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The Marietta Fire Department offers exceptional and diverse career opportunities for men and women seeking professional and personal success. If you seek a competitive salary with excellent benefits, varying job assignments with advancement potential, and endeavor to impact the lives of others, consider joining Marietta Fire Department; firefighting may be the exciting, challenging, and rewarding career you have been looking for.
The City of Marietta employs 2 civilians and 133 uniformed fire personnel to effectively prepare, provide, and promote services that minimize the loss of life and property resulting from fires, medical emergencies, and other disasters. Activities that support this mission include fire prevention, firefighting, emergency medical care, technical rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, disaster response, public education and community service.
The Marietta Fire Department serves nearly 68,000 residents and approximately 7,500 businesses in 22.78 square miles. According to the 2020 Census, the daily population increases to over 120,000 when non-residents commute into the City of Marietta.


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Georgian Overview
With proportions taken directly from a house in Spitalfields, our authentic Georgian door design derives its elegance from its design integrity. Beautifully combining a soft rounded moulding with the sharpness of a raised central panel, this made to measure door features a fielded panel that retains a small square edge, framing the central shape in the door. Designed to impress, this style is hand crafted to order by our highly skilled team.
Technical Information
In order to give opening clearances, doors and drawer fronts are generally a little smaller than their carcases. If you are not replacing old doors (which you can measure) please study carefully the details below.
Base units (with recessed plinths): Doors fit flush to bottom edge of carcase with the total height of door, or door and drawer(s), or set of drawers being 5mm less than the overall carcase height.
Wall units (with lighting trim & cornice): Doors are 6mm less than the overall carcase height, giving 3mm clearances both top and bottom. THE SAME FORMAT APPLIES TO ANY CUPBOARD WITH CORNICE OR SKIRTING PROJECTING FORWARD FROM THE CARCASE. Horizontal gaps between doors/drawers on the same unit should be set at 3mm each.
Single doors are 5mm less than the overall carcase width.
Double doors are each 4mm less than half the overall carcass width.
With the exception of drawer fronts, all doors are made using 75mm rails and either 6/9/12/15mm centre panels, depending upon the style chosen. Doors over 1600mm high (1), come with a 153mm centre rail above a 700mm base panel. Please specify should you wish this rail to be at a different setting.
Drawer fronts up to 150mm (2) are solid 21mm MDF. Drawer fronts 150mm – 200mm high (3), are supplied with 50mm top and bottom rails and flat panels. All drawer fronts (and doors) over this size (4) and (5), have standard 75mm rails all round.
When ordered, are on 87mm centres (6), but can be sited in any position required. In such cases please specify the preferred position by measuring in from the top and/or bottom edge of the door to the centre of the 35mm hole. Doors over 1600 high require 3 hinges as standard. Please specify the hand of the doors on all doors over 1600 height and on any door where the hinge positions are not symmetrical. The hand of the door, denoted left (L) or right (R), is the side on which the hinge is placed when viewing the unit from the front.
When ordering hinges, specify the thickness of the carcass sides.
If you require end panels, lighting trim or plinths to coordinate with your door style, contact the office with a list of the lengths you require and we will assist you further.
Get A Quote
Step 1: Input your height, width and quantity (in millimetres), then click "CALCULATE" for an instant quote which includes VAT
Step 2: Click 'ADD TO QUOTE' to add your item(s) to your order quotation – please repeat steps 1 & 2 for different sizes of doors
Step 3: Click 'VIEW QUOTE' which gives you the total value of your quotation (excluding the delivery cost) – please complete the online form thereafter, in order to receive a full quotation for your project
See the full price list by clicking here
Please add £25.00 for each £100.00 (or part thereof) to cover delivery costs, up to a maximum of £225.00. Delivery is free within 25 miles of the factory, or clients may collect free of charge.
Watch our simple video for tips on how to measure for replacement doors. There is a section at the end of the video listing all of the information covered in the video if you need to take notes.
No, however, they are spray primed with a special primer/filler and then flatted by hand, which gives the best surface upon which to paint and saves a lot of time versus doing this step by hand at home.
MDF or Medium Density Fibreboard is a fibre board made from wood fibres and resin, bonded under high pressures. The finished boards do not have a grain and are therefore ideal for painting or filling. Thus holes can be filled and sanded with ease and are completely invisible when painted- very handy should you ever decide to change from a handle to a knob, for instance.
Another advantage of MDF is that once it is sealed, it is a very stable material, and unlike wood, is not prone to warping or shrinkage- extremely important when manufacturing large wardrobe doors, most of which are over 2m high. Finally, all of our materials are sourced from manufacturers who use wood from sustainable forestation, and as the process also uses the whole tree by using the wasted branches and bark left over from larger board production, there is little wastage, making MDF doubly environmentally sound.
All of our doors are 21mm thick with a minimum 9mm panel in the centre.
Our standard rail is 75mm wide on our new and replacement kitchen cabinet doors with taller wardrobe doors featuring a 153mm wide mid or cross rail.
Yes, we regularly make angled doors. Please contact the office for details of the measurements we require.
The hinge boss hole should have a centre point. Simply measure from the top of the door to the top hinge hole centre point and then again from the top of the door to the centre point of the bottom hinge hole. Always measure from the top of the door to the centre point for all hinge positioning measurements.
The second measurement we need is from the side of the door to the hinge hole centre point. As a guide, this is usually around 21mm.
We can certainly try! Just send us a photo, one close up and any dimensions that would help us to understand the proportions of the design and we will do our best to assist.
Yes, please have a look in our accessories section on this website for a list of the sizes and prices.
Yes, please have a look in our accessories section on this website for a list of the sizes and prices.
Our chosen courier is Tuffnells and they will deliver between 8am and 6pm or you can choose an earlier delivery at a small additional charge. Large orders will be delivered by our own driver if this is a more economical way for our customer.
Yes, if you are a trade client and need to order samples to show your customers, we do offer a kit of 5 doors of your choice. Contact the office for more details. If you are a direct customer, we can sell you a small sample door. Contact the office for details.
The minimum height for a drawer front to include a panel to match a chosen door style is 200mm to allow for the size of the rails to match the doors. If the drawer front ordered is less than this, then a plain drawer front is supplied.
Yes, you can collect your doors during normal business hours.

subset: commoncrawl


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(CNN) -- North Korea's Kim Jong Il has remained one of the most mysterious leaders in the world.
South Koreans watch a TV screen reporting on Kim Jong Il at a rail station in Seoul on Wednesday.
Even as questions about the North Korean leader's health remained unanswered, a complete picture of Kim has remaiined elusive.
Kim has been suffering from serious health problems, and may have had a stroke, a U.S. intelligence official told CNN this week.
The reclusive communist leader has been portrayed variously as an unstable nuclear-armed madman and a cognac-swilling playboy serviced by a team of women known as the "Joy Brigade."
It is unclear where or when he was born, how many times he has been married or even exactly how many children he has.
But despite his reputation as being very odd, some experts maintain Kim is quite rational.
"He's not crazy. He might be somewhat emotional. He might be somewhat eccentric. But crazy? Absolutely not," said Peter Maass from The New York Times Magazine in 2005.
Indeed, Kim's persona seems to have been carefully cultivated to become a leader who has played a poor hand of cards skillfully.
As supreme leader of an impoverished, backward country, he has little to bargain with on the international stage and his reputation may work to his advantage.
Indeed, behind it all he seems to be a shrewd dictator.
"Really, everybody who's met with Kim Jong Il, and there've been quite a few -- South Koreans, Americans, Russians, North Koreans who've since defected -- they all come out saying this man knows what he's doing," said Maass.
Kim inherited the role of absolute ruler from his father Kim Il Sung who died suddenly from a heart attack in 1994.
The elder and venerated founding father dubbed himself "Great Leader" and the younger Kim followed suit. He is known as "Dear Leader."
Kim is believed to have been born in the far eastern region of the Soviet Union in 1941 or 1942. But his birthplace is often listed instead as sacred Mount Paektu, the highest point on the Korean Peninsula.
According to legend, the peak on the northern border with Chinese Manchuria is the site where the Korean nation came into existence 5,000 years ago.
"At the time of his birth there were flashes of lightning and thunder, the iceberg in the pond on Mount Paektu emitted a mysterious sound as it broke, and bright double rainbows rose up," according to the official line.
Kim's younger brother drowned as a child and his mother died when he was 7 years old.
But despite the hardships suffered by most Koreans, Kim was presumably surrounded by luxury and privilege throughout most of his childhood.
Under his newly organized government, Kim's deceased father was deemed "eternal leader" and the presidential post left unclaimed.
Kim Il Sung's unique style of Stalinism, suffused with the Korean "juche" philosophy (roughly translated as "self reliance"), was subordinated to the more militant theme of Kim Jong Il's "Red Banner" policy, introduced in 1996.
Since its inception, North Korea has demonized America as the ultimate threat to its social system and has molded its policies toward the eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control, according to the CIA.
While it boasts a million-strong army, North Korea faces desperate economic conditions and massive international food aid deliveries have allowed the people to escape mass starvation since famine threatened in 1995.
Kim had a reputation as a hard-partying playboy as a young man -- and reportedly still has an eye for the ladies.
"He recruited attractive young girls of junior high school age to take part in 'Joy Brigades,' whose function was to help in relaxation to his senior officials," said Jerrold Post, a former CIA profiler.
Kim is thought to have been married three times -- although it's not clear if all were official -- and he is known to have three sons and at least one daughter.
His taste for the high life extends to a fondness for fast cars and fine dining.
One 2003 account by Russian official Konstantin Pulikovsky, who accompanied Kim on a train journey across Russia, described how live lobsters and roasted donkey -- reportedly the North Korean leader's favorite food -- were flown out to supply the train each day.
Kim is also a huge film buff boasting a collection of as many as 20,000 films.
U.S. officials say he even once went so far as to order the kidnapping of a South Korean actress and her director husband.
While Kim tends to stay behind the scenes, when he does go live on television, it is carefully choreographed official visits to prestigious public works projects or large scale ceremonies, accompanied by an entourage of approving advisors.
CNN's Zain Verjee contributed to this report.
All About North Korea • Korean Politics • World Politics • Kim Jong-il


