Pink Floyd: In the very pink

Sweet Williams are a superatlive variety of garden pinks

Pink Floyd is a very popular online search topic today. I have no idea why, but that doesn't matter. I find it easiest to write about a thing when I know nothing about it and don't care. Pink Floyd is popular right now, which for my purposes is all that matters. Before turning to more interesting uses of the word pink, I shall first bow to any readers who may be looking for  information about Pink Floyd by pointing out that musical recordings can be purchased with the proceeds of small cash loans and then briefly summarizing the relevant Wikipedia entry.

According to Wikipedia

I just read the Wikipedia entry for Pink Floyd. It would appear that the English rock band earned recognition for its psychedelic music in the 1960s and its progressive rock music in the 1970s. Actually, I remember Pink Floyd, but I can't think of anything to add to what Wikipedia has already said, except to point out that when people like Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright, and Syd Barrett are members of a collective noun like band, the noun is singular and requires singular verbs and pronouns.

Thus, "the band was" is the proper verb inflection, and not "the band were."  Similarly, "it evolved" (not "they") and "its progressive rock music" (not "their") are the correct pronoun usages when referring to "the band." I think these things would be true even if the Wikipedia entry was -- as I suspect -- written by an Englishman in the mother tongue. Then again, when it comes to matters of grammar and spelling in the mother tongue, I know better than to be certain of anything. In any event, the Wikipedia entry, being very long and heavily linked, is adequate for anyone who wants to read about Pink Floyd. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Pink Floyd: In the very pink"

Twins closer Joe Nathan could miss 2010 with torn UCL

Joe Nathan (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

If Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan decides that it's necessary to have surgery on his torn ulnar collateral ligament, the AL Central "engine that could" will be without one of the best stoppers in the history of the game for at least the 2010 Major League Baseball season. The right elbow ligament tear could shut Joe Nathan down even if he doesn't opt for surgery, so the Twins' situation is indeed dire. They'd need some serious payday cash.

Think closers like Joe Nathan aren't important because they only pitch 70 innings per year?

You'd be wrong. Once upon a time in baseball (pre-Hoyt Wilhelm), a pitcher who only threw 70 innings was just a step away from being a garbage man. They were definitely only used in "garbage situations" where the game was well out of hand and the starter was injured. But Hoyt Wilhelm spearheaded the evolutionary shift toward some pitchers being used as late-inning relief specialists in the 1950s.

Today, relievers who pitch in 70 to 80 games per season, one inning per appearance, are common and paid handsomely for their talents. Joe Nathan just happens to be one of the best in the business, and a major reason why the mid-market Minnesota Twins remain competitive against big spenders like the division rival Detroit Tigers – not to mention AL East powerhouses like the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Twins closer Joe Nathan could miss 2010 with torn UCL"

The Hurt Locker wins Oscar, faces charges of military propaganda

In the spirit of hearing both sides, here's a dissenting view of "The Hurt Locker," courtesy of Tara McKelvey of American Prospect. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

The makers of the Oscar-winning film "The Hurt Locker" claim that more than anything, their film is an indictment of war. Their stated intent is to show its horrors and catalogue how those horrors permanently warp the lives of those who cling to threads of life and sanity. Yet there exists a strong movement – a dissenting view, if you will, a view that looks beyond the objections Sgt. Jeffrey Sarver has about the film – which states that the film contributes to American military propaganda. The dissenting view is that it could easily serve as a U.S. Army recruitment film rather than a warning of the pointless nature of interminable armed conflict. Remember, as George Orwellian newspeak in "1984" so succinctly puts it, "War is peace."

Not to take away from Kathryn Bigelow's accomplishment with "The Hurt Locker"

It took until the 82^nd annual Academy Awards for it to happen, but a woman (Kathryn Bigelow) has finally won Best Director honors. This is an historic occasion that should be celebrated with good cheer and fast cash loans, and I'm certain that Bigelow will go on to do more vital film work that will continue to bury "Point Break" deep beneath the ground. I don't shine a light on Tara McKelvey's view of "The Hurt Locker" in American Prospect because I want to discredit Kathryn Bigelow's achievement as a director. From all reports, "The Hurt Locker" is a compelling film. But we should not drink from the River Lethe and ignore our obligation as free-thinking individuals to question authority. The day we follow blindly is the day we dispose of our liberty. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "The Hurt Locker wins Oscar, faces charges of military propaganda"

Rep. Eric Massa calls Rahm Emanuel son of the devils spawn

"Please don't hurt me, Mr. Son of the devil's spawn!"

