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New Archbishop of Glasgow 'wishes he never linked MP's death to being gay'
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Nonsense. He just regrets getting caught on the record. I don't believe for one single second that his opinion has changed, someone has just told him to be more careful who he spouts his bilge to.
I agree with you Valsky, he' makes a "sincere" apology and five days from now he'll go back to saying that gay marriage will destroy the universe.
Exactly my thought on the matter.
It's like claiming that "it was the alcohol speaking" when you awake the next morning and realize that you must explain some awful statements you made the night before.
He wouldn't have said it if he didn't believe it, and it's his belief that matters.
He sounds like another brick in a wall of ignorance being built by the current regime in Rome.
The lack of compassion (supposedly a Christian trait!!!) in making comments which are inaccurate. The venom of refusing to apologise unless one was asked for in writing. The ignorance and arrogance of claiming evidence supports their "knowledge" about homosexual orientation being linked to early death, when all scientific studies saying this have been discredited and the wealth of evidence supports there being no link.
For me, this makes this an admission of being embarrassed by the Archbishop-elect (as well he might be) but does not equal an apology.
I note the RC church struggle to deal with evidence having failed to respond to Patrick Harvie's challenge (within the time scale they themselves set).
Sure, robust debate is good. When you demean people with inaccurate and insulting rhetoric that is false and couple this with the most grotesque language – then to rub salt in the wound you refuse to apologise unless it is asked for in writing, and then put a meek "apology" in a
publication few people would usually see – following a call from your "leader" to declare war on those supporting equality. Then this is not robust debate – this is scurrilous lies, manipulation, falsehood, deception, pique, and blase attempts to try and subjugate others.
It is far from surprising from leaders of an organisation that time and again has shown itself to have leaders who manipulate, lie, deceive and act in an obtuse and inhumane manner, even obstructing criminal investigations and failing to protect innocent young children.
The apology lacks any sincerity and the Archbishop will frequently be reminded of his odious behaviour.
this life expectancy thing is the amsterdamn report form a couple decades ago. An american hate group FRC got the ages of about 100 gays who had died early and averaged them> It ignored all those living to a ripe old age. Simply claiming all gays would die an early death
It certainly is the Dr Cameron "research" and is entirely discredited.
The man is ignorant and hateful, just like the rest of the clergy!
If he had any decency he would resign.
He is clearly a disgusting bigot with no respect or compassion for other human beings.
He is an abhorrent man, and brings further disgrace and shame to the catholic cult.
So this hateful monster is due to be enthroned in September?
Will there be a protest.
This monstrous scumbag thinks that being gay kills a person.
His sickening bigotry means that he is a legitimate target of protest and we must make sure that he understands how disgusting his views are.
As for his non-apology – he can shove that up his ass.
I'm up for a protest – anyone like the Equality Network etc organising one?
Mind, the Equality Network is a government funded body.
So are many charities and that does not stop them engaging in campaigns and protests.
The other point is the protest would not be againsst government – it would be against the RC church leadership; which is a very worthwhile form of protest.
"He later added "I would hope we can have reasoned and robust discussions while speaking in a respectful and civilised manner.""
Yeah right!
He wouldn't know how to talk respectfully and in a civilised manner or how to show "Christian" compassion if it hit him in the face.
It always makes me chuckle when religious people appeal for a 'reasoned' debate on anything at all!
A small minority can – my experience is the leadership of the RC church fail to comprehend logic, reason or evidence. Hence their breach of their promise to respond to Patrick Harvies challenge.
Being religious means being irrational as it requires a belief in an imaginary 'god'.
It is impossible to reason with the religious.
ok being reasonable means no mention of "God" or quotes from a work of fiction. O wait theres nothing left for them to say.
"when you consider that Christ is the answer to humanity's deepest longings and points the way for society to progress, "
I think you mean REGRESS…..
Regression like the 1000 year dark ages when catholic kings in cabal with the vatican ruled Europe
Zero social and economic progress, may wars and the 500 year invasions of Muslim lands, part of which was to force the arab "heretics" to convert.
Tens of millions died, and the arabs havnt' forgotten. Hate creates more hate and hence 9-11 etc
It always makes me chuckle when religious people ask for a 'reasoned' debate about anything whatever!
Whoops! Sorry folks! This second one's a boob, blame the computer…
Where was his common sense?
Maybe he's just happy being common and can do without the sense bit.
Thanks for the apology..
And you are still a turd.
Utter rubbish. He's retracted his statement because of increasing pressure from many people who do not subscribe to his bigotry, including many in his own church.
That he spreads hugely erroneous information in regard to sexual orientation, information that has been thoroughly debunked overhwelmingly by legitimate medical and scientific institutions is tantamount to bearing false witness against one's neighbour, i.e. gay people, a violation of the 8th commandment. This passes for "christian" charity? To me it proves that many in the clergy are nothing more than the biggest hypocrites of all, something that Jesus Christ never tolerated. I see no likeness between Tartaglia and his ilk and Jesus Christ who they claim to follow. Definitely a big disconnect. People like him are christian in name only. He may dress as one but that's where the similarity ends.
It's going to be very interesting to see how Patrick Harvie delivers the goods to Peter Kearney.
What puzzles me and makes me chuckle, is their hero Jesus of Nazareth, said some words to his mother Mary at his Crucifiction, which under Jewish law means James was his lifelong partner.
So any vile hatred spouted by this monster is nothing more than his own denial of what his own bible teaches him
and a personal battle with his own fancy.
He speaks for none of my Catholic friends, whom I value and pity due to having odeous leaders bullying them like this.
Totally agree with you about Tartaglia being idious, but Jewish law recognised/recognises same-sex relationships? News to me, I'm sorry to say.
As far as I know, only Liberal, Reformed or Reconstructionist Judaism recognise same-sex relationships. Conservative and Orthodox do not. At the time of the crucifixion, orthodox judaism ruled the day which explains away all of those ridiculously absurd references in the old testament, you know, "traditional marriage", that often included the uniquely heterosexual inventions polygamy and incestuous relationships.
The story of this spiteful bishop was first reported by PN on the 26th July. Given the hurtful nature of the comment, I believe he has behaved insultingly again by taking two whole weeks to apologise.
Originally the RC church leadership demonstrated their spirit of humility and compassion by refusing to apologise unless a request for an apology was made in writing.
Such is the grotesque nature of the behaviour of the church leadership.
That's absolutely shameful.
Galileo was convicted of heresy in 1633 by the Roman Inquisition for saying that the earth revolves around the sun. The Pope did not apologise for the church's error until 2000. Apologies take a long time in the Roman Catholic Church.
Tartaglia remains hate-filled, monstrous, evil scum.
OK then bish.
As an atheist I promise NOT to comment on ecumenical religious matters if you as an avowed SINGLE VIRGIN promise not to comment on matters related to sexuality and relationships.
Sounds fair to me.
Sounds entirely reasonable!!! ;-)
shame on you – sorry my ars* your only sorry it was reported and you qwere caught out
Tartaglia says "…our beliefs and practices are routinely ridiculed…"
Aside from the unpleasant, whining victimhood in this comment, which seems to be a tactic adopted by much of the 'Religious Right' whenever they are even mildly criticised, Tartaglia should realise that stupid comments such as his claims about Cairns are the reason why some clerics are seen to be ridiculous.
This man will soon be the most senior cleric in the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. That is deeply embarrassing to many of us who still hold great fondness for the Church.
Fondness for the catholic cult?
What on earth for?
It hates you?
No LGBT person or woman with any self respect or self worth should feel anything but revulsion for this poisonous, hateful cult.
You have a fondness for a Church that covers up paedophilia and harbours paedophiles?
This idiot is probably the least embarrassing thing you need to worry about with regards to the Catholic church.
Yet another example of how supposedly educated religious leaders use malicious gossip to try and make their position on homosexuality credible.
His comments were the same as the rubbish that was churned out in the 80's about AIDS being the will of God to smite homosexuals (don't know how it was supposed to smite the lesbians though). Whereas time has shown that thanks to the Vatican's intervention against safe sex in Africa, HIV and AIDS is now at it's highest amongst African heterosexuals. He's sorry because he got caught out by people of independent thought and common sense.
He may as well say that Catholicism is linked to obesity.
Anyone who makes baseless and spurious links between a tragic illness and death which could affect anyone and having gay sex ( including without the slightest regard to whether the sex is faithful/and or safe) in order to promote a political line is a manipulative cynic and liar, or an imbecile, or maybe both. In such cases 'apologies' are at best an irrelevant diversion.
Not that this really counts as an apology
He should have his jaws wired; it would kill two birds with one stone.
Allow Catholic priests to marry! End the ban! Allow women priests!
And sell the Vatican.
That would raise enough money to end world poverty.
Of course he is only sorry because he got caught on the record and it was a ridiculously hateful, spiteful, misinformed and utterly rubbish comment.
Much like the ridiculously hateful, spiteful, misinformed and utterly rubbish comments made by some of these posters.
I fail to comprehend how so many members of our community engage in EXACTLY the same behaviour they are decrying against.
We are on the defense. NOT the attack.
And that defense absolutely must include stooping to their level does it?
Try living with these attacks for 50 years.
This Tartaglia person is an evil monster.
So what's your point?
And what's your point? Two wrongs still don't make a right. We'll get nowhere in fighting for full equality and respect from all if we resort to the same degree of disinformation and spite that the Catholic Church employs.
I agree.
Whilst there are strong grounds for criticism of the RC church – and they should be used – taking it that step forward loses the moral advantage in the argument. Our cause is better than that.
Absolutely true Stu. We can fight hate with anger and a just cause more effectively than by duplicating our opponents mistakes!
It is not spiteful to declare that Mr Tartaglia is evil, dangerous, extremist scum.
It is an accurate description of him.
This is a man who claims that being gay kills you.
he does not believe in equal civil rights and he is part of an extremist cult that protects child molesters.
I am being very mild and reasonable when I criticise him.
He is extremist scum – why shouild anyone pretend that he isn't.
It absolutely is spiteful and hateful and it lowers you to their level. It shows that you too are evil, dangerous and extremist.
He never claimed being gay kills you…….do not make crap up.
What he said was vile and disgraceful, just as you are as well and VERY dangerous to your own community's well being and safety.
I think its entirely reasonable to be commenting on the spiteful, misinformed, false and potentially harmful comments that the Archbishop-elect made and his dubious apology.
I think its entirely reasonable that when you are in a strategic leadership position to have your conduct held to account.
Comparisons of improper prior behaviour by the RC leadership and this odious episode by the Archbishop-elect are worthy of comparison.
It does absolutely nothing but harm our cause by commenting on such vile behaviour in a manner that is identical in nature to our opponents. It damages us, not them.
