text:
READ about Piers Morgan's long career in journalism here.
On the heels of Alec Baldwin's latest paparazzi run-in, during which the actor and television host is accused of using a gay slur, on Tuesday evening "Piers Morgan Live" invited a trio of men to discuss the use of inflammatory words, the appropriateness of specific terms within society, and any stigmas carried by particular terms.
"Let's get rid of all the words that hurt people's feelings, we still have to deal with the issues that hurt people's lives, the things that are kind of below the surface," said Charles Blow, an op-ed columnist for "The New York Times." "As a writer, I loathe cliches, but if there were ever a tip of a iceberg, this is just the tip, of an iceberg."
Discussing both Baldwin's alleged use of the "F-Word," and the recent attention given to the "N-word" as it's appeared multiple times within the context of professional sports, Don Lemon looked to break the matter down into entirely simplistic terms:
"Sometimes it's just right there, it's just that simple, like your grandmother would say 'don't use the word, boy. Don't do it in public, don't do it in the workplace,'" explained the CNN Newsroom host. "It's just that simple. After that, then you look for the deeper meaning."
Editor of The Huffington Post's "Gay Voices" section, Noah Michelson said he could easily forgive Baldwin, but hoped the actor might offer a more sincere apology for his flippant comment:
"I don't think he's homophobic, I don't think he's a bad guy," noted the man who recently penned this blog entry for HuffPost. "He's done great stuff for the gay community."
Watch the clip for more of an important conversation lead by Piers Morgan, and for the full edition of "Piers Morgan Live" watch CNN every night at 9.
» Follow "Piers Morgan Live" on Twitter
» Follow "Piers Morgan Live" on Instagram
Thought you could escape?? Are you really a 'Limey' Or just a slimy on the CNN walls of a slippery slope?"
So what if People use the F ucking word N igger. It is meaningless if the person hearing them does not give them meaning.
Why don't they have other races on to discuss current issues. Hmmm. Keep it going cause split in all races. Please.
what about something that has some serious meaning, like the new knock out game in NJ
Do not use the term "white boy", Its worse than the so called "N" word. You bigot. Just because you hate yourself for being white don't drag the rest of us in it.
I am 48yrs old and we were brought up knowing that using the N word, or calling someone a lesbian, gay or qu–r was just not nice.Thank you Mom and Dad for teaching us good manners. Thats whats wrong with people now, they are not taught values, manners, or respect for another human being.
Reblogged this on Cedric Osoro.
Re your segment on using the F Word and the N Word.
"Even a dog knows when a person stumbles over him by accident and when he is being kicked." Enough said.
It seems as though Gays & People of Colour are well balanced, they have a chip on both shoulders. Get over yourself, you are what/who you are. By your reactions you indicate that you are not happy with the person that you, so whose problem is that?
I have been called worse and I'm still alive, well and happy. People like you make me sick – find a real cause to fight for!!!!
Reblogged this on Bag Lady Boutique.
white people were the ones to use the n word with hate , black people use it as friendship and respect. So who are we as white people to try and control the n word yes we should teach our kids too not use it beacose of and explain the difrence. annywho I just think that its how the word is said and twards whom its said

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Why go?
Drop-dead gorgeous with bells on, Budapest is a kicking city all year round.
Local hotspot
The former Jewish Quarter of District VI is alive with bars, clubs and funky shops.
You probably didn't know
The first underground line in continental Europe was opened in Budapest in 1896.
Suggested reading
Budapest: A Novel (Chico Buarque, 2003).
Things to do in Budapest
Mazel Tov
Most of the happening bars in Districts VI and VII have good kitchens. Mazel Tov puts quality Eastern Mediterranean street food to the fore in a ruin-bar atmosphere.
There's a new trend in town for upscale gastronomy in bar-restaurants run by Hungary's most renowned young wine producers. One such is Borkonyha, where Ákos Sárközi's Magyar/Mediterranean inventions were awarded with a Michelin star in 2014.
Classic Budapest cuisine has Jewish roots, as celebrated at Spinoza. It's part restaurant, part café-chantant, where roast goose-leg and steamed red cabbage comes with cabaret tunes played on a vintage piano.
Magyar QTR
Set on the Danube embankment, Magyar QTR complements its riverside view with lighter, contemporary versions of traditional Hungarian favourites, such as lamb goulash "palócz" and veal cheeks.
Szimpla kert
Budapest is the home of the "ruin bar" ("romkocsma"), a nightspot set up in dilapidated courtyard of a residential building, typically in District VII. Granddaddy of the genre is the Szimpla kert, whose artfully contrived rough-and-ready surroundings set the tone for dozens of similar venues in Pest. DJ nights and film screenings provide the entertainment in the Szimpla kert's dark warren of bars.
Although a lot of the underground vibe of the ruin bar phenomenon has gone – you can even buy "romkocsma" mugs in souvenir shops – there are still venues with a real alternative feel. One is the Fogasház, which retains the false-teeth sign from its previous existence as a shop for dental repairs. Its later use as an artists' space still provides much of its funky ambiance.
Upstairs from the Fogasház, Lärm attracts some of Budapest's best underground DJs to spin in a minimalist, dark space.
Party central in the city's theatre district, Instant keeps the groove going until way after the trams start running the next morning. Its quirky decor is best illustrated by the upside-down room with furnishings on the ceiling.
Part of the new wave of Budapest's design boutiques, Printa comprises a shop selling urban fashions, a gallery, a café and, behind these, a workshop. Highlights include thigh-length T-shirts showing customised maps of surrounding District VII and screen prints of Budapest city scenes.
Ecseri piac
The mother of all flea markets, Ecseri piac covers a large space of south Pest with the collected junk of Eastern Europe. Open every day but busiest and best at weekends, Ecseri is loosely divided into areas for secondhand furniture, paintings and ornaments. But its main attraction is the random tat from Hungary and the former Soviet bloc: Soviet army hats, East German cameras, and so on.
Fashion designer Zsanett Hegedüs was a smash at Vancouver Fashion Week 2014 with her Shadowgraph collection, inspired by the great pre-war Hungarian photographers such as André Kertész. Zsanett runs her own by-appointment atelier in south Buda, AIAIÉ, creating men's- and womenswear for special occasions.
Balaton ízlelö
Balaton ízlelö brings the flavours of Lake Balaton to Budapest's downtown university quarter. Wines, honeys, herbs and hams, among many other things, are sourced from small-batch producers around Central Europe's biggest lake.
Széchenyi Baths
The Széchenyi Baths is a real family day out. This most ornate and tourist-friendly of Budapest's many spas has two main pools: one with a whirlpool, and a lane-lined swimming bath spread over the lido-like main area, with an adjoining terrace bar-restaurant. Inside awaits a complex of wet and dry saunas, and thermal pools at varying temperatures.
Escape games
A concept created in Budapest, escape games involve shutting a group of people in a themed room and providing them with clues so they can break free within 60 minutes. The games are based in flats and houses around the city. Some designed for families, all displayed in English and Hungarian.
Events to look out for:
- Mangalica Fesztivál (February)
- May 1 (May)
- Hungarian Grand Prix (July)
- Sziget Festival (August)
- August 20 (August)
- Nemzeti Vágta (September)
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text:
did 3d realms say
"come gets some"
and that's what Take Two are doing ?
The abrupt meltdown of PC gaming's most infamous vapourware, Duke Nukem Forever, isn't going to pass without some legal fallout. DNF's intended publisher, Take-Two Interactive, is accusing the defunct dev house 3D Realms of contract breach for failing to deliver the long-long-awaited game. 3D Realms was supposedly designing …
TBH I really have a feeling that 3DRealms and/or Appogee is, to put it bluntly, going to take it like PH does. Cannot see anyway they can win short of suddenly saying it was all a big joke and heres the finished game.
Look forward to reading more about this.
/PH because its the closest thing to what is about to happen
>That's a long time. The only thing they can hope for here is a 10+ year old idea, 10+ year old >engine, and a customer base that's 10+ years older.
Wasn't the problem was they'd restart every couple of years with a different engine (Quake , Unreal, whatever the latest one is). So they took too long to do the game that it became out of date before being finished . Should have just got it out on an older engine and then worked on the next one.
If they decide to come up with a deal on the entire Duke Nukem rights, and hand them all over to Take Two to get them off there backs, maybe with some cash along with it.
Was sad to see 3D Realms go down, but then the whole DNF saga has been nothing but pathetic. The seemingly finished version from 2002 ish looked great, ok maybe then graphically a touch behind but still looked good enough. But no, more rewrites later and nothing :(
would be worth the wait.
What happened? There were quite a few trailers, is this a case of software developers going screw the system, I will just take the cash, make some 3D trailers and you can find me on the beach.
Did they work like dwarves in a mine, and constant inter departmental squabbling killed the project.
Or did someone just not get the memo that a game should be created.
Inquiring minds wish to know, this is a case study the world should know about, I am hoping for the first scenario.
As John T said, the game would have been a flop no matter what.
In '96, Duke Nukem 3D was a spectacular, groundbreaking game. In 2009, things have moved on - the adult theme bar has been pushed back by games like GTA and today's new generation of gamers has no memory of the original.
Shame as I was eagerly anticipating this game throughout the latter part of my teens. Now I couldn't care less.
This post has been deleted by a moderator
YEs i think your right, you would have thought they would have applied preasure to them over the years to get something out the door!
But i think here lies the problem, the evolution of the game engine. I suspect after the release of Quake 2 and 3 they suddenly new they had issues and needed to play catch you, then Half-life 2 engine and Doom 3/qQuake4 engine were on the table and once again they found themselves trying to make a game based on old expectations, this they couldnt live with because of the time its taken so far customers expectations would be another leap ahead of even those engines. and with every engine change you would have some degree of model changes and many of the textures would need to be updated and they would have got in to the mind set of "hay this new engine can do this amazing effect so lets redo this completed section and add it as well!
Its a victim of time its self, whilst trying to play catch up constantly it never had time to take the lead, that and they probably only had 4 developers working on it 5 hours a week!
