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Importing priests (updated)
Today's New York Times has an article by Laurie Goodstein about the phenomenon of foreign priests being recruited to work in U.S. dioceses. It's a colorful look at the ups and downs of this increasingly common arrangement, as observed in the diocese of Owensberg, Kentucky.
[Diocesan Vicar for Clergy] Father Venters has seen lows. Some foreign priests had to be sent home. One became romantically entangled with a female co-worker. One isolated himself in the rectory. Still another would not learn to drive. A priest from the Philippines left after two weeks because he could not stand the cold. A Peruvian priest was hostile toward Hispanics who were not from Peru.From a strictly personnel perspective, Father Venters said one day over a lunch of potato soup with American cheese and a glass of sweet tea, the international priests are easier to work with than the local priests. If they mess up, you just say, See you. You withdraw your permission for them to stay.
As Goodstein points out, missionary priests serving U.S. Catholics is not a new phenomenon. But in the old days you used to find them serving their own ethnic groups and immigrant communities. Now an "international priest" is likely to have very little in common with the community he serves. That can lead to humorous mixups and more serious clashes. But it can also be broadening -- for me, praying the Mass with Catholics whose culture is different from my own is a profound, humbling encounter with the universal nature of the Church. It's not always comfortable, but it is usually rewarding.
Of course, reflections on cultural diversity are all well and good, but they don't always help you get past an accent you can barely understand or a preaching style you find off-putting. (My old parish has an African priest in residence who, when he first arrived, was in the habit of delivering 40-minute homilies, as was apparently customary in his homeland. I understand he was gently persuaded to adapt his preaching to American expectations.) And we expect more from our priests than just the celebration of Mass. It's one thing for these men to fill in on the altar, another thing for them to step into everything else a diocesan priest does. I imagine that's why, as Fr. Venters says in the article, The longer [the international priests are] in a place, the better it gets. It takes time to adjust to changes. It takes time to get used to an unfamiliar accent. And it takes time to form relationships -- something isolated parishes are particularly starved for.This article raises a lot of very interesting points -- there are details about how the system works, and probing questions from a Glenmary Missioner about whether this practice is a way of avoiding the problem (as well as another example of America taking more than its share of the world's resources). And it made me wonder about other ways understaffed parishes may be adjusting to the loss of the traditional "pastor" figure. I'm sure that's a story too complicated to be wrapped up in a newspaper article, but it's one I'd love to know more about. In the meantime, I encourage you to read this story (it looks like there will be follow-up articles too). Does it capture your experience with "international priests"? Does it challenge the way you think about the ones who may be serving in your area? Is it an effective stopgap solution, mutually beneficial, or is it just another way to avoid facing the real problems of the Church in the U.S.?Update (12/29): Here's today's follow-up article about a Kenyan priest now serving in Kentucky. He had the same adjustment problem as the African priest I mentioned above -- long homilies!(12/30): And here's the third article in the series, about the Church in India and the growing reluctance to send away home-grown priests. I must say, this whole series has been fascinating, and quite well done. Kudos to Laurie Goodstein.
About the Author
Mollie Wilson O'Reilly is an editor at large and columnist at Commonweal.
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Goodstein did a good job and I look forward to subsequent articles. There is probably something to be said for recruiting priests from outside a diocese to minister to Catholics who have little or no English. But in general the recruiting of priests from places where their services are needed seems a very questionable practice. Fr. Venters may be pragmatic but sometimes a band aid, such as he provides, only allows things to get worse. IMHO he would do better to tell his bishop that this recruiting job is against his conscience. If the bishop cannot find someone else to do the job, he might do it himself. If he finds that it is also against his conscience, after he has given the matter soimne thought, he might pass the word to Pope Benedict. That would be at least to focus the problem in the right place.
Translation: "soimne" = "some".
Preaching seems to be the main victim. I am sure that many African priests are learned and literate, but sound systems exaggerate an accent, and I often have only a vague idea of what the non-English speaking priest has said.More importantly, as Philip Jenkins observed, is it good stewardship to transfer priests from priest-poor areas to (relatively) priest-rich areas? The situation in the church parallels the drain of doctors from developing countries to the first world. Yes, we need doctors and priests, but just because we can pay more doesnt mean that we have the right to take them from other, less-fortunate countries.
The article indicated that many of the priest-transferees come from Africa where there are more than can be supported by their diocese. The bishops in Africa were far more willing than those in Latin America to allow their priests to leave because some African dioceses were ordaining so many they could not afford to keep them on the payroll.That being said, this was quite telling: We experience the priest shortage, and rather than ask the question, Why do we have a priest shortage? we just import some and act like we dont have a priest shortage, Father Holly (of Glenmary) said. Until we face the issue of mandatory celibacy and the ordination of women, we cant deal with the lack of response to the invitation to priesthood.
Maybe Fr Venters is telling us why Bishops like 'em. 'If they mess up, you just say "see you' and withdraw your permission for them to stay'/Hey, we're back to the old days. And now they will even have INS guns for back-up.. Cheap too! Maybe even pre-pay for round trip tickets and wave them around at meetings. That's the ticket for discipline and they will have no need for the likes of McBrien as in above posts.
If you are a Catholic and are not Screaming for optional celibacy for Latin rite diocesan priests you're not fullfilling your duty.
I don't know, Ed -- I'm not convinced that making celibacy optional for priests would do that much to boost numbers... And it would bring a whole new set of practical complications (much more than ordaining women would). It may still be a good idea, but I think the Glenmary priest's comments are a little broad in suggesting that it's the obvious solution. The quote about what happens "if they mess up" does seem pretty loaded. Especially if "messing up" could potentially include sexual abuse or misconduct.
Where is the justice and morality in enticing priests from poor countries where they are more desparately needed, to come to the US where clergy are more affluent? When will a critical mass of bishops find the courage to confront the Vatican with a demand for the end of mandated celibacy for diocesan priests? Only when the laity refuse to accept a forced fast from Eucharist and perhaps wh
when large numbers of lay women and men celebrate Eucharist in the absence of an ordained male.
You have it right, Robert. But very few have your correct theology. Priests are overrated and not as necessary as is held. If you just use the long held principle of "ecclesia supplet" (the church supplies, you will acknowledge that the laity can celebrate the death resurection, and life of Jesus in the Eucharist. The Roman obsession with apostolic succession has always been a power move replete with presumptions and historical lacunae. Jesus would never refuse to be with his people simply because of power faculties.
Thanks for the interesting post. This is actually a crucial issue for the US and for many dioceses currently and appreciate some of the comments (exception - skip the sarcasm Mr. Chambers).Dean Hoge died a few weeks ago but prior to his death he had spent time investigating the reality of "international priests in america" and actually published a book/study with that title in 2006 at the request of the National Federation of Priests' Councils. As with many current church issues, Hoge and his department analyzed the challenges and opportunities starting after 1985 - prior to this time, most international priests came to the US to serve their own ethnic groups (e.g. European immigrant priests) - with the Irish also coming to the US because of an historical anomaly - too many priests, small population, vibrant missionary education aimed at the US, Irish dioceses seeking financial support by sending priests.He addresses two questions: a) should this experience continue? b) given the current reality, how does the church make this experience better for future priestly ministry and advances the church's mission? Rome has published two instructions on this practice - a) priest rich countries need to support priestless and poor countries; b) foreign candidates need to be identified carefully and trained/oriented to their new culture.Ms. O'Reilly - would suggest that one's ecclesiology, understanding of ministry, and views on priesthood are essential issues that impact any comment on this article. For example, in the US we average roughly 1 priest for every 4700 catholics; in south america, it is 1 priest for every 47,000 catholics. The stats may not be that wide between US and Africa but it is a valid question to ask why the US needs foreign priests when Africa, East Asia, Mexico, South America are in such need. If you quickly scan the last 10 years of stats around sexual abuse, you will find a high percentage of foreign priests. In addition, this article, if anything, highlights the lack of preparation, assumes a foreign priest can just start working, seems to value a "priest - any priest" more than the value of a community, the parish, the parish history, its own leaders, etc. Realize this is a huge topic but this article only briefly touches on many issues that create problems - language, lack of education, lack of cultural knowledge, clash of cultures (foreign priests are not always comfortable around women who may be parish leaders), etc.When done well, there does seem to be some sharing of global awareness, cross cultural learning, and even development of ties to the foreign diocese in terms of support, adopting parishes, mission trips. But, in the end, will foreign priests address parish ministry needs or only delay the inevitable or enable the US to ignore or deny reality?
Mollie,You're not sure if ending mandatory celibacy would increase candidates? What percentage of hetrosexual men who leave the seminary eventually get married? How many of the 25K USA priests who left priesthood got married? 90% of men marry. Marriage is a sacrament not an alternative. In Brazil married evangelical pastors outnumber priests 18 to one. This is not rocket science. Fr Don Cuzzens a former rector has the numbers.
I think it comes through in the Times article that there needs to be much more thought in the U.S. church about whether it is moral to bring in so many priests from countries that need priests even more than we do. It's a matter of justice.I considered this in an article I wrote for Commonweal in September about a trip I took to Ghana to see a priest from my parish installed as the bishop of a new diocese there. In this case, the priest had come from Ghana to the United States to pursue graduate study that was unavailable in Ghana. I think that's legitimate, and I think it's legitimate for international priests to work in the United States for limited periods of time if it helps in their growth. I don't think this is always part of the equation, though.The Times article raised some serious concerns - for example, it mentioned that some international priests working in the U.S. are paid less than other priests. Perhaps the Times series will lead the bishops to review the moral issues involved in attracting so many priests from the Third World.For subscribers, the Commonweal article is at:http://commonwealmagazine.org/making-bishop-0
Notwithstanding the good that priests from other countries do here, it is a no brainer that they are sent here because the American bishops pay off their bishops. Simple as that. Follow the money.
Ed G -- No, allowing married men to be ordained as priests would obviously increase vocations to the priesthood. I'm just not sure it would be enough of an increase to fix the problem, especially given the structural changes it would require. But it seems clear we won't get out of this mess without making some structural changes somewhere!
Interesting conversation. Some of the comments seem to have gone far afield among a collection of Catholics, e.g. woman's ordination (already deemed impossible). M. O'Reilly is correct in my opinion. A married clergy are not the answer because V2 endorsed the celibate tradition of the Latin Church. To oppose celibacy is to oppose the call of the council and the teaching of the post conciliar Church:"(Celibacy is to be embraced and esteemed as a gift.) Perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, commended by Christ the Lord and through the course of time as well as in our own days freely accepted and observe in a praiseworthy manner by many of the faithful, is held by the Church to be of great value in a special manner for the priestly life..." Presbyterorum Ordinis 16"Students (seminarians) who follow the venerable tradition of celibacy according to the holy and fixed laws of their own rite are to be educated to this state with great care. For renouncing thereby the companionship of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven (cf. Matt. 19:12)" Optatam Totius 10 However, if the Latin Church adopted the Eastern practice with many married parish priests and celibate religious and monks (with bishops coming from the ranks of the celibate only) have you considered just which married lay men would probably be ordained? It would not be the progressive among us but would more probably be your local ultramontanist. Earlier, on another thread, I pointed out that in the period following the council the clergy tended to be more liberal than the laity, we still see this among some bishops and clerics to this day. If the pious lay men were ordained priests the clergy would no doubt be far more conservative in their inclinations. The voices of the few progressive clerics left would be drowned out by the many new but conservative priests who've swelled their ranks.
Lester -- I think it's possible to esteem the gift of celibacy and still be open to the idea of married priests.
Imported priests may help Americans to avoid the development of further provincialism in our Church. They also assist us in our appreciation for diversity and make the universality of the Church visible.Think about the difficulties faced by "international" priests in dealing with the OCP monopoly in parish music!
Lester;Maybe you are right that the married priests [many coming from 16k married deacons] will be conservative;However, having been married 53 years , I'm betting on the wives and children modifying any 'ultramontane' influences. Family responsiblities and stance are the most forceful thrusts for change found in human nature. bigger than bishops/theologians/popes for sure. and maybe the real reason/fear for the intransigence on celibacy issues. Pope Bxvi spoke well on human nature this Christmas ...who knows what a 'scholastic' will do next..
Thinking economically: I've thought for some time that if priests were paid commensurate to their level of educational attainment and responsibility (which can be considerable), and according to the demand for their services (which of course is very high), then over time the labor market would work its magic and the priest shortage would subside. If it's true that American dioceses pay African dioceses to compensate them for priests coming here, then it seems that we see this labor-market mechanism already at work.Charles Morris, in American Catholic, quotes figures that indicate that, at the beginning of the 20th century, big-city pastors were quite well-paid relative to average wages at the time.Let's chuck the half-baked idealism of poverty that we've imposed on our priests. Diocesan priests take no vow of poverty. We can admire Franciscans without insisting that all religious employees live like them. An educated and experienced priest serves in a professional capacity comparable to doctors, attorneys, and engineers. They deserve to be paid accordingly.
I dont think the number of priests per 1000 Catholics is as relevant as the geographics behind where the laity are located. In an urban environment, one priest can handle many more congregants than one priest can in a rural environment. Non-mandatory celibacy can be revered, but mandatory celibacy, where it works to the disadvantage of the beneficiaries of the priests presence is not something that does the church any good. We are first and foremost a Eucharistic community not a community having to be led by eunuchs for Christ. A variety of solutions can be found to deal with local, particularized situations: married priests, part-time non-stipendary priests (worker priests), women priests (I dont care what JPII said this subject will not go away and should remain a cause for lay pressure on the hierarchy), team ministries, lay-led parishes in which the Eucharist can be executed by specifically called and commissioned (by the local ordinary) lay leaders in and for that group of Catholics, etc. Yes, each of these alternatives to the current allegedly celibate priesthood will deliver their own set of problems, not the least of which will be the necessity of prying additional money from skinflint Catholics to support the families of those priests. Yes, divorce, infidelity and the ever-notorious PK situation will arise. All can be dealt with. Lay people, who are used to dealing with variety, change, challenge and difficulties in their business, professional and familial lives dont become blithering idiots as soon as they enter a sanctuary! They might even see good reason again to advance the vocation to the priesthood and religious lives among their children, female and male, if they see that the Church has finally entered the 20th century. Yes, I meant 20th, not 21st that would be too much to ask.The laity are now familiar enough with sexual abuse of minors and adults, autocratic handling of parish employees, and financial irregularities on part of the clergy to be able to keep a sharp eye out, discover these problems early and insist that the local ordinary correct the problem(s) that need his involvement, including replacing the miscreant.Full-time ordained priests with multiple parish responsibilities should be relieved of any responsibility for the physical plants and temporal affairs of those parishes. A lay board (call them trustees if you will) with fiscal accountability and fiduciary responsibility for their particular parish could deal with these matters, as they do in so many other denomination. Oh, I know that the clergy lives in mortal fear of lay people actually having a say in their parishes but clergy can grow up and learn to trust the rest of us. Thats what a partnership is all about. Aberrant situations would be handled as an exception as opposed to an expectation on the part of the non-ordained many by the ordained few.