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4102.0 - Australian Social Trends, 2001
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/05/2001
Page tools: Print Page Print All | |||||
Media alert....News diary event....Media alert.... Attention Chiefs of Staff and News Editors Australian Social Trends to be released 6 June The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will release the eighth edition of Australian Social Trends (cat. no. 4102.0) on Wednesday 6 June 2001. Australian Social Trends 2001 profiles Australian society and looks at changes in the nation's social conditions and wellbeing. The publication features 31 articles, within seven chapters, on topics related to population, families, health, education, work, income and housing. These provide an insight into the changing nature of Australian society. This alert is to aid your planning and research by giving you advance notice of the release of this major publication. The publication is a source of a wide variety of stories. A full list and synopsis of the articles will be distributed prior to release. A media release with some summary information will be widely distributed. However please note that the publication will be boxed at the Canberra Press Gallery by request only. The publication will also be available for collection on the day from our State offices in each capital city, again by request. Members of the media who would like a copy of Australian Social Trends 2001 should contact firstname.lastname@example.com Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window. |


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Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was ejected in the third quarter Saturday night against Philadelphia after getting two technical fouls in a 30-second span.
Sloan felt the officials were favoring 76ers guard Allen Iverson and let them know it with an earful each time they passed the Jazz bench.
He got the first technical with 7:38 left in the third quarter after Utah's Keith McLeod was called for his fourth foul. Sloan stomped his foot and got a quick technical from official Derrick Stafford.
Sloan hadn't had much time to cool off just 30 seconds later when Deron Williams, who had replaced McLeod, received his fourth foul -- also while guarding Iverson.


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NAMM 2014: Sonor Drums stand in pictures
Sonor in pictures
NAMM 2014: Sonor had plenty to show at this year's NAMM, one-off drums, tiny kits and gorgeous finishes included!
And how about this for a finish? This is the Sonor Nebula. This limited edition SQ2 kit features a beautiful (if somewhat trippy) custom finish. The finish is actually a human render of a digital image sent from the Hubble telescope!
An out of this world finish
View from the cockpit
Sonor Martini
It really is true that great things come in small sizes. Well, at least Sonor must think so, judging by this diddy Martini kit.
Shaken, not stirred
The kit features a tiny 14" bass drum, 8" rack tom and 10" floor.
One of a Kind
Want a drum that you can really call your own? Well, Sonor's One of a Kind line could be for you.
These North American Maple drums are available in white ebony and red tigerwood and are limited to just 45 pieces each.
Sonor One of a Kind
These drums are so exclusive that they come with their own certificate!
Sonor Player
Everyone loves a little sparkle, right?!


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We strive to be a clean and environmentally responsible automotive salvage yard. We offer new aftermarket and used OEM automotive parts as well as a complete metal recycling facility. Customer service is our top priority and we will go the extra mile to make sure you are satisfied with your visit.
Please click on the Metal Recycling window above to be taken to our current scrap metal price list.
You can also click on the Used Parts window to search our parts inventory.
As always, your feedback is encouraged and appreciated. Please email, call or send us a message on Facebook.


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This article is more than 1 year old
LAPD questions Google Apps security credentials
Huge roll out hits delay
Google has reportedly missed a deadline to fully implement Google Apps into the city of Los Angeles' various departments by the end of last month.
As a result, the ad broker might have to shell out $135,000 to complete the upgrade of LA's computer system from Novell tech to its email and collaboration software.
MarketWatch, which revealed the delay in a report last Friday, cited LA's tech boss Randi Levin confirming that Google would have to reimburse the city for the extra costs incurred.
According to the report, LA police expressed security concerns about Google Apps, which led to a delay in having all the authority's systems upgraded nine months after Google won the $7.25m deal over rival Microsoft.
Earlier this month city council members complained about costs overrunning because Google had failed to deliver on time. They were originally told that the delay could cost around $415,000 to set straight.
However, Google told MarketWatch late last week, alongside its partner Computer Sciences, that the cost incurred by the two firms would total about $135,000.
To date 10,000 LA city staff have been shifted over to Google Apps. Another 6,000 workers can expect the move in mid-August. But "a more detailed schedule" is needed for upgrading around 13,000 members of the LAPD to Google Apps.
"We've had a lot of technical issues, some we've created and some we haven't," Levin told MarketWatch. "We underestimated the amount of time it was going to take."
When Novell was spurned by the city in October, it warned that Google's Apps system should be cause for concern.
"Like the LA Police department and others, we continue to doubt the economics and security of the City's decision to move to a Google system," Novell wrote in a blog post.
"The City Council was presented with clear evidence that Google posed a very significant risk to the security of the City and citizen data, much of it highly confidential. In addition, independent financial data showed that the new system will actually cost more, not less." ®


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The Vice President's Remarks to Students and Staff at Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Glynco, Georgia
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Please be seated -- if you've got a chair. (Laughter.)
Well, thank you very much. And good afternoon, Mike and Connie. I thank you for your kind words, and for the great service that you render the country. And I want to thank also, Connie, your fine staff, the faculty members, and all of you that are here today and have taken the time to come out. I'm pleased, as well, to be with my good friends Saxby Chambliss and Jack Kingston. They do a superb job for Georgia and all the folks here. And they're great friends of law enforcement, as well.
I appreciate the warm welcome to Glynco. And the whole nation appreciates the men and women who come here for training, as well as the instructors and staff who devote so much energy and effort to their jobs, year in and year out. This is an absolutely first-class training center. Its contribution to the country is more vital today than it's ever been. You're doing great work for the American people, and I'm honored to bring congratulations and good wishes to all of you from our President, George W. Bush.
I've been looking forward to the trip for a long time, and we've had a great afternoon. It's been 35 years now since the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center was established to provide high quality, consolidated training to men and women in law enforcement careers. Since that time, more than a half million officers and agents have graduated from FLETC -- including more than 85 percent of the federal law enforcement workforce.
Before long, those of you now in training will join other graduates in assignments throughout the government. Wherever that assignment might be, you can leave here knowing that you've been drilled and tested -- and found to be worthy. And when the big challenges come along in your day-to-day work, you'll be ready to face them squarely and decisively.
This training center has been critical to the improvements we've made in law enforcement and national security since the attacks of September 11th. That morning in 2001 changed everything for our country, as we began fighting a new kind of war against determined enemies. The terrorists behind 9/11 have declared their intention to kill great numbers of innocent Americans, and they seek ever more deadly means to do so. This continuing threat demands a comprehensive, effective response to make this nation better able to respond to any future attacks, to reduce our vulnerability and, above all, to hunt down the terrorists before they can hit us again.
In the 44 months since, we have seen unrelenting effort to defend the freedom and the security of the American people. In a multinational campaign, we continue to make progress in many categories -- financial, legal, military, and otherwise. We are dealing with a network that has had cells in countries all over the world -- yet bit by bit, by diplomacy and by force, with our allies and partners, we are acting to shrink the area in which terrorists can operate freely.
Many countries have joined us in tracking the enemy, disrupting plots against America and our friends, destroying the training camps of terror, and closing off their access to funding. With strong partners at our side -- and with the skill and the honor of the finest military in the world -- we have removed two brutal regimes. We have persuaded another regime to voluntarily abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs. We have uncovered a sophisticated, large-scale network selling nuclear weapons technologies on the black market -- and we have shut that network down. The United States has acted decisively, and we have sent a clear message: We will not stand by and allow terrorists to find safe haven, or to gain weapons of mass murder to use against us.
The war on terror also has a home front, and we have taken extraordinary measures to protect the American people and our homeland. We've increased funding for first responders tenfold since we took office, to make sure they have the training and the equipment for WMD detection, and the ability to move quickly against chemical or biological attack. We've begun Project BioShield, to develop new vaccines and treatments against biological weapons. We've passed the Patriot Act, so law enforcement can fight terrorists with the same tools that we use against organized crime and drugs. We are reforming our intelligence agencies to ensure that they work as a single, unified enterprise, under the leadership of the Director of National Intelligence. And we've created the Department of Homeland Security, the largest reorganization of the federal government in over 50 years.
DHS, now ably led by Secretary Chertoff, merged together some 180,000 men and women from more than 20 agencies. Standing up this department has been a massive, necessary undertaking. And all Americans can be proud of the result. Our nation today has better security at our borders and airports. We have more sophisticated monitoring of ports of entry and incoming containers. And elements of our critical infrastructure -- such as power plants, bridges, and tunnels -- are also watched over more closely than prior to 9/11.
Yet for all of these improvements in security, we must realize -- as the 9/11 Commission put it recently -- that America is safer, but that we are not yet safe. Every morning President Bush and I receive an intelligence briefing, and we review threats tracked during the previous 24 hours. Several times a week we meet with Mike Chertoff, the Director of the FBI, and the Director of the CIA. The enemy that appeared on 9/11 is wounded and off-balance, and on the run -- yet still very active, still seeking recruits, and still trying to find ways to hit us. As months and years pass, they are hoping that our country will grow complacent, and get lazy, and forget our responsibilities. And it's our job, ladies and gentlemen, to make sure the United States of America never lets down its guard.
Vigilance, and professionalism, and adaptability are critical to national security, especially in times of war. And they are watchwords of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. I can tell you that I've been immensely impressed by the work that goes on here -- not just from what I've seen today, but from all I've observed over the years, particularly in the urgent period since 9/11. In addition to all the traditional training provided here, you've stepped up to meet the needs of a new and very different era for law enforcement. For the first time the President has made countering and investigating terrorist activity our nation's top intelligence and law enforcement priority. We've had to move quickly to develop the equipment and procedures to protect against WMDs, radioactive material, and vehicle-borne explosives. We've needed a mock port of entry complex, and new training for flight deck officers, federal air marshals, TSA screeners, and visa security officers.
We've also needed to make law enforcement officials familiar with Man-Portable Air Defense Systems, and to get started on a major new Counterterrorism Operations Training Facility. All of this, and a great deal more, has been carried out by FLETC, and I can say with complete confidence that your work is paying off.
It's in the nature of your business -- as in intelligence and national security -- that many of the wisest judgments and the best work go unrecognized until years after the fact, if ever. And we may never know what horrors this country has been spared because of the extra effort, creativity, and determination of the men and women who serve America in public safety, intelligence, and national security. But the President and I want you to know that we realize how hard you're working. We never take it for granted. And the country is very grateful.
We're all grateful, as well, to the men and women of our military. I know that a good number of the people who work and train here are veterans, and others have family members serving in the armed forces today. I've had many opportunities to meet with servicemen and women, from military bases at home and abroad, to the deck of an aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. They are as motivated and focused as I have ever seen them. Several years ago I was asked to speak to the class of 2002 at the United States Naval Academy. The attack on America had taken place, of course, earlier in their senior year. And I was told that on the morning of September 11th, every midshipman in the brigade at Annapolis had the same wish, that he or she could graduate on September 12th, and take the fight to the enemy.
That kind of commitment, that kind of devotion to the freedom and security of the American people defines our military. And it defines the men and women who serve the United States as sworn law enforcement officers. At a time when so many are searching for greater purposes in life, we can point to people like all of you as examples. I appreciate the chance to be with you this afternoon to thank you for your fine work, your idealism, your sense of duty, and the great credit that you reflect on the United States of America.
Thank you very much.
Richard B. Cheney, The Vice President's Remarks to Students and Staff at Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/282345


