Kayla's Reads and Reviews: Ranch Hero by Janet Green

Synopsis:
Kid lit with a comic book twist!?

This is a tale of a very cool farm dog named Ziggy, who is drawn to save a squirrel from certain demise. In doing so, he sacrifices his own life . . . or does he?
Through a chain of spine-tingling events, Ziggy discovers his true calling: Ranch Hero. This book reminds us that life is indeed a wonderful mystery and that maybe our guardian angels don?t always have wings.?

This is book one with more adventures to come!

My Thoughts:

Ranch Hero is a good children?s book. The book would be perfect for any child that has recently lost a pet. In the book, Ziggy the dog gets hit by a truck saving a squirrel from getting killed. Ziggy becomes an angel who saves his friends from the donkeys?harassment? This book teaches a few lessons to children. The first lesson that it teaches are that friendship and love are eternal. Ziggy loves his friends so much that he comes back as an angel to save them. The second lesson that the book teaches is the most important. When a pet dies, don?t be sad for them because they become happier. Before Ziggy died he was reasonably happy. However, when he comes back as an angel he is even happier because he is able to help his friends. The illustrations in this book leave a lot to be desired. There was something about them that I didn?t care for. I just can?t figure out exactly what it was. However, the story is still good despite the illustrations. I recommend this book for children ages 4-10.?

I give Ranch Hero: 4/5.

Want to know more about the author?

Website:?http://www.thewordverve.com/

Twitter:?https://twitter.com/thewordverve

Goodreads:?http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6536699.Janet_Green

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Source: http://kaylasreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/2012/12/ranch-hero-by-janet-green.html

knowshon moreno sovereign citizen komen chrome for android hatchet leah messer freedom riders

Obama Accuses House GOP of Holding Middle Class Tax Cuts 'Hostage'

President Obama is urging Congress to extend tax breaks for the middle class, saying it's "unacceptable for some Republicans in Congress to hold middle class tax cuts hostage simply because they refuse to let tax rates go up on the wealthiest Americans."

With the clock ticking toward the so-called "fiscal cliff," Obama asked lawmakers in his weekly address to "begin by doing what we all agree on" and extend the middle class tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year.

Read: Cliff Dive: A Stalemate and a Scrooge Christmas

"With the issue behind us, we'll have more time to work out a plan to bring down our deficits in a balanced way, including by asking the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more, so we can still invest in the things that make our nation strong," he said from a toy manufacturing facility in Hatfield, Pa., where he delivered a similar message to workers Friday.

The president has launched a public campaign to try and force Republicans to sign on to his position on the expiring Bush tax cuts, asking them to pass a Senate bill that would maintain low middle class tax rates while allowing them to go up on the top income earners.

"If we can just get a few House Republicans on board, I'll sign this bill as soon as Congress sends it my way," he said.

Read: Could Outgoing Republicans Hold Keys to 'Fiscal Cliff'?

Earlier this week, the White House put forth a deficit reduction proposal to avert the looming tax increases and spending cuts set to kick in on Jan. 1, which included $1.6 trillion in tax increases over the next 10 years, $50 billion in new stimulus spending, $400 billion in unspecified Medicare cuts, and a measure to effectively end Congress's ability to vote on the debt limit. The offer, which closely mirrors the president's previous deficit-reduction plans, lacked concessions to Republicans, including detailed spending cuts, and was strongly rejected.

Since then, as House Speaker John Boehner put it, negotiations between the White House and House Republicans have come to a "stalemate."

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-accuses-house-gop-holding-middle-class-tax-110043481--abc-news-politics.html

jennifer love hewitt secret service prostitution 4 20 george zimmerman sheree whitfield weather dallas pat summitt

SeniorsAloud: YOUR FUTURE RETIREMENT HOME MIGHT LOOK ...

With the world population rapidly ageing, and with baby boomers demanding better options for housing when they retire, innovative ideas for elder housing have sprung up in the USA and elsewhere.

One such housing option is the Medcottage or more popularly referred to as the 'Granny Pod'. Here's how the idea first began...

