Viral Plumber Who Dove Into Sewer to Fix Pipe Gets Free Jeans For a Year
More from Inside Edition:
A photo of a hard-working plumber who went above and beyond the call of duty to fix a broken pipe is going viral. A homeowner snapped this shot of Jimmie Cox diving into murky water to try and fix the problem. Inside Edition connected Cox with Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs, who commended the plumber for his dedication to his dirty job. A photo of a hard-working plumber who went above and beyond the call of duty to fix a broken pipe is going viral. A homeowner snapped this shot of Jimmie Cox diving into murky water to try and fix the problem. Inside Edition connected Cox with Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs, who commended the plumber for his dedication to his dirty job. Cox was photographed with only his legs still dry and wearing Wrangler jeans, so the company is also giving him a year's supply of pants
Wichita, Kansas | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Wichita, Kansas
00:01:45 1 History
00:09:11 2 Geography
00:12:06 2.1 Climate
00:15:25 2.2 Neighborhoods
00:16:32 3 Demographics
00:16:55 3.1 2010 census
00:19:47 3.2 Metropolitan area
00:20:43 4 Economy
00:25:00 4.1 Aircraft manufacturing
00:27:37 5 Culture
00:27:46 5.1 Arts
00:28:40 5.2 Music
00:29:36 5.3 Events
00:32:55 5.4 Points of interest
00:36:55 5.5 In popular culture and the arts
00:39:32 6 Sports
00:43:06 6.1 Professional
00:43:15 6.2 College
00:43:23 7 Government
00:45:56 8 Education
00:46:05 8.1 Primary and secondary education
00:48:11 8.2 Colleges and universities
00:49:27 8.3 Libraries
00:50:06 9 Media
00:51:47 10 Infrastructure
00:51:56 10.1 Flood control
00:53:10 10.2 Utilities
00:53:46 10.3 Health care
00:54:33 11 Transportation
00:54:42 11.1 Highway
00:56:46 11.2 Bus
00:57:59 11.3 Air
00:58:57 11.4 Rail
01:00:19 11.5 Walkability
01:00:36 12 Notable people
01:00:45 12.1 Civic leaders and political figures
01:02:12 12.2 Business
01:03:02 12.3 Athletes
01:03:36 12.4 Media and performing arts
01:05:24 13 Sister cities
01:05:55 14 Gallery
01:06:03 15 See also
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
Wichita ( WITCH-i-taw) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Sedgwick County. As of 2017, the estimated population of the city was 390,591. Wichita is the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area which had an estimated population of 644,610 in 2015.Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita began as a trading post on the Chisholm Trail in the 1860s and was incorporated as a city in 1870. It became a destination for cattle drives traveling north from Texas to Kansas railroads, earning it the nickname Cowtown.In the 1920s and '30s, businessmen and aeronautical engineers established aircraft manufacturing companies in Wichita, including Beechcraft, Cessna, and Stearman Aircraft. The city became a U.S. aircraft production hub known as The Air Capital of the World. Textron Aviation, Learjet, Airbus, and Spirit AeroSystems continue to operate design and manufacturing facilities in Wichita, and the city remains a major center of the American aircraft industry. Wichita is also home to McConnell Air Force Base, and Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, the largest airport in Kansas.
As an industrial hub, Wichita is a regional center of culture, media, and trade. It hosts several universities, large museums, theaters, parks, and entertainment venues, notably Intrust Bank Arena and Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center. The city's Old Cowtown Museum maintains historical artifacts and exhibits on the city's early history. Wichita State University is the third-largest post-secondary institution in the state.
How To Make Website Using HTML CSS | Start To End | Step By Step Tutorial
Learn HOW TO CREATE A WEBSITE IN HTML AND CSS STEP BY STEP FROM START TO FINISH EXPLAINED TUTORIAL
Here in this tutorials you will learn how to make a website in HTML, CSS and Bootstrap, I'll show you how to create responsive business website step by step from scratch. You will learn how to create navigation bar, slider images, skills bar, services section, team members, price plans section, testimonials section and contact form in #HTML #CSS and #Bootstrap.
