text:
Carlos Terrinha
Vinicius "Draculino" Magalhaes -
"Terrinha is one of my most accomplished students in competition. He has won the Pan Ams 15 times and the World's Masters 3 times, besides others gi and no-gi titles. His experience as a competitor has made him a very good teacher and coach. He has a very intelligent way to adapt and modify techniques to be better suited for his students. I'm very lucky to have him as a student and friend."
Carlos Terrinha was born in in 1969 to a low income family, the 10th child with 11 brothers and sisters in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
In 2003 Carlos moved to the USA and became a resident of Hopedale Massachusetts. He teaches BJJ at Gold's Gym in Milford, adults 6 times a week, kids 2 times a week.
Passionate about the Martial Arts, he not only teaches BJJ but also plays a little at Judo, has dabbled in Capoeira and American boxing and has trained 8 years of traditional Jiu Jitsu from professor Juse Adilson Ferreira, his master was Takeyo Yano. For 12 years Carlos worked as a Civil Police Detective for the state of Minas Gerais.
Terrinha worked his whole life to find a way to pay for his classes to learn Jiu Jitsu, travel and compete. This champion began to train Jiu Jitsu 1989 when he was 19 years old with professor Jose Adilso.
He started competing as a white belt and never stopped. He was 3 time State champion in Minas Gerais , 3 time Brazil National champion and 2 time World Champion.
In 1998 Terrinha had a chance to meet Vinicus "Draculino" Magalhaes from Gracie Barra BJJ. Professor Draculino had moved from Rio de Janeiro to Belo Horizonte around 1986, Terrinha started to train with him and his students at Gracie Barra Belo Horizonte. and it changed Terrinha's life.
"Training with Draculino changed my Jiu-jitsu because I had the chance to see a new style of Jiu-jitsu of Gracie Jiu Jitsu and I had the opportunity train with a great competitors from his team, students who want to be a champions. Those guys do not play for fun any time and it changed my way to see Jiu-jitsu."
With so many compitions under his belt Terrinha has his share of bad calls. In 2005 finals the referee simply raised the wrong hand.
"I have won Pan American's 14 times officially and 1 time unofficially. In 2005, the referee made a mistake, I had won the fight and he put up Franginha's hand. Afterwards Franginha told me that I won but the referee give to him. Also the referee told me that he made a mistake, this is why I consider myself a 15 time champion."
Here's the stats:
Pan American
Med Heavy 2005
Med Heavy 2010
Med Heavy 2012
Med Heavy 2014
Med Heavy 2015
Med Heavy 2016
Open Class 2016
Med Heavy 2008
Open Class 2008
Med Heavy 2009
Med Heavy 2010
Med Heavy 2012
Med Heavy 2013
Med Heavy 2014
April 2012 Terrinha was moved up to #1 in the World at IBJJF ranking in Senior 2 division and keeped it until 2015. In January 2016 Terrinha went to Portugal to participate in the European Championship and won his medium heavy division making him a 2 time European Champion. It did not stop there, Terrinha came back home and went to California in March 2016 to participate at the Pan American Championship and he won his medium heavy division and Open class and became the first American to win the Pan American Championship 15 times.
Terrinha says to anybody who wants to do sport, "You do not need to be a champion but you should train with a champion because they test the technique at the competition that they teach their students."
Carlos would like to thank his kids Ana Carolina and Carlos Eduardo, his girlfriend Pollyana Carbone, Professor Vinicius "Draculino" Magalhaes, the Gracie Barra team and his students for always pushing the level higher. A very special thanks to his boss and sponsor Jose Farah Jr.
Come to be part of this lifestyle and if you have never participated in Jiu Jitsu, come to try a class and get to know it and see for yourself how it will change your life. http://www.carlosterrinha.com
Leticia Ribeiro is one of the most revered female BJJ athletes of all time. Come read about this prolific athlete and how she continues to contribute to the art of Jiu-Jitsu.
Tactician (n):someone good at planning tactics: the specific means of accomplishing goals. When it comes to BJJ, Professor Ribeiro is like the keenest tactical general. She leads her garrison into battle with the most efficient and effective strategies in order to dominate their opponents on the mats. Her troops are prepared for what they will be facing and there is not one angle that anyone could approach from for which she is not ready with a counter. Although an adept tactician in her field of BJJ today, once upon a time even Professor Ribeiro was an eager apprentice. It's time to take a look back and see how this sharp woman has become the heroin we have all come to admire.
BJJL: Where did you grow up, what was your childhood like?
LR: I grew up in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. My childhood was great! I still have a lot of great memories, back then we played a lot in the streets. It was safer more so then than it is today.
BJJL: What did your family think when you decided to start practicing BJJ?
LR: In the beginning it was hard, back then Jiu-Jitsu was a male sport. We had very few women training and competing. Soon as I started to train I fell in love with the sport and I knew that it was what I wanted for my life. After my mom really understood how I serious I was and what this meant to me, she gave me her full support.
BJJL: What was your first competition like?
LR: My first competition was the Copa Gracie. It was in 1995. I was a blue belt. I had three fights and three submissions by arm bar.
BJJL: Who or what motivates you and pushes you to achieve your goals?
LR: In 1996, that was the first time I knew I wanted to be a world Champion. I went to watch the first world championships ever. They didn't have a women's division but it was great to watch the black belts competing for the first time, especially Royler Gracie. I dreamed that one day I would be there and I worked for it.
BJJL: What has been your biggest challenge since you began BJJ?
LR: I think my biggest challenge and goal was to help develop women's BJJ programs all over the world and to make the female divisions stronger. WE DID IT!!!
BJJL: What matchup would you like to have that has never happened?
LR: I have fought ALL tough fighters from my generation and after mine. I can SAY THAT I'm really happy, satisfied with my career. I have achieved a lot as an athlete and a teacher.
BJJL: What is your pet peeve as an instructor?
LR: I don't have anything bad to say about teaching, my students, I love what I do so that makes my job REALLY easy.
BJJL: How does your tournament prep differ from your normal training?
LR: My routine changes, my day completely changes that's why I decided not to compete so much lately. I'm focused on my gym and my students. If I decide to compete again, I will dedicate my whole day, my whole life, towards training.
BJJL: Any charities that you support?
LR: Right now, we are trying to support young talents from Brazil. We are helping them to have a better life living with the sport, just like us.
BJJL: What are your thoughts on the Equal Pay issue in BJJ?
LR: I think it is time for that. I talk about myself and many other fighters that I know. We train hard, we changed and dedicated our life for the sport. We do all that we can to see the sport grow and we ALL DESERVE better opportunities. I know how things once were and how they are, they are MUCH BETTER and getting better and better. I'm so happy with all the progress, even if it is slow but continuous.
BJJL: You truly fight for your students. You walked out onto the mat during World's in 2014 (blue belt match). You wouldn't let your student leave the mat (time had expired) until you had the ref correct his error. This led to your student winning when originally the ref had sided with her opponent. I've NEVER…seen anyone else do that. What prompted you to do it?
LR: Yes, I fight for them now. I know how hard they train and how much they want to be champion. I know being a referee is hard, they have to think fast and mistakes are going to happen. As instructors our jobs are to help referees also. Mistakes at worlds are sad for the sport and for athletes.
BJJL: How has BJJ for women changed in the last 5 years?
LR: I moved to the USA 8 years ago since worlds came back to the US. Things changed a lot for the better, the IBJJF is doing a great job. I can see the progress of the sport at each tournament and seminar that I teach and am so happy to be part of that.
BJJL: Would you like to see BJJ return to submission only?
LR: I would like to see more submission only tournaments, it's fun.
BJJL: Are there any IBJJF rules you would like to see changed or completely removed?
LR: I think right now, the double pull. If they give two points for whoever gets on top, it will stop that a bit. It's boring. They should do something to block it.
BJJL: So many are apt to return to the mat even though they are injured and they reinjure themselves (often worse). What advice can you give on injury prevention and proper recovery?
LR: I've had some injuries in my career but nothing serious thank God. I think the best way to prevent injuries is to workout in order to make your muscles stronger and keep your joints safe.
BJJL: As one of the female legends and pioneers for up and coming female BJJrs…what advice can you offer up?
LR: Believe in yourself, give 120% when training, keep going, dedicate yourself to what you want, DREAM…ACHIEVE.
BJJL: Proudest Moment?
LR: It was 3 years ago when I opened my first academy here in America and now I am opening my 2nd.
BJJL: Long term goals?
LR: I want to change people's lives with Jiu-Jitsu and to be happy.
