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Catherine Andersen has enjoyed a 30 year career at Gallaudet University where she served as Chief Enrollment and Marketing Officer, Associate Provost, Dean of Enrollment and General Studies, Director of the First-Year Experience and Chairperson of the Communication and Developmental Studies Department. In 2007 she lead the Foundations of Excellence project at Gallaudet. Dr. Andersen has an extensive background in developing curricular and co –curricular initiatives for students, assessment and strategic planning and a long history of enhancing both academic and student support programs. Most recently, under her leadership Gallaudet has achieved its highest student retention in recent history. Also, she has developed transfer policies, procedures and articulation agreements that have lead to increase transfer student enrollment and retention. She served on the national advisory board for the National Resource Center on the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, and currently serves on the national advisory board for Teagle Assessment Scholars. In 1994, she was awarded the honor of Gallaudet's Distinguished Faculty of the Year and 1997 she was named one of the nation's Outstanding First-Year Advocates; Andersen is thrilled to be using her experience to work with JNGI's Foundations of Excellence colleges.
To contact Catherine, please email her at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 828-394-2363.
Dr. Barefoot served for 11 years as Co-Director for Research and Publications in the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina. In this position, she engaged in ongoing research on first-year programming in American higher education and co-edited a number of publications including the Journal of The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition, the First-Year Experience Newsletter, and a series of single-topic monographs. While at the University of South Carolina, Dr. Barefoot also served as a clinical faculty member in the University of South Carolina's College of Education and taught graduate courses in Principles of College Teaching, Contemporary Trends and Issues in Higher Education, a special topics seminar on The First-Year Experience, as well as the University 101 first-year seminar. She was also involved in acquiring grant funds, designing, and implementing a campus-wide program to provide training in methods of college teaching for graduate teaching assistants at the University of South Carolina.
Dr. Barefoot has also authored and co-authored a number of publications including the 2005 Jossey-Bass books, Achieving and Sustaining Institutional Excellence for the First Year of College, and Challenging and Supporting the First-Year Student: A Handbook for the First Year of College. She has also edited The First Year and Beyond: Rethinking the Challenge of Collegiate Transition, a 2008 volume of New Directions for Higher Education. Dr. Barefoot continues her interest in music as an occasional vocal performer, pianist, and church organist. She is married to another scholar of the first-year experience, John N. Gardner. The "BGs," as they are known in their neighborhood, reside in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina.
To contact Betsy, please email her at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 828-475-6018.
John is an educator, university professor and administrator, non-profit organization chief executive officer author, editor, public speaker, consultant, change agent, student retention specialist, first-year and transfer students' advocate, and initiator and scholar of the American first-year and senior-year reform movements. He serves as President of the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education. JNGI was founded by John and his wife, Dr. Betsy O. Barefoot, in October 1999 as the Policy Center on the First Year of College. The Policy Center was launched by an initial grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts, and has been subsequently funded by additional grants from Pew, The Atlantic Philanthropies, Lumina Foundation for Education, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, and USA Funds. In 2007 the Policy Center underwent a legal and name change to the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education and an expansion of its mission to focus more broadly on excellence in undergraduate education, as a fully autonomous 501c3 non-profit entity. Since its inception in 1999, the Institute has received approximately $7,500,000 in support from its philanthropic partners.
JNGI works with colleges and universities to strengthen their resolve and processes to undertake assessment and other improvement actions to increase student learning and retention. JNGI focuses its work on the use of a previously non-existent set of aspirational standards for improvement of the first-year and the transfer student experience. These standards are known as JNGI's "Foundational Dimensions"® in a process called Foundations of Excellence® in the First College Year or Foundations of Excellence® – Transfer Focus. In addition, JNGI offers several additional processes for student learning, success, retention and completion including Gateways to Completion® (G2C®) to improve student performance in high failure rate gateway courses and Retention Performance Management® (RPM®) to improve retention rates for specific cohorts such as first year, sophomores, first-generation, low-income, etc.
John is also the Senior Fellow of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina. The National Resource Center, founded by Gardner in 1986, organizes the popular and influential conferences on The First-Year Experience, Students in Transition, and also disseminates information through an extensive series of scholarly publications, videos, national and international conferences, workshops, seminars, and teleconferences. Gardner "retired" in 1999 after 32 1/2 years of service to the people of South Carolina, but continues to serve them in a reduced and more focused way in his role of Senior Fellow (in addition to his full-time appointment with JNGI). He served as Executive Director of both the first-year seminar course, University 101, from 1974-1999, and the National Center from 1986-99. From 1983-96, he also served as Vice Chancellor/Associate Vice Provost for Regional Campuses and Continuing Education.
In his capacity with the National Resource Center, John provides advice, counsel, and intellectual leadership and vision as called upon by his colleagues in the Center. He is actively involved in hosting and presenting at Center conferences, seminars, workshops, and teleconferences. He also remains very involved, as always, in the Center's scholarship and research activities as in its monograph series and other publishing activities.
Thanks to the US Air Force, Gardner was involuntarily sent to South Carolina in 1967 where he served his active duty assignment as a psychiatric social worker in the 363rd Tactical Hospital at Shaw Air Force Base. At the request of the Air Force he became a part-time adjunct instructor for the University of South Carolina while he was on active duty. After completing his military service, Gardner held a two-year temporary appointment as Instructor of History at Winthrop College from 1968-70, and then began his full-time faculty career at USC Columbia in 1970. He taught courses in American and South Carolina history, interpersonal communications for librarians, public speaking, higher education administration, and other special topics. He also regularly taught the first-year seminar, University 101, and a special topics graduate seminar course he developed for the College of Education on "The First-Year Experience." From 1994-1998 he developed and taught University 401, Senior Capstone Experience (as a sequel to University 101, only for departing students), and this remains one of his legacies to USC about which he is most satisfied in terms of the help it offers students.
Gardner is the recipient of numerous local and national professional awards including USC's highest award for teaching excellence, the AMOCO Award for Outstanding Teaching (1975), and the Division of Student Affairs Faculty Award "for outstanding contributions……"(1976). The University of South Carolina Alumni Association conferred upon him its highest award for a non-alum, the Honorary Life Membership "for devoted service in behalf of the University" in 1997. He was also named the 1998 recipient of the University's Administrative Affirmative Action Award "for an outstanding job in promoting equal opportunities at the University." In 1999, he was the recipient of a University award created and named in his honor, "The John N. Gardner Inspirational Faculty Award" to be given henceforth to a member of the University faculty "who has made substantial contributions to the learning environment in campus residence hall life." Gardner is the recipient of eleven honorary doctoral degrees recognizing him for his contributions to American higher education (from his alma mater, Marietta College, 1985; Baldwin-Wallace College, 1990; Bridgewater State College, 1991; Millikin University, 1999; Purdue University, 2000; University of Teesside, UK, 2000; Rowan University, 2001: Thiel College, 2006; Indiana University, 2008; Clarion University of Pennsylvania, 2009 and the University of South Carolina, Columbia, 2012.
In 1986, John was selected by the American Association for Higher Education (AAHE) as one of 20 faculty in the U. S. who "… have made outstanding leadership contributions to their institutions and/or American higher education." In 1996 he was recognized by the Council of Independent Colleges with its Academic Leadership Award "for exemplary contributions to American higher education." He has served on the Board of Directors/Trustees for AAHE, the International Partnership for Service Learning, Marietta College, and the Brevard Music Center; and on advisory boards for The American Council on Education, The Association of American Colleges and Universities, The New York Times, and Lumina Foundation for Education. Gardner's work has been favorably reviewed in The Chronicle of Higher Education, The New York Times, The Times of London,U.S. News and World Report, Money magazine, and numerous other publications. In the January 1998 issue of Change, Gardner was cited in an article naming approximately 80 people as the "past, present, and future leaders of higher education." The authors of this study drew on the results of 11,000 questionnaires to name the leaders whom The Chronicle of Higher Education dubbed "the movers and shakers." Gardner was included in a special category of eleven so called "agenda-setters." Also in 1998 Gardner was named as one of the "top ten professionals who have most influenced student affairs practitioners." This was based on a random sample of practitioners throughout the country as part of a study entitled "The Professional Influence Project" sponsored by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Foundation and conducted by The University of Georgia. In 1999 Gardner was awarded by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) the Virginia N. Gordon Award for Excellence in the Field of Advising, to recognize his contributions towards the enhancement of academic advisement in American higher education. One of the nation's two major professional organizations for student affairs officers, The American College Personnel Association, recognized him with its highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2002.
Gardner is best known as the initiator (in 1982) of an international reform movement in higher education to call attention to and improve what he originally coined "The Freshman Year Experience" and then renamed "The First-Year Experience." Moreover, since 1990 he has developed a special focus on a second critical transition during the college years to improve and champion: "The Senior Year Experience." In 1995, he renamed the Center he directed at USC to The National Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, to signify a broader and more generic focus on the need for institutions to focus more intentionally on "students in transition." John and his colleagues at USC are currently driving a new national discussion about another critical transition in college and have authored a recent book, published by Jossey-Bass, on the sophomore year experience.
Gardner's special area of expertise in higher education was for almost three decades the creation of programs to enhance the learning, success, retention, and graduation of students in transition, especially first-year students, for example through first-year seminar courses. But more recently, since 2003, his efforts have been directed almost exclusively to working with institutions to look beyond this long standing "programmatic" approach to improving the first year and instead to focus the entire experience of first-year or transfer students. Gardner has also served as a workshop leader or trainer in hundreds of faculty development events and has spoken on/consulted with over 500 campuses in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, and Norway on issues related to first-year and senior students.
Gardner has authored/co-authored numerous articles and books, including: College is Only the Beginning (1985 and 1989); Step by Step to College Success (1987), Your College Experience (1992,1993,1995,1996,1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, originally with A. Jerome Jewler and in subsequent editions also with Betsy O. Barefoot, Bedford/St.Martins; The Freshman Year Experience (1989) with M. Lee Upcraft, Jossey-Bass; Ready for The Real World (1994) with William Hartel and Associates, International Thompson Publishing; The Senior Year Experience (1998), with Gretchen Van der Veer, Jossey-Bass; Challenging and Supporting the First-Year Student, (2005), with M. Lee Upcraft and Betsy O. Barefoot, Jossey-Bass; Achieving and Sustaining Institutional Excellence for the First Year of College (2005), with Betsy O. Barefoot and Associates, Jossey-Bass; Helping Sophomores Succeed, (2010), with Mary Stuart Hunter and Barbara F. Tobolowsky and Associates, Jossey-Bass; and Developing and Sustaining Successful-First-Year Programs, (2013), with Gerald M. Greenfield and Jennifer R. Keup, Jossey-Bass.
John is married to his professional partner of twenty-five years, Dr. Betsy O. Barefoot. They reside on their twenty-one acre mountain top property in the beautiful western North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains near Brevard.
To contact John, please email him at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 828-885-6014.
Betsy joined JNGI in July 2008 as an Associate Director. She serves as an advisor to campuses that are conducting JNGI's Foundations of Excellence self-studies. Dr. Griffin, also, serves as the primary contact for institution assistance with the Foundations of Excellence surveys and participates in a variety of other Institute activities.
Dr. Griffin came to the Institute with over 30 years experience in higher education. After a brief time at Franklin College in Indiana, most of her tenure was at Missouri Southern State University. Her experience includes many years as a professor of psychology and numerous administrative positions. Dr. Griffin's administrative positions include Department Head, Interim Dean, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs. Several of Dr. Griffin's roles have provided her with experience working with first-year programs and first-year students. She was the co-coordinator of Missouri Southern State University's Foundations of Excellence self-study and helped oversee the development and implementation of the resulting action plans. Earlier as Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, she was responsible for the coordination of the learning community program, including recruiting and training the faculty and tracking the success of the program. During most of her career she maintained contact with first-year students by teaching introductory psychology courses.
Dr. Griffin was the co-coordinator of two self-studies for institutional re-accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association. The most recent self-study included a special emphasis on the first year of college using the Foundations of Excellence process. Betsy has made several presentations on self-study at the annual meetings of the Higher Learning Commission. She wrote or oversaw the writing of eight of affiliation status change requests. She also participated in an HLC Assessment Workshop and Assessment Academy Roundtable. She coordinated her campus' faculty development efforts for over a decade. Her primary focus was on promoting pedagogies of engagement including active learning, critical thinking, and classroom assessment. Betsy received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from East Carolina University. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Experimental Social Psychology at the University of South Carolina. Her research has been primarily in the areas of gender stereotyping, attribution theory, and negotiation strategies. She is a 1997 recipient of the Missouri Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Griffin received extensive training in Organizational Development through NTL. She has process consulting experience with a variety of not-for-profit organizations.
To contact Betsy, please email her at email@example.com or call 828-449-8048.
Carol joined JNGI in January of 2008 and she serves as Executive Assistant and Graphic Artist.
She is responsible for an array of projects which support all JNGI processes including Foundations of Excellence® Self Study, Gateways to Completion® and Retention Performance Management®.
Her duties also include a variety of planning and support for all annual JNGI conferences, events and exhibiting opportunities.
Carol holds an AAB in Advertising from Youngstown State University.
To contact Carol, please email her at email@example.com
or call 828-394-2363.
Dr. Koch has been with JNGI since 2010. From 1998-2010, Dr. Koch held a variety of student persistence and completion-related roles at Purdue University including serving as the founding director of the nationally acclaimed Department of Student Access, Transition, and Success Programs. During his tenure at Purdue, the University increased first-to-second year retention rates by over 8 percentage points and six-year graduation rates by more than 6 percentage points. Before working at Purdue, Dr. Koch served as the Director of Freshman Advancement and Associate Dean at Hofstra University, and he also served as Assistant to the Dean of Summer College at the University of Richmond.
Dr. Koch holds a BA in history and German and an MA in European history from the University of Richmond, an MA in higher education from the University of South Carolina, and a PhD in American Studies from Purdue University. His research interests include student success, the role of colleges and universities in shaping democracy and culture in the United States, and the role of sport in U.S. culture and society.
During his twenty-year career, Koch has garnered substantive experience with undergraduate education administration, strategic planning, fund raising, reaffirmation of accreditation, and enrollment management. His work includes extensive grant writing and fund raising with support coming from sources such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Coca Cola, Lilly Endowment, Inc., Lumina Foundation for Education, the National Science Foundation, and Target Corporation. To date, Dr. Koch's fund raising and grant totals exceed $11 million.
Dr. Koch is the author of an array of publications pertaining to student success, including the second, third, and fourth editions of The First-Year Experience in American Higher Education: An Annotated Bibliography, published by the National Resource Center for the First Year Experience. He has served on several boards and commissions, including the Indiana College Access and Success Network; the Directorate Board for the American College Personnel Association Commission on Admissions, Orientation, and the First-Year Experience; the Military Family Research Institute; the Higher Learning Commission's Think Tank on Persistence and Completion; the National Advisory Board for the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition; and the editorial review board of the Journal of the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.
Dr. Koch lives with his wife, Dr. Sara Stein Koch, and their six children in Mills River, North Carolina. In their spare time, he and his wife enjoy hiking with their children; attending their children's track, soccer and lacrosse events; gardening; and reading.
To contact Drew, email him at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 828-877-3549.
Sara Stein Koch is an Institute Fellow with the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education. She has spent the past two decades in administration, training, coaching, facilitation, and teaching in higher education.
Her current work with the Institute involves advising institutions on the Foundations of Excellence First-Year, Transfer, and Implement processes, coordinating the Gateways to Completion Conference, working on the development of the Gateways to Completion process, development and administration of the two year National Survey on Student Success practices, and strategic planning for the Institute.
Prior to joining the Institute, Sara served as the Director of Undergraduate Programs for the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. Her role included the administration and operation of the undergraduate business school program of 2700 undergraduate students. Her oversight included the areas of curriculum administration, Academic Advising, Career Services, Recruitment and the development and operation of the Undergraduate Management Communication Center. At the heart of the Center was its outreach and curricular connections through the development of programs and coaching for undergraduate students to improve their professional development and communication skills.
Sara has also served as a Senior Consultant with Organization and Career Development in Human Resources at Purdue University. Her consulting focused on the process of talent development and retention, managing change, performance management, and strategic planning design. Through her career Sara has been certified as a SHRM Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR); Harvard Mutual Gains Negotiator, Linkage Inc. Human Resource consultant, Blessing White™ facilitator, Zenger Miller™ facilitator, and Targeted Selection™ administrator.
Sara has also developed and taught undergraduate courses on Conference Leadership and Human Resource Issues and Critical Thinking for the School of Technology at Purdue University. In addition, she has appeared frequently to guest lecture classes on teamwork, interviewing, conflict and communication in Civil Engineering, Management, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Her early career work in student affairs took her from the University of South Carolina to Hamilton College and Pratt Institute.
She earned her BS in Business Administration at Winthrop College, Master's in Education from the University of South Carolina and a Ph.D. from Purdue University.
Sara and her husband Drew have six children, Hunter, Hudson, Grayson, Lauren, Andrejs and Max. Though she was born and raised in New York, she has lived in Florida, Tokyo, New York City, Indiana and she now resides in the Asheville area of North Carolina.
Roberta holds a doctoral degree in modern British and Irish Literature. She served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of English Brooklyn College/CUNY from 2001 though 2007, when she retired from academia. During her time at Brooklyn College, she played a key role in devising a new strategic plan, envisioning the new core curriculum and creating new undergraduate and graduate programs. She launched the Center for the Study of Brooklyn and the Magner Center for Career Services. The Center for Teaching grew in prominence and effectiveness. As Provost, Matthews oversaw the hiring of over 150 new faculty and developed a rich new faculty orientation program. In 2003, in partnership with the NYC Department of Education and the Gateway Institute, and as part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation initiative, she established the Science, Technology and Research (STAR) Early College High School. STAR graduated its first class in June 2007, with 72 of its original 76 students receiving their degrees and continuing on to college.
Before coming to Brooklyn College, Matthews served as the founding Director of the City University of NewYork Honors College: University Scholars Program. During 1999-2000 she served as Interim President at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY. Prior to that, she was Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Marymount College in Tarrytown New York. Matthews spent many years in high-level administrative positions and as a Professor of English at LaGuardia Community College. Her higher education experience spans public and private, senior and community, small and large colleges.
Matthews has published widely and offered workshops on learning communities and active learning at colleges and universities across the country. Throughout her career, she focused on curriculum and program development, school-college collaboration, and international education, always dedicated to achieving educational excellence through intentional and proven reform efforts. She served on the national boards of the American Association for Higher Education and the Policy Center on the First Year of College. During the time she served as Provost, Brooklyn College was a Foundations of Excellence pilot institution.
Since 2005, Matthews has served as a Senior Fellow for Foundations of Excellence at the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education (formerly the Policy Center of the First Year of College). She believes that FoE is transformative, and is always delighted to assist colleges and universities as they work through the FoE process.
To contact Roberta, please email her at email@example.com
Robert is a seasoned network and IT security professional. From 1998-2002 he served as the Microsoft Servers administrator for the Selee Corporation in Hendersonville, NC, and from 2003-2010 he worked for Brevard College in Brevard, NC, where he most recently served as Network Manager.
He has been a member of several technology-related professional associations ranging from InfraGard to numerous regional groups such as the Asheville Networking Professionals Group, the Western North Carolina Association of Information Technology Professionals, the Western North Carolina Linux Users Group, and the WCI Information Technology Professional group.
Robert has presented on an array of IT topics to groups as varied as the Appalachian College Association Information Technology Directors and linux user groups.
Robert holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.S. in Information Assurance from Norwich University.
To contact Rob, please email him at email@example.com
or call 828-449-8050.
Angela serves as Vice President of Finance, Human Resources and Events and has been with JNGI since 2001. She is directly responsible for the overall administration, coordination and evaluation of all human resources and leads the accounting operations of JNGI. In addition, her responsibilities include strategic management and execution of all JNGI special events. She holds a BS in Business Administration from Gardner Webb University and is a MBA from University of Massachusetts Amherst.
To contact Angela, please email her at firstname.lastname@example.com or call her at 828-449-8053.


