text:
It centered on my presentation at SDGS...and then on RootsTech, with a little RootsMagic and blogging thrown in.
* Got cleaned up before reading my email and blogs, and noted that Surname Saturday - TRACY (England > Plymouth) posted. Checked Twitter to see what was happening at RootsTech, and watched some of the Brewster Kahle talk.
* Double checked everything and left at 9 a.m. for the SDGS meeting. Arrived at 9:30, was set up with microphone and projector by 9:40, tested the remote and it worked fine. Put it in my pocket. Meeting started at 10 a.m. and I was up at about 10:15. Turned on the remote and it didn't work. It's intentionally simple, and I knew how to work it. So Plan B was to sit in front of my laptop next to the projector and press the buttons on the laptop. Drat. Other than that, the two presentations went well - big crowd, about 150 or so. Lots of nice comments afterwards.
* Was home by 1 p.m. to watch the RootsTech panel on Virtual Presentations. Also tried to watch the Navy airshow on KOGO.com but it kept stopping intermittently and I couldn't see much anyway. Stupid camera placement. Noted that Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Three Questions posted.
* Bored, so went in at 2 p.m. to watch TV, read the paper and take a nap. Linda came home after 3 from the Padres Fanfest where she watched the airshow, but was pretty far away from the flight paths.
* Came in at 3:15 and finished the S's and started on the T's in the RootsMagic sources. I can see the tunnel, but no light since the V's are coming soon - I probably have over 100 books starting "Vital records of..." to "fix."
* We left at 5 p.m. for dinner, ended up at Subway. came home to watch first half of Aztecs basketball game, then worked online for awhile, and watched the end of the game.
* Checked Facebook and Twitter, worked on my OASIS presentation for Monday, and checked out the presentation remote. It didn't work again, so went to website and tried to ask a question. Never did succeed. Changed battery out and tried it again and it worked. Dammit. Have no clue why it didn't work - maybe battery end was dirty? Hope I don't need new batteries after about 10 minutes of testing.
* Uploaded Linda's pictures to the computer, wrote this post and I'm done.
Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours watching Rootstech, 3.0 hours at SDGS meeting, 0.5 hour blogging, 0.5 hour on presentation, 1.0 hour on Facebook and Twitter, and 1.0 hour trying to figure out the remote.


text:
Last week I finished a novel from the 2010 American Library Association Notable Books list, "Await Your Reply" by Dan Chaon, an author with Nebraska ties.
Identity, it's all about identity. Three strands of story eventually come together. One, a man looking for his missing twin from one state to another, following a tantalizing trail all the way to the Arctic. Another, a young woman who's run away from Ohio to Nebraska with her former teacher. Finally, a man who engages in illegal financial activities with his father, travelling all over the country under various names. Each strand engages with that missing twin.
I had a particular interest in the Nebraska setting, which is along Lake McConaughy. In the story, Nebraska has been in an extended drought and so the lake is practically dry. The two, George and Lucy, stay in a big old house just back from the abandoned "Lighthouse Motel." One day, George shows Lucy the remains of the former town of Lemoyne, which was flooded out when the dam went online. Foundations, buildings, and streets of what used to be a town are visible on the bed of what used to be a deep lake. He tells her about his brother who died in the lake. He suggests that they'll be leaving their old identities behind.
I found myself a little frustrated by the three strands of story because I wanted each one to get my full attention. Each is compelling on its own. Chaon draws people who seem real, especially in the way that they make room for other people in their lives, make adjustments, make accomodations, and then eventually wonder if they've gone too far, wonder if that other person is worthy of their trust. He places them in clearly dangerous situations with evil people.
I read this book fairly quickly–Chaon moves the stories along. I'm pretty sure that I missed clues along the way, but I appreciated the sense that Chaon was crafting the story well, leading to a reasonable conclusion. I was not disappointed.
I'll recommend this to people who like suspense, who appreciate a mystery, and who enjoy thinking about what makes people behave the way they do.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
VeNiShmartem Meod LeNafshotheichem (Devarim 4:15), the Mitzvah of self-preservation - requiring that we guard our health - sounds rather proactive. However, it is written with the word ShMR, to "guard", which is seen in the Mitzvah to guard Shabbath as the word which gives force to the negative commandment - the prohibition - not to violate the laws of the Sabbath, as distinct from the positive commanment to "remember" the Sabbath.
Does this mean that VeNiShmartem is a negative Mitzvah, a prohibition? If so, does every unsafe action or unhealthy indulgence constitute a violation? And if so, would it follow that it should be punishable by Beith Din with proper warning and witnesses, etc.?


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General Information
Simulations of decadal mean precipitation (inches) by calendar month for Fort Yukon for the B1 (top) and A2 (bottom) scenarios. Color coding for decades is given above bar graphs; deeper blues indicate increasing range of simulations. Across-model spread is indicated by thin black lines at tops of bars. These are downscaled multi-model means from 5 CMIP3 global climate simulations.
Data Type:
Variable Type:
Source Information
Data Source(s):


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SRD:Ring of Elemental Command
From D&D Wiki
This material is published under the OGL 1.0a. |
Elemental Command: All four kinds of elemental command rings are very powerful. Each appears to be nothing more than a lesser magic ring until fully activated (by meeting a special condition, such as single-handedly slaying an elemental of the appropriate type or exposure to a sacred material of the appropriate element), but each has certain other powers as well as the following common properties.
Elementals of the plane to which the ring is attuned can't attack the wearer, or even approach within 5 feet of him. If the wearer desires, he may forego this protection and instead attempt to charm the elemental (as charm monster, Will DC 17 negates). If the charm attempt fails, however, absolute protection is lost and no further attempt at charming can be made.
Creatures from the plane to which the ring is attuned who attack the wearer take a –1 penalty on their attack rolls. The ring wearer makes applicable saving throws from the extraplanar creature's attacks with a +2 resistance bonus. He gains a +4 morale bonus on all attack rolls against such creatures. Any weapon he uses bypasses the damage reduction of such creatures, regardless of any qualities the weapon may or may not have.
The wearer of the ring is able to converse with creatures from the plane to which his ring is attuned. These creatures recognize that he wears the ring. They show a healthy respect for the wearer if alignments are similar. If alignments are opposed, creatures fear the wearer if he is strong. If he is weak, they hate and desire to slay him.
The possessor of a ring of elemental command takes a saving throw penalty as follows:
Element | Saving Throw Penalty |
Air | –2 against earth-based effects |
Earth | –2 against air- or electricity-based effects |
Fire | –2 against water- or cold-based effects |
Water | –2 against fire-based effects |
In addition to the powers described above, each specific ring gives its wearer the following abilities according to its kind.
Ring of Elemental Command (Air)
- Feather fall (unlimited use, wearer only)
- Resist energy (electricity) (unlimited use, wearer only)
- Gust of wind (twice per day)
- Wind wall (unlimited use)
- Air walk (once per day, wearer only)
- Chain lightning (once per week)
The ring appears to be a ring of feather falling until a certain condition is met to activate its full potential. It must be reactivated each time a new wearer acquires it.
Ring of Elemental Command (Earth)
- Meld into stone (unlimited use, wearer only)
- Soften earth and stone (unlimited use)
- Stone shape (twice per day)
- Stoneskin (once per week, wearer only)
- Passwall (twice per week)
- Wall of stone (once per day)
The ring appears to be a ring of meld into stone until the established condition is met.
Ring of Elemental Command (Fire)
- Resist energy (fire) (as a major ring of energy resistance [fire])
- Burning hands (unlimited use)
- Flaming sphere (twice per day)
- Pyrotechnics (twice per day)
- Wall of fire (once per day)
- Flame strike (twice per week)
The ring appears to be a major ring of energy resistance (fire) until the established condition is met.
Ring of Elemental Command (Water)
- Water walk (unlimited use)
- Create water (unlimited use)
- Water breathing (unlimited use)
- Wall of ice (once per day)
- Ice storm (twice per week)
- Control water (twice per week)
The ring appears to be a ring of water walking until the established condition is met.
Strong conjuration; CL 15th; Forge Ring, summon monster VI, all appropriate spells; Price 200,000 gp.
Back to Main Page → 3.5e Open Game Content → System Reference Document → Magic Items


