Studio Guest

Can anyone recommend a University for a disabled student in the UK to study music? My son has multiple disabilities - high functioning autism, including severe dyslexia, dyspraxia, and ADD - mobility problems necessitating a wheelchair (he can walk with a stick), but has a very high IQ and wants to study sound engineering and acoustics. He has already completed two years at music college is a grade 5 musician and has his own sound recording studio.

When there are tornadoes and severe weather reports, how can news anchors be outside reporting it instead of? I am always hearing some news anchor on my local news stations outside telling everyone how dangerous it is to be outside and how they shouldn't be doing any traveling and how they just ned to stay home because whether is dangerous. If this is all true, how are they able to be outside and traveling. What makes them different from us? I mean, there obviously all driving around in potentiall dangerous weather with cameras and equipment to go around reporting about it. I've seen news anchors out in the streets saying 'weather conditions are terrible. A blizzard. This is not the day to be traveling for anyone." yet you see a big van behind them outside in the blizzard reporting about the bad weather. They have also been driving because they had to get to the studio in order to work. The News is never cancelled for any reason even when there is a severe Tornado warning. If you turn on the TV, you see that your local news is still on. How so? shut the F up Karen

How can I approach my boss about...? I work fulltime & teach dance parttime 3 nights/wk. I work it around my fulltime schedule and there is never any problems in the last 2.5 years. I have had alot of medical problems/pain the past year with my knees & feet. I have seen an orthopedic surgeon for my knees, done lots of physical therapy, and just recently got my feet checked out at a podiatrist. Without pain killers, I can barely walk. I have very severe tendinitis of my peroneal tendons, possibly tears (I'm getting an MRI at the end of the week to see). I requested a vacation day on a Friday to attend my dance studio's regional dance competition in Chicago, IL. They are "unsure" if they can give me it off because they want me to work a tradeshow for two days, standing the entire time. Ignoring the fact that I'm already committed to going (financially) to Chicago, I CANNOT stand for that period of time with my feet. My health is most important to me. How can I tell my bosses I cannot work the shows? They don't understand. I was going to add...I was considering getting a doctor's note from my podiatrist when I go back in two days, but do you think that's enough? I don't want them to look at it like I don't want to do my job, that I just want this vacation day....In all reality, this is the first of many tradeshows this year, and I cannot work any of them with my symptoms...this just happens to be the first show, so it's just now coming up. Normally I'm sitting in a chair all day...so it's no problem. I think I'm being reasonable. My health is on the line. Oh and I should add....While I teach dance, I don't actually dance. My doctor's have banned me from activity, so I just teach without actually dancing or putting on my shoes. I work with a lot of competitive students, so this is manageable right now. So, it's not like I'm off dancing, but then don't want to work the tradeshow. I cannot do ANY activity right now, including standing for longer than like 5 min.

I need help finding a natural cure for my adult ADHD, Depression and lack of energy. Is there any free cure? Hollo my name is Lyle I'm 42 years old, and live in Seattle WA. I have a collage degree but I am corrently unemploied. I currently live in my art studio in the downtown area and am faced with a severe lack of motavation, inspration and focus .I dont have any family and my frends dont seem to understand what the hell is going on with me. Is there anyone out there who can direct me to a pathway for recovery. I need my motavation back so I can create my art witch I hold moast dear and pay my bills to servive. Please and thanks

School causes severe anxiety in me, what should I do to calm down? I'm a Studio Art major and I'm minoring in Digital Art, but I have to take Computer Science 121 (Introduction to Java) as a prerequisite for 2 more CSC classes. The thing is, on the first day of class he made us do the "Hello World" program, and my computer was acting insane the whole time I was trying to do it. So now, I have to go demonstrate something that I didn't even get to successfully finish to him for a grade. Whenever I think about CSC, I feel really sick and uneasy. I just got over an attack a few days ago, but I went to a party last night and my immune system was still weak and I got sick-again. Now combine that w/stress/nausea/freaking out again and I'm losing weight. I'm a 5'4 100lb. girl, and I don't think losing weight with my stature is good at all. I don't want to be a quitter, but I feel like if I dropped CSC it would be better for my health. Then again, I can't bail out every time something is too hard. I don't know what to do, I just feel like shit right now and I'm panicking because I can barely keep any food down.

The effects of having a second job? Due to certain circumstances I have had to get a second job. I am 7 months pregnant today (28 weeks) and I have been working at my second job for two weeks. I work a full time (40 hr/week) job in a call center where I sit and take inbound calls all day. My second job is part time, but it is in a photography studio where I am constantly on my feet and am moving around quickly, often frantically. I have noticed that with this second job that I have severe hand cramps-especially in the right hand-my right leg hurts, as does my right foot. It seems to be all right-dependent and that is a little troubling to me. Also, because I am so active, I worry because I cannot feel my baby, and often she doesn't move so much until well past midnight. Add in the stress, and I feel miserable. Are these symptoms-the ones I feel on my right side mostly-and the fact I can't feel my baby move as much, worth discussing with the doctor at the next visit? Should I be worried?

What do you think about a 13y.o. granddaughter, dressed beautifully in a party dress for a school function,? refusing to allow her photograph to be taken in a portrait studio setting with lighting all set up and no delay in departing for school. She will be appearing publically at this function, speaking to the assembled teachers, students, and their parents. She also doesn't cooperate in family gatherings, hiding her face with her hands whan a candid shot is attempted. Her older and younger siblings exhibit none of this behavior. Does she have psychological problems? Are they severe enough to seek professional counseling?

Too many Electronics, old scar and pains? I have many electronics in my studio apartment. I have cable, Tv, sound systems, ipods, lap top,desk top, video cameras, DVD players and recorders. The cable modem is on 24/7. And I use the lap top everyday. I have an old scar on my alm from an old wound when I was in elementary school. I am now in my early 40s, and I dont know what is going on with me, but any time, I get closer to any electronic equipment I feel severe pains in my alm. When I am in my room, and the lap top is on, I cannot contain the pain. Not only that, I feel pain when I sit in subway chairs closer to the door. I suspect that is where some of the electronic controls are. Its unbearable. In fact when I get to any place with heavy electronic equipments, I have this excrutiating pain. What is wrong with me, please help, I am really suffering. Do you think the electronis has something to do with this as well as my old scar? Should I go and see a doctor? Is there a natural way to contain this?

I have the most uncooperative skin ever! Suggestions please! :]? My skin is oily, and I have quite severe acne...and to top it off I am INCREDIBLY pale. I currently use mac studio fix fluid(NC15) or loreal true match(ivory) because they provide the best coverage for me, But they are both a bit too dark. Does anyone know a good quality foundation that has good coverage and has really pale shades available? Thank you! x

Can you believe this Deputy Struck By Hit-And-Run Illegal Alien Driver On I-4 Dies ? ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orange County deputy who was struck by a hit-and-run driver on Interstate 4 on Tuesday died Wednesday night. Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary announced that Deputy Michael Callin was removed from life support and died at 7:25 p.m., WESH 2 News reported.Beary also said that in addition to his severe leg injuries, Callin suffered serious brain damage from the collision.Police arrested a man on Wednesday who they said ran down Callin on Tuesday.The suspect left the Orlando Police Department just before 5 a.m. to be transported to the Orange County Jail. He was found just after midnight and officials said he's responsible for running over Callin at I-4 and Kirkman Road near Universal Studios. Officials said on Wednesday that Callin's leg was amputated below his knee. Before Callin's death, Allan Barahona, 19, of Orlando, was facing charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest. He was found at an address in the 5500 block of Cortez Drive in Pine Hills. "He is from Honduras, but he has been living in the States for quite awhile. His driving record, from what I understand, is pretty bad, and he has multiple suspensions. I don't know how many, but from what I understand, quite a few," Orlando Police Department Lt. Brian Gilliam said. Barahona was booked into the Orange County Jail. The incident closed down I-4 at Universal Orlando on Tuesday afternoon and armed officers searched every car leaving the park while they looked for the driver. "I just got off of work, and all I want to do is go home but I can't," one driver said. "It's a little odd to see the guns drawn and everything, but I can appreciate what they're doing," another driver said. Law enforcement officials have been keeping a vigil at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where Callin, 26, underwent two surgeries. Adam Pierce, who was shot and paralyzed while searching for a drug suspect last October, stopped by to offer his support. "From the times that we did work together, he was a hard-working guy. He's not one of these typical gung-ho cops that everyone sees. He's a laid-back guy. He does his job. He works hard, and he's a good guy. We're all hoping that he can come out of this better than I did and make it back to work full-time," Pierce said. Callin was a four-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, and he came from a law enforcement family. His father is a 27-year veteran of the department and his sister is a student at the police academy. http://www.wesh.com/news/9613306/detail.html .

Hey Ex-Mormons: What did Boyd Packer say when he was caught driving naked? 10. I'm preparing to follow the prophet's teaching - turn the other cheek. 9. That's the last time I shop at "The Emperor's New Clothing Store". 8. Crickets, officer. I was just attacked by a swarm of crickets that ate away every shred of clothing. Where are those seagulls when you really need them. 7. Good afternoon, Officer, I'm on my way to the temple for my washing and annointing. 6. I just donated all my clothes to Deseret Industries for Katrina victims. 5. Oh goody! Are you gonna frisk me?!? (wink wink). 4. I'm on my way to shoot a new temple endowment movie at the BYU Studios, I'm starring as Adam. 3. I just got my little factory serviced at Jiffy Lube. 2. I had a severe allergic reaction to my new bemberg garments. 1. I'm on my way home from a tax audit AND tithing settlement.

May I mail my mom her medications to Mexico? ? My parents traveled to México in a three weeks’ vacation but my father had serious heart attack, so they have to stay longer. My mother, who needs to take several medications for a severe condition in her head, lost them and has no way to get more unless she goes through several studios so that such a condition may be confirmed. Definitely we cannot pay for all these expenses, so I got the medications and went to the post office to mail them to my mom; however, there I was told that it is not allowed to mail medications to México. Could someone tell me more? It seems to me totally unfair because some medications cannot be found in México.

Fear of Roller Coasters, mental or physical? I have a moderate/severe fear of roller coasters. I have been on roller coasters before because I was forced to. The worst one I went on was The Mummy in Universal Studios Orlando. It shoots you in the beginning and I don't know much else because it's in the dark and I close my eyes. My specific fear is the feeling I get during the ride. My pulse is like 200 before it even starts and when I feel some g's I get painful heart pains. I also feel pressure on my skull too. The heart pains hit good when I get shot up the ramp and when I am going down a deep slope. I fear for my life when these chest pains happen because my family has history of heart problems. I am not overweight at all and physically fit. Should I go on roller coasters? I'm not scared of heights, I'm just scared that my body will hurt itself. The Mummy wasn't that bad. I had others fears before I went on it. After doing it I liked it. I would go on them all if I didn't think I had a heart condition or something like that.

Going to Japan in October, I have a few questions!? I will be going primarly for the Tokyo Game Show on October 11 and 12, and I have some small questions: Have some one attended that event? any info/tips/recommendations? What is the general perception on videogames?/ How is playing with a DS on the street seen? Any "Gamer" meetup spots? (This is because here in Mexico, games are still generally considered childish/dumb) Really strange question =P, Ive been talking to a japanese friend that lives here in Mexico , and we are the "adventurer" type, he sometimes slept outdoors, near abandoned temples, in the wild, etc. And I would really love to do that at least once, just walk, explore and enjoy as "untouristly" as it can get, ¿Are there any severe law problems with doing that? Any schools that have video game design on their plans? Any advice on presenting my portfolio to game development studios for Outsourcing or looking for a job? Thank you much in advance, just for reading all of this!

