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Did President Ronald Reagan bring down Communist Russia?  One could argue that Communist Russia was a bankrupt society economically and ethically before President Reagan took office.  However, President Reagan pushed Russia to dismantle the Berlin Wall and took the steam out of Russia. 

The only man who foresaw the Soviet collapse and implemented policies to bring it about was Reagan. During his first term Reagan pursued tough policies aimed at curtailing the Soviet nuclear threat and stopping Soviet advances around the world. Calling the Soviets an "evil empire," Reagan initiated a massive defense buildup.

He deployed Pershing and cruise missiles in Europe. He sent weapons and other assistance to anti-communist guerrillas in Soviet satellites like Afghanistan, Angola and Nicaragua. He announced a new program of missile defenses that would eventually "make nuclear weapons obsolete."

These measures were fiercely resisted by liberal Democrats, who decried Reagan's policies as confrontational and likely to make nuclear war more likely. But Reagan's military buildup and his missile defense program threatened the Soviets with an arms race they could ill afford.

His doctrine of aid to anti-communist guerrillas halted Soviet advances in the Third World: Between 1980 and 1985, not an inch of real estate fell into Moscow's hands.

FBI has found evidence that Hasan was involved with dubious individuals who were being tracked.

A senior government official tells ABC News that investigators have found that alleged Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan had "more unexplained connections to people being tracked by the FBI" than just radical cleric Anwar al Awlaki.

The official declined to name the individuals but Congressional sources said their names and countries of origin were likely to emerge soon.

After looking through old photos of myself and my sibs when we were kids, I have come to the conclusion that we must have worn the most ridiculous, daggy swimmers you could ever hope (not) to see.

Now I myself only saw my mother sew once, when she sewed my bridesmaid doll a dress and cape. But these definitely have a home sewn look to them. And we seemed to wear them for years.

Take me here for instance. Determined to get to the beach. And nothin', not even those baggy daggy swimmers is going to stop me. I mean mother, you could've taken in the legs a little. I bet if I keep looking I'll see one of my sisters wearing these before I got them. Probably both of them.

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And one of my favourite photos. Emjay, the oldest, with our brother and sister. Sporting a very unfashionable blue suit with a matching home done fringe trim.

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And here she is again, what maybe a couple of years later, still wearing it.

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Move forward another couple of years and my other sister is now wearing it and Emjay has a much nicer, yet still loose fitting pair of swimmers on. As you can see I'm still wearing the same pair I had on in the beginning. Because I had penty of room to grow into.

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OMFG. And I was right. Even though I was only half joking. Here is Min, wearing my baggy pink swimmers. I wonder if I ever owned a new pair.

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I have this vision of my mother, searching through her wardrobe every year the day before we went on our summer holidays, pulling out a bag full of atrocious old faded swimmers and handing us each a pair. Mind you it wouldn't have been a very full bag. We seemed to last through our childhoods with three of four pairs between us.

Is because I have that same wall clock. It's super fun. It takes people a while to realize it's a clock and then they think it's pretty darn cool.

Thanks, MomH for the great (years ago) Christmas gift!

Purrformance-art

Dont stand on the left

Just don't

Help carry prams

Carry dogs

Can you tell I'm a Londoner?

These are for the new issue of the zine the students on my course produce (Meow Magazine). This month's theme is I Love London so this was what I did. I'm also on the editing team this year and we have big plans for it.

Was Ronald Reagan president during the fall of the Berlin Wall?  Ronald Reagan's actions drove Russia to tear down that wall.

Gosh, it seems that during all the hoopla over the celebrations surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall, the press forgot to mention the driving force that brought down the Berlin Wall.  I guess the press just wants to revise history. 

Oh well, the press also wants to revise today's news.  During the campaign, President Obama was the Messiah.  Will the press stand by this story?

That's right. In a four page report from ABC News titled, "Tens of Thousands Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Berlin Wall's Collapse," Ronald Reagan is not even mentioned. Not once.

And from what I have read, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton didn't mention President Reagan, and neither did President Obama in his taped message. I hope I end up being wrong about that, but I kind of doubt that I am.

• 10:09 Tired tired tired. I totally should have taken today off too. Goodbye, Mexico and vacation! Hello, work week. #
• 13:08 I got eaten alive by bugs at the wedding this weekend. I'm afraid I'm about to lose all skin off my legs from the scratching. #
• 19:06 Think I'm going to try soaking in the tub and see if that helps with the stupid bug bites. Must. Stop. Scratching. #
• 20:22 @sarahnoid: You say DDD boobs like that's a bad thing. ;-) (That happens to be my size but I'm just teasing.) #
• 20:38 I wish I would have stayed in Mexico longer. Ah, hindsight. Like I don't see y ou enough. #
• 01:26 I am in the weirdest mood tonight. Earlier I even felt panicky. Is it too late to start drinking or should I just stick with Lego Rock Band? #

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But also: yay!!!

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I don't think I've ever been this early for anything in my entire life.

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