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? OBSCENE ?

ob·scene (adj.)

1. Offensive to accepted standards of decency or modesty.
2. Inciting lustful feelings; lewd.
3. Repulsive; disgusting

WARNING: ADULT THEME - DO NOT CLICK PLAY IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED!

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From Booty Bay to Quel'Danas in 2 minutes

I recorded this film for my DIVA 200 (Digital and Interactive Arts) course at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECUAD). The clips were taken from the online video game World of Warcraft and features a hyperspeed flight from Booty Bay to the Isle of Quel'Danas.

Address: 12 Cider Mill Rd , Mertztown, PA 19539
Phone: 610-682-7719

No Website Yet

DUBLIN, October 6 (Compass Direct News) – Militant Islamists in the southern island of Mindanao have stepped up their attacks on majority-Christian villages following the failure of a peace agreement that would have enlarged an existing Muslim autonomous region there.

With Muslim commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the southern Philippines yesterday saying ongoing support from the international community was necessary to prevent a full-scale war breaking out in Mindanao, both Muslim and Christian residents in the disputed territories were fearful of what the future might hold.

“The problem is that many people living in these areas don’t want to be part of a Muslim autonomous region,” a source in Mindanao who preferred to remain anonymous told Compass.

“The closer you get to these zones, the more nervous people are,” he said. “The town of Kolambugan, where most of the fighting took place in mid-August, became a virtual ghost town for a while. It had a population of 25,000. But people are slowly returning to their homes.”

A Christian family from the area said many people were afraid to sleep at night because they kept hearing reports that they would be attacked at midnight.

“When MILF forces attack Christian villages, Muslim neighbors are afraid that Christians will retaliate against them, even though they have nothing to do with the violence,” the source added. “This has happened in the past.”

He also explained that some moderate Muslims are drawn to support the MILF because the rebels claim the Christians have stolen their ancestral homelands. Communities in Mindanao often struggle with extreme poverty.

“If MILF is successful in gaining control over these lands, the people assume that their economic situation will improve,” he said. “So although they want the fighting to stop, they sympathize with the MILF.”

While the conflict is primarily political, religion plays a significant role. As a member of the Moro Youth League stated in an Aug. 5 national television interview in the Philippines, “As a Muslim, in order to live in a righteous way, you need to be living under sharia [Islamic] law and with an Islamic government. We believe we have the right to fight for this.”

Other Youth League members on the program agreed that sharia was a primary objective of autonomy, and that Islam was the only “real path of doing anything in this world.”

Violence Erupts

Some 2,000 MILF supporters yesterday held a protest march in Marawi city, Lanao del Sur, appealing to the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to compel the Philippine government to revive the aborted peace agreement that would have enlarged the existing Muslim autonomous region in the south.

Breakaway MILF commanders on Aug. 18 attacked several majority-Christian villages after the Supreme Court prevented the Aug. 5 signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD). The agreement potentially would have given the MILF power to establish an Islamic state governed by sharia law.

Christian leaders in Mindanao appealed to the Supreme Court when they realized that if they voted against inclusion in the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE), their majority-Christian villages would become small islands in the midst of MILF-administered territory. As a result, they feared, they would be forced to move elsewhere.

Incensed by the 11th-hour stalling of the agreement, three MILF commanders on their own initiative led attacks against towns in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte provinces on Aug. 18, burning homes, seizing livestock and killing at least 37 people. Another 44,000 residents immediately fled the area.

When some Christian residents armed themselves in defense, Secretary of Interior Ronaldo Puno warned that anyone carrying weapons would be disarmed.

The MILF has only 11,000 active fighting men, according to local estimates. But by Aug. 20, the National Disaster Coordinating Council had reported a total of 159,000 people displaced by the rebel attacks.

The Philippine army quickly retaliated, sweeping villages in an attempt to seize the rebel commanders.

After two weeks of violent clashes, the Philippine government officially abandoned the MOA-AD. Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would seek a new agreement based on consultation with legislators and local politicians rather than negotiations with the MILF.

Furthermore, the government would concentrate on the “disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation” of MILF cadres, Fajardo said.

In response, MILF leaders rejected any renegotiation of the peace deal with Arroyo’s administration.

Overcoming Prejudice

An opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Aug. 7 stated that the MOA-AD would only reinforce prejudices between Christian and Muslim communities.

