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Supermarket giant Progressive Enterprises will not begin building its $100 million Albany shopping centre with a 40-shop fashion precinct until next year.
The Australian-owned Countdown operator paid $40 million for the land and has been in negotiations with builders for the $60 million construction job due to begin this year.
But Progressive's communications manager, Luke Schepen, said there were delays.
"We have not commenced construction and we're still finalising some details. We've haven't chosen a builder," Schepen said. "Its timeline has been pushed out a little."
"We're not in a position to finalise construction tenders and no leasing has started. I don't have a start date."
However, Greenstone Group, which rose to prominence building apartments for failed ex-NZX listed Blue Chip, has announced it has won the right to run the project.
"Greenstone Auckland was awarded the development and project management roles for a new retail project being developed by Progressive Enterprises [Countdown] in Albany," Greenstone announced.
"The project is consented and construction is programmed to commence in spring 2012 with an opening in late 2013. This development includes a Countdown supermarket and approximately 40 specialty stores," Greenstone said.
Last year, a far more ambitious $200 million plan for the land was being floated, with apartments and offices on the land.
The site between Westfield Albany and the Northern Motorway behind the Mitre 10 Mega on Oteha Valley Rd has had an unfortunate past and Progressive initially only bought the leasehold for around $20 million.
Pressure from the Bank of Scotland resulted in Progressive paying a further $20 million to freehold the site so it now has total control.
Progressive wants to challenge the Foodstuffs (Auckland) dominance of the area, which runs its boutique-style New World in the Westfield mall and its big Pak'n Save next door, said to be one of New Zealand's single most profitable supermarkets.
Schepen said Countdown opened in Manurewa this week, would open in Wellington's Newtown next month, and in Mt Roskill and Tawa early next year.
Countdown Manurewa on Brown Rd is a 4200sq m shop with 255 carparks, employing about 120 staff, the business said.
Countdown has 160 supermarkets in New Zealand employing about 18,000 staff and selling about 20,000 products in each store.
Meanwhile, executives from British-headquartered Aviva were in Auckland yesterday, examining prospects of making their Shore City shopping centre a fashion hub.
They are expected to bring fashion brands to New Zealand which are active in their portfolio overseas and not already trading here.
Under construction
Albany: building not yet started.
Manurewa: opened this week.
Newtown, Wellington: next month.
Stoddard Rd, Mt Roskill: next year.
Tawa, Wellington: next year.


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- Author
- Date
- 8-12-2010
- Title
- Hoger collegegeld is zo terugverdiend
- Journal
- De Volkskrant
- Pages (from-to)
- 17
- Document type
- Article
- Faculty
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG)
- Institute
- Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR)
- Language
- Dutch
- Permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/11245/1.354906
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subset: commoncrawl


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Quick Reference
The translation of the Greek pleroma, which can be either active or passive—either 'that which fills' or 'that which is filled up', which is a complication affecting the meaning of passages in the NT. It is used in Mark 6: 43 of the broken pieces of bread which filled twelve baskets, but in John 1: 16, 'we have all received from his fullness', is explained by 1: 14, where the Word is filled by grace and truth.
The word pleroma is found in the LXX but in NT times the Gnostics used it for the totality of all reality and this may be why it is used in Eph. 1: 23 and 3: 19. The fullness of God is in Christ; but these verses are unclear whether the meaning is also that the Church is filled by Christ. Perhaps the meaning is that Christ (head of the Church) and the Church (the Body of Christ) are a unity; both are filled by God, who fills all (is supreme).
From: fullness in A Dictionary of the Bible »
Subjects: Biblical Studies.
Related content in Oxford Index
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Main Site - :: Why Won't God Heal Amputees? ::
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Augusto:QuoteI'm going to do some work in the construction of a universal moral code, after I finish my two first books. It shouldn't be hard.
I'm going to do some work in the construction of a universal moral code, after I finish my two first books. It shouldn't be hard.
Religions need books because they don't have gods.
I always say what I mean. But sometimes I'm a sarcastic prick whose tone can't be properly communicated via text.
Quote from: Lucifer on February 26, 2012, 01:18:38 PMGravity is not a force, per se. Gravity is a side-effect of spacetime distortions caused by particles with mass.I thought they were:Weakest to strongest1) Gravity2) Electromagnetism3) Weak Nuclear Force4) Strong Nuclear Force
Gravity is not a force, per se. Gravity is a side-effect of spacetime distortions caused by particles with mass.
Force is simply the acceleration of a mass. Gravity does that.
Poe? A plant from IGI!!! Say it ain't so!
Quote from: Azdgari on February 27, 2012, 09:33:43 PMForce is simply the acceleration of a mass. Gravity does that.Layman's PoV. I know what force is. F=maCan you honestly tell me that laymen know that formula or even what it means?
They may not be familiar with the formula, but "accelerating a mass" is a pretty simple concept.
Maybe, maybe not. But I doubt it would be hard to explain. And it can be easily demonstrated with some simple objects.
Would you ever get over it...? seriously.
Quote from: Augusto on February 28, 2012, 03:26:21 AMWould you ever get over it...? seriously.Who? We're just having fun now. Nobody is actually interested in addressing you (AFAIK).
True. I was speaking purely from the PoV of a layman (which I thought was fair, given the level of... intelligence Augusto has displayed). When a layman thinks of "force", it's usually an object attracting or repelling another (or pushing/pulling another object). Gravity doesn't actually work that way, although it might seem like it.
Am I the only one whose head is spinning here? What just happened? I even went over and read the "debate" at IGI, most of which seemed pretty incomprehensible (and I don't think I'm THAT dense)...and all of a sudden, with what seemed like virtually no real argument, Augusto concedes that the theist position is indefensible? WTF?
Not thanks to this community however, you should learn some education.
