Decorating for Halloween

My Internet has been down for four days now and blogging has been impossible. However, I discovered this wonderful app on my phone that let me at least do this tiny post. We are beginning our Halloween decorating and here is a brief look at our work in progress.








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Holly Park Blvd SW,Huntsville,United States

Everyone Judges The Judge

Eek! The time has come.

Three months ago I agreed to adjudicate in the Nottingham Writers' Club summer prose competition. I have now received the manuscripts and I have a few weeks to come up with a winner, a second and a third. Not only that, I have to publicly justify my decision for choosing the top three places and write critiques for every single entry.

This will not be news to those of you who have done this sort of thing before but this is a first time for me and I'm a bit apprehensive. I'm only just starting to get accustomed to people asking my opinion on writing-related topics. “You what? You want me to read the first three chapters of your novel and tell you if I think it's any good? How would I know? I can't even get Woman's Weekly to accept any of my stuff.”

It occurred to me that, while sportingly applauding the winners and commiserating with the also-rans, anyone else reading my fellow club members' efforts will be at liberty to question my decisions. I now know what it must be like for a football referee. A player may make several mistakes during a game – miss a few passes, commit a few fouls. But if the ref makes an error of judgement it's the talk of the terraces. Likewise the X-Factor panel. If their choices don't line up with the general public's opinion then they are lambasted in the press.

Anyway. Can't sit here blogging all day. Somewhere there's a block waiting for my neck to be placed on it.

Getting in Trouble Looking for Ghosts

I spent this weekend at my sister's wedding.  She was married at The Cranbrook House and Gardens.   The house was beautiful, dark, and filled with wood paneling and old Gothic touches that made it feel more haunted than Hillhouse.  I could almost imagine it whispering to me.   I hadn't done any research into Cranbrook House and I had no idea if it was haunted, but I wanted to find out.

So I did what I always do.  I snuck around and asked random people uncomfortable questions.   This works very well in the South where people are friendly and love to talk.  It did not work out well for me in Michigan.  I snuck upstairs, where a lady found me and yelled at me very angrily. I asked her about ghosts and she said no ghosts and gave me the look I give my children when they ask me if they can have chocolate ice cream for breakfast.  I skulked downstairs, determined to unravel the secrets histories of the old house.   My sister told me there were rumors of a painter who died in the house.  I knew his ghost must be hiding somewhere.

I started taking pictures.  The same lady found me. She told me I couldn't take pictures that weren't of the wedding.  She yelled at me again and sent me on my way.  Now, she had her eye on me.  She knew I was trouble.  I snuck off again, but this time I did a better job and was able to snap a couple of pictures, but she found me again and yelled at me again.  At this point, I gave up.  It was my sister's wedding and I didn't want to ruin it with my strange ghost hunting behavior. So I never found any ghosts at Cranbrook House, but I was part of a beautiful wedding on a chilly autumn day and that is better than ghosts.

Phillip's Attorney

We have a dispute with:

Stat Medical

709 S Lane St, 

Seattle, WA 98104

They supplied us with Medical Equipment that failed to meet UK safety standards.

We have an agreement with them that states if any purchase fails to meet safety standards, we should notify them within 28 days of delivery of the goods for a full refund or exchange. The agreement also states that the refund or exchange will be processed within 14 days of receipt of the returned goods

We received this goods at our warehouse on the 20th Jan 2012. The seller was notified on the 26th of Jan 2012, that the goods have failed to meet safety test. The goods were immediately returned back and delivery was confirmed by the seller on the 28th of Feb.2012.A refund of $700,000.00 was due on or before the 14th of March 2012, but till date we have not received any money for the returned goods.

I have contacted them numerous times and my last conversation from them, they offered to exchange the goods. An exchange is not acceptable as we no longer stock this company products for safety reasons.

We need your legal assistance in resolving this dispute.Please advise me of the best approach to deal with this matter, If filling for a law suit will be appropriate.

