The indexes are red, only by a few points, but the greater issue at hand is whether the government shuts down or not.

Democrats have agreed to $38 billion in cuts, one of the largest spending cuts in recent memory. the major sticking point at this time, is planned Parenthood, which the Republicans want to stop giving aid to. the Democrats have called this a sticking point, and it looks like mr. Market is waking up and paying attention.

(To learn how to generate cash by trading options, visit Benzinga’s Cash Generator)

The deadline is midnight tonight, and with the shutdown getting ever closer, will the markets tank, essentially forcing a deal? If so, the market can be expected to bounce back after the two sides get a deal done.

If traders believe this will happen, then they could look at adding ProShares S&P 500 Short ETF (NYSE: SDS) in response to a government shutdown, and then going long SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE: SPY) once it becomes clear that the two sides have worked out their issues.

There is an awful lot riding on a government shutdown, so it’s in the people’s best interests for no shutdown. If the government is shut down, essential services will be cut, or furloughed, and that is something no one wants.

(To see what will happen when the government shuts down, click here.)

We all understand spending is out of control, but that’s why we elected those in Washington. we want you to make the tough choices for us, in the best interest of ALL, not just some.

tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://blogs.forbes.com/benzingainsights/?p=307 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:04:20 GMT 00:00“>How To Play A Government Shutdown

SAN DIEGO — It’s official: Padres pitcher Mat Latos, a 14-game winner a year ago, will be activated from the 15-day disabled list to start on Monday against the Reds at PETCO Park.

Latos, on the disabled list since March 22 with bursitis in his right shoulder, will make his 2011 debut against a team he didn’t face last season.

“It’s time to get him back on the horse,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He feels ready. … I think he’s excited for his first start of the year.”

Latos, who threw a side session before Friday’s game against the Dodgers, told reporters this week he was itching to get into a game.

“Everything just feels right,” Latos said.

Black said Latos — who threw 70 pitches in a Minor League simulated game on Monday in Arizona — will not be on a pitch count.

“He’s pretty well stretched out,” Black said.

Latos, one of three Padres pitchers to win 14 games a year ago, was on pace to make his first Opening Day start before suffering a sore shoulder two days after a March 21 exhibition start against the White Sox.

Bench coach Renteria has follow-up procedure

SAN DIEGO — Padres bench coach Rick Renteria didn’t get much of a chance to enjoy his off-day Thursday, as he was in Phoenix to have a follow-up procedure done on his mouth.

Renteria was struck in the mouth on March 3 after a line drive glanced off a protective screen and hit him. the force of the ball pushed back his upper teeth and he needed to have his maxillary bone — also known as the mustache bone — repaired.

Renteria, remarkably, didn’t lose any teeth in the incident.

On Thursday, Renteria had the arch bar that was aiding the healing of the bone removed.

Renteria is still limited to what he can eat and does most of his chewing on either side of his mouth.

“In a month, I look forward to eating some good stuff,” he said.

Renteria was moving a protective screen during batting practice at the Spring Training facility in Arizona when a line drive was hit directly at him. Renteria figured the mesh netting of the screen would catch the ball. But the ball glanced off a metal pole on the screen and hit him flush in the face.

Black recalls playing with Manny

SAN DIEGO — for a brief time in 1995, Bud Black’s final season as a player, he was a teammate of Manny Ramirez in Cleveland.

Black remembered being impressed with the then 23-year-old.

“You could tell he was a very talented player. … he had great hands, had a keen eye and you could just tell he would continue to hit,” Black said of Ramirez, who announced his retirement on Friday after receiving a notification from Major League Baseball about a drug issue.

Ramirez, who was beginning his first season with the Rays, hit 31 home runs and drove in 107 runs for the Indians in 1995, the season they went 100-44 and lost to the Braves in the World Series.

“I don’t think anyone knew at the time what he was destined for,” Black said.

Black, at age 38, went 4-2 with a 6.85 ERA with the Indians in 11 games in 1995 before he was released on July 14.

Top prospect Kelly debuts in Padres system

SAN DIEGO — Pitcher Casey Kelly, regarded as the top Minor League prospect in the Padres farm system, made his organizational debut on Friday.

Kelly, one of four players the Padres obtained from the Red Sox in the December deal that sent All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to Boston, allowed three earned runs over 4 1/3 innings in Double-A San Antonio’s game against Northwest Arkansas.

Kelly allowed five hits and had one walk and one strikeout. he threw 83 pitches, 54 for strikes.

Kelly, a right-hander, allowed two runs in the first inning and went unscored upon until the fifth inning.

Kelly, 21, had a 3.00 ERA in four Cactus League appearances over nine innings for the Padres before being sent to Minor League camp.

tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110408″>Latos to make season debut on Monday

A fourteen-trillion deficitIs nothing at to sneer,but in these times of hope and changeWe think we’ve been austere.Another one-point-five-trillionAnd then we’ll start to pare:We want to keep our budget cutsAll legal, safe and rare.

We know the voters turned us outThe last election day,And gave the House to radicals,Hell-bent on foul play.but voters took a different tackAnd did the Senate spare,so we just treat RepublicansAs legal, safe and rare.

