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Apparently Camelbacks have replaced canteens and I didn't get the memo, either.Originally Posted by tanvil
Originally Posted by tanvil
Canned hams? Uh.... no thanks. I haven't ate pork in about 4 years or so. I don't eat it for health reasons. Now if it was some corned beef....
The canned ham should still be good, I would just check it over real good before eating it.
Thanks for keeping your eyes open for one of the wide mouth canteens. It is almost as bad as trying to find the holy grail.
"To show you how radical I am, I want carjackers dead. I want rapists dead. I want burglars dead. I want child molesters dead. I want the bad guys dead. No court case. No parole. No early release. I want 'em dead. Get a gun and when they attack you, shoot 'em."
Ted Nugent - speaking at the NRA convention April 17, 2005
Apparently Camelbacks have replaced canteens and I didn't get the memo, either.Originally Posted by tanvil
Freedom comes from those who fought for it.
USMC, GoA Lifer, NRA, IDPA SO, Florida Cracker
Sorta like VHS and DVD's. I'm not going to replace all my canteens till they leak. 1 by 1. I pulled one of Tom Browns books off the shelf this week. Getting ready to do some camping soon, needed a refresher course. Maybe I'll eat a little thistle. The stuff is everywhere around here.
Running for it unless you have someplace better to go is pointless. Digging in and holding my ground has been my best decision twice now. Especially this last time when Rita catagory 5 was heading our way. EVERYONE left and were ALL stuck on the freeway out of gas, HOT and, out of stuff.
My wife and I with the two dogs set up a barbecue cook out with cold beer and a weather radio. We listened to several radios back there including the police scanner. All of those people who were stuck no more than 20 miles from this house, all sitting out in the open on freeways.
I opened up another almost frozen slush beer and was thankful that we made the decision to stay home to ride whatever out. It was not even raining outside. Just blowing hard wind. I listened to the radio report that the storm had shifted a bid East.
Yes, the storm that we would have ran from was bearing down onto Port Aurthur. This is exactly which evasion route we would have taken if we did in fact run from the storm. The hot side of the storm hit Them dead on.
Received a dozen calls the next day from folks we know stuck on the freeway. Talked to them till their cell phones died.
You can't run from a storm or a ground assault in a big city. You have to dig in and stand your ground as best as you can. That is the way I will throw my dice.
I recently jumped in with both feet. I was well prepared before, now I'm living off grid in a travel trailer(so I'm fully mobile if need be) I'm almost debt free. I'm in a rural part of the Mojave Desert on my own property. I have a great job and few bills so I can improve the property. I thought about doing this for a long time, and always talked myself out of it or let others talk me out of it. I thought it would be too primitive. It has been more like a breath of fresh air. I can sit outside at night and howl with the coyotes.
In one recent 10-year period alone, over 200 military incursions were conducted by the Mexican army into the U.S. border states of Arizona, California, and Texas.
I have a swath of solar panels on my roof now. The local electric company came over to check my meter to identify why my electric bills are so low. I just pointed at the panels up there on the roof.
Now, I just need to get the water purification deal figured out. Can collect enough rain water to bath already. We have enough drinking water for 2 months.
Sometimes I go out and howl with my two dogs in the back yard. :-)
Water purifiers, flint with magnesium, lots of flares, water tablets, handcrank radio, extra batteries, bottled water(about 10 flats of them), 25 gallons of gasoline(plus whats in the vehicles), small generator, extra lumber and plyboard/MDF in the garage 4, 20lb propane tanks, lots of lighters and matches and a hoarde of ammo that keeps getting bigger.
I need to get a garden started early next spring, purchase seed, figure out the water purification thingy and would like to find a better way to keep and store meds(they all have expiration dates)even aspirin.
The dog is kinda screwed tho, I only keep a spare 50 lb bag of dog food around.
My cat kills lots of shit on her own, so she, I wont be worrying about.
I wont have to rely on the government to come save my ass because I wont need saving.The sign on MY roof will say "GO AWAY".
I have a sign on my front porch,"WE DO NOT DAIL 911!!". There is also the outline of a pistol around this phrase on this sign.
Common Sense is a thing of the past - people just want to be told what to do & think, our
news people ( would go extinct ) if they had to fend for them selves. You can always do better by checking with the N.W.S web site. You should have a plan already for buging out, but when depends on your best judgment. How high above the water table are you, if a cat 3 or 4 hits dead on will you be under water & by how much. How many miles are you willing to travel, and do you have the provisions? Will you have to return within 48 Hrs & will the police let you back? In a civil
unrest do you want to stay or move to a better location. Have you desided what will trigger that move. What will you be willing to do to get there. If you can't get there, whats plan two. Should
you get a dirt bike for a lead car in uncharted areas. How is your comm's
Last edited by Frogman; 07-30-2008 at 07:01 PM. Reason: Weather - Storms
If it is still HOT, the head will pop within a week. But, if it is cooler and water does not get used as fast, I would say a month is how long till the,"Lean to" type people fall buy the wayside.
Ones that have never and and can't do for themselves will go first. Those will starve off or get popped while trying to take from others like they have expected from the government all of their lives.
If a storm comes through, it is OK to help these people out. They intern may help you as well. But, the events which are evident to do with when the SHTF is a different tune.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Section One: Coming To De Anza College
The faculty and staff in the Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS) Division at De Anza College welcome you!
You have made a wonderful choice in coming to the community college to pursue your personal goals. De Anza is an enriching environment, with tremendous opportunities for growth and enjoyment. and many caring people among the staff and students. You may well find your "niche" in this nurturing and stimulating place.
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text:
MBA curriculum includes four 3-credit-hour electives.
Electives are available in five tracks plus a miscellaneous category. Students may choose all electives in a track or a variety from among all tracks. Tracks include:
Entrepreneurship (blended)
MGT 550 Entrepreneurship
MGT 555 Small Business and Family Business Management
MGT 556 Entrepreneurial Finance
Human Resource Management (online)
MGT 531 Acquiring and Developing Talent
MGT 532 Performance Management
MGT 538 Strategic Human Resource Management
Business Intelligence (online and on campus)
MIS 542 Management of Database Systems
MIS 576 Data Warehousing
Business Process Management (online and on campus)
MIS 568 Enterprise Models
MIS 575 Technology Mgt. and Organizational Transformation
IT Project Management (online and on campus)
MIS 552 Systems Analysis and Design
MIS 573 Project and Change Management
ACC 531 Fraud Examination
BUS 505 Investments
BUS 552 Power
BUS 554 Business Consulting
Study Abroad


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text: I lost a hive over the winter. This hive consisting of two deep boxes will soon be the home of a new package of bees. I fed heavily going into late summer and early fall. This has left me with one box of "honey" and one box that had contained the dead bees. The frames from the lower box have some old pollen and some thick shiny substance that I don`t know anything about. I shook out all the dead bees. They were mostly face down in the comb. I caught a swarm off my thriving hive earlier this week and placed this in this box with these frames only to find the swarm gone the next afternoon. I dont want my new package to leave . I`m planning on putting a couple of frames of brood from my thriving hive in with the hew package and putting frames from the dead hive into my thriving hive to be cleaned and used in it. I really wanted to start my package on drawn comb, but not if there is something that will make them leave. Will it be too much work for the package to clean up these old frames? So like I said, "what to do?"


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Previous Image: Dominique Geisendorff, Cam Gigandet's fiancee
Next Image: Dominique Geisendorff, Cam Gigandet's fiancee
Cam Gigandet: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know
Cam Gigandet, who called his former O.C. co-stars "f***ing miserable," is set to star in Reckless, premiering this Sunday.Click here to read more
Cam Gigandet's Kids: The Photos You Need to See
Cam Gigandet is adorable with his two children. Check out the pictures here.Click here to read more


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Pulaski Technical College will kick off its 2009 Health Challenge with a two-day health fair that runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 9-10 in the Campus Center foyer.
Guest speakers include Former Dallas Cowboys player Reggie Swinton, who will speak at noon on Monday, and former Arkansas Razorbacks receiver Anthony Lucas, who will speak at noon on Tuesday.
The 2009 Health Challenge is a campus health and wellness program and is open to everyone on campus. The goal is to help faculty, staff and students learn about the prevention of heart disease and strokes, the importance of calling 911 in emergencies, and signs of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Participants will become healthier and more knowledgeable about nutrition and exercise.
At the healthy fair, participants can have their blood pressure, glucose levels and cholesterol checked and sign up for the "PTC Loses a Ton" and "PTC Walks 10,000 Miles" health challenges.
More than 20 vendors will be in the Campus Center foyer and Grand Hall, including several fitness centers, the Arkansas Minority Health Commission, Arkansas AIDS Foundation, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Respiratory Health Association, American Cancer Society and the Harmony Health Clinic. The Arkansas National Guard will bring educational information related to drug and alcohol use. Participants will receive a free wellness journal and earn T-shirts and prizes.
Grant funds from the Arkansas Department of Health Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention program and the Arkansas Collegiate Drug Education Committee are being invested to make the 2009 Health Challenge possible.
Pulaski Technical College


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text: It's funny how U of M fans always complain about two things when they lose 1. MSU hates us. 2. Fire Lloyd Carr. It's always something. Wonder if you read all the crap U of M players and fans were talking last week. Why is it that when U of M wins it's because of Manningham, Henne, and Hart...but when they lose it is all Lloyd's fault? Methinks U of M is obsessed too..with making excuses.