Under the agreement, WSJ claimed, the government would further divide Mindanao into Muslim and Christian enclaves, increasing the likelihood of territorial disputes. Separating Muslims from the rest of Philippine society, it stated, would encourage a vision already held by MILF to help create a pan-Islamic state covering several countries in the region, including Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

Finally, the WSJ said, less Philippine control of Mindanao would “invite even more terrorist activity in an area that already has strong ties to al Qaeda.”

While there are proven terrorist leanings in groups such as the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf, not all area Muslims approve of or engage in such activities.

Camilo Montesa, a key figure in peace negotiations, in his blog on Aug. 30 described an encounter with a young man who believed that Muslim residents would readily seize property from Christians once the BJE were formed.

Others told Montesa that, “Muslims were scouting and marking the big houses of Christians in Cotabato and staking a claim over them in anticipation of the signing of the peace agreement.”

“The hearts and minds of the people are the battlefields, and not some hill or base camp,” Montesa concluded. “There is a limit to what arms and war can produce ... It is unfortunate that we are so divided as a people at this point in our national life.”

Reclaiming ‘Ancestral Domains’

As Islamic identity strengthened in the Middle East after World War II – and as many Philippine Muslims traveled to study in Middle Eastern countries – certain sectors of the Bangsamoro population became committed to reclaiming “ancestral domains.”

Their claims dated back to the rule of the Sultanate of Sulu, which existed prior to Spanish colonial rule in the 1500s, and the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935. When the last sultan died in 1936, the fledgling Philippine government refused to recognize his heir, effectively eradicating the traditional Bangsamoro power base.

When the Philippines became a republic in 1946, its constitution allowed for the establishment of an autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao. Initially the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fought alone for this autonomous territory; in 1977, however, MNLF member Hashim Salamat – who had studied in Saudi Arabia – and his followers seceded from the movement and founded the rival MILF.

The Philippine government signed an agreement with the MNLF in January 1987, and territories were added to the resulting Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) through a series of plebiscites or referendums in 1989, 2001, 2002 and 2006.

MILF commanders later laid claim to a further 712 villages outside the ARMM.

Negotiations between the government and the MILF began in earnest in June 2001. Both parties were to formally sign the resulting MOA-AD on Aug. 5, a deal which could have led to the creation of the separate Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, or fully-functioning state, replacing the ARMM by 2010.

When details of the agreement were leaked to the press, however, Christian politicians in regions of Mindanao affected by the agreement appealed to the Supreme Court, which in turn issued a temporary restraining order on the signing of the agreement on Aug. 4.

Report from Compass Direct News

In the sloping hills of the South Mountains in North Carolina. Our orchard has been in the family for three generations, and our apple growing roots go back for five generations. Needless to say, we know apples! Over the last several decades, our orchard has expanded and grown. We now have a Country Store, Apple Pickin' Picnic Shelter, restroom facilities, and offer school tours, group tours, and orchard tours from a tractor drawn wagon.

Address: 5205 Appletree Ln, Morganton, NC 28655
Phone: 828-437-1224

Ron Cortes/MCTPittsburg Penguins' Sidney Crosby celebrates a goal by Ryan Malone during last year's Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The NHL season starts Saturday in Prague, Czech Republic, with the New York Rangers taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning. This season begins after numerous offseason signings and trades that are sure to shake up the standings. Will the Detroit Red Wings repeat? How will the local teams, Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes, do? Which team is the dark horse? Which team will tumble into the depths of last place? Those questions will all be answered.

Following their Stanley Cup Finals victory, the Red Wings decided it would be best to sign another sniper -- Marian Hossa. Surely, this will keep Detroit in the upper echelon of the Western Conference, but things will not be as easy this year. Goalie Dominik Hasek finally retired and defenseman Nick Lidstrom is one year older, as is Chris Chelios. Age has always been a factor for Detroit but they are winners in Hockeytown. However, the Central division, which Detroit is a part of, has been retooled and looks very formidable for the defending champs.

The Chicago Blackhawks are the team to watch in this division, and in the whole NHL. With their two young stars, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane (both could be sophomores or juniors with us here at Virginia Tech), Chicago could easily challenge Detroit for the division crown. Its defense has been bolstered with offseason acquisition Brian Campbell, bringing offense to their blueline. The question mark for Chicago is its goaltender, Cristobal Huet. If he can match his second half of last season with Washington, Chicago will be in tremendous shape.