BUGGED OUT! I was changing my cat's litter box. I always wear gloves.? I noticed a black,fuzzy bug and I think it had a yellow dot on its back. I freaked, took the bug, smooshed it and threw it in the bag with my gloved hand. I am experiencing severe hardship and am in a super small carpeted studio. 450 square feet. I have his litter box on one end of the room and food on the other. Are there bugs crawling up from the carpet that can hurt my cat?

M.A.C. Studio Finish Concealer Reviews? I was thinking of going into M.A.C. to buy their Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer is it good? do you know of anything better? also, i have SEVERE dark circles and im scared they're going to laugh at me . >.< specially if it doesn't cover them. ahhhh ! helppp !

Hair Ideas?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!??!!?!? I need hair ideas! i really like side bangs like this...http://www.accesshollywood.com/content/images/67/230x306/67030_ali-lohan-in-the-studio.jpg but not quite that severe because my face is more round. can you help me?!?! thank you!

MAC studio finish concealer or studio sculpt why? im looking to cover blemishes not severe acne but blemishes here and there Thanx

What to do with my vision? I have incredible eyesight in my right eye to the point where i can make out car number plates from a long way away, in fact I've given up playing video games just to preserve it however im finding it more difficult now to stop my left eye doubling up my vision, its causing me some severe migraines but i do a lot of studio and editing work so it could just be the lighting, im considering getting my eyes looked at but i dont want to compromise my overall vision by getting laser eye surgery, my right eye's vision has helped me become very good at studio work but i fear i may loose my vision all together, surely its not worth it?

social worker position? I have a dilemma, my mother evicted 8 mnths ago who also has a severe mental illness was being looked after by the council who homed her, now they are saying they will put her on the street because she has equity, the prob is, i just found out today that the house was sold and we knew nothing about it, of course there is a surplus, they never contacted anyone, despite the social worker being actively involved and them having her number,and mothers permission, nor me whose adress they had and consent to talk to me letter. Mum is schizophrenic, and i need to know ho wcan I stop the council placing her on the street and not paying her room. She is unable to work , and merely spends days sitting alone not talking or anything, the social worker says they were told they need to cut their budget and mother will not be a responsability to them any more.how cani challenge this? help. I am unable to take mum on as i am pregnant with one son already and live in a studio

What can I use to replace my MAC foundation? Hi ladies! I have a big of a problem. I've been using MAC's Studio fix fluid for about 3 years now. Since I used to have a severe case of eczema, I needed something a little thick to hide my imperfections. Lately I've been getting rashes every time I put it on. I never had a problem with MAC before. I've grown some sort of allergy to my make up! I've tried to use the cheaper brands but I never find the right color for me. I have a natural yellow-ish tone. I've gone to the Make-Up Forever counter for help but they gave me a color that was way too orange-ish and dark. This MAC foundation was my match. I'm very sad that I can't use it anymore. If you have any suggestions for finding a new foundation that is healthier for my skin and is somewhat close to MAC's Studio Fix Fluid NC42, please let me know. Thank you in advance for your help! =)

Jack & Jill - NDTV version :)? Two persons hurt in climbing mishap Here’s how the Indian TV news channel NDTV 24x7 would report the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme. All names (except those of Jack and Jill), are fictitious. Prashant - TV Anchor Two persons have been injured in a freak climbing accident. Jack and his companion Jill had gone up a hill to fetch a pail of water when Jack fell down and broke his crown. Jill came tumbling after. Live from the hill, our reporter, Amrita Shah, takes up the story. Amrita Shah Thank you Prashant. Well, as you say, two persons - Jack and Jill - had gone up a hill to fetch a pail of water. Suddenly, Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after. Prashant. Prashant Thank you Amrita. What do we know about the hill? Amrita Not too much. Jack was going up the hill to fetch a pail of water when he fell down and broke his crown. Jill came tumbling after. [Headline appears at the foot of the TV screen: “hill breaks crown of pail-boy Jack”] Prashant What news of Jack and Jill? Amrita Prashant, it seems that Jack had gone up the hill to fetch a pail of water. We know nothing about the pail, or how heavy it was but it seems that Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after. I have here with me, an eyewitness to the accident, Mr Shahid Trivedi. Mr Shahid, tell us what you saw. Shahid Trivedi Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after. [Headline appears at the foot of the TV screen: “Boy and girl tumble down hill. Water spilled”] Amrita Jack and Jill. What do we know about them? Are they brother and sister? Are they married? Just what were they doing on the hill together? Shahid Trivedi Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail a water. Amrita And what happened next? Shahid Trivedi Jack fell down and broke his crown Amrita Go on. Shahid Trivedi And Jill came tumbling after. Amrita Prashant, there you have it. Two people innocently going about their business to fetch a pail of water when one of them falls down, breaks his crown, and the other comes tumbling after. Back to you in the studio Prashant. [Headline appears at the foot of the TV screen: “Water errand ends in tragedy”] Prashant I have with me in the studio now, Professor Chandrashekar Belagare from the Indian Institute of Applied Hill Sciences. Professor: a hill; Jack; Jill; a pail of water. A tragedy waiting to happen? Professor Well that depends on the hill, the two persons, the object they were carrying and the conditions underfoot. Let us look at the evidence so far. Jack and Jill Went up the hill To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down And broke his crown And Jill came tumbling after. Clearly, one would suspect that if Jack’s fall was severe enough to break his crown then the surface of the hill must have been slippery or unstable. But I think we’re overlooking something quite fundamental here. Who was carrying the pail? Jack fell down and broke his crown and – this is the key – Jill came tumbling after. If Jack and Jill had been carrying the pail together, would they not have fallen at the same time? The fact that Jill came tumbling after suggests that Jack lost his footing first and perhaps knocked Jill over as he slipped. Prashant Professor thank you very much. So there we have it, two persons – Jack and Jill – went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after. Later in the programme, Osama bin Laden captured in Afghanistan, President Bush says rent-boy menage-a-trois was "just a brief lapse of judgement", and Pakistan launches nuclear warheads against key Indian cities. But next up, join us after the break for a studio discussion about hills, boys and girls and whether water-fetching trips should be supervised. We’ll be right back...

cant get DMA or DAO mode....huge prob....Urgent help!!? hi... i always got this problem since i bought dell studio 1737.and i searched on web,and noticed that this is more common with dell laptops... i have windows 7 ultimate x64 and when i try to burn windows 7 image on dvd using ultra iso to make a bootable disk,it says DVD R/RW requires settings to use DAO mode,i contacted dell and got to know that my DVD writer is in PIO mode and must be changed to DAO or DMA....i dun know which is right,ultra iso says,DAO mode andweb search says,DMA mode... 1..i contacted dell and they gave a little utility to install,i did...but it didnt work and my drive is still in PIO mode. 2..then i searched web and they told me that i go in device manager and uninstall driver for primary and secondary IDE drives and reboot and it shall go to DMA mode itself,but i dun see primary and secondary IDE in device manager (i have attached pix) url: (http://winhlp.com/node/10) and (http://www.onthegosoft.com/dma_setting_nt.htm) 3..i got some registry solution on web too,but again same,they say to delete MasterIdDataChecksum SlaveIdDataChecksum but i dun find in my regedit path (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentContro… Class\{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE… pic attached url (http://sniptools.com/vault/getting-back-to-dma-mode-in-windows-xp) pic 1 http://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/hardware-devices/43234d1261557113-severe-problem-need-urgent-help-1.jpg pic2 http://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/hardware-devices/43235d1261557113-severe-problem-need-urgent-help-2.jpg pic3 http://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/hardware-devices/43236d1261557113-severe-problem-need-urgent-help-3.jpg

Which of these majors earn the most money w/ the least amount of "climbing the career ladder" 4 that amount? Bachelor's in psych VS. Bachelors in art administration or art studio. Bachelor's in psych plus masters in marriage and family counseling VS. Bachelors in art administration or art studio. ------------- I've been told that a masters in marriage and family therapy does not require stats classes in grad school. I have a severe learning disability and may be able to do the undergrad stats but definitely cannot do the higher levels of stats. I'm 23 and really need to get my degree done. I want to earn as much as possible as quickly as possible post graduation. Grad school I can do because it's only 2 years, but if the job that makes the most money doesn't require grad school that is best. I want to be able to have kids around 28 and have a job where I'm not working ALL the time. The jobs I am considering with one of these majors is marriage and family therapist for the psych masters, or art director/graphic design with the art studio/art administration bachelors. The bachelors in psych I have no idea what I would do with.

Which of these majors earn the most money w/ the least time of "climbing the career ladder" 4 that Salaryt? Bachelor's in psych VS. Bachelors in art administration or art studio. Bachelor's in psych plus masters in marriage and family counseling VS. Bachelors in art administration or art studio. ------------- I've been told that a masters in marriage and family therapy does not require stats classes in grad school. I have a severe learning disability and may be able to do the undergrad stats but definitely cannot do the higher levels of stats. I'm 23 and really need to get my degree done. I want to earn as much as possible as quickly as possible post graduation. Grad school I can do because it's only 2 years, but if the job that makes the most money doesn't require grad school that is best. I want to be able to have kids around 28 and have a job where I'm not working ALL the time. The jobs I am considering with one of these majors is marriage and family therapist for the psych masters, or art director/graphic design with the art studio/art administration bachelors. The bachelors in psych I have no idea what I would do with. I can't do math, I have a very severe math learning disability so all other majors are pretty much out. Anything that requires an econ class or business math, or calc as a prereq. I cannot do. These are pretty much my only choices. I had wanted to be a surgeon but I can't get past the math. Thanks :) when I say climbing the ladder I mean, which prospective major would require the least amount of time climbing the ladder, not no climbing the ladder at all. I know it's necessary. Ie: to Have the title of an art director, you have to spend 4 years working as a secretary, then apprentice, then if you get lucky you get to be an art director. I wouldn't care about the time and work required except that I'm a woman and I want children and I refuse to leave my children with a live in nanny for 8 hours a day 6 days a week like both my parents did to me as a kid. I want to be able to make enough money after a few years of working post grad that we can live off of one income for several years and be alright. But I also have the opportunity of education and I need to make good use of it and make a reliable major and career decision. Nope, I'm not rushing the decision. I am extremely extremely artistic, and I'm also very good at psychology, and very good at writing and symbology. I'm terrible at math, chemistry, business, and economics.

