text:
Amicus Brief to the Supreme Court of the United States by the Holy Orthodox Church: Webster vs. Planned Parenthood – 1988
No. 88-605
In The
Supreme Court of the United States
October Term, 1988
WILLIAM L. WEBSTER; STATE OF MISSOURI, Appellants,
MARY L. PEMBERTON, B.S.W., Appellees.
On Appeal From The United States
Court of Appeals For the Eighth Circuit
The Holy Orthodox Church respectfully submits this brief amicus curiae on behalf of itself and its members. [1]
The Holy Orthodox Church was founded by Jesus Christ and the Apostles, and bears witness to that continuous and unbroken faith. [2] The precepts of the Orthodox Christian faith mandate the protection of innocent human life, especially that of unborn children. The Church regards abortion as murder, and as such, takes a very active role in opposing legalized abortion. That the issue of abortion has both a moral and a legal dimension to it, is indisputable. However, this cannot in any way be equated to an assertion that the two aspects are disparate, or unrelated. Rather, the two have historically been intertwined; it must be recognized that laws have traditionally been positive expressions of moral norms.
The Framers of the Constitution discerned a divine presence not only in daily living, but as reflected in the Constitution itself. "It is impossible for any man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolutionary." [3] That is, a law must of its very nature have a moral component to it, which cannot be divorced from the law itself.
Legal precepts, particularly those of constitutional proportions, simply cannot be judged in a vacuum. This notion not only predates the Constitution; [4] it is at the very heart of our civilization. The foundations of our morality can be found in the dawn and early morning light of the Judeo-Christian tradition, of which the Orthodox Church is a unique custodian. From its inception nearly two thousand years ago, it has never deviated from its condemnation of abortion, based on numerous scriptural references and the teaching of the Holy Fathers of the Church. The Church regards the Roe v. Wade decision as a gruesome turn on the road of judicial activism, having resulted in a holocaust which has claimed at least twenty million innocent lives. [5]
Amicus curiae adopts the statement of the case and the statement of the facts as set out in the Appellants� Brief.
In this case, the Holy Orthodox Church seeks to restore to our nation's law the highest principle which a civilized society can espouse�the recognition that all human life is sacred. In Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), the Supreme Court relied heavily upon its presentation of historic Christianity's teaching and practices. The assertions made in Roe were erroneous, and have no foundation in the church's traditions. Rather than being ambivalent, or even condoning abortion, as suggested by the Roe Court's opinion, historic Christianity has always condemned abortion as murder, without regard for any distinctions as to fetal development or viability.
The Roe Court also blurred the factual question of when life begins with the distinct legal question of what constitutional value attends to that life. The resulting confusion has tied the hands of legislators, and elevated abortion to the status of a near-absolute right. Unless this Court takes judicial notice, the factual question of when life begins is properly a subject for legislative findings. The strictly legal question of a life's constitutional value is the clear issue before this Court, as the State of Missouri has made an appropriate factual determination.
Science and history both mandate a conclusion that human life and constitutional personhood are coextensive, and any other result is without foundation in American jurisprudence. Consequently, the Holy Orthodox Church urges this Court to overrule Roe v. Wade, and accord full constitutional protection to all human life beginning at conception.
I. THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE CASE IN WHICH TO RECONSIDER ROE v. WADE
In Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), and in subsequent cases, this Court has never reached the critical legal and public policy issue, that of when life begins. Id. at 159. However, for constitutional purposes, it is entirely appropriate for this Court to undertake to construe the term "life" as it appears in both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. [6] In the absence of a judicial determination, such matters have traditionally been committed to the political processes. Unfortunately, the Court has nonetheless proceeded to preclude any legislative determination of the question. Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health, 462 U.S. 416, 444 (1983).
This has created the confusing and circular assertion that life and personhood are unrelated, but nonetheless it is impermissible for legislatures to make findings as to when life begins. Unlike any other factual question, the political processes are now forbidden from employing the fruits of scientific research. If elected officials are to be prohibited, as a matter of law, from making necessary and proper factual findings, then this Court must determine for purposes of the Constitution, whether or not life is present in an unborn fetus. The State of Missouri has undertaken to make such a determination, and to address the merits of this case, this Court must make a ruling upon the validity of that assertion. Even though the question of when life begins may be difficult, [7] that does not remove the necessity of a just and proper judicial disposition of this case.
The Court has elevated abortion above all other constitutional rights; in practice, it may not be restricted, even if a life is indeed present. Unlike other constitutional rights, abortion need not be balanced against competing governmental interests. The implication is that the right to an abortion is more central to the tradition of individual liberty in America than the cherished rights of free speech and religion.
The Missouri statute at issue here presents an important opportunity for this Court to resolve the ambiguities created by previous decisions, and clarify the precise relationship between human life and constitutional personhood. The Court need not make a ruling on the factual question of when life begins; indeed, this is properly left to legislatures and trial courts. However, it is imperative that there be a clear statement of the constitutional value of human life, whatever point science indicates it begins. If personhood does not attach until birth, then it is crucial to have guidance as to the legal status of pre-natal human life. The instant case frames the issue as clearly as is possible.
II. ROE v. WADE WAS WRONGLY DECIDED AND OUGHT TO BE OVERRULED
Amicus does not suggest to this Court that the theology or canons of the Orthodox Church, or of any other religious body, should form the basis of American constitutional law. However, in its lengthy historical exegesis, the Roe Court sought to show that abortion was philosophically and morally grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition. To the extent such a perception is the foundation of Roe, the Orthodox Church bears an undivided witness to the fact that it is a perception which is utterly inconsistent with the experience of historic Christianity.
In the early centuries of the Church, its moral traditions and teachings were universally embraced, holding sway over almost the whole of Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa, from Hadrian's Wall to the frontiers of the Persian Empire. Though this unanimity was later lost, the divergent moral strands of western thought, including Anglo-American jurisprudence, ultimately trace their lineage to this rich heritage.
A. The Court's Finding in Roe v. Wade, That Abortion is Consistent With Historic Moral Practices, is Erroneous
The Roe Court relied heavily upon the contention that "Christian theology and canon law came to fix the point of animation at 40 days for a male and 80 days for a female, a view that persisted until the 19th century," and that "there was otherwise little agreement about the precise time of formation or animation." 410 U.S. at 134. The Court apparently found that Aristotle's three stage theory of life formed the basis of Christianity's beliefs, and "came to be accepted by early Christian thinkers." Id. at 133, n.22. The implicit conclusion is that the ancient Christian Church did not consider abortion in early pregnancy to be the taking of a human life. With all due respect to this Honorable Court, such was simply not the case.
Early Christian thought was not in any sense comparable or equivalent to prior Jewish or Greco-Roman traditions. The Church's teaching represented a significant departure from Aristotelian thought, and from the beginning regarded abortion as abhorrent and an abomination before God. The biologically erroneous Aristotelian view was rarely alluded to, and even in such cases where mention was made of the attempted distinction between "formed" and "unformed" fetuses, it was for the purposes of reiterating its moral irrelevance. To the extent that some western Christian writers espoused certain elements of Aristotelian philosophy, they must be regarded as rather exceptional scholastic forays, whose basic premises and ultimate results have now been conclusively demonstrated to be false. The Christian Church, from its inception, expressed a distinct and fundamental horror of abortion, at whatever stage of pregnancy, and considered it to be the killing of a human being.
1. Early Christian Writings, and the Fathers of the Church, All Condemned Abortion as Murder
Among the most highly regarded of ancient Christian writings is the Didache, which dates from the late first century. [8] Its teaching is unambiguous: "Do not murder a child by abortion or kill a newborn infant." Id. at II, 2. This is echoed in another didactic writing universally esteemed in the ancient Church, the Epistle of Barnabas, from the early second century: "Never do away with an unborn child or destroy it after its birth." Id. at XIX, 5.
The writings of the Fathers of the Church and other authorities further attest to the unanimity with which abortion was condemned. Among the earliest was the philosopher and apologist Athenagoras of Athens, who wrote to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (c.177) to defend Christians against false charges of murder: "What reason would we have to commit murder when we say that women who induce abortions are murderers, and will have to give account of it to God?" [9] St. Basil the Great (c.330-379) was unequivocable: "A woman who deliberately destroys a fetus is answerable for murder." [10] St. John Chrysostom (c.345-407) who in his famous homilies railed against men who secured the abortions of their illegitimate offspring, called their actions "even worse than murder." Of such men who impelled women to have abortions, he said, "You do not let a prostitute remain a prostitute, but make her a murderer as well." [11]
Finally, Canon 91 of the Quinisext Ecumenical Council (691 A.D.), decreed that people "who furnish drugs for the purpose of procuring abortion, and those who take fetus-killing poisons, they are made subject to the penalty prescribed for murderers." The same canonical position along with the opinions of individual Church Fathers, were compiled in the Photian Collection, which was adopted as the official ecclesiastical law book of the Orthodox Church in 883 A.D.
2. The Early Church Recognized That Life Begins at Conception, and Rejected Distinctions Based Upon Fetal Development or Viability
The Roe Court observed that there was "little agreement about the precise time of formation or animation.
There was agreement, however, that prior to this point the fetus was to be regarded as part of the mother, and its destruction, therefore, was not homicide." 410 U.S. at 134. This assertion has no basis in the practices or theology of historic Christianity.
