text:
I'm sometimes told that religious "apologetics" — the defense of a religious belief — is unworthy of true scholars and that no organization supporting apologetics can pretend to scholarship.
But some of the greatest scholars and thinkers who ever lived have devoted significant time and effort to religious apologetics — and not only within the Christian tradition. (Cicero, Averroes, Maimonides, and al-Ghazali come instantly to mind.)
One of the pivotal figures of Western civilization, the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, wrote his "Apology" about another pivotal figure: his teacher, Socrates. In it, Socrates defends his religious beliefs against the Athenian court that will ultimately execute him.
Christian apologetics commences with such figures as St. Justin Martyr, Origen, and Clement of Alexandria — if, indeed, it doesn't begin even earlier, in the scriptures themselves. (See, for example, such appeals to natural evidence as Psalm 19:1 and Romans 1:20.) "Come now," says Isaiah, "let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18). St. Augustine, the greatest of the early Latin Fathers of the Christian church, remains one of Christianity's greatest apologists, as well. Nobody can seriously argue that Augustine is beneath scholarly attention.
The brilliant 13th-century Dominican philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas devoted his multivolume "Summa contra Gentiles" to apologetics. Moreover, his "five ways" — arguments for the existence of God set forth in his vast "Summa Theologica" — continue to be studied and debated by philosophers, as does the "ontological argument" formulated by St. Anselm of Canterbury in A.D. 1078.
The great 17th-century French philosopher-mathematician Blaise Pascal, in his famous apologetic work "Pensees," laid out four goals for apologetics: "Men despise religion; they hate it and fear it is true. To remedy this, we must begin by showing that religion is not contrary to reason; that it is venerable, to inspire respect for it; then we must make it lovable, to make good men hope it is true; finally, we must prove it is true."
Even Pascal, though, was more committed to showing that religious claims are plausible than to trying to prove them beyond any possible doubt. Accordingly, in his famous "wager," Pascal argues that, if the evidence for belief and unbelief is roughly balanced, it's wisest to choose belief: If there is no God, believers lose nothing, while unbelievers gain little; if there is a God, unbelievers lose very much, while believers gain salvation. In a similar spirit, Pascal's near-contemporary, John Locke, one of the first great English-speaking philosophers, titled his 1695 tome "The Reasonableness of Christianity."
Over the past two centuries, many notable Christian scholars and writers have contributed to the literature of apologetics, including G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis and Ronald Knox. High-quality apologetics is still being done by such eminent philosophers as Alvin Plantinga (Notre Dame), Nicholas Wolterstorff (Yale), Keith Ward and Richard Swinburne (Oxford) and Peter Kreeft (Boston), as well as by the physicist-turned-Anglican-priest Sir John Polkinghorne (Cambridge), the mathematician John Lennox and his Oxford colleague, the molecular biophysicist and theologian Alister McGrath. Another leading apologist is the American evangelical philosopher William Lane Craig, who has contended for the reasonableness of Christian faith generally, and, along with the eminent Oxford New Testament scholar N.T. Wright and the American philosophers Gary Habermas and Stephen Davis, argued powerfully for the physical resurrection of Christ.
There is rich reading from these and many similar authors for those interested in rational arguments for faith.
Some critics of Mormonism have declared that a truly strong religion needs no apologetics; only weak ones do. But, if so, no truly strong religion has ever existed, since every religious tradition of any size has produced literature and people arguing for and defending its claims. Atheists have no reason for smugness, though, because the declaration can easily be turned against them: Unbelief, too, has its apologists; Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett and Sam Harris have only continued the project led by Bertrand Russell before them.
Accordingly, C.S. Lewis saw apologetics as a moral obligation for those properly equipped to do it: "To be ignorant and simple now — not to be able to meet the enemies on their own ground — would be to throw down our weapons, and to betray our uneducated brethren who have, under God, no defense but us against the intellectual attacks of the heathen. Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered."
Daniel C. Peterson, professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at BYU, is editor-in-chief of the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative and the founder of MormonScholarsTestify.org. His views do not necessarily represent those of BYU.


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'The Voice' Blind Auditions 4 Recap: Unique Names Make Big Impressions
Monday, February 20, 2012
Jilliane Johnson
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
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Tired of blind auditions yet? I hope not, because tonight
The Voice
is at it once again! Teams Christina, Adam, Cee Lo and Blake are still on the search for 12 members of show stopping talented artists each.
I know that we have all seen it firsthand now and I have mentioned the celebrity coaches hesitations, but by golly I'm going to repeat myself once more. It looks as though the coaches' main goal is to find "the winner" and not "strong talent." Yes, the point of the show is to have the winning artist who remains standing in the end, yet let's not forget to help those singers/performers who may not claim the main prize but still have so much to offer. It irks me to see everyone looking back and forth, hands hovering over their buttons when they must be acting this way because whoever they're listening to is worth checking out their competition. Can I get an "Amen!"?
I'm off my soap box now. Let the games begin, Carson!
With a name and look like that which Ducky owns, special must be the only word to describe what's to come.
With a pinch twist of the handlebar mustache, it's time to go. He spastically struts to "Chosen Up." The performance is a bit "Jagger-ish," yet Adam simply bobs his head to the tune. Absolutely no one hit their button. This guy was quirky and entertaining!
Excuses, excuses, excuses:
Christina lets poor Ducky know that they "all wish they would have pressed their buttons right now." Even Blake, in his confessional, tells America that he'll probably think about losing that one. Carson, knows that they all made the wrong choice.
Hey, I have the answer to these shenanigans! Why not place partitions in between the judges. This way there are no ridiculous "Hey, you hit your button," "No, you hit yours" conversations and some actual work will get done. Back me up, people!
Our next contestant, Jonathas, is a family man.
Music means more than the norm to him, it's how he learned English. You've really got to love this show. To look at Jonathas, you would think he would come out rocking with his mohawk and tattoos, yet he croons out "U Got it Bad." The girls go CRAZY as he begins dancing. Cee Lo and Christina hit their buttons, but way too late. The song is almost over and THEN they turn around!
How inappropriate can these celebrities get?:
After Christina mentions wanting to "package" Jonathas, Cee Lo chimes in with "Christina has package on her mind!" Well, if he's smart he would listen because she knows "what a girl wants." Clever, right? I know!
Team Picked:
Monique Benabou resembles a young Gloria Estefan, but on a very serious note, she helped care for her mom while beating cancer.
The fight and power shines through as she attacks "Mr. Know It All." There may be a few pitch problems, but it's nothing she couldn't work on. Christina turns around and smiles proudly.
There is some serious Christina butt-kissing right now:
Blake commends Christina for being "the greatest female singer of our generation." Adam agrees in Monique's favor "how exciting is this" as he points down the row.
Team Picked (for her):
Naia Kete is a street performer and her day is about to get a lot brighter as Carson Daly drops off her invitation to audition for
The Voice
"It means everything to me," she says excitedly. It's pretty amazing that her mother and her younger sister all share the amazingly long dreadlocks she sports. Her island feel is perfect for "The Lazy Song." Blake is quick to spin around. With the sound of some vocal ad-libbing, Cee Lo follows.
"Overt flirtation":
"Cee Lo, you push all my buttons," giggles Naia. Apparently, Blake has lost before even speaking. He does do some pretty great sweet talking, though, which warrants a hand clap that he stands and bows for. I don't think I'd get any work done for laughing so much, if I were on his team.
Team Picked:
Ok, wait, Charlotte Sometimes had a hit single right?
Yes! She sang "How I Could Just Kill a Man." Apparently, touring with Warped Tour doesn't always work out for the best.
Erick Macek is up now coming a long way from personal struggle.
Guitar in tow, he takes on "Free Fallin'." He has a very unique and interesting voice that makes you really wonder what else he has to offer. The coaches remain with their backs facing Erick, pondering it all. They miss out on yet another great talent.
The worst thing you can hear after seeing not one coach turn around:
"I damn near pushed my button." How lame can you be, Blake? Outside of your effortless ability to make me laugh and sing so much better than I could.
Charlotte Sometimes has actually persevered through a jaw disease which caused her not to sing for quite some time (clever again).
She takes on "Apologize" with a certain jazzy, dreamy, quirky twist that both Adam and Blake approve of. They watch on while Christina and Cee Lo decide to hit their buttons together. What a comeback for Charlotte!
Cee Lo on his fellow celeb coaches:
Christina and Adam are always at each others' necks. So why not suggest that they get everything out in the open? "You guys should get a room." No, I don't see this one happening.
Team Picked:
Broadway comes to
The Voice
by way of Tony Vincent.
He's been in shows like
Who Will Rock You
, but he loves pop and rock. I'm sorry, but I just have to say that he sort of looks like Powder or Billy Corgan. The mesh of the two sings "We Are the Champions" with true rock star power and an obvious comfort on stage. Cee Lo turns around first.
More people should pay attention to what Carson is doing backstage:
Tony has a pregnant girlfriend watching Tony on the screen. As Cee Lo hits his button, Carson pulls the girl in for a hug that only a good friend should give, or maybe not even that good of a friend.
Team Picked (for him):
Cee Lo
Anthony Evans is a pastor's son, but not just any pastor, he leads one of the largest congregations in Texas.
There's a struggle to establish himself as a gospel act; hopefully the coaches can help him. There's a breathy, honey element to his vocals. Cee Lo misses out by thinking about hitting his button. Christina is the only one who follows through.
Words of wisdom from Blake Shelton:
"Never touch another man's button." Definitely words to live by, I suppose.
Team Picked (for him):
The next field trip takes us to Chicago where Jamie Lono works at Potbelly sandwich shop.
I guess Carson was busy since his co-worker hands over his invitation. Making his way through bankruptcy and having a growth on his lung is pretty impressive. Also impressive is his rendition of "Folsom Prison Blues." It's more folk than country and awesome! Adam hits, then Cee Lo hits. These two will duke it out.
The best reason Jamie should pick Cee Lo:
Jamie gushes that this is great because he makes sandwiches for a living. Cee Lo replies, "We should hookup because I eat sandwiches!"
Team Picked:
Cee Lo
Dylan Chambers learned his love for music through theater while missing out on a relationship with his father.
Somehow his lack of a father propelled him further in a life filled with music. His performance is obviously showy as he sings "Valerie." Could he be too "pop"? He's doing "The Carlton" dance from
The Fresh Prince
. Sorry, kid. No one hit their buttons.
Oh well...
Nathan Anderson, Luna Searles, and Adam Lasher all sound really good, in my opinion. Yet none of them make anyone's team roster. Carson hit's the nail on the head when he says "the coaches are being extremely picky."
Knowing Carson Daly gives you perks, like that of Justin Hopkins who was a part of the Carson Daly Show house band.
Singing "Babylon," he uses raspy vocals with a great range to get the crowd on their feet. Before taking the stage, Justin made it known that he wants to work with Cee Lo and guess who is the ONLY coach to turn around.
Team Picked (for him):
Cee Lo
Nicole Gaylon wants to bring the piano to the forefront of country music.
She sits at the baby grand belting out "You Save Me." Adam swivels around happily and Nicole's family jump around and rejoice in the viewing room.
Adam Levine has a certain effect, but not just on the contestants:
Blake is convinced that Adam made Nicole emotional when she saw his face, but he also says "you do that for me."
Here's a few more additions to the teams...
Ashley De La Rose to Team Christina. Jordan Rager and ALyX to Blake. Karla Davis to Team Adam.
Mathai comes from a family focused on the medical field.
It might be a divergence from the community's norm, but she's determined to be a singer. We'll check in with her in a bit.
Tension between him and his father has since been resolved, but the struggle once fueled Eric Tipton's efforts in music.
He's a unassuming "white guy," but "You Make My Dreams Come True" sounds normal coming from his lips. He sounds great, yet no one seems to care.
Note to self:
Don't perform songs by the original artist because the coaches are too much reminded of who is obviously not on the stage behind them. I know this makes no sense; that's exactly my point in typing it out. There is a method to the madness.
Lastly, let us return to Mathai who wants to prove to her family that singing is her calling.
Okay, this one you really just have to hear for yourself. We all know Adele has an amazing voice, but Mathai has destroyed "Rumor Has It." Adam knows what that's about. He hits his button first. Blake is next. Cee Lo turns around last.
Three guys and one girl:
Blake says he wants uniqueness on his team. Adam says he's "desperate." Cee Lo showers her with pretty compliments.
Team Picked:
Team Roster Round Up:
Team Adam - 10
Team Cee Lo - 9
Team Blake - 10
Team Christina - 10
Alright, kiddos! There is only one more night of blind auditions left, so the coaches most likely kick up the petty picky-ness. Yes, I like to make up words here. Anywho, tune back in to
The Voice
next Monday night on NBC at 8/7c to find out who will round out the celebrity coaches' rosters.
Jilliane Johnson
Contributing Writer
(Image courtesy of NBC)
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An example of Newsweek's subtle approach to undermining Palin:
Palin has also become conversant on the subject of quantitative easing, the inflationary effects of which she illustrated with a personal anecdote. "I was ticked off at Todd yesterday," she said. "He walks into a gas station as we're driving over from Minnesota. He buys a Slim Jim—we're always eating that jerky stuff—for $2.69. I said, 'Todd, those used to be 99 cents, just recently!' And he says, 'Man, the dollar's worth nothing anymore.' A jug of milk and a loaf of bread and a dozen eggs—every time I walk into that grocery store, a couple of pennies more..."So does she understand quantitative easing or not? There's no answer. The anecdote is about inflation, which we all understand, and it's put in that paragraph as if it reflects her comprehension of the much more difficult concept, about which Newsweek provides zero information.
They choose an unflattering cover photo too.


