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Annotation for Clarke, Eric F.
Categorical Rhythm Perception: An Ecological Perspective
Annotation (by Bill Tilghman):
Clarke begins this study by suggesting that acoustical information in music specifies three different types of distal event -- the concrete source of the sound, the various kinds of abstract musical structure (including rhythmic structure), and the affective properties of a piece or style -- and that rhythmic structure is perceived in terms of categories based on small whole number ratios of duration. The basic hypothesis is that the listener first places a durational pattern into a category based on low-order integral ratios (such as 1:1, 3:1, 1:1:2, 2:1:3, etc.) and then judges any "discrepency" (the information left over following categorization; i.e., the variance from exact proportion) as part of some non-categorical domain, such as "expression," "stress," or "rubato." This hypothesis was investigated using two separate experiments. In the first, the closer the durations of two notes were to one of two ratios, 1:1 and 2:1, the more stable (consistent) were the subjects' responses when asked to identify the rhythm of the two notes. In addition, the subjects were most able to distinguish between two slightly different pairs of durations when the two durational pairs straddled the categorical boundary (the point at which identification is
stable) between 1:1 and 2:1. In the second experiment, pianists' reproductions of heard rhythmic patterns were most stable and accurate when durations represented low-order integral ratios, but this was the case only when the durations conformed well to the metrical context. In a closing discussion, Clarke presents a view of rhythmic perception in which the listener interprets a pattern in three "dimensions":
meter - whether duple or triple division of the beat.
rhythmic category - whether even or uneven durations. If uneven, the actual ratio depends on the meter; non-conformant ratios, even if involving small integers, are unstable and thus are not separate categories.
transformation - the non-categorical data, perceived as expressive treatment, or perhaps as inaccuracy.
categorical rhythm perception
expressive timing
Rhythm and Meter
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It is a slow ongoing process, but we WILL be victorious over violent muslim jihadis.
Kabul, 22 Jan. (AKI) – Six suspected Taliban died during a raid carried out by US troops against militants blamed for a roadside bomb attack in southern Afghanistan, the coalition said in a statement on Thursday.
The US troops killed five suspected Taliban militants in the Daychopan district of Zabul province on Wednesday, the coalition statement said.
Another militant firing at the troops from behind large rocks was killed in an airstrike, the statement said.
The soldiers were searching for a Taliban commander involved in organising roadside bombings and the movement of foreign fighters in Zabul province, according to the statement.
Taliban militants have since 2005 taken control over wider areas of Afghanistan amid worsening security. Roadside bombings targeting Afghan and coalition troops rose by almost one-third last year compared to 2007, according to the NATO-led security force (ISAF) .
ISAF forces said on Wednesday they had killed a prominent insurgent leader in the Maywand district of Kandahar Province in southwest Afghanistan. Haji Adam, a senior Taliban figure in central Helmand, died in a precise air strike, ISAF said.
Adam was directly involved in the movement of fighters, improvised explosive device production, and in the planning and execution of attacks. He was also engaged in the illegal narcotics trade in Helmand, using the profits to fund insurgent activity and had strong links to senior Taliban leaders, according to ISAF.
US President Barack Obama is expected to send up to 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan, mainly to the south, in a bid to stabilise the conflict-wracked country.
The US currently has some 33,000 troops in Afghanistan.
Thankfully, with the drawdown in Iraq, we can follow a similar strategy in Afghanistan, a surge, hopefully doubling the number of troops we have on the ground. Hopefully Obama doesn't bull a Dubya and bungle the operations in Afghanistan, the way Bush did initially in Iraq.
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Russell Westbrook
A common comparison for Westbrook's extension is Boston point guard Rajon Rondo's five-year, $55 million deal. But that is now viewed by many as a steal for Boston. Westbrook is quickly proving to be just as dominant as Rondo as the league shifts to a point guard oriented game. If Green gets $10 million a year, Westbrook could follow up with demands of something closer to a max deal.


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Short communication: genetic variations of SLC2A9 in relation to Parkinson's disease
1 Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
2 Molecular Genetics Core Facility, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
3 Department of Neurology, Pennsylvania State University-Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
Translational Neurodegeneration 2013, 2:5 doi:10.1186/2047-9158-2-5Published: 19 February 2013
Epidemiological studies showed that higher plasma urate was associated with lower risk for Parkinson's disease (PD) and slower disease progression. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) consistently showed that several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the solute carrier family 2 member 9 gene (SLC2A9 ) were associated with plasma urate concentration and the risk of gout.
We conducted a case–control study to examine twelve tag SNPs of the SLC2A9 gene in relation to PD among 788 cases and 911 controls of European ancestry. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were derived from logistic regression models, adjusting for age, sex, smoking and caffeine consumption.
These SNPs were all in linkage disequilibrium (R2 > 0.7). None of them were associated with PD risk. Among women, however, there was a suggestion that the presence of the minor allele of one SNP (rs7442295) was related to a small increase in PD risk [OR (95% CI) = 1.48 (1.01-2.16)].
This study provides little support for genetic variations of SLC2A9 and PD risk.


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Gigi Reyes condition improving-A A +A
Friday, July 11, 2014
THE health condition of detained lawyer Jessica Lucila "Gigi" Reyes is improving, said the medical bulletin issued Friday by her doctors at the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital (TPDH).
"Reyes no longer complains headache and palpitation, and back pains have lessened," the bulletin read.
However, the document said the lawyer still lacked the appetite to eat and experience dizziness when she walks.
Reyes was rushed to the Taguig hospital early morning Thursday after suffering a panic attack, two hours after she was transferred to Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Female Dormitory in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City from the Sandiganbayan temporary jail.
Reyes' lawyer Anacleto Diaz earlier said her transfer triggered his client's panic attack, as the Taguig jail facility houses suspected New People's Army (NPA) members who are critical of those personalities involved in the pork barrel fund scam.
Due to her medical condition, the Sandiganbayan third division deferred Reyes' arraignment originally set Friday. Same division handles her urgent motion to be transferred to the Philippine National Police custodial center in Camp Crame where two accused senators are detained.
Around 9 a.m. Friday, Reyes' blood pressure was recorded at 100/70 and Dr. Prudencio Sta. Lucia, TPDH director, said the detained lawyer will remain under observation.
The next medical update will be released at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Earlier this month, Reyes and Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile were ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan third division on plunder charges over their alleged links in the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Reyes was the former chief of staff of Enrile, who was accused of amassing million of pesos in kickbacks using his PDAF allocation. (Sunnex)
Country News
Cagayan de Oro
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New nucleic acid diagnostic tool with enhanced hybridization and quantification power.
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Kuala Lumpur Bird Park
Kuala Lumpur Bird Park is located in Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens and is home to more than 3,000 birds of approximately 200 species of local and foreign birds.
The park is 20.9 acres and is divided into 4 zones; Zone 1 and 2 make up the free-flight zone; Zone 3 is the Hornbill Park and Zone 4 is where the birds are placed in separate cages and mini aviaries.
Birds are able to fly freely in Zone 1, 2 and 3 which closely resembles their natural habitat and therefore they are able to breed naturally in this environment.


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A painting, a frog cake, a landmark, a statue, a haunting newspaper photograph, a bucket of peaches, pink shorts in parliament, concert tickets, tourist mapsKerryn Goldsworthys Adelaide is a museum of sorts, a personal guide to the city through a collection of iconic objects. Adelaide navigates her southern home, discovering its identifying curios and passing them to the reader to touch, inspect and marvel at. These objects explore the beautiful, commonplace, dark and contradictory history of Adelaide: the heat, the wine, the weirdness, the progressive politics and the rigid colonial formality, the sinister horrors and the homey friendliness. They paint a lively portrait of her home city as remembered, lived in, thought about, missed, loved, hated, laughed at, travelled to and from, seen from afar and close up by assorted writers, citizens and visitors but mainly as it exists in her memory and imagination.
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Ms. Holt was a great assest to my husband and I when we were in the market to purchase our first home. We didn't know a lot about the housing market and she was very insightful and helped us through every step. She is very knowledgable about the different school districts in the area and was able to help us choose one that we felt would be right for our son. She was very attentive to our needs and always timely with her responses to our questions. Great personality and very easy going. Highly recommended!
Chauntay Holt
Licensed Real Estate Agent (9 years experience)
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- Buyer's Agent,
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I am currently in the market to buy my first home and I was shopping around for an agent. I had no idea I had an expert at my hand all this time. I've known Chauntay for years, but I had no idea how much she knew about the Real Estate market and how I could benefited from the advice she provided to me. It felt like she was my agent before I even asked her to be. I am very grateful of her knowledge and expertise, it is really helpful when searching for your first home. I look forward to her closing my deal soon and would definately reccommend any first time home buyers who need that extra guidance to this complicated process.
My husband and I relocated from Vermont earlier this year and we used Chaunty to help us find our home here in the Columbus area. Because we had a time sensitive schedule and needed to find something in a weekend that fit out families needs, we needed someone that was knowledgable and focused on our time together. Chauntay exceeded our needs and went above and beyond to help us find what truly is our dream home! Not only did we move to Ohio with confidence in our home purchase, but we also gained a great friend in the process! We would recommend her to anyone looking for a realtor who is 100% devoted to their clients. She is amazing!
Chauntay was so easy to work with. I told her exactly what I wanted/needed in a house and she gave me many houses to choose from. Her knowlege in the real estate industry is exceptional! She communicated with me very well and was available whenever I needed her. Thanks Chauntay!
I will like to take the time out and recommend Chauntay Holt. She has helped my husband I find a home to rent. We were very impressed on her knowledge of the area and how well she worked with us. She showed great knowledge on the business and I would recommend her to anyone. Thanks for all your help!


