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As "Dancing With the Stars" hits its the semi-finals Monday night, the cry against the number of alleged ringers on the reality show has never been louder.
The show is supposed to be about learning how to dance…in front of a national television audience. But as the program has taken off through the years, the previously amateur dance floor has been taken over by savvy professionals who can literally waltz in and score serious numbers without trying.
So where does Stacy Keibler -- dubbed the "weapon of mass seduction" on "DWTS" season three where she earned third place -- draw the line on this debate?
"It's one thing if you have dance in your life, but it's another thing if you're actually making money currently as a professional dancer," Keibler told PopcornBiz at StepUp Women's Network 7th Annual Inspiration Awards on Friday.
Are you listening Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger?
"The show is supposed to be about about growth," says Keibler. "It's been fun to watch but boring at the same time."
Agreed. Scherzinger is a vision to watch on stage. But it's like watching Kobe Bryant playing in a YMCA Basketball League. You could even argue that the Olympic ice champion, Evan Lysacek, has an unfair advantage as well. But at least it's not a skating competition.
But that said, Keibler wasn't enamored of previous "DWTS" diva Kate Gosselin, who was truly the ultimate amateur on the show. It's especially odd since Gosselin was dancing with Keibler's former partner Tony Dovolani.
"I always want to see Tony do well," says Keibler. "But I wasn't voting for her."
"Dancing with the Stars" Becoming a Dance with the Pros
As "Dancing With the Stars" hits its the semi-finals Monday night, the cry against the number of alleged ringers on the reality show has never been louder.


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JBE Pickups (Barden) S-Deluxe Neck/Middle Strat Pickup
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This S-Deluxe neck/middle model are the Strat-equivalent to the Joe Barden dual-blade Danny Gatton Tele pickup. The tone of the S-Deluxe is absolutel...Click To Read More About This Product
Tele snap for your Strat without the noise and hum.
This S-Deluxe neck/middle model are the Strat-equivalent to the Joe Barden dual-blade Danny Gatton Tele pickup.
The tone of the S-Deluxe is absolutely Strat in character, but with greatly expanded fidelity and a balanced frequency response. Of course, hum and noise are completely eliminated. These pickups are incredibly sensitive, giving you a wide range of tones and output levels simply by adjusting the distance of the pickup from the strings.
With S-Deluxe pickups, the "in-between" positions are wonderfully hollow, and the bridge pickup has the strength, snap, and twang typically experienced only in Telecasters.
All S-Deluxe pickups are designed to fit standard Strat body routs with no modifications to the instrument. The pickups utilize 4 conductor shielded cable to allow for any possible wiring combination and are supplied with wiring diagrams download and mounting hardware to facilitate installation.
And finally available after many requests are White S-Deluxe pickups. Computer screen colors are often misleading so the color you see on your screen may not accurately reflect the true color of the pickup which can be best described as a something akin to "White Chocolate" with a white finish that is not stark or bright. The white color looks great against a white perloid, black and even pure white pickguard. The materials for these pickups cost more, but the price is the same as our standard black.
A few words from Joe:
"Tthe T-Style, S-Style, HB and HBTwo/Tone models that you have known over the years are here, unchanged, and available once again. These innovative, first-of-their-kind, pickups will continue to be made the same way you play...by hand...with the same commitment to quality and consistency that has made them legendary since I started making them in 1982.
As our name implies, Joe Barden Engineering is more than just great pickups. Continued innovation will result in other new and exciting products which we will introduce as we continue to build our company and your trust.
The memory of my dearest friend and constant inspiration, Danny Gatton, remains ingrained in the spirit of the new company, Joe Barden Engineering. I will continue to to make Danny proud of what is being produced by Joe Barden Engineering, using all that he taught me, so I can continue to bring to you what Danny himself described as "the best pickups on the planet."
Order with confidence with our Dual 45-Day Price and Satisfaction guarantees.

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PSG Asset Management is an established, recognised and respected investment management company with a simple, but comprehensive, range of local unit trusts and international funds. PSG Asset Management offers investment management to long-term retail and institutional investors based on a bottom-up approach with a strong emphasis on risk management.
With close to 200 offices throughout South Africa and two in Windhoek, quality advice is at your doorstep. Find an adviser or start trading by registering for our PSG Wealth trading and investment platform.


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
View All Calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me® button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community.
May 8, 2019, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM @ Old Crystal Lake Schoolhouse
Join us for socialization, arts and crafts, stories, snack, discovery and networking with other parents of toddlers and preschoolers ages 6 months to age 4. Learning centers, and various hands-on activities are planned each week to ensure that children are engaged and having fun with their peers.
Register on Activenet or at Youth Services


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Monday, December 4, 2017
Join us for the much anticipated annual holiday tradition, the Claremont Chamber Choir in concert. A complete playbill will be available at the concert.
The Claremont Chamber Choir will perform its celebrated, annual holiday celebration. The Choir, part of the Joint Music Program of Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges, is an auditioned, mixed ensemble of about two dozen students and will be led by conductor Charles W. Kamm, associate professor of music at Scripps College and director of choirs in the Joint Music Program. The Choir will sing the music of Palestrina, Molly Ijames, and Eric Whitacre, plus holiday music by Jonathan Dove, Caroline Malonee, and traditional favorites.
View Video: YouTube with Claremont Chamber Choir


