text:
Skip to comments.Priest (Fr. Benedict Groeschel) plays down abuse crisis; helps clergy keep jobs
Posted on 03/02/2003 8:54:18 AM PST by sinkspur
Prominent friar's counseling criticized by NJ diocese, victims
In the world according to Father Benedict Groeschel, the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal is largely the stuff of fiction. Reporters "doing the work of Satan" are driven to lie, the New York priest says, because they hate the church's moral teachings.
These are not the opinions of a marginal figure. Indeed, Father Groeschel is one of the most prominent priests in America, reaching millions with his books, tapes, parish lectures and regular appearances on the Eternal Word Television Network.
His stature is high among many church leaders, too he has heard the confessions of a cardinal, consulted with the Vatican on a case for sainthood, been a friend to Mother Teresa.
The preface to his media-blaming 2002 book From Scandal to Hope was written by Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who praised Father Groeschel for putting the abuse scandal in context.
For all his commentary on the crisis, Father Groeschel has revealed few details about his role as a player in it: He has been a key figure for 30 years in the loose-knit nationwide network of therapists who have helped troubled priests keep working.
The Franciscan friar's base is a mansion on Long Island Sound, where he runs the Archdiocese of New York's spiritual development office and Trinity Retreat Center for clergy. There, according to his own written account, he has counseled hundreds of his brethren and "happily, 85 priests have returned to the active ministry."
Father Groeschel, who declined interview requests, has not said publicly how many of his clients were accused of abuse. Archdiocesan spokesman Joseph Zwilling would not comment on Father Groeschel.
Dallas Bishop Charles Grahmann has allowed one of his priests, removed from parish work after the diocese concluded he had abused a girl, to help manage the retreat center in recent years. That priest, the Rev. Richard T. Brown, moved to a hermitage a few months ago and "is not contactable," said Father Groeschel's secretary, June Pulitano. Neither she nor Bishop Grahmann's spokesman, Bronson Havard, would identify the hermitage.
Mr. Zwilling said Father Brown "never did any pastoral work" in the archdiocese and did not have its permission to serve as a priest there.
Leaders of the neighboring Diocese of Paterson, N.J., one of several that sent business to Father Groeschel, blamed three "unfortunate" reassignments on his advice. Two of those priests were subsequently accused of misconduct in their new jobs.
"We relied on his recommendations," said Marianna Thompson, spokeswoman for Paterson Bishop Frank Rodimer. Father Groeschel used words such as "transformation," she said, and helped arrange transfers between dioceses.
Ms. Thompson said Father Groeschel had much to recommend him he had taught pastoral psychology at Catholic institutions and had a doctorate in psychology from Columbia University's Teachers College. He had close ties to the late New York Cardinal John O'Connor, who endorsed the friar's secession from a Franciscan order in the 1980s and formation of a new group that has won renown for service to the poor. The cardinal earlier had Father Groeschel prepare the sainthood case for the previous leader of New York Catholics, Cardinal Terence Cooke, for whom the priest had served as confessor.
In From Scandal to Hope, completed shortly before the nation's bishops met in Dallas last summer, Father Groeschel acknowledged that some priests had abused boys. He described the problem as "active homosexuality with minors," stressing that most victims were teenagers and never mentioning girls.
"Many of the cases now in the papers are about clergy who, perhaps under the influence of alcohol two or three decades ago, engaged in improper actions, but not sexual acts," he wrote. "They went into treatment and have behaved well over the years."
Father Groeschel also said that church leaders sometimes had relied, to their detriment, on the advice of behavioral experts.
"I've been involved in psychology for four decades, and we in the profession were naïve enough to think that these offenders could almost always be cured," he wrote. Therapists "often were correct in their assessments," but "were sometimes tragically wrong about a particular case."
Father Groeschel said nothing in his book about his own success rate in treating priests.
He saved his harshest words for the news media's coverage of the abuse issue, which he called a "blitz of lies." Like Adolf Hitler, he wrote, news organizations are "spreading lies in order to destroy" the Catholic Church.
"When a scandal occurs," the priest wrote, "about two percent of what is said in the media is true." Last month, he made similar statements to a standing-room-only crowd at a suburban Boston church.
Such statements have infuriated victims. "It just burns me to no end," said Buddy Cotton, who has accused the Rev. James Hanley of abusing him in the Paterson Diocese and recently called Bishop Rodimer to complain about Father Groeschel.
The bishop, Mr. Cotton said, agreed that Father Groeschel "had failed a lot of victims."
Ms. Thompson, the bishop's spokeswoman, said Father Groeschel's critique of the media was misguided. "Bishop Rodimer has told the media, 'Thank you for opening the window on this,' " she said. "The media have been fair. We created this story, not the press."
The victims
Father Groeschel has said he is sensitive to victims. "As a psychologist for priests, I have occasionally spoken to the victims of priests and to their families," he wrote in From Scandal to Hope. "I can only say that I am deeply, deeply grieved. I often had to accept their anger, not directed personally at me, but at Church authorities. ...
"I am willing," he added, "to suffer with the victims."
Mark Serrano, who also has said that Father Hanley abused him as a boy, questioned Father Groeschel's sincerity. His skepticism, he said, is based on an experience he had after his family's complaints led Bishop Rodimer to suspend Father Hanley.
In 1986, the year after the abuse complaints, Mr. Serrano agreed to talk to Father Groeschel, who was counseling Father Hanley. Mr. Serrano, who was then a college student, said he thought the counselor "wanted more information" for therapeutic purposes. Instead, Mr. Serrano said, Father Groeschel lashed out at him.
"He said, 'Why don't you stop harassing this poor priest? He's a sick man. You are wrong for what you're doing to him.' "
Monsignor Kenneth Lasch, a Paterson diocesan priest, said he had urged Mr. Serrano to talk with Father Groeschel because the friar had expressed pastoral concern for Mr. Serrano "something like, 'Mark seems to be a troubled person.' "
Hearing Mr. Serrano's account of what ensued "left me very, very uncomfortable," Monsignor Lasch said, "and made me wonder what was going on" at Father Groeschel's retreat center.
Father Groeschel's 2002 book warned that Catholics would still face a crisis after "the media monster ... slither[s] away to attack other victims." He prescribed a return to conservative moral teachings, saying that nothing would restore confidence in church leadership "better than a firm stance against pornography, extramarital sex, abortion, euthanasia and the general moral decline of the United States. ... Tough topics like contraception and autoeroticism need to be consistently and publicly addressed."
He said that the news media fail to mention that most priests aren't pedophiles, that cover-ups occur in other denominations, and that abusers "are among the most penitent people I've ever met in my whole life."
He cited the example of the late Atlanta Archbishop Eugene Marino, who resigned in 1990 after an affair with a young woman in lay ministry and went to Father Groeschel's retreat center, in the New York City suburb of Larchmont. He "lived a life of extreme humiliation, humility and penitence," Father Groeschel wrote.
In the mid-1990s, Archbishop Marino became spiritual director of the outpatient Clergy Consultation and Treatment Service at St. Vincent's Hospital, near Trinity Retreat. It was formed at the request of the late Cardinal O'Connor and works closely with the retreat center.
One priest who was counseled by Archbishop Marino and Father Groeschel was the Rev. Morgan Kuhl.
He was sent to them in 1999, after he solicited sex online from undercover officers posing as adolescent boys and was arrested. The subsequent FBI investigation showed that he had met teens this way and abused them.
Clergy treatment
The prosecution of Father Kuhl, who has been removed from ministry, opened a rare window into the Catholic clergy treatment system.
A psychologist who evaluated Father Kuhl for federal prosecutors recommended that he "be enrolled in a program specific to sex offenders," not just in the general psychotherapy and spiritual counseling he was getting. Dr. Barry Katz wrote that the priest "expressed regret over the effects that his actions have had upon himself, but no remorse for the effect that his actions have had upon the minors with whom he was involved."
After pleading guilty, Father Kuhl apologized to a judge for "the hurt and the embarrassment that I have caused so many other people." He also said he had devoted his life to helping others, and had learned in church-sponsored therapy "that there was one person I never did seem to try to help, and that was myself."
U.S. District Judge Anne Thompson initially sentenced Father Kuhl to a short prison term followed by house arrest. But she later reduced the penalty, over the objections of prosecutor Donna Krappa, to five years of probation and ordered the priest to "adhere to the program requirements at Trinity Retreat."
In advocating probation, Father Groeschel represented himself to the court as a counseling psychologist, Ms. Krappa said in an interview. New York state officials said he has never had the license generally required for use of that title. Using the title without a license is a misdemeanor, state officials said.
"I think that the judge would have been interested in this fact," Ms. Krappa said, "when she considered the quality of treatment Father Kuhl was receiving through the archdiocese."
My take on this media circus is not so much the abuse (although it is detestable) ..Abuse could and does happen everywhere today..the issue is in the coverup and the indifference to the potential future victim
This priest is in a state of denial IMHO
Do you have any comments as to why Groeschel chose not to comment to the writer of this article?
Oh, I forgot. Groeschel blames the media for the sexual abuse crisis.
It's best left under the rug.
I've got another article that I will have to type in, but it details how a Dallas priest, Fr. Richard T. Brown, identified by the bishop of Dallas as a sexual perpetrator (the bishop of Dallas, no less), was relieved of duty in Dallas, and then went to work with Father John Hardon (yes, the Father Hardon), and helped him lead retreats for adults in Detroit.
It sure is in my own diocese, but us laity are getting the upper hand here finally: Altoona-Johnstown Diocese muzzles priests [threat of excommunication]: "Bishop must end cover-up" ^
Lots and lots of cover-up still goin' on.
How is it orthodox or conservative to minimize or shift blame for the sexual abuse of children by priests? Or to berate victims when they come to you for help?
Is it any wonder that this stuff kept on happening? Not even a saintly man like Groeschel saw how perverse it was to keep putting these guys back in situations where they could abuse children again!
This is just an attack on a holy man, and you can't wait to attack another holy priest, may he rest in peace.
This is just an attack on a holy man, and you can't wait to attack another holy priest, may he rest in peace.
You accept this as fact because it is printed in a newspaper article? Come on. Everyone is smarter than that, sinkspur.
In the whole of the Catholic Church in the US, this problem does not concern large numbers of priests, though it is very hurtful. The article is written to make it sound like Fr. Groeschel is blowing the problem off, when it seems to me he's only putting it into perspective. The above quote shows where the majority of the problems lie, and that can only be solved by weeding out those men during their Seminary training when it shows up, and it always does.
He may have sent a few priests back to active ministry, but remember, the most egregious of these molesters are usually described as nice men who are very popular in their Parishes. They could very well have snowed the therapists into thinking they were just fine and could be trusted again.
You make this sort of declaration with only a newspaper story or two to back it up. That is truly pitiful and reprehensible, sinkspur.
No the records are clear and obvious on Bishop Hubbard in Albany, Bishop Imesch, and we all know about Cardinal George letting Al Sharpton preach at St. Sabina's (TALK ABOUT OUTRAGE). And we know about Bishop Adamec who has been proven to be one of the worst human beings in the episcopate. But Father Groeschel is a great and living saint, and this sort of assault on him is just like that drunkard Christopher Hitchens bitter attack on Mother Teresa. In the end it is more revealing about the author's agenda than it is about the person they are attacking.
Mary, Queen of All Saints, pray for us.
A holy man who recommended that child abusers be put back into the active ministry.
Do saints berate victims of sexual abuse?
Saints are not sugar-coated perfections. They have flaws and other problems. You know being canonized does not depend on perfection in disposition. Were that true none of the Irish and Celtic saints would be saints.
Enough of you, sinkspur. You treat these little newspaper articles the way Baptists treat the Bible and Muslims regard the Quran. There has to be a whole lot more documentation before your statement can be proven. And you haven't stopped to consider who is trying to cover their behind by accusing Father Groeschel. "No, no, it wasn't our fault, it was him, the old gray haired Franciscan!"
Cardinal Law was "popular" among Catholics. So were many of the priests who abused countless young men.
Either the accusations outlined in the two articles are true, or they're not. If they're not, then Groeschel should come out and deny them. If he didn't tell a young sexual abuse victim who came to him for help to "stop persecuting a good man," he should deny it.
If they are true, Groeschel should say he's sorry for participating in one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the Catholic Church.
That's all he needs to do.
Groeschel can add to that documentation immensely by denying everything in these articles. People are likely to believe him over a bishop's spokesman anyway.
You should encourage him to defend himself.
And you haven't stopped to consider who is trying to cover their behind by accusing Father Groeschel. "No, no, it wasn't our fault, it was him, the old gray haired Franciscan!"
Bishop Rodimer has admitted his role in covering for these priests.
That "old gray haired Franciscan" passes himself off as a counseling psychologist, and has taken a public stance accusing the media of doing "the work of Satan" by exposing the clerical abuse scandal. He admits to working with abusive priests.
Did Groeschel, or did he not, recommend that priests be returned to ministry who later began abusing young people again? That's a "yes" or "no" question.
ALL of the priests who did these horrible things took vows of celibacy.
I would never impugn every priest for the actions of a few. But those few did a lot of damage.
Does anyone disgree with that? The damage done is not a question, but there are questions about the conclusions drawn by many to the actions of the guilty. It is especially atrocious when a priest, who is charged with a special duty, does this, and they are held to a higher standard by the Almighty. For them, it would have been better if a millstone was hung around their neck, and you know the rest. But it is blindness to say that there aren't those who are using these problems for their own agenda.
Well, I did a little googling, and voila: the author of the article is, in fact, chairman of the Texas chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists.
Whatever mistakes Fr. Groeschel made in the specific cases cited, he is absolutely right when he says that the chief problem is "active homosexuality with minors."
And it is true that the media have blown the problem out of proportion, in relation to the level abuse in Protestant denominations and other institutions.
If he has credible evidence that Fr. Groeschel intentionally placed priests that he knew would reoffend, then out with it.
The media have studiously avoided using the term "homosexuality" and have dishonestly instead used "pedophilia" to describe the context of this crisis.
I know your purpose in posting this is to promote your cause of a married priesthood, but posting this kind of biased, agenda-driven crap is below you.
Groeschel is delusional, like many prelates in the church. Either that, or he has intentionally ignored the depositions made by hundreds of victims. Then again, he is a professionally trained psychologist. As such, he can justify just about any act away, by ascribing some psychobabble term to the condition..
No, folks, we are witnessing a cleansing of the church. It may take years before all of these miscreants are purged from Holy Mother Church. More important will be the fate of the Holy Father. How the cardinals vote after he dies, may well determine the future course taken by the church. Until then, let heads roll.
Nobody "intentionally" placed priests that would reoffend. But many psychologists and bishops turned on the victims of these predators, lambasting them and trying to shut them up. Whatever was known about abusers ten or twenty years ago, one thing has always been known: they and not the victims, were responsible and should have been blamed. Not the victims, or the media, or the "liberal environment."
I know your purpose in posting this is to promote your cause of a married priesthood, but posting this kind of biased, agenda-driven crap is below you.
Nonsense. My purpose in posting this is to show how deep into the Church this cover-up extended. Even a good man like Groeschel got ground up in the Church machinery, covering for scoundrels.
This is not "biased, agenda-driven crap." It's either true, or it's not.
What ought to be beneath you is the sexual orientation of the author. He has written countless articles about this scandal, especially on priests in the Dallas Diocese.
If he had an agenda in keeping with his homosexuality, he wouldn't write a word about it.
For instance. Groeschel says that the media is doing the devil's work NOT in reporting the scandals (for that he is grateful) but in that they do it to disgrace and shame the Church into shutting up about what She stands for -- like celibacy (for all in whatever calling they have) and fidelity and stands against --- like abortion and birth control and names -- like sin. I see the subtle hate for the Church in my own city's newspaper, The Boston Globe. It's rather thought provoking that ALL archived stories (over two days old) are only viewable by paying $2.95 per article. That is, EXCEPT for each and every story on the scandal in the Church --- they are FREE! And located on the front page for easy viewing.
All the libs, Catholic and non, can't stand Fr. Groeschel, Fr. Neuhaus, Bishop Bruskewitz, EWTN and Mother Angelica. Why? Because they adhere and teach and preach FIDELITY. I do (a very) loose poll on the above people all the time. I've never been disappointed, like I said, the libs turn their noses up at the above list. Interestingly, the SSPXers do as well. But that is another thread.
From a talk given by Father Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. about a year ago in Yonkers concerning the present crisis:
Does this shake your faith in the Church? I hope so, because ultimately your faith should not be in the Church, ultimately. Ultimately our faith is in Jesus Christ, and we accept the Church. We support the Church. We belong to the Church because Christ established the Church.
Somebody who belongs to the Church as a big organization, as a great philanthropic thing or the great social catalyst or whatever else you want to think, theyre going to be badly shaken. They may get out.
But we belong to the Church as the crucified body of Jesus Christ. If the Church is the body of Christ, dont be surprised that its crucified. Dont be surprised that its dragged through the streets and spat upon and wounded and crowned with thorns. Thats whats going on right now.
The Church is the body of Christ, and when you love the Church, you should love it as the body of Christ.
Our dear Holy Father on Good Friday wrote this: In the acute pain of the suffering servant, we hear already the triumphant cry of the risen Lord. Christ on the cross is the King of the new people, ransom from the burden of sin and death, however twisted and confused the course of history may appear. We know that by walking in the footsteps of the crucified we shall attain to that goal. Amid the conflicts of a world dominated by selfishness and hatred, we as believers are called to proclaim the victory of love. Today, Good Friday, we testify to the victory of Christ crucified.
Not so long ago, the Catholic Church seemed to be very triumphant. I lived through those days at the end of the council. The Church seemed to be very powerful, and Ive lived to see the mystical body of Christ crucified, betrayed, attacked, abandoned by the frightened apostles. And were all part of it. Were all part of it. Dont ever exempt yourself. I reproach myself every day that unwittingly I went along and stupidly I got involved in things that ultimately did not serve the Church or Christ so well.
Turn to Christ.
Funny how some lambasted Michael Rose for not interviewing the rectors of the seminaries he was writing about and the author of the article posted here has done the same thing.
I'd like to comment here on the statement that the author makes concerning Fr. Groeschel's "only 2% of what is in the media is true" -- what he said is (I read transcript of that talk here in Boston in February) "98% of what is in the media is overblown" -- which is true. For God's sake, if you live here in Boston and you depend on what you read in the paper or hear on the news, you'd think that there were about 80% of the clergy who have abused both boys and girls -- know why? Because it is NEVER cited that 85 to 90% of the abuse is of boys - and mostly adolescent boys at that - because "homosexuality" is a non-topic that the media will not touch. Interestingly, none of the "progressive" Catholic groups like CTA, CORPUS, We Are Church or Voice of the Faithful will mention homosexuality, either. And all of the above mentioned groups and the media seek to marginalize the Church and maximize themselves.
OK, I am ranting, I know it. But this article is trash.
Give a maniac a gun, and he can do a lot of damage.
If the media is the maniac, who gave him the gun?
That is an incredibly unfair statement. No ethical counselor or psychologist sweeps away criminal or perverse acts. Unethical ones who are sick themselves may do this, however there are plenty of good ones out there who do not. It is unfair to include them in such a broad generalization.
So you get the media coming and going.
If the media reports about a priest who blames the media for the scope of the abuse crisis, then the media is trying to smear him?
There's lots of smoke here that Groeschel was at the heart of returning some of these abusers back to the active ministry. There's also at least one victim who said he tried to intimidate him into keeping quiet.
Those are the very things that brought down Cardinal Law. Law, in fact, relied on psychologists like Groeschel to tell them what to do with these abusers.
There is a huge lawsuit in Boston against the so-called "experts" who advised Law about abusive priests. I suspect Groeschel will get dragged into some of these lawsuits when they work their way around to the Paterson, NJ, diocese.
Stop blaming the media. Protestant churches have these same kinds of problems, but they are much quicker on the trigger to fire abusive ministers than the Catholic Church has been.
One of the best refutations of the "it's the media's fault" excuse is Brooklyn priest Fr. Joseph Wilson's response to this statement from Priests For Life which parroted that accusation in May 2002.
Here is an excerpt from Fr. Wilson's response:
Now, Mr. DeStefano crosses over the line into the offensive and the harmful when he speaks in this essay of the media. I read with disbelief lines such as, "But, come on; we know what this is really about, don't we? The current feeding frenzy in the press has little to do with any real concern for the victims of sexual abuse. ...Throughout this country the haters of the Catholic Church are grinding their axes, ecstatic the chance..." Or this chestnut: "All the indignant cries for justice emanating from the Church-bashers in the media are a sham." Or this; "...their true aim is to hurt the Church, to damage its credibility..."
What could one possibly say that is bad enough about such a superficial, shallow analysis?
First off, one distinguishes between factual reporting and opinion/editorial. Factual reporting one judges on the basis of the comprehensiveness, fairness and clarity of the reporting of facts. Op/ed, being opinion, rises or falls on the strength of the facts on which it is based, the case that is built upon them, and the mode of expression. In my own judgment, for example, the opinion pieces of Jimmy Breslin are skewed, biased and worthless, although he has the right to express those opinions. But I had better be able to distinguish between the opinion pieces and the reporting.
Friday morning I watched Massachusetts D. A. Margaret Coakley preside at the press conference on the arrest of Fr. Paul Shanley. She went out of her way to observe that her office lacked the resources to conduct manhunts, and to commend the media for using its resources not just to locate Fr. Shanley, but to research and profile the activities of predator priests like him so that the authorities and the public understood better the seriousness of the problem. And she observed that there were many victims who were experiencing some relief at this arrest who have the media to thank for it.
NOT the Church. The media.
With a file full, a thousand and a half pages on the disgusting activities of Shanley, two Cardinals of the Archdiocese of Boston thought he'd make a good Pastor. Because of that, a six year old boy was raped repeatedly for years by his pastor. It was the complaint of that boy, now 24 and scarred for life, which landed Shanley in jail. As far as the Church was concerned, he was fit to be a Pastor, fit to travel all over the country lecturing, fit to give a lecture as part of my seminary training. Worthy of a warm, glowing letter of commendation from Cardinal Law as late as 1997.
I honestly find Mr. DeStefano's comments about the media offensive. He begins his essay by noting that there are many good Priests. Obviously, he is concerned that they not all be tarred with the same brush. How ironic that he then turns and does precisely that to the media. In the media, and in public life, there are people who have performed a signal service to the victims, which their Church was not willing or able to perform, and they performed a service for the Church itself, which quite evidently is in more trouble than it realizes.
Take the Dallas case. NONE of the victims of Frs. Rudy Kos, Robert Peebles, or Billy Hughes went first to the media. Nor did they go first to their attorneys. They went to the Church first; there, they were stonewalled, lied to, misled as delay tactics were used to push the matter past the statute of limitations.
Fr. Peebles was arrested for attempted rape of a boy on the Air Force base where he served as chaplain. The boy, from his former parish in Dallas, was visiting him for the weekend. The Diocese of Dallas prevented his prosecution by arranging for a discharge on condition that he get treatment, as their pastor assured the boy's parents that the priest would get help. Well, he did not -- the diocese broke its promise to the parents of the boy and to the armed forces. He was reassigned, to St. Augustine Church in Dallas. From there he was arrested for abusing kids -- and the people of St. Augustine and the family of the first boy found out that in both instances, Peebles had been assigned to their parishes with prior histories of abusing kids -- and NO WARNING to the parishioners at all.
Fr. Bill Hughes carried on an affair nightly with a fifteen year old girl until her mom got suspicious and found love letters. She brought them to a trusted priest who took them and promised to pass them on --it would be dealt with. The letters were never seen again, of course, and nothing was done with Fr Hughes.
The Fr. Kos case makes no sense from soup to nuts. Married in the Church and divorced, someone wanted him in the seminary so badly that a fraudulent annulment was obtained for him DESPITE the fact that his wife contacted the diocese to say, "He can't be a PRIEST! I threw him out because he likes BOYS!" Someone wanted to keep him so badly that the administration and vicar general ignored the complaints of seminarians -- including persons known to me and friends of mine -- that Kos, in the seminary, was preying upon the college seminarians.
When the Kos case was done, the Judge did an unusual thing. He read, at the request of the jury, a statement from them publicly rebuking the Bishop of Dallas and the Vicar General for testimony which was not forthcoming and obfuscatory. Again, please remember, the victims did not first go to the press, or to the law office. But the press and the law office were their refuge, when their Church betrayed them.
And let us not palaver that nonsensical, "If we had known then what we know now..." The terrible effects of clergy sexual abuse on victims and families, and the cretinous harm done by Church stonewalling, was quite clear to us in Dallas from the 1984 Gilbert Gauthe case in Lafayette -- we had Lafayette guys studying with us. We ALL knew of the damage done by the Vicar General and Bishop there. Just as the Boston folk knew of Dallas.
I am sorry to burden you with what is already a lengthy letter, but precisely one of my problems with Mr. DeStefano's essay is that he has produced a brief cheerleading essay on an immensely complicated subject requiring nuanced care. Let me give you an example from my experience which made me cringe when I read Mr. DeStefano's strident, "For goodness sakes, enough with the Mea Culpas!"
There is a lady named Janet Patterson. She and her husband live in the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas; they have raised their family to be devout Catholics. Her son Eric, a remarkably gifted young man who had a lot of accomplishments to his credit, killed himself perhaps two years ago at the age of 29. Shortly before that, the family had discovered that the reason for the deep depression which had plagued Eric was the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of his parish priest as an altar boy, from the age of thirteen.
Janet, who is a teacher, went to the diocese to tell them about the abuse her son had suffered at the hands of Fr. Larson. The priest she spoke with in the chancery office was well known to her -- he had grown up in her town. He listened to her and grew very still and sad. He told her, "We had no idea this went back to then. Father Larson is no longer serving as a priest. We thought the abuse started in the parish after yours."
Janet left somewhat comforted. At least she had the consolation of knowing that her diocese had not knowingly put this predator, who was responsible for her son's death, in their parish.
Then, of course, she finds out that it wasn't true. Fr. Larson had indeed abused kids in the parishes before hers, and had been transferred like a chess piece. It would be nice to think that it were at least theoretically possible for chancery officials to tell the truth once in a while, but, evidently, this is not a consolation we are granted in this life. Six altar boys who had served under this priest are suicides. Fr. Larson is in jail today -- but not thanks to the Church. As for Janet and her family -- no priest has reached out to them since the allegations became public.
I was put in touch with them through the editor of The Wanderer, and we have spoken often. I asked Fr Tom Doyle, O.P., who was at the time stationed in the Midwest, to give her a call, and he said, "But she's just three states away" --and he DROVE there. But her local diocese has been of no support.
Do you know of Father Doyle? He was once the secretary to the papal pro nuncio in Washington. He helped develop the 1985 secret report on the potential ramifications of the pedophilia crisis. He produced a report predicting a staggering array of scandals, billions of dollars in legal fees etc. The report was shelved by the bishops. So was Fr. Doyle, who pressed for the report's acceptance, and was canned. He has been in an ecclesial limbo since, but has made himself helpful to the victims and their attorneys as they come up in litigation against bishops like Cardinal Law, who perpetually bleat, "But we did not know" about things that were in Fr Doyle's report to them seventeen years ago.
Mr. Horn, I wish I could say, "So, that's the story," but it isn't even the beginning of the story. It is a tiny sliver, a tiny sliver of a huge, sordid, perverted epic.
Mr. DeStefano's essay was not an encouragement to me in my "wonderful work." It was utterly demoralizing. One cannot look at this pedophilia scandal in isolation. There are at least twelve MAJOR AREAS of the life of our Church which are in serious crisis, and have been for two generations. I think of Liturgy, of Catechesis, of Scripture, of Moral Theology, of Religious Life, of Seminaries, of Priesthood, of Marriage and Family Life, for starters. I think of the faithful lay Catholics who have striven insistently to bring to the attention of the Bishops and the Holy See the crises of our Church. I think of how often it could have been the case that our Bishops might have helped and healed, if only they were capable of responding as human beings to people in pain. The whole country has been appalled at how they have at not "gotten it," at how utterly divorced from the ordinary concerns of people the bishops have been (please think of Paul Shanley roaming the country, and of the number of bishops who made that possible, in Boston and elsewhere, before you react to that).
I think of all of these things, and then I think of Mr. DeStefano's essay.
No. We have not had ENOUGH of the Mea Culpas. I do not think Janet Patterson has heard all that she needs to from the Bishop who has never been in touch with her, let alone from the Cardinal of Boston who thinks Shanley was an example of "poor record keeping," as though if the Boston chancery improves its secretarial skills there will be no pedophiles left in the archdiocese. As though two cardinals needed help figuring out what Margaret Gallant, a lay woman, knew and told them about John Geoghan: that he did not need to be a Priest.
No. We do not need to blame MTV and sexually explicit media for things we have fostered in our own institutions.
No. We should be embarrassed and ashamed to blame the media for "Church-bashing" when they are just pointing out the sordid facts about how our Bishops go about their business. If society were indifferent to the fact that there are pedophile priests, and Bishops who cover up for them, THEN we would have reason to be outraged. We have NO REASON to be outraged that they take our teachings in this area more seriously than we do. We have NO REASON to be outraged at them because they are outraged that we do not live up to our own teachings.
Whatever mistakes Fr. Groeschel made in the specific cases cited, he is absolutely right when he says that the chief problem is "active homosexuality with minors."
Bravo, well done B Knotts!
This is the bottom line, Sink.
If you had a shred of decency, you'd ask the mods to pull this homo anti-Catholic hit piece.
Perhaps you missed this, colleen:
Father Groeschel, who declined interview requests, has not said publicly how many of his clients were accused of abuse.
Unlike the rectors of the seminaries, whom Rose never asked, Groeschel was asked, and refused comment.
You can call the article "trash" if you wish. But you cannot refute Groeschel's complicity in returning men to the priesthood who had been abusers. You also cannot refute that one of the victims was verbally accosted by Groeschel and told "what you are doing to this man is wrong."
If Egerton's wrong, or is engaged in a smear, there is one man who can clear things up and whom I would believe over the author.
Let's see if he'll come forward.
I really thought you above this kind of thing, at least after the agenda of the author has been revealed.
Swallow your pride and admit your article is a gay agenda driven hit piece to which Groeschel has to obligation no respond, OK?
Its too easy to see through this, now that the other pieces of the puzzle are revealed.
What's the bottom line? That the abusers are homosexual men preying on adolescents?
If that's the case, then why did Groeschel recommend that they be returned to the ministry, some in ministry involving young men? Did Groeschel not recognize that these men were active homosexuals? If he didn't, what kind of psychologist is he?
If you had a shred of decency, you'd ask the mods to pull this homo anti-Catholic hit piece.
I have decency. That's why I want all the pus to be drained from this boil. Groeschel is a psychologist who was complicit in returning men to the priesthood who didn't belong there. He also made this recommendation to clueless prelates like Bernard Law, and, as a result, Law is doing penance today because he listened to "experts" like Groeschel.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant, Dr. Surely, in your line of work, you know that.
This isn't about his "sexual orientation"; it is about the fact that this guy has an obvious agenda, as the chair of a pro-homosexuality organization. I take his denunciations of Fr. Groeschel with a grain of salt.
Yes, there has been unspeakable evil done to many people, but the answer is not to abandon moral teaching; the answer is to finally embrace it, to the degree possible, given our sinful natures. I'm guessing the author has a, shall we say, different perspective on that idea, though.
He has written countless articles about this scandal, especially on priests in the Dallas Diocese.
Oh, yeah...I reckon he has. I wonder about his motivation, and about his fairness and accuracy. Would you accept unquestionably an article about Saddam, written by a Frenchman?
What you say is beside the point. What I want to know is, if these priests were homosexual men preying on young men, why did Groeschel recommend they be returned to the ministry?
Either he recognized they were, and covered for them, or he didn't, which means he's not much of a "psychologist."
At this point, I'm prepared to believe either one.
You're right. I would expect an open homosexual to advocate homosexuality.
But I would not expect a priest who rails against homosexuality to cooperate in returning actively homosexual priests to the ministry.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
A fundraiser auction and silent auction were held during the Emery County fair for Heidi Kay Ewell.
Ewell is in need of a heart transplant and only half of her heart is working.
She tires easily and the operation will need to be performed before she turns 40.
Her family had a booth at the fair and Randy Anderson was the auctioneer for the event. Many items were donated and the funds raised will go towards Ewell's heart surgery.
A fundraiser golf tournament will be held on Sept. 14 at Millsite Golf Course.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Top Definition
the "yuppie nuremberg" defense is when someone does something they know is wrong but tries justify it by simply saying they're doing it for the money. typically a lame excuse. . from the film, "thank you for smoking."
1; You know what your doing is wrong.
2; Everybody has a mortgage to pay.
1; Ah, the yuppie-nuremberg defense.
2; Everybody has a mortgage to pay.
1; Ah, the yuppie-nuremberg defense.
by markymark44 March 07, 2010
The Urban Dictionary Mug
One side has the word, one side has the definition. Microwave and dishwasher safe. Lotsa space for your liquids.Buy the mug
The Urban Dictionary T-Shirt
Smooth, soft, slim fit American Apparel shirt. Custom printed. 100% fine jersey cotton, except for heather grey (90% cotton).Buy the t-shirt


