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Audit Evaluation Report 13-17: The SBA's Portfolio Risk Management Program Can be Strengthened
On July 2, 2013, the OIG issued Evaluation Report 13-17, The SBA's Portfolio Risk Management Program Can be Strengthened. This evaluation report presents the results of the OIG's analysis of the SBA's 7(a) loan portfolio data. The evaluation was designed to identify high-risk audit areas and identify loan program, portfolio, and data reliability issues warranting attention by the Agency. The OIG determined that the SBA had not implemented a program or process to effectively monitor risk in its loan portfolio. The OIG's limited analysis identified three high-volume franchises with historical default rates of at least 46-percent, default values over 38-percent, and loss rates over 18-percent. Further, the OIG determined that over the 2002-2009 period reviewed, the Agency disbursed nearly 1,000 loans to these three franchises, totaling $199 million. Of these loans, 501, representing $84 million in Agency guaranties, defaulted. The OIG also identified five high-volume retail industries with historical default rates of at least 40-percent, default values over 30-percent, and loss rates over 16-percent. The OIG determined that over a seven-year period from 2002 to 2009, loans to these five industries resulted in 4,415 defaults and approximately $150 million in SBA charge-offs.
According to SBA officials, the Agency had not implemented a program or process to monitor risk in its portfolio because the SBA had traditionally focused on loan approval volume and loss rates to evaluate program performance with risk being assessed at the lender level. The OIG recommended three actions that will help strengthen the SBA's portfolio risk management program. The Agency has recently taken steps towards establishing a program that will monitor portfolio risk, and where necessary, address the types of portfolio risks identified in the evaluation.


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Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
Our office staff assists the Utah Legislature in the development of sound public policy, ensures the integrity of the legislative process, and preserves the legislative branch in its proper constitutional role in state government.
To accomplish our mission, we pledge to provide objective, accurate, concise, and timely information that facilitates informed decision-making and effective policy development by the legislative branch, and to create a dynamic working environment of cooperation, competence, initiative, respect, integrity, and teamwork.
General Responsibilities
Provide legal and policy review of current law and proposed legislation
Promote understanding of critical legislative issues
Serve as a legislative liaison with other government agencies and the public
Recommend changes in the law when appropriate
Coordinate in the development and management of the Utah State Legislature web site
Research Responsibilities
Staff legislative standing and interim committees, providing research on assigned studies
Respond to requests for information and research
Examine acts and official reports from other states
Analyze data relating to previously enacted statutes
Provide statutory retrieval
Compile analytical and legal data pertaining to legislative and governmental issues
Legal Responsibilities
Draft and review legislation
Review final bills for accuracy
Resolve bill conflicts
Represent the Legislature in litigation
Provide legal research
Prepare legal opinions
Prepare the chapterization of the bills passed and forward this information and copies of all legislation to publishers of the session laws and the Utah Code
Update the statutory data base of the Utah Code, assuring a current data base for statutory searches and bill drafting
Legislative Research Library
Provides public assistance with legislative histories, website navigation, and information regarding the Legislature and its current and historical activities
Provides legislators and staff analytical, statistical, legal, and descriptive data relative to current and potential governmental and legislative subjects
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
210 House Building
State Capitol Complex
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Phone 801.538.1032 Fax 801.538.1712

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Self-test – EN 62034 – autotest IV
The standard EN 62034 states the minimum requirements for how an automatic test system should work. The Autotest IV self-test system, which Fagerhult can offer in the majority of products, fulfils the requirements in this standard.
The Autotest IV system builds on decentralised intelligence, i.e. emergency lighting units in the system work entirely independently, both of each other and of a centrally monitored system.
Automatic test checks that:
- there is a connection to the mains supply.
- the battery is connected to the electronic unit.
- the battery has sufficient capacity.
- the battery charge is working.
- the light source for emergency lighting is intact.
- the electronic components are working fully and that the emergency lighting circuits themselves are intact.
Installation test
Autotest IV conducts this test automatically as soon as the system is connected to the mains and the battery has been fully charged, which takes 24 hours.
During the test, the installation is placed into emergency mode during its full indicated operating time i.e. 1 or 3 hours depending on the choice of product. Then the battery is recharged for 24 hours. Once this process has been completed, and no faults have been indicated, the installation can be put into use.
Monthly test
Each month a shorter function test is carried out which takes 30 seconds.
Annual test
The annual test performs a similar undertaking to the installation test. This is the test where any maintenance requirements of the emergency lighting facility is normally discovered.
Displaying status – status diode
Emergency lighting products are equipped with a two colour LED which switches between green and red light depending on the actual status, as indicated in the chart below. Faults are also indicated via a built-in acoustic signal every 35 minutes (not connected with a DALI connection).
Emergency lighting products are equipped with a two colour LED which switches between green and red light depending on the actual status. The LED indicates the status according to the table. Faults are also indicated via a built-in acoustic signal every 35 minutes (not connected with a DALI connection). In addition, if the system is based on the use of potential free contacts or DALI communications, an alarm is also received on the monitoring system. The fault indication remains until the fault has been rectified.
Reset – resetting the self-test system
When the fault has been rectified, the test system must be reset to the normal setting by switching off the mains supply twice within 5 seconds. An automatic short function test is then made. The system can also be reset via a DALI command so the mains is not switched off.
There are two versions of Autotest IV available.
One-way communication – potential free contact
The possibility to connect to an external master system via a potential free alarm contact.
Two-way communication – DALI
Communication via DALI protocol. The system is either connected to a separate DALI panel (e.g. e-touchBOX), to a central PC connected to e-touchPANEL or to a bigger system (e.g. winDIM@net).
Each emergency lighting luminaire in a DALI system receives its own unique address which means that a connected unit can easily be identified/named. Connected units can also be grouped, which makes it possible to carry out a selected test of certain emergency lighting luminaires, e.g. everything in a specific corridor. In such cases the building does not have to be evacuated in connection with the test.
The DALI system provides duplex communication, meaning that unlike the system based on the potential free contact, the cause of fault is visible on the master system. This also applies when initiating the function test via DALI and resetting the test system. Tests are carried out according to an integrated calendar in the emergency lighting units or at time points indicated in the master system.
Disconnected master system – not connected
The emergency lighting units intended for external surveillance via potential free contact or via DALI do not depend on having a master system connected or functioning. Necessary tests are still carried out according to the emergency lighting unit's own integrated calendar. This also applies to the DALI version.
General connection diagram for emergency lighting.
- Emergency lighting luminaires that work as a normal on/off luminaire in normal operation and as emergency lighting in emergency operation.
- emLED-s5 which are only operated in emergency mode.
- Safe condition signs for continuous operation.


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Francis Marion Military Academy captured its second consecutive national high school orienteering championship on Sunday.
Francis Marion Military Academy captured its second consecutive national high school orienteering championship on Sunday.
The 2013 Interscholastic and Intercollegiate Orienteering Championships were held in Shawnee, Kan., where Francis Marion nabbed national championships in both the interscholastic and JROTC divisions.
It is just the second year the team has competed. Last year both the varsity and junior varsity orienteering teams won national championships in Seattle.
At the campus on Monday, cadets lined the entrance to greet the weary team, which had driven home about 20 hours from Kansas. Families of the cadets also gathered to honor the national champions.
The five-member orienteering team jumped out of the vehicle with large trophies. Some of the team members were carried by cadets to the portable city that makes up the charter school, located at the former Phoenix Center site, 2091 NE 35th St.
The team won by 35 points, a blowout in orienteering terms. Last year, the Francis Marion Swamp Foxes were unknown and unranked in its first championship. After winning it all last year in Seattle, the nation's best teams were gunning for Francis Marion.
As the cadets made it to formation in the courtyard, the music group Queen's rendition of "We Are the Champions" blared on the intercom.
Francis Marion's nationally known orienteering coach, Capt. Duane Adams, then spoke, saluting some 15 other cadets who competed with the Francis Marion team through the year but did not make the school's national team.
"This was the steepest competition I have ever seen," said Adams, a 12-year veteran coach. "And our team won in sort of a blowout."
It was Adams' fourth national championship in six years.
Adams led Channelview High School in Texas to national orienteering championships in 2008 and 2009. The school finished second in 2010.
In 2011, Adams did not compete because Francis Marion's team was just getting off the ground. But the work paid off with championships in 2012 and 2013.
"Our coach, Duane Adams, is a class act and a true Olympic class coach," said Francis Marion's leader, Col. Bill Archibald.
The competition is an ironman event, of sorts. It is like cross-country running meshed with geocaching. But instead of using GPS systems, competitors can only use compasses.
The runners must navigate a three-mile course to locate 10 markers in order. The participants may encounter all kinds of wildlife and other natural dangers along the way.
It's all about who can get through the wilderness the fastest. Each team member must compete individually, and the top three times count.
After an official signals the start, competitors turn over a contour map which shows were the markers have been placed in large area of tumbling terrain and obstacles.
Francis Marion's five-member team includes John Stabler, Nathan Keels, Barbara Ziolkoski, Chris Vasquez and Austin Franklin.
In individual awards, Stabler placed second in interscholastic and first in JROTC. Zoilkoski won third in the interscholastic and first in the JROTC female category. Keels captured second in JROTC male.
The distinction among the categories is that the interscholastic competition includes all teams, while the other is just for JROTC teams.
Zoilkoski was also named to the U.S. Junior World women's orienteering team and Stabler was named as an alternate to the men's equivalent. Stabler has a shot to get on the U.S. team with a strong showing in an April event.
The junior teams will compete at the 2013 Junior World Orienteering Championships in Hradec Kr�lov�, Czech Republic, over the summer.
"Our cadets have really proven themselves through their hard work and commitment to the FMMA Team," Archibald said. "Also, these parents have truly sacrificed to ensure their children are out competing, nearly every weekend! This has not been a free ride."
Last year's varsity team won the national championship in both the interscholastic and JROTC divisions. The junior varsity brought home a national championship in the JROTC division and came in second in interscholastic.
Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.