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Django Unchained--Tarintino's new project
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January 1 2013, 09:12 PM
Mr. Adventure
Location: Mr. Adventure
Re: Django Unchained--Tarintino's new project
Thinking back on my earilier comment regarding the prominence of Schulz in the movie, I've been wondering if perhaps this movie is really about his journey. If you look at the movie as having a plot of Django getting his woman back the movie definitely makes this progression from start to finish. However in terms of character growth and change I think it might be argued that this is where the movie may really be more about King Schulz.
Django may provide the physical conflict but the dramatic conflict really resides with Schulz. Especially with the dog scene, we see that Django is who he is at that point yet Schulz was still in motion.
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text: Al Verb | IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information Official Broadway League sites: - sites - broadway.org broadwayleague.com broadwayfanclub.com kidsnightonbroadway.com stagespecs.org tonyawards.com Quick Search For: In This Category: All Show People/Org. Theatre Season Al Verb Performer Male Productions ProductionsDate of ProductionsThe Wall[Play, Original] Performer: Al Verb [Men and Women of the Ghetto]Oct 11, 1960 - Mar 04, 1961 Find out where Al Verb and are credited together © 2001-2015, The Broadway League, All Rights Reserved. (Copyright and Disclaimer)


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Heel measures 115mm/ 4.5 inches. KARL's gray leather wedges are the ultimate in footwear cool. A key style from Karl Lagerfeld's hotly anticipated SS12 collection, this asymmetric pair will firmly cement your fashion credentials - wear them with a printed tee and PVC shorts to channel the designer's inimitable appeal.Small to size. See Size & Fit tab.
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Posts Tagged 'deputy grand master'
Turmoil strikes Freemasonry in Arizona
In June 2011 at the annual communication of Grand Lodge Brother D. Brook Cunningham was elected to the office of Grand Master of Masons inArizona.
Brother Michael Meier was elected to the office of Deputy Grand Master.
In July of 2011 Most Worshipful Brother Grand Master D. Brook Cunningham revoked the Charter of Daylight Lodge No. 73 suspending all the members. Approximately a month or so later he restored the Charter to the lodge after the election of new Officers and restoring all members. This act of restoring the lodge to "legitimacy" simply by Fiat was not accomplished in accordance with the Arizona Masonic Constitution (AMC). There was much concern expressed over this action by several members of many of the constituent lodges, however no actions were taken at the time.
On December 26th 2011 MWB D. Brook Cunningham sent a letter to all constituent lodges announcing that he had relieved the duly elected Deputy Grand Master Brother Michael Meier from all duties and responsibilities. The reasons given for this action being that it was the result of failing to follow directives of the Grand Master, failing to respond to the Grand Masters correspondence and speaking for the Grand Master without his consent.
This action caused great concern to arise among the brethren of the constituent lodges especially among those who are knowledgeable of the provisions set forth in the AMC regarding the powers granted to the Grand Master. Many of these members, after careful study of the AMC concluded that the Grand Master had acted without legal authority under the AMC to relieve an elected Officer of all duties and responsibilities.
There were many objections from members to this action by the Grand Master.
In response to these objections MWB D. Brook Cunningham sent a letter to all constituent lodges on January 2nd, 2012 explaining in detail why he had relieved the Deputy Grand Master of all duties and responsibilities.
In his January 2nd letter he violated his 3rd degree obligation to keep inviolate the secrets of a Master Mason by revealing of actions and conversations of a confidential meeting. He also falsely reported that Brother Meier had been suspended by a previous Grand Master. The Grand Master violated the AMC, by granting the title of Deputy Grand Master Pro-Tempore to one Man and delegating the duties and responsibilities of the same office to another. This action effectively removed a duly elected Grand Officer who had been duly elected by the membership for all intents and purposes.
The January 2nd letter also accused Bro. Meier of disrespect and failure to follow his directives. One directive he failed to follow was to wear a polo shirt and tartan tie to the opening of anEducationAcademy. Another was his attitude of disrespect regarding the revoking of the Hiram Daylight Lodge No. 73 Charter and finally a scheduling conflict for a Long Range Planning Committee Meeting.
One Past Grand Master in a letter described the above actions by MWB D. Brook Cunningham as reprehensible, beyond the scope of his authority, petty, vindictive, child-ish and beneath the dignity of a Grand Master in addition to returning the Charter to Hiram Daylight Lodge.
Several members from lodges in Arizona were upset with these actions by the Grand Master equating them with Dictatorship by totally ignoring the powers granted to him in the AMC thus re-writing and creating a new Constitution whereby all actions are legal unless negated by a vote of the members at the annual June meeting of the Grand Lodge.
A petition was crafted and sent to all Lodges on February 1st, 2012 requesting that they vote on a request for a trial of the Grand Master, vote on a request for a special session of the Grand Lodge, vote for either one or vote to do nothing.
The AMC requires that 30 % of the lodges vote on the issue in order for a trial, special session or both to occur.
The Grand Master, at a meeting of his District Deputy Grand Masters, asked them to request of the Masters of the lodges in their District to not read the any of the petitions.
Therefore at this time the Jury (constituent lodges) is still out on these issues. The results will be known at the end of February.
Please review the following six attachments:
RESOLUTION RE Charges Against Grand Master
Cover Letter-Resolution & Charges Against Grand Master
Cover Letter To All Masons RE Resolution & Charges
An Alternative to Regicide by G. Lankin
New Jersey's Grand Lodge Wanted a Building, Expels Opposing Mason
The Mike McCabe story reverberated around Masonic circles including a Masonic e-publication, but there is more than what meets the eye. In an effort to provide more details with evidence, this article contains the chronological story recounting the malicious conduct of the Grand Lodge and its Officers. Please, review the attached evidence which supports this candid account of abuse.
At a Masonic Trial held on November 15, 2008, I was convicted of 2 of the 3 counts of unmasonic conduct leveled against me by John Foreberger, (the immediate Past Master of the USS New Jersey Lodge No. 62), and Steven Preissman, (the then District Deputy Grand Master for the 18th Masonic District.) I was found guilty of allegedly ignoring Orders given to me by these 2 individuals. While this drama has played out for almost 2 1/2 years now, I will attempt to present the facts leading up to my expulsion from New Jersey Masonry as objectively as possible, leaving it to your judgment to decide if:
- The Charges made against me were warranted?
- Either the Masonic Trial or Penalty Phase of the proceedings met the due process requirements of New Jersey's Grand Lodge Constitution?
- The expulsion sentence meted out was Constitutional, let alone appropriate?
An entire Chapter of New Jersey's Grand Lodge Constitution (Section 13 Charges – Code for Trials) is dedicated to Masonic jurisprudence and insuring that the accused Brother receives due process during Masonic judicial proceedings. Section 13's Preamble affirms that "proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the following…" (13-04) As I shall demonstrate Section 13 was violated at every phase of my Masonic Trial process.
Some might consider 1 or two, or 5 violations of Section 13 a minor oversight. However, when the number of violations exceeded 20, I personally began to question whether those individuals responsible for conducting and overseeing my proceedings were actually Master Masons. (My Oath had required me to "…stn t @ ab b +I byls, ruls, @ rglns… also +I cnstn, byls, gnrl rglns @ edcs %…), or had the belief that the ends justified the means infected the Grand Lodge hierarchy's thought process. While preparing for my Appeal, via email, I inquired of the Grand Secretary (Larry Plasket) and Grand Lodge Legal Counsel, (Howard Kanowitz), for the names of the 5 Trial Panelists that had heard my case. The Grand Secretary He informed me that as he wasn't there, He did not know and to ask the Grand Lodge Legal Counsel. The Grand Lodge Legal Counsel response: "he did not know who they were because he was not a member of the Trial Panel and he took no notes." (Isn't this a curious answer to receive from a Grand Lodge Official responsible for overseeing those proceedings?)
There is an old adage that a man who represents himself will have a fool for a client. My biggest problem was being forced to represent myself. New Jersey's Constitution requires that any attorneys participating in a Masonic Trial be Master Masons. Once it was learned (informally) that William Berman, the Deputy Grand Master (and within 6 months Grand Master), was going to testify against me, for various reasons most begged off (some never bothered to call back.) Consequently, I was forced to represent myself.
The Specification of the Third Charge noted that 2 unidentified "members of the Lodge" had allegedly witnesses me in "possession and or control a number of Masonic Aprons which are the property of the USS New Jersey Lodge No. 62," which had been reportedly stolen. I believe the circumstances surrounding how this Charge originated and was adjudicated, is illustrative of how the entire Masonic Trial process was conducted against me.
Despite two written requests, the Lodge refused to provide me with those 2 unidentified members' names, as a part of the discovery process (which turned out to be nonexistent, as I was informed by the Grand Lodge Legal Counsel.) It was only after the hearing began, that I actually learned my accusers' identities (the DGM and another future Right Worshipful.)
My defense against this Charge was simple. As the Aprons had never been stolen from the USS New Jersey Lodge, and had been in the possession and control of the USS New Jersey Lodge, the last time I had been there (months earlier), they could not have possibly have been in my apron case. Fortunately for me, a former member of the New Jersey Lodge, (Wor. Bro. John Hunsberger) came forward and testified in my behalf. During the proceedings, the Trial Panel actually stopped the trial to go look for the missing Aprons in the Lodge's preparation room. (Surprisingly, conveniently they were nowhere to be found.)
Section 13-29 of the Grand Lodge Constitution states "…the Charge shall be signed by the accuser… ."
First: The individuals responsible for signing all 3 of the Charges against me, (Mr.'s Foreberger and Preissman) refused to testify in support of their allegation (my being in possession of stolen property), when officially called upon by the Trial Panel to do so. Instead, they admitted to the Panel) that they had not been present to witness the alleged incident; and that 2 other individuals, (Mr.'s. Berman and Garrison) had actually witnessed the alleged offense, and were prepared to testify in support of the allegation.