I am not joking, you're taking to one of the most important persons of this century, and since I'm being honest, I'll say it all: by artificial intelligence I mean machines with the ability to think and feel emotions just like any human being... I know how "the soul" works.This is the biggest humanistic work since the beggining of humanity, and I am bigger than Descartes, Freud, Aristotle or any other.Now let me say it all: I am pointing at changing the world as a whole in so many aspects that you wouldn't be able to digest, and I'm weird enought to come to this forum and say it, and explain part of the escence of my work to everyone before publishing my book.There is a language barrier Monkeymind but read it all carefully and ask whatever you like.*Waiting for the rain of negative Karma from everyone*
looking forward to the book. I'm sure I won't have to go searching too hard to find it, seeing as how it will change the face of the world and all...


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Stories by rileysaplank [6] Series by rileysaplank [0] Reviews by rileysaplank [6] Challenges by rileysaplank [0] Favorite Series [0] rileysaplank's Favorites [4]
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|The authors own nothing. Joss, UPN, WB, etc. own Buffy, the show, the characters, the places, and the backstory. The authors own any original plots.


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Here's my side of the story, and I'll swear to it in federal district court. Photographer Jeff Dworin and I were camping in a place called Burnt Knob Lookout, elevation 8196 feet, in a portion of southwestern Montana so remote that the map simply calls it "Game Unit 17." We had just bounced over three miles of boulder-strewn trail so hideous that our Jeep had been in low range, first gear, with anti-roll bars disconnected. We enjoyed steaks, conversation, and alcohol, then climbed into our sleeping bags. When Jeff awoke at dawn, he found a pair of men's underwear neatly laid out on one of the rocks ringing our still-smoldering fire.
"Yours?" he asked, cautiously holding the dew-damp undergarment tweezer-like between thumb and forefinger.
"Nope," I replied. "I slept in the clothes I was wearing yesterday. Never even opened my backpack."
"But you do wear black Jockey briefs?" he probed, studying them at arm's length.
"Well, yes, but—"
"What we have here," he interrupted, "is indubitably a specimen of Jockey classique noir, size gigantique."
"Your sarcasm is amusing, but—"
He cut me off again. He had begun to sound like a DA on cross-exam. "So what you're saying, sir," he continued, "is that in a vast region whose current population is exactly, uh, two, someone—or some thing—climbed 8196 feet in total darkness, carrying underwear identical to yours, solely for the purpose of, what, embarrassing you?"
"Not my underwear," I repeated, all huffy. A bluebird flitted past, followed by a raven as big as a mailbox.
"John," said Jeff, now speaking like a disappointed father. "Why do lies always travel in packs?"
I had come to this impasse—or, rather, to this mountain pass—out of frustration. Every year for a decade, I've attempted a kind of off-road great-circle route that departs from Darby, Montana, then leads over the Bitterroot Mountains via the wild Magruder Corridor and thus into Idaho. It was then my notion to buzz Papa Hemingway's Ketchum and return to Darby via a southern maze of Forest Service trails. Because many sections of these two-tracks are above 7000 feet, big signs warn, "SNOW CAN BLOCK THIS TRAIL AT ANY TIME." As in both June and October of last year. Even properly mounted—I tried this once in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, once in a Toyota 4Runner, once in a Toyota Land Cruiser—I had been stymied.
Not this time. This time, I headed to Denver first, arming myself with hard-core off-road weaponry: an EarthRoamer XV-JP, which is to a Jeep Wrangler what, say, the movie Full Metal Jacket is to Bill Murray's Stripes.
This particular EarthRoamer is based on the Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon and is constructed in the $5.5 million factory of entrepreneur Bill Swails, 48. In 1990, engineer and MBA Swails invested $18,000 in America Online. Nine years later, his stake was worth $1.2 million—enough that he was featured in Money magazine—and now he pretty much does what he wants, which includes driving his Porsche Carrera 4S convertible and constructing the world's most independent off-road vehicles. He calls his XV-JP "independent" because no external generator is required to power the cabin's myriad accoutrements. Instead, power derives from an 80-watt solar panel, which charges a 2.5-kilowatt-hour bank of batteries, assisted during solar eclipses by the engine's 160-amp alternator.
The XV-JP's interior is a true masterpiece of packaging. At the push of a button, the composite roof (a fiberglass/balsa sandwich) flips 180 degrees, deploying a tent above a queen-size bed. Below is a full-size toilet, a sink whose water is drawn from a 25-gallon reservoir, a fridge that even makes ice, a forced-air heater, reading lights, a ventilation fan, an air compressor, and—this is my favorite—a shower (with nine feet of headroom) that delivers water hot enough to melt body piercings.
Base price: $110,000. Add options such as the macho Walker Evans wheels, a CB radio, and Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs that appear to have been lifted from a John Deere combine, and you'll walk the plank to a 120-grand fare-thee-well.
Recent News


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Skyrim's PC patch 1.9 has rolled out on Steam minus the Oghma Infinium levelling cheat prompting a subtle level of backlash from some unhappy customers.
They should have left it in, It's a single player game it harmed no one.
Curious, did they ever fix the framerate issues with the PS3 version? Since the DLC is out, I've been wanting to get the game back and playthrough it all, but don't want to experience to tech issues as I did when I first got it.
Protip on PC:
Hit console command key `
Click on your character in 3rd person view
Type: setav "insert skill here" "insert desired level/value"
Hit enter
So a a couple examples would be:
setav health 9999
setav lightarmor 100
(note how there isnt a space in the term lightweight)
At first I was upset, but you see, they are conveniently doing this with the exact same patch that we receive a new leveling element. Yes, pretty much after 60 it becomes a bitch to level up. But they fix that by allowing you to re set your favorite and most used skills, like lock picking, and level up more. I promise that it would be exponentially easier. But, I see promise in this, with new levels they can introduce ridiculously powerful enemy's, new high level dragon types, new legendary magic, new armor and weapons, Aedric?, the possibilities are endless.