BJJL: Any regrets?
LR: No.
BJJL: Is there anyone you would like to thank, that you have never had the opportunity to thank for helping you get to where you are today?
LR: I'm thankful for many people in my life. First God, my family, my partner Morango, my friends, my students, and everyone that helped me to get to where I am today.
William Ward said, "the mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." Professor Ribeiro started out on a journey 2 decades ago. Along with her peers she ushered in a brand new era for BJJ. She is a pioneer in the game, a brilliant professor, and a remarkable inspiration. Her contributions to BJJ will be felt for years to come. She has had a hand (be it directly or indirectly) in developing each generation and helping elevate the game and its competitors to ALL new heights.
Ah, drilling. Some people love it, most people hate it. Generally, those who love it see its
purpose and those who hate it don't get its purpose and so "get bored." Like any other element of
training there is a degree of preference in what percentage of your training involves drilling primarily,
but as a general rule you're going to be doing a lot of it. The value of drilling – in both the physical and
technical dimension – is often under-appreciated.
The most rudimentary motive for drilling is usually the refinement of a specific technique. It's
bone-chillingly obvious that by focusing on a small range of techniques – or even one technique or
combination – you will improve in your ability to hit that technique, perform it under pressure, hit it
with maximum speed or power, etc... For this reason drilling is invaluable to any athlete, never-mind
combat athlete.
Many of the top athletes I've had the good fortune to interview have found drilling to be more
than an exercise to increase efficiency, but a laboratory for innovation. Ben Askren – one of the
NCAA's most well-known champions – once explained some of the differences between how he
drilled and how most of his peers drilled. For Ben, each series of reps gave him an opportunity
to imagine and "feel" the opportunity for new moves, sequences, and combinations. He'd be able
to see – in his minds eye – the different variations that might spur from the technique (even
when he didn't actually hit them – he just imagined them). Through this process he'd
leave each drilling session with a handful of good ideas.
In addition, Ben would focus on more than just burning his current technique into muscle
memory, he'd focus on details so small that most people didn't pay attention to them. He'd focus on the
speed, angle, power, and positioning of each element of the move. Then, each 20 reps or so he'd tweak
these nuances to make his movement perfect. As you can imagine, these strategies made drilling more
engaging and fun for Ben, in addition to making him pretty good at that whole wrestling thing. Andre
Galvao touted identical benefits in his Jiu Jitsu game during our interview.
Again when we talk about obvious benefits of drilling, cardiovascular capacity is one that jumps
right out at us. We think of a room full of wrestlers shooting up and down a mat endlessly, or Thai
kickboxers pounding away on a heavy bag with the same kick over and over and over. Badabing –
cardio and endurance come to mind. Certainly this is another one of the true best physical benefits to
drilling, but it doesn't cover the entire scope.
The great thing about drilling is that it allows you to control the muscles you use and the
intensity to which you use them. If you want to keep things light so as to not tire yourself out for an
upcoming tournament, you can drill your go-to moves lightly and barely break a sweat in half and hour.
On the other hand you can completely exhaust yourself by drilling striking combinations and
takedowns as hard as possible for ten minutes strait.
Similarly, if you want to get an explosive workout with your lower body, you can throw
powerful kicking combinations on a heavy bag or repetitively work on a double leg and lift. If you
want to feel the burn on your shoulders and arms you can focus on pummeling, hitting hand mitts with
punching combinations, or specific clinching and grip-fighting moves.
Lastly, most drilling is a lot easier on the body than sparring. John Smith – one of America's
best wrestlers in history (multi-time Olympic champion) – used drilling extensively to keep his body
safe (but still strong and fast) over his many, many years of competition. Any combat sport involves a
lot of inherrent risk, and by focusing on drilling a lot of the physical risk can be offset while the body
and library of techniques can still improve greatly.
If you are interested in even more of my thoughts of drilling then look no further, just click this
link and you'll find an article on 7 Ways to Improve Your Current Drills!
Its my belief that people dislike drilling (or get bored of drilling) because they don't see enough
benefit from the activity of drilling. Once the depth of the activity is opened up, people end up doing
more (and more effective) drilling. Hopefully with some additional expert perspective on the deeper
benefits of drilling, you'll not only have more fun – but get a lot more out of it as well.
The first step of your journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu begins with the first time you take a bow and show your Professor all the respect he/she is due. That is who will provide you with the tools you need to succeed every step of the way.
"All great masters are chiefly distinguished by the power of adding a second, a third, and perhaps a fourth step in a continuous line. Many a man has taken the first step. With every additional step you enhance immensely the value of your first."Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Your rise in BJJ begins the moment you first dawn your white belt and continues as long as you are willing to learn. In order to ascend to the next skill level you need to conquer the last. With each new belt that encircles your waist, your climb becomes all the more satisfying.
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt promotion system is not difficult to understand. The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) provides general guidelines that can be referenced worldwide with minimum requirements for moving students to the next level: http://ibjjf.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/IBJJF-Graduation-System-Poster.pdf. Keep in mind, those guidelines are just that, not everyone progresses at the same rate. Promoting a person per IBJJF standards refers to a timeframe in which an individual could reach the next level. A one-on-one with IBJJF certified referee and 3rd Degree Black Belt Bruno Alves, (Pinnacle MMA/GFT) helped shed some light on how he handles the promotion process. Professor Alves's point-of-view on this is simple. The journey is yours but your promotion is contingent upon whether or not you have mastered your current skill level and whether your are in fact, ready. Basics and technique are the bread and butter of BJJ. Once you begin your ascent up the ladder to where the journey begins the basics are what help a student hone their technique.
Time is not always reflective of one's skill-set. One student may take a year to truly get an understanding of what techniques work for them and how to apply those to their game. Another may take six months and another two years. The chatter in the BJJ world regarding how long a person takes to receive their next stripe or belt will always be around. The truth is we become what we become when the time is right, it is going to take as long as it takes. A BJJ student's progression is no different than the preparation of a meal. You must follow each step for the optimal results.
When asking Professor Alves is it possible to take away rank from students that may regress in training, move from one academy to another, or take years off due to other obligations. His response was clear "the student cannot lose their rank once their band has been gained even if the teacher wants to take it away." Injury, life, or sometimes complacency can get in the way of ascension but it is part of the process. You will either adapt or overcome the obstacles you incur or you will fall to the wayside as so many often do. Nothing worth doing well is easy. Every journey is unique, each step on the ladder defines you. As you begin your ascent or continue your climb up that ladder remember your purpose. When you inevitably run into an obstacle, face it and keep climbing. Each rung will hold the key to the next.
The first time you set foot on the mat could be described as coming upon a yearling in the woods trying to take its first steps. It's a sight to see. It's human nature to stare at a spectacle. The little thing is slipping and sliding all over the place. Whatever is in it's immediate path is going down. The longer you observe the more entertaining it is. Then something happens. The watcher starts to root for that yearling as it stays the course and inevitably succeeds. Being part of such a moment makes one want to return to that very spot in the woods to find that bumbling yearling, and watch as it grows. BJJ ascension is no different than the first steps of a newborn yearling. We are slow to catch on, often winded, falling all over the place, and amusing to watch. If you are in our path you are likely to become collateral damage one way or another. Inevitably those that stay the course will ASCEND, those that stay the course will BECOME. Their climb will be limitless and what the galaxy holds for them is what keeps them climbing. If you remember nothing else, remember this,
"when the way comes to an end, then change - having changed, you pass through."-I Ching
In the storied career of the iconic Royce Gracie, there have been many memorable moments and fights that have defined his career. Be it the Gracie Challenges that began the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu rise, his UFC 1 match against Ken Shamrock, or maybe his phenomenal litmus test against Sakuraba that lasted roughly 90 minutes, Royce has provided some fantastic moments for the fans of Mixed Martial Arts.
However, one moment that seems to go unnoticed was his fight against Bobby Ologun.
What made this fight so unique was Ologun himself. Born in Nigeria, Ologun was on a Japanese gameshow, and through his charismatic antics, became a big star in Japan! He had his own show, where he would try out new activities and sports.
He would eventually give Judo a shot, and the running joke was that he'd be ready to fight in an actual MMA fight by year's end. Ologun continued to train, and 8 months after he began his experiement, he was slated to fight against the pioneer himself, Royce Gracie!
The dynamic was fantastic: the icon vs. the TV star! Seeing the fight was held in Japan, Ologun had a strong fan base in attendance. Despite the vast experience gap, the fight didn't play out as you would assume.
