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"Community" star and Chicago native Danny Pudi is happy fans who have waited so long for the return of the wacky sitcom finally can sit back and relax Thursday.
"If you've been waiting for something weird to happen, this is the week," he said. "We're back and I think a little dose of weird is good for everyone. I think people will enjoy kind of getting back into the 'Community' groove."
After being bumped from NBC's schedule in October, the show finally begins its 13-episode fourth season at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 with "History 101," in which viewers get to delve deep into the mind of Pudi's character, Abed. And they're going to love what they find there.
I caught up with Pudi by phone Tuesday to talk about the departure of creator Dan Harmon, the new season and how change can, indeed, be good. But first we talked about he and wife Bridget's year-old twins, Fiona and James.
He also had a special message for his hometown, where his mom still lives, when he heard it was snowing in Chicago Tuesday: "I love you. If you need a dose of summer, maybe watch 'Community.'"
Pudi will be in Chicago on Friday for a free Q&A; starting at 6 p.m. at DePaul University's CDM Theater, 247 S. State St., as part of the university's Visiting Artists series.
With the kids, do you have a big family van or something?
[Laughs.] No double-sided minivan yet. We do talk about it, but I ... don't know if minivan is my style--yet. We'll see if I lose that battle.
I imagine your back seat is all baby car seats.
It's all baby car seats. There's probably a four-inch gap in between the two car seats that really just fills with bottles, blankets, burpees and Cheerios.
So it's a pit, like under your couch cushion. That's kind of where everything goes right now.
How are they?
They're doing great, man. It's cool. Like they're a year old now and it's good. ... It's fun to kind of step away and watch them to their twin speak to each other. They kind of babble and say "dada, dada, dada, dada." I'm convinced that they know I'm "Dada," but at the same time they point to a light and say "Dada." They see a dog and say "Dada." I'm hoping they don't think every dog is their "dada."
They're getting close to walking. They're doing like the sort of cruising; they're on tables and things. It's really cute. They're a fun, fun, cute age right now. They'll do stuff like right now they'll be like really cute. They'll come up to you and hug you. And then like they transition so quickly to like they'll pick up like a remote control and hit you in the face with it.
It's really fun to be like, "Ouchy, ouchy," but they have no idea what you're doing. Next thing you know they're slamming a remote against your face again. All this stuff I know I deserve, by the way. Someone somewhere is laughing deeply every time one of my children slams the door in my face or bites my finger.
It's pretty amazing watching all their little developments here and there--pointing to stuff. It's good because now that the show's on hiatus I get to be around more, which is really nice. And see stuff versus just hearing about it via my wife.
Right. Well you guys filmed what, July to October or something?
This year we filmed July to December. This year was shortened because we only did 13 eps total. Typically we shoot from July till about the end of February or early March. That's with 22 to 25 episodes. But this year was shortened so we've been done since Christmas, which was nice because I got to go back home, travel and now we've just been kind of waiting for February 7.
Since you guys got jerked around a little bit.
Yeah, well February 7 I hope is really February 7. [Laughs.] It would be nice to shock people's systems by having a Halloween episode in mid-February, I think. Instead of Valentine's Day people will see our Halloween episode, which in some ways it's just a different kind of Valentine's Day.
Wasn't your first line in this first episode, "It's good to be back from summer break" or something like that?
Probably. Yeah, we are coming back from summer in February. So I don't know if Greendale is set in Australia or what, but it is summer wherever Greendale is. Also in two weeks it'll be Halloween wherever Greendale is. And then in like three to four weeks it will be Thanksgiving wherever Greendale is. So, yeah, we don't really care. It's a chance for people to celebrate holidays twice, so I think that'll be nice for everyone.
Exactly. Do you have any idea yet if this is the final season?
I think it's just like we felt in the previous seasons; I have no idea. I really don't. I mean, every day I hear something different from fans or speculation from my family members who are searching Twitter and other websites. Or my representatives. In some ways it's a feeling that we've gotten used to and we've adapted to the reality that we may not be on the air longer than the season. But at the same time we've withstood a lot of different changes and it's nice to actually still be around. And I think a lot of it is because of the fans and because there are a lot of people who do care deeply about the show that it's been able to hang around. And so I'm thankful for that.
In the season premiere Britta tells Abed to go to his happy place. When talk of the end of "Community" comes up, did you all just sort of go to your own little happy places?
[Laughs.] That's exactly it. [Laughs.] I think the "happy place" is definitely reflective of what are psyche was like as Danny Pudi and everyone else, as well as Abed. That's the thing about our show; we tend to incorporate what's going on in the real world and our real lives as well. The writers do a fantastic job of that.
I think with all the upheaval and all the changes behind the scenes as well this year with Dan Harmon leaving there was a little bit of an adjustment period. It was kind of difficult at first. There was a bit of a transition trying to get used to all the new people around and all the new crew and the writers and just trying to get back up to speed and find everyone's rhythm.
I think with any show after a while you develop a communication and you develop just a common language and all that where everyone understands each other and you kind of move smoothly. And so after a third season, with Dan gone and a whole new crew and a largely new staff of writers, there was a little bit of an adjustment period. And I think that finding our happy place was really important, especially in the beginning of the season.
Slowly as we started working our way deeper into the season I think we definitely got stronger and started, I think, really kind of embracing "Community." So I think it's just like anything. If you have new people it just takes a little while to get everyone back on the same page.
How did Dan's absence affect the vibe of the show?
I guess there are a lot of things that were different this year--one of them being Dan, of course, which I think had the biggest impact on us all. I think Dan has been, he's the vision behind this show and for us it was always an extension of Harmon's mind. To see him gone was, I think, a big hit to all of us. ... He was the guy; it was his idea.
And then another thing that was different was the fact that we never saw an episode while we were shooting. In the last three seasons we'd always be like three to four episodes ahead and then the show would premiere in Septemberish and we'd have sort of this renewed energy, like a second wind.
Because we'd be like, OK, all these weird bits that we've been doing on Stage 32 at Paramount ... wondering if anything that we're going to do is going translate. To see an episode actually gives us that sort of encouragement that people actually like this and although we feel like it might be just a strange little comedy, people are embracing it. This year we didn't get to see any of the 13 episodes and now we're just kind of waiting to see what people see.
It's encouraging when I hear you say that you saw the first episode and the Inspector Spacetime to hear that we're still feeling what we do. ... We were just shooting and hoping that we were still delivering and not disappointing our fans.
But do you feel the style and the jokes are what fans expect?
I think it was different this year. Dan Harmon's not someone I think you can just replace. I think when new people come in and new writers, it's now a little bit more their vision and it's a little bit more of the cast's vision as well and some of the directors. Tristram Shapeero, who's our executive producer, having him around was really helpful this year too because he was with us all through last year. He was, in many ways, our guide because he was directing pretty much every other episode this year. Just to have someone there, some consistency and familiarity with our show was good.
It's going to be different; Dan Harmon has a very unique style about him. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. It's just definitely different. That's just kind of how it is. When you have new people coming in they're going to have their take on it.
But at the same time I think there are a lot of things this year that are very true to the "Community" spirit. Like our Halloween episode and I think the Inspector Spacetime convention [episode]. I think are really super fun. And so I'm excited to see what people think.
I think Abed says it and Jeff says it in the premiere: "Change is scary." It's very apropos to what was going on with you guys, right?
Yeah. I think we were all terrified of it. [Laughs.] For Abed to say, "Changing isn't really my jam." He said that in the "My Dinner with Andre" episode, "Critical Film Studies," [in] Season 2, I think, Episode 19. There is something to that, you know?
There is something really comforting about just being able to do your thing and just do it forever and ever and ever. But I think we all know and not just with these characters but with the TV landscape, things change pretty quickly. And sometimes they have to unfortunately, but that's just kind of how it is. I think it's OK, but I think that's the cool thing about this show, is that we've got to the fourth season which forces us to sort of at least address the fact that it is our fourth year, our senior year, of being at Greendale. So we do have to address that. We do have to address the reality that this is not going to go on forever.
Not just as "Community," but as students at a community college. How long can we be there and in what capacity? Can the study group last forever? I think that's the great thing about this year; we do start to really look into that. I think this group, especially for Abed, has become his family. So it's not necessarily that bad for it to change in terms of it not being a study group anymore at Greendale. Maybe they'll still be together and part of each other's lives, but in a different way.
Part of that is embracing the fact that we do have to change. Or at least address the fact that things are changing around us.
Do you think that was just coincidental or did the writers purposefully try to tell the fans that change is inevitable too prepare them for whatever might be coming?
I don't know. I think one of the things that our show has always done is being aware of the viewer. ... We know you're aware of the fact that we're doing this homage to whatever it is. If we're doing a "My Dinner with Andre" homage or whatever we're referencing. We know that the viewer's aware of that. And we also know that the viewer is aware of the fact that Britta and Jeff have this history. ... Or taking something from Twitter and putting it into an episode. I think these little nuggets make our show special in some way.
I believe that the writers were very aware of the fact that going into our fourth season we didn't have Dan Harmon behind the show as we're also going into a senior year at Greendale. And there's always been the threat of our show being pulled off the air at any moment. So I think those things are definitely addressed. We address those things and a lot of that has to do with being comfortable with change or getting used to the fact that we might not be around forever. Because that is the reality of our show.
One thing I liked in the first episode was when Abed does go to his happy place and imagines "The Abed Show." It's a sitcom with the laugh track. It's so not a "Community" type sitcom.
Yeah, it's so funny. It's funny to laugh at something that you don't like anymore. What it is actually that's what you're doing. We're laughing at a laugh track. We're all children of multicam [sitcoms]. I fell in love with, as an actor growing up--I was just watching the other day "The Cosby Show" reruns. I'm like, "This show is the greatest show in the history of shows." It's so funny. And it's so good. And it's got a laugh track.