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Inside Our First Two-Man Spacecraft (Feb, 1965)
Inside Our First Two-Man Spacecraft
Not just a scaled-up Mercury capsule, the Gemini spacecraft is a ship for astronauts to fly
By Wesley S. Griswold
WITHIN the next few months, for the first time in our space program, two U.S. astronauts are expected to go into orbit together.
Their vehicle, the Gemini spacecraft, is far more than just a Mercury built for two. Besides being half again as roomy and twice as heavy as Mercury was, it is much more complex and efficient. That is because it will have many intricate tasks to perform before it completes its 12 scheduled missions.
Those missions will include flights lasting as long as two weeks. They will include practice rendezvous with another spacecraft in orbit (an Agena D rocket will play the supporting role). After rendezvous, Gemini will try space-docking, by sliding its nose into a socket in one end of the Agena D. In addition, Gemini's two astronauts will depressurize their cabin, open its hinged hatches, and take turns floating about on tethers, as future astronauts must be able to do if they are to make repairs en route or build space stations in orbit.
All these demanding and perilous maneuvers must be tried out and perfected before the first manned journey to the moon can be undertaken with confidence.
Gemini's first flight. The more dramatic events will not take place on the first flight. It will be simply a three-orbit journey, lasting about four hours and a half. But in that brief time, Astronauts Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom and John W. Young will use as much as possible of the complicated equipment.
Mercury, in which all essential systems shared the cabin with its sole occupant, was as uncomfortable as a crowded broom closet. On Gemini, everything that can be put out of the astronauts' way has been stowed elsewhere. This was achieved partly by packaging the systems, partly by housing them in the outer section of a doubly constructed reentry module, and partly by locating them in the adapter section, at the base of the spacecraft.
The crew's pressurized cabin forms the core of the re-entry module. The space between it and the outer shell is filled with instrument packages, electronics gear, and landing gear. This arrangement provides greater protection from micrometeorite damage, as well as greater comfort, than Mercury afforded. Ret-rorockets, fuel for positioning thrusters, batteries, and the main oxygen supply occupy the adapter section, shed before Gemini returns to the earth's atmosphere.
Mercury's capsule was launched with an escape tower attached, which would have rocketed the entire module out of harm's way if the launching rocket had misfired. Gemini provides its pilot-commander with gauges that tell him precisely how its Titan II booster is behaving. If he reads trouble on the dials, he'll pull a ring beside one knee and catapult both himself and his copilot out of the module in rocket-fired ejection seats. There's a ring at each seat, and pulling either one ejects both seats. This could be done, if necessary, during re-entry as well as during launch.
Mercury had a small reaction-control system that let its astronaut change the attitude of his craft in space, but not its orbit.
Gemini will be able to move forward and backward in any direction, up and down, and sideways. Thrust for these moves will come from a range of impulses, provided by a hypergolic mix of monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide.
Despite its maneuverability, piloting Gemini will not be much like driving a car. When it changes speed, it also changes the shape of its orbit, and thus its altitude.
Whereas Mercury could be under completely automatic control, either from the ground or from on-board gyros, Gemini is almost entirely under control of the men aboard. It cannot be commanded from the ground. The pilot—or, if he's incapacitated, the copilot—must initiate an emergency exit, if needed, and also must trigger the re-entry system.
Docking. Gemini has a radar, with a 250-mile range; an inertial-guidance platform; and a manual-feed electronic computer, weighing only 57.6 pounds and taking up one cubic foot. Mercury had none of these, and had no need for them. They are essential, however, to Gemini's forthcoming tasks of meeting another spacecraft in orbit and docking with it. This delicate and difficult job of closing on another vehicle in space when both are going 18,000 m.p.h, can be done automatically if the Gemini pilot chooses, or semiautomatically, or under the pilot's own control.
He needs to know the speed, distance, and direction that will take him to his target. Once the Gemini spacecraft is within 250 miles of the Agena D, its inertial-guidance platform and computer can get this essential information from the radar and guide the craft toward its target without help from the pilot. But if he prefers, the computer will provide him with a readout of the necessary data and he can act on it himself. In the last few feet before docking, the pilot will probably rely wholly on his own vision, judgment, and manual control.
Docking will involve a speed differential of only about 1-1/2 m.p.h, between the vehicles. That seems tiny, but as someone remarked, "If you walked into a door at 1-1/2 m.p.h., you would feel quite a bump."
Gemini's remarkable little computer is rather like a superintelligent third crew member. By feeding the variables into it on a small keyboard, the pilot not only can get instant information vital to maneuvering in space, the computer will also tell him precisely where he'll land whenever he's ready to start the homeward plunge from orbit to ocean.
Gemini had been expected to improve on Mercury in two important ways that have not yet proved to be feasible. One was the means of obtaining electric power. The other was the method of landing.
No fuel cells—yet. Program planners had hoped to provide the Gemini spacecraft with electricity produced directly by mixing hydrogen and oxygen in fuel cells. The fuel cells would weigh far less than the old, reliable silver-zinc batteries used in the Mercury program. Furthermore, they would produce drinking water as a precious byproduct of their chemical reaction.
The fuel cells work, but they are not yet considered sufficiently dependable for a manned spacecraft. They'll be tried out for a while longer on the ground.
Until then, the heavier silver-zinc batteries will supply manned Gemini missions with electricity. Drinking water for the astronauts will be taken aboard the capsule before launch.
Gemini's sponsors had also intended that the re-entry module should be able to make dry landings, with considerable precision, instead of dropping by parachute into the sea, as all the Mercury capsules did.
Dry landings were to have been made by inflating a "paraglider" at around 42,000 feet above the ground and sailing down to a safe and reasonably soft touchdown wherever the spacecraft commander chose.
The paraglider had seemed to be shaping up fine for its intended role in test flights at Edwards Air Force Base. NASA research pilots had successfully flown a smaller version of it, on a kind of aerial tricycle, to precision landings a good many times. But when the paraglider was tried out on a boiler-plate copy of the Gemini re-entry module, under control of another pilot, it immediately went into a left turn after being drop-launched at 13,000 feet, and the pilot couldn't bring his bell-shaped craft out of the turn. He bailed out at 2,000 feet, and the boilerplate hit the ground at 50 feet a second.
Ocean landings. Development work on the paraglider landing device for spacecraft will continue, but all Gemini landings will be blue-water splashes, in the Mercury tradition. The only difference: The bigger, heavier Gemini vehicle will use an 84-foot parachute instead of Mercury's 60-footer.
Unlike the Russians, we have not yet found a satisfactory way to land a spacecraft by parachute anywhere but in the sea. Our spacecraft are not maneuverable when dangling from a chute, and thus are unable to dodge possible ground hazards, such as trees, rocks, or gullies. Furthermore, even in a perfectly clear area, the shock of landing the craft on ground would be too severe to risk.
Other troubles have also afflicted the Gemini program. In December, failure in a hydraulic line caused an automatic shutdown of both Titan II engines, aborting a 2,150-mile test launch down range, and setting the program back an estimated month.
Seldom mentioned, but surely in most people's thoughts at the time an astronaut is circling the earth, is the unavoidable question of toilet habits. What does he do?
Well, though it means temporarily de-pressurizing his suit and relying on cabin pressure alone to keep him alive, an astronaut can unzip as far as he needs to. Waste disposal on spacecraft is still rather crude, but adequate. Solid waste is retained in plastic bags. The bags are sealed and tucked away in cubicles for eventual disposal on earth. For liquid waste, each Mercury astronaut used a pressure-suit bladder. Gemini's two-man crews will use a relief tube containing a tiny pumping device that guarantees flow to an 800-cc. reservoir. The tank is only temporary, however. When the user of the relief tube removes the cone at the top, a valve closes, and the reservoir's
contents are dumped overboard, perhaps flung into perpetual orbit in the form of frozen particles.
For the far longer space missions of the distant future, NASA anticipates being able to process crew waste on board and utilize the purified moisture from it for washing and drinking water.
Space travel, anyone?


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Market indication; willingness to go both ways (buy or sell) at the mentioned volume and market. Print; up on the ticker tape, confirming that the trade has been executed.
In North Korea, a political subdivision equivalent to an urban municipality.


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Does New Age Celebrate Easter ?
As for my self, I celebrate whatever I can. Spring, The Christ, The Resurrection, The Bursting Forth of Blossoms, The Leaves Returning to the trees, The Hopping of Bunnies are all reasons for Celebration. I never let an Easter go by without buying a new Easter Bonnet Easter is celebrated all over the world as … Read moreDoes New Age Celebrate Easter ?


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Same place
Dear Em.
I know this is an awful cheap attempt but I am writing pretty often now and I know you will excuse a post card once in a while. We are in a place where things are happening every day and I know that you realize this. Thus a line as often as posible to assure you that all is well with Samuel to date.
This has been the first clear day for about four days and it was somewhat livly take it from me. I wish you could see one of these air fights, and then again, Im just as well satisfied that your not close enough to have to witness them for when they happen there is a lot of shrapnel flying around which is the thing that has cause of more casualties than any other one thing in our short visit on this sector.
We hear that there is a batch of mail back at the base and no doubt this will arrive up here any day now. OH you letter from Emily J. Smily. I always seem to have a supply of these postals on hand and they sure do come in handy especially when there is nothing to say.
Lena, Mrs. & Miss Holland, Mary two or three others and last but not least your self have by this time received my letters, in which is about all the dope I can scrape up for the present. Aunt Madge also has not been forgotten. So you see if the pen was mightier than the sword as one of our great men said, this war would have to give me a little credit for its ending. Im fine.
Love to the bunch
Sgt. S.E. Avery Hdq Co 103rd Inf A.E.F.
© Copyright 2009 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.


