text:
Apple iTunes to shut down if charged higher royalties
"If [iTunes] was forced to absorb any increase in the ... royalty rate, the result would be to significantly increase the likelihood of the store operating at a financial loss - which is no alternative at all," iTunes vice president Eddy Cue wrote in a statement to the ruling body last year. He went on to say that "Apple has repeatedly made it clear that it is in this business to make money, and most likely would not continue to operate [iTunes] if it were no longer possible to do so profitably."
Though it sounds like a bold claim, industry analysts aren't entirely sure as to whether the store will actually be shut down. They added that, with the integration of iTunes into industry consumer goods such as the iPod and iPhone, the idea of entirely shuttering the service is remote. However, they added, Apple is keeping the "nuclear" idea of shutting down the store as an option. Should Apple choose to absorb the rise in costs, they would do so for quite a bit of time, as the CRB's ruling would set royalty rates for the next five years.
Source: TimesOnline via TUAW
18 Comments
1. (unregistered)
Apple won't shut down Itunes. Its only a threat but they are too smart to shut it down.
2. Anomalies (Posts: 61; Member since: 08 Jun 2008)
Bad form Apple, bad form I say!
3. (unregistered)
If they do so they will be shooting themselves on the foot
4. (unregistered)
i agree with eddy cue. why keep a store open that isn't profitable? thats why apple has been so successful. i admit i would miss the podcasts but thats about it, i download my music illegaly still just like most, so as long as the itunes program still works for ipods and such i'm fine with the outcome.
8. (unregistered)
I understand it no longer being profitable but how many ipod sales will they loose to Zune and other portable music palyers if they shut it down? Why can't they just up increase the fee to download a song from $0.99 to $1.05? That cover the increase they pay and it is pasted on the public. Inflation is a bia! I myself have never purchaed anything from itunes but did use it to burn cds before MP11 was released and have a 30gig ipod but lod it with either ripped music or music downloaded else where.
5. (unregistered)
this really doesnt belong on a site like this. yes, i understand that the iphone uses itunes, but this isnt phone news
6. (unregistered)
nevertheless, its relevant. The whole concept of the iphone is an ipod on your phone. So, without itunes...
10. (unregistered)
without itunes what? you can get your music elsewhere, which is what most people do anyway?
11. (unregistered)
Its ok this person just needs something to B**ch about, they have nothing better to do.
16. (unregistered)
lol why pay, when you can get it for free
7. (unregistered)
keep in mind that if they shut it down....its only going to affect your purchases of songs...not the program itself...apple would not suffer any huge loss from it if the itunes store is not turning a profit anyway...you can already take music from somewhere else and convert it into itunes to put on your precious ipods and iphones. its all just a cost factor for apple.
9. (unregistered)
This is the biggest bunch of bull I've heard in a long time! Talk about empty threats. Apple would simply pass along the increase to the consumer. Get ready for $1.25 songs.
12. (unregistered)
Yet one more reason to hate Apple. They will get their's one day. When all the lemmings of the world have walked off the Apple cliff and died, Apple will go broke and Steve Jobs will just roll around in the money he has stashed away. His employees will not be able to feed their kids but he won't care. He's already screwed so many people financially that he will be rich till he dies. $1200 for a crappy laptop? C'mon guys! Get a clue!
13. apple fan boy (unregistered)
its a laptop that comes in colors bro! can match your i pod! its 1200 dollars well spent even thou all i do is blog and email but who cares it looks cool bro! i dont do graphic design or do anything usefull on it but i look cool on it when im on it thats all that matters! bro! can you spare a dolla bro im broke
17. (unregistered)
haha great, its so slim, its even easier to break...The new MacBook haha, there is a great slogan right there.
14. Pekn (unregistered)
Blah itunes. Apple should just get burried. They are acting like some movie star sueing anyone who even eats an apple. I don't even need to steal music anymore, you can get it free from ruckus with a .edu email account.
15. (unregistered)
come on~ who will believe the "shutting down" bull*~ non profitable??? LOL, its Apple!!!! they will squid our money in every possible way~~and yet it worth, we have no doubt that their products are good.
18. (unregistered)
and then they will release a software with different name


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ISOLATION has been a major factor in disconnecting our soccer from the global marketplace, especially intellectually, but with sound thinking, isolation can become an advantage and allow Australia to produce its own style of game. And its own type of coaches.
Like the Yugoslavs in the '80s, the Brazilians and Dutch in the '90s and the Barcelona coaches today, as a country tastes international success home-grown coaches become highly sought after.
Coaching can become a lucrative export industry in the soccer economy when a nation becomes known for promoting a distinctive and desirable style of game. This should be Australia's goal, especially in Asia.
As the Chinese and Middle Eastern markets grow, the appetite for high-level professional coaches will increase exponentially. Football Federation Australia is planning for this future with new coaching licences that teach a proactive style of game and the diverse and complex methodology required to bring it to life. I believe we should aim to develop an attacking soccer culture well known and respected within Asia, and later the world, for producing technicians with the boldness born of the Great Southern Land.
This style of soccer would be almost proprietary - unique to Australia and easily identifiable. This brand would become apparent in time through our junior national teams as they continue to learn how to control the ball and the game in any context.
Although there is still a discussion to be had about how best to use our physical characteristics, we are well on our way towards this long-term outcome with a new generation of highly trained coaches coming through.
The shift towards playing a style of soccer based on possessing the ball and building the play has been tremendously important and has spread across the game from the grassroots.
It's clear that young coaches everywhere have a desire for their teams to play thinking football and are seeking the tools to make it happen. It is vital the A-League leads the way through example.
It took a while. We started with the old-style hoof-and-boof in the early years, but in recent times there has been a positive shift towards a more advanced form of soccer (although there is still a long way to go). For that reason, it was positive to see Wellington Phoenix declare it would play a more possession-based game, despite its present struggles to implement that plan.
A caveat, however. It is important to have a mix of styles so the league doesn't become one-dimensional. The league must offer a limited mix of tactical problems, making the more counter-attacking style of the Mariners and Wanderers a very important counter-balance to those teams seeking control of the ball, rather than the space.
That both Central Coast and Western Sydney are having success makes perfect sense, given that teams trying to control the game are taking only their first steps on a steep learning curve. Most interesting is the success of two debutant coaches, Tony Popovic and John Aloisi. Popovic has demonstrated an understanding of tactical adaptation with the Wanderers that the league has not seen before. Aloisi has the Heart on the cusp of finals football, above at least four coaches with decades more experience.
The likes of Aloisi, Popovic, assistant coach at the Heart, Ante Milicic, and Young Socceroos coach Paul Okon also represent our first chance to export a coach to Europe. A coach based on the continent would provide an important link to the latest methods - turbocharging our growth.
The trend towards brain over brawn is a critical one for our future. When even Perth Glory and the Phoenix start to play this kind of football, you know we are on our way.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Rayman DS
Review by JonWood007
"Get this if you like Super Mario 64 DS"
This game is very good. It is the first Rayman game I ever played and I thought it was awesome.
Story: 7/10
It's a little random. Razorbeard and other robot pirates take over the world and shatter some thing into 1,000 pieces, now Rayman needs to get all the pieces, free his captured friends, and defeat Razorbeard.
Graphics: 8/10
For a DS game it's decent, but not very impressive. Super Mario 64 DS and Metroid Prime Hunters First Hunt had much better graphics. They seem a little more pixelated and all. It's still one of the best things I've seen out for DS though and it is about equal if not a little better than a N64 game.
Audio: 8/10
Suspenseful music and decent sound effects. Rayman speaks gibberish.
The controls may seem different at first (maybe because of constantly playing Sm64DS) but they are easy to get used to.
Game Play: 10/10
This game has awesome game play. The worlds are very diverse and you do many different things, you can even waterski and ride shells in many different ways (like horse and likes rockets) The levels themselves range from swamps, to cliffs, to jungle type things, to places with lava, to the prison ship in the sky. This game is also very long so it will keep you interested for a while. This game is hard, but it's not so frustrating hard you want to throw your new(ish) DS at a wall or something. It will keep you interested. It takes many hours to complete making it worth your money. This game is very fun.
Replayability: 10/10
First off, this game will keep you interested for a while. I already mentioned this. It will take probably 30 hours on average to beat the campaign (less with a walk through), and then more time to collect all 1,000 lums.
Overall: 8.8/10
This game is worth the $35 you can probably get this for at wal-mart. If you liked Super Mario 64 DS, you will like this.
Reviewer's Rating: 4.5 - Outstanding
Originally Posted: 05/23/05
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|Brown Gradient
|Dark Tortoise / Green
Dark Tortoise / Green plastic frame.
Brown Gradient plastic lenses.
Lens shape is Butterfly / Almost Oval.
Women's style. 100% UV protection.
Available in 5 colour variations.
Authentic Celine product, comes with its branded Celine carrying case and all other material provided by the manufacturer.
For everybody who likes the Audrey Hepburn style in Breakfast at Tiffany's with a contemporary touch.


text:
Assessment |
Biopsychology |
Comparative |
Cognitive |
Developmental |
Language |
Individual differences |
Personality |
Philosophy |
Social |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |
Clinical: Approaches · Group therapy · Techniques · Types of problem · Areas of specialism · Taxonomies · Therapeutic issues · Modes of delivery · Model translation project · Personal experiences ·
Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT), developed by Dr. Ellen Frank and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh, is based on the idea that disruptions in daily routines and problems in interpersonal relationships can cause recurrence of the manic and depressive episodes that characterize bipolar disorder [1].