Would you be interested in appearing in a show actually called "American Sword Cooks?" [Readers, you will not what I'm talking about after seeing the episode. Watch carefully.]
[Laughs.] Heck yes, I would. Imagine cooking with a sword. First of all, I don't know how good I'd be cooking with a sword overall. I think I'm pretty dangerous just with a regular sharp knife. I bought a really good German knife the other day for my wife and I to use. It's like our first real cooking knife. And it is so sharp and we've both already cut each other multiple times. I didn't cut her--I cut myself.
Right, right.
It's just like a normal little cutting knife. Like a paring knife. It's great. But what would happen with a giant sword? I think that would be definitely interesting. I think ratings would be off the charts. It's like if you watch car racing. A lot of people probably watch it for the fact that there might be an accident at any point. But I think that's what you're going to watch with "American Sword Cook." You know, who's going to accidentally cut off whose arm?
Right. The Inspector Spacetime episode deals a lot with the Troy and Abed friendship. How will that play out this season?
Things have always come easy for Troy and Abed. Now what happens when something comes between them? And just like any friendship certain things have to change and I think that that's something we do this year. We realize that certain things are going to be good for Abed that are not going to be good for Troy and vice versa. And that's OK. I think that's the big thing that they come to realize this year. That just because one of them is in the Dreamatorium alone doesn't necessarily mean that's a bad thing. Sometimes it's good to have some alone time in the Dreamatorium. But that is something that's new to their relationship. It's nice to actually see them evolve in a way and see what happens when Troy and Abed disagree about something.
What else is coming up after these two episodes?
There's a great Halloween episode. It's awesome. We get to go to Pierce's mansion. I'm very excited about it and that's a really fun episode.
Is the mansion actually going to be a haunted house?
It might be. You can take an educated guess. But it is a Halloween themed episode at Pierce's mansion. So if that doesn't frighten you I don't know what will.
One of the things I'm really excited about this year is Jim Rash [who plays Dean Pelton] got to write an episode and that was awesome. Working with Jim on the other side of things was really cool. And that was a really, really fun episode that is a really fun Troy and Abed story line exploring their friendship. I think that's later.
Do you mean Oscar winning screenwriter Jim Rash?
[Laughs.] That's right. Oscar winner from "The Descendants." Fresh off of Sundance with his movie with Steve Carell. Got to write an episode of "Community." So it's a setback for him, but it was kind of awesome working with him.
What else have you been up to?
I'm doing a sports documentary, but that's kind of all I can say for now. And I'm doing this movie with Mark Feuerstein, Henry Winkler and Rebecca Romijn. So naturally, that's fun. I actually just started shooting this week. So that's been really cool. ... It's really fun. It's just kind of a playful indie comedy. And it's been cool working with Mark; he's such a great guy. I've been having a lot of conversations with Rebecca about our lives being taken over by twins. So that's good. She's trying to give me some advice. And Henry Winkler has been really cool. He taught me how to tie a tie the first day of the shoot. It's been cool. And it's been nice, too, because it's shooting in LA kind of off and on the month of February.
Oh, cool. And then you shot something last summer too, right?
I did. I shot a movie called "My Friend Vijay" in Europe. So I'm waiting on that. It's a European film with European distribution. And I believe we'll hear something about it pretty soon. It was filmed in Luxembourg and in Germany. Kinda cool.
I saw an old Marquette blog post. Tell me about "Study Poison."
[Laughs.] Curt, how did you find that? That was my nickname. My two friends from Marquette named me that because frequently I would meet with them in either the Union or at Cudahy and I'd be like, "Hey guys, you want to go and play video games or go watch the Marquette game or go play NHL hockey." And it was always when we were supposed to be studying. But I really liked study breaks more than studying. Or I should say they're just as important. They're equally important. So they knew like all of a sudden we'd be studying somewhere and I'd get up and I'd be like, "It's time guys." And they'd be like, "Here comes Study Poison." [Laughs.] So I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses, Curt.
I interviewed Ike Barinholtz not too long ago and I told him about our "Chicagoans on TV" gallery and that it can hold just 100 photos. He said, "So we have to kill someone? I'll kill Danny Pudi from 'Community.'" [Read the Ike Barinholtz interview here.]
[Laughs.] I love it. I will gladly be killed by Ike Barinholtz. I will laugh while he kills me. He's the only person I know who I will laugh while being murdered. He can make me laugh, believe me, he's hilarious. We actually did a show years ago in Chicago at The Playground I think. It was at the Playground on Belmont and something. When he was doing a show at Barinholtz and Meyers--Josh Meyers--I was in a group called Stir Friday Nights. And they performed before us as part of the Chicago Sketch Fest. And I remember thinking that guy was hilarious then and following him out to LA and now I've seen him a few times. He works with a few of my friends on "The Mindy Project." He's hysterical and he's a big Bears fan. So we can watch a Bears game first and then he can murder me.
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A son of Depression-era Oklahoma, Darrell Royal came to Texas to take over a sleeping giant of a football program. Over 20 years, his folksy approach to sports and life, his inventive wishbone offense and a victory in the ''Game of the Century'' - where a U.S. president declared his team national champion - made him an icon of college football.
Royal, who won two national championships and turned the Longhorns into a national power, died early Wednesday at age 88 of complications from cardiovascular disease, school spokesman Bill Little said. Royal also suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
Royal didn't have a single losing season in his 23 years as a head coach at Texas, Mississippi State and Washington. Known for their stout defenses and punishing running attacks, his Texas teams boasted a 167-47-5 record from 1957-1976, the best mark in the nation over that period.
''It was fun,'' Royal told The Associated Press in 2007. ''All the days I was coaching at Texas, I knew this would be my last coaching job. I knew it when I got here.''
It almost didn't happen. Royal wasn't Texas' first choice.
Texas was coming off a 1-9 season in 1956 - still the worst in program history - and wanted a high-profile coach to turn things around. The Longhorns were rebuffed by Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd and Michigan State's Duffy Daugherty, but both coaches encouraged Texas to hire the 32-year-old Royal, who was lying in bed the night he got the call summoning him to Austin.
''Edith, this is it, this is the University of Texas,'' Royal told his wife.
Royal led the Longhorns to a 6-3-1 record in his first season, but he was so sickened by Mississippi's 39-7 thrashing of his team in the Sugar Bowl that he gave away the commemorative bowl watch he received.
Under Royal, Texas won 11 Southwest Conference titles, 10 Cotton Bowl championships and national championships in 1963 and 1969, going 11-0 each time. The Longhorns also won a share of the 1970 national title, earning him a national stature that rivaled that of Alabama's Paul ''Bear'' Bryant and Ohio State's Woody Hayes. Royal was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
A public memorial ceremony is scheduled for noon Tuesday at the Frank Erwin Center basketball arena. Royal will be buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, an honor typically reserved for the state's military and political leaders.
University officials illuminated the iconic UT Tower with burnt orange floodlights in Royal's honor Wednesday night.
On Saturday, the Longhorns will honor Royal at their home game against Iowa State by wearing ''DKR'' stickers on their helmets and by lining up in the wishbone formation, which Royal used to such great success, for their first offensive snap.
''Today is a very sad day. I lost a wonderful friend, a mentor, a confidant and my hero. College football lost maybe its best ever and the world lost a great man,'' current Texas coach Mack Brown said Wednesday. ''His counsel and friendship meant a lot to me before I came to Texas, but it's been my guiding light for my 15 years here.''
As a player at Oklahoma, Royal was a standout quarterback, defensive back and punter, and he credited hard work and luck for his success on the field and later as a coach. He had a self-deprecating style and a knack for delivering pithy quotes - or ''Royalisms'' - about his team and opponents.
''Football doesn't build character, it eliminates the weak ones,'' was one of Royal's famous lines.
''Luck is when preparation meets opportunity,'' was another.
''He was a guy who was so strong and so determined and so direct about things,'' said former Texas quarterback James Street. ''He was that way to the very end.''
Article continued at: Former Texas coach Royal dies at age 88 - Yahoo! Sports
My mind is exceptionally quiet.........I'm suspicious that I'm up to something I don't want myself to know about.
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subset: commoncrawl


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I made a generic INI file syntax highlighting package.
INI.tmLanguage.zip (636 Bytes)
Heh, I was just looking for one the other day. Ended messing with a version from the TM repository, though mines more for rainmeter. Not sure if you'd want to mess around with yours to make it good for that. My attempt was rather hackish as I'm not too experienced with regEx.
I need to correct a problem with this file comments that begin with; space comment
; Enable the PHP scripting language engine under Apache.
engine = On
; Enable compatibility mode with Zend Engine 1 (PHP 4.x)
zend.ze1_compatibility_mode = Off
; Allow the <? tag. Otherwise, only <?php and <script> tags are recognized.
show up as comments in my ini files but what do I edit in this files so that comments that start with
# On Windows you should keep this file in the installation directory
# of your server (e.g. C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 4.1). To
# make sure the server reads the config file use the startup option
# "--defaults-file".
# To run run the server from the command line, execute this in a
# command line shell, e.g.
# mysqld --defaults-file="C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 4.1\my.ini"
shows up as actual comment in ST?
It appears that this
controls the semicolon, but it also needs to include comments that begin with #I tried
but that did not work
Nvrmnd: needed to open and close ST
Awesome, thanks.Jon should add this to the next build.I opened a UserEcho request for it here.
this seems to be what I want, but where do I put that xml file?
Create a folder named "INI" in your-sublime-text-folder/Packages/and put the extracted file "INI.tmLanguage" there.
