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Asia is Green Revamps with a New Focus on Asia's Bright Green Future
October 11, 2013 by Eugene Tay
Filed under Blog
Asia's bright green future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed.
Asia is Green first started in 2007 as a green resource guide for Singapore and Asia. We are revamping the site in Oct 2013 with a new focus on Asia's bright green future.
Asia is Green is now an online publication focusing on sustainability solutions, ideas, technologies, tools, models, policies and trends in Asia. We hope to inspire and empower readers in Asia and around the world to share, participate and build Asia's bright green future.
The environmental situation in Asia is not all doom and gloom. There are individuals, businesses, organisations and governments in Asia with ideas and taking action on sustainability. We hope to share these solutions, ideas and stories with our readers.
We believe in positive and solutions-based reporting, and yes, we are huge fans of Worldchanging and Alex Steffen.
Check out the revamped Asia is Green now!
Related Posts
- Thoughts After Watching Disruption
- Waste is not Waste Provides Online Waste Exchange for Businesses and Organisations in Singapore and Malaysia
- Dark Green and Bright Green Environmentalism
- Launch of Ecosystem – Collaborative and Coworking Space for the Environment [Media Release]
- Winners at the Asian Environmental Journalism Awards 2013
- Green Future Solutions Supports The Green Corridor and Develops New Campaign Website
- Identify and track key future trends with the Futures Centre
- Thoughts on the NCCS Public Perception Survey on Climate Change in Singapore
- Die Die Must Share – Collaborative Consumption in Singapore
- Green Future Solutions is Looking for Intern Writers


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Stocks rose modestly today, as a surprisingly strong rise in U.S. workers' productivity during the spring buoyed Wall Street, but semiconductor stocks fell amid increasing pessimism about a rebound in the depressed industry.
Track Your Stocks | Check Your Portfolio | Productivity
A surge in productivity in the April-June period, a quarter in which the economy had its weakest performance since 1993, lifted hopes that greater worker efficiency can allow the economy to grow faster without inflation.
"You've started to see some signs in the economic data that things are going to be looking a bit better, but until some of that data starts showing up in company reports, the market is probably going to trade a little listlessly," said Richard Nash, chief investment strategist at Key Asset Management in Cleveland.
But semiconductor and chip-manufacturing equipment stocks fell for the the third straight session. Faring the worst in the group were KLA-Tencor Corp. , which sank 5.8 percent, or $3.38, to $54.57, and Novellus Systems Inc. dropped 4.7 percent, or $2.47, to $49.81.
"Investors are still concerned the economy is too weak," said Guy Truicko, portfolio manager at Unity Management. "Investors are waiting for a catalyst — some sign that the economy has bottomed, and we haven't gotten it yet … There is a tremendous lack of confidence in this market, in this economy, in this Fed."
The Dow Jones industrial average ended up 57.43 points, or 0.55 percent, at 10,458.74, according to the latest data, while the Nasdaq composite index slipped 6.47 points, or 0.32 percent, to 2,027.79. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 3.92 points, or 0.33 percent, to 1,204.40.
Firms Continue Cutting Outlooks
CSFB cut its investment rating on a slew of U.S. and international semiconductor chip and chip-production equipment stocks, adding fuel to an already inflamed debate among investors about how long the downturn will last.
"Is it a two- or three- or four-quarter turnaround?" said Keith Gertsen, head of Nasdaq trading for Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown.
Traders also said the time was ripe to sell these stocks after strong gains last week.
CSFB said it now expects personal computer shipments to drop this year, revising downward its previous forecast for flat shipments. CSFB cut its forecast for 2002 PC shipment growth to 10 percent from 17 percent.
The brokerage house cut its rating on the semiconductor capital equipment industry to "market underweight" from "neutral" or "market weight." Semiconductor equipment includes silicon wafer, advanced circuit design and testing machines.
CSFB cut seven stocks in the sector to "hold" from "buy," including the dominant player, Applied Materials, down $2.27 at $46.46, and KLA-Tencor, which dropped $3.55 to $54.40.
It also slashed its ratings on communications chip makers such as Applied Micro Circuit which fell 67 cents to $18.27.
"No one's going to stick their hand up and say, 'Now is the good time to buy.' We need some good news first," said Mike Murphy, head of trading at First Union Securities Inc. in Baltimore.
Surprising Rise in Productivity
Productivity at U.S. businesses posted its best showing in a year. The Labor Department's nonfarm report showed productivity — the amount of goods and services a worker can create per hour — rose at a larger-than-expected 2.5 percent annual rate in the second quarter. That was up substantially from a 0.1 annual pace seen in the January-March quarter.

subset: commoncrawl


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Marshall douses Firebirds
2K Sports Classic
South Dakota St. (1-2)
vs. Marshall (2-1)
2:30 p.m., Saturday
Mack Sports Complex
Hempstead, N.Y.
Radio: WRVC 930-AM and 94.1-FM
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Marshall's Thundering Herd had a tussle Friday with the University of District of Columbia Firebirds before NCAA Division I strength prevailed in an 80-58 men's basketball 2K Sports Classic victory at the Mack Sports Center.
Forward Dennis Tinnon, who missed Thursday practice because of an academic conflict and didn't start the game per head coach Tom Herrion's policy, came off the bench to score 17 points and snag 12 rebounds.Starters Dre Kane and Elijah Pittman scored 16 and 14 respectively and Nigel Spikes contributed eight points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Marshall (2-1) has a short turnaround for a 2:30 p.m., Saturday, contest with South Dakota State (1-2). Hofstra, the host school, defeated South Dakota State, 66-63, in the second Friday game.
"We've got a lot of work ahead of us in the next 24 hours," said Marshall coach Tom Herrion in his postgame radio interview. "We've got a long way to go. We're not playing very well."
Marshall concludes the NCAA-exempt event with a 3 p.m., Sunday, game against Hofstra (1-2), which plays Saturday against District of Columbia.
UDC (1-2) an NCAA Division II club, had a 48-42 lead with about 14 minutes remaining when Marshall took off.
D.D. Scarver scored on a layup, Kane went to the basket for a dunk, Tinnon converted a turnover by the Firebirds with a layup and it was a 48-48 tie.
From there Marshall went on a 27-8 run that included a streak of 18 consecutive points and pulled away, 75-54, with 4:35 left left to play.
Pittman led the run with nine points while Tinnon and Chris Martin both tacked on seven.
That came after UDC forged ahead, 37-36, at halftime and had a 48-42 lead with 15:49 left in the game.
"We didn't play very well, obviously, in the first half," Herrion said. "Defensively we had too many breakdowns in the first half. They scored too easily.
"We had a lot more energy (second half) and it led to easy transition points."
Marshall used its height advantage to control the rebounds, 51-26, scored 25 second-chance points and rejected eight shots. The Herd also made its foul shots. Pittman and Tinnon both were 3-for-3 at the foul line and Martin was 3-for-4.
The Firebirds, coached by former NBA player Jeff Ruland, were led in scoring by guards Quasim Jones (12), Michael Terry (11) and Ralph Watts (10).
UDC made five of eight 3-point shots in the first half and was 0-for-8 the rest of the way.
"Our offense wasn't our problem tonight, it was the defense," Herrion said. "They stunned us early. They hit five threes early in the game, 15 of their first 19 points came from the three-point line."
Hofstra beat South Dakota State on a Shaquille Stokes 3-pointer with three seconds to go. South Dakota State pulled even, 63-53, on a Nate Wolters 3-pointer with 32 seconds remaining.
NBA scouts are checking out Wolters, a 6-4 senior guard, who had 25 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in the defeat. Wolters averages 25.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Wolters was the only NCAA player last season to average at least 20 points (21.2), five rebounds (5.1) and five assists (5.9).
The Jackrabbits from Brookings, S.C., a 2012 NCAA tournament team out of the Summit League, also have 6-8 Joseph Dykstra averaging 13.7 points and 7.3 rebounds.
The Herald-Dispatch welcomes your comments on this article, but please be civil. Avoid profanity, obscenity, personal attacks, accusations of criminal activity, name-calling or insults to the other posters. Herald-dispatch.com does not control or monitor comments as they are posted, but if you find a comment offensive or uncivil, hover your mouse over the comment and click the X that appears in the upper right of the comment. If you do not want your comment to post to your personal Facebook page, uncheck the box below the comment.


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Tall, slender candelabra fixtures bring this classic crystal chandelier design to life.
This classically styled chandelier features a rich English bronze finish. Slender candelabra fixtures sparkle thanks to a cascade of hand-cut clear crystal. Add lighting excellence to dining or living spaces with this distinctive piece from Crystorama's Vanderbilt Collection.
Our associates are standing by to assist you.


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Posted at: 11/29/2012 8:11 PM
Updated at: 11/29/2012 8:34 PM
Diabetes has been in the news a lot lately. Just this week, News10NBC learned that doctors across the nation are seeing an alarming rise in the number of Type 1 Diabetes cases and the U.S. has experienced a dramatic rise in diabetes cases, both Type 1 and Type 2 in the past few decades.
Research is needed to fight this disease and there is a big local effort to raise $1 million at next year's Tour De Cure race.
Lia Lando spoke with the chairman of the race, Tom DeRoller, and youth ambassador, Paige Gottorff, during Thursday's Roc City Tonight. To see the interview, press play on the video player.
To find out more about the Tour De Cure, click here.