Something we agree on! ;-)
lets try to make it a pattern!….LOL
"But you seem to hear so many stories about this kind of thing, but society won't address it. You're right, Lesley, thank you."
I bet he's not thanking the equally odious Lesley Pilkington who led Tartaglia into this controversy, both she and he should seek therapy for their extreme homophobia.
The problem is that he did, and he doesn't appear to understand that what he said was nonsense
As a man with such huge responsibility within the R C church, this shortly-to-be-an-Archbishop should make sure that every pronouncement he makes is valid and backed by facts. There is no room for personal opinions in his position.
Let's hope he learns from the huge disservice he has done to the church he represents and goes some way to redressing his huge, huge gaff.
His imminent promotion is precisely the reason for coming out with all this bilge – he is signalling his orthodoxy to the Vatican bosses, whose own casual view of facts and evidence is well enough known.
Roman Catholicism – the religion of choice for facists, Franco, Hitler and Mussolini.
I agree. Just don't say the same about Moslems on here though, since you'll get showered with 'bad comment' ticks and loads of self-hating comments. It's fine to attack Christianity but not Islam. Got that? It's the sort of crap unspoken code on here.
Personally, I attack repressive monotheism in all its forms.
It was also the religion of choice for some of the most remarkable human beings that include Giovanni Battista Riccioli, Louis Pasteur, Salvador dahli and Leonardo da Vinci………making a statement so broadsweeping in it's generalisation is inflammatory at best.
The approach I try to take when criticising the RC church is to either concentrate on the leadership and their errors (as in this matter) or multiple examples. I try to remember that there are some very good people (including some LGBT people) in the RC church who disagree with the vile rhetoric that their leadership perpetuates. I sometimes struggle to understand how they stay inside the organisation that acts in such an appalling fashion, and I do question the choices they make in that regard – however, I do recognise that a simplistic approach of RC church is entirely bad wrongly maligns many individuals within the organisation. That is not to dilute my despair at some of the horrendous acts including these events or to condone any of the leaderships wrongdoing. My criticism will continue – but I hope it will be measured and carefully directed and not damage the campaigns to achieve equality etc etc.
Hear hear!
Nicely written!
I gasp with horror and tremble with fear when I hear, as we all so often do, the absolute lack of kindness or understanding that these horrible people display. The history of this wicked institution is demonstration enough that they have no valid claim to the moral high ground. What happened to humility?
Some of the leadership seem to repeatedly have an attitude of "practice what we preach, not as we do" when it comes to characteristics such as humility, compassion, thoughtfulness etc.
Does he also regret the physical linking of priestly penises with juvenile anuses?
"I would hope we can have reasoned and robust discussions while speaking in a respectful and civilised manner."
We lost that hope long time ago
Get down on ya knees and beg us for forgiveness! It won't be a position he's unfamiliar with I'm sure.
You wish you had never alluded to it? I wish you had never bothered with your detestable, self-serving "apology". Alas, I haven't a choice in the matter.
"I would hope we can have reasoned and robust discussions while speaking in a respectful and civilised manner."
In other words, 'it's not my fault other people are upset that I would just happen to blame David Cairns dying of pancreatitis on the fact he is a filthy queer barely a few months after his death. I am terribly, sincerely sorry you overreacted. Now will his grieving family please calm down now? Learn to be civilised like me.'
To get higher up in the church they have to pass again and again examinations in homophobia. He passed once again so he can be archbishop.
I believe his apology as much as I believe the other nonsense he spouts as part of his day job.
It's like saying "it was the alcohol speaking" when you awake next morning to realize that you must account for some awful things you said last night.
He wouldn't have said it if he didn't believe it, and what he believes is all that matters.
"I wish I had never alluded to Mr Cairns. I am very sorry for the offence it caused. I have made a sincere apology and hope that it is accepted"
In other words im shocked that the general public does not share my bigoted views and sorry that I was called out for it but im not sotty for saying it or holding this belief"
A bit late dick-head to regret now when the damage is done..
Resignation would be a good way to say sorry and show remorse. Sadly this not know no remorse only their own arrogance,so I'm not holding my breath on that happening.
Dear Phlip Tartaglia and other Catholic leaders, we are very sorry for any offence and distress our homosexuality may have caused you.
We have now made a sincere apology for the upset you feel over our sexual orientation and sexuality , we hope that this apology is accepted and a line can now finally be drawn under the matter once and for all.
"When our sexual orientation and our sexuality is routinely ridiculed, the instinct is to keep the head down. That's understandable. But, when you consider that marriage is the answer to humanity's deepest longings and that marriage equality points the way for society to progress, we betray our essential calling as citizens of faith and of all world views if we fail to acknowledge that it is bad for a man to face a life alone without commitment in marriage to a loved one and that marriage equality can only help to improve the health of all married persons.
The damage has been done, pharisee. As you are not Christian, go and pray to your statues because your congregations are getting smaller and smaller.
You don't regret anything you said because that would be against the Roman Catholic Churches teachings of hate.
I wouldn't expect him to support marriage-equality and that would be his position that he would make clear. As the Archbishop elect, or any person of prominence, but especially a supposed man of God, I would demand and he should demand of himself, that he only make honest truthful statements that are above reproach. If he didn't specifically know all of the details of the MP's death or these supposed ridiculous statistics, he should have kept his mouth shut.
I neglected to add that the reason for watching what you say as a prominent person is because what you say matters. People listen to it. You can't un-ring a bell. You can apologize and retract a statement, but who really hears that as much as they heard the initial statement. Now, I know that I'm stating the obvious and that these people are most likely completely aware of this fact. What frustrates me is that the very people doing these things and making these statements are the people asking for the public trust as politicians, church leaders, and business leaders alike. I'm glad that people are finally speaking up and out against this activity!
He isn't telling the truth at all. There are lots of outrageous remarks by the catholic church and then they appologize
Knowing that the damage is done to the victim, and that the apology will not be seen by most
In psychology its called the bad is more powerful then the good.
Old trick.
Someone should go digging and find out the possible dirt on him hiding molesters.
He isn't telling the truth at all. There are many outrageous remarks by the catholic church and then they apologize
Knowing that the damage is done to the victim, and that the apology will not be seen by most
In psychology its called the bad is more powerful then the good.
Old trick.
Someone should go digging and find out the possible dirt on him hiding molesters
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WEST NEW YORK — The driver of a bus involved in a chain-reaction crash Tuesday that killed an 8-month-old girl should not have been behind the wheel because of his poor driving record, according to the Hudson County sheriff who Thursday called for a "massive crackdown" on commuter bus companies.
Sheriff Frank Schillari said it was "ludicrous" that Idowu Daramola was still driving despite a record that included three open traffic warrants and four other violations for speeding, running a red light and ignoring a stop sign since 2011.
Daramola, 48, New York, was allegedly using a cell phone Tuesday afternoon when his bus jumped a curb on Boulevard East in West New York and struck a lamppost, which then fell onto 8-month-old Angelie Paredes, who was in her stroller. Angelie, of North Bergen, died minutes later.
Daramola has been charged with death by auto and reckless driving. Schillari also revealed for the first time Thursday that speed played a role in the crash, though he refused to elaborate.
"This tragedy would have been averted had we caught up with this driver through the regular channels Apparently, it just slipped through," Schilari said.
But a Department of Motor Vehicles official in New York, where Daramola's commercial license was issued, said in a statement the violations were "neither disqualifying nor serious driving offenses" and did not warrant a suspension or other action.
Scrutiny of Daramola's driving record came as he made his first court appearance and hours before the release of 911 tapes in which callers who had rushed to Angelie's aid asked why it was taking so long for emergency crews to arrive.
At the same time, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which oversees commercial buses, said it would act on a request by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to investigate Boulevard Lines, the Ridgefield company that owns the bus Daramola was driving.
Speaking to reporters after Daramola appeared in Superior Court in Jersey City, Schillari offered harsh words for companies like Boulevard Lines, claiming they don't properly vet their drivers.
"They are supposed to check their drivers to see if their driving record is valid," he said. "Law enforcement can't do it all alone."
Calls to Boulevard Lines were not returned Thursday. However, federal records show that since July 2011, two of the company's drivers have taken off the road during random inspections. After eight separate inspections, four of the company's buses were also taken out of service, records show.
Schillari maintained that Daramola's driving record was serious enough to warrant a suspension. He also said he assumed New York officials would have acted had they known about his infractions in New Jersey.
"Sometimes from state to state, the documents don't get reported," Schillari said. "Otherwise, New York would have probably suspended his license."
Elyse Coffey, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission, said the agency informed the New York Department of Motor Vehicles of four violations committed by Daramola in 2011 and 2012.
But in a statement, Peter Bucci, public information officer for the New York DMV, said "New York State is required by law to post certain disqualifying convictions and serious driving offenses on the New York record if such offenses occur out of state. However, in this case the offenses committed in New Jersey, that we know about, are neither disqualifying nor serious driving offenses."
Daramola remains at the Hudson County jail in lieu of $250,000. He was unable to retain an attorney in time for Thursday's hearing and did not enter a plea.
Hours after the hearing, a dozen 911 tapes were obtained by The Star-Ledger that included several frantic calls from people growing increasingly angry over the amount of time it was taking for an ambulance to reach the accident scene on Boulevard East.
"There's no ambulance and it's been more than five or six minutes now!" one woman screamed at a dispatcher. "I don't know if the baby is even alive now!"
Another man called four minutes later,
"It's been about ten minutes, there's an infant involved and there's no ambulance or paramedics on the scene," he said.
West New York Police Officer Michael Stetson was on the scene almost immediately, and performed CPR on Angelie. An ambulance was on the scene "within nine minutes," after the 12:45 p.m. accident, said Michael Makarski, a sheriff's office spokesman.
Meanwhile, Schillari's department has begun randomly stopping commuter buses in Hudson County, checking drivers' records and investigating companies to make sure their vehicles were in good condition.
Last evening, investigators impounded their first bus when a vehicle owned by St. Jude Bus Company ran a red light in North Bergen around 5:15 p.m. The driver's personal and commerical licenses were both suspended, Makarski said.
"We get no cooperation from the bus companies," Schillari said. "So as of this point, they better be on alert."