Though consequences are to flowBeyond the ballot box,In truth we don’t much give a damnFor populi’s clear vox.so let those new House membersPass all the bills they dare;Their chances in the Upper HouseAre legal, safe and rare.

And if the House’s budget cutsAre aimed at NPR,We’ll brand the cuts extremist hate;We’ll paint the cuts bizarre.And if planned Parenthood should fallInto the budget snare,Abortion’s kept, we’ll say, by usAs legal, safe and rare.

Here’s hoping never comes the dayThe public starts to seek,The truth behind our fresh facadeAnd media technique.for if they do we run the riskThey may become aware:Few words can mask the truth as wellAs legal, safe and rare.

Govt Shutdown: GOP backs down from its war on the EPA? – Red, Green, and Blue

I love haiku, simple and beautiful.

I will start, can you write one for me.

Khandahar road trip
landmine disaster, my boys
blacksmoke, desert sky

dude. find a different subject man . fisheies !! me!! butterflies or something peacful !

the scorching sunshine
offers no comparison
to the fire within

That's very entertaining..thank you.

Crying, covered mothers
Weep for lost sons
War forgives no one

I know we're not in voting yet, but I like jsunflower's answer a lot.

Haiku are supposed to capture a moment, not just comment.

A war far away.
This is a funny question.
Middle East conflict.

jsunflower's is really good… I know mine isn't "capturing the moment." give me a break. I suck at haikus.

body parts skyward
roasted brown earth
stink

Explosion of sand
tiny granules block the sun
all seem blind to peace

i like your icon
cowboy hat and air guitar
playing for the man

Bush really messed up
Hinesight is 20/20
We need to pull out

Someday we'll find Osama,
We'll get you back for 9-11
Afghanistan is ashamed
(the syllables are 7,9,7)

Rag Head Die bala
Durka Durka Jihad bala
balalalala

Can you write a haiku about the war in Afghanistan?

hello, I understand that I often posted similar topic related with act test, because i try to focus in this topicKingsport!: ACT Testing Information Beginning in 2010, all 11th grade students in Tennessee are required to take the ACT, at no cost. Kingsport City Schools will be closed on Tuesday, March 15 to allow for the administration of the ACT test at Dobyns-Bennett High School.

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1. Firing Pearl right move by UT … how ’bout it, Ohio State – Daily Trends.

act test –

A well-dressed lady approached me at the podium. I had just completed my lecture, “Overcoming the Fears of Success,” to a group of professional women. “What you said is wonderful for these ladies, but I am 64 years old and I don’t have a goal,” said the elderly professional. I looked lovingly into her eyes and replied, “I suggest that you set a goal. It is important to have reasons to be alive.”

The woman seemed inspired by my words. I never saw her again so I cannot tell you what she chose to do. however, I can pass this message on to you.

I continually hear about men and women who work their whole lives looking forward to retirement. within a few years, they are diagnosed with a serious illness and/or made their transition.

I am 66 years young and retirement is not in my vocabulary. My hair is still the original auburn hue, and I am healthy, slim, active, and having fun. I have a mission that is keeping me young and vibrant. It is to help people to “love themselves to peace,” which I believe is the key to health, happiness, success, and world peace. I fulfill my mission by my writings, healing sessions, lectures, and interviews. I also am a teacher of the therapy I developed and I intend to do all that until the day I leave this planet.

To reach my goal and to feel good, I take care of my body by meditating, getting enough sleep, exercising, walking, eating healthy foods, drinking lots of purified water, and taking the appropriate supplements. I also balance my life by socializing and playing.

I also pay attention to my thoughts and feelings and use my HART (Holistic and Rapid Transformation) process to let go of my fears and shift back into my love and joy space. I am convinced that there are basically only two emotions and they are fear and love. Fear causes contraction, stress, and dis-ease, and love creates peace, expansion and health.

Therefore, my major goal is to be in my love space and be kind to others and myself. I also laugh a lot which is very healing. I see the humor in life situations and I usually watch television programs and movies that are inspirational or funny and touch me in the heart (romantic comedies).

I hope that I have inspired you to live forever young. your goal does not have to be a major one like mine to help you enjoy a quality, healthy life. It could be to: wake up each morning and choose love rather than fear; create a wonderful garden; organize social groups; help children read; be a surrogate grandparent to a child in need; write your memoirs; travel; volunteer for various good causes; and/or start a small mail order business with a product you believe is making a difference in peoples lives. The list is endless and is only limited by your desires. Believe in yourself and stay mentally, physically, and socially active. The world needs your love, caring, and joy. You need the same to be forever young.

The following guidelines offer more ways to enjoy to a long, fulfilling, healthy life.

Looking for the humor in situations and I laugh heartily.

Forgiving others and myself when I am not pleased with what happens.

Realizing that being responsible includes resting and playing.

Daily looking for ways I can express love and caring to others and myself.

Accepting that I make a difference with my positive thoughts, words, and actions.

Living in moderation and giving my body what it needs to be healthy.

Focusing on the quality of life, which is doing my best to express all that I am.