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An electronic steam trap monitor includes an electric generator configure to couple to a stream trap proximate a potential leak location. The generator generates electricity in response to a process variable from the potential leak location. Communication circuitry provides an output when there is sufficient electricity from the electric generator.
1. An electronic steam trap monitor comprising:
a process variable sensor comprising an electric generator configured to couple to a steam trap proximate a potential leak location and generate electricity in response to a temperature differential proximate the potential leak location, the electricity generated from heat energy taken from the process;
a power storage and power source coupled to the process variable sensor configured to store power from the electric generator;
wireless communication circuitry coupled to the power storage and power source configured to provide a wireless output in response to electricity generated by the electric generator, the communication circuitry powered by electricity generated by the electric generator; and
wherein the wireless communication circuitry provides an output indicating that a leak on the steam trap has occurred only when energy is generated by the electrical generator reaches a level sufficient to meet the needs of steady state power consumption required to operate the wireless communication circuitry.
2. The apparatus of
3. The apparatus of
4. The apparatus of
5. The apparatus of
6. The apparatus of
7. The apparatus of
8. The apparatus of
9. The apparatus of
10. A method of monitoring a steam trap, comprising:
coupling an electric generator to a steam trap proximate a potential leak location;
sensing a process variable proximate the steam trap indicative of steam leaking past the steam trap by generating electricity with the electric generator in response to a temperature differential proximate the potential leak location, the electricity generated from energy taken from the process;
storing power generated by the electric generator in a power storage and power source;
powering wireless communication circuitry and providing an output using the electricity generated by the generated electricity indicative of a leak in the steam trap only when the energy generated by the electrical generator reaches a level sufficient to meet the needs of steady state power consumption required to operate the wireless communication circuitry.
11. The method of
12. The method of
13. The method of
14. The method of
The present invention is related to the monitoring of steam traps. More particularly, the present invention is related to a system and method for detecting a leak in a steam trap.
Steam traps are commonly used in many industries to remove unwanted air and condense it from steam lines. In a typical plant, thousands of such devices may be deployed. A steam trap is generally a relatively low technology device that is designed to be relatively inexpensive. Often, steam traps are completely mechanical. Adding any electrical wiring for either power or monitoring would be considered cost prohibitive, impractical and/or labor intensive.
A steam trap is generally designed to allow condensate to escape a pipe in order to maintain efficiency and reduce pipe "knocking." A typical steam trap may have one or more chambers and a member that is in physical contact with the condensate. As the level of the condensate rises above some threshold, the movable member within the steam trap actuates, or otherwise engages one or more valves to allow the condensate to escape. As the condensate escapes, the level of condensate within the steam trap is reduced to such an extent that the valve is closed and the trap re-pressurizes.
Steam traps experience a very common problem; they often leak. Steam trap leakage is often due to wear of the movable member within the steam trap, deterioration or fouling of the valve(s), or a number of other reasons. Regardless of the cause, steam trap leakage is undesirable for a number of reasons. First, it takes a relatively large amount of energy to heat water into steam. Thus, a leaking steam trap will allow steam to escape before the energy content therein can be fully utilized. Further, many condensate removal systems are not designed for continuous pressurization, such as that caused by a steam leak. Accordingly, the component(s) downstream from a steam trap could be damaged, or otherwise degraded, by a continuous steam leak. Finally, given a sufficient leak, the steam pipe may not be able to supply sufficient steam pressure and flow to achieve its desired purpose.
Accordingly, it is believed that users of steam traps would desire the ability to determine if one or more of their steam traps were leaking. Currently, methods used to monitor steam traps require providing cable runs to the steam trap, or rely on non-electrical approaches.
An electronic steam trap monitor, including an electric generator configure to couple to a stream trap proximate a potential leak location. The generator generates electricity in response to a process variable from the potential leak location. Communication circuitry provides an output when the electricity from the electric generator is at sufficient level
Embodiments of the present invention can be practiced with respect to any steam trap that has an inlet that is coupled, or couplable, to a steam pipe, and an outlet that periodically releases condensate and/or air, but otherwise is expected to maintain an elevated pressure with respect to the ambient environment.
The temperature of inlet 204 is illustrated as T1, while the temperature proximate outlet 228 is illustrated as T2. The temperature of condensate within return line 104 is at T3.
In order to allow embodiments of the present invention to be practiced with existing, or legacy, mechanical steam traps, it is preferred that no modifications need to be made to such devices. Thus, embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to providing steam trap monitoring for any steam trap that has an inlet and an outlet that periodically releases condensate without necessitating any modification to the steam trap itself, or requiring any wiring to be run to the steam trap.
During normal steam trap operation, saturated steam and condensate are both present in trap body 202. This will cause the temperature of trap body 202 to be approximately temperature T1. The steam trap monitor, if mounted directly to steam trap body 202, will also have its casing at approximately the same temperature as body 202, which will again be about equal to T1. If no steam or condensate is flowing out of steam trap 200, the gas temperature, T2, will be about equal to T3 or, for an atmospheric pressure scavenging system, about 212° F. In practice, T2 may be a few degrees higher due to radiation heat transfer from steam trap body 202 and the case of steam trap monitor 230. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, T2 is measured by using a temperature sensor disposed within monitor 230. A reference T2 measurement can be obtained and stored during known non-leaking operation. Then, later measurements can be compared with the reference measurement for steam trap leakage diagnostics.
The temperature descriptions given above are generally true when no steam or condensate is flowing out of trap 200. However, if trap 200 has collected sufficient condensate, buoyant forces lift float 210 and open valve 214. This allows condensate to flow through outlet 228 until the buoyant forces are insufficient to lift float 210. Typically, some saturated steam may also escape during this process, depending on the details of the design of steam trap 200. During the discharge period, the condensate and steam will heat a temperature sensor within steam trap monitor 230 to approximately the temperature of T1 (nearly 412° F.). After the discharge period has ended, the temperature of the sensor within steam trap monitor 230 will gradually return to T2 along a classic first order system decay curve.
In the case of a leaking steam trap, the reading from the sensor (S2) that measures T2 will consistently remain close to that of the saturated steam leaking through the valve. The larger the leak, the better T2 will match the T1 temperature. Preferably, embodiments of the present invention also include a second process variable sensor (preferably a second temperature sensor) that is disposed to measure temperature T1, or the temperature of the casing of steam trap monitor 230 which is thermally coupled to stem trap body 202. Preferably, electronics within steam trap monitor 230 will store readings related to the T1 and T2 temperatures. Over time, an average temperature difference can be determined and stored relative to the T1 and T2 temperatures, excluding the period(s) that the steam trap condensate valve is open. Detecting that the valve is open can be determined by noting a rapid T2 temperature change that results in T2 being approximately equal to T1. Certainly, other techniques and methods can be used to sense the flow of condensate or pressurized fluid through steam trap monitor 230.
Due to the relatively large amount of energy available to purge condensate, steam trap condensate valves are usually only open for brief periods, typically less than one minute. If the temperature (T1) indicated by the sensor proximate the casing of steam trap monitor 230 is nearly equal T2 for long periods of time (such as exceeding 10 minutes) or if the average difference between the readings between the two sensors during periods when the valve should be closed gets below a predetermined threshold, steam trap monitor 230 can provide a leakage indication.
The actual form of the leakage indication can be any suitable annunciation or message transmission. Examples include very inexpensive annunciations, such as providing a local color change at the housing of steam trap monitor 230. The annunciation can also be more sophisticated, such as providing a FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus or HART® compatible alarm wirelessly. Further, the alarm can also be an audible alarm. While a preferred embodiment contemplates providing a wireless alarm, it is appreciated that the process variable sensor may be wired, such as to a two-wire process control loop to both power the sensor and communicate an alarm.
Annunciation of a steam trap leak is preferably accomplished using a solid black LCD that is integral with housing 232, which LCD preferably changes color, such as to red, if an alarm condition exists. While the descriptions of
Steam traps are also used to eject trapped air. Any air ejected by the trap will have been in intimate contact with the steam at temperature T1, so it will be at a similar temperature. Sensor 238, measuring S2, will respond to the air as if it were saturated steam, except that the air will decompress as it passes through the valve. This decompression reduces the air's instantaneous temperature. For the worst-case scenario, the air exiting may be cool enough so that the leak detector would not detect that the valve had opened. This would not detract from steam trap monitor 230's leak detection function, which generally relies upon sensing the increased temperature of leaked steam, if present, by sensor 238. In actual service, air ejection normally only occurs at start up, or restart up. Under normal conditions, condensate or steam are the only ejected fluids or gasses.
While much of the description thus far has focused upon the sensing of multiple temperatures throughout the steam trap process, sensing different or additional process variables, such as pressure, can also be employed. For example, at each of the locations illustrated by T1, T2 and T3 in
Power module 300, in some embodiments, is able to operate even when steady state energy conversion levels do not meet the needs of steady state power consumption. For example, power module 300 may cause the monitor to go into a low-power state wherein electrical energy consumption is curtailed significantly while energy is stored. Then, periodically the monitor can be powered up, check for a leak, generate an indication, if appropriate, and return to its low-power state. Additionally, the monitor can receive a wireless, or local operator, command to enter a low-power mode. In this manner, effective steam trap monitor operation can be effected using relatively little steady state energy. While a preferred embodiment illustrates the use of a local source of power 300, an alternative embodiment allows for connection to a wired source, such as a two-wire process control loop to both power the steam trap monitor and provide communication to and from the monitor.
The steam trap monitor circuitry also preferably includes a clock 312 generating a clock signal that is provided to power transformer drive circuit 314 and microprocessor and/or signal conditioning module 316. The provision of a clock signal helps maintain synchronicity among the circuitry of steam trap monitor 230. Microprocessor/signal conditioning circuitry 316 can be any circuitry that is adapted to execute code to provide functions within steam trap monitor 230. Microprocessor/signal conditioning module 316 is coupled to wireless communications module 318 through data bus 320.
Wireless communications module 318 receives data from circuitry 316 and generates appropriate wireless communication signals based thereon. Additionally, wireless module 318 can receive wireless communications and provide data relative to the wireless communications to microprocessor/signal conditioning circuitry 316 through data bus 320. Examples of wireless communication module 318 include any technology now known or later developed that is able to provide or transmit information without wires. Wireless communication 318 can communicate process-related information as well as device-related information. Depending upon the application, wireless communication module 318 may be adapted to communicate in accordance with any suitable wireless communication protocol including, but not limited to: wireless networking technologies (such as IEEE 802.11b wireless access points and wireless networking devices built by Linksys of Irvine, Calif.), cellular or digital networking technologies (such as Microburst® by Aeris Communications Inc. of San Jose, Calif.), ultra wide band, free space optics, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), spread spectrum technology, infrared communications techniques, SMS (Short Messaging Service/text messaging), or any other suitable wireless technology. Further, known data collision technology can be employed such that multiple units can coexist within wireless operating range of one another. Such collision prevention can include using a number of different radio-frequency channels and/or spread spectrum techniques.
Monitor 230 can push steam trap leakage indication(s) to one or more designated receivers of such information periodically, or upon the occurrence of an event such as a determination of steam trap leakage. This leakage indication can be an indication of non-leakage, leakage, both, or any other suitable indication. Additionally, monitor 230 can also provide such information upon request. This request may come in the form of a wireless command received via module 318, or via a local operator interface (not shown). The request may be directed to a single monitor address, or to a group of monitors within wireless range. Additionally, the request could be generated periodically, such that each monitor is periodically polled for leakage information.
Power module 300, power transformer drive circuit 314, clock generating circuit 312, microprocessor/signal conditioning 316, and wireless module 318 are preferably electrically isolated from the measurement circuitry of monitor 230. This isolation is preferably in the form of transformer isolation, but may take any suitable form. Clock recovery circuit 324 is coupled to power transformer 322 and is adapted to provide a clock signal 326 that is preferably identical to that of clock generating circuit 312. Additionally, power transformer recovery circuit 328 is also coupled to power transformer 322 and generates electricity for measurement circuits from energy provided by power transformer 322. While power transformer recovery circuit is illustrated as not being coupled to additional components, such notation is provided for clarity. In fact, power transformer recovery circuit 328 is operably coupled to all measurement circuits that require electricity.
As set forth above, embodiments of the present invention preferably employ a plurality of process variable sensors to detect steam leaks.
The exhaust 404 of the steam trap can be connected to a recovery system or vented to atmosphere. In either case, as the steam begins to leak, the temperature of the exhaust 404 begins to rise. Rather than measuring the temperature rise, a thermo-pile or thermal electric device generates power from the steam leak. As the leak intensifies, more power is generated. At some point, enough energy is generated (and optionally captured) to allow circuit 408 to operate. Circuit 408 can then provide an output which indicates that a leak in the steam trap has occurred.
Only a small differential temperature is required to generate the power needed for communications. The process variable sensor 406 comprises a thermal electric generator, the thermal electric generator can be configured to radiate heat to the ambient environment. Typically, a heat sink or other type of cooling device can be used to ensure a sufficient temperature gradient across the thermal electric generator. For example, a 30° C. temperature differential will generate approximately 50 mW of power. However, wireless communication circuitry can be configured to operate on as little as 15 mW.
The communication circuitry 416 provides an output. The output can be any type of output such as those discussed above including a wireless output or a wired output. In another example, the output comprises a local output such as an audible alarm, a visible alarm, etc. The output can also be provided to a controlled device. For example, the output can be used to shut down equipment in response to the steam leak.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, if wireless communication is employed, a self-organizing network can be used to simplify installation. In one example, the power storage device comprises a super capacitor.
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Vance Medical Academy is off and running
Nearly 40 high school students in Vance County Schools are receiving training in a variety of medical professions beginning this year through the Vance Medical Academy, a new program that emphasizes career readiness.
The medical academy gives students an opportunity to take classes at Vance-Granville Community College and earn nursing assistant and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification by the time they graduate high school.
Career and Technical Education Director Willa Clark said the program is a way to expose Vance County students to potential careers.
"The whole purpose is to make sure kids have a career pathway after graduation," Clark said. "They need to know that if they want to pursue a certain career, these are the classes they can take in high school and college. One of the things we have got to do is keep the standards high and students will rise to those standards."
The state funding allotment for Vance County's CTE program increased this year by $2,690, from $1,968,760 to $1,971,450. The state also provided $1,549 more funding for CTE program support, which rose from $95,985 to $97,534.
The program offers career pathways in nursing, pharmacy technician and medical assistant.
Clark said the students enrolled this year are required to wear medical scrubs during school four days a week.
"That helps them to see that this is what you have to do in a real setting," she said of the uniform. "The idea is to start them as early as possible to let them see what its like."
Starting in their junior year, VMA students can take classes at VGCC with no extra charge through the Career and College Promise program, which allows students to take college classes in high school.
Melodie Kernahan, a nurse who teaches at Southern Vance, said there are 34 students in her biomedical technology class, which is the first class medical academy students must take.
On Tuesday, the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center's traveling science bus visited her class.
Kernahan said her students practiced DNA fingerprinting, which they prepared for with a lesson focused on DNA and restrictive enzymes.
She said students who pursue the nursing path will take Health Science I, Health Science II and Fundamentals of Nursing.
Her students will train for the skills portion of the state CNA exam with a clinical internship at a local nursing home.
Clark said a Fire and Police Academy, which could accommodate 120 students, is in the works for this year but hasn't started yet.
Students from Northern Vance and Southern Vance have applied for the Fire and Police Academy, and the schools are processing those applications, Clark said.
She said they plan to have three classes with 20 students per class held at Southern Vance.
"We are basing these programs on job market trends," she said. "You don't want to prepare these kids for a job that is not going to be there."
Contact the writer at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Teams in San Diego, California; Washington, D.C.; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (likely among others) have all added it to their resource libraries. What's the draw?
Connector Stephen Hebert from Baton Rouge says:
The appeal for me is in the flexibility and free advertising. Nextdoor allows would-be community organizers to define neighborhood boundaries for new virtual communities based on what they think their neighborhood is. It also includes features like auto-mailing postcards announcing the network to your 50 nearest neighbors—for free.—
Because users draw boundaries on maps around particular households, it is anchored to the land in a way that encourages localization. My Nextdoor network is just a few square miles (<5), 584 households, and about 27 members, but I've heard of other networks with thousands of members. Also, only members who are verified to live within the boundaries of the neighborhood are granted access to view and post.
I look forward to bringing it up to the Team at our next meeting.
Connectors, have you used Nextdoor, or another social network built for neighborhoods? Tell us what you've liked and haven't liked in the comments.
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Newsletter Archive: Spring 2002
Courtauld Research Papers No. 2
Artists and Patrons in Post-War Britain. Edited
by Margaret Garlake.
Reg Butler Head, 1948-9 Forged and welded iron
After World War Two art patronage in Britain expanded rapidly. Concentration on the Arts Council had obscured the diversity of this patronage and the pioneering connections established between artists and the art world by such organizations as the county councils, the British Council, the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Whitechapel Art Gallery. A complete network of cultural, financial, local, regional and international relationships emerged during this period that embraced art education, publishing and the staging of exhibitions and events. The political nature of much state patronage, its reciprocity with commercial and corporate funding and the continuing role of private patrons has seldom been examined. The five case studies offer insights into these and related issues and explore the ideas that fashioned various forms of patronage in the early post-war years. This second volume is now available for purchase at the reception desk of the Institute at a reduced price. The first volume Art, Politics and Civic Religion in Central Italy 1261-1352, is also available.


