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Bill Jones
In 1945, we ended a "War to End All Wars" for the second time in just over a quarter-century, and since then there hasn't been a time without war someplace.
About the same time that World War II ended, we formed the United Nations as a mighty peacekeeping organization. So far, there hasn't been any peace to keep, and the U.N. as been a means for instigating more war, an excuse for the United States and other nations to put troops in the field and exploit our weaponry.
In his Feb. 27 column in The Tribune-Democrat, retired Pitt-Johnstown professor Jim Scofield wrote that "it's dangerous for a democracy to always be at war," and noted that "Republicans and Democrats fear to challenge our wars, believing that war support is their only popular, politically sustainable position."
It hasn't been often that I have agreed with Scofield's writtings, because we look at things from entirely different angles. To toss labels around, I would say Scofield is a staunch liberal and I am just as strong a conservative. I respect what he writes even if I disagree.
But this time, he hit the nail on the head, and he did it convincingly. The United States has become a war-mongering nation, always looking for a flight and jumping in where we often have no business.
We haven't been doing all that well, either, for being perhaps the most powerful nation on earth. We fought to a draw in Korea, technically lost in Vietnam, got creamed in Somalia, came out a little ahead in Bosnia and left the job unfinished in Kuwait so we had an excuse to go back in and spend more lives whipping Iraq, and are fighting a nonwinnable war in Afghanistan.
We keep hearing promises to bring the troops home, but they are still slugging it out with an enemy that has never been defeated, and most likely never will be.
Forget the political tripe about bringing them back in a year or so, and start flying them home now.
We have no business fighting the Taliban, which is no threat to the United States, and a war that cannot be justified by the U.S. Constitution's requirement to "provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States."
There is nothing in the Constitution that empowers us to provide for the defense of other nations, and certainly nothing that authorizes us to engage in "nation building."
There also is nothing that gives Congress authority to impose taxes for the use of other countries.
"The Iraq war, launched with our 2003 invasion, is the most illegitimate," Scofield correctly wrote.
"It had nothing to do with terrorism, Iraq had no nuclear weapons and was not a threat to the United States. Yet the Bush administration claimed all those reasons for war, and both parties and our press colluded with those dishonest rationales."
I well remember the clamor about Iraq supposedly having "weapons of mass destruction" and we had to do something about it.
Either we the people were being blatantly lied to, or the U.S. intelligence community was worse than useless. Either answer should be alarming.
This is not to criticize our men and women in uniform. They are above reproach, putting their lives on the line for their country. May God richly bless and protect them, and may our government quickly bring them home to their families.
Scofield also noted that "now we are poising a parallel threat to attack Iran, claiming the same excuse, that it might produce a nuclear weapon."
Even if that should happen, and I hope it doesn't, I agree with Scofield that we have no right to attack it. It is time for the United States to worry about its own problems and stop trying to dictate to the rest of the world.
People who have been reading my columns for years may be surprised at this column, because I have always been considered a hawk rather than a dove. I still support our military and believe it should be kept strong to deter any threat of aggression against us. I do not believe we should be constantly fighting wars that are none of our business.
Our government has been very adept at getting U.N. edicts as excuses for going to war. Our country, and perhaps others, would be better off if we got out of the United Nations, and got the United Nations out of our country.
And please, President Obama, and anyone else with the powers to do so, please, please bring our troops home, now.
Bill Jones is a retired senior writer for The Tribune-Democrat.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.


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A Step Forward for Two-Step Screening for Ovarian Cancer
Stage for stage, ovarian cancers and breast cancers carry a similar prognosis—more than 90% of women diagnosed with stage I disease survive at least 5 years, but only 30% of women who present with distant disease are alive at 5 years. Breast and ovarian cancer differ markedly, however, in their stage distributions at presentation—whereas more than 60% of patients with breast cancer have localized disease at diagnosis, fewer than 20% of patients with ovarian cancer are diagnosed with localized disease.1 This apparent link of early stage at diagnosis to longer overall survival provides a compelling argument for screening to detect early-stage disease. In fact, the development of a highly sensitive and specific test to detect early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer has long been considered the key to changing ovary cancer from the silent killer it has been named to a detectable and highly curable cancer.
In an evaluation of the clinical utility of a proposed ovarian cancer screening test, there are four important questions to ask: First, does the test find early-stage, invasive ovarian cancers? The test should have high sensitivity for early-stage cancers. Finding late-stage cancers before they become symptomatic or borderline ovarian cancers2 is highly unlikely to lead to longer survival. Second, does the test find only ovarian cancers rather than benign disease? The test should be highly specific for ovarian cancer. If the specificity is too low, an unacceptable number of women will undergo unnecessary laparotomy/laparoscopy and oophorectomy. Third, how will the test perform in the population to be screened? The positive predictive value (PPV) of the test should remain high when used in the lower-prevalence screening population, and when used repeatedly during the years. Potential ovarian cancer screening tests are developed in sample populations that are artificially enriched for ovarian cancers. In such a laboratory setting, positive PPVs are high. When the screening test is applied to the normal-risk population, the PPV will fall substantially. With repeated testing over years, the risk for false positive screening tests will be additionally augmented. Finally, will use of the screening test improve survival among the women who are screened? This is the gold standard test for all screening interventions. It is insufficient to demonstrate that use of a screening test finds early-stage cancers. It is possible that there are inherent biologic differences between "early-stage-presenting" and "late-stage-presenting" ovarian cancers. It is not certain that every advanced-stage ovarian cancer was once an early-stage, detectable and curable ovarian cancer. If screening is successful, an increase in the number of early-stage cancers diagnosed will be offset by a decrease in the number of late-stage cancers, and overall survival will be longer among the women assigned to screening. As has recently been discussed regarding nearly two decades of breast and prostate cancer screening, if screening detects only lower-risk cancers at an earlier time-point, true survival is not enhanced.3
In this issue of Journal of Clinical Oncology, Yurkovetsky et al4 report the performance of a multimarker screening assay proposed as the first step of a two-step screening strategy for early detection of epithelial ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women. In the two-step strategy, women with a positive multimarker screening assay would undergo subsequent transvaginal sonogram (TVS). Because the prevalence of ovarian cancer is low (approximately 0.03%), it is estimated that a screening strategy should have greater than 75% sensitivity for early-stage ovarian cancer and specificity of 99.6%. Applied to the normal-risk population of women, this would yield a positive predictive value of 10%,5–7 which means that 10 women would undergo surgery for every one ovarian cancer found. In a two-step screening strategy, whereby TVS is offered only to women with positive serum assays, for which only women with suspicious findings on TVS undergo surgical evaluation, the specificity of the first-step assay should be at least 98% to keep the specificity of the two-step strategy at 99.6%. The goal of the work reported here was to develop an assay with high sensitivity for early-stage ovarian cancer while preserving 98% specificity. The work has several important strengths that reflect the depth of expertise and experience of the research team. This is multi-institutional, international, collaborative work using state-of-the-art immunoassays, statistical design and analyses, and an impressively large number of serum samples from patients with early and late stage ovarian cancer, benign and nonovarian malignant disease, and healthy controls. An important caveat for the generalizability of the findings is that the study population comprised only postmenopausal women.
The authors report that, from a pool of 96 candidate serum biomarkers, a panel of four markers (CA125, HE4, CEA, and VCAM-1) showed the best diagnostic power.8 In a training set of samples, the four-biomarker assay detected early-stage ovarian cancer with 86% sensitivity and 98% specificity. The same high sensitivity and specificity were preserved when the four-biomarker panel was applied to an independent validation set of serum samples. In the same samples, CA125 alone had a sensitivity of only 61% for early-stage ovarian cancer.
Now, the questions: First, does the test find early-stage cancers? Yes, with 86% sensitivity, meaning that 14% of the early-stage cancers are missed. The four-biomarker assay would appear to be superior to CA125 alone for finding early-stage cancer. Does the test find only ovarian cancers, and not a lot of benign disease? Yes, with 98% specificity. The four-biomarker panel identified 33% of benign pelvic disease, 6% of breast cancers, 0% of colon cancers, and 36% of lung cancers as positive for ovarian cancer. On the surface, this four-biomarker panel would appear to be a clear advance in the serologic detection of early-stage ovarian cancer.
That leaves the two hard questions: First, how will the test perform in the population to be screened? In the training set of samples in which the selection of the four-biomarker assay was defined, the prevalence of ovarian cancer (all stages) was 26%, and the prevalence of early-stage cancers was 12.6%. In the validation set, the prevalence of all-stage ovarian cancer was 18% and the prevalence of early-stage disease 4.7%. These values are still 157-fold higher than the prevalence of early-stage ovarian cancer in the general population of women. Furthermore, by design, all serum samples came only from postmenopausal women who had serum available for study. Biomarker profiles from banked serum may not be fully representative of biomarker profiles from the normal-risk, asymptomatic population. For example, of necessity, the serum from early-stage ovarian cancer cases in the study population came from women with pelvic pathology deemed sufficiently suspicious to merit surgical resection and staging. It is plausible that the serum biomarker profile of such a patient may differ from a woman with no symptoms and no known pelvic abnormalities. There may be a temptation to apply the four-biomarker assay to premenopausal women and to high-risk women, such as carriers of deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. Such a generalization of these data would be premature. For carcinoembryonic antigen 125 (CA125), at least, false-positive CA125 screening results are likely more common among premenopausal, high-risk women.9,10 We do not have any information about how the four-biomarker assay performs outside the postmenopausal-with-serum-available sample population.
Finally, will use of the screening test improve survival among the women who are screened? The authors correctly conclude that their promising findings require additional validation. Furthermore, the intention of the work was for the biomarker assay to serve as a first-step screen that could be applied to postmenopausal women, to identify women who required second-stage evaluation with transvaginal sonogram. When 10,958 postmenopausal women underwent three annual CA125 tests as the first step of such a screening strategy, the positive predictive value for all-stage ovarian cancers was 20.7%, there was no significant difference in the stage-distribution of the ovarian cancers between the screened patients and the control patients, and screen-detected ovarian cancers were of lower grade than ovarian cancers found in the no-screen control group.11 When 50,640 postmenopausal women were screened by annual CA125, interpreted by a risk-of–ovarian cancer score, followed by transvaginal sonogram for women with positive CA125 score results, the sensitivity for all-stage, invasive ovarian cancer was 89.4%, and the positive-predictive value for the strategy was 35.1%.12 The possibly improved sensitivity of the four-biomarker assay for early-stage disease would hopefully translate into an improvement in the detection performance of the full two-step strategy.
If the four-biomarker assay is to become a standard for screening postmenopausal women for early-stage ovarian cancer, the next step needs to be a giant one: a prospective, randomized trial for postmenopausal normal-risk women, comparing four-biomarker assay screening, followed by transvaginal sonogram for women with an abnormal assay compared with no screening. The end point, ideally, should be survival. Given the questions about potential biologic differences in behavior of early-stage– versus late-stage–presenting ovarian cancer, an end point of greater detection of early-stage cancer, although attractive, is unlikely to be definitive. Particularly in ovarian cancer, overdiagnosis has the potential to do harm. We all hope to be able to tell women that ovarian cancer screening can increase survival. We are not there yet, but we may be one step closer.
See full editorial here