I have no great sympathy for 3D Realms. Duke Nukem, up to and including Duke Nukem 3D, were incredibly good fun. Over the last 15 years though, they have produced nothing. I'm not saying they should be bent on technical innovation like everyone else, but apart from its connection to the DN brand, DN Forever had nothing going for it. The fact that a team of over 10 people, using existing tried-and-tested technology, haven't been able to make a game that would've written itself (if you look at development shots of DN Forever it was basically DN 3D remade on the Doom 3 engine), I don't really think they deserve to be paid indefinitely for nothing. When you look at the total conversion mods people make in their spare time over the course of six months, it's a complete and utter joke.
What is slightly depressing is that somebody could've easily just snuck into the office for a couple of weekends and made the fucking game. It would easily have been worth it.
Take 2 - it's crass and horrible but I can't blame them. They've just been taken for a ride. Should've stopped it earlier with hindsight, but if it had come out it would've netted them bucks. Oh well.
Take Two - I guess you could call Duke Nukem Forever (Did Not Finish?) 'Take Two'.
Take One would have been... Battlecruiser 3000AD then?
Great management at Take Two - close involvement with two of the internets most notorious pieces of vapour. At least Battlecruiser 300AD made Alpha (which they released as 1.00)
Somwhere in my garage I have an orginal, store-bought BC3K. I hoping it will one day be worth big money, but I fear that may bee in 3000AD, like it says on the box.
Not sure where I remember this but a article was making fun of some software game companies for holding off on certain game titles because of leading cutting edge technologies are right around the corner that they want to use so they keep waiting and waiting and waiting.
Why keep a game locked up for years and years and years? I bet it may have been the lead programmer who could have booby trapped the code or soem dummy programmer who refuses to keep his pc clean from trojans and viruses infected the game code?
Either way no matter how they roll the idea out no matter what I want to hear why the game was delayed for so long. It is a diservice to the fans of this game for all these delays and i bet it had to do with ego and vanity.
...how DNF is, once again, splashed across the tech-rags and being chattered about across the web-o-tron-o-sphere by the geekerati
In the end this is either the final end to the tortured half-life of a gaming classic, a calculated attempt to re-energise consumer awareness and engagement with a dormant - but viable - gaming franchise, or the latest stage of the greatest ongoing prank ever pulled on the demand-side of the gaming industry.
In any case, its all good.
Come on guys, get with the program. If take two get their way with the lawsuit they probably won't get much cash but they might stand a pretty good chance of getting their hands on the IP including the brand and any work done on the story line so far. They can then hand that to a *good* game developer who might turn out something half good.
I doubt we have seen the last of DNF because nobody knows how to cut their losses nowadays.
After all lots of other companies produce game and follow-ups, so it's not impossible.
As Barney says, even individuals can produce highly innovative games in their spare time, so what was going on?
Has anyone followed the monen on this one yet? I suspect that there are some execs with expensives houses and fast cars etc. waiting to be found.
JA because expecting DNF to be released has been an on-going joke for years.
My favourite quote about this game:
Zero Punctuation critic Ben Croshaw: "I just hope that 3D Realms understands that if this game doesn't turn out to be history's greatest contribution to human culture and the cure for at least one type of cancer, I and every other reviewer on earth are going to saw its bollocks off."
Would be nice if it was released at some point even it was a leaked dev version to see what the fuss was about.
... in 1997, when I was 19 and had the time and inclination to play computer games. Now I'm 30 with wife and kids, I really couldn't give a flying damn. And therein lies the problem - those who remember the original game now won't give a shit (a few saddos non-withstanding), and those who are of gaming age won't have even heard of the original.
So the fact it's died should be no suprise and nobody should care either.
Now a new Llamasoft game on the other hand....
to me it seems daft that they held up the game for so long seemingly based on always wanting to make sure they're using the latest graphics engine. When the original DN3D came out in 1996 the graphics then were hardly groundbreaking, I was 16 at the time and remember playing the game well, I've since lost pretty much all interest in game playing years ago though, as Neil said the market for games these days has probably never seen the original 3D game. The first Quake came out around the same time and in terms of graphics it was light years ahead using a proper 3D wire mesh engine while DN3D was still the old 2d engine with sprites similar to the first Doom game. It was good because it was so unique. At the time there was nothing like it, you could go into a strip bar, throw some money at a dancer and tell her to "shake it baby" and the kick her in the breasts till she exploded into a pool of blood. Back then that was pretty controversial! These days it seems pretty lame in comparison to what goes on in games like GTA3 onwards.
Come on! How stupid do you have to be to carry on believing for 10 years that the game will ever be delivered? It's a commercial enterprise, not a government project. If they can't get *something* out the door in 12 months, they aren't ever going to get it out. They should have given up and moved on 8 years ago.
Duke is a great character, and he makes a game just being in it. Especially in the current climate of ultra serious WW2 recreations etc. Duke would be a breath of fresh air. and it really doesn't matter if it's not on the latest engine, the HL2 engine was already outdated when portal and then TF2 were released and both were amazing. Portal has been considered pretty much the greatest game ever.
What's insane is that after starting the DNF project a different dev team started, finished and released Duke Nukem Manhatten Project, and that was years ago!
I'm getting older now but still I'd like to play DNF if it's ever finished. The best strategy at this point I think, would be to build the engine as quickly as possible (if it's not done) and then get a couple of levels done and start releasing it episodically on XBL.
If anyone is interested there is a High Res mod pack for the original Duke 3D, which updates the graphics to something close to modern, you can find it here http://hrp.duke4.net/
And of course I also have to link to the de-rez video on the subject. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/de-rez/46-The-Truth-About-3D-Realms
....Isn't too long tbh, I mean look at Valve and Team Fortress 2, numerous times they said it was coming, people waited, some wrote it off as Vaporware but look at what we have! Ok granted 10 years WAS taking the jarate piss eversoslightly BUT it came out so just because it's taken this long doesn't mean it won't ever happen.....obviously when they find another publisher and such
Biting the hand that feeds IT © 1998–2020


text:
Free Delivery for Orders over $2500 in Hong Kong
Notify me when this product is available:
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Established in 2010, Ginsberg+Chan are fine wine merchants based in Hong Kong. We focus on ready to drink, collectible, fine and rare wines for those special meals, celebrations, gifts or simply for your drinking pleasure. All wines are available for next-day delivery.
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text:
Hurricane Irene Warning for New York, 'State of Emergency' Declared
Hurricane Irene Warning for New York, 'State of Emergency' Declared
Hurricane Irene is taking over the East Coast and warning evacuations have now expanded into New York and Connecticut.
The storm, which has already pounded the Bahamas, has taken a "turn for the worst" and is now being forecast as moving westward to the U.S. mainland.
Other East Coast areas along North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey have already been told to evacuate with hundreds of thousands of people moving to safety.
Meteorologists at AccuWeather.com estimate that by the time Irene hits land, it will be a Category 3 storm. However, they haven't ruled out the possibility that the storm will strengthen into a Category 4 storm.
Irene poses a serious threat to the East Coast and thus far six states have declared a state of emergency, including North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.
The states have done this in an attempt to garner Federal resources and National Guard troops to deal with the anticipated damage and destruction ahead of time.
A contributor to the Los Angeles Times argued the move signals "how damaging – and deadly – authorities fear that Hurricane Irene can be."
The storm is set to hit North Carolina first, with winds around 115 mph, and is likely to bring high winds, a downpour of rain, and power outages.
Following North Carolina, Irene is slated to move on a path that lands it in New York by Sunday.
New York has ordered the evacuation of nursing homes and senior centers in low-lying areas.
The New York Times also reported that the city is making plans for "the unprecedented shutdown of the entire transit system."
Mayor Bloomberg told reporters: "We hope for the best but we prepare for the worst," and added that the city would arrange for helicopters and small boats to be available at police precincts in low-lying areas.
By the time the hurricane is set to hit New York, it is anticipated that it will become a Category 2 storm that carries winds of 96 to 100 mph.
Experts are concerned that flooding from the storm can pose a real problem to the city. Irwin Redlener, the director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness, has recommended that New Yorkers make sure to have enough food, water and medicine to last at least three days.


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text:
TECH NOW: How to find shows, sports without cable
- %27Can I Stream It%3F%22 tells you when shows are available online
- Aereo antenna lets you watch network TV online
- MLB%2C NBA offer streaming packages
If you're dipping your toe into online entertainment, either to supplement or replace cable television, you have so many options, you might be overwhelmed and at a loss for where to start.
We're here to walk you through your choices and help you find favorite shows, movies, sports and other events with the least amount of hassle.
While searching on Bing, Google, or other search engines for your favorite television shows can be hit or miss, try Can I Stream.It?, which lets you see a bunch of different sites that stream or offer digital downloads of content. Can I Stream It isn't perfect; sometimes, it tells you shows are available online when they're not, and vice versa — but it's better than searching individual websites for content.
No matter which streaming services they work with, every broadcast network — and a lot of cable networks — offer some programming on their websites for free. While the selection and setup will vary depending on the network, you'll typically find a network's popular shows online shortly after they've aired, as well as a few older episodes. If you have a favorite show or network, it's worth looking up its website to see what's available.
The downside? This content is only available on your computer screen, though if your computer can plug in to your television via HDMI, you're all set. Some — but not all — networks have apps that will let you stream video to your tablet or smartphone. If you've got to be mobile, check out whether your favorite network has an app and whether it offers streaming services.
Unfortunately, not every network supports streaming or digital media for all shows.
If you're interested in watching live events, such as the Oscars or the Super Bowl, online coverage is hit and miss. Some years, these big events will be available for streaming online, and some years they won't. But with an antenna, your television can pick up HD-quality TV from broadcast networks.
It may seem like an old-fashioned way to watch television, but for the cost of an antenna (the average is around $30), you can pick up broadcast networks without having to pay a cable bill. And for cord cutters, this is hands-down the easiest way to watch sports and other live events.