Let's head back east and take a look at the defending Eastern Conference champions -- the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens lost quite a few players in the offseason, namely Gary Roberts, Ryan Malone and, of course, Marian Hossa. This is going to hurt them this year. They are in one of the most difficult divisions in hockey, the Atlantic.

Philadelphia is the main opponent for the Pens. There was not much movement by the Flyers except a huge contract extension for young franchise man Mike Richards. The past year allowed Richards and Briere to gel, and let Braydon Coburn break out into a top defenseman.

The Rangers lost a lot with Jaromir Jagr going to Russia. All of that experience and scoring is now halfway around the world. The pressure now solely rests with centers Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, both entering their second year in Madison Square Garden. The Rangers front office did help the loss of Jagr by bringing in Markus Naslund and blueliner Wade Redden. It will be a three-team race for the Atlantic title, but all three will end up in the playoffs. That means the Devils are out.

We will stay in the Eastern Conference and look at the Southeast division, won last year by Washington. Alexander Ovechkin proved again why he is one of the best players in the game, every bit as good as Sidney Crosby. There is a problem for the Capitals, though -- the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa yanked Barry Melrose away from ESPN to be head coach, and with a slew of signees things look bright for the Lightning. This is the dark horse for the NHL. It would not be surprising for them to make it to the Eastern Conference finals, if they can sure up the goaltending.

Wrapping up the east is the Northeast division. Montreal goalie Carey Price, said to be the second coming of Patrick Roy, proved his worth last year. The Canadians dumped some useless salary and are still attempting to bring in will-he-or-won't-he free agent Mats Sundin, your Roger Clemens of hockey. They should finish first in the division.

Montreal's archrival, Boston is going to turn some heads this year. Barring any more injuries, they will be contenders, along with Ottawa and Buffalo in the division. Ottawa is going backwards, and Buffalo is at a stalemate. Now is the time for Buffalo to make its move. Watch for a big trade deadline deal for the Bruins.

Back out west, we find the Northwest and Pacific divisions. In these two, you will find some of the best goaltending and defense in the NHL. It's all about hardnosed hockey here, with the occasional sprinkling of offensive firepower in San Jose and Detroit. The Northwest division lost a lot of talent and players shifted around to teams in the same conference. Anybody can win the Northwest -- it's that simple. Every team has a solid defense backed by exceptional goaltending.

The Pacific division is home to a perennial regular season powerhouse, the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks' problems come in the playoffs, and that is why they fired their coach Ron Wilson last year and brought in one of Detroit's assistant coaches, Todd McClellan, to give the team a new, winning attitude. This coupled with the addition of a revamped blueline -- Rob Blake, Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich -- means the pieces are once again in place for a deep playoff run.

The Stars and Ducks are going to give the Sharks everything they can handle, though, especially with goalies like Marty Turco and Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Anaheim did not make any huge moves in the offseason, and Dallas lost a few key players from their Conference Finals run. That will not stop them from competing though. Both teams have superior coaches.

With all of that said, this looks to be another fantastic hockey season. More and more fans are tuning in and attending games, bringing back the love for hockey in America. It is truly a great and exciting sport. There is nothing more emotional in sports than seeing players lift the Stanley Cup after a strenuous eight-month journey. That journey begins tomorrow.

- Ray

A Hope in the Unseen, is about Cedric Jennings, a honor student at a inner-city high school who goes on to college at Brown University, an Ivy League school.   He faces many intellectual and social challenges, even at college, trying to fit in with the white and privileged students.  Cedric relies on his faith, support from his mother, intellect and determination to help him persevere.

Ron Suskind is also the author of The Price of Loyalty, George W. Bush, the White House and the Education of Paul O'Neill; The One Percent Doctrine; and The Way of the World. Eastern is fortunate, Mr. Suskind will talk about A Hope in the Unseen at 3:30 pm and The One Percent Doctrine, at 7:30 pm on Thursday, October 2.

