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Family with children on the Allure: Allure of the Seas Cruise Review by Buff fan
Overall Member Rating
Family with children on the Allure
Destination: Eastern Caribbean
Embarkation: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
Pre-embarkation: we flew in the night before sailing and stayed at the Hilton Ft. lauderdale airport hotel. I would wholeheartedly recommend this hotel. It was reasonably priced, had good service and a nice pool. A free shuttle from the airport was only 5 minutes wait as well. Most importantly, however, upon returning the following Sunday, we were off the ship and back at the airport by 9:30 in the morning with a flight home not scheduled until 5:30pm! One quick call back to the Hilton and they graciously sent the shuttle for us (better planning would have had us taking a cab straight there from the ship...oops) and we spent the entire day lounging by More the pool at the hotel. No charge. No hassle. Free shuttle both ways. Excellent lunch from the restaurant poolside. It truly turned what could have been a nearly unbearable day at the airport with the kids into a great last day of the vacation for all of us, and the kids slept the whole flight home. Thank you Hilton and Rebecca the front desk girl!
Embarkation: I'd read many reviews saying that this was the best embarkation process ever. Despite the 6,000 or so passengers who needed to get on our full sailing, I have to agree. 10 minutes after arriving we has our sea passes in hand and were walking on board, no problem.
Many of the restaurants were open and waiting to serve lunch (we boarded at about 1:30) and unlike other cruises we've been on, the cabin was ready and waiting from the minute we got on (as were all cabins the best I can tell). We took a quick tour of the main promenade, central park and the boardwalk and then went to the cabin. After dumping our carry on bag and checking out the cabin, we headed back to the Boardwalk for a hot dog from the hot dog joint there (can't remember the name). The hot dogs were good and varied (coney, polish, Italian, brats, etc). The boys would visit again a couple of times throughout the cruise (we had a boardwalk balcony cabin so it was pretty close).
After eating, we returned to the cabin to find our luggage already waiting (awesome) so the wife unpacked while I used the interactive tv to make some dinner and show reservations. We found the online booking to be frustrating/annoying before the cruise and feared that we'd waited too long and that many were all booked up. Turns out they keep a bunch of the slots open for booking on the ship. In 30 minutes or so I booked all of the shows and dinner in 3 of the specialty restaurants and filled out the waiver forms for the zip lines and other rides to boot. The interactive tv is really cool and we checked it several times each day for reminders of our calendar, messages, schedules, a running balance on all the loot we were spending, etc.
The tv had plenty of programming for the kids (lots of repetitive dream works movies) and just enough for the adults at bedtime. Movies for rent through the system for $12 were a bonus used only once.
The Cabin:
We had a Boardwalk balcony on deck 12 port side. It was big enough with little extra space...but it is a cruise cabin after all. The bathroom was nice, but small (again, what you expect on a cruise). I am 6'4" and 240 pounds and the shower was ok for me, more than fine for the rest of the family. I will say here though, if you are quite overweight you may have trouble moving around in the bathroom, especially the shower and on the toilet. You may need larger accommodations.
The couch folded out into a nice double bed and there was also a single bed that came down from the ceiling (as opposed to the wall on other ships we've been on. The ceiling bed is much better and less obtrusive into the room when stored than the wall beds that make the room feel/seem smaller. Having both beds was much nicer than the kids sleeping together in one bed as they sleep better apart...and therefore mom and dad do too!
Storage was adequate, barely. But again, expected. Plenty of room under the bed to store the suitcases once unpacked, also very important to conserve space. There is a minibar too, which is nice in my book.
The balcony overlooking the Boardwalk was nice, but not very private. There are a hundred or so rooms you can look into across the way if the curtains aren't drawn tight. It was great to be able to see the shows at the aqua pool from the balcony and people watch. I'd read numerous comments that these rooms were very loud, but with the door sealed tight we couldn't hear anything and slept like the dead. We were above rita's (the Mexican food place which has a loud party 2 or 3 nights during the cruise) and were never bothered. However, the boardwalk is a bit of a canyon and it might be worse down lower (deck 12 is the highest) or across from rita's, rather than above.
A tip I'd read here that paid off in spades: at the very back of the ship on deck 12 (at the end of our cabin hallway) is a balcony that never gets used and is a great place to watch all of the shows at the aqua pool and just to hang out, I went there a bunch with the boys.
The Ship:
In a word, spectacular. Another word, humongous. For me/us, the best ever by a mile. So much to see, so much to do, so amazing. It's kind of like a Vegas casino at sea with the promenade, shops, park, boardwalk, etc. Picture the Venetian crossed with new York new York. The kids absolutely loved it. As most of the accessible food joints (read, the ones without a hostess at the front) were free, we sent the kids off on their own several times with their sea pass cards to get their own food/snacks...which they thought was very cool.
The very best thing in my mind, and what sets it apart from all other ships is the outdoor space. Usually on a cruise if you are going to be outdoors, you are on the pool/sports deck with all of the crowds, calypso music and pool food/bar service only. On this ship, almost all of the great restaurants/bars are in central park (especially) and the Boardwalk. It's awesome. You are outside, enjoying the beautiful weather with fine food/drink in a spectacular setting. Truly it's revolutionary and whatever other shortcomings/trade-offs you have to live with are worth it...at least for me (and my wife and kids' too).
Central park is primarily for adults and is the home to the Italian food restaurant, the tapas joint, the steakhouse and the fine dining spot. It is terrifically romantic and beautiful to spend time in. My wife and I ended up there every single night while the boys enjoyed kids club (more on that later).
Boardwalk is more kid oriented and has Johnny Rockets, Rita's, the candy shop, the ice cream parlor, the hot dog vendor and the donut shop. The kids love it and the kids are there rather than central park, which is good for the kids and the adults.
The pool/sports deck is very well done. In addition to the pools and basketball court, it has the mini golf, flow riders, zip lines, ping pong, etc. We did just about everything and it was all great. The boys really enjoyed the zip line and my youngest was just big enough to ride (52" and 75# I think).
The Solarium area at the front of the sports deck is for over 16 only and was very nice. With a small pool, a couple of hot tubs, a more luxurious feel, no kids and nicer furnishings and lounge chairs than the main pool deck, we spent a good bit of non-kid daytime there. The breakfast and lunch buffets are more health oriented and better than the windjammer or the wipeout cafe too (kids are welcome for breakfast and lunch).
The biggest surprise for me was that this was the least crowded feeling cruise I've ever been on by a longshot. Most passengers I talked with felt exactly the same. You would never know there were six thousand people on this ship. The lines were short or nonexistent. There were lounge chairs available, no problem, on sea days at peak times. Lots of them. Never seen that before and our cruise was week before Christmas and completely sold out.
Now, the yang to the yin of this great big boat is that you will walk great distances, no way around it. This was fine for us, but clearly not as fine for some of the older/elderly, injured/disabled or seriously overweight passengers. If you have really young children, bring a collapsing (or full size) stroller. There were lots of them on board and if you have small kids you will want it/use it. The entertainment decks are 4, 5, 6, and 8. So, if you are fit/healthy taking the stairs from one to the next is not a big deal. However, about 94% of the passengers ignored the stairs completely by my estimation, which did start to crowd the 24 elevators.
Kids club:
My two favorite words in the English language are kids club. Seriously, if you've never cruised with your kids and are wondering about it, so long as your kids aren't completely shy/attached to you they will love kids club...and you will love it twice as much as they do. When we were on board (I.e.not in port and off the ship) my kids wanted to be in kids club all the time. They love it, the kids club counselors are super great and they have so many fun things to do they never got bored.
It's open from early morning (not sure when exactly as we never got there before 10) until 1am. You do have to pay $6 per hour per kid after 10pm and additional $ to leave them in for lunch and dinner if you choose. We never left them in for meals as we always ate together, but left them past 10pm most nights. As soon as dinner was over, we'd drop them off at kids club for 3 or 4 hours and have quality adult time. That is more quality time and more 'date nights' than we get to spend without the kids in a typical year. Everybody wins!
Kids club is what makes cruising the best family vacation there is...take advantage of it.
Many reviewers have said, and I agree, that the shows on the allure are way better than other cruises. Oceanaria and blue planet were great and the kids loved them too. The headliner (vox audio) was excellent too. We missed Chicago but heard great things about that too.
Ok, this one is a mixed bag. On a ship this big with this many people, something has to give right? Yep. While you expect the windjammer buffet to be so so (it was) I expected more from the main dining room than I got. Both my wife and I think it was the worst main dining room food of any of the cruises we'd been on. I guess if you are serving more than 5000 at dinner you can't really do much more than high end cafeteria. The service was mostly good though. The kids were happy with anything, so no big deal there.
The specialty restaurants seem to be the ticket. Giovannis Italian was excellent. As was the tapas joint (vintages). We didn't do Chops steakhouse or central park 150, but heard both were excellent. Didnt do or hear about sambas or Izumi...sorry. As for Rita's Mexican, just say no. Can you really make nachos and fajitas almost inedible? Yep. Salads at the park view cafe were good and ended up being lunch several days. Park view also had great grilled cheese paninis for the kids. The cupcake place was excellent but holy cow sweet and rich. Pass on the donuts (clearly not made on board fresh). Ice cream place is excellent. Johnny rockets is the burger option on board and great for breakfast too. Hot dog stand also good.
Bahamas: We did some shopping in the main town right off the boat and then walked to the nearby beach. Kind of low end but it was convenient, close and easy. While my wife and I would have preferred a nicer setting, a beach is a beach for the kids and they had fun. The bar/shack actually made excellent drinks and split fresh coconuts to serve them in.
St Thomas: we hit black beards castle, which was well worth the money. The kids took a dip in the pool there while we sipped some boat drinks after touring the whole place. After (around noon) we caught a cab to magens bay, which is a beautiful and large beach. We heard that coki beach and sapphire beach were great too.
St Maarten: we rented a small boat for the day from turtle cove rentals. They provided us with free snorkeling gear and fishing poles, which was nice. However, the map they provided was inadequate to really identify any good spots to stop and snorkel and trolling for fish was fun for the kids but a source of frustration for dad (tangled lines, setting lures, etc). Still, it was kind of cool to cruise around the entire harbor and we stopped in Marigot on the French side for lunch and shopping. That was a really quaint little town that we enjoyed quite a bit. The boys liked the boat a lot more than mom!
Just as easy as embarkation...very well done for all those people.
I hope this helps somewhat. I hope the negative stuff doesn't stick out. Just want to point out some things we would avoid next time and set your expectations. Cruising is the best family vacation out there in my opinion...and a terrific value too. The Allure is the best ship we've ever been on by far and I'd go on it or its sister ship the Oasis in a heartbeat.
Have fun! Less
Published 12/24/11
Cabin review: B212307 Boardwalk View Stateroom with BalconyBoardwalk View Stateroom with Balcony (B2) Reviews >>
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The Dubai government intends to raise up to USD 4 bn within weeks, most likely through a bond issue, to fund a series of projects, Nasser Akil Abbas, treasury director in the Department of Finance, said. According to Abbas, several proposals from banks have been submitted to the Department of Finance, which is currently considering various options, including a conventional or Islamic bond and even a syndicated loan.
Dubai government had already announced it was seeking a credit rating from international agencies as a prelude to launching the borrowing program.
[1] http://www.albawaba.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Sket is released in UK cinemas today. Here's the trailer for what looks like a very gritty and 'real' story. Sket stars Ashley Walters, Lily Loveless, Riann Steele, Aimee Kelly, Emma Hartley-Miller, Adelayo Adedayo and is directed by Nirpal Bhogal. Find out more on their official website.
Kayla (Aimee Kelly), a young sixteen-year old, faces the harsh London streets of gangland culture alone. Her mother already dead, her only protector and loving elder sister, Tanya (Katie Foster-Barnes), is one day brutally murdered by violent, misogynist gang leader Trey (Ashley Walters). Swearing vengeance, Kayla joins a girl gang led by the violent, damaged Danielle (Emma Hartley-Miller) who has her own reasons for helping Kayla seek retribution.
Check out the trailer below and click the poster to enlarge.
[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA7DXYsAMTo']


