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|66 posts found
Elite Member
Joined: 6/10/09
Originally posted by evolver1972
Their puzzle approach to the event might have worked better in a longer event, but with a 3 phase timed event over the weekend it didn't work at all.
I had the exact same problem. I read all the stuff, visited all the places, participated in a couple of event that didn't increment or trigger anything. I had no idea if I was on the right track or not. I kept missing out and stuff was bugged so I eventually moved on.
They really should have learned from Trion, who tried this sort of thing with their first event launching a raid zone, and spread this out over a couple of weeks.
I really would hope they're not listening to the idiots spouting and posturing about hand-holding. If they listen to that extremely vocal minority then their events will all be doomed to failure. For events, people want to find the action and get into it. The clues should have been more explicit and the trigger feedback much better so people know where they're at in the event timeline and what to do next.
I'm sure they'll take this experience and do better next time. They do know how to run a fun event. It was just this style of event is sort of new to them and they didn't handle it well.
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Advanced Member
Joined: 7/23/07
"One day your life will flash before your eyes, make sure it''s worth watching."
Fan of many MMO's, fan of GW2, fan of most video games in general.
One time event, I understand the reasoning behind it. I don't like that my Aussie, NZ and Asian friends couldn't really attend. If your game is global, you may want to rethink the set up.
Phase 1. ok
Scavenger hunts. Not so ok, bugged for me so a no go. Fractals of the Mist, new dungeon is decent, I actually like it better than many of the dungeons so far, but I already see gating issues and elitist behaivor beinning to rear thier heads.
Phase 2. ok. Island, small but decent for farming. Event, clearing the island had a purpose and I felt like I was helping. Had a few culling/rendering issues, others had the same or lag or all 3.
Phase 3. pretty good for the idea of it. I had a bad experience all around yesterday though with actually completing it which left largely a bad taste in my mouth and made my ass hurt. What just happened to me.
I reach the island. A swarm of players assault the karkas hive escorting NPC's planting explosives. Alot of death and rezzing. We escape, we treb the hive, the Ancient karka reveals himself. He moves to find shelter, we chop down a giant tree that falls on it damaging it. He calls in an army and goes armor invincible. We kill his underlings, he begins to run...we give chase damaging him with steam from geysers in the ground. He calls in more friends, we begin to morter them from a nearby outpost.
THEN, the lag begins with buttons cycling wating to fire off but just won't. He then heads back to the hive for a last stand, possibly escape back to where they came through the planets crust.
nearing that the Ancient Karka death I DC. I just think crap, 3hrs and then this happens, wth. So I get back in and the Boss is dead and no chest for me. It's happened before in many games I've played but still made me feel hurt. I then try to enter about 20+ more overflows and they all read that the Boss is down. Found 1 or 2 bugged events where the demo team got stuck.
Then I find out that people have begun to ferry in players to active events. I get into one. This one at the escort part. Up comes part 2 with the tree chopping and reinforcements. Nearing the last 5% of this part the client crashes. I get back in and other say the same thing.
Ouch is all I can say.
I decide to give up with completing this event, arrgghghghhghhh!!!! My complusive nature won't let me. I try once more and sure enough I get into a newly made shard to begin the process again.
1. Escort Demo Team
2. Chase Ancient , chop down tree.
3. Eliminate Reinforcements. Nearing the end........BAMMMMMM! A NEW BUILD AVAILABLE, GAME TO RESET IN 2 MINS.
11 hours, 3 solid attemps later.
I don't need rewards, anet can keep them. I'm just feeling drained after being shut down so much yesterday and pissed I wasn't given the satisfaction of completing something I made time for. I tried.
Hard Core Member
Joined: 10/01/07
Honestly I beleive the whole thing to be a shining success. Clearly everyones experience differs, thats just something thats going to happen in an MMO. Not everyone has the same stable internet connections or runs the game on the same computer. Personally i never experienced any lag in Phase 3, and never once disconnected.
Phase 1 had its issues with broken Npcs, but Anet recognized this, fixed them as soon as they could, and even extended the one event that they couldnt get to in time. I was able to complete both events, which were very well thoughtout, and required a bit of problem solving on the players side. The rewards (one was 5 commendations, the other a small vial of Karma) were not enough to make anyone who wasnt able to complete it feel left out, but still rewarded the ones who did.
Phase 2 LA event was the only one i had real lag issues and I was in an overflow that didnt build the treb until 45 minutes after the event was scheduled. But in the end, I made it to the island and fully completed the chain there. Escorting the NPCs around the island to set up bases and waypoints. Overall another huge success. No bugs, no lag. And no negative posts on the forums, the whole thing went off without a hitch.
Phase 3 was similarly successful. If you didnt know where to start, you were hiding under a rock. In LA the event told you to be on the island. Twitter and the Wiki both told you to be on the island. And we recieved ingame mail telling you...yup get to the island. Basically picking up where Phase 2 left off, there was no excuse not to be there.
As for lag and disconnects. Those arent Anets fault. You can sit and whine and complain all you want, but it wasnt something they caused. There were thousands of people who had no issues, and im willing to place money more were successful than the ones that werent. My computer is far from the best, but i am on a 20mb Fiber network. It was stable enough that my brother and I both did the event together with zero lag and no disconnects. That along with being in mumble with a hundred other people on my server with similar experience is enough to tell me its not on Anet, the issue was at the players end.
Hard Core Member
Joined: 10/01/07
Post got long so splitting it. Continuing on...
The so-called one time event actually ran on throughout the day in different overflows. I dont know if Anet did this on purpose or if it was an accident, but it was above and beyond what they were required to do. Many people were able to participate in Phase 3 and thus reap the rewards, long after the event should have been over. This in itself makes most of the whining and crying worthless. I was actually able to get on 3 different characters, and through some overflow manipulation, i was able to participate and complete the event 3 times, gaining rewards each time. And no i did not get any precursor. Did that mean the event failed, NO. Im not a 12 yr old entitled gamer that thinks i should have the same reward everyone else did. There was a chance for one, i wasnt lucky. Doesnt make the event a failure.
Aside from the massive success of the weekend events, the Fractals dungeon is similarly a huge success. The dungeons are fun, not too long, and the scaling difficulty makes it accessable to everyone. Im on difficulty 6, but have run each level at least 2, and in all those runs have never crossed a bug or blocking mechanic. Having 9 fully functioning maps (with multiple paths in each increasing the number above 9) is exactly what a success is. Kudos to Anet.
TL;DR Event was a huge success, and content is fun and engaging. If you experienced lag or disconnects, either get a more stable connection or expect the same from every large event going forward. Its not Anets fault, and they are not responsible for fixing it.
Novice Member
Joined: 7/27/07
Originally posted by aslan132
Event was a huge success, and content is fun and engaging. If you experienced lag or disconnects, either get a more stable connection or expect the same from every large event going forward. Its not Anets fault, and they are not responsible for fixing it.
I am really sorry, but I need to take issue with this. I have a six core machine, solid state drives, and a high speed cable internet connection... and I experienced a lot of what many were complaining about. The lag was not the internet, but more so the server and the client trying to communicate in real time, and trying to display all that crap on the screen. If you did not have any lag, then good for you. However, there are tons of people out there who are not happy right now. THAT, Sir, is the problem for ANet right now. Tell a player to upgrade and those players will move to another game they can run. That is not what ANet wants to hear, and neither do you if you wish to keep playing GW2 as long as GW1 has been around. It is not the users that have a problem here... it is ANet. Why?... because they rely on a massive player base and the selling of gems to make money. Right now, they will get no money from me for Gems until they show that they understand how bad this Event was and are taking steps to deal with it.
Advanced Member
Joined: 8/25/06
Originally posted by Rockniss
Translation: Butters- "Fine...Iam going back to 'Hello Kitty: Island Adventure' anyways..."
Elite Member
Joined: 5/23/06
This event was a mess. Bugged all over so my wife and I could not get steps done. Later getting rewarded for how Mich you were there for really made this stink.
The end event was a one off event that unless you lived in the USA and had free time for it, you would not see it. Even the EU servers had the event kick off CST. IF this is how all events are going to be done, my wife and I will keep looking for the next MMO.
In short, not impressed.
=-D Only on a forum can optimism be called the bad thing and pessimism is the good thing =-D
Novice Member
Joined: 3/18/11
What is "real"? How do you define "real"?
Originally posted by Torvaldr
I will definitely agree with that sentiment. I love GW2 and I think Anet is a great company that really tries to accomodate their fans. But, of course, they're not perfect and they really showed it on this one, IMHO. They can definitely do better, they already have. Hopefully they'll learn from this and wow us next time.
And I agree, spreading the event out would have made it better in terms of being able to figure things out. Hell, having things actually work the way they were supposed to would have done that probably. :)
Advanced Member
Joined: 10/14/06
Halloween event was definitely better. They should never try to push all players on 1 map at the same time b/c the event will run only once. It only creates lag and when something goes wrong you end up with tons of angry players. They should spread people over multiple maps in future events and give them enough time to finish whatever they prepared.During Halloween they did it and it was fine imo.
But as i said earlier I considered this event to be just a small addition to a cool and big content patch.
