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WSJ House of the Week: Will It Be Feng Shui in Tahoe?
A penthouse condo in downtown Atlanta that was converted from an industrial space and a 1880s Romanesque Revival-style mansion in Chicago are two homes in the running for WSJ House of the Week. Stefanos Chen unveils the winner on Lunch Break. Photo: In1Spot Photography.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... ay ay ay ay ... a sixty acre California property offers stables up on stock efficient organic vegetable garden at says one out from Stanford Cisco but ... will rustic chic take House of the week ... that rhymes Kate nice job Stefanos Chen to this point is right now when the stock held by Reserve first in Nevada ... I this is the kind of a Tuscan me flavored house ideas in sch thing is on a lake on one the Nevada side in incline Village and this home was built in two dozen two was that the Tuscan style but actually ... the underlying principles the summer are based in punctuate us with the ... Chinese ... in ... the sense of how to make the space and maximized she which is the sense of energy your pot that got positive energy directly so that was an expert who was here basically everything about the homeless or if it's for the water because that ... helps ... prosperity makes the house to very fortuitous and ... an energetic ... there's aam seared Pearson five feet of private pier for the home this out ... of the that is if you're an seafront fee of private water frontage ... in the home itself ... I've recently built Tuscan style there so you would basically from Sri does ... practically as office to the creek water pieces and you will pay for this stock ten point four five million seas ... right ... that's not for you if you wanna try some southern ... good car mom I would go to Atlanta and what we have today we have a downtown apartment here in Atlanta that day is inching because the city and the steel space is the warehouse basically ... unit came in ... and basically didn't that motivation are seeing a photo there but kept the gritty feeling have the ... very tall ceilings to have the exposed brick ... at a high ceiling fans there and it's an open floor plan which is combined kitchen living and dining area ... with the kind that the main point of a home that the full features a forty foot tall ... ice Kailey and this isn't a staircase that leads up to a private debt for a partisan together score just that's up pretty cheap under million get seven to fifteen thousand three G I mention standards that had set up a quote I doubt we are back that first house were teasing Indian trail ... of chic rustic home in California at some of animals there sixty acre property ... in if you are so inclined you can also buy BT Chief and and that ten chickens that are included for which I absolutely ... I would say that the forty two hundred square foot house to take that split level the better of getting fresh garden fruit trees ... and ended the pundits as he said the stopped traffic after she was buried at four point two million final contender in Chicago and this was cut about ... a revival of sorts yes right yet style it's an eighteen eighties Romanesque revival style mansion its ten thousand square feet to plenty of space for family ... seven bedrooms seven a half that's there's a lot of emotional features are seeing there he ... revealed by the fireplace oak ... paneling on the walls their ... awesome stained glass so I've been in there as the coffin ceiling so if you're looking for that sort of historic flavor this is the three at the czar for contenders on action taken how sweet I just want animals ... to cameras in my house that so I was so that that everything's up for grabs ... the one ... that thinks we actually Amy and I bought a in Nevada to looking at that looking at that house once again that is deadliest J when her house of the week Stefanos

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Heavier caliber rounds
antimedic 07-10-2004, 09:35 PM I have been reading alot about U.S Spec Ops guys using a 6.8 mm round. Seems the bad guys do not notice when they get plugged by our little friend Mr. 5.56. So, what are the groups thoughts of the U.S adopting the heavier round for general issue, and if other nations may follow. Maybe even a rebirth of "battle rifles" of 7.62 mm. I think the Army needs to look at most Law Enforcment Agencies, who are getting away from 9mm and going to 10mm or .45 cal.
TR 07-10-2004, 11:32 PM 6.8x43mm Remington SPC yeah... it has been getting a lot of attention. I think however the 5.56 round has killed a lot of people the world over. Part of the problem has been the types of rounds used, for example during the fighting in Mogadishu in 93 some of the troops were issued AP rounds. Great for punching through armored material but didn't have stopping power to get the job done. That's why for the past couple years there have been new rounds developed for the weapon. The 6.8mm may indeed be a step in the right direction however and the idea of weapon upgrades (new uppers and mag replacements compared to a whole new weapon) is saving the tax payers money.
A lot of police departments are using intermediate rounds like the 40 Smith & Wesson, 357 SIG and the like... the 10mm Auto and 45 ACP are not normally standard issue for the common beat cop. Personally I have always found it a shame the 357 Magnum has not been commonly seen in semi-autos as it has excellent stopping capabilities... of course I'm slightly biased.
Until Later
TiggerCCW UK 07-11-2004, 06:01 AM My own personal belief is that we should never have dropped the 7.62 as a standard round - the 5.56 is only a .22 on steroids. Having said that I still wouldn't fancy getting hit by one
Chuck Mandus 07-11-2004, 10:57 AM I often wonder why that instead of trying to push a new 6.8mm round, why don't they just go back to using the 7.62mm (.308 Winchester) round? I figure it is already a standard so why not make it easier? Maybe not being in the military, I am missing something but I figure I would ask.
Grimace 07-11-2004, 03:48 PM It's a fine balance between stopping power, range, and weight of carrying the ammunition. The 5.56 is lighter, but has less stopping power. The 7.62 is heavier, but has good stopping power. The thing that basically took it out of mainline service was the weight issue. Now their realizing that stopping power might be more important, especially since body armor is getting better. Thus they'll waste enormous amounts of money to try something new out and see how it works, rather than use something they've already deemed "unworthy".
For better or worse, I think the 7.62 will only be relegated to the few battle rifles still in service and the medium machineguns of some nations.
ReHerakhte 07-11-2004, 04:35 PM And to add to what Grimace has said, the 7.62mmN could over-penetrate and with urban warfare, that can be something you don't want (like when it goes through a wall and hits a civvie on the other side). Although in the bush, the ability to shoot through a modest sized tree can come in handy!
It's interesting to see the attempts by other nations to cope with this situation, like the Russian 9mm rifle round. Although I don't know much about its ballistics, it seems to have been developed with urban warfare in mind. TR, do you have info on this round?
Chuck Mandus 07-11-2004, 04:53 PM Originally posted by ReHerakhte
And to add to what Grimace has said, the 7.62mmN could over-penetrate and with urban warfare, that can be something you don't want (like when it goes through a wall and hits a civvie on the other side). Although in the bush, the ability to shoot through a modest sized tree can come in handy!
It's interesting to see the attempts by other nations to cope with this situation, like the Russian 9mm rifle round. Although I don't know much about its ballistics, it seems to have been developed with urban warfare in mind. TR, do you have info on this round?
I know i've seen films of .30-06 fired from BAR's and it really carved up cinderblocks very well although that could have been the AP ammo that was used. I know myself, if there had been a lighter rounded needed for the average footsoldier, I think I would have settled for something on the par of a .243 Winchester round which is roughly 6mm. I've heard of the Russian 9mm rifle round, I heard it was also used for hunting game as well.
Antenna 07-11-2004, 08:56 PM For 6.8x43mm weapon see this link Barrett M468 (http://www.ludd.ltu.se/users/antenna...ifles/m468.htm) The page is for DC but can of course be adopted for M2k or T2k if there are wishes for that
jtar7242 07-12-2004, 02:41 AM http://www.barrettrifles.com/rifles/rifles_m468.htm
There's the official site, and below is a good read on it.
It's a cool idea, but the Army has already all but comitted to the M8 rifle. You might see this adopted for special forces, and in all likelyhood I wouldn't rule out a near future limited or complete adoption by the USMC. The higher emphasis on marksmanship in the Marine Corps and the "one shot, one kill" philosophy makes the idea of going back to a heavier round while retaining the flexibility and utility of the M16 weapon, as well as drastically lessening the retraining. Familiarization with an ndividual weapon is huge. All the muscle memory of the M16 weapon would be more or less retained with this over an entirely new system like the M8.