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New Zealanders spent about $13.8 billion on retail food and beverages last year - a huge chunk of it from supermarkets. But supermarkets have a few tricks up their sleeves to encourage shoppers to part with even more money than they planned.
Dr Bodo Lang, from the Department of Marketing at the University of Auckland, says supermarkets are like their own miniature cities, tailor-made to entice shoppers into spending money.
"This is done by making you spend as much time in the supermarket as possible and making you deviate from your plan."
Having a budget and knowing what to look out for are the best ways to avoid over-spending.
Oh, and don't buy groceries when you're hungry ...
Even before you walk into a store, supermarkets have already worked their magic, Dr Lang warns.
"They are all designed to give a particular impression."
For example, Pak'n Save stores are "barren, exposed, have concrete floors [and] really high ceilings", he says.
"It gives the impression that effectively they don't have any back costs ... and all the savings are being passed on to the shopper."
But, this is not always the case. "It's about perception. Supermarkets work to influence the consumer's perception of what they're like through store layouts, floors [and] aisle widths."
Countdown supermarkets, for example, which are generally considered more upmarket than Pak'n Save stores, may be just as cheap pricewise, Dr Lang says.
"The key is perception."
Supermarkets have fresh fruit and vegetables at the front because they tend to put shoppers in a good mood.
"From the supermarket's perspective ... it sets you up for a really profitable shopping journey."
Consumers are more likely to indulge in other items once they have the healthy things like bananas and broccoli in their trolley, he says.
"Shoppers say, 'If I already have a few items in my shopping bag, it's ... easier to justify putting another bag of potato chips in'."
Consumer NZ warns that staple items like bread and milk tend to be at the far side of the building so shoppers have to journey past countless other products to pick up the basics.
Sweet treats and confectionary are often placed on low shelves to attract children.
Just like in cities, supermarkets have "prime real estate" spots, which are the most sought-after locations to display products.
"Ideally where you want to be is in the best possible position ... which is at the end of each aisle," Dr Lang says.
"That's where people turn, they reorient themselves [and] their shopping habit is basically broken."
Manufacturers pay more for an end-of-aisle display spot because products tend to sell faster.
The bakery or deli section is usually positioned close to the entrance and smells divine, encouraging us to splurge on unintended food purchases, Dr Lang says.
"Basically, the part of our brain that perceives smell is very, very closely linked to very primitive parts of our brain.
"It's all very fresh, very beautifully presented ... and probably just gets you a little bit more hungry ... which is exactly what supermarkets want."
Vouchers and instore "homebrands" can save you money. But consumers need to be wary of special offers which often come with a catch, Dr Lang warns.
One of the best "tricks of the trade" is to have limited offers for products.
"What this does is create a sense of urgency and a sense of scarcity in the consumer.
"As soon as you say, 'special limited to two per person' - people are more likely to buy."
When considering specials, shoppers need to evaluate whether it's cheaper than rival products, and if they're changing their consumer habits or deviating from their purchase plan.
"If they are, then they are not really making any savings."
The New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services has several tips to help keep your grocery shopping bill in check:
Make a menu for the week and write up a list from this.
Stick to your list and budget.
Be careful of specials because they may not be the cheapest option.
Shop around - check out local markets and different supermarkets.
Leave your children at home.


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The proximity also allows you to notice and appreciate aspects of the dances you might not see in a bigger venue. If three couples are doing the same steps and the same partnering, what differences emerge? Similarly, if two dancers are doing the same or mirror-image movements, how does each bring his or her own style to it?
The first is evident in the premiere of company member Leticia Guerrero's Yo no se si eres para mi. It is set to the throbbing, pounding music of Vangelis that, along with the fiery red leotards, creates an urgent emotional undercurrent. Though the six dancers have several sequences in sync with each other, each couple has its own mini-drama portrayed in movement: from harsh to tender, from tentative to demanding. With limbs twined in unusual pairings, they form expressive and ever-shifting friezes.
Two of Festival's principal dancers, Jennifer Ricci and Leticia Guerrero, offer those side-by-side comparisons in company member Mark Harootian's Set It Up Right, set to the Vitamin String Quartet's take on songs by Lady Gaga. Harootian is nothing if not eclectic, often inspired by contemporary music for his ballet pieces, and this is no exception: hints of hip-hop — languorous hip swivels and arms sweeping over heads — meld with graceful turns in toe shoes for a dance that is hypnotically beautiful.
The other two pieces with gripping content are R/J, by dancer/choreographer George Birkadze (currently with the Sarasota Ballet) and Short stories for small magazine, by Viktor Plotnikov (previously at Boston Ballet, he won two international choreography awards in 2007). Birkadze set his Romeo and Juliet impressions to a yearning, soulful score by Dmitri Shostakovich. The sequences are like flashbacks, after Romeo finds Juliet in the crypt, and there's a melancholy about both characters, an aching sadness in their gestures, as they recall their short time together from bed to bier.
Plotnikov's title cues us to its six scenes, set variously to Yann Tiersen and Les Tambours Du Bronx and each introduced by the tap, tap, tap of a typewriter. Les Tambours' mesmerizing drumming drives a short piece about four factory workers. The first "story" is a portrait of a family going about daily activities; another is a drunken fight over a woman who remains passive but provokes their rage; yet another uses rhythmic clapping to set up a schoolboy scene: two boys try to outdo each other but also tussle, in a delightful romp, ending with a music box tinkling.
The two most intense "stories" concern a lovely "nude duet" (in flesh-colored leotard and trunks) between Vilia Putrius and Mindaugas Bauzys, which conveys the lovers' initial hesitancy in pursuing their passions but also their relief at giving in to them. The other is also a duet, between two women (Putrius and Leticia Guerrero), who are grieving for their husbands, gone off to war. Their dresses, ankle-length stretchy fabric, and their bent-knee stance that pulls that fabric taut, reference Martha Graham's famous Lamentation, with evocative variations from Plotnikov.
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Full-text of over 700 plays by 300+ American playwrights from 1714-1900, with numerous search options. Search by author, title, and words in text, cast list, stage directions, epigraphs, and dedications. A work in progress, when finished American Drama will feature the complete texts of more than 2,000 plays written by American dramatists. Based on "English and American Drama of the Nineteenth Century" and "Three Centuries of Drama."
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Faculty stipend and workshop offered for exploring open textbooks
Staff Spotlight: Nate Floyd
Celebrate National Poetry Month 2017 with Miami University Libraries


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Participate in Discover @SCADeLearning
Join us for a Discover @SCADeLearning presentation online.
Chat with a SCAD professor to learn more about the flexibility of the eLearning environment and SCAD's award-winning global online community.
You also may set up an individualized tour of a program-specific classroom, as well as ask questions about eLearning and the admission process.


text: I just bought a swinger 1k and would love to see what your trailers look like. Can you PM me pictures or post some pictures of them so I can get one built. If you have a set of drawings or a place on the west coast that made yours and can make mine please let me know.