Novice Member
Joined: 11/18/12
i liked the event and got some juicy loots
Novice Member
Joined: 4/10/10
Originally posted by evilastro
I agree, I had a quick look and found nothing special going on.
Went to the island but all I found was weird looking crabs that I could solo, or ones that would 1 hit kill the entire party, not much point in being there so went back to leveling, made it to lvl 80 by the end of te weekend!
All in all, i'm glad that some people are enjoying the game, but to me, it seems rather crazy that I can go to a lower level area and get killed with just one hit. I therefor give the award for stupidest idea ever to be implemented in a game "drop the level of the player to that of the area"!
Novice Member
Joined: 11/08/12
For me, GW2 has been fail all around. From a hacked account on the first day that took way too long to address with no info coming from the Customer Support at all, to a Halloween event that was no where near as awesome as the GW1 events, and now a bugged event that lacked anything resembling interesting.
Both events suffered from a lack of clear direction. All I saw were people having no clue what was going on, or how to participate in the events, and once again, a lack of communication from the Devs. I missed the event on Fri and the one on Sat was 30 min late starting. Some people even missed the event because they were at the fountain in LA and had no idea the event was elsewhere. Then the whole event was bleh, so I passed on Sun.
Think I'm done with GW2, it just hasn't been enough of a fun experience, though there are some things I like about it. Just not enough.
Hard Core Member
Joined: 3/06/04
"I'm your Huckleberry!"
Boo Hiss! The event as a whole was a FAIL. I enjoyed Phase 2 for awhile and enjoyed exploring the island.... but overall I think they could have done better.
The BIG event at the first phase should have been ongoing (on and off during the day) in Lion's Arch so everyone can experience it to get immersed into the story. The only time they gave us was not good at all.
Loved UO, EQ, EQ2, Daoc, CoH, Vanguard, Lotro, SWTOR, WOW... looking forward to Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen!
Hard Core Member
Joined: 4/12/04
The event was a disaster.
Why I say that? Well the first part was lagged so much that there were over minute delays on abilities and clicking on the quest NPC. And the problem wasn't poor computers or connections, it was puerely the number of people in the area and the fact that the program can't handle that. Sure there were multiple overflow's (my group was divided between three after the start of the event) and when you died you got dumped on one of them randomly. It really wasn't fun fighting in those conditions.
The new creatures were nice addition, but we were able to damage them from start, not like they colums suggests, and had no problem killing them. Not sure if it was because of the huge number of people, but the few damage indicators I saw indicated that I did normal damage on them.
Then came the part to find out more about the creatures. As the column said the NPC's were bugged and only small number of people were able to progress on that. Got my own finished on sunday afternoon, after several patches that they made trying to fix the issues.
Then the second phase. It was advertised as fight to gain back control of the Lion's Arch city. At no time was Lion's Arch under enemy occupation, was really expecting them to shut down LA and we would have to fight to get it back (don't bother saying because it is the hub. All of the other five major cities can act as hubs too as they also have banks and such in them). Unfortunately I was inside the new dungeon at the start and it took us 5-10 minutes to get out. The event lasted whole 1.34 minutes and then it was over. People were complaining that the monsters would fall down dead as soon as they spawned.
After the event came the possibility of going to the new zone/island. When we got there, there started an Dynamic Event to clear the beach between landing points. That part was fun and actually brought the story forward. after that the same NPC wanted roads build and went on to check the island as a new Dynamic Event. What followed was a tour of the island along with just about all waypoints and Point's of Interest, really boring and took out all the self exploration out of it. Really mad at myself for deciding to follow that NPC.
Didin't take part of the last "super" event as I had seen what happens in the game when massive number of people decide to go to same place. Din't enjoy the first lag fest and wasn't going to go to another one.
Sure this was fun way of bringing new content and area to the game, but with the lags and bugs and poorly planned events the whole thing was a big let down.
We really thought the enemy would take over at least partially LA and then we would have to fight to get it back. Did that happen? No. The enemy made two appearances in LA and both times were wiped out.
We really thought that the enemy would be virtually impossible to damage until we found what they were vulnerable to. Did that happen? No. Sure the enemy had some nice protection, but was expeting more along the lines 75% damage immunity until made vulnerable.
We were expecting new and interesting zone. Did that happen? Yes and no. We got a new zone with one new enemy type and some new graphics. Too bad the zone is about the size of a major city (like Lion's Arch) and you run through it with the start up event. No exploration and discoveries left, and no vistas in the area either.
Thank you Anet for bringing us new content, but bad for you that you totally blew it.
Spotlight Poster
Joined: 7/09/11
May the game be ever in your favor.
Originally posted by Indrome
What are you? That judge from the Good Wife? Obviously it was his opinion... There is no need to say "in my opinion" after everything. It's creepy and weird.
As a siidenote, I think ANet isn't doing a very supuurb job with events. Why was the evnt only a weekend long? I ma in college and have a life, soit would have been nie if it had been a month long event as I don't have time to sit down as much as others do.
Advanced Member
Joined: 1/25/07
This one time event introduction was a big failure. Phase 1 invasion of LA was so laggy that my slot skills didn't even respond. Then there were the bugged npcs, which gave me nightmarish deja vu's of skill challenge npcs that stayed bugged for over a week. You keep checking back only to find it is still bugged(even though update notes said they fixed loads of skill challenge npcs).
Phase 2 recapture LA again was laggy. Not so much as first invasion though. But the Ancient Karka bugged out. On our server he was unkillable. We first thought not enough ppl knew about the solvent, but after checking players and being sure that most players were using the solving, we still only got him to about 80% hp and then he reset again. So instead we just danced on a wall next to the boss. This was my highlight of the event.
Couldn't bring myself to check Phase 3.
I'll see the new area and dungeon in the coming weeks. And I really hope that Winterfest next month will work a lot better.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 6/13/10
I see many complainers here. How much did you pay for this content? We've got an awesome dungeon that is better than all others combined (imo), has 10 times more replayability (randomizing, infinite levels of difficulty), new lv 80 zone, new type of exotic gear to craft, new tier of gear to play for (this last one is something I like only if they stop at this tier).
And it was all for free. You would pay at least $30 worth of monthly fees to get an update like this.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 8/30/06
Originally posted by Vhaln
Can't really lose customers when they already paid for the game and there's no sub. Free new content = win. Rather than pay $50 for an expansion for a 9 year old game, i think its awesome.
Novice Member
Joined: 7/07/05
Originally posted by Overfiend138
Heh, that's a rather self-centered way of looking at it, but I doubt ANet or NCSoft sees it that way. They still want to be making money, for as long as possible, you can be sure. They didn't make the game B2P, just to be charitable.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
Advanced Member
Joined: 1/04/05
Originally posted by Zeus.CM
I think this is what is lost on all these arguments. We didn't pay for it (like with Rift's new expansion or WoW's or even GW1's) but I do think this was closer to what was done in GW1 with Sorrow's Furnace. I remember when that came out and people where gnashing teeth, saying how hard it was and what a waste of what A.Net did. It is all there on forums if you want to look it up. After a while people got used to the new content and 'BAM' was easy to play.


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PRESTONSBURG — Highlands Regional Medical Center held a breast cancer informational seminar on Thursday, Oct. 4, with a luncheon and dessert reception at the hospital.
Luncheon attendees heard from Highlands Cancer Center representatives who spoke about the signs, symptoms and treatment options for breast cancer. The Highlands Cancer Center panel included oncologist Kirti Jain, M.D., physician assistant Melissa Morey, and Stephanie VanDine, ARNP.
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Thursday, February 27, 2014
The Third Annual South Carolina Walk to School Day (SCWTSD) is Wednesday, March 5, 2014.
Organized by the South Carolina Department of Transportation's (SCDOT) Safe Routes to School Resource Center, S.C. Walk to School Day is part of a broader effort by many schools and communities to help get students more active. Walking requires no special equipment, and even a ten minute brisk walk will increase physical activity and can help stimulate kids' brains and improve school performance.
Walk to School events emphasize the importance of increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, concern for the environment, and building connections between families, schools and the broader community.
S.C. Walk to School Day mirrors International Walk to School Day, a hugely popular South Carolina tradition in October when hundreds of schools participate with walk to school or walk at school events. This past October, South Carolina had an all-time record for the number of registered events in the state. With 277 schools registered in October, South Carolina ranked No. 1 in the nation, with the highest percentage of schools participating for the second year in a row (1 in every 4 elementary and middle schools in the state). So far, the resource center has over 150 schools registered for S.C. Walk to School Day.
By organizing park-and-walk sites, or walk at school events, schools include students who live too far from school to walk regularly. Schools have figured out how to get students excited about waking up a bit earlier and walking to school, with local celebrities such as the Carolina Panthers' Sir Purr coming out to help talk to kids about why walking is fun, healthy and good for the environment.
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Enhance health by increasing the amount of physical activity.
Improve air quality by reducing automobile emissions in the school zone.
Make the streets safer by relieving traffic congestion.
The Safe Routes to School Resource Center is a federally funded project of SCDOT that provides education, encouragement and planning support to schools throughout South Carolina that partner with the resource center.
