Underlays

Rugs Direct NOT Direct Buy question about oriental rugs? Rugs Direct is not the same company as Direct Buy. Has anyone ordered a rug from them? I looked up customer complaints and all I got was the top 500 Companies for good Internet Service and they were one of them. But I'm still afraid to purchase an area rug from them. Jennifer, that's what I wanted to hear. I got so excited when I read your answer. Thanks I thought they were reputable.

Has anyone bought oriental rugs from Direct Buy? I am considering buying a Nourison oriental rug from Direct Buy. The Jaipur Collection is gorgeous and these are suppose to be a good name rug. Does anyone have any experience with Direct Buy? Their prices are excellent. Thanks in advance. I MADE AN ERROR It is Rugs Direct not Direct Buy

Whats the best online site to buy big area rugs? i've already looked on overstock and rugs direct. thanks!

What is the best material for an outdoor rug in direct sunshine? We had an outdoor rug made of polypropylene that received lots of direct sunshine -- it disintegrated in less than one season last summer. We're looking for a new outdoor rug -- any recommendations on a more durable, yet comfortable composition? Thanks in advance!

Does anyone know where I can find any information about Transalantic Design Company, area rugs? I am looking for a particular rug, and cannot find a direct website to Transatlantic Design Company. I am looking for the "Westchester," design. I can only find that the company is located in New York. Does anyone know where - or what kind of website- I can find a transatlantic rug? Thank you!

Need STORE in Toronto for rugs? Can anyone direct me inexpensive Store for area rug in Toronto, Scarborough or even North york. Thanks.

Are there any members of Direct Buy that can tell me if it is a good thing or something to stay away from? Membership is $3900.00 for two years and then $188.00 per year and nearly most things can be bought at the manufacturers cost; flooring, appliances, jewerly, paint, rugs,etc.

How to buy furniture and accessories direct to start a small business? I have a few friends that have started businesses, one a rug and home accessory, and another a furniture business, I have always wanted to own a small furniture and home accent business and have gone to the market in High Point NC and Atlanta Georgia.Buying from the manufacturer is not cheap and the mark up would have to be ridiculas.You also have to make major purchases to carry most lines of furniture. I would be more interested in discontinued or floor samples.They both are very successful and are hush hush about where they get their merchandise. but I do know that they get it dirt cheap and they travel to pick everything up.I am more interested in sofas. Can anyone give me some ideas where to start. Thanks Rob B.

The rug cleanering people who 'clean 3 rooms in your house of x number of dollars. There are two basic ways that they work. One is a wet method of cleaning rugs, and the other is the direct opposite, a completely dry method. I know that one is totally better than the other, but I can't recall which. Any thoughts?

Eco friendly rugs for outdoor purpose? Are Eco friendly rugs suitable for outdoor purpose? A company http://www.importflooring.com /sales.php sugegstd me to use jute discount rugs. But how much they would last facing direct sun and casual water spill?

I want to sell horse products and dog products on ebay and my own website in Australia.? I can get plenty of dog products in small quantities but not horse things like bridles or rugs etc. I don't have the money yet to spend $5000 on products by buying direct from India or China. Does anyone know websites I can go to buy horse gear?

Which rug do you like the best? I just bought a new house and I am looking for a rug for the living room to base my color scheme off of. These are all fairly similar but I cannot seem to decide between them. Can anyone help? 1) http://www.rugs-direct.com/rugsdirectory/results.aspx?N=4294963301+4294744655&color_id=139338 2) http://www.rugs-direct.com/rugsdirectory/results.aspx?N=4294963301+4294744875&color_id=139316 3) http://www.rugs-direct.com/rugsdirectory/results.aspx?N=4294963301+4294744594&color_id=139347 4) http://www.rugs-direct.com/rugsdirectory/results.aspx?N=4294963301+4294744705&color_id=139333 5) http://www.rugs-direct.com/rugsdirectory/results.aspx?N=4294963301+4294696770&color_id=145717

How do I find the right tone gold to go with my plum pillows and my red&rust rug? I have a plum stripe pillow and a rug that is red, rust and plum. I want to paint the walls a goldish color that coordinates with my existing decor. How do I find what tones of gold go with my existing colors? Please don't direct me to paint web sites. I have tried that.

Decorating my apartment: does this bed go with the rug? I'm moving into an efficiency apartment in a 1800's Victorian mansion this upcoming school year. I grew up in a Victorian house myself so I like the style and want to decorate the apartment to fit with the house. This is the rug I have already ordered: http://www.rugs-direct.com/rugsdirectory/results.aspx?R=IW0070519&N=4294941206%204294945734%20125&color_id=121234 But now I need a bedspread. The rug and bed are going to be close together since it's just a one-roomed apartment. I don't want the designs to clash. Here's the comforter set I was originally looking at in the Nadine (red) color option: http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?DeptID=59474&CatID=59514&GrpTyp=ENS&ItemID=169146d&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CMID=59474%7c59483&Fltr=CSZ%3aEquals%3afull%3bCOL%3aEquals%3ared&Srt=&QL=F&IND=8&cmVirtualCat=&CmCatId=59474|59483|59514 or possibly: http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?DeptID=59474&CatID=59514&GrpTyp=ENS&ItemID=16542ac&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CMID=external%7c59483%7c59514&Fltr=&Srt=&QL=F&IND=143&cmVirtualCat=&CmCatId=external|59483|59514 But I'm afraid that'd be too much pattern so here's what I'll probably go with in the Berry (maroon) color: http://www.younkers.com/product/bed+%26+bath/bedding+collections/livingquarters+410tc+comforter+collection.do?keyword=damask&sortby=newArrivals&thumbby=36 It's simple and seems more like something a college kid might have. What are your thoughts or suggestions? Don't worry, I won't take advice if you don't like my style ;) Thanks!

I NEED HELP PLEASE!!!!? okay.... so i volunteer at the library... and we are making this teen reading room type thing... and i need some super cool accent tables... not too expensive though... we have these color in our rug... light brown, dark brown, pastel green, forest green, and a pastel blue :). here is the rug... http://www.rugs-direct.com/ShopDetail/Details/139362/Milliken/LakeDistrictLoopPile/LindauWiltonBalsam8128/Balsam70004 so any think that will look foo with that... and it doesn't just have to be accent tables... it can be more stuff... just use you Imagination :) thanks!!!

I am not happy with Direct Energy. The water heater leaked. And my rug is ruined now.? We have been customer for 18 years. This water heated was 13 years old. They want to give me $200. to replace a 3000. carpet. Has anyone got any advise? thanks This is a Rental from them. Paid 21.00Plus tax for last 13 years. just for information for the person that wondered why they would be liable. I think they should know better how long a water heater of theirs should last, and they know the water in this area is hard also. I thought maybe they might consider putting in new water heaters before their life span is over. But what do I know I am just a woman..but make sence to me.

Where can I find a list of potential buyers for a very large, extremely valuable, 500 year old Persian rug? Looking for direct buyers. Where can I best notify potential buyers? Looking for direct buyers. I'm located in Arizona, USA and will sell and ship internationally. Where can I best notify potential buyers?

how to get cat odor out of the carpet? My cat sprayed on the carpet and left a bad odor, so I got him neutered, after 3 weeks running an air purifier I got rid of I would say 80% of the odor. Now I decided to clean the carpet with natural miracle and I applied as directed . I spray the whole carpet and did not dry and seems like the odor got worse. I don't know if is the natural miracle odor itself or is because still a damp or whatever. I used a pump sprayer and I did not rub the rug. I just have 4 more days to make sure that is not odor in the room since I rent and I am moving out. Is that anything else I should do? I just found out that are two nature miracle, one says just for cats and the one I used says only nature's miracle stain & odor remover . Did I use the wrong one?

Why am I having vaginal pain and irritation during sex? The past month or so, I've been experiencing vaginal pain during and sometimes after intercourse, even when everything is well lubricated. I am not having sex any more frequently than I was a month ago. I have had the same partner for the past 5 months and tested negative for any STDs since these symptoms started. It is a mix between a burning and aching sensation, at the opening and a little on the inside. It feels almost like rug burn, but there's an ache as well. I'm not experiencing any other symptoms like abnormal discharge or foul odor. I've seen my doctor about this and she treated me for a yeast infection. I took the medicine and did not have sex for a week as directed; this alleviated the problem for only the first time I had sex afterward. My boyfriend and I have gone for 5 days without having sex but it still comes back when we try again. It is a very intense pain during and right after sex, but goes away shortly after it's over. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?? The past month or so, I've been experiencing vaginal pain during and sometimes after intercourse, even when everything is well lubricated. I am not having sex any more frequently than I was a month ago. I have had the same partner for the past 5 months and tested negative for any STDs since these symptoms started. It is a mix between a burning and aching sensation, at the opening and a little on the inside. It feels almost like rug burn, but there's an ache as well. I'm not experiencing any other symptoms like abnormal discharge or foul odor. I've seen my doctor about this and she treated me for a yeast infection. I took the medicine and did not have sex for a week as directed, but it keeps happening. It is a very intense pain during and right after sex, but goes away shortly after it's over. One thing is, I started using NuvaRing. I can't remember if the symptoms started before or after I started using it, but I take it out during sex. Could this still be the cause?