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MILWAUKEE—A petroleum refiner is exploring whether to build a crude oil loading dock on Lake Superior, near its refinery in Superior, Wis., to ship crude oil on the Great Lakes.
Jennifer Straumins, president of Calumet Specialty Product Partners, says the project would provide refineries more access to heavy crude oil from Canada as well as light crude from western North Dakota and eastern Montana.
Todd Borgmann, a vice president at Indianapolis-based Calumet, said in the same statement Friday that they would expect to have the project fully operational during the 2015 shipping season.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ( http://bit.ly/X2tIPY) notes that environmental groups already are fighting a proposed pipeline that would bring more crude from Canada into the U.S. It reports they're not thrilled about shipping oil via the Great Lakes.
Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com


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A pair of legal publications are shining light on the accomplishments of UW Law School alumni:
The Daily Journal in California selected Rahul Kapoor '97 as one of the Top 100 California's Leading Attorneys for 2010. Kapoor is a partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, where his practice focuses on emerging businesses and technology, and corporate law.
Chicago Lawyer magazine named two UW Law School alumni to its annual 40 Under 40: Deborah Decker '98 and Miguel Keberlein-Gutierrez '02. Decker is a partner at Tabet DeVito & Rothstein, where she practices complex commercial litigation. Keberlein-Gutierrez focusses on migrant law at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
Submitted by UW Law School News on October 14, 2010
This article appears in the categories: Alumni, In the Media


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Limited double-Vinyl Set-edition, 150 copies worldwide, composed by: 1 machine brown vinyl + 1 picture LP! Two years ago, Carbon Games signed Front Line Assembly to create an original album soundtrack for AirMech, a futuristic free-to-play online video game. The soundtrack received the full studio treatment and was instantly touted as an electronic masterpiece, one of the most original in the FLA canon, prompting FearNET to call it "a definite keeper for FLA fans and anyone who grooves on dark, violent and cinematic-scale industrial & EBM." Artoffact Records presents a deluxe vinyl edition of AirMech, released on double-vinyl. In each set, one of the LPs will be a gorgeous picture-vinyl, featuring the members of FLA in the AirMech setting. Both vinyl discs are packaged in a 5 mm, extra thick, full colour sleeve, showcasing the wonderful cover imagery perfectly. Both versions come with an MP3 download card.
A1 - AirMech, A2 - Arise, A3 - Pulse Charge, B1 - Prep For Combat, B2 - System Anomaly, B3 - Mech Killer, C1 - Everything That Was Before, C2 - Lose, C3 - Burning Skyline, D1 - Stealth Mech, D2 - Death Level, D3 - Prime Empiricism


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Blake Shelton's 'The Voice' Team Shines With Lady Gaga's 'Edge of Glory'
Just minutes after Blake Shelton got a minute in 'The Voice' spotlight as a solo performer, bringing the debut of his new single 'Over' to our television screens, it was his team's turn to shine. Jermaine Paul and Erin Willett -- along with Team Christina Aguilera's remaining two -- took the stage to declare that they're on the 'Edge of Glory,' each hoping to find ultra fame as a result of winning the competition.
While the Lady Gaga cover might not have been a perfect fit for Shelton's former country hopefuls, it worked for his more flexible pop acts, which are all that are still standing in the competition. Paul was actually given the opening line of the song, and that seemed to be a big thrill for the audience, as he was literally the only one in the spotlight -- an actual spotlight -- as he sang.
While the judges watched from afar, keeping those big red chairs warm, Paul, Willett, Lindsey Pavao and Chris Mann danced across the huge black stage and onto platforms high above the crowd, generally just enjoying the moment -- as it could be their last.
Tuesday's (May 1) episode will determine which one of Team Blake's two remaining members will ultimately fall over the edge, packing their bags to return home.
Watch Team Blake Perform Lady Gaga's 'Edge of Glory' on 'The Voice'


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The free-agent running back market will have an intriguing new name.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday that the New Orleans Saints are releasing Darren Sproles, according to a source. The news comes soon after we learned that Sproles was being shopped for a potential trade. Clearly, no one was interested. Sproles confirmed the news by saying goodbye to Saints fans from his verified Twitter account.
The move should save the Saints more than $3 million in cap space, but it still comes as a surprise. Sproles touched the ball 165 times for the Saints last season, including 71 catches and 41 total returns.
This couldn't be an easy decision for Saints coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis. Sproles was one of the biggest reasons why the Saints' offense has been so difficult to defend over the last five seasons. Behind Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham, we'd argue that no Saints' weapon was more valuable than Sproles.
Payton is betting that Sproles' decline is here. He had a poor season as a returner last year and had fewer explosive plays on offense. Sproles turns 31 in 2014 and the Saints are taking the risk of letting him go a year too early rather than possibly hanging on to him too long.
It remains uncertain what this means for Pierre Thomas. He was reportedly on the trade block as well and might only stay in town if he takes a pay cut. Then again, the Saints' running game would take a bit hit, especially on passing downs, if Thomas and Sproles left in the same offseason.
We are tempted to see this move as a sign of confidence in running backs Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson, who both had great moments late last season. These are the decisions that have to be made in the salary cap era.
Saints fans have grown used to painful goodbyes, saying so long to a lot of Super Bowl champions this offseason.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" talks the latest news, Jimmy Graham and the best fits in free agency.