Can the comment highlighting in this be modified to include comments that do not start on the beginning of the line?; key = value ; tab key value comment
*edit: Upon further research I found that is not valid INI code. I did still want to be able to have a commented line that started with a space or tab, so I used another language file to come up with this:
instead of
I prefer to follow this convention of allowing semicolon comments anywhere on the line. I have created a fork of clintberry sublime-text-2-ini package that includes syntax highlighting for comments anywhere on the line.github.com/robertcollier4/sublime-text-2-ini
Or just view the diff of the changes made here.Note: have also added the .reg extension to fileTypes detection - the INI syntax highlighting works great for Windows Registry Scripts as well.
Anyone knows if there's a successor plugin for ST3? That github repo ^ gives a 404
Not sure if it is a successor, but I use https://github.com/clintberry/sublime-text-2-ini
Like @deathaxe, I also have that INI package installed, but most of the time I prefer to use the built-in Git Formats > Git Config language.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Lipscomb women's tennis team dropped their record to 2-5 on Friday night, falling to Abilene Christian 6-0 at Whitworth Racquet Club.
"The bad news is we didn't start out as well as we needed to in the doubles and had trouble finishing points in order to gain some confidence for the later part of the match," head coach Andrew Harris said. "ACU played very well. Their women tonight showed some great mental toughness. The good news is we come back on Saturday against Austin Peay and have an opportunity to re-write the script."
With only five active players, only two doubles matches were played to decide the doubles point.
Lady Bison sophomore Alyssa Bellini and freshman Deahana Welcher teamed up at No. 1, but were defeated by Micha Hermsdorf and Hannah Kelley 8-2.
At No. 2, senior Elizabeth Keevil and freshman Jenny Borck fell to Laura Mongin and Brittany Reed 8-5.
With a 1-0 deficit, the Lady Bison headed into singles play.
The Lady Bison dropped all five of the singles matches played to conclude their 6-0 loss.
Bellini was defeated at No. 1, 6-2, 6-2, by Hermsdorf, while Welcher fell to Reed 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2.
At No. 3, Borck posted a tight first set, but eventually lost to Mongin 7-5, 6-1.
Keevil was defeated by Emily Conrad at No. 4, losing 6-2, 6-2, while senior Samantha Bowman lost to Kelley at No. 5, 6-0, 6-0. The No. 6 position was a default.
The Lady Bison will try to redeem their loss on Saturday as they travel to Clarksville, Tenn. to face Austin Peay.
1)Bellini/Welcher vs. Hermsdorf/Kelley ACU Won 8-2
2)Keevil/Borck vs. Mongin/Reed ACU Won 8-5
1) Alyssa Bellini vs. Micah Hermsdorf ACU Won 6-2, 6-2
2) Deahna Welcher vs. Brittany Reed ACU Won 6-1, 6-2
3) Jenny Borck vs. Laura Mongin ACU Won 7-5, 6-1
4) Elizabeth Keevil vs. Emily Conrad ACU Won 6-2, 6-2
5) Sam Bowman vs. Hannah Kelley ACU Won 6-0, 6-0


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Many of my Mormon friends seem to find it difficult to understand the controversy and protest sparked by Boyd K. Packer's speech last week at General Conference. So here's why we protest:
Imagine you are raised to believe from when you are very young and impressionable that the LDS faith is true. You believe that it represents absolute moral authority and that leaders like Elder Packer speak on behalf of God. For most who disagree with me here, this part will not require any imagination.
For the rest of this post, I ask that you exercise an important element of the human condition called empathy. Imagine that after having this Mormon upbringing you realize you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, or otherwise queer. Naturally, you try to fight it, for you believe such identities are impure, unnatural, and immoral. Yet somehow it won't go away. You hear Boyd K Packer say that gays are not preset, implying that you can change. Of course, you've already tried to do so, and so you internalize guilt and self loathing. For if these tendencies are not inborn then it must be your fault they persist. Furthermore, every time someone like Packer denounces the sinfulness of homosexuality, you know that if you start to accept these tendencies it will threaten your relationship with your family. You hate yourself for reasons you can't discuss, and if you're really unlucky you'll be bullied for those same reasons. Are you finally starting to see why this matters?
To quote Classically Liberal, "Most the gay people I know were assaulted in school, one time or another, because they were gay. They can't tell their fundamentalist parents because they fear rejection from them. They can't talk to their homophobic minister who has regularly consigned them to hell fire for eternity. Is it any wonder that so many of these kids decide they would rather die?"
This is why we care when Elder Packer condemns homosexuality and asserts that we can change. Because such ideas, no matter how removed they may be from my non-LDS life, cause real pain and even death for children. And that should concern everyone with a conscience.
The 30-Second Trick for How to Analyze an Essay - Things You Won't Like About How to Analyze an Essay and Things You Will How to Write an Analysis Essay The most significant thing you ought to know about a...
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According to one definition, `a pig in a poke' means an offering or deal that is foolishly accepted without being examined first. In other words, what you get is not necessarily what you think you are getting.
To avoid that situation, houses being sold are usually subject to a variety of inspections and some buyers hire their own home inspectors. Their job is to find undetected flaws that aren't necessarily apparent that can turn out to be costly, unsafe or downright dangerous.
Similarly, a boat survey serves the same purpose for a boat owner or buyer. By providing a detailed inspection of the boat, an owner or buyer can make a more informed decision about buying, selling, insuring or repairing a boat.
There are basically four types of surveys. The one done when a boat is being sold is a pre-purchase survey. The others are insurance surveys, a condition/valuation survey and a damage survey. Each is done for a different reason so the procedures followed and the focus and extent of the inspections vary accordingly.
Bill Burke lives in central Kentucky and does about 75 houseboat surveys a year. He thinks he probably does more houseboat surveys a year than anyone else in the country. At the recent National Houseboat Expo, he presented his "Seven Deadly Sins of Houseboating" seminar to standing room-only crowds. Burke believes a major benefit of any survey is "to help prevent the three worst things that happen on a houseboat other than loss of life-sinking, hard grounding or fire."
Before You Buy
The pre-purchase survey is done to determine the general condition and value of the vessel and to discover any flaws that might not be easily determined that could result in a significant expense to fix or even put the new owner's safety in jeopardy. Buyers, especially first-time buyers, are frequently very anxious. These surveys, according to Burke, are very helpful because they can "educate the buyer and let him make a more informed buying decision. It gives them the information they need that they would not necessarily get from the boat's owner. It is not done to tear apart a boat."
He likes to have the buyer aboard when he is doing these surveys. "They can ask 1,000 questions," he says, "and I can explain things to them and tell them how to do this and that and they can get a hands-on feel for the boat."
Insurance Questions
An insurance survey differs because its purpose is to help the insurance company determine whether the boat is an acceptable risk. These are generally required every five and 10 years; the hull also needs to be inspected.
Insurance companies also ask for damage surveys. These inspections assess the extent of damage, estimate the cost of repairs and sometimes try to establish the cause of the damage.
Lending institutions also request surveys. They may ask for a condition/valuation survey during the loan process to help determine the fair market value of a boat. Burke says those surveys are not technically the same as an appraisal, but rather a way of providing a ball park figure although comparable boat values are examined and considered in the report.
To perform any of these surveys, Burke brings 10 years of experience surveying boats, a knowledge of a variety of safety, state and federal rules, codes and standards, a membership in a professional marine surveyors' organization known as SAMS (Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, Inc), personal experience as a houseboater, and a tool box with over $2,500 worth of equipment.
Tool Box
Included are multiple flashlights, a digital camera, flexible mirrors, a volt meter, a GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) receptacle and circuit tester, a moisture tester, and an ultrasonic thickness gauge to determine hull thickness. He also has the ability to perform a spectrographic engine oil analysis.
The main interview for this article took place on Lake Cumberland on a 1998, 16- by 90-foot houseboat owned by Fred and Gloria Nicolosi. Bill was performing a 10-year insurance survey on this boat so as he moved through his inspections of the boat, he talked about that survey in particular as well as surveying in general.
Part of the process involved recording the serial numbers from all the equipment on the boat and part of the survey involved examining individual items as well as complete systems.
He started in the engine compartments and because the engine's serial numbers were not easily seen, he had to break out a flexible mirror and flashlight to read the numbers. He also carries a flexible fiber optic tool that helps him see things in difficult places. While he was there, he inspected all the hoses, electrical fittings and condition of the spark arrestor. He checked to see if the batteries were secured and did a visual survey of the entire area looking for loose items, combustibles or anything else that could be a problem.
"I see a lot of unsecured batteries," he says. "If they break loose and the terminals come in contact with an aluminum fuel tank, it can cause a spark or an arc."
That can damage the tank and lead to serious problems. A 12-volt battery, he explains, has 10 times the amperage of a 120-volt circuit.
Another big problem he regularly sees is propane tanks stored below decks near the engines and gas tanks. That can also lead to a disastrous situation.
The fire extinguishers got inspected as did the carbon monoxide detectors, GFI receptacles and their circuitry. He says it is helpful for a surveyor to understand how the boats are built and wired, pointing out that many houseboats have all their GFI circuits running down one side of the boat. The older the boat, the greater likelihood there is that somebody has done some improper and dangerous wiring. He often finds the wrong kind of wire and the wrong kind of connectors.
Treasure Hunt
He slowly moved through the boat, peeking and crawling in here and there, looking for clues and signs that everything was not as it should be. When his eye caught a discoloration on a ceiling panel in the salon, he asked the owner about the leak that caused it and he explained how and when the leak was stopped.
To verify the leak had been fixed, Burke used his moisture meter and the reading showed no moisture present. "I don't have X-ray vision," Burke laughs, "but I need to understand what might be behind a surface so the moisture meter is invaluable. It gives me an indication where trouble is brewing."