Is Obama an artful imposter directed by Rahm Emmanuel and George Soros? Was he huge delivery of Dem campaign money perculated through ACORN and, thus, the black churches throughout America? Isn't that really how they managed to laundry this money and make it untraceable. This cannot be allowed to ever happen again. ACORN connnection should not be swept under the rug. Never again. I know they did it, don't you? You don't have to be a weather man to know which way the wind is blowing.

My daughter was threaten (direct specific threat) at school and they are doing nothing, what do I do? In the beginning of the year this kid was doing defensive Pressure Points on the back of my daughters neck. Then my daughter told on a boy for giving her an Indian Rug Burn and he told her that the next time she tells on him he will Twist her neck. I have seen this kid with his hands around another girls neck and he also have extreme behavior problems. We spoke to the principle but he put the blame back on my daughter for not saying anything and when he talk to her, he told her that he, her teacher and I won't always be around to protect her. My daughter is only 7 and scared! What do I do since the school will not punish or do anything about this?? P.S. The School hand book states that bullying and threats will not be tolerated but it since like they just tolerated it! I think my next plan is to contact other parent in the class and find out if the same thing has happen to their child. Maybe with more complaints the school might do something. If that doesn't my next step is to get the cops involved and maybe file a restraining order against the child so he can't go to school with her.

Is it possible to get an appointment with pain management without needing a direct referral from...? anyone other than a rheumatologist? I've got signs of an autoimmune disorder that has been causing me pain nearly everyday of the past year.. My doctor's office keeps passing me around and I'm just as frustrated as they are trying to see what is wrong with me. My insurance gave me numbers to three pain management (anestesia / nerve block / or medicine giving docs) to help with what my family practitioner (whom has actually just been my childrens' doctors mainly for the past year after he helped with the baby stuff) wanted to just call "fibromyalgia" because I've tried everything from lyrica, tramadal, cymbalta, etc... I even the past 3 weeks have been trying to handle my daily pain with no medication and have progressively gotten worse, I wake up with my legs cramped, back contortioned into the letter "c" and my feet throwing up gang signs... I have apparently not been able to handle this and over the phone they prescribed a sleeping pill and muscle relaxer as I was getting NO sleep due to this progressive pain. Then I get a call that the blood tests they took show signs of RA or Lupus. high sed rate, crp, etc. SO... I do not want to go back to my regular doctor who had done nothing but try to throw me under the fibromyalgia rug (which i DO believe exists ~ my sis and mother and 2 very dear friends have) because they don't know how to make me stop hurting. (I'm also very vit. D deficient I've been on a prescription dose 11 weeks in a row daily and re-draw showed that there was NO change in my vit. d levels at all, no increase, something is eating my vitamin D, lol) Whatever this blood test showed most recently got my rheumatology apt. moved three weeks closer than it was (hard appt to get into, I guess) and now I get to see them on the 7th and I technically have no one to give the results to... ? Now, the insurance company gave me numbers of diff types of pain mgmt companies and I'm wondering if I can just forward the Rhm. reports to them? or do I have to pay some other person in the middle? is a pain management doctor even a doctor that helps with diagnosis and ongoing treatment that would be other than a specialist? i'm so lost.

I have a rash under my chin? This morning i noticed a rash right under my chin. It does not itch and is not bumpy. It resembles a hickey IMO. I did not notice it the night before. I work at a Nursing Home and had to work a unit in dietary. Could it be from chemicals from the dishwasher? I didn't have direct contact with any chemicals but the steam from the dishwasher would hit my face. Or could it be like a rug burn from my pillow or blanket? It was cold so i bundled up. Any answers or suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you.

Need some decor ideas for this red room. Pic included.? I hope you can see the pic. I'm keeping everything in the room - the paint, the furniture, the piano. I'm removing the leopard print scarf and the animal print decor (you probably can't see what little is there). What I want is something lively, probably floral/stripe, maybe french country. I need a new window scarf, would like to cover the pillows, add a little extra to it, maybe a throw rug in the center, maybe new pictures. I thought about an asian theme but around the corner is the kitchen/dining area and it is decorated with parisian street/wine bar decor. I didn't think that would flow well together. If you have any website to direct me to that would be great. Thanks. http://new.photos.yahoo.com/kcangel70/album/576460762321215386/photo/294928804164234959/1

How can I get started on an at-home rug making business? I'd like information on an at-home rug making business. I'm a soon to be mother with a military husband. I want to be a stay at home mom but also make a little cash on the side. I have ordered 2 books and done some online researching but direct answers would be much better in this case. I already know latch hook and am hoping to use that or rug hooking kits to make these rugs. If anyone has done something like this before, I could use a boost to get started.

Mario 64 DS - where is the luigi painting? i have no idea at all where it could be... if you could direct me from the rug in the center (where you go to hit the '?' button) thats could be awsum please and thank you ....

How do you find this poem I made? This place is covered in smoke I’m not sure if it’s from the tobacco Or the dope We stashed in the closet I can’t see you Oh. You’re contributing to The fume in this room And by the sound of your voice- You’ve had your hits Tequila Sunrise (Number seven) I think you’ve had enough You’re on your way To that drunken dimension Who isn’t? The bottle’s on the floor Spinning round and round The force of friction from the rug So happens to direct it towards Me. You laugh, get up from your Reserved spot on the rug, and you Wobble your way towards myself Your hands melt around my hair As you bring my lips to yours The vapour slithers From your mouth to mine And your breath Of toxic paraphernalia Lusts on my tongue The alcohol’s opened A whole new scope Of feelings For both players On the field Although you are Quite shot off reality From your essence I can smell, Through any delusion or drug Pungent Pleasure Emanating Of magnetic Pull Of secret Want. Need. Desire... For my Touch. Horrified to say you liked it? Why? And by abysmal, do you mean deep? Or just... Bad? Haha. Just wanna know how people feel about it.

What do you think about this poem/piece of literature? This place is covered in smoke I’m not sure if it’s from the tobacco Or the dope We stashed in the closet I can’t see you Oh. You’re contributing to The fume in this room And by the sound of your voice- You’ve had your fill Tequila Sunrise (Number seven) I think you’ve had enough You’re on your way To that oblivious dimension Who isn’t? The bottle’s on the floor Spinning round and round The force of friction from the rug So happens to direct it towards Me. You laugh, get up from your Reserved spot on the rug, and you Wobble your way towards myself Your hands melt around my hair As you bring my lips to yours The vapor slithers From your mouth to mine And your breath Of toxic paraphernalia Lusts on my tongue The alcohol’s opened A whole new scope Of feelings For both players Of the field Although you are Quite shot off reality From your essence I can smell, Through any delusion or drug That your wasted heart reeks Of magnetic Pull Of secret Want... For me. ----- I don't know how to classify this, I don't think it's poetry. How do you find it? Comments, suggestions, compliments :) Yes, I did write this, Thanks! It didn't happen though, I found the inspiration from a scene in the movie 'Garden State'.

Commander-In-Chief: Do YOU want Hillary in this position? It seems she's desperately looking for votes in every nook and cranny of the US of A. Her latest pity group is America's veterans and service members, with the empty promises of education benefits, small business grants, and home loans for soldiers and sailors. She's trying to buy veterans - and anyone who supports them - on her road to the White House. We all know her for what she really is - an evil anti-military self-server who would pull the rug any veteran or service member is standing on right out from under them if it would serve her own agenda. -As the first lady, military uniforms were not permitted in the WH, per Hillary's directive to staff - except the marines outside and those that were to direct people to the bathrooms. Gotta keep up appearances, right? -Hillary voted in favor of a deadline for Iraq withdrawal (a telegraphed date being a dangerous violation of the most basic tenets of armed conflict) as well as cutting off funding for troops. (Continued) - Let's not forget her husband practically mortgaging the military down to it's underwear, with the funding cuts and base closures, to pay for the "great economy" so many boasted about. It's pretty obvious she doesn't want the troops to have the money they need while in harms way, which also results in the military holding fast to the existing funds they have — as opposed to spending it on battlefield necessities — in case funds are cut in the coming months. Yet, she's going to toss them a public bone like this new measure (reported in Stars and Stripes) to make her look good. Do you honestly think she's qualified to make decisions about something she loathes so much?