If you require any more details, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Philip John

Purchasing Manager

Meridian Medical 

8 John Adam Street,London WC2N 6EZ

Tel:+44 203 514 3586 Ext.3309,

Fax:+44 844 774 7905

> 

> On Sep 13, 2012, at 5:01 PM, "Philip John" <info@bislaw.com> wrote:

> 

> > 

> > We are interested in utilizing your firm for contract and business

> > litigation matters.

> > Please advise if is an area of your practice.

> > 

> > Philip John

> > 

Making Short-Term Goals

I recently read a post by one of my friends discussing various (financial) goals she made for herself and accomplished, and it made me seriously consider the state of my own affairs/life. Yes, I've graduated from law school and passed the bar, and yes, I've been scrambling to find a job, but I haven't really sat down and analyzed my goals in a logical, coherent way. I'm a person who bites off more than she can chew, and I tend to overwhelm myself with goals, which is why I rarely make them. I, instead, mostly focus on the little things day by day, and hope that I eventually reach the big picture.

While I realize a large part of my frustration has to do with the (shitty) economy and lack of (respectable) legal jobs for new graduates, there has to be a better way of approaching my joblessness and mounting desperation resulting from the realization that I may be, quite possibly, a true member of the boomerang generation. Thus, I sat down and asked myself DATES I'd like to have certain things materialize by, and what I would need to do in order to accomplish those goals. This was difficult, because a lot of my aspirations have everything to do with other people and their decision to hire me, which is something I can only marginally control.

Nonetheless, I've created a list of goals that I hope to realize within the next few months. Here goes....

These months are the tentative dates I hope to have these particular things accomplished by, and while there are some big ticket items on there, I realize I may not accomplish things in this order. However, there's nothing I like better than crossing stuff off a list, so wish me luck.

What goals are y'all seeking to accomplish in the next few months?

Dirty Harry

A couple of weeks ago we had a poetry workshop at Nottingham Writers' Club run by humorous poet Les Baynton. The task he set us was to write a poem in twenty minutes, one of the choice of themes being the recent episode with Prince Harry and those pictures. I couldn't come up with anything at the time although many attendees did manage some very funny pieces.

Events have moved on since then but I thought I'd be a good boy, do my homework and try to complete my effort. It has gone down well at my two writers' clubs so here it is.

                       Flash Harry
Oh, Harry, you've been such a daft Silly Billy,
Showing the world your bare bottom and willy.
Didn't you realise there'd be such a drama?
Now everyone's phone has a digital camera.

Why spend all your spare time with airheads and fools?
Getting drunk and displaying the Royal Crown Jewels.
You're an officer and gentleman in your granny's army.
You shouldn't be acting all wacky and barmy.

You should follow the lead of Prince William and Kate.
They know how to be dignified and sedate.
Wait! What am I saying? They managed to shock us.
When your sister-in-law showed a neat pair of knockers.

I may need to delete this post if they decide to serve me with an injunction.

All things dark and wondeful: Movies that I love this fall!

Over the years, some of my favorite movies have been dark movies for children.  Long before I had children, movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride made me giddy with dark delight.  They featured ghosts, ghouls, and all things dark and wonderful.  That is why this year's movie selection has made me particularly ecstatic.  Here are the three films that have made going to the movies one of my favorite activities this Halloween season.

Paranorman...... I loved this movie.  It is the simple tale of a boy who sees dead people.  Although that plot may not be original, its presentation is utterly original.  The boy uses this gift to save some zombies and defeat a witch.  This movie is fabulous and funny.  I would watch it again and again.

Hotel Transylvania.... I haven't seen this one yet, but I can't wait until it is released.  This is the tender story of a vampire daughter and her overprotective father.  It looks silly, funny, and filled with all the haunting things that make fall fabulous.

Frankenweenie..... This one I think will be my favorite.  Of course, I can't be sure.  But this cute story of a little boy who brings his dog back from the dead sounds like just the right mix of touching and twisted to make my holiday season a more than joyful occasion.

Of course,  all this makes me particularly happy since my middle grade book, The Monster Hunter's Manual, is coming out soon and it seems to capture this growing market of my favorite things.  I hope this trend lasts, for more reasons than I can count.