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Revised Dec. 17, 2010 - comment on renaissance of the scholar / publisher from Willinsky & Edgar added.
Phil Davis on the Scholarly Kitchen has posted the comment, For Open Access Journals, the Size does Matter, as a comment on my Dec. 11, 2010 early year-end edition of the Dramatic Growth of Open Access.
In brief
The growth of open access is particularly amazing given how little economic support has been made available so far. The economic target that I would suggest is high-quality, fully open access publishing that is economically sustainable or cost-effective. The number of open access journal titles is an indirect indication of the growth of open access publishing per se, which would ideally be measured by the number of articles published open access. As the DOAJ search by article service grows, this measure may become more feasible over time. Nevertheless, the number of titles per se is important as an indication of OA infrastructure, that is, the ability of open access to grow rapidly, given a little support. Behind the many fairly new, relatively small journals listed in DOAJ is a substantial new publishing system which can support many more titles; and small journals with relatively few articles could easily grow with even a little redirection of funding. These are just a few of the reasons why it makes a lot of sense for libraries to join the Compact for Open Access Publishing Equity. Online-only, open access journals are not the same as print or subscription-based journals, and so it does not make sense to apply the same measures to assess the success of these journals - for example, the need to bundle a certain amount of articles for a print artefact, or to justify subscriptions has implications for the number of articles needed for a successful print and/or subscription-based journal that does not necessarily apply to an online open access journal. Willinsky & Edgar, reporting on a major survey of journals using OJS, describe the current situation as a renaissance of the scholar publisher.
This is a welcome discussion of this important topic. Phil's main point seems to be that OA publishing is not yet a clear-cut success, particularly from an economic viewpoint. I would agree with this point. What is amazing to me is how much OA has grown with so little funding made available. To create further growth and to transition scholarly communication as a whole to open access, what libraries need to do is to transition funding to OA support. A good first step, one that does not require tough budgetary decisions, is simply joining the Compact on Open Access Publishing Equity - highly recommended as an OA New Year's Resolution.
Phil's first question, with respect to the dramatic growth of DOAJ is: "But does this type of growth really indicate economic success in open access publishing?". My comment: there is an assumption in this question, that the purpose of open access is economic success. From my perspective, this is worth querying. Why success rather than sustainability or cost-effectiveness? What kind of success is Phil looking for? High profits? Why not fully open access, high quality publishing at sustainable or cost-effective rates? - this is what I recommend.
Phil goes on to cover an article in First Monday by Frantsvåg which takes issue with the size of publishers in DOAJ, noting that most (90%) are publishers of single journals. One of Frantsvåg's key points is that small publishers lack economies of scale. From an economic perspective, I would first like to note that due to an inelastic market, mega-publishers with large portfolios of journals and fat profit margins are part of the problem, not part of the solution (a topic I deal with at length in my book, Scholarly Communication for Librarians, unfortunately not OA).
Next, I would like to point out that small publishing is typical of scholarly publishers, as Raym Crow points out in his paper on Publishing Cooperatives, downloadable from the SPARC Papers and Guides website. The dramatic growth of open access journals may reflect a renewal of scholarly leadership in this area. Publishing cooperatives is one of the solutions to creating economies of scale for smaller publishers.
Also, with modern publishing software, such as the free, open source Open Journal Systems, it is quite feasible for a single scholarly journal to manage on its own with modest support services provided by a university library or service such as Scholarly Exchange.
Another important point is that the early proliferation of many small publishing outfits likely reflects the growth in publishing support services, particularly new scholarly publishing services at university libraries. That is, behind a great many of these small publishers stands a very new publishing service representing a significant infrastructure ready to take off - just one of the reasons that I very much look forward to future editions of The Dramatic Growth of Open Access.
Edgar and Willinsky describe the flourishing growth of journals using OJS (over 7,500 journals worldwide) as a renaissance of the scholar publisher, in their report of a major survey of OJS journals.
"In marked contrast to the findings of other studies, only 6 percent of these journals are
published by commercial houses, compared to the 64 percent reported by Ware and Mabe (2009) and Crow (2005). Scholarly societies published 32 percent of the titles in this sample, exceeding the 23 percent that Crow found scholarly societies "self-publishing" in his study of journals as a whole (with societies having turned over 17 percent of the journals being published to commercial publishers to publish on the society's behalf). This leaves the vast majority of the journals in this sample as published or sponsored by an academic department (51 percent), a non-profit publisher (16 percent), research unit (10 percent) and independent group (10 percent), although these percentages cannot be added up, as respondents could choose more than one sponsor (Table 2). As well, it needs to be allowed that commercially published journals would be less likely to complete such a survey, given a noted reluctance among this constituency to share information about publishing practices (Houghton et al., 2009). Still, these results suggest that the majority of these journals fall into what can be identified as the independent or scholar-publisher titles." AND "Yet this sample also stands apart from the majority of journals. Where a small number of large commercial publishers now dominate journal publishing (Crow, 2005), this study found that commercial entities formed the smallest category of publisher. The scholar-publisher – or more accurately the group-of-scholars-as-publisher – is responsible for the majority of journals in this study, constituting a type that dates back to the earliest days of the journal, when Henry Oldenburg launched the Philosophical Transactions as an independent, albeit commercial, venture. The scholarpublisher is now experiencing, this study suggests, a certain renaissance, facilitated by online, open access."
Phil goes on to comment on an article by Walters forthcoming in College and Research Libraries, Characteristics of Open Access Journals in Six Subject Areas. Walters notes the wide variety in open access journals in publishers, with one journal publishing more than 2,700 articles in a year, while many others publish less than 25 articles per year.
Phil seems to think that journals must be of a certain size to be successful. With electronic-only, online open access publishing, I would challenge this view. A print-based journal needs to have a certain quantity of articles for regular mailings to make sense; generally somewhat the same quantity for consistency. This is not the case with online journals at all; there is no a priori reason why an online journal needs to have a particular number of articles to be a success.
One of Phil's points, that the growth of gold OA is better measured by articles than by journal titles, is something that I very much agree with (and the reason I always include the number of articles available through a DOAJ search). On the other hand, the number of journal titles is an important indication of infrastructure for OA. That is to say - if there are many OA journals that are currently publishing relatively few articles, it is highly likely that these journals could easily accomodate tremendous growth in demand for OA publishing - particularly if this transition were accompanied by a redirection of funding from subscriptions to open access. This is an indication of readiness for further growth, which is important to know!
This post is part of the Dramatic Growth of Open Access Series