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I honestly cannot begin to express the emotions I felt last week. I have never felt so loved and cared for in my life. I actually started feeling guilty because I didn't know how to express my thanks to everyone who has read this blog, commented on here or on Facebook, Tweeted me, etc.
I felt an army of support that was with me through this whole "cancer" time. When you're in the midst of dark, stress-filled moments, it's hard to comprehend how many people out there are either going through the same/similar thing or want to help support you while you are in your fight.
Once last week's blog went up, my heart was overfilled with love and gratitude for y'all. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, thank you so very much for your sweet congratulations and encouraging words. I don't know how to repay you, but will try to brainstorm and find brilliant ways to do so.
This may seem weird, but I feel a connection with so many people who have left comments or Tweeted me about their own struggles and shared their stories. I feel we have this cool community of people that support one another and it lifts my heart.
Given that it's Valentine's Day, I wish I could drop those cool lil' Valentine's Day cards, the ones that have the lollipop attached, into your tin foiled decorated V-Day shoe boxes ... you remember like the ones we used to make in kindergarten.
So ... Will you be my Valentine?
I feel on Cloud Nine right now! I know I won't get that 100% cancer-free card, but I know I am not going anywhere! The remaining tests/chemo treatments, etc. are just precaution. It feels unreal to have this "Go live your life" card, and I want to live it up to the very fullest!
One of my closest girlfriends, Alicia Quarles, happens to be the New York correspondent for E! News, and we started laughing about how we react so differently with good and bad news.
When I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in June, I was very stoic during my interview with Alicia. I didn't want to "break" in fear that I couldn't put myself together again. Alicia, on the other hand, whom I have known since college, couldn't help but tear up as she said, "It's just not fair" while she asked questions about my second battle with ovarian cancer.
Cut to last week and Alicia interviewed me this time about my cancer remission news. As soon as I started talking, my voice cracked and all of the emotions I held back in the first interview came out and tears trailed down my face. It was that moment I realized "I am alive and am not going anywhere!"
Matt Sayles / Invision
I never understood the "happy tears" thing until that moment. I laughed as I begun to dry my wet cheeks saying, "Yeah they are! Now, how do you make these suckers stop flowing?"
I hope everyone experiences a "happy tears" moment, as it's the oddest but most wonderful feeling in the world!
So on this beautiful Valentine's Day I also want you to know that you have an army of people who love you. You might not be able to see it, but you affect more people than you will ever realize. Trust me, put yourself and your heart out there for friends, family, and even for support groups online. Some of the people who can build you up the most could be people online whom you will never meet.
I know this was a cheesy "love blog," but I feel so alive and I feel this overwhelming gratitude and love for y'all! Thank you, thank you, thank you – and Happy Valentine's Day!