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The 2013 Flower and Garden Festival
by Debra Martin Koma
AllEars® Senior Editor
Feature Article
This article appeared in the March 12, 2013 Issue #703 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)
In the interest of full disclosure I'll admit to you all up front that I do not have a green thumb. It's not that I can't grow plants, exactly — it's more that I subject them to a slow and lingering death. I love plants, and gardens, I really do. I just don't know how to get them to flourish, so I tend to leave it to the professionals… or at least to my husband, who definitely wears the green thumbs in our family.
Still, I do enjoy looking at green things. I can appreciate the beauty of and skill behind perfectly manicured gardens and the explosion of color that springtime flowers bring after a bleak northern winter. That's why I have enjoyed visiting Epcot during its annual Flower and Garden Festival year after year.
But this year, I was looking forward to the festival, which started March 6 and runs through May 19, with a renewed enthusiasm. Why? Because a few months ago I learned of the addition of a miniature "Food and Wine Festival" taking place within the 20th Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. "Get a Taste of Spring" the festival organizers cleverly teased. You mean I get to eat and drink some new and exciting foods and beverages WHILE taking in the fabulous flowers? Sign me up!
Thus enticed, I anticipated this year's event eagerly. Not only did I have all the tasty new treats ahead of me, I was escaping from what I hope was Mother Nature's last-gasp of winter, last week's storm that threatened to dump multiple feet of snow on my Northern Virginia home.
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Even though I've attended the Flower and Garden Festival many times before, I didn't really get to explore it last year at all, so I approached this visit as I normally do — by concentrating first on what was new. As I noted at the outset, the biggest change this year, and maybe the thing seasoned visitors are most curious about, is the addition of the "food" element. Would this enhance or detract from the Flower and Garden experience? This added dimension intrigued me, so I spent a great deal of time eating my way around World Showcase's 12 Garden Marketplaces to evaluate it.
The Marketplaces themselves — the physical structures — are not unlike those you'd find at the Food and Wine Festival. In fact, I think most of them were actually re-purposed Food and Wine Festival booths given catchy names like Primavera Kitchen (in the Italy pavilion) and Bauernmarkt (in Germany). Stationed in front of each marketplace are at least two giant planters overflowing with fresh-growing produce — vegetables and herbs, ingredients all used in the dishes being prepared in the marketplaces' tiny kitchens. The tie-in with the Flower and Garden Festival was obvious, and I thought made a lot of sense. Why not showcase the seasonality and freshness of the ingredients in an event that is essentially all about reconnecting with nature?
But what about what was going on INSIDE the Marketplaces? Were the Garden Marketplaces successful? In a word, yes. As Chef Jens Dahlmann, executive chef of Epcot, noted when talking to media the other day, one of his primary aims was to not replicate anything that you might find at the annual fall Food and Wine Festival. He definitely achieved that, and in some cases exceeded all expectations.
After visiting all of the marketplaces over the course of several days, and tasting nearly every item, here's my short list of winners and… well, let's not say losers. Let's call them… also-rans.
Winner #1: Shrimp and stone-ground grits with andouille sausage, Zellwood corn, tomatoes and cilantro, from the Florida Fresh Marketplace. Tender, perfectly cooked and seasoned shrimp coupled with creamy grits and a subtle kick of spicy sausage made for my favorite dish of the festival.
Winner #2: Watermelon Salad with pickled red onions, baby arugula, feta cheese and balsamic reduction, also at the Florida Fresh Marketplace. Who would have thought that the sharpness of feta would pair so well with juicy, sweet watermelon and onions? The combination of tastes and textures — sweet, salty, crunchy, crumbly — made for a totally surprising, and totally delicious, dish.
Winner #3: Lasagna Primavera at the Primavera Kitchen (Italy): Vegetable lasagna NEVER tasted so good. A slightly sweet tomato sauce, tender spinach pasta sheets, layered with peas, zucchini, mushrooms, broccolini and some of the best bechamel sauce I've had in a long time. The only reason I didn't go back for seconds was because the portion size was so generous.
Honorable Mentions: Limoncello Panna Cotta with wild berries and Green Asparagus and lobster with garden cocktail sauce (both at Primavera Kitchen); Frushi (Fruit Sushi at Hanami); and Rocky Road Brownie Mousse (The Smokehouse).
Now, for the not-so-good news:
Also-Ran #1: Pulled Pig Slider with Cole Slaw (The Smokehouse): The oaky, smoky aromas wafting from the Smokehouse were tantalizing and the place looked great, so I had high expectations, but this pork left me cold — little to no BBQ sauce, and the cole slaw was tart to the point of being inedible.
Also-Ran #2: Ginger and Green Tea Trifle at The Cottage (UK Pavilion): The other trifles in this trio of desserts (chocolate and wild berry) were perfectly scrumptious — I had no idea the pretty green third cup would be such a let-down. The flavors just didn't work.
Also-Ran #3: Guava Flan at Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico): The orangey-brownish color of the flan alone was not very appetizing, but the musky, slightly tart flavor sealed the deal. Or maybe I just don't like guava.
Other items that disappointed: Dried out Ratatouille Tart with Goat Cheese at L'Orangerie (France); heavy and dry Savory Bread Pudding with Peas and Mushroom Ragout and Potato Pancake with housemade applesauce (both at the Bauernmarkt in Germany). The potato pancake in particular was disappointing — the pancake was good and flavorful, but it was unnecessarily drenched with an overly sweet applesauce. Why?
That brings me to one of my complaints about several of the dishes in general. Why hide their natural goodness under gorpy, sweet sauces and dressings? The Angel Food Cake with macerated strawberries at Florida Fresh, for example, was nearly ruined by the gloppy, oversweetened strawberry sauce. It was so much better when the chef prepared a separate dish using only plain, fresh berries with the cream on the side. I had a similar issue with the Baked Goat's Brie with Kumquat Chutney, a savory pastry pocket with a scant amount of cheese, drowning in what tasted like peach pie filling. This had the potential to be one of my favorite treats — love goat cheese, love pastry, love kumquat. Instead it fell somewhere in the middle, after I scraped off most of the chutney.
But don't let these quibbles discourage you. I really did enjoy the majority of the foods and beverages I sampled. (Did I mention the Hot Sun Tomato Wine? I should have — it was great! As was the gorgeously pink Rosita Margarita with its rose petal garnish.) Yes, overall, I felt the Garden Marketplaces were well worth visiting.
OK, you're probably saying, enough about the food… what about the FLOWERS? What about the GARDENS?
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Though I thoroughly investigated the foodstuffs among the flowers, don't worry. I didn't forget to check out the other new features of this year's festival.
Starting at the front of the park, I encountered the new front-entrance topiary focal point: Party with Mickey & Friends. There I found Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy engaged in the cookout of our dreams. More than 15 varieties of flowers and plants make up this sweet-smelling centerpiece that looked great from every angle, even though it was hard to get a good photo of the badminton-playing Donald and Daisy.
Once I got to the Festival Center, one of the first things I discovered was the new Garden Passport. This pocket-sized booklet is a take-off on the popular Food & Wine Festival Passport that was started a few years ago. Take the passport to a cast member in each area you visit in Epcot to receive a stamp in the book! It's a fun idea for kids, but I noticed many adults getting in on the stamping action, too. The great thing about an activity like this is it encourages you to visit areas you might otherwise have skipped, and it is always an opportunity to have a little chat with a cast member so that you might learn a thing or two.
Along with the passports, it seemed to me that there were a number of new things geared specifically to attract the attention of the younger set. There's even a new symbol urging kids to "TRY IT!" which labels not only new experiences, but foods at the Garden Marketplaces that might be considered "kid-friendly."
One of these "TRY IT!" signs was posted at the new Radiator Springs interactive play zone in Future World East on the Test Track walkway, which already seemed to be a huge draw. Detailed topiaries of race car Lightning McQueen and tow truck Mater of the Disney-Pixar "Cars" films are stationed in this area that's decorated with gleaming hubcaps and gasoline cans. It's the perfect pitstop for young ones who want to climb around on the play equipment, or take a minute to try some of the hands-on or interactive activities, like finding Mater's missing shock absorbers.
Another new play zone claims a spot on the Rose Walk, promoting "Oz the Great and Powerful." This whimsical "Land of Oz" playground is actually entertaining for all ages, with old-time funhouse mirrors and giant plastic poppies, and play structures for both 2- to 5-year-olds and 5- to 12-year-olds.
Kids will also enjoy seeing some of their favorite and more recent Disney characters brought to life. The ubiquitous Phineas and Ferb, from the Disney Channel cartoon that bears their names, finally have their own greenery alter egos — you'll find them stationed in the Innoventions Plaza right behind Spaceship Earth, with a menacing Agent P peering over their fence. You'll also see the topiary prequel versions of Sulley and Mike Wazowski promoting their upcoming movie, Monsters University, in World Showcase Plaza. The detail on these new pieces, and the other "monsters" surrounding them, is impressive, but as I heard some observers noting, it would have been nice if Sulley could have been a bit bluer.
While the stages and shopping areas of the Festival Center are set up pretty much as they have been in recent years, in the back of the building, you'll find a pleasant surprise. There's a retrospective depicting the evolution of horticulture at Disney Parks, including a tribute to Disney Legend Morgan "Bill" Evans, whose long career included transforming Anaheim orange groves into lush Disneyland attractions like the Jungle Cruise. Evans also worked on the master plan for Walt Disney World and EPCOT Center. Even after retiring in 1975, Evans consulted on the landscape design of Tokyo Disneyland as well as on the schematic designs of the Polynesian Resort, Discovery Island, Typhoon Lagoon and Disney-MGM Studios. He was involved in the selection of plants for Disneyland Paris and Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Finally, the Flower and Garden viewing doesn't have to stop when the sun goes down, as it has in years past. The horticulture team has added Illuminated Gardens, which literally shine a spotlight on the featured figures so that you can enjoy them longer. I found the illuminated Captain Hook topiary in the UK pavilion with the Croc menacing in the background especially dramatic — in fact, I think I liked him even better at night!
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Even though there was plenty of "new" to see, I couldn't neglect my old festival favorites.
As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed the Butterfly House, which has a Tinker Bell and her Fairy Friends theme. Sadly, the day I visited was too cool for many of its 1000 or so butterflies to flutter by, but I loved peering into the chrysalis boxes, checking to see if any winged creatures were ready to burst free. The fairy topiaries have nearly all been moved into the butterfly house now, with the notable exception of Tinker Bell, who is perched with her sister Periwinkle outside. Don't miss the miniature pixie houses that dot the landscape as you browse around looking for fritillaries, monarchs and swallowtails. I still chuckle when I see the little home made from an old plastic roller skate.
Along with the brand new topiaries, there were many old standbys that I was happy to see again, some of which had been "rested" for the last few years: Buzz Lightyear and Woody were there, though not together (Buzz near Mission: SPACE and Woody in the American Adventure) and I must say I am impressed with the attention to detail on each of these figures. Woody even sports a pull-string on his back. The gawky old troll has returned to Norway after an absence of several years, and of course Winnie the Pooh and friends are scattered around the UK pavilion as usual. The Lion King figures are always beautiful to behold — how the horticultural team is able to convey such movement and the nuances of these characters just by using ornamental grasses, ivies and moss, is truly a skill I would love to have. I also found the arrangement of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs topiaries to be especially clever this year. Something about the way they were lined up and the angle of the sun hitting them at various times of the day really brought the entire scene to life.
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Don't let all my talk about food fool you. The Flower and Garden Festival still offers much more than just its feast for your eyes and, this year, taste buds. There's a wide range of informative demonstrations and hands-on activities for all ages.
This year's HGTV Designers' Stage, located in the Festival Center, kicked off its series with speaker Roger Swain, former host of PBS's "Victory Garden" show. (Yes, I remember it. I'm that old.) Upcoming speakers who will grace this stage Monday-Thursday at noon and 3 p.m. include local and nationally recognized garden experts. On weekends, HGTV personalities take over. The coming weeks will see the likes of Egypt Sherrell ("Property Virgins") and Brandon Johnson ("My Yard Goes Disney") speaking. The Greenhouse Stage, with talks scheduled at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, will have even more local gardening experts and Disney horticulturists.
Also in the Festival Center, you'll find informal booths where you can "Ask an Expert" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or get "Planting Pointers" at 1 and 4 p.m.
If you're really interested in seeing how Disney does it, you can take the three-hour Gardens of the World tour, only offered on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday during the festival run. It's $60 and gives you a chance to tour the park with a Disney horticulturist who shows off the special displays and shares some secrets. (Read Kristin Ford's blog about this tour, which she took last week — see the link below.)
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By far one of the best side shows at the Flower & Garden Festival is the series of "Flower Power" concerts held on the weekends at the America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase. A cynic might say these performances by recording artists who were popular in the 1960s and '70s are just the last gasps of a bunch of has-beens — but you won't hear that kind of remark from me! Over the years I have delighted to enthusiastic and nostalgic performances by Peter Noone, The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie and the late Davy Jones. This year, they've added several acts I just might be willing to make a special trip to see — including The Village People! If upcoming Flower Power acts (among them Paul Revere and the Raiders, Tommy Roe and Nelson) are even half as entertaining as the returning, must-see Peter Noone, you must make time in your flower-viewing schedule to catch at least one show.
And finally, while there are smaller shops with outside vendors scattered around World Showcase, the Festival Center is the central location for Festival-themed merchandise. You can find everything from the annual Flower & Garden Festival poster (which now costs a whopping $24.95) to t-shirts, caps, totes and more sporting this year's logo. There is of course, loads of other gardening related merchandise, from small tools to gazing balls, bird feeders to wind chimes. (I'll have a blog on Festival merchandise on AllEars.Net later this week!)
So, did I "Get a Taste of Spring," as the festival organizers had promised? Indeed I did. The addition of the mini food and wine fest injected some new life and stirred the interest of this non-gardener — which I suppose was partially the point. I look forward to seeing how they'll improve upon the concept if they decide to go with it again next year (and I hope they do!). And of course the flowers, gardens and topiaries were a welcome sight for these greenery-deprived eyes. I'd like to visit again in a few weeks once all the plantings fill in a bit and give it a lusher look.
And to give that Vegetable Lasagna and Shrimp and Grits another try…
20th Annual Flower and Garden Festival:
Festival Video Tour
Gardens of the World Tour:
HGTV's Chris Lambton Talks about Transforming Your Yard:


text:
Is Chris Brown Recording a New Song with Drake?
Are Chris Brown and Drake BFFs now? Maybe. Fans went bonkers on Wednesday (Oct. 2) when Brown posted a video of himself in the studio with his former archenemy Drake.
The two-minute long clip features Breezy and Drizzy in the studio together recording a song. Rappers Big Sean, will.i.am, Nelly, Lupe Fiasco and others make appearances in the video as well.
It's unclear if the footage is from a recent recording session for Brown's upcoming 'X' album, which he announced is dropping Nov. 19.
Now Brown did tweet out a link to the video on his Twitter page but he removed it. The singer also wrote a Facebook post that read, "Hanging with Drake in the studio" and attached the video as well. Unfortunately, Brown removed the post.
We have no idea why he's playing games with his fans, but it's very frustrating. C'mon Breezy, we're not in the mood for jokes -- give us the real or keep quiet.
Die-hard Chris Brown fans on Twitter are saying that the video is dated and that clips may have been spliced together to make people believe that some sort of Brown-Drake reunion has happened.
If this supposed reunion did occur, then it supports the New York Post's claim that Brown and Drake ended their long-standing feud last month at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas.
Who knows?
Like we said before, we'll believe it when we actually hear something from Chris Brown and Drake.
What do you think? Did Chris Brown and Drake record a song together in the studio or is it just wishful thinking? Tell us in the comments below.


text:
Edited by loftus, 16 May 2008 - 08:31 PM.
Doubilet's Nudi Beauty!
Posted 16 May 2008 - 08:28 PM
Posted 16 May 2008 - 10:29 PM
"Not touching marine creatures" is probably one of those subjects that we will keep on writing about year in and year out and all of us will basically agree that harming any marine life for the sake of getting images is not ok.
But It is OK that we keep repeating this - we shoudl all be reminded of our responibility not to cause harm, but rather to try to protect. Debating this subject oalso brings attention to this important issue to new UW photographers.
Edited by Marjo, 16 May 2008 - 10:30 PM.
Posted 17 May 2008 - 12:58 AM
I think it is amazing that we do not see wholesale condemnation of these images.
Were I to enter one of my photos in a contest here at WP, and the critters were so obviously handled/posed you guys would have my head!!!
Why is this case any different???
Judging from the handful of emails and messages I have received since I first posted (praising the images) in this thread, I think that there are a lot of people who think that this level of subject manipulation is wholly unacceptable, particularly from someone in such a influential position.
Everyone who has written to me could have posted their thoughts here, but people are reluctant to speak out against the great man. Partly due to respect they have for him and the fact he has given us all years of pleasure and inspiration from his photographs. And partly, I guess, because criticising him is often interpreted as jealousy. I have no doubt that if someone other than DD had posted these shots the tone of this discussion would be very different.
Personally, I think that these are some of the most original and eye-catching images I have seen of UW creatures for a while. They really show DD's class to come up with something so fresh after so many years working UW. Nudis are pretty hardy creatures and I am sure that they all took this experience in their stride. Although the debate is also valuable.
p.s. I didn't watch all the video - but I think it would have been valuable to show an image of a nudi being gently collected for the photography - to alleviate concerns.
Alexander Mustard - www.amustard.com - www.magic-filters.com
Nikon D5 (Subal housing). Nikon D850 (Subal housing). Olympus EM10-Mk3 (Nauticam housing).
Posted 17 May 2008 - 03:40 AM
Posted 17 May 2008 - 04:05 AM
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Posted 17 May 2008 - 04:21 AM
Yes I agree there are such circumstances but they are by scientists not by a photographer regardless of who he is and how original the images may be. After all if he can do it why can't one of us?
Edited by mtnman, 17 May 2008 - 09:28 AM.
Posted 17 May 2008 - 04:50 AM
I think the debate is a good one.
The golden "touch nothing and leave only bubbles" rule is a good one ... but why does this rule exist? To protect the underwater environs.
Did DD or his assistants hurt the animals or the environs? I seriously doubt it.
Would I do what he did? No way. I'm why the rule exists. I don't know what I'm doing and I WOULD likely hurt such a delicate creature were I to attempt to move one.
The best argument against him is probably the "copycat" angle ... will other people try this? No doubt they will.
Do I believe these same people would be moving or harrassing other things in the abscence of these images? I have no doubt they would.
I'm of the opinion that such images will not increase the amount of "touching" ... those of us who "don't touch" will admire the images and go go on "not touching". This didn't make me want to touch anything.
(Did make me start thinking about trying to re-create the effect in post, however!)
Some will undoubtably try to capture similar images, but I'm pretty sure that if these folks were not putting little critters on white u/w studio sets, these same folks would be moving them from this place to that to get a "better shot".
Bottom-line: no harm, no foul.
My Website
Posted 17 May 2008 - 05:15 AM
Posted 17 May 2008 - 06:11 AM
After all if he can do it why can't one of us?
One could argue a that it is becasue David Doubilets eyecathing images in National Geograhic Magazine reaches millions of readers around the world and hence the "good" that comes out of these photographs far outweighs any possible distress to these Nudi's.
Unfortunately, while "you or me" might be able to create some amazing images, we neither have the name recognition nor backing to publish images to reach an audience of this magnitude and with this impact. Even if you are well published, be it in magazines or in books or in other media, very few media would have the same reach and impact as National Geographic.
Also, if it were "you or me" (and with you and me I am referring to the large number of underwater photographers) the likelyhood of us being able to do it correctly and legally with the scientific or conservationsit justification is low.
One day when we "grow up to be David Doubilet" and we have the possibility and venue to reach and worldwide attentive audience at the same scale as National Geographic, you or I might be justified to use an unusual method like this.
As for the idea of David Doubilet photoshopping, it is a very interesting debate. It evokes some mixed feelings in me. I would agree that the backgrounds of the images could have been created in photoshop and that doing so would have possibly been less "invasive" in the minds of many. The geek in me says "yes, this is how we could improve the world thru technology" (and yes, I am a geek by profession, so i am not opposed to technology per se), but the photographer in me would have been extremely disappointed to have found David Doubilet photoshopping out backgrounds.
Posted 17 May 2008 - 08:28 AM
No offense meant, but I will never understand this attitude. I would be dissapointed if he LIED about doing it, but I'm with Cor - I would have been even more impressed if that's how he did it.
the photographer in me would have been extremely disappointed to have found David Doubilet photoshopping out backgrounds.
While I'm more than willing to give him a "pass" on the "no touch" rule ... I'd give him even more props for creating the same image without having had to physcially interact with the animals to get the shot.
On that ... I think the hardest part of the PS effort would be the shadows ...
My Website
Posted 17 May 2008 - 08:59 AM
I also applaud the fact that he has more or less thumbed his nose at the notion that touching is always bad. Does a nudibranch even know when it's been "manipulated?" Will it's behavior be "modified?" (Tongue firmly in cheek)
I like the way Jeremy put it, "no harm, no foul."
Nikon D200, Aquatica AD200
Posted 17 May 2008 - 10:44 AM
( didnt i saw somewhere a pygmy seahorse with a blue plate in the background?), but i will always prefer a
shot from an animal in its natural environment, especially cause i know its much harder to get an excellent shot!
regarding "dont touch this": may be some nudis like to be touched tenderly?
Posted 17 May 2008 - 10:53 AM
I wanna see someone who thinks this can be done in photoshop do it and have the same quality and effect.
thats an open challenge .. i doubt anyone will come up with an image of the same studio style feel with the perfect lighting and shadows etc.
I am convinced it is better and easier to do it the old fashioned way, using a little bit of ingenuity and photographic talent still outbeats any digital post processing.
Posted 17 May 2008 - 10:55 AM
Is it appropriate to exhibit these in a natural history type magazine like Nat Geo magazine, where the animal has effectively been taken out of it's normal environment in the image. Would these qualify for the BBC Wildlife Photographer competition?
I think in the final analysis, it's 'all about the image', and these are great images.
For an adept photoshop user this would be easy; I am not adept, but seeing you lay down a challenge, I will find some folks who are, and see if we can rise to the challenge. The challenging parts are creating a believable mask and drop shadow. Can anyone provide some nice nudi shots with normal background, for practice?
I wanna see someone who thinks this can be done in photoshop do it and have the same quality and effect.
thats an open challenge .. i doubt anyone will come up with an image of the same studio style feel with the perfect lighting and shadows etc.
I am convinced it is better and easier to do it the old fashioned way, using a little bit of ingenuity and photographic talent still outbeats any digital post processing.
Edited by loftus, 17 May 2008 - 11:01 AM.
Posted 17 May 2008 - 01:16 PM
I would like them more. It would have been absolutely wonderful if DD would have embraced digital post processing to create such a relatively easy effect, keeping the same impact of the beautiful photos.
Easy effect? really? i couldnt get a clean, natural looking cut out of an object in PS if my life depended on it.
there is no way i could ever make that look natural in PS. would look all choppy and crap if i tried it. I'm just a photographer, not a graphic designer. and i would think David would say the same (just a guess mind you)
it would be a heck of a lot easier and less time for me to do it in camera thats for sure.
Personally, i like the shots myself.. well done DD.
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Posted 17 May 2008 - 01:26 PM
What would be difficult, if not impossible, as Giles has pointed out, is duplicating the lighting. The white background is acting as a giant reflector and acting as a light source itself. That would be a real challenge even to a Photoshop guru.
Nikon D200, Aquatica AD200
Posted 17 May 2008 - 05:18 PM
I wish he had made them with PS, because that would help remove a stigma that surrounds PS and I for one would have thought that would have been truly awesome.
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Posted 17 May 2008 - 06:24 PM
I believe this has been done, in the book I think is called Archipelago about the Hawaiian islands. I need to find it.
I believe this has been done as well. The artists names are S. Middleton and D. Liittschwager. There are a couple of examples in this newsletter;
Check out the image of the Leopard Blenny on pg1 and the Hermit crab and green sea turtle hatchings on pg 8. I have no idea how the photo's were created or if the subjects were manipulated.
"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible"
Posted 17 May 2008 - 08:54 PM
In film days a photographer submitted to the mag by sending in exposed film only. All developing/processing was done by nat geo staff. I suspect in today's game the photographer submits virgin RAW files only and all post-processing is done by NG staff as well. It is very likely that every single image we see in Nat Geo is manipulated, in the truest sense of the term.
but the photographer in me would have been extremely disappointed to have found David Doubilet photoshopping out backgrounds.
I tend to agree with the assumptions that there was probably no harm done to the nudi's, but I am curious why a magazine like Nat Geo and a photographer like Doubilet wouldn't simply not disclose the animal handling and allow the public to assume the backgrounds were done in post. If the animal handling was a bad choice the disclosure would seem to be a worse one, if only because it may give rationale to divers and photographers who until now may have been reticent to engage in this level of animal manipulation.
Still, in my experience diving around people who make a living at this game (and not speaking about David specifically here).....animal manipulation as well as reef ravaging isn't exactly an uncommon occurance. It doesn't usually happen on one of their guided tours or instructional trips, but there has always been more than a few sanctimonious foxes in the hen-house in this regard
Posted 18 May 2008 - 03:11 AM
Speaking of the latter, does anyone really think that he took his 'studio' with him to 25 meters? I seriously doubt it. He probably had his assistants collect, and bring them to 5 meters of calm water where he could take his sweet time. And not that DD would ever have backscatter in a photo, but 'whiting out' a spec has never been so easy. In conclusion, given the (arguably) robust nature of nudis, the quality of these pictures, and the ease of results, I think we're going to see a lot more of this. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be limited to nudis in the future. Can anyone say, 'boxer crab'?
Edited by dsbierman, 18 May 2008 - 03:42 AM.


