text:
U.S. now encouraging banks to work with marijuana sellers
The latest turn in the U.S. softening its tone on marijuana comes not in the legal sector but from the financial world.
The Justice Department recently issued a decision to allow states with legal marijuana laws (namely Colorado and Washington) to start regulating the sale of pot as a legal substance, just like alcohol. The government decided they're taking a hands-off approach, and marijuana businesses in those states can operate without fear of shutdown by the Feds.
There's just one problem: Most banks still won't work with marijuana sellers, since the businesses are illegal under federal law.
Thus many marijuana dispensaries can't open checking accounts or accept credit card payments, which forces them to be all-cash businesses. Which is dangerous.
"That's a prescription for problems," potentially including armed robberies, said the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to ABC.
Deputy Attorney General Jim Cole, second in command at the Justice Department behind Eric Holder, agreed. "Obviously there is a public safety concern when businesses have a lot of cash sitting around," Cole told the committee. "There is a tendency that there are guns associated with that, so it's important to deal with that issue."
Their solution? The Feds are now encouraging banks to work with marijuana businesses, and treat them as legal, legitimate firms.
Cole said the DOJ is now working with the Treasury and "bringing in bank regulators to discuss ways that this can be dealt with in accordance with the laws that we have." The end goal is to legitimize the marijuana businesses in the banks' eyes so that they can operate with normal accounts, lines of credit, etc, to minimize the danger that comes with operating as an all-cash business.
Cole concluded that it's "an issue that we need to deal with."
Of course, the irony of the Feds complaining about the "tendency that there are guns associated" with all-cash businesses is that they're ones who are still insisting marijuana needs to be illegal at the federal level. There are a whole lot of guns and cash involved outside of Colorado and Washington that they could also get rid of by federally legalizing pot. In their place would be an entire industry of legitimate taxable businesses, which would be good for banks and good for the deficit.
But then, you'd need Congress to actually pass a law. And with one of the most ineffectual Congressional sessions on record sitting on the hill, that's not likely to happen anytime soon.
Image: Shutterstock


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UNT Libraries Special Collections - 3 Matching Results
Search Results
- [Letter from Charles B. Moore to Mary Ann Moore, August 22, 1989]
- This is a letter from the Charles B. Moore Collection. It is written by Charles B. Moore and is addressed to Mary Ann Moore. In this letter, Moore details his trip to Colorado for Mary Ann Moore and Laura Jernigan. He notes the town they are staying in at present, Manitou, and mentions their living quarters. He details the activities they have been experiencing such as hiking, searching for caves, and riding electric trolley's up to Pike's peak. He discusses that once on top of the peak, Linnet decided it would be great to stay in one of the little cottages that line the valley. During their stay in one of these cottages, Linnet, Charles, and their fellow travelers meet an interesting Texan. Charles states to Mary that his only regret is that she and the rest of the family are not able to experience the wonders he is seeing in Colorado. He mentions their plans for that day and describes the landscape for Mary. He discusses the railroad tunnels and the people he sees traveling up and down Pike's Peak on mules. He closes the letter stating he is sending a card that their traveling companion has collected and that both Linnet and He are glad to be in such good company. The envelop is included with the letter.
- [Letter from Charles B. Moore to Mary Ann Moore, August 24, 1898]
- This is a letter from the Charles B. Moore Collection. It is written by Charles B. Moore and is addressed to Mary Ann Moore. In this letter, Moore discusses the days agenda and tells Mary they are getting ready for breakfast. He details a conversation he had with the Texan who is bunking next to their room and shares her plans, past and future, for this trip. He notes that they will have a picnic today and that he is collecting items from every where for Mary. He mentions that he met a woman who knew Will Wallace in Grand Junction. He also met an old Tennessean and "got a dollar worth out of him" in conversation. They plan to travel across the mountains on Sunday and do not know yet what route they will take for that expedition. He tells Mary she should go out and make a day out of an excursion somewhere close to home. He states that experiencing nature for one day is worth three days of household chores. He details correspondences received and the picture Linnet after riding up the canyon by mule. He mentions their lunch plans and closes the letter. The envelope is included with the letter.
- [Letter from Linnet White to Claude D. White, August 1917]
- Letter from Linnet White to Claude D. White, whom she addresses as "My dear Dubbie." Linnet and Ruth are in Manitou, Colorado, and she writes that the she feels much better, and that she likes Manitou better than Denver. A friend named Marcellus is staying at the same hotel and is paying for all of their meals. She is also looking forward to Claude joining them in Colorado soon. There is an envelope addressed to Mr. Claude D. White in Fort Worth, Texas. It is postmarked Colorado Springs, Colorado August 6, 1917.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I have no idea how this is going to work out but I am optimistic. I'm looking for a relationship. Friends first and see where things go from there. In the long run looking for something longterm that could possibly end up in marriage.
Music: I like most genera of music. Mostly R&B, HIP hop, country, and more.
Tv shows: NCIS, Chicago fire, sleepy hollow, sons of anarchy, ESPN, history channel, military channel
Books I'm not a big reader
2 friends
3 my phone
4 football
5 food
6 work
If you are looking for something longterm and serious.
If you want someone who knows how to treat a lady and will do soo.
If you are just interested or just want to talk to someone new I don't bite.
If you just want too. Never know what can happen until you jump in.


text:
Earlier today, I received a welcome heads-up: the Obama Administration seems to be backing-off from its assault weapons ban fervor. My sense of relief was profound. I know, I know: it's not a not done deal. Even so, this morning I felt a distinct lifting in the malevolent miasma created by the gun grabbing gestalt. Even as I marveled at the fact that gun owners' voices have been heard in the halls of power, I wondered if gun guys and gals will remember who threw them under the proverbial bus during these dark days of disarmament fever; from Cheaper Than Dirt! to Dick's Sporting Goods to (God I hope not) Senator Charles "Fast and Furious" Grassley. I reckon they will. Yeah, it's that important. Meanwhile and in any case, here are a few more turncoats and some firearms-related distractions to keep you from bumming out . . .
Colorado Gun Retailer Ends Assault Rifle And High-Capacity Magazine Sales, President Of Company Has 'No Regrets' Yet. huffingingtonpost.com
senatorfeinstein.com doesn't mean what Senator Feinstein thinks it means.
Well they would do wouldn't they. Hundreds rush to gun store in hopes of buying semi-automatic rifle kctv5.com
Former Nixonite, failed presidential candidate and msnbc pet conservative Pat Buchanan's columns have become the SBR of editorials. In fact, the headline was probably enough. BUCHANAN: Americans want their guns app.com
They shoot dogs don't they? Yes. Yes they do. Mexico City Police Shooting of Feral Dogs Ignites Debate fishgame.com
Then again there must be something in it. "Video games are the most effective advertisements there are for firearms." The problem being? huffingtonpost.com
The Bay State can't wait. "Massachusetts has removed violent video games from four highway rest stops after a family traveling for the holidays saw a young boy playing one days after the Connecticut school shooting." bostonherald.com
Washington State Senate majority leader and Seattle mayoral hopeful Ed Murray can't wait for a federal assault weapons and/or "high capacity" magazine ban (God forbid). So he wants to do them both, in one, now. His bill would ban "anything with a detachable clip that has more than 10 bullets." blogs.seattleweekly.com
You can't keep a good Alex Jones down. Or a bad one.
Gun Appreciation Day's four step program:
1. Go to GunAppreciationDay.com and sign the petition to defend gun rights
2. Go to our Facebook page and like us
3. Join the Facebook "event" page January 19 – Gun Appreciation Day
4. Then invite your friends to join!
Meh. Step Five: spend a $2 bill!
Seventeen shots from an AR in an urban environment and the law of averages.
Godwin's law at motherjones.com. Was Hitler Really a Fan of Gun Control? TTAG tipster: "This is a case of everyone firing blanks."
Not here. Sneak peak at all of Winchester's new-for-2013 ammo including some newa Lapua.
Too much recoil for kids, though. "The Sheriff's Department in Caddo Parish, Louisiana is inviting children to participate in the 'Kids First Gun Program,' which will teach young children how to safely operate firearms." Drudge Report.
Heller hero Alan Gura equates gun rights to gay rights and abortion rights, and not without justification. Obviously.
A friend indeed. Like my forthcoming SCAR 17 . . .
61 Responses to Daily Digest: Keep Your Friends Close, Your FN SCAR Closer
I got a catalog from CTD just yesterday. Thru it in the trash without opening it. And as anyone that's been paying attention knows, I will vote my guns.
Yep, I will NEVER buy from CTD again. Their shipping prices to CA suck anyway.
Their shipping prices have ALWAYS sucked. What good is it to sell cheap if the shipping makes it more than retail???
I did the same. CTD will never see another cent of my money.
Same here. A ceremonial "spit" and right into the bin.
Ahh I wish I got a catalog so I could throw it away too
It did feel good. Fvck 'em.
here here
What are the details around this "heads up" you received Robert??
"the Obama Administration may be backing-off from its assault weapons ban fervor"?
This headline says otherwise: Obama Not Backing Down on Assault Weapons
I don't know what to believe anymore…
Trust – but verify.