text:
Father's Day is right around the corner and Tell Me More has something special for dads. It's the priceless gift that keeps on giving — advice. In the series "Father to Father," dads offer their words of wisdom to other dads. Today's essay comes from Alexander Montgomery of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Father To Father, Dad Offers Advice On Parenting
By editor • Jun 14, 2012


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August 16, 2011 > Exercise DOES Make a Difference!
A message to Tri City homebound seniors over the age of sixty and their family members Paul is 89 years of age and lives in the house he and his wife purchased over 47 years ago. He had been pleased to continue living in his own home, independently and being able to maintain his garden - a longtime interest and hobby. Not long ago while gardening, Paul fell, hit his head and was knocked unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he was unable to get up, but luckily had his cell phone nearby and called his son. While Paul was not seriously injured, he rarely went out in the garden after this unsettling experience.In time, Paul began to struggle with depression due to this significant change in the level of his activities. He felt uncertain about his mobility and became less and less inclined to venture out of doors. One day when talking to his friend, Mike, he learned about an in home exercise program sponsored by LIFE ElderCare. Mike had been enrolled for a month and told Paul he couldn't believe how much stronger he felt and that he was even walking around the block each day on his own. He thought Paul might also benefit from the program.When Paul called the LIFE ElderCare office, he was told about the 12-week session that would be specifically tailored to meet his needs. He was enthusiastic about giving it a try. The next step was an evaluation by a certified fitness trainer who tested his balance and gait, an exercise routine was prescribed and sent to Paul's primary care physician for approval. Following the doctor's confirmation, LIFE ElderCare scheduled an hour appointment, once a week in his home for the next twelve weeks. This program includes a partnership with Unitek College nursing students, who visit enrolled individuals and serve as their coach and monitor the progress they make in doing simply callisthenic exercises using a resistance band. Now fast forward some ten weeks. Paul has been doing the exercises on his own, three times a week. He can already see the results of his exercising. And he is so proud of the fact that his balance and gait have improved immeasurably. Paul told the student nurse that he is not using his cane as often, he can tie his shoes with no effort and he is sleeping better. And the best of all news - Paul is back out in the garden again - doing what he loves most of all.So Tri City seniors sixty years of age and older, no matter your health issues, bed-ridden, chair bound or simply afraid of falling, doing custom designed, daily exercises will improve your mobility.LIFE ElderCare's Fall Prevention program, at no cost to you, includes a personalized 12-week in home exercise program, a home safety check and a medication review. Interested persons are encouraged to call Sandy at (510) 574-2087 and learn about the benefits towards decreasing the risk for falls and fear of falling.