Second: While testifying, those individuals acknowledged that they were responsible for making the allegation which the Charge was based on. However, neither of those individuals had signed the Charge leveled against me.
Shouldn't the Grand Lodge Legal Counsel have recognized this for what it was? The Master of the USS New Jersey Lodge had allowed a Masonic Charge to be brought against someone based entirely on second hand (hearsay evidence.) In the process, permitted Section 13-29 of the Constitution to be violated. Shouldn't the Charge have been dismissed right then and there? Yet this Charge was permitted to be adjudicated. Suppose I did not have a witness to corroborate my testimony? Suppose I had been found Guilty, in what would have amounted to a nothing more than a swearing contest? Is this what New Jersey Masonry has become? (I had to join the Masons to be called a thief.)
I was found Not Guilty of an allegation that had accused a 6 time Past Master of criminal conduct even though Deputy Grand Master Berman had testified in support of the Charge.
How would most New Jersey Masons feel, if it they had known that the next Grand Master had made an unsupportable allegation that besmirched a Brother's name and reputation, and had violated the Grand Lodge Constitution to do so. While my current status (expulsion) conveniently prevents me from redressing this abuse masonically. I think it very unlikely that this Grand Lodge would ever address this matter on its own (as should be done.) These actions violate every precept and principle we supposedly stand for. Unfortunately, I do not believe that this is the first time the corrupting influence of absolute power has seduced a member of the Craft. Would this Charge would have ever been leveled against me had I not sent that letter?
The USS New Jersey Lodge, No. 62, Chartered in 2005, was the byproduct of a forced consolidation of 3 Lodges (Ionic, Trimble and Universal), that had each been in existence for well over 100 years. These 3 Lodges were co-equal owners of a building and property (the West Jersey Masonic Center / WJMC ), that was worth several million dollars (due to its location.) Late in 2004, all 3 Lodges were given the right to vote and decide whether they wanted to become a part of the new Lodge to be named in honor of America's most decorated warship, (which had only recently been moved to a new home on the Camden waterfront, or remain as they were.) The two fiscally sound Lodges (Universal and Trimble) voted overwhelmingly against any merger or consolidation (18-8 and 49-2 No respectively.) After Trimble's members voted No, the then District Deputy (William Krassen) approached the East, and while the meeting was still in progress, confiscated Trimble's Charter, and announced that this Lodge is closed. (Universal's Charter was removed from a closet during a Lodge rehearsal several days later.) Only Ionic Lodge, which had the most to gain by any consolidation, voted to turn in is Charter. (Only months earlier, Ionic had unsuccessfully lobbied to have the other 2 Lodges to agree to sell the building and divide the proceeds.) Chartered in December of 2005, the newly created USS New Jersey Lodge No. 62, not only had gained a valuable asset at no cost, but also Trimble's sizeable investment portfolio, bequeathed to it by a departed benefactor.
The results of the USS New Jersey's 2005 Annual Election of Officers were quite unexpected to the powers that be at both the USS New Jersey Lodge and the Grand Lodge. With one exception, all of the USS New Jersey Lodge's elected officers and trustees (put into office with Grand Lodge's blessing), had been replaced after the elections results were tabulated. The lone office holder not to suffer that same fate only survived because of an intentional misapplication of a provision (30-06) of New Jersey's Grand Lodge Constitution, which permits the removal of a candidate's name from the hat who is running for an elected Lodge office (in this particular instance the Master's Station.) The name removed from the hat was mine. Those election results were a total repudiation of Grand Lodge's duplicitous, actions.
Several weeks later at the Annual Installation of Officers, Grand Master Sheridan publicly scolded the Brethren, and called them childish because they had dared to vote for the candidates of their choice. His words received a standing ovation from the usual suspects. As I wrote him later*, those children had liberated Europe, and Japanese held islands in the Pacific, fought the Cold War in the jungles of Southeast Asia, flew aircraft off of rolling flight decks, and navigated nuclear attack submarines. None of which is kid stuff. (When viewed in that context, maybe it's understandable why Grand Lodge was not inclined to respond as forcefully to these violations as they had in the past and would afterwards.)
Those violations included:
- Failing to turn over the Lodge's primary operating checking account to the new fiduciary officers. All information, (monthly statements and checkbook) about this particular account, was intentionally withheld. These Officers only learned of the account after I informed them of its existence. (It would be another year before it was realized that over $7,000 had never been turned over to the new fiduciary officers and instead deposited into that unsupervised Lodge account.
- Allowing an unauthorized individual to continue to have unfettered access and control of the Lodge's primary operating checking account, and continued to write checks, on the lodge's behalf even though he was not permitted to do so. (Who else at the USS New Jersey Lodge and Grand Lodge knew of these activities yet permitted it to go on?) At least $17,000 in unauthorized financial transactions occurred with Lodge funds. All of these transactions had occurred without the knowledge, or signatures of either of the Lodge's duly elected and installed fiduciary officers. As none of these checks had been issued or signed by the lodge's current office holders, they were not valid.
- Intentionally failed to notify the Bank that new fiduciary officers had been elected and empowered to sign checks on behalf of the Lodge. The failure to keep the Lodge's Resolution with the Bank current violated the Bank's written policy on Resolutions. The Bank would have never honored any of those checks had it known that the instruments lacked the authorized officers' signatures
- Intentionally failed to turn Lodge funds to the proper fiduciary officer. In January of 2008, it was discovered that three (3) unauthorized deposits (a total of 91 checks and over $7,000), had occurred after the new Secretary and Treasurer were installed. Those monies were never properly recorded or dispersed. Those funds helped to cover much of the $10,000 in unauthorized checks.
- Because the minutes of the USS New Jersey Lodge's 2004-2005 Masonic year had never been turned over, it was never determined that the members of the Lodge had ever voted to expend those funds.
- As of August 2007, neither the 2005 nor 2006 Annual Audits had been completed.
Our financial rules are quite specific. They require that:
- All Lodge funds turned over to the Secretary (so they can be properly recorded);
- Transmitted to the Treasurer for their proper disposal.
- All Lodge funds are spent according to the will of the Lodge's members after a recorded vote on the same.
For almost 2 years (April 2006 – March 2008), authorities at both the USS New Jersey Lodge, as well as certain elected and appointed members of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, knew of these violations, yet refused to address the matter. Grand Lodge's normal response (both before and since) was to immediately suspend those accused of such actions (without the benefit of due process or a Masonic Trial.) Yet in this particular instance, the entire matter was just ignored.
This controversy could have been easily resolved at anytime, if the then Master of the Lodge, Glenn Latshaw (now also a Right Worshipful), the District Deputy, or the Grand Master (Ryan) had Ordered that all Lodge records be turned over immediately. (Why wasn't this ever done?)
At the USS New Jersey Lodge's November 2006 meeting, the Treasurer (Wor. Bro. Downes), using that very same information, that a year later I would be accused of not turning over or explaining), gave a detailed presentation about the unauthorized checks. However, the members of the USS New Jersey Lodge present that evening, were either seemingly content to ignore those violations of our rules, or just weren't listening.
Only after the authorities at the USS New Jersey Lodge refused to address these violations did I contact Grand Lodge about the matter. I spoke to the then Grand Secretary (Ray Bellini) on 2 different occasions – approximately one month apart, and informed him of what had occurred. The Grand Secretary informed me in both instances that he would have the Grand Lodge Legal Counsel contact me about the situation. (I am still waiting for that call!)
Grand Lodge had an obligation to investigate this matter, not ignore it. The following questions have never been answered. Instead, Grand Lodge has permitted the messenger to be attacked and vilified I wanted to know:
- Why there was a complete lack of financial accountability that the Fraternity normally demands?
- Why violations of our rules were disregarded, by Grand Lodge officers (both elected and appointed?)
- Why even have rules if they can be ignored by some with impunity?
- Why did Grand Lodge refuse to investigate the matter, or respond in its normal fashion?
- Why did the then Grand Master allow a Charge to be made against me on an issue he know (or should have known) was resolved in December of 2007?
- Why would Grand Lodge allow Charges to be made against someone for informing them of a potentially serious problem?
- How could the Lodge's books and records have been inspected during the 2006 Official Visit, if they had never been turned over?
I sent 2 private communiqués – (an April 2007 email and a private letter dated August 15, 2007) to then Grand Master Ryan, and personally made him aware of this situation. While he responded to my initial email, he never responded to my August 15, 2007 letter*.
It was not until January of 2008, that I discovered that Lodge funds had deposited into that checking account, instead of being turned over to the Lodge Secretary. While Lodge authorities had steadfastly attempted to diminish the importance of the issued checks, the diverting and depositing of Lodge funds (without the fiduciary officers knowledge) was an entirely different matter. The dates on the Bank deposit slips told all*.
I contacted the District Deputy about my finding. He said he would get back to me the next day about it. After waiting 2 days, I called him back. It was during this second conversation, that the District Deputy gave me the ultimatum, too either present Masonic Charges by February's meeting or forget the issue. (Doesn't logic dictate, and Justice require a thorough, impartial investigation to be first held, to determine exactly who was, and was not responsible for these abuses of our rules? Only then should the issue of Charges be considered.) He further remarked that he did not believe that the Lodge would even vote to accept my Charges. The message was clear, presenting Charges would be a waste of time. After he imposed his time frame, I asked him "since when is there a statue of Limitations for violating Masonic Trust?"
I sent the Grand Master a final letter in March (even though he had not responded to my previous letter.) This time I sent copies to every member of New Jersey's elected Grand Line.* While that letter included earlier details found in the first letter, this correspondence included the new information about the unauthorized deposits of Lodge funds. Burlington was now fully aware of the controversy.