Now for a look inside the granny pod.

The concept of Granny pods is really not that revolutionary. I recall back in the 1980s, one of my many cousins had a self-contained annex built in his backyard for his elderly parents. It had a bedroom, a sitting room, bath and toilet, and a small kitchen. Electricity, water and phone line were linked to the main house. My cousin's live-in maid did all the cooking and family meals were served in the main house. His parents helped babysit the children when he and his wife were at work. It was the perfect solution to parent-care and childcare.

Of course, this situation worked as long as his parents remained active and independent. But when they got on in years, and required assistance with daily living, they had to move into the main house.

The major difference between a granny pod and my cousin's backyard annex for his elderly parents is that the former is portable, and apparently can be set up in four days! Think of it as a giant container that you could lift with a crane and move to wherever you want to place it.

Will granny pods take off? What do you think?

Related article:

GRANNY PODS: THE FUTURE OF ELDERLY LIVING?

Source: http://seniorsaloud.blogspot.com/2012/12/your-future-retirement-home-might-look.html

columbus day columbus day Stacy Dash Amber Tamblyn Lilit Avagyan Nashville TV Show VP debate

Look to Your Driveway for Your Next Craft Project

Did you know that if you have a gravel driveway you have tons of craft supplies? Small rocks and gravel are perfect for making all sorts of cheap or unsightly things around the house look so much better. Take, for instance, an old plastic or glass bud vase. Women who receive flowers once or twice a year could be swamped with these ordinary vases. Some of us throw them away; some hang on to them for no reason. Unless, that is, they always knew a craft would come along to create something fantastic from those useless vases.

Gluing rocks onto all sorts of items lets you create themes that look expensive but are ultra-cheap. Its important that the rocks be somewhat small, very clean, and extremely dry. Place rocks in knee-his to wash them in the dishwasher. Lay rocks out on a towel to dry. Rocks can retain water so make sure the rocks are not damp whatsoever.

Regular hot glue will work great for attaching the rocks to most surfaces. Even if hot glue wont hold the rocks for a long time its only necessary to hold them temporarily. After the rocks have been hot glued onto the object you can then coat the entire project with clear lacquer. The lacquer will provide additional adhesive qualities that will keep the glued rocks in place. If you dont happen to have a gravel driveway you can purchase decorative rocks at craft stores. You can also get bags of small rocks at a home improvement store. Theyre not expensive and a small bag of rocks goes a long way towards giving a make-over to many different things in your home. The rocks are available in many different colors, types and sizes so you can do small projects, like picture frames and bud vases, or larger projects like windowsills and range hoods. Create unusual artwork by starting with the small rocks. Purchase plastic canvas to use as the canvas for your creation. The plastic canvas can be found at most any craft store. It resembles a screen with larger holes and comes in molded colors. The flat canvas is bendable yet sturdy. Glue rocks all over the canvas or create a particular pattern or image. Its easy to do this if you start with a coloring book page. Glue the page to the canvas then glue the rocks in place on the picture. Hang the finished rock artwork on any wall. Use rocks and plastic canvas to make other things, too. Cut a square, rectangle, circle or oval from plastic canvas then glue on the rocks. This makes a fabulous table centerpiece that can hold a basket of fruit or a napkin holder and condiments. Make smaller versions to create unique coasters as well. The plastic canvas can be cut in small shapes like a quarter-moon or even a banana, to make unusual art pieces that can hang on a wall. Use glue dots, double-sided tape or even tiny nails to hold the rock-covered canvas to the walls. Cut small squares of canvas, cover them in rocks, then attach them to the corners of your door facings. This gives any doorway an instant facelift. Arrange the small rocks into monograms or initials for a fireplace mantle or a window cornice. The same can be done on the front of a lamp, a basket or an old trunk. There are no limits to the many things you can make for your home and family by using the tiny rocks to create art and decor pieces. Get the kids in on the fun! Theyll love being able to make all kinds of cool things with the small rocks. In the kitchen cover utensil holders, window sills, the hood of the range, or a table centerpiece. In the bathroom cover toothbrush holders, soap dishes and light switch covers. In a childs room make unique pencil holders for a desk or a wall hanging from a coloring book page. Glue the rocks to an old wooden fireplace mantle, in the den or living room, and create a rustic look for little money. Whether or not you have rocks or gravel in your driveway shouldnt stop you from creating some really great rock decor and gifts. Since the rocks are so inexpensive, and a small bag goes a long way, make rock-covered gifts for all your friends and family members. Theyll never know you made the gifts yourself; the