This is a complete tutorials for #WebDevelopment to create a website from start to finish in a single tutorial.
If this tutorial is helpful for you please like this video and subscribe my channel to watch more website development tutorials.
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00:10 #WebsiteDevelopment tutorials overview
03:15 Create project directory and bootstrap setup for site.
07:30 Create navigation menu in Website
15:40 Make image slider in website
22:00 Make skills bar in HTML and CSS Website
30:00 Make services section in HTML Website
40:40 Create Team Members section in Website
54:00 Create Promo Section in Website
57:48 Make Price plans section in Website
01:16:22 Create testimonial section using HTML and CSS
01:28:37 Make contact form In HTML, CSS and Bootstrap
01:42:36 Create Footer of website with icons using HTML and CSS
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01:48:55 You own responsive business website is ready.
► 01:49:35 Watch from here to get is website's code.
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Pajama Party at Sedgwick County Zoo
We went to our first Pajama Party at the zoo (a class for kids age 0 - 5, set after zoo hours). The topic was Nighttime Creatures and I loved learning all the fun animal facts!
One of our favorite parts was taking a walk in the zoo after closing; seeing a tiger at night versus day feels wildly different.
My daughter was running around the room during class, so I assured her that whatever she missed I got on camera!
Sedgwick Zoo Early Childhood Learning Adventures
Wichita New Home Tax Incentive Program
WABA, in conjunction with the City, drafted an ordinance that was introduced to the City Council on February 14th that incentivizes purchasers of newly constructed homes. The ordinance will be before the City Council on February 28th for final adoption. The program is entitled the New HOME (New Home Ownership Made Easy) Program. The program will provide a 5 year rebate of City property taxes for eligible properties. To be eligible, the property must be in a participating development, with all taxes (general and special assessments) current through 2010. Here are some of the programs details:
- The program runs from February 1st, 2012 through December 31st, 2013.
- The program is designed to encourage the building of 1,000 new homes within the City limits.
- The program applies to new construction, any unoccupied spec home, model homes and any
custom homes under construction that are purchased after 2/1/2012.
- After the program begins, there will be a brief enrollment period (likely 45 days or so) in which builders, developers or property owners must enroll eligible lots that they wish to be included in the program.
o The program will be restricted to the lots enrolled during this time frame
- The property cannot be located within a TIF (tax increment financing) district.
- The program is limited to the first owner of the property.
o If the property is sold within the 5 years that the program is in place, the lot becomes ineligible. The rebate cannot be assigned to the new owner. The rebate does not run with the property.
- If the owner fails to pay the required property tax, the property becomes ineligible for the program.
o Example: If the owner is delinquent on taxes in year 2, the property is no longer eligible for the rebate in years 3, 4 and 5.
- The owners cannot appeal the valuation of the property of seek refunds for periods which rebates have been paid.
- The property must be owner occupied.
Jeff Blubaugh
316-640-0656
jeffblubaughhomes@gmail.com
Jamey Blubaugh
316-390-SELL (7355)
jameyblu@gmail.com
Blues Brothers Team with Keller Williams Hometown Partners
10300 W. Maple St Wichita, KS 67209
Exodus to Kansas: The Exoduster Movement
Damani Davis examines Federal records relating to the Kansas Exodus (the Exoduster movement), which was the first instance of voluntary, mass migration among African Americans. This mass exodus was significant enough to generate considerable attention throughout the nation and resulted in a major Senate investigation.
Know Your Records lectures are held weekly on Tuesdays in room G-24 at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, and Thursdays in Lecture Room B at the College Park building. Learn more about the Know Your Records program at or via e-mail at inquire@nara.gov.
Barton classes at Fort Riley
15 second movie ad now playing at Seth Childs 12
2610 Farm Bureau, Manhattan, KS, United States
TSC 98 State Cup 2011
2011 State Cup Semi & Final game high lights
Jarrell, Texas F-5 Wedge Tornado - May 27, 1997
*THIS IS NOT MY VIDEO* Rare footage of the Jarrell tornado in its mature stage. I came across this clip buried on the internet.