Grand Lodge never investigated (or refuted) the information contained in the letter. Instead, a week later (April 5, 2008) three (3) Charges of "unmasonic conduct" were signed against me by Mr.'s. Foreberger and Preissman. And at the May 19, 2008 Regular Communication of the USS New Jersey Lodge, members voted to accept those 3 Charges. (I only learned of the allegations against me after I received the Lodge's Official notification, that Masonic Charges had been lodged against me.)
While waiting for the constitutionally required appeal process to begin (that still has yet to be held), I discovered that both of Orders, I was convicted of ignoring, were specifically prohibited by specific sections the Grand Lodge Constitution. (As both of the Charges made against me were unconstitutional, perhaps this helps explains Grand Lodge's reluctance to begin the appeal process1?) This leads me to ask; was there no one in the Grand Lodge hierarchy conversant enough with our Constitution, to recognize these obvious conflicts?
What follows is a condensed version of both of those Charges, along with the corresponding section of our Constitution that nullifies each of those Charges.
First Charge: Michael McCabe "did blatantly and continuously disobey an Order by the Worshipful Master John J. Foreberger as well as requests by other authorities to produce and explain the alleged evidence. At no time did Michael McCabe ever surrender these documents."
Section 29-27: "A Lodge cannot deprive a Brother of his civil rights, nor compel him to first submit his complaint to the Lodge for its action"
Even if I had "blatantly and continuously disobeyed the Order of the Worshipful Master", as the Charge alleged, my actions, or inactions would have been supported by Section 29-27 of the Grand Lodge Constitution. (However, that is not what occurred.2)
Second Charge: "…was Ordered by the Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master Steven M. Preissman not to bring up any further allegations against members of the (USS New Jersey) Lodge unless he were to prefer formal charges against them at the Regular Communication in February. Brother McCabe, in direct disobedience of the Order of the District Deputy Grand Master did, send a correspondence to the Most Worshipful Grand Master … on March 22nd 2008 again stating the same allegations without bringing up formal charges against the members."
Section 16-02: "District Deputy Grand Masters have no authority to…decide questions of Masonic Law."
A District Deputy can only issue an Order pertaining to Masonic Law, while acting under the Grand Master's specific instructions. The Deputy acted on his own when he issued his ultimatum, and imposed a deadline (for me to prefer formal Masonic Charges by the February 2008 meeting, or ignore the violations.) Nowhere, in his formal Charge, or his subsequent testimony at my trial, did he ever suggest that he was acting under the then Grand Master's direction (at the time he issued me his Order.) His words do not even begin to support that supposition.
As both of the Orders that I was accused of violating were in direct conflict with the Grand Lodge Constitution, they were unconstitutional, invalid, and unenforceable. How can someone be charged with, or convicted of "unmasonic conduct" for failing to obey such Orders? Since when is a Master Mason required to follow Orders:
- That violate the New Jersey Grand Lodge Constitution;
- That demands a Brother to ignore violations of our financial rules (and a Federally Chartered National Bank's policy on Resolutions);
- That conflicts with one's Master Mason's Obligation or the dictates of one's conscious?
1Even though I received a letter from New Jersey's Grand Secretary, dated December 9, 2009, (and post marked 3-26-2009), that acknowledges his receiving my Appeal of the Trial Panel's November 15, 2008 verdict, the constitutionally mandated appeals process still has not taken place. Grand Lodge keeps insisting that my Appeal has not been filed yet.
2The "alleged evidence" that Lodge authorities claimed that they did not have, was a spreadsheet that listed every check issued by the USS New Jersey Lodge during the 2004-2005 Masonic Year (also the unauthorized checks written during the first few months of the 2006 Masonic Year.) Contrary to what the First Charge attempts to portray, Lodge authorities were well aware of the controversy. As noted earlier, the then Lodge Treasurer had used that information to prepare his November 2006 Report to the Lodge.
A year later, in mid-November of 2007, I received a letter from the Master of the USS New Jersey (Foreberger) that ordered me to return "any copies of financial records in any forms in which they may exist that I had in my possession."* I contacted the District Deputy several times about the letter. Contrary to the Master's letter, the Deputy permitted me to keep copies of the documents and had me mail the information to him instead. During our other conversation, the District Deputy informed me that Grand Master Ryan had instructed him to take my Blue Card from me, if I did not turn over the information. Which is what I did during early in December 2007 (via certified mail.) This entire episode occurred 5 months before that Charge was ever made against me.
If I had not complied with the Order, I am quite certain, then Grand Master Ryan would have made good on his threat and pulled my dues Card? Or the Master and District Deputy could have legitimately filed this Charge against me. I even alluded to the Grand Master's threat to remove my dues card in the last paragraph of my March 2008 letter.
"I believe that the threat I received to have my dues card taken (if I failed to turn over my evidence – the copies of the bank statements), was akin to shooting the messenger."
When questioned about this incident at my trial, the District Deputy affirmed that I had complied with the Order (and turned over the information to him.) The Trial Panel obviously erred when it rendered its verdict on this particular Charge. It did not place the sufficient weight on that portion of the Deputy's testimony that had affirmed my testimony.
This would be the second time that I had provided that very same "alleged evidence" to the D.D.G.M.* (Whatever became of that information? Why was nothing done then to investigate the controversy then? Why were Charges now brought up, months later, on a non issue that had been resolved months before? Why did the Grand Lodge permit such a contrived Charge to be made?
Both before and during the Masonic Trial and Penalty Phase of my trial, numerous violations of Section 13 of the Grand Lodge Constitution routinely occurred.
While the above information should clearly refute the two Charges I was convicted of, I believe it necessary to provide glimpses of how my Masonic Trial, primarily how the Penalty Phase (sentencing phase) was conducted. Much of my initial appeal was based on the violations of that Section that had been permitted to occur before, during and after my Masonic Trial. These various violations, besides denying me due process, and the fundamental fairness expected in such a process, violated my personal Civil Rights. Two of the more glaring violations of Section 13 occurred during the Penalty Phase and dealt with how the sentencing process was conducted.
Section 13-80: Requires that all members of the Lodge to receive a summons, written in a proscribed form, summoning them "to attend a regular communication of the lodge…" for the purpose of determining the Brother's penalty.
The members of the Lodge were never summoned.
Section 13-83: "All proceedings relating to suspension, expulsion…must be held at a regular communication."
The By-Laws of the USS New Jersey Lodge state that Regular Communications are held on the Third Monday (Except July and August.) The Penalty Phase of my Trial was held on Monday July 13, 2009, at a "Regular Communication by Dispensation." I informed the current Master of the Lodge that the Penalty Phase was actually being held at an Emergent Communication, (in direct violation of 13-83), and furthermore, that no listing for a "Regular Communication by Dispensation" existed in the Grand Lodge Constitution. The Grand Lodge Legal Counsel later informed me (via email) that "since he (the Grand Master) grated that dispensation, I don't see any issue. The hearing will take place this evening as planned."
The Penalty (Sentencing) Phase of my Masonic Trial was held in direct violation of 13-80 & 13-83 of the Grand Lodge Constitution. It was a deliberate attempt to deny me the due process procedures enumerated and guaranteed (by Section 13) to every Brother. Why were these obvious violations of our Constitution permitted to occur? Who is accountable for permitting these violations to occur? Don't the members of Grand Lodge also take Oaths & Obligations to stand to and abide by our Constitution?
Believing that my attendance could be viewed as my tacitly approving of these abuses, I refused to attend and was sentenced in abstencia. In reality, my expulsion was a foregone conclusion.
After my November 2008 Masonic Trial had concluded, the then Deputy Grand Master (now Past Grand Master Berman) informed me that "I was a pariah"; that "I have no friends at the New Jersey Lodge" and that "nobody here likes you." He also called me a "punk" and a "faggot," (almost as if he was trying to provoke a fight (I thought I was in grade school again momentarily.) (Under those circumstances, I never expected anything other than the most severe punishment possible.)
This past June, I provided the Grand Secretary with a copy of an email that I had received from the District Deputy on 10/27/2007. That email clearly proves that both of my accusers (Brothers Preissman and Foreberger) had reviewed the alleged evidence (my spreadsheet), discussed its contents with each other, and reached conclusions based on the information contained in that spreadsheet. All of this had occurred seven months before they alleged that I had failed to turn over my "alleged evidence" to them. In an accompanying note, I informed the Grand Secretary that because of corrupted files in my email account, I was unable to access this email, or use it as evidence at my trial.
Based information, I believed that Grand Lodge certainly should have then realized that serious doubts over one of the Trial Panel's verdicts existed, and that further review was required on this new. The Grand Secretary had responded to me that he had forwarded that information to the "appropriate parties." I later learned from by the Grand Secretary that the then Grand Master (Berman) was the only "appropriate parties" that information had been forwarded to. I am at a loss to understand how the Grand Master, who is a member of the USS New Jersey Lodge and was present when my expulsion sentence was issued, could have remained silent or permitted the Penalty Phase for this particular charge to even go forward? Let alone be present and endorse those actions.
I have always believed that there were much more fundamental issues involved here. Grand Lodge was not pleased with the results of the USS New Jersey's November 2005 Election of Officers. Many of the newly founded USS New Jersey Lodge members were hurt by the heavy handed tactics that the Grand Lodge employed when it first created the USS New Jersey Lodge (in 2004.) These Brothers used the democratic process to attempt to nominate and elect Lodge Officers of theirs (and not some former Grand Master's) choosing at 2005 Annual Election of Officers. By rejecting Burlington's preselected candidates, the Brothers repudiated much of Grand Lodge's earlier actions. As I played an active role in that action, I obviously drew Grand Lodge's ire.