text:
JENNI RIVERA: Jet's owner denies drug trafficking rumors
PHOENIX -- The man who runs the business that owns a luxury jet that crashed and killed Latin music star Jenni Rivera says he has never been involved in drug trafficking and that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has dogged him for more than two decades without ever proving a single narcotics connection.
DEA spokeswoman Lisa Webb Johnson has said two planes owned by Las Vegas-based Starwood Management were seized by the agency in Texas and Arizona this year, but she declined to discuss details of their ongoing investigation. The agency also has subpoenaed all the company's records, including any correspondence it has had with a former Tijuana mayor long suspected by U.S. law enforcement as having ties to organized crime.
Christian Esquino, 50, who runs the business and has a long and checkered legal past, told The Associated Press on Friday that the DEA has been investigating him since the 1980s around the time he sold a plane in Florida to a major trafficker who later used it as part of a massive smuggling operation.
The federal government has also claimed Esquino is involved with Tijuana's notorious Arellano Felix cartel, he said, a charge he vehemently denies.
"The DEA has been investigating me my whole life," Equino told the AP in a telephone interview from Mexico City. "They can investigate me all they want and they can investigate Starwood all they want, but they're not going to find anything."
"I would have to be the smartest drug trafficker in the world to be able to stay away from a drug conviction with the DEA looking at me under a microscope for 20 years," he added.
The 43-year-old California-born Rivera died when the plane she was traveling in nose-dived into the ground last week. Rivera was an internationally known star who sold more than 15 million records in her career. She is a former resident of Norco who appeared consistently at venues around Inland Southern California.
Esquino said the singer was considering buying the aircraft from Starwood for $250,000 and the flight was offered as a test ride. The 78-year-old pilot and five other people were also killed. Esquino said the pilot was an experienced airman with more than 24,000 hours flight time, and that Rivera had been considering buying a plane from Starwood for some time.
"She was a very nice lady and I'm very sad that this happened," he said. "It's a terrible accident."
He did not have any information on the cause of the crash.
"We're a legal business that has now had a terrible tragedy and we're basically licking our wounds right now," he said.
Esquino's legal woes date back to the late 1980s, and he says it's all part of an aimless witch hunt by the U.S. He said the government wrongly assumes he must be involved in drugs just because he is a successful Mexican businessman in the high-end aviation industry.
He was indicted in the early 1990s along with 12 other defendants in a major federal drug investigation that claimed the suspects planned to sell more than 480 kilograms of cocaine. He eventually pleaded guilty to conspiring to conceal money from the IRS and was sentenced to five years in prison, with all but about six months suspended.
Cynthia Hawkins, a former assistant U.S. attorney who handled the case, said it began with the arrest of Robert Castoro, who was at the time considered one of the most prolific smugglers of marijuana and cocaine into Florida from direct ties to Colombian drug cartels. Castoro was convicted in 1988 and sentenced to life in prison, but he began cooperating with authorities and had his sentence reduced to 10 years, Hawkins said.
Esquino said he only pleaded to the money charge to avoid a much lengthier sentence in the narcotics case. He said he came under scrutiny because he sold a plane to Castoro for about $220,000 that he later learned was used to smuggle drugs.