Grateful to be alive, and choosing to enjoy each precious day.

Forever Young

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Do you own an office? well, in that case, just owning an office space with little office furniture would not help your business. You would also have to ensure that you have a good source of office supplies as well. In fact, there are several things that are included in you office supplies and most of these things are essential. without this equipment, your office would not run properly or efficiently. It is particularly due to this reason that shopping for office supplies becomes very important. When you have these supplies ready in your hand, you can be assured that you would get them whenever you require them.

Therefore, whenever you run an office, it is essential for you to have a regular supply of these items. At frequent intervals, you need to check out whether the supply in your office is sufficient and whether you are being able to manage the expenditure of these supplies. if you think, that there are some items which you might not be required at your office every time, you can reduce the expenditure and save little more by avoiding its purchase. However, this does not mean that you would compromise the important and essential items which are required for the smooth functioning of your office.

Papers, pens, letterheads, markers, envelopes which are pre-printed, erasers, stamps, staplers and many more important things are an essential part of the office supplies that should necessarily be present in your office. even in the advanced days, when computer has occupied a prominent part of the business, you cannot deny the significance of these supplies at any cost. Therefore, since these are essential items, you must ensure that you have contact with good dealers, who would regular supply you with the essential items at lower rates.

Office Supplies Are Essential For the Smooth Functioning Of an Office

Toward the end of the last season of “American Idol”, there was a brutal attempt at a high note made by contestant Danny Gokey. trying to hit the high note at the end of Aerosmith’s “Dream On”, the note(s) he did hit were excruciating to hear and were actually made fun of incessantly the next day on video sites and on television.

He had to strain so hard to hit the note that he missed it both on the upside and the downside, wavering back and forth. Although he is certainly an accomplished singer, this was not a good example of singing. you need to learn how to sing high notes without straining if you are going to be successful on stage.

Although it would make sense that women would be able to strain less while hitting notes much easier than men, it is not always true. Some women just try to out-sing their own vocal chords and go too high. a singer like Mariah Carey, with her crazy range, can almost never go too high, but for the rest of us mortals, we will eventually get to a note in a song that we can’t hit – and we know it when we’re there.

Men sometimes try too hard as well, thinking that with force they can get that note out. but sometimes air volume alone will not create a note and if your vocal chords are not trained to hit it, it simply won’t happen. the key is to practice expanding your vocal range every single day.

Why is Singing like Playing an Instrument?

Just like playing an instrument, you have to practice singing in order for it to come with more ease. if you are serious about learning how to sing high notes without straining, then you have to regularly practice working your way up to those notes so that your body can get used to it.

How to Sing High Notes Wthout Straining

The second largest consumers of promotional products are office supply companies – and it’s little wonder. Since most stationers and office supply retailers offer the same range of products, there are only a few ways to stand out. The most important way, of course, is in establishing and maintaining excellent customer relationships. those relationships should be based on providing the very best customer service possible – but promotional products also play a valuable part in making those relationships personal.

Since so many promotional products are products that are offered for sale by office supply companies and stationers, there are many choices of promotional products that are appropriate for your type of company. The ones that you choose will depend on the purpose of your promotion. any promotional products or marketing gifts should be part of a carefully planned and considered marketing plan. Some considerations in choosing the right promotional products for your company are:

Purpose of the Promotional Gift

Marketing professionals use promotional products in many different ways – often within the same campaign. One campaign might include a mailer sent out by direct mail with a pad of sticky notes and an offer of a free mouse pad with an order of more than £25. your company might decide to institute a loyalty programme with promo points and different levels of rewards for purchases. Choose promotional products that are appropriate to the purpose of the gift.

Value to Cost Ratio

Once you know the purpose of the gift that you’re giving, you can assign a value to it. if you’re sending out direct mail flyers and expect a response of 1 out of every 300 mailers, the cost of three hundred mailers is your cost to acquire one new customer. You can reduce that amount by increasing the response to your mailers with a more valuable gift. The gift that you choose to give your most valued customers should be of higher value than one that you hand out to a customer who may make one purchase every two or three months.

Increase sales of particular items

Want to increase sales of one of your high profit margin items? Offer a promotional gift with purchase and you’ll see sales soar. Choose promotional products that coordinate with the products that you want to sell. Better yet, choose a product that is complemented by the product on which you want to increase sales. is your intent to increase sales of a particular size of sticky notes? Include a free refillable note dispenser in the right size for that line of sticky notes.

Timing of your Promotional Campaigns

Pay attention to the timing of your promotional campaigns. There are certain types of items that will make a big impression at particular times of year. Calendars and desk pads at the turn of the year, account books just before tax time, loyalty gifts at holiday time – these are all well-timed promotional gifts. Other promotional campaign ideas are timed in the life cycle of the company or of your company. Anniversary promotions, office opening gifts and the like are all great ways to recognize your customers and increase your name recognition at the same time.

For additional information on promotional items, business gifts and marketing promotional products why not check out the market leading online suppliers where you will find a massive range of items to choose from and also get exceptionally low prices combined with highly professional fast service levels.

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