Among the earliest testimonies that fetal development was irrelevant is that of St. Basil the Great, who wrote that "any hairsplitting distinction as to its being formed or unformed is inadmissible with us." [12] He also condemned suppliers of abortifacients, regardless of the stage of pregnancy: "'Those who give potions for the destruction of a child conceived in the womb are murderers, as are those who take potions which kill the child." [13]
St. Basil's brother, St. Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-394), saw the fetus as a complete human being from the time of conception, and specifically rejected theories based upon formation or quickening: "There is no question about that which is bred in the uterus, both growing, and moving from place to place. It remains, therefore, that we must think that the point of commencement of existence is one and the same for body and soul." [14] Even Tertullian of Carthage (c.160-c.230), a prominent Latin ecclesiastical writer who seemed to accept the formed/unformed distinction as a biological matter, dismissed its moral importance: "Abortion is a precipitation of murder, nor does it matter whether or not one takes a life when formed, or drives it away when forming, for he is also a man who is about to be one." [15]
Though less specific, Holy Scripture also recognizes that an unborn child's life is sacred, and begins no later than conception: "'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5, 6. [16] Also noteworthy is St. Luke's use of the same Greek word, brephos (baby), for both the unborn St. John the Baptist (Luke 1:44) and the newly-born Christ child (Luke 2:12). Even more indicative are those examples, in both Old and New Testaments, where God enters into a direct personal relationship with a specific individual before birth, by "consecrating," "appointing," "calling," and //setting apart" the unborn child through His grace. [17] This testifies to the Bible's view that the fetus is not only a human being but a person. That this understanding of an unborn person's receptivity to divine grace extends back to conception is further evidenced by the ancient practice, as formalized in the Church calendar, of celebrating not only the conception of Christ (Annunciation, March 25), but that of His mother (December 9), and St. John the Baptist (September 23).
The canon law of the ancient Church, still in effect in the Orthodox Church today, is entirely consistent with the foregoing exposition of theological, patristic, and scriptural evidence. The first canonical pronouncement specifically on abortion was that of the regional Council of Elvira, Spain (c.303 A.D.), imposing life-long excommunication. In 314-315 A.D., the regional Council of Ancyra adopted Canon 21:
Regarding women who become prostitutes and kill their babies, and who make it their business to concoct abortives, the former rule barred them for life from communion, and they are left without recourse. But, having found a more philanthropic alternative, we have fixed the penalty at ten years, in accordance with the fixed degrees.
The reference to prostitutes attests to the Fathers' recognition that abortion was only resorted to by women in the most desperate social circumstances. Three centuries into the Christian era, abortion was unthinkable to the broad mass of Christian people; canon law was adopted which lightened the penalty imposed upon those most in need of mercy. More importantly, the "former rule," imposing life-long excommunication, is Apostolic Canon 66, which pertains to homicide. [18] The fact that for centuries the Church treated abortion at any stage of pregnancy as homicide, without regard to fetal development, is indicative of the illusory nature of the formed/ unformed distinction.
In addition, the Roe Court's reliance upon the writings of Augustine of Hippo (354-430) and Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), as indicative of early Christian thought was misplaced. [19] While concepts such as "ensoulment" or "quickening" gained some currency in certain ecclesiastical circles beginning in the fifth century, this serves only to underscore the danger inherent in drawing broad-based conclusions based upon excerpts of writings from selected theologians. Augustine never laid claim to being infallible, nor did he presume to speak for the entire Church. [20] In fact, in the conclusion of his final treatise, he offered his opinions humbly to the judgment of the Church: "Let those who think that I am in error consider again and again carefully what is here said, lest perchance they themselves may be mistaken. And when, by means of those who read my writings, I become not only wiser, but even more perfect, I acknowledge God's favor to me." [21]
However, there is no doubt that despite their misunderstanding of fetal development, they sought to protect the fetus and considered its destruction homicide. We can, with the benefit of historical and scientific hindsight, attribute the misapplication of a correct impulse to a biological error stemming ultimately from Aristotle. The Roe Court adopted this error as the basis of its analysis of the moral acceptability of abortion over the past two thousand years; but as would be the case with a hypothetical body of jurisprudence based on the Ptolemaic geocentric system or the phlogiston theory of combustion, this Court should not hesitate to look beyond what we now understand to be a factual error, albeit a persistent one.
Historic Christianity recognized conception as the time at which life and soul were united, and regarded abortion at any stage of pregnancy as homicide. Though the Orthodox Church, for historical reasons relating to its organizational and doctrinal continuity with historic Christianity, is more acutely aware of this fact, this should not be taken as sectarian pleading. Rather, it is a unique witness to an older and sounder tradition that is our common heritage. The fact that the theological writings of Christian antiquity were formulated by men with little understanding of biology, but whose views are entirely compatible with our modern understanding, is further testament to their moral perspicacity.
B. Human Life Begins at Conception
The incorrectness of the Roe Court's assertion that there has been a historic lack of consensus on abortion has been demonstrated in section II A, supra. Even so, it is not the judiciary's proper role to evaluate consensus. The Federalist No. 78 (A. Hamilton.) The legal and social morass resulting from the Roe decision is in large part a product of the confusion over what was actually decided. The Roe Court blurred the strictly factual question of when life begins with the quite distinct legal determination of what constitutional value attends to that life.
Modern science has borne out the prescient wisdom of the Holy Fathers of the Church, that life begins at conception, and at no other arbitrary or scholastically derived juncture. [22] However, this Court need not make a scientific determination of when life begins, any more than it was necessary in Roe to determine when a fetus is "viable;" this is a matter which is properly committed to the political processes. The Missouri legislature has undertaken to make findings of fact, as is appropriate in matters of social and economic regulation. It is improper for the judiciary to enjoin the political processes from determining the factual basis for proposed legislation. Traditionally, the federal courts give the greatest possible deference to legislative determinations with respect to such questions. [23]
This Court need only interpret the term "person," and thereby determine the constitutional value of unborn human life. Unless this Court should foreclose the option by taking judicial notice, or adopting a constitutional definition of "life" embracing a manifest legal fiction, the State of Missouri is entitled to make a judgment as to when life begins. The judiciary's role is to determine the constitutional value of that life.
C. A Human Life is a "Person" for Purposes of the Constitution
To the extent that a construction of the term "person," as used in the Constitution, was made in Roe, it was done on the basis of the facts as presented and understood by the Court as that time. Amicus respectfully submits that the factual underpinnings of Roe v. Wade were erroneous, or at best incomplete. Reliance upon Aristotle and other selected writers from antiquity do not validate the Roe Court's conclusion that the morality of abortion has traditionally been ambivalent. As shown supra, some theorists have had erroneous views of the factual question of when life begins, but there has been no divergence as to the legal and moral value of that life once it has been established.
In Roe the Court went to some lengths to demonstrate that most references to "persons" in the Constitution had solely a postnatal connotation. However, this begs the question as to what "person" means in the Fourteenth Amendment. It must also be observed that most constitutional references to persons only dealt with adults, and in the original intent of the document, only white males. However, again, this still does not speak to the Fourteenth Amendment, which obviously was intended to vindicate the rights of black children as well as adults, and has subsequently been applied to protect the rights of women as well as men. There is no basis in history, jurisprudence, or simple logic to justify specially exempting the unborn from the scope of the Amendment.
Furthermore, the appropriate constitutional definition of "person" has already been made by this Court. Justice Douglas, writing for the Court, found that illegitimate children are "persons," on the grounds that:
They are humans, live, and have their being. They are clearly "persons" within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment. Levy v. Louisiana, 361 U.S. 68, 70 (1968).
Unborn children clearly are human, do live, and have their being, in accordance with Justice Douglas' perceptive holding. An unborn child has as little control over its status as an illegitimate child, and is far more vulnerable. They are "persons" under the Constitution, and there is no rational basis whatsoever for creating an arbitrary or scholastic distinction so as to exclude them.
Another critical distinction which the Roe Court ignored was the Fourteenth Amendment's differentiation of citizenship and personhood:
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. [24]
As understood by the Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment, citizenship relates to political rights, while personhood deals with the more basic rights inherent in all human beings. See, e.g., Bishop, The Privileges or Immunities Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, 79 Nw. U. L. Rev. 142, 151-153 (1984). The latter is a much broader classification than the former, encompassing both citizens and non-citizens; all citizens are persons, but the reverse is not true. Even a decision as monstrous as Dred Scott v. Sanford, 60 U.S. (19 How.) 393 (1857), conceded that slaves were persons under the Constitution, but denied them the privileges of citizenship.
Therefore, the many references to "persons" cited by the Roe Court in support of its finding of purely postnatal application were, contextually, referring to persons who were also citizens. [25] The references to "persons" relied upon by the Roe Court were made in political contexts, such as eligibility to vote or to hold political office, which of course would preclude all persons under a certain age, whether born or not. Such strict textual interpretation, done without regard for historical meaning and context, is devoid of constitutional justification.