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'The Voice' Live Recap: Everyone Sheds Semifinal Tears
Monday, April 30, 2012
Jilliane Johnson
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
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It is Monday night, once again! That means
The Voice
semifinals! We're coming closer and closer to the season 2 finale, crowning the second winner of the series. Aren't you excited?! Each of the teams are already down to two members a piece, meaning we've said goodbye to quite a few talented hopefuls. Don't fret, though! The show must go on!
While the competition heats up, there is also some entertainment worthy of just sitting back and slapping your knee to. Tonight, we'll see group performances by Team Adam and Team Cee Lo and Team Christina and Team Blake. Plus, Blake Shelton will perform his new single!
The Voice
live? Don't forget to Tune In on the free
BuddyTV Guide App
while you're watching.
It's a pretty heated night on
The Voice
! Carson reminds us know that America's votes as well as the judges' input will send one singer per team in to the finals next week. Oh yeah, and Blake will perform. In case anyone has forgotten who Blake is, he points to himself.
Carson asks each of the celeb coaches about tonight and their respective team members ...
Blake: "Well, one is gonna have to do better than the other Carson." He's such a straight-forward kind of guy. "I do feel confident that Team Blake is going to win the freaking Voice this year."
Christina: "This week all of our contestants are up on that stage and it's really exciting." She's sporting a bejeweled tiara tonight.
Cee Lo: "I love them both very sincerely." This man is wearing a t-shirt with his cat's face in the shape of a heart. Of course, he loves sincerely.
Adam: "It really is an even playing field."
Team Adam
Artist: Tony Lucca
"How You Like Me Now" by The Heavy
Does anyone else think of Wolverine when they see Tony Lucca? Anyways, no matter who or what he looks like, he sounds darn good. The guy is jumping around the stage, interacting with the crowd and his vocals do not falter. There's no way that Blake can say anything about the background visuals either. Tony easily keeps your focus!
Blake: "I actually don't know that song, but I'm kind of glad I don't. That's probably the version I would like."
Christina: "That was definitely a little more "slickly" done ... If this doesn't work out, you and Adam can start a Britney cover band."
Cee Lo: After a really bad impersonation of The Godfather, "I became a fan of yours tonight."
Adam: "This was the perfect thing at the perfect moment, dude. You killed it!"
Team Blake
Eriin Willett
"Without You" by David Guetta featuring Usher
Is her music cue off or something? Seems to me that Erin is a bit off the beat and lagging behind. By the second verse, she's really kicked into it more. It definitely started off shaky, though. Oh, perhaps she's crying? Yes, she's become emotional. In that case, singing like that and fighting through tears is quite commendable.
Christina: "I thought it was unique and original and I give big kudos to you."
Cee Lo: "I'm just enjoying myself tonight." Great! I'm so glad, Cee Lo.
Blake: "I would give anything to have a tenth of the talent that you have ... But more than that Erin, I'd give anything to have the strength that you have." Nicely put, Blake.
Team Christina
Chris Mann
"Ave Maria"
Just a man and his spotlight ... and some candles. While many have voiced their opinions that Chris shouldn't be in the semifinals, I don't know that I can really say anything against an opera singer. Surely, I couldn't do what his voice is doing right now. He sounds like something you would find ... well, at an opera house. Is this marketable, though?
Cee Lo: "Your really are the epitome of this show."
Adam: "You kind of lend to the show's credibility in doing something so ... classic."
Christina: "I just felt the heavens open up just now." The queen descends from her throne to lay a friendly embrace upon her loyal subject. In other words, she gave him a hug.
The Sprint Lounge
Christina Milian is sitting with Tony Lucca and his little girl who is more excited about her two front teeth than anything else. Milian hurries over to Erin Willett and her college friend and makes her start crying again. Thanks, a lot!
Team Cee Lo
Jamar Rogers
"If You Don't Know Me By Now"
Jamar always sounds good, so it's easy to say that he sounds good on this track. There's hardly much to say. That last note, though, I was not expecting. It turned into a game of "How Low Can You Go?"
Adam: "I'm just purely a fan of what you do."
Blake: "I hadn't heard that bottom end from you before, it sounded really good."
Christina: "I got motivated to start SANGIN'!" You know she had to show off her personal range.
Cee Lo: "The reason why your story is so empowering is because it's a success story."
Supergroup Performance
Team Adam & Team Cee Lo
"All These Things That I've Done" by The Killers
Juliet Simms, Katrina Parker, Jamar Rogers and Tony Lucca are rocking the house down. Standouts from the quartet ... well, I think Katrina is the only one that isn't hitting it as hard as the others onstage. Jamar is like popcorn up there, Tony is working his guitar and Juliet just has this presence. Katrina comes across as a bit boring.
Sprint Lounge ... Again
Milian is hanging out with Jamar Rogers who says Cee Lo took the team out bowling. His baby sister looks extremely scared once the microphone comes into view. While talking to Lindsey Pavao, Erin Willett and Chris Mann strike poses in the background. That was the best part of the Sprint Lounge tonight!
Team Blake
Jermaine Paul
"Open Arms" by Journey
The performance is dedicated to his family, mostly his wife. How adorable is that? There's little to say against Jermaine's voice with this song, but I will say that he sounds better with all that power behind his vocals. Pulling back leaves something to be missed, I think. It looks like he gets a bit emotional, though.
Christina: "You came in and you murdered that song."
Cee Lo: "I'm consistently impressed with you, man."
Adam: "Jermaine, I'd like to congratulate you because you are no longer a background singer, my friend."
Blake: Remember when Adam turned to his team and said, "This is the guy to beat."? Well, "I think it's Jermaine," says the country superstar.
Team Adam
Katrina Parker
"Killing Me Softly" by The Fugees
Now, this is one of my favorite songs just as Adam said in the package. It's not everyday you find someone who can take soul on like Lauryn Hill, but Katrina seems to be doing fairly well. She was pretty boring in the group performance, but this is her thing. "Adele Barbie" is shining right now. The last note could have been more cool and collected, but good overall.
Blake: "Dammit!" He basically wants a voice like hers!
Christina: Pointed towards Adam - "Take a look at Katrina Parker 'cause she's a star."
Cee Lo: "I think you just reinvented it yet another time," speaking of Roberta Flack and then Lauryn Hill.
Adam: "I think at the end of the day, you didn't sound like Lauryn Hill, you sounded like Katrina Parker. And for that I'm happy."
I would just like to point out, "I do keep it real," as said by Christina Aguilera. That's not a quote that you can easily look over.
Sprint Lounge ... with family
Milian now sits with Katrina and her parents. Papa Parker says, "Couldn't ask for better." That earns an "Awwwww!" Next is the Paul family and Jermaine's daughters look pretty nervous.
Special Performance
Blake Shelton
You gotta love how Blake keeps his cool at every moment of this show. His cool guy, laid back, lovable look that the coach has in his big red chair remains while performing like a rock star. The song is a really cute one, too.
Team Christina
Lindsey Pavao
"Skinny Love" by Bon Iver
She's in her element tonight. Holding guitar in hand, Lindsey is surrounded by a crowd sitting on the stage, watching. She looks pretty, too, hair down in waves and a purple gown. Her vocals match well with such a song. Seems that her confidence is showing more this week. That's a good thing to see.
Cee Lo: "I don't really know about skinny love, I'm more into BIG LOVE!" Wow, focus please. "I think the closer you got to the microphone, you could actually hear yourself doing a great job."
Adam: "I love how everybody on the show right now, the last eight, are just so unique."
Blake: "Strategy wise, I gotta hand it to Christina for ... bringing it back to what her artists started with."
Christina: "I loved seeing you in a coffee shop setting ... I'm coming to give you a hug, I love you." Again, the queen descends and poses alongside her subject.
Supergroup Performance #2
Team Christina & Team Blake
"Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga
Jermaine Paul, Erin Willett, Lindsey Pavao and Chris Mann are taking on the power ballad. I don't know that I would have picked this song. Lindsey would be the one falling short in this group. Or wait, Erin's 80s fringe jean jacket might be tied with Lindsey for most underwhelming during this performance.
Team Cee Lo
Juliet Simms
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown
First off, when I grow up, I want pointy shoulders like Juliet's. Now that I got that out of the way, I really admire her connection to the song. She wants to be a part of a man-filled rock world. The passion is there, for sure. I surely hope the show's stylist doesn't follow her on her career path, but she sounded amazing.
Adam: "That was ... that was ... that was something special, that was unbelievable." He dubs her as "the one to beat."
Christina: "I sing from me and that's where you sing from, too."
Cee Lo: "YOU MURDERED THAT RECORD!"
And with that, a pretty nerdy looking gentleman picks up each of the coach's votes. We'll see the results tomorrow night when one artist from each team is eliminated. So, vote, vote, vote! By the way, if you can give me a number of how many people cried tonight, I'd love to see that!
The Voice
season 2 semifinals are underway and the results will be shown live tomorrow night. Make sure to tune back in for performances by season one finalists, Cyndi Lauper and Kid Cudi!
Jilliane Johnson
Contributing Writer
(Image courtesy of NBC)
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Thursday, April 18
3:30 pm - First Screening
5:00 pm - Q&A with EarthDance Tour Director
6:00 pm - Second Screening
Cost: FREE (Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni)
$5 (General Public)
Location: Smith Memorial Student Union 338
Get your tickets in advance at the PSU Box Office.
The Portland State Outdoor Program is hosting EarthDance Short-Attention Span Environmental Film Festival. The festival is about a planet where adventure is alive and stories matter. Films featured are hopeful, provocative and an inspiring collection of award-winning short documentaries, comedies, adventures and animations. The collection is a celebration of people, nature, culture, and environmental design. Films range in length from 3 - 30 minutes. Short is sweet.
There will be two screening times. Between the screening there will be a facilitated workshop on environmental and social sustainability by the EarthDance tour coordinator.
Contact Information:
Portland State Outdoor Program


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Robinson's Family Feed
$2500 Shopping Spree at Robinson's! Good on any in store merchandise, clothing, saddles, tack, boots and of course hay!
Robinson's Hay and Animal Nutrition is not just a feed store! They're like an old tyme family ran mercantile with something for everyone in the family. From home décor, pet supplies to western wear. Shop now for huge savings storewide. We're talking brands you trust like Rock n Roll Cowgirl and Cowboy, Justin, Cinch, Southern Thread, Panhandle Slim and Dang Chicks. Sale items include a large selection of straw hats at 35% off and up to 90% off select items in every department. Robinson's also carries fun western décor; cowgirl inspired jewelry, belts for the whole family and of course nutrition and accessories for your animals. Visit their all new expanded hard to find tack area stocked with hard to find items. No wonder locals choose Robinson's Hay and Animal Nutrition.
Just a quick drive on i-40 east exit 75 head south on Lakeside Drive.
Look for the huge Purina checkered sign on the left at 7451 Lakeside Drive. Robinson's Family Feed..…find them on Facebook.


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Faculty Information
In addition to the office of faculty support and your faculty assistants, the faculty have many resources available to them online. For your reference, we have compiled a virtual office space for faculty to use at their convenience.
Full-time and Visiting Faculty Virtual Office
Adjunct Faculty Virtual Office


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"Gourmet" Chocolate Toffee Diamonds
Gourmet Magazine's Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipes
It's time to fire up the oven for holiday cookies this year, and the editors of Gourmet magazine have shared their favorite recipes from spicy to nutty to chocolaty with Good Morning America's Food Editor Sara Moulton.
Here is the recipe for Chocolate Toffee Diamonds.
Cooking Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing
mixer (preferable fitted with paddle attachment) or 6 minutes with a handheld. Beat in yolk and vanilla, then add flour and salt and mix at low speed until just combined.
Spread batter evenly with offset spatula in a greased 15 1/2- by 10 1/2- by 1-inch baking pan and bake in middle of oven until top puffs slightly and is firm to the touch and edges pull away from sides of pan, 20 to 25 minutes (watch carefully toward end of baking; cookie base can burn easily).
While cookie base is baking, melt chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a sauce pan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally, until smooth, then remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat.
Spread chocolate over warm cookie base and immediately sprinkle with walnuts. Cool completely in pan on a rack, then cut into 2-inch diamonds or squares. Chill in pan until chocolate is firm, about 15 minutes.
Cooks' note: Cookies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper, chilled in an airtight container 2 weeks.
Recipe Summary
Main Ingredients: bittersweet chocolate, walnuts, brown sugar


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"Hope" is a four-letter word that most people use after receiving help from a United Way-supported program.
United Way responds to every S.O.S. in the community—whether it's a house fire, drug dependencies, adoptions, daycare, health issues, hospice care, counseling or family support.
And despite a still-recovering economy and a general downturn in corporate giving, RIT has consistently surpassed its yearly goals says Lynn Rowoth, RIT's United Way campaign coordinator who works as associate director of special events and conferences for RIT's Government and Community Relations.
"This is truly a campus wide effort," she says. "Last year, the RIT community did an incredible job in surpassing our goal of $400,000, raising a grand total of $412,000, which not only is the highest amount ever raised in the campaign but also exceeded the amount raised the year before by three percent as well.
"Our 2010 goal is set at $415,000, which we hope to achieve through pledges and support of our special events."
RIT's community spirit has been a huge factor for two individuals whose faces you've seen on posters around campus during the campaign. Their personal journeys, although on opposite sides of the spectrum, are equally poignant and courageous.
Ellie Rosenfield was hoping to "kick her cancer to the curb." Sadly, the associate dean for student and academic services at RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf passed away March 7. But she leaves a legacy of hope for others who have benefited from support at United Way designated donor agencies like Gilda's Club Rochester.
Hope was also a big factor when Matthew Reynell and Jaime Burgos first met their future son at a Hillside Family of Agencies residence—after Children Awaiting Parents jumpstarted their initial introduction.
They must have made a great first impression—because eight-year-old James jumped onto Jaime's lap and asked, "Are you going to be my new daddy?"
"That clinched it," says Reynell, senior financial and information specialist at RIT's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. "We later called and said, 'We can't go on without seeing him.'"
Although adopting an older child with set behavior patterns can be daunting, Reynell and Burgos knew James' trauma—living in several foster homes and feeling "unwanted and unloved"—was at the root of his emotional disturbances.
"We knew we would be testing the waters and were prepared," Reynell explains. "Through the ongoing programs, caring staff and adoption support received from both Hillside and CAP (donor-designated agencies of United Way), James has gone from temper tantrums and failing grades to reading books, making friends and ear-to-ear smiles."
"Sometimes I'll say, 'What am I going to do with you?' and James would always answer, 'Keep me'—like we were going to send him away if he misbehaved.
"But now he just laughs and says, 'Oh, Dad.' "