I grew up between Wilmington North Carolina and Wrightsville Beach. Home of the Venus Fly Trap, a film and tv industry, and very much in the part of the state that you can pretty much only find one kind of barbecue. Appropriately named, Eastern North Carolina Barbecue. There was a barbecue restaurant there that we used to go to all the time called Skinner and Daniel. It's no longer there sad to say. The last time I saw it, the sign was still there but the building was over-grown by vines.

Here in Charlotte, Bill Spoon's Barbecue is a carbon copy clone of the barbecue that I remember from those good old days. For a long time I thought that it was coincidence that the barbecue was so similar until one day I was talking to Mr. Spoon and he explained to me that the reason it was so similar was because he worked at Skinner and Daniel at the time I was eating there and that's where he learned to make barbecue. Unfortunately Mr. Spoon died several months back. He was a kind man that treated everyone that crossed the threshold of his restaurant like a close personal friend. The young man running the place now, who I understand to be Mr. Spoon's grandson, takes after his grandfather very much and treats everyone the same way his grandfather did.

Eastern North Carolina Barbecue is not heavily smoked and typically finely chopped. It's especially finely chopped here which is they way I prefer it. The love or hate thing about this kind of barbecue is the sauce. It's mostly vinegar with peppers and spices. The sauce doesn't come on the barbecue so if you're not fond of it you can skip it, although would likely be a little dry without it. Their slogan is "We cook the whole pig it makes the difference" and I can't deny that statement. The sauce is still where it's at for me though. When you add the sauce though, be sure and shake the bottle. You wouldn't want to miss out on the spices that have settled to the bottom.

I usually order a barbecue sandwich with slaw and I obviously add the vinegar sauce. Meals usually come with hushpuppies and I always order sweet tea. I almost always have to get dessert when I come here. I rarely get desserts in general but I rarely don't when I come here. For me, it's either Banana Pudding or Apple Pie with Ice Cream. Today was Apple Pie for me. I love the food here and am obviously biased by childhood nostalgia. It's still stand by this being darn good barbecue and if you like vinegar I expect you'll love it too. If you're not into things with vinegar, try Mac's Speed Shop a few miles closer in town on South Boulevard. It's the only other place lust after the barbecue.

If you're in a rush and have little time for dining you'll love this place. The staff is like a military strike force team and they usually get your order quick and refill your drinks after just a couple of sips. Food comes out blazingly fast since barbecue has to be prepared ahead of time. All they have to do is slap some food on a plate and whisk it out to you.

The outside doesn't look like much and is very nondescript. It's the kind of place that you just wouldn't notice. The interior is bright and friendly like your aunt's place with frilly curtains, on the plentiful windows. There are wooden tables and chairs filling the room with yellow checkerboard plastic table cloths on every table. The art on the wall is best described as schizophrenic. There's a Mickey Mouse clock on one wall a chinzy picture of pigs on the other and in the back there's this really bizarre mural of what looks like Washington crossing the Deleware or something on the back wall. What's even wierder is that it all works. It makes it feel real homey.

You can't come here for dinner and you can't come here on Sunday. Only recently have you been able to come in on Saturday. I think they also still shut down for a week in the summer for vacation. If you can swing by for lunch and like vinegar and barbecue, you'll love this place. Even if the food isn't the best you've ever had, you'll feel like you're a part of the family.

Pros

• Great Food
• Great Service
• Eclectic Atmosphere
• Fast Food Like Speed
• Friendly Staff

Cons

• Only open for lunch

Rating: Recommended

Oct. 1, 2008 --

But last year the Raptors took a step back, going 41-41, sixth in the Eastern Conference. They bowed out in the First Round again, putting up little fight in falling to the Magic 4-1.

So, Colangelo went back to the lab this summer and made some significant changes to his roster. He traded T.J. Ford, Maceo Baston, Rasho Nesterovic and the No. 17 pick of the draft (Roy Hibbert) to Indiana for Jermaine O'Neal and the No. 41 pick (Nathan Jawai). The departures of Primoz Brezec and Carlos Delfino further pared down the roster, and Colangelo thinks that's a good thing.

He spoke with NBA.com a week before camp opened.

NBA.com: How would you summarize last season for your team?
Bryan Colangelo: I think we were disappointing. Personally, I was disappointed in what transpired. Any time you go from 47 to 41, that's a step backward. Having said that, we ended up in the same spot: a First Round playoff exit.