At the USS New Jersey's December 2005 Annual Feast of St. John, the then Grand Master publicly chastised these same Brothers for exercising their Constitutional right to vote for the candidates of their choice. He chided them and even called their actions "childish." His remarks drew an almost unanimous standing ovation (primarily from the Burlington sycophants in attendance.) I later wrote that Grand Master about his remarks, and reminded him that some of those "children" had liberated Japanese held islands in the Pacific, freed Europe from Nazism, fought the Cold-War in the jungles of South East Asia, flew jet aircraft off of rolling flight decks, and navigated nuclear attack submarines. None of which was child's play. (Not surprisingly, that Grand Master never responded.)
What Grand Lodge has completely lost sight of is that civil society, democracy and the Rule of Law are only held together by a thin veneer. Our Gentle Craft supposedly supports these ideals. Don't we take pride in being bound to those Brothers who once pledged their live, their fortunes and their sacred honor to foster those very same ideals? How could we have strayed so far? We were Free Men before we were Free Masons!
Since October of 2004, I have asked myself many times, what is the point of having elections, if Grand Lodge can just ignore the results, if they do not turn out as Burlington wants them too? It's bad enough that our annual elections at Grand Lodge Convention more often than not, resemble banana republic elections (with only a single predetermined candidate's name on the ballot for Junior Grand Warden.) Several names were improperly removed from the hat because of the intentional misuse of 30-06 that same evening, (the Grand Lodge Officers present just ignored that violation.) Otherwise, I would have been elected Worshipful Master of the Lodge that evening, and none of the violations or abuses of our rules would have been tolerated, and the USS New Jersey Lodge would have had a chance at becoming a lodge of Freemasons, and not a lodge of a few Masons. (104 members were suspended for nonpayment of dues in one evening.)
With that as the starting point, it becomes easy to see how some who have their own agenda, could turn their back on what occurred at the New Jersey Lodge, and not support the upstarts' Secretary or Treasurer, even if that meant not enforcing their rules. Whatever victory Burlington has enjoyed will be fleeting at best, and certainly not worth the cost of what has been lost. This Society once was founded on such principles as Truth, Brotherly Love, Morality, and respect for the Rule of Law. (Don't we still expect that of all new initiates?) It now appears to be based only on the despotism enforced by absolutism. What is the authority that empowers the New Jersey Grand Lodge to disenfranchise its members of every American Citizens most precious Right (Their VOTE?) Where is that authority given in our Grand Lodge Constitution?
The genesis of all this abuse of authority can be directly traced to New Jersey's Third Landmark. While the Masonic Jurisprudence Committee's report on the "10 Landmarks" were presented (and approved) at the 1903 Grand Lodge Convention, the Wallis Committee never recommended that our Constitution be amended to include them. Sometime after 1903, they were surreptitiously included into our Constitution, and eventually given supremacy over every aspect of our Masonic Rules, Regulations and Constitution. Some in Grand Lodge knew that those Landmarks were never voted on by the members of the Grand Lodge (as our amendment process requires.) Our ignorance is their power! While there are other recognized factors that further prove their illegitimacy (not being universal or time immemorial), the fact remains that they have no legitimacy or force of law. Directly quoting a Past Grand Secretary, who acknowledged Grand Lodge's dirty little secret: "We have adhered to them even though there was no official acceptance by the Grand Lodge."
Even though the "Landmarks are illegitimate, several recent Grand Masters have routinely employed the power derived from Landmark No. 3, (which gives a Grand Master, near dictatorial Masonic power.) Based on what I have personally observed over the past few years, that Landmark is nothing more than a tool that allows a Grand Master either exercise almost unlimited arbitrary power, or abuse a Brother's Civil Rights. While I cannot recall it being used for the good of the Craft in the past few years I have seen:
- Judicially recognized trustees of a non-profit corporation suspended for "unmasonic conduct." Their unmasonic offense was abiding by the Laws of the State of New Jersey governing Corporations (that specifically require corporate trustees to protect the assets of a multimillion dollar corporation from harm or face potential civil penalties.)
- Other Brothers denied due process without the benefit of trial, their constitutionally mandated protections ignored.
- In my particular case: sham charges; trial panelists not sufficiently conversant with our Constitution, coupled with the Penalty Phase's Star Chamber proceedings, where both the Grand Lodge Constitution and my constitutional protections were knowingly disregarded.
- A representative of the United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency informed me that once the USS New Jersey Lodge filed a formal complaint with that Federal Regulatory Agency, they would launch an investigation, as one appeared warranted.
In 2004, an attorney for Grand Lodge argued (successfully) in a Camden County court room that Master Masons are not entitled to be treated fundamental fair by the Grand Lodge. No Brother I know joined the Masonic Fraternity to become a second class citizen. Is that how you view yourself?
"The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness."
It's of valuable note that the financial audits for 2005 and for 2006 had yet to be completed at the end of 2007 by the Grand Lodge. It is unclear if those audits were ever completed.
(Contains 10 attachments.)
The Two Grand Masters of Nebraska: The Former Refuses To Vacate Office For The Newly Elected
Recent reports indicate that the Grand Lodge of Nebraska is in turmoil.
John Parsons, Grand Master of Masons in 2010, is refusing to yield his office to Grand Master David Watts, who was regularly elected Grand Master in 2011, and several Past Grand Masters appear to be supporting Parson's effort to maintain control.
A Nebraska Mason wrote about the situation demanding that PGM John Parsons be put on trial:
PGM John Parsons, the most recent Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska does not hold the title of Grand Master by the By-Laws of the Grand Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. Many Masons in Nebraska feel Parsons is a good man who let power of his office go to his head.
PGM Parsons while still in office took upon himself [with the encouragement of numerous other Past Grand Masters] to remain as Grand Master illegally to inhibit and to stop the duly elected Grand Master E. David Watts from being duly installed.
This breach of power will hurt the Nebraska Masonry for years to come. The continued lack of respect and proper transfer of duly elected representation has caused total unrest in the Masonic Community.
George Washington could have been king, but sought to have a smooth transition in an elected office. Washington too was a Mason; one would do well to practice what history has taught us, if there is to be a Masonic Trial, let it be as called for in the Nebraska by-laws, not a which hunt. Condemning a brother and trying to keep him from an elected office is unheard of, more so what will be said when the courts drop charges!
. . . Hang him, Give him a fair trial, then our consensuses will be clear! Right? or does the Nebraska Mason, the membership see through this?
PGM John Parsons most likely will face numerous charges the worst being the abuse of power and un-Masonic activities including causing damage to the reputation of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. His self-serving action has caused a division in the already weakened membership.
PGM John Parsons actions while illegal were basted on a situation involving the then Grand Master elect E. David Watts. The situation involves accusations that E. David Watts was involved in domestic violence as reported by an employee of the Lincoln Police department.
There were many discrepancies in the reported news release, including firing of a handgun which was found not to have been discharged and the purported request to leave a residence by the assailant's mother. The actual finding will eventually show that two individuals, one banishing a machete attacked the Grand Master elect E. David Watts and severely beat him as can bee seen on several website. A call was made to the police department by the assailant and charges were made against Grand Master elect E. David Watts. This, while on the surface is damaging, the fact that what Masons pride themselves on the most, honesty, not guilty until proven guilty are all but lost in Nebraska by the actions of a self-serving egotistical PGM [Parsons] who still thinks he is Grand Master!
Grand Master E. David Watts was properly installed as Grand Master in accordance with the By-Laws of the Grand Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska AF& AM.
This is what Parsons and a company of followers were attempting to stop. Since the news of the installation, Parsons is now saying that the Oldest living Grand Master and the Grand Custodian along with all members of the installing lodge are "clandestine Masons". Now Parsons is bringing unfounded Masonic Charges against some of the most notable Masons in Nebraska to overturn this installation. We believe the date to be March 16th 2011.
Let us look at a very realistic scenario: All the charges against E. David Watts are dropped, he is found innocent. What will become of those who caused such a divide in Nebraska? Will David Watts file a libelous law suit against Parsons? Who is really behind the discord, will the members of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska be properly informed.
The similarity of current events in Nebraska to those in the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, as reported here in previous articles, is impossible to ignore. Parsons appears to be following the example set by Arkansas Grand Master, George R. Franks, Jr., and if that course remains true, mass expulsions of Nebraska Masons who question his behavior, will soon be the result.
A former candidate for Nebraska's state legislature wrote the following about the ongoing events:
The fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons teaches its members the virtues of honesty and truth. The Bylaws of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Nebraska require "Masonic Trials" to be conducted by commissions which are fair, honest and unbiased. It has become obvious this has not always been the case in the Nebraska. PAST Grand Master John Parsons has and is exhibiting conduct contrary to the teachings of Freemasonry. The fraternity has long been noted for its high level of honorable and civil decorum. Such is rightfully expected of all Masons including Parsons. He should either "shape up" or be "shipped out." Additionally, he has time and again violated both the letter and the spirit of Masonic Laws as set forth in the Grand Lodge's Constitution and Bylaws. Serious consideration should be given to taking steps to expel him from the fraternity!It's time for ALL Nebraska Masons to know what has been going on "behind their backs" In some areas of government, it might be called "back channeling" or clandestine dealings outside of prescribed and lawful avenues. It appears the Grand Lodge of Nebraska has been taken over by a self-appointed group of Past Grand Masters and their cronies reducing all honest and trusting Masons to being nothing more than a source of funding to support their wishes and whims. Most of the evil doers are attorneys.
Years ago, a Past Grand Master told another that "ONLY LAWYERS ARE QUALIFIED TO BE A GRAND MASTER." Aside from the fact he was an honorable judge who did a lot of good for Freemasonry, he was a member of the self-protecting bar of Nebraska – he was a rather arrogant attorney. So it follows that many Masonic attorneys believe non-attorney Masons are incompetent to lead the Grand Lodge. For the record, there are an abundance of honest and honorable lawyers who are Masons, they are just sometimes hard to find!