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There has been a huge gap in the last post on this blog until now…yes, and there are reasons for that which
I will share later. In the meantime, my daughter and I made a beautifully healthy, raw vegetarian dish
that would go well with many different things.
So colourful, yet simple and easy too!
1/2 head Cabbage
1/2 head Red Cabbage
6-8 Carrots
1 Pomegranate
Chop/slice or shred cabbage to bite size pieces, coleslaw style. Peel and grate the carrots.
Mix well so that the colours and vegetables are mixed well together. Open and tap pomegranate seeds
out with a wooden spoon into a bowl. Or check out the video below for another quick, easy,
way to do it. Then sprinkle the pomegranate seeds either on top or mix through.
This is delicious by itself, or if you prefer a dressing, here are a few alternatives:
Apple Cider Vinegar & Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Organic Mayonnaise
Creme Fraiche (or Greek Yoghurt or Sour Cream) with lemon juice and garlic finely sliced or minced
This will add even more health benefits with the lemon juice and garlic, giving the immune system a boost.


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On last night's The Real Housewives of New Jersey, "Don't Drink The Holy Water":
Teresa Guidice had a giant Christening party for her newborn, with Godmother Dina Manzo in tow. Danielle Staub and Kim G.'s BFF-ship blows up in the middle of a fanciful Jersey restaurant, while Jacqueline Laurita manages to dress her baby up like the world's tiniest Juggalo. And Caroline Manzo continues starving herself.
It's been a while since we've checked in with my Mother and Real Housewives expert Judy Collins, but thankfully, her heart palpitations and sailor's mouth have not gotten any less powerful. And so, let's enjoy her recap of this week's episode… together:
On Language.
Let me tell you something: Danielle is 100 percent right. That f*cking Kim G. What a piece of sh*t. No really. You know, there's a piece of sh*t and then there is a stinking f*cking piece of sh*t. That was terrible. You go "I'm your friend!" Dabbing the tears from your eyes, listening to her finding her birth mother, and then she goes and blabbers? And who is Kim G screwing to get that big f*cking house that she lives in?? I'm in shock. You know, you have this kind of behavior with young kids, like Snooki. (Ed. Note: +5 Mom points for her timely reference.) But not with adult women. I'm sorry. That Kim G is a lowlife just like Danielle. Kim G is the lowest of the low. To go and blabber something so personal? Why do you need to go and blabber this? Why? Uchhh! Really. That's all I'm saying. I never thought I'd feel sorry for Danielle the Whore.
Let's Move on to Theresa's Christening Mega-Party
And the other monkeys there in that big party. Well now that I know that they didn't have 2 pennies to rub together… If he only made $79,000 a year, why the f*ck do you throw a $50,000 party? I wish I know how to do that! Maybe he can give us lessons. $79,000… they live in a $2 million house, 4 kids, Gucci, Prada, Schmada, the guy is making pizza and they're throwing parties left and right like they live in the White House. I never saw anything like this. But I wish he had a book so I'd know how to do this. I'm boiling, I'm so mad. I am foaming in the mouth from anger, that's all I can tell you.
"But Mom, Where Did You Hear That He Makes $79,000 a Year?"
Eh, I don't know. I heard it somewhere. I heard that he declared backruptcy because he owes $1.2 million to the government. He said that he only paid taxes on $79,000 to the IRS, and he said he gets $100,000 from the family. Now where I heard it, I can't tell you, but I think Kim G told me. She called me and told me. (laughing, then serious) That Kim G is a PIG.
And I never thought in my life that I would defend Danielle. Ever. But you know what? She deserves a little defense. It's just ugly. You know, seriously, the whole season she never bothered me. This season she didn't. The other ones are the mean ones, churning her, a mean bunch of women. I wish they would have shown Gia a little more, at least give me some happiness.
Look at the baby. It looks like a scene from The Godfather. There is Jacqueline. Her intelligence cannot be higher than an ape. Uch, she's so dumb.
"Dumb Has a Face, and It's Jacqueline." — Mother
And Ashley… I hate her, and I'm not gonna be happy until she's gonna share a cell with Lindsay Lohan, which is available cause Lindsay's out now.
But They Have Great Chemistry!
Theresa is a lowlife pig. A lowlife pig. If she's gonna say "Give me a kiss!" to the husband one more time, I'm thinking "Another kiss, he's gonna throw up on her." He can't even look at her. I don't know if you see that body language. "Do you like it?" On top of which she looks like a f*ckin' monkey. There was a scene when they were getting dressed and he was shirtless. Mr. Class, eating in the kitchen, shirtless. Yeah, very appetizing. Bon appetit.
I mean this show… usually I like to watch TV, it makes me happy. But this show, at the end of the hour, I need a tranquilizer.
If You Had to Classify Kim G. as Some Sort of Swine, What Sort of Swine Would That Be?
Kim G is a pig. A pig. I only hope that the other clan, Jacqueline, the other women, that they see through her. I'm very surprised that Jacqueline stood up to her and said "Maybe you're doing to me what you're doing to her?" I was proud because she's a halfwit anyway. Kim G is a pig, what can I tell you?
And Caroline?
Caroline doesn't do anything. She's the smartest one there. Caroline and Dina. Dina was smart to leave the show altogether, she's the smartest. Caroline is a bright woman. The thing here is with Danielle. Here is someone you look down at because of her past blah blah blah, but in this episode you have feelings for her. They treat her like garbage. She's a human being and she didn't do anything to any of them.
But there is a God. For Theresa is first. Let's see if she can buy Gucci shoes for her children now. I'm serious. At least Danielle is still in a house. It's still worth couple of bucks. Where is Theresa going? That's what I want to know.
After The Epic Restaurant Fight…
That Kim G… It had to be staged. Danielle wasn't saying anything, she left and she the other one ran after her. Kim G is a f*ckin pig in a big house. Small pig in a big sty. Her house was — oh my god. It just bothers me. And you know what? She 's disgusting.
Why would Danielle be jealous of her? Yeah right, some old alta cocker and she acts like she would be some kind of, uh, Lady Gaga. (laughter) I'm so mad. No, really. Just a disgusting… you know at first she looks like a Park Avenue lady, and then she opens her mouth and you're saying "There's no difference between her and Danielle." The woman has no class.
And Finally, the Question That's On Everyone's Mind
Who is paying for the trip to Italy? And you heard? Theresa's husband was arrested. There is a God.


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Know anyone who is graduating from high school or college this year? There's nothing like giving them a little hope before they set off on their job search and join "the real world." In these tough times, graduates need words of encouragement to make them feel optimistic about the future.
But that's what feel-good commencement speeches are for. You're here to hit them with a jumbo-sized serving of harsh reality (all in good fun of course).
So before they get too confident and start to feel like the sky is the limit, pull them back down to earth with one of these hilarious graduation cards.


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The Annual / Preventive Physical is the most common situation when a person visits their physician's office. The examination means all of the following services:
Review of an individual's medical and social history, with attention to modifiable risk factors for disease detection, including past medical and surgical history, such as experiences with illnesses, hospital stays, operations, allergies, injuries and treatments, current medication and supplements, family history (including diseases that may be hereditary or place the individual at risk), history of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use, diet, and physical activities.
Review of an individual's potential (risk factors) for depression , including current or past experiences with depression or other mood disorders, based on the use of an appropriate screening instrument for persons without a current diagnosis of depression.
Review of the individual's functional ability and level of safety based on the use of appropriate screening questions or a screening questionnaire.
An examination to include measurement of the individual's height, weight, blood pressure, a visual acuity screen, and other factors.
Performance and interpretation of Blood Tests, Urine Tests, an EKG and other medical tests as deemed necessary.
Education, counseling, and referral as deemed appropriate, based on the results of the review and evaluation services described in the previous five elements, including a brief written plan (e.g., a checklist or alternative) provided to the individual for obtaining the necessary services.
Appropriate screening and other preventive services which includes: vaccines and immunizations, screening mammography, screening pap smear and screening pelvic examinations, prostate cancer screening tests, colorectal cancer screening tests, diabetes screening tests, and diabetes outpatient self-management training services, bone mass measurements, screening for glaucoma, medical nutrition therapy for individuals with diabetes or renal disease and referral to dietician, and cardiovascular screening blood tests.
We ensure performing a full, thorough, comprehensive physical examination that is typically not given in most traditional practices due to time constraints. We offer Annual Preventative Walk-in Physicals to residents in Maryland (MD), Washington DC, and Northern Virginia (VA).


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My name is Ashley Bean I am 13 years old. I was Bullied. I made a you tube video to share my story as a tool to used for my Anti
Bullying campaign. When I see Bullying I stop it and tell my teachers. I stand up for the ones who can't stand up for themselves. I love BYOU which stands for Be Your Own You. They help me find my inner Beauty and gave me courage to help others. My school likes BYOU so much they and I helped set up an Anti Bullying campaign and class. I have been in 3 BYOU Magazines. So here is my Story.
I hope this helps other kids. If you need any help from me my mom is my rock and both of us are a good team and we can help you. Thank you for listening to me.
Ashley Bean
My mom is Taryn Roach @ firstname.lastname@example.com


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Test ID: MAPTM
MAPT Gene, Sequence Analysis, 7 Exon Screening Panel
NY State Approved Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Aiding in the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, and dementia with epilepsy
Distinguishing the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia from other dementias, including Alzheimer dementia
Identifying individuals who are at risk of frontotemporal dementia
Special Instructions and Forms Describes specimen collection and preparation information, test algorithms, and other information pertinent to test. Also includes pertinent information and consent forms to be used when requesting a particular test
Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)/DNA Sequencing Analysis
(PCR is utilized pursuant to a license agreement with Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.)
Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
MAPT Screening Sequence Analysis
Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Frontotemporal dementia
Microtubule-associated protein tau
Pick's disease
Microtubule-associated protein tau
Pick's disease


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STARmeterSEE RANK
Down 5,859 this week
Phyllis Davis (I)
Phyllis Davis grew up in Nederland, Texas. She lived on the second floor of her parents' mortuary business. Phyllis and her two younger brothers had to be very quiet upstairs during services because the floors would creak. Phyllis attended Lamar College briefly, then went to Los Angeles in the mid-'60s to pursue a career in show business. She ... See full bio »
Born:Phyllis Ann Davis
in Port Arthur, Texas, USA
More at IMDbPro » Represent Phyllis Davis? Add or change photos


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The Serenity of the Ocean
by Heather Mosier
One of the most enchanting and captivating places on this earth is the ocean. It is a peaceful place to leave reality behind and get lost in an unknown world of beauty. The Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has always been my sanctuary when I needed time to clear my head and get in touch with myself. The ocean's uncertainty, the childhood memories, and its peaceful serenity help me to reflect on my life. These reflections make the ocean the most memorable place on earth for me.
The uncertainty of the ocean is exciting and sometimes frightening, as is life. The water off the coast can be a beautiful crystal aqua color filled with a rainbow of exotic fish, then, can instantly turn to a murky, cold, and empty blue. The warm cotton-filled skies above the warm waters turn black with thick smoke showers on the horizon. In the distance, the roar of a thousand buffalo seems to be stampeding towards the shore. That is when I know my beautiful day has turned into a storm that forces me indoors. Life has a way of providing many challenges. In my life those challenges come just as hard and as fast as the storms that rush the beach. When the storms of life calm, I appreciate the sun that much more.
I spent every summer as a child at Myrtle Beach with my family. Some of the best memories of childhood come from that majestic place. My sister and I would spend eight-hour days swimming in a warm, clear ocean. My mother would lie on the beach browning her body and smelling of warm coconut cake. My father would spend that time fishing off the peer. He would catch and bring me baby sharks to play with, small enough to fit in my white fish bucket. My parents always took us to some of the most exquisite seafood restaurants. The salty fresh aroma of shrimp and Mahi Mahi sizzling on a hot plate was a mouth-watering thought I carried with me all year. When I am melancholy, I reflect on these times. They will always be burned in my memory as the perfect family vacations.
The most incomparable quality about the immense ocean is its peaceful serenity. Lying in the cool sand on a starry night is the most overwhelming sense of freedom I have ever experienced. The deep low roar of the waves kissing the shoreline is soul-calming. Looking out into the enormous infinite water makes me feel like the smallest grain of sand. My unconfined spirit allows my mind to wander to the most unusual places. What a massive amazing world we live in. These feelings put my life into perspective. It makes me feel triumphant to be right there at that moment. Thank God for the opportunity to be on this breathtaking earth.
The ocean helps me to reflect on my life because of its uncertainty, the childhood memories it brings to mind, and the serenity it puts in my soul. If there is anywhere in the world I can go to relax and feel freedom, Myrtle Beach is the place. I feel as if the ocean is my sanctuary. I hope everyone has a such place to call sanctuary. We all need somewhere we can go to sit alone, thinking to ourselves how fortunate we are for the life we have.
Heather Mosier, at the time of this writing a freshman in Social Work, wrote "The Serenity of the Ocean" for Dr. Marsha Mathews' ENGL 1101 class during spring 2004 semester.