A US Catholic article on the topic du jour:http://www.uscatholic.org/church/2008/12/foreign-ministry
Jimmy,Your solutions will not work because we are, as you've noted above, a Eucharistic Church, and two of your solutions would involve only simulated sacraments.I don't understand the point in putting forward a suggestion that, in effect, only promotes schism. Female clergy are simply impossible and any bishop who tried it would sever his unity with the rest of the Church.In cases of emergency we could see bishops ordain their perm. deacons to the priesthood whether married, widowed, or unmarried. We've already seen a few married priests ordained in the case of converts without losing the venerable tradition of the Latin Church. If the emergency were real, instead of proposing impossible solutions that would lead to simulated sacraments, we also could see priests who do not do parish work, (i.e. Fr. McBrien), called back to their dioceses. After all, while a women cannot be a priest a woman could certainly be a tenured professor of theology at Notre Dame.
They would not be "simulated sacraments" if the magisterium decided to do an about-face and change the rules on who can and cannot be allowed to validly speak the words of consecration. No, female clergy are NOT simply impossible! This church has said the what used to be down is now up more than once in its long and sometimes illustrious history.
"Weve already seen a few married priests ordained in the case of converts without losing the venerable tradition of the Latin Church."Of course, you meant the Latin Rite of the the Roman Catholic Church. Priests in the other rites of the Roman Catholic Church can, of course, be married.
Hi Jimmy,I think you are getting to the core of our seeming (and friendly) disagreement. Some people, and you may be one of them, would grant to the Magisterium positivistic and arbitrary power over doctrine that they do not really have. The popes are bound by revelation, tradition, and the deposit of faith. Pope Benedict XVI has spoken of these limitations on papal power - about the way pope's confirm what already belongs to the Church:In fact, the First Vatican Council had in no way defined the pope as an absolute monarch. On the contrary, it presented him as the guarantor of obedience to the revealed Word. The pope's authority is bound to the Tradition of faith ... It is not "manufactured" by the authorities. Even the pope can only be a humble servant of its lawful development and abiding integrity and identity. . . . The authority of the pope is not unlimited; it is at the service of Sacred Tradition. . . . . (Spirit of the Liturgy).Our Church does not have a body similar to the General Synod of the Anglican Communion which has the power to determine doctrine and discipline by majority vote. Ironically, for Anglicans, this majority vote has the characteristic of infallibility.Yes Joe, priests of the other ritual Churches can be ordained after marriage (not the other way around) but their bishops are taken from the ranks of their celibate priests. When I said "Latin Church" I meant the Latin rite. I would not want to see the Latin Church discard her venerable traditions any more than I would want to see the Byzantines or Maronites discard theirs.
Lester,It is amazing how you can so blandly ignore history and the facts. Popes have changed doctrines despite the twisting and turnings the apologists may conjure up. A few FYI.1. Infallibility is unheard of before the 12th century.2. No auricular confession before the seventh century.3. The rites controversies which gave up two continents.4. Change in extra ecclesian nulla salus.5. Junia became Junus.6. Peter was not a celibate. 7. The first seven councils were called by Emperors.8. ETC.Lester, you gotta be kidding.
Hello Bill,I don't think you've shown in your list any demonstration that pope's have changed "doctrine". Approaches may change with varying specific contingencies and certainly disciplines change but doctrine-no. I agree with the late Cardinal Dulles that Noonan's book was unsuccessful in making that case. I wonder if you could engage the problem associated with an infallible General Synod? Personally I am more at ease with a papal Magisterium bound by the deposit of faith & tradition than I am with a General Synod bound by nothing but plebiscite. It strikes me as unusual that you might be happy to substitute the former with the latter.
I'll leave aside the continuing discussion here on magisterium or maximal magisterialism. Noone here will convince someone else of their position - which, of course, is part of the problem.For, as the conclusion of today's Times article on priestsf rom India note, the importation is a stopgap - not a solution.The problem is that we can talk about it here, but there is no real conversation about it or even allowed about it at the highest levels.Note to Mollie: I agree the answer is more complex than merely ending mandatory celibacy:("every complex problem has a simple solution -and it's the wrong one,") but, I'd posit it'e one part of a solution that we need to keep working at and not avoiding or procrastinating about.
Yes, Bob. What makes me hesitate is not the notion of admitting married men to holy orders as part of the solution (or as a good in and of itself), but rather the temptation to make a direct link from "not enough priests" to "let them marry." I just think there's more to it than that.
"Think about the difficulties faced by international priests in dealing with the OCP monopoly in parish music!"While I appreciate that this was offered in jest, I feel compelled on behalf of my friends at OCP to mention that (a) it's not a monopoly and from all indications doesn't desire to be; (b) it has a long and illustrious history of faithfully serving the church (http://www.ocp.org/about/history); (c) its employees are unfailingly helpful, frequently to the detriment of its bottom line; and (d) OCP does a wonderful job. Our music would be much impoverished without its contribution.The foreign-born priests with whom I've worked have shown little or no interest in interfering with music ministry, which usually is a blessing for all concerned.
Yesterday's doctrine is today's discipline and can be tomorrow's changed practice.
Ok, in the spirit of interpreting silence as approbation, I'll plough ahead with the economic thoughts.What does a parish priest earn each year? Using the numbers reported in part 1 of the Goodstein series, and using reasonable-to-generous estimates for the number of weddings and baptisms a priest in the Owensboro diocese would do each year (50 and 100 respectively), a priest who was ordained in his mid '20's (generally the earliest one would be ordained) with twenty years of experience would earn an annual income of $23,960. This would be during the years generally considered to be an adult male's peak earning years.Suppose that this figure were doubled. $48K annually would not attract much attention from the graduating MBAs at Univ of Chicago or Wharton, but my guess is that in a rural diocese like Owensboro, $48K is a respectable income. Almost certainly it's above average in the diocese, but probably not lavishly so. What would happen to vocation applications? Or, suppose you are a single young Catholic male who works in a poultry processing plant in the Owensboro diocese. If you could become a priest and earn $24K a year, how enticing would that be? The immediate analysis would probably be, 'hmm, better money, but celibacy?' Now, make an identical offer to the young man, but this time the priest's salary is $48K. Would the young man's analysis change?Finally, suppose you are a college student from a town in the Owensboro diocese. You are not exceptionally money-motivated, in fact you are attracted to a life of service, and want to stay in the area in which you grew up. You are considering becoming a high school teacher. Your Newman Center pastor asks you, 'Have you ever considered the priesthood?'. I don't know what teachers earn in school districts in that diocese, and I suppose they are not unionized, but even so, a public high school teacher with twenty years of experience surely earns more than $24K/year. Plus there is an extended summer vacation- and of course teachers can date and marry. Compare that to the current salary a priest earns, and throw in the fact that he would be pastoring three or more parishes and most likely living alone, and one can see that the vocation director has a difficult sale. If the salary were doubled, would the young man reconsider?
I was stationed in Owensboro with the USCG (shore duty, no less :) for exactly two years to the day, i.e., half my enlistment, from 1972 to 1974 so I am somewhat familiar with the diocese. My permanent home then --- as now --- was/is Louisville although my govt career took me in the interim to Indiana, St. Louis, California, and Lexington, KY.Anyway, I recall a news report from some years back that Owensboro was highly successfully in recruiting LOCAL men to the priesthood. I can't recall date or provide a link, but my impression is that the diocese had no parish staffing problem, none at all!What accounts for this apparent reversal that sees Owensboro now recruiting foreign clergy??? I don't know. What I do know is that JPII was pope during the time the article appeared.I do think we need to look back to the ancient church for ideas on how to address this "priesthood" shortage. No ordained priests back then. A presider chaired the weekly worship service. Missionaries spread the message but, from what I've read, continued their journeys, leaving local converts to manage their own ecclesial affairs. Subsidiarity in action!As for women priests, the Vatican has yet to offer reasoning against the idea. We get excuses, but no reasons.Owensboro's solution --- indeed, the probable solution for any local church --- can and should be found within the confines of ----- the local church!!! No need to get foreign priests (other than for short assignments such as education and the like) to meet local needs, certainly not in developed countries.
As solutions to the priest shortage, the notion of ordaining married men and ordaining women has been suggested several times. In the spirit of further "thinking outside the box", why not also consider these alternatives:* Recruit young men (or not-so-young men) to the priesthood with the understanding that it wouldn't be a lifelong commitment. I guess this would be the quasi-military approach. Sign up out of college for a "ten-year hitch", after which there would be an orderly and honorable discharge process. Re-up for another ten years if so desired.* Recruit confirmed bachelors to be priests "out in the world". Let them continue to work (and be responsible for their own financial support) in offices, factories, classrooms and farms, and live in houses and apartments among regular people. Set a reasonable expectation for sacramental and pastoral service each week. This approach works well already for "permanent" deacons.
Jim--Good ideas. But as long as the hierarchy's attachment to celibacy takes precedence over the faithful's need for the sacraments, nothing will be done.Happy New Year, all.
A familiar presumption is to imagine that it is the "hierarchy" alone who find these proposals problematic or impossible. Better than imitate the practices of ecclesial communities that lack valid sacraments and whose clergymen may be temporary or lay would be to imitate dioceses or clerical religious institutes that continue to be blessed with plenty of young seminarians.
Does anyone know of a study that examines the "success rate" of priests who are ordained via a later vocation track as opposed to those who enter the seminary without any prior work experience in secular life? I guess I view retention and satisfaction as integral parts of a success rate.
"...blessed with plenty of young seminarians."Dean Hoge showed how JPII seminarians, inspired by an autocratic pope, have moved after ordination in one direction while the vast majority of laity, young and old, have continued to move in a different direction. I'd surmise that most Catholics --- those that experienced the pre-Vatican II church and younger folks who have acquainted themselves with the period --- have no desire to see the reincarnation of Ghetto Catholicism. If places like Lincoln just love their biretta-wearing clergy and their bishop, more power to them. Just don't let 'em migrate to other dioceses. Thanks but no thanks! A "pedestal culture" has allowed pervert priests to sacrifice their victims and the bishops to get away with impunity.As for any possible studies, it would be interesting to see if different groups of priests (JPII vs Vatican II) have different experiences vis-a-vis questions posed by Jimmy Mac.
Trying to find the links to Dean Hoge's studies but he actually investigated the very questions that you have posed. Here is another expert - she and David Nygren have done in depth studies of seminaries in the US: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_n39_v33/ai_19804264/pg_7?... are only a few dioceses that, like Lincoln or Omaha, have seen an increase in vocations - Mr. Jaglowicz summarizes their impact. The experience of Lincoln, Omaha, or Steubenville does not translate well into many other dioceses.....Lincoln's newly ordained could not minister well in the Southwest; they are rarely bilingual; their culture is latin?, and similar vocations in places such as St. Louis, Denver, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh have created tension and divisions among clergy, diocese, deacons vs. these newly ordained, full time ministers vs. these newly ordained.The studies on "older" vocations is mixed at best. Depending upon the actual ordination age, Hoge's results simplistically show that those ordained after the age of 60 may help for a period of time but then age, illness, their own physical limitations ultimately diminish their ministry - in some cases, it costs the dioceses more than the service they get in return. Seminaries such as Hale's Corner and Cromwell, Conn. focus on older candidates but studies indicate that educating and integrating these new priests into dioceses is challenging. There are questions around motivation, failed secular careers, failed relationships, escape from life's realities, one time spiritual events that have led to the "vocation", etc. Like the other blogs about "international" priests, older candidates bring challenges and are more a stop gap solution.
One final thought on this topic. I suspect that God does still call young American men to the priesthood, but that call is responded to much less than was the case a generation or two ago. If that is true, why is it true that so many fewer young men respond?
If anyone is still reading this post, here is a comment from a cousin whose family is in a very far west Texas diocese and parish:"This is exactly what has happened in my parents small rural parish. Starting about ten years ago, they had a Philippine priest, then a Nigerian priest, and now another Nigerian priest. Their priest serves 2 other rural parishes in addition to my parents' church in St. Lawrence. It always looks kind of comical to me because the demographic make-up of the parish is white German Catholic farmers and their Hispanic farm-workers led by a very dark black Nigerian priest with a heavy accent! I have to say, though, that the parish loved the Philippine priest, as well as the current Nigerian who officiated a beautiful funeral service for my cousin this past summer (The first Nigerian was a dud -- pretty much here for the money.) It was interesting to me that my parents got in hot water with the Nigerian priest last summer when they put a notice in the church bulletin (not thinking to first consult the priest) asking for money for the Philippine hometown of their former priest (with whom they stay in touch.) They had been doing this each year during the tenure of the Philippine priest. Anyway, the new Nigerian priest was upset because his hometown was also in desperate need of money and he felt like the Philippine priest was poaching on his parish! Ruffled feathers were smoothed, but it sure clarified that when these good, kind priests come from such drastically different circumstances and cultures, money still plays a role. Also, I have noticed that even though the foreign priests (with the one exception) have been very kind men, they don't seem to have very advanced educations so they perform their functions as priests alright, but they can't offer much in the way of education to these rural parishes that really don't have much access to any other progressive religious education."It gets back to the point that this needs to involve careful screening, good preparation, etc. It also starkly shows the difference between the older immigrant and ethnic priests and this new wave. The immigrant priest addressed the complete ethnic parish - they all struggled to assimilate into a new world. They were the complete minister not just there for sacramental purposes only. This new wave (with some exceptions) may only know enough english to work within the confines of the church, the liturgies and sacraments but are unable to address wider needs - the complete ministry/pastoral approach. What you have is a band-aid that reinforces cultic priests - this is both bad formation, bad ministry, and bad ecclesiology.