Several years back, a group of conspiring attorneys created the position of "Deputy Grand Master" and designated the man also as "Grand Master Elect." This meant the man elected would be available for two years rather than one for the bad guys to get their hooks into him. Here is how it is done.
The "Jurisdiction Committee" which is habitually dominated by lawyers has maneuvered itself into making Nebraska Masons believe it is the last word on Masonic matters. Further its members believe they can control the seated Grand Master. Many of those holding the top office have been beaten down by the overpowering lawyers on the committee to the extent they have essentially abdicated control of the fraternity to that committee. That's were they are wrong, for the Jurisdiction Committee is only ADVISORY to the Grand Master. Thus, the newly installed Grand Master, David Watts may choose to pay little or no attention to the committee particularly since its members appear to be "spring loaded" against him.
Here's the latest. On the evening of 17 February 2011, before the close of a duly opened Lodge of Master Masons in Wood River, Nebraska (Cement Lodge #211), the oldest living Past Grand Master of Masons in Nebraska, Donald Swanson, properly and formally installed David Watts as the new Grand Master replacing Parsons.
Careful attention was given to the installation being done in strict accordance and compliance with established procedures and within the scope of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Grand Lodge. There were 14 members present, two of which were Past Grand Masters. This was done in spite of the fact Parsons had sent a letter to all Past Grand Masters telling them he would have them expelled from Masonry if they participated in installing Watts. I forgot to mention, the installation had to be done by a Past Grand Master. Swanson was the only one willing to thumb his nose at Parsons and see the deed was done without interruption.
The following Saturday, Dave Watts, the newly installed Grand Master, traveled to Alliance, Nebraska and installed the other "elected" officers of Grand Lodge. He thereafter went directly to Denver, Colorado to attend a regional conference of Grand Masters as Nebraska's representative.
Past Masters Dean Skokan, John Parsons and Dwight Smith showed up with what they thought was a "grand plan" to take over the installation according to our sources, but were stifled by the fact Watts had already been installed. Watts and Past Grand Master Scott Krieger (who had also been formally installed by Swanson two nights before as Grand Custodian") conducted the installations without interruption. For those unfamiliar with Masonic terminology, the "Grand Custodian" and his deputies regularly check the ritual work being done in each of the lodges to insure uniformity.
What evidence exists that Parsons acted in collusion with other to rig the "election" of officers of the Grand Lodge? Parsons circulated far and wide a mailing including a letter above his signature, such being dated October 2010. The letter in part stated, "After the close of Annual Communication on Saturday, the Installation of the 2011 Grand Lodge Officers will be held, set to begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception following. The Installation is open to all who wish to attend." Note this was FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE GRAND LODGE MEETING. The mailing included a schedule of events showing there would be an 'ELECTION OF OFFICERS…" which was to take place on 5 February 2011 after 8:30 a.m. Additionally, the mailing contained an invitation to attend the "Installation of the 2011-2012 Officers" of the Grand Lodge who were all named in the invitation. THUS, THE SO CALLED "ELECTION" HAD BEEN DECIDED FOUR MONTHS BEFORE IT TOOK PLACE. It therefore follows conclusively, that all Masonic delegates to the "154th Annual Communication" (convention) of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska were LIED TO and the "ELECTION" WHICH HAD BEEN RIGGED BY PARSONS AND OTHERS WAS MEANINGLESS." SIMPLY PUT, THEIR VOTES DIDN'T ACTUALLY COUNT!
Finally, the most serious of all of the offenses committed by Parsons has been the RIGGING OF MASONIC TRIALS. Parsons spent decades in the United State Air Force and reached a fairly high rank in the officer corps before retirement. Thus, it is presumed he had to be able to read and understand laws, military, civilian and also Masonic. It has long been known that "ignorance of the law is no excuse" for committing a crime. Rigging a civilian court case by paying off a judge with money or an appointments to a position of importance IS A CRIME! Similarly, rigging a military tribunal could get one a dishonorable discharge. RIGGING A MASONIC TRIBUNAL is no less serious and in my opinion, the penalty for being involved in such should be no less stringent.
The Grand Master and he alone appoints the members of every Trial Commission placing him in a position, if he chooses to do so, to exert influence and pressure on his appointees so as to RIG the outcome of trials. He also appoints members of the Grievance Committee which is the appellate body in the Nebraska Grand Lodge. By keeping the findings of both the Trial Commissions and the Grievance Committee secret, evil doers have the ability to keep all of their dastardly deeds from Nebraska Masons. It can therefore be manipulated to become a closed circle of evil which can KEEP ALL OTHER NEBRASKA MASONS FROM EVER KNOWING THE CLANDESTINE DEALINGS OF A CAREFULLY SELECTED FEW.
On 18 August 2010, Parsons sent the top officers in the line of Grand Lodge the following message. "As a further update, AJ is about ready to close out his trial, and I think Dean is pretty close as well. I'll get on Lynn Alexander's case (that's been dragging on too damn long). Patrick McCormick has started his as well. As a side note, I'VE ASSEMBLED COPS AND RETIRED MILITARY GUYS FOR DEAN'S AND PATRICK'S COMMISSIONS. WE'LL GIVE THE SOB A FAIR TRIAL BEFORE HIS HANGING. I want to get commissions appointed and trials concluded before the year is over….." [emphasis added]
It is believed the "Dean" referred to in the communications to be none other than Past Grand Master Dean Skokan, former Fremont Nebraska City Attorney. If so, one might one suspect Skokan could have possibly engaged in corrupting justice in a similar manner in his former public position. One wonders how many innocent people might have been the victims of corrupt practices of a public attorney! Did Dean Skokan and Patrick engage in collusion with Parsons to rig "Masonic Trials"? You be the judge!
If that happened, I believe the "SOB(s)" victimized by fraternal corruption may have civil recourse in a real court of law!. In any event. JOHN PARSONS FLATLY ADMITTED TO ENGAGING IN CONDUCT DESIGNED TO RIG ONE OR MORE MASONIC TRIALS."
In another communication we have learned "Parsons says he is going to expel Swanson and pull the charter from Wood River Lodge for allowing the installation" of Watts. Further, we have learned Parsons "has also given orders to the Grand Lodge office" that Watts "can have no access to any services."
Frankly, we believe Parsons and his Gold Chain Gang cronies don't have the "scrotal capacity" (balls) to take on Swanson who is known and respected in Masonic circles around the world.
An interesting questions now arises. Past Grand Master Russ Reno has joined Lancaster Lodge #54 in Lincoln and has been elected its Secretary. In that lodge are also Past Grand Masters James Brown and Don Swanson. Since "Masonic Charges" have to originate in the lodge to which an alleged offender is a member and must be preferred by a member of that lodge, will Brown be stupid enough to throw rocks at Swanson who is a significant benefactor of the University of Nebraska where Brown is a professor? Or will Reno be stupid enough to take on Swanson when he, Reno, was not able to rid the fraternity of FOUR SEX OFFENDERS during his term in office. One of those was charged three times with Sex Offenses. He was convicted and incarcerated for two of those three crimes. In the first case, he was found guilty for having sex with a NINE YEAR OLD GIRL? That certainly is a crime involving moral turpitude which is an "enumerated offense."
Had it not been for this writer getting word to Reno the Sex Offender was about to be installed as Master of Liberty Lodge #300, that man – who is still a Mason – would have presided over my own former lodge. By the way, the secretary of Liberty Lodge is Bruce Watkins who has for a number of years BEEN GRAND SECTARY OF THE GRAND LODGE!!!! Watkins participated in making the Sex Offender a MASTER MASON and was present in lodge over the years when the man was passing up the latter nearly reaching the top position.
Master Masons of Nebraska you owe it to the fraternity to DO ALL YOU CAN TO ASSIST THE NEWLY INSTALLED GRAND MASTER DAVE WATTS IN PUTTING MASONRY BACK ON TRACK. Dave is a rock solid Mason and a successful business man. He knows how to make a business grown and he can bring that knowledge and willingness to serve to the fraternity in an outstanding manner during the next year. Join with him and many others who want to promote civility and to cast out the corruption which currently exists in the Masonic Fraternity in Nebraska!
In conclusion, I'll use the words of a famous Master Mason – Paul Harvey, who incidentally was a graduate of Tulsa Central High School many years before me……."AND NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY."
Recent reports have claimed that the newly elected Grand Master resigned, but such accounts appear to have been fabricated. Although the situation is still unfolding, it's apparent that corruption and malice are continuing to grow in "mainstream" American Freemasonry, where virtue and morality once reigned supreme.
A Case Study of Contemporary Masonic Cronyism and Inequity
The article below was posted on a Masonic website in 2004, by Arkansas Mason Maxwell D. "Doug" Simmons, a Past Master of Blocher Lodge No. 247, in Booneville.
Headed for Disaster!
Thread started on: Jul 27th, 2004, 09:06am
During the past few years, I have witnessed some of the most asinine, un-thinking, cruel-minded petulant children masquerading as FreeMasons in every Lodge I have visited, and every Grand Lodge Communication I have attended in Arkansas.
This Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Arkansas has degenerated into a social club lacking even the simplest rules of good conduct. Not many of the members I see are following the tenets of Friendship, Morality, or Brotherly Love. There is little old-fashioned courtesy or respect displayed in most Masonic communications I have witnessed or taken part in.