The gun grabbers are launching their campaigns of deceit just as they did with the election. Prepare for false flags of hope that they have given up on their bans. They want us complicit and to go back to not caring… then BOOM. We will wake up just like we did on November 7th and wonder how they got the best of us… again.
This. These bastards don't give up.
Ronald Reagan? You mean the CA governor that started all this gun control nonsense back in the day? He not only wanted more restrictions on "assault" rifles way back when, be he wanted longer waiting periods and even out out of office he pushed Bush Sr. to stop his support for shorter waiting periods. Even though our fight is more a left issue, some on the right are not as gun friendly as many think.
Great, Washington is pushing for an assault weapons ban. Time for all of us to start fighting. I know there are a lot of us here in Washington on the site.
+1 Fellow Washingtonian here.
Ed Murray can say what he wants, but I believe the majority of folks here in WA state are smart enough to see the BS. Gun laws here are much better than Oregon or CA. After Colorado, we're the only other state with the wisdom to legalize marijuana.
First, Murray is not the Senate Majority leader, a couple of quasi-Dems joined the Republicans in a modest coup placing Sen. Toms as leader. Second, there is no chance that it would stand an initiative challenge in this state. And the Dems remember 1994 like it was yesterday (75% approval for unrestricted gun choice – hint: abortion got 51% in 1992).
"Like my forthcoming SCAR 17 . . ."
F^cking dig doggidy A 😉
again, with the video game scapegoat. This is where I disagree strongly with the NRA. What ever happened to free speech?
"an inch…it is small and fragile…and it is the only thing in the world worth having. we must never lost it or give it away. we must never let them take it from us…" -V for Vendetta-
On that first video:
I respected the store owner's decision to not sell "assault weapons" until the 1:42 mark where they reported "but they will continue to sell all other firearms". I stopped right there. What an idiot.
Is it so much to ask for some consistency? Either you're for guns, or against guns. Stop being stupid and buying into the media spin and only focusing on "assault weapons". It's one thing to get rid of all guns in your store — at least that means you're making a stand against guns as a whole.
But to stop selling "certain guns" only just tells me you know nothing of firearms and their related statistics. You're just catering to the fear-mongering media. Way to be a sheep.
You're exactly right. Make a real stand and stop selling all firearms and ammunition, or you are pandering to the media and the left. The comments on the article quickly confirm that JAX used this ploy to capitalize on the low-information left and bring business into the store while maintaining the business of the fence-sitters who are ok with buying ammo or other arms related items from this company. Personally, I have done some contract work for JAX, but I won't again, nor will I enter their store again, as I see they capitalized on the tragedy in Conn by pandering to the left…
It seems to me that the administration knows that an AWB is DOA in Congress; so they are unwilling to expend political capital to attempt to push it through. This doesn't mean they won't throw their lip-service support behind Feinstein's bill. Based on the comments made by most of the groups that met with Biden, it seems like the focus will be on pushing for universal background checks; which poll much better than any other measure, along with promises of better enforcement and mandatory data reporting to the FBI. They'll likely also likely push a little bit on a magazine restrictions to see what happens. You have to remember, they know none of these measures with help at all with crime or gun-related deaths; it is all about being able to jump up on a soapbox; and if they get the "gun-show loophole" closed, they'll be able to fund-raise on it for the next ten years.
I disagree on the mag cap limit. I believe very strongly that the antis are going to o after full-capacity magazines with all of the zeal and vigor they would have put into AWB 2.0. Possibly more so because they'll be all pissed off from not getting what the ban-without-transfers really want.
They're counting on blue states to ram through any AWB they can get away with, because challenging those individually in the courts is going to be way more work than challenging a single Federal AWB.
I can see mag limits, and I'll continue to fight against that as well.
You and me both. But the smart money is on the House GOP cutting a deal to let mag cap limits pass (at best with a sunset date, likely perpetual) in exchange for getting some of what they want in fiscal cliff negotiations.
Houstorm: Also, if the additional background checks pass, and the high-capacity ban passes, it will save a few lives.
Every time there is a mass shooting, the gun industry creates this same hysteria, in order to sell more guns. It works every time. A few legislators even went so far this time as to introduce legislation they knew wouldn't pass. As you mention, this is a way to make your base happy without actually doing anything.
Eventually, both sides calm down, and nothing actually gets done. Then, a few days later, another madman with a gun kills a bunch of children, and the process starts over.
The madman rarely uses a car, or a knife, or a hammer, because guns are really the weapon of choice for lunatics.
Actually, 2A-Prohibition Zones are magnets for mass shooters.
Every time there is a mass shooting, the gun industry creates this same hysteria, in order to sell more guns.
Already starting the revisionist history? The civilian disarmament crowd was hard at work in the media while the bodies were still in that school. Perhaps you are arguing that people like Feinstein, Bloomberg and Cuomo are actually shills for the "gun industry"?
it will save a few lives?
you do realize how many long guns are used in crimes right?
you do realize that "assault weapons" (with mags bigger than 10 rounds, which can include pistols) constitute 1/6th of 1% of all guns used in crime.
but dont let facts get in the way of good old fashioned knee-jerk soapbox grandstanding.,,
notice how you said nothing about handguns…not a single thing (which doesnt matter anyways since handguns are equally protected under the 2A). JUST LIKE PIERS!
WLCE: During the last year of the ban, in 2004, 10% of crime-related gun seizures by VA police were equipped with high capacity magazines. By last year, the percentage was up to 22%
Frankly, I think you just made up the number of less than 1%
But lets say you are correct, and banning high capacity magazines will only stop the 11th through 30th bullets, and only 1/6 of 1%. That works out to 87 people.
Are we supposed to tell those 87 people that their lives are not worth saving, because it would be so inconvenient to people who really love to carry 30 round magazines?
I will be happy to tell them that, if you can guarantee that the people who died from bullets 11-30 would absolutely not have died from bullets 1-10 in the next magazine after a change, or the one after that.
Guarantee it. No maybes, no might have. Guarantee it.
If you can do that, I will tell them what you said.
I can be as ludicrous as you.
I bought a Scar 17s on Dec. 13th for $2600. I'd hemmed and hawed about it for years, but after reading and re-reading all the reviews I finally decided to spend the money on it. I then went on Gunbroker and paid the outrageous price of $50 apiece for 5 additional magazines. I am flabbergasted at the prices both the 17 and the magazines are going for now. I'll never part with mine, though. I love it.
Once summer begins up here, ill be using cheaperthendirt's brochures for targets, right alongside RECOIL magazine copies. Its cheaper then shoot n c's, and are easier to see at 50+ yards away.
+1, good idea.
VIDEOS Deleted. They screw-up some browsers. Sorry.
Now all I need is a .17 WSM conversion for my Hilti so when the tin knockers ignore the plans and run duct where my conduit runs are supposed to go I can carry a little more heat than my Estwing. Hole-sawing through their ducts to prove a point, while satisfying, is such a bother.
I appreciated this, even if no one else did.
Raising a beer to you Matt.
Next they'll be back to blaming heavy metal and rock n roll. Its not the games stupid!
Except there aren't many new LP's to play backwards anymore.
"senatorfeinstein.com doesn't mean what Senator Feinstein thinks it means."
Hysterical! Love it! Pro-gun brothers have bought the site name senatorfeinstein.com and are creating a pro-gun anti-DiFi site using her name!
SCAR L YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The H is much better. But M-4A1 much much better weapon if your want small 5.56mm rifles. SOCOM agrees with me. Personally a USMC A4 is the best optic ready 5.56mm rifle.
And I hope you right RF about Obama backing off, but dont trust him he may lie to get us off our guard or just wait till another tragedy to push for that. Contact the GOP House and pressure them to say NO!!!
Carry your M14 proudly. Ive recently greased up mine and my old M1 Garand. What can i say? I felt patriotic today 😉
You just wanted an excuse to gloat about getting a SCAR, didn't you? :p
So far, I haven't heard of any stupidity being proposed here in NC, but I might not be looking in the right places. That or they decided making the Sheriff's Department do the NICS checks for $5 on handgun purchases instead of just having the FFL do it like they do for long guns was dumb enough. Stupid Jim Crow laws.
With the state government in Republican hands there is little chance of any new restrictions. If there were any proposed, Grass Roots North Carolina would get the news out quickly.
A possible consequence of the civilian disarmament push might be that some of the rumored efforts to advance rights might be slowed down. Things that were rumored before the troubles:
Fixing restaurant carry and local abuses restricting park carry.
Doing away with Pistol Purchase Permits from your county sheriff.
Constitutional Carry had also been a rumored possibility.
Ooo, local organization, thanks!
I've supported Jax in Fort Collins for a couple decades now. Honestly, this isn't really surprising. Their gun shop kept moving farther and farther away from the main entrance as they grew over the years, and now it's a separate building that takes directions to get to.
It is, after all, a privately owned business. If they choose to stop selling semi-auto weapons then it's their prerogative. I'm sure they will survive just fine selling hemp socks and Frisbees to the locals.
His decision to stop selling Evil Rifles and full capacity mags is a lot less impressive when you read to the article and learn that he sold everything he had first, THEN made the announcement.
Which has basically zero impact on his bottom line for the foreseeable future considering there's absolutely nothing available via the supply chain.
Such a hero.