text:
Skechers GOwalk Presta Walking Flat - Womens
Sorry, this item is sold out!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Item # 271898
A sporty, ballet flat with sneaker capabilities all wrapped up into the lightweight Skechers® Women's GOwalk Presta walking flat. Premium materials fuse with innovative SKECHERS® GOimpulse Sensor technology to make a supremely comfortable and stylish light-as-a-feather walking shoe.
- Soft textured synthetic and textile upper
- Slip on sporty ballet flat design
- Contrast stitching accents
- Flatlock stitching details for a seamless upper
- Glitter patent toe cap overlay detail
- Lightly padded collar
- Soft fabric shoe lining
- Anti-microbial insole wicks away moisture and helps inhibit odor
- Cushioned comfort insole
- Proprietary lightweight injection-molded compound midsole with memory retention
- Independent circular sensors on sole offers flexibility for a more responsive experience
- Imported
- View more Skechers
By: ShoeLover7350
Location: Michigan
April 28, 2013
Adorable AND Comfy!!!
"I typically do not write reviews unless I feel especially compelled by a product either in a strongly positive or negative way... These Skechers' shoes are the most comfy shoes and for being only around $50 or so, I feel like they are such a great deal!!!Even though I'm only in my early 30's I've had extensive back/spinal surgeries therefore leaving it difficult to purchase cute shoes that aren't extremely costly! However, with these, I just took a chance figuring what do I have to lose?, free shipping!, easy return with a store being close to my house, and went ahead and ordered them... All I can tell you is that they feel like you are walking on clouds and they look great with all types of outfits... I've worn them with thin matching charcoal socks, wide legged yoga pants and a coral hoodie for a comfy look and then in warmer weather worn them barefoot with outfits that were more pulled together... The shoes are very versatile. The other perk at least for me is that my feet never get warm in them! I went back already and purchased them in all of the colors they come in... Would definitely recommend!!!"
By: denny62
Location: rochester ny
April 12, 2013
Love these!
"I bought these shoes specifically for a trip to NYC where walking will be the name of the game. I am impressed with their fit, stylishness, and most of all, the fact that they truly are comfortable!"
By: Paintingbooks
Location: Atlanta
April 11, 2013
cute and comfy
"These are great for errands/running around. They are very light and super comfortable - it feels like you're walking on clouds. I have a skinny heel so I had to order a half-size smaller because they flopped off the back."
Click anywhere to close this.