In reading recent email messages circulating among some of our Brothers, concerning the death of our Grand Master and the assumption of his duties by the Deputy Grand Master, I was ashamed of the lack of character displayed by nearly all of the participants in those messages. I have not seen such vicious back-biting, back-stabbing, and even outright lies from friends, acquaintances or neighbors, and it is particularly shameful to see it coming from those who pretend to be correct and upright men and Masons.
The sad fact is – we have done this to ourselves! We have failed to live up to our own standards, and we have failed to honor our several obligations, sworn to in good faith, in the presence of God.
Through negligence, apathy, fear of dwindling membership, and lack of desire to participate in the decisions of our Lodges, we have neglected our duty to properly investigate prospective candidates or petitioners for affiliation who wish to join our Lodges. We have allowed individuals of low character and morality to permeate our Fraternity and they have undermined the integrity of this institution.
We have lost our focus; we have lost our character; we have lost our morality. And worse, this has gone on for so long the damage may be irreparable. It may now be so in-grained in our Fraternity that it can't be corrected.
Focus: We have forgotten that our Lodges exist to promote the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. Our duty includes charity – to our Brothers and to our communities. We have allowed our Lodges to conduct fund-raising activities to pay their bills! We're supposed to be givers of charity, not takers. Is it right or proper to ask our friends and neighbors for money to pay our operating expenses, instead of raising our dues to cover the costs?
Over the years, our Lodges have become 'coffee clubs' populated mostly by old men who have little interest in the current world or its current affairs. We prefer to live in the past, and yearn for the 'good old days.' We moan about our declining membership but we refuse to face the problem: we have nothing to offer the young men in our communities. I don't know any young men who would want to join a group of old cronies who have no real interest in today's world, and don't even have the courtesy to provide a meaningful Masonic education to those who would join. A few of us (less than 10% of our Lodge membership) gather at our Lodges once or twice a month, plod through our ritual with almost total indifference, pay a few bills, and then go drink coffee and join in the gossip.
We have forgotten that Lodges exist in this State only by Charter of the Grand Lodge. Our charters are issued by that body, and can be removed by that body. The Grand Lodge does not exist to 'serve' our Lodges; we are ruled and governed by the constitution and by-laws of that body. The Grand Lodge owes us nothing but the right to operate, and then only in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the Grand Lodge officers and Delegates. Our Grand Lodge is the guardian of the Landmarks of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, and we are not allowed to promulgate rules, laws, or regulations that are not in compliance with those Landmarks.
Character: We made a number of promises when we were initiated into this Fraternity, and we are failing to honor those promises – all of them! We criticize and nit-pick everything the Grand Lodge officers do and say… we petulantly refuse to do anything those officers suggest… we constantly accuse them of various
plots and schemes that will eventually bring this institution to ruin, without ever wondering why they might want to do that.
When we asked the Grand Lodge to look into the possibility of an 'umbrella' insurance plan, a questionnaire was sent to all Secretaries to gather the necessary information required by various insurance providers in order to provide quotes. This generated an outcry that the Grand Lodge was taking an inventory in preparation for shutting down and taking over various Lodges!
When our Deputy Grand Master announced that he was going to honor the election and installation of the Grand Master after his death, and act as the Presiding Officer (as provided by our Constitution and By- Laws), the DGM was accused of trying to steal two years as Grand Master! And it gets worse: The Deputy Grand Master, Presiding has been the target of vicious character assassination attacks; he has been the subject of cruel, personal attacks on his motives, business affairs, personal affairs, and even his competence.
At our last Annual Communication, the main topic of conversation among the Delegates was childish, spoiled-brat complaints about the lack of coffee and doughnuts, and some of those spoiled brats were heard to comment that because there were no doughnuts or coffee, they were not going to vote for the per capita dues increase!
Morality: We no longer live by the standards of morality we swore years ago to uphold. Adultery is an accepted fact among our Brothers unless we get singled out for special condemnation by those with axes to grind; We don't offer much help to our wives, widows or orphans; We don't look for men of good character, or those who possess a higher standard of morality than others around them… we just look for more members.
Every year at our Grand Lodge Communications we are faced with attempts to lower our standards for the sole purpose of increasing membership.
We begrudge almost every dollar donated to charities or worthy causes, and criticize the Grand Lodge officers for picking the 'wrong' charities.
All this from men who call themselves Masons! I don't wear my Masonic ring any more – I'm ashamed to be associated with a group of selfish, un-caring, petulant children.
Due to lack of interest from anyone this site was designed for – other than my few notes, nobody has posted much of anything here – I'm shutting down this Board on August 15th until this Fraternity comes to its senses and returns to its honorable principles established so long ago… if it's possible.
I have a deepening dread that it's too late for redemption, and I'm afraid Freemasonry will disappear in Arkansas within the next 5 – 10 years.
Doug Simmons
Simmons hosted the Masonic website on which the article above appeared, but he shuttered it as his rise in the Grand Lodge of Arkansas began. It's a matter of speculation whether his condescending attitude, and his opinion that Masons exist only to serve their Grand Lodges, was a factor in his many subsequent Grand Lodge appointments.
In recent years, Simmons has served on almost all of the politically motivated trial committees appointed by the Grand Lodge of Arkansas. As an example, he was one of five members of the Grand Lodge trial committee that convicted and suspended every officer of Sebastian Lodge No. 706 in Ft. Smith (as reported in the first Masonic leak published on this site), then immediately thereafter, he was appointed special Grand Lodge "overseer" for the convicted brothers' lodge!
Simmons later served as one of five members of a Grand Lodge trial committee that convicted and expelled five Past Masters of various Arkansas lodges, including retired US Marine veteran Otis D. Burtcher, who was convicted in absentia after he suffered a heart attack at his Masonic trial and was rushed away in an ambulance to undergo emergency surgery (see: last week's Masonic leak).
As unbelievable as it seems, after that and similar displays of "morality and brotherly love," Simmons was presented the Grand Lodge of Arkansas' highest Masonic award, the "Medal of Honor, Category #1″ for "distinguished service to the fraternity!" His state's Grand Master Ronnie Hedge, Deputy Grand Master Gene Warren, and Grand Secretary James Weatherall, traveled more than 200 miles to personally present the award (see: http://blocher.westark.net/trboard.htm ).
Despite his Grand Lodge's prohibition against electronic Masonic communication, adopted in February 2010, Simmons has continued posting public commentary like the following on "The Burning Taper" blog: Arkansas Grand Lodge resignations confirmed. Furthermore, he apparently created, copyrighted, and maintains his current lodge website, while many other Arkansas lodges have been forced to dismantle or drastically alter their similar sites (see: Blocher Lodge No. 247 , Sebastian Lodge No. 706 ).
Even though Simmons has indisputably and repeatedly violated his state's Masonic by-laws, as well as his own Master Mason's obligation in numerous ways, the only action taken as a result, has been to heap additional honors and awards upon him.
It appears that Simmons has successfully ascended to a level in Arkansas Masonry that's exempt from the rules and regulations applying to ordinary Masons, who otherwise meet upon the level of equality, and act by the plumb of rectitude.
Please, review all reference materials and evidence:
Review the archived Grand Lodge of Arkansas website as seen in 2008
Review previous article discussing Simmon's involvement to expel a brother who had a heart attack during the trial
(Contains 2 attachments.)


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Great partnering make events like College Prep Night possible
Published DateTo the editor,
Belmont High School PTO would like to thank the parents and students that attended our expanded College Prep Night on May 1. Feedback from the event has been very positive. Families surveyed stated that they left the event better informed about the college application process, standardized testing, financial aid, and financing a college education. Presentations by Dream Strategies and NHHEAF were fantastic! Thank you to friends of PTO that helped with food and drinks for our concessions and to Hannaford Supermarket of Gilford, the 99 Restaurant, and Applebee's of Tilton for their generous donations. Part of our mission statement is to identify and support student programs to promote educational excellence. Such events would not be possible without the great partnering with BHS Administration and Guidance. We would also like to thank The Laconia Daily Sun and The Citizen for helping us advertise our event. Working together, we can all achieve great things!
Gretta Olson-Wilder
Community Liaison
Belmont High School PTO


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'Star Wars: Episode 7′ – Will John Williams Score the New Films?
Can you possibly have a 'Star Wars' film without John Williams' joyous music accompanying the action? Seems hard to even consider. And if you ask Williams himself, he appears to think the same thing. Read Williams' thoughts on his role in the 'Star Wars' universe going forward after the break.
The Most Pirated Movie of 2012 Was…
When you think of the possible candidates for "Most Pirated Movie of 2012: (a dubious honor, to be sure), a few titles instantly spring to mind: 'The Avengers', 'The Dark Knight Rises', 'The Amazing Spider-Man', to name a few. But oddly enough, none of those major blockbusters top the list. No, the film that was pirated the most is one that, at this stage of the year, is something of an afterthought.
Find out what it is after the break.
'A Christmas Story' Considered Historically Significant, Will Be Preserved in the Library of Congress
It's a major award! Looks like the Library of Congress is in a very Christmas-y mood, as Bob Clark's classic 'A Christmas Story' is one of 25 new films selected for preservation into the National Film Registry. Oh fudge, indeed!
Jump after the break to find out the other 24 titles!
RoboCop in Real Life? Crime Fighting Robots Coming to New Jersey
Your childhood fantasy (or fear?) of seeing an officer of the law who is part man/part machine may be coming true soon, thanks to Researchers at Florida International University's Discovery Lab and a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserves. These folks are working to build "telepresence robots," which would patrol the streets while being controlled by disabled police officers and military vets. Let's pause to allow the awesomeness sink in.