Sports are the Achilles' heel of cord cutters. Outside of pricey cable sports packages, sports, programming can be hard to come by. You can watch big games live with an antenna, but whether you can get the comprehensive programming you found on cable depends on your sport of choice. Be aware that all sports programming is subject to media blackouts, meaning a game broadcast to your local television market is not available to stream live. Some online services will let you watch the game as soon as it's done airing; others will require you to wait a day or two. All this conspires to make sports a tough nut for cord cutters to crack. Still, here are the best options:
• Football: NFL fans have NFL Game Access, which offers Audio Pass for listening to live game audio or Game Rewind for watching full HD broadcasts after they've aired. If you need more football, you can also subscribe to Preseason Live to gear up for football season before it starts. You can access any of these on your computer or mobile device, and pricing varies on package, season and which teams you're following.
• Baseball: Fans of Major League baseball are in luck, because they have some of the best streaming options available. MLB.TV Premium lets you watch all games in HD from your computer, smartphone, tablet or television. If you're interested in the Minor Leagues, you can add a subscription to MiLB.TV to the package, too.
• Basketball: The NBA's League Pass program lets you stream games to your computer or mobile device, though once you get beyond those basics, it gets complicated. There's a separate subscription for streaming to your computer and streaming to a mobile device, and additional charges, depending on how many teams you want to follow. But be warned that the blackouts on League Pass are significant, and may leave you without a way to watch your local team.
• Hockey: Hockey fans have access to NHL GameCenter, which allows you to watch games on your television, smartphone or tablet live or later. You can also access a treasure trove of classic content.
• College sports: You'll find a limited selection of ESPN coverage available for streaming on WatchESPN.com. Depending on your Internet provider, you may also have free access to the WatchESPN app, which streams ESPN programming to your mobile device.
Next up in our four-part series: how to access the best in streaming and other digital video services. Have a cable cord story to share? Drop in a comment or send us an e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy award-winning consumer tech contributor and host of USA TODAY's digital video show TECH NOW. Email her at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JenniferJolly.


text:
Poetry 'out-loud' reading contest set for Barre
The finals are scheduled for Wednesday at the Barre Opera House in Barre.
Students from 38 Vermont high schools are going to be reading poetry out loud during the state championship of the "Poetry Out Loud" competition.
The finals are scheduled for Wednesday at the Barre Opera House in Barre.
The Poetry Out Loud program was created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.
Organizers say the program builds on the rising interest in poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the popularity of rap music.
The competition is now in its eighth year in Vermont. It has inspired high school students to discover classic and contemporary poetry.
The Vermont winner will receive a $200 prize and an all-expense paid trip to Washington to represent the state at the national finals.


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text:
Comic 287 - Fantasia Gone Wild
Meet The Boatcrashes
Hard At Work
Midnight Fancypants
Mr. Boatclout
CoachBox 64
There is no I in Respect
HD Quality Time
Cleanliness is Next to Cam-liness
Breakfast Math
Mother's Day Bonding
Junket Interruptus
Cheap-A Logistics
Musical Annoyance
Joy to the Wife
Undercover Sugar Momma
Attack of the Future Babies
Kitty Flush Blues
Deus Ex Goon Squad
UnShopping Intervention
Post Panel Tailgating
E3 Stealth Mechanics
Fjord Pie FTW!
Early Morning Baritone
Sacrifices for the Job
Determination Man
A Glimpse into the Mythical Game Vault
Meet the Press
Boatcrash's Daily Routine
Furry Family
Safe Word
Intestinal Poetry
Cattle Love Canned Foods
Pride in the Name of Reviews
Easily Excited
Boatcrash vs. the Movies
Screwing with the Formula
Embargoing the Funny
Sharing the Love, whether you want to or not
Collateral Flamewar Damage
Facial Ad Space
Sporty Lessons
Introducing the Other Boatcrash
Sneak and Surrender
The CAG Food Chain
The Tao of Move
If only Outdoors was more Indoors
When The Lady's Away...
House Of Spreadsheet
Prelude to Japan
And They're Off!
True First Class
Forgot to Pack the Good Cheer
Stairway to Exhaustion
International Man of Mishaps
I Can See Some Guy's House From Here
And Then There Was Home
Plumbing is an Art
Lost Before Translation
Canned Boatcrash
Thankful for Food Pillows
Marketing Genius
Cars Do More Than Drive, You Know
Diplomatic Boatcrash
Holiday Connoisseur
Numbers Of Life
SFW Holiday Decor
Bigger Than Snow
Germ Warfare
More Flamewar Danger
Critics Don't Get It
Another Year Wiser?
Highlight Reel
Touchy Pudge
Romantic Dinner
Maid for Valentining
Using All the Internet
A Bushy Surprise
Dragon Age Flu
A Proper Foul
Staying Strong in a Crisis
Slow & Steady Wins the Blood Drive
Setting The Record Straight
Gadget Pride is a Fleeting Mistress
Sharp Dressed Man
Stability Correlation
Excited For Violence!
Birthday Ambush
Just Say Mow
Another Year Humbler
Facing Seriousness
Because It's There
Not So Touchy
Gimme a K!
Inventory Day
Locks Talks
Baby Handles
Slumber Outage
Garage Sailin'
2011 Schmaltzy Goodbyes
E3 2011 Prep
E3 2011 Cardboard Companion
E3 2011 Air Travel Excitement
2011 Perils of Seating
E3 2011 Passapalooza
E3 2011 Roomies
E3 2011 Games on a Platter
E3 2011 Bethesdabull
E3 2011 Keeping the Homestayers Informed
E3 2011 Party On
E3 2011 Not-So-Bonus Day
What happens at E3 2011 stays at E3 2011
E3 2011 Saying Goodbye
Return From E3 2011
Hair-Brained Plan
Too Tough For Cancer
West Boatcrash Story
Hot Hot Pass
Dear Me
Working Wombat in Showbiz
One Up
Boatcrashio Portfolio
Standards in Podcasting
The Sweet Taste of Unconscious
Delivery Interruptus
Dreaming Date Night Away
Feature Testing
One with the Game
Birthday Dress-Up
Preaching to the Sigher
Time Off Stress
Song & Dance Man
Success Unlocked!
Picture It
Rug-Cutting Fitness
Mission Unlikely
With Relish
Subtle Costuming
Stoking the Fire
Petition Please
Hopeless Quest
It Had To Happen
Date Night Derailed
Prepare to Meet Kali in Kentucky Fried Hell!
Trigger Word
Editing Magic
Fruits of Success
Black Friday Expert
Cozy Consequences
Coach with the Most
Corporate Workings
Tower Defense Tactics
-Bearing Milestone
The Obsession That Doesn't Die
Virtual Friends
Coaching Brilliance
What's Do I Do Here?
Birthday Tingles
C-List Envy
Good Minions are Hard to Find
Pretty Delusions
Perfect Planning by Elimination
Spoiler Vision
Internet Etiquette
Another Midnight Launch
Sick of Interruptions
Clean Sweep
Just Wait for the Movie
Friendly Competition
Drafted Gamer
Smoothness Recognition
Trial of the Minute
Psychic Visions
Wife Distracter 3000
Secure Gaming
Where's Catdo?
Dorf on Boatcrash
Off to E3 2012
First Class to E3 2012
E3 2012 Naming Conventions
E3 2012 Participation
E3 2012 Garbage In, Garbage Out
E3 2012 In a Strange Land
E3 2012 What Memories May Come
E3 2012 Sleepy D
E3 2012 Hanging About
E3 2012 Goin' Home
Cross-Country Marriage
Pork Blood Futures
Live From Axpay
Picture Show
Snootius Maximus
Expertly Incognito
Sneak Skill 2.0
Ohio Crimewave
Shopping Struggles
Next Gen is... Nevermind
New Gadget, Old Gadget
Life's Truths
Status Change
Spinning On
Movie Life
Tipsy New Year
Relatively Special Edition
Equally Tough Lives
Easily Led
Eager Negotiations
Bright Side Bringer
Soggy Toast
More Tales of a Hard Life
Abnormal Adjustment
Felines Gone Wild
Baby Talk
Daddy Road
Leering Workout
Getting Along
E3 2013 Pressured Departure
Staycation Plans
Cleanin' Cave
Meals on Wheels
Awkward Homecoming
Celebrity Hobnobbers
Redheaded Journalism
Waiting is Lame
Learning To Breathe
Customer Disservice
Baby Primer
Never Too Young To Train
Ear Hole Delirium
Beyond Two Snores
Casual World Changer
Wait for it...
Boatcrash The Next Generation
Public Reveal
Pampering Begins
Back To Normal
Wombat's Injustice
Following Footsteps
Hubby GPS
Animal Control Force
Launch Gear
Judgment Day
Ryse of the Cheese
Snack Issues
Verbal Checkers
The Cash-In Continues
Free Two-Minute Shipping
Baby's First Boatcrash Christmas!
Accent Jenga
Playoff Rageoff
Anti-Social Hazards
Holiday Man
Big Ol' Piece of History
That Personal Interaction You Don't Get Online
Wombat Vs. Snow
Maid Day Terrors
Birthday Duty
Red Rug! Red Rug!
Playing It Cool
Replanted Garden
Operation: Not Go For A Walk
Home Environment
Zoo Dad
Japanulus Rift
When Licensing Happens, He'll Be There
Waiting For Something To Happen
Welcome to the Cat Show
The Price of Buying Stuff
A Birthday In There Somewhere
Redheads Can Jump
Give Unto Boatcrash as You'd Give Unto Yourself
Tragedy In Boatcrash Central
New Traditions Grow Slowly
First World Dangers
How Is Boatcrash In Bed?
Mi Childhood Es Su Childhood
Fantasia Gone Wild
Author Notes:
It's... been a while since I've posted a comic.
But, hey, nothing like a little skin to bring back the readers, huh?
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« So, Wishing to Focus Edu-Dollars on Legal Residents Is Racist? | Main | Kudos to ED for Gutsy Call on Special Ed »
The Trouble with Steven Brill's Black-and-White Worldview
Steven Brill's Class Warfare is a highly readable, fairly reliable, if incomplete history of contemporary efforts to "reform" American schooling. Kudos on the readability--there's way too little of that. The guy's a terrific writer and really captures the flavor of the debates. I don't think his small-bore errors are a big deal (it's tough to write 437 pages without making a few mistakes). And, while he omits much of consequence, every journalist or historian ultimately is forced to do that in shaping any tale.