References Edit
- Frank, Ellen, David J. Kupfer, Michael E. Thase, Alan G. Mallinger, Holly A. Swartz, Andrea M. Fagiolini, Victoria Grochocinski, Patricia Houck, John Scott, Wesley Thompson, and Timothy Monk (September 2005). Two-Year Outcomes for Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy in Individuals With Bipolar I Disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry 62 (9): 996-1004. PMID 16143731.


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HOW TO BE A NEW YORKER Introduces 'Insider NYC Picks' on Website
The writers and stars of Off-Broadway's hit comedy How To Be a New Yorker, Margaret Copeland and Kevin James Doyle, today added an exciting new feature to the show's website called "Margaret & Kevin's NY Picks." This resource provides insider tips to their personal favorite interesting, unusual and offbeat hotspots in this gigantic metropolis known as the Big Apple. Even the most hardened, veteran New Yorkers are certain to discover fascinating and fun local destinations by checking this out on a weekly basis. These two actors/comedians are also licensed NYC tour guides and now, at last, they're now sharing their combined wealth of experience with the masses.
HOW TO BE A NEW YORKER delivers a laugh filled tour around the greatest city in the world with Margaret Copeland and Kevin James Doyle as they play over 60 characters. Under the direction of OBIE Award winner Robert Ross Parker, this "Saturday Night Live" style comedy features a hilarious look at NYC's 400 year history. Immigrants, construction workers, muggers, Wall Street bankers, panhandlers, MTA workers, and Mayor Bloomberg all get a solid lampooning! It doesn't matter if you were born on the Upper West Side or just took your first terrifying cab ride, you will love learning How To Be a New Yorker.
HOW TO BE A NEW YORKER is produced Off-Broadway by CRC Productions and Marie B Productions. The playing schedule is Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays at 2 PM, and the running time is 65 minutes (with no intermission). Pre-show lunch or dinner is served beginning 30 minutes before each performance at Sofia's Downstairs Theater, 221 West 46 Street (between Broadway & Eighth Ave.) Matinee tickets are $45 (which includes lunch) and evening performances are $55 (including dinner), and are available by calling 212-352-3101 or through www.How2BaNewYorker.com.


text:
KENDAL speed ace James Ellison is keen erase the memory of round four of the British Superbikes Championship at Knockhill after entering unchartered waters.
For the first time this season, the 33-year-old failed to register a podium finish after crashing out of race one following a collision with Stuart Easton.
This triggered a series of events which ultimately resulted in the Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki rider recording an eighth-place finish in the second race.
But despite the disappointment of the weekend, Ellison remains third in the BSB Standings and is not prepared to dwell on a situation he could do little about.
"I literally crashed back down to earth, it was a terrible weekend," he said.
"It was really disappointing but as a team we're still in third place and still in the fight for the Championship.
"The other good thing is Josh Brookes, who is my main challenger at the minute, didn't get any podium credits either so we didn't really lose anything.
"We just need to redeem ourselves at Brands Hatch next time out. We have ridden well every weekend so far with a 100 per cent podium finish record.
"The bike has been really reliable up to now so we've just got to forget about the weekend and pretend it didn't happen.
"There is not much we can learn from it. We didn't make any mistakes – we were knocked back through a fault not of our own making.
"As a team we didn't do anything wrong and I don't believe I rode any worse. It's just a case of forgetting about it and pushing for some wins."
Race one was won by triple BSB champion Ryuichi Kiyonari – the Japanese rider's first win since 2011 – ahead of Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki duo Shane Byrne and Easton.
In the early stages, after looking to move ahead of Easton at the hairpin on lap two, the pair made contact as Ellison slid out of contention.
This had knock on effects which impacted upon race two, with Byrne taking full advantage of a mistake by Kiyonari to win by 0.176s.
"I had a real good start to race one and got up to third but was teeboned from behind by Stuart Easton which ruined the whole weekend and kicked off a chain of events," added Ellison.
"We were penalised and lost position on the grid as I didn't get a lap time. So even though I got hit by someone else I was moved back three rows and started from 14th.
"The crash also damaged the bike quite a lot so we had to put a whole new brake system in for race two and had some issues.
"We didn't get time to test it and I couldn't slow down and couldn't make any passing manoeuvres.
"Again, I got a really good start, moving to seventh or eighth on the first lap but every time I overtook someone I couldn't stop for the corner.
"I rode as hard as I could and battled through but had to settle for eighth."


text:
A just-released Washington Post/ABC News poll strongly suggests that American attitudes toward the war in Iraq have not been changed by the recent activities and exorbitant press coverage surrounding new anti-war idol Cindy Sheehan:
The survey also suggests, however, that Sheehan's anti-war vigil has failed to mobilize large numbers of Americans against the war. If anything, her opposition has done as much to drive up support for the war as ignite opponents, the survey found.
Eight in 10 Americans--including overwhelming majorities of Democrats, Republicans and political independents--say Sheehan's protest has had no impact on their attitudes toward Iraq. While one in 10 say she has made them less likely to support the war, the same proportion say she has made them more likely to back the conflict.
Yet, what is peculiar about this release is its absence from today's Washington Post print edition. The results were posted at the WaPo website at 7:00AM eastern time, and, conceivably were given to the editors too late to make this morning's paper. However, one wonders if these numbers had shown huge movements in public opinion as a result of Cindy and Company's protests if this would have been headline news today. Moreover, it shall be interesting to watch how prominently these numbers are displayed in tomorrow's paper if at all.
In addition, this article at the WaPo website suggests that more information from this poll will be released at 5 PM today. Curiously, ABC News is already giving more details at its site. And, they even seem more honest in presenting the results right from the get-go with their headline and opening paragraph:
Poll: 'Peace Mom' Has Changed Few Minds
Cindy Sheehan's Crawford, Texas, Vigil Wins Sympathizers, But Few Change War Stance
Aug. 30, 2005 - Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan has won some sympathizers, but hasn't changed many minds: As many Americans say Sheehan has made them more likely to support the war as to oppose it, and the vast majority says she hasn't changed their views at all.
Compare that with WaPo's headline and opening paragraph:
Slight Majority Say Bush Should Meet With Sheehan
Survey Suggests Mother's Actions Have Little Impact on War Views
By Richard Morin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 30, 2005; 7:00 AM
Slightly more than half of the country says President Bush should meet with Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed last year in Iraq, who is leading a protest against the war outside Bush's ranch in Crawford, Tex., according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Interesting disparity. Moreover, one of the most compelling findings of this poll that WaPo chose not to share with its readers – at least, not yet anyway – is how Cindy Sheehan's efforts have actually made military families more in favor of the war, while doing little to change the minds of non-military families:
Twenty-two percent [of military families] say she's made them more apt to support the war, 17 percent say she's made them more apt to oppose it. That compares to 8 percent and 9 percent, respectively, in non-military households.
These polling results certainly contradict assertions made by many news agencies in the past week that Cindy Sheehan represents a tipping point in the anti-war movement akin to CBSNews broadcaster Walter Cronkite's anti-Vietnam war statements in 1968. As a result, it certainly deserves attention in the next 24 hours to see how both of these news agencies are going to disseminate these results, and how others in the media will as well.


text:
Energy Policies and Their Consequences After 25 Years
Hans Landsberg and Sam Schurr each led research teams that produced two important energy futures policy studies that were published in 1979. The conclusions, policy recommendations, and energy demand, supply, and price forecasts contained in these studies are reviewed. Developments in U.S. energy policy over the last 25 years are discussed and compared with the recommendations contained in the two studies. The projections of energy demand, supply, and prices for 2000 contained in the studies is presented and compared to actual realizations. The nature, magnitudes, and reasons for the differences between the studies' forecasts and what actually emerged 25 years later are discussed. All things considered, the Landsberg and Schurr studies have stood the test of time very well.
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text:
|Missing In Action (MIA)
There were two major construction units involved in building the airfield. The Hama Construction Unit had 1,379 men and 1,145 men in another unit, arriving on July 6, 1942. This team was originally scheduled to work on Midway Airfield, but it failed to be captured due to the Japanese defeat during the Battle of Midway. Work commenced after July 9, 1942. Construction was observed and reported by coastwatcher and the airfield's presence spawned American plans to capture the airfield and Guadalcanal.
During the middle of July 1942, roughly 250 additional civilians from the Hama Construction Unit arrived under the command of Inouree Hama, who had had 50 men on Gavutu previously. Also specialists from the 14th Encampment Corps that established the radio stations on Tulagi, Gavutu and at RXI plus the C. O. installing a radar set. Local laborers were also used in the construction.
Airfield construction proceeded rapidly, ahead of schedule. On the night of August 6, 1942 just prior to the American landing, the construction troops were given an extra sake ration for completing construction ahead of schedule.
American missions against Lunga Point Airfield
Wartime History
On August 12, 1942 PBY Catalina piloted by William S. Sampson, USN, personal aide to Admiral John McCain was the first American aircraft to land at Lunga Point Airfield. Simpson had been instructed to land offshore, but feigned an engine failure as an excuse to put down on the newly captured airfield. This was the first American aircraft to land at the captured airfield.
During the Guadalcanal campaign, the Japanese failed to recapture the airfield during the Battle of the Tenaru (Aligator Creek) on August 21-22, 1942 and Battle of Bloody Ridge (Edson's Ridge) during September 12-14, 1942. During the Guadalcanal campaign, Japanese aircraft bombed from the air and Japanese Navy vessels bombarded from Iron Bottom Sound.