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Leslie Ball has performed around the country – from opening for Ellen Degeneres at the old Guthrie Theater, to appearing in the world premiere of The Falls at the new Guthrie, to singing back-up for the late Gene Pitney at Carnegie Hall.
Camden Music School welcomes Leslie to the Second Saturdays stage on Saturday, April 14, from 3-4 p.m. at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 3751 Sheridan Avenue N. The event is free and open to the public.
Leslie's first solo recording earned her a Minnesota Music Award for best female songwriter. In 1991, Leslie launched BALLS Cabaret, a weekly experimental stage for artists of any discipline or experience. The show is in its 16th year and continually wins awards as the best open stage in town. BALLS was also recently cited in the New York Times as a "must-see" while in the Twin Cities. In addition to her work as an artist, Leslie is an activist and educator. She spent a decade in the public schools teaching teenagers in recovery from addiction. She earned her MFA at NYU and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity Degree at United Theological Seminary. The hour-long concert follows with a reception of good cookies, coffee and conversation. More info at www.camdenmusicschool.com or 612-618-0219.


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Christopher Dale Hughes, 39, Johnson City, passed away Friday, September 13, 2013 in the Johnson City Medical Center.
He was a Avery County, North Carolina native but lived his life in Carter County. He was a 1992 graduate of Elizabethton High School. Chris was a Welder. He attended Milligan Free Will Baptist Church. He loved to hunt and fish. He was preceded in death by his father Roger Dale Hughes.
Survivors include his Children: Chelsy Hughes, Brenna Khristian Hughes and Ethan Christopher Roger Hughes. A Grandson: Lucus. His Mother: Tonia Odom Hughes of the home. A Brother: Shaun Patrick Hughes, Elizabethton. Five Special Aunts: Debra Whitehead, Sheila Nance, Sandy Gruhot, Peggy Nance and Kim Odom. Two Nieces: Ashlyn Hughes and Khloe Crowder Hughes. Two Nephews: Hunter Crowder and Andon Hughes.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Memorial Funeral Chapel with Pastor Mark Street officiating. Graveside Service and Interment will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 18, 2013 in the Cranberry Cemetery, Elk Park, North Carolina. Active Pallbearers who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday will be: Jeremiah Guinn, Charles Miller, Scottie Holtsclaw, Peanut Whitehead, Joe Whitehead and Mack Burchfield. Honorary pallbearers will be: Scott Storie, Bobby Sullivan, Rob Whitehead and all his great nieces & nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Friends may also call at the residence. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be e-mailed to email@example.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge.


text: With the appointment made and the date set, we piled into her used Toyota and headed to a small, hidden shop located just off the main city strip. A short time later, we emerge. From her, a huge sigh of relief and pride. She had done something she never thought she would do, something that was all her own -- and, to her, it was worth it. It was a thrilling experience.