text: Here's a strange one. This fighting game uses a video game interface to instruct modern-age gladiators on how to bring the pain. The costumed fighters cannot see anything other than a set of lights in their helmets instructing them to move or punch. A camera films them and overlays the footage on a digital background along with simulated blood and a health bar for each. NES controllers are used to instruct them, and switches inside the costumes register the pummeling they receive and deduct health accordingly. This wouldn't be any good without a demonstration, which we've embedded after the break.


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We have seen that the Great Abbey of Mellifont had made seven foundations in the first eleven years. Eight foundations in total were made before the suppression. The first seven were Bective (1146), Boyle (1148), Baltinglass (in Kildare and Leighlin)(1148), Inislounaght (1148), and Manister or Manisternenay, Co. Limerick (1148), Kilbeggan (1150), Newry (1153). The final direct foundation by Mellifont was at Abbeyshrule (1200). By the time of the suppression, Mellifont had a further twenty indirect filiations. Baltinglass Abbey was founded under the patronage of Dermot Mac Murchadha, King of Leinster who was to betray his Race by inviting in the Normans twenty-one years later. McMorrough was also responsible for the romanesque Church at Killeshin. His descendants still reside in the heart of the ancient kingdom of Leinster at Borris House, near where our Mass for the Pope's Birthday was celebrated in 2012. The Abbey was given a kind of nickname in accordance with Cistercian custom, and was known as De Vallis Salutis or Valley of Salvation. Dr. Keating refers to it as 'Monasterium de Via' or the Monastery of the Way. The Abbey buildings were completed by 1170, the year before Mac Murchadha's death, when his son-in-law, the Anglo-Norman Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke took the kingdom for himself.
Baltinglass made four foundations Jerpoint, Co. Kilkenny (1160), Abbeymahon, Co. Cork (1172), Monasterevin (Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin)(1178), and Abbeyleix (also Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin)(1184). Thus, the Baltinglass line accounts for all the Irish Cistercian Abbeys of Kildare and Leighlin, the only Continental Cistercian Abbey of Kildare and Leighlin being Duisk Abbey, Graignamanagh, founded from Stanley in Wales in 1204. Kilenny Abbey (1162), a foundation of Jerpoint close to Duiske Abbey, was suppressed in 1227, the year before the visitation of Stephen of Lexington, since it offended against the Cistercian Rule that monasteries should be at least 12 Burgundian Leagues apart.
After the Anglo-Norman conquest of Leinster, Baltinglass retained a strong Irish identity. In 1185 the abbot of Baltinglass, Albin O'Mulloy, was made bishop of Ferns. At the close of the year 1185, Albin O'Molloy, Cistercian Abbot of Baltinglass, was appointed bishop of Ferns in the Lent of 1187, at the Provincial Council of Dublin, he administered to the Archdeacon Gerald Barry (Cambrensis), a rebuke at his presumption at casting aspersions upon the character of the Irish clergy and spoke out against the clergy coming from England and Wales, criticising their evil ways and bad example for the innocent Irish clergy. Bishop O'Molloy was present at the coronation of Richard I on 3rd September 1189. On 3rd April, 1206, King John nominated him to the Archbishopric of Cashel but the Pope declined to ratify the appointment.
However, by the turn of the thirteenth century the internal standards of observance in the Irish Abbeys had been allowed to decline. The Cistercian General Chapter heard disturbing reports and, in 1216, organised a general visitation of the Irish houses. The Irish monks resented this interference from Clairvaux and when the visitors arrived at Mellifont the gates of the monastery were shut in their faces. The troubled soon spread to the other Irish Cistercian monasteries. The visitors were blocked from entry and their presence was greeted with riot. The rebellion soon became known as the 'conspiracy of Mellifont'.
In 1227 the abbot of Clairvaux sent two French monks to address the problems but they were able to remove no more than six abbots from office and they appointed the Anglo-Norman abbot of Owney to act in their stead. The Irish bitterly resented him and did all they could to hinder his progress.
From the foundation of Mellifont itself there had been conflict between the ethos of the French monks and their Irish brethren to such an extend that St. Malachy received the complaints of St. Bernard when the French returned home in dispute.
Those mutual misunderstanding were only intensified within the Order after the Norman invasion, when the Mellifont filiation acted as a native congregation in contrast to those Cistercian houses of directly Norman foundation. The misunderstanding came to a head in the early 13th century. The Mellifont filiation resisted efforts of the general Chapter to subject it to regulation, but was eventually compelled to submit. After those abortive attempts to impose continental observance, Stephen of Lexington, abbot of Stanley, Graiguenamanagh's motherhouse undertook a visitation of the Irish Cistercian houses in 1228 on behalf of the General chapter, to reform them radically. The Mellifont filiation was broken up and its member houses were re-assigned to the oversight of English, French and Welsh houses, Margam, Buildwas, Furness, Fountains and Clairvaux and Lexington placed groups of Anglo-Norman monks in the Irish houses and deposed those abbots involved in the rebellion, appointing some twelve abbots himself.
The specific causes of dispute are hard to discover. It seems, however, that at least some of what was in Anglo-Norman eyes abuse, and infringement of Cistercian rule, was to the Irish simply the accommodation of traditional monastic practice. Thus, for example, Irish monks preferred to dwell in individual cells, rather than communionally. Equally, a nun's monastery, adjacent to that of the male religious, might be unacceptable to Lexington but was perfectly respectable in Gaelic Ireland - and indeed to the modern-day Institute of Chrust the King, the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem, or the Abbey of La Barroux!
Lexington's condemnation of sins of the flesh may refer not to abuse in the strict sense, but a 'monasticism' that encompassed a 'para-monastic' married Christian laity, in the older Irish manner, which we could call Third Orders or secular Oblates today.
Only gradually did the General Chapter cast off Anglo-Norman dominance and realise the true situation. In 1274 the General Chapter condemned the laws being enforced under Norman control, forbidding the reception of native Irish novices or the appointment of Irish monks to any position of authority in their communities. Finally it reversed its earlier decision and returned to Mellifont its jurisdiction over its filiations and Baltinglass returned to the restored Mellifont filiation. The following thirty years brought a succession of Irish abbots. It was a period of hope but that hope was again stifled by political pressure. The civil powers ignored the General Chapter's condemnation of Anglo Norman discrimination. The infamous Statutes of Kilkenny merely institutionalized that discrimination and the Black Death struck another blow to the once flourishing Order in Ireland. By the end of the 14th century Mellifont had become a recognised Anglo Norman institution and was never again to see the phenomenal flourishing of monastic life, substituting instead royal patronage and the acquisition of property.
Henry Tudor's commissioners described Baltinglass in 1541 as owning castles at Graungeforth, Knocwyre, Mochegraunge, Graungerosnalvan, Grangecon, Littlegraunge amongst others. In the early sixteenth century the annual income of the abbey was estimated at £76 (£126 in peacetime) making it one of the richest Cistercian abbeys in Ireland at that time. The Dissolution came quickly to Baltinglass. It was one of only five Irish Cistercian monasteries suppressed in the first round of closures, 1536-7.
Not content with the dissolution of the monastery, the Anglicans also raped the monastic church and buildings. The sanctuary, as can be seen from the pictures was crudely adapted as a Protestant church. As can be seen from the late 18th century engraving in the National Library of Ireland collection, the tower at the central crossing, a common, if un-Cistercian, feature of the Irish Cistercian Churches, was still extant, and the monstrously rustic tower at the entrance to the Protestant Church, sitting with ill-informed arrogance in the middle of the Nave, was a very late excresence.
The gate house, a feature that is still prominent at Mellifont also, became the home of the FitzEustace family. The gate house was broken down, along with parts of the monastery, when James FitzEustace rebelled in 1580. In 1587 the gate house restored and survived until 1882 when it was knocked down to provide building materials for the new house and church of the Church of Ireland.
The arches of the Abbey are it's most distinctive feature, having both squared and rounded piers still standing along the south side of the nave. The north-east crossing pier is decorated with a lion and foliage ornaments. The striking similarity between these nave arches and those of Jerpoint Abbey are notable. One depicts a warrior thrusting forward with a circular shield. Another strikingly similar feature are the stone tiles decorated, it is said by the same master craftsman, the so called 'Baltinglass Master', who also worked on Jerpoint Abbey. Some of these tiles have been placed for display so that you can get a close up view. To the side of the Church wall is a huge plinth with a large stone pyramid atop, which was constructed as a mausoleum for the Stratford family. Another example of Anglican barbarism that has breached the East Wall of the first chapel in the Southern Transept.