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text:
Mad Cat Disease
Mad Cat Disease (MCD[2]) is a recently discovered strain of virus, an epidemic of infectious virusness that is rapidly sweeping across the country. It is spread primarily through physical contact, saliva, and spam e-mails. As its name indicates, MCD occurs most commonly in cats, and even more commonly in housecats. MCD causes massive hallucinations, generally of an anthropomorhic nature, in cats and makes them extremely delusional. In mild cases, an MCD sufferer will attempt to walk on its hind legs, pretend to read a magazine, or stare blankly at a television screen for hours on end. More severe symptoms include a realization of their lack of thumbs, attempting to drive cars, and, in rare cases, trying to consume invisible cheeseburgers.
Usually MCD will occur without any warning and infections typically last from two to seven days[3]. Most pet owners notice little difference in their feline companions during a sudden onset of MCD, as, oddly enough, strange behavior is a characteristic closely associated with cats[4]. For this reason, biologists debate the existence of MCD[5], saying that cats are virtually always in a disillusional state, thinking that they are in some way superior to humans. Another theory suggests the cats are correct.
History[edit | edit source]
The first MCD-positive animal was not a cat at all, but instead a small toad. Unfortunately, no one knew about him and this toad died soon afterwards, contributing nothing to the scientific community[6]. The second MCD-positive creature was indeed a feline, owned by a perfectly normal man in the suburbs. In his online blog, he describes the experience:
" | For the most wild, yet most homely narrative which I am about to type, I neither expect nor solicit belief. Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence. Yet, mad am I not — instead, the torturous creature I now own is. And mad indeed he is! Two moons ago it began, when I returned to my home from a difficult day at work to find my cat standing upright and demanding better food, claiming the slop I fed him was not enough! And need I remind you, I am not mad — not mad — | " |
The second-to-last sentence is now recognized as classic signs of MCD. The last sentence is now recognized as classic signs of denial.
" | It was hardly a day later when the experience repeated itself, the cat now threatening to beat me, to scratch me, to pwn me — and at this point he insisted on calling me a "cat n00b" — and the day following, he scratched up my car! I lie not, I own a monster! A monster that is out to kill me!
If threats from a cat were not enough to damage my ego, the following day he packed a suitcase and left. Eventually he returned, claiming that there are not enough bunnies to eat around here, and he decided that, despite his secret hatred for me and my household, he would have to stay. |
" |
The blog continues on to describe further symptoms of MCD, as well as some hatred for a co-worker and sixty distinct uses for duct tape.
Common manifestations of MCD[edit | edit source]
These are some of the qualities observed in cats suffering[7] from MCD.
Sensitivity to etiquette[edit | edit source]
An MCD cat may become hyper-sensitive to manners. Some cats may hiss at a human who forgets or outright refuses to say "excuse me" following a gaseous expulsion. Others have been prone to inspecting a dinner table prior to dining, and more than one cat has been observed meowing loudly and firmly at guests that do not wipe their feet before entering.
Belief in the invisible[edit | edit source]
Cats are known for defying several laws of physics[8], and strong belief in objects that are simply not there can cause them to interact with said objects as if they were. This is usually seen in fully functioning normal cats, who chase after invisible objects and hear things that are not there — for example, an invisible rabbit can send them speeding across the front yard. An MCD cat is more severe, however, and can see and make use of objects that do not exist. An invisible swimming pool can make them paddle in midair, and an invisible pillow can suspend them inches above the ground.
One of the most notable cases of an MCD cat's imagination gone wild was a sphinx cat named Fluffy, who nearly passed through the atmosphere believing he was in the space shuttle. Another cat believed in an invisible cabal[9] and was shot accordingly. An entire clowder of kittens fell through the ground because they had forgotten to believe it existed. One particularly psychotic cat wrecked an entire city with an invisible Hummer, while yet another miraculously saved an entire Sudanese village from starvation by supplying them with invisible sandwiches.
Scientists have yet to explain why it is that cats are powerful enough to disobey the laws of physics, but are very sure it has lots to do with quantum. Most cat enthusiasts agree it is because cats have always made their own rules from the beginning[10]. While other animals have only one life, the cat has nine. While other animals fall to the ground in a heap, the cat can land on its legs. So why not drive invisible cars and suspend disbelief for a few minutes?
Attempts at human behavior[edit | edit source]
Because most delusional MCD cats believe they are human or can become such, they usually attempt to imitate human behavior. Besides the ways already described, cats may begin using toilets, communicating via the telephone, and belching[11] regularly. Some cats, even after the MCD period has passed, refuse to give up these behaviors.
Younger cats with MCD will almost certainly give social networking sites a try and may even create their own MySpace. These cats will also almost certainly attempt to take the obligatory mirror picture and struggle with their lack of opposable thumbs. Some may become obsessed with the number of friends they have and have a spell of hairballs when they lose one. It is not recommended that an MCD-positive cat remain on MySpace for too long, lest they spread their disease through viral bulletins.
Irresistible urge to upgrade Random Access Memory and further computer capabilities[edit | edit source]
Some biologists consider it an extension of human imitation that MCD cats hallucinate that they have the capability to fix anything. Most often MCD cats will attack that most fragile of machines, the home computer[12]. The home computer is unique among most common household items because it can always be built bigger, stronger, and better. It holds a fascination for delusional humans and MCD-positive cats alike as being akin to Legos — no matter how carefully you put it together, it can still be broken in a fraction of a second.
Typically, the first upgrade a feline will perform on a computing machine is an improvement in the Random Access Memory stores. After this comes deleting Windows and installing virtually any other operating system. Then it may enslave some hard drives into working for the one already in there. Banning the Internet may be used a solution to viruses and spam. Upgrades continue progressively until the entire computer is replaced with a typewriter because, statistically, it locks up far less often.
Further symptoms[edit | edit source]
These are some signs to watch out for to see if your cat may be suffering from MCD.
Sudden behavioral changes[edit | edit source]
If your feline friend speaks with more hisses than usual, threatens your life or the life of another cat, or pukes up glowing purple liquid, your cat may have MCD.
Most MCD-positive cats started out with a change of diet. If your cat is not eating at all, is eating very little, or is eating your neighbor's bloodhound, this could also be a sign of MCD.
MCD-positive cats usually do not respond to catnip, but may respond to insulting their mother. If your cat has MCD it may become cranky and irritable. Unless this is normal for your cat, in which case you have nothing to worry about.
MCD cats may become more reckless in behavior and may break, or at least greatly bend, laws.
Always check your cat's catnip before administering to ensure it has not been spiked. Always look for sudden changes in your cat's mood and appearance. If your cat's fur goes from gray to neon green, it's not something to ignore.
Tests for MCD[edit | edit source]
The only test for MCD is a simple one. If you question your cat's behavior at all, take it to the vet and have them run the tests. Just make sure you have a number two graphite pencil, and a scrap piece of paper to work out answers on.
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Debated. But that's what happens when you mix Jesus in with anything.
- ↑ In case you couldn't work that out.
- ↑ Not necessarily in order.
- ↑ Also, their owners. Cat people...*shudder*
- ↑ This is what happens when the Socratic Method gets out of hand.
- ↑ But on a brighter note, he did live a very nice life and really enjoyed his last few days on the planet, because he hallucinated he became a prince.
- ↑ Although some may enjoy it.
- ↑ And also being cute and cuddly and having really big eyes and purring.
- ↑ There is no cabal.
- ↑ Legend says that the Cat was once on trial for all of the rules she broke. The judge was about to sentence the species to nonexistence when she purred loudly and tilted her head a bit to one side. The amount of cuteness immediately overcame the judge and Cat was let off free to do whatever she wanted.
- ↑ Although of course if they are also the type to be hyper-sensitive to etiquette, they will always remember to meow a quick excuse.
- ↑ Cats cannot read manuals, but this makes little difference, as humans possess the same difficulty.