subset: commoncrawl


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21048905474250145.post1988227805779491739..comments2016-10-18T16:59:01.103-04:00Comments on Basement of Ghoulish Decadence: Some quick thoughts on Creepshow 2 (1987)Jayson Kennedyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-21048905474250145.post-82901646593859708022009-11-10T09:21:48.857-05:002009-11-10T09:21:48.857-05:00I have fond memories of watching both Creepshow fi...I have fond memories of watching both Creepshow films as a kid. I remember going to the local video rental store and seeing a big cardboard cutout display for Creepshow and begging my father to rent it for me. The original is a true classic and is one of the best horror anthologies ever made. Romero and King were on the top of their game. The cast is amazing and it's shot really beautifully.

Creepshow 2 is a lot of fun too. I remember seeing this one on TV a lot more as a kid, which is probably why it holds a special place in my heart along with RotLD 2. I don't feel that it's quite up to par with the original, but it's still a great sequel. The raft is definitely the best segment of the film.Anthony1138http://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-21048905474250145.post-20451498840913000892009-11-10T08:18:15.836-05:002009-11-10T08:18:15.836-05:00This Movie Had some very Remeberable parts in it! ...This Movie Had some very Remeberable parts in it! It's not as good as the first one but it is entertaining. I have watched this multiple times, the best time to watch it is when you are relaxed. I like the style used to create this movie.DAMINhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-21048905474250145.post-31149888121893550162009-11-09T13:20:00.580-05:002009-11-09T13:20:00.580-05:00They should have ended the movie with "The Ra...They should have ended the movie with "The Raft" and done what they always do with these anthology movies, save the best for last!

Not a bad movie, but I enjoy the first a whole lot more.The Film Connoisseurhttp://email@example.com


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is a blog about design, technology and culture written by Khoi Vinh, and has been more or less continuously published since December 2000 in New York City. Khoi is currently Principal Designer at Adobe, Design Chair at Wildcard and co-founder of Kidpost. Previously, Khoi was co-founder and CEO of Mixel (acquired by Etsy, Inc.), Design Director of The New York Times Online, and co-founder of the design studio Behavior, LLC. He is the author of "Ordering Disorder: Grid Principles for Web Design," and was named one of Fast Company's "fifty most influential designers in America." Khoi lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn with his wife and three children. Refer to the advertising and sponsorship page for inquiries.+
G5 Numbers
In his excellent and characteristically exhaustive weblog post on the pros and cons of owning an Apple PowerBook, Jon Gruber advises: "Anyone already using an aluminum-era PowerBook G4 would probably be well-advised to wait" before buying a new Macintosh laptop. He also goes on to say that, in spite of Apple's pending move to Intel processors, there are still at least "a handful of reasons why someone might want a last-generation PowerPC Mac instead of a first-generation Intel… The current versions of Adobe's and Microsoft's suites should run under Rosetta, but I strongly suspect performance won't be as good as on last-generation PowerPC machines."
As it happens, all of that is perfect advice for the situation in which I currently find myself. My 1 GHz PowerBook G4 is quickly approaching its second birthday and it's starting to show its age. It's noticeably slower than I'd like it to be, and it has no hope of running Apple's forthcoming Aperture photo editing software. Still, it functions ably for portable computing needs, so I know it's not quite ready to be replaced by a new PowerBook. On the other hand, if I want to offset the big bill coming my way from the Internal Revenue Service next April, now is the time for me to invest in new computing horsepower.
So I've been thinking more and more about buying a desktop machine. Notwithstanding the several desktop Macintoshes I've had at my various jobs, this will be the first desk-bound computer that I've bought for my personal use since my first Mac, a lowly Power Macintosh 6100/60 purchased back in 1994.It will also be the first time in over eight years that I'll keep a desktop machine in my home office, such as it is.
From Lap to Desk
This is a counter-intuitive move in an age when laptops are rising in popularity and desktops are falling. But I'm taking to heart the lessons of my incredibly trusty Power Macintosh G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors), which I've had at the office for three years. It's been an absolute workhorse, and its surplus of ports, bays and slots has proven to be continually useful. There are many, many advantages to portable computing, but expandability is not one of them — towers like my Power Mac, on the other hand, are highly adaptable and configurable by the end user, a trait I've really come to value.
As a consequence, I've been looking closely at the cost of a brand new, dual-core Power Macintosh G5. It doesn't look cheap.
Power Mac G5 Pricing Estimate
|Dual 2GHz Power Mac G5
|AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth Addition
|AppleCare Extended Warranty
|Two 1GB Third-party DDR2 SDRAM Modules
|20″ Apple Cinema Display
|Shipping & Sales Tax (approx.)
There was a bit of sticker shock when I added it all up. I'm not sure exactly how much I expected to pay — maybe US$1,300 less? I'm fully aware that the Power Mac G5 is, after all, a professional machine and that it comes with an attendant price point, but it still seems somewhat painful that it should be so prohibitively expensive for home users.
This underscores a drawback of Apple's long-standing, simplified product line: there's a gap between the company's offering for home users and its offering for pro users. You might call it the 'prosumer' line, for lack of a better term — a market segment that, not coincidentally, camera manufacturers have made the most of in the past few years. By bridging their priced-to-move point-and-shoot cameras and their much more expensive professional grade cameras with reasonably priced digital SLRs, Canon and Nikon have convinced a nation of wannabe photographers to spend hundreds of dollars more than they might otherwise have for cameras, lenses and accessories.
It's perhaps too convenient an analogy to be realistically applied to Apple, because prices for the company's consumer and professional lines aren't as dramatically far apart as what we see in the camera industry. But it's a shame that, for those for whom iMacs or Mac minis are insufficiently expandable, the only alternative is the grand expense of a Power Mac G5.
The Right Mac for the Right Job
To be explicit, what's missing is essentially a more expandable counterpart to the iMac G5 — a serious machine based on a version of the same, top-of-the-line processor but, crucially, without the iMac's built-in display. Instead, a reasonably powerful video card would allow users to add an Apple Cinema Display (or any third party monitor), or to swap that same card for a more powerful, game-friendly substitute. The production savings from the display could be spent on a more manipulable enclosure: a mini-tower with at least one open drive bay and two available PCI slots, along with room for the addition of a moderate amount of RAM, perhaps up to 4 Gigabytes. While we're at it, the machine may as well be priced similarly to the iMac, as well: US$1,399, say, for a 2.1GHz model equipped with a 250GB Serial ATA hard drive and an 8X SuperDrive.
Naturally there's the danger that such a model would steal market share from the Power Mac G5 line, cannibalizing sales that might otherwise have gone into more expensive models because of this alternative machine's expandability. This existing gap between Apple's consumer and pro lines is, of course, no accident; it's a sign of shrewdness, not incompetence, that the company's current offering forces consumers like myself to spend for more horsepower than I truly need. I acknowledge that readily, and I'm realistic about that proposition being a very good reason why Apple isn't likely to bring a machine like what I'm asking for to market anytime soon. Not soon enough, at least, to factor into my buying decision for this year. For better or worse, there's probably a new Power Mac G5 in my near future.+


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How could this actually happen in 2014? A California private school planned to serve fried chicken, cornbread and watermelon to celebrate Black History Month. Luckily, some students and parents were offended. And now officials at Carondelet High School for Girls in Concord, Calif, are apologizing.
Background according to published reports: Students wanted to come up with ways to observe the occasion during a lunchtime celebration Friday. But when the school announced a menu of fried chicken, cornbread and watermelon, other students and parents became offended.
KNTV-TV reports that school officials held an assembly Wednesday to discuss the issue and also sent a letter apologizing to parents. Principal Nancy Libby wrote that the items were taken off of the menu and that the school doesn't perpetrate racial stereotypes. Libby also wrote the school will hold a diversity assembly.
So what do you think of this tone-deaf menu for Black History Month?
Is it at least an encouraging sign that some parents and students sounded the alarm and nixed plans for this insensitive and stereotypical lunch menu?
Sound off in the comments, then tell us how you plan to celebrate Black History Month.


