Anyway, tis gona be some crazy two weeks for the 15 people (3 groups in total) who will be working on promoting a campaign that aims to get all of us to embrace healthy living with an active lifestyle.

And guess what? Ms Chew and I are the self-appointed teachers-in-charge of these 15 participants so.. tis work work work for us too!

There are altogether around 12 teams competing and out of which, 5 will be selected to pitch their campaign before industry experts during the finals. Should any of our 3 teams make it to the final, do show your support for them by going with us for the competition on 1 August, aka the day of reckoning.

Before I go, here's something interesting that I must share with you. His presentation of the cause touched me immensely and I was most impressed by his level of confidence as well as conviction for the topic.

Now, this is what I call service learning. :)

And the success of the project is a classic example of how the new media has changed and revolutionalised the way we view the world and retrieve information.

O ya.. do join their facebook account if you have one to pledge your support. :)

According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's website,  Georgia House Bill 948 provides for a sales tax exemption from both state and local sales taxes for certain items purchased July 31 – August 3, 2008.

The Bill also provides an exemption for specific energy and water efficient products purchased October 2 –5, 2008, with information pertaining to that specific holiday being released at a later date.

During the sales tax holiday of July 31 through August 3, 2008, a sales tax exemption applies to purchases of tangible personal property in the following categories:

• Articles of Clothing. The exemption applies to articles of clothing and footwear with a sales price of $100 or less per item. Clothing accessories such as handbags, umbrellas, cuff links, handkerchiefs, jewelry, key cases, wallets, watches and watch bands, and ponytail holders and/or similar hair products are not exempt.  In other words, they're taxable.  See link below of exempt items.
• Personal Computers. A single purchase of $1,500 or less of personal computers and/or related accessories is exempt. If the single purchase exceeds $1,500, the entire transaction is taxable. See link below for exempt items.
• General School Supplies. The exemption applies to the purchase of general school supplies with a sales price of $20 or less per item.  Exempt items are linked below.

All of these items are intended for personal use and are not for resale.  They do not include items purchased at theme parks, entertainment complexes, hotels, restaurants, or airports. 

For general information about the 2008 Sales Tax Holiday, please visit the Department of Revenue here.

You might also visit your child's school website for a list of required supplies by grade-level.  Print it out and take it with you.  Many of the local office supply stores such as Office Depot, Target, or Staples also have lists there at their stores, supplied by local area schools for specific grade-levels as well as teachers.   For a printable list of tax-exempt school supplies, go here. 

For information about children's books that are exempt, please follow this link.   After last year, when I had a question about a specific book I was trying to locate for my then 12yo daughter, and finding no one in any of the local stores who could verify that, yes or no, it was tax-exempt or not, I'm definitely printing that list out and taking it with me. 

Tax-exempt clothing and footwear may be printed out from this page.  Know before you get to the checkout lane whether or not your selections are taxable.  It can save you money. 

The single purchase of $1,500.00 or less of personal computers and personal computer related accessories for noncommercial home or personal use is exempt during the sales tax holiday. Computer related accessories include keyboards, monitors, other peripheral devices, personal digital assistant, modems for Internet and network access and non-recreational software.

Be very aware of the $1,500.00 limit on personal computers and software.  If your purchase exceeds that amount, even if only by a few cents, you're liable for the sales taxes on the *entire* amount - not just the difference over and above the $1,500.00. 

For a printable list of exempt computers, software, and related accessories,  please check out this page.

Plan your shopping accordingly ahead of time.  Stores tend to be extremely busy during these days.  A little bit of foresight and planning can pay off not only in big savings, but also less hassle and frustrations.  

I did this last year, checking out recommendations for laptops, and plotted my shopping strategies accordingly.  By visiting major stores' websites ahead of time and adding my email address to their email newsletters' list, I received sales flyers *before* the sale dates and shopped at home. 

I found the laptop I wanted on sale at BestBuy.com, visited the local store's website the night before to verify they had it listed in stock, went there first thing the next morning, and came back home in less than 90 minutes, the proud owner of a new laptop being set up and loaded by the Best Buy Geek Squad with software I had chosen.  I picked it up later that afternoon while others were still roaming around, making their choices.  This process also saved me over $98.00 in sales tax, not including the incentives that Best Buy offered in their promotional sales for laptop computers. 