text:
Inside Galveston College
Galveston College has record 518 candidates for Thursday's graduation
- By Galveston College public affairs office
- 0
Post a comment as
Watch this discussion. Stop watching this discussion.
(0) comments Back to story
Welcome to the discussion.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
Most Popular
- Texas City police seek information about dead man on I-45
- 1 dead, 5 injured in accident on Seawall
- Man dies in motorcycle accident
- Man found dead in Texas City identified
- La Marque man arrested for sexual assault of child
- One sex charge against former deputy dismissed
- Police identify pair slain in Beluche Drive house
- La Marque investigates body found in burning car
- Police: La Marque woman arrested for stabbing husband
- Hey Mikey's to open on Sixth Street; BOA to close island drive-up service
- Photos: Second weekend of Mardi Gras gets rolling
- Photos: UIL 6A Region III Girls Basketball Championship
- Photos: Second Saturday of Mardi Gras Festivities in Galveston
- Photos: The annual Krewe d'Esprit Rosaire Parade
- Photos: Mardi Gras kicks off in Galveston
- Photos: First Saturday of 2017 Mardi Gras Festivities
- Photos: Mardi Gras fun ends with Fat Tuesday Parade
- Photos: Super Bowl LI
- Photos: 2017 Mainland Mardi Gras Parade in Texas City
- Photos: Creek vs. Falls girls basketball playoff
- Trump's wall is an environmental disaster (68)
- Steve Bannon: Trumpworld's man behind the curtain (66)
- Stepping up against hate makes us better (47)
- GISD trustee urges board to adopt inclusive resolution (39)
- Republican Congress needs to find a spine (38)
- Should I carry my birth certificate? (33)
- Which way will Trump's speech go? (32)
- No facts, just blarney (32)
- Trump's 140 character habit alarming (31)
- Yarborough reminded us who we are (27)