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MORGANTOWN - Despite the return of Brooke's starting tailback Raleigh Mason and the absence of Morgantown's standout running back Chazie Thomas, the Brooke Bruins end their football season with a 45-21 loss to the Mohigans to finish 3-7.
Brooke gained momentum with 4:30 left in the first quarter after a fumbled punt return by Morgantown's Blaine Stewart. Raleigh Mason ran the ball four yards into the end zone two plays later, with Jake Schwertfeger capping it off with an extra point to give the Bruins a 7-0 lead.
However, the Mohigans refused to lose on senior night at Pony Lewis Field and gained the momentum until the final whistle. Morgantown put up 39 unanswered points until late in the third quarter.
Article Photos
Brooke head coach Sean Blumette said the atmosphere in his locker room at halftime was not discouraging.
"One thing we've been big on all year is not giving up, not quitting, not letting things get away from us; coming out and battling until the final whistle," said Blumette. "And I really think this senior group embodied that and they set that example wonderfully throughout this year. We've been in some tough games and we've come up on the short end, but we've never once quit."
The Mohigans were led by senior wide receiver Blaine Stewart, who caught six passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Senior quarterback Mark Johnson was 10 for 17 for 166 yards. Important to the running game for Morgantown was senior running back Jalen Thomas with six carries for 88 yards.
Mason made his final appearance as a Bruin after missing nearly the entire season to injury.
Mason had 22 carries for 130 yards. Blumette says Mason's return was vital to the team,
"Raleigh really does bring an intangible to this team with his intensity and his sheer determination. He wants nothing more than to do well for this team." said Blumette.
Other important numbers for the Bruins include two carries for 23 yards and a touch down by senior Zac Morris. Senior quarterback Alec Buchmelter went 5 for 12 through the air before leaving the game due to injury late in the third quarter.
Mason's injury early in the season allowed Blumette to give some underclassmen, such as freshman Justin Loughrie, experience on the field.
This, along with the 35 freshmen who went out for the team this season, gives the Bruins the preparation and experience they need looking toward next season.
Blumette also mentioned the high hopes he has for sophomore quarterback Aaron Walker, who will likely replace the graduating Buchmelter.

