Flap Your Lips Friday
Posted by Michelle Moquin on July 29th, 2011
Good morning!
I was having a chat this morning with a friend over what I should put in my blog write today. I was telling her that the one of the most important things happening in this world is the discussion of this darn debt ceiling. I felt that need to continue the conversation. And she said to me, “Did you see Robert’s response to Doug? Robert said what needed to be said – what more is there to say? How about blogging an article about the environment? I found this article on Guam about an endangered flower.” My knee-jerk thoughtless response was, “Look, if the world is going to shit in the proverbial hand basket, no one is going to care about the environment.” But as soon I said those words, I knew what her response would be.
Hence…today’s write:
Guam’s Endangered Fadang Makes Cover of Major Botanical Journal
Guam – The research efforts of University of Guam scientist Thomas Marler have put Guam’s endangered native cycad, Cycas micronesica (fadang is the Chamorro name) on the cover of the June 2011 International Journal of Plant Sciences (IJPS).
Published by the University of Chicago Press, IJPS is an important source for researchers looking for new and dynamic articles in the field of botany.
In this recently published article, Marler and Cornell University botanist Karl Niklas compared Guam cycads growing in different habitats to examine the influence of the environment on reproductive success. Their methods were designed to more fully understand the role of wind during the events that lead to seed production.
“We were able to quantitatively demonstrate that cycads growing in locations exposed to trade winds and salt air on Guam’s east coast produced fewer seeds and were less robust than plants growing on the protected west side of the island,” says Marler. “We used these results to convey the need to include multiple locations whenever conducting research on rare and endangered species.”
The research also informed the ongoing desire to determine the role of insects versus wind for pollination of fadang. The results indicated these ancient plants more likely rely on the help of insects rather than wind for pollination. These answers to critical questions are invaluable for developing a plan to conserve the species.
A scientist with the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, Marler’s long-term research on fadang is more crucial than ever considering its future is in jeopardy due to damage by several invasive insects. The data used in this study were collected in 2004, which was the year of the last major reproductive event before the insects began killing fadang plants. Cycas micronesica went from being the most abundant tree on Guam in 2002 to endangered status in 2006, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources.
The beauty and symmetry of Cycas micronesica make it a worthy photographic and research subject, as Guam forests would lose an important species if the invasive insects continue to go unchecked. The important work of Marler and other scientists on Guam’s native plants and animals is invaluable for the future health of island ecosystems.
Readers: Quite a beauty isn’t it? In the midst of chaos, whether it be our own personal chaos or the chaos of our country, life continues all around us. And so must we when it comes to pursuing our passions and protecting the things we care about.
It’s Friday…Start flapping your lips.
Once again…calling all girls who want to be a Girlz. The pick ups will be this Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Territories.
Peace out.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)
Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:
Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129
Thank you for your loyal support!
All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin ©
copyright 2008-2011
" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"
July 29th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Time Makeover: Free Up Hours You Didn’t Think You Had
Laura Vanderkam
Most of us have more free time than we realize. Even those who work 60 hours a week and sleep eight hours a night still have 52 additional hours each week.
The problem is that we tend to burn many of those hours thoughtlessly on things that aren’t vital or particularly enjoyable, such as watching TV or browsing the Internet.
Our lives would be more productive and fun if we consciously chose what to do with our time. Here’s an eight-step time-management makeover to do just that…
Step 1: Log how you spend your time for a week. Record your activities in a notebook or on the free downloadable spreadsheet available on my Web site (www.My168hours.com, click “Your Time”).
Be sure to include any breaks that you allow yourself in the middle of other tasks. If you think the week isn’t representative of a typical week, record another week.
Step 2: Create your “List of 100 Dreams.” There’s a reason most of us don’t spend much time pursuing the things we really want—we don’t know what we really want.
Create a list of 100 things that you would like to accomplish—not just big, ambitious goals, but also smaller things that you suspect would make you excited or joyful… or that you might remember with fondness or pride when you look back on your life.
Examples: Your list might include vacation destinations that you would like to visit… projects that you want to complete related to your career or a hobby… skills that you would like to acquire… even books that you would like to read.
At least a few of the 100 dreams should be things that can be achieved in one day. These are likely to be checked off the list quickly, boosting your confidence in your ability to accomplish your more difficult dreams.
Examples: Reading a children’s book you never got around to when you were a kid… attending a performance of your favorite opera… making an apple pie from scratch.
Helpful: If you can’t come up with 100 dreams, try just 25 and proceed with the following steps anyway. Return to your list periodically until you get to 100.
Step 3: Identify your core competencies. What do you do better than anyone else… and what are you better positioned to do than anyone else?
Examples: Perhaps no one is as good as you at dreaming up new sales channels for your company’s products… or at teaching young children.