The biggest drawback, however, is logistics, and supply. There is a tremendous amount of 5.56 ammunition in the inventory right now. And while that isn't truly a terminal issue (it could easily be "sold" or given to the Army, what also counts against it is the fact that the M249 SAW still utilizes 5.56mm, and the logistical ease of having all basic fireteam weapons fire the same ammunition is a big factor. There would need to be a new weapon to replace or upgrade the SAW in order to make this weapon more palatable to the brass.
graebarde 07-12-2004, 11:10 AM Just a bit of history of American small arms ammo for the rifles as I recall it.
At the end of WW2, the US was using the .30-06 as it's 'standard' round for the basic rifle, at the time the M1 Garand. When NATO came to be, and standardization became the focus, the British propose as the standard a round that was about .280, but the US being the 'leader and supplier' balked. They had warehouses full of -06 ammo, and would have to completely retool for this to come about. The US proposed the 7.62 NATO round, which is just a shorter necked -06. They could use the powder and bullets, and resize the -06 brass, and wala the 7.62 is born.
Then comes along a brush war in south east Asia. The M14 and 7.62 is too heavy to hump through the jungles, so Colt (really Armalite originally) (and Matell of course) came up with the M16, which fired .223 (5.56 mm). It was sooooooooo much lighter and you could hump alot more rounds for the same weight, (of course it was a piece of shit at the time and took the same weight in ammo to stop the guy coming at you, but what the hell.. Colt was making a killing, and pockets were being lined).
NOW we have the NEW improved round in ALMOST the same caliber as the one the Britisgh proposed FIFTY years ago. And it is OUR idea? Give me a break.. too bad NATO didnt tell the US to stick it and go with the .280 then. It is a good compromise round for weight and stopping power. But alas that is water under the bridge, and what ifs will never be.
WHO is the contractor for this NEW round?
evilmike 07-12-2004, 04:25 PM 5.56mm will whackify folks real good; just make sure you are not using AP rounds or as the man said, you will be having to shoot the target many, many times.
Doesn't penetrate cover worth a damn, but hey, that's what the M60 is for..
And yeah, us Marines would LOVE to get a New And Improved M-14.....with modern materials you could make it lighter, at least. Use 30 round mags, stick some optics on it, and voila! My new love goddess...
But since we've got umtpy-billion rounds of 5.56mm in the inventory, I don't see it happening any time soon.
*waves to all his fans*
Been busy.
TR 07-17-2004, 04:19 PM It's interesting to see the attempts by other nations to cope with this situation, like the Russian 9mm rifle round. Although I don't know much about its ballistics, it seems to have been developed with urban warfare in mind. TR, do you have info on this round?
I assume you mean the 9x39mm round?
Their a necked up 7.62x39mm cartridge fitted to a 9mm bullet... they have sniper match grade ammo, AP ammo and the like for it. Originally designed for the VAL sniper rifle of the 90's it has been expanded to other weapons since.
Some links on the round can be found on the web at:
On the road from Tulsa,
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Council has three different types of playgrounds; district, neighbourhood and local playgrounds. These playground types reflect the different sizes and locations of the playgrounds, which cater for the diverse needs of the community.
Our playgrounds provide opportunities for children to engage in physical, cognitive, unstructured and social play, regardless of a child's age, capability or developmental stage. They offer a diverse number of play activities, which is essential for children's physical, cognitive, social and emotional development.
The playgrounds accommodate families with children and their play needs across a variety of ages. Parents are encouraged to actively play with and must supervise their children at all times.
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UCC church leaders shocked at treatment of local pastor by Oklahoma legislators
United Church of Christ leaders on Thursday (Feb. 12) expressed outrage at the perceived discriminatory treatment of a local UCC pastor by the Oklahoma State House of Representatives.
In what legislators are calling a first, one-fifth of the Oklahoma House voted Feb. 11 to strike from the record a prayer offered on the chamber floor by the Rev. Scott H. Jones, pastor of Cathedral of Hope UCC-Oklahoma City. Jones had been invited to deliver the prayer and serve as chaplain for the day by Rep. Al McAffrey, D-Oklahoma City.
Following the prayer, McAffrey asked that the session vote to include Jones' prayer in the House journal, the official daily record of the chamber. An objection was raised by Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow, who called for a vote on the prayer's inclusion.
"It was a pretty chaotic moment," said Jones of the procedural points of order that ensued following Wright's objection. "My understanding was that [an objection to a prayer] never happens."
The vote took place once order had been established, with 64 representatives voting to include the prayer, 20 opposing it and 17 abstentions.
Jones is a constituent of McAffrey's Oklahoma City district. Both believe the objection was raised because of their sexuality. Jones leads the largest predominantly LGBT congregation in Oklahoma City and is himself gay. McAffrey is Oklahoma's only openly gay legislator.
"As the leader of Rev. Jones' denomination, I am deeply offended by the treatment he received from the legislature and dismayed by the message of intolerance it sends to the citizens of Oklahoma and beyond," said the Rev. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President of the UCC. "It is comforting, however, to remember that our prayers are judged at the throne of grace and not in the halls of petty principalities."
"The Oklahoman" newspaper quoted McAffrey on Wednesday, saying that "because most of Scott's congregation are gay people and Scott is gay himself, I'm sure that's the reason why there were negative votes on it."
But Wright sees it differently. In the same Oklahoman article, he stated his objection was procedural - that prayers were only entered into the official record on Thursdays - but later said his "actions were motivated by the faith."
Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, was among those who voted to strike the prayer from the record. Kern is on record as calling homosexuality "the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism and Islam."
The Rev. Gordon R. Epps, conference ministry coordinator for the UCC's Kansas-Oklahoma Conference, delivered a letter to Speaker of the House Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, on Thursday (Feb. 12). Epps commended Benge "for the democratic way you led the house when an unusual challenge was made to vote on whether or not to enter into the record the opening prayer given by the Rev. Scott Jones."
Responding in support of Jones, the UCC's Executive for Health and Wholeness Advocacy, the Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer, said, "Once again, bigotry infects the Oklahoma statehouse by the vote of 20 legislators to reject the prayer offered by the Rev. Scott Jones. In this mean-spirited vote, they have demonstrated profound disrespect to a gifted pastor and a congregation dedicated to faithfully serving its community through a robust and vibrant ministry."
Schuenemeyer sees the proceedings as a clear indication of discrimination. "The action of these legislators has dishonored the core American values of freedom of religion and freedom of expression," he said. "The citizens of Oklahoma and this nation deserve better and ought not to tolerate such behavior from their fellow citizens, much less their elected officials."
The United Church of Christ is a denomination of 1.2 million members in 5,600 autonomous local churches that are joined together in Christian mission through local associations, regional conferences and the biennial all-church General Synod.
At their 2005 General Synod in Atlanta, UCC delegates voted overwhelmingly in support of a resolution calling for marriage rights to be extended to same-gender couples. The resolution, In Support of Equal Marriage Rights for All, "affirms equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender and declares that the government should not interfere with couples regardless of gender who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of legally recognized marriage."
Cathedral of Hope UCC-Oklahoma City began in 2000 as a church plant of Cathedral of Hope UCC in Dallas. In January 2007, they became a fully autonomous congregation within the United Church of Christ.
Pilgrim Press and UCC Resources sites join UCC.org
In a further effort to simplify the process of getting information and obtaining materials, the UCC's web team and publishing group have consolidated all product ordering through an integrated e-commerce module on the UCC.org website.
