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Archive for December, 2010

Glory to the newborn King

13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Luke 2:13-14

One of my favorite Christmas hymns is Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. This hymn is based on a poem with 10 four-line stanzas by Charles Wesley published in 1739. Wesley wrote the poem within a year of his conversion to Jesus Christ, and it stands as one of the finest of his more than 6,500 hymns. It has gone through many revisions since its original writing, beginning with a modification by George Whitefield in 1753.

Wesley’s original line was:

                        Hark, how all the welkin (archaic for “heavens” or “sky”) rings,

                        Glory to the King of Kings!

Which Whitefield changed to its present form:

                        Hark! The herald angels sing

                        Glory to the newborn King.

As with most of Wesley’s hymns, this song is written as a condensed course in the biblical doctrine, with the focus of this song being Christ’s birth.

  • Stanza One—recaptures the message of the angels to the shepherds and places special emphasis on the work of the child as Savior.
  • Stanza Two—Wesley summarizes the essentials of Christ’s person: pre-existence and eternality (1st line), virgin birth (2nd line), two natures and incarnation (3rd line), and fulfillment of the Messianic promise of Emmanuel (4th line).
  • Stanza Three—Wesley draws on OT prophecies to describe the glory of Christ’s person and work: Prince of Peace comes from Isaiah 9:6 and Sun of Righteousness is drawn from Malachi 4:2.

Wesley finishes the third stanza by pointing to the true significance of Christ’s birth:

            Mild He lays His glory by,

            Born that man no more may die,

            Born to raise the sons of earth,

            Born to give them second birth.

What a powerful summary of the purpose for Christ’s coming! I hope we will give that message its proper place as we celebrate Christmas. How can you do that? (1) By thinking about the meaning of these wonderful hymns we sing so that our minds and hearts engage in genuine worship, (2) by telling others why the Son of God really came, and (3) by making sure that your own family’s Christmas celebration does not ignore Christ—read the Scriptures together and offer thanks to God for the gift of His Son.

(Originally posted on 12/24/2009)

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On the public nature of resolutions and critiquing them

Since this objection is commonly raised, let me just say plainly that I do not believe that I was wrong to challenge the resolution publicly. My reasoning for that is twofold: (a) since the resolution was a matter of public expression, public interaction is completely warranted; and (b) the resolution itself expressed a concern about certain “Fundamentalist institutions” which just as much publicly calls into question those institutions as any critique of the resolution raises questions about the ACCC. It is unreasonable for people who are concerned about the truth to demand that it only be discussed privately. I don’t find fault with the ACCC for passing a resolution about something which they perceive to be a public concern. I also don’t regret challenging the resolution publicly. I do regret making a weak argument and some wrong assumptions.

More later.

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How not to write a post…

Well, the blog came back to life just in time for me to eat some crow. It sat dormant for over a month with technical glitches, which meant, to my chagrin, that the post regarding the ACCC resolution was front and center the whole time. Why did that cause me chagrin? One reason is simply that I acknowledged in the post that I am sympathetic toward the ACCC’s position on separatism, so I did not want my very specific disagreement to be over-magnified (like I was rubbing it in their faces for 30 days).

A larger reason was that I had concluded, based on a comment made by Frank Sansone over at SharperIron, that I needed to make a correction to the post. Frank rightly pointed out, I believe, that I had allowed myself to use a bad argument with regard to the Jack Schaap situation. By dragging that back into the picture I made it seem like my concern was limited to the Baptist Friends Conference (BFC), when I was really just trying to illustrate a principle—we look negatively at decisions made by those perceived to be outside of our movement, yet interpret as positively as we can those decisions made by people perceived to be on the inside. The bottom line is that Frank’s comment caused me to reread what I had written and I realized it wasn’t written well. FWIW, because my blog was down, I re-joined SI in order to make the clarification, but it took a day for my permission to get done and by that time the thread had deteriorated so I decided to wait until the blog came back up. Nobody here thought it would take over a month for that to happen.

So, I already felt a little bad that the second half of that post was written so poorly, when, as providence would have it, on the day the blog comes back up I receive a letter from a good brother who is connected to the ACCC. His letter was both gracious and firm—the kind of letter one should write to express disagreement in a manly way (if I may use a non-pc phrase). He wasn’t trashing me for the post, but he took strong exception to it. I don’t agree with all of his arguments against it, but my heart sank as I read portions of it because he was right.

Specifically, I was wrong to accuse the ACCC of a “glaring inconsistency” because they passed a resolution about T4G but there was no resolution against the BFC. That accusation represents a kind of judgmentalism on my part that was uncharitable (and therefore ungodly) and an arrogant assumption on my part that they were deliberately ignoring the other conference (when in fact they may have had no knowledge of it). I played the fool in charging them with this and I need to apologize publicly since my wrongful speech was public. I have wrongly accused the men who crafted and passed this resolution and I am very sorry to have done so.

I am not sure what the proper blog process is for correcting the old post, but I will try to figure out something that acknowledges the weakness of its argument and the wrongful accusation. At this point I believe I will edit the old post and then offer a further word of clarification regarding my original point in a day or so. I am thankful that this brother challenged me about what I had written. Obviously, I needed it. I hope you will also feel the liberty to bring to my attention anything in what I write that you believe needs to be challenged. SDG.

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How not to make an argument for separation

While the blog was down, I posted this over at SharperIron, but also wanted to put it up here.

Recently, Pastor Tod Brainard has published two articles in which he addresses the issue of ecclesiastical connections between fundamentalists and conservative evangelicals. The two articles overlap in argument, and portions of his arguments have also been passed along by David Cloud. I receive The Projector via mail, so I read his article a couple of weeks ago when it arrived. Earlier today I had someone pass along the Cloud email, then I noticed that a blog based in the toxic state of Illinois also published a modified version of the article. The article is pretty weak in general, but one particular argument he makes serves as an illustration of how we separatists often hurt ourselves when making our case.

In trying to show that Mark Dever is a compromiser, Brainard writes:

Mark Dever, C.J. Mahaney, and R. Albert Mohler were contributors to a document issued Together for the Gospel (T4G) which lists the imperatives of the movement. they write: ‘We deny that any church can accept racial prejudice, discrimination, or DIVISION without betraying the Gospel.’

Who can argue that the church should accept discrimination and racial prejudice, but to say that ‘division’ betrays the Gospel is to say exactly what the New Evangelicals said in the late 1940’s and the early 1950’s. Division over error is how the Gospel (which by the way includes the whole of Scriptures, not just salvation truth) is kept pure and protected for God’s glory, yet we are led to believe that ‘division’ betrays the Gospel. Unity at all costs is the heart throb of New Evangelicalism” (Tod Brainard, “The Convergence of Fundamentalism and Non-Separatist Evangelicalism,” The Projector, Fall 2010, pp. 6, 9).

Brainard’s completely misinterprets the T4G document. This statement (“We deny that any church can accept racial prejudice, discrimination, or DIVISION without betraying the Gospel” [emphasis added by Brainard but not acknowledged]) does not in any way mean that they reject any and all divisions. In fact, when Brainard himself concedes that discrimination and racial prejudice are wrong, he is acknowledging that the statement is addressing racial issues, but for some reason he separates division from those other two components and makes it mean something other than what the statement says. They wrote about ”racial prejudice, discrimination, and division” (emphasis added to highlight that the the word racial modifies all three).  They are talking about racial prejudice, racial discrimination, and racial division. Oddly, Brainard recognizes that racial applies to discrimination, but somehow he feels justified in separating it from division.

This was an argument in search of a place to land that found it by dislocating a word from its context. That statement had nothing to do with ecclesiastical separation at all. It was about race relations. In case you think I am being uncharitable in my assessment, here’s what the affirmation portion that is joined to the denial states:

We affirm that God calls his people to display his glory in the reconciliation of the nations within the Church, and that God’s pleasure in this reconciliation is evident in the gathering of believers from every tongue and tribe and people and nation. We acknowledge that the staggering magnitude of injustice against African-Americans in the name of the Gospel presents a special opportunity for displaying the repentance, forgiveness, and restoration promised in the Gospel. We further affirm that evangelical Christianity in America bears a unique responsibility to demonstrate this reconciliation with our African-American brothers and sisters.

Nothing there about separation. Brainard imports that concept into the statement so he can score a point. But it’s a total straw man and straw man arguments only serve to reinforce already held conclusions.

This is my concern. I believe there are great biblical arguments for separation, but when people make arguments like this it diminishes the case for genuine separatism by making separatists look ignorant and/or dishonest. I am fine with having those who reject the Gospel think I am ignorant for embracing it, but I am pretty sure that there are no crowns to be gained by failing to read properly and handle people’s words honestly. We can do much better than this kind of stuff.

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Almost back…

Well, you’ve probably noticed that there has been zero activity on the blog for a while now. We were having some serious tech problems, so it led to major changes and that always takes time (and depends on outside companies, etc.).

We think we are back up and running, but we’ll see when we start posting things. I’d like to do some work on the missional stuff, but we’re also heading into Christmas, my oldest son’s wedding on the 31st, and some big ministry things after the 1st. That means the missional series may hold until after we clear these.

I am sure, though, that there will be things to be said! I will work hard to keep those things separate from the things which should be left unsaid.

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2010 FSA Division II League Champions

Welcome to the Gator blog!