We tend to feel most useful and happy when we devote time to tasks for which we see ourselves as irreplaceable. Examine your one-week time log.
How much of your time are you devoting to your core competencies? You want to devote as much time to them as possible.
Step 4: Clear the slate. Rethink your time commitments. There are 168 hours in each week, and how we spend those hours is for us alone to decide.
Yes, we all need to eat and sleep, and most of us need to do something to earn money—but it’s empowering to start from scratch and rethink every time commitment, even those that seem inflexible.
Examples: If you are willing to earn less, you could quit your job and find a less time-consuming career. If you are willing to eat simpler meals, you could save the time you spend cooking.
Step 5: Print out a new, blank weekly log from my Web site… or take out a fresh piece of paper. Fill in your new schedule with your priorities and options in mind. Start by thinking in broad terms about when you would like to work… sleep… spend time with family and friends… and engage in specific, structured leisure activities.
Example: If your goal is to spend more time with your young children or grandkids, you could leave the office at 4:00 twice a week, then make up that lost time by spending an hour or two responding to nonurgent work e-mails from home after the kids are in bed.
Also, put your morning hours to better use. The morning is when we are most alert and energetic—yet most of us waste this time puttering around, checking our e-mails or sitting in rush-hour traffic.
Make the morning your time to pursue your most important dream… or to get some exercise. If you currently have no free time on weekday mornings, go to bed an hour earlier and get up an hour earlier.
Next, schedule your core-competency time. Block out specific work time and personal time to pursue whatever it is that you do better than everyone else.
Finally, choose one or two entries from your “List of 100 Dreams,” and write them into this week’s schedule wherever you find openings.
Larger dreams should be broken into specific “actionable steps,” which can be included on the schedule.
Example: If the dream is “launch my own business,” the first actionable step might be “speak with experienced business owners I know about how to get started.”
Step 6: Ignore, minimize or outsource things that you don’t enjoy, that aren’t very important or that others could do as well as you.
What household tasks do you like least? Which chores absorb the most time? Answers might include mowing the lawn, doing the laundry or picking up clutter. Pay someone to do these things, or lower your standards—who says that you have to clean every week?
Step 7: Fill free moments with small sources of joy. There are brief open blocks of time during even the busiest days. We tend not to take full advantage of this time because we are not properly prepared for it.
Compile a list of things that give you joy that take 30 minutes or less… and another list of things that give you joy that take 10 minutes or less.
Examples: Reading a few pages of a novel… doing yoga stretches… or working on a crossword puzzle.
Step 8: Tune up your schedule each year. Does your life feel in balance? Are your major priorities being met? Are you making inroads on your 100 Dreams list? If not, again log your time for a week and search for time that could be put to better use.
Eventually, creating a life in which you have it all will no longer seem so hard.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed interviewed Laura Vanderkam, a journalist based in New York City who writes frequently about how people spend their time.
Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. She is author of 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think (Portfolio). http://www.My168Hours.com
July 29th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
This is a republican site knocking a republican that is not towing the line. Imagine the language they would use against a non republican.
——————————-
Republicans in the House are falling in line with John Boehner to support his plan. They are convinced they are getting a grand deal and that John Boehner’s credibility depends on it.
Unfortunately for John Boehner, his negotiations strategy has amounted to hiking his skirt up three times, each time hoping the Democrats finally take notice of him. Republican conservatives are patting themselves on the back for now getting a good deal by adding a requirement for a vote on a balanced budget amendment next year in order to raise the debt ceiling.
There are a few problems. The balanced budget amendment could be one that makes it easy to raise taxes or imposes court ordered taxes. The Senate is, once the House sends it there, going to strip out the BBA anyway, load it with Harry Reid’s bad ideas, then send it back daring House Republicans to stop it.
They won’t. They will cave.
But this is the price we pay in American democracy. The machinations, slow going pace, etc. are features not bugs. And between conservatives fighting this week, it remains a fight between friends, Forgiveness is very much part of friendship now as always.
— Erick Erickson
———————-
These are the people holding themselves out as our moral examples. Just another example of the hypocrisy of the republican party.
Chloe
July 29th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Today’s update: Last night the GOP couldn’t pass the Boehner bill…because it wasn’t radical enough for the rest of the House Republicans.
Today they will vote on a more extreme version that they know won’t pass the Senate.
Why? Because some House Republicans want the nation to default. Instead of helping fix the economy, they would rather intentionally tank it so they can attempt to pin it on President Obama and Democratic candidates.
And Karl Rove is heading up that strategy with millions in attack ads currently running in swing states.
We will defend President Obama, Medicare, Social Security and everything Democrats stand for. But Republicans are spending millions trying to destroy it all.