Japanese missions against Henderson Field
American Expansion
Stocks of aviation fuel began arriving at Henderson Field by the middle of October 1942 by ship and aircraft. Later, a second strip, Fighter 2 (Kukum Field) was built to the west. Later, other strips including a crash strip and Fighter 1 (Lunga Field) and Fighter 3 were built in the area.
Allied Units Based at Henderson
Post War
In 2003, there was rumors that the name "Henderson Field" would be changed to "Honiara International Airport" and this resulted in a petition to Keep Guadalcanal's Henderson Field Name. During 2004, the name was officially changed to "Honiara International Airport / Henderson Field".
Today, Honiara Airport has a single runway oriented 24/06 measuring 7,218' x 148' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: ICAO: AGGH, IATA: HIR. Used by Solomon Airlines for daily regional flights around the Solomons Islands plus international flights by Solomon Airlines, Virgin Australia and Air Niugini.
75mm Type 88 Anti-Aircraft Gun Serial 1252
The Pagoda (Pagoda Hill)
Buser Pagoda
signals recalls 1942:
In early October, its radio equipment was moved into the newly dug radio tunnel. After the Japanese bombardment on October 13-14, 1942 General Geiger concluded that the roof was reflecting the flares and it was being used as a registration point, so ordered it be bulldozed over the side of the hill. Later, this area was developed with other buildings to support the airfield.
Henderson Field Control Tower (1943)
Henderson Field Radio Tunnel
Hotel de Gink
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text: Clipart State ACT Scores Higher Than National Average By Associated Press August 22, 2013 PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Members of South Dakota's high school graduating class of 2013 who took the ACT college readiness assessment scored higher than the national average. Read More Category: Articles Tags: ACT, Education, Testing Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


text:
2008 Gadget Guide: 33 Technology Innovations [Slide Show]
Holiday gift list: 13 high-tech toys, plus 20 green gadgets and socially responsible inventions
ScientificAmerican.com presents some of this year's most exciting high-tech toys as well as gadgets to make the planet greener and inventions designed to deliver the most basic needs to developing countries
Holiday gift list: 13 high-tech toys, plus 20 green gadgets and socially responsible inventions
Devices to pump and filter water, protect against disease-carrying insects, and more
Just in time for the holidays: an electricity monitor, a water-powered clock, a light made from textiles, and more
Current ways of storing information on PCs and cell phones won't cut it as memory demands grow and devices shrink
State Department shows off Cold War-era electronic eavesdropping gadgets
The National Archives' recent decision to open more than 35,000 official personnel files of men and women who served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)—the U.S.'s intelligence agency during World War II and the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)—has shed new light on the roles that chef Julia Child, actor Sterling Hayden, 1950 Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche and others played during the early days of American espionage.
The Tech Museum of Innovation today named 25 laureates as winners of its 2008 Tech Award for using technology to "benefit humanity and spark global change." The awards are broken down into five categories (education, equality, environment, economic development and health); Tech Awards executive director Lee Wilkerson says that in November one winner in each category will receive a $50,000 cash prize during an awards ceremony in San Jose, Calif.
LifeStraw makes previously contaminated water drinkable by removing bacteria and viruses
A student competition-winning project automatically calculates your carbon footprint while traveling. Cynthia Graber reports.
All-in-one cell phones can do just about anything
Popular applications of science and technology for you to give and get
Objects of desire for folks who appreciate the application of science to the problem of cool
SciAm takes a look at new products, from environmentally friendly suede jackets to biodegradable toilet paper
50% Off for Back to School


text:
Here comes business.
The new prime minister has put Shepherd, head of the Business Council of Australia, in charge of his Commission of Audit. Yes, now a business lobbyist will be running the show. The audit commission may sound like an earnest bureaucratic endeavour but it has a huge remit.
Not only will Shepherd assess the role and scope of government, his recommendations will form the basis of Treasurer
Abbott has declared "Australia is open for businesses". For the first time, business influence over the political process has been formalised. There will be a cascading network of business advisers from the office of the prime minister to his cabinet ministers, parliamentary secretaries and department agencies. There will be business representatives crawling over every level of federal government, from policy development to implementation. In every portfolio, from foreign affairs to welfare.
Remember the Hawke-Keating accord back in the early '80s where they harnessed the unions to their growth agenda? Flick the switch to 2013, swap unions for business and it looks a little like the same model.
Yet there is a difference. Labor had to get the unions to agree to reverse a mining boom wages blowout that had sent inflation and unemployment into double figures. Then, when the dollar collapsed into banana republic territory, it had to get more wage restraint and union acquiescence to opening up the economy to the discipline of foreign competition. Business encouraged that agenda, though it wasn't invited to sit in the big chair. Now, it has been invited, and Abbott and Hockey want to run a business growth and productivity agenda designed to encourage the captains of industry to invest in delivering it.
Not modelled on Howard
Abbott and Hockey have put business in their political cart from the very beginning.
Some say it is a mark of caution because they can lash business to their agenda: it's insurance against ugly wars over the future direction of government and they can harness the corporate intelligence to their cause. Ultimately the Commission of Audit could give political cover for unpalatable decisions. But one thing is for sure. Abbott's mentor
Touchy-feely exercises such as Rudd's 2020 Summit would have been anathema. Howard had his informal circle of business contacts, such as former ABC chairman
"He would come back to Canberra on Monday morning after spending the weekend at Kirribilli," recounts Howard's former chief of staff Graham Morris.
"He would pick up the phone with some new thing and we would think, 'Where the hell did that come from?' or conversely, 'Bugger, I know where that came from'."
Formal advisory groups would only occur where Howard was less confident of the detail – like indigenous affairs or technical science, such as
Former Howard cabinet mininster
"If you want to be a politician, you have to be good at politics," he says.
Having served on the Henry tax review and being a Reserve Bank board member, Ridout's record of government influence is about to be surpassed at lightning speed.
The smorgasboard of business opportunities to engage with government is a lobbyist's dream, and executives from every industry are jockeying for position for the big jobs. Conservative-leaning lobbying firms are putting on staff and Morris's Barton Deakin firm has seen its client list grow from 15 clients before the election to about 50 today.
"They [business types] are hanging around everywhere, working the room at fund-raisers, dropping hints of how respected they are in their industries," one Liberal insider says. "They wear their AO [Order of Australia] pins to events and if they don't have one, they are looking for a government appointment so they can get one."
Hard luck for Laborites
Abbott and the opposition cast the previous government as class warriors, with their war being waged against business. So far Abbott has shown he is prepared to be more sharing and caring even than the Howard government he seeks to emulate. He's even talked of learning from the Hawke-Keating model of co-operating with business for economic reform. He's already set a precedent for letting them right into the political tent.
Just after he won the election, Abbott took 20 business chiefs to Indonesia to help them win new business from our booming neighbour. The delegation comprised the biggest names in business including Howard favourite Donald McGauchie, Telstra chairman
And the first order of business was negotiating a bumper December quota from Indonesia for live cattle from Australia.
In contrast, former prime ministers
In Abbott's Australia, union involvement in the running of government just doesn't exist. Wage deals in the childcare and aged-care sectors, that were seen to be a prop for union influence, are being dismantled. On the endangered list are the Labor-appointed board members of government agencies whose union or Labor backgrounds put them at the top of the Coalition's hit list.
Abbott's office is now sorting through a short-list of business leaders from the mining, manufacturing, agricultural, services and information sectors to serve on his business advisory council under his top business adviser
Howard's former finance secretary
"For a cabinet minister, what are the magic ingredients for appointing an external business adviser?" Graham Morris says. "It has always been trust and experience."
Adviser jobs aplenty
Liberal insiders reject suggestions the appointment of Switkowski, Newman or Boxall is a result of a Coalition old boys' network. Perhaps rightly, they ask who else in Australia's relatively small corporate pond would have the experience to manage the country's largest telco? Or the experience of selling the government's biggest assets?
The short-list is indeed short. Jordan is believed to be one of the informal circle of business contacts cultivated by new Treasurer Joe Hockey. That North Sydney-based network of bankers and tax professionals is regarded enviously among business people as a low-profile but increasingly powerful influence on the federal government.
In addition, dozens of business leaders will be asked to serve the new Coalition government as advisers on everything from coal seam gas to the management of the Australian Taxation Office.
Business will be represented on at least 26 new review bodies and 20 ministerial advisory councils, meeting cabinet ministers four times a year to advise on cutting red tape, administration, procurement and policy. So far the Business Council of Australia (BCA) – representing the chiefs of the nation's biggest companies – seems to be at the top of the pile. Apart from Shepherd as the audit commission chairman, Hockey has appointed
BCA chief executive
She adds business people are highly skilled and may see solutions to problems not readily apparent to the public service and their political masters. And if governments aren't engaged with businesses, "Then why not?", Westacott asks.
Red and green tape in the firing line
Abbott's determination to have business at the centre of government policy is filtering down to every level of his ministry.
The day after Hockey announced the membership of the audit commission, a high-level group of executives met Abbott's parliamentary secretary
Away from the headline-making issues of the carbon tax and the mining tax, there are more pressing gripes. Abbott's commitment to ditch $1 billion worth of red tape a year has a struck a chord with the biggest and smallest of businesses. "This is a very important area of work," Rio Tinto's David Peever told The Australian Financial Review. "Australia is overburdened with regulations which are stymying business productivity in all areas of the economy, right across the nation."
Among the top culprits of the red-tape tangle are Labor's workplace rules on 457 visas and mandated local jobs on big construction projects.