Services and materials are provided at no cost to K-8 schools and their communities.
Contact the resource center's School Outreach Coordinators or go to SCSafeRoutes.org for more information about events, materials and opportunities to participate.
For additional information, please contact Rodney Oldham, SCDOT Safe Routes to School Coordinator at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Aarhus (Århus) is Denmark's second-largest city and one of Scandinavia's oldest. Aarhus is the principal port of Denmark on the peninsula of Jutland (Jylland) and is at the geographic center of the country.
Aarhus is mostly built out around the harbor though it is flanked on the one side by Risskov Forest. Blending urban life and quaint village charm, Aarhus is the perfect weekend getaway, especially when visiting Copenhagen, and is perfect for exploring on foot.
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The Old Town in Aarhus, known as "Den Gamle By" in Danish, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2009. Visiting is like taking a long journey back in time to see what it was like to live and work in a Danish market town at the time of Hans Christian Andersen.
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East Jutland ArtsKunstruten provides with a listing of most galleries, museums and artist-craftsmen around Jutland.
Riverside cafésTake a walk in Vadestedet, where the river runs through the city.
Den Gamle ByThe Old Town is a living and breathing experience of what it was like to live in Denmark in the old days.
Crew tip
ARoS Åarhus KunstmuseumTel.: +45 87 30 66 00 www.aros.dk
The Aarhus Museum of Arts was opened In 2004. Occupying 17,700 square metres with exhibitions spanning from the 16th century to contemporary, including international artists like Bill Viola and James Turrell. Besides its galleries, ARoS have a section for children and young people where they can experience arts hands-on.Jane, air purser
Langenæs bakeryNordborggade 31Tlf.:+45 86 14 45 55
If you are in Frederiksbjerg quarter, make a stop at Langenæs bakery. Here you can try out pastries by Scandinavia's top baker Torben Brink Erichsen and Denmark's leading confectioner Palle Sørensen.Christoffer
Det Gamle MejeriVilhelmsborgBedervej 101Tel.: 188.8.131.52
A very nice restaurant in lovely surroundings. The restaurant is located some 5.6 miles (9 km) outside Aarhus in an old dairy. They have a few rooms so you can stay the night and enjoy a nice breakfast.Pelle
Randers Regnskovwww.regnskoven.dk
Just north of Aarhus, in the town of Randers, you can visit an indoor rainforest. Inside three domes, you can experience the heat, humidity and animal life in African, South American or Asian rainforests - including snakes, frogs, birds, fish and manatees. Great fun!Christian, ground crew
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Hardware Mass Murderer
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About Me
- About Kamel
- Location
- Jacksonville, FL
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- gaming, linux, gaming in linux, networking, IT in general
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- hardware murdered so far: geforce 5900u, deceised: sat on it. geforce 6600gt deceised: improperly mounted heatsink. 3 asus a7n8x-e deluxe motherboards, deceised: unsure. mobile amd xp2600 processor, deceised: chipped core due to compusa heatsink. dfi lanparty ultra b, deceised: unsure, third memory bank went out. samsung cd burner 48x40x48, deceised: unsure, will only read pressed cd's very slowly. samsung TH552C dvd burner (dual layer), deceised: same as other samsung . 10gb seagate 5200rpm drive, deceised: tried fixing a pin that was pushed into the drive by inserting an ide cable upside down. 40gb maxtor drive, deceised: maxtor manufacturer. 80gb western digital, deceised: unnatural causes. swan xt10, deceised: brutal pre-meditated murder, even video taped (it wasn't y2k compliant). logitech mx510, deceised: death by electricution. ati remote wonder, deceised: death by electricution.
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Haboob Blog
Darnell Dockett and AJ McCarron go at it...again
It's the Twitter squabble that just won't end.
Hours after Alabama claimed its second National Championship in as many years, Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett wasted little time putting the social media moves on Crimson Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron's girlfriend, Katherine Webb.
Of course, McCarron stepped in eventually, squashing any one-on-one time Dockett had hoped for with Webb.
That seemingly put an end to the Twitter love triangle, so we thought.
Unfortunately, we forgot Dockett has quite a gift for gab on the Internet and wasn't quite done "wooing" Webb.
Aye @_katherinewebb we still on for lunch. I'm suggestion a spot in calliope projectsbring Lil AJ too! My boyz will keep him comapany.— DARNELL DOCKETT (@ddockett) February 1, 2013
McCarron didn't take the jab too kindly and fired the following back at Dockett.
@ddockett Pro player and u gotta try & be twitter thirsty! I saw you today bro with Katherine looked dead at you & u didn't say a thing!— AJ McCarron (@10AJMcCarron) February 2, 2013
@ddockett and come to mobile sometime if ya want to! I got plenty of boys that will keep u company! #real— AJ McCarron (@10AJMcCarron) February 2, 2013
From the looks of it, Dockett's last-ditch effort to win over McCarron's girlfriend seems to have failed.
However, there's no word yet on whether he has accepted the offer to fly to Mobile.


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Only in Aiken
"Only in Aiken" How many times have I said that in the past 15 years? Well, recently it happened again. I was taking a large package to the Aiken Mall for the Christmas package wrapping project to benefit the Tri-Development Center. I had the package on the tray of my walker as I have peripheral neuropathy disease in my legs. As I approached the entrance by Penneys, two people came up and held open the entrance doors for me.
When my package was nicely wrapped (thank you Tri-Development) and as I was about to leave the mall, once again some kind people held open the doors so I could easily leave. As I approached the edge of the sidewalk, I hesitated before trying to step off the curb into the parking lot.
Now comes the icing on this Christmas cake. A red car stopped by me and both the driver and the passenger stepped out and made certain that I was safely in the parking lot. My thanks and holiday blessings to you all, and once again – "Only in Aiken."
Jed Alexander
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Give your baby's nursery the finishing touch with this set of charming lamps that coordinates with the Surie Collection.
The Surie Collection will bring a touch of sunshine and happiness into your baby's room. An eclectic mix of textured fabrics, unique prints, and vibrant colors creates a stunning nursery collection that you and your baby can enjoy for years to come.
The lamp, wire, and plug should be placed out of children's reach.


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BAKER — Austin Davis scored on a two-out wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap a wild final frame and even wilder District 2-1A baseball game Thursday night as Baker School beat Freeport 9-8.
The Gators (6-8, 3-4) trailed 8-4 heading into their final at bat, but they refused to go away.
Logan Nixon led off the inning with double off of Bulldog reliever Noah Simmons. Nixon was pulled for pinch runner D.J. Thomas.
A single by Kyle Davis gave the Gators runners on the corners with nobody out. The rally continued as Alan Wiedenhammer drew a walk to load the bases.
The Gators traded on out for a run when Cameron Freeman grounded out to short to score Thomas.
With first base open and one out, Taylor Carlisle struck out, but when the ball got past the Freeport catcher Carlisle took first and Kyle Davis scored from third to pull Baker to within two as Wiedenhammer went to third.
Austin Davis walked and with two out Mason Lowery doubled to left to scoring Wiedenhammer and Carlisle and sending Austin Davis to third.
With the game tied 8-8, Freeport coach Shaun Arntz elected to intentionally walk Garrett Sanders to load the bases and bring Nixon back to the plate.
Before Nixon had a chance to try and deliver the winning hit Simmons threw the wild pitch allowing Austin Davis to score the game winning.
In the early going it was all Freeport (3-4, 2-3) as the Bulldogs took advantage of Baker mistakes to score five unearned runs.
The big blow of the game for the Bulldogs was a 2-run homer by Dakota Davis in the top of the third that pushed the Freeport lead to 2-0.
But a single by Austin Davis and a triple off the bat of Adam Crowson cut the Bulldog lead to 3-1 before Crowson scored on a wild pitch to pull the Gators to within a run at the end of three.
Freeport added a run in the fourth, three in the fifth and another run in the sixth.
Baker stayed within striking distance scoring two in the sixth inning to set up the madcap finish.
Jake Rainey picked up the win for the Gators working three innings and giving up one run.
Simmons took the loss for the Bulldogs.
Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin's sports editor. Email him at email@example.com, tweet him @BigRandle, or call 682-6524


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Street Fighting Diaries: Leonard Garcia details a small scrap Donald Cerrone got into - Bloody Elbow
On December 29th, Leonard Garcia will be returning to the octagon against Cody McKenzie. He's coming off some tough losses, so a win is pretty much mandatory at this point, at least in his mind it is. With exciting fighters that have seven "of the night" accolades to their credit, some leeway can be permitted, as the UFC has demonstrated in the past with other fighters. That's not what this post is about, though. I recently interviewed Leonard, who told a street fight tale that I wanted to share. I'll save the rest of his great interview for next week. Today it's about a scuffle his best pal, Donald Cerrone, got into.
Just goes to show that acting like an ass can sometimes sweep you right off your feet.Maybe a year and a half back or so, we went to this place. This girl was there, wearing a pink dress, and Cowboy says to her, 'Hey, what's up', and starts talking to her. Some dude comes out from nowhere, rips his shirt off, all muscled up, and screams, 'Are you talking to my girl?!' Cowboy was like, 'Man, shut up.'