In addition, this Court had already, some eighty-seven years prior to Roe, recognized corporations as "persons" under the Fourteenth Amendment. Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Co., 118 U.S. 394, 396 (1886). That corporations are not male, female, black, white, pre-natal, nor post-natal, is transparently obvious. There is also no conflict between the recognition of personhood, but simultaneous denial of citizenship, as corporations cannot vote nor hold political office. Thus, while Santa Clara is entirely consistent with the Fourteenth Amendment, Roe is not. The distinctions made in Roe and its progeny are artificial and have no basis in the adjudication of constitutional claims. This is made readily apparent through attempting to reconcile Santa Clara and Roe. Reading them together creates a result which is "hauntingly Orwellian�something can be a person without being human, and can be human without being a person. [26] No civilized society can possibly endorse such a conclusion.
The instant case clearly frames the contradictions and ambiguities precipitated by the Roe decision, and Amicus urges this Court to resolve them by reaffirming the moral, social, and legal recognition of the value of unborn human life.
The historic morality which forms the foundation of American constitutional thought is firmly grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition. That tradition has unambiguously recognized that life begins at conception, and that abortion is murder. The notion that abortion on demand is an inherent right which cannot be denied, is of recent origin. Samuel Adams recognized that such innovations should be resisted: "If the liberties of America are ever completely ruined,. . . it will in all probability be the consequence of a mistaken notion of prudence, which leads men to acquiesce in measures of the most destructive tendency for the sake of present ease." [27]
The "present ease" of abortion on demand does not, and cannot, alter the historical and moral truth that "universal life would proceed according to nature if we would practice continence from the beginning instead of destroying, through immoral and pernicious acts, human beings who are given birth by Divine Providence." [28] The assembled jurisdictions of the Holy Orthodox Church in the United States speak with one voice in urging this Court to recognize the sanctity of human life, and reverse the decision of the Court of Appeals.
Dated this 21st day of February, 1989.
Respectfully submitted,
Post Office Box 805
Melville, New York 11747
(631) 271-4408
*Counsel of Record. Orthodox Christians for Life is a National with 700 members in the US, Canada, and several other countries. We were organized in 1986 and are still active and coordinate the annual Orthodox presence at the March for Life in Washington DC on or about Jan. 22.
1. Counsel for Amicus has obtained the oral consent of both parties to this case. Written consent shall be filed with the Clerk of the Court immediately upon its receipt.
2. The Holy Orthodox Church includes all major Orthodox Christian groups in the United States: Albanian, American, Antiochian, Bulgarian, Carpatho-Russian, Greek, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, and Ukrainian. Regardless of the jurisdiction, all Orthodox Christians share a unity of faith and tradition extending back almost two thousand years to the time of Jesus Christ and the Apostles.
3. The Federalist, No. 37 (J. Madison). George Washington echoed this sentiment it would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervant supplications to that Almighty Being, who rules over the universe, who presides in the council of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect…. In tendering this homage to the great Author of every public and private good, I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own…. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the affairs of men, more than the people of the United States." Washington, First Inaugural Address, quoted in, Eliot, American Historical Documents, 1000-1904, at 226 (New York: P.F. Collier & Son Corp., 1938).
4. See, e.g., John Locke, Second Treatise on Civil Government, ch. IV, secs. 22 and 23 (New York: Liberal Arts Press, 1952).
5. This brief is filed with the blessings of: The American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Diocese: His Grace, Bishop Nicholas; V. Rev. Frank P. Miloro, Dean of Christ the Savior Orthodox Theological Seminary; The Anthiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America: His Eminence, Most Rev. Metropolitan Philip; Rt. Rev. Antun, Auxiliary Bishop; V. Rev. Peter E. Gillquist, Chairman of the Council of Coordinators, Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission, and member, Worship and Evangelization Committee, National Council of Churches; V. Rev. Jack N. Sparks, Dean of St. Athanasius College; The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America: Rt. Rev. Maximos, Bishop of Pittsburgh; Rev. Dr. Stanley S. Harakas, Archbishop Iakovos Professor of Orthodox Theology and Christian Ethics, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology; Rev. Dr. Theodore Stylianopoulos, Professor of New Testament and Orthodox Spirituality, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches; Rev. Fr. George A. Alexson, Secretary-Treasurer of the Greater Washington Orthodox Clergy Council, and Pastor, St. Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church of Northern Virginia; The Orthodox Church in America: His Beatitude Theodosius, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada; Rt. Rev. Peter, Bishop of New York and New Jersey; Rt. Rev. Dimitri, Bishop of Dallas and the South; Rt. Rev. Herman, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania; Rt. Rev. Gregory, Bishop of Sitka and Alaska; Rt. Rev. Nathaniel, Bishop of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate; Rt. Rev. Job, Bishop of Hartford and New England; Rt. Rev. Tikhon, Bishop of San Francisco; Rt. Rev. Mark, Acting Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest; V. Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Secretary of External and Ecumenical Affairs, and President-Elect of the National Council of Churches; V. Rev. John Meyendorff, Dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and Professor of Church History and Patristics; V. Rev. Daniel K. Donlick, Dean of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary; V. Rev. Joseph P. Kreta, Dean of St. Herman's Orthodox Theological Seminary; V. Rev. Thomas Hopko, Associate Professor of Dogmatic Theology, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and member, Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches; V. Rev. John Kowalczyk, Adjunct Professor of Religious Education and the Christian Family, St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and Pro-Life Coordinator of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania; V. Rev. Vladimir Borichevsky, Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary; Rev. Fr. Alexander F.C. Webster, Senior Research Associate, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, D.C. (for identification only); Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Monastery, Elwood City, Pennsylvania; Holy Dormition Orthodox Monastery, Rives Eaton, Michigan; The Russian Orthodox Church in Exile: His Eminence, Most Rev. Vitaly, Metropolitan of New York and Eastern America, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile; Most Rev. Anthony, Archbishop of Los Angeles and Southern California; Most Rev. Antony, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America; Most Rev. Laurus, Archbishop of Syracuse and Holy Trinity Monastery, Rector of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, and Abbot of Holy Trinity Orthodox Monastery, Jordanville, New York; Rt. Rev. Alypy, Bishop of Chicago, Detroit, and Midwest America; Rt. Rev. Hilarion, Bishop of Manhattan; Rt. Rev. Daniel, Bishop of Erie and Protector of the Old Rite; Rev. Fr. Alexey Young, Editor of 'Orthodox America'; Rev. Fr. Gregory Williams, Editor of 'Living Orthodoxy'; The Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States and Canada: His Grace, Bishop Christopher; The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America and Canada: His Grace, Bishop Vsevolod.
In addition, this brief is endorsed by: Orthodox Christians for Life�John Protopapas, Co-Founder and Chairman; Rev. Fr. Edward Pehanich, Co-Founder and Spiritual Advisor, and Diocesean Representative for the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Diocese; Valerie Protopapas, Educational Director, and Sanctity of Life Director for the Diocese of New York and New Jersey (OCA); and V. Rev. Gordon T. Walker, liaison to the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission. This brief is also endorsed by: Dr. Lewis J. Patsavos, Professor of Canon Law, and Dr. John Chirban, Professor of Psychology and Counseling, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology; Dr. John Erickson, Professor of Canon law and Church History, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary; the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology, and Religion; the Orthodox Brotherhood of the United States; the National Association of Romanian Orthodox Women in America; and American Romanian Orthodox Youth.
6. "No person shall be . . . deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. . . ." U.S. Const. amend. V. "No State shall … deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. . . ." U.S. Const. amend. XIV, sec. 1.
7. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 159 (1973).
8. Also known as The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, it is a codification of the oral tradition handed down by the Apostles to their successors. Cf. II Thessalonians 2:15. It was called "scripture" by Clement of Alexandria (+c.215), and was recommended for catechists by St. Athanasius (c.297-373).
9. Athenagoras, Legation for Christians, 6 Patrologia Graeca 969 (Paris: J.P. Migne ed., 1844-1865).
10. St. Basil the Great, Letters CLXXXVIII, Canon 2.
11. St. John Chrysostom, Homilies in Romans, XXIV. See also the authoritative treatise by Fr. John Kowalczyk, An Orthodox View of Abortion, (Minneapolis: Light & Life Publishing Co., 2d ed. 1979).
12. St. Basil the Great, supra note 10.
13. Id., Canon 8 (emphasis supplied.)
14. St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Soul and the Resurrection.
15. Tertullian of Carthage, Apology IX.
16. See also, Job 10:8, 9, 11; Psalms 139:13-16; Ecclesiastes 11:5; Luke 1:41-44.
17. See, e.g., Psalms 139:13-16; Isaiah 44:2; Isaiah 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; and Galatians 1:15-16.
18. Apostolic Canon 66 permitted penitents to return to communion only on their deathbeds. As the name suggests, an Apostolic Canon is a teaching received directly from the Twelve Apostles.
19. 410 U.S. at 133 n.22.
20. "If some have spoken imprecisely, or for some reason unknown to us, even deviated from the right path, but no question was put to them nor did anyone challenge them to learn the truth�we admit them to the list of Fathers, just as if they had not said it, because of their righteousness of life and distinguished virtue and their faith, faultless in other respects. We do not, however, follow their teaching in which they stray from the path of truth." St. Photius, Letter to the Patriarch of Aquileia, quoted in, Haugh, Photius and the Carolingians, 136-137 (Belmont, Mass: Nordland, 1975); and Archbishop Philaret of Chernigov, 3 Historical Teaching of the Fathers of the Church, 254-255 (St. Petersburg, 1882).
21. Augustine of Hippo, On the Gift of Perseverance, ch. 68. See also, Fr. Seraphim (Rose), The Place of Blessed Augustine in the Orthodox Church (Platina, California: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 1983).
22. See, Subcommittee on the Separation of Powers, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, The Human Life Bill, S. 158, 97th Cong., 1st Sess. 7-13 (1981).
23. United States v. Carolene Products Co., 304 U.S. 144, 152-153 n.4 (1938).
24. U.S. Const. amend. XIV, sec. 1 (emphasis supplied).
25. 410 U.S. at 157.
26. East and Valentine, Reconciling Roe v. Wade, in Horan, Grant, and Cunningham, Abortion and the Constitution, at 90 (Washington: Georgetown University Press, 1987).
27. 2 The Writings of Samuel Adams, 287-288 (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, H.A. Cushing ed., 1904) (emphasis in original).
28. Clement of Alexandria, II Paedagogus, ch. X, 96, I.