text:
Jack Rogers Claudette Wedge Sandal
Sorry, this item is sold out!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Item # 288366
Jack Rogers knows how to make feet feel good! For a perfect weekend look, check out the Claudette wedge.
- Cork and metallic woven leather upper
- Slingback strap with an adjustable buckle
- Cork circle detail at round peep toe
- Synthetic sole
- Imported
Tell us what you think!
Everyone has an opinion. Here's your chance to share yours! Be the first to write a review of this product and help your fellow shoppers pick the best of the best.


text:
LN-CC: Dancing to a different record
John Skelton (creative director), Gary Card (store designer), Dan Mitchell (Brand Manager), and Charlotte Hall (PR + Marketing Director) in a photo session with Diane Pernet.
LN-CC The Basement: 18-24 Shacklewell Lane Dalston, London E8 2EZ +(44) (0)203 174 0736
LN-CC is a relatively young cultural venture in London. It's hard to pin LN-CC (short for Late Night Chameleon Cafe) as a retail space, but LN-CC does carry (and presumably sell) a wide variety of clothing, books, and music. The taste implied by their buys could be described as appealingly eclectic, or hopelessly scattered, depending on your perspective. Which in itself is appealing. LN-CC is hosting a special event this week (during London's Fashion Week) to display and sell a one-of-a-kind archive of Raf Simons pieces that span a number of seasons. Styleforum had a chance to speak to LN-CC Creative Director John Skelton over e-mail.
SF: LN-CC has really made an impression since opening at the end of summer 2010, putting together an unusual and idiosyncratic roster of brands as well as a solid e-commerce site that makes some of those hard-to-find lines more accessible. Many people, of course, rarely or never have the chance to see stuff from Damir Doma or JW Anderson in person. Can you tell us a little about how LN-CC put together its concept and designer roster?
John Skelton: The initial idea behind LN-CC was to create the first noncompromise independent retail store both on and offline in the world that are run in tandem with each other and where one is not more important than the other. When I say noncompromise I mean that we wanted to create the most interesting and forward-thinking store and Web site and fill it with a selection of products/brands/artists that you would not find in any other space or on any other site the world over. The LN-CC philosophy is only to buy brands and products that are interesting to us as a group of people and house it in an environment that excites us, so, if we wouldn't wear/listen to/read it then we dont buy it. If we would then we do. Its as simple as that really.
"The tunnel," just one design feature of LN-CC's physical shop It must be refreshing to be able to buy / sell according to personal taste rather than the whims of the market. Can you tell me more about the group of people behind LN-CC? What do you / your shop find interesting, culturally, right now?
Certainly. We are a very eclectic group of twenty-somethings (apart from our amazing CEO!!) that all have a similar aim, in that we are constantly looking to move things forward in a progressive and unique manner in every area that we operate in, including the way we market ourselves, our e-commerce platform, our business philosophies and obviously with the creative, including the store and the products that we sell. From a creative point of view, between myself and Dan (Mitchell) we have a very wide interest in products/music and generally try and select and curate it in a way that has never been done before. I have a huge interest in the key designers of all time and have followed and researched closely all of the greats from Yohji, Helmut, and Raf, through to the new school such as Hedi and Damir and always have my eyes open for the next real and timeless talent to emerge on the scene. Dan very much has a passion for the streetwear side of things and has a very strong interest in the new school coming out of Japan such as SasquatchFABRIX, Unused, and Nonnative, etc. so this is very much where that flavour within our mix comes from. Within the LN-CC team we also have music specialists that cover production, DJ-ing and events and we have a very broad interest in this area just like we do with product, which is why you will find everything from house, techno, and disco through to new age, jazz, and folk within our selection. The most important thing about LN-CC is that we see all of these different elements as one and the same and we try not to separate or pigeonhole any of the product, music, or literature as it is all as important to us and the concept. The difference with our store and set up and what we are interested in, I feel,is that we are never outward-looking in terms of what other people are doing from a retail or movement perspective. We have a very in-depth and long relationship with product and music and have a strong idea and vision of how we think we should portray that. When it comes to products and music we buy on instinct and not reputation so the playing field is level for any brand or artist that we see, in that if its good (to us) we'll buy it, Things that are interesting to us right now are the same as they have been for the past 15 years--the evolution of product from all areas, music from all genres and concepts, and environments that tug at all the senses. As far as being able to buy/sell products that we have an affiliation with, I feel that everybody who has a store or company has that option, but there maybe aren't enough people who would dare to take a chance on it.
Although I haven't had a chance to see it live myself, LN-CC's brick-and-mortar shop has a very distinct design sense and physical presence. How does it fit into the community in London?
We haven't really thought it about it, to be honest. LN-CC has been created solely to please ourselves and we haven't ever thought about how it might be received or if people or a community would like it. We have quite simply created something that we are excited about and put it out there and made it available to everyone. If people like it then that's a bonus and if they don't then that's cool with us too.
Clearly some people like it. Currently the shop is open by appointment. Do you get a lot of night-owl business? Do you think LN-CC will stay appointment / event oriented?
We try and accommodate appointments anytime but naturally people generally come between 10am and 8pm. If anybody wants to come at an offbeat time then that's no problem for us. I'm pretty sure we will keep the store open by appointment as it gives us the ability to give everyone who visits a very special experience, but obviously I can't say for sure. We'll just do what is right for us at whatever time and if things change then that's cool too.
A lot of people are looking forward to the Raf Simons Archive event LN-CC is doing. Judging from the description on your site, I'd predict mixed reactions--excitement at seeing the designs, and disappointment in some of them being prohibitively expensive. Can you talk about your own personal initial encounters with Simons' designs? What was the impetus behind the Raf Simons Archive sale?
All of the Raf Pieces that have been on show on the website since we launched are my own personal pieces, and the idea was more to showcase these and generate interest as opposed to selling them. The reason these pieces are so expensive is because that is what they are worth to me and, to be quite honest, I would rather keep them. Since our launch we have managed to source around 400 pieces of Raf that we are going to sell at the original retail price or lower; however, none of the pieces from my collection will be included or for sale at the sales evening.
I understand it can be hard to put a figure on items of personal historical import. I enjoyed the Raf features LN-CC posted with Paul from Hapsical. What appeals to you personally about Simons' stuff? It must have been thrilling on some level to get your hands on 400 past-season pieces.
Yes, Raf simons for me was my first real love and has always been my brand. the fist time i came across it was when he showed one if his first collections that was almost surf-like in inspiration with cut-off tees and all of the models wearing Vans for the show. I have been collecting and following the development of his collections ever since, and have around 300 pieces in my own personal archive. I have more than likely been shaped by his collections and output over the past 15 years, as it has always been the focus for me when looking at the development of menswear. Raf is the master of capturing a new feeling and moving things forward, almost like he lives in the future and this is reflected in his designs and his collections. The good thing about sourcing the latest batch is that we can actually offer it to customers at a reasonable price and they can then take away a little piece of the history themselves. What appeals to me about Raf Simons is the same ethos that applies to our project in that he is always trying to re-invent and move things forward in a very progressive style. His ability to capture and set a mood through his collections is unrivaled. It feels as though Raf's previous collections make more and more sense as time goes on which is quite incredible when you think about it.
Also, I noticed on the LN-CC site that you will soon be carrying Inoue Brothers, Balenciaga, and Yuketen for men--any other additions you're looking forward to?
There are many more brands making there way to LN-CC from all kinds of different sources and from all parts of the world including Pow Wow, Junya Watanabe, and an archive of Number Nine to name but a few. We also have more concept rooms opening within the store over the coming year, including a gallery space and a tattoo studio.
You've talked around your buying / curating philosophy a lot, but can you expand on the type of stuff that "tugs at all the senses"? Maybe it's an "I know it if I see it" kind of a thing.
Ha, yeah. I guess our expression comes through what we do, not through what we say--I'm certainly no wordsmith. What I'm trying to say when I say "tugs at all the senses" is the overall environment and everything that fills that. So, for instance, the first time I felt this kind of all-encompassing vision was when I attended the Raf Simons SS02 runway show. Everything from the backdrop, which was a basketball court on the outskirts of Paris, down to the way the seating was laid out in a circular formation then twinned with the soundtrack, the casting of the models, the product, and the red flares that the models were carrying. It created an atmosphere that you can't describe, quite explain, or put your finger on. It is what it is and can only be felt by being there. It "tugs at all of the senses" in that what you see, hear, smell, and absorb gives you a feeling that you may have never felt before and may never feel again but it fills you with something that is so inspiring that you wish you could capture it and surround yourself with it forever. In relation to what we do, we source product on feeling, we look in unusual places for something that touches on that emotion that we can't quite describe, and if it fits in to our vision, we take a piece of it and incorporate it into an environment we have created, which will often be contrary to the environment that we found it in. When searching for clothing or music we are looking for something that can not be categorised, that's unique in its approach and its execution so we are therefore relying on our own feeling and judgment. That's how trends start, by somebody putting something out there that is completely new. All things that make an impact on any scene have started as something small and very new and over time establishes themselves whilst others copy and replicate it until it becomes the norm. Rick Owens is a perfect example of that, recently, as when I bought his first collection nobody wanted it, liked it, or understood it. The first five collections didn't sell at all then all of a sudden it was accepted by the tastemakers, and now it is a huge commercial hit and about 100 collections in the industry just rip it off shamelessly. What he does in essence hasn't changed at all but people's perception of it has changed and now they view it as being something good and relevant. I thought that the first time I saw it, which is why I bought it, but I also took the rap for it not selling from all my former employees. Now it's the best seller for all of them. Also, what you have to remember is that everybody interprets things and processes the information differently. Say if you have three friends on a dancefloor and they are all dancing to the same record. Each of the three is focusing on a different part of the record--one is hearing the drum formation, one is hearing the bass line and one dancing to the riff whether that's guitar or keys. They're all enjoying it and getting something from the experience but they are all hearing something completely different. That's the beauty of it. Everyone has a different outlook on what is going on and I feel that's what makes an experience. Your own personal take on what is around you; by trying to explain it or describe what you are meant to feel takes the pleasure and the mystery out of the experience. Everything quite simply is what it is, and how you choose to interpret that is up to the individual. For us, the proof is in the pudding when it comes to what were doing, I don't really feel the need or have any interest in trying to explain it.
Thanks very much to John and Charlotte at LN-CC.