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It is an analogy that seems apt for the food industry: what came first the chicken or the egg? Or, did food-themed TV explode because of society's changing approach to food, or has society changed its approach to food because of food-themed TV?
''It's a good question, and I do wonder what comes first - was it that people started to get more disposable money and food became a bigger part of people's lives, and that was reflected on the telly?'' the British food TV producer Pete Lawrence says.
''It almost feels like something you can relate back to World War II, to rationing, then to the next generation, into the 1970s and then the boom of the 1980s. I suspect it's as much tied to that as it is to the rise of TV chefs.''
In any event, he adds, food is the new rock'n'roll. ''It's interesting to see how food trends now,'' Lawrence says. ''I almost equate it to the fashion industry in that sometimes what's happening out there in restaurants seems way out, but it does filter through.''
Lawrence is one of Britain's most accomplished food television producers. His credits include The Hairy Bikers' Best of British, The Prison Restaurant, Nigel Slater's Simple Suppers, The Good Cook and, most recently, the Italian-themed Nigella Lawson series, Nigellissima.
Lawrence says Nigellissima begins with one essential, simple ingredient: British food journalist, broadcaster and amateur cook Nigella Lawson. ''The series, the ethos behind it, it all comes from Nigella,'' Lawrence says.
''Nigella has a close affinity with Italy; she speaks fluent Italian, she worked there as a young adult, she has a lot of close connections with Italy. When we started talking to her about a series, she'd been working on the ideas behind it for a long time.''
The spirit of Italy, he says, is one of confidence, tradition and simplicity. ''You couple that with the smells and visuals of Italian food, it's spectacular, but beautifully simple.''
At the same time, he is at pains to point out this isn't a series about Italian food in the strictest sense. Nor is it the story of Lawson's own Italian journey. The feeling was that those ideas - the chef's journey through a foreign land and cuisine - were tired and played out within the cooking genre.
Instead, this is Italian food interpreted and prepared by Lawson in London. Its emphasis is on simplicity and easily accessible ingredients. No obscure vegies from a small Italian market here. This is capital ''I'' Italian, with a contemporary twist.
''You could take Nigella travelling around Italy and do authentic traditional Italian, but that's been done so many times,'' Lawrence says. ''We want it to feel like Nigella brought that back home, ingredients you can buy on your doorstep and the kind of food she cooks on a regular basis.''
What makes Lawson's technique so captivating is Lawson herself: eloquent, sensual, even flirtatious. Unlike some programs where the food precedes the host, here the host is as as important as the food she is preparing.
''When Nigella talks she has this mesmerising quality that you want to listen to her,'' Lawrence says. ''I have done a wide range of food shows and you try to design the show around the personality of the person you're working with. And Nigella oozes personality and charisma. She is captivating.''
She also has a well-established brand, which Lawrence kept in mind when producing Nigellissima. ''She has a certain style and a certain look, it has to be classy, it has to feel warm and it has to be aspirational,'' he says. ''So once you put all those ingredients together, the show evolves.''
The most pressing question with food- and cooking-themed television programs is balancing the genuinely instructional with the purely fantastic.
''I think there are two types of people when it comes to cooking, and everyone I meet tells me they're one and their partner is the other,'' Lawrence says.
''There are people who follow recipes to the letter, and there are people who cook by instinct. I think the same is true of cookery programs. There are people who probably do want more instruction, but the truth is they can go off and find the recipe after the program. With television, you're trying to cut and tighten, to make things pacy.
''Most people are there to look for ideas and inspiration. Maybe some do go out and buy the pans and ingredients and cook them the same way, but I think a lot of people just want to be entertained.''
One of the most interesting aspects of Nigellissima is its soundtrack: an acoustic signature that does not, as you might expect, delve too deeply into Italian traditional music and opera but rather remains distinctly British, with a hint of jazz.
''We had a lot of discussions in the edit,'' Lawrence says. ''We wanted to make that differentiation. This isn't Nigella travelling around Italy, this is Italian-inspired food that Nigella is cooking in London, so we didn't want to make it sound faux Italian.
''It had to feel Italian, but our focus with the music was less on Italy itself and more on creating a mood for the show: warm, intimate, glossy, jazzy. On the Christmas program we introduced a little more Italian music, but when we used too much Italian music in the series if felt cliched, like we'd seen it before.''
What it does deliver, however, is the kind of ''food porn'' that fans of Lawson's programs have come to expect. The food photography is sumptuous and Lawson's sensual interaction with the ingredients is, in the food TV realm, almost without peer.
Lawrence laughs when the phrase ''food porn'' is brought into the conversation. ''I think it's almost an unfortunate phrase because of the sexual connotation to it, but what is true is that there is no point in doing a food show where the food doesn't look great,'' he says.
''You want people to watch the show and feel hungry, and people are not going to feel hungry if you just drop something onto a plate and stick any old light on it. So as soon as you go down that line, wanting the food to look as good as it can, you spend a lot of time and money on that and getting that look absolutely right.''
Television may not be able to convey smell and taste, but it does convey sight and sound, Lawrence says. ''So we have to entice people in and make them want to eat it.''
Nigellissima airs on Thursdays, ABC1, at 8.30pm.


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- Premier League
Fellaini insists focus is only on Everton
Marouane Fellaini has responded to questions over his Everton future by insisting he wants to stay at Goodison Park.
Fellaini, 25, is wanted by Russian Premier League side Zenit St Petersburg, who confirmed their interest in the player on Thursday.
Manager David Moyes has admitted that he would find it difficult to turn down a huge offer for one of his star names, pointing out that the money could be used to improve the overall strength of his squad.
But Fellaini, signed for £15 million from Standard Liege in 2008, is indicated that he is keen to stay on Merseyside. The midfielder, whose contract at Goodison Park runs until 2016, said: "My head is exclusively with Everton. I'm saying nothing about all the rumours.
"Although I'm happy to be praised for my performances, my future is with Everton.
"We are playing well enough to fight for a European place, even the Champions League, but we must retain this rhythm all season. It won't be easy but we want to do it.
"Our fans deserve to have some more big European nights."
Fellaini, who went into Sunday's Premier League match against Tottenham as Everton's leading scorer, with eight goals three clear of nearest rival Nikica Jelavic is hopeful that he can maintain his good form.
"I am pleased with my current form," he said. "There's no secret to it. It's a combination of luck, work and good positioning in the penalty area.
"I do what the forwards do, and score goals."


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From the Boston Globe
By Jack M. Wilson
Students and families in Massachusetts are anxious about the cost and availability of higher education. These concerns will only intensify in the coming months, as acceptance letters land in thousands of mailboxes and families grapple with decisions that will shape a young person's life and will also have a major impact on household finances.
Affordability is now the critical question for many students and families making decisions about college. Discussions that just last year might have centered on where to attend are now just as likely to be conversations about whether it is even possible to attend.
Interest in a University of Massachusetts education is at an all-time high and applications for enrollment are up at every campus. When families see that they can have access to a world-class education for only $20,000 for tuition, fees, and room and board, they are interested. When they realize that over half of UMass students receive financial aid and pay far less than that, they are impressed.
Still, there is a lot of worry. Families are not sure how much aid they will receive. They worry that students might be saddled with large loans. They also know that UMass is facing a significant decrease in state funding.
A major funding reduction could jeopardize access and affordability, but fortunately a decision made six years ago to increase the university's commitment to financial aid puts it in a position to respond aggressively to this challenge. In 2003, the university's direct spending on financial aid was $36.5 million. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of UMass chancellors, spending has increased by 165 percent to $94.2 million.
UMass is now poised to meet 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees with grants and scholarships - after the expected family contribution required under federal guidelines - for students from families with annual incomes up to $78,500. UMass wants families to recognize that high-quality higher education may be more affordable than they imagined.
For example, a family with an annual income of under $30,000 pays only $1,704 on average for tuition, fees, and room and board at UMass-Amherst this year. For families with incomes up to $50,000, it is $3,982, and families earning up to $75,000 pay an average of $7,787. Even families with no federally determined need pay $20,000 for tuition, fees, and room and board, and many of those students receive non-need-based aid. When parents compare that to the alternatives, they see a world-class education at an affordable price.
To help close a projected $102 million budget gap for the upcoming year and to provide additional financial aid, UMass is proposing to increase the total student fees by $1,500. While some object to any fee increase, it would be irresponsible to simply cut $102 million from the current budget, as that would compromise quality. Cutting $102 million from the budget would require extensive layoffs of faculty and staff, and would mean that student enrollment would have to decrease. It would be equally irresponsible to make up for the loss of $102 million simply on the revenue side, as that would require a $3,100 fee increase that would unduly burden students and families.
The UMass approach is to address the shortfall half through spending reductions and half through an increase in fees. This is a responsible, balanced, pragmatic path, one that - taken in tandem with the new commitment on financial aid - will allow the university to protect the twin pillars of quality and affordability.
In so many homes and at so many dinner tables right now, the question is: Is a college education, the undeniable ticket to the America Dream, still within our reach?
The University of Massachusetts is dedicated to ensuring that answer remains a definitive yes.
Jack M. Wilson is president of the University of Massachusetts.