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November 19, 2011
In my opinion, Penguin's Book Country publishing program for self-published authors is an out-and-out rip-off. Before I tell you why though, let's get a look at the landscape of self-publishing now and my personal stake in it so you understand better my opinion.
Self-Published Author of Almost 40 Ebooks
To date, I've written and self-published almost 40 ebooks; most of them are on Amazon. I've been in the self-publishing game since 2004, but only started to achieve measureable success in the last couple of years, eg, my ebook income made up more than 50% of my total income for the first time ever in 2010.
Why I Went the Self-Publishing Route Instead of Seeking a Deal with a Large Publisher
I never sought a contract from a Big 6 publisher; I worked in (trade) publishing in New York City for the better part of a decade, so knew a little about the industry. I'm also an entrepreneur at heart and as I write mostly in the non-fiction genre and had an in-built audience for my ebooks via this site, it just never occurred to me to go this route.
And my self-publishing efforts have worked out – beautifully! Want to know more? Read about my quest to publish 50 ebooks on Amazon this year.
Why Being a Self-Published Author Now is Great
I'm thrilled to be a writer at this time – for so many new changes are happening in publishing. And, many of them benefit writers. Amazon's self-publishing program has proven wildly successful – and it's free to publish there.
Many writers who either tried in vain for years to get traditional publishers (aka "The Big 6") to take note of their work and/or others who never even started the process because they either lacked time, know-how or confidence are finding great success as self-published authors via sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords, to name a few. Proof?
Look no further than Amanda Hocking and John Locke. Both have sold more than one million ebooks as self publishers (John Locke was the first self-published author to do so – and he did it only 5 months!). And, they're keeping the bulk of the money for themselves.
You see, with Amazon, you earn 70% of the profits if your ebook is priced between $2.99 and $9.99. That's just over $2 per ebook on the low end. Compare that with a big publisher where you get less than 20% (15-17.5%) — and you have to wait MONTHS to get paid. FYI, Amazon pays monthly although their payments do lag 60 days behind. So, for example, you get paid at the end of December for all sales you made in October.
Writing and Selling Ebooks Online: You Don't Have to Sell a Lot as a Self-Publisher to Make a FT Living as a Writer
I don't sell tens of thousands, or even thousands, of ebooks per month. But, because I self publish and own all of my rights, the few I do sell allow me to make a very comfortable living. I travel (I live and work part-time in Jamaica) and am earn my living as a full-time freelance writer and self-published author. So yeah, being self-published is beyond exciting — and profitable — now.
This brings me to why I think Penguin's Book Country is a bad deal for self-published authors.
Book Country: Bad Deal Financially for Self-Publishers?
Note: I tried to post this comment on JA Konrath's blog, which is where I first read about Book Country. But for some reason, it didn't take, so in the interest of getting the word out to as many new authors as possible, I decided to write this post.
My take is, I'm willing to bet that a lot more programs like this will be coming down the pike to so-called "help" self-publishers. And sadly, I think many will fall for them because most don't like to deal with the technical side of things (I know I don't).
BUT, as Joe Konrath says, please, please, please don't give up any rights/royalties. That's like giving money away — forever. And, as Joe's figures highlight (see comment below to see what I mean), they add up.
Would You Rather Be a FT Self-Publisher, or Give Profits to Book Country & Still Work a Job?
I'm a small-time self-publisher and if I gave away 30% of my ebook profits (on top of paying 30% or more to another distributor), it would mean the difference between staying totally self-employed as a freelance writer/self-publisher who's able to pay her bills AND choose her own projects, or having to work on stuff I don't enjoy (or heaven forbid, got out and get a "real" job).
And, if you happen to be the next JK Rowling (hey, it can happen!), that can mean giving away tens of millions of dollars over the years.
Ebook Profits are Not Small Change: Would You Rather Earn $2.05 or $1.47 on Every Ebook You Sell?
You see, with Book Country, they take 30% of your profits AFTER they've paid other distributors. So, if you sell from their site directly; no problem. But, if you sell an ebook through them on Amazon, they take 30% of what Amazon forwards to them (eg, after Amazon has taken their cut). What does this look like in hard numbers?
Directly from Book Country's site are the following figures:
For a $2.99 eBook sale of a Book Country title on Amazon, Amazon takes $0.90 and then the author is entitled to $1.47.
Now compare this to Amazon. If you upload your ebook yourself to Amazon (which is FREE to do), you earn you earn $2.05 on an ebook priced at $2.99. This is a big difference. Note: Amazon charges a 4 cents distribution/download/delivery fee.
And get this — Book Country takes this cut of your ebook profits forever! This is on top of the $99-$549 you pay Book Country UP FRONT for the formatting of your ebook — again, something you can do for free on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other major e-book publishing outlets.
In the PaidContent.com article, Self-Published Authors Sharply Criticize Penguin's Book Country, JA Konrath lays out just how much this can cost you over time, saying:
I've sold 500,000 e-books . . . If I'd published with Book Country, they would have taken $290,000 in royalties from me.
As many commenters who weighed in JA Konrath's blog post on his own self-publishing blog said — pay someone a flat fee to do the ebook admin stuff you don't like to do. But, don't EVER give away a percentage of your profits for stuff like this; that's just crazy! That initial few hundred dollars fee (which is already a ripoff) could wind up costing you big.
"But," you may be thinking, "Amazon takes a 30% cut, what's the big deal if Book Country does the same thing?"
The difference is the distribution channel — and we won't even get into retaining rights (which you keep with Amazon). Book Country uses terms like "Wide network," and "distribution outlets," ie:
Wide Network Earnings
Books sold via wide distribution are subject to fees charged by the individual distributors. Books sold this way will earn the same percentage rate as those sold on the Book Country site, but those rates will be based on the amount actually received by Book Country minus the fees charged by the individual distributor.
Bottom line: You'll most likely be selling most of your ebooks via Book Country on sites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble; these are their distribution outlets. So why give away ANOTHER 30% of your profits — FOREVER — when you can just upload your book to those outlets for free?
Penguin Publishing's Book Country Program: Get First-Hand Insight
To learn more about not just the royalties and how it affects you as a self-publisher, but where Book Country stands on ownership of rights and other publishing issues, read through the comments of JA Konrath's blog post on Penguin Publishing's Book Country and the links to other blogs I've listed below.
There's a wealth of information out there if you're new to the whole self-publishing game. You can cost yourself thousands (or hundreds of thousands, or millions) of dollars if you don't get informed. So, take the time to learn the process – from those who have "been there and done that." The self-publishing community tends to be a very helpful one. Take advantage.
Learn Even More: A Roundup of Posts from Around the Web about Penguin's Book Country Program for Self Publishers
How Penguin/Book Country Is Running The Con Game
Self-Published Authors Sharply Criticize Penguin's Book Country
Penguin Launches Rip-Off Self-Publishing "Service" Targeting Inexperienced Writers
Penguin Gets Their Happy Feet! (Dont'cha just love that title)
Hope this info helps, and feel free to share your experiences and thoughts about self-publishing in general, and Book Country in particular, in the comments section below.
P.S.: Quickly Become a Published Author: Learn how to FINALLY get that ebook out of your head and onto a page. Just think, you could be done and making sales this time next week!
P.P.S.: Want to start a successful career where you have the mobility to live and work where you please? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for a ton of opportunities (freelance writing and internet marketing) to get you started.
All this sounds fine and dandy as long as the author does all the work. In other words, if the publisher does nothing (ie; no cover art, no conversion, no edits, no copy edit)except load the book on their Web site. If this is all they do, then 30% is a rip-off. However, if a publisher, Penguin Putnam for instance, does much of the heavy lifting, then paying them a percentage is a pretty good deal. I'm saying this because as a small publisher we do loads of work for our percentage.
Your blog post makes it sound like publishers do nothing except rip authors off and, if that the case, then why did Amanda Hocking, Joe Konrath and now John Locke stop self-publishing and run to publishers?
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Browsing by Category: Puglia
Purè di fave e cicoria at the AAR
23/05/2010, 2 comments.
On Friday afternoon, the American Academy in Rome served lunch in the courtyard for the first time this spring. Among the dishes served was purè di fave e cicoria, mashed fava beans with sauteed chicory on top. This dish hails from Puglia, but the (more…)
I love Puglia and I love Monti, so, theoretically, I should love Pugliamonti, an organic vegetarian restaurant that opened in my neighborhood last summer 2009. I visited in late March with Mamma Parla and my friend Jessica and, while there were (more…)
Pugliamonti's Tris di Burrata
28/03/2010, 2 comments.
I shared this triad of creamy burrata goodness with Mamma Parla and my friend Jessica at Pugliamonti, the vegetarian-organic-pugliese (another trinity!) restaurant that opened in September 2009 on Via Urbana in Rome. Stay tuned for a (more…)
Ricci di Mare, Sea Urchins
21/03/2010, one comment.
Spring has almost sprung which means ricci season is almost over. Some like their sea urchin roe tossed with spaghetti, but I much prefer to scoop out the tiny eggs with a spoon or piece of bread. Obviously, the best place to eat ricci is at (more…)
Published in Southern Flourish Magazine
15/03/2010, 3 comments.
Today, the premier issue of Southern Flourish Magazine, a digital publication all about life and culture in the American South, went live. When the editor asked me to contribute a piece about the Italian south, I naturally wrote about eating (more…)