State Info

Happy state weekend Gators,

Here is a link to the state meet website, you might want to check it out before you get here. Also here are a few important reminders for the weekend. Parking is limited, and cars will be ticketed and/or towed if parked in the wrong spots. Also be aware of restricted areas for tents and chairs. No personal tents or chairs are allowed inside the fenced pool area. We only have two timing shifts, both on Sunday.

Coach Rich

State Meet Web Site

For you meet junkies out there, go to www.statemeet.com to see lots of information about the meet this weekend. Directions and maps, psych sheet, etc. Check it out!

State Info and More

Warm-up times are now posted. We have decided to warm-up at Green Mountain Swim Club at 7:30 am and head to Anderson at 8:00 am both Saturday and Sunday in order to avoid a 6:00 am warm-up with a three hour break before the meet starts. 400 swimmers will warm-up tomorrow at 1:30 at Anderson. 400 swimmers do not have practice tomorrow they do have an optional wake-up swim at 9:00 am at Green Mountain.

In other news, Al, Carol, and Beth are pleased to announce that Jennifer and Craig Friedrichs and Adelaide and Ryan Murphy have stepped up to join the swim team board.

Change to State Entries

Please re-check your entries if you are a 15-18 Boy, we added two B relays.

Looking Forward

Great job Gators! No practice Monday, rest up and get ready for state. Practice schedule will change this week: Upper Division 7:30- 8:30 am; All Lower Division 8:30-9:30 am.

Remember all gators the Banquet is this Wednesday July 24 at 5:30. No need to RSVP. Pizza and beverages will be provided. A-L bring desserts and, M-Z side dishes for at least six people.

Important Info

As we gear up for the end of the season there are a few important details that everyone needs to know.

First, we will no longer have night practice.

Second, tomorrow's tie-dye party will start at 5:30 and continue until 7:30. Please bring something to tie-dye, Gator shirts will be available for purchase if you would like to tie-dye one of them. Ice cream will be provided. Please be sure to supervise any gator that is too young to be left at the pool by themselves.

Third, make sure you know when you are swimming at league. Note that Friday is at the Stingray's pool and Saturday/Sunday is at the Splash. Please be sure to get there early, you will not be able to park in the Splash parking lot, you will have to park up the hill and walk down.

Lastly, warming-up in three lanes with 70 swimmers would be a little too crowded, so upper division will be warming up at GMSC at 6:15 am both Saturday and Sunday. We will then try and get to the splash for starts by 7:30. Upper division try and  find a ride form GMSC to the Splash. If you have multiple swimmers feel free to take them all to the Splash for the 6:50 am warm-up or talk to me, we might be able to have a few little ones with upper division.

League Update

Hi Gators,

There were a few changes to entries. Please check your entries to see if you had any changes to your events.

League Week

Nice job swimming this weekend, we had a few extra swimmers make league toady. Entries are now posted, please look them over and let me know if you have any questions or concerns as soon as possible.

Last Dual Meet

Tomorrow is the last dual meet of the summer, so we need all of the gators that are close to league times to swim extra fast tomorrow. You can check what you are swimming under important links. Warm-up will start at 6:30am and it will be cool up there early so bring extra clothes.

Sunday is the Last Chance meet. In order to swim in the meet you must have a B time or a League time. You can now sign-up for Last Chance. We will be doing entries right after the meet tomorrow so be sure to sign-up as soon as possible.

We will be doing league entries Sunday after the Last Chance meet. If you made League but will be out of town please fill in the July vacation Google Doc under the League tab before Sunday, so that we do not enter you in the meet. Practice next week will be for league swimmers only.

If you have any questions please let me know,

Top Times, League and State Qualifiers Corrected

For those of you who noticed, we had some problems with the top times and qualifications because of an error with results from the Pentathlon meet. We got a new results file from AAC and now these results are correct and working. Sorry for the inconvenience! Please let me know whenever you have a question about times or standards. You know your times better than I do!
Carol Wilsey

SNACK SHACK OPEN During Intrasquad!

We are told that the Snack Shack will be open for your dining pleasure tomorrow night during the Intrasquad Meet! There will be hot dogs and hamburgers along with the regular Snack Shack food.

Back At It

It was good to see all of you today in the water. Those of you that swam today got the chance to relive the good old days of the Swamp. Tuesday and Thursday stroke clinic sign-up is now open, Tuesday we will work on open turns and Thursday will be a flip turn day. These clinics run from 9:45-10:30 in the diving well.

Also, please remember to sign-up ASAP for the intrasquad. Please sign-up by Tuesday afternoon.

See you tomorrow,
Coach Rich

Gator Update

Hope everyone is rested and ready for the last portion of the season. Tomorrow we will return to normal practice schedule. Wednesday we have our last intrasquad of the season, you know what that means......coaches relay! You can now sign-up for that meet, please limit yourself to two individual entries. Note, there are no relays at the intrasquad meet.

See you tomorrow,
Coach Rich

Week of the 4th

Hi Gators,

This week there are a lot of adjustments due to the 4th and pictures/Water World.
Monday and Tuesday: are normal practices times including night practice on Tuesday. This weeks Tuesday clinic will be backstroke 9:45-10:30. Please sign-up now.
Wednesday: No Practice. Pictures will start at 7:30 followed by Gator Pancake Breakfast and a day of Water World.
Thursday: No Practice have a great 4th.
Friday: No Practice, enjoy your 4th July weekend

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How to Protect Your Car in Hot Weather

hot weather - dog and woman in convertible summer

As the weather heats up, the wear and tear on your car can get worse. Here are a few ways you can protect your car in hot weather:

  1. Use a windshield sun shade – These protect your interior from baking in the heat and keeps your car cooler when you get back inside after a hot day.
  2. Use protective sprays – There are products available that can provide another protective layer, like vinyl or leather protectants.
  3. Consider tinted windows – You’ll need to review your state’s regulations on the amount you can tint a window, but these can keep your upholstery from cracking.
  4. Park in the shade – This is obvious, but when you can, park in the shade. Look for streets where the shade created by buildings will pass over your car during the hottest part of the day.
  5. Check the car’s battery – When it gets hot, excessive fluid evaporation reduces the life of the battery. Make sure it’s functioning in top shape.
  6. Travel when it’s cooler – If you can, try to drive during the cooler parts of the day, like early morning or late evening. It will be easier on you, your passengers, and your car.

Chevy, Buick, and GMC Expand Military Discounts

Chevy, Buick and GMC military discounts - Iwo Jima Military memorial

Through May 31st, 2016, Chevy, Buick, and GMC will be expanding their military discounts for U.S. military veterans and their spouses in honor of National Military Appreciation Month.

GM offers the most comprehensive automotive military discount program in the industry. The program is available to U.S. military veterans within one year of separation, active-duty members, reservists, retirees, and their spouses. And, in honor of May being National Military Appreciation Month, the program will now expand to all veterans and spouses, regardless of their separation date.

The discount is available for popular models, including the all-new Chevrolet Malibu, GMC Sierra, and Buick Encore. Plus, the discount can be combined with current incentives, so veterans could save thousands of dollars on brand new models.

“The Military Discount is one of many GM efforts to say thank you to U.S. military families,” said Ken Barrett, GM chief diversity officer and former U.S. Navy captain.

GM has supported the U.S. military since 1917, when 90% of GM’s trucks were manufactured for WWI. And today, GM maintains the support by hiring and helping the latest generation of veterans. We want to thank every person who has served our country. It takes a brave soul to join, and we want to show our appreciation at Wiesner of Huntsville.


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Sunday, 20 November 2016

New parkrun in Beckenham

Yesterday saw 193 people taking part in the inaugural Beckenham Place parkrun in SE London. Andy Bond from Dulwich Runners set the opening men's course record in 17:34, with his club mate Selma Benattia establishing the women's record of 19:51.

The two lap figure of eight course is pretty flat (certainly no hills), much of it on grass and the remainder on gravel. On the long lap it's certainly a relief to turn back at the furthest point and begin the run towards home, just under half a mile along the path by the River Ravensbourne, concealed among the trees. Yesterday the grass was still frosted over at the start after a cold night, so it was a little slippery. It was beginning to get muddy in places by the end, so you might want to consider trail shoes over the winter if you are really chasing a fast time.

My main tip would be to take notice of the course directions before you get there. I know parts of Beckenham Place Park very well, with Assembly League races finishing by the mansion. I rocked up at the car park there thinking I would be bound to see some sign of the parkrun but couldn't see any trace at all. I bumped into a couple of similarly confused visitors in town from Perth and we headed off on a long run to try and find the start. The parkrun  actually starts at the Summerhouse playing fields on the other side of the railway at the East of the park. You are best coming to it from the Ravensbourne Avenue entrance, and by public transport to Ravensbourne station. There is car parking at the Old Bromley Road entrance to the park, which while not quite as near is on the right side of the railway line.

Facilities are limited at present. You can leave a bag on the grass at the start (at your own risk as per usual at parkrun), and I believe that the only public toilets are back at the old mansion/cafe/ex-golf club HQ.

This is a good addition to the SE London parkrun circuit and should take some pressure off Bromley parkrun a couple of miles away, which regularly attracts more than 600 runners. There is a strong athletics infrastructure in the area with Beckenham Running Club based not far away (though of course if you're more in the Lewisham direction, come on down to Kent AC!) .

I will be returning to the park next month when the South of the Thames senior cross country race takes places there - though on a different, and much hillier course.

Thanks as always to all the volunteers, and for Lewisham Council in supporting the parkrun getting started.

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Go BIG or Go Home
What Happens When A Small-Town Family Visits The "World's Largest"... Whatever!