subset: commoncrawl


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Click the title of any of the items below to learn more.
Iconfactory artist Anthony Piraino serves up a special iconic treat just in time for Christmas - The Polar Express.
Artist Kate England is pleased to offer up beverage service for her latest freeware icon collection - Coffee & Tea.
Grab a chair and have a cup of joe in icon form!
The Iconfactory search engine is a great tool to help you find whatever you are looking for. We have associated keywords with all of the content available on the site. These keywords span icon sets, desktop pictures, iPulse Jackets, software products, support items, design services projects and even news page postings.
In order to make it easy for you to find what you are looking for, we have built some features into our search engine that allow you to customize your search:


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13 Nov 2012 1:17 PM #1
Unanswered: Documentation for mixins?
Is there documentation for how to use mixins? I have a situation where I think I want to use a mixin, but I can't find any documentation that tells me exactly how to do it or how it functions.
13 Nov 2012 2:38 PM #2
Here's a quick example (based on my reading of Sencha's code; I agree that we could use more documentation here):
Ext.define('MyMainClass', { // the benefit is that you can add to your class with one // or more mixins, rather than by extending another class extend: 'MyParentClass', mixins: { myMixinIdentifier: 'MyMixinClass' }, constructor: function(config) { this.callParent(arguments); // make sure you call this if your mixin has a constructor this.mixins.myMixinIdentifier.constructor.call(this); } }); Ext.define('MyMixinClass', { extend: 'Ext.mixin.Mixin', mixinConfig: { id: 'myMixinIdentifier' }, config: { // configs defined here will be added to MyMainClass instances } // methods defined here will be added to MyMainClass instances });
14 Nov 2012 6:30 AM #3
Thanks for the quick reply. This is exactly what I wanted to see.
26 Jun 2013 6:56 PM #4
it is also helpful for me, thanks.


text:
LinuxWorld Video: Gerald Carter about Likewise Open
Linux Pro Magazine's Editor in Chief, Joe Casad meets Gerald Carter, a senior Likewise Software developer and long-time member of the Samba core development team
Gerald Carter gives a quick overwiev about the open source authentication software Likewise.
Gerald Carter, Likewise
Issue 26: Linux Shell Handbook 7th Ed./Special Editions
Buy this issue as a PDF
SUSE Joins the Microsoft Test Drive Program
Customers can take a free test drive of SLES for HPC on the Azure Cloud
SiFive Launches a Line of Open Source Chips
San Francisco-based chip company announces their first fully open source chip platform.
Fedora 24 Released
The whole distro gets rebuilt on glibc 2.3
Canonical Announces Cross-Distro Support for Snaps
Ubuntu Vendor tries to solve app packaging and distribution problem across distributions.
ownCloud Forked
Founder of ownCloud launches the Nextcloud project.
HP Enterprise Unveils a Futuristic Computer
Will The Machine change the way future programmers think about memory?
CoreOS Announces Distributed Storage System
The new Torus distributed storage system is available under an open source license on GitHub
Google Beats Oracle in the Android Lawsuit
Juries decides Google's use of Java APIs Was Fair Use
Linux is the Largest Software Development Project in History
But if you are not using the latest Linux kernel, your system is insecure.
Linksys Says Yes to Open Source Firmware
Home routers will give room for custom firmware but still comply with FCC rules


text:
Philadelphia Magazine, Edited by Sandy Hingston
Copyright © 2000, Philadelphia Magazine
Ultima Vez Modificado: 1 de noviembre del 2001
Excerpted with permission from Philadelphia Magazine, February 2000, Volume 91, Number 2
A menagerie of extraordinary caregivers and researchers in the
world of fur, fins and feathers.
What makes a vet great? The adoration of pets and owners, a hunger to keep up with changes in the field, willingness to offer treatment options, the ability to communicate. Philly has more than its share of superb generalist and specialist vets, thanks to what is arguably the nation's best school, hospital and emergency clinic, the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, or VHUP -- where nearly all the doctors on this list trained. We asked vets where they refer pets with special needs, conferred with veterinary consultants and pet-rescue agencies, and asked the experts who they consider the experts in order to compile this list of vets doing remarkable things. It includes high-tech researchers, old-fashioned neighborhood practitioners, New Age innovators and one very special veterinary nurse, all distinguished by their dedication to creatures great and small.
Type of practice: Veterinary oncology, with a subspecialty of radiation oncology -- providing radiation therapy to animals with cancer. One of fewer than 40 such specialists in the world. Veterinary editor of OncoLink, an on-line resource for cancer information. Holds a degree in philosophy from Yale.
Says: "I was a nonscience major, but I was interested in the healing arts in general. I thought veterinary medicine was more holistic, more humanistic, than human medicine. I'm now working toward my master's in Penn's bioethics program. So my philosophy background wasn't left by the wayside."
And: "Make an informed decision. Never be afraid to ask a vet for a second opinion. Cancer has such a stigma. It's so scary. People think treatment has to be a terrible thing. And many vets just tell them, 'It's time to put Fluffy to sleep.' The worst thing is when a vet says, 'There's nothing we can do,' and the owner euthanizes the pet and then a week later talks to a friend or sees a TV report about how the pet could have been saved."
Owns: "Two dogs, but I've had as many as six, and two cats. All rescued. And yes, I have had a dog with cancer."


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Sunday, October 12, 2008
Happy Holiday!
Posted by Vegan Dad at 4:54 PM
Labels: holiday, Vegan Mofo
9 comments:
- Reni said...
Happy Thanksgiving! :)
- October 12, 2008 at 8:48 PM
- Veg-a-Nut said...
Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your time with family.
- October 12, 2008 at 11:52 PM
- Becks - Not a Rabbit. said...
Happy Thanksgiving! Beautiful pictures, I really wish I lived in Canada.....
- October 13, 2008 at 5:51 AM
- Vegan Bulimic said...
Happy Thanksgiving! I'll add the seitan roast to my tentative list of American Thanksgiving foods...if I do a good enough job, maybe my slew of buck-hunting uncles will try some : )
- October 13, 2008 at 5:07 PM
- Valerie said...
Happy Thanksgiving, Vegan Dad and family. I've just spent the day helping to feed 200 poor in Toronto's Parkdale district. The meal wasn't vegetarian, though the chief cook knows that I am vegan and he always prepares me a lovely Sri Lankan meal when I go there.
Just a note about being thankful ... I'm thankful for having such a wonderful network of vegans on the net to help support a lone vegan in my circle of friends and relatives. Thanks.
- October 13, 2008 at 5:09 PM
- JennyO said...
I served your seitan roast for our Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday and it was fantastic. A big hit with everyone. Thanks Vegan Dad!
- October 13, 2008 at 10:39 PM
- Eesh said...
Happy Thanksgiving Vegan Dad!
- October 13, 2008 at 11:07 PM
- ceblakeney said...
Happy Thanksgiving to our neighbors in the North! I have done a Harvest Pot Pie a few times, as my contribution to the family's local (Maryland) U.S. Thanksgiving. Have not done a seitan roast yet, but it is under consideration. Thanksgiving is absolutely the best holiday we have invented. The gifts of this continent are so many, we should celebrate for a couple of months, not just one day!
- October 14, 2008 at 9:51 PM
- Happy Herbivore! said...
i want to move to canada.
- October 16, 2008 at 2:54 PM


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29 Oct 2012 11:10 AM #1
[4.1.3] Themes cannot modify menu gradient or border
When theming menu components, no SASS variables exist to modify the menu background gradient style or border width and radius. Instead, the values are hard-coded to use a "matte" gradient, a border width of 1px, and a border radius of 3px. From resources/themes/stylesheets/ext4/default/widgets/_menu.scss:
.#{$prefix}menu-item-active { cursor: pointer; .#{$prefix}menu-item-link { @include background-gradient($menu-item-active-background-color, 'matte'); margin: 0px; border: 1px solid $menu-item-active-border-color; cursor: pointer; @include border-radius(3px); } }
29 Oct 2012 12:12 PM #2
usually we won't change that, you can replace it with variable you defined by yourself, can't you? otherwise, the margin is 0px, border style is 'solid' are all hard coded.
29 Oct 2012 12:24 PM #3
Sure, it's possible to add additional CSS rules to override these hard-coded values; that's what I'm currently doing to work around this. However, it makes the resulting CSS bigger (since the default values are included along with the overrides, even though they're not used for anything) and requires more work on the part of the person doing the theming. And if I change the values in the ExtJS SASS directly, those changes will all be wiped away the next time I upgrade ExtJS. Isn't the whole point of using SASS so that the theme can be controlled in one place by variables, without hacking together a bunch of overrides?
Also, panels and toolbars and most other widgets already provide variables like this to control their borders and background gradients ($panel-border-radius, $panel-header-background-gradient, $toolbar-inner-border-width, $toolbar-background-gradient, and so on). Why would menu components be any different?
29 Oct 2012 12:34 PM #4
Thanks for the report! I have opened a bug in our bug tracker.