Well, of course he sold off his remaining inventory. After selling that stuff for an unknown number of years, what's another 20+ rifles? And I bet the time between his decision to cancel his backorder (stop selling) and the time he sold out of ARs and mags was hours.
First: I live in Caddo Parish. The CPSO has offered gun safety classes to kids since at least 1962! This is not an "Eek a Gun" town.
Second: Yes! The trolls are losing the "Gun Control" debate. Does this matter? I don't know, and nobody else does either, because the fruitcakes in DC don't listen to the people.
Third: Keep 'em flying!
While "CTD" may mean Cheaper Than Dirt on gun forums, in Emergency Nursing we refer to a near death patient as Circling The Drain. Somehow the comparison just seemed fitting.
Morbid but CTD's actively trying for that.
I would prefer if, instead of CTD CTD, they were DRT, so we could stop talking about them.
That's Dead Right There, if you didn't know.
I dumped CTD last year
Sportsmans Guide as well
They kep sending trash catalogs, only the prices change
So lets all e-mail CTD an tell em to FOAD!
Hi Robert!
Your beaming praise of the SCAR 16 was what originally drew me to the platform. However at three MRPs deep I couldn't really justify MORE 5.56 rifles.
That led me to explore the 17 and it is a FANTASTIC rifle that you will be very happy with. No double taps needed! As if.
I am assuming in RI vehicle carry of long arms is a no no? When you move to TX and are no longer restricted, you'll find the 17 to be a perfect truck rifle.
I either use that or I take a double rifle case and carry both a LMT MRP and a LMT MWS… for variety's sake.
About when will you be joining us (us being northeasterners who have seen the light) in Texas?
Eternal vigilance is the price of…. And you all know the rest of that quote. The struggle to keep the Second Amendment will occupy us all the rest of our lives.
Or until the last Boomer (and I'm one of 'em) has been safely in the ground for a generation.
You forgot to mention General McChrystal.


text:
St Thomas Aquinas
God's Not Dead; There's Something Happening Here
There's something happening here, but what it is ain't exactly clear…The opening words to the Buffalo Springfield (the band that would introduce to us the likes of Stephen Stills and Neil Young) classic song written in 1966, but released in 1967 certainly resonated to those who heard it whatever their political leanings. There was a sense even before the famous or infamous 1967 events, like the Newport Folk Festival and San Francisco's Summer of Love that something in society was changing. The same could be said today in light of a flurry of religious themed movies that have come out in the first three months of 2014.
One could argue that the first signs of the secular sea change we have been under were first seen after the mid-term elections of 2006. By November of 2008 there was no doubt the western world was changing. However, for every action there is a reaction. It may have taken the world of faith a bit longer to react but it has. Already in 2013, the Bible mini-series caught the attention of those in Hollywood who notice TV and cultural move watching habits. The Bible mini-series, the brainchild Mark Burnett and Roma Downey literally spun off into the Son of God film which is currently one of the year's early top grossing films.
However, it seems that what is bubbling under the current is what catches everyone by surprise, and so it is with the year's first big surprise, God's Not Dead. The film's entire production budget was between 1-2 million dollars, the mere advertising budget of most medium size films. The screenwriters are faithful Catholics Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman, whom I met some four years ago while giving one of my talks at Family Theater in Hollywood (founded by Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton CSC also known as The Rosary Priest.) I was impressed by Cary and Chuck, their frequent Mass attendance during the week, their fervent study and practice of the faith (as evidenced by the St. Thomas Aquinas type logic used in some of their arguments in God's Not Dead,) and their embrace of the sacramental life, especially the Sacrament of Penance.
Both men weren't living some fantasy of wanting to hobnob with Hollywood's hipsters. They had been down that road successfully working and mingling with the likes of Sylvester Stallone among others. Cary and Chuck felt called to write faith based scripts. In an interview with me featured in the National Review both men spoke of the hypocrisy that the faithful have to endure in the public square.
Hartline: I think a faithful Christian, or anyone of faith, feels a lot has changed in the last five or six years. People of faith are often mocked or belittled in popular culture, and the faithful are accused of all sorts of bigotry and ignorance. We are told to get with the times, as if our consciences could really leave the truth behind. It seems the movie is addressing that underlying feeling in the faith community.
Solomon and Konzelman: Yes, that's definitely the nerve that's been touched. Secular humanists insist that Christians in general — and Catholics in particular — are supposed to leave their belief system at home when it comes to matters in the public sphere. So according to the rules they propose, their belief system is allowable . . . and ours isn't. Which is a deliberate attempt to subvert the whole democratic process. As someone else pointed out: Democracy is supposed to be about more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
I then posed the question as to why some are willing to defend their faith as did the college student in God's Not Dead, but sadly most do not.
Hartline: College student Josh Wheaton appears to be the nondescript everyman. While everyone else accedes to the professor's atheistic rants, Josh decides to take up the challenge, even though he's far from being a theologian. Is there a message there for most of us?
Solomon and Konzelman: It's a question of being willing to try . . . and fail, if necessary. Mother Teresa got it right: God does not require us to be successful, only faithful. Secular humanism has really been racking up the score in the culture wars lately, largely because of the unwillingness of many Christians to counter their efforts. Unfortunately, doing nothing is doing something: It's enabling the other side. Every time we roll over and don't confront the challenge, our forfeit shows up as a win in the other team's column and encourages them to push further. Continue reading
The Coming Open Rebellion Against God Part II
In my first article The Coming Open Rebellion Against God, I spoke of a time where God would reveal his omnipotence and some would simply leave their faith behind. Why? Because just as in John 6, some would say it simply doesn't make sense and walk away. Some have prayed that if only God would show His omnipotence; many would fall on their knees and believe. I truly believe the time is coming when some of our intelligentsia, including clergy will see the hand of God and say; "No thanks, this doesn't mesh with my worldview."
Father Dwight Longenecker recently wrote a review of the movie The Rite Starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, a movie somewhat inspired by a real life Italian exorcist. The movie was given praise by many Catholic writers including Father Longenecker for actually showing the Church in a positive light. Perhaps this was due to the film's producers using a California based exorcist Father Gary Thomas who actually was present at the filming of the movie. In a key passage Father Longenecker pondered the fact that far too many in this modern rationalistic world see the idea of the devil and demonic possession as beyond them, even though if they truly followed their rationalistic approach, they would come to see that there simply was no medical or scientific explanation for some cases. Sadly, for too many the sin of pride all too often is their downfall.
Recently Father Gary Thomas was interviewed by Leticia Velazquez of Catholic Exchange; some of his remarks about the way in which the teachings of the Church with regard to evil were defiantly rebuked by some within the Church including bishops were more than a little disconcerting. This movie review of The Rite by Father Raymond Schroth SJ associate Editor of America Magazine is one such example. As you can see, the devil is so passé to Father Schroth SJ. It hardly jibes with the high mindedness of those to which he and his urbane friends associate. Check out the comments section in the article, some of the comments left are as elitist and depressing as his treatise on who God is and who He should be.
George Weigel has noted the sad state of some quasi dissident bishops that Pope John Paul II and now Pope Benedict XVI have had to confront. They came from a mindset that preferred the adulation of the dissident intelligentsia of the Ivy League rather than the working class Catholic roots from which many came.
With regard to Jesus and the devil, Jesus spent a good deal of his time fighting the devil and his minions, but alas those who don't believe in such things seem to indicate that Jesus and the Gospel writers got it wrong, Jesus was not fighting demonic powers but those who were dealing with bouts of depression and epilepsy. According to these liberal dissident elites, Jesus was the precursor to Dr Phil and Deepak Chopra helping those poor seemingly possessed people get their groove back and find their Zen destiny. Never mind what the Church teaches on the subject or the fact that both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have specifically spoken of evil and the needs for more exorcists in the Church, these elites know better. Talk about hutzpah, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have been labeled as intellectually brilliant, even by their detractors, but no matter to those who don't believe in such archaic things as the devil. Perhaps we should ask those in the Church, especially in the Church Hierarchy, if you don't believe what Jesus said about the devil and the manifestation of evil, what else don't you believe? Continue reading
E. J. Dionne & Maureen Dowd Are Playing With A Dangerous Fire
In a recent column Washington Post columnist, E J Dionne noted that the Tea Party movement is a great scam. Quite an indictment coming from the self described progressive Catholic who still thinks government can never be big enough and the Church should tell the faithful more about the teachings of the agnostic Saul Alinsky than that of 2,000 year old teachings of the Catholic Church. Dionne has made it his business to comment on all matter of politics and religion for quite some time. His partner in left wing chicanery is New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd who never hesitates to go for the jugular. Though she says he she comes from humble Washington DC roots, you would never know it by how she mocks those who really came from humble surrounding and never forgot it. She probably grew up with many Sarah Palin's and Christine O'Donnell's around her. Yet, I doubt she mocked many to their face as she gleefully does now to the backs of Palin and O'Donnell.