Most significantly, this change streamlines the process by which site visitors can find and order materials that were previously housed in separate online stores maintained by the Pilgrim Press and United Church Press.
"We are pleased that our web host can accommodate an e-commerce store this large," said Timothy Staveteig, publisher of the presses. "This new relationship offers fuller descriptions, more discount options and more personalized service. This change streamlines searches and purchases."
Staveteig notes that while the new catalog is available for customer use and testing, the former stores will remain active during a brief testing period.
Another innovation of this integration is the concept of "single sign-on." Site visitors will now have only one account at the ucc.org website – allowing them to access their preferences on UCC.org, order from the online store and access the forthcoming myUCC social networking site.
"One of our goals was to create seamless experiences for those on our website," said the Rev. J. Bennett Guess, UCC Director of Communications. "People will find the UCC's new e-commerce module to be a significant step above what we used to offer and the single log-in function will mean you only have to remember one password to access everything that ucc.org has to offer."
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Book review: 'Saving Paradise' says church got it wrong by emphasizing crucifixion
|Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker, authors of "Saving Paradise." Photo courtesy Beacon Press.
Those are the provocative opening sentences of the new book, "Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire" (Beacon Press), by Protestant scholars Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker.
"Saving Paradise" turns upside down the history of the church's view of Jesus' crucifixion and its stress on the importance of suffering. The authors attempt to show that for the first thousand years of its existence, the Christian church placed much more emphasis on the resurrection and paradise than the crucifixion.
Before the 11th century, Brock and Parker found, Christian imagery portrayed Jesus alive - teaching and healing and living in this world. At first, the authors were stunned when they discovered the dearth of crucifixion images in Mediterranean churches, especially given their importance to centuries of later doctrine.
Brock, an ordained Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister and director of Faith Voices for the Common Good, and Parker, president of Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, Calif., are also co-authors of the critically acclaimed book, "Proverbs of Ashes: Violence, Redemptive Suffering and the Search for What Saves Us." Parker has dual standing as an ordained minister in both the United Methodist Church and the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Expanding on themes in "Proverbs of Ashes," Brock and Parker argue in "Saving Paradise," which includes 90 pages of footnotes, that the Christian church of the first millennium never stressed that Jesus'
suffering on the cross was necessary for the salvation of humanity.
In "Saving Paradise," they attempt to reveal that the early Christian community did not so much draw inspiration from suffering and the next world, but from the here and now, from earthly life and a vision of paradise.
"During their first millennium, Christians filled their sanctuaries with images of Christ ... as a shepherd, a teacher, a healer, an enthroned god; he is an infant, a youth, and a bearded elder. But he is never dead," the book says.
"When he appears with the cross, he stands in front of it, serene, resurrected. The world around him is ablaze with beauty. These are images of paradise - paradise in this world, permeated and blessed by the presence of God. But once Jesus perished, dying was virtually all he seemed able to do."
The authors tackle what they consider the subversion of the Christian message - exemplified by the ninth-century Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, who instituted the death penalty for conquered people who refused to convert.
After Charlemagne, killing, suffering and dying in the name of Christ began to represent the highest honor for Christians, the book maintains.
Brock and Parker argue that Charlemagne's attitude of conquest remains an undercurrent in some countries' foreign policy, tying it into modern-day wars and imperialism.
By re-emphasizing early Christians' focus on paradise, on the kingdom of God on Earth, the authors are convinced they are reclaiming authentic "traditional" Christianity.
For instance, even though the 13th century monk, Francis of Assisi, is now admired as the patron saint of animals, the authors argue that his love of suffering marked an epochal downturn in the history of Christian theology.
When they cite how Francis of Assisi taught that "perfect joy (is) to share in the suffering of the world as Christ did," they say it was a sign of how far the Christian church had turned from promoting images of paradise and enjoyment of this earth.
Instead, "Saving Paradise" says Francis was fueled by a burning desire to be martyred, to be "torn limb from limb." He brought that belief, they maintain, to his support of the Crusades, which aimed to convert Muslims by the sword.
Alternatively, Brock and Parker urge readers to see church history in a new light, with an eye toward social justice. They call upon readers to "rekindle Christian traditions that hold fast to love and thereby teach Christian people how, in the midst of horror and tragedy and loss, to resist violence, honor the earth, and to humanize life."
Episcopal Church apologizes for its role in slavery
In an unprecedented public act of remorse for centuries of support for slavery, the Episcopal Church on Saturday (Oct. 4) held a dramatic service of repentance at one of the nation's first black churches.
Punctuated with the sound of a gong and the sung refrain of "Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy," the service began with a "Litany of Offense and Apology" detailing the ways that the denomination participated in human captivity, segregation and discrimination.
More than 500 worshippers, a multicultural sea of faces, spilled over into the aisles of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, founded in 1792 by Absalom Jones, a former slave and the denomination's first black priest.
"Through it all, people of privilege looked the other way, and too few found the courage to question inhuman ideas, words, practices or laws," said Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.
"We and they ignored the image of Christ in our neighbors."
Several of America's founding fathers - most notably George Washington - were Episcopalians and slave owners, and many of the nation's most historic and prominent steeples were built by wealthy donors who made their fortunes on the back of slave labor.
Yet Episcopalians were one of the few U.S. churches that managed to stay intact as the Civil War split Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists into northern and southern branches over the issue of slavery.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the United States. Last June, the U.S. House of Representatives issued its own apology for slavery.
"Apology and acknowledgment are an incredibly important part of the process of coming to terms with history," said Katrina Browne, whose recent film, "Traces of the Trade," explores the wealth accumulated by her Episcopal ancestors in Rhode Island through the slave trade.
The service, and the day of workshops that preceded it, were the result of a resolution passed at the Episcopalians' 2006 General Convention that called slavery a "sin" and a betrayal of the "humanity of all persons."
The 2006 resolution asked dioceses to research instances in which they have been complicit or profited from it, and asked the presiding bishop to hold a "Day of Repentance." Each diocesan cathedral was also asked to hold its own service of repentance.
A number of African American participants emphasized that however moving the event, it was only one step in an effort to redress denominational and social inequities.
Noting that another General Convention resolution addresses oppression of "all people of color victimized by society over the past 300 years," Canon Ed Rodman, a professor at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., added that "until the whole story is told and everybody's voice has been heard we cannot begin the process of reconciliation."
"It is one thing to repent of our sin, but another to turn around and go in the right direction," said Franklin Turner, retired Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.
"I don't think it's what the church does inside the church," added the Rev. Isaac Miller, rector of the historic Episcopal Church of the Advocate in North Philadelphia. "It's about what happens afterwards."
Everett Worthington, a professor of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and a researcher in forgiveness, said public apologies can help usher in "some manner of justice back into a situation where there has been injustice."
Such apologies may narrow an individual's "injustice gap" - the space between the way someone would like to see an issue resolved, and the way they actually see it being resolved, he added.
The Rev. David Pettee, who oversees ministerial credentialing for the Unitarian Universalist Association, said he has also located slave owners and African and Native American ancestors in his own Rhode Island family tree.
"I was impressed by having the Episcopal Church make this move, and I personally hope that at some point we (the Unitarian Universalists) arrive at an act of redemption and apology," Pettee said after the service.
A joint resolution passed in 2001 by the UCC's General Synod and the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) called upon the United States government to "issue a national apology for participating in and supporting the kidnapping, exporting and enslaving of people of African descent."
The joint resolution also encouraged congregations, regions, ministries and national assemblies to "join in active study and education on issues dealing with reparations for slavery."