He used another tool, an ultrasonic thickness gauge, on the hull at the crown of the bow. Most beaching wear occurs there so that is a good place to measure the hull's thickness.
By the time he was done he had inspected the engine and generator installations, fuel systems, hot water heaters, plumbing, freshwater tanks and pumps, holding tanks, Purasan sanitation system, inverter installation, breaker panel, 120-volt AC wiring and 12-volt DC system.
The houseboat he was working on belonged to the original owner and had been consistently and conscientiously well-maintained. Even so, Burke still found a few items that needed to be corrected.
Surveying steel hull boats requires extra diligence. Burke says he will only do a survey on a steel hulled boat if it is out of the water.
"I have heard the fairy tale too often that the boat has a new hull or it was just serviced," he says.
"Just serviced" can mean many things. Sometimes, boats just get a "bib and diaper" job where repairs are only done on the bow and stern. That can leave plenty of rust in the other areas. He recommends that anyone buying a steel hulled boat that has allegedly been re-hulled or worked on ask to see the receipt for the work to prove when and how much was actually done.
Burke has photos of some of the worst equipment, repairs and situations he has found in his career. He refers to them as the "wall of shame." He also has a long list of stories about those and other things he has discovered that could have led to big problems and serious danger. All those are serious reminders that the practice of Caveat Emptor is alive and well in the marine marketplace, especially when sales are between private parties.
Who To Call?
Marine surveyors generally belong to one of two professional organizations, SAMS (Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, Inc.) or NAMSGlobal, which is the National Association of Marine Surveyors. Some surveyors have credentials issued by other organizations but SAMS and NAMSGlobal are by far the best known.
Both groups require that their members have experience and competency testing is mandatory for full certification. They also require on going education for continued membership. Each has different levels of membership based on experience and testing and each has categories of specialization for surveyors. Houseboaters, for instance, need a surveyor with a specialization in Yachts and Small Craft. NAMS has been in existence longer, but SAMS now has over 1,000 members while NAMS lists about 400. By going to each organization's website, people can find surveyors in their geographic area that have the specialization desired.
Downing Nightingale was a charter member of SAMS and a former president of that organization and he says that what is really important is to find the person who has the most experience. Generally, he says, "that experience follows the nature of the local boats." The recommendation from both groups is to use their websites to locate the surveyors in your area and then call them all and ask about their experience and background.
Ask them about what they know about your type of boat. Then ask them what they know about things like the ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft; Code of Federal Regulations, Title 33-Navigation and Navigable Waters; and the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 302: Fire Protection Standard.
What they know about all those things and a whole lot more that you probably don't could eventually save you a lot of heartaches, money or maybe even your life.
Bill Burke
Northwood Marine Services, LLC
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The oldest and perhaps most powerful of the nations in the Calvarian galaxy is the empire itself. With recent gains being made by the new Adamarian Federation, a war is in the making between the two superpowers. The Calvarians are more than ready to defend their place as the dominating force of the galaxy, and their vast army will be the bane of any who dare to oppose them. Though the new Adamarian military will be a force to be reckoned with, the Calvarians are once more ready to defend their homelands from any who dare to threaten their way of life.
This shot displays the majority of the Calvarian arsenal as of late G.R. 2012. It is believed more additions to their military will be made at the start of the next G.R., but recent conflicts with the Adamarians may delay these projects.
Shown here are the last remaining Calvarian Knights, the ultimate warriors in the galaxy. Originally, they numbered in the dozens, or supposedly even hundreds, but the disastrous Battle of Myralan slew all but the four shown here. They are actually believed to be immortals, but this has not been proven, as they are rather secretive when it comes to themselves. From left to right:
1. Byron the Kind-Hearted - Byron is a master of one-on-one combat and is an excellent duelist. He is a chivalrous soul (as his name suggests) and is also known for his loud, booming voice which can often be heard yelling challenges to heroes on the opposite side.
2. Katrina Candor, or Katrina the Beautiful - Katrina is the last remaining female knight, and is the fastest of the knights. In battle, she is as furious as an ancient Terran hurricane, and she is said to be the most skilled of the knights, save for the emperor himself.
3. Emperor Ben-Jammin, or Benjamin the Intolerant - The oldest and perhaps most powerful knight, Ben-Jammin is a veteran of many conquests, and has slain innumerable foes. He is currently the emperor of Calvaria, and has led his people to victory through many trials.
4. Fiengar the Ferocious - Where Byron excels at one-on-one duels, Fiengar is the very definition of a barbarian, charging into battle with little concern for his own safety and swinging his empowered beamsword with unrelenting fury. He can take on many different foes all at once, and it is said that the more one injures him, the stronger he grows. Some believe that he is actually a werewolf, but this is currently unknown.
The infantry of the Calvarian empire are a powerful and advanced military force. Equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and equipment, and trained to be the fiercest warriors in the galaxy, many are loathe to face such a frightening force in combat. The red-suited officers are equipped with advanced command gear that allows them to send orders to their soldiers in a heartbeat. Infantry loadouts are variable, and the large variety of weapons produced by the empire give them more diversity in their loadouts than their Adamarian rivals, and include assault carbines, rifles, submachine guns, grenade launchers, light machine guns, rocket sticks, and even experimental laser weaponry.
Here are Calvarian Commanders, elite officers who have proven their tactical dominance both on and off the battlefield. Senior officers are identified by their red epaulettes. On the far right is General Oliver Schmidt, the best-known general in Calvarian space. He lost his hand in a tank explosion which he barely escaped, but that's okay because he got a badass Red Transparent Hook-For-A-Hand instead. Combined with his monocle and signature mustache, he commands a great deal of fear and respect from both allies and enemies on the field.
These not-so-subtle gentlemen are Calvarian heavy weapons, trained to eliminate enemy armor with their missile launchers. Some more specialized units also carry the infamous Calvarian Coilgun, but none of these fellows have earned that honor yet. In addition to their launchers, Calvarian Heavies are equipped with explosive charges which can also be used to eliminate enemy armor or fortified positions with ease.
Here is a Calvarian pyrotrooper, who is crying behind his helmet because he misplaced his flamethrower for the pic (don't worry he'll get a new one). These soldiers are the scourge of many an infantry squad, as their flame carbines are capable of spreading a deadly bout of flame that can incinerate anything nearby. Instead of body armor, these troops wear a thick flame-retardant suit that protects them against fire, as well as a respirator to ward off smoke or other hazards.
Calvarian Snipers are trained to eliminate priority targets at long range, such as officers and specialists, then provide long-range support fire with their sniper rifles. They wear no armor, instead they are equipped with camoflauged suits to better hide themselves in different types of terrain.
The Neo-Crusaders, a branch of specialist shock troops superior to even the marines in combat prowess. Only the Ubersoldats can match their killing efficiency, and they are fanatically loyal to the empire and its goals. Little else is known about them, but some actually believe that they may be descendants of Deadly Space Men enlisted in the Calvarian ranks.
A pair of CSIB (Calvarian Security and Intelligence Bureau) agents. Trained in sabotage, assassination, infiltration, and other methods of causing mayhem, they work in secret to deal with threats to the empire both at home and across the brikverse. Their signature ShadowSuits bend and distort light around them, making them appear invisible as long as they don't move to quickly.
Ubersoldats are the mainstay shock troopers of the Calvarian empire. Genetically enhanced to be larger, stronger, faster, and meaner than their comrades, the Ubersoldats are equipped with the biggest guns a minifig can carry and charge into battle without regard for thier safety or that of their allies. They are armed with OTCs as backup melee weapons. It is believed that a single one of these fearsome warriors is the equivalent of at least three Immortal Terrorkahn, but their numbers are significantly smaller than their counterparts, due partly to the fact that they are expensive to create and field and also because they tend to make a big target out of themselves. The red one on the left is an officer.
Behind them are a few pilots, more specifically tank crewmen.
Shown here are the Calvarian Scouts, elite soldiers trained to operate behind enemy lines and damage enemy units ahead of the main force. Where a band of scouts appear, a Calvarian army is not far behind. They are known to be excellent marksmen, and often equip themselves with high-powered rifles and anti-material weapons.
Here is a group of Calvarian Marines, one of whom has gone missing for some reason or another. The marines are used for especially dangerous operations or those in hazardous environments, as their full-body suits not only act as thick body armor but also contain life support gear. Each marine has had a considerable amount of training in numerous forms of combat, and when working as a team they are nigh-unstoppable. A Commander is seen in the front of the group.
(I didn't bother with crazy number and letter strings this time for the vehicles, so sorry if you like those kinds of things)
The scout trikes are lightweight ATVs used, as their name suggests, by Calvarian scouts. They are unarmed but very fast, and have enough space in the rear to carry an extra passenger or additional survival gear or ordinance.
Some Calvarian crewed weapons: a heavy bolter and an autocannon. The heavy bolter is infamous as an effective infantry-killer, and the presence of a single one of these weapons can make an enemy think twice about charging a Calvarian line. The autocannon has a slower fire rate and is heavier, but fires high-caliber shells capable of providinge lethal support fire against enemy armor.
Here is a 75mm Field gun, though it is missing its support struts and gun shield. These weapons are very versatile, and can be used to bombard enemy emplacements just as easily as they can snipe enemy light tanks from afar.
The Lightning Mk. II FAV is a fast-attack craft that is adored by the Calvarian infantry forces for its high speed and rapid-fire support weaponry. The rear turret can carry a number of armaments including machine guns, miniguns, grenade launchers, flamethrowers, and gauss weapons. Despite its speed and effectiveness, it possesses little armor and can be quickly destroyed when facing heavier threats.