Ex-BFF keeps calling me a wh*ore . . I simply ended our friendship because everyone saw, and eventually I figured she was using me, she caused over half of the drama in my life and she just caused me severe stress. She was upset, I ended it with a poem and a bracelet the nicest way I can, I wasn't near her when she read it because I knew she would crack and possibly throw something at my head. She started crying, and I said nothing about her imperfections but she was still pretty angry. I had two friends who JUST ended being her friend two to three days ago. Not for me, though. My ExBff new I was going to have this huge whole-grade party with everyone so she was being nice to me because she wanted to get invited, well I'm not having it anymore because my Dads studio got flooded and now he's selling it. After she found out, well I didn't know she was sitting out our table (me and my friends', before they stopped being her friend.) and so I sat in her seat because I thought she was absent. So I moved, she went to throw something away, and my friends slid her lunch down the table as a joke. I didn't even touch it, and she got mad so she moved to another table, so if she wasn't sitting there I just sat in her seat for the day because it was closer to my friends. She saw me, and assumed it was me who moved it and got soooo mad. At recess, after, we had this huge fight, she was shaking while she was talking and kept calling me a loser. Ever since, everytime she sees me she yells out "who*re" and it really agrivates me. I tried talking to her and my friends dragged me to guidance to talk it out, nothing worked. What do I do to show her how pathetic and low-life she is being? I'm sick of it and I'm trying to be nice but it's extremely hard! Help? Thanks you guys! This is really helping me, all the answers. Good job.(:

Which job would be best for my back problem? I'm 17 and I'm looking for a job so that I can save up for college, but I have a severe back problem and it's very hard for me to stand up for hours at a time. My first job was at a theater, I just stood in place for hours and it annihilated my back so I had to quit. My second job was a customer service job so I sat down all day, and that was fine, but I quit because I had to move to another state. I'm applying for 2 jobs right now, and I don't have many other options. The first one is a job at Borders, I know I would be standing up constantly but at least I would be moving around. The second is a portrait studio job, I would be taking photos of families and answering phones, and I'm fairly positive it's not a busy studio, so I may have time to sit down and rest my back. Which would be best for my back problem? Also, if you have any advice as to how to help my back while I work, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Could it be possible that I was face 2 face w/ my mother's killer? My mother passed away @ the age of 48 on Jan.6, 2002. On the toxicology report it stated that she had very high levels of opiate medication in her system. It was no secret that my mother was a hypochondriac, so upon me reading the report soon after her passing I figured that perhaps she herself had accidentally overdosed on her own meds. The night of her funeral I noticed that her ex-husband was very grief stricken, to a point that it almost looked as if he felt guilty in some sort of way. My sister told me that when he kneeled by her coffin he was speaking in different tongues, he was speaken this language LUCUMI that is all too common for santeros to do. Santeria is black magic. That night I had asked my mother's 2 roomates what my mother had done the night before. I was curious as to whether maybe she had killed herself due to a stage of severe depression or what not. Well, one of the ladies claim that her ex-husband had come over the previous night before my mom's passing and brought over a soup and some snacks for my mom. At about 4am she had complained about severe chest pain w/ shortness of breath. They immediatly called her ex, who surprisingly went over there to check up on my mom. the reason for me finding this odd is because, like i mentioned before, she was a hypercondriac and when it was brought to his attention that she was not feeling well in the odd hours of the night, he would dismiss this along w/ insulting her for always faking illnesses....yet tonght he rushed to her aide. He went home shortly after only to get a call from my mother's roomates around 8am that my mother had stopped breathing and had collapsed on the floor...... I hadnt seen him in years up until last night. I got a hold of him through his job (he is a cab driver) and had asked him to come by for a visit so he can see how much my daughter has grown (He was like a grandfather to her). When he came over he was happy to see us, telling me that he spiritually heals people and that he has been doing this for quite some time now. I soon got into the conversation in regards to my motherb's death. The accounts that he described to me were a lil off to the accounts he had told me back then. He mentioned to me that the day before my mother passed away was when he had returned from cuba, only to find that now my mother had met someone else. He kept throwing that in, although I was concerned of how her health had rapidly deteriorated the previous night. He then told me something that gave me chills up my spine. He was telling me that my mother is not resting in peace and that she is stuck between this world and hell. He was saying that her spirit is arrested in some sort of way and that he knows how to free her so she can be in peace. In one instant he said that he had done so soon after her passing, yet around 30 min later he was claiming that he never had done this but that it should be done. Ranting on and on I realized that he very much believed in santeria. As he was going on and on it struck me like a cord the dissapearance and murder of a local woman back in the late 90's that was found murdered and chopped up in the same boarding rooms where he once resided and was the super. I just dont know why i thought of this but while he was talking i interrupted and mentioned the lady's name. When I mentioned her name the look on his face was priceless to say the least. He stuutered when he was talking about how she was found in his place of residence and at first he said that she was found in his studio apt but then said, my mistake, she was found in the apt right next to mine (till this day no arrest has been made). I just dont know why i have this feeling about him. But I sware to you that many times my mother had told me that if anything ever happened to her that it would have been him who killed her, What do you make out of all of this?

What did I do to my ankle? OK, I have a chronic ankle problem. I was a gymnast and a dancer for 15 years - now I only dance (I still practice gymnastics, but purely as a recreational sport). From the years of training and rehearsing, my ankles both took quite a beating, and I'd sprained both on numerous occasions - particularly the right one. But a year and a half ago, I came down hard on the side of my right foot in dress rehearsal for a really big dance show. It was so painful and so swollen after only a few minutes that my dance instructor insisted I go to the hospital, because she was sure I'd broken it. The doctor told me that, luckily, I had not broken it: I'd ripped straight through two of my ligaments and stretched the third - which meant i had a severe lateral sprain. I was given crutches to use for two weeks, an air-cast for four, a brace for whenever I could finally get back to training and dance, and instructions for PT. they told me not to return to full dance for a month, and no full gymnastics training for 6 weeks - or until I got the all-clear to go ahead with training either. The show was opening in two days for five performances - and I was in 11 numbers, 6 of which I'd choreographed. There was no way I was going to miss it. I got a shot of cortisone from my trainer and bucked it up: stayed on crutches during the day and performed at night. It was excruciating and hellish, but I survived. And, BEFORE YOU LECTURE, please realize that I'm not a complete idiot. I knew when I chose to dance on a severely injured ankle it wasn't a good idea - I realized what I'd be risking. But after it was over I did exactly what I was supposed to do: I stayed off it for several weeks, went through all of my PT, stretches, etc., and didn't return to dance or gymnastics until my trainer thought I was ready. I was warned from the start that the ligaments might take surgery to heal entirely correct, but with the risk of further limitation of motion and the promise I'd never be able to dance on pointe again, the surgery never really appealed to me. Now, however, I'm beginning to fear it may be the only option that works. Now comes my problem - since then, my ankle has been very unsteady, swells after every workout, and re-injures very easily. I ice it after every class, rehearsal, workout, etc., and I always wear a brace - but it still swells. Today, the problem is even worse than normal. I took a jazz class last night at a new studio. The class was amazing and I loved it, but I noticed my ankle was acting up even more than usual. By the time the class was over, I could barely put weight on it. My friend and I headed back to campus, and we had to stop and hail a cab because I couldn't manage the walk. When we got back, she had to help me pull the boot off my foot, because my ankle was so swollen inside the shoe that it'd gotten stuck, and I couldn't turn the foot to pull it off myself without horrible pain. When the shoe came off, I saw that my entire foot was swollen and purple - like I'd sprained the ankle again - but I can't remember any specific moment where I could have done so. I took two Advil, iced, and went to bed. Today, the ankle is no better. I still can't put weight on it, and it's still ridiculously swollen and bruised. I put on an air-cast I have just to immobilize it, which seemed to help a little, but I have all-day tech rehearsal tomorrow and I really can't miss it. I don't understand what I possibly could have done to it! Is it just a really bad instance of my chronic problem? Or could I have really re-injured it badly? Help!

What to do with mentally ill mother? She lives with my grandmother, my brother, and I. She has severe major depressive order, schitzophrenia (not realy a problem usually because of her meds), and psychosis and who kows what else. She was living in a studio apartment in the back of my grams house where I live, but she is too ill to live alone, she has to be around people at all times or else she will start getting bad. All normal, I know, for someone with mental illness. Problem is: she is extremely sensitive and cannot be told anything...literally anything because she will take it negatively and start with the whishing she was dead, that she's a burden (hard to argue, but i know it's her sickness), and threaten to start smoking again (she quit recently...for the billionth time). I was raised by her more than my brother and I have a lot of resentment towards her and am starting to feel like I'm gonna lose it. I recently told my brother that I can't handle anything to do wit her anymore and that I feel that I'm on the cerge of losing it (telling her off and just not giving a s**t) and that i would rather she was institutionalized somewhere and recently my grandmother told me she was gonna lose it too...that she was gonna blow up. My brother says he could never abandon her and all this crap, but he is hardly around the house! I'm 24 and a full time college student, my brother is 27 and unemployed although he has a engineering degree. What should I do? Should I just up and leave? That's what I really want to do. I have strong feelings of anger and resenment towards her and am feeling like i'm not gonna be able to hold these feelings back much longer. Thank you for your answers, but I want to elaborate on the feelings of resentment and anger: Although my brother and I are close in age, I was mostly raised by my mother and went through all the toughness that came along with it. She put me through a lot of traumatic events and I am now realizing that those things drastically shaped the person I am today, and that is something I feel I can never forgive her for. Yes she has an illness, but does that mean she had (and has, because she still is a human being) the right to inflict an illness upon me? And possibly provoke the same illness in me? I'm around the age she was when she started getting into bad times (pre-diagnosis) and I feel that even though I'm pretty messed up, I have the consciousness to not impose my problems upon anyone else, much less on my children if I had any. I can't say any of this to her! I can't yell at her! I can't tell her that the way I am is all her fault. To top it off, she won't go anywhere unless I go

Could I be or is it in my head? I am 19. Back on Dec 8th, i lost my virginity but it was more like a rape. He DID use protection. I still thought I was pregnant but my period 2 days late. So I took the test and it came out negative. Christmas I got my period. I was happy. On New Years Eve, I moved back home with my crazy mom who i still cant stand, i started school again, I was at the studio more, I changed my job site with bad kids and also been on a on n off diet cuz im obese plus less sleep. I have NOT got my period since Christmas. I did NOT have any signs of spotting, breast enlargement o nausea just SEVERE stomache pains when i THINK about being pregnant. I asked my friends majority said im not pregnant, that because of the activity my hormones changed because i had sex and that I am probably stressed. Recently i took another test n it was negative again. Now I think im gettin bigger but my friends say its all in my head. Whats your opinion on this situation?

What do you guys think about this painting, Van Gogh ? Hello, My name is John Michael Creech a recent graduate from the University of South Florida with a BA in Studio Art. I have been collecting art that I primarily purchase at thrift stores. One of my nicest finds was an original Walter Ingles Anderson watercolor that was authenticated by his museum. On a recent trip to a thrift store (which has provided me with many very nice vintage paintings) in Tampa Florida I noticed a old wooden frame that had an old Gainsborough portrait print (1950's?) with an old thick cardboard backing. I noticed that the backing had some minor paint residue and was in very poor condition due to age. The backing appeared to be much older than the print. I then removed the print which exposed a miniature oil painting on Cardboard created with thick impasto strokes. The painting is in very poor condition and about 75 percent on the painting has cracks. About 20 percent on the painting has severe cracking and the paint appears to have lifted. About five percent of the paintings surface is gone and it reveals a very shiny clear brown substance that appears to have been used as a primer. It could be Gum Arabic. The painting measures approx 16 by 22 cm. The painting is not signed and there are no markings on the back. The cardboard is about 3-4 millimeters thick and is very fragile. My first impression was work in the style of Vincent Van Gogh. If you have any opinion on this work it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, John Creech To view the work please click on the following links. http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/johnvangogh/vf.jpg http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/johnvangogh/johnsebay059.jpg http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/johnvangogh/johnsebay060.jpg http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/johnvangogh/johnsebay061.jpg http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/johnvangogh/johnsebay062.jpg http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/johnvangogh/johnsebay063.jpg http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/johnvangogh/johnsebay064.jpg http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/johnvangogh/johnsebay065.jpg http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/johnvangogh/vff.jpg

I am suffering from Cat Allergies - Any over the counter products you could suggest? I just accepted a house sitting job for 4 months. It's really more of a studio, so not overly spacious. There are two cats here, so I am around them constantly. They get on the bed and pretty much go all over. I have been getting a red rash around my neck and ears. I am assuming this is from them constantly being on the bed, and then me sleeping on it. I am going to take measures to keep the linen clean and keep them off the bed (as best I can, although that is tough when I leave the house), but in the meantime are there any over the counter medications that might help bring down the allergic reaction? Although it isn't severe at this time, I didn't want it to continue to get worse, especially since in the last 24 hours it has become far more noticeable. Any suggestions you might have would be highly appreciated! :)

Any info on Iris surgery? Hello all, I had a severe eye injury 11/11/06. Three wood splinters went through my eye while cutting wood on a table saw. I now have no lens in my left eye and a very small "cresent moon" shaped iris still intact at the bottom of my eye. 90% of my iris is gone. I'm just asking if anyone has any info on iris surgery that may help. Any info is greatly appreciated. I've looked for awhile and I can't find much info. Not having a good bit of the iris left limits a prosthetic implant because I've read you need most of your iris to attach the implant to. I went to Studio Optics in New York to get a custom painted contact lens that turned out awesome. For $1,000 it better be. But, the lens is thicker than most contact lenses and it starts to irritate my eye after a couple of hours. If anyone can find anhything to help please reply. Thank you dcrusse

I am looking for a nude photographer in Illinois... help please!? I have severe body image and self -esteem issues. My photographer has suggested I try having a portfolio of nude photographs of myself put together. I am very anxious about trying this therapy and would like to find an experienced nude photographer in the state of Illinois or St. Louis area that will make me feel comfortable in his/her studio. Please help me! Excuse me, let me clarify. A PROFESSIONAL PSYCHIATRIST RECOMMENDED THIS THERAPY! NOT A PHOTOGRAPHER! I' have sought professional help and I was recommended this as therapy.