text:
• pharisee •
Pronunciation: fæ-rê-see • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: 1. [Pharisee] A member of an ancient Jewish sect that required strict obedience to written and oral Mosaic law. 2. [pharisee] A sanctimonious, self-righteous hypocrite. 3. (Sussex dialect) A fairy.
Notes: Not much to note about pharisee. Remember it begins with a PH for the [f] sound and that the middle vowel is I (i). Pharisee does come with an adjective and adverb: pharisaic(al) and pharisaically, respectively.
In Play: The association of Pharisees with hypocrisy goes back to Jesus himself, who said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess" (Matthew 23:25). In the European languages the word came to mean "sanctimonious hypocrite", though we seldom hear it: "Abner is such a pharisee! He represents himself as an honest financial broker all the while running one big ponzi scheme."
Word History: Today's Good Word comes from Middle English pharise, borrowed from Old French. Old French inherited the word from Late Latin pharisaeus, the Latin version Greek pharisaios. The word came into the Greek translation of the Bible from Aramaic pêrišayya, the emphatic plural of pêriš "separated, separatist", derived from pêraš "to separate". (We are thankful to Monika Freund of Wuppertal, who has separated herself out by suggesting today's unusually Good Word.)
P.S. - Register for the Daily Good Word E-Mail! - You can get our daily Good Word sent directly to you via e-mail in either HTML or Text format. Go to our Registration Page to sign up today!


text:
Dear Mom's Everywhere,
May your day be filled with special moments and special memories. May you be blessed beyond measure and your cup overflow.
I want to encourage you today to draw near to Father God, Yahuah, through his Son, Jesus Yahusha HaMeshiac. He is the source of life and the source of every blessing. He is deserving of our highest praise. Our Father God sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. (John 3:16) When you confess that Jesus, Yahusha HaMeshiac, is the Son of God, and ask forgiveness of your sin, then God dwells in you and you dwell God. God dwells in the praises of His people who believe and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
May you believe, repent, and receive the blessing of eternal life and dwell each day in the presence of Father God. May your joy today and everyday increase by a 1000%.
Happy Mother's Day!


text:
New 24 hour world record for paper shredding set – 165,000 pounds
San Diego County Credit Union sets a new world record for paper shredding
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU), San Diego's largest locally-owned financial institution, reports that more than 165,000 pounds of paper were collected and shredded on Saturday, July 20, setting a new Guinness World Record for the most paper collected in 24 hours.
Starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, at the Qualcomm Stadium northwest parking lot in San Diego's Mission Valley area, SDCCU customers, families, friends and members of the public began bringing boxes full of old documents containing personal and confidential information that was shred on the spot at no charge. Shred-It, the world's leading document destruction and recycling company, provided the shredding services. The first 1,000 people who took advantage of SDCCU's free shredding services received a free gift. Clear Channel Media + Entertainment San Diego radio stations KISS 95.7 and KOGO 600 were on-site promoting the event. Throughout the day, document contributors enjoyed free food, provided by Firehouse Subs and Rita's Italian Ice, and made donations to the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, raising over $5,000.
"SDCCU has set the new world record and put San Diego on the map," said Teresa Halleck, San Diego County Credit Union President and CEO. "We are very grateful to our community for their support and being part of setting a world record. Moreover, we are happy that fewer individuals now have sensitive information sitting around their house."
Since 2007, when SDCCU began hosting its free Shred Day events, more than 634,500 pounds of documents have been shredded and recycled at no charge, saving over 6,000 trees.
"We significantly added to that total with this world record event," said Halleck. "SDCCU is committed to helping our customers and the community protect their confidential data and privacy. We are dedicated to preventing identity theft as well as our efforts to go green with our online banking services, such as eStatements and eReceipts."
The previous record was 156,880 pounds of shredded paper that was set by television station KHQ 6, American West Bank and Secure Shred in Spokane, Washington.
San Diego County Credit Union is San Diego's largest locally-owned financial institution serving San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties. SDCCU has assets of over $6.2 billion, more than 247,000 customers, 31 convenient branch locations and 30,000 surcharge-FREE ATMs. From FREE Checking with eStatements and SDCCU Mobile Deposit, to home and auto loans, Visa credit cards, money market accounts and business banking services, including commercial real estate loans; SDCCU provides breakthrough banking products that meet the demands of today's lifestyle and delivers banking services that save customers money. Federally insured by NCUA and is an equal housing lender. For more information, visit www.sdccu.com.


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I am American, and I have never had anything like either of these recipes. And yet, the British Ministry of Food says it is so. I suspect these recipes are American like nachos are Mexican. But less delicious. How about you, Other Americans? Anyone?
And just sit quietly, Canadians. I have a recipe for Canadian Bake that I'll get to in the future, never fear.
Or fear. Fear is probably the more reasonable response.
That's right, Mrs. Smith. We're getting a seventh of our meat now in corned beef--twopence in the 1s. 2d. as you might say. Lord Woolton's watching his stocks--he likes to be sure he's got a bit in hand. I don't mind telling you I was rather afraid the whole ration would be cut down. It's lucky for everyone there is this corned beef to help out with. Cold or hot, you can dish it up in a dozen different ways--and very tasty, too. No, Mrs. Smith, I don't want any points coupons, it's all part of the meat ration.
American Mince
Cooking time: 30-35 minutes
Quantity: 4 helpings
6 oz. corned beef, minced or finely chopped
8 oz. cooked pearl barley
1/2 pint tomato pulp or white sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 oz cheese, grated
1 oz breadcrumbs
1/2 oz dripping or margarine
2 tomatoes (if available)
For a while during the war, 1 oz. of cheese per week was the ration for one person
Method: Place the beef, barley, tomato pulp or white sauce, seasoning, cheese, and breadcrumbs in layers in a greased pie dish. Finish with a layer of cheese and dot with the dripping or margarine. Bake in a moderate oven for 25 minutes.
Yes. That is 1/2 oz. cheese there. Do you know how hard it is to make two layers out of 1 oz. of cheese? Answer: very.
Slice the whole tomatoes and spread over the top. Return to the oven for a further 5-10 minutes.
American Pinwheels
8 oz. flour
pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
or 1 teaspoon baking powder
2 oz margarine
milk to mix
Chocolate mixture:
2 oz margarine
2 tablespoons sugar
1 dessertspoon Bournville cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
Pastry: Put flour, salt, soda and cream of tartar in a bowl. Mix together, rub in margarine and bind to a stiff paste with milk.
Chocolate mixture: Cream margarine and sugar together, stir in cocoa, add essence, and if necessary a tablespoonful of milk; do not make too soft or the mixture will run during cooking. Roll out pastry into an oblong and spread with chocolate mixture. Roll up as for jam roll and cut into 3/4 inch rounds. Pack into a baking tin and bake in a moderately hot oven 20 to 30 minutes.
American Mince: Okay, first of all, this is corned beef from a can:
Yes. That speaks for itself. I also had to call my mom on the phone so she could tell me how to open a can with a key. The recipe calls for only half of it, so I put the other half thriftily away to use another day. Hooray! While I was measuring and putting out ingredients, Husband came by and tried to snitch a pinch of cheese. "NOOOOOOOO!" I said. "THAT IS ALL THE CHEESE WE GET PUT IT BACK PUT IT BACK WE ONLY GET AN OUNCE UNLESS YOU WANT TO HIT THE BLACK MARKET AND HELP HITLER DO YOU WANT TO HELP HITLER AHHHHHHHH!"
He put it back.
It took some careful placement to get two layers out of that cheese. In the end, you could not taste the cheese at all, and seeing the occasional shred just felt like a mockery. I would rather have just eaten my ration straight up. At least that way I could have tasted it.
It wasn't terrible though. It was kind of fine. Were I on rations, and corned beef in a can was what I could get, I'd make this. I'd feel kind of sad while eating it, but I would indeed eat it.
My sister came over that day, and I cleverly trapped her into eating dinner with us. This is her plate after dinner.
I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE, KRISTIN. I'm telling mom.
American Pinwheels: Holy HECK is that a tiny amount of filling! It is almost impossible to spread it over all the dough. It does look bigger when it is baked though, which is something I suppose. These are dry biscuits with "essence of chocolate" to tease your mouth. My sister had an excellent idea for improvement, though!
Much better!
Now I need some nachos.