And there's green tape, like the "water trigger" which gives the federal government powers to scrutinise and assess the cumulative impacts of coal seam gas and coal projects on water supplies, under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act.
Environment Minister
There will be a drumbeat of business appointments over the coming week as the Abbott government looks for eminent Australians to review the tax system, the financial system, agriculture and a clutch of other election promises. By next election, it may become clear whether the experiment of governing with business has been for net profit or loss.
The Australian Financial Review


text:
Friday, August 22. 2008
News From Around the OCA and Hodge's Reflection
Your comments are welcome.
Posted by Mark at 14:38 | Comments (58)
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Father Hodges's reflection is nothing less than brilliant and simultaneously terrifying. Brilliant in illuminating the the proper distinctions between forgiveness and reconciliation. Terrifying in the realization of how far most us fall short of the requirements of unconditional forgiveness.
I challenge our mostly silent seminaries and professors of moral theology to take issue with this reflection and the requirements that logically follow. Too bad they were unable to deliver this message three years ago when it was clearly necessary to "speak truth to power." Perhaps they should be added to the public confession list?
#1 Kenneth R. Tobin on 2008-08-22 15:38
Fr Mark Hodges' Reflection, as Kenneth R. Tobin stated above, is brilliant. It is also indicative of how clearly and understandably a priest can communicate to people when he has a full seminary education!!! Many of the SOB's (an appropriate abbreviation, to be sure!!) are lacking in this. Maybe this is why they can't even communicate among themselves to do the next right thing (like, they should have deposed Nikolai, like they still should depose Herman, etc.).
I am thankful for Fr Mark's wonderful distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation. Too bad Herman and Company can't see the distinction. Or, rather, maybe they do see the distinction, but they hide their much-needed repentance-and-reconciliation to all of us in the Church behind a Potemkin-village-like call on the part of us for forgiveness!!! I also agree with Fr Mark's appropriate use of Scripture quotes. Hey, Herman, maybe you ought to open up your Bible and read it once in a while, hmmm??? You might just learn something!!
Thank you again, Fr Mark, for your inspiring words. If nothing else, this crisis has brought to light many wonderful reflections, meditations, and articles by wonderfully educated and prayerful people, yourself included. May God bless you in your continuing ministry!!! In Christ,
#2 David Barrett on 2008-08-22 17:56
Fr. Mark's reflection is absolutely spot on. Wisdom and clarity. This important distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation needs to be at the top of our minds as we approach the AAC, or we will never disentangle ourselves from the mess we are in.
Your point about the silences of St. Vladimir's is well taken. I have felt all along that the teachers at St. Vladimir's have either been complicit all these years, or morally flaccid in turning a blind eye; content to sit with their books and remain silent while Syosset and the Synod burned in their sins. I am not sure which circumstance bothers me more. If I were wagering right now, I would have to admit that I believe they knew... and remained silent; making sophisticated, high-minded, pompous excuses for their silence.
Add them to the list.
#4 Anon. on 2008-08-22 19:18
You're being unfair to SVS. Is not Fr. Thomas Hopko a dean emeritus? Did not the current faculty produce a statement? Is it possible one of them or some of them, especially those serving administratively knew of this? Possibly, but on the basis of no evidence, I wouldn't suggest it with such strong language.
On the other hand, I'd agree with you that publicly they often do remain too silent. Still, they produced a statement and Fr. Thomas Hopko and Dr. Bouteneff have offered helpful and inspiring reflections.
If anyone at SVS knew that money was being stolen, it will come out in due time. Otherwise, let's at least assume innocence since there presently is no indicting evidence (at least none of which I'm aware).
I think you may have a point regarding relative silence, and the OCA may well be imploding and committing ecclesiastical suicide, but let's not start blaming whatever disaster is befalling the OCA on people against whom we hold no condemning evidence.
#5 Fr. Oliver Herbel on 2008-08-22 20:00
I have often been troubled by forgiveness because it seems like there need to be 20 words for the various stages or modes of it, if you will.
Fr. Hodges really clarifies it well by separating forgiveness and reconciliation.
I expect basic core truths to be discussed, but I also expect tangible results and the promotion of changes from the 2nd and politically inferior SIC. Anything less will be less than reconciling for me.
#6 Daniel E. Fall on 2008-08-22 20:28
Thank you Fr. Hodges for an excellent commentary.
#7 cshinn on 2008-08-23 07:30
Fr. Mark has provided a very useful theological reflection worthy of study. Two of his points are ones that I keep thinking about.
1. "If secular executives caught in embezzlement are held to full account publicly by the world's standards, what does it say about the standards of Christ's holy Church when our own Christian leaders are not? The silence of all those who have information only underscores the fact that we continue to hold the values of the world and not the Kingdom of God."
Yes, but "values" exhibited by much of the leadership doesn't even pass muster in terms of the world. The actions of the Metropolitian and others are more akin to those of Enron, the Nixon White House, or the mafia, rather than Christ's Holy Church.
2. "We need specific, "come clean" repentance, not general platitudes."
Indeed, the general platitudes, cloaked in the language of religion, have been a major weapon used to manipultate the natural desire of the people in the church to forgive and be reconciled.
I hope that the people going to the All American Council are setting aside time to really pray about what they are going to do.
#8 Deacon Timothy Wilkinson, Billings Montana on 2008-08-23 08:19
Some excellent reflections and commentaries are coming our way before the September joint meeting between the Holy Synod and Metropolitan Council.
I feel confident that more excellent reflections and commentaries will be coming our way as well in the near future.
I am very encouraged by the very much needed courage and wisdom of both Fr. Vladimir and Fr. Mark in their recent posts.
In effect, we need to really know how to respond spiritually, and professionally, to be able to receive one of the darkest reports that will probably ever be published by the OCA: the impending SIC report.
We will have to know how to respond in a mature way: how to respond in a spiritual and professional way that will allow the OCA to return to the level it was always meant to be on: that of holy ethical and moral integrity.
I earlier commented in one of the threads to "Bring it on" with the SIC report. This is a clarion call, too! Our OCA must know how to do the spiritual and professional "surgery" that such a report GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY to do so!
The SIC report will finally GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY for the OCA to grow up: spriitually and professionally.
I hope we do not blow it!
Patty Schellbach
#9 Patty Schellbach on 2008-08-23 08:43
I'd humbly suggest EMBEZZLEMENT ERA instead of 'years'. Catchy phrase, no? Ties together better.
Also to speak of an era infers many years and a deep blending of factors. Such as The Roaring 20's , The Cold War Era, The Regan Era, Embezzlement Era is all encompassing.
I used to contribute this site; had fun writing Slyosset, and then $lyo$$et for awhile. Stopped caring about the crooks after attending Met H's Bethesda sit-down two years ago. Clearly they had gotten away with it even then.
If people catch on to EMBEZZLEMENT ERA it could be the all encompassing phrase - up to and beyond Pittsburgh -- and y'all will be sorely disappointed when the Embezzlement Era continues Post-Pittsburgh. My prediction is that the established order will simply run out the clock by proceedural rulings and tabling motions.
#10 Jim Murray on 2008-08-23 09:30
I also much appreciate Fr. Mark's words. They also reveal how far away we are from a resolution.
For reconciliation to take place, some would have to admit that they did wrong and broke with the fellowship of the Church. They would have to decide that they wanted to restore that fellowship and that their first step would be to admit the wrongs they did and how those wrongs have hurt the Church. Then they would need to seek reconciliation and offer to do what it takes to make that happen.
So far, we see only lawyers advising our leadership, an investigative committee trying to drag out of people comments about what happened, leaders who refuse to talk about the scandal, and leaders who want to move on without having to deal with the scandal any more. So how do any of their actions facilitate reconciliation?
Of course should the SIC actually make a fair and full report, the groundwork for reconciliation might be set. Those who did wrong would then have the opportunity to admit to their wrong doing and seek reconciliation with the membership of the OCA if that is what they want. There would be opportunity for the bishops to also acknowledge how their actions contributed to the scandal which would facilitate restoring dignity and integrity to the episcopal office.
Reconciliation does not mean that we put everything back to where it was. It means that we restore broken relationships but build new relationships based upon the changes that are made to overcome the scandal. Reconciliation means wrongdoers admit their wrongs and accept a new and different role in the Body - one which is based in humility and love, not in power and control. Reconciliation is not the restoration of a dysfunctional status quo, but to use the words of St. Paul: "Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come" (2 Cor 5:17).
We can pray that the SIC report will help bring about this new creation which the Church is supposed to be.
#11 Fr. Ted Bobosh on 2008-08-23 10:10
The great Entrance at St. Tikhon's Monastery now says:
"For His Beatitude Herman, OUR LORD, metropolitan of ..."
So we are no longer the church of "one Lord, one faith and one baptism" but of two Lords.
Is this petition becoming more widespread?
I need the church to know who its Lord really is.
#12 Anonymous on 2008-08-23 14:44
Many thanks to Fr Mark Hodges for drawing the necessary distinctions between forgiveness and reconciliation.
To his points, I'd emphasize (at the risk of belaboring the obvious) that forgiveness is ultimately a choice we make within ourselves; the people we forgive might never know that we have done so, although it's undeniable that finding an opportunity to tell them that we've forgiven them establishes grounds for reconciliation from our angle.
But reconciliation is NOT something which can occur within ourselves. Much to the contrary, reconciliation is an interpersonal event, no matter how few or how many people are involved.