Could it be stress or pregnancy? am 19. Back on Dec 8th, i lost my virginity but it was more like a rape. He DID use protection. I still thought I was pregnant but my period 2 days late. So I took the test and it came out negative. Christmas I got my period. I was happy. On New Years Eve, I moved back home with my crazy mom who i still cant stand, i started school again, I was at the studio more, I changed my job site with bad kids and also been on a on n off diet cuz im obese plus less sleep. I have NOT got my period since Christmas. I did NOT have any signs of spotting, breast enlargement o nausea just SEVERE stomache pains when i THINK about being pregnant. I asked my friends majority said im not pregnant, that because of the activity my hormones changed because i had sex and that I am probably stressed. Recently i took another test n it was negative again. Now I think im gettin bigger but my friends say its all in my head. Whats your opinion on this situation?

I want to live off campus as a freshman? For the Indiana University of Pennsylvania..? Apparently you have to live on campus for two semesters, but the is really NOT my thing. I'm currently home schooled. I kind of just want to get an education and not get involved with the whole "university" thing. I'm very mature and would rather get a loan and pay it back after college so I could live on my own. I was planning to get a small studio apartment about a mile away and walk/bus/bike there. I even have a place I'm thinking about living that will fit my budget. lol I really have no need to live on campus and I have pets(cat and fish.). I'll be 18 years old. Things about me that could help...?: -I have a very rare disease that causes bone overgrowth in my face. (not noticeable because it's being treated) Causes headaches. -My family is *very* low income. -Could I claim like severe depression if it was verified by a therapist? I am fairly deppressed a lot and bi polar disorder runs in my family. tips? anyone done this? □ I commute no more than 50 miles from the home of my parent(s) or guardian(s). (The home address will be determined by the permanent address indicated on your Application for Admission.) □ I am married (You must submit a copy of your marriage license with this form.) □ I have dependent children living with me. (You must submit a copy of a tax statement with this form.) □ I am a veteran of military service. (You must submit a copy of your military discharge papers with this form.) □ I will be 21 years of age or older on or before the start of Fall 2006 semester classes. □ Other (Please explain in detail. Attach extra page if necessary.)______________________________ Those are the options. :|___________ 2006 should be updated lol

can anyone give me advice about this? First off: I have been helping a friend with his written music (helping him with notation etc.) and he has paid me some money each time I work with him. It is somewhat a professional type of situation except it is not in a studio. Anyway, he is in the process of coming into a lot of money and his plan is to take a road trip in various countries and/or states so I can play music (either mine or his). However, he does not know anyone in the music business and my contacts are more like personal friends who are into music for fun (like me) but not big-time. He wanted me to ask a friend of mine if my friend would like to come along on the trip because of "safety in numbers." My friend respectfully declined. Here it is: last Sunday we walked by a guy who was sleeping on the sidewalk and the musical fellow woke him up and asked if he wanted to join us. The guy is a musician also and he is momentarily kicked out of his place and he wants to go into re-hab for severe alcoholism. (He drank rubbing alcohol and did not know it was the wrong type of alcohol to drink.) The musical fellow asked me to let the guy stay at my place and I explained I was not prepared for it because my place was not cleaned up and it's just a small room. The musical fellow offered to pay my rent if I did it and I said it was not about the money. I finally said yes but only with the idea it would be for a few days even though the musical fellow wants to have me help the guy on a more permanent basis. The musical fellow has paid for some expenses but does not realize the alcoholic guy is not about to taper off the stuff. The musical fellow wants the alcoholic guy on the road trip with us and says my helping the guy is preparation for the trip. I would like the musical fellow to have the guy stay with him for some days, even though the musical fellow lives in a tent (because he hates his neighbors who live where he could stay if he wanted to stay in a house). I told him he was disillusional and he got offended. I believe the best route for the alcoholic guy is the rehab center and the musical fellow disagrees. He thinks what the guy needs is a road trip so he can play his music around the world. Remember, the fellow suggesting this does not know anyone in the business and he thinks all it takes is money... which could eventually run out. I need advice on this. I'm thinking of bowing out of the trip. It seems too risky and unplanned. I'd also like to know what you think of what I've explained. It's all completely true, however ridiculous it may sound.

How did you feel when you heard about the death of mickey mouse? I was travelling back from school when a radio report came on the radio. Telling us about mickey mouse driving his car into a bottom of a building causing the building to collapse. killing him, severely injuring Minnie and many of the people working in the Disney studio. What I found most shocking is that they have yet to find the bodies of goofy, Donald and his GF, Pluto. Many other Disney actresses and actors are said to be missing. There was a suspicion that mickey mouse might have been trained up and worked with al-queda organisation. I think THESE ARE LIES!! Although they managed to find pete dancing around the building naked. Believe to have suffered from a severe head trauma. I feel really sad and I want to know how other people are coping with the travesty. I never even knew mickey was feeling suicidal. My prayers and thoughts are with their family and mistresses. (sadly the Jonas brothers and Mily Cyprus were not in the building during at time)

Last time askin, Preg or stress? ! am 19. Back on Dec 8th, i lost my virginity but it was more like a rape. He DID use protection. I still thought I was pregnant but my period 2 days late. So I took the test and it came out negative. Christmas I got my period. I was happy. On New Years Eve, I moved back home with my crazy mom who i still cant stand, i started school again, I was at the studio more, I changed my job site with bad kids and also been on a on n off diet cuz im obese plus less sleep.I Now livin in smokin home. I have NOT got my period since Christmas. I did NOT have any signs of spotting, breast enlargement o nausea just SEVERE stomache pains when i think or press my stomache.I asked my friends majority said im not pregnant, that because of the activity my hormones changed because i had sex and that I am probably stressed. Recently i took another test n it was negative again(last week). Now I think im gettin bigger but my friends say its all in my head. Whats your opinion on this situation?

Hi, does it make sense at all to use Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 on an iMac? Logical to just run it on a PC? Okay, firstly I didn't know Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 will not work on a Vista Home Basic, so I have to either upgrade to Home Premium or downgrade to XP SP2 (which one will you advise?). Secondly, I installed a trial version of Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 on my iMac and found that it does not include Encore (the trial version). Seems that there is a severe lack of conversion tools and software like TMPEG for Macs too. I have always been able to do a lot with freeware from Videohelp.com in terms of getting the right software to export to the different formats, working with a PC. So, right now I feel very disabled working with Premiere Pro CS3 on an iMac. Final Cut Studio is too expensive for me right now. Or are there anything that I need to know about video editing with Premiere Pro CS3 on an iMac? Or should I just iron out the kinks with my PC and just do my video editing in a PC environment? Anyway, my PC setting is a 32bit Intel Pentium D Duo Core 3GHz with 1GB RAM with 160GB HDD.

Breaking an APARTMENT LEASE? I just had a studio apartment co-signed for me on Saturday, today is Tuesday. The last few times I've been to the place, I've gotten severe allergic reactions/a rundown feeling. I've always known I've had allergies, but they've never been this bad. What are my options for terminating the lease WITHOUT having my dad's credit affected? The landlord is a cool guy, and he lives right upstairs. If i tell him my situation (and it's only been 5 days), and I know 100% he could find another tenant within a few days, do you think he would agree to terminate the lease and let me go?

Really Scared ad Worried... Please help? I am 19. Back on Dec 8th, i lost my virginity but it was more like a rape. He DID use protection. I still thought I was pregnant but my period 2 days late. So I took the test and it came out negative. Christmas I got my period. I was happy. On New Years Eve, I moved back home with my crazy mom who i still cant stand, i started school again, I was at the studio more, I changed my job site with bad kids and also been on a on n off diet cuz im obese plus less sleep. I have NOT got my period since Christmas. I did NOT have any signs of spotting, breast enlargement o nausea just SEVERE stomache pains when i THINK about being pregnant. I asked my friends majority said im not pregnant, that because of the activity my hormones changed because i had sex and that I am probably stressed. Recently i took another test n it was negative again. Now I think im gettin bigger but my friends say its all in my head. Whats your opinion on this situation?

Wardrobe malfunction! Going to see Chris March!? Tomorrow, I will be going into NYC to go to Chris March's (Project Runway Finalist) studio. I really can't figure out what to wear! It is supposed to be in the 70's, and severe rain. Should I be hot and wear jeans, or look bad and wear shorts? Options: 7 for all mankind jeans (bootcut) guess jeans (skinny) Shorts: brown khaki light khaki Shirts: White tank top solid purple j crew v-neck turquoise and gold silk bollaro Shoes: green patent leather flats black patent leather flats red maphisto's please help! I'm clueless

Help! I suffer from catatonia and work as a model for a sculptor's teaching studio....? ...The job barely pays my bills since it's only two nights a week. Can you think of something else I could do to earn money? My skill is my illness as I can remain immobile for long hours at a time during an attack of severe catatonia. When I'm not immobile, I'm usually hyper so I take med's that keep me calm...I can't pass a drug test and ordinary jobs are out of the question. My gf is 3 month's pregnant and she's not able to work because she helps me out and has a bad back from rolling me around every day. I got fired as a mattress tester for "sleeping" on the job a few years back. Please don't suggest "scarecrow" either...farmers are cheapskates! The last one paid me a buck-fifty an hour and a little bit of pot on rainy days. Any ideas, people?