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The WFDF 2016 World Ultimate and Guts Championship is prepared for the final gold medal rounds today at the Allianz Park stadium in London, home of Rugby's reigning Premiership Champions, Saracens RFC. Championship finals will be held in the mixed gender, women's, and men's divisions, capping the weeklong event that began Sunday 19 June. At the event today Australia will take on the USA in the mixed division, Colombia will face off against the USA in the women's division, and Japan will play against the USA in the Men's division. The preliminary and play-off rounds of the WUGC 2016 were held over the last week at the University College London (UCL) Sports Ground in London Colney. More than 3,000 athletes have competed in the event, representing 115 Ultimate teams from 39 countries.
"It's been a great week of disc sports," stated WFDF President Robert "Nob" Rauch. There were many competitive and spirited games, with several upsets in semi-final rounds heading into today's finals. As our largest World Championship ever, it has also been exciting to welcome for the first time a number of countries to our premier event."
Friday's Results
For Ultimate in the mixed division, Australia upset first seed Canada in the first semi-final, 15-12, while the USA easily dispatched France by 15-4. In the men's division semi-final, the USA outmatched Canada by 15-8 and Japan beat Australia 15-9. In the women's division semi-finals, Colombia upset first seed Japan in a defensive battle 10-7, and the USA defeated North American rival Canada 15-10.
In the men's masters division final, Team USA bested Canada 15-10 to take gold, with host Great Britain taking bronze over Denmark 15-9. In the women's masters, the USA also defeated Canada 15-10 for the gold medal, with Australia taking bronze over Japan 14-12. New Zealand was awarded the "spirit award" in both divisions.
For Guts, the USA 1 team defeated a strong Japan team for the championship. Great Britain bested USA2 for bronze. USA 1 was also presented with the "spirit award," evidencing their spirited and supportive play throughout the week.
Video Telecasts
Over two dozen games have already been livestreamed throughout the week The game streams are available at http://livestream.com, at http://wfdf.sport/live, the WFDF Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/worldflyingdisc, WFDF's youtube channel at www.youtube.com/wfdfchannel, and the World Games channel at http://channel.theworldgames.org/. A two hour broadcast will be televised in North America on Saturday 25 June on CBS Sports Network from 1600-1800 EDT.
Competition this week has been held in five divisions: mixed gender (30 teams), men's (31), women's (26), men's masters (17), and women's masters (11). In addition, there are 8 teams competing in the discipline of Guts Frisbee.
A total of 39 countries competed in the 2016 WUGC. These are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Spain, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hong Kong China, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, and USA.
This year's event represents the 14th edition of the World Ultimate and Guts Championships. The first event was hosted in 1983 in Gothenburg Sweden and is now held on a quadrennial basis.


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No DOE funds shall be available to any educational agency which prevents participation in constitutionally protected prayer in public schools by individuals on a voluntary basis. No educational agency shall require any person to participate in prayer or influence the form or content of any constitutionally protected prayer in such public schools.H.Con.Res.199 (Nov 19, 1999, Bonilla et. al.)
Expressing the sense of the Congress that prayers and invocations at public school sporting events contribute to the moral foundation of our Nation and urging the Supreme Court to uphold their constitutionality.H.J.RES. 54
Recognizing the authority of public schools to allow students to exercise their constitutional rights by establishing a period of time for silent prayer or meditation or reflection, encouraging the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and refusing to discriminate against individuals or groups on account of their religious character or speech.
The National Education Association has a long, proud history as the nation's leading organization committed to advancing the cause of public education. Founded in 1857 "to elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching and to promote the cause of popular education in the United States," the NEA has remained constant in its commitment to its original mission as evidenced by the current mission statement:
To fulfill the promise of a democratic society, the National Education Association shall promote the cause of quality public education and advance the profession of education; expand the rights and further the interest of educational employees; and advocate human, civil, and economic rights for all.In pursuing its mission, the NEA has determined that it will focus the energy and resources of its 2.7 million members toward the "promotion of public confidence in public education." The ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.
Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States or by any State to participate in prayer . Neither the United States nor any State shall compose the words of any prayer to be said in public schools.H. J. RES. 78 (1997):
To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: Neither the United States nor any State shall establish any official religion, but the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed. Neither the United States nor any State shall require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity, prescribe school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion.


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Hi Everyone, you may have heard in all the E3 hype that we are launching a new premium subscription service called PlayStation Plus, so I just wanted to give you all a quick heads up on what you can expect to get from this great new service so you have all the info before launch on the 29th June.
The first thing to note is that PlayStation Network is still free to join and all the current features will remain free. PlayStation Plus will be offering you a service above and beyond this, including loads of content and exclusive, member-only, PSN features.
[viddler id=78cfad5e&w=545&h=349&playertype=simple]
From 29th June you'll be able to purchase a 1 year or 90-day membership from PlayStation Store and instantly get your hands on the following premium features. Plus, if you sign up for a 1 year membership between 29th June and 3rd August, we'll also throw in a free downloadable copy of the award winning LittleBigPlanet.
As a member you can expect to get your hands on at least four games a month at no extra charge. Each month there will be a selection of one PSN game, two minis and one PS one classics available on PlayStation Store for you to download. You also get premium avatars and dynamic themes each month, many of which are exclusive to members.
Talking of exclusive, there will also be discounts available on loads of PlayStation Store content, just for members, so make the most of them as these will change each month as well.
Finally, wherever possible we'll be making sure that members are included in some selected demos and beta trials before they go live to the public so you can be the one to tell all your mates about the next big game they 'must' get.
Just the games, avatars and themes alone are worth at least £200* per year, so even before the other benefits, this service is great value for money
Full Game Trial:
This premium feature gives you the chance to try PSN and Blu-ray disc titles before you buy them in a whole new way. We are not talking normal demos of selected parts of a game here. With Full Game Trial, you can download the full game and play it as if you owned it for approximately one hour, depending on the game, before you decide if you want to buy it or not. So you can check out the online modes, play against friends or anything else you'd normally do with a game.
The other great thing is that your progress and trophies from the trial will all be unlocked if you buy the game so no need to go back and start again.
Automatic Download:
We wanted to offer members the speediest service possible so sign up and you can set your PS3 to automatically receive the latest game updates for all the games you play, PS3 system software updates and even have game demos sent directly to your PS3 without lifting a finger.
Just set the time you want to receive them and your PS3 will automatically wake up and download everything, ready for when you next want to play. No more waiting to play your favourite game because there is a new patch or having to remember when the latest system software is launching, let your PS3 do the work.
Details of this great new service, including a list of content available for the first 2 months will be on playstationplus.com between now and the 29th, but don't forget to get on the Store and sign up before the 3rd August to get the added bonus of a free copy of LittleBigPlanet.
It would be great to hear what you guys think of this new service and I'll be back one here on Wednesday morning to try and answer any questions you have.