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After a very successful Taste of Chicago, Eli's is looking forward to National Cheesecake Day on July 30! But Eli's thinks cheesecake deserves more than one day of fun, so we are preparing for a weeklong celebration for National Cheesecake Day! July 25-30 Eli's will be celebrating with special events like a live performance by Redmoon Theater, a classic car show, grilled lunches, free cheesecake, and so much more!
For a complete schedule of events for National Cheesecake Week, check out our July calendar: http://www.elicheesecake.com/elis-in-chicago/bakery-cafe/calendar/


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Harry Vega guided the 5-year-old mare to a surprising victory over six other distaffers in the seven furlong test. She won by neck over a hard closing and determined All Giving, the defending champion. Post time favorite Puskita chased the leader but gave way and finished third.
"They did a wonderful job with this horse," Vega said. "She's got a lot of speed. She just broke so good and went on with the race. My instructions were to take the lead and don't give it up at any cost. She really dug in down the stretch."
Fancy Diamond is now six-of-12 lifetime for earnings of nearly $220,000.
Little known apprentice Josean Ramirez became more than a blip on the radar screen when he rode the winners in four of the first five races this afternoon at Laurel Park.
Ramirez, a 21-year-old from Puerto Rico, started his day quickly as Miss Maisy beat $5,000 claimers and paid $3. He finished off the board with his mount in the second race but roared right back to win races three, four and five aboard Onearmedbusch ($7.80), Sleek Hunter ($3.20) and Clydetheglyde ($13.20) respectively. He failed to reach the winners' circle in the sixth or seventh.
"When the entries came out it looked like it could be a good day but you never know," said Ramirez, who won on his first career mount at Laurel in August but missed the final two and a half months of 2008 with injuries suffered in a spill at Charles Town. "It feels good to have a big day. Hopefully this is a good beginning for more days like this."
The career-best day helped Ramirez move into a seventh place tie in the jockey standings with 21 first place finishes.


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Fun and Fabulous Oscar Poll Round Up
Whew! What a crazy couple of days! Hopefully you have been able to keep up with all of our fabulous Oscars coverage. Just to make sure you are up to speed, here is a round up of all the Oscar Pre and Post Party Fashion Love It or Hate It polls, as well as some other fun fashion polls from the big night.
Pre and Post Party Fashions - Love It or Hate It?
For Some Leading Ladies, One Dress Was Not Enough, Which Did You Like Best?
And finally, vote on some of your favorite looks from before and during the show
In case you missed it, here's the first Round Up of Oscars Red Carpet Love It or Hate It polls as well as PopSugar's and BuzzSugar's Round Ups of their Oscar coverage. We just can't get enough!


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After winning two consecutive Hudson County Tournament championships, the Lincoln High School girls' basketball team is expected to keep the winning ways going.
That's asking a lot, considering that the Lions hadn't won a county title for 30 years prior to 2011.
But Lincoln's program is definitely the elite organization in the county these days, an idea that does not get past veteran head coach Tommy Best.
"I can't say it's added pressure, but we certainly need to keep the expectations high," said Best, who guided the Lions to a brilliant 28-2 record and a state ranking for the very first time. "After winning two championships, we want to keep the expectations high."
It won't be easy. The Lions lost two-time Hudson Reporter Player of the Year Breana Bey to graduation. Bey, who averaged 20 points and nine rebounds per game last year, is now playing at Monroe Junior College in New York.
The Lions also lost off-guard Chaniyah Swan to graduation, then had to deal with the loss of potential starting point guard Natalie Cortez to a season-ending ACL knee injury.
"She was playing basketball in the summer and tore the knee," Best said. "She's only a sophomore, so she'll be back, but it's a big loss now."
So is everyone ready to feel sorry for Best and the Lions?
"We lost three-fifths of our starting rotation, so that's a lot," Best said. "I know it's tough trying to find the right solutions. The motivation has been there for the other players to work hard and perhaps earn a starting slot. People think that we might have a little nick in our armor and that we're not as strong as we used to be. But I think the girls are up to the challenge."
One of the main reasons why the Lions have to be considered among the best in the county is the return of junior forward Kiante Johnson, who earned Hudson Reporter All-Area First Team honors last year.
The 6-foot Johnson averaged 17 points and nine rebounds per game last year. She's expected to be the Lions' team leader this year.
"Now that Bey is gone, she has to be the go-to player," Best said of Johnson. "Teams are going to key on her, but she has to able to handle it. Last year, it was tough to defend two post players like Bey and Johnson. Now, she's alone and teams are going to try to stop her. She has to take her game to a whole other level."
Johnson is already receiving attention from some major colleges.
"Just about every school is asking about her," Best said. "She understands that academics come first. She is just as much into the books this year as she is into basketball. She could be the best player in the county, but she has to want to be the best. She has to follow in Breana's footsteps and perhaps do even more."
Another key returning player is senior guard She'Kinah Suber. The 5-foot-7 Suber is a versatile player who can play a variety of positions.
"She can do a lot of things," Best said of the hero of last year's county tournament finale. "She is our best defensive player. She's accepting the role as being the second offensive option after Johnson. She just keeps getting better. She's one of the quickest players around."
Suber averaged eight points per game last year. Best expects her to have more this time around.
Another key player is 5-foot-5 sophomore Zhane Williams.
"She started in the county championship game last year and she's much improved this year," Best said. "She's taken over the point guard role with Natalie down. She's a good floor leader. She just needs to make plays as a scorer, because she's already a good passer."
Senior Jadela Gaston is a 5-foot-8 forward.
"She's a good outside shooter who can play big in big games," Best said of Gaston. "She has good experience."
Sophomore Penelope Gonzalez is a 5-foot-8 forward.
"I'm expecting her to contribute this year," Best said. "She comes from our undefeated JV [junior varsity] team and she had a good summer. She's definitely going to step up as a defender."
Sophomore Maviel Gonzalez, a 5-foot-7 guard and cousin of Penelope, is also a key contributor.
"She can play the point or the off-guard," Best said. "She has been shooting the ball pretty well and she has a good basketball IQ."
Pamela LaRocco is a 5-foot-5 senior who provides instant offense off the bench.
"She's one of our better outside shooters," Best said.
Senior Tynyece Williams is a 5-foot-9 forward.
"She's a good rebounder with point guard skills," Best said. "She's one of our better low post defenders. We're going to utilize her a lot."
Junior Dazeejah Marsh is a defensive specialist and a 5-foot-4 guard. Antoinette Shiloh is a 6-foot-2 junior inside presence, but she has to sit out the mandatory 30 days after transferring from Snyder.
The one to watch is freshman Destiny Shuler. The 5-foot-6 small forward is already with the varsity and making her way up the ranks.
"I definitely have big plans for her," Best said.
The Lions have a great schedule that begins with their annual Christmas Tournament, one that will bring powerhouses like Rancocas Valley (runner-up in last year's NJSIAA Tournament of Champions), Trenton Central, Paterson Kennedy, Curtis of Staten Island and Bishop Loughlin to the Lincoln gym this weekend.
The Lions won their season opener, defeating Mount St. Dominic, 46-25, last Sunday.
"I think we'll have a good year," Best said. "I really believe we can do it again if we work hard."
Jim Hague can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. You can also read Jim's blog at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com.