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A new coat of paint, like an earthquake, can dramatically change what it feels like to sit in one's living room. Change up your wall color with today's Groupon from Picture Perfect Painting & More, valid within a one-hour radius of downtown Louisville.
The Deal
$99 for interior painting in one room (a $225 value)
- Up to 15' x 15' x 10' in size
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- 10 percent off any additional services<p>
Picture Perfect Painting & More
Owned and operated by Kevin Robinson and his family, Picture Perfect Painting & More employs professional technicians and high-quality equipment to pamper room perimeters with fresh paint coats and other wall-centric services. In addition to repairing drywall and scuba-diving through wetwall, Picture Perfect also specializes in the installation of hardwood and tile floors. Guided by a mission statement of quality and trust, the Perfect Painting pros commit themselves to treating every customer like family and ensuring each wall and floor has a well-installed smile on its face.


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My night as a CoverGirl was a very exciting night! Now, you get to see my makeover process during the "Primping Party." I was having technical difficulties after the party and I couldn't post the video until now.
My hair was styled by Besma of the Frederic Fekkai Salon and my makeup was done by Toby Fleischman. I felt so glamorous!
Below are the products I received as part of my experience:
- CG & Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer
- CG & Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush
- CG & Olay Simply Ageless Foundation
- CoverGirl Clean Oil Control Pressed Powder
- CoverGirl Lash Blast Length Mascara
- CoverGirl Smokey Shadow Blast
- CoverGirl Liquiline Blast Eye Liner Pencil
- CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick
- CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm
- CoverGirl Smokey Shadow Blast
Disclaimer: I was NOT financially compensated for this post, although the products were gifted.


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Nearly 1 percent of people suffer from bipolar disorder (sometimes referred to as "manic depression"). Bipolar disorder is a mental illness major mood swings of mania (bipolar I) or hypomania (a less intense form of mania called bipolar II) and depression.
Get the full story from HuffPost Healthy Living.
More From HuffPost Healthy Living:
Celebrities Living With Bipolar Disorder
13 Experts Share Their Best Happiness Tips


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Backyard Garden Kit
There are a million ways to style Backyard Garden embellishments!
Just as spring flowers are beginning to bloom in your own backyard, you can knit a garden of bloom and bug adornments! The Backyard Garden kit contains patterns and yarn to knit 15 types of realistic flowers, leaves, and insects. Create a bouquet of knitted flowers that will never wilt, personalize a felted purse or knitted cloche, or embellish the front of a feminine lightweight cardigan. These cheerful accents are quick, fun knits to celebrate spring.
Kit contains yarn and patterns to knit the following: Blue Morpho butterfly, Monarch butterfly, dragonfly, inch worm, ladybug, buttercup, carnation, calla lily, vinca, morning glory, aspen leaf, four leaf clover, pothos, escargot begonia leaf, and fig leaf.
Kit includes one 50 gram ball of Palette in Serrano, Sweet Potato, Semolina, Cotton Candy, Edamame, Clover, Ivy, Chicory, French Lavender, and Black, along with pattern instructions for embellishments. You will need US 1 (2.5 mm) 32" circular needle and set of 6 DPNs, stitch markers, yarn needle, scrap yarn, small amounts of polyfil stuffing, small magnets, and chenille stems.
We have tutorials with lots of ideas for how you can use your flowers, insects, and leaves in your Backyard Garden kit as embellishments.


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Stanton (GNIS FID: 1188397) is a populated place located within the Township of Rose, a minor civil division (MCD) of Jefferson County.
The elevation of Stanton is 1,594 feet. Stanton appears on the Coolspring U.S. Geological Survey Map. Jefferson County is in the Eastern Time Zone (UTC -5 hours).
Jefferson County: Subdivisions (MCDs) | Cities & Towns | ZIP Codes | Features (airports, churches, hospitals, etc.)
BIG Map |
Driving Directions |
Data Source - USGS GNIS FID: 1188397
BOUNDARY MAPS: Township of Rose | Jefferson County
Summerville, PA
(4.3 miles WNW)
Worthville, PA (4.5 miles SSW)
Brookville, PA (5.3 miles NNE)
Corsica, PA (8 miles NW)
Timblin, PA (9.6 miles SSW)
Hawthorn, PA
(9.7 miles WSW)
Reynoldsville, PA (11.7 miles E)
Punxsutawney, PA (12.4 miles SE)
New Bethlehem, PA (12.9 miles WSW)
South Bethlehem, PA (13.4 miles WSW)
McGarey, PA
(< 0.1 mile)
Norman, PA (1.4 miles NE)
Conifer, PA (1.4 miles WSW)
Colon, PA (1.9 miles ENE)
Content, PA (2.4 miles NW)
Ramsaytown, PA
(2.4 miles ESE)
Barnes, PA (2.7 miles NNE)
Ohl, PA (2.7 miles W)
Tait, PA (3.4 miles E)
Coolspring, PA (3.4 miles SSE)


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TOYWATCH | Clear Acrylic Watch
So Oprah features her 2007 Favourite Things List on-air today and suddenly stores everywhere are featuring TOYWATCH watches as their hottest item; is there any doubt that these time pieces will be best-sellers, if for no other reason than O's PR plug? After looking through the entire TOYWATCH watch collection at Nordstrom's online boutique, I've chosen this clear acrylic bracelet band as my favourite (though I think I'll stick with my classic Skagen for now….) I love the contrast of the clear band with the two-tone watch face. It's eye-catching, it's elegant, and – It's inexpensively priced at $175.