Dionne and Dowd seem to have it backwards, they don't think citizens should voice their views about the fallacies of liberal Big Government, but they do believe everyone knows better than the divine about religion. This is quite common for liberals who often seem to think they are divine. Dionne and Dowd are part of a movement who thinks they should control government and religion, and those who disagree with them are often labeled as unintelligent; the worst sin as far as liberals are concerned. However, who is the unintelligent one? Big Government has never worked. It has only brought huge debt which has to be repaid by future generations. Individuals who go into debt face a series of tough measures. Yet Dionne and Dowd seem oblivious to this and advocate the same disastrous path for the government, the end result being tough measures for everyone. In other words Big Government is a disaster that doesn't work.
However, Big Government isn't the only disaster Dionne and Dowd advocate. They want the Catholic Church to turn her back on its 2,000 year old teachings and embrace the Dictatorship of Relativism, so named by Pope Benedict XVI. Dionne and Dowd are happy to embrace dissident Catholics who espouse this sort of thinking. It seems Dionne and Dowd are more comfortable with the views of Marx, Alinsky and Freud than they are with Christ, St Paul, St Thomas Aquinas, St Joan of Arc and Pope Benedict XVI. Continue reading
Rank and File Conservatives & The Conservative Intelligentsia United In Outrage Over Mosque Near Ground Zero, Not So With Same-Sex Marriage
The proposed mosque set to be built near Ground Zero, site of the September 11, 2001 attacks has brought a sweeping condemnation from both rank and file conservatives and the Conservative Intelligentsia. Now that President Barack Obama has weighed in the matter, seemingly supporting the effort, one can only imagine how this will be used in the fall elections. However, a rift has appeared to have been opened concerning the views of the rank and file conservatives and the Conservative Intelligentsia following the ruling of Judge Vaughn Walker over same-sex marriage. Many of the conservative intelligentsia, along with the establishment wing of the Republican Party has either been silent or voiced the view that the wished the whole gay marriage issue would simply go away. This has led to bewilderment from some conservative voices.
The best Catholic tie in with the efforts to build a mosque on Ground Zero came from the famed conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer, who is Jewish. In his opposition to the mosque being built near Ground Zero, he correctly pointed out that Pope John Paul II ordered Carmelite nuns, who were living right next to Auschwitz, to move closer to a nearby town, since the site had become a rallying point for Jewish identity. Krauthammer correctly pointed out that Christians had been murdered there too and the nuns were doing the heroic deed of praying for the souls of those who were viciously murdered. However, Krauthammer pointed out that the late Polish pontiff felt that it created the wrong perception.


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Nice natural look.These lip shimmers have just enough color and shimmer to be interesting, but still look natural. The scent is a very strong peppermint. Wears well, not too thin and not too waxy. Feels nice and tingly on lips, and moisturizes well. The lightest shade is a bit too frosty and light, but the other two are nice. — 6 years, 3 months agoLipglossandSpandex | 521 reviews
Pick this one up before I go-goI got a Burt's Bees Shimmer Trio from my Secret Santa in the office. ;) This gift came in a good timing because I loved it in Nutmeg and was planning to try another color. I had never tried any of these colors (Champagne, Watermelon and Rhubarb). Champagne is a bit too white on my lips. Watermelon's pink is lighter than Rhubarb's, but Watermelon adds a healthy nude-pink look on my lips. My favori...read morete one among this trio is Rhubarb. The color is pretty dark raspberry pink, but my lips can still look natural. These lip shimmers go on smoothly, and I like a minty tingle sensation. It lightly moisturizes my lips. While I will use more buttery and richer lip balm when I have dry/chapped lips, these are great little pick-me-up lip balms. — 6 years, 8 months agoluckybetty | 895 reviews
Great set!This is a great little set from Burt's. The lip tints are fabulous. Moisturizing and minty like Burt's balms, but with a bit of color. Great for someone like me who has a tough time with lipstick but needs lip balm. The pouch is super cute and keeps your balms together and safe so that you don't have loose caps and such floating around your purse. This also makes a great inexpensive gift. — 8 years agoTwoBirds | 284 reviews
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Patients with chronic disease believe benefits of electronic medical records outweigh any privacy concerns, a new report finds.
When it comes to health data, chronic patients are less concerned about privacy.
The Accenture 2014 Patient Engagement Survey of more than 2,000 U.S. consumers, found that 51% with chronic conditions said that the benefits of accessing data through an electronic medical record outweighs any privacy concerns. Accenture's survey of 2,011 U.S. consumers is part of a larger global survey and compares perceptions between chronic patients and healthy people across 11 conditions: asthma, arthritis, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), depression, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, clinically diagnosed obesity, osteoporosis and stroke.
Privacy concerns amongst the group of chronic patients also varied. The patient group that most believed that the benefits of accessing EMR outweighed the risks was cancer patients (57%) while the group with only 48% of asthma and arthritis patients responded similarly.
Ironically, while 69% responded that having access to their EMR is a "right" and not a privilege and 87% said it was "very" or "somewhat important" to have control over their health data, a majority (55%) believe they have little or any control all over their EMRs.
Still, heart disease patients appear to have more control over their data, defined in the survey as being able to access EMRs and being able to make decisions about their personal care. A full 65% of them reported having "full" or "some" control compared with only 49% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) patients who responded similarly.
"Healthcare will need to adapt to a new generation of individuals who are taking a more proactive role in managing their health and expect to have transparency," said Kaveh Safavi M.D. J.D., who leads Accenture's global health business. "As consumers continue to demand more access to their personal data online, we expect that patients will gain more power to manage some aspects of their own care. This will not only make healthcare more effective but also more affordable, as consumers doing more for themselves will free up the system to be more productive."
[Photo Credit: iStockPhoto.com user mkurtbas]
-- By Arundhati Parmar, Senior Editor, MD+DI


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Even though MSU architecture professors rate the talents of the master's graduate from Bozeman along with top students in the country, big buildings are just not his style.
"I like to solve a problem that responds to people's needs," Procunier said.
Those include solutions to big problems, such as housing for Haitians displaced by the 2010 earthquake. Procunier has never been to Haiti, yet the country and its needs ignited his imaginations. His designs for Haitian housing have placed him in advanced stages of two international design competitions.
Procunier was a semifinalist in the Building Back Better Communities in Haiti competition, a remarkable accomplishment since he placed as a student and the competition lured entries by professional architects from throughout the world.
Also, Procunier as a single entry was one of the top 29 teams in another international competition for students. Procunier continues to improve the design he submitted to that contest -- a permanent bamboo-based form system to be used for concrete blocks that could be used to rebuild after disaster, such as in Haiti or Japan.
"I like entering competitions as a school project," Procunier said, contrasting them to the imaginary or theoretical problems that are part of most architecture classes. "It's more challenging because you need to understand another culture, how your design would affect that culture and how it could help."
Jack Smith, an MSU adjunct architecture professor and architect who has taught architectural students since 1964, said that Procunier actually finished all his requirements for his degree in December, but enrolled in the spring semester and paid extra tuition so he could work on the building form project and enter two more design competitions. In addition to another Haiti competition, Procunier is submitting a design for a ballet/martial arts studio in a steel company-sponsored competition.
"He's an extraordinarily talented, amazing guy," Smith said, adding that he doesn't think that professors can teach talent such as Procunier's. "Our job is to uncover it."
Smith, along with professors Ralph Johnson and Bruce Wrightsman, served as advisers on Procunier's Haiti project. Smith said that Procunier is "a really hard worker and also a really, really humble guy."
As an example, Procunier didn't tell fellow students and teachers until he was just about done that his part-time job throughout college was working for the sculptor Deborah Butterfield and her husband, artist John Buck, both world-class artists.
Procunier said that he does a variety of jobs for Buck and Butterfield, ranging from feeding horses to helping them with building projects at their studio outside Bozeman.
"It's been great to see really creative stuff outside school. They are both really inspiring," Procunier said. adding that he's enjoyed talking to Buck about art and design. "They've given me insights into the world of world-class art."
Procunier is now learning to ride the horses at the Butterfield-Buck complex after years of taking care of them. Procunier said he likes learning new things, which is one of the reasons he likes architecture.
"What makes it so hard and so interesting is that you have to know so many different things if you want to solve a problem," he said. "From computer applications to how bamboo grows, there's just so much information that you have to know to have a successful project. I like that."
Procunier said he was always interested in architecture. From the beginning he has liked its problem-solving aspect. But his passion for his career really caught on when he entered his first Haiti competition. It was then, he said that he learned that his education was not just something to use as a stepping stone for a career, but something that could be used as a resource for his ideas and projects.
"When I started on the Haiti project, it took me to another level," Procunier said. "I wish that I would have had that mindset from day one. But I've enjoyed my time here and the work with other students and professors."
The feeling is mutual. This week Procunier received the MSU Architectural Research Center Consortium Award (Arcc.org), given to a student who shows promise in success in profession. It was one of four honors given out by the MSU School of Architecture to its graduates.
Procunier says after a few summer commitments, he'll begin looking for a job, mostly likely at a firm in a larger city that will allow him to solve practical problems rather than work in high-end architecture.
"With his portfolio, he can go anywhere he wants to go," Smith said. "His education isn't over. It's really just begun."