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Do you hail from the land of Dragon*Con? Do ANY of the following phrases resonate in your heart:
"Han shot first!" "Captain, we are being hailed." "It's bigger on the inside." "Goram reavers!" "Kneel before Zod!" "All your base are belong to us." "Excelsior True Believers!"
If so, you are one of us! Join your comrades in this Social Guild of Calamitous Intent. We share, discuss, and enjoy all things geeky online and in REAL LIFE! ::gasp::
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By Tom Gray: He speaks in a quiet and unassuming tone, frequently avoiding eye contact, as he reminisces on a spectacular twenty two year professional career which may still not have come to an end.
His face belies the sacrifice of that journey and a stranger would never guess that this diminutive and innocent looking man was once a glorious gladiator, who waged war against some of the finest fighters in the world.
Amongst his rivals were Prince Naseem Hamed, Junior Jones, Kennedy McKinney, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao, Johnny Tapia and of course, his fiercest foe, Erik "El Terrible" Morales.
The great Marco Antonio Barrera captured world titles at super bantamweight, featherweight and super featherweight, thrashing his way through opposition with a vicious, yet ultra-talented, style which captivated fans the world over. Indeed his legendary status and Hall of Fame credentials were assured almost ten years before his formidable skills began to fade.
Throughout his career his versatility as a fighter was undeniable as was his somewhat surprising talent scholastically. The Baby Faced Assassin studied law for three years at La Salle's College in Mexico and still vows to one day complete his degree. The Barrera family wanted a lawyer but they were forced to settle for a legendary warrior who dealt out his own special brand of fistic justice.
Barrera, who now makes his home in Guadalajara, was a celebrated amateur who lost only four times in over one hundred contests, picking up five Mexican titles along the way.
"I just loved boxing but at fifteen years old I was bored at amateur level and didn't find it fulfilling," recalls the Mexico City star. "I pressured my parents and trainers to falsify the necessary paperwork because you had to be seventeen and I didn't want to wait any longer. This was the sport I really liked - it was my life."
The premature professional had promised his family that if he didn't make it in boxing he would return to university and fulfil their ambitions for him to enter law. Unfortunately his parent's hopes were dashed when Barrera took his first world title from Daniel "Cobrita" Jimenez at the age of twenty one.
"I'm frequently asked about my match with Kennedy McKinney but my first world title fight was harder. I was a 115lb fighter and was forced to come all the way up to 122lbs because none of the champions in my weight class would face me."
If prospective opponents were looking in the opposite direction it was understandable. By the time Barrera squared off against "Poison" Junior Jones in November 1996, he was 43-0 (31KO's) and the natural successor to fellow Mexican great, Julio Cesar Chavez.
That said, in boxing it only takes one shot and Jones, a tall boxer puncher from the Thomas Hearns mould, landed a rocket right hand in the fifth round which decked Barrera in an eye blink. The Mexican sensation was badly hurt but made it to his feet before a follow up assault prompted his trainers to enter the ring when the round was still in progress.
The official result for that infringement was a DQ loss but Barrera, for all intents and purposes, had been stopped.
Jones repeated his win over Barrera on points and, despite the fight being extremely close, the vanquished warrior decided to take time off from the sport.
"Junior Jones' style was difficult to solve," states the Barrera with a sigh. "He was able to box well, use his reach and he made things very difficult for me. In a way I'm glad I had those setbacks because I learned more from defeat than I did from victory."
The former champion continues; "From that point onwards I took fights more seriously, trained harder and refused to take anyone for granted. My trainers and I worked on polishing my boxing skills after the Jones losses and I was more careful defensively."
The big test for Barrera's improved skill set came in February 2000 against fellow Mexican super star, Erik "El Terrible" Morales. In light of an easy fourth round knockout of Junior Jones and an undefeated record, the Tijuana fire cracker was installed as a huge favourite. Still, despite the odds, Barrera was determined to take his opponent to hell and back.
"I knew it was going to be a hard fight because there was so much animosity," reminisced the former champion of the potent rivalry which electrified the modern era. "When the fight was in progress I had no idea how great it was because we were both caught in the heat of the moment and pumped with adrenalin."
Morales was awarded a controversial split decision but Barrera had made his point in one of the greatest fights in boxing history. He was back with a vengeance, stronger than ever, and Mexican fans were no longer convinced that Morales was the best fighter within their boxing rich landscape.
England's Prince Naseem Hamed was an undefeated superstar who had made his name, not only in Britain but across the Atlantic. His showboating arrogance juxtaposed with bionic punching power had made The Prince a huge box office attraction and he entered the ring with Barrera as favourite at the MGM Grand in April 2001.
The Baby Faced Assassin could not get to Vegas quick enough.
"I changed my style, fought a more defensive fight and attacked Hamed from angles," states Barrera with a look of contentment. "I'm happy that I beat Naz and was very surprised that, by doing so, the people in Great Britain accepted me. That was just the opposite of what I had expected."
Barrera's place within the pound for pound rankings was bolstered further when he avenged his loss to Morales. He was now firmly established as the undisputed King of Mexico.
More impressive performances followed before Barrera was matched with a southpaw dynamo by the name of Manny Pacquiao in November 2003. The affable Filipino was a two weight world champion but Barrera was considered, by most experts, as too experienced and the odds reflected that sentiment.
The boxing world was in for one big surprise.
"Manny was relatively unknown when we met the first time but all of a sudden I was in an extremely tough battle and I couldn't solve the style," remarks Barrera with a hint of frustration at his astonishing eleventh round stoppage defeat.
"We fought twice and although I lost both times, I'm at peace. I didn't lose to just anyone, I lost to someone who is exceptional and to this day Manny is still regarded as one of the best fighters in the world."
