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If you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you
Bobby Czyz remembers the two filled bookshelves in his childhood home in East Orange, N.J. It was there that his father, a bright, compulsive individual without a matching academic resume, thought that he could unlock the secrets of the universe and will what he had learned upon his young children.
"We had two complete sets of encyclopedias, volumes one through 28 for each," Czyz noted. "We had books by Nietzsche, a ton of biographies of great people, great philosophers. And my dad read them all – twice. He was obsessed with being omniscient."
For those without a handy dictionary, "omniscience" is a word that means the capacity to know everything that can be known. It represents the quest for mental perfection, a state of absolute knowledge that is, of course, impossible for any human being to achieve.
"I not only read Nietzsche, I lived Nietzsche," said Czyz, who has an IQ of 135 and is a member of Mensa, an organization open to those with genius-level intelligence. "I think what he was looking for drove him nuts. I don't know how else to put it. My dad was a sociopath. He probably was insane."
But while the father, a district sales manager for the Yellow Pages, passed along some favorable genes to his kids, all of whom were advanced-placement students, his quest for perfection also extended into the physical. He was determined that his sons would not only be sharp of mind, but of body, even if he had to break them to do it.
"We were forced into boxing, plain and simple," Czyz said. "It was demanded of us. It wasn't as if we had a choice. I was 10, Vincent was 9 and Tony was 7. We were told in no uncertain terms that we were going to the gym, and we would box until my father decided we didn't have to do it anymore.
"His rationale for that was fairly simple, at least in his mind. He likened young boys to malleable steel that needed to be shaped and hammered to mold their character. He wanted us beaten into sharp blades. My father wanted us to come out of the chute as men. We weren't allowed to just be little boys."
Technically, the Czyz brothers didn't begin to be trained as boxers until they moved to Wanaque, N.J., in 1972, when Bobby was 10. But the pain began years earlier, as Bobby recalled. "My father began teaching me the basics of boxing when I was 4," he said. "I have video of it. He was smacking me in the face. `Get your hands up, do this, do that.' It was crazy."
Although all three Czyz boys accomplished much at the amateur level, Bobby was the only one to stick with boxing after their father, somewhat inexplicably, decided in 1977 that they could quit if they wanted to. Then again, Bobby was the only one who had decided that there were places two hard fists and a good mind could take him that a good mind alone might not.
"East Orange was predominately black and Hispanic," Czyz said. "I was the tough white kid. There were 32 in my class when I was 10 years old, only four of whom were white. Guess who had to fight every day on his way to and from school? But that was no big deal. It was part of my life. I really didn't care. I actually kind of liked it. When my father told us we were moving to Wanaque, I didn't want to go.
"We probably never would have left East Orange, but the principal called my parents in and told them my siblings and I were too advanced for the curriculum and that we needed to get into a better school system to maximize our potential."
But while Wanaque represented a new start for the family, some things remained constant for Bobby.
"Wanaque was a predominately white suburb, but I had the city in me," he said. "And I was the new guy. So guess what? I got into a lot of fights there, too. Within weeks, everybody knew that I could fight because I had beaten the crap out of everybody who mistakenly thought they could take me.
"You know how these things get started. My hair was a little longer than theirs, my clothes were a little different. Somebody would say, `So, you think you're a tough guy?' And I'd say I know I'm a tough guy.' And the fight would be on."
Always the stern hand of the father was evident. The Czyz boys had to win, at whatever they attempted. Nothing less than total victory was acceptable in his eyes.
"I remember Vince getting beaten up by a kid the same age as him," Bobby said. "He came home with a busted lip, a black eye. My father said, `What happened?' Vince told him he had gotten into a fight with a kid named Jimmy, and he lost. I saw that fight but was not allowed to jump in because they were the same age. That was the rule. If it had been a bigger, older kid, it would have been OK for me to get involved.
"My father trained Vince for two weeks, after which he told him to go to Jimmy's house, knock on the door and, no matter who answered it, say he wanted to see Jimmy outside because they were going to fight again. And if the answer was no, for Vince to go back every day and say the same thing.