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If I see that "Make sure to bring lots of business cards" written on an event invitation, I tend to RSVP cautiously for a couple of reasons. First, the fact that it is an event that attracts people who have "lots of business cards" to give out is concerning and second, there aren't many future clients that attend events at which suited vultures circle the lone prospect in the room, ruining what would otherwise be a perfectly enjoyable cocktail hour.
While most people would tell you that they believe business cards in their current physical form are on their way out, no one has really cracked the code on what will replace them. There have been attempts at virtual business cards and smartphone-tapping shenanigans, but they haven't really ever taken off. So, while we wait for the day when we can shake hands with someone and immediately be connected on LinkedIn, I'll share my own business card innovation.
I only carry one business card at a time.
Now, for someone who works pretty hard to be in the right place at the right time, you might be curious as to why I would leave myself vulnerable for that moment when I bump into a potentially huge future client without a trusty business card in my suit pocket. The answer is this: it doesn't matter if they have my contact information, I need theirs. The moment I give them my business card is the moment they feel like they've done the polite thing in accepting my advance, but now, they don't have to respond in kind and we all know for a fact that they're not going to call me the next day to say, "Great to meet you, I'd like you to come sell me something this afternoon."
Here is how I approach the situation a little bit differently.
When I walk into an event, I give my lone business card to the first person I meet. I've given it to valets, coat checkers, receptionists, and bartenders before. Then, when I come across someone who I actually would like to see again, I say, "You know what, I just gave out my last card." I then pull out my phone and without looking up say, "What's your cell, I'll give you a shout tomorrow." I then wait for them to give me their contact information, which 9 times out of 10 they do. I then tell them that I will reach out at a specific time in the next couple days and, when walking away, make a note on my calendar to do so.
Whenever you meet someone that you would like to build a relationship with, you always want to make sure that you keep the ball in your court and be the one moving that conversation along. There is nothing worse than hearing someone say, "I gave them my business card but they never called. Oh well."
For more tips on the art and science of hustle, please join me next Thursday (8/23) at 12pm EST for "Cold Calls to Cocktails" a live podcast where I'll be sharing more strategies and insights from the trenches of sales and business development. Additionally, follow me on Twitter and let me know if this one business card strategy works for you: @andyellwood
Article source : Business Original Page


text: Tomorrow, the Los Gatos Town Council will be meeting to hear public comment on whether they should impose further restrictions on stores that legally sell firearms. The topic of this meeting is due to some unsubstantiated concerns that Templar Sports Store will have safety and security issues to the surrounding neighborhood. Please attend this important meeting that will be held tomorrow at 7:00 pm at the Los Gatos Council Chambers at 110 East Main Street in Los Gatos.


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Enforcement, NOT Amnesty!!!!!!
"If theyre going to come here illegally, apply for & receive assistance through a corrupted Government agency encouraging this lawless behavior, work under the table & send billions of dollars each year back to their families in Mexico, while bleeding local economies dry, protest in our streets waving their Mexican flags DEMANDING rights, while I have to press 1′ for English, then they need to be shipped back to where they came from!" -Chad Miller
It was just featured on the 11:00 news. They actually said that the Sara Palin doll was their most popular one.
The only bumper sticker I ever put on a car was after Palin lost and it was right across my tire cover. It said 'DON'T BLAME ME. I VOTED FOR THE BROAD'
Moose hunter or not, I'd do it.
That is friggen awesome.. I am going to grab a few before the politically correct pull them off the market.
Sold my 6 Chia Pet Nappy heads for a grand each when they pulled them..
Last edited by 4thIDvet; 04-23-2013 at 03:26 AM.
"Man needs but two things to survive alone in the woods. A blow up female doll and his trusty old AK-47" - Thomas Jefferson 1781
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"Man needs but two things to survive alone in the woods. A blow up female doll and his trusty old AK-47" - Thomas Jefferson 1781
Thanks, cannot wait until mine arrives in the mail, yukedy, yuk!
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Phase II certification refers to a requirement in 50 IAC 26, which states property tax management systems that are subject to certification under 50 IAC 26-18-1 that utilize assessment and tax and billing systems that have been software certified individually by the department must be tested and integration validated under the requirements spelled out in 50 IAC 26-18-3. Specifically, the complete software systems currently in use by county officials - assessor, auditor and treasurer - must meet certain performance benchmarks related to the administration of the property tax assessment and billing process. For example, vendors must certify that a chosen combination of a CAMA system works accordingly with their Personal Property system and their Tax and Billing System.
This testing and certification must be completed by January 31, 2015.
Information found on this web page will be updated on a regular basis.
As Phase II testing and certification commences in July 2014, information regarding the status of certification for the property tax management systems will be updated on a regular basis.
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Talking Book Topics is published bimonthly in large-print, cassette, flexible audio disc, and computer diskette formats and distributed free to blind and physically handicapped individuals who participate in the Library of Congress free reading program. It lists recorded books and magazines available through a network of cooperating libraries and covers news of developments and activities in library services.
The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles recently added to the national collection, which contains thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including classics, biographies, gothics, mysteries, and how-to and self-help guides. To learn more about the wide range of books in the national collection, readers may order catalogs and subject bibliographies from cooperating libraries. Librarians can check other resources for titles and answer requests for special materials.
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Town Square
Why I Voted For The Derry Project AND Support the Referendum
Original post made by Kelly Fergusson, Menlo Park: The Willows, on Oct 27, 2006
Dear Menlo Park Resident,
Many of you have asked me if I am supporting the referendum effort OR the Derry Project. My answer is... BOTH! It is a well-designed project, but the City Council completely dropped the ball in negotiating for well-deserved public benefits. Here's how it happened:
On August 22, the city council discussed public benefits recommendations for future high density projects. A council subcommittee (Cohen, Duboc) had looked into identifying potential public benefits that could be required when the city council grants Planned Development ("PD") permits, General Plan amendments, and zoning changes that allow greater density than Menlo Park's current zoning.
The council ultimately tabled the August 22 discussion. The flavor of councilmembers' comments was that the dollar values put forth in the staff report really weren't high enough given the kinds of density exceptions being contemplated, and that every project was so unique and should be evaluated individually. Given these comments, you and I both had every reason to expect a tough but fair negotiating session with the developer at the council meeting the following week.
On August 29, after the close of Public Comment on the Derry Project, the council discussed and collaboratively resolved some important project details. With the details out of the way, and with the final motion being crafted, I again entreated my council colleagues to make the general plan change only applicable to the Derry site, and not to the 1300 El Camino Real site. In addition, I encouraged my colleagues to require a substantial public benefit for the density bonus being granted to the Derry project. When Mayor Jellins proposed a small grant from the developer to study greater densities and parcel consolidation on the west side of El Camino as a "public benefit," I was appalled. This was a paltry proposal completely out-of-step with the previous week's discussion, and fell far short of the public's expectations. These two issues (scope of general plan change and public benefits) were major sticking points for me in approving the project. I pleaded with my fellow council members over these two major issues, but to no avail.
Then why did I vote to approve the project in a 4-1 vote? Partly out of respect for the efforts of the O'Brien Group and the Derry family in bringing along the project to this point. It is not their fault that the city council as a whole failed to negotiate for public benefits commensurate with the density bonus being granted. And, I wanted to demonstrate my appreciation that the council majority and the developer did take into account some of my suggestions regarding project details, which made it an incrementally better project. Finally, my vote is a signal to other potential developers that well designed, high-quality proposals that are fair to the public and to other downtown landowners can and will be approved in the future in Menlo Park under my watch.
On Sept. 12, at the final approval of the Derry project, I introduced a Motion to Reconsider*, again requesting my colleagues:
1) to make the General Plan amendment ONLY applicable to Derry, not to 1300 El Camino Real, and
2) to require significant public benefits of the developer, beyond the mandated minimum fees.
I expressed my concern about fairness to, for example, the Beltramos Family who "played by the rules" and stayed within General Plan densities on their recently-approved project. I also expressed my concern about the inflationary effect this density windfall would have on downtown land values. Unfortunately, I again was rebuffed in my request and this motion failed on a 2-3 vote, with my position being supported by Councilmember Cohen.
The referendum is your time-honored recourse when the city council fails to consider fairness to the residents in its decisions. You may be able to achieve what I was unable to achieve. Referendums are a state constitutionally-guaranteed right the people can exercise when the council neglects to act in the public's interest.
In closing, I am very grateful for the citizen efforts to bring this referendum forward to try to get a fair deal. I hope the referendum will provide the leverage to obtain appropriate public benefits from the developer.
Kelly Fergusson
Vice Mayor, Menlo Park
*Parliamentary rules allowed me to introduce this motion only because I had voted in favor of the project.
Comments (4)
a resident of Menlo Park: Linfield Oaks
on Oct 27, 2006 at 2:01 pm
With all due respect, Kelly, your position appears untenable. The only way you can support both the Derry project as approved by the City Council *and* the follow-on referendum effort is if you had some revelation after voting in favor of the project, and that does not appear to be the case. All feelings for the work of the O'Brien Group and the Derry family aside, the project was either fair to Menlo Park in terms of negotiated benefit or it was not, and no matter how much you argued for the public good before the vote, your final "Yes" was a definitive nod to the fairness of the project. To me, at least, there is no middle ground.
Now, that said, I do appreciate your efforts to garner the negotiated public benefit before the vote, and I know that you actually care about the concerns of Menlo Park residents, and place those concerns on par with, if not above, the desires of developers (unlike the current council majority, which doesn't give a damn about resident concerns, if the process leading to the approval of the 110 and 175 Linfield project is any indication). I just hope you and Andy Cohen are joined on the council by anyone other than Winkler and Duboc after November 7th.
a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
on Oct 30, 2006 at 12:27 am
I must agree with Gern.
I actually took the time to watch the webcast of the final negotiating session that you referred to. I heard you say it was a great project and I heard you ask for two specific mitigations.
1) A request that the developer ammend the landscape design to incorporate your favorite tree, the Red Oak, rather the the trees the planning department had approved. A concession that was granted.
2) A request that the developer somehow take part in reopenning the Park Theater, a property he does not control. A concession that was not supported by a majority of council.
I did not hear you propose any mitigations for traffic, school enrollment, height, density, or any of the other things that petitioners later expressed concerns about.
At a later council meeting, I heard Morris Brown thank you for helping organize the petition drive, provide the names of likely supporters and provide guidance on how to run it. I also heard that you provided the signature gatherers with a letter signed as Vice Mayor encouraging people to sign the petition.
Like the project or not - I do not think that this is any way for an elected official to behave.
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Oct 30, 2006 at 10:47 pm
This sounds like highly unethical behaviour.
a resident of Menlo Park: The Willows
on Nov 8, 2006 at 12:07 pm
Just curious, how much is your vote going to cost to get the project through now?
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Cherries and Berries
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Meeting Other New Parents
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One more week to vote!
Don't forget to cast your Readers' Choice ballot online. Voting ends May 29th. Stay tuned for the results in the July 19th issue of The Almanac.