There was still one challenge which could not be ignored. While Morales was a countryman, Juan Manuel Marquez was a virtual neighbour, who hailed from Barrera's home province of Mexico City. Although there was literally no animosity between the two, the fight was a natural and a classic waiting to happen.
The two decorated warriors were at their very best at the Mandalay Bay in March 2007 and it was difficult to pick the winner after twelve talent splashed rounds. At least it was difficult for unofficial scorers.
Officially, Marquez was declared a runaway winner by unanimous decision; 116-111, 116-111 and astonishingly 118-109. The great Barrera's work had not been appreciated by the Vegas judges and, as a result, his immense fighting spirit seemed to be tragically extinguished by three surprisingly wide and controversial scorecards.
"After the fight I was very sad," states Barrera recalling his emotions. "I asked Marquez if he felt like a winner and he said it was the judge's decision but I have never agreed with it. Juan knows in his heart that he lost and, better still, I know it."
There was yet another high profile defeat at the hands of Amir Khan, who met Barrera in March 2009, at the MEN Arena in Manchester. The Mexican was cut brutally by a clash of heads in the first round and the blood soaked affair was awarded to the home fighter by technical decision after five rounds.
"That wasn't even a real fight!" barks the future Hall of Famer incredulously.
Barrera will be forever linked to Erik Morales and, like Ali and Frazier before them, the fascination with their great trilogy travels beyond the ethics of sport into an indescribable area that only the fighters share. The Baby Faced Assassin bested El Terrible twice and his contentment at that particular statistic is visceral.
"There is always respect between fighters but things are always the same between us, he just doesn't like me," states Barrera with an abrupt shrug. "Seriously, I wish Morales all the luck in the world and it's a great thing that he's still fighting. With myself, if I got a good offer then I would maybe take one or two fights but, if not, I am content with everything that I accomplished."
Rest assured El Grande Campeon - so are we.
Please follow Tom Gray on twitter.com/#!/tgraysecondsout
May 18, 2012
© 2000 - 2011 Knockout Entertainment Ltd & SecondsOut.com


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Celebrity Cars
Johnny Bench Lexus LX 470: For Sale on AutoTrader.com
- Bench bought this LX 470 new in 2006.
- He rarely drove it and kept it pristine.
- It's available in California for $40,000.
SUV shoppers will appreciate this 2006 Lexus LX 470 for its condition and mileage. Baseball fans will love it because it was once owned by Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench. It's currently available at Paradise Automotive Group in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
According to Lorenzo, a salesman at Paradise, Bench is the first and only owner of this 2006 LX 470. The former Cincinnati Reds catcher bought the SUV new in 2005 and rarely drove it, which accounts for the odometer reading below 45,000 miles. He also kept it in perfect shape.
"The car is immaculate," said Lorenzo, who noted Bench had even done a good job keeping up its light-colored interior. "It's just like new in every way ... as clean as it could be. The carpets really don't have any dirt on them."
Lorenzo says Bench's LX 470 wound up at Paradise thanks to the dealership's owner, who has ties to the sports industry. From Paradise's location in suburban Orange County, Calif., the dealership sometimes provides cars to members of the Anaheim Ducks and other local teams.
But Bench's LX 470 is more exciting than a typical athlete's car. Generally agreed to be the best catcher in baseball history, Bench played 17 seasons for the Cincinnati Reds. A 14-time all-star, Bench earned the National League's Most Valuable Player award twice -- an especially unusual feat for a catcher. In 1989, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot.
Those who have followed Bench's post-playing career won't be surprised he chose an LX 470, which is renowned for its comfortable interior and smooth ride. Due to the joint pain and arthritis that followed catching for over a decade, Bench received a hip replacement in 2004. He has served as a spokesman for Stryker, the maker of his ceramic hip, since the surgery.
While Lorenzo doesn't know what Bench is driving now, SUV shoppers can make his previous ride their own for just $40,000.
What it means to you: This Lexus LX 470 once owned by Johnny Bench is a clean, low-mile example with an exciting celebrity history.
Find Johnny Bench's LX 470 for sale
What do you think of Jonny's Lexus? Let us know in the comments below.


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Pope's resignation a surprise to U.S. Catholics
Some Catholics in Washington, D.C., expressed their surprise that Pope Benedict XVI would be resigning at the end of the month. The Pope made the announcement Monday at the Vatican. (Feb. 11) AP
Benedict's tenure draws praise from some members of the church, scorn from abuse victims
Despite his advanced age and limited public appearances, Pope Benedict XVI's resignation was a surprise to most Roman Catholics, followers say.
While the Vatican stressed that no specific medical condition prompted the 85-year-old Benedict's decision to become the first pontiff to resign in 600 years, many Catholics speculated about that he might be facing some tough health issues.
Others expressed concerns about the future of the church, his potential successor and his role in the Vatican's handling of child sexual abuse scandals involving priests.
POPE'S HEALTH: Experts praise decision to resign
FUTURE POPE: Should be smart, creative, politically adept?
FULL COVERAGE: Latest news, videos on pope's transition
Kathleen Kilkenny, a parishioner at St. George Catholic Church in St. George, Utah, said the pope looked in ill health when she saw him in November at the Vatican.
"I had an audience with the pope when I went on a pilgrimage, and he was very frail," Kilkenny said.
Luke Holman, 23, a graduate student at Drake University in Des Moines, said he was shocked to hear about the Feb. 28 resignation because age is normally not a reason to resign. "I don't understand," he said. "All popes are old. The last pope was worn out when he died."
Others were confused yet optimistic about the future of the Church.
"It is not necessarily a sad event but it is kind of a somber time," Catholic University student Joanna Gardner said. "I came to an understanding of my faith at the same time this man was the pope of my Church."