But what drove me to distraction is the casual certainty with which he frames the whole question as being "pro-reform" or "anti-reform," and then labels individuals and views accordingly. It's especially problematic because Brill never actually explains what it means to be a "reformer." By page seven, he's talking about Race to the Top being "a call to the barricades for those [like Randi Weingarten] who had held back the reformers" without ever explaining what "reform" is.
I think RHSU readers know that the WaPo's Valerie Strauss and I disagree on much. But I still bristled when Brill casually labels her blog The Answer Sheet as "anti-reform." On the same page, Brill explains that he talked to Diane Ravitch while vainly seeking smart arguments from "the other side of the reform movement." Seriously?
Brill reports that Ravitch spoke to groups in the "anti-reform camp" and that she got paid for speeches (mon dieu!!!) by folks "opposed to reform." None of this, of course, is surprising to anyone who saw Brill's discussion of "school reform deniers" in his recent Reuters op-ed titled, well, "The School Reform Deniers." In that piece, Brill added an intriguing flourish by comparing the "deniers" to those tobacco executives who refused to acknowledge that cigarette smoking helped cause lung cancer.
Brill (fairly, I think) critiques Ravitch for cherry-picking evidence and making facile arguments. But when she argues that charters serve a more educationally engaged population, Brill dispenses with the point with a single cherry-picked study (Tom Kane's well-done Boston evaluation), which focuses on charter schooling in a locale that Brill had just flagged as exceptionally attentive to quality. When Ravitch raises concerns about the effects of excessive testing, his only response is a lengthy, somewhat mawkish quote, from an assistant principal on whom Brill frequently leans, which says, more or less, that poor kids deserve to go to college.
Now, I've been more than a little critical of Ravitch's book. I argued, in March 2010, that Ravitch's post-epiphany thinking was plagued by "the same fundamental mistake, in reverse, that she made previously." But, that said, it sure seems like Brill is trying to have it both ways and doing just what he faults Ravitch for doing. And my head simply spun when I got to his conclusions and realized that, after 400 pages of purple prose, goopy groupthink, and iron certainty, he decides solving these issues is actually pretty complicated.
Even after finishing his book, I'm not entirely clear what Brill means when he labels someone "anti-reform." For instance, I think good teachers should be paid more than bad teachers, but I've been critical of simple test-based bonus schemes. I think value-added metrics based on reading and math tests tell us something valuable, but I'm skeptical of statewide evaluation systems that rely overmuch on those scores. I'm broadly supportive of the Obama administration's education agenda, but have been quite critical of its turnaround schemes, plans for conditional NCLB waivers, and the design and implementation of Race to the Top. I've tried to determine whether all this makes me "anti-reform"--or even a "school reform denier"--in Mr. Brill's eyes? If not, why not?
Brill complains that "it was impossible to tell from her book or our discussions what Ravitch was actually for." I can say the same about him. I know who Brill is for--but I can't figure out exactly what he's for, except that it seems to be anything that his favorites are pushing.
In Brill's telling, the "anti-reformers" and "deniers" are nothing more than a massive obsidian block squatting in the way of his noble (if ill-defined) forces of light. If Brill had been angling to pen anything other than a black-and-white shoot 'em up, he could've told a much more informed, intriguing, and constructive tale, and one which would have made his conclusions feel more like an extension of the narrative and less like an afterthought.
Brill's brand of "with-us-or-agin'-us" dogmatism encourages hubris, overreach, and the enthusiastic embrace of silver bullets (whether charter schooling, value-added, or merit pay)--in other words, precisely the things that Marty West, Mike Petrilli, and I warned about last winter in "Pyrrhic Victories?" Unfortunately, page after page describing the heroism of reformers and villainy of the "anti-reform" cadres isn't likely to encourage reflection or smart course corrections on the part of would-be reformers.


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163. KEVIN SMITH: It costs nothing to encourage an artist
RELATED COMICS: Roger Ebert – On Kindness. Stanley Kubrick Answers a Question. Neil Gaiman – Make Good Art. Shonda Rhimes – A Screenwriter's Advice. Ira Glass – Advice for Beginners. John Green – Make Gifts for People. The George Carlin series.
Kevin Smith is a filmmaker, writer, podcast mogul and professional babbler. I've been a fan of Smith pretty much his whole career. I missed the boat when Clerks came out, but went crazy for the comic book-reference-heavy Mallrats, and loved Chasing Amy, which featured Ben Affleck and Jason Lee playing a comic book artist and inker. It was like "OMG, a comic geek is making Hollywood films! One of us has made it to the big time!"
I was also in peak comic book-collecting form when Smith exploded onto the comics scene, writing the Marvel Knights Daredevil series. At the time, no big shot Hollywood filmmaker had stooped so low as to want to work in comics, and for fanboys like me, Smith deciding to write comics felt like Michael Jordan deciding to play in the local pick-up game. (Smith later admitted he had no idea what the hell he was doing and needed artist Joe Quesada to slowly train him how to write comics. Fake it till you make it, baby).
Smith was 24 when Clerks was released, which he funded himself for $27,000, using many of his friends as actors and filming it at the convenience store he worked at. The film was screened at the Sundance Film Festival, won the Filmmaker's Trophy and was bought by Miramax. It launched Smith's career and influenced the indie film boom of the 1990s. Although Smith focuses more on podcasting these days, he's still in the arena, making movies. His latest film Tusk, about a podcaster who gets kidnapped by a crazy dude who then proceeds to grotesquely transform his captive into a walrus, was released last month.
The main thing I enjoy about Smith's podcasts and gabfests is his encouragement to aspiring artists and creatives. He insists that if a fat, lazy nerd like him can make it, then anyone can. Smith draws his fair share of haters and critics, but his attitude is 'Hey, if you don't like what I do, then by all means, go make something better yourself.' Smith has taken the recent poor performance of Tusk in stride and hopes people don't take it as an excuse not to try weird shit:
"Don't be afraid to do weird stuff, so long as you do it cheaply and cover everyone's bets. Be bold. Be stupid, if you have to: so long as you don't hurt anybody, what's it matter how dopey your dream is? If I hadn't made TUSK? If I'd let it die as a podcast? I wouldn't have three other movies I'm now making within the span of a year. Some folks will try to shame you for trying something outside the norm; the only shame is in not trying to accomplish your dreams."
The quote used in the comic is taken from Smith's memoir/self-help book Tough Shit: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good. It's from a chapter where Smith writes about his 2011 movie Red State, a 100% independent film he released and distributed. Sick of dealing with movie studios where the marketing budget for the film would have cost more than the actual film to make, Smith produced and screened the movie himself, touring America with the film and screening it to sold-out theatres across the country. At the end of the chapter, Smith thanks the small group of people who helped make the film possible, who he calls 'Why Not?' people:
"There are plenty of "Why?" people in the world. Whenever you hit them with an idea, they start in with their bullshit.
"Why bother?"
"Why try that?"
"Why do you think you're better than everyone else?"
To counteract this, simply surround yourself with folks who ask only "Why not?" As in …
"Wanna make a movie?"
"Sure. Why not?"
Remember: It costs nothing to encourage an artist, and the potential benefits are staggering. A pat on the back to an artist now could one day result in your favorite film, or the cartoon you love to get stoned watching, or the song that saves your life. Discourage an artist, you get absolutely nothing in return, ever. I've spent the better part of my career getting up after movies and encouraging potential artists in the audience to give it a shot, pointing to myself as proof that anybody can make their dreams come true. I don't do this altruistically: I'm selfishly insuring that I have cool shit to watch one day by encouraging anybody to follow passions like film or storytelling."
– Follow Kevin Smith on Twitter.
– If you're a comic book lover, then I highly recommend Smith's Fatman on Batman podcast. Smith's interviewed many comic book legends such as Grant Morrison, Jim Lee, Greg Capullo, Joe Quesada, Jeph Loeb, Neal Adams and Denny O'Neil. Although they're Batman-centric, the in-depth interviews cover the creator's whole careers and how they got into the business. Plus I'm pretty sure Smith is stoned during most of the interviews, so they're hilarious (Warning: major potty language).
– This comic is a a follow-up to last weeks Full Body Education strip. I wanted to show that besides the education system, parents of course play a major role in realising a child's potential.
– Last but not least, earlier this week I announced that I was giving away some of my original art to help promote my upcoming book. Here's how you can win it.


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Clubhouse crazes
It's cool to see that even in the heat of a division series, the Rays find time to keep things light in the clubhouse by using their iPad. This is a great read from Yahoo's Jeff Passan and I think these are the types of stories that fans really like to read about because it shows the "other side" of the players.
I still remember when the Sudoku craze took over our clubhouse after Jose Cruz Jr. found one on a table in the clubhouse at Coors Field. And this year, Casey Blake was the guy always on top of crossword puzzles, often with the help of his Ivy League teammate, Brad Ausmus (among others).
As a PR person, it's our job to find these cool stories and help share them with you guys, the fans, so we'll keep working this year to come up with them and bring them to light.
On a side note, to answer the question that was asked about the Team Photo Calendar that was given away by the Heart Gallery folks – yes, there are amazing success stories from this program. Last year, I believe 26 kids were featured in the calendar and all but a few found homes through this project. How amazing is that? That's part of why we agreed to do it again this year…
As for the NLCS…I'm not even sure who to root for in a Phillies/Giants series. Is it possible that neither team wins?! Who are you all rooting for and what are your World Series predictions?
62 Comments
The Braves gave the giants that series, big errors led to big disappointment. I would of liked to see bobby cox take his team further. The phillies will not be so generous. I don't think I could take it if the giants beat the phillies, their fans would throw that in the dodgers fans face. The SF Giants cannot win the 2010 , or 11,12,13… World Series!
First time in my life, I say, Go Phillies!