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Few films in recent decades have so successfully spoken to the day-to-day realities of service sector employment as 1999's "Office Space." Written and directed by Mike Judge, the fictional film is extraordinarily witty and remarkably popular. Though a comedy, it subtly confronts its viewers with a number of questions which thinkers within radical and leftist political circles have pondered for quite some time: Why are jobs often so dissatisfying? Why do many of us constantly seek out ways of escaping? Can anything be done about it?
Why a "Radical" Analysis, and Why "Office Space"?
Obviously, in seeking to do a radical analysis of anything, it is imperative that the reader have some understanding of what one means when employing the term "radical." As political scientist Stephen R. Shalom explains, "the term 'radical' means relating to the root, or fundamental." More specifically, in the pursuit of changing society so as to improve people's lives, a radical is "someone who wants fundamental change - not just a few cosmetic adjustments...."[1] Therefore, the word "radical" is used here to convey the specific type of lens through which this paper will analyze "Office Space." Traditionally, this lens is associated with the political left, which effectively means that its subjects are studied, first and foremost, in the context of the socioeconomic system we call capitalism. This system - as opposed to specific governments, employers, individuals, policies, etcetera - is the root with which radicals are chiefly concerned and seek to change, to one extent or another (and at one speed or another), in order to improve people's social, political and economic lives.
Before proceeding further, a quick disclosure is probably in order for those who may be new to radical modes of analysis. Very often, radical literature incorporates elements of Marxism - concepts developed by the 19th-century philosopher and political-economist Karl Marx. This is important to disclose because it is difficult to think of a political figure whose name alone can generate more discomfort (save, perhaps, for Hitler or Stalin) than Karl Marx. As Mary Gabriel, a recent biographer of Marx and his family, explains, the "Marxist" label is generally only used as "toxic sludge" against political opponents, often without any real understanding of what such a term connotes.[2] Yet we should be very careful not to banish all of Marx's work from political discussion simply because of the heinous atrocities committed (to one extent or another) by those purporting to be Marxists, in countries he never set foot in, many decades after his death. Because the overwhelming majority of his time was spent critiquing capitalism - not designing a communist system to replace it - fans of "Office Space" might find that he, and those who have since followed in his tradition, actually had diverse and interesting things to say about the nature of our working lives.
So why, then, would "Office Space" merit a radical analysis? As hinted at by the film's pithy tagline, "Work Sucks," one of the basic premises of my analysis is that "Office Space" cleverly raises many questions that radical thinkers have long discussed in great detail (thereby rendering the film politically important). And given its mainstream popularity, the film provides us a unique opportunity to discuss aspects of radical political theory in ways that a far greater number of people relate to than those already present within activist and intellectual circles.
The Plot and Main Characters
The basic, surface-level plot of "Office Space" is relatively straightforward: the mild-mannered protagonist, Peter Gibbons, despises his job at the computer software firm Initech. The first 15 minutes brilliantly illuminate the setting and tone of the film, and are thus extremely important. The viewer is shown every detail of Peter's work-life, from the alarm clock shrieking, to driving in agonizingly slow traffic, to the daily electric zap he receives upon opening the door to his thoroughly sterilized, cubicle-filled workroom. The very first camera shot inside of the room is clearly intended to impress upon the viewer the dreariness of Peter's station in life - we are confronted with an endless, impersonal sea of people, all working quietly in tiny cubicles, amid the electronic clamor of innumerable machines and illumined by stale fluorescent lighting. It happens to be a Monday, but the viewer instinctively senses that what Peter has just experienced is remarkably unexceptional.
After observing his daily routine and watching him get hassled by several bosses over a mundane company regulation, Peter becomes a sympathetic, if not deeply relatable, character to the viewer. But after a botched "occupational hypnotherapy" session, in which Peter is left suspended in a hypnotized state, his outlook and behavior completely change. He disregards the alarm clock, hangs up on his girlfriend, ignores calls from his job, all while remaining completely unfazed and unapologetic. During a meeting with the "efficiency consultants" - a callous duo referred to collectively as "The Bobs" - Peter is told that his office comrades, Michael and Samir, are soon going to be laid off, and his outlook takes another dramatic turn. He hatches a plot with Michael and Samir to install a virus in Initech's computer mainframe that will deposit money into an account every day. When the three meet to discuss the plan, we can see how much Peter has changed since the start of the film: he finally feels confident, autonomous and empowered (albeit for unethical reasons).
We soon learn that the virus was programmed incorrectly. Fully aware that this will be quickly discovered by Initech, Peter decides to take full responsibility for the plot. He writes a letter of apology and returns the money under the cover of night, but, fortunately for him, the building burns down (at the hand of his comically strange co-worker, Milton) the following morning. Peter goes on to take a job with a construction company.
The Film and Political Theory
So how should we interpret the film? In what we could call the fatalistic interpretation, Peter's actions, and the film itself, would not be in favor of anything so much as against something: the realities and drudgeries of life itself. Peter would be akin to the child who cries and acts out in anger when a favorite pet dies. He feels, in the depths of his being, that the situation is unfair, indecent and wrong, but is failing to accept what is ultimately inevitable. While that may make him sympathetic to us, it would not make him brave.
Alternatively, a conservative interpretation would stress that Peter's initial situation merits no sympathy from the viewer - for, after all, he freely chooses to work at Initech - and his diatribes about what work should be like amount to little more than foolish naivete. In other words, Peter has chosen his station in life and, though he is free to complain about his job all he pleases, he has little grounds for doing so. If there is anyone or anything to blame, this interpretation would suggest, it is Peter himself.
This essay, on the contrary, argues something different. Part of Office Space's wonderful appeal is that it is not explicitly political or ideological. Admittedly, though, this results in mixed messages and, consequently, several reasonable - but markedly different - possible ways of interpreting the film. In contrast to the aforementioned interpretations, I argue that Peter's situation is not a mere reaction to some fatalistic "human condition," nor is it completely of his own making. "Office Space" is popular, in large part, precisely because Peter represents a kind of hero. But to answer why he is perceived that way, we must first see that Peter's dissatisfaction ultimately springs from disempowerment and a deep sense of what should be but, at this moment in history, is not. One way to see this scenario is by observing "Office Space" alongside elements of radical political theory.
The dominant ideologies in American political discourse provide us with few tools (if any) to analyze "Office Space" as a political film. Conservatives and libertarians would likely subscribe to the second interpretation above and would dwell on Peter's so-called "personal responsibility" to do that which is in his self-interest. But even liberalism, for all its merits, regularly falls short of meaningfully connecting with the daily life of any working person. For example, liberals calling themselves "progressive" may advocate for "full employment" as part of macroeconomic policymaking, but they are largely silent on the issue of what that employment might actually entail, whether or not it is empowering for each worker, meaningful, etcetera. A job is thus viewed simply as that which provides the "recipient" with a means of securing an income and having something to do with his or her time and energy. Any inquiry into the nature of this potential employment - as experienced by the individual worker on a daily basis - is deemed by the liberal to fall well outside of pragmatic policy concerns, perhaps because the very principles of workplace democracy and worker self-management are themselves regarded as hopelessly utopian. Out of both political expediency and a paternalistic attitude toward the competence of working people, therefore, the rallying cry is restricted to "Jobs!" rather than "Empowering Jobs!"
But what do workplace democracy and worker self-management have to do with "Office Space"? Much of Peter's own misery seems to arise from his being disempowered by Initech. But by choosing solidarity over an upper-management job - as when he devises the scheme with Michael and Samir after being informed that they will be fired - he hints that power for himself was not his only aim. The film suggests that Peter's true gripe seems to be with a system in which a small group of people is able to exert a disproportionate amount of control over the respective fates of a far larger group of people - a system in which the daily debasement of human potential and dignity becomes not only acceptable, but perhaps even profitable, a system in which stock prices, standardization, routine and efficiency seem to have take precedence over human beings (as when Peter reveals that laying off Michael and Samir will increase Initech's stock price).
Early on, Peter senses that this situation is unfair, but he - as many of us often do - frequently chooses to escape from these feelings rather than confront them. If there is one dominant theme throughout "Office Space," it is that of escape. It occurs with multiple characters and in myriad ways throughout the film. For example, Peter tries to escape from reality by going to the hypnotherapist and asking to be made "to think he has been fishing all day" upon coming home from work; co-worker Tom Smykowski is severely injured in a car accident after trying to kill himself - the ultimate form of escape; the entire scheme of uploading a computer virus was not only an attack against Initech, but also a means of permanently escaping from the company and all other jobs where one could be "fired for no reason," as Peter puts it. Even Milton escapes to a tropical island for what we can only assume is an extended vacation from work.
Alienation, the Division of Labor, and Hostility
But why is there such a drive toward escapism? What is it about their jobs and lives that compels our characters toward the pursuit of escape? Out of all the concepts within the radical political tradition, it would be difficult to find one more appropriate for Office Space than the concept of alienation. The theory of alienation, as radical political scientist Bertell Ollman explains, "is the intellectual construct in which [Karl] Marx displays the devastating effect of capitalist production on human beings, on their physical and mental states and on the social processes of which they are a part."[3] The effect is "devastating," Marx argued, in no small part because the jobs that most of us perform do not satisfy any of our inherent needs as human beings. Rather, our labor only serves as a means toward satisfying an external need - that is, making money to survive. The "alien" character of work becomes abundantly clear, Marx writes, "in the fact that as soon as no physical or other compulsion exists, labor is shunned like the plague."[4] Therefore, when Peter tells his next-door neighbor, Lawrence, that if money were not an issue, "I would relax, I would sit on my ass, all day, I would do nothing," he is doing much more than expressing his dissatisfaction with Initech; he is confirming Marx's suspicions about how human beings react toward a life of alienated labor.
Alienation is so crushing, radicals argue, precisely because it exists on numerous levels: as if by some invisible force outside of human control, we are compelled to do work that is not enriching or meaningful, and is therefore alien (remember Peter's nightmare wherein the judge deems he has lived a "trite and meaningless life"); the very things we make or work on - like Peter's TPS reports - have essentially no real meaning for us and are therefore alien; the people who have an interest in getting us to do this unpleasant work, like Lumbergh, quickly become antagonists, and therefore alien to us; and, as a result of all these daily processes, our potentialities and aspirations as human beings are frequently abandoned - as when Peter wishes to do nothing - and are thereby rendered alien to us.[5] It is precisely due to this last "alienation from our species" that Marx argued working people will eventually only feel free when satisfying what he called our "animal functions," such as eating, drinking and procreating. It is thus no accident that when Lawrence is asked by Peter what he would do if he had a million dollars - in other words, what he would truly want to do with his life were money not an issue - his response is a sexual fantasy.
Thus, radicals would generally agree with the famous "Office Space" tagline, "Work Sucks," but with one small, yet crucial alteration: "Alienated Work Sucks." But what is it about the nature of modern work that makes it so alienating? Radicals often point to the highly evolved division of labor - that is, the breaking down of work into simple, repetitive tasks that each individual becomes responsible for, while much of the thinking about and overseeing of work is carried out by a "coordinator class."[6] However, as the renowned psychoanalyst and critical theorist Erich Fromm argued, this intense division of labor also "lead[s] to an organization of work where the individual loses his individuality, where he becomes an expendable cog in the machine."[7] This process occurs regularly under capitalism, Fromm argued, precisely because the worker is viewed as "part of the equipment hired by [capitalists], and his role and function are determined by this quality of being a piece of equipment."[8]
If Peter's wish to do nothing is indeed a key message of "Office Space," then we must again yield to Fromm, who, writing in 1955, argued that, "The alienated and profoundly unsatisfactory character of work results in two reactions: one, the ideal of complete laziness; the other, a deep-seated, though often unconscious hostility toward work and everything and everybody connected with it."[9] In addition to his point about laziness, Fromm's point regarding hostility is also apparent throughout "Office Space." Whether it is Peter's contempt for the receptionist seated in the cubicle across from him, Michael's contempt for the woman who hands out the employee mail, Joanna's contempt for the eccentric waiter, or Peter, Michael, and Samir's mutual contempt for the office printer, it must be considered that their hostility does not merely spring from differences in personality or problems with the functioning of a particular machine. Rather, it is the sheer undesirability of their work situation that creates a setting in which it becomes remarkably easy to grow hostile toward "everything and everybody connected with it."
Because the worker "becomes an appendage of the machine" who must learn "only the most simple, most monotonous, most easily acquired knack,"[10] all while "placed under the command of a perfect hierarchy of officers and sergeants"[11] (such as Lumbergh, Dom, The Bobs, etcetera), the irrepressible feeling that one's needs as a human being are being relentlessly subordinated to the company's need to make money can, over time, lead to hostility and even violence. To this point, we must marvel at some of Marx's and Friedrich Engels' observations in "The Communist Manifesto." As if foreseeing "Office Space" by 150 years, the authors noted that many workers will at first destroy the "instruments of production" rather than the system of production which forces the great majority of them to "sell themselves piecemeal."[12] Thus, when the authors write of these disgruntled workers that "they smash to pieces machinery,"[13] we quickly recall the epic printer scene, where Peter, Michael and Samir destroy the temperamental printer in the middle of a barren field; and when Marx and Engels write "they set factories ablaze,"[14] we cannot help but think of Milton nervously fleeing the scene as the Initech building is reduced to ashes.
"Office Space" reminds us that much radical sentiment exists in the mainstream, but is rarely identified as such. This example should lead us to consider the many arguments for worker ownership, worker self-management and workplace democracy. The general tendency of such arguments is that if alienation is to ever be successfully eliminated, what is necessary (though not necessarily sufficient by itself) [15] is a true democratization of decision-making authority in the workplace.
Such a democratization is also necessary if the "worker versus coordinator" effect is to be eliminated (or at least severely minimized).[16] Hierarchical organization of authority often leads to a situation of mutual mistrust between the Peters and the Lumberghs of the world. In contrast, within Spain's massive Mondragón cooperative community, asymmetries in power and information are thus negated by a conscious arrangement which most of us value quite dearly: democracy.
But simply fantasizing about such a situation will, of course, not bring it into existence. For that, nothing but good old-fashioned action will do.[17] Peters of the world, unite!
A longer version of this analysis previously appeared at ZCommunications.
Stephen Rosskamm Shalom, "Which Side Are You On? An Introduction to Politics" (New York: Longman Publishers, 2003), 29-30.
Mary Gabriel, "Who Was Karl Marx?" CNN, 10/29/11. (Accessed on 06/12/12)
Bertell Ollman, "Alienation: Marx's Conception of Man in Capitalist Society" (New York: Cambridge University Press), 131.
Karl Marx, edited by Dirk J. Struik, "The Economic & Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844" (New York: International Publishers, 2001) 110-111.
The criteria for what constitutes a "coordinator" are not precise, but, as the originators of the term describe, " ... the coordinator wants to preserve a relative monopoly of conceptual skills and expertise giving him or her an interest in preventing the widespread intellectual advance of workers, as well as a paternal, elitist attitude toward them." Michael Albert and Robin Hahnel, "Socialism Today and Tomorrow" (MA: South End Press, 1981), 32-33, 38.
Erich Fromm, "The Art of Loving" (New York: HarperCollins, 2006), 79.
Erich Fromm, "The Sane Society" (New York: Fawcett World Library, 1955), 162.
Fromm (1955), 163, italics in original.
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, "The Communist Manifesto" (New York: Penguin Books, 2002), 227. Also available online. (Accessed on 06/12/12)
The degree to which instituting workplace democracy can, by itself, resolve the core defects of capitalism is the source of considerable debate among radicals themselves. For overviews of this debate and various perspectives on it, see, for example, "Against the Market" by David McNally, "Market Socialism: The Debate Among Socialists," edited by Bertell Ollman;, "Remaking Scarcity" (specifically Chapters 8 and 9) by Costas Panayotakis; and, "Against the Market Economy: Advice to Venezuelan Friends" by Robin Hahnel. (Accessed on 06/12/12)
The lopsided power imbalance between those who coordinate the work and those who do the work quickly creates two distinct, opposing forces: one either gives orders, or one takes them. And, once this dynamic is set in motion, a kind of spiritual impulse exists whereby it feels good to disobey and defy the orders (especially if one does so without getting caught). Thus Peter at one point, for example, fillets a fish at his desk and throws the entrails onto the TPS report cover sheets that he was disciplined for not using at the start of the film.
In addition to the various sources cited in this paper, the following texts might prove useful for readers somewhat new to radical arguments: Phil Gasper's concise article "Another World is Possible"; Gar Alperovitz, "America Beyond Capitalism"; Michael A. Lebowitz's "Build It Now: Socialism for the 21st Century"; Michael Albert's "Parecon: Life After Capitalism"; Richard D. Wolff's "Democracy at Work" (forthcoming); Erich Fromm's "Marx's Concept of Man"; Mary Gabriel's "Love and Capital: Karl and Jenny Marx and the Birth of a Revolution"; and, Robert Heilbroner's "Marxism: For and Against."