July 29th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
C’om ladies be nice.
+++++++++++++++++
A woman has been arrested for allegedly stalking Guam’s Marine Corps spokeswoman because of a “fatal attraction,” according to Superior Court of Guam documents.
Janet Perez Aguon, 62, has been charged with third-degree felony simple stalking and held on $2,000 cash bail.
According to court documents, Aguon has allegedly stalked Lt. Col. Aisha Bakkar since February, when the two women met at the University of Guam.
Over the next two months, Aguon allegedly sent Bakkar about six text messages a day, according to court documents, and the contact escalated from there.
“There is no doubt I have gone beyond a fatal attraction to you,” one of the messages to Bakkar said, according to court documents.
Bakkar is married with children.
In April, Aguon allegedly used her vehicle to block in Bakkar’s car at a community event to ensure they saw each other, court documents state.
Later that month, Aguon allegedly drove around the Macheche area for two hours looking for Bakkar’s house.
One of the most unusual incidents came on April 26, when Bakkar was flying out of Guam to visit a sick relative. Aguon allegedly surprised her at the airport, offering to give her $3,000 and a Buddha necklace, court documents state.
In May and June, Aguon allegedly waited for Bakkar at her child’s day-care provider three times, including once for about three hours, court documents state.
Bakkar’s superior officer, a colonel in the Marine Corps, confronted Aguon about her behavior after the third incident at the day care, but the alleged stalking continued until as recently as last week, court documents state.
Aguon allegedly tried to contact Bakkar at least four times after the Marine colonel told her to stay away, court documents state.
Several witnesses corroborated many of the allegations Bakkar made to police, court documents state.
Bakkar is a Marine spokeswoman who was assigned to the island in preparation for the military buildup, which is expected to bring about 8,000 Marines and their dependents from Okinawa to Finegayan.
Bakkar said yesterday that she was uncomfortable commenting about the stalking case.
Carlina Charfauros, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Attorney General, confirmed Aguon’s bail amount.
====================
Hey, when will some people learn, that NO, means NO!
Hafa adai
Anna
July 29th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
This insanity has gone too far. In just four days, America could be forced into default for the first time in history.
With time running out and no compromise on the horizon, the best way to avoid default is to pass a “clean” bill that simply assures the rest of the world that America pays its bills.
Most Democrats in the House have already signed on to a bill that does just that.1 And more and more Senate Republicans are indicating that they agree that we can’t let America default.2
But we have to seize this opening before it’s too late. So we’re joining with our friends at Rebuild the Dream to send Congress this emergency petition telling them to do the right thing. We’ll deliver the signatures throughout the weekend. Will you sign?
Tell Congress to pass a clean debt ceiling bill, now.
Representative Peter Welch has already pulled together 139 Democratic Representatives to support a “clean” debt ceiling increase.
3. And even Republican Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell has proposed a plan that would end this crisis without resolving the debate over spending cuts.4
We have a very small window where we may be able to resolve this hostage crisis peacefully. With more and more chatter in Washington about passing a “clean” debt ceiling plan to protect seniors’ Social Security checks, soldiers’ paychecks, and the good credit of the United States, we have to act now.
But we need a huge outcry if we’re going to push this plan over the edge before it’s too late. Click below to you add your name to the petition now so we can deliver it over the weekend.
July 29th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Anna, no only really means no when your dealing with relatively mentally healthy people. There are a lot of people who are stalker material and they look perfectly normal until something trips their twisted little trigger, many are suffering form undiagnosed (and untreated obviously) disorders, bi-polar types and other illnesses strike anyone. Usually they don’t really mean to do it and they don’t mean any harm, they just get ‘addicted’ and cannot control the urge. This one thing about stalking/stalkers I have learned through experience…
- ZL
July 29th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Zen Lill:
I so sorry to hear you had to experience that.
Anna
July 29th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Running Out of Time
House Republicans continue to waste time on proposals that would end Medicare, cut Medicaid benefits, and jeopardize Social Security while protecting the top 2 percent of Americans. Passage of a short term deal will only lead to higher interest rates, a credit downgrade and another crisis in six months. Now is the time for us to join together to reduce our deficit, protect the full faith and credit of the United States and restore economic growth to our nation.
Congress must find a bipartisan, balanced solution so we can turn our focus back to America’s number one priority – jobs. House Democrats are committed to revitalizing our economy and creating new good paying jobs.
46th Anniversary of Medicare
Tomorrow marks the 46th Anniversary of Medicare. On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed this historic legislation into law; providing economic security to our seniors and, as President Johnson said, ‘dignity in their later years’. Today, Medicare provides comprehensive and affordable health care coverage to 47 million Americans, including 39 million seniors and 8 million under age 65 with disabilities.