Source: http://edna2012y.blogspot.com/2012/12/look-to-your-driveway-for-your-next.html

shaka smart hungergames bagpipes aspirin aspirin 21 jump street illinois primary results

Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies

Wenatchee and ?Quincy Home Inspection

As a home inspector and structural pest inspector I field funny calls at times.

Many people know or read that I am a structural pest inspector and with that think that I am an authority on all pests. Well unfortunately that is not true? I am not an authority on all pests. I cannot give you very good guidance on your little brother or a nosey neighbor or a host of other pests.

Structural pest are a select group of insects and organisms that will destroy the integrity of wood structural components. The main pests I am concerned with are termites, carpenter ants, moisture ants and Anobiid beetles. The other major concern is wood decay rot fungi. There are other wood destroying insects but are not very common in my area.

?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??

But what is true I can usually find answers for people and or give them direction on who to call.

Case in point, I get a call from an associate of mine and she was beside herself. She said ?I did not know who to call. I have flies all over my house and it is driving me crazy?.

After a little giggle we get down to helping her out with her house of flies.

Flies can be a nuisance for sure. But they are like many things an indication of something, usually that you have something dying and decaying in the home.

A little Fly-ology- The most common flies we will encounter are;

House fly- House flies are 3/16 to 1/4 inch long with robust bodies and two clear wings. The thorax is marked with four dark stripes. Larvae are called maggots and are creamy-white and cone-shaped, with the hind end blunt and bearing breathing holes (spiracles) tapering to the head which bears black hook-like mouthparts.

Female flies lay numbers of eggs in suitable larval food sources such as decomposing food in garbage, animal excrement or other decomposing organic materials. Development from egg to adult can be completed in about a week under optimal conditions. Adults normally live up to 25 days but may overwinter.

Little House Fly- They are generally most numerous during the cooler spring and fall months. Adults are approximately two-thirds the size of the house fly and are missing the house fly?s distinctive thoracic stripes. They rest hold their wings over the back more than the house fly does, creating a narrower V-shape to the wing outline.

Females like to lay their eggs in animal wastes (especially chicken manure), but various moist organic materials can serve as suitable nesting substances. Their developmental time from egg to adult is somewhat longer than for the house fly at all temperatures.

Garbage Fly- A group of fly species with similar life histories and behaviors. Adult flies in this group can be readily differentiated from other flies by their coloration, which is a shiny, metallic green or blue often mixed with some copper color.

These flies can develop from egg to adult in as little as 7 days. Eggs are usually laid in decaying meats, garbage, or dog feces. Similar to other nuisance flies, garbage fly larvae leave their developmental site to seek out drier and more protected areas for pupation.

Fruit Fly-There are many species of fruit flies, ranging in size from 1/32 to 3/32. They can be recognized by the rather bulbous shape of their lower bodies, which is frequently an orange or light brown color. They are relatively slow flyers, often hovering around fruit or juice. They have an excellent sense of smell and are strongly attracted by bananas.

Female fruit flies are capable of laying hundreds of eggs and develop from egg to adult in about a week. Eggs are most commonly laid on moist, fermenting food masses such as over-ripe fruit and vegetables.

The main elements of fly prevention are sanitation and exclusion, with sanitation always the first priority. ?The fewer flies that breed in an area, the fewer there will be indoors. So keeping garbage areas clean and take your garbage out frequently. ?Throw away any decaying fruits and organics. Also I was shown by an old glazier that ?Sprayaway? glass cleaner is an excellent flying insect knock down spray. Gotta love old glaziers. I saw this in action.