The famous Tempest medium tank, known for its potent weaponry and thick sloping armor plates that make it a remarkably effective assault vehicle. Thier cheap cost and modular loadouts make them the mainstay of the Calvarian armored regiments. It remains to be seen how well they fare against the new Adamarian Squire tank models...
A Tempest IFV variant, armed with an autocannon and ATGM launcher, as well as a flak variant armed with four flak cannons for gunning down enemy slow-moving aircraft.
The Infiltrator APC is the oldest Calvarian vehicle still in service. Refinements over time have ensured that this favorite has remained a fast and effective ground craft that can carry a full squad of ten infantrymen into a combat zone and provide deadly support fire with its autocannon and ATGM launcher. The reinforced front end of the craft can also be used as a battering ram, while its sloping armor, reminiscent of tank designs, give excellent protection.
The Invader AMV, a lightweight personnel carrier that can even function underwater for short periods of time. It is similar in design to the Adamarian Bishop APC. Though not as well armored as the Infiltrator, if possesses similar firepower and can carry the same amount of troops.
The tried-and-true Typhoon MBT, the iron enforcer of Calvaria's will across countless battlefields. Bristling with weaponry, it can lay waste to nearly any foe in its path with two heavy machine guns, a 120mm HVG, and two Mk. II Missile pods. Though slow moving, the Typhoon's thick armor plates are impervious to small arms fire and resistant to heavy weaponry. Many eagerly await the day when this king of the battlefield faces the newer Adamarian tanks...
The sleek and heavyweight Hurricane battle tank is equipped with a high-caliber railgun, which has such power that it can take on even SHDTs. Though smaller than Super-Heavy tanks, the Hurricane's sleek armor and low profile make it difficult to hit and destroy. The massive capacitors used to power the railgun take up a good deal of internal space however, and so its backup weaponry is limited to a single heavy machine gun.
The newest iteration of the Dragon gunship is shown here, with a more robust frame that is resistant to damage. It is armed with two Mk. II missile pods, a pair of deadly Mk. V missiles, and a rotary autocannon under the nose for fire support against infantry.
The Phantasm Mk. II(B) is the newest variant of the feared Calvarian AeroSpace fighter. Armed with more firepower than the Adamarian Cherubim, if somewhat slower in flight. A squadron of these craft is truly fearsome. It is armed with two Mk. II missile pods, a pair of 30mm autocannons, and a trio of light laser weapon for use agianst fast-moving aircraft in space.
The Great Wyrm is the replacement of the Spectre dropship, and features a rounded cockpit and larger deckspace for carrying more occupants. It is also equipped with stealth field technology that prevents it from being detected until it is right on top of its foes.
Now ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Conqueror-class battle titan, the epitome of Calvarian military technology and power. Since the creation of the first Calvarian titan several G.R.s ago, scientists have been hard at work perfecting the design. Now the final product of years of work stands before you, with unparalleled power. Designed as a SHDT-killer, the Conqueror is armed with a very large rotary chaingun on its left arm, perfect for wiping out squadrons of lighter craft and infantry in seconds. On its right arm is a high-caliber HEAP cannon designed to neutralize tanks in a single shot. On the top is a radar scanner with two Mk. VII Tactical nuclear warheads, capable of instantly destroying smaller SHIPs or leveling an entire city block. Additionally, the nukes can be swapped out for a MLRS unit, and weapons designers are also attempting to make additional arm weapons as well.
Even the mighty Typhoon tank can't hope to defeat this monstrosity. A thick layer of armor surrounds the entire cockpit and chassis, as well as the legs. The leg joints have all been heavily armored and given additional exterior armor protection that is so extensive that the joints are barely visible. In addition to its armor, the Conqueror also possesses a molecular dispersal shield unit that diminishes the impact of kinetic rounds and practically nullifies the threat of laser weapons. Only a tremendous amount of concentrated firepower has any hope of destroying the Conqueror. Even if destroyed, the Conqueror's internal nuclear fusion reactor is somewhat unstable, and even a slight amount of weapons discharge into its core could cause a catastrophic nuclear explosion with a blast radius of nearly a mile.
Anyhow, hope you guys enjoyed my 100,000,000th update. At least that's what it feels like by now...


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Well... obviously you have a good point. However there are many reasons non believers or secular humanists or agnostics or atheists celebrate Christmas. Just some thoughts here, most not original with me. And of course non believers do ask themselves this same question and struggle, at least a little,. to answer it. We don't necessarily make public our unorthodox beliefs or go out of our way to distinguish our brand of celebration from yours, partly because we don't want to offend.
1. Christmas is really pretty much a pagan holiday in origin in the first place. Christians (I think Constantine had a lot to do with this) adopted pagan customs and superimposed them on a previously unimportant and largely unobserved holiday. At some point winter solstice festival traditions got added to the mix. Also the actual beliefs of Christian mythology (most of the elements of a virgin birth etc), are patterned after Greek and Roman myths. Googling the subject will turn up all kinds of examples. Just think of non-believers celebrating the Winter Solstice instead of Christmas, but not bothering to change the name.
2. Many non believers were themselves brought up with Christmas traditions, so the warmth and happiness of the season are deeply imbedded in our psyches. We probably know, at some basic level, that a celebration in the "dead of winter" is something that meets very elemental human needs. And while we might smile wistfully at those who manage to convince themselves that they're going to live forever and don't really have to actually die, we (maybe) believe that comforting and holding close those we love while we DO have life and breath is the best we can do to help all of us keep going. Christmas doesn't give us hope of eternal life, but it gives us hope that our "brief moment" of consciousness is still worth living-- just because we have each other to share that moment with. As for materialism, I've always felt that what all of us are really seeking from the holiday season is not the spectacular gift or extravagant wishes that come true in the form of something outrageously expensive, but rather the colorful lights that first thrilled us as children --and the fellowship-- and hopefully a few special moments each season when the family is enjoying just being together, having fun, or snuggling in "by the fire". I think it is THOSE images and experiences that we are seeking and those moments usually surprise us and happen somewhere during the season. And obviously one does not need to be religious in the slightest to feel that this is a time of year to do something to help feed the hungry and brighten the lives of others. I think Christians and non-Christians alike can agree that we don't do anywhere near enough.
3. We don't believe in Santa and reindeer either, but we still enjoy those symbols. And we embrace (again, somewhat wistfully) the human sentiments that draw people to a story of a mother and a newborn baby and simplicity and animals and starry skies. I think that even literal Christians don't believe that the elements of that story happened in quite the way they are described in biblical passages and children's books. But... that little donkey, peaceful barn animals, shepherds following a star around in the middle of the night paint an appealing picture. We WISH, maybe, that something like that could have happened. And I believe our instinctive and heartfelt enjoyment of the rural, simple nature of the tale shows something important and lovely about our better natures.
4. If nothing else, think of Mr. Hooper making sure that Bert and Ernie each had a gift to give each other and that it was exactly what each of them wanted!
Well... that's just a stab at an answer. I don't know whether the idea that it's all good for the economy is much of an excuse to non believers in choosing to go ahead and celebrate the holiday. Maybe it is... because the economic boost is undeniable. I also think that many of us do cut waaaaay back on some of the hoopla and only include those elements that we like. We skip church and don't send cards (who needs to with Facebook and email) and decorate our houses just enough to please ourselves and nobody else.
Also, for what it's worth, I'm pretty sure that even those who DO believe in the religious meaning of Christmas have a very hard time figuring out what in the world gifts of Xboxes and war toys for little boys and Malibu Barbie have to do with anything!
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I agree, Valerie, though it sounds strange. Those religious Christmas carols, in the right setting (which is NOT blaring at a hectic discount store), have a direct, emotional connection to childhood and wonder and happiness. Being an atheist doesn't change that, odd as it sounds. I don't have to believe that the carols tell a literal, true story any more than I believe that "Frosty the Snowman" tells a literal, true story.
What does bother me is the awareness that for religious people the reality of mortality and death can be swept under the psycholigical rug and not dealt with due to their magical fantasies about "living after they are dead". For me, there's a sense of aloneness when I try to be close to people like that. I agree with Carl Sagain that "far better, it seems to me, in our vulnerability to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides." But that's a different subject...
secular christmas is an oxymoron
akin to the little giant
or the white black...
in the word christmas the ROOT is christ
christ is not a secular thingee is it...
why dont adults just be adults and say
"i celebrate xmas cause i fruckin want to, and i do not have to justify it to anyone beyond myself?"
i do NOT celebrate xmas
because i do not foster lies, encourage lies, and or perpetuate them.
especially when dealing with my children...
cause I AM AN ADULT, and a PARENT, and my children look to ME for example...
if i show them that it is "ok to lie about some stuff" then can i reprimand them adequately when they lie to me about "some stuff"?? no....
really simple science..
i understand that many people have "time off" from work during this season and would like to spend that time off with family...my children knew that santa, jesus, moses, easter bunny and BUGS BUNNY are of the same ilk, from the time they could understand english
and they are happy children..their mother gives them presents, and so does the majority of my family...
but they know that daddy was solid, and unwavering when it comes to deceit, no matter what form it comes in.
Hallelujah brother
Nafir Nun says (among other things): I do NOT celebrate xmas because i do not foster lies, encourage lies, and or perpetuate them, especially when dealing with my children...
why? cause I AM AN ADULT, and a PARENT, and my children look to ME for example...
...my children knew that santa, jesus, moses, easter bunny and BUGS BUNNY are of the same ilk, from the time they could understand english.
....they know that daddy was solid, and unwavering when it comes to deceit, no matter what form it comes in."