Dealing With The Element Of Surprise In Stride
Be it by luck or by skill, Ologun was actually able to control the pace of the match early on the first round. Was Royce taking him lightly? Was he toying with him? Whatever the case may be, Ologun had the dominant position on one of the most notorious men in Mixed Martial Arts history!
With the fans on their feet in shock, Royce showed the signs of a true veteran by not overacting. The much more athletic Ologun clearly had a more impressive frame that could probably pack a nice punch, but Royce wasn't about to find out.
Keeping his wits about him, Royce did the smart thing and kept the arms—at least one most of the time—pinned to his own chest. By establishing a high closed guard, Gracie was preventing Ologun from posturing and reigning down shots. By eliminating the hands or his opponent, Royce not only saved himself from unwanted damage, but also limited the ground game of Ologun.
However, Ologun continued to dictate the match and where it went. Maintaining top position, Bobby had the legend in the corner, and was ready to unload. Again, being the crafty vet, Royce was aware enough to angle off to the side, while maintaining a grip on the arm of Ologun. This bought him time to fend off any serious strikes, and allowed him to get his right hand on the calf of Ologun.
From here, Royce was able to adjust Ologun's footing, bringing him back to the mat. This eliminated the posturing advantage Ologun had, and brought the fight back to where Royce was most comfortable.
Trusting In The Foundational Skills of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
The bell would eventually ring without any major damage being done, but clearly something special was happening, and it's hard to argue that Ologun didn't win the first round.
At the start of the second, Ologun was able to stuff a takedown and even plow Royce over, regaining dominant top position. This would not last long, as Gracie was soon able to hit a series of sweeps, bringing him back on top in full mount position.
Aware of the power and athletic ability that Ologun brought to the table, Gracie was smart and was quick to get high up on Bobby when he mounted him. By establishing the mount closer to Ologun's chest, Gracie didn't have to worry about Ologun getting his hips under him and exploding and bucking him off.
The full mount is known in the MMA world as the most dominant position, one that would bring some vicious punches and elbows to the poor soul trapped underneath. However, it was clear that Royce had an agenda, as he didn't throw a single punch from this position.
Rather, he methodically worked his way towards the armbar. Once he had it applied, his top leg had slipped off Ologun, and was on the mat for the most part. Even with a little kink in the process, Royce was able to work around the technical flaw and earned himself the submission victory in round two.
Royce has proven to be very influenctial on the BJJ scene. For more thouhts on HOW important Royce really has been check out this article!
Dan Faggella
Buy Luciano T-shirt here -> JamminBJJ.org
Designed by Seattle-area artist Javier Villalpando of Revolver MMA to support Luciano Mariano and his first trip the United States to compete at the IBJJF World Championships.
JamminBJJ is a non-profit affiliate of the CarlyStowellFoundation that brings gis to athletes that need them, both in Brazil and the US (Give the Gift of a Gi). We also provide financial aid so that all athletes can experience participation in BJJ.
Luciano Mariano is a blue belt BJJ fighter from the municipality of Japeri in Rio. He lost both of his arms at the elbow after a crib fire and competes despite being a double-arm amputee. He will be competing in his first ever international tournament in the rooster-weight division at Worlds next weekend. His trip was made possible through JamminBJJ, The Challenged Athlete Foundation and donations from the ever-supportive Jiu-Jitsu community. Jiu-Jitsu can change lives, build character, give hope and help athletes fulfill their lifelong dreams.
Leo D'avila is an Atos team member, competitor, coach and IBJJF referee.
Leonardo Henrique D'avila Correa, known only as Leo D'avila. is 5' 8" and 195 pounds. In the last two years he's has medaled 27 times in IBJJF sanctioned tournaments in weight classes ranging from Medium Heavy, to Heavy to Super Heavy to Ultra Heavy. He in an elite group of competitors who regularly get on the podium, gi and no gi.
He was born in 1985 in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro. Leo just turned 29 today. (Happy Birthday!) He graduated from university with degrees in Physical Education and Sports Science. Leo received the black belt when he was only 20. While living in Brazil he competed and won many competitions like the State Rio de Janeiro Championship (seven times) and the Brazilian National Championship (two times.)
He is now training in San Diego at the home of Atos headquarters and Andre Galvao.
As an Atos black belt, he has taught 30 seminars in 13 different countries (Europe, Americas, Asia and Africa) including a seminar for the US Navy at Naval Base San Diego. He has traveled to Sweden many times to teach a seminars and twice the UFC fighters Gustafson Alexander and Nicholas Musoke attended.
In 2013, he was Cris Cyborg's Jiu-Jitsu coach for her title fight at Invicta FC 6 against Marloes Coenen. Cyborg won. He also cornered Andre Galvao in the 2012 IBJJF Pro League and at the first two Metamoris (vs Ryron Gracie and Rafael Lovato.) At Metamoris 3 he cornered the athletes from Atos; Keenan Cornelius and the Mendes Brothers.
But you probably recognize him as a referee at IBJJF events. He's at a lot of them.
As for the rest of 2014 Leo plans to keep competing and getting better until he can say he's ranked number one in the world. Then in the a few years maybe try his hand at MMA, at least once.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leodavilabjjpage
Instagram: http://instagram.com/leodavilabjj#
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leo_davila
BJJ Daughter drops the challenge and dad picks it up and runs with it. Cobrinha, Fabbio and David are there along the way.
"Have fun and do your best" has been the mantra for our family pertaining to BJJ tournaments ever since my daughter, Skylar (Sky), started competing. It was after her 4th or 5th tournament we had a heart to heart about her not living up to the aforementioned mantra, never mind that her placing's were not what she desired. She told me she was scared of being submitted, so she just rolled defensively. I gave her some wisdom I had over heard from black belts, 'if you are playing defense you are losing.'
She looked me in the eyes and said, "Dad, the Pans is coming up, why don't you show me?"
I had to think fast, and to be specific I had to figure out how to not accept what was clearly a challenge, but make it seem like I was open to it. I quickly reminded her that I only roll twice a week, I have never competed and I'm old enough to be the father of the vast majority of the students at Cobrinha's academy. Her expression showed me she wasn't buying it, so I went to my contingency plan and told her that if she medaled at the Pan Kids (2014) tournament I would do it. We shook hands and I felt pretty safe, not because I thought she wouldn't do well, in all honesty I just didn't think she would medal.
Fast-forward to the Pan Kids and there she was on the podium with a silver medal, smile from ear to ear. I had forgotten about our agreement (on purpose), Sky did not! Soon after she left the podium, she looked me in the eyes and said, "Next month is going to be your turn dad." What she didn't know was I had an ace in the hole, a sure-fire way to not have to compete and not take the blame.
I talked to my instructor, David de Souza, with the goal being to get confirmation on my inability to be tournament ready by Pans. Thankfully he agreed with me and before he could tell me why, I adroitly led him to where multi-time world champion and head instructor Rubens 'Cobrinha' Charles was standing by the mat. I asked David to tell him his thoughts on whether I was prepared to do the Pans, he said, "No, you don't have enough mat time, you have to start coming in to drill, just doing Monday and Wed. morning class is not enough time on the mat." I looked at Cobrinha to get verbal or visual agreement and he had a poker player expression, didn't show his thoughts either way. I chose to believe he was on board with what he heard.
After Sky's Friday class, I took her into the office where Cobrinha and his wife, Daniela were sitting, I pointed and said, "Sky, go ahead and ask him about whether I can do the Pans. I want to do it. But I have to get approval. And well... you'll see."
Before she could ask, Cobrinha smiled and told her, "Yes, I think your dad can do Pans. He will get a chance to see how you feel when you compete. It will be great. What do you think?" She looked at me, and then him and with the biggest smile nodded her approval. I quickly rushed her out of the office, did a U-turn back in prepared to confront him and was met with both of them cheerfully telling me, "Have fun Marlon!"
Later that evening I went to the IBJJF site and a couple things stood out, it only went as high as Master 2 for white belts and the weight division for me, at 234lbs, placed me with the heaviest of the heavyweights. I signed up for the 222lb (super heavyweight) division, without giving full thought to the fact that I had not been below 230lbs in over a decade. As a laid in bed it started to sink in, there was approximately 13 days till show time, and the last thing I wanted to do was let my daughter down. Not long after, I'm talking 1:00am, the physical reaction commenced. I woke up ran to the washroom and found myself with stomach trouble for the next hour, no further description needed. Just to get it out of the way, I will say that this 'stomach trouble' was an ongoing theme up until the tournament.
I spent the rest of the early morning wide-awake and nervous as hell, what to do?