Jack Smith (406) 994-7353, firstname.lastname@example.com


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Carnival Valor - Western Caribbean: Carnival Valor Cruise Review by Julez1054
Overall Member Rating
Carnival Valor - Western Caribbean
Destination: Western Caribbean
Embarkation: Miami
We had to pretty much haul ourselves the rest of the way - from the shuttle bus arriving at the port and embarking on the boat. Since we were SUPER late, we had no lines to wait in. Amazingly the boat didn't leave port till after 4 anyway, so we made it just in time - along with the few others that were in the same crisis we were. When we arrived in the Valor everyone on the ship was already scurrying around for the lifejacket drill that is mandatory for all first time guests that arrive. We didn't have to do it, the Carnival employees pretty much told us to just go up and find our room - I think they realized just how exhausted we really were.
Our first day on the boat was a very exhausting one. The ship was absolutely amazing and brilliantly designed. I couldn't believe how elegant it was inside - like an upscaled swanky hotel. The elevators were incredible - I loved the ones in the lobby that were made of glass - as you went up or descended you could see a wonderful view of everything. It was amazing!
I was cruising with family - my aunt and uncle and three cousins, so between all of us, we had booked ourselves two rooms. A regular stateroom with no windows or balcony and the other one had the window and balcony. I had to room with my little cousins, but never minded it at all. The room that was completely closed in had a total of four beds - two were pull down bunks that accommodated us perfectly. It was so strange to be laying in there in mid afternoon, and with the lights off it felt as if it was 2am in the morning. It was perfect for anyone who wanted to get a good long nap in.
We went to the Lido deck as the ship started to embark on it's journey to the Western Caribbean islands. We stood there in the hot breezy Miami wind and watched as we entered the ocean - what a sight! I have never been to Miami before, so that alone was fascinating to see ... South Beach was beautiful, even the water was amazing. It was so neat to see how settled everyone become on just that afternoon. People were swimming, dancing, surrounding the pools and sunbathing, eating.....
We didn't really do much the first day, seeing that we all were very exhausted. We pretty much toured through the ship and admired it's beauty. It was so immaculately clean - and no matter where you were there was carnival employees everywhere! So any help or questions you needed, you had them right at your finger tips! Our first dinner we had at Rosies - our formal dinner was in the Washington Dining Room at 5:45 - but since kids are a pain sometimes, we thought Rosies would be easiest - and I enjoyed it immensely! The buffets were awesome and the food reminded me of upscaled diner quality - so VERY good and SOOO much to eat, it was never ending. One of my most favorite parts of the trip was room service. Since I was spending the week with two teenagers and one pre-teen, they loved to EAT! But room service was frequent for us, especially at 1 am! When they would bring us our food, they would come right in the room and serve it on our table - it was so nice, and so lazy of us! But it was part of our vacation, and we wanted to live every second of it up!! Even the room service food was good - and I loved their brownies!! They were awesome.
Tuesday was our first port of call - Grand Cayman Island. We took a swim with the stingrays and snorkeling excursion. It was so much fun and the water was just breathtaking. The colors of green and blue just wiped me away, especially since my usual vacations are spent at the Jersey shore, where the beaches are quite dirty, the sand is dark and the water is gray. When we reached the sting ray sandbar there was tons swimming around the boats. I was fearless, I couldn't wait to get in with them. They swam all through your legs and you could even hold them and feed them squid. It was pretty insane. The snorkeling part was fun, but in my opinion way to short. By the time you got your gear on, and your flippers - you had to come in. It was pretty exhausting too. A lot of swimming since you're treading deep water - and trying to adjust your mask while in the water! FORGET IT. I was losing air so I just gave up and came in - but the coral reef under us was beautiful, and some pretty cool fish swimming around. All in all, it was a fun day - towards the end we got off our bus to stop at 7 mile beach. What an amazing beach - powdery white sand and the water was nearly white it was so clear. It's crazy because the water is so salty, it's nearly impossible to sink! I liked that part the best.
Getting back on the boat was fairly easy. With Grand Cayman, there was a tender - the only problem I had with tendering was the trip back. Everyone is wet and sweaty and they crowd as many people possible on the boat to send back to the Valor. That part grossed me out pretty bad. Not only was I tired, hot and sweaty - I was stuck with other people, sitting nearly on top of one another, or standing. It wasn't terrible - but if you don't like large crowds, I don't recommend it! But it was the only way to get into the island, so I accepted. Besides, it was kind of neat to float away and see our ship in the background. It's huge!
I think the most fun I had was the night time activities that carnival had on the ship at night. I LOVED the musicals - the Vegas and 80's Show, Far From Over were fantastic! I was just swooned by one of the male dancers too, and on my last night - Saturday, I was able to meet and get a picture with him, that really made my trip. The comedians, the sword swallowers and the hypnotist were great too. I couldn't wait to get back on the ship sometimes because I looked forward to just chilling out and getting ready for the activities at night. The Deck party was A lot of fun too. The group, Total Eclipse performed A lot during the week - my only complaint was that I was a bit sick of the 70's music playing during the day out on the ship's deck. Especially with the amount of kids on board, we all wanted to hear some more recent stuff - I know we're out in the Caribbean seas, but do we have to listen to Caribbean based music all week? Otherwise, if you wanted to hear the good stuff, you had to go in the clubs at night - that's where the real music was. Our second port of call was Isla Roatan. We had an excursion with Theris Dixon. We were taken on a drive through tour of the island and saw some pretty interesting ship wrecks along the way. I think by far that island was the hottest! It had to be over 100 degrees the day we visited. We were burning up from the inside, it was pretty nasty. We also visited the iguana farm they had - that was insane! Over a thousand iguanas just running lose that you were able to feed. It just really hard to concentrate because of the heat though - all we really dreamed about was swimming in the water! We were taken to the beach at our last part of the day and spent about 2 hours there. The beaches are beautiful!! Just a breathtaking sight that I wont ever forget. The only thing was the island just seemed a bit poor - but expected I suppose. I guess I just couldn't imagine living on an island with so little. And the heat included just made it worse. Most of the houses that we passed were open, no air conditioning whatsoever! I just couldn't imagine.
Wednesday night was the formal dinner that we decided to attend. We had a really nice time - the food was great too - not a complaint there. I have to say though, the bottom of the boat is pretty rocky at times if we're hitting some choppy waters. Nothing too bad, but you can surely feel it. That's why I'm glad our cabin was on the 8th floor towards the back of the ship. We were told the back and the top of the ship is probably the best place to be to avoid any type of interruption that you might feel with the ship. The Washington Dining room was pretty elegant - I loved the decor. The waiters were real nice too, very accommodating to your needs and always there if you needed anything. It almost seemed Titanic like after the formal nights. The whole ship would be dressed up - and it set well especially with how fancy the ship is inside. After our dinner we went back up to our cabins to just chill out and rest until it was time for one of the shows.
I think the entertainment on the cruise was excellent - everything I expected and maybe more. Nothing that anyone has to be disappointed in.
I think one of the worse things that got me on the trip was the sun. It was killer on my eyes - the heat wasn't to overbearing, and the salty water also made it pretty hard for me too. Most nights I was pretty zoned out. Not complaining though, because even in that state of mind I was having so much fun. It's just a lot of activities thrown into one day that can really exhaust someone! I think that's why our mid afternoon naps fit in just well. But once again, I'm not even close to complaining - I had so much fun no matter what!
Thursday was Belize - and if I remember right, I'll never forget docking that morning. Since I was rooming with 3 other kids, we all were way to tired to get up early and go down to Rosie's to eat breakfast, so we always marked off what we wanted in the morning and put it out on our door for room service to deliver. But the morning of Belize was a bumpy one! I remember waking up feeling the whole room rumbling. That was neat though - didn't make me sick, just woke me out of bed. But usually when you felt the rumbles, you knew it was time to get up because the ship was at it's port. It was our usual wake up call. Didn't really ever have the chance to sleep in - except for Saturday morning, since it was our day at sea. But now when I look back on it, I never minded it - it just gave the day more time, which meant more fun :)
Belize was nice. We didn't have much planned but a day at the beach - so we were taken to a nice little place called Banister Island. A bit of a boat ride there, but it was nice. The beach was beautiful once again. a lot of huts to sit under in the shade and eat lunch - sand was nice and white, and they gave you free floats to take out in the water and just drift way into pure bliss. I think though, the water in Belize was my least favorite. Not like it was at all bad - but it had TONS of shells at the shoreline and the water wasn't as clear as Roatan and the Cayman Islands. I just suggest you bring water shoes - and you'll do just fine. After a few hours on the beach, we took the boat back to the port of Belize, did a little shopping and got back on the tender to head to the Valor.
The night activities for me was pretty much the same. But I loved them. The coolest thing was going up on the decks at night and listening to the ocean. I have to say, the decks weren't as crowded as I would have imagined during the night - the most packed I saw it was during our deck party on Wednesday night - that was crazy, but the music was good and everyone was having a good time - people were out dancing all hours of the night. Hanging out in the Eagles Lounge was a thing I started to enjoy - the Karaoke try outs were pretty amusing - some people have NO shame! The clubs were ok - i was kind of disappointed with One Small Step - the club that was open for 18 yrs old and up every night. It seemed as if nobody was dancing much at night - they played a lot of techno when I would pass by, and I hate techno. I noticed passing through the Caboose, which was the game room and younger teenager room, they played MUCH better music, and the kids were really enjoying themselves, dancing and having fun. I would have preferred to stay in there and hang out - but I don't think it would look right :) But, the clubs were designed pretty cool - and they were well air conditioned, and drinks were ALWAYS flowing! I had a nice time just hanging out in there, although dancing is what I really preferred to be doing.