Yasu's Attorney

From: Yasu Akahane

Subject: Re: Yasuhiro Akahane

Please see attached document for your review run a conflict check and advice on your retainer fee

our opposing company information is below the breach of contract is for the sum of $1,150,000.00

Debtor

Radioshack

519 University Pl

Durant, OK 74701

Please send us retainer agreement ( engagement letter)  looking forward hearing from you.

Regards

Yasuhiro Akahane

Senior Executive Manager

Akahane Electronics Industry. Corp.

Rm.1101, Castle Shinjuku

31-4, Yoyogi 4-chome, Shibuya-ku

Job Search, Part 1 (Or: How the Job Search is Disgustingly Like Internet Dating)

One of my friends and I were conversing about the sad state of job hiring within the legal profession right now. This has prompted me to create a series about this all-too-familiar topic, which reminds me of internet dating. Part 1? From the employer's perspective. 

(Must be nice.)

Jasper, the friendly respondent

From: Lydia Kwang

Subject: Re: Dear Counsel (More Details)

Date: September 13

Dear Counsel,

I live in South Korea while My ex spouse Jasper Kwang lives in Seattle, Washington. As a result of time difference it is difficult to reach you. We were divorced in South Korea but my ex husband Jasper Kwang relocated to the United States. He is a citizen. We both agreed under a separation Agreement incorporated, merged into and made part of the court decree for a settlement of Child Support, Spousal Support, and Medical support of $941,100.00, he has paid me $270,500.00 but still owing $670,600.00 and the stipulated time for completion of payment has long elapsed. This is the reason why I contacted your firm, as there is already an agreement in place. I know for sure my ex husband has the financial means to pay for balance he owes me nut just because i have not taken any legal measures against him, he has decided not to payment the balance, so right now i need your help "Legally". Thus, I request your legal services to enforce the court order compelling him to remit balance he owes me. I will be pleased to provide further information like the copy of the terms of separation agreement, and the Court's Decree (i.e. Divorce Decree) and I will be pleased to provide further information on this case on request.

I expect this to be resolved in a timely manner. Sequels to this, if you are happy to proceed, kindly send me a copy of your retainer and if the terms are acceptable I will sign so we can commence the process without delay.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and professionalism.

Yours truly,

Lydia Kwang

The Origin of The Halloween Costume

For those of us who passionately love Halloween, the season's preparations have already begun.  Part of every child and adult's preparation is deciding on a costume.  This is perhaps the most beloved part of any Halloween celebration.  Dressing up as a sexy maid or a horrible zombie is the Hallmark of our modern Holiday celebration. But as Halloween creeps up on us, I always think it is fun to think back to where this tradition came from. It is good to know why we dress up on Halloween. Halloween's history is most commonly traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain. During Samhain, the Celts believed that the divider between this world and the next became thin. This thinning allowed both malevolent and benevolent spirits to cross over to our world. This naturally caused a good deal of fear and anxiety for the ancient Celts. While family ghosts were welcomed, bad spirits had to be scared off. Celts used bonfires to drive evil spirits off. They also used apotropaic devices to scare off bad spirits.

Apotropaic literally means to ward off evil but apotopaic devices are often devices that are so terrifying that they scare away evil. My favorite examples of apotropaic devices are the gargoyles and terrible monsters that line the outside and insides of medieval cathedrals in Europe. The most holy places in the medieval world were lined with horrifying demons and monsters that are often depicted devouring people and animals. These horrors were so terrible that medieval people thought that even evil spirits would be frightened off.

Costumes were used as both apotropaic devices and disguises to confuse the spirits. In Scotland, young men pretended to be dead by blackening their faces. These costumes evolved over the years and were eventually used in the late medieval practice of souling when poor people would go door to door asking for food. This practice eventually evolved into costumed trick or treating. So as you plan your costume this year remember that it should not only be interesting, but it should scare off evil spirits as well!