For additional information and any other questions you may have, visit the Georgia Department of Revenue site.  I do not know if any of these tax-exempt lists pertain to online purchases or not.  That is a question that can be researched at the Revenue site or by contacting them at the Taxpayer Services Division at 404-417-6601 or taxpayer.services@dor.ga.gov .

Plan ahead - it's worth your money *and* your time!

Synopsis: The internet has was designed to be an open platform where anyone can create a website and any information can pass through a connection. If big business starts to be selective about what can pass through it will be like when the FCC cracked down on early radio expression and it wasn't long before only commercial radio existed. The internet needs to stay neutral and not give certain files preference. A 10 minute version of this feature length documentary has circulated over the past year getting half a million views and now more then ever the issue is heating up and threating the future of the net. Please help me raise the funds to get a full time editor to make the project complete. I've already proved my filmmaking abilities with Four Eyed Monsters and the 10 minute edit. And I know I can get this documentary seen if I can release it for free. So I want to get it funded in advance so I don't have to sell it when it's done. people will be able to just have it and become a part of the cause.

IndieGoGo

I just finished week 1 of Beth Moore's Bible Study "Believing God" and already I have learned so much.  Throughout the study, she wants us to memorize 5 main points that she will cover throughout the lessons.  I'm going to share them with you this morning for you to ponder all day.

1.  God is Who He says He is.

2. God can do what He says He can do.

3. I am who God says I am.

4. I can do all things through Christ.

5. God's Word is active and alive in me.

Do you believe it?

And as my friend Sylane would ask, "What are you going to do about it?"

Blessings,

.

 According to Sharon Jayson of USA Today, we are just now beginning to experience what experts are terming a "boomlet" akin to the Baby Boomers of the 50's and 60's of which I am one.  

A record 4,315,000 live births were recorded in 2007, a significant increase over the past few years.  It hasn't been this high since 1957 - 51 years ago! 

The 2007 numbers are attributed to a "perfect storm" of factors: more immigrants having children, professional women who delayed childbearing until their 40s, and larger numbers of women in their 20s and 30s in the population, keeping the fertility rate high. The average number of births per woman was 2.1 in 2006, the highest since 1971.

"We have three different phenomena around birth happening at the same time," says demographer Arthur Nelson of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Ronald Rindfuss of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, family demographer, makes an interesting point and says there is a bigger question looming than who's having kids.

"From the perspective of schools that have to educate these children, this is a real increase in the number of births and something they're going to have to deal with," he says.

I know over the past 25 years that my husband has been teaching in the City Schools of Decatur, we have seen the enrollment numbers drop through the years, seen schools closed and school communities consolidated into fewer neighborhood schools, and now, over the past several years, seen the enrollments begin to climb again.

Are our schools ready for this kind of influx? 

To read this article in its entirety, please visit USA Today.

This was made even more difficult, however, by my boyfriend. Remember that show we went to the other day? Bobby doesn't. He suffered several blows to the head and had no clue where he was after the show. He didn't know who he had wrestled, how he had gotten there, and he didn't collect his money. I had to drive him home and stay with him, waking him up every couple of hours to make sure he, y'know, woke up. I took him to his doctor yesterday, and she confirmed that he has a nasty concussion and he's getting a CAT scan today. In the meantime, I have repeated the events of the other day over and over, only to find that he doesn't remember me telling him the last time. He's doing better now, though, and does remember everything about yesterday. So wish us luck.

In the meantime, very little of interest is going on until I get to write about the books I just finished.

***
In a hero-obsessed world, I clung to Black Canary like a life preserver, much the same way I clung to Sunny  and Sable in the WWF. However, this adaptation really does just look like S&M Barbie. Black Canary hangs her head in shame.

***
There is hope for me yet.

***
Yes, the answer is yes. Sydney Carton died when I was thirteen years old, and I have never been quite the same.

***
Two years after he provoked internet outrage in China, an anonymous British blogger who wrote about his sexual exploits with the country's women has decided to reveal his identity in a book.

Something about this is just very, very wrong.

"Though the commission [on Presidential Debates] is meant to sound like a official government arm, it is actually a private entity, funded entirely by corporate contributions from companies like AT&T, IBM, Philip Morris, and others."

To this day, even after shutting out Ralph Nader, the COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES is still rigged by former Republicans and former Democrats

pssssst... YOU Have the Power

Get Involved

Saint Charles Borromeo parishioner, Pauline Breedan, receives Holy Communion from Pastor, Father Loren Gonzales at the Traditional Latin Mass celebrated on the one-year anniversary of Summorum Pontificum. Tim Ruane served the Mass that morning.