I need help finding a natural cure for my adult ADHD, Depression and lack of energy. Is there any free cure? Hollo my name is Lyle I'm 42 years old, and live in Seattle WA. I have a collage degree but I am corrently unemploied. I currently live in my art studio in the downtown area and am faced with a severe lack of motavation, inspration and focus .I dont have any family and my frends dont seem to understand what the hell is going on with me. Is there anyone out there who can direct me to a pathway for recovery. I need my motavation back so I can create my art witch I hold moast dear and pay my bills to servive. Please and thanks

For the love of all pups!!!!! What do you think? Tuesday, 08 August 2006 BSL: A Lazy, Unconstitutional Fix to a Larger Societal Problem Monday, 26 July 2004 Apparently our dogs are part of al Qaeda too, or at least, they may as well be since currently many state and municipal governments have, in the name of "terror," launched an all-out assault on certain breeds of dog via a phenomenon known as breed-specific legislation. Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is just that: legislation, whether bills or ordinances, that seeks to put strictures on specific breeds of dog, or ban specific breeds of dog altogether. BSL usually follows as a consequence of several vicious dog attacks within a short period of time within a state or municipality. Often after a vicious dog attack or spate of attacks, politicians will make the claim that a certain breed of dog is "terrorizing" the neighborhoods and is therefore a public menace, though such comments are usually a knee-jerk reaction to a public that demands action. Unfortunately, the politician will often address the vicious dog problem in the easiest, though least effective way possible by proposing BSL. When proposing BSL, politicians often gloss over its inherent problems. The most fundamental problem with BSL, and the one that causes the most discord, is its unconstitutionality. BSL is a violation of 14th amendment equal protection and due process rights. BSL violates the 14th amendment Equal Protection clause — which guarantees all citizens equal protection under the laws — because it causes some dog owners to be deprived while others are not. Similarly, due process allows for citizens to have the opportunity to affect the outcome of legislation if that legislation should deprive a citizen of life, liberty, or property (property being the dog). If a state or municipality seeks to ban or place strictures on a breed or breeds of dog, but cannot prove breed inherence, which has been a large overarching problem with BSL, then those states or municipalities are violating dog owners’ due process rights. Despite BSL’s civil rights violations, bans have been passed throughout the United States because citizens either did not know their rights or because states and municipalities have hired so-called experts to "prove" that certain breeds were inherently vicious. Apparently you can hire anyone to say anything if you pay them enough — even an expert. These "experts," and the states and municipalities that employ them, waste tax-payers’ own dollars to illegally confiscate citizens’ property all in the name of supposed safety. However, according to Janis Bradley, author of Dogs Bite: But Balloons and Slippers Are More Dangerous, drapery cords and children’s own parents prove much more fatal to children than dog bites, and accidents involving bedroom slippers cause more injury to people than dogs. Still, many legislators and other politicians scurry to pass BSL in an attempt to quell perceived public outrage over dog attacks. Frequently legislators, and the supposed experts they hire, will make false claims which allege that certain dog breeds are more vicious than others. These false claims prima facie substantiate the need for BSL, which usually targets bully breeds, commonly referred to in slang as "pitbulls," and Rottweilers, though BSL has certainly not been limited to these breeds. Yet, temperament tests conducted by the American Temperament Test Society do not support the stigma against bullies or Rottweilers. Temperament test results for several bully breeds and the Rottweiler were as follows: American Pit Bull Terrier: 83.4% American Staffordshire Terrier: 83.3% Staffordshire (Bull) Terrier: 93.2% Rottweiler: 82.3% For comparison purposes, let’s take a look at other breeds of dog thought to be more even-tempered: Golden Retriever: 83.6% Labrador Retriever: 91.1% Pomeranian: 75% Chihuahua: 70.6% According to these temperament test results, a person is more likely to be bitten by a Chihuahua or a Pomeranian than an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, or Rottweiler. Also notice that bully breeds and Rottweilers are comparable in temperament to Golden and Labrador Retrievers which are thought to be more even-tempered, though recently the first successful face transplant was performed on a woman who had been mauled by a Labrador. Arguments against bullies and Rottweilers higher temperament test findings are that bullies and Rottweilers are larger or more tenacious and therefore inflict more damage on humans when they do bite. However, smaller dogs also bite and have even been known to kill babies. Herein enters a societal stereotype about certain dog breeds which do not necessarily hold true. For instance, countless times could you view America’s Funniest Home Videos and see a snarling, snapping Chihuahua or other small-breed dog, much to the delight of the studio audience. We don’t think of small-breed dogs as vicious. Many, when they think of Chihuahuas, think of the benign Taco Bell dog. Yet, despite their stereotype as innocuous, Chihuahuas are more unstable than bullies or Rottweilers according to their temperament tests. Consequently, baffled owners of bully breeds and Rottweilers can only scratch their heads at the media- and politician-generated stigma that consistently denigrates their dogs. CDC statistics also do not support the stigma against bullies or Rottweilers. While "Pitbull-type dogs" and Rottweilers do top the CDC list of dogs most responsible for fatal dog attacks in their report, "Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998," the statistics are flawed, as the CDC readily admits. One of the biggest problems with the CDC bite statistics is that there is no breed called "pitbull-type dog." Housed beneath this designation are at least twenty different breeds of dog, possibly more. As such, statistics compiled by the CDC on bully breeds are greatly skewed. Bully breeds and Rottweilers are also the breeds most often fingered in attacks, whether they’re actually the breed responsible or not. It is little known that when a victim or witnesses report dog bite attacks that the responding police or Animal Control officers will often simply record the breed of dog responsible as being the breed the victim or witnesses think it is, not necessarily as the breed may have been. Certainly erroneous breed recording due to victim or witness misidentification would follow since breed experts are not on call to respond to vicious dog attacks in order to make the final determiner as to breed. Incidentally, many breed experts are also unable to make a definitive breed determination. The CDC attributes these cases of frequent misidentification to a barrage of negative media reporting on bully breeds and Rottweilers. The CDC also notes that without DNA testing it is difficult to determine breed with any accuracy. At times, a breed designation is hard to determine even with DNA testing. Without a clear determiner of breed, BSL is a conspicuous violation of owners’ due process rights. DNA testing is also quite expensive and time-consuming but so too is breed ban enforcement. Enforcement of a breed ban is near impossible since the same owners and breeders who are being irresponsible with their dogs will typically continue to do so regardless of a breed ban. Because of irresponsible owners and breeders, it is difficult to know with any accuracy bully breed or Rottweilers’ propensity to bite since accurate population data acquisition for these breeds would require a Herculean effort. Owners and breeders of these breeds in particular often do not register their dogs, making it difficult to estimate their population size. Breed mixing and breeding outside the defined standards for the breed also make definitive breed determination and population data acquisition futile. Fortunately there exist much more effective solutions to irresponsible dog owners than BSL. Vicious dog laws have been proven much more efficacious in curbing dog attacks. These laws codify much harsher punishments for irresponsible dog owners whose dogs attack people. Vicious dog laws often make attacks by vicious dogs on a human a felony with a significant monetary fine. Unlike prior laws, vicious dog laws usually allow dogs to be confiscated and euthanized on the first offense as opposed to the third. Most importantly, vicious dog laws punish people who have actually broken the law unlike BSL which punishes responsible dog owners who have committed no crime. Additionally, irresponsible breeding is just now coming to the fore as an issue surrounding bully breeds and Rottweilers in particular. Currently, BSL is the proposed solution to unregulated breeding. For example, California’s SB861 is BSL that is aimed specifically at the excessive breeding problem. Unfortunately, SB861 has legislated mandatory breed-specific spay and neuter programs which punish responsible breeders causing irresponsible breeders to be the only breeders. Ironically, it is these irresponsible breeders who have caused the overpopulation problem, saturating the market with poorly-bred, unstable, and ill-tempered dogs. Irresponsible breeding and vicious dog attacks can be minimized or prevented through proper education of owners and breeders. For instance, many novice and inexperienced breeders are unaware that they must conform to a breed standard, which can be difficult even for a seasoned breeder to accomplish. Proper breeding, which can at times include culling an entire litter, ensures fewer unstable breed specimens. Education about the dangers of improper breeding could go a long way in preventing poor breeding. Education is also an effective approach in curbing dog attacks, as is enforcement of existing leash laws. A majority of vicious dog attacks are resultant of unrestrained or wandering dogs. If owners were educated about responsible dog ownership — keeping a dog leashed in public at all times, spaying and neutering, proper socialization and training — incidences of dog bites or attacks could be greatly reduced. Municipalities could also appropriate funding away from BSL and invest instead in hiring and training additional Animal Control personnel. More effectively trained Animal Control personnel would be able to discern the signs of dog fighting and breeding operations, incidences of which often involve severe animal cruelty. Alternatives to BSL have proven to be much more effective and do not negate citizens’ constitutional rights. So why would a politician advance a piece of legislation that was certain not to solve the problem it proposed to be solving? The answer, quite simply, is that BSL is easier than attacking the problems at their root. One need only look at the city of Chicago to understand why for them BSL is easier than solving the real problems that lead to vicious dog attacks. Chicago has always been socio-economically disparate with the poorest minorities living in the projects right next-door to half-a-million dollar town houses. With poverty comes few choices. With few choices come the temptation of crime. Gangs have offered some minorities the only respect they have ever known as well as fast, easy money. "Street" dog fighting, or pit fighting, is a favorite among gangs. Dog fighting is a way to not only prove your worth via your dog, but to make money from the gambling, drug dealing, and prostitution that often goes with it. Those who fight "pitbulls," Rottweilers, or other breeds, often acquire their dogs from unscrupulous breeders, sometimes called "backyard breeders," who inbreed and selectively breed bully and other breeds to be vicious. Often this type of breeding can lead to über aggression which can include human-aggressive dogs. A properly bred bully or Rottweiler would never be human-aggressive, but fighting dogs are often bred to have the heightened aggressiveness that can lead to attacks on humans. Fighting dogs are routinely tortured after a losing fight, though occasionally they are abandoned to wander feral throughout city streets, and sometimes they do attack people. The fundamental problem with vicious dogs in urban or suburban areas is not a breed problem since one breed has not been proven to be more vicious than another. The real origins of the problem are careless and irresponsible owners who allow their dogs to wander unrestrained, owners who are careless with un-neutered dogs (which tend to be more aggressive), backyard and novice breeders who inbreed or do not breed to the standard, and the socio-economic disparities that drive the poor and minorities to the gang lifestyle. Since problems involving gangs and irresponsible pet ownership do not have an easy fix, politicians often put a band-aid in the form of BSL over the scratch while ignoring the larger wound. Legislators, if they’ve done any research at all, know that breed bans don’t work. So when legislators propose BSL, they’re hoping their constituents don’t know they don’t work, and that they don’t find out what the real issues are. Legislators are hoping their constituents don’t know that BSL will put excessive strictures on their dog(s) or force them to give up their dog(s) in direct violation of their civil rights. We’ve already seen throughout history that once rights are taken from citizens, they’re seldom given back. Today it’s your dog; tomorrow it’s all sharp or pointy objects. BSL asks you to give up your dog(s) causing you to sacrifice your civil rights in the process, and paradoxically offers the public no safety in return. We can reasonably expect the government to provide protection from intercontinental ballistic missiles or al Qaeda on a macro level. But at what point will we stop expecting government to protect us on the micro level at the cost of our freedoms? --- On the Net: American Temperament Test Society site: http://www.atts.org Centers for Disease Control report on fatal dog bite statistics: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/dogbreeds.pdf California’s SB861: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0851-0900/sb_861_bill_20050901_enrolled.html r...idiot, some people can't have kids...and they are much more of a companion than humans sometimes. You are my case and point! I never said I cannot or do not have children... it is the point that ANY!!!!!!!!! Dog can hurt a child. APBT used to be used as NANNIES!!!! for good ness sake...really, I have been bit numerous times in my life time with the work that I do, I will honestly tell you its not the bull breeds or the rotts you need to look out for. Children need to be taught how to act around dogs...that would lessen ALLOT of problems, so i guess it stems from parenting. Be a parent and teach them ALL they need to know, not just what you think is important.