These insects have been known to carry over 100 different kinds of disease-causing germs, which makes them very bad house guests.

Ancora Imparo

NCW Home Inspections, LLC ?is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more? ?

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com ????????? 509-670-9572

?

Source: http://activerain.com/blogsview/3536729/lord-of-the-flies

the bee gees woodward keratosis pilaris rock and roll hall of fame 2012 brandon rios oklahoma news nascar news

Athens city guide | Travel & Leisure - Teagerttadam77s blog - Odell ...

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Source: http://odellfischer.typepad.com/blog/2012/12/athens-city-guide-travel-leisure-teagerttadam77s-blog.html

a wrinkle in time benjamin netanyahu storm shelters nick lachey chevy volt christina hendricks lifelock

4,3-???????? ????? teXet T-990A ???????? ?? Android 4.0 ...

???????? JavaScript

? ??? ???????? JavaScript. ????????? ??????????? ??????? ?? ????? ????????. ??????????, ???????? JavaScript ??? ????????? ??????? ?? ???? ????????.

Source: http://forums.ferra.ru/index.php?showtopic=53262

justin timberlake michael dyer bachmann bachmann iowa caucus results sickle cell trait sugar bowl

New Jersey derailment: How safe are hazmat rail shipments?

The New Jersey derailment on Friday sent tank cars carrying toxic vinyl chloride off a collapsed bridge and into a creek, reviving safety concerns. But hazmat rail accidents are down.

By Mark Clayton,?Staff writer / November 30, 2012

Officials examine a derailed freight train tank car in Paulsboro, N.J., Friday morning. People in three southern New Jersey towns were told Friday to stay inside after a freight train derailed and several tanker cars carrying hazardous materials toppled from a bridge and into a creek.

Mel Evans/AP

Enlarge

A derailment that caused a spill of toxic and highly flammable gas from at least one of several tank cars that toppled off a New Jersey bridge and into a creek, has raised concerns about rail shipments of hazardous chemicals through the nation's cities and highly populated areas.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition

In the immediate aftermath, New Jersey authorities blamed a bridge failure for sending seven train cars plunging into Mantua Creek, according local news reports. At least four of the tank cars containing toxic vinyl chloride fell from the collapsed bridge into the creek, the South Jersey Times reported.

Just one of the cars leaked vinyl chloride, which eventually dissipated into the air, state officials told the Associated Press. But some 20 people were reportedly affected by the vapor from the wreck with nearby residents evacuated and schools locked down.

It was a sharp reminder of years gone by, when the threat of tank cars carrying toxic chemicals through urban communities was a top concern.

After 9/11, federal authorities and Congress highlighted the threat from rail cars carrying chlorine, ammonia, other toxic gases, as well as explosives, traveling through densely populated areas. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2002 warned that Al Qaeda might be planning to attack US trains, either to derail them or to blow up hazardous material-laden tank cars.

The cause was also joined by environmental groups and activists who, among other things, famously photographed a tank car carrying chlorine with the nation's Capitol building in the background. That began a push to get such shipments detoured around metropolitan areas and heavily populated areas.

A handful of major accidents, including a 2001 freight train derailment near Minot, N.D., drove home the activists' point. In that case, five tank cars carrying ammonia gas broke open, releasing toxic fumes that killed one and injured 1,441, federal data show. In 2005, a train collision in Graniteville, S.C., broke open one tank car loaded with 90 tons of chlorine, releasing about two-thirds of the gas. Nine died and 252 were injured. ???????????

Following the North Dakota accident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in a 2004 study concluded that more than half of the 60,000 rail tank cars used to transport hazardous materials at that time were not built according to standards and were susceptible to rupture in the case of an accident.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/higOT4bgAgc/New-Jersey-derailment-How-safe-are-hazmat-rail-shipments

w.e. episodes idris elba kelsey grammer martin henderson mlk day golden globes 2012 winners