I was the one that asked about the kids from Heart Gallery foundation. That is great to hear! You made my day! I will pass on the good news to friends of mine at work that have checked my calendars. that reminds me that I have to mail a couple of the extra calendars I have.
Oh and Josh, they are no longer the Devil Rays, just the Rays.
Thanks Josh!
Let me get this straight… Logan White signs a new contract to remain with the Dodgers, providing he isn't hired as a GM of the Mets or any other MLB team….and Tim Wallach signs a new contract to be part of Mattingly's staff, providing he isn't hired as manager of any other MLB team. The new and improved Dodger way to run an organization in the 21st century!!!!!!
Thanks for the post Josh! I am a huge Sudoku fan, but alas, no iPad to play with yet! In terms of the playoffs, I was hoping for the Reds, Braves, Twins and Rangers. So far 0 for 3, we'll see about the other tonight. My main thing is wanting the Yankees, Giants and Phillies to lose (in that order). I would love to see the Rangers win as I really like Vladimir Guerrero, even though he played for the Angels. And Josh Hamilton continues to be a great story for baseball!
I want the winner of the Rays/Rangers series to win it all. Cannot pull for the Phillies (except to knock off the Giants) and the Yankees (been there done that).
I also do Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and love cryptograms.
Oh yeah, I also do sudoku and crossword puzzles. Those are always mine from the newspaper. I got a few on the train hooked on sudoku and also on the jumble
I would like the Rays to go all the way and if not them, then the Ranges.
Did you happen to go to the free screening of Il Postino at the California Plaza in Downtown LA? It was showing last Saturday night. It was great being able to watch it outside. The cast showed up afterwards including Placido Domingo even though they had performed earlier in the day. It was in Spanish with English subtitles.
Thanks for the post. I love Sudoku! Brain games are the best! As for which team to cheer for. Can we just have a big baseball protest and Null 2010 World series…. I don't want to see the Giants, Phillies, or Yankees take it. I really don't want to choose, don't want to root for either one. But I prefer for the Phillies to win over the Giants and just because the Phillies have kicked our butt so many times, they are a great team. If the Giants win, we (Dodger's fans) will never hear the end. Imagine, they will be gloating and throwing on our face how they were able to beat the Phillies. We are use to the Phillies winning so no biggie for me!
My prediction is that the Dodgers won't see the World Series for the next 20 years, maybe ever as long as Frank 'n Family own the team. Who gives a crap about anyone else?
Nice to see the premium rail seats jump up in price. Too bad Frank didn't think of it while Torre was the manager or he'd have made a fortune off him.
I'm not rooting for anybody, but as I posted a week or so ago, my pick is Philadelphia for the whole thing.
I am not rooting for any particular team. If I had to pick, it would have been the Reds. As most of you I don't want to see the Phillies or the Giants advance but if the Giants are fortunate enough to beat the Phillies, so be it. There isn't anything any of us can do about it. Remember, the last two Dodger championship teams were not considered the best team but they found a way to win. If the Giants can do that with the castoffs and retreads they have, bully for them. Sad to say, that great Dodger tradition of winning we like to talk about in comparison to the Giants is quickly becoming a thing of the past.
As for the blog suggesting the Dodgers aquire Adam Dunn, I have only this to say. Dodger Stadium is where home run hitters come to die. It always has been and still is a pitcher's park. Yes, home runs are hit there and the Dodgers do need some sock. But every time the Dodgers bring in a proven power hitter, something bad happens, if not right away but soon after. The real failure is the Dodgers inability to draft and develope a power hitter or two for a long time. When they did have one, they traded him away in what could be called the dumbest move ever (see Mike Piazza and Fox ownership).
Finally, I see some comments about the Dodgers raising some ticket prices. I am happy to say that the season tickets I use have not changed in price.
McCourts fail to settle divorce; no new talks planned
October 12, 2010 | 3:33 pm
Frank and Jamie McCourt did not settle their divorce case after a second round of mediation last week with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Peter Lichtman.
The settlement talks extended for about four hours Saturday, according to court spokesman Allan Parachini. No further talks were scheduled, Parachini said.
In the absence of a settlement, Judge Scott Gordon has until Dec. 28 to rule whether Frank is the sole owner of the Dodgers, based on a 2004 agreement between the McCourts. Jamie has asked Gordon to throw out the agreement.
If he does, Frank already has notified the court that he plans to seek a second trial, this one to argue that the Dodgers are his sole property because he bought them using a company he established before the McCourts married.
Victoria Cook, an attorney for Frank, said such a trial could be completed in one day because all the necessary evidence already is in the court record.
Mike Kump, an attorney for Jamie, said such a trial could take up to 60 days and in any case would require the collection of a significant amount of new evidence.
The two sides could resume settlement talks at any time. Dennis Wasser, an attorney for Jamie, said on the final day of trial that his ?best guess? was that the parties would settle after Gordon rules.
— Bill Shaikin and Carla Hall
That's our Frank.
E, I am afraid Frank will eventually get his wish this way. He will appeal to Jamie that the only way their sons can one day inherit the Dodgers is for Frank and Jamie to come to an agreement where Frank keeps the team and pays Jamie off with future revenues from the Dodgers. She gets the big payday she wants, he keeps the team in the family, and we all pay for it. Frank loves the buy now, (maybe) pay later with someone else's money way of doing business. That is our Frank. He probably had it planned this way right from the start. Not sure why Jamie would trust Frank but maybe she is greedy and insecure enough to take some risk.
Well said, Nellyjune!
Perumike – I am 0-3 in my picks too, and if the Rays win, it will be 0-4.
Out of the four teams remaining, the Phillies really do seem the strongest, and I have tried, really tried to be a friendly Dodger fan towards the gnat fans, but it just ain't happenin' right now (family members included). So, I say screw the Giants and their fans!!! I hope the Phillies knock their ***** out in 4 straight, and the way this AL game is going right now, I am hoping for a Rangers/Phillies matchup. As for the World Series matchup between Rangers and Phillies, it's a toss up for me. On one hand, it would be great to see Texas win since they never have, but if you think back to the All-Star game, the NL finally won homefield advantage, and it would be great to have the NL win the World Series too. So, as long as those two teams are in the World Series, I can honestly see me hoping for both teams to win for different reasons (at this time at least).
All I care about now is the Phillies taking care of the gnats. All these so-called gnat fans (who can't even name the players on the roster or watch the last 10 minutes of the game claiming to be a fan all of a sudden) are annoying as hell, and they need to go home and look at their empty trophy case for the 55th straight year 🙂
Good evening ITD boys and girls!
Well, neither NLDS series went the way I wanted. I thought that the Reds would?ve put up more of a fight, but give credit where credit is due; the Phillies are a good team. We all know how tough it is to beat them. And I REALLY thought that the Braves would win the series. Yes, part of it was the Dodger fan in me that wanted the gnats to be obliterated, but for me, the Braves? wildcard is none other than Mr. Cox himself. I thought the Braves would?ve pulled the series win out and send Bobby out with a bang! But when Billy Wagner went down, their BP by committee didn?t really work out. For me, I have NO problem jumping onto the Phillies bandwagon for the NLCS. Dodger fans will never hear the end of it from gnat fans if they knock off the Phillies and go to the WS. Nelly, if that happens, God forbid, I?ll be praying for you and your sanity!
And as far as the AL is concerned, I didn?t really care. I thought the Twins would?ve put up more a fight, and I like the Rays as a team and ballclub, but the only thing I was ?rooting? for is for the Yankees not to win.
With all that said,
Okay, now I officially want it to be a Rangers/Phillies matchup.
CP – I agree!!! The Phillies are a great team from top to bottom, and let's hope it is a lesson to Frank on how a team should be run. I know………….wishful thinking once again. Like Phan said earlier in the week, it can't be a fun/intense rivalry if the Dodgers can't even compete so we need an owner who wants to compete so the rivalry can continue as planned.
Anybody for late night reading……………………..from T.J. Simers………
I tell you, we need to star the Blue Tea Party in ernest – we are not alone.
I would say to all those planning an outing to watch a game, find an alternative – a minor league game perhaps, or a picnic, or spend the day with your family doing whatever.
There's a scene at the end of Field of Dreams where James Earl Jones character says something about "they'll just hand over their money without even thinking." (paraphrased) THAT'S what Frank counts on and ultimately goes to the bank on.
Just say NO.
Great minds think (or read) alike. I don't think many "think" like you (creatively anyway). You are one of a kind 🙂
Aw shucks…
If I could have one wish..I wish that on opening day the stadium was completely empty.. If you have season seats please do not renew them. If you plan on going to a game, don't we need this scumbag out of LA. Logan White will be the next to escape.
Who cares who wins if the Dodgers aren't playing. They might be playing in it if they had an owner that cared about winning rather than taking money out of the team to do his beautiful hair. Hey Josh, why don't you mention about ticket prices going up? And they should, after all Jamie needs her nails done, or another swimming pool in one of her 7 houses.
I'm out in Utah:
1. Do I have to quit watching them on TV?
2. If I can still watch do I have to wear a bag?
Well, hope springs eternal, and I'll no doubt watch them next season all I can. We can only hope the team is sold.
Josh, it goes without saying your efforts here are appreciated.
Boy, this post-season has become a no-brainer for me. Texas, Texas, Texas. The axis of evil (Phils, Gnats, Yanks) can fall into the sea, for all I care. Hope the NLCS goes seven games, and each game is an extra-inning marathon. Chew both teams into bits and pieces. As for the Yankees…..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Josh – I think one thing I would like to see if more on the state of the Dodgers from a business standpoint this offseason. Great tidbit about the clubhouse stuff, but I think many of us want to know how our checking accounts are going to be impacted next season. Why don't you invite season ticket holders to a town hall meeting so we can have our chance to speak to management? I don't really care to read about other teams on this blog because this is a Dodgers blog. I can find congrats for guys like Halladay on other sites.
Good afternoon ITD boys and girls!