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IMB wishes to correct a typographical error contained within the explanatory Notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting for 2010.
On page 2 in the Notes section, the third paragraph commencing 'On 1 December 2010…" should read:
"On 4 December 2009, it was announced that the proposed merger with CACU would not be proceeding."
I apologise for any confusion caused by the incorrect date reference. A copy of the correct Notice of Annual General Meeting for 2010 is available by clicking on the link below.
Notice of Annual General Meeting for 2010
Lauren Wise
Company Secretary
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IMB has a growing branch network throughout the Illawarra, Sydney, NSW South Coast, the ACT and Melbourne. We have a lending specialist in every branch and a team of mobile lending specialists who will come to you. IMB members enjoy access to free automated phone and internet banking and a team of professionals who are just a phone call away at our locally based call centre.Find out more
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Models of Achievement: Greater Western Sydney's role in tertiary education
7 June 2013
A former child soldier who is now a lawyer, a factory worker who cracked a previously unsolvable equation, a Bulldogs player who completed his master's in commerce.
These are some of the stories being told in a new TV documentary series, Models of Achievement, which showcases Australians from Greater Western Sydney who have changed their lives through higher education and are making some remarkable contributions to the country's future.
The series is a Bridges to Higher Education initiative aimed at addressing the impending shortage of people with higher education in the Australian workforce.
Bridges to Higher Education is a partnership of five NSW universities, including the University of Sydney, and 15 other education partners working to develop and deliver projects to improve academic outcomes and higher education participation rates, particularly in Greater Western Sydney.
Annette Cairnduff, the University's Director of Social Inclusion said, "The program shows the transformative impact tertiary study can have on an individual's life. Some of the stories are amazing, all are inspiring."
Among the five students from the University of Sydney featured in Models of Achievement are William Chan, whose Bachelor of Design in Architecture has led him to work in the slums of Diepsloot in South Africa, on designs for Barangaroo and the Kellyville train station, and a building project at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
Also featured is Jayne Weller, whose veterinary science degree has seen her work with exotic animals in Australia and overseas, including in South Africa on wildlife rehabilitation.
"These are impressive examples of where tertiary studies can take you. This is not only about social inclusion in education. Based on the projected population growth, a 12.2 percent increase in university students across the Sydney region would be required to reach the government's university participation target of 40 percent by 2021."
"This will not be achieved if we cannot inspire more Australians from Great Western Sydney to participate in higher education," said Ms Cairnduff.
GWS is home to over 1.6 million people and contributes $85 billion a year to the nation's GDP - if population growth continues in this area as predicted, Greater Western Sydney has the potential to provide a large proportion of Australia's future jobs growth.
"Models of Achievement is aimed at young people and adults and sits alongside the Enquiring Minds series which was launched in March and is aimed at primary school students. Both programs will be used as part of the University's widening participation programs with schools and communities," said Ms Cairnduff.
The 10 part documentary series will premiere on Television Sydney (TVS), digital 44, at 7.30pm on Tuesday 11 June. The series will explore the success and aspirations of 20 people who, despite hardships, have gone to university and thrived.
Media contact:
Verity Leatherdale: (02) 9351 4312, 0403 067 342 or email@example.com


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August 4–6: Sure, the hipsters all pounced on Newport Folk Fest, but it's not the only legendary music festival to call the city home. The Newport Jazz Festival is bringing in major acts like The Roots, Trombone Shorty, the Branford Marsalis Quartet, Andra Day and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
August 4-6: If the phrase "died and gone to seafood heaven" sounds like something you'd like to get down with, going to the 33rd Annual Charlestown Seafood Festival is an absolute must. This weekend, Ninigret Park will be taken over by stands filled with chowder and clam cakes, steamed mussels, fish and chips, lobster rolls and raw bars. Hungry yet?
August 5: The Little Compton Antiques Festival is bigger than ever this year. The fair brings in 25 antiques vendors, and this year is also hosting the Little Compton Classic Auto Show. A preview event the night before includes a sunset supper and a ticket to the next day's festivities.
August 5: At Westerly's River Glow, floating bonfires illuminate the Pawcatuck River, while belly dancers, fire jugglers and a steel drum band keep things lively on land. The family friendly event also includes hayrides and a rock-climbing wall.
August 5: The third annual Providence Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival is happening in India Point Park, bringing together local favorite food trucks with as-of-yet-untasted-in-these-parts trucks from Boston and beyond, plus dozens of craft breweries.
August 5-6: Have fun while you're being green. Block Island's Conserfest has a mission to educate people about environmental and conservation causes while they have a great time at a two-day music festival.
August 6: Have fun, fun, fun when you take your T-Bird – or any classic car worth showing off – to the Ed Lang Memorial Car Show at Lang's Bowlarama in Cranston. The fundraiser for the RI Community Food Bank will be giving away trophies for the grooviest cars, and there will be bowling, food and fun.
August 6: Following last year's smash success, the Warren Folk's Festival is back for a second year of fun, food and music. Hosted by The Collaborative, an arts organization in Warren, the outdoor Folk's Festival will run all day, with a musical lineup including Bristol and Warren's own Six Star General and Jodie Treolar Sampson, and other local musicians like Ian Fitzgerald & Something Else and The Low Cards. There will be art from Collaborative members, and an arts and crafts table for kids – plus food by Eli's Kitchen and Balasco's Pizzeria, and a beer garden sponsored by Chomp Kitchen & Drinks. All that, plus the chance to meet folks you don't know yet? Summer doesn't get any better.


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February 26, 2013
The Great Falls Artists' Atelier on Walker Road, one of the functions of the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts that they hope to eventually move to a community arts center at Turner Farm.
Stories this photo appears in:
Foundation Plans for Art Center
Community Center for the Arts possible at Turner Farm.
The Great Falls Foundation for the Arts was founded in 2007 with the goal of eventually bringing an arts center to the community. Since then, they have run a school, working studio space and a gallery space on Walker Road, all while planning for the future.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.


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CHICAGO -- The YMCA of the USA is searching for a new health and fitness director to replace Michael Spezzano, who had been with the Y for about 30 years. He left his post in June and has since moved on to the YMCA of New York. The national Y has not yet replaced him or his supervisor, the head of program development, who also recently resigned. In the interim, Jim Weaton is stepping in to serve as the interim head of program development and membership.
The new health and fitness director will have large shoes to fill, says Arnold Collins, YMCA spokesperson. Spezzano served on the medical advisory board committee and was in charge of all programs in connnection with health and wellness. "It's certainly an important need," Collins says about filling the health and fitness director position, but he indicated that the head of program development position might need to be filled first.


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The 'Terroir Moselle wine and architecture route' is a 'preparatory' cooperation project gathering six LEADER areas, five wine growing areas from four regions and three countries.
Projects & Practice
In an area where the agricultural sector is under pressure due the expansion of a nearby urban centre, the diversification of farming activities e.g. ice-cream production and marketing, can ensure the farm's sustainability.
An afforestation project to protect the largest body of freshwater in Guadeloupe and improve the biodiversity in the surrounding area.
Organising a series of awareness raising and capacity building activities for environmental NGOs in Mayotte.
The project made an Ekso Bionics Exoskeleton available to patients in rural areas. This enables community rehabilitation of patients recovering from spinal injuries, strokes and brain injuries.
Helping a new type of rural enterprise that can support a transition towards a green, diversified rural economy. Coillte Sláintiúil provides services to protect, rejuvenate and replace native woodlands.
Developing an approach to risk assessment for RDPs in Ireland.
An investment project that allowed a company to fill the gap in the local supply chain for wood chips in the north-west of Ireland.
Reducing the cost of renovation works for households lacking essential energy services by bringing together local resources, including people's skills and time. This is the winning initiative of the 2019 Rural Inspiration Awards in the 'Social Inclusion' category.
A start-up company specialising in outdoor sports activities used RDP support to purchase equipment and respond to increasing demand for adventure tourism.