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HEAT 99 - Pistons 109 Game Recap and Infographic
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By Joe B.
Photo Credit: Issac Baldizon
The Miami HEAT host the Charlotte Hornets Friday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. Get your tickets for the home opener now! The HEAT defeated the Hornets 106-73 in their last meeting on May 1. Tip-off is set for 8:00 PM. Television coverage on FOX Sports Sun begins at 7:00 PM. You can also listen to the action live on 790 The Ticket.
1: What takeaway that you had from the win in Orlando do you think could carry over to Friday night's game?
Couper Moorhead: As Evan Fournier put it following that game, it was drives on drives on drives for Miami. The HEAT's 44 total drives on the night (producing 23 points and another six assists) was seven more than the league leader averaged last season, and those drives along with transition opportunities and offensive rebounds led to a whopping 74 points in the paint. It'll be tough to reach that total consistently without better outside shooting than Miami had on Wednesday, but there's little doubt that this team's identity is all about creating spaces and lanes and edges that Miami's group of quick athletes can utilize in order to get into the paint. That identity isn't going to change, but the manner in which the HEAT are going to be able to get to it will certainly have to adapt over the course of the season as teams gameplan and, better than Orlando did, stick to those gameplans.
Joe Beguiristain: While it will be extremely difficult to hold the opposition to below 40 percent shooting on a consistent basis, I believe Miami can carry over its solid defensive disposition from Wednesday night. It's no secret that the foundation of every HEAT team, regardless of personnel, is a strong commitment to the defensive end. That was on display often against Orlando, as Miami forced the Magic to shoot just 38.6 percent on the night. Hassan Whiteside played a huge role in that, especially in a game-changing third quarter for the HEAT. Thanks to his rim protection, Orlando shot a paltry 25 percent in the period.
Another thing that might carry over to Friday night is the balanced scoring attack for Miami. Thanks to the team's pristine ball movement and 27 assists, six players scored in double-figures against the Magic. It's that kind of unselfishness that leads to wins more often than not.
2: What sort of issues could Charlotte's new roster give Miami?
Couper: The Hornets lost a bit of their offensive punch from last season with the departures of Jeremy Lin, Courtney Lee and Al Jefferson, but they've also punched up what was already a strong defensive unit with the addition of Al Jefferson and the return of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to the lineup. Whether that means a net positive, negative or neutral gain for Charlotte remains to be seen, but pairing one of the better playmaking duos in the league (Kemba Walker and Nic Batum) with a stout defense should be a formula for success.
For Miami, that means getting into the paint as well as they did against Orlando could be much more difficult. Kidd-Gilchrist can cut off driving lanes as well as just about any defender in the league not named Kawhi Leonard and Hibbert looks revitalized in a system once again built around his rim protection. As such, Miami may have to find ways to succeed in the in-between spaces, not attacking one-on-one but not taking one or two dribbles straight at the rim either.
Joe: While it was still the preseason, Miami got a good look at Charlotte's revamped roster on October 20. Since the HEAT were without a number of key contributors, there's not much to glean from that game, but Steve Clifford treated that matchup last week as a dress rehearsal for the real thing.
The team is still led by Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum, while newcomers Roy Hibbert, Marco Belinelli and Ramon Sessions try to mesh with the already-established core. In particular, the Walker-Hibbert pick-and-roll should develop over time and cause some problems for the opposition. That said, perhaps the Hornets' biggest addition is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist coming back from injury. The 23-year-old is easily one of the best defensive players in the league when healthy, and while he's still developing his offensive game, he took a major leap forward against the Bucks on Wednesday night. In that contest, Kidd-Gilchrist scored 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting, grabbed 14 rebounds and tallied a plus-10 rating.
As a result of Kidd-Gilchrist and Hibbert inside, Miami will need to continue to move the ball well to get open looks and lanes to the basket.
3: Do you expect the same starting lineup for Miami and how can it find success against the Hornets?
Couper: Dion Waiters wasn't a big surprise as a starter at shooting when with the thinking that Tyler Johnson would have to play some backup point guard, which he (and Justise Winslow) did, but we didn't even know if Luke Babbitt would be healthy enough to play a couple days ago so it was good to see him not only on the court but effectively spacing the floor for a unit that was a +11 in 12 minutes. The situation may eventually change once Josh Richardson returns from injury, but we wouldn't expect Erik Spoelstra to change things up much as far as starters go as long as the success is there.
Joe: I do. There's no reason to get away from the same starting lineup unless there is an injury of some sort. With Goran Dragić, Justise Winslow and Hassan Whiteside foregone conclusions as starters, both Luke Babbitt and Dion Waiters had their moments on Wednesday night, primarily in the third quarter. Babbitt spaced the floor and opened up driving lanes for the HEAT, while Waiters dished out all four of his assists in the third (two of which were to Babbitt), and kept the offense moving in the right direction.
As I stated in my first response, Miami had a very balanced scoring effort regardless of the starting lineup. That'll be important moving forward.
May 1-Hornets at HEAT
April 29-HEAT at Hornets
Game Notes:
Both the HEAT and Hornets are 1-0 on the season. Miami has won 20 of the last 24 regular season games against Charlotte. Wayne Ellington (right thigh contusion) and Josh Richardson (sprained right MCL) are listed as out.
Efficiencies (Rank):
HEAT Offense: 108.0 (13) HEAT Defense: 98.6 (8) Hornets Offense: 108.6 (T-11) Hornets Defense: 97.2 (7)
By Joe B.
Photo Credit: Issac Baldizon
At 4:00 PM EST, I will ask a trivia question for a pair of tickets to the HEAT's home opener against the Hornets tomorrow night. Please keep in mind that you must be at least 18-years-old in order to qualify and must reside in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach or Monroe County. Also, you are ineligible if you've already won tickets this calendar month.
Please only play/answer if you can attend and qualify based on these rules.
Thank You
By Joe B.
Photo Credit: Fernando Medina
The Miami HEAT defeated the Orlando Magic 108-96 Wednesday night at Amway Center. Hassan Whiteside led the way for the HEAT with 18 points.
Click here for the full recap on HEAT.com.
By Joe B.
Photo Credit: Fernando Medina
The Miami HEAT open the season against the Orlando Magic Wednesday night at Amway Center. The HEAT defeated the Magic 118-96 in their last regular season meeting on April 10. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM. Television coverage on FOX Sports Sun begins at 6:30 PM. You can also listen to the action live on 790 The Ticket.
1: What's your best guess at the starting lineup and rotation for Game 1?
Couper Moorhead: It seems fair to assume that Goran Dragić, Justise Winslow and Hassan Whiteside are locked into the starting lineup, which leaves us with just two spots that are up in the air. At the power forward spot, Derrick Williams is the educated guess simply because he played more minutes than anyone on the team during preseason and shared a large chunk of his time with the other three starters. Part of that may have been Josh McRoberts being injured, Luke Babbitt suffering a strained groin and James Johnson dealing with a foot issue during preseason, but for now Williams makes sense. His athleticism and ability to play in the open court pairs particularly well with Dragić.
As for shooting guard, with Wayne Ellington out and Josh Richardson still rehabbing his knee, the options would seem to be either Tyler Johnson or Dion Waiters. While each player has a strong argument, I'll guess Waiters for now since the team seems to be lining up Johnson to be the backup point guard for at least the time being – where most of his reps have come – after waiving Beno Udrih and Briante Weber. Erik Spoelstra could also find a way to start Johnson and have him back up Dragić by staggering their minutes, so this is still a tossup.
Joe Beguiristain: Based on the preseason, my best guess for the starting lineup would be Goran Dragić, Dion Waiters, Justise Winslow, Derrick Williams and Hassan Whiteside. You could have penciled in Dragić, Winslow and Whiteside before Training Camp, but the two and four spot have been a main talking point for a few months now.
Of the eight preseason games, Williams started five of them at power forward. His versatility on the offensive end certainly fits well with Coach Spo's "Pace and Space"system. Waiters, meanwhile, seems like the logical choice at shooting guard given that both Josh Richardson and Wayne Ellington are currently nursing injuries. The former Syracuse star started four games during the preseason and did a nice job of distributing the ball.
Speaking of moving the ball, the projected starting lineup of Dragić, Waiters, Winslow, Williams and Whiteside fared quite well on the offensive end throughout the preseason. In fact, that lineup tallied a 121.6 offensive rating in 37 possessions.
2: How do the HEAT match up against Orlando's revamped frontcourt?
Couper: We probably don't have to explain to many HEAT followers that Nikola Vučević has had his fair share of strong performances against Miami, but since the departure of Dwight Howard years ago Orlando has never had a fixture at either the power forward or backup center spots. Now, in Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo, Orlando has two of the best defensive big men in the league to mix and match with Vučević's inside-out talents. Ibaka's shooting in particular could unlock a number of looks under new coach Frank Vogel, as he'll give Orlando a constant stretch option without having to sacrifice interior defense and rebounding.
Hassan Whiteside will be his own matchup issue for Orlando, but there's no doubt it will be different defending multiple pick-and-roll, pick-and-pop options in additions to Vučević's post-ups and offensive rebounding.
Joe: Last week against Orlando, Miami didn't see the Magic's full frontcourt since Bismack Biyomobo sat out due to rest. However, the team did get a heavy dose of Serge Ibaka and Nikola Vučević. With that power rotation, Orlando should be one of the better defensive teams in the league. Biyombo and Ibaka are extremely versatile and can switch on the pick-and-roll, while Vučević can crash the boards with the best of them. On the flip side of the ball, Biyombo is still developing, but Ibaka and Vučević can attack from both inside and outside.
With that being the case, it'll take a collective effort from the HEAT's frontcourt to combat them. While I believe Williams will start at the four, you can also expect a decent amount of action from James Johnson. The former Raptor looked pretty good defensively in his last outing against the Sixers and attacked the basket with force on the other end.
3: Is there any one thing, aside from a win, that could make this first outing a success to you?
Couper: If you've been reading this site for a while you're probably well aware that we acknowledge, in the grander sense, the fickle nature of wins and losses. You can do everything you're supposed to do, even do it better than you're supposed to do, and still lose because some shots don't fall or a few breaks don't go your way.
With that in mind, the actual outcome of the opener doesn't mean nearly as much as how the team performs. And for that one thing I want to see in this performance, it's the same level of ball movement we saw in preseason carrying over to the real thing against real, prepared defenses. If that level of passing happens, that will likely mean the HEAT are getting good shots. And if they're consistently getting good shots, the wins will come.
Joe: At this juncture, seeing the team continue to build chemistry would be a success in my mind. With a few players out and a bunch of new faces still feeling each other out, things are still largely a work in progress. How the team looks and performs now can be night and day from how things look a few months from now. The rotation might change, certain players might emerge, etc. That's why it's really important to not get too high or too low in the early going.
Just look at last season for a perfect example of how things can be different in a short period of time. Miami adjusted on the fly, played much faster in the second half of the season and received a huge boost from Richardson throughout its playoff push.
Time will tell if this year's team goes through a paradigm shift like that, but it's always good when you have a coach like Spo who's open to new things.
April 10-Magic at HEAT
April 8-HEAT at Magic
Game Notes:
The HEAT have won 15 of their last 17 games against the Magic. Hassan Whiteside led Miami in points (14.8), rebounds (10.3) and blocks (2.3) per contest during the preseason, while also shooting 65.5 percent from the field. Evan Fournier led Orlando in scoring during the preseason with 18.0 points per game.
Efficiencies (Rank):
HEAT Offense: 103.2 (7) HEAT Defense: 96.9 (12) Magic Offense: 95.8 (24) Magic Defense: 104.8 (29)
By Joe B.
Photo Credit: Issac Baldizon
Check out some of Rodney McGruder's preseason highlights here.