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For some golf fans, Feb. 19 effectively marked the start of the season.
It wasn't because Phil Mickelson finally got his game on track with a 63 at Riviera, rather it was the day Tiger Woods posted a statement on his Web site that filled golf with optimism it had been missing for eight months.
"I'm now ready to play again," Woods said, announcing his return from knee surgery.
What followed were plenty of memories in 2009. The fairy tale that turned into a heartbreaker at Turnberry when 59-year-old Tom Watson failed to make par from the middle of the 18th fairway and lost the British Open in a playoff. Henrik Stenson making more news for stripping down to his skivvies than for winning The Players Championship. Michelle Wie winning more tournaments than Vijay Singh.
Too bad so few people will remember.
Because the year effectively ended Dec. 11 with another statement Woods posted on his Web site.
"After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf," he said.
Mark those two dates as the alpha and omega of the 2009 season, and allow yourself to soak up some of the moments in between.
It wasn't the best year in golf — it can't be, not with as much focus on the runner-up as the winner.
Angel Cabrera won the Masters at the expense of Kenny Perry, at 48 trying to become the oldest major champion. Lucas Glover's magnificent 8-iron to the 16th at Bethpage Black was overshadowed by Mickelson missing two short par putts. Stewart Cink denied the golf world one of its greatest stories by beating Watson in the playoff. And Y.E. Yang made more news for whom he beat (Woods) than what he won (the PGA Championship).
With a putt here and a chip there, the major champions could have just as easily been Chad Campbell, Ricky Barnes and Chris Wood.
Watson might have been the most celebrated runner-up in history, trumping Greg Norman's collapse in the 1996 Masters. Even five months later, it all seems so impossible that a player past his prime even by Champions Tour standards could crouch over an 8-foot putt with a chance to put his name on the claret jug again, 34 years after it first was engraved.
A devastating loss? It apparently was for reporters, but not for the man.
"This ain't a funeral, you know," Watson said with that gap-tooth grin as he walked into the media center.
Mickelson also found perspective in defeat after another amazing tale that lacked only the happy ending. His world rocked by his wife being diagnosed with breast cancer, Mickelson again found himself on the cusp of an elusive U.S. Open title. The long birdie at the 12th. The eagle on the 13th. Bethpage already was flooded by a week of rain, and the tear ducts were starting to leak.
Then, he missed par putts from 3 feet and 8 feet over the final four holes, and made history as a runner-up for the fifth time.
"Now that's over, I've got more important things going on. And … oh, well," Mickelson said.
Perry showed golf is a game for the ages by winning twice and finishing No. 5 on the money list. The teenage infusion came from Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who cracked the top 10 in the world ranking by the end of the year, and from 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa, the youngest player to win the money title on a recognized tour (Japan).
Woods showed again why he is measured by a different standard. Despite seven victories worldwide, the FedEx Cup, another PGA Tour money title, Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average and every award for player of the year, he had to explain why it was a great year without a major championship.
Instead, he won a different kind of Grand Slam — a victory in his final start before every major.
For all the grousing about the FedEx cup, it delivered the ultimate Cinderella in Heath Slocum, who qualified for the playoffs by the slimmest of margins, then won the opening event over Woods, Steve Stricker, Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els. The last three playoff events were won by the top three players in the world ranking — Woods, Mickelson and Stricker. So something is working.
Wie, meanwhile, might have the best of two worlds. She appears to be loving everything about college life at Stanford — something hardly any of her peers ever experienced — and she had a blast on the course, too, winning for the first time and playing a key role in the Americans' victory in Solheim Cup.
Arnold Palmer turned 80, and while this doesn't count as a present, it was announced a few weeks before his birthday that Jack Nicklaus would be joining him for the ceremonial tee shot at the Masters next year.
Golf was not without a scandal. The tour announced Doug Barron became the first player to test positive for a performance-enhancing substance. This didn't make a lot of news because so many fans didn't know who Doug Barron was.
And by the end of the year, there was only one scandal.
The way the last month has gone, there was really only one story.
It was Tiger Woods.
And it had nothing to do with his golf.