From there, we just got in the truck. When we got around the corner, we could see that dude chasing the girl. We pulled up by her and Cowboy said, 'What's up girl?' The dude started screaming again, and basically went crazy, so Cowboy got down off the truck. He went up to the guy and just let the dude have it with a leg kick. Both that dude's legs came off the ground. It was a brutal kick. You could hear the thump. The noise he made ... he had to have used the restroom in his pants. It was like a screech, with a little bit of a burp, and something else [laughs]. Then he jumped up and took off at a full sprint.
He (Cowboy) never smashed on him or anything like that. He just leg kicked him and that was it. I was standing over by his buddy, who had pulled up in his car, and I asked him, 'What's up? You might want to stay in your car, because this is already over.' He told me, 'Oh, I already know who you are. I'm not trying to fight. I'm not stupid like my friend.' I shook his hand, and he waited for his buddy to get back to the car, and they left. That's about the closest thing to a street fight that I've had in a long time.


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The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries Cast Hangs Out Backstage at Cirque Du Soleil (PHOTOS)
Nina Dobrev's not the only star of The Vampire Diaries who's been hanging out with the wacky performers of Cirque du Soleil! Over the course of the last month, Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, Claire Holt, and Steven R. McQueen have all gotten in on the action, taking some time away from TVD to attend performances at the Atlantic Station in Atlanta.
Of course, after the show, each star got their chance to hang out backstage, posing with trapeze artists, jugglers, and unicyclists.


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These are my favorite new pillows. They are fast and unbelievably easy to make…and I hope you love them as much as I do. I did my best to simplify the instructions/pattern so they are beginner friendly, and super fun to make. If you've never worked with a template or curves, and your nervous about it…these pillows are a perfect place to start. The only problem with them is that you can't make just one…trust me …I tried.
There are pattern templates for two sizes:
Click the link below to download the pattern templates
*For best results, print the templates directly from google docs (click file on the left and print). If you are using explorer or firefox….make sure you hit "fit to printable area", or "print actual size" in the printer preferences.
** Please do not re-post the link to these templates on your own website! Thank you!
You will also need:
Large fabric scraps for the top wedges, a 5" x width of fabric strip for the middle (plus a little extra for the large size), a fat quarter for the back, a bag of poly-fill stuffing, and a button and thread for the center.
Let's get started!!!!
1. Cut out the template for the size pillow that you are making. Using the template cut out 12 wedges.
2. Arrange the wedges how you like them. Sew the wedges into pairs, right sides together. Sew from the tip to the end. Use a 1/4" seam allowance while constructing the pillow top.
3. Press and arrange the pairs. Sew the pairs into two halves.
4. Pin the edges and center seams of the halves together. Sew the halves together, slightly pulling or easing the fabric as necessary to get the edges and center to match. Don't worry if your center seams don't match perfectly…that's what the button is for. Press well.
5. Make the pillow back by folding the backing fat quarter, and the circle top in half. Line up the folds, trace, and cut out the back.
6. Cut the strip for the pillow center. The strip sizes are:
Large Pillow: 5" x 50" strip
Small Pillow: 5" x 43 1/2" strip
Sew the ends of the strip right sides together using a 1/2" seam allowance and press. You'll use a 1/2" seam allowance from here on out.
7. Pin one edge of the strip to the edges of the pillow top. Start anywhere and work your way around, easing or slightly stretching as necessary. If you have too much excess, pin all the way around except for the last 6" or so and pinch the extra together and sew it together. If you don't have enough strip and you can't slightly stretch it larger…you can either cut and sew another small strip on, or pin the strip 1/8" or so in from the pillow top edge.
Remember that you can't use too many pins!
8. Sew along the edge using a 1/2" seam allowance.
9. Now pin the other edge of the middle strip to the backing, right sides together. Do it the same way you did the front.
10. Again, sew along the edge using a 1/2" seam allowance…but this time leave a 4" hole for turning and stuffing.
11. Turn the pillow right side out and stuff with your poly-fill. I like my pillow to look full but still be really cushy…that way when you add the button it sinks right in.
12. Sew up the hole either by hand or machine.
13. Get your button, needle and thread ready. If you want to make a fabric covered button like I did…you can buy kits at any fabric/craft store….they are super simple and take about 10 seconds. I recommend using thick thread like embroidery thread to add the button….but I didn't have any for the tutorial so just ignore the thread I'm using in the photos.
Knot the end of your thread and put the needle through the center back of your pillow and push it to the front center.
Loop the thread/needle through your button a few times and put the needle back through the front to the back.
Pull the thread until the button is depressed in the front enough for your liking, and knot the thread in the back of the pillow. You can cover the back knot with another button…or just leave it.
And there you go. Aren't they fun???!!!! Now you can make more in no time!


text: Earnest Chapman Billings, age 64 of Hillsville, Virginia passed away Monday, February 11, 2013 in the Forsyth Medical Center. Chapman was born on May 7, 1948 in Grayson County, Virginia to Earnest McKinley and Edith Moretz Billings. He is survived by his wife Sandra Lam Billings of Hillsville, Virginia; daughters and sons-in-law Wendi and Michael Odum of Max Meadows, Virginia; Kellye and James Isom of Hillsville, Virginia; Sheree and Robby Moore of Dugspur, Virginia; grandchildren Jacob Lineberry; Evan Lineberry; Davin Odum and Ryan Moore; sister Judy DeBolt of Woodlawn, Virginia; several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 2:00 PM in the Vaughan-Guynn Chapel with Sammy Burnette and Pastor Chip Neely officiating. There will be no visitation at the funeral home.


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Find accommodations in Claymont with the hotel list provided below. Search for cheap and discounted hotel and motel rates in or near Claymont, DE for your personal leisure or group travel. Discover the most popular Claymont Delaware hotel/motel rooms. Review the Claymont hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. We also have a map of the Claymont hotels. Planning a group? Lock in Claymont Group Hotel DiscountsThe Claymont center point is around 4 miles from Brandywine Zoo and 4 miles from Dream Park.
Claymont Hotels & Accommodations
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View by: Most Popular | Alphabetical A to Z | Map
Colonia del Sacramento
The oldest town in Uruguay, this southwestern city on the Rio de la Plata – just a short ferry ride away from Buenos Aires in Argentina -- is famed for its ... Read more
Independence Plaza (Plaza Independencia)
Separating Montevideo's Old Town and downtown areas, this popular plaza is thought to be the city's most important one, especially since historic structures ... Read more
Palacio Salvo
Constructed in 1928, Palacio Salvo is a historical landmark building done in a predominantly Italian Gothic-style, with classic and neo-romanticism influences ... Read more
Casapueblo (Casa del Pueblo)
Located in Punta Ballena near Punta del Este, Casapueblo is the house of famous Uruguayan artist, Carlos Paez Vilaro. On October 13, 1972, a chartered flight ... Read more
Los Dedos Playa Brava (La Mano en la Arena)
Brava Beach, with the colloquial name Playa de los Dedos, or Beach of the Fingers, is a beautiful beach that attracts a mostly young crowd. With warm golden ... Read more
Punta del Este Yacht Club
Because Punta del Este is known as the "Monaco of South America," it would only make sense to visit the city's famous Punta del Este Yacht Club. While a bit ... Read more
José Ignacio
José Ignacio (Officially Faro José Ignacio) is a very exclusive resort community near Punta del Este that attracts a number of high-profile visitors ... Read more
Andes Museum 1972 (Museo Andes)
The Andes Museum honors the 29 Uruguayans who died in the 1972 Andes flight disaster, in which their plane crashed in the Andes Mountains en route to Santiago ... Read more
Artigas Square
Artigas Square, or Plaza Artigas, is the spot to hit in Punta del Este if you have an interest in arts and crafts, as it plays host to the arts and crafts ... Read more
Barrio Sur (Barrio Reus)
Barrio Sur, often called Barrio Reus, is well-known for its unique modernist architecture and individually colored houses painted in pinks, blues, greens, ... Read more
Castillo Pittamiglio
Walking down The Rambla in Montevideo, you won't miss this building of red brick towers, with giant protruding ships and fortress-like architecture among the ... Read more
City Hall (Palacio Municipal)
Montevideo's City Hall, or Palacio Municipal, is the seat for the local government of agency of the Municipality of Montevideo. If you're taking a city tour ... Read more
Fundación Pablo Atchugarry
Fundación Pablo Atchugarry, a nonprofit started in 2007, is a must-see attraction of the arts in Punta del Este. With an exhibition building, an ... Read more


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|Idaho state parks - a beautiful place to play and stay!
Find Campsites
ATTENTION: Please note beginning with 2015 stays, Idaho State Park fees will charge different rates for resident and non- resident customers. This change requires the collection of unique primary site occupant information (name, address, and telephone number) for all sites. This includes cabins, campsites, yurts and group facilities. Customers booking multiple sites under one name should expect a follow up call from IDPR staff requesting primary occupant information.