Politics make for tough sledding, boys and girls. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel recognizes this, and reports indicate that he sharpens the runners before going to work. That's why it doesn't surprise me at all that people like Rep. Eric Massa refer to him as "the son of the devil's spawn," a classic phrase if ever there was one about political bedfellows. In the case of Eric Massa and Rahm Emanuel, however, their sparring matches extended into the shower. You can't hide from the long arm of the Rahm, people.

Eric Massa won't run for another term, claims Rahm forced him out

That's one way of looking at it. Another might be Mr. Massa's recent sexual harassment scrape, as well as thoughts about health care that run contrary to constituents in his district (see the video below). Some might argue that Eric Massa calling out Rahm Emanuel as "son of the devil's spawn" has less bite than it could have, if Massa had a better public reputation. But there is little doubt that Rahm Emanuel isn't tossing softballs when he's hunting for Obama-centric votes. Emanuel isn't above calling liberal activists who don't fall in line "retarded," and he has no qualms about living rent-free if it serves his political ends. But what stands out is that Rahm Emanuel is simply mean. Whether he gets his quick loans from Mephistopheles is uncertain. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Rep. Eric Massa calls Rahm Emanuel son of the devils spawn"

Getting college loans

What about them

It can be hard to sent your child to school and feel like you must pay for everything. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen very easily. Finding the money to pay for your child's education can be really hard. Luckily, there is a system available that can help you.

What's different between subsidized and unsubsidized.

Your child will be better off with subsidized loans. The loans don't accumulate any interest until your kids are don't with school. They are financial based loans meaning they can be tricky to get sometimes. Your child won't need to pay interest because the government will for them until they’re out of college. The bad part is the fact they can be difficult to get. Subsidized loans won't be offered to your children unless you make a small amount of money. This is why you need to help your children by saving and helping them find a job.

Paying off subsidized loans

When given subsidized loans your children should pay them while still in college. After college it will have helped a lot for them to make small payments every month.

Hot to pay off unsubsidized

Your unsubsidized loans need to be close to subsidized. The interest that accumulates each month should be the minimum payment made. It is very important make these payments in order to keep the loan down. If you don't pay the interest then the interest and total will increase. Pay more than just the interest each month if possible.

How to pay it off

Try to build your credit while paying off your loans. Maybe you could get a credit card to start with. It could be good to pay to your loan what you might normally pay with your credit card. You need to make sure and pay this off your credit card quickly. Making major purchases is easier with good credit. Later on your children will be better prepared to buy houses and cars.

Where to get the loans

I believe it is best to get loans through the school loan program. By doing this you will get better interest rates. With other companies and banks your interest rate will accumulate your debt to more than you can handle. Help your children understand this concept. If you want them to be successful financially, they must know what to do with credit cards and loans.

Top 7 annoying grammar mistakes on Facebook

The Internet has done countless wonderful things for humankind. That said, it has led to decline in respect for the written word, especially regarding grammar, punctuation, and capitalization, and most egregiously, spelling. As Exhibit A, I would suggest anyone take a good look at any Facebook page. If you want to be taken more seriously and not annoy the more discerning people you know, learn to avoid these common Facebook mistakes. You won’t even need cash loans to get a tutor.

1. They knew the difference between “your” and “you’re” in days of yore

For some reason this word seems to be misused more often than it is used correctly. The word “you’re” is a contraction of “you” and “are” and yes, uses an apostrophe. Take a second to edit – it won’t take long and you’ll look better for it. You double check your information before you submit a personal loan application, right? The word “your” is a possessive, as in “your grammar skills are worse than a middle school student, and you’re 40.”

