loan and a cheaper house payment.

I spent today questioning myself, did I miss something?  Had I totally been somewhere else, like a different planet and didn’t get the email or a flyer in the snail mail offering this fabulous deal?  However, I am concerned how many real estate agents might be counseling their clients to do just this sort of thing.  Maybe some are the ones who have moved into a different line of business called “loan restructuring specialist” or something.

Boy!  I need to start doing this to, just on a part time basis maybe.  Not!  I don’t want to go to jail, its fraud plain and simple.  You would think when someone in a suit tells you to risk your home, not to mention your credit, and puts the proverbial carrot called greed in your face.  Then tells you to fork over $4,000.00 and he will make it happen?  Well this person had to come up with $2,000.00 now and the remainder upon completion.  On top of this he didn’t get any guarantees, how could he?  He doesn’t know what the final loan or interest rate will be, nothing.

Unfortunately we all new this sort of thing would happen one way or another.  The con artists always show up when there is a way to con people.  I am just surprised that the same greed that got a lot of people in California into this problem, is the same motivation  that is causing them even more harm.

Well as we all wait to see the full effect of this financial nightmare as it unfolds, I believe we need to stay calm and take care of what we can and hold on to see what this bail out really means.  I don’t believe anyone will benefit from it or be able to capitalize on it to their advantage.  I hope it will save those people out there who really want to keep their homes so that their families will have a place to live.  I think also that we need to ask God for help and direction and wisdom to do the right thing.

Bill Collier

http://mindworthy.mypodcast.com

I feel a little awkward about my neighbors seeing into my apartment.  I wonder how bad it looks to see all the canvases and easels strewn all over in front of the window where I work.  I hope they don't think of it as an eyesore.  The ones who have a direct view of me own their apartment and my building is all rental.  I guess these things can make a difference.  I can see in their place too, nice.

I came across this story and then read Campbell's after a good look around for something to blog about today - well tomorrow but I had to get this on-screen.

You see, I agree with Campbell - I'll bet millions of Americans do, too. Yet I have to ask a question: Why did John McCain start down this road so late in the election campaign? Now me - I regard myself as a bit 'net savvy - so I can find my way around Google and with a few search words you can get some real gems!

Much like this one from Rolling Stone Magazine.

The thing I am trying to say is that I did just a few search words - the hits are bloody amazing. By the way - I did the same words for Barack Obama - nothing near as much as John McCain. I cannot understand, or maybe I can, why McCain is being so foolish as to allow his pitpoodle off the leash.

If you are interested in a good read (10 pages) and really do want to look at the character of John McCain, read the Rolling Stone story. If, like me, you would prefer the two of them to get onto issues let them know. You can Google how to get in contact.

Mr McCain - get your advisers to check the internets before you do this, or it could be your complete downfall - please let John McCain know, because he hasn't mastered the internets yet.

Bloody idiot!

Yeah.  True. Someone told me "We'll see."

Natasha says, "The rest is still unwritten."

Scary. Always tantamount to "I don't know."

I'm in a rollercoaster right now.

At least the rollercoasters we know would somehow reach a complete stop and... and you know it's time for another ride.  I'm in one that just never ends.  Dizzying no?

I guess.

We'll see.  Sounds good. We'll see.  Just can't get that out of my mind.

Too early to tell. Always.

I don't know.

We'll see.  Can't get it out of my mind.