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On April 5, USAID joined UN Foundation's Momentum 1000 and millions around the globe in a digital rally to mark the 1,000 day milestone until the 2015 target date to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): A promise made to free people from extreme poverty and extend hope and opportunity to the millions living in developing regions. 189 nations are striving together to meet the MDGs. The digital rally encouraged partners around the globe to continue their commitment to end extreme poverty and build a better world for all.
In commemoration of the April 5 milestone, USAID hosted a Twitter chat with Policy Director Steve Feldstein, who discussed USAID efforts to meet President Obama's to end extreme poverty within the next two decades.
In addition, USAID participated in a Google Hangout, hosted by US News and GAIN, to discuss progress made on global food security and nutrition as well as overall efforts to create a more nourished, food secure world.
Lastly, USAID Global Health hosted a Twitter chat with global health advisor Kamiar Khajavi on USAID's work with meeting MDG #4, which is to reduce child mortality.
For a snapshot of the digital conversation, take a look at our Storify feed.
How is USAID working towards achieving all 8 MDGs?
Develop a global partnership for development.
Join the conversation on Twitter using hashtag #MDGMomentum!

subset: commoncrawl


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By AFP
Criminal investigators suspect hundreds of US Army soldiers exploited a recruitment program to receive illegal kickbacks worth more than $29 million, lawmakers and officials said.
The scale of the potential fraud was "astounding" and ranks as one of the largest criminal probes in the Army's history, said Senator Claire McCaskill, who held a hearing on the scandal.
An Army audit has found that more than 1,200 recruiters had received payments that were potentially fraudulent, defense officials said.
"We now know that thousands of service members, their families and friends, may have participated in schemes to defraud the government they served and the taxpayers," McCaskill said.
The kickbacks grew out of a 2005 project launched at a time when the US Army and National Guard were struggling to secure new recruits amid heavy casualties in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The National Guard program, which was eventually extended to the active-duty Army, essentially paid troops for referrals of recruits.
These "recruiting assistants," which included National Guard soldiers and civilians, were allowed to earn between $2,000 to $7,500 for each person they persuaded to enlist.
Although official US Army recruiters were barred from collecting any referral bonuses, many of them took payments that were undetected for years.
Defense officials confirmed the allegations to AFP that were first reported by USA Today.
Officials at the firm hired to run the program, Docupak, first reported a few cases of fraud in 2007. Over the years, officials grew more suspicious and in 2011, the Army launched a formal audit of the whole program, which was scrapped in February 2012.
"This criminal fraud investigation is one the largest that the Army has ever conducted, both in terms of sheer volume of fraud and the number of participants," said McCaskill, chairwoman of the Senate's Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight.
She cited a criminal case in Texas, in which a former member of the National Guard was recently sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for leading a conspiracy to obtain $244,000 in fraudulent recruiting bonuses.
The Army expressed outrage at the fraud and vowed to get to the bottom of it.
"No one is more outraged about this than the leadership of the United States Army," said spokesman George Wright.
After an internal probe identified fraud, Army leaders immediately terminated the recruiting programs and ordered a criminal investigation, he said.
Those found to have abused the program would be held accountable in military and civilian courts, he said.
via US Army faces massive recruiting fraud scandal | Digital Journal.


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'Enough': Gabrielle Giffords speaks out against guns two years after Tucson
Gabrielle Giffords and her husband have launched a lobbying group to promote 'common sense' gun control – a sign, some say, that the emotional stories of gun crime victims are resonating.
Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head during a mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz., exactly two years ago, has stepped into the national spotlight to offer a one-word opinion about US gun violence: "Enough."
The comment is part of an interview with ABC set to be aired Tuesday night, and it comes as Ms. Giffords and her astronaut husband, Mark Kelly, announced the formation of a new group aimed at influencing the national debate on gun violence and countering the political and financial influence of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The goal, the couple wrote in USA Today Tuesday, is to ensure that "legislators will no longer have reason to fear the gun lobby."
The national tragedy that played out at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, has shifted the tenor and substance of the debate over the Second Amendment, which guarantees the rights of Americans to own and carry firearms, for the first time in decades. And Giffords, with her own heroic story of recovery, could be uniquely placed to help marshal gun-control forces moving forward.
The decision by Giffords, herself a gun owner and a supporter of the Second Amendment, shows a sense of urgency in capitalizing on post-Newtown emotions. The Obama administration, too, is trying to move quickly – this week initiating conversations with gunmakers, Hollywood producers, gun-crime victims, and gun rights groups about how to proceed. But the efforts risk exposing cracks in a notably fractious gun-control movement.
[Editor's note: The original version of this story misstated Ms. Gifford's position on the Second Amendment.]
"One of the things that the gun-control movement has always faced is an abundance of underfunded groups that don't work together well," says Duke University gun-policy expert Kristin Goss, author of "Disarmed: The Missing Movement for Gun Control in America." "But that's gotten better in recent years. These groups are now working together more sympathetically, and the arrival of [New York Mayor] Michael Bloomberg on the scene can't be underestimated, where he's got a national platform, deep pockets, and is completely unafraid of the NRA."
In evidence of this improving coordination, Giffords and Mr. Kelly traveled both to Newtown to meet with parents and to New York to discuss their plans with Mayor Bloomberg before deciding to launch their group, which will be called Americans for Responsible Solutions.
In the ABC News interview, Kelly says he almost "lost it" when a Newtown parent showed him a picture of a slain Sandy Hook student.
"In response to a horrific series of shootings that has sown terror in our communities, victimized tens of thousands of Americans, and left one of its own bleeding and near death in a Tucson parking lot, Congress has done something quite extraordinary – nothing at all," Giffords and Kelly wrote in USA Today.
"This country is known for using its determination and ingenuity to solve problems, big and small. Wise policy has conquered disease, protected us from dangerous products and substances, and made transportation safer. But when it comes to protecting our communities from gun violence, we're not even trying – and for the worst of reasons," they added.
After failing for decades to budge Americans' general support for gun rights, gun-control advocates now see a major opening after Newtown, where 20 schoolchildren and six staffers were killed in a blizzard of high-powered rifle fire before the gunman, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, took his own life.
Unlike other mass shootings, including the Tucson incident in which Giffords was injured and six others died, the Newtown massacre appeared to have actually changed American opinions on gun rights and gun control. On Dec. 20, a CBS News poll found an 18-point surge in the share of Americans who support more firearms restrictions – a finding supported, though less dramatically, by a Pew Research poll conducted after the Newtown shootings.
That shift invigorated efforts to toughen restrictions on firearms.
For example, a visibly moved President Obama launched his new White House initiative, led by Vice President Joe Biden, to return with recommendations, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) of California has said she will file a bill on Jan. 22 that, if passed, would reinstate an assault-weapons ban and force American gun owners to register "grandfathered" weapons with federal authorities.
"There are numerous efforts under way with an outside strategy, that is going to help capture this energy so it becomes more uncomfortable for Republicans not to move something," an aide to a pro-gun-control lawmaker said on Monday, according to MSNBC.com
But while the gun-control movement has momentum and is urging Congress to strike quickly, new groups like the one started by Giffords may struggle to change the bedrock support in America for gun ownership.
Yes, recent shootings "dramatize the problem, and people want a solution immediately," says Professor Goss at Duke.
But she also notes that recent poll numbers sliding toward more support for gun control "reflect this idea that, yeah, it's too easy for guns to get into bad hands, but [polls also show] that this is also a problem on a personal and family and cultural level. People are smart and they realize that, like a plane crash, there's never just one factor."


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If ever a play proved one can reach the universal through particulars, it's Bill Cain's "How to Write a New Book for the Bible," splendidly executed by South Coast Rep by way of Berkeley and Seattle. Aided by a candid diary kept while his mother was dying of liver cancer, Cain fashions a collage of everyday life which keeps inviting you to mull over the interactions among your own loved ones. Watching it is as pleasurable as leafing through a stranger's chaotically organized, but page for page smile-inducing, intimate scrapbook.
It's hard to imagine a more frankly autobiographical tragicomedy. Even "Long Day's Journey into Night" imposes a thin veneer of fiction over the haunted O'Neills, but here Cain writes "Bill Cain" (Tyler Pierce) and his little nuclear unit in what seems like photorealistic detail: a fraught encounter with a Halloween pumpkin; the mysterious Vietnam service of quiet, intense brother Paul (Aaron Blakely); boisterous family squabbles laid out blow by pointed blow.
Character and author Bill are Jesuit priests. We don't learn much about Cain's vocation (is he saving that for another play?), but his priestly yearnings are central to all this reminiscence. Recognizing the Bible as first and foremost a family story – cf. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, not to mention God as father of the family of man – he's determined to look inward to discover meaning.
"Do we matter?" he keeps wondering. God's eye may be on the sparrow, but is it also focused on the everyday joys, quarrels and sorrows of four little people in Syracuse, N.Y.?
Cain and helmer Kent Nicholson give God, and the earthly audience, plenty to attend to with interest. The kaleidoscopic structure keeps us on our toes, jumbling chronology and even going into sheer fantasy to bring out parallels and patterns across time. Multiple perspectives provide more delight, as all four Cains periodically step forward to share their own interpretations and continue their bickering before a live audience. (And Billy – in Pierce's hands a delightfully mournful kvetcher – almost always gets the worst of it.)
Scott Bradley's set is itself a stunning collage, bits and pieces suspended or dropped as the Cains' minds conjure them. Alexander Nichols' lighting seamlessly pulls us into and out of recollection, and Callie Floor's costumes are both period specific and effortlessly reflective of character.
Pierce and Blakely have got their brother act down to a science in this third production in a row, joined by the excellent Jeff Biehl as the ebullient, slightly remote dad (and numerous other characters of various ages and genders). And Linda Gehringer's mom is simply a wonder, deeply physical and emotionally true in showing us the psychological complexity of a soul whom no one dare dismiss as an "ordinary housewife." To Cain, nothing about people is ordinary, a lesson Nicholson's cast has absorbed into its bones.
Cain's Biblically centered conceits, when all is said and done, seem somewhat forced. The joy in having Bill raise his hands in benediction to intone new plot developments – "And lo, Mary called her elder son" – diminishes through repetition.
On the other hand, if that's the hanger Cain needed on which to drape such a warm, affecting skein of memories, it would be the height of ingratitude to object.


text: ← Previous ImageNext Image → Le_Studio_NYC_FAMILY_PHOTOGRAPHER_brooklyn_prospect_park_25 Le Studio NYC is a celebrated professional photography studio based in New York City specializing in fashion, editorial, headshot, and portrait photography. We photograph adults, families, actors, newborns, and children. Le Studio offers very personal and customized service. During your in-studio session, the atmosphere is very relaxed, with music and refreshments. We will capture your story in natural portraits that you will cherish for the rest of your life.