Chicago's Trinity UCC is 'great gift to wider church family'
In the wake of misleading attacks on its mission and ministry, Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ is being lauded by United Church of Christ leaders across the nation for the integrity of its worship, the breadth of its community involvement and the depth of its commitment to social justice.
"Trinity United Church of Christ is a great gift to our wider church family and to its own community in Chicago," says UCC General Minister and President John H. Thomas. "At a time when it is being subjected to caricature and attack in the media, it is critical that all of us express our gratitude and support to this remarkable congregation, to Jeremiah A. Wright for his leadership over 36 years, and to Pastor Otis Moss III, as he assumes leadership at Trinity."
Thomas says he has been saddened by news reports that "present such a caricature of a congregation that been such a great blessing."
"These attacks, many of them motivated by their own partisan agenda, cannot go unchallenged," Thomas emphasizes. "It's time for all of us to say 'No' to these attacks and to declare that we will not allow anyone to undermine or destroy the ministries of any of our congregations in order to serve their own narrow political or ideological ends."
Located in the heart of Chicago's impoverished Southside, Trinity UCC's vast array of ministries include career development and college placement, tutorial and computer services, health care and support groups, domestic violence programs, pastoral care and counseling, bereavement services, drug and alcohol recovery, prison ministry, financial counseling and credit union, housing and economic development, dozens of choral, instrumental and dance groups, and diverse programming for all ages, including youth and senior citizens.
Thomas, a member of Pilgrim Congregational UCC in Cleveland, has attended worship at Trinity UCC on a few occasions -- most recently on March 2 -- and says he is "profoundly impressed" with the 6,000-member congregation.
Among Trinity UCC's crowning achievements, Thomas says, is its work with young people.
"While the worship is always inspiring, the welcome extravagant, and the preaching biblically based and prophetically challenging, I have been especially moved by the way Trinity ministers to its young people, nurturing them to claim their Christian faith, to celebrate their African-American heritage, and to pursue higher education to prepare themselves for leadership in church and society," Thomas says.
'Exceedingly gracious'
The Rev. Steve Gray, the UCC's Indiana-Kentucky Conference Minister, describes Trinity UCC as a "jewel."
"It's everything a Christian community is supposed to be," says Gray, who has been working with Trinity UCC for the past three years to develop a new UCC congregation in Gary, Ind. "Trinity has given well over $100,000 in support of its partnership with us, and in 15 months of regular meetings with Jeremiah Wright, we always found him to be a man of gracious hospitality, humor, generosity, who paid attention to detail but also a man who does not call attention to himself."
Trinity UCC has been involved in planting more than 15 new congregations, according to the UCC's Evangelism Ministry in Cleveland.
Gray, a member of First Congregational UCC in Indianapolis, has worshiped several times at Trinity UCC and is most impressed by the overflowing sense of welcome it extends to visitors.
"When you're Euro-American, the people [at Trinity UCC] are so exceedingly gracious, warm and welcoming. They hug you and say, 'Welcome to our church!'"
Many, including Gray, point with appreciation to Trinity UCC's generous support of denominational and ecumenical ministries. From 2003 to 2007, Trinity UCC gave more than $3.7 million to Our Church's Wider Mission, the UCC's shared fund for connectional mission and ministry.
'Extraordinary outreach'
The Rev. Bennie Whiten, retired Massachusetts Conference Minister who prior served for 15 years as associate director of Chicago's Community Renewal Society, says, "Trinity was one church that we could always rely on to respond almost immediately. They have been very, very involved in the community in so many meaningful ways."
Noting the church's work in health care, early childhood education and economic development, Whiten says, "The scope of their concern and outreach is extraordinary. It's really just an outstanding congregation."
Whiten, a member of Pilgrim UCC in Oak Park, Ill., is especially taken with Trinity UCC's commitment to the need and importance of quality theological education. More than 60 members of Trinity UCC are currently enrolled in seminary and pursuing masters-level degrees. Moreover, the congregation pays for students' tuition costs.
"They firmly believe in the UCC's commitment to an educated, seminary-trained clergy," Whiten said, "and they have probably had more people feeling the call to ministry than any other church in the denomination."
The Rev. Susan Thistlethwaite, president and professor of theology at UCC-related Chicago Theological Seminary, says Trinity UCC is a model church in the way it supports its people in discerning and cultivating their gifts for ministry, both lay and ordained.
"Another thing I really appreciate about Trinity is that its ministries are always directed both inward, toward the congregation itself, and also outward in supporting other congregations ecumenically and supporting community organizations that are dedicated to lifting up the wider society," Thistlethwaite says. "We have had so many fine students come through Chicago Theological Seminary who were helped to discern their call to ministry through this church's dedication to serving the wider church."
'Jesus and justice'
The Rev. Kenneth L. Samuel, pastor of Victory UCC in Stone Mountain, Ga., says he is impressed that Trinity UCC "promotes spirituality and piety while also being emphatic about social justice."
While Trinity UCC is the denomination's largest congregation, Samuel's 5,300-member church is the UCC's second largest. Founded in 1987, it joined the UCC in 2004.
"Trinity was really one of the churches that inspired me to want to affiliate with the United Church of Christ," Samuel said. "My church was originally National Baptist and Southern Baptist, but it was the critical-thinking that [Trinity] brought to this work, the justice work, that helped me to want to become a part of the denomination. I have no regrets about that."
Samuel says that, during Wright's 36-year ministry at Trinity, Wright has not been afraid to tackle difficult topics, while staying equally committed to preaching "Jesus and justice."
"There have been two major sins in the Black church that many Black churches will not address – homophobia is one and sexism is another," Samuel says, "and Jeremiah Wright has been one of the articulate, courageous voices that has not been afraid to address these critical issues. If he can do that and still maintain his close connectivity to the Black community, and stay grounded in the Black ethos, that's what has inspired me."
'Speaks well for us'
Carol Brown, national president of United Black Christians and a member of Cleveland's Mt. Zion UCC for more than 50 years, describes Trinity UCC as "the flagship church of the United Church of Christ."
"I think it's very interesting that a minority group within a denomination can have the largest church, support the most ministries and give the largest number of OCWM [mission] dollars," Brown says. "That speaks well for us as an accepting, open and affirming denomination. Especially, as a justice-oriented church, [Trinity UCC] sets a standard for all the denomination that all are welcome."
Brown, who worships at Trinity UCC when in Chicago for meetings, says she is most taken by its exuberant spirit.
"It's certainly a very welcoming church, and it's certainly very reaffirming of the faith when people join in such large numbers when there's an altar call," Brown says. "It's something that you don't see in the average church. God is certainly at work there, and it's exciting when you see that many people stand up to witness to their faith and step forward."
Obama's General Synod speech prompts IRS to investigate UCC's tax-exempt status
The Internal Revenue Service has notified the United Church of Christ's national offices in Cleveland, Ohio, that the IRS has opened an investigation into U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's address at the UCC's 2007 General Synod as the church engaging in "political activities."
In the IRS letter dated Feb. 20, the IRS said it was initiating a church tax inquiry "because reasonable belief exists that the United Church of Christ has engaged in political activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status."
The Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president, called the investigation "disturbing" but said the investigation would reveal that the church did nothing improper or illegal.
Obama, an active member of the United Church of Christ for more than 20 years, addressed the UCC's 50th anniversary General Synod in Hartford, Conn., on June 23, 2007, as one of 60 diverse speakers representing the arts, media, academia, science, technology, business and government. Each was asked to reflect on the intersection of their faith and their respective vocations or fields of expertise. The invitation to Obama was extended a year before he became a Democratic presidential candidate.