First Apartment Questions before signing? I've never lived in a apartment building so i have some questions for those who have.. First off- Its a 1st flr one bedroom, the apartment above is a one bedroom (occupied by a couple) I asked if they had carpet or wood floors she didnt give me a direct answer.. only that the tentants above are required to have rugs if they have wood floors. How do I get a direct anser on that? Also is there anything i should keep my eye out on in the lease agreement? The apartments have great ratings- the only problem is the parking sucks.. Any suggestions? Thanks

Illigal Aliens in the USA? From: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA I am writing in order to seek some assistance and information regarding my legal rights as an AMERICAN CITIZEN. I live in Los Angeles, California, and I receive social security. I rent a part of a house where I currently reside. My landlady owns and lives in the main part of the house, and I have lived at this residence since October, 1999. When I was approved to move in to the current unit I rent, the owner did NOT require or present me with a rental agreement, and collecting the rent was verbalized as to it having to be paid on the 1st of each month, and nothing was ever written or noted on paper as a rental contract perse. Since I have lived here, I have observed that the owners have rented to illegal aliens and this has continued for most of the time I have lived at this address. It is also noted that in the past and resent date, the landlord continues to house illegal aliens. Recently, I approached my landlord about having the family of 3, (which are NOT related to her) and my displeasure about having them living rent free with her for the last 3 years. The people in question receive pay of over $1,500 per month, and one of the persons is currently involved in a case where he is receiving therapy, as he has and is still possibly collecting disability monies due from a slip and fall he encountered with a previous employer. I have seen this person who lives rent free with my landlady perform and do labor work inside her residence like painting, moving heavy furniture, removing cabinetry, sanding the cabinets, reinstalling the kitchen cabinets, shampooing the rugs, washing cars, and all around laborious work for my landlady and all of the work he has performed while allegedly disabled from a fall has received monies from my landlady/owner in the form of cash so he would avoid and not encounter fraudulent problems that could arise with the Workers Comp/Disability/Authorities. It is my opinion that these people live very nicely and comfortably by receiving a salary each month, and living rent free. However, my rent continues to be raised each year, and these people live free! I am an AMERICAN citizen, and I would like to know what my rights are as a citizen where this is concerned. Why should illegal aliens live rent free and who are nothing more than opportunist who seek the ability to take advantage of a senior citizen and live rent free! I have paid my rent and have since the last 10 years that I have lived here and the last 5 years on a low fixed income from Social Security Disability. The landlord is very aware that she is breaking laws concerning the housing of illegal aliens, and paying them cash, avoiding taxes and not reporting income she has received from renting to illegal persons, and currently allowing persons who are NOT related to her, and who ARE illegal aliens that live with her rent FREE! This is very disturbing to me to say the least as I barely get by with the monies I receive each month, and here these illegal aliens live rent free! How is that for the good old USA of AMERICA?! Do I have the right to sue my landlady for monetary damages for her showing preferential and favoritism to illegal aliens who are NOT related to her? I NEED HELP from a professional, so would someone please direct me as to where I can get answers and please let me know what options (if any) I may have as a renter and as an AMERICAN citizen. This is total INJUSTICE! Thank you for your time and assistance.

Kitten with Ringworm, I Need Cleaning Advice ASAP :(? I adopted my Siamese mix on June 28th from a shelter, and I had JUST found out that he had ringworm on his paw on July 12th. Under a blacklight, it glowed green spots. The ringworm partially covers his left paw (just on his index finger and on some of his thumb). The third or fourth day I got him, he had a physical and nothing was found except ear mites. Then he had coccidia which is now gone but is still currently being treated with Clavamox and a special diet called ID for his digestion. NOW, the vet has prescribed him Miconazole to rub on the spot where the ringworm was found twice a day for 2 weeks. He did not prescribe an antifungul shampoo, just the Clavamox and the Miconazole. It is now July 15 (4th day of medicine) and I know I need to quarantine him for those 2 weeks and maybe longer, but putting him in the bathroom everyday is seriously out of the question. I live in an apartment with both rooms occupied, one bathroom, and the apartment is carpeted. I first sprayed lysol on the entire carpet in the living room and couch and then I fully vacuumed the whole entire living room, couch, and rugs. I also got the hose and vacuumed all the sides and crevasses. Then I did the same thing with the hallway, and then I did the same to my bedroom. I washed my bedsheets, and I sprayed lysol on his cat post (it has carpet and wood on it) and I vacuumed that as well. I rubbed Lamisil cream on my arms, and after petting my kitten, I rub hand sanitizer on my hands and arms or I wash it. I also clean the bathroom floor with lysol spray and wipes. I did this for a full day and a half so far and it takes a lot of time and effort. I cant do this for 2 weeks because I do work full shifts almost everyday and the only place he can stay in is in my bedroom where it is carpeted. He needs attention (being Siamese) and cant stand being alone, and the bathroom is very small. My mom makes a big deal about him staying in the bathroom too and is demanding that he just stays in my room (she doesnt understand), and there are other reasons to why he needs to be in my bedroom. I also cant wash and dry daily because once again, I live in an apartment. Before knowing he had ringworm, he ALWAYS stayed and slept in my room with me. His bed was always my pillow so he always had contact with me and my skin including my face, arms, legs, and feet. So since I am not experiencing anything yet and its been that long, is there a good chance I will get ringworm? Or a slim chance? I also took off my bed sheets (I had 3) expect my main blanket. I just basically want to know since its been that long, and its only located on half of his paw, is there a good chance I will get it if he stays in my room with spraying lysol and vacuuming maybe every 3-4 days? Is the lysol, vacuuming, removing bedsheets, rubbing lamisil nightly on my skin, and rubbing hand sanitizer after direct contact improving the chance of killing off the spores? I cant afford anything else at the moment so please, any thoughts? Is this a good method for two weeks? Will I have a slimmer chance of catching it? Please, I would like thorough details and no rude comments. I need guidance since I know the spores are practically all over his fur even if it is mainly seen on his paw. Thank you so much. MORE DETAILS PLEASE READ: I have found crusty skin on BOTH of his ears, and it seems that SOME of his hairs on his chin are becoming loose, and now his paw has some crust on it too! I began tearing up as I saw this, is this the medication working or is ringworm spreading and getting worser!!? The vet is not much help I am being honest. When exactly am I going to see results? Hannah: I have already called them and they kinda helped, but that is the reason to why I am posting my situation here. Lorissa: Thank you, that really cheered me up. I am getting more and more torn everyday. Elaine: Did your cat ever sleep on you and wanted to be around you all the time? Also, the crusty yellow spots on both of his ears (saw it with a blacklight) I believe are from him scratching so now his ears are infected too. It wasnt there before yesterday. Is there any signs to look for to know the ringworm is going away? Will the crusty parts come off? Will the green/yellow spots stop glowing? By when will I start noticing such things?