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Custom Team Store for Temple Lacrosse.
These are CUSTOM items, and NOT available for immediate delivery.
Order cut-off deadline is 10/14/2014. No orders will be accepted after that deadline, and orders will take approximately 3 to 4 weeks from that date to ship.
Custom items are made to your specifications. Please make sure you choose exactly what you want, as these items are Non-Returnable, Non-Refundable and Non-Exchangeable.


text:
Dealing with Holiday Conflicts (and Satisfying Your In-Laws)
8 of 11
Try to Compromise
Life isn't always black-and-white; there's a lot of room for gray between the lines. For example, say you want to spend New Year's Eve home but your in-laws want to have a party instead. Instead of giving a flat refusal, see what compromise you can work out. Maybe your in-laws could come to your home for dinner and then you could ring in the New Year at their party. This won't always work, but it's worth a shot.
More on: Marriage and Divorce
Excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Dealing with In-Laws © 1998 by Laurie E. Rozakis, Ph.D. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Used by arrangement with Alpha Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
To order this book visit Amazon's web site or call 1-800-253-6476.


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_Hi everybody _i wanna all steps to create instance, parameter file , password file and database _manually in oracle 10g _i hope from all to help me
Sign up
- Anybody can ask a question
- Anybody can answer
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closed as not a real question by Mark Storey-Smith, Nick Chammas, jcolebrand♦ Jan 17 '12 at 3:13
It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center.If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
Oracle configuration is very complex and someone could easily write dozens of pages of documentation describing the things you are asking about. Try to find a tutorial or (better yet) an experienced DBA to help you get started.
Short of that, find a good book on Oracle database administration. One of the best DBA books I've read is Pro Oracle Database Administration by Darl Kuhn. Chapter 2 covers almost everything you are asking about.
Once do get started, come back here if you're still having trouble and post specific error messages. You'll have a much better chance of getting some useful assistance that way.


text:
Going Organic: Is It Worth the Cost?
In This Article:
While human health benefits of eating organic food aren't confirmed by government agencies, the evidence for environmental benefits is more solid. Banning many pesticides and certain fertilizers from organic farms reduces pollution in soil and water, preserves a more diverse mix of plants and animals, and may contribute to more fruitful farmland. Organic farming also conserves energy that would otherwise be used to produce synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. There is some evidence to suggest that carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas) emissions are decreased on organic farms, according to Nature magazine. Those in favor of organic farming, such as the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), suspect that it has many more environmental benefits, but so far not enough research studies have been undertaken to support their theories.


text:
Item #: HSELEMENTV
$339.00 Free Shipping
Earn $10.17 Smart Cash
Element Vision Light
by Humanscale
The newest iteration of Humanscale's Element Light casts a true-color, glare-free beam of light that illuminates your desk surface evenly and brightly. Prominent features include an intuitive dimmer control for adjustable light intensity and a Passive Infrared (PIR) occupancy sensor that turns the unit off when the user leaves the area.
- Single MCX LED casts just one shadow
- Unique design maximizes light output, using only 7 watts of power, reduces glare, and increases the light's usable life
- Dimmer switch provides adjustable illumination levels
- PIR occupancy sensor automatically turns the unit off when not in use, and back on when the user returns
- Universal power supply and interchangeable plug options accommodate global power outlets
- Perfect internal counterbalance provides effortless, one-touch positioning
- 74% recycled and 98% recyclable content
- Color Temperature: 3000K
- Lifespan: Up to 50,000 hours
- Maximum reach: 28"
- Working height: 18"
- 74% recycled and 98% recyclable content
- Five-year, 24/7 warranty
|Direct Mount
Screws into a
horizontal surface
|Clamp Mount
Fits surfaces
up to 2" thick
|Desktop Base
Materials & Measurements
Maximum reach: 28"
Working height: 18"
Maximum reach: 28"
Working height: 18"
About The Manufacturer
|Humanscale's focus since its inception in 1982 has been providing outstanding ergonomic desk lamps for the home and the office. Their products, which range from task chairs to keyboard trays to CPU holders, are all geared towards making life simpler, easier, and healthier for anyone who works at a desk. Widely recognized for their line of office seating, Humanscale has done much to advance design in some newer product areas- namely in computer and office accessories such as monitor arms, foot machines, and the ergonomic computer mouse. Winner of numerous design awards, Humanscale continues to deliver groundbreaking office tools that combine simplicity, aesthetics, and ergonomics.
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Shipping & Delivery
Humanscale products come with free standard shipping for destinations within the contiguous United States.
Desk lamps generally arrive within 1-2 weeks from the date of purchase. For more information, please view Smart Furniture's shipping rates, options, and delivery policies.
Product Q&A
Five-year, 24/7 warranty
Get answers before you buy. Call 800-260-8420 .


text:
(CBS) The amount of time spent in front of the television may affect more than belt size: A new study suggests sitting in front of the tube too much could also take a toll on a man's sperm count.
A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on Feb. 4 showed that men who watched more than 20 hours a week of TV had almost half the sperm count of men who didn't watch TV at all.
"There had been a few reports linking very high levels of physical activity to higher sperm quality, but these studies had been linked to professional athletes and professional bicyclists who reached levels of physical activity higher than anyone else," study author Dr. Jorge Chavarro, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, said to CBSNews.com. Chavarro and his team wanted to find out how levels of physical activity affected non-athletes.
They hypothesized that the typical person with higher-than-average levels of physical activity would have better sperm quality.
The authors used data from the Rochester Young Men's Study, which involved 189 men between the ages of 18 to 22 who were enrolled in 2009 and 2010. The study mostly looked at how environmental contaminants affected subjects, but also looked at a wide variety of factors including diet and television watching.
On average, the men had about eight hours of physical activity and watched 14 hours of TV a week.
Just as their hypothesis predicated, men who had the highest level of physical activity -- 15 hours a week or more -- had a 73 percent higher sperm count than those who had the lowest level of physical activity, which was less than five hours a week.
Interestingly, men who watched more than 20 hours of TV a week had a 44 percent lower sperm count than men who watched the least amount of TV. The lowest category included anyone who watched less than four hours a week, but the average viewing time was 0 hours for that whole group.
"I was surprised to see the strength of the association," Chavarro said. "We expected an inverse relationship, but we didn't know to what extent."
Although other studies have shown that sedentary behavior can affect sperm quality, those typically looked at higher scrotum temperatures or sitting in front of a computer screen all day -- not a relaxing activity like watching TV, Chavarro pointed out.
Chavarro said he believes that the reason why men who watch TV more had lower sperm counts is because of their oxidative stress. He explained that a wide variety of chemical reactions that the body goes through generate oxygen. These oxygen levels can damage cells such as sperm cells like spermatozoa, which develop into sperm.
"We know from other studies that physical activity is associated with lower oxidative stress and being sedentary is associated with high oxidative stress," he said.
Chavarro said that you don't have to become a professional athlete to have a great sperm count, but getting off the couch and moving more can help.
"More exercise is better for sperm production," he concluded.
© 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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Galaxy capture league crown in Beckham's MLS finale
By Associated Press
Not a subscriber? You can purchase a single-day subscription for only $0.75 to read this and access all of our content and our E-Edition. CLICK HERE purchase a single day subscription.
Become an electronic subscriber to the Republican-American for only $8 a month. CLICK HERE.


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Customer Experience Metrics That Matter Most
By Charles Knapp on Sep 19, 2012
When customers contact your company, they don't ask to be deflected or handled or converted. They want to be satisfied.
To improve the customer experience, you need more than traditional measures such as deflection rates, handling times, and conversion rates. In this new Oracle AppCast podcast, tune in to this conversation with me about customer experience metrics that you can use to grow your business.
Would you like to learn more? Please join us at the one of a kind Customer Experience Summit at the Oracle OpenWorld Conference, October 3-5 in San Francisco.