"The United Church of Christ took great care to ensure that Senator Obama's appearance before the 50th anniversary General Synod met appropriate legal and moral standards," Thomas told United Church News. "We are confident that the IRS investigation will confirm that no laws were violated."
Before Obama spoke to the national gathering of 10,000 UCC members, Associate General Minister Edith A. Guffey, who serves as administrator of the biennial General Synod, admonished the crowd that Obama's appearance was not to be a campaign-related event and that electioneering would not be tolerated. No political leaflets, signs or placards were allowed, and activity by the Obama campaign was barred from inside the Hartford Civic Center venue.
In an introduction before Obama's speech, Thomas said Obama was invited as "one of ours" to provide reflections on "how personal faith can be lived out in the public square, how personal faith and piety is reflected in the life of public service."
Thomas said the IRS's investigation implies that Obama, a UCC member, is not free to speak openly to fellow UCC members about his faith.
"The very fact of an IRS investigation, however, is disturbing," Thomas said. "When the invitation to an elected public official to speak to the national meeting of his own church family is called into question, it has a chilling effect on every religious community that seeks to encourage politicians and church members to thoughtfully relate their personal faith to their public responsibilities."
Don Clark, a Chicago attorney who serves as the UCC's national special counsel, said the IRS investigation will afford the UCC the opportunity to correct "inaccuracies and misperceptions."
"It's disconcerting, since the IRS did not communicate with us, or seek any facts from us, in advance of their coming to this understanding," Clark said. "But we feel confident that once they are made aware of the facts that they'll draw a different conclusion.
"This inquiry will provide an opportunity for the United Church of Christ to correct any factual inaccuracies and misperceptions that may have prompted the underlying concern, and to reaffirm the importance of the constitutional rights of free speech and association that have been implicated," Clark said.
Sitting presidents and presidential candidates have a long history of speaking before non-profit, faith-based bodies.
In January of this year, both Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton spoke separately to the national gathering of the National Baptist Convention of America. In April 1996, when her husband, Bill Clinton, was seeking re-election, then-First Lady Hillary Clinton, who is United Methodist, spoke before her denomination's quadrennial General Conference.
In March 1983, President Ronald Reagan gave his famous "Evil Empire" speech before the National Association of Evangelicals.
In September 1960, then-candidate John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, appeared before the Greater Houston Ministerial Association to explain the "so-called religious issue" and "to emphasize from the outset that we have far more critical issues to face in the 1960 election."
Read the IRS letter to the UCC.
Watch Obama's June 23, 2007, address to General Synod.
Read the text of Obama's speech.
Watch Synod Administrator's instructions on morning of Obama's speech.
Doc' Edmonds, UCC leader and civil rights pioneer, has died
The Rev. Edwin R. "Doc" Edmonds, one of the UCC's stalwart justice advocates, died on Nov. 6 of pneumonia-related complications. He was 90.
Edmonds, a former chair of the UCC's Commission for Racial Justice, was the retired pastor of Dixwell Avenue Congregational UCC in New Haven, Conn., where he served for 35 years. A columnist for the New Haven Register referred to Edmonds as "New Haven's premier civil-rights figure of the mid-20th century."
A one-time member of New Haven's Board of Education, Edmonds also led New Haven's inner-city ministry called the "Wider City Parish" and taught sociology at Southern Connecticut State University.
The Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president, said it was appropriate that Edmonds' death would come just after the UCC was concluding its 50th anniversary on All Saints Sunday.
"Few have had such a long and profound influence on the shaping of our church and its vocation of public witness for racial, social and economic justice," Thomas said. "Doc's leadership over the years pushed us urgently toward greater faithfulness and helped us become the church we celebrated at our 50th anniversary celebration in Hartford."
Edmonds, who moved to New Haven in 1959, is credited with helping to build a thriving black middle class there. When the Ford Foundation gave the city $1 million to pilot anti-poverty and job-training programs, Edmonds was appointed to the original board of the project, called Community Progress, Inc.
Edmonds, who was a pastor and civil rights pioneer in Greensboro, N.C., before moving to Connecticut, met the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1958 at an NAACP convention in Detroit and the two corresponded until King was slain, according to the Hartford Courant.
The Rev. Linda Jaramillo, executive minister for Justice and Witness Ministries, served on the Commission for Racial Justice under Edmond's leadership. JWM is CRJ's successor body in the UCC's national structure.
"I remember Dr. Edmonds as a 'drum major' for justice, words that I believe Dr. King would have used to describe him," Jaramillo said. "I will always treasure the way in which he taught through word and deed. The legacy of this faithful justice prophet will live on within and beyond the United Church of Christ."
A native Texan, Edmonds attended Sam Houston College, which was co-founded by his grandfather in 1876. He later received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Morehouse College and a doctorate in social ethics from Boston University.
Edmonds and his late wife, Maye, had four daughters, Lynette Johnson, Karen Spellman, Cheryl Edmonds and Connecticut State Rep. Toni Walker (D-New Haven). He was a member of Church of the Redeemer UCC in New Haven.
A public memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Nov. 24 at Center Church UCC in New Haven.
Because of pro-gay stance, UCC church in Texas can't join prison ministry
A United Church of Christ congregation in Texas has been told it cannot participate in an evangelical Christian program that assists children of prisoners because of the church's outspoken gay-friendly stance.
The Rev. Dan De Leon, pastor of Friends Congregational UCC in College Station, Texas, said he learned this summer that his church was disqualified from Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree program, which encourages churches to buy Christmas presents for the children of inmates.
Prison Fellowship officials said the church's stance on homosexuality, declared on its Web site, represented a disagreement about basic scriptural doctrine.
"For a church to qualify for Angel Tree, its beliefs must be consistent with our Statement of Faith, including being Trinitarian and accepting the unique authority of the Bible in all matters of faith and life," reads a July 24 letter the church received from Prison Fellowship.
The church provided a copy of the letter to Religion News Service.
"As we have looked at the doctrine and beliefs of your church in light of our Statement of Faith and partnering guidelines, we have determined that your church does not qualify as part of our program."
De Leon said he called the regional office of Prison Fellowship and was told his church was disqualified because it belongs to the UCC's "Open and Affirming" program that welcomes gays and lesbians as members.
"Personally it came as a shock and when it was shared with the congregation, it was equally shocking," said De Leon, whose church draws an average of 120 worshippers on Sunday. "The emotions ran from anger to confusion to just the wind being taken out of our sails as a community initially."
David Lawson, senior vice president of Prison Fellowship, called the situation "one unfortunate incident" and said "very few" of the more than 12,000 participating churches have been disqualified or disqualified themselves from the Angel Tree program. Such cases usually involve differing views about homosexuality or creation, he said.
He said the Angel Tree program is not limited to Christmas presents but aims for a year-round "full relationship" between churches and prisoners' children, involving them in congregational programs.
"We want to make sure that the churches that we partner with are compatible with our values, our statement of faith," said Lawson, who is based in Lansdowne, Va.
The Texas church has participated in the program for five years and been "Opening and Affirming" since 1996. In recent years, Prison Fellowship has reviewed Angel Tree participants to ensure that churches are compatible with a recently revised mission statement that urges a focus on "transformation," he said.
The United Church of Christ has seen other repercussions from its stance on homosexuality. In July, an insurer refused to offer coverage to a UCC church in Adrian, Mich., saying its pro-gay stance put it at "a higher risk" of property damage and litigation. In recent years, major television networks have rejected UCC ads as "too controversial."
The Texas congregation has drafted a letter to Prison Fellowship, signed by more than 120 parishioners and supporters, to express its dismay at being removed from the program.