Patrick Boyden, head of the Knights of Columbus Council at Georgetown University, woke-up to the news of the pope's decision on Twitter and Facebook. While originally taken aback by the announcement, he believes the pope has served as a solid foundation for his church.
"The initial reaction was that of surprise, but then you start thinking about it and realizing that for Pope Benedict, I'm sure so much thought and prayer went into this decision," the Georgetown junior said. "A lot of people said you can't live up to John Paul II, but I think Benedict did the best job possible; the next pope has big shoes to fill."
Early morning Mass attendees at Divine Child Catholic Church in Dearborn, Mich., were in a state of disbelief. "Oh my goodness," said Joy Siedlik, 57, an office manager from Livonia. "I'm just wondering what's going to happen in the Catholic Church."
Benoit Faye, 50, among 25 people attending the 7 a.m. Mass Monday at St. John the Evangelist Church in White Plains, N.Y., said the pope's decision made sense because "he cannot handle it anymore." Faye praised the pope's efforts to bring young people into the church.
In Boston, computer analyst Kyle Potter learned about the pope from his mobile phone while waiting for a morning subway train. "It's understandable,'' said Potter, 29. "He's getting a little too old to handle the job."
Giselle Braga, a Catholic from Lynn, Mass., agreed the job might be too strenuous for an 85-year-old. "He's a normal person. He's entitled," said Braga, 48, a downtown hotel employee returning home via subway.
Roman Catholics in Brevard County, Fla., expressed concern about the fallout.
The news bothered those who saw the pope's conservative leadership as a return to the true values of the church. "We're sad to see him go," said Joyce Wade, a 30-year member of St. Joseph. "Whoever the next pope is I hope he'll be like the last two...holy, truthful, everything a pope should be."
Others say there's now an opportunity for fresh leadership.
"I hope it is a very good move for the church to get a younger, more liberal person," said Ellen McNally, Fort Myers-based president of the Florida chapter of Call to Action, a Catholic organization promoting social justice and change and renewal within the church.
McNally said the next pope should take a closer look at such issues as ordination of women, making priestly celibacy optional and greater inclusion of non-clergy Catholics in decision-making. "I don't think that's going to happen," McNally said, adding that the church officials who will be in on that selection were mostly placed there by Pope Benedict.
"We're hopeful for what's good for the church and pray for his successor," McNally said.
Given widespread pedophilia cases involving Catholic priests, for some, the resignation presents welcome change.
"The pope broke a 600 year tradition today by announcing his resignation, but he didn't break any traditions about opening up the church to honesty and transparency regarding sexual abuse patterns," said Bob Hoatson, a victim of a priest's sexual abuse and founder of Road to Recovery, an organization that helps victims of clergy sexual abuse.
"Child sexual abuse destroys lives," said Kevin Waldrip, another victim and volunteer for Road to Recovery.
"I was abused by my 13th birthday; The day before my birthday I was a pious young child. I was an altar boy, choir boy. I attended Mass on a daily basis. I wanted to become a priest, and that changed in a day. I felt that not only had I been violated by this priest that I knew and loved but I had been violated by God. I'd like to see the pope's successor genuinely reach out to victims and not just give lip service."
Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of Bishopaccountability.org, believes the pope has tried to minimize public uproar surrounding child sexual abuse in the Catholic church. "I think what he's primarily done is tried to suppress the uproar but he's been unsuccessful in doing so," Doyle said.
"He has not forced the resignations of complicit bishops, he has not demanded that bishops report crimes to the police," Doyle said. "He has not initiated any profound reforms in the church's handling of child sexual abuse allegations."
Contributing: Eliza Collins; Emma Beck; Melanie Eversley in Boston; Summer Delaney, Northwestern University; Brian Passey, The Spectrum, St. George, Utah; Brian Shane, The (Salisbury, Md.) Daily Times; Micael Braun, The News-Press in Fort Myers, Fla.; Jens Krogstad, Des Moines Register; Lee Higgins, The Journal News, Weschester County, NY; Peter Smith, The Courier-Journal, Louisville; Patricia Montemurri, the Detroit Free Press; Bob Smietana, The Tennessean, Nashville; J.D. Gallop, Florida Today


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Walmart Employees Strike Over Scrooge-Like Policies as Black Friday Looms
Nov 19, 2012 3:33 PM PT
Some of Walmart's employees are taking aim at a major soft spot for any retailer: Black Friday, the most important shopping day of the year. A union-backed coalition called "Making Change at Wal-Mart" is organizing strikes this week, culminating on Friday, to protest the company's working conditions.
Walmart has already been the focus of negative press since its announcement that it would open its doors for special holiday sales on Thanksgiving Day, which is becoming known as "Gray Thursday." Making Change at Wal-Mart includes this decision among its reasons for organizing the strikes.
The group highlighted a married couple who will be working that day, leaving their two small children parentless on the holiday. The group also has an array of other complaints against the retailer, including its purported attempts to silence workers who protest certain practices.
'Excited About Black Friday'
Only a small percentage of its employees are participating in the strikes, Walmart says in a statement provided to the E-Commerce Times by Kory Lundberg, director of media relations.
"The super majority of our 1.3 million associates are excited about Black Friday and are ready to serve our customers," the company insists. "The fact is, we do not expect these actions by a very small minority of our associates (less than .0003 percent) at a handful of stores to have any impact on our stores or our customers shopping experience on Black Friday."
Walmart is aggressively countering the strikes, filing an unfair labor practice charge.
"The processing of the charge will take time, and I think it is unlikely that Walmart will get an injunction preventing the strike before it occurs," Chris Rhomberg, associate professor of sociology at Fordham University, told the E-Commerce Times. "It is more likely that their legal action is intended to intimidate workers and dissuade them from participating."
The Last Straw
Walmart is not the only retailer that will be open on Thanksgiving Day. Others, including Kmart, are opening at 6 a.m. in some locations on the holiday.