Still the Same

Please find attached, the proper document that you shall need in this case to represent me better. I tried calling your office but could not get through. Kindly draft out a retainer agreement in regards to my case. I will be in the office the whole of today and would not have access to the internet. Meanwhile, feel free to drop a message. I shall provide you with a copy of other legal document as soon as I receive words from you.

Sincerely Yours,

Ms. Michelle Seung.

> On Sep 5, 2012, at 6:54 AM, "Michelle-Seug"<Michelle.Seug@msn.com> wrote:

> 

> > Dear Sir/Madam,

> > 

> > I wish to file a contempt petition against my ex-spouse for failure to make court ordered payments of Child Support, Spousal Support, Equitable distribution and Medical support. Please advise if you handle such case.

> > 

> > Yours Truly,

> > Michelle Seug.

Wait For Me

This is an apology.

I've been a little remiss in attending to my blog and commenting on all my friends' posts. For that I'm sorry. If you've been visiting here and wondering why the hell I'm not responding to your undoubtedly wise words and fascinating articles it isn't because I'm not interested. I just seem to be so pressed for time lately.

A while ago I opened a Twitter account. This was in response to advice from writing colleagues who said that it's advantageous to have plenty of internet presence if you're trying to sell your stories and articles. I try to Tweet something on most days, even if it's only a bit of trivia or a terrible joke. But then I also have to trawl through the people I follow and the people who follow me to see if there's anything of interest to reply to or Retweet.

On top of all this there are the magazine stories to send out, the competitions to enter and the longer pieces that I'm trying to complete. As if that isn't bad enough there's the cricket to follow, the cycle tours to keep up with and the rugby season has just started. I've just been called back to college to do a bit of student supervision and soon I'll have a couple of writing competitions to judge.

So if the rest of you could stop writing for a while, the competition organisers could put all their deadlines back a month or two and the TV channels agree to close down until Christmas it would give me chance to catch up with everything and I would be so grateful.

Thank you.

Do the Publishing Lawyer Hustle

From: Manabu Uchida

Subject: Re: Urgent and Legal

Thanks for your responds, please see attached document for your review run a conflict check and advice on your retainer fee our opposing company information is below the breach of contract is for the sum of $1,200,000.00

Other Party

Philips Publishing 

2201 W Commodore Way

Seattle WA 98199-1298

Please send us retainer agreement ( engagement letter) looking forward hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely

Mr. Manabu Uchida

Uchida Rokakuho Publishing Co., Ltd.

3-34-3, Otsuka, 

Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Zip 112-0012

TEL: 033-945-6781

Email;manabu.online47@sify.com

http://www.rokakuho.co.jp/

Reader Story: Get Out of my Room

When I was twenty one years old, my new husband's family offered to sell us a house that had been in his family for generations at an incredibly cheap price. They had a difficult time keeping it rented and did not want to hassle with it anymore. We jumped at the opportunity and moved in almost immediately. It was only a matter of hours before strange things began to happen. It did not take me long to decide there was something or someone else other than us in that house.

Almost every night we would hear something coming up the staircase. The steps were old so you could hear every creak. Nick, my husband would jump up out of bed whenever he heard it to go make sure that someone hadn't broken in. It would always end the same, no one was there. The ghost appeared to get braver as time went on. We could hear the steps eventually come down the hall; they were getting a little closer to our bedroom door with each visit. Finally, the night came that we had both been dreading. Nick was sound asleep, exhausted from working hours of overtime. I heard the steps dare to pass the doorway of our bedroom and enter our room.

I felt slightly aware of something or someone approach the side of the bed I had my back turned to, but I was afraid to look. I just kept my face in Nick's chest and closed my eyes tightly. I felt as though there was someone right behind me, right behind my head just staring at me. I knew one thing for sure; I was not going to turn around to check. I just wanted to fall back to sleep as soon as possible.
 My hand searched under the covers for Nick's hand. I very softly and quietly moved my hand beneath his big palm. I did not want to disturb him; I just knew it would make me feel better if his hand was lying on top of mine.