"We are disheartened that Prison Fellowship has chosen to lean more heavily on small matters of doctrinal disagreements than on much larger matters of theological authenticity and compassion, which demand that we Christians must love one another if anyone will ever believe that we truly follow Christ," the letter said.
UCC President John H. Thomas wrote a letter of support to the congregation, and encouraged them to respond to Prison Fellowship.
"I pray that those who receive your letter will be challenged by its message and, by God's grace, transformed," Thomas wrote.
De Leon said church members will meet to determine new ways to help children in the community.
Lawson said even though Prison Fellowship is no longer aligned with the College Station congregation, "we affirm them in their desire to serve these children."
Barack Obama, candidate for President, is 'UCC'
Obama a member of denominations largest congregation, the 10,000-member Trinity UCC in Chicago since 1988 has spoken often about his profession of faith, his membership in the socially progressive UCC and the need for Democrats to take seriously the concerns of religious Americans.
The Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCCs general minister and president, said the denominations only organizational interest in Obamas candidacy is that his faith and his religious tradition be discussed accurately within the media.
Our churchs rich historical legacy is interwoven with the history of this nation, and the heritage of the United Church of Christ makes it clear that faith is to be expressed actively in public life on behalf of the community and the world, Thomas said. While it is not appropriate for the church to advocate for any one candidate in electoral politics, I am proud that Sen. Obama is an active UCC member and speaks to many of the values that our church holds dear.
Obama wrote about his faith and his UCC membership in the August-September 2006 issue of United Church News, the UCCs national newspaper.
You come to church in the first place precisely because you are of this world, not apart from it, Obama wrote. You need to embrace Christ precisely because you have sins to wash away, because you are human and need an ally in this difficult journey. It was because of these newfound understandings that I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity UCC on 95th Street in the Southside of Chicago one day and affirm my Christian faith.
In November 2004, during his acceptance speech following his election to the Senate, Obama expressed appreciation for the support of Trinity UCCs members. The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., pastor of Trinity UCC, is one of Obamas close spiritual advisors and is credited with giving inspiration to the title of Obamas bestselling book, The Audacity of Hope. Obama says he first heard Wright use the phrase in one of his stirring sermons.
Trinity UCC has been a true community to me a place in which the mind, heart and soul come together to celebrate God&'s goodness, Obama told United Church News in 2004.
The UCC is a Cleveland, Ohio-based denomination of more than 5,700 congregations, located in all 50 states. Often confused with the much-different Churches of Christ, the United Church of Christ is one of the oldest and youngest church bodies in the United States.
Formed by name in 1957 by the union of the Congregational Christian Churches in America and the Evangelical and Reformed Church, the UCCs roots in American history are deep. Eleven signers of the Declaration of Independence were from UCC traditions, and a full 10 percent of present-day UCC congregations were formed prior to 1776.
Many UCC churches trace their founding to the early 1600s, when the Pilgrims and Puritans first came to America. These Congregationalists, as they became known, sought religious independence from persecuting political authorities in Europe. They believed firmly in local church autonomy, covenantal church life, personal piety and the priesthood of all believers.
Today, the UCC holds firmly to these early religious tenets. Often recognized for its historical and contemporary social justice commitments, its present-day approach to worship, however,might be considered traditional by most standards.
Interestingly, the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, published in 2002, found that UCC members, slightly more than members of other mainline denominations, listed traditional hymns and biblically-sound preaching as being essential to good worship. Surprising to some, the same study also found that slightly more UCC members self-identified as conservative rather than liberal a tidbit that President Calvin Coolidge, a conservative Republican and the nations only Congregationalist president (1923-1929), might have found interesting.
Although each congregations liturgical style is influenced by its heritage and members preferences, as is true in most mainline denominations, the UCC, as one pastor aptly put it, is known for its beautiful, heady and exasperating mix.
Known for arriving early on social justice issues, the churchs history includes being the first to practice democracy in church governance (1630), the first to ordain an African-American pastor (1785), the first to ordain a woman (1853), the first to ordain an openly gay man (1972), and the first to support same-gender marriage equality (2005).
In 1773, Old South UCC in Boston helped inspire the Boston Tea Party and, in 1777, Old Zion Reformed UCC in Allentown, Pa., hid the Liberty Bell from occupying British forces.
Hundreds of schools including Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Howard, Fisk, Wellesley, Smith and Oberlin owe their beginnings to the UCC. The UCCs publishing company, The Pilgrim Press, is the oldest publisher of books in North America.
Obama and his family live in Chicagos Hyde Park neighborhood, which is home to Chicago Theological Seminary, one of the UCCs seven seminaries and the citys oldest institution of higher education.
Largely regarded as a northern church, about 80 percent of UCC members are clustered in the Northeast and industrial Midwest. The UCC is the largest Protestant church in New England, the birthplace of Congregationalism, and it has more than 700 churches in Pennsylvania, the heart of the German Reformed tradition. The UCC is also strong in New York, Missouri, Florida, Hawaii and the Pacific West Coast.
In Iowa and New Hampshire, two states with early Presidential contests, the UCC has 188 and 138 congregations respectively.
In recent years, the UCC has posted growth in the South. The denominations second largest church, the 5,500-member Victory UCC near Atlanta, affiliated with the UCC in 2002. The UCCs fourth-largest, the 4,300-member Cathedral of Hope UCC in Dallas, Texas, joined in 2006, as did churches in Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.; Montgomery, Ala.; and Columbia, S.C., among other places.
Last year, the UCC launched its national Nehemiah Project with plans to start or welcome at least 250 new southern churches within five years.
While Obama looks to be the only UCC candidate in the 2008 presidential election, the 2004 campaign included two UCC members, both Democrats. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, now chair of the Democratic Party, is a member of First Congregational UCC in Burlington, Vt., and then U.S. Senator Bob Graham is a member of Miami Lakes Congregational UCC in Florida.
The current U.S. Congress includes 10 UCC members five Republicans and five Democrats.
Five U.S. Senators are UCC Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Obama.
Five House seats are occupied by UCC members: Thelma Drake (R-Va.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.).
Other notable UCC members include New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D); former U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.); actress Lynn Redgrave; current U.S. Poet Laureate Donald Hall; Pulitzer-prize-winning newspaper columnists Connie Schultz (and wife of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio) and Leonard Pitts Jr.; and Marilynne Robinson, the Pulitzer-prize-winning author of Gilead.
The Rev. Andrew Young former congressman, U.N. ambassador and Atlanta mayor is an ordained UCC minister, who began his Civil Rights activism working for the UCC.
The late Rev. William Sloane Coffin, the legendary social activist who became immortalized as the pastor in Gary Trudeaus Doonesbury comic strip, had ministerial standing in the UCC and served as pastor of the UCCs Riverside Church in New York.
The Rev. Reinhold Niebuhr, a UCC minister considered to be one of greatest Christian theologians of the 20th century, authored the now-famous Serenity Prayer.
New UCC church in Louisiana to hold first service on Oct. 1
Journey UCC will meet at a restaurant in Prairieville, La., in a building generally used for weddings and other public events. The new-church start comes at a time when many who once lived in southern Louisiana have moved north into the Baton Rouge area, following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
"We have put in months of work and are excited about establishing the only UCC church in what is now the largest city in Louisiana," wrote Malcolm Richard, one of the church's founders, in an email to Conference and National church leaders. "I'm excited, but also nervous. Someone called church planting the 'extreme sport of Christianity.' It has and will be a ride!"
The UCC has only 16 churches in Louisiana, with most being located in the New Orleans area. Funds from the UCC's post-Katrina "Hope Shall Bloom" special offering are being used, in part, to supplement the new-church start.