World’s Largest Rotating Globe, Yarmouth, ME

Where we went, and who was coerced into going:

I couldn’t wait to try out our new, matching Go BIG or Go Home T-shirts, which I purchased in a frenzy of blind gooberness while ordering business cards on Vista Print.  It didn’t matter where we went, so long as we could wear the coordinated attire which would brand us fools.

Our gooberifically matching Go BIG T-shirts. I still owe The Boy $2.00 for agreeing to wear it.

The shirts arrived just in time for our trip to Maine, both to attend a college reunion and to see “Eartha,” the world’s largest rotating and revolving globe in Yarmouth. As an added BIG bonus, we also went to the L.L.Bean flagship store in neighboring Freeport. Outside the store stands a 17-foot boot.

Happily, no coercion was necessary to get the four of us psyched for the trip. Matt got to take the new family roadster, a Mazda CX-9, on the open road for a little zoom, zoom, zoom. The Boy got to miss a day of school. The Girl was very excited to stay in a “soyal.” This is the word she’s decided to use instead of the widely-accepted “hotel.” We don’t know how and where she picked this up, but she’s quite certain that this noun describes a place offering overnight lodging.

Our trip to a “soyal” actually became a nifty bargaining chip the week before the trip, as in “If you don’t let me brush your teeth, we’re not going to the soyal.” She’s three. There’s a lot of negotiation happening in the course of a normal day.

WHY did you go there, exactly?

I attended Bates College in Lewiston, ME, and my 20th reunion gave us the perfect opportunity to visit the “Vacationland” state together as a family. As well as distract me from the unsettling fact that it’s been two freakin’ decades since I was a college-aged student.

Conveniently, Yarmouth is on the way to Lewiston, and is also the home to the DeLorme Map Company. The 41-foot globe sits in the company’s glass-enclosed lobby.

Okay, what was so cool about it?

Eartha is immense, so regardless of your age, your first reaction is “Wow!”  To even see the northern hemisphere, you have to take the stairs or elevator to the second and third floor observation balconies.

Open heights are not my favorite, a genetic gift I’ve passed along to The Boy. He plastered himself against the back wall, as far from the glass–paneled railing as possible. The Girl is every bit as fearless as we are jelly-kneed, so I sent Matt after her when she scaled the railing to get a better look. You’ll learn more of this dysfunctional dynamic when I post about our walk across the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge.

Eartha rotates on a giant cantilevered arm underneath, so while you’re standing still, you’ll the see the world pass before your eyes. After dark, the globe is lit up from inside.

The DeLorme gift shop is worth a look, for its extensive selection of travel toys, globes, atlases, maps of countries in all corners of the world, and any souvenir which they can smack a map on — umbrellas, dog toys, even foil-wrapped chocolate balls. Yeah, we gave them some of our money.

I also have to give props to the little Tex-Mex place we found for lunch, less than 2 miles south. Bruce’s Burritos serves up hearty, wholesome, delish burritos, tacos, and quesadillas with your choice of fillings. And The Boy would like me to remind you that Maine is the birthplace of the Whoopie Pie, the delicious cream sandwich book-ended by two saucers of chocolate cake. The flavor selection at Wicked Whoopies in Freeport may make you swoon!

A little background info about the place:

Mattlas Shrugged

“Mattlas Shrugged” (And our apologies to Ayn Rand.)

Eartha is a three-dimensional scale model of the earth with mountains and landforms in full 3D, which rotates and revolves to simulate the earth’s real movements. She measures 41.5 ft in diameter, after two years of construction. She was unveiled on July 23, 1998, and earned the title of “World’s Largest Revolving/Rotating Globe” by the editors of the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999.

Eartha tilts at 23.5 degrees, just as the earth does. She revolves on a specially-designed cantilever arm, and rotates on an axis. This action is powered by two electric-powered motors, operated by a computer. At maximum speed, a full revolution and rotation will take just one minute.

BIG Bonus: Just two miles north is Freeport, home to the immense L.L.Bean flagship store.  As well as many other outlets which I, sadly, could not explore further because of, well, the whole husband and kids-in-tow thing. There’s a 17-foot tall iconic L.L. Bean duck boot in the outdoor courtyard. It was built for the retailers’ 90th anniversary in 2002. It’s not the largest boot in the world, but it’s worth a stop.

Native American

Protecting Route 1 from cashless tourists

We also caught a pic of the 25-foot tall Native American statue along the way on Route 1, in a restaurant parking lot.

How it rated on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = snoozefest, 10 = add to your bucket list):

I wanted to give Eartha a 6, but Matt talked me down to a 5. She a beaut of a globe, but overall, a visit to see her is a one-dimensional experience. Granted, it’s a free attraction, but I would have paid admission had there been some educational, interactive components. (e.g. Read this poster to find out more about Icelandic culture. Push this button and watch Iceland light up on the globe. Let’s go to the craft table, make a replica of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, and watch these toy airplanes fall from the sky!)

Hey, if you work for DeLorme and would like to hire me as a consultant, please visit the “Contact Us” page!

Epilogue: My college reunion was really enjoyable. The “feeling old” part was tastily mitigated by the lobster dinner we were served on the first night. Drawn butter soothes many ills. The highlight was the alumni parade, which was lead by a few spry 90-year olds celebrating their 70th reunion.  I’ll be happy to make it the 50th! Alumni came from all over to attend this event…one person traveled all the way from Beijing.

Which goes to show, the earth may be large, but size is not an obstacle when you really want to be somewhere special.

L.L. Bean's boot

Hey you! Go BIG!:

DeLorme Map Company, Two DeLorme Drive, Yarmouth, ME 04096.  800-642-0970

L.L. Bean, 95 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04033. 877-755-2326

Freeport Family Vacation on raveable

  1. wendyvee said,
    June 23, 2010 @ 4:27 pm

    Eartha and the LL Bean boot have been on my “to-do” list for quite awhile 🙂 Glad you have a fun trip. Mmmmmm lobster.

  2. Christina said,
    June 23, 2010 @ 9:34 pm

    Hey Suppas: Thoroughly enjoyed reading about your trip. Soyal…haha, my niece used to say the ho towel. Can’t wait to see the earth and the boot! Thanks for the info.

  3. Mike said,
    June 23, 2010 @ 10:52 pm

    Nice job incorporating the “Go Big” theme with your colege reunion. Sounds like a fun trip. We will have to check it out. You graduated college 20 years ago!!! Wow.

  4. June 24, 2010 @ 11:09 am

    Glad you got to the boot, too, and saw the Big Indian. Let me know next time you’re in Maine.

  5. Dorothy said,
    July 2, 2010 @ 12:24 am

    Hi Traci, The thing I like best abt yr blog is seeing current photos of you, Matt & the boyy & girl. Oh, & I enjoy reading abt big & biggest stuff. Why don’t you come out to the Denver area to see some big things?? Love Dorothy

  6. Diane said,
    November 7, 2010 @ 10:46 pm

    I used to pass by Eartha on trips south from my home in Downeast Maine. It really is beautiful at night. L L Bean is always worth a trip too. Have you ever visited the built to scale solar system up towards Presque Isle?

    • Traci Suppa said,
      November 8, 2010 @ 8:49 am

      Never been up to see the solar system; sounds really cool! My college roommate lived in Carabou, ME…WAY up there, and I went home with her over break once. I think it was near Presque Isle.


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Thursday, 4 August 2016

Up in the air …

AS THE UK GOVERNMENT stalls on deciding which London airport should be awarded a new runway, Flybe has once again proposed opening up RAF Northolt to scheduled commercial flights.
The airline claims this would provide enhanced regional access to London and to long haul connections at neighbouring Heathrow airport, six miles from Northolt.
‘Independent of a decision on airport capacity expansion at either Heathrow or Gatwick, which may take well over a decade to implement, the government has been presented with an immediately actionable solution at Northolt that would enhance regional connectivity to Heathrow and the capital at no additional cost to the taxpayer,’ said Saad Hammad, CEO of Flybe.
‘Northolt is available right here, right now. It is a military airport that is used largely by a few wealthy VIPs and could easily be opened up to scheduled commercial flights with less noisy aircraft.’

RYANAIR has announced the launch of its biggest ever summer schedule for 2017 at Birmingham Airport, with:

Three new routes to Chania (Greece), and Girona and Reus in Spain,
Two new summer services to Sofia and Warsaw, and
More flights to Faro, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Palma, and Tenerife

The announcements comes after the airline announced its 2017 summer schedules at Leeds Bradford Airport and Newcastle Airport, including new routes and more flights to several of its most sought after summer destinations.
Ryanair’s Birmingham summer 2017 schedule will operate 28 routes in total, with 141 weekly flights, which will support 1,700 jobs at Birmingham Airport.
NORWEGIAN is expecting its busiest ever British summer with more than 1.3 million passengers taking advantage of the airline’s unique low-cost flights to America and extensive European city and sun routes.
Norwegian is the only airline offering British passengers direct low-cost flights to America.

FLYBE has started its new peak summer route to Rennes from London City with a service to north-western France that flies six times a week. Flights operate through to September 4.

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Posts Tagged ‘cardio’

What kind of cardio is more effective in losing weight?