subset: commoncrawl


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Love really does come in every shade – including furball!
Boardwalk Empire star Jack Huston and his dog joined Gap for its new holiday campaign, which also features Michael J. Fox and Parks & Recreation's Aubrey Plaza.
"I said, 'Of course,'" says Huston in a Gap promotional video, also featuring stars like Michael J. Fox and Aubrey Plaza, who appear in the campaign. "It's nice, it means I'll have a lovely photograph of me and my dog together, which will last a lifetime."
In the keepsake shot, Huston hugs Orso, who dons a knit scarf while sticking his tongue out for the camera.
But, make no mistake, this 9-year-old dog is serious about his work – the talented pooch recently appeared in a film with his uncle, actor Danny Huston.
"Now he's done a film and a photo shoot," Huston says. "He's going to need a trailer next."
Boardwalk Empire's Jack Huston & His Dog Strike a Holiday Pose
Courtesy Gap


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- This event has passed.
RECRUITMENT-Hilo, Hawai`i Island
August 28, 2013 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm| Free
Event Navigation
Can't wait to join all the fun activities and meet new friends in Girl Scouts? We can't wait for you to join us!
This recruitment session is open to both existing and new/potential members, adults and girls. If you are an existing Girl Scout or volunteer, come check out what kinds of fun activities Girl Scouts in the Hilo area will have this year and invite a friend (or two!) to learn more about becoming a volunteer or joining as a girl.
If you are not yet a volunteer or Girl Scout, you are welcome to come along to check out what we do–no sign up required. Come join us!
When: Wednesday, August 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Keaukaha Elementary School
Address: 240 Desha Avenue
Hilo, HI 96720
Who: Girls and families (both existing Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts) going to school in the Hilo community who are interested in learning more about the upcoming Girl Scout year or joining.
*We have many service units all over the state. Please browse our calendar to find the area most convenient for you. If you are unable to find one, feel free to contact Marci, our Membership coordinator for Hawai`i Island, at 808.675.5528 or email@example.com.


text: Thanks to the time change, it's starting to feel like the middle of the night all the time -- at least, that's how it is in the northern reaches of the US. That means that it's time to start thinking about winterizing, which is a task you want to get done before it starts getting extremely cold. See full article.


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SYCAMORE - Erik Baker admitted that what spectators saw Friday night in Sycamore wasn't exactly the usual from Mohawk football.
"It's rare where I can say [with] Mohawk teams our strength is in our skill kids," the Warrior coach said. "Typically we're blunt force trauma."
Not Friday, though as the 69-8 victory over North Baltimore will attest, the Warriors still have the ability to bruise an opponent. Some may wonder if there were seasons in which Mohawk threw for 216 yards. But Drew Loose did it in the first half alone.
Loose dominated the Tigers. He finished the game throwing for 239 yards and five touchdowns, completing 9 of 11 passes. He wasn't intercepted, and ran for 112 yards on seven carries, adding another TD.
All of this in a steady rain that soaked everything. The only thing that seemed able to stop Mohawk Friday night was lightning, which prematurely ended things with 10:52 left in the fourth.
"Drew, even in bad conditions, that may be the best game I've had a Mohawk quarterback have," said Baker, who is in his 12th season as Warrior coach.
"I put a lot of trust in my receivers to go up and get the ball," Loose said.
Mitch Parker was one of those receivers. He caught two TDs and had 104 receiving yards overall. He also returned a punt 48 yards for a score.
"I wasn't expecting that much receiving, but the line gave Loose the time, and all he had to do was put (the ball) where I could catch it," Parker said. "And all I had to do was catch it."
And while the passing game stole the show, Mohawk's ground game was more than effective, racking up 320 yards. Gunnar Johnson was the Warriors' leading rusher, scoring two touchdowns on the ground and going for 130 yards. Oh, he also caught a 72-yard touchdown pass.
"We just kept working hard, and didn't give up, and kept going," he said.
Eric Maskey caught a first quarter touchdown pass for the Warriors (2-3, 1-1 Midland Athletic League), while Grant Price ran for two touchdowns and Bryan Schube ran for one.
North Baltimore got its only score when Dalton Ishmael reached the end zone from eight yards out in the second quarter.
North Baltimore's longest play from scrimmage was its first, when Lane Bishop went around the right corner for a 52-yard gain down to the Warrior 6.
Three plays later, on fourth down from the 2, Ishmael was stopped short of the goal line.
Mohawk took over.