To all Americans read this and even other nationals maybe you understand why terrorism is in Usa? The destruction of the world trade centre and the attack on the pentagon has been described as the greatest act of terrorism. However history demonstrates that the most horrific acts of Terrorism has been carried out by the freedom loving democratic nation, the United States of America . According to their own Official FBI definition of terrorism: “Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” IRAQ : From 1991 to the present day the United States Air Force and Navy have slaughtered over 200,000 civilian people in Iraq with Depleted Uranium missiles, cluster bombs, cruise missiles and other so-called “smart bombs.” During the “Desert Storm” terror campaign the arsenal also included fuel-air bombs and napalm. 177 million pounds of bombs were dropped on the people of Iraq in the most concentrated aerial bombardment in the history of the world. In the 110,000 sorties of the six-week onslaught the cowardly American and British pilots (and to a lesser extent French and Saudi pilots) mass-murdered at least 200,000 people, using depleted uranium missiles, napalm, cluster-bombs, fuel-air bombs, cruise missiles and other so-called “smart bombs.” The slaughter of civilian people in the Amariyah bomb shelter was a Prime example of this American/British state terrorism. Most of them were women, children, elderly, and invalids from a new housing development. Cowardly U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force jet pilots caught one sixty-mile-long column of fleeing Iraqi soldiers and Palestinian civilian families in vehicles on the Kuwait to Basra highway - and pounded them ruthlessly with bombs and machine-gun fire. The road, clogged by four lanes of one-way, bumper-to-bumper traffic, was carpet bombed by B-52s dropping 1,000-pound bombs, and repeatedly hit with laser-guided missiles and “smart” bombs. All the Iraqi soldiers, as well as Palestinian workers and their families, were slaughtered without mercy. The bloodthirsty American pilots gleefully described the massacre as “shooting in a sheep pen.” During the Desert Storm terror campaign at least 944,000 rounds of Depleted Uranium ammo were fired from American A-10 Warthogs all over Iraq and Kuwait . When a depleted uranium tipped shell strikes a tank or armoured personnel carrier it easily penetrates the armour and burns the crew alive. The impact also vaporizes the depleted uranium, creating an aerosol of radioactive heavy-metal particles which can spread as far as 190 miles on the wind. When inhaled or ingested, the depleted uranium particles cause chemical and radioactive damage to the bronchial tree, kidneys, liver and bones. Cancer often results, and the effects can even include genetic damage. The Dutch Laka Foundation estimates that the United States terror campaign left behind 300-800 tons of radioactive waste from this ammunition all over Kuwait and Iraq - poisoning the air, the land, the water and the people everywhere. Afterwards, wherever the depleted uranium firing had been concentrated, there were cancer epidemics among Iraqi civilians living nearby. In the ten years since then, sanctions, polluted water and depleted uranium together have killed somewhere between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 Iraqi civilian people. At least 600,000 of the dead are children. Cancer rates have quadrupled in areas of southern Iraq bombed by the American and British state terrorists. Since it began, thousands of Iraqi babies have been born with horrible birth defects. This is something that has never before been seen in Iraq . Over the course of only 43 days and nights, approximately 62,000-80,000 air-delivered cluster bombs were dropped on the Iraqi people by the American-led state terrorists. In addition, 10,000 MLRS rockets and 100,000 “Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition” artillery shells were fired. All this translates to about 24-30 million “sub munitions” or bomblets. Assuming a dud rate of 5%, it is estimated that the number of Dangerous land-mine cluster bomblets lying on or just under the surface of the ground in Iraq and Kuwait would be from 1.2 to 1.5 million. At least. In the desert, however, the percentage of these duds rose to 30%. So the number of unexploded ordnance still lying in wait for unsuspecting Iraqi children and civilian people could be as high as 7 to 9 million bomblets. A Human Rights Watch report says that of the estimated 24 to 30 million bomblets dropped during the Desert Storm terror campaign, the 1.2 to 1.5 million (at least) that did not immediately explode led to the bloody deaths of 1,220 Kuwaiti and 400 Iraqi people - mostly children - and over 2,500 maimed. And that was in just the first two years after the end of the “war.” So the American/British systematically targeted Iraq 's civilian infrastructure. Schools, hospitals, factories and every industry connected to food production, water purification and irrigation were targeted for destruction. U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots destroyed a baby formula plant, food warehouses, pharmaceutical plants, fertilizer plants, pesticide plants, storage facilities, refrigeration facilities, electrical generation and communication plants and every single grain silo in the country. All these were destroyed in order to intensify the impoverishing effect of the sanctions. In the process, U.S. and British pilots slaughtered at least 200,000 Iraqi men, women and children. And of course all these murdered human beings were dismissed by the Pentagon as “collateral damage.” In the 10 years since that carnage, the United Nations estimates that over one million Iraqi civilians – including 600,000 children below the age of five - have died as a result of American sanctions alone. One of the most important strategies of the 1991 terror-campaign against the civilian Iraqi people was the bombing of numerous water-purification plants. After that, the American sanctions prevented Iraqis from getting enough replacement parts to repair most of the plants. So, just as the evil U.S. and British governments planned, the lack of clean drinking water in Iraq has caused a massive human catastrophe. It is contaminated water, more than anything else, that is killing Iraqi babies and small children, by the thousands, every month. Because they are the most vulnerable they are dying from diarrhea and dysentery primarily, and also diseases such as typhoid, hepatitis, cholera and polio - all caused by bacteria and viruses within the contaminated water. And just to make the whole diabolical scheme complete, the American sanctions also prevent the Iraqis from acquiring sufficient medicine to treat these deadly diseases. In an interview of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on CBS's 60 Minutes, correspondent Lesley Stahl asked her if the death of these 600,000 Iraqi children was “worth it.” Albright's reply: “...we think the price is worth it.” General Colin Powell when asked about the number of Iraqi people who were slaughtered by Americans in the 1991 “Desert Storm” terror campaign: “It's really not a number I'm terribly interested in.” “If they turn on the radars we're going to blow up their goddamn SAMs [surface-to-air missiles]. They know we own their country. We own their airspace... We dictate the way they live and talk. And that's what's great about America right now. It's a good thing, especially when there's a lot of oil out there we need.” U.S. Brig. General William Looney Washington Post, August 30, 1999 - referring, in reality, to the brutal mass • murder of hundreds of civilian Iraqi men, women and children during 10,000 sorties by American/British. PALESTINE : Since September 29, 2000 the Israeli Army, together with violent gangs of Israeli “settlers,” have launched a massive military assault on the Palestinian people. In this latest onslaught the Israelis have murdered over 600 people so far, including many children, and injured over 15,000, many severely Of these 15,000 people, over 1000 have sustained serious physical or neurological injuries requiring long-term health care. The Israelis have surrounded all Palestinian villages and blocked all exits, refusing to allow those with severe injuries to get medical help outside. Meanwhile the Israeli Army fires into the villages with missiles from Cobra helicopter gunships and with shells and heavy-gauge ammo from tanks. Israeli invaders of the West Bank , who are given the misleading name of “settlers,” actually live in hilltop fortresses above many of the Palestinian villages. From these fortresses the “settlers” fire at will down on the unarmed Palestinian people below. In addition to murdering people, the Israeli military is extensively targeting infrastructure, with the intention of destroying the Palestinian economy. Under the guise of “retaliation,” “destroying sniper hiding places” or “protecting Israeli settlers,” Israeli helicopter gunships have fired missiles into Gaza TV studios, factories, office suites, police stations and administrative centers of the Palestinian Authority, destroying them all. VIETNAM : American Genocide of the Vietnamese People, 1945-1974 “I would like to say that several months ago in Detroit we had an investigation at which over 150 honorably discharged veterans testified to war crimes committed in Southeast Asia. They told stories that at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam, in addition to the normal ravage of war and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country.” John Kerry Navy lieutenant, leader of Vietnam Veterans Against the War in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 1971 During the Kennedy and Johnson administrations the number of murderous U.S. military personnel invading Vietnam jumped from 23,000 in 1963 to 184,000 in 1966. During 13 years of America's war against the people of Vietnam 8000,000 Tons of bombs (like Napalm and cluster bombs) and defoliants (Agent Orange) were dropped in total - and at least 3 MILLION Vietnamese people were slaughtered. During the Vietnam Genocide there was even an official CIA program of systematic terror, torture and mass-murder called Operation Phoenix. CAMBODIA : The direct American genocide of the Cambodian people lasted from 1969 to 1975. After that the Khmer Rouge, America 's covert clients, took over the job. Estimated civilian deaths: 2,000,000 - 2,500,000 people From the U.S. Air Force carpet • bombing and the Khmer Rouge combined. From Derailing Democracy by Dave McGowan: Not content with the destruction being wrought upon Southeast Asia, the U.S. began a massive covert bombing campaign against Cambodia , resulting in famine, economic chaos, and a staggeringly high death toll. The desperate conditions created by the bombing set the stage for the Rise to power of the Khmer Rouge, resulting in yet another round of death and destruction for the besieged country. >From Rogue State by William Blum: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^... Cambodian Prince Sihanouk was yet another leader who did not fancy being an American client. After many years of hostility toward his regime, including assassination plots and the infamous Nixon/Kissinger secret “carpet bombings” of 1969-70, Washington finally overthrew Sihanouk in a coup in 1970. This was all that was needed to impel Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge forces to enter the fray. Five years later, they took power. But the years of American bombing had caused Cambodia 's traditional economy to vanish. The old Cambodia had been destroyed forever. Incredibly, the Khmer Rouge were to inflict even greater misery upon this unhappy land. And to multiply the irony, the United States supported Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge after their subsequent defeat by the Vietnamese. LAOS : The United States Air Force dropped the equivalent of a planeload of bombs every eight minutes for nine years on the people of Laos, from 1965 to 1973 - over 2,000,000 tons. This was some of the heaviest aerial bombing in world history. Estimated civilian deaths: 500,000 people The United States dropped an estimated 285 million cluster bomblets all over Southeast Asia during the course of the Vietnam War - seven bomblets for every man, woman and child. By 1973 it was estimated that there were at least nine million unexploded bomblets still lying on Laotian territory. As much as half a million tons of unexploded ordnance (primarily cluster-bombs) remains littered all over the Laotian countryside - 35 years later. Every year, throughout all these past 35 years, hundreds of innocent Laotian children and civilian people are murdered or maimed by American cluster-bombs. Bombs dropped by United States Air Force crews. >From Rogue State by William Blum: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^... The Laotian left, led by the Pathet Lao, tried to effect social change peacefully, making significant electoral gains and taking part in coalition governments. But the United States would have none of that. The CIA and the State Department, through force, bribery and other pressures, engineered coups in 1958, 1959 and 1960. Eventually, the only option left for the Pathet Lao was armed force. The CIA created its infamous “Arme Clandestine”- totaling 30,000, from every corner of Asia - to do battle, while the US Air Force, between 1965 and 1973, rained down more than two million tons of bombs upon the people of Laos, many of whom were forced to live in caves for years in a desperate attempt to escape the monsters falling from the sky. After hundreds of thousands had been killed, many more maimed, and countless bombed villages with hardly stone standing upon stone, the Pathet Lao took control of the country, following on the heels of events in Vietnam. KOREA : Between 1950 and 1953 the greatest devastation was of course inflicted upon the civilian people of North Korea . The United States Corporate Mafia Government and military were terribly frustrated by the heroic determination of the Korean people and their Chinese allies to be free of American domination. To teach them the “virtues” of the American way, the Pentagon began a deliberate campaign of bloody genocide from the air and on the ground beginning in June 1950, using 20 times more napalm against the Korean people than it used in World War II. It was during the Korean Genocide that American military personnel first started using the term “****.” Many subhuman Americans felt it was okay to slaughter Korean children and rape Korean women because they were all just “gooks.” This sort of bestial racism is a tradition in the bloodthirsty United States military. War criminals always attempt to justify their own evil inhumanity by imagining their victims as being less than human. By the end of America's genocidal assault nearly 3 million civilian people in North Korea had died horribly, either directly from American bombing and massacres or from war-related causes such as starvation and disease. The events in Sinchon County are a typical example of American war crimes in Korea . SINCHON: Sinchon was considered a Communist stronghold when American troops occupied the town in September 1950. By the time a North Korean and Chinese counter-offensive was able to drive them out in early December 1950, racist American troops had already managed to mass-murder 35,383 people- one out of every four of the county's 140,000 inhabitants. To this day a local museum carefully chronicles the extent of U.S. war crimes in Sinchon: Americans burned 5,484 dwellings and destroyed 618 factories, public buildings and irrigation facilities, committing the cold-blooded murder of tens of thousands of people in the process. Then, when American troops were forced to retreat, they took revenge on women and children. In order to make the world safe for democracy, American troops murdered 900 helpless civilian people in an air-raid shelter by pouring gasoline into the shelter's ventilation hole and setting it on fire. In Wonam-ri , North Korea , American troops locked 502 women and their children in two storehouses and then burned them all alive too. This was done in December 1950, while American politicians and military leaders preached from every pulpit about the terrible threat of “Godless Communism.” “No refugees to cross the front line. Fire everyone trying to cross lines.” 8 th Cavalry Regiment communications log two days before the No Gun Ri massacre. “American soldiers played with our lives like boys playing with flies.” Chun Choon-ja - a 12-year-old Korean girl in 1950 survivor of the No Gun Ri massacre I TRIED TO EDIT IT BUT COULDNT BECAUSE THE CRIME IS SO MUCH IT DOESNT GET LESS THAN THIS BUT I DID REMOVE THE ONES IN JAPAN AND CAMBODIA