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Savages social media:
Online Jihadis Embrace Instagram (Warning: Graphic Images) MEMRI, March 14, 2013
Instagram is an increasingly popular social media company that allows users to share photos. The site boasts 90 million monthly active users, and says that its users post 40 million photos every day. Photos used on Instagram can be seen by visiting websites such as Statigram, which is a web viewer for Instagram that allows users to view and search photos.
Since MEMRI first began monitoring the site four months ago, there has been a tremendous increase of its use by online jihadis. A common theme of the photos that they post is images of and quotes by Al-Qaeda leaders such as Osama bin Laden, Anwar Al-Awlaki, Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, and many others. Another theme is the glorification of imprisoned jihadis: the Blind Sheikh Omar Abd Al-Rahman, Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Hasan, underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, and many others who have successfully attacked Americans.
Following the recent phenomenon of the dissemination of photos of dead jihadi "martyrs" on Twitter, many of the same images, and similar ones, can be found on Instagram.
According to Instagram's Community Guidelines, accounts found to share prohibited or illegal content, including photographs of extreme violence or gore, may be disabled, and Instagram "will take appropriate action, "which may include reporting [the user] to the authorities."
Statigram's Terms of Use state that the User/Organizer agrees not to use the Site or the Contest Tool to: publish any content or any photo that do not meet the conditions set forth in the Terms of Use Statigram Site; that do not comply with the Site policies; that is pornographic, racist, anti-Semitic, discriminatory, paedophiliac, racial, vulgar, obscene, fraudulent, illegal, injurious, defamatory, that encourages violence or criminal acts, that shows dead animals or people, blood or blood imitation, or similar contents, "or that is in any other way reprehensible as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of Statigram."
This report highlights some Statigram accounts that are jihadi pictures from Instagram – the most recent Western social media company infested by online jihadis, and violating its rules/guidelines.
User "AbuHuraira"
Tagline: "Imran Khan." 616 photos, 1271 followers
Images: Osama bin Laden, Anwar Al-Awlaki, Mullah Omar, and others.
User "Jacob_Dara"
Tagline: "In Pursuit of Happiness." 68 photos, 12 followers
Images: The Blind Sheikh, Nidal Hasan, Anwar Al-Awlaki, and Al-Qaeda leaders and logos. This account also includes many images of dead jihadis.
"May Allah free our brothers by our hands" "Sins forgiven by the first drop of blood"
"The perfect smile!" "Those who tell the life of this world for the hereafter"
"What and ending! "What and ending!"
"Some have been true to their covenant with Allah." "Zubair al Libi (R.A)"
"Yahya al Libi (R.A)" "Anwar al Awalaki (R.A)"
"Zubar al Libi (R.A)" "Dirty French Kaffir killed by the Mujahideen in Somali"
"Ansar Al Dine – brother Killed by Kaffir French air strike." "The perfect smile."
"The perfect smile." "Mali."
"The perfect smile." "The perfect smile.
"The perfect smile." "The perfect smile."
Click here to view the full report.


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Syracuse, NY — Syracuse Symphony Orchestra piccolo player Linda Greene has been contemplating getting a tattoo for a while and when the opportunity arose to get inked to save the SSO, she was ready.
"It's a little symbolic thing to show my support," said Greene, 53, of Syracuse.
Several fundraisers across Central New York have sprung up to help the SSO close its $1.27 million budget gap.
Biographix Tattoo Studio has raised thousands of dollars for cancer and autism charities over the past two years and is now joining the cause to save the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. The studio is offering music inspired tattoos for a $25 donation from now until Feb. 24. All proceeds will go to the SSO.
Owner Mike Haines said he was moved by the SSO commercials asking for donations and he wanted to help.
Greene is in her sixth season with the SSO. Haines did her tattoo on Wednesday, which was two intertwined music notes on her left ankle. Greene said she loves her tattoo and hopes other people will get inked to raise money for the SSO.
Biographix is located at 3056 Burnet Ave.. For more information, call 432-9382.


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Four shooting incidents in a recent five-day span have residents of a Jersey City neighborhood fearing for their own safety.
"It worries not only me, it worries the community," said Raymond, 40, who declined to give his last name, but said he has lived in Jersey City his whole life.
The shootings have occurred on or near Martin Luther King Drive.
A 22-year-old Jersey City man who was helping two older men dig out their car earlier this afternoon said the shootings have scared him.
"How are you going to sleep if people are out there shooting all night?" said the 22-year-old, who also declined to give his name. "You worry about family members. It's not good."Last Thursday afternoon, a 17-year-old Jersey City boy was shot in the right leg and a 19-year-old man was shot in the stomach near Bidwell and Ocean avenues.
A few hours later, a man was shot in the chest near Martin Luther King Drive and Union Street.
On Sunday night, a 16-year-old Jersey City boy was shot in the shoulder in a drive-by on Lexington Avenue.
On Monday night, a 22-year-old Jersey City man was shot in the right hip by a stray bullet after two men got into a fight near Wilkinson Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive.
Jersey City police have not commented on whether they believe any of the recent shootings are related.
Interviewed on Wilkinson Avenue, near the shooting scene, a Jersey City man who would only identified himself as L.A.C.J., speculated that the shootings have to do with the youth culture in the area.
"These kids out here, they don't got any remorse, they just want recognition," he said, noting that he was in his house on Monday when he heard five shots ring out near his block. "At first, I felt safe. Now I feel worried."
"A lot of young kids are beefing against each other," said the 22-year-old man.