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Evangelical Churches
Rick Santorum & the Data Behind the Catholic, Evangelical, Youth & Women's Vote
The divide between the truth of the election results and the punditry of the mainstream media is seemingly growing every major primary election night. Perhaps none more than the recent Super Tuesday results, especially those of Ohio. How could it possibly be that Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania Senator won the youth vote, all voters under 44, and the married women vote? If one listens to the mainstream media, especially that of NBC, MSNBC and the New York Times one would think the only people voting for Rick Santorum would be rust belt pre-Vatican II ordained Catholic priests, and an amalgamation of southern characters such as Jed Clampett, Mr. Haney, as well as some assorted extras from the set of Deliverance. However, the true exit poll results tell us something quite different.
The mainstream media seemed shocked that Rick Santorum didn't win the Catholic vote and won the Evangelical Vote as well as the others I indicated earlier; young people and married women. I want to delve into the nitty grtty of the statistics and demographics in a few paragraphs but first let me give you some background on those in the heartland who became liberals even though they grew up in GOP circles and folks like myself who became conservative after growing up in a Democratic household.
I grew up in a working class steel and railroad town in Ohio. My family, like many around us was Democrat in party affiliation and social conservative in our mindset. I was educated in Catholic schools (during the 1970s & 80s) and though it was the warm fuzzy era of Catholic education, our nuns and lay teachers never completely bought into the liberal model that was so the rage in cool, upscale areas. Continue reading
At The Dawn of 2011, Despite Bumps In the Road Catholic Orthodoxy Marches Onward
It seems every time a kerfuffle pops up in the Catholic Church, many in engage in hand wringing and doom and gloom scenarios. The latest occurred with Pope Benedict XVI's remarks on condoms, which were wildly taken out of context in his interview with Peter Seewald turned book Light of the World. Following these remarks, some of us have probably been peppered with questions from family and friends as to what this means, and if the Church has changed her teachings in the arena of birth control. Those of us who have welcomed the new orthodoxy taking place within in the Church during the last ten or twenty years, probably have wished this latest kerfuffle had never taken place. However, this in no way shape of form means the orthodoxy movement has stalled. Oddly, I received some gleeful e-mails from some who surprisingly seemed ecstatic to point out that my book; The Tide is Turning Toward Catholicism couldn't possibly be correct. Hopefully, this article will point out that Catholic orthodoxy is alive, well and here to stay.
Church liberals who had long pilloried Pope Benedict XVI even before he was a cardinal, a simple university professor in the famed German town of Tubingen, seemed perplexed on how to treat the latest uproar. Some felt that he was moving in the right (or in their case left direction.) However, the more cynical among them knew that the Holy Father hadn't changed a thing. They in turn left posts at the National Catholic Reporter decrying the German pontiff's lack of pastoral ministry. Though I don't know which saint said it, I am sure someone who was canonized uttered something along these lines; "God please save your Church from these overly pastoral pastors."
The Holy Father was merely engaging in an abstract theological conversation much like a bunch of guys at a sports bar might conjecture what would happen if modern team x played historical team y for a mythical championship. Yet, the mainstream media along with some in the Catholic media went into a frenzy. The Holy Father was changing nothing in the Church's teachings concerning birth control. The fault lie with those in the Vatican's Public Relations Department in making sure the ubiquitous editor Giovanni Vian didn't somehow put the Holy Father's abstract scenarios into an excerpt for the L'Osservatore Romano. The comedy of errors in the Vatican could make one's hair fallout.
Yet, I remember the words of a priest who once spent a considerable amount of time at the Holy See. He told me that the amount of miracles and jaw dropping examples of God's Grace, that he personally witnessed behind the Vatican's walls, still amazes him to this day. However, on the flip side the amount of sinister almost demonic style attacks amazes him to this day as well. The evil one knows where his primary target is located and he does his best to cause mayhem. Continue reading
AP's Article On The Catholic Blogosphere & NPR's Firing Of Juan Williams Are Par For The Course
National Public Radio's ludicrous firing of Juan Williams and a subsequent mainstream media article on Catholic bloggers may seem to be two separate issues. Some may say what does the overwhelmingly conservative leaning Catholic blogosphere have in common with the liberal leaning Juan Williams? The answer is quite simple; both scare the mainstream media because Juan Williams and the majority of the Catholic blogosphere put forth interesting solutions to often discussed questions.
The modus operadi of some in the mainstream media is to find a couple of unnamed fringe Catholic bloggers, who few read, and then make them become bigger players than they really are. Combine this with a Juan Williams quote which most of America agrees with and voila you have it; the ultimate straw man from which you can tear apart any minority who appears on Fox News or any Catholic blogger who faithfully defends the teachings of the 2,000 year old Catholic Church.
In this Associated Press article on the Catholic blogosphere, the piece mentions Thomas Peters and Michael Voris (who is known for his videos not his blogging,) but focuses on harsh unnamed Catholic bloggers. The article quotes John Allen who calls elements of the Catholic blogosphere "Taliban Catholicism." The highly respected Mr. Allen, who though working for the dissident leaning National Catholic Reporter, is often known for his many high ranking Church contacts and his fairness. He should have know better than to give the quote that he did. To take a few bloggers from the right (or even from the left) and call them the Catholic blogosphere is the type of journalism that would not pass muster for a high school paper, let alone the AP. This would be akin to taking the worst rated college or pro football team and telling the world this is the best of American football, or perhaps watching the Walla Walla Community theater production of Hamlet and saying this is Hamlet at its finest. John Allen should have realized where this article was going and chosen his words more carefully.
The AP article continues by naming a Church official who seems worried about the Catholic blogosphere. One wonders if the Church official would know the difference between Father John Zuhlsdorf from Father Richard McBrien, Amy Welborn from Aimee Semple McPherson, Mark Shea from Mark Sanford, Rocco Palmo from Rocco Mediate, or Tito Edwards from Tito Santana. I worked for years in a diocesan office and I have yet to meet, even in my travels, a diocesan official who is well versed in the blogosphere. It seems to be a generational thing and most diocesan officials are not to be confused with the younger, more conservative seminarians or young priests being ordained.
While some in the mainstream media snicker at the Pope and Magisterium (the teaching authority of the Catholic Church) they in reality have their own magisterium. In their secular magisterium anyone who believes in the Catholic Church's authority is hopelessly outdated, because according to gatekeepers in the mainstream media, true thinkers are those in the dying liberal churches who don't know what they believe. Sadly, GK Chesterton prophetically predicted this would happen. He said, "It's not that atheists and agnostics believe in nothing, they believe in everything." In modern parlance, "It's all good." How sad that some who proclaim to be "open minded" can't see the obvious; liberal Christianity is dying on the vine." Continue reading
Two Momentous But Little Remembered Dates In Western & Church History
Recently two momentous events in Western and Church History passed with hardly a mention. Actually, these events may be better known in the Muslim world than the Christian world; the Islamic army's desecration of St. Peter's in Rome, along with St John Lateran and other churches in 846, and the stunning defeat of the Islamic military onslaught by Charles the Hammer Martel at Tours, France in 732. Though these two events occurred over 100 years apart, they do point out that until the Ottoman-Turkish Islamic defeat in 1683 at the gates of Vienna; Europe was facing a never ending threat from radical Islam. Yet how is it that according to the mainstream media it was the fault of Christians, and specifically Catholics? In my last article, I wrote of the naval Battle of Lepanto in 1571 and the land at the Gates of Vienna in 1683. Some wondered why I didn't right about Charles the Hammer Martel and some of the earlier Islamic incursions into Europe. Now is a good time to delve into that subject. (For more on Charles the Hammer Martel and the Battle of Tours please read this excellent article by my colleague Donald McClarey.)
Ask most practicing Catholics, Evangelicals and mainline Protestants who Charles the Hammer Martel was and you would probably get blank stares. Perhaps a few young people might be under the false impression that he is some sort of up and coming professional wrestler. However, you would probably stand a better chance of having someone in the Islamic world tell you about Charles the Hammer Martel. The same might be true for the sack of Rome in 846 by Muslim forces who disembarked at Ostia (the Tiber port) and marched right into Rome desecrating holy sites like St Peter's and St John Lateran and leaving the Eternal City with their plunder. Many in the western world might be surprised why they have never heard this and why those who reside in the Islamic world are better informed of these events than in the Western World. Let us peer back into time to see what we can learn about the past and what it might mean for the future.
It is said that God can make the best out of the worst. As Charles Martel grew older and realized that his mother was simply a consort of his regal father, Charles must have realized that he could have been abandoned to poverty, or worse yet aborted (if that had happened Christianity might have been confined to Ireland!) Charles must have developed a thick skin and a courageous spirit that enabled him not to run at the first sign of trouble. Europe was in a state of near panic by 730 as the well seasoned professional Islamic Army had laid waste to much of the Middle East and North Africa leaving the homes of those past saints like Augustine in ruins. Europe was in the Dark Ages, armies were merely feudal in their makeup, a far cry from the type of regimented units needed to stop the largest invading armies Europe had seen since the days when Rome ruled the world. Continue reading
E. J. Dionne & Maureen Dowd Are Playing With A Dangerous Fire
In a recent column Washington Post columnist, E J Dionne noted that the Tea Party movement is a great scam. Quite an indictment coming from the self described progressive Catholic who still thinks government can never be big enough and the Church should tell the faithful more about the teachings of the agnostic Saul Alinsky than that of 2,000 year old teachings of the Catholic Church. Dionne has made it his business to comment on all matter of politics and religion for quite some time. His partner in left wing chicanery is New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd who never hesitates to go for the jugular. Though she says he she comes from humble Washington DC roots, you would never know it by how she mocks those who really came from humble surrounding and never forgot it. She probably grew up with many Sarah Palin's and Christine O'Donnell's around her. Yet, I doubt she mocked many to their face as she gleefully does now to the backs of Palin and O'Donnell.
Dionne and Dowd seem to have it backwards, they don't think citizens should voice their views about the fallacies of liberal Big Government, but they do believe everyone knows better than the divine about religion. This is quite common for liberals who often seem to think they are divine. Dionne and Dowd are part of a movement who thinks they should control government and religion, and those who disagree with them are often labeled as unintelligent; the worst sin as far as liberals are concerned. However, who is the unintelligent one? Big Government has never worked. It has only brought huge debt which has to be repaid by future generations. Individuals who go into debt face a series of tough measures. Yet Dionne and Dowd seem oblivious to this and advocate the same disastrous path for the government, the end result being tough measures for everyone. In other words Big Government is a disaster that doesn't work.
However, Big Government isn't the only disaster Dionne and Dowd advocate. They want the Catholic Church to turn her back on its 2,000 year old teachings and embrace the Dictatorship of Relativism, so named by Pope Benedict XVI. Dionne and Dowd are happy to embrace dissident Catholics who espouse this sort of thinking. It seems Dionne and Dowd are more comfortable with the views of Marx, Alinsky and Freud than they are with Christ, St Paul, St Thomas Aquinas, St Joan of Arc and Pope Benedict XVI. Continue reading
CNN Joins The Hit Piece Parade Against Pope Benedict XVI and The Catholic Church
It would appear that those in the mainstream media who want to do hit pieces on Pope Benedict XVI need to take a number. The latest to engage in Yellow Journalism is CNN. The "network of record" dispatched Gary Tuchman to do the dirty work. One might recall that it was none other than Tuchman who remarked how distressing it was travelling in the heartland during the 2008 Election campaign. He complained that some who recognized him told him that their Middle American views and ideas were repeatedly mocked by the mainstream media, all the while those of the liberal establishment were hailed. Tuchman's words were quite revealing when it comes to this story.
CNN has been advertising their hit piece on Pope Benedict XVI as if he was already guilty of some sort of cover up, even though during the Abuse Scandal it was none other than the New York Times who praised then Cardinal Ratzinger for tackling the tough problems. What tough problems did he tackle? The most notable example being Father founder of the Legionaries of Christ. Father Marcial Maciel was one of the few prominent conservatives caught up in the Abuse Scandal, most of the abusers were Church liberals who wanted to change the Church. Cardinal Ratzinger took on Father Maciel at the height of his power and popularity. One might recall that Father Maciel was quite close to Pope John Paul II. So from this example we can see that Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) showed no favorites and pulled no punches. The Legionaries of Christ were shaken to the core and as pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI removed their leadership and installed his own, hardly the work of someone who was timid.
The CNN piece was perhaps even more despicable than the New York Times hit piece, because in the interim much of the modus operandi of the Old Gray Lady was exposed. Still CNN used the same material and claimed that they had something new. There is nothing new here. The crux of their argument comes from material provided by Jeffrey Anderson the attorney who has made millions off the scandal. Anderson says he is one a mision to "reform the Church." What kind of reform would that be? Some Catholic dioceses have been forced into bankruptcy, which means the poor whom they dioceses assisted through their social programs are left in the cold. For all his concern of "reform" Anderson hasn't provided a penny to these particular poor.
The Jesus The Professional Left Chose To Ignore
Jesus Christ has always been an enigma to those on the left. Some liberal idealists embraced Him; many others on the radical left did not. Some on the radical left actually attacked Jesus by either saying He didn't exist (a rather strange way of dealing with someone) or claiming he was demented. However, after World War II a rather cunning adaptation of Jesus was embraced by the Professional Left. The solution thought up by the Professional Left was as simple as it was devious; simply say Jesus was one of them.
The Episcopal Church?
Cardinal's Mahony or O'Malley's Archdioceses?
If you guessed any of these you're pretty darn close!
(Hat Tip: Creative Minority Report)
If Liberals Lose Big In This Fall's Election, The Professional Left Will Mock The Religious Faithful
This fall all of the hopes and dreams of those who have detested Middle American values stands in the balance. Those values are best exemplified in religious beliefs shared by many faith traditions. However, Catholics, Evangelicals, Orthodox Christians and Orthodox Jews are those to which the angry Professional Left, to use Robert Gibbs (President Obama's Press Secretary's) term, will most turn their anger. Some may say this seems a little far-fetched, after all aren't some of those people from the "Professional Left" religious themselves? Yes, some on the "Professional Left" are religious, but they often go to great pains to say they are not affiliated with any faith tradition. They often classify themselves as "spiritual."
During the 2008 Presidential Campaign, then Senator Obama made by his own admission his biggest gaffe. The future President, speaking in San Francisco, called those middle Americans of western Pennsylvania, "bitter clingers." In his own words, the future President described western Pennsylvania residents as hard working salt of the earth folks who clung to "their guns and religion," presumably because they weren't enlightened enough to understand the modern world.
WJBA? In 2010 Would Jesus (Along With His Apostles & Saints) Be Arrested For Hate Speech?
A few short years ago the mere suggestion that the Son of God, His Apostles and Saints would face arrest for hate speech would have seemed absolutely ludicrous. However, events have spiraled out of control across the western world. In his opinion that strikes down California's recently voter approved marriage law, Judge Vaughn Walker wrote that those who speak in the name of religion to put across their views that same sex marriage is wrong are "harmful to gays and lesbians."
Across Europe and Canada, faithful Christians speaking out for traditional marriage face the threat of being hauled off to court for citing the teachings of the Catholic Church and various Evangelical Churches. Where will this all end? Some see a great persecution coming against the Christian faithful. Though possible, one need remember that the Christian faith always grew when persecuted.
The Catholic Church has long taught that some individuals have an inclination toward same sex attraction; they are to be loved as all people are to be loved. The Church teaches that these feelings are not to be acted upon. The Church goes on to teach that all individuals are given a cross to carry in this world and for those who are same sex attracted; this is their cross. An organization exists for those who are same sex attracted called COURAGE. It has many chapters and members.
Recently a profile was done in The New York Times on same sex attracted Eve Tushnet, the Ivy League educated Catholic daughter of Harvard Law professors. She has chronicled her growth in Catholicism and the logic of the Church's teachings on sexuality. For years the Catholic Church took some heat from some quarters of Christianity for not stating that anyone who is same sex attracted would be going to hell. The Church now is facing a maelstrom of vitriol from those who claim the Church hates homosexuals.
For the Church to change her teachings would be to deny not only what Christ said (Matthew 11:20-24,) but his Apostles, not to mention Saint Paul's lengthy discourse on the subject (Romans 1:26-28, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.) In addition to the Apostles and saints, there is a rich history of saints writing on the subject, particularly the Early Church Fathers like Saint Augustine, St Justin Martyr, St. Basil and St John Chrysostom as well as Church intellectuals like St Thomas Aquinas, Saint Albert the Great (the greatest scientist of his time,) along with mystics like St Catherine of Sienna to name but a few. To say that the greatest minds of their respective eras were all wrong is simply breathtaking.
Many who disagree with the Church tend to forget that homosexuality was much more common and approved of by the Roman government in the early Christian era than it is even in 2010. Many in the upper echelons of Greek and Roman culture experimented with all sorts of sexual practices. It would have been far easier for Jesus, the apostles, saints and popes to approve of this conduct than it would to disapprove of it. Christianity might have grown at a faster pace. However, there was a reason for this swimming against the tide, and the faithful accepted it.
Margaritaville Christianity; God's Way Or Our Way?
As Europe emerged from the Dark Ages, a growing populace happy for good news and grateful for these positive turn of events in their lives openly and without apology made the Catholic faith the center of their lives. They believed in the Word of God, even if they couldn't read or write. They hung on to every word of those who could read. Even during the workday, if at all possible those working in the fields would briefly slip into town to see the priest raise the Host during the Consecration at Mass. Though their lives were full of toil and often misery (they weren't allowed the liberty of attending daily Mass) the people of this era used any opportunity they could to make religion a part of their daily life.
Fast forward a thousand years and we can certainly see that daily life has shifted some 180 degrees. Many of the elite often snicker or poke fun at those who are serious about their faith. Even those who are considered serious in their faith pursuit, often hide the true extent of their faith, for fear of being called a holy roller.
The secular talking heads tell us that we should be more like the modern world we are trying to help and change. Religion should be more like the popular culture they tell us. We should try to glean words of wisdom from thinkers like Voltaire, Marx, Freud and Alinsky and entertainers like Madonna, Lady Gaga or even Jimmy Buffet. Yet, have these secular talking heads ever taken their own advice? Have these leftists ever thought, "why was Pope John Paul II, Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatcher so popular? What could we learned from them? " (For more on this read my column, If You Like What The Political Left Has Done To Politics, Look At What The Religious Left Has Done To Religion (Left It In Tatters) along with my article, The Construct of Rebellion.
Some might say wasn't Jesus somewhat of a cultural outcast, like modern day pop culture figures? Well Jesus certainly enjoyed some fun; otherwise he wouldn't have been at the wedding feast performing his first miracle by turning water into wine no less. However, he was hardly the type of person that endorsed the "its Five o Clock somewhere lifestyle." He forgave the woman caught in adultery, but told her to "sin no more." Incidentally, she probably had more clothes on than some who show up at church on Sunday. However, that's another story.
Our educated world makes excuses for the behavior of those pop stars like Lady Gaga who make edgy and sacrilegious videos and show up in public (at the New York Yankees club house) clad only in undergarments. Those illiterate peoples that lived in Europe one thousand years ago were smart enough to know that despite the corruption they knew existed in the Church, they were far better off listening to the Teachings of the Church than the whims of the world in which they lived. They and their forbearers had witnessed violent feudal warlords that had plunged Europe into centuries of horrific darkness; a darkness that we face today if we listen to the sirens of militant secularism who want us to return to the dying days of Rome.
We often forget it was in those dying days of Rome that many of the elites longed for the days of their elders, when Christianity was outlawed and orgies were commonplace at homes of the movers and shakers of Roman high society, and violent spectacles took place at the coliseum. Today their descendants are gaga over the likes of Lady Gaga, and treat abortion as if it were some sort of coming of age ritual. Continue reading