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Cardinal Dolan…Pope?By
Is it possible?
According to this story, the New York prelate's name is being mentioned with increasing frequency in Rome, as cardinals from around the globe begin arriving for the official farewell of Pope Benedict XVI next week.
Of course, speculation is just that – speculation. Nonetheless, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica is reporting that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, one of the most seasoned and influential members of the College of Cardinals, is quietly promoting Dolan as a possible choice in the upcoming conclave.
Cardinal Dolan himself of course has displayed his usual humility and good humor, and responded to inquiries with typical candor:
You know, listen, all the cardinals are really embarrassed to talk about that, and we'd be uncomfortable talking about it, so I'll leave it at that.
Of course, the conventional wisdom has held that the cardinals will not elect an American out of a reluctance to see a "super-power papacy." Moreover, Cardinal Dolan has only been a cardinal for a year, an historically very short time in the College to be seriously considered.
Young, full of energy and boundless joy, from an unlikely country…
Nah, can't happen.
68 thoughts on "Cardinal Dolan…Pope?"
Good Lord, I pray it's not Cardinal Dolan.
I suppose it makes sense that since +Dolan endorsed CV, CV returns the favor. +Dolan would certainly not be my first choice. He's much too cozy with evil forces within the church (I'm not talking about Obama here). This is in stark contrast to the speech the Pope just recently gave on V2. We need someone who recognizes just how bad the liberal "catholic" agenda is and does more than just talks about it.
I'm going to guess "no." Nothing against His Eminence, and I'd be thrilled to see him as pope if that is the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but…
1) I see too much angst around the concept of an American pope right now. Not because he'd be partial to Obama (quite the opposite, I'd think), but because of the issues with the American church in general. Which brings me to
2) on a selfish note, he's needed here. 😉
If Cardinal Dolan gets the Papacy, he will be remembered as "Obama's Pope."
I doubt that, as the next papacy may last over 20 years, while Obama's reign will last 3 1/2
Maybe Barry will wake up one night in a cold sweat after a "Scroogean Dream" and repent of his hatred for all we hold dear. Then he would have a chance to be a great President.
Omaba may be a lame duck President but he will live through other leftists who are determined to stay in power and give anything to voters to get their way.
Not likely since there is no "love" lost between them. Dolan treats him with courtesy when required but he never backs down on essential Catholic beliefs.
What's disturbing is that Bertone is pushing him. From what I've been reading these past few days, Bertone is a big part of the problem, and the next Pope needs to put him out to pasture.
May God forbid – especially after his dismal conduct with the Al Smith Dinner fiasco.
His dismal conduct?? You mean being a witness to the light and joy that Christ can have in our lives and by sharing a few jokes with the president? That is hardly dismal conduct. Did you expect him to treat the sitting president of the United States rudely? If he did, do you think that behavior would be appropriate for the Holy See? I sure hope not.
No Chris, on this one I take Janet's side. He had dinner with the man after telling all of us the man from the White House was violating our religious liberty with the HH Mandate. Think about it, Cardinal O'Connor refused to eat with Clinton because he would not eat with a man who supported and still supports abortion, but Dolan didn't have a problem with that.
You might say I'm being too harsh, but Pius XI closed the Vatican and forbid anyone there to show the Vatican to the Führer when Hitler visited Italy. Of course Obama is no Hitler but the Pope and O'Connor acted out of principle. Many of us sent letters pleading with Dolan not to be used by the President and he did anyway. If that is his idea of being pastoral, I'm at a loss for what pastoral means.
Cuomo has proclaimed time and again he is a Roman Catholic as he openly promotes immorality in New York before a silent Cardinal. I know many people are very impressed with the Cardinal but folks like Janet and me are not. Also, it does not look good for Bertone to be openly campaigning for the next Pope when Pope Benedict XVI himself has not said a word about whom he thinks should replace him on the throne of Peter.
You asked Janet, "Did you expect him to treat the sitting president of the United States rudely?" Perhaps Janet expected what I expected, that our Cardinal would not invite the modern Herod to a place of honor with a very public Catholic figure. Was Cardinal O'Connor rude to Clinton when he refused to break bread with the man who supported the butchery of the unborn?
Having written all this, I will respect whomever the Holy Spirit chooses to become the next Pope.
A snipet of Dolan's response to folks who disagreed with his decision:
"The teaching of the Church, so radiant in the Second Vatican Council, is that the posture of the Church towards culture, society, and government is that of engagement and dialogue. In other words, it's better to invite than to ignore, more effective to talk together than to yell from a distance, more productive to open a door than to shut one. Our recent popes have been examples of this principle, receiving dozens of leaders with whom on some points they have serious disagreements. Thus did our present Holy Father graciously receive our current President of the United States. And, in the current climate, we bishops have maintained that we are open to dialogue with the administration to try and resolve our differences. What message would I send if I refused to meet with the President?"
I would like to point out what Cardinal Dolan pointed out, that even our Benedict XVI opened his door to President Obama. And I do believe if Cardinal Dolan refused, that it was a lost opportunity to engage in dialogue with not just Obama, but Romney as well.
Another thought: The very purpose of the dinner was to invite those with differing positions to have a pleasant evening, one where opening dialogue could take place and where both sides make an effort to understand one another.
and finally, though cliche and most times i disagree when people pull this example out, Jesus sat down and had dinner with sinners, now he may not have sat down with Herod, but I think the point remains.
Your closing comment was my exact thought – Jesus sat down and had dinner with sinners.
Usually He was an honored guest at their homes, never vice versa. He did so after they publicly left their evil ways and repented. And if anyone really thinks Obama wanted to "make an effort to understand one another", they really need to take off those rose-colord glasses. Unfortunately that goes for Cardinal Dolan as well.
Correct, and He also called them to repent!
Exactly! What better occasion to invite sinners to repentance and conversion than sharing a meal with them? Jesus understood it this way, and this is exactly how Cardinal Dolan intended it from the very beginning.
It's just that our society thinks that by sitting down and sharing a meal and a laugh with someone, we are suddenly a complete compatriot of that person. Which is why some people think Jesus was non-judgmental and okay with sinners remaining sinners. As if to say "He ate with them, so He must have been okay with everything they did." Nope. He ate with them to get their attention and engage them in dialogue, so He could point out what they were doing was wrong, without them shutting Him out or disregarding His message.
Cardinal Dolan was following a pretty good example on that one. And his message never failed or faltered. It was consistently on the side of life and religious liberty. Go watch a recording of him giving his "Benediction in the Lion's Den" if you think he is too compromising.
"Exactly! What better occasion to invite sinners to repentance and conversion than sharing a meal with them? Jesus understood it this way, and this is exactly how Cardinal Dolan intended it from the very beginning."
Well, how is that "repentance" and "conversion" working for Obama these days? Let's see, he continues to support the butchery of the unborn as any modern Herod would. He wants the tax payers of America to pay for Miss Fluke's contraceptives and for anyone who wants them. He is persecuting us with the H.H. Mandate. He did not lift up a finger to protest the fact that God was taken out of the picture at the Democratic National Convention. He continues to support NARAL and Planned Parenthood and is spreading his love to Third World countries by killing their children through abortion. Forgive me for my cynicism, but I see no signs of "conversion" and "repetance" anywhere, but the scandal of the Cardinal breaking bread with him remains.
Abadilla, you ignore two things:
1) We cannot allow the actions, or inaction, of our neighbor to dictate who we are and how we encounter the world. We must let only God, through the example of Christ and the direction of the Holy Spirit dictate how we behave and engage our fellow man. Whether the message takes hold now or 200 years from now, the message does not change. Love your neighbor. Engage them with confidence, but above all, in true charity. Pray for those who persecute you.
2) It is not the actions of Cardinal Dolan that have caused Obama to ignore his message or fail to repent or convert. No one can force conversion, and even though it hasn't happened yet, that doesn't mean that it won't, or that it can't. As St. Padre Pio says, "Pray. Hope. And don't worry." To do anything else is a sin against the the virtue of Hope itself. Rome wasn't built in a day, and it most certainly wasn't converted in a day, or even in a century. It was the sacrifice, unbridled charity and persistent profession of faith of the early Christians that eventually changed the society and the empire. Do you hold it against St. Peter that he was unable to convert the Roman Emperor in under 50 years?
1) " We cannot allow the actions, or inaction, of our neighbor to dictate who we are and how we encounter the world. We must let only God, through the example of Christ and the direction of the Holy Spirit dictate how we behave and engage our fellow man. Whether the message takes hold now or 200 years from now, the message does not change. Love your neighbor. Engage them with confidence, but above all, in true charity. Pray for those who persecute you."
2) "It is not the actions of Cardinal Dolan that have caused Obama to ignore his message or fail to repent or convert. No one can force conversion, and even though it hasn't happened yet, that doesn't mean that it won't, or that it can't. As St. Padre Pio says, "Pray. Hope. And don't worry." To do anything else is a sin against the the virtue of Hope itself. Rome wasn't built in a day, and it most certainly wasn't converted in a day, or even in a century. It was the sacrifice, unbridled charity and persistent profession of faith of the early Christians that eventually changed the society and the empire. Do you hold it against St. Peter that he was unable to convert the Roman Emperor in under 50 years?"
Then, explain to me how St. Thomas More and St. Thomas a Becket defied their monarchs to defend the Church? Explain to me how Cardinal Mindszenty defended the Church in Hungary and why. Explain to me why Pius XI ordered Cardinal Innitzer of Austria not to allowed the Nazis to fly the swastika from Catholic churches. Explain to me why Cardinal O'Connor refused to have President Clinton in the same dinner Cardinal Dolan had with Obama when Obama holds the same position Clinton still has toward the unborn, "it's O.K. to butcher them because it is a woman's right." Were all these folks lacking in the virtue of hope when they confronted evil or is it that our Catholic Church is no longer into defending principles but accommodating the enemy with "dialogue?" Do I need to give you more examples for you to get what I mean? Now, you may disagree with my position until you are blue in the face, but you can't say I don't have "reasons" for my position.
As for Peter, somehow I missed that he tried to convert any Roman Emperor in 50 years.
Well, to use your own example, has President Clinton been converted via the dinner-snub method Cardinal O'Connor used? If anything, Mr. Clinton is just as entrenched in a pro-abortion mindset now as he ever was.
And Card. Dolan has not capitulated to any wayward position or relaxed his opposition. He has gone so far as to call for civil disobedience in opposing the mandate. That hardly sounds like advice issued from a luke-warm position.
My whole point in all of this is that Cardinal Dolan has been a strong and even defiant leader of his flock when the situation called for it, but he has also grasped every attempt at opening dialogue with those who hold positions gravely contrary to our beliefs, in order to secure an open line of communication. (It's hard to convert or change minds when the persons you are trying to convert dismiss you, and thereby your message, as unreasonable without ever actually hearing the message.) Cardinal Dolan successfully engaged in dialogue and gained the attention of his opponents without compromising any of his own beliefs or positions, in precisely the same way Christ sat down and ate with sinners of all ilks, without compromising His perfection or His message in any way. There is a strong and undeniable parallel.
Your argument against Cardinal Dolan's methods is that they have not (yet) yielded a conversion or repentance. Well, as of right now, neither have the methods of any of your examples, and they've had longer to take effect. St. Peter's methods did take effect, a few hundred years later, converting an entire empire using the methods learned from the first-hand example of Christ (so we know they work.)
Correct. Mr. Clinton has not changed one bit but no one can accuse O'Connor of not exemplifying principle.
Yes, Cardinal Dolan can talk all he wants about civil disobedience but he already compromised himself by eating and saying jokes with the avowed enemy of Catholicism in this country. Obviously his lack of principle did not affect you and many Catholics, but it affected many of us.
I don't know how you interpret the man as "strong." I don't see that part of him. What I see is a jovial Cardinal who moves very well among the press and the lights of New York.
No, my main argument is that one cannot call Catholics to defend against religious persecution and then sit with the persecutor. Conversion is up to God whether the Cardinal is present on a dinner or not. Conversion can take place with our prayers.
As far as St. Peter goes, he was willing to die for the faith and so many of the first popes and martyrs of the Church were also willing to die for the faith. Please, don't compare them to this man we are talking about who was not being martyred by sticking to principle, but he didn't.