"Jimmy's mother answers the door and Vince says, `I want to fight Jimmy.' She says OK. They went out on the lawn and, this time, Vince beat the crap out of Jimmy. And that was enough to satisfy my father."
He who has a why to live bear almost any how.
Czyz still has difficulty sorting out his myriad feelings toward his father. He said he and his brothers were "tortured, physical, mentally and emotionally," but, as is sometimes the case, much of the good things in his life, including his boxing career, sprang from misery.
"My father taught me," Czyz said. "He taught me all the time. He'd say, `Don't do what I do, do what I say. I'm not perfect. I have flaws. Take my good and keep it, take my bad and throw it away.' But if you pointed out his bad, he would beat the crap out of you. So it was what it was.
"I had a fear of heights. Still do. But I don't let that fear stop me from doing what I need to do. I've jumped out of airplanes, on purpose, twice, parachuting in Arizona. I did it after my boxing career was over because I didn't want to risk hurting myself so that I couldn't fight anymore.
"How did I conquer my fear of heights, or at least control it? My father took me to the tallest tree in the neighborhood. It had to be 80 feet, higher than the tops of the buildings. He said, `Climb the tree.' I said, `How far up?' He said, `Until I say so.'
"I'm 10 years old, and I'm holding onto that tree so tight I thought I'd break it. I was shaking and crying. Then my dad looked up and said, `Who won, you or the tree?' I said, `I did.' And he said, `That's right, and it's because you were more afraid of taking a beating from me than falling out of the tree. Now come down.'"
The same do-or-die approach was used at the community swimming pool where a 12-year-old Bobby Czyz, who couldn't swim, was tossed into the deep end by his father.
"If you can't swim, there's a fear of drowning that comes over you and won't let go," Czyz said. "Why was my dad doing this to me? But I paddled, screamed and finally made it to the side of the pool, where I could climb out. He said, `Who won? You or the water?' I said, `I did.' He asked me why that was. I said, `Because I was afraid of dying.' And he said, `Exactly.'"
Some of the elder Czyz's lessons, however, he didn't take unto himself. When he took his own life in an act of desperation or madness, his family was left with so many recriminations that it would take a platoon of psychiatrists to sort out.
"When he died, I felt a lot of guilt. I probably drank myself to sleep for four or five weeks," Czyz said. "For seven years I couldn't get rid of the nightmares, the horror that was going through my head. My heart would be racing. I'd wake up in a cold sweat. Sometimes it would be multiple times a week, sometimes only once or twice a month, but it always happened.
"I used self-hypnosis to finally get through it. Whenever my dad would show up in one of my nightmares, I programmed myself to subconsciously say, `Wake up, idiot. He's dead. He can't hurt you anymore.' Then I'd wake up, the nightmare would be over and I could get some peaceful sleep. "
Part II deals with Bobby Czyz's careers in boxing and broadcasting, his love for and mistakes made with his late wife, Kimberly, who died of breast cancer, and his hopes for his daughter, Mercedes, who will be entering her sophomore year at Hofstra University.
Photos / Timothy Clary-AFP and Bobby Czyz
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This foundation would be my favourite if not the lack of a pump and a shade in between the Ivory and Buff!
It is available in a lot of drugstores and the variety of shades is impressive. Also it has another version for oily/combination skin!
The price may vary : 12-16$

subset: commoncrawl


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I don't like to use the words "fop or "dandy much, but, dang, does this guy ever look sharp. He is looking fine. There's a reason Europe listened to these guys for so long, because just look at the style that's going on in here. It's irresistible. Whether it's a cotillion or a duel, you'll show up in style with the Men's Aristocrat Costume (maybe on some kind of a horse-drawn machination).The Men's Aristocrat Costume comes with all of the duds a gentleman would normally have Ð a jacket (with attached vest), pants, and jabot (which is apparently "An ornamental cascade of ruffles or frills down the front of a shirt, blouse, or dress. Huh. Who knew?). The only thing you're missing is a powdered wig, a tri-corner hat, a butler, and a flintlock musket, then you'd be the dapperest dandy that anyone has ever seen. There's no question about that. Having your very own jabot is pretty good, too, though.