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Grant Gallicho July 30, 2011 - 10:05am
Last week, in an impassioned speech delivered from the floor of the Irish parliament, Prime Minister Enda Kenny offeredsome hard sayings about the Vatican's handling of clergy sexual abuse in Ireland. Kenny said that therecent report on the scandal in Cloyne "excavates the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism, the narcissism that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day." So much for Joyce's "Ireland my first and only love / Where Christ and Caesar are hand and glove!"The Cloyne report examines the diocese's handling of abuse allegations between January 1, 1996, the year Irish bishops established procedures for dealing with abuse claims, and February 1, 2009 -- well after the institutional church came to realize the gravity of such crimes. According to the report, two-thirds of allegations during that period were not forwarded to the police, as required by the Irish bishops' own '96 guidelines.
On Monday, the Vatican recalled its apostolic nuncio to Ireland. Fr. Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Vatican press office, explained that Rome wanted to consult with the nuncio about its response to Cloyne. But there was another reason. As Benedettini elaborated, the decision was not unrelated to "some degree of surprise and disappointment at certain excessive reactions. By Friday, it was reported that the Vatican would replace the nuncio.
Benedettini wasn't the only one shocked and dismayed by Kenny's speech. Last Sunday, a priest in County Louth gave the following headline to his column in the parish bulletin: "Heil Herr Kenny!" The priest wrote: "No Pope here.' Is this the way forward for a new and better Ireland?"
Catholic journalists soon started asking similar questions. In his column "Erin Go Bonkers" (get it?), George Weigel declares Ireland "the most stridently anti-Catholic country in the Western world." But it's Kenny's "rant" that was "hysterical" and "rabid," on Weigel's telling. He suggests replacing all of Ireland's bishops -- with men from other countries, if necessary, men "who know how to fight the soft totalitarianism of European secularists." Clearly the Irish church's most immediate threat.
In a post titled "The Anticlerical Hysteria Sweeping Ireland," at America's In All Things blog, Austen Ivereigh calls Kenny's speech "bizarre" and "rambling." Ivereigh points out that the Cloyne Report criticizes the Vatican for a 1997 letter from the apostolic nuncio [.pdf] "in which he questioned whether the 1996 guidelines drawn up by the Irish bishops were compatible with canon law, notably the idea that church officials should be obliged to pass on all and any allegations to the civil authorities." Of course, as Ivereigh emphasizes, that is no longer the thinking in the Vatican. He continues: "Nothing justifies" Kenny's "broadside, which conveniently glosses over the state's failures over abuse -- also highlighted in the [Cloyne] Report -- or the Commission's findings that the state's guidelines on abuse are more opaque and difficult to understand than the church's." Yet, according to Ivereigh, this dark cloud has a silver lining:
The good news about Cloyne -- a small rural diocese in Co. Cork -- is that its failures were first spotted by the Church's own safeguarding watchdog, which brought them to light in December 2008. Judge Murphy, then investigating Dublin, decided to extend her probe to Cloyne. Bishop Magee was stood down, and the Church -- as the Cloyne Report clearly acknowledges -- cooperated fully with the investigation.
Leaving aside Ivereigh's own bizarre remark about the size and location of Cloyne -- presumably he didn't intend it to comfort those who were scandalized by the report's findings -- it certainly would be disappointing for the prime minister of Ireland to criticize the institutional church for its failures in addressing clergy sexual abuse while glossing over his own government's mistakes. Just as it would be foolish of him to name the hierarchy's shortcomings without acknowledging its successes. It's a good thing, then, that he didn't. Kenny:
I must note the Commission is very positive about the work of the National Board for Safeguarding Children, established by the Church to oversee the operation by Dioceses and religious orders. The Commission notes that all Church authorities were required to sign a contract with the National Board agreeing to implement the relevant standards and that those refusing to sign would be named in the Board's Annual Report....
There is some small comfort to be drawn by the people of Cloyne from the fact that the Commission is complimentary of the efforts made by the Diocese since 2008, in training, in vetting personnel and in the risk management of Priests against whom allegations have been made.
But if the Vatican needs to get its house in order, so does this State.The Report of the Commission is rightly critical of the entirely unsatisfactory position which the last Government allowed to persist over many years.The unseemly bickering between the Minister for Children and the HSE over the statutory powers to deal with extra-familial abuse, the failure to produce legislation to enable the exchange of soft information as promised after the Ferns Enquiry, and the long period of confusion and disjointed responsibility for child protection within the HSE, as reported by the Commission, are simply not acceptable in a society which values children and their safety.
For too long Ireland has neglected its children.
Does that sound hysterical to you? More or less hysterical than declaiming Ireland as the most anti-Catholic country in the Western world? What about this:
The rape and torture of children were downplayed or "managed" to uphold instead, the primacy of the institution, its power, standing and "reputation."Far from listening to evidence of humiliation and betrayal with St. Benedict's "ear of the heart," the Vatican's reaction was to parse and analyse it with the gimlet eye of a canon lawyer.This calculated, withering position being the polar opposite of the radicalism, humility and compassion upon which the Roman Church was founded.
No doubt, many church critics have exaggerated the import of that 1997 letter. But when at least one Irish bishop tells the press that he interpreted it as an instruction not to inform civil authorities about allegations against priests, can you blame them? What about when one considers the fact that the letter communicated the concerns of the Congregation for Clergy, then headed by Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, who in 2001 praised a French bishop for covering up for a priest he knew had abused several boys? Or when the '97 letter is read in light of a 1984 letter from the Congregation for Clergy (then run by Cardinal Silvio Oddi) to the bishop of Tucson ordering him notto release the personnel files of priests accused of misconduct (not necessarily sexual abuse) to civil lawyers?
Of course, Kenny's critics are right to say that proposals requiring priests to report abuse disclosed during confession must be rejected by Irish lawmakers -- as a violation of religious freedom and of common sense. But no one ought to be surprised that a Catholic country so convulsed by clergy abuse for so long would, after another in a string of damning reports on the scandal, find itself seeking desperate measures.There was also a hint of desperation in David Quinn's response to Kenny's comments. Writing in the Independent, Quinn also called Kenny's address hysterical. "In the sort of language normally associated with a Richard Dawkins or Ian Paisley, he accused the Vatican of 'dysfunction, disconnection, elitism...narcissism' and effectively of not caring about the 'rape and torture of children.'" Hasn't it already been established that dysfunction, disconnection, and clericalism (usually characterized by elitism and narcissism) significantly contributed to the Catholic Church's sexual-abuse crisis? Is there a better word than narcissistic for Cardinal Sodano's Easter 2010 performance? What do you call the game of canonical hot potato that was played between Rome and local bishops over how to handle accused priests, if not dysfunctional? Were some Vatican officials something other than disconnected when, throughout the 1990s and even as the 2002 wave of U.S. scandals broke, they dismissed the abuse crisis as an American phenomenon?
Yes, Kenny claimed that even today's Vatican is "dominated" by a culture that enables abuse. That's probably going too far. But by how much? The Irish people have seen four state inquiries into clergy abuse, which have cost them 134 million. It's not as though compiling those reports has been a cake walk. As Patsy McGarry points out, "None of this would have been necessary had the Catholic Church here [in Ireland] and in Rome co-operated fully in establishing the truth."When it came to the investigation of the Diocese of Ferns, for example, "abuse files on five further priests which should have been presented to the inquiry remained unavailable until an accidental discovery in the summer of 2005 when the Ferns draft report was already completed," McGarry writes. And in May 2009, the Ryan report concluded that a climate of fear, created by pervasive, excessive and arbitrary punishment, permeated most of the institutions and all those run for boys [by the Christian Brothers]. Children lived with the daily terror of not knowing where the next beating was coming from. Just five days before that report was published,the Christian Brothers sent a letter to the redress board denying abuse allegations. The next month the Christian Brothers released a statement expressing their regret for sending such a letter. And in January 2008 the retired archbishop of Dublin sued the current archbishop to prevent him from turning over documents to state investigators. Amazingly, in 2006 the Vatican could not manage toacknowledge correspondence from the Murphy commission. "Instead," McGarry writes, "it complained the commission did not use proper channels." So the next year the commission followed proper procedure, asking the nuncio to forward correspondence to Rome. Silence. Again in 2009,the commission contacted the next nuncio, including a copy of the draft report. No reply.Kenny's critics have complained that he unfairly blamed Rome for the faults of the local church. Apparently they either don't grasp that apostolic nuncios are officials of the Vatican appointed by the pope or they don't know how uncooperative some have been.
Is it any wonder, then, that Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin recently admitted that after reading the Cloyne report the first emotion that came to him was anger?
Some years ago I was criticized in some Church circles for speaking of strong forces still present in the Church which would prefer that the truth did not emerge. There are signs, I said, of subconscious denial on the part of many about the extent of the abuse which occurred within the Church of Jesus Christ in Ireland and how it was covered up. There are other signs of rejection of a sense of responsibility for what had happened. There are worrying signs that despite solid regulations and norms these are not being followed with the rigour required.
Much has, thank God, been undertaken within the Catholic Church to address the facts of the past and to improve safeguarding procedures. Much has, thank God, been undertaken within the Catholic Church to address the facts of the past and to improve safeguarding procedures. The Catholic Church in Ireland is a much safer place today than it was even in the recent past.Much is being said, on the other hand, that despite words the Church has not learned the lessons. Both statements are true.