Nelly ? Yeah, the Phillies are a great team. I know they blew us out two years in a row, but there?s a reason for that. We had good teams (in those years) but their team was and is better. I honestly don?t see anyone getting past them. But the yanks did last year. Like I said, I?m hoping that it?s going to be a TX/Philly series. Yeah, I read the exchange between you and Phan, and I even went over to their blog to read what you said. No, I didn?t post, but it?s funny how times have changed. I actually welcome Phan?s comments these days. Much different than when we first met.
And to comment on something you posted a while ago, and just haven?t commented, was the video with Andre and Power 106. Andre doesn?t blame the owners for their play in 2010. As far as I?m concerned, whatever happens on the field happens on the field and yes, the players are responsible for what we see between the lines. But I?m not giving Frank a pass; not by a long shot. I don?t think the line couldn?t be any clearer that Frank?s tight grasp on his wallet has certainly hindered our inability to obtain key players that would?ve made a HUGE difference in fielding a team that had a much better chance of winning more consistently. So if that DJ asked me that question, I?d say, ?I blame the owners for not giving the team the tools necessary to win consistently.?
Sorry folks, I just cannot give up my portion of the season ticket partnership I have been involved with for quite some time. I will renew and attend my usual 10-12 games next season. I will do this because I enjoy being at the games and it is just part of what I do. We rarely spend any money at the games on food or other stuff so the only money I pay is for the tickets and parking. Maybe the day will come when I have had enough or just cannot handle the physical part of attending games but I certainly will not tolerate being called an idiot by T.J. Simers for "supporting" teams just because they don't win. I also have season tickets for UCLA football so I get a double whammy from Simers for being stupid enough to support two programs that fall below his standards.
I object to Simers telling anyone he or she is an idiot for supporting teams that fail to win. Simers can be a great wirter but his whole shtick depends on failure, not success. He doesn't pay for tickets and he can afford to be unemotional about his subjects. To be fair, he will criticize people he actually likes but his goal is to get under the skin of his subject. He is a sportswriter, not a fan. I am a fan and will continue to support my teams even when it is difficult to do so. I know all of you understand.
I continue to support the team also, but I won't put a dime in that low life McCourts pockets. I'd rather watch it on TV. The only way to force him out is by not attending games.
If you don't go to games, it's the players you are dissing…not mccourt. I am ticked off big time at the way he has driven our team into the ground, but, I still love MY Dodgers. If I lived close enough, I would go to games for Andre, Matt, James and whoever else is playing for us.
I don't think one has to attend games to support the team. Many fans cannot afford tickets or live far away. Just look at all the folks on ITD who seldom if ever attend games. A lot of those people buy Dodger jerseys, shirts, etc. Just remember even if you just watch on TV , you may still be "putting money" in someone's pockets just by being accessible to advertisers because ratings help determine what advertisers pay to pitch their wares.
I don't know if you realize this, but "Don't Stop Believing" is the Giants 2010 Anthem. Interesting….
I totally support the players, just not the owner. I can't see him using our money for himself rather than to put it back into the team like other big market team owners do. Remember this is a big market team that's been well supported by it's fans with a great turnout year after year no matter if they win or lose. As an owner of a sports team which in a way is a public trust, he owes it to those fans that do come out to the park to try and spend whatever it takes to put a winner on the field, not take out money from the team and spend it on houses and his and Jamie's hair.
Nellyjune ~ I saw that about the anthem….many have suggested that they never play it again at Dodger Stadium. So, I think we should come up with a new theme song and pass it along to Josh. You know how the front office respects what we have to say 🙂
I'd go to more games if I lived closer or had access to better seats. In the old days I shared a great box…no more. I'm not quite the fanatic I used to be, but I'm close. My hope is that Frank's so freaking embarrassed and humiliated that he'll at least keep baseball profits in the team, as opposed to Jamie's piggy bank or some Lear jet. The Dodgers are so much bigger than Frank McCourt. I dismiss him. And I dare Kershaw, Billingsley, Broxton, Ethier, Kemp amd Loney to have career years in 2011.
Good evening ITD boys and girls!
Birk ? Don?t apologize for renewing your tickets. As you can tell, many of us on ITD have very differing views on whether to attend or not. And no, I am NOT going to get back on my soapbox with regards to that subject; I?m done doing that. And hey, I?m a UCLA fan too. No, I never attended, and yes, I have plenty of family members that attended both UCLA and USC. But I?ve always like UCLA because, true to form, I liked the color of their jerseys ? the same color as my El Camino Real High School!!! 🙂
And about a new theme song? Well, it wouldn?t be that new, but I?ve noticed that last few times I?ve attended DS that they play "Don't Stop Believing" but they don?t always play Bon Jovi?s ?Living on a Prayer? lately. Maybe they can reprise that song!!! I LOVE Bon Jovi!!!
And birk, you?re right. Even if one watches the Dodgers play on TV, that act alone is lining the pockets of the advertisers who, in turn, line Frank?s pockets too. Not many people think of that angle either?
And Nelly, you do know that Steve Perry is a HUGE gnat fan!
Submission Error Hell 😦
What about the charities? Do you think charities will suffer because of Frank's mishandling of funds? I used to spend money on the auctions for charity all the time. I would say I would be very leary of spending it now.
Dodger32 – good point.
If Frank wants to get "some" respect back, it would be in his best interest to fullfill Andre's wishlist………………………..some "good" pitching to help Kersh and Billz and perhaps a bat, but I am not convinced we need that. I think Andre and Matt can be those guys if given the right pitching staff. We have seen this whole playoff series it's about the pitching and timely hitting. I am confident Andre and Matt (and James) will find that timely hitting. This past year was just a combination of a whole bunch of things going bad all at once, including our owner.
CP – Yep, I am very aware that Steve Perry (Journey) is a gnat fan. "When the Lights Go Out in the City" is about SF.
Gotcha! So how is my Nellygirl this fine evening?
And Nelly, I forgot to comment, but when you ask about the charities, I would be wary of donating because of Frank?s mishandling. Being from a non-profit background, I know that his charities will suffer.
Well, I?m getting tired. Time for be to say bye bye. G?night all?
I am doing great!!! The kids, both mine and my class, keep me busy. How are you doing?
It warms my heart to know that this blog post has no baseball relevance.
Enjoy the time off.
The Three B's
"Your Playoff Beard is Weird."
Yes, I am a Dodger hating Gigantes fan.
We obviously have enough relevance for you to take the time to be on here…………………….
So, in that case………………………..PHILLIES……….KICK SOME GIGANTE ASSSS!!!!!
……….and remember when it's all said and done, we will make sure to remind you of your EMPTY trophy case 🙂
I think we all are frustrated with the ongoings of our ownership, I know I sure am!!!
I understand both sides of the boycott thing. Not wanting to give up your seats that you've worked most of your life to obtain, and wanting to make Frank struggle to the point that he abandons his post as caretaker of our beloved Dodgers.
I do think that Frank is hanging on by a mere thread though.
I also think that with some luck, or strategic planning, he can find a way to hang on till a better day. Ticket sales at the stadium and attendance, tie in far more to sponsorship than anywhere else. The Stadium is the theatre, it is the show when talking about advertisements.
A total boycott is unrealistic to begin with, it's just not going to happen. Low attendance on the other hand is a real possibilty, and should create better opportunities for the paying public at some point. I read that the powers that be, believe that the low attendence in the upper deck, were due to better opportunities in other areas of the stadium. They may be right, I couldn't say. Seems to me though, that if this were true, they wouldn't raise the prices in the area that is struggling they would make it more appealing. I know they said that season ticket holders, will get free access to avenues of the stadium that would otherwise be unavailable, and they will make a section of the parking lot available to them at a reduced price. I suppose that is somewhat appealing, although you are paying a premium price for your everyday seats, in the upper deck and certain areas of the stadium ( front rows of sections) to begin with.
If the tickets in the in the upper deck were $4 per game last season and are now $6 per game, how many need to be sold to retain last seasons revenue figures ( without factoring in the walk up figures? ) The perks given along with your season tickets, won't cut into Franks profit margin one bit. They expect to have plenty available to begin with……If anything it will spur spending in those sections when you visit them. Is this smart on Franks part, sure……Many will be satisfied with the benefits they have recieved ( Will this guaratee that Frank does his best to field a winner? ) Could the benefits be increased??? Of course, just as Jamie is holding out for a better pay day, so can we…….Will it cost us in the way of whom we put on the field, could be…will it cost us in the way of who stays put, that is already on the field….. could be as well.
The Dodger faithful have become predictable……So much so that a strategic thinker along the lines of Frank McCourt can do as he wishes and with a little bit of adjustment or manuevering be successful.
I may be totally wrong here……but I would bet all of Franks money ( if he has any ) that he believes in us, more than we beleive in him.
Watching the playoffs so far this season, really makes me wonder? What would of happened if Frank would of lived up to his word of (Whatever It Takes To Win A Championship!)
I know the Boy's say that this had no bearing on what transpired, yet we are talking about the man, that at the present time, feeds thier families. Although Frank doesn't feed mine, nor does he feed most of yours. Seems to me, he needs us more than we need him. In saying this, I believe that making him show it, is the best option available. One that will bring the faithful, far better days, even if it isn't tomorrow or the day after.
I don't think any of the players will hold a grudge against, the people who care enough to bring about change. It may make them more appreciative of what a great city and what a great bunch of fans it has. After all they are being told to adjust thier attitudes for the better, regardless of the predictament.
Frank isn't gonna give up without a fight but right now he is merely shadow boxing.
Watching the Gnats and the Fear the Beard thing they have adopted/hi-jacked……..reminds me of the 70's when pop's would darken his stache with mom's mascara…….Casey, thanks for not going all Cover Girl on us!!!
lbirken as alway's, I admire and appreciate your honesty
Keep it Real!!!! Dodgerland!!!
I know this isn?t going to sit well with a lot of people, but I?m going to say it anyway?
If you enjoy the baseball strictly for the love of the sport and don?t care who?s even playing or who wins, then go to the stadium and have a blast. I don?t attend any games, but hockey?s like that for me. I can sit and watch any game, any teams and not care who wins or loses, but watch purely for the enjoyment of the sport.