text:
April 10, 2012
Actors In Philippines, India And Hong Kong Made Video Appeals For Support; Jet Li's One Foundation Also Backing Habitat Initiative
Hong Kong-based actor Michael Wong (top) and Filipino actor and model Derek Ramsay urge support for Habitat Youth BUILD in separate video clips.
BANGKOK, 10 April 2012: Celebrities are pitching in with video messages of support for Habitat for Humanity's forthcoming Youth BUILD.
Earlier, action film star Jet Li, founder of ONE Foundation, unveiled his backing for the China leg of Habitat Youth BUILD in May. The global entertainer is one of several celebrities lending support to thousands of young Habitat volunteers who will simultaneously build houses in China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand on 12 May.
Li is expected to join Hong Kong movie star, singer and Habitat supporter Karen Mok and 250 youth volunteers building at the HFH China site in Shuiweidong village, Guangdong province.
In the Philippines, actor and singer Matteo Guidicelli is encouraging Filipinos to give back to their country. Watch it. [1] Fellow actor and VJ Derek Ramsay talks [2] about youth power in his appeal. [2]
Bollywood star Aditi Rao calls on the young people of India to make a difference and alleviate poverty housing. Click here. [3] HFH India's Youth BUILD ambassador Sneh Koticha recently posted a blog on how one girl's chance to go to school has inspired her to become a volunteer leader. Read it. [4]
In Hong Kong, Cantopop singers Kay Tse, Sherman Chung and William Chan are pledging their support to HFH China's Youth BUILD. In his video, actor Michael Wong adds a message [5] about why a home brings comfort with family and friends.
School teams from Hong Kong have also created videos to express "What does a home mean to you?" Three short video clips can be viewed here—"Dominos spell Home [6]", "Toothpicks House [7]" and "Love Home [8]". Students at international or local schools in Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong are creating talks, fair booths and even a T-shirt design competition to show their support.
Habitat Youth BUILD volunteers are encouraged to tell their family and friends about their support for a vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live and to help fundraise.
Leading the way on the habitatyouthbuild.org [9] portal is fundraising team Young Adults Hong Kong [10], who describe themselves as a group of young adults working in different fields who want to make a difference outside of Hong Kong.
Virtual volunteers are still needed to help spread the word with their blogs, tweets, posts, 'likes' and 'shares' about the urgent need for a decent home in the Asia-Pacific region where over 500 million people live in slums and even more face inadequate housing conditions.
Visit habitatyouthbuild.org [9]. Use @habitatyouthbuild on twitter.com to raise awareness online. Click here [11] to add the 'I am a YB supporter' badge to your Facebook profile.


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The headmaster for Neighborhood House Charter School in Dorchester says they are devastated from the news about the death of third grader Martin Richard. He was killed in the bomb explosions at the Boston Marathon.
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Halloween 2013 on Ionia and at The BOB
Sunday, October 27, 2013 11:51 AM
Scenes from the Halloween parties featuring costume contests, dancing and cocktailing at The B.O.B and on Ionia Ave. SW in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich. Saturday, October 26, 2013. (Chris Clark | MLive.com)
Related articles
- Costume craziness: Photos from The B.O.B. and Halloween on Ionia bashes October 27, 2013, 1:20 PM
- Check out 5 Halloween parties for grown-ups in downtown Grand Rapids October 31, 2013, 8:21 AM


text:
It was the epitome of wildness, the sight of a great bear running across the red and gold tundra of Denali National Park.
The Toklat grizzly, named for the river valley where it lives, was a half-mile away from a tour bus on the road to Wonder Lake. The tips of the bear's brown fur glistened silvery in the September sun.
The bear ran for two miles, easily keeping pace with the bus as it chugged along at 25 mph on the gravel road. The grizzly alternated its gait from a flat-out sprint to a loping trot.
It was obvious why a human could never outrun a grizzly.
When the bear reached the base of a small hill, it sprinted to the top, then veered left into a drainage. We lost sight of the bear, leaving us to wonder if we had really seen it -- or whether it had been a dream.
Denali National Park, centered on the highest mountain in North America, was established in 1917 to protect its wildlife and fragile ecosystem. Back in those days, the park was so remote that few envisioned it would become one of the great tourist attractions of Alaska and one of the world's best places to see wildlife.
By the time Congress expanded the park to 6.2 million acres in 1980, a passenger railroad and a paved highway already connected the park to Anchorage and Fairbanks. About 300,000 tourists from around the world visit Denali each summer. They ride the buses to see caribou, Dall sheep, moose, wolves, fox, porcupines, ptarmigans and, especially, bears.
If they are lucky, the clouds will part and they will catch a glimpse of Mount McKinley. At 20,230 feet high, the continent's tallest peak has one of the world's most spectacular mountain walls when its north side is visible from the park road.
IF YOU GO: Denali
Denali: Most visitors arrive at Denali National Park on tour buses, on the Alaska Railroad or by private automobile. A cluster of lodges, including the new Grande Denali, are just outside the park boundary at McKinley Village. The village itself is a nondescript outpost astride the George Parks Highway, packing all its business for its souvenir shops, restaurants, lodges and adventure companies into a three-month season.
Park info: Denali National Park, 907-683-2294, www.nps.gov/dena
Fairbanks: Alaska Airlines flies nonstop from Seattle and Anchorage to Fairbanks. Some visitors arrive after driving the Alaska Highway, a 1,520-mile journey from Dawson Creek, B.C. Fairbanks is a modern city with many hotels and restaurants that cater to a high volume of tourism.
City info: Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-327-5774; www.explorefairbanks.com
To preserve the park's landscape, visitors must park their vehicles and board a shuttle bus to tour the park. The 85-mile road, between park headquarters and Wonder Lake, is the only way that most people set foot in the park.
I signed up for three bus tours on consecutive days -- the first and third to Eielson Visitor Center at milepost 66, where a hillside perch offers a sweeping view of Mount McKinley. The second tour went all the way Wonder Lake near road's end. Each day provided a clear view of the mountain and its own memorable wildlife sightings.
Most bus riders had given themselves one day of the bumpy torture to experience Denali. But I had come to Alaska to see wildlife. In a week of driving, I had seen less than I usually spot in Oregon -- a couple of moose, some caribou and a bald eagle in 1,500 miles.
I thought I would find abundant wildlife on the Denali Highway, outside the national park boundary. One of the most scenic highways in North America, the 135-mile, mostly gravel road passes the south side of the Alaska Range before it joins the George Parks Highway 27 miles south of the park.
The Denali Highway is a bumpy relic from Alaska's early days of highway construction. Filled with chuckholes and sharp rocks, it offers a slow-motion ride past similar scenery to the national park -- towering glaciated mountains, miles of tundra glistening with fall color and the many gravel-choked braids of the Susitna River -- with none of the park's restrictions.
The eastern extension of the Alaska Range, capped by 12,339-foot Mount Deborah and 13,832-foot Mount Hayes, would be one of the most spectacular mountain sites in the United States -- except that it's so near Mount McKinley.
I planned three days to drive about 45 miles a day, thinking the slow pace would allow time to see vast herds of wildlife. But my visit coincided with Labor Day Weekend, the opening of hunting season in Alaska.
While hunting is not allowed in Denali National Park, hunting is most certainly allowed on lands administered by the federal Bureau of Land Management along the Denali Highway. It seemed as though every Alaskan who owned a rifle was there that weekend.
The place swarmed with unusual looking ATVs -- all-terrain vehicles with six or eight wheels, plus enough power to cart a caribou out of the muskeg. RVs were parked on every spot flat enough for a camp.
With my rental car and tent, I looked like a Blazers fan at a Lakers game but never felt threatened. Everyone appeared to be following hunting regulations. This was their place and their weekend, so I accepted the fact that I would see only a few caribou during the three days.
I knew my chance to see big game would come in Denali National Park.
Most visitors approach Denali from Anchorage, 240 miles to the south, or Fairbanks, 120 miles to the north. I decided to fly to Fairbanks to experience the farthest north large city in North America.
I immediately felt at home when I spotted a huge Fred Meyer store a block from my motel. With shopping finished for my two-week stay in Alaska, I headed out to explore the city.
Almost everyone who visits Fairbanks winds up at Alaskaland, a quirky theme park on the Chena River with some type of display for nearly every significant development in Fairbanks' first century.
A fast-paced burlesque show at the Palace Theater includes an outrageous take on Abbott and Costello's "Who's on first?" routine. The actors use an Alaskan sled dog team as the subject instead of a baseball infield.
One of the actors summed up the city's eternal quandary when he said: "Fairbanks makes up for having the highest cost of living by being the least desirable place to live."
Geographic challenges aside, 82,000 people find Fairbanks desirable enough to make their home in the surrounding North Star Borough. During summer, Fairbanks is a very desirable place indeed -- daylight goes on forever, the temperature is mild and interior Alaska is at your fingertips.
In addition to Alaskaland, the town's other major attraction are the paddle-wheelers that ply the Chena River. One of the ships helped give birth to Fairbanks in 1902, when E.T. Barnette was looking for a place to establish a trading post. He asked the captain to veer from the wide Tanana River to explore the narrow Chena, but the ship promptly ran aground.
The angry captain dumped Barnette and his belongings on shore and disappeared downstream. Three months later, gold was discovered nearby and Fairbanks was born. Within five years, Fairbanks was Alaska's largest town and stayed that way until World War II spurred the growth of Anchorage.
Mining continues to be important, but Fairbanks also benefits from its position at the end of the Alaska Highway, its midway point on the Alyeska pipeline and its military bases.
Tourism also gooses the economy -- even during winter, when Japanese arrive by the thousands because they believe it is good luck to conceive a child beneath the glow of an aurora borealis.
With the late August daylight lasting until 11 p.m., there wasn't much chance of seeing the northern lights. Instead, I visited the historic Pump House Saloon on the Chena River; the downtown riverfront's Golden Heart Plaza; the University of Alaska Museum, with its informative displays on life in the north; and Creamer's Field, where huge flocks of geese and sandhill cranes gorge themselves as they migrate between the Arctic and the lower 48 states.
I finished the day at the Dog Sled Saloon with a Fairbanks Lager by Silver Gulch Brewing, the country's most northerly microbrewing house. It would be my salute to the city's hard-working huskies, because I wasn't going to be there to toast them in winter.
I saw the wild cousins of Fairbanks' huskies during my second tour into Denali National Park. The narrow road dangled precariously over the Toklat River, but the sharp-eyed bus driver spotted some movement far below. He pulled the bus over, turned off the engine and picked up his binoculars.
"There, in those bushes next to the river, I see two wolves -- one black and one white," he said.
Denali park tour bus drivers are often the first to spot wildlife. They have a clear view out the front window, know the best places to look and have been doing it for years. They also share a form of sign language with other drivers, alerting one another to sightings as their buses pass each other.
The wolves were too far away for photography, but we watched them clearly through binoculars for 15 minutes. We heard them howl, an eerie sound that would curdle the blood if we had been out walking instead of sitting in a bus.
A third wolf, also white, approached. It was from the same pack but didn't have the same stature. It crawled on its belly toward the first two, then rolled over on its back. The others stood over it, licking its face and wagging their tails.
"It's not every day we spot wolves and witness such behavior," the driver said.
It's not every day that you ride a bus through the wilds of Denali National Park.
Published Jan. 11, 2004
-- Terry Richard; email@example.com