subset: commoncrawl


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(Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2013)
2012-13 Verification Worksheet for Independent Students (pdf)
If you are an INDEPENDENT student and the Department of Education selected your 2012-13 FAFSA to be verified, you must complete this worksheet and return it to the Financial Aid Office along with your *SIGNED 2011 TAX RETURN TRANSCRIPT (if you filed) and your 2011 W-2 Form(s). If you are married, you must also submit your spouse's *SIGNED 2011 TAX RETURN TRANSCRIPT (if filed separately) and their 2011 W-2 Form(s). If additional verification paperwork needs to be collected the financial aid staff will contact you.
*NEW FOR 2012-13: To obtain an IRS tax return transcript, go to www.IRS.gov and click on the "Order a Return or Account Transcript" link, or call 1-800-908-9946. Make sure to request the "IRS tax return transcript" and not the "IRS tax account transcript." It takes up to two weeks for IRS income information to be available for electronic IRS tax return filers, and up to eight weeks for paper IRS tax return filers.


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Availability: River Canyon Lodge
Moab hotel with a seasonal outdoor pool
Situated in Moab, this hotel is close to Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center, Overlook Gallery, and Museum of Moab. Also nearby are Moab Regional Hospital and Grand County Civic Center.
Hotel Features
At River Canyon Lodge, recreational amenities include a spa tub and a seasonal outdoor pool. The hotel also features free self parking and a 24-hour front desk.
Room Amenities
Televisions come with premium cable channels. Guestrooms also feature complimentary wireless Internet access, refrigerators, and microwaves.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
River Canyon Lodge Amenities
- General
River Canyon Lodge features a spa tub and a seasonal outdoor pool. This Moab hotel also offers tour/ticket assistance, coffee/tea in the lobby, and an elevator (lift). Complimentary self parking is available on site.
River Canyon Lodge is a smoke-free property.
- 24-hour front desk
- Coffee/tea in lobby
- Elevator/lift
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free self parking
- Smoke-free property
- Spa tub
- Outdoor seasonal pool
- Internet
Available in all rooms: Free Wi-Fi
- Parking
Free self parking
- Room Amenities
- Premium TV channels
- Climate control
- Free local calls
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Private bathroom
- Shower/tub combination
- Television
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Cable TV service
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
- Recreation
A seasonal outdoor pool and a spa tub are on site.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Rafting nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
- Mountain biking nearby
- Accessibility
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessibility equipment for the deaf
- Accessible bathroom
- Accessible path of travel
- Braille or raised signage
- Accessible parking
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
River Canyon Lodge Policies & Fees
- Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Minimum check-in age is 18
- Check-out
Check-out time is 11 AM
- Payment types
Accepted at this hotel: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
- Pets
Pets allowed
- General
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Fees
- Unless otherwise indicated, the charges below are not included in the overall room price. If not included in the overall room price, they will be charged by the property at check-in or check-out. Charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book. This property told us they will charge you for the following:
We have included all charges provided to us by the property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
- A 13.6 percent city/local tax will be charged
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
- Pet deposit: USD 25 per stay
- Additional Details
This property allows pets in specific rooms only. Guests can request one of these rooms by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.


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As many of you may know, Peter is no stranger to the state of Wisconsin. He's a proud alumnus of the University of Wisconsin and a devoted fan of the Badgers, and he travels to Wisconsin at least four times a year. In the world of branding, some might argue that Wisconsin might suffer from time to time because some folks only think of it as Packerland and the Dairyland state. Both true brands and images, but while football and cheese might be the obvious thoughts, did you know that Wisconsin is also home to 11 separate sovereign Indian nations?
In Wisconsin you'll find the Oneida, Forest County Potawatomi, Menominee, Stockbridge Munsee, Sokaogon Mole Lake Community, Ho-Chunk, the Lac du Flambeau Band, the Bad River Band, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band, the Red Cliff Band, and the St. Croix Chippewa Indian Tribes–each its own sovereign nation.
On these lands, we're going to show you some Hidden Gems most travelers never get to see because they simply don't know about them. These are experiences not in the guidebooks, not in the brochures. And even though they aren't widely known, these special destinations and experiences are accessible to all. There's no better way to start than to attend an authentic pow wow that brings the tribes together and honors their histories.
Check back next week for a new episode of Hidden Gems: Wisconsin.
For more Wisconsin adventures, check out:
- Peter's Travel Podcast, Travel Today: Oneda Nation, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Ask the Local's City Guide, Madison, Wisconsin
- Travel Tip: Native American Sacred Sites


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top stories
Unique fast-track prog
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), Sunway TES and University of Malaya (UM) have collaborated to provide students who are studying the Bachelor of Accounting programme at UM with the opportunity to attain an ACCA Qualification through a unique fast-track programme.
This collaboration was formalised at a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signing ceremony held recently, which was witnessed by Yang Berhormat Dato' Devamany a/l S.Krishnasamy, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.
Through this agreement, students in their third year of the accounting degree programme in UM who have demonstrated good potential can take up the ACCA Qualification concurrently. Those selected for this programme will have their ACCA course fees fully sponsored by participating employers which include AFTAAS, BDO, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KHR, KPMG, PwC and the Sunway Group; and will also be provided internship placements.
UM accounting degree students will be able to claim nine exemptions from ACCA should they choose to register and study under this special collaboration. Thus, they will only be required to sit for the remaining five ACCA papers at the Professional level.
This unique collaboration is recognised as an initiative under Talent Corporation Malaysia's (TalentCorp) Talent Roadmap 2020 plan recently unveiled by the Prime Minister, YAB Dato' Sri Mohd Najib.


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The Chamber office will be closed Wed & Thursday, 11/21 & 11/22. If you are decorating a wreath please bring it to the green between 1:00pm and 1:30pm.
The annual tree lighting will be held this Saturday with Santa arriving at 2:00pm the tree will be lit at 4:45 to 5:00pm.


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Row long bow down gold bird flyt.
May your soul fill, light of night.
Walk thy path with thin feel.
May your road be not cold of steel.
Dive out shadow, come with light.
Dark young old secret, let it hide, in morning.
Break wing of pure, then ye know for sure.
thy youth and age carry things, to be seen in palest of light.
loved and cherished by thy night.
where thy dark grows vines of lies and secrets of both young and old.
the veil of night lifted and with it the answers.


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Staff reports
The Tonawanda News
Tonawanda News — After six infants in Erie County died in January due to unsafe sleeping arrangements — three during the past week alone — the commissioner of health has issued a statement this week warning parents of the dangers of "cosleeping" and other practices.
"Parents and caregivers need to be aware of the tremendous risks of having an infant sleep with another individual or in a 'face-down' or prone position," Dr. Gale Burstein, the Erie County commissioner of health, said in a press release. "In the six deaths this January, three of the infants died while in an adult's bed with two of those three babies found face down.
"Two of the other deaths occurred when infants suffocated in cribs that contained an excessive amount of blankets. Infants cannot roll over or uncover blankets from their face, placing them at great risk of suffocation," Burstein said.
The bitter temperatures in the area this winter may have contributed to the problem, leading to children sleeping with adults or others for warmth or given blankets before they're capable of sleeping with them safely, the release said. Other situations about which parents were warned include:
• Placing an infant to sleep on soft bedding or other surfaces;
• Sleeping with a person who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, whether illegal or legal, or someone who is "overly exhausted" and may not be able to wake up if they roll over on the infant;
• Sharing a bed with a person who is obese, which increasing the danger of an infant being smothered.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Academy of Pediatrics both warn parents not to place infants to sleep in adult beds. The AAP recommends infants sleep on their backs, using a firm surface and avoidance of soft bedding, overheating and exposure to tobacco smoke, alcohol and drugs.
"These are heartbreaking accidents," Burstein said. "We hope by bringing these tragedies to the attention of Erie County parents and caregivers that they will heed our recommendations and keep their infants safe."
Eighth deaths due to similar causes were recorded in 2013.