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This week, our nation experienced a tragedy at the U.S. military base in Fort Hood, Texas. There is a great deal of trauma and suffering at Ft. Hood following the shooting. I spoke with Father Edward McCabe, a priest from the Archdiocese of Boston who serves our troops at Ft. Hood and who is providing pastoral care and solace in the aftermath of the shooting. I promised him our prayers for those who were killed and injured, for their families, and for all who are serving them. The fine men and women of our military are essential to the freedom we hold dear as a nation. We honor them with our prayers, thoughts and support now and always.
– – –
I was relieved that a ballot initiative in Maine on behalf of traditional marriage prevailed, although I was also saddened that such an initiative had to be held, realizing how divisive this issue can be in a community.
The Mainers demonstrated for the thirty-first time that whenever the American people have an opportunity to express their opinion on marriage, they come down in favor of traditional marriage. I believe in my heart that if we had had the same opportunity in Massachusetts, the people of Massachusetts would also have voted in favor of traditional marriage.
Unfortunately, Governor Deval Patrick and our legislators did not allow us to exercise that right. I think that was a great injustice to the people of the Commonwealth.
By the same token, I think it's very unfortunate that it has been impossible to carry on a serious dialogue about the importance of traditional marriage for family life and for the raising of children in our country. This has always been cast in the light of the great emotional debate over prejudice and discrimination against homosexual persons.
I am positive that the people in Maine who voted for traditional marriage were not doing so out of any rancor or disdain for homosexual persons. While there are a small number who hold extreme views in almost any cause, I am convinced the vast majority of people were looking at what is good for society.
We, of course, live in a culture where individual rights are supreme and sometimes the common good and the rights of the community are trampled because of an exaggerated stress on individualism in our country. It is my hope that someday we will be able to have a serious conversation and public debate on the wider subject of marriage. Perhaps the bishops' upcoming pastoral letter on marriage will allow this conversation to begin.
To say that gay marriage doesn't affect other people's marriages is disingenuous, at best. Changing ideas impacts the culture and society, even though the consequences may not be visible immediately. To help illustrate this, I like to compare it to a nation's change from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. Perhaps the external trappings look the same but the difference in the end results and what transpires historically is going to be very dramatic.
We see that there have already been so many assaults on marriage and family life, and we are convinced that a redefinition of marriage is also detrimental to marriage. What is bad for marriage is bad for American society.
– – –
As we have seen in Maine, the power of the people can make a positive difference. I also hope the American people, especially Catholics, participate in the democratic process in the current health care debate in our nation.
I am pleased that a number of congressmen have come forward voicing their objection to the present form of the legislation which does not have sufficient conscience protections and would propose the government funding of abortions, something that the vast majority of American people are against and that historically we have not done.
I am once again urging you, if you have not yet approached your legislators, to click on the link provided below. This will take you to a web page that will allow you to e-mail your comments to your legislators.
I think it is particularly important that those legislators who are standing up for the unborn and conscience protections know that they are supported by the public.
This is a very important moment for us in our country. If the legislation is passed in its present form, it will do irreparable harm.
– – –
Now, onto the events of my week…
On Friday, I attended a Holy Hour and dinner with all of our seminarians — those studying at Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, the Redemptoris Mater House of Formation, and St. John's Seminary, as well as those studying at Our Lady of Providence Seminary in R.I. In fact, only those studying outside the United States could not be with us.
During our meeting, I gave a short address on perseverance. We had a dialogue on the priestly life. I talked to them about the celibacy conference and the Holy Father's document on the Anglicans.
It's always a wonderful opportunity for the seminarians to get to know each other, particularly those who study at different seminaries.
– – –
After gathering with the seminarians at the Pastoral Center, I went to the Friends of Don Orione 43 Annual Banchetto. At this year's dinner, held in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the Don Orione Home in East Boston, Mr. Joseph Milano was presented the Don Orione Man of the Year Award. Joseph and his family are dedicated parishioners at St. Maria Goretti parish in Lynnfield and the proprietors of the historic Union Oyster House in Boston.
On a number of occasions Joseph has been recognized for his contributions to the work of the Church, including his having received the Cardinal Cushing Medal from the Society of St. James the Apostle, being named a Knight of Don Orione, and Knight of the American Association of the Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem and Malta. It was a pleasure to be able to join the hundreds people gathered for the dinner in congratulating Joseph on this well-deserved honor .
– – –
Bishop Seamus Hegarty, the bishop of the Diocese of Derry, Ireland, and Father John McCarthy, of the Irish Pastoral Centre in Quincy visited me Saturday morning.
Bishop Hegarty is in charge of the Irish bishops' ministry to migrants. He has a special responsibility within the Irish Bishops' Conference to deal with the questions of immigration.
He is here visiting Irish immigrants in the United States and those who serve them pastorally, so one of his stops was our Irish Pastoral Centre. The Bishop was also meeting with the Irish ambassador, and the Irish consul during his visit to the area.
Of course, we have always had a large number of Irish immigrants in Boston. In fact, when he told me that Boston was a twin city with Derry, I told him some people would say Boston is more like a colony of Ireland!
He discussed immigration legislation that could be proposed in the next year here in the United States and the impact that would have on immigrants.
– – –
Later that morning, I presided at the annual Altar Server Appreciation Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. There were about 700 altar servers present.
This year, members of the Boston Boy Choir at St. Paul Church in Cambridge who are also altar servers sang. It was a beautiful Mass. It was also very good for the other youngsters to see the choir and to realize that young people have such a love for the liturgy, and the proficiency for singing the Latin Mass and beautiful hymns.
Afterwards, there were awards given out — the Pope John Paul II Awards and Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta Awards — to servers who exemplify reverence, piety, a love of the liturgy, and a strong record of parish and community service. To conclude the day, the servers and their families were treated to ice cream sundaes in the Cathedral High School gymnasium.
Please join me in congratulating the award winners.
The winners of the Pope John Paul II Award were:
– Ryan Wallace of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Braintree,
– Noel Reed of St. Michael Parish in Avon,
– William Haughey of St. Columbkille Parish in Brighton, and
– Eddie Newton of St. Andrew Parish in Billerica
Winners of the Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta Award were
– Michelle Beazley of Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta Parish in Dorchester,
– Alejandra Tejeda of Holy Family Parish in Dorchester,
– Sarah Hennessey of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Acton, and
– Catherine Campagna of Sacred Heart Parish in Waltham.
– – –
That afternoon, I gave a lecture at St. Francis Chapel, located in the Prudential Center in downtown Boston, as part of a lecture series there. Given that this is the Year for Priests, I spoke on the topic of the priesthood.
We also marked the 40th anniversary of the chapel. It was originally run by the Friars of the Holy Name Province, but for many years now, it has been staffed by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, who are doing an extraordinary job there.
After the lecture, I celebrated the Vigil Mass for the Feast of All Saints.
– – –
After that, I went to the North End for our monthly gathering with young adults — our "Piazza Navona project," as I call it, because of a similar initiative in Rome that inspired our gatherings.
There was a holy hour and opportunities for confession. I had Mass there at 8 p.m. There were many priests concelebrating. Afterwards, there were pizzas.
The seminarians were standing out in front of the church inviting people in. Because it was Halloween, some people would see the seminarians in the collar and say, "Is that real?"
I recounted to them that once I was visiting a nursing home and one of the residents said, "Oh, I have a statue of him on my patio." I said, "I hope it wasn't a bird bath."
– – –
On Sunday, I celebrated the centennial Mass at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Waltham. It is a very beautiful church. They have a wonderful choir. Father Rodney Copp has done an extraordinary job in building up the parish.
– – –
Later, I attended a Mass and a reception for the leadership of the Knights of Columbus throughout the state — the state board and the state district deputies.
I told them we are very anxious for the Knights to grow in the diocese — in the universities and the parishes.
The Knights of Columbus has shown itself to be so supportive of the Church and all of our ministries — particularly with promoting vocations, a defense of the Gospel of Life, and standing firmly with our priests. The Knights have been so faithful in enduring these difficult years. Wherever they have councils at the parishes, it has been an invaluable aid to the pastors and a great source of volunteers. We are encouraging all the pastors to consider initiating a council at their parishes if they don't already have one.
– – –
Monday, as you know, was All Souls' Day. That morning, I presided at the funeral Mass for Father James O'Donohoe, Father O'D as he was affectionately known, who died on Oct. 27 at St. Patrick Manor in Framingham at the age of 88.
For priests, All Souls' Day is very special because it is one of only two days on which priests are authorized to celebrate Mass three times. The other is Christmas.
My first celebration was privately at the cathedral rectory, but my second celebration was the funeral Mass of Father O'Donohoe.
During his life, he taught at numerous Catholic colleges and seminaries across the country, including Boston College and our own St. John's Seminary. He also served at many parishes in the archdiocese, including St. Joseph Parish in Medway and St. Joseph Parish in Somerville. He was also a chaplain to the Gray Nuns in Lexington.
The Mass was very well attended. I commented that we should all be so lucky to have our funeral on All Souls' Day when millions of Catholics are praying for our faithful departed!
Father O'Donohoe obviously had made a great impact on the people of Lexington, where he helped out in the parishes. Many people came to the Mass, and many priests whom he had taught in the seminary were a part of it. It was a very beautiful celebration.
– – –
Later that day, I met with presidents of Catholic colleges within the archdiocese. We had an opportunity to thank them for all that they do to support our Catholic schools in the archdiocese, and we talked about ways we can continue to look to them for support of our Catholic school system.
– – –
At 4:30 p.m., I celebrated my third Mass of the day — for the Sisters Disciples at their chapel on West Street in Boston.
Afterwards, I joined them for dinner.
– – –
I then attended evening prayer at St. Theresa of Avila Parish in West Roxbury. We prayed the office of the dead for our deceased priests. It was organized by Bishop Hennessey. Many of our priests were able to be there, and our seminarians were invited as well.
Father Tom Buckley preached the sermon. Afterwards, there was a reception in the atrium of St. Theresa's.
We're all looking forward to the mosaics Father Raymond Helmick, S.J., the brother of the pastor who lives at the parish, has been making, and is going to hang in the atrium in the very near future.
Father Helmick is also the one who made the tabernacle for the parish which I have always admired.
Here are some photos which give you a sense of the beautiful tabernacle:
– – –
On Tuesday, I had dinner and attended evening prayer with the archdiocese's marriage ministry committee. For three years, the marriage committee has been working on designing a new marriage preparation program for us.
With the pilot program being launched, this was bringing their work to a conclusion. It was a way of recognizing them and thanking them for their contributions.
We also talked a little bit about the fact that this month, God willing, the new pastoral letter on marriage will be published.
Kari Colella, our Marriage Ministries Coordinator, was very pleased to announce that she feels the new marriage preparation course that we have designed reflects many of the themes that have been developed in the marriage pastoral.
One of the biggest challenges we have in the American church today is to instill in our people a sense of vocation, particularly vocation to married life and to being mothers and fathers.
– – –
On Wednesday, I had a luncheon with the vicars and auxiliary bishops. Father David Couturier, our Director of Pastoral Planning addressed us at the gathering.
I thanked the vicars for their work; their service to the priests is so important. I encouraged them in faithfully conducting the vicariate meetings as an opportunity for shared prayer and fellowship, and to discuss the pastoral themes that are being discussed in the Presbyteral Council, so there can be that communication directly and all the priests can have participation in the conversations that are taking place at the archdiocesan level.
– – –
I closed out the events for this week's posting with a Mass for deceased members of the diaconate community held at the Bethany Chapel at the Pastoral Center. It was very well attended.
There were seven lamps that were lit representing seven people who died last year. Then, we read the names of the deceased deacons and their immediate family members, whether it was a child or a spouse.
– – –
Finally, as I close my post for this week, I ask you once again to pray for all those affected by the violence at Ft. Hood.
I leave you with my prayers,
Cardinal Seán