Read this and the points will shower over you! ha ha..please read and let me know what you think!? Thank you helpful strangers for your time! This is just an expert about 3 paragraphs into my original story....so sorry about the confusion... Along with the death of my human capacities, my parents were another loss I experienced that I can’t say I have ever come close to accepting. Our home was an older version of a farm house, drafty and uninviting. The floors were unpolished wood matched with plainly painted walls. My mother attempted to warm the place up with varying types of rugs, throws and French paintings but nothing seemed to help it. At the time my home was the place where I was accepted for my ideas, so no matter what the décor it felt comforting to me. I had been an inventor of sorts, a “thinker” as my father liked to call me. In effort to console me, he would tell me that people here didn’t appreciate thinkers. My father was a slight man whose frame refused to hold up a pair of pants, forever attached to suspenders as a means to stay clothed. He was known as Abbott, the man with the strange son who would never amount to much. I didn’t regret that I wasn’t the strapping son a farmer should have because my father would never let me believe that. He loved me the way I was, a thinker of things, a believer in the unbelievable. So it was no surprise to me now that I could read an entire book in less than four minutes or move faster then the speed of sound. It suited me just fine that I retained almost everything I learned making myself a force to be reckoned with. You wouldn’t think it would be boring, you wouldn’t think you would grow weary of such powers. But I did. After days on end and nights that stretched into eternity I became disgusted with myself. Testing my limits by not feeding for days which would inevitability end up with me tearing unsuspecting humans to small ripped pieces in the dead of night. I would step into the sun just to feel the burn of it searing into my cold flesh. I adored the sun although too much of it was seriously unhealthy for me, so I let it in when I could but stayed out of its direct path. I wanted to feel, I wanted to be vulnerable. This is about the time that I became a recluse, only coming out to feed and throwing myself into any piece of literature I could get my hands on. I lived in the attic of my parent’s home; I had no use for the rest of the house. This high-ceilinged room was nearly lightless and proved to be my only comfort in a world where I didn’t want to be any longer. Even the burnt odor that hung in the air, clinging to the rose colored walls was like the scent of a loved one. A giant mattress was the focal point of my room, with sheets haphazardly thrown over it. Over the bed, a moderately sized window cracked half open was letting in a soft breeze and what remained of the afternoon sun.

is it okay to leave a little excess soap in a washed rug? ? it's regular laundry detergent in a rug. thanks! story! so i washed a small rug with about 1/15 capfull of detergent. i massaged it in my bathtub with water(it's thick and bulky), and then used my shower pick to blast water in there and rinse it out. after 3 times of doing that and hand squeegee-ing the water out... my hand is still a little slippery when i run my hand across it, and i need to get it laid out soon since it's thick and is going to need 4-5 hours of direct sunlight.. and my hand is getting a little raw :P it's not too bad now, my hand is a little bit slippery, but not soapy i'm going to go ahead and put it out to dry, unless i hear that something bad could happen..

Feline physics laws? Law of Cat Inertia A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying mouse. Law of Cat Motion A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good reason to change direction. Law of Cat Magnetism All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct proportion to the darkness of the fabric. Law of Cat Thermodynamics Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat, in which case all heat flows to the cat. Law of Cat Stretching A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap just taken. Law of Cat Sleeping All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as uncomfortable for the people involved, and as comfortable as possible for the cat. Law of Cat Elongation A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top that has anything remotely interesting on it. Law of Cat Obstruction A cat must lay on the floor in such a position to obstruct the maximum amount of human foot traffic. Law of Cat Acceleration A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready to stop. Law of Dinner Table Attendance Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served. Law of Rug Configuration No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long. Law of Obedience Resistance A cat's resistance varies in proportion to a human's desire for her to do something. First Law of Energy Conservation Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will, therefore, use as little energy as possible. Second Law of Energy Conservation Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping. Law of Refrigerator Observation If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along and take out something good to eat. Law of Electric Blanket Attraction Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed of light. Law of Random Comfort Seeking A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable spot in any given room. Law of Bag/Box Occupancy All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the earliest possible nanosecond. Law of Cat Embarrassment A cat's irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment times the amount of human laughter. Law of Milk Consumption A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can. Law of Furniture Replacement A cat's desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the cost of the furniture. Law of Cat Landing A cat will always land in the softest place possible; often the mid- section of an unsuspecting, reclining human. Law of Fluid Displacement A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount of milk consumed. Law of Cat Disinterest A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of effort a human expends in trying to interest him. Law of Pill Rejection Any pill given to a cat has the potential energy to reach escape velocity. Law of Cat Composition A cat is composed of Matter + Anti-Matter + It Doesn't Matter

Feline Physics Laws? Law of Cat Inertia A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying mouse. Law of Cat Motion A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good reason to change direction. Law of Cat Magnetism All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct proportion to the darkness of the fabric. Law of Cat Thermodynamics Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat, in which case all heat flows to the cat. Law of Cat Stretching A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap just taken. Law of Cat Sleeping All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as uncomfortable for the people involved, and as comfortable as possible for the cat. Law of Cat Elongation A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top that has anything remotely interesting on it. Law of Cat Obstruction A cat must lay on the floor in such a position to obstruct the maximum amount of human foot traffic. Law of Cat Acceleration A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready to stop. Law of Dinner Table Attendance Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served. Law of Rug Configuration No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long. Law of Obedience Resistance A cat's resistance varies in proportion to a human's desire for her to do something. First Law of Energy Conservation Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will, therefore, use as little energy as possible. Second Law of Energy Conservation Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping. Law of Refrigerator Observation If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along and take out something good to eat. Law of Electric Blanket Attraction Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed of light. Law of Random Comfort Seeking A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable spot in any given room. Law of Bag/Box Occupancy All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the earliest possible nanosecond. Law of Cat Embarrassment A cat's irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment times the amount of human laughter. Law of Milk Consumption A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can. Law of Furniture Replacement A cat's desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the cost of the furniture. Law of Cat Landing A cat will always land in the softest place possible; often the mid- section of an unsuspecting, reclining human. Law of Fluid Displacement A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount of milk consumed. Law of Cat Disinterest A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of effort a human expends in trying to interest him. Law of Pill Rejection Any pill given to a cat has the potential energy to reach escape velocity. Law of Cat Composition A cat is composed of Matter + Anti-Matter + It Doesn't Matter.

Is anyone worried about the long-term environmental effects of compact fluorescent bulbs? Considering that the EPA recommends these steps if you ever break a bulb, I wonder if we might end up causing more environmental problems than we are solving by switching to these bulbs: from http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/pr... How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb? Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines: 1. Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one. 2. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass pieces and powder. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces. 3. Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug: Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag. 4. Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding, etc.: If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage. You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb. If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal. 5. Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup. Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials. Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center. 6. Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming. Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

feline's physics? Law of Cat Inertia A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying mouse. Law of Cat Motion A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good reason to change direction. Law of Cat Magnetism All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct proportion to the darkness of the fabric. Law of Cat Thermodynamics Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat, in which case all heat flows to the cat. Law of Cat Stretching A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap just taken. Law of Cat Sleeping All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as uncomfortable for the people involved, and as comfortable as possible for the cat. Law of Cat Elongation A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top that has anything remotely interesting on it. Law of Cat Obstruction A cat must lie on the floor in such a position to obstruct the maximum amount of human foot traffic. Law of Cat Acceleration A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready to stop. Law of Dinner Table Attendance Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served. Law of Rug Configuration No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long. Law of Obedience Resistance A cat's resistance varies in proportion to a human's desire for her to do something. First Law of Energy Conservation Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will, therefore, use as little energy as possible. Second Law of Energy Conservation Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping. Law of Refrigerator Observation If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along and take out something good to eat. Law of Electric Blanket Attraction Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed of light. Law of Random Comfort Seeking A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable spot in any given room. Law of Bag/Box Occupancy All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the earliest possible nanosecond. Law of Cat Embarrassment A cat's irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment times the amount of human laughter. Law of Milk Consumption A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can. Law of Furniture Replacement A cat's desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the cost of the furniture. Law of Cat Landing A cat will always land in the softest place possible; often the mid-section of an unsuspecting, reclining human. Law of Fluid Displacement A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount of milk consumed. Law of Cat Disinterest A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of effort a human expends in trying to interest him. Law of Pill Rejection Any pill given to a cat has the potential energy to reach escape velocity. Law of Cat Composition A cat is composed of Matter + Anti-Matter + It Doesn't Matter.

is this true Cat Physics i recieved this as a joke is it funny? Law of Cat Inertia A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying mouse. Law of Cat Motion A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good reason to change direction. Law of Cat Magnetism All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct proportion to the darkness of the fabric. Law of Cat Thermodynamics Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat, in which case all heat flows to the cat. Law of Cat Stretching A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap just taken. Law of Cat Sleeping All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as uncomfortable for the people involved as is possible for the cat. Law of Cat Elongation A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top that has anything remotely interesting on it. Law of Cat Acceleration A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready to stop. Law of Dinner Table Attendance Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served. Law of Rug Configuration No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long. Law of Obedience Resistance A cat's resistance varies in proportion to a human's desire for her to do something. First Law of Energy Conservation Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will, therefore, use as little energy as possible. Second Law of Energy Conservation Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping. Law of Refrigerator Observation If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along and take out something good to eat. Law of Electric Blanket Attraction Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed of light. Law of Random Comfort Seeking A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable spot in any given room. Law of Bag / Box Occupancy All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the earliest possible nanosecond. Law of Cat Embarrassment A cat's irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment times the amount of human laughter. Law of Milk Consumption A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can. Law of Furniture Replacement A cat's desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the cost of the furniture. Law of Cat Landing A cat will always land in the softest place possible. Law of Fluid Displacement A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount of milk consumed. Law of Cat Disinterest A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of effort a human expends in trying to interest him. Law of Pill Rejection Any pill given to a cat has the potential energy to reach escape velocity. Law of Cat Composition A cat is composed of Matter + Anti-Matter + It Doesn't Matter.