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Year: 2002
Make: Pontiac
Model: Trans Am
Warranty: None
Trim: WS6
Options: Leather Seats, CD Player
Drive Type: RWD
Safety Features: Anti-Lock Brakes, Driver Airbag, Passenger Airbag
Mileage: 13,203
Power Options: Air Conditioning, Cruise Control, Power Locks, Power Windows, Power Seats
Exterior Color: Red
Interior Color: Black
Number of Cylinders: 8
Condition: Used: A vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. ...


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Connecting those who have served and are serving.
The Task Force in Support of Student Veterans was established in the fall of 2011 by the Vice Chancellor for Student Life, W. Timothy Rogers. The task force works to acknowledge the sacrifice of the veteran who has served both at home and abroad. This task force brings faculty, staff, and students throughout campus together to coordinate resources and establish interdepartmental support networks for student veterans.
Originally the "T" pin emblazoned with starts and strips were for student veterans who are serving or who have served in our armed forces. Due to an overwhelming positive response to the pins, the Task Force in Support of Student Veterans has decided to make the pins available for distribution to veteran faculty and staff as well. The intent of the pin remains the same, when students, staff or faculty see someone wearing the same pin, they know they have found another veteran.
Students, faculty, and staff veterans who are serving or who have served are invited to contact Ashley Blamey at 974-5725 or email email@example.com to request your pin.
A veteran is true personification of our volunteer spirit.
As the flagship state institution, The University of Tennessee supports veterans by:
The Jed Foundation reports that "almost 75% of 18-29 year olds personally know someone who has served in Iraq or Afghanistan. As these brave veterans come home, it is important that we all do our part to help in their transition back into civilian life, especially since many of these veterans will be starting or returning to college for the first time. Despite the sacrifices they have made, these veterans aren't looking for special treatment – they just want the opportunity to do well as students and have a good experience."
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 | 865-974-1000
The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System


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Experience Gunnison Country
Lakes, wilderness and mountain towns
High Octane Arts and Crafts
August 16th High Octane Arts and Crafts Show, join us for a fun weekend of Antique Cars, Arts and Crafts and great food!
New Addition "Fall Harvest Arts and Crafts Festival" October 25, another great event during WSCU Family Weekend!
Pro Cycling Challenge
Start from Gunnison on August 20th!
Curecanti Web Camview more >
Welcome to the Gunnison Chamber website- the official source of visitor and Chamber of Commerce information for the Gunnison, Colorado region. Our genuine hospitality and western professionalism shine through in the quality of information and service we provide for the communities of the Gunnison Valley and those who visit the area.
Of course, this beautiful countryside surrounded by mountains provides amazing outdoor recreation, relaxing weather and vast wilderness, but our Chamber is focused on business and community as well.
We must never forget our roots. Here, the ranching heritage has endured the test of time and cowboys still drive cattle and gather hay for livestock. This century-old tradition takes you back to simpler times and inspires an unpretentious charm in all of the historic mining towns you visit.
Our spotlight attractions include Gunnison, Crested Butte, Curecanti National Recreation Area, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Hartman Rocks, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Taylor Reservoir and Western State Colorado University. Access is easy using Gunnison Airport- a popular stop for private planes and commuter airlines.
Please contact us to request more information on visiting the Gunnison Valley or on the Chamber of Commerce. It is our pleasure to help you.


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- Mobile site
- E-Newsletters
- News feed
- Find us on Twitter
Be first with breaking news
- Find us on Facebook
The Bolton News
All the latest news from Bolton
Review: New Super Mario Bros 2 Nintendo 3DS, £29.99 (From The Bolton News)
What's On RSS Feed
Review: New Super Mario Bros 2 Nintendo 3DS, £29.99
4:04pm Friday 17th August 2012 in What's On By David Crookes
Every Mario release reeks of quality, this time as the cheerful Italian plumber goes 3D.
He and his pals still manage to deliver another perfectly crafted platform adventure.
Bowser has once again kidnapped Princess Peach, but this time Mario has another objective; with each of the dozens of levels littered with coins, players have to swipe as many as they can, because the game now records all the coins you collect throughout the game, offering up goodies as your haul increases.
Plus, in Coin Rush mode, you can compare your coin-gathering expertise against your buddies around the globe via StreetPass.
While New Super Mario Bros 2 offers little in the way of innovation and new surprises to seasoned gamers, no one can deny that it's still a superb platformer that most other 3DS games would be delighted to emulate.
Comments are closed on this article.


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Children during Ramadan, Djangoa, Madagascar
These two little boys, while not participating in the village wide fast for Ramadan, donned special skirts to commemorate the event.
Lives of Quiet Dignity
Madagascar, one sometimes forgets, is a country of incredible crushing poverty, a result less of disease and not of war, but of decades of poor governance and missed economic opportunities. Of a population just over twenty million, 75% live below the poverty line. Half are under the age of eighteen and, with the average mother giving birth to 6.6 children (one of the highest birthrates in the world), the population is currently due to double every twenty years. 15% of Malagasy children don't...
Meet me at the River
This is a video documenting a normal day washing at Silver Creek in the Toledo District of Belize. After serving two years my husband suggested we record my creek time because that is the thing I will miss the most when we finish our service in October of 2011.
A Last Night on the Island
A Last Night on the Island A feeling of authenticity runs over your soul if you sit at a local eatery on a Sunday night in Utila. As you sit on a wooden bench you lean against the open screen-less windowsill to feel the cool night air greet the warmth of the restaurant's interior. Your friends around the rectangular table are tired and content reflecting on their morning dives and under the orange glow of the Chinese lamps they are patiently awaiting their plates of barracuda, wahoo, or ...
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
My Onesua Presbyterian College's Girls' Club meets every Wednesday afternoon to discuss quality of good leaders, embracing our inner Goddess and encouraging confidence in each other. The theme for this afternoon was 'let your inner Goddess shine' in front of the camera. It wasn't until the end of the photo shoot that we realized our 'GIRLS CLUB' poster was missing an L...hence the laughter, now we're known as the GIRRRRRS Club!
My brother Bill Tui and his wife Dinah sit on the traditional marriage bed of 'arong', or woven mats, while being honored with baby powder, perfume, and flowers on their wedding day. Paama marriage ceremonies are known throughout Vanuatu for their arong tradition, which is typically preceded by the men from the woman's family dancing and singing around the bride-to-be while the groom and his brothers attempt to steel her away from the human fortress - a fun and extremely difficult task as he...
Celebrating Culture
Two young Amazigh ladies show off the traditional dress of their region at an English language summer camp. Despite its small appearance, Morocco is as diverse in language and culture as it is in places to visit.
the art of sharing
one coloring book and endless possibilities
circle of love
three of my favorite little people caught in a moment of love.
how I start my day
I live in a small muslim mountain town in Bulgaria, these are a few on the women who I start my days with. They are all dressed in traditional dress, this is the only region in Bulgaria where the women dress like this...and mine is the only town where the majority of women still dress in this way.


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Weatherford Democrat
— By JOHN CARTER
One of the first nursery rhymes I learned as a child was:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men,
Couldn't put Humpty together again.
Ever since, I've been attempting to repair broken things – toys, motors, books, furniture, and even people – including myself. The sign over my garage workshop aptly reads, "Restorations."
If you've ever tried to restore an old house, fix a child's broken toy, or repair the damage after a storm, you know that restoration is much more difficult than "starting from scratch" or maintaining something that's in good working order. It's often made more tedious because the damaged parts must be carefully removed before repairs can begin.
Toys, cars, furniture and glass are the least of things that can be shattered. The loss of a loved one can break our hearts. Our personal lives, our relationships, our marriages, our families, our health, our work, our finances and even our faith can fall apart. When that happens, our lives are never quite the same again.
Sometimes the brokenness is the result of our stubbornness, stupidity or carelessness. But at other times, it's no fault of our own – an accident, a natural occurrence or someone else's irresponsibility. Although it's important to understand why, allocating blame doesn't undo the tragedy. Eventually, whatever the cause, we all face the task of picking up the pieces and putting our shattered lives back together again. It's the hardest work we ever have to do.
But when that time comes, we can count on the help of the One who created us and loves us with an everlasting mercy. From the time He clothed the fallen couple in the garden until now, our God has been about the restoration and redemption of our broken world.
David, who knew from firsthand experience, says in the 23rd Psalm, "The Lord is my shepherd ... He restores my soul." "If you fall," the Psalmist writes, "you will not stay down, because the Lord will help you up" (37:24, TEV). Jesus bids us, "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
God – through His Spirit in us and His people – has the skill, the patience, and most important, the desire to help us put our shattered lives back together. Although we're never quite the same, there is the saving possibility, in God's time, for the cracks and scars to become like the beauty of a Ming vase. And if time runs out here, the work continues until it is finished in the other rooms of our Father's house.
The playwright Eugene O'Neal once wrote: "Man is born broken. He lives by mending. And the grace of God is the glue."
In a shattering week like we've just experienced, we can only pray, "Oh God, here are the pieces of our broken lives. They are all we have. By Your grace and in Your time, put us back together again."
Even before we ask, the carpenter from Nazareth is already at work and invites us to join Him in His workshop.


text:
- Rebecca Arndt
Minnesota Department of
501 S. Victory Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
Additional Information
|News Release Search
|Search Statewide News
Highway 93 from Highway 169 to LeSueur closes May 11
Traffic will be detoured to Highway 169, Highway 112
Highway 93 from Highway 169 to LeSueur
Monday, May 11, to mid-June (change from earlier announcement of July-August)
Traffic Impact:
Highway 93 traffic detoured to Highway 169 and Highway 112
Project information:
Replace concrete pavement under Union Pacific Railroad Bridge in LeSueur
Mill existing roadway and resurface from LeSueur to Highway 169
Replace approach panels and expansion joints on the Highway 93 Bridge over the Minnesota River
The project is one of nearly 100 Minnesota road and bridge projects that will be funded with $502 million in federal economic stimulus dollars.
Mn/DOT urges motorists to plan ahead, watch for detour signs and be alert for workers in the work zone. For updated statewide traffic, construction, weather and travel information, visit www.511mn.org.