text:
Central Connecticut swimming & diving junior Taylor Friedmann was named to the 2011-12 Winter Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll on Thursday. In addition, 40 student-athletes were named to the NEC's Academic Honor Roll, which was highlighted by six Blue Devils on the Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Friedmann comes off a stellar 2012 NEC Championship meet in which she won the 200 and 500 freestyle events. The junior placed second in the 1,650 free for the Blue Devils.
Friedmann also anchored CCSU relay teams in the 400 free, 800 free and 400 medley. Each of these relay teams finished second, as well as a third place finish in the 200 free relay event.
Freidmann earned a pair of first team All-NEC accolades along with a second team honor for her performance. She is the school record holder in the 200 and 500 freestyle. The junior is a mathematics education major with a 3.59 grade point average.
To be named to the academic honor roll a student-athlete must maintain a grade point average above 3.20.
The commissioner's honor roll has a GPA requirement of a 3.75.
Commissioner's Honor Roll
Jessica Babe, CCSU, So., W. Basketball Psychology
Krisztina Dearborn, CCSU, So., W. Track and Field Physics
Rachel Dombroski, CCSU, Jr., W. Track and Field Math
Alasia Griebel, CCSU, Sr., W. Track and Field Marriage and Family Therapy
Olivia Haywood, CCSU, Fr., W. Track and Field Pre-Accounting
Sara Larkin, CCSU, Jr., W. Track and Field Anthropology