My back felt ice cold; I tried to bring the covers up tighter around my neck and back. That\'s when I felt it. Something moved briefly on the bed behind me. I did not acknowledge it. I forced myself to stay still as if I were still asleep. I felt that if I suddenly reacted, I would see something horrible, so I did not turn around, I did not move.

 That seemed to upset whatever was behind me. I felt the bed move again, but just ever so slightly. I felt that whatever was behind me was so close to me it was almost touching my hair. I had the feeling on my scalp similar to when you have static electricity in your hair. I was sure it must almost be standing on end.
I rubbed Nick's palm with the back of my hand. I think I was actually trying to wake him, but trying to do it quietly, so whatever was behind me would not notice. It didn’t work. Nick just grunted a moment and then took another deep breath, he was still sound asleep.

I felt another movement on the bed directly behind me again. I actually could feel the blanket I had wrapped so tightly around me tug on me a bit as if someone had laid some weight on it behind me, I was sure that something was trying to get even closer to me. Suddenly I felt air blow on my cheek. It was just the same as if someone had breathed on me, except it was a lot colder, ice cold.
I tried rubbing Nick's hand again only I did it more aggressively this time. He moaned a little and turned to face me laying his arm across my side. That made me feel a little better, if there was someone or something directly behind me he would have struck them with his hand when he put his arm around me. I no sooner had the thought when Nick's arm went flying off of me and back towards him. It was as if someone had picked up his arm and flung it off of me. At that same exact moment, I felt a very strong tug on my hair, and heard a whisper in my ear.

"Get out of my room," the words struck me like a knife in my stomach.

It was a very raspy mean voice. I woke Nick instantly, but once again there was no one there. Many things happened in that house. We only lived there for thirty six days, thirty six days of pure mental hell.

That was when I started to believe in ghosts and spirit hauntings. It forever changed how I view things. I wrote a book about the whole experience, The Lennox Haunting... It is on Amazon, if you are interested in reading the first chapter. It is a true story, Jules

The Tortured Spirit of Mary Kelly

Jack the Ripper is probably the best known serial killer in history.  He is sometimes called the first serial killer.  Although this is not true, he certainly takes credit for being the first and the atrocities he committed shock us to this day.   One of his most gruesome murders, was the murder of Mary Kelly.  Mary Kelly was 25 years old when the ripper killed her and was well liked by all that knew her.  What he did to Ms. Kelly is so shocking it even bothers modern minds that have been desensitized by movies like Saw and Hostile and grown accustomed to the violence of serial killers. Photographs of Mary Kelly's body can be found easily via google, but I'm not one for shockingly violent photographs so I will use words. Warning:  The following description is disturbing. Here is the medical examiner's description of Mary Kelly's remains:

"The body was lying naked in the middle of the bed, the shoulders flat but the axis of the body inclined to the left side of the bed. The head was turned on the left cheek. The left arm was close to the body with the forearm flexed at a right angle and lying across the abdomen.

The right arm was slightly abducted from the body and rested on the mattress. The elbow was bent, the forearm supine with the fingers clenched. The legs were wide apart, the left thigh at right angles to the trunk and the right forming an obtuse angle with the pubes.

The whole of the surface of the abdomen and thighs was removed and the abdominal cavity emptied of its viscera. The breasts were cut off, the arms mutilated by several jagged wounds and the face hacked beyond recognition of the features. The tissues of the neck were severed all round down to the bone.

The viscera were found in various parts viz: the uterus and kidneys with one breast under the head, the other breast by the right foot, the liver between the feet, the intestines by the right side and the spleen by the left side of the body. The flaps removed from the abdomen and thighs were on a table.

The bed clothing at the right corner was saturated with blood, and on the floor beneath was a pool of blood covering about two feet square. The wall by the right side of the bed and in a line with the neck was marked by blood which had struck it in a number of separate splashes.

The face was gashed in all directions, the nose, cheeks, eyebrows, and ears being partly removed. The lips were blanched and cut by several incisions running obliquely down to the chin. There were also numerous cuts extending irregularly across all the features.

The neck was cut through the skin and other tissues right down to the vertebrae, the fifth and sixth being deeply notched. The skin cuts in the front of the neck showed distinct ecchymosis. The air passage was cut at the lower part of the larynx through the cricoid cartilage.