Turned on the computer and researched all of the names in my division, Google, Facebook and YouTube. I had been transformed into a BJJ stalker or something weird like that.
Understand that I had two goals going into this, make weight and win one match and you better believe every minute I spent at the academy I bombarded Cobrinha and every higher belt with questions, some stupid some stupider.
My mind was in overdrive as my thoughts centered on not wanting to embarrass myself and it started with losing weight and fast. First things first I had to take a hard look at what my diet consisted of and figure out what needed to change, pretty easy, everything. So as not to talk extensively about food and put people to sleep I am going to show a sample of what my average eating was before and after.
Eating Habits prior to Challenge Accepted:
Breakfast: Sugar with Coffee: My motto was if the spoon does not stand straight up, then there is not enough sugar, two banana nut muffins, bagel with cream cheese.
Lunch: Coffee (with sugar), Chipotle burrito and chips.
Dinner: Pasta, turkey meatballs.
Snacks: Kettle chips: Salt and Pepper, Club crackers,
Eating Habits After Challenge Accepted:
Breakfast: Two scrambled eggs with black beans, water
Lunch: Salad (tomato, lettuce, almonds, carrots), water
Dinner: Salad with chicken breast, water
Snacks: Strawberries, watermelon, grapes
Yes, this was a drastic change and as the date drew closer, I found myself dreaming about food, everything from In-and-Out Burger, to most all other fast food places, many I have never even been to.
My normal training consisted of the Monday and Wednesday fundamentals class taught by David de Souza from 9:00am-10:30am. I knew that I needed to train more, so I asked Cobrinha and he suggested I come to the night class, I assumed it would be the 6:00pm or 7:00pm class, but he meant the 8:00pm advanced class. I went begrudgingly and with concern about getting injured, not so much physically, I am referring to my ego. I was fortunate that a few of my teammates (James, Roman, Evan and Mike) drilled with me during the week while Sky trained in the afternoons. I also invested in some private sessions with black belt extraordinaire Fabbio Passos, I was leaving nothing to chance.
Outside of the academy, I added something I have rarely if ever done in my lifetime... running. I dressed in layers; put the leash on my loving blue nose pitbull, Samurai, and we hit the sidewalks sprinting, which is jogging to most. One thing Samurai loves is going outside, but as the tournament got closer, he went from jumping up and down when I rattled the leash to running to his bed and refusing to go out. He was not a fan of running and he let it be known by refusing to move soon after we hit the sidewalk, which made for a lot of funny stares from drivers and walkers.
The day of the tournament my kids, Tyler and Skylar came to show support and make sure I got on the mat. They found front row seats in front of the mat where my fate would be determined, as Skylar had her Canon ready to shoot. I was scared to death about making weight, so I dressed in the layers mentioned earlier and I did not eat or drink anything up until I weighed in at 7:00pm at an astounding 215lbs with the Gi on. I had just accomplished one goal, but there was a problem, my energy level was on zero.
I recall walking with my opponent to mat 2 and I wasn't so much walking as I was floating, which may sound strange. The feeling I had when the referee waived us to come onto the mat was surreal, as I have seen that so many times at tournaments and never imagined I would be experiencing it. I wish I could explain with words how it felt shaking the ref's hand and then shaking my opponent's hand before the fight began, it was addictive and exhilarating.
I won my fist match and lost my second, but overall I learned a great deal.
My kids made it down from the stands and as I looked them in the eyes the first thing I did was apologize for not winning the gold. They both hugged me and said they were proud of me. I was overwhelmed with emotions and shed a few tears. I looked at Sky and I could finally grasp what she goes through, what determination and courage she displays every time she goes on the mat. I felt a flicker of her burning desire. I understood how difficult it is to learn from loss and to be humble in victory.
On the long drive home from Orange County, the kids slept as I reflected on my brief two-week stint living the BJJ lifestyle in preparation for my first tournament. Two very distinct thoughts were embedded in my mind. One of the most notable things to me was exactly how all consuming it was. I found it very difficult to do or think about anything else other then attending class, watching my diet and doing drills!
The second thought was a total about face on what my prior thoughts had been in regards to the topic of BJJ tournaments and those who devote so much time and effort to them. They are not shirking life but living a life devoted to an emotionally intense roller coaster and to being the physically best person they can be. These BJJ players I have seen at countless academy's training for hours upon hours, these men and women are ATHLETES. Their work ethic and sheer dedication to their craft is on par with and in some cases exceeds other professional athletes in my opinion. There should be a professional organization that pays these athletes to compete and allows them to make a living, just like other athletes. The ability to get sponsor money and conduct seminars should simply be additional perks to pad their salaries.
Well when I pulled into my parking garage and Sky was the first to wake up, she looked at me with a sly smile and said, "You can make up for not wining all your matches at the next tournament, and I know you will have fun and do your best." She is right, I will and with that there is an intriguing question, can a middle-aged man, manage to earn a living, be a great parent and find the time to train in order to become a BJJ champion?
A Few Memorable Quotes from teammates and friends:
*Be a lion stalking your prey (Stephanie)
*Make sure you weigh your Gi with you belt (Monica)
*Have fun (Cobrinha and Daniela)
*Believe in yourself (Kennedy)
*Just that you are doing this is all that will matter to your kids (Nyjah)
*You are good you can win the gold (Fabbio)
*If you jump guard tuck your chin to your chest (Mikey)
*Take Imodium: (THANK YOU KRIS SHAW)
Gabi Garcia
3:30pm PST near Jardim da Saude, Brazil
Sao Paulo, March 27th. 2014.
In will to provide further information, and in order to explain my situation about a notification, at the USADA's panel, accomplished this Wednesday, march, 26th. 2014, regarding the presence of Clomifen, in a Urine sample provided by me, at the 2013, Worlds Championships – Long Beach / CA.
Despite all the ongoings, I coudn't be happier with the results. One more victory in my career.
For months, I've been spending astronomical $ values, in wich I don't have available, with the best attorneys in the sports business (Jorge Ibarolla e Claude Ramoni / Libra Law – Lausanne / CH), all that to make it clear my innocence. And I'm very happy to finally prove that. Together with USADA and my attorneys, for not acting negligent,for having no fault due to this contamination.
We've pulled up all data, and it was detected the presence of the substance due to contamination, during the manipulation process of a gynecological medicine.
For the uninformed, the substance, Clomifen, is not an steroid and does not even mascarate one. In the female body, it only not increase sports performance, but it only prejudices it. Womans get slower and sensible. Then, it makes it obvious of the 'why' not to be used.
During my career, I've Always had (have) all the caution possible with every single medication and supplements ingested by me. I've never utilized of illicit resource to increase my performance. I always fought and still fighting for a clean sport.
I believe that all athlete's merit is the result of hard training, dedication and seriousness. My honesty is what took me to be the athlete and person I am today, and what took me to be the champion I am are, my will to be always the best I can to the sport, my family and the few friends I have always by my side. I don't compete to collect titles, I compete to the growth of the female sport.
For my innocence and my absolution, warrior as I am, I wont be affected by any of the accusations and fingers pointing at me. I wont stop training hard, never surrendering because everything I've conquered was with my own sweat and a lot of training.
In any moment I acted with negligence or reckless.
One month and a half before the test, I've done one same test and resulted NEGATIVE, test wich was developed by USADA.
This result was a isolated fact. I develop periodic control tests, gather with my physiologist. I don't ingest any kind of medication or supplement without be certified of the security of it's use. Anywhere I am, I always take all my supplements and medications my self, all manipulated and of my own trust. I don't buy anything for my use. Always consult my doctor about all everything I ingest, even my food.
I'm extremelly caution with this and absolutly sure that I've never done anything to increase my sports performance. If I had really ingested clomifen on purpose, I would be doing that to harm my own performance , and NO contious athlete would never do that.
Inspite of my idea that something odd happened, because IBJJF brought up a new weight category (Super-Heavy) just at the same day that I've been declared ' No Fault' at the test,and simply BAN the anti-dopping test (until now at the PAN'MAS) on 2014, and not have tested some world champions, I WILL COMPETE at the WPJJC (in bu-Dhabi) and also WILL COMPETE at the WORLDS 2014. I'm 100% eligible to compete in any event in Internation/National character.
About my fans,friends and Family, now worries. ' Nobody throw rocks in trees that don't grown good fruits'. To all that sent me and continue to send me affection messages, thank you so much.
Due to the respect, trust and regards I have for my fans, Family, friends and all the general Jiu-Jitsu community, I'm clarifying the situation.