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Talk about something happening in flash. In an electrifying moment of sure terror lasting only tenths of a second, lightning seized on an SUV as it made its way down a Russian highway.
The video was captured on dashcam last week during a thunderstorm in Russia and posted on YouTube...
You see what appears to be an overcast day with light to moderate rainfall when lightning ripped through the sky and hits the vehicle with terrifying force. Moments after the bolt hits the SUV, you see sparks laying on the concrete as the vehicle continues down the highway.
All occupants inside the vehicle, as well as the vehicle itself, were unscathed -- despite being hit by 50,000 volts of electricity.
This is a quintessential example of why being in a vehicle during a lightning storm, and not under a tree, is the best place to be. The metal of the vehicle acts as a cage that transmits the charge from the bolt to the ground via the rubber tires thus rendering the occupants inside the vehicle safe.
You may have also noticed that the SUV was not the highest point around. There were taller buildings in the background as well as trees and highway lighting. This is why it is stressed that being in the open during a thunderstorm is so dangerous.
Yes, it is true that lightning is "lazy"' in the sense that it will almost always take the quickest, easiest route to the ground therefore striking the higher objects. But not always.
Being on a sports field or golf course makes humans a sitting duck to be struck being that almost undoubtedly, people are the tallest object -- especially with a golf club in your hand.
The 30/30 rule
According to the National Weather Service, in the United States, there are about 25 million lightning flashes every year. Each of those is a potential killer.
While lightning fatalities have decreased over the past 30 years, lightning continues to be one of the top three storm-related killers in the United States. In addition, lightning injures many more people than it kills and leaves some victims with life-long health problems.
The best thing to remember is the 30/30 rule. If you hear thunder within 30 seconds of the flash, go indoors -- You are within striking distance. Do not go back outside until at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
Thankfully, as we progress into the fall months, the number of lightning producing storms begins to decrease with more stable, cooler air masses moving in from the north.
However, this is Florida and thunderstorms are a fact of life here, even in the dead of winter. So don't let lightning catch you off guard.
Copyright 2012 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Cal U softball team embraces early perfection
Success is nothing unusual for the California (Pa.) softball team. A 14-0 start, though, is new territory.
"It's been unreal," said freshman pitcher/first baseman Lindsay Reicoff, a Chartiers Valley graduate. "We go into each game with the same mentality, like it's the championship game each time you play."
Cal, ranked 12th in the country, is one of three unbeaten teams in Division II. Coach Rick Bertagnolli, who has won two national titles and owns a 681-221 record during his 20 years at Cal, admits the career-best start has caught him off guard.
"That's a huge surprise for any coach in any sport," he said. "You go out to win every game, but it just doesn't happen considering the competition you play."
The Vulcans, who open PSAC play against Mercyhurst on Wednesday, have outscored opponents, 99-32. The 15-player roster features no seniors and seven freshmen, several of whom are playing key roles.
Reicoff leads the team with a .500 average, three homers and 15 RBI. Pitcher/outfielder Alex Sagl is 6-0 with a 0.71 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 39 2⁄3 innings.
"We're not looking to sit freshmen," Bertagnolli said. "We had hopes for a number of them to play well. So far, they've gone above that."
The Vulcans' balanced lineup also includes sophomore shortstop and Waynesburg graduate Breanna Morris, who has two homers and 13 RBI.
"It's a true team concept," Bertagnolli said. "Obviously you have to have some luck and breaks to be undefeated. Everyone has contributed. It's come from up and down the order, off the bench."
Cal has established itself as one of the premier D-II softball programs in the country, reaching the NCAA Tournament in 17 of the past 19 years. That tradition, along with the coaching staff, allows the program to go head-to-head with Division I programs for some of the top recruits.
Sagl, a native of Oakville, Ontario, said she chose Cal over Maryland and Siena. She's one of five Canadians on the roster, illustrating the imprint Bertagnolli has made over the border.
"A lot of people know who he is," Sagl said. "He's overall just a great guy. He's taught me a lot already about my mental approach."
Some regular-season losses probably are inevitable for the Vulcans this season. Bertagnolli is more concerned about the postseason.
"It's about championships, not winning games, but championships," said Bertagnolli, who will be inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame this year. "It's pretty much a Western Pennsylvania thing anyway. All the teams are about championships and not winning games."
Jeff Vella is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at email@example.com or via Twitter @JeffVella_Trib.


