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“The ancient city of Bam, the epicenter of the quake, has a long history of destruction. It was first destroyed in an earthquake almost 1,900 years ago. But such is the unexplainable magnetism of Bam that, almost eight centuries later, it had become an important trading center with a cosmopolitan population of Muslims, Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians.

The city was again almost totally razed by an earthquake in 1911. But by the 1930s it had reemerged as a trading center and a producer of dates and pistachios. Then came other earthquakes in 1950 and 1966.

By the early 1970s, the government had decided not to allow people to build new houses in Bam itself. The city’s ancient monuments were declared part of the heritage of mankind under UNESCO and no new buildings permits were issued for almost six years.

The revolutionary turmoil of 1978-79 provided racketeers with an opportunity to seize large chunks of land in Bam and use it for poorly designed and badly constructed houses and shops. The racket was backed by a group of powerful mullahs who, in exchange for a cut in the proceeds, issued fatwas (religious opinions) that canceled government orders that banned house-building in the city. “

nypost.com

So how did it go with that cheerleader from down the street that wanted to seduce you?
Well, I was going to go along, but at the last minute, I had one of those ‘Grinch’ moments, when my heart went up past my level, and Satan’s and Stalin’s and Hitler’s and a few more levels, to where it was something like normal, and I decided that I should wait until I could have a meaningful relationship, not just casual sex with someone infinitely more popular and beautiful than I am.
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And where was your brain at this point?
I don’t know, but when he gets back he is so fucking grounded

196154

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“I wasn’t prepared, however, for the TSA to stop me right at the entrance, proclaiming that no small pets, including fish, were permitted through security. I had, however, just received the blessing of the ticket agents at US Airways and pre-assured MJ’s travels with Pittsburgh International Airport security weeks before our travel date. I tried to explain this to the screener who stood between me and the gates, but she would have none of it.”

Link to Fish Story

We had a piano tuner show up and wrangle the old girl into shape again. He did a good job, took him about 2.5 hours and he only charged us $100. For the price, I’ll make certain we call him back next year.

Since then I’ve probably spent ten hours playing - it’s good to be back. The four year break from serious playing hurt me - but it’s also given me introspective and new concepts. Hopefully it won’t take four more years for me to get back in tune.

Old, but interesting.
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In May of 2000, it was reported in the local paper that thirty-four students who had attended Hanover High School in Pennsylvania had had their pictures taken for the school yearbook giving an obscene gesture. The principal, John P. Cokefair, had sent a letter to the thirty-four students’ parents explaining that because of the preponderance of this gesture in the photos, the offending photos would be re-taken, without the gesturing students, and these students would bear the cost of the re-shoot.

Rotten.Com

The SBL organization is group of US patriots dedicated to having the Statue of Liberty sent back to the French.
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What Would We Replace It With?
As Liberty Island is an important tourist attraction, we believe a better, more American statue should be put in Liberty’s place. Here is our suggestion:
Ronald Reagan

http://www.sendbackliberty.us