text:
Oregon State
at Oregon
Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene
More Oregon vs. Oregon State
And the platypus has little hope of gaining a more prominent stature because the man in charge at Oregon -- the man most responsible for those 65 points -- has no time for trophies.
"I don't care about traveling trophies, I just want to win the game," Kelly said. "I don't need a trophy to tell me whether we won or lost."
There aren't any trophies in Kelly's office -- just Kelly poring over video on a huge screen and various books and reams of football statistics. This week, he has been figuring out how to hang another 65 points on Oregon State tonight, although a 3-2 win and a trip to the Rose Bowl would suit him just fine.
There aren't any bowl rings on Kelly's fingers, either.
"I'm not a big jewelry guy," he said. "I don't know if they're out of the box yet. I see 'em when they give 'em to us, say, 'That's great,' and that's it. I've always been a guy that looks forward. To me, those are just past memories."
That's in keeping with his tried-and-true approach to football since taking over as head coach this spring after two years as offensive coordinator. Kelly consistently has refused to talk about things in the future, things in the past, hypothetical things, things related to LeGarrette Blount, things having to do with making out checks to fans and injured things.
Understanding his business-like approach is key to understanding how a team can go from the depths of Boise to the brink of the Rose Bowl in one season.
His method has worked, and worked very well.
To verify whether Kelly always has been about the task at hand and nothing else, listen to New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell, under whom Kelly worked with the Wildcats.
"I know that mantra is getting a little frustrating for you guys out there," McDonnell said. "But that's the way it's always been here.
"As important as it was to beat Maine, he was as steadfast about staying the course as he is now with Oregon State."
Traveling trophy
When Kelly was up for the job at Oregon, he boned up on Ducks tradition and rivalries. He and McDonnell went over the schedule. Kelly would point to USC and say "that's their UMass" (they always get the best players), and point to Oregon State and say, "that's Maine" (the biggest rival).
Kelly hasn't said a bad word about Oregon State, refusing to get caught up in any rivalry hype. Was it that way with the Black Bears?
"Oh, we didn't like Maine at all -- we still don't," McDonnell said.
There was one thing, though, that would get Kelly worked up about Maine: The Brice-Cowell Musket. It's a flintlock rifle that predates the U.S. Civil War, named after Fred Brice and William Cowell, former coaches at Maine and New Hampshire, respectively. The musket is the traveling trophy awarded to the victor of the annual game between the Black Bears and Wildcats.
"Get the gun," Kelly was known to shout in the New Hampshire locker room, "let's hunt some black bear!"
In 2003, Kelly became so enamored of the "gun" that he had a spot in the locker room dedicated to it. If New Hampshire won the gun, it would go on display as an ever-present reminder.
The Wildcats haven't lost to Maine since.
"We have a trophy -- what is it, a platypus?" Kelly said. "Didn't they lose it for a while, I heard?"
Yes, these are relatively high-profile days for the forgotten platypus. In 1962, it was stolen, lost for 40 years, then found in a storage closet at McArthur Court.
Kelly may or may not find a more permanent home for the platypus, but he hasn't mentioned the thing to his players.
"He actually hasn't brought that up," linebacker Casey Matthews said.
Strictly business
Objects of inspiration are not new to Oregon's locker room. Former coach Mike Bellotti wielded a sledgehammer during halftime, destroying objects related to the opponent to get everybody fired up. But Kelly has remained strictly business in his first season as head coach.
"He's very business as usual when he meets with us and talks with us," offensive lineman Mark Asper said. "It's not like a separation or a distance like he doesn't care or he's unfriendly with us or anything.
"Before every practice: 'Time to go to work.' He makes it clear this is work. He has it painted on the doors going into the locker room: What happens here, stays here. Focus and dial in."
Will Tukuafu, the team's elder statesman, says the businesslike approach has worked.
"You come here, you go to work," Tukuafu said. "When you don't need to be here, don't be here. Go home, have a good balance in your life, go enjoy your family and friends. But when you step here on the facilities, understand that it's business time. When you step on the practice field, it's time to take care of business.
"There's a fine line (between) having fun and also taking care of business. And I think they've really instilled that in us. It goes a long ways to how we practice and perform on the weekends."
Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who appeared thoroughly frustrated at Boise State, said he bought in to Kelly's focused approach at that most unlikely time.
"He told us that right after the Boise game," Masoli said. "It was a little difficult to proceed after that, just because how heartbroken we were after that. We all stuck together as a team and leaned on each other.
"I was just trying to buy in and think about the next game we had. We have come a long way, and we've achieved this position through hard work, but it doesn't mean that much because our goal is the Rose Bowl and the Pac-10 championship."
Spoken like a true Kelly quarterback.
"For all the scrutiny and all the events that have been happening around here, he's definitely taken the team to another level," Masoli said. "You just can't give him enough credit for that."
Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, who has to buy into it, too -- given that Kelly is the one calling the plays -- says it's all about consistency.
"The key to it, whether it was 42-3 against Cal or the Boise situation, it was the same," Helfrich said. "The consistency of message, the consistency of expectations, the consistency of demands -- our guys have hook, line and sinker bit into it."
Man of mystery
Kelly keeps his private life private, even from his players. Asper said he doesn't know much about Kelly off the field.
"Not a lot," said Asper, who knows where Kelly has coached, and little else. "I think that's part of his mastermind mentality, keep us kind of in the dark and mysterious. You never know what he's going to do. I haven't had a lot of down time to try to dig up an FBI file on him."
Kelly does have family: His parents have stayed in Oregon since late September, doing a little traveling and enjoying their retirement. They didn't intend to stay this long, but the Ducks kept winning. They plan to head back to New England after the Civil War, and in a rare moment of superstition, Kelly said he might ask them to change their travel plans again.
"We win again, maybe I won't let 'em go home," Kelly said.
Back in New Hampshire, coach McDonnell is busy game-planning for Villanova, Saturday's opponent in the Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinals.
So was there any point in his 13-year New Hampshire coaching career when Kelly, a record-setting offensive coordinator there, took a step back and savored success? Even at the end of a season?
"Sure," McDonnell said.
"For 24 hours."


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text:
The Jefferson Parish School Board has put the brakes on more than $6 million in renovations at five schools until it completes its plan to consolidate and close several of its 89 campuses. The decision to postpone work came Wednesday night and affects projects at G.T. Woods Elementary School in Kenner and Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies, Airline Park Academy for Advanced Studies, J.C. Ellis Elementary and Bunche Accelerated Academy for High School Preparation in Metairie.
The projects include additional classrooms and parking at Ellis; a four-classroom building, theater and band room renovations at Haynes; new portable classrooms at Woods; a parking area at Airline Park; and general upgrades at Bunche.
Bunche, an alternative school that helps prepare overaged middle school students for high school, is one of several campuses already targeted for closure under the consolidation plan. The Bunche program would move to Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School in Kenner.
Public hearings on the first phase of the consolidation plan will take place Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. at Bonnabel and Feb. 28 at L.W. Higgins High School in Marrero. The board is scheduled to vote on the plan in March.
Board member Etta Licciardi, chairwoman of the board's facilities committee, said there are too many unanswered questions about the consolidation and closure plan to commit to some renovation projects.
For example, Woods could be targeted for closure later because its enrollment is fewer than 350, one of the criteria for a possible closing. And over the years, Haynes has been targeted for relocation because its building is too small. In addition, the school is in litigation with Jefferson Parish over parking issues.
In another construction-related move, the board put on hold the installation of a state-of-the-art kitchen at Cuillier Career Center in Marrero until a study on that school is completed. The kitchen would be used for a culinary arts program.
. . . . . . .
Barri Bronston can be reached at email@example.com or 504.883.7058.