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My contribution to Gallery 27's video game themed show opening tonight.
Limited edition silk screened poster
3 colors on French Paper
18" x 24"
My copies will go on sale in the following weeks!
Pretty much everything sucks right now so I'm going to do something I am usually too embarrassed to do and self promote (because I have the business sense of a sock). I'm really broke! Buy some NYU Gamecenter posters/prints! This is one of them, sort of. I discovered the gradient map adjustment layer for the first time today and had some fun with it.
Prize for knowing who they all are~~~~~
not really
Call of Duty Posters
Created by Jason Coloma
Website | deviantArt | Tumblr
Artwork by Ryan Guyatt
Ice Man! Only one more robot master to be revealed from this series! Click through if you want to see him, and if you want to pre-order a set of these posters!
A Little Bit On The Retro Video Game Poster Side: Creative studio Robotandspark made these Super Mario Land, Legend of Zelda, and Street Fighter 2: Championship Edition posters for the first ever Middle East Comic convention.
We sold quite a few of the prints, but the M. Bison Street Fighter 2 was probably the most popular and we had many requests for other characters from the series, so definitely watch out for the complete line-up featuring messieurs Zangief, Ken, Ryu, Dhalsim, Blanka, E. Honda, Guile, Chun Li, Balrog, Vega and Sagat.
There is a still a small amount of these limited edition prints available, so drop us an email or head to our online store to see if you can pick up a piece of retro inspired video game folklore!
Those Super Mario Land and SF2:CE jumpoffs need to be mine NOW.
Check out Robotandspark to peep the prints in higher resolution.
Half-Life Minimalist Posters by Tyler Neufeld
Dragonborn Destinations
by Dean Walton
A brand new limited edition series of travel posters inspired by some of Skyrim's greatest locations. Now available in a range of sizes in poster or canvas form at GamerPrint.
Also see the Mario Kart and Zelda inspired posters.
Design by Simon Fletcher. Powered by Tumblr.
© Copyright 2010


text:
Originally published on Mon May 20, 2013 9:38 am
The classic children's show Captain Kangaroo aired on TV for nearly 30 years, starting in 1955. After its creator and star, Bob Keeshan, died in 2004, his estate donated a few of his beloved hand puppets to the Smithsonian.
Originally published on Sun May 19, 2013 5:18 pm
Sometimes you need some distance to appreciate a classic.
That was certainly the case for John Williams' novel Stoner. When it was originally published in 1965, the only publication to mention the book at all was The New Yorker, in its "Briefly Noted" column. The novel received admiring reviews over the years, but sold just 2,000 copies and was almost immediately forgotten.
The weekends on All Things Considered series Movies I've Seen A Million Times features filmmakers, actors, writers and directors talking about the movies that they never get tired of watching.
The main character of Claire Messud's novel, The Woman Upstairs, is a good woman. Nora is a 37-year-old elementary school teacher — responsible, kind and reliable. She is also very, very angry.
Her dreams of being an artist have been suppressed; she is seething inside with rage and resentment. But she keeps her anger in until she meets another woman who has everything she does not: a husband, a child and a successful art career. And then everything begins to unravel. As Nora's relationship with the woman and her family deepens, her inner life begins to come out.
Originally published on Tue May 21, 2013 3:30 pm
It takes a lot of chutzpah to reduce one of the most powerful men on Earth to a pile of fruits and vegetables.
Luckily for art lovers, Giuseppe Arcimboldo had nerve to spare.
Arcimboldo created this unorthodox produce portrait of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II back in 1590. By that time, the Italian artist had been painting for the emperor and his powerful Habsburg family for more than 25 years, so presumably, they'd grown used to his visual jokes. (The emperor has "peachy" cheeks and "ears" of corn, get it?)


text:
With style and performance capability to spare, the 2013 Yamaha Stratoliner S is an aluminum-framed, fuel-injected cruiser with a 113-cubic-inch engine. The Stratoliner S is decked out in chrome from head to toe, with chrome switchgear, front brakes, clutch master cylinders and levers, belt guard, fork and fork covers, handlebar clamps, shifter, front pulley cover, engine covers, and rear fender stay. The 2013 Yamaha Stratoliner comes equipped with a large pair of leather-covered, locking hard sidebags that can be filled with everything from a bag of groceries to luggage for an extended road jaunt. The 2013 Stratoliner's distinctive looks are bolstered by its neo-streamline design, while a long and low aluminum frame provides for great looks and handling that's far lighter than what you'd expect from a full-size cruiser. Rider comfort is maximized by the bike's sculpted seat that keeps you from feeling too much of the road, even over the long haul. Visibility is excellent thanks to position beams within the main headlight housing and a left-thumb activated high beam switch and right-thumb activated accessory driving light switch further enhance visibility. The instrumentation is classic clock-style that complements the 2013 Yamaha Stratoliner S's retro looks. Instruments include an analog speedometer, tachometer, and fuel gauge, as well as twin digital tripmeters and an odometer. The bright multireflector headlight, LED taillight, and amber turn signals housed behind clear lenses, further lend to the bike's custom looks.
The 2013 Yamaha Stratoliner S is powered by a 113-cubic-inch (1854cc) air-cooled, pushrod 48-degree V-twin engine that not only provides for good performance, but also enhances the bike's massive look. Combustion efficiency is optimized thanks to four pushrod-activated valves and two spark plugs for each cylinder. The cylinders themselves are ceramic-composite plated which allows for superior heat dissipation. The forged pistons are cooled by oil jets, which help ensure reliability and engine longevity. The twin-bore fuel injection system is computer controlled and monitors multiple engine parameters to calculate a mixture that's perfect in all conditions. The Stratoliner's engine has a unique jewel-like appearance that's the result of a special custom machining of the cooling fin.
Despite the 2013 Yamaha Stratoliner's massive size, its aluminum frame is light but rigid, with just a few welds, resulting in the bike's smooth and clean looks. Up front 46mm fork tubes provide for an excellent ride and further enhance the bike's appearance. The Stratoliner's single shock is tucked out of sight and outfitted with adjustable spring preload that helps maintain the smoothness of the ride, even under varying weight loads. The handlebar is thick and richly chromed with the switchgear wiring concealed on the inside. The bike's teardrop fuel tank is flangeless and has the capacity for 4.5 gallons of fuel. Meanwhile polished 12-spoke wheels evoke a retro thick spoke look, despite the modern tubeless radial tires they are outfitted with. The front brake master cylinder is chromed and offers excellent stopping power as well as great style. Power is efficiently driven to the rear wheel thanks to a strong-and-light belt drive mechanism. Floating floorboards and an adjustable heel/toe shifter combine to further enhance rider comfort. The bike's leather-covered, locking, hard saddlebags can be easily detached for cleaning. There is also a quick-removable windshield that can be locked into place along with a detachable passenger backrest for added comfort and security. If you're looking for a powerful, stylish, and expansive cruiser for tooling around town or taking long trips down the open highway, the 2013 Yamaha Stratoliner S is worth looking into. With looks, engine power, and ample comforts, the Stratoliner is arguably one of the leading models in its class. You can also choose from the Star® Accessories Catalog, which is full of high-quality parts that enable riders to customize the Stratoliner to suit their individual tastes.