Posted in HEALTH PUBLICATIONS, TRAINING on July 7th, 2014 by admin – Be the first to comment

For a long time cardio continues to be a hot topic in all discussions on methods of burning fat. After all, as we all know, not just cardio can dramatically change the composition of the body. Many studies have shown that actually weight training is more effective in the fight against fat. Despite this, people prefer to sit for hours on a stationary bike with a magazine reading gossip news. You are free to do what you think is necessary, but isn’t it better to try to get the most from workout? In this article, Goldenmuscles.com will compare two most popular types of cardio – HIIT and LISS. By reading this article to the end, you’ll get an idea of what kind of cardio is more suitable to you.

So what does mean cryptic abbreviations HIIT and LISS? HIIT – High-intensity interval training  is an enhanced form of interval training, an exercise strategy alternating periods of short intense anaerobic exercise with less-intense recovery periods. For example: 30 seconds sprinting, followed by a 4-minute walk to restore a normal heartbeat, and then repeat it as many times as needed. LISS – Low Intensity Steady State Cardio. This can be walking on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike. Now when you have an idea about these varieties of cardio, let’s get into the details. read more »

Cardio-trainer rating

Posted in TRAINING on November 26th, 2012 by admin – Be the first to comment

Exercise bike

This is probably the oldest exercise machine which first appeared in the early 70′s. Exercise bikes range from mechanical, resistance of which are adjusted by belt tension on rotating wheel, to electronic, which provide you fitness program. Since the work involves only the legs, then the responsibility for the maintenance of heart rate at the right level lies solely with them. For this, you need to work hard enough and long. It is difficult to combine such workout with legs training because you can get a overtraining.

Rating: good

Running machine

This is the most popular cardio equipment, which can be found in almost any gym. An important property of it is to control tilt. A lot of people train on them in a zero slope, which gives a minimum load. Set the maximum slope – and you will feel the difference. To maintain a given heart rate will be enough just to go without much effort and without discomfort. If you’re good trained, and this load is not enough for you – grab a weights.

Rating: excellent

Stepper machine

This cardio-trainer is close in popularity to the previous one. It was proved that you will burn more calories if you make big steps, instead of small one, as many do. You should not rely too much on the handle and read more »

10 minutes of cardio gives an hour of beneficial metabolic changes

Posted in TRAINING on June 15th, 2010 by admin – Be the first to comment

Ten minutes of brisk exercise triggers metabolic changes that last at least an hour. The unfair news for panting newbies: The more fit you are, the more benefits you just might be getting.

We all know that exercise and a good diet are important for health, protecting against heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions. But what exactly causes the health improvement from working up a sweat or from eating, say, more olive oil than saturated fat? And are some people biologically predisposed to get more benefit than others?

They’re among questions that metabolic profiling, a new field called metabolomics, aims to answer in hopes of one day optimizing those benefits – or finding patterns that may signal risk for disease and new ways to treat it.

“We’re only beginning to catalog the metabolic variability between people,” says Dr. Robert Gerszten of Massachusetts General Hospital, whose team just took a step toward that goal.

The researchers measured biochemical changes in the blood of a variety of people: the healthy middle-aged, some who became short of breath with exertion, and marathon runners. read more »

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Clark (No. 2, 2012) commits to Oklahoma State

Clark (No. 2, 2012) commits to Oklahoma State

Clark (No. 2, 2012) commits to Oklahoma State

Wyndham Clark, of Greenwood Village, Colo., has given a verbal commitment to Oklahoma State for the fall of 2012. Clark also made unofficial visits to Duke, Texas and Oregon.

Clark was attracted to Oklahoma State because of the practice facilities, coaches and team.

“When it came down to my choice, it mainly had to do with the coaches,” Clark said. “I just felt like that was the place for me so it just felt right.”

Good friend Tanner Kesterson will be a freshman on the roster next season, and Clark said he also had the opportunity to meet many of his other future teammates during his unofficial visit.

Clark is ranked No. 2 in Golfweek’s rankings for the class of 2012, and is the top-ranked player in Colorado in his class. He recently finished third at the HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods, the first AJGA invitational of the season. He was third at the 2010 Western Junior, and also won the Colorado State Amateur last year.

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NCAA Tracker: Follow Round 2 from Riviera

NCAA Tracker: Follow Round 2 from Riviera

NCAA Tracker: Follow Round 2 from Riviera

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Alabama, behind star freshman Justin Thomas, struck first at the NCAA Men’s Championship on Tuesday. The Crimson Tide built a three-shot advantage in the first round at Riviera Country Club.

Will the Pac-12 – which currently has only one representative (UCLA) in the top eight spots on the leaderboard – perform better on Wednesday? Will an unexpected team like Central Florida or East Carolina make a run?

With four of our college experts on the ground in Southern California, each will keep you up-to-date with blogs, commentary and things to look out for throughout the day.

(In case you missed our plethora of preview and Round 1 coverage, check it out here)

And off we go!

• • •

Update #20: 9:08 p.m. EDT

Riviera didn’t just wreak havoc in the morning, but it also caught up with the afternoon wave.

With a handful of teams left on the course, many of the “favorites” have moved back into contention due to high scores from the teams playing in the afternoon.

UCF – which once held the lead on Day 2 – is now 14 over on its round and fallen back to 18th place. Meanwhile, the best score from the afternoon is Illinois’ 5 over, although they still have a pair of holes left.

Oklahoma is the only team that has held steady enough to stay in the top eight, holding solo third place at 11 over (6 over for the day).

• • •

Update #19: 8:08 p.m. EDT

From Sean Martin: Illinois’ Thomas Pieters is 5 under par through 28 holes and holds the lead in the NCAA Championship’s individual race. There’s a lot of golf left, but if Pieters were to win, he’d be the second Illini to win the national championship in the past three years. Scott Langley won the NCAA title in 2010 at The Honors Course. Pieters won earlier this season at Jack’s Place, Muirfield Village. Now he’s trying to win at Hogan’s Alley. Pieters shot 69 Tuesday and is 3 under par through 10 holes today. He’s two shots clear of the field.

• • •

Update #18: 7:58 p.m. EDT

Oklahoma, Florida State and UCLA (already in) are all tied for second at 8 over. Washington, in the clubhouse, sits at eighth at 14 over, while Iowa, and Kent State, each with the back nine to finish up, are tied for ninth at 15 over.

• • •

Update #17: 7:40 p.m. EDT

Oklahoma’s now tied for third with UCLA, four shots behind Alabama at 8 over. Illinois takes fifth after dropping to 13 over. Meanwhile, Florida State is second after dropping to 6 over.

With the back nine still left to play, Illinois’ Thomas Pieters, at 4 under, has a one-shot individual lead.

• • •

Update #16: 7:20 p.m. EDT

Florida State falls back to 9 over and into a share of forth with Iowa, while Oklahoma’s three shots behind leader Alabama, at 7 over for the tournament, 2 over on the day. UCLA finishes round 2 at 8 over, currently in third place.

With the back nine left to play, Illinois is 13 over, tied for eighth with Florida, which is already in the clubhouse.

• • •

Update #15: 6:58 p.m. EDT

Central Florida, with several holes left to play, is three strokes behind leader Alabama, at 7 over for the tournament. Florida State’s just one shot back at 8 over.

Four players are tied for first at 3 under: Greg Eason of Central Florida, Florida’s Tyler McCumber, Illinois’ Thomas Pieters and UCLA’s Anton Arboleda, who’s already in the clubhouse after round 2.

• • •

Update #14: 6:22 p.m. EDT

From Sean Martin: Washington and USC shot the lowest scores in Wednesday’s morning wave with 2-over 286s. Washington’s four scorers played the back nine in 3 under and all birdied the par-5 17th. Chris Williams did so by knocking a wedge shot out of a divot to 6 feet. Washington also played the difficult 18th hole in even par.

The day reminded Washington head coach Matt Thurmond of the 2005 NCAA Championship in Maryland, when the Huskies started the third round in fifth place, had fallen to 28th place by the turn, only to return to fifth at day’s end.

“I remember looking at my phone and thinking that people in Seattle are just waking up and we’re in 28th place,” Thurmond said. About today’s round, Thurmond said, “The big thing wasn’t 10 and 11 where you can make your birdies, it was 12 and 13 where teams are making bogeys and doubles and we played them (even) par. That was huge. We did everything we needed to do.”

The Huskies were headed from Riviera to Anaheim to watch the Angels play the Yankees.

USC was led by a 69 from Sam Smith, a 10-shot improvement from the first round. Jeffrey Kang shot 71 for the Trojans.

• • •

Update #14: 6:17 p.m. EDT

From Sean Martin: Chase Marinell’s teammates call him “The Robot” because of how straight he hits the ball. It’s the type of game that’s perfect for a major-championship venue like Riviera. “The Robot” is living up to his reputation at Riviera. He’s 1 under par after 36 holes after shooting 71-70 to lead little Liberty into contention.

“He hits it so good every time,” Liberty head coach Jeff Thomas said. “The tighter the course, the better for him. You can’t fake it when the greens are this firm.”

Liberty is making its first NCAA Championship appearance in school history. Making it this far is “icing on the cake,” Marinell said, in a historic season that saw the Flames also claim the first regional title in school history. Liberty, which won three consecutive events leading into the NCAA Championship, is contending to make match play.

The Flames, No. 29 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings, shot 4-over 288 Wednesday and are in fifth place among the 15 teams that have competed 36 holes. They’ve won their last three starts – at the River Landing Intercollegiate, the Big South Conference Championship and NCAA East Regional.

“It gave us so much confidence,” Marinell said of the regional victory, the first by a Big South Conference school. “It showed us that we’re not just a small school anymore. We can take these big boys. We can beat the Auburns and Floridas of the world.”