Both breasts were more or less removed by circular incisions, the muscle down to the ribs being attached to the breasts. The intercostals between the fourth, fifth, and sixth ribs were cut through and the contents of the thorax visible through the openings.

The skin and tissues of the abdomen from the costal arch to the pubes were removed in three large flaps. The right thigh was denuded in front to the bone, the flap of skin, including the external organs of generation, and part of the right buttock. The left thigh was stripped of skin fascia, and muscles as far as the knee.

The left calf showed a long gash through skin and tissues to the deep muscles and reaching from the knee to five inches above the ankle. Both arms and forearms had extensive jagged wounds.

The right thumb showed a small superficial incision about one inch long, with extravasation of blood in the skin, and there were several abrasions on the back of the hand moreover showing the same condition.

On opening the thorax it was found that the right lung was minimally adherent by old firm adhesions. The lower part of the lung was broken and torn away. The left lung was intact. It was adherent at the apex and there were a few adhesions over the side. In the substances of the lung there were several nodules of consolidation.

The pericardium was open below and the heart absent. In the abdominal cavity there was some partly digested food of fish and potatoes, and similar food was found in the remains of the stomach attached to the intestines."

Dr. George Bagster Phillips was also present at the scene, and gave the following testimony at the inquest:

"The mutilated remains of a female were lying two-thirds over towards the edge of the bedstead nearest the door. She had only her chemise on, or some underlinen garment. I am sure that the body had been removed subsequent to the injury which caused her death from that side of the bedstead that was nearest the wooden partition, because of the large quantity of blood under the bedstead and the saturated condition of the sheet and the palliasse at the corner nearest the partition.

The blood was produced by the severance of the carotid artery, which was the cause of death. The injury was inflicted while the deceased was lying at the right side of the bedstead." .. Taken from Casebook.org

It isn't surprising that Mary Kelly's spirit is restless.  Her ghost is still said to haunt White Chapel to this day. Residents in the flat that occupied the space where Mary Kelly's small room used to stand say that the room is haunted.  They say their pets won't go near the space where her body was found.  Kelly's ghost has been seen throughout White Chapel and there are those that have even claimed to have captured her spirit in photographs and video, although these claims do seem somewhat dubious.  Whatever the case, Mary Kelly was one of the most tragic of the ripper's victims.

In honor of this tragic ghost, my husband and I have decided to base our Halloween costumes this year on the ripper and Mary Kelly.  He'll be Mary Kelly and I'll be the ripper, wait, switch that, I'll be the Mary Kelly and he'll be the ripper.

Adrian Caballes

I don't know who this 15-year-old boy student of a school abbreviated as BHNS. And I don't know if he's real or not. However, the two messages below show sign of incredibility.

Story

[Taken from a Social Networking Site:]

... paki copy nlang sa mga cp nyo lalo na sa mga tga pinas, kah8 sa ganit0ng paraan lng maka2l0ng tau kah8 k0nte Fr0m.09077537362 SAVIORS HOSPITAL OF PAKIL LAGUNA. please help by sending this message to as many as u can. A 15 years old boy ADRIAN CABALLES former student of BNHS is in crititacal stage suffering frm MEGACOLON TOXIC. His family needs 4M For the Bowel resecti0n. all networks agreed to give P1.00 for each msg. pls 4ward at least 15 people i hope that u are a kind hearted pers0n Tenkyu this msg is m0nit0red pls help!KUNG UNLI NAMAN KAU D0NT BE SELFIS GOD BLESS ... Will you copy this on your cp (cellphone) especially to those people living in the Philippines? Just for this way, we can help other people, even a little. From: 09077537362 SAVIORS HOSPITAL OF PAKIL LAGUNA. Please help by sending this message to as many as you can. A 15 years old boy ADRIAN CABALLES former student of BNHS is in crititacal stage suffering from MEGACOLON TOXIC. His family needs four million for the Bowel Resection. All networks agreed to give P1.00 for each message. Pls. forward (to) at least 15 people. I hope that you are a kind-hearted person. Thank you! This message is monitored. Please help! If you're (text) unlimited, don't be selfish.