Nafir Nun, I respect and understand (I think) your perspective, but I have some questions. Maybe there's a difference in approach based on gender of the parent. ?? As a mom, I was very comfortable with make believe play with my children. We pretended that my daughter's dolls were real, that her favorite stuffed Halloween cat could fly, and, I suppose, that Bert and Ernie and Grover were real creatures. I didn't feel compelled when watching Sesame Street to sternly step in and point out from an early age that the characters were only puppets or that Thomas the Train and his friends didn't really have human emotions. I just assumed that "playing along" was age appropriate and that, with growing up, distinctions between reality and fantasy would become clear. Do you disapprove of fantasy in literature and theater for children? For adults?
The problem, of course, with religious fantasies is that Christian adults never grow up and admit to themselves that their star players are make believe. And I honestly don't know what I would have done with the "Bethlehem story" if I had been an atheist when my children were small. (I wasn't) Often it seems I have more questions than answers...
Valerie asks if growing up in a very religious bacground might make it more difficult to feel festive at Christmas if one is a relatively new atheist. The symbol that bothered me most during the first holiday seasons after I became a rational person (I'd say I've been an atheist for around 15 years) was the "baby in the manger" image. I mean, a sweet, sleeping baby was the icing on the celebration of Christmas joy and light. What's not to like? Now I'm able to look at Baby Jesus as a pleasant myth, maybe symbolic of love and peace-- which is what it is and was all along. Surely even the religious folks know deep down that a Bethlehem stable with a five pointed star perched on the roof and wise men and shepherds and singing sheep is as much a fabrication as Cindy Lou Who and Santa and Frosty. Oh, and I loved the comment someone made on another thread about telling her kids that "someone should cover up that baby--he's cold!" when they drive by a manger scene. Funny.
Hmmm... how do young children ever sort it all out anyway? I have an Xtian friend who did not introduce the Santa story to her children because she didn't want them to get confused about Christmas when they eventually learned that Santa and flying reindeer were imaginary and think that the religious aspects of Xmas were imaginary too. With my children, there was so much playful fantasy and make believe of all sorts in our lives that I felt it would gradually become clear that Santa was a game we played along with other make believe. (At the time, I basically believed the baby Jesus mythology so just assumed that this part of the Xmas story would remain in the "reality" category.) However, my children, young adults now, are both atheists and just naturally grew into that perspective once they had the distance to look at church and religion objectively. Sometimes some distance is all it takes.
I'm rambling a bit, but I think it stinks that your in-laws secretly told your children an opinion of theirs as if it were factual. (Atheists are much too polite to do that with other people's children). But your three year old will have a lot of sorting out to do over the coming years and, at this point, pretend stuff and real stuff is all mixed together anyway, I would think.
I can top your inlaw story though. My children had attended a fairly liberal United Methodist church in the midwest. We moved to the deep south when my daughter was in the fourth grade and the next summer I let her go to "Vacation Bible School" at my mother-in-law's Southern Baptist church, thinking it would be some harmless crafts and stories. I didn't learn until over a year later that my daughter had been lying awake at night terrified that the devil was going to swoop down and claim her because she hadn't "given her heart to Jesus" at Bible School. The pastor of this same church declared from the pulpit one Sunday when my children were there that anyone in the congregation who hadn't been saved had better do it NOW because you just never know when you might get in an accident and die on the way home from church and spend eternity in HELL.
put the "n" in santa after the other "a"
what do ya get?
santa claus
satan clause
satan claws
for all of the "believers" lol
the worst is when indigenous cultures are forced to make the blonde surfer dude, their god...
the problem with us adults, is that we are acting like irresponsible brats.
our children will have much less sorting out to do, if they are presented with the truth, before they are presented with lies.
magic is REAL, and energy manipulation OCCURS period.
this in now way justifies us lying to our children.
just because we do not understand the relationships between various energetic phenomenon, does not negate them and does not mean that we have to make up gobbledigook just to "look smart" or " nice".
for example
if you have a 2 yr old, u may just say " stay out of the kitchen"
when they hit 3 " hey dont go by that( the stove)"
4- " hey that is a stove it is HOT do not touch it"
5- " hey when you see the red light on that means the stove is on do not touch it"
7- " hey wanna help me make pancackes on the stove"
at no point did anyone have to say " theres a monster in the kitchen"
baby jesus isnt real.
does hippo have wings?
why is it sooo hard to tell lil children the truth?
what is the fear?
Nice explanation and comments. Tim Minchin also does a great job of explaining why atheists love xmas in this lovely song.
I celebrate Christmas for the same reasons the early Christians celebrated Saturnalia.
Christians 'own' christmas, so why are we butting in on their celebrations?
We have never really had a choice have we? christmas has become a celebration all over the world and the original reason for it has been lost all together. Apparently it has something to do with christ's birth, but he wasn't really born then and blah blah the debate goes on.
The same goes for easter and it infuriates me when christians ask why we celebrate these events. Really? We don't have much of a choice anyway because they are a little hard to avoid, these events are pretty much in your face, besides, buying useless gifts, over stuffing ourselves with food is a religious event?.
And while I am on my soap box, atheists shouldn't celebrate christmas because we don't believe in god or jesus, then do all christians actually think that santa and the easter bunny actually exists?
When the word christmas comes out of my mouth, it has the same meaning as thanksgiving or halloween, just another day to have fun and enjoy family and friends.
On my last note, I don't actually 'celebrate' christmas. I could quite easily live without it - shopping at the grocery store would be much much more of breeze without it :p
If anything, the question should be 'why do Christians celebrate the 24th/25th december'?
I mean, very little of it has any true bearing on Christianity
As mentioned, There's nothing particularly Christian about most of Christmas - even the date isn't correct. It was borrowed from other pre-Christian pagan religions, such as Mithraism.
How dishonest, how ingratiating do you have to be to attempt to slip your own religion into existing festivals by subversion? It only goes to show how ill-defined the early church was to have to do this.
This is how advertising techniques work (and we all know what a rat's nest industry that is!) - you associate a product with an existing desire or concept so that they become inextricably linked and ultimately synonymous. Manipulative. Would an omnipotent god have to resort to manipulation like this? no!
No one knows - or if - exactly when jesus was born. You'd think if he really was divine someone would have written something like that down.
Christmas trees, evergreen wreaths, yuletide, the 12 days of Christmas are all from Norse paganism.
The winter solstice has been practiced by many pagan religions.
Santa Claus of course has already been pointed out.
Even the giving of presents pre-dates Christianity. Really, all that's left is the story of the nativity. And a lot of that also mirrors earlier non-Christian stories.
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I've discovered a few of my readers think my sweet brother Bill is a figment of my imagination. And some of my friends want to see a picture of Bill. My editor, Mercy, asked me a while ago if I had any photographs to go along with a story. Well, the indoor jobs when it is so cold caused me to dig out an old box of pictures, and there it was! A Kodak moment with sweet brother Bill, no less.
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The Hobart Community Foundation provides economic development and community development services for the residents of Hobart, Indiana.
We are a community-based organization whose members are a diverse group of businesses, organizations and residents with a commitment to the future of Hobart.
Rieth-Riley Construction Co., Inc. is an example of one of our supporting businesses. Shown below accepting a donation check from Rieth-Riley are (left to right) Jim Wiseman of Rieth-Riley, Board Member Tom Ehrhardt, President Dave Vinzant, and Florzell Hawkins, Jr. of Rieth-Riley.
For more information, contact the Hobart Community Foundation.
© Copyright 2015 The Hobart Community Foundation


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WASHINGTON – Nats phenom Bryce Harper and Redskins star Robert Griffin III are two of the latest cover boys for ESPN The Magazine.
The 15th anniversary issue highlights the year's best athletes and focuses on rookies, including those who have energized the D.C. sports scene. There are four different covers for the double-issue — including one featuring Harper, another with RG3.
They aren't regional covers. All four will be available nationwide, reports the D.C. Sports Bog.
"They're exciting, they're charismatic and they're good," Chad Millman, the magazine's editor-in-chief, told The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg about Harper and Griffin. "We're not Tebowing these guys. We don't do something about them in every issue. We do something when the moment is special, when we think the occasion matches the interest level in these guys. And certainly right now it's hard to argue against Harper being in this issue, as good as he's playing."
On Twitter, Harper announced his excitement about the cover.
So thankful and blessed to be on the cover of @espnmag 15th anniversary issue! I am so honored! #Mag15 twitter.c om/Bharper3407/st
So thankful and blessed to be on the cover of @espnmag 15th anniversary issue! I am so honored! #Mag15 twitter.c om/Bharper3407/st
Need a break? Play a quick game of solitaire or Sudoku. Or take one of our fun quizzes!


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Wes Welker entered the north tunnel at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday night just before halftime, hands clasped to his helmet. He talked to a few teammates, leaving them hopeful that he will avoid an extended absence. The Broncos were encouraged by the initial examination, believing that, for now, he could be available for the Sept 7 season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
The sobering reality, however, is that Welker has suffered three concussions in 10 months, all serious enough to force him to exit a game. He will undergo the mandated concussion protocol and must be cleared by the Broncos' medical staff and an independent doctor before practicing.
"I believe he's going to be good," said receiver Demaryius Thomas, who spoke to Welker on Saturday.
Welker, 33, faces danger without blinking, making a living on underneath routes that turn him into a human pinball. Saturday, he caught a 9-yard pass from Peyton Manning in the second quarter, ducking to the ground as Texans defensive back D.J. Swearinger delivered a forearm shiver to Welker's head with his right arm. Swearinger was penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness, but he might not be fined since there was no helmet-to-helmet contact.
Manning thought the play was dirty and let Swearinger know it after completing a touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders on the next play.
"I am obviously concerned about Wes and never like seeing him come out of the game with a potential blow to the head. He had one of those last year that kept him out," Manning said.