I just heard John Allen Jr, and he said Cardinal Dolan is very popular indeed but he is a long shot to becoming Pope and I hope so. However, if the College of Cardinals chooses him and the Holy Spirit chooses him, who am I to oppose his election?
"posture of the Church towards culture, society, and government is that of engagement and dialogue."
To me these are crucial words. I would say to Cardinal Dolan, any Cardinal or any Archbishop, "well, after 50 years, how is this engagement working for you?
I don't think this type of engagement worked. Pius XI and Pius XII were absolutely anti-communist and then under Paul VI we decided "detente" was the policy to follow. The Communists took advantage of detente to the point that they had spies in the papal apartment reporting to the communist regime in Poland all the moves of Blessed John Paul II.
See Chris, there are Catholics like Dolan and you who believe in "engagement" and there are those of us who have seen through a lifetime that engagement does not work with an enemy dedicated to destroy us, not to engage us because ultimately, they despise what we represent to them.
Look at our so-called "Catholic" politicians. They are a shame to the Church. They stand for the opposite of any church pronouncement on any moral issue. The bishops want to "engage" them, not deny them Holy Communion, and where has this engagement taken us in this country?
I think we have very similar views.
I think the "Catholic" politicians are a shame to the church. and the bishops should take a stronger stance in regard to shepherding their flock.
That said, Obama is not part of the flock. So I see the engagement as evangelizing. By giving constant examples of the true Catholic joy of Christ, we have the best opportunity to convince our politicians to open up the door of the hearts to Christ. From there, its up to them and if they will allow God's grace to work.
As far as the Ostpolitik example. This is before my time and can't speak on this with confidence. However, in the end, Soviet Russia crumbled and JPII was a significant factor in ending that regime. So on first glance, I don't know if Ostpolitik was very successful or slowed down our progress. I don't have time to research this, but will do my best in the upcoming days.
On a separate note, i share in your frustration, but I think the key to our success having a consistent strategy. Playing footsies with the Devil is not a good strategy. We either have to take a very hard stance on heresy (because that's what the catholic politicians are spewing) or we have to take the road of patience and joy.
At the end of the day, its all in God's hands. We just have to be his foot soldiers and we will win in the end.
The point I was making way above was that when Jesus dined with the sinners, He was a guest of honor at their homes. He never invited them to be guests of honor at His venues. When He did partake of the meals at the homes of Matthew and Zaccheus, the latter two had already taken public steps indicating repentance. As far as how we the Church engage the civil structures and power-that-be, perhaps the model of John the Baptist would be more appropriate. Or maybe that of the current Pontiff with Nancy Pelosi in Rome a few years back – a private chat with no photo-ops.
Janet, I don't necessarily disagree with you about Card. Dolan and the Al Smith dinner, but I respectfully disagree with your characterization of "eating with sinners." I believe Jesus clearly ate with sinners as a means of converting them, e.g. Zacchaeus – Jesus invited Himself to his home in order to convert him.
Zacchaeus at that point had already taken extraordinary measures to see Jesus. He climbed a tree. Yes, Jesus did invite Himself to dinner, whereupon Zacchaeus immediately repented of his past life. So when Jesus set foot in Zacchaeus's home, the latter was already repentant. And again, Jesus was the honored guest in his home. Jesus never invited an unrepentant (or even not-yet-repentant) sinner to His venues as an honored guest. Dolan did; in my opinion, he caused scandal not only to the Catholic faithful but to Obama himself by not treating Obama's sinful stances with the gravity and yes, sterness for which they cried out.
Janet, go read Matthew 9:9-13. Or Mark 2:13-17.
Who, in that story, sounds the most like you and abadilla?
I think another "dinner" scripture to balance this out would be Luke 7:40-47, noticing how Jesus deals with the Pharisee, who like the woman is also a sinner, but essentially rebuked.
Yes, but if Jesus hadn't gone to dinner with Simon the Pharisee in the first place, would Simon have been attentive to what Jesus had to say?
That's my point. Go to supper to get their attention, and once you have it, teach. Whether they understand the teaching or take it to heart depends on them. Going to supper with them is not scandalous. Jesus is not scandalized by dining with a Pharisee or by allowing a prostitute to clean and anoint his feet.
Cardinal Dolan caused no scandal by attending the same dinner as President Obama. It's Obama's own fault that he missed the opportunity to cry on Dolan's feet and anoint them with oil, while begging God's forgiveness.
Unfortunately, I don't think this was or was seen as a teaching moment. What teaching took place at the dinner? The cardinal is a good man and has a difficult job, and he has clearly spoken out against the HHS mandate both before and after the dinner, but he himself even wondered if he was doing the right thing (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/catholic_agita_over_show_at_al_smith_4p77gPzyhaitvCJ9cTPWDK).
To me, it came across as communicating that although we have some serious disagreements, they're not so serious that we can't have dinner and enjoy some jocularity. Somehow I don't see Jesus laughing it up and slapping the pharisee on the back after the pharisee reveals his displeasure with the woman, all with the hopes of keeping the lines of communication open. It is probably likely that Cardinal Dolan acted in a shrewd and charitable manner and that I'm the one who's clueless. I'm just not convinced. If he's the right man to be pope, so be it. Whoever ends up being pope, may he be a good one in the eyes of God. What I think doesn't matter.
The Cardinal didn't merely attend the same dinner as Obama. He allowed Obama to be an honored guest at a very prominent Catholic event. Why do you fail to acknowledge that distinction?
"That's my point. Go to supper to get their attention, and once you have it, teach."
True, but the Cardinal taught nothing with words but with his invitation he said it all and Obama did not miss the message. Obama is a first-class manipulator.
"Cardinal Dolan caused no scandal by attending the same dinner as President Obama."
If he caused no scandal among us, why are we having this converstion? Obvioulsy he did cause scandal. It was no ordinary dinner, it was a dinner sponsored by a Catholic Cardinal inviting the man who continues to support the butchery of the unborn. That very day, I am sure thousands of unborn babies were butchered as the Cardinal had a jovial dinner with the enemy.
Are you accusing Janet and I of entertaining evil thoughts simply because we disagree with the actions of a Cardinal?
What we have in these passages is the call of Matthew. Did you note, Ben, that Jesus dined with Matthew after the latter left his booth and followed Jesus? Yes, the sick need a doctor – but first they have to acknowledge their sickness before the doctor can help them. Ben, your usage of Scripture is sloppy; I am not going to humor you by allowing you to dictate the direction of this conversation.
BenM, get off your high moral horse. I know the Scriptures and because you interpret them differently from Janet and me, that doesn't mean we are wrong.
You have your reasons for believing the Cardinal did the right thing. Janet and I and others also have reasons for believing he blew it. Now, two of us can't be right, but we can agree to disagree.
"in my opinion, he caused scandal not only to the Catholic faithful but to Obama himself by not treating Obama's sinful stances with the gravity and yes, sterness for which they cried out."
I fully agree with your statement. Blessed Mother Teresa sat at breakfast with the Clintons but pointedly reminded them of the "butchery" of the unborn. The Clintons did not converst to a pro-life message, but Mother showed principle and courage.
"I believe Jesus clearly ate with sinners as a means of converting them, e.g. Zacchaeus – Jesus invited Himself to his home in order to convert him."
I don't know if that were the intention of the Cardinal but obviously if that was his intention, it didn't work and the Prince of the Church ended up compromising himself with Catholics like me.
"Well, Chris you and I are usually on the same page on many issues, but while Obama is not a Catholic, he has the power to create lots of problems for our Church here in the States.
"we have the best opportunity to convince our politicians."
I shall remind you than none other than the Pope spoke to Pelosi and Ed Kennedy before he passed and neither one of those politicians changed their minds in their support of abortion. Frankly, I believe those politicians are "Catholic" just in name.
Correct, Blessed John Paul and Reagan were able to defeat the Soviet Union but had Blessed John Paul practiced Ostpolitik, trust me, the Soviets would still be in power.
"Playing footsies with the Devil is not a good strategy."
And, unfortunately, that's how I interpreted Dolan doing with the President and afterwards the President used the dinner to proclaim everything was fine between him and Catholics. That's exactly what I was afraid of.
"At the end of the day, its all in God's hands"
And that is all we can do, acknowledge everything is in God's hands and pray. I eagerly await for the next conclave and its result.
" And I do believe if Cardinal Dolan refused, that it was a lost opportunity to engage in dialogue with not just Obama, but Romney as well."
They sat to eat, not have a dialogue, and knowing there are 55 million unborn children who have lost their lives because of folks like Obama, I was not laughing at the jokes.
"The very purpose of the dinner was to invite those with differing positions to have a pleasant evening, one where opening dialogue could take place and where both sides make an effort to understand one another."
Again, where was the dialogue? Did I miss something about that dinner?
If a dinner takes place where a Cardinal can have a true dialogue with Obama or with a pro-abortion politician be he Catholic or not, I don't have a problem with that, but I know for certain the enemy is used the dinner to undermine our principles before the very nose of the President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, therefore I do have a problem with that.
If Cardinal Dolan had held a position of keeping himself distant and issuing condemnations from afar in the direction of the President, do you think Mr. Obama would, today, give Cardinal Dolan's statements any weight or credit?
I'd argue that by dining with him, the Cardinal gained the attention of the President. He did not compromise his position or scandalize the truth. He opened the President's mind to the fact that the Cardinal is a joyful, intelligent and reasonable person. And that has to improve the odds that if the Cardinal speaks out tomorrow (as he already has in the intervening past) about the grave issues on which we differ, the President will be listening.
Obama does not give any credit to Dolan's words in any case, whether the Cardinal condemns him or not. He now knows the head of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops can't possibly be taken seriously as the battle between the forces of good and evil continue to fight one another in this country.
"He opened the President's mind…" Are you serious? Have you read the papers and the INTERNET lately. The man in the White House is the worse enemy Catholicism has had in this country and you think jovial Dolan opened his mind. Really?
And yes, Cardinal Dolan spoke out lately about how much he supports the President on gun control. Nice move on his part, at the same time that Cuomo, a "Catholic" continues to distribute contraceptives in New York and welcomes abortions all over the place.
So, if one Cardinal tried civil discourse, and stands by civil disobedience to change the mind of the "worse enemy Catholicism has had in this country", and that has failed, and another tried snubbing the enemies of his time from our dinners in order to, I guess, shame them into submission (?) and that has also failed, what is left?
Oh, that's right. Love our enemies. Pray for those who persecute us. So, let's love him into submission, and keep him ever in our prayers. Not praying that he might perish or be cast down, but pray for him, as a person. Our president, too, is a person created in the image and likeness of God. He has inherent dignity, as such, and is thus deserving of our love and respect.
We can attempt in any way we can think to try to "instruct the ignorant, council the doubtful, and admonish sinners" but we also need to "bear wrongs patiently and forgive offenses willingly." And keeping in mind the mothers and children involved in these crimes, we will "comfort the afflicted and pray for the living and the dead."
Oh, and Dolan HAS spoken out, numerous times, against the abortion and contraceptive policies of Cuomo. Cuomo is not under any illusion that he is operating with the blessings of the church or his Cardinal Archbishop in these matters.
I never read about the "civil discourse." Did I miss something?
What is left is simple. A New York Cardinal has the Al Smith with Catholics and other non-Catholics who respect our faith. Dinners are not meant to be opportunities for dialogues or for trying to convert anybody.
No one here has deny prayers for either the Cardinal or the President. As a matter of fact, every time there is a Mass or liturgy we pray for the President, don't we?
"instruct the ignorant, council the doubtful, and admonish sinners"
Again, I don't think the Cardinal exercised the spiritual works of mercy on the President. The news transmitted a jovial Cardinal and a President having fun while the butchery of the unborn went on.
Oh yes, Dolan "decries" this or that, but does he ever threatened to excommunicate or at least deny Holy Communion as a consequence of recalcitrant ant-Catholic behaviors from Catholic politicians? NO! He can "decry" the situation all he wants as the unborn children continue to be butchered and so-called Catholics challenged his authority and the authority of the Church in every major front. I'm not impressed as I'm not impressed with my own Archbishop in this city of Angels either.
How many times do you think you have to write to Janet and I to convince us of the backbone of the Cardinal?
Now, am I impressed with Chaput, Burke, Cordileone, Paprocki, DiNardo, Finn and the retired bishop Bruskewitz? Yes! Do I care for my own Archbishop and Dolan? No, but I pray for them nevertheless!