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Home > Food > Recipes > Baked Rigatoni
Baked Rigatoni
Categories: Casseroles
Type: Main Dishes
Type: Main Dishes
Baked Rigatoni is a classic casserole that your family will make a staple!
Serves: Serves: 12
- 1/2 cup egg substitute
- 2 cups nonfat ricotta cheese
- 3/4 cup grated nonfat Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 6 1/2 cups nonfat pasta sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 16 ounces rigatoni, cooked and drained
- 3 cups nonfat shredded mozzarella cheese
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- Preheat oven to 375F (if baking after preparation).
- Spray 9 X 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Combine egg substitute, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and parsley in medium bowl; mix until completely blended.
- Combine pasta sauce, Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
- Pour 2 cups pasta sauce in bottom of baking dish; top with half the cooked pasta, half the cheese mixture (drop by tablespoons) and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat with 2 cups sauce, remaining pasta, remaining cheese mixture and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese.
- Spray large foil sheet with cooking spray; cover baking dish.
- Pasta can be refrigerated at this point and baked later, or bake, covered, 60 to 70 minutes; uncover and bake 5 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from oven and let stand at room temperature 5 minutes before serving.
- If planning to freeze casserole: Cool to room temperature. Slice into individual servings if desired, wrap in freezer wrap and store in plastic freezer bag. Frozen pasta meals can be baked directly from freezer (wrap in foil and heat in 350F oven 20 to 25 minutes) or thawed in microwave and baked in 350F oven 10 to 15 minutes.
- Timesaving tip: Double the recipe and freeze half for another meal. You and your family will appreciate it!
excerpted from:
Excerpted from Cook Once, Eat for a Week by Jyl Steinback. Copyright © 2003 by Family Fit Lifestyle, an Arizona Corporation.To order this book go to Amazon.
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It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that as of 14 January 2013, new aviation transport regulations have gone into effect that will make it *very* difficult for us to ship to the US. You may find that shipping to the States is unavailable intermittently over the next few weeks as we test alternative shipping routes. Boo.
This doesn't mean that we will *NOT* ever again ship to the US, it simply means that right now, it's very difficult to send you any gin, whisky, tequila, rum, cognac, vodka—basically, anything with a high abv. Double boo.
Tags: shipping, USA, whisky, importing, changes, delivery, news
Categories : News
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Grand Valley State University Women's Center
South Africa Study Abroad
Learn more about our South Africa Study Abroad Trip by watching this video:
Program Description
Launched in Spring 2012, the six-week Women and Gender Studies program in Cape Town, South Africa combines a strong academic program and service to the community. The program, a partnership between Women & Gender Studies and the Women's Center, focuses on women and gender issues in the region and explores global feminist perspectives. Participants examine how issues such as reproductive health, education, violence, political representation and participation, Apartheid, and the new democracy intersect and impact the role of women within various societal and class structures.
This unique trip provides a substantial service-learning opportunity set up in collaboration with our community partner in South Africa. Service-learning allows participants to deeply engage with local community members and with the culture of South Africa in a meaningful and impactful way.
Students divide their time between service learning, academic lectures, and excursions in Johannesburg and Cape Town. In addition to The Apartheid Museum and a tour of Soweto and Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, students experience the Cape of Good Hope, Boulders National Park, and the Botanical Gardens in Cape Town, and Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
This trip also has a significant social justice component, which is highlighted in excursions to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, the District Six Museum in Cape Town and many other museums and historical sites.
Although students earn WGS credit for the courses, arrangements can be made with various departments for independent study or internship credits, pending advisor approval.
Learn more about the South Africa program and how to apply by visiting the Padnos International Center website.
Want to read the first hand experiences of GVSU students? Visit our South Africa Study Abroad blog.
For more information, contact
Dr. Danielle DeMuth at firstname.lastname@example.com or Brittany Dernberger at firstname.lastname@example.com
If you're unable to attend one of our information sessions, watch this video:
Support South Africa by Donating School Supplies
In South Africa, our students are partnered with 6th grade learners at Manenberg Primary School. School supply donations are greatly appreciated! Please drop off donations to Brittany Dernberger in the Women's Center (1201 Kirkhof Center).
Needed School Supplies:
- Pencil Bag
- Crayons
- Pencil
- Sharpener
- Eraser
- Stump nose scissors
- Ruler
- Glue Stick
- Markers
- Notebook
- White t-shirt (children's size Medium or Large)
- Paint brush
- Balloons
- Fabric paint
- Small items that can be given out as prizes - stickers, small toys, etc.
Page last modified December 12, 2013


text:
Reading Specialist | Teachers College Columbia UniversitySkip to content Skip to main navigation
Reading Specialist
In the Department of Health & Behavior Studies
Welcome to the Program in Reading Specialist
The Reading Specialist M.A. program provides students with a broad foundation in applied educational psychology as it relates to literacy acquisition and concentrated preparation in assessment and intervention in reading and writing difficulties. The program provides experience in working with child, adolescent, and adult learners.
Degree Programs
Connect With Reading Specialist
Contact Us
Coordinator: Professor Dolores Perin
Contact Person: Professor Dolores PerinPhone: (212) 678-3942
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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This Week's Liturgy
August 9th, 2015 (see other dates)
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Discussion Questions for Reading 1Think about a time when you felt worn out or dejected. Perhaps you too felt like plopping down under a tree and not bothering to get up again. Who or what helped you to get up and continue your journey? What are some of the ways we can serve others who need to be refreshed or lifted up in times of trouble?
Describe your ideal Sunday that would refresh and strengthen you on your faith journey. What can you do to experience this ideal?
Reading 1 1 Kings 19:4-8
Reading 1 ReflectionSometimes our fears and troubles seem to be just too much for us. We may feel that we cannot go on. The prophet Elijah felt that way after being pursued by his enemies who wanted to kill him. He sat down under a tree and prayed for death. But God awakened him twice, providing food and water for his dejected messenger. The refreshments and the knowledge of how much God cared for him gave Elijah the strength to continue his journey to "the mountain of God."
Each Sunday is our day of rest from the activities and the difficulties of the week. We are strengthened by the Eucharist and our knowledge of how much God cares for each one of us.
Discussion Questions for Reading 2Why do you think people your age are sometimes tempted to be cruel to others? What are some of the consequences of cruelty and harsh words? Think about a time when you treated someone who was different or unpopular with kindness. What were the effects of your kindness? Who helps you to be a forgiving person?
Name three ways young people like you can "gladden the Holy Spirit" at home or at school.
Reading 2 Ephesians 4:30—5:2
Reading 2 ReflectionAt our Baptism we received the new life of the Holy Spirit. In this reading, Paul encourages those who have been baptized to avoid acting in ways that "sadden the Holy Spirit." Cruelty and harshness of every kind should be avoided. Christians are called instead to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving. In that way they imitate Christ who has been kind, compassionate, and forgiving to them.
It is not always easy to say no to cruelty and bitterness. But, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we have the power to follow Jesus' example.
Discussion Questions for GospelLook back at the reading. What reasons do the murmurers give for not accepting Jesus' teaching? What other reasons might they have? Why do you sometimes find it hard to accept new teachings either in religion class or any other class? How does Jesus respond to those who are resisting his teaching?
What are some of the ways we can prepare to celebrate Eucharist so that we experience this sacrament more fully? How can we help other Catholics who may be staying away from Mass for any reason?
Gospel John 6:41-51
Gospel ReflectionWhen a teacher introduces a completely new idea, students sometimes resist it. They may complain "I don't get it. It doesn't make sense to me." When Jesus began teaching the Jews that he himself was the "bread that came down from heaven," they muttered and murmured in complaint. They thought they knew who Jesus was. But Jesus responds by promising them that if they eat the living bread, they will live forever. He will give his flesh for the life of the world.
In the Eucharist, we experience the truth of Jesus' promise. We receive the living bread and know that we shall live forever.
Proclaiming Faith Activities for Primary Grades
Food for the JourneyThe first reading tells us that Elijah is awakened twice by an angel and told to get up and eat because he will need food to give him strength for a long journey. Next to Elijah is a jug of water and a hearth cake. Elijah eats and drinks and then goes on the journey to the mountain of God.
Go on a journey to the "House of God", the parish church. Explain to the children that like Elijah, we must prepare for our journey. Provide small bottles or cups of water and rice cakes or other appropriate snacks. Have the children enjoy their food and drink and then take them on the journey to the church.
Be Imitators of GodIn the second reading, Paul tells us to be imitators of God. Paul encourages us to be kind to one another, to be compassionate, to forgive each other, and to live in love.
Explain to the children that we will be imitators of God for the day. Discuss ways in which we can do this, for example, share a treat, help another child, listen to the teacher, or comfort someone that has been hurt. Encourage the children to do these actions throughout the day. At the end of the school day, gather the children around the prayer table. Light a candle, then say the following prayer:
"Dear God, today we tried to imitate you, by ______ (go around the circle and let each child say what he or she did). Help us each day to live in your love. Amen."
Proclaiming Faith Activities
Gladdening the SpiritWith your partner or group, read the following examples of behavior that "saddens the Holy Spirit." For each example, suggest ways of "gladdening the Holy Spirit."
1) After being unjustly punished by a parent, a young teen refuses to speak to the parent and avoids him or her as much as possible.
If you were the teen, how might you gladden the Holy Spirit?
2) An overweight fourth grader is being pushed around and insulted by several fifth graders in the school corridor. His classmates hurry off.
If you were one of his classmates, how might you gladden the Holy Spirit?
3) Two close friends have had a big fight and are saying cruel things about each other to anyone who will listen. Some of their friends make matters worse by exaggerating the faults of the person who is being criticized.
If you were a friend of the two who were fighting, how might you gladden the Holy Spirit?
Make one action decision about how you will be kind, compassionate, or forgiving this week.
For Bibles and other scripture resources, please see the Sadlier Religion Catalog.
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This question already has an answer here:
Is the first form valid as well, or only the second?
E.g. "I will make me a sandwich"
This question already has an answer here:
Is the first form valid as well, or only the second?
E.g. "I will make me a sandwich"
marked as duplicate by FumbleFingers, choster, tchrist, Bradd Szonye, medica Apr 29 '14 at 5:55
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
I will make myself... is correct.
I can't think of any sentence at all where I will make me would be grammatically correct.
Here's why: "Myself" is the reflexive form of "me", for use when you've already used the pronoun (in this case, "I") in the sentence and are referring back to it. For example, I'd say "you can make a sandwich for yourself", rather than "you can make a sandwich for you", since I already referred to you (by using the word "you") in the sentence.
I will make me, means I will make something for me.. A sandwich, a cake ect.
I will make myself, means I will put myself in a position to be.. available, ready, ect.
The second form is valid. Also valid is:
"I will make a sandwich for myself"
"I will make me a sandwich" sounds at best unnatural to my ear -- at worst ungrammatical -- as long as you make a sandwich for someone, but definitely make a sandwich for yourself.
And so:
But, use a reflexive pronoun if and when you want to emphasize that the subject does the action.