text:
Reviewed by 1 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-5
Previous | Next »
Best Uses
Comments about Serenity™ Compact Fixed Side Crib:
The crib looks great, it was easy to put together, labeled properly, the only thing I almost missed was the certificate on the box. It really should be located on the bottom of the crib with the rest of labels.
Displaying reviews 1-1
Customer Service: email@example.com
Webmaster: firstname.lastname@example.com (Problems or suggestions related to the site only.)
Toll-free phone: (800) 288-9941
Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 7:00pm, EST
Representatives who speak Spanish are available
Monday to Friday 9 AM to 6 PM EST
Representantes que hablan Español están disponibles
Lunes a Viernes 9 AM to 6 PM EST
24-Hour toll-free fax: (800) 566-6678
S&S® Worldwide
PO Box 513
75 Mill Street
Colchester, CT 06415


text:
Join me, April Showers, each Wednesday at 9 am Pacific, 10 am Mountain, 11 am Central and Noon Eastern Time for the High Noon Crop. These crops are designed to allow you to work on your own photos and themes simply giving participants a one hour goal and a fun, new challenge each week.
On October 31st we'll do an All About Home Challenge! Create a layout showing us something about your home - past or present. A favorite room, your comfy reading nook, the special times with family around the dinner table, the exterior, a home improvement project, your first apartment - show future generations your living arrangements!
Create your layout and upload it to the special High Noon Crop and Challenge Gallery. You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you! Hope to see you in the chat room!
High Noon Crop
Started by April Showers, Oct 30 2012 10:56 PM
4 replies to this topic
Posted 30 October 2012 - 10:56 PM
My Gallery I scrap with Photoshop CS6.
Posted 31 October 2012 - 10:45 AM
Posted 31 October 2012 - 02:59 PM
I enjoyed the chat!
Here's my layout: First Apartment
Here's my layout: First Apartment
Posted 31 October 2012 - 08:54 PM
Here's mine: Home (Left) and Home (Right)
"If you start over often enough, you begin to look consistent." --Dave Barnhart's Dad
Posted 03 November 2012 - 12:45 PM
My childhood home I decided to do 2 challenges in one.
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


text:
By Brendan Conway
U.S. stock investors have never shown much interest in hedging currencies' impact on their funds, even when those impacts prove critical. Maybe that's changing given the gyrations in the yen over the last year, and more recently in emerging-markets currencies.
Fund companies, for their part, want to be ready if it does.
BlackRock's (BLK) iShares has just filed for a set of three currency-hedged exchange-traded funds tracking MSCI indexes for stock markets in Japan, Germany and the EAFE countries(wealthy countries outside North America).
This follows the 2013 success of a currency-hedged ETF, WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity (DXJ), which is built to net out the effect of the yen. This ETF ballooned into a $10.5 billion fund during 2013 thanks to Japan's early-year stock surge and the drop in the yen.
Also winning over new investors: Deutsche Bank's db X-Trackers MSCI Japan Currency-Hedged Equity Fund (DBJP), which is the apples-to-apples ETF for MSCI Japan (the WisdomTree fund tracks an index that leans toward export-oriented stocks).
Deutsche Bank and WisdomTree, two early leaders in this area, have really only seen big interest in Japan. WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Index (HEDJ) has a following, but after that ETF things drop off pretty quickly, in spite of strong recent performance.
Db X-MSCI Emerging Markets Currency-Hedged Equity Fund (DBEM) has dodged the selloff in the Indian rupee, Brazilian real and other battered emerging markets currencies, and its 2013 loss of 9% compares to a 13% fall in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (EEM). But the ETF has only attracted $17 million in investor assets.
The performance edge has been better still in db-X MSCI Brazil Currency-Hedged Equity Fund (DBBR) — it's down 12.4% year-to-date, versus iShares MSCI Brazil Capped ETF's (EWZ) 22%. But the ETF has just $3.5 million in assets.
On the other hand, if the dollar strengthens and foreign currencies get more volatile still, you can bet more investors will buy in.


text:
all the feels
I don't often take outfit photos at the weekend but my flatmate snapped this of me yesterday at the train station before we went and got our hair done at Lisa Shepherd (post soon!) It was unbelievably cold and there was instant regret for not wearing more clothes! Despite the fact I was also wearing a huge cardigan underneath and a vest top under my dress!


text:
Directions to Legian Guest HouseAddress: Jalan Nakula Timur, Legian Kaja, legian, Indonesia
Average rating: 74%
Rooms from: US$ 23.00
Directions to Legian Guest House
Situated just 5 minutes drive with daily free shuttle service to Legian legendary sunset beach and within walking distance to Seminyak, the 13-rooms guest house,swimming pool and restaurant is spaciously set within a Balinese landscaped garden, providing guests with comfortable Balinese village style hideaway accommodation, 3 star hotel class facilities and Balinese hospitality. From the airport: From Ngurah Rai International airport you can get an airport taxi for $10. The journey will take between 15 and 20 minutes depending on traffic.


text:
Introduction | Science | Tools | Partners
Nations Commit to Scaling up Environmental Sustainability in UNEP's 40th Anniversary Year22/
Summary for Policy Makers of Global Environment Outlook-5 Spurs Urgency for ActionPresident of the 12th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum Says "Time is Not on Our Side"Nairobi, 22 February 2012-The world's environment ministers ended their annual meeting by committing to make the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 a success.In a statement, issued on the occasion of UNEP's 40th anniversary, ministers and representative from close to 150 countries described the conference, known as Rio+20 as "a unique opportunity to address the economic, social and environmental challenges in the context of sustainable development".The statement underlines the concern of the world's environment ministers 'over the continued environmental degradation' being witnessed across the globe.It follows the presentation to delegates of the findings for summary for policymakers of the UNEP Global Environment Outlook-5 in advance of the full report's launch in June on and around World Environment Day 2012.The GEO-5 is underlining that many of the environmental challenges glimpsed in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit are fast becoming reality from climate change, the loss of biodiversity and fisheries to deforestation and the decline in productive and healthy soils.The UNEP 40th anniversary ministerial statement commits "to making Rio+20 a success and developing concrete actions to address the pressing environmental issues that we face as a global community within the context of sustainable development".Green EconomyPresident of the UNEP Governing Council Federico Ramos de Armas, State Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment of Spain, also summarized three days of debates and discussions on the twin themes of Rio+20-a Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and an institutional framework for sustainable development.He said that the Green Economy was viewed as a tool or pathway to achieving sustainable development, poverty eradication and decent job creation "by increasing resource efficiency, supporting the shift to sustainable consumption and production patterns and facilitating low carbon development".The President also underlined the fact that there remained many challenges to realizing that economy especially in developing countries in respect to the necessary finance, capacity and access to relevant technologies.He noted concerns by some countries that there was a risk that a Green Economy might also lead to trade protectionism and signaled that it was vital that more engagement across all sectors of society and between countries would be important to address these risks.Nevertheless, the President expressed the views of the vast majority of nations in terms of support for the Green Economy because of its potential opportunities for integrating the social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development."Many of the activities under the Green Economy approach can provide new opportunities for women to become key players in the local economy, especially in the energy, land management and water sectors," said the President.Institutional Framework for Sustainable DevelopmentThe President's summary also reflected the views of ministers and delegates responsible for the environment on the issue of International Environmental Governance (IEG) as part of the broader challenge of reforming the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development."While recognizing UNEP's contribution to sustainable development, there is overwhelming support that urgent change is needed to the current system," he said.There was also a high level of support for strengthening UNEP's mandate, authority and financial resources.Over 100 countries, including members of the African Union and the European Union, have also backed an upgrading of UNEP to a specialized agency of the UN as part of the Rio+20 outcomes.Delegates also supported greater involvement of major groups and stakeholders including local and regional authorities, women, indigenous peoples, young people and the private sector in any new institutional arrangements.Mr Ramos de Armas said in his closing address to the Governing Council:" Time is not on our side. Rio+20 must take quick and immediate action to respond to the current environmental crisis. Delegates stressed there should be a clear decision on the institutional framework for sustainable development and international environmental governance".Achim Steiner, UN Under Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said: "The world's ministers responsible for the environment have sent a clear signal to the Rio+20 summit-namely that there needs to be an urgent focus on scaling up implementation of sustainable developments and that bold, transformative decisions need to be taken in four months' time in Brazil"."The three take home messages from this Governing Council, the last global gathering of the world's environment ministers, are these. The scientific understanding about what is happening to the planet as a result of past and present development paths is far clearer and far more sobering than 20 years ago and two-there is overwhelming support for a transition to a global economy along pathways proposed in UNEP's Green Economy Report in order for it to deliver positive social and environmental outcomes across all nations," he said."Thirdly incremental reforms of the current architecture and management arrangements of planet Earth is leading seven billion down an unsustainable path and a very uncertain future-it is time to implement the decisions and directions of the Rio 1992 Earth Summit so that this generation of world leaders and ministers can deliver on the promises and the vision of a previous generation," said Mr Steiner.At the end of the Governing Council, governments also took several decisions on specific issues ranging from how best to bridge the environmental data gaps in the world and chemicals financing to a Ten Year Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production.The full list of decisions will be available here http://www.unep.org/gc/gcss-xii/Notes to EditorsThe 12 Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum took place between 20 and 22 FebruaryUN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 (Rio+20) http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.htmlUNEP Green Economy Initiative www.unep.org/greeneconomyGEO-5 http://www.unep.org/geo/For More Information Please Contact Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson, on Tel: +254 733 632755, e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Symantec Protection Suite Advanced Business Edition is an "all-in-one" suite that protects critical business assets by securing against today's malicious malware and spam threats and by rapidly recovering key systems. It is the only suite that offers superior security with endpoint, email, data protection and backup and recovery capabilities.
Must be a University machine or used in the Engineering Building.