Before we reach that middle ground where reconciliation takes place, the people we've forgiven must -- one way or another -- come to a realization within themselves that they have failed and erred and sinned in ways so serious as to 'break communion', to destroy relationships between human beings, excluding each other and, in the process, excluding Christ.
Once forgiven people (we must all find ourselves in this category once in a while) understand that some sin on their part has caused this alienation, they must next repent within themselves. This involves deep reflection and humble prayer.
Next, forgiven people (or people hoping to be forgiven, if they're not so sure that they have been) must apologize to those they've injured, and attempt to make them whole again.
It's only in that context that reconciliation can take place.
It's my prayer that Met. Herman and all of our bishops will hear the Church expressing its pain over their abuse of it, and that they 'will be saved and come to an understanding of The Truth'.
For their own salvation and for the health of our OCA, I expect that this will result in the resignation of them all from the episcopate.
The OCA, by God's love, will get along just fine without bishops for a while, until suitable men emerge as better candidates for that high and holy office, better men than the crew we've suffered under these last few decades. We can then ask one of the older churches to ordain newly elected candidates as our bishops.
Monk James
#13 Monk James on 2008-08-23 16:37
Dear Father Mark and others,
Thank you for the well thought out reflection! I agree with the others that it was brilliant and something all of us should re-read to thoroughly understand, and then put into practice (as always much easier said then done). It has certainly helped me understand the issue between forgiveness and reconciliation much better, and seems to have done the same for others. I pray that we can all forgive from the heart, and then be reconciled. Again, thanks for taking the time to write this reflection!
#14 David M. Capparuccini on 2008-08-23 23:09
Fr. Oliver,
St. Vladimir's Seminary holds a special place in my heart. So many of the clergy under whom I have served at the altar were or are SVS garduates; I count the three summer institutes and the Education Days I have attended as special blessings in my life.
Over the past two years I have followed the scandals, during which I have struggled to understand the silence of the current SVS faculty. Professor Meyendorff's proposal for the 15th AAC and Professor Bouteneff's reflection on repentance are the only individual contributions here of which I know. Then there is the letter from the faculty during the "Alaskan crisis." While I was heartened to see the letter of solidarity with the clergy of Alaska, it seems to me that it come rather late in that crisis.
For more than the past thirty years, the faculty of St. Vladimir's Seminary have held special places of honor in the OCA as the intellectual leaders of the Church. Their lack of leadership in addressing the recent scandals has tarnished their reputations and the reputation of the seminary.
#15 Mark C. PHinney on 2008-08-24 04:11
Don't single out SVS - what about the other seminaries?
The problems is the preachers say one thing yet live their lives totally void of what they preach. Even Job, he and his diocese worked hard on the benchmarks, but what happened in the end, he wrote the check. Larry Tosi once said the truth would kill the church, I think that it is probably on a respirator. Herman and Kucynda spent hundreds of thousands to provide a shelter for themselves and in the end, they lost the church. Who would believe a word that they would say?
#16 MP on 2008-08-24 06:02
The "Lord" phrase appears in the Liturgy book used in the diocese of the South and also that of the West. Apparently it has now caught on elswhere.
#17 Anonymous on 2008-08-24 11:31
Dear Fr. Mark,
Thank you for your thorough and very clear presentation regarding forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation. Not only is it is it excellent and needful in terms of the OCA conflict, but it is remarkably timely for me regarding some personal issues that I was actively dealing with as I pulled it up on my screen. I anticipate referring to it often. Perhaps the real blessing will come when I learn to apply the knowledge and live it.
Again, thank you.
The OCA doesn't have a monopoly on scandal, of course. There is currently a scandal among the charismatics, regarding a revivalist named Todd Bentley. And one of the charismatic leaders just published a statement of repentance:
May God grant that any one of our bishops could offer the like.
#19 josephine on 2008-08-24 14:07
We take it, based on everything that you've said, that Kondratick requires no forgiveness from us. After all, he did nothing wrong...
#20 Anonymous on 2008-08-24 15:22
Larry Tosi misspoke, he really meant that it will destroy those that have tried to destroy the Church - a situation which keeps him up at night. Larry Tosi doesn't understand that the malfeasance of Kondratick, the Metropolitans, Kucynda, and Oselinsky will NOT kill the Church. Its done very well, thank you, through all of the centuries when others have tried to destroy it and its lived through that truth, it will live very well after we've learned the truth about those named above.
But what do you expect, Larry Tosi is just parroting the Kucynda line who has turned himself into a pretzel trying to keep this hidden and the miscreants protected, again, with YOUR money. When this gets resolved listen for Mr. Tosi to say that he was all in favor of disclosure back when it was occurring!
Oh, by the way, Mr. Tosi, its been, like, 3 months since we spoke of the financial statements of the diocese being put on the diocesan website. Three months and no action, what's taking the time? There's time to put up pictures of the council meeting, pictures which mean absolutely nothing to us, but its too difficult to put up the financial statements, INCLUDING the balance sheet so we can see where the shortfall of assessment income is being made up so the full assessment expenditures are made. All of the talk of transparency, and in comparison of the dioceses that have websites, the Metropolitan's own is an example of the non change towards transparency which we knew to be the truth. Its not the truth that's destroying the Church, its the inability of those in roles of responsibility to make sure that the truth is the product of integrity and character and that follows in the path of Jesus.
#21 Anonymous on 2008-08-24 15:40
If indeed the following is true:
'The great Entrance at St. Tikhon's Monastery now says:
"For His Beatitude Herman, OUR LORD, metropolitan of ..."'
I am out in the western part of this country, a convert of some nearly thirty years, have not seen this sign, but if this is what is written, I am willing to go to this location, and paraphrase another American from out West and say: "Take down this sign."
Will I be alone?
#22 Elizabeth Bezzerides on 2008-08-24 19:18
Well, you couldn't be more wrong! SVS is where the "Church" should turn for matters regarding "THEOLOGY" and "Orthodox Practice," not basic fraud & thievery. SVS leads when it is necessary. In the current OCA scandal, if would take a deaf, dumb and blind person not to recognize embezzlement on this level. Theologians aren't necessary; more cops are!
#23 Anonymous on 2008-08-24 19:58
Not all SVS professors are OCA members. And not all people are gifted for "speaking out." Spokepersons exist for a reason. We are not all gifted with the ability to say what we mean in a manner meet to the occasion and need. Remember Moses and Aaron?
I suggest that we don't start looking for more fault.
Of what use is that to us? I see none.
#24 Rdr. T. John on 2008-08-24 20:02
But has the irony not struck anyone that the person accusing me and my colleagues of high-minded pomposity and complicity, and other scandalous things, is unwilling or unable to sign his/her own name?
Now why could that be? Is he/she is perhaps concerned about repercussions? Perhaps there are complexities in his/her situation that make it unadvisable to speak in a way that he/she could be identified. Who would I be to assume that these complexities are owing to complicity?
Would I not be more Christian in assuming that this author is engaged in a consistent, prayerful internal debate about how to react to the OCA scandal, considering carefully what might be the necessary "word" to utter, and ultimately find him/herself unable to do so, except under a pseudonym or anonymously? That's what I'll work on assuming, anyway.
#25 Peter Bouteneff on 2008-08-24 20:24
Dear Anonymous:
Can you, who CLEARLY find it expedient not to comment under your real name, even now that there is a rather substantial consensus about the wrongs done and the preferred remedies, explain how you can presume to criticize the St. Vlad's professors publicly and rather harshly for not saying enough under their real names even though their jobs might have been at stake? I beg your pardon if there are facts not known to me or the rest of the public which require them to put their jobs at risk, but justify you in pronouncing harsh judgments on them from the safety of concealment under an assumed name. For all I can tell by your nom de convenience and the thoughts you express thereunder, you may or may not even be a Christian. If you are don't forget that Christianity's founder said you will be measured with the same measure you use on the faculty.
Fr. George
#26 Fr. George Washburn on 2008-08-24 22:47
So, what do we know now?
The report will be released on time. The info is damning and incriminating and + Herman will have to step down.
+ Herman is having back surgery and will be out of commission (or so he says) and everyone should look for his letter of resignation - due to health issues, of course.
The AAC's first act of business will be to choose a locum tenens for Met. and that will fall on + Seraphim.
The AAC will be called a real breath of fresh air, reconciliation and hope for the future of the OCA.
#27 A-non-o-mouse on 2008-08-25 06:51
A clear governance problem in the OCA is the fact that the priests on the Metropolitan Council are not independent.
That is, those priests are subject to the wrath, or kindness of the Bishops on the Synod for their reporting, for the voting, for the commentary, etc.
The case would seem to be the same for the Seminaries, unless I'm missing something.
Its a very corporate like structure.
We keep rolling back around to the fact the Synod holds too much power over all these bodies of the church for any of them to speak it seems.
Concilarity and subordination are not exclusive in the OCA.
How can a subordinate speak freely and govern, or speak freely and teach?
You are all onto something here, but I expect everyone to fall short on action.
Until Mark Stokoe was bold enough to stand up, noone recognized the need, and noone with a vested interest in the success of the OCA, especially its priests, would have been able to speak on the subject without potential retribution.
Even today, there has only been one priest who has spoken loudly and correctly enough on the matter in my opinion, and even he does not present solutions that fix the core problem.
It is my firm belief that Mark Stokoe would have been silenced long ago if he were a priest.
These are inherent and endemic issues for the OCA.
Somehow, I doubt the clergy and Bishops will think this needs changing, but the fact the OCA has operated for so long, and so poorly cannot be overlooked by any of you, them, us.
The Metropolitan Council is not independent.
The seminaries are not independent enough either.