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You know, the hard part of this whole thing is that the Bible always presents God's standard and doesn't always deal with every situation that occurs when that standard is violated. Do you understand? So sometimes trying to get all of the data and all of the information about, you know, where is this and what's that and here are my circumstances it becomes -John Murray has written a book called DIVORCE which is a very, very good book, outstanding scholar and he covers every biblical passage and every fine point in all of the arguments, he gets clear to the end of the book he has an appendix to deal with other things and at the end he says,-Now, here are the subjects that are not dealt with in the Bible and he just lists a big long string of them relative to divorce and remarriage because it's very difficult to cover every situation. And again, I think it's important to remind you that if - even if adultery occurs God forgives, you see, and you'reright back to that wonderful act of grace. That's the bottom line on everything. God's grace. That's where it all comes back. If you have a question, just step up to a microphone on the side and when I have a minute I'll call on you.
Okay, go ahead.
Question: If you are a believer and you are married to a non-believer,
John - Right.
Q: Who brought the divorce action, if that non believer then repents and you have not remarried and he comes back to you and wants to, you know, resume a relationship and get married again or whatever, are you then obligated to continue seeing that person and perhaps get married again?
John: I think so; I think that would be God's priority for it. I think if - that's a good illustration if the non-believer departs then all of a sudden turns around or if he finds the Lord and wants to come back I think that could be the best thing that could happen. I think that even if he wants to come back but hasn't found the Lord yet, that that opportunity ought to be taken too. Because God would rather see that original union and that unbeliever sanctified by your presence than to see a divorce. So in a situation, people say, "Well, wouldn't that be being unequally yoked?" No, because you never had any grounds for divorce to start with. So you're just putting back together what should have been together all the time. So I think - this is what we counsel people- if you're married to an unbeliever and the unbeliever leaves and then at some point in time wants you back- go back and make that union work. On the other hand, what about this, if you're both unbelievers and you divorce and then you get saved what should be your first reaction. Go back and try to win him back, and establish that marriage again. That's a priority, I think. Now you can't always do that. Right? That's not always possible because they may not want you. If they didn't want you when you weren't a Christian and you were on their wave length the odds are they're not going to have a thing to do with you when you become a Christian. And then you have absolutely no basis for communication but at least you need to put forth the effort. Because, you know, I've seen it happen where there has been that situation, two people divorced, one gets saved and goes back and wins the other one to Christ, they're remarried and God blesses it. That's good. Yes?
Question: Adultery is not the only extremely painful ingredient in a marriage, what do you recommend in your counseling where there is child molestation or wife beating or extreme alcoholism or some of those situations that become not just marginal but really intolerable for a wife we'll say?
John: I think 1 Corinthians 7:10 says, very simply--I'll read it to you--that there is an answer to that, and I think perhaps that's what is in view in this text.It says; "If she divorces"--and it doesn't give you any reason here, it just says if she divorces--"let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband but don't let the husband divorce his wife." What it is saying there is there may be a situation without adultery where you divorce, and it may be, andin my mind, it's one of those kind of situations...
You know, I can't counsel a mother who says, "What am I going to do? This man has committed incest with my child and he beats me up and etc. or beats up the children and so forth and so on. Do I just sit there and take it? And the chairs on my head, and the stuff he throws at me, and the cigarette burns on my arm, and battered wives and all this stuff? What do I do?" Well, certainly there is nothing in the Bible that says you just stand around until you are just beaten to a pulp. You know, God has built into the human being a certain sense of self-preservation. Right? And it's normal to separate yourself in that kind of situation. And maybe that's what Paul is thinking about. There may come circumstances where divorce occurs, but if it isn't on biblical grounds, that's it. I mean, you can remain unmarried or be reunited.
But I would say that's only a possibility in that text. I really feel that if we are obedient to the word of God in that kind of a situation, God would give us the grace to endure a lot more severe things than we think. So, what we do is this; we counsel people this way:if you're in an abusive situation, there's not adultery involved, it's just abusive, cruelty, or something like that--I don't think alcoholism is necessarily in the same category. But where there's beatings, where it affects you or the children, there's nothing to say that you shouldn't step away, get away to preserve your own health, and your own safety, and your own security. You don't need to stay there and just be beaten to a pulp. God's given us a self-defense mechanism. But I don't think that's grounds for divorce biblically. I think you have to hang in there and that's what makes great prayer warriors People who can turn that kind of a thing into a draw nigh unto God kind of relationship. You know, when all your family has forsaken you the Lord will be your family.
Question: I have a question on the marriage vow. I have a friend who - she has all the biblical reasons of remarriage but she feels that the marriage vow that she made not only to her husband but to God, that even though he has broken his vow, his part of it that she is still bound to her vow to God and that she cannot remarry while he is still living. Could you...?
John: Well, I would say to her, I wouldn't make that much of a case out of the marriage vow. You realize that in the Bible there is no marriage vows? That's strictly a human element? Marriage is a covenant of two hearts but the Bible doesn't give a list of vows and whatever service we use in a wedding is something that men have developed. I think that we can say this, that any covenant that is made between two people is only as good asthose two people make it. When one violates it it's all over. It's like having a chain with two links both links don't have to break, if one breaks it's gone. So I would say, in a technical sense, if he has violated the marriage vow, then the marriage is violated and she doesn't need to feel that she has some blind allegiance to just a human commitment.
Q: My question has to do with a situation in which a divorce has been broken up by a third party. Now the innocent party, and it's a difficult part, how can you have the right Christian attitude toward that third person that's very open for bitterness and resentment?
John: I think that when a third party enters in and breaks up a marriage, bitterness and resentment is a very normal human response.
Q: It carries along with it a guilt that you are also sinning in that respect too.
John: Yes, that's right. It's a very normal human response. And I say that to say this, it can only be overcome in the power of the Spirit. And I think you again come back to the same principle, you know, the reason we get mad when somebody takes what we have is because we are possessive. Because we think we deserve it more than they do in a sense. So it all comes back to pride. Real humility would say - I didn't deserve anything anyway, if the Lord, like Job says - You know, though he slay me I'll trust him, if He takes away everything I have I'll trust Him, what do I deserve anyway? There's a sense of humility involved.
But I think this: I think you have every right to hate the sin. You have every right to despise the sin that did that but you have every obligation to love the sinner. I've seen the most beautiful situations, you know, people will come to me and say, You know, I've even seen people lead that third party to Christ. I've seen that happen many times. Where a third party comes in it's happened with wives, in fact, I've talked recently with somebody along this line. A girl came in, stole her husband away all of a sudden she realized that this girl, you know, she saw her as a soul. She said, what does she know different? You know, right? My husband must have made himself available to her and she's a worldly person, doesn't know the Lord Jesus Christ. It's my responsibility to take Christ to her. She went overand began to give Jesus Christ to this girl and even led her to Christ. You know, that's the magnanimous response, see. That's when you can separate the sin from the sinner and Jesus could always do that and I think that when we are led by the Spirit we can do that. But I think it's very normal for us to have to work through the emotion of anger and commit it to the Lord.
Q: There's a lot of remarriage and divorce within the church without leaving the church and I've picked up on your relationship with your elders as a visitor and listening to your tapes, what is your stand as a pastor while observing that within the church as a divorce and are literally remarried within the church without ever leaving the church? Or do you tolerate it?
John: No. You mean, where two people got divorced and then those same two people married two other people in the same church? No. We really wouldn't have any place for that at all. That would be an open defiance of everything we believe the Bible teaches. In fact, we - where someone violates the biblical standards for marriage or for divorce and remarriage, we would enact church discipline. We would move not because we're trying to crush people but we're trying to get them to act in response to God's will. People think that church discipline is carrying a big club so that you can throw people out of the church. Church discipline isn't to put people out it's to keep them in on God's terms, you see.
I remember a man, just to give you an illustration of this, I remember a man, his wife called me one day and said, "Hey, she said, oh, you'll never believe it my husband is over in an apartment with another woman." And I said, "Why?" "Well, he's going to live with this woman in her apartment and he's a father. And I know him." I said, "What's her name." She said, "Oh, I found out her name." I said, "Give me her name." So I looked up the phone number in the phone book and so I dialed the phone number. And he answered the phone, which isn't too good if you're going to be over there doing that don't answer the phone. But he answered the phone and I said, "What are you doing over there?" And oh, dead silence, just dead silence. And you could hear his heart going hum-ahum-ahumahum, like this. "I'm just telling you right now that you're going to defile your marriage, you're going to defile the church of Jesus Christ, you're going to dishonor the Lord you claim, you pack up your bags and get home in thirty minutes and I'm going to call to find out." And he said, "I'm going, I'm going." Thirty minutes later he was home. Now to me that's discipline. You know, that's when somebody reaches out to somebody who's about to do something wrong and pulls him back into the standards that God has set. Now that's what we would want to do with somebody who got into that situation.
But where somebody actually carried through with that kind of thing, we have disciplined many people in that kind of a situation. And actually put them out of the church. I can think of several nights driving all over this valley finding people who had done that and trying to deal with them, to draw them back. When they wouldn't come back we just publicly put them out. Because you must do what the Bible says. See? And that's a heartbreak, isn't it? But it has to be done and it keeps the church pure. And it sets a standard too. I remember one of our high school kids coming to me one time after we disciplined somebody for a divorce and said,"Boy, you've really shown me how serious God sees marriage." You see, that's part of it, isn't it? To let those people know that. Good.
Q: Yeah, I was just wondering, how should like the members of a family deal with a parent who is a Christian but has now gone through with a divorce and or is just about to, how should the children deal with that parent who is a Christian, how should they relate?
John: That's a good question, John, you know you've got to deal with a person who goes through a violation if they have biblical grounds then they should be supported, if they had not biblical grounds then they must be treated in terms of sin. And of course it says in 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, "Every brother who walks disorderly", it talks about, and it says "We hear that some walk disorderly", this is just the way it is, he says, "If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed yet count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother." So you have two things, you have a responsibility to admonish, that is to counsel him with a view toward judgment if he continues, to admonish him as a brother but on the other hand you have a responsibility also to turn away from him because he's a sinner until the time comes when true repentance is seen and the fruits of repentance are manifest. So I would say, and I've counselled a lot of families like this where, for example, I've counselled a mother who with tears in her eyes and I've said to her, "You cannot have your son in your home to partake your meals and to be a part of your family because he is living in sin, because of a divorce." And that's tough for a mother, isn't it? But you see, that's where it says, we're not to accompany with them, we're not even to eat a meal with them. Because that's to accept them in a social, affirming context. If you're going to be with them, use it as a time to exhort them and admonish them.
Q: I was going to ask also, how do you balance that with where it says honor your father and your mother, I mean, how can you?
John: Okay. Right, John, the answer to that is you honor them for what they can be honored for and you admonish them for what they must be admonished about. Good.
Q: I guess this is kind of a thing, I'm unscrambling an egg but I was just curious - How do you deal with preferably, nonChristians who have slept around a lot before marriage or also if somebody is already married and they found out that, you know, you've slept with somebody before you were married, like biblically?
John: Well, now in the first message that we did, we pointed out that the Bible provided a death penalty for adultery. But something less than that for just sexual promiscuity. Even though both are evil in the sight of God marriage is so much more sanctified than any other human relationship that when somebody violates a marriage because it's the picture of Christ and His church, death was the consequence. When somebody just committed a sexual sin they weren't married, there was severe punishment, you know, severe consequences, but short of death. In other words, that is not as heinous in the eyes of God because it does not involve the image of Christ and His church. So what I'm saying is this, all sin is forgiveable and the standards God sets for marriage are uniquely for marriage. No matter who you marry, they're going to have a past record of sin. Right? It may not have been that sin but it will be some sin. And we're all sinners and God's grace applies at that point. So I - I don't think it's right to live like that. I think all you do -all you do is lose the virtue that makes marriage potentially most meaningful but you can still have a wonderful marriage because God is gracious. So I just - if you confess those things and turn from them then I think God can be gracious and provide for you a meaningful marriage. Unfortunately, one of the problems that people who live like that have is memories and they never forget. And that has a way of wounding any other relationship.
Q: So biblically, then, it would be just kind of considered obnoxious, an obnoxious thing if they - rather than - you know, it's not the same thing as adultery because ...
John: No. Because there was no marriage involved. Right. Okay. Good.
Q: In Deuteronomy 24:1-4, John Murray in his book seemsto indicate that there are some exceptions to that rule that God is giving there in that if there were no rounds for divorce in the first marriage then God would not recognize the second marriage and if that second marriage would end for whatever reason there may be or might, depends on the circumstances, a remarriage between the first partners. Would you comment on that? Or ...
John: It's not for me to comment on somebody else's view except that's not the way I interpret it. I see it as simply saying now the Lord doesn't want someone to marry an adulterous. That's somebody who's already been married and is an adulterous. So you wouldn't want to marry someone like that one, two- because they're adulterous. Right? So the situation in that section is that this person has become an adulterous he is defiled, the Hebrew means disqualified. Disqualified as what? As a marriage partner for the first husband. I don't take it any further than that.
I've read John Murray quite carefully several times and I don't want to set myself up as somebody who knows more about it than he does but I just take the view the rather specific and simple view that if there is a marriage dissolved by less than adultery the other marriage consummates whatever happens, death or divorce they cannot go back to the first partner. Does that answer? Okay.
Q: Thank you.
Q: My older brother is in a situation that something I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole and maybe you can unscramble this. He claims to be a Christian and my mother and I know that he's not. Okay, just because he says he reads the Bible he claims to be a Christian, just by the fact what he's interpreting Scripture but the situation that he's in - okay, Well, he was married before and had two children. Okay. Left his wife, and supposedly divorced her but we found out later that he didn't. Supposedly remarried this other girl who loves God I mean, she's truly just ... wouldn't claim to be a Christian but she's really close to God and ...
John: At this point he's a polygamist.
Q: Right, but now he's had a child with this other woman, his first wife has moved in with my cousin who they have had a child now and I know he's not a Christian so I had to come to him and I don't know what to tell him - Hey, you've got to come to do this... I don't know what to tell him, really, before I get to share with him...
John: Yeah, that's kind of a tough one. The first thing you tell him is that he shouldn't be living this way. You know, that's the first thing. Until a person is a Christian you can't expect them o live by God's standard. Okay. The only thing I can think of is that the second marriage is just not a marriage at all. I would say the second marriage is an adulterous union. I don't care what her reasons are, whether she's a Christian or not. Is that a legal marriage?
Q: As far as my mother and I are concerned - No.
John: I mean, did they go through a legal process to get a marriage.
Q: They went to Las Vegas to get married and from what I heard he paid the guy off not to send the papers through.
John: Well, whatever is his legal marriage I would say from the standpoint of that whatever is his legal marriage, this is,
you know, grabbing out of the dark, whatever is the legal marriage is the marriage that he is bound to. And he needs to go back into that marriage. And any other relationship would be adultery.
Q: So, ah...
John: If he's not a Christian, I'll tell you one thing, if he becomes a Christian the Holy Spirit will help him. If hedoesn't become a Christian I can't help him and nobody can. But it's wonderful how the Holy Spirit can unscramble the worst kind of things once we commit ourselves to live according to His standard.
Q: So in other words, by me letting him go, you know, he doesn't love her, she doesn't love him to begin with...
John: I don't think that's even the issue. The issue is his relationship to Jesus Christ.
Q: Right.
John: Once that's right then the Lord will pull all the other pieces into shape.
Q: And what happens to the kids in between?
John: Well, the Lord will take care of them too. Of course, he'll probably have to do something to take care of them financially and if he's a Christian he can give them the best that he can if he comes to Christ in terms of spiritual direction but you know, that's just one of those things. There are people who go around and proliferate children and the Lord doesn't expect them to marry all those women, they have to leave those children up to God's grace, that's all. That's a hard one. That's fairly common kind of confusion that occurs in our society and, boy, once you have - this is another principle you need to keep in mind, once you have abandoned God's standards the chaos becomes irreparable. The chaos becomes irreparable. You cannot undo what you've done. It can't be done. There's scars that will never be removed.
Q: A Christian met this other person and he came ... started going to church with her and claims that he accepted the Lord. And I don't know whether they were married before or after he claimed to be a Christian and then he went overseas to Viet Nam in the Marines and he came back and told his wife that he had committed adultery. Well, she could forgive adultery but she couldn't for give or accept the beatings and they've got a little boy now and she's scared, of course, for the sons sake and then she met someone else who's a Christian and the husband didn't even come back to the town because he was afraid he'd want the little boy to go with him and then so she filed for divorce and she met this other Christian and they got together and there was already adultery committed and she was the innocent party but the two Christians got entangled and...
John: I get you. What I would say is - what I would say is she functioned on the basis of the law not the ideal. In other words, she grabbed the loophole and ran with it when it became convenient. In other words, the technicality of divorce in the past was in the past not in the present. Right? But when she met somebody she liked better than her husband then she reached back and took that ...
Q: No this was before. This was before she had already instigated the divorce before she met this other person.
John: And the divorce was on the basis of ...
Q. Adultery and
John: Well, if she divorced him because of adultery that technically is legitimate. And if it was before she met somebody else who attracted her then she has that right.
Q: What's her position now that she's committed fornication or whatever it was with this other person.
John: Oh. You mean, she committed adultery with this other person before she was divorced from the first one?
Q: Yeah and after but after she had already started proceedings.
John: Well, she's an adulterous. Adultery is when you are still married to somebody and you have sexual relationships with somebody else. If the divorce wasn't final she is an adulterous. She's no more innocent than he is.
Q: That's what I thought.
John: That's right. She's not innocent. That's the whole point that Jesus keeps making. As soon as you start divorcing people all you do is pile up adultery all over the place because people who are used to living in a conjugal relationship cannot just cut that off, you know. Invariably frankly, if they don't commit adultery in the physical world they're going to commit it in their thinking process. So that's - the Lord just knows that it will proliferate and here's a classic illustration. She's going to divorce her husband because adultery, she's going to go to bed with some other guy before the divorce is final, she's as bad as he is. That's, you know, I'll tell you one thing, the guy who's getting her is well - that's not the kind of girl I'd like. Somebody who just wants to condemn somebody for something that they're willing to do themselves. That's not very fair.
Q: What would you say is God's in God's eyes is divorce and remarriage? In other words, is it a legal thing or does God look at the heart and say - you know, like if I say, - Hey, in my heart I feel divorced or I am divorced and, you know, the legal proceedings are going through?
John: No, I think with God it's a legal thing just like marriage. I think the whole concept of the bill of divorcement was that God knew when it came to marriage it had to be ordered by the society in which it occurred so that when you have marriage or divorce or any of those things God always prescribed that it be according to whatever set pattern was in existence. You are not married just because you say - Hey, you and I are married let's sleep together, that does not constitute a marriage. And you are not divorced just because you separate. That is - that's where so many people get into problems today, you know, they want to say Oh, what's a piece of paper among friends and all this stuff? The point is that Romans 13 says, "We are to be subject to the powers that be for they are ordained of God." We are to give honor and respect to the kings and the governors and the standards that are set up within our own society. And those things are instituted by God within our society to give us direction for the forming of our society and the necessary factors involved. Marriage is duly constituted in our society in a certain standard. Other societies it's different. But according to that standard marriage is duly constituted and divorce is the same thing. That's a good question.
Q: A few moments ago you said that it was amazing the powerof the Holy Spirit when you elect to live by God's perfect standards and what He could do. In a case where a wife is a believer, the husband probably isn't is having an affair with another woman, does not want a divorce, does not want to come home and the situation is going on well over a year, if the wife who has children and you know, it creates a lot of problems not having a husband to help elects to keep God's perfect standard and not get a divorce, can she count on and ask the Lord to work from the other side and do something so - well, in the world that we live in today, if a husband doesn't have the moral standards to care whether he's divorced or married it really creates a problem unless she can count on the Holy Spirit to do something from the other side?
John: It's a very, very common problem. You're talking about an unfaithful husband, doesn't want to let go of his wife because of security, reputation, you know a place to stay.
Q: No, he's not a home at all. He's living someplace else.
John: I don't mean that he's enjoying it he just knows it's there. It's like a parachute, you're glad it's there you hope you have to never use it.
Q: Right
John: So he's out doing his own thing...I think the promise of God would be that she in her own heart ... she has the technical right to divorcethat guy, she really does. In a sense, you know, 1 Corinthians 5 she could turn him over to Satan so he could learn not to blaspheme but the fact of the matter is God will work on the other end. There's no question about that. And God will work in one of two ways, either God will work in conviction and the man will respond or God will work in conviction he will not respond and conviction will become judgment. But in either case if she's faithful God will, I believe, bless her life. I really believe that. And not only here but in the life to come. So I think we have to count on that. That's living by faith. God bless those women who are faithful enough to hang in there with somebody like that. They don't have to. And I'm not saying it's more virtuous to do that Always because there may come a time when it's the only thing you can do is to say - That's it. I have grounds, that's all there is I can take.
Q: Well, how do you know when you should let go though?
John: Very individual, that's very personal. And that's something only an individual can know as that person is really sensitive to the Spirit of God. I can never give that kind of counselling, I just say as long as you have the grace and the patience then acceptthat as God's leading. When you've come to the place where you just - it's gone. Then you can exercise that alternative. And if that's what God directs you to do and you have peace in your heart about doing it, that's your option.
Q: Does the Bible say anything about separation? Could you comment on that?
John: Yes, the Bible says one thing about separation. Just one, one word. And it says that a husband and a wife are never to separate unless it's for prayer. The Bible doesn't talk about .... People say, "Oh, you know, let's separate for a while it will be good for us." It's never good. You can't accomplish anything when you're not together. So the Bible doesn't say anything about it. Now, as I say, there may be times when you have to separate to protect your own physical body or to take your children and save their necks as it were from an abusive parent. But as far as separation the Bible says in I Corinthians chapter 7 that there is to be no defrauding of one another, physically, no separation except for a season of prayer. And that would be where you were so overwrought with some spiritual need that your life was just totally consumed with that spiritual dimension. But as far as just separating for some reason or other, there's really no such thing in Scripture.
Q: Well, if - the situation I'm thinking of they're both Christians and the wife is giving the ultimatum - either you leave or I leave. The man does not want this but she does. She wants him to leave, she doesn't want to leave but she wants him to leave.
John: Yeah, possession is nine tenths of the law. Get him out so she can keep the house.
Q: Right. And for the sake of the children he thinks that he should leave.
John: Well, of course, the answer to the situation is that she shouldn't be giving ultimatums to start with but the point is they need to resolve -two Christians. Listen, I've said this before, any two Christians Spirit filled could live together.Especially two that once had a basis for marriage, no matter how much water's gone under the bridge because God is in the business of putting things together again. What you have here is not an issue any other than just an issue of are two people really committed to Christ. Are they really walking in the Spirit or not? If they're not, nothing works.
Q: Okay. Is the family member, this is the situation in a family, as a family member, this is kind of similar to what the other guy said, what is my responsibility to that person in the family that chooses not to walk with the Lord?
John: Well, I think loving, confrontive admonition. You know, the Bible only knows one way to solve a problem, I don't care whether you're in the book of Genesis or Revelation, the Bible only knows one way to solve a problem and that's to meet it head on. That's the only thing the Bible ever does. You know, it's just confront the problem. Go to the Lord in prayer and go confront the problem.
Q: Okay, then if they refuse to hear you, if they refuse to listen to your counsel and to your guidance and to biblical standards then do you treat them as if they're not a Christian?
John: No. Then you go get two or three witnesses, Matthew 18.
Q: Okay, but what if they're not in this church, they are Christians but they're in another church. What do you do then?
John: You mean there's no church to put them out of.
Q: No. They are in a church but not this church, do you go to that church?
John: Oh, absolutely. You go to that church. Or get two or three witnesses who know the situation and then tell it to the church. We've done situations like that here where we've had elders from another church and this church and get together and meet with people. Hey, you know, this is all the Lord's church. And one of the problems today in disciplining people is you put them out of this church and they go down the street to the next church which doesn't do that church any good because the leaven we got rid of is going' to leaven their lump. You know?
Q: Right. If that church chooses not to discipline them, now what do you do in that situation? Do you take it to them and you tell -I'm...
John: That's very difficult, you've done as much as you can do. In effect, you've cleaned out your own situation, you've done what's right before God and you can't do anymore. You know, I face that all the time. Sometimes I follow through a situation and I do all that I can do and I feel that it still isn't resolved but that's all I can do. Then I say, Okay, Lord, I followed all I know to follow and I have to leave it with you. And ultimately that's where you leave anything anyway. But ultimately, sure, just leave it with the Lord.
Q: When you refer to committing adultery if the partner commits adultery you say they have a technical right to divorce that individual?, But that isn't the ideal?
John: That's right.
Q. Okay, would that be sin for that person to divorce that?
John: No.
Q: Well then anything short of the ideal isn't sin?
John: No, that's true, that's right. What I'm saying is that the divorce is not the ideal because sin caused it. Right?
Q: Sin caused the divorce.
John: But it's not the sin of the person who does it on the grounds of adultery. In other words, the ideal is violated in the sin. Whoever sinned. God has an ideal, two people live together, one commits adultery that's the end of the ideal. Now if this person wants to do all she can to reconstruct the ideal again, that option is there. But it wouldn't be sinful to take the technical answer.
Q: I don't understand. The ideal is gone once one has broken the...
John: Well, at that point in time, sure. The marriage is adulterated. The ideal is violated.
Q: The ideal is violated?
John: Yes. Do you understand that?
Q: Well, not completely.
John: I'll tell you what, just marry one woman and stay with her the rest of your life and you won't have to worry.
Q: That's what I plan on doing. But, the ideal would be to forgive that individual, though.
John: That's right. The ideal again would be to forgive, the person confesses, cleanse their life out, the two come back together and that's great. Sometimes you can't have that ideal back. The partners not willing, won't change the lifestyle, won't turn from the adultery and really you don't have any alternative sometimes.
Q: Okay.
Q: Yes, John, a statement from the elders didn't mention it I don't recall this particular series mentioned, forfeiting the right to remarry. And if you have a situation where both have committed adultery or you just can't unscramble the egg, is there a case where you would say, even though the other spouse remarries that the other one has forfeited the right to remarry?
John: I'm not sure I understand the question.
Q: I'm sorry. Okay, let's say both members committed adultery.
John: So neither has the right to remarry.
Q: Is that what you're saying?
John: That would be true.
Q: Even if the other spouse did.
John: It would just be adding adultery to adultery.
Q: Yeah, right, even if the other spouse is remarried then that one's obviously committing adultery...
John: See, what you're doing in a situation like this is really forcing beyond what the Scripture says. And into the confusion of the melieu of what happens and I'm lost, I don't know. I would say technically speaking, by God's standard if you adulterated one marriage you don't have any right to start up another one.
Q: Okay, in other words, in the statement when you're using adultery and you decide that one party has committed adultery then they have no right to remarry after that regardless of what happens.
John: That's true. Okay. I think we'll call it at that point. Somebody handed me a question - Before we go are there degrees of sin? There will be degrees of sin after we go. But let me tell you what they are. Somebody - they said - what about adultery, stealing, coveting and all this? Basically the Bible only gives us two categories of degrees of sin. And I would draw on Hebrews chapter 10 for this, the Bible says, "How much sorer punishment shall ye be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the blood of the covenant or trodden under foot the Son of God and counted the blood of the covenant by which he is sanctified an unholy thing." In other words, the greatest sin is the sin of indifference and turning your back on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and treating it as an unholy thing. Of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy. Now that tells us that there are degrees of sin. Now as to whether stealing is worse than lying and lying is worse than coveting and coveting is worse than adultery, the Bible doesn't tell us that. There are those categories of sin, they're all bad, there's only one other category that's worse and that's the category of rejecting the truth of God and turning your back on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That's the most severe of all. But as far as whether lying, stealing, cheating, adultery or whatever are worsethan the others the Bible doesn't tell us that they are. Okay?
Thank you for your time tonight. Let's close in prayer.
Father, we thank You that if we live the way You want us to live, if we're poor in spirit, if we're mourning over sin, if we're meek, if we hunger and thirst after righteousness, if we're merciful, if we're pure in heart, if we're peacemakers, if all of those characteristics are true of our lives there's very little chance that our marriages would fail. So help us, Lord, to know that good marriages begin with right character. Thank You for grace that cleanses the past and frees us to enjoy the blessedness of the present in Jesus name. Amen