Read more about the Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese of Phoenix at The Catholic Sun Online. Many thanks to Catholic Sun journalist, Andrew Junker, for the fine article and photos.

Thanks to volunteer Dawn Johnson, some classrooms are getting a new look this summer. The first is the Red Sea room near the youth room. If you would be interested in helping by painting fill-in-areas (like a coloring book) or applying clear coat to help the murals last longer, please contact Christian Education Directors, Roxie or Holly.

If you have an email address to add to your contact information, please send an email to office (at) zionbuffalo (dot) org (include your name, email address, and if it is for just yourself or your whole household) and Angela can add you to this email list.

If you would like to receive the newsletter by email (a link to a PDF file posted on our website), please let us know.  You will get the newsletter faster, and can go back to the website to view or print the newsletter again if you lost your copy. Please note that we will still print and mail copies of the newsletter to our members who prefer a printed copy, and can also send you both the electronic and printed copies if you wish.

the dark side

SI.com Article

Myron Rolle is a starting Safety for Florida State University. He is projected to be a first round pick in 2009. This year, he faces a tough decision: a potential NFL career or enrollment into med school. You see, Rolle has been juggling the grind of Division 1 college football workouts and games with pre-med courses. He will finish his undergraduate degree in two and a half years.

His performance in the field slipped in 2007 as Rolle spent six studying in London, missing the beginning of summer workouts with his teammates. In individual meetings after last season, his Defensive Coordinator, Mickey Andrews, urged Rolle to treat football preparation with the same intensity he does his schoolwork.

"I asked him, how much time did you spend watching tape of Florida the week we played them compared to how much time you take to prepare for a chemistry exam?" said Andrews. "He didn't prepare [for the games] like he was trying to get an A. The message hit home. I saw a much more focused guy in the spring."

This year, Rolle is eligible for the Rhodes Scholarship. It is the most prestigious honor an American undergraduate can receive. The 106 year old award gives recipients a full scholarship to one of Oxford's postgraduate programs for up to two years. Notable alumni include former president Bill Clinton. The application process is intense and another football vs. academics clash is ahead.

"Were Rolle to be named a finalist, another potential clash of football versus academics awaits him. Candidates are required to appear before their region's selection committee (which in Rolle's case would take place in Birmingham, Ala.) on Nov. 22 -- the day of Florida State's game at Maryland. A spokesperson for the American Association of Rhodes Scholars said candidates are usually not allowed to interview on an alternate date. The winners are announced that weekend."

Rolle's conflicting emotions are apparent...

"I would hope we could come to a solution," said Rolle. "I definitely couldn't miss that game. I wouldn't do that to my teammates."

"It's definitely going to be tough," said Rolle. "I don't know what I want to do, but I know I want to win [the Rhodes]."

A young man is put into a difficult situation. But no matter Rolle's choice, a bright future awaits him...

A few things I am struggling without:
Seeing my friends all the time
Speaking with friends & family
My musical instruments
Air conditioning
and, iPhone.  GUH.

So far, the two biggest downsides about Lecce have been this:
1.  For some reason, my Sonicare toothbrush (those who have one will understand the weight of this) refuses to charge.  The amazing thing is that it is STILL WORKING, after like what, almost 3 weeks of being without a charge?  Incredible.  I bought a regular non-electric toothbrush the other day.  My teeth feel dirtier.  Sigh.
2. MOSQUITOES.  Everywhere, all the time.  I got two giant bites this morning within only 1.5 hours of being up and about.  I can't go sit outside and relax without being eaten alive.  I'm ready to douse myself in Off spray hourly... not kidding.

For the record, I have noted these two items specifically to demonstrate the lack of severity in each of them.  So in other words, things are pretty good.

Things keeping me happy:
Wine, daily
Olive Oil, daily
Thousand-plus year-old buildings and structures
History everywhere
Learning a new language
Constantly going to the beach
Learning a ton of new things about different culture and life every day
Ben
Pizza

Other things to note in this post:
Tonight I'm meeting up with a bunch of people (primarily Engilsh-speaking, though of different nationalities), most of whom already know or are at least acquainted with each other.  I think this will be great.