Swearinger insisted that the flag on the play "surprised him." The Broncos' anger did not. Swearinger talked trash last week during joint practices and took a swing at Thomas on Thursday. The hostility reached a boiling point when Welker left the field.
"The NFL is the NFL. Rules are the rules. I led with my shoulder; that's the only thing I could do. He's a short guy," Swearinger said. "I made a Hall of Famer mad."
Welker's injury raises concerns because of his history, but the calender provides a slight reprieve. He has 15 days to recover. There are no blueprints with concussions, and even Welker's last year featured different outcomes based on the severity. After Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry crashed into Welker on Nov. 17, the veteran receiver returned the following week against the New England Patriots, catching four passes for 31 yards. He was concussed for the second time in 22 days against Tennessee, a crunching hit by the Titans' Bernard Pollard knocking out Welker for the Broncos' final three regular-season games.
As a concession, Welker wore a mouthpiece and a Riddell 360 helmet when he returned in the playoffs. The helmet features more padded protection and the lowest calculated risk factor for concussion. The Broncos' initial sense is that Welker's helmet helped him avoid a more serious injury Saturday.
If Welker is sidelined for the opener, the offense will be tweaked. Sanders provides an option at slot receiver, where he spent his career in Pittsburgh before joining the Broncos as a free agent. He has learned all the receiver spots in Denver's offense and caught two touchdown passes Saturday. Andre Caldwell figures to see more playing time if Sanders moves inside. Caldwell has gained the coaches' trust with his reliability.
"We have a next-guy-up mentality around here," Sanders said. "But we want to make sure Wes is good, because we all want to get him back."
Troy E. Renck: firstname.lastname@example.com or twitter.com/troyrenck
Welker's head trauma
Concussions create concern, but in Wes Welker's case the number is becoming alarming. While there is no documented history of Welker suffering concussions with New England, Welker has suffered three in the past 10 months with the Broncos::
Nov. 17, 2013: Welker absorbed a high-low hit vs. Chiefs, snapping back his neck. He returned to play the following week against New England.
Dec. 8, 2013: Welker was hit by the Titans' Bernard Pollard. Welker missed the final three regular-season games and returned wearing a more padded helmet and mouthpiece.
Aug. 24, 2014: Welker walked off under own power after taking D.J. Swearinger's forearm shiver to the head. Return date unknown.


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Rex to leave high school
Accepting the resignation of the Wapakoneta High School principal is expected to be among action taken by Wapakoneta City Schools Board of Education member when it meets Tuesday.
Aaron Rex, who has served at the helm of the district's high school for six years, is taking a position as superintendent of Archbold Area Schools.
According to the Archbold Local Schools's website, Rex is to begin his job there Feb. 4.
Prior to being principal at Wapakoneta High School, Rex served a year as assistant principal, and eight years as a government and history teacher at the school.
A graduate of Bath High School and Bowling Green State University, Rex also has spent time coaching middle school football, track and girls basketball, and the high school academic team.
Superintendent Keith Horner said he has appointed Wapakoneta High School Assistant Principal Scott Minnig to the principal position. Minnig is in his third year in his current position. Prior to that he served as a math teacher at Wapakoneta Middle School since 1998.
The district is interviewing for a new assistant principal.
"We are hoping to get someone in the position as soon as possible," Horner said. "We would have liked to have someone on board by Jan. 28, but it doesn't look like we will meet that."
With Rex's last day at Wapakoneta High School scheduled for Friday, Feb. 1, they had hoped to have at least all three working together that last week to help with training.
Approximately eight candidates applied for the assistant principal position with candidates coming from within and outside of the school district.
"We hope to have it wrapped up pretty soon," Horner said.
Speaking about Rex, Horner said it didn't surprise him that he was the top candidate in the superintendent search at Archbold, a district which has achieved excellent ratings on school report cards for 11 years, earning it the title of excellent with distinction.
Horner said Rex is very talented at what he does and will be missed.
"He has served us, the kids and our community extremely well," Horner said.


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Armandolas wrote:In the past i had criticizef some of your maps, mostly because of graphics....but this one just looks...Beautifull
Thanks you.
ManBungalow wrote:To clarify, this is what I'm suggesting with the bridges:
You're currently using bridge model A.
I recommend bridge model B. It's the same, but with soft ends.
At the moment, they stand out from the rest of the map because they look like blocks of whatever just slapped on top of the image.
ManB, I know what you wanted. But I am happy with the way they are. As I said, I was in two minds whether to do your way or not. I like your way but they are too realistic for the map so I deferred judgement to the higher ups (players). If they say to change it, then I will.


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Last week I was down for the whole week and when you are sick you have no motivation to get out of bed much less blog. I was running a fever with a horrible sounding cough but Im thankful that Im feeling a whole lot better. So I can now share this outfit with you.
I love the sparkle and the stretch in this skirt. I also love the look of short skirt with boots, it seems a like a very sexy pairing. Hope you guys enjoy this post and I'll catch you on the next one.
Top: Forever21
Skirt: Bebe
Boots: LolaShoetique


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Answer: $460 million.
Question: What is the price of the country's second largest hog operation?
Smithfield Foods recently offered $460 million for the purchase of MurphyFamily Farms of Rose Hill, NC. The offer includes 10 million shares ofSmithfield Foods common stock and the assumption of $170 million term debtand other liabilities. Murphy Family Farms markets production from about325,000 sows located throughout the U.S.
A large pork packer, Smithfield Foods is the largest U.S. producer of hogswith about 350,000 sows owned by its two subsidiaries, Carroll's Foods andBrown's of Carolina. Smithfield reports that it intends to keep MurphyFamily Farms as a separate unit like Carroll's and Brown's.
Announcement of the pending purchase created waves, however. With Murphyhogs under its wing, Smithfield will account for about 10 percent of the country's hog production. The American Farm Bureau Federation has called for aninvestigation by the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure that antitrustlaws are not being broken.
In addition, the Iowa Attorney General's office is checking into a possibleviolation of a state law prohibiting packers from owning livestock in thestate.


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(Reuters) - Three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti tried to convince himself there was a way back from a career-ending head injury but all roads led to a dead end and his racing days are over, said the IndyCar champion on Thursday.
Speaking publicly for the first time since a horrific last lap crash at the Houston Grand Prix on October 6 left him with two spinal fractures, a concussion and a broken ankle, Franchitti said he tried to negotiate a deal with himself but discovered there was no deal to be made that would see him return to the cockpit of a race car.
"I spent two days thinking, "OK how can I get around this because I have done it before," said Franchitti, during a press briefing at Chip Ganassi Racing headquarters in Indianapolis. "There have been quite a few broken body parts over the years and I kept thinking, there's got to be a way, some kind of negotiation here and there wasn't."
The October crash ended one of IndyCar racing's great careers.
Along with his three Indy 500 titles, the 40-year-old native of Scotland claimed the IndyCar series driver's crown on four occasions, second only to A.J. Foyt. He won 31 Indy Car races from 265 career starts.
"I'm looking forward to the future and rather than being bummed about not getting to drive the number 10 Target car again and other things after that, I'm just very thankful for the career, for the racing I was able to do," said Franchitti, who hobbled into the press conference on crutches. "I've had fun doing this, I'm looking forward to the future now.
"There's been some crap days, there's been some devastating days but for the last 30 years I have had a really good time."
One of those devastating moments came in the October crash when Franchitti's car made contact with Japanese driver Takuma Sato's, went airborne and destroyed a portion of the catch fence before spinning several times while debris was sprayed toward the grandstands.
He exited with few regrets but admitted that if he could have one more race it would be back at the famed Brickyard and a shot at fourth Indy 500 title.
Franchitti, who was married to actress Ashley Judd for more than decade before they separated this year, won the Indy 500 in 2007, 2010 and 2012. The only drivers to have won more are A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr and Rick Mears, who each won four times.
"If I had to pick one race to do, Le Mans was something I wanted to do in the future but the allure of going for a fourth (Indy 500 win) would be tough to turn down," said Franchitti.
"That's one of the hard things really...but that's the hand you're dealt isn't it."
After spending most of his life as a driver, Franchitti said he is now prepared to shift gears and move into the management side of the sport. The charismatic Scot also indicated he might even try his hand at television as a motor racing commentator.
"I'd love to stay involved with IndyCar racing and certainly with the Target team and that is something we are working on," said Franchitti. "Hopefully that will come along soon and I can start really getting involved and working with the team.
"It's something I really want to do."
Editing by Gene Cherry


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January 2011
13 January 2011
It's all smiles here at Australia Zoo, as we get ready to celebrate Wendy the Wombat's first birthday on Wednesday 19 January!
Wendy is one of our resident Common Wombats. She is bursting with character and you can often catch her getting up to cheeky antics. Wendy certainly takes after her father, Tonka who is renowned for getting up to mischief.
Even though she's turning one, Wendy still has lots of growing to do. At the moment Wendy weighs about 8kg, but when she is all grown up she should weigh around 27kg and be about one metre in length. Crikey!
A wombat's diet consists of mainly grass and plant roots and Wendy just love taste-testing all sorts of things, no matter if they are actually edible or not. On her birthday Wendy is bound to get spoilt by her keepers and may even get some of her favourite treat, sweet potato.
We have two species of wombat here at Australia Zoo, the Common Wombat and the Southern Hairy Nose Wombat. You can spot the difference between the two species by the shape of their nose. A Common Wombat has a similar looking nose to a koala, all leathery and with no fur, however the Southern Hairy Nose Wombat, as their name suggests, has a hairy nose which is more square in shape. Common Wombats also have stumpier legs and their fur can range in colour from blonde through to almost black, but Southern Wombats generally stay a grey/brown colour.