please read this story i wrote. By a 6th grader? Hollywood Troubles “Hhhhh, Julia sighed. It’s just another day, another ordinary day” Julia Lintheart was staring out her window, looking at the warm summer day. There were blue skies, green grass, you’d think it be perfect. But no. She was in a dismal mood. “Why should I be the only one not having fun? She thought to herself. “It’s just not fair”. Julia sighed once again as she stroked her long brown hair that draped around her right shoulder with her soft, pale hands. Julia was mad because she was the only one who hadn’t done adventurous over the summer. Time was running out only 3 weeks before the 9th grade. She had to something that she could remember the 8th grade summer by and something everyone else would remember her, Julia, by. Julia went downstairs into the kitchen of her medium sized home. The kitchen was a light tan color, with oak wood cabinets. There was a stainless steel oven, dishwasher and microwave. Her mother was loading dishes into the dishwasher as she came downstairs. “Well, we have to go pick up your little sister Rose from her friend, Lavender’s house”, her mother replied holding a white plate. “Do I have to come? Why can’t I say home with Dad? Er, wait Dad’s never home”, Julia said in a quiet tone, “He’s always on some tour, I just keep forgetting. “ As a rookie film producer he is very busy, but he’s quite good at it. He seems to have a knack for it. “I know, but it’s been two whole months. Sometimes I just wish he could come home. “We all do, Jules”, he mother said wiping her hands on the white towel. Was this remark supposed to make her feel better? Because she didn’t feel any better. In fact she felt sadder. ”Anyway, Julia you have to come.” “Why can’t I stay home? I’m old enough”, Julia inquired. “I know Julia but you have to go shopping you need clothes for fall. In case you are wondering Julia had already bought clothes for the winter last week. Julia wanted to roll her blue eyes but kept herself from doing so. Instead she said “whats wrong with the clothes I have”, glancing down at her dark blue jeans and her ABERCROMBIE t-shirt. Almost instantaneously her obsessive-shopping mother answered. “Your jeans are ripped, they’re too old and--- Julia cut her mother off. “Old. What do you mean old! 3 weeks ago, that’s old”! “Julia you are going shopping and that’s final”, her mother replied in a stern voice. Julia groaned. “When are we going?” “Half an hour” she answered. Julia went back up the spiral stair case and into her bedroom. Her bedroom was a light blue color. There was a twin sized bedroom that was right in the middle of her room. She walked on the soft carpet of her bedroom. She layed on her tootsie roll pillow. A raindrop fell on her window. It started to sprinkle outside. The blue skies turned gray. Julia didn’t know what to do. “Jules come on 1et’s go”, her mother called putting on her black trench coat. Julia dragged her feet down the steps. She went to the entrance hall of her home. She put her tennis shoes on and grabbed the black umbrella. Julia and her mother walked out the front door , and hopped into the silver minivan. Her mother backed out of the drive way. “Julia?” Her mother asked. “Yeah”, she answered. Mrs. Lintheart took a deep breath. “I-I just got off the”, she faltered. How do I put this nicely”? Julia, I just got off the phone with dad. We’re moving”. ~CHAPTER 2~ A million questions raced through her mind. Where are we moving? When are leaving? Why are we going? What are my friends going to think? “I’m sorry”, Mrs. Lintheart said apologetically. Julia didn’t know why he mother was so sorry. She wasn’t so mad herself. “Should I be mad”? She asked her mother. “No. Not at all, I just didn’t know how you were going to react”, she answered turning around a curb. “Where are we going?” Julia asked rather excited. “Hollywood”, her mother replied. Julia’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “What did you say?” “Well”, Mrs. Lintheart started. Your father has a role opening, and he needs a girl about your age. If you get it were staying at least till the movie is over. If you don’t we’re going to keep your father company. At this point Julia stopped listening. She didn’t need to be told anything more. She knew where this conversation was going. “So does this mean I get to be a star”? She asked being her curious self. “Actually no. You have to complete the auditions first.” She said adjusting her rearview mirror. Julia was a bit disappointed but was determined. They pulled into a driveway. “Oh and Jules, it’s best not to tell Rose about this”. The rain fell harder by the second. Julia sighed once again, but this time a good sigh. A sigh that meant I’m ready. Ready to be a star. She could picture herself. A millionaire, being pampered, and having the best life ever. Julia opened the car door. She opened the umbrella. They walked up the long driveway and rang the doorbell. Ding-Dong. A tall looking mother opened the door. Julia gaped at the sight of the house. From the outside you’d think it was a normal house, but it wasn’t. The foyer was huge. It had a ceiling so high it seemed like it was endless. There was a bright chandelier that came down almost blinding to the naked eye. The walls had a light gold design. “Oh my”, the tall women said pointing to the window. “It looks terrible out there”. “I know some weather”, Julia’s mother agreed. “Mom, mom, mom”, came Lavendar, Rose’s best friend. “Can Rose stay a bit longer?” “Only if it’s O.K with Rose’s mother”, Lavendar’s mother said with a chuckle. Julia glanced up at her mothers and gave her one of her I-don’t-want-to-stay-at-a-6 year old-house looks. Mrs. Lintheart patted Julia on her shoulder and smiled. One of her only-for-tonight-smiles. Perfect, Julia thought. I am wasting my time at a 6 year olds house. As Lavendar and Rose chatted away Mrs. Anderson (Lavendar’s mom) offered Julia and her mother some tea or coffee. They both politely refused by saying “no thank you”. The 3 went into the living room. Julia had already adjusted to the Anderson’s immense house but that did not change the fact that it was huge. In the living room the walls were a deep reddish-maroon color. There was a 72 inch plasma screen that stood there ready to be used. “Why don’t you have a seat”, Mrs. Anderson told Julia. “oh wait, would you rather go to home theater?” Julia smiled. “Oh that won’t be necessary”, Julia’s mother answering for her. Julia reluctantly gave a slight nod of her head. “Mom, why would you say something like that? Of course, I would rather watch a movie than listen to adults talk, she thought to herself. Julia was mad at her mother. “Oh well, she while thinking of all her unanswered questions. At 6:30 pm Julia’s mother decided that it was time to go home. “Lavendar, Rose” Mrs. Anderson called from the bottom of the deep blue colored carpet. They came sprinting down the steps. “Mommy”, I don’t want Rose to leave, Lavendar whined. “I’m afraid they’ve got to”, Mrs. Anderson said. She opened the door. By this time it was raining very hard. BOOM, they heard thunder. They saw a flash it was lightening. “Whoa”, Rose said. “It doesn’t seem to safe out there, you’re welcome to stay with us for the night”, Mrs. Anderson offered. “OH thank you we don’t have much of a choice, really” Mrs. Lintheart said. Julia couldn’t believe her ears. Was this really happening? No. No way. Not if she could help it. Julia gave her mother another one of her “looks”. Her mother gave her one of her “smiles”. “Only for tonight”, she added just in case Julia couldn’t understand her smile. “Ughhhhhh”, Julia thought in her mind. All this time Julia was trying to focus on the positive. O.k. I said trying. Lavendar was talking to Rose about how they have so many rooms, so they could sleep. The five went to the living room and turned the 72 inch television on to the weather channel. “We are looking at severe thunderstorms throughout the Chicago area”, the reporter announced. Julia would rather walk home in the rain than stay. She went upstairs with the adults and overheard that Rose would be sleeping in Lavendar’s bedroom and Julia and her mother would be staying in one of the three guest bedrooms. Mrs. Anderson showed them there room. It was like all the other rooms. Big. As you have probably comprehended by now Julia must dread in despair through the night. Fine. O.K. Well, I guess it’s not that bad. Unfortunately it doesn’t matter ehat you and I think, it’s up to Julia. I just write it down. They went back down stairs. “Oh dear”, Mrs. Anderson said looking directly at Rose. You must be starving. Do you want to eat something? “No, I’m not hungry; Rose replied in her high pitched voice, I want to play with Lavendar. Lavendar followed by Rose then Julia, and then the adults into the playroom. The playroom had a mini ball pit, a play slide, and lots of books mainly fairy tales. Ii also had pink and white striped walls. The grown-ups laughed and smiled. Suddenly the lights went out. It was pitch black. ~CHAPTER 3~ Mrs. Anderson could find her path through the criss-crossing hallway, down the steps, and into the room that contained the flashlight. She pressed the on button and a yellow beam of color shot out. The silver flashlight illuminated everything in its way. Anita Anderson walked up the steps, back through the criss-crossing, and into the playroom. As she entered the playroom she noticed two little bodies curled up on the play mats. Their eyes were shut tight and you could hear snoring. Mrs. Lintheart whispered something into Mrs. Anderson’s ear. Instantaneously, Anita walked out of the room and then came back in. Her arms were full of multi-colored sleeping bags. Julia was furious at once but kept her anger to herself. She wanted to atleast sleep on the bed. Julia’s mother helped unroll each of the five different color sleeping bags. Julia slipped into her red one , taking off her sweatshirt and placing it beside her. Julia had to admit she was a bit tired, although it was only 15 past eight. She closed her eyes, adjusted her pillow, and fell off into a deep sleep. She dreamt of pleasant dreams. “Hollywood”, she quietly murmured in her sleep. She was picturing herself getting the part, becoming a millionaire…you get the rest. The rest of her dreams were put to an end by the voice of her mother. “Juls”, she said quietly standing next to Julia. Time to get up” Julia rubbed her eyes, and stretched her legs as she sat up straight in her “bag”. She walked out yawning. She rolled it up into a neat ball. Julia realized that there were four empty sleeping bags beside her. She picked up her sleeping bag and followed her mother downstairs. She was to drowsy to speak. Lavendar and Rose were making a loud din chasing each other around the kitchen. Julia could smell the aroma of fresh blueberry pancakes being made. Julia loved pancakes. She sat down at the large maple wood table as two pancakes were placed in front of her. She was starving so she devoured them, but in a neat way. * * * * * * * * * ~Later that evening~ Julia had gotten back to her home. Julia was wondering what the auditions were going to be like and what she had to do to get the part. “Briing, briiiing”, the phone rang. She ran into the master bedroom and picked up the black phone. “Hello”, Julia called into the phone. “Juls, is that you?”, her dad asked “Yeah it’s me”, she said puzzled. “Who are you”? “Your daddy”, her dad replied. Julia gasped at these words. She couldn’t even recognize he fathers voice. He was touring Spain for ideas. “ Hi”. “ Honey, your just the person I wanted to talk to. I bet your mother has already told you about”, he paused. “Hollywood”, Julia finished for him squirming with joy. Her dad took a deep breath. “Um er about that, we need a girl for the part”, he started talking faster as he went along. Youre perfect for the part. I asked the producer and he said maybe. He aslso said that me being the director can’t do with anything with you getting the part. Anyway, you still have to audition a couple of lines. There aren’t many people competing for it. 16 including you to be exact. But you don’t have to move to Hollywood, you don’t even have to try out for the part if you don’t want to. “Dad, Julia started. I want to do everything you just mentioned. I want to move, get the part and become rich.