Last week, in a televised interview, Martin said, "Those who felt they were able to play tricks with norms, they have betrayed...good men and so many others in the church who are working today, I am angry, ashamed and appalled by that.Visibly shaken, Martin confessed, "I find myself asking today, can I be proud of the church that I'm a leader of? His admission won the ire of Phil Lawler, director of Catholic Culture, who called it "hardly a statement calculated to boost Catholic morale." Is that what Irish Catholics need right now? An episcopal pep talk? Surely, Lawler, a Boston native -- a fact he mentions often, so you know he really gets the sexual-abuse crisis -- remembers how well that strategy served bishops in the past, not to mention the faithful. Or at least what's left of them.And that's the point, isn't it? Archbishop Martin is presiding over the most dramatic period of attrition the Irish church has ever seen. Perhaps it's more convenient or comforting to focus on Kenny's overreaching claims. It's important to correct them, and more important to make sure priests are not compelled to break the seal of confession.
But Kenny is giving voice to the greater pastoral and ecclesiological crisis that his archbishop -- in his refusal to strike a defensive pose -- is trying to address. Kenny's anger isn't about a single incident, a single letter, a single report. It's about a long history of abuse that was enabled locally and internationally by a church -- comprising clergy and laity alike -- that for too long looked the other way.The failure of some Catholic journalists to recall that larger context, to the point of misrepresenting important parts of Kennys speech, eerily echoes the institutional defensiveness that landed the church in this mess to begin with. That view of history should not be repeated -- or abetted.
Commenting Guidelines
One of the striking things about Kenny's speech was that it was not impassioned, not in manner any way. It was delivered in a voice that expressed a cold fury, all the more powerful for that.
My thought exactly, Joe. That's why I embedded video of the speech.
I think there more to Weigel's column than reflected in your remarks, Grant, especially these two paragraphs, which I think are quite useful. (I wonder if he is responsible for the headlinie.)'Perhaps some comparative history and sociology suggest an answer. In each of these cases, the state, through the agency of an authoritarian government, deliberately delayed the nations confrontation with modernity. In each of these cases, the Catholic Church was closely allied to state power (or, in the case of Quebec, to the power of the dominant Liberal party). In each of these cases, Catholic intellectual life withered, largely untouched by the mid-20th-century Catholic renaissance in biblical, historical, philosophical, and theological studies that paved the way toward the Second Vatican Council. And in each of these cases, the local Catholicism was highly clerical, with ordination to the priesthood and the episcopate being understood by everyone, clergy and laity alike, as conferring membership in a higher caste.'Then came le dluge: the deluge of Vatican II, the deluge that Europeans refer to as 1968, and the deluge of the Quiet Revolution in la Belle Province. Once breached, the fortifications of Counter-Reformation Catholicism in Spain, Portugal, Quebec, and Ireland quickly crumbled. And absent the intellectual resources to resist the flood-tides of secularism, these four once-hyper-Catholic nations flipped, undergoing an accelerated course of radical secularization that has now, in each case, given birth to a serious problem of Christophobia: not mere indifference to the Church, but active hostility to it, not infrequently manifested through coercive state power.'
Yes, well, there's more to everything I've commented on in this post (despite its length!). That's why I linked to the column. My point wasn't that every word in that column was mistaken, but that making sweeping claims about Ireland's supposed anti-Catholicism (worst in the West!) doesn't really get us anywhere.
"Christophobia"? I rather think "Vaticanophobia". But if Weigel is suggesting that clericalism tends to beget laicism, in some form or other, for once I think I might agree with him.
It's true that the fortress mentality of the counter reformation crumbled and continues to despite the understanding of Mr. Weigel and others who see the "cointinuity " of VII in present policies.It's also true that very Catholic states may have even angier reactions to what they see as failures that deeply hurt members of the perceived fortress."Chrisrtophobia" and "radical secularization" are semantics for the apologetic of not facing up to deeper problems.(I note John A. over at NCR is complaining of the German/Austrian sensibility to "rebel" as part of the kickback toward Rome there.)The Goodstein piece last week on somepsuhbacks in the Church was correct in citing Ruff -nothing will change immediately for commitment to the continuity of VII, loved by Weigel, will continue in the fortress approach from Rome. With more crumbling??
A contrarian view from columnist Kevin Myers, by no means a naive friend of the Irish Catholic Church: Theres never been a safer time or place for children than modern Ireland.http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/kevin-myers-the... would only add that the times are also not so terrible in the U.S. At the Catholic grammar school in my parish there were 53 graduates in May. The number going on to Catholic high schools is 51. And this in an area where theres an abundance of fine public and private high schools. Anecdotal evidence like this doesnt prove anything but Im strongly inclined to defer to the judgment of families about how the welfare of their children is respected in the Catholic Church. Actual choices of parents, revealed preferences as the economists phrase it, trump opinion polls, pundits and political grandstanding. In both countries we will end up with bureaucracies, crazy forms to fill out, and many ill-thought out initiatives that no one can show are more effective than the parental involvement that is already clearly in evidence.
Thanks, Grant, for providing the video of the Taoiseach's sad comments.The attacks on him from those who defend the rapists and torturers and their enablers are sickening.
I think it's interesting that anxious critics would focus so intently on one aspect of Kenny's remarks, and one bad bill on confession, and use that to make wildly exaggerated claims about "soft totalitarianism" and the "hysterical" speech by the PM while ignoring the broader context and legitimate grievances that Kenny points to -- as does Diarmuid Martin. Kenny and most Catholics, I think it's fair to say, are furious and frustrated at a defensive and authoritarian institution that abused their children and their good faith for so many years. The Irish hierarchy and the Vatican have still not come to terms with that, or sought to amend their ways. Kenny does look at his own government's record in a way that the Vatican has not. Perhaps he and other Irish Catholics understand confession better than their critics do. As Joe Gannon says, I think conflating Christ with the Vatican and church authoritarianism is wrongheaded. Maybe these "radical secularists" simply want a more Christian culture. So again, why the hyper-defensiveness by Kenny's critics?
It's the fortress (read the traditional Roamanita governance) approach - a kickback from VII- that matters.I see that in Philly (very Catholic Philly) the Lynn et al cases wil go to trial. Anecdotal comments on the inquirer site and the Inquirer reporting point to an anger there - it strikes me that very Catholic Boston is still in tension with the smooth over Cardinal O"Malley .I think David is right: strong catholics are looking for a better Church than the m.o. Church we've got.
Grant:A minor correction to your insightful blog post on the current distressing situation in Ireland: The quote is O Ireland my first and only love Where Christ and Caesar are hand and glove!It is from Joyces satirical poem (Gas from a Burner - 1912) directed against the publisher, who had promised to publish The Dubliners but reneged, and the printer, who destroyed the sheets. (Fortunately, Joyce had a complete copy of the sheets.)The above quote is preceded by these even more sarcastic lines: Tis Irish brains that save from doom The leaky barge of the Bishop of Rome For everyone knows the Pope can't belch Without the consent of Billy Walsh.(William Walsh, who, by the way, was an advocate of Home Rule, was the Archbishop of Dublin in Joyces time.) The poem is a protest against censorship in the words of the publisher defending his actions against Joyces work. But I owe a duty to Ireland: I held her honour in my hand,I think the poem could just as easily be read as a protest against church officials who would protect the church from scandal by hiding the truth about sexual abuse in Ireland.
The problem with the fortress mentality is its utter inflexibility. There is no dialogue, no possibility of surprises. Everything is settled ahead of time, once and for all, even if behind the walls, the proverbial deck chairs are being rearranged artfully. Enda Kenny spoke truth to power last week and the inflexible are running scared.
Thanks, Helen. I'll make the correction.
I had a high school prof who remarked that when you hear anti-clericalism being criticized, you can be pretty sure there's a lot of clericalism around.Gerolyn writes: "The attacks on him from those who defend the rapists and torturers and their enablers are sickening." Certainly defending rapists and torturers is sickening, but I hadn't noticed anyone of those the people cited in or contributing to this thread doing that. Weigel, for one, echoed the Irish theologian in desiring that the whole batch of Irish bishops be replaced.
"The rape and torture of children were downplayed or 'managed' to uphold instead, the primacy of the institution, its power, standing and 'reputation'. Far from listening to evidence of humiliation and betrayal with St Benedict's 'ear of the heart'......the Vatican's reaction was to parse and analyse it with the gimlet eye of a canon lawyer. This calculated, withering position being the polar opposite of the radicalism, humility and compassion upon which the Roman Church was founded."Mr. Kenny got it so perfectly right. No hysteria, just devastating, stern precision. I only hope his message translates well at the Vatican. Their first, informal comment was not promising.
Thanks for this post, and all the links.It brings to mind for me arriving many years ago for a retreat held at the (massive, imposing, gorgeous) seminary campus built during the Great Depression by the Brooklyn diocese (I believe). The priest leading the retreat commented, "I never know whether to be more appalled at the arrogance of the hierarchy or inspired by the generosity of the faithful".I try always to keep in mind my gratitude for the courage and the faithfulness of the laity who have played, and continue to play, active roles in bringing justice in the midst of this scandal.