LINKS TO MORE FOOTAGE:
Here are more news and home video:
The Clean Energy Recovery: Creating Jobs, Building New Industries and Saving Money
The Clean Energy Recovery: Creating Jobs, Building New Industries and Saving Money - Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming - 2010-03-10 - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act invested in projects that create clean energy jobs while helping families save money on their energy bills. These investments in renewable energy, efficiency, weatherization and new technology development have established robust American energy industries, such as advanced battery technology to power cars and trucks. On Wednesday March 10, Chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming explored some of the clean energy results from the Recovery Act, and discussed how an American-made clean energy future can continue. TESTIMONY: Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director, Ohio Department of Development; Bryan Ashley, Chief Marketing Officer, Suniva Inc.; Paul Gaynor, Chief Executive Officer, First Wind Holdings LLC; Mary Ann Wright, Vice President and Managing Director, Business Accelerator Project, Johnson Controls, Inc.; Brian M. Johnson, Federal Affairs Manager, Americans for Tax Reform and Executive Director, Alliance for Worker Freedom. Video provided by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Removal of Confederate monuments and memorials | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Removal of Confederate monuments and memorials
00:01:59 1 Background
00:03:35 2 Academic commentary
00:09:03 3 History of removals
00:10:10 4 Organizations encouraging monument removal
00:10:48 5 Destruction of monuments
00:12:00 6 Laws hindering removals
00:14:20 7 Public opinion
00:15:04 8 What to do with the plinths (pedestals)
00:16:59 9 Removed monuments and memorials
00:17:09 9.1 National
00:17:29 9.2 Alabama
00:19:13 9.3 Alaska
00:19:39 9.4 Arizona
00:20:12 9.5 Arkansas
00:20:50 9.6 California
00:22:55 9.7 Colorado
00:23:13 9.8 District of Columbia
00:24:18 9.9 Florida
00:31:38 9.10 Georgia
00:33:25 9.11 Kansas
00:34:12 9.12 Kentucky
00:35:31 9.13 Louisiana
00:41:48 9.14 Maine
00:42:06 9.15 Maryland
00:44:50 9.16 Massachusetts
00:45:12 9.17 Mississippi
00:45:46 9.18 Missouri
00:46:42 9.19 Montana
00:47:14 9.20 Nevada
00:47:41 9.21 New Mexico
00:47:56 9.22 New York
00:48:47 9.23 North Carolina
00:54:18 9.24 Ohio
00:55:19 9.25 Oklahoma
00:55:49 9.26 South Carolina
00:56:27 9.27 Tennessee
00:59:55 9.28 Texas
01:08:04 9.29 Utah
01:08:20 9.30 Vermont
01:09:14 9.31 Virginia
01:15:51 9.32 Washington (state)
01:18:29 9.33 Wisconsin
01:19:40 9.34 Canada
01:20:08 10 See also
01:20:51 11 Further reading
01:23:37 11.1 Video
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
For decades in the U.S., there have been isolated incidents of removal of Confederate monuments and memorials, although generally opposed in public opinion polls, and several U.S. States have passed laws over 115 years to hinder or prohibit further removals.
In the wake of the Charleston church shooting in June 2015, several municipalities in the United States removed monuments and memorials on public property dedicated to the Confederate States of America. The momentum accelerated in August 2017 after the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The removals were driven by the belief that the monuments glorify white supremacy and memorialize a treasonous government whose founding principle was the perpetuation and expansion of slavery. Many of those who object to the removals, like President Trump, believe that the artifacts are part of the cultural heritage of the United States.The vast majority of these Confederate monuments were built during the era of Jim Crow laws (1877–1954) and the Civil Rights Movement (1954–1968). Detractors claim that they were not built as memorials but as a means of intimidating African Americans and reaffirming white supremacy. The monuments have thus become highly politicized; according to Eleanor Harvey, a senior curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and a scholar of Civil War history: If white nationalists and neo-Nazis are now claiming this as part of their heritage, they have essentially co-opted those images and those statues beyond any capacity to neutralize them again.In some Southern states, state law restricts or prohibits altogether the removal or alteration of public Confederate monuments. According to Stan Deaton, senior historian at the Georgia Historical Society, These laws are the Old South imposing its moral and its political views on us forever more. This is what led to the Civil War, and it still divides us as a country. We have competing visions not only about the future but about the past.