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As the IMF embarks on a new year, it serves well to look back at the accomplishments of 2005. It was an exciting year. Robin Tuohy, Kelly Cox, and I made visits to about a third of the myeloma support groups around the country. This was a very rewarding experience for us, and the response to our visits has been overwhelmingly positive. We traveled to several groups to assist them with Bank On A Cure "Swish & Rinse" DNA parties.
The IMF welcomed several new support groups in 2005, and we are working with more that are about to make their mark in their local myeloma communities. It is very exciting that most of the new groups are in areas of the country that previously did not have myeloma support groups!
In 2005, many support groups organized and held successful events, including the first Southwest Symposium, the first Connecticut Myeloma Week Kick-Off Info Day, and several fundraisers. As we look ahead to the many exciting events slated for 2006, we look forward to seeing more of our friends, old and new, at group meetings, fundraisers, and seminars.
In 2005, the Phoenix myeloma support group celebrated its 7th anniversary. It was a very exciting year. The Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale expanded their myeloma department to three specialists, which has helped members of the group to have better access to clinical trials and other progressive treatments for myeloma. The group also entered a partnership with the Tucson support group and the Arizona Myeloma Network, which facilitated the first meeting of the Southwest Symposium for Myeloma. The symposium was held in Phoenix, and it was a great success.
The Arkansas support group serves patients, caregivers, family members, and friends who are dealing with blood-related illnesses, although most of its members are coping with myeloma. The group is facilitated by two social workers from the Myeloma Institute for Research Therapy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: Harriet Farley, LCSW, and Lenore Arent, LCSW. The Arkansas group was created primarily to offer patients and caregivers a community of trust and caring in which they can explore the emotional impacts of coping with their disease.
The San Diego myeloma support group was founded in 1997 with 6 members. The group's membership now includes over 60 patients, and is continuing to grow. With Captain Fred Gloor at its helm, the San Diego support group has celebrated 8 years as a proactive member of the myeloma community.
The Connecticut Multiple Myeloma Fighters held their inaugural meeting in the Spring of 2001 at the Prospect Library. In 2005, the support group held an "Information Day," which served as a kick-off event to the IMF's Myeloma Awareness Week. The event featured presentations by Dr. Ruben Niesvizky (Director of the Multiple Myeloma Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital), Dr. Sundar Jagannath (Chief of the Multiple Myeloma Program at St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center), and Susan Wall, a stress management consultant and yoga therapist. The event was profiled in several newspapers and on broadcast radio. Local businesses contributed great raffle items, with all proceeds benefiting the IMF. The Leever Cancer Center in Waterbury was so impressed with the support group's efforts that it offered them a new "home" for its meetings!
The Multiple Myeloma Group of Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties was started in May of 2005. The group now has a roster of 70 patients, with an average of 40 attending each meeting. The Multiple Myeloma Group of Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties enjoys a productive partnership with the Miami myeloma support group. The two support groups frequently share speakers and other resources. On December 15, the group's luncheon meeting featured guest speaker Patty Rhee, an oncology pharmacist at the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach.
The Minneapolis/St. Paul Myeloma Support Group originated in 1996 with five members who gathered at the home of one patient. They offered their personal experiences as support to one another and took comfort in the information provided by others coping with the same disease. Today, the group has over 90 regular participants. Meetings are held monthly and are facilitated by Helen Berg and Pat Harwood.
The Stillwater support group is new to the myeloma community. At present, the group consists of 15 members from both Minnesota and Wisconsin. A recent meeting featured a guest speaker from the local hospital who addressed the topic of diet and nutrition for cancer patients. The group's next meeting is scheduled for March of 2006.
The membership of the Kansas City support group has grown in the past year. It now includes about 20 regular monthly attendees. In September, Dr. Daniel R. Kloster visited the group to make a presentation on the topic of post-shingles neuralgia. In November, IMF's Greg Brozeit visited the group to present an update on advocacy. In December, the group celebrated the holidays with a dinner party at a favorite Italian restaurant. And, all three of the group's recent transplant patients continue to do well!
The new multiple myeloma support group in St. Charles is off to a great start. The group held its first meeting in September with just 4 participants. To date, the group has already grown to include 11 patients and caregivers, and the feedback from the attendees has been very positive.
New Jersey
The Central Jersey MM Support Group held its first meeting in July of 2005. The gathering took place at the dining room table of one of the group's members, with only 4 others in attendance. In October, the group moved to its new meeting place at the Bridgewater Township Library. At almost every meeting, the group has welcomed new members, and has now grown to include 18 patients and caregivers.
Since 1995, the Philadelphia support group mailing list has grown to over 300 and continues to add new members. They have had to move to new larger facilities twice and have instituted more structure to the group, with Maddie Hunter as group leader and Lori Curtis as facilitator and social worker. They have a steering committee of over 15 people who offer their time to keep them organized. They created the positions of treasurer, advocacy lead, fundraising lead, newsletter editor, and more. Because of their strong steering committee, they are able to make transitions in the group's leadership. Most recently, they celebrated Debbie Exner's move to Arizona and welcomed Maddie Hunter. By keeping a yearly schedule of events for each meeting, including speakers, a patient/caregiver split, or just a round table among themselves, they keep the meetings timely and interesting for all. In 2005 they hosted speakers on pain management, caregiving in MM, and the law and MM. Through it all, they feel it is all well worthwhile.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island multiple myeloma support group held its first meeting in April of 2005 with 5 members in attendance. As of January 2006, the group has grown to include a total of 18 members. In addition, the group has several regular email and telephone participants. Being the only myeloma support group in Rhode Island, the group has entered active contact with patients, caregivers, and medical professionals, and is making great strides in raising statewide awareness about myeloma. The group has been very successful in recruiting professional speakers, distributing IMF educational materials, and reaching out to hospitalized and homebound patients with phone calls and personal visits.
The Chattanooga myeloma support group was started by Tommy Tonkin in 2002. Tommy lost his battle with myeloma in September of 2005, but his wife has continued her involvement with the group in Tommy's honor. Carroll Tonkin and Kim Shank, an oncology nurse at the Cancer Resource Center at Memorial Hospital, now run the support group. In 2005, the group hosted meetings featuring topics such as "Strength for Caregivers," pain management, nutrition, and stress-reduction techniques. Many of the group's members participated in the IMF's Bank On A Cure®
program and some attended the IMF Patient & Family Seminar in Atlanta.
The Houston Area Multiple Myeloma Support Group was started by Norma Jones in January 1998. The first meeting was in Norma's home with about 15 members attending. The group now meets in the American Cancer Society offices and membership has grown to approximately 150! About 30 to 70 members attended each meeting in 2005. The group hosted talks given by Dr. Brian Durie, IMF's Susie Novis, and Dr. Michael Wang (a myeloma specialist with the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center). In 2004, during Norma Jones' illness and recuperation, the group elected to rename the organization The Norma H. Jones Multiple Myeloma Support Group.
From its inception, the North Texas Myeloma Support Group has been dedicated to serving the local myeloma community with support, comfort, information, and friendship. In 2005, the group hosted a number of guest speakers. Maureen Carling, RN, gave a presentation entitled "Pain CAN and SHOULD be Controlled," which was very enlightening. Dr. Douglas Won, a spine surgery specialist at UT Southwestern, gave a presentation entitled "Metastatic Bone Disease and Multiple Myeloma," which focused on kyphoplasty. These presentations can be viewed at the group's website http://northtexas.myeloma.org. Additionally, the North Texas Myeloma Support Group hosted a Bank On A Cure® event and gathered approximately 30 samples for the IMF research program.
The Burlington group held its first meeting in May of 2005, with 7 myeloma patients plus family and friends in attendance. At present the group membership has doubled to include 14 myeloma patients. The group's first invited guest speaker was IMF's Robin Tuohy. Everyone enjoyed listening to her very much and they are still talking about it!
The Multiple Myeloma Network for the Blue Ridge has been meeting for over three years. The support group is active in myeloma education and advocacy, and distributes a monthly newsletter. The group was recently profiled in the Roanoke Times for its work in the Virginia myeloma community. In December, the Multiple Myeloma Network for the Blue Ridge celebrated Christmas together at their regular meeting at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church in Roanoke County.
The Northwest MM FIGHTERS! support group's motto is "FIGHT ON!" The group includes patients, caregivers, and families from Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia. Founded in 1997 with 5 members, the MM FIGHTERS! now serve 150 member families. The main emphasis of the group is to disseminate information. The Northwest MM FIGHTERS! maintains an active email list, and sends out monthly updates on myeloma treatments and group activities. The group's monthly meetings frequently feature speakers and video presentations. Special events in 2005 included a summer potluck picnic and a holiday open house.
The biggest achievement of the three Wisconsin support groups is hosting the statewide patient and family educational seminar. In 2005, this event took place for the third time! Over 200 attendees gathered in Milwaukee in November. Dr. David Vesole, who had relocated to St. Vincent's Cancer Center in New York, returned to Wisconsin to participate in the seminar as a presenter and to visit with many of his former patients. The full program included two other physicians, a nurse, and a patient panel. IMF Director of Support Groups, Andy Lebkuecher, also attended.
Members of the Racine myeloma support group have continued their very successful cell phone collection drive, and have now shipped out a total of over 2,000 phones! Half of the proceeds from the drive go to support IMF programs, the other half of the proceeds supports various group efforts, including the statewide patient and family educational seminar.
Note: The 2006 IMF Support Group Leaders Retreat will take place May 19th through May 21st in Scottsdale, AZ. If you have any questions about the retreat, or wish to find or start a myeloma support group in your area, please contact Andrew G. Lebkuecher, IMF Director of Support Groups, at email@example.com.


text:
Tomas Palmer and Tolga Acar - Crypto in Windows Vista
- Posted: Sep 16, 2005 at 2:31PM
- 15 comments
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No promises or dates yet but I am planning to take CNG down to XP and Windows Server2003.
I agree with you. He should really get his act together and give the mike, so to speak, to the person(s) he is interviewing instead of always laughing and making jokes.clovejoy wrote:Why doesn't the Tech evangelist guy let the crypto guys answer the questions themselves. I think he is annoying.
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text: This might seem like a weird time to be talking about irrigation, but in many parts of the country, it's still dry, and there's never a bad time to talk about getting ready for the next gardening season. Watering your garden the smart way will save you a lot of water (and money on the water bill), help out the environment, and ensure that your garden is as gorgeous and healthy as it can be. See full article.