The Bishops are like Kings and it seems this is desired by everyone.
...my observations, without solutions...
#28 Daniel E. Fall on 2008-08-25 06:55
This quote is I think worth while and possibly explains allot about what went wrong with the OCA .
"People crave a freedomless Christianity; they particularly incline towards slavery." "You are called to freedom," the apostle says. "You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free." But in fact people all too often try to turn the Church into "an easy chair, a refuge, a tranquil harbor," even "a security blanket" "We want the Church to be a mother. The infantile mind says: someone will shepherd us, someone will lead - as one learned man said to me, people even want very much to be deceived." Or they adopt a sectarian mentality, regarding everything outside their own self-made prison - e.g., other Christian traditions, other world religions - as the realm of hostile powers - a mentality, which is quite contrary to that of the church fathers, who "were always open to the world."
#29 Anon on 2008-08-25 07:41
Monk James, I feel that the only way out of this mess is for an organized movement for parishes to be governed by other churches. Be it Moscow, Antioch, Romanian, Ecumenical Patriarch, we need to go and go now while some restorative work can be done. Herman and Kucynda have taken the Church down a dark alley on the wrong side of town. The current administration continues to cruise that part of town, the only way out is protection and governance by another church.
(Editor's note: Feel free to leave. The rest of us will focus on the restorative work.)
#30 MP on 2008-08-25 09:01
Fr Mark has written eloquently. What our Holy Synod proposes, to begin the AAC with the Liturgy, is simply wrong. We are not reconciled as the OCA. Until we are, communion is simply impossible. We must discern the Body of Christ not only on the Altar Table but as the Church herself. We must not dissimulate. We must not commit sacrilege. The Liturgy must not be used so cheaply, so as to cover sins rather than to heal sinners. Only if and when reconciliation has taken place will it be appropriate to celebrate the Liturgy at the AAC, or to receive communion together should the Synod persist.
Fr John
#31 Fr John Reeves on 2008-08-25 09:18
Father John,
And who will be the reconciliation "decider" in this?
Will it be you, the Metropolitan, the Holy Synod, the Metropolitan Council, better yet the Ethics Committee of said MC?
Will it be up to each of us to decide? But what if a vocal minority, maybe even with a website says we are not reconciled enough to each other then what.
You are using the Lord's Table just as much as those you are accusing.
Where is any sense of deference to the other in all of this?
#32 Anonymous on 2008-08-25 14:06
All you want to do is continue to beat the horse buried in the ground. Get Real!
#33 MP on 2008-08-25 14:32
I appreciate your affection for SVS and I am glad to learn that the seminary has been of help to you in the past. However, I would take issue with you on the question of leadership. I accept, as I noted, that they have been somewhat silent. However, that does not mean a) that they have not shown leadership or b) that they are even the ones responsible for leading the OCA. Concerning the second point, please remember that the statutes of the OCA give responsibility to the Metropolitan Council and the Bishops. They are the ones who have directly failed, as have any who knew of this and did not strive to rectify the situation. Also, SVS is not an OCA only seminary, though the president is the OCA's metropolitan. Concerning leadership, the last I knew, SVS had not received, for several years, what they were to have received from Syosset. I think suffering through this without a martyrdom complex could be called leading by example. I may be wrong on this, but I was once told this by someone who ought to know. Also, they lead the students on a daily basis and it is not easy. They also are expected to do a LOT. Each faculty member wears more hats than I'd care to have if I were working in a seminary. They are overworked, underpaid, and, in light of some attitudes that exist, under-appreciated. They show leadership in the classroom, by their behavior, and by not reacting rashly. They demonstrated patience and perseverance before finally developing a statement. Would I have liked them to be more prophetic? Sure, but I think for "anon" to accuse them of being involved in stealing money (when they probably haven't been getting what they're supposed to be getting) or for you to suggest they lack in leadership is expecting SVS to fill a role that's not necessarily slated for them. I think it's not a question of leadership, but leadership in what way? They are leading the seminary and have spoken out, even if not to the extent that some (including myself) wish they had. Look, I would have liked to have seen more, too, but goodness, I am not going to start throwing false accusations of embezzlement their way, as did "anon," nor claim they "lack" leadership when, in fact, they are a seminary, not the metropolitan council, not the synod of bishops, and not a (church) political action group. They could have done more but if we think that even by doing more, they could have rallied the OCA out of this mess, then we are setting unreasonable expectations. Should they have been more prophetic? I think so. Are they therefore guilty for lacking leadership? No. We shouldn't fault them for failing to be the knight in shining armor that would save the OCA. No such knight will be forthcoming. The OCA either cooperates with the Holy Spirit or it doesn't and if only part of the OCA does, who knows what even that shall mean? We all should've done more and yes, some more than others, but let's not start placing an undo burden on one particular seminary of the OCA. Our energy should be directed primarily at affecting the things within our immediate sphere of effect and toward the ultimate sources of leadership and delinquency.
#34 Fr. Oliver Herbel on 2008-08-25 15:15
You and Mr. Silver are more than welcome, you're invited to leave. After that selective hacket job on Archbishop Job on the Orthodox Forum, however, it appears as if that SIC report is really going to stick it to Kondratick! Makes it seem like that video is the star attraction of that report. The hits have to be pre-emptive because once the reports out no one is going to pay attention to the jabs against those that brought it to light.
#35 Anonymous on 2008-08-25 16:36
Dear Peter,
Assume your last paragraph. Some people's reasons for not identifying themselves may have nothing to do with the OCA. Life's circumstances may dictate otherwise for reasons that have nothing to do with this scandal. But concerned and prayerful, I am.
I have been unidentified since the beginning of this scandal for personal reasons. I find it curious how the desire to see the anons identified goes in waves. Suggest the message, not the messenger, be focused upon. My identity is irrelevant. Finding truth is the priority. The OCA has been expert at character assassination for decades. The penchant to shoot the messenger is strong in this church. If the truth about SVS hurts, don't shoot the messenger. I did not attack any individual. Lets address the problem. One cannot separate "theology" from "praxis"... at least not in the Orthodoxy that I think we believe.
#36 Anon. on 2008-08-25 19:57
Dear Fr. George,
Why is my identity important? Why do you feel the need to defend the entire seminary? Are they perfect? Do they have room to grow? Are they not able to take criticism without first knowing the author in order to determine whether they are going to listen to it or not? That is pretty elitist don't you think? Those that serve the whole church need to be accountable to the whole church. My identity is irrelevant. Let's stay focused on accountability and improvement. Theology and praxis should not be separated, yet their seems a strong temptation to excuse the silence as something not in their job description. If this point of view is truly believed and not just an excuse, then this needs to become a serious dialogue because it seems to me those that teach moral theology need to speak up when they see it not being practiced in our leaders. To defend SVS's long silence during the development of this scandal is unconsionable.
#37 Anon. on 2008-08-25 20:06
Well Fr. George,
Pretty harsh yourself. As to my Christianity. God will be the judge. But, here's the point. My identity should be irrelevant. Either the professors at St. Vlads were doing their jobs and we expect them to be silent even with a knowledge of wrongdoing and scandal (which I personally know at least some of them had... not all, so chill), or they weren't doing their jobs and they should not have been silent. I for one think the later, but reasonable minds can disagree. You seem to be taking all this curiously personally. I did not name a person at St. Vlads, I referenced the institution and its role in our church life.
Our teachers must be held to a higher standard of accountability. You talk about their jobs at stake. They should be at stake. How many victims of this scandal have had their lives turned upside down by these purveyors of scandal? Perhaps if some of our SVS (and St. Tikhons) professors had coveted the truth more than their jobs, we may have been spared this suffering.
#38 Anonymous on 2008-08-25 20:26
It's pretty clear you just want to find fault and speak out of your hat. SVS leads when it is necessary; in this situation, the civil courts and police are necessary, not theologians.
#39 Anonymous on 2008-08-26 06:46
I didn't mean to shoot the messenger. And the overall discussion, as to how or whether SVS should/should have spoken out publicly is a worthy one. As is the discussion on full disclosure -- and Fr Mark's reflection is extremely useful in that discussion.
But the irony of your approach remains -- in fact you've added to it. You ask me to presume your good intentions for anonymity, while you've presumed the absolute worst possible intentions on SVS's part, especially in your initial posting on this thread. That isn't fair.
The original irony, though, is that you accuse SVS for not taking the risk of being prophetic in its own name, while yourself dodging that risk completely. It's actually somewhat hypocritical. Your accusations come at absolutely no risk and no cost to yourself and your name. Really, if you feel the need to be anonymous, then surely you understand well the liabilities of speaking out on an internet forum (as if thats the only way one can be prophetic in the first place).
But I will return to my initial point: I think it's totally appropriate to ask how or whether SVS should have said more in public. We need to think long and hard about it, in a spirit of genuine soul-searching. Don't think that conversation hasn't been going on already. By pointing out the glaring problems of your approach to it, I don't mean to avoid the disucssion itself.
#40 Peter Bouteneff on 2008-08-26 07:59
(Editor's note: Yes, I can. Metropolitan Theodosius and RSK alone controlled secret bank accounts (not included in Church auditing or accounting procedures) into which ADM funds, (applied for by the Church in a grant for stated purposes) were deposited. There is no evidence they were used for those stated purposes. Yet the monies are gone. So there is one example of a Bishop who received monies he was not entitled to. Secondly, another Bishop, the current Metropolitan, helped in the cover-up of this diversion of funds by assisting in the firing of the whistleblower who revealed this diversion, and took his office. Whereupon the whole thing was covered up. He then, upon becoming Metropolitan, reappointed RSK to be in control of OCA funds, although he knew what he had done, and was doing. So there is evidence connecting RSK's misdeeds with another Bishop. Shall I go on? No, let's wait for the SIC report next week.