• • •

Update #13: 5:22 p.m. EDT

After back-to-back titles for tiny Augusta State, all it takes is for an upstart team to get to match play and then it is really anyone’s game.

UCF might fill that bill and the Knights are making an early run at Riviera, taking over the top spot on the leaderboard, going 5 under through the first handful of holes. There is plenty of golf left to be played, but taking advantage of Riviera where you can is a good sign for UCF.

• • •

Update #12: 4:52 p.m. EDT

Host USC might have some work to do on Thursday if it will make the match-play portion of the Championship, firing a 2-over 286 to currently sit at T-19. Thought to have home-course advantage at Riviera, USC only has two players in the top 60 (Steve Lim and Jeffrey Kang are T-60 at 4 over).

• • •

Update #11: 4:15 p.m. EDT

From Sean Martin: It was a tough day for Texas, which shot 11-over 295, but there were a couple of highlights for the Longhorns. Dylan Frittelli holed an 8-iron from 182 yards to make eagle on the par-5 18th. Meanwhile, teammate Toni Hakula holed a 7-iron from 164 yards for an ace at the par-3 sixth.

• • •

Update #10: 4:12 p.m. EDT

Alabama freshman Justin Thomas fired a second-straight, 1-under 70 to sit two shots behind individual leader Patrick Rodgers of Stanford. Rodgers is currently on the 16th hole, 2 under on the day and 4 under for the tournament.

Overnight leader Anton Arboleda followed is 4-under 67 with a 1-over 72 to put the UCLA star in a tie for second with Florida’s Tyler McCumber.

• • •

Update #9: 4:05 p.m. EDT

The morning wave is coming down the final stretch, with one of the pre-tournament favorites California finishing poorly and carding a 5-over round that had them drop to 22nd place.

Overnight leaders Alabama finished its round at 3 over and T-1 (with Florida) at 4 over overall. Meanwhile, UCLA is on its last two holes and is at 2 over for the day and 7 over for the tournament.

• • •

Update #8: 2:58 p.m. EDT

From Lance Ringler: Florida State’s Jaoquin Lolas posted an even-par 71 in the opening round. Lolas tied teammate Brooks Koepka for low round of the day. It was Lolas’ first competitive round since the Seminole Intercollegiate in March. Lolas is replacing Doug Letson in the lineup. Letson was injured last week in a weight lifting accident. Lolas defeated Kyle Cobb in a playoff to earn the No. 5 spot in the Florida State lineup. Can Lolas continue this effort and lead the Seminoles into match play for the second time in past three years? Florida State was T-6 after Round 1 and tees off at 3:20 p.m. EDT off No. 10 at Riviera Country Club.

• • •

Update #7: 2:55 p.m. EDT

From Ron Balicki: Texas freshman Jordan Spieth, the No. 1 player in the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings, looked as though he was ready to get things kicked in. After an opening round 2-over 73, Spieth quickly got it back to even par with birdies at Nos. 2 and 3 in Wednesday morning’s second round.

He made a bogey at No. 6, but still remained in good shape as he headed into Riviera Country Club’s back nine. Then it became a cluster of problems, mistakes and errant shots.

He made triple-bogey (no misprint, here) at the short, 315-yard, par-4 10th hole and followed with a double bogey at the par-5 11th. Guess you can say he continued to improve, but not is his customary manner as he added a bogey at No. 12, meaning he played that three-hole stretch in 6 over.

That sent him plummeting into a tie for 118th at 7 over after starting the round tied for 46th.

• • •

Update #6: 2:25 p.m. EDT

The scores aren’t getting any better at Riviera, as Auburn has dropped from T-2 to T-22, going 11 over just over halfway through its second round. The Tigers aren’t the only ones struggling, with Stanford and North Florida both 7 over and Texas at 6 over for the day.

With the scoring conditions more favorable in the morning, there is a good chance that these teams will climb back up the leaderboard without doing anything this afternoon.

• • •

Update #5: 2:05 p.m. EDT

From Sean Martin: Nos. 11, 12 and 13 at Riviera play through eucalyptus-lined chutes. It’s not uncommon for players’ tee shots to crash into trees some 150 yards off the tee, forcing fans to scurry and leaving fairway woods into par-4s.

• • •

Update #4: 1:50 p.m. EDT

From Sean Martin: Texas star Jordan Spieth has had bunker problems the past two holes. He hit his approach shot into a green-side bunker on No. 10 and made a one-putt 7. His wedge shot on the par-5 11th came up short in another greenside bunker, resulting in a three-putt double. That’s 5 over in two holes.

From Ryan Lavner: A couple of big-name teams need to turn it around quickly before the final round on Thursday. Stanford, Washington, Texas and Auburn all haven’t cracked the top 10 yet. Like yesterday, easier scoring conditions in the morning. Poa annua greens will get crusty by the afternoon, firmer because of the wind.

From Sean Martin: A couple of fashion statements are being made in the second round of the NCAA Championship. UCLA is sporting blue plaid pants with white shirts. Oregon is going with black-on-black with white belts.

• • •

Update #3: 1:35 p.m. EDT

Where, oh where, is Texas? The top-ranked Longhorns are struggling about midway through their second round at Riviera, falling to a share of 12th place at 11 over (5 over for today).

Scores are not especially pretty in the morning way, including Auburn falling from T-2 to T-12 midway through its round, sitting at 7 over for the day thus far.

• • •

Update #2: 1:20 p.m. EDT

Alabama’s Justin Thomas is at it again. Thomas, No. 2 in the nation, birdied No. 8 to get to 3 under par for the day and 4 under par for the tournament. He’s in the lead, one shot ahead of UCLA’s Anton Arboleda, the 18-hole leader after shooting 67, and Stanford’s Patrick Rodgers.

Thomas has four victories this season, including the SEC Championship and NCAA Southeast Regional. A victory here would seem to lock up player-of-the-year honors for the freshman. Rodgers, No. 4 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings has won twice this season, at the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational and the Western Intercollegiate. He was a member of last year’s Walker Cup team. Sean Martin detailed Thomas’ upbringing around the game in a recent feature.

• • •

Update #1: 1:15 p.m. EDT

A couple things to pay attention to as you watch live scoring today:

• The Round 1 scoring average was 74.54. No teams shot par or better yesterday. Twenty-six individuals shot par or better, though.

• Riviera’s easiest hole? The 503-yard, par-5 first, which played to a 4.46 scoring average. There were more birdies (81) than pars (56), more eagles (9) than bogeys. Players face Riviera’s toughest hole on the next tee, though. Even though No. 2 is a par-4, players had a higher stroke average (4.63 strokes) than on the par-5 first hole.

• Only three holes played under par in the first round, and all were par-5s: Nos. 1 (4.46), 11 (4.70) and 17 (4.80).

• No. 17 is a nice respite in a tough finishing stretch. Nos. 13-15 all played .29 strokes over par. The 16th played .31 strokes over par and the famed, uphill par-4 18th played .33 strokes over par, the fifth-hardest hole of the first round.

More Golfweek


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"A Nation of Immigrants" by John F. Kennedy

Brian Gongol

One-paragraph review: The re-publication of John F. Kennedy's book calling for immigration reform is a classic study in America's characteristic attitude of "no policy without a crisis". Kennedy, while serving as President, wanted to crusade for a comprehensive reform to the antiquated immigration policies he inherited as chief executive. The reforms ultimately came to pass after Kennedy's death -- but to review them now, the thoughtful reader will note that new reforms are needed today to change the letter of the law in order to accommodate the same spirit Kennedy advocated. "A Nation of Immigrants" lays out the injustices of policies that artificially pegged one generation's immigration quotas to the volume of immigrants who had arrived in the generations before. He advocated on behalf of reforms that would reverse generations of discrimination against Asian immigrants and for those that would reconcile entry with the nation's economic needs. Kennedy's views were forward-thinking for their time; what is striking is that many Americans today would find them too open, even though in many ways his views were really too closed.

Verdict: A brief book from a half-century ago whose spirit remains applicable to a major public policy challenge today


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Back to All Events

Good For Ewe at Starstruck Cat Studio

  • Starstruck Cat Studio 3130 Meridian Parke Drive Greenwood, IN, 46142 United States (map)

Join Paige for a day of cozy yarns as we wrap up the Yarn Crawl!

There will also be a sneak peak of a new stranded knitting & steeking project for an upcoming workshop- hope to see you there!


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Thursday, August 28, 2008

What This Place Needs is an Amazing Bridge

This post about some of the most unique bridges in the world got me thinking. For years Chicago politicians have discussed extending Lake Shore Drive up to Evanston -- the first suburb north of the city. Whenever the subject comes up, it always involves filling in the existing lake front and completely changing the shoreline along the Rogers Park neighborhood.

Not only is this a bad idea, but I think it lacks vision as well. First of all, the lake front we have is perfectly fine, with more public beaches per mile than any other neighborhood in the city. This is because once upon a time Rogers Park functioned as Chicago's "vacation area." Times change, however, and for the past fifty years or so Rogers Park has been considered at best a "transitional" area, one always on the cusp of a renewal that never quite seems to arrive. The current lake front is one of the few things Rogers Park has going for it, and altering or decreasing our access to it would be disastrous.