Likewise, if a person likes the $15 parking, stale food, deafening music, advertising on the outfield walls, inflated ticket prices, and Ryan Theriot, George Sherrill et al, that?s fine too (its not my Dodger Stadium experience – mine was Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey, security was a young usher in a straw hat, and Helen Dell was playing for the crowd.) BUT at the same time, don?t complain about the team or the management or the ownership because those dollars go to support it. Frank doesn?t take money from anyone who doesn?t willingly hand it over. And THAT is what he and his creditors rely on to ride all the way to the bank.
Non-attendance trickles down also. If you?re an advertiser, whether at the stadium or in the programs or on TV and there aren?t people there to see it, the advertiser isn?t going to be so willing to hand over tens of thousands for no payoff.
Also, a person can support the players and the team without attending the games – ask anyone long distance from L.A. But that too is a false argument for attending. I?d be willing to bet that every single one of the core players on the current team will bolt the first chance they get. Not only because of the turmoil, but because players nowadays are nothing more than mercenaries, some more/some less than others, but mercenaries just the same. In other words, they seldom return the loyalty.
What we?re in is siege warfare. Frank?s willing to bet future revenues he can outlast the fans that he arrogantly takes for granted. As fans I feel we have to starve Frank of what it is he needs ? our money.
Now I?ll grant you, its easy for me because I don?t go to the games or buy merchandise anyway, but for those that do, that?s the challenge. If you feel that no matter what you do Frank?s going to win anyway and you?re resigned to that, then in effect he?s already won. But all [I think] I know is that Frank will only own the Dodgers as long as its profitable. When it gets to a point where its more profitable to sell because the expenditures exceed the revenue, that?s what he?ll do. Remember his debt isn?t because of the franchise. The franchise is keeping him afloat. If you stick a pin in his little floatie so that it doesn?t support his weight, then he sinks.
E and dodger4life, I agree with everything you said. For some it is easy to stay away and for others it would be too big a sacrafice. I agree and knew all along the fans and perhaps employees of the Dodger organization were in a no win situation no matter how the dust settles between the McCourts. I believe fans started to react earlier this season. I have not seen attendance figures but clearly there were a lot of empty seats at games I attended. These seats may have been sold but no one used them. So the team was deprived of the parking, food, etc. But I sadly agree that Frank can probably hang on for a long time even if attendance suffers a bit. We will just have to wait and see.
As for the "Dodger hating Gigante" fan: Enjoy yourself while you can. No need to spend time here gloating; we understand your glee at beating the Dodgers since you have no history of beating anyone else or winning much of anything. We admire your relatively new ballpark that is on its third corporate name (by the way, as I recall the Dodgers spoiled the christening of that ballpark but I digress) while our Dodgers still play in an old but pristine ballpark that for the most part still looks like it opened yesterday. We lament the fact that it is unlikely we will ever see a pitcher blown off the mound by the wind or a game impacted by fog at Dodger Stadium. We certainly do appreciate the steroid using superstar who was pretty much all you had and for so many years and the current long haired pot smoking superstar pitcher you have now. We are a bit jealous that your castoffs outplayed our castoffs but such is the way of the world these days. So go enjoy yourself, you earned it.
Great posts, gents. I'd be going to a lot of games if I lived a bit closer…but more important, if my buddy hadn't given up his box seat a few years back, when prices were raised in conjunction with more rows being added up front. Traveling an hour to sit in the nosebleed section doesn't thrill me anymore. I understand the Dodger experience. It is a wonderful break from reality, Frank notwithstanding. As a younger man, I did it all the time. The Dodgers are a universe compared to Frank McCourt's sub-atomic particle and we need to remember that.
As for the Gnat troll, very soon your team will be equally as irrelevant as the Dodgers…and believe me, the Dodgers are very irrelevant right now.
Frank McCourt doesn't need Dodger fans.
Frank McCourt needs 40,000-56,000 people willing to pay $15 for parking + $13 (or higher) per ticket + $4.75 for a Dodger Dog, $4 for a soda and $10-$275 on souvenirs.
He doesn't need us. All us "old" fans can go jump off the San Pedro bridge for all he cares, makes more room for the Spongebob/Star Wars/Kings/Hooters/etc. fans who won't be able to scrunch into Bleacher Beach.
He doesn't need any of us.
He needs the people who would take our place.
If he REALLY wanted us, he'd tread lightly when changing Dodger traditions instead of having all the subtlety of a Category 5 hurricane, blaming the True Blue Fans who speak out (if he even acknowledges us) like the fat cat politicians in my town who blame the people who do vote for the policies they've enacted (as opposed to those 80% plus who don't), including turning off 50% of the cities' streetlights unless a resident ponies up $150 for the streetlight they wish to turn on (that our taxes pay for anyway).
Frank McCourt doesn't need Dodger fans.
Frank McCourt needs money.
Money is not exclusive to Dodger fans.
Conscientious Dodger Fans who wish to boycott will have their seats filled by those who would mistake our owner as the author of "Angela's Ashes", and would just as well go to an Angels game.
The saddest thing is watching the straggling pockets of ultra-optimistic Dodger fans cracking like the rest of us. And then waiting for Frank McCourt to pay attention, only to find out he's going to defer the disbursement of a moment's attention over the next 50 years.
By the way, don't you just LOVE the way our Fearless Leader is trying to pawn off blame on Mannion like it was solely his fault the team had its downfall? Genius. Evil genius, but still, genius.
Enchantedsunset, I am totally with you. I enjoy your posts BTW.
However, a total boycott is not realistic but also not needed. A partial boycott will force the hand of the McCourts.
Almost every dime that is made at Dodgers Stadium goes to pay off his debts. With only a ten to fifteen percent decline in attendance in 2011 in can seriously damage Frank's hold on ownership. Remember, he has failed to secure a badly needed loans to help keep him afloat this last year. Also, his own personal bank account according to court records dipped to just over 100K.
This is a guy that is on the brink of financial disaster.The pressure needs to be put on him to sell. He has already borrowed money from a family member to continue to pay Jamie during the divorce.
I do feel for all the long time season ticket holders, I understand your position, but if even just those that casually spends a couple hundred or a thousand dollars a year like i do stay away, it really could effect change.
I also feel visible public outrage such as protesters on opening day outside the gates will garner much media attention. Lets kick this guy out of town! We can break Frank!
Lets pull together and save our beloved Dodgers!
it's not about winning. It's about the fact he is by plan destroying the franchise and raping it of tradition and resources. He is raising prices and lowering payroll via his plan. It's all out there for us to see via the court documents. He would be willing to dump the franchise yesterday if it wasn't making him money, He can care less about winning. Just the money. Fine he is a business man I get it but the dodgers mean more to the city and baseball to be treated that way. It's not conjecture. Seriously when we are the clippers, don't gripe. Cause it's coming. The GM has no clue right now on 2011. He admits it. 4th place if were lucky.
Some fabulous posts today ITD readers and writers!!!! I must say lbirken, your comments were well worth the two cents.
I think Frank really has us, the real fans, in a catch 22 situation…………….damned if we do go to the games and damned if we don't. I, like many, have an easier time with it because of my distance from Dodger Stadium. However, being the distance I am gives me the opportunity to still see the Dodgers play without giving Frank money by seeing them play at AT&T Park. I really do feel enchanted is right in the fact if Frank doesn't change anything over the off-season in terms of really working on our wish list for "good, solid" pitching and possibly a bat, what is left of our core young guns will find other teams that can help them at least see a future in getting to the post-season once again. Billz and Kersh are great, but they can't do it alone.
I have a question: If you purchase Dodger gear from an outside source (E-bay, Baseball Fanatics, etc.) does Frank still get any of my money?
I'm going to go out on a limb here Tru, but I'd say possibly only in a roundabout way, but that would depend how the seller obtained the merchandise they're selling. Would Frank directly get any of your money – no. Even if the seller bought directly from Frank though, that deal's already done, so regardless of if you buy from the seller, Frank's already got his cut. Only thing your money might contribute towards is the seller buying another batch of items from Frank, which if that's part of their business, they're going to do anyway.
In conclusion, Frank sucks.
Thanks, Enchanted 🙂
So much for buying that Andre Ethier light switch cover off e-Bay- LOL!!!!!! I will blame Collie for that idea – LOL!!!! I actually don't think that item had anything to do with Frank. I think it was just a creative person trying to have a fun time with Andre's photos because the best cover is a picture of him right after he struck out to make the third out and does his throwing/flipping the bat thing. He is pretty handsome even when he is mad.
LOL, Nellyjune!
I think you'd be safe buying that Tru. Just don't let Frank know or he'll probably sue the vendor for copyright infringement.
Wonder how the Los Doyers? things going for Frank? Geez, no chance of knock-offs on those 🙂
Frank Sucks? <—– backoff people, this one's mine!!!
How apropos the Dodgers' owner is named Frank McCourt. He is, after all, most comfortable in his favorite milieu–the court room. Taking a page from McDonald's (a name completely ingrained in our language), perhaps we could show Frank equal respect and affection. For example, we could refer to our highest judicial chamber as the Supreme McCourt, or if one wants to woo a potential mate, one might McCourt and McSpark that person.
Not sure what any of this means, but I'm so done with the Phils, Gnats and Yanks that I can't seem to muster any enthusiasm at all for baseball. Or maybe I'm just McBlue over this whole ownership McFiasco.
Hello ITD!
I've been busy at work and last night I went to see The Marriage of Figaro. Second opera in a week!
I know one of the guys from the LF pav that T.J. mentioned in his rticle a few days back. I know they are not happy with the increase so we'll see who do we see come back next year. I think that is too much money fans have to spend to sit in the pavilions if you buy the tix on game day. . And why should you penalize the loyal fans in the first row that have had the tix for so many years?
I wanted to chip in late with my memory of the Gibson home run.
I was at Humboldt State University living in a private dorm-like apartment managed by an overwhelmed older couple (HSU was — and probably still is — more Berkeley than Berkely). I was watching the game in the "TV room". When Gibson hit the homer, I went absolutely berserk!!! The old guy came out to and asked me who was making all the racket. I said, "I think they went that way."