2. Apostrophe usage

Many people have decided that using apostrophes is unnecessary when posting message for all the world to see on Facebook. This makes communication confusing, and more to the point, annoying. If you use a possessive that uses a contraction, use an apostrophe – if 12 year olds know that you don’t have an excuse. It also engages your pinkie, the most neglected of your digits.

3. Capitalization that doesn’t involve D.C.

I will admit to guilt on this one if using an instant messenger. However, that’s because many times a lag in the conversation can make it confusing. That said, a Facebook status message can be edited before your pathetic grammar skills are put on display for all to see. Capitalize things, especially when referring to yourself as “I.”

4. Using homophones incorrectly

Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. For instance, if you don’t know the difference between “passed” and “past,” “then” you are worse at your own language “than” a 5th grader, this is far “too” obvious “to” ignore – see what I did there? This bothers me mostly because I think that if writers were to think for a split second, they'd know the correct form to use.

5. Unpunctual punctuation

People use punctuation on Facebook that doesn’t actually exist or have a function in the English language. For instance, I have a friend who often uses “..” instead of an ellipsis (…) or a period. Why? I understand that commas and hyphens and semicolons and such are way too much to ask for, but at least stick to real punctuation. Calm down on the exclamation point usage while you're at it.

6. Copy/paste statuses

It isn’t so much a mistake as an instance where the mistakes are more glaring. Not everyone is a fan of "copy and paste this to your status " trend, and it bothers me even more when I see the same mistake over and over. If you do copy and paste one of those viral status messages, go ahead and fix mistakes in it. It isn’t as if it is that difficult. Getting online cash loans is about as easy.

7. Titling Quizzes

I have actually seen grammatical mistakes in quiz titles that were about grammar. The authors aren’t always obvious, but if you write something that will get wide circulation, please get it right. It is bad enough that we have to be bothered with announcements about who is taking what quiz, but numerous quizzes with incorrect titles are something we all don’t want to see a lot of.

Hotel Experience Tips for you

Things to Look for

Considering a visit to a place without spending plenty of cash is nearly impossible. If you are wanting to travel to a place that is new to you, that is usually the situation. You will be seeking to keep your expenses down, while making an effort to smile all the time. Before you go on your trip, you may need to conduct some research, in an effort to find the right hotel. Here are some tips that may help you in your effort.

How to choose the Location of your Choice

You’ll find the most important aspects in deciding on a hotel will come in determining the best location. Any location that is convenient will cost a little extra. Conflicts between convenience and price start from this point. Less accessible places will cost lower. This will likely be fine when you know your way around well. If you do not know the place, you will be confronted with a problem on your hands. The convenience afforded by a lower price may not be worth the effort of traveling back and forth to the hotel. In these conditions it could be a better idea to stay at a place that is not just expensive but additionally convenient.

Schedule your vacation

Remember the laws of supply and demand which you were taught in school? The laws that you were taught in school apply here with alarming frequency. Peak seasons start to see the prices of the cheapest hotels shoot up. Even the cheapest hotels are not far from the truth in this. Be sure you plan your trip and make reservations well in advance to find better prices. You will save yourself plenty of money by taking these steps.

Look at the Amenities Offered

Hotels are known to supply a variety of amenities. In most cases, the amenities sound good, but are never used by the traveler. Any amenities offered from the hotel are charged for. Hunting for a cheaper hotel that offers fewer amenities but is more comfortable is advised. Paying money for items you would never use would be senseless? Your interests can be better served by saving the money for something else.

Make use of the web

Before parting on a holiday for pleasure or business, you should do some research on the web. You can be sure that you will find many offers that will give you choices. Make use of the web to get details of the hotel such as location, prices, user reviews and services. You will find yourself better prepared for the vacation or trip using this way. You can take advantage of the internet by searching for some travel websites. You can start with your travel bookings without leaving the comfort of your home. This is certainly a great way if you are looking to achieve your plans.

Using a Travel Agency

Travel agencies have good connections with hotel chains. One great way to get discounts on reservations is through travel agents. The reason for your visit to the travel agent will be defeated unless you make certain that they do not charge you a lot.

Negotiate on Prices

Lastly, do remember to negotiate on prices and offers. They’re always available but will not be offered on a platter. The platter of deals will have to be asked for before it is offered to you.