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Here's the latest Corporate Edition of Readiris. Readiris 14, OCR software - Scan, Convert & Manage your documents!
Readiris 14 is a powerful OCR software designed to convert all your paper documents, images or PDF into editable and searchable digital text (Word, Excel, PDF…) in just a click ! "With its easy interface and speedy OCR conversion, Readiris is recommended for anyone who needs to convert documents to electronic form"
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Convert any paper document, image or PDF into editable and searchable digital files (Word, Excel, PDF, HTML, etc.) using Readiris 14's Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. Simply scan your paper document using the built-in scanning wizard or import image from folders or digital camera. Readiris 14 will instantly convert it to the format of your choice without altering the original layout. Your digital documents will now be easy to edit, archived and shared!
Create searchable PDF
Readiris 14 makes it easy to create searchable and indexed PDF files compatible with virtually any computer. The produced PDF will look exactly the same as the original image while adding a text layer ready to be searched and indexed. It will now be very convenient to find the exact information you are looking for amongst tons of archived documents!
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Store, access and manage your converted documents from any computer, tablet or mobile phone using Readiris 14's new Cloud connector.
Simply select your favourite Cloud hosting service after the conversion process and your document will automatically be exported, ready to be accessed anywhere you are! All your digital archives will now be safely backed-up and accessible when and where you need it the most! Supported Cloud services: Evernote, Dropbox, Box & Google Drive.
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Drastically reduce the size of your images and PDF files using I.R.I.S.'s exclusive high compression technology. This new feature will let you compress your files up to 50 times smaller than the original size without affecting the visual quality. Your compressed documents, in standard PDF format, will be fully searchable and compatible with any usual PDF viewer! The size of your digital documents will no longer be an issue while being stored or shared!
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Readiris Corporate 14.1 Build 2826 Multilingual - Uploaded - RapidGator - DizzCloud


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"Fake a Baby": Missing the Joke About "The Best Gag Gift on Earth"
I think of myself as having a pretty fair sense of humor; able to find something funny in just about anything life can throw at us, but I'm missing the joke when it come to "The best gag gift on Earth…Fake a Baby". Maybe you can explain it to me.
A while back, we heard of a woman selling fake pregnancy tests on Craigslist, and now there's a store for people looking to lie about expecting a baby.
Fake A Baby considers itself home to "The Best Gag Gifts On Earth," with products for sale that include positive pregnancy tests, personalized ultrasound sonograms, fake DNA tests, fake prescriptions, and fake pregnancy bellies at various stages.
The store also has customized newspaper pregnancy announcements and even fake "proof" of pregnancy documents.
Can you explain to me what is so funny about all of this? Enlighten me in the comments section below…


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Season 19
Guy has traveled far and wide in the ol' Camaro, hitting up a tasty variety of butchers, barbecue masters and grilling greats. In this one-hour DDD special, we'll relive some of the most incredible dishes ever created over flames and inside smokers. We're hitting everything from all-American burgers in Tampa, to smoked deli meats in Toronto, to octopus and jerk chicken all the way in Hawaii. And a grilling road trip this stacked wouldn't be complete without a trip to Texas for some classic 'cue. Tuck a napkin into your collar and dig in, this meat spectacular will have you hankerin' for seconds


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Jenson Button insists that McLaren headed to Japan knowing that it would face renewed pressure from Red Bull Racing.
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Jenson Button has admitted that Red Bull's qualifying pace came as no surprise to the McLaren team, and insists that added to having to take a five-place penalty, it only makes his aim of winning back-to-back Japanese grands prix more difficult.
The Briton led the opposition to Red Bull duo Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in qualifying, coming in four-tenths behind the German in third place, but, having been forced to change his gearbox since finishing second in the Singapore Grand Prix, was relegated to eighth in the final order.
"That hurts a little bit," he conceded, "Today was good. This morning, in practice, I wasn't that happy, but we made some good improvements for qualifying. For me, both laps I did in Q3 were good. I was happy with the laps, really enjoyed driving around here, it's always great with low fuel and new tyres - new soft tyres. It was a lot of fun but we're just not quick enough.
"I wouldn't know what to put my finger on, where that four-tenths is. It was a good qualifying for us, so it's just a pity we're starting back in eighth. This place is such a nice place to fight for a win; it's going to be very difficult for me tomorrow, but never say never. There's always possibilities and I think we'll have a good race car."
Having trailed Vettel home in Singapore, Button insisted that he knew Red Bull would be a difficult opponent in Japan, despite the RB8 not having been that competitive on similar circuits in Malaysia and Spain.
"I think we expected them to be quick," he claimed, "Their race pace, especially, has been quick over the last few races. Qualifying hasn't gone their way, and Seb looked really quick in Singapore. Their pace is very good here. I felt really happy with the car but... that was it. I felt I got everything out of it on both laps, but I'm still quite a long way off these two, [even if I'm] a long way in front of everyone else.
"Third place would have been nice to start the race because I think, with this race, you really don't know what's going to happen with tyre strategies and degradation and what-have-you. A lot of people are struggling with blistering.
"But I'm starting down in eighth, and it's not the easiest place to start from. However, I still think we can really race well from there. There's an unusual group of cars in front so, hopefully, we can not just get good points. You never know, maybe we can still challenge these two...."