Feline laws of physics.(Are these true???)? Feline Physics Laws - Law of Cat Inertia A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying mouse. - Law of Cat Motion A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good reason to change direction. - Law of Cat Magnetism All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct proportion to the darkness of the fabric. - Law of Cat Thermodynamics Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat, in which case all heat flows to the cat. - Law of Cat Stretching A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap just taken. - Law of Cat Sleeping All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as uncomfortable for the people involved, and as comfortable as possible for the cat. - Law of Cat Elongation A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top that has anything remotely interesting on it. - Law of Cat Obstruction A cat must lay on the floor in such a position to obstruct the maximum amount of human foot traffic. - Law of Cat Acceleration A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready to stop. - Law of Dinner Table Attendance Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served. - Law of Rug Configuration No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long. - Law of Obedience Resistance A cat's resistance varies in proportion to a human's desire for her to do something. - First Law of Energy Conservation Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will, therefore, use as little energy as possible. - Second Law of Energy Conservation Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping. - Law of Refrigerator Observation If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along and take out something good to eat. - Law of Electric Blanket Attraction Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed of light. - Law of Random Comfort Seeking A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable spot in any given room. - Law of Bag/Box Occupancy All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the earliest possible nanosecond. - Law of Cat Embarrassment A cat's irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment times the amount of human laughter. - Law of Milk Consumption A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can. - Law of Furniture Replacement A cat's desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the cost of the furniture. - Law of Cat Landing A cat will always land in the softest place possible; often the mid- section of an unsuspecting, reclining human. - Law of Fluid Displacement A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount of milk consumed. - Law of Cat Disinterest A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of effort a human expends in trying to interest him. - Law of Pill Rejection Any pill given to a cat has the potential energy to reach escape velocity. - Law of Cat Composition A cat is composed of Matter + Anti-Matter + It Doesn't Matter.

The Government has said no incandescent bulb by 2012 but what about CFLs? The US Government has passed a law banning the sell of incandescent bulbs in 2012. Their recommended alternative is the Compact Fluorescent Lamps or CFLs. However the CFLs contain small amounts of mercury but not enough to be concerned about the Government told us. If you break one of these CFLs in your home here are the recommended clean up procedures: Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces. Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag. Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage. You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb. If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal. Anyone else going to be stockng up on incandescent bulbs prior to the ban?

Need help with accessories.? My husband and I are opening a massage spa. I have a color sceme. The colors are peanut butter, cream, crimson, blues and greens. The walls are peanut butter and the trim is cream. the other colors will be use for accent.There's a few items that are stainless steel and wood. I have a indian style area rug and astec paintings. They both have all the colors in them. The rug is much lighter than the paintings. I think the blend well. I also have some white wire shelves and some black and sliver candel holders. I want the spa to be relaxing, warm and romantic. Here's my questions: What accessories could I use? Should I spray paint the wire shelves black or sliver? Which color candel holder would work better. Should I go with multi color candel or cream? Do anyone have any ideals or advice? Can anyone direct me to a web site for some decorating tips for decorating a massage spa? I would appreciate any help. Thank you and May God bless you.

Do the less informed and vociferous Repubs realize how close their party brought their country to fascism? 1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia. 2. Disdain for the importance of human rights The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation. 3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly. 4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite. 5. Rampant sexism Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses. 6. A controlled mass media Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses. 7. Obsession with national security Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous. 8. Religion and ruling elite tied together Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion. 9. Power of corporations protected Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens. 10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Und Thomas D - You are 30% Fascist. somerand - you are very paranoid.

Any tips on potty training a puppy? I'm sure there are people that asked this question already but... I found out that I've probably confused my new puppy. She is 8 weeks old and she's a Pembroke welsh corgi. Our family decided to have her use an ugodog tray. until we heard from close friends that when they were taught to potty train inside they tend to like peeing/pooping on carpets/rugs because it has absorbancy. I know it's OUR FAULT that we're not directing her well enough but we decided to have her go potty outside she was fine till dinner time and she had an accident. How do we prevent accidents? We even try to have a scheduled for her (by the way it's day 3 since we got her I believe she's almost 9weeks old now) There were quite a few of you that gave me great tips. Thank you so much!!!

Has any one used a h2o steam mop? Are they any good? I want it for carpet...? I have seen the danoz direct ads for the h2Osteam mop and think I would like one for our carpet, especially our rug as my baby daughter spews alot so its a fulltime job trying to clean each one individually plus i like the idea of chemical free becasue of my daughter crawling around. I don't want her touching any chemical cleaner which is what we have been using previously. ANy reviews would be great. ****I don;t care about lino, tiles, wood floors etc. I want to know about carpet. Thanks. Also has anyone used the Monster brand?

Why does this keep happening to me? OK I have been struggling with deep depression for quite some time and have been suicidal, I have spent a weekend in a mental ward and a weekend in hospital been treated for an OD, each time either someone has intervened or I have managed to pull myself round, but each time that I have almost managed pick myself up then suddenly BAM! I get hit by something else. A few weeks ago I had the plan to kill myself, I had the means to do so, I even had notes ready, I posted a question about it here. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ah_Bwyo23F3IDqAjGK4GxUAgBgx.;_ylv=3?qid=20100227170237AAAa3tw Some how I managed to find the motivation to pull myself round and started to make some real progress and development I was managing to use that momentum to build on, I started to get excited that I was getting somewhere, it wasn't easy but I was going in the right direction. Suddenly the rug got ripped away from under my feet I got made redundant and not only that but as a direct result this has caused me to have to face leaving the new life I have been building up for myself. With one sudden development I have been thrown down as bad if not worse than I have ever been. I just don't know where I stand, I can't keep going like this once more I just want all the pain to stop, the only way I can see that I can stop myself from been kicked down to the ground is to stay down. If I go back home to my family home then I will have to start again with all the doctors and support stuff and my chances of finding another job are just awful. If I stay where I am then unless I find another job in a matter of weeks then I will be forced to go back to the first option Or finally I have the third option I still have the means to go with my plan from a few weeks ago. I just don't know what I should do I just don't want to hurt any more, I just don't think I can go on what should I do?

Proof that God EXISTS? (please read all of these to strengthen your faith!!!) 1) Woman as the exclusive species of child bearing and child labor difficulties Because after the original sin, human women are the only creature/mammal that experiences pain and grief throughout their pregnancies—from morning sickness, nausea to contractions—and have historically had a very high mortality rate from childbirth. Animal females, however, bear their young w/o pain and rarely sicken and die during pregancy. Animal females generally bear their young without discomfort. Hence, this IS a curse and the Bible is true. 2) The universe is idiot-proof if you tried to shoot a nuclear warhead directly at the sun; you'd miss every time. It would get caught in the Sun's orbit and would never be able to get close enough to hit it. (learned at John Hopkins) God made sure that our destruction is limited to our backyard. 3) Sodom and Gomorrah being discovered- Those cities have been found and ironically, they are in direct correlation with the story told in Genesis. "Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah --from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities --and also the vegetation in the land." Genesis 19. Buring sulfur,huh? It gets better: labs in the USA have tested the "sulfuric balls" litered all over the cities' region and have estimated the "sulfuric balls" where once at temperatures around 5,000 degrees Celsius (or around 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit). Irony or cowinkydence? 4) satan controls the air ways This kind of information from Niphilms (half human half angels) who's remains have been dug up and discovered to the Noah's ark's discovery to Sodom Gomorrah being discovered and being tested to be the real deal are all being swept under the rug by the prince of the air who keeps us decieved and ill-informed. Ephesians 2:3.

What color should I paint? My townhouse is SMALL (900 sq ft). It's the first house my husband and I bought. I'm a senior interior design major in college, but I'm having a rough time with my own living room. =/ When you walk into my living room, the stairs are directly behind the door. The living space is to the right. We have a double window that is east facing, so we get direct sunlight from sunrise till 2pm. It's 12x12. Currently, we have a beige microfiber couch, the walls are painted almost robin's egg blue (the paint turned out wrong... it was supposed to have a gray-ish tint to it and look clean and open). Our doors and trim are white. And we just bought an expensive area rug that is chocolate brown with gray-blue, tan, and sage green palm leaves. I'm looking at getting a new sectional sofa for the extra seating: http://schewels.com/online-showroom.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=351&category_id=6 Or http://schewels.com/online-showroom.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=95&category_id=6 Or http://schewels.com/online-showroom.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=339&category_id=6 What color should I paint? I was thinking of painting sage green, but with the first couch, I don't want to have too much green. Ideas??