"God has given me a vision for reaching the unchurched and hurting people of our area," Richard said.
Richard asks that UCC members across the country who know of potential worshipers in the Baton Rouge area to contact him at email@example.com.


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NJ Governor Corzine, Obama, Corruption, New Jersey corruption, Illinois corruption, Obama campaigns for Corzine, US taxpayers foot bill, Obama tries to save face at expense of taxpayers, Negative ads, Taxpayer dollars
Save New Jersey Initiative It is only fitting that Barack Obama campaign for New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine. They have so much in common. Especially when it comes to connections to crime and corruption and wasting taxpayer's money on their own agenda. From the New York Post, October 24, 2009. "Corzine, cash & corruption" "New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine really has no shame. Just hours after Bergen County's longtime Democratic machine boss, Joseph Ferriero, was convicted Thursday on three federal felony corruption counts — which could land him in prisonRead More


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We are now in year three of the recession and while the newspapers are telling us the bottom of the cusp has been hit and we are building back up, there are an awful lot of unemployed people in my neighborhood. As they end their unemployment benefits many fall off of the statistics even though they are not back to work. They have a lot of free time though, and would like to go on vacation this summer. What are the choices? It's definitely good for our economy as a whole to get out and spend money. That's ultimately the only thing that will pull us back into the black. People need services, and services require workers, and workers who are paid have money to spend in other outlets.
If you haven't got the money to go anywhere, some media analyst has made up the word "staycation." It means you stay home and take advantage of what is around you. If you have never taken your kids to the public library, its free, fun, and generally air conditioned. A lot of libraries have story hour for kids and some have contests with prizes. At the very least there are lots of books and movies you can check out and sometimes even a give away section with older books. Kids love to get stuff they can call their very own.
If you live in a city other inexpensive things you can do are visit local zoos or museums. Take a guided tour. Some cities have walking tours for a nominal price. Most cities have at least one historical building. Look it up on Wikipedia and tell your kids the story. It will make a warm family memory. Take a walk in your neighborhood and look at a architecture. Or spend an afternoon at the movies in the air conditioning. Or go to an ethnic neighborhood and try the food you have never tried before.
If you have slightly more money to spend, stay in a nice bed and breakfast in your town. What you save on travel costs you can splurge on the niceness of the hotel. Or go the opposite direction and take your kids up the highway to a cheap motel 6 just for the fun of it. Bring your dog! Most motel 6's accept pets, and some even have swimming pools! Take your kids camping with tents or RV's, or if you don't like sleeping outside yourself, let them do it in your back yard. Show up at midnight in a sheet for a fun scare. Kids love that stuff. Believe it or not, what your kids want most, is your time.
If you want to get to know each other again, consider taking the train or a car vacation. It's much less stressful than traveling by airplane is these days. No one gives you a hard time about your baggage, and traveling by train enables you to get up and walk around while you are moving. Visit some of America's beautiful natural parks. Your tax dollars are paying for them! Volcano National Park on the Big Island of Hawai'I is one of the most fascinating places on earth. Where else can you view an active volcano? Hike around on dry lava flow, view sea turtles and see amazing stars. The sky is so clear you will see more stars that are usually visible in other places.
Oahu and Maui are famous for beaches. Kauai is slightly more dry and yet still has some very nice resorts. The wonder of Hawai'I is that everyone speaks English and you don't need a passport to get there. Visit the places President Obama grew up. It's a beautiful area, and the people are friendly. Don't forget to wear sunscreen! The glass bottom boat tours are exciting for kids, deep sea fishing is cool and whale watching a must.
If you live on the East Coast, getting to Hawai'I costs a bit more than it does if you are leaving from Los Angeles or San Francisco. For what's it's worth you might as well go the other direction and check out Europe. You can make a European vacation relatively cheap if you buy a Eurrail pass before hand, and make the most of it. One trick I learned for saving money is stopping at the train stop just one before the place you want to see. For example get off in the relatively unknown town of Taracscon in the south of France, ten minutes away from the more famous destination, Arles, former home of Vincent Van Gogh. The hotels are cheaper in the less well known towns and the countryside less spoiled, more charming. You will notice as soon as you get off in the tourist spots how much marketing is geared toward local and foreign tourists alike.
You can also save money by staying in youth hostels or the ever increasing elder hostels, and meet some interesting people along the way. If you are traveling with kids, consider saving money by spending at least one night in a sleeper car as you make your way across Europe. Pick destinations that are eight hours or more apart. It's fun, and if you have a paid for pass, you're getting more for your money by traveling more. Alternate eating out with buying stuff at the market. European markets are full of fresh and interesting food.
If you live in the Midwest, you might be kind of far from either Hawai'I or Europe. Consider renting a cabin in the pristine and beautiful upper peninsula of Michigan. It is very cold and snowy over the winter, but in the summer you can hike, fish, and camp all over. It's fun to look for fossils or Petosky stones. The fruit stands in the summer are full to overflowing with the best cherries, plums, peaches and plums you've ever had.
Another way to keep costs down on vacation is to consider house swapping with another family. Look on Craig's list, in newspapers, and on the internet for other families interested in going where you live.


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More titles! More world preems!" is the battle cry of the Pusan Intl. Film Festival, which unveils its biggest ever program for the 13th edition (Oct. 2-10) in South Korea's southern coastal sprawl.
At a time when the local industry has been facing its toughest year in a decade, and amid talk that the hallyu (Korean wave) has had its 15 minutes of fame, PIFF is coming out with its fists up. With a lineup of 269 feature-length movies — eclipsing even the 233 of its giant 10th edition — and 47 world preems — up by 10 on last year — PIFF is also serving notice to other major fests in Asia (Tokyo, Shanghai) and locally (PiFan, Jeonju, upstart Chungmuro) that it's still the biggest kid on the block.
Certainly, on paper, it's still the latter, with its project mart (PPP), its nascent but still struggling Asian Film Market, its Asian Film Academy, plus seminars and massive film program. The last has quietly tweaked itself to include more titles in its showcase Window on Asian Cinema section (50, up from 37 last year), cut back a little on its World Cinema sidebar, and made the prizes in its documentary section (Wide Angle) open to all Asian filmers, not just Korean.
In addition, this year its special programs are, unusually, both devoted to Western cinema: a retro on Italy's Taviani Bros. and a tribute to Romanian cinema.
And seemingly in response to accusations that the fest was ignoring mainstream Asian cinema, there's a definite tilt toward genre filmmaking, if only in the sidebars. There's a retro devoted to '50s-'60s helmer Han Hyung-mo ("the alchemist of popular genres," says the fest), a sidebar on Superheroes in Asia, a collection of musicvids by Asian directors and a 10-title group of Asian anime offerings. That's all in addition to the Midnight Passion section, launched last year, which this time is heavily skewed away from Asian movies: Eight of the 12 titles hail from the West.
Like all fests, PIFF has been taking a more aggressive approach toward premieres the past couple years. World Cinema boasts an unprecedented nine world preems, including Peter Greenaway's "Rembrandt's J'accuse." Its main competish section, New Currents, has expanded by about a third to 14 features, of which 11 are world preems.
As a whole, however, PIFF's Asian selection in its main sections (New Currents, Window and Korean Cinema Today) is still heavily weighted toward independent and purely fest fare. It ignores vast swathes of quality commercial cinema in countries like Japan and, especially, China — the region's two biggest producers, with a current output of some 400 features a year each. Till this is remedied, PIFF can't claim to be a one-stop showcase of Asian production.