You're constantly striving for more. We felt last year that we had improved our team, felt that perhaps the depth of the team was better. But we seemed, for whatever reason, to lack the chemistry that we had in my first year here.

Now, we've cleaned up the roster a little bit. We've taken out some of the guesswork so to speak. Part of it was by design and part of it was by necessity with the financial ramifications of the trade.

We did clear up at least one issue that was a factor in last season's step backward, and that was somewhat of a point guard controversy. A decision was made to go with Jose Calderon, and that's not a knock on T.J. It was just a decision that was made and there was value in T.J. in the trade market. And we ended up making a deal for Jermaine that we feel was the best deal to propel us forward of about four or five deals that were out there.

NBA.com: How much risk was there in trading for Jermaine?
Colangelo: Any time that you acquire a player, whether you sign that player or you trade for that player, and a large percentage of your overall spending is dedicated to one or two players, you're always at risk.

But with the situation with Jermaine, there was calculated risk. We knew his health history. We knew his health status at the time of the trade. And so far this summer, he has had a very solid summer in terms of his return to basketball and his rehabilitation. He's basically been symptom-free for several months now, and he's been strengthening the areas around the joint, he's been working on his core strength and core exercises.

There's a whole different Jermaine O'Neal than people last saw on the basketball court. Having said that, we went into it with the full knowledge of his scenario and still went forward and made the deal.

NBA.com: Rebounding has obviously been a weakness for your team, so Jermaine should be an important addition in that regard.
Colangelo: Overall, we were not a very good rebounding team last year. By bringing in someone who's historically averaged double-digit rebounds and put him alongside Chris Bosh, who does the same, we've already dramatically improved our rebounding capabilities.

Further, last year, we were relying a lot on Jamario Moon to rebound the basketball, and in that case, he was unable to run the floor perhaps. So, there are other things that spawn from the improved rebounding scenario.

I also think that you'll see, based on what we've already seen in informal workouts in our gym, you're going to see a bigger, stronger, more confident Andrea Bargnani, who showed up in terrific shape and put a very solid summer in of strengthening and conditioning and rehabilitation.

He had some surgery to take care of a nasal situation, both a deviated septum and an adenoid removal, which has given him a little bit better health picture, just overall health picture from the standpoint of avoiding some of the situations that he had last year, which was sapping his energy. So, I think you're gonna see a different look from him, even. But having said that, I feel like we've dramatically improved our rebounding picture.

NBA.com: How about Jermaine and Chris working together offensively? It seems like a good match of both high post (Chris) and low post (Jermaine) players.
Colangelo: I think our two primary post players, with Jermaine and Chris, is a really good balance. I fell they can play off of each other. They're both capable of going inside and they're both capable of stepping out and knocking down shots. I would tell you that a high-low combination is what we see out of those two.

Obviously, on paper, things always look good to you and appear right before the season starts, but it's going to be up to our coaching staff to figure out how to best utilize the two individuals, and incorporate everybody else into the picture offensively. But without question, you've got two legitimate scoring and rebound bigs that we feel are somewhat interchangeable, and should clearly improve our scoring and rebounding capabilities.

NBA.com: How important is Bargnani's progress to the success of your team?
Colangelo: If you look at last year's scenario, the lack of forward progress with Andrea was clearly one of the disappointments. He did maintain basically the same statistical numbers as his rookie year. But it was disappointing not to see him take a jump forward. We talked a lot about it at the end of the season, he took on the challenge, he heard the situation with a lot of detail. Sam and I sat down and with him and talked to him about some of the things that we were expecting moving forward.

And again, what he has shown this summer is a lot of forward progress with respect to the parts that are fully controllable by him: the time spent in the gym, the time spent in the weight room. And he appears to be a completely different person coming into camp early on. He has shown a lot more personality. I think he's feeling a lot more comfortable with himself right now. Perhaps it's the additional strength and size.

He seems very confident in what he's done so far and part of that may be a little bit of pressure taken off his shoulders. We had thrust him into a situation where, in just his second year, to basically be the starting five on a playoff team. Perhaps he wasn't ready for that. Perhaps it wasn't necessarily the correct position. He's probably a natural four that can probably play some three and some five in our system. But I think you're gonna see a player that, with the addition of JO, is a lot freer to benefit from the addition size, strength and scoring that Jermaine brings.