Our last port of call, on Friday was Costa Maya Mexico. Their port was pretty nice - a HUGE public swimming pool filled with salt water, which bars and restaurants parked right in the water. It was nice getting a drink, or some nachos and just hanging out in the pool at the same time. Since it cost about 45 bucks a person to take an excursion to the closest beach, we all decided on just hanging at the port. The swimming was perfect and there was plenty of shops to do our shopping. It was entertaining to barter with some of the fellow Mexicans. If you wanted a price lowered, they were most likely eager to do it for you. We had the best view most of the day too. The Carnival Miracle ported the same day we did, so from the pool you could see both ships docked next to each other. I got some pretty amazing photos of that. It was sad to see how fast our week had gone by. We retreated back to the Valor around 3:30 and rested for a bit - that was our usual routine!
Saturday was a full day at sea, and a very relaxing one at that. We slept until about 11am that morning, hung around and decked it out in the sun for the rest of the day. We had perfect weather, so every day went great. I think one of the most memorable parts of our trip was the eating. Oh, there was so much food that just never stopped flowing! I really loved Rosie's, and I used to try pretty much a little bit of everything - there was never any pressure to order off a menu, and no matter who you are, you're most likely to find something you like up at the buffets. They had something for everyone. I loved just sitting by the window, watching the ocean go by, eating dinner, having a good time with the family and drinking coffee. What I wouldn't give to have those days back one more time! It nearly feels like a dream, because by Wednesday, we were having such a good time, the week started to just roll by. Time really does fly when you're having fun.
Saturday night was another formal dinner we attended. That night was when the Valor decided to stop and drop off the Cubans we had rescued earlier in the week. It distracted so many during the dinner - everyone was getting up to see what was going on out the window. It didn't set us off course though for our way back to Miami. A part of me wishes it would have now :) A longer trip is always better to me. After dinner we went to watch the Carnival Stars show - where everyone who was chosen for Karaoke throughout the week, got up on the stage with the Carnival dancers and performed. It was really entertaining. Throughout the week, we did see some good shows - comedy, sword swallowing, and a hypnotist. All of them were excellent - and the Ivanhoe theater was magnificent! I couldn't believe it was so huge - and the seating was so comfortable. It was lounge like couches with tables for your drinks. I think the first night I was drifting away to sleep it was so relaxing! After the show, the performers and dancers hung out in the lobby - and I was thrilled. I loved those guys, so I decided to go up to my favorite dancer and request a photo with him - and he obliged happily.
The rest of the night was spent just wallowing around. I toured the ship some more, hung out at Rosie's and had some pizza and ice cream. That's one thing I really miss - the 24/7 pizza and ice cream! Both were excellent, and I miss having them right at my fingertips whenever I wanted!!
Sunday morning stunk, as expected. We had to wake early for our continental breakfast at Rosie's and get our things together for leave the ship. Breakfast was excellent. I spent so much time ordering morning room service, I'm sorry I didn't get down there more often to get at the buffet in the morning - your choices were endless! We decided to put our luggage out the night before - which was a good idea until we arrived that the port in Miami to pick it up! Imagine thousands of people scurrying for their luggage in an enormous open parking garage that was 90 degrees. Standing in line for customs was probably the worse. The line seemed to never end, and so many people were breathing down your neck. I have to say, out of the entire trip - I hate that part the most. Not only was it totally unorganized, it was hot and we were leaving ... it was basically the reality that our fun was now over. Pretty depressing.
Seeing that it was my first cruise, I just want to go on saying for the record that the Carnival Valor was an INCREDIBLE ship. I think I fell in love with every crevice of that boat. To the afternoons at sea, to boarding off to getting a tender in the morning. The food was there no matter what time of the day you were hungry - and everything on the menu was far beyond my expectations. I think the only thing I didn't enjoy was the Friday night buffet - it was all seafood. Just some strange things I wasn't interested in eating - but that was just my taste - I know it was really packed that night, so someone enjoyed it! The Mexican buffet for the deck party was really good - I just didn't want to eat to much of it, and wind up sick the next day! Mexican, pizza, fries, cakes, ice creams....it all doesn't settle well! The desserts were really good too - I never had an overload of chocolate so much in my life! I really wish I could find something to complain about on this ship, but there is nothing. One thing they need to fix though are the floors in Rosie's. They are SO dangerous! They clean them while people are eating and they are extremely slippery. I can't tell you how many people I saw slipping. On Sat. night on our way back up to the Ivanhoe Theater, my aunt took a full header on the desk, spilling her drink and falling hard. We can look at it now and laugh, but at the moment it wasn't cool! I think if ANYTHING, the floors need to be worked on .... just to dangerous during dinner times, and people are walking all over the place.
What I miss most is the room service. I miss being able to leave our rooms at night and coming back to animal towels, cookies, chocolates and freshly pulled down sheets. I miss the carnival channels - and the many nights we sent my cousin out there to run around the jogging track so we could see her on the Valor camera on the top deck. I miss Rosie's - and they're AWESOME buffets. I even miss the slight rumbling of the bed at night before going to sleep. I miss looking out of the balcony and seeing nothing but miles of ocean with no land in sight! I miss the activities at night - the shows, the clubs, the food, dancing, etc. I even miss the elevators - especially since we spent so much time going up and down in them :) I think I will definitely have to cruise with Carnival again - I never had so much fun on a vacation in my life and I want to do it again. Hopefully next time, cruise the eastern islands.
The staff was always friendly, and our cruise director Brett Alans was a quack! But I will admit, my first morning back at home, I was disappointed not to be woken up to his voice and what our itinerary was for the day. He sounded like a used car salesmen, but we always got a kick out of him for some reason - I guess because he was so unique and he talked so FAST. He did a nice job though - even through all the complaints I have read about him. I know when we ported in Miami, he was leaving for 2 months to take a vacation. So, for anyone cruising on the Valor for the next 2 months, you won't be lucky enough to have the presence of Brett Alans aboard!
I will miss you Valor and I promise I will cruise again. You gave me one of the best vacations I ever had - it will be hard to top that one!! Less
Published 08/28/06
Cabin review: 8D8404 BalconyBalcony (8D) Reviews >>
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Larache, MA
The Tangier Med Ferry Terminal is a large structuring equipment of Tangier and the entire northern region of Morocco. It is a link that connects it to its Southern Spanish and thus Europe.
The port is located on a site which includes sea and hills, water and greenery, it links these components of the site and creats a connection that doesn't only facilitate the passage between the city and the harbour but also becomes an urban sculpture and a turbulent painting that marries aesthetics and function.
The connection is made in the form of bands which arises from the wall fence of the port and goes all the way to the roads leading to the ferries.
These bands are change materials from concrete to grass to form an array of animated land art that decorates the site.
The bands are not only a sculpture landscape but also a roof shelter, a bridge, and a double skin for the station
A major band with a width of 10m, changes function along the way, starting in as a parking and road shelter, then it changes function approaching the station to become a bridge over the railway station, to end up as a protective double roof for the station.
The travelers port is different than the ferry haror because it offers a vast green space for the space users to rest before or after taking the ferries to the other side.
This conception of Tanger Med ferry terminal, is designed to not only to provide function of aesthetics but also suggest a new orientation towards Europe in a way that has been seen before!
Status: School Project
Location: Rabat, MA
My Role: designer


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Cafe au Lait Tam by Kathryn C.
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© kadreco
© HedgehogMJ
© Taamar
Cafe au Lait Tam
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download
Chase away winter chills with a stylish hat to match Cafe au Lait Mittens. It has an easy to remember lace pattern and knits up quickly.
Many thanks to Kysara for the German translation.
The note at the beginning of the crown decreases should read: start the first repeat only on rnd 1 with the stitch just slipped, k3 instead of k4


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Here in the UK we have a group called the Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA) and on a regular basis the organisers have events that have become very popular with runners. The main reason is that they are very cheap, the courses challenging and are billed as events, NOT races.
I am a real lover of one called the Sevenoaks Circular which is in the South East of England just south of London, the run is very tough, hilly, stoney and very muddy in places, everything I look for in a run
Here is a flavour of the day....enjoy
Jerry A runners blog-updated daily
Nice report.
Do the walkers get irritated with folks that show up at these events to run?
"Famous last words" ~Bhearn
The problem only arises when the walkers leave before the runners!, This is normally when a the 30 mile walkers leave and then the 20 mile runners come through but that is for a very short time period as the routes normally diverge and then join up later on. Most of the time it is pretty pleasant between us all.
The runners treat these events as a day out as much as the walkers as there is no competition between us (unless you want to have a little wager) however the navigation is quite hard to get the hang of and definitely not a good idea to do it as you run due to the rugged terrain as I nearly came a cropper twice yesterday. It is difficult to explain to people that don't do these events because your time is definitely effected by the navigation aspect and taking on the extreme gradients.
I personally love them as we all run around, look out for each other and then sit down at the end for a post run meal of either cheese or beans on toast and tea and coffee out of your ears.