Still, for many Walmart employees, the Thanksgiving Day opening "was probably the straw that broke the camel's back," Michael O'Hara, CEO of Yumani, told the E-Commerce Times.
Even workers not aggrieved with the retailer for other reasons would likely be displeased with the holiday opening, he said. "Employees don't mind making sacrifices if they see they are getting something tangible out of it, or if working on that day solidifies a position or is clearly necessary to the employer's well being."
However, the widespread perception is that Walmart is just spreading out the holiday shopping season by an extra day, and that additional day is not likely to make or break it.
"So employees are probably feeling a bit frustrated by it all, especially if they are not getting paid overtime -- which it's not clear if they are or not," Yumani said.
Walmart's Perspective
Of course, Walmart has its reasons for opening, likely a need to stay competitive with online retailers that never close.
Also, it is important to remember that Walmart is operating in a commodity product environment, said Eugene Fram, professor emeritus at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Opening on Thanksgiving Day makes Walmart more competitive in that environment, "where selection, price and service are the only weapons available for differentiation," he told the E-Commerce Times.
One reason it is being targeted for its working hours over, say, Toys 'R' Us, is that it is the lead retailer in the U.S., Fram continued.
"As a result, Walmart is in a position to change the retailing culture and possibly the nation's culture in regard to this early opening, when many buyers find it convenient to shop earlier," he noted.
Walmart could be paving the way for all retailers to feel they have to open on Thanksgiving Day.
It's difficult to say whether other retailers will go along with this trend, however. Some are using their no-work-on-Thanksgiving policy in their advertising, Yumani pointed out.
All of this provides fodder for those who have long disliked Walmart for its labor practices and for its substantial position in the industry, Fram observed. "The chain has obviously factored this loss into the decision to open earlier and feels it is worth the risk."
However, Making Change at Wal-Mart is organizing protests over far more than the Thanksgiving Day opening.
The strikes are meant to "draw attention to ... Walmart's weight in the economy, and the impact of its low-wage policies in pushing down standards for workers in the wider labor market," said Fordham's Rhomberg.
If the action generates any response from Walmart or the government in terms of asserting workers' rights, then it will be a success, Rhomberg said. "A successful action will demonstrate to other workers at Walmart and elsewhere that collective action is possible -- and that is what the National Labor Relations Act is supposed to protect."


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ABC's Brian Ross investigates Sochi Olympics corruption
ABC News' Brian Ross investigates Sochi Olympics corruption in a series of stunning reports, most recently asking, Why Sochi in the first place? Why chose a seaside resort near a hotbed of terrorist activity, without much snow, for the Winter Olympics?
Ross has been coming on strong with investigations of "Olympic greed" and gangster influence (see clip below). With the Opening Ceremonies just days away, Ross's reports on "Good Morning America" and "World News Tonight" are as dramatic as any NBC promo for the sports competitions ahead.
Russia won the rights to the 2014 Winter Olympics, beating out Austria and South Korea, with the help of an alleged heroin kingpin and organized crime boss currently under criminal indictment in Uzbekistan, Ross reported. In a previous story, Ross reported a whistleblower is "a marked man" after alleging officials in the office of President Vladimir Putin demanded payoffs in exchange for Olympics construction contracts. "You will be drowned in blood," Valery Morozov said he was told after fleeing Russia for Great Britain in the wake of his allegations of rampant corruption surrounding the Olympics, Ross reported.


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Creating Higher Quality Education
To best help students ready themselves for the rapid changes occurring in society and in the workplace, we have undertaken a transformation of the undergraduate learning experience. We have married our traditional strengths of close faculty collaboration and experiential learning to a new and innovative curriculum that will prepare students to view personal and professional challenges from multiple angles and tackle those challenges with integrative, collaborative thinking.
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Sarah Palin blasts Obama's radical abortion policies
If you want to extract information from suspected terrorists, force them to listen to an endless loop of Sarah Palin speeches. I guarantee it would work. (Fortunately, John McCain is against torture.) Yet despite her grating voice and her muddled syntax, Palin managed on Saturday to pull off an effective pro-life speech that artfully strung together every substantial talking point available against Obama's "unconditional support for unlimited abortions." If only it weren't all true, but it is. You can watch for yourself Obama's speech to Planned Parenthood, where he promises his support for FOCA, the so-called "Freedom of Choice Act," which would impose an abortion regime on the nation, wiping away all restrictions on abortion at the state and federal level, including freedom of conscience for doctors, pharmacists, nurses and more. Of course, while listening to Palin talk about the Culture of Life, I couldn't help thinking about John McCain's support for embryonic stem cell research, which he trumpeted in a veiled fashion in a radio campaign in Missouri, as reported here by Jack Smith, editor of The Catholic Key. Such are the sad contradictions of this presidential campaign.
ByAT 10.14.08 08:01AM Not Rated
John McCain openly embraces embryonic stem cell research. In 2000, he boldly said he did not favor the overturn of Roe v. Wade. John McCain was a member of the infamous "Gang of 14" senators from both parties whose purpose was to oppose pro-life, strict constructionist judges.
ByAT 10.14.08 11:14AM Not Rated
Obama Willing to Let Born Infants Perish rather than saving them during a Botched Abortion is TRUE Evil in it's Most innocent Form!
ByAT 10.14.08 11:22AM Not Rated
We all agreed that Pater Familia during the ROMAN empire era was Barbaric where a Father had the Right to refuse entry into his Family Clan by Killing the Baby!
With all our Modern Dressed up morals we NOW have "MATER FAMILIA" disquising its words as PRO-Choice… no matter what you call it, a person with their own unique DNA lost their basic Inalienable right the Human right to LIVE! A few Judges sentenced the slaughter of BORN and UNBORN innocents to Death on their Moms Whim!