[Taken from a Text Message:]

GENERAL HOSPITAL OF BATAAN - Please help by sending this message to as many as you can. 15-year-old BOY, ADRIAN CABALLES, former Student of BNHS, is in a critical stage, suffering from MEGACOLON TOXIC . His family needs 4M (4 Million) for the BOWEL RESECTION. All networks agreed to give P1.00 for each message. PLS. forward to atleast 15 people. I hope that you are a kind-hearted person. TNX! This message is monitored. PLS. Help! If you're (text) unlimited, don't be selfish. God Bless you!

The first message, actually from Facebook.com, tells that the boy was confined in SAVIORS HOSPITAL OF PAKIL LAGUNA, while the second one is GENERAL HOSPITAL OF BATAAN. If this is true, then what was really the hospital where he could be found? Other than that, the two tells about similar individual with the same disease, with alike school and age. However, there are too many BNHS school in the Philippines.

Balayan National High School - Balayan, Batangas

Balibago National High School - Barangay Balibago, Santa Rosa City, Laguna

Bacoor National High School - Bacoor City, Cavite

Bataan National High School - Bataan

And many more....

Sources:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=297936936936882&story_fbid=318317231565519

The Halloween Wish List

I have to start planning for Halloween early.  October comes and goes so quickly for me that I could blink and miss it. Between book signings and the children's fall festivals and cub scout haunted camp outs, we have something to do every weekend.  So, now is my time to begin planning for my favorite time of the year and my wonderful friend, Amy, and I got together this Saturday to plan our annual Halloween party.  Planning with Amy is half the fun of the party and shopping is the another quarter of the fun.  We made our list and checked it twice and I made my wish list.  Here are the items that made my Halloween wish list this year.  I never get everything on my list, but here's hoping this year will be that magic Halloween that sees my list completed.

 

 

 

props found at Spirit Halloween, MostlyDead.com, and grandinroad.com

He-Lawyer

Dear Lawyer,

Please pardon my late mail response as my condition does not allow me to stay long on the computer and I tried calling a couple of times and with the time difference,it is a little bit difficult to guage the best time to reach you vice versa.

Let me enlighten you a little bit about the incident, I was on official duty going about my cleaning duties when one of our official trucks going out for delivery hit me while reversing right inside the Warehouse Premises, this happened on the 12th of February 2010 inside one of the company’s Warehouse in North Carolina, there have not been any attorney working on this case before I entered a settlement agreement and General release with my former employers for $395,000.00USD because the accident lead to permanent disability as in my case have severe waist pain and can't stand for long anymore. 

I got paid $35,000.00USD-in two instalmental payment of $70,000.00USD before I left the United States but have not received any payment since my departure to China . 

Different payment dates have been promised and I still have not received anything. Advice from my solicitor in China was to seek legal assistance in the United States. Which is why I contacted you to act as my counsel and receive funds on my behalf .I will like to know what your fees would be in order for me to inform the company to expect contact from you as you have been authorised to act on my behalf and receive said funds or make contact with your firm. I would like your legal expertise in this matter on a contingency basis if that is acceptable.

Please do get back to me so I can furnish you with the required details to contact my former employer and receive my entitlements on my behalf as I know these companies respect law firms and do not want to be carried to court. Before we proceed I will like you to forward your fee/retainer agreement for me to review and if okay, sign and return for you to begin work. 

My last contact with my former employer,I was told I would receive payment not later than Mid May 2011, I would like to forward your details to them on your approval, so they know a law firm is representing me and I can sue for breach of agreement if they don’t keep their promise. I would like to give them this last chance to fulfil their obligations because they were very nice to me, before we start legal proceeding. 