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Fall means football in Louisiana. From LSU's yearly pursuit of a national title to the pageantry of the Bayou Classic to the Division III battles of Louisiana College, Saturdays in the fall are a dream for Louisiana college football fans. One of the highlights of any university's season is homecoming week. Homecoming occurs between late September and early November, when the summer's oppressive heat has gone and the weather seems tailor-made for tailgating, concerts, parades and football. All of the state's 12 college football programs have their own unique traditions to make the event special for students and alumni.
Homecoming: Nov. 2 vs. Mississippi Valley
Homecoming Festivities: Past homecoming weeks have included a wide variety of activities, from pajama parties to concerts to picnics to talent shows to "homegoing" ceremonies for Grambling's homecoming opponent that year. On the day of the game, there's a parade and a step show performed by Grambling's Greek organizations.
Coach: Doug Williams (Grambling alum, Super Bowl XXII MVP for the Washington Redskins and the first black quarterback to play in a Super Bowl)
Players to Look Out For: RB Cedric Skinner, QB D.J. Williams, WR Anthony McGhee, DB Tyree Hollins, LB David Smith
Biggest Rivals: Most New Orleanians know the answer to this one: Southern University. Every year on Thanksgiving weekend, the two historically black colleges battle in the Superdome in the Bayou Classic. It's not just the football teams that compete, either. There's also a two-part battle of the bands, with part one on the Friday night before the game and part two at halftime.
Homecoming: Oct. 26 vs. Furman
Homecoming Festivities: On top of the traditional parade, pep rally, concert and tailgating, there's plenty more to do. There's a fun run called Runapalooza. For students looking to combine fun and community service, CANapalooza has students collecting canned goods in barrels, then using the cans to build a model of a campus icon (last year, it was Tiger Stadium) before donating the food items to charity. For first-year students, there's a family weekend with special meals, programs and activities.
Coach: Les Miles
Players to Look Out For: QB Zach Mettenberger, RBs Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard, WRs Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, FS Craig Loston
Biggest Rivals: In the hyper-competitive SEC, every matchup feels like a blood feud. Recently, LSU's biggest rivals have been the University of Alabama, who broke LSU fans' hearts first when they lured Nick Saban, coach of LSU's 2003 national championship team, to Tuscaloosa and again when they beat the Tigers in the January 2012 BCS National Championship Game.
Homecoming: Oct. 26 vs. Sul Ross State
Homecoming Festivities: One of the most anticipated events for Louisiana College students is the Homecoming Hoedown. It features games, prizes, bull riding, food, s'mores and square dancing. On the comic side of things is the Homecoming Honey competition. The event is a pageant for male students that includes a talent portion and an interview question. The Homecoming Court nominees pick the winner, dubbed "Homecoming Honey." A people's choice award is voted for by the student body.
Coach: Dennis Dunn
Players to Look Out For: RB Ryan Montague, WRs Kyle Galyon and Jerome "Tank" Wright, FS Shaq Lewis, CB Ira Jewitt
Biggest Rivals: Their yearly matchup with East Texas Baptist University is dubbed as the Battle of the Border Claw. Both schools share a common heritage; they were both founded by Baptist groups. The friendly rivalry stopped for 31 years when Louisiana College halted its football program in 1968. But once football returned to Pineville in 2000, so did the rivalry with East Texas Baptist. Since the rekindling of the rivalry, Louisiana College holds an 8-5 edge over ETBU and has won the last 5 matchups. The trophy for the event was donated by the father of former Louisiana College and Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Matt Miller.
Homecoming: Oct. 19 vs. North Texas
Homecoming Festivities: Paint the Town is an annual event where Tech students decorate windows and storefronts throughout Ruston with Tech colors and Halloween decorations. There's also the Unity Board Talent Show and a dance contest called the Unity Step Show, in addition to the usual parade and tailgating. For alumni, there's a barbecue and a breakfast with Champ, the team's bulldog mascot.
Coach: Skip Holtz
Players to Look Out For: RB Kenneth Dixon, WR/KR D.J. Banks, DL I.K. Enemkpali, QB Scotty Young
Biggest Rivals: For many years, it was Fresno State. Both schools are nicknamed the bulldogs and were WAC rivals. They'd annually square off in the "Battle for the Bone." But with Louisiana Tech moving to Conference USA this year, its rivalry with Southern Miss will be rekindled. The two teams first met in 1935.
Homecoming: Sept. 28 vs. Arkansas Tech
Homecoming Festivities: Nicholls State emphasizes service during its homecoming week. In the Paint the Town event, students put on red Nicholls State shirts and do various community service projects around town. There's also the Nicholls Can canned food drive. For purely recreational events, students can relax and enjoy a block party where the homecoming court is introduced.
Coach: Charlie Stubbs
Players to Look Out For: QB Beaux Hebert (son of former Saints QB Bobby Hebert), K Andrew Dolan, TE Nick Scelfo
Biggest Rivals: Southeastern Louisiana is located a mere 94 miles away from Nicholls State. No two teams in the Southland Conference are geographically closer. The winner of their yearly game gets the River Bell Trophy. The rivalry thrived from 1972 to 1985, the year Southeastern dropped its football program. When Southeastern resurrected its program in 2005, the rivalry returned.
Homecoming: Oct. 19 vs. Sam Houston State
Homecoming Festivities: McNeese students like to get dirty during homecoming week. One of the university's most cherished homecoming week traditions is its oozeball tournament. What is oozeball? It's volleyball played in a giant mud pit. There's also a homecoming parade and pep rally the Thursday night before the game, with tailgating occupying the pre-game schedule on Saturday.
Coach: Matt Viator
Players to Look Out For: QB Cody Stroud, WR Ernest Celestie, CB Terence Cahee, DE Chris Loveless
Biggest Rivals: Neighboring Northwestern State is a rival, but the biggest grudge match is with Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Each year, all McNeese and Lamar sports teams (football, basketball, soccer, etc.) compete in the "Battle of the Border." With each individual win, a school is awarded two points. At the end of the year, points are tallied and the winner takes the trophy.
Homecoming: Oct. 19 vs. Southeastern Louisiana University
Homecoming Festivities: The fun begins Thursday night with Lip Sync, a party for students that includes skits, costumes, dancing, and (of course) lip syncing. On Friday night, there's a homecoming parade ending with a pep rally on the Natchitoches Riverbank Stage in downtown Natchitoches. Saturday's events include a morning fun run, tailgating and live music all afternoon.
Coach: Jay Thomas
Players to Look Out For: DT Lesley Deamer, WR Louis Hollier, RB Daniel Taylor
Biggest Rivals: NSU's two main rivals are McNeese State and Stephen F. Austin University of Nacogdoches, Texas. Each year, Northwestern State battles Stephen F. Austin for "Chief Caddo," the largest trophy in college football. Chief Caddo stands at a jaw-dropping 7.5 feet tall and weighs more than 330 pounds.
Homecoming: Oct. 26 vs. Lamar
Homecoming Festivities: Gumbo Ya-Ya Fest, an outdoor music festival with a variety of acts, is a centerpiece of homecoming week. Homecoming Day features tailgating and craft booths in Southeastern's Friendship Circle. After the homecoming parade, Coach Roberts and the team do their traditional Lion Walk through the Friendship Circle to Strawberry Stadium.
Coach: Ron Roberts
Players to Look Out For: OL Gaston Gabriel, DB Todd Washington, QB Bryan Bennett, LB Kaleb Muse, LB Drew Misita
Biggest Rivals: With 56 games dating back to 1935, Northwestern State is Southeastern's most common opponent. But their archrival is Nicholls State, located only 94 miles away. Each year, the two teams square off in the River Bell Classic.
Homecoming: Oct. 26 vs. Alcorn State
Homecoming Festivities: After a week of pep rallies and student-generated entertainment, thousands come out to see the homecoming parade featuring dozens of high school bands and dance groups on Saturday morning. The game typically draws 27,000 fans, but more than 50,000 people flock to the campus to tailgate and be part of the excitement.
Coach: Dawson Odums
Players to Look Out For: QB Dray Joseph, WR Lee Doss, DB Virgil Williams, LB Anthony Balancier, RB Lenard Tillery
Biggest Rivals: Grambling State University is Southern's opponent each year in the Bayou Classic. While that rivalry garners a lot of attention, Southern's match-ups against Jackson State are just as heated. Both historically black colleges have renowned bands and a sense of swagger that mirror each other. Even though the two schools' student populations don't add up to 20,000 people combined, more than 55,000 fans will attend the game when it's played at Jackson State (which has a larger capacity stadium than Southern).
Homecoming: Nov. 2 at New Mexico State
Homecoming Festivities: The Paint the Town Red competition sees local schools and businesses splash red and white decorations on their storefronts and campuses. A team of local celebrity judges pick the best displays of Ragin' Cajun spirit. Costumes and skits are also part of the festivities.
Coach: Mark Hudspeth
Players to Look Out For: QB Terrance Broadway, RB Alonzo Harris, DB Darius Barksdale, WRs Scott Austin and Ricky Johnson
Biggest Rivals: Their biggest rivals are their annual Battle of the Bayou opponents, the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks. ULL has the tiniest of leads in the rivalry, sporting a 25-23 record against its biggest rival.
Homecoming Game: Oct. 5 vs. North Texas
Homecoming Festivities: On the night before the game, the WAVE '13 party features a pep rally and concert on campus by Deacon John and the Ivories. The concert is followed by fireworks. There's also the Helluva Hullabaloo Auction that night, the biggest fundraiser for Tulane Athletics. On the day of the game, tailgating beings at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome at 11 a.m. with more food and more music.
Coach: Curtis Johnson
Players to Watch: QB Nick Montana (son of former 49ers QB and NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana), NT Chris Davenport, WRs Ryan Grant and Xavier Rush, DB Darion Monroe
Biggest Rivals: In the old days, it was LSU. For now, it's probably Conference USA opponent Southern Miss. But for the 2014-15 season, Tulane football will move to the Big East. It remains to be seen which team in their new home will emerge as their rival.
Homecoming: Oct. 26 vs. Georgia State
Homecoming Festivities: Each year, the ULM baseball team plays an intra-squad game called the Blood Series. The losing team donates blood. Student events include a water-ski show and the Miss(ter) USA Pageant, where brave ULM gents put on wigs and evening dresses and strut their stuff for the crowds. There's also a block party and an alumni softball game. This year's homecoming game will also be the season's Wear Pink game, with fans wearing pick to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Coach: Todd Berry
Players to Look Out For: QB Kolton Browning, NT Kentarius Caldwell, WR Je'Ron Hamm, S Isaiah Newsome, OL Joseph Treadwell
Biggest Rivals: ULM plays an annual rivalry game against Louisiana-Lafayette called The Battle of the Bayou with the winner receiving a wooden boot-shaped trophy. ULM also has a long rivalry with Arkansas State. The two schools shared the "Indians" nickname until the NCAA banned the moniker. But the rivalry dating back to 1959 still lives on.