ByAT 10.14.08 02:47PM Not Rated
I am so thankful to have a national candidate speaking the truth on this issue with conviction and confidence… it is a breath of fresh air. I can easily overlook "her grating voice and her muddled syntax" while she tells the nation what they need to hear. God chose a stutterer (Moses) and a commoner (Peter) to speak for Him, the message was way more important than the delivery.
Frankly, I don't find Sarah's voice grating, and her syntax sounds rather conversational, not scripted and careful or filled with uh, uh, uh. For our enlightened few fellow citizens who gained elite ivy league educations (or wish they had), pointing out such things in an attempt to diminish the entire message is an old playbook. I think it's boorish and intellectually dishonest.
ByAT 10.15.08 12:38AM Not Rated
Gee, I have to wonder if Palin were a Democrat, would her voice suddenly be mellifluous rather than grating? I understand the antipathy of the pro-choice left towards her, but the antipathy from the few pro-life leftists out there is bizarre.
ByAT 10.15.08 02:05AM Not Rated
In the post, Palin's speech is described as "effective" and "artful". What is antipathetic about that? Would it be preferable for Angelo to describe her voice as "mellifluous" but her speech as ineffective and artless?
That the message is more important than the messenger seems to be the whole point of this post.
ByAT 10.15.08 04:31AM Not Rated
I'm just glad she won't be in the White House come January.
ByAT 10.15.08 12:49PM Not Rated
JOHN MURPHY, He lead by saying an endless loop of Sarah Palin speeches would be an effective form of torture. To add that to his other comments causes one to wonder what exactly he had to say. It's kind like commenting about a girl in your class, "Boy, she sure is smart, too bad she's so ugly."
The whole point of this post? Man, if you can figure it out please let me know. All I could come up with is "Damn, I wish Obama and Palin had opposite ideologies, then I'd feel better voting for him."
ByAT 10.15.08 05:08PM Not Rated
Titles are often helpful indicators of the point of a post: "Sarah Palin Blasts Obama's Radical Abortion Policies." From there, a link is provided to Sarah Palin's speech blasting Obama's radical abortion policies. Now visitors to Godspy can see Sarah Palin blasting Obama's radical abortion policies.
The post is categorized as "OPINION"—as in, "In my opinion, Palin's voice is annoying but I agree with her stance on abortion." Why would anyone have to find Palin's voice as pleasing as birdsong to agree with her stance on abortion? I think Palin's voice is grating, but I also find Joe Biden's gleaming white teeth and his cheshire-cat grin annoying. Would you so chivalrously defend Biden if Angelo linked to a Biden pro-choice speech and led by saying, "Biden's pearly teeth are annoying and his grin is aggravating, but his pro-choice speech was effective and artful…" ?
ByAT 10.15.08 05:47PM Not Rated
I think Angelo's lead sentence and your hypothetical are both examples of shallowness, as was the example I gave, why should smart be modified by ugly, or good message modified by voice or syntax. The headline established the expectation that I'd read/hear/watch a strong pro-life response to the most ardent defender of abortion running, but the first sentence seemed clearly, to me, to seek to diminish the speaker by first establishing a negative aesthetic as if that had anything to do with the "blast." Was the author trying to diminish the message itself? Perhaps Angelo's headline could have read: "SARAH PALIN HARD TO WATCH EVEN WHEN RIGHT." But, that would seem shallow too.
Angelo is free to opine about Palin's voice, choice of words or the shape of her legs for all I care (much nicer than Biden's or Obama's). I was just expressing a confusion over the mixed message I perceived.
And no, I am not inclined to think Biden's teeth have any bearing on the effectiveness of any speech he might give… unless he's complaining that Americans can't afford dental care.
ByAT 10.15.08 07:00PM Not Rated
Chassup, you and Angelo both agree: look past the surface and listen to the message. You disagree about the nature of the surface. But pretending that the surface is not there is disingenuous. If we judged candidates according to your standard of "shallowness," then it shouldn't matter whether Palin was wearing a suit, a bikini, or a burka. I wonder if you would have objected to Angelo writing: "Sarah Palin, regal in her muted colors and speaking in a conversational tone, blasted Obama on the issue of abortion…"
In that instance, it would have been intellectually dishonest if you had not objected to Angelo's description of Palin as "regal" and her speech as "conversational".
You wrote: ""The headline established the expectation that I'd read/hear/watch a strong pro-life response to the most ardent defender of abortion running, but the first sentence seemed clearly, to me, to seek to diminish the speaker by first establishing a negative aesthetic as if that had anything to do with the "blast." "
You did read/hear/watch a strong pro-life response, just not exactly the one you "expected," which seems to be why you're upset about the post instead of happy that more people have the opportunity to see Palin's speech. Angelo described Palin's speech as effective and artful. In fact, if he thinks her voice is "grating" but still found the speech effective and artful, doesn't that make the speech MORE powerful, not less? (Like all those folks who were able to overlook Moses' stutter because of his message?)
By the way, you mentioned Obama's "uh uh uhs" in a previous comment. So, you noticed those. I have as well. We are both shallow.
ByAT 10.15.08 08:29PM Not Rated
You got me all wrong.
I stand by what I have said. Angelo's own words convinced me of my instincts on this… [Obama's support for abortions] "If only it weren't all true, but it is." Oh bother! (this, by the way, within an opinion piece about what a powerful pro-life message Palin delivered)
Mention of her delivery had no logical reason for mention unless the opinion was just that—"despite her grating voice and her muddled syntax, Palin managed on Saturday to pull off an effective pro-life speech that artfully strung together every substantial talking point available against Obama's "unconditional support for unlimited abortions." So, why the headline? OK, I'l allow that Angelo is just not a great headline writer… that's why there's lots of writers, and fewer editors. Angelo's headline is actually a reverse of what most MSM editors do. The NYT editor would have said "Palin is illiterate." Wait a minute… I think I did read that!