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Abell 2744 Multiply-Lensed Background Galaxy at z=10 (Image A)
Abell 2744, Pandora's Cluster
Data of Abell 2744 were obtained as part of the HST proposals 11689: R. Dupke (Eureka Scientific, Inc.) et al., 13386: S. Rodney (JHU) et al., and 13495: J. Lotz (STScI) and the Frontier Fields Team.
These findings were supported by the HST archival grant 13279, PI: W. Zheng (JHU), A. Zitrin (Caltech), Holland Ford (JHU), J. Moustakas (Siena College), F. Bauer and L. Infante (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), and D. Kelson Carnegie Institution of Washington.
The science team comprises: A. Zitrin (Caltech), W. Zheng (JHU), T. Broadhurst (University of Basque Country, Spain), J. Moustakas (Siena College), D. Lam (University of Hong Kong), X. Shu (CEA Saclay-DSM/IRFU/Service d'Astrophysique and University of Science and Technology of China), X. Huang (JHU and University of Science and Technology of China), J. Diego (IFCA/CSIC Universidad de Cantabria, Spain), H. Ford (JHU), and J. Lim (University of Hong Kong).
This image is a composite of separate exposures acquired by the ACS and WFC3 instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope. Several filters were used to sample broad wavelength ranges. The color results from assigning different hues (colors) to each monochromatic (grayscale) image associated with an individual filter. In this case, the assigned colors are:
Blue: F814W (I)
Green: F105W (Y)
Red: F160W (H)
NASA, ESA, and J. Lotz, M. Mountain, A. Koekemoer, and the HFF Team (STScI)