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Honeywell says its new OneWireless Terminal Solution will enable the operators of oil and gas terminals to increase their productivity while also complying with stringent health, safety and environment (HSE) regulations, all at significantly lower cost than wired technology.
Honeywell on Wednesday unveiled its new
OneWireless terminal solution, seeking to
bring together a portfolio of wireless-enabled products,
services and productivity tools tailored for terminal
The announcement was first made at the International Liquid
Terminals Associations (ITLA) 33rd annual conference and
trade show in Houston.
The OneWireless solution enables operators of
oil and gas terminals to increase their productivity while also
complying with stringent health, safety and environment (HSE) regulations, all
at significantly lower cost than wired technology, according to Honeywell
There is constant pressure on terminal operators and
owners to improve productivity, efficiency, safety and security
with limited capital and operating budgets," said Ray
Rogowski, global marketing director for Honeywell Process
"The OneWireless Terminal Solution helps enable
customers to achieve these goals within their budgets," he
added. In a competitive industry, terminal operators are
investing in tank automation to meet new safety regulations as
well as continuously looking for ways to manage costs.
Wireless-enabled tank gauging is less expensive, at about half
the cost of the wired alternative.
The system includes the ISA100-compatible Honeywell Enraf
SmartRadar FlexLine, the highest-precision wireless radar gauge
available, according to the company.
Requiring no external wireless module, the FlexLines
integrated radio sends tank level measurements securely and
wirelessly to the central control room. The Flexline is also
used as a data concentrator, collecting data from local tank
instruments and sending the data wirelessly through the same
ISA100 network.
The OneWireless solution also comprises
applications such as Honeywells mobile productivity tools
(field advisor, mobile station and Experion mobile
access), helping with the adoption of operator driven reliability (ODR) programs and
enabling operators to complete activities more efficiently and
Other applications include wireless fixed and portable gas
detectors and wireless video, such as Honeywells digital
video manager to enhance plant security and process monitoring.
For a mid-size petrochemical facility, ODR and
these wireless applications could generate more than $1 million
in annual cost savings, the company says.
Honeywell notes that its OneWireless solution enables
all of these applications in a single network, which can be
tailored to offer either ISA100-only coverage or ISA100 and
Wi-Fi coverage. This can help companies realize an additional
25% cost savings in material, installation and maintenance costs over other
wireless solutions.
The viability and acceptance of wireless technology in our industry is now
reaching a tipping point, said Richard Thompson, general
manager of Honeywell Enraf.
Honeywell invested early on in the OneWireless
product suite to allow customers to focus on their primary
business, rather than the technology. We can seamlessly manage
the data traffic across multiple solutions and multiple
wireless standards.
The OneWireless solution will be available in the third
quarter of 2013, along with the ISA100 compatible version of
SmartRadar FlexLine and OneWireless Network R220. More
information can be found on Honeywell's website.
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A searchable database of project activity in the global hydrocarbon processing industry
Engineers and designers are highly skilled individuals. Forcing them to enter design changes using tables, forms and spreadsheets is unproductive and uneconomical, and it increases the likelihood of human error—this is the way that most instrumentation software systems currently work. For too long, software vendors have denied engineers and designers the simple practicality of a graphical visual engineering interface with "drag and drop" capability and inbuilt intelligence, ensuring changes are automatically replicated into all the associated data and databases.
Is 2016 the peak for US gasoline demand?
Too soon to tell
July 2016


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Samsung has been temporarily barred from selling its Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia by an Australian court.
Apple has alleged that Samsung copied features from its hugely popular iPad tablet to make the Samsung Galaxy Tab. 10.1. Until further notice, Samsung cannot sell its tablet in the Australian market.
With a patent lawsuit still pending in court, Tab cannot see the light of day in Australia until it gets resolved.
Holiday sales affected
The court decision is surely going to impact Samsung, as the Christmas season is round the corner. Samsung had hoped to launch its tablet in time for the holiday season which usually sees significant sales.
Samsung will continue its legal proceeding against Apple's claim in order to ensure our innovative products remain available to consumers." Samsung Spokesperson
Apple and Samsung have patents' war for quite a long time now. In April this year, Apple had boldly accused Samsung of blatantly copying the user interface, product design, and packaging of its iPhones and iPads.
Not to sit quiet, Samsung launched its own battery of accusations, alleging that Apple had infringed on its wireless communications technology.
The battle between the two companies over smartphones and tablets now spans across countries.
Samsung accused of copying touch-screen technology
The present lawsuit filed by Apple accuses Samsung of copying the touch screen technology of the iPad. The court believes that Apple has a high probability of winning the legal battle against Samsung in Australia.
Can Samsung still sell tablets with those touch-screen technologies removed? The court's orders have not been published yet so it would be difficult to assume anything right now.
The Christmas season always sees a strong surge in sales of electronics and apparel, and Samsung would surely not want to let go of this opportunity.
Samsung is reportedly disappointed with the court ruling and would be exploring its legal options to settle the matter as soon as possible.
"Samsung will continue its legal proceeding against Apple's claim in order to ensure our innovative products remain available to consumers," said a spokesperson from Samsung.
Samsung added said that she is quite confident of winning the patent lawsuit against Apple over the wireless communications technology.
Apple remained unavailable for comment.


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6 Musicians Who Accidentally Crapped Out Masterpieces
The music industry spends millions trying to chart trends, isolate demographics and generally predict the necessary ingredients for a No. 1 single. But every now and then a song comes along that makes it all the way to the top end of the charts by sheer fluke.
#6. Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley
Contrary to popular belief, 1954's Rock Around the Clock was not the first rock 'n' roll song to be recorded. In fact, it wasn't even Bill Haley's first rock 'n' roll record.
Rock Around the Clock (RATC), however, was the first-ever rock song to hit No. 1 on the pop charts, thus transforming rock from a mere novelty act to a dominant force of popular music and the No. 1 cause of boob autographs in Western culture.
Not always a good thing.
And it almost never happened. In fact, if it hadn't been for the musical taste of a single teenage boy, the song that made rock cool might have disappeared into obscurity, opening the door for popular music evolution to travel down a completely different path.
On second thought, we may be willing to risk it. Fire up the time machine.
When Haley recorded RATC, his producer insisted on slapping the song on the B side of the record. For anyone who doesn't know, the B side of a single was traditionally reserved for experimental songs, halfhearted instrumentals and that song the drummer wrote about his ex-girlfriend. In other words, it was filler.
Most animals couldn't be bothered to piss on a B side.
Selected for the A side was a song called Thirteen Women. Know it? Of course not -- no one does. Having spent most of their studio time on the A side, they were left with only 40 minutes to arrange and record RATC. Session guitarist Danny Cedrone just repeated a guitar solo he'd already used on previous records, and the band grinded out the legendary recording in two takes. Thirteen Women was released and barely touched the lower reaches of the charts before quickly disappearing from American culture. And that's where the story would have ended if one of the people who bought Thirteen Women hadn't been a boy named Peter Ford.
Gaze upon the face of white-hot teenage rebellion.
Peter's father, Glenn Ford, was about to star in a gritty film called Blackboard Jungle, a story about a teacher trying to cope with a classroom filled with a gang of juvenile delinquents lead by Sidney Poitier.
Ford and the producers, deciding that they needed some music in the film that represented what the kids were listening to, raided Peter's record collection. RATC fit the bill perfectly, and they set the opening and closing credits to the song.
The movie and the song were a huge success. Kids were coming to the theater just to hear RATC over the credits. Teenagers in England were actually rioting in the theaters. RATC and rock 'n' roll in general became indelibly associated with youth and rebellion.
And that's when hair got fucking real.
After it was hastily reissued it as an A side, the song went straight to No. 1 and stayed there for eight weeks. Since then it's sold an estimated 25 million copies, making it the fourth-best-selling record of all time, right behind Bing Crosby's Silent Night. He, of course, has the advantage of his song being a guaranteed inclusion on every single Christmas compilation album ever released till the end of time.
#5. Wipeout by The Surfaris
Wipeout will always be synonymous with two things: surfing and montage footage of people injuring themselves in horrific ways. Its manic opening and infectious drum pattern make it one of the most recognizable pieces of music in rock history. So what musical genius could have possibly crafted this pop masterpiece? Well, actually it was a bunch of high school kids, and it was improvised.
Ironically, they were still three years away from being able to legally utilize their groupies.
The Surfaris were a California garage band with an average age of 15 who had been successful enough playing at sock hops and house parties that they were able to acquire a manager. One day in late 1962, the drummer announced that he had an idea for song that had come to him in dream the night before.
"Also, we can only play the song naked and in front of the whole school."
The rest of the band helped flesh out the idea, and the end result was a song called Surfer Joe. The manager was impressed enough to book them some time in a small studio in Cucamonga. One of the bandmates' mothers dutifully wrote out a check for $100 to pay for the studio hire and 100 45's. The idea was that the band could record their song and then sell the records at their gigs to earn enough money to buy better equipment.
Not a bad plan -- dreadlocks are expensive!
So they loaded up their (understandably shittier) equipment and had their dads take them out to Cucamonga because they weren't old enough to drive. The group recorded their song easily enough, and the result, while nothing earth-shattering, was at least pretty decent for a group of high school kids.
They were literally packing up their gear to leave when their manager turned on the intercom from the control room to ask what they wanted to record for the B side. They had been so excited about actually writing a song of their own that it had never occurred to them that they would need two.
"Um, guys, a record has two sides because it's not the future yet ... idiots."
So, like any teenagers faced with presenting a project they should have been working on for months, they just made some shit up. The drummer started pounding out a rhythm, and the rest of the group ad-libbed around it. Ten or 15 minutes later, they had their song recorded. The famous drumbeat is actually just a speeded-up version of the drum cadence that the drummer's high school marching band used when marching onto the field.
Define an entire generation with a drum line? Uh ... sure, give me a sec.
After the band decided to call the song Wipeout, the guitarist's dad fetched a plaster-soaked board from the alley and broke it in front of the microphone to sound like surfboard breaking, and the manager supplied the shouted introduction and creepy laugh. Six months later, it was No. 2 on the national charts, acting as a lesson to kids everywhere that hard work is a waste of time.
#4. Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Throughout most of the 80s, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were best known for their Herculean levels of drug ingestion and a willingness to perform live wearing nothing but socks on their genitals. So it was a surprise in 1991 when they released a slow, sobering song about loneliness and overcoming addiction called Under the Bridge.
Luckily for the world, they were never quite able to overcome Flea.
After the success of the album Mothers Milk at the end of the 80s, Anthony Kiedis decided he wasn't going to do the drugs part of "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll" anymore. According to his autobiography, Scar Tissue, Kiedis' transformation was driving a wedge between him and the two members of the group who were still heavy drug users (bassist Flea and guitarist Frusciante).
Feeling increasingly isolated, Kiedis responded to the situation in a way beloved by moody adolescents everywhere: He wrote a poem about it. It encompassed his alienation and reflected on his years of drug abuse and all it had cost him, culminating with a reference to the bridge where he bought drugs one night after pretending to be engaged to a gang member's sister -- one of the lowest points of his life.
And you could really feel the tension it later caused them both onstage.
That would have been the end of it if producer Rick Rubin's shocking disrespect for privacy hadn't allowed him to casually flip through Kiedis' notebook and discover the poem. Rubin thought it would make a great song. Kiedis was less convinced, pointing out that the slow, introspective ballad wasn't exactly in keeping with a band that was historically more inclined to produce songs such as Party on Your Pussy. Rubin persisted and finally convinced him to perform it for the rest of the band.
"Hey, Kravitz, you're not gonna believe the shit Anthony wrote about you in his diary."
Everyone in the group liked it enough to record it for their album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, but they were still unwilling to make it a single, despite the urgings of the record executives; the Chili Peppers thought it was too big a departure from their usual funk fare. What clinched it for them was a concert during which Kiedis missed his cue for the vocals to Under the Bridge and the audience responded en masse by singing it for him. This was enough to convince everyone they might be onto something with this song.
The single became a monster hit and the album went on to sell 17 million copies and it never would have happened if Rick Rubin hadn't been a nosy asshole.