9thGrade Math, POINTS!!!! (:? Okay, Very confusing to me. There are like 56 questions and these are the ones i dont understand, if you can help me with one or all, that would be fansastic! (: thanks... 1. Which ordered pair is a solution of 6x + 3y = 18 a. (-2,-10) b. (-2,10) c. (2,10) d.(10,-2) ----------------------------------------------- 2. Does the table below represent direct variation? If so, write equation. X | -3 | -1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | Y | -2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | X | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | Y | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25| ------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Apprx. Cost of rug with diameter of 8ft. (D)Diameter- 2 (C)Cost- 28.40 D - 3 C-63.90 D- 4 C-113.60 D- 5 C-177.50 D- 6 C- 255.60 a. $333.70 b. $411.80 c. $454.40 d. $908.80 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. What kind of function is y = 6x^2 + 4x - 12 ? THANKYOU!!!

please help me i need a dream interpreter to interpret my really bad dream?!? okay i had one of the most horrifying dreams of my life last night. here it is: okay so i live in a midsized town called kenosha, wisconsin. i had this dream that my best friends and several of my cousins went five hours away to somewhere in wisconsin (i have no idea why, or where this was). we went to this house that was horribly dirty with rats and mice and vermon. we all slept on this dirty rug in this big living room, and the ppl we were staying with were mean. like abuser mean. (well there was no direct thought of abuse in the dream but i think that's what they were.) and the whole plot of this was that we had our cell phones, and my cell phone doesnt have good battery length, so it was almost a race against time to call my parents and have them "save us." the dream ended when i called my parents finally and they refused to help me. then my phone died and the dream ended. also, there was one person in this family that we were staying with that was nice to me, but i was still afraid of him. i have no idea why this is happening, and the odd thing about this is that this is basically an experience my friend had camping FIVE HOURS AWAY somewhere in north wisconsin. and she also babysits for people who have vermon. do you think that since she has told me things like this several times that my brain was processing it in a weird way? please interpret my dream, it really freaked me out. if you need more information, say so and i will add more. just make sure that you come back to this question so i can clarify things help is greatly appreciated! good job ppl i am feeling better already with these answers.

warrior yugioh deck ... please rate and suggest improvements? side may seem a lil messed but it to try counter remove from play, direct damage, monarchs and LaDD decks ... these are my biggest problem when playing in tournaments 18x Monster 3x Command Knight 3x Marauding Captain 2x Cyber Dragon 2x Rocket Warrior 2x Spell Striker D.D.Assailant D.D.Warrior Lady Sangan Neo-Spacian Grand Mole Marshmallon Spirit Reaper 16x Spell 2x Reinforcement of the Army 2x Shrink 2x Enemy Controller Premature Burial Brain Control Heavy Storm Lightning Vortex Swords of Revealing Light Mystical Space Typhoon Scapegoat Monster Reborn Pot of Avarice United we Stand 6x Traps 2x Royal Decree 2x Magic Drain Security Orb Sakuretsu Armor 15x Side Treeborn Frog Getsu Fuhma Mystic Swordsman Lv2 3x Des Wombat 3x D.D.Survivor Lightning Vortex Cloak and Dagger Divine Wrath 3x Pulling the Rug the sakuretsu in ma main deck will be swapped for mirror force when i get it

Nyaa! rate my City Limits deck! Onegai!? Nyaa!! Mushi Mushi! Gomen for being away for so long, I had some tech difficulty ;-; But I’m back now!! And if anybody’s wondering how my first run at a SJC went… it didn’t… I got the flu and was puking my guts out for a week, it was bad! And I ended up missing the SJC. But a regional is coming up soon, so I’ll be giving it another try soon! And in having so much time being sick, I built a few new decks! This one is probably my new 2nd fav. It’s called City Limits! It’s an E-hero deck that actually runs off it’s fusions. And before anyone prejudges it as a failure cause it’s e-hero’s without being Big City… I haven’t lost a match yet! And it’s a monarch’s/zombie’s worst nightmare. I’ll talk strategy At the bottom~ Monsters~ 3 cyber dragon 3 king of the swamp 3 E-hero wildheart 2 E-hero Sparkman 2 E-hero necroshade 2 E-hero bladedge E-hero stratos Morphing jar Spells~ 3 polymerization 3 E- emergency call 2 R- righteous justice 2 reinforcements of the army 2 miracle fusion Future fusion Heavy storm Giant trunade Premature burial Shield crush Card destruction Traps 2 mask of restrict 2 royal decree Call of the haunted Torrential tribute Mirror force Fusions 3 E-hero wildedge 3 E-hero necroid shaman 3 E-hero plasma vice (once released on 15th) 2 E-hero shining flare wingman 2 E-hero shining phoenix enforcer 3 E-hero darkbright 2 E hero wild wingman 1 E-hero thundergiant 2 Cyber twin dragon 2 Cyber end dragon Side deck 2 jinzo 2 kycoo the ghost destroyer 2 pulling the rug 2 widespread ruin Breaker the magical warrior Lightning vortex Snipe hunter 2 my body as a shield 2 Raiza the storm monarch (I still hate monarchs!) Well there it is! This deck is built to drop multiple E-hero fusions per turn, and with search cards like Reinforcements and E-emergency call it’s very difficult to draw a bad hand, and seldom to never one without a first turn fusion. But probably the best thing here is Mask of Restrict. Since this deck runs entirely on it’s fusions, my opponent (especially monarch players) are deprived of their tribute monsters, while it’s negative aspects are nullified for me only. so my beatstick heroes are free to hit for massive direct damage. Even the only tribute monsters in the deck are, well. Never tribute summoned. Necroshade is only here to be dumped into the grave, cyber dragon is well, cyber dragon. And bladedge is normal summoned without a tribute via the effect of necroshade I tossed into the grave. Well, do the usual, rate 1-10 and comment if ya want! Aregatou! Sayonara!

Help with sims2 pretty please? i found the cutest teen bedroom set for my sims, but i dont exactly know how to get to it. i found the site where your supposed to download it, and the pic on google, but i cant find it on the site!!! will somone help me by posting a direct link to the download? thankyou!!! heres the pic of the set http://simsational.co.uk/updates/data/upimages/Teen_chic_bedroom_screen.jpg\ and heres the site where the download its supposed to be at http://www.simsational.co.uk/?page=about&sub=stuffpacks i'm looking for the curtains, bed, deco, rug, lamps, sidetable, and dresser. or just the bed, please help me find the set!!! i'll be your best friend!!!.....and give you like 50 million points!!!! ok, thankyou!!!! and if you cant find the set, can you post a bedroom set as close to it as possibe?

My room and color ideas? I plan on painting my room but I need a few Ideas. This is the bedspread I am going to get. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5694035 I was planning on painting my room an orange, pink and maybe possibly green and then the sealing would be a yellow. My room is small so I was going to put small mirrors on the wall that the light from the window hits so that it looks or feels bigger and also so theres more light. I'll be getting a day bed like this. http://www.bedroom-furniture-direct.com/Fashion-Bed-Group-B10183-B10193-FB1598.html If you have any other daybeds that are like this or are also white suggestions would be great! I'm open. But the color needs to be white. I would like to get paper lanterns that go with this color and a small or medium sized rug. I have hardwood floors as well. Any tips or Ideas on paint or anything else would be awesome! Thank you!

I don't really like my sister. What do I do? I am 30 years old and my sister is 31. We also have another sister who is 33. Our parents are still married and I've always thought of us as a fairly happy-go-lucky family but as I've gotten a little older I realize we don't fight because we just avoid issues and brush them under the rug. Recently I have been going through a devastating break up and my 31 year old sister (the one I am having problems with) has been unsupportive and frankly, rude to me, when I need her the most. She hated my ex and wants me to react to the breakup with anger, rather than sadness which is where I am right now. She has gone so far as to call me and tell me she ran into my ex with his new girlfriend who looks just like me, then when our oldest sister told her I was feeling practically suicidal and having thoughts of death, I still didn't hear from my middle sister. I am disturbed by her lack of caring, but whatever, we had to see each other over Thanksgiving and I thought she was just unable to be direct and caring and talk with me about my suicidal thoughts, but she insulted me yet again and brought up my ex again! After she knows how upset I have been, I don't understand her ridiculous and unfriendly behavior. I have come to the realization that I don't really like my sister. I know I have to deal with her, but it bugs me that the rest of my family kisses up to her because of her irresponsible and immature ways - they are worried she will just cut them out of her life. I am getting to the point where I want to avoid group family situations because of my awful, uncaring sister. Anyone have sibling issues like this and how do you deal with them?