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October 21, 2008
Icons of Horror Collection: Hammer Films
Reviewer: Jeffrey M. Anderson
Ratings (out of 5): ***
Most horror aficionados know by now how the British studio Hammer re-invented the genre by taking the classic monsters and filling them in with color (especially garish red) and a little suggested sex. All they had to do was make the monsters different enough from Universal's classic black-and-white creations to avoid lawsuits. But on the downside, Hammer spent most of the 1960s trying to cash in on their early successes, The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) and Horror of Dracula (1958), which meant "sequelizing" their own films and looking for more properties to "borrow." And so, though the studio has a large cult following today, not all of its sixty-plus horror films are really worth watching.
To prove it, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a more-or-less random two-disc DVD collection of four movies from the Hammer vaults (and distributed in America by Columbia Pictures). Another thing the collection shows is that director Terence Fisher, probably the best of the Hammer contract players, was not infallible. His first contribution to this collection is arguably the least interesting, The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960). For Hammer, this was the first of two attempts at adapting the Robert Louis Stevenson story; Fisher's version makes Jekyll a decrepit hermit and Hyde a smooth, seductive ladies' man. But after that, the movie pretty much follows the original story, without using its new twist in any interesting ways. (Jerry Lewis used the same idea to much better effect in The Nutty Professor three years later.) Paul Massie plays the two lead characters, with Dawn Addams as his devious wife and Hammer stalwart Christopher Lee as a backstabbing friend.
Fisher's The Gorgon (1964) fares slightly better. It features the studio's two most bankable stars, Lee and Peter Cushing (later in the first Star Wars) in a tale of Medusa's sister, who turns innocent passerby into stone. A hasty murder trial blames a young artist for the death of his fiancée, but the boy's father knows that something more sinister is afoot. Eventually a big city professor (Lee) clashes with an evil doctor (Cushing) to discover the real secret behind the stone corpses. And, yes, there's a pretty good beheading.
Shot in magnificent, shadowy black-and-white, Seth Holt's Scream of Fear (1961, released in the UK as Taste of Fear) is arguably the set's best film. (Michael J. Weldon, of the legendary Psychotronic Video Magazine, insists that the film rips off Psycho, but it certainly contains enough new ideas to make it fresh.) The beautiful, wheelchair-bound Penny (Susan Strasberg) arrives at the home of her father -- whom she hasn't seen in years -- and her new stepmother (Ann Todd). Her father seems to have disappeared, however, and a friendly chauffeur (Ronald Lewis) tries to help. The story has more twists than a pretzel, and they're all just as delicious. Christopher Lee co-stars as a creepy doctor.
Finally, we get Michael Carreras' The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964), the second of four "Mummy" movies filmed at Hammer. This one is just plain ridiculous; the characters make no sense, and the creature doesn't arrive until the last reel, but it happily veers into so-bad-it's-good territory. And on the plus side, it looks great, with its widescreen, full-color cinematography highlighting all those Egyptian tombs and artifacts. Fred Clark (Sunset Boulevard) is great fun in his portrayal of a boisterous American businessman with no morals.
Each film comes with its own trailer, but no other extras.
Posted by cphillips at October 21, 2008 10:23 AM