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Another "Indoctrination" Freakout: Right-Wing Media Attack MD's Environmental Literacy Education Requirement
Written by Melody Johnson
Right-wing media have attacked a recent Maryland State Board of Education ruling that requires high school students to be "environmentally literate" before graduating as "indoctrination" and "brainwash[ing]," while using it as an opportunity continue the right-wing's longstanding war on climate science.
Maryland Schools Require "Environmental Literacy" As Part Of High School Graduation Requirements
AP: Md. Board Of Education Approves Environmental Literacy Graduation Requirement. The Associated Press reported on June 21 that "Maryland's Board of Education passed the environmental literacy graduation requirement on Tuesday," making it the first state in the nation to require "environmental literacy" before graduation from high school. From the AP:
Maryland's Board of Education passed the environmental literacy graduation requirement on Tuesday. Gov. Martin O'Malley says Maryland is now the first state in the nation to have such a requirement. The No Child Left Inside Coalition, which pushed for the requirement, says 48 other states are considering similar requirements, a sign of the increasing popularity of environmental education.
Under the graduation requirement, public schools will be required to infuse core subjects with lessons on conservation, smart growth and other environmental topics. School systems will be able to shape their programs, but they must align with state standards. [The Associated Press, 6/21/11, via The Washington Post]
Right-Wing Media Attack MD Requirement As "Indoctrination," Use It To Attack Climate Science
Hoft: Environmental Literacy Is "Indoctrination And Junk Science." In a June 22 Gateway Pundit post titled, "It's An Obama World... Maryland Is First State to Require Students to Pass Junk Science Test Before Graduating," Jim Hoft wrote:
It used to be that the mission of the Department of Energy is to ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. But that was before Obama. Now it's all about indoctrination and junk science.
Barack Obama's radical (green) Energy Secretary Steven Chu said he didn't think average folks had the know-how or will to to change their behavior enough to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. So, like a good socialist, Chu proposed indoctrinating the nation's youth on global warming junk science. And he's not shy about it.
P/Oed Patriot reported on Chu's new indoctrination program complete with instructions and lesson plans and quizzes: [sic]
This wasn't a joke...
Yesterday, Maryland because [sic] the first state to require students to pass a green test before graduating.
The kids can't read or write but at least they can pass an enviro-Marxism test. [The Gateway Pundit, 6/22/11, emphasis in original]
Red State: "It's Official: You Must Be An Eco-Socialist To Graduate In Maryland." In a June 22 Red State post, blogger Daniel Horowitz wrote:
Getting control of school boards before they groom the next generation of Democrats and green parasites
The Maryland state board of education will require public schools within the state to weave in eco-socialist propaganda to the general science curriculum. Sadly, due to flaccid opposition and complacency on the part of all of us, public schools across the country have already been doing this for quite some time. Maryland is merely the first state to consummate those requirements as part of the "official curriculum."
Somehow I don't think the 'environmental literacy' science courses will include the best hits from Climategate. Will they present these impressionable minds with dissenting opinions within the meteorological field? Does anyone think the social studies courses will teach them about the trail of green corporate cronyism between the government and the likes of Jeff Immelt or Al Gore? Or, will they teach Al Gore's science of population control instead?
It's not enough that the supercilious limousine liberal greenies mandate the destruction of our economy, loss of jobs, and higher prices for consumers, as a result of their insidious green corporate cronyism. They will now indoctrinate the next generation into living a regressive life based on fallacious and manipulative "educational" programs. While the Chinese children are studying real science, equipping them with the requisite tools to become more industrious, our children will learn junk science, equipping them with the tools to live the life of .... a 14th century nomad! [RedState, 6/22/11, emphasis in original]
The Blaze: "Maryland Has Bought Into The Green Agenda." A June 22 post on Glenn Beck's website The Blaze said:
A state board of education in Maryland has bought into the green agenda. So much so that it just voted to require "environmental literacy" in order to graduate high school.
As Jonah Goldberg over at NRO points out, Maryland is ranked last in personal freedom. [The Blaze, 6/22/11]
Weasel Zippers: "Brainwash Them In Junk Science Then Send Them On Their Merry Way." A June 22 Weasel Zippers post titled, "Good Grief: Maryland Board of Education Makes 'Environmental Literacy' A High School Graduation Requirement..." said, "Brainwash them in junk science then send them on their merry way." [Weasel Zippers, 6/22/11]
Right-Wing Media Have Repeatedly Freaked Out About "Indoctrination" In Schools
Limbaugh: "Preparing" Children "To Be Good Environmental Citizens ... Means Indoctrinating." On the May 17 edition of his radio program, Rush Limbaugh stated: "I kid you not. They're not going to -- they're not going to reward or honor schools for math scores, science scores, or grammar. No, no, no, no. 'Preparing our children to be good environmental citizens is some of the most important work any of us can do,' said the U.S. Education Secretary. Preparing means indoctrinating ... all based on a hoax, all based on a fraud, all based on global warming, which, by the way, is a religion." [Premiere Radio Networks' The Rush Limbaugh Show, 5/17/11]
Hoft On Green Ribbon Schools Program: "Let The Indoctrination Begin." In a May 17 Gateway Pundit post titled, "It's an Obama World... Team O to Honor Nation's Best 'Green Schools' on Earth Day," Hoft wrote: "It's an Obama world. The kids can't read or write but at least they'll know about first-grader sex in bathrooms and EPA sponsored junk science. Let the Indoctrination Begin." [Gateway Pundit, 5/17/11]
Powers: "The Only Thing 'Green Ribbon Schools' Will Prepare Students For Is The Unemployment Line." In a May 17 post to MichelleMalkin.com, blogger Doug Powers wrote: " 'Green Ribbon Schools' -- Because Al Gore deserves to head toward his twilight years with the comfort of knowing that the next generation is being trained to keep him in the lifestyle to which he's become accustomed." Powers later wrote: "If the Department of Labor's stimulus-driven 'Green Jobs Training Program' results are any indication, there's a good chance that the only thing 'Green Ribbon Schools' will prepare students for is the unemployment line." [MichelleMalkin.com, 5/17/11]
Weasel Zippers: "Some Advice For The Obama Regime: Stay Away From Our Kids." A May 17 Weasel Zippers post introduced an article on the Green Ribbon Schools program by stating, "Some advice for the Obama regime: Stay away from our kids." [Weasel Zippers, 5/17/11]
Right-Wing Media Found Evidence Of "Indoctrinat[ion]" In School Kids' WI Union Protest Participation." In March, right-wing media seized on a video of students protesting against Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker as evidence of children being "indoctrinate[d]" to support progressive causes. [Media Matters, 3/15/11]
Conservatives On Obama's 2009 Stay-In-School Speech: "Indoctrination," "Brainwashing," Communist China, Hitler Youth. Numerous conservatives claimed that President Obama's September 8, 2009, speech about "persisting and succeeding in school," along with classroom activities about the "importance of education," would "indoctrinate" and "brainwash" schoolchildren. Conservatives compared Obama's address to Chinese communism and the Hitler Youth, while also calling for parents to "keep your kids home" from the "fascist in chief." [Media Matters, 9/2/09]
Beck Spins Anecdotal Organizing For America Claim Into School "Indoctrination" Yarn. In February 2010, Glenn Beck ran with the right-wing claim that Obama -- through an Organizing for America internship program -- was attempting to use the public schools to "indoctrinate" students. Beck's claims were based on a series of distortions and false assertions. [Media Matters, 2/2/10]
More "Indoctrination": Conservative Media Attacked Obama's Proposal For A Longer School Year. In 2009, Beck and other conservative media figures attacked Obama's proposal to extend the length of school days and the school year by claiming that government mandates for longer school days would give the government more time to "indoctrinate" kids, and Michelle Malkin said Obama was acting as "school czar." [Media Matters, 9/30/09]
Beck's Two Steps In "Che Indoctrination" Of School Kids -- First, The T-Shirt; Then, Read Them Saul Alinsky. On the February 1, 2010, edition of his Fox News program, Beck stated: "This is the second step in the Che indoctrination. First, you get the kids in the T-shirt, and then you read them Saul Alinsky in school, recommended by the president." [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 2/1/10]
Beck: "We Have Been Setting Up Re-Education Camps. We Call Them Universities." During the September 1, 2010, edition of his Fox News program, Beck stated: "We have been setting up re-education camps. We call them universities." [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 9/1/10]
Right-Wing Media Have Long Waged A War On Climate Science
Right-Wing Media Have Repeatedly Denied Climate Change, Attacked Climate Activists. As Media Matters has previously documented, the right-wing media have consistently denied the existence and effects of climate change, often using climate science to attack environmental conservation, Al Gore, energy alternatives, and endangered species.
For more information regarding the right-wing media's distortion of climate science, CLICK HERE.
Scientists Have Consistently Reaffirmed That Global Warming Is Occurring And That The Evidence Is Overwhelming
IPCC: Most Of Recent Warming Is Very Likely Due To Increase In Greenhouse Gas Emissions.The Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change -- a scientific body that compiles research from thousands of scientists -- concluded in 2007 that "warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level" and that "most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely [defined in the report as a '>90%' chance] due to the observed increase in anthropogenic [human-caused] GHG [greenhouse gas] concentrations." [Pages 8 and 17, Synthesis Report, Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change, 2007]
29 Prominent Scientists In The U.S.: "The Body Of Evidence That Human Activity Is The Dominant Cause Of Global Warming Is Overwhelming." In a December 4, 2009, letter to Congress, 29 prominent scientists, including 11 members of the National Academy of Sciences, stated: "The body of evidence that human activity is the dominant cause of global warming is overwhelming. The content of the stolen emails [from the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit] has no impact whatsoever on our overall understanding that human activity is driving dangerous levels of global warming." [Union of Concerned Scientists, 12/4/09]
1,700 Scientists In The United Kingdom: Global Warming "Is Due Primarily To Human Activities." More than 1,700 scientists from the United Kingdom signed a statement responding "to the ongoing questioning of core climate science and methods." The statement said, "We, members of the UK science community, have the utmost confidence in the observational evidence for global warming and the scientific basis for concluding that it is due primarily to human activities." [U.K. Met Office, 12/10/09, accessed via Climate Progress]
American Association For The Advancement Of Science: "[S]cientific Evidence" Shows "That Global Climate Change [Is] Caused By Human Activities." On December 4, 2009, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) stated that it "has reaffirmed the position of its Board of Directors and the leaders of 18 respected organizations, who concluded based on multiple lines of scientific evidence that global climate change caused by human activities is now underway, and it is a growing threat to society." [AAAS, 12/4/09]