“Just one question. What’s it about?” “Ah”, can’t tell you. “Huh”?, Julia asked baffled. “Show biz policy. You have exactly 24 hours to rehearse for the auditions. Julia gawked. “ So you are saying that I have 1 day practice”? “That’s right”, he answered casually. Then everything got quiet. A mysterious quiet. A chilling quiet. “Julia”, he whispered. Then he hung up. ~CHAPTER 4~ Julia pressed the round black button to off the phone. “What was that all about”? she wondered. She had so much to get ready for. Could she do it? Julia had no idea what the movie was about. Julia walked into the family room. It had two beige colored couches and a T.Vimon. She found Rose watching Bob the Builder. IT had just started so the theme song was playing. “Bob the Builder. Can he fix it? The T.V yelled. “Bob the builder. Yes he can!! Rose chimed in. “Rose, can I please watch now”? Julia asked as she turned her head away from the obnoxious show. “Nope”, Rose replied with her eyes still glue to the television. Julia didn’t bother arguing with her younger sister. So, she went upstairs to her bedroom and got out her pink cell phone. She called her two best friends Ally, and Nicole cell. Ally is a long haired blonde who loved nothing more than a good old adventure. Julia and Ally were alike because they both liked an adventure, but Ally was far more daring. I guess you could call her a risk taker. “Hey ally”, Julia called into the phone “ It’s Julia”. “Oh hey” Ally said. “Over the last few days I heard really big news. You know how my dad’s a film director and all”, Julia asked. “Yeah”, Ally replied wondering why her best friend was telling her something she already knew. “They have a part open, and I’m auditioning”, Julia squeaked. The two of them screamed with excitement. “When are you going”? Ally asked unable control her curiosity. “3 weeks, I could try to invite you. If you’d like”, she added. There was a slight pause in which Ally was thinking. Thinking about the “movie”. Was this really going to happen? “3 weeks”, she repeated. You do know what’s happening in 3 weeks, right? Julia was stunned. Here she was telling Ally the best news of her life so far but all she could about was school! “School, so”, Julia asked. “I can’t skip school”, Ally said rather mean. “I’m sorry, I am not trying to brag or anything”, Julia said. “I know”, Ally said back in her soft voice. “Bye”, Julia said. “Bye”, Ally said. Julia lied against her tootsie roll pillow. She looked out of her window. There was little light still shinning through them. Julia called Nicole. Nicole was the least adventurous. Unlike Julia and Ally, Nicole preferred to be “out of danger”. She liked adventures but if there was a slim chance of her getting in trouble she was out. Somehow she had always been dragged along. She was ind of short compared to the others, and had short brown hair. They continued their conversation for a while. This time it had gone much smoother. ~CHAPTER 5~ Days turned into weeks of boredom. One week until the big move. Ally invited Nicole and Julia over to her house. They greeted each other at the crisp white door. They went to Ally’s room. IT was messy. Clothes were on the ground along with her CD’s of her favorite bands: Daughtry and Maroon 5. There were school books scattered here and there. IN conclusion it was messy. Ally cleared a spot on the colorful bed and motioned for the two of them to sit down. “So Juls” Nicole started. “When’s the audition”? “One week”, Julia said. Nicole and Ally looked at each other and nodded their heads. “What”? Julia asked. “ We are going to get you ready for the movie in case you get the part”, Ally said. “We are? Nicole asked. What about the other thing”? “What other thing”, Julia said with a confused look on her face. “ We can do that later”, Ally suggested ignoring Julia’s question. Ally is more of a tomboy as you probably have figured out by now. After you read what’s next you will be surprised. “Wear these”, Ally told holding out a pair of silver sparkly high heels. “Why do I need these”, Julia said scared. Not a scared-scared but a scared-to-wear-high-heels-shoes-scared. “ Are you sure we won’t get in trouble, because I doubt those are your shoes, no offense Ally”, Nicole asked being her worried self. “Relax”, Ally said ignoring Julia’s question once again. Julia put the shoes on her feet. She started to wobble. She took two steps without falling and the third she fell to the ground with a thunk. “Ow”, Julia yelled. She had twisted her ankle. It wasn’t that bad but it still hurt. “Bad idea. Are you O.K? ” ally asked. “I knew something like this was going to happen. Are you O.K Juls? I am sooooooooo sorry. Nicole started to mumbled a few more words. “I’m fine”, Julia lied because it still hurt but her worrying friend went on. Ally apologized to Julia for making her wear the high heels although Julia knew that it was the clothes on the messy floor that made her trip not the shoes. * * * * * * * * One week had gone by like that. Back at the Lintheart’s Rose was throwing a fit after Mrs. Lintheheart explained where and why they were moving. “It’s not fair. It’s not fair at all. Why does she get everything she wants? It’s not fair”, Rose pouted stomping her tiny feet on the ground. “Now Rose be patient, her mother started, you’ll get turn. “I don’t want to be patient”, Rose said angrily. Julia came downstairs with her suitcase. They had packed earlier and were on there way. They piled into the silver minivan. When they arrived at the airport they waited. If you have a younger sibling and are going somewhere you probably know how it is. They create a scene, then a million pair of eyes look your way and well, you get humiliated. That’s exactly what Rose did. So I am not going to waste my time and your time describing the humiliation of Julia. They boarded the plane. The plane was quite small, but it had comfortable seats. The windows were shaped rectangles. Rose got the window seat, her mother was in the middle, and Julia got the aisle seat. As soon as Julia sat down she fell asleep. “Jules”, Mrs. Lintheart whispered. Julia’s eyes slightly opened then closed again. “Jules”, Mrs. Lintheart said a little louder. Nothing. “JULIA”, Rose screamed at the top of her lungs. Julia abruptly opened her eyes. She looked around the rest of the plane was empty. “We’re here, Mrs. Lintheart announced, in Hollywood”. ~CHAPTER 7~ They checked their luggage in. The people there were all very well-dressed. IT was mainly adults who were walking through the long lines. “Right outside this airport is Hollywood”, Julia whispered to Rose. “Just a few more minutes, Julia, Mrs. Lintheart explained. Then we will go by taxi to our hotel. “What’s our hotel like”? Rose asked her mother. Well, it’s called Hollywood Orchid Suites. It’s not too fancy but it is expensive, her mother replied as the three of them walked towards the door. We have been given the deluxe suite. Julia wasn’t listening she kept walking with her eyes focused on the door. Julia swung it open. There was a giant hill with HOLLYWOOD printed on it in big white letters. All three of the faces smiled. There was also a busy road making not too hard to find a taxi cab. They hopped in the bright yellow cab. “Where to”? The cab driver asked in his deep-commercial-like voice. “The Hollywood Orchid Suite”, Rose said in her high pitched voice answering for her mother. He driver dropped them off and waved goodbye. Mrs. Lintheart led the way inside while Rose took her time skipping and twirling in her ridiculously pink blouse and her pink sparkly shirt to match. They walked into the lobby. “ Who might you be”, the guy behind the counter asked Rose. “My name is Rose Lintheart”, Rose answered. “Lintheart eh”, the guy behind the counter said as he started to type something in the computer. “Ah yes, you will be staying in suite #339. Enjoy your stay”, he added as they started to walk away. Julia twisted the knob of suite #339. It wouldn’t budge. “You have to use the key card silly”, Rose said twirling. Julia didn’t remember Rose getting the key card from the guy behind the counter. Anyway, Julia slid the card inside and waited for the small green light to come up. She opened the door and walked inside. The room was cool. Two king sized beds, two T.V’s and a bathroom. On one of the beds they found a note. Julia read it aloud. Dear Julia Lintheart, We would like to inform you that your audition will take place tomorrow at Hollywood Studios. Be there no later than 12:00 pm. Your lines are attached to this note. Good Luck. “What else does it say?” Mrs. Lintheart asked. Your Lines You: Mom I’m bored. (say in a whiny voice) Mom: We have to go pick up your sister then go to the mall. You: Again? I hate going there. Mom: We need clothes for fall. You: Don’t I need clothes for winter first? Mom: We got those last week. Julia practiced with her mother. She stumble on every other word. “What was that”, Rose said being mean. Julia shot her a nasty look. “I’m just saying, Rose continued, that you acted better at Lavendar’s house”. “What are you talking about”? Julia asked, as if Rose was crazy. “You acted as if you hated going to Lavendar’s house when you enjoyed it. You pretended to be mad but you had nothing better to do. Julia knew that she was partially correct. Fine, Julia knew she was a hundred percent correct, but she still acted like Rose was crazy. “Why don’t you try again, Julia”, Mrs. Lintheart said trying to break the tension between the two sisters. Julia tried again and got it almost perfect. “What’s this”, Rose said pointing to the piece of paper with the lines on it. Julia took the piece of paper out of Rose’s hands. She looked at it carefully, there was another verse of lines. Do I have to recite these lines too, she thought to herself. The lines were sad. They were about girl who finds her long lost mother. “Let’s practice these too”, Julia told her mother. They practiced. There was crying scene that Julia just couldn’t get right. “Try thinking of something sad”, Rose said. Julia took this advice. She thought and thought but couldn’t find anything sad. Julia finally got something from her own life. Her dad. It seemed so long since Julia had seen him. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Mom, when will we see dad”? “If you get the part soon enough, if you don’t we could still visit him on set, but we’d have to notify him first”. Julia had a mission. The same mission as before (to get the part) but for a different reason. She longed to see her father. ~CHAPTER 8~ She slept through the night. She was ready, only half an hour till auditions. She was given an outfit to wear (provided by Hollywood Studios). It was a light blue baby doll top with black leggings. The lobby was big and grand. I do not know how to describe it other than the simple words big and grand. They went through the double doors and outside. They fetched a cab and rode on the busy streets of Hollywood. They pulled into the parking lot of Hollywood Studio. They walked inside and saw 15 other girls waiting to audition. Since she was the last audition, she saw some girls coming out crying, and others expressionless. It had black floors and there were three judges. There was also a person next to her that acted like the mom. The judges explained that she could choose either of the two verses to audition. Julia considered this thought very carefully. At the end she decided that she would choose the mall one because she practiced it more and she could relate to it better. Julia had butterflies in her stomach. She spoke clearly, and said the words with emotion. Julia felt a bit better. She thought that she had nailed the audition, but only time would tell if she got the part. She waited in the room along with the other girls. She was nervous. The main judge came out. He cleared his throat, “The winner who gets the part is Julia Lintheart.” Julia gasped. “Me”, Julia said scarcely believing what she just heard. Julia ran over her mother and gave her a hug. “Rose, thanks for your advice it really worked, and I knew you were right all along”, Julia told her sister. Julia felt like this was too good to be true. She had accomplished her mission, but still so many unanswered questions. Little did Julia realize that this was only the beginning.

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