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Jakob is a teenager in Bosnia who loves to be an example of Jesus. He takes us through a day in his life as he interacts with family and friends in a small country village comprised mainly of the Roma people group.
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My thoughts on "Optimization"
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 264
Originally posted by jimmyjames123
Well I disagree, I don't think it's so concrete. Also, what Futuremark hopes for and what NVIDIA hopes for are two very different things. NVIDIA wants to run the benchmark as fast and as smooth as possible without corrupting image quality that we actually see.
That is silly. Anyone can read the reviews and see the dramatic improvements in IQ and performance virtually across the board for the FX cards using the newest Detonator FX driver.
If NVIDIA can increase speed without corrupting image quality that we see, I would generally say that is a good thing (and it looks like NVIDIA actually improved image quality with this new driver). From Futuremark's or ATI's perspective, obvious they wouldn't consider it a good thing. Depends on what frame of reference you use. I think the FX Detonator driver is a very good thing for FX owners, and they should be very happy that both image quality and frames per second have improved.
I'll try to take a different approach to this, hopefully I'll get through. 3DMark03 is not a game, it is a benchmark. The object of a benchmark or rather this particular benchmark is to formulate an idea of performance from comparisons. These comparisons are to be executed in the same manner across varying platforms and thus if a set scene is to be rendered it must be rendered in the same manner on each platform.
When you effectively alter what is being rendered then you effectively invalidate the score that is produced. That score in no shape or form can be used for any kind of comparison, with the possible exception of comparisons between cards that are altered in the same manner. In this specific context, when you change the rules you are effectively doing something of which the term for it escapes me at the moment
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Andrew Lenz (PMBA '07)
SMU Cox Associate Board Opens Door to Budding New Career
One of the greatest benefits of attending the Cox School of Business is the ability to meet and network with top business leaders in Dallas and in the nation. For Andrew Lenz, PMBA '07, the Cox network ultimately changed the course of life - What began as a mentor/mentee relationship grew into much more, namely a new horticultural business endeavor.
With more than 200 executive mentors, the Cox Associate Board Executive Mentoring Program, otherwise known as the Associate Board, is designed to facilitate professional development by matching students with a mentor according to career goals and direction. Students are provided background information about the members of the Associate Board so that they are able to identify those members they are most interested in meeting. Once matched, mentors provides business contacts, career advice and industry insight.
In November, 2007 while studying at the Cox School, Lenz met James "Jim" Cali, an alumnus of the Cox School (PMBA Class 44), through an official Associate Board meet-and-greet. The two soon found they had many professional interests in common, and Cali became Lenz's official mentor. At the time Cali was the Chief Operating Officer of Southern Botanical, Inc, a Dallas-based high-end landscaping firm. Lenz was director of operations for a local interior horticulture service firm, where he was responsible for service operations in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston markets.
Over the course of the next year Lenz and Cali continued to meet on a regular basis. They discussed Lenz's career objectives, worked through challenges he was facing professionally, discussed course selection and drank a considerable amount of coffee, jokes Lenz.
As the two came to understand each other's respective businesses it became evident that their might be a possibility for them to work together.
Founded in 1995, Southern Botanical had become the Dallas/Fort Worth benchmark for high-end outdoor landscape and irrigation installation and maintenance, with a client list that includes exclusive hotels and Park Cities residences. However, Cali was looking to expand and become a one-stop vendor for complete indoor as well as outdoor horticultural décor.
"Southern Botanical was looking to build something from an interior perspective - first and foremost centered around customer service - where only licensed and certified employees, complete with background checks, provide white glove service," said Cali. "After getting to know Andrew over a period of 16 months, I knew he grasped the key mantra of always going above and beyond, under-promising and over-delivering."
Not only was Cali impressed with Lenz's attention to detail and customer service, but Cali also understood his long-term goal of starting an interior business from scratch.
"I set about building a business case to present to the CEO of Southern Botanical and Jim and I built the division's first projected P&L. It was hard to believe that I was already putting into practice skills I had just learned in class," said Lenz.
After numerous meetings and a significant amount of planning, Lenz joined Southern Botanical in late 2007 to launch the Interior Division specializing in the design, installation and maintenance of interior plants, orchids and floral décor.
"My time with with my prior employer was critical to the success of the new division in Southern Botanical," said Lenz. "Previously, I managed both the sales and operations sides of the business. This well-rounded experience base was critical in developing, and now operating, the Interior Division."
At Southern Botanical, complete customer satisfaction is the number one goal. It is this level of service and dedication that is allowing the company to thrive, even in today's tough economic times. In fact, the company is planning a retail storefront and branch locations throughout the state. "With hard work and a bit of luck I will continue to grow the Interior Division of Southern Botanical into the premier interior horticulture firm in Dallas," said Lenz.
"I am grateful to the Cox School for providing The Associate Board and to the many business leaders who donate their time and energy to helping Cox students," said Lenz. "The nice thing about Jim is that he was honestly helping me develop professionally - our relationship never started out as an interview. Fate just happened to intervene."
Even two years after graduation, Lenz continues to lean on the Cox network as he progresses in his career, and he encourages all Cox MBAs to get involved.
"Were it not for Jim's sincere and earnest participation in the Associate Board I would not have had the opportunity to launch Southern Botanical Interiors," said Lenz. "I have continued to learn from him and am thankful that the Cox network was able to bring us together."


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|Posted on December 31, 2010 at 1:54 PM
Blecky Yuckerella Vol. 4
by Johnny Ryan
Published by Fantagraphics
Ships in: January 2011
"'Fucussle'?! What's that mean?"
"No, it's Fuck You, Asshole! by Johnny Ryan."
Thus begins the fourth and final collection of comic strips starring the stupidest, ugliest, stubbliest girl in grade number two. Blecky and her "pals" are back and so are the fountains of blood, urine, and other bodily fluids (not to mention profanity) in these riotously hilarious, eye-poppingly offensive four-panel gag strips. Co-starring the usual cast of Blecky's weirdo friends and enemies, plus douching robots, the Christmas barbarian, the world's most bad-ass Easter basket, the Spamfs, 69-11, sexy murder hunks, ass worship, glory holes, the Pizzazooka, Dizzy the herpes-sniffing dog, Sir Oreo Monocle and oh so much more. Over 100 pages of ridiculous absurdity, over-the-top grossouts, and scathing satire that could only come from the mind and pen of Johnny Ryan.
Review by PD Houston: I try to be as unbiased as possible when giving reviews, but I have to admit up front I am a huge fan of Johnny Ryan's work. I can't help it, I think it's hilarious. Insensitive over the edge foul mouthed humor is my kind of humor. But with that said I will give my review in as honest of a manner as possible of this 4th collection of Ryan's infamous character Blecky Yuckerella.
There's 106 pgs. of one page gag after another. At first I thought this format would get old, but I was wrong. Almost every page was grossly funny. Ryan misses on a few gags, but 100 of the 106 pgs. were great. I'm going to post some of my favorites throughout this review as examples of the hilarity contained within this volume. Still trying to be unbiased, but really I couldn't find anything wrong with this book.
Ryan has been around a long time now and he's as funny as he's ever been. I think I actually prefer Blecky Yuckerella to Angry Youth Comix, because of the just quick gross insane jokes spewed out at us. From joking about Swine Flu to legalizing Gay Marriage, Ryan's spins it like only he can. Johnny Ryan is in my mind is one of the best modern humorists in comics today. It's not the kind of humor that's gonna get him invited to lots of prestigious awards ceremonies, but you can not deny that this shit isn't funny!
Seriously for all those people who have not read a Johnny Ryan book for whatever stupid reason, pick this book up. There's gonna be something in here that will make you laugh or puke or laugh and puke at the same time. It's an awesome awesome book. Loved it all the way through.
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