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St. Maarten on December 28, 2019
St. Maarten (return) on January 4, 2020
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St. Maarten
The smallest island in the world shared by two countries. St. Martin/St. Maarten is big on shopping. You can also try your luck in one of St. Maarten's many casinos. Whether you go Dutch in Philipsburg or prefer Marigot's French touch, you're always welcome.
Barbuda is one of those very few islands in the Caribbean that remains so undeveloped as to seem positively deserted at times. With the exception of the guests of the island's small number of accommodations, the population seems to consist largely of the graceful Fregata magnificens, or frigate bird. As the birds possess a marked preference for the northwest lagoon, Barbuda's seemingly endless white and pink sand beaches are left to the peaceful wanderings of those lucky enough to sojourn here.
Activities on Barbuda are appropriately relaxed, including beachcombing (on the northeastern Atlantic coast), fishing, golf, tennis, snorkeling, diving, or simply soaking up the sun. Points of interest include the Frigate Bird Sanctuary, the truly noteworthy pink and white sand beaches, and an abundance of shipwrecks and beautiful reefs. Barbuda's history has been intimately tied to that of Antigua for centuries. The first early attempts to settle Barbuda (by both the British and French) were failures, and it wasn't until 1666 that the British established a colony strong enough to survive the ravages of both nature and the Caribs. In 1680, four years before he began cultivating sugar on Antigua, Christopher Codrington was granted (with his brother John) a land lease in Barbuda. With subsequent leases that granted them additional rights to the substantial wreckage along Barbuda's reefs, they became the island's preeminent family. For much of the eighteenth century the Codrington land on Barbuda was used to produce food and to supply additional slave labor for the Codrington sugar plantations on Antigua, and so the Barbuda's fortunes rose and fell with those of its larger neighbor. Testament to the influence of the Codringtons remains today, both in the island's place names and in its architectural remains. On Barbuda's highest point (124 feet) are the ruins of the Codrington estate, Highland House, and on the island's south coast still sits the 56-foot high Martello castle and tower, a fortress that was used both for defense and as a vantage from which to spot valuable shipwrecks on the outlying reefs.
Roseau, Dominica
Dominica is an island republic in the West Indies, specifically in the Windward Islands. The island has 148 miles of coastline, and covers 751 square miles of land area. The population of Dominica is under 75,000. Roseau is the island's capital. Dominica is lush and beautiful, and is home to some of the friendliest people in the West Indies. The island is known as the spot for ecotourists, with many parks and places to mountain climb, nature walk or explore. The diving is great here, too, but the beaches are less attractive than on other islands.
Pigeon Island, St. Lucia
Pigeon Island National Landmark is one of the Caribbean's most historic spots, an important monument of St. Lucia's history. It offers a vivid representation of the cultural and historical monuments of international, civil, military and marine cross currents, characteristic of West Indian history. Pigeon Island offers lots of photo opportunities. You can visit the interpretation center, eat at Jambe de Bois restaurant, walk up to Fort Rodney and view historical ruins. A living museum within a natural setting, Pigeon Island is being nurtured through careful protection and intelligent development to serve the intellectual, cultural, and recreational needs of all who visit this historic site. The picturesque, 44 acre island reserve, grasslands, dry tropical forests, beaches and twin peaks, off the north west end of St. Lucia, was originally surrounded by water but was joined to the mainland by a man made causeway in 1972. The Landmark is perfect for an outing tailored to your specific needs - With or without a guide, the island is an easy and accessible location for relaxing or exploring. Whatever your preference, don't forget your camera for breathtaking photo opportunities.
Les Saintes, French West Indies
Just south of Guadeloupe, these idyllic tropical islands float like jewels in the Caribbean sea. Les Saintes are perfect for the kind of sailor who relishes unspoiled tropical beauty and the serenity that comes from doing next to nothing on a vacation. Only two of the eight little islands are inhabited, and Terre-de-Haut is the one travelers visit first. With superb beaches, lovely bays, great snorkeling and fascinating historical sites, this small island has a charming village with excellent restaurants, interesting shops and unique art galleries. The other populated island, peaceful Terre-de-Bas, is only a few minutes by boat from Terre-de-Haut. There are only 3,000 inhabitants in the islands. About half of them live on Terre-de-Haut with just a few dozen four-wheel drive vehicles on its roads.
Basseterre, St. Kitts
Unlike other islands where traditional lifestyles have been stamped out by mass tourism, St. Kitts boasts a thriving West Indian culture. Her lush and forested slopes rise gracefully to mist-shrouded peaks. A worthwhile site for history buffs, the imposing 17th century fortress (Brimstone Hill) looms over green fields of sugar cane and banana trees. St. Kitts' was the first successful colony in the British West Indies. Indeed, when viewed from the top of Brimstone Hill, the "Gibraltar of the Caribbean" appears to dominate everything in the Southern Sea. Originally discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, the island was named for his patron saint, St. Christopher. The British later shortened the name to St. Kitts. The island was colonized beginning in 1623, first by the French, and then by English settlers. Britain and France held the island jointly from 1628 into the 1700's, with periods of fighting. By 1783, the treaty of Paris ceded St. Kitts and Nevis to Great Britain. Basseterre has been the capital of St. Kitts since 1727, and remains the capital of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis today. It offers elegant Georgian architecture and colorful shopping.
Gustavia/St. Barts
There was never any hope of lucrative sugar plantations in St.Barts. It was too dry, too steep, too rocky, and, finally, too small. Unsuitable for agriculture, the island was never coveted as a prize during the colonial wars of the 18th century. The island did, however, have a serviceable harbor, and this allowed the town that grew around it, Gustavia, to play a key role in that intermittent conflict, a role that was to presage much of its future. As a free port under Swedish rule, Gustavia provided a trade and supply center for the various warring factions. When a sea captain captured a prize or raided a settlement, he could sell the booty in St. Barths, and at the same time resupply his ship. Overflowing warehouses surrounded a harbor packed with ships from many nations, and a mercantile and architectural tradition was established that has lingered to the present day. Today, the town has adjusted itself to satisfy the increasing number of visiting tourists. Restaurants, boutiques, and gift shops now line streets once busy with merchants, merchant seamen, and adventurers.
St. Maarten (return)
The smallest island in the world shared by two countries. St. Martin/St. Maarten is big on shopping. You can also try your luck in one of St. Maarten's many casinos. Whether you go Dutch in Philipsburg or prefer Marigot's French touch, you're always welcome.
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text: Here is something a little fun for a Sunday, an eye candy treat in fact! This video has been up for just a few days and is closing in on 1 million views already. It's a series of animated optical illusions created in Photoshop and Lightwave 3D, all very simple, but very cool indeed. I'm hoping there will be a follow up video pushing it to the next level. Wish I had a party trick like that! (via Blogilvy)