Available in Sizes:
Standard and XL
Item Includes:
Jacket w/Attached Vest, Jabot and Pants
Pictured items not included:
Socks, Shoes, Wig
Care Instructions:
Hand wash cold. Mild soap. Do not bleach, twist or wring. Drip dry only.
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T.S. Shure
Cast & Mold Your Own Bones
- Color:
- multi
Qty: 1
- 1
- 2
Description: Children learn about their bones and what they are made of. This kit helps children learn what bones need to remain healthy. Then they can cast their own one to 4, scale model skeleton. The science kit includes a full color, illustrated book, modeling plaster, skeleton mold, and poster.
- Kit helps children learn about bones and how to keep them healthy
- Includes modeling plaster, skeleton mold and poster
- Recommended ages 8 and up
Material: Cast and Mold Kit
Brand: T.S. Shure
Origin: Imported


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Find a Business in Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Home & Garden: Safety & Security, Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Yellow Pages Canada presents extensive contact information for Safety & Security businesses within our Home & Garden category in and near the Clarenville, Newfoundland-and-Labrador area. Discover the best Safety & Security businesses near Clarenville. With YP.ca you can be certain you'll find exactly what you're looking for anywhere in Canada.


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Breakfast with The Beatles - Satudays 8a-10a
Breakfast with the Beatles hosted by Denis Mitchell includes Beatles recordings; solo recordings by former members of the Beatles; cover versions of songs written or performed by the Beatles or the former members thereof; music by close associates of the Beatles, such as Yoko Ono, and the children of members of the band; news, features, and interviews related to the Beatles, former members and associates; and interviews with experts on Beatle history and trivia.
Timewarp - Satudays 10a - Noon
Timewarp is radio's favortie journey through the past bringing you the sights and sounds of the 60's, 70's & 80's mixed with the greatest rock of all time. Hoseted by the legendary Bill St. James.
LIVE in Concert - Saturdays 6p - 8p
Every Saturday night from 6p-8p, KLOO runs LIVE in Concert program. The show is legendary performances by the icons of rock and roll. Each week this show re-lives the most memorable performances in the history of rock and roll. You'll hear your favorite bands like never before. From small clubs to packed arenas, LIVE in Concert features a wide variety of concerts showcasing various stages of each artist's career.
Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown - Saturdays 8p-10p
KLOO's got a new DJ! Every Saturday night from 8p-10p, Sammy Hagar, best known from Van Halen, will be on-air with his Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown. The show will be a party on the radio…where Sammy counts down whatever he wants! He'll be full of attitude as only the red rocker can be!
Sponosred by
Acoustic Storm - Sundays 7a - 10a
The Acoustic Storm is a nationally syndicated radio program, featuring the best variety of acoustic-based rock. With an emphasis on acoustic guitar-driven songs, Jeff Parets presents the full spectrum of acoustic rock, including rarely heard "unplugged" versions of classic tunes in their purest form. Each week, the show spotlights an artist in "The Eye of The Acoustic Storm" with music, bio information and sound bites.
Blues Deluxe - Sundays 6p - 7p
Blues Deluxe is a weekly one-hour presentation of rock and traditional blues music hosted by Dave Johnson.
Get the Led Out - Sundays 9p - 10p
Carol Miller hosts a Weekly Hour and Daily Features that explore and honor the 40-year career of Led Zeppelin.
Floydian Slip - Sundays 11p - Midnight
Every Sunday night from 11p-Midnight, KLOO runs Floydian Slip, The Pink Floyd Experience hosted by Craig Bailey. The show is a weekly journey through the history of Pink Floyd. Host Craig Bailey works classic Floyd songs, deep album cuts and Floyd's unique brand of ambient segues into a seamless blend of music and sound best described as a listening experience. Accented with succinct and thoughtful commentary, Floydian Slip is a show that becomes a weekly destination for classic rock and Pink Floyd fans.