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23. Zygi Wilf, Vikings
When Wilf was about to take over the Vikes in May 2005, then-owner Red McCombs declared, "It looks like Zygi's going to be the biggie." A little more than two years later, the question is, "Big what?" Minnesota's stadium situation is a mess, with no escape from the Metrodome (save a possible move to L.A.) on the horizon. The team's starting quarterback is... uh... who is it again? The head coach is, uh, you know, that bald guy. Meanwhile Wilf, who vowed to cut the players responsible for the infamous 'Love Boat' incident of '05, still pays big money to the prime organizer. "I don't think he realized when he bought the team that this ain't real-estate development," one owner says of Wilf. "This is hard work if you want to turn something around." Suddenly, to Vikings fans, McCombs isn't looking so loony.


text:
August 2, 2014
WACO (March 16, 2009)--Just as traffic started moving again late Monday morning after a series of 10 fog-related chain-reaction crashes on the northbound interstate south of Waco, another accident caused new delays.
Two people were taken to the hospital after latest accident, which happened around 11 a.m. Monday when a truck slammed into the rear of a Trailblazer that had slowed down in the area of the first round of crashes.
Officers were again diverting traffic off the highway late Monday morning.
Heavy fog was likely a factor in the earlier chain-reaction crashes along a five-mile stretch of the highway.
There were at least 10 multiple-vehicle collisions in the span of less than an hour Monday morning.
At least one person was taken to a local hospital.
One driver told News 10 his vehicle was rear-ended by a car that an 18-wheeler had hit.
The driver said the fog was so thick that drivers couldn't see the line of backed-up vehicles until it was too late to stop.
Department of Public Safety troopers assisted by police officers from Hewitt, Robinson and Waco were trying to keep up with the accidents Monday morning.
By late morning the fog was burning off, but traffic delays continued.


text:
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Houzz is the new way to design your home.
31 Ashwaubenon, WI Environmental Services and Restoration
Has your Ashwaubenon, WI home been damaged by a flood? Or do you have to deal with mold removal? Environmental services and restoration professionals can help with everything from supplying you with mold test kits to helping restore and rebuild your home, returning it to its original condition. More
Schultz Pharmacy (920) 233-2151
Family owned since 1970, our pharmacists are dedicated to helping you. Currently accepting all insurance plans, we offer a wide selection of in-home health care products. Visit us... Read More
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text:
The Filipino alphabet that I was taught when I was a kid had only 20 letters. In 1987, the Modern Filipino Alphabet made up of 28 letters was instituted in schools in the Philippines by then president Corazon Aquino.
The generations before me grew up with the old alphabet called the abakada. The letters c, f, j q, x, and z were not in that alphabet. When English was introduced to Filipinos, there were a bunch of phonetic sounds that they were not accustomed to, and probably will never get used to, especially with the older generation. Specific examples are the "f," "ch," "sh" and "ph" sounds.
A common difficulty is the letter "f." They tend to substitute it with the "p" and vice-versa. My mom used to say "I like to eat piss (fish) and rice," with "p" replacing the "f" sound and "ss" replacing the "sh" sound. She got mad when we started laughing at the "piss and rice" comment. The problem was, she didn't know what the word "piss" meant. That even made it funnier.
Phone is "pone," child is "tsayld," show is "syow."
There's a common saying, "You can't serve people what you don't have in your cupboard." So substitute it with what you have.
Coming to America for a lot of Filipinos, or for any other nationality with a different tongue other than English, is a brave thing whether they realize it or not. When I moved here, I was already fluent in English and I had a college education.
My parents, on the other hand, could hardly speak English when they came here in 1994. I brought them here to experience the United States and learn a different culture, but I wasn't always available for them. I had my own little life and family and jobs, they had to fend for themselves.
It was very difficult for them. They had to depend a lot on my available time. I had to constantly explain to them what different words meant. When I visited them, they would compete to see whose questions I would answer first. They were very eager to learn the English language. I suggested that they enroll in some English conversation classes, but they hesitated saying, "We're too old to learn." I think it was more like, "We're embarrassed to let people know how little we know about the language."
Anyway, in spite of the language barrier, my mom worked as a seamstress at an alterations shop, and my dad as a waiter and kitchen help at a restaurant for 11 years. I witnessed how proud they were of their jobs.
As the years passed, they met a lot of friends and started speaking English much better. My parents were both 54 years old when they moved to Knoxville. I still remind myself about how tenacious they were to leave their country and move to a totally different one at that age.
My grandfather Teodoro moved in Chicago in the '70s with my Aunt Cresencia and her family. He could not get used to the weather and the different culture. He missed his country, family, farm and the way of life that he was so accustomed to. So, he returned to the Philippines after living in the U.S. for about a year. And he never requested to come back until he died at 86 years old. It's difficult living far away from family.
It was the same with my Aunt Rosario who moved to Canada to live with her children there. After living in Mississauga, Ontario for a couple of years, she demanded to be sent back to the Philippines, back to her home where she was queen and felt the happiest. For our parents who were past middle age, it was a lot more challenging to adjust to a different set of rules. Our Filipino parents are authoritative towards us, the way their parents were towards them. It's hard for them to move into their children's home and take orders or follow rules. They are who they are and they will do whatever the heck they want to do.
My parents bought a house after living in an apartment for two years and they were happy to be separated from me. They had the freedom to be whatever they wanted to be. My mom brought the Philippines in Knoxville with her vegetable garden, flower beds and her cooking. She was set in her ways in many ways and there was no way in heck that anybody can do to make her change the way she was set in her ways. And I respected that. She taught me so much about being true to one's self and being content with who I am and what little possessions I have.
Our forefathers from the Mayflower ship were even much braver. They sailed from Europe knowing very little of the land they were going to. Their guts and determination helped build this great nation. And we are the recipients of the fruits of their pioneering efforts. We ourselves are challenged with a barrage of trials and problems. But we live on and we always find solutions and answers. We continue to adapt to the changing tides of time, space, technology and civilization.


text:
Ratings based on 216 Verified Reviews
They paid and stayed. We double-checked.
4.6 Room cleanliness
4.4 Service & staff
4.2 Room comfort
4.4 Hotel condition
They paid and stayed.
We double-checked.
We double-checked.
for Everyoneby marc and rhea from victoria, BC Canada
Best location imaginable and treated like royaltyPosted Jun 30, 2014
Staff went above and beyond. From the doormen to the desk staff, we felt welcomed and taken care of. The room was so comfortable, yet modern. Can't say enough about our experience and will tell everyone back in Victoria Canada.
by business travel from toronto, on
This hotel is truly a over priced crash pad.Posted Jun 28, 2014
Poorly executed remodel. Truly seems like cheap apartments, with bizarre layouts. The dark hallway masks the run down nature of the halls, but highlights the single core, unsealed room doors that let light into it. Rooms are so basic that they don't even have tea and coffee facilities. Now, if this was a low cost room, hey not so bad. But it's price is on par with the Savoy and Langham - which are truly quality hotels. You can hear everything in all adjoining rooms, as well as the floors above and the hallway. Next trip I will give this dog a miss.
for Everyoneby FionaHump from West Sussex
Great HotelPosted Jun 24, 2014
Pros: The staff
Location: The location is brilliant, in walking distance to all the attractions
The staff are lovely from check in to check out. The rooms are very cosy and everything you would want is there. I would highly recommend this hotel.
for Everyoneby Katie from Essex
Good Location HotelPosted Apr 29, 2014
Pros: The Location
Location: Nice restaurant next door to have breakfast in at a reasonable price as the Hotel breakfast if not included in the price of the hotel is expensive.
Great central location. Trendy and quirky Hotel. Nice Bar
for Couplesby A verified traveler
Nice hotel next to Covent Garden, Soho,...Posted Feb 22, 2014
Pros: The location, the staff, the rooms....
Cons: it's overpriced... but it's in the heart of London
Location: ..
It's my home address in London ;-). I've stayed at this hotel nearly 20 times the last 4 years.... So what can I say except loving this hotel.. :-)
for Couplesby A verified traveler
Posted Jan 29, 2014
Location: West End. 30 seconds from Noel Coward theatre. Gym available for guests directly adjacent to hotel.
Disappointing check in experience when reception could not find a record of our booking made via Expedia and told us the hotel was fully booked. They managed to sort it out and find us a room and were apologetic about the mix up.
for Business Travelersby A verified traveler
Posted Jan 21, 2014 on Hotels.com
for Everyoneby A verified traveler
Terrific LocationPosted Jan 19, 2014
Pros: The location.
For Oxford / Regent / Bond Streets, Covent Garden, Theatres, this has the perfect location. The hotel was busy, but our room was quiet. Food in the resteraunt, especially the unusual afternoon tea, was really enjoyable. It's not cheap, but we felt it was good value, and we will be using it again.
Recommendedby A verified traveler
Posted Jan 19, 2014 on Hotels.com
Awesome location!
for Business Travelersby A verified traveler
Brilliant hotel for central LondonPosted Jan 5, 2014 on Hotels.com
Very modern hotel with unique features Walking distance of all central sights and restaurants.