NBA.com: How do you think your lineup looks at this time?
Colangelo: We've gotta get into camp and see what works best with the units that get out there on the floor. If we were putting it on paper today, you'd probably see Calderon at the point, Parker at the two, Moon at the three, Bosh at the four and O'Neal at the five. Again, the bigs being somewhat interchangeable.

I'm not sure it matters that much. Having said that, you possibly may see a big lineup of Bargnani, Bosh and O'Neal out there from time to time. You may see small lineups out there where Bosh and Bargnani are the bigs.

There's gonna be different scenarios, different lineups. The one thing about getting players that are versatile is your ability to put different lineups on the floor and different combinations that make sense to cater to your opponent or to play to the strengths of the units that you put together.

NBA.com: And Jose is healthy after his injury at the Olympics?
Colangelo: He appears to be 100 percent going into camp. That's very encouraging.

NBA.com: What's your favorite thing about him as a player?
Colangelo: Just looking at last year, when T.J. was out, there was a span of 21 or 22 games where he was pretty much out there by himself and did a fantastic job. He proved that he could play starter's minutes and maintain a pace of that kind of production. Whether it was just his general caring for the basketball, not turning the ball over, that's certainly a strength of his.

But his ability to shoot the ball makes him tough to defend, because he can also get to the hole, especially since a lot of the things you'll see with us are side screen-and-rolls, high screen-and-rolls, and he's got the option to get to the basket through penetration or as he turns the corner, the defender has to stick with him or he's gonna knock down the shot. Plus, he's got range on his shot. He's not just an 18-foot jump shooter. He can shoot the three with proficiency and he's another weapon for us out there as a very good perimeter shooting team.

Jose's just one more weapon for us with respect to outside shooting and that should definitely benefit Chris and Jermaine in terms of what they're trying to do inside.

By the 1870s and 1880s, when these two designs by Talbert were produced, the British design world had undergone a major re-evaluation of where it stood in the world. Designers began to see that British and European design work was but one aspect of a complex world culture of styles. People like Owen Jones with his 'Grammar of Ornament' popularised the notion that the design work of non-European cultures was equal to, if not superior to, British design and designers.

This revelation, although gradual, did not undermine the confidence of British design to any great extent. In fact, it led to a widening of ideas and influences, and as a result many British designers saw themselves as part of a much wider, complex and fascinating design world.

As SpookyMcGee.com is not really directing here right now it might take quite some time. Well atleast till Friday after I payed back what I owe for new tires and oil change.

Now onto the topic at hand.

I've noticed such beauty in some one recently.

That there is so much she can offer.

That my life really doesn't seem so boring.

I may not be with her right now, may not for awhile.

But I hope one day I can be.

And even if not...

I still have a valued close friendship.

It's a challenge to find some one who looks are so beautiful

and inside its even more gorgeous than her smile.

and as I just said, even if it does not work...

She will still be a friend.

For awhile life appeared so boring but now it's not really that much anymore.  Not right now. I am enjoying life a bit.  I am enjoying work, doing my first closing shift tomorrow.

I try to concentrate on the things around me. I feel as if Spooky McGee has really become my own philosphy than my own nick name. Finding beauty and elegance dancing along with choas and insanity.  Its a twist inside my head but now I feel can not really go into such a deep discussion on this right now.

However I just had this wierd feeling, I looked at a friends picture and for once I realized, for once I thought this...

I do not know this person...

I've known them forever but now... I feel as if this person is a stranger. I know if I see them soon, I might be confused...

I try closing my eyes and blocking out everything around me.  Notice the world within myself. The new Wonderland. Create it, mold it, make it beautiful, make it myself. I try to sense the things around me, the feelings the emotions, whether it be the ghosts in the shadows or some one near me speaking out there deep thoughts and I try to listen. Within each time I feel some ones feelings, what they are going through or what they have done. But it only comes to me so easily when it's some one so close to me.  I remember when this first happen back when I was in High School. I remember looking at her face for a quick second and something flash to me my mind. I stepped her aside from what I was doing. She had this wierd look on her face too as if she knew what I knew.  I told her, I asked her. She was amused yet scared. This wasn't the first time with her.

I talked to her many times about things going on around her with people near her. I dont know how I knew but I just did.

Hold up!

I am not saying I am some magician or psychic.