text:
We're Sorry,
The Before the Ball by Petrus Van Schendel you were searching for is/are not currently on our website.
Below are similar pieces that might interest you.
We invite you to browse our website for many other treasures.
If we can help you locate something in particular, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We will be more than happy to assist you.


text:
Franco Sarto Treasure Bootie
Sorry, this item is sold out!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Item # 257817
The Treasure from Franco Sarto is a true gem! This tailored bootie will be the perfect addition to your dress wardrobe and the perfect partner to your business suit!
- Smooth faux leather upper
- Outside button details
- Inside zipper
- Snipped toe
- 2½" stacked heel
- Synthetic sole
- Imported
- View more Franco Sarto
By: Jelli6
Location: St. Louis, MO
January 13, 2013
Very cute, but OH SO TINY!
"I always wear a size 8.5. Always. These boots are super-cute, but stunningly small. So tiny and tight, I could not force my foot into them - forget trying to zip.They are very cute, but will be returned."
By: Burbgirl
Location: PA
January 09, 2013
Snaps Fall Off!
"Love, love, love these shoes. Comfortable and stylish. My only problem is, the snaps on the side aren't really secured well and they fall off. I've had to glue them back on twice."
By: Marlodk
Location: Washington
December 14, 2012
"Love Franco Sarto. Great shoe that goes with anything."
By: Dee1129
Location: Bridgewater
December 11, 2012
Comfortable and Stylish
"Great shoes and a great price! I wear these shoes all day and my feet never hurt! I love them."
Click anywhere to close this.


text:
Plenty by Tracy Reese Destiny Sandal
Sorry, this item is sold out!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Item # 275181
Chic, feminine style is yours when you step out in the Plenty by Tracy Reese Destiny. This flirty pump is perfectly paired with skinny trousers and tailored shirts for a put together look.
- Fabric upper
- Ankle strap with an adjustable buckle
- 4" heel
- Leather sole
- Imported
By: Caraboo
Location: San Jose
July 28, 2013
Very pretty
"Pretty to look at and very pretty on. Very comfy too!True to size."
By: Gottahvem
Location: Cordova, TN
April 15, 2013
Hurting Compliments
"This shoe is very cute on the foot; however, it is NOT comfortable! I thought the wide strap over the toe would be more comfortable then the skinny straps on scandals, but I was wrong. This is a 30 minute shoe. After 30 minutes, you will need to take them off!"
Click anywhere to close this.


text:
* required fields
The bright colors of the new facade provide an
attractive contrast to the original monolithic exterior. The improved exterior, which boasts an R-value of 31.9, was constructed around the old one to minimize
disruption during renovation.
Photo Credit: MARIUSZ MIZERA
View Larger
The new Student Services Center, an addition that connects to the Berg Instructional Center, centralizes student support departments and provides touchdown spots like meeting rooms, lounges, and study areas.
Photo Credit: MARIUSZ MIZERA
View Larger
Photo Credit: MARIUSZ MIZERA
View Larger
Deteriorating and outdated, the Berg Instructional Center (BIC) posed a
problem for the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. Because the sizable building housed the majority of the college's classrooms, replacing the aging structure with a new building would cause a significant disruption.
With the help of Loebl Schlossman & Hackl, the college approved a complete renovation as well as a significant addition that would provide a single location for all of the students' administrative needs. The renovation and expansion targeted new floor layouts, collaborative interiors, improved lighting and technological features, and upgraded mechanical systems.
The three-year project faced a significant challenge when it came to improving the facade. Originally constructed of Cor-Ten steel and single pane glass with a rubber gasket system, the exterior had deteriorated and was riddled with air and water infiltration issues.
A high performance aluminum curtainwall and phenolic rain screen exterior wall was installed directly over the original facade. Once the new wall was in place, the old glass was pulled out from the inside, allowing for uninterrupted occupancy and continuous construction work.
Architect and Interior Design:
Loebl Schlossman & Hackl (submitter)
Owner: College of DuPage
Construction Firm: M.A. Mortenson Company
M/E/P Engineer: KJWW
Because the building plays a central part in daily campus life, it was critical to keep it online during each design phase. Existing mechanical systems were carefully documented for changes over the building's life and then evaluated to determine whether they would remain or be extended.
"For example, the lower level mechanical room had four fan rooms serving the main cores of the building. The existing air handlers were recently replaced, but new ductwork and VAV boxes were added for greater user control," Schlossman explains.
Updating classrooms and centralizing faculty and support offices were also key components. The redesign focused on natural light and outdoor views with integrated technology in the classrooms as very little daylighting was previously available.
Faculty and support personnel offices were condensed and arranged near their corresponding labs. Common space was increased to keep student lounges in centralized areas rather than outside classrooms and in corridors.
In addition to reusing the building shell and core, many of the original partitions, rooms, and furniture were saved to reduce construction waste and lower the amount of new materials needed.
Sustainability is evident in the building's commitment to energy efficiency. A white roof reduces solar heat gain, all exterior glazing is low-e, and fritted glass is used on three sides of the facility. Demand control ventilation, HVAC monitoring equipment, and a high efficiency filtration system round out the efficiency upgrades.
"The renovation of the BIC was a turning point in the life of College of DuPage," says Schlossman. "Breathing new life into the building created a greater sense of enjoyment, community spirit, and belonging on campus. The overall investment in the existing infrastructure of the BIC will have a lasting impact on the college and future generations of students."
Polyglass U.S.A., Inc. has been manufacturing premium roofing products in North America for 25 years. Learn about our CURE Technology and ADESO Technology, innovations that have transformed the roofing industry.
Utility Vehicle Alert! Don't Get Framed. Rust can eat right through most UTV frames, destroy your investment and disable your crews. But this simple step stops rust in its tracks.


text:
JESSICA MCCLINTOCK Satin Flap Evening Bag
$15.59 Original Price $35.00
Savings: $8.75 (25%)
Add visual interest to your evening attire. With a curved flap and pleating detail, this gorgeous handbag offers a modern combination of fashion and function.
- 10.5-in. W x 4.5-in. H x 2-in. D
- Magnetic snap closure
- Interior: 1 back slip pocket
- Shoulder strap with 12-in. drop
- Self-color stitch trim
- Satin
- Imported
Shipping & Returns
Shipping your purchase is easy on belk.com. Depending on the destination of your package, you can expect it to arrive within 4-7 business days. Shipping Information
Returns are easy on belk.com. Easy returns


text:
Once Pein gets to Konoha searching for Naruto, what happens if Kakashi's the first ninja he battles?
I know, most of you would probably argue that Kakashi would get raped if he fought Pein one on one... a couple of things may actually make the fight interesting:
1. Pein and Kakashi are genius level ninja
2. Kakashi knows over 1000 jutsus vs Pein with his 6 bodies and 6 elements.
The key battle here revolves around Kakashi linking the Sharingan's genjutsu ability with MS as needed to confuse the Pein bodies. Pein is susceptible to powerful genjutsu if used well like was made clear in the Jiraiya fight.
3. Taijutsu, both are Godly.
Intelligent framing of any argument would be great because as we all know, power isn't always the most important part of Naruto fights, strategy/tactics is...


text:
By PATSY STODDARDEditor
XTO has donated $500 to the Local Interagency Coordinating Council. The LIC began functioning with a series of grants. The planning grant was lost two years ago so the council lost its coordinator Gareldine Wright. The LIC is set up to focus on activities for youth. Including at risk youth and low income or just those in danger of falling through the cracks.
This also included disabled youth who might need extra funds to allow them to participate in the same programs as other children.
The LIC is a valuable resource to fund, but no funding was available to keep the council going. The council then decided to refocus and look for other avenues of funding to keep the programs going. One new focus is to educate families. The council is focusing on an education component. The council approves or disapproves projects for the flexible funding. One project the council has agreed to take on is the family awareness night. This is where the funds donated by XTO and other organizations come into play. This awareness night will be held on Sept. 12 at Emery High beginning at 6 p.m.
The topics for this night will include workshops on drugs, parenting, internet safety and a variety of others. A dinner will be provided. The workshops will be pertinent for a variety of age groups. The council is also planning a nursery for the small children so parents will be able to attend the workshops while their children are being watched.
Emery High students will also be able to earn extra credit for attending the awareness night.
The council estimated they would need $2,000 for the event and they have raised $1,500 to date. If anyone would like to donate to the event they can contact Delena Fish at the Workforce Services at 381-6100.
Boni Seal and Julie Jones are the co-chairs for the Emery County Healthy Families Coalition.
They hope to involve a number of volunteers in pulling this event together.
If you are interested in helping you can contact the co-chairs at 687-9744.