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The idyllic-looking city full of inspiration: Alex Brummer in Jaffa
The weather confounded the forecast and the sun shone brightly for my visit with the UK Task Force visit to Jaffa on Monday.
Jaffa looked idyllic with the sunshine glinting off the blue Mediterranean sea as your intrepid reporter joined the Board of Deputies of British Jews and groups including the New Israel Fun, UJIA and the Pears Foundations for the first of a series of visits to Israel's 'mixed' cities of Arabs and Jews.
It is often forgotten that Israel has a substantial Arab minority of 1.7m citizens or 20 per cent of the population, a mixture of Palestinian-Arabs, Bedouin and Druze communities.
They are scattered across the country comprising 27.2 per cent of the population in Acre, the most mixed city, 31.2 per cent in Jaffa part of the Tel Aviv municipality. In recent years there has been an intense focus on alleviating poverty and improving housing and educational standards among the Israeli Arabs with mixed results. Efforts were stepped up post-2008 when Arab riots in Acre disturbed the quietness of Judaism's most sacred day Yom Yippur.
The issues in Tel Aviv-Yaffa where 4.3 per cent of the population are made up of Arabs, largely concentrated in the honey coloured citadels of the old city, are a different from the other mixed cities.
In Jaffa the main point of conflict is property prices. Many of the original properties were owned by Arab families that fled the region after the 1948 Israeli War of Independence.
The desire among Israeli-Jews and incomers to own expensive seafront homes in Jaffa, with fine clear views over the ancient harbour from where Jonah set sail before his encounter with the whale, has sent property prices soaring.
This has made it extremely difficult for the Arab population – driven from the better neighbourhoods by earlier Israeli decrees that the best properties be reserved as a colony for artists – to compete for housing.
The Tel Aviv municipality has proposals to build 100 social housing units for Arabs, but they may be a drop in the ocean compared with the needs. However, sensitive decisions have been taken. Efforts by developers to turn the port into a high gloss yachting centre for the super-rich have been turned back by Jewish and Israeli fisherman acting in concert.
Instead the intention is for low key development with parks and street markets so that the historic coastal view is not blocked and the fishing industry not locked out.
What was really inspiring about the Jaffa visit was the young people we encountered at the Amal High School and the Jewish-Arab Community Centre in Jaffa. Both groups demonstrated what the state, NGOs and the municipalities can do if resources are allocated sensibly.
The Amal high school, that absorbs young people with learning difficulties and from stressed backgrounds, is a calm place of learning with an 80 per cent Arab intake. The largely Jewish staff give these youngsters the skills to enter broader Israeli society. Firstly, they are taught Ivrit, essential for social mobility, then they learn practical skills such as IT programming and car mechanics. Last year the school, that has a fantastic teacher pupil ratio, had a 100 per cent pass rate for its graduating class.
Equally inspiring were the beautiful young women of Jaffa Youth Parliament. These were a group of articulate girls, drawn from the Arab and Jewish communities who take time out from school work to engage on politics, the broader Middle East issues, women's issues and simply to become friends.
It shows how girls from very difference socio-economic and family backgrounds can engage positively and form durable bonds across the social divide.
We are sent off with a rousing rendition by the Jaffa mixed Arab-Jewish youth choir that has performed in Brazil and Paris and will be in London later this year.
In our honour they sang Beatles music in Arabic, Ivrit and English as well as a post-Oslo peace song. It was beautiful and inspiring and the kids were fantastically enthusiastic and musical. It was enough to make you lachrymose.
Nest to Lod, where the narrative is very different.


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Something happened between 2002 and 2003. Gamers and critics suddenly stopped praising Resident Evil as one of gaming's best series and started calling it dated, clunky, and boring. Take Resident Evil Code: Veronica. Upon its release, GameSpot called it the best of its genre, but by the time the GameCube port came around in December 2003, the site labeled it "obsolete." You don't need to go further than the port's Metacritic page to see that GameSpot wasn't alone.
The crux of the criticism came down to convenience. Tank controls, slow combat, and limited saves were no longer common practice. But great games have never been about convenience — they are about challenges to survive by learning your environment and abilities. Resident Evil does this very well, and no series entry did it better than the 2002 GameCube remake of the PlayStation debut.
Once and for all, let's lay to rest this misguided talk of Resident Evil's being obsolete. Not only is the series still relevant, it's timeless. The problem isn't with the game but with the critics who have gone soft and lost good judgment. And if I sound bitter, it's because of those critics that Capcom won't make another title in the style of this classic survival horror adventure.
Resident Evil [2002] (GameCube, Wii)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Released: April 30, 2002
In a nutshell: In 2002, Capcom did what no developer would dare do in 2012: made a faithful recreation of a six-year-old game with a cult following. This remake added new areas, enemies, endings, and improved controls, but the biggest upgrade was in the visuals, which added the horror back into the game's large, foreboding mansion. Though we still use the label "survival horror," the emphasis has been taken off "survival" since the release of this gem.
A large, interconnected world
Like any great horror movie, there is an ebb and flow to the horrors of Resident Evil, and it's all dictated by the game's brilliantly crafted setting.
Some would love to have a mansion, but the thought of all that empty space and dark corners scares me away from the idea. Resident Evil is a game about this feeling — the unnerving fear of the unknown and the comfort of familiarity.
At the start, the Spencer Mansion is a foreboding place where every door is an invitation to evil and dismemberment. Soon, you start to map out the first floor. Next, you find brief sanctuary in the save rooms. By the time you clear out the halls, the house begins to feel like a home, and your heartbeat relaxes. The game teases you with locked doors — even worse, mysteriously jammed doors! Unlocking them to discover a shortcut to a previous area is as satisfying as taking down one of the game's bosses.
Never knowing what's around the corner
As a culture, we live in fear of spoilers. A great surprise is as close to a holy moment as us geeks get, and there will be hell to pay if someone takes that away from us!
Lucky for you, Resident Evil is a game full of surprises, though they aren't very nice ones. It never highlights what's around the corner or gives the false security of a checkpoint, so you'll be constantly praying that the next room is a puzzle and not a boss encounter. As you travel further into the game, old areas start revealing hidden items, cleared rooms start offering new enemies, and old bosses rear their head again. You'll be wishing you didn't leave that ammo box on the ground in that one room that you can't remember where the hell it is and OH GOD A GIANT SNAKE FUUUuuu …
It goes without saying that surprise is essential to a good horror game. Just look at Silent Hill: Shattered Memories to see how limp a horror game can become when it advertises its next move. Resident Evil asks the player to blindly trust the game; that if the player tries their best, they will survive. But some players will soon realize that their best isn't good enough. Just like in Dark Souls and Spelunky, making it to areas that you know others could never reach makes the journey all the sweeter.
Finding comfort in a familiar place
Resident Evil is a grueling game that isn't shy about playing with expectations. Dogs provide literal jump scares, new enemies invade old areas, and there is a price to pay for every zombie you don't fully dispose of. Along with the horror of feeling locked outside areas and trapped within others, there is a simple joy to playing virtual cartographer. For those God of War and Super Metroid players who feel giddy after fully exploring an area, Resident Evil will make them pee their pants — assuming they don't shit themselves first.
Finding solace in the save rooms and main hallway is a unique feeling that I don't get from any other series. By the end of the game, you feel like you know the mansion inside and out, making you feel empowered. Or maybe that's just the grenade launcher with 18 acid rounds talking? Regardless, you feel like you've been on a wild ride as you return to familiar places and reflect on all the horrifying events that have transpired. The game allows you a moment to catch your breath before giving you another reason to let it all out in a scream, again.
Alternate paths and strategies
Maybe it's the fault of marketing and media exposure, but the branching paths of Heavy Rain and Mass Effect never shocked me in the way those of Resident Evil do. While it's clear that those two games were designed around the branching path concept and wanted to make the element of design clear to the player, Resident Evil is a game about psychological fear and withholding information.
There are several times in the game where the player can choose drastically different options, but you'd never think you had an alternate choice unless you read about it in a FAQ. Even when you do read a guide, you'll often find yourself lost. "Wait, where is the automatic shotgun and why am I carrying this broken shotgun?" you'll ask. Or, "Why did I never have that boss fight at the end?"
In addition to these narrative splits, there are some clever alternate approaches one can take in the combat. There is the binary choice between evading and fighting with the common zombie, but things become more interesting with the boss fights that often offer a non-combat approach if you go the extra mile in your puzzle solving. On top of all this, the game has two main characters to play as that offer different dialog, weapons, and changes in the narrative.
Unlike Heavy Rain and Mass Effect, by the end, I felt like I played the game the only way it could have been played rather than carving out my own version of it. Instead of wondering if I played the "best version," I was left wondering if there was even another version at all.
Death means something
As anyone who has played Spelunky can attest, taking away the ability to save can render even an approachable, cute platformer into a game of tense, horrific moments. And as anyone who has played the recent batch of horror games can attest, being given numerous checkpoints takes the fear out of the genre.
The greatest fear for a Resident Evil player isn't zombies, but running out of ink ribbons. These ribbons are hidden throughout the game and are the only way to save progress. Since there are only 30 or so throughout the 11-hour game, and since you'll often be lucky to have more than one in your inventory, it's a constant source of tension that makes every unopened door and uncleared hallway into an unbearable threat.
There is a compromise the player and developer make with such a restricted save system. Yes, it inconveniences the player, but it also heightens the fear and pleasure of the game. There is no moment more tense than going an hour without saving and being stuck with low health. But, there is no moment more satisfying than finding a save room, right when you thought you'd have to restart the entire game.
For the brave and willing, the ink ribbon system will give you some of the most memorable gaming moments ever.
Resident Evil was a landmark title in 1996 that ushered in mature console horror gaming. By 2002, its impact had been weakened, but Capcom addressed this with this nearly flawless remake. The lightning, detailed CG backgrounds, and high-polygon models still look fantastic and keep the game from feeling goofy in the way the original PlayStation games are now.
For those who think they can handle the challenge and scares of this classic, you'll need to readjust how you approach games. Resident Evil was never the norm. Its pacing and unforgiving design limit its audience, but all of its misperceived flaws are essential to the experience. The controls aren't sluggish but intentionally slow, making intense moments more intense. The ink ribbon system and limited inventory ask players to make constant sacrifices that add weight to their actions.
It's clear that Resident Evil is an abnormal, obtuse game, but everything about it adds up to one of the most unique, memorable horror games of all time. Resident Evil (1996) may have spawned the genre, RE2 may have broadened its scope, but this remake is the crown jewel of the genre.
[And yes, I love RE4, but it's not survival horror.]