I really am not!

However!

I do believe we all have a spiritual connection that we must take advantage of, take ahold of!

This is what I believe is happening.  What I focus with.

And I know somethings that people around me have done, even if they dont speak it to me, I can feel that they've done it, I see it in my mind.  Like a quick flash. It's a trip.  I can't really bring this up to some people who are effecting me like this because they won't believe me, they'll freak out.

This really is the first time I've been open about this.

I really believe it's something we all can do. We just need to focus and try.

Coming from the Western World.

Something like this seems as a joke. A fairy tale

A lie.

But we really must look to the East and there philosophies, there Ideals, what HAS worked for them. Spiritually. I think its something we can combine into our own lives because now  in the west. As it really has been for some time we are only consumned into our own Hollywood fantasies.

We are a joke. We are nothing if we have no soul to show. We must look within inside to find ourselves. We must take a lesson...

From the eastern philosphies

And see how we can apply them to ourselves in modern times.

I'm going go try and lay down and just think and focus on myself. What I can do to rebuild this world inside me, to be happy with my self but be happy for the ones around me and the one that cares for me.

Take care and watch yourselves tonight. October is comming up very quickly and halloween fast approaches!! Whatever you do, celebrate Halloween!  I'm tired of having a butt load of candy at my door with like no kids out, because there parents are to scared to let them go out. Anyways that's a rant for another time.

Sincerely,

Spooky McGee (c)

Nihon, Nippon, Japan,
That beautiful rising sunspotted land

One step onto that far out eastern soil

And your soul
Your soul and mind
Your soul and mind and every
eternal electrical pulse that will never
stop pulsing even after reaching all there is to reach

Will transform from what they never were
To what they were always meant to be

Person with the best caption gets... well nothing. But they will get there caption plus the picture on the blog.

Can you come up with anything better?

So where to begin.  Let's start with the one of the last vacations I took.  In July, a great friend and often travel companion, Jenn, invited me and other friends to her family beach house in Avon, North Carolina.  Every summer during my childhood, my family would spend a week at a condo in Ocean City, Maryland.  Those were great vacations, but as I got older, the beaches of the Atlantic coast didn't hold the exotic appeal of Europe and Asia.  But back to the beach in the summer of 2008 - you can't turn down a free place to stay at the beach and I had just bought a house - money was tight.

The southern towns of the Outer Banks are awesome.  I'm such a believer.  It was like stepping back in time.  I was suddenly 12ish years old - enjoying the summer without a care in the world.  The towns of Rodanthe (yes, where the movie is set), Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, and Hatteras are quintessential small towns.   You will see locals everywhere.  There is one local grocery store in each town where after a few days, the teenagers at the register recognize you (ok - I go to the store alot - it's a weird travel habit).  

The beach is long and the sand is soft.  There are no lifeguards, but the surf is manageable.  The beach is a national seashore, but one of the perks is that you can drive your 4x4s onto the beach.  Nice for not having to lug everything onto the beach.  The towns are not that big due to the narrowness of the islands so the beaches are not crowded.  A huge plus in my book.  

There are enough restaurants and other amusements in the area (movie theater, mini golf, cute local shops) to get you out of your house or off the beach for a few hours or nights.  Nothing monumental - but hopefully you are too tired from swimming and sunbathing.  If deep-sea fishing or scuba is your thing, you will not be disappointed.  There are tons of boats for charter and you can dive the many wrecks just off the coast.  It is called the "Graveyard of the Atlantic".  A great excursion we took was the ferry to Ocracoke Island - it has the best beach of 2008.  It is only accessible by ferry and has an awesome bar and restaurant called Howard's Pub - we met the nicest and friendliest people there - both tourists and locals.

I hope I get invited back next year - I wouldn't miss it.