text:
use the following search parameters to narrow your results:
e.g. subreddit:aww site:imgur.com dog
subreddit:aww site:imgur.com dog
see the search faq for details.
advanced search: by author, subreddit...
~2 users here now
Whether you have a job and want to share what its like, or whether your applying for a job and want to know what it's like, this subreddit is for you!
You can make two different types of posts:
HYJ - How's Your Job (or, How Was Your Job)
Example: HYJ working at Six Flags ?
When making a post like this, you are basically calling out to anyone who has ever worked at the place you are looking for. You can ask about how it is/was in general, or you can ask specific questions.
IWA - I Work(ed) At
Example: IWA a Lowes .
When making a post like this, your are letting others ask about what it was like working there, or any questions they may have. You may also talk about whats easy, or challenging, or sharing some stories about working there. Obviously, avoid asking/answering personal questions.
When requesting, please ask 3 questions or more, just like r/IAmA. When submitting, tell a couple things about it, such as when, what you exactly did, and maybe something unique.
Also, DON'T BE A DICK
IWA as a metallurgist at a mill that makes titanium products that go into commercial planes and fighter jets (self.HowsYourJob)
submitted 2 years ago by Spacefreak
I've worked at a mill for about a year (started after I graduated college/univeristy). I began as an intern working in a department that makes thin sheet products and now work as a process metallurgist with another department that makes thin sheet and thicker plate products. My job is basically to modify existing processes to make them cheaper and/or better.
Feel free to AMA.
[–]daveshow07 0 points1 point2 points 2 years ago
Sigma 6 certified?
Also, random and under-appreciated job. Thanks for posting!
[–]Spacefreak[S] 0 points1 point2 points 2 years ago
Not yet. Though I'm going to Green Belt training over the next few months though, so I will be.
I figured it was fairly random but that there might be some interest in it. Plus, I've wanted to do an IAMA but figured this would be the closest I would get.
Well thanks for posting. Unfortunately this is something that is relatively obscure to me so I can't even think of questions to ask. haha
[–]bullohnie 0 points1 point2 points 2 years ago
How are work conditions? Also, little bit of a treehugger question, but what happens to waste products?
[–]Spacefreak[S] 0 points1 point2 points 2 years ago*
The working conditions are actually pretty good. Everyone is required to wear safety gear, the work environments are kept pretty clean, and if there are any safety hazards, someone is informed almost immediately. While I've been working here, most (except for one) of the accidents have been a result of people not paying attention to their work or they weren't wearing protective gear like they should have been. We're in the US and so we're accountable to OSHA safety standards which do a pretty good job of making sure our company pays attention to safety.
As for the waste, pretty much all of the titanium scrap is reused (goes back to gets remelted). That's actually because titanium is so expensive to extract from the ore. We also use produce some scrap steel, but that gets sent to a scrapyard as well. Spent acid is sent to an acid treatment plant. Waste water is treated with lime to reduce the acidity and is also filtered before being dumped out into the river.
I looked into the waste water because I didn't like the idea of it being treated and just spilling out into the river. But they treat it a good bit and make sure to adhere to government standards and whatnot as well.
Damn I've read quite a few AMAs and always thought the company people were a little too generous in describing their companies. But I'm being honest and you'll just have to take my word for it. :/
Edit: Hit "save" too early because I'm on my touch pad.
Gah, I don't know why I keep forgetting that OSHA exists - second time this week, dammit. Anyway, glad to see they don't dump waste water untreated. Thanks for answering.
[–]BromanJenkins 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago
Just to add to this one of the guys at one of the companies I visit for my client worked for a company where the owner would have one of his guys machine down Ti material supplied by the customer, add it to the scrap barrels and when the metal re-processing company paid for the scrap he would pocket the cash from that part.
He called it his "jet fuel money."
[–]xenokilla 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago
yea, if you company is ISO 14008 certified, its for waste water treatment.
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Product Quick Links
Getting Started In PC-Based Data Acquisition
Originally published in the June, 1995 special Data Acquisition Issue of Sensors Magazine
Download this application note.
I hate to use clichés, but suppliers of data acquisition system (DAS) products need a reality check. Too commonly educated in electrical or software engineering, we pack our sales material with technical jargon only persons with a similar background can understand. This is great for impressing the competition, but we leave many potential customers drifting in our wake. Too often, the customer for DAS products is a mechanical or chemical engineer, a seismologist, a medical researcher, or another who works in one of hundreds of other disciplines not even remotely related to computers and electronics. Turnabout is fair play, so I propose some rhetorical questions for the EEs in the audience: When was the last time you had to spec a pinion gear for your car; or concern yourselves with the intricate details of even one of the many forms of electrophysiology?
The goal of this article is to relate DAS concepts and alternatives to mere mortals. It uses a divide-and-conquer approach to segment the selection of a complete DAS product into a more easily manageable set of independent yet related subsystems. These are signal conditioning, A/D converters, and software.
Signal Conditioning
That there are analog signals to be acquired is a basic premise of DAS applications. It's also a good bet that a transducer exists somewhere in the chain that converts a physical phenomenon into a continuously variable (analog) voltage that is directly proportional to the magnitude of the phenomenon. For example, you use thermocouples to convert heat, and strain gauges to convert stress and pressure into voltages directly.
You may also use a magnetic or optical sensor to measure RPM, or an LVDT to sense distance. These examples produce intermediate signals that must be further conditioned to derive a signal suitable for connection to a DAS. In the case of RPM measurement, the sensor produces a pulse train whose frequency is proportional to the speed of rotation. The LVDT produces an AC signal that must be demodulated.
There are more examples, but you can begin to get the idea that there are many ways to measure an equally wide array of physical quantities. For all these alternatives there exists a signal conditioner that's right for the application. You can reduce the selection by applying these common sense guidelines:
Buy transducers with built-in signal conditioning when possible. Especially for pressure measurements, transducers featuring built-in amplifiers have been gaining in popularity. These products, requiring only a single 5 or 10VDC power source, produce a high-level output suitable for direct-connection to a DAS. You'll pay more for such a transducer, but the savings in connection time and elimination of an amplifier could more than compensate for this disadvantage. Later on in this section I'll talk about the direct connection of strain gauge and thermocouple signals to a DAS and the considerations involved with this.
Determine how much flexibility you need. In applications where integral amplifiers are not appropriate or not available (I've not seen one for thermocouples, for example), consider the kind of measurements you'll be making. It helps me to generalize using two broad classifications: production and research.
A production application is where the same measurements are made day after day over a long term. For example, perhaps you need to monitor several process points on an extrusion line to ensure product quality or enhance productivity. In such an application, the need for flexibility is slight. You're connecting the DAS to a well-defined range of signal types with similarly well-defined measurement ranges. Since you pay for flexibility, you can cut your costs by selecting a signal conditioning approach that targets the measurements you'll be making on a per channel basis.
An excellent solution for production measurements are the 5B Series products manufactured by Analog Devices and Dataforth. These products feature low-cost modules (about $200 per channel on average) that connect to a common back plane, usually in 16-channel groups (see DATAQ Instruments' DI-500 Series products). Each hermetically-sealed module is designed to measure a specific function over a defined measurement range. As a consequence, they don't have any balance pots or sensitivity switches. One module, for example, accepts a J-type thermocouple for temperature measurements over a 0 to 760°C range. Another is designed for temperatures within a -1000 to +300°C range. There are over 40 modules in the 5B family and each supplies a high-level 0 to 5V or ±5V signal suitable for connecting directly to a DAS.
Research applications are the complete opposite of the production counterpart. The term "research" suggests an investigation of the unknown resulting in the implied need for flexibility. Research measurements are short term and varied in nature. The measurements you are making today will not be the same as those you'll be making tomorrow or the next day. Picture a computer on a cart that is wheeled to one measurement site and the next, perhaps used by more than one person for troubleshooting. Or an application where the measurement functions are well defined but signal levels can vary widely.
In this setting, where you need flexibility to adapt to ever-changing measurement demands, consider using an amplifier with features designed for adaptability. Like the 5B modules, such amplifiers are supplied by function (i.e., thermocouple, RTD, DC volts, rms, high voltage, etc.). However, they differ from the 5Bs in that one amplifier can connect to a wide range of signal amplitudes. One DC amp, for example, may have a measurement range from millivolts to hundreds of volts. Other useful features may be selectable high-pass and/or low-pass filters for noise elimination. Or zero suppression to enhance the amplifier's ability to measure dynamic signals riding on large, static offsets.
There are many vendors of so-called research-oriented amplifiers. One I recommend often is Gould Instrument Systems, Inc. Gould manufactures many amplifier lines, but one relatively new line is their 6600 Series products. These feature a wide range of plug-in amplifiers for industrial and medical applications, each designed to measure a specific function. Each amplifier in the line plugs into an amplifier cage allowing you to mix and match the amps to address almost every conceivable application. The cage contains and powers up to 8 amps. Gould even supplies an optional, built-in ADC card that connects directly to the printer port of any PC. It provides a convenient method for digitizing, storing, and analyzing amplifier signals with a PC.
Some common signal conditioning pitfalls. Now that we've covered two broad classifications of signal conditioners, its appropriate to examine some common pitfalls.
Consider the need for isolation when choosing a signal conditioner. This feature plays an important role when making off-ground measurements — where a potential difference (often referred to as a common mode voltage) exists between the ground (or common) of your signal and the common of your DAS.
For example, consider the need to make measurements on the electrical system of an automobile. In this environment, you have a multitude of electrical activity ranging from a whirling alternator to the thousands of volts generated by the engine's ignition system — all in a self-contained system resting on rubber tires. What's the relationship between the auto's ground and the power ground of your PC or DAS? There isn't one. Connect one lead of a hand-held DVM to the computer's chassis and the other to any so-called "ground" on the car and you'll measure a voltage. Such potential differences, ranging from millivolts to hundreds of volts depending upon the measurement, can destroy your ability to make accurate measurements. Off-ground measurements attempted in the absence of isolation can cause noise that can completely swamp the signal of interest. But worst-case off-ground measurements can actually cause sparks to fly the instant you connect your signal to a non-isolated amplifier if sufficient voltage and current exists in the off-ground portion of the signal.
Isolation allows the input stage of an amplifier to "float" with the off-ground portion of the signal of interest. The amplifier maintains the potential difference that exists between its "floating common" and the common of the signal, preventing current from flowing through the connection. The probability of noise is greatly minimized, along with the hazardous and humbling experience of electrical fireworks.
Although isolation is not a universal requirement, you should be aware of the circumstances where it will be necessary and factor these into your decision-making process. All the amplifiers mentioned above provide isolation.
You should use signal conditioning to your advantage in areas of dynamic signal analysis and avoid the temptation to let the computer do the job. For example, to calculate RPM from the pulse train generated by a magnetic pickup, or to calculate rms and frequency deviation from an AC voltage or current waveform. Although the computer and supporting DAS products have the capacity to perform this type of analysis, the realities of real time data acquisition dictate otherwise. Of all the tasks performed by computers in the modern world, real time data acquisition ranks among the most demanding. The time pressures placed on a processor for data acquisition, display, and storage can become burdensome at faster sampling rates and will limit the effectiveness of even the fastest machines. With this in mind, you should exploit opportunities to minimize sample rates whenever possible.
Let's take the example of engine RPM a step further. You have two choices when making this measurement. You can connect the DAS directly to a pickup, and sample at about 15,000 samples per second to provide adequate time resolution. Then write or buy a piece of incredibly efficient computer code capable of performing a real time frequency calculation. Be satisfied with just this one measurement, however, because with the computer chasing its tail in this manner there is precious little time left for anything else. There are DAS products capable of real time frequency measurements using on-board timers, but few if any allow simultaneous analog measurements.
You can scour the universe of DAS products, minimizing your options and maximizing the price tag in the process. Or you can simply place a tachometer amplifier between the pickup and your DAS. Essentially a frequency-to-voltage converter, the tach receives and conditions the rather noisy pickup signal and delivers a voltage directly proportional to RPM to the DAS. Sample this signal at a rate that's a function of how fast you expect RPM to change with respect to time — I'd say 10 samples per second would be fine. In this example, the application of a signal conditioner saved over 3 orders-of-magnitude in sample rate, and expanded the universe of acceptable DAS solutions to include almost any product. And in raising the computer from its knees you have the potential to make many other simultaneous measurements.
In my experience dealing with DAS users, there seems to be a lot of confusion over when to use single-ended (SE) as opposed to differential (DI) input configurations. Most DAS products allow you to configure analog inputs for one or the other. And many users, having heard one place or another that DI inputs are preferred, universally use this configuration. The following statement applies to most DAS applications: If the DAS is connected to the output of a signal conditioner, including those built into transducers, use a SE input. In the overwhelming majority of applications where a signal conditioner is present, connecting its output to a differential input on the DAS buys you nothing in terms of performance, cuts down your channel count, and can even cause measurement problems.
Having said that, when should you use a differential input? Whenever you connect to a balanced signal source, or have good reason to suspect the presence of a common mode voltage as described above. You encounter balanced signal sources when connecting directly to strain gauges, or grounded thermocouples. Connecting these to a SE input configuration essentially short circuits the signal source leaving you measuring nothing but noise. A thermocouple that is grounded (e.g., by attaching the metal thermocouple junction directly to a metal boiler that is grounded) is short circuited when one of its two leads is connected to a SE input which by definition has one side also connected to ground. However, connecting the thermocouple to a differential input removes both leads from ground and allows the measurement to be made.