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Sure, we Chicagoans are proud of our famous deep-dish pizza. But there are plenty of other kinds of pie that deserve our attention. The slice is right with today's deal from Classic Cobbler in Chicago Heights, where you can get $20 worth of baked goods for $10. You'll be tongue-tied over which buttery, flaky crusted dessert to choose from, made fresh each day from family recipes that date back decades. Try the specialty cobblers in slices or party-sized pies that can feed up to 20 -- in flavors like peach, cherry, and blackberry -- as well as the other fruit or cream pies. Enjoy the soulful German chocolate cake with pecan and chocolate topping; or indulge in cupcakes, rolls, and other post-pepperoni faves. Lauded by the Chicago's Best of South Suburbs segment on CLTV, Classic Cobbler will make you think twice about your favorite Chicago pie.
PAID VALUE EXPIRES ON October 4, 2020
PROMOTIONAL VALUE EXPIRES ON July 23, 2012
Classic Cobbler
$20 to Spend on Pies, Fruit Cobblers, and Other Baked Goods
- from $10


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Immigration Alert
August 13' 2012
In the coming weeks, we expect the US Department of State to release registration instructions for the 2014 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2014), also known as the Green Card Lottery. The Diversity Lottery Program provides a path for foreign nationals to become permanent residents of the United States regardless of whether they have a family member or an employer willing to sponsor them. This program is a success, facilitating the immigration of people from across the globe.
The State Department will open online registration on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 12:00 noon EST. Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements and submit an application during the appointed time will be entered into a lottery from which 55'000 green card entries will be selected. Applications must be submitted electronically by 12:00 noon EST on Saturday' November 3' 2012. The electronic form should soon be available on the State Department's website at http://travel.state.gov/. There is no fee. Entries may not be submitted through the US Postal Service.
Selection in the lottery does not guarantee the applicant a green card; applicants must still meet all standards for admissibility and be able to process their green cards within the allotted time. Immediate family members of successful lottery applicants are eligible for green cards as well, provided they meet the same admissibility standards. Individuals who are selected and eligible for one of the 55,000 visa numbers may either secure an immigrant visa at a US Embassy or Consulate or, if they are in the United States and qualified to do so, adjust their status by filing an application and supporting documentation with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Lottery visas are apportioned to foreign nationals hailing from the following six geographic regions: Africa; Asia; Europe; North America; Oceania; and South America' Central America, and the Caribbean. To qualify' a foreign national must claim nativity or country of birth in an eligible country and meet certain education or work experience requirements. The purpose of the program is to diversify and encourage immigration from countries that send lower numbers of immigrants to the United States.
Not all countries in the six eligible regions fall within the Green Card Lottery program. Because each of the following countries has sent more than 50'000 immigrants to the United States in the past five years, natives of these countries were NOT eligible for the lottery this past year: Bangladesh, Brazil' Canada' China (Mainland born)' Colombia' Dominican Republic' Ecuador' El Salvador' Haiti' India' Jamaica' Mexico' Pakistan' Peru, Philippines' South Korea' United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories' and Vietnam. Mintz Levin will monitor developments to inform you about the countries excluded from the Green Card Lottery for DV-2014. We expect this information to become available shortly. Based on our latest information, persons born in Hong Kong SAR' Macau SAR' and Taiwan will very likely be eligible for DV-2014.
To fulfill the education/work experience provisions' an applicant must have either a high school education or its equivalent' or two years of work experience in the last five years in a job that requires at least two years of training or experience. Registration instructions for DV-2014 will soon be found at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html.
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Copyright © 2012 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
This communication may be considered attorney advertising under the rules of some states. The information and materials contained herein have been provided as a service by the law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.; however, the information and materials do not, and are not intended to, constitute legal advice. Neither transmission nor receipt of such information and materials will create an attorney-client relationship between the sender and receiver. The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements or solicitations. Users are advised not to take, or refrain from taking, any action based upon the information and materials contained herein without consulting legal counsel engaged for a particular matter. Furthermore, prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.


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The University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) includes its flagship hospital, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, rated one of the nation's top ten "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital; and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, named one of the nation's "100 Top Hospitals" for cardiovascular care by Thomson Reuters. In addition UPHS includes a primary-care provider network; a faculty practice plan; home care, hospice, and nursing home; three multispecialty satellite facilities; as well as the Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse campus, which offers comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation facilities and outpatient services in multiple specialties.
|SOURCE PENN Medicine
Copyright©2009 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved


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Termanology f. Sean Price, Lil Fame, Ruste Juxx, Justin Tyme, Hannible Staxx, Papoose & Reks – "Get Off The Ground (DJ Premier Remix)"
Bill is a legend, he isn't very emo not that there's anything wrong w/ that, I listen to lots of emo shit but I certainly wouldn't categorize Bill as emo or Necro or AOTP for that matter
fat emo fuck is unlistenable, at least his brother negro is a good producer
Troll 2-0..
You're a chump
check the definition of emo before talking shit you lame fuck the track is great, heartfelt lyrics, great beat, great inspiration
sick song
What's Wrong With Bill? The Hour of Reprisal Kill Devil Hills ....That's three solo LP's even though KDH was a collaboration album with DJ Muggs it was still a solo LP. Anyway, can't wait for the album to drop seeing as I see The Hour of Reprisal as one of the best Hip Hop albums of all time.
i said FIVE!! Is the DX vote system rigged or sumtin?
wow..just wow, Bill about to lace us in january. 5.


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I know some gardeners have expressed concern over cicadas eating their vegetable gardens but I don't think there is anything to worry about - or if there is not much. So far there haven't been any encroachments into my garden and the cicadas have stayed mostly in the trees singing their songs. From what I know about cicadas (and I am no entomologist) they pretty much stick to those tree for their nesting and egg laying. Damage tends to be restricted to young branches where they lay their eggs. But if you do happen to see cicadas nibbling on your vegetables try covering the vegetables with a fine mesh netting - where the mesh is smaller than the cicadas. That should do the trick without any harmful sprays. Although I suspect you're more likely to see other regular garden insect pests munching on your maters than cicadas!
|Cicada Shell After Molting


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Having worked with Textpattern 4.0.8 and Wordpress 2.7 back to back within the last two months, I thought I'd share my thoughts on the biggest differences I noticed between the two content management systems.
Core functionality
I hate to say this, but I think Wordpress beats Textpattern as far as functionality goes. Don't get me wrong, I love Textpattern's simplicity, but it does seem to miss alot of features that come standard with Wordpress like versioning, WYSIWYG editing, and public user registration which may not be needed (or can be added with plugins), but are nice to have out of the box.
Content organization
I used Textpattern more heavily for organizing content than I did Wordpress, but I'd hazard to guess they'd be pretty close in this regard with just differences in implementation.
Textpattern uses its own txp markup for creating templates which works surprisingly well. While initially a little more difficult, once you pick up how things work, it's a lot of fun to work with. One sore point is that the templates are stored in the database so you need to work from within the Textpattern backend to make changes rather than with plain files like Wordpress.
Wordpress uses PHP for it's templating which can be a double edged sword. Yes, PHP is easy to use and offers infinite options for templating, it does end up getting kind of messy if you're not careful.
Both support plugins, but have slightly different methods for plugin installation. I only used one plugin for Textpattern (hak_tinymce) while I ended up using several more for Wordpress (Contact Form 7, Theme my login, and a few others). I found many plugins for Wordpress to be either buggy or unsupported while a few plain did not work at all.
Active development
Wordpress takes the cake here with new releases available almost quarterly which include useful features and advancements. Unfortunately, Textpattern seems to be a standstill in terms of development. I hope this isn't a sign of trouble within the development team over at Textpattern, but rather a sign of mature product.
Final thoughts
My preference is still lies with Texpattern for blogs and simple websites just because it's so simple and easy to use. If I need more flexibility and functionality I'll consider Wordpress, but be more inclined to use MODx, Drupal, or Joomla as there really isn't alot that differentiates Textpattern and Wordpress in most cases.


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Apple Plans a Second Spaceship Base (Still on Earth)
Has bought another office space behemoth near to the one it's currently constructing.
Has bought another office space behemoth near to the one it's currently constructing.
You're staring through a new installation at London's V&A Museum, called Mise-en-abyme. The narrowing isn't just perspective — those acrylic archways really are getting smaller. Read more >>
It's official: Howl isn't the only one with a moving fortress in Japan.
Traditional builders must be bricking it.
Being a land of mainly mountains, Japan presents interesting design challenges to architects.
The series serves as both a crash course in architectural history and comprehensive survey of where contemporary urbanism is headed.
Los Angeles is old. Older than the United States of America, in fact. And it's easy to see just how old the city is with built:LA, an interactive map that colour-codes the age of over three million LA buildings. Read More >>
With a little bit of creative restoration these rusty, crumbling monuments can be transformed into factories, race tracks, luxury hotels and...detox sanctuaries? Bet Kitchener didn't see that coming.
It does seem a little bit hectic, it is very interesting to see who's been building what and when.
These visualisations show the tallest buildings on each continent throughout history. Read More >>
Soon, Google might have a crazy new headquarters of its own: a series of giant, transparent canopied buildings filled with open spaces for Googlers to congregate. Read More >>
There's a moment you reach in every Jenga game, when the weight of an entire tower balances precariously on a single middle block. A moment where everything can be ruined by a particularly violent cough. Residents of Dutch architecture firm MVDRV's new skyscraper in Vienna will live in perpetual fear of that moment. Read more >
Boris Johnson reckons he doesn't want the capital to become Dubai-on-Thames, but from silly-sized skyscrapers to garden bridges, you'd be forgiven for wondering. Who's on the loathe list?
It has never been easier to get updates on the weather. But there's a much older, low-tech option for figuring out whether to bust out the umbrella, and it's still on display in many cities.
How hard is it to blow up a building? Watch as the worst demolition crew in the world somehow manages to screw up the same explosion twice.
The Germans apparently look for meaning in their skylines, not just size and shininess.