Instead, I'd like to propose building a kick-ass bridge from the end of Lake Shore Drive to Evanston. Something along the lines of France's Millau Viaduct, above, would be nice. A visually stunning bridge would not only preserve the current lake front and beach access, it would provide a unique identifier to the Rogers Park area, similar to San Francisco's Presidio and Marina districts, and a new iconic image for Chicago. Plus, for all our architectural splendors, a great bridge is not among them. And though I'm no expert on these matters, instinct tells me building a bridge would be less expensive than putting up an eight-lane highway over newly created land.

So, let this post be my notice to Mayor Daley and our alderman, Joe Moore. Think about it, guys.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Where Was I?

Never try to stop smoking, lose weight and write a short story on deadline at the same time. Because none of them will get accomplished.

That's not entirely true. I've cut my smoking by 75% (thank God Nicorette gum is available without a prescription). I've written half a story (which won't be finished in time to submit to the anthology I had in mind). And I did lose three pounds.

So the past 2-4 weeks haven't been a complete loss. But the portion of them that wasn't spent in a frenzied haze was devoted to beating myself up, which is always a bloody affair. What little time was left over I spent reading and yard-saling. Both provided me with many hours of enjoyment.

These things happen from time to time. I'm pretty much an all-or-nothing type of guy. Most of the time it works out okay. Occasionally, however, this lifestyle swallows me alive. It's always nice to come out the other side, even if it does leave me feeling like shit.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

The Universe is a Casino

Albert Einstein famously said, "God does not play dice with the universe." His point (made in response to the randomness of quantum physics) was that the universe must behave according to laws that are observable, absolute and, ultimately, predictable.

While God (and Oprah, more on her later) may have the luxury of operating within this kind of well-ordered universe, the vast majority of us must get along as best we can by doing exactly what God can't be bothered with: playing dice. That, or roulette, blackjack, Texas hold 'em, slot machines or insert-your-favorite-game-of-chance-here.

This observation was inspired by a good friend's recent experience in a discussion at a well-known author's online writing forum. My friend responded to the request for "favorite writing rules" with several that have helped him, and was subsequently taken to task for some of them. Not only by the well-known author, but by his henchman as well, and in not one but two separate responses.

I left a lengthy comment supporting my pal which basically boiled down to calling bullshit on the author, his henchman, rules in general and the futility of following them specifically. It probably wasn't the most mature or well-reasoned response in the history of these things, but it did get me thinking.

As someone who's spent a great deal of time and money searching for rules by which to live a successful life, I feel I can speak with some authority when I say my search has largely been futile, and I suspect most other people's have been as well.

This isn't because we suffer from a shortage of so-called experts, each one offering (usually for a price) one or more rules that promise to help you earn more money, make wise investments, find true love, improve your marriage, land a dream job, enhance your career, write your novel or find an agent/publisher for that book you just finished.

No, the world is packed to the rafters with these folks. At best, their rules reflect the mysterious combination of hard work and good luck that happened to come up aces for them once upon a time. At worst, they're recycled platitudes that were pulled out of their ass and/or thin air.

This is why I do a slow boil every time someone like Oprah says something along the lines of "The universe responds to intention." In other words, if you want something badly enough and send out that desire to the universe, the universe has no other choice but to pony up and respond by delivering exactly what you asked for, like some great cosmic Santa. I would argue with Ms. Winfrey that the universe does not respond to intention so much as your personal staff and the entertainment industry respond to hundreds of millions of dollars, a terrific amount of perceived power, and your own stated wishes. Mere mortals and those whose lives relegate them to watching daytime talk shows must hazard a much steeper climb.

Back in the 1980s, Bally health clubs ran a commercial featuring Cher, in which she told us "if great bodies came in a bottle, everybody would have one." I believe the same could be said for best-selling novels, number-one pop songs, record-breaking movies and larger than average penises. If it were possible to cook these things up simply by following a recipe, they'd be as common as apple pies and chocolate chip cookies.

And yet, as writers we're among the most desperate of anyone to believe that the next book of rules or seminar or guru will be different. It's a perfectly understandable desire. Authors who have books to their name and a list of rules for sale must have their acts pretty much together. They must know what they're talking about.

Alas, I don't believe they do -- at least when it comes to passing along some great and powerful secret. This became clear to me upon reading Stephen King's On Writing. I opened that book with great anticipation, figuring that if anyone could describe the process of successful writing it would have to be Mr. King.

Instead, he pretty much admitted that even he doesn't know how he does what he does so well, and didn't have much more advice for hopeful writers than could be found in any number of other books on writing already out there. Read copiously, he advised us. Be a compulsive observer of human nature. Tell the truth. Write every day. Eliminate adverbs and cliches. He might as well have added "Finish your vegetables."

It's not that King's instruction wasn't generous and well-intentioned. It was. But after finishing On Writing I came to believe that either there was no secret, or if there was even he wasn't going to let the rest of us in on it.

Critics will probably consider this post the sour grapes of a bitter and disillusioned has-been to-be. If that helps them sleep at night and wake up in the morning refreshed and ready to face another day, I'm happy to be of service.

My point isn't that nobody knows what they're talking about and everyone is full of shit. Quite the opposite. I'm a big believer in learning the rules and playing by them, then breaking a few when it suits your purposes or you're feeling especially ornery.

But I do believe writing is as slippery and mysterious as life itself. And just as there's no formula for success in one there's no ten easy steps for the other. In the end it is, like everything else, largely a numbers game for all but a fortunate few whose number has already been called.

Seek out advice, but consider the source and its agenda. Use what suits your purposes and leave the rest by the side of the road. Look at what's already worked and build on that. Don't take "no" for an answer and stay at the table. Keep playing for as long as you possibly can and hope like hell your number comes up, too.

And keep in mind that everyone -- even and especially those you allow to teach you -- is making it up as they go along.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

"Ever Since the World Ended"

2001; directed by Calum Grant and Joshua Atesh Litle; written by Calum Grant

What everyone enjoys about end-of-the-world tales isn't watching the world wind down, but seeing how a small band of survivors rebuild it, and imagining what it would be like to be among them.

This is the fantasy that Ever Since the World Ended appeals to, explores, satisfies, and then improves upon. Presented as an amateur documentary, the film is set in San Francisco 12 years after an unnamed plague has eliminated most of the human race, leaving only 186 people within the city limits.

Choosing the documentary form was a brilliant move. Not only does it circumvent a lot of budgetary limitations, it allows the filmmakers to make the most of their special effects shots of eerily deserted streets, a decomposing Golden Gate Bridge, and a rusting ship in the harbor. It also gives viewers license to transform what might have been considered technical shortcomings in a big-budget film into a sense of immediacy and the feeling that what we're seeing is real.

The film opens with just enough individual recollections of the plague's history to set up the premise, then quickly introduces us to a world that is recognizable, yet radically different and sometimes humorous.

Bike mechanics are considered extremely valuable, as are those with a knack for sniffing out caches of liquor, prescription drugs and cigarettes inside the deserted city's thousands of abandoned homes and buildings. The last American Indian has grown weary of people expecting him to be some kind of mystic. Those who couldn't tolerate the demands of our current workaday world are now thriving. And everyone has lots and lots of time on their hands.

Yet people -- and their interactions with one another -- are much the same. They still enjoy dinners together, suffer petty jealousies, and engage in gossipy conversations, and it's within these very human relationships where much of the film's plot lives.

A single woman is ready to raise a child, and searching for a suitable sperm donor from the city's remaining men. A small group has decided to venture outside the city, and encounters a long-lost friend living wild in the branches of Muir Woods' canopy. A troubled community member who had left (or been chased out) has returned, presenting the survivors with the dilemma of keeping watch over him, banishing him again to become some other city's problem, or performing an outright execution.

The film's ending is both a surprise and surprisingly bittersweet, and I won't give it away here. But by the time we get there, this strange new world has become a place that looks like home. The only problem is, you have to go through hell to get there, and there's no guarantee you'll arrive. Better to watch the film and dream.

Friday, August 1, 2008

"Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales" by Fran Friel

Much has already been said about Fran Friel's debut collection, Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales, most of it revolving around the question of how such a nice woman could write such disturbing fiction.

While I have some issues of my own with that question (nice people write disturbing things all the time -- in fact, most of the horror writers I know are incredibly nice and, yes, even normal, people) the answer is actually pretty simple: Fran Friel is a writer, one who's not only in touch with her own vivid imagination, but has learned how to harness it, allow it to run free, and isn't afraid to go where it wants to take her. In a genre that too often relies on the tried-and-true, that's saying a lot, and it sets her apart from many of her contemporaries.

The book is composed of two novellas (including the title story), a group of short stories, flash and micro pieces; and a single poem. Friel's shorter works are both sensitive and powerful, and many of them are eye-openers in terms of proving just how much a limited number of words can accomplish. "Orange and Golden" -- a Katrina-inspired tale of a survivor and a dog -- is especially upsetting and well-done. (And upsetting has become, for me, the gold standard of dark fiction, since so little of it actually scares me any more.) "Close Shave" was another piece that, brief as it is at just 58 words, packs a visceral punch and central image that is still surfacing in my imagination several days later. "Beach of Dreams," with its glorious and hallucinatory opening of monsters washed up on the beach of a South Pacific island, was another favorite and made for a strong introduction to the collection. And "The Sea Orphan" is a well-researched tale that did what I wouldn't have thought possible after that series of disappointing Disney movies -- made me interested in pirates.

Of course, "Mama's Boy" is at the collection's heart, even though it appears at the end. The story was a 2006 Bram Stoker finalist, and I finished it awed by Friel's courage as a writer. The story's subject matter of mother/son incest is nothing less than explosive. Friel tackles the topic with a difficult mix of sensitivity and frankness, with keen observations and often fearless language. As I read it, I often found myself wondering about the questions she must have asked herself during its creation -- "Do I say this?" "Can I take it there?" "Is this possible?" Judging from the results, she answered each one with a resounding "Yes."