The presence of a common mode voltage (CMV) also dictates the use of a differential input. Again, connecting one leg of such a signal to the grounded half of the SE input causes current to flow in the circuit resulting in degraded signal fidelity. Using a differential input removes both leads from ground and preserves the potential difference between the DAS input and the signal source. But be wary of the CMV's magnitude. Most DAS products can tolerate only a few volts of CMV. Exceed the spec and you're faced with the need for a fancy resistor divider scheme. Better yet — here it comes again — insert an isolated amplifier between the signal source and DAS and just make the measurement.
Another consideration is to ensure that the output voltage matches the full scale input voltage of the analog to digital converter (ADC) you'll be using. I'll talk more about this in the following section, but the important point to make while we're still talking about signal conditioners involves the selection of gain. When measuring low-level signals that require the application of high gain factors, you should always take the majority of the gain as close to the transducer as possible. Assume you're measuring a transducer that produces a low-level signal of 1mV (0.001V) at full scale. Assume further that you want to connect the signal to an ADC that requires 10V full scale, implying the need for a gain of 10,000 (10/0.001) which you can take anywhere between the ADC and the transducer. Your ADC has programmable gain factors of 1, 10, 100, and 1000, and you have two external amplifiers capable of delivering gains of 10 and 1000 respectively. Which amplifier do you use?
Either amplifier, used in tandem with the ADC's gain factors will produce the desired gain of 10,000. But when you know that all amplifiers are also sources of noise, and that amplifiers can't distinguish noise from signal, it makes sense to use the external amplifier with a gain of 1000 and choose a gain of 10 at the ADC. The other choice would produce a smaller and less desirable signal to noise ratio since any noise generated by the lower gain external amplifier is amplified by a factor of 1000 by the ADC.
The final thought for this section is directed to those already making the measurements they need with traditional instruments (DSO, chart recorder, tape recorder, etc.), but who are seeking a way to make the same measurements using a DAS for flexibility and lower cost. Don't change anything from the signal conditioners forward to the transducers you're using. Instead, place the DAS in parallel with the traditional instrument. In virtually all situations, the instrumentation in which you've already invested to support your traditional instrument will work fine with the DAS. Such an approach will save you time, funds, and frustration. It will insulate you from the need to learn a completely new signal conditioning scheme. And access to your traditional instrument will provide you with a fallback position and a reference point as you become familiar with the new, computer-based instrument.
Selecting an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC).
Now that we've properly conditioned the signals we want to acquire, its time to examine the elements that govern your selection of a suitable ADC:
A fixed or mobile application. Consider how you will use the DAS. Are the signals you need to connect to centrally located? Or will you need to move the DAS from one location to another? In the past, your options were limited in terms of mobility. Most DAS solutions were limited to ADCs in the form of plug-in cards that needed to be inserted into expansion slots of large, clumsy desktop PCs. A wheeled cart was the extent of your portability options.
Two events have changed this picture forever: The emergence of powerful and low-cost battery-powered laptop and notebook computers; and the subsequent availability of ADC solutions designed to be used with these alternative products.
Where DAS portability is a consideration, your choices fall into two categories: parallel port products; and those that connect to the PCMCIA slots provided by some computer models. Parallel port DAS products connect to the parallel (or printer) port available on any PC — from notebooks to desktop models. PCMCIA products require a special port available on a small but growing number of computers. Parallel port DAS products offer the advantage of being able to connect to any PC, and the potential for a self-contained power source in the form of rechargeable batteries. The latter feature makes the DAS independent of the PC's power source and extends the operation time of both in purely portable, battery-operated applications. PCMCIA products offer generally higher sample rates since they connect directly to the bus of the computer's processor. They also offer a sleek, low-profile package that inserts directly into the mating slot of the host PC. However, this advantage is compromised somewhat since the fragile connectors of the PCMCIA design require the use of an external signal connection box in most applications.
In situations where you know the DAS will be in a fixed application, plug-in cards still rule the day. They offer the most variety in resolution and sample rate, and are available from a wider array of vendors. Since batteries and packaging add cost, plug-in cards offer generally better price/performance.
Let's talk sample rate. There are many issues here, but the best place to begin is with the infamous Nyquist theory. I've labeled it "infamous" because I don't believe any DAS concept is more widely used and less understood. The Nyquist theory states that you can reconstruct any bandwidth-limited analog waveform from its digitized equivalent if the sample rate is at least 2 times the highest frequency component. Stated another way, you cannot apply the Nyquist theory to the waveforms you sample unless you limit their bandwidth to less than one-half of your sample rate. The confusion stems from the interpretation of the theory where it is easy to conclude that if the signal of interest is "about 100 Hz? you don't need to sample any higher than 200 Hz. Such conclusions lead to disappointing results at best.
We were all exposed to this danger as kids. Remember watching western movies where the wheels of a speeding stagecoach seemed to be rotating impossibly slow, or even going backwards! This effect is an alias, or ghost frequency caused by the slow shutter (or sample) rate of the camera relative to the fast rotational speed of the spoked wheels. The same phenomenon can haunt your best data acquisition efforts in the form of signal "ghosts" if you don't take steps to prevent it.
The operative phrase of the Nyquist theory is bandwidth-limited and there is only one way to bandwidth-limit your signals: Apply an anti-alias filter to the analog waveform before digitizing. An ideal anti-alias filter is a low-pass filter that passes all frequencies below a defined corner frequency and blocks all frequencies above it. In theory, if we apply an anti-alias filter with a corner frequency of 100 Hz to the waveform mentioned in the previous paragraph, then we can safely sample at 200 Hz. In practice, we'd have to sample a little higher since no filter is ideal — it will always pass some frequencies a limited range beyond the theoretical corner.
Purists will claim that all signals you acquire should first pass through an anti-alias filter. The reality is that anti-alias filters are expensive, bulky and simply not required for every application. Most uses of a DAS are for static, near DC signals (i.e., temperatures, pressures, flows, etc.) where use of a differential amplifier or a simple low pass filter will reduce unwanted AC to an acceptable margin. DATAQ Instruments' DI-400 Series instruments, for example, offer signal averaging that simulates a low pass filter suitable for low frequency applications and eliminates the need for external components. Higher frequency applications — especially those where the frequency content of the signal needs to be examined like in shock and vibration applications are the domain of true anti-alias filters. For example, if you're interested in a frequency range of 500 Hz per channel for 10 channels, it probably makes sense to apply anti-alias filters and sample at about a 15,000 Hz throughput rate. Without the filters, you're faced with a throughput rate upwards of 100,000 Hz to minimize the effects of alias frequencies.
Channel skew is another issue that falls within the sample rate category. This undesirable effect is a time-shifting (or skewing) of sampled data points that otherwise should be time-aligned. Let's assume you are sampling 32 thermocouples connected to various points on a boiler and you need to sample them once every second. Sequential sampling of these points results in a time skew equal to 31 seconds between the first and last channel — not a desirable situation. A technique called burst sampling, if supported by your ADC, would allow you to sample all 32 thermocouples at the maximum rate of the converter once every second. Assuming your ADC has a maximum sample rate of 50,000 samples per second, the maximum time skew between the first and last channel reduces to 620µs (31*1/50,000). The need to minimize channel skew is paramount in virtually all DAS applications which dictates that you should only consider ADC products that support burst sampling.
The final thought on sample rate is a cautionary one. Don't assume that the maximum sample rate spec for an ADC product applies to expansion channels. Most ADC products offer 16 built-in channels. Channel expanders are added to the products, usually in 16- or 32-channel increments, to increase the number of connected points. Some ADC products that spec high speed sample rates for the built-in channels are not able, because of their design, to apply these rates to expansion channels. Indeed, products of this type sample expansion channels at a relative crawl that can severely penalize your flexibility. The reasons for this get technical and are beyond the scope of this article. But if you are considering the purchase of an ADC where expansion channels are required, ask the manufacturer if there is a sample rate penalty for the additional, external channels. The answer should be a simple "yes" or "no".
Many ADC products offer a built-in amplifier that can apply gain to the analog signals you acquire. This capability offers greater flexibility in adapting to the wide range of signal levels that generally accompany real world DAS applications. Gain is provided in two forms: switch-selectable gain; and programmable gain. Switch-selectable gain generally requires that the same gain factor be applied to all acquired channels, which compromises your flexibility in situations where signal levels vary enough to require a different gain factor for each. ADC products with programmable gain allow you to apply gain on a channel-by-channel basis. For this reason, ADC products with programmable gain are generally more popular.
Whether built into the ADC or applied externally, gain is used for one reason: to amplify signals to a level as close as possible, but not exceeding the volts-full-scale (VFS) rating of the ADC. A gain factor of 10 should be applied to a 1 VFS signal to match it to an ADC with a 10 VFS input range. Assuming the ADC has a resolution of 12 bits, and you don't apply the gain, your measurement is yielding only slightly better than 8-bit resolution — over 10 times less than what the ADC is capable of delivering.
At the other extreme, be careful not to over-specify resolution. On countless occasions I've talked to users who want to connect a pressure transducer with ±1% inaccuracy to a 16-bit ADC. The benchmark inaccuracy of the 16-bit ADC is 0.0015% while that of a 12-bit product (the workhorse of the industry) is 0.024% — 41 times better than the signal they want to measure. Higher resolution ADCs cost more, increase the noise sensitivity of the measurement, and burden the design criteria of all DAS elements placed ahead of them. Unless you genuinely need to measure extremely minute signal variations (i.e., greater than 1 part in 4096 for a 12-bit ADC), selecting a higher resolution ADC should be avoided.
Software Selection
The engine that drives DAS applications is software. It is the weak link in the DAS chain. Software can enhance the performance of strong hardware, or amplify the deficiencies of weak hardware. In many if not most instances, software is the difference between a successful and unsuccessful data acquisition project.
The universe of almost endless software alternatives reduces to just two fundamental forms: programmable or turnkey of which all software products are one, the other, or a hybrid containing elements of each.
Programmable approaches to DAS software usually involve the use of a programming language (e.g., BASIC, Visual BASIC, C, Pascal, etc.). Most ADC manufacturers include a software development kit (SDK) which allows your language-of-choice to access the ADC hardware and thus perform various data acquisition tasks. The advantage of this approach is flexibility. A limitless number of data acquisition tasks can be programmed and completed in precisely the manner needed by the users. The disadvantage is complexity. The person writing the software needs to be familiar with the complex and often arcane characteristics of the programming language. The SDK contains a library of 20 or more functions pertaining to the use of the ADC that further increases complexity and the slope of the learning curve.
These disadvantages are resolved by a graphical programming language (GPL). It eliminates the need for a conventional programming language and function library in favor of its own collection of objects — graphical icons that each perform a specific data acquisition task. By manipulating the objects on the screen, you can create a data acquisition application without delving into the particulars of a programming language and the ADC's function library. However, often referred to as an aid for non-programmers, these products are more accurately described as a programmer's aid. If you're not familiar with the fundamentals of programming, you'll find it difficult to apply a GPL with satisfactory results. Also, GPLs come with a lot of excess baggage. The finished product is so code-laden that applications often run very sluggishly. Fast and even moderate sample and display rates can be compromised.
The second class of DAS software is turnkey products. In contrast to their counterpart, this alternative does not require programming of any kind. You'll be acquiring and, depending upon the product, analyzing data minutes after installing the software. Turnkey products leverage the experience and expertise of professional software engineers and insulate you not only from the need to design the software yourself, but also from the need to support the product. You also gain access to an almost endless stream of product upgrades that can further enhance the way you can acquire and analyze data.
However, as most who have spent time looking at turnkey software products will attest, you probably won't find exactly what you're looking for. All DAS applications are unique. Each requires it own special approach to data display, storage, or analysis to satisfy the best expectations of its users. A turnkey product's solution may not be compatible with the way you need to approach your particular data acquisition problem. To address this need for customization, many turnkey products allow you to attach your own code to modify the way the software works. You start with the software's ability to program the ADC, acquire data, display it, record it to disk, etc. Your code can take over from there by perhaps generating a readout of minimum, maximum, or average values. You can even produce real time control processes by toggling digital I/O ports or scaling an analog output in response to data acquired by the turnkey software. Of course, you're back to programming again and the advantages of modifying the operation of a turnkey package must be weighed against the time and expertise required to do so.
Which software approach is best for you? Given the range of user sophistication and DAS application complexity, any answer to this question must be generalized. I opened this section with a discussion of the key role played by DAS software. Given this premise, I am amazed at the general indifference paid to software by some users when assembling the component parts of a DAS. "I'll buy the hardware, but write the software myself" is the way the thought pattern goes. I'm not saying that users should not write data acquisition software. But in any successful data acquisition project where the user wrote the code himself, either the application was straight forward and perhaps even simple, or the author was very capable. Either way, it's a good bet that a large and perhaps inordinate amount of time was devoted to its development and on-going support.
In my opinion, writing your own code should be an effort of last resort after evaluating all known sources of commercial software. Begin by objectively looking for a turnkey product. Experienced programmers may want to augment this search by looking into one of the several GPL options available to them. Consider dropping a few whistles and bells so you can justify buying that software package that's almost perfect.
Finally, don't fail to purchase a software package because it's too expensive compared to the spreadsheet you bought last month. Remember that the market size for DAS products is small compared to that for business software products. Prices for data acquisition software must be higher to provide the company a reasonable return on their investment in program development.
Those who are able to justify the purchase of commercial software will find that they solve more problems than they create. They're able to put data acquisition hardware to work much more quickly, and support is handled at the developer's time and expense.