If Palin had been wearing a burqa or a bikini, nobody would be talking about what she said. I'm dumb, but I ain't stupid.
Perhaps Angelo should have written "Poorly educated nag made good pro-life argument regardless of her obvious insufficiencies." I mean, if he was just commenting on Palin's oratory skills, I'd have agreed somewhat. And how do you know nobody noticed Moses' stuttering? I bet his detractors mentioned it all the time to convince people that he was an idiot while selling their own plan to go back to Egypt. That's shallow.
I don't think I'm shallow for noticing Obama's obvious stutter, nor is Angelo for pointing out Palin's syntax, it is what it is. It is shallow to use a person's appearance or skill set as a basis to judge their ideas. I'd be shallow if I said "Wow! Obama has a pretty good mind, who would've guessed with such a bad speech impediment." (btw, he doesn't really have a stutter, he is just carefully choosing each word and filling the void with a rhetorical device intended to make him appear intelligent or thoughtful.)
ByAT 10.17.08 01:33PM Not Rated
This discussion must be taking place in Wonderland where there is no American nuclear arsenal.
ByAT 10.17.08 10:24PM Not Rated
36. When all candidates hold a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, the
conscientious voter faces a dilemma. The voter may decide to take the
extraordinary step of not voting for any candidate or, after careful deliberation,
may decide to vote for the candidate
deemed less likely to advance such
a morally flawed position and more
likely to pursue other authentic
human goods.
- Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (USCCB)
ByAT 10.17.08 11:18PM Not Rated
The devil is said to have been a smooth talker.
I'm sure there were those who thought Jesus had a grating voice and muddled Aramaic syntax.
Obama speaks very clearly and concisely about his plan for protection of person's ability to choose.
The bottom line for me is I think one of saddest situations our country has ever faced is we have a chance to elect our first African-American President and he is pro-abortion. I assert Obama would win in the largest landslide election ever if he was pro-life.
By the way, I love Sarah Palin. Nine out of ten babies with the Downe Syndrome are aborted. Not hers. She is a great mom and person.
Joe Biden, on the other hand is a Catholic who does not respect the authority of his own church. How can I trust him? How can I submit to his authority as my governmental leader when he doesn't submit to the authority of his religious leader?
ByAT 10.20.08 02:51PM Not Rated
Great point about Biden ZOROZERO… one of my biggest fears about Obama is that he WILL submit to the authority of his religious leaders and follow their hateful, racist, pro-death teaching.
ByAT 10.21.08 03:43AM Not Rated
Yeah, we gotta spook them racists and tell em' who's boss.
ByAT 10.21.08 02:14PM Not Rated
Real racists need no spooking, they are racists all the time. It is ignorant to claim any vote against Obama to be necessarily motivated by race, that is something a racist would say.
If racists worry you, look at the circle of friends, mentors, financial backers, associates, co-workers and organizers and church members surrounding Obama his entire life. You'll find many. You'll also find communists, socialists, Marxists, Liberation Theologists, Islamo-fascists, terrorists, the most radical environmentalists and animal rights activists and the most ardent supporters of abortion, euthanasia, fetal stem cell research, gay marriage, and those who work to deny Constitutional liberties like gun rights, property rights, freedom of speech and religion. This is not exaggeration, and the level of secrecy provided by the press leading to the voter ignorance shocks me… scares me.
I think it is amazing that a major party in America has nominated this guy who just 30 years ago would have been laughed off the stage. There is something going on here that I suspect transcends the temporal.
ByAT 10.21.08 05:50PM Not Rated
This discussion brings several thoughts to mind, both about this election in particular and the question of whether "the medium is the message" in general.
First, effective, inspiring and even beautiful public speaking (or writing) is an inherently good thing, a gift from God, and something which more Catholics would do well to cultivate. Muddled syntax frequently denotes muddled thinking and a harsh, judgmental, sneering tone often gives skeptical listeners the only excuse they will ever need not to pay attention to the otherwise good message being offered. The Church, by way of Vatican II and the recent popes are continually encouraging Catholics to find ways to speak effectively to our times, and the suggestion that there is something intrinsically suspect about being an effective or inspiring speaker is nonsense. (By all means then, we'd better burn all those Fulton Sheen and John Paul II DVDs.)
In fact, this was a type of comment we heard frequently in years past from fundamentalist Protestants trying to suggest that because he was charismatic and an intellectual and drew crowds by the tens of thousands, there was every possibility that John Paul II would prove to be the Antichrist. (!)
Von Balthasar wrote convincingly of the dangers of trying to separate Beauty from Truth and Goodness, as if Beauty were a trick of the devil. (This is not to say that any and every Good, including Beauty, can be and often is twisted, but the thing in itself is good and should be appreciated as such.)
When I think of the gravely important issue of abortion and some of the folks who represent the pro-life position in the public's mind, I'm often reminded of a comment of John Henry Newman's about some of the well-meaning but shrill-shrieking and often incompetent Catholic triumphalists of his day, who gave Catholicism a bigoted name in English public opinion. It went something like, "There is no greater catastrophe for a good cause than that such people should get hold of it."
ByAT 10.21.08 07:20PM Not Rated
It is wrong question a person's message because they offer effective, inspiring and even beautiful public speaking (or writing).
Thinking people (I guess that leaves out fundamentalist protestants) look past such surface beauty (or ugliness) to judge the message. We of the great clumsy chorus are always aided and inspired by the very talented soloist among us, as long as he speaks the Truth.
It is sad that some of us can so easily disregard another's ideas, relying on shallow outward appearance to judge the beauty or truth of that thought. I suppose Mother Theresa's message would be discarded as muddled or small or poor using that measure. What a person has to say is an important part of who they are as a person, demanding a fair hearing, but justice and mercy demand we prudentially judge what they have to say. It is also a catastrophe for a gifted one to misuse God given talents to spread deceit.
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