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Feds probe Huntington company's post-Sandy cleanup work
Federal investigators have launched a probe into post-Sandy contract work performed by Looks Great Services Inc., a Huntington company already under scrutiny by the state attorney general and the Nassau County district attorney.
The new investigation is by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. It enforces prevailing wage requirements of federal labor laws and other laws that apply to federal contracts for construction and provision of goods and services.
"The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division confirms that there is an open investigation against Looks Great Services Inc.," spokeswoman Sonia Melendez said last week. She declined to comment further, saying the case is "an open law enforcement investigation."
Since Sandy, millions of dollars in federal money have flowed to Long Island and other storm-affected areas of the Northeast for cleanup and repair work. Nassau has paid Looks Great about $35 million of $68.8 million that the county legislature approved for the company's Sandy cleanup work, county Comptroller George Maragos has said.
Newsday has reported that Looks Great Services is among companies subpoenaed by the Nassau district attorney's office, which is examining how the county entered into agreements for post-Sandy cleanup work, as well as oversight and controls for the work.
The company is also under scrutiny by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Newsday has reported. The state is looking into how cleanup contract work was obtained and performance of companies that did the work, according to a source familiar with that investigation. The federal probe of Looks Great is now the fourth opened in the six months since Sandy hit into how Long Island governments hired contractors.
The federal labor department probe centers on New York City-based Sandy cleanup contracts awarded by the Army Corps of Engineers, a source said. Federal records show Looks Great Services was awarded two Army Corps contracts in February: $1,171,605 for tree stump removal, cutting and transportation services; and a $631,506 contract for wood chipping work at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.
Responding to the labor department probe, Looks Great Services spokeswoman Risa Heller said Friday that the company sought to involve the department a week earlier when it learned one of its subcontractors' subcontractors -- known as "low-tier contractors" -- had not paid its employees.
"We were made aware one week ago that one of our lower tier subcontractors had not paid their employees," Heller said in a written statement. "We immediately took actions resulting in payment to this subcontractors' employees, and are working to ensure this company and any others involved are held accountable for their actions. We requested USDOL be involved to ensure the situation was fully addressed."
Heller declined to name the subcontractor involved because of the investigation. The labor department has declined to say when its investigation of Looks Great Services began.
Irv Miljoner, Long Island district director for the Labor Department's wage and hour division, said under federal labor laws that apply to government contracts, a prime contractor is responsible for the proper payment of wages and benefits to all employees who perform the work, including those of subcontractors. "They are responsible for the proper payment of wages and benefits to every worker performing work under their contract," Miljoner said.
Ken Wells, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers, said Looks Great was chosen after a competitive bidding process. He also declined to comment on the labor department investigation. Heller said the company also carried out two competitively bid Army Corps purchase orders for tree removal in the city after Sandy.
Public records show Looks Great founder Kristian Agoglia, 38, grew up on Long Island and started out in business at age 17, operating out of his parents' garage in Huntington in 1990. Originally called T&K Landscaping, it was incorporated by Agoglia in Delaware in 1999 as Looks Great Services Inc.
Heller said the company has worked on dozens of disaster-related projects, as both the prime federal contractor or as a subcontractor on federally funded contracts for agencies and local governments across the country. "We are very proud of the work we have done in these situations, helping communities get back on their feet after a natural disaster," she said. "Our work includes tornadoes, ice storms, hurricanes and other complex disaster-related situations."
The company worked in Lakeland, Fla., following Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 and in Orlando following hurricanes Frances and Charlie the same year. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Looks Great Services did work in Miami, New Orleans and the lower counties of Mississippi, according to the company's website.
Miljoner said that more Sandy-related federally funded projects are expected. He said the department has moved to assign investigators and would continue to devote resources to ensure there is compliance with federal labor laws.
"We are already involved in enforcement actions in relation to work that has occurred to date and will be proactive in ensuring compliance with projects yet to come," he said.
With Joe Ryan