Gabi Garcia
View post here www.facebook.com/gabi.garcia.1460/posts/10152330179828735
Anti-Doping Results Updates for 2013 World Jiu-jitsu Championship
27/03/2014 No Comments Total Comments
While we are not a WADA Code signatory, IBJJF recognizes the importance of clean competition, and has taken an unusually proactive stance in implementing an anti-doping program on behalf of clean athletes and the integrity of our sport, which includes adherence to the WADA Prohibited List. No one ever wants to see a rules violation, but we are all committed to, and fully stand behind, the anti-doping program and what it represents for fair and honorable competition, and for clean athletes. In this case, it was determined through the full and fair legal results management process that there was a credible explanation for the presence of clomiphene in Ms. Gabrielle Lemos Garcia's sample, and that the athlete was found not to be at fault. She has accepted the findings, and the loss of results will be carried out by the IBJJF. Her eligibility for competition has not been affected. We are committed to ensuring that our athletes, our sponsors, our fans, and all of those who love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can have the confidence that we will carry out the highest level of professionalism and integrity.
The Comments are closed.
View post here: http://ibjjf.org/2014/03/anti-doping-results-updates-2013-world-jiu-jitsu-championship/
Source: http://static.ibjjfdb.com/Campeonato/000177/en-US/Results.pdf
As of this posting the 2013 Worlds results and the Ranking had not changed. Last I saw the points, Gabi was so far ahead it would not have affected her ranking.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athlete, Garcia, Accepts Finding Of No Fault And Loss Of Results
Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 26, 2014)- USADA announced today that Gabrielle Lemos Garcia of São Paulo, Brazil, an athlete in the sport of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has tested positive for a prohibited substance, which was determined to have been ingested by her without fault or negligence, and will lose competitive results.
Garcia, 28, tested positive for Clomiphene as the result of an in-competition urine sample she provided on June 2, 2013 at the International Brazillian Jiu- Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Long Beach, Calif. USADA was contracted by IBJJF to conduct testing for the event and collected Garcia's sample in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency International Standard for Testing.
Clomiphene is a prohibited substance in the category of "Hormone and Metabolic Modulators" under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (the "Code") and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. Clomiphene is classified as a Specified Substance, and therefore the presence of Clomiphene in an athlete's sample can result in a reduced sanction.
After a thorough review of the case, USADA was able to conclude, to a comfortable satisfaction, that Garcia had not acted negligently and was not at fault for the positive test. Although Garcia was not found to be at fault or to have acted negligently, in accordance with the Code, a violation of the anti-doping rules in connection with an In-Competition test automatically leads to the disqualification of all results obtained in that competition. While her results from the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships shall be disqualified, Garcia did not receive a period of ineligibility and, in accordance with the Code, remains eligible to compete.
In an effort to aid athletes, as well as all support team members such as parents and coaches, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on its website on the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (www.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, periodic newsletters, and protocol and policy reference documentation.
USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.
Annie Skinner, Media Relations Manager
Phone: (719) 785-2046
Thank you for your support of clean sport!
Link to News Release on USADA site: http://www.usada.org/media/sanction-garcia32614


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Daily Archives: 2 March 2018
WDTPRS – 3rd Sunday of Lent (2002MR): The two wings of prayer
WARNING BELOW… Roman Station: St. Lawrence outside the walls An examination of our conscience is a humbling experience. When we look to see who really are inside, we can have different reactions. Sometimes we find things which frighten and discourage … Continue reading
Posted in LENT, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, WDTPRS Tagged confessio, confession, conscientia, discipline, examination of conscience, LENT 4 Comments

subset: commoncrawl


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Here's a few photos I shot of Joe Irons from last week at Raynolds Pass. It was a fantastic day of powder, cool temps and superb wind.And, best of all, Joe's Go-Pro video:
For everyone who is still getting after it: Enjoy the Spring snowkiting! I love these long days, big storms and deep snowpack!
See ya out there,


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I had no luck with a vegetable garden this year; turns out you need sun to grow vegetables. Who knew! But the potted herbs make me happy. The teeny tomatoes from the last post were from my garden. They were a bit of a surprise considering I didn't plant them... They just sprouted up, I'm guessing from the compost. Anyway, on to Zucchini... which is not from my garden.
When I have a surplus and some time, I like to do some research. We had lots of zucchini from last week's CSA, so I made chocolate zucchini muffins (twice!) and these fritters. I made them for breakfast and they were good. I bet they would be really good with a poached egg, mmmm.
Zucchini Fritters
adapted from here
- 1 pound zucchini, grated
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
- 1 tablespoon masa corn flour
- 1 whole egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- Grate the zucchini and salt them. Let stand for 30 minutes to an hour in a colander. Squeeze the zucchini dry with your hands or wring it out with a kitchen towel.
- In a large bowl, add the zucchini and the rest of the ingredients, except the oil. gently mix.
- Heat the oil over medium heat in a cast-ron skillet, a comal or a non-stick sauté pan. When hot, add the batter by the heaping tablespoon. Spread a little to make a pancake shape.
- Cook for about 3 minutes, or until golden. Turn over with a spatula and cook for another 2 minutes or so.
- Salt while draining on paper towels.


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European automakers that are struggling to find new ways to cut costs to cope with fading domestic markets should take a look at a successful year-long experiment done in Toledo, Ohio.
Chrysler Group's plant there operates 10 hours a day four days a week to build the Jeep Liberty SUV (previously sold as the Cherokee in Europe).
While vehicle output matches that of a traditional eight-hour-a-day, five-day workweek, production costs are lower because equipment is idle one more day a week.
Labor costs are unchanged because employees still work 40 hours a week, but they benefit from having regular three-day weekends as well as a 20 percent reduction in their commuting time and costs.
The environment also benefits because emissions from the employees' cars -- as well as the plant -- are reduced.
What's interesting is that the new work schedule, which began as a two-month experiment in January 2011, was proposed by the union boss Dan Henneman after Toledo plant manager Mauro Pino, an Italian hired by Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne to run production at U.S. factories, asked UAW Local 12 how it would help cut costs.
Many European countries would need to negotiate special agreements so that the two extra hours a day would not be considered overtime, but I really think it would be worth a try. European labor unions should be as creative and as proactive as their counterpart in Ohio to find better ways to match automakers' and workers' needs.


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Please know how grateful I am for your generously gracious remarks about Henry V [TIME, April 8] both for myself and for those associated with me in making this film. I personally feel your kind words mean not only much to Henry V but to every producer-director both here and in Hollywood who dreams of attempting finer things in films. It has inspired and encouraged me to want to do something new again and I am bold to hope that men like Kanin, Wyler, Capra, Welles and many others in Hollywood will not scorn to share this feeling with me. . . .
Laurence Olivier, LONDON


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Sunday, June 19, 2011
The Sophistry of Law Minister K. Shanmugam
Quite fantastic! This was the first time that Singaporeans had ever heard that President Ong had asked for a listing of State buildings and lands. All along it was made clear in the public's mind that President Ong had asked for an account or details of the Singapore reserves which had caaused great consternation to the PAP leaders. For some esoteric reason, the PAP leaders considered it prudent not to share this information on Singapore reserves with President Ong lest it could lead to some unforseen consequences. So the PAP wallahs hatched a grotesque excuse to President Ong that it would take 30 years of work to provide the information the President had sought for.
President Ong was not so naive as not to realise that this was an underhand trick of the Government to prevent him access to the information he asked for. And as to be expected, this was the beginning of his turbulent relationship with the PAP Government, which is never known to be magnanimous. This state of affairs continued until the retirement of President Ong. The PAP leaders continued their vindictiveness even after his death by not according him a State Funeral, when other lesser dignitaries were accorded this honour when they died.
The disrespectful impertinence towards President Ong by the PAP leaders over Singapore reserves has continued to fester among Singaporeans who from time to time showed outrage on this disrespect. President Ong was regarded as a People's President and was adored by Singaporeans, especially the Chinese-educated. There is a prospect that this will continue to haunt the Government and so Mr. K. Shanmugam, as Law Minister, took upon himself to try to put the ghost to rest. With due respect to him, he lacks the finesse and moral integrity to put up a convincing explanation. He started on the wrong footing by asserting that there was no "stonewalling" of President Ong which no decent Singaporean would believe. Then out of the blue with a sleight-of-hand he introduced a so-called "complete listing of State buildings and lands" provided by the Government. Mr. Shanmugam did not mention if President Ong was satisfied with the Government's presentation, which would have obfuscated him, let alone satisfied. The puzzling question is why should President Ong want a listing of State buildings and lands when it was clear in everyone's mind what he asked for was about Singapore's reserves.