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HTC has confirmed that it plans to upgrade a select number of handsets to the newly-announced Sense 5.0. The news came first through the phone maker's Facebook account, then via an HTC statement.
Currently in the running to receive Sense 5.0 - only available now on the HTC One - are the global variants of the HTC One X, HTC
and HTC Butterfly.
Not all the handsets will be able to support all the features of the upgraded UI, however, so you won't necessarily be getting the full HTC One experience on your aged hardware.
Sense 5.0 brings a new menu layout and a raft of new apps like Simplicity and Blinkfeed to the HTC Android line-up.
No word from the phone maker as to exactly when the software updates will hit beyond "in the next few months," but we'll keep you posted.
In the meantime, check out what we made of the software in our hands on HTC One review.
From Android Police


text: Artist: Busta Rhymes f/ Raekwon Album: The Big Bang Song: Goldmine Typed by: firstname.lastname@example.com [Verse 1: Raekwon] Old dro bottles, and blow, blowin from both zones Layin in them Tahoes we own the projo's Three for tenement we in the lobby with the big (da dun dun dun) Don't move cause I'm a representative Live for the street, ask, you die in the war 'member that -- blast that three atcha -- hide in the wall We gangsta, republicans with them big things, big rings Get your head shot off, daddy you don't believe chains Loose cameras, big hammers, Station Wagon, blue Phantoms Smokin the block up, y'all witness the zoo gamblers We ain't takin no shorts, its just the early 80's That made me, now I sit paid and then maybe Nothing but my Lords and raps, these bags of dope Under the mattress and I clack like a slave key Wash your squad up, I roll double refuse to rock Closed up my door up and murked you on the job (aww) [Hook: Busta Rhymes] Gettin money like back in the days niggaz get like shower posse in a spectacular drug games Slayin niggaz, steady sprayin niggaz, till the task forces roll up In unmarked vehicles and will be layin niggaz Streched out, focus, see you come back triple When we O.T. cut it with bakin soda, acquire now Strategize, gettin paper like the ?? Jamaicans And them George Chain niggaz, and watch me set up a Goldmine [Verse 2: Busta Rhymes] We got guns tucked in our waistlines, wit raps Hangin from our back pockets miraculous money nigga Can't stop at Sherlock Home can go's Medallions so big wit strings you could turn 'em into banjos Phenomenal property, drug money, scram wrap em A hundred EX golden like a hundred graham crackers Sidewindin niggaz tryna infiltrate blindside A nigga hit you wit the eight, three in the club Dumbin out, drunk in fronta the airbrush Backdrop ones out, five dollars for bitches wit the guns out Juggle for a couple days close shop thinkin To you the bubble until the strip is hotter than a microwave Don't stop, travel all my spare time and keep niggaz wit us To push shit like George Jefferson Airline No fro niggaz better go chill, 'fore this gun Goes up your nose like coke sniffin up your nose dude [Hook] [Verse 3: Raekwon] Ay yo, snoop me kid, coop me in the red room booth And eatin Fruit Loops its all for the loot boo Designated hammer that'll lay ya up scrambling Blant ninjas get 'em more popped up, and start blowin niggaz magnums up Caught me in the mix wit some rich soldiers, that reaction Is a key action, black sent forty doja's up We hunt 'em like big plans, my big mans and them Slick as the shit breaks from outtas you, rip dip, then quakes them [Busta Rhymes] See I was always good at science, in the class I was hopin Ask 'em for the chemistry temperature now I'm cookin the coke up Used to sit and watch them older niggaz for hours And did acknowledge to how cold water quickly harden the powder Took your turn into somethin big to acredit (uhh) But ya needs connect shit up from South America Money calculations, told B.I.G. I sit up on it still Holdin old hundred doallr bills, wit small faces [Hook]


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This documentary celebrates the vibrant culture and tenacious struggle of the Canadian Gypsy and introduces a new generation of Roma who claim their roots with pride. They call themselves by their rightful name, the Roma. Almost 80,000 call Canada home. Meet Julia Lovell, a passionate defender of Roma human rights, whose father is slowly gaining the confidence to reveal his heritage; and Karen Gray Boothroyd, a flamenco dancer just beginning to reclaim her Gypsy roots.
Who are the Roma, the ones that we call Gypsies? Why have they been persecuted since the 11th century? Can Roma in Canada celebrate their culture without fear? Opre Roma: Gypsies in Canada presents a people with a tragic past but, more importantly, with passion in their hearts.Albert Ohayon
De la sélection : Canada's Diverse Cultures
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Opre Roma: Gypsies in Canada, Tony Papa, offert par l'Office national du film du Canada
a must see documentary of the culture of Roma Gypsy in Canada and the hardships they have endured for centuriesromaprincess, 28 Mai 2012
I was told by a friend of mine to watch this documentary. Really well done documentary! My heritage is Roma, Turkish Roma. I was born in Romania. Because of the poor living conditions that the Roma live in, my biological parents decided to put me up for adoption. I was adopted into a Canadian family 1992. I am currently living in Canada. Vancouver, BC. I went to back to Romania after 17 years being adopted and reunited with my biological parents, a long with 13 siblings. The youngest sibling was born last September, the eldest is 25, and I am 22. I spent the last 6 months in Romania filming a documentary on my biological family. I would really like to get in touch Julia Lovell. I would love to discuss my story of being adopted, the reuniting with my biological family, and my documentary.Sevdin, 28 Jui 2011
Beautifully done, captures the soul of Roma. Thank you for sharing your heart and soul...Jadzia13, 22 Mai 2011
To watch this sitting in India, I miss the earthen tastes my own land used to have. I remember travelling as groups with my parents and their fellows who were all performers, singing loudly and dancing in the train bringing everyone to life. I miss that, feel stuck in my urban body. This is a beautiful documentary. I would love to visit the Romas and hope they would pass some bread and welcome me when I reach them.Samyuktha, 1 Jui 2010
Fantastic! Finally free to be Roma. The heart and soul in the music and culture is exhilarating.yuallthetime, 11 Jan 2010
The documentary was excellent. NFB at its best! We have to scream loudly in utter disgust at the mean-spirited reactionary government in power who wants to desecrate and hollow-out the NFB and CBC, 25 Déc 2009


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Los Angeles
Fergie and Josh Duhamel welcome a baby boy
Cindy Clark
Fergie and Josh Duhamel are first-time parents!
The Black Eyed Peas singer gave birth to a baby boy Thursday at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Hospital. Axl Jack Duhamel weighed in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces.
In February, Duhamel shared the news that the couple, who were married in January 2009, were expecting their first child. In "Fergie and Me and BABY makes three," Duhamel, 40, posted on Twitter.
And last month, he let it slip on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that Fergie, 38, would give birth to a boy.
Congrats to the new parents!
Featured Weekly Ad


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- Home
- Dancecd
- GAME beatmania: beatmania 5th MIX
- Miracle Moon ~L.E.D. Light Style Mix~ (Epic House)
Miracle Moon ~L.E.D. Light Style Mix~ (Epic House)
Album / Collection: -Disc 2- NONSTOP MEGAMIX
Track # 31
Description: [Beatmania 5th Mix] By Togo Project feat. Sana
By Togo Project feat. Sana
denwa dake ja todokanai kimochi
E-mail datte setsunaku naru dake
"ima sugu ni ai ni kite..." nante
tadakko mitaku, kuchi ni shichai sou...
demo, itsumo aeteta toki yori zutto
chikaku kanjiru kigashiteru
ai no kiseki o misete ageru
Do you believe in LOVE?
Yes, I'm just feeling now
ai no channel o awase tanara
otsukisama ga chuukeikyoku
Do you believe in LOVE?
Yes, I'm just feeling now
Contributed by Allen Tyner <[email protected]>
[Submit an English translation for this song]
See an error in these lyrics? Let us know here!
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My Little Pony Ties
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This is some text here


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5 Things to Do This Weekend (Feb. 26-28)
The games come to a close
The Winter Olympics end this weekend, with events scheduled nearly until the closing ceremonies. The highlights of Sunday include figure skating, men's cross country and men's hockey. The closing ceremonies will be broadcast on NBC starting at 7 p.m. EST. For schedules, highlights and more, go to www.vancouver2010.com or www.nbcolympics.com.
At the movies
We have to wait one more week for a new family-friendly film to show up in theaters, but there are a couple big R-rated movies opening this week if adults are looking for a night out. The highlight is "Cop Out," starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan and directed by Kevin Smith (who has been in the news recently because of the incident in which he was kicked off a plane for being too large). The other big film is "The Crazies," a remake of George A. Romero's 1973 film. This version stars Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell.
Sword swallowers have a holiday?
They sure do. Sunday is International Sword Swallowers Awareness Day, a day designed to keep these performance artists in the public awareness. This year, performers will be showing off their skills at Ripley's Believe It or Not locations around the world, and many other places are holding demonstrations as well. If you can't find any live demonstrations or TV events, there are plenty of Web sites about sword swallowing to check out.
It's the tooth fairy's day, too
Sunday also is National Tooth Fairy Day. This could be a fun day for parents – you can teach your children about tooth fairy lore, find books on the subject, check out a film or two (including the recent "The Tooth Fairy," starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) or give your children an extra silver dollar for any recent baby teeth they've lost.
Oh, the stuff you will learn!
This coming Tuesday is Read Across America Day, a book-centric event celebrated on the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Many libraries and stores will be holding special events on Tuesday and this weekend, so make sure to partake in the fun and get your children interested in reading. For a list of events, check the newspaper or go to www.seussville.com and click on "events."
GateHouse News Service


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Are you looking to further your career, but want the luxury of staying home? A school district in Oklahoma is searching for a Speech-Language Pathologist to administer Teletherapeutic services for their students grades K-12. Take action on this unique opportunity with VocoVision! The director is looking to start interviews as soon as possible and fill this position quickly so apply promptly to be considered for this role.
A Teletherapy position takes advantage of an online platform to allow the user to work remotely while still providing life-changing services to students in need. Teletherapists enjoy the benefit of bypassing traffic, saving money on gas, and avoiding exposure to COVID-19 or other illnesses.
Job Details:
K-12 : Mild- Moderate case load
Full Time Contracts preferred (Part Time may be considered)
Rapid interview and start date
Weekly compensation (hourly pay)
VocoVision Clinical and Technical Support and Training Provided
Teletherapy Resources Provided
M.S. in Speech Language Pathology or Communication Disorders
ASHA CCC's
2 years school-based experience as an SLP
State of Oklahoma SLP License
Continue to do what you love from the comfort of your own home! This unique SLP opportunity will be filled by someone quickly, so why not by you? If this position excites you, upload your resume and contact information. If you would like to hear about other fully remote opportunities for the upcoming school year anywhere in the US, send your resume directly to N'Derah Cooper [email protected] .
Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled
- Competitive Salary
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- Custom Housing
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- Professional Development Reimbursement