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Perspective: In Katrina's Wake
By Dean Joseph Helble
Hurricane Katrina's destruction of the levees in New Orleans painfully demonstrated to a technologically dependent nation that no engineered structure is infallible. Levees — whether in New Orleans or elsewhere — are designed and built to withstand a certain level of storm. Decisions about the protective strength of levees are not based on engineering considerations alone, but on assessments of the probabilities of potential storm damage and on funding priorities. Perhaps the public understands these cost-benefit tradeoffs at the time of construction, but as levees hold year after year through storm after storm, it becomes easy to forget their design and structural limits.
In the wake of the Katrina disaster, it is tempting to rush ahead and build a structure just like before, but bigger, stronger, and more durable — to engineer and build even better protection against the next big storm. We certainly have the technical know-how to do so.
But engineers should also be pushing society to look at the bigger picture and debate broader issues. We should be asking whether rebuilding levees is the only solution we should consider — and whether this is a sustainable solution. We should be posing questions not only about how to build, but about what to build, where to build, and how to live within the constraints imposed by the local environment. Can we, for example, mitigate the next storm by partially restoring depleted coastlines and wetlands to absorb the next onslaught?
As New Orleans is rebuilt, engineers will not be the ones charged with making many of these broad policy decisions. But engineers have the expertise to raise the questions and make sure that political leaders understand the tradeoffs. It is our responsibility to society to do so.
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How to choose the right childbirth class for you.
You may be surprised to discover the variations in childbirth classes—some are months long while others last a day; some take place in a hospital and others are conducted in the educator's home. Regardless, topics generally include labor signs, pain-relief options, stages of labor and comfort measures. Here are a few options that may be available in your area:
Lamaze classes educate women about practices that have been shown to maximize your chances of having a safer birth, such as allowing labor to start on its own, walking and moving around during labor and following your body's urges to push. lamaze.org
The Bradley Method is a 12-week class for women and their partners who desire to have a medication-free birth. bradleybirth.com
HypnoBirthing is a five-week course that emphasizes natural childbirth and teaches self-hypnosis techniques to combat fear and pain during labor. hypnobirthing.com
The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) trains and certifies educators to be advocates of the natural process of childbirth. Find ICEA-certified instructors in your area at icea.org.