Weigel's 'Then came le dluge: the deluge of Vatican II,'... Who wants to read further when such bias starts his ideas. One would think only an anti-catholic or SSPX would say 'le deluge of Vatican II'.. I await Weigel's take on the Philly trials Bob Nunez posted on. If Weigel wants to see 'le deluge' get him a train ticket to Philly. The scramble of the defendants to 'make-a-deal' and inform on higher ups, will give Weigel a whole new meaning to hysteria. We pray for Not-Cardinal A/B Martin of Dublin at every meal.
God bless Diarmud Martin.
If you had read further, you would have seen that Weigel mentions three deluges. Yves Congar used the image to indicate how much of Tridentine Catholicism was swept away in the wake of Vatican II. Certainly the Council contributed to that tsunami in Quebec, Spain, and Ireland.
Excellent, Grant. Well written with good analysis and highlights. Appreciate your skill. If I may add to you and Fr. K - it is reported that Enda Kenny also made this speech with no prior announcement; on an ordinary meeting day; with no effort to stoke or get attendance, press, etc. excited about this. There were no prior press releases, etc.My guess is - this was an extremely difficult speech for him to give personally; one that he considered and wrestled with over days.
It seems to me that when considering the fury of the Irish we need to bear Irish history in mind. For 500 years or so the Irish clergy sided with the Irish people against the English who wanted to conquor them. It is no small wonder, then, that the Irish held their clergy in particular esteem. Human nature being what it is,it is no small wonder that the Irish clergy became corrupt at least to some degree. Now that even the hierarchy has been shown to have terribly betrayed the trust of the people, the fury of the Irish is quite understandable, and, I think, quite justified. Nothing hurts so much as betrayal by someone one has respected. I can only admire Enda Kenny for his control of his justified fury. I've read that he is still a practicing Catholic, God bless him. He is doing the Church at large a great, great service. Now if only Benedict can finally get the full force of that message through his stubborn head. (When even George Weigel has come to realize that it is necessary to criticize some bishops severely, there is some hope. Perhaps he himself is like the Irish -- he trusted the clerics too much and is now starting to become radicalized.)
Such destruction will continue unabated until the Church stops trying to run itself as a seventeenth century monarchy with its kingly pope and princeling bishops autonomous and autocratic, not transparent and not accountable to the faithful they're supposed to serve.Even the deluge Fr. Joe mentions - "Yves Congar used the image to indicate how much of Tridentine Catholicism was swept away in the wake of Vatican II" - how much is attributable to Vatican II itself, how much to the *autocratic* papal commission charged with implementing the reform, and how much to the justifiable anger on the part of the clergy against the preceding decades of autocratic anti-modernist lunacy? It's interesting to remember that no lay people (and no women) were involved in any of these goings on.
Gerolyn writes: The attacks on him from those who defend the rapists and torturers and their enablers are sickening. Certainly defending rapists and torturers is sickening, but I hadnt noticed anyone of those the people cited in or contributing to this thread doing that. Weigel, for one, echoed the Irish theologian in desiring that the whole batch of Irish bishops be replaced.---- Who is helped by pretending that Enda Kenny delivered a "hysterical rant" to the Dil to "deliberately foment anti-Catholic hysteria"?Why would anyone defend the priest who compared Enda Kenny to Hitler?Who would be helped by sending foreign bishops to Ireland? Is anyone clueless enough to imagine the Irish people can be forced back to the place they occupied when a parish priest could remove a girl from her family and incarcerate her in a laundry because she was "fast"?A shame the Irish church and the Irish government didn't listen to Fr. Flanagan's warning 65 years ago.http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Boys-Town-founder-Fr-Flanagan-warned-Ir...
Thanks, Grant, for some much-needed perspective on all this. I suspect Mr Kenny's remarks and their delivery cut very deeply in some quarters. Good. It show's there's a shadow of conscience in some Catholic apologists."Theres never been a safer time or place for children than modern Ireland."Possibly true, but not the point. Thanks to considerable advocacy, and no thanks to nearly every bishop, this is true.The point is that too many of these bishops are atrociously bad priests and shepherds. Some of those inhabit Roman offices. And o amount of crying "Wolf!" from their allies will change that. Millstone, meet deep-sea diving.
I never thought I would link to "Gawker" but here's a piece written by a gay man about improprieties in the Archdiocese of Miami. You use to see this stuff in the New Oxford Review or the Wanderer and attribute part of it to conservative crankiness.http://gawker.com/5825254/the-catholic-churchs-secret-gay-cabal
Gerelyn, thanks for the link to article about Pastor Flanagan. Reminds me of Luke 4:24 - No prophet is welcome in his own country.In meantime, life at the Vatican continues as lackeys put fortress stones into place, put on their cappa magnas, speak for God (lololo), ad nauseum. All the while relying on YOUR money to support their modus operandi.At risk of repeating myself, I think we need to turn the place upside down and shake the hell out of it!!!And Jesus continues to weep.
YOUR = collective giving from the laity
So, then, no one defending "rapists and torturers and their enablers."Ann: George Weigel has been very critical of bishops like Cardinal Law all along. It's not a new position for him in this whole horrendous scandal.
Re the welcome thought to "turn the place upside down and shake the hell out of it!!!" what is the moral obligation of the faithful?
Jeanne Follman, it depends on whom one asks.I saw a heartbreaking post the other day at NCROnline from someone who essentially asked, What do I do now in light of all the stuff that's been coming out of Rome for awhile.I told her I wasn't qualified to tell people to stay in, or leave, the Church of Rome. I did leave 4-1/2 years ago and consider myself, for now, as Catholic in faith, no longer Roman Catholic by affiliation.On the other hand, I suggested this blogger consider diverting her parish contributions to worthy causes, Catholic and/or otherwise, that help folks in need. (I'm reminded here of Jesus' teaching that when religious observance conflicts with human need, the latter must take priority.) I reminded my fellow blogger that a parish must turn over a portion of receipts to the local bishop who will, in turn, send money to the Vatican, which will then use said funds to continue its assault on Vatican II.Money talks (folks in Rome know this truth all too well).Catholics must make its absence talk louder.
I think that George Weigels suggestion, however hypothetical, that a way to deal with the sex abuse crisis in Ireland is to replace, if necessary, the bishops in Ireland with men from other countries, is a both dismissive of and disrespectful to the Catholic Church in Ireland and its long history of fidelity to the Catholic Faith.Grant: In response to your rhetorical (?) question: Is there a better word besides narcissistic for Cardinal Sodanos Easter 2010?I would say a more accurate word is "unctuous."
Kenny is now the most popular politician in Ireland, despite the financial crisis.As Lisa McInerney says "You can choose to remain part of a criminal organisation or you can choose not to." An Irish lass no lesshttp://www.thejournal.ie/readme/column-you-me-and-the-holy-see/
One link that might have been nice to complete this thorough post would have been Pope Benedict's 2010 letter to the Irish. I wonder if there is a parallel between Kenny's speech and that letter? Kenny: through our legislation, through our Government's action to put Children First., those who have been abused can take some small comfort in knowing that they belong to a nation, to a democracy where humanity, power, rights, responsibility are enshrined and enacted, always....always.... for their good.Pope Benedict: The lay faithful, too, should be encouraged to play their proper part in the life of the Church. See that they are formed in such a way that they can offer an articulate and convincing account of the Gospel in the midst of modern society (cf. 1 Pet 3:15) and cooperate more fully in the Churchs life and mission.- Kenny:There is little I or anyone else in this House can say to comfort that victim or others, however much we want to. But we can and do recognise the bravery of all of the victims who told their stories to the Commission.- Pope Benedict: I know that nothing can undo the wrong you have endured. Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated. Many of you found that, when you were courageous enough to speak of what happened to you, no one would listen. - Kenny: I agree with Archbishop Martin that the Church needs to publish any other and all other reports like this as soon as possible.- Pope Benedict (to bishops): Only decisive action carried out with complete honesty and transparency will restore the respect and good will of the Irish people towards the Church ... - Kenny: Today, that Church needs to be a penitent Church. A church, truly and deeply penitent for the horrors it perpetrated, hid and denied.- Pope Benedict: a Church purified by penance and renewed in pastoral charity ... It is my prayer that, assisted by the intercession of her many saints and purified through penance, the Church in Ireland will overcome the present crisis- Kenny: The Tnaiste left the Archbishop clear on (...) Ireland's complete rejection and abhorrence of (the gravity of the actions and attitude of the Holy See).- Pope Benedict: In the name of the Church, I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel.- Kenny: This Roman Clericalism must be devastating for good priests.... some of them old... others struggling to keep their humanity....even their sanity........as they work so hard.....to be the keepers of the Church's light and goodness within their parishes...... communities... the human heart. - Pope Benedict (to priests): All of us are suffering as a result of the sins of our confreres who betrayed a sacred trust or failed to deal justly and responsibly with allegations of abuse. In view of the outrage and indignation which this has provoked, not only among the lay faithful but among yourselves and your religious communities, many of you feel personally discouraged, even abandoned. - Kenny:>i>I believe that the Irish people, including the very many faithful Catholics who - like me - have been shocked and dismayed by the repeated failings of Church authorities to face up to what is required, - Pope Benedict: It cannot be denied that some of you (bishops) and your predecessors failed, at times grievously, to apply the long-established norms of canon law to the crime of child abuse. Serious mistakes were made in responding to allegations. I recognize how difficult it was (...). Nevertheless, it must be admitted that grave errors of judgement were made and failures of leadership occurred.