text:
Sources: AAA, The Detroit News
quote: why aren't people reporting about it
quote: All this bs about fuel just makes the diesel argument stronger.
quote: Or LPG. :)
quote: making it harder for automakers to meet EPA fuel economy requirements.
quote: True that automakers can (and should) be forced to producing new cars that can run on renewable source fuels, but you can't force the owners of the millions of cars out there that have already been designed to use it (i.e. E85 ready cars) to start using gas that would eat their engines
quote: Even though I have some very harsh criticisms for Obama's economic policies, remember that ethanol in our gasoline did not start under Obama.
quote: Fuel from food - stupidSubsidizing food crops to make fuel from them - stupiderForcing the fuel on consumers when it will wreck their cars - stupidest.
quote: The only thing "pathetic" here is everyone who thinks this is even a remotely good idea - at any point of the continuum. Every single person in the EPA should be fired.
quote: Do not know about International,
quote: An illiterate bunch of fools here.
quote: Gee, and what do you suppose increasing the cost of livestock feed does to the cost of products made from that livestock? Making cattle farmers compete with energy production for corn is a profoundly stupid idea.
quote: To partially address your third statement, all cars are equipped with computers today. Those cars can be calibrated to deal with the higher level of ethanol by richening the air/fuel ratio. Easy peasy.
quote: For those few still running carburetors, they can simply re-jet their carbs to handle the ethanol. Again, tot a huge deal.
quote: The only thing damaging about ethanol is running it at the wrong air/fuel mixture. Richen your air/fuel ratio from 15-1 to say, 13-1 and your engine will be just fine.
quote: While I agree somewhat with your third statement, I challenge you to come up with a better solution than 1 & 2 for renewable-source fuels.


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Shenango's PTA Club Hustle for Muscle 5K Run/Walk to be held April 6
Penn State Shenango's Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Club will host is 4th annual 5K Run/Walk at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2013, to raise funds for UPMC Horizon Foundation's MERP Program and its club. The 5K event will be held on a family-friendly fast course around the Penn State Shenango campus in downtown Sharon. The race will start and end at Forker Laboratory on Shenango Avenue. This year's student co-coordinators are Sarah Yeager from Conneaut Lake and Trish Palmer from Mercer.
Following the race, refreshments will be provided and awards will be presented to the top three men and women finishers in various age groups. Come be a part of Penn State's Hustle for Muscle 5K and help make a difference in our community.
Registration is $20 (T-shirt is guaranteed to the first 150 pre-registered runners and walkers). Race day registration is $25 (T-shirt is not guaranteed). Race day registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 8:55 a.m. Race timing service will be provided by Miles of Smiles and race results will be available at WWW.SMILEYMILES.COM.
For a registration form, please contact Penn State Shenango Student Affairs Office at 724-983-2836 or stop by Sharon Hall 103; or go online to www.shenango.psu.edu/HustleforMuscle. Checks (non-refundable) may be made payable to "Penn State University" and mailed to Penn State Shenango, c/o Student Affairs, 147 Shenango Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146.


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Top Definition
The act of farting into anothers pubic hair during sex.
Oil Rig Worker: My wife asked me to fart in her pubes last night.
Oil Rig Worker #2: Wind in the Willows Pendejo.
*High five*
Oil Rig Worker #2: Wind in the Willows Pendejo.
*High five*
av LichKingBravo 26 januari 2011
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
The art of blowing air on a woman's vagina from behind her. This is done when she is slightly bent over. It allows her butt hole to be exposed as well. The is always the 'danger' of blow back in your face. If she has some fur on her then it is more approriate.
I gave my partner a "Wind in the Willows" last night and she loved it.
av Chocol8tSundae 2 januari 2009


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I'm all aboard that Dallas-Houston bullet train proposal
About 10 years ago, after one too many times when we were worried we'd end up spending a holiday in some connection city, we decided to seriously cut back on flying.
It was a combination of having two small kids, dealing with ever-shrinking airplane seats, almost-assured delays (particularly during holidays), and the fickleness and ridiculousness of security checkpoints. At some point, I figured out that unless we were going on a really long trip, given how early we had to leave the house, the wait at airports, luggage pickup and taxi/rental car stands, it made sense in terms of time, money and mental health to simply go by car.
We could leave at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m., stop whenever we got tired or needed to stretch, and when we got where we were going, we had a car. As an added plus, the kids were forced to chat with their dad for whole minutes at a time, and we didn't have to worry about getting stuck in St. Louis or Houston on Dec. 23.
It was all good. But this might be even better.
According to a KERA story, talk of a 205-mile-per-hour bullet train between Dallas and Houston is gaining steam. The train would be the fastest in the country (The Best, Fastest, Tallest, Biggest always being a plus for Texans), getting us from Dallas to Swamp Town in 90 minutes.
As we pointed out in an editorial earlier this year, one of the things that makes this high-speed rail project different than other failed efforts is that, unlike previous incarnations, it isn't a government project, but a good old-fashioned make-money proposal by a group called Central Texas Railway. The company gained some added traction this summer when they added former Texas Rangers president (and ambassador to Japan and Australia) Tom Schieffer as a senior adviser.
But there's also the possibility some government involvement might lead to a broader rail network. Federal transportation officials are speaking with the Austin and San Antonio mayors about a possible high-speed route between those cities. And Texas DOT is examining the possibility of having a route between Oklahoma City and the Rio Grande Valley.
Texas Central's president and former Harris County judge, Robert Eckels, estimates Dallas-Houston would cost a passenger about 80 percent the price of a plane ticket.
"Short-haul flights have gotten to be more and more a hassle," Eckels was quoted in the KERA story. "You have to go through security and weather delays. … Our trains will be running within one minute of scheduled performance. They're not delayed by weather. There's no magnetometer or X-ray machine to go through."
Sign me up.
Just don't start shrinking those seats.


text:
Top Definition
To cause a diminishment in stature or street cred to another through an intentional act of disrespect, or to oneself by incaution or lack of situational awareness. To diss.
The aging hipster bepunks himself whenever he walks out the door with his shorts at half mast.
автор: Optiongeek 7 августа 2013
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Can you define these popular missing words?


text:
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Android Tablets for Newbies
Series: Computer Class
Topics include the basics of navigation, managing apps and widgets, and how to install apps from the Google Play store to get the most out of your tablet.
- Prerequisite: Students should bring their own tablets.
Space is limited. Call 757.259.4050 to register.
For more information about WRL's computer classes and computer training, click here.
Room: Schell Room


text:
Quality leather with a padded lining. Adjustable from 6¾" to 8½". Maximum of 15 Block Letters. Read More
This item ships directly from the manufacturer. Please allow additional transit time.
Adjustable from 6¾" to 8½".
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DUNCANSVILLE - A agreement requiring Blair Township to allocate 50 percent of its Local Services Tax revenue to the Duncansville Volunteer Fire Department will likely end later this year.
The current agreement, valid through the end of October, will remain in place unless the township or the fire company offers an advance notice of its desire not to renew.
When supervisors held their annual reorganization meeting on Monday, they again designated that 50 percent of the LST revenue - paid by those who work in the township - will be divided between the police department and highway department.
The remaining 50 percent will be set aside for the Duncansville Volunteer Fire Department.
Solicitor Frederick Gieg Jr. said he believed that once the agreement expires, supervisors will be in a position to consider alternative options.
"We have other fire companies and departments that could use it," Supervisor Patricia Steward said of the Local Services Tax revenue.
In February 2010, Steward and fellow supervisor Eric Prendergast spoke out against the agreement and voted to rescind recognition of the Duncansville Volunteer Fire Department as the township's primary responder. Supervisors said they had nothing against the fire department, but didn't like the agreement or the financial obligation.
For years, Blair Township residents have depended on five volunteer fire companies in surrounding municipalities. But in 2007, the idea of a joint Blair Township-Duncansville fire department surfaced, along with the possibility of constructing a new firehouse in the Wye Switches area.
The proposed joint department drew support from then-supervisors David Burchfield Sr., Palmer Brown and Arlene Bush. But it prompted questions from residents and neighboring fire departments who said the joint department, based on its location, would take longer to respond to areas that other fire departments could reach faster.
David Skurnick of the Duncansville Volunteer Fire Department said his department's firefighters have been and will remain committed to serving local municipalities, including Blair Township.
"That's what our focus has always been," he said.
The department still owns the Wye Switches land where it intended to build the new firehouse, he said. But those plans didn't move forward "because we didn't have the cooperation of the township," Skurnick said.
Gieg said he will take a look at the current agreement and the township's options. If supervisors want to end the agreement, Gieg suggested they take action by June to meet a time frame in the current agreement.
Skurnick said he couldn't comment on the department's position regarding the future of the agreement.
"To my knowledge, we've had no discussion," he said.