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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) -- Easter traditions in the Grand Valley start at sunrise. Stoker Stadium hosted a sunrise service to celebrate Christ's resurrection.
The Walker family joined the service offering their voices for praise in the choir. This Easter Sunday was the family's first time at the sunrise service.
"We usually go to some church service and this has been an exciting thing to be able to do in the morning," says Christian Talene Walker.
Pastor, Jim Hale, gave the Easter message at the service this morning…Easter Sunday is a very sacred day for Believers.
"It's a very special day, the day of the resurrection, the day that Christ defeated death," said Pastor Jim Hale.
Locally, there is also something special about the service...Grand Valley tradition.
"Traditionally the Grand Junction Minister Alliance has been doing Easter sunrise services for more than 30 years here," says Hale.
Usually the service is held in the Suplizio, but field maintenance on the ball field called for a change- moving the service to Stoker Stadium. Despite a last minute move, the service was still an enjoyable experience.
"We were hoping to be over there- it's a little bit better view, but it was still very nice," said Hale.
I asked the Walker Family if the sunrise service was an Easter tradition they will be adding to their list.
"I think so, yeah, very neat [service]...it was really uplifting," said Walker.
Families and children, who attended this morning's Easter service, came from about 20 different churches around the Grand Valley. After the service ended, Christians were invited to go back to their respective churches to enjoy an Easter breakfast where they were able to continue celebrations and festivities for today.
The choir sang 5 songs a capella. The sunrise service is a free event put on by the Grand Junction Ministerial Alliance.


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GENEVA – To reduce its debt payments, the Geneva School District 304 board Monday approved transferring nearly $5 million from the education fund to pay down its 2004A debt series, a voter-approved $41.2 million bond issue to build a second middle school and for school improvements.
Donna Oberg, assistant superintendent for business services, said that the amount more than $15 million in the education fund was to be used to pay down the debt.
"We're looking to increase that debt service payment to level it off so there's not a big shelf," Oberg said. "I'm looking at increasing debt service payment by about $500,000 each year to kind of level it off so there is not a big shelf where we can't abate that. Because, as you know, the debt service payments are going from $14 million to $15 million up to anywhere from $23 million to $24 million over the next 10 years, so we try to keep those dollar amounts level as much as possible."
Oberg said she increased the debt payment to $15 million this year and plans to increase it to $15.5 million next year.
"We are trying to keep increasing it a little bit because what I don't want to have happen – if we don't have the excess to be able to abate back, we could go from a $15 million payment maybe to a $21 million payment, and that's going to be a big jump," Oberg said. "So what I am trying to do is keep that level, so if I don't abate as much back each year, hopefully, it will meet in the middle; it will level it out."
The board also approved a resolution for the $4.9 million to be used as a partial abatement of taxes levied for years 2012, 2013 and 2014 for the principal and interest on those particular bonds.
Property taxes are not going to decrease because of the abatement, Oberg said.
"It's that they [taxes] are not going to increase based on debt service payments the way they were scheduled," Oberg said. "In other words, this year, I think it would have been $17 [million] or $18 million; instead, it's going to be $15 million. So it's just keeping that so the increase is not as large."


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BRYAN It's appropriate that one of R. Bowen Loftin's last events at Texas A&M would be a sit-down visit with students, but with Aggies gone on their winter break, it was a group of Bryan second graders that got the chance Friday.
Throughout the year, guest readers have stopped by Lindsay Cravatt's classroom at Mitchell Elementary School, and three days before his last day as A&M president, Loftin filled the seat at the front of the room.
Of course, when an important person stops by, you should probably dress appropriately, so the students in Mrs. Cravatt's class each donned bow ties in honor of the man who is rarely seen without one.
"I really like bowties, and bowties are cool, and I really like Aggies," said one student, Jack.
Engineering and computer science manuals like the ones Loftin could easily read through might have been a little above little heads, so they instead went with "Anna Meggan: An Aggie Cinderella Story."
"K through 6th period in their education is very important," Loftin said. "At about the 6th grade, many students make choices in their lives that will be for good or for not-so-good, so everything you can do in those first seven or eight years of education is so critical to keep pointing them in the right direction."
After reading to the sharp dressed kids, Loftin also took questions ranging from his favorite books (the Bible topped his list), to whether he knew a Becky ("I know many Becky's").
"Why did you want to go to a different university," one student asked. Loftin is heading to the University of Missouri to head up the Columbia campus.
"Well, I didn't start off thinking about that," Loftin replied, "but when they came to me and asked me to think about coming to them, I thought to myself, 'I've served Aggie students for a long time. I can serve them as well.'"
After more questions and a class picture, the students seemed to have a class-wide impression of their guest.
"He is the president of TAMU," said Zachary. "Of course he's awesome."
Part of Loftin's last day as president Monday will include a meeting with another president, George H.W. Bush.
Mark Hussey will begin as interim president of A&M Tuesday.