My Democratic colleagues and I are dedicated to preserving and strengthening Medicare for future generations. The Affordable Care Act signed into law last year, added eight additional years to Medicare’s solvency without cutting benefits. As we move to reduce our federal deficit, it is crucial that this landmark legislation is protected and that our nation’s seniors are able to retire with the dignity they deserve.
Congresswoman Pelosi joins Medicare beneficiaries to mark the 46th Anniversary of Medicare.
Ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Last week, President Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen certified that requirements for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell have been met. The repeal will go into effect on September 20, 2011.
One of my proudest moments in Congress was joining with my colleagues to pass the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Act during the 111th Congress. This next step by President Obama brings our country that much closer to eliminating this discriminatory and harmful policy. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has weakened America’s security by depriving our nation of the service of thousands of gay and lesbian troops who have served their country honorably – and forcing even larger numbers of troops to lie about who they are. The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a marker of progress for every American, a sign of our long-held ability to change for the better and advance our ideals in each generation. I commend the President, Secretary Panetta, Admiral Mullen, and our military leaders for advancing the fundamental rights of all Americans and taking this bold step forward for our country.
Celebrating the Grand Re-Opening of Martin Luther King – Marcus Garvey Square Cooperative Apartments
This week, the Martin Luther King-Marcus Garvey Square Cooperative Apartments (King-Garvey Apartments) in San Francisco’s Western Addition celebrated their grand re-opening. Due to rising expenses, the King-Garvey Apartments, built in the 1970’s to provide low-income San Franciscans with the opportunity to have an ownership stake in their homes, fell into despair. Conditions worsened until the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) nearly rescinded the development’s Section 8 status and therefore, the apartment’s federal funding, and threatened to foreclose on the property in 2008.
Along with other City leaders, I worked with HUD to allow the King-Garvey community to retain their Section 8 status and forgo foreclosure. A working group of my staff and other community advocates actively engaged with the Cooperative’s Board to help them rehabilitate the property and address the deficiencies identified by HUD inspections. Improvements to the King-Garvey community include an extensive renovation of all 211 units, upgraded landscaping, expanded play areas, laundry facilities and a refurbished community center. I congratulate the King-Garvey Apartments on their grand re-opening and commend them for working to increase access to affordable housing in our community.
Please feel free to forward this information to your family and friends. To learn more about these efforts, to express your views, or to sign up for email updates, please visit my website. I am also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NancyPelosi.
Sincerely,
Member of Congress
July 29th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
Some Doctors Don’t Explain LASIK Surgery Risks
Jayne S. Weiss, MD
Some doctors don’t explain LASIK surgery risks clearly enough, and some patients are so eager for vision correction that they don’t pay enough attention to the risks, warns Jayne S. Weiss, MD.
Side effects, such as dry eyes and halos (rings of light around objects), usually are temporary but may become chronic.
People who are middle-aged and older and could read without glasses before having their distance vision corrected with LASIK may need reading glasses after the procedure.
Severe complications, such as visually disabling halos that make it impossible to work or drive, are rare… but do occur.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Jayne S. Weiss, MD, is professor of ophthalmology and pathology, and director of refractive surgery, Wayne State University and Detroit Medical Center, both in Detroit.
July 29th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Sometimes a guy just wants to be with his stuff. This is one of those times.
July 29th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Interesting that this Bill doesn’t have a heat register like most living beings.
Are we on to something? Has anyone attempted an encounter?
11ok65ru
July 29th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
If I had to leave and I couldn’t ever see you again. Would you say, “He gave his heart and soul to me?”
If you did, you would be right.
July 30th, 2011 at 8:41 am
211
No. 211 of 365
Tutor a liberal’s kids in the ways of conservative righteousness —Lesson 2.
Make them watch The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Liberals disapprove of this film because the Christian allegory is so overt. So that’s one good reason to show it to their kids.
Explain that the White Witch is probably modeled on Obama’s enviro czar Carol Browner and that the world where it’s “always winter but never Christmas” is a realistic projection of how the United States will look once global cooling kicks in and no one will be able to afford to heat their homes because of carbon taxes introduced to prevent “global warming.”
November 10th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
window bird feeders…
[...]Michelle Moquin's "A day in the life of…" » Blog Archive » Flap Your Lips Friday[...]…
December 2nd, 2011 at 6:06 am
flower delivery in nyc…
[...]Michelle Moquin's "A day in the life of…" » Blog Archive » Flap Your Lips Friday[...]…
December 8th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
pest management…
[...]Michelle Moquin's "A day in the life of…" » Blog Archive » Flap Your Lips Friday[...]…
March 26th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
Trituradora de piedra…
[...]Michelle Moquin's "A day in the life of…" » Blog Archive » Flap Your Lips Friday[...]…