In 12 days, I am meeting Benjamin in Rome.  I am going by train, from 6am-12p, and I'm really looking forward to the journey as well.  I'll see the Italian countryside and seaside zipping by whilst studying my language book, all the while getting nearer and nearer to one of the best cities and one of the best persons in the world.

Also, new photos are up on the Picasa.  Link is on the right navigation pane.  Enjoy.
Ciao ciao.

The weekend is upon us!

What’s difficult for a congregation with Monday Evening worship? Individuals, couples and families just got back to town or back to work … and Mondays are almost always a busy day.

Worship is our Sabbath , rest for our hearts, and God himself ushers us in to Word and Sacrament, where he meets with us personally. Think of it: it is not the pastor, but Christ who baptizes. It is not the pastor, but Christ who distributes his body & blood. It is not the pastor, but Christ who speaks in the sermon. A pastor is just God’s mask; behind it stands God himself dealing with you.

Monday Evening Worship will be provided on the 21st at 7 pm … for you and your loved ones.

Pastor J

~+~

Devotion: Time for Payback?

Do you believe in payback? People in books and plays and movies sure do. Revenge drives many stories of great and not-so-great literature, from the time of the Greeks and Romans, through Shakespeare, to the Revenge of the Jedi.

In our own families, we hear talk like, “I’ll teach her a lesson,” or, “I’ll show him. I’m gonna make sure he doesn’t forget this day.” Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t treat us like that?” God does not seek revenge. Through our Savior Jesus, he pardons sinful fools like us. And he invites us in Colossians chapter 3 to forgive as we have been forgiven.

Revenge fantasies are sweet and seductive. They get our adrenaline going. And they provide scenarios where we feel we can finally get justice to avenge wrongs. But human beings are notoriously poor avengers. God says, “Vengeance is mine. Let me take care of payback.” And frankly, God’s right.

Let go of revenge fantasies. Practice forgiveness. This not only means that I’m less likely to hurt someone else, it means also that I free myself from the prison of anger and the addictiveness of the drug of revenge.

TimeOfGrace.com

I can't imagine not being there for  my Lauren's shinning moments especially if it was the Ultimate Olympic Moment.Thus far, Henry and I have shared ever big track moment  with Lauren and we are hoping to have many more. Here's a story reported on WTAE.TV on Lauryn Williams' Dad ,David Williams and his fight to get to Beijing even with need of dialysis and failing health.

ROCHESTER, Pa. -- Lauryn Williams won an Olympic silver medal in Athens -- and now, she's going for gold in Beijing.

 The young Beaver County native's father, David, wants to be there so he can cheer his daughter on, but that may not be possible because he requires expensive kidney dialysis treatments.

 "I'm a Vietnam veteran, and I have leukemia from that, so I had kidney failure eight years ago," David Williams told Channel 4 Action Sports anchor Jon Burton. "I've been on dialysis. I need a kidney. All of this compounds the difficulty of getting back and forth."

After a legendary track career at Rochester High School, Lauryn Williams moved on to the University of Miami. Now, she spends her days in the hot South Florida sun, training for the upcoming Summer Games in China. Many consider her to be a favorite for gold. "He's pretty die-hard. He's planning on being in Beijing," Lauryn Williams told WTAE's sister station in Miami. "I'm trying to convince him slowly but surely to stay home, and let's play it safe than sorry, as opposed to how it played out in Greece, but he's not going to have it. I think he'd rather see me and drop dead in the process than miss it, so if his life depends on it, he's going to be there."  David Williams is trying to make arrangements to have his dialysis done at the University of Beijing during the Games in August. But his funds are limited, and he's not sure he'll be able to afford to watch his daughter go for the gold.

 "It's around $500 to $600 a night for a hotel room, and a flight is close to $1,100," he said. Still, father and daughter agree that she would benefit from him being there. "Lauryn has always performed better when I'm there," David Williams said. "I don't know if it's the yelling or the screaming that I do."

 "I think the major thing is that he showed me never quit, never give up, you know? Late nights, early mornings, and pushing that extra mile when he wasn't feeling so well to get me somewhere. That pushes me the extra mile here on the track."

If David Williams can't be there in person, he will certainly be there in spirit -- and he has a message for his track star daughter. "I know that you have the ability," he said. "You've already done great things, and what I'd like to see you do is go out to China, get the gold and just stop everybody and everything that was ever said about you. Turn it around and show them that you are a professional track star and a professional athlete, and a woman that does the best at whatever you do. Go get 'em, baby."