JCCC Board of Trustees Meeting for April 17, 2014
The monthly meeting of the JCCC Board of Trustees which was held on April 17, 2014.
Oklahoma Horizon TV Show 1443
This week on Oklahoma Horizon, we’ll look at local food in our neighborhood schools and find out who is lurking deep in the Kiamichi Mountains.
Black and White People Furniture - Red House Commercial
This Red House Furniture ad was produced as part of our I Love Local Commercials Series sponsored by MicroBilt ( )
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Be sure to watch the Making Of episode:
Thanks to all of the guys at Red House for being such great sports. Help em out by referring a friend in the High Point NC area, or drop by the store yourself to meet Richard, Johnny, and the gang!
To address any controversy around this video, watch our video response (or read the transcript below):
We knew this video was going to be controversial. Anytime race is discussed in any capacity, controversy ensues. The racial reconciliation concept was a joint effort between the Red House staff and us. They pointed out the fact that their employees and customer base were like the Rainbow Coalition, and we thought something with a comical racial reconciliation theme would be fun, as well as a conversation starter.
For those of you who think this video is racist, we'd like you to distinguish between racist and racial. Racism is hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. Racial is of, relating to, or based on a race. This video is very obviously racial as opposed to racist. This video doesn't promote or feature hatred or intolerance. Rather, it's the very opposite. This commercial promotes inclusion and reconciliation, if not in a comical way. To point out the obvious, the irony in this video is that it's completely ridiculous for people to relate furniture to their race. People of all colors are welcome at the Red House, which is something that is taken for granted today, but there was a time in the not-so-distant past during which things as simple as a water fountain were NOT for everyone.
If Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, or Dave Chappelle for that matter, were to address racial issues in a comical way (something that they all do VERY regularly), they would have pushed the envelope MUCH further.
Discussing race in the US is taboo. It always makes people feel uncomfortable. We think it's a shame that someone saying I'm white or I'm black creates such a stir. There are real cultural identities within different people groups, and these things should be celebrated and embraced, not swept under the rug.
This video is an attempt to use humor to spark a discussion about race issues, because we still have a long way to go.
Rhett&Link
JERRY MORAN - WikiVidi Documentary
Gerald W. Moran is an American politician serving as the junior United States Senator from Kansas since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 113th U.S. Congress, during which he led successful Republican efforts in United States Senate elections, 2014, producing the first Republican Senate majority since 2006. Previously, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing . Raised in Plainville, Kansas, Moran graduated from the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas School of Law. He worked in private law and served as the state special assistant attorney general and deputy attorney of Rooks County . He served in the Kansas Senate , and was majority leader for his last two years. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1996 and served six terms with little electoral opposition. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 after defeating fellow U.S. Rep...
____________________________________
Shortcuts to chapters:
00:01:23 Early life, education and career
00:02:32 Elections
00:03:00 Tenure
00:03:57 Elections
00:04:22 NRSC Chairmanship
00:04:48 Political positions
00:05:10 Health care
00:06:02 National security and military
00:06:35 Immigration and refugees
00:07:09 Education
00:07:37 Gun policy
00:09:13 Environment and climate change
00:10:23 Entrepreneurship and startups
00:11:38 Internet issues
____________________________________
Copyright WikiVidi.
Licensed under Creative Commons.