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The Best Little Golf Town in America
The November 2002 issue of Golf Digest Magazine named Jamestown, NY as "The Best Little Golf Town in America". Jamestown walked away with the top prize, number one of 314 areas surveyed. The article says rankings were based on access, value, and weather. That's right, WEATHER. In fact, three of the top five "best little golf towns" are in the state of New York!
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I don't seem to be able to post any comment on You Tube. Can anyone confirm they can - its coming up to 10:19 pm Saturday 3 Nov 2012.
I'll keep trying unless I get a reply, so it isn't just happening to me :)
I've tried all the usual things, changed computers, browsers, settings, but I can't even post to my own page.
What happens is I get an Error message and to try again, or the service is not available.


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Millions of Robert Jordan fans will rejoice at the release of the ninth book in the phenomenally best-selling series The Wheel of Time. The sequel to the number-one New York Times best seller The Path of Daggers, which swept the nation like a firestorm, Winter's Heart continues a remarkable tale that is mesmerizing an entire generation of readers.
Rand is on the run with Min, and in Cairhein, Cadsuane is trying to figure out where he is headed. Rand's destination is, in fact, one she has never considered. Mazrim Taim, leader of the Black Tower, is revealed to be a liar. But what is he up to? Faile, with the Aiel Maidens, Bain and Chiad, and her companions, Queen Alliandre and Morgase, is prisoner of Savanna's sept.Perrin is desperately searching for Faile. With Elyas Machera, Berelain, the Prophet and a very mixed "army" of disparate forces, he is moving through country rife with bandits and roving Seanchan.
The Forsaken are ever more present, and united, and the man called Slayer stalks Tel'aran'rhiod and the wolfdream. In Ebou Dar, the Seanchan princess known as Daughter of the Nine Moons arrives - and Mat, who had been recuperating in the Tarasin Palace, is introduced to her. Will the marriage that has been foretold come about? There are neither beginnings or endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it is a beginning....
Enchanted? Listen to more books in The Wheel of Time series.
©2000 The Bandersnatch Group, Inc. (P)2011 Audio Renaissance
"Good book, bad audio"
This is the worst quality of the Wheel of Time audio books I have encountered. The narrators are understandable, but significantly less audio quality than previous book. This was done by McMillan Publishers and cheaply. Audio Renaissance was much better. Now I understand the message in the beginning of the previous book about using the same narrators for continuity. Notable drop in quality from that book. The parts have 90 chapters about 6-7 minutes long. There is an audible and annoying pause between them. you can also hear what must be the spacing between CDs as words are repeated.
"Editors on Crack"
If you read the first 8, does it really matter that this is really a bridge book? You will listen to it and then the next. Perhaps it was a little slow and lacking in action, but it really did move the story forward to the next book and connected a lot of dots. Kate and Michael were amazing per usual on the voice acting side. Whoever edited this, and whoever approved the edit should both go back to flipping burgers. It is almost comical how horribly this is edited. Constant repeat sections, and overlong pauses where there should be none. Crazy!
"Why isn't this fixed yet?"
I am surprised that there are complaints about the recording / editing of this book going back to May of 2011 yet Audible has not fixed the problem.
I am plowing my way through this wonderful series of books by the late Robert Jordan. I got hooked in the first book and cannot stop. According to Wikipedia, there are 419 hours and 30 minutes of performance by Kate Reading and Micheal Kramer with one more book yet to come.
My reason however for posting this review is because the recording was simply done incorrectly. Many times throughout the performance, you will have to listen to repeated sentences.. Extremely annoying and something that should be easily fixed.
So why hasn't Audible remeded this problem or at least provided a warning to their customers that this version has material defects?
"Good book horrible audio"
This was the worst audio book I have ever listened to. There are long pauses as a result of poor editing that make you think story ones are changing but there is no change. Inversely when there should be a pause indicating a switch the editor leaves no gap so several paragraphs later you realize you have switched characters or storylines. Very confusing.
Big chunks of text are repeated. Audio levels vary widely. The editor was asleep on this one. The publisher should give this free until they fix it
About the book.... Probably the slowest in the series but still good
"Audio quality is poor Story is great."
A number of times though this book i found the last 30 seconds re-read. How off-putting!!!! .
The audio / reading quality is great, but the mixing leaves a lot to be desired. .
If some is repeated, was any of the story left out?
"Horrible editing"
The editing is horrible. The readers are still good but the editing is horrible. The editing is horrible. If me repeating myself is annoying, be prepared to be very annoyed by this book. At first I thought my phone was shorting out and the pause and replay button were somehow being pressed. Either the editor was asleep or just didn't bother to do their job. The previous books in the series didn't suffer from the same problem and hopefully the rest won't. This book needs to be rereleased after it is corrected.
"greater readers but..."
I was surprised at the number of times lines were repeated and the long pauses between sections (too numerous to count). And these pauses weren't at the end of the chapter. Was this to lengthen the time of the recording?
"repeat, repeat, repeat"
I was very disappointed when things were repeated again and again throughout the book. It has been done on previous books in this series, but this was the worst, so far.
I have read and re-read this series and love it, but this kind of spoiled the enjoyment.
"Good book bad edit"
Like all Robert Jordon books it's a good read but yes the editing was very poor. I wonder how much time they gained by the long pauses and endless verse repeating. I agee this book needs to be edited correctly then released.
"Yep, Bad Editing... But That's Not the Worst Part"
I can't believe I'm doing this... I've made it through the first nine books and 2/3 of the way through the tenth, and I have to put it down... I've tried and tried to come back to it, but gone are the trollocs and myrddraal, and the good page-turning adventure from the start of the series (The "Great Hunt" is one of my all-time favorite books), to be replaced by incessant political "game of houses" suspicions/mistrust; the "gilded, jeweled, highly polished mother-of-pearl enameled matching serving tray and goblets filled with steaming effervescent rose petal-scented spiced wine" (take a breath); and "high neck, gold embroidered pleated riding dresses with lace 'spilling' from the sleeves". Way too over-explained in the detail department! No need to explain the full dress of every single character in the room. And, on the note of characters... There are WAY too many of them, and too many of those have too similar names (trying to discern between/remember the 300+ Aes Sedai he's introduced is becoming a real chore... "Wait, who was she again? Is she the little plump brown ajah that I haven't read about since book five? Or, was it book seven?"). Too many long-winded, overly detailed, full-page explanations of irrelevant things... Primarily, characters that have absolutely no bearing on the story (Really, that much content to explain a serving maid?) I get it... He's trying to set the stage/environment for the reader, but there's a limit to the amount of detail necessary. And, then there's the gender dynamic: Every woman is spiteful towards men, and every man is a dullard where women are concerned... Mr. Jordan was definitely letting his real-life experience show through in his writing, and way too often (in my opinion, anyway).
On the positive side, the reading is performed well. Well, except for maybe the male reader's incessant need to sigh at the end of the majority of the sentences -- I guess for emphasis. Creeped me out a little. But, that's a minor thing and both readers performed well.
And, like everyone else has been saying in these reviews... HORRIBLE editing. Content read and then repeated several times throughout. Definitely emphasized by the overly detailed, unnecessary content.
I will probably try to come back to it again, because I have a lot invested in the series -- and at one point in time I really enjoyed it. Not to mention, I want to see it all come to a conclusion... I guess I just wish Jordan had done it in, maybe six or seven books, instead of 13.
"Not a great recording"
Am loving the series - despite starting to lose track of all the characters (there seem to be new ones added each novel) and becoming slightly bored with the use of the word "woolhead". Unfortunately this recording is not so good - there are numerous occassions where lines are repeated and although one accepts the odd error, there are just too many in this book. One wonders why in this digital age they can't simply edit it out? Audible?
"Excellent, a compelling and addictive epic."
This is one of the best fantasy epics ever written, a series right up there with the work of J. R. R. Tolkien but be warned it is not one to be taken up lightly, this series is Huge!
The books have been kept together so one audio book will get you one book and many hours of happy listening.
Sadly Robert Jordan died in 2007 after publishing book 11, but with the help of Jordan's wife/editor Harriet McDougal, Brandon Sanderson has taken up the torch, using Jordan's plentiful notes he is finishing off the series brilliantly, with book 14 being the final volume.
The series is voiced by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading throughout and their performances are exemplary, their narration brings the world to life in a way that simply reading it never had for me, they bring a unique voice and feeling to each of the characters that brings them to life and firmly embeds them in your heart.
The only negative I have to put in is that the audiobooks chapter division bears no relation to where the chapters start and end in the books making the chapter search and snooze modes on the app all but useless.
All in all a five star read. An absolute must for any fantasy epic fan.
"Good story but one issue"
The recording had a couple of parts where the lines would repeat, not the worst but a little annoying
Done it! Listened while working through the whole 14 books. Not bad - not brilliant either. Too much describing of what are people wearing, limited dictionary of dialogues and male-female relationships/interactions painfully similar, predictable -boring (Mr Freud would find it certainly interesting though :)
Maybe because English isn't my first language, maybe I'm spoiled by other writers or maybe Robert Jordan just isn't my type of author but haven't I been working at the time of listening I would considered it time wasted.
"Big chunk of story is missing at chapter 226."
A big swathe is missing at Audible chapter 226. Chapters 32 A Portion of Wisdom, 33 Blue Carp Street and 34 The Hummingbird's Secret. Are missing from the file. Presumably this is a glirch/error and not how it was recorded.
"Missing Chapters and Repeated Lines"
This is a great book, a good improvement on the previous one, Path of Daggers, with more action and Mat is back!
Unfortunately it is let down by the terrible production of the audio - there are repeated lines several times, the last hour is repeated from Chapter 35 after the book ends and there are two entire chapters missed out! This audiobook would have made no sense had I not read the book previously. For something costing £30+ that is just not acceptable.
I suggest Audible should rectify these issues or if possible you read the missing chapters (chapters 32 and 33) from the actual book to cover the missing details.
Don't let these issues put you off the series though, it only gets better and better!
"Technical problems"
Story wasn't smooth, sections kept repeating and last hour repeated. I'm sure this is a technical issue but it was still very annoying.
Story and reading excellent though.
"Fantastic series, lazy editing"
Loved every book so far but it's a shame the editing on this one was particularly bad, the other books have a few instances where lines are repeated but no where near the scale of this one! Not that big an issue but it is pretty annoying.
"Tiny chapters, repeated sections"
Chapters are 2 - 15min long and there's a pause between. There are also a lot of repeated sections- not a big deal; just annoying
"worth the struggle"
it has been a long road to get to this point. definitely worth it. This book has had more storyline to it and less politicking, one major story line resolved, and a few questions answered. I am now looking forward to the last five books rather than listening just because I want to know the ending.
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BARRY WOOD serves as the Assessment Division Director for the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. He and his staff of assessment experts oversee real property assessments in the state, including the assessment of large industrial facilities and public utility properties. He is also responsible for overseeing training for the state's 13 Township Assessors and 92 County Assessors and their staff.
Prior to joining the Department in 2005, Mr. Wood served as a Practice Group Specialist with the law firm Ice Miller in Indianapolis. He has served as an elected township assessor (Washington Township, Marion County) and as an appointed deputy assessor in Marion County. Mr. Wood has also served with the Indiana Department of Labor.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Purdue University, and Masters in Business Administration from Butler University. Mr. Wood is a Level III State Certified Assessor/Appraiser; a Certified Tax Representative; and he has a Real Estate Broker's License.