End Time Ministries has set up a fundraiser for tax-deductible donations to help pay for Williams' medical care while in China. Checks can be sent to P.O. Box 54, Rochester, Pa. 15074.

Hip Hop has been a big part of my life. During my adolescent years, it helped me get through my ups and downs. Everyday, during my bus ride to school, I would pop in a new batch of rhymes into my Walkman and lose myself in the lyrics. Hip Hop spoke to me. Even though the subject matter dealt with things far removed with my everyday life, the songs that spoke to me the most dealt with one common theme: struggle. Sure, I did like my share of party songs, but songs dealing with hard times always drew my attention.

Today, I barely listen to any Hip Hop. I even canceled my BET subscription. I feel that the music has a general negative vibe. For example, someone is always mad at someone else or let's get money by any means even though it means destroying our community and our kids. I've shied away from Hip Hop partly because I've become a more positive person. Nevertheless, I still keep an eye on all the latest happenings. Maybe just by habit or maybe out of hope. Hope to find a Hip Hop voice that will speak to me again.

Two Hip Hop musical acts that I really enjoyed during my adolescent years recently came out with new albums. Nas and The Roots have, for the most part, produced music that dealt with subject matter that I could relate to. Even though my growing distance from Hip Hop, I will probably purchase both their albums as I have purchased every one of their albums since the beginning of their careers. Will their music still be relevant to me? I don't know. But their past work still occupy my frequently played playlist. Hopefully, their voice will speak to me like Hip Hop once did.

Here is Nas' latest single "Hero". A solid song in my opinion...

First I would like to congratulate all those who won their respective races yesterday and wish the best of luck to those who have a run-off.  I do know how hard one must work to win a campaign.

Now onto Flowery Branch business.  I have been quiet on how I was going to vote on Ordinance 376, which will create a new historic district in Flowery Branch.  I already knew how I was going to vote based on my own personal beliefs on the matter.  I am a firm believer in individual property rights and I believe that, through the years since the creation of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, governments have translated a well-intentioned act to fit their needs.  Here is the article in the Gainesville Times.

I am having trouble with the link, but here is my comments I read today at the meeting.

I think most actions by a legislative body, such as the creation of ordinances, resolutions, codes, bills and acts, that become law, which people must follow, start of with the best intentions and through time become translated and twisted to fit the needs of government.

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 states;

“ . . .the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people”. 

 And the Georgia Historic Preservation Act of 1980 states;

“The General Assembly finds that the historical, cultural, and aesthetic heritage of this state is among its most valued and important assets and that the preservation of this heritage is essential to the promotion of the health, prosperity, and general welfare of the people.”

As I read the entire National Historic Preservation Act and the Georgia Historic Preservation Act, I read about the preservation of historic property with “few remaining examples of past architectural style”, or

“the preservation of this irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest”.

But nowhere could I find where it stated where a government should create a historic district, allow people to tear down the buildings, and have something built back that has a historic feel.  All I found was how we are supposed to “preserve” historic property.  Yet in Chapter 8, Historic Preservation in the Flowery Branch Comprehensive Plan states, “Flowery Branch should prepare a comprehensive master plan for the redevelopment of Old Town that includes the existing historic resources in downtown as a foundation of the planning process”. I never read the word redevelopment in either the National Historic Preservation Act or the Georgia Historic Preservation Act.

We already have an extensive zoning code, Ordinance 378, which has already had a number of amendments, which shows our ability to work with citizens, businesses, and developers to build aesthetically beautiful buildings.  Look at the Stonebridge Village, and the new homes at 5506 and 5510 Chestnut Street, as well as the remodeling at 5502 Chestnut Street.  All these were built or remodeled in the past year under the guidance of our zoning code and planning department and they are not in any kind of historic district and they all are aesthetically beautiful.

Flowery Branch already has the Flowery Branch Commercial Historic District, which was added in 1985 and consists of 20 acres and 12 building on Main Street and Railroad Avenue with a registration number 85001932.  Looking at these buildings one could say - yes, they look and feel historic and need to be preserved.

Ordinance 376 is a clear case of government gone wild. The National Historic Preservation and Georgia Historic Preservation Acts started with good intensions and, through the years, have become property rights issues. 

And as every other community in this great nation, they all have a great history, but not everything is historic.