text:
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Oh NO! Another Race-Based Party...
Q: What are your political plans? Would you join PKR or DAP?
A: (Laughs uproariously…) Out of the question. I am not happy with the two parties and what they have done for the Indian community. They did not do enough in the critical areas that really matter.
Q: What are the critical areas?
A: One is land… land for Tamil schools, temples, squatters and crematoriums… they did not do much. The Pakatan ruled five states and they were masters over land but they did not do much. In Penang there are only 28 Tamil schools but nothing has been done… even with an Indian as deputy chief minister. They could have done, but have not in over one year in power. If they solved the land matter they could have solved 70 per cent of the problems of the Indian community. How can I join their political parties?
When asked if his struggle for the oppressed would include other races. Uthaya replied "Only Indians, for now."
Uthaya should take a leaf from the fate of MIC, a smallish race-based party representing the Indian community. Uthaya may have inspired the community to stand up against being oppressed and marginalised but a political party which depends on the Indian community alone is hardly going to make a big impact in any electoral competition.
Indian voters represent at most 30 percent of total voters in a constituency. It is highly unlikely that Uthaya's party is going to make any headway if it intends to become a third political force in the country without seeking the alliance of either PR or BN.
Going to the BN to form an alliance is highly unlikely. The way Hindraf leaders were detained and released at the whim and fancy of the BN government is irresponsible and high handed. Now, the 5 leaders have an option to sue the government for a just compensation.
Moreover, if the Najib administration is seriously seeking to redeem itself an action must be taken against Syed Hamid Albar for his part in approving the detention. Any minister cannot hide behind an executive order which cannot be challenged in the courts. This is the first legislation which must be deleted if any administration is keen to promote democracy and accountability.
Uthaya's Indian only party will have to seek an alliance with the PR. Hindraf was effective as a movement but the same cannot be said when this movement restructures to become a political party. As a political party, it needs the support of multiracial voters. Continuing its struggle purely from a race-based perspective is going to put off a number of potential supporters.
Its seat options may also be quite limited due to a low proportion of Indian voters in all constituencies.
A new Indian-based party in PR may create unnecessary frictions with both DAP and PKR, both with quite a high number of Indian voters and elected representatives.
What Uthaya needs to do is to seriously consider all available options and choose the best one which can help to end racial politics in the country and not trying to deepen it. Racial politics which appeared to favour one race against the rest is the main cause of marginalisation faced by the Indian community.
23 comments:
- romerz said...
Not the individual but the CAUSE of a greater Malaysia!
- amoker said...
only PR people prayed , virgil for his freedom .. and got arrested. Now that he is out, he showed that he is not grateful and wanted to be his own destiny. Wonder if he is succesfullly turn over to create suspicion among civil societies?
Is Gerakan not one? It is dominated by Chinese! Any Malay made it in the fold?
- nckeat88 said...
I will not support this racist. In fact I am afraid he is on the way to become an extremist. We are fighting for multiracial justice but he is going backward for this cause. I am really afraid he will try to 'provoke' the Indian to go against the gov with violence and the gov will stereotypically response with violence as well. He is just giving another excuse for the gov to use ISA in the future.
"Going to the BN to form an alliance is highly unlikely" You must be really naive, aren't you? How do you know what is happening behind the very scenes you believe does not exist? This is politics lah.
The release of the Hindraf trio appears to be a sort of knee-jerk reaction to the fracas in the Ipoh Assembly, or so it seems. I thought you guys are so savy and skillful in politics. What a novice you all are.
When Hindraf took to the streets, it did not have the political support of political support, across the divide, neither did it solicit help from political parties and the impact that event created needs no reiterating. Just by giving a few seats and ceremonial duties would not solve the deep seated frustration and anguish of the Indians. Do you know that from the feedback that I have got from Perak, the Indians (and some Malays) sincerely believe that most of the opportunities are going to the Chinese. True or perception I know not but it is getting louder by the day.From the feedback I get, Indians are going to shop around and bargain for the best price(s).
Do I sound like a racist? I am not one and never will be. But I just wish to drag down to earth guys like you who believe in what at best can only the surface. I am non-partisan at best trying to wake you guys up, particularly those from the opposition. No matter what, Indians are going to go back to the BN fold in droves. Wait for the day I am proven right.
If there is no seriousness enough to see it thoroughly, you are going to be fooled. May be then, and only then, you all may appreciate what I am writing today.
Preaching about non-racial politics is one thing but how many practice it? It is because I believe in it that I am highlighting this. Take it or leave it. ADIOS
We should look at race-based politic on a wider angle.
In this case if a particular race is lacking far behind and extra attention diverted to upgrade their living one should not classify them under race-based party.
Race-based politic should look upon as full attention being given to a particular race when they are well off and continue to pamper them while others are being neglected.
At times one has to set priority to get mission done not tantamount to prejudice.
Another race based party is the last thing Malaysia needs. But then, who cares for 1,2 or 3Malaysia. It is every community for itself, no other ethnic group will fight for yours. Your problems are primary, others are secondary. The BN formula works. Divide and rule. Give each community appeasement, not fundamental rights for all. Then continue to screw them. Malaysians cannot see the forest for the trees. They will accept crumbs.
- nur mohd nidzam said...
Well said Mr Khoo,100 percent agree with you that Hindraf must struggle to pit an end to racism of any kind in this country and not encourage racism with 'INDIAN ONLY' mentality.
I find this statement incredible "If they solved the land matter they could have solved 70 per cent of the problems of the Indian community"
Really ?
Dont let the title Kingmaker go to your heads, in Bukit Selambau it was reported that the Indian votes tide favoured MIC, but the Chinese and Malay votes overwhelmed that. How many comstituencies in this country has an absolute Indian Majority ?
Zero, ZIP none.How many of the 500+ constituencies have Indians as a deciding factor ? 21 to 50 tops.If UMNO that controls the federal government and the biggest race based party in the country is losing ground because the population is growing weary of race based politicking, where do you think Uthaya's party if he forms it will end up ? BN will just play them against MINDRAF formed by manuel Lopez while MIC sits there laughing. Do you think MIC will allow another Indian Party into BN? No way, according to the BN constitution all 13 components must agree before they admit a new party, have some forgotten what happened to IPF ?
Lastly specifics Uthaya and the rest who posture within Hindraf ? Dont just give general statements, Which land ? when was the memorandum sent ? To whom ? What was the objective ? details -details details ? lastly Hindraf may be vociferous and able to garner large numbers in street protest, but remember the absolute vote numbers came from the silent majority, ordinary citizens from all racial backgrounds who sympathized with the way BN treated Hindraf badly, and voted for Hindraf canditates who stood on PKR or DAP tickets. Could they have won on Indian Votes alone ? No way.
They voted you in to take care of all interests not one ethnic group.I am getting tons of feedback on the ground, and they are dissilusioned with these race centric demands,Could Manoharan have won on the Indian vote alone in Kota Alam Shah,making similar statements like above in GE12? If this continues the maturing electorate will ensure that no support will be given to Hindraf canditates on any tickets, forcing them to stand as independents, and lose the strength that a coalition affords.Do I need to do the math in Tamil ? I do I have to write another "Its in the numbers bodoh" article.
Evolve or perish - you have been warned -
Should we abolish race based political party's ?http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6778953884&topic=7574
Vijay Kumar Murugavell
Seriously, what can you expect from Hindraf? Many Malaysians blindly sympathize with its leaders as they were ISA-ed. They don't understand that Hindraf is just as racist and so futile, if not bad as the other race-based party.
- telur dua said...
In today's context, why would an aspiring politician/ political party want to limit one's audience and consequently the support?
United you stand, divided you fall. They should join PR en-masse.
We are all fully aware where Mr. P. Uthayakumar, the Hindraf founder is coming from. But we pledge Mr. Utahyakumar to consider expending the Hindraf ideology and movement to a bigger picture for a better Malaysia truly for all Malaysian regradless the race.
No Indian only political party can survive independently in Malaysia. They will exist in political limbo like IPF and MUIP.
Pakatan Rakyat being a multi-racial coalition with a platform of fighting for all races should avoid a Hindraf political party like the plague. PR should not allow any race based party to join.
If a Hindraf candidate stands against PKR, let's see how the Indians vote. Bukit Selambau has shown that the Indians are practical people who do not give their votes to losers like Indian independents.
Not all Indians support Hindraf. Many of them can see what the Hindraf leaders cannot - that a racist one race agenda ultimately helps to perpetuate the BN system which is structurally flawed to favour the dominant race.
Race based parties fighting for their own race can only result in racial inequalities. It's like fighting for food in an orphanage. The stronger and bigger ones get more while the weaker ones get less, it's as simple as that.
The only solution is for multi-racial parties to fight for issues irrespective of race. This requires a political change as it cannot be implemented by BN.
Can Hindraf see beyond race and help PR or will they stick to their one race agenda and inadvertently help to perpetuate BN rule?
The name Hindu Rights Action Force mean that u fight for Hindus, not Indians. There are other races who are Hindus as well. So why should HINDRAF form a party to fight for Indians only ?
>What Uthaya needs to do is to >seriously consider ......
that is most practicable. Could not uthaya and his gang ask for help from the dap, pkr for inside help for the indians? A lot of things can be done without big splash in the newspapers before mamak's time. An example is dr chan ?? for the chinese schools.
hey guys...dun just simply say tat Mr Uthaya is racist n all sort of nonsense!!! remember,just becoz of his care for Indians n the idea of a mass rally made lots of changes to the country now!!! i still remember all the campaigns before last elections,all the leaders shouted 'Makkal Sakti' just to create sympathy and the votes of minor indians!!! think before you people talk...it is hw indians were treated for the past 52years even if we born in this land and so called 'WARGA NEGARA'!!!
I think Hindraf is selfish movemeng..only thinks about theirself??how about orang Asli, Iban, Dayak Dusun, Kelabit, Chinese or even poor Malay?
Now after been freed, he only thinks about Indian?Next time around..with out other race support HINDRAF is nothing!!
You guys should joins MIC,,because they also think about themselves!!
The man has spent time locked up unjustly, he had a lot of time to think, another race based party - why not, are Malaysian's not racist, when Malaysian's cease to be racist, then only then will Malaysia be ready for western style democracy. In Malaysia we have Malays, Chinese, Indians and a few Malaysians (these only exist in large numbers overseas)
UMNO has PAS , MCA has DAP ,MIC need HINDRAF - a race based formidable force (as a political party) as its opposite - - one to bury MIC (IPF , MUIP are nothing). Only UthayaKumar is angry enough , Indian enough to bury MIC and bury MIC is what he wants to do and we must support him there.
PAS will take care of burying UMNO
DAP should do its part with MCA
Uthayakumar should wake the Indians up and bury MIC
PKR will fight for all Malaysians. With BN's dead abd buried, then we can talk about being Malaysians and not Malays, Chinese, Indians and lain lain, right now lets fight fire with fire, cut steel with steel and so on.
I have nightmares reading Malaysiakini's report
'president's son Vell Paari, who is vying for the vice-president's post' - is this the Indian's voice, I rather have Uthayakumar the politician speaking for the Indians for thier voice to be heard.
- Kenny Gan said...
Hindraf going to bed with Umno is not so strange. Their ethnic based one race agenda is a good fit to BN's race based system. In comparison, Hindraf despises PR's multi-racial approach and is always slamming PR for not doing enough for Indians.
If Hindraf leaders are hungry for political power (and some of them have exhibited this tendency), a short cut is to form a party and join BN. It's the only way they can get their parties registered. Another way is to join MIC after Samy Vellu steps down.
However, don't expect Indian support to follow Hindraf to BN. Hindraf will give the impression that they are bring back Indian support to BN but the ground reality is that they have will have to leave Indian support at the gates.
Indian disenchantment of MIC goes beyond Samy vellu. Many of them realize that the race based model just doesn't work.
Anonymous, (7.36pm)
A coalition of race based parties under another name will just propagate the same racial inequalities like BN. Hindraf will become the next MIC and another Samy Vellu will arise.
A race based system where each race fights for its own rights and privileges does not work if there is one dominant race. It will never result in equal treatment for minority races.
Let's all bear this in mind as we look forward to a new Malaysia.
Anonymous, (7.36pm)
I beg to differ, a dominant race in Malaysia will NEVER be fair and just in it's treatment of minorities, Malaysia is not UK, US, Canada, Australia where minorities rights are protected and special privelages are accorded to them. It's the reverse where special rights/privelages are accorded to the dominant race. MIC has been the voice of the Malaysian Indian in Government and what did MIC do for the Indians, it sold them lock stock and barrel. Hindraf grouse as I see it is against MIC the Indian voice, all the other shenigans it has been upto in the past is to gain notoriety, the bottom line is the Indians been screwed by Indians from MIC. What Hindraf has achieved is notoriety and why waste it, register an Indian based political party and fight MIC on one front. Hindraf political party based on race based politics has no chance in hell to represent Malaysians as a whole (I am an Indoian and I don't want or need them) however they have every right to voice the general Indian populace concerns heard under the Pakatan Rakyat umbrella which Barisan Nasional todate has shown no interest in doing so - so to speak ISA'ing and sending thier leaders in exile.
Hindraf - go ahead and form a race based party and fight for the betterment of your race- however without antogonising and coming into racial conflict with other's.
- Alex said...
Dear Khoo,
Can Gerakan or other relevant authorities lodge a police report against the blogger Barking Magpie also identified as Rusdi by Raja Petra for his seditious article in his blog - calling for war to be waged against PR supporters..a real war mind you.
The url: http://barkingmagpie.blogspot.com/2009/05/uthayakumar-and-yb-babi-cancerous-cells.html
Highlights from the blog:
- Calling Uthayakumar a terrorist
- Follow the Sri Lanka way in waging war against groups and individuals
- War in Malaysia is needed for peaceful co-existence (his logic defies explanation)
- All need to be taught a true lesson in peace (by waging war?)
- It appears in Malaysia that we need war to obtain that
- What say you Brother Uthaya and YB BABI! Are you ready, really ready, for this shit?!
- Khoo Kay Peng said...
You should pose this question to a Gerakan leader or its HQ, not on my blog?
Technically, anyone should be able to make a police report against an inciteful statement. Why don't you take the lead?