On the plus side, Southeast Asia is more strongly repped this year, with the Philippines prominent. And Central Asia, repped by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, is very visible: Kazakhstan even supplies the fest's opener, Rustem Abdrashev's period drama "The Gift to Stalin," centerd on a village kid in 1949 during the darkest days of the Soviet Union's Asian republics.
The Korean Cinema Today section, once a catch-up on local movies released during the past year, has morphed into more of a premiere lineup of smaller-scale titles, seemingly in response to the industry's travails. Its Panorama subsection corrals several interesting commercial releases, including "Public Enemy Returns," "The Chaser" and "The Good the Bad the Weird." More edgy stuff is in the Visions subsection.
PIFF's tentpole, the expanded Window on Asian Cinema, includes Yojiro Takita's "Departures," He Jianjun's "River People," Indian d.p.-turned-director Santosh Sivan's "Tahaan: A Boy With a Grenade" and Royston Tan's retro-flavored "12 Lotus." Malaysia, Iran and Kazakhstan broaden the selection away from purely Asian fare, though Japan, as always, is heavily repped.
The same can largely be said for the New Currents competition, focusing on first and second works from the Asian low-budget indie scene. With three titles from China, South Korea and Southeast Asia each, plus Iran, India and Kazakhstan and Southeast Asia, it's geographically an imposing selection.
Anna Karina, actress, France/Denmark
Samira Makhmalbaf, director, Iran
Santosh Sivan, director, India
Lee Hwa-si, actress, Korea
Karl Baumgartner, producer, Germany


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We are excited to have Hotel Park City and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse join us and the Huntsman Foundation to eradicate cancer from the earth!
The Hotel Park City is a Luxurious Resort in Utah and home of the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.
Hotel Park City invites you to discover a destination where contemporary luxury goes hand in hand with the alpine warmth and charm of an old world ski lodge.
Nestled beside an 18-hole golf course minutes from the slopes, our AAA Four Diamond resort has proudly been rated a "Top Ski Hotel" by Conde Nast Traveler. We've also been placed in the Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame by Trip Advisor and earned the Certificate of Excellence (TripAdvisor, 2015), a Platinum Choice Award (Smart Meetings Magazine), recognition as a "Most Admired Company" (Utah Business Magazine) and more.
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In the summer, mountain bike tours and rentals are available in the lobby, while our ski rental and tune-up service keep you ready for the slopes in the winter. Throughout the year, you'll find yourself just moments from our heated mountain-view pool, the full-service spa, complimentary fitness classes and two signature restaurants – the #1 rated Ruth's Chris Steak House in the western U.S. and Bandannas Bar & Grill – that all make Hotel Park City a fantastic place to unwind.
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McGill University, Canada: T-cell activation molecules
T-cell activation molecules and progressive MS
Principal Investigator: David Haegert, M.D.
Institution: McGill University
Country: Canada
Amount Awarded: €74,739
Early in the course of MS it is difficult to know whose disease will progress and whose will not. This team proposes to identify and test potential biomarkers – molecular signatures – in the blood to determine if they can be used to predict whether someone with MS will show rapid or slow disease progression. They will test blood samples from people with MS who participated in clinical trials in the past, and whose course of disease progression is known. If the biomarker is indeed increased in people with rapidly progressing MS and not in those whose MS is more benign, this biomarker could be developed as a test to predict disease progression and identify people who need more aggressive treatment.
What does this mean for people living with progressive MS?
Finding a biomarker that can be tested in blood samples of people with MS could help predict the rate of disease progression and help determine the most appropriate therapy.
Project Update
Status: Extended
The team hypothesized that rapid accumulation of disability and rapid MS progression are a closely related processes and that our biomarker signature will identify not only people with rapid progression from relapsing-remitting MS to secondary progressive MS, but also people with relapsing-remitting MS that have rapid vs. slow accumulation of disability. The team studied several patient subgroups including people with MS who had rapid MS progression vs. slow MS progression, and subgroups with relapsing-remitting MS who had rapid vs. slow accumulation of disability during their relapsing-remitting MS phase of disease. The team plans to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells from selected people in each subgroup and compare expression of their biomarker signature. They are also planning experiments that will test whether there are biological differences between people in the defined secondary progressive MS and relapsing-remitting MS subgroups.
Principal Investigator David G. Haegert
Dr. David G. Haegert earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and his medical degree from the University of British Columbia. He completed his internship at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, and his residency training in Anatomic Pathology in the McGill University teaching hospitals. He received post-doctoral training in Immunology at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England. Dr. Haegert is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Anatomic Pathology. He now conducts research focusing on multiple sclerosis and possible biomarkers that predict rates of disease progression in multiple sclerosis and responses to therapy.
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GFS-P05 Piston Seal
The GFS-P05 Piston Seal provides optimum leakage control and good resistance to extrusion. The seal is a double-acting O-Ring energized piston seal for dynamic applications. Installed in grooves to ISO 7425, it has excellent friction characteristics with no stick-slip, minimal break-out force and high wear resistance.
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Similar Operating Performance To:
Trelleborg Turcon Glyd Ring T


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UK and US charity partnership saves over 900 orphans in Ramadan
LONDON. (July 17, 2015) – Orphans in Need (OIN – UK) and United Muslim Relief (UMR) today announced the support of over 940 orphans by UMR in their first Ramadan campaign as partners. This announcement comes as millions of Muslims across the world begin their celebrations of Eid ul Fitr marking the end of the fasting of the month of Ramadan.
The partnership was formed in March this year and has quickly ensured the care of hundreds of orphans through UMR's efforts in the US.
"We expected great things from Orphans in Need's partnership with UMR but were amazed to hear that they had supported the staggering amount beyond 900 in Ramadan alone. We are proud to be their delivery partners and will strive to work with them to ensure that these children receive the best care possible" Tufail Hussain, CEO Orphans in Need
"It is unfortunate that with all the disasters around the world, so many children have lost one or both of their parents. Through this incredible partnership with OIN and the generosity of our donors, we can begin to alleviate and address the needs of some of these orphans." Dr Abed Ayoub, President & CEO of United Muslim Relief
Over 3,000 orphans in 14 countries were sponsored by donors through Orphans in Need this Ramadan. The generosity of supporters year on year to sponsor orphans remains unwavering and shows the continued charitable nature of our communities globally.
About United Muslim Relief
United Muslim Relief is a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization in the USA. It is one of the fastest growing NGOs in the United States, with a focus on building humanitarian coalitions to tackle developmental needs. UMR was first launched by a group of students at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia who wanted to do something to help the victims of the Haitian earthquake and has now become a respected humanitarian player with an emphasis on health programs. As well as serving underprivileged communities around the world, UMR has hundreds of dedicated volunteers in the US who are dedicated to making a positive contribution to American society. Our motto "beyond relief" bares testament to our belief that we must work to empower those most in need and help them attain dignity through giving them the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty
About Orphans in Need
Orphans in Need is a British charitable organization, which was established in order to help some of the world's most vulnerable and needy people. Like many charities Orphans in Need is committed to the alleviation of all forms of poverty and deprivation, in all parts of the globe. However, the organization's primary focus is on orphans and widows; often the weakest members of any society, and the most affected by the scourge of poverty. Currently Orphans in Need is instigating, running or financing a number of poverty alleviation projects in Asia and Africa. Much of this work is centered on Orphans and orphanages, although many programs are designed to help whole communities and areas to 'lift themselves' out of the cycle of deprivation.
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Press Contacts:
United Muslim Relief
Mohamed Ali,
Communications Manager
+1 202 370 6963
Orphans In Need
Moshiur Rahman,
Marketing and Communications Manager
+44 (0)20 7100 8866