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Since August 2010, BAR Constructors Inc. of Lancaster, Texas, has been replacing vertical, mixed-use pumps with Flowserve Corp.yfvdfdzdrbywwacuw concrete volute pumps at six pumping stations along the chronically flood-prone Trinity River in Dallas. Due for completion in late 2012, the project is funded primarily through a $1.35 billion bond program issued in 2006 that's also paying for street, sidewalk, and facility improvements.
Concrete volute pumps have performed well in nuclear reactors overseas for three decades. They're essentially a wet-well/dry-well pump with a volute made from concrete. The design allows the use of very large-diameter impellers that wouldn't be practical with either cast metal or fabricated because of manufacturing challenges. It also allows for a shorter drive shaft.
Although details for the city's Trinity Watershed Management Department's installations vary from station to station, Figure 3 (above) shows a typical plan view. The pumps are on one side of a central drive and the electrical room is on the opposite side. The electrical room's location will vary depending on site constraints. The fore bay, trash racks, and debris management areas are to the immediate right of the pump bay.
Figure 4 (right) is an elevation through the pump station and shows the relationship between the fore bay area, suction box, suction bell, and volute.
Learn more about the project - including before-and-after capacity analyses of the city's six pumping stations - in our November issue.
To subscribe to the magazine or receive our weekly e-newsletter, visit http://www.omeda.com/cgi-win/pw.cgi?mode=main.
— By PUBLIC WORKS staff