No, none of that information came from Archbishop Job. It came from the OCA. Get your facts straight. )
#41 Anonymous on 2008-08-26 09:16
Discussion is good and gossip even becomes good when it stimulates discussion. Spreading unsubstantiated malicious rumours of course is never good.
Only discussion can bring forth the evidence that will exonerate or condemn. In our culture you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The discussion must be deep, going into the history of the OCA in oder to bring forth the evidence.
Anonymous must be given the benefit of the doubt: he/she stands alone against a whole Seminary culture - any judge (or discerner) worth his salt would acknowledge that.
#42 Ever and anon. on 2008-08-26 10:12
Good grief, Anonymous, are you reading what you're posting? You call on seminary faculty to potentially risk their livelihoods when you, yourself, cannot summon up the fortitude to use your own name on an internet post? As the great Arlo Guthrie once said, "It takes a lotta damn gall." If I was you, I'd just shut up now. Anything else you post anonymously only makes it worse. "No virtue may endure where courage is not" Blessed Augustine
#43 Scott Walker on 2008-08-26 10:49
In the end, though, SVS, like many other institutions and individual clergy and laity are all at fault for when there is a situation which requires firm moral standing there was silence. Its not just SVS, its many clergy, its sister jurisdictions. Look, were not faced with a case that presents any gray areas here. We have a situation of bad stuff happening over a very long period of time. Stuff including theft, moral depravity, moral blindness, all causing a tremendous loss of ground of Orthodoxy in America and the leaving our jurisdiction teetering on the brink of extinction. Why have we not heard any indignation from the other members of SCOBA, prayers for the Christian resolution to these problems? Surely they have heard, surely they have an opinion. Surely they do not want to speak either because of that glass house thing or because its too much trouble or because, hey, we can pick up the people that leave. Truly Orthodox thinking. People may argue over the appropriateness of speaking out and all kinds of excuses that abound, but when you get down to it, a failure to speak out, such as the lack of participation on savetheoca.org and just about 1300 people on the petition, the lack of voices crying out against this ghastly behavior is deafening and a source of strength to those that are trying to make this go away and continue like they did.
Its also a sign of the stranglehold that those at the core of this has over all those in this organization and the complicity of those outside. Maybe its a gamble on who will prevail and the expected payoff of that win. Christian behavior determined by the expected payoff of a gamble on where one decides they may best situate themself. Get mad at it, flame at me, storm out the room, but in the end, all these factors play into how one determines their actions in the face of this however clearly the lines are drawn and the Church comes down on this class of behavior. One thing with anonymity is that we cant get a payoff because no one knows who we are!
The problem people have with SVSs silence is rooted in good intentions and a perception of that institution, which has slowly eroded in the minds of many people. People are looking, desparately for a leader, a clean leader, a leader with a voice of authority that is still untainted from all that has occurred. Who better than the crown jewel of the OCA, St. Vladimirs Seminary. Of course people are looking to there because thats where we train our clergy, where they are taught the intricacies of the faith, where men are prepared and sent forth to minister to the laity and be the face of the Church, and where people still feel there is a lot of good going on and a lot of good to come from. And, truth be told, its an institution of this decrepit organization that people still respect. Its an opportunity of endless returns for SVS, but, other than the Alaska incident, people have become greatly disappointed looking towards the great minds at SVS to pronounce that all these bad things that have happened, are, well, bad and guide us through the muck! We do not speak of their silence in maliciousness, we speak of it in terms of disappointment and respect that is slowly deteriorating.
Maybe the people at SVS have not looked at this beyond the confines of the seminary. Look at what we have here. We have our spiritual head body, the Synod, so caught up and complicit in these bad things that they are no longer looked upon with any respect or moral authority. Why, the very head, the Metropolitan, his own faith is questioned with more regularity than the setting and rising of the sun. They are taken to be fakers whos pronouncements are now taken with a grain of salt and joked about. The MC, the half laity, half clergy administrative body is just as useless. A few speak from their hearts and want this resolved, the others are worried about getting the good china instead of the plastic dinnerware. In the end, symbolic changes are made hopefully turning the laity back to the status quo while the tough decisions and acts are nowhere to be seen. We have no faith in the MC. The diocesan councils are puppets of the bishops, whom we dont trust.
What are we left with? Were left with the website of a member of the laity, whos had enough, to give us information and the repository of those that wish to give us guidance through their comments and reflections. The only global connection the various areas of the OCA have are through ocanews.org. While we are greatly thankful for all Mark has done, its sad that we cannot look to any of the institutions that play a role in the direction and growth of this Church to play any part that brings around a Godly resolution to this mess. Were left with the clean up of the mess after everyone else has left the party.
Its not been all that bad every cloud has a silver lining and in this case a lot of that silver has been pure gold. We have been treated to new faces that have come to the fore that people didnt know about before. We have Mark, we have the tremendous example of Gregg Nescott. We have the priceless writings of Fr. Bobosh, Fr. Reeves, and Fr. Berzonksy, and numerous others that cannot all be named here. These people, are the faces that we now look to for guidance and wisdom. These are the people that, as with every revolution or scandal, come to the fore and take their place where others were, others that fall as a result of a failure to act in the face of scandal or fail to lead a revolution. But, that was that was their choice. We all make our choices, we can sit back and watch with amazement or disgust or both. We can leave it to others to take the lead. Or we can give that which God gave us and use it in a practical way when His Church is in need. Its the choice of each one of us and we should not be surprised by the results of our choices. In the end dont expect it both ways, silence now will inevitably lead to silence when the need goes the other way.
#44 Anonymous on 2008-08-26 11:24
"Suggest the message, not the messenger, be focused upon. My identity is irrelevant. Finding truth is the priority."
At some point, say the AAC, some people will have to stand up and be counted. Anonymity seems to me to rather disingenuous at that point. Either you speak up or remain silent.
#45 Michael Strelka on 2008-08-26 12:08
There is simply no excuse for having anything less than full disclosure. Anything else can only be seen as a cover up for parties not yet named. It will continue to undermine the unit and trust necessary for the Orthodox Church in NORTH America to move forward. The ministry of the Gospel and the Orthodox Faith is far too important to allow such matters to become stumbling blocks. If there is nothing to hide, then there is no excuse for not giving us full disclosure. If there IS something to hide, there is still no excuse for not providing full disclosure. Over two million dollars (and nearly a million in Alaska) is not something that can be hid under someones eagle rug and forgotten. We can only pray (and keep up the pressure) that there will be full disclosure, and soon. Personally, I do want to appeal to all that no matter how strongly the insistence is for full disclosure, we all behave in a civilised and dignified manner in Pittsburg. The focus is really on the grand larceny that took place, and the gross mismanagment of substantial amounts of money. The fact that it happened is certainly a moral issue, and it is also a legal issue. Let us hope that due process will be carried out in both realms. If anyone has that much to hide, I suggest that they hasten to retire to a monastery in some distant part of Russia before it comes to the surface.
In Christ, Vladiko Lazar.
Dear Anonymous:
You are not paying careful attention. Re-read my post. Count how many statements in defense of the faculty as individuals or as a whole.
Yes, the answer is zero
Now count how muchof my message suggested it is sort of screwy, and an obvious example of special pleading, for you to criticize others for lacking the wisdom and moral courage to step up and take a perhaps risky public stand for what they are SUPPOSED to have known was right at a time when the facts were far less clear and now today, when facts are clear and the hue and cry is all around in support of your position, you do not have the courage to state your name.
And now you want us to buy a pig in a poke (anonymous guy claims special knowledge that some unnamed faculty member had real proof of something illegal or immoral that his faculty position automatically required him to trumpet to the world even though the Holy Synod was manifestly ignoring, downplaying and avoiding the evidence backed statements of Deacon Eric Wheeler)? Dude, what are you smoking? What do you think we are smoking? I am willing to bet that if your bluff were called and you had to turn over your cards, we would see that all you hold in the way of "special knowledge" was the widely believed (but completely undocumented) allegation that one or more bishops paid hush money to former partners in immoral activities. And you want to condemn a whole class of seminary profs (none of whom presumably possessed ANY documentary or other proof) for not acting on unsupported and widely believed rumors?
Man, if that is the standard by which your anonymity recommends that we all judge the profs, you may just be in for some tough sledding when the One who knows your name actually calls it.
Fr. George
#47 Fr. George Washburn on 2008-08-26 23:35
My gratitude to "Anonymous" for pointing out the recent "hatchet job" on me by the humble and pious monk on another website. Having obtained his and related posting, I was shocked and mortified. Various people have since offered advice ranging from "consider the source," to "you must respond," to "Sue the ______!"
It is painful and humiliating to be defamed and maligned in this way, especially by someone that I scarcely know, but my main concern is that it could be a source of temptation to others who know me, or of me, those who perhaps respect me or who maybe even like me.
What is most offensive is the blatant lack of respect for one who has departed this life and can no longer speak in his own defense. That is unconscionable.
I will not dignify the holy monk's allegations with a response. Those who know me can vouch for my character. But I will put forth a few questions for him:
Who are the persons involved; who are the "victims?" What are their names? Why haven't they stepped forward with their own accusations?
I am by no means an intellectual giant, but if indeed I have so many skeletons in my closet it would be most foolish of me to stick my neck out during these years of crisis and make myself an easy target. Would it not have been more prudent to maintain a low profile?