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Look out, here comes Martin O'Malley
Keep your eyes ahead three years to the summer of 2016 because a character as destructive as Barack Obama is scurrying down the road. If Martin O'Malley, now governor of Maryland and almost maniacally ambitious, succeeds, he will either win the Democrat nomination to replace Obama or, friends say, settle for the vice-president's slot if he is beaten by Hillary Clinton or someone equally tough.
O'Malley is our nation's worst governor. Higher-income residents are fleeing. He has transformed his small state into a model of spiraling taxes and left-wing orthodoxy. He has handed illegal aliens in-state college tuition paid by taxpayers and ordered they be given Maryland driver's licenses as well, banned more guns and is underwriting a hugely expensive offshore wind farm.
The city prison in Baltimore was being run like a cheap crack house and bordello by the inmates; four of the overpaid, unionized female guards were pregnant by just one prisoner whose name they had tattooed on their necks and bodies, and, when exposed last month, O'Malley tried desperately to dodge any responsibility, though he has posed for years as being tough on crime.
One sign of O'Malley's extremism — his "Rain Tax" takes effect on July 1. Homeowners and businesses will pay a yearly tax based on the "impervious surfaces" they own — parking lots, driveways, building roofs — which are rained upon and have water runoff. The taxable areas will be determined by satellite imagery. (Maybe the NSA will volunteer to do it.)
The money collected, estimated at $482 million a year, will be used, O'Malley claims, to reduce runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. Perhaps a "Sun Tax" will be next for O'Malley and his Democratic Party crazies.
I always had a warm spot for Maryland. I have been around the state for more than 50 years. Even now I have an apartment in Chevy Chase, though my wife and I live on the water in rural Virginia.
I spent a year at boarding school in rural Maryland (The Naval Academy Prep School) in 1960 and took my free-weekend duck hunting on the Susquehanna Flats in Havre de Grace, then maybe the best place in America for the sport because of the huge numbers of canvasbacks flying in for the wild celery.
Sometimes, I would hitchhike the 35 miles to Baltimore on a Saturday to visit the bars in the colorful downtown vice center along East Baltimore Street. It was called The Block — very tough bars, hookers, strippers and burlesque houses, including the Two O'clock Club, featuring Blaze Starr.
The central police headquarters overlooked the iniquity from a perch at the end of The Block. The wag's line then was that the cops were sited so close to make the regular collection of cash and cases of whiskey a shorter haul.
The city was run by Democrats, then and now. Nancy Pelosi's father, Big Tommy D'alesandro, had been mayor, as was later her brother, Little Tommy. Her mother, known as Big Nancy, was her husband's bagman, so said my friend Catherine Mackin, then a reporter for the Baltimore Journal American.
Big Nancy was once publicly accused of carrying a $25,000 bribe to Big Tommy, a slick character with diamond rings on each hand, who got a haircut daily and drenched himself in cologne. Those were simpler days. But now we have Martin O'Malley bearing down on America.
I'd take Big Tommy and his troupe any day.
Richard W. Carlson is a former U.S. ambassador to the Seychelles and the former director of the Voice of America.


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Clubs and Organizations
Many St. Thomas MBA students pursue interests beyond the classroom through student-directed clubs. Whether sponsoring activities, speakers and professional development events or bringing together students from similar backgrounds, MBA clubs and organizations create learning opportunities and foster a sense of ethical leadership, professionalism and community.
All clubs are open to all St. Thomas MBA students who join the MBA Student Association, although only Full-time MBA students are eligible to run for office.
All MBA students can join the St. Thomas chapter of the National Association of Women in Business, National Society of Hispanic MBAs, and National Black MBA Association without belonging to the MBA Student Association.


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12 Days of Holiday Gifts: Coconut Macaroonsby Robin Miller in Healthy Holidays, December 3, 2011
Every holiday season, I make loads of confections for the amazing people in my life. That includes teachers, delivery people, friends and neighbors. Last year I gave out chocolate covered pretzel rods (with colored sprinkles on some and slivered almonds on the rest — similar to Toby's recipe) and garlic-parmesan bread twists (made with puff pastry and presented in pretty vases with big red bows). This year, I made macaroons because my son adores them and they're incredibly easy to make. I made one big batch and dunked half of them in melted semi-sweet chocolate (for some reason, my chocolate-loving son Kyle didn't want his dunked!). Check out how short this ingredient list is and how easy they are to make! You can even quadruple the recipe and take care of everyone on your holiday list.
Coconut Macaroons
Note #1: For perfectly cooked macaroons, bake them one baking sheet at a time so they bake evenly.
Note #2: To shape the macaroons once they're on the baking sheet, use moistened fingers (wet your fingers with water).
Makes 48 macaroons (I made mine slightly larger and got 40 macaroons)
14-ounce can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
2 (14-ounce) bags shredded sweetened coconut
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, disks or chunks
Preheat oven to 325ºF. Line four baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
Whisk together condensed milk, egg whites, vanilla and salt. Fold in coconut until well blended. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto prepared pans, about 1-2 inches apart. Bake 20 minutes, until golden brown. Cool pans on wire racks.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water or in the microwave on HIGH (when using the microwave, check and stir the chocolate every 30 seconds to make sure it doesn't burn). Dip macaroons halfway into chocolate, covering half of the cookie. Cool on parchment or wax paper until chocolate hardens.


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Do Days Like This Bring You Down?
It's one of "those days". Chilly, grey, rainy, just not very pleasant all around. Do days like this impact your mood?
We need rain, that's for sure. I was at a state park last weekend and the grass was completely dead and fried. So rain isn't a bad thing.
But, to me at least, this time of year days like this are kind of a bummer. At least in the summer it's still warm.
But today is chilly and wet. And unfortunately we're at that time of year where it's only going to get colder over the next couple of weeks.
My day has been dragging so far today and I think the weather has a lot to do with it.
Do days like this bring you down? Tell us in the comments!