AMERICAN FASCISM ? ? Will america wake up against the pre-fascist administration of bush ? ? 1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia. 5 minutes ago 2. Disdain for the importance of human rights The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation 4 minutes ago 3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly. 4 minutes ago 4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite. 4 minutes ago 5. Rampant sexism Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses 3 minutes ago 6. A controlled mass media Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses 2 minutes ago 7. Obsession with national security Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous. 2 minutes ago . Religion and ruling elite tied together Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion. 2 minutes ago 9. Power of corporations protected Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens. 1 minute ago 10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that co that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice. 11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist. 12. Obsession with crime and punishment Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power 13. Rampant cronyism and corruption Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population. 14. Fraudulent elections Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite

How is modern Republicanism different from fascism? Is Republicanism as embodied by the recent Bush administration and supported by propaganda outlets like FOX News substantively different than fascism. The following 14 traits have been identified as being common to all fascist regimes regimes? Are any of those traits not exhibited by modern Republicans. 1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia. 2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation. 3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly. 4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite. 5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses. 6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses. 7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous. 8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion. 9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens. 10. Power of labor suppressed or R: It is just as well that I don't get answers from the people who don't want take the time to think about the question or who don't know what fascism is. I don't see how it is ranting. That definition didn't come from me. I included the link of to it's source. It'sthere so that people have a something with which to compzre republicanism and from wht I can see everything in that definition was done by the Bush administration.

Does love really exist? People say you can't love anyone until you love yourself. However, sometimes it feels like even when you love someone, they don't really love you back. In my experience it feels like people have only claimed to love me. But as soon as a problem arises, all bets are off. I think that a lot of people only like the idea of love. To have another person, as an accessory to their lives, but just like a fad they can throw you out. My ex dumped me because she said I always felt sorry for myself. She was right. I did. However, she was abrasive and hurtful the way she broke up with me. She resorted to abusive name calling when she could have easily just said something along the lines of “We’re not right for each other.” Now 3 months later she contacts me. (During this time I have been going to self-help workshops and therapy to try to self-improve) So when she contacted me I was direct and let her know that her behavior hurt me and if she chooses to be friends, that I demand respect. Then she turns it around and says that my intensity is too much for her to handle. Really? Was it wrong of me to stand up for myself? Was I supposed to just sweep things under the rug and pretend things didn’t happen? She said I had a problem handling baby steps. However, she didn’t even mention what she wanted. She just wanted to start talking and picking things up like nothing ever happened. I still feel for this person, but I’m afraid no one will ever love me. I learn from my relationships and I try to self-improve, but people only like to make more judgments as if our relationship is some kind of game to be won. I’m feeling rather low right now, cause I wonder if love does exist. Or is it just a game that we play over and over? Any thoughts? Would anyone like to share their experiences to back up your belief?

If we were actually "evolving" shouldn't we be subtracting laws all the way down to the "Golden Rule" Does telling obvious ie: "pushing a sharp object toward someones body will cause fluid leakage and potential demise, plus they will feel pain, which our biologoical containers do not like, ect....actually perpetuate a redundant attack drone mentality. An endless litigation "cop out" excuse ways to "look the other way", "sweep it under the rug" someone else must be the blame, because it's just too big a problem to solve?!? The problem doesnt lie within the huge growing number of people but the individual reponsibility to admit the "cumulative synoptic paragon" of our being group is all exact same realization of existence experience Deep down we all sense, a kind of morphing of our perceptual reality, directed by the combined volitions of all, isnt it a logical assumption to let go of self for 5 minutes a day, be the man on the moon and see your relationships and positive or negative scorecard your exixtence was to your designated group, when you exit your container as you entered, alone

What do you think of this story? Its kind of scary? Author's Beginning Note: I think I just like the image of someone sticking a huge knife into the back of their knee and ripping it down until they slice off a big strip of flesh, all the way down to their heel... Warnings: Self Mutilation, Character Death, Suicide....Um...utter psychotic-ness? Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Naruto. If I did, I would probably end up torturing half of the characters and making Naruto go all Badass!Kyuubi on them and eat everyone. Yes, as in cannibalism. XxXxX Her mother pushed her into the bedroom roughly, causing her to trip and fall on the edge of her pink rug. The woman looked at her with so much anger and frustration that it was painful to see. That gaze...directed at her, it hurt. So much. And her mom just wouldn't let it go. Sasuke had just left last night and her mom had been so furious. Sakura had let him go, allowed him to leave because she was slow, she was too fat to turn in time to stop him from going. From leaving her on the wet concrete. "I...I am fat." "Yes, you are fat. Why do you think the Uchiha left you? He was disgusted by you. Admit it to yourself Sakura." Her mother closed the door behind her, the lock sliding into place with an audible click. She didn't notice. "I am fat." She eyed the kunai-pouch on her hip, a trembling hand reaching towards it. "I am fat." She opened the case and pulled out the dangerously sharp tool, gleaming grey shining under the light bulb above her. "I am fat." She stretched out a leg and stared at the smooth muscle- the fat. Licking her lips, she lowered the knife until just the point pricked her skin. "I am fat." The knife plunged down and tore away the muscle there, scraping against the bone as she sliced off the muscles. Fat. She had to hurry, time was running out. "I am fat." The other leg now, stretching out on its own. She didn't feel the pain. "I am fat." The knife plunged down, ripping through whatever flesh was there. Beautiful white bone stared up at her, a fine mist of blood caressing her face. "I am fat." She moved on to her thighs, the beautiful kunai cutting away the muscle -fat, her mother said- to reveal beautiful bone. She worked carefully, leaving her major arteries intact and still helplessly pumping the blood that kept her alive. No, not long at all. "I am fat." The weapon tore away the soft curve of her hips, her stomach, her ribs. She was "Fat." It was confusing now. Her sight was blurry but her hand was steady. Very steady. Barely any time left... "I..." She mumbled it to herself as she began on her left arm, beginning just beside the crease of her elbow. She tore away the skin and muscle -no, FAT- first, carefully curving around another major artery. Almost done... "I'm...mm" It reverberated around her head like the echoes of a gong. She sliced through the skin and flesh of her upper arm, her hand wobbling, vision blurring worse than before.... "Fat." Stronger this time. She twisted and tried to cut the upper part of her right arm, but it wouldn't reach. She was too fat. Fat. "Fat..." She settled for carefully shaving off the flesh under her chin, ghosting the knife around her Jugular vein. "fat" The knife dropped without her consent, clattering on the blood-soaked floor. She vaguely wondered if it was dripping onto the first floor, in the kitchen... She drifted, the one word floating in her mind before it too disappeared. 'fat' No one could understand why she had done something like that to herself when they found her the next morning. No one but her mother and a certain blond shinobi that no one could seem to find... XxXxX Author's Ending Note: So what do YOU think happened to Naruto? I have just scared myself. Really, I worry about my mental state sometimes...Eh. I'm posting this on here because Fanfiction.net's down and I'm gonna give this a test run before I get up the courage to send this in to my beta.

Would crashing America's financial systems help - would it be wise to go 'free market crazy'? A way out of the recession - let's crash America's financial systems! Yea, that's the ticket. It's so free marketee. Let's pull the tax payer rug out from under these jokes and 'eat' the 10 - 15 year 'market free fall' - purify the system as it's called. As the world economies restore themselves they will be free to finish siphoning off our industries and markets. Give the conservatives that 'total market correction' that they so wildly seek. The pain will be directed according to conservative rules; the top 2% w/million$ will hardly notice anything at all, those with hundreds of thousand$ (3%) will have to watch the ole outflow a little, and the other 95% of us will be wrestling rats in the streets for bread crumbs. The really good part is - we want even know about it. The GOP will have to defund education, health, & welfare (their dream since Reagan) so we (95%) will not have any homes, ability to read, and many of us will die. No internet as McCains bill will allow Big Telecom to jack rates to where only the top 5% can afford it. It will be a 'no-brainer' for the 95% of us after the 10-15 years as industry after industry after system collapes as we will be without options - and it will happen on a Democratic Party watch! Two-fer! Bush administration does the set-up, Democratic Party takes the fall, GOP gets a vise gripe on what's left after a 10-15 year erosion of evry system & industry in our country. The 5% Top-Rot assumes their rightfuland God declared positions. Capitalist free market 'correction' across all boards - with 95% of us 'out of position' - custom made for a rich 'benefactor' (you know, the one that's watchin' out for your family now). Reset to zero. This could be the ticket - what do you think?