There are indeed many similarities. Here are more: Kenny has the power to do implement authentic change in his government, insuring its transparency and accountability, so such things do not happen again. Benedict has the power to implement authentic change in the Church, insuring its transparency and accountability, so such things do not happen again.I'm guessing there's one big difference: Kenny will, Benedict won't.
The fortress mentality of Rome?Ein feste Burg ist unser VatikanEin gute Wehr und Waffen . . . . .but for how long, I wonder?
My hopes for action had rested on Pope Benedict's letter, but what I had taken as a first step from him outlining a plan of action seems to have been a last step, and he has sunk into passivity since then on the sexual abuse front. His silence hqs been discouraging.But now, lay people (along with Archbishop Martin, God bless him) are rising to take leadership, and I am heartened by Kenny's thunderous speech. If you will forgive me, I am reminded of those prophetic lines:"Arise, you prisoners of starvation!Arise, you wretched of the earth!For justice thunders condemnation:A better world's in birth!No more tradition's chains shall bind us,Arise you slaves, no more in thrall!The earth shall rise on new foundations"Would that people's rejection of child abuse purified the church!
Excellent overview, Grant, acute and timely. (#1 of a weekly series?) Countless times, one hears "they just don't get it" or equivalent Always, the implication is that the bishops and cardinals would "get it" if only some breakthrough or insight were to happen. Obviously to most, they should adjust. The weight of continuing, overwhelming evidence shows that, except for a handful of noteworthy men, the individuals of the hierarchy constitutionally, essentially, fundamentally _cannot_ "get it", no matter what. It's not that they will not but that they can not. Much motivation has been available. Many causes of the phenomenon could be considered - genes, vocation selection processes, education and mis-education, formation, experience, tradition, solemn oaths, esprit de corps, deep fear of authority, or some combination. A contributing factor is that the episcopal ensemble is created in its own image, self-reproducing via nuncios, Congregation for Bishops, and Pope. (Americans on the Congregation are Law, Rigali, Burke, Levada, and Stafford.) Whatever the causal explanation, the externally observable effects seem clear. To the extent that this notion of immutability applies, most of the ongoing multinational turmoil is readily understandable but pointless. The only difference to be expected in 5 years is the level of exhaustion. For working purposes, assume nothing changes for the next 5 years in attitude, approach, and responsiveness of Pope, cardinals, and bishops. Save this thread - it will be re-usable. Otherwise, the question today is how to convert JJ's metaphor (7/30 2:12PM) "we need to turn the place upside down and shake the hell out of it!!" into reality. Ireland is the focus of the moment. It diverts attention from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile . Philadelphia . etc. Who will be the speaker to follow Kenny?
Its worth noting that the Heil Herr Kenny priest, mentioned in the post above, apologized (July 28) for his remarks:Cleric says he regrets leaflet berating Enda Kenny over accusation that the Holy See downplayed child sex abuse scandalshttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/28/priest-apologises-enda-kenny...
I was going to note that he'd apologized, but then I read that after expressing regret, the priest said, "I am not comparing Enda Kenny to Hitler." Which doesn't wash.
I thought Kenny's speech was good. Some background can be found in this story at the Guardian - Irish political classes lose their fear of the Catholic church. Austen Ivereigh isn't what I'd call objective, working for Catholic Voices (http://www.catholicvoices.org.uk/home) as he does.
"I thought Kenny's speech was good."I did, too. Kenny was simply expressing the trust in the Holy See that he doesn't feel anymore (but wishes to feel). He was also suggesting that the most important element of repentance is little hesitation to report crimes to the police. He delivered this "speech" as a practicing Catholic, who believes the Holy See (the Curia?) does not seem to know when it may be too late to respond intelligently (and canonically) to the scandal. Makes sense for now. Somewhere St. Augustine says, "Before God can deliver us we must undeceive ourselves." Possibly Enda Kenny was also trying to say that.
Joe K,Shall I say I am miffed, intrigued or astounded at your steadfast defense of Weigel? Weigel, like many, will put in other things in his essay in an attempt to persuade that he is fair. Secondly, your assertion that he criticized Law is ever so weak. http://www.bishop-accountability.org/specialtopics/priestgroups/2003-01-... how about Maciel? http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2011/01/george-weigel-whitewashing-... can I say, Joe. Does Weigel want the fantastic American bishops to take care over Ireland?O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason. Bear with me; My heart is in the speech there with Kenny, And I must pause till it come back to me.
JAK --It's one thing for Weigel to criticize Law et al, and another to call for removing the entire Irish hierarchy. Even SNAP hasn't called for anything so radical. I think it would be very cynical to think that Weigel just wants American prelates to be moved there. But, who knows.Jeanne --I agree that Rome gives every indication of being hopeless at this point. Yes, the Pope is sorry the children were hurt, but he doesn't know how to change the hierarchy or doesn't have the strength. What finally made me give upon him was his appointment of Bishop Vasa of Baker, Oregon to be bishop of a much larlger diocese, Santa Rosa, CA. Vasa is one of only two bishops who refuses to have audits of his compliance with the Dallas agreement. See bishopsaccountability, which has a lot negative stuff on him, e.g., http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2009/03_04/2009_03_14_Powers_Lo...
Lots of anger here. One would think the Vatican is corrupt to the core and that the hierarchy and much of the clergy and religious are evil. Sounds almost hysterical. Is this going anywhere - open letter to the New York Times, protest conferences, formal schism - or is it just letting off steam? Letting off steam can be therapeutic, but only if it leads to constructive engagement. Unremitting rage only confirms in separation and arrogance.
David S. --You still don't get it. You just don't or can't or won't understand why ordinary people become furious when children are mistreated criminally and then ignored by the very churchmen who are supposed to preach justice and charity yet do not defend those children from sick and/or wicked priests. There is such a thing as righteous anger. When one sees suffering children being ignored == or worse - - by their "shepherds" the anger at the shepherds is a righteous one. Don't fool yourself. Churchmen are capable of evil.
David S. -Examine the results from the Ferns Report (2005), Ryan Report (2009), Murphy Report (2009), Cloyne Report (2010), and Justice for Magdalenes Submission to the UN Committee Against Torture (2011), and you can make your own judgment rather than depending on other peoples'. After you have done so, the calm restraint shown by Taoiseach Enda Kenny may be rather surprising, considering what he had to draw on when aiming a speech at, among others, the Pope.
Outstanding, Grant. I am very grateful for your incisive response. It reminds me of your excellent thread on the Kiesle case a few years ago. The same skill and research are evident.By sharp contrast, the disgraceful effort at http://www.ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/vatican-critics-smell... is most disappointing, to say the least: Vatican critics smelling sharks in the water, with Kenny playing politics at the Vatican's expense.
I get very angry when people condemn the critics of the abuse scandal as being too extreme, anti-Catholic, whatever. It is completely disingenuous to make the Vatican in any way the victim in all of this. I don't think it is even possible to be excessively critical; no language is too strong in condemning our Church leaders' actions/inactions around child abuse.
'And absent the intellectual resources to resist the flood-tides of secularism, these four once-hyper-Catholic nations flipped, undergoing an accelerated course of radical secularization that has now, in each case, given birth to a serious problem of Christophobia: not mere indifference to the Church, but active hostility to it, not infrequently manifested through coercive state power.This argument by Weigel is elitist as it is absurd. As if intellectual are the heart of the church. Building empire and narcissism yes. But not building the church. The people who have not written anything as Jesus did not, are responsibility. There is where the Holy Spirit works not in an elitist Rome, Weigel et alii."At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight."
Weigel - like some of you, confused by the apparent defense of Weigel. Here is his latest effort in Philly: http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/126467098.htmlThis effort is embarrassing in its ideology, mis-statements if not inaccuracies e.g. as if quoting from Opus Dei's CNA is a version of "Fact Checking". Some points that are almost ridiculous:"All of this is tiresome, if wholly predictable; both its tediousness and its predictability help explain why it's the rare discerning reader who turns to the mainstream media for serious reportage about and analysis of the Catholic Church. In this case, however, the same-old-same-old also obscured what is truly important about the Chaput appointment - which is not the archbishop's Potawatomi ancestry (interesting as that is), but his place as one of the most vigorous exponents of what might be called Evangelical Catholicism."Please, what is tiresome if not predictable is Weigel. Another: "With the appointment of Charles J. Chaput as archbishop of Philadelphia, the deep reform of the Catholic Church in the United States - the reform that is giving birth to Evangelical Catholicism even as it leaves the old postVatican II arguments fading into the rearview mirror - has been accelerated."Give me a break - this is even worse than his diatribe on Kenny.Another: "