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Marc Ouellet, Quebec Cardinal, As Next Pope?
Could Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet become the next pope?
Following the sudden resignation of Pope Benedict XVI the former Archbishop of Quebec has emerged as a real contender for the papacy.
Paddy Power, an Irish betting house in the UK, has tagged Ouellet as among the top three possibilities to replace the pope. The 68-year-old even topped the rankings as the odd-on favourite for a brief time on Monday.
Another British betting house, Ladbrokes, gives him one-to-three odds of getting the job.
Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, who heads the Vatican's justice and peace department, is also in the running, while Nigerian cardinal Francis Arinze, rounds out the top three for both bookies.
Story continues under gallery.
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, splashes holy water during his visit to the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem on February 27, 2008. AFP PHOTO/MUSA AL-SHAER (Photo credit should read MUSA AL-SHAER/AFP/Getty Images)
TRIER, GERMANY - APRIL 13: Cardinal Marc Ouellet holds a mass in celebration of The Pilgrimage of the Holy Robe at the Cathedral of St Peter on April 13, 2012 in Trier, Germany. The Pilgrimage of the Holy Robe runs from April 13 to May 13, during which hundreds of thousands pilgrims are expected to view the Holy Robe. The robe, said to have been worn by Jesus Christ leading up to his crucifixion, is housed by the cathedral and rarely displayed for public viewing. (Photo by Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images)
The President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi poses during the presentation of Pope Benedict XVI's new book 'Childhood of Jesus' to the press on November 20, 2012 at the Vatican. "Childhood of Jesus" is the third volume of Joseph Ratzinger's 'Jesus of Nazareth' series. AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO (Photo credit should read ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images)
Vatican State Secretary Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (L) and the archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Angelo Scola chat at La Scala theatre in Milan on June 1, 2012 during the 7th World Meeting of Families. Benedict attended a concert at the prestigious Scala opera house to hear Beethoven's Ninth Symphony conducted by Daniel Barenboim. AFP PHOTO / POOL / DANIEL DAL ZENNARO (Photo credit should read DANIEL DAL ZENNARO/AFP/GettyImages)
President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue of the Vatican City Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran (C) pay his respects at the Golden Temple Sikh Shrine in Amritsar on November 11, 2011. Tauran along with four members visited the city to attend a religious seminary on Sikhism and Christians to be held at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar on November 12. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)
Pope Benedict XVI talks with Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of CEI (Italian Bishops' Conference), during an audience with the Curia for Christmas greetings, in the Sala Clementina of the Apostolic Palace, in Vatican City, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011. The Pope met with Cardinals and members of the Roman Curia for an exchange of greetings ahead of the year end festivities. (AP Photo/Claudio Peri, Pool)
New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan speaks to the press in his residence, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Dolan says he was as startled as the rest of the world about Pope Benedict XVI's announcement that he will resign later this month due to failing health. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines takes place for an audience with the pontif on November 26, 2012 at Paul VI hall at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI led an audience to the six non-European prelates appointed two-days ago as new members of the College of Cardinals. AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO (Photo credit should read VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images)
Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze, right, arrives for a meeting, at the Vatican, Monday, March 4, 2013. Cardinals from around the world have gathered inside the Vatican for their first round of meetings before the conclave to elect the next pope, amid scandals inside and out of the Vatican and the continued reverberations of Benedict XVI's decision to retire. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) CORRECTION: An earlier photo incorrectly identified Bernard Cardinal Agre, the Archbishop Emeritus of Cote D'Ivoire as Cardinal Arinze
Pope Benedict XVI , born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, had only spent seven years as pontiff before announcing his departure -- becoming the first pope to step down from the post in almost 600 years.
He cited "advanced age" for his decision. Benedict assumed the title at the age of 78.
Ouelett was born on June 8, 1944 near Amos, in northwestern Quebec. According to policymic, he's one of eight children born to a headmaster father and housewife mother.
Ouellet has proven no stranger to controversy in his time with the Church. The Canadian Press characterizes him as a determined opponent to same-sex marriage legislation, even testifying at a 2005 Canadian Senate hearing on the subject.
At the time, he expressed concern that Bill C-38 would brand people of religion bigots and homophobes.
As the Montreal Gazette reports, Ouellet became head of the Congregation for Bishops in July 2010, the Vatican agency that appoints bishops worldwide.
That appointment sparked speculation that he was in a position to be a serious contender for the papacy.
"I'm surprised to be today in this position," he told reporters at a Quebec City news conference.
"And I don't think that I will become a pope someday, I don't think so."
That same year, he told LeSoleil that the papacy was not something he aspired to.
In the light-hearted interview, Ouellet said becoming pope "would be a nightmare."
Over at Business Insider, Michael Brendan Dougherty weighs the odds, and assesses pros and cons of each possible candidate for the papacy. About Ouellet, he notes:
Last year we said that our money was on Ouellet. His rank among the betters has shot up dramatically.
What His Election Would Mean: It's a global Church now. His work in helping to vet and select bishops would give him the ability as pope to dramatically shape the Church for a generation or more.
Reasons He'll Get Elected: Most qualified. He speaks English, French, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and German fluently. He has done missionary work in South America.
Reasons He Might Not Get Elected: He might decline. (You can decline your election) He has given every indication that papacy is a "crushing responsibility" that he would hesitate to take. Then again, that is exactly what makes him an attractive candidate.
More from Andy Blatchford, The Canadian Press:
MONTREAL - If a Canadian does become the next pope and spiritual leader to the world's one billion Catholics, the story of his ascension will begin, appropriately enough, with a hockey injury.
The moment of divine inspiration when Marc Cardinal Ouellet decided he should pursue the priesthood came as he nursed a broken leg, sustained during a game.
As the 17-year-old future cardinal rested his aching leg, he had a lot of extra time to think.
"That was the special moment," Ouellet told The Canadian Press in a 2005 interview before Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI.
"I lost my season, but I was stopped. I was very much active — over active, hyperactive — and suddenly I started to pray and to read a little more spiritual things because I was unable to play. It was decisive for my vocation."
Longtime friend Lionel Gendron, a Quebec bishop, said his pal was a good hockey player. He was studying in the province's northwest to be a teacher, and the injury gave him time to think.
"He reflected on the meaning of life," said Gendron, a bishop from the Saint-Jean-Longueuil diocese who first met Ouellet in 1965.
Ouellet, 68, is now being touted as one of the likeliest successors — perhaps even the favourite — to take over from Pope Benedict XVI.
On Monday, Benedict became the first pontiff to step down in 600 years when he declared he would resign Feb. 28, citing a lack of strength to do the job.
A pair of foreign bookmakers have ranked Ouellet, who heads the Vatican's office for bishops, as one of their three likeliest candidates.
One Canadian who will help elect the next pope was reticent Monday when asked about Ouellet's chances.
"I've known Cardinal Ouelette for many, many years," said Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto. "He's a wonderful cardinal... I think it's too early to speculate upon the profile of who should be the next pope."
Collins, Ouellet and retired cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte will travel to Vatican City to participate in conclaves during which ballots will be cast for Benedict's successor.
Ouellet, named a cardinal in 2003 by Pope John Paul II, hails from the tiny Quebec village of La Motte, nearly 500 kilometres northwest of Ottawa. He was named by Pope Benedict in 2010 to head the powerful Congregation for Bishops, which vets bishops nominations worldwide.
One expert in the church described Ouellet's resume as one packed with impressive credentials — including his intellectual abilities, his experience as a bishop and the Roman Catholic Primate of Canada, and the fact that, theologically, he is very astute and orthodox.
His relative youth is another element that could work in his favour, said Douglas Farrow, a professor in McGill University's religious studies department.
But his qualifications don't make him a lock on the papacy, Farrow added. He said the cardinals believe their choice to be divinely inspired, and the process can produce real surprises.
Other experts expressed doubt that the former Archbishop of Quebec City is a contender.
Church historian Benoit Lacroix suggested Ouellet's experience in Quebec City could hardly be described as a success.
He said his lengthy time abroad had left him unprepared for the rapid secularization of Quebec society, and he struggled to deal with it.
"He got there without understanding the evolution of Quebec — that Quebec had changed a lot over 10, 15 years," said Lacroix, a professor at Universite de Montreal.
"Quebec was no longer actively Catholic like it was. He got there with this image from his childhood, I'd say. From that standpoint he was maybe surprised, almost too surprised I believe, with respect to those events."
Ouellet, who speaks several languages, has decades of experience at different levels of the church.
He has advanced degrees in theology and philosophy from two universities in Rome. He served in Colombia, and as rector at the Grand Seminary in Montreal between 1990 and 1994 and of St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton from 1994 to 1997.
In Rome, he was chairman of dogmatic theology at a branch of the Pontifical Lateran University, and from 1995 to 2000 was on the staff of the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy.
Ouellet's name was mentioned as long shot in 2005 to succeed John Paul II.
Last year, Ouellet shared his thoughts about whether he had hopes of becoming pope.
"I don't see myself at this level, not at all... because I see how much it entails (in terms of) responsibility,'' he said in response to a question on the subject in an interview with the Catholic news organization Salt + Light TV. The exchange was published online last April.