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ORLANDO, Fl. — During the glory days of the '80s and '90s, managers were a staple in pro wrestling. Often, managers were just as entertaining as some of the wrestlers that they counseled; sometimes, even moreso. Though they've declined in numbers in recent years, TNA Wrestling's Sinister Minister, James Mitchell, believes they can still play an effective role today.
"I think managers are missing from wrestling now," he told SLAM! Wrestling at a recent taping of TNA Impact in Orlando. "I think something has been missing compared to the old days when you had guys like Jim Cornette and Paul Heyman out there, or even further when you had the guys like Gary Hart and the Grand Wizard. They were all colourful characters that were able to add sizzle to the steak, and that's something that's missing now. There are a lot of guys who could use a mouthpiece, and that's something that's been out of the equation for some time. If I'm proud of anything in my career, such at it is, it's that I'm one of the last ones remaining."
Indeed, while TNA features Mitchell, "Coach" Scott D'Amore and, until very recently, Jimmy Hart, in managerial roles, and managers are still found occasionally on the independent scene, there are none to be seen on WWE television, at least not in the traditional sense. Rather, the company has tended to use its Divas more and more to accompany wrestlers to the ring. Mitchell doesn't necessarily agree with that approach.
"Unfortunately, with a handful of exceptions, most of the girls (that have been used recently) are as proportionately as bad on the microphone as they were beautiful in front of the camera. While the (sexuality) will keep people tuned in, it doesn't necessarily further the storylines," he said.
For Mitchell, his ability to cut promos, in order to hype the matches and feuds that his charges are involved in, is his key strength. It's a skill that got his foot in the door in the industry, and has kept him in business for many years now.
"I lied, conned, and swindled my way into wrestling," he admitted. "When I was trying to break into the business, it was right on the cusp of letting everybody know that it was a work. Back then, in the late '80s, if you weren't born into it, it was real hard. You couldn't just go get in to a 'power plant' like you could later on like in the boom of 1996 through 2000. I literally went out and called promoters, lying and claiming to have more experience than I did — which was zero at the time — and just (finagled) my way in. I had to learn along the way."
Unlike many people who wanted to get into wrestling, Mitchell's passion was not to be an in-ring performer, but rather his desire was to be the brains behind the brawn.
"I wanted to be a wrestler when I was a little kid, and then realized I wasn't going to be big enough. I'm a guy who likes to make evil faces and yell at people, and what better job description could you have for a professional wrestling manager?"
He toiled on the independent scene for a few years, first in the Carolinas and in Virginia before making his way to Cornette's Smoky Mountain Wrestling promotion, and then WCW as James Vandenberg where he spent three years ("but only used on television for one of them — the rest of the time, I was paid to stay home and do nothing"). He joined ECW shortly thereafter, where he gained a lot of popularity as the Sinister Minister, managing the team of Mikey Whipwreck and Tajiri. His time in ECW, Mitchell recalls fondly, was particularly enjoyable.
"I had more fun in ECW than I've ever had, up until now. Paul Heyman was a great motivator, and I bought into it hook, line, and sinker. You've heard people say that they drank Paul's Kool-Aid. I never drank his Kool-Aid, in fact I didn't even let him mix it; I yanked the package out of his hand, ripped it open, and snorted it. I was ECW all the way. It was a lot of fun, and I was sad to see it go."
Now in TNA, Mitchell is having more fun as the manager of the monstrous Abyss. It's a perfect fit, Mitchell says, as he sees this combination as a throwback to the glory days of wrestling.
"Being paired with Abyss is something I wanted to happen since the day he debuted in TNA. I grew up watching guys like Gary Hart or the Grand Wizard bring in the monster of the month, some huge badass guy who was really mysterious and didn't talk, and the manager got to do the spiel. This is as close as I've ever got to that in my career, and so I'm really excited."
His excitement is visibly apparent when watching Mitchell fire off one of his always great promos. His interviews are always intense, energetic, and often filled with eerie dark imagery. As a result, people frequently assume he's playing a Satanic priest, or paying homage to Kevin Sullivan, who played up the demonic aspect of his character. While Mitchell sees some similarities, he is quick to dismiss that he drew on Sullivan as an inspiration.
"People draw those parallels all the time, but I actually never saw Sullivan doing the angle (where he was possessed by the devil) at the time. I read about it in wrestling magazines, but I didn't get Florida wrestling on TV, so I never saw it. I actually went and saw it a few years ago," Mitchell said. "He did a lot of neat things, stuff that was really ground-breaking and controversial for its time. But I don't think you can do that now. For starters, there's no such things as black magic and dark powers and all that (malarkey) like hypnotizing people and all that. I've always tried to leave it a bit open-ended. I'm not going to tell people that I'm the Devil and I'm going to take their soul. I think I keep it a little more reality-based than Sullivan did."
Rather, Mitchell drew on other sources for his inspiration, most notably the monster magazines and comic books that he grew up reading.
"As a kid, I used to get in trouble in kindergarten and first grade, because when all the other kids were playing astronaut or cowboys, I was out there pretending I was the Wolfman, Dracula and Frankenstein. I was obsessed with comic book supervillains like the Green Goblin and the Joker. You can see where my character is influenced by the evil mastermind character. I used to read a magazine called Famous Monsters of Filmland that always had a cover picture of a guy with a scowling face, which is something that I've incorporated into my act. I'm fairly devilish, yes, but I'm more of a trickster. I'm more like Bugs Bunny in a red suit, as opposed to some guy killing cats and drinking their blood, or any of the (nonsense) you see in a Hollywood movie about the Devil. I approach it so that people can leave it up to their own imaginations."
If people are going to try to connect him to anything devilish, it's only when people tell him that he's "a hell of a singer." Yes, it may be hard to believe, but when Mitchell isn't entertaining TNA's with his screaming and shouting at Abyss' next victim, he's entertaining tourists at Orlando resorts with his crooning the standards.
"I sing at resorts," Mitchell explained. "I (sing at) resorts over by Disney, (doing) about ten shows a week. I sing a lot of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett numbers. I do a lot of older rock and roll in the vein of the Blues Brothers, and the Memphis Horns. Pretty much after all the years of smoking and drinking and screaming that I did in wrestling, my voice is left sounding like a pasty amalgam of Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, and industrial chainsaw. It's funny, because all these old ladies at these resorts think I'm going to go up there and sing Black Sabbath or something. The contrast of what I look like and what I go up there and actually sing is a great hook. They don't expect me to go up there and sing Chances Are by Johnny Mathis."
For Mitchell, the singing gigs are a natural extension to his job with TNA, since it's just a different type of performing. The opportunity to entertain people, regardless of the channel, is what he lives for.
"Any sort of performing, for me, doesn't seem like work. Working for TNA, every day I'm thankful that I'm lucky enough that I don't have to answer to anyone. I'm happier now than I've ever been at any point in my career. Everything is just falling into place."
- October 30, 2009: Talking evil with Father James Mitchell
- August 29, 2007: James Mitchell: Still in the picture