As a sidenote, my mom gave me the best ever Christmas present that December, and my dad missed the chance to give me an even better one (they're divorced). My mom taped on VHS the entire World Series and the last game or two of the NLCS. Wow! I've watched Gibson's homer countless times, and watched all of Game 1 at least 10 times (although not in a while). My dad, who was much wealthier, for some reason asked me early in October what I wanted for Christmas. At first I had no response, but when the Dodgers made the Series, I asked him to take my brother — leekfink, then 12 years old — to a World Series Game as MY present. Geography prohibited my own attendance. He looked into it and found seats for $75 each, but not being a baseball fan or having much understanding of his sons, he passed and bought me $200 of forgettble crap. Oh yeah, the tix he passed on — Game 1.


text: Batman 2 Posted June 28, 2010 Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 Use this thread to talk about classic funk and soul. Just getting into George Duke right now. That guy rocks! That era of funk/fusion is just really great in general. It seems like 76-79 was just that perfect time when funk got a little smoother, but was yet to be tainted by weird gloss of the 80s. Not the best generalization I've ever made though, because there was some good stuff in the 80s too. But yeah anyways, check out these George Duke songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOKoca0NfPA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aSyCyJyVTk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gpRcPLnMoo Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Snippet Name: Remote file_exist()
Description: Use this if you want to check if a remote file exists.
Comment: (none)
Language: PHP
Highlight Mode: PHP
Last Modified: February 27th, 2009
Description: Use this if you want to check if a remote file exists.
FUNCTION remote_file_exists($url){
RETURN (bool)PREG_MATCH('~HTTP/1\.\d\s+200\s+OK~', @CURRENT(get_headers($url)));
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text:
A few new members joined our Halloween Topsites, so check out my site!
If you do love Halloween, Haunt and Horror-related stories, news, movies, events and much, much more! Then please visit our Halloween topsites at http://halloweenmaster.gotop100.com
Halloween All Year Round!
Happy Haunting,
Chris aka HalloweenMaster
A few new members joined our Halloween Topsites, so check out my site!
Looks great! Makes me wish I had a Halloween site. :wink:
Thanks Lady!
If you do have a Halloween or any other Haunted-related sites, then add it to my topsites!
I don't have one myself. I was going to suggest to an online friend to join your toplist but after going through your list... I see she is already listed. :mrgreen:
Really? She's on my list? What is her name, and what is her website?
Linda's Haunted Halloween Topsites
I'm surprised she didn't add her actual site "Linda's Haunted Halloween".
Maybe you can sign her guestbook with an invite to join.
I didn't see her website on my topsites. So do you happen to have her email address? Maybe you may contact her to inform her about my Halloween topsites.
Her topsite is currently on page 4 rank 60 on yout topsite. I'll pass on to her about your topsite for her personal site.


text:
Church Web Site:
General Information
Postal Address:
427 West Side Ave
PO Box 4397
Jersey City, NJ 07304
Commemorations for Bashons 7
On this day of the year 89 A.M. (373 A.D.) the great Pope Anba Athanasius the apostolic, the 20th. Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was born to pagan parents about the year 295 - 298 A.D. It happened that when he was in school, he saw some Christian children acting the Christian retuals some as priests, some as deacons and one of them as a bishop. He asked their permission to participate with them, but they refused saying: "You are pagan, and you are not allowed to mix with us." He answered them: "I am from now on a Christian." They rejoiced with him, they made him a patriarch over them in the play, they enthroned him on a high place, and they offered him honor and respect. At that time pope Alexandros passed by, when he saw them, he said to those who were with him about Athanasius: "This child would be in a great position one day."
When Athanasius' father died, his mother brought him to Pope Alexandros, who taught them the principles of the Christian faith and baptized them. They gave their money to the poor, and stayed with the Pope, who taught Athanasius the church subjects, and ordained him deacon and made him a personal secretary. The gifts of the Holy spirit increased in him. He was chosen Patriarch on the 8th. of Bashans of the year 44 A.M. (May 5th., 328 A.D.) after the departure of Pope Alexanderos.
Pope Alexanderos had recommended Athanasius, his deacon, for the Papacy, who lived with St. Antonios the father of the monks and followed his example in asceticism. He manifested his brilliancy in exposing "Arius" in the universal council, when Arius said about Christ that he was "similar" in essence with the Father, St. Athanasius said: "One in essence with the Father." In this fashion he manifested his excellence.
St. Athanasius hid himself in the mountains, after the departure of Pope Alexanderos for he believed of his unworthiness to this serious and important position. The people sought him until they found him, and brought him to the bishops, and was ordained Pope in 328 A.D.
The historian Socrates testified about him saying: "Athanasius fluency in speech and his outspokenness in the council of Nicea brought over him all the hardships that he encountered in his life."
After he became a Pope, he ordained for Ethiopia its first Metropolitan whose name was Anba "Salama". The church of Ethiopia have followed the church of Alexandria since that time. The spiritual and religious state in Ethiopia had established and settled since that time. St. Athanasius was exiled away from his Chair five times:
The Arians accused Pope Athanasius with these charges:
2. That he broke the communion cup of the priest Eskira, and destroyed his altar.
3. That he killed bishop Arsanius, and used his arms in sorcery.
4. That he also raped a nun.
The Pope cleared himself from the first charge. A council was assembled in Tyre, most of the attendants were Arians, were against Athanasius to look into these charges. In the second charge, the Lord moved the priest Eskira's heart, who had conspired with them to testify falsely against him, and he cleared the Pope from that charge.
With regard of the third charge, Arsanius the bishop, who had agreed with them to accuse the Pope falsely for his murder, came to the council. Pope Athanasius kept him in an adjacent room. The Arians brought two arms of a dead person and claimed that they were the arms of Arsanius. Then Arsanius was brought in, and showed his arms to the council and declared his regrets. The Arians said that Athanasius was a sorcerer and he was able to make arms for him. They became violent against Arsanius who left the council and went to the Emperor.
Then they looked in the matter of the rape, they brought a harlot who claimed that Athanasius raped her. One of the entourage of Pope Athanasius, a priest called Timothy said to her: "How dare you to say that I came to your house, and overpowered your will?" She thought that the priest was Athanasius for she did not know him, and she said: "You are". At once the false claim was exposed.
Athanasius could not meet the Emperor because of the interferences of the Arians, who accused him before the Emperor that he prevented the export of the wheat from Alexandria to the Emperor. The Emperor gave his order to exile Athanasius to Trefe (Treves) in France in February 5th., 335 A.D. where its bishop had met him with great honor.
Arius died a horrible death as Socrates said: "God made Arius to die in a public washroom, where his bowels poured out of his body, and the people regarded his death as a punishment from the Divine Justice."
When the Emperor heard about the death of Arius, he recognized the innocence of Athanasius, and recommended while he was on his death bed, in the year 337 A.D. that Athanasius be returned to Alexandria. After the departure of Constantine, the Empire was divided, Constantine II over France, Egypt became under the rule of Constantius, and Constance over Italy. With the mediation of Constantine, the Pope returned in the year 338 A.D. The people of Alexandria received him with great joy.
However, the Arians influenced Philogorius to help to install their appointed Patriarch Gregory to take over the churches of Alexandria, and they also influenced Emperor Constantius.
The people of Alexandria were horrified, and decided to resist, but the Arians attacked the churches in Alexandria on Good Friday, raped and slained many worshipers.
Pope Athanasius sought the help of all the churches in the world, left his Chair, and traveled to Rome. A council was assembled in Sardica, where they declared:
b. Confirmed the cannons and the Creed of faith of the Council of Nicea.
c. They excommunicated the Arian bishops.
d. Deposed Gregory from his office.
They delegated two bishops to meet Emperor Constans, the ruler of Italy, who agreed on what the council had decided, and threatened his brother Emperor Constantius with war if he did not return Athanasius to Alexandria. At the same time, some Egyptian radicals rose up and killed Gregory in 349 A.D. Athanasius returned for the second time to his Chair, and the people received him with joy. Gregory the Theologian, the writer of the liturgy, described this reception saying: "The people came as the flood of the Nile," and he also pointed out to the palm branches, the carpets, and the many clapping hands.
He ordered the arrest of Athanasius. Athanasius went out of Alexandria, and took a boat to Upper Egypt. The Governor followed him in another boat, and when he approached the boat of Athanasius, he asked about the boat of the Pope. They said to him that he was not too far away. The Governor went on his way in hurry but he did not find Athanasius, for he hid himself in another place.
Those around the Pope were greatly saddened because of the much tribulations that befell him. Athanasius told them, that in times of persecution, he felt great inner peace and that God took care of him and embraced him with His grace more than any other time in his life. He also said: "The persecution of Emperor Julian is like a summer cloud that will go away." While they were in these conversation, the news came to them that Julian was killed in his war with the Persians, and that he was killed by St. Mercurius (Abu Sefain), and that he said just before his death: "You have overcome me, O You son of Mary."
Although Athanasius reached the age of 72, he did not compromise in performing his duties. For his steadfastness and his firm stand for justice, the world described him by the saying: "Athanasius against the world."
He wrote several books about the Arians, on the Incarnation, and other subjects. Abba Cosma (The 44th. Patriarch) praised these publications by saying: "I ask anyone who would find the books of Athanasius to write them on paper, and for those who could not find paper, to write them on their clothes."
Athanasius was the first Pope to wear the monastic tunic from the hand of St. Antonios. He made it the uniform for bishops and patriarchs. He was the one who ordained St. Antonios a priest, and then Archpriest.
He departed in peace after he had been on the Apostolic Throne for forty five years.
May his prayers be with us, and glory be to God forever. Amen.
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Hillary Clinton's world tour, 2009–2012
Hillary Clinton has logged more miles than any previous secretary of State. Friday marks her last day at the State Department, as Massachusetts' John Kerry will take over.
Hillary Clinton arrives at Cairo international airport for talks with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi on July 14.(Photo: AP Photo)
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