I will add that there is a complete distinction between walkers and runners but as we are arriving first we do not really get a chance to mix
How long is the run, or do you just run until the sun goes down?
That's a good point
The overall distance was 31 miles give or take a few 100 yards with a total accumilative rise of 2,700 feet to give you an indication of the quality of the walkers is they have to complete it in 10 hours which is some going for the terrain
That's a good point
The overall distance was 31 miles give or take a few 100 yards with a total accumilative rise of 2,700 feet to give you an indication of the quality of the walkers is they have to complete it in 10 hours which is some going for the terrain
It can be quite embarrassing sometimes especially when the runners and walkers take off together, you see us runners scooting off and when we get to the big hills start slogging up them and then a walker catches us up, we get to the top overtake them and then get to a hill and they catch us up.
It takes about 4-5 miles to get away from some of them as they are incredibly strong in stride, I have another theory in that they can nap read whilst walking but us runners have to stop quite often as it is basically dangerous to read and run on some of the terrain we were on due to the uneven ground. I nearly met the dirt at one time when my legs came right from under me but by some luck superhuman control managed to keep upright.
To see the walkers they are just regular day-to-day people with beards, boots and badges (including the women ) and just come along for the walk and enjoy the quiet, beautiful English countryside
The Goofinator
Nice one, Jerry. Although I got indigestion just reading about that last bit of food you ate. Dang.
Leslie Living and Running Behind the Redwood Curtain -------------
Trail Runner Nation


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Z (1969) Costa-Gavras
Z, a 1969 Algerian-French production by director Costa-Gavras, is almost universally recognized as 'the' classical political thriller. My decision to talk about this film in the context of our current investigation on Balkan film and history may come across as a somewhat contentious choice. However, I believe that the film is particularly suitable to discuss here. For two reasons. First, the film Z has been seen more widely than many of the Balkan films I could talks about instead (that reflect on similar matters) and is still widely used as a classical text in the teaching and discourse on political cinema. Secondly, precisely because the film so successfully transfers the place of action from Thessaloniki to an unnamed North African country, it allows me to make some more general points on issues of violence and totalitarianism, which are endemic to the Balkans. I am choosing this film also because it presents violence and political corruption that is directed against the left forces and thus allows me to making an important point: it Is not only the communists who engaged in gross human rights violations and political terror across the Balkans after WWII, this type of behavior was characteristic for various other political parties across the board.
Z is a Greek film in many respects. Based on a 1966 novel by Greek writer Vassilis Vassilikos and is adapted for the screen by Greek émigré director Constantin Costa-Gavras. It stars Greek actress Irene Papas and features a memorable musical score by famous Greek composer and leftist activist, Mikis Theodorakis.
Most of all, the story of Z (the novel and the film) relates to real events — the assassination of Greek leftist pacifist leader Grigoris Lambrakis in May 1963 in Thessaloniki and the subsequent scrupulous investigation. Lambrakis died as a result of the attack he sustained from two right-wing vandals who run him over with a delivery truck in the aftermath of a large political rally. His death led to civil unrest and triggered an inquiry by the prosecution, which gradually exposed a system of corrupt police and army officials who had maintained close ties with paramilitary extremists, thus confirming the perception that the government itself had been behind the assassination.
I still remember the visceral reaction that the description of the brutal violence and rude verbal abuse to which Lambrakis' was subjected triggered in me when I read Vassilikos' novel many years ago (this was also the first time when I realized that being called 'Bulgarian' could mean an offense). What remained prevalent in my memories of the novel was the gut-wrenching description of merciless thuggish violence, one that I have since come to think about as being endemically prevalent in the region's political history. (The accounts of brutality and extreme cruelty in the assassination of the popular leftist agrarian party leader Aleksandar Stamboliyski in Bulgaria in 1923 are yet another such well-known episode of vicious show-down encouraged by right-wingers in power.)
Even if Z, the film, takes place in an unnamed country, is no secret today that it is all about Greece. But back then, in 1969, with the right-wing military junta in power, it had been an act of political bravery to make it (it was, no wonder, banned in Greece), and to identify precisely which is the incident that it depicts. At the very opening of Z, the viewers are told that "any resemblance to real people and events is purely intentional." In response to criticism claiming that the film commercialized and simplified the Lambrakis affair, Costa-Gavras is said to have reacted: "That's the way it is in Greece. Black and White. No nuances." And indeed, it is probably this head-on manner of tackling the brutality and viciousness of Balkan politics, with all its ugly methods of silencing people, its intolerance, and its media and police complicity, that makes Z such a universally important text in the history of political cinema.
Not only is the likeness identified as 'intentional' or 'deliberate', but one can easily come across references that identify other historical personages besides Lambrakis. The prototype of Jean-Louis Trintignant's character, the conscious prosecutor Christos Sartzetakis was eventually arrested by the junta, imprisoned, and tortured, according to the Greek culture web-site Plaka. Later on, in 1982 he was appointed to the Greek Supreme Court in 1982 and a few years later proposed by PASOK for the presidency of Greece, a capacity in which he served in the period 1985-1990. Another protagonist, known as 'the Tiger' who was instrumental in exposing the assassination, had become a folk legend in Greece. Someone posting on the imdb from Greece insists that the assassination of Lambrakis did, in fact, leave deep traces on Greece's political life (and not, as the film suggests, did not shatter the prevailing cynical brutishness). It triggered the resignation of the then prime minister Karamanlis and led to a short-lived opposition triumph in 1963-1965, which was later followed by the junta coming to power in 1967 (Vassilikos's novel was already published by the time, but composer Mikis Theodorakis, who had been a follower of Lambrakis, had to go into internment just about the time he composed the musical score for the film). So, the user (gletzes) claims, something did change in Greece in reality, whereas the film shows a complete stagnation in an overtly pessimistic tone. But then, as the junta was in power at the time of the film's making, it was probably 'proper to make the film bleaker than the true events' the writer concludes.
The novel had been written and published in Greece, but, provided the military coup of 1967 made it impossible to make a Lambrakis-themed film at home, as the original intention might have been. However, it is precisely the circumstances that imposed the need for a transnational reworking of the theme that supplied the film's universal importance. The novel, even if translated in many languages, remains a Greek-interest one. The film became a classic of its genre, contributing a general commentary that would apply to many more countries and contexts. Adapted for the screen with the assistance of Spanish republican exile Jorge Semprún, who brought in his own perspective on treacherous overt and covert political violence aimed at his fellow-leftists in Spain, it was taken as a post-factum commentary on aspects of the civil war. Financed and shot in newly emancipated Algeria made it easy to discover links with issues of the state-sponsored political violence directed against independence fighters from the colonies. Released at the time of extensive political oppression in the countries of Central Eastern Europe, it was assumed to comment the political situation in the Soviet camp.
Keeping in mind all these complex circumstances, it is important to point out that Z qualifies as a classical example not only of political but also of exilic cinema (Naficy). Even though it is financed by French and Algerian sources and shot on location in Algeria, Z is a work driven by concerns that characterize the discourse of exile where the link with one's country of origin and the longing for reconnection is very strong yet a return is ruled out. And indeed, it is the exilic position of several of the key figures involved in the making of the film that is most important in the case of Z. The film's director had left Greece consciously at a very young age in search of opportunities he would never have at home due to the political convictions of his father. Writer Vassilikos, composer Theodorakis and actress Papas, along with outspoken Greek actress Melina Mercouri and her husband-director Jules Dassin, were all adversaries of the junta in Greece, where their work was banned over certain periods.
Born in 1933 in a Greek leftist family that was affected by the anti-communist status quo in the aftermath of WWII, Costa-Gavras emigrated to France at 18 and never looked back; he thinks of himself as French director and has fully enjoyed the freedom of speech granted under the French constitution. While Z is his first foray into political filmmaking, later on he developed a profile as one of the most committed political cineastes working transnationally, having made films about various aspects of political oppression, having condemned both right and left-wing extremists, and having based his work almost always on real events. His L'Aveu (The Confession, 1970) was released in the aftermath of Prague Spring and the subsequent Soviet invasion and exposes the staged communist trials in the Czech republic. His Uruguay-set État de siège (State of Siege, 1972) and Chile-set Missing (1982) put state- and internationally-sponsored political abductions, torture, and assassinations under relentless scrutiny. Costa-Gavras' filmmaking career seems driven by what I see as an ultimately exilic resolve to exposing those who resort to subverting the justice system and use covert violence as a means of curbing on a democratic dialogue and a free public sphere.
Making the film in Algeria has come more or less by accident, as the director has testified in his 2003 interview with Ian Christie. From the onset the intention has been to focus openly on the Lambrakis incident, to denounce the junta and expose the political reality of Greece. Such a project, however, proves nearly impossible to fund. The idea to consider filming in newly emancipated Algeria comes at a point when the project is nearly shelved; Raoul Coutard, Godard's committed leftist cinematographer and a veteran of the French war in Indo-China, is brought on board. Early on into the shoot, parallels between the political reality in Greece of 1963 and the recent history of newly emancipated Algeria begin coming across loud and clear. Gradually realizing the universal importance of the theme, Costa-Gavras soon knows he is making
'a movie about that system where the country's democracy stops or is completely controlled by… lets start from the palace, and then the army, and then even some parts of the justice is part of that system. And then everything is possible. And what's also extraordinary in that story, because everything is true, there's no fiction in there, except very little things here and there.'