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Posts: 104
Karma: 104
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Florida
Device: kindle dx, kindle touch SO, kindle fire, kindle fire hd8.9
Detailed Kindle DX Feedback
I recently e-mailed some detailed feedback to Amazon at their Kindle DX feedback address. I thought I would post this here as well (to get some feedback on the "feedback"), and to provide a place for others to add their K2 or KDX reactions as well. As the e-reader market heats up (particularly after CES 2010) Amazon will probably be making some moves to enhance their product line (just yesterday they announced their intention to create a Kindle "app store"). There are probably many things that Amazon can do via firmware upgrades, and changes to the Kindle store websites. Perhaps this thread can be a point to collect a variety of viewpoints on possible enhancements. My feedback to Amazon is posted below:
Well, I've had my Kindle DX for little more than two months now (time enough for the cognitive dissonance effects to wear off). I feel now is about as good a time as any to provide some detailed technical feedback on the device, and suggest some improvements. Before I get into the gory details, let me say that I am generally well-pleased with the product.
Let me begin by outlining the reasons that I decided to buy the Kindle DX. I don't like to read off of screens. I print most things out on paper before I read them. This is expensive in terms of toner and paper (to say nothing of all the paper piles ). I decided to buy a Kindle DX, and use it primarily as a replacement for my printers. I figure I will recover the cost of the Kindle in about a year from savings in toner and paper not used. The kindle is not perfect, but for me it is better than anything else I've tried (it also helps that for the last several years almost all of my book purchase have been through Amazon :-)). To have a good reading experience, the screen has to be large, and the device can't be heavy (I like to read lying on my side in bed -- you're not gonna do that with a laptop, netbook, etc. The Kindle DX works just great in bed.
I really like the ability to buy a book and have it delivered within minutes without having to make a trip to the bookstore. the wide availability of out of copyright, out-of-print, public domain titles is also nice -- I am getting reacquainted with many favorite titles from my past (including Tom Swift, Tom Corbett, and PG Wodehouse). Overall, I find the device easy to use, and interactions with my local PC, and the Kindle store to be mostly understandable.
I had high hopes for using the Kindle DX as my main magazine reading device. Unfortunately the selection of magazines is not great, and the subscription prices -- as many others have noted -- are outrageous to say the least. At the very least where a magazine publisher provides access to a website associated with their print edition, this should also be included in the Kindle subscription price. I would also very much like to see Kindle subscriptions offered with an annual subscription pricing option.
About half of the volumes that I purchase are technical computer books -- these are roughly analogous to textbooks in the ways that I use them. The selection here in the Kindle store could be much better. I hope that going forward Amazon makes a concerted effort to get technical book publishers to release Kindle editions of their products.
Beyond books, much of what I intend to read on the Kindle is stuff that I formerly printed to paper before reading. Going forward I am looking to using my Kindle DX as an out and out replacement for my monochrome laser printers. To this end the PDF support in the Kindle DX is a good first step.
Much of what I do is research on technical topics. I scan through technical books: highlighting, annotating, and bookmarking as I go. I also browse through thousands of webpages copying out fragments of interest and pasting them (along with the highlighted passages from the technical books) into the Microsoft OneNote program. I add notes as appropriate and composite and layout note pages to help me organize my thoughts. In the past, when I had a well-composed note page, I would print it out for later perusal. Now, I want to take the OneNote page, and place it on the Kindle. A simple, bulletproof "print to Kindle" feature for OneNote, Word, PowerPoint, and the more popular browsers would be my highest priority "want to have".
Right now, I am using a couple of "print to PDF" drivers, and the OneNote "publish to PDF" to accomplish my desires -- but the process is somewhat clumsy. Also, the lack of PDF reflow and real page numbering on the Kindle makes the reading experience less than ideal. Better PDF rendering searching, and annotating would be a desirable addition to the Kindle environment. If this is not possible, then perhaps some features to facilitate the scripting of "print to PDF" followed by "Copy or e-mail to Kindle" could be provided. The most useful of these from my point of view would be some way to reliably detect when the Kindle is tethered to my PC. If the Kindle is tethered, then I could copy any created PDFs directly to the Kindle. However, if the Kindle is not tethered, then a script could copy the PDFs to some staging area.
This brings up another point: Amazon maintains a store of Kindle items purchased from them (called the Archive)). One can load items from the Archive using whispernet onto your Kindle, and when you are finished with them, push them back to the archive. It would be very useful if a similar facility could be created for personal non-Kindle store items. In this case a staging area would be created on your PC, and personal items could be loaded from the staging area onto the Kindle, and later pushed back to the staging area -- in much the same way that the Amazon archive works now. Perhaps this could best be accommodated using the Kindle for PC's "My Kindle Content" folder. If this were done, then the scripting discussed in the previous paragraph could be much simpler (or perhaps not needed at all). Options should be provided to the user to govern whether items in the staging area should be automatically copied to the Kindle whenever it connects to the PC, or not. Perhaps some automatic feature for moving personal items from the Kindle back to the staging area on the PC could also be provided instead of the current "delete from device" functionality. Also the ability to "backup" my archive to a location on my PC would be desirable in case of "accidents".
As many others have requested (and as I believe Amazon has agreed to), I would wish that there were some kind of folder or tagged organizing capability.
Another important feature for me would be the ability to search backwards in a document that I am reading from the point I am currently at in the document. When one purchases a Kindle document that contains multiple volumes from an author (as I recently purchased 33 volumes of PG Wodehouse), searching from the beginning of such a Kindle document is almost useless.
This brings me to some comments about the Amazon website in general, and the Kindle store in particular. On the Amazon website when looking at a book not available on the Kindle, there is an option to notify Amazon that a Kindle edition would be desirable. It would be useful, if when one pushed the "I want it on Kindle" button, the title could be entered into a special customer wish list -- perhaps titled "Wanted on Kindle". This wish list could then be checked on future Kindle requests to avoid duplication; the list could also be useful with third-party add-ons (such as Mysteria -- or Amazon could themselves provide notification when titles on the "Wanted on Kindle" list become available).
When browsing a title in the Kindle store, the only options you have are to purchase the item immediately, or add it to your general wish list. There is no analogous option to "add to cart" followed by "save for later". Perhaps, an option for the user to customize a "save for later" wish list (with the prices included) could be provided. In this way users could better aggregate and manage projected Kindle edition purchases. Perhaps also, a "bulk buy" option could be added to the Kindle store to enable purchasing multiple titles in a single transaction. For many of us in professional situations, this would be helpful in tracking Kindle related expenditures.
Following is a list (in no particular order) of a bunch of "nice to haves" that I believe could be provided through firmware updates, or changes to the appropriate Kindle websites:
Everything I've requested up to this point can be provided by software changes to the Amazon websites, or by firmware upgrades to the Kindle 2 and Kindle DX. What follows, are items that can only be accomplished on a new hardware platform (a "Kindle 3"?). Color, for most of what I read is not essential, or even (in most cases) desirable. However, for many magazines (Scientific American comes to mind) color is essential, and for many others it is highly desirable. E-Ink color will come, but it is still in laboratory development -- so it is a couple of years away -- other color display technologies are possible now, but they weigh more, have less flexible form factors, and consume more power. Dual display approaches as used in the Nook, and some other readers announced at CES 2010 are basically stopgaps, and I would not recommend them.
Anyhow in no particular order below are features I would like to see in the next Kindle platform:
Some other minor enhancements (not sure whether these would be possible or not), but in no particular order:
Well that's about it; I hope that this provides you with some useful feedback. Please feel free to contact meat the e-mail address above should you have any questions or comments.
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Lucy, 36, tracked down Mr Pound after her birth mother told her he was known as "Precious" at school.
Despite being told he was a "nutter who died at sea" she found a reference to Mr Pound on Friends Reunited.
Lucy's mother kept her pregnancy secret and had her adopted at four weeks. Mr Pound found out about it last year.
That happened when Lucy wrote to his Parliamentary office saying she believed he was her father.
'Happy ending'
Mr Pound, who is now married with two other teenage children, said: "I was a nutter and I was a sailor but I wasn't dead."
He said his first reaction was to wonder if he was victim of a "set-up" but he then realised all the dates fitted.
"It was a pretty horrible thing with a pretty happy ending. I felt guilt in the marrow of my bones," said the Ealing North MP.
"I don't blame Lucy's mother. I was pretty much out of control. I was 18 when she was conceived. It was a different time - it was pretty wild."
Lasting encounter
Mr Pound says he rang Lucy as soon as he got her letter, they met up and have been in contact ever since.
Describing that first meeting at London's King Cross station, he said: "The earth went from under my feet ... We were walking across the Euston Road and I took her arm to take her across and there was an immediate connection.
"We were finishing each other sentences."
Lucy, who was adopted by a family from Essex, wants to remain anonymous for the sake of her adoptive father and her children.
Mr Pound said his wife Maggie had been fully supportive and their two children Emily, 16, and Pelham, 14 were pleased to have an older sister.


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India have confirmed that their tour of South Africa is on, albeit the fixtures have been curtailed to two Tests and three ODIs. The schedule for the series will be announced at a later date, a press release by the BCCI said. It was earlier reported that the tour would conclude with the Boxing Day Test.
The announcement followed after Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed it will suspend its CEO Haroon Lorgat pending an inquiry into his comments against the BCCI. The inquiry would be handled by an independent committee appointed by the ICC.
This brings to an end a bitter episode between the BCCI and CSA, one which the BCCI insists was instigated by Lorgat's adverse views towards it.
India had been opposed to Lorgat's appointment as the CSA chief and it led to deterioration of the cricketing relations between the two nations. In this period, the BCCI snubbed South Africa by inviting the West Indies for a home series which ate into the time allotted to the tour of South Africa. India were earlier scheduled to play three Tests, seven ODIs and a T20.
In a joint statement by the BCCI and CSA, BCCI's secretary Sanjay Patel said, "The agreement to tour was concluded by the two boards after various concerns were raised around the recent ICC Board meeting in London about the alleged conduct of CSA's Chief Executive, Mr Haroon Lorgat, and recent comments made about the ICC Board by a former legal advisor to CSA, Mr David Becker."
Till the outcome of the ICC's investigation, Lorgat would not represent CSA in its dealings with the BCCI, nor would he attend the ICC's executive committee meetings.
Patel added: "The ICC and CSA have already refuted the comments made by Mr Becker, and the ICC is now considering its legal options in respect of the same. In addition, the ICC will convene an investigation by an independent third party (to be appointed by the ICC) into the content and distribution of the media comments, subsequent attempts to have them withdrawn, and, in particular, the role of Mr Lorgat in relation to these matters."