Wikipedia link:
Jerry Moran | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Jerry Moran
00:01:19 1 Early life, education and career
00:02:27 2 Kansas Senate
00:02:47 3 U.S. House of Representatives
00:02:52 3.1 Elections
00:03:24 3.2 Tenure
00:04:21 4 U.S. Senate
00:04:25 4.1 Elections
00:04:55 4.2 NRSC Chairmanship
00:05:25 4.3 Committee assignments
00:07:03 4.4 Caucus memberships
00:07:14 5 Political positions
00:07:42 5.1 Agriculture
00:07:50 5.2 Health care
00:08:42 5.3 National security and military
00:09:19 5.4 Immigration and refugees
00:09:54 5.5 Education
00:10:27 5.6 Gun policy
00:12:05 5.7 Environment and climate change
00:13:14 5.8 Entrepreneurship and startups
00:14:31 5.9 Internet issues
00:15:15 5.10 Abortion
00:15:32 5.11 Gay rights
00:15:49 6 Personal life
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
Gerald Wesley Moran (born May 29, 1954) is an American politician serving as the junior United States Senator from Kansas since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 113th U.S. Congress, during which he led successful Republican efforts in 2014 election, producing the first Republican Senate majority since 2006. Previously, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Kansas's 1st congressional district.
Raised in Plainville, Kansas, Moran graduated from the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas School of Law. He worked in private law and served as the state special assistant attorney general (1982–85) and deputy attorney of Rooks County (1987–95). He served in the Kansas Senate (1989–1997), and was majority leader for his last two years. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1996 and served six terms with little electoral opposition. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 after defeating fellow U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt in a contentious primary. He was re-elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016.
HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS, HE'S GOT THE WIND AND THE RAIN, TINY LITTLE BABY IN HIS HANDS
Conspiracy theorists are insane in the spam! We were spammed this video, so we sped it up for your enjoyment and laughter at the conspiracy theorist crazies falsely accusing whole industries of somehow being a part of some hand-sign-symbolism agenda to influence and subvert all people. What a joke! They're just not that organized and why would they do such a thing? Conspiracy Theorists are INSANE. Such BS. It's all fake and a joke. POSTING THIS VIDEO TO SHOW HOW RIDICULOUS THEY ARE! THE HAND SIGN MEANS PEACE. GET OVER YOURSELF FOOLS. THEY LIKE MAKEUP. THEY LIKE TATTOOS WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT. IT'S JUST ART, STOP SAYING IT'S THE DEVIL OR SATAN. PAUL ELAM IS SATAN Are you Satan? You need The Rational Male by Rollo Tomassi
Link to his book:
Paul Elam, SATAN, comes clean with the truth, and this sends Elizabeth Vargas to rehab.
You're a Rational Male, therefore, you are Satan, not Santa. ... THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS YOUR NONSENSE. 1. He´s got the whole world in His hands, |: He´s got the whole world in His hands, :| He´s got the whole world in His hands. 2. He´s got the wind and the rain in His hands, |: He´s got the wind and the rain in His hands, :| He´s got the whole world in His hands. 3. He´s got the the tiny little baby in His hands, |: He´s got the the tiny little baby in His hands, :| He´s got the whole world in His hands. 4. He´s got you and me, brother, in His hands, |: He´s got you and me, brother, in His hands, :| He´s got the whole world in His hands. 5. He's got ev'rybody here in His hands. |: He's got ev'rybody here in His hands. :| He's got the whole world in His hands. 1. He´s got the whole world in His hands, |: He´s got the whole world in His hands, :| He´s got the whole world in His hands. He's got the earth and sky in his hands; He's got the night and day in his hands; He's got the sun and moon in his hands; He´s got the whole world in His hands. 2. He´s got the whole world in His hands, |: He´s got the whole world in His hands, :| He´s got the whole world in His hands. He's got the land and sea in his hands; He's got the wind and rain in his hands; He's got the spring and fall in his hands; He´s got the whole world in His hands. 3. He´s got the whole world in His hands, |: He´s got the whole world in His hands, :| He´s got the whole world in His hands. He's got the young and old in his hands; He's got the rich and poor in his hands; Yes, he's got ev'ry one in his hands; He´s got the whole world in His hands. He´s got the whole world in His hands, |: He´s got the whole world in His hands, :| He´s got the whole world in His hands. Does this mean peace? Hand signs are just innocent get over it. These people don't worship satan. C'mon it's not like that don't be a fool. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -just will there juniorsmomma we so hey am woman man his an lol how out up would one when by has more them marriage get time hagmann hi itsme know good h sex think than o had don robomom here even then should turtlesays Sleepingsome daughters any down being muffin these old into well us really rickynlucy botta having traditional such actually far ve christian roseybud female money own getting reply ll college it's withdrawing point needs society keep free ever red dr wrong makes told both anonymous probably end push expect twenties different kids career means nice school few When you're young, you look at television and think, there's a conspiracy. The networks have conspired to dumb us down. But when you get a little older, you realize that's not true. The networks are in business to give people exactly what they want. Steve Jobs Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. Frederick Douglass Society, Ignorance, Justice When you're young, you look at television and think, there's a conspiracy. The networks have conspired to dumb us down. But when you get a little older, you realize that's not true. The networks are in business to give people exactly what they want. Steve Jobs Business, True, Give People love conspiracy theories. Neil Armstrong Love, Theories The only time I commit to conspiracy theories is when something way retarded happens. Like Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone. Joe Rogan Time, Alone, Acting Secrecy, being an instrument of conspiracy, ought never to be the system of a regular government. Jeremy Bentham Government, System, Instrument Money doesn't mind if we say it's evil, it goes from strength to strength. It's a fiction, an addiction, and a tacit conspiracy. Martin Amis Money, Strength, Mind
Auburn Coach Wife Kristi Malzahn Agrees with Match & eHarmony: Men are Jerks
My advice is this: Settle! That's right. Don't worry about passion or intense connection. Don't nix a guy based on his annoying habit of yelling Bravo! in movie theaters. Overlook his halitosis or abysmal sense of aesthetics. Because if you want to have the infrastructure in place to have a family, settling is the way to go. Based on my observations, in fact, settling will probably make you happier in the long run, since many of those who marry with great expectations become more disillusioned with each passing year. (It's hard to maintain that level of zing when the conversation morphs into discussions about who's changing the diapers or balancing the checkbook.)
Obviously, I wasn't always an advocate of settling. In fact, it took not settling to make me realize that settling is the better option, and even though settling is a rampant phenomenon, talking about it in a positive light makes people profoundly uncomfortable. Whenever I make the case for settling, people look at me with creased brows of disapproval or frowns of disappointment, the way a child might look at an older sibling who just informed her that Jerry's Kids aren't going to walk, even if you send them money. It's not only politically incorrect to get behind settling, it's downright un-American. Our culture tells us to keep our eyes on the prize (while our mothers, who know better, tell us not to be so picky), and the theme of holding out for true love (whatever that is—look at the divorce rate) permeates our collective mentality.
Even situation comedies, starting in the 1970s with The Mary Tyler Moore Show and going all the way to Friends, feature endearing single women in the dating trenches, and there's supposed to be something romantic and even heroic about their search for true love. Of course, the crucial difference is that, whereas the earlier series begins after Mary has been jilted by her fiancé, the more modern-day Friends opens as Rachel Green leaves her nice-guy orthodontist fiancé at the altar simply because she isn't feeling it. But either way, in episode after episode, as both women continue to be unlucky in love, settling starts to look pretty darn appealing. Mary is supposed to be contentedly independent and fulfilled by her newsroom family, but in fact her life seems lonely. Are we to assume that at the end of the series, Mary, by then in her late 30s, found her soul mate after the lights in the newsroom went out and her work family was disbanded? If her experience was anything like mine or that of my single friends, it's unlikely.
And while Rachel and her supposed soul mate, Ross, finally get together (for the umpteenth time) in the finale of Friends, do we feel confident that she'll be happier with Ross than she would have been had she settled down with Barry, the orthodontist, 10 years earlier? She and Ross have passion but have never had long-term stability, and the fireworks she experiences with him but not with Barry might actually turn out to be a liability, given how many times their relationship has already gone up in flames. It's equally questionable whether Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw, who cheated on her kindhearted and generous boyfriend, Aidan, only to end up with the more exciting but self-absorbed Mr. Big, will be better off in the framework of marriage and family. (Some time after the breakup, when Carrie ran into Aidan on the street, he was carrying his infant in a Baby Björn. Can anyone imagine Mr. Big walking around with a Björn?)