If Minister K. Shanmugam expects his sophistry to dispel the suspicion of Government's disrespectful treatment of President Ong, he will have to try harder and with more sincerity.
7 comments:
- Eric said...
It seems that Mr. Shamugam might be factually correct.
The Singapore reserves include both cash and asset components. Mr. Ong was trying to ascertain the asset portion through asking for a full listing. See Mr. Ong's interview with Asiaweek (http://www.singapore-window.org/sw00/000310a4.htm), and his response to "So the government had been stonewalling you, the president, for three years?"
- June 19, 2011 at 4:37 PM
- Eric said...
I think this is of significance too. The EP's duty as the custodian of our reserves goes beyond the direct audit, but also includes his or her explicit approval.
"In the last year of his presidency (1998) Ong found out through the newspapers that the government aimed to submit a bill to Parliament to sell the POSB to DBS. The POSB was, at that time, a government statutory board whose reserves were under the president's protection, this move was procedurally inappropriate and did not regard Ong's significance as the guardian of the reserves; he had to call and inform the government of this oversight. In spite of this, the sale proceeded and the DBS owns POSB and its name to this present day." (From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ong_Teng_Cheong)
- June 19, 2011 at 4:44 PM
- Anonymous Craven (AC) said...
Sort of remind me of Cedric Foo's explanation of White Horse in the Parliament...
- June 19, 2011 at 5:00 PM
- Alan Wan said...
Incidentally the question for our PAP govt to answer is, if the outgoing President is unable to produce a complete listing of the reserves that he was supposed to guard during his tenure and handover to the incoming President, how can anyone be convinced that who shall be ultimately responsible if some hanky panky occurred along the way ?
Does it mean that we have to take our PAP govt's word that no hanky panky can ever occur during PAP's term of govt ?
- June 19, 2011 at 8:01 PM
- chikako-chan said...
"The PAP leaders continued their vindictiveness even after his death by not according him a State Funeral, when other lesser dignitaries were accorded this honour when they died."
I had initially thought that the lack of a state funeral was a political issue, but it was not. The government did not deny him a state funeral instead apparently the Ong family rejected it. President Ong passed away just 4 days before CNY and a state funeral would have 7 days of mourning and would have extended into the CNY period. President Ong was reluctant to "trouble people" and this was also acknowledged by his son at one of the speeches read out at his funeral. In fact, after all was done, the SAF guards and his bodyguards etc only made it back home with their families on the night of CNY eve.
But I do agree with you that some individuals who received a state funeral weren't as worthy of a state funeral as Ong.
- June 19, 2011 at 9:47 PM
- Overmydeadbody said...
That Chinese New Year excuse could be used either way, to deny him the honour of a Presidential funeral or a convenient excuse from the family for the disgrace imposed. Point is who will tell us the truth now? Whatever, President Ong TC's requests should now be answered with no further excuse and listing and valuation can be two different exercises on the total National wealth. You cannot guard what you have no exact knowledge of.
- June 23, 2011 at 3:26 AM
- Tantrick said...
Another arrogant bastard in Singapore. I doubt that he can win any Singaporean's heart.
I love your blog by the way... good job. Eloquent and very bilingual, it's hard to see this quality in singapore.
Btw regarding the salary, now that George Yeo is out of the seat, can we suggest that he go and look for a job that will pay millions to him? And we are talking about not Singapore government affiliation position.
My professor and i was talking about this and both of us doubt that he could. I would love to have george yeo to prove us wrong.
Here is my email address. I would love to befriend you.
- July 2, 2011 at 11:08 PM


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Thursday, February 11, 2010
Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime
At the risk of sounding biased myself, I want to mention my misgivings about the book, misgivings that grew stronger as I read the book. I do not begrudge the authors their preference for the left side of the political spectrum but I did expect them, in fairness, to be as tough on the "Obamans" as they were on the "McCaniacs," the Clintons and the Edwards family. By choosing what incidents to reveal about each candidate and, more importantly, what personality traits of theirs to stress, the authors subtly built their case that the election was won by the best person running. That may very well prove to be the case but this approach does give the book an uneven feel.
Heilemann and Halperin are far less subtle when contrasting the conservative media to the liberal media, however, and this is where they expose their bias to the degree that I began to question the "truth" in the rest of the book. For instance, there is a reference on page 334 to the "flying monkeys of conservative talk radio" and another on page 375 to the "right-wing freak show" of cable news shows. Left wing commentators, on the other hand, are rarely mentioned other than to call Chris Matthews a "cable talking head." I point this out only because this kind of thing causes me, as a reader, to wonder what other, more subtle, tricks I may be missing when judging the content of the book.
I do believe that what the authors reveal about each of the candidates and their spouses is substantially true – perhaps because so many of the revelations reinforce what I suspected at the time about John and Elizabeth Edwards, Sarah Palin, John McCain, the Clintons and a few of the other bit players. President Obama was more of a clean slate to me in 2008 than he is today and that leads me to believe that he is treated very gently in Game Change.
Heilemann and Halperin have written a must-read book for political junkies, one that is surprisingly easy to read and absorb. Although much of what is discussed will be old news to those who followed the 2008 election closely, even the most astute follower of American politics will be surprised and saddened by some of what the authors present here. This is a depressing book, not one to give much hope that America is in good hands today, nor that she has been in good hands for the past two decades. Perhaps that is the real value offered by Game Change – exposing a state primary system that allows a handful of voters to determine the candidates from which the rest of the country will be allowed to choose. We have to do better than this.
Rated at: 4.0
10 comments:
I haven't read the book yet but I heard an interview of the authors on NPR and they said that they tried very hard to be fair to all the candidates but that the Obamas were simply decent people who didn't air their dirty laundry in public. It's always good to be aware of the biases of those we read or listen to, thanks for the review.ReplyDelete
I found this book to be pretty depressing, like you said, and disgusting too. The sleaziness of the campaign staffs (and candidates), their manipulations, etc. made me feel like I needed to take a shower after reading.ReplyDelete
Right off the bat, it was apparent that the powers-that-be in the Democratic party did not care who they ran or how well-qualified that person was, they just wanted someone who could win.
It was never about who would be best for America, but about who could raise the most money, speak the best, etc.
Lee, the authors did gloss over a lot of the controversy surrounding Obama during the election period - his past associations, his drug use, etc. but mainly his complete lack of experience. They quoted several who were shocked that a man with so little experience was on the verge of the presidency but they never seemed to take those fears very seriously or treat them as legitimate concerns.ReplyDelete
Their digs at conservative media outlets is what tipped me to the point of being somewhat a doubter as to their intentions.
JoAnn, it doesn't seem to me that either party cares much about putting the best candidate up anymore ("best" as in best for the country). It's all about power and getting elected - otherwise, Obama, McCain, Biden and Palin would have never made it to the "finals." None of the four, IMO, has any business in the White House.ReplyDelete
I wish I had been taking notes when I was reading this book last night, but one phrase grabbed me, when the authors said that the news media had not done its job in the election. And this was prior to the part about McCain. They also used some very derogatory adjectives when writing about Obama.ReplyDelete
What struck me is that so much of the book was about the Democratic "contest" and so little about the Republicans. It is like they were tacked on as an annoying afterthought......
The parts about Wright seemed to be written as if "oh, no, look what happened to Obama" rather than "oh no, look what Obama did".
JoAnn, I was disappointed that the authors did not dig deeper into the Wright question. All they did was repeat the general claims and concerns we have already heard; they offered very little new information and never even approached the question of what Obama knew about Wright's craziness, when he knew it, or why he stayed in the church. They did pretty much say that he almost never attended services anymore as if that would explain away his whole 20 years of church membership.ReplyDelete
Like you, I got the impression that this started out as a book about Obama and his campaign and that the Republican primaries were tacked on as an attempt to change the nature of the book into something bigger that would appeal to more readers.
I remember comments about the media not doing its job but I'm under the impression that the authors were mostly repeating the angry comments of the Clintons and McCain. It was not always easy to tell when the authors were speaking with their own voices because of the lack of quotation marks when they were attributing comments to others.
Sam, you said "It was not always easy to tell when the authors were speaking with their own voices because of the lack of quotation marks when they were attributing comments to others. "ReplyDelete
I agree. I am now looking at page 411, where it says --->>> But what Biden quickly discovered was that Obama's policies were awfully thin, not terribly specific, more rhetoric than substance.