Pluses:

Beaches are clean, beautiful, and not crowded

Towns are not large - you have a small town feel and locals are around

The atmosphere is relaxing and fun - lots of outdoor activities to do

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Quality family/friend bonding time 

Ocracoke Island and its ferry (the hour long ferry is free and the island is charming and quaint)

Minuses:

No nightlife - most bars are in restaurants and there is no hard alcohol served in establishments (don't worry it can be purchased for home consumption)

Not many indoor activities (it's the beach - what do you expect - Avon does have a movie theater)

Family and friend bonding time (know who you are going with and your interaction threshold or rent a really large house)

Franklin Orchard
James & Phyllis Wright
251 Messier Rd
Franklin VT 05457
(802) 285-6785
Schedule: September 5 – November 10

West Swanton Orchards & Cider Mill
Wayne A. Bourgeois
32 Church Road
Swanton, VT 05488
(802) 868-9100
E-mail:waynel@together.net
Schedule: May – December

Grand Isle County

Allenholm Farm
Ray W., Pam, & Ray C. Allen
P.O. Box 300
So. Hero, VT 05486
(802) 372-5566
Schedule: Memorial Day weekend - December 24

Hackett's Orchard
Celia & Ron Hackett
86 South St.
South Hero, VT 05486
(802) 372-5555
Schedule: April 1 - December 30 daily

Hall's Orchard
Allen Hall
4461 Main St.
Isle La Motte, VT 05463
(802)928-3226
Schedule: July – January

Twenty Acre Farm
George & Angie Robinson
83 Adams School Road
Grand Isle, VT 05458
(802) 372-8345
Schedule: September - October

Orange County

Liberty Orchard
William Johnson
2408 West St.
Brookfield, VT 05036
(802) 276-3343
Schedule: Late September - Mid October

Vermont Technical College Orchard
Peter Leonard
P.O. Box 500
Randolph Ctr., VT 05061
(802) 728-1276
Schedule: approx. September 15 - October 15

Rutland County

Apple Hill Farm
Russ Janney
525 Schoolhouse Hill Rd
West Rutland, VT 05777
(802) 438-5068
Schedule: Late July – December

Birch Hill Orchards
Barbara Darling
1045 Birch Hill Rd.
Brandon, VT 05733
(802) 247-6311
Schedule: Labor Day weekend – Columbus Day

Mendon Mt. Orchards
Millie
16 US Route 4
Mendon, VT 05701
(802) 775-5477
Schedule: Year Round

Washington County

Cold Hollow Cider Mill
Paul Brown
P.O. Box 420
Waterbury Ctr., VT 05677
(802) 244-8771
Schedule: Every day of the year except Thanksgiving & Christmas Day

Windham County

Connecticut Valley Orchard
Russell Allen
P.O. Box 74
Westminster Station, VT 05159
(802) 722-3340
Schedule: September 1 – November 1

Dwight Miller Orchards
D Read Miller III
511 Miller Rd
E Dummerston VT 05346
(802) 254-9635
Schedule: Year Round

Green Mountain Orchards
Evan, Andrea and Matt Darrow
PO Box 225
Putney, VT 05346
(802) 387-5851
Schedule: Late July – November

Harlow’s Sugar House
Don Harlow
563 Bellows Falls Rd
Putney VT 05346
(802) 387-5852
Schedule: March 1 – December 31

North River Winery
Annmary T Block-Reed
PO Box 258
Jacksonville VT 05342
(802) 368-7557
Schedule: Year round, 10 AM – 5 PM

Scott Farm
Ezekiel Goodband
707 Kipling Rd
Dummerston VT 05301
(802) 254-6868
Schedule: August 20 - Thanksgiving

Windsor County

Wellwood Orchards
Roy Mark
529 Wellwood Orchard Rd
Springfield VT 05156-9609
(802) 263-5200
Schedule: August 20 – November 1

Wood’s Cider Mill
Tina & Willis Wood
1482 Weathersfield Center Rd
Springfield VT 05156
(802) 263-5547

 "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favour from the Lord."

 But human beings distorted marriage, this gracious gift given by the Creator and pronounced "good," by sin. Maleness and femaleness are at the heart of human relationships; they are good gifts from a loving God. Marriage is God's idea. It is neither man nor society's idea. In order for our marriages to glorify God, we have to do it God's way according to God's blueprint.  We have to completely reject and toss out most of the pre-conceived ideas we have learnt from the world around us about marriage and take on God's idea of marriage. Before you can erect a building that will weather the hurricanes and tornadoes of life, you have to make sure that the foundation you lay is strong enough to hold the building up.

 Since the Christian marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God, the couple has to use the Word of God as the building blocks of their marriage. They must be willing to allow the Word to change their whole outlook on life to God's outlook.  Only then can they begin the process of building a strong solid marriage.