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Protests against new anti-democratic laws in Ukraine are increasing in intensity, with four citizens reported dead. As you can see in these extraordinary images by Ilya Varlamov, the demonstrators are using rockets made with fireworks. They look like scenes from some science-fiction movie about urban warfare.
The latest reports talk about at least four people killed and hundreds injured by the police. After the massive protests against the government's rejection against the European Union in favor of an alliance with the former Russian oppressors, Kiev officials announced new repressive laws limiting the people's right to protest. These urban battles are the people's reaction to those laws.
Ukraine was a former Soviet Republic, created after a civil war between pro-communist and the Ukrainian People's Republic armies at the beginning of the 20th century, right after the fall of the Russian Empire. The communists won, and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was established. In theory, it was an independent state, but in fact—like all republics in the USSR and satellite countries—it was under a tight control by the Kremlin.
Here's a video with some of the action. Fast forward to the three-minute mark to see the fireworks guns:
From the AP: "A protester throws a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Three people have died in clashes between protesters and police in the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, according to medics on the site, in a development that will likely escalate Ukraine's two month-long political crisis. The mass protests in the capital of Kiev erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)"
From the AP: "Protesters use fireworks during clashes with police in central Kiev, Ukraine, late Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014. The mass protests in Kiev, the capital, erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a pact with the European Union in favor of close ties with Russia, which offered him a $15 billion bailout. (AP Photo/Evgeny Feldman)"
From the AP: "Protesters fire at police with fireworks, in central Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. After a night of vicious streets battles, anti-government protesters and police clashed anew Monday in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Hundreds of protesters, many wearing balaclavas, hurled rocks and police responded with tear gas. (AP Photos/Sergei Grits)"


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How the Muslim Brotherhood's Victory Affects the US
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood claimed Monday that its candidate has won the Egyptian presidency. Mohamed Morsi Isa al-Ayyat is now a critical figure on the world stage. Who is he? What does he believe? Why would his election matter to us?
Morsi received a Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Southern California in 1982 and worked at NASA on the development of space shuttle engines. He returned to Egypt in 1985, where he was arrested several times by President Mubarak's regime for protesting governmental policies. He once spent seven months in jail.
As Chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Brotherhood's political wing, he claims to stand for democracy, women's rights, and peaceful relations with Israel. But he also reportedly argues for barring women from the Egyptian presidency and calls Israeli leaders "vampires" and "killers." Which is true?
According to the Egyptian website, El Bashayer, Morsi was asked by a journalist about Egyptian Christians who were supporting his opposition. This conversation took place at his party's headquarters, suggesting that he thought he could speak frankly. Here is his reported reply: "They need to know that conquest is coming, that Egypt will be Islamic, and that they must pay jizra or emigrate." (Jizra is the tax the Prophet Muhammad required non-Muslims to pay in lands conquered by Islam.) At his first political rally, Morsi reportedly chanted the Brotherhood's slogan, "The Qur'an is our constitution."
If he leads Egypt in a strict Islamic direction, what might happen? The Israeli government is already accusing the Muslim Brotherhood of ordering last Friday's rocket attack. One Brotherhood speaker promised that Morsi would "liberate" Jerusalem and Gaza from Jewish control. Egypt's army and population are the largest in the Arab world; the nation suffers from massive youth unemployment and is a cauldron of simmering frustration. An Islamic government in Egypt could have a domino effect in the region, affecting oil supplies and the world economy.
As the Muslim Brotherhood is ultimately a spiritual movement, intercessors are on the front lines of this growing conflict. Please join me in praying today for a great spiritual awakening in Egypt, where thousands of Muslims are turning to Christ. Pray for our nation's leaders to seek divine wisdom in these challenging days. Intercede for our sisters and brothers in Egypt to stand boldly for Jesus and to be protected by his Spirit.
And know that God is at work in Egypt and around the world: "As the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations" (Isaiah 61:11). Let's plant spiritual seeds in Egyptian soil today, on our knees.


text: Ruth A. Middleton, 85 of Cedar Springs, died Monday, February 27, 2012 at her home. Ruth was born May 5, 1926 in Grand Rapids, Michigan the daughter of Stephen and Alice (McKrill) Burns. She was a member of Our Lady of Consolation in Rockford. Her family was her life and she was always involved in her children's activities. She had the gift of hospitality and the coffee pot was on at her house on Saturday mornings. Surviving are her children, Mary Willett of Cedar Springs, Douglas (Pamela) Middleton of Cedar Springs, Ronda (Christopher) Ash of Boca Raton, Florida; 6 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; brother, Dan (Nancy) Burns; sisters, Bernice Schneider, Barbara Skelonc, Kay (Phil) Hallock, Janet (Paul) Harris; sisters-in-law, Jodi Burns and Delores Burns; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rex in 2011; son-in-law, Kenneth Willett; sister, Bertha Kent; brothers, Stephen, Frank and Robert Burns. The family received friends Wednesday, March 7 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs, where a Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, March 8 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Consolation, Rockford. Rev. Fr. Tony Russo celebrant. Interment Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs. Arrangements by Bliss Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs


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Tune in to THE SCORE on SIRIUS Channel 98 tonight at 11:05pm EST for "Right After Wrestling", hosted by Arda Ocal and Jimmy Korderas.
Tonight, WWE Champion The Miz will join Arda and Jimmy as the show's special guest!
Call into the show at 1-888-942-7326 to join the discussion! WrestleZone.com's own Nick Paglino will be making an appearance on the show as well to discuss the latest in the pro wrestling world!
You can listen on SIRIUS Radio Channel 98, or listen live for free online at www.thescore.
Monday nights, 11:05pm – midnight EST


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Rinnai Direct Vented Gas Furnaces / Space Heating
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[(see comment below before reading–ed.)
If the Egyptian mobs harbor enough anti-American hostility to do the following to S. African reporter Lara Logan,
because they thought that she was an American and a Jew,
then there is very little chance that an American-picked "unity govt," acceptable to the masses, can be put together. This is brutal testimony that Egyptians think that they have overthrown the Americans, as well as Mubarrak.
Prepare to be disgusted…this woman is extremely lucky to be alive.]
MEDIA-CENSORED SHOCKING DETAILS of the Muslim sexual attack on Lara Logan in Egypt
They attacked her because she is a non-Muslim woman (considered "white meat" to Muslims) and mistakenly thought her to be a Jew. But attacks like this on Muslim women are not uncommon in the Muslim world either, as BNI readers know.
Wizbang(H/T Maria)CBS international reporter Lara Logan is a well known public figure. And CBS and other media have accepted that she was brutally assaulted. However, Youtube and some Arab Websites are offering some further claimed shocking details not reported by the U.S. media and even some video about the extreme brutality of the attack on CBS reporter Lara Logan . Reportedly, some videos did show a crowd of about 200 or more men surround and separate Lara Logan from her security, and the crowd shouted "Jew, Jew!", and "American bitch!". Lara Logan is not Jewish or American, she's a South African native.
Reportedly some of physical and sexual assault activity was caught on camera phones as well. One video purportedly involved some boy fondling the breasts of the reporter. However, another purported video that was described by a controversial YouTube video claims that a bearded man ripped the top off the reporter and began slapping her face and breasts. He then pinned her to the ground, and by this time she stopped resisting, apparently accepting the fact that she was overpowered. The bearded man then removed her pants and masturbated in front of her before raping her. He also reportedly clawed at her breasts with his hands. The YouTube video claims that at least six men raped her vaginally, and a number of men also raped her anally as well. She was reportedly masturbated on and urinated on by some men as well according to the YouTube video claims which was supposed to be pieced together from information and videos posted on Arab Websites and other sources.
It was claimed by various reports that the sexual assault and beatings might have lasted anywhere from 20-30 minutes on the short side, and as long as about 3 hours on the other hand. It was also claimed that her left breast might have been bitten or might even had the left nipple bitten off as well. One report claims that somewhere from 6 to about 50 men might have sexually assaulted or beat the attractive reporter.
One one hand, Lara Logan deserves her privacy. On the other hand being a major public figure, this international crime story is a very important one. It is also important to understand how anti-Americanism seemed to play a major role in the extreme level of brutality here. Reportedly, the reporter was left bloody, with semen and urine on her as the crowd shouted anti-American slogans. This reporter deserves far better respect than these claims of the brutality suggest. This mob violence against an attractive reporter who risks her life by reporting from the world's hot spots only illustrates the type of danger that reporters potentially face when they report the news.
The assault on Lara Logan illustrates just how much order has recently broken down in the MidEast region which is now far more dangerous for Westerners. Further, some dangerous heads of Al Qaeda have been released from prison in places like Libya as rioting crowds demanded that political prisoners are released. When reporter Lara Logan heals from her injuries, she will no doubt bravely go right back to reporting on all the perils of this region.
Vicious, vile, so-called conservative blogger, DEBBIE SCHLUSSEL who attacks other anti-Islam bloggers like Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, as well as many other conservatives thinks Lara Logan deserved this attack.