Thank you for your anticipated co-operation and understanding. Contact me should you require more information. I have attached here a copy of the agreement for your information, my former employer information is below

Radio Shack 

4217 Wheaton Way Ste N

Bremerton, WA 98310

Regards,

Da Min He

2012 Habagat has connection with the Bible?

Ever since, people often find the cause and effect of every living and non-living things under the sun, and even the reason of events that occurred which plagued the nation or gave benefit on them. Curiosity can kill cat., that's the essence of being a human. Without unlimited questions, desires and necessities there could be no progress to man-kind. Before, going to the moon is just a product of science fiction, but look to what we are right now, we have more knowledge about the moon than to our own planet.

Well, that's a dramatic introduction to my subject. (Almost no connection...) Hahaha ...

The reason why I started my article with that above is, till now, Filipinos are searching for cause behind the almost tragic not-a-storm weather that sunk Metro Manila for days. I'm talking about the 2012 Habagat.

At the previous article here, I featured the similarities of 1972 Great Flood of Luzon and 2012 Habagat, that the reason why the event happened because of the disappearance of a religious thing. And now, they took (or blame) the Bible and even GOD for the tragedy.

Story

[Taken from a Text Message:]

Guys 'di ba? (Guys, isn't it?)~ (Date): 8-7-12 nag-umpisa ang pagbaha.. (when the flood started..) Basahin mo sa BibLe or search mo (Read this is the Bible or search it) Genesis 8:7-12 it's about Noah's Ark We think that maybe it is the reason why all of this is happening today. Even PAGASA says that: There's no storm detected... Nangyari talaga ang nasa Bible.. (What was told in the Bible had happened..) - Maybe God wants to remind us about our faith for him. Especially sa mga nakakalimot na diyan.. (Especially to those people who had forgotten..) if GOD is IMPORTANT to you.. Spread this message.. (to) as many as you can. Please..

Whoever read the message will think the Bible verse is about the flood sent by God to destroy the face of the earth, but actually it isn't.

Genesis 8:7-12 (KING JAMES VERSION) (7) And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro , until the waters were dried up from off the earth. (8) Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; (9) But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her , and pulled her in unto him into the ark. (10) And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; (11) And the dove came in to him in the evening ; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. (12) And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

The verse talks about what happened when the rain stopped and the sun shone. Though, it talks about the flood, but many people will misinterpret it.

I also ask myself, what about the other books in the Bible, what could be the message if you use the 8:7-12? And here's the other verse that interest me:

Isaiah 8:7-12 (New International Version) (7) therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the River-- the king of Assyria with all his pomp. It will overflow all its channels, run over all its banks (8) and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it, passing through it and reaching up to the neck. Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, O Immanuel !" (9) Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, and be shattered! Prepare for battle, and be shattered! (10) Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us. (11) This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people: (12) “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.

Well, the rivers in Metro Manila overflowed which caused flood, and brought plenty of water in every city that reaches higher than the Filipino's height. Not only Metro Manila was flooded by the Habagat, but also the other provinces north of National Capital Region.

Sources:
http://www.biblestudytools.com/kjv/genesis/passage.aspx?q=genesis+8:7-12
http://www.biblestudytools.com/isaiah/passage.aspx?q=isaiah+8:7-9

Ermahgerd...I passed

Yesterday, Arkansas released the names of those who passed the bar exam. 

I was at my little brother's music lesson with a monstrous stress headache. Then the fire alarm went off, which I thought was probably the worst thing that could have happened to my poor, fragile little head. 

Until I tried to load the Arkansas Judiciary website. It was so clogged up that it wouldn't load. And my dad started text-ticking off minutes:

4:02

4:05

4:08

And then I got a congratulatory text from one of my really good friends. Even then I couldn't believe it. 

But it's true. I passed the Arkansas Bar Exam. 

My Top Picks for This Year's Halloween Costume!

September is here and I can almost hear Halloween knocking on the door. Spirit Halloween opened its doors.  Halloween decorations are everywhere and all the early birds are beginning their Halloween plans.  I am one of those Halloween early birds and I am already plotting and planning for my Halloween costume.  Here are a few of my top choices.  What do you think?

 

 

Costumes Shown can be found at the pyramid collection, costumes.com, new egg costumes, and The Lost Boutique on Etsy.