text:
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text:
on January 25, 2013 - 1:21 AM
, updated January 25, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Uncle Sam has, at last, officially acknowledged reality.
When Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta on Thursday lifted the ban on women serving in combat units, he was just affirming what already happens, many veterans and their families said.
"When I was in Iraq serving in mortuary affairs, as a woman, I would get into the Humvees and go in convoys to pick up remains from combat situations, and we came under fire every day," said former Marine Jessica L. Goodell, of Bemus Point. "We are already in there, and maybe now officially we'll be recognized."
It has been impossible not to notice the increasing role that women play in America's battles.
About 800 women have been wounded and 152 killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere over the last the decade by an enemy who shies away from front lines and finds cover mingling in the civilian populations. And two women have already earned the Silver Star, the third-highest medal for heroic action in combat.
"Every person in today's military has made a solemn commitment to fight and, if necessary, to die for our nation's defense," Panetta said in announcing that the ban is being lifted. "We owe it to them to allow them to pursue every avenue of military service for which they are fully prepared and qualified."
But don't expect women to officially open fire on the enemy any time soon.
Military brass has until 2016 to make arguments on whether some combat unit positions, such as in Special Forces, should be off-limits to women.
The rigorous qualification process for combat roles, including infantry and armored units, will remain. Some women may not be able to cut it, Panetta acknowledged, "but everyone is entitled to a chance."
That chance will likely lead to far more women in higher-ranked positions in the military, given that promotions to the very highest levels typically require combat experience.
"This decision finally opens the door for more qualified women to excel in our military and advance their careers, and obtain all of the benefits they have earned," said Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., long one of the leading advocates of women in combat.
But not everyone is thrilled over the expanded role for women.
Air Force veteran Natalie M. Ficarra, a former Niagara County resident who served three tours of duty in the Persian Gulf region during the Iraq War, wonders whether women fighting side by side with men might complicate combat missions.
"Say, a woman is injured on the front lines and a male soldier may want to come to her rescue, which may compromise the mission. I believe men instinctively want to help women in danger," Ficarra, who grew up in Wilson, said in recalling that she never let gender obstacles get in her way during her four years of service. "However, with proper training, those situations can be addressed appropriately.
"If a woman is physically and mentally capable of doing that job and doing it well, then she should not be prohibited from doing it based on her gender. Men will have to treat her as another human being, not according to her gender role."
Goodell said the forces of human nature cut both ways across the sexes.
"A male soldier could be wounded and a women's instinct would be to nurse and care for the wounded soldier," she said.
Marlene L. Roll, a former director of military services for Erie County who helped launch what is believed to be the country's first female-focused Veterans of Foreign Wars post – Dorothy Kubik/Katherine Galloway Post 12097 – said anyone who argues that society lacks the stomach for women paying the ultimate price in war needs to get acquainted with current affairs.
"My military thought is, men and women should serve equally, and I know that there's a touchy-feely part of this that the populace gets very upset about women coming home in body bags. But they already are," Roll said.
She said she wants to see a little more detail on the issue but is in favor of opening up more opportunities for women who want to serve in combat.
"My thought is women are already in combat. They are already there, because there is no more front line. They are going house-to-house and things like that," Roll said.
"If they want to be a Navy SEAL or in Special Forces and can pass the test and training to make it, let them. If they can't get through the course, they don't belong there. "They need to be able to do what the guys do," Roll added, "because they have to do certain things above and beyond the average soldier's requirements. Opening it up to allow them to apply, why not?"
Jody Hackemer, a Army National Guard recruiter for the last 10 years and a former Marine, offered reasons for why not.
"Personally, I feel it is a distraction to the men who are in combat armed units. I am a recruiter, and I've never run into a female who has said she wants to be in a combat unit, but I guess there are some out there," said Hackemer, whose brother Army Sgt. James T. Hackemer lost his legs in Iraq and then in July 2011 was thrown to his death from a Darien Lake roller coaster.
"I don't understand why they are trying to change something that is not broken."
Derby resident Tracy R. Kinn, a former Marine who suffered a broken back while preparing to deploy to the Persian Gulf War, is dead set against women in combat roles.
"My opinion is that females do not belong in combat. We belong in support roles to combat," Kinn said.
"The way that America is, females are to be protected, not to be the protector. I personally feel that my male combat counterparts would be more concerned about my welfare than the mission.
"I think it is a very volatile situation if they open it up to women being infantrymen."
Buffalo native Debbera M. Ransom, a Cold War veteran who served in Germany, said that while she does not object to women serving in combat, not every woman wants to be in direct combat.
"People assume that because women are serving in the military that we want to be a man," Ransom said. "When I was in the military, I remember when I had my combat boots on and my fatigues on, and when my shift was over, I couldn't wait to rush back to the barracks, take a shower and put on high heels."
Men with strong local links to the military also weighed in on the change.
"We look at the way America has changed. We are moving in the right direction," said Sergio R. Rodriguez, coordinator of the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs at Medaille College.
"Women are just as passionate and capable as their male counterparts. When I was in the Marines, I worked beside female Marines, and they were just as capable and prepared. I'm personally very proud to see the Pentagon has lifted the ban."
Pendleton resident Phil Basinski, husband of National Guard Maj. Judy Izard, a pharmacist who served in Afghanistan, said his wife faced plenty of danger, even though technically she was not in a combat role – often traveling with convoys to remote Afghan villages to set up health clinics.
"My opinion is, if a person is qualified for it regardless of their age, gender or ethnic background, if they're willing to go, well God bless them," Basinski said.
When asked whether he would mind if his wife sought combat duty, he said, "If that's what she wanted to do, I wouldn't hold her back."
Women in the military:
283,000 female service members have been deployed worldwide
800 have been wounded
152 have died in Iraq, Afghanistan, elsewhere
20,000 have served or are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan
2 have earned the Silver Star for valor
Source: Congressional Research Service;
numbers are from the last 10 years
News Washington Bureau Chief Jerry Zremski contributed to this report. email: firstname.lastname@example.com and email@example.com


text:
Sources: RIM [Patch Press Release], RIM [KB Security Advisory], Twitter-Chris Wade
quote: These execs should learn that Jailbreak is not the end of the world but generally spurs sales of the product. Im not saying rim should turn a blind eye but should take a hard look at how many devices sold before and after the jailbreak then decide how soon they want to fix the issue. I know the Playbook has been one of the worst selling devices and a jailbreak might just get the device out there. I know a lot of people who wont buy the device until its jailbroken. Just saying.