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Youth Pheasant Hunt at Pere Marquette
Published on January 29 2013 5:12 pm
Last Updated on July 14 2013 12:07 pm
Written by Greg Sapp
Young hunters between the ages of 10-15 can apply now for the Pere Marquette Youth Pheasant Hunt scheduled for Saturday March 2 at Pere Marquette State Park in Jersey County.
The Pere Marquette Youth Pheasant Hunt is a new addition to the Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt Program and represents an expansion into early spring. Most youth pheasant hunting opportunities are offered at IDNR Controlled Pheasant Hunting Areas in the fall or early winter.
Modeled after the World Shooting and Recreational Complex Youth Pheasant Hunt, young hunters at Pere Marquette State Park will participate in a wingshooting clinic during the morning. IDNR/National Sporting Clays Association Certified Wingshooting Instructors will
teach the wingshooting clinic. Young hunters will practice shotgun safety and advance their
wingshooting skills during the clinic. The pheasant hunt will take place after lunch.
More than a dozen co-sponsors are assisting the IDNR and Pere Marquette State Park with the
wingshooting clinic and pheasant hunt. Co-sponsors provide funding for the clay targets, target
and field shotshells, and for lunch for the young hunters. Many sponsors will also provide the
assistance of some of their members to provide bird dogs and bird dog handlers and hunting
guides. The co-sponsors include the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau; Channel-
Seedsmanship At Work; Ducks Unlimited; Friends of Pere Marquette State Park; Green Roof
Kennels; Hargrave International; the Illinois National Shoot-To-Retrieve Field Trial Association;
Migratory Waterfowlers; the National Wild Turkey Federation - Midwest Gobblers Chapter;
Otter Creek Hunting Club; Pfister Seed Company; Quail Forever – Illinois Pioneer Chapter;
Todd Parish - Attorney At Law; Ward Financial Services; Whitworth-Horn-Goetten Insurance
Agency; and, Winchester/Olin.
Permits for the Pere Marquette Hunt are available through the IDNR's Controlled Pheasant
Hunting Internet Reservation System.
Hunters need to review the "…Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt Information" and the "…Illinois
Youth Pheasant Hunt Regulations" on the controlled pheasant hunting website prior to
submitting an application. To navigate to the controlled pheasant hunting website once the
IDNR website www.dnr.illinois.gov has been accessed, hunters should follow these directions:
Click on "Upland Game" from the drop down menu under the "Hunting/Trapping" button on the
Homepage toolbar then click on "Controlled Pheasant Areas" under the "Quick Links" heading.
Hunters without computers are encouraged to gain access to the controlled pheasant hunting
online reservation system by checking with family or friends with a computer or by using a
computer at their local public library. Completing a permit reservation online takes less than five minutes.
For complete details, check the controlled pheasant hunting website at www.dnr.illinois.gov.


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The Defense Commissary Agency awarded $2,000 scholarships toward tuition at a four-year school to 10 military high school seniors. Three of the seniors were from Fort Knox High School and the remaining were from Elizabethtown, Ky., as well as schools from Lexington, Ky., Taylorsville, Ky., Crestwood, Ky., and Jeffersonville, Ind.
Scholarships were open to qualified sons and daughters of U.S. military ID card holders to include active duty, retirees, and Guard/ Reserve. To qualify, applicants had to have 3.0 GPA, write an essay that demonstrates critical thinking and provide examples of community involvement and extracurricular activities.
The awardees are as follows:
Christina Rice, Tony Bell and Richard Thackrey- Fort Knox; Tyler Farquhar- Lexington, Ky.; Hannah Kingsbury- Louisville, Ky.; Shayna Sagadraca and Amber Vincent-Elizabethtown, Ky.; Megan Hayes- Taylorsville, Ky.; Dennis Rumpel-Jeffersonville, Ind.; and Luke Ander-son-Crestwood, Ky.
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Turning your monitor to face away isn't a bad idea. My guess is that she's worried that you are sick. I think most people try to avoid getting ill, and that means avoiding folks who have symptoms. It's great that you use the hand sanitizer and make an effort to move away from the shared space when you need to blow, but as you know, coughing elsewhere doesn't necessarily mean that a person isn't distributing germs. If she thinks you're sick, moving away to blow is only going to make her relax somewhat. I suggest appealing to authority in this case. Let her know that your doctor has assured you that you are not contagious. If you can give more information (say for example, "My doctor said that I was probably contagious for the first day or so but that I've been 'clean' since Sunday at the latest"). That's probably the most you can do to get her to stop worrying about getting sick. It could also be that she's annoyed at your noises. (Understandable.) There isn't much to be done about the sniffling and sneezing, but if it's happening a lot (more than a couple of times an hour), I think you should try to manage your symptoms a bit. If the dry office air bugs your sinuses, maybe keep a cup of hot tea nearby so the steam is soothing. If you have a tickly throat, maybe slippery elm lozenges or tea would help. Maybe your doctor has a suggestion. If it's very sporadic (once or twice an hour), I think your current course of action is fine. Maybe get some earbuds or headphones so you can block out her comments.
While she is being annoying, I would not call this harrassment and perhaps you could try a little harder to alleviate her (annoying concerns). If this is a sinus infection, is it not contagious? If you aren't ill, I suggest you keep repeating that "I am not ill or or contagious. I have winter allergies but it's nothing I can pass on to anyone else and I don't feel bad so there is no reason for me to head home.
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All leader meetings this year to be held the first Tuesday of the month at the Plymouth Church at 7 p.m.
Next meeting is March 3.
Agenda: National Girl Scout Week 8-14, discussion of activities, New Leader Investiture Ceremony
Weather Cancellations: If the Town of Framingham activities/schools are canceled the day of a meeting then the meeting will also be canceled. If the weather looks poor or there is a weather advisory please look for an announcement from the Leader Yahoo group – we will post by 6pm the day of the meeting.
Cookies: Questions/concerns should be addressed to Helena,. Delivery date is scheduled for tomorrow, Feb 10 at St George Hall. Helena sent out an e-mail requesting your troop's preferred scheduled pick up time – if you have not responded please do so ASAP, remember "many hands make for light work" any volunteers that sign up to help that morning will be able to take their cookies first
Bridging: Discussion on Bridging to be held at the next leader meeting (March). We will ask a Council representative to attend and explain any new criteria/suggestions for Bridging in light of the newly instituted Girl Scout levels
Girl Scout Sunday (See previous post on these events): Two options in town this year. PLEASE contact the person listed below for the program you are interested in with your request to have girls participate as = Altar Servers, Readers, Gift Bearers, and Door Greeters, also with your troop number and an estimated girl count to have a reserved pew
Sunday, March 8, 9am Mass at St. Bridget Church – contact Mary Ann at masager5@...
Sunday, March 15, 10:30 am Mass at St George's Church – contact Missy at maloofx4@... or Patty at pchebert@...
Girl Scout Bowling Event: Back by popular demand is the "Me and My Pal Bowling Event." (Details will be posted on this Web site later this week. Registration information is available now on the Yahoo Leader group.)
Registration deadline is March 4.
The price had to be increased this year due to increase in bowling fees, still a deal at $7.50 per girl (includes patch) and $6 per pal.
Contact person is Mary Ann at masager5@... anyone interested in helping at the event please contact Mary Ann.
Girl Scout Week: Remember the week including March 12 is always Girl Scout Week. This year it will run March 8 to March 14. This is a good time to say thank you to those in the community who help make your troop a success (i.e. those who helped with your meeting location, volunteers who have come to your meetings to help, etc.).
A suggestion is for your girls to write thank you cards/letters/posters or give gifts of Girl Scout cookies, etc.


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This Symmons 5503-SBZ Elm Seasoned Bronze- With Rough in Valve Trim Only With Handheld shower is a stylish Symmons shower trim perfect for residential and commercial applications. this trim is like a mobile rain cloud brought into your home without the thunder and lightning; it does this with its hand shower that has multiple spray channels that can release a torrent of water at a rate of 2.5 gallons per minute (Gpm). You are capable of moving this hand shower to where you want it most with its 5 long hose, and then when you are done you can remount it into its holding clip on the 30 wall mounted slide bar for storage. Symmons gave the 5503-SBZ Elm Seasoned Bronze- With Rough in Valve Trim Only With Handheld shower an illustrious seasoned bronze finish so that this fixture can have that stunning bronze hue that will add to the decor of any bathroom; this finish also protects this fixture from corrosion and any other water damage that may occur. This trim is part of Symmons famous Elm Collection which is a group of coordinating bathroom fixtures that are designed to add style and class to your bathroom for the best price. The ASME, CSA, and ADA each have tested this product and have found it to be compliant with their standards and regulations. This Symmons 5503-SBZ Elm Seasoned Bronze- With Rough in Valve Trim Only With Handheld shower has the outstanding protection of the limited five year Symmons Warranty.
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'Joie De Noel' by Butterflies and Bluebells available at E-scape and Scrap.
Font: Pea Olson
Rory, you were having so much fun! You were looking over the back of the sofa and Nolan was running around acting a wee bit crazy (well, it was Christmas after all) and you thought it was quite hilarious. However, I was watching you, and your expressions struck me so funny that I kind of had the giggles. Between my giggles and you moving around I only managed to get a few blurry photos. Three precious, blurry photos to be exact. You just never fail to bring me joy, sweetheart.


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I tend to use "dude" more as an exclamation of sorts. I think a previous poster compared it to "hey." I normally use it to express mild irritation, as in, "Dude, look out!" or the fact that I'm impressed, "Duuuuude. That was amazing." I don't normally use "dude" as a form of address unless I'm being a bit silly/playful. Normally, I would consider "dude" a more masculine term, but a lot of those are rather androgynous. I think of it a bit like "handsome": not what one would normally expect to be applied to a woman, but not insulting. I would be upset if my crush called me "dude," though, as it seems less affectionate and more "one of the guys." (Kiss of death unless we're an item.)
The funny thing is I've taken to using "dude" when I see drivers doing stupid things. DH just about fell out of the car laughing when I called out "Dude! What is your defect?!" at the driver who cut across four lanes of traffic without looking.
QuoteThat has NOT been okay here since the 50's!Maybe not in your circles. But I hear it all the time. And I love it when I'm called that by a waitress or someone like that (tone mattering as always, of course). I don't have a problem with it nor do I find that it's, particularly, rare.
That has NOT been okay here since the 50's!
and a bit juvenile,
"Who was at the door?" "Some dude selling magazines." (if it was a male) or "Some woman/girl selling magazines." (if it was a female)
Quote from: CakeEater on January 31, 2013, 11:15:56 PMand a bit juvenile,That's kind of the reaction I have to it, more often than not. It's kind of one of those things, in my opinion, that a certain age group says. But when someone of an older generation says it, it's almost an internal eye-roll thing. Like they're trying too hard to be young.
"Dude" is its own language where I come from, but I'm from Southern California so that's to be expected. I've heard many conversations where pretty much every other word was "dude." I would almost consider it a way of life here in some social circles.
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