And best of all... you can adopt Wendy! By adopting any animal you will play an important role in wildlife conservation here at Australia Zoo, plus you will receive an awesome adoption pack full of goodies.
So, come on down to Australia Zoo on Wednesday 19 January and be sure to wish Wendy a very happy birthday.
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Requirements: Current Registered Nurse license in the State of Maine. Is a motivated, independent individual who can organize workload so that all functions are completed appropriately. Specialty certification preferred. A minimum of 2 years experience in acute patient care. Current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider BLS required.
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Dez Bryant: Full Report From Mom To Talent
The Dallas Cowboys have selected Dez Bryant as their new first round draft choice.
Since being drafted, Bryant has been in the news constantly, and I felt that instead of writing two or three mini-articles about Bryant, I'd do what the writers of Sports Illustrated do and just write a long article about Dez Bryant covering everything.
Let's get this thing started with:
Dez Bryant Will Be Talked About Whether He Is Good Or Bad
When you think about the Dallas Cowboys, they always have these players that just stand out.
Whether is was the clean-cut life of Roger Staubach aka Captain America and Hollywood Henderson's personality and antics in the 70s to the flashiness of Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin in the 90s; Dallas has always had guys in the center of attention.
The 2000s were no different. We had Terrell Owens, who made sure everyone had their popcorn ready, Roy Williams, who was just a seismic blow to receivers that came on his side in the early years, and Tony Romo, the undrafted free agent Pro Bowl quarterback that dates Jessica Simpson, Carrie Underwood, and pulls off some of the greatest highlights in the last ten years of professional football.
Now, as we enter a new decade, Cowboy fans are going to have to prepare for a new set of characters and guys in the limelight.
Dez Bryant is already under a microscope due to his suspension from Oklahoma State, the recent press about his mother; a topic I will address later, and most importantly, he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.
I don't know how it came about. To me, a kid from Texas, the Cowboys are just my team, but because of the "America's Team" moniker, the press and media focus on them especially, so they are going to be watching Dez Bryant closely because the Cowboys will be watched closely.
Think about how often ESPN would focus on Michael Crabtree last year. After a while, the buzz around him died down because he plays for the 49ers, not a big name team like the Cowboys or the Colts or the Patriots
The big question is will Dez Bryant be a playmaker or a struggling rookie?
I can just see it now. Men in suits talking about how Dez Bryant's five touchdown game this past week is the greatest performance by a rookie receiver.
Or I can see them talking about he's not connecting with Tony Romo, he's not getting by defenders, and he is looking like a bad draft choice by the Cowboys.
Dallas fans are just going to have to accept that Dez Bryant will be a major topic of conversation. He had headlines during the draft, he'll have headlines in the NFL.
Also, by presenting Dez Bryant with the jersey number 88 that was Michael Irvin's, a Hall of Fame receiver, puts even more attention and pressure on this young rookie.
I just wonder if Dez Bryant will bring touchdowns along with the cameras to the Cowboys this upcoming season.
Dez Bryant's Mother is Irrelevant to His Future as a Cowboy
I'm waking up in the morning, and I check my usual football news websites so that I can find out anything, no matter how insignificant it might be, to ensure that I'm informed.
I look up and I see how this no-name general manager for the Dolphins named Jeff Ireland actually asked if Dez Bryant's mother was, to keep it PG, a member of the world's oldest profession at one point.
It struck me funny because I first wondered if he really was the general manager since Bill Parcells is running the show down in Miami.
Regardless of who exactly Jeff Ireland is, Dez Bryant politely skipped that question, but the sports world has kept it a headline, so here is my take:
I've read arguments by writers for both sides, and I don't believe that Ireland meant to maliciously offend or embarrass Dez Bryant, I do think that he should claim temporary stupidity because only an idiot would bring that kind of question out in the open.
For one thing, the question is irrelevant. Unless Dez Bryant was actually helping his mother with some criminal activity, the past stays in the past.
Everyone has skeletons in the closet. Everyone including you and me has something that we have done that would turn us as red as a coke can should the public find out about it.
It's called being human.
I think that the apology was not mandatory, but in that kind of situation, I would be compelled, personally, to apologize for my lack of sensitivity when it comes to the subject of the woman who gave birth to Dez Bryant.
I applaud Jeff Ireland for apologizing, I chalk up his mistake to being human just like the rest of us. Just don't do it again.
Don't ask a question that isn't related to his speed, hand skills, footwork, motivation, work ethic, or in certain cases, things that Bryant has done in the past.
What his mother allegedly did and what Bryant does are two separate issues that are not connected by any reasonable means. End of story.
What The Dez Bryant Selection States?
Okay, now for some real football talk.
Going into the draft, I felt that Dallas should have addressed needs at offensive tackle and safety since the release of both free safety Ken Hamlin and offensive tackle Flozell Adams.
Instead, Dallas decided to trade up from 27 to 24 with New England just before Baltimore and drafted Dez Bryant.
Personally, I didn't believe we necessarily needed Dez Bryant because while Roy Williams had struggled, I saw him make some very good catches at key moments in the last two games against the Eagles this past season.
I felt that Roy Williams was going to get some more work in and knock out all the kinks and become a legitimate number two guy.
The emergence of Miles Austin was astonishing as well and combine Jason Witten, our regular Pro Bowl tight end, and the three-headed running attack of Choice, Barber, and Jones, and you have got a great offense.
Dallas was second in the league in total offensive yards gained. Granted, they were 14th in points scored, but Dallas could improve on that with better execution in the redzone.
From a team standpoint of needs and depth chart, this looks like a stupid move.
However, the reality is that Dez Bryant is an amazing talent. In 1998, the Cowboys had a chance to draft a very talented wide receiver out of Marshall named Randy Moss.
Moss had grown up a Cowboys fan, wanted to be their guy, and Dallas spurned him in the draft by drafting Greg Ellis instead.
Jerry has no problems with his memory especially since Randy Moss will go to the Hall of Fame one day and in his rookie year, he caught 69 balls for 1313 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Moss got his revenge on Thanksgiving when he and his team, the Vikings, showed up to Dallas, and Moss had three catches.
All three were for touchdowns and over 50 yards each. He finished the day with 163 receiving yards in a 46-36 win for the Vikings.
That was devastating because the Cowboys went 10-6 that year and lost in the playoffs to the Cardinals. Think about how different things would have been if Moss had been paired with Michael Irvin?
Jerry Jones is not about to make the same mistake twice. He's going to take this young man whose character questions are arguably exaggerated, and Jerry is going to give him a chance to play football for the star.
This move also lights a fire under Roy Williams if he wants to stay a Cowboy. While I agree with many experts that the trade for Roy Williams was a reach, it can still pay dividends if he plays like the wide receiver that Jerry believes he's capable of playing as.
This also spells the possibility of losing Patrick Crayton or Sam Hurd, two veteran receivers that I had come to cherish during their time here in the Big D.
Hopefully Dallas can keep them all because I'd love to see them win a Super Bowl with Dallas.
Interesting Stat About Dallas and First Round Receivers
The one thing about this move that concerns me is the late draft history Dallas has when it comes to receivers.
In 2000, Dallas traded two first round draft picks to the Seahawks for Joey Galloway whose career stats for Dallas are 151 catches for 2341 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Seattle used those picks on the 2005 MVP Shaun Alexander and wide receiver Koren Robinson.
Then we traded Galloway to Tampa Bay for Keyshawn Johnson, and all I can say is UGH!
Finally, we trade our first, third, and sixth round picks to Detroit for Roy Williams and a seventh round pick.
Those picks drafted Brandon Pettigrew and Derrick Williams, and neither team so far has benefited from those trades.
Dallas hasn't been very good at trading for real receiver talent, and when you trade draft picks for them, it's the same as if you drafted them yourself.
Also, Jerry Jones did not draft Michael Irvin. Michael Irvin was the last first round pick of the Landry Era. So, Jerry Jones has done zilch when it comes to drafting first round receivers.
And before you mention how the Ravens were about to draft Dez Bryant, and they are excellent drafters, I'll remind you that the one position that the Ravens haven't drafted well is wide receiver.
These past experiences raise eyebrows yet despite the past failings, I like the addition of Dez Bryant. I have to say that it is a gamble that I would take since at the time of the pick, all the really great talent at safety or offensive tackle was off the board.
Dez Bryant Scouting Report
To view the rest, please go here: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/dez-bryant-full-report-from-mom-to-talent/


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CINDERELLA Will Offer Student Rush Beginning Today
Starting Monday, January 28, 2013, student rush tickets to RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella will be available for performances Mondays through Thursdays, throughout the day of the show only at the Broadway Theatre Box Office (1681 Broadway at 53 St.).
Students with a valid student ID may purchase one ticket for $32 (includes $2 facilities fee). Student rush tickets are subject to availability, with seating locations at the discretion of the box office.
Now in previews, RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella has an opening night set for March 3.
RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella is produced by Robyn Goodman, Jill Furman, Stephen Kocis, Edward Walson, Venetian Glass Productions, The Araca Group, Roy Furman, Luigi Caiola & Rose Caiola, Walt Grossman, Peter May/Sanford Robertson, Glass Slipper Productions/Eric Schmidt, Ted Liebowitz/James Spry, Blanket Fort Productions and is produced in association with Center Theatre Group. Charles Salameno is associate producer.
Tickets to RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella are on sale now through Telecharge and can be purchased by calling 212-239-6200, online at www.telecharge.com, or directly at the Broadway Theater (1681 Broadway at 53rd Street).
For more information please visit www.CinderellaOnBroadway.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/CinderellaTheMusical
Twitter: @CinderellaBway