text:
Top Definition
Refers to a 1970's TV sitcom. It had a main character known for being the Coolest guy on TV (The Fonze). As the series entered one of its last seasons, the writers had this oh-so-cool guy waterskiing in his trademark leather jacket, to jump a shark. It was truely the moment when the series went downhill from there and was soon mercifully cancelled.
Rober Jordans book series 'The Wheel of Time' jumped the shark in book four and has gotten worse ever since.
por rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan 31 de Julho de 2003
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
was: a cool web site where you could vote on when shows jumped
is: a lame web page on TV Guide
is: a lame web page on TV Guide
1. jumptheshark.com jumped the shark when it went to TV Guide.
2. Kid: Dad, I think that Bewitched jumped the shark when Dick York left the show.
Dad (under his breath) *whippersnapper*
2. Kid: Dad, I think that Bewitched jumped the shark when Dick York left the show.
Dad (under his breath) *whippersnapper*
por LexAveNYC 10 de Junho de 2009
When a TV show has reached its peak and stops being any good.
X-Files totally jumped the shark when Mulder was abducted by aliens.
por VampyTara 09 de Novembro de 2007
A metaphor that identifies the exact moment a TV show has reached its creative peak. Or to put it bluntly, it's the beginning of the end of a once great show. The moment in which it becomes clear the writers are out of good ideas and the show has begun its decent downhill. It's usually some ridiculous stunt, story line, major character change, or huge fundamental shift in the premise of the show that is viewed as nothing more than a desperate attempt to raise viewership and declining ratings. The phrase refers to an episode of the popular 1970's sitcom Happy Days, in which one of the main characters is water skiing (while wearing his trademark leather motorcycle jacket mind you), and literally jumps over a shark.
As far as I'm concerned, America's Next Top Model jumped the shark when Tyra chose that air-headed idiot Nicole as the winner, instead the much more talented and deserving Nik.
por HuskyMiller 16 de Dezembro de 2006


text:
Ysolde Bouchier is still coming to terms with the dragon part of her, while at the same time trying to free a friend of Baltic-her Black Dragon lover-from the weyr, get Baltic to meet with the dragons who want him dead, rescue a half-dragon damsel in over her head, raise the shade of the man everyone says killed her, and once and for all clear Baltic's name of the murder charges that continue to plague him.
For Ysolde, being a dragon is starting to bite.
Dear Reader Letter
Yo, readers!
So, I've got this book coming out, The Unbearable Lightness of Dragons. Well, technically, it's about the uber crazy dread wyvern Baltic and his bodacious babe Ysolde, but I think we all know who the readers are going to be picking up the book for. That's right, my magnificent form is all over the book, and I have to say, more than once I caught Soldy giving me the eye. She so wants me.
Since there may be a couple of you who didn't read the last book that I was in, where Ysolde demon-napped me, and Baltic yelled a lot at me, and I had to fight Ysolde's son Brom for the big bowl of lemon sorbet, you can read about all that in Love in the Time of Dragons. But that was so last year, and this new book has all sorts of stuff in it, like what food you get to see me eat, and about the wildlife attack that I survived—barely, and with much bravery—when Ysolde was practicing some magic, and how she and Balters go back to Dauva and meet up with the Three Stooges. Kind of. All that is in the book. And of course, Aisling and Drake, and even their spawn are in there. As is Pavel and his sex toys. May is there, too, along with Gabriel, and Kostya who gets in some really good shots at Baltic, something that's always fun to watch.
And then there's Dr. Kostich. Man, he is one messed up archimage, you know what I mean? He's still got issues with Ysolde, or rather, she's got issues with him, and then there's his family. Hoo. Seriously hoo. That's all I'm going to say because I wouldn't want to ruin the book for you for you. But, hoo.
So let's recap. The Unbearable Lightness of Dragons has got:
- My magnificent form described many times
- Me eating some really good breakfasts.
- My heroic and masterful triumph over wildlife of a slithery sort.
- Ysolde having the hots for me. She tries to pretend she doesn't, but I know.
- Baltic yelling a lot.
- Aisling and Drake being Aisling and Drake.
- May being stealthy 'n stuff. Gabe is da man.
- Pavel rockin' out.v
- A bunch of other people, and Dr. Kostich losing it now and again.
- Oh yeah, and the First Dragon is back.
What more do you want to hear? Go out and read the book, and then you can hit me up on my Facebook page to tell me how much you loved my scenes (they were the best ones), 'cause yeah, Katie got me a Facebook page. Now if Ash would just let me set up a PO Box for all the fan mail…
Snuffly gender-checks with just a small splotch of slobber,
Jim AKA Effrijim, demon sixth class


text:
I can't remember when Gary Valentine last headlined the Improv at Harveys.
I do remember trying to call him over something I saw on TMZ. I think it was about a woman who accused him of something and she was later caught in a lie. Gary never returned my call but that was like a year or two ago. All I know is that Valentine is a funny guy, an everyman's kind of guy and he's back probably with a whole new arsenal of humor.
Valentine played cousin Danny on the hit TV show, "The King of Queens" on CBS which starred his brother Kevin James. Lots of television creds that include a Comedy Central special, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and regular appearances on "Chelsea Lately" where, as a panelist pretty much steals the scenes with his quick, improvisational banter between Chelsea Handler and the rest of the guests. He's been in a number of movies including the Farrelly Brothers film "Stuck on You" with Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear in addition to Jerry Seinfeld documentary feature, "Comedian" and the independent short "Alive 'n' Kickin." He had small but hilarious part in Adam Sandler's movie "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" and as a karaoke singer in "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" which both also starred Kevin James.
Gary's an easy guy to like both on and off stage. The last time he was here he said that his act in part "is based on everyday life. I people-watch a lot. You know, go to the mall and just sit and observe." He is good at paying particular attention be it here locally or in other parts of the country. His experiences visiting the South are among my favorite bits that he does.
His other huge passion is probably golf. Like fellow comedian Henry Cho might actually miss an audition if his game on the green is going very well. Fortunately, he won't be missing any shows over golf because the courses are snowed over some.
If the audience knew in advance that Burton teaches Krav Maga Worldwide for a living in addition to his standup he would never get heckled.
If you're not familiar with Krav Maga, according to Wikipedia, it's a noncompetitive eclectic self- system developed in Israel that involves boxing, muay, Thai, jiu-jitsu, wrestling and grappling techniques along with realistic fight training. In other words, Mike could really kick your ass if he wanted. I think that's why we haven't seen him up here in more than four years. I remember when Burton was training to be an instructor but apparently he's been really into it hence splitting his time between both standup and Krav Maga.
Burton mentioned even back then standup and Krav Maga were kind of similar. Mike said that as an instructor those parallels would include, "How to grasp your opponent's attention, fluctuating your voice and making eye contact. My stand-up definitely 100 percent helps my teaching skills."
Before he became an Israeli offensive machine, the Chicago native was slaying them on stage. He was a regular on Comedy Central's "Make Me Laugh" and had spots on the CBS television show, "The King of Queens," hence his relationship with both Gary Valentine and Kevin James.
Burton's been in a few flicks the most notable being "Stuck on You," starring Greg Kinnear and Matt Damon, but to me will always be best known for his association doing comedy shows overseas for our troops in war zones in addition to booking them, too.
With regards to his standup, it's pretty much dictated by whatever mood the crowd might be in on any particular night. He's always the butt of his jokes and his material reflects that. Neurotic? Yeah, but who isn't in this business? The good news is that you can go to a Michael Burton comedy show and no two are ever alike.


text: Mike Licona has a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies (University of Pretoria), which he completed with distinction. He serves as associate professor in theology at Houston Baptist University. Mike was interviewed by Lee Strobel in his book The Case for the Real Jesus and appeared in Strobel's video The Case for Christ. He is the author of numerous books including The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach (IVP Academic, 2010), Paul Meets Muhammad (Baker, 2006), co-author with Gary Habermas of the award-winning book The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Kregel, 2004) and co-editor with William Dembski of Evidence for God: 50 Arguments for Faith from the Bible, History, Philosophy, and Science (Baker, 2010). Mike is a member of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, the Institute for Biblical Research, and the Society of Biblical Literature. He has spoken on more than 50 university campuses, and has appeared on dozens of radio and television programs.