One section I especially enjoyed is at the back of the book, where Friel gives notes on each story. Sort of like a DVD's bonus features, she provides readers with a behind-the-scenes look at how each piece was conceived, grew and developed, generously crediting the fellow writers and workshoppers who gave her inspiration and guidance along the way.

Friel's publisher, Jason Sizemore at Apex Book Company, also deserves some recognition for putting together a collection that's daring and out of the ordinary in many ways. They've ventured outside the safety zone in several respects with this book, and deserve credit for doing so.

Rumor has it Friel is working on a novel. Based on her work in Mama's Boy... it should be one to look forward to.


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This Device Translates What You Say into Any Language You Want

Imagine travelling to your desired destination. Everything is perfect, really. Except that every time when you’re trying to get around somewhere where you don’t speak the language, you’ll end up gesturing wildly to no avail.

Now that technology is advancing at the speed of light, it’s a bit of a relief to know that this could be a thing of the past.

Wearable Translator for Travellers

Introducing this piece of technology called ‘ili’, it will be shaking up your travelling experiences in no time. Made by Japanese company Logbar, it promises to automatically translate sentences in real time. Yeap that’s right! It helps you to translate sentences into the language of your desired choice.

Of course, there are limitations to it. It only works with English, Japanese and Chinese at the moment. However, more languages will be added over time while they’re working at it. Furthermore, no wifi is required! You don’t have to worry about having to work with a bad connection. No wifi and no google? ili will be here to save the day. You can literally use it anywhere and anytime. How convenient!

Just take a look at how impressed people were at the translated voice:

Are you an impatient little twerp? ili works well with your level of instant gratification as well. It has the ability to translate words in as little as 0.2 seconds. 0.2 seconds! That’s really fast. ili can make communication happen without experiencing frustrating delays.

Stuck in the wilderness somewhere? ili lets you translate up to 50,000 words and phrases that will save your life. Its intuitive function allows you to use the device as if you’re communicating directly with the other person.

The good news is that the website is now up and running! However, it will only be set to release in the US in June 2017. Aye, we’ll be ready to grab ours when it’s out. Are you in?

Read this article in the Goody Feed App now! It’s fast, seamless and ad-free! Download now and stand a chance to win $50 weekly!

Image: YouTube (ili)

This article was first published on

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Vanessa Ong

Vanessa Ong

An eighteen-year-old girl who is fond of words and the wonders of the world. Perpetually lost in her own thoughts, easily excitable and appreciates a great deal of humour.
Vanessa Ong


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Improved Bid- Thomas Lemar Is A Gunner As Star Winger To Jet Into London

Goonersden brings you news from top football news sites from the likes of ESPN, SkySport, Daily Mail, Daily Star and Metro… We also Analyse football, player, transfer and predict Arsenal starting line-up.

Arsenal have made a new bid for AS Monaco winger Thomas Lemar.

L’Equipe says Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is desperate to snap up the winger, who still has three years left to run on his contract at the Stade Louis II.

Arsenal have already had a bid of around £30 and £35m rejected by Monaco.

But they are now said to have returned with an improved offer of £45m a deal will be concluded in days for the star attacker.

Lemar could follow his compatriot Alexandre Lacazette across to North London this summer transfer window.

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Friday, June 25, 2010

flashback friday!

here's a special camping edition of flashback friday! we're headed on a camping trip in the morning, so it seemed fitting. these pictures are from Worthern Resevoir and Roaring Fork Lake back in August of 2008-- it was actually isa's second birthday trip! this time we are headed to the northwest side of the Winds, to Green River Lakes. stacy and willow are going as well, and we're taking a canoe, so it will surely be a good time. going to that area is also a great excuse to stop and swim at the Pinedale Aquatic Center. we'll be back monday night, so hang tight 'til then!
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  1. OOOOHHHH she looks like such a baby. Have a wonderful time and as usual (I know you will) take lots of pictures for us all. Love to everyone. Tell Willow and Stacy I said hello.

  2. whoa! sounds like a fun trip... enjoy ~~ summers are far fun trips.. :) love to all... take lots of pics... xoxoxoxoxox

  3. .... what I forgot to say was how much I love these pics of Isa ! She loves the outdoors and I think the outdoors loves Isa !... :)


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Baseball Sweeps SAA Doubleheader from Centre

Baseball Sweeps SAA Doubleheader from Centre

The Oglethorpe baseball team enjoyed an excellent start to their 3-game series with the visiting Centre Colonels on Saturday, as they swept a doubleheader from their SAA foe. The Stormy Petrels emerged victorious 9-2 in the first game, then blanked Centre 8-0 in the second. The wins improved the team to 15-11 on the season overall and 5-6 in SAA play. The Petrels have now won six straight games and eight of their last nine.

The second of the two games featured an outstanding pitching performance from sophomore left-hander Kyle Babb, who delivered his first career shutout. He pitched all 7 innings and allowed just 5 hits while blanking the Colonels on the evening. He walked three and struck out eight.

Babb's masterful performance allowed the Petrels to cruise to victory. They scored all the runs they would need in the second inning, as they put four across. Junior left fielder Adrian Celata led off the inning by reaching on an error, and junior second baseman Matt Motz followed two batters later with a single down the line, putting runners at the corners with one out. Motz stole second, allowing a subsequent run-scoring single from freshman shortstop Sam Held to score a pair of runs and give Oglethorpe a 2-0 lead. Junior third baseman Connor Crooke singled after that, putting runners at the corners again, before a double steal from Held and Crooke scored another run. Crooke later came home on an RBI single from junior catcher Bobby Rezac, giving Oglethorpe their 4-run advantage.

They added four more in the eighth inning. Junior center fielder Jarvis Miller started with a walk, and with two outs, Celata extended his career home run lead with a bomb to left-center, giving Oglethorpe a 6-0 advantage. Oglethorpe continued to rally after that, loading the bases with a pair of singles from Mink and Motz and a hit-by-pitch from senior designated hitter Austin Ferlita. Held drove in a pair of runs with a single up the middle, bringing the Petrels to their final 8-0 scoreline.

Held went 2-for-3 for the contest, driving in four runs and scoring one. Motz also went 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored, while Celata went 2-for-4 with the 2-run homer.

In Game 1, the Petrels got an excellent pitching performance from junior right-hander Matt Davis. He allowed just 5 hits through 7 innings, as well, and allowed only 1 run while walking two and striking out nine. He picked up the victory, improving to 5-2 on the season.

Oglethorpe picked up a couple runs in the second inning to take the lead. Centre answered with a tally of their own in the third, but Oglethorpe broke the game open with four runs in the fourth. Motz, Ferlita and Crooke all singled, sandwiched around a fielder's choice. Then Rezac followed with a 2-run single to make it 4-1. That set the stage for senior right fielder Brandon Fish, who launched a 2-run homer to make it 6-1.

The home side added a run in the fifth, then put up two more in the eighth on a 2-run single from Celata.

For the game, Fish went 2-for-5 with a home run and a double, while Rezac went 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs and a run scored. Mink finished 3-for-5 with a double.

"We got two really good pitching performances today from Davis and Babb," said Oglethorpe head coach Dan Giordano. "Both were able to locate multiple pitches and keep hitters off-balance. Offensively, we came up with some key hits in both games. I thought we put together some really good at-bats throughout the day from top to bottom. We're looking to come out Sunday and play with the same energy we had today."

The Petrels will close the 3-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. from Anderson Field, then will hit the road for games against No. 3 LaGrange and Millsaps.


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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Volume 3 Issue 7

It's that time again, boys and girls, a time of wonder and amusement and lots of fucks. That's right, The Gorram Nerd Hour is back!

The Emmys went down without a hitch this weekend, and Breaking Bad was a big winner. So was Modern Family, but Jacob seems a little confused by this. Burn Notice and Dexter finished their respective runs, and Jacob was a little disappointed. A new cast member has been announced for Sleepy Hollow, and both of the boys seem a little too happy about it. Troll Hunter is getting an American remake, and let’s just say that Brian and Jacob could be happier. The Carrie remake is just around the corner, but Brian is a little confused as to why she is considered a “Horror Icon.” The new Flash is pandering already, and he hasn’t even gotten any screen time. All this and more on this issue of The Gorram Nerd Hour with Brian Smith and Jacob O’Neal.

Please follow us on Twitter at
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And read Jacob's blog at

To listen, click here. To download, right click and "Save As..."

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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Tapes - update

Yohei Sato contacted me  2 days ago with the exciting news that there are 36 new levels of his puzzle app game Tapes. I dropped everything to solve them. I got stuck on a few levels and thought that they were impossible. But I prevailed. Such a good game!

Read my original review from last month:

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What We Did Today – April 18, 2017

Letter of the Week: V    Number: 20     Color: Blue/Pink/Grey

Shape: Diamond

Our Bible story (verse) was: Jesus gives us new life. 1 Timothy 6:13

We read stories: My Truck Is Stuck, Little Blue Truck

We sang songs: ABC, Jesus Loves Me

We had these centers: blocks, puzzles, sensory, math, and art.

We practiced these skills: tracing lines, counting, number recognition, writing our names, and following directions.

For snack we had: goldfish, oreos, and oranges.

We also learned about different kinds of vehicles and ran them into the beans and rice.