Is this an example of bait and switch? I bought a sectional last week, and apparently, it was the last one in stock (as they gave me an excellent deal on it). Therefor, we had our old couch hauled away to charity, so we could make room for the new sectional. However, upon bringing it home, it was discovered that the whole right side of it was crushed, whereas the outside packaging was still intact. (Clearly, whoever packaged it, knew they were shipping a damaged item.) We immediately returned the sectional (and decided to hold off on the refund), where the rep that served us, said that he inspected it himself, and didn't see anything wrong, but admitted he could not see all the way through to the sides of the sofa, as it was wrapped with cardboard and plastic. (I was stunned to hear that method of quality control!) I was referred to the company's corporate office, where I was directed to "N", one of the directors of the company's furniture line. The first phone call, he said that all he could manage was a refund. The second and third, consisted of "let me call my boss" or "my boss' boss", etc. Each time, I was offered a couch (not a sectional) to settle with, that was nowhere near to the match of what I was going for in my living room. I told "N" that I ordered a sectional-- not a sofa, and if that were the case, I would have ordered it to begin with. He apologized, and said he would call back. When he did, he said that the store did have a differently styled sectional (that still did not match my living room), and that I could have it it for another $450. I asked why would I want to basically settle for something and shell out even more money for the item, but he basically said take it or leave it. I said I would call someone else in his office for better customer service, as I felt like I was dealing with a car salesman. So now, my living room is devoid of any furniture, with the exception of an entertainment center, ottoman, and area rug. No seating at all. I feel like this was a bait and switch, because I paid for a service, and yet I am being offered something else at a higher price (or of lesser quality and not what I was looking for). I'm not expecting a free sofa. I'm just expecting customer service, as I am out of a sofa (even the old one) now.

what do you think about this funny ideas? Confucius Says..... "Man who run in front of car get tired" "Man who run behind car get exhausted" "Two wrongs not make a right - Three lefts do" "Man who eat many prunes get good run for money." "War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who's left." "Man who tell one too many light bulb jokes soon burn out!" "Man who sit on tack get point!" "Man who stand on toilet is high on pot!" "Man who lives in glass house should change in basement" "If you want pretty nurse, you got to be patient." Top 10 Words That Don't Exist... But Should... 1. AQUADEXTROUS (ak wa deks' trus) adj. Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub faucet on and off with your toes. 2. CARPERPETUATION (kar' pur pet u a shun) n. The act, when vacuuming,or running over a string or a piece of lint at least a dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance. 3. DISCONFECT (dis kon fekt') v. To sterilize the piece of candy you dropped on the floor by blowing on it, assuming this will somehow remove all the germs. 4. ELBONICS (el bon' iks) n. The actions of two people maneuvering for one armrest in a movie theater. 5. FRUST (frust) n. The small line of debris that refuses to be swept onto the dust pan and keeps backing a person across the room until he finally decides to give up and sweep it under the rug. 6. LACTOMANGULATION (lak' to man gyu lay' shun) n. Manhandling the "open here" spout on a milk container so badly that one has to resort to the 'illegal' side. 7. PEPPIER (pehp ee ay') n. The waiter at a fancy restaurant whose sole purpose seems to be walking around asking diners if they want ground pepper. 8. PHONESIA (fo nee' zhuh) n. The affliction of dialing a phone number and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer. 9. PUPKUS (pup' kus) n. The moist residue left on a window after a dog presses its nose to it. 10. TELECRASTINATION (tel e kras tin ay' shun) n. The act of always letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even when you're only six inches away. Giving 100% Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants over 100%. How about achieving 103%? Here's a little math that might prove helpful. What makes life 100%? If A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26. Then, H A R D W O R K 8 1 18 4 23 15 18 11 = 98% K N O W L E D G E 11 14 15 23 12 5 4 7 5 = 96% But, A T T I T U D E 1 20 20 9 20 21 4 5 = 100% And, B U L L S H I T 2 21 12 12 19 8 9 20 = 103% So, it stands to reason that hardwork and knowledge will get you close, attitude will get you there, but bullshit will put you over the top. And look how far ......... A S S K I S S I N G 1 19 19 11 9 19 19 9 14 7 = 118% will take you. Philosophy 101 A professor stood before his Philosophy 101 class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous - - yes. The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - - your family, your partner, your health, your children, your friends, your favorite passions - - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full." "The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else - - the small stuff." "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. Play another 18. There will always be time for me to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal." "Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers! Worthy of Heaven A man appears before St. Peter at the pearly gates. "Have you ever done anything of particular merit?" St. Peter asks. "Well, I can think of one thing," the man offers. "Once, on a trip to the Black Hills, out in South Dakota, I came upon a gang of high-testosterone bikers who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen. So I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker. I smacked him on the head, kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring and threw it on the ground, and told him, 'Leave her alone now or you'll answer to me.'" St. Peter was impressed. "When did this happen?" "Just a couple of minutes ago." Philosophy of Hypocrisy and Ambiguity 1. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things. 2. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor..... 3. Atheism is a non-prophet organization. 4. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes? 5. The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live. 6. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose. 7. What if there were no hypothetical questions? 8. If a deaf person swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap? 9. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation? 10. Is there another word for synonym? 11. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?" 12. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant? 13. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages? 14. Would a fly without wings be called a walk? 15. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them? 16. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked? 17. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers? 18. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent? 19. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines? 20. How do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow road signs? 21. What was the best thing before sliced bread? 22. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people. 23. Does the Little Mermaid wear an algebra? 24. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery? 25. How is it possible to have a civil war? 26. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown, too? 27. If you ate both pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry? 28. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done? 29. Whose cruel idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have "S" in it? 30. Why are hemorrhoids called "hemorrhoids" instead of "assteroids"? 31. Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them? 32. Why is there an expiration date on sour cream? 33. If you spin an oriental man in a circle three times does he become disoriented? Deep Thoughts #1 Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant. The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway. There are two kinds of pedestrians -- the quick and the dead. Life is sexually transmitted. An unbreakable toy is useful for breaking other toys. If quitters never win, and winners never quit, then who is the fool who said "Quit while you're ahead?" The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. Get the last word in: Apologize. Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks. Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. No Dirty Words It is hard to find a joke without a dirty word or two in it. Here is one with none: Two tall trees, a birch and a beech, are growing in the woods. A small tree begins to grow between them, and the beech says to the birch, "Is that a son of a beech or a son of a birch?" The birch says he cannot tell. Just then a woodpecker lands on the sapling. The birch says, "Woodpecker, you are a tree expert. Can you tell if that is a son of a beech or a son of a birch?" The woodpecker takes a taste of the small tree. He replies, "It is neither a son of a beech nor a son of a birch. It is, however, the best piece of ash I have ever put my pecker in." Where This Word Come From Did you know..... In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large shipments of manure were common. It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could and did happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM! Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined justwhat was happening. After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term "Ship High In Transit" on them which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane. Thus evolved the term "S.H.I.T " , (Ship High In Transport)which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day. You probably did not know the true history of this word. Neither did I. I always thought it was a golf term. !!!!!!! 10 things a man can do at Wal-Mart Here are 10 things a man can do at Wal-Mart while his wife is taking her sweet time: 1. Get 24 boxes of condoms & randomly put them in people's carts when they aren't looking. 2. Get on the PA system and announce in an official tone: 'All cars in row 1 of the parking lot are illegally parked and will be towed. Will the owner of the cars please move them'. . and see what happens. 3. Make a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the ladies rest-room. 4. Get on the PA system and announce in an official tone: 'Code 3, Housewares' . . and see what happens. 5. Go to the Service Desk and ask to put a bag of M&M's on lay-away. 6. Move a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area. 10. While handling guns in the Hunting Department, ask the clerk if he knows where the bullets and anti-depressants are. 12. In the Auto Department, practice your "Madonna look" using different sized funnels. 13. Hide in a clothing rack and when people browse through, say: "PICK ME!!! PICK ME!!!" 15. Go into a fitting room, shut the door and wait a while . . . then yell loudly: "There's no toilet paper in here!"

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