No quotes there, although later in this same paragraph there are. I think the authors were treading a slippery slope.
The stuff about Palin makes me feel sick. She might be fun to have lunch with, but as a leader of our country? Those tea baggers need their heads examined.
As my husband said, Sarah Palin being nominated in 2012 is Obama's guarantee of a second term.
I'm not quite sure what the authors were trying to accomplish with the quotes-no quotes style, JoAnn. Perhaps no quotes is an admission that they were told someone said something - but it seems shaky.ReplyDelete
As for Palin, nominating her would be akin to political suicide. She's a lightweight, IMO, by every stretch of the imagination. If she's that unstable, she would be more dangerous than the Chicago mob in the White House right now...again, IMO.
Sam, I almost fell out of my car today when I saw a car with a PALIN-HUCKABEE 2012 bumper sticker.ReplyDelete
And I totally agree with your assessment of Palin.
I am quite tolerant of people's religious beliefs, but when she said that God meant for her to be the candidate, I exploded.
That ticket would be close to my worst nightmare, JoAnn. The Republican Party needs a new face - and a return to its roots. Those two are not the answer.ReplyDelete


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by Susanna Lau .
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text:
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Tunes on Tuesday - covered in color
2 comments:
- The Sentimental Suitcase said...
Oh man I'm an addict now! How many times can I listen to that song today? 10, 26, 138, a million? Ahhhhhh!
- January 12, 2012 at 8:14 AM
- mw said...
i have a crush on this guy. i think it's something about how he moves his mouth.... and flicks his eye just slightly... watch...
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- January 18, 2012 at 4:42 PM
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17 Year Old Daughter Is Shook After Father Threatens Her For Converting From Islam To Christianity!
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During the thick of the 1996 presidential campaign, I followed the candidates and their communications staffs around the country reporting on their use of the then-nascent World Wide Web. I also followed smaller campaigns and the activities of pressure groups. I reported for a different publication in those days, but my efforts eventually resulted in a book, Politics on the Nets that described how political groups, especially the major candidates and parties, were taking advantage of the Internet.
What I found then was that groups that didn't have a lot of money had great Websites. I also found that a few groups and parties from all parts of the political spectrum were reaping the benefits of this new medium. Particularly notable were Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who was in a tough re-election battle, and the National Rifle Association, which was trying to get its message out despite a news media culture that it perceived was against it. The groups that either had plenty of money, or didn't feel threatened, really didn't bother. Then-President Bill Clinton had a static Web page that was nearly as boring as mine.
Since that time, the Web has become a major medium that can't be ignored, and it isn't. President Barack Obama has an attractive Website that has a lot to look at (if you scroll down far enough), a lot of cool Java features and a place to donate money, which has become ubiquitous these days. On the other hand, former Massachusetts governor and Republican nominee Mitt Romney has an attractive Website that has a lot to look at (if you click on the right buttons), cool Java features and a place to donate money. Both are mostly red, white and blue.
If there is a difference between the content on the sites, it's that Romney remembered Sept. 11, which was the day I looked at the candidates' sites, and had a note about the solemnity and the tragedy, while Obama did not.
Further reading
If it sounds like there's not a lot of difference between the sites, you'd be right. In fact, if you're not reading carefully, you could mistake one for the other. If the candidates' Websites are any indication, there seems to be a remarkable similarity to them, as if the campaigns have decided that there's a formula to political sites, and they both applied it. Or perhaps both sides used the same Web designer.


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There's an ancient adage that in war, truth is the first casualty. The war being waged over the federal budget, mostly by
The biggest untruth may be that by pressing their demands the Republicans are destined to lose the budget battle. The truth is that they've won a most important victory: No one is talking anymore about ending the
Even the "clean" funding bill — the technical term is a "
It was not that many weeks ago that congressional negotiators were talking about compromises that might lift the 10-year sequester for a couple of years so its baleful effects on the economy might at least be moderated.
No longer.
The clean CR that was most recently on the table at the
It's proper to recall the sequester's devastating effects on millions of Americans, keeping in mind that it was created only to settle a major debt-limit fight in 2011.
As we reported in August, sequestration will pare as much as 1.2% off gross domestic product — after inflation — through this year and next, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It will cost as many as 1.6 million jobs over that time frame, the CBO says.
Just as the government shutdown leaves congressional pay and benefits intact, so does the sequester. The damage is all done at the opposite end of the economic scale.
Thousands of low-income residents of public housing will be thrown out of their homes. Public housing authorities that managed to stave off evictions this year say they will be out of options next year, when the cuts go deeper.
Tens of thousands of 3- and 4-year-olds will be barred from
Yet the best we can hope for is that the sequester continues, and doesn't get worse.
The pretext for the shutdown and debt-limit war, of course, is the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Truth has also been a casualty in the Republicans' discussions of the Affordable Care Act, which shock troops in the House GOP wish to defund, gut, delay, or otherwise hobble as their price for funding the entire government (this week) or raising the federal debt ceiling (a couple of weeks from now).
The best clue to the poverty of the Republican anti-Obamacare argument is the breadth of the lies told to justify it. Here's Sen.
That would be a pretty damning indictment of the Affordable Care Act, if any of it were true. But it's not true. There is absolutely no evidence that any workers have lost their jobs because of the reform act.
Part-time work? The idea that employers around the country are cutting workers' hours to part-time levels so they don't have to pay for their health insurance is one of the most popular GOP tropes about the effect of the law, but it's not supported by jobs data.
Over the last year, during which 2 million net new jobs have been created, nearly 86% of them have been full-time; the share of total employment represented by part-time jobs nationwide has actually fallen slightly (from 19.49% to 19.41%).
Moreover, only a small minority of those jobs are part-time for "economic reasons," such as cutbacks in hours. Most are for noneconomic reasons, among which are child-care problems, family obligations, school commitments or limitations on earnings from government programs like Social Security. Noneconomic part-timers always account for the vast majority in the category, but their relative ranks have grown slightly over the last year.
A few big companies have cut workplace hours and pointed the finger at Obamacare — UPS and Sea World are often mentioned — but whether they're telling the truth is questionable. Big business will always seize on a pretext to explain away bad news; in this case they may well be using Obamacare as a whipping boy to avoid the impression that they're just being cheap, especially if their part-time workforce leads to lousy customer service.
As for "skyrocketing" healthcare premiums, they're nowhere in sight. Last week the Department of Health and Human Services released its survey of premiums charged across the nation for the insurance plans available for enrollment starting this week; they came in at 16% below previous estimates.
For some applicants they may be higher than prices that could be found in commercial brokerages. But that's highly misleading. For one thing, Obamacare offers premium subsidies for moderate- and low-income buyers; as many as 26 million Americans may be eligible for the price break, according to some estimates. For another, the prices cited on commercial websites have been unattainable for millions of applicants with preexisting conditions, who would be paying much higher prices, if they could get insurance at all.
One big lie has been attached to the GOP's determination to overturn a tax on medical devices, which was enacted to generate $30 billion over 10 years to fund the Affordable Care Act. House Republicans have swallowed whole the device industry's claim that this tax — 2.3% on the sale price of medical devices, with consumer goods such as eyeglasses, wheelchairs and hearing aids exempted — is costing jobs.
But as we showed back in May, no objective data support that claim — all the numbers come from studies the industry commissioned or from libertarian think tanks that would oppose any tax.
In any case, the medical device tax is one of a clutch of taxes and fees enacted to keep Obamacare revenue-neutral, which was a conservative demand.
To pay for the program, Congress imposed new taxes on more generous "Cadillac-plan" health insurance policies, new annual fees on health insurers and pharmaceutical manufacturers, even a tax on indoor tanning services.
No one likes any of those, but there's no reason why one stakeholder should be exempt — especially medical device makers, whose market will expand by as many as 30 million new customers as Obamacare takes hold. Tellingly, when I asked an industry spokesman how Congress should make up the $30 billion a device tax repeal would cost, he shrugged, figuratively. (We were on the phone.) "We're looking to Congress to replace the revenue and if so, how," he said. "The ball's not really in our court."
It's hard to find a better example of the mind-set that has brought us to this impasse. The players are all out for themselves — their profits, their ideology, their TV time. The real-world effect of their actions? That ball isn't in their court.
Michael Hiltzik's column appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Read his new blog, "The Economy Hub," at latimes.com/business/hiltzik, reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com, check out facebook.com/hiltzik and follow @hiltzikm on Twitter.