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It was by happy accident that my family and I wandered into St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's old stomping grounds: a forested oasis of solitude a little over an hour away from the busy metropolis of our nation's capital. We had spent a hectic and exciting series of days in Washington D.C., and were now on our way to spend the rest of the week on a little tour through Pennsylvania. We planned to stay our first night in Gettysburg. How to get there? We spontaneously decided on driving through Emmitsburg, Maryland and possibly making a stop at the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes.
Our little detour turned out to be a beautiful way to spend the afternoon. After a short drive up Mount St. Mary's, we parked, entered the gates and walked down the forested path edged by a series of shrines and statues: corners for prayer and meditation inspired by Jesus, Mary and many of the saints.
We had the place almost to ourselves. The kids loved the long walk into the woods and the discovery of each new treasure along the way, including the pool of spring water near the end that had the look of Tolkien's Lothlorien.
At the very end of our walk, we found the anticipated Lourdes Grotto – the oldest known replica of Lourdes which dates back to 1875. (Although, believe it or not, we didn't get a nice photo of it.)
We also found another little surprise. At the conclusion of our walk, just before the beautiful Lourdes Grotto, we found a historical marker noting "Mother Seton's Rock".
Here, between the grotto and a quaint little chapel, was the spot where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton had spent many Sunday afternoons teaching children of the mountain parish in the early 19th century.
My own children were thrilled to have the chance to sit on the very rock that she had, and to get a taste of the humble life she lived and the natural surroundings in which she spent many of her afternoons sharing her faith with others.
"Seek God in All Things": Mother Seton, American Saint
Today St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is an inspiration to many – to mothers, to teachers, to religious sisters, to those who serve the sick, to converts, to those in many walks of life. But as a young woman, she probably never imagined that her life would take the turns it did and that she would be remembered by so many people centuries after her death.
Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born into a wealthy Episcopal family in New York City in 1774, two years before the United States Declaration of Independence. (Read about her and her husband's genealogy on this Emmitsburg Area Historical Society webpage.)
A child of privilege, young Eliza went on to face much adversity during her short life. By the time of her death at age 46 from tuberculosis, she had suffered many sorrows. When she was 3 years of age, her mother died. As a teenager, she was all but abandoned by her father and step-mother. As a wife and mother, she suffered the death of her husband William Seton, faced destitution with no means to care for her five children, and mourned the loss of two of her children. Yet, despite these struggles, Eliza kept her peace and trust in God.
After converting to Catholicism thanks to the inspiration of Italian Catholic family friends, Elizabeth (Bayley) Seton went on to leave an incredible legacy of faith in American Catholicism. She founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's (the first Catholic religious order to originate in the United States, which after her death became linked with the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul). She founded the St. Joseph's Academy and Free School, which many point to as the beginnings of the parochial school system in the United States. In 1975, Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first native-born American citizen to be declared a saint.
Elizabeth became known as Mother Seton after her move to Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1809 to found the St. Joseph's Catholic school for girls. She had a true heart for the souls of children, as evidenced by her Sunday lessons "from the rock", and many letters she wrote to her own daughters and to other young girls in her care.
Here is an example – a letter Elizabeth wrote to her youngest sister-in-law Cecilia which includes a sweet little poem.
Let your chief study be to acquaint yourself with God because there is nothing greater than God, and because it is the only knowledge which can fill the Heart with a Peace and joy, which nothing can disturb – Father of all Beings how extensive are thy mercies! How great how inexpressible. It is in Thee we live and move and have our being . . . Thy paternal cares are over all mankind. . . .
As a little child relies
on a care beyond his own
knows he's neither strong nor wise
fears to stir a step alone
let me thus with Thee abide
as my Father guard and guide.
– Elizabeth Ann Seton, letter to her sister-in-law Cecilia Seton, November 19, 1802
I loved reading Elizabeth's letter to her firstborn daughter Anna Maria (Annina) on her eighth birthday:
This is your Birth day – the day that I first held you in my arms – May God Almighty Bless you my Child and make you his Child forever – your Mother's Soul prays to Him to lead you through this world, so that we may come to his Heavenly Kingdom in Peace, through the merits of our blessed Saviour.
– Elizabeth Ann Seton, letter to her daughter Anna Maria (Annina) Seton, May 3, 1803
One more example of Elizabeth's correspondence – a letter giving spiritual direction to one of her former students, reminding her of the religious education she received at her First Communion and encouraging her to place God at the center of her life:
God bless you, my loved child, Remember Mother's [Elizabeth's] first and last lesson to you: seek God in all things. In all your actions submit your motives to this unerring test: 'Will this be approved by God's all-seeing eye?'
– Elizabeth Ann Seton, letter to a former student, about 1818
Our family was blessed to become a little better acquainted with this holy woman as we made our visit to Mother Seton's former hometown in this beautiful area of Maryland during our drive that day. From the back of the little chapel that sits just a stone's throw from "Mother Seton's Rock", a statue of her likeness overlooks that spot where for many years she gathered children of the mountain parish on Sunday afternoons to teach them the Catholic faith.
For more about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's life, her shrines and memorials, visit:
- National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes at Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, Maryland
- National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland
- Find A Grave Memorial for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in New York, New York
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Museum, Sisters of Charity of New York
- More info about Mother Seton's Rock at the Historical Marker Database
- More info about the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes at the Historical Marker Database
- The Practice of Spiritual Direction in the Life and Writings of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton – a dissertation by Shin Ja Lee, 2010
- Sharon Seckens' photos of Emmitsburg, Maryland
- Various books and DVDs for both children and adults about the life and faith of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton


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Can we talk about food for a minute?
That British Woman strikes again! She posted this video on her blog and got me going.
Notice the table of food in the segment on the Edwards' family's eating habits at 7:50. Jaime says this is "normal" eating for many a family. I have never in my life known any family that ate that way. The Edwards don't cook anything, they deep fry everything and nothing they have is edible straight out of the fridge besides milk. That's not normal. That's extreme. I have never deep fried anything. My ex husband used to deep-fry french fries regularly. He cut them from potatoes, though, not by opening a freezer bag. The deep fryer went with him when he moved out, by the way.
Again, look at the food on Edwards' table. Pizza, fries, sausages, corn dogs (deep fried), pancakes, hotdogs, Little Debbie treats. Calorie-dense, fat-dense, and nutrition-poor is every single food on that table. Every food is highly processed. Anything that has been processed is easy to digest meaning it is easily turned directly into fat.
Stop for a second and think about the greatest source of processed food North Americans eat. Wheat.
This is what wheat berries look like:
What is removed from the wheat berry to make processed white flour is 40% of the kernel. The most nutrient-dense parts of the wheat kernel are removed: the b-vitamins, most of the fibre -- in all more than half the original nutrients are removed. Which is why white flour has to be enriched. But they don't put back what was taken out. There is no replacement fibre and the vitamins added are pale in comparison to what was removed! To learn more about the health benefits and nutrients in whole wheat, check out this article at WHFoods.
This one simple food is indicative of why processed foods are bad for us. The foods are stripped of their inherent nutrients and often have other things like sugar, fat, sodium and lesser vitamins added.
I caught a little bit of Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution show on tv last week. Jaime's emotional histrionics in response to an article that had him calling the West Virginians he was to be helping "stupid" and "lost causes" was too much for me. His bout of crying was contrived and quite pathetic. Grow a set, man!
While I agree with what he's doing and the fact that the American schools' nutritional programs are idiotic at best (ketchup is a vegetable, dontcha know) I think he's missing a huge point. I think everyone is missing a huge point.
It's not just the food that's killing us. It's the lack of movement. Kids sit in a classroom six hours a day and are lucky to get 30 minutes of physical activity on some days. They go home to play video games and watch tv. And what are they doing while playing video games and watching tv? Snacking. Sedentary lifestyles are as much to blame as poor eating habits for the current obesity epidemic. If activity levels are not addressed, no progress will be made against obesity.
The New York Times recently published an article highlighting the dangers of too much sitting:
"when you spend long periods sitting, your body actually does things that are bad for you.
As an example, consider lipoprotein lipase. This is a molecule that plays a central role in how the body processes fats; it's produced by many tissues, including muscles. Low levels of lipoprotein lipase are associated with a variety of health problems, including heart disease. Studies in rats show that leg muscles only produce this molecule when they are actively being flexed (for example, when the animal is standing up and ambling about). The implication is that when you sit, a crucial part of your metabolism slows down.
"Nor is lipoprotein lipase the only molecule affected by muscular inactivity. Actively contracting muscles produce a whole suite of substances that have a beneficial effect on how the body uses and stores sugars and fats."
What are kids being taught in American schools about nutrition? I remember being taught the four basic food groups of dairy, meat, vegetables and fruit when I was in school. Now there are pyramids which, frankly, written by the government are not to be trusted. I think most people would gain weight following the food guide's recommendations. I believe an independent guide is more reliable. Harvard came up with one based on up-to-date reliable scientific information and without major business' interests in mind. Check it out.
I know American schools are idiotic when it comes to nutrition. My daughter is lactose intolerant and was identified as such in early childhood. She had to show a doctor's note every single day in order to forgo the milk at school.
In our Ontario school system kids are being taught at an early age to discern between "healthy" foods and "not healthy" foods. Schools encourage parents to send nutritious lunches and snacks and limit or eliminate high sugar, high fat snacks from their children's lunchboxes. My five year old will point out healthy foods and "not healthy" or "sometimes" foods -- sometimes foods are foods that should only be eaten occasionally, not frequently. That's pretty much how we do it here. 90% of what my kids eat is prepared by me, full of nutrition and goodness. Quite a lot of what they eat is raw -- fresh fruits and vegetables. While the US aims for 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, the Canadian government encourages up to 10. I think Canada's on to something.
Do you serve your kids fresh fruits and vegetables at meals? Try it if you haven't done it. It doesn't need to be a fancy tray of unusual fruits and vegetables. I put out a platter of apple and orange slices with dinner the other night and guess what? They all disappeared! It's not much work at all.
Oh, and this malarkey that unhealthy food, fast food, highly processed foods are cheaper than healthful foods is NONSENSE! Absolute and utter nonsense. Take that burger meal from McDonald's or Burger King. For a buck or two you can get a 2 oz burger on a bun with a bit of ketchup and mustard and pickle slices. Well for 2 bucks in the states and 3 bucks in Canada, you can buy a pound of extra lean fresh ground beef and for another 2 bucks 8 whole wheat buns. You can make five 3-ounce burgers and serve 5 people for less than four or five dollars. You can add fresh onion, tomato and lettuce for another buck. Come on people, it's not rocket science and it's not going to put you in the poor house! And by the way, when you make your own burgers, you don't have added transfats (which will kill you and should be eliminated from the food supply entirely) or any of the chemical preservatives that will keep a Happy Meal from decomposing for years.


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Micro-USB Charge-and-Sync Cable M/M - Left-Angle Micro-USB - 24 AWG - 0.5 m
Charge newer phones and tablets efficiently, with up to 2.4 amps of power
Product ID: USBAUB50CMLA
- Provide full charging power to your Micro-USB mobile devices
- Connect to your device even in hard to reach areas and tight spaces
- Portable design fits nicely into any carrying case
This Micro-USB cable features 24 AWG wire to provide the full power you need to charge your mobile devices faster. The cable features a left-angled Micro-USB connector, so it's great for charging your mobile devices in a car, or for accessing your mobile device while it's connected to a car charger or computer.
Provide full charging power to your mobile devices
Different phones and tablets require specific amounts of power to charge efficiently. While a phone may only require 1.0A of power, a tablet may need 2.4A.
This Micro-USB cable is designed to deliver full power to your mobile devices so that all of your devices can charge at the expected speed .
Connect with ease
The left-angled Micro-USB connector lets you connect to ports that are difficult to reach, which is perfect for charging your car-mounted mobile devices. Even while you're charging your mobile device, you can use it to text, work or game, without the cable getting in the way.
The angled connector also prevents the cable from bending awkwardly or from straining too much to make a connection. It offers a more natural fit at the connection point, preventing unnecessary stress and damage to the cable and device port.
Charge and sync your USB mobile devices
Replace the Micro-USB cable that came with your mobile device, or keep one as a spare while you're traveling so that your mobile devices are ready to use while you're on the road. The short 0.5 m/1.5 ft. cable length makes this an excellent solution for close-range connections and portable applications such as charging with a mobile charging bank, public charging stations or your laptop.
The USBAUB50CMLA 0.5-meter cable is backed by StarTech.com's lifetime warranty for guaranteed reliability.
- Charge and sync your Micro-USB mobile devices
- Replace the cable that came with your Micro-USB device or keep one as a spare while traveling
Product Numbers
Ingram Micro Colombia
UPC Code
Technical Specifications
|Warranty Information
|Cable Jacket Material
|PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride
|Cable Shield Material
|Aluminum-Mylar Foil with Braid
|Connector Plating
|Type and Rate
|USB 2.0 - 480 Mbit/s
|Connector A
|1 - USB Type-A (4 pin) USB 2.0 Male
|Connector B
|1 - USB Micro-B (5 pin) Male
|Physical Characteristics
|Cable Length
|1.6 ft [0.5 m]
|Connector Style
|Straight to Left Angle
|Product Length
|1.6 ft [0.5 m]
|Weight of Product
|0.6 oz [18 g]
|Wire Gauge
|Packaging Information
|Package Height
|0.4 in [10 mm]
|Package Length
|8.9 in [22.5 cm]
|Package Width
|4.9 in [12.5 cm]
|Shipping (Package) Weight
|0.8 oz [24 g]
|What's in the Box
|Included in Package
|1 - Micro-USB Cable
Product Support
Data Sheets
Compliance and Safety
Compliance Letters
Safety Measures
- If product has an exposed circuit board, do not touch the product under power.
- If Class 1 Laser Product. Laser radiation is present when the system is open.
- Wiring terminations should not be made with the product and/or electric lines under power.
- Product installation and/or mounting should be completed by a certified professional as per the local safety and building code guidelines.
- Cables (including power and charging cables) should be placed and routed to avoid creating electric, tripping or safety hazards.
* Product appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice.


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IC107DI4IV - ICC 4 Port Decora Insert, Ivory
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The ICC IC107DI4IV is an ivory, 4 Port Decora insert that is compatible with most standard Decora faceplates. Use the IC107DI4IV to support the installation of four standard voice, data, or audio video keystone jacks or connectors. Simply snap the keystone jacks or connectors directly into the open ports of the IC107DI4IV so you can easily manage and configure all your connections.
These professional grade Decora style wall plates and inserts provide a great platform for installing any home theater or structured cabling systems. Decora wall plates and inserts are the most popular in business and residential installations where a more decorative look is desired.
- Includes: (1) Ivory 4 Port Decora Insert with Mounting Screws
- Designed to support the distribution of voice, data, and other communication needs with contemporary styling for commercial or residential applications
- Fits standard NEMA electrical boxes
- Designed for a consistent look with standard decorator style faceplates
- Compatible with all standard Decora faceplates
- Accommodates a wide variety of easy to snap-in modules, providing configuration flexibility
- UL Listed
- Part#: IC107DI4IV