text:
Best Splinter Cell Games, Ranked From Unessential To Masterful
Sam Fisher is a master of stealth, but which of his games is a masterpiece?
Sam Fisher is a master of stealth, but which of his games is a masterpiece?
Sam Fisher is stealthy, but this is ridiculous.
United States ratings board lists all six titles for release on Microsoft's console; currently confirmed only for PlayStation 3.
Latest three-pack for Sony's console will contain HD versions of Splinter Cell, Pandora Tomorrow, and Chaos Theory.
News of the Rainbow Six publisher's tie-up of military media mogul's empire sends company's share price skyward.
[UPDATE] Author-inspired techno-military media empire--including book, film, and game rights--purchased by Rainbow Six publisher; CEO Yves Guillemot says Ubi looking at massively multiplayer project.
French publisher builds on success of Shanghai studio by opening new, online-focused office in the provincial capital Chengdu.
Popular Xbox titles to sell for $9.99; Microsoft confirms 16 participating games in program's "first wave."
[UPDATE] New, briefly withdrawn patch supports most current-gen Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, and Rainbow Six games.
TBS' games-on-demand services launches with more than 300 games and video content; 24 publishers now on board, including EA and Capcom.
Meager increase in sales not enough to offset losses; continued strong sales of Pandora Tomorrow called out.
Deal with LucasArts and continued Splinter Cell strength bolster publisher's top line in Q2.
Nintendo version includes new mission, booby traps, and online play.
Sony consoles will soon be infiltrated by Ubisoft's stealth action hit.
Ubisoft announces the release of two new multiplayer maps for the Xbox version of Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow.
Sony-friendly version of Ubisoft's Splinter Cell sequel infiltrates the factory.
Coproducer Olivier Dauba tells us about the process of bringing Sam Fisher's latest mission to the PS2.
We check out Sam Fisher's sophomore outing on the PlayStation 2.
The Splinter Cell sequel will arrive in June and July for the PS2 and GC, respectively.
Ubisoft releases auto-update to remedy reported bugs, improve play in the Tom Clancy-inspired stealth-actioner.
We check up on how the newest versions of Pandora Tomorrow are coming along.
Sam Fisher's on another mission, which means the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Safeguarding freedom isn't easy, so check out our walkthrough for all the crucial intelligence ...
France-based publisher tips hat to its Prince of Persia and Tom Clancy franchises as key revenue drivers--and has high hopes for Far Cry.
Microsoft and Ubisoft offer prizes to European Xbox Live gamers who prove themselves in Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow ranking games.
Ubisoft releases the remedy to its stealthy sequel's multiplayer issues on Xbox Live.
The arrivals of Pandora Tomorrow and the limited edition Crystal Xbox in the UK see a dramatic improvement in Microsoft's console sales.
Publisher acknowledges Xbox Live issues, says an update is due "in a few days."
UPDATE: The Xbox version of Ubisoft's stealth-action sequel contains a crash bug in its online multiplayer mode. Ubisoft responds.
Ubisoft plans to release a single-level multiplayer demo of its Splinter Cell sequel tomorrow.
Early copies of Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow will come with free Xbox Live subscriptions good for either two or 12 months of online play.
Or: What's that candy bar doing in my first-person shooter? Examining the close ties between the worlds of gaming and marketing.
Microsoft will release a limited edition Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow-themed Xbox Live starter kit in Europe later this month.
Ubisoft releases a single-player demo of its anticipated stealth action game.
Ubisoft plans to release a single-player demo of Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow, tomorrow.
Pandora Tomorrow is in the can and on target for a March 25 release date.
Ubisoft announces that in addition to weapons, Sam Fisher's Pandora Tomorrow arsenal will include two Sony Ericsson mobile phones.
We step into the soft-soled shoes of Agent Sam Fisher in the impressive-looking GBA sequel to Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell.
Ubisoft reveals that both the PC and Xbox versions of its stealthy sequel have been sent to production.
We check out the latest build to see how the taut cat-and-mouse multiplayer gameplay handles.
We check out the latest build to see how the taut cat-and-mouse multiplayer gameplay handles.
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text:
Hi all
Need a help with this listener.
I checked the listener.ora and tnsnames.ora file and everything looks good but I am having issue with the listener.
lsnrctl stop LISTENER_Q1HMPRD
LSNRCTL for Solaris: Version 10.2.0.4.0 - Production on 12-NOV-2008 20:23:08
Copyright (c) 1991, 2007, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Connecting to (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=q1hmprod1.wtdc.net)(PORT=1521)
TNS-01190: The user is not authorized to execute the requested listener command
I also queried lsnrctl SERVICE LISTENER_Q1HMPRD and listener is not registered with the database.
What can I do to remedy this issue?


text: Cloacal dysgenesis sequence Philippe Jeanty, MD, PhD Article Published: May 31, 2002 Definition: Association of an imperforate anus with confluence of the rectum, vagina, and bladder in a urogenital sinus. Etymology: Cloaca = sewer in Latin. Synonyms: Anorectal anomalies, persistent cloaca, cloacal malformations. Incidence: Cloacal malformations occur in approximately 0.2:10,000 live female births. The incidence in male is not well established which may result from an ascertainment bias. Etiology: Sporadic. Rare cases have been associated with chromosomal anomalies[2],6. In the mouse, a similar type of anomalies occur with mutations of the Hoxa-13 and Hoxd-13[3] and Etretinate, a synthetic retinoid can cause similar anomalies[4]. Diagnosis: The typical appearance is that of a pelvic fluid-filled structure, whose appearance depends on the anatomy involved and the gestational age[5],. In the first trimester, the main finding may be dilated loops of bowel, then megacystis, ascites and oligo/anhydramnios occurs when no external opening is present. The perineum is smooth with absence of anal, urethral, and/or vaginal openings. The labia majora and minora may be absent in females and the scrotum and penis may be absent or hypoplastic in males,[8],. Cloacal dysgenesis with vesico-rectal fistula (courtesy Peter Twining, Nottingham, UK) Differential diagnosis: Obstructive uropathy, but a large bladder should be visible and Vacterl. Associated anomalies: cardiac, pulmonary (hypoplastic lungs), renal (renal agenesis, dysplasia, hydronephrosis, hydroureters), gastrointestinal (intraluminal colonic calcifications) skeletal and vertebral anomalies[10], growth restriction, single umbilical artery9. Prognosis: in cases with no outlet of the urine into the amniotic cavity, the prognosis is fatal due to lung hypoplasia, but there are exceptions7. Among those surviving to surgery, in a large series of 141 patients: · 82 have spontaneous bowel movements and satisfactory control, · 38 use enemas to evacuate, · 9 have a colostomy, · 7 have fecal soiling, and · 5 are too recently operated to evaluate. Regarding urinary control, · 83 void spontaneously, · 40 catheterize to empty, · 4 have urinary diversion, · 1 has a continent diversion, · 5 patients are wet, and · 8 are too recently operated to judge11. Twenty-four patients are now adults, 17 of who have experienced coitus and 7 have not. Seven have had babies, all except one by cesarean section 11. Others have also reported normal vaginal deliveries[12]. Management: Prenatal: in the absence of amniotic fluid, the pregnancy can be managed as non-viable. Postnatally, the management depends on the type of anomalies and associated malformations. References: [1] Dodson JL, Ferrer FA, Jackman SV, Blakemore KJ, Docimo SG Cloacal outlet obstruction with an ectopic ureter. Urology (Online) 2000 May 1;55(5):775 [2] Chen CP, Chern SR, Lee CC, Town DD Isochromosome 18q in a fetus with congenital megacystis, intra-uterine growth retardation and cloacal dysgenesis sequence. Prenat Diagn 1998 Oct;18(10):1068-74 [3] Warot X, Fromental-Ramain C, Fraulob V, Chambon P, Dolle P Gene dosage-dependent effects of the Hoxa-13 and Hoxd-13 mutations on morphogenesis of the terminal parts of the digestive and urogenital tracts. Development 1997 Dec;124(23):4781-91 [4] Mesrobian HG, Sessions RP, Lloyd RA, Sulik KK Cloacal and urogenital abnormalities induced by etretinate in mice. J Urol 1994 Aug;152(2 Pt 2):675-8 [5] Zaccara A, Gatti C, Silveri M, Rivosecchi M, Bilancioni E, Spina V, Giorlandino C, De Gennaro M, Bagolan P Persistent cloaca: are we ready for a correct prenatal diagnosis? Urology (Online) 1999 Aug;54(2):367 [6] Cacciaguerra S, Lo Presti L, Di Leo L, Grasso S, Gangarossa S, Di Benedetto V, Di Benedetto A Prenatal diagnosis of cloacal anomaly. Scand J Urol Nephrol 1998 Feb;32(1):77-80 [7] Liang X, Ioffe OB, Sun Cloacal dysgenesis sequence: observations in four patients including three fetuses of second trimester gestation. Pediatr Dev Pathol 1998 Jul-Aug;1(4):281-8 [8] Carroll SG, Hyett J, Eustace D, Seller MJ, Nicolaides KH Evolution of sonographic findings in a fetus with agenesis of the urethra, vagina, and rectum. Prenat Diagn 1996 Oct;16(10):931-3 [9] Murr MM, Waziri MH, Schelper RL, Abu-Youself M Case of multivertebral anomalies, cloacal dysgenesis, and other anomalies presenting prenatally as cystic kidneys. Am J Med Genet 1992 Apr 1;42(6):761-5 [10] Qureshi F, Jacques SM, Yaron Y, Kramer RL, Evans MI, Johnson MP Prenatal diagnosis of cloacal dysgenesis sequence: differential diagnosis from other forms of fetal obstructive uropathy. Fetal Diagn Ther 1998 Mar-Apr;13(2):69-74 [11] Hendren WH Cloaca, the most severe degree of imperforate anus: experience with 195 cases. Ann Surg 1998 Sep;228(3):331-46 [12] Ljubic A, Sulovic V, Stankovic A, Cvetkovic A Cloacal dysgenesis and vaginal delivery. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris) 1993;22(4):417-8 Discussion Board Start a discussion about this article Add bookmark Bookmarked