Unworthy +JOB
#48 +JOB on 2008-08-27 09:07
Fr. Oliver,
Hours and hours of time I waste writing and rewriting commentary. Disgusting, but I am missing my point. I did work on a material layout for donation boxes for one of the Missions, but I could have built boxes for every Mission with the time wasted here.
The reason Communism fails is because noone believes much of anything is within their 'sphere of effect'.
The Synod better wake up.
Empowering individuals to do things like build churches happens when Synods start believing in people and listening to people and never ruling people out of order.
I'd like to know how many times Metropolitan Herman or other Bishops have ruled people out of order or otherwise used their power to silence people in matters related to the finances.
You know what should happen Fr. Oliver, when a Bishop silences people for genuine, honest concern about the financial health of the church? They should be deposed if that is the only way to remove them.
We have several Bishops that deserve deposition.
Who would have that one within their 'sphere of effect'?
#49 Daniel E. Fall on 2008-08-27 18:42
Gosh, all we say here is "For our Metropolitan Herman, our Archbishop Seraphim......" Perhaps because the only "Lords" we have here are the Worshipful Mayors of a city with a royal charter, such as New Westminister, where there is a "Lord Mayor, His worship...." which everyone of them is too embarrassed to actually use. Actually, we can be grateful that the full titles are not translated into English. I would be embarrassed if someone commemorated me by translating "visokopreosvecheni" (or its Russian equivalent) into English. It is amazing, though, that we are called "His Grace," "Eminenent", "Most Blessed" and "Holiness" when almost none of us ever live up to such titles. Hyperbolic exornation (for those with a dictionary). High time to do away with all that, but please don't call a spade a spade or all of us hierarchs will be blushing.
Vladiko Lazar.
Well, deposing a bishop is performed by twelve other bishops. So, in terms of direct engagement, it takes twelve bishops and since the OCA is such a small autocephalous Church, this does become an issue. Concerning the charges, themselves, however, if you witnessed an event that clearly and definitely calls for deposition, then I think one should feel free to raise this with his priest first and foremost and take it from there, going on to the bishop with your priest if the event truly necessitates deposition. Deposition is a big step, however, and is not intended just for personality clashes or even necessarily for a bishop telling a priest he's out of line. It would depend on the reason for silencing the priest. If the reason(s) and context warrants considering the silencing (and perhaps silencing method) worthy of deposition, then it should be pursued. The final ruling would come from the court of the twelve bishops.
This, at least, is my understanding of how our canon law functions on this question. Those who know better or understand otherwise are welcome to comment and/or correct me.
#51 Fr. Oliver Herbel on 2008-08-28 09:04
Dear MP #17,
As a youngster growing up in the former Russian Orthodox Church (in America), the skies were not all sunny and happy. I remember the transition and growing pains into the OCA, not a bed of roses either. Now as an adult after many years both in the Greek and Antiochian archdioceses because of moving (now back in the OCA) be careful what you wish for. The pasture is not always greener where you think it is, it may only be in your wishful thinking.
Anne Marie
#52 Anne Marie on 2008-08-28 09:24
Let me ask, how do you know how someone feels in their heart? You people think that because you sit in front of a grey box with a screen in a open therapy session, the entire world does the same. I don't think so. There are hungry to feed, grief strickened to be counselled, the blind need assistance and so on. I suggest that you use your energy wisely. You think that everyone reads all of this? Think again!
(editor's note: One cannot know fully what is in another's heart; one can only judge them by their fruits, as Scripture teaches. That being said, I have always felt that this endeavor qualifies as assisting the blind, and dealing with the grieving, and feeding those hungry for the truth. I am sure not everyone is reading this, but 7,000 on the average night suffices in a Church whose official membership is less than 28,000. Since I doubt many
(several hundreds, but surely not thousands) readers are not members of the OCA, I think we can safely assume that some 25% of the OCA membership reads it on a regular basis, and I know for a fact several parishes carry stories in their bulletins, while others pass it more like "samizdat " for those without internet in parishes where the priest does not allow discussion of it. So, back at you. Think again. Do not infer disinterest from silence.)
#53 MP on 2008-08-28 12:56
Where do you draw us talking about what is in his heart?
We're just talking about what we've heard and since he's done nothing wrong there's nothing to forgive. Guilty conscience there, my friend?
#54 Anonymous on 2008-08-28 15:03
Dear Fr. George,
The profs. at our seminaries are smart, articulate people. They do not need you defending their actions, or inactions. Let them speak for themselves. The role of the faculty at our seminaries with regard to this scandal simply must be part of the dialogue before we can heal. You assume way too much about their innocence and ignorance. I am not newly fallen off the pumpkin wagon, and if I was not a credible source, Mark would not allow this post I am certain. I have paid my dues and have reasons other than your many fanciful and sometimes nasty speculations for my anonymity. It is curious to me that you, a priest sworn to secrets, should suddenly have a problem with it. That said, I have not named a single person by name, I am talking about an institution that cannot possibly have avoided being tainted by this scandal. And yes, in some ways, probably enabled it. You have spent your time sarcastically abusing me for my anonymity and carefully avoiding the issue I am raising: the role of the seminaries in this OCA culture of silence and fear. We, the faithful, have looked to them for guidance. I fear we got scant little of it when one looks at the fruit of their silence.
#55 Anon. on 2008-08-28 20:38
In our culture we are NOT presumed innocent until proven guilty unless in a criminal trial (because there the stakes -- freedom -- are so high). In civil trial, the burden is usually on the one suing (not always, though). But elsewhere in life, we are free to do what common sense tells us to do, which in some cases allows us to presume guilt. The only place we need to leave our common sense at the door in in criminal court, and sometimes civil court.
#56 Anonymous on 2008-08-29 00:07
While we're on the subject, another usage that is silly is putting bishops' names in ALL CAPS. It seems to me like we're straining for more hyperbole where there is already enough. I have never seen the Roman Catholics use it in English, and neither have I seen the Anglicans use it. The Anglicans may not have the best church but they do have the best usage of English.
Peter McElvein
#57 Peter McElvein on 2008-08-29 05:35
Well, anonymous:
I don't know about you but I am getting tired of this exchange. But maybe it will be worth a little something to take a brief look at your most recent offering.
1. Up 'til now I haven't so much been defending the profs as calling into question your anonymity and methodology. But maybe I will do a little defending this time.
2. When you say the sem profs are smart enough to defend themselves I think what you really mean to say is that you object to me effectively pointing out a few of the huge holes in the cloth of suspicion you seek to weave and the way you anonymously weave it.
3. I take issue with you on a couple of fronts, and you need to be smacked politely but firmly in the face with how it looks to someone who is used to dealin in logic and evidence. Character assassination is bad enough in one who identifies himself with his true name, but is doubly beastly under the cloak of anonymity, triply so when group aspersions are cast, and quadrupled in your case by the lack of by the lack of evidence.
4. You claim that we should conclude form the fact that this site uses your material as sort of stamp of approval from the editor. I invite Mr. Stokoe to tell us if a credibility determination is to be inferred from publication of anybody's comments here.
5. You claim that I assume too much about the profs' innocence. Maybe I do. I think Christianity teaches us to assume the best about people, and even secular society sees the wisdom of presuming innocence.
6. You seem to underline the fact that you have not made allegations about any specific prof here as if that establishes your innocence fo something. To me it establishes your guilt of group slander. Instead of hewing careful to what you have evidence to show against some one, you fire a charge of langrage (and language) at the entire faculty ... without evidence!!
7. And let's face it. The profs are VERY unlikely to have had actual evidence of wrong worthy of using to take a public stand. Strong suspicions by some: no doubt. Circumstantial evidence, perhaps. Reason to believe that the amount of smoke must probably come from a fire, sure. But no evidence on which to cause a firestorm of negativity at an institution where the potential for damage would have been high.
I don't mind saying that among the ways in which the entire church could have done a better job of preventing or detecting the defalcations, greater vigilance or boldness by some profs who might have possessed sufficient reliable info to act on, but until you show that one did, it is all really just a big, bogus hypothetical and you can't persuasively argue the whole faculty or each individual had a duty to act publicly on it. The profs' job was to study and teach and I have no problem with the idea that Christian integrity and wisdom (except in some speculative, hypothetical case of actual knowledge and duty we do not know about) didn't require the profs to lay aside their actual duties and mount some vigilante investigation that would have been stonewalled as effectively as the administration throttled other question asking.
No, anonymous, your position does not withstand scrutiny. Sorry if I seem harsh, but when you sell us tripe you shouldn't blame me for pointing out it smells bad. Perhaps I could or should have been nicer. Would it have helped you look more carefully at what you're peddling? I doubt it. (that last question was rhetorical)
Fr. George
#58 Fr. George Washburn on 2008-08-29 22:01
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text:
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text:
You have seen the slow evolution. You probably predicted it. And it happened.
I went all out this year.
It came to me on Succos. My son was playing with cars and trucks outside when he wailed,
"I dropped my mordechaicyle!" turning the soft 'c' into a glutteral 'ch'.
And it hit me, right then – a motorcycle gang – or Mordechai-cycle gang! Kids will be bikers, handing out beer and gum cigarettes. And throw in cupcakes for a carb.
So with a good idea, too many Google searches, and an awesome Graphic Artist sister-in –law, my shalach manos was well….you tell me. (Actually the final pics aren't so good because the cellophane was too glare-ee, so I broke it down to parts)
I think I've peaked though. It's all downhill from here.