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Russel Wright design for Bartlett Collins Glass Co. Classic mid-century design called eclipse has gold and colored polka dots on the Oklahoma shape. Old fashioned stands 3 3/8" high with a rim diameter of 3 1/2". There are 2 green, 2 orange, 1 dark blue and 1 purple. The gold has a mottled effect similar to the ones shown from the original ads. These can be seen on page 234 of the Kerr book on Russel Wright.
There are no chips, cracks, fleabites or repairs. The gilt trim on the rims show no wear and all the tumblers are almost 100% intact. One of the orange tumblers shows some manufacturing flaws as shown in the last photo.
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Specializing in pottery, china and glassware from the Canadian prairie


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Lock UpStrange Summons - Season 2, Episode 14 (1960) - A man is tricked into helping a robber open a safe and finds himself framed for robbery and murder, needing the help of Herbert Maris to get out of it.
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Welcome to the
Council of Administrators of Family and Consumer Sciences (CAFCS)
CAFCS is a National organization of individuals who hold administrative roles in Family and Consumer Sciences in colleges and universities. This organization of 200 plus active and lifetime members began in 1960, with a group of administrators meeting annually at The Lake Michigan Conferences in Chicago. In 1966 they became an official organization known as the National Council of Administrators of Home Economics, holding their first stand-alone meeting in February of 1966.
The mission of CAFCS is to strengthen family and consumer sciences and related units in higher education through the development of excellence in administration. The organization seeks to achieve this mission by focusing on leadership development. The annual CAFCS meeting held in February is designed to focus on leadership skills. In addition CAFCS works collaboratively with the Higher Education Unit (HEU) of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) and the Board of Human Sciences (BOHS) to provide leadership development conferences for new and emerging administrators.
Membership is open to Deans of Colleges, Schools, and Extension;
Chairs or Heads of Family and Consumer Sciences Departments within
Schools and Colleges; and other individuals in administrative
roles relating to the profession of Family and Consumer Sciences.
To learn how you might become a member contact Lisa W. Booth, or see the application form at cafcs.org/membership/application.asp
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CAFCS is a member of the Family & Consumer Sciences Alliance Branding Initiative, which communicates the value of the family and consumer sciences field. The icon conveys the essence of the field.


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When the Monty Python crew tossed off their signature phrase, "…and now for something completely different," they probably weren't thinking of how programming gets done for the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, whose season opens July 20 at St. Francis Auditorium.
But it became mighty clear in my annual pre-festival chat-up with artistic director Marc Neikrug that surprise and contrast play a major role in the way he's planned many of this season's concerts.
Take that opening program for instance. As high-energy appetizer, there's something old: Bach's Brandenburg No. 2, the one with all those stratospheric trumpet acrobatics. Then something new: excerpts from the rarely heard Andalusian elegy for guitar and narrator, Castelnuovo-Tedesco's "Platero y Yo." The narrative comes from Nobel-winning Spanish writer, Juan Ramón Jiménez—a touching, charming collection of vignettes about a burro and his owner. And finally, to polish things off with a flourish: the super-bravura, super-romantic Cello Sonata of Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Another chance to hear a program of a more-than-slightly different cast happens later that week when the Shanghai Quartet performs a repertory staple, the Ravel Quartet. But then Baritone Laurent Naouri, currently the Santa Fe Opera's Falstaff, follows up with Schumann's "Dichterliebe," a passionate, probing setting of 16 Heine love-lyrics. Like the opening concerts, this one finishes with another grandly scaled, late-romantic work, the rarely performed Piano Quintet of Sergei Taneyev.
The program can be first heard in Albuquerque at the Kimo on July 23, when it will be broadcast live over KHFM. Santa Fe will get the in-person experience the following evening, 6 pm at St. Francis.
Neikrug likes to spice up the standard meat-and-potatoes chamber repertory with exceptional, rarely programmed pieces by second or third ranked composers. The Taneyev provides one example of that. On Aug. 21 there's another: the Bruch String Octet.
Composed in the last few months of Bruch's life and published posthumously, it's a dark-toned, Brahmsian work, unjustly neglected and largely unknown to most performers and audiences. Neikrug says that getting these pieces into the concert hall provides an "injection of fuel" not only for audiences but also for the top-flight artists who come to Santa Fe for just such opportunities.
He comments that the right programming finds a balance between what he calls "politics and practicality." It's also about presenting the performers, especially the younger ones, in the best possible light. The Aug. 9 concert comes to mind: young Israeli pianist, Benjamin Hochman, plays Bach's "Goldberg Variations," a baroque Everest of stamina and interpretive judgement that Hochman is ready to climb.
Festival-commissioned premieres will happen this summer as they do every season. To complement Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater in its American premiere at the Santa Fe Opera, the ensemble Real Quiet will offer three world premiere performances of a new work by the Finnish composer, beginning Aug. 5.
Another first hearing, this of Puerto Rican Roberto Sierra's Concierto de Cámera, with the combined forces of the African-American wind quintet, Imani Winds, and the Miami String Quartet, takes place July 27 and 28. The season features commissions by Huang Ruo and Joan Tower as well.
For Neikrug, there just isn't another string quartet playing Beethoven nowadays that can touch the Orion Quartet. They've been regulars at SFCMF for a goodly while now, and commenced their Beethoven cycle last summer. This season they'll wrap it up in three concerts, finishing on Aug. 11 with a reading of Op. 130 that includes the ever-astonishing "Grosse Fugue."
On a slightly nosey note, I asked Neikrug how he felt in general about his work with the SFCMF. "It fits me very well," was his summing up. He's 61 and entering his 11th summer as artistic director or, as he puts it, "the first season of my second decade."
There'll be fewer concerts on the road with Pinchas Zukerman after a year or so, and more time for Neikrug's passion for composition. He's scheduled a couple of his own works this summer: the Piece for Pro Piano Hamburg Steinway Model D & Marimba One, and on the penultimate program, his semi-staged monodramatic meditation on the Holocaust, Through Roses.
Alan Gilbert, conductor-designate of the New York Philharmonic, heard Neikrug's Piano Quintet three years back, liked it, and suggested the piece might bear expansion into a large-scale symphonic work. It became Neikrug's Symphony No. 2, "Quintessence," and Gilbert premiered it with the NYP last March to critical acclaim. Along with directing the SFCMF, Neikrug relishes the chance for more composing.
That means he's not thinking retirement. Far from it. He's conjured up an agenda for what he wants to get done over the next few years, and as his friend, composer-conductor Oliver Knussen remarked, he's "mapped it out." As of now the map doesn't necessarily include the whole nine symphonies thing. But Neikrug's hoping for three or four more, anyway, while he's at it.
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
Various times and locations from Sunday, July 20 through Aug. 25.


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Text copyright © 2013 by J.J. Cramer & Co. From JIM CRAMER'S GET RICH CAREFULLY, reprinted with permission from Blue Rider Press, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
When I started investing I cared only about the fundamentals. And for the longest time that really was about all you should have focused on, beyond some traditional sector analysis. Think about it: we didn't have index funds or sector ETFs; our companies hadn't grown as global as they are now; the government hasn't been this interventionist since FDR and the New Deal; and interest rates didn't affect stocks as instantaneously as they do now. But what a company does and where it fits into the vast economic scheme of things still matters tremendously, even after all of these other influences are gamed. And that means we need to be as shrewd as ever about how to examine fundamental inputs.
The first and most important fundamental influence? The company's growth rate. While a company's past-how much revenue and earnings it has booked historically-can be very important, it's not the most significant factor when we are determining how much to pay for an individual stock at any given moment. What matters is how fast a company's sales and earnings are growing, especially in the context of what is expected of the company. The expectations are set by the analyst community, which is why we have to pay so much attention to the consensus of those expectations. Fortunately, you can find these analysts' aggregate expectations for sales and earnings at a whole host of websites, including CNBC.com, Yahoo! Finance and TheStreet. While I have stated my case that the invisible forces outlined above now tend to dominate the day-to-day pricing of stocks, the ability of an individual company to generate earnings and sales in excess of those expectations remains the biggest factor in trying to figure out if the stock is going to go up or down over both the near and longer term.
At all times we are trying to figure out how fast a company can grow, compared to both all other stocks and the stocks in its sector. We need to know how to assess how a company performs in times of not just domestic but worldwide economic acceleration and deceleration.
Earlier I detailed the notion of cyclical versus secular growth, the growth that is hostage to economic forces and the growth that is dependent upon longer-term themes that don't revolve around the increase or contraction of the gross domestic product. We are always on the lookout for companies that can better both their sector's growth and the economy's growth as a whole. If we can profit from secular-growth companies, that's terrific, but we may have to pay a too-high-to-sleep-at-night price for it. In other words, the price-to-earnings multiple, what we will pay for that stream of future earnings, is higher or more expensive than what we might be willing to pay for a stock with a far more variable, economically dependent earnings stream. That's nothing new. But since the Great Recession, there has been a big change in the price tag of stocks with this kind of consistent growth, because worldwide economic activity has slowed and is now so sporadic that it can't be counted on to produce excessive earnings gains from cyclical stocks. The world has become a much more difficult place for companies to grow earnings consistently. So many economies are now experiencing sluggish, intermittent growth that we treasure any company that can maintain any constant level of growth. Who's got that? Many companies, but the ones I regard as classic growth stocks include Kimberly-Clark, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, General Mills, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Hershey, Kellogg and Clorox. These stocks are trading at historically high levels because they can deliver consistent, albeit slow, earnings growth in a tepid economy.
On the other hand, if your company's fortunes are linked to the slings and arrows of global or domestic growth, then you have a classic cyclical on your hands, and you need to anticipate any reacceleration or deceleration or both, something that's become exceedingly difficult to monitor. That's why if you own Caterpillar, Ford, General Motors, General Electric or Cummins, the engine company, to name some examples, you have to be on top of world events, particularly in China, pretty much every day.


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Ethnic & Alt. Glossary
Ethnic media
Ethnic media is a term that is still sometimes debated. Some will argue that for ethnic media to truly be considered "ethnic media," it must be both produced/owned by and targeted at a particular ethnic community. Others say that if an outlet is simply targeted at a particular ethnic population that is enough for it to be considered ethnic media.