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5 Theme Parks Where Childhood Goes to Die
#2. The Children's Republic (Republica de los Ninos)
Imagine a park that perfectly imitates life in a magical kingdom! And we mean perfectly, as in right down to the crushing bureaucracy. That's right: The Children's Republic park in Argentina doesn't have spinning teacups or rides dedicated to how small the world is, after all. Instead, children get to experience all the fun of filling out forms, haggling over loans and electing their own congress.
And, of course, the odd Nerf-sponsored military coup.
If you don't see the problem with that right away, try peeling a toddler off the swing set of any playground, then sit him or her down and initiate some sincere political discourse (we shouldn't have to say this, but don't actually do that -- no court will ever believe you). The park creates the authentic experience of running a society, including all the logistical paperwork and bureaucratic headaches. Also, we're pretty sure everyone who's read Lord of the Flies knows what happens when you let kids govern themselves. Frankly, it's surprising that in its 61 years of existence, this place hasn't been reduced to rubble by factions warring over a conch shell.
By Children's Republic law, the fattest kid is automatically named "Piggy."
So just how successful is the Children's Republic? Well, they claim to be Walt Disney's inspiration for Disneyland. Of course there's no proof of that whatsoever, and they're probably just trying to lure visitors to the park. Sadly, it looks like most 6-year-olds would rather kick Pluto in the nuts and ride Space Mountain than try to build a functioning society. Who could have seen that coming?
#1. Hell-Themed Parks in Singapore and Thailand
In 1935, the brothers who created Tiger Balm topical ointment built a theme park in Singapore with over a thousand life-size plastic-looking dioramas depicting Chinese myths ... and nothing else. Presumably because the people who would make an ointment so pungent that it forces tears out of your eyes are no strangers to insane entrepreneurial endeavors. If a garden of cartoonish-looking statues from Chinese folklore doesn't sounds particularly strange to you, then perhaps you aren't familiar with the balls-out lunacy of Chinese folklore.
Oddity Central
Oddity Central
"Hey mom, you gotta come check out this crab -- grandpa?!"
If it's not clear, that's a woman breastfeeding an old man who, if our understanding of the folk tale is correct, is her father-in-law. The child in the background, who has a look on his face like he's seen this a hundred times before, is politely asking if he can go play next door where mothers aren't constantly flopping their lactating breasts into the mouths of old men.
But the truly unnerving section of the park is called the Ten Courts of Hell and contains nothing but statues of people being brutalized and murdered in the most horrific ways imaginable.
There's a man drowning in a pool of blood, next to a sign calling it the "Filthy Blood Pond":
Oddity Central
Clean blood would send the wrong message.
While we never would have considered it before, filthy blood would naturally be way worse to drown in than clean blood, so kudos to you, Tiger Balm brothers, on teaching us more about our own private terrors.
It also displays people being crushed and chopped into tiny pieces:
Oddity Central
It's like Satan's Play-Doh set.
And one man being sawed in half, the hard way:
"Are you guys sure you know how this trick works?"
In 1985, they tried to add rides to the park, which meant they took out a few of the dioramas to make room, and attendance plummeted. That means people were only coming because they were interested in the madness and the torture. Since then, the statues have been returned and the rides removed, but now the park is also free, so there's that.
Oh, and it's not the only hell-themed park in the world, either. Monks in Thailand built their own theme park at the Wang Saen Suk Monastery portraying the most appalling and excruciating agony they could cook up in the "Hell Garden."
The park was built as a decidedly unsubtle warning of the terrors that await sinners in hell. So what are some of those terrors? We're glad you asked.
You and your family can look forward to an eternity of being hung by your cheeks:
"On the plus side, my posture's never been better!"
Or getting impaled and eaten alive by a raven at the same time:
A flannel shirt stuffed with straw scares the shit out of them, but this is totally kosher?
Or being gifted with a skull as the head of your penis only to have some demon immediately slice it in half with a hatchet. Because that's hell, apparently; getting exactly what you want and then having it taken away before you have a chance to enjoy it.
"The joke's on you! Now I can do two chicks at the same time!"
Even the donation boxes are suitably horrifying, letting you know exactly where your money is going: the evisceration of lost souls in the jaws of demon dogs.
"We thank you for your patronage!"
The creepiest part of the entire park, however, is that not all the victims of impalement and dismemberment are presented with screams of agony. Some of them seem to be kind of enjoying their own pain. This guy seems more pleasantly surprised than tormented by the fact that someone is flaying the skin off his face:
It's the same look you'd imagine from someone who just walked into their own surprise party, except with more blood and exposed muscle tissue than usual.
Then there's these two, who are defiant until the end. They are being ground up in some sort of human juicer and still have the wherewithal to mock their torturer by sticking out their tongues.
"Hey executioner, whenever you're done with your tea party, you're welcome to actually start killing us!"
The whole park looks suspiciously like the monks began with a few cautionary statues and then quickly realized how much fun it was to sculpt torture scenes. The wheels clearly came off this endeavor when they created a diorama of dogs fighting over the massive testicles of a naked man.
"The peanut butter won't come off! IT WON'T COME OFF!"
OK, so maybe we owe the Holy Land Experience an apology.
When he's not building statues of his penis, Kier has a blog and tweets. Follow him. You know you want to.


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Brown bag special (noun): when you wanna get it in with an ugly bitch and you don't have very much money for a date. You take her to sonic and order a 'brown bag special', a meal for two. Then later when you're plowing her in her stinky fat cunt you can discretely hide her face with the brown bag.
Yeah I wanted to hop in this ugly bitch's badoonkadonk last night n I was niggerbroke so we went to sonic. BROWN BAG SPECIAL!!
by shinyjester February 18, 2011
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Top Definition
A female with a nice body and an ugly ass face.
Sonic: Not the only place with Brown Bag Speicals.
by TSMason May 12, 2003
when someone(male/female) has a bangin body but they face look like they need a brown bag over it
"damn.... he/she is a brown-bag special i'll he/or she wit tha lights off"
by honeydipin October 05, 2006
Another meaning of Butter Face. When you would doa chik only if she had a paper bag over her face.
"I would only bang her if it was a brown bag special!"
by ballin_collin February 18, 2008
When a man poops on a girl's forehead then t-bags her causing his balls to turn brown.
"I had to wash my ballsac after giving Jenny the brownbag special last night."
by Austindiesel December 11, 2008
When someone shits the bed and rolls around in it. They then deny that they did it, but everyone knows who done it. His name was Kyle Davis. His name was Kyle Davis.
Kyle Davis took a shit in the bed and rolled around in it to create a brown-bag special!
by Setherd June 18, 2009
When one fists another with brass knuckles using diarhea as lubricant.
Bro last night I gave this chick a brown bag special.
by moofd April 23, 2011