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Art Deco Contrast-Glass Shade Pendant, c1930 Item # R2376
Typically, we would refer to a light fixture with one arm and one shade as a pendant. But this antique seems to deserve a more elevated appellation. "Pendalier," perhaps? The gilt finish on the fixture contributes to the luxe look, but what really takes this light into chandelier territory is the skyscraper shade. Opaque at the top and clear glass on the bottom, it's almost like two shades in one. Besides making this piece undeniably fancy, the two-tone shade also creates a lovely quality of light: diffuse and ambient radial glow from the creamy upper portion, and prettily fractured downlight from the clear lower portion.
- Historical Style: Art Deco
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I'm trying to think of the last night-time soap I watched. I've tried quite a few (Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) but haven't stuck with any because I didn't find them all that interesting and I hated almost all of the characters. Revenge, though, is turning into the kind of mindless soap I can sink into and enjoy for a long time. Or at least the first 13 episodes.
I complained in my review of the pilot that I thought the show would be more interesting if Revenge was not set in the world of the rich and privileged. I take that back. Watching Emily screw over all those rich people is fun! Last week, she destroyed a cheating wife. This week she destroyed a hedge fund manager. Who will she destroy next week? Looking at the zeitgeist, which is where the writers/creators seem to be getting their victims, my guess is a politician, maybe Yancy Arias' district attorney. If there is one way to assure great ratings it is to show the destruction of the boogeymen of the economic collapse.
There is a lot to like about this show, starting with Madeline Stowe. Why an actress with the beauty and acting chops of Stowe isn't a bigger star is a mystery. It's great to see her sink her teeth into a juicy role like Victoria Grayson. Her scenes with Emily Van Camp's character crackle with chemistry. They smile at each other, lie, double talk and you wonder which of those vipers is going to strike first. It's delicious fun to watch.
It's all fun to watch – Emily's sly wooing of Daniel Grayson, her tentative alliance with Nolan Ross, her obvious attraction and affection for Jack, the cunning way she takes down her revenge of the week victim. The only part of this show that doesn't seem to work very well is the character of Declan and Emily's party planner "friend." Declan is your stock "horn dog from across the tracks" character. He isn't needed to show there is a middle class on the Hamptons. Jack fills that role nicely, plus he has a meaning to the larger story. The party planner is purely an exposition machine, telling Emily at every party who is who. Though really, she is telling the viewer. Emily already knows who everyone is. Get rid of those two and give Jack and Nolan more to do and I'd be much happier.
Other Thoughts:
- For someone whose viewing habits skew to the fantastical where a healthy sense of disbelief is mandatory (Fringe, Battlestar Galactica, Warehouse 13, A Gifted Man, The X Files, Falling Skies, V, Star Trek: The Next Generation), it seems incongruous that the age of Jack's dog would irritate me. But, it does. Very much. While a 16-17 year old dog isn't completely out of the realm of possibility, it's pretty close. I doubt that dog would be running around the Hamptons like he was 10. In the real world, he would be overweight, sleeping all the time and have hip problems. I get what the creators and writers are trying to do here, but it's a bit of a cheap shortcut to establish the connection between Emily and Jack. The actors have enough chemistry that the dog is unnecessary. If they're planning on a doggie deathbed scene to bring our characters even closer, they need to talk to the producers of Game of Thrones and see how fandom reacts to animal deaths.
- Even though Daniel is kind of white bread and boring, it is nice that they aren't making all of the rich people total douchebags. Of course, the only nice one got shot in the flash forward of the premiere.
- I'm having almost as much fun watching Emily's wardrobe as I am her revenge plots. She's got some awesome clothes.
- Sure, Nolan is kind of annoying, but if he's a rich tech guy (he seems like a Mark Zuckerberg clone) he would have people hanging all over him. He wouldn't have to buy friends like he's trying to do with Jack.
- Though, I think his ulterior motive there is to throw Jack and Emily together so Jack figures out she is really Amanda. It seems he's doing it for a good reason, but I bet there is more to it.
- I also said in my pilot review of Revenge that I wanted to see Emily ruin someone that didn't deserve it. I wonder if that won't be Daniel Grayson. He seems to be a nice enough guy and she is using him. If he really does die from being shot in the premiere, then I will be satisfied and will be hooked. My guess is, the actor is too hot to be killed off, though.