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Midwest Buddhist Temple Dharma Talks Podcast (2011-04-03-rev-ron-miyamura) This is our Dharma Talks Podcast Archive. This page contains the full archive of MBT's Dharma Talk Podcasts dating back to 2006. "Dharma" translates to "teachings of the Buddha." Dharma Talks are the messages given by our resident minister or, occasionally, a guest minister or one of our temple's lay leaders at the Sunday Family Service. Each speaker provides insights about the Buddha's teachings.
Please note: Any ideas and opinions expressed in these talks are those of the individual speakers.


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THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Wide variation exists in the accuracy of commercial testing kits that check for antibodies against the new coronavirus, researchers say.
Antibody tests can determine whether someone has had the virus in the past. For diagnosis at a later stage of illness or in cases of delayed-onset, antibody tests could also be an important part of hospital diagnosis, the study authors said in the new report.
For the study, the researchers developed their own antibody test. They then used it to compare the performance of 10 commercial antibody test kits on an identical panel of 110 positive blood samples from hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and 50 pre-pandemic coronavirus-negative blood samples.
The findings were published online Sept. 24 in the journal PLOS Pathogens.
"We found that some of the quick single-use kits are as accurate as our sophisticated laboratory technologies," study co-author Jonathan Edgeworth said in a journal news release. He's with Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom.
There was a wide range of accuracy among the tests. Specificity -- the ability to correctly identify those without the disease -- ranged from 82% to 100%. Overall sensitivity -- the ability to correctly identify those with the disease -- ranged from 61% to 87%.
All of the tests gave the best results when used 20 days or more after the start of symptoms, with most tests achieving sensitivity value greater than 95%, the researchers said.
The investigators also found that antibody levels were higher in patients with severe illness than in those with mild or no symptoms.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19.
SOURCE: PLOS Pathogens, news release, Sept. 24, 2020


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Dads Event To Feature Army's Father Fred Wendel
Published January 21, 2010
This year, the annual Dads Morning of Recollection, sponsored by the fathers of Marist and Blessed Trinity High School, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Marist School. Men of all faiths are invited to attend, to celebrate commitment to God, country and family.
The featured speaker is Father Fred Wendel, Army chaplain at Fort McPherson, who left a growing suburban parish with a beautiful new campus to rejoin the Army, at age 59. Father Fred was drafted as a young man into the Army during the Vietnam War, serving in both the Signal Corp and as a chaplain assistant in Germany. He later finished college, served as a priest and joined Wyoming Army National Guard.
Returning home to Georgia, Father Fred served as a parish priest, most recently as pastor of Prince of Peace Church in Flowery Branch. But he again answered the call to military duty in serving the troops of all faiths during this stressful time of war.
During the morning, Father Fred will discuss "Answering the 'Call of Duty,' to God, Family and Country," providing insight into the minds of youth, both those in the military facing multiple difficult deployments in war and those in our homes. According to Father Fred, "We are ministering to a 21st-century group of young people … There has to be an openness to taking them where they are at."
The event begins at Marist in the chapel at 8:30 a.m. and ends around 1:30 p.m. All past, present and future fathers (and grandfathers too!) are invited for Mass and talks.
This year's sessions will also include discussions led by Father Wendel, a question-and-answer session and discussions among the dads.
Don't miss this unique chance for camaraderie with fellow men and a great time to compare notes on raising kids in today's challenging times. Breakfast, lunch and drinks will be provided.
To RSVP, e-mail Salvador Arias at firstname.lastname@example.com.