"On the other hand, I say I believe that the Holy Spirit will help the cardinals do a good choice for the leadership of the church, the Catholic church, in the future.''
Ouellet has been vocal in political debates at home.
Anti-abortion remarks he made in May 2010 solicited angry reactions from a number of politicians and women's rights activists in Quebec.
At the time, Ouellet told media during a pro-life rally in Quebec City that abortion was unjustifiable, even in cases of rape.
In 2005, he testified before a Canadian Senate committee studying legislation on same-sex marriage. He urged lawmakers to block the bill and defended the role of religious people in participating in the debate.
Ouellet said he feared that the adoption of Bill C-38 would inevitably lead to religious people being regarded as bigots and homophobes.
He urged parliamentarians to remember that while Canada's Charter of Rights guarantees equality for all, it also states in its preamble that Canada was founded on principles that include the supremacy of God.
"The state must treat homosexuals with respect and find accommodations that are consistent with their rights, without placing them in a category to which they do not belong, the category of marriage," Ouellet told the 2005 hearing.
His arguments failed to turn the debate. The same-sex marriage legislation, Bill C-38, was approved by the Senate several days later.
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Harper said Monday that he was shocked to hear Pope Benedict was renouncing the papacy due to his declining health.
Harper noted that two Canadian saints — Brother Andre Bessette and Kateri Tekakwitha — were canonized during Benedict's papacy. Collins, an archbishop, was elevated to the College of Cardinals.
If some of the predictions ring true when a successor to Benedict is chosen, in the coming weeks, many more tales from Canada will be told at the Vatican.
Ouellet's mother, Graziella Ouellet, told a local newspaper that her son had a knack for bringing home the biggest catches using only small pieces of bread as bait.
"He only had to put his rod in the water and he caught many fish," she told the Echo Abitibien in an July 2010 interview.
Graziella Ouellet said that God guided those fish, because her son often prayed before he headed toward the water.
Gendron agreed that Ouellet, like most young Quebecers at that time, was religious long before his hockey-related revelation led him to shift gears and become a priest.
The cardinal's connection to hockey, meanwhile, has remained intact despite the injury. Gendron said Ouellet still laces up with his nephews when he visits his family in Quebec's Abitibi region.
"Physically, he's in very good shape," Gendron said.
- with files from Magdaline Boutros, Diana Mehta in Toronto and James Keller in Vancouver.LIVE BLOG
AP reports:
REGENSBURG, Germany — Pope Benedict XVI is planning to stay out of the public eye following his retirement at the end of the month but may stand ready to advise his successor if asked, his brother said Tuesday after talking with the pontiff.
Speaking to reporters at his home in the southern German city of Regensburg, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, who was ordained on the same day in 1951 as his brother Joseph, said he didn't expect Benedict's continued presence in the Vatican to intimidate the next pope.
Continue reading here.
Keith Thomson writes in a blog post:
Much is at stake with the selection of Pope Benedict XVI's successor, including a lot of money. Paddy Power, Europe's largest bookmaker, has already taken more than £100,000 in bets, and expects to see multi-million-pound action closer to next month's conclave at the Sistine Chapel.
While Las Vegas casinos refuse to accept such bets for reasons of "taste," Paddy Power is one of several major international bookmakers currently offering papal markets, not only on who will be the next pope, but what papal name he'll choose, his country of origin, and the length of the papal conclave, among others.
Continue reading here.
A group of topless activists scandalized visitors at Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral on Tuesday by disrobing in public to celebrate Pope Benedict XVI's resignation.
The small group of women, all affiliated with radical feminist group FEMEN, flashed their breasts and banged on bells in the cathedral, shouting slogans such as, "Bye Bye Benedict" and "No more homophobe," according to the Agence France-Presse.
Continue reading here.
HuffPost's Lila Shapiro reports:
Jeannine Gramick, a Roman Catholic nun and co-founder of a U.S. ministry for gay and lesbian Catholics, met Pope Benedict XVI only once, by chance, on a plane flying from Baltimore to Rome in the late-'90s. Because of her work with the lesbian and gay community, Gramick had by then been under investigation by the Vatican for more than two decades.
The encounter was serendipitous, Gramick recalled Monday after hearing news of Benedict's resignation. Gramick and leaders at her ministry had been worried that she would be excommunicated. She was traveling with the head of her order to Munich, via Rome, to pray that she would keep her place in the church. When she boarded the plane, she saw Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became pope, sitting with two empty seats beside him. She mustered her courage and sat next to him. "When he found out who I was, he just smiled and said 'Oh, I've known about you for 20 years,'" she said.
Continue reading here.
Nuns pray inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. With a few words in Latin, Pope Benedict XVI did what no pope has done in more than half a millennium, stunning the world by announcing his resignation Monday and leaving the already troubled Catholic Church to replace the leader of its 1 billion followers by Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Reuters reports:
VATICAN CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Cardinals around the world began informal contacts to discuss who should next lead the Church through a period of major crisis and the Vatican said it planned a big send-off for Pope Benedict before he becomes the first pontiff in centuries to resign.
At a Tuesday news conference on how the pope plans to spend the next two weeks before he steps out of the limelight, the Vatican also disclosed that the 85-year-old Benedict has been wearing a pacemaker since before he was elected pope in 2005.
Continue reading here.
Yesterday morning the Church and the world learned that Pope Benedict XVI, following an extended period of prayer and reflection, discerned that he would resign the papacy at the end of this month. This news certainly came as a great surprise to all of us. It would be reasonable to consider that the Holy Father's advancing age and the responsibilities of being the leader for more than one billion Catholics, including the demands of extensive international travel, played a central role in his decision. We join the universal Church in offering prayerful gratitude for the Holy Father's faith, courage and his leadership as the successor of Peter.
At this time it is appropriate for the Church and all people of good faith to reflect on Pope Benedict's legacy and achievements. He brought unique capabilities to the papacy as a highly qualified scholar and teacher, and as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in service to Blessed John Paul II. His fidelity to maintaining the truth and clarity of the Catholic faith, to cultivating ecumenical and interfaith dialogue and in reaching out to inspire the next generation of Catholics have been great gifts to us all.
During the course of the past eight years Pope Benedict embraced the papacy with the heart of a kind and caring shepherd, always holding the spiritual and pastoral care of the people of God to be the highest priority. The Holy Father also generously used his superior intellectual gifts, well established through his reputation as a renowned scholar, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Church with people from all walks of life throughout the world. He guided the Church through unprecedented challenges, always finding strength in Jesus' promise to be with us always, and led a world-wide renewal of evangelization that will influence the Catholicism for generations to come.
The Archdiocese of Boston in particular has been greatly blessed by Pope Benedict's care and concern.In all of my conversations with him he has always asked me to assure this local Church of his prayers and encouragement. I will always hold the Holy Father's 2008 meeting with survivors of clergy sexual abuse, and our presentation of the Book of Names of living and deceased survivors, as one of the most powerful experiences of my life and priesthood.
His overwhelming sorrow that such heinous crimes were perpetrated on the survivors and his heartfelt expression of love and concern were deeply moving, as was his absolute commitment that the abuse never be repeated and that the Church maintain her vigilance to do everything possible to insure the safety of children.
While there will be much speculation in the days and weeks ahead regarding who will follow the Holy Father to the Chair of Peter, at this moment we are called to reflect on Pope Benedict's leadership; offering prayers of gratitude for this servant of Christ who so dearly loves all of God's people. At this extraordinary moment in the life of the Church, we pray for the wisdom and grace of the Holy Spirit and the strength given by our Lord, who, assures us that he will be with us always.
Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship, releases a statement:
Rabbi Burton Visotzky, director of the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue at the Jewish Theological Seminary, discusses the positive state of Jewish-Catholic relations under Pope Benedict XVI's leadership and his hopes for the future.
A view of the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, right, next to the Tower of San Giovanni, inside the Vatican State where Pope Benedict XVI is expected to live after he resigns, on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For months, construction crews have been renovating a four-story building attached to a monastery on the northern edge of the Vatican gardens where nuns would live for a few years at a time in cloister. Only a handful of Vatican officials knew it would one day be Pope Benedict XVI's retirement home. On Tuesday, construction materials littered the front lawn of the house and plastic tubing snaked down from the top floor to a dump truck as the restoration deadline became ever more critical following Benedict's stunning announcement that he would resign Feb. 28 and live his remaining days in prayer. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Activists of the Women's Movement FEMEN, protest against the Pope Benedict XVI who announced his resignation yesterday, in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Andreas Widmer writes in a blog post:
The Vatican moves very slowly -- they measure time in centuries, not years. Thus the news from Pope Benedict of his impending resignation during the last stretch of his seventh year as pope struck the public like lightning.
"Shocking! Unbelievable!" was the sentiment that came to mind when I (and I presume you) first learned of Pope Benedict's abdication.
This reaction is a natural initial response -- but there's a lot more to the story. The mainstream discussion about Benedict's decision is a regrettable oversimplification. We don't do justice to this important announcement declaring the pontificate a failure and proceeding to a guessing game of "who's the next pope."
Before we move on, we need to stop and reflect on what just happened -- not just in the past seven years, but the last 70 years. Upon closer examination of the facts, observers will see that this was a strategic decision, and not one done in a moment of weakness or despair.