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In the fall of 2011, Fr. Bob Chorey with the Pastoral Council began a process of planning for the future pastoral needs of the parish. The idea was to determine what we do well already, and see what improvements we can make on this. The plan will also look at some needs and programs that can be offered. One such idea is to form a Men's Spirituality group, in which the adult men of the parish can come together to pray and share the faith. Other dreams include to form a Mom's group for those mothers who stay at home to care for and teach their children, build up the Youth Ministry and the Music Ministry, and to serve the greater community of Fernley.
En el otoño de 2011, Padre Bob y el Concejo Pastoral empezaron un proceso de planeando el futuro necesidades pastorales de la parroquia. La idea es a determinar lo que hacemos bien ya, y vemos qué mejoras podemos hacer en esto. El plan también mirará en algunas necesidades y programas que pueden ser ofrecidos. Un tal idea es a formar el grupo de Espiritualidad de los Hombres, en el cual los hombres adultos de la parroquia pueden juntarse para a rezar y a compartir la fe. Otros sueños sean a formar el grupo de las Madres para esas madres que se quedan en casa a cuidar y enseñar a sus niños, aumentar el Ministerio de Juventud y el Ministerio de Música, y para servirle a la mayor comunidad de Fernley.
In April of 2011, we moved into our new building. We now have a much larger worship Area, effcient and spacious office area, and a class rooms for religious, RCIA, and meetings. This is wonderful. However, this is not the end.
The final construction is the building of the Church "proper", paving of the lower parking lot, and additional landscaping. The Church itself will be eventually built on the east side of the building. This Church will have pews with kneelers, a baptismal fount, and other furnishings we normally associate with a Church. The current worship area will then become the social hall.
Before we can begin to plan the Church, we need to pay off the debt to the diocese, then raise the funds necessary to build the new church. This is therefore a long term plan, unless something wonderfully dramatic happens in the short term. We need everyone to do their parts, to honor pledges on the current capital campaign and to make donations to the construction funds.
The current Capital Campaign ended in fall of 2012. We will need to start a new capital campaign. You can also help by making a pledge and honoring that pledge.