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The stage includes the HC Madeleine (Sean Yates says it's going up "the hard way... and it's bloody hard. It's constant for 19km with a few harirpins at the bottom and less at the top."). After the Madeleine at 79km, the riders tackle the Cat 1 Cormet-de-Roseland (163km) and the stage finishes at the summit of the Cat 1 Les Arcs.
There have been two abandons in the first few kilometres: Stefano Colage (Refin) and Leon Van Bon (Rabobank). There have been attempts at attacks by Jacky Durand (Agrigel) and Laurent Roux (TVM), but now the peloton is all together. The first sprint of the day (Bourgneuf -- 29.5km) was taken by Erik Zabel (Telekom) with Bo Hamburger (TVM) second and Thierry Gouvenou (Aubervilliers) third.
The peloton, still all together are at the foot of the Madeleine (La Chambre -- 58.5km). There has been no rain yet today, but the sky is threatening. As the 19km climb begins, Luc Leblanc (Polti), who lost nearly four minutes yesterday after a crash, attacks...
With 8km to go to the summit we join a crackly commentary from a motorbike. There are about 20 riders out in front.The front group includes Bjarne Riis and Brian Holm (Telekom), Richard Virenque (Festina), Miguel Indurain (Banesto), yellow jersey Stephane Heulot (GAN), Luc Leblanc (Polti), Tony Rominger and Abraham Olano (Mapei) and Alex Zulle (ONCE). Laurent Broachard (Festina) and Chris Boardman (GAN) are 25 seconds back, but the news of the moment is that Laurent Jalabert (ONCE) is 45 seconds off the lead group.
With 1km to the summit, riding through mist and rain, Holm and Riis are slightly in front of all those mentioned in the 13.05 report except for yellow jersey Heulot who is chasing alone at 45 secs. Also mentioned in the lead group this time are Evgeni Berzin (Gewiss) and Laurent Dufaux (Festina). What is described as "the Chris Boardman group" (Boardman + Brochard? +??) is at 1.35. Jalabert is dropping further back -- he is now at 2.50.
The position over the summit (km79) in what is obviously an incomplete listing are: 1. Virenque, 2. Indurain, 3. Zulle, 4. Rominger 5. Berzin 6. Tour de Suisse winner Peter Luttemberger (Carrera), 7. Leblanc. No mention of Boardman, but yellow jersey Heulot was at 1.35 and Jalabert crosses the summit 4.35 down. The lead group are said to be taking no risks on a dangerous descent on slippery roads through thick mist.
We are now, as far as I can hear, at about km100 on the descent, with Riis hanging 45 secs ahead of the rest of the lead group, _including_ Indurain, Virenque, Zulle, Olano, Berzin. Notably, yellow jersey Heulot has bridged to this group. At 2.50 is what is again described only as the "groupe Boardman" though it plainly no longer includes Brochard, who is further back at 3.15. Jalabert has slipped further back -- he is now at 4.50.
A break of three is near or at the feed at Albertville (123km). They are Patrick Jonker (ONCE), Alberto Elli (MG Technogym) and Udo Bolts (Telekom).I take it these were in the 20 original leaders up the Madeleine. They have 1 minute on the main lead group as described before. At some point on the descent Rominger crashed but was brought brought back to the yellow jersey (Heulot) group by team-mates Olano and Spanish champion Fernandez Gines. Behind the Heulot group is Boardman at 1.40 (I don't know if he is alone or with other riders). Jalabert is now in a group of 13 some 5 minutes back. Europe 1 has him rather melodramatically with his head bowed in defeat, in line behind team-mates Melchor Mauri and Roberto Sierra. Also in this group of 13 are Laurent Brochard and Pascal Herve (Festina) and Pascal Lino (Roslotto).
140km out with the Cormet de Roseland soon to come. The Jonker-Bolts-Elli group is rolling along nicely with a lead that is now 3.05 on the 30-strong yellow jersey group. To recap, apart from Heulot, this includes Zulle, Virenque, Indurain, Leblanc, Bersin, Rominger, Olano and -- a new name -- Christophe Moreau (Festina). Chris Boardman is still some way behind this group and said to be "in difficulties" at this particular point. Further back but now only at 3 minutes of the yellow jersey group is the Jalabert group. Jalabert is fourth in line with team-mate Melchor Mauri on the front working hard for him.
Eight kilometres into the mist-wreathed climb of the Cormet-de-Roseland, Bolts is 1.15 ahead of Elli and Jonker, with Dufaux 2.30 behind him. At 3.05 is the yellow jersey group, with a couple of new names mentioned --- Laurent Madouas (Motorola) and Bo Hamburger (TVM). At 6.15 to Bolts is the remanants of the Jalabert group which shattered on the first bends of the Cormet de Roseland. In this stretched out group, in no particular order, are Mauri, Herve, Jesus Montoya (Motorola), Orlando Rodrigues (Banesto), Rpberto Sierra (ONCE) and Mauri, Lino and Brochard. Jalabert moved clear of this to rejoin Christophe Moreau, Chris Baordman, and Prudencio Indurain (falling back after helping his brother earlier on the climb. Jlabert seems to have gone past these, though it's not certain -- whatever, he's riding on his own.
Bolts passed the summit first with 1.15 over Dufaux. At 2.05 the Induraingroup in the order Virenque, Riis, Indurain, Leblanc, etc. Heulot had been dropped from this group and was in great difficulty on the climb. He is seen stopped by the roadside consulting Roger Legeay. "Visibly it's finished for Stepahen." comments Marc Madiot on the radio. And no sign yet of Jalabert as Joose Maria Jimenez, P. Indurain, Vicente Aparicio, and then Viatcheslav Ekimov cross the summit. No mention of where Baordman may be or what state he's in. Somewhere on the climb Zulle had attacked but was brought back straightaway by Indurain.
Drama! Sad times -- still on the climb yellow jersey Stephane Heulot abandons. And Jalabert crosses the summit 7.15 behind Bolts
Ten kilometres to the finish on the way up to Les Arcs Bolts is still in the lead, with 1.15 on 1.15. Furrther back the Indurain group has been joined by Aitor Garmendia and Fernando Escartin is also mentioned. Jalabert is at 7.30 to Bolts.
Nearing 3km from the line and Leblanc is closing on Dufaux who is in front, Bolts is out of the picture. Leblanc overtakes Dufaux. Behind Zulle is looking troubled but not as troubled as Indurain is beginning to look. Olano, Rominger and Riis leave him behind as does Zulle. Then Hamburger comes past him. It's "fringale", hunger knock, the bonk... Indurain struggles on,then asks for a bottle from his car. Up the road Leblanc is winning. I honestly don't know who came second. Rominger? Virenque? Dufaux? Too much excitement on the radio. But Indurain comes in 4.17 down on Leblanc and 3 minutes or more on Leblanc, Rominger, Olano, Riis and Berzin. Berzin takes the yellow jersey, with Rominger second. There is still no sign of Laurent Jalabert 10.40 after Leblanc crosses the line..... phew!
The 31-year-old Spaniard, seeking a record sixth consecutive win, has not endured a worse day in the saddle since he was an ordinary workrider for Pedro Delgado in the late 1980s.
There was little sign in the leadup to the final climb of Les Arcs that anything was amiss.
Indurain appeared to be his usual imperturbable self, countering the attacks of his main rivals like Alex Zulle of Switzerland, and content that another serious challenger -- Frenchman Laurent Jalabert -- was struggling well behind his leading group of 30 or so riders.
But it was Zulle, who survived two falls on the descent from Cormet de Roselend, and his ONCE teammate Aitor Garmendia who sewed the seeds for Indurain's shock reverse.
Garmendia, a former teammate of Indurain's, set the pace of the lead group up Les Arcs and evidently played on whatever weakness he could recall Indurain possessed.
Ultimately, Zulle, too, paid the penalty as leading rivals Tony Rominger of Switzerland, Yevgeny Berzin of Russia and Bjarne Riis, the Danish champion and third overall last year, broke away -- leaving Indurain and the Swiss to trail in over three minutes behind them and over four minutes behind stage winner Luc Leblanc of France.
It was the sight of Indurain struggling and desperate for refreshment that really stunned the spectators -- though it must have given his challengers an enormous psychological boost to see the God of the Tour was mortal after all.
Frenchman Richard Virenque, attempting to win his third successive King of the Mountains title, was astonished. "I could not believe it. We were all there with Indurain to the fore and then when the others broke he just appeared to cycle on the same piece of road. Truly, it is the most remarkable sight I have seen on the Tour," Virenque said.
Indurain is a remarkable champion and cannot be discounted yet, but should he perform disappointingly in Sunday's time-trial -- where he has been unbeatable in previous years -- then the game is surely up.
To add to Indurain's misery, the race jury were considering adding 20 seconds onto his time for asking for a bottle within prohibited distance of the finish. He will have regretted not taking a drink when Zulle offered him one earlier on the climb to Les Arcs.
Berzin, who retired from the Tour last year with bronchitis, took the overall leader's yellow jersey by just 16-hundreths of a second over world champion Abraham Olano of Spain.
Berzin, though, did not sound optimistic about retaining the yellow jersey all the way to Paris. "It was a very difficult day for me, but I can at least dream about winning the Tour," the 26-year-old 1994 Tour of Italy winner said.
But asked if he was afraid of the challenge ahead he said: "If I was afraid I would go home."
Leblanc, the 1994 world road race champion, attacked on the final climb and overhauled longtime stage leader Laurent Dufaux of Switzerland to speed away and win by over 40 seconds from Rominger with Austrian Peter Luttenberger in third place. "It was an extraordinary day for me. My team worked so hard for me yesterday, when I had my second fall in the week, so I dedicate this victory to them. They were marvellous," Leblanc said.
Dufaux was dsiappointed he had not managed to hold on. "I have won two Dauphines but never a stage of the Tour de France, it would have been special, but that's life," he said.
The stage, once again raced in appalling conditions, ended Jalabert's hopes of becoming the first French cyclist to win the Tour since Bernard Hinault in 1985. Jalabert, the world number one, was left behind on the steep ascent to Madeleine and although teammates Melchor Mauri and Roberto Sierra tried to help him back in to the race, he finished more than 12 minutes adrift of Leblanc.
Apart from Zulle's two falls, Belgian Johan Bruyneel had a narrow escape when he fell 12 metres into a ravine on the descent from Cormet de Roselend, although he remounted and continued without suffering any apparent injury.
The former yellow jersey wearer, Frenchman Stephane Heulot, abandoned during the stage, citing tendinitis in his right knee.
The Frenchman's GAN teammate Chris Boardman, Britain's Olympic and world pursuit champion, had a dreadful day as well and reflected on it afterwards. "It was a catastrophe for me today. I got back to the main group after the climb to Madeleine but I was incapable of staying with them. Its terrible for the team and for Stephane Heulot -- but that's the Tour de France!" Boardman said.
The 24-year-old teammate of Olympic and World pursuit champion Chris Boardman was left by the peloton on the first category climb to Cormet de Roselend.
Heulot, in tears, stopped for two minutes but was encouraged by team boss Roger Legeay to continue -- finally retiring from the stage 20 metres later. He had predicted his retirement on Friday saying: "The weather has taken its toll and I have got tendinitis."