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Storm Emergency FAQ's - Spanish
Public Works is the department in the Town of Windsor that handles emergency calls relating to public facilities that are plugged or public roads that are inundated. Please contact 838-1000. After-hour calls will be automatically routed to the Town's answering service and will contact the Public Works standby personnel to respond.
For public street trees or trees in a public park, contact Public Works at 838-1000. Residents are responsible for fallen private trees. If the tree has fallen onto a public street, contact Public Works. If the caller believes the situation is a public safety hazard, call 9-1-1.
The Town does not provide sand or sandbags to residents. Residents may contact the following nearby stores to purchase sand and/or sandbags:
If your property is in the unincorporated area of Sonoma County, please contact Sonoma County Water Agency Operations at 523-1070.
Call 9-1-1. Stay away from downed power lines.
Do not attempt to drive through flood waters. Contact Public Works at 838-1000 and notify them of the flooded street. If it is life-threatening emergency situation, call 9-1-1.


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Yes, you may visit Animal control Monday-Friday from 7am-4pm.
You call the Police Department. The non emergency number is 870-236-7621.
No, The City of Paragould does not currently have any ordinances on cats.
No, we do not.
Yes, I f you live in areas zoned agriculture. If you live in an area that is not zoned agriculture, you will be required to obtain a permit from the Code Enforcement Office at the cost of $5.00. You can view the Livestock and Poultry ordinance here.
We accept surrenders by court order, and in special cases. You must live in the City Limits of Paragould.
Yes, we have a limited number of traps available on loan for a fully refundable $40 deposit.
No, you currently do not have to register your dog in Paragould.
Yes, you must fill out the volunteer aplication. You can find a copy of the application on our web page. The application must be filled out in person.


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One of the more annoying duties I used to have several years ago at our cancer center was to "show the flag" at our various affiliates by attending their tumor boards. I say "annoying" not so much because the tumor boards themselves were onerous or even uninteresting but rather because traveling to them used to cut into my already limited time for research, given that these tumor boards were always scheduled on days on which I didn't have to be in clinic or the operating room. In other words, they always took place on my research days.
One of our affiliates was a nearly an hour and a half drive away, and many of them were close to an hour away. When you add up travel time and the tumor board, that's easily more than three hours eaten up, all too often right in the middle of the day. In actuality, though, several of the tumor boards themselves were quite good, one of which being the aforementioned one that required nearly a 90 minute drive to reach. (It helped that they served a really nice breakfast there, too, but they also have really stimulating discussion about various cancer cases.) One of the weird things about these tumor boards is that I was viewed as–and I quote–the "outside expert." This was particularly disconcerting the first year I had the job. There I was, fresh out of fellowship, being looked up to as the "expert" by physicians, many of whom who may have been in practice for 10, 20, or even 30 years. Somehow I managed to muddle through without making too big a fool of myself. These days, years later, I almost even feel as though, for breast cancer at least, I am worthy of the appellation of "outside expert." Experience does matter, I guess.
Maybe about three years ago, I found myself attending a tumor board at one of our affiliates that brought up issues that I do not see that often. It brought up a rather difficult issue, one that I hadn't given as much thought to before as perhaps I should have or that I have in the years since I started blogging actively about so-called "alternative" medicine. I hadn't been expecting anything out of the ordinary when I arrived at the hospital auditorium. As usual, I said hello to the oncologist who runs the tumor board, a private practice oncologist for whom I had considerable respect and with whom I have shared a few patients. There were some amusing technological difficulties with the computer projection of the radiological studies and pathology slides having to do with a problem moving between a Mac and a PC with the projector, and my attempt to apply my knowledge of the Macintosh in the service of helping them figure out the problem was in essence rebuffed. So, I sat down and let them figure it out on their own without my input, concentrating instead on the coffee and breakfast that was provided. (A common theme for morning tumor boards is food, in case you hadn't guessed by now. Attendance rises in direct proportion to the quality and quantity of food.)
The first two cases presented were not particularly unusual, and we discussed them in a pretty standard fashion, but the last case presented was tragic in the extreme. If you've been a regular reader of this blog, you may have an idea of the general parameters, but this one shocked even me. The case involved a woman in her early 30's, who presented to a surgeon with a small palpable breast mass. Her primary care doctor had appropriately ordered a mammogram and ultrasound, which the surgeon dutifully presented. The odd thing was that the films were from 2002. The surgeon presenting explained that this woman had presented over three years prior to him for the evaluation of this mass. On mammogram, there was a mass less than 1 cm in diameter, which was confirmed by ultrasound. The edges of the mass weren't quite smooth enough to consider it very likely benign. Consequently, the mass fell into that gray areay that we in the biz call "indeterminate," which is basically a code word for "we don't know if it's cancer or not and the imaging doesn't look sufficiently 'benign' for us just to follow it." To put it even more bluntly, it needed a biopsy. The surgeon described how he dutifully did an ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of the small nodule.
The results? Adenocarcinoma. Breast cancer. Not much of a surprise, given the appearance on ultrasound.
Here's where things got interesting. Apparently, this woman was a die-hard believer in "alternative medicine." And I do mean "die hard," as she will quite likely die very hard for her beliefs, if she has not already in the interval between this tumor board and now. She absolutely refused any surgery or treatment for her cancer. It was explained to her that a less than 1 cm tumor with no evidence of spread to the lymph nodes carried a highly favorable prognosis, with upwards of 93% long term survival with proper surgery and radiation therapy combined with adjuvant chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. Here was a patient surgeons love, because we have a very high probability of curing her.
This woman would have none of it. She wanted to pursue "alternative" medicine. And pursue it she did, with a vengeance. For three years, she disappeared off the radar screen.
A few weeks prior to the tumor board, she had reappeared in this surgeon's office. In the interim, she had tried Essiac tea, homeopathy, Hoxsey therapy, the Gerson treatment, and Reiki therapy, among others, all the while visiting various "healers." The results? If you've been reading here, you can guess the result.
Her tumor had progressed.
Not only had the tumor progressed, but it had progressed a lot. When the surgeon saw her again, now more than three years after her diagnosis, her tumor had grown to 5-6 cm in size. It was now stuck to the chest wall, distorting her nipple, and ulcerating through the skin in a five centimeter area of bleeding, disgusting goo. Indeed, the surgeon even showed a picture of it. In addition, she had developed easily palpable axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm) on physical exam and complained of bone pain strongly suggestive of metastases to the bone. Even if she did not now have metatastic disease to the bone, her chances of cure had been vastly diminished, as she had clearly moved up from a highly curable clinical Stage I to a difficult to cure clinical stage IIIC. (If she had bone metastases, she was no longer curable at all.) This patient was in serious trouble. You would think that, finally–finally–she would have realized her mistake in not having gone with surgery and conventional medicine.
You would be mistaken.
The patient still steadfastly refused all surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Against all evidence that the course she had chosen thus far had not resulted in the elimination of her tumor that she expected, she nonetheless insisted on continuing with various alternative medicine treatments. Against all evidence to the contrary, she continued to refuse any form of "conventional medicine." She still believed that her " healer" could save her life, even though she now had a large, bleeding, stinking mass in her breast stuck to her chest wall that had three years ago been a pea-sized cancer that could have easily been excised with a small surgical procedure. She was well on her way to dying in the horrific way that so many women died of this disease 100 years ago. And the cost was more than just the growth of the tumor. The woman had three small children at the time of her diagnosis. Seeing what was happening to her, her husband had finally recently filed for divorce and custody of the children, basing his claim on the fact that, due to her progressing cancer, the poor woman would soon no longer be able to care for them properly and that she had rebuffed all of his attempts to persuade her to get proper medical treatment. He was right. Hearing this tragic case, I felt myself becoming simultaneously enraged and a little bit choked up. By presenting this case, the surgeon was in essence asking for advice, and none of us really had any words of wisdom to give him. He was up against religious or quasireligious fervor, and no amount of reality would change this woman's mind in any way. He was desperate to help her but utterly helpless in the face of her beliefs. His only hope was that she had actually come to him again. Maybe he could finally reach her.
It was at this point the discussion took a second unexpected turn.
The medical oncologist who ran this particular tumor board stood up and addressed the attendees. She emphatically said that she viewed this case as a failure of the medical system. The medical system failed, she claimed, because it had been unable to reach this woman, because this woman had not gotten psychological help to help her to see the truly self-destructive course that she was taking. I had to disagree strongly and told her so.
The discussion became considerably more animated after that, with several doctors taking issue, including me.
How, I (and others) asked, could this be a failure of the medical system when the woman was given all the information necessary to make an informed choice and chose quackery? How, we asked, can this be a failure of the medical system when the woman continued in this course despite the fact that her primary care doctor, her surgeon, and her family begged her over and over and over again to reconsider? How, we asked, can this be a failure of the medical system when the tumor's progression was obvious to even the most casual observer, given that it now was bleeding and eroding through the skin? We pointed out that the old cliché that you can take a horse to water but you can't make him drink applies very well to this case. The woman had been given every opportunity. She had been brought right up to the water three years ago. It was not the system's fault that she wouldn't take the last step and take a drink. She had been (and was at the time of the tumor board) a competent adult. (I do not know if she still is, because I do not know if she is still alive.) Unlike minors, she is perfectly free to refuse treatment or to opt for whatever treatment she wishes, no matter how blatant the quackery. There are just some people for whom no amount of counseling or discussion will persuade. Respect for patient autonomy tells us that we must not force her to undergo the appropriate treatment, no matter how much it breaks our hearts to see a young woman with three young children throw her life way.
Faced with these objections, the oncologist changed her emphasis a little, and said that, had this been her patient, she would have viewed the failure to persuade her to see reason as a personal failure. I could see this point of view somewhat, but even so she seemed to be being a bit harsh on herself. On the one hand, I could respect her point of view, in which the inability to persuade a patient not to throw her life away would have been viewed as a profound professional and personal failure as a doctor. On the other hand, not everyone can be persuaded, no matter how good a physician is. If this woman had any mental illness that was leading her down this path, it couldn't be discerned, unless one defines failure to face reality as a mental illness. If that were the case, a large proportion of the population would have to be hospitalized, given the rampant credulity and failure to face reality about so many issues that plagues our society. Indeed, refusing to face reality seems to be part of human nature. It's just uncommon for it to be taken to such an extreme.
I used to be very reluctant to agree with a couple of my co-bloggers when they call alternative medicine "cult" medicine, but this woman demonstrated that maybe they know something I don't. What else could explain her extreme inability to admit what was happening to her? What else could explain her inability to recognize or admit that all the quackery she had tried up until that point had failed utterly? What else could explain her intention to pursue even more of the same? I still think of her, two or three years later. These days, I wonder if she is still alive. Chances are, her faith in "alternative" medicine killed her sometime between that tumor board and now.
The discussion ended unresolved, although most of us weren't able to think of anything further that could have been done in 2002, nor could we think of anything that could be done then, given that the patient was still refusing any sort of non-alternative therapy. Indeed, we were rather puzzled why she came back now if she were sure that she had no intention of accepting any sort of conventional therapy. Perhaps even she didn't know, or perhaps her coming back was a cry for help, a manifestation of a realization that she didn't want to face that her choice was clearly not working and her health was seriously deterioriating. Whatever the case, in situations like this, no matter how frustrated and powerless we feel, all we can do as doctors is to be there, ready to help and nonjudgmental as possible–and hope that when and if the patient comes back there is still something we can do.