text:
Daddy Yankee
BiographyDaddy Yankee did more than anyone to establish reggaeton as a marketable music style during the early 21st century. Yankee's success was so phenomenal in the wake of his 2004 mainstream breakthrough, Barrio Fino — and in particular the international hit single "Gasolina" — that he transcended cultural boundaries and genre trappings. He became more than just a reggaetonero, having transformed himself into an international name brand by the time his 2007 follow-up album, El Cartel: The Big Boss, was released. Daddy Yankee's name, image, and music were used to sell soft drinks for Pepsi and footwear for Reebok, as well as a syndicated show for ABC Radio Networks (Daddy Yankee on Fuego) and a feature film for Paramount Pictures (Talento de Barrio). Daddy Yankee indeed had become a business empire, of which the primary asset — his music — remained independent from major-label control: he keenly operated his own independent label, El Cartel Records, and chose to partner with labels such as Interscope only for purposes of marketing and distribution. Although the business side of Daddy Yankee threatened to overshadow his music, Barrio Fino stands tall as the definitive reggaeton album of its time. Boasting a pair of fantastic hits, "Gasolina" and "Lo Que Pasó, Pasó," the album was a standard-bearer, influencing a legion of followers and establishing the production duo Luny Tunes as reggaeton's hottest hitmakers. Barrio Fino was also the first reggaeton album to reach number one on the Top Latin Album chart, a position it held for roughly a year's time while selling over a million copies in the United States alone.
Born Ramón Ayala (aka Raymond) on February 3, 1977, in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Daddy Yankee grew up in a musical family. His father was a bongosero (i.e., a salsa percussionist), his mother's family included numerous musicians, and he himself sang from an early age, with a knack for improvisation. As Daddy Yankee grew older, he took an interest in Spanish-language hip-hop, especially the socially aware raps of Vico C, and he became increasingly drawn into the street life of his neighborhood, the Villa Kennedy housing project in San Juan. The "Yankee" moniker arose from the Puerto Rican slang for "someone tall, who is big in what he does" (according to a 2005 interview with Billboard magazine); "Big Daddy" is thus the rough English translation of Daddy Yankee. He got into reggaeton just as it was taking shape in the early '90s, when San Juan DJs would spin hip-hop alongside dancehall reggae while vocalists would freestyle over the beats. This convergence of hip-hop, dancehall, and freestyling proved popular in San Juan, most notably at the Noise, a long-running club night that spawned a collective of DJs and rappers. Besides the Noise, the other key proprietor of proto-reggaeton was Playero, a mixtape DJ/producer with whom Daddy Yankee got his start, debuting as a featured guest on Playero 37 (1992). A few years later, at age 18, Daddy Yankee made his full-length album debut, No Mercy (1995), again working with Playero. Little came of No Mercy, however, and he continued to work the reggaeton underground for the remainder of the '90s. Toward the end the decade, he began performing alongside Nicky Jam as a duo and had one of his songs, "Posición," a collaboration with Alberto Stylee, featured on the 1998 One Tough Cop soundtrack.
Beginning in 2000, Daddy Yankee furthered his career significantly with independently released albums. El Cartel (2000) and El Cartel, Vol. 2 (2001) came first, each laden with featured guests in mixtape fashion; however, El Cangri.com (2002) was the one that really gave his career the boost it needed to break outside Puerto Rico. Driven by "Latigazo," a single that found airplay in Miami and New York, El Cangri.com climbed all the way to number 43 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart despite no major-label backing whatsoever (released instead by VI Music, a Puerto Rican indie). In the wake of this success, Daddy Yankee assembled Los Homerun-es (2003), a Top Ten album comprised of odds and ends, including a newly recorded hit single, "Segurosqui," as well as some old Playero tracks from a decade prior. Reggaeton was on the cusp of breaking big-time at this point; touchstone albums such as Don Omar's The Last Don (2003), Tego Calderón's El Abayarde (2003), and Luny Tunes' Mas Flow (2003) were making significant impacts in Miami and New York, in addition to Puerto Rico, and a wave of lesser albums were being released also. The stage was well set for Daddy Yankee's mainstream breakthrough, Barrio Fino (2004), which was released in July 2004 (by VI Music in conjunction with Universal Music Group Distribution) and debuted at number one on the Top Latin Albums chart. The first reggaeton album to reach the number one spot, Barrio Fino would dominate the top of the Latin albums chart for roughly a year's time, lodged there well into 2005. It sold over a million copies in the U.S. alone during this chart reign.
The long shelf life of Barrio Fino was partly on account of "Gasolina," a party-oriented single whose appeal was so phenomenal that the song itself became synonymous with reggaeton in the minds of many (and perhaps remains so), especially English-speakers who were unacquainted with the music style. The appeal of "Gasolina" was such that it's been compared to "Macarena," another Latin party song that broke through cultural boundaries to become a dance club staple internationally. It took "Gasolina" awhile to become a craze, several months after the release of Barrio Fino, in fact, yet by November 2004 it had broken into the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually made it all the way to number 32 a couple months later (a genuine Top 40 hit, albeit a novel one). On the Latin charts, though, "Gasolina" didn't even break the Top Ten, only reaching number 17. Rather, "Lo Que Pasó, Pasó" was the album's big hit on the Latin scene, charting at number two. Barrio Fino spawned a few other singles as well: "Sabor a Melao" (featuring salsa superstar Andy Montañez), "No Me Dejes Solo" (featuring Wisin & Yandel), and "Like You" (an English-language song). The success of the album was such that it catapulted Luny Tunes — an industrious duo who'd produced half the album, and all the key hits — to stardom of their own, as they became widely recognized as reggaeton undisputed go-to hitmakers. The success of the album also drew significant major-label attention. Machete Music, a Universal company specializing in Latin urban, signed a deal with Daddy Yankee to re-release Los Homerun-es in March 2005 (and later Barrio Fino in December 2006). Meanwhile, VI Music cashed in with Ahora le Toca al Cangri (2005), a live CD/DVD recorded in Puerto Rico in 2003.
In 2005, while the major labels were courting Daddy Yankee, the president of Interscope, Jimmy Iovine, whose roster includes Eminem, 50 Cent, and Dr. Dre, actually flew down to Puerto Rico to discuss business in person. A joint venture deal resulted between Interscope and Daddy Yankee's own label, El Cartel Records. The first release under this partnership was Barrio Fino en Directo (2005), a CD/DVD comprised of live in-concert and newly recorded material. "Rompe," one of the newly recorded songs, was issued as the lead single and charted even better than "Gasolina" had, reaching number 24 on the Hot 100. Moreover, it spent 15 weeks atop the Hot Latin Tracks chart. The Interscope deal was only one of many struck by Daddy Yankee at this point. He began lending his name, image, and music to everything from footwear (Reebok) and soft drinks (Pepsi) to automobiles (Citroën) and radio (ABC); he founded his own charity, Corazón Guerrero, to help ex-convicts; and he teamed with CMN (Cardenas Marketing Network, an event marketing and sponsorship agency) to mount an international tour throughout North, Central, and South America. All the while, he worked intermittently on his next album, El Cartel: The Big Boss (2007), a big-budget affair bringing together an ensemble cast of marquee-name collaborators, including pop-rap hitmakers will.i.am, Akon, and Scott Storch. The buildup to the album was well planned and pervasive, with "Impacto" (and its bilingual remix featuring Fergie) released as the lead single well in advance of the eagerly anticipated June release date. Daddy Yankee then starred in a movie, Talento de Barrio, which broke attendance records in Puerto Rico and helped fuel sales of the film's soundtrack, which Daddy Yankee performed with a host of guests. His 2010 effort Mundial featured less hip-hop and pop, more Latin flavors, and the hit single "Descontrol." His sixth album Prestige followed in 2011, posting several singles high in the charts, including "Ven Conmigo" and "Lovumba."
In 2012, when El Cartel house producers Musicologo & Menes began issuing a series of collaboration albums titled Imperio Nazza, it was only natural that Yankee would appear at some point; he finally stepped up a year later with the King Daddy Edition. which also featured Divino, Yandel, Farruko, Arcángel, and J Alvarez. Its success sparked the planning of a second volume for 2015.
Birth Date: February 3, 1977
Origin: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Genre: Latin Urban
Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s
Genres: Latino
RKM & Ken-Y
Genres: Latin Urban
Ivy Queen
Genres: Latin Urban
Don Omar
Genres: Latin Urban
Tony Dize
Genres: Latin Urban
Jory Boy
Genres: Latino
Baby Rasta
Genres: Latino
Genres: Latino
Genres: Latin Urban
Hector El Father
Genres: Latin Urban
Hector & Tito
Genres: Latin Urban
No albums available
No concerts available
No influencers available


text:
The Beverly Hills home that was an incubator for the so-called "most expensive store in the world" recently sold for $9.8 million, about $2 million under its asking price, according to the Los Angeles Times. Click here or on a photo to see a slideshow of the home.
Bijan Pakzad -- or simply Bijan, as he preferred to be called -- owned the eponymous by-appointment-only Rodeo Drive boutique where President Obama, both Bushes and Clinton bought suits. His devil-may-care luxury aesthetic was so distinctively over the top that when he died in 2011, the New York Times' T Magazine declared: "The '80s are officially over."
He poured a great deal of care into his home, which the Bijan boutique website cites as the wellspring of much of his "best creative expression and inspiration." Neighbors and passersby recognized the mansion at 100 Copley Place by the hundreds of flowerpots lining the property; the pots' contents changed with the seasons. The grounds also contained orange trees, bougainvillea, fig and roses.
Inside, a chandelier made of Bijan perfume bottles hung in the grand formal dining room, "making the grand formal dining room the centerpiece of the home," Hilton & Hyland real estate agency said.
The agency called particular attention to "his successful trademark style of deliberate color combinations in the home's interior" and "his superior craftsmanship in the art of presentation" on the estate grounds, as well as a "secret garden."
Monochromatic themes in each room introduced a playful formality, though his signature sunshine yellow dominated.