Continue reading here.
Agence France Presse reports:
French President Francois Hollande had his knuckles rapped for it but most of Europe felt free Tuesday to start cracking jokes about Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, sometimes with a sharp anti-clerical edge.
The paedophilia scandal that has engulfed the Roman Catholic church in recent years ensured many of the quips flooding the Twittersphere and some of the cartoons published online and in newspapers across the continent had a dark theme.
Continue reading here.
Media gather in front of St. Peter's Basilica, at The Vatican, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. With a few words in Latin, Pope Benedict XVI did what no pope has done in more than half a millennium, stunning the world by announcing his resignation Monday and leaving the already troubled Catholic Church to replace the leader of its 1 billion followers by Easter. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)
Kim Daniels, director of Catholic Voices USA writes:
Catholics mark our year with feasts and fasts, times of repentance and times of rejoicing. Our calendar sets the rhythm of Catholic life. Given that, it's no accident that Pope Benedict XVI announced his abdication on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, patron saint of the sick.
Those focusing on papal politics miss the real story. With his resignation Pope Benedict -- arguably one of the most powerful people in the world -- has chosen to give up that temporal power to align himself with the sick, the weak, the frail. In doing so he's affirming the central Christian truth that "when I am weak, then I am strong."
Continue reading here.
AP reports:
MEXICO CITY -- Latin America is home to the world's largest Roman Catholic population, but hopes that the next pope will come from the region appear faint, experts said Monday.
The predominance of Europeans on the College of Cardinals means that the odds are stacked against a Latin American pope, even though the names of a number of high-ranking churchmen from the region have been bandied about, analysts said. The 118-member college, with 62 European members and only 19 from Latin America, will elect a successor for Pope Benedict XVI, who announced Monday he will resign due to age.
Continue reading here.
David Quinn, director of the Iona Institute, writes in a blog post:
As the Pope himself admits, he had his flaws and he made mistakes, but he was and is undoubtedly a holy man. He should be remembered above all for that.
Continue reading here.
Sheikh Mustafa Ceric, the former grand mufti of Bosnia, releases a statement on behalf A Common Word Initiative and the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute:
The news today about H.H. Pope Benedict XVI's resignation at the end of this month (February 2013) after nearly eight years as the successor of St. Peter and head of the Catholic Church was highly noticed by all the Muslims who had dialogue with him. First as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and then Pope Benedict XVI from 2005 to 2013 after John Paul II's death, he will be remembered as a foremost Catholic theologian and a sincere pastor for the Catholic faithful.
Although initially hurt by his remarks about Islam on September 12, 2006, while lecturing on "Faith, Reason and the University" at the University of Regensburg, Germany, Muslim Scholars appreciated his apology afterwards and his subsequent friendly visits to Islamic countries and mosques, particularly the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Continue reading here.
Religion News Service reports:
Pope Benedict XVI came into office with the reputation of a conservative hard-liner, a vigorous defender of orthodoxy who wanted to restore Tradition -- yes, with a capital "T"_ to a church that was seen as disturbingly undisciplined.
Yet with the stunning announcement that he is resigning as the 264th successor to Saint Peter, Benedict may wind up fundamentally changing the way the church and the world view the papacy.
Continue reading here.
Timothy Cardinal Dolan writes in the New York Daily News:
Sede vacante: It's a Latin phrase, and it means, "the chair is empty."
On Monday, the 264th successor of St. Peter, the Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, announced that, at 8 p.m. on Feb. 28, the Chair of St. Peter would be empty.
For the first time in six centuries, a Pope is resigning.
We Catholics cherish symbols. A chair is a symbol, a sign, of authority, unity, wisdom.
Continue reading here.
Reuters reports:
Father Federico Lombardi [Vatican spokesman] said the batteries on the appliance were replaced three months ago in a minor, routine intervention but that had played no part in persuading the pontiff to take the shock decision to step down.
"It had no influence on the decision, the reasons were in his perception that his strength had diminished with advancing age," Lombardi told a press briefing at the Vatican.
Continue reading here.
After the Vatican announced Pope Benedict XVI's decision to abdicate as the head of the Catholic Church on Monday, front-page headlines across the world grew a few type sizes. The decision was surprising both for the faithful and for the guides and tour operators of Rome, a deeply tourist-dependent city where the Vatican is arguably the star attraction.
Local tour operators said yesterday that they plan to continue tours as usual, until either massive crowds, which descended during the last papal conclave, or the Vatican's dictates make doing so impossible.
For the rest of the story click here.
-- Andrew Burmon
HuffPost Italy reports:
Less than three months ago, Pope Benedict XVI had heart surgery in the clinic Pius XI in Rome for the replacement of a pacemaker, "in absolute secrecy." This was reported on the front page of 'Il Sole 24 Ore'in an article by the newspaper editor, Roberto Napoletano.
"The surgery went well," Napoletano said. "The Pope recovered regularly, he never missed an appointment with the Sunday Angelus, showed his usual serenity and good endurance. He was operated by Louis Chiariello, a heart surgeon who studied in the US and director of The University of Rome Tor Vergata. Chiariello has been treating the pulse and heart rates of the Pope for more than 10 years, since when he placed his first pacemaker."
Dr Chiariello "didn't wanted to confirm the news," writes Napoletano."He entrenched behind a barrier of silence." According to Il sole 24 Ore, before and after the surgery the Pope did not appear either troubled or extremely tired. He didn't want to miss the appointment with the believers even on the Sunday immediately after the operation and "smiled on the hidden forces of his heart."
"People close to him, by the way, saw him simply and firmly questioning about his ability to drive – in full force – the boat of St Peter and to proclaim the Gospel with the same courage and the same commitment demonstrated in recent years."
-- Giulia Belardelli
Over at Business Insider, Michael Brendan Dougherty weighs the odds, and assesses pros and cons of each possible candidate for the papacy.
Cardinal Marc Ouellet
Country: Canada
Position: Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, formerly Archbishop of Quebec.
Age: 68
Likelihood: Paddy Power ranks him 5/2. He has done missionary work in South America. Last year we said that our money was on Ouellet. His rank among the betters has shot up dramatically.
What His Election Would Mean: It's a global Church now. His work in helping to vet and select bishops would give him the ability as pope to dramatically shape the Church for a generation or more.
Reasons He'll Get Elected: Most qualified. He speaks English, French, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and German fluently. He has done missionary work in South America.
Reasons He Might Not Get Elected: He might decline. (You can decline your election) He has given every indication that papacy is a "crushing responsibility" that he would hesitate to take. Then again, that is exactly what makes him an attractive candidate.
Continue reading here.
The Sydney Morning Herald's Ruth Pollard reports:
He is viewed as the Pope who helped improve relations between the Vatican and Israel, while also providing open support for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
As the news of Pope Benedict's retirement spread, Palestinian Catholics expressed their shock at his decision and their fears that it may reduce the authority of the church and the next Pope.
"We want the representative of the Holy See to be supportive of the marginalised, of the downtrodden and in this case, the Palestinians who are living under a brutal Israeli occupation," said Zoughbi Zoughbi, the director of the Wi'am Palestinian Centre for Conflict Resolution."Anyone who comes into this position [of pope] has the responsibility of correcting injustices in all four corners of the world," Mr Zoughbi said as he sat with friends in a café in Bethlehem.
Continue reading here.
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, released the following statement on the abdication of Pope Benedict XVI:
It was with a heavy heart but complete understanding that we learned this morning of Pope Benedict's declaration of his decision to lay down the burden of ministry as Bishop of Rome, an office which he has held with great dignity, insight and courage. As I prepare to take up office I speak not only for myself, and my predecessors as Archbishop, but for Anglicans around the world, in giving thanks to God for a priestly life utterly dedicated, in word and deed, in prayer and in costly service, to following Christ. He has laid before us something of the meaning of the Petrine ministry of building up the people of God to full maturity.
Continue reading here.
|@ nwarikoo : Imam Qazwini, who heads the biggest mosque in Michigan, met with Pope Benedict XVI twice. He said: "I have so much admiration for the Pope."
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew released the following statement on Pope Benedict's abdication:
It is with regret that we have learned of the decision by His Holiness Pope Benedict to retire from his Throne, because with his wisdom and experience he could have provided much more to the Church and the world.
Pope Benedict leaves an indelible mark on the life and history of the Roman Catholic Church, sealed not only by his brief papacy, but also by his broad and longstanding contribution as a theologian and hierarch of his Church, as well as his universally acknowledged prestige.
His writings will long speak of his deep theological understanding, through his knowledge of the Fathers of the undivided Church, his familiarity with contemporary reality, and his keen interest in the problems of humankind.
Continue reading here.
h/t @nunblogger
Rabbi Brad Hirschfield writes at The Washington Post:
Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world by announcing his resignation, effective the end of February, and there are many ways to think about the significance of the event, including both the challenges and the opportunities in Catholic-Jewish relations that may come in the decision's wake.
While some Jewish leaders have been troubled over the years by certain comments and actions by the outgoing pontiff, upon close examination, I think we see that there has been little if anything to be disturbed by, and much for which to be quite pleased. In fact, in his relationship to issues relating to Jews and Judaism, Pope Benedict has been, as he has been in regard to so many other matters, a fascinating figure -- deeply principled and highly intellectual, if sometimes frustrating in his seeming to be less than fully aware of the full emotional and public relations implications of some of his words and deeds.
Continue reading here.
From the Associated Press:


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