In the same interview, the director testifies that Z was made completely independently from Gillo Pontecorvo's Battle of Algiers, as the film had been banned in France at the time and he had not had the chance to see it.
The film shows the assassination of the unnamed protagonist (played by Yves Montand), the subsequent media frenzy to which the wife of the victim (Papas) responds with withdrawal, and then the investigation by the principled magistrate (Jean-Louis Tringtignant) and the corrupt moves toward a cover up of his findings. Edwin Jahiel's Usenet review identifies a range of overt references which confirm that the unnamed country is 'patently and transparently Greece': police uniforms, the portraits of the Greek King and Queen on the wall ('with faces hidden by the reflection of lights on the glass frames'), and earlier on the sign 'Hellas', as well as a typewriter with Greek characters. And, in case it has not become clear, the closing statement takes all remaining doubt away: it lists an array of things currently banned by the junta in (from long hair on men, strikes and labor unions, through Chekhov and Trotsky, to Eugène Ionesco and Harold Pinter). The very title of the film, Z, for 'Zee' ('he lives'), a Greek slogan, is meant to be a reference to the plea to keep alive the memory of those lost in the struggle.
Here is a compilation of important moments from the film, which, on the background of Theodorakis' memorable muscial score, gives a good idea of the dynamic camera-and-editing work that make Z's depiction of violence so visceral; there are also sequences that show the effective silencing of the victim's wife (Irene Papas barely utters a few words throughout the film). The last minute and a half of the clip have an appendix featuring documentary photographs and footage related to the real-life assassination of Lambrakis.
Even if very different in style, political thuggery in the vein of Robert Rossen's classic All the King's Men (1949), is also in the focus of Z's attention. Most other films that treat similar themes, except Gillo Pontecorvo's Battaglia di Algeri (Battle of Algiers, 1966) and Haskel Wexler's Medium Cool (1969), seem to have been made later, especially those exposing complex political conspiracies, like Joseph Losey's The Assassination of Trotsky (1972), Ken Loach's Hidden Agenda (1990), and Robert De Niro's The Good Shepherd (2006). The influence of Costa-Gavras' approach is evident across all these texts who have also acquired the status of classics.
Z has been referenced on numerous occasions in relation to the crackdown on leftists by various Latin American dictators throughout the 1970s and the 1980s. Thus, starting from the remote corner of the Balkans where the original incident of ugly political violence had taken place, Z became a film of the importance that, like The Battle of Algiers, transcends the concrete and could be seen in direct relation to Latin American works such as Patricio Guzmán's La Batalla de Chile (Battle of Chile, 1975-1979) or Héctor Olivera's No habrá más penas ni olvido (Funny Dirty Little War, Argentina, 1983), but also as a film that is in dialogue with Algerian-themed films, from René Vautier's Avoir 20 ans dans les Aurès (Being Twenty in the Aures, 1972) to Michael Haneke's Caché (2005). An imdb user remarks:
'I have read and even heard from people I know, that to watch "Z" was a kind of cathartic relief for them. I am talking about people who lived under fascist dictatorships like the Argentinian junta, or Chile under Pinochet fist, or Spain under Franco's regime.'
One of the earliest reactions to the film is found in Roger Ebert's review dated December 1969. He is probably the first critics who links Z to The Battle of Algiers by remarking that Z 'is no more about Greece than The Battle of Algiers was about Algeria.' To Ebert, both films have universal importance far beyond the concrete political assassination (even if the actual Lambrakis murder, having occurred just six years earlier, is still very fresh on people's minds). In a tone that is not so typical for his later reviews, he calls it 'a film of our time' that shows 'how even moral victories are corrupted' by the rehabilitation of villains and the criminalization of those who struggle for justice, and makes parallel to American references such as the My Lai massacre and the Bay of Pigs fiasco.
Even though Z is proclaimed to be an ant-American film (at the time of the US release, the Greek junta enjoys the US support), in a daring move marked by the spirit of '68 it become the first film to be nominated by the Academy not only in the relatively obscure foreign language category, but also for the 'best motion picture' award. It wins the best foreign film prize and the one for editing, as well as a standing ovation at its Academy screening. (The most The Battle of Algiers had received was an Oscar nomination in the foreign language category.) LH Williams from Houston talks of the way the film's distribution was curbed in the U.S. and of a condemnation originating from J. Edgar Hoover himself.
In spite the massive number of awards and the overwhelming evidence of the film's importance, Z remains an unaccessible film. It had an American DVD release by Fox/Lorber (Wellspring) in 2002, which triggered a round of reviews, and there seems to have been a release from the Criterion collection (e.g. see reference in Jahiel's revew). Strangely enough, however, acquiring a copy of the film today seems to be a challenging task. Second-hand VHS copies and DVDs sell for substantial amounts; an imdb user from Bolivia was boasting he got it for a dollar, while another one was setting his asking price at $500. The only piece (uncredited) piece of information on the imdb related to the film's business sets the US video rentals revenues for Z at more than $7 million. A profitable film to be withdrawn from distribution, one wonders why companies would miss out on these revenues.
Z preceded the breakout period of new Greek filmmaking in 1971, which marked the arrival of directors such as Theo Angelopoulos and Pantelis Voulgaris. It is difficult to assess to what extent these directors, who were to address the controversial and difficult ordeal of post-WWII Greek political history, relate to Costa-Gavras and his Z, a film that they are certainly familiar with. When one reads the work of Greek critics, one is left with the feeling that Costa-Gavras's style of flmmaking is considered as foreign here. A Greek political 'noir' from 1983, Ypodeia diadromi (Underground Passage, dir. Apostolos Doxiadis) which is clearly under the Costa-Gavras influence, has had a lukewarm reception in Greece, triggering ironical remarks from critics (see Zikos, for example). Films like Angelopoulos' Oi Kynigoi (The Hunters, 1977) and Voulgaris' Happy Day (1976) and Petrina hronia (Stone Years, 1985) address episodes related roughly to this same period and also expose a widespread political corruption and are considered as much more relevant to the country's identiy discourse (see Dan Georgakas' essay on Stone Years in Cinema of the Balkans). Yet, even if those Greek-made features have been embraced more closely by the Greeks than Z, in this line of filmmaking Z is a Balkan/Greek film as much as these other ones, all showing that the brutality of the approach is not inherent to the cause but it is intrinsic to moments where lesser political culture is allowed to dominate.
The main achievement of Zlies precisely in the fact that it raises out of the Greek context and ends up making general statements on political lawlessness and abuse. What may have been an accidental reaction of adjusting to the restrictive circumstances of exilic filmmaking supplies the main strength of the film which acquires intercultural qualities and allows for people from different cultures ro empathize with the story and see it as commentary on their own lives and struggles.
Georgakas, Dan. Petrina hronia/Stone Years. In: Iordanova, Dina (ed.) The Cinema of the Balkans (24 Frames). London: Wallflower Press, 200. pp. 217-224.
Michalczyk, John J. Costa-Gavras: The Political Fiction Film. Philadelphia: Art Alliance. 1984
Stone, Judy. Eye on the World: Conversations With International Filmmakers. New York: Silman-James Press. 1997.
Zikos, Sotiris. 'Underground Passage', In Dermentzoglou, Alexis (ed.) In a Dark Passage: Film Noir in Greek Cinema, Athens: Erodios, 2007. pp.77-82.
© Dina Iordanova
5 July 2008


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Once again Cirencester College's basketball team have made an excellent start to the season.
In November the team went to the British Colleges West Midlands tournament to face off against other teams in the region and have the honour of representing the region at the National Championships. The team started comfortably in the shortened games beating Bournville 25-5 and North Warwickshire and Hinckley 24-9. In the last game to decide the group winners Cirencester faced off against Worcester 6th Form (whom they had defeated 4 times last season) and raced out to an early 11-4 advantage only to be pegged back in the final 5 minutes but remained calm to win 14-9.
The quarterfinal opponents, Warwickshire College, came out with some determination and made things difficult for the college side who only held a narrow advantage, 8-7, after 5 minutes. However with the college side now being backed by the Rugby team who came to support after their own BCS tournament had finished the team started to find gaps with in the Warwickshire 'zone' defence and eventually prevailed 15-12.
In the semi finals Newcastle Under Lyme College would be the opponents and again the college side were able to gain an advantage early but not be able to pull away. Newcastle threatened to take the game to the wire but the college side showed composure to win 14-11taking them into the final.
In the final they met national powerhouse Birmingham Met. The Cirencester team had saved their best performance until last and whilst never having a comfortable lead were always in control winning 11-9.
Basketball Coach Ben Roper commented 'I'm really pleased for the guys today. In my 3 years coaching the team at the college we have made a semi final, final and now taken the final step to become winners. The team worked really hard and deserve the opportunity to represent the West Midlands in the National Championships. I've had a lot of comments from opposing coaches, referees and spectators on how impressed they were with our performances. Particular praise must go to our captain Eddie Donmez and point guard Josh Reade who led the team in excellent fashion.'


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Posted by episcopaul on Monday, January 13, 2014
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