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Hello I am new to this forum and a relative beginner with lucid dreaming. If it's okay with everyone, I'm going to log my lucid dreaming progress here in this thread. I think posting my experiences publicly will help me to stick at it - and maybe some parts along the way will be useful to others.
Dreaming background
I am in my mid twenties. At the time of writing, my rate of dream recall varies from not remembering a thing to vividly recalling several lengthy dreams from one night. Usually, if I remember my dreams at all, they are very dull and random. However, every now and then I have a very vivid, emotional or symbolic dream.
My most incredible dream happened last year on Friday 11th of March 2011. The entire dream was unusually atmospheric and "mystical" feeling (this was a real rarity for me, as my dreams were usually quite dull) - then at the end of the dream, a giant wave washed over me and my boyfriend, and we died. My alarm woke me up at 6:00. I was stunned to find out later that day about the terrible earthquake and tsunami that had hit Japan at around 5:45. I would not like to jump to any conclusions about whether or not that was a coincidence or a feat of intuition - especially considering the amount of lives that were lost that day - but this dream had a profound effect on me and it sparked a deeper interest in my dreams.
As for lucid dreams, I have only ever had one: when I was 10-12 years old, I dreamed I was visiting my relatives. I remember looking around and just realizing it was a dream. This may have been triggered by my relatives being in the house of someone they actually never visit in real life. When I realized, I smugly told my auntie: "This is just a dream, and you're not really here!" She just looked at me as if I was talking nonsense, the way adults do tend to look at children who are making something up. Except of course, I was right this time, because I woke up afterwards! Take that, dismissive auntie!
Aside from that, I have had two dreams recently where, on reflection, I think I might have been on the verge of becoming lucid. I was just starting to recall my real everyday life - things like realizing where I really lived or what my job really was. Just like that "hang on a minute..." feeling you get when you realize someone's playing a trick on you. These realizations happened just before I woke up with my alarm, so I currently have no way to tell if it was the familiarity of the alarm that triggered it, or if I just realized it all by myself.
Current aims
Right now I'm taking small steps, so my aims are very basic:
- To improve dream recall by keeping a daily dream log
- To get into the habit of frequent reality checks
- To consistently think about lucid dreaming before I fall asleep
- To have a lucid dream, of course!
I hope that one day in the not too distant future I can tick off this list and move on to some more exciting goals, like learning to fly or asking my dream some deep questions!
Thank you for reading! I will update with today's log next. The logs may be fairly lengthy in the beginning, while I am trying to think more deeply about the whole process, but I expect they will get more concise once I fall into a regular pattern of dream recall.


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Arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems are the #1 cause of disability in America.
Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases result in more than $127 billion in medical costs annually in the U.S. This compares to about $104 billion annually for cancer care.
More "Rheumatology by the Numbers" from the American College of Rheumatology.


text:
Share Me!
Blood Brothers
at the Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays!
Written by Willy Russell, the legendary 'Blood Brothers' tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.
Few musicals have received quite such acclaim as the multi award winning 'Blood Brothers'. Bill Kenwright's production surpassed 10,000 performances in London's West End, one of only three musicals to ever achieve that milestone. It has affectionately been christened the 'Standing Ovation Musical' as inevitably it "brings the audience cheering to it's feet and roaring it's approval" (The Daily Mail).
Matinee Performance – 2pm
Seats in Stalls, Rows F-J
Price Includes
- Blood Brothers Ticket
- Leisure Time in Salford Quays
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Pickup Points
Feeder Coach
|Colwyn Bay, Railway Station
|Llanddulas, Fairview Inn
|Abergele, Tesco Bus Stop opp, Library
|Abergele, Bowling Green Bus Stop
|Abergele, Pentre Mawr Park Bus Stop
|Pensarn Roundabout Bus Stop
|Belgrano Pensarn Grange
|Towyn Wendover Bus Stop
|Sandy Cove Bus Stop
|Kinmel Bay – Bronwen Ave./St. Asaph Ave
|Kinmel Bay –St. Asaph Ave Silver Birch
|Rhuddlan Vicarage Lane Bus Stop
Feeder Coach – Prestatyn
|Prestatyn Before Mini Roundabout, Meliden Road
|Pendyffryn Gardens Bus Stop
|Prestatyn Bus Station
|Victoria Hotel Bus Stop
|Opp. Prestatyn Police Station
|Ffrith Hotel (Side Entrance)
|Clwyd Carpets, Coast Road
|Opposite The Jolly Sailor
|Penrhwylfa Crossraods Bus Stop
|Junction Fforddisa/Princes Avenue
|Meliden, Manod Road Bus Stop
|Meliden, Old Garden Centre
Main Coach -Rhyl
|Vale Road Flats Bus Stop Lay-by
|Argos, Bodfor Street
|St. Thomas's Church Entrance, Russell Road
|Junction Russell Road/Churton Road
|Junction Old Golf Road/Russell Road Bus Stop
|Eastville Bus Stop – Opposite Denmore Stores
|Bus Stop Near Tynewydd Estate Ent.
|Parry's Corner/Pendyffryn Rd. North (By Phone Box)
|Trellewelyn Rd/Stanley Park Ave. Bus Stop (Rhuddlan Road)
|Rosehill Rd/Rhuddlan Rd. Bus Stop
|The Boulevard Bus Stop
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|Dyserth, Vicerage or Cross Keys
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|Trelawnyd, Memorial Hall or Marian
|Lloc, The Rock Inn
|Deeside Tavern (Halfway House)
|Holway, Garage (Opp. Post Office)
|Holywell Baths (Main Road)
|Halkyn, Billie Jean's Transport Cafe
|Northop, Car Park Entrance
|Ewloe, St David's Hotel Entrance
Booking Information
For full booking terms and conditions please see our Booking Terms And Conditions Page
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text:
In 2011 we won an award for Best New Community Project. Join genealogists worldwide (and our relatives and friends) who have found a simple way to make a big difference.
26 January 2012
Meet the Team: Maureen Arthur
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I live on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. I work for Queensland Fire and Rescue as a communications dispatcher (I love my job!) My hobbies include researching my family history, transcribing documents for the Queensland Family History Society, and reading, especially biographies and true crime.
What do lending and participating in this project mean to you?
I can see that my input is being directly utilised by people in need. I have had concerns in the past about how much money is used administratively by some organisations. However, I feel that I can directly contribute through this project - no 'middle man' to speak of.
Did you choose particular borrowers because their occupations or situations have some significance in your family history or your own life?
I can't say that I do. I read the biographies carefully and chose a group that appealed to me and who I thought could make a real difference to their village.
Is there a borrower whose success story inspired you?
I have seen several. I love reading about lenders who have had their loans repaid and are so excited to get their gift back into circulation with another person in need.
Do you have a strategy for raising funds or saving for your $25 loans?
Just a small jar in which I place change. I don't have a lot of money to spare, but this way I don't miss it if it's spare change.
Your Web site or blog?
Shamrocks, Shortbread and Shenanigans (http://shamrocksshortbreadandshenanigans.blogspot.com/).
Your main family history interests?
ARTHUR c1850 Liverpool, TORPEY (same as Arthur), BURTON from Cumberland, OXFORD from Dorset, McNALLY from Fermanagh, GIBBONS from Tipperary, MANSON from Caithness, McDONALD from Invernesshire, are some of my main lines. The ARTHUR line is my reinforced concrete brick wall!
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Join Genealogists for Families. Together we can make a difference!
4 comments:
Maureen, I know you had some flood damage at your home, and that you and your mates at Fire and Rescue have worked incredibly hard during the flood crisis this week. Thank you for what you do to keep us all safe. Thanks, too, for being part of the Genealogists for Families team, joining us for social events, and coming on the 'alternative genealogy cruise' from Sydney to Tasmania on 28 Feb 2013!ReplyDelete
Maureen, great to meet you recently. Hoping you weren't too badly affected by the floods Thank you for the work you do as one of our amazing Emergency Service personnel!ReplyDelete
Maureen, I'm always in awe of great folk like you who work so tirelessly for the aid of others. Thank you on behalf of all who have ever had to call for assistance, from Fire and rescue, or Ambulance or Police or SES... as well as all those we turn to for medical help.ReplyDelete
You do a great job and are the unsung heroes of our community. I hope the floods haven't affected you too badly. We've been through it in a small way over the years compared to others and I know how disheartening it can be.
Great to meet you.
Thank you for your lovely comments! I absolutely love my job and the ability to really make a difference in people's lives who are doing it tough. Just like Kiva in a way!ReplyDelete
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