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… in the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes that the most charitable description of what's been going on at the clubby University of Minnesota medical school would be "bizarre."
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Mr. Michael McNabb again provides an interesting and very topical guest post. He has previously contributed the series: University Inc., and University Inc., Part Two. These have received wide attention by those interested in the financial situation at the University of Minnesota. Matters in this area are in disrepair and need the attention of all Minnesota citizens.
At the Higher Education Committee hearing on February 22, 2011, President Bruininks told the state representatives that the annual salary of the new president is within market range for the position.
This is the same justification used to pay tens of millions of dollars in annual bonuses to Wall Street executives. As if the market were a God to whom homage must be paid. The "Masters of the Universe" who are the chief executive officers of those Wall Street firms have an unwavering confidence that the market always makes the correct determination in economic matters. Their misplaced confidence combined with greed to bring our national economy to the brink of chaos.
So what compensation is necessary to attract good people to positions of leadership in public service today? Let us compare the annual salaries of senior administrators at the University to those of the leaders in state government.
University of Minnesota | State of Minnesota | ||
President | $610,000 | Governor | $124,459 |
President UofM Foundation | $427,887 | ||
Athletic Director | $418,032 | ||
VP Health Sciences | $481,500 | Health Commissioner | $112,126 |
Assoc VP health sciences | $407,774 | ||
Provost | $342,310 | Lieutenant governor | $80,892 |
General Counsel | $293,810 | Attorney General | $118,238 |
Senior VP budget | $359,564 | Commissioner Budget | $114,721 |
VP budget | $240,000 | Commissioner revenue | $112,126 |
Senior VP academic admt | $282,560 | Commissioner admt | $112,126 |
VP equity & diversity | $251,280 | Commissioner human rts | $112,126 |
Dean Law School | $386,500 | ||
Dean Business School | $478,560 | ||
Dean Public Health | $349,548 | ||
Dean IT | $283,000 |
The State of Minnesota attracts numerous qualified persons for its positions of leadership. Is there any reason to believe that those positions are less demanding than comparable positions at the University of Minnesota or require less intelligence or less skill? Is there any reason to believe that the University could not also attract qualified persons who are dedicated to public service to its positions of leadership at salaries comparable to state pay?
The source of the annual salaries listed above is the Pioneer Press web site for Minnesota Public Salaries at http://extra.twincities.com/car/salaries/default.aspx.
There is more information of interest on the web site. If you enter the title of the position at the U of M, the site displays the annual salaries for all the persons with that title.
The 9 provosts have annual salaries in the range of $124,479 to $342,310.
The 18 chancellors have annual salaries in the range of $68,278 to $256,530. (Only five chancellors have an annual salary less than $98,000.)
The 40 vice presidents have annual salaries in the range of $117,580 to $481,500.
The 112 deans have annual salaries in the range of $84,000 to $606,000. (Only six deans have an annual salary less than $100,000.)
From fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2011 the state appropriations for the University declined from $709 million to $591 million. See p. 3 of the March 10, 2010 report Financing the Future at http://www1.umn.edu/regents/docket/2010/march/boardhandout1.pdf.
Yet the costs of administration did not decline. Just the opposite. The amount for "institutional support" (also known as costs of administration) exploded at the University from $108.9 million for fiscal year 2005 to $234.3 million for fiscal year 2010. See the Table on costs of administration in Section 3 of University Inc. Part II at http://ptable.blogspot.com/2011/02/draft-as-university-transforms-itself.html#links .
The University is a non-profit public institution whose leaders are supposed to be dedicated to public service and not to the enhancement of their own private wealth. This year the state legislators can impress this point upon senior administrators by making the grant of state appropriations subject to the condition that the budget of the University must include a reduction in institutional support to the 2007 level at a minimum.
It is the public service of a non-profit organization that qualifies it for tax-exempt status. See section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS is currently reviewing the compliance of non-profit colleges and universities with the statutory requirements. The compensation paid to senior administrators is part of this review. See Figure 65 on p. 58 of the Interim Report on Non-Profit Colleges and Universities Compliance Project at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/cucp_interimrpt_052010.pdf
To the best of my recollection, no great scientific discoveries, no insightful social science tracts, and no novels have been produced in Morrill Hall. No classes are taught in Morrill Hall. No patients are made well in Morrill Hall. . . . Without authority invested where the real work of this University is done, the light of excellence will only grow dimmer.
Michael W. McNabb
University of Minnesota B.A. 1971; J.D. 1974
University of Minnesota Alumni Association life member
2 comments:
I want to thank you Michael and Bill for your tenacity and refreshing skepticism. I can hear the cogs groan behind their deafening inertia.
John Brown - March 7, 2011 at 3:13 AM
if everyone on that list took an 18% pay cut, it would save the U over $1m.
- March 8, 2011 at 12:51 PM
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The European Commission has given its OK to China National Offshore Oil Co.'s $15.1-billion bid for Calgary's Nexen Inc.
Both companies are active in oil and gas plays around the world.
Nexen, for example, has operations in the North Sea so the proposed deal required approval under the European Union's merger regulation.
The major hurdle for the deal is a review under the Investment Canada Act, which will determine if it is of net benefit to Canada.
The review deadline is this coming Monday, but that could be extended.
Ottawa has also promised new guidelines on foreign investment amid criticism that the net benefit test lacks clarity and consistency.
Canada's spy agency raised a red flag on foreign investment by state-owned firms in its annual report earlier this year.
Though CSIS didn't name specific countries or companies, it said certain state-owned enterprises have pursued what it called opaque agendas or received clandestine intelligence support for their pursuits in Canada.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said the Nexen-CNOOC deal "raises a range of difficult policy questions."
CNOOC and Nexen have a pre-existing relationship. Last year, CNOOC scooped up Opti Canada, Nexen's beleaguered minority partner in its troubled Long Lake oilsands project. The two firms also worked together in the Gulf of Mexico.
While Nexen's headquarters are in Calgary, its strategic importance to Canada is questionable.
Only about 30 per cent of its forecasted daily production in 2012 is from its Canadian operations, with the vast majority coming from offshore platforms in the North Sea and elsewhere around the globe.
For more from the Canadian Press scroll down The Tyee's main page or click here.