Don’t forget: Papa John’s night is tonight.

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Heathcote Estates

15 Heathcote Road
Chappaqua, New York 10514
From $3,895,000

Unit Types  Single Family Homes

Total # Of Units  3

Heathcote Estates, located on coveted Heathcote Road in Chappaqua, is a new subdivision of 3 lots ranging from 2 to over 4 acres, to be built by Tavo Development, one of Chappaqua's premier builders. Top quality amenities, attention to details and excellent workmanship are their trademark characteristics.

Tavo Development, a fourth generation of family builders has been constructing high-end homes throughout Westchester and Fairfield Counties for half a century. Tavo development takes pride in all of their jobs, throughout all phases of development, and within all budgets. Specializing in creating quality homes by working together with clients, architects, engineers, and realtors. Known the #1 leader in residential construction.

*Images represent homes built by Tavo Development

Sales Office
45 S Greeley Avenue
Chappaqua, NY 10514


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Men of Grace - Men's Hike Ministry

Men's Hike Ministry April 27-30, 2017

Pisgah National Forest

Image 9-20-16 at 9.23 AM

Strengthen your relationship with the Lord and bond with your brothers in Christ. Join Grace Men's Ministry on a self-supported trail hike.

Contact Joe Robinson (

Men's Hike Ministry October 21-23, 2016

Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area/George Washington National Forest

Dear Men of Grace,

Aaron Bruce and I feel led by the Lord to continue on the path of creating a Men's Hike Ministry at Grace.  As some of you know, last spring I was looking for guys interested in helping lead this effort by participating on a 4 day hike with another established ministry.  Aaron graciously volunteered, and the two of us had a blessed 4 days in late April in the mountains of North Carolina.  We were going to try to get additional men to participate in the fall hike as well, but the church we were hiking with decided to have a leadership only hike, and Aaron and I (because we had hiked previously and were interested in leading) again participated in October.
The spring hike is coming up and we are trying to get 3-4 more guys to join us.  The goal is to have enough guys participate this spring so that we have a large enough leadership team to launch our first Grace men's hike this coming fall.  While we would like to open up this spring hike opportunity to any men of Grace who are interested, we will only be able to take men who are willing and committed to help lead future hikes at Grace and are committed to bringing men to a stronger relationship with the Lord through the hike ministry.  If you are receiving this email you have either expressed an interest in leading or at least in hiking (or were referred by another member), so we prayerfully ask you to consider this opportunity.
So..... if you can commit to the spring hike on April 28 - May 1, and commit to an additional hike in late September or early October, please let me know!  The hike ministry has changed my walk with the Lord, and Aaron's 2 hikes have touched him in a similar way, and we pray that it will do likewise for you.  In order to have a successful ministry at Grace, we need at least 5-6 committed guys to make it happen.  The long term goal is to have 1-2 hikes per year (typically spring and fall) with 4-5 weeks of preparation before each hike.  This preparation consists of several meetings to ensure the logistics of a hike are taken care of (gear needs, etc) and usually an optional weekly study to prepare our hearts for God's work on the trail. you feel God calling you to this ministry?  You don't need gear (we will rent/borrow equipment), you don't need to be an experienced hiker (I have 9 hikes under my belt and had never backpacked overnight before that first hike), you don't need to be the fittest guy on your block.  You do need to have a heart for bringing the reality of the Lord's love for all men (especially us broken ones!) to other brothers.  As a leader you will be with guys on the trail who are strong in their faith, and some who are very weak, or have no relationship with Christ at all.  But if you care about being with brothers in faith and bringing new men to faith, you have a heart for men's ministry!
I have included some links below, consisting of a description of the ministry that we hope to model from the church I was previously a member of (the same church we will hike with in the spring).  Another link is a video of one of the hikes to give you a flavor of what it is.  Another is a few testimonies from men who have had life changing experiences on the trail.
Please feel free to call either me or Aaron at the phone numbers below with questions, or to let us know you are in!  If you are not interested, I do ask that you pray for this ministry's successful launch here at Grace.  May His peace and strength be with you!
Please let us know if you will join us on the trail!
In Christ's Peace,
Joe Robinson (

Men's Hike Ministry, April 27-30 Photos


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    University of Florida
  Jan 17, 2018
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog
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ANS 5446: Animal Nutrition

Credits: 3                    Grading Scheme: Letter

Prerequisite: ANS 3440, BCH 4024, or consent of instructor.

Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins and their functions in the animal body. Offered fall term.

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カテゴリ：Sacred Grains( 1 )

~ cooking with whole grains and super foods ~

If you think these grains are boring, think again.
Let us show you how to turn ordinary millet and
other grains into delicious meals.

eg. juicy MILLET burgers, crunchy QUINOA nuggets,
tasty MILLET loaf, chunky BUCKWHEAT sausages,
oriental AMARANTHUS spaghetti, spicy MILLET tacos,
sweet carob and OAT truffles and many more.

These grains have high nutritional values and low Earth impact.
They're also great alternatives to meat, tofu and glutenous mocks.

They are so delicious that everyone loves to eat them,
even people who don't care about their health or environment.

In our sustainable cooking, organically grown local vegetables
are used as well as diverse grains such as millet.

We encourage and educate people to reduce their ecological
foot print by eating sustainable food.

We believe that making each other fall in love with this style of
cuisine can help create markets for drought-stricken farmers,
and contribute towards a better world.

by millet_sisters | 2008-10-18 12:43 | Sacred Grains


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Tuesday, March 02, 2010

It's Words Matter Week

Forgive this simile, but we're hungry.

Wrapping around National Grammar Day in the manner of a tortilla embracing delicious rice and beans, Words Matter Week is March 1-7.

The celebration is sponsored by the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (we love them!), and they're inviting all of us to take part in daily blog challenges.

Here's today's:

Communication breaks down when words are misused. What is the funniest, most interesting, or worst break-down you’ve ever observed?

If you’d like to participate in the challenge, write a post on your own blog on the topic of the day, then visit the Words Matter blog to leave your post title and link in the comment section so that others can enjoy what you’ve written. Be sure to share your posts in Facebook, Twitter, and other social media!

Background: In honor of Words Matter Week, a holiday that is celebrated annually the first full week in March, the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) is hosting a Blog Challenge with a specific daily topic Monday through Friday.

Each blogger that posts a response to each day’s challenge (a total of five posts) will be entered into a drawing for a $20 gift card to Amazon.com. The winner will be announced in the next issue of The Edge, NAIWE’s e-mail newsletter. (If you don’t receive it yet, you may subscribe at the NAIWE homepage). Remember to write the post on your own blog, adding a link to this post. Return to this page and add a comment on this post, with the title of your response and a link to your post.

Check out their blog

Our entry comes from the SPOGG archives. Really, does it get funnier than incontinence and orgasms?

We received this from Steven Chappell, Director of Student Media at Middle Tennessee State University:

My all-time favorite from a student is this gem, which came to me when she missed a test.

"Dr. Chappell,

I'm sorry I missed today's test. I wasn't feeling well. I would be glad to discuss my make-up exam with you at your earliest opportunity. I am sorry for the incontinence."

I sent this reply:

"Dear ----,

Please refer to the syllabus, which requires you to contact me in advance regarding all make-up exams, including those for illness. The next time you are sick, it is not necessary for you to be so descriptive regarding your medical problem, but you do need to contact me in advance to schedule a make-up exam."

No. 2 on my list was this lead on a story from a student, who was writing a class-assigned story on a genetic engineering lecture on campus:

"Professor of English Martha Bartter spoke about the implications of a world containing genetically modified orgasms, focusing on the language barrier that causes problems and the religious aspect."

While I think it was genetically modified organisms that were the topic of the lecture, this new topic would have been much more interesting.

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Tuesday, April 03, 2007

New poll: a second hospital in GF?

Closing the old poll...
The old poll question was "How often do you read local blogs?". With a total of 84 votes, "Several times a day" was the winner with 35% of the votes. (Results)

Several times a day 35%29
Once a day 18%15
Several times a week 14%12
Once a week 10%8
Several times a month 5%4
Once a month 6%5
This is my first time 13%11
84 votes total
Opening the new poll...
The new poll question is "Do you support a second hospital in Grand Forks?". I'll be interested to see how this one turns out.

Anonymous said...

I truly believe that a poll with the question |"Do you support a second hospital in Grand Forks|?|" is misleading. There are no qualifiers with that statement that would let people know the negative effects a physician-owned hospital would have in the community |(and smaller surrounding communities for that matter|).

What if you posed the question |"Do you support lower gas prices?|" or, |"Do you support lowering taxes|?" etc.|? Of course the majority of the people are going to lean in the way of "agree." But, they wouldn't understand the detriment those statements could create because there are no qualifiers added to it.

I challenge community members to ask educated questions. The issue at hand is not about choice, nor is it about competition. It is about the community, by way of the City Council, supporting a tax abatement for a hospital.

People need to understand what of things this means for them and their loved ones. Among many issues a physician-owned hospital will create is the reduction of federal dollars coming to the to the community by $7 million per year. This money is lost forever, it's not transferred to another place. Losing millions of dollars places essential services at risk for being lost to people who need them.

Please take a strong look at all of the issues at hand and ask questions. If you don't understand what a new FOR PROFIT physician owned hospital would do, ask questions and keep asking questions until you understand.

Anonymous said...

I agree, and where is this poll? Our community really needs to understand the difference between not for profit health systems and for profit physician owned facilities.